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Description
Rover squirmed a little under the huge meaty hand that gripped his shoulder, holding him firmly in place.  The spaceport station was busy as usual with aliens of every shape and size bustling this way and that, none of them paying much heed to the stone faced Toads and their young captives.   A Jssfloon spaceport security guard stood inconpicuously to the side, allowing the Toads to deal with the situation their own way but making certain the two boys remained unharmed.  Rover glanced over at Flyspur who was also restrained by a gargantuan hand.  The little Jssfloon hugged himself with all four arms as he stared sullenly at the floor, the spots under his eyes flaming a deep purple.  He looked like a prisoner awaiting his execution.

"Aw, come on, Blue."  Rover chirrped, trying to lift his friend's spirits.  He knew how much Flyspur hated getting in trouble.   "It ain't spot worthy.  Just a little setback."

He would have said more but at that moment a stiff figure appeared out of the crowd and marched purposefully up to them.  Her tail snapped back and forth angrily behind her and her soul spots pulsed under her intense green eyes.   Without even looking at Flyspur she spoke to the blob with legs that was holding him.  "My deepest apologies for the behavior of my son.". She said with a crisp dip of her head that was more anger than remorse.

The chunky flipper shoved Flyspur forward.  "Keep your offspring off our ship."

"Thank you for your mercy.  I assure you it will never happen again."   She glanced down  sharply at Flyspur then turned her back on him and began marching off in the direction she had come.  Flyspur followed, sullenly his head drooping and his tail dragging the ground.

"It wasn't his idea!". Rover called after them.  His mouth was still half open, ready to tell a fantastical tale of how they had been running from some bad guys and had the Toad's cargo hold had been their only escape, but she whirled around and pinned him with a glare that could have melted duranium.

"I know EXACTLY who's idea it was!". With that she turned her tail in him and continued on.

Rover made a face at her retreating back, but sucked his tongue back in when Flyspur glanced back at him before disappearing into the crowd.

He didn't know what the big deal was.  All they wanted to do was hitch a ride.

It wasn't long before another familiar face came into view.  Soorn's yellow eyes met Rover's and the look stopped any protests or excuses in their tracks and left him feeling like slime. There was frustration there, but it was the sadness that struck Rover in the gut. Soorn looked him over with a quick glance. "Are you alright?"

Rover pulled a smile and a carefree shrug.  "Dandy...aside from the interrupted travel plans."

Soorn turned his attention to the Toads.  "Thank you very much for informing me of the situation.  We are both deeply sorry for the inconvenience, aren't we Rover?"

Rover bristled a bit at having to apologize but managed to shrug it off.  "No hard feelings, huh, fellahs?   I mean, a guy's got to get from one place to another some--". Soorn gave him a look that evaporated the sentance in his mouth.  Rover took a deep breath, took his hat off his head and stared at the floor.  How completely humiliating.  "I'm sorry.  We had no right to be on your ship.  Please accept my apology for both of us."

The Toad that held Rover looked suspiciously from Soorn to Rover.  "This is not your offspring."

Soorn's eyebrows dipped and his tail flicked once.  "He most certainly is."

Rover looked up, startled that Soorn hadn't precluded the defiant statement with any polite address.

The Toad seemed skeptical but didn't say another word about it.   "The child requires discipline."

"Thank you.  I am aware.  Is there anything else?"

"A cargo container and it's contents were spoiled.". The Toad rumbled.  "Reimbursement is required."

"We needed somewhere to hide..."  What was meant to be a protest came out as a pitiful plea.

With a weary sigh Soorn pulled his credit disc from his pocket, pressed his thumb to the shimmering plastic and handed it to the largest Toad who tapped in a sum and handed it back to the Jssfloon who just looked tired as he put it away.

The Toad nodded with satisfaction and shoved Rover into Soorn's arms.  "Such offspring become incarcerated adults."  They sneered and lumbered off.

The Jssfloon security stepped up to Soorn, who's shoulders sagged, bracing for even more bad news.  "I regret to inform you that the alien child is banned from this spaceport until his next metamorphosis.  I hope your day is a pleasant one.". With that, he too, turned on his heel and left the two of them standing in the busy terminal.

Rover bit his lip and looked down at his bare feet.  "Soorn...I..."

Soorn shook his head and with two fingers rubbed the ridge of hair that biected his blue face.  "I am very disappointed in you, Rover."  Soorn began walking and Rover miserably kept in step.

"I didn't think that..."

"No, you didn't think.  That was dangerous.  The Toads are easily provoked.  You are fortunate they took pity on your age."

Rover frowned.  "Aw.  I ain't afraid of no overgrown frogs."

"Perhaps you are not.  But what about Flyspur?  You put him in harms way as well."

"I wouldn't have let nothin' happen to him."  Rover insisted, fists clenched defiantly.

