Ok, this is the 2nd chapter, PLEASE R&R! thanx, okie dokie, here we go. I hope it doesn't really suck. Its pretty late, lol, ok so that's always my excuse, but really, it is, its 11:30, I always seem to write my stories at late times. Ok ok, I'm sure u don't want to hear my belly aching, so here ya are. Oh ya, and thanx for all those reviews for chapter one. ^_^ I feel so special. Ooo, and thanx Felicia, for some of those ideas (by the way, her name is Misty Wildflower so u can read her stories too.) ^_^
"Please wake up, Gene," Melfina beckoned. Only a few hours ago Gene was knocked unconscious by a flying piece of wreckage that collided into his head. Melfina tried hard to heal him in her water chamber but she know what she really needed was nothing short of a miracle. "We need you. Please… I don't know what we'd… no, what I'd do without you." Melfina said as she held onto him, afraid she would loose him. She held him tight and hugged him, she prayed for his safety. A strange feeling overcame her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. It was a feeling like no other, she had never felt it before, but she liked it. It made her feel so warm and even gave her goosebumps. She closed her eyes and let it seep through her body. She smiled and pressed Gene's body closer to hers, hugging him a little tighter. She never wanted to let go…..
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The week after Gene's mother's death felt like an eternity. Every minute felt like an hour, he felt guilty that he was all alone, especially after his mother told him never to be alone. Every night he prayed… prayed that this was all just some terrible dream that he could wake up from. His eyes had developed dark circles under them because he always cried himself to sleep, you see, he had an extremely close relationship with his mother. She had always been there for him and always protected him. Finally, his dad arrived home again.
"Gene," his father called as he walked through the door. Gene lifted his head and listened, not quite sure if what he heard was his imagination or not. "You there Gene?" his father called again. Gene bolted out of bed and to his father, nearly knocking him over. For the first time in a week, he finally smiled. "Sorry I was so long little buddy, but I'm back now and that's all that matters, right?"
Gene pushed himself away from him. 'It's been a week,' he thought to himself, 'how can he not know what has happened, there's no way, I thought everybody knew.'
"Whats wrong, champ?" his dad asked as he looked into Gene's, once again, watery eyes. "You look sad…. Come on, you can tell you old man."
"You mean….. you don't know," Gene asked in disbelief. "You don't know how….. how mommy isn't…. she's… dead."
His father was still and silent, he looked like he had seen a ghost. Quickly, he turned around so Gene wouldn't see how upset he was. Gene saw him pick up a picture of his mother and stare at it for a while, then returned it to it's spot, this time, face down. "I'm sorry, Gene, sorry I wasn't here for you." With that he went in his room, not another word said.
Gene sat down, there was total silence until he heard a loud knock on the door. When he opened the door, he saw a strange man. He was wearing a brown trench coat and had on a hat and sunglasses, hiding his face. "Is Mr. Starwind home?" he asked in a raspy voice.
"Yeah, daddy's here, but he's in his room right now."
"Well, can you get him, and tell him its very important. Tell him I have to discuss some very important business with him."
"Uhhh…… okay," Gene said as he turned around to start heading to his dad's room. To his surprise, his father was already behind him.
"Gene, go to you room," his father ordered him fiercely. Gene obeyed with a bit of hesitation first.
"Mr. Starwind, I believe you have something that I want."
"I don't have a clue what you mean."
"Oh, I believe you know exactly what I mean." The stranger reached in his trench coat and revealed a gun. "Now, I really hope that you would help me out, I don't want this to get ugly."
Gene was watching from his bedroom window above, though he couldn't hear what they were saying. He watched as the stranger pulled out his gun, his eyes bulged out as he feared for his father's life. All of a sudden, he noticed his father had pulled out a gun of his own. A few rounds were shot and the stranger plopped to the ground, blood spilled everywhere. His father looked strait up to Gene, as if he knew he had been watching the whole time. Quickly, Gene pushed himself away from the window, trying not to be seen, afraid of what his father might say if he knew he saw them.
