Chapter Nineteen

"What?" asked Daria, trying to regroup.

"I am immortal," Phelps replied. "You see, I was slated to die at the warlord's hand like the rest of my family. After I was slashed, and my body tossed onto the fire, I came back to life. Though the warlord tried to have me killed in a thousand different ways, I came back to life each and every time - until he realized I could be of use to him, and pressed me into his service."

"That's impossible," Daria said in a weak, devastated tone. "If you were born, you have to be able to die."

"Ah, but technically Norlek's powers are an impossibility, even on a more advanced planet like Xulfanex. Yet they exist, as do my powers. I cannot die."

"It must suck then," Daria spat, "to lead such a miserable life."

Phelps was now almost upon them. Daria helped Quinn to her feet, and they shielded their eyes.

"As lives go, it isn't all that bad. I am the hunter, not the hunted. I am what others fear." The sisters could feel Phelps's gleaming cold eyes on their skin. "You know why Norlek ran from me all those years, even though his powers were much greater? Because I represented boundaries. I was a check on his impulses to exercise unlimited power. I reminded him of the cost in lives. He feared me as he feared himself."

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard - and I go to Lawndale High," said Daria. "He wasn't running from you because he feared himself. He was afraid you were going to get him killed. All he wanted was to be left alone, and you would never let him just rest. He didn't want to use his power - you and DeMartino did."

Phelps cocked his head in thought.

"Hmm, I suppose you're right at that. My explanation just sounded better to my ears. Nonetheless -" He spread his arms out with wicked delight. "Try killing me, maiming me, stunning me. Toss as many of those silly cars at me as you want. I will always come back, I will always find you."

Daria felt renewed rage within, and the hood ornament that DeMartino had used to slice open her aunt rocketed through the air. It found the center of Phelps's neck, and stuck there. For a moment Phelps fingered it, dumbfounded. Then he laughed again, his vocals sounding a bit tinny.

"Nice try." He plucked the hood ornament from his neck and tossed it to the ground. A trail of blood ran down his neck, but Phelps seemed not to notice.

"I've only just started," Daria said with determination.

Quinn grabbed her arm, before she could do any more. Daria, didn't you hear what he said? He can't die!

Oh good. I'm sure Phelps will give us a timeout to brainstorm.

"Children," said Phelps in a sing-song tone. "Plotting your next move? Or shall I just take you now?"

Daria's eyes narrowed, and the sounds of twisting metal were heard all around. "That was the sound of me destroying your spaceship," she said.

Phelps's brows raised. "Impressive," he said, "if my spaceship were metal."

The sharp sound of a door snapping shut was heard. "That was the door to the main entrance," said Daria. "You can't escape."

"I escaped from a bottomless pit in the Northwest Territories," Phelps replied. "I think I can escape from a parking garage."

Quinn stared at them, trying to understand why a strange feeling had overtaken her. Then she realized -

Daria, can you hear me? We can talk to each other, and he can't hear us!

Daria turned and stared at her. Did you just say something to me?

Duh! We had a whole conversation a couple of minutes ago. How did this happen?!

Daria's face grew solemn. Our powers... the more we use them, the better we get at controlling them. That's the only thing I can think of.

Try. We'll both try.

"Really, girls, this is getting tedious," said Phelps in a less mirthful tone.

Quinn, wait. We can't just charge in without a plan. We have to know where he's weak.

I think I do.

"All right, then," said Phelps. "I'll just take you now."

Phelps's eyes grew large and cold once more, their chill so sharp that it ate into Daria and Quinn's skin like a flame. They tried to resist, but found themselves bound once more by Phelps's power. He grabbed them, as simply as a father would grab the arm of his wayward child, and led them back out into the garage. Towards his ship.

Stop it...please...

Now that I have, please stop.

I can't stop. If you were me, you would understand.

Help me understand. Who are you?

Daria felt herself released from the trance. She pulled away from Phelps, then noticed that he had stopped walking and was now locked in a stareoff with her sister. Quinn's eyes were glazing over, but she did not seem hypnotized.

I am no one.

Why not?

Quinn steered herself with unconscious ease. She felt a surprising level of comfort inside of Phelps's mind - the mind that had guided her so many months with an almost fatherly attentiveness. If she concentrated hard enough, she could almost feel what it was like to be back in his class, working on a complicated logarithm. Still, she knew that she was only skimming the surface, and would have to plunge in deeper if she were going to find anything.

The warm familiarity of Phelps's outer layers gave way to a dark, turgid inner layer. Quinn continued to move about inside, but found it much more difficult. In her physical reality, she gasped for breath, feeling as though the darkness of Phelps's mind was literally trying to stifle her. Daria looked at her with some concern.

Who are you...

Silence answered back. Quinn's brow furrowed deeply as she concentrated harder.

Maybe we can help you... without having to go to Xul-

All at once, the darkness washed over her. Quinn searched frantically for a way out, but she was trapped inside. The stillness set her on edge.

Hello? Hello??

Laughter filled the silence... first soft, then louder and louder until it was so deafening, it shook Quinn to her core.

