Outlaw Star Fan Fiction ❯ Pirate's Lair ❯ Pirate's Lair ( Chapter 1 )

Outlaw Star Fan Fiction
Pirate's Lair

i don`t own there right so don`t sew me!

Gene and the others stepped through the security ship's air lock. When
they did two guards stood on either side of them. "Please follow us."
As they walked through the ship Gene elbowed Jim and said, "Hey look at
that. They did a good job patching this place up after that pirate attack."
Jim nodded. "Yeah. I wouldn't mind having these guys help us fix up the
Outlaw Star. They do very good work."
Melfina walked close behind Gene. "Are you sure this is alright Gene? The
last time we were here they weren't exacly kind to us."
Gene smiled and squeesed her hand. "Don't worry Mel. They called us
remember?" Melfina nodded and held his hand as they walked.
Suzuka smiled at Melfna and put her hand on her sword. "Don't worry
Melfina. If they try anything this time Aisha and I won't be as complacent."
Aisha nodded. "Yeah. And don't forget I'm the strongest woman in the
galaxy. They'd have to be crazy to mess with me. Oof!" She said the last
when Jim elbowed her in the ribs.
Melfina giggled and said. "Thank you both. I feel alot better."
Gene noticed that both of the guards had started looking at Aisha and
Suzuka and had moved their fingers to the triggers. "Hey aren't you the two
who were watching us the last time?"
They both nodded, then stopped outside a door and stood on either side.
The door opened and they stepped through. Inside Dooz and Valeria were
sitting on one of the couches.
"Ah, so you finally made it." Dooz said. Gene had never quite gotten used
to the saurian and was clenching the side of his face where Dooz had hit
him.
"Well when you tell us you've found the treasure of the Kae pirates how
could we refuse? But what I want to know is why you wanted us."
Valeria smiled. "We need a grappler ship to get in. The pirates have magic
guarding the place so that lazers and missles don't work. We have been
watching them when they come buy to check and they literaly pull the doors
open and shut manually. And you are the only person we know with a grappler
ship that we can trust."
Gene frowned. "I would think the space forses would have their own
grappler ships."
Dooz nodded. "They doo, but to get them we would first have to report
this... which is what I wanted to do int he first place."
Valeria smiled. "But I convinced him that if we first checked it out we'd
get the pick of some of the better items."
Gene smiled and crossed his arms. "I see, but has it occured to either of
you that inside there are probably even more traps inside?"
Dooz nodded. "Yes, but we are confident that we can handle whatever they
throw at us."
Gene looked at the others. "What do you think?"
Skuzuka smiled. "I told you if it hurts the Kae pirates I'm in. But if the
rest of you don't go I won't either."
Aisha smiled and extended her claws. "I'm a Ctarl-Ctarl we don't run from
something just because it might be dangerous. The pirates have stolen too
much from the empire and I intend to get it back."
Melfina smiled up at him. "I go where you go Gene, you know that."
Jim smirked. "Hey, if there is half of what there should be in there I'm
not about to back out."
Gene smiled and turned to Dooz and Valeria. "I guess we're in."
Valeria smiled and stood up. "Excelent. I knew we could count on you
Gene."
Dooz grunted slightly. "Hold on Valeria. We haven't discissed his payment
yet."
Gene smiled. "I'm glad one of you remembered."
Valeria smiled and looked at them. "Will dragonite surfice?"
Gene nodded. "To take the job yes. But once we get in there we get our
choice of whatever is there."
Valeria gritted her teeth, then said. "Fine."
Aisha peeked around Gene, "Now that that is done, can we get something to
eat? I'm starving."
Valeria smiled. "That we can do. Follow me to the galley."
When they got there Valeria had the cook bring out the food. Gene was
impressed. "That looks like enough for twenty people."
Valeria shook her head. "Acually that's enough to feed just us. Dooz eats
about twnety pounds at a sitting and as I recall Ctarl-Ctarl eat about the
same."
