The Star Man

[Deleted]

((Between the 'Super Arrow' and the 'Star Crash'.
Andromeda and Cepheid only.
May 2nd, just after dark))

Cepheid sat in his study within his small cabin-type airship by the large glass window that favored him a view of the skies. He was at his desk, beside a rather ornate telescope fixed on a stand as he worked on drawing another star chart. He had various lamps dimly lit through the room. It was just bright enough for him to work comfortably, but dim enough that they did not extinguish the stars above. There was not a single cloud in the sky, and he could not pass up this opportunity to get more charts made.

Sitting in the corner on a mannequin was his other persona, a rather flashy costume comprised of a star spangled mast, top hat, and suit with cape. When he landed in a populated area, he donned the costume and behavior set and became "The Star Man", one of the best free-lance astronomers, peddling star charts to any who wanted them. He would have been more than happy to waltz around without a mask and disguise, however his face was shared with one other. His twin brother Andromeda, scourge of the skies and general pain-in-the-ass. He hadn't seen his brother in almost twenty years, and today would be no different he was sure.

He'd continue to work, looking up frequently to look at the sky; sometimes he would stand and peer through the telescope, before returning to his desk.

Normal night, nothing fancy, just a man and his star charts.

[Deleted]

<sub>Unfortunately, Cepheid was about to meet his less than normal brother after so long. However they were just heading out to one of the coastal towns to figure out where they would go next. However Godwine didn't expect to find another smaller ship there as well. She grinned and then looked up to Andy, who was focused on his charts.

"Hey, Andy. Small ship at ten o'clock." She looked over her shoulder, tightening her corset a bit to get to work in case Andy wanted them to. Andy looked over to observe the ship, which would be conveniently in Cepheid's way.

"Okay, I'll get Nerys and I to work this time, should only be a two person job." Hopefully nothing like LAST time would happen, since that was a huge mess. Andromeda grabbed his gun and then called for Nerys, trusting Godwine to fly on down and cut him off.</sub>

[Deleted]

Rubbing his eyes lightly, as his head began to hurt from the strain, Cepheid looked away from the window for a moment. Slightly bleary, he turned to continue working, about to dip his pen tip in the ink bottle, but knocking it over by mistake.

With a curse, he'd snatch up the chart before it was ruined, then dart out of the room for a cloth. He'd return quickly and would be half-way through mopping up the mess when he looked up and noticed that a ship had appeared in the distance. It was rather large...

Never one to take chances, Cepheid quickly mopped up the last of the ink, tossed the cloth in the bin for the time being, put the chart back on the desk, and then quickly began to change out his clothes. He doubted he'd be boarded, but if he was, he didn't want to be mistakenly identified as his brother. Most people tended to leave him alone if they saw that it was the famed Star Man they had hailed down, and sometimes he even got a sale or two from lost airmen.

Ensuring the mask was affixed properly, he took a breath and relaxed, trying to get into character as he gently turned the light up and glanced back out the window and watched the ship.

[Deleted]

<sub>Now for the typical harpoon and board! Godwine had dived the ship down to cut off the smaller one. Nerys used her sharp eyesight to look at the ship. She then grinned. Well this is fan-freaking-tastic! She then looked up at Andy.

"It's that Star Man. Maybe we'll steal his maps!" She then aimed the harpoon and fired, hooking onto the ship and helping Andy down to slide to it.

"Perfect. We'll have a successful catch this time!" Andromeda grinned, sliding down with Nerys, shooting the lock and entering the place.

"Let's go together this time. The guy is quite eccentric and we don't know exactly who he is." She commented and Andy nodded in agreement. The both of them started searching the rooms, Andy always going first.</sub>

[Deleted]

When he saw that he was going to be cut off, Cepheid bolted from the study to work the controls and stop the ship. Before he had left the room, though, he had picked up his telescope. To anyone who saw him, it would simply look like a well taken care of prop, however it was a very useful makeshift weapon that he had become rather adept at using.

