After another three weeks Joel was feeling unusually energetic. He was walking around the bridge, pacing back and forth, waiting for Mike and the bots to show up.

"Wow," Mike was surprised to see Joel on the bridge. "mornin' Joel. Nice to see you up and about."

"Good morning."

"You feeling okay?"

"Yup. Just a little restless."

"Haven't seen on the bridge in almost two months. You know, unless it was time for the movie or something."

"Yeah, I know. But I feel full of energy and I don't want it to go to waste."

Crow and Servo were standing around Joel, both robots were staring at his stomach. Joel had stopped trying to squeeze into his jumpsuit and opted to tie the sleeves around his waist, under his stomach, like a belt. Hit t-shirts barely covered his distended stomach, leaving a gap of flesh exposed between the shirt and jumpsuit sleeves.

Servo leaned over to Crow. "Touch it!"

Crow carefully reached up and touched Joel's stomach.

"Hey!"

"Sorry! Servo told me to!"

"Did not!" Servo lied quickly.

"Did too!"

"Hey, hey, hey..." Joel wasn't upset. "Stop fighting. Crow, do you want to touch my stomach?"

"Maybe..." Crow was a little embarrassed.

"Then go ahead."

"No, I don't want to anymore."

"Okay, but if you change your mind..."

"I won't. I'm bitter."

The lights on the desk started flashing. "Oh, the 'mads' are calling." Joel pressed the button.

Dr. Forrester's face appeared on the monitor. "Hello Mike... Joel. You still haven't dropped that bundle yet?"

"Nope."

"Hm, odd. You were due last week."

"Sorry?" Joel didn't know how to react.

"You should be. I lost the baby pool with Frank."

"You and Frank started a baby pool?"

"Well, we had to do something while waiting for you to deliver on the goods..." He paused. "Both literally and metaphorically."

Mike didn't like Dr. Forrester bullying Joel. "So, what do you want anyway?"

"Oh, right. Well, we have a special movie for you to watch. If this movie doesn't send Joely-poley into labor, nothing will! I give you... 'Night of the Lepus'."

Frank walked up behind Dr. Forrester with a giddy look on his face. "Joel! You look radiant!" He gushed. "How're you feeling?"

Dr. Forrester grabbed Frank's ear. "Frank... shut it. Send them the movie..."

"Yes, sir!"

The 'Movie Sign' sounded off onboard the ship. "Movie Sign!" Joel and Mike called out in unison.

Mike had grabbed Servo and entered the theater first with Joel following with Crow.

"'Night of the Lepus'..." Mike commented. "I think this is the one about giant killer bunnies."

Joel laughed. "Only mad scientists could find a film about evil bunnies."

Mike agreed with a laugh of his own.

Servo and Crow were making their observations when Joel suddenly grabbed his stomach and winced in pain. "Ouch..."

Mike noticed immediately. "Joel? You okay?"

"I think so." He let go of his stomach and let out his breath. "Wonder what that was about?"

"Contraction?"

"Maybe." Joel noted the time on his watch. "We'll find out soon enough I imagine."

-next chapter-