Disclaimer -i do not own any of the characters from outlaw star nor do i have any rights but i do not know who they belong to hmmm a question to my readers.
This is my first fan fiction which is dedicated to my sempai nattle, who suggested that i post this and i trust her instincts so her is goes...
As the crew of the Outlaw Star finally left the Tempa region which the Anten seven and Hazanko had resided, the crew of the Outlaw Star as a joint effort had defeated them and Hazanko risking nearly everything for it. Melfina felt accomplished at long last knowing everything and anything she wanted to know about herself, all she had to do was close her eyes and ask. All was well or so it was thought.
As the XGP came out of sub-ether space, Gene came close to hurling out his insides. Jim took this opportunity to take a dig at Starwind,
"Every time Gene! Do you want me to hold your hand for ya?" Jim jokingly turned around in his chair and offered his hand for Gene to take with a cheeky grin.
"Shut up you punk" Rubbing his forehead for a headache had hit him hard. Gene looked like he had been on a roller coaster and spewed his insides all over ride. His skin had become pale and looked as if he had his body sucked in to make him super-skinny.
"Aww big boy needs a hug come 'ere" Jim said climbing over the barrier that separated the two and knelt on the control screen with arms open wide and encouraging him to get closer.
"Stay the hell away from me Jim" Playfully pushing him away onto the floor and hitting it with a loud thump. Although Gene had done this many times before, he had many adverse reactions to the jumps sometimes he could handle it, other times he would throw up all over the console (it happened only once after eating miso soup, 3 bowls of stir fired rice).
Suzuka just gave them the usual look of disgust at their constant fooling but by now she had grown accustomed to it. It was one of the very few moments in her days with them was she happy and slowly turned her head, "hmph" was all she ever said at these things. Turing to face Suzuka,
"Why are you always so stuck up? Relax a bit, you know, just let things go" As Gene gestured to all the crew, doing what they do best, Jim manically typing on the computer, Aisha sleeping and Melfina hovering in her blue tank. Suzuka simply replied with a superiority which the crew could never understand why,
"I don't concern myself with such trivial-"
Then the beast awoke with a loud screech. The crew turned and looked at her Melfina through the intercom asked if she was okay. She just muttered something and went back to sleep. It was just like in her nature so be so random and surprising. Gene wondered to himself how he managed to collect such a strange crew, from meeting Jim after loosing his parents to having Twilight Suzuka on board. Each had their own reason for being here, him, to acquire wealth Aisha to get treasure, Suzuka to explore uncharted places, Jim just a tag a long and Melfina.
She was the enigma, all she wanted to do was know about herself, many men have tired to do this and have never have attained that state of knowledge in their lifetime. Moreover when she was hovering tin that blue cylinder she looked so serene and calm. Her gentle nature baffled Gene even when he was harsh to her she would always put up with it. Her eyes, her hands, her hair, her delicate body made her look so picturesque something that so unattainable. However he had her, she wanted him and ached for him to be open to her. Gene could never quite get there even thought he tried. Even after the embrace at the Leyline everything seemed to have fizzled out. Gene closed his eyes and tried to remember what had happened for things to be so awkward between the two.
Gene was about to ask Melfina the co-ordinates of Heifong from where they were as they needed money once again from the source Fred lou. When out of sub-ether space an un-identified space craft was heading straight for them. Gilliam mentioned this and suggest the contact the ship,
"Hello this is the Outlaw Star Change your course immediately or there will be a collision." Gene did not want to fight, not now, not when everything had finally settled. Gilliam reported
"Gene it seems they do not want to respond should I divert the course of our ship or should I try again"
"It would be easier to change our course and that way know if they are attacking us." Melfina said intelligently. Suzuka was now on high alert and Aisha still sleeping.
"Changing course now" Melfina informed as the ship moved. Melfina noted the other ship was following their course as well.
"Shit what are they trying to pull?" Gene asked frustrated. "Gilliam try and patch me through to them again. And I want an open channel just in case."
"This is Gene Starwind of the Outlaw Star. Please change your course" the line went dead for a while. The pressure was slowly creeping in on Gene and Jim remained as calm as possible but was busily preparing all possible situations that could occur if they entered battle but as a 11 year old he couldn't't anticipate all. Then sound was coming form the other ship.
"Gene Starwind, you have destroyed the name of the Anten seven-"
"So what of it? Who is this speaking?-" Gene interrupted.
"Don't interrupt," the voice said and continued "I am the last of the seven you may not remember me because I was a pupil to Higortia," Suzuka's ears pricked up.