Aisha laughed and looked at Dooz. "Please. I could eat more than him any
day of the week."
Dooz smiled at her, "Is that a challenge?"
Aisha stepped up and looked him in the eyes. "You bet."
Gene and the others had already sat down and began eating. While they did
Dooz and Aisha sat across from eachother and began grabbing huge bites of
food. Melfina smiled at Valeria. "I don't think he's going to win."
Valeria raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"
Melfina smiled and twirled her fork through her food. "Well I do alot of
the cooking and Aisha eats a bit more than twnety pounds at a time."
Valeria laughed. "Well we'll see."
Gene smiled at Melfina."You know if you ever get tired of cooking I could
do it some times."
Jim and Suzuka said. "Me too"
Aisha glanced at them swallowing a mouth full of food and said, "Me too!"
Then reached out and grabbed a roll before Dooz got it.
Everyone shuddered at the thought of Aisha's cooking then Melfina said,
"That's alright. I like cooking."
Dooz looked up at Aisha. "Do you know how to make Itchigagi stew?"
Aisha nodded, stuffing a lump of meat into her mouth. "Yeah, but humans
never seem to appreciate it."
Dooz nodded, "Tell me about it."
Finally everyone had finished, mostly because by the time they were ready
for seconds Dooz and Aisha had finished off the rest of the food.
Gene looked at Valeria. "So what at the coordinants to this place?"
Valeria smiled. "We'll tell you when we get there."
Gene tried not to smile. "What, you don't trust us? I'm hurt."
Dooz shook his head. "We will arrive there shortly."
Suzuka stepped forward. "In the mean time why don't you tell us exactly
how it is you found this place. I would think that the pirates would guard
it closer than you seem to be describing."
Valeria nodded. "We captured a Tao master and Dooz got the information out
of him."
They glanced at Dooz who was picking some meat from between his teeth. "It
wasn't easy. You have to totaly break them before allowing them to talk,
otherwise they might use magic. But int he end I got him to tell me
everything. The pirates don't guard the place well because it would draw
attention from large groups, which could cause problems. The few people who
do find it are usually killed by the automated defense systems, hunted down
by the pirates, or can only get away with a small enough portion that it
doesn't matter."
Gene nodded. "I don't suppose this guy knows about any of the traps?"
Dooz shook his head, "No, the pirates are identified by the A.I. once they
get inside and are let through. They have never set off any of the traps."
Gene rubbed his chin. "How does the computer idnetify the ships?"
Dooz waved a claw. "By it's type and model nuber."
Jim looked up at him. "What are you thinking Gene?"
Gene looked at Valeria and then at Dooz. "Can I get you two to keep a
secret if it can get us in and out of there without setting off any traps."
Dooz looked at Valeria, who nodded. Dooz nodded back then Valerai said.
"We can promise that whaever you say next will go no farther than this
room."
Gene glanced at Jim who nodded and reached into his pocket. He withdrew
something that looked like a pen. He twisted the top and a light flashed.
Suddenly there was an electrical surge in three places around the room and
at the front of Valeria and Dooz's uniforms. Dooz smiled, "A jammer. Very
cleaver."
Gene looked around the room. "Alright, do you remember when you asked me
if we knew anything about the XGP?"
Valeria nodded. "Well that's our ship."
Dooz grinned and punched his hand. "I knew it!"
Gene nodded. "Now the people who made it were Gwen Khan and Hazanko. Since
Hilda stole the ship from the pirates I am guessing that they may have put
it into their computers."
Suzuka nodded. "I see. Since nobody knew exactly what the galactic layline
is they had to assume that whatever they got there would be some enormous
treasure."
Gene nodded. "And since this is where they keep their treasure I'll just
bet it would let us in."
Dooz looked at him suspiciously. "What about us? How do we get our share
if you are the only one that can go in."
Gene looked at Jim. Jim thought about it. "Well I see two choices. We can
either make several trips with the Outlaw Star, or Melfina and I can try to
reprogram the computer. It could be dangerouse though. I don't know what
kind of protection programs the pirates may have. And just touching it wrong
could set off the traps."
