Outlaw Star Fan Fiction ❯ Hearts Less Lonely ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I've been promising people for over a year that I'd get this up. But, you know how college is. Thank you all for being so patient. Okay, I don't own Outlaw Star or it's characters. I'm just a fan who is trying not to lose my mind as college life continues to take its toll. Please R&R this story. I've never tried this type of story before and I want to see how it turns out. Enjoy!

Authors' Notes: This story takes place three years after the events of the end of Outlaw Star.

End to Dreams

By RosieBird

Chapter One

Gene paced up and down the corridor of the Shotriye Station hospital. The noise and crowdedness had diminished hours ago. Gene stopped every few moments to glance at the clock on the wall behind the nurses' station. They'd been there for almost three hours. Gene swallowed involuntarily and resumed his pacing. Probably the only thing he disliked more than space were hospitals.

"Damn, just too many bad memories," he thought to himself.

"Gene!"

Gene turned suddenly to look at Jim. He took quick note of the dark circles under the fourteen year olds' eyes.

"What?" Gene said flatly.

"If you keep pacing like that, you'll wear a hole through the floor," Jim said.

"Better a hole in the floor than in something more vital," Gene said menacingly, which he immediately regretted as Jim's eyes lowered in shame. Jim had always tried to act older than he was in order to keep up with Gene's lifestyle and their chosen profession. Gene was only twenty-three, but both men had been through enough pain and turmoil that would age anyone a few years. But, now and again, traces of the frightened little boy showed through. And there was no mistaking that little boy staring back at Gene through blue eyes.

"Sorry, Jim," Gene said softly, "I'm tired and, well...I," he trailed off.

"Forget about it," Jim said and smiled kindly at the older man, but rolled his eyes as Gene resumed his relentless pacing. Gene paced for a few more minutes, but as he turned again, he was met with the emotionless face and pointed wooden sword of Twilight Suzuka. It was not posed to kill, merely to halt, like a traffic light.

"I would suggest that you sit down, Gene," Suzuka said, in her calm voice.

"And, if I don't?" Gene asked, staring calmly back.

"Then I'll sit you myself," a third voice came from behind him. Gene glanced back to see the Ctarl-Ctarl, Aisha Clan-Clan, standing behind him, arms crossed confidently across her chest, as if daring him to challenge her power. Gene growled menacingly, but sat down in a chair opposite the clock. Suzuka lowered her sword and both she, and Aisha, resumed sitting on the couch. To be more precise, Aisha more or less curled herself up, resembling the great cat to which she was always being compared.

"What a crew," Gene thought to himself. He found himself thinking back to when he and Jim were simple bounty hunters/repairmen. What had started out as a simple job had quickly turned into a wild ride that had changed both young men forever. "Hot Ice" Hilda, a rather well known outlaw, had pulled them off their home on Centinnal III and straight into a mystery. A mystery involving the Space Forces, the Kei Pirates, and a mysterious ship called the XGP, now known as the Outlaw Star. Of course, he hadn't been pulled in alone. Aisha, once a Ctarl-Ctarl officer in the Imperial fleet, and Twilight Suzuka, a deadly assassin, had all found themselves falling deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Galactic Leyline. And the mystery of Melfina. Gene smiled inwardly. When they first met, Gene had been initially attracted to Melfina (what guy wouldn't when a naked girl stepped out of a trunk). But, he knew nothing about her, and Hilda seemed to be far more "interested" in him. But, as time passed, he'd felt himself become more and more protective of her. And more and more close to her. It was that closeness that began to unnerve him during their stay on Symka 5-transport station. He'd been with women before and much closer than that, which Jim took great delight in hassling him about, but why had he suddenly felt so afraid? It became clear at the planet called Dragon. When he saw Harry McDougall talking to Mel, he felt rage and hate at the pretty boy who wanted to take her away. But Gene also knew that he was trying to do the same thing, which is why he gave her the chance to leave.

***

"Listen Melfina, if you don't want to, you don't have to go with us. I'd never force you to do anything. Once we're in space, you can do whatever you want."

Melfina was silent and stared at him with her big brown eyes. Gene heard the crashing rocks and rumbling as if from far away. Even Jim's shouts seemed distant, as close as he was.

