Experienced Outlaw Star fans:
Allow me to beg your forgiveness. This is my first OS fanfiction, and as of yet, unfinished. The characters are as I see them, having only watched the series twice through. If you don't like the way I spell the names, that's your problem.
This is a alternate time line fic, which means it does not follow the time line set by the actual series. Actually, it follows a similar time line, but at some point it breaks off into a paradox and becomes a different story entirely.
---
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the pictures in my head. Original characters do belong to me.
Warning: As of yet, this is an alternate time line fic, with yaoi (m/m), het (m/f), and humor. Small dashes of sap, language and angst thrown in for good measure. Pairings--wouldn't you just like to know? This fic reaches into the very edges of lime, but do not expect any lemons. If you don't know what that means, email me and expect to be embarrassed. Underage people are drinking--don't try this at home!
Author: Kasey
Archive: Not unless I send it to you.
Status: Incomplete, self-edited.
Key: /italics/ and *emphasis*
---
"At a Minute or Two 'Till Two, Today"
---
-Part Four-
---
Later that day found the entire crew of the /Outlaw Star/ sitting around Fred's dining table, being served a four-course meal. Gene, Jim, and Asjia were arguing over the division of the bounty for turning in Ron MacDougal. On either side of Fred, Suzuka was quietly sipping tea, and Melfina was staring at the wall.
"What's wrong, Melfina?" Fred asked as a servant set a steaming plate of pasta in front of him. "You look disturbed."
Melfina looked down at her own plate of food. She picked up a fork and poked at the pasta. "I guess I'm just worried about Gillium," she said. "I really shouldn't be... Harry can't break out of the firewalls..."
"Is it about Harry MacDougal, then?" Fred took a sip of his tea. "I thought it was your idea to take him back to the ship."
"It... It was," Melfina said. "But he's acting different. Strange. I don't know. He just doesn't seem like himself." She frowned and picked up some pasta on her fork.
Fred tilted his head. "Different? Gene told me he was crazy. Perhaps he's just showing you a side of himself you haven't seen before. It's not as if you talk to him constantly, right?"
Melfina smiled a little. "Maybe you're right. Maybe he's just reacting badly because of the fight."
"It's settled, then!!"
"Fine!"
Melfina, Fred, and Suzuka all looked over at Jim and Asjia, who had just yelled at each other.
"You and Suzuka split fifty percent," Jim said. "And we'll split the other half."
"Fifty percent?" Suzuka asked. "Isn't that a bit much? Twenty percent for each of us is much more even."
Gene sighed. "You and Asjia took care of those little mechanical monsters MacDougal sent after us, while we took care of just Ron and Harry. Technically, you had a harder task than we did."
"It's fair," Jim agreed.
"Now, Suzu," Asjia said, sitting back contentedly in her chair, "I still say I was the one who got that last beastie."
"You chopped its tail," Suzuka said, sipping her tea. "I got it in the neck. Case closed. And don't call me that name."
Fred shook his head at the antics of the two grown women. "Gene, you'll be spending the night here, yes?"
Gene shrugged. "I dunno... I'm not sure if we should leave Harry MacDougal along on the /Outlaw Star/..."
"Oh." Fred sighed.
"...We should at least check on him, and then come back," Gene finished.
Fred's face lit up. "Wonderful!" he said happily.
---
"...Are you awake?"
Harry opened his eyes slowly. He was still trapped in Melfina's domain. "Melfina?"
"I'm right here."
Harry turned to look at her. "Let me go, Melfina," he pleaded.
Melfina turned away. "No. I won't. You'll just come back and try to hurt me again."
Harry was silent. He was not too crazy to understand what she was saying. "...Maybe you're right," he said, after a minute. "I probably will." Melfina shuddered. Harry watched her, his expression almost sad. "I'm sorry."
Melfina turned sharply to look at him. "What?"
Harry blinked. "I-I said, I'm sorry. For when I hit you. I shouldn't have. I didn't mean to."
Melfina tilted her head, her brown eyes confused. "Do you mean it? Your apology?"
"...Yes!" Harry smiled a pure, genuine smile. "Yes, I do!"
Melfina couldn't help but smile. "Then, I accept it."
Harry's smile suddenly disappeared, and his face twinged with pain. "Ohh..."
"What's wrong?" Melfina gasped.
"I-I'm hungry," Harry said, after a moment. "I haven't eaten in at least a day."