Due to the dark he couldn't see any identifying marks on the ship, despite this, he continued to remain calm and collected. Cepheid was flipping a wig, but the Star Man never let himself get frazzled.

He felt the thunk of a docking harpoon hit the ship, and he shifted his weight to remain standing as he made his way to the main room. This room was much darker, as he had no reason to be in there. It was only the dim light from the outside that gave the room any form of navigational potential.

As the lock was shot and the door was opened, he was ready. Leaning on the telescope like a cane, his hip at a jaunty angle, he regarded the intruders. "Quite a wonderful night, is it not? Quite a fine evening for pillaging, plundering, pillocking, prodding, parading, and causing all around pandemonium." He said, using his free hand to accent his speech. He then stood up straight and flipped the heavy item onto his shoulder. "What may I honor this magnificent and majestic intrusion for, dear lad and ladies?~"

The air about him was flamboyant and care-free, as if he was more amused than scared that he had just been boarded by what seemed to be pirates. If only he had time to light some lamps, but the dimness worked in his favor. He knew the room well enough to navigate it by memory, they'd be locating end tables with their shins.

If attacked, he'd block or parry the blow with his telescope and move into a defensive position.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda slipped around int he dark with his girl, Narys. She was quite adept to the dark so she could easily see the man that in his... outfit. Andromeda thought he was just the dumbest guy ever, but apparently Narys seemed to think quite differently.

"You have the best attitude for a man we've plundered, if I do say so myself~." She then spoke up again. "I'm quite the fan of your magic tricks-"

"UGH, why did I bring you girls along if you're going to oggle at hulking or eccentric figures!" He then threw a punch at Cepheid, not even aware of who he was underneath that suit.</sub>

[Deleted]

"Always happy to meet a fan, and I must say you're certainly one of the prettiest I've met, sweetheart.~" The Star Man answered with a flourish, despite the fact it was rather dark. It was light enough that he could get her general appearance, but that was it. Nothing that would help him ID her later.

When Andromeda threw that punch, he lifted the scope and put it right in the way, letting the man's fist slam into it, creating a small dent he's have to knock out later. "Oh my!~ It seems you wish to play. Very well then!~" With a leap back, he'd pull some smoke powder from his pocket and throw it down, filling the room with an obscuring fog that, when doubled with the dark, completely killed visibility for a few minutes.

"Fiddle dee-dee, fiddle dee-doo, wanna play a game? Well I don't mind if I do!~" He said from within the could of smoke as he moved. He positioned himself so that anyone moving towards his voice would have a very sudden meeting with a low end table.

[Deleted]

<sub>"Oh you're so flattering~!" Nerys just squeed with delight, almost freaking Andy out in the process. Man, she was acting so... un-Nerys like.

Of course now Andy was focusing on The Star Man or whatever he is. Andromeda grunted when his fist hit the scope and he shook his hand in pain. The knuckles would bruise up later, but that was a small price to pay. He then went to try and grab the man's cape but a smoke got in the way of it.

"You are a pain in the ass, let me tell you. Forget your fangirls." Oh god and now he's singing! How did the girls like this guy in the first place?! "Ugh! Nerys get a goddamn light on!"

"Kay~." She sung before looking around for a match and then grabbing them. She would then use her keen eyesight to try and search for a lamp.</sub>

[Deleted]

With a mock gasp of horror, he spoke up again. "Forget my fans? Perish the thought!~" He exclaimed, brandishing the scope about to accent his words despite the fact no one could see him. "And I find it sad that you believe me such a pain in your derriere, however, as it seems that I am quite unable to appease you now, I suppose I should send you on your way." He finished his words with a sad tone, as if he was reluctant to see them off.

Okay, so the girl was going for a light. Clearly, this man was the leader, so if he could take him out, he can get these guys out of his home. Leaping upon the sofa, he tread across it lightly and moved to where he heard the man. Quietly shifting the scope, he reared back and went to smack him where he thought the back of his head was. Not hard enough to kill or seriously harm, but hopefully hard enough to knock him out for a couple minutes.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda just laughed as this... Star Man spoke up. Oh he was going to make him forget about his fans, alright. Maybe unmask the idiot before anything came up. Of course Nerys seemed to be taking forever with the light and he was having trouble seeing where he was.

