Ghongh's Arrival

[Lord_Rednevac]

In the vast yet promising void of space, a lone Namekian vessel races between the stars at incredible speeds. By the ship's internal clock, it had been almost a third of a year back on planet Namek, and its pilot had yet to find the destination he sought. In truth, there had been quite a few green planets, and blue planets, and green-blue planets, and blue-green planets that he had encountered along his travels but not that were the blue-green planet that he had seen in his vision. The trip had not been complete isolation, as he had occasionally stopped on worlds and stations to ask for directions, but none had heard of a planet called 'Earth'.

So begins another day aboard the ship. Looking through the window Ghongh would see the now familiar sight of distant stars, planets, and other celestial bodies zooming by. It's peaceful and quiet aboard, though most likely boring outside of meditation sessions. Just as Ghongh begins his activities for the day, he hears an alert come from the ship's computer. "Foreign body detected, approaching stationary craft." At that, the ship begins to slow down as the detected body comes into view; it's a station, of similar design to the ones belonging to this 'Galactic Patrol' he had seen in the days prior. Maybe this one might know where Earth is?

[lasthope]

Ghongh hailed the station the way the first one taught him, after that misunderstanding he learned the proper etiquette for space communication... didn't want to have to fight like that again unless necessary. "This is Ghongh, from planet namek. Requesting permission to dock and seeking directions to a distant planet." He hoped this crew would be as friendly as the last couple, the universe was allot more friendly than he expected so far. he pondered as he waited their response.

 

[Lord_Rednevac]

From aboard the station, a lone patrolman sat napping in his chair. He slouched into the scooped seat, his oval-shapped body fitting snuggly enough to make it relatively comfortable. His mouth hung open as he audibly snored, not a seeming care in the world...that is until the stations main computer received a hailing frequency.

The alert was loud and repetitive enough to startle him awake, causing him to jump forward with a yelp and fall forward to land on the control console. "No, I got it, I got it," he declared loudy as he jammed on random keys before stopping and looking around, realizing this his partner was still out on patrol. He sat up and gave a sigh of relief. "Close one. Last thing I needed to wake up to was another of Jimizu's lectures."

 

Once he was relieved enough he realized he still had a hail waiting and played the message. "Namek...Namek," he said to himself, trying to make sense of the name. He reached under the console and grabbed what amounted to an intergalactic phone book and began thumbing through the pages under the N section. "...Aha! Let's see here...underdeveloped...isolationist...no contact, wait, what?" He started punching in key commands that brough up an external camera feed displaying Ghongh's ship. "What the hell kinda ship is that," he said to himself before giving a dissatisfied grunt and grabbing a microphone.

Shortly after he sent his message, Ghongh would receive a connecting frequency from the station. Upon answering, he was greeted rather brusquely.

"Hail, this is Galactic Patrol Station 071169. You're clear to come aboard."

At that, the doors for the stations landing bay opened, just like all the other ones before. Once he had finished his call, he got up from his seat and brushed himself off. "Namek, huh? If this jokers trying to pull a fast one on me then he's got another thing coming," he said self-assuredly as he sauntered towards the hanger.

[lasthope]

Landing the ship with ease Ghongh prepared to disembark, looking forward to stretching his limbs if nothing else. Leaving his traveling companion on board with a bit if water he left his ship and stood beside it waiting for the officer to greet him, he had learned his lesson from the first station when he just wondered around trying to find someone while they did the same.

 

He would be wearing a dragon emblem on the back of his light blue gi, he had trimmed down some of the style of his home world to make it a bit more simplistic after the last couple encounters.

[Lord_Rednevac]

The landing bay of the station was clean and quiet, with the low hum of the air filtration system as the only background noise. After a few minutes of waiting, the exit doors finally slid open to reveal the patrolman who let him aboard. He was an awkward creature, with an oval-shaped body, stumpy legs, and short arms. His back appeared to be covered in a shell, with his face at the top of his soft white underside and his clothing looking like pieces of fabric or armor laid over the top of his body and into the sides of his shell; basically, he's a bipedal pill bug. He stood at the threshold, taking in the full visage of Ghongh. "...Man, what a weirdo," he said before straightening himself and marching in.

He stood at a fraction of Ghongh's height but carried himself with a confident swagger. He marched up to stand before Ghongh, looking him up and down before speaking. "So, you're from Planet Namek, huh? The Planet Namek that's on the other side of the galaxy? The same Planet Namek that's been no contact for years. You've decided to leave it and come all this way looking for a planet, huh?" He crosses his arms and looks up at Ghongh. Before he can answer, the Patrolman breaks into further interrogation. "You think you can pull a fast one on me, huh!? Just 'cause I'm stuck in this middle-of-nowhere post you think you can buzz by and mess with me!? 'Uh, yeah, hi! I'm some guy from a super secret planet just wandering through, la-di-da' well I ain't havin' it! It's bad enough I'm stuck with that straight-laced busybody taking this job too seriously, but pranksters are where I draw the line."