"Do you think he will go unpunished for his part in this?"  Soorn never raised his voice but there was an edge to it that Rover was not accustomed.

Rover lowered his head, remembering just how angry Flyspur's mother had been and that last pleading look as his friend followed her into the crowd.  "No."  He said quietly.

Soorn was far from finished as they stepped out of the terminal and into Jssfloon's famous sunlight.  "Not only was it foolhardy, but it was also illegal.  You know stowing away is against the law."

"A stupid law."  Rover mumbled.

"Have you ever seen Slim Danger, Ben Cartwright or Roy Rogers arbitrarily break the law?"

Rover took in a small gasp, his jaw open and his eyes wide, just as shocked as if Soorn had slapped him.

Soorn stopped in his tracks and looked pointedly down at the boy.  "Well?"

Rover's mouth opened and closed for a moment before a tiny 'no' finally escaped his lips.  He looked away as his eyes began to feel wet.  Soorn was right, if any of his heroes had seen him today they would be ashamed.  Some may have even put him in jail.  But somehow Soorn's disappointment in him was even worse.  "I'm sorry."

Soorn's hand was suddenly on his shoulder.  "I know you want to leave.  I know there are so many things out there you want to see...you want to find."  Soorn smiled a little.  "And you will one day.  I know you will."  Soorn gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.  "But now is not that time.  You have a lot of growing to do, little traveler, a lot of learning.  I will help you reach the stars...when you're ready."

Rover let out a frustrated sigh.  "I'm ready now."

Soorn just smiled.  "I don't think so.  There is still the matter of the damages  you caused."

"I didn't know you would have to pay for them."

"Correction.  You will have to pay for them."

Rover's eyes widened with foreboding.  "Huh?"

Soorn's smile turned smug.  "You are going to work in the field along with the other workers until all five hundred of those credits are repayed."  He shook a finger from his lower hand at Rover's nose.

Rover's mouth hung open in protest.  "But...but..."  He HATED farming.  It was as boring as watching paint dry.  "You can't..."

Soorn pinned him with a look.  "You owe me that."

Rover sagged.  "Alright."

Soorn pushed Rover's massive cowboy hat down over his eyes.  "There's a fruit cart at the beach.  I'll wager I can beat you there."   And he took off.

Rover shoved his hat back and darted after him.  "Pushin' hat's ain't fair!  'Sides' you couldn't beat me with your hands tied behind my back!"

(All characters related to Hi Ho Hyperdrive belong to me)

Description
Rover squirmed a little under the huge meaty hand that gripped his shoulder, holding him firmly in place.  The spaceport station was busy as usual with aliens of every shape and size bustling this way and that, none of them paying much heed to the stone faced Toads and their young captives.   A Jssfloon spaceport security guard stood inconpicuously to the side, allowing the Toads to deal with the situation their own way but making certain the two boys remained unharmed.  Rover glanced over at Flyspur who was also restrained by a gargantuan hand.  The little Jssfloon hugged himself with all four arms as he stared sullenly at the floor, the spots under his eyes flaming a deep purple.  He looked like a prisoner awaiting his execution.

"Aw, come on, Blue."  Rover chirrped, trying to lift his friend's spirits.  He knew how much Flyspur hated getting in trouble.   "It ain't spot worthy.  Just a little setback."

He would have said more but at that moment a stiff figure appeared out of the crowd and marched purposefully up to them.  Her tail snapped back and forth angrily behind her and her soul spots pulsed under her intense green eyes.   Without even looking at Flyspur she spoke to the blob with legs that was holding him.  "My deepest apologies for the behavior of my son.". She said with a crisp dip of her head that was more anger than remorse.

The chunky flipper shoved Flyspur forward.  "Keep your offspring off our ship."

"Thank you for your mercy.  I assure you it will never happen again."   She glanced down  sharply at Flyspur then turned her back on him and began marching off in the direction she had come.  Flyspur followed, sullenly his head drooping and his tail dragging the ground.

"It wasn't his idea!". Rover called after them.  His mouth was still half open, ready to tell a fantastical tale of how they had been running from some bad guys and had the Toad's cargo hold had been their only escape, but she whirled around and pinned him with a glare that could have melted duranium.

"I know EXACTLY who's idea it was!". With that she turned her tail in him and continued on.

Rover made a face at her retreating back, but sucked his tongue back in when Flyspur glanced back at him before disappearing into the crowd.

He didn't know what the big deal was.  All they wanted to do was hitch a ride.

It wasn't long before another familiar face came into view.  Soorn's yellow eyes met Rover's and the look stopped any protests or excuses in their tracks and left him feeling like slime. There was frustration there, but it was the sadness that struck Rover in the gut. Soorn looked him over with a quick glance. "Are you alright?"

Rover pulled a smile and a carefree shrug.  "Dandy...aside from the interrupted travel plans."