"Oh..." Melfina thought for a moment. "Just a minute." She disappeared.
"No!!" Harry cried. "Melfina! Come back! Please don't leave me!"
---
"He's hungry?" Gene asked.
"It could be a trick," Jim said. "The only way to feed him is to release him from the firewall. And then, he might be strong enough to break those bolts holding him to the wall."
"I don't think it's a trick," Melfina said. "And I think I can arrange it so that he can't use the rest of his body. But Gene, I need you to feed him."
"Is gruel okay?"
"Gene!"
"Okay, okay!! I'll make some soup."
Jim snickered. "Yeah, the only food Gene can't screw up."
"No," Melfina said, smiling. "He also makes sandwiches."
Gene sighed, looking towards the ceiling. "Everybody's against me."
---
When Melfina returned, Harry was shaking, despite the firewall that held him back. "Why'd you leave?" he cried. "You just left! Don't leave me here, Melfina!"
Melfina smiled gently. "I just wanted to feed you," she said. "Don't be angry."
"A-angry?" Harry blinked, and his pupils dilated. "I'm not angry, Melfina. Not with you. Not ever."
Melfina's smile wavered. "You're crazy," she stated. "Completely insane."
Harry looked away. "I know."
"I'm going to let you eat, now," Melfina continued. She reached her hands up through the firewall, and gently touched the sides of Harry's face.
Harry blinked as the virtual domain faded slowly, and the more striking colors of real-life invaded his vision. Melfina was gone. "Melfina!"
"Hey, it worked!" Jim exclaimed, looking up at Harry's face. "He's awake!"
"Get away from there, Jim," Gene ordered. He walked forward with a bowl of soup and looked Harry in the eye. "Can you move?" he demanded.
"N-no," Harry stammered. "Where's Melfina?"
"Holding you in place," Jim said. "We're not taking our chances with a guy like you around. But Melfina said we ought to feed you, so we're gonna. I hope you like soup."
"...Thank you," Harry said, reluctantly. "But how can I eat?"
Gene held up a spoon full of soup. He blew across the top of it to cool it down. "It's a bit inelegant, but it'll have to do." He aimed the spoon for Harry's mouth.
Harry tried to turn his head, but was completely unable to move any part of his body except for his mouth and eyes. He heard Melfina giggle in the back of his mind. /Just eat it,/ she said, /Gene's really nice, and you need to eat./
"...Okay, Melfina," Harry said, opening his mouth to accept the soup. /Anything for you./
---
"Gillium?"
"Yes, Melfina?"
"Could you run a virus scan on Harry MacDougal?"
"But, Melfina, he has been uploaded *as* a virus. Why would you want to--"
"I think he's sick," Melfina cut in. "Just do it, please?"
"Very well, Melfina."
"Thank you, Gillium."
---
"You say he's got a *what*?!"
"A virus," Melfina repeated. "It's a computer virus, like the sort that shut down electronic programs... but it affects him like a biological virus would."
"And if that's the way it is," Jim said, "It could be contagious! Melfina might catch it!"
"No," Gillium said. "Not while the firewall is in place. Let me show you the scan." An image of Harry's body and all of the circuitry that flowed through it, appeared on the screen. "As you can see, his right arm is completely mechanical, and the majority of the bones on the left side of his body are titanium, as well. This is probably all due to the intensive damages received in his battles with Gene. He has some damaged connections in his cerebral circuits, which we guess are the results of heavy-duty action and overloading from explosions. However, if you look at his left shoulder..." The image zoomed in on Harry's left shoulder.
"I don't see anything," Gene said, confused.
Jim snorted. "That's 'cause *you're* not a computer technician! Any technician worth his wire cutters can see what's wrong."
"Well, then," Gene huffed, "...Gillium, please explain."
Gillium used arrows to indicate the areas of Harry's shoulder and neck as he pointed them out. "The virus is located here. It is actually a physical virus--that's the tiny probe you see attached to the wiring right there. As a side effect of the firewall holding him in place, this virus has been stilled, and is currently inactive. However, we can observe how it affected him while operative."
Red lines appeared on the close-up, leading from Harry's shoulder both down his left arm, and up into his neck. The image expanded slightly, so that the gathered crew of the /Outlaw Star/ could see the red lines extending throughout Harry's brain.
