By Duo Maxwell

Note: I do not own Outlaw Star, (I know! It would be cool if I did! And if I could make money off this story! And become a millionaire! And… well, while I'm dreaming I'd like a TV for my room.) Ahem or any characters, vehicles, associated with it. Clara McDougall is the idea of a friend of mine. Ah well, enough of that!

first, a little introduction. i think the first 3 chapters are horrible. the story really starts after that.

that's it. enjoy.

Chapter 1

The ringing of a bell alerted Gene to a new customer.

"Dammit, Jim, that's getting annoying!!!"

"Shut up, Gene! I think it makes this place SO much more welcoming!"

"Whatever," Gene trotted to the entrance casually. He closed his eyes and chuckled at the thought of hitting Jim over the head with that bell. He opened his eyes and glanced at the aqua green haired girl in the doorway. "Jim! Looks like your type!" he yelled behind him and cringed as the door closed behind her, making the bell tinkle.

"What can I do ya for, ma'am?" Gene asked with mild amusement as he noted the small size of the girl. Definitely Jim's type he thought to himself. And that hair looks so familiar!

"Are you Gene Starwind?" she asked coldly.

His grin became cocky and his eyebrow raised, "The one and only!"

"Then you can die."

Gene opened his eyes wide in surprise as the girl brought a gun from her coat and fired. They opened more in pain as he felt a bullet scream through his chest. His lips barely mouthed the word, "Why?"

"For killing my brother."

Realization struck Gene harder than the bullet in his heart. He collapsed to the ground and remembered where else he'd seen that hair. "McDougall…" he whispered as his blood pooled on the floor.

"Gene? What the hell was… Oh my-!!!" Jim descended the stairs to the front of the shop and gaped at the bloody corpse in front of him. "Who are you? Why did you do this?!" Jim screamed in anguish after checking his friend for negative vital signs.

"I am Clara McDougall. Gene Starwind killed my brother. Now I have killed him."

"You monster!!" Jim screamed and lunged at her throat. He was stopped by the bullet hole that appeared suddenly in his shoulder.

"You're the monster. You killed my brother. I vowed revenge, and I'll fulfill it now."

She aimed the gun at Jim's head and he winced. A low growl and a crash came to his ears, and he looked up. He felt a sharp pain from in his shoulder, but ignored it. Aisha had knocked the gun from Clara's hand and was wrestling with her. Jim picked up the gun and stared blankly at his fallen comrade again. "Aniki…"

The girl screamed out and her eyes glowed. Clara's bionic arm reached up and tore the bewildered Ktarl Ktarl from her body. Aisha whimpered as she hit the floor with a thud.

Jim picked Gene's caster from his jacket. He dropped the other gun he had found, loaded a #13, and aimed the Caster at Clara. She just looked longingly at him. Tears filled Jim's eyes as he began to pull the trigger.

"Jim, NO!!" a voice shrieked from behind him. He turned to see Melfina at the top of the steps. "Why are you going to shoot that girl??" Clara took advantage of Jim's distraction and rushed him, the blades from her bionic arm making a swinging arc for the boy's neck.

Jim sidestepped it and cut her arm off with a blade of his own. She yelped in surprise and turned on him. Her arm flopped around on the floor for a few milliseconds and was suddenly motionless. Jim again aimed at Clara. "Go ahead and kill me!" she yelled at him, "I'm worthless now, and I always have been!!!"

Jim grimaced. His conscience was blaring that this was somehow wrong. He dropped the caster and jumped her. After pinning her to the ground, he tied her up and taped her mouth shut.

Melfina watched with glassy eyes. "GENE!" she cried as she noticed the dead body on the floor. She ran to it and hugged it tightly, ignoring the blood that was staining her clothes. Aisha Clan Clan got up from her corner and limped to Clara. She smacked her until her cheeks turned red. Then the Ktarl Ktarl began to cry. She kneeled next to Melfina and glared at the McDougall girl through watery eyes.

"Why did you do this?" Melfina asked Clara between sobs. The girl just stared into space.