Fenris Perrywinkle: The Great Galactic Duel
Chapter 18: Maximum Unity

A very large alien warthog-looking thing tries to stop me at the stadium entrance. I think it was trying to ask for my ticket or something. I barely even feel the back of my hand connecting with its flabby cheek. The pig-man is completely caught off-guard by my strength and is sent head first into the composite metal wall beside him.

I pause a moment to study my hand. About fifty percent of my body is now covered in thin ribbons of whatever material the cube was made of. What I can only describe as glowing circuitry decorates the thin strands of golden material.

I clench my fist. I can feel power surging through my body. Not quite as much as when I was wearing the Everbright champion suit – but close. I’ll have to remember to thank Center the next time our paths cross. Actually, since she’s the center of all knowledge, this crazy alien exoskeleton has probably already relayed my thoughts to her.

I sprint through the intake tunnel much faster than I thought I could, and emerge on the floor of the arena. Jennifer and Amanda are already encased in the force field dome and are locked in mortal combat. I watch as the blonde blasts the brunette with her eye beams, only to have the brunette grab her ankle and slam her face-first into the force wall.

I can’t watch this. The thought of the two loves of my life fighting to the death makes me want to vomit. I glance at my hand once again. I know what I have to do.

I glance up again in time to see Jenn pin Amanda to the side of the force wall with a flurry of body blows. Nope. I can’t watch this.

An all too familiar drone buzzes into my line of vision. “Prisoner 776! I knew you couldn’t stay away! This time, you’re mine!”

I point at the annoying technological insect. “You want me, Philander? Come and get me! Right after I expose you for the criminal you truly are!”

The end of my finger begins to glow. I smirk as I feel a burst of power building up inside of me. In another instant, the Games Master will be down yet another drone.

I’m rudely interrupted by large metal clamps which crush and encase me; I’m lifting me off the ground and flung twenty meters away.

I land hard and have the wind knocked out of me. Loud laughter fills the air and mixes with the roar of the crowd. A familiar blob of flesh sits at the controls of a large utility robot. Its vice grip hands open and close in a menacing fashion. The floor bounces a tiny bit as it begins walking toward me with its industrial sized legs.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away. It was nice of you to gift wrap yourself for me. I’m going to enjoy popping you like a grape, Prisoner 776!”

Pop me like a grape? His insults I can take; incorrect fruit metaphors though? That has to stop.

The crowd roars and try as I might, I can’t help taking a quick peek at the girl fight happening beside me. Jennifer is picking herself up off the floor – I think I see blood. Nope. Must look away.

The Games Master roars as well and launches one of the industrial sized vice grips at me. Apparently he can fire them off like grappling hooks.

I manage to catch it – man, I really am strong! Thanks again, Center!

A moment later, however, I’m yanked off my feet as Warden Jefferson reels the vice grip back in. Apparently it has a cable attached to the end. That makes sense.

I leap for dear life as he brings both vice grips together in an effort to… “pop me like a grape”. I think I leapt a good forty feet in the air. I clearly don’t know my own strength.

I see Jennifer round house kick Amanda and send her sailing. I think I remember her taking Karate or something when we were together.

I land hard on top of the Warden’s robot suit and begin punching my way through the metal roof. I think I see something move out of the corner of my eye, but I’m not quick enough. Apparently the robot arms are more agile than I first thought – one bats me off the roof and I replace myself sprawled out on the stadium floor again.

“Die, Perrywinkle, die!” the Games Master shrieks as he lifts one of the robot’s legs above my head.

Instinct takes over as I dig my heels into the hard flooring and push off. The massive robotic leg crashes down moments later. I skitter across the stadium and smack into the Everbright bleacher wall. To my shock, I look up to see a small group of green faces cheering down at me. Well, that is unexpected. Maybe they think this is all part of the match?

