Summary: Just as the title says. Set at the beginning of the series when Ford just found out that the planet's about to be destroyed. Hints of Ford/Arthur.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own these wonderful characters or storyline. There's no way I'd be able to think of such a thing!
Who to Tell When the Planet's About to Explode
Ford Prefect sighed and looked down at the winking, black Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic lying peacefully on his towel. He wished there was another way. He was quite attached to the planet Earth, even though it had often felt like a rather spacious jail cell throughout the fifteen years he had been stranded on it. Still, it was the way of the universe to destroy small insignificant planets to make way for hyperspace bypasses.
He checked that all his important stuff was in his satchel, turned off Casablanca (he had to leave it half way through again) and walked outside, planning to find a good place to catch a lift with one of the Vogon Constructor Fleet spaceships that were about to destroy the Earth.
He way also thinking of whom he should tell. Not that it would help at all, but was there anyone he should take with him? An image flashed through his mind, but was gone before he could register it. Instead he thought of a pretty blond girl he had talked to at a party last night. But he didn't know where she was at the moment and anyway, she had seemed a little scared when he had drunkenly started telling her about his home planet of Betelgeuse.
He continued musing about this slight problem and, without conscious thought, he turned towards the road that led to where his good friend, Arthur Dent, lived. As time slowly ticked down to the final moments of life on Earth, his comfortable walk grew faster, into something that was almost a jog. By the time he reached Arthur Dent's house he was full on running. He skidded to a halt in front of a very strange scene, consisting of yellow bulldozes and brown mud, in which Arthur was lying. His heart squeezed as he looked down at the Earthman. Without realizing it, Ford had made up his mind to take Arthur with him. Arthur was very straight and he could do with a bit of lightening up. What better way to do that then take him for a holiday around the galaxy? Ford told himself, trying to hide the other, deeper reason for wanting Arthur to come with him. He looked down at his digital watch, an obsessive habit of humans that he had picked up sometime in the years of being surrounded by them. He had exactly thirteen minutes to talk Arthur around. And if he failed, well, he would just have to drag him along anyway. He couldn't bear to even think of leaving him behind.
In a less stressful moment, Ford may have wondered about these surprising feelings for the monkey descendant. But this was a very stressful moment, so Ford dismissed his thoughts and set about persuading the man lying below him.
Well, I hope you liked it. You should review and tell me. Please? I'm thinking of adding another chapter set at the end of the trilogy. But I'll see how it turns out first.