Directed by mysterious growls over her comm channels, her dread now cautious optimism for the chaos she hoped would come, she'd been whizzing past worlds, around warzones, and through wormholes to enter the Malumnus System.
A familiar week of flying, and a hundred thousand light years later, Captain Leela knew she was alone.
Between the crew, General Zapp, her current lack of plans and the uneasy dreams on board, no amount of hairplay, light meals or coffee had eased her worries, culminating in jolts to rack her entire body. Though she hadn't done so since the 'Queen Bee' incident, even her mouth motored its share of monologues.
"Over four hundred days to this moment, what will I say? It's okay to turn back, honest… No, no! If I back down, I let him win. Either my body feeds his animals, or I get in, out, and home with the answers I want."
Just as well she found plenty of empty moons, as she did all she could to clear her head. Shadow-boxing and body workouts for the near-week, before she made her landing through a thick forest clearing.
After several checks between herself and the ship, she unsheathed a machete to cleave ribbons out of the growth, getting blinded by both the artificial lights, and the searing memories to flood back.
There were those open fields where justice had failed. Where Bender's unexplainable ways allowed his desertion. Where Zookeeper's compound towered above, same one Fry got dragged into…
"Just sign here, and here, for your delivery of pain Zookeeper."
Careful strides down valleys and up hills soon had her palm the walls, the reminder of Chapek-9 sobering her up. Had to be another battle; no other way but him in cuffs, or them in graves.
Nodding for what laid ahead, she grabbed her grappling hook and swung up, getting the 'go-ahead' tug before she ascended and hoisted herself over. Took in some air before she sidled through a side door, a gasp as it thundered shut, several coughs for the carpeting rush of dust. Couldn't stretch too far before touching both walls, and seemed to see nothing but blackness, even for dim beacons every dozen steps or so.
A sudden click and turn of gears, uneasy seconds before a clunk had her spread-eagle to the side by instinct. Soon heard a deep wooden split of grains; in the little light available, a sarissa some double her height had come inches from piercing her.
Breaths faster than her darting eye, she kicked herself again for stumbling and hearing another click, especially when a poison dart careened into her left bicep. Couldn't even say "Ow!" before more darts; patterns of singles, doubles and triples, had bulleted for her entire body. Though her great dodges, ducks and drop-kicks spared further trouble, the initial prick of poison had begun to sizzle.
Set off even more traps as she hustled forward, perhaps not by intention as side wall spears stabbed her right arm, mini spikes tore into her feet, and flaming heads came half a second from torching her alive.
"Next time, I'm kicking the damn front door down."
Through the torture chamber and down the guards' quarters, she slogged forth, leaving behind a trail of blood as she passed Room 1077; a small prayer for them that, among her heavy breaths and scrapes of boots, had soon alerted the one inside.
Seeing that purple ponytail had him take off in hot pursuit, his twice-proven mastery of stealth giving him chances to hide, stalk and call out all the while.
"Straight this way... Left here... Take the next right..."
Subconsciously or not, following those directions had left her in Zookeeper's home of homes; voice over her ship's channel had now guided her to his lab & lounge room… But not a soul in sight.
"Well I never thought I'd get here… Yet I can't claim to be in the clear either."
A clap on her shoulder soon dropped her heart to her feet; a greeting and chortle had her do a quick 180. No way to escape a fast-charging Admiral who almost mowed her down, pinning her to the ground as The Zookeeper wagged a finger at him.
"At ease, Admiral… No need for violence, just yet."
Twirling a crank-charge in his pudgy fingers, Zookeeper ordered Admiral to stand Leela up and pin her arms to her back. A wince and stare towards him… The kid never knew his newfound strength.
"Why Turanga Leela, what a pleasant surprise! Might I break out the scones, jam & cream?"
"Shove them, fat boy. Ain't anything pleasant about this reunion of ours."
"Ah, but that's where we disagree. Our past has been splendid, I can't imagine why you'd ever think otherwise."
"I think you know the answer. You know our choices would lead us here."
