HPU: Apollo City

[CyberDragon]

As Volken touches Beta's fur, he would be able to tell that it wasn't fur at all, but rather more like the needles of a Meyer Spruce tree. Beta closed his eyes reflexively as if enjoying the feeling of being petted. Tom watched him and shook his head.

"Shameless. Some vicious predator you are." he said, looking amused.

As if he just noticed what was happening, Beta pushed the hand away looking suddenly very embarrassed. "Ahem... so, uh... what kind of creations are we talking about?"

"Smooth transition. Woven like a quilt. OOF!" Beta elbowed Tom, knocking him flat on the floor. "I'm Okay!" he said reassuringly.

[Hlaoroo]

"Helmut! Good to see you again!" Makani's father, Daniel, who goes by Dan, shakes Helmut's hand in greeting once the specialist has finished examining the tiger.
"You remember my wife, Jo?" Joanne, who usually goes by Jo, also greets the specialist before both humans are interrupted by a polite cough from Makani.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside? A line is beginning to form and the captain will be waiting." he suggests.

~~~~~~~~
Kelly slows her pace, allowing the pair to catch up, and acts as though they'd never lagged behind. She points out one or two popular stores along the block and presently stops outside an old-fashioned painted-wood door. A wrought iron support above the door dangles a blue wooden sign on which is painted a large white deer to attract passers by. The pub is designed to look and feel old fashioned, comfortable and timeless, as though it would be just as suited to a turn-of-the-century British village as it would modern-day London. The droid holds the door open for her charges to enter and then bows.
"I shall leave you to your meal. Please enjoy and I look forward to seeing you later tonight for the show."

[Mickey]

"Oh yes," Quincy said. "Humans are so full of themselves: They can barely imagine us more than glorified bodyguards or as lesser cops."
Zeke grinned. "And so, that makes us perfect for undercover operations. They never suspect the pets."
"And we get to see the world."
"AAAND THE BABES!!" both sang out, hi-fiving.

Marky snickered a bit at the two, his tail wagging a mile a minute while James' swayed side to side lazily. He was interested, very interested, but Marky was so into this, he was practically vibrating with restraint from blurting out a million questions at once.

"Babes?" James asked, his head tilting with a small, but very, very confused smile.

[CyberDragon]

"Hmm... I do think we have caused enough chaos out here." Tom said, looking at the line, many of whom were staring, muttering, or laughing at the two's antics.
"You can never have enough chaos! What's wrong with you?" Beta responded, looking disbelieving.
"I merely think we aren't being fair. After all, we haven't spread ANY chaos inside! The people in there will feel left out!"
"Aaaaand back to normal."
"I'd have to have been there to go back to it."

[valerio]

Marky snickered a bit at the two, his tail wagging a mile a minute while James' swayed side to side lazily. He was interested, very interested, but Marky was so into this, he was practically vibrating with restraint from blurting out a million questions at once.
"Babes?" James asked, his head tilting with a small, but very, very confused smile.

"Gals"
"Minks"
"GIRLS!" both said as one. Then, Zeke, "They will swoon all over you after a daring rescue."
"Yeah, we still are in touch from nice ones even from Africa."
"Like that lioness Archduchess, eh?" and Zeke showed an almost wolfish grin.
---

Kelly slows her pace, allowing the pair to catch up, and acts as though they'd never lagged behind. She points out one or two popular stores along the block and presently stops outside an old-fashioned painted-wood door. A wrought iron support above the door dangles a blue wooden sign on which is painted a large white deer to attract passers by. The pub is designed to look and feel old fashioned, comfortable and timeless, as though it would be just as suited to a turn-of-the-century British village as it would modern-day London. The droid holds the door open for her charges to enter and then bows.
"I shall leave you to your meal. Please enjoy and I look forward to seeing you later tonight for the show."

Tegan *was* impressed. "I'd say, this is *exactly* what I wanted. Thank you, Kelly!" she squealed. "Can't wait to try some 'ye old-fashioned' dish!"
---

"Helmut! Good to see you again!" Makani's father, Daniel, who goes by Dan, shakes Helmut's hand in greeting once the specialist has finished examining the tiger.
"You remember my wife, Jo?" Joanne, who usually goes by Jo, also greets the specialist before both humans are interrupted by a polite cough from Makani.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside? A line is beginning to form and the captain will be waiting." he suggests.

"Hmm... I do think we have caused enough chaos out here." Tom said, looking at the line, many of whom were staring, muttering, or laughing at the two's antics.
"You can never have enough chaos! What's wrong with you?" Beta responded, looking disbelieving.
"I merely think we aren't being fair. After all, we haven't spread ANY chaos inside! The people in there will feel left out!"
