* * * *
Leela, Fry and Bender sit at the bridge of the Planet Express Ship as it flies
through deep space. Leela has a sour expression on her face, and Bender's expression is the same
(as much as a robot face can...). Fry on the other hand, is happily staring out the window,
watching as the stars pass by.
Leela: Fry, could you check on Zoidberg and make sure he isn't eating
anything vital to our survival?
Fry: Awwww... Do I have to?
Leela: Yes. Yes, you do.
Fry: Damn.
Fry gets up and walks out off the bridge.
He sets off looking for the good doctor.
After a few minutes he finds him in the cargo hold, sitting on one of the crates of
radioactive waste. Zoidberg has a crowbar in his left pincher, and is sucking on it like candy.
Fry grimaces and walks up to him. Zoidberg immediately notices.
Zoidberg: Fry, my good buddy! What brings you down to this humble abode?
Fry: Leela says to stop eating.
Zoidberg: What?!
Looking down, Zoidberg thinks about it for a second.
Zoidberg: But, for how long?
Fry: I'unno.
Zoidberg: (Dropping the Crowbar) Awww...
Fry: Whatever.
Back on the bridge, Leela and Bender stare out ahead, boredom setting in.
Fry walks in and sits down again.
Fry: How long?
Leela: A few more hours.
Fry: (Seductively) Oh? You know... there's lots of things one can do in an hour...
Leela doesn't look away from the ship controls.
Leela: No.
Fry: But...
Leela: No.
Bender looks over at them cockeyed.
Fry: Aww... come on, please?
Leela: No.
Bender: Looks like he's wearing you down, Leela. Fifty bucks and I can get 'im off yer back.
Fry: Huh?
Leela, still looking ahead, grins.
Leela: Ok, sure. Nothing too serious though.
She pulls out a few bills from her boot and hands them over to Bender.
Fry: Wha-?!!
Bender gets up and deposits the money into his chest compartment. Then he starts advancing on Fry.
Fry: B-b-but, but I, ... Leela!!
Bender pulls Fry off the bridge and shuts the door behind him.
He pulls Fry to his feet, and brushes the dust off his jacket.
Bender: Hee, hee... Easiest fifty I ever made.
Fry: Uhh... Not that I'm complaining but aren't you gonna pound me... or something?
Bender: Wha? Nah. I said I'd get you off her back. Never said I'd hurt ya.
Why ya want me to? Cause you know I can.
Fry: (Quickly) No, no! That's all right I'm fine.
Bender: Although she may get suspicious if you don't have any bruises...
Fry: Wha?!
Bender holds Fry by the shoulder and quickly hits him in the left eye.
Which just as quickly swells up.
Bender: There. Well I feel better, let's go.
Bender walks back onto the bridge followed by a grumbling Fry.
Leela looks back as they return. Fry looks at Leela as he sits back down,
giving her a half-angry, half-betrayed look through his swelled eye.
Leela quickly looks forward again trying to hide the look of guilt on her face.
Later.
The PE Ship lands on the surface of Zessil 5.
On board the crew looks out over the terrain of the planet.
It's just about sunset, and long dark shadows are spreading across the landscape.
Fry: Wow. Looks like its gonna get really dark out.
Leela: (Looking at her Wrist Thingy) Zessil 5, doesn't have any moons...
and its solar system is the farthest away from any neighboring systems,
so It's pretty much gonna be pitch black.
Fry: (Not Caring) Whatever.
The last bit of Sun disappears below the horizon. And as it does everything goes pitch black.
Leela: See? Told ya, all I can see is your eyes.
Fry: (Irritated) So what? Who cares? Not me that's who!
Bender: Yep just our eyes... aaand those red beady ones just outside the ship,
and those ones next to them.
Fry: (Getting Scared) Eep. Ok now I care.
As they look on thousands upon thousands of red beady eyes, start appearing all around the ship.
Leela hits a button and the ship's internal emergency lights turn on.
Fry: Uuhhh...
Leela: I... don't think we'll be going out tonight...
Just then Zoidberg walks onto the bridge.
He looks around at the three. Then walks up to the window.
Zoidberg: Awww... They're cute.
There is a few minutes of silence.
Zoidberg: Sooo, Has anyone been fatally wounded yet?
There is no response, and he stands there for a few minutes waiting for an answer.
Zoidberg: So no one needs medical attention?
Another few minutes of silence, then he gives up and leaves.
Bender: Did you hear something?
Fry/Leela: Nope.
Bender: Well, I'm going to go get some hard liquor and shut down f'er the night.
If something happens don't bother waking me up... unless it's saucy.
Bender leaves the bridge and Fry turns to follow. Leela steps in front of him.