"Is that so? Well I'm not one to waste time, what brings you here to my humble home?"
"Spent a long time wanting answers about the old crew, my truest friends. And you're the guy to help me out."
A stare back to Admiral; even for that excuse out of nowhere, his faulting grip meant that he knew, that he had to have known…
"Aww, dat's show shweet! So that's why you came back? Just to reunite, escape and lead beautiful lives together? That you'd succeed with your little fairytale fantasies of being the hero?"
Zookeeper then leaned in close, his breath having her squirm.
"You believed I didn't know your game, lady? That the word wouldn't get around? Did you believe you'd ever thwart me, with your 'attempts' to tear down my empire? You don't get to be me without grit, spit and wits."
Leela fought to escape, if only for fresh air: "What made you think we'd come back as heroes?"
Zookeeper began to circle her: "Fighting beside those two, your already impressive calibre became nigh-unstoppable. Between my desires and your crew, it'd be eventual that we'd meet up again. Call that lure of mine a chance to end it then and there."
"And you didn't just kill us, when we were dead for all money?"
"Had every intention at first, but once he emptied his load and abdicated, Bender just fled too fast. Decided instead that only thing worse than a dead crew was a split one, a living death. I could keep using your example to deter others, so they wouldn't feel obliged to tell all on 3600 Seconds."
"So deterring me meant kidnapping and exiling my best, daresay my only, friends?"
"Who else would've made such an impact, against your personal foiling of me?"
"Then what do you mean by turning Fry into that hideous creature?"
"I never knew my Mom or Dad, but I knew they had no right to be parents. Fry was a more special case to me; for the red hair and green eyes, he could've been a surrogate son, an image of mine I could mould into greatness. Together, he and I would lead my armies and my scheme to seize it all!"
"Oh cut the crap! That day we traded the Gemerald for those lives, you won. There was never any need to settle anything, until the God-damn nonsense you pulled since."
"Small strides great leaps, I always said. If you're going to win, why not go for decisive over decision?"
"And you think I'd just sit about and take it, when our past year aside, you lure in my new charge, have him tortured & killed, then start sending constant threats through the mail? As Planet Express Captain, you know I'm duty-bound to address such problems. And to think, if you had dangled a few million back then…"
A few fabrications she hoped he would hook into…
"Guilty as charged for the mail. But did you really believe that whatever I bribed, it would be enough? At what point would the bribes end and battles begin? Only a stupid, one-eyed bedwetter would imagine that it'd go any other way."
Somehow breaking out of Admiral's grip; Leela grew ready to bust Zookeeper's mouth open. Except as she got her fist up, the poison began to prickle, sizzle and corrupt her body further. Collapsing to her knees, she grew aware that any further delay would break her into the ranks.
"For heaven's sake, he never knew any of our stories, and you never needed that Miracle Cream. Why'd you take his life from him?"
"Who said I did? I ordered his bones broken for not cooperating, it was my Admiral to finish the job for me."
"You son-of-a-bitch!" Leela screamed towards him. Could only stand there, raise an eyebrow and swat her strikes, the ranting abuse sideswiping him.
"Language, young lady! As for the Miracle Cream, it was all about power; to seize it, expand it, embrace it over my conquests. I've seen what that cream's done for your lot; think I'd have that spread out of my control? Absolutely not, now that the beginnings of my Archbury-branded cologne are in place."
Waddling across to a safe, he clicked the lock and grabbed the viscous, gooey sample inside. A sneer of pleasure, as he tapped his creation.
"Once I end my opponents and market this nationwide, I'll be the Colonel of a virus to spread and corrupt the stars! When my new super-soldiers form, you'll get Fry free of charge, so you can die in each other's arms."
"When is it enough? You could've laid low and lived the high life off your crimes for centuries to come. Just help me understand, Reggie."
"REGINALD, Miss Leela. I'm no longer the child that Cookieville tried to crumble."
"How come have I never seen your pictures then?"
