A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Second-Banana Heaven
"..Why do we have to keep her in my room?"
"Because it's the biggest one on the ship, Tom."
"But Gyps-"
"Tom, there's no telling what Pearl has planned for this lady; what dark, nefarious scheme..." Gypsy's voice increased in pitch, almost to an unbearable tone.
"OK!" Tom cried, wishing for ambulatory arms to cover his sensitive dome, "I'll go find Mike and Crow!"
The little red guy hovered away, leaving Gypsy to doctor the ailing girl.
**
The purple haze that had captured her consciousness moments ago receded; slowly, shapes began to take shape and depth before her eyes. She began to blink her eyes, assuming that the sight, which levitated before her, simply couldn't be real...
She swallowed deeply and opened her eyes wide. She wasn't imagining anything.
"Easy, now," Soothed Gypsy, "You're safe. Did Mike scare you? He's kind of scary when he hasn't showered.."
Molly stared uncomprehendingly at the huge purple being that hovered before her; The first words that came to her mind were spoken, "Where am I?"
"Poor girl," Gypsy sighed, then picked up a damp cloth between her lips and moped Molly's forehead. She reacted by shoving away the cloth and sitting up,
"What in the world is this place? And why are there so many..underpants?" She stared at the domelike room, which was, indeed, coated ceiling-to-floor with underwear of various types and style.
"You're in Servo's room," She explained, "Tom...I don't get him. I don't get boys, anyway," She sighed once more. "Where did Pearl find you?"
"Pearl?" Asked Molly, "I don't know what you mean..." She sat up suddenly, "Where's Frank?"
"Frank? I know a Frank, but he's dead.." A light bulb seemed to bloom to life over Gypsy's noble head, "Oh my Lord! Frank sent you here?!"
"That's the last thing I remember," She confessed. "Does your Frank have white hair? And a cherub face?"
"Yes!" Gypsy's jaw dropped open, "That means you're dead."
Molly nodded, "He said something about taking me too soon; and that it wasn't my time..."
Gypsy bobbed her head, "I'm Gypsy, what's your name?"
Molly smiled, "Molly Holly."
Gypsy acknowledged this with a smile, "Frank has too good of a heart to be in the Soultaking business." Gypsy noted. "Can you stay here for a while, Molly? I can't leave Mike and the boys alone for a very long time without something-" A crashing noise and the sound of a whiny voice shouting something about a Servo gave Gypsy pause. "See what I mean?" She asked rhetorically, slithering out of the room.
Molly stared after Gypsy, wondering what she could possibly do, stuck in this..what? Metal contraption? She had no clue precisely where Frank had sent her.
She shrugged off Tom's Luke Skywalker blanket and went in search of a window. She would soon find out.
****
After mopping up yet another mess caused by a squabbling Tom and Crow, who were happily ensconced in the media room watching a movie, Gypsy cornered Mike and began to explain what she knew of Molly's origin.
Mike wasn't a bright guy, Gypsy acknowledged, but his eyes widened when she explained Frank's latest folly.
"So she doesn't know why she's here?" Mike asked.
"Nope; and I'm afraid of what will happen when Pearl finds out."
"Come on, Gyps; Pearl can be cruel, but there's no way she can hurt Molly without hurting the rest of us."
"That's right, Mike." Gypsy noted, "We've never had to worry about something like this before, though." She pointed out.
Mike sighed, "Well, Frank'll figure something out...won't he?"
"Mike, this is Frank we're talking about.."
Mike swallowed hard, "You mean we might have a girl here forever?"
"Uh-huh."
Mike groaned, "I don't think Tom and Crow are going to like this..."
"Well, they handled Joel's leaving OK," She pointed out, "I think that a change might not bother them too much."
Mike smiled weakly, "I hope."
At his last declaration, he saw the blond woman's approach. She paused, turned her head, and stared at the skylight at the far end of the main bridge. She could clearly see her precise location now: they were somewhere in space.
"Welcome to the Satellite of Love, Molly Holly." Gypsy cheerfully announced.
She expected the young girl to faint, as seemed to be her custom. Instead, the blond wore a look of wonder.
"Cool.." She responded, her gaze dreamy. Then she turned around and locked eyes, for the first time, with Mike Nelson.