Soorn turned his attention to the Toads.  "Thank you very much for informing me of the situation.  We are both deeply sorry for the inconvenience, aren't we Rover?"

Rover bristled a bit at having to apologize but managed to shrug it off.  "No hard feelings, huh, fellahs?   I mean, a guy's got to get from one place to another some--". Soorn gave him a look that evaporated the sentance in his mouth.  Rover took a deep breath, took his hat off his head and stared at the floor.  How completely humiliating.  "I'm sorry.  We had no right to be on your ship.  Please accept my apology for both of us."

The Toad that held Rover looked suspiciously from Soorn to Rover.  "This is not your offspring."

Soorn's eyebrows dipped and his tail flicked once.  "He most certainly is."

Rover looked up, startled that Soorn hadn't precluded the defiant statement with any polite address.

The Toad seemed skeptical but didn't say another word about it.   "The child requires discipline."

"Thank you.  I am aware.  Is there anything else?"

"A cargo container and it's contents were spoiled.". The Toad rumbled.  "Reimbursement is required."

"We needed somewhere to hide..."  What was meant to be a protest came out as a pitiful plea.

With a weary sigh Soorn pulled his credit disc from his pocket, pressed his thumb to the shimmering plastic and handed it to the largest Toad who tapped in a sum and handed it back to the Jssfloon who just looked tired as he put it away.

The Toad nodded with satisfaction and shoved Rover into Soorn's arms.  "Such offspring become incarcerated adults."  They sneered and lumbered off.

The Jssfloon security stepped up to Soorn, who's shoulders sagged, bracing for even more bad news.  "I regret to inform you that the alien child is banned from this spaceport until his next metamorphosis.  I hope your day is a pleasant one.". With that, he too, turned on his heel and left the two of them standing in the busy terminal.

Rover bit his lip and looked down at his bare feet.  "Soorn...I..."

Soorn shook his head and with two fingers rubbed the ridge of hair that biected his blue face.  "I am very disappointed in you, Rover."  Soorn began walking and Rover miserably kept in step.

"I didn't think that..."

"No, you didn't think.  That was dangerous.  The Toads are easily provoked.  You are fortunate they took pity on your age."

Rover frowned.  "Aw.  I ain't afraid of no overgrown frogs."

"Perhaps you are not.  But what about Flyspur?  You put him in harms way as well."

"I wouldn't have let nothin' happen to him."  Rover insisted, fists clenched defiantly.

"Do you think he will go unpunished for his part in this?"  Soorn never raised his voice but there was an edge to it that Rover was not accustomed.

Rover lowered his head, remembering just how angry Flyspur's mother had been and that last pleading look as his friend followed her into the crowd.  "No."  He said quietly.

Soorn was far from finished as they stepped out of the terminal and into Jssfloon's famous sunlight.  "Not only was it foolhardy, but it was also illegal.  You know stowing away is against the law."

"A stupid law."  Rover mumbled.

"Have you ever seen Slim Danger, Ben Cartwright or Roy Rogers arbitrarily break the law?"

Rover took in a small gasp, his jaw open and his eyes wide, just as shocked as if Soorn had slapped him.

Soorn stopped in his tracks and looked pointedly down at the boy.  "Well?"

Rover's mouth opened and closed for a moment before a tiny 'no' finally escaped his lips.  He looked away as his eyes began to feel wet.  Soorn was right, if any of his heroes had seen him today they would be ashamed.  Some may have even put him in jail.  But somehow Soorn's disappointment in him was even worse.  "I'm sorry."

Soorn's hand was suddenly on his shoulder.  "I know you want to leave.  I know there are so many things out there you want to see...you want to find."  Soorn smiled a little.  "And you will one day.  I know you will."  Soorn gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.  "But now is not that time.  You have a lot of growing to do, little traveler, a lot of learning.  I will help you reach the stars...when you're ready."

Rover let out a frustrated sigh.  "I'm ready now."

Soorn just smiled.  "I don't think so.  There is still the matter of the damages  you caused."

"I didn't know you would have to pay for them."

"Correction.  You will have to pay for them."

Rover's eyes widened with foreboding.  "Huh?"

Soorn's smile turned smug.  "You are going to work in the field along with the other workers until all five hundred of those credits are repayed."  He shook a finger from his lower hand at Rover's nose.

Rover's mouth hung open in protest.  "But...but..."  He HATED farming.  It was as boring as watching paint dry.  "You can't..."

Soorn pinned him with a look.  "You owe me that."

Rover sagged.  "Alright."

Soorn pushed Rover's massive cowboy hat down over his eyes.  "There's a fruit cart at the beach.  I'll wager I can beat you there."   And he took off.

Rover shoved his hat back and darted after him.  "Pushin' hat's ain't fair!  'Sides' you couldn't beat me with your hands tied behind my back!"

(All characters related to Hi Ho Hyperdrive belong to me)