Introduction:

This story is a fanfic set in the same universe as the anime Outlaw Star. The story is set some 6 months after the last episode of Outlaw star and includes most of the main characters from the series (with a few additions of my own ^_^).

For those not familiar with the Outlaw Star cast they are as follows:

Gene Starwind:- About 6’1 in height, with short red hair. Gene is a 20 something, self-proclaimed outlaw. Gene is the main character in the show. He is lazy and hot headed, often getting himself and his friends into trouble. However he is a great shot with a gun, and a good fighter, so he can usually get out of the problems he starts.

James (Jim) Hawking:- Age 11. Jim is the brains of the group, being a classic example of a boy genius. He has been with Gene since before there exploits in space began, and always has a plan to get Gene out of a fix.

Melfina:- A bio android, Melfina appears to be a normal young girl of about 17, with short dark hair. She was created to act as the navigation system of the Outlaw Star. She has developed a relationship with Gene through their adventures together, however she still searches for a meaning to her existence.

Aisha ClanClan:- A member of an alien race called the C’tarl C’tarl. Aisha is a young girl of about 20, and is a cross between a human and a cat. She has a fiery temper, and travelled with the Outlaw star crew during their attempt to find the galactic leyline. She left the crew at the end of the series to await a ride back to the C’tarl C’tarl home world.

Suzuka:- A female assassin who through a strange quirk of fate ended up travelling with the Outlaw Star crew during the series. Suzuka left the ship at the end of the series to go her own separate way.

Gilliam:- The Outlaw Star’s computer. Gillium is responsible for controlling most of the ships systems.

Well, I hope you enjoy the story. Email me at StygesRadizia@Hotmail.com with any feedback you have, and if people show an interest I’ll write a follow up story. ^_^

Regards

Gareth Rodwell

DISCLAIMER: This work is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No infringement is intended on Paramount Pictures, Cartoon Network, or any other company that may hold rights to any of the productions or characters herein.

“So Gillium. What is it? Some kind of mine?” asked Gene, while staring out of the ships front viewing port at the small object they had found floating in space.

“No Gene. The item appears to be a C’tarl C’tarl escape capsule. However magnetic interference is preventing me from confirming if the occupant is still alive.” replied Gillium in his normal calm tone.

“An escape pod! Gene, we have to pick it up now! I mean we can’t just leave it floating out here, it could be years before another ship finds it in this remote area of space.” said Jim from his chair at the front of the Outlaw Star’s cockpit. Even as he spoke he swivelled round in his seat to glare meaningfully at Gene.

“I agree with Jim. We can’t leave them out there floating aimlessly in space.” Melfina’s soft voice floated across the room, projected from the ships speakers as she remained held in the Outlaw Star’s navigational column.

“Ok, ok! Shesssh! I never said I was gonna leave them floating out there, so stop getting at me.” Snapped Gene. “Who knows, we might even get a reward for this. Heck, we need all the wongs we can get to cover our costs after this wild goose chase to the middle of no ware.”

A short while later Gene had guided the life pod into the cargo bay using the ships grappler arms. The three crew rushed down to check on the pods occupant, impatient to find out just who it was they had rescued. The pod was on it’s back in the centre of the Outlaw Star’s small cargo hold, and Gillium had already connected to it in order to monitor the occupants condition.

“Come on already Gillium! Open this thing up and let us see what we’ve just reeled in!” called out Gene, banging his fist onto the top of the pod to show his impatience.

“Please wait a moment Gene. It appears that the occupant is in cryo-status. I am beginning the resuscitation process now” Gilliums voice answered from the cargo hold speakers.

From a terminal on the far side of the hold, Jim called out his findings on the pod. “Hey, according to this readout the person is still alive.”

“That is correct Jim.” replied Gillium. “I estimate it will be about 30 seconds until the occupant is resuscitated. Please stand by.”

“I’ve got the medi-pack Gene. I thought I had better bring it down just in case.” Said Melfina as she entered through the hold access hatch.

“Good thinking Mel” shouted Jim. “Hey Gene, why do you think a C’tarl C’tarl life pod was floating all the way out here anyway?”

“Beats me!” said Gene, waving his had to dismiss the detail as unimportant. “Might have been a transport ship that got attacked by pirates, or was hit by a meteorite. Guess we’re about to find out.”

“Please stand clear everyone. The resuscitation process is complete. I am now opening the pod door.” warned Gillium.

With a loud hiss the life pods hatch slid open and clouds of Cryo gas billowed out obscuring Gene, Jim, and Melfina’s vision, and forcing them to back away from the biting cold. As the gas began to clear the pods occupant pushed itself up to a sitting position rubbing there eyes, and shaking there head to clear it of the after effects of the cryo sleep.

As the Gas clouds finally dispersed Gene, Jim, and Melfina recoiled in shock at the sight before them.

“Well it’s safe to say we won’t be getting a reward for returning her!” stated Gene flatly.

“Ugggh! Where am I?” muttered Aisha.

After ushering Aisha upstairs and out of the cargo hold, the small group sat in the cramped ships galley, crowded around her as she sipped on a mug of warm tea.

“WHAT!?! You mean I’ve been floating in that pod for over 2 weeks!” cried Aisha, leaping to her feet and spraying Tea across the room.

Jim leapt out of the way of the spray. “Hey! Watch it Aisha, that stuffs hot! Anyway look on the bright side. If we hadn’t found you when we did, who knows how long you could have been out here.”

