Over three years since I last updated this story. Over a decade since I started writing it. And over two decades since I first saw Outlaw Star air on Toonami. It was for that last anniversary that I knew I had to post something before the year's end. I actually wanted to have this chapter finished MUCH earlier in 2021, but it has become harder and harder as of late to be in the right mindset to work on Flower of Fate at a time where I can actually do something about it. But no matter how long it takes, this story WILL reach its conclusion. So without further ado, let us begin the final leg of this crazy journey.
Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do I claim ownership to Outlaw Star or other franchises that take place in the Towards Star universe.
(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)
When it comes to how law and order are handled closer to home, the results vary between species. The Rorgans and Ctarl-Ctarl are known for their quick, often ruthless justice systems, while it's unclear if the Sith have anything even resembling legal proceedings in their society. The Corbonites and Nayans have a more moderate approach in comparison, while the Silgrians are famous for both their overly extensive legal procedures and high emphasis on rehabilitation programs. As for those residing on Earth, the variations from region to region are far more diverse. However, it is an open secret that on the frontier of the galaxy criminal punishment and the court procedures leading up to sentencing are swift and brutal to all, regardless of their origin. The notion of a thorough investigation and an innocent verdict are rare, both of which become even more uncommon the further one gets from the different races' home worlds. And while there have been numerous attempts to advocate for a rehabilitation system to be put in place in the more densely populated systems over the years, a lack of both resources and enthusiasm usually prevents these movements from gaining much traction. These efforts are especially stymied by the fact that none of the major national and private security space forces are open to the idea of giving space pirates a means to walk free after being successfully arrested and incarcerated. And on the rare occasions one does attempt to turn themselves in to the authorities, nearly every single instance results in them being assassinated by their former comrades for treason before they even have the chance to repent in protective custody. In the end the issue often comes down to two questions: does rehabilitation have any meaning if the person in question does not wish for redemption? And are there enough of those who do to justify providing sufficient sanctuary?
(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)
"Not much longer now," Hanmyo said while staring out the window. On the other side of the glass the Outlaw Star was receiving the last of its repairs. Between the earthquake at the ruins and their rescue operation at the prison, the ship hadn't been quite at 100% when they arrived at this space station, but compared to the aftermath of a grappler fight the necessary maintenance was nowhere near as bad. Regardless, no one on the crew wanted to be at a completely avoidable disadvantage once they reached the Leyline, so it was fortunate that for once there wasn't as much to do, nor would it be quite as expensive.
Taking a breath, Hanmyo turned away from the window and started walking down a nearby hallway, having no real destination in mind. To the indigo-haired girl's surprise, she came across a pacing Aisha.
"Still got some errands to run?" she asked the Ctarl-Ctarl.
"Yeah, just got a few calls to make to people back home," Aisha responded. At this, Hanmyo raised an eyebrow.
"Does that include informing your superiors about the Leyline's coordinates and our presence there?" the young girl all but stated.
"H-h-how did you guess?" Aisha stammered in shock. Hanmyo lowered her eyebrow, but otherwise her expression didn't change, nor did she say anything in response. Suddenly, a thought struck the Ctarl-Ctarl. "Wait a minute...is this your intuition again?"
To this Hanmyo couldn't help but giggle. "Something like that," she said with her usual cheerfulness, before her smile disappeared once again and she turned her gaze away from Aisha. "I know that you have responsibilities to your homeworld, but even if Gene doesn't come out and say it I can tell he considers both you and Suzuka part of the crew, regardless of why you chose to accompany him on his journey in the first place."
Now it was Aisha's turn to look away, though out of the corner of her eye Hanmyo was positive the Ctarl-Ctarl was blushing. "I mean, it is only to be expected that Gene holds me and Suzu in high regard after all the times the two of us have bailed him out of trouble. I guess I could mention in my report that this particular crew has been of assistance in acquiring the coordinates...though I have no idea if that will accomplish anything." That last part had been muttered, but Hanmyo still heard it.
"I think Gene and Jim would appreciate the gesture all the same, especially if you told both parties involved that they'd be receiving reinforcements at the Leyline," the indigo-haired youth assured her.
"True, if the Key Pirates really have been sitting on the coordinates this long there's no telling how many of them will be guarding the place. I should probably add that to my report as well," Aisha agreed. The dark-skinned woman walked over to Hanmyo before affectionately ruffling the girl's hair. "You really are something else, you know? Bringing you on board was definitely one of Gene's best ideas!" she complimented.
Hanmyo froze. Slowly she looked upwards and stared directly into Aisha's eyes. "You...you really think so?" the young girl asked.
"Absolutely!" Aisha immediately answered. "In fact, while we're at it, there's another report I want to make that I'd like your input on."
"Oh? What about?" Hanmyo said after blinking a few times.
"Well…" Aisha said, while bashfully scratching her cheek. "There was this incident from a while ago I was involved in, and while the Empire hasn't asked me about it yet I figure it's only a matter of time until they do, and I'm still trying to figure out how to explain what happened."
"Was this from before I met you all?" Hanmyo asked.
"Yep!" Aisha confirmed. "You see, back when we were on Heifong there was this martial arts tournament…"
Chapter 6: Divided at the Goal
Deep within Kei pirate territory, at a location that none outside the organization save a certain nuisance from the Battle Group had borne witness to and survived, sat a black sphere that from a distance could easily have been mistaken for a gaseous dwarf planet. But upon closer inspection, one would realize there was a legion of grappler ships surrounding a celestial body that did not rotate on its axis, had no nearby stars to revolve around, nor did it move in the slightest. In truth, this was an ancient location whose inner workings were a mystery to all but the highest echelon of the 108 stars, and a legend among outlaws and space force officers: the Galactic Leyline. And the flagship of the fleet maintaining orbit around the Leyline was a large dark green grappler ship with red markings and an oddly hulking design. It was the Geomancer, and its captain was Lord Hazanko.