Gene shook his head. "Then I don't think we should do that. I won't put
Melfina in danger like that."
Dooz nodded. "Alright, then we'll do it your way. But both Valeria and I
will ride with you."
Gene looked him over. "Alright, but when you are on my ship you are just
passengers, got it?"
"Understood Gene." Valerian said.

Two hours later they arrived outside of a huge asteroid field and stopped.
Gene lead the way back to the Outlaw Star.
"Hello Gene, welcome back." Gilliam said.
"Hey Gilliam. We're going to have a couple passengers with us. Jim will
give you the details." Gene replied.
The Gilliam drone nodded. "Certainly Gene." It turned to Dooz and Valeria.
"If you will follow me we can seat you in the cargo hold."
Dooz looked at Gene. "The cargo hold? Don't you have someplace better?"
Gene grinned. "Sorry but this place isn't as big as your command carrier.
Don't worry, there are seats down there."
Dooz growled but Valeria stepped forward. "That will do fine Gene."
They turned and followed the robot as it lead them through the ship.
Suzuka whispered to Gene. "I can't help but notice that they are looking
at the ship extremely close."
Gene shrugged. "So what if they do? It's not our buisness if they want to
copy the ship. Besides why do you think I had Gilliam take them to the cargo
hold instead of the kitchen or one of our rooms?"
Suzuka nodded. "Ah, I see. Keep them away from the important areas."
Jim smirked. "Pretty smart Gene. Not like you at all."
Gene looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Jim looked up at him. "What do you think it means loser?"
Melfina giggled and covered her mouth while watching them. Gene and Jim
smiled at her then looked at eachother. Finally they all turned and headed
towards the bridge. Gene hopped into the piolot's seat while the others took
their positions. "Gilliam are we clear to launch?"
"Everything shows green Gene. Oh I rhymed." Gilliam responded.
Gene smirked. "Yeah you did, just don't make a habit of it Gilliam."
The computer flashed. "Understood Gene."

As they approached the huge asteroid Gene and the others kept careful eyes
on the surrounding area. Gene had Gilliam call Dooz and Valeria up to join
them. When the two of them arrived Gene turned to face them. "Alright, so
where do we go from here?"
Dooz pointed towards a large asteroid, "The entrance is ont eh other side.
Once we get there use your grappler arms to open it."
Gene nodded and followed the directions. When they arrived at the other
side of the asteroid there were two enormous steel doors with handles on
each. Gene used the grappler arms and opened them. The doors slid open
quickly and without any resistance.
"Hey this is easy," Gene said.
Jim turned to look at him. "Don't get cocky Gene. Remember these are
pirates we are dealing with."
Gene nodded. "You're right Jim. We'd better take it slow."
The ship slowly edged through the opening and went into the asteroid. The
walls inside were lined with lights.
"Gilliam, can you sence anything?" Gene asked.
"Yes Gene, there appears to be a docking station up ahead." Gilliam
responded.
When they arrived at the docking station Gilliam beeped for a minute, then
said, "The computer for this place is asking for the make and model number
of the ship. Should Igive it to them Gene?"
Gene nodded. "Yes, but don't give them the name. Just the part about the
XGP."
Gilliam was quiet for a moment. "Access granted. Gene, I have a link to
the computer. They are informing us that we can only come here one time a
year. It seems our plan to make return trips will not work."
Gene cursed under his breath, then turned to Valeria and Dooz. "Seems we
need to renegotiate our contract. I say we each take turns picking out items
and load them onto the ship."
Valeria looked at Dooz who nodded. She turned back and said, "Alright
Gene."
Gene looked at the others. "Alright, we'll go in now. But nobody touches
anything until Jim has had a chance to look it over. We don't know what kind
of traps they might have."
Everyone nodded and prepared to depart the ship. Gene and Jim were the
last ones off. Jim whispered to Gene. "I don't like this. It's still too
easy."
