I don't own these characters or profit from them

Assassins and Bounty Hunters
By, Clayton Overstreet

In our last story Aisha and Jim got to be the stars. Jim ran into the pirate girl again and she tried to convince him to join up with the pirates. When that failed she kidnapped him and tried to force him to show her how to operate the Outlaw Star. Fortunately Aisha had been following Jim around and was able to stop it by the time the others arrived.
Aisha: I wasn't following him! I was just... out for something to eat and saw him and the pirate girl and...
Sure you were Aisha. Anyway she and Jim got their own episode, just like Gene and Melfina always do. Somehow Suzuka found out about it. Now she's insisting on her own.
Suzuka: I don't mean to seem pushy, but I really must insist that you honor my contract. I get one story. That's all I ask. Or else... (She pushes her sword to the author's throat.)
Um... whatever you say pretty lady. So, without any more stalling, here is a day in the life of an ex-assassin. Somebody send help!

Suzuka yawned and stretched as she got out of bed. It had been a long walk back from the spaceport and she had done it carrying two unconscious pirates. Sliding out of the bed she looked at Aisha, who was laying on the top bunk. "I can't believe you took the car."
Aisha turned and smiled at her. "Hey, I was tired. Anyway I did all the tough work, fighting the pirates, knocking out their boss... all you had to do was turn them in."
Just then Gene walked in. "All right you two, enough of that. Aisha, here is your money for capturing the pirates." He tossed a wad of cash to her,
Aisha caught it and looked it over. "Hey, this is only a third of what they're worth."
Jim popped his head in. "True, but we turned them in so there was a delivery fee for us, then the gas you used getting back here, and the money for the spaceport fees on your brand new pirate ship. You'll get more when we sell the ship and see what's on it."
"Minus our modest fee of course." Gene said.
Aisha snorted at Gene, then grinned at Jim. "Fine, but I have dibs on whatever is inside and I get half of the money from the sale."
Jim smirked and looked at Gene. Gene rolled his eyes and nodded. "You've been hanging out with Jim too much."
Suzuka decided that enough was enough. Grabbing her sword and hair band she decided to go see what Melfina had made for breakfast. When she walked into the kitchen she smiled at Melfina, who was finishing up some pancakes.
Melfina looked at and smiled back. "Good morning Suzuka. Do you want something to eat?"
Suzuka nodded. "Yeah, thanks. So what did the doctor say?"
Melfina smiled. "The baby is fine. The caster didn't harm it at all. Now will you stop fussing over me? I'm not even showing yet and all of you keep treating me like I'm going to break." She set a plate of pancakes down in front of Suzuka.
Suzuka grinned and reached for the syrup. "Well that's what happens when you have people to care for you."
Melfina sighed. "I guess you are right. So what are you doing today?"
Suzuka took a bite and swallowed. "Mmm, this is good. I think I'll take my share of Aisha's bounty money and hit the casino. You?"
Melfina smiled. "I talked Gene into taking me clothes shopping. I'll need something for when I put on weight."
Suzuka laughed, picturing Gene sorting through maternity dresses. "Just don't let him near the women's underwear department. He'll have you buy something topless or worse."
Melfina giggled. "How do you think this happened in the first place?"
Just then the others came in. Melfina gave them each a plate, except for Aisha who generally ate out of a huge bowl. She had a pile of pancakes the size of her chest. Melfina herself had ten on her plate, while the others had stuck with five each.
Between bites of food they discussed their plans for the day. Jim was going to take Aisha out to an amusement park to pay her back for saving his life. Gene told them that he and Melfina were going shopping, but not what for. The only thing stopping Suzuka from saying what he was really going to do was that she had told them she was just going for a walk.
Once breakfast was over they each took off, leaving the pink Gilliam robot behind to take messages. "I think it is unfair for you to leave me behind just because I don't have legs."
Jim smiled. "Don't worry Gilliam. Gene is having me work on an android body for you."
Gilliam sighed. "He only wants that so I can do the work on the Outlaw Star instead of him."
Aisha turned to him. "Then be glad you have a break now."
They all left the office and headed out in their own directions. Suzuka actually started walking with Jim and Aisha for a while. "Suzy, want to join us?"
Suzuka frowned at her. "Aisha, I told you not to call me that. Anyway, maybe I'll join you two later. I'm going out for a while first."
Jim smiled. "That's all right Suzuka. If you want to find us later we'll be at Disneyland 12."
Suzuka smiled. "O.K. Jim, I'll see you two later then." Without a glance back she turned down an alley, leaving them to continue on alone.

