Chapter One: The Argument
If you were out in space around the planet Sentinel III right now, you would see the strangest thing. Seven brightly colored metallic balls appeared out of what seemed to be nowhere--and hurtled towards the planet. Then, they scattered in different directions, to other planets and systems. Little did the crew of a miraculous ship - The XGP15A-2, or Outlaw Star - know that they would soon be embarking on a journey greater than any others they might have had before. They would unknowingly unleash the enemies they defeated before--enemies that were stronger than before.
~
Gene Starwind looked out the window and sighed. Another day with no money... correction - no money and still in debt. An 11-year-old kid with sandy hair walked up to him.
"You know, it's actually okay to blame me on this one," the kid said.
"Okay then," Gene said, his face lighting up. " This is all your fault, Jim."
"Thank you."
"You're absolutely welcome. But you still can't cheer me up."
"What? Oh. Never mind then. Just be miserable by yourself. But if we don't do something soon, Starwind and Hawking Enterprises will go down!"
"Where have I heard that one before?"
"You're impossible!"
Jim turned his back. He knew it was useless to argue with Gene any further.
At around that time, Melfina walked into the room. She wasn't surprised to see Gene and Jim arguing with each other again. Even though they were far apart in age and opinions, they would still remain best friends.
"What's going on here?" she said.
Gene and Jim immediately turned and looked at her. Jim was the first to speak.
"Mel! Good to see you! I'm sure you'll agree with me!"
"Fat chance..." Gene muttered under his breath.
"Gene!" Jim pushed him. "I'm talking to Melfina! Anyway, as I was saying, we're in debt again."
"From who?" Melfina questioned.
"Same person." Jim answered.
"You mean?"
"Yep! Fred Luo."
"But lately we've been fine with finances!"
"We were. Until Gene messed us up." Jim sighed. "And he won't try to fix it."
That did it. Gene picked Jim up. " Look," he said. "I just have other things in mind!"
"Okay, okay! Just -"
"Both of you!" Melfina screamed. They stopped. "Thank you. You still haven't answered my question. What happened?"
Gene dropped Jim. "I forgot to pay a few maintenance bills, that's all."
Jim scowled. "That's all? We owe Fred about 40,000 wong!"
(Author's note: wong is the currency in the Outlaw Star world.)
Melfina looked at Gene and Jim. Maybe she was wrong. Those two were never going to learn.
If you were out in space around the planet Sentinel III right now, you would see the strangest thing. Seven brightly colored metallic balls appeared out of what seemed to be nowhere--and hurtled towards the planet. Then, they scattered in different directions, to other planets and systems. Little did the crew of a miraculous ship - The XGP15A-2, or Outlaw Star - know that they would soon be embarking on a journey greater than any others they might have had before. They would unknowingly unleash the enemies they defeated before--enemies that were stronger than before.
~
Gene Starwind looked out the window and sighed. Another day with no money... correction - no money and still in debt. An 11-year-old kid with sandy hair walked up to him.
"You know, it's actually okay to blame me on this one," the kid said.
"Okay then," Gene said, his face lighting up. " This is all your fault, Jim."
"Thank you."
"You're absolutely welcome. But you still can't cheer me up."
"What? Oh. Never mind then. Just be miserable by yourself. But if we don't do something soon, Starwind and Hawking Enterprises will go down!"
"Where have I heard that one before?"
"You're impossible!"
Jim turned his back. He knew it was useless to argue with Gene any further.
At around that time, Melfina walked into the room. She wasn't surprised to see Gene and Jim arguing with each other again. Even though they were far apart in age and opinions, they would still remain best friends.
"What's going on here?" she said.
Gene and Jim immediately turned and looked at her. Jim was the first to speak.
"Mel! Good to see you! I'm sure you'll agree with me!"
"Fat chance..." Gene muttered under his breath.
"Gene!" Jim pushed him. "I'm talking to Melfina! Anyway, as I was saying, we're in debt again."
"From who?" Melfina questioned.
"Same person." Jim answered.
"You mean?"
"Yep! Fred Luo."
"But lately we've been fine with finances!"
"We were. Until Gene messed us up." Jim sighed. "And he won't try to fix it."
That did it. Gene picked Jim up. " Look," he said. "I just have other things in mind!"
"Okay, okay! Just -"
"Both of you!" Melfina screamed. They stopped. "Thank you. You still haven't answered my question. What happened?"
Gene dropped Jim. "I forgot to pay a few maintenance bills, that's all."
Jim scowled. "That's all? We owe Fred about 40,000 wong!"
(Author's note: wong is the currency in the Outlaw Star world.)
Melfina looked at Gene and Jim. Maybe she was wrong. Those two were never going to learn.