Leela: Look Fry, I had to do it. Bender was getting suspicious and if he found out,
we'd never hear the end of it! Besides it's your own fault!
You shouldn't have been egging it on!
Fry: (Not Caring) Whatever.
Fry turns to walk away, but Leela stops him.
Leela: (Hurt) Aw, come on Fry! Stop it... please?
Fry: What do you care?
Leela: I do care! I love you!
Fry: Oh yeah! Sure, You love me. But apparently Im not something to be proud of.
Yep, Im the ugly loser you gotta hide in the closet so no one knows.
Leela: (Angry Now) Dammit, Fry! I love you! And that's all that's should matter!
Now it's Fry's turn to feel guilty. He looks down at the floor trying to hide his face.
Leela immediately calms down. She moves in and holds him close wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Fry: I'm sorry... I love you, too. I just...
Leela: Look, I'm not trying to hide you. It's just ... I'm just ...
Fry: (Curious) Your what?
Leela: (Quietly) I'm ... ...
Leela can't bring her self to say what's bugging her, so instead she leans forward suddenly,
and starts kissing Fry. Fry is taken by surprise, and is a little confused, but that doesn't
stop him from returning the kisses. Leela leans further forward trying to lean into his arms.
Unfortunately Fry isn't strong enough and both fall to the floor.
Fry: Ow!... Sorry Lee- ... ... mmMmm ...
Later.
The door to the bridge slowly creeps open and a shadowed head with one-eye peeks out.
After looking around Leela steps off the bridge and quietly takes a few steps to the other
end of the corridor. Her hair is messed, her tank top is un- tucked, and one of the shoulder
straps is hanging loosely over her upper arm. She looks back and motions to the still opened door,
then notices the strap and quickly pulls it back up over her shoulder.
Fry walks out, his jacket flung over his shoulder, and his hair also in a mess.
Fry: (Quietly but Sly) You dropped this, ma'am.
Fry holds out his hand revealing Leela's bra. Leela's eye widens, and she quickly
snatches it out of his hand. Leela turns away and quickly puts it on under her tank top.
Fry, whom is obviously enjoying this display, smiles and leans against the nearby wall.
Leela quickly turns back.
Leela: (Quietly) Go to you quarters, and go quietly!
Fry straightens and begins to head down the corridor.
Leela: (Quietly) Oh wait. One more thing...
Leela grabs him and pulls him back, kissing him passionately.
Then she releases him, turns him around, and pats him on the butt to send him off.
* * * *
The next morning. Its still pitch black outside, the Emergency Lighting
illuminating the bridge. Leela is already up and on the bridge.
She sits in her captain's chair staring out a window, and sipping on her
morning 'Bacon-ated Coffee'.
Leela: (Thinking) I wish I could wake up with him every morning.
In the very least I'd be able to get him up on time.
Maybe I could if... Nah. I... can't do that yet.
Why am I so scared of this?!
Everything I ever wanted out of life has finally come true.
My job, friends, my parents,... and Love.
It's all so great, and yet I still...
Her thoughts are interrupted as Bender walks onto the bridge.
He walks over to the couch and sits down.
He takes out a can of beer and starts chugging it down.
Bender: Mornin' skintube. How long 'till sunrise?
Leela: A few more hours... You're up rather early, something wrong?
Bender: Nope I'm just fine.
Leela shrugs and turns back to the window. Bender stares at her, eyes narrowing.
Bender: (Quietly to Himself) Yes... I'm just fine...
Leela finishes her Coffee and puts the cup into a recycle chute. She turns around and heads for the door.
Leela: I'm going to go take a shower. Don't break or steal anything until I get back.
She leaves without waiting for an answer and heads off to her quarters.
Once there, she grabs a towel and kicks off her boots. As she is walking past
Fry and Bender's quarters she looks over at the door and pauses. She quickly looks around to
be sure she is alone, then walks up and slowly opens the door, peeking in.
She sees Fry, still sleeping face down on one of the cots. She smiles.
Fry turns over in his sleep, showing that his still swollen eye has blackened overnight.
Leela grimaces, she felt really bad about doing that to him.
Slowly she closes the door and continues to the shower.
A few minutes later Bender walks up outside the shower door.
He leans in close to the door and listens carefully. Leela is still showering. Satisfied, he walks off.
A few seconds after he leaves, Leela steps out. She is dressed in a new clean set of
cloths, has her hair down, and is carrying the dirty clothes in her arm.
She carries her hair-band by her teeth, as her other hand is preoccupied
opening and closing the door. Once it is closed she grabs it out her mouth,
after wrapping it about her wrist. She stops by the Laundry room and
deposits her dirty cloths in the washer.
On her way back to her quarters she takes the band off her wrist and ties up her hair in a ponytail.
