It was in the morning, an alarm clock went off at 7 AM sharp and was then hit by a webbed hand belonging to Doc. He stood up and began to do some morning stretches and then stepped on a small rock, picking it up and flicking it away. He then proceeded to walk into the bathroom and did a typical morning routine, shower, brush and shine. He then walked out into his kitchen and made some breakfast, opening a video call from someone as he sat down.

“Morning my love!” An Aquax answered on the other end, Minnow, Doc’s boyfriend.

“Good morning, Minnow.” Doc said.

“Up at the break of dawn as usual! Do you guys even have dawn on that thing?” Minnow asked.

“We have 7 AM, it’s the closest thing to dawn we have on this tub.” Doc said, eating his breakfast.

“Something is bumming you out… is everything okay?” Minnow said. “You can always tell me if something is dragging you, Ichi.”

“It’s work… Miss Dente has been working me like a Nightsteer…” Doc said. “We have Ryuu in with us today too and I’m afraid she’s gonna tear him up like a piece of paper.”

“Sounds tough…” Minnow said, worried.

“You know how Ryuu can be… Miss Dente already thinks so lowly of most people, I can’t imagine how little she’ll think of him.” Doc said. “We’re doomed if he doesn’t pass today.”

“I doubt you’re doomed…” Minnow said. “You’re my Ichi… I know that you’ll figure something out, you always do! Do you want me to get your dad on?”

“Don’t get him on! You know how he gets about helping me!” Doc said.

“Alright, alright… but seriously, he misses you. Call him.” Minnow said.

“I know I know… I plan on calling him tonight.” Doc said.

“Anyway, I gotta get to work, babe! Talk to you later!” Minnow said as he hang up the call.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad…” Doc looked at the black screen as Ryuu took a bite of his food. “AH! How did you get in here!?”

“Sorry… your door was unlocked so I came in.” Ryuu said.

“Nevermind…” Doc looked at Ryuu. “Miss Dente is going to kill you…”

“Huh? Why?” Ryuu asks.

“Just wait…” Doc said, scared.

The two had began to walk to the Science Corps’ sector, which was busy even when it was so early in the morning. A cacophony of big words, science terms and arguments over various subjects filled the halls of the sector, Ryuu was out of his element. But things changed when he entered an office with Doc, the room was full of judgemental vibes. There was a Lutrax, an aquatic mammal-like alien, sleeping in a big chair at a desk. She jolted up after the door had shut.

“Who the hell!” She looked at the two and calmed down, still speaking in a rude manner. “Oh… Maguro… you’re late.”

“Sorry ma’am… we had to detour, there were punctures in the hull of the Exceed on my normal walk.” Doc said.

“Sure… whatever…” The Lutrax said as she looked Ryuu up and down. “Who’s Eggos for brain over here?”

“Ryuu Aka, it’s nice to meet you…. Miss?” Ryuu asked who she was.

“Penne Dente… you can call me Miss Dente, you hear?” Penne said.

“I can do that, Miss Dente!” Ryuu said.

“Hmm… we have a brainless dumbass who actually listens.” Penne said, seeming relieved.

“That’s kinda rude, you oughta be nicer.” Ryuu said, Doc tensed up. Penne turned to face Ryuu.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Penne asked.

“Ryuu Aka?” Ryuu answered seriously.

“Ah, smart ass huh? Well, you’re in my hands today and you aren’t impressing me so far…” Penne said as her communicator started going off. She turned around and walked behind her desk. “Give me a minute… I’ll be back with you.”

Penne went behind her desk, facing away from the duo, she answered the call on her communicator. The call was from a young Lutrax.

“Mom…” The young Lutrax said.

“Hey honey, what’s up?” Penne asked.

“Can Ellie come over after school?” The youngling asked.

“Are Ellie’s parents okay with it?” Penne asked.

“They said that they’re fine with it.” The youngling said.

“Okay, then I’m okay with that, I’ll send over a pizza at about 4, okay?” Penne said. “I might not be able to come home again tonight, honey…”

“Okay mom, I love you…”

“Love you too…” Penne sighed as she hung up the call.

“Is that your daughter?” Ryuu asked, poping up behind Penne, who jumped in reaction.

“HEY! Mind your own business you scab!” Penne said. “And yes…”

“Are you sure you should be away for so long?” Ryuu asked.

“She’s fourteen, she can handle a few days with me away from home.” Penne said. “Why do you care so much?”

“Because she’s your daughter… what about her father? Isn’t he there?” Ryuu asked.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask that first… but her father is a scumbag running some scam outta Hells Vega.” Penne said. “Now, why don’t you mind your own business?”

“Now, Doc will show you how to do things around here.” Penne said as she looked over to Doc. “Make sure he doesn’t melt a hole into the side of the Exceed.”

“Yes ma’am…” Doc hurried Ryuu out of her office.

“Holy crap, Ryuu…” Doc said. “I’ve never seen anyone speak like that to her? Well… not anyone that wasn’t immediately fired.”

“Well… it’s true.” Ryuu said. “Just because I didn’t really see my mum much, doesn’t mean this kid doesn’t have to.”

“Still… you know you need to pass so that we can continue being Questers.” Doc said, paranoid. “You doomed us!”

“Ah come on, it can’t be that bad!” Ryuu said. “Which is why I have an idea for after work!”

“No! Bad Ryuu! We are not planning anything!” Doc said. “We need to take this seriously!”

“Eh, come on, trust me!” Ryuu said. “Maybe Penne just needs a bit of rest and relaxation! You could use a bit too!”

“I don’t know…” Doc said, anxious.

“Come on, she might go easier on you.” Ryuu assured him. “I’ll tell you the plan at lunch!”