"Aaaaand back to normal."
"I'd have to have been there to go back to it."

Volken chuckled. "My dear friend," he said to the other human, "When Asur meets this hot piece of bioengineering--" and right at that moment, the reptilian droid and the genet droid made their appearance.
"Hello, E.T., where's your leader," said Asur. Jemmy just sighed and extended a paw. "Beta, right? I am honored. I am Jemmy, intelligence anidroid Alpha-MKIV. He is Asur, combat anidroid Alpha MK-X."

[Welsh Halfwit]

Francis looked around at the subdued lighting and wood panelling and couldn't help but agree with Tegan as to Kelly's choice. He stepped over to the bar. "A table for two, please," he asked. The barman looked at him for a moment. "Oh, sorry. It's 'seat yourself, yes?'" He looked or a table.

[valerio]

Francis looked around at the subdued lighting and wood panelling and couldn't help but agree with Tegan as to Kelly's choice. He stepped over to the bar. "A table for two, please," he asked. The barman looked at him for a moment. "Oh, sorry. It's 'seat yourself, yes?'" He looked or a table.

"That will do," Tegan lightly tugged him toward a table for two in a corner, far enough from the entrance so to have some privacy, close enough to the bar. "I hope you're a good meat-eater. I can't wait to see if they serve mutton."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well I don't know about mutton," Francis said, taking a seat and opening a menu, "but they'll probably have something you'll like... Ooh," he added after a moment, "the Black and Blue steak looks good."

[valerio]

"Well I don't know about mutton," Francis said, taking a seat and opening a menu, "but they'll probably have something you'll like... Ooh," he added after a moment, "the Black and Blue steak looks good."

"Hmm, I'll go for an opening of Grilled prawn skewer, followed by a dish of Surf & Turf. Nothing like some fish in your protein to make the world a better place! And hope they make it HOT!"

[CyberDragon]

Volken chuckled. "My dear friend," he said to the other human, "When Asur meets this hot piece of bioengineering--" and right at that moment, the reptilian droid and the genet droid made their appearance.
"Hello, E.T., where's your leader," said Asur. Jemmy just sighed and extended a paw. "Beta, right? I am honored. I am Jemmy, intelligence anidroid Alpha-MKIV. He is Asur, combat anidroid Alpha MK-X."

Tom waved at them. "I'm Tom. Mad genius or genius madman. Either way is fine by me." He looked like he was about to set up another line of chaotic jokes when Beta took Jemmy's hand, shook it, and said simply:

"I am Groot!"

Tom couldn't keep his composure anymore and he burst out laughing. "I taught you so well."

[Roarin]

"Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside? A line is beginning to form and the captain will be waiting." he suggests

"Aren't social constructs nice? The only thing preventing us all from all tackling and viciously going for each other's throats for the last scrap of food left on the table. Among other things." A familiarly merry voice quipped. Poking her head into the conversation Avery smiled at the assembled group, a blue ribbon adorning her right ear and her jingly collar looking all polished up.
"And now whenever someone cuts in line we can all say they can't have any cuts or butts... or coconuts."

[valerio]

Tom waved at them. "I'm Tom. Mad genius or genius madman. Either way is fine by me." He looked like he was about to set up another line of chaotic jokes when Beta took Jemmy's hand, shook it, and said simply:
"I am Groot!"
Tom couldn't keep his composure anymore and he burst out laughing. "I taught you so well."

"Aren't social constructs nice? The only thing preventing us all from all tackling and viciously going for each other's throats for the last scrap of food left on the table. Among other things." A familiarly merry voice quipped. Poking her head into the conversation Avery smiled at the assembled group, a blue ribbon adorning her right ear and her jingly collar looking all polished up.
"And now whenever someone cuts in line we can all say they can't have any cuts or butts... or coconuts."

"Glad to see you could make it," Jemmy said, before introducing the canine. "She is the first recognized nonhuman psychoterapyst. I am working as her assistant, Dr. Volken. It will help me develop more social skills to trace new behavioral patterns."
"AND make friends," Volken said with a sigh. Jemmy still had to learn not to be so...blunt, but at least he was trying to stop playing 'Uatu the Watcher'.
As the group entered, Volken said, "Y'know, Tom: What with all of these humans, transhumans, animals, droids and transanimals walking into a restaurant, you *should* be having enough material for the most massive bar joke ever. Did you ever hear, by the way, about the bar Ur-joke?"

[Hlaoroo]

"Avery!" Makani grins, teeth startlingly white against the inkiness of his fur.
"Good to see you again! You scrub up nicely!" he compliments her before offering her a gentlemanly arm.
"Would you do me the honour of accompanying me to dinner?"


"Oh, not that tired, old thing!" Dan groans good-naturedly at Volken's mention of the joke. "Well, I suppose you'd better tell it now that you've brought it up."