As she walks up to her door, she sharply shakes her head to remove any last bits of water and enters...
To see Bender, holding one of her boots in one hand and exactly $750 in cash in his other hand.
Leela: Bender?!
Bender: Gah! Leela!
Leela: What the hell are you doing!?
Bender: uuuhh... Nothing?
Leela storms up to him and grabs the money and boot from his hands.
Leela: Get the hell out of my quarters!
Bender: Fine, skinbag!!
Bender backs off to the door, but before he leaves he pulls a beer from is chest, and
takes a chug from it. He then leans forward and points at her narrowing his eyes to thin slots.
Bender: I'll leave now but you can't guard that cash wad forever!
You'll drop your guard, and when you do, I'll be there!
With that he burps fire, turns, and stomps out of the room.
Later.
The sun has finally risen and the barren rocky wasteland of Zessil 5 can be seen.
Bender and Leela sit on the bridge. Both are watching each other suspiciously.
Fry walks onto the bridge yawning, and they quickly break their stare.
Leela gets up and puts her hands on her hips looking at Fry.
Leela: It's about time. Come on Fry we have a delivery to make.
Help Bender load the hover carts. While I get the paperwork.
Fry: Wha? But I just got up! Can't I get some chow first?
Leela: You can eat when we get back.
Leela looks over at Bender angrily.
Leela: I want to finish this job A.S.A.P.
Fry: Awww...
Bender: Forget it Fry. Leela is being her typical jerky self.
Lets just get this over with so we can go home and watch 'All my Circuits'.
Fry and Bender walk off the bridge. And head for the cargo bay.
Outside the ship.
Leela is waiting with a clipboard and pen. She looks up as the cargo lift grinds into motion and
descends to the ground. She pulls out a piece of paper and holds it up to
Fry and Bender when the lift has settled, and the cargo unloaded.
Leela: Ok, Farnsworth gave me a map to the drop point,
so you guys just follow me and this will go smoothly for once.
Fry: Yeah, yeah...
The three head out after Leela. And soon find themselves at the entrance of a large cave.
Fry looks into the cave and whistles, which echoes loudly in the cave.
Fry: Uh, The drop point is here right? Not in the cave... right?
Leela: No, sorry Fry. The drop point is about a mile into the cave.
Fry: Damn.
Leela starts walking in followed by bender and his hover pad,
Fry follows after hesitantly pulling his hover pad behind him.
Fry looks around at the surrounding of the cave. It's dank and dark, and stalactite are everywhere.
Suddenly a bat swoops down and flies past Fry's head. He yelps in surprise,
but continues to follow Bender. He then looks over to his left and sees a little toad sitting on a rock.
Fry: Hmm. That's not so bad.
The little toad turns and looks at Fry and smiles.
It's lips spread out over its face revealing hundreds of long razor sharp teeth.
It opens it's mouth and snaps it shut in a menacing manner.
Fry: Nyeaa!
Fry rushes ahead trying to keep close to Bender, but doesn't watch where
he is going and bumps into him. Looking ahead Fry sees that Leela and Bender have stopped in
front of a large metallic door embedded in the stone.
Leela: Welp, we're here. According to the instructions Farnsworth gave me,
we leave the cargo here. I'm suppose knock twice, slide the clipboard under the door,
wait for them to sign. Then I take the clipboard and we leave. Simple.
Fry and Bender turn off the hover pads, and they slowly float to the ground.
They turn and look at Leela, who then knocks twice, kneels down, and slides the clipboard
under the door. They hear some mumbling on the other side of the door and then scratching.
After a few minutes the clipboard slides back. Leela picks it up and stands.
Leela: Ok. We're done.
Fry: Thank God. Let's get the hell out of here.
That little toad over there is starting to freak me out.
Suddenly a loud clang is heard from the other side of the door.
The three all turn and watch as the door grinds open, and a huge dark green bipedal toad steps out.
Its fingers end in claws as long as a human's forearm, and two thick teeth twice as long
protrude down out of its mouth. Its body is covered in large warts and boils.
Super-Toad: You dare insult the great Lord IckyBut Ghey!?!
The little toad stands up and walks toward the door.
IckyBut: How dare you! I'll eat you all alive!! Aarrrggg!!!
Fry, Leela, and Bender all scream and start running out of the cave.
The two toads do not give chase. Instead IckyBut walks over to the larger toad and watches
the three run off.
Super-Toad: You weren't actually going to eat them were you?
IckyBut: Heck, no! Who knows what kind of filth they've been crawling around in.
I just wanted to scare them a bit. Heh, heh.
Just then one of the boils bursts on IckyBut's face.