"The red lines you see are pathways forged by the virus," Gillium went on. "We can tell, because the electronic signals are running backwards. While the charge coming from here..." A blue arrow indicated an area in the lower area of Harry's brain. "...To here..." Another blue arrow pointed to the virus probe. "...Should be running positive, negative, positive, the reality is that the probe is sending negative, positive, negative charges backwards through the wiring."
"So, what does that do?" Asjia asked.
"Basically, it means that the virus has taken over part of Harry's cerebral circuitry," Jim said. He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the image. "And because he's an android, that means that a lot of his actions have been influenced by the virus."
"Scanning shows that, of 1762 operational electronic pathways in Harry's brain, 1483, or 84.2 percent, are backwards. It is possible that only 75 percent of those damaged pathways are a result of the virus. Due to the severe injuries he has faced, it is conceivable that the rest were jarred out of place by his dangerous lifestyle, and not the virus at all."
"But it basically means that Harry MacDougal is one sick puppy, right?" Gene asked.
"And severely mentally unbalanced," Gillium agreed.
"But..." Melfina was frowning. "That virus... it would have had to be installed. Who would do such a thing?"
"I dunno, Mel," Jim said. "But I'd like to take a closer look at it."
"That is actually possible," Gillium said. "But it would require the removal of the probe."
"Does Harry have an access panel from his shoulder?" Melfina asked. "One we could use to get to it?"
"No," Gillium replied. "But I believe you can access his circuitry using the connection tube. If so, you will be able to remove the virus, save it for Jim, and Harry's nano-bots will take care of removing the dead probe."
"Whaddaya say, Gene?" Jim asked. "Can we do it?"
Gene shrugged. Then he gave them a grin. "Sure thing! Go for it."
---
"Now, tell me again what they're going to do?" Fred was sitting at his desk, sipping tea. He had dismissed his guards so that he could talk with Gene privately.
"They're going to fish out some virus that Gillium says has been affecting Harry's head. Jim says it's what caused him to go crazy." Gene was sipping slowly at his own cup of hot tea, but not really tasting it.
"That's actually an interesting concept," Fred said thoughtfully. He placed his teacup gently on the desk, folded his hands, and stared across the room at Gene. "It would be like a natural human catching a virus, say, the flu. Only it's not really a virus the way we think of one... it's a computer virus. Did Gillium say whether or not you could get Melfina immunized?"
"Very funny, Fred," Gene replied dryly.
Fred smiled. "You know I was joking. But honestly, isn't she upset about this whole thing?"
Gene shrugged. "I dunno. I don't think she ever liked him in the first place. He stalks her, threatens her, he's even hit her... Frankly, I don't know why she's bothering to remove the virus."
"Perhaps she wants to know what he's like when he's not, well, sick, as you said. He's really a very good looking young man..." Fred's smile grew. "I really can't blame her."
Gene glared at him. "Would you get your head out of your pants, Fred? Melfina's not like that... she just cares too much about everybody around her."
"Gene, do I make you nervous?"
"What?!" Gene leaned forward and stared at Fred, surprised by the sudden change of subject.
Fred kept his face even, although his hands were almost shaking. "I... I want to know if I make you nervous, Gene."
Gene turned his head to the side, but kept his eyes warily on Fred. "...I'm not sure what you're asking, Fred."
Fred licked his lips. "You and I... we've been friends for a long time, right Gene?"
"...Yeah."
"We've... confided in each other..."
"...Yeah."
"And helped each other..."
"...Yeah."
Fred tapped his foot nervously, and looked down at his desk. "Well... I guess that... I've just never known how you feel. About me." He gasped. "I...I mean...!! I mean, as a friend. You know I'm gay... you've known since we met..."
"...And you never let me forget," Gene added. "What are you asking, Fred?"
Fred slumped in his chair. "Well, it just seems like sometimes you don't want to be around me. Lately, I've been thinking that it happens whenever I do something... gay. Does it bother you, Gene?" He looked back up at Gene, his eyes worried and sad.
Gene frowned. "If it bothered me, we wouldn't be friends," he said after a moment. Fred still didn't look satisfied. Gene thought for another second. "But sometimes you do lay it on a bit thick."
Fred blinked. "What do you mean?"
Gene sat back in his chair. "Well, I know it, and you know it. Jim knows it. Even Mel and Suzuka and Asjia know it by now. You don't have to constantly remind us."
"Remind you? How am I doing that?"
Gene stretched. "Well... the way you talk, sometimes... and what you talk about. Normal guys don't compliment their enemies on their good looks, you know."
