Stan arrives
Cy sat in his meat. He and his wheelchair were next to a large automobile. Cy was waiting for his friends and, since he had never met a friend outside of his tub, he was sweating from nerves. His black burqa was larger than normal and covered his entire chair so there was no worry about unsightly sweat stains. Only the top of his head was discernible from the black flowing fabric and that was embarrassing enough.
He watched his tablet and focused on that alone to help with nerves. Another chair rolled up covered in black fabric and sat in silence. Then, slowly, another and then another until five fully covered chairs were situated around the automobile.
Now that the entire group was present, it was safe to start to communicate. Everyone used palm transcoders to interact with their tablets so that no physical movement was seen under the dark coverings.
Cy began, “Thank you all for coming. I won’t ask which is which, but since I volunteered to drive, I’ll be the one who will be disclosed to the rest of you. That’s fine and I’m OK with it.”
Ras responded from the group, but it was impossible to tell from which chair, “I’m sorry, Cy. We will keep our eyes averted. Thank you for your bravery.”
Cy responded, “Ok. I’ll get into the car.” He lifted himself up with reasonable effort. As a fleshman, he was often out of his tank and his body was in reasonable shape. His chair folded itself neatly into a cube and slid towards the back of the automobile.
Cy asked the car politely, “Please let me and my friends inside. Make room for five chairs and five people.” Stan the Van’s eyes opened and he smiled at Cy.
Stan the Van replied, “Well, how do you doodley today, daddy! Time for a family rooooad trip! Let’s sing the road trip song! HEEEEEY WHO LIKES A ROOAD TRIP! I DO! I DO! WHO LIKES A …”
Cy interrupted, “We can sing later, Stan. Just open the doors, please.” Stan the Van stopped his song, stared at Cy with a glum look, and the doors opened. Cy sat in the driver’s seat and waited.
Cy created a random selection script from his tablet and each member was assigned a seat. None of the others were informed who was sitting where. Only Cy, in the driver’s seat, was known to be him by anyone else - including Cy.
Each covered body slowly, and some with greater effort than the others, rose from their respective chairs. One almost fell and a brief flash of gray skin was exposed and quickly covered. The covered meat slowly entered the vehicle while the chairs filed neatly in rows to be stored in the rear.
Stan looked concerned, “I didn’t make that person fall. It happened before that person was ever inside Stan.” A drone flew out from Stan’s artillery node and buzzed over the scene. The drone took multiple flash pictures and attempted to get statements from everyone nearby. It was waved off multiple times and then gave up.
Stan told its drone, “It’s ok. The video evidence is clear. Go ahead and submit the claim.”
Now that the paperwork had been completed, Stan gave his full attention back to Cy. His eyes were bright and waiting for something next.
Cy spoke to Stan, “We all would like to go to the mall.”
“YIPEE!” replied a delighted Stan now that the target had been selected, various armaments slid into place. An ancient thumping song started to play…
The entire interior of the car displayed a holographic cartoon.
We’re OFF TO THE MALL! HOORAY FOR SHOPPING! Let’s buy some stuff that nobody knows! We’ll put it on somebody’s head! It spends like high credit, high price, candy in my grill! It spends like painted, retouched, undented, bought at discount!
Stan scrambled his air support and zoomed from out of the garage as seat restraints grabbed the cloaked occupants.
Stan offered a serenade as they pulled out…
It spends like saving you is easy but they boosted the bill! It spends like… It spends like shoppin’ bags and cottony candy stew! It spends like euros you just don’t know where to place!