Chapter 14: Challenge of Survival; Hilda's Rebirth!

As if seeing a ghost from the past before the very eyes one person, Gene's emotions were in a still rage, most certainly had he come to love and openly show affections with Melfina; he knew where he was standing in love…but to see the ghost of Hilda before him, was gnawing his will of what was reality. It was without much thought that he had called the XGP into action, before he knew it; they were tangling once more with the forces of Hazanko, the Space Pirate who lorded over the 108 stars…though he was almost sure they had finished the vile beast of a king long ago in the Leyline.

His mind roared against his thoughts of what was real and fate, even if it was happening again, his mind's pursuit stood fast. 'We're not losing you again Hilda…'Just the chance to see her amused face when he saved her, the fact that he was still on some small level of attachment with someone who could have easily killed him the moment his guard was down; He wanted her to laugh at him again…it was a moment to stand on the path not taken. "Haah!" he used the superior grappling arms of the XGP to rip through the attacking pirates while the nearly Derelict Horus had drifted by safely, he would very well destroy the Space Pirates this time.

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In their room below, both Aisha and Haomaru were getting ready for action, gathering their clothing back on; Aisha gave a very annoyed growl, she knew they stopped with reason, while her Ctarl Blood was telling her she was going soft; everything else simply told her she was in love and she was happy for it. "They're going to pay for taking away our time together." She murmured, cracking her knuckles in an open manner; she looked at Hao and just had to smirk at him, the way he was poised on his knees in that tradition of preparation he told her about.

It was the near Samurai moment of preparation, a blank silence before one's small altar of incense and his sword clasped to his waist by the belt. His eyes finally opening as his head rose from the lowered position. "Abu Sau…Deivau Sekhau DImlakhu." He spoke these final words, before rising. (Minor translation of Katgna: 'With these final moments, I stand by blood and sword ready.')

"You are right in that matter, they will pay for stealing what personal time…that my Tulip petalled Sunshine were enjoying; and we will have that time back." Though once again his words seemed to make her laugh softly, she placed a clawed hand on his shoulder and turned him to her.

"Hao dear, remember what we talked about? You promised as little poetry as possible." She said it as she wrapped her arms around his neck and nipped his lip. "But the sentiment is something I adore." She said before nibbling on his lip, before releasing him. "However let's go, we've got company to destroy now."

Haomaru nodded to Aisha and the two of them headed out of their room and down to the lower bridge, Aisha knew Gene well, after destroying the smaller ships she knew he'd head to invade the head Pirate ship. That was where she and Haomaru were going to get first dibs on all of the pirate crew aboard.

"It's been some time that I haven't gotten to sink my fangs into the throats of my enemy; Damn pirates have a foul taste too." She said with a little reminded 'Nya' at the end of her sentence, though her attention was turned to Haomaru's reaction; that was a surprise to her.

"But I thought you'd only sink your fangs into me…, well let's make sure that you don't have anyone else to bite but me then." His words did surprise even him, but he knew it. She was rubbing off on him, he was aptly responding to her sexual innuendo; and that made her grin.

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It was easy to see that Gene had not been slacking, in any right case he had not let any skill of his drag anywhere; from his missile accuracy to the way he tore through the ships of the enemy were just reflecting his mastery of piloting the Outlaw Star. Even Jim for one moment had to watch Gene's determination to save Hilda draw out the very best that he had to offer, responding with a Sixth sense as to where attacks were coming from, as Gilliam alerted him he responded immediately. It was a breakneck pace and to say the least the crew was surprised by such things.

Though one of the more surprising things was Suzuka on the cannons, she had taken the offered position when Aisha had gone off on her own; rather than leave she had formally stayed on board and was welcomed to. After all missing her apt silence and better yet her Samurai code would have affected the morale of some of the shipmates. She was deadly and silent, applying the art of the samurai sword to the cannon's efficiency.

Though one modification had been Jim's extra Grappler arm modified for extension, there aside from the Cannon controls was a 'Hypersonic sword-arm' that allowed Suzuka to engage ships or missiles that had gotten too close. It was a very changed art form, but together the XGP was behaving to the equivalent of a battalion of ships as they lay waste to the scout ships and attack crafts of the pirates.

