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Chapter 22 – Lunch on Plentitude

Plentitude was beautiful that afternoon. The fountains seemed to be spraying colored water in the large lake where Legate, Genie, Karen and Arles transported down to. Karen took Arles' arm and looked around. It was a bright, sunny day. The sky almost appeared a darker blue than back on Earth. People of different species walked around. Karen was sure her mouth had to have gapped open. She wished she had two more sets of eyes to see everything.

Arles leaned down, "Alright?"

"This. It's really another planet!"

Arles laughed. "Yep! And it's one of the safer ones."

Legate took Genie's hand. "Well, food first. Pete is insisting. He's with Lewis and Tony. I'll lead the way. They are just over here."

Karen held onto Arles' arm as Legate led them to an opening at the edge of the lake. White stairs lead them down into a building under the water. As they descended, the walls became clear and the water from the lake was visible. Karen held onto Arles' arm tighter.

Legate spoke to a lady at the arched opening. "We're meeting our party."

She smiled. "Of course. Go ahead."

Legate led them into the restaurant. Tall pillars seemed to be made of white plastic that connected the ceiling together. They walked through many small tables, full of people of different species, who sat dining.

They arrived at the back of the restaurant and heard Pete Tyler's voice, "Hey! You made it! Come on. We'll pull you up a seat."

Tony Stark was there with Pepper. Soli's back was turned to them as he stood up on his knees to look through the window at the lake. Lewis held baby Arles in his arms as he sat in the seat next to Exton and Poltious. Legate held out a chair for Genie and Arles did the same for Karen.

Tony looked surprised to see Karen had joined them. "Karen! I didn't expect you!"

Soli's head turned around immediately when he heard her name. "Karen!"

She smiled as Legate and Arles' sat down. Soli sprang out of his seat and ran to Karen to embrace her.

She held him and laughed in surprise. "Well, it's nice to see you, too!"

Soli smiled. "I've missed you, Karen. Tony and Pepper told me that you were sad."

She looked at his innocent face. "I was sad. But, I'm very happy, again."

Soli nodded. "Because Sam is alright. He's alright, isn't he?"

Karen rubbed his back. "He's going to be fine."

Tony whistled at Soli. "Hey. She might not want to talk about that."

"It's alright." Karen smiled at Soli. "You know, you might want to see him."

"I do want to see him. I've missed him. He's my best friend."

Genie giggled as she sat next to Karen. "Some things are always the same. He would love to see you, Soli."

Soli looked back at Tony. "Can we go see him-"

Arles tapped the little boy's head and whispered, "May. Try 'May we go see him..'."

"May we go see him?" Soli asked.

Tony held out his hands. "How can I surprise you if you ask for this stuff?"

Soli laughed, "Brilliant!"

Pepper motioned for him to come back to sit down. "As soon as we're done here."

"I thought we were going to the toy store?" Tony complained.

"I'd rather see Sam." Soli told him.

"Well, alright. Fine with me." Tony nodded.

Pete smiled, "So, he's doing better?"

"Eating ice cream." Genie nodded.

"A lot of ice cream. That was his fourth bowl." Karen informed them.

Legate crossed his arms and sat back. "Ice cream is the best with Ranch dressing."

Lewis coughed and shook his head in disgust. "Poltious? Where did we go wrong with this kid?"

Poltious chuckled.

Pete looked at Legate through his eyebrows. "You're kidding, right?"

Legate shook his head. "No. Chocolate with Ranch dressing. It's the best way."

Tony rubbed his hands together. "Mention that to Arcite. He prefers his with shrimp."

Genie looked back at Karen. "Don't let them gross you out."

"Are they serious?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Genie told her.

Pete pointed at Legate and asked Genie, "You kiss this man?"

Genie looked back at Legate and smiled. "I do, Grandfather."

Pepper looked back up at the window just in time to see a large, purple fish with huge teeth, swim by. She smiled at Soli, "And he's back."

Soli quickly turned around to watch the fish swim.

A woman with a long pony tail, and light skin, walked over to their table. Karen noticed the blue lines drawn on her face. Other than that, she didn't really look very 'alien' at all. Her dress showed her cleavage and her skirt was extremely short, just barely covering what it needed to. "Welcome. What may I get you to drink?"

Tony pulled his glasses down to get a better look at her and cleared his throat. "Oh, wow."

Pete looked at the menu. "This…blue drink. Just here."

She nodded. "Yes. And everyone else?"

As each one of them ordered and looked up at the waitress, their mouths gapped open and the men were unable to take their eyes off of her. She took everyone's drink orders and as she walked away, all of the men leaned back in their chairs, or stretched their necks, to watch her.

Pepper rolled her eyes as she looked back at Tony. "I'd yell at you, but you're not the only one."

Genie smacked Legate in the chest. "Roll your tongue up."

Pete pointed at the table. "No one tell Jackie that happened."

Arles rubbed his chin and continued to look at her. "She's a…."

