I parked the ship in another star system, this one with different types of planets. Oceans, Savannah, places like that. I checked out this ocean planet and found myself on an island populated with a few Hylotl. Asked them if they'd mind a few tourists for a day and they said they wouldn't mind the pixels from visitors. So, the next day I took the family there with Yuffie in tow. We all had a blast, the kids ended up playing with some of the Hylotl children and making sand castles by the shore. Tifa relaxed on the beach and soaked up some sun, and I sat next to her, watching the kids and Yuffie goof around. I fell asleep at one point and woke up with my body covered in sand, everyone laughing at me. I guess that's what I get for relaxing.
We ate at this quaint little place that served local dishes, some of them somewhat familiar to Yuffie to her surprise. It was pretty good eats to be honest, had sushi and rice balls and some other, stranger stuff that still tasted pretty good. The kids ran off to some arcade with the local children, then Tifa and I just took a walk alone in the twilight. It was a pretty nice day at the beach, I think we'll have to come here in the future. The locals said a city is under the ocean nearby, so the next day I checked it out.
Their cities are large and in airtight constructs on the ocean floor. I entered one through the airlock, and the place is extremely modern. Neon lights, arcade games, fancy restaurants and art studios...I admit I played some of the games and won a few plushies. Denzel and Marlene can fight over those. I left after several hours of exploring, and found a fruit I was curious about, coralcreep. I thought it was a sea creature at first, but it didn't move when I touched it. Apparently we had some that day on the beach, but it was red...It tastes like lobster, that's what Yuffie said. I've never had it before because I'm not from money, but hey, guess we can add it to our diets now. I also acquired some kelp for Yuffie so she could use it in her cooking, she said it tastes similar to nori from Wutai.
There were some Hylotl ruins down there, and I found some interesting things down there we can use to furnish Yuffie's place. Actually, a lot of stuff down there was used to finish her house on our home planet. I needed more blue tiles for the roof, anyway. When I finally got back in the late afternoon I let her rummage through all the things I found, and she was pretty happy with what I had to offer. Her home is finished, though she still needs a fridge. The AI helped me with plans for a minifridge using some of the contraptions I upgraded a while ago, so she has a place to store leftovers. She seems to be amassing a good pixel cache, and used a few to but some coconuts from a trader to gift Tifa. Taught her how to make coconut rice with it...Was kinda nice, especially with the coralcreep meat mixed in.
I built a few more homes and have a few more neighbors because of it. A Hylotl, who I made a pool for in the back of the property, an Avian, another Floran and a Human. I talked with the Human a bit, and he seemed flabbergasted by my tale. They were from that place called Earth, but they left when they were a teen, before it was destroyed. Apparently there was nothing they could do to save their planet, and honestly, I feel for them. I've felt that hopelessness before, though we beat the odds in the end. Who am I kidding, we delayed the inevitable. Everything dies, even planets. Doesn't mean it has to die now...His name is Jack, and he seemed really interested in Gaia and how it worked. A planet that was alive in more ways than one seemed to fascinate the guy, especially talk of Lifestream, and how we returned to it after we die. Or did, I don't know what will happen when I meet my final end anymore.
The Floran have been beating their bongos in the evening, making some sort of strange and rhythmic beat with them. The kids join in to the creatures' joy, and they ended up giving them both some living lights for their bedrooms for "banging good". They have a soothing green glow, and Denzel has his hanging on his ceiling while Marlene put hers by her bed as a nightlight for rainy nights. Both Stabs and Azalea are egging me on to go to that big hunt now, and it's in a month and a half...I told them if I upgrade my Fusion Swords I'll go. That answer seemed to make them cheerful.
The Hylotl seems hesitant to speak to the Florans, but I understand. As long as they don't fight they can avoid each other for all I care. Her name is Megu, and she's a shy sort, with sapphire blue skin and garnet eyes...This species is like looking at tropical fish in a tank sometimes. She likes to decorate the walls of her home, and keeps it quite clean, too. I gave her some coralcreep and reefpod seeds so she had some familiar food. Megu loved the gifts, and gave me a few recipes for Tifa to try in exchange. We tried one, Ocean Surprise. It certainly looked surprising, but it tasted pretty good, I have to admit. Denzel was disappointed there weren't any tentacles hanging from it. Heh.
The Avian seems alright. His name is Chachuoc, a bit harsh on the tongue, but I'm not a bird-man. Said he left his homeworld because he finds the religion too savage, calls himself one of the "Grounded". Chachuoc explained to Tifa and I over some tea he made what many of his species does in their religious ceremonies; they sacrifice their enemies to their god and the chosen faithful leap from tall towers to have a reunion with this god, Kluex. It's elaborate and savage, but it seems those who disagree with it at least have an out, with space travel and all. Maybe these traditions are waning? Chachuoc was unsure, but hoped so. I could tell in his eyes he lost someone to this, but he never elaborated. Maybe another day. The kids like him, said he looks like a green chocobo...I had to explain what a chocobo was to him after that, and he gawked. "You rode large birds?" Yes, yes we did. I'd do it again, too, if there were any around.
This week I'm going to check out the Savannah planet after hitting the beach one more time. The AI said it might have what I need to improve my EPP for more hostile planets. I'm working on one for Tifa, too. Until next time...