"Take me with you," Melfina pronounced suddenly, "I want to come with you, please Gene."

Gene smiled and knew immediately in his heart that he was in love. He took her hand in his and pulled her to him.

"Sure, I'll take you along. I'll take you with me anytime. Come on."

"Thanks." Her smile was radiant.

***

He smiled to himself as he thought back to everything that had transpired to lead them to the Shotriye space colony. They hadn't intended to stay long, only enough for "Starwind & Hawking" to make some extra money, but business had really grown with the presence of such gifted workers, so they had set up shop in the city and had been doing well for over a year. During that time, Gene and Melfina had grown more and more in love, until finally they chose to spend the rest of their lives with each other and were married. There were few places they could go that would marry them, Melfina being an android, so instead, Gene and Melfina went back to Earth and stood before God in the quietness of the Russian forests. It was there that they also consummated their vows in one sweet night of loving bliss. Gene also took her to his home, which he had not seen since he and his father had left. They found where his mother was buried and Gene erected another headstone for his father beside his mother's.

"I'm really all alone now," he said softly.

"No, Gene," he heard his wife whisper, "I told you once before. You're not alone. I'm with you and I always will be."

***

"Gene Starwind?" Gene snapped into reality and stared up into a dark-eyed doctor.

"Yes," he said, quickly standing up. The doctor was at least 3 feet taller than him, with a massive build, but Gene did not feel intimidated, rather he felt protected and assured, as he had in his youth with his father.

"I am Dr. Luchise. Thank you for being so patient. I understand that it has not been easy." The man spoke in heavily accented basic and his dark black eyes were friendly and comforting.

"Is Melfina okay?" Jim asked timidly, his blue eyes staring hopefully up. Dr. Luchise smiled down at the boy.

"She is well," he answered, "More than anything, she is tired. She is very drained and malnourished."

"You mean, she hasn't been eating?" Suzuka asked calmly.

"It would seem so." He looked back at Gene. Gene felt defensive for a moment, but Luchise did not look at him for blame, but for an answer.

"Captain Starwind," he continued, "Your initial report about Melfina Starwind was that you found her lying unconscious in your ship, seemingly trying to enter the power drive. You also said that she had seemed tired and seemingly depressed for several weeks, which would account for the malnutrition."

"Yes, that's right. When I found her on our ship, she was shaking and very pale. She didn't seem to recognize me and she had blood in her mouth."

"Yes, the initial examination showed that she had bitten her tongue, but not badly. Is there anything else? Any behavior or habits over the last few weeks?"

Gene racked his brains, thinking hard.

"No, nothing more than what I gave you," Gene answered back.

"Very well." Luchise said. He straightened his gray coat.

"As you may or may not know," Luchise said, "Android constructs, such as Melfina, are very difficult to diagnose. Melfina is a much more advanced creation and is very human, but I still am limited in my understanding of her functions. The only other specialist was a man named Professor Gwen Kahn, but I'm afraid he has disappeared from existence."

Gene nodded, not daring to glance at his companions, who knew the truth of Kahn's whereabouts.

"Fortunately, we have a student of his working here and might be able to help you."

Gene heard a slight rustling from behind the massive form of Luchise to see the petite figure of a woman with green-gold eyes and the lithe body of a cat.

"A Ctarl-Ctarl!" Jim squawked. Suzuka and Gene were equally amazed. Aisha opened one sleepy eye and raised her head curiously.

"Choullouand mohbadie, sudalla," she said sleepily, yawned, and resumed her nap.

Gene stared from Aisha back to the other Ctarl-Ctarl, who was laughing silently. She was much smaller than Aisha was, but with paler skin and fiery red hair. She wasn't as fierce looking either; in fact, she seemed very much amused by their reaction. She wore the same long white coat as Dr. Luchise, but beneath it she wore a black body suit that outlined her slim body. Had it not been for the sharp teeth and claws, Gene found have found her intoxicating

"This is Dr. Imara Chatrelle," Luchise introduced, "She is one of the finest constructologists in the Shotriye system."

"But," Jim sputtered, "You're a Ctarl-Ctarl!"