~~~~~~~~
Once Tegan and Francis are safely ensconced in the pub Kelly returns to the theatre to assist in any last minute preparations and to make sure she's charged, oiled and groomed ready for the night.

~~~~~~~~
It doesn't take long for a pretty waitress droid in the form of a white doe (female deer) to appear by Tegan and Francis' table.
"Hi there and welcome to the White Stag! I'm one of the waitresses here. My name is Zoe the Doe-y, and yes I know that rhyme is forced and cringe-worthy but I have to say it anyway. I can see from your wristbands that you haven't been here before so if you'd like and if you have a few moments I'll give you the run-down of how we operate." The droid gives a graceful curtsey, holding her apron like a skirt as she introduces herself.

[Roarin]

"It would be my pleassurrre!" The canine woofed, happily hooking her arm around the one Makani provided before turning her head to the group.

After listening to Jemmy introduce her she held her free paw out to shake. "Doctor Avery Johansson, it's nice to meet you two."

[valerio]

"Oh, not that tired, old thing!" Dan groans good-naturedly at Volken's mention of the joke. "Well, I suppose you'd better tell it now that you've brought it up."

"A communist priest carrying a drunken dog on his shoulders, a politician hobo and a noisy librarian walk into a bar singing "La Marsilleise". The barman gawks at them and tben blurts, 'Is this a joke?'"
~~~~~~~~

It doesn't take long for a pretty waitress droid in the form of a white doe (female deer) to appear by Tegan and Francis' table.
"Hi there and welcome to the White Stag! I'm one of the waitresses here. My name is Zoe the Doe-y, and yes I know that rhyme is forced and cringe-worthy but I have to say it anyway. I can see from your wristbands that you haven't been here before so if you'd like and if you have a few moments I'll give you the run-down of how we operate." The droid gives a graceful curtsey, holding her apron like a skirt as she introduces herself.

"We're all ears, Zoe"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well, now I can't use any 'be a Deer' jokes I shall certainly listen," Francis said with an indulgent smile.

[Hlaoroo]

"Oh, people still use that joke. They like to complain that our prices are "two deer" too. I just tell them that we're actually a few bucks cheaper than elsewhere and that comparatively speaking prices in the food business remain relatively stag-nant. I find this positivity and humour encourages them to fawn over me and leave bigger tips. Of course you get the odd bull-y that thinks I'm a cow but they don't bother me calf as much as you'd think since I have a big hart and I just leave the insults be-hind me in favour of eliciting more positive reactions from other customers." Zoe grins, rattling off the nine cervine puns in quick succession as she lights the candle on the table with a butane lighter hidden in her finger, using the subtle distraction to give the pair time to react to the jokes.
"But, on to business! I see you've found your menus already which is great. Our specials are up on the board next to the bar there, as is the soup of the day. When you're ready to order you just head up to the bar and they'll take your order and table number. You can also order drinks there or alternatively flag down myself or any other staff member who are easily recognisable by our aprons and we'll gladly bring you your choice of beverage. Would you like any drinks or bread to start with? Our fresh-baked crusty bread with herb butter is quite popular among pets."

~~~~~~~~
"So how was your day?" Makani asks the dog before he's distracted introductions.
"Yes, nice to meet you both." he says, shaking paws with the droids. "Did I meet you earlier when I was checking in, Jemmy? I can't remember, sorry."