"We killed them all. What do I have to do with anything?"
"Now it's your turn to die" The line died and a split second later the other pirate ship had entered grappler mode.
"Bastard! Why won't they leave me alone? Shit! Okay Jim scatter the pods. Suzuka take control of the right arm, Mel handle the navigation of the ships movements keeping tabs on the other ship, Gilliam launch anchors and Jim I need you to hack the other ship understood"
Jim, Suzuka and Mel rogered those commands but only the Cartal-cartal was sleeping soundly until without warning the ship attacked jolting everybody included Aisha severely. Aisha was still sleeping and was a bit agitated even with her blurry vision to see the ship darkened and everybody with game faces on. She rubbed her eyes and muttered sleepily,
"What's going on Gene?" She then slumped in her chair,
"Well some bastard- claiming to be the pupil of Hitogtira it out avenge his death, you up for some ass-kicking Aisha" she perked up instantly and sat up straight and her infamous ears began scanning the area.
"Huh! Where do I start? grappler fight huh?"
Gene nodded, now they faced each other. Out of nowhere the other ship initiated battle by giving off 3 missiles, one for the left right and center.
"Can we avoid the center missile? Aisha, Suzuka shoot them off"
"We go one' o clock sharp and avoid it" Melfina replied.
"Gene! Bad move! A missile coming in from 1'o clock high. Melfina how could have missed that?" Jim asked anxiously
Melfina retorted back "I couldn't sense it until now and it will impact in 30 seconds deploying 2 anti missiles." Melfina felt ashamed right now almost blowing up the ship but Gene somehow sensed this and told her that people can make mistakes this was the first time he had referred to her as human. This spurred her on to fight.
This fight was seemly over before it had begun because the Outlaw Star had not released any missiles or attacked but only defended if the fight carried on like this it would be all over for them. Then like the ray of hope he was Jim suggested that they launch 10 of their missiles as decoys and go straight for the front he would not be able to avoid them all and have a chance to scatter the pods and hack the other ship. Gene was always grateful Jim's life and intelligence they had become brothers after Jim's tragedy. Neither could imagine life without the other. The plan had worked and the grappler arms had seized the other ships arms. However this was another trap. Gilliam was aware of this and requested that they remove their arms because the enemy's arms were full of explosives. The Outlaw Star retreated immediately at the sound of this, but not quickly enough. About 40 had impacted and sending the Outlaw Star into a serve state of panic. Jim as young as he was tried to remain calm but you could see the fear creeping in. And asked Gene
"Is everything going to be okay?" For a moment Gene could see Jim's childlike innocence seep through his eyes and assured him with a smile,
"You just trust me, we will get outta here alive" Even though Gene was still extremely unsure how this would turn out.
Their fight raged on like titans battling over the throne of fate. Neither would let up.
By now the Outlaw star had only 30 ammunition left plus the self-destruct bomb which was only to be used when there was no hope, nothing left to live for. Gene realized that this fight was to the death everybody was tired out and had worked over time. Even Suzuka had broken a few sweats and at times during the heat of the fight you could for a second see the frail woman that lay beneath the tough exterior. It was becoming clearer to the crew that they needed to end this now.
Gene formulated a plan which if it worked could save them all, he thought. He found he worked best under pressure. With heaving breathes Gene asked,
"Jim, I know you're tired but I need you to help me finish this. Do you think you could remove the self destruct bomb from our ship?"
"Yeah, I could but what would do with it and I need a couple of minutes to do it though."
Jim said feeling the pinch of no sleep and on the verge on running scared, but didn't't he knew Gene would always pull through for him, he had always kept his promises to him so what made this one different. Gene was like Jim's brother he was there when Jim had lost everyone; Jim could not and would not allow himself to loose Gene too.
"Jim could do it right now and Aisha, Suzuka I need you her please and Melfina if this is going to work we need to be on high alert…Melfina?" As Gene turned to look at the floating body she was as battered and as bruised as the rest were. Anyone could see she had put all she could into this very fight and was not about give up. "Right Gene!"
When it was all ready Gene gave the command and a series of events happened. Aisha and Suzuka plunged the bomb into the other ship. Melfina set a course for the nearest planet which was Heifong. Jim set off the bomb, Gene thought they were done with this mess but saw the plan fall at the seams but the XGP even though as the fastest ship could not escape all blast. There was a burning bright light and fire spread though out the deck. All was black and ablaze. When the crew woke up from the explosion it was Melfina the first to speak,
"Gene, Gene are you okay, Suzuka, Aisha, Jim, Gilliam"
"Shit are we still heading for Heifong Mel? Jim wake-Arggggggh!" Gene was in terrible pain the force of the blast had forced a side of the control seat to skewer his body and was unable to move and bleeding heavily. Moving was out of the option. Jim was next to follow he turned automatically to see Gene expecting him to be automatically okay. Jim was aghast when he saw Gene in pain all he could say was,
"Gene!" he scrambled over the decks toward him grasping him close, hearing him yelp in pain and his hand soaked in his blood.
