I finally stirred out of my momentary laps of consciousness. I sat up on
whatever I was laying on and rubbed my head, it was throbbing, actually
violently pulsating seems to be more accurate. At least the bandage wrapped
around my skull soothed some pain. Wait..Bandage?
I sprang up from the bed I was laying and after closely inspecting myself, jumped back under the covers. I lost my clothes, I was only draped in wrappings. I wildly looked around the small room for my clothes, they weren't anywhere to be seen. Figures..
The door opened and a woman walked in carrying what looked like a bucket of water and a damp cloth, she seemed almost surprised to see me awake.Maybe it was the totally bewildered look on my face.
"Ah, you're finally awake. Good, I'll go get your clothes for you. I washed them since they were all covered in blood." She said, placing the bucket down next to me.
She looked around my age and nice lookin, to boot.
"How long have I been out?" I asked, following her down the hallway with only a sheet covering my lower half.
"Um..About a three days or so."
My eyebrows shot up. Three days?! Wow, there's a new record. She pulled my clothes out of her dryer and handed them to me, trying her HARDEST not to look at me. I laughed, shy girls where always fun to play around with.
I started to get dress and she turned completely around, most likely as red as a tomato.
"What's up? Didn't you bandage me up?" I asked, with a sly grin on my face.
"What? No! My dad did!"
I laughed. "Ah well, my mistake."
I finished dressing and asked her where my gun was.
"Uh, I think my dad put it in a lock box downstairs."
"Ah, ok.So is you dad home by any chance?" I asked coolly, stepping closer to her.
Sadly, before I could make my move I heard the front door close and who I guessed was her dad yelled. "Gale, I'm home." Damn good timing, I thought.
I sighed and walked down the stairs, might as well get my gun and head on out.
"Oh well you're looking better." The man said to me as I walked down. "My name's Drake." He added, extending a hand to me.
I silently declined his hand and asked where my gun was.
"Oh.It's in my lock box. I'll get it for you." He opened his box as he continued talking. "You know, it's empty. Do you just keep it around to scare off the street trash?"
I grinned and took my gun from him. "Sir, I'm part of that street trash. I usually keep it loaded, just shoved all the lead I had into some no-name pirates."
My statement obviously stunned the man. "You don't look like any cop from the Space Forces and you just admitted you killed some Pirates and you OBVIOUSLY are not some innocent civilian. What are you?"
Ah, the question I was always proud to answer. I had as much pride in being an Outlaw as those people I read about being Greasers, just without the long hair. "I'm an Outlaw, a damn good one at that."
"Ohh..So, you have any partners?"
Wow. My pride just sank into the earth. Boy how I so did NOT want to remember what just happened.
"Uh.No. They're dead. Taken out by the same pirates I killed, all to protect some.." My voice trailed off. "Hey, where's that orb I had with me?!"
"Oh yeah, I almost forget. Here." He said, pulling it out of his box.
I sighed in relief. And yes, I stilled hated the ball with a passion but now it's the only thing in my possession that reminded me of the best friends I've ever had.
"Well, I guess I'll be leaving then." I said, heading for the door.
"Hey wait.You said you were an Outlaw, right?" Gale called to me while I was half way out the door.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I don't know if this means anything but there's a guy who lives down the street, house number 152, who keeps bragging he's an Outlaw. There are people that live with him that tell us to just never mind about what he says, that he's just senile. I don't believe them, though. I've heard his name before so I KNOW he must be from somewhere."
"Oh yeah, what's his name." I asked, not really caring. There are people all over the place saying that they were Outlaws but about eighty percent of them were fake.
"Uh.I don't quite remember. It was Gene something....Gene Star.Uh."
"Starwind?!" I finished for her.
"Yeah, that's it!"
That's all I needed to hear, I was out the door and down the street before she even finished her sentence.
I looked at each number as I passed the buildings. 149, 150, 151..I stopped in front of my destination. 152. The home to who I hoped was the great Gene Starwind. This was the guy I modeled my life after, this is the reason I keep a caster with me at all times.Which I just remembered was still in that chick's house! Damn!!
Oh well, it didn't really matter now. If Gene really lived here I wouldn't need to carry that around anymore now since I met him in person.
I was standing in front of that door forever, it was almost sad to watch me just stand there and stare at the door. Someone inside the house must have thought the same thing because they opened the door and asked what I wanted.
