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

*Oswald looks crestfallen*

So what about my trajectory?

*Orville sighs*

Octavio? Think you can remember? You did that last year...

*Octavio nods sullenly*

I guess.

*He's disappointed at not getting the chance to talk to Kyra*

*Orville doesn't appear to notice*

Good. Then find a sandwich, find a spot, people, and I'll go get the encyclopaedia. Oh, Octavio, Father has new star charts in, too, get on the console and I'll give you access...

*He strides out to a general sound of books being taken from backpacks and portable consoles being started, though several boys make a beeline for the lunch buffet Olefa has left for them*

*Kyra discusses the politics of all the worlds she's visited - which number to quite a few. She interjects a few facts about the stars, from what she's gathered from wandering, and contributes to Oswald's learning. Every now and then she sneaks a glance towards Janaheya and hides a smile. Malaba should be pleased to hear about this*

*Oswald helps Janaheja as best he can, but he's easily distracted*

*It takes a lot of sandwiches to keep a boy his age going, and he gets up often*

*Every time he goes to the buffet, he passes by Oz and Kyra, and he doesn't like the way they have their heads together, laughing*

*When Orville declares that Jana needs a break and takes her outside to look at the garden - especially those parts not visible from the window here - Oswald sees his chance*

Hey, can you teach me, too? We'll have galactic history next term, and it can't hurt to be prepared...

*Kyra nods*

Sure, take a seat.

*She moves her chair away from Oz's so the two boys are equidistant away*

Reda is an interesting planet. There are two major powers, Bangle-or and Myeyesore; they're both controlled by a paternal monarchy. There's also a group of Amazonian women who broke away from Myeyesore because of a personal problem between the king and the Amazon queen. The prince of Myeyesore, Prince Mowgli, had a thing for the Bangle-or princess Rana, but that didn't last too long.

*She coes on to discuss the inner workings of the monarchies, as she was as close to them as any historian or political writer could be*

*Oswald scribbles notes busily, not because he needs them, but to show Kyra how earnest he is*

Hey, Oz, I thought you skip history classes anyway?

*The other boys joke around, but they get their homework done much more efficiently than they would if left to their own devices*

*Oz elbows Oswald more roughly than playfully*

Why do you think I need the help? And *you* don't need the help, everyone knows you're a complete nerd.

*Kyra frowns*

Cut it out.

*Oswald tries to push up his glasses and fails - because he's had corrective surgery a few months ago, and doesn't wear them any more*

Oh yeah? You're just jealous, you can't even, well, a lot of things!

*He turns to Kyra*

You're wasting your time on him, he's not listening to you, just ogling you.

*Kyra shrugs; she knew that, but she thinks he's listening anyway*

*Oz isn't paying any attention to Kyra now. He turns to Oswald and pushes him*

Well, what about you, *Oz*?! You steal my name, try to steal my girl ... and maybe I'm not so good at all this *school* stuff, but at least I have a life!

*Kyra rolls her eyes and gets up*

I said, cut it out.

*She pulls Oz away from Oswald, but he pushes her away and throws himself on Oswald*

You turned her against me!

*He pulls back his fist and throws as punch*

*Oswald realises that this is nothing like the fights in computer games. For one thing, being hit *hurts*, rather than just making the screen rock*

*He puts his arms up in a classical, useless boxing pose*

Ow! Hey, stop that! She's not *your* girl, smeghead!

*He defends himself ineffectively, backing up until he's against a table, and then pinches his eyes shut as he tries an uncontrolled haymaker of his own*

*The pair of boys occupying the table protests*

Stop that! You're spilling the lemonade on the console.

*Kyra grabs Oz's shoulder and spins him around roughly. Oz, thinking another boy is getting in on the action, throws another punch, but Kyra is ready, and ducks. She stops herself punching Oz in the stomach, reminding herself that he is just a boy, and hardly taller than her. Instead she grabs his wrist and pushes him back against the table, next to Oswald*

I *said*, cut it out.

*Oswald still has his hands up defensively and is panting for breath when Orville comes back in with Jana, who is looking smug and happy*

Helping eachother with your PE, are you? Please not in here, I'd hate for any vases to get broken.

*He shoots an amused glance at the would-be combatants*

Now, back to work, the rest of you, chop-chop!

*He smiles at Jana*

I'll review the exam questions with you, Princess, come over by the window, it has the best light.

*Kyra smiles at Oz and Oswald*

No offense to either of you, but I have a boyfriend, and even if I didn't, you're both too young.

*She goes back to her chair and picks up her bag*

Okay, I'm off.

Jana, can I talk to you for a sec?

*She gently pulls Jana to a quiet corner*

Good luck with your exam tomorrow. And I'll say hi to your sister for you.

*Jana doesn't particularly want to be pulled away from Orville*

Don't you *dare* tell her about Orville, or she'll find a way to spoil it, she always does.

*She looks defiant*

He's a nice guy.

*Oswald, meanwhile, pulls his shirt straight, and looking mildly embarrassed, but also very satisfied - one of his blows connected! - he goes to practice his physics with Octavio*

*Kyra nods*

Okay, I won't, if you don't want me to.

*She glances over the room*

I think I'm a bad influence here.

So, bye.

*She smiles at Jana and leaves without a second look at either of the boys who'd fought over her*

*Jana is surprised - but then, she's spying, you can hardly expect her to be honest*

Yeah. Bye.

*She hurries back to Orville's side. He makes her feel important, not like Malaba, who makes her feel like she's in the way*

*Kyra lets herself out, says a cheery "bye ma'am" to the woman out front, and heads to her motel to get her bag and check out*

*When Kyra gets back to the Mariposa and checks the time, she reluctantly decides that it's too late to go see Eli and Frankie. She's still in a relatively good mood, even though she's lonely, so after getting changed and depositing her bag, she goes to the station and finds a party*

*Kyra stays lonely at the party, having had more than enough male company for now. Two men hit on her, but she rebuffs both of their attentions and concentrates on her own intoxication*

*When an alien offers Kyra what looks like a petri dish with a cover and a mouthpiece, she takes it without a second thought, already being drunk half off her mind*

*She breathes in deep, and washes the foul taste from her mouth with a mouthful of whiskey*

*Some unknown time later, Kyra returns to the Mariposa, collapses on the couch, and dreams of unspeakable things*