“I guess we must be cursed to find you of all people, floating out here in the middle of no ware.” Muttered Gene. “ What kind of a mess have you gotten yourself into this time?”

“Grrrr! For your information Gene Starwind, the ship I was travelling on was attacked for no reason, while on a peaceful trading mission to Cypuris 2.” retorted Aisha. “I was just lucky enough to make it to the life pod in time. As for my rescue, it seems a bit convenient that you of all people should be around to pick me up. How do I know you aren’t the ones responsible for this dishonourable attack on the mighty C’tarl C’tarl?”

“Aww, come on Aisha! You know we wouldn’t do that.” Jim replied, handing her a fresh cup of tea. “The only reason we’re out here is some half baked rumour Gene heard, about a discarded space yacht full of dragonite.”

“Jim! That was not a half-baked rumour! I got that information from a reliable source” Gene stated hotly. “Anyway what where you doing on a freighter heading for Cypuris? Last time we saw you, you where waiting for a lift back to C’tarl C’tarl space.”

“That was my lift! They just had to make a few stops on the way back to the C’tarl C’tarl home world.” Aisha replied. “And now that’s all been ruined thanks to you!”

“U-u-us?” Gene and Jim both stuttered together.

“That’s right you.” snapped Aisha, springing to her feet again and showering Jim with hot tea once more. “This is a matter of defending the honour of the C’tarl C’tarl empire. And as you have nothing better to do but float around in space, you are going to help me catch the person who attacked my transport. We can start by looking at the Tenlos space port where we where heading for refuelling before we were attacked.”

“Every time something bad happens to you, we get the blame and have to sort out your problems! While not this time Aisha! No way!” Gene answered back hotly. “And nothing you can do is going to change that!”

A short while later.

“This is Tenlos space port. Outlaw Star you are clear to dock in bay 5.”

“Roger that Tenlos. Outlaw Star out.” replied Gene, shutting off the com link before letting out an agitated sigh.

A noise behind him made him turn his head to find Melfina had entered the bridge and was stood beside him. “Here Gene this ice pack should help the swelling around your eye go down.”

Gene sighed again. “Thanks Mel. Damn I can believe we’ve ended up running another pointless errand for that cat girl!” Placing the ice pack on his eye he winced in pain. “Sheesh! She didn’t have to go and hit me.”

“At least her and Jim are getting on well again.” Observed Melfina, glancing over at the two of them chatting quietly at the other end of the bridge.

“You can’t believe how happy that makes me.” Gene replied sarcastically. “Ok Gillium, take us into docking bay 5.”

After successfully docking with the space station the crew of the Outlaw Star assembled in the ships airlock, waiting for the atmosphere in the bay outside to be cycled to a breathable level.

“Ok. Gene, Aisha. You two try checking with the locals on the station to see if you can find some leads as to who might of attacked Aisha’s ship.” said Jim as he busied himself with checking a clipboard for the supplies the Outlaw Star required. “As a start, you should probably try and find out if there have been any pirates, or other unusual ships dock here lately.”

“Yeah, yeah. I wasn’t born yesterday y’know Jim.” replied Gene absently whilst staring out through the airlock hatch at the approaching walkway ramp. Gene suddenly seemed to brighten up, turning away from the hatch to face the others. “Hey, I’ll try the local high street first. See if there’s any word of unusual suspects in the bars and clubs.”

“How did I know you were going to suggest that.” muttered Jim under his breath. “Ok, Gene go ahead, but be careful. We can’t afford to go paying out another big repair bill cause you bust up some bar during a brawl. And that goes for you too Aisha”

“Ha! As if I would sully the honourable C’tarl C’tarl reputation by fighting in the street with some common thug.” said Aisha haughtily, oblivious to the snorts of amusement this remark brought from Jim and Gene.

At this point the hatch slid open and the crew began to leave the ship along the boarding ramp.

“Ok. Melfina and myself will deal with getting some new supplies. I’ll also get Gillium to speak with the stations computer and see if we can get a roster of ships that have docked here in the last 4 weeks.” Jim said, referring again to his clipboard. “Gene, Aisha. Make sure you two are back here by 8pm so we can go over our findings. Good luck guys.”

With a final wave, Jim and Melfina headed off along the docking ramp, turning left at the end of it as they headed to the station supply area.

“Ahh! It feels good to be able to stretch my legs again. C’tarl C’tarl aren’t meant to be cooped up on little space ships. Hey, that reminds me! I have to contact the C’tarl C’tarl empire and let them know I’m ok!” stated Aisha brightly as she started striding down the ramp herself. “See you later Gene.”

Stood alone, at the top of the boarding ramp with the Outlaw Star’s airlock behind him, Gene stretched and took in the parts of the station he could see from his vantage point. “Well Tenlos Station. Lets see what you have to offer!”

“Ok that’s the dragonite for the engine sorted out” smiled Jim, ticking the item off on his clipboard. As he glanced up he spotted Melfina heading back towards him, threading her way through the traders in the spaceports supply area. “Hey Mel! How did it go?”

“I got most of the food supplies we need. But the station supply officer wasn’t able to get us any more sugar. Apparently there’s been a shortage of some supplies out here due to pirates attacking the supply ships.” answered Melfina, as she was finally able to weave her way to Jims side.

“Hmm. If pirates are attacking the supply craft in this area of space then that might explain the attack on Aisha’s ship.” stated Jim voicing his thoughts aloud.

“But surely if they were after supplies the pirates would have tried to take the ship in one piece.” replied Melfina, taking the clipboard from Jim as she spoke, in order to mark her items off the list. “From what Aisha described, the ship that attacked her simply opened fire as soon as it was in range. It never made any move to secure the cargo the freighter was carrying.”

“Your right. This just doesn’t add up.” said Jim flatly, a frown crossing his face as he thought. Suddenly he seemed to brighten and he turned back to Melfina with a sly smile. “Hey, the supply officer back there told me that there have been 3 unusual ships, capable of taking out a freighter, dock here within the last few weeks. He also was able to tell me the times and docking bays they used. So all we have to do is get Gillium to call up the video log on those ships when they where docked here, and Aisha can identify if any of them was the attacker!”

Melfina looked doubtful. “It’s a good plan Jim. But what if Aisha doesn’t recognise any of the ships? What then?”

Jim sighed. “Well in that case, I guess we hope Gene come up with something.”

“What’ll it be?”

Gene looked the bartender up and down as he seated himself at the bar. The guy was middle aged with a balding head and harsh features. In his prime he would have been well built, but now he seemed to be running to fat. He wore the standard bartender clothes, white shirt and black trousers combined with a red waistcoat and bowtie.

“Better make it something cheap.” Muttered Gene in answer to his question. “Some of that Alderian beer will do.”

The bartender put the glass down in front of Gene and then continued down the bar as soon as he received payment. Returning to polishing glasses after depositing the half wong into the cash till.

Gene glanced critically at the glass before taking a swig. Well at least it was clean. The last bar he had tried had been a right dive, with most of the lights not even working and an atmosphere as lively as a graveyard.  He smiled to himself as he looked around, taking in the surroundings and the people sat quietly drinking. The bar was fairly small, with the entrance opening straight out onto the main street. The other drinkers all seem to be standard trader type guys and girls, with a few locals mixed in. Ha! Well at least he wasn’t likely to get into any fights, even if he was striking out on the info front.

Well nothing else for it thought Gene. If I’m going to get any info at all I need to speak to someone.

“Hey, you!” Gene called out.

“You talking to me?” The bartender didn’t even bother to turn, as he continued polishing his glass.

Gene shifted seats, moving along the bar so he could speak to the man. “Yeah, sorry to interrupt but I need to ask you a question or two.”

“What makes you think I would want to answer any questions an outlaw would ask?” stated the bartender flatly without looking up. “Out here on the frontier we get a lot of trouble from guys like you, looking to make a quick buck.”

“Hey! Take it easy.” replied Gene holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. “I’m just after some info on the raids that I heard have been going on lately. I’ve got a friend who was attacked out here, and I was just trying to find out who was responsible.”

This time the bartender did look up. He stared directly into Gene’s eyes for a few seconds before returning to his glass with a grunt. He didn’t speak from a few moments but when he did so, the anger that had been creeping into his voice had subsided.

“If that’s your true reason for being out here then your chasing ghosts.” he said. “There are so many petty pirate groups and outlaw gangs in this part of space that you could spend years looking and not find the one your after. Chances are it’s not even the same group doing all the raiding. Hmm, my guess would be…”

“That’s enough Clancy.”

Another voice from behind Gene cut off the bartender mid sentence and caused him to look up sharply. Gene twisted in on his bar seat to get a look at the owner of the voice and saw that two rough looking men had risen from a table near the bar and had taken up positions behind him.

“Sounds to me like this guys saying just the sort of things a pirate would say if he wanted to find out about the routes honest traders are planning to take.” slurred one of the new comers.

“We should give this piece of scrap some of his own medicine, eh Rick?” chuckled the other as they began to advance.

“Rick, Curt. Please lets not have any trouble here. This mans not hurting anyone.” the bartender tried to reason with the two drunk locals as they advanced.

“Nah! Ya too soft Clancy!” sneered the guy called Curt as he took a knife from his jacket. “Don’t worry we’ll make this quick. This thug ain’t gonna hurt anyone else after we’re through with him.”

Gene slid off his bar stool and faced the approaching men. Both of them where physically larger than him, and both had the same rugged, unshaven appearance which marked them out as small time local traders. He cursed under his breath about the laws that forbade bringing firearms, of any type, onto space stations. If he had a weapon then these two would never have taken him on.

Without warning Rick lunged for Gene, attempting to grab him so his comrade could take an easy stab. Gene saw it coming and dodged to the left, bringing his elbow up at the same time to send the man sprawling. Lunging forward, he ducking under Curt’s horizontal slice and rammed his fist into the man’s exposed gut. As Curt sank forward he kicked out catching Gene in the leg and sending him sprawling. Gene rolled as he fell coming back to his feet quickly. Dodging to the right Gene spun and delivered a vicious kick to the side of Curt’s head even as he tried to pull himself up. The man flew backwards smashing into a table and falling unconscious, the knife spinning harmlessly from his grasp.

Suddenly something hit Gene hard on the back of the head, and he blacked out for a moment as he fell to the ground. As he came to he instinctively rolled onto his back, but a foot crunched down on his right arm preventing him from rising. Gene looked up into the sneering face of Rick as the local trader raised a broken bottle above his head ready to finish him off. Gene tried to push the guy off but he couldn’t move. With a roar Rick thrust the bottle downwards and Gene desperately raised his free arm to cover his face.

A sudden a massive bang and a blinding flash stunned Gene. The descending bottle leapt from Rick’s fingers as the man was thrown backwards, and it smashed to the ground an inch from Gene’s face. Gene quickly pushed himself to his feet. Seeing Rick curled inert against the bar, Gene spun to see the source of his rescue.

