Chapter 3 ~ Gene ~
"Brother! We've got Pirate Ships after us again!"
"Well, we'd better give them the proper Starwind welcome, huh?"
"You've got it!"
An immense Grappler Ship was tossed through the sky. Its movements were elegant, as if the pilot were so used to flying it, they could do it with their eyes closed. Laughter echoed through the sky as Space Pirates were given a run for their money.
"How dare you bastards mess with the great Gene Starwind," grinned the redheaded pilot. "I'm the best in this business. Not to mention I like ripping out the hearts of Pirates and eating them for breakfast!"
"Duh, let's get outta here!" a big man growled. He turned his little plane around, the rest of the pack following him. "That jerk's not worth it."
"Ya got it, Boss!"
And they were gone in two seconds flat.
"Whooiee!" Gene cried, his voice drunk with happiness. "That shows those assholes."
Jim leaned up from his chair and turned around to face the pilot's seat. "Yeah, but a little reckless."
"Aw, what do you know? You didn't have to fight 'em."
"Bull! I helped you!"
A small chuckle came from the back of the cockpit. Gene and Jim looked back to see Melfina. She was in her tube smiling warmly at the two. "You both did it. We all did it. Great job, everyone!"
"Yes. Splendid and reckless, as usual," came the voice of the main computer Gilliam II.
"We showed them!" purred Aisha ClanClan. "A CtarlCtarl fights recklessly and wild!"
A look from across the ship seemed to mock Aisha. "No wonder you are the way you are." Suzuka replied.
"SUZU!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Regardless," Jim said. "There is a bit of damage we have to take care of."
Gene growled. "Damnit, Jim! You always have to rain in on my parade!"
"Just giving you reality."
"Bite me."
On a planet not too far away from the Outlaw Star's coordinates, there was a stunned group of inhabitants.
"Th-they crossed our border, your Highness!" a voice cried out, shaking in terror.
"What? Who are they?"
"Th-the ship is a Grappler called the Outlaw St-star. They're pilot is Gene Starwind…"
There was a pause. The Commander calmly rose to his feet and grinned. "Did you say Gene Starwind? The famous Outlaw from Heifong?"
"Y-yes, Sir!"
A laugh. "Lovely! Everyone wants to catch him. Let us be the first. After all, he did trespass."
Geo was in his room fast asleep when the communicator on his watch beeped loudly. He sat up from his bed and rubbed his eyes. Then he turned on the lamp and grabbed his watch from the bedside table. The watch said two-thirty A.M. Geo growled and turned it on. "This had better be good, Eagle…"
Eagle's voice came from the other side. "Stop whining, Geo. Wake up Zazu! We have an emergency. Father says that a group of ruthless Outlaws have crossed our borders."
"Whoopie." Geo droned. "So what? They're Outlaws. Big deal."
"Not only Outlaws. The pilot is Gene Starwind!"
That changed everything. "THE Gene Starwind?" Geo cracked his knuckles.
Eagle shuddered at the cracking of his friend's hands. "Geo, how many times have I told you NOT to do that?"
"Starwind's name is recognized all throughout space," Geo said softly, ignoring Eagle's comment. "All the police have failed to catch him. He works for good, yet is known as an Outlaw. I have to meet this guy."
"So, you're coming?"
Geo grinned. "Yes, Commander. I'll go get Zazu."
"Oh, my…"
Every person on the Outlaw Star stopped what he or she was doing at Gilliam's words. Gene's eyes narrowed.
"That 'oh, my' worries me, Gilliam…"
"Someone has infiltrated my data. They know all about this ship and its crewmembers…"
"On it!" Jim gasped, bringing up a computer screen. His fingers flew across the keyboard. Gene watched his every move. "Gilliam, bring up a map of Autozam."
"Autozam?" Gene blinked.
A picture of the green planet was brought before them. Jim continued his research. "Autozam is a highly-industrialized planet. There's no form of vegetation on it… No plants, trees, grass, vegetables…"
"How incredibly odd," Suzuka said quietly. "…No plants means no tea. That saddens me."
Sweatdrops were distributed throughout the crew.
