h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*Kyra suddenly decides she's starving, and she goes to the kitchen with Frankie. She makes herself some chicken sandwiches, finds some chips and fruit, some dog biscuits and a couple of cans of coke, and puts the whole lot in a small basket, with the idea that she could have her own picnic. She'd seen Eli and Lucy leave, but she doesn't mind being alone. And with Frankie, she isn't, really. She takes the basket and leaves the tardis, heading up the beach. She sees Malaba in the distance but doesn't wave. Frankie runs up to her, but Kyra calls her back. With Frankie by her side, Kyra approaches Malaba, and sees the sand-horse*

Wow, that's great.

*Jack gets up, puts his arm maround Anezka and pulls her down to sit next to him on the seat*

So what's the problem?

*Tavaron puts on her flippers and spits in her goggles*

No, I don't think there is anything.

*Paul meanwhile drops the anchor*

*Anezka leans her head on Jack's shoulder*

They thought I have some kind of disease and when I said that that's not the case they looked at me like... I don't know, like I'm a freak. Miss Zhang seemed to be shocked.

*Malaba scrambles to her feet, trying to use her feet to pull down the opposite trouser legs and almost falling over in the process*

Thank you, Lieutenant!

*She salutes very briskly, trying to use the motion to shake her shirt sleeves down, too*

* Eli nods and checks his goggles. *

Well, shall we go and see what's down there, then?

* He grins and wants to let himself drop into the water, but Lucy beats him to it. As she comes up again, she grins at the others in the boat before taking her first good look under water. She isn't disappointed by what she sees. *

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NGSPOD07/115468~Sunlight-reflects-on-the-sea-floor-through-crystal-clear-blue-water-Posters.jpg

*Jack hugs Anezka with one arm*

I'm sure they didn't mean anything.

*Tavaron and Paul follow Lucy and Eli into the water. Tavaron looks around. Yes, it was a good idea to go snorkling.
She points down to the ground*

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Brain_coral.jpg/200px-Brain_coral.jpg

*Kyra bites the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing. She's given up trying to stop Malaba from acting like she's an officer. She even returns the salute, though it makes her feel very strange*

*She smiles and offers Malaba a coke*

I brought too much, want to share?

*Frankie looks at Malaba, wagging her tail, but Kyra makes her stay*

*Malaba looks at the coke - it's very tempting, and she *is* very thirsty*

Yes, please, ma'am. If you don't mind.

*She remains at somewhat sandy attention*

* Eli looks in the direction Tavaron indicates, and dives a little deeper to get a closer look. When he does so, he sees something a little ahead that almost resembles a tuft of hair. *

http://www.underwater.com.au/content/5203/sea_grass.jpg

* He looks around at the others and points towards it before going up for air. Lucy gives him a thumbs-up signal and dives down to the tuft. *

*Anezka shrugs*

Maybe. I hope so. I mean, I didn't chose to be like that and sometimes it would be nice not to be dependent on all this protection... but it's not like I'm infectious.

*Paul dives down with Lucy while Tavaron also swims up for air. For a moment he has the impression that the... whatever it is, is moving. Paul blinks. Then swims up, too. He certainly only imagined it.*

* Eli dives down again at Lucy, who's still observing the green tuft, or rather, something near it. She slowly points towards something sticking out of the sand before gently swimming backwards and upwards for air. *

http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/A-pair-of-garden-eels-protrude-from-their-sea-floor-burrows-Photographic-Print-C11977211.jpeg

* Eli stays as motionless as he can, hoping not to scare the strange little creatures before the others have seen them too. *

*Tavaron and Paul both have a look at the creatures. Paul wonders how long they are... or are they mabe something like tentakles of a monsterous animal and only *look* like seperate creatures?*

*Tavaron meanwhile swims over to a coral to watch some little fishes*

http://www.tauchen.kleeblatt.de/images/Tauchbilder/DSCN4109.jpg

Want to sit in the shade?

*Kyra passes Malaba a coke and moves up the beach*

http://www.globalgallery.com/prod_images/cor-wtr081.jpg

*She spreads out the food; sandwiches, chips, fruit ... too much for one, really*

I'm starving.

* Eli gently swims to the surface for air while Lucy dives down to the lump of coral Tavaron is watching. Eli joins them soon after, and as he swims around the coral, sees another interesting, well, creature, he assumes, and gestures the others over. *

http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/0/b/D/cynthiabubble_400.JPG

*Jack kisses the top of Anezka's head*

I hope not!

They were probably just surprised. I doubt there are many people like you.

*Malaba follows Kyra dutifully, gathering up her coat, boots, and bag as she goes*

Yes, ma'am.

*She assumes this means she *may* sit, and so she does, once Kyra is seated, picking a spot a respectful distance away - not too far to talk, but not encroaching*

*Kyra leans back against a tree and helps herself to the sandwiches she'd made, giving a generous amount of meat to Frankie*

So, how have you been? I haven't seen you for ages.