Gene nodded. "I knwo what you mean. But even if we can only make one trip
I think it should be worth it."

They all stopped at the entrance and stared around amazed. The walls were
covered in everything from weapons to gold. Piles of dragonite shot up at
random all over and works of art were everywhere. Gene whistled slightly in
appriciation.
"Alright, everyone find something you like the looks of, then we'll meet
back here and have Jim look it over with his computer alright?" Gene said.
Everyone nodded, then walked off to different parts of the room.
Gene looked around, then noticed a pile of wooden crates. He walked over
and looked at the labels. One was a crate of monopoles. He smiled and rubbed
his hands together. Gwen Khan had said that those things were worth more
than Dragonite.
Gene smiled and looked around. He saw Suzuka looking over a shelf of
wooden weapons and Aisha was admiring a golden Ctarl-Ctarls statue. His eyes
caught on Melfina who was lookign at some expensive looking clothes in the
corner. He smiled and walked up behind her. "See anything you like?"
Melfina smiled and nodded. "Afew things."
Jim smiled and was about to put his arms around her when Jim called out.
"Hey Gene! Melfina! Get over here quick!"
Gene and Melfina ran over to him. "What is it Jim?"
Jim pointed to a crate. "This stuff is marked for the XGP. Accroding the
the label it's some weapons they hadn't loaded on yet and a modem they made
using information from the Dragon's Grave. It looks like it can access any
computer from anywhere in the universe. Also it says here that they have all
the information of the XGP's bioandroid navigator."
Melfina looked at the crates. "Does that mean me?"
Jim nodded. "Definately."
Gene smiled at Jim. "Good work Jim. Is it safe to take?" Jim nodded. "Then
let's get it to the ship now. After that I found somethings I want you to
take a look at."

To hours later there was a huge pile of pirate goods filling the cargo
hold of the Outlaw Star. Jim had vetoed several items because they were
boobie trapped, but aside from that it was a pretty good haul. Melfina had
been able to get several dresses, and some other clothes that had caught her
eyes. Suzuka had packed her portion full of weapons and dragonite.
Aisha had found her own dragonite and a box full of Ctarl-Ctarl jewlery.
Suzuka looked it over, then asked Aisha, "I've been wondering, what is the
point of that large bell you always wear?"
Aisha smiled. "It's for training. The trick is to make sure every move you
make is so controled that it doesn't ring. If it does, even when you are
falling, then you have to spend a week in five times normal gravity."
Suzuka nodded. "I see. I may have to try that myself."
Dooz and Valeria had gotten mostly weapons, but had also gotten some
dragonite and some art work. Jim had computer parts and upgrades. Gene had
gotten his monopoles, some art work Melfina had been looking at but left
behind because she didn't want to be a bother, and two crates of caster
shells.
Melfina came up behind him as he was going through the sheels and checking
the numbers. "Are those the ones that steal your life?"
Gene nodded. "Some of them."
Melfina put a hand on his arm. "Gene, please don't keep them... We don't
have the lay line to bring you back any more."
Gene bit his lip and took Melfina's hand. "But if we don't have them when
we need them I may not be able to protect you."
Melfina shook her head.. "It doesn't matter Gene. I wouldn't want to live
without you. And besides, I don't think they would work any more either."
Gene looked at her. "What do you mean Mel?"
Melfina looked at him. "When we were at the ley line our wish was that we
be together forever. You were already dead though. The ley line had to sift
through the afterlife and find your soul, then give you a new body. But to
make it live it had to tie your life forse to someone elses..."
Gene stood up and looked at her. "Yours you mean. As long as you live I
live, is that it?"
Melfina nodded, then stepped forward and pressed against him. "So you
don't have any life for the shells to take."
Gene ran his fingers through Melfina's hair. "But you do. If I fired they
they would probably drain away your life." Gene turned and picked up the
crate that had the life draining shells in it. Turning to the hatch he threw
it out the door.
Melfina smiled. "I'm sorry Gene."
Gene turned back and shook his head. "It's no problem Mel. I still have
the others. Anyway anything that would hurt you like that isn't worth it."
Melfina smiled and kisses his cheek. "Let's go join the others alright?"
As they began closing the hatch Aisha came running up. "Hey, don't leave
me here!" She jumped into the ship just as it closed.
Gene looked at her. "Aisha? What do you think you're doing?"
Aisha stood up and straightened her clothes. "I just wanted to grab one
last thing before we left. Don't worry about it."
Suddenly an alarm began to ring. Gilliams voise came through the intercom.
"Gene it appears that there has been a trap set off."
Gene turned to Aisha again. "You set off a trap Aisha!"
Aisha held up a small ring. "What? I just took this one little ring."
Gene growled and grabbed Aisha and Melfina's hands. "Come on we have to
get out of here!"
When they got to the cockpit Jim turned to him. "Gene what happened?"
Gene pointed to Aisha. "Cat-girl over there set off a trap."
Jim turned and frowned at Aisha who was sulking in her seat. Gilliam's
voice said, "Gene the compute has informed me that they are sealing the
vault and awaiting the arrival of the guards who patrol a half hour jump
away from here. Unless we can give him the proper code then we will be stuck
here until they arrive and destroy us."
Jim was working at him computer. "From what I can tell the only way out of
here would be to break into the computer. And I'd need Melfina's help."
Gene looked at him. "But didn't you say they could have viruses? Can't we
blast our way out?"
Jim shook his head. "This place is sealed with magic Gene. Even a caster
couldn't dent it."
Gene thought about it for a minute when he felt Melfina's hand on his
shoulder. "It's alright Gene. I'll do it."
He turned to look at her. "Are you sure Melfina? I mean what if..."
Melfina shook her head. "It's alright Gene. If I don't do this we'll all
die. Don't worry, I'm sure I will be fine."
Gene nodded. "Alright, but the second anything happens I want you out of
there, alright?"
She nodded, then turned to get into her tube. As she did Dooz and Valeria
watched with interest. "So that's how it works..." Valeria whispered.
Doox nodded. "I was under the impression that this kind of techonology was
beyond our reach for atleast another century."
Suzuka smiled and nodded. "It is. Melfina's design was based upon
infromation from the Dragon's Grave, the same people who created the
galactic lay line."
Jim nodded. "Yeah, and if what the stuff we got from here says is right
Melfina even has a soul."
Dooz glanced at Melfina in the blue tube. "I see."
Jim turned back to the computer and got to work while Gene and the others
looked over his shoulder.

Melfina drifted through the pirate's computer system. It seemed simple
enough, not nearly as advanced as Gilliam. But there were things lurking in
several of the files. "Jim, can you hear me?"
Jim's voice drifted to her. "Yes Melfina. The release should be in the
file marked: Doomsday. According to the schematics I can see if you aren't
careful this thing could wipe your memory."
Melfina nodded and floated towards the file. Slowly opening it she saw two
buttons. "Jim, there are two files in here."
Jim looked it over. "Mel, I don't know which to pick. You'll have to
decide."
She shook her head. "Ask Gene which one I should pick."
She waited for a minute, then Jim responded. "He says push them both at
the same time."
Melfina bit her lip, then nodded. That sounded right, just like the bomb
they had gotten caught in. Melfina reached out and put her fingers over both
buttons. She pushed them both down and there was a bright flash of white
light.

The Outlaw Star pried the door open and flew out quickly. Just as they did
two huge ships came out of ether mode. Melfina looked up and said, "Now
entering grappler combat mode."
Gene turned back to Suzuka and Aisha. "You two ready?"
Both of them nodded. Aisha looked at Gene a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry
I set off the trap."
Gene smiled and waved it off. "Let's make a deal. If we live this and you
never do it again you're forgiven, alright?"
Aisha grinend and nodded. "Thanks Gene."
"Gene, the carriers have launched over thirty small fighters and had begun
locking in on us with it's own weapon systems." Gilliam said.
"What are our chanced of running away?" Gene asked.
"They would be on us before we got there and we wouldn't be able to defend
ourselves."
Gene frowned, "Then it looks liek we'll have to fight them. Jim, has
Gilliam finished installing those weapon systems we found?"
Jim nodded. "Yeah but I'm not sure how most of them work. One looks like a
caster and the others are systems I have never seen before. I'm not even
sure if they are weapons."
Gene looked back at Valeria and Dooz. "Think you can call in the cavelry?"
Valeria nodded and tugged on her left earing. "They should be here in five
minutes."
Gene nodded. "Alright, so we hold them off for five minutes. Sounds easy
enough."
Jim groaned and the ship shot forward. The pirate ships began firing at
them. Aisha and Suzuka shot out with the grappler arms trying to grab as
many as possible. "Jim, fire the missles!"
Ahead of them most of the ships managed to dodge. Five however were caught
in the missles and blasted to pieces. Gene fired the new gun and the ship
jerked to the side. "Whoa I guess they are casters."
The caster shell blasted into one of the carriers, taking out it's missles
and blasting half of it away. Three other fighters were taken out with it.
The ship shook slightly as a sht grazed them. "Minor damage to the left
hull Gene." Gilliam reported.
Suddenly from out of the corner of his eyes Gene saw Dooz and Valeria's
ship appear. "Alright, the back up is here."
the military ship took out the other carrier and began firing on the
smaller ships aswell. Meanwhile Gene was firing on the last thirteen
fighters, which had tried to run. He got most of them, but three managed to
slip away. "Aw crap."
Jim looked at him. "What's wrong Gene? We got away and we still have the
stuff we got from them."
Gene nodded gritting his teeth. "Yeah, but now they will know who did it.
That means we may have to take an extended vacation, especially after Dooz
and Valeria finally tell their superiors about the vault."
Jim nodded. "I see what you mean. We just effectively took away everything
they've stolen for years. The Kae pirates are not going to be very happy
with us."
Gene nodded and turned the ship towards the military vessel.

Once they were on board Dooz and Valeria unloaded their own cargo, while
Gene and the others watched them closely. Once that was done Valeria offered
them dinner. After Aisha and Dooz began running towards the kitchen Gene
smiled. "I guess we should before those two eat it all. Do you think while
we eat you could fix the damage to our ship and maybe refuel and rearm us?"
Valeria grinned. "That would cost money."
Gene smiled. "Suppose when we leave I have Jim give you the blueprints to
our engines?"
Valeria smiled. "Alright, that should cover it."
She turned and walked down the hall while Gene stood there with Melfina,
Jim, and Suzuka. Once she was around the corner he reached up to his ear.
"Gilliam, the space forces people will be working on you for a while. Don't
let them inside and make sure that the cargo hold is locked tight."
"Understood Gene." Came the reply.
Suzuka smiled, "I take it you don't trust our new friend."
Gene smiled. "About as far as I could throw Dooz. Now come on you guys,
let's go eat."
He lead the way to the galley, arriving in time to see Aisha and Dooz
gulping down huge ammounts of food.
After they sat down everyone began to talk about the things they had left
behind in the pirate's vault. Melfina smiled and said, "There was this
gorgeouse outfit that looked like it was made out of solid gold."
Valeria nodded. "I saw that too. I'm just glad I got that painting."
Aisha smiled and looked over at them, showing the ring. "Well this is a
very rare item. It's actually a ceremonial ring from the fifth Ctarl-Ctarl
emperor's second wife."
Suzuka smiled. "Well the thing I'm sorry I had to leave behind was a book
on martial arts by one of the great masters. It was trapped though so I had
to leave it there."
Jim smiled. "Well I got what I wanted. That modem is a dream come true."
Valeria and Dooz looked at him with interest and simultaniously asked,
"What modem?"
Jim smiled and took a bite of his food. "Oh, nothing."
Gene smiled. "Well while you all were stuffing dragonite into there I
found something really valuable." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a
monopole and lay it on the table.
Valeria and Dooz looked at it greedily. "Where did you find that?"
Gene smiled and put it back in his pocket. "That's my secret."
Valeria let out a sigh. "Now our superiors will seize the asteroid and
sell whatever is left over there."
Aisha pulled her face out of a bowl of food. "What are you complaining
about? They'll use the money they make off of it to pay your salaries and
since you two were the ones who found it you'll probably get a raise too."
Dooz looked up. "She makes a good point Valeria. We have a few prize
pieces and we still get paid. Pretty smart for a Ctarl-Ctarl."
Aisha blushed and took another big bite of food. "Thank you."
Jim watched the exchange and took another bite of food, chewing in a piece
of meat for a long time. The others kept talking about the fabulous things
they had seen.
Melfina looked over at Gene. "Gene, could you tell me something?"
Gene looked at her. "Sure Mel, what do you want to know?"
"That information on me... is it true what Jim said about me having a
soul?"
Gene smiled. "Of course it is Melfina. I never doubted that you did."
Melfina smiled at him. "Thank you Gene."
Gene smiled. "In fact I was thinking we might find some way to get rid of
those shut down comands that Gwen Khan and Hazanko used."
Melfina smiled. "That sounds great."
After the meal Valeria offered to let them spend the night. Gene and the
others agreed. As they left the dinning room Aisha grabbed Jim's shoulder
and held him back. "Are you alright Jim? You got awfully quiet after
dinner."
"I'm fine Aisha." He responded sullenly.
She looked at him and frowned. "You aren't still mad because I set off
that trap are you?"
Jim shook his head and turned away, "It's not that at all Aisha."
She stepped around infront of him. "Then what is it? Come on you can tell
me."
Jim sighed and sat back onto a chair. Finally he looked up at her. "What
do you think of that Dooz guy?"
Aisha smiled. "You aren't jealous are you?"
Jim sniffed and turned his head. "Can you blame me? I mean he likes your
cooking and eats the same as you. You two have been getting on really well
and even blushed earlier. Plus he's closer to your age."
Aisha giggled and sat down infront of him. "Jim, you have nothing to worry
about. So you don't like my cooking, I don't exactly get that computer stuff
you do." She reached our and rubbed his head. "Anyway age doesn't really
make that much of a difference. I'm immortal remember."
Jim frowned and looked down. "Yeah I remember. That's something else too.
I'm not."
Aisha put a claw under his chin and lifted his face. "Look, if worse comes
to worse we could always get you a bioandroid body. Don't worry about it.
We'll deal with everything when they time comes alright?"
Jim smiled and nodded. "Alright Aisha, thanks for cheering me up."
Aisha smiled and kissed him quickly on the lips and turned to walk down
the hallway. As she passed her tail swung around and rubbed the tuft of hair
at the end under Jim's chin tickling him and causing a shiver to go down his
spnie. She stopped at the doorway and looked back. "So are you coming or
not?"
Jim smiled and got up, following behind her. "Try to stop me."

That night as Gene and Melfina lay in the room Valeria had lent them his
ear began to beep. Yawning he reached up and touched his earring. "What is
it Gilliam?"
"Gene it appears that we are being scanned. I have managed to keep them
from scanning the computer and it's systems but as you know I can not
control the part of the ship that involves flight or the grappler arms."
Gene smiled and shook his head. "It figures. Don't worry about it Gilliam,
just make a record of what they scan and keep them from getting to deep."
"Understood." Gilliam responded, then cut off.
Melfina's eyes fluttered open and she looked at him sleepily. "What's
wrong Gene?"
Gene shook his head. "Nothing Mel. Let's just get some sleep alright?"
Melfina nodded weakly and lays back down on Gene's chest. Putting his arm
around her Gene smiled and closed his eyes too. Tommorow was going to be a
big day.

Gene and the others stood outside the Outlaw Star's air lock. "Suzuka,
Aisha, since you two aren't actually known to work with us you could go
back. You don't have to come with us. But Jim, Melfina, and I are taking the
ship into the Tai pirate's territory."
Suzuka and Aisha looked at him suprised. "That's at the other end of the
galaxy. Even the Ctarl-Ctarl never go there. It's totally controled by
humans." Aisha said.
Gene nodded. "That's because it's where Earth is located. But you two
don't have to come if you don't want to. We have to because after the Kae
pirates hear what we've done they'll be hunting us."
Aisha smiled and her tail wrapped around Jim's leg. "If you think just
because you are going somewhere I've never been that I'll leave now you can
forget it. Besides do you think I would let you leave with those pirate
goodies sitting in the Outlaw Star?"
Suzuka nodded and grinned slightly. "I've never been that far into human
occupied space. I think it might be nice to see a new area. I'm in."
Gene nodded and Melfina said, "I'm so glad. If you had decided to stay we
all would have missed you."
Jim nodded and pet Aisha's tail. "I agree with Melfina." "Though I think
having your share of the treasure would have gone to fill the void left in
our lives." Jim and Melfina elbowed Gene's ribs. "Oof! Just kidding."
Valeria stepped forward. "Gene, just how do you plan to make it to Tai
space? Even at full tanks those engines of yours use up alot of fuel."
Gene smiled at her. "I'm glad you asked that Valeria, because you are
going to provide us with the fuel reserves we need, food and extra
ammunition."
Dooz looked at him suspiciously. "And what makes you think we'll do that?"
Gene smiled and handed Valeria a list. "Because the worth of the
information you gathered on my ship when you scanned it last night would be
enough to fill the remainder of the cargo hold, and the crew quarters with
dragonite. So I figure that my requests should be sufficent to even things
out. After all this is the only ship of it's kind in the universe and since
we liberated what the pirates had on it you are the only other people with
this knowledge."
Valeia looked at the list. Everything that they had scanned was listed
down to the last screw. She sighed and looked at Dooz. "They're right. Order
the supplies they asked for to be loaded onto the ship."
Dooz nodded and left to get it done. Valeria smiled and looked Gene over.
"I underestimated you."
Gene shook his head. "I doubt that. You just thought it as worth the
chance, and I think that you still think it was."
Valeria nodded, then glanced at Melfina. "How much would it cost to get
the design specks for her and your computer system?"
Gene shook his head. "She's not for sale and you couldn't afford the
rest." He looked at Valeria's eyes. "Melfina is a living, caring person and
I won't let anyone who would use her like the pirates did make another. Do
you understand what I mean?"
Valeria nodded and smiled at Melfina. "Yes, I do. But I had to ask Gene."
She looked at him. "I hope where ever it is you end up you keep going on
your treasure hunts. It's always nice to meet someone who has a dream."
Gene smiled and stepped back. "Don't worry Valeria, I will."
Gene lead the others back to the Outlaw Star where they waited for the
supplies to be loaded. Finally Dooz's face appeared on the screen.
"Everything is loaded. You are clear to go."
Gene nodded. "Thanks Dooz. We'll see you sometime later."
Dooz nodded and mummbled. "Um.. good luck."
Gene smiled and nodded, then cut off the transmission. "Alright, if
everyone's ready I guess we're out of here. Let's go."
Gilliam said, "We are totally clear and green to go Gene."
Gene nodded. "Alright, then let's get going."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Hey, it's me Gene. We're running for our lives to the farthest corner of
the known universe. The Kae pirates want us dead, we can't call on our old
contacts like Fred, and the supplies we got from the space forces and
treasure we stole from the pirates won't last forever. Plus the Kae pirates
have placed a bounty on us that the Tai pirates would be only too happy to
collect. But not to worry, Jim and I both have our girls and Suzuka... well
she seems happy enough. Hey I know it's callouse since she's got a thing for
me, but what can I do? Is it my fault I'm a babe magnet? Anyway join us for
'Starting over'.