A Voice in the Dark
By: Anime Angel ^0^
* I do not own this show (Outlaw Star) though I wish I did! //^_^\\ This fic sorta takes place somewhere inbetween all of the episodes I guess. It could take place afterwards....If you don't want it that way you could always, like, think of it as something that could of happened. Also, I am a big Jim/Melfina fan (her thinking of him as a son and him thinking of her as a mother) I didn't notice this whole thingy until like far into the series (uncut version) It may seem kinda cruel or something but that's just the way I write. And yes...I do have a pln for the name: A Voice in the Dark. You will just have to wait and see. Please r/r and enjoy my ficcy!
"JIM! We have no food!" Melfina's quiet voice called into the hall. She did another search throught the refrigerator before giving up. "Where's Gene?" she asked.
"I think he went out to have some fun," Jim's muffled voice came in through the door.
"We need food!" Melfina complained. "I don't have anything to make dinner and it's getting late!"
Jim peered in through the door, his face covered in dust from their luggage. "I have some money, if you want to go get some," he suggested. "It would give you a chance to get out of this apartment and get some fresh air."
Melfina looked up at him. "Will you come with me?" she asked in a hopeful voice.
Jim smiled. "Sure!"
*****
"Mel!!" Jim stumbled around the corner of one of the many food stands at the "Get it Cheap" mart. Though he was happy about getting out of the small apartment Gene had picked out for them, he was not too glad about being Melfina's food cart.
"Don't worry we're almost done Jim." Melfina scanned her list one last time. "Oh wait!" She disappeared around a corner and returned with a jar. She added it to the pile of food Jim was already carrying. "Okay! We're done!" she announced.
"Glad to hear it," Jim mumbled.
After paying for all of the food, they headed back. They were on foot; Gene had taken the car.
"I'm gonna have a talk with Gene about asking to use other people's property," Jim decided. He shook his head in disgust and shifted the weight of the groceries to his left arm. "It was my car ya know."
Melfina silently grinned at jim's complaining. "At least he left you some money--" Without warning, Melfina was pulled back into a dark alleyway. She yelped in surprise. "Jim, HELP!"
"Mel!" Jim dropped his heavy load of groceries and ran after her. The large man who had grabbed Melfina was now dragging her into a large, empty parking lot. He threw Melfina onto the ground.
"So, your the android girl my employer wanted," he sneered. He circled her like a rabid dog. "Ya know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a real girl." He bent over her small form and examined her features. "Very realistic--"
"Leave her alone!" Jim ran full speed at the man, knocking him flat on his back. "Mel, you okay?" Jim helped her up off of the ground.
"Why you little....." The man rose to his feet, and in the process his cloak fell to the pavement. On his arm, standing out against his pale skin, was the mark of the bounty hunter gang called Imitsu. Jim knew them, they were a notorious gang of bounty hunters. Not all of them were well-known, but they were provided with the best training and weapons around.
"Why are you after ... me?" Melfina's voice quavered.
"I'm bein' paid...that's why."
Jim, seeing Melfina's fear, postitioned himself in front of her. Despite the fact that the rough looking bounty hunter was about four feet taller than him, he was ready to take him on.
"Move out of the way kid. It'll make both our lives a lot easier..." The man was about eight feet tall, and was obviously an alien of some sort. He was well built, and looked ready to take on anything. With an angry glare in his eyes, he stepped menacingly toward Jim.
"Leave us alone, mister," Jim said again, his eyes furrowed in anger and frustration. He began to back away as the man closed in on him.
"Fine kid, you wanna fight? You got it." With one swift movement he knocked Jim to the ground. The hunter advanced on Melfina.
"NO!" Melfina cried. Jim swung his legs under the larger man, tripping him.
"That's it. I've had enough of you ya son of a --" The man grabbed Jim and, moving swiftly and deadly, proceeded to beat his smaller victim.
"Jim! Stop it!" Melfina backed away. She wasn't sure what to do at all.
The bounty hunter threw Jim to the ground. Melfina winced as his small body crunched on impact with hard earth. The pirate, now thouroughly ticked off, lifted Jim up again. His smaller opponent wriggled in his grasp, but it did nothing to help.
