This is allot more angst'ish than the other parts.
!Historical note! This is the longest written piece I've ever done. This chapter alone is longer than anything I've ever written.
_____________
Chasing Ghosts
By Areku
Chapter Five
The Box Again
______________
Jim burst in on Gene's reverie, "Hey, we got a call up on the bridge, I think you should come check it out." He then noticed Mel, "What's she doing in here, Gene?" He could only imagine what went on that night. He had known for a long time that something like this would happen, but he had hoped Gene would show more restraint.
Poor Gene, people were always thinking the worst of him, when it wasn't always that way. He held up a finger, "Circumstantial evidence," the finger waved, "that's all you see. You're no eye witness, so don't act like it."
Okay, if he was going to be that way, that was fine. "Fine, whatever, we'll just leave it at that."
"Good."
"NOW can you come up to the bridge?"
"Yeah."
*****
On the screen in the bridge was an image. A very fuzzy image, of something. The something spoke, "There you are at last, you didn't have to keep me waiting so long."
"Sorry about that, I had certain things to attend to."
"This message concerns something we are both interested in. If you want your construct to live then you are to bring it, in it's container to the bar you first went to."
"What'll happen to her if I don't bring her to you?"
"The virus will eat through it's system. It will loose it's memory, it will loose all information on operating systems, it will loose all ability to function. Is this enough?"
Those where the most daunting circumstances Gene was ever faced with. "How long do I have to consider the outcome?"
Something paused, "The rest of the night. After that there's no guarantee it can be recovered." The screen went blank, and Gene was left in the dark
**************
Why should he give Mel away to some total stranger on some stupid threat?
She will be shut down. She will vanish. She will die.
Thinking of all that just made him mad. He would never let Mel go to some stupid something, some construct.
Would it be better for her to loose her most important possession? Life was all a construct had. After her life ended there was nothing else. She would die, he would go on to eternity.
He saw her now, curled on his bed. Her face expressionless. Eyes closed... He wanted to see those eyes again. More than anything he wanted those eyes to open, and he wanted to hear her laugh again.
She would live. Even if he did end up giving her up.
Would he give her up? Could he give her up?
Yes. For her, he could.
*****
The thing said to put her in her original case... but lets not go through that Areku smiles, blushing, embarased. Let's just say that they, Gene and Jim, got the job done. Melfina was as she was when they first found her. She was in her box, knees up to her face, wearing exactly what they found her in.
Jim stayed with the ship while Gene went to the bar. Gene very nobly waited outside the bar, resisting the temptation to go in, at this particular time, with the thought that some things are just more important.
Once again I cannot delve into the deeper details of this waiting, or even Gene's meeting with the something/construct. These detail could be important, and are in their own respect- important, but I am not here to write them. Write them yourself if you want to see them.
Melfina was given to the other construct. Who Gene did not get a very close look at. Gene was rather distracted during this whole affair. If he was in a normal mood he would have fought with the something, or at least argued. He didn't.
He walked back to the Outlaw Star.
*****
AN...
Okay, now why is there an Author's Note halfway through the fic? What kind of idiot is that author?
I'm just warning you about the rest of the chapter, because it's kind of confusing. The scenes jump between Jim and/or Gene to Melfina's conversation with the other construct. Once again, staries (*****) indicate a change in scene.
*****
Black, everywhere, and Melfina stood in the midst of it.
Silence, nothing moved, nothing breathed, nothing thought.
Something, something was there in front of her. Something came up out of the black. Something had a shape.
Then she realized, "You're the dog I met before."
"Yes." came a computerized voice.
"Where are we? What is this?"
"None of those questions are significant."
"What's going to happen to me?"
"You will be returned to the makers."
"You mean Guen Con?"
"Yes, and the others."
*****
Gene entered the Outlaw Star alone. He was greeted by Jim. "Where's Melfina?"
"I had to leave her there."
Jim eyes clouded "Oh Gene."
For a moment it looked like he was about to cry, but the moment passed.
"How could you?!" The storm broke, and Jim screamed, "How could you just hand her over so easily? You didn't argue, didn't fight," his voice became quiet, "just handed her over..."
"Jim," how do you tell a child about death? How do you tell a child about the possibility of life? How... "if I didn't she would have died."
"Idiot, I could have fixed her. I could have done something!"
This was too much. It was bad enough that he had to give Melfina away, but to deal with this child screaming at him afterwards was just too much. He grabbed the front of Jim's shirt and held him up. "Don't you think I thought of all that! Do you think I wanted to hand her over?"
"The way it sounds to me, you didn't try too hard to keep her."