"I was making an observation!!" Fred cried. He sighed. "That's just the way I am, Gene. Can I help it if I notice the way a man looks before I find out anything else about him? What about you? You're the only man I know who would try to date the woman trying to kill him, simply because she looks good."
"What?!"
Fred chuckled. "Asjia happened to mention an offer you made to Suzuka..."
"That's it," Gene growled. "The Gkitaro-Gkitaro goes."
"Gene!" Fred laughed. "She just likes to tease you. But..." He stopped laughing, and sobered quickly. "But this is about me. I don't like to bother you, Gene."
Gene took a long sip of his tea, which was cool, by now. He closed his eyes. "Maybe you just haven't had a boyfriend in too long, Fred." The corner of his mouth twitched. "Yeah, that's the problem. You haven't gotten any in a long time, and you're taking it out on the rest of us. So come on, Fred, tell me--is there some guy out there you've had your eye on? Someone you can go pick up and take out. Get a fix?"
Fred frowned and looked away. "I've had my eye on someone... but I'm not into quick flings like you are, Gene."
"So, court 'em first. Lay on the charm, try some flowers and candy, and see if he's willing to settling in for a bit."
"And what if he keeps leaving every time I try to ask him?"
"Hn?" Gene opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "On the move a lot? Business man?"
Fred shook his head. "...Not really."
"Politician?"
"Oh, Gods, no!!"
"So, what is it about him? Good looks? His job? Attitude? I don't think you'd be worried about his payroll."
Fred rolled his shoulders and looked distinctly like he was sulking. "No, I do worry about his payroll. I'm practically in charge of it. And I'd rather he quit his job, but he'd never listen to me!"
"Hn?" Gene tilted his head, thoroughly confused. "You're in charge of his payroll? Is it one of your employees? A contact in another system? If you control the paycheck, then why can't you just fire him?"
"No, no..." Fred pressed his fingertips against his temples. "It's not like that... Gene..."
"Well?" Gene was leaning forward in his chair again. "Now you've got me curious, Freddie-boy. Who are you so stressed out over?"
Fred turned back to look at Gene. Defeated. Miserable. He could not meet Gene's eyes. "You."
---
---
Allow me to beg your forgiveness. This is my first OS fanfiction, and as of yet, unfinished. The characters are as I see them, having only watched the series twice through. If you don't like the way I spell the names, that's your problem.
This is a alternate time line fic, which means it does not follow the time line set by the actual series. Actually, it follows a similar time line, but at some point it breaks off into a paradox and becomes a different story entirely.
---
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the pictures in my head. Original characters do belong to me.
Warning: As of yet, this is an alternate time line fic, with yaoi (m/m), het (m/f), and humor. Small dashes of sap, language and angst thrown in for good measure. Pairings--wouldn't you just like to know? This fic reaches into the very edges of lime, but do not expect any lemons. If you don't know what that means, email me and expect to be embarrassed. Underage people are drinking--don't try this at home!
Author: Kasey
Archive: Not unless I send it to you.
Status: Incomplete, self-edited.
Key: /italics/ and *emphasis*
---
"At a Minute or Two 'Till Two, Today"
---
-Part Four-
---
Later that day found the entire crew of the /Outlaw Star/ sitting around Fred's dining table, being served a four-course meal. Gene, Jim, and Asjia were arguing over the division of the bounty for turning in Ron MacDougal. On either side of Fred, Suzuka was quietly sipping tea, and Melfina was staring at the wall.
"What's wrong, Melfina?" Fred asked as a servant set a steaming plate of pasta in front of him. "You look disturbed."
Melfina looked down at her own plate of food. She picked up a fork and poked at the pasta. "I guess I'm just worried about Gillium," she said. "I really shouldn't be... Harry can't break out of the firewalls..."
"Is it about Harry MacDougal, then?" Fred took a sip of his tea. "I thought it was your idea to take him back to the ship."
"It... It was," Melfina said. "But he's acting different. Strange. I don't know. He just doesn't seem like himself." She frowned and picked up some pasta on her fork.
Fred tilted his head. "Different? Gene told me he was crazy. Perhaps he's just showing you a side of himself you haven't seen before. It's not as if you talk to him constantly, right?"
Melfina smiled a little. "Maybe you're right. Maybe he's just reacting badly because of the fight."
"It's settled, then!!"
"Fine!"
