Small clouds move at a perceptible speed across the mostly clear skies. All traces of yesterday's rain has already seeped into the ground or been swept away by the diligent colonists of Xitlalmina. Residual moisture accumulates in the gills of giant mushrooms and drips off its caps. The mycelial structures are spotless and blemish-free.
Through the streets hovers a sphere droid with floating hands followed by Foxglove and Steve. Ycthuthrheth makes an offer to them, "You must be tired and hungry after your hours of travel. Let's get you something to eat."
The guests graciously accept and follow the drone to the mess hall.
They enter the mess hall to a sight of many colonists eating and giving cheerful banter. The guests go to serve themselves, but Ycthuthrheth stops them. "We have prepared food for you. Please take a seat, and it will be brought out." They take a seat, and Ycthuthrheth makes its way to the kitchen.
Citria, Irko, and Xochcatl are in the kitchen, desperately scrambling to finish preparing the appetizer.
"Citria, Where are the peppers?" belts Irko, trying to be heard through all the other shouting cooks, the clashing of ladles and spatulas against pots and pans, and splashing of the dishwashers.
Citria makes a hard stop as another colonist rushes their way in front of her, and three others take the opportunity to cross while she stops. Before a fourth one cuts her way, she pushes forward, "Found them."
Xochcatl quietly arranges the plates and places them on the cart.
"Put them in," commands Irko, furiously smashing away with the mortar and pestle. Once Citria de-stems the peppers and throws them in, Irko continues pounding away at it even more furiously. Once they've been reduced to a paste with the other ingredients, she puts the sauce into two little bowls, which Xochcatl promptly plates.
A metallic hand knocks on the kitchen door, and a sphere droid peeks in. "The guests are here. Is the food ready?"
"Yes." Citria looks at the others, "I'll take this one out, begin on the next plate." She takes the cart and follows the drone to the guests.
Once the cart has arrived at Foxglove's and Steve's table, Ycthuthrheth places the plates in front of them. Citria explains the dish. "Welcome to Xitlalmina! We are glad to have you visit. For your appetizer, we've prepared stuffed mushrooms. These are filled with spiced nukap meat, and a squeeze of lime juice enhances their flavor, if you so choose. The filling is traditionally cooked in the salsa, but as the spice is an acquired taste, we have decided to not incorporate the salsa so you may add it to your liking."
Steve looks at the plate placed before him and wipes drool from his mouth. "I'm about ready to dig in."
Foxglove sits upright and bows to Citria, "Thank you for the food. It looks delicious."
Citria smiles at the guests. "Not a problem at all. Enjoy." She takes the cart and makes her way back to the kitchen.
Back at the kitchen, Irko stirs a pot and Xochcatl rapidly chops some vegetables.
At the sight of Citria, Irko asks, "Mind stirring the pot for a while? My tail needs a break and I need to get some ingredients." Just as quickly as she paused stirring to speak, the pot begins to boil over, and Irko frantically stirs again to prevent the imminent spill, her movements a bit sloppy from muscular fatigue.
Citria takes over the stirring while Irko slithers off to the refrigerators. Xochcatl adds some chopped vegetables to the pot while Citria stirs.
By the time the main entree is done cooking and Xochcatl and Citria are plating the food, Ycthuthrheth knocks on the door again. "The guests are about to be finished with their appetizer."
"I've had enough of a break. I'll take the cart this time." Irko takes the cart and follows Ycthuthrheth.
Once again, Ycthuthrheth places the plates in front of Foxglove and Steve while Irko explains the dish. "This is Cream of Mushroom soup, made purely with ingredients we have harvested in the colony. Enjoy."
They give their thanks and Irko makes her way back to the kitchen.
Back at the kitchen, Irko, Xochcatl, and Citria take a break, thankful for the foresight they had to prepare the desert the night before. All's left is to wait until they are ready, take it out of the fridge, and plate it.
Once they hear the knock of metallic hands on the kitchen door, Citria heads to the fridge and pulls out a pair of ramekins. Irko grabs plates. Xochcatl puts the plates upside-down on top of the ramekins, then flips the ramekin upside-down and the plate back right-side up. Plop, as a flan pops out and syrup coats the surface.
Citria and Irko place a plate onto the cart, and Xochcatl takes the cart out to Foxglove and Steve.
Ycthuthrheth places one plate in front of Steve, and Xochcatl places one in front of Foxglove.
With a monotone affect, Xochcatl explains the dish. "For dessert, we made Flan. Made of Milk, Eggs, and Sugar. Enjoy." She takes the previously used plates from the table, loads them on the cart, and makes her way back to the kitchen.
From the kitchen, Citria, Xochcatl, and Irko watch the guests' reactions, relieved to see a smile on their faces after the first bite.