There was no denying that of all of the pirate guilds in the galaxy, the Kei Pirates were among the oldest. And of the 108 Stars, Hazanko was easily one of the most powerful, both in influence and Tao Magic. But behind closed doors he was feared, considered to be second only to the Tendo King and the Tempa Emperor in his prime. In truth Hazanko was well aware of all of this, and outright hated it. He felt that despite their legacy the organization was relying too heavily on their reputation and history to get by, with most of his fellow leaders being content with just causing the occasional skirmish with outlaws, space forces, and other pirates. Their definitive territory was not as large as it could be, and any actual expansion was owed to Hazanko's faction. In fact, the Kei's best accomplishments of late was their role in the creation of the XGP and having Heifong's governing party in their pocket, two accomplishments which could also be attributed to Hazanko. As for the latter, while it was common knowledge among the populace that the Heifong System was the territory of the Bon Pirates, what need was there to control the local criminal element when the entire ruling party of the government was under your thumb? But then Hilda stole Melfina and the XGP, and Hazanko was forced to drop everything in pursuit of their keys to the Leyline and leave the governing of Heifong to another Kei leader. And what does he find upon resuming control of his Heifong operations? A group of thieves who thought they were far cleverer than they actually were had assumed the identity of a far more peaceful organization and attempted to distract everyone from their petty schemes by blowing the whistle on their Heifong operations. Adding even more salt into the wound was that Gene Starwind, a previously unknown outlaw who had appeared out of nowhere to pick up Hilda's mantle yet made little effort to remain inconspicuous, had been the one to resolve the incident.
This had led to Hazanko sending his personal guard and elite group of assassins, the Anten Seven, after the outlaw. But Gene Starwind and his allies came out on top twice, then left Heifong. Another two assassins were defeated and now the current owners of the stolen XGP were making their way to the Leyline. Hot Ice Hilda and Gene Starwind...two outlaws who had managed to deal severe damage to their ancient organization and its reputation in the blink of an eye. The incompetence of his fellow leaders had only fueled his previously silent ambition to seize control of the Kei Pirates, but these recent humiliations and the cause of said embarrassment approaching their guild's greatest legacy convinced him that he was running out of time to make his own goals a reality. No more subtly or playing the long game. Hazanko had to open the Leyline, reclaim Melfina, and obtain the power needed to usurp the Tendo King, destroy the Tempa Emperor, and lead the 108 Stars into a new and everlasting golden age. And he would only have one opportunity to do so.
Currently Hazanko was overseeing a pair of elderly Tao magicians as they prepared a rather complex spell. By conjuring eight giant spears and piercing the outer shell of the Leyline with them, a safe passage through the interference could be temporarily opened. Each stake required a great deal of power to manipulate, but the ambitious pirate cared not for the wheezing of the magicians.
"Continue," Hazanko demanded. Yet in spite of his disregard for their wellbeing and the heavy chains clamped around their necks and latching them to the ceiling, the two spellcasters were like many of those who followed the masked lord: passionate about their work and cause, believing him to be the best choice for a new golden era.
This sentiment, however, was not unanimous. An emissary of the Tendo King teleported into the inner sanctum. Clad in formal robes, the top half of the overseer's face was concealed by a red mask with two holes for his eyes, both burning with indignant fury.
"Hazanko, what is the meaning of this? You're not following the orders of the Tendo King as commanded," the supervisor shouted.
"I most certainly am. As ordered, through my own means, I have found a way into the Leyline and have done so without breaking any laws!" Hazanko refuted the indignant man with ease. And technically speaking, he was abiding by the rules, though not the intended spirit. Rather, his convictions for these actions lay elsewhere.
"So then why haven't you reported your progress to the Tendo King? Why are you opening the Leyline on your own?" the overseer questioned, far from convinced.
"What's the matter? Doesn't the Tendo King's sycophant have any ambitions?" jeered Hazanko, seeing the supposed supervisor before him as nothing more than a glorified messenger.
"It's just as I thought, Hazanko. What you really have in mind is to betray the King and take the Leyline for yourself. That's it, isn't it?" the man snarled, cutting straight to the chase.
"Not just the Tendo King. The power of the Galactic Leyline surpasses that of the Tempa Emperor! No, its magnificent power is even greater than that!" Hazanko revealed with pride.
True, it could be argued that the masked lord was grandstanding far too much for someone openly declaring treason, but with the numerous setbacks he's suffered as of late taunting a dead man walking, especially one so willfully blind to both the decay of the Kei Pirates and his own imminent demise, would prove to be both entertaining and quite the much-needed catharsis.
"Die!" cried the supervisor, raising his sword as three shadows emerged to join him in attempting to cut down the treacherous lord. Hazanko didn't so much as lift a finger. Rather, just emitting a fraction of his power summoned a gust of air and the four remaining members of the Anten Seven, all who did his dirty work for him in the blink of an eye.
The ensuing fight was more a case of large scale manslaughter. Hamushi, Hitoriga, and Jukai all took care of their opponents with terrifying ease. But to the shock of the majority of the rest of the crew, the most ruthless in the slaughter was none other than Tobigera. Yes, the masked man was known for suffering from various misfortunes, but none could recall a time where it had ever prevented him getting the job done. Gene Starwind was one of the few targets, if not the only one, since his early days as an assassin that managed to walk away alive. While the details of the encounter had been vague, especially in comparison to his reports on Hanmyo, it was clear that it had lit a rare fire under him and he was desperate to demonstrate that, bad luck aside, he was NOT to be underestimated.
"Damn you...Hazanko…" cursed the attendant as he and his compatriots' lifeless bodies fell to the floor, all at Hazanko's feet.
"Let's finish this," said Hazanko. Minutes later, the overseer and his compatriots' corpses were unceremoniously loaded back onto the small craft they arrived upon, which the Geomancer proceeded to toss away like a piece of litter and blow up with an ebony energy laser.
"When the overseer doesn't return the Tendo King will grow suspicious," Hitoriga warned, his voice muffled by the bag-like mask he wore.
"Before then I'll have in my possession everything the Leyline has to offer," Hazanko dismissed without the slightest concern.
"A ship has appeared out of sub-ether space. It's heading straight for the Galactic Leyline." Hamushi announced, looking up from her holographic monitor. Zooming in on the image she gasped. "Oh no! It can't be!"
"The XGP!" Hazanko growled.
"That area of space is odd," announced Gilliam. "Electromagnetic waves, gravity waves, ether waves. Nothing I send out comes back!"
"Are you saying it doesn't come up on your sensors?" Jim asked.
"That's right," Gilliam replied.
"A malfunction when the Leyline's under our noses?" Gene asked incredulously.
"Unlikely," Hanmyo said. "We made sure the XGP was in tip top condition before we left that last space sport, and by some miracle we haven't run into any trouble until now."
"It's as Hanmyo says," agreed Gilliam. "My sensors are functioning normally, and I'm picking up other ships along that area's periphery."
"You're picking up ships? Why didn't you say so?" Gene angrily demanded.
"I'll magnify the image for you." Gilliam complied, revealing dozens of ships on screen.
"Those are Kei Pirates. They're all over the place!" Jim cried out.
