Yeah, I know it's been a long time as usual, but here's Chapter 8 for your reading pleasure! LOL! Anyways, I'll try to write more soon and thank you all so much for you wonderful responses and comments and all! I hope that this Chapter is good as well...it's kind of short, but I wanted to put up something...so here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Outlaw Star in the slightest, but wouldn't it be nice if I did? LOL!

I think we've almost reached our destination. I can hear them talking outside and I must admit I'm very frightened about what's to come. If it's at all as Aaalie Ru predicted…
I shouldn't think about it now, should I? It will only succeed in frightening me even more so. They have finally met the second one; naïve and merry Jeri Patrick Wilter. His integrity should have made it harder for Gene and his friends, but his good nature almost worked against him and made it easier for all of them. Soon, they would have the two and there would only be one more left to find. One more million to collect. Finally, they would be free of the entire ordeal.
But there would be complications, as with everything else. Of course, there was the Princess Alliah and her undying hatred for Gene Starwind. Unbeknownst to them, another ambitious young woman would cause them many more problems that would include a colossal military force in pursuit of the Outlaw Star. However, I fear the MacDougall Brothers would lead to be the major problem for Ace and his employees in the long run. Yes, they would prove to be the worst.

"Billy!" Fred scolded, "Will you PLEASE hurry along?!" Billy gave a stutter and a quick nod, picking up his pace a bit but still trailing behind his employer. Fred turned from him with a frustrated sigh and continued to march down the halls of the military base. "How does that fool manage to get himself mixed up in this? How does he manage to get ME mixed up in this?!" Fred muttered annoyed to himself when Billy spoke up timidly from behind.
"Um, sir…um…the thing is…well, I really need to contact Stacey and-" Fred twirled around in a frenzy.
"Billy! Will you SHUT UP about Stacey! For the love of God, every other word out of you mouth is about HER! I can't take it anymore! I have other problems than your-"
"Excuse me," Came a sweet voice from behind. Fred spun around again to see the young Princess Maralee behind him. He managed a fake smile.
"Hello! How wonderful it is to see you!" Fred quickly greeted her and continued on to business matters. "You informed me earlier that my friend, Gene Starwind, has been arrested, is that right?"
"Yes," she explained politely, "And he told me to contact you, Mr. Luo. That you would pay the bail."
"He did, didn't he?" Fred spoke through gritted teeth. Why does he always expect me to bail him out of everything, Fred thought bitterly.
"Is something…wrong?" Maralee asked.
"No, of course not. I LOVE to pay bail for idiots like Gene." Fred said sarcastically and then forced a laugh. "How much is it going to cost me?"
"A few thousand wong…I'm not exactly sure at the moment…my sister, Alliah, well, she's very trying."
"I see. And what EXACTLY did Gene do to get him thrown in prison?"
"Oh, Lieutenant Macabi!" Maralee quickly avoided Fred's question, waving over the young woman. She smiled and walked over. "Mr. Luo, and um…" the young girl trailed off, staring curiously at Billy.
"He's not important," Fred replied curtly.
"Oh. Um, well, Mr. Luo, this is Lieutenant Macabi-Kyashi Macabi that is. She was leading the regiment that captured Mr. Starwind and his friends. She's quite a capable soldier and leader."
"Oh, Princess Maralee, you're much too kind! I'm really not that wonderful." Kyashi spoke with fake modestly and laughed pleasantly. "But, I DID handle that Gene Starwind quite efficiently, if I do say so myself."
"I see…" Fred trailed off un-amused and growing tiresome and aggravated.
"Lieutenant, this is Mr. Luo." Maralee continued the introductions.
"A pleasure to meet you. I've heard plenty about you. Hopefully, you'll still be doing some business with the Universal Military Forces when I'm the head-" the young woman cut herself off and corrected herself with a laugh, "Um, when I'm retiring, that is." She smiled widely. "Anyways, I'm assuming you're here to pay the bail on the crew of the Outlaw Star, am I correct?"
"Yes, I am." Fred replied.
"Oh that's good. It's a wonder how Maralee even convinced her sister to allow Mr. Starwind to even have a bail. Well, I'm guessing it won't take too long for her to set up a trial."
"A trial?!" Fred choked out.
"Yes, I'm afraid I'm a little confused about his exact crime myself…" The Lieutenant went on,
"Well, we'll figure it out in good time, won't we? For the time being, however, Mr. Starwind cannot leave Skyla under any circumstances, neither can his accomplices. You'll have to find someplace nearby to stay until the trial. The UMF we be keeping strict supervision on him of course."
"You mean, I have to wait around this dump?!" Fred cleared his throat, "I mean, these fine facilities."
"I'm afraid so," Maralee spoke up with a frown.
"It's all part of procedure, after all." Kyashi added.
"But I have a business to run!" Fred exclaimed.
"And what about Stacey?!" Billy chimed in.
"Will you SHUT UP ABOUT STACEY?!" Fred screamed, feeling himself reaching his breaking point. Kyashi looked the two over skeptically when her eyes met with a young private coming out from the prison cells, beaming.
"Jeri!" She called to him and he came over, smiling.
"Hi!" He greeted them happily. Fred looked him over curiously.
"This is my fiancee, Jeri Wilter." Kyashi explained. Billy's eyes opened wide at this. He tugged at Fred's sleeve.
"Mr. Luo," he whispered, "Mr. Luo!"
"Not now, Billy!" Fred snapped in a loud whisper, obviously not making the same connection Billy had.
"Jeri Patrick Wilter," Jeri meanwhile corrected his bride-to-be, shaking Fred and Billy's hand.
"Right," Kyashi said hastily, "Jeri dear, I thought you already fed the young boy, Joe or something…"
"Jim," He informed her. "And I did, but then I got the rest of them something to eat as well. They all looked awfully hungry."
"I see," Kyashi managed a smile and turned to the rest, "That's my Jeri for you. Always thinking of…everybody…" Forcing a laugh, she continued, this time with sincerity, "But that's why I love him. We're getting married in two weeks, you know."
"That's wonderful!" Maralee exclaimed.
"Can we please get on with it?" Questioned Fred impatiently.
"Oh, right, of course." The Lieutenant turned to her fiancee, "I'll talk to you later, Jeri, alright?"
"Alright!" The two kissed and then Jeri turned to the others, "It was nice meeting all of you!" The private then went on his merry way.
"Well, that's Jeri for you," Kyashi said with a smile, "He's truly one in a million."