In another part of the cave Fry and Leela run along side as Bender out distances
them and is soon long gone. They are almost out of the cave when the ground starts shaking and
rocks start falling from the ceiling. A low rumbling can be heard from the deeper part of the cave.
Fry trips on a loose rock and stumbles to the ground.
Before he can get up another rock falls from the ceiling onto his foot pinning him down.
Leela stops and immediately turns back to help him. She kneels down and starts pushing the
rock off of Fry's foot, when another rumbling begins.
Rocks begin falling all around them.
Leela looks up to see a large crack suddenly appear in the ceiling above them and watches
in horror as the ceiling breaks apart and starts to fall.
Quickly she lays down over Fry covering him with her own body as the rocks fall down
and bury both her and Fry. Pain shoots through Leela's body.
She tries to ignore it but it is too much and she screams out in agony.
Fry is screaming as well, but mostly from fear and worry over Leela.
They're cries die out and the dust settles. Fry waits a minute,
listening to the seemingly unnatural silence.
Fry: Leela?... Are you alright?
There is no answer and he starts to panic.
Fry: Leela? Leela!
He starts looking around for any signs out of this situation, but stops when he hears a noise.
A kind of familiar sound. Quiet. Barely audible. Then it hits him. Crying!
He looks over next to his right shoulder and sees the back of Leela's head.
It lay limp, but the sound is clearly from her.
Fry: (Softly) Leela? Can you hear me?
Leela's head moves indicating she can.
Fry: Whew! ... Leela I don't know what to do... can you move?
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) No... my back hurts... can you see ... how bad...
Fry looks over her shoulders to survey the damage. One large rock lay in the middle of her back,
her shirt soaked in blood. He looks past it and gasps to see a pile of stones covering them
both from the waist down. He reaches up and pushes the first rock off of Leela's back,
Leela grunts in pain. He slumps his head back down breathing heavily.
Fry: I could only reach one. I'm sorry...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) That's alright Fry... my legs hurt a little, ...
but I think that stone did the most damage...
Fry is relieved to hear this and sighs. Then he gets angry...
Fry: (Irrational Outburst) Why'd you do that?! You could have gotten killed!
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) I.. couldn't leave you ... Fry I'm so sorry...
Fry: (Calm Now, Confused) Wha? What have you got to be sorry about? You saved my life... again.
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) I mean ... before. I shouldn't have been keeping us a secret...
And I shouldn't ... have let Bender do that to you. I ...
Fry: Its alright Leela. We love each other, and that's all that matters. You don't need...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) No! ... You don't understand... I've been... ... I ... am scared.
Fry: (Confused) Scared? Of what? I thought you just didn't want everyone to gawk over us...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) Of the risks... Everything I've missed out on in life... ...
you found them ... and gave them to me... ... Friends... family... Love.
I'm scared that you might lose interest ... and then I'll be alone again...
So I hid ... us. So that if you did leave... it would be like it never happened... ... ...
Fry: Leela... I will never leave you. I'd rather die than cause you pain...
(Quiet and Thoughtfully) Errr, even though if I died I'd be leaving you
and making you lonely... ok, then I won't die for... No wait, I mean...
Leela starts laughing quietly and Fry stops talking. Her voice is rasped,
but he smiles, happy to hear her laughter. But the moment fades, and her laughter turns to tears.
Slowly Fry wraps his arms around her shoulders and gently lays his hand on her head.
Fry: Leela, it's alright. It's going to be...
Before he can finish Fry hears a set of footsteps coming from the entrance of the cave.
He tries to look towards the sound but can't turn his head in the right direction.
As the steps get louder he struggles more and more to get into a position so he can see.
Leela has stopped crying and is also trying to look for the source of the sound.
Suddenly Fry hears a loud clump as a metal foot stops down just inches in front of his face.
Bender: So how's about fifty bucks a piece? That's sounds about the going rate for a human life.
Back on the Ship.
Leela is face down on a pad in the Med. Lab. Zoidberg is next to her sifting through various medical supplies.
Fry and Bender stand near the door. Fry hands him $100 from a large wad of cash.
Bender quickly puts the 100 in his compartment and walks out of the room.
Fry walks over to Leela and kneels down.
Fry: Thanks Leela. I'll pay you back the fifty from my next paycheck.
Leela: That's alright Fry. Besides, you know Hermes is docking your pay for the next 3 months.
Just go get the ship ready for lift off. As soon as Zoidberg is done here
I'm getting us the hell out of here!
Zoidberg: Oh yes. Now you need medical attention! Just because you have no
visible wounds you think you're too good for a fatal surgery!
Where were your cries for help earlier? Hmmm?
Where were they then?!
Leela: Shut up, Zoidberg.
Zoidberg: Awww...