It was a girl, a nice.No.HOT looking girl. She had to be around my age, I hoped anyways. She had messed up blonde her and the clearest blue eyes I have EVER seen. She was wearing a white wife-beater and some cut up denim shorts. Wow, she had some great legs.
"Hey! I asked what the hell you wanted! Are you deaf?!"
Heh, from what I heard she had a nice tongue to match.
I shook my head, retaining my sly attitude.
"I heard someone by the name of Starwind lives here. You know him?" I tried to sound casual, like I WASN'T about to meet the greatest Outlaw in existence.
"No, sorry man. No one here by that name." She replied, getting ready to shut the door.
Aw, damn shame Gene didn't live there. Sure I was a little crushed I wasn't about to meet him but maybe this lovely lady could sooth the pain.
I stuck my foot in the doorway before she got it closed. "Oh, well I guess I was mistaken. Oh well, can't be right all the time..Say, do you mind if I come in and have a drink? I've been running from the law all day and I'm a bit parched."
She opened the door a crack and stared at me. Damn she had nice.Uh.Eyes.
"Really? Well that's really a shame to hear. Sorry to have to throw you out on the street being thirsty and all." She ended her sentence with a sudden punch to my chest, I fell back but soon caught myself.
A grin smeared itself on my face. "Ah, a fighter.Nice."
She scoffed at me in disgust and once again was about to shut the door, but a voice from inside her house changed that.
"Jess, what's going on out there?" An older male voice said, carrying it's speaker to the door.
The guy was pretty tall and had the same blonde hair and blue eyes at the magnificent Jessica, I guessed he was Jess's father. Damn, that's a nice name.
"Oh sir, can you please help me. I haven't had any water for days and I'm starting to become weak, I fear I shall pass out and die in this lowly town!" It was sooo hard keeping a straight face after saying that but I managed.
"Dad, don't believe this crap. He said the Special Forces are after him. He's just some petty thief."
Ow! That stung BAD! There's nothing I hate more then being called just a common thief.
"Hey, I'm no thief! I'm the baddest Outlaw out there! I'm wanted in twelve sectors!!"
My 'harsh' statement only made Jess laugh. "Wow, you are such a sad, sad little boy."
I glared at her. She was still really hot.Only if she shut up.
Jess's dad spoke up. "Now, now. This is supposed to be a Safe Haven, let's just let him so he can get some rest." He motioned for me to come in, Jess quickly put a halt to this.
"Dad, no! We can't let him in!"
"Why not?"
"He was asking about.Um, YOU know."
The father stared at me. "Why are you asking about Gene, kid?"
"Heh, you could call me a fan." There was my understatement of the century.
The man looked torn between something, which I clearly knew nothing about.
The man sighed. "Alright, you can come in but you can only stay in the living room. The couch can fold into a bed, you'll sleep there for the night."
"WHAT?!?! Dad!! Why are you letting him in!!"
"Like I said, this is a Safe Haven for people. We can't turn anyone down. Especially someone wanted by the cops," he turned to me, "Hurry up and get in before someone sees you.
I grinned madly and ran in, unknowing that someone DID see me, someone I really was starting to hate.
"Ok," The man said, "Here's the living room. Stay here and don't move, I'll get you some water. Jess you watch him."
"Aww! Why me?!"
"Because I told you to, that's why."
She growled and sat down on a chair, I tried to squeeze next to her but she planted my face into the couch. I was liking her more and more.
Her father came back with the water, I took it and gulped it down, surprised on how true my "thirst story" was.
I put down the water. "So, what's you name?" I asked the man.
He paused for a moment then answered. "It's Jim. What's yours?"
Fake, I thought when I heard it. The pause between my question and his answer was too long, he was hiding something.
"The name's Strife." I said calmly, taking another gulp of my water.
"Strife? That's a code name huh?"
"Yep, it is. Makes it easier to get around if I have a fake name."
I timer of some sort went off "Jim's" wrist. "Ah, damn! Jess, we have to go. Strife, don't do anything to our house. I have a very good security system."
Before I could even say "Bite me" they were out the door. I sighed and started to look around, completely ignoring the order given to me not even two seconds ago.
I was going through some draws when a computerized voice came out off the wall, which I later found out was a speaker.
"Jim told you not to leave the living room OR touch his things."
"Pfft, like I care what he says.What are you going to do anyways?"
"I am wired to various defense weapons around this house. I could order anyone of them to open fire on you."
