Naboo's kiosk was closed: a sign outside said "IN SESSION". The session was with Vince. It began with Naboo heating up a cup of tea and having a seat with Vince.
"Wot's trabbling yew, Vince?" said Naboo, "Where's 'oward?"
"Actually," said Vince, "That actually wha I wanted to see ya about."
"Tell me what 'appened."
"Awright..."
Earlier that morning, Vince was sweeping up the pathways on his half of the Zooniverse. Howard already did his half. Vince would've swept his half of the zoo at the same time as Howard, but he was busy doing his half of his hairdo (badum CHEE). Anyway, Bob Fossil was coming around with the first tour group of the day. Nobody in the group was interested or entertained by their surroundings. Typical. Bob and the tour group passed by Vince when he stopped to speak with him.
"Morning, Vince. I see Howard's done before you again," complained Bob.
"Ey, it's not like izza race, Bob," Vince defended, "Me an' 'oward, we can't doit at da same time; the way 'e sweeps, it mess up mi hair!"
"Have you thought about doing it before Howard?"
Vince was speechless. It never occurred to him that he should go first. But then again, 'priorities' were not his strong suit. Bob and the tour group continued on before Vince could come up with a snappy counter.
Vince finished his cleaning duties later that day. He went to Bob's office to return his broom. Bob looked out the window, and was impressed at what he saw.
"Good work today, Vince," he said, "I guess I was wrong about you. Your half looks much better than Howard's. Bainbridge would be impressed."
Vince looked out the window with Bob and saw what he meant. When Vince began his work, Howard's half was enviously spotless. By the time Vince finished up, it was his half that was enviously spotless; Howard's half was suddenly flooded with vegetation here and there.
"I tawld 'im not to leave 'is broom in the Miracle-Gro!" concluded Vince.
"Any plans set for the rest of the day?"
"Actually, ahm pretty knackered. Ah was thinkin' of goin' back to the office for a li'le kip."
As soon as Vince left the office, he was stopped by a tiny girl in a schoolgirl uniform. The crazy thing about her was she was blue all over-even her skin. There was a tear-shaped gem wedged in her left cheek.
"Ello," said Vince, "Zere anythin' I can do fer ya?"
The blue girl looked up at Vince with her big puppy dog eyes.
"Are you 'Howard'?" she asked.
"Come again?"
"Are you 'Howard'? I have been ordered to take a 'Howard' to the zoo."
"That's weird; nobody said anythin' about 'oward getting a zoo transfer," Vince thought out loud, "Are ya sure ya don' wan' mae?"
"Are you 'Howard'?" the little girl said again.
"No. Ahm Vince. But I work with 'oward, I'll take ya tewim!"
Vince walked the little blue girl...no, she's got to be an alien!...to the office he shares with Howard. Before entering, Vince stopped in front of the door.
"Now, ah mahst warn ya, 'e mawt be a bit legless, so I'd be a bit careful if I were ya."
"Wot-evah," said the little alien.
They entered the office and found Howard. Then Vince realized that he wasn't drunk; just having a sleep. Their entrance must've triggered Howard to open his eyes, and slowly render himself awake.
"Wha? Vince? What's going on here?" asked Howard, still a bit tired.
"Oward?" said Vince, "Anybuddy say anythin' abo' a zoo transfer?"
"Probably a few threats from Bainbridge, but nothing serious. Why?"
"Cause there's someon 'ere to see ya."
Vince gestured toward the blue alien, who looked at Howard with her big eyes.
"Are you 'Howard'?" she asked.
"That's right."
The alien walked to the doorway and yelled out "WE FOUND ONE, TOPAZ!" And at that point, two large yellow butch-type ladies showed up and gathered round Howard. The two larger aliens sandwiched Howard between them until the two yellow aliens were one bigger yellow alien with Howard in its transparent belly. They...no...she walked out of the room. The tiny blue girl prepared to leave, before saying one more thing to Vince.
"So sorry to bother you," she said naughtily, "Have a nice day."
"So that's it," Vince finished his story.
"Hmmm..." thought Naboo, "I think I've seen 'er type before. D'you 'ave any pictures of 'er?"
Vince pulled out a series of photographs of the alien in question. He gave the best one of the bunch to Naboo.
"Ah, yes. I see what's going on 'ere," concluded Naboo, "This izzan alien, awright. It's an Aquamarine."
"Aquamarine? Lawk the gem Aquamarine?"
"More or less, yeh," Naboo explained, "This one's from a place cawled Gem 'omeworld. 'mazin' planet, tha' is. Fissiclee, and litralee, they're just gems. But they 'ave the ability to project 'ard-light holograms so they can take on da form of beautiful ladies."
"So?" asked Vince, "Can you take me there so I can git 'oward beck?"
"Sadly, no. Saboo put me on probation. Not allowed to do ma shaman stuff for the risst of the week."
"Ugh, ahm I a wazzok with a nice 'aircut. This is rilly balls-up."
"Actually, I know someone else who can probably 'elp. 'e lives over in the States. I'll write it down for ya."
And he did. Vince was thankful of Naboo's help, and tipped him a pound. He set out on his quest for the Gem Homeworld and get his best friend Howard back. Taking a look at the slip of paper Naboo gave him, he set a course for his first stop. "Mr. Universe, Beach City, Tell him Naboo sent you"
Vince passed by Bollo the gorilla's cage on his way out.
"Well, wish mi lak," he said cheerfully.
But all Bollo could say was "I got a bad feeling about this," followed by a grunt.