"An ambush!" Gene confirmed.
"Not surprising. For whatever reason, the Kei Pirates have been aware of the coordinates for at least several years, and likely far longer," Hanmyo pointed out, her voice never rising above a neutral tone.
"It makes sense, based on both their interference at the ruins and what Gwen Kahn mentioned afterwards," Jim agreed, making eye contact with Hanmyo, the following being added silently between them. 'Not to mention what we learned on Tenrei.'
Hanmyo nodded at Jim before turning away. Ever since they left the space station Hanmyo had barely expressed anything other than concern. And while Jim could definitely understand being worried about venturing into completely unknown territory, there was something about her behavior that was making him more worried about the indigo-haired girl.
"It seems to be many worker ships," Suzuka analyzed before gasping "That looks like...the Geomancer!"
"Wait, you know that ship?" Gene inquired.
"It's the ship of a man named Hazanko, who is said to be a powerful Tao master even among the Kei leaders," Suzuka answered.
"Hazanko?" asked Gene.
"He's a dangerous man. And with him the Anten pirates, his subordinates," Suzuka elaborated, her eyes widening towards the end of her statement with some emotion he couldn't quite place, yet at the same time he couldn't quite shake the feeling he understood completely.
"Are you talking about that bunch that attacked us?" Gene attempted to probe for answers, but alarms started blaring before he could get anywhere with his inquiry.
"Pirate ships are launching combat fighters. Count: many," Gilliam informed the crew.
"That's an understatement," Hanmyo chimed in, noticing how the stream of said fighters didn't seem to end.
"Alright, prepare for combat!" Gene commanded, switching the ship into grappler mode.
Currently armed with a giant blaster in one hand and an enormous axe in the other, the Outlaw Star faced down the approaching horde of hostile ships which continued to grow in number as even more launched from the Geomancer.
"I want you to capture the XGP and then take Melfina!" Hazanko ordered the fleet, which with their single blue grappler arms made them resemble a large swarm of metallic sapphire hornets. Upon being commanded each and every fighter launched a barrage of missiles at the Outlaw Star, only to be immediately countered by the XGP's anti-missiles.
"Take that!" Gene yelled, firing the blaster at whichever ships made it through the bombardment. Interestingly enough, those that weren't destroyed seemed to be trying to make the Outlaw Star dodge head-on collisions rather than launch any further projectiles their way.
"They're trying to keep us away from the Galactic Leyline," Jim shouted in frustration.
"A ship is coming out of sub ether space. 700 kilometers to starboard," announced Melfina.
"Reinforcements?" Gene asked.
"Now enlarging," came Gilliam's voice.
"Look at that," muttered Gene. "We got trouble."
"Wait a minute, Gene! Isn't that…?" Jim began, only to be cut off.
"It's the entire Ctarl-Ctarl Empire's deep space fleet vessel!" Aisha cheered. "The Nippo Popola class cruiser: The Orta Hone Hone!"
"So you really gave them the Leyline's coordinates?" Gene sighed.
"Aisha, I know you said we could expect some back up, but isn't that overkill!?" Jim complained.
"Sorry Jim, but I think we'll need all the help we can get!" Hanmyo pointed out. And unfortunately, given the numbers, she was right.
"The Ctarl-Ctarl Empire will lay claim to the Galactic Leyline! Smash anyone who dares to get in our way! Ghun-Ghun cannons fire!" the Ctarl-Ctarl Commander ordered, destroying countless combat Kei Pirates and even some of the worker vessels.
"Aisha, try reaching out to them!" Gene commanded.
"Yeah, if our sensors aren't picking up anything regarding what's clearly right in front of us, there's no telling what'll happen if they try charging into the Leyline blind!" Jim agreed.
"Got it!" Aisha said, typing off a warning to Orta Hone Hone. While most of the crew were skeptical if this would actually accomplish anything, it didn't take long for them to receive a transmission.
"Officer Aisha Clan-Clan," came the voice of the commander on board the warship. "It appears that in addition to what you've recounted in your last report, you are continuing to provide valuable intelligence. It is for that reason that we have decided that you shall go on ahead of us."
"Really?!" Aisha asked ecstatically.
"Our crew has confirmed that our own sensors aren't picking up anything from the Leyline, so you are to breach the perimeter while the Orta Hone Hone provides covering fire. Secure a route to the treasure of the Leyline and bring glory to the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire!"
"It would be my-no, it would be our honor!" Aisha saluted before ending the transmission.
"Aisha, are you sure ab-?" Jim asked, a mix of emotions in his voice, but he didn't get far before Hanmyo cut him off, giving his wrist a firm squeeze.
"Jim, Aisha has just been given a job any one of her people back home would sacrifice their entire livelihoods for. She knows just how important a role she's been given," the indigo haired girl assured, causing the resident Ctarl-Ctarl to grin even wider. What they truly felt, however, went unspoken.
'It doesn't matter if they're claiming to be willing to act as decoys for us, even if they can handle this many pirate ships. Aisha's effectively being sent on a potential suicide mission under the guise of making her people proud!' Jim tried to communicate to Hanmyo with his eyes, adjusting his arm so that she was now grasping his hand rather than his wrist.
'Jim, I know you're worried, but this isn't the time! We can't handle this many ships at once, they can, and more than anything finding the Leyline is Aisha's dream! Don't take this from her!' Hanmyo silently tried to communicate back, giving his hand another squeeze. For better or worse the two broke off eye contact after this nonverbal exchange, their clasped fingers following shortly, and resumed focusing on the task at hand.
"The Ctarl-Ctarl warship seems to be heading straight for the Galactic Leyline!" Hamushi exclaimed as the ship in question continued its approach, annihilating any of the drones sent its way.
"Let them do whatever pleases them." Hazanko brushed off, causing Hitoriga to glance over at him and away from the monitor. "We wouldn't have had to go to all this trouble if it were possible to force your way into the Leyline." He elaborated, glancing back down at the two elderly Tao priests.
"Go! Go! Nothing can stop the invincible Ctarl-Ctarl!" shouted the crew of the Hone Hone as waves of destruction were created in their path. "Nothing can stop the Ctarl-Ctarl! Go! Go! We're Ctarl-Ctarl! We're not afraid of anything! We're the invincible Ctarl-Ctarl!" Their confidence, which often bordered on and sometimes transformed completely into arrogance, was understandable. Among the 6 known races the Ctarl-Ctarl were famous for their overwhelming firepower and impressive durability, both in their near-indestructible fighters on the ground and the massive warships they constructed. But if they couldn't figure out what the deal was with the bizarre sphere right in front of them, the more level-headed members knew to await further reinforcements before trying to breach the Leyline themselves, all while sending in a known overzealous loose cannon to test the waters for them. For now, however, they would accept the help of the demoted officer and obliterate the opposition in their path.
