Regretfully, Yes

"Fine we’ll take her." Zac grumbled as he held a hand to his forehead, sighing as he spoke.

"Yaaaay; family trip!" Layla cheered as she ran around the pair with a large grin on her face.

"We are not family but yes. We're going on a trip. All of us." Blackfire turns to Carm, "You’ll be come with as well. Just to make sure someone can watch her. Now go help her get ready."

"As you wish my lady." She gave a little bow as Layla ran to her room to things together.

"She's gonna be okay right?" he asked Blackfire when the pair were gone.

"You can't keep coddling her all the time. And besides, if anyone attempts to do anything pretty sure you'll just slam their head through a wall. And that's if I don't get to them first."

"Not... wrong about that." he muttered.

He noted her tone about having to step in wasn't as..., dragged out as he expected it to be. But he wasn't going to say anything least she got offended about that over one reason or another. The thought of her being a 'cat' crossed his mind again as Layla came back with her knapsack on her back. She usually would carry that with her when going off to 'adventure'. Something about a cartoon teaching her to be prepared or something. Usually just little odds and ends; nothing major besides a copy of her inhaler. Granted he carried one too but it never hurt to have two.

The plan set and the group ready, She lead the group to the cargo area where there was another smaller ship stored away. Maybe it was an away ship or life boat? The terminology was escaping Zac right now. End of the day it looked like it was made more to hop over to stations, other ships, or maybe do a few quick trips on a planet; rather than long deep space flights. The space version of SUV though he was pretty sure saying that would be insulting a lot of people at once.

He was a bit worried they’d get flagged on entry but everything went okay. Not even a weird look from the personal that ran them through the docking and entry. Granted, Blackfire had come in through a different dock this time. All they got was a 'enjoy your visit and be careful. Some shoot out happened yesterday.' from the guards.

Sweating bullets, he gave a weak chuckle before Blackfire nudged him with her elbow and pushed him through.

This time Blackfire's path took her to the more reputable part of the station as she wasn't trying to set Zac up to be clobbered. They needed a few travel supplies which meant going towards the actual shopping center of the station. The intergalactic version of a strip mall to the human's mind. Well just an interior one. All the stores were colorful and a few even had criers outside. Usually robots or a hologram stand but a few had organics trying to get people to come in for all sorts of deals. Sounds and smells were all around which made Layla basically vibrate with excitement.

Security was tighter though. He noted a few guard personal making the routes. Either the Syndicate didn't have sway here or they were on the take; he didn't want to chance crossing them today.

On the bright side, Blackfire seemed to be all 'business'. It was odd to see this side of her, she usually seemed so playful and coy about things. Now she was just as focus and blunt as a well trained shopper could be. She haggled down two food vendors for a better price with an intensity that was... impressive and a little scary. Next she went and got a pair of back up space suits fitted and made for the father and daughter. The fact it could be printed out in an hour was a thing to hear and Layla got a kick out of seeing part of the process done.

She was having the time of of her life, even with Blackfire moving on her own time frame. Her head whipped this way and that, asking what that glowing bit was, what that sign said, or if those weird purple glowing pods were safe to eat. Zac had to stop her a few times from pointing at people themselves while Carm struggled to keep up with explanations. Blackfire just kept them moving as best she could which was rather easy most the time.

They had to pull Layla along a few times when she pouted about wanting to look at something or another. Some weird store or trinket would catch her eye. Blackfire would roll her eyes and tug her along or get Carm to do it. Though Zac did pay attention to a few of the things she was interested in.

After some time the group found themselves sitting at a park which was away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping area. A few romantic couples seemed to be taking in the sights of the strange plants and carved sculptures. Several kids were running around the different play equipment, using holographic weapons to play fight or use what looked to be zero g swings. Zac rested on a bench, with all sorts of boxes and bags around him. Lucky for him the station seemed to allow gravity carts for use within a certain area, and the park was one of them.

"Tired are we?" Blackfire smirked as she stretched next to him.

"Little. Still reminds me of some malls back home. Only bigger I guess." he gave a weak answer as he caught his breath, "I was never good at like... big groups of people either. She's gonna be tucked out by the end of it though."