Lewis handed baby Arles to Pepper. "Plosie, is what she looks like."

Arles sat his chair back down on its feet. "Damn. That's what I thought, too."

Poltious chuckled. "Dream on, Arles."

Legate laughed. "Dream indeed. In fact, I'm willing to put a grand on you can't-"

"Done!" Arles told him without taking his eyes off of her. "I'll be right back."

Karen shook her head as Arles disappeared down a hallway that the waitress had walked through. "I don't think he needs encouragement."

Genie looked back at her, "I agree. You know how he is!"

Legate grinned. "He'll never get her attention. They are like smoke."

Lewis chuckled. "Yeah, they are. Anyway. John says Samuel is sleeping. Rose is with him."

Pete crossed his arms. "Oh, that's right. You already went to see him."

"Yeah. I helped with his transport. He looks a lot better than I imagined he would."

Pete sighed, "I still haven't been able to find my Tony, yet. I think he's avoiding me."

Poltious shook his head. "I think John sent him to sleep."

"He may have. I don't know. I've managed to work out what you lot are doing."

Poltious rose his eyebrows, "Really, then?"

Pete bit his lip and nodded. "Yes. And, I want to have a word with you about it-"

"But, later!" Legate insisted.

Pete held out his hand, "Well, why later?"

Poltious looked at Legate in surprise. "Yeah, let the man say what he needs to."

Legate groaned and propped his head up on his fist. "I really don't think that's a good idea at all."

Poltious looked surprised, "You don't?"

"No, I don't."

Poltious crossed his arms and sat back. "So, you're pulling rank here?"

"We're the same rank!"

He pointed at him, "You know what I'm talking about-"

"Geez. Just. Ugh. Geez." Legate became frustrated.

Pete and Poltious looked at one another and laughed.

Arles returned to the table and sat down. "Damn. She just…vanished."

Pepper shook her head. "She will be back. She's bringing our drinks."

Just as she said that, the waitress stepped up to the table and started to give them their drinks.

Tony pointed at her and rose his eyebrows. "Work smarter, man. Not harder."

Arles nodded. "Right."

Karen giggled with Genie and sipped her drink.

The waitress asked, "And do you know what you want to eat, or do you need a minute?"

Lewis pointed at Karen. "John is suggesting something for you. Is that alright?"

"Sure." Karen agreed.

Lewis took over ordering for her as Genie looked back at her. "So, shopping. Where would you like to go?"

"Samuel has asked for some pants."

Genie laughed.

Legate nodded. "That's not a bad idea. I need to get some myself."

Tony pointed at her. "Get Sammy a shirt like I got here."

Pepper laughed, "You mean the dress you accidently bought?"

"She can't keep it off of her mind. Makes my ass look…." He kissed his fingertips.

Karen laughed. "Oh my God."

The waitress finished taking everyone's orders and stood behind Arles. He looked up at her and smiled. "Ummm. What would you recommend?"

"Well, our tastes might be different." She smiled.

"That's true." He thought and rubbed his lip. "You know. I don't know what it's called, but there was a man over there eating something nice. Would it be too much trouble to walk over there with me, ma'am-"

"Ma'am?" She asked.

He cleared his throat and smiled. "Ugh, yeah. You're most defiantly that."

Legate looked back at Poltious, Pete, Lewis and Tony who were all watching to see what Arles would say next.

The waitress smiled, "Ma'am. You know, I've not been called that in a while."

"I can't imagine why. If it's too much trouble, just put an order in for something. It's fine-"

She smiled. "Come on. Walk me over to where you saw that dish."

Arles stood up, turned to the table and winked as he walked away with the waitress.

"I can't believe that worked." Tony groaned.

"Lewis the Second here." Poltious groaned.

Lewis chuckled.

Legate shook his head. "That's not what our bet was. Punk."

Genie sighed. "Anyway."

Legate grinned as he noticed a flower in a vase sitting on the table in front of them. He pulled it out of the vase and handed it to Genie with a smile.

She giggled. "That's called 'stealing'."

"Ah. They put those there for just that reason." He teased as he put it in her hair.

Pete smiled. "So, Karen. First time out here. What do you think?"

"It's rather remarkable. I believe if I wasn't so tired, I probably would be in a greater state of shock."

Pete grinned. "Where do you plan to go?"

Genie smiled, "I'm taking her shopping."

Tony grinned, "Oh boy. Women turned loose on Plentitude. Pepper might like to get in on that."

Pepper smiled. "Unfortunately, I think it would be better if I didn't. I've already gotten so much already."

Tony looked surprised at her. "Get whatever you want-"

"It's not that simple. Everyone is always taking my picture and talking about what I'm wearing. If I was to bring something back to Earth like that-"

"Yeah. That's true." He nodded and rubbed his chin.

"Besides, we're returning to see Sam. I am more anxious to see him than I am to get another dress I won't be able to wear."

Tony nodded. "Sensible. I'd like some more underwear."

