Hey again yalls! This is my first Outlaw star fanfic and only my third fanfic on this site. I just got this idea in my head and all you writers know that when we get an idea, it doesnt go away until it's writen down. Since I'm not real positive where I'm going with this one, I would like you all to give your opinion on whether or not I should continue. I won't be offended if you say 'it's crap! scrap it!' so don't think to spare my feelings. Also, advise and ideas are welcome:)
Outlaws never go down easy.
That's what they always said, as if it would ever make a difference. Maggie Starwind fought the tears threatening to over flow from her chocolate brown eyes. A breeze picked up, playing her dark red hair across her face, a mocking reminder of the father she would never see again. She turned from her parent's graves, knowing that if she ever returned, she would be very different.
Jim Hawking opened the door of his loft. His eyes went wide when he saw the teenage girl on his door step.
"Maggie, what the-"
Her eyes filled with tears and he paled. She didn't need to say any thing.
"Oh Maggie...I'm so sorry." He hugged her and she started crying unashamedly into his shoulder. A few tears streamed down his face as well. "Come in. I'll set up the couch."
She nodded. "I'm sorry, I should have called. I just- just couldn't tell you on the phone. I- I just Cou-couldn't-"
"It's alright Mags," he ran a hand through his sleep mussed hair. "I don't believe it. Was it pirates?"
"I think so," she nodded. "It was on Blue Heaven." For the first time since she had found her parents' bodies, a smile lit her face. "You know what that means."
He shared her grin for a moment, "You have the ship." Suddenly his voice turned serious, as though realizing what this meant. "You have the ship! Maggie, you aren't thinking of..." the steely look in her eyes was the only answer he needed. "Mags, listen to me, I know your upset now, but just stay here a few days before you do anything rash."
"Fine," she shrugged. "I need to find a crew any way." She raised her eyebrow at him. "Preferably, the crew."
"Oh no," Jim shook his head frantically. "You are not dragging me into this."
"Jim," she looked sadly at him. "I need you. I can't do this alone."
He sighed. "Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning."
"Jim?"
They both jumped as a young woman with curly brown hair peered into the small living room.
"Oh, sorry," Jim kneaded his eyes a moment. "Maggie, this is Jessica, my fiance. Jess, this is Maggie. Her parents are- were," he corrected himself, swallowing hard. "Gene and Melfina. They were killed and she has no where to go."
"Oh no!" Jessica's kind eyes filled with worry. "Are you hurt? Do you have clothes to sleep in?" She bustled off, finding a nightgown and blankets for Maggie.
"You see?" Jim tried to sound calm and reasonable. "I have a life now. Being an outlaw was never my first choice in professions." He swallowed again. "Melfina was the only mother I ever had. And Gene," he gave a wry smile. "Well, I couldn't chose a better big brother. But I'm not leaving Jessica to seek revenge for them now."
"You'll feel different in the morning." They chorused. Jim shook his head.
"Stubborn as hell," he sighed. "Just like your dad. Alright, I'll humor you for now, but I'm not making any promises."
"You will," she smiled. "Just you wait."
Maggie woke to the smell of omelets and toast. For a moment, she could kid herself that it was her mother yawning over the stove and that her father was still snoring away in bed. She could pretend that when she was fully awake, she would sneak into her parent's room and dump a glass of water on his face, and he would chase her around the ship, just like when she was six. When he caught her, he would spin her around in a wide arc, laughing as she screamed for him to put her down.
But it would never happen again. She would never eat her mother's cooking or practice shooting with her father, again. The old part of her life was over, and now she had to move on. She swiped the tears angrily from her eyes, promising herself they would be the last ones she would cry until she had avenged her parent's deaths. Maggie stood up, pulling her fingers through her shoulder length hair.
"You're up!" Jessica smiled at her from the kitchen. "How'd you sleep?" Then she winced. "I'm sorry, that was a stupid question."
"It's alright," Maggie tried to look as well rested as possible. "I didn't sleep that bad." The circles under her eyes must have betrayed her, because Jessica gave her a knowing look.
"Sure, and I suppose you'll next tell me the moons spin around the sun."
Jim staggered into the kitchen in a similar state as Maggie.
"Mornin," he mumbled.
"Good morning Hun," Jess flipped an omelet one handed, just like Maggie's father used to do. "Sleep at all?"
"A bit."
"Why do you two insist on lying?" she shook her head. "You've lost your parents," she pointed the frying pan at Maggie. "And you've lost some of your best friends in the universe." she turned the pan to Jim. "What's the problem in admitting that you lost sleep over it?"
