Being part of the Phoenix crew, for better or worse, meant that there was never an end to surprises. Smith hated surprises.

Because of this, it was no surprise that the man arrived on the scene with a frown on his face while sporting a sawed off shotgun in one hand - it all went quite well with the (new) pinstriped suit he was wearing of course, but more or less reflected his displeasure at being surprised yet again. The baby Mishhu had somehow escaped, and if it didn't receive its daily dosage of growth inhibitor, it'd be just all that much closer to being fully grown and sticking it in them all!

"Everyone, I regret to inform you all that - " Smith stopped abruptly as his eyes settled on Naoko and the Mini-Mishhu in her hands, " - the problem has been resolved."

"Thank you for your time," he added with a hint of concealed irritation, uncocking the shotgun and turning on the safety.

The first thing that Enzo did was slide around from behind Naoko with his sidearm drawn. He didn't point it anywhere but the ground, but having it out was enough to underline everything he said.

"Whatcha lookins at Naoko like dat for, Smithy?" He barked.

"She's my pal, an' she can does whatever she wants with her new pet. That's what I says."

Ernie had his gun trained on the little beastie as Naoko carried it outside, finally Ernie turned to Luca and John.

"Ernie inquires if highly dangerous species of hostile alien life are commonly stored in the refridgeration device?" it asked, before trotting out the door after the other two, it's guns still out.

Naoko didn't say anything as she walked down the passageway, moving around Smith with the Mishhuvurthyar stuck in its shell and trying to stab its way free with the two or three remaining appendages. It was making no headway; at least two of them were now stuck and immobile, as if Naoko's arm had been drying cement.

Down, down, down the small procession went. They passed the main deck, and went into the subdeck, and from there, to the broad cargo hold in the ship's belly. The heavy hydraulic airlocks hissed angrily as they slammed shut behind the group, isolating them. A high ceiling, a sloped ramp at the back that had been withdrawn and sealed tightly against space, and a whole lot of empty room greeted them.

Naoko flung it across the room into all that open space with a sidearm that, while lacking in finesse, might have really been a bitch for some unlucky batter.

The Mishhuvurthyar skidded over the metal grates and plating, caught its shell on one of the padeyes where the cargo would have been tied down, and was bounced several feet in the air. It came to rest against a metallic crate, and wobbled about for a moment before coming back to itself. When it did open its chitinous shell and peek out into the spinning world, it saw Naoko bearing down on it at a crisp walk, and drew itself up threateningly, needles and talons extending from a dozen small feelers as that keen, mental hissing commenced in time to its crabby chirruping. For anyone keen on the woodsy, outdoorsy knowledge, it sounded like a really pissed off cicada.

Naoko booted it sideways, and not kindly. It bounced off the side of the crate and murbled and squealed in sudden, wild fear, scrabbling against it.

"Warui!" Naoko barked in response. "Wa-ru-I!"

The mishhuvurthyar took a wild stab at her, but the nekovalkryja's skin didn't give an inch, that time. It was knocked up against the cargo crate again for the trouble. A few more wild stabs produced no better result - and against Naoko's booted foot, it had no real defense. It curled up and went into its shell and cried and squealed pitiably, reaching out mentally for salvation, or help, or anything at all that would stop the assault.

And then, miraculously, it did stop. Very cautiously, it cracked open its shell just a tad, and came face to face with the crouching Neko.

"I know you understand me," she said, dangerously. "So are you going to listen to your daddy, now?"

It murbled something vague and bubbly that nevertheless sounded like a whimper, and went back into its shell. When Naoko stood up again, she turned and motioned Smith over.

Zeta woke up. Alone. She sighed and wished she woke up next to Luca. But that was not to be today. She stretched herself and sat on her bed letting out a big yawn. She then proceeded with her morning set of exercises. Just some push-ups and what not to keep fit. Then it was time for shower, so Zeta took a towel and headed out.

Zeta always enjoyed stream of hot water on her skin, she also remember that showers were first place where she and Luca finally.... talked it all out. She smiled and finished her shower.

Soon after that she could be seen walking into lounge to others, only wearing shorts and her towel, to cover what should be covered. She only really did not dress herself because she hoped Luca would be there. As usually she come in time to see some kind of commotion going on. She saw Naoko walking away with the small Mishhu and Smith with shotgun.

"Finally decided to kill that thing Smitty? About bloody time." She asked Smith as she took a beer from fridge and said on the couch next to Luca. She of course noticed that his bare bandaged chest finally healed. "How is everybody?" She asked, but she was looking at Luca.

"Its good to see you're taking control of your problems, Smith!" Luca gave Smith a wave as he walked in with a shotgun, following Naoko with the NMX parasite in her hands. He wasn't in the mood to come along, he hadn't had breakfast. Judging by how it came out of the fridge, it looked like Luca had to dig into something frozen and reheat it - he figured that the little Mishhu had probably peed in someone's coffee that morning.

He looked over to the Ernie and answered, in all earnest: "I found a Platypus in the fridge once - does that count?" He then looked to it and advised, "Can you put the guns down? Naoko has that little thing under control." He finished off his tea and put it down, just in time for Zeta to sit down next to him. He gave her a peck on the cheek, not forgetting what they did together the other night, "Just dandy. Want to go make some breakfast together? I'm thinking eggs, bacon, fried toast; something nice, simple, greasy and guilt-free."

He stood up and walked over to the kitchen. He might not have been a chef, but he was a proficient enough cook just to get by without killing everyone's tastebuds. He found the eggs and bacon mercifully untouched by the Mishhu, and the bread was on hand in the pantry. He lit the flames, put the pan on and dropped a dollop of oil into it. He swirled the pan around to spread the oil around, eventually covering the entirety of the pan.

