“Honyard gueztz, I hop yaw meal waz zatizfyang und plazang to zee test budz?” Metgar asked as he approached the circular table that they all sat around.

“Ah, Metgar, it was delicious as always, you never cease to amaze me whenever I dine here,” Lorelie replied.

“Exzelarnt, alzo you know zat you are alwaze velcome at ziz petit reztuarant of mine,” Metgar replied before adding.

“If you eva av any zugezjons or feedback for moi zen pleaze feel free.”

“I am not sure I can find anything to complain about,” Lorelie replied with a smile.

“Bon,” Metgar replied and was just about to speak some more when Tephe suddenly spoke up.

“I have a suggestion.”

“Oh?” Metgar said with slight surprise before asking, “Pleaze do.”

“Why don't you serve ice cream here?” Tephe asked, causing them all to smile except Jacques and Pevaphio, who had confused expressions.

“You mentioned this ice cream before, right, daughter?” Pevaphio asked.

“What iz zis ice… ice crem.” Metgar asked curiously.

“Oh, it's a yummy dessert that Adam gave us back on his ship,” Tephe said with enthusiasm as she pointed to Adam.

“Iz zat zo,” Metgar said before turning to Adam and asking, “Would Monsieur pleaze enlighten ziz chief?”

“Of course,” Adam replied before saying, “Ice cream is a type of frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener.”

“Fozon milk, crem?” Metgar asked with a thoughtful expression.

“The one I had was chocolate flavour, it was super yummy,” Tephe said happily.

“Shocoolart?” Metgar asked.

“Have you never heard of chocolate before?” Adam asked curiously.

“Non Monsieur.”

“Is that so?” Adam replied thoughtfully before turning to Stacey, Lorelie, Rowena and Tephe before asking, “What did the chocolate ice cream taste like when you ate it?”

“I can’t say it tasted like anything I have tried before,” Rowena replied.

“Yes, it was an entirely new experience,” Lorelie added in agreement.

“The strawberry one I had before tasted fruity; however, the chocolate one is something I have never tasted before,” Stacey explained.

“It didn’t taste like anything I had before, but I want some more,” Tephe replied hopefully.

“So the known universe has never discovered chocolate,” Adam murmured, out loud.

“Wait, are you saying you can get this chocolate on its own without the ice cream?” Tephe suddenly asked as if realising something.

“Oh yeah, it’s a super popular treat back on my home planet.”

“Miht I azk how ziz shocoolart is mad?” Metgar asked.

Adam nodded before accessing his uniband and searching for the image of an Earth tree, which he then displayed on a holographic screen.

“Have you ever seen a tree like this?” Adam asked.

“How unusual, it has things hanging from it, though they don’t appear to be fruit,” Pevaphio commented.

“I believe I have seen similar trees on the small islands, a short distance from here, I believe they are within the small rain forest that is situated on the island,” Jacques replied thoughtfully.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Oui, zair iz endid trez lik ziz on e zmal izlond.” Metgar agreed,

“Do you gather the pods from the trees?” Adam asked.

“Yes, the flesh and pulp of the pods is quite delicious, I believe even Metgar here uses it in some of his dishes,” Jacques replied as Metgar nodded in agreement.

“And the seeds, what do you do with them?”

“Zay r thrown avay, zay r too biter for ma patronz.” Metgar replied.

“Well, chocolate is made from those seeds. Back in my world, we call them cocoa beans and many things are produced from them.”

“Mondur.” Metgar replied in surprise.

Adam once again accessed his uniband before fiddling for a few seconds, after which he sent a file over to Metgar’s uniband.

“Vat iz zis?” Metgar asked as he opened the file and started to skim the contents.

As he did so, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Monsieur I zan no pozibla aczept zuch a gift.”

“It’s fine, I have no use for this information, plus I can't exactly return to my ship every time Tephe wants chocolate ice cream, can I?” Adam replied.

“What did you give him?” Stacey asked as everyone looked at Adam curiously.

“The production method for both chocolate and ice cream, he will no doubt have to alter a few things since we are in another world and the technology is different, but I have no doubt that a chef of Metgar’s talent can figure it out,” Adam replied.

“How generous,” Rowena commented with her signature smirk.