The Warden roars again and fires another of the robot’s vice grips in my direction. I’ve played this game already. Again, I manage to catch it. I hear more cheers directed down at me from above. I have to say, that does feel awfully good.

Philander begins drawing the vice grip back in again. I’m not having any of that this time.

“Not this time, Jefferson!” I grunt and pull the metal appendage toward myself. I’m rewarded with the satisfying sound of a cable snapping.

I toss it aside, feeling like a superhero. The look on old Philander’s face right now feels pretty darn good too. I think he might be rethinking his attack on me.

I decide not to give him time to come up with something else. I charge him and easily dodge the lazy attack from his remaining robot arm. A moment later, I’m on the robot’s shoulder, tearing it out of its socket.

Another pop from the crowd forces my attention to the battle beside me. This time it’s Amanda slowly picking herself up from the floor. It appears that both ladies are bleeding now. And it looks like those indestructible body suits are starting to tear away as well. That thought makes my lips smile for a moment. I’m instantly ashamed of myself.

“Have mercy!” Warden Jefferson cries. His voice brings be back to the present. He actually looks visibly shaken now. The look of a man who is suddenly questioning his life decisions. I notice he’s frantically pressing a large red button on the console in front of him.

I narrow my eyes a little. “You’re finished, Jefferson! Do you hear me? Finished!”

He says nothing and continues to mash that button. I wish I could stand here and relish this moment a little longer, but I’ve still got to stop the death match beside me and expose this slime ball to the universe.

I look up to the announcer’s box in the corner of the stadium, then back at the quivering blob of flesh in his busted robot suit. “Finished,” I whisper with a little smile.

I leap from the robot into the air toward my goal. I hear the Games Master bark behind me. “STOP HIM!”

“Too late, fat man,” I mumble as I land on top of the battle dome and then leap again. “Just another few seconds...”

Three grey skinned alien women in red and black warrior garb land in front me – cutting me off from the announcer booth. They brandish savage looking daggers and glare at me.

I let out a long sigh. “Seriously? Look, ladies… I don’t have time for this!”

A warden drone buzzes to a stop above us in the air. The Games Master’s face, still mashed into his robotic suit, fills the screen. “Do what I’m paying you to do! Cut him down!”

I guess these three were the reason for all that red button pushing a moment ago.

The crowd pops again. I glance back to see my two loves ripping and tearing at each other as they roll around on the floor. I’ve got to do something fast. If one of them dies, this will all be for naught.

I turn around again just in time to see the three alien warriors descending out of the air above me. They’re about to slice me into ribbons. I wish I had a force shield.

A golden bubble suddenly forms around me. The grey skinned women bounce off it and fall into the Deepdarc bleachers. The force shield kind of… pops, and I’m left standing with a slightly confused look on my face. I thought about something, wished for it really, and it happened?

Can’t think about it right now. No time.

With a mighty leap, I reach the announcer’s box. I thrust my hand into the pillar of light emanating from the main console.

The recording of Philander Jefferson begins playing over all the screens in the stadium – and hopefully across the galaxy too!

Not a moment too soon, as several cables suddenly wrap themselves around me. I’m rudely yanked out of the booth and into the waiting arms of Warden Jefferson’s three assassins.

“Another bubble, please!” I shout. All three women are again sent flying as my suit instantly responds.

“How about a personal bubble for each of them?” I ask out loud. Three bubbles launch from my chest and encase each warrior. They pound in vain against the shimmering golden walls of their bouncy prisons.

“I love this suit, Center,” I whisper as my bubble pops.

I glance around suddenly aware that no one is cheering any longer. The juicy part is playing on all the screens now. All orange and green heads are fixated on the big reveal. Now is my chance to save my battling beauties below!

Another leap takes me from the top of the Deepdarc bleachers down to the top of the force dome. With some relief, I see the girls have separated. Both lie on the floor gasping for breath in the remains of their tattered bodysuits. Blood trickles from their faces and the exposed parts of their bodies are covered with bruises. The sight makes my stomach turn, but at least they’re both alive.