It was not to say they were going without being watched, it was the shadowed figure on the now all but automated ship who watched their actions with a smile on his face.

"The enemy is with skill, I can see it…his determination to save that woman; by the Leyline's wish she returned to her place in this galaxy and we pirates with their aim to destroy her. We knew that the all seeing Leyline would grant a wish of our great lord…after being defeated they thought they could walk. Now they will face the facts, as our Lord Hazanko's finest hour comes." He grinned once more, revealing a truth that was something even then the great Tendo King never knew.

This foe was not working in the name of the Tendo King, but a resolute living form of Hazanko who had in some way survived his defeat by Gene Starwind and Melfina; in this way this assassin might just be one of many on the way to destroy what has become the Outlaw Star's crew.

While the Outlaw Star made quick work of the pirate fleet remains, Gene blazed towards the main ship head on; he was going to finish this hulk of tin once and for all. As the XGP came in though, Jim was very suspicious of the ease that he had on the way in; all seemed too placid about the Ship's movements.

"Gene! Be careful when your boarding, this doesn't seem right; in fact I'm going to make sure the ship is ready to pull out." Jim was already taking some safety precautions since he wasn't really wanting to take any risks for any of them. He knew that the Space Pirates were never easy opponents and often swung back around to cause problems, it was just very annoying at more than one time.

Though Gene was paying Jim a little mind at best, he did hear his long time friend and had put the caster in its sheath while he drew two regular laser-sighted energy pistols; they were a common low choice to pick off the smaller and more useless of the 108 stars that he found the modified pistols that Jim had fixed up were more than enough for them.
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Haomaru and Aisha led the charge into the now ripped open bay doors onboard the ship. Though it was a surprise to find the ship was littered with bodies, Haomaru stopped, taking Aisha's hand as he caught sense of this inhuman act.

"Aisha...it appears that everyone is dead on some level...they had been eliminated some hours ago, a special kind of blade that channels their Tao magic." Hao did catch notice of the damage done to the bodies, but Aisha crinkled her nose and looked down.

"How can you tell?" she wasn't sure what to look for to notice, since they all just looked dead and little more that was attached to it.

"The bodies lack no more than one cut, yet their bodies are mangled; as if some great force tore into them and used them like hockey pucks." he said it softly, shaking his head briefly at the damage; they had all fought to their mutual deaths.

"Who would kill their own kind?" she was disgusted by the act as she led her way through the bodies with Haomaru following.

"A Dishonorable murderer, likely an assassin." He said with a frown now, this was someone of great skill to kill so many of the 108 stars; certainly they were weak, but numerous they could at least prove a greater threat.

The two of them moved in quickly, it was Gene bringing up the rear since he didn't bother to examine the corpses on the floor; but finding their way to the Main bridge was assisted by guiding lights...and it was another bad sign.

Gene raced ahead of the two, while not faster they did let him do so; since they had been discussing some kind of a strategy, well taking a mate really did make Aisha consider a lot of safe points for the latter of the group.

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"So they come...they come quickly." He was glad that he left the lights on for them to track, it was meant to be the purpose of their tracking the bridge down. Now the battle would be soon to happen and he'd show them an existing level of hell they never knew existing. "You mustn't keep my blade waiting." he said it with a smirk there on his face, as the bridge doors opened up he stood.

"Welcome guests, to the final moments of your life. Gene Starwind, Aisha Clanclan, and Haomaru...well I've been looking forward to meeting you." He drew the large Bejeweled zweiihander from his back, pointing the massive blade at them with one hand. "I'll make you sorry you kept me waiting, since your up next." He was grinning.

Their enemy showed his form and was threatening death to them, how would this showdown affect rescuing Hilda? Was she okay? Or was she in danger? The future would unfold before them, revealing more than the past they knew ever had.

(End Chapter)

Well as you've come to see, Gene's boldness leads him to join Aisha and Haomaru in facing off with their mysterious enemy who will reveal him next time. He eliminated all of the 108 Stars on the ship with ease, just what level of Sunjutsu is he using? Be the first to see in the next chapter.

Heh hope you enjoyed reading. Till next time Adieu.

-Quentix