"Don't worry." Jim was on the brink of tears and woke the other two up from their artificial coma. Both of them just looked at each other. Gilliam finally spoke up,
"Gene I can see you are badly hurt but we are still going straight for Heifong. Shall I set up the escape pods? And I am glad to say the enemy is defeated."
"Good, that wasn't for nothing at least and yes set up the escape pods I know you are the toughest ship but I have not way of knowing I'm sorry Gilliam."
"Gene what are you doing? Stop moving you'll bleed more" Suzuka said forcing him back into his eat but Gene was reluctant to back down still clutching his side. He forced his way toward the back and told Aisha and Suzuka to go to the escape pods. Both knew he meant business and didn't argue, Aisha as first but then Suzuka followed but stopped to say,
"Thank you Gene"
"I'll give you another chance to kill me later" he replied never faltering till the end. Jim sat still he folded his arms and stared at Gene.
"Well aren't you going Jim?" Gene asked him. As little as he was Jim had some determination,
"I am not leaving."
"Jim go now the ship might crash-"
"I am not going Gene."
"Please Jim I'm too weak for this please just-"
"I am not going, damn it Gene, I am not going to leave you, You didn't leave me."
"Jim please to use blackmail this so not your character jus go will you-
"No"
"Jim, do not test me right now" Gene was slowing slipping past bearable pain. Meanwhile Melfina was out her tank gripping onto the sides of the cockpit as the G-force was getting higher. This was not helping Gene at all he was falling and Melfina rushed to his side. And Suzuka overheard the spat. She rushed up from the safety of the escape pod. Gene said in a low whisper to her,
"Protect him please. Sorry Jim" Suzuka nodded and grabbed Jim from his spot. He was putting up a fight. Suzuka was pulling his arms right form the sockets to make him move, for a moment it looked almost comical. If Jim was going to move he would have to be carried kicking and screaming. Suzuka understood this,
"Aniki please don't do this to me-" And Suzuka knocked him out and carried if out to the other escape pod.
"Now you please Melfina don't fight like Jim"
"Gene please let me stay with you"
"No Mel you have to go and live you, deserve it"
"Gene when I told you at the Leyine I would never leave you and I wanted to be with you, I meant it" Melfina tightened her grip on him, he was too tired to protest. He was finding it harder to breathe every second become precious he knew the end was inevitable. But he wasn't going to loose someone he loved so dearly again. So with the last of his strength he got up and Melfina followed,
"You coming Gene?" she said with a hopeful glimmer in her eye. Gene didn't look her in her eye. He silently picked her up, Melfina protested kicking and screaming like a child. Not wanting to leave the person she fallen for behind. With her shattering voice,
"I am not going. Stop! Gene! Please!"
Punching his chest violently not thinking of the consequence, only if she could be with him, he still continued despite the tantrum. He put her over his shoulders and threw her into the hull where the others waited for her and shut the glass door shut. She scrabbled back to the door with nails scraping the glass trying to call him back to her. All he did was smile and mouthed "I love you" with his face fast against the glass and his hand spread and hers outspread on the other side. Breathing heavily for once he accepted what he had felt for her, all that time ago felt that way about her, only to be ripped apart from her. All he wanted now was for her to live and would rather die trying. As she left him he limped back to the cockpit and sat in his chair. It felt empty with out his crew, lonely and not being able to see her smile was killing him further. Not only did he break his promise to Jim but Melfina too. All he hoped was that they would cling to each other for comfort as he couldn't be there.
"Right Gilliam lets do this."
"Okay Gene, lets end this with a Bang!"
The ship was good at top speed as it entered the atmosphere of Heifong. At one point the pod and the ship could see each other. He was filling with regrets at all the chances he had with her, all the time spent with Jim and how little he knew Aisha and Suzuka. He slouched back into his chair. And waited.
"I'm sorry Mel, I wish I acted sooner."
Okay so there is the background and now the story starts...i know it is short but this is the prologue
Please review and criticism are welcome so long as its diplomatic,
Thanks for reading!
review because it means a lot to me and gives me the urge to continue writing and betters me also knowing I'm bringing a smile to someone's face.