Author's Notes: Aww...thank you all for the nice comments! ^_^ I really appreciate them. I know I'm miserably slow with getting out chapters, so I hope you can just bare with me. I won't abandon this, since I never abandon my works...^^. Hnn...I'm not sure whether I want to have Gene, Melfina, and Suzuka become a part of the main plot line...or if I just want to continue to focus on Aisha and Jim, but I'll decide eventually...maybe you guys could tell me your opinion about it. Ah well. Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it! ^_^
One by one, his fingers lost the ability to clutch the receiver and it then slipped out of his palm, clattering against the floor. The phone skid a tad and then spun around on it's back, which Jim dazedly collapsed against the wall, using it as support to keep him standing. It was as though for that very moment, his blood had run cold, freezing his insides with fear and coating his forehead with icy perspiration. He was going to die, that's all there was to it. He was going to die soon. And then it hit him. The key...? What did she mean by that?
Aisha came charging up the stairs, intent on being nosy and finding out who it was, but when she saw the obvious shock on the fifteen year old's face...she had to question, "Jim! Doushitemo...?"
"Th-the...phone..." He struggled to find his voice, breaking his gaze with the opposite wall.
She furrowed her brows in confusion, but reached down to take the cordless and bring it to one of those cat ears, "Okay...just who is this?! What do you want with Jim?!"
There was a click, followed up by a dial tone. Jim looked up at her, hopeful that the woman told her something. But, his hopes were shattered when she shook her head gravely, placing it on the hook. He sighed and then suddenly released a cry of frustration, bringing fingertips into the heap of tousled dirty blond and at the same time slamming his foot into a trash bin. The canister teetered and then dropped, upsetting all the contents in there. Luckily, though, it was mostly just paper items.
"Kuso...!" His brows stitched together and he dropped to his knees, repeating much softer. "Kuso..."
"Jim...?" Aisha wasn't too sure how to react, but she lay a hand on his shoulder. "Who was that?"
Burying his head in his arms, his muffled reply was, "That assassin lady. The one I was telling Gilliam about. The one I thought aniki had killed."
Her eyes widened for a moment, but then they gleamed over with confidence. She stepped back, slamming a fist into her palm with a smirk, "I don't know what your so worried about. Gene might not have beaten her, but she could never take on a Ctarl-Ctarl! Heheh! So, I'd say your pretty safe, Jim. I'd never let nothin' happen to ya!"
"You can't protect me every waking minute of every day..." He sighed, picking up his head. "It's about time I stand up for myself. I'm pretty sure I can handle a gunfight, after all, I know how to shoot a Caster."
"You're not getting crazy ideas, are you?" She smirked. " 'Cus if you are, you better think about involving me too!"
Jim thought for a moment, raising his eyes to the ceiling, "Maybe. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet. She mentioned something about a key."
"Melfina...?"
"Possibly..." He pushed himself up slowly. "But, that wouldn't explain why she went after me all those years back. I didn't even know Melfina existed."
"Nyaa..." Her ears flattened for a moment, before she suddenly perked up. "What about that thing...!"
"That...thing...?"
"Un! You know, the necklace your tousan gave you!"
He suddenly perked up, "Sou ka! That probably is it. I figured the charm looked kinda funny to be anything normal."
"Nyaa! See! I can help out too sometimes. Gene Starwind doesn't know who he's keeping out...! We're probably the best he has!" She puffed up her chest proudly.
"Heh! That's right!" Jim snickered, giving a thoughtful glance to the phone. "Yanno what, Aisha? Why don't we have our own adventure? We can set off and kill this lady once and for all."
"Sounds great to me! I got no plans this afternoon..." The Ctarl-Ctarl grinned, before her expression became confused. "Demo...how're we supposed to find her?"
"I'll just trace the call, of course!" Jim reached in his pocket, taking out a handheld computing device. He began to work the line free, and then hook it to the side of his gadget. "She probably won't be there anymore, but we could at least scope it out for clues."