Before long the number of fighters emerging from the Geomancer had begun to decrease, though not dissipate altogether. A lucky combat fighter managed to slip past the Hone Hone's laser fire and disable the blaster in the right grappler arm of the Outlaw Star.
"Bastard!" Gene snarled, retaliating with a swift chop of the axe to the offending ship's cockpit. Looks like that luck hadn't lasted very long.
"The XGP is a formidable opponent!" Hamushi couldn't help but remark.
"Not surprising. That ship was supposed to be our crowning achievement and now it's being piloted by a bunch of cockroaches," grumbled Tobigera.
As far as Gene was concerned the Kei Pirates weren't any better. Despite the help of the Ctarl-Ctarl, there still wasn't an opening. But then the warship turned 180 degrees and started blasting some of the fighters that had been previously attacking its rear. An almost imperceptible moment of contemplation from the red head, and then…
"Turn to 3 o'clock, and do it now!" Gene shouted.
"That's crazy! The Orta Hone Hone would be directly in our path!" Gilliam argued.
"That is our only shot at making it to the Leyline!" Gene insisted.
*Outlaw Star OST Crash*
"Commander! The ship Officer Aisha's aboard is charging right at us!" one of the Ctarl-Ctarl on board the warship informed his superior.
The Outlaw Star dodged the oncoming lasers, while the fighters trying to obstruct them were not so fortunate.
"We'll never be able to dodge them all!" Melfina said.
"Position shields at maximum protection!" Gene commanded.
The red grappler ship crossed its arms, the guards taking incoming laserfire, causing Jim and Hanmyo to cry out.
"This is even more nerve-wracking than when Hilda played chicken with them outside Blue Heaven!" Jim cried, clamping his hands over his head.
"What?!" Hanmyo exclaimed in turn, wondering yet again just how lucky Gene and company were.
The gambit pays off, though at the expense of the armguards which were discarded quickly.
"Alright, we're going in!" Gene cheered hot-bloodedly.
And once again taking a page from the aforementioned Hilda, Gene piloted the ship just underneath the Hone Hone.
"You really did it, Gene! It's a straight shot into the Leyline from here!" Jim says, still reeling from the stunt they just pulled.
"It's not registering on my sensors. I'm afraid there doesn't appear to be anything at all that I can detect," Gilliam warned.
"Melfina!" Gene called out.
"Turn control of the Outlaw Star over to me" Melfina said, nodding in her chamber.
At long last the Outlaw Star entered the black fog coating the Leyline. It was the beginning of the end for their long, long journey.
"It seems the XGP has successfully penetrated the Leyline," the elder male Tao priest confirmed.
It was frustrating, but not surprising. Most ships would not survive the overwhelming pressure of the Leyline's outer shell, and many naturally born organics would be driven mad by the noise emitted by said shell. Even among the Kei pirates, highly intensive Tao spells and heavily fortified grappler ships would be required to make the pilgrimage. Not to mention the cost of the resources and the laundry list of requirements one was supposed to meet in order to gain permission for said journey. The XGP and Melfina were specifically designed to circumvent many of these issues in an efficient manner, and currently they were in the hands of that infuriating outlaw.
What definitely didn't help Lord Hazanko's mood was when alarms started blaring on Hamushi's monitor. "I'm detecting a new ship," she reported. A sleek yellow ship had just emerged from subether and now appeared on the overhead monitor. "Receiving transmission."
"Well, well, if it isn't Hazanko. What an unexpected pleasure meeting you in this godforsaken place," a scarred, black-haired man in a red trench coat snarked.
"Ronald McDougal? What are you doing here?" Hazanko roared with outrage. That meant the yellow ship in front of them was the Shangri La.
Ron raised an eyebrow at what he clearly perceived as an amusing but rhetorical question. "I'm letting the XGP lead me to the Galactic Leyline, and you better guess again if you think you're gonna stop me," he challenged nonchalantly.
(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)
"What do you think you're up to? Loathsome jackals like you don't have a chance in hell of getting in there," Hazanko bit out.
"Jackals, huh? No, we're big game hunters. We're gonna take down the XGP for openers, then plunder the Leyline," Ron responded, shrugging off the insult.
"Yes, you heard right. The knowledge of the universe will be mine!" an elderly man said after coming into the picture and nodding. It was someone Hazanko knew all too well.
"Gwen Kahn!" Hazanko shouted in shock.
"None of my sensors are picking up anything unusual. I have no idea what is around the ship." Gilliam reported. While this was par for the course since they first arrived at the Leyline, it didn't change the fact there was blatant evidence to the contrary. In this case, it was the cockpit shaking with turbulence to the point it felt as though they were flying above a Level 5 hurricane. Jim looked from side to side in confusion and noticed Hanmyo was getting more and more pale.
"What is the ship's status?" Gene inquired.
"All green," Gilliam responded.
"What?" Aisha's ears perked up. "Uh oh! What's that noise? Do you hear that?"
"Noise? What noise is that? I am not detecting anything at all," Gilliam said with confusion.
Not a second later, a majority of the crew would find themselves begging to differ, each of them beset by an atrocious, static-filled screech, one so overpowering that the rest of their bodies began to shake as though they were at the epicenter of an earthquake. Jim, Hanmyo, and Suzuka were the first to start crying out in pain, with Aisha quickly joining them and Gene not far behind. Each of them all held their hands over their ears as though to block out the racket, but this accomplished nothing. It truly felt as though someone had found a way to take the concept of noise, turn it into an extraordinarily heavy solid object, and wedge it directly between their brains and the front of their skulls. But of all of them, Aisha had it the worst.
"AHHH! MY HEAD'S GONNA SPLIT OPEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!" the Ctarl-Ctarl officer screamed in absolute agony. Unsurprisingly, the incredible hearing her people were gifted with was now proving to be quite detrimental.
"Mel! What's going on?" Gene managed between gasps, one eye closed in pain showing just how difficult it was for him to maintain his usual strong front.
"Wait! Just wait!" Melfina insisted. Whether she was oblivious towards or aware but outright immune to the sound tormenting everyone was unclear, but regardless the navigator's determination was proving to be invaluable in these circumstances, for otherwise the Outlaw Star would have been driven out of the Leyline. But unfortunately, this did nothing to ease the suffering of those around her.
