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

*The tardis - with Tavaron, Paul, Eli, Kyra and their dogs - materializes above Betelgeuse and Tavaron navigates it down to the surface. For a moment a city can be seen, then the tardis suddenly slows down as it moves towards the hills.*

*And then it can be seen.*

*Like a stranded whale, the dark shape of the Androcles lays in front of them and the closer they get the more obvious it becomes that it is lying there for a while already. Bushes are growing around it and some plants even climbed up the hull, but a way is leading through the bushes to the ship. It seems like cars were driving there.
Tavaron navigates the tardis along the path and to the entrance of the ship. Someone made a small staircase out of wood that leads up there.*

*Paul gives Eli a nervous look, then goes back to watching what's outside of the window.*

*Tavaron, who is of course in the control room, lands the tardis at the bottom of the stairs*

* Eli joins Paul at the window and lets out a soft, tuneless whistle. *

That's some ship.

*Paul smiles slightly*

They look bigger when they are on a planet, don't they?

*Tavaron comes out from the control room and joins the others. She wraps her arms around Paul and looks out of the window, too*

Quite different from the Mariposa, isn't it?

*she gently squeezes Paul, then lets go*

Shall we go outside?

*Paul nods slowly, then looks at Eli*

* Eli smiles at Paul and Tavaron. *

That's what we're here for.

*Paul takes a last look at the hull of the Androcles, then turns around and walks out of the room, followed by Tavaron. They go to the anteroom where Tavaron opens the door and they put on their shoes while Tarak runs outside already. He waits a few meters away from the tardis.*

*Tavaron looks up at the staircase*

I think we've been detected.

*and really, there's someone standing at the top of the staircase, looking down and waving.*

*Paul looks up and waves back*

Hi Charlie!</>

* Eli and Kyra follow Paul and Tavaron outside, with Eli making sure Frankie stays close. He follows Tavaron's gaze and smiles at Paul's enthousiasm. *

*Paul grins and starts climbing the stairs*

Charlie Louis... one of us last five.

*Tavaron closes the door of the tardis when everyone is out and then follows Paul upstairs*

* Eli nods and follows Paul and Tavaron. Kyra does so too, having taken over Frankie's lead. *

Are the other three still here as well?

*Paul shakes his head*

Only his brother Raphael, as far as I know. Adam and Anna are in the city, I think.

*he reaches the top of the stairs where he is enthusiastically greeted and huged by a tall blonde man - with tail, of course*

Hello, Paul. Good to see you again.

*he grins, then turns to Tavaron, Kyra and Eli*

Welcome to the Androcles.

*he especially looks at Tavaron and Kyra, then gives Paul a questioning look. Paul chuckles and gently pulls Tavaron to him. Charlie grins*

Very well. Nice to meet you all.

*he looks from one to the other*

So you must be Mr Charognard, Lr Christopoulus and... er... kitty. *he chuckles* Excuse me, Countess Gheorgheni, of course.

* Eli holds out his hand. *

Nice to meet you, Mr. Louis.

* Frankie looks up curiously at the stranger, wagging her tail slowly, while Kyra sticks to her customary "hi". *

*Charlie shakes Eli's hand and smiles at him, then gestures at the open door into the ship*

Shall we go in?

*Paul nods and they follow Charlie into the rather dark inside of the ship - only the emergency lights are glowing - and now also Tavaron's eyes*

Is it too dark for anyone? I'm sorry, we always try to safe energy.

*he slowly walks on, through a larger, empty room and towards the lift.*

* Eli enters the ship and stops for a moment to let his eyes get accustomed to the low lighting. Kyra does the same, and after a few seconds they follow the others, quickly catching up with them. *

*Charlie enters the lift - it has been waiting, there's noone else who could need it.*

Do you want quarters or will you stay in the tardis.

*Tavaron shrugs and looks at Paul who thinks for a moment*

The tardis, for now.

*he looks at Eli and Kyra*

What about you? Stay with us or get rooms on the ship? We'll get the tardis in here later, I think.

*Tavaron nods*

*when everyone - also both dogs - are in the lift Charlie presses a button*

* Eli exchanges a glance with Kyra and nods. *

I think we'll do the same - stay with you in the tardis for now.

*Charlie nods*

Good. We'll go to my apartment, if that's ok. Raphael is there and we made some food - nothing special, I fear.

* Eli exchanges a glance with the other three and smiles at Charlie. *

We'd love to meet your brother, Mr. Louis.

*Charlie smiles and swings his tail*

We're taking care of the ship, you know?

*he pats the walls of the lift*

Although that's not easy. We had to just lock up most parts. It's too much for two people.

* Eli nods slowly. *

I can imagine. I assume you have been maintaining the locked-off parts of the ship as well as the parts you're using?

*Kyra runs a hand along the corridor wall. She feels sorry for the ship, although it isn't sentient*

*Charlie shrugs*

Not much. We did everything that was neccessary and now just keep it locked and hardly ever go there.

*they now left the lift. What they see is a corridor with living quarters. The painted walls can be seen in the dim light of the emergency lighting. Some of the doors to the apartments are open and let everyone look in. Much of the furniture is still in the quarters and so are books, pictures and other things, but the quarters are all without light to save energy and only few can be seen.*

*Paul looks at everything and takes Tavaron's hand. He swallows*