-

While he was waiting for the pan to warm up, he heard his communicator beeping in his pocket. He pulled it out and flipped it open, the number was anonymous. SAINT, probably. Luca guessed, "Yeah? I'm on holidays." No answer. "Hello?" He kept waiting.

"-ple. Understand?" Iza's voice. That was comforting.
"Sorry, didn't quite catch that Iza." Luca replied as he took one of the bread slices and cut a square into the middle of it, taking the square out and placing it beside the bread. Iza coul be heard mumbling about the encryption cutting off the first several seconds of her phone calls.
"Luca. You probably aren't aware, but once again, you're needed."

"Can it wait? I've actually put signs up outside my ship, physical signs, that clearly state I am on holidays, and I am not to be disturbed. Can't the universe take care of itself for once?" He placed the bread slice in the pan, and watched it start to cook. He placed the square of white bread into the pan too, "Seriously."

"Hardly the sort. Things have softened up a little compared to the usual tremors of the war," Iza was quick to rectify, Luca drummed his fingers against the table and opened up the egg carton, "What I mean is that someone has seen fit to recognise commend you for your efforts."

Luca took an egg, broke the shell against the lip of the pan with a couple of strikes, and emptied its contents into the middle of the bread with a hole in it, "Really? The Phoenix Brand name, Energy Drinks and all that crap aren't enough?" He took a spatula and started poking and teasing the egg-in-toast, and adding bacon to the pan.

"I've gotten enough recognition, Iza - whenever I walk into a rough bar planetside, everyone runs away screaming - hardened son-of-a-bitch bounty hunters too. I'd have to go to the edges of the known universe to find someone who hasn't heard of me. Some people have started calling me the King of the Impossible. I don't see how one more log on my bonfire is going to matter."

"Not officially, anyway. This is official commendation of, paraphrased, a person not to be fucked with."

Luca blinked as he flipped the egg-in-toast over, nailing it the first time. The bacon was cooking well too, "That's original. Thought I already earned that stripe after averting terrorist disasters, thwarting mad scientists, evacuating space stations, killing hordes of Mishhu and stealing the hearts and minds of the people everywhere. Is it really necessary?"

"I'm just the messenger," Iza replied, "I for one think that you've well and truly proven yourself a force to be reckoned with over these few years - don't you think its about time someone makes it official?"

"I dunno. Something seems off," Luca scooped the egg-in-toast and bacon off of the pan and into a plate for the first customer in line - in most likelihood Zeta, "I want some cold, hard verification before I make any moves."
"You got it, Boss-Hei. By the way, we're overlooking the illegal material in your possession based upon your previous record with other illegal and questionable items, and your deeds."
Luca had an idea of who/what she was referring to, "Figured - that's why I wasn't flagged down on sight, it'd be a PR disaster not worth the trouble for you and me. Call me and send me all the documents and people involved with this award."

With that, the call was terminated. Luca continued making Eggs-In-Toasts and sides of Bacon for whoever was up for it. "Smith, Naoko," Luca yelled from the kitchen, "When you're done with the creepy crawly, y'want eggs?"

Uriel was up- had been up for... hours. He didn't keep track of how long. The Patrician was too busy posing questions to the walls of his room and scouring his book for answers to be bothered with such bland subjects as the passing of minutes.

Cycles, hm? Yes, Uriel's mind had been abuzz for the last fourteen days: contemplating possibilities, comparing Sebastian's thoughts to his own, and even comparing Sebastian's words to God's. Of course, primal needs always had a way of usurping the heady intellectual movements; in this case, the Archangel was reminded of his need to eat by a growling stomach. With an irritated sigh, he rose to his feet, stretched.

He was dressed lightly, which is to say he garbed himself in only one layer rather than the typical Elysian trifecta, and the robe was entirely white. Whether it was him trying something new or just being forgetful, his feet were also bare. That said, his form was still well kept.

In the lounge and likely on her way to the kitchen he encountered Zeta- in a towel and shorts. He sighed silently through his nostrils to hide his disapproval, then smiled rather poorly. "Good morning." Regardless of her response, he continued to the kitchen, chasing the scent of breakfast. It led him to Luca, which was something of a surprise.

"Did you fire the cook?"

"Nah," Luca replied to the Elysian, "He went Planetside a couple of days ago with the Food budget. He should be back tomorrow. Want some eggs-in-toast?"

"Sure boss, I haven't cooked anything in ages. Crane spoils us all." She sad and grinned, getting up and moving with Luca into the kitchen. Though it was him who really did all the cooking. There were other thing she could do. Drinks. She quickyl finished her beer and put it away. She then took time and prepares large kettle of black tea and pitcher of Orange Juice. That was proper drink for breakfast.

When water was warm she poured it onto the kettle with tea in it. She then added few spoons of sugar and lemon juice. Beta used to make tea like this. Sweet and tasty.

When Uriel came him, she gave him a nod in greeting, ignoring whatever he might have thought about her way of being dressed, or rathe undressed. She took a first Egg-toast Luca made and put it in front of John.

"Have a taste mr. Guinea-pig," she said to him with a grin.

Robert slipped into the kitchen full awake dressed in full sweats with a hoodie, and strangely bouncy. He went into a sommersault and rolled up behind Zeta. He smoothly slipped around her and tapped John on one shoulder while grabbing the Egg-toast from the other side and spun around to smile brightly at Zeta. "Don't mind if I do, Zee." he gave her a huge cheesy grin and stepped around her again. He walked into the next room and sat on the couch to enjoy his stolen meal, half expecting an understandably upset John attack or a thrown kitchen untensil from Zeta.