A squealing sound off to the side catches my attention. I see Philander Jefferson attempting to squeeze through the dented escape hatch of his robot suit.

“No you don’t,” I whisper. “Come here, Warden!” I point both hands at him. Several slender metal ribbons explode outward and wrap around his blubberous body. I mentally direct my suite to hoist him over my head and present him to the crowd.

The timing is perfect. The video stream ends and there’s the guilty party wriggling around in the air above me. The crowd’s reaction is predictable.

Orange and Green heads start spilling over the sides of the respective bleachers. Suddenly it seems like every one of them has a weapon in their hands too. Isn’t there some sort of security screening for this? Seems kind of crazy given the grave nature of this event.

The force dome powers off and I drop to the floor between Jenn and Amanda – The Games Master still tangled in the metal ribbons of my exosuit, several meters above me.

The bloodied loves of my life try to recover, but neither is able to muster the strength to do so.

The on-coming crowd begins to get loud. Like… riot, kill everything and everyone loud. I figure I should probably put an end to that.

I think loud thoughts and shout, “Stop!”

My suit amplifies my voice so much so that the entire stadium ship shakes and the angry approaching mob is knocked off their feet.

A profound silence settles over everything as the echoes of my voice dissipate.

I think ‘still loud, but not that loud’ to myself. I’m sure my suit will understand.

“Yes, this duel is fixed,” I say in my best authoritative voice. “I know this duel came about as a way to stop the war between the Deepdarc and the Everbright. I know this. But I also know that there must be a better way forward.”

An old Deepdarc alien manages to stand and point at an Everbright alien beside him. “We battle for the right to reproduce. We will not share Alphamaximus with the likes of the green dogs. They are inferior in every way!”

The Everbright alien fires back. “No, the Deepdarc must be taught their place. They think themselves superior just because of the color of their skin! We will enslave them until they know humility! They will know what it is like to be treated as dogs!”

Everyone starts to stand and wave their weapons in the air again. I roll my eyes.

“Stop!” I command again. Wasn’t too loud this time – no one fell down. Still got everyone’s attention, though. “This war between you… this terrible duel… is all because of pride?”

Incredibly, hundreds of thousands of heads start nodding in unison.

I bet I could make all of them explode if I told my suit to do it. I kind of feel like doing it right now, too. I think I have a better idea though.

“You foolish, prideful, little alien bobble headed idiots!” I shout. “If that’s what this whole galactic war is about… then allow me to put an end to it!”

Again the massive stadium falls silent as my entire body starts to glow a bright golden hue and the air fills with a high pitched whistle. Time to see what this suit can really do. I admit, my next move is going to seem like something out of Loony-Tunes, but if it gets the job done…

I begin absorbing color. All of it. Everywhere.

I’m sure Amanda could postulate some sort of scientific explanation for what I’m doing, but she’s basically passed out at the moment.

All of the little alien turds begin looking around in a panic. Just hold your horses, you little jerks. I’m almost done.

A rushing sound fills the air now as I restore all of the colors – except the skin colors of the aliens. Yep, all the little pukes are now a medium shade of grey.

My suit starts to shine again. “And just so you don’t get any ideas about who came from what side of the stadium…”

All of the greys lift into the air. I twirl my two index fingers in circles and basically shuffle them. A moment later, I drop them back on the ground, now thoroughly mixed.

You never saw a more confused looking mob. The little greys stand rubbing their heads and looking around at each other. Hopefully that will do it. I still haven’t ruled out making them all explode.

“No! No, what have you done?” I hear the warden scream above me. Shoot, I almost forgot about him.

For a moment I consider having my suit dismember him, or maybe tossing him to the angry mob, but I reconsider. Maybe I was feeling pleased with myself for hopefully stopping an intergalactic war… maybe I just wanted to impress the bleeding women at my feet… I don’t know.