Jim smiled, shaking his head. "And this is why I love you."
"Shut that mouth of yours and eat."
"Yes dear."
Maggie grinned impishly. Whipped! She mouthed at him. He threw a roll at her. Maggie giggled. She knew she was right to come to Jim first. He had always been like an older brother to her, taking care of her when she was too young to fly with her parents. She muttered her thanks to Jessica as she set out the food. It was Delicious, almost as good as her mother's.
"So I figure we'll find Aisha first," she made sure Jim's mouth was full before starting. "Last I heard she was here on Sentinel 3. Have you heard from Sazuka? I've no clue where she disappeared to. I checked Gilliam's records and all I know is that she isn't on Blue Heaven."
Jim choked on his toast. "What?" he croaked after she pounded him on the back. "Well... I thought maybe you could stick around here for a few days. Get your things in order." He resisted the urge to add, 'put your head on straight for once.'
"Fine," she shrugged. "I need to do a few repairs on the ship anyway."
"You have money?" Jim asked shrewdly. "Maintenance crews are killers for cash."
"If there's one thing I learned from Dad," she grinned. "It's how to fix the Outlaw Star with my own two hands. He said he didn't want me stranded on some planet, scraping for cash."
"I wish he learned that lesson a long time ago," Jim grumbled. "I was always the one scraping for the cash."
"That's why he needed a new plan when you left," she grinned. "All I need to pay for is parts. And I think I can manage that for now." She chewed her omelet thoughtfully. "It will take me... three days. Tops. Don't worry, I'll figure something out, and when I do, we can go find Aisha and Suzu."
"Stubborn as hell," Jim grumbled. Jess winked at Maggie.
"Was he ever a morning person? Or did I do this to him?"
"I don't know you'd have to ask-" she caught herself before she said 'my dad.' "Aisha or Suzu." she amended.
"Jim? Is that you?" Maggie called from the cock pit of the Outlaw star. "Chuck me a wrench, will ya?" A wrench was pressed into her open palm. "Thanks. What'er ya doin here? I thought you had to work at the shop until six."
"I don't know who Jim is," said a voice good naturedly. "But if he got a pretty thing like you, I envy him already..." The words died on the young man's lips as the barrel of an old caster gun was shoved under his jaw. He swallowed, but regained his composer rather quickly. "Now that isn't very friendly, now is it?"
"Call it a fruit basket and we're even," Maggie snarled. "Who the hell are you?"
"Just a kid lookin for the captain of the newest ship on the planet." he shrugged. "Can you put that antique down now?"
Maggie holstered the weapon reluctantly. "What do you want with the captain," she crossed her arms over her stomach, remaining rigid and foreboding. The boy on the other hand, stood non chalantly, his thumbs in his pockets.
"I was wondering if I could get a job," he shrugged. "I haven't seen much of a crew hanging around here. I haven't even seen the captain yet, so I figured I'd check it out to see if they're hiring."
"Really?" Maggie raised an eyebrow at him. "What skills could you offer a ship of this stature?"
"Well," he rocked back and forth on his heels. "I work navigation usually but I can fly in an emergency."
"Hmm," Maggie thought hard. She couldn't believe it. The answer to her prayers was standing right in front of her, with the biggest smart ass grin possible on his face. She couldn't pilot the Outlaw star. She was needed in the large glass tube. She was the only person alive with the ability to lift the ship off. But still... how could she trust him? "What do you expect of payment?"
"Well," the boy looked uncomfortable. "Room and board, actually. I don't need anything else."
"What a lucky thing," she smirked. "That's all... the captain's got. Is there a cruiser you can demonstrate your skills with?"
"I dunno," he shrugged again. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet, actually."
She snorted. "Well, we'll just have to see about that." She jerked her head at the door. "Come back here tomorrow. I'll try to get the rest of the crew to come," she tried to think fast. How long would it take to convince the others to come?
"Wait! I haven't even gotten your name yet!" he protested when she turned back to dismantling part of a control panel.
"I haven't gotten yours yet either," she commented, bent over her work. "And you being the gentleman, I assumed you'd introduce yourself."
"I'm sorry," the boy stuck out his hand without missing a beat. "I'm Jack."
"You got a last name Jack?"
"Nope," he replied easily.
"Alright then Jack Nope," a bit of humor danced in her brown eyes. "I'm Maggie Starwind, but from now on you will address me as Captain."
So what do you think? Should Aisha and Sazuka come with? or would that be too convienient? Should I hire a whole new crew? Suggestions are extreamly helpful!