Suzuka arrived at the Golden Saurian casino an hour later. Smiling she walked through the glass doors and looked around at the games. The bright lights, spinning wheels, and the sounds of falling coins practically pulled her inside.
Suzuka remembered the first time she had come to a casino. Her father and mother used to own one. Her brothers and sisters had worked at the tables. When she was five her mother hadn't been able to find a baby sitter so had taken her to work. Everyone there had seemed so happy and alive. To keep her busy her siblings had let her play at the tables and had arranged it so that she always won.
Then ten years later it had all changed. Suzuka was old enough to work in the casino. She had volunteered to run security. By then she had seen what the people who didn't win were like. Many of them refused to leave, ranting that the games were fixed. Others tried to cheat; thinking they could get past the camera's some how. Suzuka couldn't stand to see her beautiful world ruined by such people, so took special pleasure in booting them out.
Then one day a group of pirates had arrived. They were staying in the casino's hotel and actually seemed to behave themselves. From what Suzuka gathered, the Kae pirates had an unspoken rule to behave when planet-side. It wasn't strictly enforced, but most seemed to follow it. But after about two days Suzuka was called into the security room. One of her men had caught the leader of the pirates using magic on one of the slot machines.
At first she hadn't been sure what to do. In her time there this had never happened and even though her parents had rules about it she wasn't sure what she should do. So instead she went to her father.
He had decided to handle it himself, but took Suzuka along to show her how to do it. Standing at her father's side she watched as he approached the pirate. "Excuse me mister..."
"Hitoriga." The man said.
"But we do not allow the use of magic in this establishment. I am afraid I will need to confiscate your winnings and ask you to leave." Her father said it calmly, making sure not to say anything insulting.
Hitoriga didn't seem to care. "And suppose I don't give it back? Suppose I keep it?"
Her father stood his ground. "Then I will have to call the police."
Hitoriga grinned. "Well then, in that case..." Without another word he knifed her father in the stomach. Suzuka could do nothing but stare. It was then that her brothers and sisters ran forward. As she watched he killed them all, blood spraying onto her face, as she stood paralyzed. In the back of her mind she realized the other pirates were simply watching and laughing.
Then her mother had come running out of nowhere. She had nothing in her hands but a pot of coffee, but she came anyway. As Hitoriga looked up she through the hot liquid in his face, causing him to scream in pain. Then she had jumped on him, clawing at his blistering skin.
Finally though, he had overpowered her. Through the blood he'd looked at her with hatred, then tossed her to his men. "Have some fun, then kill her. Then we're going to take the money and burn this place to the ground."
It was the threat against the casino, more than his plans for her mother that caused her to finally move again. Looking around she searched for anyone who could help. But all of the other customers had left. She was alone, just standing there while her mother was raped and her wonderful world was torn apart piece by piece.
Hitoriga stooped just before slicing into a slot machine. For the first time he seemed to notice Suzuka was there. She stared at him, cringing in fear as he looked at her with his mutilated face. She couldn't even tell if he was smiling or not.
Standing in front of her he reached out and wiped some blood off her face. "Such a pretty girl. So afraid and shaking; bet you'd like to kill me wouldn't you?"
She absently nodded, her eyes locked on his. They never wavered, even as her mother called her name one last time before the pirates slit her throat. All she could see was the blood on his face.
"Would you like to learn how to do it? Learn to kill me?" He asked. Again she nodded. "Then it's settled, you are coming with us."
Suzuka never said a word, not to protest, not to agree. Even as she watched the pirates burn the casino she was silent. For the next five years as she trained under Hitoriga and the other pirates, she didn't say anything. During that time the pirates tried everything to push her into speaking. It wasn't until the day Hitoriga had decided to steal her face for himself that she finally gave in.
"It's time Hitoriga." Suzuka said as she looked upon his new face. "You've taken everything from me. I have nothing left to loose."
He grinned at her with her mouth. "So you've decided to take your vengeance now? You think you are ready to kill me?"
The fight that followed was a long one, but only because he wasn't trying. In the end she had been beaten. Instead of killing her he had let her go. Leaving her to take jobs as a freelance assassin for the next seven years. They had the occasional run in, but he had beaten her every time. Until Gene Starwind had come along that is. The only other person to ever beat her had helped her get her revenge.
In all that time, the one thing that had brought her any happiness was returning to the bright lights of a casino. And now even though she had a new family she still came back. Smiling she worked her way through the tables, betting at game after game. Sometimes she wished her brothers and sisters hadn't let her win so much as a child. Once she got going she never knew when to stop until she lost every cent.
As her last coin disappeared into the slot machine Suzuka smiled and turned to leave.
"Hey, you're Twilight Suzuka aren't you?" A voice asked behind her.
Suzuka placed a hand on her sword hilt. "Yes, I am." Turning she saw a saurian standing behind her. He looked quite similar to Dooz; the saurian that worked with the security forces that had helped the break up the Kae pirates. Only instead of blue his scales were yellow.
He smiled at her and motioned for her to follow him. Curious, she decided to see what he wanted. He led her up a flight of stairs and into an office. It was full of security cameras and expensive furniture. Once inside he sat down at the desk and looked up at her. "Have a seat Miss Suzuka."
"No thank you, I'll stand." She said.
"Well then, my name is Toolpa. I am the owner of this casino." He said while looking her over.
"What do you want with me?" Suzuka asked.
"Right to the point huh? Well from what I hear you are an expert assassin. I want to hire you to eliminate one of my competitors." He grinned up her with sharp teeth and cold, reptilian eyes.
Suzuka shook her head. "I am no longer in that line of work."
Toolpa frowned slightly. "I'm sure I can change your mind." Reaching under the desk he pulled out a briefcase. Opening it up he turned it to her. "Seven million Wong should cover it."
Suzuka's eyes widened in amazement as she ran her hand over the money. With this much she could buy almost anything... even her own casino. She could have her old life back.
"So what do you say?" Toolpa asked. "Is it a deal?"
Suzuka looked down at the money again, then back up at the saurian. One last look at the money and she made her choice.