"But I'm not," she answered, and Gene noticed an immediate difference between her and Aisha. Dr. Chatrelle's voice was much softer and more of a purr.

"I guess I thought you understood what Aisha Clan-Clan said, but maybe she doesn't often speak in her own language," Chatrelle said, "But, she is a space officer, so she must know many languages, besides her native."

"What she just said," Gene said, "It sounded like a bunch of growling to me."

Imara laughed. "I guess it would. She said, 'Glad to see you, cousin.'"

"Cousin?" Suzuka asked.

"In terms of our heritage. We are both from the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire, but I am a Cloae-Cloae, which would be a distant cousin to the Ctarl-Ctarl. It's difficult to see any differences between us unless you study the breed. I suppose, Aisha would be comparable to like the great cats of your Earth, Captain Starwind, like a lion or leopard. I can only compare myself to the smaller cats, like cougars, lynxes, or even house cats."

"Getting back to the situation at hand," Luchise prompted.

"Yes, forgive me," Chatrelle said quickly, "Your wife is in no immediate danger, but I am concerned about her. I tried to get permission to examine her memory and she became hysterical. We sedated her, but now, we must get permission for the examination from her kin."

"You, as her husband, are next in line to give consent," Luchise said, "If we can look at her memory, we can perhaps find out what's causing her affliction."

Gene was silent for a moment. Why would Melfina be so hesitant about letting them examine her memory? What could she want to hide?

***

"Melfina," Gene said softly, inhaling the scent of her body beside him, "I care about you so much."

Melfina sighed softly, stroking her fingers across his arms and entwining them with his. She felt his warm breath on the back of her neck as he kissed it, sending thousands of goose pimples across her skin.

"Gene," he heard her whisper, "Do you ever wish that you had asked for something at the Leyline?"

"Sometimes," he admitted, "When I'm angry or frustrated about things not going well, I sometimes wish I had asked for money to pay my debts or fame to make it easier to get things in life. I was thinking about that earlier today."

"You were?" Melfina asked, feeling nervous. She turned to face him. In an instant, all her fears vanished as he trailed a finger over her check and pinched it gently, but firmly.

"Yeah," Gene said. He pushed her gently onto her back and leaned down closer to her, kissing her throat, "But then I remember you and how all that mattered was having you with me. Which is why I'm with you now."

Melfina smiled fondly and they spent that night in each other's arms.

***

"Captain Starwind?" he heard Luchise call, from a seemingly great distance. He snapped up to look at him.

"I can grant you permission," Gene said finally, "But I would rather not. If you let me, maybe I can talk to her and find out what's wrong."

"If you could, that would be very helpful," Chatrelle said, her voice suddenly breathless. Gene stared at her and saw that her face seemed very flushed.

"Dr. Chatrelle, I'll leave things in your hands," Luchise said, and he walked away to see other patients.

"If you'll follow me," Chatrelle said, "I'll take you to see Melfina."

"All right," Gene said. He turned to the others. "Why don't you all go back to the ship and try and sleep. I'll call you when I find out more."

"You got it, Gene," Jim said, "Uhh, Suzuka. How are we going to get Aisha back without waking her?"

Chatrelle laughed, "Leave it to me. "Ulattoah, sudalla."

Aisha snapped up and raced down the hall, leaving a shocked group of people behind her. Gene gaped at Chatrelle.

"Damn! Dr. Chatrelle," he exclaimed, "What did you say?"

"I told her "Dinner time," she answered, "You might want to give her something once you get back. And I would suggest you all eat something."

Suzuka nodded and led a still dazed Jim after Aisha. Gene and Dr. Chatrelle walked in the other direction and entered an elevator. Dr. Chatrelle entered a code and they ascended. Gene was silent for a while, until the sudden odor of blood and medicine assaulted him. He felt suddenly dizzy and sick. His vision began to fog over and felt as though he would faint, when suddenly, he felt Chatrelle take his arm to support him. When his vision cleared, the smell had gone. He looked over at Chatrelle, who looked very pale and sweaty. She did not meet his gaze. And suddenly, everything seemed to click.

"Oh, my God. You're an telempath, aren't you?" Gene said, feeling sure he was right.