His father watched as Gene moved from his window and made sure he wasn't watching him anymore. Once he noticed the coast was clear, he fell to his knees and grabbed his shoulder. He felt the warm blood spreading from his shoulder to his hand as he winced at the pain. How could he have gotten himself into this mess? He knew he only had one choice left, he had to go back to space. But what would happen to Gene? He couldn't just leave him alone in the condition he was in. Ever since his mother died, he's been a mess, he's been letting his thoughts wander and blaming himself for her death. He had no choice but to bring his son with him. Out of all the possibilities that he could do that ran through his head, this seemed to be the right choice. He took a deep breath and headed back in his house. The only problem was, how would he explain this complex situation to Gene? After all, he was just a kid.
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Jim paced impatiently waiting for any news from Melfina. Finally he yelled out loud, "What the heck's taking so long!?"
"Calm down, Jim," Suzuka said calmly as she drank some green tea. "You've got to be patient, its not like there is anything we can do to help him."
"Yeah, I know, but I just feel so horrible for what happened. I know I could have stopped this all and he would be all right if I had just—"
"Stop blaming yourself!" Aisha interjected. "Suzu's right, there's nothing you could have done. Its not like he was a Ctarl-Ctarl or anything so this was inevitable."
"For once I have to agree with Aisha, though I've asked before that you not call me Suzu, but she's right about it being inevitable."
"I guess you guys are right, but I still feel a little guilty. I mean, he was my best friend and all..."
"We understand how you feel Gene, it is always hard to deal with a loved one being hurt, but there is no use in blaming yourself, everything happens for a reason so lets accept it. Why don't you have some green tea? It'll help calm your nerves," Suzuka said as she took another sip of her tea.
"Thanks."
"Listen kiddo," Aisha said, "He may not be a Ctarl-Ctarl, but Gene Starwind's pretty tough. He can handle most anything."
"Yeah Aisha, your right. Thanks you guys."
********
Gene and his father were in the park, his father had to get out of the house and get some fresh air. His wound was killing him, but he still hadn't gone to the hospital. He was too stubborn to admit that he needed help, plus, he didn't want to worry Gene. He watched as Gene played in the park with a few of his friends, one of which was named Fred, the one that was chasing him around the playground.
"Gene," he yelled, calling him over to talk to him. "Gene, we need to talk. Its about that man that was here the other day, well, I'm in a heap of trouble and I'm gunna have to go back to space." Gene lowered his head a little. "But I don't want to leave here alone. So its up to you, I'd like you to come with me to space but if you don't want to, I understand. What do you say, Gene, do you want to come to space with me?"
Energetically Gene nodded his head. Of course he'd like to go, who wouldn't? Its something everybody dreamed about, floating around in space, not a care in the world, or so he thought. He looked up in the sky and let himself fall on the grass. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it would be like. He began to laugh, giddy with excitement.
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Finally the day had arrived, Gene was strapped in one of the seats in his dad's ship and ready to go, the butterflies in his stomach were fluttering around frantically. As he lifted of, he could hardly believe it, he kept pinching himself to make sure it wasn't all just a dream. As he watched the world get smaller and smaller, he heard his dad talking to somebody. When he turned his head to see who it was on the vidcom, he realized it was the same man from the first day that his dad got into this mess. Once again he was silent so he could listen to his conversation…
"Jim, its the pirates… their after me. I knew I shouldn't have gotten into this mess. No amount of money is worth death. Speaking of which, while we were out looking for the Leyline, my wife died." Gene's father said, his voice quivering a little.
"Hey, I'm sorry, but ya know, I have a family too. My wife is due to have her baby any day now. Hehe, she said she's thinking about naming it after me. I can't help but thinking about it, little Jim Hawking."
"Then why did you even get into this mess?"
"Same reason as you, for the money. Didn't know what I was getting myself into, did I? Plus, a good outlaw would never miss an opportunity like this, right?"
"Yeah, I guess you right. And uhh……. By the way, speaking of the family issue, I…… well, I kind of brought Gene with me, but don't worry, he won't be any trouble. I'm going to teach him all that I know….
Oooooooooooooooooo! What do I sense here?? A little bit of romance?? Melfina's starting to feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Hmm….. wonder what that means? Ooo AND a lil bit of the origin of Jim, I'm gunna work into that more too. There was even a bit of Fred in it, lol. ^_^;; pleeeeeeeeeeez R&R ok, ok, I'm sorry if that was totally stupid, just don't be too harsh on me please, thank you.