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. I'm too tired to think of anything witty here, so just read and enjoy. And please keep reviewing…it's the only thing keeping me going.
"Gene, can I talk to you?" The red haired Outlaw looked up to see Melfina standing at the door to his cabin. Quickly rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he sat up and checked the chronometer. It was just after midnight…only four hours before they landed. Fred's little errand had been as simple as he had said it would be, though it did end up taking almost three days instead of Fred's predicted one. However Fred had given them extra for the inconvience…or rather he had taken a bit more off of the debt that they still owed him.
"Sure thing Mel. What can I do for you?" Melfina hesitantly crossed the distance between them and perched herself on the edge of Gene's bed. After a few moments of silence, she began to speak.
"I want to talk to you about Jim. I want to know what's really going on here. All of this that's going on…it just doesn't seem right. You don't seem to be acting like yourself. I want you to talk to me about it." The Outlaw regarded her silently for several seconds before heaving a sigh. He let his gaze stray around the room, as if composing his thoughts. Finally he let loose another weary sigh and answered Melfina's question.
"You never had a family Mel, so you don't really know what it's like. I used to have a father. He was the most important thing in the world to me. I worshipped him. I couldn't imagine a greater man existing in this universe. You can't ever know what it's like to have that sense of family. That true sense of really belonging with someone and having the knowledge that that person will always be there for you. It's the best feeling in the world. I just wanted to give Jim that feeling. I thought that if we did it this way…that if we gave him a real family…that he would get that too."
"Gene Starwind, you are truly an idiot." The melodious voice of Suzuka broke through Gene's cabin.
"Suzuka! What the hell are you doing spying on my cabin? And where do you get off calling me an idiot?"
"Because you are an idiot. Do you remember how you felt when your father was taken away from you? Do you remember the pain that caused you?"
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Suzuka opened her mouth to respond, but a feline voice beat her to it.
"Because you retard, that's what exactly what you've done to Jim. Don't you understand that you are that boy's father? He worships you just like you worshipped your Dad…though I don't know why. Lord knows he certainly could have picked better." As she spoke, Aisha moved around Suzuka so that the occupants of the room could see her. "Of course, know you've just dropped him like a bad egg. Who knows what he feels for you right now. All I do know is that he's somewhere down on that planet waiting for you to get your sorry ass in gear and come and get him. And I swear that if you don't take some action when we get back, I'm going to rip you limb for limb. I agreed with the others to be patient with you and let you take this little jaunt. But you better get things straight as soon as we land or I'm gonna to have you for dinner damn it."
Gene glanced at the other two women in the room and judged from their faces that they felt the exact same as Aisha about the matter…even Suzuka, the normally stoic one, looked like she would beat him within an inch of his life if he didn't come to his sense.
"I just wanted what was best for Jim. I wanted to do what was right…" Gene was cut short by Melfina, who tightly clutched his hand.
"Gene, don't you understand…we're what's best for Jim. You're what's best for Jim. For better or worse you are his father and he's just as much your son. Gene Starwind can't exist without his partner Jim Hawking, and Jim Hawking can't exist without his partner Gene Starwind."
"I agree with the women one hundred percent." The gravelly voice of Gilliam broke into the conversation.
"Oh for cripes sake, not you too Gill." Gene said with a smile. "Okay, okay…I've been a real idiot about this haven't I? I don't know what came over me. I guess I just let myself be blinded to everything in trying to think that I knew what was best for Jim. I didn't think enough about Jim's feelings on everything. I guess I have been a real idiot about this."
"You can say that again." Growled Aisha. "But at least you've finally come to your damn senses."
Gene's eyes flashed with the determination that the crew of the Outlaw Star had seen so many times before. "Alright, first order of business when we land is to get Jim back. I'll be damned if anything ever stands between my partner and me ever again."
"It's nice to see that you've finally come to your senses. However I must say that I do feel some…affection for the boy. Therefore I will accompany you in retrieving him."
"You said it Suzuka!" Shouted a now extremely pumped up Aisha. "Wild horses couldn't drag me away from going after the kid."
"What about you Mel?" Gene asked their quite navigator. "You want to come with us?"
"You can't keep me away Gene. You and Jim are like the only family I have."
"Okay then, it's settled. We'll touch down around four a.m. Well grab a few hours sleep, and then be at the social service's offices when they open at eight. Then we tear the place apart till they tell us exactly where Jim is."
The quiet after Gene's statement was broken by Aisha exuberant yell. "Hold on Jimmy boy, we're coming for you!"