He released Jim. Why argue with a child, that refused to understand your reasons and motivations. He turned toward the door, "The one time, in my life, I try to think of Melfina first this is what I get."
*****
"But Guen Con is gone."
He didn't respond.
"You really are lost aren't you?"
He was outraged. "How can you say that?! You of all things. I have a purpose in life, I was built for a reason, I will fulfill that purpose."
"Your builder is dead." She said this with a mournful look, "You have no one to return me to."
"I will fully acknowledge my purpose!"
"But how?"
"I will."
*****
Stupid Jim, what a baby! He refused to understand anything. There was no use staying with him, so Gene went to the only place he knew he could drown his sorrows- the bar.
He was on the sixth round when someone sat down beside him.
"Hey there." A feminine voice, but Gene was in no mood to flirt. "Where's the girlfriend today?"
"She... left."
"Oh, sorry to hear that." It was Setsuna, and she didn't sound very sorry, in fact she sounded elated. "Life's ruff, you know, you gotta get used to it."
"Thanks." Gene wasn't exactly in the mood for any of her chit chat at the moment. He stood up, picking up his coat/cape thing.
She noticed the movement, "Hey, don't go. I'm sorry I said that. Just sit down and we'll have that drink." She was much more genuine this time, and her statement almost sounded like a plead. He sat down. "That's better, now how did it happen."
"I really don't feel like talking about it, especially not right now."
"Okay, then why don't I talk about all the wonderful things that have happened here since I took on the job with the space forces."
"Yeah, sure, whatever." He threw his head back, drowned another glass.
She, uncomfortably, looked at the shot glasses in front of him. They numbered seven, but they were all pretty small. It occurred to her that maybe playboys do have regrets. Maybe he really did like his girlfriend, in some perverted way. In a much more sympathetic voice she asked, "You're really choked up about this aren't you?"
He didn't notice the sympathy, "Is it that obvious?"
"You know, Gene Starwind," she smiled, "you're not a bad guy."
*****
"But how?"
"How isn't important."
"Then, what will happen to you after I am returned?"
"I will be shut down."
"Doesn't that bother you? We don't have spirits that live on like humans. When we die we're gone."
"I await that day."
*****
The only thing Jim could do was check over the ship. The only thing he knew how to do right now, was to check the operating systems on the ship. With the navigator and captain gone, there wasn't much hope of leaving. So why not fix up the ship? Besides, maybe if he kept his hands busy he wouldn't have to think about Melfina.
Unfortunately, this idea wasn't accurate. As much as he didn't want to he did think of Melfina, all he could do was think of Melfina. He was in the engine room when he let it all out, "Stupid, selfish, hotheaded Gene..." How could he give her away?
Melfina was the only one he could look up to. She felt so warm, like a mother. A mother... hadn't he said that before? She was his only connection to such a person. Why did Gene give her away?
She was so kind, and gentle, probably the sweetest person he had ever known. Her laugh, and her smile, could brighten a room. Her cooking was so much better then what he was used to. Where was she now?
"Stupid Gene," he mumbled, "just cause she's not falling into his arms..." Or did she? What had happened last night? Did she fling herself at him? Did he drag her down? Maybe she didn't do anything, and Gene was the one to do it all. Then he goes and gives her away. "Stupid, inconsiderate..."
"I hate him! I hate him. I hate him." Jim's ranting stopped, "Gene, how could you?" Why? Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as he crumpled into a little ball on the floor.
*****
"I have something to live for. I have Gene."
"To live for a human is to waste your life."
"You live to serve your master, isn't that living for humans?"
"That's different."
"How, how is it different?"
"They are the makers. They define life."
"Gene defines my life. He's all I know about life."
"What do you want me to do? let you go?"
"Let me live out my purpose."
"Your purpose was to power the ship the makers helped with."
"Gene has that ship."
The other one did not seem to understand this statement. It leaned forward, and said with great emotional intensity, "Don't you understand? All I want is to do my duty."
Isn't that what everyone wanted? Melfina smiled, and placed a hand on his head, "Your duty is done."
To be Continued
AN. Cliffhanger, yah!!!
Oh yeah, if you wanna use Setsuna ask me. Same goes for the doggy. Don't get the idea that I'm a self concsious snot, who thinks her creations are so cool that everyone will want to steal them. I don't, or I'm not, and that's not my opinion at all. But I thought I should remind you just incase there are some really lame people out there who can't think for themselves.
Disclaimer- Outlaw Star is owned by Sunrise, Bandi, Anime Village and the edited version- Toonami. I'm not making any money off this (unfortunately) so please don't sue me.
!Historical note! This is the longest written piece I've ever done. This chapter alone is longer than anything I've ever written.
_____________
Chasing Ghosts
By Areku
Chapter Five
The Box Again
______________
Jim burst in on Gene's reverie, "Hey, we got a call up on the bridge, I think you should come check it out." He then noticed Mel, "What's she doing in here, Gene?" He could only imagine what went on that night. He had known for a long time that something like this would happen, but he had hoped Gene would show more restraint.
Poor Gene, people were always thinking the worst of him, when it wasn't always that way. He held up a finger, "Circumstantial evidence," the finger waved, "that's all you see. You're no eye witness, so don't act like it."
Okay, if he was going to be that way, that was fine. "Fine, whatever, we'll just leave it at that."
"Good."
"NOW can you come up to the bridge?"
"Yeah."
*****
On the screen in the bridge was an image. A very fuzzy image, of something. The something spoke, "There you are at last, you didn't have to keep me waiting so long."
"Sorry about that, I had certain things to attend to."
"This message concerns something we are both interested in. If you want your construct to live then you are to bring it, in it's container to the bar you first went to."
"What'll happen to her if I don't bring her to you?"
"The virus will eat through it's system. It will loose it's memory, it will loose all information on operating systems, it will loose all ability to function. Is this enough?"
Those where the most daunting circumstances Gene was ever faced with. "How long do I have to consider the outcome?"
Something paused, "The rest of the night. After that there's no guarantee it can be recovered." The screen went blank, and Gene was left in the dark
**************
Why should he give Mel away to some total stranger on some stupid threat?
She will be shut down. She will vanish. She will die.
Thinking of all that just made him mad. He would never let Mel go to some stupid something, some construct.
Would it be better for her to loose her most important possession? Life was all a construct had. After her life ended there was nothing else. She would die, he would go on to eternity.
He saw her now, curled on his bed. Her face expressionless. Eyes closed... He wanted to see those eyes again. More than anything he wanted those eyes to open, and he wanted to hear her laugh again.
She would live. Even if he did end up giving her up.
Would he give her up? Could he give her up?
Yes. For her, he could.
*****
The thing said to put her in her original case... but lets not go through that Areku smiles, blushing, embarased. Let's just say that they, Gene and Jim, got the job done. Melfina was as she was when they first found her. She was in her box, knees up to her face, wearing exactly what they found her in.
Jim stayed with the ship while Gene went to the bar. Gene very nobly waited outside the bar, resisting the temptation to go in, at this particular time, with the thought that some things are just more important.
Once again I cannot delve into the deeper details of this waiting, or even Gene's meeting with the something/construct. These detail could be important, and are in their own respect- important, but I am not here to write them. Write them yourself if you want to see them.
Melfina was given to the other construct. Who Gene did not get a very close look at. Gene was rather distracted during this whole affair. If he was in a normal mood he would have fought with the something, or at least argued. He didn't.
He walked back to the Outlaw Star.
*****
AN...
Okay, now why is there an Author's Note halfway through the fic? What kind of idiot is that author?
I'm just warning you about the rest of the chapter, because it's kind of confusing. The scenes jump between Jim and/or Gene to Melfina's conversation with the other construct. Once again, staries (*****) indicate a change in scene.
*****
Black, everywhere, and Melfina stood in the midst of it.
Silence, nothing moved, nothing breathed, nothing thought.
Something, something was there in front of her. Something came up out of the black. Something had a shape.
Then she realized, "You're the dog I met before."
"Yes." came a computerized voice.
"Where are we? What is this?"
"None of those questions are significant."
"What's going to happen to me?"
"You will be returned to the makers."
"You mean Guen Con?"
"Yes, and the others."
*****
Gene entered the Outlaw Star alone. He was greeted by Jim. "Where's Melfina?"
"I had to leave her there."
Jim eyes clouded "Oh Gene."
For a moment it looked like he was about to cry, but the moment passed.
"How could you?!" The storm broke, and Jim screamed, "How could you just hand her over so easily? You didn't argue, didn't fight," his voice became quiet, "just handed her over..."
"Jim," how do you tell a child about death? How do you tell a child about the possibility of life? How... "if I didn't she would have died."
"Idiot, I could have fixed her. I could have done something!"
This was too much. It was bad enough that he had to give Melfina away, but to deal with this child screaming at him afterwards was just too much. He grabbed the front of Jim's shirt and held him up. "Don't you think I thought of all that! Do you think I wanted to hand her over?"
"The way it sounds to me, you didn't try too hard to keep her."
He released Jim. Why argue with a child, that refused to understand your reasons and motivations. He turned toward the door, "The one time, in my life, I try to think of Melfina first this is what I get."
*****
"But Guen Con is gone."
He didn't respond.
"You really are lost aren't you?"
He was outraged. "How can you say that?! You of all things. I have a purpose in life, I was built for a reason, I will fulfill that purpose."
"Your builder is dead." She said this with a mournful look, "You have no one to return me to."
"I will fully acknowledge my purpose!"
"But how?"
"I will."
*****
Stupid Jim, what a baby! He refused to understand anything. There was no use staying with him, so Gene went to the only place he knew he could drown his sorrows- the bar.
He was on the sixth round when someone sat down beside him.
"Hey there." A feminine voice, but Gene was in no mood to flirt. "Where's the girlfriend today?"
"She... left."
"Oh, sorry to hear that." It was Setsuna, and she didn't sound very sorry, in fact she sounded elated. "Life's ruff, you know, you gotta get used to it."
"Thanks." Gene wasn't exactly in the mood for any of her chit chat at the moment. He stood up, picking up his coat/cape thing.
She noticed the movement, "Hey, don't go. I'm sorry I said that. Just sit down and we'll have that drink." She was much more genuine this time, and her statement almost sounded like a plead. He sat down. "That's better, now how did it happen."
"I really don't feel like talking about it, especially not right now."
"Okay, then why don't I talk about all the wonderful things that have happened here since I took on the job with the space forces."
"Yeah, sure, whatever." He threw his head back, drowned another glass.
She, uncomfortably, looked at the shot glasses in front of him. They numbered seven, but they were all pretty small. It occurred to her that maybe playboys do have regrets. Maybe he really did like his girlfriend, in some perverted way. In a much more sympathetic voice she asked, "You're really choked up about this aren't you?"
He didn't notice the sympathy, "Is it that obvious?"
"You know, Gene Starwind," she smiled, "you're not a bad guy."
*****
"But how?"
"How isn't important."
"Then, what will happen to you after I am returned?"
"I will be shut down."
"Doesn't that bother you? We don't have spirits that live on like humans. When we die we're gone."
"I await that day."
*****
The only thing Jim could do was check over the ship. The only thing he knew how to do right now, was to check the operating systems on the ship. With the navigator and captain gone, there wasn't much hope of leaving. So why not fix up the ship? Besides, maybe if he kept his hands busy he wouldn't have to think about Melfina.
Unfortunately, this idea wasn't accurate. As much as he didn't want to he did think of Melfina, all he could do was think of Melfina. He was in the engine room when he let it all out, "Stupid, selfish, hotheaded Gene..." How could he give her away?
Melfina was the only one he could look up to. She felt so warm, like a mother. A mother... hadn't he said that before? She was his only connection to such a person. Why did Gene give her away?
She was so kind, and gentle, probably the sweetest person he had ever known. Her laugh, and her smile, could brighten a room. Her cooking was so much better then what he was used to. Where was she now?
"Stupid Gene," he mumbled, "just cause she's not falling into his arms..." Or did she? What had happened last night? Did she fling herself at him? Did he drag her down? Maybe she didn't do anything, and Gene was the one to do it all. Then he goes and gives her away. "Stupid, inconsiderate..."
"I hate him! I hate him. I hate him." Jim's ranting stopped, "Gene, how could you?" Why? Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as he crumpled into a little ball on the floor.
*****
"I have something to live for. I have Gene."
"To live for a human is to waste your life."
"You live to serve your master, isn't that living for humans?"
"That's different."
"How, how is it different?"
"They are the makers. They define life."
"Gene defines my life. He's all I know about life."
"What do you want me to do? let you go?"
"Let me live out my purpose."
"Your purpose was to power the ship the makers helped with."
"Gene has that ship."
The other one did not seem to understand this statement. It leaned forward, and said with great emotional intensity, "Don't you understand? All I want is to do my duty."
Isn't that what everyone wanted? Melfina smiled, and placed a hand on his head, "Your duty is done."
To be Continued
AN. Cliffhanger, yah!!!
Oh yeah, if you wanna use Setsuna ask me. Same goes for the doggy. Don't get the idea that I'm a self concsious snot, who thinks her creations are so cool that everyone will want to steal them. I don't, or I'm not, and that's not my opinion at all. But I thought I should remind you just incase there are some really lame people out there who can't think for themselves.
Disclaimer- Outlaw Star is owned by Sunrise, Bandi, Anime Village and the edited version- Toonami. I'm not making any money off this (unfortunately) so please don't sue me.