Author's Note - I do not own Outlaw Star or anything that has any affiliation with it. This is my first attempt at an Outlaw Star fic so be gentle. It's also only the second fic that I've written. Once again thanks for all your comments. I was originally not planning on being through the first five parts until the end of this week, but your threats…uh I mean inspiring words have me writing this a bit faster than I anticipated. Thanks again for all your input.
"You did WHAT?!" Staring at the inch long razor sharp nails currently resting on his nose; Gene quickly decided that Ctarl Ctarl did not need instruments of destruction like those at their ready disposal. His mind flashed back to the present dilemma when the claws wave a little closer to his face.
"I told them okay Aisha."
"But Gene," Melfina's melodic voice broke into the dispute. "How could you do that? How could you just give Jim up like that?" Gene couldn't quite bring himself to look into Melfina's eyes, knowing full well the hurt he would see in them. Instead he took a deep breath, attempting to calm his already frayed nerves.
"You don't understand Mel. I love that kid, I really do. And I'm not giving him up just like that. I talked with the lady…"
"Bitch." Broke in Aisha.
"Lady," Gene continued with a glare towards Aisha. "She said some things that really made me think. I mean, let's face it. Its not like Jim is living what anyone would call a normal childhood. I'm an Outlaw, that's what I do. Plus, after all that stuff with the Leyline and the Outlaw Star…well, there are a lot of people out there who are after us. We can't exactly provide Jim with the security that most eleven year-olds have. Let's face it, an adoptive family can give Jim far more than we could hope to."
"But Gene…we are Jim's family." Gene finally made himself look into Melfina's face. What he saw there almost, almost, made him charge right back into Michelle Summer's office and demand that Jim be returned to him. He still had time, it wasn't too late. He could just go charging in and politely ask, with his caster, to have Jim returned to him and then they could just blow right off the planet…with the yet another group of law enforcement authorities on his tail. Was that any one for Jim to grow up? Hopping from planet to planet with law enforcement looking for them? Would that truly be the best thing for Jim, or was that just selfish wishing on Gene's part?
"Mel, I don't want to do this. Everything that I am says that this wrong. Every muscle in my body is screaming for me to run back in there and demand to have Jim given back to me. But, my mind keeps replaying one image for me, over and over. All I can see is Jim, laughing with tears pouring down his face, telling me that he was scared. Is that anyway for a child to grow up Mel? You're right, we're his family. He's the closest thing to a brother or even a son that I've ever had. I love him to death. I really do. I love him enough to do this for him. That's how important he is to me. I love him enough to let him go. I love him enough to give him the best opportunity that he can get to grow up happy and normal. That's why I'm doing this." The calm hush after his words was only broken by the almost silent sniffling of Aisha. Concerned, the crew looked over to her, only to see her covering her face with both of her giant paws.
"But…but…I don't want Jimmy to go." Her muffled voice came out piteously from behind her hands. "How can we really be the whole crew without Jimmy?" Slowly, Melfina made her way over to the Ctarl Ctarl, and gently placed her arms around her. The bio-android looked no less grief stricken, but her words came out firmly.
"Gene's right. If we truly care for Jim, how can we not give him this chance?"
"Can't…can't we at least see him one more time?" Gene hesitated at Aisha's question. Briefly his glance flicked up towards the sky, before he finally turned his eyes towards the feline.
"He's…He's already gone. She wouldn't tell me where to." For the first time since coming out of the social services office Suzuka spoke.
"And you just accepted this?" Gene's gaze firmed into a glare directed at the older woman, and his voice finally took on some of its old heat when he spoke.
"What choice did I have? She said that it was best for Jim if I just let things be now that he was on his way to his new home. Hell, I pulled the gun on her and demanded that I know where Jim was being taken. But…but that wouldn't be the best for Jim. It's better if we cut the ties clean. If we hang around him, we'll still be putting him in danger. It'll be no different than if he were still part of the crew. Things are better this way."
"That's doesn't sounds like the Gene Starwind I know. What the hell is wrong with you? You sound like you're giving up. Where's the passionate Outlaw we've come to know? What the hell has happened to you?" Aisha finally pulled her hands away from her face to address Gene. Instead of tears, there was now pure fire in her eyes. "Gene Starwind does not allow things to be taken from him. He fights for them tooth and nail. Damn it why aren't you fighting for Jim that same way! What's wrong with you?" Frustrated, Aisha turned her back on the red head and tried to reign in on her rising anger. She knew that she was just in part frustrated with this entire situation. Frustrated that Jimmy had been taken away from her. Gene wasn't really at blame here…but why couldn't they do something. This just didn't seem right.
"I'm making the decision that I think is best. That's all that I can do for Jim. He'll be better off this way." Gene's voice finally hardened into action. He had done what was best for Jim, he knew he had. Things were just better off this way. Jim would be happy now, and that was all that mattered. "Now, as much as I hate to say it…we have things to do." He quickly raised his voice to override the protest developing from Aisha. "Look, Fred wanted us to run a quick errand for him. We'll only be away from the planet for a day, and I think that'll give us all time to think through things and come to grips with what's has happened here. We can check back in with Michelle when we get back, just to make sure things are going well and reassure us that Jim's in the best possible hands okay." The rest of the crew looked to Gene in shock. Where had the immature, irresponsible Outlaw disappeared to?
"Gene," Melfina hesitantly spoke up. "What's going on? You seem so…responsible and focused right now." Gene finally looked up at her, and his eyes said everything for him. In them she could see the sadness locked away behind the determination that he had done the right thing today.
"I've had to grow up a lot today Mel."
