KP in Starfighter

What happened after the Last Starfighter left to go into outerspace? What does this have to do with the KP team? Read on to find out!

Chapter 6: More

(On Earth)

Beta-Kim and Beta-Ron were just leaving Kim's house with the knowledge that they each had to be somewhere or it would raise suspicions among the people who knew them best.

Beta-Kim was off to do one of the many things she normally over scheduled herself to do while Beta-Ron was off to Felix's house to play Zombie Basher IV with Felix.

Beta-Ron arrives at the house without incident and he greets Felix in the usual manner, which was normal for Ron, "Hey Felix! Are you ready for some Zombie bashing?"

Felix grins and says, "Sure thing Ron!"

Felix moves backwards to let his friend end and says, "Are you ready for another defeat Ron?"

Beta-Ron laughs and says, "Oh-ho! I have a feeling that it'll be you who is tasting the sting of defeat this time!"

Felix chuckles and says, "Sure Ron... We'll see." He knew that Ron was actually as good as he was but Ron's greatest problem was focus and the little jibes helped spur Ron's focus for at least a little while. He just wished that there was a way to keep Ron's focus for much longer.

The two pick up their remotes and begin to play for a while with Beta-Ron actually beating Felix 3 out of 5 times for a change!

Felix smiles at the end and says, "Great job Ron! You were really slaying them today!"

Beta-Ron chuckles and says, "Thanks Felix, I've been trying to practice more!"

Felix thinks, "Sure thing Ron. I bet you were just more focused although...it does seem kind of strange that some of the moves you made were totally unlike you." He thinks for a few more seconds before he thinks, "He probably picked up those moves from somewhere. Maybe he has a cheat code sheet?"

Felix wouldn't admit it to his friend but even he used a cheat sheet to plow through some of the levels but this time, even with their help Ron was reacting faster than he'd ever seen him react in the game.

Felix touches a control on his chair and cyber-robotic arms come out to open the pizza box that was sitting by them for a slice of pizza. He jokingly says, "You and Rufus better get all the pizza before I eat it all!"

Beta-Ron says, "Is that a challenge? Because the Rondo will accept it!" Inwardly he thinks, "Oh crap! I don't have Rufus with me! The original must still have him! I hope he doesn't realize that I don't have Rufus with me."

Felix takes a few bites just as Beta-Ron starts to eat as well before he notices that Rufus had yet to appear for a slice of the extra-cheese slices that he had ordered just for Rufus. He inwardly chuckles at how the pizza delivery place was getting used to him ordering a 3 way pizza with his toppings, Ron's toppings and the extra-extra cheese part for their gaming sessions.

Felix says, "Hey Ron, Where's Rufus?" causing Beta-Ron to think, "Ohhh, Zerifixag!" as he temporarily slips into his original alien language for cursing.

(Back on Rylos)

Maggie says, "Well, it looks like it'll be just us for dinner until the rest come. Since I don't want the food to grow cold, would you two like to start eating now?"

Ron says, "You bet! I'm starving!" with Rufus suddenly popping his head out and squeaking, "Food! Yum!"

Kim says, "I could wait a little, and so could you and Rufus. Right...?"

Ron pouts slightly along with Rufus mimicking Ron as he says, "Yeah... I guess I could wait too..."

Maggie's eyes had nearly popped out when she saw Rufus pop out of his pocket like that! She says, "What... What IS that?"

Ron smiles as he lifts the naked mole rat out of his pocket and says, "This is Rufus, he's my best buddy and part of the team."

Maggie says, "You have a n-naked rat as a partner?" She had never liked rats on Earth and having lived on Rylos for so long where such things didn't exist, she had thought she would never see their kind again.

Ron rubs the bald head of Rufus as he says, "He's a naked mole rat and he's more like family than a pet. Isn't that right Kim?"

Kim smiles softly at Ron and says, "Yes Ron, he is just like family." She then leans over and kisses Ron on the lips before she says, "Just like you are very close to being like family to me too Ron."

Maggie thinks, "She wants to marry Ron... how sweet." before Rufus gives Kim a hug, making Maggie shudder a little in revulsion as she couldn't imagine anyone getting so friendly with a rat. She says, "How can a rat be like... family?"