"When I returned their deeds several times over, the kids who broke me complained. Warden Vogel declared me 'unwelcome', took my pictures down, and kicked me out into the streets. The rest was history, caring nothing for pride and self-respect in such matters of survival. Would YOU just give up and retire, when it's all you've known? When you could lose it all in a moment?"
"Oh sweetie, you had a crap life at Cookieville? Newsflash, I did too, and I NEVER used that as an excuse! My pride and self-respect came when I rose above their insults to become a Captain. All they could do was hock body parts and deny being losers. There are battles you're going to lose… It's how you come back that matters."
"And who's the more successful between us both? Enough talk, what say you fall in with me?"
"The Robot Devil shall skate in bladed shoes, before we work together… Are we clear?"
"A brave stand Leela, but a foolish one. I guess if you won't serve, then you must die instead."
Several blasts in the stomach dropped her on her back, leaving her to bleed out, but as Zookeeper cranked his charge for that fatal last shot, a continuous sound of bursting bubbles and alarms blared through the compound. Cared none for the alarms, but all those Twitcher notifications pricked his ears.
"Oh, what in the blazes… Admiral, I've got a feed or two to investigate, keep a close eye on her."
He soon dipped out of sight, as Leela spluttered and laid there towards her end. No way would Admiral try to save her life, never mind allow her to escape…
Until a small whisper of "Ta-da!" made her glance up. A thankful smile to see Captain Yesterday stand there, but only a whisper returned.
"I love you, but I've got my orders. Can't do anything but advise you of them."
He then turned back into Admiral and exaggerated a narrowed stare. Pain aside for shedding tears, she caught on and gritted her teeth, using her right boot to kick off her left. Had to scooch forward and grip the tube between her toes, craning it onto her chest. A quick uncap; one arm protecting her stomach, the other rubbing down quick.
Murmurs of gratitude as she powered up, replaced her boot, and kept faking her injury while she awaited The Zookeeper. A villain now as red-faced as his gala's choice of vintage.
To the Captain's beaming pride, as Bender caused his chaos to distract him, her co-pilot had worked behind the scenes to nuke his social profile. Seemed clear that her father's reach, the footage she spread, and stories she created had come through; every refresh had seen his friends and followers plummet. Had been falling since last week, it took a week for the messages to arrive.
Besides beating the keys for damage control, he knew his fear had come true. First time in decades, as he quivered, clenched fists, and ground his teeth, he'd been checked in life's cosmic chess game.
"Care to explain, Leela, before I end this for good?"
"Don't look at me, you snivelling, double-dealing traitor! You've had all this coming for years, all the Fates needed was one to carry out your sentence." Fake coughs, as she began to push up.
"I swear on my good—"
"Swear what, buddy? The damage is done. Your good name's now dust, and killing me won't bring it back." A struggle to her knees, hoping she didn't laugh as Zookeeper almost ripped his crank off.
"Life lesson number one… There'll ALWAYS be one bolder, craftier or deadlier than you, perhaps all three if you let them."
"There won't be when I've set my army in place! Now reverse this, or go back to Earth in an urn!"
Hands upon her knees, to steady herself: "Reggie, Reggie, Reggie… If you can't handle me right now, what chance are you gonna have against the universe's armies? You don't think they'd come together, if they could split light-years of spoils?"
As the laser pistol throbbed in his hands, Zookeeper could only bellow and devolve into rants. His finger itched to fire, but Leela's nasty smirk as she stood sure didn't fear for it.
"Here's the facts, fat boy… It's time you face the music. I can't claim to be a composer myself, but I do put the 'harm' in Philharmonic."
Archbury shot for the skull; half a second later, he cowered as it caromed off her eye and sailed over his head, melting a gruesome hole in the TV behind. Couldn't even scream before Leela stepped back, a distinct "Hi-yah!" to give as she launched up.
Even for her spinning jump kick, for seeing his master soar and slam into the stonework, ignition-blast style, Admiral still stared Leela down. Nothing else as she dusted off her pants, snatched away the sample, and scurried the hell out of there.