He pointed at Layla who was running around without a care around the playground, trying all the different things she could get her hands on. Carm for her part was struggling to keep up with the little tyke. He gave a chuckle at the sight.

"Reminds me of home. Only a few maids could keep up with her or even engaged with her. Most were just glorified babysitters to make sure she didn't get into trouble or have an attack."

"Hmmmm. " She muttered but said nothing as she watched the human lass float in a small bubble of anti gravity.

"So... is that everything we need to get?"

"... I believe so. Could I get more? Yes but want to keep some money in our account in case something happens. Besides, I did pick up a few trade goods that should help earn some cash on the next station. Parts are always in demand."

"That explains those two crates you had brought to the away ship. Anything else?"

"... I could maybe find something else to buy, but I'd prefer to take a bit of a break. Even someone as great and powerful as I am can get tired." She relaxed into a more 'lounging' position. Something that was impressive considering they were just on a park bench.

"Well hmmm...., I still have a bit of energy." he got up with a stretch, "Besides I need to hit the rest room. I'm gonna take Carm with me."

"Oh... really? You're into that are you?" she grinned as she looked up at him.

"Get out of the gutter. I can't read the signs as well as you can. I'm taking her to translate stuff. I should be able to figure it out myself once I get in.... I think. Besides, if I can figure out how to work a space age toilet; I think you can survive watching a little girl for like a couple minutes. Or is that too much for a pirate villain queen like yourself?"

She huffed in response but didn't take the bait beyond that. Instead she just quietly grumbled as Zac went over and told the pair what was happening before taking off with the robot. Layla just gave a wave towards Blackfire who rolled her eyes but the little one seemed happy about something. She looked down and realized she had absent mindedly waved back. Well...., whatever. It wasn't going to kill her was it to be 'nice' and besides the happier she was, the less of a nag her father would be right?

She just stretched out and lazily turned her head to the ceiling, watching the big displays placed there that showed the surrounding area of space. She took time to rub at her eyes a bit. They felt..., oddly itchy when she was trying to focus on the ships on display. Maybe there was a fountain she could wash them out in...

"Degrading myself to that level..., how far I have fallen."

Layla was having the time of her life. A whole new world, all new things to play with and see. Something she'd never experience back in her oh so perfect life back home. The few stories she knew about space and the distance future never talked about playground stuff like this. The small anti gravity bounce pad was her favorite. Though it seemed like a favorite of several of the other kids from the station.

It was a group of them, maybe eight or so. They were all looking at her with strange looks in their eyes but a few of the older ones looked a bit angry. Maybe..., it was hard to tell what those faces meant. A few started to babble towards her but she couldn't make it out. She reached up and touched the translator Blackfire gave her. She got a squak of different words, some of them a bit familiar when her mom was having a bad day about.. something or another. At least it felt like it.

'Hey, new girl,' one of them spat, her voice dripping with malice. 'What are you doing all alone? Don't you have any friends?'

Layla shook her head. She didn't want to anger them but she didn't know just how to talk to them.

"Well, that's not surprising," another kid, this one looking like some space elf with fangs and bug horns... antenna(?) chimed in. "Who'd wanna to be friends with someone like you? You look so weird."

The kids erupted into laughter, and Lily's cheeks burned with embarrassment and growing frustration. She tried to ignore them and move away, but they wouldn't let her be, quickly keeping up with her.

"What's wrong with your hair?" one of them asked, tugging at her long, curly locks. "It's so frizzy and ugly. Reminds me of this stupid pest we have on the station."

The crowd of kids laughed or at least what sounded like laughter to her, and Layla felt her heart sink. She had always been self-conscious about her hair due to her mother wanting her to always have her hair nice, neat and straight. Orderly, proper and 'to look good'; another words more for her than for Layla.

Just when Layla thought it couldn't get any worse, one of the kids grabbed her bag and dumped its contents on the ground. Right on top of the anti gravity pad. Her little belongings either spun out around the ground or slowly floated in the pad. The other kids joined in, helping to scatter her things everywhere or picking her stuff a part to find out just what the weird stuff was.