Ron says, "Rufus isn't a rat, he's a naked mole rat. Big diff!"

Maggie sternly says, "How is he different from a rat except that he's naked?"

Kim says, "You know, I was a little weirded out too when I first met Rufus but he grows on you. He is much smarter than any rat you'll ever meet on Earth and he's even saved both our lives at least a dozen times."

Maggie looks at Kim skeptically as she says, "How did he do that?"

Ron says, "Well, he has pushed the button to have us from being flash frozen by one of the superfreaks we save the world from."

Maggie is still skeptical as she says, "I can imagine him pushing a button but how does that make him smarter? And what is this about saving the world? That and more is what you'll do here in a Gunstar."

Kim and Ron look at each other as they share a thought before Kim says, "Maggie, do you ever hear any news from Earth?"

Maggie shakes her head as she says, "I have not heard any news from Earth in many years. I might get a tidbit or two from my friends when I communicate with them every so often but they usually don't because so much happens that it makes me feel totally lost and it upsets me."

Kim says, "Well Maggie, we..." stopping just then as the door opens and Alex steps through the door with a big smile on his face.

Alex, with his hair more kept than in his youth with the scar briefly showing as he throws his arms open and says, "Mags! I am home! Did you miss me?"

Maggie turns and almost shouts, "Alex! Welcome home!" as she runs towards him before she leaps up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck while at the same time he wraps his arms around her waist. They kiss each other deeply and passionately as if they were the only two people in the whole world at that moment, causing both Kim and Ron to blush as all they could do was reach out to each other and hold hands as they watched.

Maggie breaks from the kiss and says, "I am glad you're back Alex, I missed you!"

Alex chuckles as he squeezes her towards him for a moment before he says, "I couldn't tell" in a joking tone.

Maggie playfully baps his chest with her hand and says, "Oh Alex, you're just as incorrigible as when we were younger!"

Alex half-grins at Maggie and says, "Isn't that why you married me?"

Maggie smiles at Alex and says, "You'll never change will you?"

Alex's eyes never leave Maggie's as he says, "No, I suppose not..." before Maggie gives him a quick kiss on the lips and she says, "Good."

There is a sigh from behind Alex before he says, "I made a little pick up on the way home. I didn't think you'd mind."

Alex steps aside to reveal a teenage girl with long, light brown hair that seemed to be a little disgusted or embarrassed at the display of affection between Alex and Maggie.

The teenager says, "You two... I guess neither one of you will change will you?"

Ron tilts his head towards Kim and says, "Hey KP, I thought there were only four humans from Earth here?"

The teenager seems to have heard Ron as she says loudly, "You're right, I am not from Earth but who are you two?"

Maggie says, "Lilly Nana Rogan, is that any way to treat our guests?"

Kim and Ron's eyes dart to each other as they think the same thing just as Lilly says, "Sorry Mom, but you have to admit it isn't every day we see humans on Rylos other than ourselves or our friends from the park."

Alex brings his hand down upon her shoulder and says, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure they know you didn't mean any harm." He turns his head towards Kim and Ron to say, "Now Lil, let's go meet our newest gunner and pilots to join the league."

Lilly walks towards them with her parents and could see that they appeared to to be no older than herself. She could tell that they both were quite athletic from the Earth clothes that they were still wearing that revealed muscles. She wondered what they were on Earth, athletes perhaps? She wasn't sure but the blond one seemed to be a little on the stupid side but then she guesses that they probably didn't expect many other humans on an alien planet.

Maggie says, "I have to go check on the food but why don't the four of you chat and get to know each other while I bring out the food?"

At the mention of food, Rufus squeaks, "Food! Yay!"

Alex says with a smile, "Well, well... you two must be the famous Kim and Ron who broke my high score."

Lilly's jaw drops at this and she turns to her father as she says, "What? These two broke your high score?" She looks back at Kim and Ron, instantly not liking them as much because despite whatever little problems that she might have had with her problems. She was still very proud of her parents, which also included her father's high score.

