Melfina's Voyage
Disclaimer: I do not own Outlaw Star. I'm just doing this for entertainment purposes
Last Episode: Melfina and Jim arrive at Blue Heaven and Jim asks Mel what she hopes to get out of the voyage. She explains that she hopes to gain her own identity and independence and Jim agrees to continue to help her. Gene on the other hand is still on Sentinal wallowing in his own defeat and his savior Suzuka arrives to help him become a man. Aisha is also mysteriously absent. Interesting. Let's rock and roll!
Author's note: Hello everyone. It has been ages since I uploaded a story on here but college life and life in general bit me hard on the ass. Anyway, I hope that my writing style has improved a little since our last time together so if you spot some errors its probably from my haste in wanting to get this out. Okay, (deep sigh), now sit back and enjoy the fic.
Chapter 3: The Mission Begins
"What's going on Jim? I thought we would be leaving first thing this morning?" Mel inquired breathlessly as she waded through the throngs of shoppers on Blue Heaven. The ship had been prepared the night before and she was anxious to begin the first adventure of her new independent life. Jim on the other hand had other plans. She tried to keep up with the blonde haired man in front of her but kept getting held up in the waves of people.
"Don't fall behind Mel" Jim called over his shoulder but not slowing his pace.
"Well maybe if you slowed down for a second...", Mel exclaimed as she ran face first into Jim's back. She stumbled back holding her nose. "Ow." Jim finally glanced back at her with his bright blue eyes brimming with laughter.
" I told you to keep up. I guess I should have added pay attention," he mused. Melfina pouted briefly as she looked at the store that they stopped in front of. She remembered the store a little from the many times the gang stopped here. This was the store that Jim and Gene would buy caster shells from. Caster shells? Melfina turned back towards Jim who was smiling back at her. " I guess your wondering what we are doing here?"
"Yes Jim. Especially since you nor I use Caster weapons." He simply smiled again and opened the store door going inside with Melfina trailing behind him. It was true, Jim and Mel did not have any Caster weapons but that didn't mean that they couldn't get any and learn to use them. He had been thinking about this for a while. Just because Gene had defeated Lord Hazanko did not mean that the Kay Pirates had disbanded. If they did run into them again they would need a means to stand up to their magic and, aside from using magic themselves, Caster weapons were their only chance.
They filed into the store that held a multitude of different weapons from guns to swords. But Jim was interested in the "special" merchandise that this particular merchant sold and that stuff would not be sitting out front. When they got a little further into the store, they finally saw the store owner who was not the same one that he encountered years ago. "Excuse me," Jim called. The girl sitting on the floor in front of a cardboard box filled with swords looked up at the couple. She stood up and dusted off her work apron.
"Hiya! Welcome to the Swords Dirge. How can I help ya?" She beamed brightly. The girl was appealing to the eye, Jim decided with her bright green eyes and hot pink hair and barely there shirt hidden behind her apron. Curvaceous and beautiful. 'Gene would have jumped her bones as soon as we left,' Jim mused to himself.
"Yes, um, what happened to old Harry?" Jim inquired. She looked thoughtfully for a second.
"You knew my Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes. A friend of mine and I used to buy special weapons from him." She cocked her head to the side.
"Well Daddy retired last year. He decided that he wanted to have his own space adventures so he left the shop to me. I'm Jules by the way."
"Nice to meet you Ms. Jules, " Melfina interjected gracefully. Jules laughed.
"Just 'Jules' doll face. Now what kinda weapons were you talkin bout Mr....?"
"Jim, just 'Jim'. I was talking about Caster weapons." The smile on Jules face quickly vanished as she scoped out the store to see who had heard Jim. When she saw the store was empty she went over to the door locking it and placed the "out to lunch" sign on the door. She came back over to Jim with a hostile look on her features.
"What could you possibly want with Caster weapons?" She inquired. Jim was becoming annoyed. Harry never gave them this much trouble before. And why the hell did she have an attitude with him all of a sudden?
"Well, not that its any of your business, my friend and I are going on an adventure that may place us in the midst of Kay pirates. We want to be able to protect ourselves and as you should know, they use magic and Caster weapons are the only ones that stand a chance."
"Those weapons are dangerous and not safe for kids trying to play bounty hunters and space pirates," Jules quipped.