"Hold on! Hold on, everyone!" Gilliam said with an uncharacteristic shout. Unlike Mel, it was very clear he could not perceive what had befallen his crew, but even so, the ship's computer could easily tell that something was just plain wrong yet was powerless to help ease their pain.
"The Shangri La is entering the Leyline," Hamushi confirmed. It was understandable that the McDougals managed to slip past them following the end of their taunting transmision, given the circumstances. The crew aboard the Geomancer were preoccupied with safely opening a route to the Leyline, and the Ctarl-Ctarl warship was keeping the rest of their forces busy. This breach didn't make the situation any less frustrating, however.
"I cannot believe that Gwen Kahn is with them," Hazanko remarked with bewilderment. Once upon a time the elderly scientist had been instrumental in designing the XGP and Melfina, but the only times he had been physically present were towards the beginning and end of development. To put himself at risk like this was unheard of. But regardless, the Kei leader had more pressing matters to attend to. Turning his head, he glanced down at the elderly magicians. "Well, old man?"
"There's just one that still remains," remarked the male Tao priest.
"I can't sense anything! What's going on?" Gilliam yelled with desperation as the Leyline continued to mess with his sensors. With everyone else immobilized by the noise, Melfina was doing her best to pilot the ship on her own, eyes closed in concentration.
"This is the spiral," Melfina said as she opened her eyes, an odd tone in her voice. Seconds later the ship finally made it through the hellish barrier. As she used the air jets around the ship to rotate it into a better position, the rest of the crew began breathing with relief. "I've adjusted the ship's orientation. This will take us there."
"Melfina…" Gene called out with concern.
"This will take us to the center of the Leyline," Melfina clarified, the tone in her voice getting even stranger. In fact, to Gene and Jim's ears, it was almost like there was a stranger speaking through her.
But while the Outlaw Star was now in the clear, it was the Shangri La's turn to experience the nightmarish perimeter.
"What's the noise? It's driving me insane! What's happening? Can't anyone make it go away?" Gwen Kahn shouted, ears covered in futility.
"Harry…" Ron asked through the pain, his true priorities plain to see.
"Everything's okay, Ron. I can see the path. It's getting clear," Harry assured his brother, eyes closed in concentration like Melfina before him. "And I can see her at the end of it!" the artificial blue-haired man announced with manic glee.
The time had come. As the two elder Tao priests jammed the final needle in the sphere before them, its counterpart sank into the Leyline. Suddenly a pillar of light burst from each spot where the eight needles had been jammed, with all the pillars being connected by an octagonal ring at the end. The remaining members of the Anten Seven marveled as a red energy field now covered the Leyline. Said field began to shrink in size, the energy converging on a single point. And as though signalled by the female priest's screams, a tunnel was drilled through the barrier.
"It's opening," the elder male Tao priest confirmed, panting with exhaustion.
"We're now entering the Galactic Leyline!" Hazanko announced as the Geomancer commenced with the last leg of its pilgrimage.
The Outlaw Star was making its way through a swirling mass of dark clouds.
"Melfina, what's our status?" asked Gene. Despite how confused the ship's sensors had been before, the red head was not taking any chances.
"Engine output 70%. We're following a spiral course that will send us directly to the center," answered Melfina, the tone of her voice somewhat back to its usual state.
"We wouldn't be able to tell where we're going without you Mel," Jim cheerfully complimented, with Hanmyo silently nodding her head beside him.
"Yeah, you said it," Gene agreed.
"I guess it's a good thing we went ahead of the Orta Hone Hone. Gilliam, can you get a transmission to them outside? Without someone like Melfina they'll just smash their eardrums trying to enter the Leyline," bemoaned Aisha.
"So that must be the reason why the Geomancer held its position," Suzuka realized.
"What were they doing, just standing by like that?" Jim pointed out.
"Who knows, Jim." Gene shrugged. "But I'll betcha they're cooking up some dirty little scheme and we'll be ready for them!"
Despite all the confusion and excitement, Jim couldn't help but notice Hanmyo's silence. Turning to face her, he grabbed the young girl's hands.
"I know it can seem like Gene's overconfident at times, but when it comes to life or death situations like this we've always managed to pull through somehow, and this will be no exception," he tried to reassure her. For a while Hanmyo said nothing in response, but eventually she took a deep breath, squeezed Jim's hand and met his gaze.
"...Thank you, Jim," the indigo haired child whispered, some light finally returning to her eyes.
Around this time the Shangri La also emerged from the barrier.
"Oh my! It seems like I can't pick up my tracer, either," Gwen Kahn informed the MacDougal Brothers, typing away on the keyboard in front of him.
"Don't worry. I know where they are. They're just ahead of us. We'll meet up with them soon." Harry stated with a confident smirk. "She's all mine now."
"Now now, son. You're underestimating the trouble you'd have mating with her. Hmm, I wonder what would happen..." Gwen Kahn chided before trailing off, considering the matter. 'I suppose it's not outright impossible, but there's just too little data. At the very least, given her current state, the odds of her successfully procreating are...perhaps this is yet another question the Leyline can answer…'
"It's okay, professor. I already know that she's a bio-android," said Harry.
"You think she's a bio-android?" Gwen Kahn remarked, shaking his head with amusement. "No, no. She's considerably different from the standard issue bio-androids that we've become familiar with. Different in ways that you can't imagine!"
"Yeah, so how's she different?" Harry glared at the scientist.
Gwen Kahn nodded at Harry before leaning back in his chair, considering it a valid question. "I'll need to start at the beginning. You see, the Kei Pirates came to me and asked me to decode genetic engineering data uncovered by them at some ancient ruins called the Grave of the Dragon."
"I already know how you designed the XGP after decoding the data, Professor. Just stick to Melfina," Ron interrupted, not bothering to hide his irritation.
"But that's just it!" Gwen Kahn exclaimed, his eyes going wide as he spoke much more quickly. "You see, I wasn't able to completely decode it. Some of the data was something even I couldn't precisely understand. For lack of a better term, I've been calling it a black box. The XGP as well as Melfina were constructed by incorporating this black box, which I had no idea how to activate, as well as knowledge from 30,000 years ago, left behind by a mysterious source. Yes..."
"So you're saying that hidden inside the XGP and Melfina lies a mystery you can't solve, Professor?" Ron asked with astonishment.