"Yes," she answered, and her voice was very weak. Gene felt her body shudder and he quickly picked her up, and, as the door slide open, he carried her out of the elevator, being careful not to touch her. She gasped at the sudden fresh air and steadied herself against the wall.

"Are you all right?" Gene asked.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry," she said, her voice still sounding weak, "I forget how easy it is to feel a bionoids emotions. I've been working with artificial life so long; it tends to slip my mind. I guess when you're a doctor, emotions, like death, become monotonous and you lose track. But new waves of emotion, like I feel from you and your friends, are thick and heavy. Especially just now upstairs."

"Was that why you were blushing earlier?" Gene asked, "Because you felt my thoughts about.."

"Yes," Chatrelle said, cutting him off, "I must say, I'm glad to find such a romantic pirate. You're a credit to Don Juan."

"Who?" Gene asked. Chatrelle laughed and waved it off, "Melfina is at the end of the hall. Follow me."

Gene followed her at a slight distance, not sure how close he should be to her.

"You know, anxiety is the easiest emotion of all to read into," Chatrelle said, "Even those who aren't telempathic can feel it."

"Sorry. Is it very difficult to feel others emotions?" Gene asked.

"Sometimes," Chatrelle said, "When I was a little girl, I used to feel the pain of everyone in my class, but nothing stronger than the feelings of betrayal and shattered self-esteem, which made it difficult to make friends with anyone because I was "weak", as they called it. But I'm sure you know how that is from knowing Aisha."

"How did you finally accept it?"

"I haven't really, but I can control it better as an adult." She paused and looked back at him and Gene could see the self-loathing in her eyes.

"I began to work with constructs because they aren't human enough to have emotions for me to feel. For some telempaths, they have such a strong power that they can actually absorb another's pain. My grandmother was a telempath too, and she used her powers for healing as well. Once, during a war, she saved a soldier's life by absorbing his pain and it left her mind and body almost broken. She has lucid moments every now and then, but she relives that war over and over everyday of her life. And she never even saw it, except through the eyes of that soldier. My father married my mother out of love, but perhaps out of guilt as well for causing such pain to occur."

She turned around again and continued on. Gene was silent for the rest of the walk, feeling as though he too, might easily have caused such an occurrence had he touched her for to long a time.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Chatrelle," Gene said.

"Please," she said, and it had returned to its soft purring, "Call me Imara."

Melfina's room was quiet, except for the steady beeping of her monitor. Her thin body looked peaceful and her breathing was steady, but her mind was not peaceful, and Gene knew it. He sat down at the end of the bed and Melfina stirred slightly.

"I'll be back in a few moments," Imara said, "I have to clear some equipment with the floor nurses." She left the room, rather hurriedly, Gene noted.

"Gene?" Melfina whispered. Gene looked back to meet the brown-eyes gazing at him, looking somewhere between hopeful and anxious.

"Well, you look like you're feeling better," Gene said. The coolness in his voice caused Melfina to wrap her arms around her legs, pulling them to her chest. The strap of her hospital gown slid off her shoulder, exposing her pale skin.

"Why didn't you say something to me?" Gene asked. Melfina hid her face, but the hurt in his voice had already caused tears to flow.

"I couldn't because I didn't know how," she said, "I thought I was tired or overworked, but I don't know anything, not even now."

"Dammit! Suppose I hadn't found you!" Gene snapped, but held his temper, "Or you'd been someplace where anyone, like pirates or McDougall, could have taken you away! Did you ever consider that?"

"I know it was stupid," Melfina said, her body shaking with her sobs, "I honestly can't explain what I was thinking. I'm sure you must hate me now."

Gene was silent for so long that Melfina felt sure he'd left. Then she felt his warm hands fingering the shoulder strap against her skin. In the blink of an eye, she found herself flat on her back, with Gene over her, kissing her as if he might die. Melfina let out a small cry of surprise as Gene kissed his way down her throat and buried his face in her chest.

"I love you," he whispered, "Nothing can change that. I thought you hated me, otherwise you would have told me you weren't well."

Melfina clung to him and stroked his hair. She opened her mouth to speak, but gasped as Gene moved his tongue through the opening of her blouse and rolled it over her skin. He moved up to her mouth again and slipped his tongue into her mouth, letting it caress hers. Finally, he broke away and pulled her against him.

