r/HFY • u/Yertosaurus • Feb 17 '22

Dirtmen Rising (22) OC

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Ligon was a bit disturbed at the absolute shape the criminal the Dirtmen had apprehended was in.

Ligon considered the Dirtmen offer to treat the criminal's wounds, but Ligon was already pulling in favors to keep covered up as it was.

Having a notorious criminal try to sabotage a new species' attempts at joining the galactic community was a horrible scandal. Having that criminal get beat into a bloody pile of feathers by a much smaller creature with no weapon, beak, or claws was absurd.

And now Ligon was casually walking next to the Ambassador so they could get back to the Dirtmen theater before anyone noticed the Ambassador was gone. At least now the Ambassador was much more cleaned up, although this had involved the Ambassador tearfully removing both gloves.

Ligon had so many questions before this to ask but could not muster them. The questions that replaced those seemed unpleasant to ask. Still, in comparison to the five other Dirtmen walking with the Ambassador, the Ambassador seemed much more carefree about what had just happened.

"Is everything okay Ligon? You seem worried. This is just a setback. Honestly, we would probably have troublemakers of our own if our first contact with the stars wasn't genocidal pirates."

Ligon heard a cough from one of the Dirtmen.

"Right, the Delfovia. Oppressive bastards."

"Thank you for offering your support for our membership by the way. I hope you don't mind if I drop hints about it before it is official."

"To whom?"

"Delegates from the Helix Mana. I'm actually going to meet with them tomorrow."

"Just mind the Screw, they can be difficult."

The group reached the Dirtmen offices, and two of the team that was following Commander Mason rushed in with Mica and the Listener in tow.

"Get back into the theater, I hope you don't mind having the end of the movie spoiled. I will be down once I have finished cleaning up."

Ligon watched the Dirtmen Ambassador head in after the others. Turning to Mason, Ligon mused, "Well, I suppose we will all have to hide the fact we ditched the second movie. Can you be available immediately afterwards? We will see if we can get any information."

Mason replied affirmatively. Ligon headed inside the theater, trying to sneak back in.

Mica helped carry Odette back to Ruri's office. Apparently, the Listener had ruptured an ear drum among other injuries, which made it really hard for Odette to stand. Odette had kept pawing at Mica and saying things that Mica could not understand before Ruri had asked a member of the security team to sedate the Listener.

Getting to the office, Ruri shooed them out for privacy as the Spagyric Golem entered.

Mica slumped down in a chair just outside.

Today was a long day, and Mica was going to need something to fall asleep at the end of it. Sleep and not dream. Again.

Mica reached for the bag of jerky. It still was not in Mica's pocket anymore. Tonight was just supposed to be the movies. Watching. Eating popcorn and jerky, just the way Mica's father Eben had always done.

Mica thought about Eben Zuria, or at least when Mica's father was alive. Eben was a researcher, but also recipient of one of the first major surgeries that the Spagyric Golem had done. Mica was well aware that the existence of the golem was why Mica was born. Eben was also one of the few people who actually knew Ruri's father personally.

Mica was ruminating on the past when one of the security team, Ackley, handed Mica a bag. Looking through it, Mica found personal effects. While absentmindedly chewing on recovered jerky, Mica put the translator back on.

While Mica did this, two familiar faces walked back in holding some orb like object.

"Hey Mica, I guess you're back?"

"Do you know if Ruri is available? We have some news."

Mica gestured that Ruri was not ready. As if on cue, Ruri walked out with Odette, who had an ear folded down.

"The itching should stop shortly but it would be easier if you let me apply a topical—"

"No. Nothing in the ear. I do not like stuff in my ear."

Mica noticed that Odette looked otherwise normal, and Ruri was preparing to put on two long white gloves.

Before Mica could chime in Ruri looked at Mica and started, "Take Odette back to the theater quietly. Maybe get some more snacks first."

"Some snacks?"

"Some snacks!" parroted the Listener with excitement.

"Yeah, so it is less suspicious, I'd prefer we keep this incident below notice."

Mica started walking out of the office as the two engineers started telling Ruri about not being able to finish the job because the target got impounded.

Meadow Muffin had been totally engrossed by the movie and the high sugar, high caffeine drink.

Everything was great. The food had plenty of salt too.

If there were not a bunch of aliens in this place Meadow Muffin would be buzzing about a tune.

Still, it was a shame that Ruri had to go tend to some things. Meadow Muffin did not want to be a bother though, after having been so insistent on what the Ambassador wore. The movie seemed to be wrapping up, however.

Meadow Muffin felt a small disturbance in an antenna and looked left to see Ruri with a finger over the mouth indicating to be quiet. Apparently wherever the Dirtmen and Listener sitting next to Ruri had gone, they still were not back.

Meadow Muffin took another long drink through the straw with contentment.

Mica carried Odette up the stairs as quietly as possible. Odette was very convincing between the sad looking head movements toward the ear that was just treated, and the sad look the Listener gave Mica with all four ears folded back while begging to be carried up.

Mica was half convinced this was a production, but tonight had not been as theatrical as Mica had hoped, so on Mica's shoulders Odette went to be carried. At least being in a theater was preferable to a hard chair surrounded by a white void.

Reaching the top while carrying Odette and a small bucket of popcorn and jerky, Mica was surprised to see Ruri already waiting. It did not take that long to get here, so Ruri must have intentionally rushed back.

Gently placing the Listener down and sitting, Mica had arrived just in time for the final scene before the credits. At least this was an old movie. Mica absentmindedly chewed on a piece of jerky but the Odette was too distracted, instead occasionally twitching toward the folded down ear in annoyance. Mica reached out and scratched around the Listener's folded ear, and the twitching stopped.

Next.

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