A smoking shotgun in his hands, a young man stood silhouetted in the doorway. The newcomer was about six foot tall, not counting the spiky black hair, and had a narrow, mean looking face. A strange tattoo ran in a scar like slash from his forehead across his left eye and finished on his cheek. He was slim but well muscled, and wore heavy-duty boots along with a rough pair of blue jeans. A battered set of body armour covered his top half leaving his arms bare apart from some black wristbands.

“Anyone else want a piece of this?” the newcomer asked into the silence of the bar. His eyes slid left and right taking in the remaining drinkers. When no one met his gaze a cocky smile crossed his face and he brought the shotgun up to rest on one shoulder. With a lazy movement he unhooked a small bag from his waist and tossed it to the barkeeper who stood wide eyed at the back of the bar. “Here, that should cover you damages.”

With that he turned to Gene, his smile becoming to one of amusement. “Come on dude. I think we’ve worn out our welcome in this bar. Lets find somewhere more peaceful and I’ll buy you a coffee.”

Without another word the man turned and strode from the bar, leaving Gene to take one final look around him before shrugging at the stunned barkeeper and running to catch up.

A short time later Gene sat at a small table in a café at the edge of the station. The café occupied one of the upper tiers of the station, and as a result one entire wall was constructed of the clear plexi glass that made up the dome covering the inhabited areas. Gene stared out into space through the glass, trying to catch sight of the Outlaw Star amongst the other ships docked at the bays on this side of the station.

“Hey red hair. Black, no sugar, right?”

Gene snapped out of his thoughts and turned to find the guy who he had met in the bar standing next to him holding out a small cup. There was something familiar about him but Gene couldn’t think what it was. Taking the proffered drink he nodded his thanks as the stranger sat opposite him.

“Hey, that should ease that pain in your head.” The guy said with a chuckle. “ That thug hit you pretty hard.”

“Yeah, you don’t need to tell me that. I can feel it.” Gene grimaced at the nagging ache still coming from his head and ran a hand through his hair. “So how come you decided to help me out? Not that I’m not grateful or anything. It’s just that using a shotgun on a space station could really get you into trouble.”

“Hey, outlaws have to look out for each other. I mean local yokels are all over the place, but I’ve got respect for any one trying to chase his dream.” The guy smiled as he took a sip of his coffee. “Anyway, what with the red hair and all, you kinda reminded me of someone I once knew. Heh, it’s strange but a few years ago when I first started as an outlaw I spend years trying to find what happened to that guy. Guess seeing you brought back some memories.”

“Yeah? Why? What happened to him?” asked Gene, leaning back in his chair.

“He was apparently killed along with his father during a pirate attack on their freighter. My father and his where trading buddies, and as I was in space so much he was one of my only friends. His loss hit me pretty hard and I left my fathers business to try and find what happened to him once I was old enough.” the guy replied waving his had to dismiss the facts. He opened his mouth to continue but stopped short as he caught site of Gene’s expression.

All of a sudden Gene leapt to his feet sending his chair crashing backwards. “That’s it! Now I recognise you! Your Styges! Styges Radizia! It’s me Gene!”

“Hell no! I can’t be!” the Guy stumbled to his feet, a look of shock on his face. “But your dead!” Suddenly his expression switched to a broad grin and he seized Gene by the shoulders, pulling him into a bear like hug. “Gene, man. What happened to you? Why didn’t you and your dad let us know you were ok?”

Sitting back down at the table Gene proceeded to tell Styges of the pirate attack that had killed his father, and of how his escape pod had crashed onto the planet Sentinel 3. Before he knew it he had recounted his entire tale of how he had found the Outlaw Star and become an outlaw himself.

Through it all Styges sat riveted to his seat, not even noticing his coffee had gone cold when he took the occasional sip from it. As Gene drew his tale to a close Styges burst into laughter.

Fighting down his mirth he looked at Gene and grinned. “Heck man, It’s stranger than fiction. To think that after all these years I find you out on the edge of space like this. Makes me doubly glad I stopped that guy attacking you with that bottle.”

“Ha, Jim and the girls will never believe this. My old pal from back when I was a kid.” laughed Gene. “Hey, you said you where an outlaw too. How come you’re all the way out here? Do you have your own ship?”

Stretching Styges seemed to pause before answering. “I’m kinda being a bit of a mercenary at the moment. I’m out here on a job for a client. Just boring trader disputes or something. I don’t mind as long as I get paid. As for my ship she’s called the Dark Star Raider. She’s just a modified scout cruiser nothing as impressive as a grappler ship like yours, but I’ve made some useful modifications to her to give me an edge during a fight. She’s docked over on the other side of the station at the moment.”

A sudden noise made them both start, and Styges reached inside his pocket, bringing out a small communicator. Holding it up to his ear he listened for a moment before replying. “Ok, ok. I’m on my way.” Placing the communicator back into his pocket he got to his feet turning to face Gene as he did the same.

“Anything wrong?” queried Gene.

“Nah. Just my ships computer telling me to get a move on. Apparently my clients been on the interspace link with some new orders. I was on my way back when I found you so I had better get going.” As he turned to go another thought seemed to occur to Styges. “Hey what’s your ship registration and hypernet address? If I take that I can always keep in contact with you and we can arrange to meet again.”

Both friends exchanged their details and bid their farewells heading in opposite directions back to their ships.

