As I float through my shallow mind, which right now should be filled with
dreams, I think back to how this whole war started. Oddly enough as I think
about WHY it started I found out HOW it started. It was the Kei Pirate's
fault.
The Kei Pirates, long gone but not forgotten. Their memories are what built this new faction called the Ka-shinta. Don't ask me where the name came from. After all, it was thought up by Pirates.
From what I was told, it started about 20-someodd years ago. Sometime after Gene came back from the Leyline(Was does EVERTHING come back to that?!) With their leader and best fighters killed off they couldn't keep it together. The glue of the Kei was gone, now it was time for them to crumble.....Which they did with incredible speed. The Forces took this great advantage to strengthen their own hold on the galaxy, thus the first superpower was born.
Everyone did there best to stop them but come on.....They're the Space Forces! What are civilians going to do? Finally some Pirates, new and old, once again joined up to stop the Force's tyranny. But this would make them the good guys wouldn't it? Well that's what the people of the galaxy thought. So when the planets and space stations that weren't under the Forces control were asked to be governed by the Pirates why say no?
Well, they didn't, and because of that the Pirates gained enough force to become the second and last superpower in this war. Not only that, but they made a firm base on some dead-end, HEAVILY guarded planet and created the cynical group now known as the Ka-shinta.
Everything about the way they rule is different, I already explained how they enforce their power but their levels of command are also different. The Forces are more like an army with generals, captains, platoons, and what now. Now the Ka-shinta are like a pack of wolves. Only being held together and controlled by one person, without him they would crumble and fall. Guess history really does repeat itself.
Now I bet you're asking "What part do the Outlaws play?" Well, none really. It's hard to explain so let me give everyone some kind of order. The Spaces Forces are, more or less, and unfair democracy. (Like any are fair to begin with?) They try to ACT like what they're doing is right, but they no it's not. Yet people still bow down to what they're saying. Being brainwashed by the bull they're spitting out. That's probably the worst part. How people actually DO think the Forces are good guys!!
Next is Ka-shinta. They're going to be classified as the imperials of the war. Basically it's their way or no way and the no way is always the way to death. "No way..." you think? Well, way. Ok, enough of using 'way'. These folks are the REAL tyrants of space. Everyone they rule knows they're evil but there's nothing those people can do, the Pirate's power is just too over whelming. They couldn't escape if they tried. And that's just how Ka- shinta wants it.
Now to the Outlaws. Where's there imperialist rule, where there's no more free reign, where there's a government that's just PUSHING for people to go anarchy. There are rebels. That's what we are, the rebels. The scum under the Forces and Ka's feet. The thorn in their side, the pain in their ass!! That's us!! We do what civilians can't. We fight the power, as lame as that sounds. Sadly, as with all rebel groups, we're the underdogs. We are also a very small and VERY unorganized group. We never band together for anything, we just do what's in our own power to stop these superpowers. This clearly is not working, the Outlaws are being wiped out like a pack of mice in a snake pen.
That's were my cause came in, I wanted to ban us together, make us stronger, make us a REAL threat to Ka and the Forces!! I found out that even banned together we didn't stand a chance....But I can't let this stop me. I did it once, I can do it again! I'm wiser this time, I know my mistakes and what to correct. This time....I will create a third superpower!! Us Outlaws will be KNOWN!
~~~****~~~***~~~***~~~***~~*~~~***~~~****~~~***~~~****~~~*~*~~***~~*
I woke up practically shaking out of my skin, which seemed thoroughly frozen, and turned to the window in my room. Actually it was just a pane, there was no glass in it. No wonder I was freezing. The sun....er....Whatever lit Sentinel III was just peaking over the horizon. I sat up and wiped the nasty crust from my eye. This made me think of why people called it 'wiping the sleep from their eyes.' It's not sleep! It's nasty crappy disgusting crust! I shook my head and started to get dressed, praying there was some coffee downstairs.
As I put my pants on I realized how tired I really was. I couldn't keep my body from falling back on the bed. I looked up and the ceiling and yawned long and loud. Flashbacks of yesterday filled my mind. Running from the Pirates, finding Gene. FIGHTING Gene. Meeting everyone else, flying on the Outlaw Star, coming here, meeting the jackass Jay, the fight with Ka and their legendary leader Ketsu.
I stopped thinking and focused on that last flashback. The leader of the Pirates.....The leader!! Ka-shinta's LEADER was after me!! Oh my god!! How did I survive?! Am I THAT wanted!?! ....I stopped and started to rationalize. No, it wasn't me....It was the sphere. What was so special about it? I wanted to know, I NEEDED to know. My allies fought and died for that, Sky and Volk lost their lives for that. Sky and Volk....Died....They're not coming back. Ever.
I shook my head and stopped a single tear from falling. Enough reminiscing. I had stuff to do.
It took all my strength just to drag my self upright. Then that and more to get downstairs....Where I was meet by a smell....A smell.A smell..OF COFFEE!
Just the smell alone was enough to get me running full speed down the stairs and to the kitchen. I saw a perfect boiling pot of the sacred drink and a mug. I never took a second thought of pouring myself some and heading out to the living room.
As I entered the room I saw Gene just sitting there staring in awe. Guess I was more anxious then I thought.
I sat next to him and asked what was up.
"You, me, and Jim. He's just now finishing prepping the ship."
"I said 'what' not 'who'."
"Ah sorry. My hearing must be slipping. Nothing's really up."
I sipped my drink and sat down. "So you're really giving up the fight, huh?"
He sighed and looked down. His bright, optimistic, joyous attitude was gone. Replaced by the dreaded seriousness of his decision.
"Yeah," he finally let out, "I am. Like I said, it's just time. I can't go on forever."
I put my cup down on my lap. Gene was giving up being an Outlaw. It just now hit me, like everything, late. I had to tell him everything now, this may be our last man-to-legend meeting.
"Gene, I want you to know. You're my idol. You're my inspiration for everything I've ever done. Sure I had great, GREAT friends and allies to help me out but what you did always pushed me on. Hell, I even started a rag-tag group of rebels just to try and change the galaxy....Like you did...."
Gene smiled, but only a bit. I couldn't tell but he might've been enjoying this more then he let on.
"Me? You're idol? Wow, some person to put your faith in. I was just some Outlaw that was graced by fate. I didn't change the galaxy, Strife. I just did things to my own accord, which coincidently changed some people's look on life..."
"Look on life? You killed Hazanko! You single handedly brought down the entire Kei Pirates! That made you a legend above legends, people will always remember your story! How Gene Starwind beat Hazanko and brought down the evil Keis! And because of that the Forces got the upper hand and started this whole mess!! Now we have to worry about the Forces and Ka- shinta! This entire war was started because you killed ONE person!! That one death lead to countless others!! You BAST-"
I put my hands over my mouth, eyes wider then saucers. Was I about to cuss out Gene Starwind? My IDOL?? My respect turned to anger and I hadn't even notice. I couldn't believe I went from praising to yelling that quickly. My instincts caught on quicker then my thoughts. I even wanted to hurt Gene. I was so angry.....Because of what I just realized. I also didn't notice that I was now standing, wiping that very hot coffee that I spilled on my jeans.
Gene looked stared at me, almost seeming to space out. My words hit him hard, VERY hard. Probably harder then anything in his life. This was epiphany kind of hard. And that's saying something. We both just figured out a horrifying truth. Gene threw the pebble that became the large snowball the war is now. He started this whole thing. It was his fault.
Really? