Outlaw Star Fan Fiction ❯ Hearts Less Lonely ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Outlaw Star (haven't I done this?)

End to Dreams

By RosieBird

Chapter 3

"Professor Kahn!" Imara shouted, "Where are you? Where have you been all this time?"

"I have been everywhere, my dear," Kahn said, "As I said, I am data and data is needed."

"What's going on, Kahn?" Gene barked, "How'd you know what's happening with Harry McDougall?"

"I'm afraid that young Harry has caused quite a disturbance in the cyber world," Kahn said, "You see, he is also data. He can not travel as freely as I can, but continues to hack into systems and files."

"Do you know how he managed to hack into Melfina's memory?" Gene asked.

"Imara?" Kahn turned his attention to Imara, as if addressing her in a class.

Imara thought for a moment, and then turned to Gene.

"If he hacked into your ship to get at Melfina, then it's possible he could have downloaded a personality program into her memory banks."

"Even more recent than that," Kahn said, "When Harry hacked into the Galactic Leyline data entry,"

"Galactic Leyline!" Imara gasped, "You found the Galactic Leyline?"

Gene explained everything, from his meeting "Hot Ice" Hilda to his proclamation in the Galactic Leyline. Imara listened intently and when Gene was finished, she looked at Kahn.

"So, you're really gone, then?" she asked him.

"I exist in the streams of data," Kahn answered, "But I have no physical body any longer."

"Getting back to Melfina," Gene prompted, "How can we help her?"

"If Professor Kahn is data, then he'll be in the system at the same point as you are and he'll be able to guide you step by step."

"If I go?" Gene asked.

"I can't go," said Imara, "Harry will attack me again and that could kill Melfina."

Gene nodded understandingly. He had no problem going after Harry with his bare hands, but he didn't relish the idea of working with Kahn. He looked over at Melfina.

"Let's do it then," he said firmly.

"We'll get you set up then," Imara said.

"Melfina?" Harry called. Melfina turned around, sporting a fresh cut across her forehead that ran down to her chin.

"In here, love," Melfina said, blood trickling from her lip. Harry peeked around the corner and smiled at her.

"There you are," Harry laughed, "What are you up to?"

"Just fixing dinner," she answered, turning around and stirring the contents in a soup pot with burned hands, "How's your day been?"

"Pretty good," Harry answered, sitting down at the table, "Met some of the guys and Ron for a quick game of cards. They say to tell you hello."

Melfina smiled at them. She thought about how lucky she was to have such a sweet, wonderful guy in her life. Harry was rich, popular, and enterprising. He had won the Galactic Space Race for the last 3 years and owned his own fix-it business. Yes, Harry McDougall was truly a catch, although she really needed to talk to him about his choice of clothes. Somehow, the red and black body suit didn't suit him.

"Dinner just about ready?" Harry asked, "I'm starving."

"Almost," she bent down to pull something out of the oven, blood pooling around her feet.

"All set, Gene?" Imara asked. Gene sat in the chair, his caster, shield gloves and his belt laid across the bed at Melfina's feet. He sat next to her, holding her hand in his. He raised it once to his lips and kissed it.

"Ready when you are, Doc," Gene responded, "I just hope this works."

"Okay, stand by and good luck, Gene," Imara said, "Ready to initiate access. Password is 62531."

Gene felt as though he was suddenly blind and he flung his arms around for something to touch, but then, the light came back and he stood in empty space.

"Hello, Gene," Gwen Kahn was standing in front of him.

"AH!" Gene yelled, "Don't do that!"

"Oh, sorry, sorry, I just wanted to make sure everything was well. Well, let's be off," Kahn said and began to float away ahead of him. Gene followed him, feeling unusually exposed without his weapons and shield. But the memory of Harry, delivering blow after blow to Melfina's face was clear in his mind and he continued to walk forward.

"Well, we certainly have an interesting task ahead of us," Kahn was speaking, but it appeared to be more to himself than to Gene, "Such an irresponsible way to behave with data." He continued to mutter like this for a while.

"Professor Kahn," Gene asked, "When we get to them, what am I supposed to do to help Melfina?"

"I've no idea," Kahn said.

"WHAT!" Gene roared, "Then what the hell am I supposed to do?"

Kahn looked at him. "You'll know when you know," he said, and continued forward.

"Well, that does me a shit-load of good, doesn't it," Gene grumbled, but followed.

They continued on for what seemed like hours. Finally, they reached the same door Imara had entered into. After going through, instead of the beautiful meadow Imara had seen, they found a deserted space, cold and gloomy. Melfina stood off by herself, her gown in bloody tatters, and her face barely recognizable under all the bruises and cuts. She stood as though she were at a kitchen stove.

"Melfina?" Gene called softly, "Mel, can you hear me?"

Melfina turned to look at him and her eyes widened in fear.

"Harry! Harry!" she screamed, "Come quickly!"

"Well, well, Gene Starwind," Harry McDougall seemed to appear out of thin air, "I wondered if you would have enough guts to show up and face me."

"You sneaking, sanctimonious son of a bitch!" Gene roared, "What the fuck did you do to her!"

"I just told her the truth," Harry hissed, "She's with me now, with someone who really understands her!"

"The hell you understand her!" Gene snarled, "You don't understand a thing!"

"Stop it, Gene!" Melfina screamed at him, "Just leave him alone. I'm not your property anymore and I'll never let you mistreat me again!"

"Oh, dear, dear," Kahn said, "Well, Harry, you seem to have done an excellent job modifying her memory, as well as deleting any outside influences, such as your beating her. Yes, yes, I suppose that's why she isn't aware of her cuts and bruises."

"Kahn, damn you!" Gene shouted, "I thought you were here to help."

"I'm here to guide, Gene," Kahn answered, "But I am data, and I can do nothing."

"Sounds like a typical answer for a computer," Gene muttered. He turned to face Melfina.

"Mel, whatever Harry has told you, it isn't true," he said, "Try and remember. Remember how we met? Remember when I told you that I would protect you?"

Melfina regarded him with narrowed eyes.

"You only said you'd protect me because you promised Hilda," she snapped, "I remember when you first tried to take advantage of me. I was scared for your safety and you decided you wanted to screw me!"

"Exactly right, Melfina," Harry said, "You've always been used by everyone because you're different. That's why I took you away from him, so you wouldn't have to suffer."

"Harry and I belong together Gene," Melfina said firmly as Harry moved to wrap his arms around her again, "And you can never separate us."

Gene watched in horror as Harry opened her dress to expose her body, which was littered with deep cuts and gashes. He rolled his tongue across her skin and looked up at Gene with a smug expression. Gene felt his mind race, he couldn't attack Harry, because, as Imara had said, he was drawing power from Melfina and another attack would probably kill her.

"Oh my," Kahn said, "My word, this is dreadful, just dreadful."

"Leave Gene," Harry said, his voice filled with satisfaction, "Leave me and my wife alone."

"Alone?" Gene thought. That was it!

"I don't want to hurt you, Mel," Gene said softly, "I know that you'll make Harry happy and he'll never be alone again."

"What are you doing, Gene?" Kahn asked in surprise.

"I'm never lonely, Gene," Harry said, "But I guess you always will be."

Melfina looked at Gene with curious brown eyes.

"Gene," she whispered, "Alone."

Melfina's mind raced to a night in a forest, standing over two headstones. The names on the stones read Daniel and Susan McDougall.

"The headstones," Melfina whispered.

"Harry," Melfina said suddenly, "You told me that you were a construct and that you didn't have parents."

"Yeah, that's right," said Harry, looking at her curiously.

"Why would someone with no parents put up headstones?" Gene asked, looking straight at Melfina.

"Get lost, Gene," Harry snapped, but Melfina moved toward him, limping slightly.

"The Russian forest," she said, "The house with the headstones."

Gene moved toward her, smiling faintly.

"You said once, to the man you loved, that you would never let him be lonely again."

"Harry isn't lonely," said Melfina, her face suddenly twisting in pain. She started to sink under her shaky legs, but Gene caught her. She buried her face in his chest.

"We stood over my parents' graves," Gene told her, "And I said that I was really all alone now."

Melfina looked up at him.

"No, Gene," she whispered, "You're not alone. I'm with you and I always will be."

"Melfina," Gene said softly and hugged her to him gently.

"Of course," Kahn said, nodding, "As brilliant as the idea was, you left out so many factors, Harry. Yes, yes, clever idea, but should have examined the data a little closer."

"Oh, Gene," Melfina said, her voice cracking with tears and pain, "I hurt so much. Help me."

"You think you've won!" Harry screamed, "But I'll kill her before you can get away!"

"NO!" Melfina screamed and in that instant, the protective barrier that surrounded the room was returned, sending Harry hurling into darkness.

Melfina sank into Gene's arms as he cradled her to him.

"It's all over, Mel," he whispered, "I won't let anyone every take you away again."

"I'll see to that," Kahn said, "I shall erect a protective shield around the memory banks until they can be fully cleaned of Harry's programming."

Melfina opened her eyes. The hospital room lights blinded her and she squeezed her eyes closed again.

"It's so bright in here," Melfina said.

"Well, I know I'm brilliant," came a high growling voice, "But that's the first time I've ever blinded anyone with my good looks."

"Don't flatter yourself, Aisha," came the younger voice of Jim.

"Hang on, Melfina," Suzuka said, "I'll turn the lights down a bit. That should help."

Melfina opened her eyes slowly and saw all her friends staring down at her. She smiled up at all of them, but noticed that Gene was not with them.

"Hey, Mel," Aisha said in a softer voice, "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know yet," Melfina said, "I do feel less tired than before, but I'm very sore and stiff."

"That's probably from Harry McDougall," said Imara, coming through the door. The others backed up slightly so as not to overwhelm the woman with their emotions.

"Even though it was in your head," Imara continued, "The mind went through a difficult ordeal that will probably leave you with these phantom feelings for a while."

"Is he gone?" Melfina asked.

"Yes, every bit of his programming has been erased," Melfina looked over to the monitor where Professor Gwen Kahn smiled at her, "It turns out that when Harry hacked into the Galactic Leyline system to wake you up, he downloaded a copy of himself into your system. It looks like it's been in stasis until whenever Harry, back on the El Dorado, decided to activate it. Unfortunately, we can't trace the signal."

"Don't worry about it," Melfina said, "Just so long as he's gone."

"The reason you had grown so weak was that Harry's data file in your system was drawing on your power in order to grow stronger," Imara said, "Almost like being pregnant, except this child was more malevolent in his feeding than any unborn child I've ever seen. Anyway, you should be back to full strength in a few weeks."

"When can I go home?" Melfina asked.

"I'd like to keep you overnight," Imara said, "You can go home in the morning. But I'll be checking up on you and making sure that your husband is waiting on you hand and foot."

Melfina forced a laugh, but was struck by the reminder that he was not here.

"Well, everyone," Kahn said, "I'm glad to have been able to help. But I am data, and data is needed."

"Thank you again, Professor," Imara said, bowing slightly.

The monitor went black as Professor Kahn left.

"Now then," Imara said, "If everyone could please leave, so Melfina can rest. She'll be ready to go tomorrow morning."

Everyone exited the room. Jim stopped only a moment to place some flowers in a vase on the bedside table. Imara began to ready the room so Melfina could sleep.

"Dr. Chatrelle," Melfina said, "Where did Gene go?"

"He said that he had some things to attend to back at the shop," Imara answered.

Melfina watched her a moment.

"I'm sorry I attacked you," she spoke up suddenly, "I could have killed you or broken your mind. Who knows what I would have done if Gene hadn't pulled you out."

"It's nothing to feel bad about," Imara said, "You were being manipulated. In many ways, what Harry told me is true. As a telempath, I can use other's emotions for my own designs. Sometimes on accident, other times on purpose. But the difference is that I'm a doctor and that I do so because that person has been committed to my care. My grandmother saved my father's life because she was willing to use her powers to absorb his emotions."

Imara sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You and I are very much alike," she said, squeezing Melfina's shoulder, "We've been blessed with the ability to use our unique gifts to better other people's lives. Although I do so for numerous people, you better the life of one extraordinary man."

"Yes, he is," she agreed, feeling a pang of sadness at his absence.

"I'll let you rest now," Imara said, standing up, "I'm sure you'll feel much better in the morning."

Imara looked at her and winked. Then she left the room, turning down the lights to a soft, rosy hue.

Melfina was awakened later that night by the feeling that she was not alone in the room. She opened her eyes to see a hidden shape by the door.

"Hello, darling," Gene whispered. He shut the door quietly and sat down beside her.

"Gene, it's after visiting hours," Melfina whispered back, "You'll get in trouble."

"No I won't," said Gene, "Dr. Chatrelle gave me permission to see you. She said you probably would benefit from my expertise in this area."

Melfina smiled up at him as he ran a glove free hand through her hair.

"I love you," he whispered, "I'm so glad that you're better."

Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her gently, enjoying the sensation of her lips pressing back against his. He slipped his arms around her and pulled her to him.

Melfina was lost in the sensation of his mouth. She ran her tongue against his lips and felt them part to allow her inside. The two tongues dueled lazily before Gene pulled away and buried his mouth against her throat.

"I love you, Gene Starwind," Melfina whispered and gave a contented sigh as Gene strayed a hand under her hospital gown and stroked his fingers across her skin.

"I love you, Melfina Starwind," he said, smiling warmly.

He kicked off his boots and removed his shirt. He crawled underneath the cool sheets next to her and held her close.

"When we get home," he whispered, "I'll make love to you. But tonight, I'm just going to hold you in my arms."

"Sounds wonderful to me," Melfina said, her voice purring like Imara's.

The lovers were silent awhile, but then Melfina spoke.

"When I was with Harry," she said, "I felt like I was outside myself, watching everything. I wanted to scream against the beating and beg for you to come, but I couldn't stop him. It was then that I felt like I was really alone."

She looked up at him and Gene saw a tear trickle down her check. He quickly kissed it away. He stroked a finger across her check and gave it a gentle pinch.

"You're never alone. I'm with you and I always will be, you remember that."

Melfina smiled and pinched his own cheek.

"Don't you forget it either," she smirked.

They laughed quietly for a few minutes before Melfina fell asleep. Gene stroked her hair for a while, before falling asleep himself. The last thought he had before drifting off was of a forest, light years away, where two headstones were erected beside each other, neither soul to be lonely again.

YES! It's done! My first multi-part story completed! Krista of StarTress, you wanted me to get this up, so I was finally successful. And to my best friend, Little Mouse, who writes multi-parters all the time, so I had to show her I could too! So, what do you think about it? I was considering writing an epilogue, but I kind of ended the story the way it is, so maybe I don't need it. What do you think? Always ready for reviews! Let me know, it's the only way I know to keep writing!

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