Well...Finally decided enough was enough with the set up time to begin the Quest Proper also been real anxious to start the subplot that begins in this chapter involving the 'Mutant Babies' but most of all Caesar the Chimp although I've try to show each of the five cubs have individual interests and personalities the fact I keep having them do everything together has kind of not helped them grow as individual characters, here some trouble initiated by Caesar will help him develp as a character by getting his own arc seperate from the rest of his adopted siblings. Also I realize why in movies training is often put into a montage and while that works great for film can't put a musical montage in a written medium
Finally the time came to begin the Quest of course for Ichabod and Marzipan they knew they had to ensure something first, they knew the five Mutant Cubs they fostered because they had accidentially transferred to them when they were being fostered the intellect of someone thrice their ages because Marzipan didn't know at the time she was a Mage so she didn't realize magic was wafting off of her like B.O. With her love for the cubs, so they knew from experience the Cubs had a thrist for adventure, and were very likely to try to stow away with their idols, because this mission was too dagerous to take that risk Ichabod and Marzipan this time knew to make sure they would have a babysitter who they knew would be watching over the cubs as they were leaving Earth, in this case Eartha the Mole.
"Be good for Aunt Eartha!" Ichabod said as he and Marzipan waved good bye
"We'll have fun won't we Cubs?" Eartha said as held all the Cubs in her strong furry arms, most of the other cubs groaned but accepted that there was no way they were stowing away for this adventure, Caesar alone was quiet, because this was actually what he wanted, he knew they were instead taking some stolen Wrangler Cruise Ships and some other vessals, he knew the Fellowship would be without anyone in it for the following couple of days and in one that Spaceship's rooms was what he thought to be the treasure to end all treasures!
So it was after supper that very night, Eartha being a nocturnal species had worn herself out watching the cubs during the day and quickly fell asleep after eating, by that time the spacecraft carrying the heroes had already left the solar system so there was no risk of the Cubs getting on them now.
Caesar knew where Ichabod kept his spare keycard to the Fellowship he grabed it, and went out the apartment door.
"What are you doing?" Zeb the Zebra Filly asked as the rest of them followed Caesar out the door we're supposed to stay with Aunt Eartha!
"Aunt Eartha just had a bunch of caramalized cabbage for supper..." Caesar said "...And I don't know about you but I don't want to stick around for the results!"
"He has a point there..." Taylor the Flamingo murmured to Zeb
"Besides..." Caesar said "...This is just going to be some harmless fun!"
"On the Fellowship?" Zeb said skeptically
"Sure!" Caesar said "Now follow me!" He led them to the Earthport Elevator, since he had a Federation Keycard he knew he had a number you could punch in to get the Elevator to take you to the secret basement where the Federation Spaceships are kept and since he had a card for a member of the Fellowship crew punching in the number on this card would get the elevator to drop them off at that specific spaceship!
When they got in the Elevator, it took Caesar a few minutes he knew he had to get the Numbers absolutely right to make sure they would be dropped off at the Fellowship and not some other spaceship, but once that number was punched in, the Elvator shook and rattled violently as it went to the secret basement, the other cubs tried not to cry out in fear but it was hard as it was frightning.
But the elevator doors opened and they saw the Fellowship in front of them.
Caesar slid Ichabod's keycard into the door slot and the door opened up for them.
For a few moments the cubs looked around in awe as they were in the Fellowship all by themselves.
"Isn't this great?" Caesar asked, seeing they were in the kitchenette the young Chimp jumped on the counter to see what was in the candy jar.
"Ooh!" He exclaimed "Chocolate Tootsie Pop!" He pulled the lollipop out of the candy jar and unwrapped it and popped it in his mouth.
"Could you toss me some candy?" Julia the Spotted Hyena Cub asked
"Don't you think maybe you should cut back on the candy?" Zeb asked eyeing the Hyena's plump figure
"What do you mean by that?!" Julia snapped
"Well..." Zeb said "...Julia,you've been out of breath a lot everytime we go out to play..."
Caesar realizing he should probobly stop things from getting ugly jumped down and said "Hey! Hey! I want to show you what we came here for!"
"And what did we come here for?" Taylor asked feeling exasperated
"The Treasure to End All Treasures!" Caesar said "The Ultimate Adventure!"
He led them to Bridget's room, Caesar pushed open the door.
"Bridget's Custom Built Computer!" Caesar exclaimed "The one she made herself!"
"Caesar..." Zeb said "...You know no one but Bridget herself is allowed to touch that computer right?"
"She'll never know!" Caesar said as he sat down on the stool (Perfect for creatures with large tails) and turned on the computer
The computer cooled like it was from another time, that is to say it looked like a blocky beige colored 90s computer it even made the Windows starting music as it turned on...
So other than making some 90s computer jokes this chapter also establishes Julia has a weight problem because she's too fond of junk food establishing an arc where she needs to cut back on junk obviously as a toddler she shouldn't diet like an older person but as an Apex Predator it becomes clear she's eating too many carbs and needs to go on a high protien diet