"He's been arrested?!" Harry exclaimed, his brother Ron and him standing outside the large Palace of Skyla. Many of the planet's citizens were gathered about as well as tourists and journalists. It was obvious a large affair and many people had made preparations for the event.
"That's what I've heard," Ron explained, aggravated.
"But, he's grandson of one of the wealthiest men in the universe!" Harry went on and then questioned, "Are you SURE?"
"Yes, I'm sure! Listen, we've got other complications."
"Other complications?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, other complications. According to several sources, he was arrested because he was with Gene Starwind."
"Gene Starwind?!" Harry grew outraged as Ron sighed aggravated.
"Harry, this is not the place to overreact, alright?" Ron told his younger brother sternly while a little girl and her mother brushed past the two.
"But-" Ron glared at him, and Harry relaxed. "Ok, fine. But why is he with Gene Starwind?"
"The hell if I know." Ron turned from him and searched the crowd as if for an answer.
"Well, why were they arrested, then?" Harry now inquired. Ron smirked at this.
"Seems as if Gene is pretty famous around here. Supposedly, he and this princess-Alliah something or other-had a fling going for about a week and she thought they were engaged. Apparently, he didn't and so she went a little crazy and decided to search for him…for the last couple of years." He chuckled at this and Harry couldn't help but laugh at this too.
"Figures as much," Harry said then grew serious, "But if they're locked up then we should have no problem-"
"Are you crazy, Harry?" Ron exclaimed, "There's no way I'm trying to break anybody out of York Military Base. We're talking about a Universal Military Force facility, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Harry frowned.
"Yeah," Ron couldn't help but frown as well, "Now all we can do is wait."