Aisha leaned over, locking an arm around him, "We'd be like our own Sherlock Homes or some other mystery guys...!"
He sweatdropped, "Anou..." But, the tiny computer released a sound and Jim lowered his gaze toward it, skimming over the display screen. Aisha clambered over his shoulder, trying to steal a peek, and he furrowed his brows, drawing it away, "Ooi...!"
"Lemme see, lemme see! What's it say?"
"It says it was from that old warehouse on the far edge of Sentinel III. The one that's often used by gangs for drug deals. It used to be a computer storage place...so, I'm sure that must be the reason why she was there. After all, tousan and me, we're both hackers."
"So, let's stock up on things and hope we run into her on the way there!"
"Aisha, how the hell are we supposed to get there?" Jim scowled. "Aniki took my car."
"Nyaa~! Good question..." She tapped her chin in thought. "Well~! We do have Outlaw Star here, ne?"
The young hacker shrank back at the suggestion, "Demo...I never flew it with just me before. I-I don't know if I could."
"Jim Hawking, you probably know better than Gene how to do it! Nyaa~! You call yourself a man so have the courage of one! A proud Ctarl-Ctarl will not stand by idly while--"
"Melfina's not here. How am I supposed to control it without her...?"
"Anou..." Aisha paused. "Good point. Well, you could still fly it through town, ne? It's not that big of a distance."
"A huge ship like Outlaw can't fit in the highways. It's illegal to drive it there..."
"Demo...not if you kept above the highways..." There was a devious glint in her eyes.
"I...well..." Jim closed his eyes. Sometimes, you just gotta take risks, Jim... They reopened and a look of newfound confidence appeared. "Okay, let's do it!"
"Whoo! That's the spirit!" She beamed, nudging him off in some direction. "Let's get the ammo we need!"
"Hai!" Jim smiled somewhat. Man, this is really setting itself off quick. I just hope that all of this isn't a fatal mistake.
***
A car came to a rough stop on the side of the curb. Beside it, were a vast chain of shopping centers, restaurants, and bars. The driver-side door opened up, and Gene stepped out, soon afterward followed by both Suzuka and Melfina. He stepped past the cigarette cluttered ground, peering into one of the display windows of a computer store. The two women stood there quietly and finally, he turned around to face them, his cape swishing a bit with the movement.
"Gene, would you quit wasting our time and please tell us why you dragged us out here?" Suzuka arched a brow, waiting patiently.
"Hai, I would like to know the same thing, Gene," Melfina looked up at him.
"Well..." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "There is no mission. Demo, I could still use both of your help..."
The ex-assassin folded her arms over her chest, "For what..?"
"I...er...need to pick out something nice for Jim's birthday coming up. Thought he could use something after the way things are going..."
"I'd love to help, Gene!" The bio-android stepped over toward him, closing her eyes happily.
Suzuka watched the couple for a moment with an inner pang of jealousy. However, her exterior was able to mask her emotions well, and she simply canted her head, "Why did you need me to come along...? Do I look like I'm the shopping-for-presents type, Gene?" Her voice wasn't bitter or sarcastic. Just calm and even-toned as always.
"Well, you're much better at keeping secrets than Aisha. Besides..." Gene smirked, bringing a finger over the side of Melfina's cheek. "Not much shopping would have been done if it was just me and Melfina, ne?"
"G-Gene..." Melfina's cheeks colored a tad.
The other woman simply rolled her eyes, "I suppose you're right. As always, it's me who keeps you in line, Gene Starwind."
"Heh. Now I don't see why you would mind so much!" Naturally he appeared arrogant, but strode casually toward one of the shops. "So, ya think I should look in the computer place?"
"Hai! Jim likes computers..." The android smiled, lacing her hands in front of herself.
"Then computers it is!"