He finally pauses his rant as he whips out a pen and paper pad. "Now, I'm a professional but I'm also fair. I'll let you off with a warning if you tell me where you're actually from." He stared up at Ghongh expectantly.

Internal Monologue

"Namek, hah! Bet the next thing this weirdo's gonna tell me is he's a Saiyan..."

 

[lasthope]

Ghongh did not enjoy the patrolmans behavior and started to second guess his decision to ask for directions, at least the other stations didn't accuse him of lying about where he was from. "like I said, I am Ghongh from the planet namek. My charts are very out of date so I've been having to ask for directions to find a blue and green planet locally called earth." his tone more stern than before as he fights the urge to call the man out for accusing him of lying. For emphasis Ghongh pulls out the star chart he was given letting the patrolman see it.

[Lord_Rednevac]

The Patrolman's brow started to twitch as Ghongh presented his story again.

"...Look, I gave you a chance, so don't blame me for what comes next," he says, pocketing the pad. He's about to reach for the sidearm on his hip but hesitates.

"...Looking at the size of this guy, I better call for backup," he says to himself.

Instead, he reaches for another pocket and pulls out a communicator. He opens and it begins to attempt to make a call when he notices his alerts are backed up.

"Eesh, I should take care of these. Not like this boonie knows I'm just buying time."

He starts to clear his alerts and begins to notice something, an official bulletin from Galactic Patrol Headquarters reporting a Namekin moving through the galaxy, followed by some photos taken of Ghongh when he checked in at other Patrol Stations; some official photos to confirm his presence, and a few candid ones by more excitable patrolmen wanting to prove they saw an actual Namekian. Looking through the pics and reports, the Patrolman starts to notice he matches the description of the guy standing before him.

"Huh? W-wait a minute," he says in realization and does a double-take with Ghongh. He holds the communicator up in front of his face, comparing the photo to the actual Namekian before him. His jaw goes slack in shock, his mouth skewing into an exasperated frown. Realizing Ghongh is still watching him, he quickly puts on a forced smile.

"Actually, nevermind, I just remembered, big report down the line about you. Just had to do a background check, you're good. The other stations filed reports for you." He pauses to clear his throat and tries to act cool. "I mean, you've met others, you have to understand that being a Patrolman requires a higher level of scrutiny than any planetary pedestrian. Now, where was it you wanted to go? Earth," he asked, sounding a bit more polite this time as he started working on his communicator again.

"Earth, Earth, Ea-ah! Here we go." He's quiet again, as he seems to be reading through the profile.

"Underdeveloped, low to no contact, hang on a minute," he says looking up to Ghongh again, taking an authoritative tone. "Earth isn't part of the galactic community, it's on the protected list. What do you want with a planet like that...uhm, exactly," he pivoted into his polite tone again right at the end.

[lasthope]

Ghongh was nothing if not a patient person, he watched as the patrolman went through his alerts knowing full well wjat he was doing but giving no sign of it, numerous other patrolman had shown him their tech and introduced him into the galactic scene before this point so this man's reaction was not outside of his expectations. When the man finally asked him about earth he looked puzzled at him for a second. "you mean you didn't know that there are already some of my race scattered through the stars, i am going to check on them.. see if they need a lift home or if they have any teachings from the world they have been living on. My travel is a pilgrimage to distant relatives so to speak." He is careful not to lie, but doesnt divulge all of the information and keeps the parts about his peoples sacred artifacts out of his statement, as instructed by his elders.

[Lord_Rednevac]

He listens to Ghongh, quietly thinking over his statement. "...Hang on, a check-in? That's all?" Soon after he says this, the gears start turning in his head.

"If this guy really is a Namekian, they're supposed to be isolationists on their home planet. If he's saying there's some off-world...some on a no-contact planet...then I might have a case here. Oh, sure, I can take him there, but then I'll bust him and whoever he's lookin' for on the grounds of trespassing on a protected world, then I might finally get the promotion that gets me off this can!"

A grin spreads across his face. He quickly snaps out of his thoughts to address Ghongh again.

"Oh, of course. I mean, normally escorts and welfare checks are for officers stationed on the planet but, in this case, we can make an exception," he says with a clever grin.

He pauses again, clearing his throat and composing himself, half turning away from Ghongh as he continues.

"Now, I'll have to make some preparations before departing. A Patrolman cannot simply leave his station unannounced, you see. The work we do is vital to galactic peace, so we have to act professionally." He starts sounding more serious and official, fully turning to the bay door and walking off.

