Guess who? Yeah, yeah, I know I haven't updated in like three months. It's not my fault-- blame my teachers for trying to kill me with work. . Anyway, I've decided not to drag this particular scene out because I've decided not to make this an angst-filled romance... at least not until later. If that's what you were wanting, you'll just have to stick with me. Aren't I conniving? So this chapter is short, but the next one is action-packed and worth the wait. Review please!

"I thought you were over him," Suzuka said faintly. The steam from the cup wafted up to warm her face, but she hardly noticed. She took a small sip and set the tea back down with a nearly inaudible clink.

"I tried Suzu, I really did!" Aisha moaned, and flopped down into a chair across from the assassin. She buried her face in her hands and meowed unhappily.

"I was sure I could handle it," said Aisha. "But instead of getting better over the past year, it's just gotten worse!" She flopped her white-blonde head onto the table dramatically. "You said they'd be happy together, and you were right. They're so damn happy it's making me sick!"

Suzuka reached out a hand and patted Aisha's back uncertainly. She wasn't really used to comforting people. Still, she supposed at a time like this it would be best to just let Aisha talk.

"I see the way he looks at her, and I think to myself, 'why can't he look at me like that?'" Aisha continued, pulling at her bangs. "I'm jealous, Suzuka. Really jealous. And I've been asking myself what's wrong with me. What makes me so undesirable as a person that I can't even attract one flame-headed outlaw?"

Silence reigned for a few minutes. Aisha was staring off into space, leaning her elbows heavily on the table. The pain on her face was evident. Suzuka used an elegant finger to push her teacup over to the Ctarl-ctarl without looking directly at her. She wondered briefly if Gilliam was eavesdropping-- after all, he had eyes and ears (so to speak) all over the ship. Perhaps she'd have to have a little visit with him later; or rather, with his memory circuits.

Suzuka glanced at Aisha as the Ctarl finally picked up the teacup and swallowed the hot liquid in one gulp. "Melfina's my friend, so I can't hate her. But I can't take it anymore! It's not fitting for a proud Ctarl-ctarl to sit around wallowing in self-pity!" Her blue eyes were hurt, but resolute. "I won't do it anymore!"

The assassin blinked, surprised. Aisha continued, "Do you understand now why I have to get outta here? Every minute I stick around is an insult to my pride! It's insulting to see them together! And it's insulting to hate myself for something I have no control over!" Aisha stood up, clenching her fists. "So I'm leaving!"

Suzuka looked up at her. If Aisha wasn't quiet she was going to wake the others up. "Well, I can see there's nothing I can do to stop you. But please, tell me this-- what exactly are you going to do once you do leave?"

"I'll go back to the Empire," Aisha said, nearly snarling in her determination.

"And if--"

Aisha interrupted her. "If the Empire won't have me, I'll figure something out! I can make it on my own." She furrowed her eyebrows and glowered at the assassin. "Silly old Aisha, can't do a thing by herself. Well, I'm not helpless, you know! And I'm not stupid, either!"

Suzuka stood smoothly, the folds of her kimono-like nightgown falling around her ankles. "Aisha."

"What?!"

The assassin stepped forward and looked Aisha in the eye. "I know."

For a second they stood there, with a strange new understanding passing over them like a ripple on water. Finally Suzuka raised an eyebrow and pasted her usual indifferent look on her face. "If you must leave, then leave already," she said, turning her face away.

"I, uh--" Aisha stammered. Without warning she rushed forward and gave Suzuka a big, thankful, bone-crunching hug. "I'll miss you Suzu."

Suzuka was having a considerable amount of trouble breathing, seeing as how the strongest woman in the universe was currently squeezing the life out of her. She merely grunted in response.

Aisha let go and grabbed up her bag. "Tell Jimmy I'm sorry, okay? I mean, tell him I --"

"Go Aisha. Before you lose your nerve. I'll take care of it," said Suzuka, looking away again.

"Bye," Aisha whispered. She opened the hull door and stepped out.

Suzuka crossed her arms and watched her go. "Don't get yourself killed, Aisha."

Aisha sorely wished she had listened to Suzuka and planned her actions better. She figured that the Empire wouldn't be much help and they weren't. Sure, they were impressed with her recount of her trip to the Galactic Leyline. But she hadn't brought anything back, had she? After learning that, they lost interest and only offered to let her have her old job as resident officer. Aisha stared at them incredulously. "I've been to the Galactice Leyline!" she screeched. "And you wanna put me back at a job that doesn't even pay enough to eat?" She let them know that she wasn't at all happy with that, and then, having basically no other choice, she took the job. She only requested that she be stationed anywhere besides Heiphong. Preferably far away.

And that's how she found herself on Tesla, a rather small planet with three moons. The purple planet was nearly half a galaxy away. She was definitely far from Heiphong.

She was definitely hungry too. How did the other waitresses live on the tiny salary they got each week? "I guess if I was human I'd be happy with three tiny meals a day," she grumbled to herself as she left the casino/restaurant where she worked. "But I'm a growing Ctarl ctarl! And growing Ctarl-ctarls need a LOT of food, dammit!" A few people looked at her as she walked past. Aisha realized that she'd been ranting out loud and slowly put her fist down. Embarrassed, she pulled at the hem of the immodestly short skirt that served as a 'uniform' for the cocktail waitresses as the casino. Luckily the streets weren't too busy at this time of night, or rather, morning. Most of the partiers and gamblers had already retired, nursing pounding headaches or mourning empty wallets (or both). Aisha wished she could go out and party like other people her age got to, but she had to work. And a casino wasn't really a fun place when you had to serve dirty old men drinks while they ogled your ass. She sighed as she trudged back to her tiny apartment. That was something the Empire had done for her at least-- they were paying for her lodging, if you could call it that. The only good thing about the place was that it was located only about three blocks from the casino. Other than that it was dark, dreary, and smelled faintly of boiled cabbage, which usually just served to make Aisha hungrier.

She stopped and looked up at the five-story apartment complex. On a whim, she turned to the left and resumed walking. Tired as she was, Aisha didn't want to go back there just yet.

There were tiny shops and grungy clubs lining this street. She was reminded suddenly of the first time she'd encountered Jim, Melfina, and... Gene. He was a good fighter, he really was. Of course, she hadn't been quite up to par that day, but he had managed to get away from her twice. That in itself was admirable, but the fact that he managed to be so darn cute while he did it-- Stop it Aisha, she chided herself. That's all over with now. Still, she couldn't help but wonder how all of them were doing. She could picture them in her mind: Jimmy, typing away on his computer and yelling at Gene about debt. Gene would just be waking up, even though Melfina was already cooking lunch. Mmm, lunch. Aisha's stomach growled. She could picture Suzaka too, heading off mysteriously somewhere to catch a bounty.

A bounty?! Oh, that was perfect! That was the solution to her loudly growling stomach. A bounty meant easy, quick money. And that meant food! Aisha grinned. Why didn't I think of that before? She took off running down the street. There had to be a space police building somewhere.

Well, there you go. Hopefully, since you've already spent a bit of your time reading this, you'll spend a bit more of your time reviewing. (Hint hint!) In any case, any questions, comments, feedback, or corrections are welcome. Don't be too harsh though!