[WARNING: Sexual assault/r&pe]
Grant Henderson slowly turned around, his worn face conflicted with worry and relief. After a good 5 seconds, he approached the group, his gaze fixed on Eli. "It's been a long time... son."
He reached out as if to caress his cheek... before drawing it back to smack him across the face.
"AGH!" His son staggered back, barely regaining his composure before Grant grabbed him roughly by the shoulders.
"Elisha Grant Ackerman Henderson!" He hissed, paternal rage overtaking him. "Where in God's name have you BEEN ?! And where is your sister?!"
"D-dad, I can-" Eli stammered, still reeling from the impact as he tried to form a response.
"Do you know how worried we were when we found you two unconscious at the TV?!" Grant's voice jumped an octave higher as he glared at Eli. "You mother called the Reverend to perform an exorcism for goodness sake!"
Eli blinked. "An exorcism- l-like casting out a demon? How's that gonna help?"
"God knows." Releasing him, Grant took a moment to collect himself before sighing softly. "She wanted to throw the game out, but I convinced her to let me try and find you. And here we are now. I hope you know how to get us out of this mess."
"Well, that's easy," Klint piped in. "Die 3 times. You see the markings on your wrist? Those are healthbars. Once all 3 are gone, you go back to Earth."
"But you can't just kill yourself 3 times either," Eli pointed out.
Grant raised a brow. "How do you know-? Have you tried?"
"No, but I know 2 people who did," Eli replied, crossing his arms.
"And what happened-?"
"The system regenerated all 3 of their lives immediately. Lives wasted are lives repeated- it's like flunking a semester of school because you cheated on the finals."
"Cheating is a very serious offense," The droid who Grant assumed was Huyang piped up. "Any Jedi apprentice found cheating would have been subject to expulsion by the Council."
"Yeah, yeah," Eli said dismissively before sighing softly. "So unless you get killed otherwise, you're stuck here."
"Wonderful." Grant drew out a breath before walking over to the kitchen table. "Well, I suppose we can eat something while we wait. Have some pastries, and thank Klint for making me use the oven."
"I didn't know you could make apple strudels here," Eli remarked, eyeing the tray. "Grandma's recipe?"
"No, your grandmother only made apple pie," Grant replied matter of factly. "That, and cookies."
"Then who did you learn to make that from?"
"Mrs. Hofschneider."
Eli nearly spit out a mouthful of cooked apples. "Ethan's mother-?"
Grant just nodded. "That woman loves baking. It's her coping mechanism for her constant stress from dealing with her delinquent son."
"I... can imagine," Was Eli's strained response.
"She made 2 whole batches of snickerdoodle cookies for kids battling cancer at St. Jude while searching for a suitable military academy to ship her kid off to." Grant sighed softly before leaning forward. "Well, I imagine as a Jedi, you wouldn't dare come to Coruscant after Order 66... unless you need something."
YOU ARE READING
Earthlings 3: RISE
Hayran Kurgu"Oppression breeds rebellion." For more than a decade, the Galactic Empire has had the galaxy in its iron fist. Any traces of the past Republic have all but been erased, and all opposition has been suppressed. Or has it...? After the death of Eliez...