"I assure you Jules, we know more about the Kay pirates and bounty hunters than you yourself know,"Melfina interjected angrily. The arguing duo had forgot that the silent woman was there but she could no longer stand by idly while this woman, who knew nothing of their journey and struggles, tried to call Jim a little boy. " We are a part of Crew Outlaw Star and we know exactly how dangerous Caster Weapons are so are you going to help us or not?" Jules and Jim were taken back by Melfina's fierce tone. Jim couldn't help but smile. If only Gene had been here to see that.
"Did you say Outlaw Star? As in the XGP ship with Gene Starwind as the Captain?"
"Yes. Now will you help us or what?," Jim asked exhaustively. Jules nodded and unlocked the back room door urging them to follow. They followed behind the pink haired girl and entered a room filled with hundreds of Caster shells and weapons lining the walls. "Wow, Harry was holding out." Jules stood in the center of the room and shrugged her shoulders.
"Not really. Daddy told me you always came in looking for specific shells for a specific caster gun so it was no need to show you the rest of the merchandise." Melfina was oddly drawn to the old technology. She had a distinct feeling that the origin of these weapons had something to do with her past as well. Were they all connected? "So what were you folks looking for?," Jules asked.
"I guess it's fair to say that I'm not exactly sure. I know that I would like a Caster gun of some kind and Mel, well, I'm not sure what she would be comfortable handling," Jim said. Jules nodded and pulled out some Caster guns for Jim to look at. They were all pretty impressive in their bronze casing and strange incantations that protected the magic contained within.
"All of these weapons are unique, one of a kind," Jules informed them. "Finding shells can be difficult the higher up you go and with the Kay pirates you may need higher magic than what we have here."
"We don't need to start out with anything that strong yet, hopefully." Jim finally selected a simple Caster gun that was slightly bigger than Gene's but not by much. After he purchased a few shells he went over to Melfina who was stuck standing in front of a pair of bow and arrows.
"Oh yeah. We have had those for a while. Daddy told me that his father had those in his shop as well. He said it had a legend to go with it to. Apparently, that bow and arrow was wielded by some sort of goddess and it calls to its next owner. Its been in this shop for generations because it hasn't chosen a new master. I said Daddy you're bull shitting." Melfina believed that there was a shred of truth to the tale. She gently stroked the bow and knew that she had to have it.
"I want this one," she proclaimed.
"Are you sure Mel?" Jim asked. She nodded her head picking the weapon out of its casing. She could feel the power pulsing against her hands. What was with this thing?
"Well, there is one thing about that weapon," Jules said from atop a chest in the far corner.
" And that is?" Jim inquired.
"It doesn't have any shells. That weapon relies on the spiritual power of the wielder. However, it did come with a book of incantations for the wielder to say. If you have enough spiritual power, the bow will work just like any Caster weapon."
"Mel, maybe you should get something else," Jim chided. "We don't know how well incantations would work for you." Melfina shook her head no.
" Jim, I know you may think me childish but I have to have this one. It calls to me. I know that it was meant for me," she explained softly. She turned back to Jim allowing him to see the truth in her chocolate brown pools. Jim had never seen Melfina so adamant about something since they left Sentinel. Its not that it mattered a lot anyway. He was going to be her main protector with his weapon but he did want her to be prepared in case they were separated. How much harm could it do?
"Okay Mel. If you say that its for you then it is." Jim turned back to Jules who was resting comfortably on the chest she was sitting. Her long pink hair was draped over her shoulders causing her impossibly green eyes to shine like fire lights.
"So?" she asked.
"We'll take it." She smiled joyously hopping off of the chest.
"Let me get the book of spells." Jules left briefly then came back with a thick, dusty tome. " This book is said to be thousands of years old and rumored to contain magics that even the Kay pirates know nothing of. They have been searching high and low for this book so it must not fall into their hands."
"Are you fucking serious?" Jim exclaimed running a hand through his long blonde locks. " I swear, every five seconds you say something more ominous. If this tome and this bow and arrow are so sacred why are you selling it to us?" She simply shrugged her shoulders and went to ring up the purchases.
"Well not to freak you out blondie, Daddy told me that I would know when the right person was supposed to have that weapon. She is the right one. And I'm only telling you this so that you won't be careless with it. All Caster weapons are valuable in that way but that weapon, well, even we aren't sure of its true potential. And since it was used so long ago, no one really knows." Jules finished ringing up the sale and gave Jim the change. The pair looked back over to Melfina was gently rubbing the cover of the tome. " That book is written in the ancient language of the Leyline and if I recall correctly she is the Maiden right? The bow and arrow was meant for her."
