Chapter 2

Arthur Dent sipped his tea and enjoyed the panoramic view of the Beletegeuse Ocean. Trillian was at her lab working tediously on spaceship technologies. Whereas, Arthur and Ford became partners in freelance writing, often dubbed Dent & Prefect.

Ford was out of much work when an order was signed that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy would be reduced to twenty-four copies, due to preventing "exposure". Zaphod Beeblebrox was the former-president now, but those six people that knew that the only job of the president was to attract attention from what was really happening, weren't to keen on having anyone else find out. However, in Ford Prefect's mind was just frustration.

What exposure? Just give me my damn job back!

In Trillian's mind was relief.

Finally we won't have to worry about people whining on useless topics like how Zaphod dressed.

In Arthur's mind was confusion.

Exposure? Is there something we don't know?

And surely, if a logical person could read Arthur's mind, they would slap the back of his head, and screech, "No duh!"

In Zaphod's mind was, quite frankly, nothing. He was just enjoying a permanent vacation on Damogram.

Arthur, Ford, and Trillian stayed close, bought the Heart of Gold, and ridded Marvin of his manic depression. Arthur and Trillian married and had twins: Jako and Mity. They were seven now and were severely identical. No, very, very, severely identical.

As Jako and Mity came home from the hospital, they cried, screeched, kicked, went to the bathroom, and annoyed their parents in unison. Now, they were in school and shared the exact grades, teachers, and annoyed many people, still in unison.

Ford was very irritable these days and often messed up on articles he wrote. Drinking was his favorite hobby now.

Marvin was quite the opposite now. He openly hugged anybody and spoke highly of life. He built sighing doors for extra money.

"Isn't it a perfect day to praise life and the people around me?" Marvin said as he emerged from two big sighing doors.

"Not aft..." Ford started to suggest, but Jako and Mity quickly replied, "No."

"Looks like Jako and Mity got up on the wrong side of the bed," said Marvin, "you two could use a hug."

Jako and Mity started running around the porch, away from Marvin, until they saw a new aircar floating in.

It was blue and gold; on the other side it said R2 FAC Blue Streak. Trillian stepped out and said, "Surprise!"

Jako and Mity ran up to their mother and bear-hugged her until she nearly gagged.

"What's this for?" Arthur asked calmly.

"Just a surprise for the family," Trillian replied.

"Just a surprise for the family?" Arthur mimicked. "We need to be conservative on money, Trillian!"

"Oh please," Trillian said in total disregard.

"What does R2FAC stand for?" asked Ford.

"Really, Really Fast Aircar," Trillian said as if she had rehearsed her answers.

"I see."

"Wow, a new car!" Marvin exclaimed. "Just what we need to spice up our lives."

"Shove it, Marvin!" Ford shouted, "And if you give me a hug, I'll have your head!"

Marvin backed down and toured the new aircar.

"Thank you mommy," Jako and Mity said in unison.

"You're welcome," Trillian said and gave a kiss on the twins' foreheads.

A high-pitched ringing sound came from inside.

"I'll get it!" Marvin announced.

"Forget it," Arthur said, "You scare away too many people."

Arthur went inside and looked on the message monitor. It read:

Good morning Arthur,

I regret to announce that the twenty-fourth copy of

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was misplaced and tracked

to Earth. You have been chosen to retrieve the copy.

Your regards,

Harg Jax

Beleteguese President.

"What is it, Arthur?" Trillian asked as she came inside.

Arthur turned around and just stared at her.

"Well?" Trillian was growing impatient.

"They want me to go to Earth," Arthur replied.