Alvida, Kalifa, Maya, and Vivi entered the room alongside Ben.
It was a large, well-lit banquet hall, with high ceilings supported by arched beams. Long tables stretched from end to end, covered in fine white cloth and overflowing with platters of freshly prepared food. There was roasted meats, exotic fruits, steaming rice dishes, breads, and desserts of all kinds. The scent of spices and sugar filled the air.
Ben looked around. "Lots of food here," Ben remarked.
"It certainly looks like it," Vivi said. She looked at the table filled with food. "This does feel like something out of a palace," she remarked.
Alvida smirked and brushed her hair over her shoulder. "Fitting, since we do have royalty among us," she said. "But I prefer the Miss Love Duck," she added.
She looked at Ben who had his hand on her waist. "My love, why did you not correct him that you are the Captain," Alvida said.
"We need to tell that to the Marines," Ben responded. He laughed. He did not really care. He thought it was a bit funny.
Kalifa adjusted her glasses. "Whoever prepared this clearly knew how to make an impression. Presentation is flawless," she said, touching her glasses.
Maya stepped forward, her nose twitching slightly as she inhaled the scent of the food. "I think there is something about eating with the sisters which is better," Maya said.
At that moment, two people approached the girls. The first person was a middle aged half bald man. He had white colored hair and a beard. He wore a standard black suit, with a white shirt. He also wore a pair of round shaped glasses. He had black shoes on.
The second person was a young woman with blue eyes and red lipstick. She had long brown hair styled in a ponytail with bangs over her forehead, and thin locks of hair coming down by her ears. She was dressed in a typical maid outfit with a dark blue knee-length dress, a white apron, white tights and elbow gloves, and a white headdress.
"Welcome to the party I am Gonzo," Gonzo introduced as he bowed.
"I am Dorothy Great Sir," Dorothy said as she bowed down. At that moment her head dropped to the ground.
"What!" Vivi exclaimed. She saw the head rolling around.
"I apologize for this. She is a mechanical figure and we are working out the bugs," Gonzo said.
"Great Sir," Alvida remarked.
"She has never addressed someone like that," Gonzo said.
"He has that effect," Kalifa said looking around.
At that moment, there was smoke filling the room.
They heard heavy stomps and looked to the source of the noise. They saw a mechanical tortoise with a large purple shell and four red mechanical arms. It had a head which was orange and green eyes. On top of the mechanical figure was a red and yellow chair. Ratchet sat on the chair and looked down. Next to him were Maji and Honki.
"All hail the Great Ratchet," Honki declared. "The ruler of this island," he added.
"The Great Ruler," Maji added.
The girls exchanged unimpressed glances.
"You should bow before Sir Ratchet," Honki added with the certainty of a commanding officer.
"Can I beat them up?" Kalifa piped up.
"You dare insult us?" Maji snapped, rolling up his sleeve as if preparing for a skirmish.
"Maybe later," Ben interjected, his eyes briefly locking with Kalifa's before turning toward Ratchet. "Let's not turn this into a battle," he said. Kalifa walked towards the punch.
Ratchet's lips quivered into a wry smile. "You are sharp," he replied. After a brief pause, he pressed, "Why are you speaking on behalf of your Captain?"
"My love is the Captain," Alvida blurted out.
The declaration took Ratchet by surprise. He recalled reading that Alvida was the Captain, and it struck him as odd that in an all-female crew, he was the only man and, in a way, the de facto leader. Glancing at the other girl, he noted curiously that her bounty was not listed. He did not really care.
"So, how did you unravel the riddles?" Ratchet inquired.
"A direct question," Maya replied.
Ben's smile deepened. "We have our methods," he said.
"We got off to the wrong start," Ratchet said, as he started to use his wipers on his glasses. "Why don't we work together? Together we can solve this riddle," Ratchet proposed.
Vivi thought if they cooperated it would be good. There would be less conflicts and they could share the rewards. It will be a win-win for all. "Ben, I think it was a good idea," Vivi said to Ben quietly.
"Vivi, do you trust me?" Ben asked.
"With my life," Vivi responded immediately. Her heart skipped a beat. She trusted Ben, her husband, her soul mate, her everything.
"We would like to think about it," Ben stated. He had no intention of saying yes however it would not be wise right now.
Ratchet looked angry. "Very well, you can have time to think about it," Ratchet responded. "Although, I thought you were smart, and it is not smart to think about a decision like this," he said.
"You are rejecting Ratchet Sir," Honki said. He was pumping his fist up in the air. Alvida did not like his tone and glared at him.
"You are foolish," Maji added as he rolled his fist once again. Vivi clenched her fist. She did not mind being insulted however, she did not like Ben getting insulted.
"We should let them think about it till the end of this dinner," Ratchet offered.
Meanwhile, Kalifa was pouring herself some juice. "It has been a while, big sis," a voice said.
Kalifa turned around to see a woman wearing a bright yellow, form-fitting dress that clungs to her. It went down to her feet and covered it. It had a daring deep neckline which showed a huge amount of cleavage. Her breasts could be seen. Her nipples could be barely seen. The dress, with its long flowing silhouette of sheer fabric, went down. Her long, wavy hair cascades over her shoulders. The sleek black high-heeled shoes added a modern flair.
"Alpha," Kalifa said.