Prologue: The Blood Letter

Starwind and Hawking Enterprises was closed and quiet save a couple snores from Gene. Light began to creep into the dark until it was as light as midday. Jim was the first to stir but was followed closely by Melfina.

"How did you sleep Jim?" Melfina asked as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Hmm?" Jim blankly answered

"Oh, fine," he replied coming to his senses.

Jim sat down at the table, feeling groggier than ever. The smell of breakfast cooking must have roused Gene, for seconds after Melfina turned the stove on, he stumbled into the room. Gene lethargically slumped into a seat beside Jim and asked his usual question:

"What's to eat?"

"I was cooking some eggs," Melfina said, turning her head to face Gene. Gene smiled and folded his arms behind his head. Just when it looked as though Gene was going to nod off, a knock came at the door.

"What know?" Gene grumbled. He slid out off his seat and sauntered towards the door. Gene opened it to face a man his height and about his age.

"Are you Gene Starwind?" the stranger asked. The stranger's voice had the deep and empty feel that you get from space. It sounded older than his appearance lead him to be.

'Depends who wants to know," replied Gene mildly. The stranger blinked and stared calmly as if deciding something and then, as if to banish the idea from his head, he shook his head. His golden-brown hair sparkled idly in the sun. It hung low on the stranger's face and almost completely veiled his gray-blue eyes that shone lightheartedly.

"A letter came for you," said the stranger who in the next motion shoved a letter into Gene's hands.

"Who the hell are you?" Gene demanded.

"Just a kid trying to earn some extra cash by delivering mail," squeaked the boy, ducking to avoid Gene's fingers. "I didn't mean nothing, honest!"

"Get out of here," Gene snarled. The boy didn't lose a second. He scampered of at breakneck speed, not daring to look back.

Gene stepped inside and kicked the door shut with his foot. He sat down languidly in his chair and nonchalantly began to open the crumpled letter that had been unceremoniously forced into his hand.

"Gene, did you have to be so hard on that boy?" Melfina asked while handing Jim a plate. "I am sure he was only trying to do his job." Gene ignored this comment and pulled out the letter from the envelope.

Melfina passed Gene a plate of breakfast but he didn't notice it. He was absorbed in the letter that went like this:

Gene Starwind,

It has come to my attention that you no longer seem to be as much of an outlaw as you were some time ago. Maybe you have lost your dueling skills as well. Prove yourself. Meet me at the abandoned shipyard at sunup tomorrow. Show up or I will personally hunt you down.

Jim, who had been reading over Gene's shoulder said "Look's like your in deep again."