"Then why didn't Harry tell me that years ago?" Jim inquired still watching Melfina. She placed the bow and arrows in the case that Jules got her oblivious to their stares.
"Because she wasn't ready then. Don't know what happened but I guess the time is now." Melfina stood up again with the case and tome in hand and her face was once again in its usual state of happiness. Jim felt a strange sensation in his stomach. A feeling he usually got whenever he and Gene were about to be in some deep shit.
"Are we ready Jim?" Mel asked. He nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks for your help Jules."
"Sure Jimmy. Come see me whenever you're in town." He glanced back at the beautiful woman and saw a glimpse of something more. Who was she anyway? But there was no time to ponder that now. They took their weapons and quickly made their way to the XGP. If Mel's weapon of choice was indeed a hot commodity, they didn't need anyone trailing them from the store.
*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
Mel and Jim arrived back at the XGP with Gillium waiting and happy to see them. "Hello Jim, Melfina. How was shopping?" Jim went into his room to put away his weapon and Mel was doing the same but the pink can followed Jim to his room.
"It was good I guess." Jim said as he sat down on his bed. The pink can dropped off of the line carrying it right next to Jim on the bed.
"Why do you sound unsure of yourself Jim?" Gillium asked gently.
"Well, I went into town to get some Caster weapons for me and Mel so we go to the store and Mel picks out this set of bow and arrows."
"That does not sound too strange to me. With a woman as gentle and graceful as Melfina, I believe that bows and arrows are a fine weapon of choice."
"It wasn't so much that. It was the fact that this particular set is rumored to have belonged to a goddess and doesn't use Caster shells. Instead, Jules, the merchant at the store, gave us this book of spells that is written in the ancient language of the Leyline that are to be used like shells. Mel is the only one who can read it aside from the Kay pirates. She also said that the bow chooses its wielder. It just all sounds strange to me."
"Well perhaps this Jules person heard the stories of Melfina and knew that she was the one to use the bow. And besides, merchants say anything to sell their product."
"Yeah, I hope that's all it is."
"You always did worry too much Jim," the pink can mused. Jim sighed again plopping back onto his small bunk.
"Someone had to. With Gene's carefree attitude who knows how we would have gotten food, money, or even directions! Even with Mel, she has no idea how treacherous and complex traveling the galaxy can be. She has this attitude of asserting herself by getting caught up in an adventure on her own without thinking it through. I have to worry and plan because no one else does."
"My, you make Ms. Melfina seem like a chore. Why did you agree to come along at all then?"
"Well, despite all of that, I needed to get away from Gene too. Assert my own independence and see what I am capable of on my own. Maybe I didn't have enough motivation on my own to leave Sentinel. I enjoy being the brains of the outfit for people. Being the reason among all the turmoil gave me purpose." Jim continued to ponder away feeling the confines of the small cabin. Man, he missed flying around in space with all of his friends. The crazy antics of Aisha and the Ctarl Ctarl nation, Gillium and Gene fighting over who was superior, man or machine, and Melfina being peaceful and serene by being simply human.
"Its been my experience with this particular crew of mine, you have to have a bit of everything, the brains, the brawn, the crazy, the silent but deadly and the calm and serene. All of that makes for a good crew and good friends. Too much of one would be boring don't you think?" Gillium mused. Jim felt himself smiling to himself. How right he was.
"I didn't think computers got bored," Jim teased.
"Oh Jim, you are starting to sound like Gene. You know that I am no ordinary ship. When I am involved anything is possible." And with that, the pink can hopped back on his line towards another part of the ship leaving Jim alone again to ponder his thoughts. Well, no matter what his reasoning was for coming on this voyage, he came along and he has to protect Melfina for Gene and that meant doing some research. He had to find out more about Melfina's Caster Weapon and what that tome was about as well as helping Melfina find herself. Damn. This was gonna be one long ass trip.
