Fenris Perrywinkle: The Great Galactic Duel

Chapter II: Bubbles Benson and Little Green

I reach down and help Amanda up off the floor. She's not in her element right now, and it's kind of throwing her off her game. Looking at her, I'd say she's caught somewhere in between 'competent professional' and 'scared little girl'.

She wraps her arms around herself and nervously glances around the fuzzy white room. I check and make sure I didn't wet my pants during the excitement. That happened once, and I'm still haunted by the memory.

"I'm going to ask you one more time, Fenris. And I'll ask that you be honest with me. What's going on?"

I clear my throat and try and stand as tall as I can. "I swear to you, Dr. Vincent, that I have no idea or memories of –"

I'm cut off by that stupid disembodied voice again. "We hail your triumphant return, Champion of Everbright! You have our sincere apologies for taking so long to rescue you!"

Amanda narrows her eyes at me and cocks her head to the side. Thanks, stupid disembodied voice. Thanks a ton.

An opening appears on the far wall and a cluster of bubbles floats into the room. Yes, I said a cluster of bubbles. That's what it looks like. What do you want from me?

Amanda stops hugging herself and approaches the bubble being. "What's with the floating pile of bubbles?"

See! Amanda agrees with me! Floating bubbles. Boom.

The bubble stack breaks apart, whizzes around itself like a mini tornado, then reforms again. "Fenris Perrywinkle, is this one of your followers?" the voice asks again. "Or is this your new mate?"

Well that was awkward. Amanda shoots me another accusatory look.

I approach the bubbles with purpose. "No. No no. No. I think there might be some sort of mistake here. I don't think I am who you think I am. Honest."

The bubble stack breaks apart and surrounds me. I have an odd feeling of foreboding. "What are you doing, strange bubble creature?" I ask slowly.

The bubbles attack! Well, sort of. They adhere themselves to me and start rolling all over my body.

Amanda flips out. "Fenris! What's happening? Why are they doing that?"

"I dunno!" I can't believe I just said that again. What does that make now? Fifty times?

I start to giggle a little. It tickles.

A tiny green man with a large head floats into the room. He has white hair and appears to be dressed in some sort of military garb. "Stop that, Benson. Champion Fenris does not need you licking him right now!"

The bubbles detach from me and stack up beside the little floating man. I suddenly feel violated.

Amanda screams and hides behind me. "It's an alien," she whispers.

The little man bows. "My apologies to your new mate, I did not mean to frighten her. It is good to see you again."

"Again? What do you mean, again? I don't know you. I don't know where I am right now. I don't know what's going on, and I have no idea why you keep calling me 'Champion Fenris'!"

The green alien and his pet bubble stack chuckle. I'm not going to explain how bubbles chuckle. You're just going to have to take my word for it. The little man slaps his little knee. "Always the kidder! How wonderful to have you back with us. Have you prepared sufficiently for the encounter? Our reports indicate that your opponent has grown quite formidable."

Amanda wraps her arms around me from behind. "Do something," she whispers. I can taste her fear. Maybe she's not so tough after all?

I clear my throat and hope to high heaven that I don't say 'I dunno' again.