Just as Gene reached the bottom of the boarding ramp leading to the Outlaw Star’s airlock Aisha came bounding up to him from the opposite direction.

“Gene! Where have you been? Oh never mind, come on. Gillium has got a video list of possible ships docked here that might have attacked my transport. Lets get back inside and check it out.”

As they hurried up the ramp and into the airlock neither noticed the shadowy figure on one of the upper levels watching them. As the airlock closed the figure turned away and quickly disappeared back into the space station crowds.

Gene and Aisha entered the bridge of the Outlaw Star to find Jim and Melfina engrossed in the information on one of the ships forward view screens. At the sound of the door hissing closed Jim and Melfina both turned with a start.

“Gene where have you been? You where supposed to get back 2 hours ago!” began Jim, a stern expression on his young face. All of a sudden he paused looking Gene over. “You’ve been in another fight haven’t you?”

“What? How could you tell?” exclaimed Gene looking down to check out his appearance.

“Your cloths are messed up, you have blood on your shirt, and you seem to have another bruise on your cheek.” Jim gave a deep sigh of resignation for his wayward partner. “What have you gone and gotten yourself into this time Gene? I swear, we can’t land anywhere without you causing some type of trouble.”

Gene held up his hands in a defensive gesture, and tried to put on an innocent face. “It wasn’t my fault this time, really. I just got jumped by two drunk locals in a bar, that’s all it was.”

“Oh Gene. You got attacked? Are you ok?” asked Melfina rising from her seat, an expression of concern on her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine Mel.” Gene replied walking around the bridge to his command seat. “You will never guess who helped me out.”

Striding forward to stand before the view screen, Aisha suddenly cut him off. “Look, you can fill us in on your little adventure later. Right now we have a job to do finding those pirates who attacked me. Jim lets see what you found.”

“Right you are Aisha.” grinned Jim, turning back to his control station in order to bring the information up onto the screen. As the crew focused on the images appearing, no one paid any attention to Gene grumbling to himself about not being respected as the captain.

“Right. Between Melfina, Gillium and myself we have been able to identify that there have been three different ships that have docked here in the past month, that might have been responsible for the attack on the C’tarl C’tarl freighter you where aboard Aisha.” Jim continued as a list of the ships that had docked with the station in the past month appeared on the screen. “None of us where able to discern why any of these ships would have attacked a freighter if they did not wish to steal the cargo. Also Gillium can’t find anything in the Hypernet data banks to suggest that any of the ships would have a grudge against the C’tarl C’tarl in general.”

“So what your saying it could be any of them, or none of them at all.” stated Gene flatly with a dismissive wave of his hand. “So what do we do now?”

Smiling at his partners impatience, Jim hit another key and three names where singled out from the list on the screen. “Now we get Aisha to take a look and we see if she recognises any of them. Gillium, bring up the video images of the ships when docked.”

The screen changed again and three separate images appeared, each one displaying a different type of attack craft. Two of the ships displayed normal pirate insignia, however it was the third ship that Aisha pointed to with a cry of triumph.

“That’s it! That’s the ship that attacked us.”

The ship was completely black and lacked any insignia or identification marks. It appeared smaller that the Outlaw Star and had four long sweeping wings. Two protruded forward from the ships front, curving to sharp points, and the remaining pair swept out at right angles to the hull and slanted down to end in twin linked Laser cannons. The overall effect was to create a sleek and deadly image.

Aisha Turned to face Jim, a ferial look of revenge on her face. “Where is it Jim? Is it still docked to the station?” She asked, learning forward over his consol.

“Hey, take it easy Aisha.” Jim exclaimed recoiling back in his seat. “Just give me a second.” Leaning forward again he tapped a few commands into his keyboard before looking up. “The ship is listed here as being called the Crimson Reaper. Gillium run a search and find out if it’s still here.”

“Processing Jim. Please wait one moment.” Gillium replied. Several seconds passed, with Aisha hoping from foot to foot in anticipation, before Gillium’s voice gave the answer over the ships speakers. “The ship has just been given clearance to depart by the stations control tower. It left dock less that 2 solar minutes ago.”

“What!” chorused Jim, Gene, and Aisha together.

Gene was the first to recover from the shock, and he immediately began flicking switches to start the ships engines. “Jim get us clearance to leave, ASAP. Gillium bring that ship up on sensors. I want to know where this guy is heading.”

“Already done Gene” Gillium replied as the departing attack ship appeared on one of the smaller screens. “The pilot appears to be setting a course back toward the area we first encountered Aisha’s escape pod in.”

“Damn! He’s gonna get away! Jim, what’s the hold up? Do we have clearance to leave?” asked Gene, gunning the ships engines in his impatience.

“The Control centre is saying we have to wait our turn Gene. There are two other ships using the space lanes around the station and they won’t let us leave until those ships are clear.” replied Jim in a frustrated voice. He looked at Gene questioningly “What should I say to them.”

“Agggghh, I hate these station officials!” Gene cursed hotly.

Suddenly Melfina spoke from her place in the navigation tank. “Jim, put me through to the control centre. I have an idea.”

Jim hurriedly complied with Melfina’s request and a few moments later the voice of the control centre duty officer came over the comlink.

“Outlaw Star, this is Tenlos control. You are cleared for an emergency exit from the stations docking space!”

“Roger that Tenlos.” Gene replied before closing the link. “Hey Mel good work. What did you say?”

