The Snooper Family Chronicles: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Silverfurs For Life

Life in the Silverfur household was never the same without him. Andrew's death made a huge impact, not just on Jennifer herself, but on her mother and sisters. Helen took her husband's death the hardest; while she was evidently upset at what Viperoth had done to him the day the Haven was invaded, she also felt guilty for not being the protection he needed. A stun gun was never enough to keep the Dark Lord from killing the only true leader of the Silverfur clan, and there was nothing she could do except watch him accept his fate.

Following the funeral, she preferred to spend much of her widowhood doing target practice. This was to ensure that, as the new head of her family, she would have efficient protection for herself and her daughters. But then she decided to move onto something more, a fact that worried both Regina and Tara greatly.

"Please reconsider this, Mom," said Regina. "We understand you want to help Jenny's crew, but this is silly. You can't go out there without knowing most of the missions they go on are extremely dangerous."

Helen reloaded the gun. She replied, "Not to me. Haven't you forgotten? I told myself I'd never rest until your father's death has been avenged; the Dark Lord may have been gone for good, but there might be another to take his place and we will never know who or what it will be. That's the exact reason I want to assist the Gold Squad in neutralizing the threat."

Tara pointed out, "You're almost near the same age as Dad was when he died. What if you..."

"Nonsense, mes filles, I will be just fine. Besides, if there's one thing I've learned from him from all of our years together..." She aimed her gun at a target that had a badly-drawn picture of Viperoth on it; she shot at it several times, quickly disintegrating the target to pieces. "...is that Silverfurs never give up."

They were already aware of that ancient adage. The Silverfur clan were very well-known across the galaxy for their persistence; is it any wonder why they survived the great Irelandisian-Brittainian siege of 2152? They were a resilient species, able to resist opposition until their last breath. It was the same type of spirit that assisted Jenny in all of her adventures with the Gold Squad, from the moment she first joined the team to the final battle against Viperoth. "Just like her father," thought Helen.

In the attic of the Silverfur household, they kept photos and keepsakes of the family's history. Among the memorabilia stood a full portrait of a younger Andrew in his Galactic Guardian Crusader uniform; his badges and medals seemed to gleam in the light of the attic's lightbulb, giving the picture a rather realistic appearance. Memories began flooding back into her mind as she viewed her late husband's portrait, thinking back on those happy days.

Her eyes then fell upon what appeared to be his old GG pendant. Picking it up, Helen fiddled with the gadget a little until a holographic figure popped out, almost startling her. It was Andrew himself, back when he was still alive and in the recovery room at the Sickbay; he had had the opportunity to record a message for his wife days before he was brutally executed.

"Helen, love," he said. "If you happen to get this message by the time I'm gone, you're in charge of the Silverfur clan now. I'm aware that my time is finally, but slowly, coming to an end...still, that won't mean you, Regina, and Tara won't be left empty-handed. Knowing that you will want to work alongside Jenny one day, I've left behind a few noteworthy inventions in the basement; most of them are weapons left over from the great Taranian war many years ago. I have also left you my most prized possesion--my lightsaber. Don't let your age discourage you from helping our daughter's team in their time of need, as all you will only need is your wit and wisdom. Remember, no matter where we are or who we're with, we are Silverfurs...Silverfurs for life..."

As soon as the hologram disappeared, Helen went down to the basement. Much to her surprise there were piles of weapons, healing tools, and swords in each box. On the table was an old chest marked "Andrew's Lightsaber, DO NOT TOUCH WITHOUT PERMISSION!"; upon looking inside she found the green lightsaber her husband had used during training sessions. If what Andrew said was true, that his lightsaber was hers for the keeping, there may be a way to help the Gold Squad after all.

"Oh, Andrew," whispered Helen, smiling tearfully. "Even in death you're always looking out for us..." Now the next thing she needed to do was to encourage her daughters to undergo Guardian training. The next chapter of the Silverfur legacy has just begun.