Part 2: Space Trip

Two weeks passed after that monumental morning and Leon was slumped in his captain's chair, his head on the controls. His team managed to link up with Starship Mario, but their resolve to be the heroes has all but faded. Toby was reduced to being a banker for the plumber and all he does is collect star bits throughout the day like an idiot. Zeus delivers letters to Mario and the crew members. Jeremiah sleeps all day. And Reginald is constantly exploring planets and collecting scientific data. All were content to let Mario rescue the Princess yet again.

Except Toad Captain Leon.

"This BS ends today." he murmured in a low voice.

Twenty minutes later, the four Toads were in the Starshroom, facing an angry looking Leon.

"What is up, Captain?" asked Zeus.

"I'll tell you what is up!" roared Leon, causing everyone to suddenly jump (excluding Jeremiah, who was asleep standing up). "We're doing absolutely nothing to rescue the Princess! Come on, men! What happened to you honor?"

"But Mario is handling everything, sir!" said Toby. "And I spoke with Lubba yesterday. He says we're nearing Bowser's territory and that we're really close to finding Peach. And let's face it; the Toad Brigade doesn't stand a chance in a galaxy this close to Bowser's base."

"Nonsense! We have braved it all through the thick and thin! Surely we will be able to-"

"Pardon me, sir," interrupted Zeus. "but weren't you hiding in the Starshroom after a bunch of monsters were attacking Mario and you refused to aid him?"

All eyes turned to the captain. Leon flushed a bright red to match his cap.

"I was adjusting the ship's weapon system and was about to fire a missile, but then-"

"Let's face it; we couldn't defend ourselves from a fifth of the monsters Mario faces daily. I'd rather go down in history as the valiant mailmen who aided the hero then a Toad who died for being stupid."

With that, Zeus left the Starshroom. Slowly, the other members exited the craft. Only Reginald stayed behind to comfort the crushed captain.

"I don't get it." Leon shook his head. "We were going to be heroes. All my life, I wanted to show people that Toads weren't helpless things. But Zeus is right. I am just a hypocrite."

"Toads aren't hero material, Leon." said Reginald. "Our heads are too big. Our arms are too weak. No real special abilities. But rescuing Peach is the important thing, isn't it?"

Leon murmured something indistinctly. Reginald continued.

"Hey, you want to go to one of the galaxies with me? They're really fun to explore!"

"No thanks. I need to be alone with myself."

The blue headed toad nodded and left Leon. Leon slumped back into his captain's chair and laid his head on the controls, defeated and broken.

The next morning, Leon once more called his teammates to the Starshroom. They were apprehensive of another pep talk, but they were greeted instead by a wearied looking Toad. A shell of his former self.

"Hey guys," Leon began weakly. "I've been thinking that I have been way too harsh on you guys lately. So I planned out a special trip for all of us to unwind a bit."

"I want to apologize, chief." said Zeus. "Some of the things I said yesterday were uncalled for."

"Nonsense. You were right. It is better to aid a hero who knows what he is doing then to die in vain. The Princess is all that matters, am I right?"

"Right." they all murmured.

"Who knows? Maybe we'll all get a piece of that cake." The group laughed weakly.

"So where are we going, captain?" asked Reginald.

"I researched some of the planets Mario has already conquered. And the Yoshi Star Galaxy has some nice places we can visit. Is everyone okay on that idea?"

"Aye." said the crew.

"Alright. Let's go now. And someone bring Jeremiah inside. I think he's still sleeping on top of the ship."

The Starshroom was in cruise control. It would be another hour before the ship reached the Yoshi Star Galaxy. Toby, Zeus and Jeremiah were having a three way staring contest to pass the time while Reginald was reading a scientific article published by a guy with a super long name and twenty degrees of various sorts. Leon sat in his chair, staring into the vast black space before his eyes. Sighing, he got up from his chair.

"I gotta take a leak."

Leon shuffled into the latrine. Closing the door, he sighed again and thought of the upcoming trip. Maybe he needed this. Set his priorities in order. Who knows. Maybe he will actually enjoy relaxing for a couple of days.

Just then, a loud explosion rocked the Starshroom, sending Leon sprawling on the floor. Urine sprayed everywhere as the captain was right in the middle of the process before the disturbance. Leon swore loudly and did his best to hold the rest of the piss in. Still disoriented, he stumbled out the latrine door.

"What the hell was that?" he screamed. The entire quarters were in shambles. Tables and chairs were overturned and an alarm was wailing stridently. The crew members looked equally confused.

"No idea, Captain!" said Reginald. "The ship detected it hit something, but whatever it was, it destroyed our sensors before we could read it. We have no idea what that thing is!"

"Well, goddamnit, let's find out now! Toby, where was our ship hit?"

Toby ran over to the computers and checked the ship's structure.

"Near the boiler area, sir!"

Leon turned to his teammates.

"Go to the boiler room and check it out. I'll meet up with up you guys there."

"Where are you going?" asked Zeus.

The Toad Captain motioned at his urine soaked trousers.

"I'm getting me some new pants."

Leon ran through the hallways of his ship and to the Boiler Room. He saw the rest of his team looking at a gaping hole in the ceiling. Debris littered the floor underneath.

"Any idea what it is?" he asked Reginald.

"Whatever it was, it managed to eat its way through the ship's hull with some type of formic acid. Then it crawled around a bit in the vent and poof! It is gone."

"It sounds like you are describing some sort of creature."

"Judging by the physical print it left on impact and the acid, there is no way it was an asteroid or meteor. It was something alive."

"Guys, I found something." Toby whispered. His face was a deathly shade of pale. He was holding a small computer that was wirelessly linked to the ship. "I'm detecting a heat signature in the Starshroom. And it isn't any of us."

There was a vast silence. An immeasurable fear filled each one of their hearts. The fear of the unseen, the unknown.

"Where is it?" asked Leon.

"In the observatory."

"That's on the other side of the ship. So it did use the ventilation to travel. We'll go to the control room, seal off that area, and send a distress signal to Starship Mario."

Leon looked at the rubble beneath his feet from the creature's entry. He turned to his Brigade and smiled weakly.

"Won't be too scary, right?"

The hallway lights flickered and turned off as the power went out.