“Oh, I just told them our reactor drive had destabilized, and that we needed to get away from the station in case of an explosion.” Melfina replied innocently, causing the other crew members to smile.

With a bang audible even through the ships thick hull, the clamps holding the Outlaw Star in the docking bay snapped clear. Gene pushed the engine throttle open and the Outlaw Star rocketed forward, dodging between other docked ships and station gantries as is sped out into open space in the direction the Crimson Reaper had taken.

“Gene my scans show that the other ship has just gone to hyperspace.” stated Gillium. “I have been able to track his trajectory and power build up, and have passed the information to Melfina to calculate his intended destination.”

“Alright!” smiled Gene, a glint of anticipation in his eyes as he contemplated the coming encounter. “Mel, where’s he heading?”

“Gillium’s earlier scans where correct Gene. It appears he is heading for the area of space we encounter Aisha in.” answered Melfina quickly. “I have already programmed in a course we will be going to hyperspace in ten seconds. Everyone brace yourselves.”

Aisha laughed triumphantly from her seat on the right hand side of the ships bridge. “This guy is going to pay for attacking the C’tarl C’tarl. We will regain the honour he took and make him realise what a fool he was to cross the greatest species in the galaxy!”

“Do you think she even realises that this is not a C’tarl C’tarl ship?” remarked Jim sarcastically, casting a glance up at Gene.

Gene smiled and gripped the controls tightly. After months of boredom he was finally going to get some action he thought to himself. Anyway even if Aisha wasn’t paying them anything for this, that pirate might have a bounty on his head, and who knows there was a chance they could even salvage something from the wreckage to make a few extra wongs.

Gene pushed those thoughts aside as the hyperdrive engaged. First things first. Lets just survive and find out who’s behind all this.

The Outlaw Star emerged from hyperspace on the outskirts of the solar system where they had first located Aisha’s pod. The systems sun, still a long way off, glinted dimly, a small yellow disk against the blackness of space.

“Gillium, where’s the other ship? I can’t see it.” Gene asked, scanning the area of space around them along with the rest of the crew.

“I’m not sure Gene.” replied Gillium. “Something appears to be jamming my long range sensors.”

All of a sudden Aisha leapt to her feet and pointed out at the space ahead of the Outlaw Star. Her more powerful eyesight allowing her to spot things the others couldn’t see. “There it is! The fool is just sitting right in front of us waiting!”

Jim switched the screen magnification and sure enough the dark shape of the enemy ship came into view, almost invisible against the black background of deep space. The Outlaw star closed the distance between the two ships quickly, and came to a halt, floating in space some 5000 meters from the other craft.

“Gillium, can you get any readings from that ship? What type is it?” Gene asked, his eyes never leaving the view screen.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a ship like that Gene.” Jim responded in a vague voice.

A moment passed as Gillium accessed his database and ran scans of the ship. “It appears to be an old defence force scout vessel Gene, although it seems heavily modified. It is also emitting some type of jamming field that is affecting my sensors. I can’t even accurately detect its exact location, let alone what its armament is.”

A note of uncertainty had crept into Gilliums artificial voice at that last fact, and Gene sat up straight in his seat. “Hmm. What’s the point of sending out a jamming signal when we’ve already found him?” he voiced his thoughts allowed. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

Aisha, who had leapt to her feet as the Outlaw Star had closed the distance between the two ships, suddenly jumped to the front of the bridge an whirled around to face the rest of the crew. “What are you waiting for? Open fire on that dishonourable cur and pay him back for the trouble he’s caused!” She whirled round again to face the view screen her hands on her hips. “Finally we shall arrange the deaths of my fellow C’tarl C’tarl.”

Suddenly the view screen changed to a display of static startling Aisha. She stepped back in alarm, tripping over the raised centre of the bridge, and falling onto her backside.

“Hey Gene, we’re being hailed by the other ship.” Jim stated in surprise, glancing down at his consol and tapping a few commands into it.

Gene who had begun to slouch back into his command chair, again sat upright with a start. “So they wanna speak to us, eh? Put em through Jim lets see what they have to say.”

The screen suddenly changed again, displaying the darkened interior of the other ships bridge. A single person sat at the ships controls, and Gene recoiled in shock as he recognised the figure.

“Well, well, well. Gene Starwind. Who would have guessed we’d meet again this soon.”

“Styges! What are you doing here?” Gene managed to ask, still reeling from the shock.

Jim turned in his seat to look at Gene, a puzzled frown on his face. “Gene, you know this guy? Who is he?”

Before Gene could answer Styges cut him off. “Hey you must be Jim Hawking. Gene told me a lot about you little dude. Heh, to answer your question, Gene and I where friends from back before his father was killed. We met up back at Tenlos, and when I found out he had rescued that little cat girl there, I set up this meeting.”

“What! Who are you calling little cat girl!?!” demanded Aisha hotly, storming to the front of the bridge and standing defiantly before the view screen. However before she could begin to throw a tirade of insults Gene interrupted her.

“Aisha sit down. You not going to solve this situation by hurling verbal abuse.” Gene turned back to the view screen and fixed Styges with searching stare. “It’s true guys, Styges is an old friend of mine, but I’m beginning to think that this is one friendship which is about to be put to the test. What are you doing out here Styges attacking C’tarl C’tarl freighters and luring us to this remote system? Oh and didn’t you say your ship was called the Dark star Raider? What’s with the fake ship ID? Any other lies you want to tell me about?”