"Hey stop it!"

"Make me freak."

One of the bigger kids shoved her into the pad rather hard, sending her off the ground. She tumbled into the air, her head snapping around to look at the kids all jeering at her. She was about to start crying when something passed by her eye. Her small Zodiac orb charm. She quickly grabbed it and held it to her chest, hoping that maybe she could transform into a hero like her dad.

Sadly that didn't happen and she fell with a small thud to the ground. Layla couldn't hold back her tears any longer as she started to tear up and an itch started to come into the back of her throat. The bullies crowded around her, their strange noises mocking her and a few made a grab for the little object she held. She curled up into a ball to best protect herself and her prize.

"Oi some freak like you probably stole this! Give it up, I'm gonna... OW! You.." one bully cried out as Layla bit into his hand or what was the equivalent of a hand.

"It's MINE! Just leave me alone! Go away!" she spat as she kept her hands clenched tight on her treasure.

"This is my park and when I say give, a freak like you... gives... up..?"

The bully couldn't feel his feet on the ground anymore. Strange, he was sure he wasn't inside the gravity field. Was this something the little crying weirdo could do? He was gonna make her so sorry when he got down. He kicked at air as he tried to find purchase before looking at his friends. The small group were backed away with their eyes(or vision organs) as wide as they could get.

A growl from behind him alerted him to the source of their fear.

“Brat. What are you doing?” A voice growled out from behind him.

“Lemme go, I didn’t do nothing wrong to you!” he struggled in place but couldn't get out of the person's hold around his jacket cuff.

“Technically correct.” the voice sounded like an older woman.

“Then lemme go.” he wiggled about trying to get free.

“Are you sure?”

He looked down and realized the woman had floated higher in their talk. He was about level with some of the light poles. He gulped as while he was tough, he wasn't tough enough to drop that far without getting hurt.

"If you really want down…"

"I don’t wanna fall, help!" he cried out as his friends below watched on in fear.

"Oh? Did you think that girl wanted to fall when you pushed her? You were the big kid, you deserve to push people around don’t you. Least till someone bigger comes along." the figure holding him growled, "Come on, what are you gonna do about me? Can't really push me around can you."

“I’m sorry please…., Don’t hurt me…" he was almost crying himself now as she had floated even higher now.

“Hmmmm…, "She paused for a moment before putting her mouth near his ear, "Beat. Feet. I’m gonna put you down and the moment I let go, you and your hooligan buddies better be running. Got it."

She flew back down to the ground and shoved him into the group of little punks. They took off pretty fast for a group that didn't seem to have enhanced speed. Little hooligans, Blackfire would have melted them all for that or at least broke a few wrists if they were older. She quickly moved over and picked up a still huddled Layla, giving her a little shake to get her out of her little balled up form.

"Oh tell me you aren't one of those little coward bugs that rolls up when threatened..."

"Rollie Pollie." Layla muttered as her body started to relax, "I don't... like fighting."

"Don't like fighting and you took a big bite out of that one's hand? You seem to have at least a line that shouldn't be crossed." she gave the young one a pat on the head, "I am... sorry I am late."

"You're.... not mad I got into a fight?"

"I'm only mad you didn't start biting sooner. If you had shown a level of strength before then perhaps they would have backed down. ..., Hmmm I should teach you some self defense." Blackfire put Layla down and started to help her collect her things.

"I don't think Dad would like that much." Layla said with a bit of cheer in her voice.

"OH your father probably would like it less if you got bullied. Besides I can't watch you forever."

"There she is!"

This was getting annoying. Rather than run off like a good little coward, the little hooligan from before had shown back up with a group of larger goons. Local gang by the look of their stuff. Where they related to the Syndicate? It didn't matter, Blackfire slowly got Layla to stand behind her as the big Klarn stomped up to her. The pattern of colors on his scales marked him as a relative to the smaller one. Cute, he got his big brother for help.

"May I help you?" she spoke, keeping a cheery tone. She could probably just snap these guys in half but..., well the child was here.

"Yeah...," he rotated his shoulders a bit, "Seems your little charge took something from my bro. I'm just here to either collect it back or get..., compensation."

