The planet express flew past a sign welcoming them to the rotating shop above the party planet. It was very much like a giant disco ball, there were mirrors and lights absolutely everywhere.
‘Whoa, that’s a little bright.’ Fry stepped down from the ship shielding his eyes.
‘It’s not so bad inside.’ Amy said tugging on his hand, ‘Come on, let’s get you out of these clothes and into something fashionable.’
Leela scowled and held a whimpering Lucy tightly.
‘What’s her problem?’ Bender asked peering curiously over Leela’s shoulder.
‘Why are you so curious?’
‘Up yours chumpette.’ Bender turned heel and went to follow Fry in. After a moment’s hesitation, Leela followed suit.
It was a long two hours before Leela dragged Amy out and a sore footed Fry and Bender followed with Lucy in her hover-pram in tow.
It took another hour for the girls to get ready, much to Bender’s and Fry’s annoyance. But as Amy and Leela emerged their excitement grew.
‘We’re going to a party! We’re going to a party!’ Bender danced around in his robot party cuffs and bow tie. Amy nodded in agreement.
‘Yes, but remember, we have to make this delivery and stick together.’ she recited plainly and Bender stared at her suspiciously.
‘Was that what Leela said?’
‘Well… not entirely… but that’s the general idea, right Leela?’ But Leela didn’t answer her, she had problems of her own including realising she should’ve chosen the original outfit she liked, concealing and subtle. Damn Amy for making her change for now Fry could not keep his eyes off her revealing cleavage and a knowing grin had crept across his face. Leela gripped Lucy’s walker in anger.
‘Fry stop perving.’
‘I’m not perving.’ Fry said casually, ‘How dare you suggest such a thing.’
‘Hello? My eye is up here.’
‘I know. But I like this view at the moment.’
Bender and Amy rushed down the steps to the doorway excitedly. Bender squeezing the box so hard it almost burst.
‘Oh my God, hurry up!’
In the pram, Lucy was dressed in baby fashion best and was fast asleep, Leela came pushing her down the stairs with a murderous glare on her face. Fry stumbled out behind her, his face ashen with hurt, his hand pressed lightly to a now bruised cheek.
‘Nibbler, stay.’ he said the fur ball that tried to escape out the door between his legs but to no luck as Fry shut and locked the entrance way. He ambled down the last of the stairs and tried to take Leela hand which she pulled away and crossed her arms huffily.
‘Leela, I said I was sorry.’
‘What for?’
‘For… uh…’
‘Let’s just get this done already.’ Leela pulled out a pair of sunglasses that covered and hid her eye fashionably. Amy nodded approvingly.
‘The illusion is complete!’ Bender said, using his hands to create a frame.
‘I don’t think this is a good idea.’ Leela said peevishly, ‘I mean, look, the sign says you have to be 18 or over, or a robot. There’s no way I can smuggle Lucy in.’
‘Or is there?’ Bender said and he tucked Lucy further into her pram and then carefully placed the crate on top.
‘Is that safe?’ Fry said worriedly.
‘Look, pal, either we sit this here or one of us is going to miss out.’
‘I happily sit out.’ Leela said still fuming.
‘No! Come on! It won’t hurt her and we can take it off as soon as we’re in.’
They walked past the long que, much to the annoyance of those waiting with sleeping bags, up to the door to the bouncer who was the male equivalent of an Amazonian. Fry swallowed nervously.
‘Uh-Planet Express, delivery for –uh’ Fry glanced nervously at the paper he held in his damp hand, ‘Mr. Chrome, owner of Shiny.’
The bouncer eyed them all.
‘Sure. Whatever. If you’ll just step over here for the test.’ he produced a lethal looking probe and leered at them.
‘Red, you first.’ Fry whimpered and shut his eyes. The bouncer simply waved the contraption in front of his head before looking at the display and shaking his head in disproval. He wavered it in front of Leela and she earned the same response which made her tenser. Amy and Bender each earned an approving nod before he turned to the package.
‘You’re going to swipe the package?’
‘Of course! Altogether you’re just enough to get in, but if this is an uncool package.’
‘It’s just a disco ball.’
‘But we’ll see if it’s a cool disco ball or one of you losers is going to have to stay.’ he glared at Fry and Leela. A nervous glance was cast around the group. If Lucy was picked up on the contraption and considered uncool then they may have to split. Leela’s knuckles whitened on the handle, she didn’t want her baby discovered or force Fry to stay behind, or even let the others go without her, it would take them forever to find their way back if they decided to come back at all. Fry gently placed his hand on top of hers and it took her a moment to realise that she was still meaning to be cross at him.
‘Don’t touch me.’ she snapped.
‘I’m being comforting.’ Fry said almost too forcefully.
‘Whoa…’ the bouncer stood back as the machine in his hand rattled, and then exploded. They all stared in disguise.
‘Either you’re smuggling in Matt Groening’s head or that’s one cool disco ball.’
‘So we can go in?’
‘But of course!’
‘Alrighty then…’ They all non-chalantly walk through the door.
‘Supplies are in state Metallica.’ Leela said reading the entrance plaque.
‘Clool! Look; Clool clars!’ Amy exclaimed. ‘We get them for free!’ They climbed aboard two connectable cars. Leela put the crate down and Fry Lucy’s pram. Fry sat down and scooped up the bundle of blankets. He crooned and pushed a light kiss to the small redhead.
‘Who’s daddy’s little angel? You are! My precious girl, I love you.’ he said softly so that only Leela heard. Her expression softened, but after a moment she gripped the wheel and tried to firm her expression.
‘No, come on, focus… but he’s being so cute… no, you’re mad at him, he’s been a jerk… but it’s so adorable, how can you blame him? You are dressed in a hooker way… but that gives him no excuse!’
‘Leela, you ok?’
‘I’m… fine.’ she said, realising that she was. She flushed and leant over to fuss with Fry’s tie.
‘That top’s really revealing.’ Fry said, his voice wavering slightly. Leela felt the anger rising in her again. ‘You wanna wear my jacket?’ he offered.
‘Why?’
‘Because you can see clear from France to underpants, especially how you’re standing over me like that.’ Fry stared determinedly at her eye.
‘You didn’t seem to mind before.’ Leela said distastefully, refusing to move and placing a test temptation before him.
‘I know, and I’m sorry for being a perverted jerk, but I –I don’t know why.’ Fry said, his eyelids fluttered in embarrassment as he raised his hand and touched the bruise on his cheek and Leela saw that he was on the verge of tears and felt an overpowering urge. She pushed her lips to his firmly until Fry gently pushed her away.
‘We’ve got a package to deliver.’
‘Oh, of course.’ she said slightly disappointed and went to take the wheel.
‘You guys ready?’ she turned to her crew to find Amy and Bender were nowhere to be seen.
[to be continued…]
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