“Why give something like this away? If this ice cream is as good as my daughter says, you could make a lot of credits from producing this yourself.” Pevaphio asked curiously.

“Because he wants to explore,” Stacey explained. “Adam wishes to travel and explore the known universe, seeing many different worlds. He has no interest in doing business.”

“Stacey is correct,” Adam replied as he shared a smile with her before continuing. “I have no problem giving away my planet's ideas for a percentage of the profits; however, I have no interest in building a corporate empire with these suggestions.

“Monsieur, ye iz mozt genaroz. Given moi ziz fer fre.” Metgar said, thankfully.

“You're a friend of Lorelie’s and have treated us well since we arrived here, even after the sudden arrival of Pevaphio and her joining us; you did not comment. All I ask is that you supply us with some of the chocolate and ice cream once you have made it.”

“Bu ofcors, A vil ned ur aziztanse wiv ze flaver enevay.”

“Then we have an agreement,” Adam replied.

“Oui Monsieur.” Metgar replied with a slight bow before saying, “If ya vil excuse mi, I muzt rattan to ze kichon.”

After he finished speaking, Metgar turned and walked away in the direction of the kitchen.

“He’s definitely going to research what you just gave him,” Lorelie said with a giggle.

“True, when it comes to food, Metgar has a one-track mind,” Jacques added in agreement.

“I really should speak to the king about increasing the supply of God’s Oasis he provides my dragon race,” Pevaphio stated after enjoying another sip of the drink.

“You're addicted to this drink, mother,” Tephe said while rolling her eyes.

“Everyone is addicted to this drink, little hatchling, even Adam here, who has only been drinking it for a short time,” Pevaphio replied as she indicated to Adam, who had just taken another sip of his drink.

“What can I say, this drink is like nothing from my world,” Adam replied calmly.

“You know the king wont increase your amount, Senator Pevaphio,” Lorelie said.

“I know.” Pevaphio sighed in disappointment.

“Why don’t you ask for the Terran’s share if you're going to stop them getting any?” Adam suggested in an offhand tone.

“Is that possible?” Pevaphio asked curiously.

“I’m unsure,” Lorelie replied as she and Jacques thought about it.

“Why not?” Rowena replied before explaining. “As far as I’m aware, the amount of God’s Oasis sent of the planet is limited in a way that demand remains high but is equal between all the other races who purchase it from the Merinmians.

“You could make the argument that the Dragons and Brood deserve equal amounts of the Terran’s share of God’s Oasis since both a Dragon and Brood were attacked along with a Merinmian.”

“That's plausible,” Jacques said.

“What about my share?” I was the one they were targeting after all.” Adam asked.

“Do you need to purchase a share of God’s Oasis?” Rowena asked with a chuckle before adding, “You're escorting Oceana Sevens' favourite daughter, who can get as much of the stuff as she wants around the universe.”

“Fair point.” Adam conceded as Lorelie giggled.

The group continued to talk while enjoying God’s Oasis until they decided it was time to depart and signalled towards a passing waitress.

“Can we get the bill, please?”

“Master Metgar has stated that your meal is on the house.” The waitress replied with a smile.

“Please pass on my thanks to Metgar,” Lorelie replied before turning to Pevaphio and asking.

“So, where are you staying, Senator Pevaphio?”

“The king was kind enough to offer me a room within the royal palace.”

As the group stood up and made their way towards the exit, several of the other patrons, along with the restaurant's staff members, bid farewell to Lorelie and Rowen, who smiled and waved.

💫💫💫

“Are we sure they're still in there, Kase?” Jake asked as he and Kase looked down at Metgar’s from atop a building across the road.

“Well, Merinmians in there are still discussing them on Xer-verse,” Kase replied while looking through a pair of high-tech binoculars.

“How long do we have to wait?” Jake groaned as he lay on his stomach while looking through the scope of a high-tech blaster rifle.

“Stop complaining, it’s five hundred credits a-piece, show a bit of patience,” Kase said before, suddenly pointing towards the restaurant and saying.

“They're coming out.”

“Finally,” Jake said as he focused the scope on a young male in a dark blue suit.

“Ready?” Kase asked.

“Of course,” Jake replied as his finger hovered over the trigger before it tightened and he fired the blaster rifle.

“WAIT!” Kase suddenly yelled.