Melfina, Fred, and Suzuka all looked over at Jim and Asjia, who had just yelled at each other.
"You and Suzuka split fifty percent," Jim said. "And we'll split the other half."
"Fifty percent?" Suzuka asked. "Isn't that a bit much? Twenty percent for each of us is much more even."
Gene sighed. "You and Asjia took care of those little mechanical monsters MacDougal sent after us, while we took care of just Ron and Harry. Technically, you had a harder task than we did."
"It's fair," Jim agreed.
"Now, Suzu," Asjia said, sitting back contentedly in her chair, "I still say I was the one who got that last beastie."
"You chopped its tail," Suzuka said, sipping her tea. "I got it in the neck. Case closed. And don't call me that name."
Fred shook his head at the antics of the two grown women. "Gene, you'll be spending the night here, yes?"
Gene shrugged. "I dunno... I'm not sure if we should leave Harry MacDougal along on the /Outlaw Star/..."
"Oh." Fred sighed.
"...We should at least check on him, and then come back," Gene finished.
Fred's face lit up. "Wonderful!" he said happily.
---
"...Are you awake?"
Harry opened his eyes slowly. He was still trapped in Melfina's domain. "Melfina?"
"I'm right here."
Harry turned to look at her. "Let me go, Melfina," he pleaded.
Melfina turned away. "No. I won't. You'll just come back and try to hurt me again."
Harry was silent. He was not too crazy to understand what she was saying. "...Maybe you're right," he said, after a minute. "I probably will." Melfina shuddered. Harry watched her, his expression almost sad. "I'm sorry."
Melfina turned sharply to look at him. "What?"
Harry blinked. "I-I said, I'm sorry. For when I hit you. I shouldn't have. I didn't mean to."
Melfina tilted her head, her brown eyes confused. "Do you mean it? Your apology?"
"...Yes!" Harry smiled a pure, genuine smile. "Yes, I do!"
Melfina couldn't help but smile. "Then, I accept it."
Harry's smile suddenly disappeared, and his face twinged with pain. "Ohh..."
"What's wrong?" Melfina gasped.
"I-I'm hungry," Harry said, after a moment. "I haven't eaten in at least a day."
"Oh..." Melfina thought for a moment. "Just a minute." She disappeared.
"No!!" Harry cried. "Melfina! Come back! Please don't leave me!"
---
"He's hungry?" Gene asked.
"It could be a trick," Jim said. "The only way to feed him is to release him from the firewall. And then, he might be strong enough to break those bolts holding him to the wall."
"I don't think it's a trick," Melfina said. "And I think I can arrange it so that he can't use the rest of his body. But Gene, I need you to feed him."
"Is gruel okay?"
"Gene!"
"Okay, okay!! I'll make some soup."
Jim snickered. "Yeah, the only food Gene can't screw up."
"No," Melfina said, smiling. "He also makes sandwiches."
Gene sighed, looking towards the ceiling. "Everybody's against me."
---
When Melfina returned, Harry was shaking, despite the firewall that held him back. "Why'd you leave?" he cried. "You just left! Don't leave me here, Melfina!"
Melfina smiled gently. "I just wanted to feed you," she said. "Don't be angry."
"A-angry?" Harry blinked, and his pupils dilated. "I'm not angry, Melfina. Not with you. Not ever."
Melfina's smile wavered. "You're crazy," she stated. "Completely insane."
Harry looked away. "I know."
"I'm going to let you eat, now," Melfina continued. She reached her hands up through the firewall, and gently touched the sides of Harry's face.
Harry blinked as the virtual domain faded slowly, and the more striking colors of real-life invaded his vision. Melfina was gone. "Melfina!"
"Hey, it worked!" Jim exclaimed, looking up at Harry's face. "He's awake!"
"Get away from there, Jim," Gene ordered. He walked forward with a bowl of soup and looked Harry in the eye. "Can you move?" he demanded.
"N-no," Harry stammered. "Where's Melfina?"
"Holding you in place," Jim said. "We're not taking our chances with a guy like you around. But Melfina said we ought to feed you, so we're gonna. I hope you like soup."
"...Thank you," Harry said, reluctantly. "But how can I eat?"
Gene held up a spoon full of soup. He blew across the top of it to cool it down. "It's a bit inelegant, but it'll have to do." He aimed the spoon for Harry's mouth.