"Plus, I'm sure you need to use the bathroom or resupply. Follow me, I'll give you the tour and give you what supplies we can spare," he says, marching back into the station.

[lasthope]

Ghongh follows him, thinking if he needs anything for his travels and shakes his head.. the only thing he can think of would make be some fresh water for his pet frog.. "I'm actually alright until we reach earth.. it looked like it had plenty of fresh water, and that's all my species needs for food." he says following the short man out of curiosity more than necessity.

[Lord_Rednevac]

There wasn't an initial response to Ghongh's statement about sustenance, for it only made the Patrolman think.

Only needs water, yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. He better not use this as an excuse to mooch off my snacks.

The wait was short and uneventful, the dull hum of the stations air system being the only constant sound, occasionally being interrupted by the patrolman's rumaging around for tools and supplies along with quiet grumbles to himself. After that brief delay, he appeared ready.

"One last thing. I need to inform my partner of my imminent departure. Wait a moment while I record a log on our computer." As he's about to head to the communications room, he stops and turns back to say "Oh, and ask before you touch anything. This place is full of delicate systems that require proper know-how to use."

Message left for Patrolman Jimizu

Encountered Traveler, required directions to No-Contact Planet, designation Earth. Suspect infiltration and interference from foreign persons on said planet. Beginning investigation, will return with results.

- Patrolman Gudo

After about a minute, he returns.

"Alright, we're ready to depart. Follow me back to the hangar."

Upon returning, the Patrolman would look over Ghongh's ship curiously.

"Namekian engineering, huh? Doesn't look like any metal I've seen before. And no exhaust? You actually flew in this, right? You didn't jusy drift all the way out here," he looked up at Ghongh and asked.

[lasthope]

"yeah, it flies.. its also alive to a degree. You have your own ship? Or we going in mine?" Ghongh asks genuinely not knowing if the patrolman has a smaller craft he will be flying in.

Mostly Ghongh was, after his time lost in space, finally growing restless and ready to strech his legs under a sun again.

Edited April 4 by lasthope (see edit history)

[Lord_Rednevac]

There was a brief double take at the mention of the ship being alive, but the question about his own ship caught more of his attention.

"Oh! Uhm, w-we'll be taking yours. I mean, I'd normally lead the way in my own but it was, uh, damaged, yeah. During a high speed pursuit. I'll tell you about it later." He held a confident pose as he stated that.

Lousy piloting suspension. How was it excessive speed in a stretch of space with no speed limit!?

"Well, if you say this this thing can fly then it's the only option we've got. I'll just have to trust that you're a capable pilot, as much you trust me as a navigator."

He stops and stares at the ship again, unsure of where the hatch to enter is.

"...Uh, after you. I wouldn't want to just march on in like I own the place," he says with an awkward grin and gracious bow.

[lasthope]

Ghongh nods and then gives the command to open the ramp to board and walks on in, inviting his guest along with a "hope you don't have a problem with frogs, my companion happens to not know how to respect boundaries." As they enter the inside is at this point sparsely decorated with Ghongh's belongings including a rack holding his father's old weapon, but as he speaks the command to secure the ship for take off what would catch the patrolmans eye is the plump green nemekian frog that leaps from part of the ceiling to plop onto Ghongh's head with a froggie smile. "there you are! Tetsu say hi to our guest." he says in a happier tone than the patrolman had heard before from him, the frog happily croaked in response.

[Lord_Rednevac]

The Patrolman is slightly startled by the sudden deployment of the ramp. He gingerly boards the ship, inspecting it as he does. Stopping just past the threshold, he observes the surroundings with slight confusion at the sparse accommodations. "Sheesh and I thought Patrol Ships were bare bones," he openly remarks to himself. He turns back to face Ghongh, getting startled by the sudden appearance of his pet frog. "Uh...yeah, hi," is all he says before getting back to business.

"Alright, you get this thing running and start plotting a trajectory," he says while approaching the control console and pulling out a portable computer. "...Uh, the name's Gudo, by the way. Patrolman Gudo. I'm still on duty for this." Once set up, he punches some keys and opens the bay door for the ship to exit; once outside, the doors would close automatically.

"Alright! I've got a path cleared. You, uh...figure out how to plot it on your system. You can do that with this, right? Otherwise, I'm going to have to guide you by landmarks, and that's going to be tedious. Not to mention this trip is going to take a while. Earth isn't exactly a major destination for the galactic community." He looks around the ship again while waiting for Ghongh to take the helm. "...So what do you do for sleeping on this thing?"

Reading the map and looking it up on his guidance system he'd find that, while it was out in a smaller system in the galaxy, his ship's rate of speed would get them there in approximately five minutes.