"Really? This kind of shake down? Wow things must really suck out here in the sticks." she thought as she kept her smile up, "Yeah that's not happening. If you have a problem with her, take it up with the police."

"Come on, hot little thing like you probably doesn't want to waste all night sitting with stuffy suits telling you what to say or not say. Just give us that stone she has and we'll be on our way."

"It's mine! He tried to take it." Layla shouted and pointed a fingerat the smaller snake like alien.

"No freak like her could have something like that, she stole it! And bit me!" the hooligan spat back, holding up his hand, "Even cracked my scales! Little freaky beast thing."

"Damn really? Little animal has a jaw strength to her. Little bro might get infected now too. Gonna need a way of paying that off now. So..., maybe get her parents here to talk this out or maybe we go find them ourselves. Granted might not be that friendly if we have to go find them. Maybe get the little animal to help us find them..., come on kid let's go for a walk."

His arm started to reach out only to be grabbed by Blackfire's hand. There was quite a lot of **** behind that grip. She had a small smirk on her face as she took his attention back.

"Fucken Hell lady; why do you even care? She ain’t even your kid by the look of it. And you don’t seem the kind of gal that works nanny jobs." he sputtered.

"Ah but you’re wrong. I am her mother."

"Wow….," the thug looked Blackfire up and down before looking at the child behind her and turning back to her, "Guess you handle disappointment well."

Blackfire's smile grew wider as she closed her eyes and took a breath. Less than a second after she was done, a fist slammed into his face. Said hand then moved down, gripping the man's throat and before he realized it, he was slammed against one of the decorative trees. No not slammed against, into, as he felt the material start to give way as his body was slowly pressed into it.

"Ow… you crazy bi-"

A hand slammed closed on his mouth stopped him from speaking.

"That ‘disappointment’ is the only reason you still have limbs, as I’d rather not traumatize her. Otherwise you’d be bent over your own legs while I beat you with your own arms. After all, I am Crazy aren’t I?" Her eyes were wide and wild and her smile reminded him of a predator.

"Get the... k.."

She flicked her arm out to the side and swept her limb towards his fellow thugs. As her arm passed, she released blasts of purple energy at the gathered group. Some shorts merely knocked people down while others overheated some of their assembled weapons. They had to quickly drop or toss their gear least it burned their hands, melted or even blew up. In the confusion Layla saw Blackfire motion and she ran towards her, taking shelter near her legs.

"I gave your brother a command. Beat. Feet. I am extended this order to you. LEAVE. And unless you show back up with officers, the next time I see you, I am cramming you into an aquarium the size of her backpack. Do. I. Make. Myself. CLEAR."

With each word she pressed him harder into the tree and each word he heard more and more cracking. From the tree or his own bones and scales, he wasn't entirely sure. He held up a hand along with his long tail next to it, a sign she knew as his race's 'I give up' gesture. She removed him from the tree and easily tossed him a few feet away back to where his gang had retreated to.

"Crazy board, this ain't over." he muttered but he still took off at a hurried pace with his fellows around him.

"...., is this... normal?" Layla asked when the thugs were out of sight.

".... eh. Sometimes. Lots of races think they can bully the weaker looking ones or the new unknown races are easy marks cause they don't know anything." She reached down and picked up the girl, "Let this be a lesson to you now; don't go anywhere with your father, Carm or myself....; honestly just don't sneak off without me really."

"You really are nice." Layla giggled and leaned in to give her a hug.

"Keep telling yourself that. Currently you're an investment and I always protect my things so long as they're useful to me." she snapped back as she looked around on the ground, "You did get all your things right?"

"Ah huh. I was mainly worried about this." she held up her little stone, "Wonder if dad can use it."

"Let's not experiment with your father's power set just yet. Maybe back home we can try for it. Besides what powers would 'fish' give him." she pushed Layla's hand down to hide the stone again, "Still if others seem to want it even if it's just shiny, perhaps put it away while we wait for your father, okay?"

She nodded but Blackfire sighed inwardly to herself. This pair was going to be the **** of her sanity, she knew it.