[color=darkturquoise]"So, you don't think the bandanna was overkill?"[/color] [color=eb145f]"We're two teenagers going to our... [i]friend's[/i] apartment,"[/color] Kimmy sighed. Gili flounced up the stairs behind the mechanic. They stuffed their hands in the pockets of their over-sized blue varsity jacket as they breached the second floor landing. Kimmy glanced back over her shoulder in time to see Gili quirk a brow at her. [color=eb145f]"[i]What?[/i]"[/color] [color=darkturquoise]"I didn't say a thing."[/color] Kimmy rolled her eyes. She folded her arms, looking back at the open-air hallway. [color=eb145f]"We are not robbing a bank."[/color] [color=darkturquoise]"But,"[/color] Gili implored, gesturing at the paint-stained neon green bandanna tied around their neck, [color=darkturquoise]"is it [i]overkill[/i]?"[/color] [color=eb145f]"Yes."[/color] Gili puffed out their cheeks, indignant. Kimmy ignored them.[color=eb145f]"The apartment number is 269. Do you..."[/color] the mechanic trailed off, tilting her head. [color=eb145f]"Why are you laughing?"[/color] [color=darkturquoise]"I--"[/color] Gili swallowed down a giggle behind their sleeve. They swiped their hand over their forehead, brushing back the stray pink hairs that'd wrestled their way free of their ponytail. Took a deep breath, steadying their voice. [color=darkturquoise]"I have [i]no idea[/i] what you're talking about, Bee."[/color] They pointed at a door on the left of the hall. [color=darkturquoise]"Anyway? I think our destination lies beyond that door."[/color] The door Gili had pointed to was plain, save for a brown welcome mat. As Kimmy stepped closer to examine the stoop, she caught an unmistakable sparkling. The smattering of luster divulging the presence of her long-standing nemesis: [i]glitter glue[/i]. The mat read: [color=violet][i]Go away[/i].[/color] [color=eb145f]"This is it."[/color] Kimmy sounded drained, as if the single flight of stairs had already exhausted both her and her patience. [color=eb145f]"269."[/color] Behind her, Gili snorted. Kimmy shot them a glare from the corner of her eye. Gili rose their hands under her gaze-- mimed zipping their lips and tossing the key behind their back. [hr] [color=yellow]"I already told you, I don't want any girlscout cookies. Fuck off!"[/color] Keira yelled from her couch. Netflix had been consuming her attention for most of the night since arriving home. She had... needed to distract herself from things and allow herself to live in her own little fantasy world that was 'The Flash'. But as the night progressed into morning she changed over to the basic channels her shitty cable box provided in between short conversations with her alien room-mate or whatever the alien equivalent was. Something something news. Something something about fundraising. Something something about small she-demons going door to door asking for money and giving out addictive cookies in trade. Keira had, at one time, been kicked out of girl scouts. She had hated them ever since. [color=darkturquoise]"Who doesn't like [i]thin mints?[/i]"[/color] The voice behind door sounded [i]wounded[/i]. Then grunted, as if that were actually the case. There was a huffing sound, the ruffling of fabric. Someone-- a second voice-- cleared their throat. [color=eb145f]"Crowell, it's..."[/color] the second voice paused. Eventually settled on: [color=eb145f]"[i]Us[/i]."[/color] [color=yellow]"Oh! Uh, yeah, come in."[/color] The two of them walked into Keira's apartment, shivering off the last bit of the morning chill. [color=red]Glad we could all make it. First order of business, we should dec--"[/color] [color=eb145f]What do you mean [i]all[/i], where's Clay?[/color] [color=red]He'll be here in a few. We should start early."[/color] [color=eb145f]"You can't [i]know[/i] when he'll be here."[/color] [color=red]"Then you'll have to summarize our meeting for him when he decides to show up,"[/color] Josh shrugged. [color=red]"I'm sure I don't have to explain the situation to you. We don't have an overabundance of time, Ms. Kim."[/color] Kimmy looked at him, her head tilted slightly and squinting. Almost as if Josh talking back [i]confused[/i] her, like it wasn't within the realm of possibility. Her furrowed brow and clenched jaw meant that this expression wasn't solely surprise. [color=red]"Our first order of business is deciding where to put the cube. What'd you call it again?"