Disclaimer; I don't own Outlaw Star or any of the characters or any of the other elements of the series. There, that pretty much covers it. However, I do own the original characters and situations presented in this and Boutou Hoshi. If you want to use them, please e-mail me and I'll probably let you do it. Please don't sue me! I've only got some old drawing books and empty pocky boxes anyway so you wouldn't get much. Okay, I'm done.

Dedication; This story is dedicated to the people who've stuck by me for the past three months, especially Jade S., Anime Angel, heehee, barbo-chan, and Trunks. Also, this is dedicated to my friends Legacy Lost, Bishexy no Miko, Tamahome no Miko, Shattered Stars, and (especially!) my sis Blayse! Thanks you guys! ^-^

Notes; GOMENASAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *bows low and begs for forgiveness at lateness of this chapter*

Review Responses;

Shiari - Eeh, sorry about your wait. ^^

Purple Glittering - Thanks, I'm honored.

Julia - To answer your question, he was pretty much outside the door, just a little bit away, but Jim didn't know. Gene was trying to be quiet until he was attacked. Mean, aren't I? As always, thanks for your help. If you get any ideas from this chapter, please e-mail me. You're the closest thing to a beta that I've got. ^-^

Adrienne D. - Yay, cookies! ^^ Again, really sorry about the wait, life got in the way.

EVERYONE ELSE - Thanks very much for leaving your wonderful reviews! ^^ I've been really busy and I'm sorry, but I'll explain that in just a sec.

~*~Why Was This Chapter So Late???~*~ - Well, as I told Julia, life got in the way. The thing is, I'm in a play and we have a lot of rehearsals. Before that I was still in school. However, now I'm not. Yup, that's right, I've GRADUATED!!!! Hurray! ^^

Raz (the muse, you remember her?) - No one cares about that stuff. Just write the chapter already.

Me - But . . . I have writers block.

Raz - I don't care. WRITE!

Me - I can't!

Raz - Do it or I maul you!!

Me - Eep!!! Yes mam!!! *starts typing furiously*

Raz - *smirk*

Tarian Ch.14: Second Sighting

By; Adakie

"Now what did I tell you?"

"Shut up old man."

"I said that you'd be back."

"Ya, ya, I know. Just fix my arm will ya?"

Gene Starwind was definitely no having a good day. It wasn't bad enough that he'd had to abandon his rescue attempt, been chased half way to his current hideout, and been mauled by a razor-toothed dog on steroids [1] but he now had to listen to Dr. Rin tell him how stupid he was.

"I said it was foolishness."

"I KNOW, now will you PLEASE just SHUT UP!"

Rin paused. He'd already finished stitching the jagged holes from where the beast had bitten Gene and was now wrapping the arm in gauze. He looked into the young outlaws eyes for a moment.

"Look, I know you're upset, I know you want to get your friend back, and I know you think you can do anything. The thing is, you can't do this on your own. It's just not possible."

He quickly tied off the bandage and checked it to make sure it was secure.

"There. All done. Feeling better?"

" . . . ya."

"Sorry, what was that? I'm an old man, remember, you'll have to speak louder."

"I said yes alright?"

Gene crossed his arms and sighed dejectedly. Rin stood and began walking off across the room, presumably to get back to his work.

"So what are we supposed to do now?"

"Oh, I don't know," Rin said looking over his shoulder, "play solitaire?"

"Why you -"

Gene's response was cut off by a loud knocking at the door of their safe house.

"Finely."

"Huh? What finely?"

"Mr. Starwind, it's time you met the last member of our little team."

Curious, Gene fallowed him to the door. He found himself staring into a pair of pale green eyes. They belonged to a thin, nervous looking man not too much older than himself. His skin was very light, as if he'd hardly been outside in his life, and his light, sandy colored hair was somewhat ragged and a bit too long. Something clicked in Gene's mind.

"Hey, I know you! You're the bastard that took Jim away!"

He lunged forward, hands clenched tight in preparation of the fight about to ensue, but was stopped by Dr. Rin's surprisingly strong grip. The man at the door backed away quickly, his hand clutching the edge of the door. He was shaking so hard that the door itself shook back and fourth beneath his grip. The look of panic on his face was only eclipsed by the sorrow in his strangely haunting eyes.

"Please, just listen to me! Yes, I am the one who took your little brother away, but you must believe this; I am sorry. I had to do it. I've been working with Doctor Rin here for a while now. I'm a spy."

Gene stopped struggling. The man was panicked, almost suspiciously so, but there was a sincerity in his voice that was hard to ignore.

"What do you mean my little brother?"

"Isn't that who that child was? He called you aniki."

Gene flinched visibly and bit his lip. The man before him inched closer, expression and movements both screaming concern.

"We're not related. Not at all. He's . . . my partner. I took him in off the street. But I guess . . . I guess that, in every way that matters, you're right. He is my little brother."

Sorrow filled the man's green eyes once more.

"I'm so sorry. Please understand, I did what I had to do."

"Enough of this sentimental cr*p. We can't just sit around blubbering, there's work to be done."

At Rin's admonishment, both Gene and the blond man straightened and nodded. Work had to come first, they both knew that all too well.

"Gene Starwind, this is Sean Arato. You two will be working together for a while, so I suggest you try and get along."

~*~*~*~

Dieken stood in silence. Those around him were talking to each other quietly. He'd known the man that had, just yesterday, taken his own life. His name was Tom. They'd grown up together. He swiped at his eyes angrily, willing away the tears that threatened to spill from them. It wasn't fair.

Why did he have to die like that? Why him? Why any of them? Nothing about their current situation was fair and he knew it. That's why he did what he did. He tried to keep everything in some semblance or order. He tried to make it at least a bit more livable. For Tom at least, he'd obviously failed.

He looked around their personal prison, his eyes darting from face to face. He looked at those still living. For so long now he'd only been able to look at the faces of the dead. It was, after all, his job to place them together so that there would be room for those who were left. Now, however, he needed to remind himself that there were those with him that were still alive. A woman was crying in the corner. A young man was punching the wall. An older couple were sitting with each other. A child was lying on the floor . . . and not moving.

Panic surged through him, but it was nothing new. Controlling his movements, he walked calmly to where the child lay. It was a boy with sandy colored hair. His eyes were closed and he was very still. He shook the child.

"Hey, wake up. Come on now."

No matter how hard he tried, he received no response. He moved to touch the child's wrist. The effects of the disease were plainly evident. His hand fit completely over the child's yet he could not tell any temperature. The boy was wearing black gloves. His hesitant fingers touched the pale face instead.

Ice cold.

Tears again threatened him. There was no hope, not for him, not for the child, not for any of them. Carefully, he gathered the limp, frozen body into his arms.

It just wasn't fair.

~Owarii~

Who exactly is Sean Arato?

Will the plan work?

Will they be in time to help the prisoners?

Is there hope for Jim or not?

PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, ATLEAST NOT YET! After all, things aren't always what they seem. You should know by now that there's no telling what I'll do. Besides, if you kill me you'll never know how the story ends. ^^

~*Please be a responsible reader and review!*~

[1] - *shrug* Well, it made sense to me.

Inspiration music for this chapter has been Theme of Gemini - the Kikaider end song.