Gene Starwind walked toward the old saloon. He hadn't been to Hai Phong for
months, ever since the Kai Pirates had come back to bite him in the ass.
Jim, Suzuka, and Gilliam were pressuring him as usual, asking what to do
next as the pirates were hot on their trail. But they were back at the
dock.
Gene ordered 3 shots of single-malt whiskey and rested his head on the bar counter, listening in to other people's conversations. "You heard o'that bounty hunter Raven Miyazaki?" asked a tall, bearded man. His diminutive friend replied. "Yep. She's been causing a lot of trouble around these parts. She hunts pirates, which I guess is a good thing, but she's been stealin' and causing all sorts of ruckus." "Damn outlaws. Always bringin' disorder around the universe." Gene had heard of Raven Miyazaki, too. In only three months she had become the most notorious outlaw in the universe, more of an assassin, really, like Suzuka had been. Nobody knew about her or had seen her face, which she kept cloaked at all times. They only knew her from the tarot card of The Raven, the bird signifying Death.
At that point Fred walked into the bar. Fred Lowe, Gene's obnoxious, egotistical employer. As much as Gene hated Fred, he depended on him for steady cash flow. Fred took a seat right beside Gene and ordered a chardonnay.
"Gene Starwind, old friend, I knew you'd be back." Gene didn't respond. "Never mind, Gene," said Fred. "Right now, I have a new assignment for you, which I know you need now more than ever because the Kai Pirates and the Intergalactic Police are on your trail." "What," said Gene, lifting his head. "Oh, now we're talking," remarked Fred. "Anyway, this is a biggie. I need you to find me Raven Miyazaki. Someone has hired her to kill me, as I found out when she paid a surprise visit to my office last night while I was out, and since you handled Suzuka so well, I figured you would be the top candidate." "And, just how much will I get paid for this? Remember, I have to provide for Suzuka, Jim, Melfina, Aisha, and myself right now." "Chill, Gene, I'll pay you a cool 15 million wong, give or take a few hundred." Inwardly, Gene jumped. 15 million wong could take care of expenses for the Outlaw Star for 7 years, and still have 14 million wong in change. "Sure!" said Gene. "I just knew you would," replied an even perkier Fred. "Well, I really must fly. Toodles!" Gene smiled. Finally, I'll be getting the money I deserve. Fred had finally given in. Except for the tab on the chardonnay.
Gene ordered 3 shots of single-malt whiskey and rested his head on the bar counter, listening in to other people's conversations. "You heard o'that bounty hunter Raven Miyazaki?" asked a tall, bearded man. His diminutive friend replied. "Yep. She's been causing a lot of trouble around these parts. She hunts pirates, which I guess is a good thing, but she's been stealin' and causing all sorts of ruckus." "Damn outlaws. Always bringin' disorder around the universe." Gene had heard of Raven Miyazaki, too. In only three months she had become the most notorious outlaw in the universe, more of an assassin, really, like Suzuka had been. Nobody knew about her or had seen her face, which she kept cloaked at all times. They only knew her from the tarot card of The Raven, the bird signifying Death.
At that point Fred walked into the bar. Fred Lowe, Gene's obnoxious, egotistical employer. As much as Gene hated Fred, he depended on him for steady cash flow. Fred took a seat right beside Gene and ordered a chardonnay.
"Gene Starwind, old friend, I knew you'd be back." Gene didn't respond. "Never mind, Gene," said Fred. "Right now, I have a new assignment for you, which I know you need now more than ever because the Kai Pirates and the Intergalactic Police are on your trail." "What," said Gene, lifting his head. "Oh, now we're talking," remarked Fred. "Anyway, this is a biggie. I need you to find me Raven Miyazaki. Someone has hired her to kill me, as I found out when she paid a surprise visit to my office last night while I was out, and since you handled Suzuka so well, I figured you would be the top candidate." "And, just how much will I get paid for this? Remember, I have to provide for Suzuka, Jim, Melfina, Aisha, and myself right now." "Chill, Gene, I'll pay you a cool 15 million wong, give or take a few hundred." Inwardly, Gene jumped. 15 million wong could take care of expenses for the Outlaw Star for 7 years, and still have 14 million wong in change. "Sure!" said Gene. "I just knew you would," replied an even perkier Fred. "Well, I really must fly. Toodles!" Gene smiled. Finally, I'll be getting the money I deserve. Fred had finally given in. Except for the tab on the chardonnay.