For whatever reason, I have my suit toss him at the stadium security still standing by the doors. They can deal with him. I’m pretty sure he’s done at this point.

One of the greys looks longingly at said bleeding women. He motions toward them in an overly dramatic fashion. “But… the champions? There must be a winner! It is tradition.”

That sentiment travels through the mob at light speed. Soon everyone is calling for a winner of the duel.

I sigh and shake my head. They’re just not going to let this go, are they?

‘Unity’.

What was that? I didn’t think that word. What’s it doing in my head all of a sudden?

‘Unity’.

Is my suit trying to communicate with me now? Or maybe it’s Center sending me messages through the suit?

‘Unity’.

Okay, okay I heard… felt… you the first time. What about it? What do you want me to do?

Metal tendrils begin extending from my hands and wrap themselves around Jennifer and Amanda. They’re too weak to resist.

I wince a little. My brain is starting to remember some of the instructions that got downloaded into me during my return trip from the center.

I look at my beautiful Amanda. So smart. So tough.

I look at my beautiful Jennifer. So loving. So creative.

I know what I have to do next.

I just hope they will forgive me one day.

I bow my head and contemplate what I’m about to do. Every part of me knows that it has to be done. I let out a long breath.

“Unity,” I whisper.

Jenn and Amanda immediately glow bright white. My metal tendrils slowly lift their bodies into the air. There is a pause… perhaps for dramatic effect. I don’t know. The two glowing female forms are held in the air above me for a moment, and then are violently smashed together.

At first, the glow intensifies to the point of blinding everyone in attendance. Soon, however, the intensity fades and a single female form is gently lowered to the ground in front of me.

My suit begins winding more of itself around the glowing female figure. I feel my link to Center start to diminish. With each passing second, I feel her retreating further and further away from my mind.

With a sudden jolt, the cube suit completely leaves me and I crumple to the ground. I’m just me again. The power I had enjoyed for the last half hour or so is completely gone.

The glow finally fades from the female form in front of me. A gorgeous redhead stoops down to help me to my feet. Her fabulous body is encased in a flowing, golden metallic dress.

She places her warm hand on my cheek and kisses me softly. Her eyes, that smile… she is so familiar somehow.

She turns to the mass of greys that partially encircle us. “Young ones, I am Unity.”

Hushed whispers weave their way through the crowd. The greys seem transfixed on the new women standing before them.

The redhead beams at her new followers. “The time of Everbright and Deepdarc has come to an end. The time for savagery and brutality is no more. We are unified. We are one.”

Amazingly, the little aliens fall to their knees and raise their hands toward her. I think I even see some of them tearing up a little.

Unity continues. “Let today mark the time of a new era. A new era of hope, of innovation, of cooperation. A time of love. A time of trust.”

Yes, many of the greys are full on crying now. What a bunch of little saps.

The fabulous redhead motions for all in attendance to stand. They do so without hesitation. “A time for… repopulation!”

Talk about an explosion! I swear it’s like every last little grey alien just won the damn lottery or something. Suddenly everyone is jumping up and down and shouting for joy. In all the kerfuffle, I completely forgot how horny this crowd is.

Something starts tickling my skin. I soon discover Bubbles Benson rolling all over me. I turn to see a little grinning grey that I can only assume was Little Green.

“Legendary Champion Fenris! This day will be written in the stars for all generations to come! Long will your name be held at the top of our heads!”

I guess that’s a compliment where he comes from. I give him a low high-five, then he and Bubbles disappear into the crowd.

‘Legendary Champion Fenris’? Sure. I could get used to being called that.

Someone shouts, “To Alphamaximus!” and suddenly there is a river of rabid greys flooding past me and out the stadium exits. Amazingly, one minute later I stand alone with Unity.

She smiles wide as she drapes her arms around my neck and seals her mouth to mine. I have questions for this women… but they can wait for a couple of minutes.

…or hours. Whatever.