action.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo arrives rolling and tumbling across the floor.

There was a great shadow over him then, something with a terrible stench and legs too numerous to count. And now, light. He shields himself from the brightness and scoots back until he bumps against the wall, then scrambles to find shelter behind a couch. It hurts his eyes. The air is suddenly too clear, everything too clean. He fears it is a trick.

He speaks in a hush, afraid to alert the enemies but more afraid of being alone. ]

Sam? Where are you, Sam?

Comments

[bronwe]

Infinity... [ An interesting name, surely. He shakes his head. ]

My parents have taken me out boating before, but those aren't grand enough to be called ships.

[majestic_leader]

[He laughs heartily,] Haha, no, hardly. We're talking four miles long, holds enough soldiers and scientists for a small city.

[bronwe]

[ He hesitates before asking, feeling provincial though his curiosity still gets the better of him. ]

And how long is a mile?

[majestic_leader]

Five thousand, two hundred, and eighty feet. [And then as an afterthought, he holds his hands up about a foot about.] A foot's about this--

[bronwe]

[ Frodo attempt to imagine that... before deciding it's probably better done at another occasion. ]

That is a very large ship. Where did you mean to go that you built such a boat?

[majestic_leader]

Space; up in the sky. In fact, that's where they built it. Too big to put it together on the ground.

[bronwe]

But where were you going?

[majestic_leader]

Deep space. Forerunner planet we just discovered that needs some cleaning out of nasties.

[bronwe]

Are you conquering the other planets for land?

[majestic_leader]

Land, science, but mostly just making sure the Covvies don't get their grubby little claws on it. They been trashing enough of our planets we deserve some pristine real estate.

[bronwe]

By taking it from these Covvies?

[majestic_leader]

By making sure they don't get it in the first place. Too bad the cease fire didn't extend to religious militants out in bum-fuck nowhere of the universe.

[bronwe]

I wonder if the Covvies are thinking the same of you.

[majestic_leader]

[DeMarco starts laughing, deep and hearty, as if it's the funniest thing he's ever heard.]

Oy, man. The Covvies think we're against their religion. Trust me, the ugly bastards don't deserve your sympathy.

[bronwe]

[ He thought many more don't deserve his sympathy. Frodo frowns at him. ]

I wonder who does.

[majestic_leader]

Try the billions of people the Covenant killed wiping out human colony planets, for starters.

What about you, little guy, tell me about your world?

[bronwe]

[ Even then. He thinks Smeagol most certainly wants to wring both their throats. ]

I know little of it. Hobbits aren't known for going on adventures to discover the world.

[majestic_leader]

Hobbits? [Definite brow-creasing here.] What's a hobbit?

[bronwe]

[ He frowns a little. ] I am a hobbit. Some call us the Little Folk. I would not mind that either.

[majestic_leader]

Oh! So ... you're not a kid ... ?

[bronwe]

No, I will not be growing anymore, I can assure you. Hobbit-children are smaller.

[majestic_leader]

... oh ...

[Well this is definitely an embarrassing epiphany.] Sooooo, how old are you?

[bronwe]

I should turn 51 in September. [ Which reminds him... ]

What is the month?

[majestic_leader]

Holy shi-- [This runt was older then DeMarco.] Damn, man, you look good for half a century.

It's January, so you got some time.

[bronwe]

[ He gives a half-hearted smile. He knows the reason for that now. ]

Others have said so. I suppose I would have time to plan then.