"Do you even know the first thing about what type Jim would want?" Suzuka shook her head, walking behind them rather than with them.
"Anou...I was kinda hopin' you guys would..." The redhead released a nervous laugh.
"I have a feeling this is going to be nothing but a waste of time..." The woman shook her head.
"Ooi! Like it woulda been any better back at the place. Ain't like Jim's gonna be going out on a big adventure without us, ne?" He branched off into a laugh, starting into the entrance of the store.
The two other followed, until Melfina stopped abruptly with a gasp. Her body tensed up for a moment and she raised her hands to study them. Both Gene and Suzuka stopped, but it was Gene's palms that came to her shoulders and his concerned gaze that forced her to tell them the problem. Melfina frowned somewhat, pushing herself into his arms.
"Someone...someone's started the XGP without me..."
"N-nani?!" Gene's eyes widened. "Thieves...?"
"Ie...there are security codes all over it, remember?" Suzuka pointed out.
"I-it's Jim. He's going to try to pilot it!" Melfina informed. "He might be getting into danger. We must hurry back immediately!"
"Un! Let's go!"
And the trio rushed back to the car at that point, hoping against hope that they would make it in time before whatever came to pass.
"Nyaa! It looks so much bigger when we're the only ones on it," Aisha grinned, looping around the empty controls.
"It feels a lot less safe, too..." Jim sighed. Especially in the main control seat.
They had been sitting there with the computer running for quite sometime, and although Gilliam didn't like the idea all that much, he did tell them that the ship could be piloted without Melfina so long as it wasn't moving to outer space. Jim had been studying the controls, finding out specifically what each one did and then trying with all his might to store the information in his mind. Sort of like a last-minute cram for a test. Only, exams didn't really have as big of a percentage of being fatal like this did.
"Nee, Jim~!" The Ctarl-Ctarl called out.
He blinked, glancing back at her, "Hai?"
"Maybe I should get all naked and go into that little chamber Melfina does!" She snickered.
"A-anou...! I don't think that'd work. Now sit down, we should take off..." Jim closed his eyes tightly. Oh man, the last thing he needed was to be thinking about naked Aisha when he had to pilot the Outlaw Star.
"Hai, hai!" The neko girl leapt over the side of a chair, sitting before the side panel. "Okay, now what do I do?"
"Fasten up..." He paused, nervously handling the main stick shift. "And pray that I got this right..."
"Heh...what's the worst that could happen? You mess up and we die..." Aisha strapped herself in the seat.
"You know, that's not exactly soothing."
"And you're welcome. C'mon, let's get this started already!"
"H-hai...here goes..." A shaky finger moved forward slowly, but was then stopped as a voice rose up.
"Are you really certain about this, Master Jim?" The main board flickered a moment with the question.
"As sure as I'll ever be about nearly dying..."
Jim clamped down on his lower lip with his teeth, feeling small beads of perspiration begin to form from his own inner turmoil. He closed his eyes tightly, and then forced himself to hit the launch button. The vibration from the ship grew more and more, and his eyes opened wide as he clutched the main controls finally, holding them so hard that his hands began to go numb. The Outlaw Star was elevating itself at a rapid pace, ascending further and further. Dust clouds formed around it and Jim watched on silently as they reached their desired height in the sky. Then, at his command, the XGP lurched forward into a rapid flight.
Aisha gripped to the edge of her seat, features frozen in fear, "J-Jim...?"
"Un...?"
"You know...when I said that whole thing about you killing us?"
"U-un."
"Nyaa! I wasn't being literal! We better be safe up here, otherwise I'll--"
"The course is set smoothly, Master Jim. Much easier than Master Gene's first attempt," Gilliam informed.
"Sankyuu!" Jim closed his eyes happily, then smirked, sparing a glance toward Aisha. "Now, what were you saying...?"
"A-anou...I never had anything short of faith in you, Jim!" Aisha smiled weakly.
"Heh, I thought so!"