What a bluff, I thought.But then again he might be telling the truth. Damn, I hated trying to call A.I's bluffs.
"Fine, I'll be in the living room."
I walked in and started browsing through some magazines on the coffee table. I heard the wooden floor behind me creek, someone was sneaking up on me. Instinctively I reached for my gun and pointed it at the person behind me.Who also happened to have a weapon in his hand.Only his was bigger. It was like a shotgun-handgun hybrid. I didn't know what is was called I all know is that it looked painful.
I glared at him. He was pretty old. Gray hair, small wrinkles, the works. He had two faded scares on his right cheek but I thought nothing of them. I was only thinking about the stand off.
I thought I was sitting pretty in this thing, I was younger, quicker reflexes. I could put a bullet in his head before he even thought about pulling the trigger. There was only one problem in this equation.I had no bullet TO put in his head, I was out and this guy, who seemed like he was always ready for the unexpected, must have had enough bullets to shoot at me all day.
I never once let my sudden fear show on my face. I had to bluff this one out. I had to bluff REALLY well.
"Well, kid. You wanna shoot me or what?" The old man said, grinning at me like a stuck up.Actually, I won't finish that sentence. Don't want the youngins out there to be scarred for life.
"Only if you twitch an eyebrow, old man." I shot back coldly, wishing my words were more of the metal variety.
"Here, I'll do more then that." He said, giving me the biggest STUPIDEST wink of an eye I have ever wanted to see. And of course, I did nothing. Well I bet that did it. My bluff was gone, the ball was in this guy's court. Just great.
----------------*------------------*------------------------*--------------- -------------*----------------
Author's note: Heya, folks. Another RIVITING chapter of my story. So anybody guess who the computer and old man was? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter.Until then you'll just have to SWEAT! ..Even though hardcore OS fans should know who they are by now.
Oh and to Mr.Chaos. Yes, you should get the series, it's very good. It's also the first anime I've ever seen.which in essence snow-balled me into the anime freak I am today. It's ALSO the first (and only, if I remember correctly) Anime I've seen in which I've watched the dub before the original sub. Yeah, this statement was bias. Shoot me.
Oh and sorry if this update was later then two days, I've lost track of all three of my stories so now I just update one after the other in a loop. Final Fantasy story, this one, Armored Core. That should help out my obscenely busy schedule now.
As always, I'm Blades. "Good reading equals good times." I'm out.
I sprang up from the bed I was laying and after closely inspecting myself, jumped back under the covers. I lost my clothes, I was only draped in wrappings. I wildly looked around the small room for my clothes, they weren't anywhere to be seen. Figures..
The door opened and a woman walked in carrying what looked like a bucket of water and a damp cloth, she seemed almost surprised to see me awake.Maybe it was the totally bewildered look on my face.
"Ah, you're finally awake. Good, I'll go get your clothes for you. I washed them since they were all covered in blood." She said, placing the bucket down next to me.
She looked around my age and nice lookin, to boot.
"How long have I been out?" I asked, following her down the hallway with only a sheet covering my lower half.
"Um..About a three days or so."
My eyebrows shot up. Three days?! Wow, there's a new record. She pulled my clothes out of her dryer and handed them to me, trying her HARDEST not to look at me. I laughed, shy girls where always fun to play around with.
I started to get dress and she turned completely around, most likely as red as a tomato.
"What's up? Didn't you bandage me up?" I asked, with a sly grin on my face.
"What? No! My dad did!"
I laughed. "Ah well, my mistake."
I finished dressing and asked her where my gun was.
"Uh, I think my dad put it in a lock box downstairs."
"Ah, ok.So is you dad home by any chance?" I asked coolly, stepping closer to her.
Sadly, before I could make my move I heard the front door close and who I guessed was her dad yelled. "Gale, I'm home." Damn good timing, I thought.
I sighed and walked down the stairs, might as well get my gun and head on out.
"Oh well you're looking better." The man said to me as I walked down. "My name's Drake." He added, extending a hand to me.
I silently declined his hand and asked where my gun was.
"Oh.It's in my lock box. I'll get it for you." He opened his box as he continued talking. "You know, it's empty. Do you just keep it around to scare off the street trash?"
I grinned and took my gun from him. "Sir, I'm part of that street trash. I usually keep it loaded, just shoved all the lead I had into some no-name pirates."
My statement obviously stunned the man. "You don't look like any cop from the Space Forces and you just admitted you killed some Pirates and you OBVIOUSLY are not some innocent civilian. What are you?"
