Fenris Perrywinkle: The Great Galactic Duel

Chapter XX: Fenris Perrywinkle - A Man of Regret

I offer to 'drive' – I am the man after all.

Before long, Amanda and I are fading through space back to earth. She paces back and forth at the back of the space craft in a blue blouse and tan skirt. I've never seen her like this. It's touching to see how much she cares for her father. She also looks very girly – which I've never seen before either.

Jenn shows up as an enemy blip on the 'objects and bodies' interface in front of me. I still can't believe she and Amanda are telepathically linked now. I guess Center is in there somewhere too. And they don't have their powers anymore until they go all Captain Plant and merge in Unity or something like that. I couldn't choose between them before – now it's going to be impossible.

We cloak as we enter earth's atmosphere. A moment or two later, we hover in Amanda's father's back yard. I open the side hatch and she sprints toward the hovel calling for her daddy.

I slip out and close up shop as she disappears around the front. Another hatch opens out of thin air several yards away and Jennifer steps out. She wears a black t-shirt with blue jeans. The dark top gives lovely contrast with her shiny golden hair.

She approaches with a smile on her face and greets me with a kiss. "He's alive. She's with him inside. She feels super relieved."

I smile. "Good. Shall we join them?"

The look in Jenn's eye tells me she would rather drag me back into her ship and fly away with me, but she nods and mingles her fingers with mine. Together, we walk around to the front of Amanda's father's home and enter the narrow front door.

Amanda is wrapped around her father with her head on his shoulder. He gently strokes her hair. "There, there, Mandy my girl. Daddy's fine. Now what's all the fuss about now, hmmm?"

He furls his brow a little when I walk in with Jennifer. "Now boy, I thought I told you not to come around here anymore!"

"Daddy, please. They're my friends," Amanda whispers.

He grunts in response.

Jenn leaves my side and walks to Amanda. They embrace as her father and I look on. It's so weird to suddenly see them getting along like this. A couple hours ago, they were locked in combat trying to kill each other!

Her father swishes his mustache back and forth a little. I don't think he's used to hugs and sentiment being displayed in his home. He reaches up to a shelf in the corner and takes down a jug with three Xs scratched onto it.

"Well... I don't really have nuthin fer guests, but if y'all want a little taste of sunshine..."

Jenn and Amanda end their hug and shake their heads. "Daddy... not the Cactus Surprise again!"

I figure I'll try and make nice with the old coot. "I'll take a shot of that, sir. I think it did me some good when I was dying on your porch."

He smiles and gives me a nod. I hope the smile isn't hurting his face. "Now you're talking like a real man, boy."

He pulls an old mug off the shelf with the rest of his hooch and starts pouring me a bit of his cactus roadkill medley.

I glance out the window at the beautiful desert day. My blood suddenly runs cold.

Philander Jefferson stands in the middle of the yard with a smile on his face and a cylinder with a large red button in his hand.

My heart starts to pound. "Everyone get d—!"

My warning comes too late. The old man draws a sharp breath, and then his chest explodes. The jug of hooch shatters on the floor, quickly joined by his lifeless body.