Styges leaned back into his chair and smiled. “Ha, you always where sharp Gene. Ok, I’ll level with you. Everything I told you about me and my past is true. I left my father to find out what happened to you because I didn’t want to sit around and wait for the same thing to happen to me. It was quite a shock seeing you again after all this time. As for being out here on trader business, that’s a straight up lie. As an outlaw mercenary I tend to operate outside the law, that’s the reason that my ship is under the fake ID of Crimson Reaver. I was hired to take out a person who was on that freighter, and it appears you have brought my target right back to me.”

Realisation suddenly dawned on Gene. “Your after Aisha!” he said looking at the C’tarl C’tarl girl in shock. Just as Aisha recovered from this fact and looked about to speak Gene cut her off again. “Who hired you Styges? Who would want her dead of all people?”

“Ha! Now, now Gene. You know that an outlaw never gives away the names of his clients.” Styges replied, feigning mock horror at such an idea.

Suddenly Jim spoke up rising from his seat defiantly. “Well Gene’s friend or not. If you’re after Aisha you will have to take on the Outlaw Star!”

Styges simply smiled again at this remark and leant forward in his seat. “And there in we have the problem don’t we? Now friends are hard to come by in this way of life, and I have no intention of spreading you and your crew across space just for this one girl, Gene. So as a result I have a deal for you. A one on one ship-to-ship contest, the first to yield to the other loses. If I win I get Aisha. If you win, I’ll tell you who hired me to kill her and I’ll give you the deposit they paid me as compensation.”

“I take it the alternative is that we slug it out here to the death.” answered Gene calmly. “Well I’m up for you little contest, I don’t think you stand a chance against the Outlaw Star. But it’s Aisha life on the line so the decision is hers.”

All eyes turned to Aisha. She raised her head defiantly looking first at Gene and then as Styges. “I want to know who hired you. I want to know who paid for the lives of those C’tarl C’tarl on the freighter. We accept your challenge. Bring it on!”

“Ha! Yeah! Lets Rock!” laughed Styges. “ Lets see how good you are Gene Starwind.”

With that the view screen went blank, and a moment later the vision of the Dark Star Raider reappeared on it. Jim and Aisha where already climbing into there seats and bringing the targeting systems for the Outlaw Star’s ranged weapons online.

Suddenly Jim shook his head in frustration. “It’s no good Gene. Whatever jamming unit he is using to disrupt our sensors is also affecting our weapons. I can’t even detect his ship with the missile targeter, let alone lock onto it.”

“Arrrrggggghhhhoooowwww” Aisha let out a growl of rage and punched the screen in front of her. “It’s the same with the machine guns and cannons. The system can’t lock on.”

Gillium’s voice cut off any further comments from the crew. “The Dark Star Raider is reversing away from us and is bringing its laser cannons on line. I suggest you brace for impact.

The Outlaw Star rocked violently under the laser impacts and warning lights flashed across the damage screens on the bridge. Gene hauled on the controls and the Outlaw Star arrowed upwards avoiding the worst of the firepower aimed at them. Gene levelled off again and turned to advance on the enemy ship.

“So he wants to play sneaky?” he smiled to himself “Ok then, Gillium switch to grappler combat mode!”

The bridge darkened as the Outlaw Star switched over into its close attack mode. The two massive grappler arms, used to grab onto and attack enemy ships, descended into the ready position, and Gene griped the control handles firmly.

“Gene I’m receiving an audio signal from the other ship.” Jim suddenly said, surprise in his voice. “Hey listen to this Gene!”

Styges voice suddenly filled the bridge. “Ha, switching to grappler mode Gene? Do you really think that I would take all the trouble to jam your sensors and targeters if I had no way of countering you just coming right at me? Well watch this!”

All of a sudden the Dark Star Raider seemed to waver, it’s outline becoming harder to see, and then is blended into the back ground darkness of space entirely.

“Damn!” exclaimed Gene. “Gillium, Jim. Where is he? I can’t see him.” As he spoke he looked from side to side trying to spot any trace of the near invisible ship.

“I can’t locate his exact position Gene.” Gillium replied quickly. “He is still jamming me sensors.”

Gene cursed under his breath. “We can’t fight him if we can’t see him! How has he made his ship invisible?”

“Hey I’ve got it!” cried Jim. “Take a look at this.” All of a sudden one of the screens changed to display a replay of the enemy ship becoming invisible. “See the ripple like effect as if fades from view?” Jim continued. “ I enlarged the camera shot and it looks like the ship is covered in revolving reflective plates. He simply has to angle the plates the show a reflected vision of space and as a result he appears invisible. It’s like the old vanishing tricks magicians used to do Gene.”

Without warning the Outlaw Star was rocked by a powerful explosion and everyone was throw back into the seats. For a brief second the Dark Star Raider was visible as it flashed by on the right hand side of the Outlaw Star. It turned on a wingtip and disappeared again even as Aisha sent a burst of cannon rounds wildly into space after it.

“Gene, he just took out one of our engines.” Jim called out scanning his screens readout’s. “We can’t just fire randomly. If we can damage some those reflective plates we might have a chance. Otherwise we are just sitting ducks.”

Suddenly Aisha cried out a warning. “Gene, go down, NOW!”

Gene pushed the ship down sharply and a second later a volley of missiles shot by missing them by mere meters.

“How did you know he was there Aisha?” Gene and Jim queried almost in union.

“My eye sights sharper than you human’s. Just follow what I say and I’ll get you a chance to grapple him.” she replied hotly, staring intently at the bridge screens.