"With that kind of guise, you couldn't even get LAI-"

WHUMP!

THUD. Andromeda fell to the ground, blacking out as he was smacked in the back of the head with that large heavy object. Of course THEN was when Nerys lighted the lamp.

"... Whoops."</sub>

[Deleted]

He did not reply to Andromeda's jab, and instead focused on taking him out for the time being. He felt metal connect to skull and he heard the solid thunk of his target hitting the floor. It didn't seem like he was getting up right away. RPer died at Andy's last words.

Of course, then the light was ignited. By that point, the smoke had cleared and the lamp illuminated everyone. The Star Man stood, a hand on his hip and his slightly dented scope being held by his side like a club as he stood on the couch, idly looking at the unconscious form of Andromeda on the floor.

"My my my~ Seems he doesn't want to play anymore!~" He commented, stepping off the couch and over the prone form of Andy as he stepped across the room. "Why don't you be a doll and get your friend here off the ship and in a nice warm bed as you detach yourself from my ship and depart. Oh, and if you can leave everything as you found it, that would be very nice as well, my dear.~" He wasn't patronizing, and as a matter of fact he seemed rather friendly as he suggested all this, as if he was suggesting his favorite kind of tea to a stranger.

[Deleted]

<sub>Nerys trailed the light over to where the unconscious form of Andy was, looking at Cepheid as he spoke up. She then gave him a bit of a smile before putting the light down on the floor and checking the back of Andy's head. Might as well do a basic medical check for now.

"I dunno, maybe us girls would um... fangirl you to bits?" Nerys joked, pulling Andromeda into a sitting position. He'd wake up pretty quickly, Nerys could tell, but she wasn't sure she'd even be strong enough to pick him up. She did put her arm around Andy's back and put his around her shoulders.

"Uhm, you are quite nice of a bunch of pirates, especially some being led by the most dangerous around."</sub>

[Deleted]

The Star Man stood nonchalantly aside as he permitted the girl to see to her companion. He was rather preoccupied with the girl at this point, and paid very little heed to the face of the man he just clocked over the head. It's not like a man in a mask could lodge a complaint, after all.

"Oh hohohoh!~" He laughed at Nerys's comment. "Pretty AND Witty!~ My my, you wouldn't mind sticking around and keeping this poor old star gazer company, now would you?" He offered in jest. It was obvious she'd be wherever this character on the ground was.

"Good will towards all, and all that rot." He commented jovially. "Oh hoh? The most dangerous you say?~" He inquired. "Maybe I should take a look, and see just who this feared man is!~" He said as he sauntered up to the pair and leaned over, looking at the man's face in the lamp light.

Under the mask, his expression fell as he stared in utter astonishment at the man on the floor. He remained very quiet, still half bent, using the scope as a cane to keep his balance as he reeled mentally.

No way.

[Deleted]

<sub>Nerys just chuckled when The Star Man spoke up. Wow, what a witty tongue! She liked it, of course. She would definitely love to keep this man company or... kidnap him. And hold him bait and claim to all the fangirls of the world that she had him. Maybe Andy would allow her to pick him up.

"Oh he should be fine. It was just a small knock to the head" She scooted over to let him see, but then he seemed to go completely silent and she just blinked. Huh?

Andromeda himself seemed to finally snap out of it too, and he groaned, opened his bleary eyes to...

A freak and his fangirl in his face.

"... AAH!" Andromeda scuttled back and almost smacked Cepheid in the face.</sub>

[Deleted]

Thankfully, Cepheid wasn't completely out of it, so he was able to rear back just in time to avoid being given a hard knock to the face.

Stepping back, he was trying to find something to say as he stared at the man. After a few moments, he found his words, though they were immensely more forced that before.

"You are the one they call Andromeda, is not not correct?" He asked. He had to be sure, though there was really no doubt.