Niteowl

Mission Summary

Armed with colored cellophane, kites, a light saber, red wine brownies, and a headless mannequin named Amber, five pilots and four cadets stood beneath the looming moon. Despite the late hour, spirits were posi and SCUL was ready to take the night. Their mission? Fly amongst the nocturnal creatures of the night, becoming one with the elusive niteowls themselves.

Navigator Cosima led the fleet along the winding river path, taking some unexpected twists and turns before continuing on to the still transport-heavy Memorial Drive. Star Duck, who had joined the gang for the launch, bid adieu while AceHole intercepted with the fleet in Harvard Square. The gang took their first shore leave at the CVS in Porter, in pursuit of salty snax. Baaaaaane Thunderwolf needed a fuel dump and memory served that there was a tardis near the entrance of the Porter Square T. Although SCUL pilots are trained for any possible space disaster, Bane was unprepared for the sight of several floating oranges at the top of the very full tardis throne. He wisely warned the others to avoid at all costs. No fuel dump is worth that citrus situation.

For the rest of shore leave, Skunk and Scubado deployed some barnacles, Kilo3 made slight radio adjustments, Truck Stop shared her Pride Goldfish, and Wombat munched on a hard boiled egg- or was it a mozzarella ball? Dr.Claw showed anyone who was interested some mushroom trading cards in a storefront window, pointing out how one of the mushroom cards (the Amethyst Deceiver) looked almost anthropomorphic. Mere seconds after Skunk called out "Two minutes", a loud BANG resounded through the brisk June air, startling civis and pilots alike. To their horror, the gang realized the source of the ear deafening pop came from Temerity's primary plasma casing. A quick inspection showed a tear the size of a quarter along the thruster's sidewall.

Although Kilo3 and AceHole made a quick trip to the dumpsters at Wheelworks with the hopes of finding a discarded size 26 tire, they returned empty handed. By this time, Skunk had already started stitching together the hole using the needle and thread from tool bag. AceHole took over from Skunk and demonstrated some Frankenstein-esque stitchwork.

Knowing that we would be here a while, Dr.Claw took the gift of time as an opportunity to replace the light batteries on Mad Rabbit. Patent Pending kept the gang posi with his thimbolic sewing puns. (Mission Reporter's note: I challenge Bane Thunderwolf and Patent Pending to a 'pun-off'. Both of you could give the other a run for your space grumbah.) Meanwhile, two civilians – intrigued by the new green lights of Mad Rabbit and undoubtedly all the puns– cautiously approached the gang. "Ahoy!" Skunk called. "What brings you all out on this fine Saturnite?"

"I'm high and wandering," civi one replied.

Finally, after plenty of Pride goldfish snacking and sew many puns, Temerity was ready to go. Scubado had to burn up early because of the delay, but considering her superpower, she still connected with all the niteowls. The fleet took off in pursuit of the long-awaited Somerville Community Path Extension, which had allegedly opened earlier that day. Skunk's wormhole groove woke up the night, sending bunnies hopping in every direction. We took another snax stop at the 7-11 on Mass Ave. Dr. Claw couldn't resist some chocolate mushrooms even if they weren't amethyst deceivers. We then beelined towards Danehy Park, made another tardis stop (this time, one with toilet paper and no oranges), then flew a short distance to the track, where many knightings have occurred.

Skunk distributed the kites that were carefully folded from the depths of his bags, and Patent Pending and Truck Stop took turns running as fast as they could with their kites attempting to create lift. The Fleet Admiral decided to do something similar, but on Syntax Error for extra speed. It worked! And the niteowl was spotted! Skunk flew around the track twice, beckoning all species of the night to join him in the revelry.

It was at last time for the final nocturnal event of the evening- very ripe maggot Patent Pending was ready to participate in his knighting ceremony. He kneeled before Skunk and the gang, promised to BUST THE FUNK, and the fleet welcomed him in open arms in the traditional bear hug surprise. All was posi under the watchful eyes of the Danehy Park niteowl.