h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The figure behind the voice moved toward them. The heroes fell back, away from this stranger.

"What?" He looked down at his clothes, "Oh dear, my vest is burned and it's my best azure vest, too."

"Umm, excuse me..." Interjected Gooseman, "but you were dead..."

"Really when did that happen?" Asked the figure quietly, "if someone told you, then you got some pretty bad information..."

Super Jinkies, "But you were and then I and then you, and then...."

The figure smiled, "I'm sure that's exactly how it happened."

"Super Bufanda, do explain," Demanded Captain Phenomenal, "Are you what I think you are?"

"A timelord, naw, just a little trick I picked up in Tibet, it's a form of controlled re-incarnation, well regeneration but I get to choose my form, more often than not...."

"What?" Super Jinkies walked behind Captain Phenomenal, trying to stay away from Super Bufanda, or at least the impersonator.

"My life was suspended certain genetic thingies were turned back and well, then life was re-animated," explained Super Bufanda. " I'm rather lucky the process can take a while, but fortunately the fatal blow was rather localised...."

"Wait, you were dead and then you weren't," cried out Gooseman.

"We've been through that, do try and keep up," said Super Bufanda.

"It is not unheard of. I know of certain beings capable of this regeneration," said Captain Phenomenal quietly. " They are extremely ancient and powerful though, I have seen no such action in any younger race."

"No time for that, where's the Dark Avenger?" asked Super Bufanda hurriedly.

"He slipped away, somewhere," reported Captain Phenomenal.

"Drat, this is his world, his entire universe, if we didn'tget him now we won't!" Spat Super Bufanda, "He'll have pocketed himself away, until he sees a chance...."

"What now?" asked Gooseman cautiously.

"Nothing, we can't find him until he wishes to be found, so, well, I suppose we can go home," said Super Bufanda warily.

The group of heroes walked out and climbed into the hover vehicle. Captain Phenomenal and Gooseman got in front, Super Jinkies and Super Bufanda got in back.

"So," whispered Super Jinkies, as they hovered over New York.

"So what?" replied Super Bufanda quietly.

"So what about what you said?" needled Super Jinkies as she coiled her fingers around his.

"Yes? Well, things happen when you're just about to die, err, psuedo-die," mumbled Super Bufanda.

"So, it was all a dillusion, a delerium?" asked Super Jinkies coldly.

"Err, yes," said Super Bufanda as he averted her eyes, "it was just a delireous incident. I can't even remember what happened."

"I see," growled Super Jinkies, turning to face a window.

"I'm sorry..." encouraged Super Bufanda.

She didn't answer. The hover vehicle landed and the heroes got out.

"You'll excuse me, it's been a long night...." said Super Jinkies tearily.

"Sarah please..." called Super Bufanda as he followed after her.

He caught up to her, and grabbed her arm.

"Go!" yelled Super Jinkies, " I don't want to talk to you, Simon!"

"I can't help..." started Super Bufanda.

"You knew about the regeneration crap, Simon! You didn't say anything, and then you did that!" yelled Super Jinkies crying angrily.

"You had to think it was delirium..."

"It sounded sincere."

"Quite, but the thing didn't work that way."

"I see, so now what?"

"No, idea."

Super Jinkies turned on her heels and left in a huff.

"I'm still quite smitten with you though," whispered Super Bufanda to himself.