Leela, Fry and Bender sit at the bridge of the Planet Express Ship as it flies
through deep space. Leela has a sour expression on her face, and Bender's expression is the same
(as much as a robot face can...). Fry on the other hand, is happily staring out the window,
watching as the stars pass by.
Leela: Fry, could you check on Zoidberg and make sure he isn't eating
anything vital to our survival?
Fry: Awwww... Do I have to?
Leela: Yes. Yes, you do.
Fry: Damn.
Fry gets up and walks out off the bridge.
He sets off looking for the good doctor.
After a few minutes he finds him in the cargo hold, sitting on one of the crates of
radioactive waste. Zoidberg has a crowbar in his left pincher, and is sucking on it like candy.
Fry grimaces and walks up to him. Zoidberg immediately notices.
Zoidberg: Fry, my good buddy! What brings you down to this humble abode?
Fry: Leela says to stop eating.
Zoidberg: What?!
Looking down, Zoidberg thinks about it for a second.
Zoidberg: But, for how long?
Fry: I'unno.
Zoidberg: (Dropping the Crowbar) Awww...
Fry: Whatever.
Back on the bridge, Leela and Bender stare out ahead, boredom setting in.
Fry walks in and sits down again.
Fry: How long?
Leela: A few more hours.
Fry: (Seductively) Oh? You know... there's lots of things one can do in an hour...
Leela doesn't look away from the ship controls.
Leela: No.
Fry: But...
Leela: No.
Bender looks over at them cockeyed.
Fry: Aww... come on, please?
Leela: No.
Bender: Looks like he's wearing you down, Leela. Fifty bucks and I can get 'im off yer back.
Fry: Huh?
Leela, still looking ahead, grins.
Leela: Ok, sure. Nothing too serious though.
She pulls out a few bills from her boot and hands them over to Bender.
Fry: Wha-?!!
Bender gets up and deposits the money into his chest compartment. Then he starts advancing on Fry.
Fry: B-b-but, but I, ... Leela!!
Bender pulls Fry off the bridge and shuts the door behind him.
He pulls Fry to his feet, and brushes the dust off his jacket.
Bender: Hee, hee... Easiest fifty I ever made.
Fry: Uhh... Not that I'm complaining but aren't you gonna pound me... or something?
Bender: Wha? Nah. I said I'd get you off her back. Never said I'd hurt ya.
Why ya want me to? Cause you know I can.
Fry: (Quickly) No, no! That's all right I'm fine.
Bender: Although she may get suspicious if you don't have any bruises...
Fry: Wha?!
Bender holds Fry by the shoulder and quickly hits him in the left eye.
Which just as quickly swells up.
Bender: There. Well I feel better, let's go.
Bender walks back onto the bridge followed by a grumbling Fry.
Leela looks back as they return. Fry looks at Leela as he sits back down,
giving her a half-angry, half-betrayed look through his swelled eye.
Leela quickly looks forward again trying to hide the look of guilt on her face.
Later.
The PE Ship lands on the surface of Zessil 5.
On board the crew looks out over the terrain of the planet.
It's just about sunset, and long dark shadows are spreading across the landscape.
Fry: Wow. Looks like its gonna get really dark out.
Leela: (Looking at her Wrist Thingy) Zessil 5, doesn't have any moons...
and its solar system is the farthest away from any neighboring systems,
so It's pretty much gonna be pitch black.
Fry: (Not Caring) Whatever.
The last bit of Sun disappears below the horizon. And as it does everything goes pitch black.
Leela: See? Told ya, all I can see is your eyes.
Fry: (Irritated) So what? Who cares? Not me that's who!
Bender: Yep just our eyes... aaand those red beady ones just outside the ship,
and those ones next to them.
Fry: (Getting Scared) Eep. Ok now I care.
As they look on thousands upon thousands of red beady eyes, start appearing all around the ship.
Leela hits a button and the ship's internal emergency lights turn on.
Fry: Uuhhh...
Leela: I... don't think we'll be going out tonight...
Just then Zoidberg walks onto the bridge.
He looks around at the three. Then walks up to the window.
Zoidberg: Awww... They're cute.
There is a few minutes of silence.
Zoidberg: Sooo, Has anyone been fatally wounded yet?
There is no response, and he stands there for a few minutes waiting for an answer.
Zoidberg: So no one needs medical attention?
Another few minutes of silence, then he gives up and leaves.
Bender: Did you hear something?
Fry/Leela: Nope.
Bender: Well, I'm going to go get some hard liquor and shut down f'er the night.
If something happens don't bother waking me up... unless it's saucy.
Bender leaves the bridge and Fry turns to follow. Leela steps in front of him.
