"Okay okay, that's enough now," Nolan said as he and Sylvana broke off their attack. Then he grinned at Cochran, "Hey, you were looking so serious and complacent, you just needed to be wheeped!"
Josh Cochran mumbled incoherently and waved a hand as he quickly made his escape back to the Batcave.
Josh Nolan then turned to Sylvana. "So... who the hell are you?" he smiled to take any sting out of the question.
"Sylvana Lorrdain, number Eleven - or so I've been told."
"There's eleven of you? Or are you called eleven?"
"That kid..." she snapped her fingers as she dug up the memory, "Major Sci. He told me I was number Eleven," she shrugged. "Oh, uhm, sorry about the squeaky thing - my brother dared me."
"Oh! Well, good to meet you. So that guy with the hair," he gestured at her bluish locks, "That's your brother? Does blue streaked hair run in your family?"
She shook her head and laughed, "Yah, my little brother. And no, we got bored in Atlanta," she fingered one of the blue locks. Then she pointed at Cochran's retreating form, "You said he's American, d'you know where he's from? I could swear I've seen him before...."
"Texas originally, I think, but he joined the air force, so I guess he's from wherever he was stationed." He paused a moment, "Before he stole the F-16, anyhow."
Sylvana blinked and opened her eyes wide in surprise, "How the hoth did he STEAL an F-16?!"
He shrugged, "The keys were in the glove box? I don't know."
Just then, Sylvana's stomach decided to make its presence known with a soft growl. She rested a hand over it, "Uh, anywhere to eat around here, sir?"
"Yeah, I guess it's time you met Rich."
"Rich?"
"They call him 'Chef Boyd' around here, but they're way too formal. You might want to make a good impression - he's Vickie's husband."
Sylvana held her hands up and raised an eyebrow while shaking her head, "And...?"
"And Vickie's your flight leader."
She nodded, "Ah, I see. I will be respectful then... mostly," she grinned and half winked.
"That's all we can ask."
"I hope there's lots of food, I'm half-starved!"
"This is a palace, there's lots and lots of food." He began to lead the way.
"I hope you're not angry about that squeaky alien thing... you've gotta understand -"
"Nope," he shrugged, smiling faintly. "No blood, no foul."
"Hey, you should smile more often, you're kind of cute... uh, sir."
"Uh.... So I'm told."
They soon arrived to the mess hall. "Well," she held out her hand, "lead the way. I'm rather new here."
Josh called out as they arrived, "Hey Rich? We've got a newbie here who needs a feed. Think you can fix her up?"
A voice came from the kitchen, "Crispy? And I was just cleaning up from whatever meal it was we just had today!"
Sylvana followed the voice, and peeked her head into the spotless looking kitchen. "I'll wash up after myself, but I haven't eaten since we landed, and well..." she shrugged. "I'd be happy with bread by now."
"Bread?" Rich smiled, "We've got bread. Just had it baked today, it shouldn't be stale yet. Come in, help yourself, mind the knives."
Her bell-like laughter floated into the room as she entered.
"Rich, meet Sylvana Lorrdain," Josh turned to her, "Did I get that right?" Then he turned back to Rich, "She's our new Terra Eleven."
Sylvana nodded, "Yes that's right. Uhm..." she stopped suddenly at a loss. "I don't know who you are!" she said with surprise.
He put on his most stern expression. "I'm a Captain, that is all you ever need know." At that, Sylvana stepped back slighty, and he grinned. "Sorry, Josh Nolan, Terra Five."
Rich spoke over his shoulder, "A.K.A. The Crispy-Fried Aussie!"
She smiled, sticking out her hand, "Pleased to meet ya, Cap'." As he shook her hand, she looked at Rich, then back to him, "How's that?" she asked before going over to the fridge to rummage around for something to slap onto the bread.
Josh looked downcast, "I burn easily."
Rich laughed.
From behind the fridge door, Sylvana spoke with a light voice, "Then you shouldn't get so close to fire."
"Couldn't help it," the captain explained. "It's my job."
"Well," she shrugged and reappeared with some jam and nut-butter. "If it's your job, it's your job..." she turned to Rich, "Knife?"
Rich reached over to the drawer and pulled one out, handing it to her, "Knife. You want to hear what burned him?"
"Thank you," she took the knife and began working at the sandwich. "Did he get too close to the stove?" she asked, tossing a glance and a soft smile to Josh before going back to her sandwich.
"Nope," Rich grinned. "Just tried to act like a hero-boy and nearly got himself killed."