“Gene we will only get on shot at this.” Jim stated nervously. “If you miss, Styges will realise we can see him and he’ll stop toying with us.”

“I know Jim. Don’t worry. Ok Aisha, lets do it.”

Silence filled the bridge as they waited. Aisha scanned the space outside, the ends of her ears twitching as she concentrated. Suddenly she cried out as she spotted movement.

“Gene, he’s below us now. Go!”

The Outlaw Star leapt forward, it’s grappler arms grabbing onto the Dark Star Raider. The two ships crashed into each other, armour and reflective plates spinning away into space as they collided. Even as Styges attempted to break free Gene brought one of the Outlaw Star’s arms forward and grabbed onto the other ships bridge.

Suddenly all movement between the two ships ceased.

The few seconds of silence that followed seemed to stretch on for ages after the frantic activity of the moments before. The crew of the Outlaw Star sat panting for breath, a mixture of shock and excitement on their faces.

The silence was broken by the main screen bursting into life at an incoming transmission. Styges appeared, also panting heavily, and held up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Ok Gene, you win.” he said wearily, a smile coming over his face again. “I yield.”

Later the same day the two ships had limped back to Tenlos station and sat side by side in the repair bays. Gene turned away from the window through which he had been looking at the ships and regarded the scene around him. Jim, Aisha and Melfina where all sat with him at a table, in one of the restaurants on the upper levels of the station. Jim and Melfina were chatting quietly, while Aisha was casting dark glances around the room between gulping down large mouthfuls of the food in front of her.

“Hey steady up Aisha” laughed Gene. “We may not be paying for this meal, but that’s no reason to cram food back at that pace.”

Aisha cast him a dirty look and mumbled something with her mouth full. Swallowing she spoke again, more clearly. “Speaking of paying. Where is that wretched outlaw.”

“Well hey. That’s no way to talk about the kind man who is buying you dinner little cat girl.” taunted Styges as he approached the table. “You didn’t think I’d skip out on paying the bill did you?” he continued, smiling.

Ignoring the looks Aisha gave him, Styges tossed a key card onto the table in front of Gene. “There you go dude. True to my word, this is the key for storage locker 59 on this station. In there you’ll find the 50,000 wongs I had as an advance payment for taking out this little C’tarl C’tarl.”

“My name is Aisha ClanClan!” interrupted Aisha angrily. “Stop wasting my time and just tell us who wanted me dead! Once I report this to my superiors in the C’tarl C’tarl military there will be hell to pay for who ever did this!”

Styges looked at her casually, his expression turning serious. “I doubt that Aisha, I really do, but a deals a deal.” He paused, seeming to think about how to word what he had to say next. “I took the contract to kill you from one of my regular contacts, so I don’t have any names of the people who hired me. But what I can tell you is that the contract originated from some one on the C’tarl C’tarl homeworld.”

A silence followed this last remark as each of the people around the table tried to comprehend what Styges had just said. Jim was the first to regain his voice and asked what all the others where thinking.

“So you mean that one of Aisha’s own species paid to have her killed?”

Styges nodded and was about to continue speaking when Aisha cut him off.

“It can’t be true. You’re lying!” she yelled storming to her feet. “A C’tarl C’tarl would never sully their honour by doing such a thing.”

“I’m sorry Aisha, but it’s true. I don’t know who it was exactly but I do know it was definitely a C’tarl C’tarl. The only person who might be able to tell you more would be my contact in the empire.” Styges suddenly paused again seeming to think of something. “Awww no! I hadn’t thought of that! Now that I’ve failed to complete my contract, that means she will be in danger of getting caught up in the repercussions. Curses! I’m gonna have to head for the empire and get her out of there before things heat up.”

Gene stood up a look of surprise on his face. “You’re leaving already Styges? What about the damage to your ship? And when will we get a chance to meet up again? We still have a lot of catching up to do, and I think you could do with explaining this to me.”

A smile returned to Styges face as he turned to leave. “Yeah, I owe you an apology and an explanation Gene. Don’t worry, I’ve got your hypernet ship address and you’ve got mine, so I’ll be in touch soon ok. As for the damage to my ship, its mostly just surface stuff and it can wait till I’ve sorted this out. Oh and don’t worry about the bill I’ve already paid it up. Catch ya later!”

With a final wave he turned and jogged across the room disappearing from view as he headed for the docking bays.

Gene turned back to the table and found Jim and Melfina staring at him.

“So what do we do now Gene?” queried Jim. “I mean if these guys sent one assassin after Aisha there bound to try again with another.”

Gene stroked his chin as he thought, glancing at Aisha who was slumped quietly in her seat. “Well I guess we can’t let her just roam about on her own.” He said suddenly. “And to tell you the truth I’m eager to get to the bottom of this as well. 50,000 wongs should help pay our investigation expenses so I say we head for the C’tarl C’tarl Empire and find out who’s after Aisha. What do ya say guys?”

“Yeah lets do it!” yelled Jim enthusiastically, punching the air to emphasise his eagerness.

Melfina smiled and quietly voiced her agreement as well.

All of them turned to Aisha waiting for her answer. She looked up slowly staring at each of them in turn, and a ferial smile curled the edges of her mouth. “I think I need to pay a visit to my home world. Lets do it!”

Gene smiled along with the rest of the crew and extended his hand to pull Aisha to her feet. “Well C’tarl C’tarl, you had better watch out. Cause here comes the Outlaw Star!”

The End (for now)