: Wait, was I hallucinating?
: Why did Boothill also start going "banana banana."
: Boothill got banana-fied too!
: What the hell? Don't tell me Boothill's true form is some banana craftsman?!
: Hahaha, the plot has gone completely insane, it's running wild now!
: Him turning into a banana really got me, I couldn't hold it in.
: Damn, does this mean Boothill is going to start singing the "Banana Lullaby" next?
: Rappa saw the sky collapsing.
...
The comments scrolled crazily past.
Meanwhile, on screen, Boothill himself looked utterly confused.
"Bananas?"
"Son of a banana? What the banana fudgin' sundae?"
What Boothill's Synesthetic Beacon had been saying before was already funny. But now, with everything turned into banana-speak…
It was as abstract as it could possibly get.
Boothill, utterly shocked, touched his Synesthetic Beacon.
His brain was spinning rapidly, trying to process the current situation.
But after struggling for a while, all he managed was to tilt his head and let a big question mark pop up.
"Huh?"
Just then, from behind the crowd, Micah stepped forward, separating Boothill from the others.
"Micah, I thought you don't get involved in these matters."
"I'm just putting up a decoration everyone likes. I'm not hurting anybody."
The aggressive man, now seeing that Dreamflux Reef's spokesperson Micah had arrived, suddenly grew more confident.
He confronted Micah and pressed, glaring.
Micah calmly replied.
"First, I find it hard to believe that everyone likes those monkeys."
"Second, I just happened to be passing by. I saw a friend and came to say hello."
The aggressive man looking exasperated questioned, "Friend?"
"That's right. Though truth be told, I don't remember your name anymore. I've met too many people the over last few years."
Micah continued: "But I still remember those eyes - "This is great! Everyone can make their own dreams here." - That's what you said when you first arrived. Your eyes gleamed with spirit."
The man's face darkened at that. After a moment of silence, he snorted coldly: "Do you have to say these things out in the open? You need to fix your bad habit of lecturing people."
"There's a reason why things become popular. You'll understand some day. But fine, I'll back off for today. I'll be back. Let's go."
With that, he turned and left with his group.
However, Boothill wasn't satisfied. He whistled: "Hold on! Banana my sundae... Forget it, guess I could afford to say less."
Just as he was about to chase after them, Micah stopped him, advising: "Let them be. At the very least, they harbor no ill will towards you."
"And they certainly don't have the courage to do anything, anyway. Right, Mr. Ranger?"
This way of speaking actually sounded reasonable to Boothill.
"Hah. Finally, someone sensible."
He wasn't some battle junkie. Those people really had no particular grudge with him, just some weirdness.
It wasn't enough reason for a "hunt."
"So then, Ranger, would you care to talk about matters with me?"
At that, Micah walked forward.
Boothill had already intended to chat with this reasonable man, so he had no reason to refuse.
Soon, the two left the alley, arriving at Dreamflux Reef's first level, a massive garden steeped in the night.
Seeing no one else around, Micah went straight to the point: "I know what you want to ask. A Galaxy Ranger's gunshot rings loud and clear. And Dreamflux Reef isn't so isolated that we don't hear what's going on outside our walls."
Boothill grinned and swallowed back what he was about to say: "Good to know I didn't waste my shot."
"But I gotta say, I've seen it all now. The atmosphere here is real strange. I mean, statues of monkeys?"
Micah shook his head steadily: "It's just a fad among youngsters. If you ask me, it's even stranger that a Galaxy Ranger is in Dreamflux Reef."
Then, staring straight into Boothill's eyes, he said each word carefully: "Are you here chasing evil or settling a grudge?"
To Micah and Dreamflux Reef, this was the most important question.
"You don't gotta beat around the bush."
Boothill grinned wide: "Can't you tell by just lookin' at me? Banana sundae, everything's bananas. I came here to help someone and now I'm the biggest ruckus around here. Son of a banana, tell me what's going on with that monkey!"
Micah let out a long breath before answering: "It wasn't that long ago, but they arrived just as suddenly as you did..."
Boothill was confused: "Huh? Did I miss something? Who's they?"
"They call themselves Assistananas. They look like the Sweet Dreams Troupe, except much stranger. They came here to advertise something called the Slumbernana Monkey ..."
"Hm... Maybe it's the appearance or the cultural significance. Just like every other thing that was once trendy."
"I don't have an opinion on Slumbernana Monkey. The young people love it. The real problem is the level of fanaticism it creates. You saw the group from before. They grew obsessed with the monkey and formed their own society."
"I think it's called the Slumbernana Association. They run publicity campaigns all across Dreamflux Reef under its banner, and they're not very friendly."
Micah laid out all the intel in detail.
Boothill didn't even need to ask much. This way of speaking gave even the audience a new kind of feeling.
...
: Damn, the name 'Galaxy Ranger' really is a golden signboard.
: Micah practically wrote "we have nothing to do with this" across his face.
: When Boothill answered he was chasing evil, Micah instantly sighed in relief. Hahaha, clearly Dreamflux Reef doesn't want to get entangled with the Rangers.
: But chasing evil, that's terrifying too. It means there are real villains here, now marked by the Rangers.
: For Dreamflux Reef, neither option sounds good.
: At least the second proves Dreamflux Reef itself won't be targeted.
: But the fact that the Slumbernana Association has infiltrated Dreamflux Reef is worrying.
: I'm really curious what these guys plan to do, just use the fans of the Slumbernana Song?
: Oh hell, I suddenly had an abstract thought. Are these people trying to start a Slumbernana fan circle in Penacony?
: Fan circle expeditions, nothing survives!
: Damn, stop making me laugh, this episode is already abstract enough.
...