"I didn't have a lot of choice, you know," he replied with a hurt tone to his voice.
Sylvana finished the sandwich, washed and dried the knife, then returned it to the drawer. She then looked at Josh, "May I ask what happened, Cap'?"
"AT-STs were firing on the cabin we were holed up in. I went to try and stop them, and one of them shot a little too close to me."
She put down her sandwich and gulped while looking at him in amazement, "And you're still alive?!"
"I didn't say it shot me. But I got 'em."
She leaned against the counter, regarding him curiously, "How?"
He patted the lightsabre on his belt smugly, and only just now Sylvana noticed it. "I got yelled at about it later, though."
She absently took a bite of the sandwich and swallowed before saying, "You're a Jedi?"
"Naah. The guy we were wheeping's one, though. So's Vickie," he nodded to Rich.
"Yah, at least now I know why she always gets her way..." he waved his hand, "You will put the toilet seat down," Rich grinned.
Sylvana started to laugh, then stopped abruptly as her eyes widened, "I'm in so much trouble! Oh sith..." she put her head in her hands, "I'm not even here for a day, and I'm in trouble with a Jedi...."
Josh shook his head. "Naah, Josh C.'s a big old softie when you get to know him. I'd be more worried about what Sci has to say."
"I'm gonna skewer Arrek," Sylvana mumbled to herself.
"Just don't do it where you might leave witnesses."
She was silent in thought a moment, then hit the countertop with her left hand, "I know where I saw him before!"
"Do tell...."
"I think I saw him in Atlanta!" The excitement of figuring things out died almost instantly, "Oh crap...." she muttered, "Nah, he shouldn't recognize...."
Josh raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you wheeped him in Atlanta as well...."
She shook her head, "No. Bought those here," she finished eating in thought.
"Fair enough." Josh looked at Rich, and mouthed 'Atlanta?' Rich just shrugged.
She finished cleaning up her place then, just as she'd promised. "So, is there anything else I need to know about?"
"You know where the toilets are and all that?" Josh asked.
Sylvana thought a moment, "Yes, I think we found them in our wanderings...."
"Remind me not to hurry to use them, then. You've seen the Batcave?"
"Is that the place I found you?" She chuckled, "It's a neat name."
"Yeah, it is. But had you been inside it before you challenged me to the pain?"
She chuckled, "No, we'd just found it."
"Fair enough - I guess I should show you around."
"Would you? I'd be in debt."
"Then I'd better not," he smiled, "Maybe you should wait for a paycheque."
"We get paid?!" Sylvana feigned utter shock. "This is a better deal than I thought!" she favoured him with a lopsided grin.
"It's not a lot, but it's enough. I guess I'm lucky, 'cause I've got a share in a business - that supplements the income a bit."
"Business?"
Briefly he glanced at Sylvana, then the realisation hit. "Oh - you haven't met any Ewoks, have you?"
"No...? Should I have?"
"I hope not - but every so often, a bunch sets up a colony somewhere in the palace. They're not too popular over here, so we try and keep them out of here to keep the Mendellians happy. Plus, they're really only supposed to be in Brisbane and New Hampshire."
"First I've heard of Ewoks on Terra, and I thought I'd heard everything," she shook her head. "I guess that's where the giftshop came from, eh?"
"Yeah, we've got one open around here, too." Silence rained a moment, "Look, there's a lot to pick up about this sort of thing - so if you've got any questions, just ask."
"Will do," she leaned up and planted a kiss on Josh's cheek. "So, how about that Batcave? Stuff's always more interesting when you go down."
He didn't know quite where to look, "Uh, yeah. Well, it's down a few, so let's go there."
She stepped back and waved a hand, "Lead the way, Cap!" Then she looked to Rich, "Thank you for the food. Pleased meeting you."
"Anytime," the Palace Chef said. Then he winked at Josh, "Have fun now."
"You told them he was the Queen of Norway?" Sylvana shook her head at Arrek. "You never cease to amaze me little bro."
"You're amazed," muttered Josh Cochran. "Twins!"
"Queen of Norway," marvelled the captain, grinning broadly. "You know, I had you pegged for a queen."
"If I was a queen, I'd bet you'd treat me with more respect, Crispy."
"But your Majesty! I have tribute for you right here!" The captain produced the inflatable alien from behind his back.
Sylvana noticed him, and brandished hers as well, "Ah yes. A tribute...." she winked.
Cochran began to step back, hands before him.
Nolan grinned, "Have at you!"