"Hehe! Now let's get there quickly!"
"Hai!" Jim grinned in agreement, guiding the Outlaw Star through the clouds and into the distance.
***
"Matte! Jim!" Melfina chased after the departing starship until it became a blur on the horizon and impossible to catch up to. One hand remained stretched toward the sky as though she could draw it back on her whim alone. "Jim..."
"Melfina..." Gene was there as she collapsed to her knees, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Daijoubu! Jim's smart. He'll be able to take care of himself..."
"And Aisha..." Suzuka added as she joined them.
"Nani? Aisha's gone too?" The Outlaw looked back at her slowly, receiving a nod.
"Hai. There isn't even so much as a note explaining what they're doing either," The ex-assassin glanced skyward. "Demo, I'm sure if Melfina tried hard enough, she could track them down..."
"Is it, is it really our place to follow...?" The other girl glanced toward them both, before she averted her gaze. "Jim was angry with Gene, so maybe--"
"Che! You can't be saying this is all my fault. I was actually trying to do something nice for a change!"
"Jim felt left out. He often does..." Melfina's features saddened.
"Nani? How do you know? Does he tell you...?" The redhead shifted back.
"Un, sort of..."
"What do you mean sort of?"
Melfina's hand went up to touch her chest, resting there a moment, "He tells Gilliam a lot of the time, and I often hear it by mistake."
"Then, did he say anything to Gilliam about where he was going?" Suzuka urged her to continue.
"He didn't say why. Demo, he was telling him earlier about the past. Gene, you really were an important part of his life..." The female droid smiled gently.
Gene glanced up in surprise, but simply cleared his throat, "U-un. Well, what can I say? I'm a regular hero, ne?"
"The past is best left forgotten," Suzuka stated in an icy tone, narrowing her eyes somewhat. "It's best to forget and move on and deal with the present, because really the present is the only time you can guarantee you're alive. We should follow them now."
"Su-Suzuka..." Melfina's expression faltered to sympathy. Did Suzuka have a horrible past as well...? Perhaps it was simply best to just move on like she said. "Hai! If we hurry, I'm sure we could make it after them!"
"Un, then I'll drive us there...you tell us the way, Melfina!" Gene hurried back to the car, dropping into the driver's seat. Jim...hopefully you're still safe by the time I get there...
***
The laboratory on the farthest side of Sentinel III was hidden beneath a building used as a comic store. A perfectly, unsuspecting location for a hidden scientific research facility. This belonged to only one man...and was set up with more than enough equipment to seek out answers to the unknown. The main room itself was cluttered by computers and various other machinery. Lit only in places where light was a necessity, shadow mostly enveloped everything in sight.
At that moment, the door on the side opened up and heeled footfalls befell the floor, carrying the figure toward the lone scientist. The man sat with his back turned in a black leather computer chair, and his head tipped upward just a bit at the sound of the steps. This cloaked form bowed it's head just slightly, the cloth around it's visage dipping over just a bit more so. With a clearing of a throat, one could tell that it was a woman. It was the same woman, in fact, that had gone after Jim all those years ago. The very assassin who had called him up previously.
"It has gone well. Young Jim has fallen right into our trap."
"Excellent. Sou, sou...excellent. I'm sure it will be no time before we get the key. No time at all..."
"Hai...is there anything else you would like me to do?"
"Yes. Follow them. If Melfina is there, kidnap her too. There was much unfinished business in the Leyline. Yes, yes...much unfinished business indeed."
"As you wish..."
She started to the exit again, sparing a glance over her shoulder. Afterward, she simply reached upward, punching in a specific code, and then leaving the other alone again. With a slight squeak of ungreased hinges, the chair swiveled around to reveal the face of that scientist. A smirk creased his lips and those fingers curled on the arm rests.
"That's right...all of my unfinished business will be taken care of now. Yes, yes...indeed it will..." Gwen Khan grinned to himself, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.