Loosening his hold, the man let Jim fall to the ground. As soon as the boy was down, he positioned his foot on Jim's chest. Melfina watched in anger and horror as he began to crush his victim. Jim's small body began to give out, and he wriggled in pain under the man.
"Stop!" Melfina tried to move, but she was afraid of what the bounty hunter could do to her. She took a step forward, but couldn't go any further.
With a focused grunt, the man dug his heel into Jim's chest. The boy let out a starngled cry as his ribs began to crack, but the hunter continued to mercilessly beat him. After a few more blows to Jim's already broken body, the man backed off. Like a hungry shark, he watched his victim struggle to get up. Jim's movements to rise soon became sluggish, and he collapsed onto the pavement, his body limp. Tiny spots of blood matted his blond hair, and his arms and legs were bruised and mangled.
The hunter, satisfied his opponent was down for good, smiled. He picked up Jim's unconscious form and tossed him at Melfina.
She flinched when Jim landed at her feet, but then rushed to help him. Before she could do anything , the bounty hunter pulled her away. Her body fell against his and he grinned.
"You are realistic," he said. "Even the emotion in your eyes..." The man stared at her for a moment. She struggled in his hold, but he only pulled her closer. "Ya know, I might just keep you for myself--"
A shot pierced the darkness. It seemed like forever until the hunter collapsed onto the ground, a small bullet hole in his back.
"MEL!"
Melfina let out a sigh of relief at the sound of Gene's voice.
"Gene!" she cried. "Help Jim. Please!"
*****
Gene Starwind laid Jim's crumpled body onto one of the beds in their apartment. He gingerly began pulling off his younger partner's jacket and shirt.
"Mel."
"Yes....Gene?" Her voice quavered.
"Get me some cloth bandages from the large box in the hall will ya'?"
"May I ask, Gene, why we aren't taking Jim to a medical facility?"
"Because now this guy, whoever employed the bounty hunter, knows where you are. The first place he'll check is a hosptal."
With a slight nod, Melfina went to get some bandages. She handed Gene the package, and he began to patch Jim up.
With a loud bang, Aisha burst through the door. "WHAT'S GOING ON--" She stopped. Her eyes shifted from Melfina to Gene (who was now sitting on the bed) to Jim's still body. Her happy mood darkened. "What happened?" she whimpered.
*****
Gene hurredly handed a pile of clothes to Aisha to pack. She stuffed them into one of their many suitcases. They needed to get out of the city, and fast. If the bounty hunters knew where they were, then they would take no time in finding out where Gene and Melfina had checked in. He finished packing all of Jim's things and then called for Melfina. When she didn't come, he figured that she was probably in the other room with Jim.
"Melfina, we need to get out of here!" Gene burst in through the door, and then stopped. His eyes shifted towards the corner of the room. There, sitting in a small wooden chair, was Melfina. Her eyes were focused downward on a large lump in her lap. With sudden surprise, Gene realized that she was holding Jim. His bandaged head was cradled in her arm, and his limp legs dangled downward. He realized that she was singing to him. The words were soft and gentle, something Gene had never heard before. The whole scene reminded Gene of a mother with her child.
"Mel..." He wasn't sure what to say. Melfina stopped singing and looked up at him with sorrowful eyes.
"Gene...I..." She lowered her head. "He was getting restlesss. I didn't know what to do so I....I figured if I held him he would...."
Gene walked over to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," he said. "No harm done." He carefully lifted Jim out of her arms. "Why don't you go join Aisha in the car. I'll be right there," he whispered.
*****
Melfina silently scolded herself as Gene slowly drove to the next city. She felt worthless. Thoughts haunted her like a ghost, and she couldn't make them go away. It's my fault that his happened. My fault that Jim was hurt, my fault that Hilde was killed, my fault....my fault that we're running. She pulled on a loose button that was hanging off of her blue outfit. The outfit that Jim had picked out for her...
"Mmmmmmm..." Jim moaned restlessly. His head shifted in her lap, and he turned to face her. His eyes slowly opened. "Mel?"
Melfina smiled down at him, and Gene stopped the car.
"Hey sleepy head, ya woke up!" Gene exclaimed. He grinned at his little 'brother'.
