I'm back, Chapter Two for those of you who cared enough to leave a review! for those of you who don't review, PLEASE remember it's the only payment we fanfic writers get! it's like candy! in my case, soda!

i forgot to mention, i know that gene & jim aren't brothers on the cartoon. but in my world THEY ARE, tay? (im always breaking the rules) *teehee*

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storyline (c) 2001 michelle knight

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" She's wrong. Jim, Aisha, Suzuka & Melfina are next door. " Gene ranted to himself as he walked through the dark hallway.

Turning the corner, Gene opened the door that normally led to "Starwind & Hawking". Normally. But this was anything BUT normal. The hallways led to another hallway that led outside.

" What the? " Gene said, walking onto the empty lot. " Where is everything? "

" You look lost, Gene. " Lady Kaye taunted.

" WHAT DID YOU DO?! " Gene demanded, grabbing Lady Kaye by her arms.

" No need to get violent, Gene. I already told you, I didn't do anything. You & your wish did. " Lady Kaye explained calmly.

" LIAR! " Gene screamed, letting Kaye go.

" Hey, could you cool it? I'm trying to study up here! " A familiar boy's voice yelled from the apartment above them.

" Jim? " Gene asked himself. " JIM?! "

" Hey, how do you know my name? " Jim asked, coming onto the balcony.

" I'm your brother...come on. I'm in no mood for jokes today. I've got Lady Freak here telling me that I made some stupid wish. A wish I wouldn't have ever made to begin with... " Gene began, looking where Kaye stood.

" What lady? Mister, do you need a doctor? " Jim asked.

Gene did a cartoonish double take. Lady Kaye had vanished.

" Mister? " Jim called.

Gene stared up at Jim. Jim really didn't know who he was.

" Jim, do you know where the old repair shop is? " Gene asked.

" It was torn down. They built these apartments on the lot. " Jim said, looking at Gene quizically.

Gene hung his head a moment & then looked at his little brother.

" Thanks. " Gene said as he walked off.

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Lady Kaye was becoming right. Everything Gene had ever known was gone. Gene decided to check the spaceport. The Outlaw Star was certainly still there because that had nothing to do with friendship.

" Excuse me, you can't enter here! " A guard said, running after Gene as he made his way onto the Outlaw Star.

Losing the guard, Gene opened the main hatch to the Outlaw Star & slipped inside. Suddenly, Gene was thrown onto the deck as something hit him.

" WHO ARE YOU? " A woman demanded, holding a lazer gun over Gene.

Gene couldn't believe his eyes. The woman was a cat being. Her sea green hair dripped over her shoulders as she stared at Gene with red eyes. Could it be...

" Aisha? " Gene groaned, holding his chest from being thrown onto the deck so violently.

" How do you know me? " Aisha asked, letting Gene up. " Because I don't believe we've met. "

" Sure we have. And this is MY ship, what are YOU doing here? " Gene replied, sitting up, still holding his chest.

" YOUR ship? Gilliam, tell this guy who owns THIS ship. " Aisha commanded.

" Registration number #43738290 is licensed to Aisha McDougal. " Gilliam replied.

Gene looked at Gilliam & then at Aisha.

" You don't own this ship anymore, Gene. " Lady Kaye stated, appearing next to Gene.

" Not my ship? But if I made that stupid wish, then what does the Outlaw Star have to do with friendship? " Gene asked.

" Gilliam. " Lady Kaye clued.

" Gilliam? " Gene repeated.

" Gilliam considered you his friend. " Lady Kaye acknowledged.

Gene couldn't believe his ears. Gene never knew that Gilliam had felt like that. But Gene had never really given it any thought.

" This guy needs some serious help. " Aisha commented. " He talks to himself. "

" No I don't. Can't you see..." Gene started, until he realized that Aisha couldn't see Lady Kaye.

Turning to Kaye, Gene growled. The deck light flipped on.

" Why didn't you tell me that they couldn't see you? " Gene asked, getting annoyed fast by this phantom.

" And ruin the fun? " Lady Kaye laughed.

" Honey, are you okay? I..." James McDougal began as he walked onto the deck. " I didn't know we had a
visitor. "

" Yes. This guy says he owns our ship. " Aisha purred to James, her wedding band visible for the first time.

Gene's mouth dropped. James McDougal. Aisha was married to James McDougal?!

" You're...you're married? " Gene stuttered, barely able to utter the words.

" For ten wonderful years. " Aisha purred again, hugging Andrew's arm.

" And I'm afraid that I gave Aisha this ship as a wedding gift. Perhaps you have mistaken our ship for another model XGP that is parked here? " James offered.

" No, it's the right ship. You've done something to me, haven't you! " Gene screamed.

" I don't even know you. How could I do something to someone I don't even know? " James asked with a snobbish attitude.

" Fine, if that's the way you wanna play this hand out. " Gene growled. " But you know I'll find out the
truth. "

Gene vanished through the open hatch.

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