*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
It had been a week since Melfina and Jim had left. It has been a week since Gene got out of bed. Suzuka had been patient with him, allowing him the time to wallow in his own grief but if she continued to wait the prize would get away. Suzuka climbed up the spiral set of stairs to rouse Gene from his sleep when, to her surprise, Gene was already awake and dressed sitting on his bed. Gene's red locks had grown out substantially since their voyage and she decided that she liked it on him. Along with all of his scars and tattoos it gave him a rugged and dangerous appeal that he didn't possess before. But it wasn't just his appearance that changed in him. She could sense that his heart had hardened as well. She wasn't there to see what had transpired between him and Melfina at the Leyline but she thought that they would have been closer than ever. Judging by the fact that she ran away along with Jim, his partner in crime, showed her that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong. But what and why? She ceased her musings when she noticed that Gene's dark black pools were focused directly on her.
"You have a question on your face," Gene said stoically. Suzuka smiled briefly.
"Yes, It seems that I do," she mused. She gracefully walked across the small space to the other side of the railing so she could look at his whole body across from her. She shrugged her shoulders absently. "I guess I'm wondering where the old Gene went." Gene chuckled just a bit. Where indeed.
"That is a good question. A question that I have been asking myself for a while. Hell, even I'll admit I never thought my life would be quite like this." Still staring, Suzuka thought. His eyes betray nothing. How odd. The old Gene wore all of his emotions and feelings on his person. It was the thing that pulled her towards him. His passion, his drive made the whole crew believe that anything was possible and attainable. That any foe can be defeated with the right amount of passion. In a duel of equal strength, who wins? The person who sees it as more than a battle of prestige, wealth or whatever. The person who won was the person who wanted it more.
But this man that sat before her reeked of defeat and depression. He wanted for nothing. How pitiful.
"Correct me if I am wrong Gene, but I was under the impression that you were victorious at the Leyline."
"We were."
"So... what is this? Why have you become this? Why did Mel and Jim leave you?"
"Well, I can answer for Jim. He left after Mel to protect her from herself. He's a noble kid y'know. Now Melfina, that is a different matter." Gene finally stood from the bed to stand at the open window. It was night now and the full moon's light illuminated his skin. "Mel is a different story. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by something that was out of your control?"
"What do you mean?" He sighed deeply for a moment then spoke.
"I didn't ask for Melfina. Hilda got me and Jim involved in some shit that was over our heads and then the bitch dies on me with no directions on what to do or how to be a captain. I kinda winged it and without you guys to help me, I'm pretty sure I would have failed and died long ago. When we finally defeated Lord Hazanko and figured out the story of the Leyline, it was over all over and I had Melfina. Once again with no directions. I knew that I loved her. Thats not even in question but what then? I didn't know how to be a good boyfriend or fiance or husband or whatever she thought that i was supposed to be. I wasn't ready. Don't get me wrong. Mel never made any demands of me. She did the same things she always did and that was infuriating. She wasn't even telling me what she needed because she didn't know. How do two blind people take the lead? I was, am, terribly lost. So I began to close myself off from her even though I could see how much it hurt her. I just couldn't. I don't know how."
Love. A complicated thing that unfortunately Suzuka had no experience in. She was a ninja, a mercenary. Love was a weakness that could be exploited and not smart but when is love ever smart and uncomplicated? But she had to try something. Watching Gene in this state was even pulling at something inside of herself. "Have you ever thought that maybe Melfina loved you because of who you were and she made no demands because she didn't want you to be more than yourself and simply include her? I remember many times she would ask a lot of us what we thought of her. Was she more than just a bio-android? More than a machine? She just wanted to be more than that to you. By shutting her out you were proving to her that she served no other purpose to you except for when you need to navigate space." Gene angrilly hit the wall next to the window leaving a small dent.
"I know that. That's not what I think at all! But I don't know how to show her that I need her."
"Unfortunately Gene, I am not the expert in this area so I will not be much help. However, staying here is not going to work. We need to go after Jim and Melfina and you can figure out the rest as we go," she resolved. " Do you have any idea where they could be headed?" Gene shook his head 'no' then quickly snapped his fingers.
"Mel got a message from Fred the day before she left. I think he may have told her something about her past." Suzuka pushed away from the railing standing straight up.
"Alright, then to Fred Lowe's house we go." And for the first time in a week, Gene began to smile.
TBC..............................
End Chapter: As always, feedback is always good. Let me know if I should even continue. No flames. I think that this story can go places but only if you are willing to go too. The next chapter will be great.
~LS~