Ryuu, Scuttles, and Clef were sitting in the former’s apartment. Clef held a needle up to Ryuu’s ear, trying to pierce it. The thing is, Ryuu was fidgeting throughout.

“Ryuu, can you stop moving around? I’ll never be able to pierce it with you fidgeting.” Clef said.

“I never got a pierced ear before.” Ryuu said.

“Then why did you ask Windy to make you an earring for the Cosmic Gem?” Clef asked.

“He said that most people turn Cosmic Gems into jewelry, he said he’d do it for me and earrings were the first thing that came to mind.” Ryuu said.

“Fine… Scuttles, are you sure I’m getting it in the right place?” Clef asked.

“It says you’re supposed to poke the lobe… I think it’s the weird hanging bit.” Scuttles said.

“It’s all hanging though.” Clef said.

“It’s the bottom part of the ear.” Ryuu said. “Just get it over with.”

“Got it!” Clef said as she put the needle through.

Ryuu kept in screams of pain as the needle poked through his ear, Clef began to clean it.

“Don’t let it get infected, it says you gotta clean it when it's first made.” Scuttles said.

“Why didn’t you just pay to get this done?” Clef said. “Our suspension is paid anyway.”

“It is?!” Ryuu asked.

“Oh, they didn’t tell you did they?” Clef asked.

“No!” Ryuu said. “Whatever, I’m supposed to meet Windy in the Construction Sector today anyway.”

“Right, the first day of training! I’d walk with you, but my boss wants me to go in early to sort the mail.” Clef said.

“It’s fine, you gonna be good walking to school by yourself Scuttles?” Ryuu asked.

“Yeah, It’ll be a piece of cake!” Scuttles said.

“See you later then, Scuttles.” Ryuu said as he got up, the three leaving the apartment.

Ryuu had found himself in the Construction Sector, but was a like a rat lost in a maze. He didn’t know where he was going and was about to give up when Windy put his hand on his shoulder.

“Hey kid, what are you doing?” Windy asked.

“Sorry, I think I got lost. Where are we supposed to be meeting?” Ryuu asked.

“I’ll show you where we’re going, but first.” Windy handed Ryuu the Cosmic Gem, it was turned into a stud earring. “At your request, this Cosmic Gem is now an earring.”

“Woah, this looks amazing, Windy!” Ryuu said.

“Thanks, my ma taught me how to rework Cosmic Gems.” Windy said. “It’s a lot more complicated than you might think.”

“Either way, I appreciate it. I know you don’t think that much of me.” Ryuu said as he put it into his newly pierced ear.

“No, it’s not that… I think you’re a good kid, Ryuu. You just need a little guidance, just stick close to me and you’ll be good.” Windy said.

“What are we gonna be doing today exactly?” Ryuu asked.

“For starters, you’re gonna be meeting my crew. You already know Kidd, but there are a few other folks you probably don’t know.” Windy said as he looked over at Ryuu. “Hey… are your ears supposed to be bleeding like that?”

Ryuu put his hand up to his ear and looked at the blood on his hand. Later, after visiting a medic, Ryuu and Windy made their way to the Construction crew’s locker room. Kidd was there, alongside a few others.

“Morning, Ryuu… so they stuck you with us today?” Kidd asked. “I would say good luck, but it’s gonna be hell today.” 

“Stuck with you?” Ryuu asked.

“Is Estrella in yet?” Windy asked.

“No, he’s late again.” Kidd said.

“We’ll get to him later, Ryuu, you know Kidd already.” Windy said. “Ryuu, that large fella over there is Gadget.”

The large man bumped his head on top of a locker as he stood up. Upon turning around, he shows himself as a large Leporite with a mechanical arm and leg. Leporites are a species of rabbit-like aliens.

“Sup little man!” Gadget shouted.

“Oh my god! You’re missing an arm and leg!” Ryuu shouted.

“Ryuu!” Kidd shouted. “Sorry Gadget, I don’t think he’s ever seen guys quite like you before.”

“It’s all good! This guy is funny!” Gadget shouted as he laughed.

“You still have to meet Estrella, he’s kinda my second…” Windy was talking just as the door was blown off. A man was wearing a large yellow coat on the other side, holding a lunch box, covered in gunpowder.

“Um…” Ryuu said.

“Am I late?” The man asked.

“Yes, you need to show up earlier, Estrella.” Windy said.

“Are you okay?” Ryuu said as he looked Estrella up and down. Noticing that he was a Mutant, a Giraffe Mutant. “Hey, you’re a Mutant, aren’t you?”

“Observant, this one will do quite nicely.” Estrella said. “As for your previous query, I am fine. I woke up late, so I had my younger brothers pack me a breakfast… it seems they tried to blow me up again.”

“Again?” Ryuu asked.

“That doesn’t matter much right now. Now that you’re here, we can go over the schedule for today.” Windy said. 

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Ryuu shouted. “What are we making today? Ships? Weapons?”