Slowly, very slowly, Jim began to sit up. He rubbed his eyes.
"Where...where are we?"
"Gene decided we should ...um...leave!" Aisha informed him.She hopped over the front seat and into the back. "Soooooooo...did it hurt?"
Melfina shooed her away. "I think it would be best if Jim just rested at the moment..."
Aisha pouted, her whiskers scrunching up. "Fine!" She moved back up front.
Jim suddenly jerked up. "MEL!" he exclaimed. "You all right?! What happened?!" He winced and laid back down in the seat. With a sigh he looked up at Gene.
"I'm fine Jim," she reassured him. "Gene came along and saved me..."
"You got that right!" Gene boasted. "Why if it weren't for me Melfina woulda been dead meat on a stick--" He paused. Jim had fallen back asleep, his head resting on the seat. "Jeez, am I that boring?" Gene started the car back up.
A few hours later the group arrived at a small hotel. Suzuka was there waiting for them. She had checked everything out, just to make sure it was safe. Now she stood with her sword in hand, a frown on her face.
"What is it?" Gene asked, carrying Jim up to the curb.
"I found out who's after Melfina," she said quietly.
"Oh yeah, who's it this time?" Gene wasn't joking, of that Suzuka could tell.
"A man by the name of Disona." She pulled out a card. On it was various information, including the name Disona Cant, and a phone number.
"Never heard of this guy." Gene studied the name carefully.
"He's a big time business man. He heard of the Outlaw Star and now he's obsessed with making an exact duplicate. He needs Melfina to finish it."
Gene frowned. Big time business man meant big time bounty hunters.
"Gene?"
He turned around to find himself face to face with Melfina.
"Maybe I should leave..." Her soft eyes shifted to Jim. "I don't think that being here is safe for you or--"
"Now don't start thinkin like that Mel." Gene put the man's card in the pocket of Jim's jacket. "You are no trouble whatsoever ya hear?" He stared her straight in the eye. "Hmm?"
"I'm sorry Gene," she whispered. Brushing past him, she made her way into the hotel.
When she got to their new room, she plopped down onto the soft bed. Looking out the window, Melfina could see Gene, Aisha and Suzuka standing on the street corner. Her eyes blurred. It's my fault they all look so worried...
Hot, wet tears started to roll down her cheeks. She had never felt like this before. With a shaky hand, she wiped them. It's my fault that Jim is hurt, and now the others could get hurt also. Why did I have to be created as an android? The tears fell freely now, but she didn't wipe them off. If they hadn't have rescued me, Gene wouldn't have been force to leave his home planet. They wouldn't have been attacked so many times by pirates and bounty hunters. They all would have a lot less to worry about... She stood up and wandered into the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, Melfina saw a human girl. Dark hair, large eyes. She recalled what the bounty hunter had said. 'So realistic...' Too realistic. Too special, she thought. Created for one purpose, and one purpose only.
With one final look in the mirror, she decided that she could no longer cause her friends any pain. I have to correct everything I've done to them...
*****
It was one o clock am. Melfina had set the time that evening. She had made sure that only she could hear its high frequency waves so it didn't disturb the others.
Being careful not ot make any noise, she tiptoed into Gene's bedroom. She studied all of his bags carefully before opening the one with a red star mariking it's tag.
"Sorry I have to steal, Gene," Melfina whispered. She took out as much money as she would need, and then made her way out of the room. She took one last look at Gene's sleeping form before closing the door. Goodbye...
Next she grabbed her blue outfit, and a couple of Suzuka's robes. Melfina knew that they would be too big, but she would need them anyway. She felt terrible about the stealing, but it was better than jeopardizing their lives.
After a few minutes of silent packing, Melfina was ready to leave. Before she went, however, she made her way to Jim's room. His soft snoring met her ears as soon as she entered the room, but it didn't bother her. Slowly, she made her way to his bed.
"Goodbye Jim." Melfina felt the stinging of tears in her eyes again as she pulled the covers up to his chin and softly said goodbye. "I'm sorry..."
To be continued...
*Well? How's it sound so far? It sucks? It's okay? I NEED OPINIONS! Generally my writing isn't that good, but at least yall know what the crew looks like, eh? Well....hope you read the rest...