Suzuka jumped out from the alley and swung her sword at the back of her target's head. They barely had time to let out a yell of outrage before it struck. There was a flash of light and she was gone. Suzuka looked left, then right. Nobody else was around.
Taking off the virtual reality visor Suzuka saw Jim's smiling face. "Nice job Suzuka. She never knew what hit her."
Aisha grumbled and tossed the VR gloves onto the ground. "It wasn't fair. This thing can't keep up with my movements."
Suzuka grinned and retrieved her sword from Jim. "It seemed to work fine for me."
Aisha sniffed. "That's because you're human. Come on, let's go on a few more rides before we have to go home." Grabbing Jim and Suzuka's arms she ran back out to the main park.
As they ran Jim looked at Suzuka. "So you really turned down seven million Wong?"
She nodded, almost tripping as Aisha dragged her along. "Yeah. I guess hanging around with you people has really changed me."
Aisha looked back and smiled. "I know what you mean Suzy. Would you believe that when I met Gene, Jim, and Melfina I was going to kill them?"
Suzuka smiled, "I had the same problem with Gene."
As Aisha dragged them off to the rides Suzuka looked at her and Jim again. Then she thought about all the money in that brief case. The look on Toolpa's face when she turned him down had almost been worth it. But spending the rest of the afternoon with Jim and Aisha had been what erased all her regrets.
She still had the bright lights of the casino whenever she wanted it, but now she had a real family again. And this time she would never let anything happen to any of them. Besides if she had taken the money she wouldn't have gotten to go home and tease Gene about dress shopping or be there when Melfina had her baby. No, things were fine as they were and she was happy. What more could she ask for?
"And Aisha, don't call me Suzy!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Hey, it's Gene again. Well now we know the story of Suzuka's life and we can get back to me again. In the next episode I'm going to be a daddy.
Wait a minute! How could that happen? Melfina has only been pregnant for a month. Something really strange is going on here. And who are these guys trying to get their hands on my daughter? Well they can forget it. To find out what happens next, check out the next Clayton Overstreet fan fic: Don't touch my daughter.

Author's note
Well what did you think? I know I used a lot of flash backs, but Suzuka is the only one that we didn't really know about. Besides it was a good story and I managed to work some action into it. Tell me what you thought at clayton_n@hotmail.com