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Chapter 1 "What do you mean you're taking us off leave?" John gripped the edge of O'Connell's desk and narrowed his eyes at him,"Don't you have that Lackey guy replacing me untill I'm ready to come back?" "Yes, we do,"O'Connell leaned across his desk and plucked John's hands off of it,"Unfortunelty he's not qualified for this particular job." John shoved one hand into his pocket and ran the other through his hair,"Three days is hardley a vacation." "Are you still argueing with me, Black?" John drew his lips into a thin line and fell silent. There were great things about being as good as it gets in one's proffession; fame, fortune, recognization...but there were always going ot be down points as well. John was as good as it gets for a biologist, and few people could replace him when he took leave or vacation time. The longest he'd ever gotten off work was eight days. Not all that long for a christmas vaction at all. It wasn't really all that big a deal for him though. He had no family, except for his siblings back on Earth, but it would be near impossible for him to gi back there. What with him having to watch Tabanthpsy and all. Tabanthpsy. Now there was an interesting fellow. He was the closest person to him, despite the fact that Tabanthpsy was mute and not exactly human. Infact it was Tabanthpsy's species that kept the duo from going to Earth. Tabanthpsy was a xenomorph, genetically altered and very much screwed around with so he was a "shifter" of sorts. Fortunetly very few people knew about this, and the ones that did find out usually didn't live long enough to tell anyone. "Black! Are you listening to me?" John snapped out of his thoughts and focused on the captian again,"Sorry sir, I was thinking." "Wonderful,"O'Connell rolled his eyes,"Did you hear what I just told you, or had you been thinking too loud for that?" A soft rose tint colored John's cheeks and he lowered his gaze to the floor,"Sorry sir." O'Connell rolled his eyes again and slimped back in his chair with an irrate growl and slumped back in his chair with a gruff noise that sounded suspisiously like "scientists. "I said that you will be taken off leave, and you will be taking this job. Such will start immediatly. I advise you to find your little friend, if you want him coming, and meeting me on deck 2, launch bay. Clear?" John nodded,"Yes sir." He sighed and turned to leave, head hung defeatedly. Stupid diplomas.
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Tabanthpsy moved swiftly down the metal corridors of the spaceport Zeus, a determined grin on his face and one thing on his mind; Food. Licorice especially. Tabanthpsy lived for licorice. He slunk around the corner and popped into the cafeteria, keeping close to the walls. He shivered violently and rubbed his hands together. He was freezing! Why did humans have to have such weak temperature tolerances. Tabanthpsy bared his teeth and plunked down in the far corner of the room. The bronze-black hairs on the back of his neck rose as he suuddenlt became aware of something unnerving. People were staring. At him. He hated that. He shot the accused group a look that clearly stated "bugger off" and bared his teeth. Stupid humans. His gaze drifted away from them, landing on the large buffet of food on the other side of the room. The smells wafting off of it were magnificent. Chicken, gravey, cheese, pastas....but no licorice. Tabanthpsy wanted licorice. "Tabanthpsy! What in the name of god are you doing!" Tabanthpsy's head whirled around to face his addresser. In the entrance-way of the cafeteria was Johnthan. *His* Johnathan. Tabanthpsy grinned. He'd get him some licorice, surely. *I was hungry* John's eyes narrpwed as he started up to Tabanthpsy, hands planted firmly on his hips, and a stern, mothering, look on his face,"You're not eating." People were starting to stare at John now. Tabanthpsy shot them all another dirty look. Johnathan was *his* Johnathan. They weren't allowed to look at him. "Tabanthpsy." *I couldn't find any food* "And you apparently couldn't find any pants, either?" Tabanthpsy blinked and looked down at his bare legs *No. I found them...I just couldn't get them on.* John groaned and facepalmed.
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"What took you?" O'Connell shot John a stoney glare. Behind him stood twelve uniformed ETD crew members. John sighed and waved vaguely at Tabanthpsy, who now had on a pair of loose cotten pants,"He wasn't in our rooms." *And I'm still hungry* "Hush-up, I'll feed you later." "Excuse me?" O'Connell raised an eyebrow dangerously. "S-sorry, sir, talking to Tabanth-" *No! Now! Or I'll eat you.* "..." *Or one of them* John snorted, but dug around in his coat pockets anyway. He was positive he'd left a pack of twizzlers in thier somewhere. "Yes....right,"O'Connell glanced over his shoulder at the other crew members. They all shared a few sniggers at John's expense. No one but John could hear Tabanthpsy, and no one but Tabanthpsy believed John could. Neither were quite sure why that was, but John was working on it. Nevertheless the situation always ended up extremely embarressing for John, but he went on talking aloud to Tabanthpsy anyway. The idea of Tabanthpsy reading his mind was just a little too unnerving for his liking. "Ahah!" John pulled a small stick of soft, red candy from his pocket and passed it to Tabanthpsy. The onyx eyed man snatched it up and popped it into his mouth so fast one might have thought he was starving. John shook his head, smiling, and turned back to the captain. "Finally remembered we were here, hmm?"was O'Connell's snappish reply. John's face fell,"Could I just have the assignment, sir, I'd rather like to get this over and done with as quickly as possible so I can back to my vacation." "As you wish,"O'Connell smirked and pulled a large, brown folder from under his coat. He handed it to John with a smug look on his face. The younger man eyed it suspisously before opening it. Tabanthpsy stepped up behind him and glanced over his shoulder at the sheets *What's it say?* Johnathan Black
Name: Johnthan Black || Status: Biologist || Number: 2T57W8
Repair the newly found Hephaestus and explore for alien lifeforms. Find reasons for crews status (deceased) and ships drifting.
The papers slipped from John;s grip and fell to the floor in a disorginized mess. John stepped away from them untill he was leaning against a wall, his eyes never leaving the word 'Hephaestus' printed in bold black against the flawless white sheet. "I can't...I can't go there,"his foot began to tap slowly against the cold metal floor,"I....I c-c-an't." "You can," said O'Connell, scooping the papers up of the floor,"And you will." John shook his head frantically,"I- I-" *Aww, c'mon Johnathan* Tabanthpsy shot the man a licorice-stained grin *It'd be just like going home again* John promptly fainted. |
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