Ah, the question I was always proud to answer. I had as much pride in being an Outlaw as those people I read about being Greasers, just without the long hair. "I'm an Outlaw, a damn good one at that."
"Ohh..So, you have any partners?"
Wow. My pride just sank into the earth. Boy how I so did NOT want to remember what just happened.
"Uh.No. They're dead. Taken out by the same pirates I killed, all to protect some.." My voice trailed off. "Hey, where's that orb I had with me?!"
"Oh yeah, I almost forget. Here." He said, pulling it out of his box.
I sighed in relief. And yes, I stilled hated the ball with a passion but now it's the only thing in my possession that reminded me of the best friends I've ever had.
"Well, I guess I'll be leaving then." I said, heading for the door.
"Hey wait.You said you were an Outlaw, right?" Gale called to me while I was half way out the door.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I don't know if this means anything but there's a guy who lives down the street, house number 152, who keeps bragging he's an Outlaw. There are people that live with him that tell us to just never mind about what he says, that he's just senile. I don't believe them, though. I've heard his name before so I KNOW he must be from somewhere."
"Oh yeah, what's his name." I asked, not really caring. There are people all over the place saying that they were Outlaws but about eighty percent of them were fake.
"Uh.I don't quite remember. It was Gene something....Gene Star.Uh."
"Starwind?!" I finished for her.
"Yeah, that's it!"
That's all I needed to hear, I was out the door and down the street before she even finished her sentence.
I looked at each number as I passed the buildings. 149, 150, 151..I stopped in front of my destination. 152. The home to who I hoped was the great Gene Starwind. This was the guy I modeled my life after, this is the reason I keep a caster with me at all times.Which I just remembered was still in that chick's house! Damn!!
Oh well, it didn't really matter now. If Gene really lived here I wouldn't need to carry that around anymore now since I met him in person.
I was standing in front of that door forever, it was almost sad to watch me just stand there and stare at the door. Someone inside the house must have thought the same thing because they opened the door and asked what I wanted.
It was a girl, a nice.No.HOT looking girl. She had to be around my age, I hoped anyways. She had messed up blonde her and the clearest blue eyes I have EVER seen. She was wearing a white wife-beater and some cut up denim shorts. Wow, she had some great legs.
"Hey! I asked what the hell you wanted! Are you deaf?!"
Heh, from what I heard she had a nice tongue to match.
I shook my head, retaining my sly attitude.
"I heard someone by the name of Starwind lives here. You know him?" I tried to sound casual, like I WASN'T about to meet the greatest Outlaw in existence.
"No, sorry man. No one here by that name." She replied, getting ready to shut the door.
Aw, damn shame Gene didn't live there. Sure I was a little crushed I wasn't about to meet him but maybe this lovely lady could sooth the pain.
I stuck my foot in the doorway before she got it closed. "Oh, well I guess I was mistaken. Oh well, can't be right all the time..Say, do you mind if I come in and have a drink? I've been running from the law all day and I'm a bit parched."
She opened the door a crack and stared at me. Damn she had nice.Uh.Eyes.
"Really? Well that's really a shame to hear. Sorry to have to throw you out on the street being thirsty and all." She ended her sentence with a sudden punch to my chest, I fell back but soon caught myself.
A grin smeared itself on my face. "Ah, a fighter.Nice."
She scoffed at me in disgust and once again was about to shut the door, but a voice from inside her house changed that.
"Jess, what's going on out there?" An older male voice said, carrying it's speaker to the door.
The guy was pretty tall and had the same blonde hair and blue eyes at the magnificent Jessica, I guessed he was Jess's father. Damn, that's a nice name.
"Oh sir, can you please help me. I haven't had any water for days and I'm starting to become weak, I fear I shall pass out and die in this lowly town!" It was sooo hard keeping a straight face after saying that but I managed.
"Dad, don't believe this crap. He said the Special Forces are after him. He's just some petty thief."
Ow! That stung BAD! There's nothing I hate more then being called just a common thief.
"Hey, I'm no thief! I'm the baddest Outlaw out there! I'm wanted in twelve sectors!!"
My 'harsh' statement only made Jess laugh. "Wow, you are such a sad, sad little boy."
I glared at her. She was still really hot.Only if she shut up.
Jess's dad spoke up. "Now, now. This is supposed to be a Safe Haven, let's just let him so he can get some rest." He motioned for me to come in, Jess quickly put a halt to this.
