"Gene!"
"Gene they're coming in fast!"
"I see them Jim! Gilliam?!" Gene barked.
"Yes Gene?"
"Take us into sub-ether!"
"Right away Gene," Gilliam replied.
"Gene they're sending missiles."
"90 seconds until sub-ether," Gilliam informed the crew.
"Gene, the McDougall brothers are deploying their grappler arms!"
"Gene stay and fight like a Ctarl-Ctarl!"
"Gene…!"
"Gene….!"
"Gene…..."
"Entering sub-ether in 20 seconds," were the only words Gene heard before the Outlaw Star lurched forward violently, sending its unsuspecting passengers to the floor.
"What NOW!" Gene roared.
"Reactors 3 and 4 have been hit," Melfina replied nervously.
"We're about to jump into sub-ether! Not again," Jim groaned.
"We've survived a jump while being hit before, piece of cake," Gene said confidently.
"Hold on tight everyone we're going to make the first jump," Melfina advised.
The Outlaw Star rocked violently once more and vanished from sight in a blast of light. The McDougall brothers watched and swore loudly, scrambling to launch their own ship into sub-ether to follow.
When the ship slowed down and the light from the jump ceased, the crew found themselves floating in a nearly vacant area of space. The ship slowed to a crawl and floated through the black with its passengers thanking the universe for their lives.
Gene let out a huge sigh, as did everyone, save Suzuka whose calm demeanor was as unbroken as ever.
"Take us back to Heifong 3 Gilliam." Gene leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head and shut his eyes.
Gilliam remained silent.
"Gilliam?" The red head asked slowly.
"We seem to be in an unidentified area," the ship's computer informed the redhead.
"What does that mean?" Gene's eyes narrowed.
"It means we're lost you moron!" Jim yelled and threw his arms up in exasperation.
"Hey watch it you!" Gene leaned down to hit Jim when Gilliam spoke again.
"We seem to have entered a new galaxy altogether."
"WHAT!?" Everyone cried out in unison.
"Alright let's calm down and figure this out," Gene said settling back into his seat.
"Gene I'm picking up something," the raven haired girl spoke timidly from the back.
"What is it Mel?"
"It seems to be a planet, or something of the sort."
"Alright I say we land there and figure out where we are."
"You had a good idea for once, I agree." Jim piped up.
"Jim, why I oughta..!"
Gilliam guided the ship towards the unfamiliar planet as the crew of the Outlaw Star stared out the windows. "It's kind of pretty," Melfina said softly. The Twilight Assassin stepped up beside Gene. "Gilliam, perhaps you can locate an area out of sight of any possible towns?"
"Good thinking," the hot tempered captain grinned.
"Of course it was. I'm the one who thought it up." Suzuka grinned as Gene groaned. "Oh, not you too!"
Gilliam did as asked and guided the ship onto a flat rock bed. Once they touched ground Gene jumped up and out of his chair.
"Alright, so let's explore!" He chirped excitedly.
"Hold on a second Gene, as we landed I picked up a town at about seven miles away," Gilliam said.
"Right, uh thanks G, we'll head over there I guess. While we're gone make sure no one enters the ship."
"Understood Gene. Safe travels to you all," Gilliam called after them as they stepped out of the XGP.
After about ten minutes the whining began.
"Gene, I'm hungry," Aisha wailed.
"You're always hungry," he replied irritably.
"Gene, I'm tired of walking."
"Jim, we've only been out for ten minutes!" He turned and began to yell at the two of them while Melfina nervously tried to stop the argument.
The quartet was silenced when Suzuka pointed ahead. "I believe that is the town Gilliam mentioned."
Aisha's jaw dropped. "Why didn't I see it first?" She wailed.
"You were too busy hounding me about food," Gene spat.
Aisha glared at him. "Do not take that tone with me."
"I will talk to you in any way I want!"
Jim sighed. "Shut the hell up, both of you! Look, Gene that looks like a bar let's go check it out," Jim said knowing full well that Gene would jump at the chance to go to a bar.
"Huh, looks like you're right Jimbo! I think it warrants a look around."
They approached said bar, Le Fin, and went in.
In the dimly lit room they could see only one other customer. He was a tall and rather large man in an unassuming brown coat and hat. Gene ignored him and marched up to the dark haired woman at the counter.
"Hey sweetheart, got anything good in this dump?"
Jim bashed him over the head with his handheld computer. While Gene was crouched on the floor cradling his head Jim approached the woman at the counter.
"Sorry about that moron, just ignore him." He smiled. "Hello, we were just wondering where we are? We're not from around here you see and we got a little….turned around."
She smiled benignly at him. "Sure thing darling, you're on Ganymede."
"Ganymede?" Gene said standing up and rubbing his head.
"Yes, it's one of the moons that orbits Jupiter," the bartender was looking at them strangely now.
"Jupiter?" Aisha asked, steeping forward.
The woman's eyes widened at the sight of Aisha. "Yes it's a planet. Say where are you folks from anyhow?"
"Not from this galaxy," Gene grumbled. At that the woman turned to the man sitting quietly in the corner with his drink, trying to ignore her glance.
"Jet, could you come over here please?" She asked sweetly. The man sighed and moved slowly but complied nontheless.
"I am not going to help these people out Alisa, I've got problems of my own." He said gruffly.
Alisa smiled warmly at him. "Jet, these people say that they aren't from this galaxy. There is no one better suited to help them than you."
The man's resolve seemed to weaken at the woman's smile and he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Come on Jet, please?" She beamed.
Jet sighed. "Alright, alright stop twisting my arm." He turned to the crew of the Outlaw Star and glared. "Come on we'll go to my ship and figure out how to help you."
Gene flashed him a smile. "Thanks pal."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, I ain't got all day," He huffed.
He led the crew outside and a short walk towards a dock full of spaceships. He stopped in front of fairly large gray ship.
He smiled and turned to face them. "Welcome to the Bebop."