Silly girl, did you think it would be that easy? Did you think Norlek never tried?

Quinn tried to respond, but the pressure from the dark space felt as though it were squeezing her brain. In the physical reality, she gasped harder and stooped over a little. Daria tried to understand what she was dealing with, but when she sought to probe Quinn's thoughts, she met the same resistance she always had.

Hold on, Quinn...

Quinn felt as if she were going to explode. The laughter died down, and she was slowly drowning in a void of sadness. Her lungs burned, and a powerful sense of self-loathing took hold, almost enough to make her stop fighting and just let herself be lost in the depths of Phelps's mind forever.

Having no luck penetrating Phelps's mind, Daria directed her full force at his body. She tried to force him to the ground, breaking his stare-off with Quinn. When that didn't work, she tried to get him to lose his footing by shaking the ground again, but although the force caused beams to fall from the ceiling, Phelps remained clamped in place as if by supernatural force.

Loosened hood ornaments from the smashed up cars hurtled through the air and met their targets in soft, fleshy areas of Phelps's body (including that one), but to no effect. Daria tried to will one to hit Phelps in the eyes, but each time, it was repelled. Finally Daria took to kicking him in the shins. It, too, did no good, but managed to relieve some of her frustration.

Finally Daria had another idea. She ran to the pile of smashed cars and reached through the passenger side window for a compact mirror. Then, returning to Phelps and Quinn, she held it directly in the path of Phelps's eyes.

The magnetic power of Phelps's stare came back at him, and the effect seemed to faze him slightly. Daria saw his brow wrinkle and his head shake a little.

Inside Phelps's mind, Quinn felt the stifling darkness give way a little. She remembered that she had a mind of her own. At that moment, she could have pulled back out of Phelps's mind completely, but she had to get what she came for.

Who are you?

It is true. When my family were killed, I lost everything. I didn't realize until too late that I had power to stop it all.

You had me. You were almost like a father. I liked to think of you as one when my own father... why did you have to kill him?!

Did you ever love me back?

Silence.

More than any human I've ever known.

All at once, Quinn felt the darkness creep in again. It slowly washed over her, choking her once more.

Go now, or you'll never escape.

You'll be forever inside of me, your powers mine, and your human body a shell. Would you like that... Quinn?

Quinn could not answer. Fatigue overwhelmed her, and the urge to give up fighting and remain fused with her former math teacher was strong. With her last bit of strength, she asked.

What is your name? I promise... not to tell... anyone.

The darkness deepened and thickened. Quinn felt herself drifting wildly about, and knew that she had lost connection with her own body. On the physical realm, Quinn's body collapsed to the ground, where Daria tried frantically to revive her.

You wanted my name, Quinn?

Silence.

Very well. It's Leurfawelaprrrrrrrrrrtzzzzzzzzzz...

The assorted consonant sounds that followed were so harsh, each one felt like a small stab in Quinn's brain. Yet soon after they ceased, she felt a powerful sucking sound... and suddenly, she was back in her own body. Quinn sat up and felt herself caught in a fierce hug from Daria. Someday, she would have to remember to tease her for that.

Phelps stood over them. The sisters turned to look, and both instantly noticed a change in his manner, as though everything that had made him fearsome had disappeared. Subdued, he plucked the hood ornaments from his body like they were plastic darts.

"Daria and Quinn Morgendorffer, daughters of Norlek of the House of Madadogg," he said, "I have stayed on this planet for far too long. I must go home and settle things once and for all. Apologies for all of the years I have spent in futile chase of you and your father."

Daria gaped at him. "You're leaving? Alone?"

Phelps looked at her, his eyes now dim and tired. "I have no more need for you," he said simply.

Daria could not begin to understand, but if he was planning to leave them alone forever, she was not going to force him to stay. Quinn must have done something...

Quinn, however, had no idea what she had done. She sensed vaguely that Phelps saying his true name had triggered something, but what?

Phelps turned to her. "Now you have just one choice," he said. "Live on earth with the other humans, with superhuman powers."

Quinn nodded slowly.

"Good luck, my dear Quinn. You will need it."

Quinn felt one final surge of affection for the being that had once been her math teacher. Then it was gone - as was Phelps. He walked down the rest of the steps, toward the long row emptied of cars, then stopped in front of one that Daria and Quinn had somehow forgotten. It was very plain on the outside, but once Phelps climbed in, a strange, soft humming sound filled the air. The car brightened into a shining white sphere, gave one final hum, and vanished completely.

Daria and Quinn stared at the empty space where the ship had been, not quite able to grasp what had happened.

"All right, for the last time: no more Chinese food before bed," said Daria. "In fact no more food... ever."

She was trying to lighten the tension, but it still hung in the air between them. This could be a trick - at any moment, Phelps might come back stronger than ever. Quinn thought about what Phelps had said; with her father dead, and DeMartino gone, there was no one left to train her and Daria in how to use their powers safely. A sickness filled her stomach, as she walked down the remaining steps toward her father's body.

It was gone.