Thanks to Micah's openness, Boothill nodded thoughtfully and asked: "Oh, those self-proclaimed banana maniacs just now? And no one's tried to stop them?"
Micah shook his head and replied: "Fads come and go. It's not all that unusual even in Dreamflux Reef, so I didn't see a reason to intervene. Besides..."
"For a very long time, this was the only place in Penacony that had some freedom. Some things just shouldn't be changed."
After things were made clear, Boothill became very easy to get along with.
He waved his hand: "Fine by me. If you won't deal with it, somebody else will. The Slumbernana Association, huh. Appreciate the tip, partner."
After giving his thanks, Boothill left the place.
Micah, however, kept his eyes on Boothill's back without speaking.
Just as it had been said earlier:
The Slumbernana Association recruiting people here, forming their group, Dreamflow Reef wouldn't interfere.
Likewise, if a band of Galaxy Rangers came here, the city wouldn't step in either.
After all, this was Dreamflow Reef. The only place of freedom in Penacony.
And freedom meant that everyone here could do whatever they wanted. Right?
Micah stopped Boothill and repeated his question: "One moment, Mr. Ranger. You haven't answered my question from earlier. Are you here chasing evil or settling a grudge?"
Boothill, turned his head with a cheeky grin, and said: "Huh, do I look like some kind of madman to you? The answer is both. Any more than that is none of your business."
"You walk straight, then cross an alley, turn left, go straight again, then turn right. You'll see Triss's shop. Don't say a word, just sit at the middle seat of the bar counter."
"You still worried 'bout somethin'? Tell you what, buddy, go to Jessie's shop next door. There's a tab for seven drinks. Settle that, and consider my behavior here bought and paid for."
Micah didn't think Boothill was joking. He carefully thought over the meaning of this: "Seven drinks?"
Boothill laughed: "It may not be much, but it's still malt juice. I never break a promise to those who treat me."
"You can bet on that. The first time I met someone like that, I let myself get shot rather than betray them."
And that was all. Micah understood. Boothill said no more and disappeared around the corner.
Just as Boothill said, mere words wouldn't put Micah at ease, especially since Boothill had said in the end that it was "both."
But when Boothill told him to go pay that bill, Micah felt reassured.
It might sound funny, but in truth, it meant Boothill had already drawn a line of connection with him.
Once there's some bond, however small, things change. And just having that thought already meant a lot.
Micah turned and walked toward the bar to settle the bill.
As for the ranger's true intentions, he no longer needed to worry.
In just a short time of interaction, Micah could already sense Boothill's character.
A man walking the grey zones.
And at the same time, a "good" man.
...
: Honestly, the dialogue between Micah and Boothill really had the weight of an old-school gangster flick.
: They didn't really say much, but somehow everything was explained. That's exactly the vibe!
: Buying peace at that price? For Micah, that's a huge win.
: Seeing Boothill's way of handling things, I think I get the "bottom line" of the Galaxy Rangers now.
: Basically, they're people who act freely, but still with principles. Though their principles might not match the law's.
: I absolutely love this ranger style.
: The more I see, the more unique their way of doing things feels!
: And that last line, damn, it was so cool!
...
In the scene, Boothill had already started gathering intel all around Dreamflow Reef.
The situation was far from optimistic. Slumbernana Association members and their banners were showing up almost everywhere.
From Boothill's observations, these guys even had a strict initiation process.
You had to answer many questions that only hardcore fans could get right before you could join.
"Damn bananas, their brain' fried."
Boothill didn't act rashly.
After collecting the info, he was just about to find a spot with good signal to send the data to Rappa and the Nameless.
But right then, at the plaza, Boothill saw Robin surrounded by a group of kids.
In that ranger's head, his original plan vanished.
A bold idea surged up.
He whistled, strolled happily behind Robin, and greeted her: "I can't believe I just ran into a superstar, and in a place like this too."
The kids, seeing a shark-toothed mechanical weirdo suddenly appear, all shrank back in fear, hiding behind Robin.
"It's okay. This big brother here is a good man. Why don't you go and have fun somewhere else for now?"
After comforting the kids and letting them leave, Robin turned her head to look at Boothill.
"Big bother?" Boothill frowned.
"Um ... Maybe I should've just kept it at "Mister." Would that have been better?" Hearing Boothill misinterpret the name, Robin smiled lightly and didn't mind.
She had sensed him already when he approached. That was why she hadn't refused to talk to him.
"In any case, Mr. Boothill, it seems you've put your travels on hold after that incident too. Are you enjoying your time in Penacony?" Robin asked.
"Enjoying? Hah, more like going bananas! Bananas, I just can't catch a break." Boothill instantly flared up.
"Mr. Boothill, you ... Huh? Hang on. Sorry, please keep still for a moment..."
She spoke while directly activating her tuning.
Feeling the strange power invade, Boothill jumped back in shock: "What in the forkin' hell are you doing?"
But then, Boothill's eyes widened. He seemed… able to speak normally again?
"...?"
He tried saying it again, and after confirming his synesthetic beacon worked, he shouted in joy: "Fork. Fudge? Fudge! Holy shirtballs, I'm back to normal!"
Boothill slapped his thigh, straightened his back, and felt completely refreshed!
"I knew it. There's a noise around Mr. Boothill too." Robin said worriedly.
Then, the two exchanged information about the Sleepy Banana gang.
Both felt there was something seriously off about them. But since Robin's identity drew too much attention, it wasn't convenient for her to gather intel.
Luckily, now she had the "familiar-faced" Boothill.
So Robin suggested that the approachable Mr. Boothill go find a gentler plan to infiltrate the Slumbernana Association.
Meanwhile, she would provide support in secret. The two struck an agreement.
But soon enough, Boothill's way of handling things left Robin stunned.