Chapter Eleven

However, within the mess, Peter was enjoying his lunch, which was nice and Actveia was pleased with the result and was pouring over Iztel's recipe book since for some reason he had been hit with this sudden desire to cook more things.

Actveia had requested a market trip. Something Stakar vetoed as he thought the food was good enough for the crew, not realising that the message Zreada had sent on a whim. Was being sent though more Ravager factions and there was a growing unease within them all, with some wondering aloud to transfer to an independent if they would at least be treated right.

However, Peter buoyed by the food, started to act like he did when he was trying to test it with his daddies. Because Stakar had no experience of this, Peter raced through the Galleon wanting to try everything, and see everything.

Which Stakar tried to accommodate, but knew that his parent would not let him in the armoury. No matter how much Peter begged. But because of this Peter grew exhausted and lifted his arms to the Ravager Captain because he needed a nap.

With the four-year-old settled on his shoulder, Peter began to doze gently which got some attention as he took him back up to the Bridge and just let Peter sleep. For a while, looking more over the information that Yondu had given him.

From her vantage point, Aleta, felt her mind wander she had surveyed the boy who looked so trustful and innocent curled up against her husband and begun to imagine their child before she dismissed that thought.

They were Ravagers, career criminals with no time for that, but it was interesting that for a man who was called "He who knows". No one forwarded that across the ninety-nine Ravagers clans, and more pads were opened and dissent began to grow.

It was only later when Peter was now awake after a good nap, and had given the couple some drawing to put on their boring walls, and more for the crew, which they unused to this treatment, took and all obliged.

Peter now playing with his toys happily, then after a dinner which was, since Peter was honest "Not as good as Iztel but still good" which was as high a compliment that Peter could make since he was missing the MasterChef, but that was enough.

Peter also regaled all of the Starhawk crew with life on the Elector, and the comparisons were massive, as Peter explained in his innocent way that he and his daddies took trips together and had holidays, and many of the crew had taken him out and done fun stuff.

"So, last year we did Day of Thanks, and it was so much fun, everyone got presents, even me. But it was a surprise, so this time I'm going to help with all of the cooking, but we had a tree and it was so big.

Also, it's the Vonspiers, they are a married couple, it's their first anniversary, just before but they have been together forever. So, we're going to cook them a special dinner. They are really nice, Gunnsen knows everything, and Jamsean and me do lots of drawing together, but he's better".

These were just simple things to a child and not that big of a deal. But the fact that an independent Clan had so much, made them feel so uneasy and screwed over.

But when it came to bedtime. That was another issue, since leaving Peter alone was out of the question, and with his tiny tummy full, he was more content, as he went back to the Osgood's quarters and would be bunking with them.

With the couple having read the information the Udonta's had provided making it clear, that in Yondu's Tribe communal sleeping was the norm, they embraced this. And for Peter, it was natural if he was upset. But "no funny business".

Revealing that even with this dossier, Kraglin didn't trust them, which was out of the question since they now felt the responsibility of being a guardian. Peter was washed and dressed in pyjamas and cuddled up with Fang and Smelly Meg demanded a story.

which he got to the end, in both Xandarian and Darbian. Before Peter fell asked for goodnight kisses from the pair and they obliged, but with Peter happy and settled and the pair were ready to leave, but Aleta, turned and stated that she wanted to "Stay and keep an eye on him". Which made sense under the circumstances.

But after a few hours on the Bridge, Stakar went into his quarters to see let in the half-light, doing some work on her pad, with little Peter and Fang, and Smelly Meg cuddled up to her and was struck at how maternal she looked, as almost if.

Stakar shook away the image since this wasn't the time to be thinking about children, their jobs were dangerous as it was. Before bringing children into the equation, he got changed and slid in next to his wife, and the child they were taking care of.

"Got to admit, thought he would wake, but he was nice and settled," Aleta said since she was getting used to the small sweet boy on board the ship, "Yeah, he's ok, let's see what tomorrow brings".

The next morning, or what passed for it in space, Stakar noticed that he had picked up on the Udonta's family schedule, as the report said, Peter needed a routine, and the Trio, along with Fang went up to the mess hall for breakfast. Then Peter was aghast by the empty pots of jam, on a table with Actveia, pinching his nose, with frustration.

"Before you ask, I never secured the panty, never had to. Everyone got peckish, and the assholes ate the dammed lot, Peter will have to have something else".

There was an element of smugness on the few of the crew in the vicinity, since they had never tasted something so delicious, and it was in a pot of jam and porridge compared to the slop they normally had.

They knew they were denying a child some food, but realised that he would be back with his people. As the words were flying between the Ravagers, and being sent forward. An independent Captain cared more than their own, and the dissent was still growing.

However, Stakar and Aleta, as Peter's lips wobbled, and he was on the verge of tears until Actveia pacified him with a promise of a boiled egg. Which was good enough and took minutes to make, and Peter happily munched it down.

"Look that's it. I've got Iztel's recipes, and we need supplies. I'm a cook…I want to you know do some actual cooking" he said, since reading Iztel's cookbook had inspired something inside him, and Stakar admitted defeat.

"Fine make a list, we'll find someplace, like a market or whatever" realising Peter would have to come too since he kept an eye on the accounts, and so would Aleta, and Peter would have to go with thee. None of them trusted the crew with him, and because the show of his powers had left some unsettled, which they were not voicing aloud, more sideways glances.

Which was why a short while later the Captain and a small crew of the Starhawk were flying through space, towards a lush planet called Messanga with a long list, two tense adults since according to the rules, Yondu and Kraglin were happy with Peter taking small excursions out on the M and S-Ships.

But there was no mention of going planeside, and little Peter jumping in his little seat, having been convinced to leave Fang and Smelly Meg in the company of Matrix. But Peter was happy to get out, and his eyes leapt up after the M-Ship landed, and they piled out, with Peter stating "I didn't bring my little bag", which made no sense to the group.

Staker noted, that there was what looked like an S-Ship, in what was labelled the "Merchants Parking Lot", but resprayed, removing any insignia of the Ravagers and wondered about that, to himself. As they headed into the market and what looked from the outside, to be basic, but within its walls was a thriving hub of activity, with people milling around all around them.

However, with Peter placed on the Captain's shoulders the four-year-old, just continued, "I need my little bag" he stated again, as he looked around. To seek out where everything was.

Perhaps it was a Ravager thing, but they were used to people keeping their distance, and some eyed the red leathers on their bodies with suspicions, and they all glanced at Peter and stepped away as they turned into what looked like the central meeting point to get their bearings.

"Ok I've got the list, we get in and we get out" Stated Aleta, and as they made their way to move down to the food market, they suddenly realised they were surrounded by guards, all with a weapon in a low position, and were not going anywhere.

To be continued