Operation: Moonfall | Jimmy Crystal Revenge & Redemption

The Epilogue

At last, the final chapter of volume I! The author's notes after the chapter will go into detail on what's next, followed by a collection of behind the scenes factoids I couldn't think to put anywhere else.

---

Comprised of the loudest colors in the rainbow, the suitcase twice Buster's size mocked the koala in its chromatic silence. He was determined to get it to the threshold and made another push. After a minute or two of pure physical endurance, Buster pushed the overstuffed luggage all the way through to the villa's foyer. He wiped the sweat from his brow with an exhausted but proud grin; all victories should be celebrated. Then Johnny appeared with two more even larger suitcases nestled on his shoulders and set them down nearby with minimal effort.

"Great work, Johnny," Buster said, straining to keep up his spirited grin. "Just amazing."

The gorilla gave him a quizzical look. "Thanks?"

Porsha came out of her room with a shoulder bag, dressed in turquoise shorts, a bright pink top, a sun hat, a pair shades, and her phone pressed to her ear. Beneath her clothes were hints of a neon bathing suit.

"Okay, daddy. I'm coming out now," she said before hanging up. So far, Jimmy was sticking to his commitment to change, the first notable act being to spend more time with his daughter. They'd vacation for a week in Hawaii, just father, daughter, and assistant... Jerry was tagging along, too. Buster didn't give that too much thought, he was just happy Porsha was reconnecting with her dad.

"I appreciate this, you guys," Porsha said. "The limo's here so you can take them out now."

"No worries," Johnny said, though Buster let out a quiet, almost deranged laugh.

"By the way, daddy wants to talk to you, Mr. Moon."

Buster nearly jumped out of his shoes. Old habit. "He, uh... he does? What about?"

Porsha shrugged, then gawked. "Oh no! I almost forgot!" She raced back to her room.

Getting the luggage to the street was, thankfully, much more manageable. Buster used the incline of the driveway to ride the bag all the way down to the limo. Johnny was right behind him but much more wary in his approach. Seeing the black limo glistening under the sun gave him both a sense of dread and relief.

Jimmy Crystal was sitting in there, parked right outside their cozy abode, and apparently had no intention of harming them. But Johnny couldn't help but wonder how long the truce would last. Crystal certainly had plenty of reasons to go after them if everything fell through with Out of This World again. The deal Buster struck got them working again, but at what cost? They were right back in his clutches. Johnny couldn't deny he felt a little bitter; he wasn't too comfortable with the arrangement, but Buster called the shots. He always did.

One of the tinted windows of the limo slid down and Buster, on the tips of his toes, teetered on the curb to see inside. Jimmy was dressed in a dark business suit as usual save for a pair of shades with frames covered in an obnoxious splash of color that had to be Porsha's handiwork. Sitting next to him was Jerry who, much like Porsha, was ready to hit the beach at any moment in his teal Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts.

Before either of them could say anything, Porsha burst out of the house with her Narly the Narwhal plush clamped to her shoulder bag. Jimmy finally noticed the menagerie of luggage and nearly climbed out of the window as he did a doubletake.

"Porsha! It's just one week!" he complained.

"Some of us have a wardrobe that's not just all business suits, ya know!" Porsha shot back.