~~~~~~~~
Dan and Jo giggle at the joke and watch to see Tom's reaction.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"An astonishing panoply of expensive puns," Francis chuckled. "Many of which I've never herd." He nodded. "The bread doe seem good. What to drink, Tegan? Your choice."

[valerio]

"An astonishing panoply of expensive puns," Francis chuckled. "Many of which I've never herd." He nodded. "The bread doe seem good. What to drink, Tegan? Your choice."

"This is a pub and I'm ordering surf'n'turf, soo...beer. Murph's Irish Red, if you have any. Draft. And be sure that the foam is thick enough to eat as a dish aside."
---

"So how was your day?" Makani asks the dog before he's distracted introductions.
"Yes, nice to meet you both." he says, shaking paws with the droids. "Did I meet you earlier when I was checking in, Jemmy? I can't remember, sorry."

"Can't say we did," Asur answered after a dry handshake.
"I went and met the doctor shortly after boarding, so no. Sorry."

[Roarin]

"Hmm...". Avery thought for a moment, her arm squeezing Manaki's and pulling him closer for a brief moment as her thought about it... seemingly with her whole body. "Great!" She finally declared, "I met with a patient. Went back in time to the Roman Empire aaaand, made some new friends! You included. Oh, and and, I got an assistant! Jemmy! So yeah... pretty great! What about you? Last I saw you were holding a packet of edible...". She paused briefly, remembering the unsatisfactory taste. "Something."

[CyberDragon]

"A communist priest carrying a drunken dog on his shoulders, a politician hobo and a noisy librarian walk into a bar singing "La Marsilleise". The barman gawks at them and tben blurts, 'Is this a joke?'"

Tom looked stoic. Or at least he tried to. It was difficult to maintain a serious air when his headpiece was making the sound of crickets chirping while playing a cat video on one of it's Heads Up Displays. It was even more difficult when something inside his coat randomly quacked like a duck.

Beta, however, was laughing. "That was a good one!"

Tom shrugged. "Eh, I've heard it before."

[valerio]

Tom looked stoic. Or at least he tried to. It was difficult to maintain a serious air when his headpiece was making the sound of crickets chirping while playing a cat video on one of it's Heads Up Displays. It was even more difficult when something inside his coat randomly quacked like a duck.
Beta, however, was laughing. "That was a good one!"
Tom shrugged. "Eh, I've heard it before."

Volken shrugged, then patted the tiger's shoulder. "Hold dear to your innocence, Beta. Now, let us take our seats." and not-so-coincidentiatlly, he made sure that he and his anidroids sat down at the right side of Tom, along the central, long table. "Say, Beta, are you also a concept of proof for the FSP?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I think I shall go for the cider, please. Taff Apples."

[valerio]

"I think I shall go for the cider, please. Taffy Apples."

"Hmm, a delicate connoisseur, I see. When you started with it?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Oh, only a few months back, Tegan. We visited the Cider Mill on my last Birthday." Francis chuckled slightly. "He wanted to buy a going concern."

[Hlaoroo]