The Zookeeper could only roll about, clutch his tummy, and groan in agony. If there were no new orders to give, perhaps he'd think of a little initiative in keeping a close eye on her…
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Leela took no chances in making her escape; setting off all the traps, bursting through the door & wall, leaping across to that forested clearing. A great worry as she reached her ship, for the purple-and-black veins had NOT receded despite the healing factor. Helped all matters physical, but not within.
Through the bridge, down the ladder, straight to Med-Bay, ripping cupboards open and scattering medicines in trying to find her secret antidote. A pop of the top, a tap of the vein, and only moments from the stab before a sharp sting had her scream, had her drop the needle.
As it bounced off her foot and vanished among the other medications, she began to feel the last remnants of rational thought vanish from her eye. Only talked in grunts & groans, her fists sending the ship lurching side to side.
"Antidote… Me had antidote, but no see it… Must find, must stab."
Before long she scrambled to the floor and sent the supplies everywhere, only remembering a syringe with green goop inside. Nowhere to be seen even for the usuals; if her time ran out, her game and Earth's would be over.
"WHERE… MY… JUICE?!"
Couldn't say much more before she crashed to the floor, her pupil growing a giant dial while her mouth started to slack, her knees met her chest, and her body began to convulse…
Once The Admiral had located the ship, one would've imagined it to be all over. Only it was Captain Yesterday to come on board; memories of the countless adventures had given him the willpower to transform.
Hearing her voice he doubled his search efforts, until he finally saw her struggle in the Med-Bay.
"Leela… LEELA?!"
"Fry…" A squirm again: "Nee-dull, green stuff, hurry!"
Casting more pills, bottles, and first-aid kits asunder, Fry finally noticed a small metal point poking out. Seemed it had rolled under the counter; instead of just gripping to pull it out, he stretched to fingertips underneath to grab the whole thing.
Wasted time had seen her go into seizures, forcing him to rip the single pillow and mattress apart to cushion the blows. Anything for her comfort, as he kept fighting against time and those little flashbacks himself… Those of the day he had fought alongside her.
Sweats in his hands, for the single antidote juggled between them: "For all I hold dear to me, please let my aim be true."
Holding her head down, he opened up and aimed a perfect stab into her neck… Nothing, and worse yet, the point had broken off. Shivers in her body, drool from her mouth, and a tearful panic to be had.
"No no no no, come on Leels, don't leave me… Wait a sec, the syringe liquid has to go in from somewhere."
Sure enough, he crushed the tip and cleaned away the glass, before prising her mouth and pouring the contents in.
It had been a few minutes of fears that nothing had worked, that Leela had been consumed as well… Until a smack of lips, little murmurs and a sit-up got his attention.
"Fry?"
"Leela?! You're alive?"
"Yes, I guess I am… Thank you."
A genuine gratitude as they led each other to the bridge, only for her to seize him and toss him down the stairs, clangs and thuds for him landing in a heap.
"Ow, ow, ow! Hey, what gives?"
"I love you, and I'm sorry, but you're still too great a risk. It'll be the two of us again, but just not—"
Heard a sudden scream echo out: "YOU WAITING FOR AN INVITATION, ADMIRAL?! GET AFTER HER THIS INSTANT!"
Leela raced for the wheel, took away the stairs and tried to launch off the planet, but even though the engines roared, her ship only swayed and hovered in place.
"Oh for God's sake, why isn't this ship MOVING?"
Got her answer when she fumbled to the windscreen; 'The Admiral' had a fearful rage in its eyes as he leapt up and began to punch into the hull. From a craft that ate lasers and cannons without hassle these day, the dints had grown so pronounced that they threatened to strand the Captain inside a minute. The same one to declare their love official.
Even for her grip of grim death, Leela narrowed her eye and grinned, a sleazy intent oozing yet again. It had been real brave of 'Admiral' to just pass his hint, never mind come here to help cure her. Seemed beneath that monstrous skin, he was still the same Fry who'd sacrifice his life for her…
Knew that deserved a reward, as she brought herself close. When Admiral saw her lay across the dashboard, rubbing legs over her knees, he began to halt his attack. When she pulled off a boot, a smirk to go with stroking her foot on the windshield, it had him sit down and shiver in anticipation.