"Yes! Yes! Yes, that's right!" the professor confirmed before clutching his head in frustration. "Oh, how can there still be so many unsolved mysteries of the universe that my brilliant mind can't decipher!? It's utterly impossible to fathom." His outburst finished, the suddenly calm man turned to Harry and Ron with a smile. "At any rate, there's your answer in a nutshell. She's too great a mystery for you to contemplate."
Harry gave a disbelieving look to Gwen Kahn before turning to face forward, a manic energy appearing in his eyes. "I can sense them!" the blue haired man shouted with wide eyes, the Shangri La charging forward. "At last I found you Melfina!"
"Turn the ship around!" commanded Gene. "Damn it, it's the MacDougal brothers! What are they doing here? Melfina?"
"The spiral's collapsing!" Melfina warned.
The Outlaw Star and Shangri La both entered what resembled the eye of a nighttime hurricane.
"What just happened there?" Gene asked.
"I-I think it's a whirlpool. I'm detecting another ship!" Melfina reported.
"It's the Geomancer!" Suzuka cried out as the Kei Pirate vessel charged towards them from above.
"Capture the XGP at once, then destroy the MacDougal Brothers!" proclaimed Hazanko, as the Geomancer released its grappler arms from standby and started firing missiles at the Shangri La.
"Don't mess with me!" Harry snarled, launching torpedoes to intercept the missiles.
"Don't try to fight them head on! Go after the XGP," Ron chimed in.
Meanwhile, the XGP was using one of its cannons to blast energy at the Geomancer with the speed of a submachine gun. Unfortunately, each blast bounced off the front like tennis balls thrown at a brick wall. Naturally, the Geomancer retaliated with torpedo-like anchors, which only served to agitate Gene further.
"All right, you bastard!" the red-haired young man shouted, using the Outlaw Star's grappler arms to parry the anchors and continuing to fire at the Geomancer in vain. The Kei Pirate ship used its own grappler arms to reach for the XGP, forcing them to try rolling out of the way. The Outlaw Star managed to dodge the Geomancer's left arm, but the crimson-painted spaceship's own left was grabbed by the pirate ship's right.
"Damn it!" Gene growled.
"Gene!/You moron!" everyone else aboard the Outlaw Star all shouted in panic, with one crew member being noticeably less tactful than the rest. But to their shock an unlikely savior came to their aid.
"You think I'm gonna let you have Melfina that easily?" Harry sniped, firing a missile at the Geomancer's arm and freeing the XGP. The sudden release, however, caused the Outlaw Star to momentarily spin out of control before usings its air jets to regain a stable position.
"Let's lose 'em! Maximum overdrive!" Gene instructed, firing up the ship's turbine and blasting down the whirlpool. This prompted the Shangri La to break from the standoff and pursue the XGP, leaving the Geomancer behind.
"Don't let them escape! After them!" Hazanko yelled, his fist clenched in anger.
"With all due respect, we mustn't, Lord Hazanko," the elderly male Tao priest informed him, face covered in sweat. "If we deviate from our course we'll never stand a chance of reaching the Leyline."
It was out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Outlaw Star as yet again the ship was buffeted by more of the noise-inducing clouds.
"Mel, where's that spiral?" Gene asked the navigator while covering his ears.
"We're in the center," responded Melfina, narrowing her eyes.
Fortunately for everyone they emerged from the noise barrier far more quickly this time around, leading to a collective sigh of relief. The emotional rollercoaster, however, was only just beginning.
"Kinetic waves. There's something ahead," Gilliam announced, his previous frustration and panic now gone. At this signal everyone turned to look out the cockpit's window, and what they saw before them would be ingrained into their memories for the rest of their lives.
"Wha...What's that?" Gene stammered, wide eyed with shock.
"What? That's it, isn't it?" said Jim, his voice a mix of confusion and excitement.
"That's what the Kei Pirates have been trying to mastermind!" Suzuka shouted, the steel in her voice unusually apparent.
"It's where mountains of riches are waiting for us!" Aisha gleefully cheered. At long last, it was time to prove herself to her people beyond a shadow of a doubt.
"So this is it...The heart of the Galactic Leyline..." Hanmyo whispered, the sight before her taking her breath away.
All of these reactions were completely understandable, for without even needing to bring up a zoomed-in display screen the crew of the XGP could see a giant rotating cylinder of gold the size of a populated space station, covered in dark clouds and surrounded by the sea of noise they'd emerged from.
"What do you think we'll find there? Treasures or monsters? Let's find out!" Gene said eagerly as he leaned the controls forward, beginning their approach. But not even a second had passed before he flinched in pain as the entire ship began to shake.
"The ship is being pulled in! It's like we're being guided!" Melfina informed everyone, eyes closed once more.
"Guided?! Don't you think that's a little understated?!" Gene remarked. Indeed, at the rate the ship was accelerating it felt more like they were being sucked down through the giant whirlpool from before.
"Oh no! We're gonna crash!" Jim cried out as they got closer and closer to the Leyline's heart. But just as they entered the cloud cover, they instead found themselves sailing through a tunnel with a golden spiral coiling around the edges. The ship was now being threaded through the spiral like a needle, countless glowing rainbow lights flying past them.
"Acceleration has dropped to approximately 70%. I'm detecting an atmosphere outside the ship," confirmed Gilliam.
"So Gene? What're we gonna do now?" asked Jim.
"Show some backbone, will ya? The Leyline's sending us an invitation. I say we accept the offer," Gene replied with a wink.
Minutes later the Outlaw Star lowered itself alongside a bunch of large, metallic spikes protruding from a giant wall.
"Oh my goodness. Take a look at this, Gene!" Gilliam said, bringing up a screen "It seems to be some sort of artificial structure." The monitor showed that atop the flat edge of one of the spikes, there was a stairwell whose walls had what almost looked like golden ivy for handrails.
"So the rest of the way is by foot, huh?" Gene said.
"The atmosphere is quite breathable. The gravity is approximately 0.974 G," Gilliam answered back.
Gene narrowed his eyes before closing them and smirking. "Man, these guys think of everything don't they? Mind the ship while I'm gone, Gilliam," he instructed.
"Alright, I'll see you later then. Please be careful," Gilliam replied.
Far above the XGP and out of sight the Geomancer was docked near a very similar spike.
"Hitoriga, Hamushi, and Jukai," boomed Hazanko's voice. "The three of you will come with me to ensure that Melfina is returned to us, that the Leyline becomes the cemetery for Gene Starwind and the MacDougal Brothers, and that I reach the core unimpeded."
"Yes lord," the trio in question complied.
"Tobigera," Hazanko began.
"Yes, my lord?" the red haired assassin responded.