"Excellent choices, both of you. One Taffy Apples Cider, one Murph's Irish Red and one bread with herb butter coming right up! Your table number is 23." Zoe informs the pair, tapping the number branded into the tabletop.
"Just quote that number at the bar when you're ready to order and feel free to flag any of our staff down if you need anything!" With that, Zoe gracefully bounds towards the bar and reaches for glasses, preparing to pour the drinks as she sends the order of bread to the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~
"Ah, must have been a different droid then. Sorry for the confusion. I could have sworn his name started with a J though. And, heh, yeah, Avery, that thing was gross! I didn't end up eating it. I found a nice restaurant that gave me some Asian pastries. Was absolutely delicious!" the black cat enthuses as he leads Avery towards the table.
"I also went back in time to the dinosaurs and forwards in time to see a city block being demolished. That was a wild ride! Say, did you bring any humans with you tonight?"

~~~~~~~~
After laughing politely at the joke, Dan and Jo also head to the table, taking their places between Volken and, a few seats away, the Captain of the ship.

[CyberDragon]

Volken shrugged, then patted the tiger's shoulder. "Hold dear to your innocence, Beta. Now, let us take our seats." and not-so-coincidentiatlly, he made sure that he and his anidroids sat down at the right side of Tom, along the central, long table. "Say, Beta, are you also a concept of proof for the FSP?"

Beta took his seat and waited for things to start going, laughing inside at the looks he and Tom were getting. "FSP? Umm, no. Not specifically anyway. They did say I was the proof of concept for APG, which they believe might have multiple... applications..." he said, suddenly destracted by Tom, who had, in his boredom, pulled out a very odd top-like device, which was currently spinning around making a 'weeeeeeee' sound while bouncing up and down. Kids would laugh at it, while the more formal adults around scowled at him, and the overly intelligent people would realize it was tapping out the screenplay for Hamlet in Morse code for some reason.

"You didn't have a SINGLE joke in that sentence. I had to do something to save our hot streak!" Tom explains to Beta.

[valerio]

Beta took his seat and waited for things to start going, laughing inside at the looks he and Tom were getting. "FSP? Umm, no. Not specifically anyway. They did say I was the proof of concept for APG, which they believe might have multiple... applications..." he said, suddenly destracted by Tom, who had, in his boredom, pulled out a very odd top-like device, which was currently spinning around making a 'weeeeeeee' sound while bouncing up and down. Kids would laugh at it, while the more formal adults around scowled at him, and the overly intelligent people would realize it was tapping out the screenplay for Hamlet in Morse code for some reason.
"You didn't have a SINGLE joke in that sentence. I had to do something to save our hot streak!" Tom explains to Beta.

"In a formal dinner like this one, usually, a more...earnest attitude is required, but..." Volken's eyes went to the exictedly-speaking crowd, not only at theirs but at all tables, engaged in all manners of conversation, and honestly a restricted selection of them actually *looking* like people you'd put on a cermonious occasion.
"...as you can see, basically 90% of these people and animals are here just to show off. One way or the other, financially or as volunteers, they are here to discuss the next best thing: Blue Mars Colonization Project, which will start in 2020. Imagine, a wholly private and global initiative that will do what only television and cinema did, so far. To us, this maiden voyage will be the occasion to select the best projects. And Beta's concept would make for an excellent candidate. But I guess you cannot speak on the company's behalf on this, eh?" He sipped a glass of water, looking around, then frowning. "There was another one: A snow leopard: his tribe lives in the most extreme conditions on the Himalaya, and he was born with a metabolic genetic defect we could stabylize. If we can reintroduce him successfully to his habitat we can also use his therapy as basis for other therapies for the colonies. His name's Flash."

[Roarin]

"Sounds like a bunch of fun!" Avery quipped, "Wow... dinosaurs and Asian pastries! Exotic! Mmh... speaking of pastries... or food in general. I'm starving!" She looked around excitedly, trying to catch a glimpse of any food that happened to be around. "Oh! Humans! Umm, nope! My handlers actually aren't here on the ship. Just little ol' me. Technically I suppose the medical ward staff are my handlers now. Mmh... I really should have taken the time to meet them today, but I was busy with a patient."

[CyberDragon]

Tom sighs. "Fine, fine. I can be boring for a little bit." He reaches to grab the top-like thing and put it away, but it hops away from him as he reaches for it. He reached for it again and it bounced over his arm. Using both arms to try and trap it resulted in the top-thing leaping up and smacking him in the nose and falling to the ground. Pretty soon, a real life Tom and Jerry episode seemed to play out with Tom chasing the mechanical Jerry around the room, trying to catch it and put it away. Beta was either trying to keep a straight face, or he was pretending not to know the odd human.