Leela: Look Fry, I had to do it. Bender was getting suspicious and if he found out,
we'd never hear the end of it! Besides it's your own fault!
You shouldn't have been egging it on!
Fry: (Not Caring) Whatever.
Fry turns to walk away, but Leela stops him.
Leela: (Hurt) Aw, come on Fry! Stop it... please?
Fry: What do you care?
Leela: I do care! I love you!
Fry: Oh yeah! Sure, You love me. But apparently Im not something to be proud of.
Yep, Im the ugly loser you gotta hide in the closet so no one knows.
Leela: (Angry Now) Dammit, Fry! I love you! And that's all that's should matter!
Now it's Fry's turn to feel guilty. He looks down at the floor trying to hide his face.
Leela immediately calms down. She moves in and holds him close wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Fry: I'm sorry... I love you, too. I just...
Leela: Look, I'm not trying to hide you. It's just ... I'm just ...
Fry: (Curious) Your what?
Leela: (Quietly) I'm ... ...
Leela can't bring her self to say what's bugging her, so instead she leans forward suddenly,
and starts kissing Fry. Fry is taken by surprise, and is a little confused, but that doesn't
stop him from returning the kisses. Leela leans further forward trying to lean into his arms.
Unfortunately Fry isn't strong enough and both fall to the floor.
Fry: Ow!... Sorry Lee- ... ... mmMmm ...
Later.
The door to the bridge slowly creeps open and a shadowed head with one-eye peeks out.
After looking around Leela steps off the bridge and quietly takes a few steps to the other
end of the corridor. Her hair is messed, her tank top is un- tucked, and one of the shoulder
straps is hanging loosely over her upper arm. She looks back and motions to the still opened door,
then notices the strap and quickly pulls it back up over her shoulder.
Fry walks out, his jacket flung over his shoulder, and his hair also in a mess.
Fry: (Quietly but Sly) You dropped this, ma'am.
Fry holds out his hand revealing Leela's bra. Leela's eye widens, and she quickly
snatches it out of his hand. Leela turns away and quickly puts it on under her tank top.
Fry, whom is obviously enjoying this display, smiles and leans against the nearby wall.
Leela quickly turns back.
Leela: (Quietly) Go to you quarters, and go quietly!
Fry straightens and begins to head down the corridor.
Leela: (Quietly) Oh wait. One more thing...
Leela grabs him and pulls him back, kissing him passionately.
Then she releases him, turns him around, and pats him on the butt to send him off.
* * * *
The next morning. Its still pitch black outside, the Emergency Lighting
illuminating the bridge. Leela is already up and on the bridge.
She sits in her captain's chair staring out a window, and sipping on her
morning 'Bacon-ated Coffee'.
Leela: (Thinking) I wish I could wake up with him every morning.
In the very least I'd be able to get him up on time.
Maybe I could if... Nah. I... can't do that yet.
Why am I so scared of this?!
Everything I ever wanted out of life has finally come true.
My job, friends, my parents,... and Love.
It's all so great, and yet I still...
Her thoughts are interrupted as Bender walks onto the bridge.
He walks over to the couch and sits down.
He takes out a can of beer and starts chugging it down.
Bender: Mornin' skintube. How long 'till sunrise?
Leela: A few more hours... You're up rather early, something wrong?
Bender: Nope I'm just fine.
Leela shrugs and turns back to the window. Bender stares at her, eyes narrowing.
Bender: (Quietly to Himself) Yes... I'm just fine...
Leela finishes her Coffee and puts the cup into a recycle chute. She turns around and heads for the door.
Leela: I'm going to go take a shower. Don't break or steal anything until I get back.
She leaves without waiting for an answer and heads off to her quarters.
Once there, she grabs a towel and kicks off her boots. As she is walking past
Fry and Bender's quarters she looks over at the door and pauses. She quickly looks around to
be sure she is alone, then walks up and slowly opens the door, peeking in.
She sees Fry, still sleeping face down on one of the cots. She smiles.
Fry turns over in his sleep, showing that his still swollen eye has blackened overnight.
Leela grimaces, she felt really bad about doing that to him.
Slowly she closes the door and continues to the shower.
A few minutes later Bender walks up outside the shower door.
He leans in close to the door and listens carefully. Leela is still showering. Satisfied, he walks off.
A few seconds after he leaves, Leela steps out. She is dressed in a new clean set of
cloths, has her hair down, and is carrying the dirty clothes in her arm.
She carries her hair-band by her teeth, as her other hand is preoccupied
opening and closing the door. Once it is closed she grabs it out her mouth,
after wrapping it about her wrist. She stops by the Laundry room and
deposits her dirty cloths in the washer.
On her way back to her quarters she takes the band off her wrist and ties up her hair in a ponytail.