"Originally I intended to have you stay onboard the ship alongside the remainder of the crew and keep watch," Hazanko revealed. "However, due to your reports regarding Tenrei I now have a special assignment for you."
"Anything you command," Tobigera answered respectfully.
"Find Hanmyo, ascertain her intentions, and then discipline her accordingly," Hazanko commanded.
"Yes sir," Tobigera agreed.
Everyone present understood what was going unsaid. Ever since Hilda made off with what was supposed to be one of the Kei Pirates' greatest achievements, Hazanko had decreed that ANY ship built going forward was to have a tracking device installed as well as all existing ships to have such devices retroactively installed. It was how he knew that Soi Len, Yase, and all of their compatriots who had pursued Hilda, and later Gene, to Sentinel had fallen in battle. And yet...not only had this all somehow failed with a member of his personal assassination squad, but the child had gone on to apparently betray them. While Hazanko could acknowledge the possibility of her being held hostage or held in Gene Starwind's custody for the purposes of interrogation, Hazanko trusted in Tobigera's ability to read the faces of even the most stoic of individuals. The masked assassin may suffer the occasional misfortune, especially in the faces of those blessed with good luck, but he knew better than most just how revealing facial expressions could be. In fact, Shimi used to joke that in another life Tobigera would have made for a TERRIBLE card player or been banned altogether thanks to his masks, but an excellent commentator on televised poker.
But that was neither here nor there. Hazanko's ambitions were on the verge of being fulfilled, and failure and treason at this stage was unacceptable. Tobigera would either prove that he deserved to remain among the Anten Seven, or working his way back up from the bottom rung would be the least of his worries.
"Man, this place really gives me the creeps," Jim muttered as the crew of the Outlaw Star made their way through a luminescent cavern. While there were plenty of signs that these caves had been dug by hand rather than through more natural means of erosion, they still twisted and turned without any clear rhyme or reason. Combined with the foreboding atmosphere, it wasn't surprising that one as young as him was so unnerved. But while Hanmyo was just as young, her reactions were far more subdued. Not a single word passed from her lips and her face grew even paler the further along they went. There had been a few instances where she started to reach her arm out towards Jim, only to flinch and pull it back before he even noticed. Finally, however, the indigo-haired girl spoke up.
"What's that up ahead?" she asked.
"Ugh. Looks like a dead end," Gene groaned.
"Okay, Gene. What should we do now?" Jim said, turning to face the redhead.
"Like we have a choice. We gotta go back," Gene complained, but just as he was about to turn around the ceiling started shining, causing the crew to all turn their gaze upwards. "Hey, what's with the bright lights? Man..."
The light intensified, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. A moment later the flash of light dissipated and they were greeted by a very confusing sight.
"The cave's disappeared!" Aisha announced in shock.
Indeed, it was as though they were standing on a plateau back at the Grave of the Dragon, only with the cliffs and rocky outcroppings made of shimmering crystal instead of dusty red stone and a mustard yellow ceiling that went on without end, dotted with orbs of red and black like planets in an astronomer's chambers.
"It's like we've been transported to another place," Gene said, looking up at the bizarre roof covering their heads. In the distance he noticed something that stood out amongst the sickly looking sky: a giant black mountain with what appeared to be a narrow pillar at its summit. Above that was a black circle, almost like a large sun with a red orb below it and a yellow sphere surrounded with a black outline to the right.
"What's going on, Gene?" Jim asked.
"How in the world should I know?" Gene retorted.
"It seems to me that we're inside the cylinder now," Suzuka surmised.
"Don't you know what's going on, Melfina?" Aisha inquired.
Melfina turned to face Aisha, closing her eyes in frustration, "N-No, I don't know either. I'm confused, too," the bio-android confessed.
"You are?" shouted a stunned Aisha.
"I don't even know how I did it. I don't understand how I was able to guide the Outlaw Star here." Melfina elaborated. The navigator clasped her hands together before bringing them to her face and breaking down in despair. "This was the first time I could do it."
Gene's eyes begin to water, realizing just how much the truth was going to hurt her. Steeling himself, he approached Melfina. "Well, we traveled all this way so we could find that out," Gene told her in what he hoped was a reassuring tone.
"Shall I tell you all, then?" interrupted a deep, sinister voice.
"Huh? Who are you?" Gene yelled as he turned to face the newcomer. Before him and his companions stood five elaborately dressed individuals, all of whom were concealing their faces in some manner or another.
"Heh, it's because Melfina has had the secret of the Leyline within her all this time," revealed the imposing man in the center of the group, clad in blue and gold robes. Clearly he was the source of the voice from before and the group's leader. To the speaker's right stood a provocatively dressed woman and an oddly familiar looking jester with crimson hair, and to his left stood someone with a leather bag on their head and a scrawny man in a straightjacket.
"That's Hazanko!" Suzuka informed Gene, glaring at one of the individuals standing to the leader's left. "And they're…"
"Yeah, I know. Those Anten guys," Gene cut her off.
"You will return Melfina and Hanmyo to me. They belong to us," Hazanko commanded.
"Melfina and Hanmyo aren't poker chips, Jack. Forget it," Gene sneered.
"Wait a moment!" Jim cut in. "I know Hilda took Melfina away from the Kei Pirates, but how do you even know who Hanmyo is?" Before that line of questioning could go further yet another new voice chimed in from a different section of the plateau.
"Oh my my my my my! How incredible! Was that teleportation?" commented an older gentleman's voice, causing both groups to divert their focus towards the newcomers. Before them stood three familiar, and very unwelcome, faces.
"MacDougal!" Gene shouted, the brothers and mad scientist turning to face him.
"Yeah, and why's Gwen Kahn with those guys?" Aisha pointed out.
With the MacDougals and Gwen Kahn to their left and the Kei Pirates to their right, the crew of the Outlaw Star found themselves on the verge of yet another three-way standoff, and for a brief moment there was silence. But to the shock of his friends, Jim was the first to speak up.
"I don't know what Gwen Kahn is doing with the MacDougals, but my guess is that they and the Pirates are after the same things they've always been: Mel, the Leyline, and our lives," said the blonde haired boy. "Even so, why do they want Hanmyo? She only joined up with us recently, and Suzuka and Aisha have been around for way longer."
"...You're serious," the red-haired jester-looking man said flatly. "You honestly have no idea who Hanmyo is."
"Of course we know who Hanmyo is!" snarled Aisha. "She's one of us!"