[valerio]

Tom sighs. "Fine, fine. I can be boring for a little bit." He reaches to grab the top-like thing and put it away, but it hops away from him as he reaches for it. He reached for it again and it bounced over his arm. Using both arms to try and trap it resulted in the top-thing leaping up and smacking him in the nose and falling to the ground. Pretty soon, a real life Tom and Jerry episode seemed to play out with Tom chasing the mechanical Jerry around the room, trying to catch it and put it away. Beta was either trying to keep a straight face, or he was pretending not to know the odd human.

Volken sighed. "You know, Beta, I wonder *what* got into his superiors to assign *him* to you."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"So," Francis said, sitting opposite Tegan at the table, "I imagine you've wiki-ed and googled me to death already but what can you tell me of you, pretty lady?"

[CyberDragon]

"I have no idea. Kinda glad they did though. He keeps life interesting." Beta had his head in his paws, but he couldn't help but smile.

Tom had finally caught the little mechanical device, which was struggling in his hands, by diving under a table. He stood up. "Don't sell me short Beta! I've driven five people insane so far! I'd say interesting doesn't cut- AAH!" The strange thing in his hands had somehow acquired a frying pan from somewhere and smacked him in the face with it, making a loud CLANG, and causing him to let go and grab his nose.

[valerio]

"So," Francis said, sitting opposite Tegan at the table, "I imagine you've wiki-ed and googled me to death already but what can you tell me of you, pretty lady?"

"Oh well. I was basically grown in a vat in 'accelerated mode' -that is, they made me grow up 1 year in 2 months. During that time, my brain was literally fed with sensorial experiences so that I could emerge with a full ability to interact with the world.
"Then came Phase 2: I was let free to play as I liked, and to develop my own tastes in literature, music, movies, books...and every time I chose something, I was directly fed everything about that author. This allowed my education to step up according to my personality with a minimum of time wasted...Oh, and I know kung-fu."
---

"I have no idea. Kinda glad they did though. He keeps life interesting." Beta had his head in his paws, but he couldn't help but smile.
Tom had finally caught the little mechanical device, which was struggling in his hands, by diving under a table. He stood up. "Don't sell me short Beta! I've driven five people insane so far! I'd say interesting doesn't cut- AAH!" The strange thing in his hands had somehow acquired a frying pan from somewhere and smacked him in the face with it, making a loud CLANG, and causing him to let go and grab his nose.

At that sight, Asur looked at his own creator with a cold stare. "You become like *that*, I will kill you for mercy. Deal?"
"Deal...I think."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Remind me not to annoy you," Francis said on hearing the statement on Kung-Fu. He looked a little less composed now. "What about... What about, uh, physical... um... touching of lip to... lip?" He cringed slightly.

[valerio]

"Remind me not to annoy you," Francis said on hearing the statement on Kung-Fu. He looked a little less composed now. "What about... What about, uh, physical... um... touching of lip to... lip?" He cringed slightly.

Tegan chuckled at that. "Ohhh, this so reminds me of that time I decided I 'liked' one or two...spicy novelists. My poor custodians knew of course that I was bound to be curious on that...matter. I was far more mature than any cat my age. And so, they fed me those authors as well." she leaned forward, her head resting on her hands, flashing a very meaningful grin. "Let's just say that, in *theory*, I know a lot of things now."

[CyberDragon]

Beta whistled and held out his hand. The odd top-thing bounced up into his paw and he put it in his lab coat. "I have no idea how you keep your job, Tom."

Tom, who was holding a napkin to his bleeding nose, responded. "I invended half dere sduff. Dey don'd care 'ow oo acd iv oo've invended 'ammerspace."

[Welsh Halfwit]

Francis swallowed. "Uh... puts you ahead of, um, me, then?" He half held a grin. "May I... may I demonstrate so, uh, you can decide how much teaching I need? That didn't sound right..."

[valerio]

Francis swallowed. "Uh... puts you ahead of, um, me, then?" He half held a grin. "May I... may I demonstrate so, uh, you can decide how much teaching I need? That didn't sound right..."

Tegan reached out and brushed his cheek. "Nah. I'm just teasing. I 'instaread' a lot of stuff, but I have all to learn. Care *you* to tech moi?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

Francis shifted into the chair next to her and echoed her stroking his cheek by stroking hers as he felt his heart in his throat. He looked at her and his senses swam as he tried to close the gap the first time. So he tried again, closing his eyes this time...

He opened them again as he felt his face touch... something. Mike Cod, he thought absurdly, Bullseye! He decided he liked it and wondered what now?