As she walks up to her door, she sharply shakes her head to remove any last bits of water and enters...
To see Bender, holding one of her boots in one hand and exactly $750 in cash in his other hand.
Leela: Bender?!
Bender: Gah! Leela!
Leela: What the hell are you doing!?
Bender: uuuhh... Nothing?
Leela storms up to him and grabs the money and boot from his hands.
Leela: Get the hell out of my quarters!
Bender: Fine, skinbag!!
Bender backs off to the door, but before he leaves he pulls a beer from is chest, and
takes a chug from it. He then leans forward and points at her narrowing his eyes to thin slots.
Bender: I'll leave now but you can't guard that cash wad forever!
You'll drop your guard, and when you do, I'll be there!
With that he burps fire, turns, and stomps out of the room.
Later.
The sun has finally risen and the barren rocky wasteland of Zessil 5 can be seen.
Bender and Leela sit on the bridge. Both are watching each other suspiciously.
Fry walks onto the bridge yawning, and they quickly break their stare.
Leela gets up and puts her hands on her hips looking at Fry.
Leela: It's about time. Come on Fry we have a delivery to make.
Help Bender load the hover carts. While I get the paperwork.
Fry: Wha? But I just got up! Can't I get some chow first?
Leela: You can eat when we get back.
Leela looks over at Bender angrily.
Leela: I want to finish this job A.S.A.P.
Fry: Awww...
Bender: Forget it Fry. Leela is being her typical jerky self.
Lets just get this over with so we can go home and watch 'All my Circuits'.
Fry and Bender walk off the bridge. And head for the cargo bay.
Outside the ship.
Leela is waiting with a clipboard and pen. She looks up as the cargo lift grinds into motion and
descends to the ground. She pulls out a piece of paper and holds it up to
Fry and Bender when the lift has settled, and the cargo unloaded.
Leela: Ok, Farnsworth gave me a map to the drop point,
so you guys just follow me and this will go smoothly for once.
Fry: Yeah, yeah...
The three head out after Leela. And soon find themselves at the entrance of a large cave.
Fry looks into the cave and whistles, which echoes loudly in the cave.
Fry: Uh, The drop point is here right? Not in the cave... right?
Leela: No, sorry Fry. The drop point is about a mile into the cave.
Fry: Damn.
Leela starts walking in followed by bender and his hover pad,
Fry follows after hesitantly pulling his hover pad behind him.
Fry looks around at the surrounding of the cave. It's dank and dark, and stalactite are everywhere.
Suddenly a bat swoops down and flies past Fry's head. He yelps in surprise,
but continues to follow Bender. He then looks over to his left and sees a little toad sitting on a rock.
Fry: Hmm. That's not so bad.
The little toad turns and looks at Fry and smiles.
It's lips spread out over its face revealing hundreds of long razor sharp teeth.
It opens it's mouth and snaps it shut in a menacing manner.
Fry: Nyeaa!
Fry rushes ahead trying to keep close to Bender, but doesn't watch where
he is going and bumps into him. Looking ahead Fry sees that Leela and Bender have stopped in
front of a large metallic door embedded in the stone.
Leela: Welp, we're here. According to the instructions Farnsworth gave me,
we leave the cargo here. I'm suppose knock twice, slide the clipboard under the door,
wait for them to sign. Then I take the clipboard and we leave. Simple.
Fry and Bender turn off the hover pads, and they slowly float to the ground.
They turn and look at Leela, who then knocks twice, kneels down, and slides the clipboard
under the door. They hear some mumbling on the other side of the door and then scratching.
After a few minutes the clipboard slides back. Leela picks it up and stands.
Leela: Ok. We're done.
Fry: Thank God. Let's get the hell out of here.
That little toad over there is starting to freak me out.
Suddenly a loud clang is heard from the other side of the door.
The three all turn and watch as the door grinds open, and a huge dark green bipedal toad steps out.
Its fingers end in claws as long as a human's forearm, and two thick teeth twice as long
protrude down out of its mouth. Its body is covered in large warts and boils.
Super-Toad: You dare insult the great Lord IckyBut Ghey!?!
The little toad stands up and walks toward the door.
IckyBut: How dare you! I'll eat you all alive!! Aarrrggg!!!
Fry, Leela, and Bender all scream and start running out of the cave.
The two toads do not give chase. Instead IckyBut walks over to the larger toad and watches
the three run off.
Super-Toad: You weren't actually going to eat them were you?
IckyBut: Heck, no! Who knows what kind of filth they've been crawling around in.
I just wanted to scare them a bit. Heh, heh.
Just then one of the boils bursts on IckyBut's face.