"Anyway, the planet is run by a king. This planet also has a huge military that aims to kill and they…" He trailed off.
"What, Jim?" Gene asked. "What? Don't just sit there!"
Jim turned to face Gene with a scared face. "…They don't take kindly to Outlaw trespassers. We crossed their border."
"Shit." Gene said.
"The NSX is in working condition. All engines are stable. All weapons are armed and waiting."
"Thank you, Chief Mechanic," Eagle said to Zazu. "This should be quite interesting… Our large crew of over two-hundred compared to their tiny ship of five."
"Don't get too cocky, Eagle," Zazu sighed. "That Gene Starwind is pretty good at fooling people. And…" His eyes got round and twinkled. "…He has the coolest ship ever!"
"Thanks, Zazu. That boosts my confidence sky-high."
"Mecha, mecha, I love machines!"
"You've been drinking again, haven't you?"
"Ready to go, Eagle?" asked Geo as he walked around to Eagle and Zazu. Eagle nodded while Zazu kept doing his little dance. "Well, then, let's have the NSX take off."
"Do ya think we'll be using the FTO?" Zazu blinked.
"I don't think so. Not this time." Eagle was confident. "Stand-by for take-off!"
Geo and Zazu both saluted. "Aye-aye, Commander!"
"We should turn back," Melfina said.
"How cowardly!" Aisha growled. "A CtarlCtarl never turns back, even when she is facing death in the eye!"
Jim groaned. "You're so full of yourself."
"Better to be full of myself than full of a wimp like you!"
"Take that back!"
Gene stood between the two. "Come on, guys! We have more to worry about than a small fight amongst ourselves. Swallow your pride and sit down."
Jim's eyes widened. "Wow, brother… I never thought I'd hear you say something like 'swallow your pride.'"
Gene grinned. "Yeah. That's because I have so much and I'm better than everyone else!" He laughed and Jim sweatdropped.
"There's a ship closing in on us!" Melfina and Gilliam shouted.
Gene turned around to see a large, green ship looming over him. "That's from Autozam?"
The voice of the pilot on the other side came in. "Gene Starwind, I suggest you surrender… Or prepare to die!"
"What a load of bullshit," Gene spat out. "I'd just like to see you kill me, you bastard. Jim, bring up this idiot's face so I can see who he is." Jim did so. When the Commander of the other ship came in, Gene had to hold himself back from laughing. "You? A wuss like you is gonna defeat me?"
The other man's face flushed. "You will call me Eagle Vision! I am the Prince of Autozam and the leader of the military. Geo Metro is my Second-in-Command and Zazu Torque is my Chief Mechanic." Zazu gave his traditional thumbs-up.
Jim joined Gene in laughing. "THAT is your mechanic? Looks more like a stupid idiot… Zazu Torque, eh? How about Zazu DORK!"
Zazu's eyes widened in anger. "Hey, jerk!" he turned to Gene and grinned. "Why ya got a little KID as your mechanic? Couldn't hire a good one? Had to play baby-sitter?"
Gene looked over at the enraged Jim. "Well, he's young, but…"
"BROTHER!"
"Zazu! Enough of this chit-chat," Eagle snarled. "If you will not come with us, we will blast you out of the sky. Ready the Laguna Canons!"
"Laguna Canons?" gasped Jim. "Those things are huge! They'll disintegrate us!"
"So your mechanic DOES know his vocabulary," Eagle smirked. "He's right, you know."
The blood in Gene's veins was boiling. He knew Jim was right, but he did not want to surrender. If he did, though, everyone on the Outlaw Star would die. Everyone including Melfina. He glanced back at her to see what she was doing. She looked frightened, but would do whatever Gene commanded. He grit his teeth and looked down, making the hardest decision of his life.
"We surrender."
Aisha rose to her feet, infuriated. "Just like that? Gene Starwind, you coward!"
He could not look to meet her in the face. He felt all the eyes of his crewmembers on him, burning holes through him, but he did look up. He did not move or speak.
"Brother…" Jim whispered.
Eagle, Geo, and Zazu grinned evilly, filled with pride. "Attach their ship to the NSX. We shall take them to father."