"Dad, no! We can't let him in!"
"Why not?"
"He was asking about.Um, YOU know."
The father stared at me. "Why are you asking about Gene, kid?"
"Heh, you could call me a fan." There was my understatement of the century.
The man looked torn between something, which I clearly knew nothing about.
The man sighed. "Alright, you can come in but you can only stay in the living room. The couch can fold into a bed, you'll sleep there for the night."
"WHAT?!?! Dad!! Why are you letting him in!!"
"Like I said, this is a Safe Haven for people. We can't turn anyone down. Especially someone wanted by the cops," he turned to me, "Hurry up and get in before someone sees you.
I grinned madly and ran in, unknowing that someone DID see me, someone I really was starting to hate.
"Ok," The man said, "Here's the living room. Stay here and don't move, I'll get you some water. Jess you watch him."
"Aww! Why me?!"
"Because I told you to, that's why."
She growled and sat down on a chair, I tried to squeeze next to her but she planted my face into the couch. I was liking her more and more.
Her father came back with the water, I took it and gulped it down, surprised on how true my "thirst story" was.
I put down the water. "So, what's you name?" I asked the man.
He paused for a moment then answered. "It's Jim. What's yours?"
Fake, I thought when I heard it. The pause between my question and his answer was too long, he was hiding something.
"The name's Strife." I said calmly, taking another gulp of my water.
"Strife? That's a code name huh?"
"Yep, it is. Makes it easier to get around if I have a fake name."
I timer of some sort went off "Jim's" wrist. "Ah, damn! Jess, we have to go. Strife, don't do anything to our house. I have a very good security system."
Before I could even say "Bite me" they were out the door. I sighed and started to look around, completely ignoring the order given to me not even two seconds ago.
I was going through some draws when a computerized voice came out off the wall, which I later found out was a speaker.
"Jim told you not to leave the living room OR touch his things."
"Pfft, like I care what he says.What are you going to do anyways?"
"I am wired to various defense weapons around this house. I could order anyone of them to open fire on you."
What a bluff, I thought.But then again he might be telling the truth. Damn, I hated trying to call A.I's bluffs.
"Fine, I'll be in the living room."
I walked in and started browsing through some magazines on the coffee table. I heard the wooden floor behind me creek, someone was sneaking up on me. Instinctively I reached for my gun and pointed it at the person behind me.Who also happened to have a weapon in his hand.Only his was bigger. It was like a shotgun-handgun hybrid. I didn't know what is was called I all know is that it looked painful.
I glared at him. He was pretty old. Gray hair, small wrinkles, the works. He had two faded scares on his right cheek but I thought nothing of them. I was only thinking about the stand off.
I thought I was sitting pretty in this thing, I was younger, quicker reflexes. I could put a bullet in his head before he even thought about pulling the trigger. There was only one problem in this equation.I had no bullet TO put in his head, I was out and this guy, who seemed like he was always ready for the unexpected, must have had enough bullets to shoot at me all day.
I never once let my sudden fear show on my face. I had to bluff this one out. I had to bluff REALLY well.
"Well, kid. You wanna shoot me or what?" The old man said, grinning at me like a stuck up.Actually, I won't finish that sentence. Don't want the youngins out there to be scarred for life.
"Only if you twitch an eyebrow, old man." I shot back coldly, wishing my words were more of the metal variety.
"Here, I'll do more then that." He said, giving me the biggest STUPIDEST wink of an eye I have ever wanted to see. And of course, I did nothing. Well I bet that did it. My bluff was gone, the ball was in this guy's court. Just great.
----------------*------------------*------------------------*--------------- -------------*----------------
Author's note: Heya, folks. Another RIVITING chapter of my story. So anybody guess who the computer and old man was? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter.Until then you'll just have to SWEAT! ..Even though hardcore OS fans should know who they are by now.
Oh and to Mr.Chaos. Yes, you should get the series, it's very good. It's also the first anime I've ever seen.which in essence snow-balled me into the anime freak I am today. It's ALSO the first (and only, if I remember correctly) Anime I've seen in which I've watched the dub before the original sub. Yeah, this statement was bias. Shoot me.
Oh and sorry if this update was later then two days, I've lost track of all three of my stories so now I just update one after the other in a loop. Final Fantasy story, this one, Armored Core. That should help out my obscenely busy schedule now.
As always, I'm Blades. "Good reading equals good times." I'm out.