Fenris Perrywinkle: The Great Galactic Duel

Chapter VII: Flying Fists admidst the Stars

Jennifer narrows her eyes and looks Amanda up and down. "So who is she anyway? Some tramp you impressed with your new alien powers?"

Amanda steps out from behind me and approaches the Deepdarc champion with as much confidence as she can muster. She extends her hand in friendship. "My name is Dr. Amanda Vincent. I'm very pleased to meet you, although please know that I had no idea Fenris had a fiancée until just now. Yes, he and I have become close in recent days, but I would not have allowed that to happen if I had all the relevant information."

Jennifer looks at Amanda's outstretched hand, then locks eyes with her. "What? Do you think we're going to be friends now or something?" She bats the brunette's hand away.

Amanda nods, looks down and takes several steps to the side. "I understand and do not begrudge you your feelings in this matter."

Wait, did she just... kind of toss me under the bus? She knew my memories had been affected. She could have mentioned that.

Jennifer strides up to me and gets in my face. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself? I mean, I get it – you saw me get sucked into an alien space craft. You probably thought I was dead or something, but you could have at least mentioned me to your new girl!" She gives me an alien powered shove and I stumble back a few steps. "Did I really mean that little to you?"

I look to Amanda to volunteer the whole memories thing, but all I get in response is a glare.

Jennifer goes to shove me again, but I catch her hands and hold them. She's strong. Really strong. "Jenn, I know how this looks. And I know what I'm about to tell you will sound like I'm just making crap up..."

She wrenches her hands free from mine.

"...but after you were captured, I was captured by the people of Everybright. The Everbright craft crashed and I was injured. I woke up in a prison and had no memories of my former life. Nothing. Not even of you."

"Pretty convenient story, buddy! Kind of sounds like something a cheater would say when he gets caught red-handed!" She launches a power slap that connects with my cheek. The impact of the blow spins me around several times before my butt meets the earth below.

Amanda finally comes to my rescue. "His story is true. I was his primary care giver in prison – that's how we know each other. I can confirm that his memories were affected."

Jennifer whirls around, her eyes glowing with alien energy. "You don't get to speak! I should disintegrate you right here, right now!"

"Don't touch her!" I react. In retrospect, I really shouldn't have, but when I saw my Amanda in apparent danger, I just... reacted. My hand finds Jennifer's ankle and the next thing I know, I've tossed her a hundred feet in the opposite direction.

She jumps to her feet after skidding to a stop, her Deepdarc uniform now covered in dirt. "Well, I guess that confirms it then. Screw you, Fenris Perrywinkle! Screw you and your little tramp, too! I'm going to tear your arms off during our duel. First your arms... and then your legs. All three of them!"

Jennifer looks to the sky and rockets upward into the clouds. Amanda runs into my arms as I stand. Her body quivers against mine as I hold her. I don't think I've ever seen her like this before. "Amanda? Are you alright?"

Tears begin streaming down her cheeks as she buries her head in my chest. "Did you really not know? Don't lie to me. I deserve the truth! She's horrible! How did you ever love a woman like that?"

I gently stroke the back of her head and consider her words. From what I could now remember, Jenn had always had kind of a fiery temper, but I couldn't ever remember her like this. "No, I promise I didn't remember until just now. And I dunno, I don't remember her ever being so vicious. Maybe the Deepdarc power infusion affected her emotions? I dunno."