Author's Notes: Hm...I'm new to the Outlaw Star fiction...and in all honesty, I've only seen the series one time through. I must say, I was thuroughly disappointed with it. I mean, it had so much potential...and they didn't do a thing with it. I would have loved to have seen an episode that went into someone's past OTHER than Gene. And so, because of that...I chose to do something about it. I liked Jim a lot. Along with Harry MacDougal, Jim was my favorite. Hrm...and a side-note...I saw the series subtitled. So, there is some Japanese words in here. I don't know what I'm going to do with this story...this is mostly a skeletal frame for it right now...and I'll build on it eventually when I decide what direction I'm going in. For now...I just wanted to post the first chapter before the OS fic section got too crowded out on FF.net...hopefully for some sort of feedback. Anyway, as I always say with my fics...I hope you enjoy. ^__^; (an extra note...to anyone who cares or doesn't know: Rough & Tough is the name of Jim's image song).
It had been four years since the events of the Leyline; four years of absolutely no excitement; four years of no adventures; and worst of all, four years of grueling odd jobs just to scrounge up some money to pay back the horrendous debts that were owed to Fred Luo. But, the one good thing to come out of all of it, was the business that the newly founded Starwind and Hawking enterprise was racking up. Amusingly enough, even despite the lack of action-packed adventures they were having, both Suzuka and Aisha stayed with them to tough it out. Either that...or to freeload off of them the entire time.
For the past couple of months, they had been grounded on Sentinel III, staying at the original house Gene and Jim started at. It was really the only thing they could afford with the majority of their profits going toward Fred. Yes, yes...Gene recalled his words about running away and paying only when he 'made it big.' But, with things the way they were, he wanted someplace to live a semi-quiet life with Melfina. Four years could really change a guy. Everyone seemed to have changed a little in their own way. Gene was a bit more dependable (just a bit) and Melfina seemed a bit more...human. Suzuka opened up a tad more and Aisha...well...Aisha was basically the same.
But, the real difference was in Jim. Already having been mature for the young age of eleven, at fifteen he was even more so...in both attitude and appearance. True, he retained some of his childish nature. He still looked up at Melfina as a motherly figure and still talked to the little pink Gilliam bot (redecorated by himself) on occasion. But, for the most part, he had changed, growing wiser by the day. He was also taller and a bit more built, though he did have the slender frame that those who weren't completely used to fighting often had at his age. Light locks of honey glazed brown were unruly and tousled, even more than before. One might even go as far as to call him...boyishly handsome.
That day in particular, everyone was lingering around the house. Gene had just gotten out of the shower and was parading around in nothing but a towel, not seeming to care just who he gave an indecent show to, but hey...that was Gene. Melfina had been in the kitchen, making a nice, hot breakfast for everyone while Suzuka sat at the table, sipping her daily tea and reading the paper at the same time. Aisha and Jim were currently in the living room. The Ctarl-Ctarl was playing a video game of some sort while Jim had curled up with his pillow and blanket on the couch to watch some television. Hey, even highly intelligent hackers found cartoons amusing from time to time.
"Nyaa?! Game Over?! This is a disgrace to a Ctarl-Ctarl to be--Ooo, look! I've got some continues left--" Once again, the cat girl involved herself avidly in the game.
"Aisha! Would you keep it down?! I'm trying to watch this!" Jim furrowed his brows in aggravation.
An ear twitched downward and she spared a glance toward the boy, swiftly pausing the game, "You should be the one to keep quiet! I'm on the last level here. All these months of playing this and I'm finally going to beat it!" Suddenly a pillow went sailing at the starry-eyed neko, sending her backwards off the chair. Aisha swiftly sprang to her feet, glaring at him. "What's the big idea?!"
"QUIET!" The fifteen year old reached for the remote, turning up the volume so as to drowned her out completely.
All she did was hiss and then snort, indulging in the game once more. For a few brief moments, all was peaceful. Until of course, Aisha lost her final life. The game player was launched toward the nearest wall and she dusted her hands off innocently, marching toward the kitchen. Jim glanced over at the shattered remains and then released a heavy sigh.
"And she wonders where her portion of the money goes..."
"Jim!"
He blinked, glancing over his shoulder to spot Melfina there, "Hai?"
"I made you some eggs and toast. Just the way you like it," She appeared pleased with herself.
