CHAPTER 10: LIMBURGER HELPER
That evening, Hilbert was done with his shift, so he went to the cafeteria to eat with his fellow workers.
Hilbert served himself some chicken lo mein, teriyaki chicken, vegetable dumplings, and sushi. He took a bottle of lychee soda to wash it all down. He then went to sit down at his table.
"That looks so good," said Emil, reaching his fork out to take a piece of chicken.
Hilbert nudged Emil's fork away with his own fork.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Hilbert. "Keep to your own plate."
"Sorry," said Emil.
"That's okay," said Hilbert. "Your plate looks good too." Hilbert eyed Emil's plate, which also had chicken lo mein, plus a slice of pizza, sesame chicken, and dinner rolls.
"Sorry, Hilbert," said Emil. "This food is all mine!" Emil took a bite of lo mein.
Allison looked at Hilbert and Emil and shook her head.
"Dinner's always a party for you two," she said.
"I can't help it," said Emil. "I enjoy Hilbert's company. Just like how Kiana enjoys her fish tacos." Kiana's plate was full of fish tacos made from the freshest Magikarp.
Everyone at the table laughed.
"Never really cared for fish tacos," said Ricardo. "But they do make a nice Limburger." Ricardo held out a chunk of Limburger cheese. Everyone else held their noses.
"Aaaugh!" said Kiana. "That cheese smells horrible!"
Ricardo took a bite of Limburger.
"The cheese stand just opened today," said Ricardo. "I've always wanted to try Limburger."
"I think I'd rather try a cheese that doesn't smell like feet," said Hilbert. "Cheese-making is part of my family's history. When my ancestors first moved to this country from Germany, they worked in the cheese-making business." Hilbert was still holding his nose.
"Just make sure to brush your teeth when you get back to your room," said Allison.
Sebastian was walking by. He couldn't help but notice the foul-smelling Limburger.
"Aaaugh!" he said. "Who's eating that disgusting cheese?"
"He is!" said Emil, pointing to Ricardo.
"You ought to get rid of that Limburger," said Sebastian. "I can smell if from the table I'm at!"
"It's a free country," said Ricardo.
"And it's also free for me to not partake in eating that glop," said Sebastian.
"You don't like lo mein?" asked Hilbert.
"It's not healthy," said Sebastian.
"Oh, I forgot," said Hilbert, noticing that Sebastian's plate had a salad on it. "You're a vegetarian."
"Indeed I am," said Sebastian. "Sounds like you guys have a problem with it."
"No, of course not!" said Hilbert.
"I'm out of here," said Sebastian. "I'm getting nauseous around that noxious cheese."
Sebastian started to walk away.
By now, Ricardo had finished his piece of Limburger cheese.
"Would you like me to go get some cheese for you?" he asked.
"Of course!" said Hilbert. "Just one thing...no more of that Limburger."
"I promise that's the last Limburger I'm having for quite some time," said Ricardo.
Ricardo decided to get some cheese from the cheese stand. Hilbert tried all different kinds of cheeses. He especially liked the mozzarella cheese.
"Mozzarella is one of my favorites," said Hilbert. "I could get fat eating all this cheese."
Everyone laughed.
That night, Hilbert went back to his room. He looked out the window at the sea. Things were going peachy for a while, until...
"I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FUCKING FACE AGAIN, SEBASTIAN HARGREAVES!"
"Oh, dear," said Hilbert. "Emil sounds pretty pissed off."
Since Hilbert was dressed in only a black T-shirt and a pair of blue boxers, he put on the Aether Employee bathrobe that hung in the bathroom and went outside his room.
Hilbert saw Ricardo, Emil, and Sebastian standing in the hallway. The normally placid and happy-go-lucky Emil had his hands in fists and a fierce look on his face.
"Okay," said Hilbert, "what is going on here?"
"I can't stand being around Sebastian anymore," said Emil.
"Sebastian," said Hilbert, "what did you say to upset Emil?"
"Nothing," said Sebastian. "All I said was that Poland was a terrible place."
"Is that true, Sebastian?" said Hilbert.
"Yes," said Sebastian. "but why would I want to revisit a filthy, corrupt..."
"I think I can handle this..." said Hilbert. "Emil...Sebastian's experience in Poland was different from your own. People can have different experiences in the same place. For example, I love going to Anville Town, but some of my friends think it's boring. Keep that in mind."
Emil took a deep breath and sighed.
"You're right, Hilbert," he said. "There's no sense in being obstinate."
"I agree," said Ricardo.
"Please don't talk, Ricardo," said Sebastian. "Your breath still smells of Limburger."
"Sorry," said Ricardo,
"And as for you, Sebastian," said Hilbert, "I think that you should start being a little more respectful of other people. You've been here longer than me and it seems like you're making more enemies than friends. Me, Emil, and Ricardo don't want to be your enemies."
"You're getting really preachy, Hilbert..." said Sebastian.
"I know I am," said Hilbert, "but you'll catch more Cutiefly with honey than with vinegar. Being nice isn't that hard."
"You're damn right, Hilbert," said Sebastian, "but nobody understands what I've been through."
"What have you been through?" asked Hilbert.
"That's not important right now," said Sebastian. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my room."
Sebastian went back to his room and closed the door.
"I still don't understand Sebastian," said Ricardo.
"It seems that it's hard for him to open up to others," said Hilbert. "We should give him a chance."
"I'm hesitant to do that," said Emil. "He's always sniping at us."
"I understand, Emil," said Hilbert. "But I think we should. I'm sure Lusamine gives people plenty of chances."
Meanwhile, in Lusamine's mansion, Lusamine was arguing with her daughter Lillie.
"But Mom!" said Lillie. "Cosmog is suffering. You have to stop treating it like that!"
"Be quiet, Lillie!" said Lusamine. "I need Cosmog for my research."
"You don't understand, Mom," said Lillie. "If you keep exploiting Cosmog for its power, it will die."
"Why should I stop my research for the sake of one Pokemon?" said Lusamine.
"Research shouldn't involve cruelty," said Lillie.
Lusamine glared at Lillie.
"You make me sick!" she said. "There's no way you're getting your hands on my Cosmog. What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know..." said Lillie, "but I can't bear to see Cosmog suffer. You won't kill Cosmog. You just won't!"
"Don't you raise your voice at me, missy!" said Lusamine. "Now go to bed!"
"Fine..." said Lillie. She went upstairs to her room.