"And it seems he's not the only one," remarked the female Kei Pirate. "How did she of all people defeat Iraga? The reports clearly exaggerated her intelligence."
"Are you going to keep insulting us? Or are you actually going to give us some answers?" roared Gene.
"Oh my, this is fascinating!" remarked an intrigued Gwen Kahn, while Ron and Harry silently watched the unfolding drama with amusement and disinterest respectively. "To think that this was what was going on while I had Gene find out the coordinates." Neither the XGP's crew nor the pirates paid him any mind, though.
"Normally I wouldn't deign to give information to a gnat, but this does pertain to us as well so consider yourself fortunate and pay close attention, brat," Hazanko stated, his voice dripping with condescension. "Hanmyo is not one of you, and never was. She is a member of the Anten Seven, a pilot and assassin I sent to kill Gene Starwind after he left Heifong."
Silence followed this declaration. Neither Gene nor any of his companions knew how to react to such a bombshell. How could they? But Gene's mind started to race, trying to make sense of this new information.
'Between Heifong and when Hanmyo joined us we were only attacked by pirates twice.' Gene recalled. 'The bunch we fought with Angel Links had nothing to do with the Kei, so that just leaves the grappler ship from Symka 5. But not only was it someone else's voice who challenged us, we annihilated their ship. Sure, Jim found her all banged up in the park afterwards, but not even a Ctarl-Ctarl could have survived that explosion, and unlike the El Dorado, they didn't jettison their cockpit before it was too late. It's just not possible. And yet...what if it's true?'
Finally, Jim turned away from Hazanko and looked at the girl in question. "Hanmyo…" he started, but found himself too startled to keep speaking.
"No...no…" Hanmyo muttered through trembling lips, crouched on the ground with her hands clamped over her ears. "No no no no no no no no no no no..." The young girl's skin was the palest anyone had ever seen her, her headband drenched in sweat and her entire body quaking with fear.
Shortly after Hanmyo had joined up with them the crew had noticed some parallels between her and Melfina. Both were amnesiacs overflowing with kindness and cheer, but their attitudes towards their missing memories couldn't have been more different. Melfina was desperate to learn about her past, while Hanmyo had absolutely no desire in reclaiming what she had lost. And in this moment Gene and Jim couldn't help but wonder if Hanmyo had had the right idea.
Moving on autopilot Jim kneeled beside his dear friend, grabbing her shoulders and trying to stop her shaking. "Hanmyo, I'm here," he called out to her. "Hanmyo, it's me. I'm here, so please say something. Anything!" But Hanmyo didn't respond, and unfortunately the situation was about to get worse.
"Why doest thou return?" a deep female voice called out, seemingly from everywhere at once.
"Hey! What was that?" Gene said angrily, looking towards the black mountain.
"Why doest thou return?" repeated the voice. Suddenly the red orb above the summit shot out a pillar of light that enveloped Melfina.
"I don't understand. What does she mean I've returned?" asked Melfina, her own voice still tired and confused from her own breakdown earlier.
"Melfina!" Gene ran towards her, only for the pillar to disappear along with Melfina. Returning his gaze upwards, he noticed the sky now had a ring of blue light.
"What is thy desire?" the mysterious voice asked, now seemingly communicating from the ring of light, with another one beginning to form within it.
"What do you want?" Gene shouted back.
"What is thy desire?" the voice repeated itself.
"That voice...Who is it?" Hamushi wondered aloud.
"Find thy desire here on this land," the voice instructed.
"Oh," Gwen Kahn said, his fascination only growing stronger.
"Yeah, I got your desire," Gene taunted the ring of light.
The ring of light filled itself in, becoming a solid blue circle in the process. Once complete, everyone still present on the plateau found themselves engulfed in blue light, similar to Melfina before them.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Gene bellowed in rage as he was teleported away.
"HANMYO!" Jim shouted out, wrapping his arms around the indigo-haired girl before he was torn away from her.
With the exception of the Kei Pirates, everyone began to shout as the light whisked each of them away.
"Why does thou return?" the deep voice called out. "Whom does thou guide?"
At the mountain's peak, what looked like a single pillar from a distance was in fact a shrine of some kind. It was here that Melfina now found herself trapped, arms bound above her head to a slab of stone. With no answers to give, Melfina closed her eyes in sorrow and the voice ceased to speak.
Some ways away, Hanmyo began to stir. Blinking, the young girl realized she was lying down on the ground, but as she started to sit up everything that had transpired over the past few hours crashed into her like a runaway freight train. She had been holding so much inside for so long, trying to keep her inner turmoil hidden from those around her, but with no one around her to either console or attempt to deceive, Hanmyo could keep her emotions locked away no longer. The youngest member of the Anten Seven and the newest crew member of the Outlaw Star wrapped her arms around her legs, buried her face in her thighs, and sobbed.
(To be continued)
Preview: Like Melfina, I do not know why the vessel I inhabit was specifically created, with me alongside it. And until now this did not bother me, but with my sensors unable to recognize that our ultimate destination was right in front of me, my inability to anticipate the threat my crew was exposed to upon entering the Leyline, and none of the messages I attempt to send to either the Ctarl-Ctarl outside nor my crew within going through, I find it baffling that I was designed with such limitations. There has to be more that I am capable of, more that I can do to help my crew. And before we leave the Leyline I will figure out what potential within myself and the Outlaw Star has yet to be activated. Gene, Jim, Melfina, Suzuka, Aisha, and Hanmyo. Hold on just a little while longer.
Next time on Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate: Unforgiving Crossroads. You better get ready!
(Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate)
And thus, our heroes have finally entered the Leyline. This chapter...was not easy to write. Unlike the last two chapters, I had to do so much retreading of canon and not as much showing how Hanmyo's presence has altered things. That, and I wanted to do the action sequences justice, for I can't really think of any Outlaw Star fanfics that truly showcase how awesome yet insane grappler fights are purely through words. And as someone who doesn't have a whole lot of experience writing action in general, that was quite the tall order. Seriously, I have more respect than ever for whoever was responsible for the grappler duel choreography in the show. What I did have a LOT of fun writing, however, was a villain as hammy, passionate, and deliciously evil as Hazanko. Regardless, the next chapter is one I am very excited to write, and I hope those of you in the audience who have continued to follow along despite my long hiatuses between chapters feel the same.
To those of you in the audience who have read everything I've posted for Outlaw Star The Flower of Fate so far, and to Shadow of Forgotten who has continued to help me proofread regardless of how much time passes, I cannot begin to express just how grateful I am for your support. Thank you all so much!
Goodbye! Until next time!