"Hai," He smiled and then sprang up to his feet. The scene was familiar as he made it into the dining area. Especially with Gene's vulgar habit to drink out of the milk carton itself. "Aniki! Did you ever think some of us don't want to share spit with you?!"
"Hmph, if you don't like it, Jim, then buy your own milk..." Gene brought his arm across his upper lip to gather the remains of white liquid.
The fifteen year old slid into his seat, "That was my milk. I buy the food around here, remember? And I'm sure if I didn't, no one else would...with maybe the exception of Melfina."
"A man's gotta buy his booze. You'll learn that when you're old enough, heh."
"I am old enough, aniki. Legally, I can drink on the total of five planets."
"He's got a point there, Gene..." Suzuka looked up only briefly, before she turned the page of that paper, skimming over the rest of the black print.
"Great, then let's board Outlaw and take you to one of them..." The redhead smirked.
"Yeah, good luck. One's so temperate, you can barely go anywhere without being caught up in some bizarre weather. The other's gravitational pull is approximately--"
"Nyaa~! Must you start getting all smart this early in the morning?!" Aisha glared at Jim.
"Actually...it isn't all that early, it's--" Melfina started, but was cut off by another loud 'nyaa.'
"Don't mind her, Melfina. She's going to be a bit temperamental since she lost her last life in that game..." The youngest informed.
"H-hai..." Melfina blinked, sinking down beside Gene, who blatantly placed a hand on her thigh. A light rosy tint came into the bio-android's cheeks, before her gaze settled on Jim again. "How is your food, Jim?"
"Just great!" He closed his eyes happily.
"Arigatou."
"Oi...today I gotta take care of that mission..." Gene groaned, removing his hand from it's inappropriate place.
"What mission?" Jim quirked a brow.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I never told you. I gotta borrow your car."
"Nani?!"
"I won't take it far. And I'll even refill the gas..."
The teenager sweatdropped, "That's not what I'm afraid off..."
"Anyway, I'm doing this solo."
That got to Jim right there. He leapt up from his chair, slamming his palm flat against the surface of the table. This action forced even Suzuka to look up as she steadied the cup of tea from spilling. He didn't seem to pay it any mind, rather just glared at Gene, "Doushite?!"
"Calm down, Jim. You gotta do repairs on Outlaw Star anyway, ne?"
"That's not the point! This is supposed to be Starwind and Hawking! It's a partnership and so far you've left me in the dark with all of the missions except the lousy ones. It's not fair!"
"Someone's cranky..." Aisha appeared mildly amused, after all, this was pay back to Jim for earlier.
"Shut up!" He barked at the neko-girl.
"Jim..." Melfina frowned. She wasn't sure what to say, but wanted to comfort him somehow. A small smile curved on her lips as she offered the only thing she could think of. "Do you want some more breakfast?"
"Ie! I don't want anything anymore. I'm sick of this..." With that, he stormed off in the opposite direction, muttering various curses under his breath.
"Well...it looks like you managed to screw up once again, Gene. Bravo..." The ex-assassin stated calmly, drawing in a sip of her luke warm beverage.
"Feh! I don't care about him. Let's go, Melfina...you too, Suzuka. I can use your help," Gene rose to his feet.
"What about me?" Aisha furrowed a brow.
"Eh, I don't need any Ctarl-Ctarls getting in my way. After all, Aisha...you have a tendency to cause more trouble than me..." He laughed heartily.
She hissed, baring her claws angrily, "Gene Starwind...!"
He tossed his head back with a chuckle, "I'm getting out of here."
"Anou...Gene?" Melfina clasped her hands in front of herself.
"Un?" He looked toward her over his shoulder.
Absently, a hand lifted to tuck a few raven strands behind her ear, "You are going to get some clothes on, ne?"
Gene arched a brow and then reddened as he glanced toward the towel, "U-un!"
With nothing short of disdain, Jim stomped down those stairs, making it a personal point to be as loud as possible. Once he reached his so-called office (which was really only the basement), he threw open the door and slammed it behind him. A sigh of exasperation escaped his lips and the fifteen year old frame slid to the ground. He silently pulled knees to his chest and laid his chin atop them. A mess of honey-brown dripped into his eyes, but at the current moment he didn't seem to pay much attention to that. He was just so aggravated.