Karen looked back at Genie. "What is with this underwear?"

Genie laughed, "I have no idea. Men."

Arles sat back down at the table with a smile on his face. "And I'm one step closer."

Legate shook his head. "Our bet wasn't for-"

"I know what it was for." He chuckled and sipped his drink. "I have a date!"

"A date?!" Lewis asked.

Karen smiled in disbelief, "You date?"

He rose his eyebrows at her. "Of course, I do. She's not a Plosie. She's a Qonse."

Legate shook his head and laughed. "Damn. You are so full of it."

"She wouldn't have told you that." Lewis grinned.

Poltious laughed. "There's no way."

Pete asked, "What is a Qonse?"

Arles bit his lip and was suddenly at a loss for words, "Umm…."

Genie shook her head, "I'm not going to tell Grandfather. You are the one that brought it up."

Legate closed his eyes and groaned, "Not the best choice of words there."

Genie covered her mouth and smiled. "Shut up, Legate!"

Legate looked back at her and laughed.

Arles closed his eyes and groaned. "I'm sorry. I can't-"

Poltious sighed. "A Qonse is a species from….well….several different places. The gravity there was rather dense, so in order to….ummmm."

Lewis had grown tired of their lack of explanation. "All of us are adults here."

"I'm not that adult to discuss that in front of everyone." Genie told them.

Legate laughed under his breath.

Lewis sipped his drink. "Female Quonse can contract their sexual organs. Real tight."

Tony rose his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?" He quickly looked back at Pepper. "Well, isn't that interesting?"

She grinned and shook her head. "Nice save, Stark."

He cleared his throat. "I'm just saying. Damn. Wow. I bet that's…something!"

Pepper glared at him.

"What?" He asked as he shook his head. "Seriously, Pep-"

She put her finger over his lips. "Stop. You are dancing on a line."

He smiled at her. "Oh, I've hit a nerve."

Genie and Karen looked at one another and laughed.

Arles grinned. "She is done with work at 8:00 tonight. So, I'll meet her here. We're going dancing."

Lewis pointed at Legate. "Is this something that he will need Quauthin for?"

Legate and Lewis began to discuss security concerns as Karen looked back at Arles and said quietly. "So, a date?"

He smiled at her. "Yes. Just something simple."

"So, playboy stuff getting old?"

"I know what you're on about." He grinned. "She lives here. I'm not looking for a long term relationship. We're just going dancing."

"I was just going dancing when I met Samuel." She told him and sipped her drink.

He nodded, "Well, yes. But, that's how you two are. Not me."

"One day, Arles. You might just find that you want to grow up."

He shook his head. "Not anytime soon."

"Would you please just, promise me that you'll be careful? We only just got Samuel back."

He smiled, "Well, Karen. I didn't know I meant that much to you."

She grinned. "Promise me. Okay?"

He took her hand in his and kissed it. "It's not something you should worry about."

Genie spoke up. "Oh, Arles told us something that everyone needs to be informed of. Karen has asked that we don't tell Sammy anything about her."

"Why?" Tony asked.

Karen explained. "I think that's too much. He's only beginning to wake up. I don't want him to feel like he's trapped in an agreement of anything if his feelings aren't the same."

"You're talking about the engagement?" Pete asked.

"Yes." Karen told them.

"I think that's sweet." Pepper smiled and looked at Tony. "Don't you?"

"Well, he's already agreed-"

"Well, think about this!" Pepper insisted. "Tony. How would that had made you feel to wake up and-"

"Tony? Is that what she said?" They all looked up to see a large man, wearing all black, staring down at them. He could have used a shave and seemed to have overheard their conversation as he was walking past the table.

Tony crossed his arms. "Do I know you, man?"

The man shook his head. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but hear the lady say that odd name."

Tony glanced back at Soli. He turned around and looked at the man with the others.

"You know, I've heard to keep an eye out for someone called 'Tony.' He has a boy that everyone is looking for. About his age."

Tony shook his head. "It's a common name where I'm from. I don't think it's me you're thinking about."

He nodded. "Right. Well, sorry to intrude." He turned to walk away from the table.

Tony took Soli's hand and pulled the little boy to him. "Hey, Soul Man. What if we go to see Sammy now?"

Pepper looked frightened. "Is everything alright?"

Tony pulled the transport trigger out of his pocket and asked Poltious. "The medical emergency will work here, won't it?"

Poltious nodded that it would and stood up. "Lewis. Come with me and let's have a word with this guy."

Lewis pointed at Legate as he got up. "Keep your head up. Exton, stay with them and assist Legate. Pepper, take the baby back to the ship. Arles, two eyes on Karen."

Tony wrapped his arm around Pepper who held Arles. Soli gripped his forearm and they faded away in a spiral of blue.

Karen looked back at Genie. "What was that about?"

Genie sighed. "I'm not comfortable here. Legate, let's go shopping. We'll eat there."

He nodded. "Agreed. Arles. Let's go. Exton, you have Pete."

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