The fight between man and monster had begun. One tried to punch through in eagerness to please their master, the other figured that this up-close showcase was much more fun. Had been denied so many bad touches, since he ended up here…
"Want a little more of that, do you big boy? I'll be too glad to oblige."
Off the dashboard, her biceps peaked as her hands reached back, twisted and untied her hairclip. One shake and sway, before her hair bounced and cascaded down those creamy shoulders, just like he remembered. Further rubs and strokes over herself & windshield, forcing Fry's nerve to waver as she massaged her hair, flirted that eye, kissed those lips and licked that tongue.
"To think I haven't even brought out the girls yet… The fun's just begun, soldier."
As her arms crossed over her tank top, dried in her blood from before, she let herself tease and model before she stripped it off, a chance to 'whip' him that really worked under his collar. Turning around, an alluring swivel as those stretch pants started to slide off, a sassy wink to go with the beautiful moon he once enjoyed.
As the moans grew slower, louder and more suggestive, as the rubs of breasts and buns grew more sensual, Admiral Fry slipped even looser in stopping the ship's escape. The tug of war had finally ended with her salacious gaze, and a reveal of the treasure he prized above any other.
Falling backwards in breathless love, and soon slipping right off, Leela seized her chance to hit the controls, hover up and burst free. Once she sailed through and out the Plotz Wormhole, she had to have a mini-celebration, dancing a little in the nude before pulling herself up.
Scanning her reports, she could've called herself lucky to have left such a show, to have enacted such a revenge. Had Admiral kept punching, the damage done would've had her sucked out for flying, and good as dead otherwise.
Once she placed herself in Auto-Pilot, all she knew as she got herself cleaned up was that this had been a blessing. Another chance to breathe, reflect, and laugh until her sides hurt, even if it had to wait until she got home safe.
"Could only imagine if the kid were here… Guess once I'm fit to fly, I'd better check aboard the Nimbus. If Zapp's done anything to him though…"
Dared not answer such a question, for fear of what she'd do against the General then.
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"You mean to tell me that against your orders, you let her ESCAPE?!"
"Affirmative, sir. By the time I manned my ship and pursued our target, she had disappeared."
Instead of the chewing out the Admiral might've expected, The Zookeeper just sidled up to him, virtually nose-to-nose as his teeth began to grind diamonds.
"I did not create you to fail or disobey me, Admiral. Make me suspect a next time, at your peril. Now get out."
Admiral could only bow and hang his head in leaving, while the career criminal stropped off to sit down and stare at his ruined TV, a mouth lathering a froth to worry a rabies victim.
Wasn't just that his reputation and finances were unearthed, ruined and bleeding, but that his old playthings had humiliated him. All those decades to create a name for himself, now a holocaust inside a few weeks.
"This what they want from me? Were they that adamant about ruining me? If so, then let's get serious; not like I never learnt anything on the streets."
Ticking as clockwork, his sinister mind ran through its gamut of possibilities, and halted at one.
"Of course, that damned Miracle Cream! Been so used to victory, I didn't think of ensuring it. So clearly her dead crewman's left her all those gifts, and of course, no-one's seen a decent supplier in at least a decade."
He stood up, stretched, and stomped around, his mind & mouth in deep thought & monologue.
"I didn't get to where I am without creating a few policies; though they've taken a true sample, that's not the only one."
Ordering Admiral to come back and carry him towards his bedroom, an oft-unused place against the comfy lounge suite, he found his portrait on a stone wall and ripped it off. A small black safe hidden behind; just a few clicks before he held his nastiest secret of all.
"It's clear what I must do, Admiral. I shall pay them the same visit, discover THEIR little secrets, and then enjoy a wine fermented from their blood! They want to light fires under me, I'll show them how bright I can burn…"
Admiral said nothing as Zookeeper's mouth cracked into possessed laughter, the cylindrical canister of his would-be cologne swirling in his fingers.