Prank Wars
It was a record. There were now seven humans on the ESS Maywing. The most aboard any ship in the Galactic Confederation. And Geetree was sure that three of them were up to something.
Humans Carlton, Kylee, and Vern, as well as Bookas Vern and Minra had been missing most of the rotation. They'd last been seen slinking off after their shift, whispering and laughing as they went.
Normally, that'd be fine, odd behavior maybe, but fine. Unless humans were involved. Then it was potentially concerning.
Geetree skittered down the corridor, careful of other crewmates she passed. As a kreechen, it was way to be overlooked and stepped on if others were distracted. She kept to the sides of the walls as an extra precaution.
As she passed by a partially closed door panel, she finally heard what she'd been searching for. Peeking in, she saw the three humans and two Bookas in question.
But, what the frewan were they doing in Human Chris and Ricardo's bunk room? Not only that, but why were they wrapping everything in brightly colored papers?
Where did they even get that much paper?!
As she leaned more into the room to figure out just what was going on, the door creaked quietly. It was enough to get the humans and Bookas to freeze in their spots. They all turned towards the door, finally seeiing her as they looked down. As soon as they recognized her, they smiled at her, looking relieved and then continued with their work of wrapping everything in paper.
“By all things bright and shining, would anyone mind telling me what is going on in here?” Getree's high voice sounded loud compared to the whispers and crinkling paper.
Without looking up from wrapping a comb that belonged to Ricardo, Human Vern whispered, “It's April Fool's Day.” As if that explained everything.
Her confusion must have been apparent. Booka Vern tried to explain further, also whispering, “It's a holiday back on Earth where humans participate in pranks and jokes on each other.”
"I had some extra wrapping paper sent to me before Christmas,” explained Kylee, wrapping pens and markers and returning them to their original place. “We thought we'd prank Ricardo. We have lots of paper, so we're getting Chris too.”
"So this is some sort of initiation ritual?” chirped Geetree. Human Ricardo was the newest human to join the crew. “Those are supposed to be cleared with the captain in order to avoid…”
“No, no, no,” Carlton interrupted. The human's dark fingers were covered in bits of tape, which he handed to Kylee as she moved on from wrapping pens to wrapping small tech devices left out on the desktop. “It's not like that. Ricky started it this morning by dying our breakfasts green. We're just getting him back.”
"It's all in good fun,” Human Vern chimed in. “But if you'd like to help, you could stand look out for us, or you could wrap their pillows.” He held out a roll of the colorful paper.
Declining, Geetree returned to the corridor. Before she did, she saw Booka Vern and Minra take the paper and jump up on the beds. Those booka had been hanging out with the humans too much. They were picking up their weird and irrational behavior.
April Fool's Day. Really. What was the good of that? Still, she supposed wrapping personal items up in paper was at least keeping them busy and out of trouble on their down time.
As she rounded the corner, she saw Humans Ricardo and Chris walking in the opposite direction. She gaped at them. Human Chris was covered in tiny, shiny bits of material.
They noticed her staring. “Terri booby trapped the lab with a glitter bomb.”
Uh, what?! That sounds dangerous! A bomb?!?
And yet, the humans just grinned and laughed as they continued on their way toward their room, making plans to get back at Terri.
Geetree hoped that this “April Fool's Day” would be over soon.