Kim could feel those eyes from Lilly glaring at her and she could understand as she was proud of the work her parents did too, even the twins, although that part she'd never admit even under the influence of a truth ray.

Ron walks up to Alex and smiles as he holds out his hand and says, "Dude! I want to shake the hand of the top guy in the game! Your skills are legendary!"

Lilly blinks in surprise as Kim smiles softly while just watching Ron. She thinks, "What? He's not going to gloat??"

Alex smiles back and takes Ron's hand into his, shaking it good as he says with modesty, "Heh, I was just a trailer park kid with way too much time on his hands back then..." before Ron says a bit excitedly, "Are you kidding? If my badical girlfriend hadn't been helping me, I doubt I could have achieved anywhere near your top score and you did it by yourself! Mister, you rock!"

Lilly says, "You broke my father's high score and you're praising him? I don't understand! Shouldn't you be gloating or something?"

Ron turns with genuine confusion on his face as he says, "Are you kidding? He's the reason I wanted to play the game! I had heard that he was like the best videogame player ever from the website and he was just like me. Struggling at everything he did but ruling at action games!"

Ron smiles as he says while remembering, "I even got to play one of the really old arcade Starfighter games once and after playing it, I knew that only the best of the best could beat it!"

Ron turns to Kim and says, "You remember that time don't you KP? It was not long after the Arnie Custer incident. We went to that old arcade that looked like it hadn't changed since the 80's."

Kim rolls her eyes as she puts her hands on her hips, "I remember... you stood on my shoulders for like an hour and still couldn't get past the first stage."

Ron pouts a little and says, "I know I could have beaten it, I almost had it that last time."

Kim walks over to Ron and tenderly caresses his cheek, "I know, but we were out of money and it was time to go."

Ron nods and says, "I just wish the place hadn't closed up by the time I got my next allowance." He looks down a little sadly before Kim kisses his cheek tenderly which cheers him even as Kim says, "I know Ron, but look on the bright side. You got to play an improved game with me this time."

Ron smiles as if he was a shining sun as he says, "You're right Kim! Playing the original game was fun with you, but it was a lot more fun to play with the most beautiful girl in the world."

Kim blushes softly and then kisses him on the lips softly, "Yeah, it was more fun playing this way for me too Ron."

Lilly looks at Kim and Ron in confusion as she thinks, "Who are these people?? And why do their names remind me of something about Earth?" It nagged at her but she just couldn't remember.

Alex says, "Well Ron, if your girlfriend is anything like you said, then I can't wait to see the two of you in action."

Just then Maggie comes back with the food and places it on the table as she calls out, "Dinner's ready!"

Everyone turns back to the table to head on over while Alex leans over to Ron and says, "Are you two... really boyfriend/girlfriend?"

Ron smiles and nods as he says, "Definitely! She's the best!"

Alex grins and says, "So when's the wedding date?" as he sees Ron's eyes go distant in his thoughts about how awesome Kim was.

Ron surprises him by answering him when he says, "I hope to ask her before college so we can..." before he blinks and stops. He looks to see if Kim had heard him but she was busy helping Maggie so she apparently hadn't heard.

Alex chuckles and whispers, "Don't worry, it is our little secret..." before he says in his normal voice, "Now why don't you tell me about this new game that Centauri put out on Earth..." Helping Ron almost entirely forget about his slip of tongue as he begins to excitedly discuss with Alex the game.

AN: Well everyone I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! What did you think of Beta-Ron's experience on Earth? What did you think of Maggie's reaction to seeing Rufus for the first time? You get a little insight into just how difficult it is to get current news on a planet millions of miles away from you. Anyone want to guess how Alex and Maggie will react when they explain who they are? What do you think of Lilly? What do you think of the little past history about the original Starfighter game for Kim and Ron? What do you think of how Kim and Ron act around each other? What did you think of how Ron surprised Lilly by praising her father? Did you like the little touch about how Alex got Ron to admit he had plans to ask Kim to marry him?

As usual, all thoughts, ideas, suggestions, quirk catches, battle plans for gunstars, alien martial art ideas, your own Starfighter score, and more are welcome.