Harry tried to turn his head, but was completely unable to move any part of his body except for his mouth and eyes. He heard Melfina giggle in the back of his mind. /Just eat it,/ she said, /Gene's really nice, and you need to eat./
"...Okay, Melfina," Harry said, opening his mouth to accept the soup. /Anything for you./
---
"Gillium?"
"Yes, Melfina?"
"Could you run a virus scan on Harry MacDougal?"
"But, Melfina, he has been uploaded *as* a virus. Why would you want to--"
"I think he's sick," Melfina cut in. "Just do it, please?"
"Very well, Melfina."
"Thank you, Gillium."
---
"You say he's got a *what*?!"
"A virus," Melfina repeated. "It's a computer virus, like the sort that shut down electronic programs... but it affects him like a biological virus would."
"And if that's the way it is," Jim said, "It could be contagious! Melfina might catch it!"
"No," Gillium said. "Not while the firewall is in place. Let me show you the scan." An image of Harry's body and all of the circuitry that flowed through it, appeared on the screen. "As you can see, his right arm is completely mechanical, and the majority of the bones on the left side of his body are titanium, as well. This is probably all due to the intensive damages received in his battles with Gene. He has some damaged connections in his cerebral circuits, which we guess are the results of heavy-duty action and overloading from explosions. However, if you look at his left shoulder..." The image zoomed in on Harry's left shoulder.
"I don't see anything," Gene said, confused.
Jim snorted. "That's 'cause *you're* not a computer technician! Any technician worth his wire cutters can see what's wrong."
"Well, then," Gene huffed, "...Gillium, please explain."
Gillium used arrows to indicate the areas of Harry's shoulder and neck as he pointed them out. "The virus is located here. It is actually a physical virus--that's the tiny probe you see attached to the wiring right there. As a side effect of the firewall holding him in place, this virus has been stilled, and is currently inactive. However, we can observe how it affected him while operative."
Red lines appeared on the close-up, leading from Harry's shoulder both down his left arm, and up into his neck. The image expanded slightly, so that the gathered crew of the /Outlaw Star/ could see the red lines extending throughout Harry's brain.
"The red lines you see are pathways forged by the virus," Gillium went on. "We can tell, because the electronic signals are running backwards. While the charge coming from here..." A blue arrow indicated an area in the lower area of Harry's brain. "...To here..." Another blue arrow pointed to the virus probe. "...Should be running positive, negative, positive, the reality is that the probe is sending negative, positive, negative charges backwards through the wiring."
"So, what does that do?" Asjia asked.
"Basically, it means that the virus has taken over part of Harry's cerebral circuitry," Jim said. He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the image. "And because he's an android, that means that a lot of his actions have been influenced by the virus."
"Scanning shows that, of 1762 operational electronic pathways in Harry's brain, 1483, or 84.2 percent, are backwards. It is possible that only 75 percent of those damaged pathways are a result of the virus. Due to the severe injuries he has faced, it is conceivable that the rest were jarred out of place by his dangerous lifestyle, and not the virus at all."
"But it basically means that Harry MacDougal is one sick puppy, right?" Gene asked.
"And severely mentally unbalanced," Gillium agreed.
"But..." Melfina was frowning. "That virus... it would have had to be installed. Who would do such a thing?"
"I dunno, Mel," Jim said. "But I'd like to take a closer look at it."
"That is actually possible," Gillium said. "But it would require the removal of the probe."
"Does Harry have an access panel from his shoulder?" Melfina asked. "One we could use to get to it?"
"No," Gillium replied. "But I believe you can access his circuitry using the connection tube. If so, you will be able to remove the virus, save it for Jim, and Harry's nano-bots will take care of removing the dead probe."
"Whaddaya say, Gene?" Jim asked. "Can we do it?"
Gene shrugged. Then he gave them a grin. "Sure thing! Go for it."
---
"Now, tell me again what they're going to do?" Fred was sitting at his desk, sipping tea. He had dismissed his guards so that he could talk with Gene privately.
"They're going to fish out some virus that Gillium says has been affecting Harry's head. Jim says it's what caused him to go crazy." Gene was sipping slowly at his own cup of hot tea, but not really tasting it.
"That's actually an interesting concept," Fred said thoughtfully. He placed his teacup gently on the desk, folded his hands, and stared across the room at Gene. "It would be like a natural human catching a virus, say, the flu. Only it's not really a virus the way we think of one... it's a computer virus. Did Gillium say whether or not you could get Melfina immunized?"