[/color] He asked, turning to Naliele. <[color=0AEB9C]It is the Escafil Device,[/color]> the alien said. She would have sounded bored, if not for the irritation. <[color=0AEB9C]I shall keep it.[/color]> Naliele added, a slight bite to her words.<[color=0AEB9C]I am the only one who has any right to its possession.[/color]> [color=mediumpurple]"See, all this time I thought Escafil was a place in France."[/color] Zasha pondered, putting a hand to his chin. <[color=0AEB9C]Are many humans this insufferable,[/color]> she inquired, <[color=0AEB9C]or is this one merely defective? [/color]> Kimmy snorted; she quickly swallowed the sound. [color=eb145f]"Most are, sure,"[/color] the mechanic breezed, leaning against the back of Keria's couch, [color=eb145f]"but Vasiliev is... [i]special[/i]."[/color] [color=mediumpurple] "Awww, that's sweet." [/color] Zasha cooed, as if receiving a compliment. She took a moment, performing the mental equivalent of clearing her throat- which sounded like the sound of the letter 'N' through an air duct- before continuing. <[color=0AEB9C]The Escafil device,[/color]> she repeated, emphasizing the words rather forcefully, a half-conjured image appearing to get the point across, <[color=0AEB9C]is perhaps the most powerful piece of technology that has ever been invented. There is no greater power in the known galaxy. [I]However,[/I] it is imperative that you do not remain in morph for a period exceeding two of your earth "hours". To do so would render you a nothlit.[/color]> [color=mediumpurple]"We can't lift?"[/color] The Andalite's thick tail swiftly raised, knocking the bone like blade's dull base (relatively) lightly against Zasha's forehead. Zasha blinked a few times, but seemed otherwise undeterred. <[color=0AEB9C]A [i]nothlit[/i],[/color]> corrected the warrior, shifting her head in a similar posture to one raising their finger in correction following her restrained Torf.<[color=0AEB9C]You would be stuck in your morphed state forever, and the power would leave you. Such is the way of the Escafil device. To morph is a great privilege. A... [i]responsibility[/i].[/color]> The irritation on the Andalite's face fell; something quiet, almost grim taking it's place, her tone was almost hollow. <[color=0AEB9C]It is... It is [i]beyond[/i] me, why War Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul trusted you with it.[/color]> She straightened. <[color=0AEB9C]But it is not my duty to understand the reasons behind his orders. Only to uphold them.[/color]> There was a silence from the alien's mind, what must have been the thought-version of clearing a throat. <[color=0AEB9C]The Device.[/color]> Silence. Naliele tilted her head. <[color=0AEB9C]The Escafil Device,>[/color] she repeated. [color=eb145f]"Who had it last?"[/color] Kimmy asked. The group stayed quiet. [color=darkturquoise]"Uh, hi,"[/color] Gili offered the group a tiny wave. [color=darkturquoise]"My name's Gili. Thanks for having me. Great, uh, apartment. Digging the glitter paint. Very chique."[/color] They swallowed. [color=yellow]"[i]Thank you![/i]"[/color] Keira smiled at the compliment, apparently aglow at the prospect of decorative vindication. She titled her head at the quasi-stranger in her living room. [color=yellow]"He?"[/color] Gili shook their head. [color=darkturquoise]"They."[/color] [color=yellow]"They get my [i]genius[/i]."[/color] Gili snorted. Relaxed into the soles of their Converse, the ones that were red, underneath all the paint. [color=darkturquoise]"How could I [i]not[/i]? I... uh... what if this Escalator--"[/color] Naliele shot the shorter human the most powerful deathglare that could be mustered in her four yellow eyes. [color=darkturquoise]"...What if this [i]device[/i]."[/color] Gili could have sworn they saw the alien's eye twitch. [color=darkturquoise]"What if it's... yanno?"[/color] Gili dropped their voice, leaned forward, conspiratorially. [color=darkturquoise]"What if it's [i]lost[/i]?"