“I have a bad feeling about this…” Doc said as he got to work.

Later in the day, as work was about to end, Penne stood up from her desk and exited her office. She walked into the break room and grabbed a mug out of a cupboard to get some coffee. As she was starting to prepare a pot, she was approached by Ryuu and Doc.

“Miss Dente!” Ryuu shouted.

“Oh god… what do you want?” Penne asked as she turned around.

“You, ma’am, are insanely overworked!” Ryuu said.

“What gave you that idea?” Penne said, sarcastically.

“Ryuu, please just get to it already.” Doc said, hiding behind Ryuu.

“Maguro? Wait, get to what?” Penne asks.

“We are gonna take you for a night on the town! You’re gonna spend some time with your daughter tonight!” Ryuu said.

“I can’t, I’m an adult and I need to finish my work…” Penne said.

“Which is why we talked to your boss!” Ryuu said.

“He talked to your boss… I was too afraid to.” Doc said.

“Why did you talk to my boss?” Penne asked.

“We asked her to have someone cover your work tonight because you want to spend time with your lovely child!” Ryuu said.

“What!? No!” Penne said as she was getting ready to call someone on her communicator.

“Wait!” Ryuu said. “Just hear my piece!”

“Okay… I’ll hear you out.” Penne put her arm down.

“You love your daughter, don’t you?” Ryuu asks. “It’s a shame when a parent can’t see their child every night… I’ve barely seen my mum in years. Besides, all that work can’t be good for you…”

Penne looks at Ryuu with a sorrowful look, she sighed and looked down at the ground.

“Fine… so long as the work is getting done, I suppose I can take the night off.” Penne said. “It’d be a nice surprise for Macaroni…”

“You named your child Macaroni?” Ryuu asked.

“It was my mother’s name!” Penne shouted.

“Okay, okay… that’s fair.” Ryuu said.

“Let’s just get out of here… I gotta pick Roni up from school.” Penne said as she grabbed her bag. “Come on boys!”

The three had left, finding their way to the Training Corps sector on the ship. As the three laid in wait for Macaroni, Scuttles had ran out to greet Ryuu.

“Ryuu! You came to pick me up from school!” Scuttles shouts, excited.

“Yeah, why not!” Ryuu said. “You got any homework tonight?”

“Not doing it…” Scuttles said.

“Good, because we’re having fun tonight!” Ryuu said.

“Yeah!” Scuttles shouted. “Hi Doc… Hi weird snake lady!”

“I’m a Lutrax!” Penne shouted. “Besides, I’m no reptile…”

“What’s a reptile?” Scuttles asked.

“Nevermind…” Penne looked up and spotted Macaroni. “Roni!”

“Mom?” A young Lutrax had started to approach the group. “What are you doing here? I thought you were working tonight. Who are these weirdos?”

“Work weirdos that convinced me to take the night off.” Penne said.

“Really? You haven’t been able to in a while…” Macaroni said.

“Well… I figured that it would be good for both of us if I took a night off.” Penne said. “So for now, we’re all gonna go have some fun.”

“They’re coming with us?” Macaroni asked.

“We’re not bad guys!” Ryuu said. “A little weird maybe, but who isn’t weird.”

“Ryuu kinda smells though, that’s another weird thing about him.” Scuttles said.

“Hush!” Ryuu said.

“Um… okay… what are we gonna do then.” Macaroni asked.

“We’re gonna go bowling!” Penne said.

“Bowling? Really?” Doc asked.

“Do you have any other ideas!?” Penne asked.

“No no! Bowling is fine, I like bowling!” Doc said, panicked.

“Good… I was part of a bowling league before Roni was born, so be prepared to get your butts handed to you!” Penne said as she guided the little group.

A little while had passed after the group arrived at the bowling alley. They were about halfway through the game when Ryuu spiked a bowling ball into the pins as if it were a regular ball. An attendant called out from the loud speaker.

“Man in lane six, for the love of all that is holy… Please stop that!” The attendant shouted.

“Come on mate, if you didn’t want us to spike them, you shouldn’t have made them so easy to spike!” Ryuu said.

“They aren’t supposed to be easy to… you know what, nevermind… I’m quitting anyway!” The attendant shouted.

“Wow… you really are amazing at this, Miss Dente.” Doc said.

“It’s been years since I’ve hit the alley… hell, last time I play… it was before I got pregnant with Roni. Fourteen… maybe fifteen years now.” Penne said.

“Mom! I got a strike!” Macaroni called out.

“That’s my girl!” Penne said, excited. “Just like mama!”

“Eh, looks like you’re having fun, eh?” Ryuu nudged Penne. “You warming up to me too?”

“You shut up… this doesn’t mean anything.” Penne looked at the alley. “You better keep an eye on your own, he’s rolling down the lane.”

“Scuttles!” Ryuu ran towards the lane to catch him.

“Come on Miss Dente… Ryuu isn’t a bad guy.” Doc said. “He’s just a little impulsive.”

“I never said he was a bad guy, but we can do with less people like him.” Penne said. “We need a little more order on this ship, especially with all the mishaps happening around the Exceed lately. Somebody is taking all the acid from the cabinets.”

“That’s besides the point, Ryuu is working hard… not just for himself… but for his whole crew.” Doc said. “Not just me, but Scuttles… Kidd, Clef and Flora too.”

“I don’t know who any of those people are… but I’ll believe it when I see it.” Penne said as she began to walk off. “I’m gonna go get our food real quick, make sure he doesn’t get us kicked out.”

“Yes ma’am…” Doc looked back over at Ryuu, who had ripped a hole in the alley floor, running over. “RYUU!”