"Very funny, Fred," Gene replied dryly.
Fred smiled. "You know I was joking. But honestly, isn't she upset about this whole thing?"
Gene shrugged. "I dunno. I don't think she ever liked him in the first place. He stalks her, threatens her, he's even hit her... Frankly, I don't know why she's bothering to remove the virus."
"Perhaps she wants to know what he's like when he's not, well, sick, as you said. He's really a very good looking young man..." Fred's smile grew. "I really can't blame her."
Gene glared at him. "Would you get your head out of your pants, Fred? Melfina's not like that... she just cares too much about everybody around her."
"Gene, do I make you nervous?"
"What?!" Gene leaned forward and stared at Fred, surprised by the sudden change of subject.
Fred kept his face even, although his hands were almost shaking. "I... I want to know if I make you nervous, Gene."
Gene turned his head to the side, but kept his eyes warily on Fred. "...I'm not sure what you're asking, Fred."
Fred licked his lips. "You and I... we've been friends for a long time, right Gene?"
"...Yeah."
"We've... confided in each other..."
"...Yeah."
"And helped each other..."
"...Yeah."
Fred tapped his foot nervously, and looked down at his desk. "Well... I guess that... I've just never known how you feel. About me." He gasped. "I...I mean...!! I mean, as a friend. You know I'm gay... you've known since we met..."
"...And you never let me forget," Gene added. "What are you asking, Fred?"
Fred slumped in his chair. "Well, it just seems like sometimes you don't want to be around me. Lately, I've been thinking that it happens whenever I do something... gay. Does it bother you, Gene?" He looked back up at Gene, his eyes worried and sad.
Gene frowned. "If it bothered me, we wouldn't be friends," he said after a moment. Fred still didn't look satisfied. Gene thought for another second. "But sometimes you do lay it on a bit thick."
Fred blinked. "What do you mean?"
Gene sat back in his chair. "Well, I know it, and you know it. Jim knows it. Even Mel and Suzuka and Asjia know it by now. You don't have to constantly remind us."
"Remind you? How am I doing that?"
Gene stretched. "Well... the way you talk, sometimes... and what you talk about. Normal guys don't compliment their enemies on their good looks, you know."
"I was making an observation!!" Fred cried. He sighed. "That's just the way I am, Gene. Can I help it if I notice the way a man looks before I find out anything else about him? What about you? You're the only man I know who would try to date the woman trying to kill him, simply because she looks good."
"What?!"
Fred chuckled. "Asjia happened to mention an offer you made to Suzuka..."
"That's it," Gene growled. "The Gkitaro-Gkitaro goes."
"Gene!" Fred laughed. "She just likes to tease you. But..." He stopped laughing, and sobered quickly. "But this is about me. I don't like to bother you, Gene."
Gene took a long sip of his tea, which was cool, by now. He closed his eyes. "Maybe you just haven't had a boyfriend in too long, Fred." The corner of his mouth twitched. "Yeah, that's the problem. You haven't gotten any in a long time, and you're taking it out on the rest of us. So come on, Fred, tell me--is there some guy out there you've had your eye on? Someone you can go pick up and take out. Get a fix?"
Fred frowned and looked away. "I've had my eye on someone... but I'm not into quick flings like you are, Gene."
"So, court 'em first. Lay on the charm, try some flowers and candy, and see if he's willing to settling in for a bit."
"And what if he keeps leaving every time I try to ask him?"
"Hn?" Gene opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "On the move a lot? Business man?"
Fred shook his head. "...Not really."
"Politician?"
"Oh, Gods, no!!"
"So, what is it about him? Good looks? His job? Attitude? I don't think you'd be worried about his payroll."
Fred rolled his shoulders and looked distinctly like he was sulking. "No, I do worry about his payroll. I'm practically in charge of it. And I'd rather he quit his job, but he'd never listen to me!"
"Hn?" Gene tilted his head, thoroughly confused. "You're in charge of his payroll? Is it one of your employees? A contact in another system? If you control the paycheck, then why can't you just fire him?"
"No, no..." Fred pressed his fingertips against his temples. "It's not like that... Gene..."
"Well?" Gene was leaning forward in his chair again. "Now you've got me curious, Freddie-boy. Who are you so stressed out over?"
Fred turned back to look at Gene. Defeated. Miserable. He could not meet Gene's eyes. "You."
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