[/color] <[color=0AEB9C]That is impossible. Firstly: The safety of that device is paramount. Should it fall into the hands of the Yeerk Empire, the entire galaxy would be unable to withstand the repercussions. Secondly, I have taken the liberty of--[/color]> the alien's thoughts were abruptly cut off by the rest of the room. In the chaotic uproar of the group arguing over who took the device, the front door quietly opened, with a very confused young Finnegan walking into the apartment in silence. He looked over to the group of teens shouting around the couch, and squinted harder than he already was. [i][color=green]Maybe I should grab some snackage before I jump in.[/color][/i] [color=mediumpurple]"I swear, the last person I saw it with was Kimmy!"[/color] [color=eb145f]"And I handed it to Gili to tie my shoe, I already sayed that"![/color] [color=yellow]"Oh, here we go again with the shoe story!"[/color] [color=eb145f]"You [i]saw[/i] me!"[/color] Clay took off his dull olive-green trenchcoat, and hung it on a coat hook, brushing a few bits of ash off of his white t-shirt. He sniffed the front of his shirt for a moment, He carried a black bookbag, slung over his shoulder, and wore the same jeans and shirt from the night before. His eyes were pink and tired, and there was a [i]fluidity[/i] in his motions that were rarely seen in the boy. [color=darkturquoise]"I gave it to Babe Ruth over here after you!"[/color] [color=red]"Babe Ruth was a baseball player! I play [i]football[/i]! It was Zasha you gave it to, anyway!"[/color] [color=eb145f]"Zasha gave it to me, and I gave it to Naleel, and she gave it t-"[/color] <[color=0AEB9C]My name is Naliele-Antrothir-Entuinal, [i]human[/i]. I am a Warrior. It would behoove you to remember that. And I did not give it to any one of you. I intended to keep it in my possession indefinitely. It must have been taken. I am not yet accustomed to your earth nights, nor your undexterous, forceful human-arms.[/color]> [color=yellow]"I've heard cooler names, I gotta say."[/color] [color=eb145f]"I gave it to [i]Naleel[/i]"[/color] Kimmy huffed, shoulders squared, eyes pinned on the alien. Four yellow eyes shot back a similar glare, [color=eb145f]"and [i]she[/i] gave--"[/color] [color=green]"Mmm. [b]Peaches.[/b]"[/color] Clay had opened up a yogurt container in Keira's refrigerator, and began spooning bits out with two of his fingers. The kitchen, as small as it was, was on the opposite end of the apartment, away from the chaos of the arguing. For Clay, this was probably better. [color=mediumpurple]"Why's that cinderblock named The Truth?"[/color] [color=yellow]"5th grade science fair project."[/color] [color=darkturquoise]"We're getting off topic!"[/color] [color=eb145f]"We're getting off topic!"[/color] [color=green]"Why's there so much yogurt in here?"[/color] Clay's voice rose above the din. Kimmy threw her head back and hissed something in Korean before falling back onto Keira's couch. Clay plucked a yogurt container from the fridge and held it above his head, as if to emphasize the question. Silence stretched before the group, who each stared at him before looking back to each other, each more confused than the last. It was Keira who finally spoke up. [color=yellow]"I don't come into your house when you're harboring an illegal alien, and start questioning your shit![/color] [color=green]"[b]How much do you [i]poop[/i]?![/b]"[/color] Clay exclaimed, rifling through her refrigerator. [color=green]"Everything you eat is, like, milk-based or soda!"[/color] [color=yellow]"Hard and fast enough to reach terminal velocity in 1.3 seconds!"[/color] [color=red]"Clay, how freaking [i]long[/i] were you just standing there?"[/color] Clay shrugged. [color=green]"I got distracted."[/color] [color=darkturquoise]"Okay, [i]someone[/i] needs to enlighten [i]everyone else[/i] as to where the weird glowing alien cube got to!"[/color] The thought of it having been left somewhere made the pink-haired teen nauseous. <[color=0AEB9C]Escafil. Device,[/color]> the alien corrected tiredly. [color=green]"Oh! My bag. Hold on."[/color] Clay wiped his yogurt-covered hand off on a nearby shirt hanging off a chair, and reached into his bag. He pulled out the glowing cube, and walked over to the group. [color=green]"Tada!"[/color] He gently placed it on the table, before sitting down on the couch as if he were in slow motion.