"I don't hate you," Gene said, "I was angry, but it's all over now and we're going to make sure you start getting better. Just please, promise me that you'll tell me if you feel ill again."

Melfina smiled at him and nodded.

"Okay, I'm back and." Imara stopped short just inside the doorway, her face bright red and she gasped.

"Oh, shit! Imara, I'm sorry," Gene said and moved to get up, but Imara waved him back.

"It's okay," she said, her eyes bright and cheerful, but her voice again breathless, "This doesn't hurt, it's just overwhelming."

She forcefully slowed her breathing as the swirling mist of desire left the room and she looked up at them calmly.

"There, that's better. As I was saying, I found the instruments I'll need for memory examination."

"No! Oh, Gene, don't let them!" Melfina cried suddenly. Gene wrapped his arms around her and held her gently.

"It's okay, Mel," he said, "Dr. Chatrelle just wants to help."

"Melfina, if you're referring to the intimate moments you and Gene have shared, I know about them already," Imara said, "I'm afraid there is little any human can hide from a telempath, whether they want to or not."

"Telempath?" Melfina asked, "You're a telempath?" Imara nodded.

"Mel, is that what this is about?" Gene asked.

"Partly. But also the Leyline," Melfina whispered, "Dr. Luchise told me that Imara was a student under Gwen Kahn and." she trailed off.

"Oh, I see," Imara said, "You didn't want me to find out about his disappearance."

"It's just the circumstances behind it were upsetting," Gene filled in, "And none of us are quite sure how we might be implicated in it."

"That is very understandable," Imara said, "But I'll only be looking for specific data and nothing else. And anything else we come across, accidentally or not, is strictly confidential. No one will find out."

Melfina was silent a moment, then nodded her head.

"Very good," Imara said, "Captain Starwind, if you'd be kind enough to wait outside while we do this?"

"Can I come back in?" he asked, and Melfina squeezed his hand gratefully.

"Yes, if you think it will make you feel comfortable." Gene nodded, kissed Melfina's forehead and went to wait in the hall. A few minutes passed and Imara called him back in. She had placed two small wires to Melfina's temples, which ran to a small computer.

"This will download the memory to the computer and we can look through it to find out what's bothering her. Then we can remove it."

"Wow," Gene said, "If only solving human problems were this simple."

Imara turned a switch and streams of data began to file onto the screen.

"Melfina."

Melfina was aware that she was asleep at the hospital, but in her mind, she was in her pastel-colored room of safety. But from somewhere, a cold, creeping voice seemed to bleed out from the walls.

"Don't worry Melfina," it came again, "Soon, you and I will be together always."

"Who's there?" she demanded, gazing around the room for the voice's source. It seemed to come from everywhere.

"Don't you remember, my sweet Melfina," it snaked around her, leaving her with a cold sensation, "Don't you remember how I said I would find a way to you."

"Show yourself!" she shouted, "Where are you?"

Suddenly, standing before her was a familiar shape, with pale skin and long hair, tied by a large bow.

"Hello, Melfina," Harry McDougall said in his soft voice, "I've come to bring you back with me."

The screen suddenly went blank and an odd alarm suddenly sounded. Melfina's heart rate was very fast and she was squeezing her eyes as if in alarm.

"No," she shouted, "No, keep away from me!"

"What's going on!" Gene roared, "What's happening?"

"I don't know," Imara's fingers flew over the keyboard, "I'm registering another power source, coming from Melfina. But it's not from her."

"No, indeed," came a new voice, emanating from the computer, "I guess I'm found out. I knew I wouldn't be hidden for long."

"I know that voice," Gene said in a hoarse voice, "But it isn't possible."

The screen came back on to show the smug smile of.

"Harry McDougall!" Gene shouted.

"Hello, Gene Starwind. I've come for my Melfina."

So, what do you think? Don't forget to R&R the story and again, I'm sorry it's taken so long. I'm working on the next chapter, but I've got a lot to do with only 42 days left of my school year. But anyway, let me know what you think.

Stay cool minna-chan! From here on in, this will be fun!