In another part of the cave Fry and Leela run along side as Bender out distances
them and is soon long gone. They are almost out of the cave when the ground starts shaking and
rocks start falling from the ceiling. A low rumbling can be heard from the deeper part of the cave.
Fry trips on a loose rock and stumbles to the ground.
Before he can get up another rock falls from the ceiling onto his foot pinning him down.
Leela stops and immediately turns back to help him. She kneels down and starts pushing the
rock off of Fry's foot, when another rumbling begins.
Rocks begin falling all around them.
Leela looks up to see a large crack suddenly appear in the ceiling above them and watches
in horror as the ceiling breaks apart and starts to fall.
Quickly she lays down over Fry covering him with her own body as the rocks fall down
and bury both her and Fry. Pain shoots through Leela's body.
She tries to ignore it but it is too much and she screams out in agony.
Fry is screaming as well, but mostly from fear and worry over Leela.
They're cries die out and the dust settles. Fry waits a minute,
listening to the seemingly unnatural silence.
Fry: Leela?... Are you alright?
There is no answer and he starts to panic.
Fry: Leela? Leela!
He starts looking around for any signs out of this situation, but stops when he hears a noise.
A kind of familiar sound. Quiet. Barely audible. Then it hits him. Crying!
He looks over next to his right shoulder and sees the back of Leela's head.
It lay limp, but the sound is clearly from her.
Fry: (Softly) Leela? Can you hear me?
Leela's head moves indicating she can.
Fry: Whew! ... Leela I don't know what to do... can you move?
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) No... my back hurts... can you see ... how bad...
Fry looks over her shoulders to survey the damage. One large rock lay in the middle of her back,
her shirt soaked in blood. He looks past it and gasps to see a pile of stones covering them
both from the waist down. He reaches up and pushes the first rock off of Leela's back,
Leela grunts in pain. He slumps his head back down breathing heavily.
Fry: I could only reach one. I'm sorry...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) That's alright Fry... my legs hurt a little, ...
but I think that stone did the most damage...
Fry is relieved to hear this and sighs. Then he gets angry...
Fry: (Irrational Outburst) Why'd you do that?! You could have gotten killed!
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) I.. couldn't leave you ... Fry I'm so sorry...
Fry: (Calm Now, Confused) Wha? What have you got to be sorry about? You saved my life... again.
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) I mean ... before. I shouldn't have been keeping us a secret...
And I shouldn't ... have let Bender do that to you. I ...
Fry: Its alright Leela. We love each other, and that's all that matters. You don't need...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) No! ... You don't understand... I've been... ... I ... am scared.
Fry: (Confused) Scared? Of what? I thought you just didn't want everyone to gawk over us...
Leela: (Quiet and Weak) Of the risks... Everything I've missed out on in life... ...
you found them ... and gave them to me... ... Friends... family... Love.
I'm scared that you might lose interest ... and then I'll be alone again...
So I hid ... us. So that if you did leave... it would be like it never happened... ... ...
Fry: Leela... I will never leave you. I'd rather die than cause you pain...
(Quiet and Thoughtfully) Errr, even though if I died I'd be leaving you
and making you lonely... ok, then I won't die for... No wait, I mean...
Leela starts laughing quietly and Fry stops talking. Her voice is rasped,
but he smiles, happy to hear her laughter. But the moment fades, and her laughter turns to tears.
Slowly Fry wraps his arms around her shoulders and gently lays his hand on her head.
Fry: Leela, it's alright. It's going to be...
Before he can finish Fry hears a set of footsteps coming from the entrance of the cave.
He tries to look towards the sound but can't turn his head in the right direction.
As the steps get louder he struggles more and more to get into a position so he can see.
Leela has stopped crying and is also trying to look for the source of the sound.
Suddenly Fry hears a loud clump as a metal foot stops down just inches in front of his face.
Bender: So how's about fifty bucks a piece? That's sounds about the going rate for a human life.
Back on the Ship.
Leela is face down on a pad in the Med. Lab. Zoidberg is next to her sifting through various medical supplies.
Fry and Bender stand near the door. Fry hands him $100 from a large wad of cash.
Bender quickly puts the 100 in his compartment and walks out of the room.
Fry walks over to Leela and kneels down.
Fry: Thanks Leela. I'll pay you back the fifty from my next paycheck.
Leela: That's alright Fry. Besides, you know Hermes is docking your pay for the next 3 months.
Just go get the ship ready for lift off. As soon as Zoidberg is done here
I'm getting us the hell out of here!
Zoidberg: Oh yes. Now you need medical attention! Just because you have no
visible wounds you think you're too good for a fatal surgery!
Where were your cries for help earlier? Hmmm?
Where were they then?!
Leela: Shut up, Zoidberg.
Zoidberg: Awww...