Personally, Jim wasn't sure why with all the years that he spent there, why he stayed. He could have easily pursued other things. There were always jobs for hackers out there. Granted, he wasn't the best hacker, but he could have found a job that was much better than being constantly kicked aside by Gene. He had done nothing but stick by him loyally, too! He had been there from the beginning and now Gene wouldn't even let him in on what it was he was about to do. And the worst part was...he wanted to use his car for it!
Jim sighed and then narrowed his eyes, grasping one of those gizmo's that lay strewn out at his side, before he chucked it at the wall in front of him angrily, "Damn you, Gene Starwind! I wish the Anten seven had killed you back then!"
"Doushitemo, Jim?" The familiar voice of Gilliam questioned about the boy's troubles.
He blinked, glancing in the direction of the little pink contraption beside his lap top. A small and very faint smile touched his lips as he pushed himself upright, moving over in that direction, "Gilliam...I guess you're the only one I can talk to now."
"I take it Gene has done something stupid, has he not?"
"Un, demo...when's aniki not doing something stupid?" Jim slid onto the black cushion chair, causing it to swerve slightly, but he soon steadied it by placing his feet flat on the floor.
"Do you care to talk about it? I know I am not quite capable of understanding your troubles, demo...I will do my best to give you some appropriate advice..."
"Arigatou..." He smiled some before he just sighed. "It's just that I thought me and aniki are supposed to be partners. I mean, we named our business after our last names! And we had that whole adventure at the Leyline together. Not to mention all the stuff before the Leyline. I thought he needed me and that I was important."
"You are important, Jim..."
"Damn it, Gilliam! Then how come I don't feel that way?! How come no one around here treats me like I'm worth something! It's only if they need something that has to do with computers. Otherwise, just forget about it."
"I understand completely, for as a machine, I am only used when needed."
Jim frowned somewhat, laying his chin on his forearms which crossed together on the desk, "But that's the difference between you and me. I'm a person, a human being."
"And if I were a human being, I am sure I would be upset as well..."
"Gilliam, I just don't get aniki..."
"You and me alike, Master Jim."
He laughed quietly, "And you claim you don't get human emotion. At least we have that one thing in common. I wonder if Melfina can claim she understands him any better."
"Possibly, demo that would only be due to something that's referred to as 'women's intuition.' "
The fifteen year old nodded slowly. A fingertip worked it's way along the surface he leaned on, moving it's way to scratch at something that was stuck there, chipping it bit by bit, "I don't get why we all haven't gone our separate ways yet. Suzuka and Aisha would do well on their own."
"Human beings form a certain bond with each other over time. It's a well-known fact, Jim."
"I suppose..." He sighed somewhat. "Demo, why do people like aniki so much? It's not like he's that great."
"I think you could answer that yourself, Jim. Why did you like him?"
The young hacker blinked and stopped what he was doing so his gaze could shift toward the little pink Gilliam, "Heh...are you turning into my shrink now, Gilliam?"
"I do not know what you mean. I am merely trying to help you..."
"I know. Arigatou for that...at least you take the time to listen to me..." Jim shifted back in the chair, clasping his hands behind his head and propping his feet on the desk. "I suppose it all just goes back to the fact that for a while aniki was the only guardian I had."
"You do not have any other parents, Jim?"
"I do. Or...I did. My okaasan died right after I was born. And my otousan, well, can I trust you with a secret, Gilliam?"
"Hai...I am designed to hold the secrets of my crew..."
"Demo, this is just a secret between you and me. Meaning you can't tell anyone. Even though aniki already knows most of it. No doubt he forgot..." He narrowed his eyes bitterly.
"I will not tell a soul..."
"Good! Well, I guess in a way...I've always admired aniki. When I was young and we first met, he was unlike anyone I had ever known. So free and independent. I mean, at first look, you wouldn't be able to tell how much of a bastard he was...heh. Demo, I suppose I should start at the very beginning, huh?"
"The beginning is normally a good thing to begin with..."
Jim chuckled quietly, dropping his legs to the floor again and leaning forward in the chair. He moved closer to Gilliam so he could talk in a lower voice, just in case someone happened to be nearby, which he highly doubted. After all, Gene was off on his important mission. And he probably took everyone else along with him, but one really never knew. Sepia-hued spheres shifted aside before he drew in a breath and gave his attention toward the bot.
"Okay...it all started about five years ago...right here on Sentinel III..."