“That’s engineering and mechanics, which is technically a part of the Construction Corps. But we keep the Exceed intact as well as building the shops and such within it.” Windy said.

“That sounds mighty boring if you ask me.” Ryuu said.

“As boring as it is, Construction is important work.” Estrella said. “Since you’re doing your captain’s training, you have to realize that.”

“Well put, Estrella.” Windy said. “Either way, we gotta hurry up and get to work. First, we’re gonna get you suited up.”

Windy handed Ryuu a small stack of clothes and equipment. It consisted of a construction uniform, a work belt, and a hard hat.

“Okay, I’m fine with wearing all this stuff, but I don’t need a hard hat.” Ryuu said.

“Sorry, part of the uniform, it’s non-negotiable.” Windy said.

“Ryuu just put it on.” Kidd said.

“Fine…” Ryuu went to get changed. He came back and had his regular hat clipped onto his belt.

“See, you’re already fitting into our little crew here at Construction.” Windy said. “Our first order of business, there have been roof leaks in the North Housing Sector, we’re gonna have to find where they’re coming from and get them replaced before any lasting damage is done.”

“Pipes? There’s nothing else that we can do?” Ryuu asked.

“It’s pretty cut and dry here, Ryuu. We’re meant to do the jobs that need doing and nothing else.” Gadget said. “It might be a snooze fest, but we’re getting paid.”

“I’m not getting paid!” Ryuu shouted.

“Oh, right!” Gadget said. “Still doesn’t matter, we have a job to do, so we do it.”

“That’s that, let’s get going, crew!” Windy shouted.

Ryuu stood for a bit as the construction crew left, he was a little mad. Ryuu had hit the wall next to him, creating a small hole. Not realizing that he damaged the wall, he followed behind.

The construction crew was working inside the apartment of an elderly human, opening a panel on the wall using a device that looked like a plunger.

“This isn’t going to ruin my walls is it?” The elderly man asked.

“Of course not, Mr. Vanderbilt, these walls aren’t able to mold or anything.” Windy said. “Worst that could happen is rusting, so we gotta fix up these pipes.”

“Better not, you boys need anything?” Vanderbilt asked.

“We’re good, sir.” Windy said as he pulled the panel out. “Essy, shine that light!”

A bright light came from Estrella’s eyes and pointed into the panel.

“How the hell are you doing that?” Ryuu asked.

“Estrella uses a Cosmic Gem, it’s the “Light” Gem.” Gadget said.

“I don’t see a Cosmic Gem.” Ryuu said.

“That’s because I ate it… I thought it was candy.” Estrella said, rather nonchalantly.

“You… you ate a gem because you thought it was candy?” Ryuu asked.

“Precisely, it’s why the light comes from my eyes.” Estrella said.

“Okay…” Ryuu said, confused.

“You find our leak, Windy?” Kidd asked. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“I’m just in awe… the whole pipe snapped off for some reason.” Windy said. “How does a pipe segment just break off.”

“One little pipe is causing leaks all over the place?” Ryuu asked.

“It’s not our only issue, we’ve been getting reports about lower water pressure throughout the whole ship.” Windy said. “This pipe getting cut off is causing it. We’re gonna have to replace the whole pipe.”

“The whole pipe? That could take weeks!” Gadget shouted.

“No, it won’t…” Ryuu transformed his arms into dragon arms and took the pipe.

He held the pipe in place and started to heat up his hands. The metal around the ends of the pipes began to melt together. Ryuu slid his hands along the pipe before removing them and waiting, the pipe kept in place. Kidd took out a tablet device.

“Well, would you look at that.” Windy said.

“Red Dragon Style lets me heat up my body, like a dragon.” Ryuu said. “Just had to get a little creative.”

“Looks like water pressure is starting to go up across the ship.” Kidd said.

“It’ll last long enough for us to put new pipes in.” Gadget said. “This won’t last permanently, but it’ll hold.”

“I like that quick thinking, Ryuu. After all this is over, you could always join us here in Construction.” Windy said.

“I don’t know, I’d have to think about it.” Ryuu said. “Sorry…”

“Well, that’s a-okay with me.” Windy said. “Since we got this done earlier than why don’t we break for lunch? Let’s go to Marty’s.”

“Marty’s? The pizza place?” Ryuu said. “That place is pretty high quality, expensive too.”

“Exactly, for a job well done!” Windy said. “It’s on me today, boys!”

“Hell yeah!” Gadget shouted.

“That’s fine with me.” Estrella said. “My brothers might have trapped my lunch too.”

The Construction Crew was sitting, waiting in the restaurant. Windy was looking around for someone.

“So, are we gonna order or?” Ryuu asked.

“Marty!” Windy shouted as a Hydrogenite man walked to the table.

“Windy!” The Hydrogenite, Marty, shouted.

“Been a while!” Windy said. “Ryuu, this guy here… he’s like a brother to me.”

“That’s nice! Why are you telling me this?” Ryuu asked.

“He’s gonna treat us right, seeing as we have our new Construction Crew member.” Windy said.

“Easy, Windy… he already said he doesn’t know if he’s gonna join us.” Estrella said.

“Right, right… sorry, Ryuu.” Windy said. “But please think about it.”

“I will, thanks, Windy.” Ryuu said.

“Say, what are we gonna order?” Gadget asked.

“What does the Fireball want?” Marty said, pointing to me.

“Fireball?” Ryuu asked.

“You seem like a Fireball.” Marty said.

“Honestly, I’ll be fine with anything.” Ryuu said.

“You heard the boy, Marty.” Windy said. “Get him the Anything Special.”

“You got it, Windbreaker!” Marty said.

“Hey, watch it!” Windy shouted as Marty walked off.

“What is the Anything Special?” Ryuu asked.

“Oh, you’ll have to see this Fireball, describing won’t do it justice!” Windy said.

“Say, we gotta bring the whole Fireball thing to life.” Gadget said as he gestured to his arm. “If you ever need one of these babies, how about a flamethrower arm?”

“That sounds cool!” Ryuu shouted.

“Don’t even bother, Gadget is what you’d call a mad scientist.” Kidd said. “Don’t ask him about the things his arm can do.”

“Is that a… you know?” Ryuu asked.

“No, that’s disgusting, Ryuu.” Kidd said.

“Sorry, forget I asked.” Ryuu said.

“Ah, so you’re curious about the arm?” Gadget asked. “When I lost it, I wanted to improve every little thing about it.”

“Like what?” Ryuu asked.

“Well, have you ever wanted a blender in your arm?” Gadget asked.

“Like… for shakes and such?” Ryuu asked.

“What other kind of blender is there?” Gadget asked. “My arm has it.”

“That sounds kinda useless actually.” Ryuu said. “When are you ever gonna need a blender?”

“I drink a lot of veggie juice, I even have my own formula. Try it!” Gadget said as he shoved a bottle into Ryuu’s mouth, who reluctantly drank it.

“Hey, that’s not that bad actually. What is that aftertaste?” Ryuu asked.

“Whole lotta rutabaga, peas, and carrots. You can never go wrong with some good old root vegetables. Provided by the Science Corps hydroponics lab of course.” Gadget said.

“Peas aren’t root vegetables though.” Ryuu said.

“Don’t even get into it with him on that.” Kidd said.

“Heard…” Ryuu said as he looked over at Estrella. “Hey, I’ve seen you around the Quest Corps, what’s your deal?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Estrella asked.

“You captain your own crew, how do you have time to be here working in Construction?”  Ryuu asked back.

“I make time, have you ever heard of Quantum Physics?” Estrella retorted.

“Yeah… but what does that have to do with any of this.” Ryuu said.

“Everything has to do with everything, Ryuu.” Estrella said. “Never judge a book by its cover… unless it’s a textbook, then judging it by its cover is pretty much what you’re supposed to do.”

“What?” Ryuu said.

“Kaz, you’re weirding him out… maybe tone it down a bit.” Kidd said.

“Fair enough… but I will say, that’s what separates us as Captains, Ryuu.” Estrella said. “I find ways to improve every day. You gotta provide more to your crew than just being a captain.”

“That made the most sense out of anything you’ve told me today.” Ryuu said.

“Then I will say, I’ve gotten to you.” Estrella said. “Just find something that needs doing and do it.”

“There’s our Estrella, no one knows what he says half the time… but he says it pretty damn well.” Windy said as Marty set down a giant mountain of food on the table.

“The Anything Special for my favorite construction crew on this tub.” Marty said.

“What the everliving… What is this!?” Ryuu asked in hysterics.

“This is the Anything Special.” Marty said. “I take whatever toppings and such I find in the back and put it on this.”

“I don’t think even I can eat this!” Ryuu said as he watched Estrella eat one piece whole.

“You just gotta try… I recommend unhinging your jaw.”  Estrella said.

“I’m good, thanks for the advice though.” Ryuu said as a piece was put onto his plate. He dug a fork into the pile and pulled out a fish. “It definitely has a unique smell.”

“The wife usually doesn’t like me eating this stuff, but I’m just gonna say it’s a special occasion.” Windy said.

“Better not go back smelling like this place then.” Gadget said as the group erupted into laughter.

Ryuu took a bite of the fish and pulled a bone out of his mouth.

“This fish wasn’t deboned!” Ryuu shouted.

“Marty must be getting rusty.” Windy said.

“I’ll show you rusty, you old Windbag.” Marty said, jokingly.

Ryuu felt a little overwhelmed by everything, realizing this was a rare occurrence, he stood up and addressed the group.

“Hey, I’m gonna go hit the loo real quick. I’ve been holding it in all day.” Ryuu said as he walked off.

“I’m gonna go too.” Kidd said as he stood up, following his captain. He also realized his strange behavior.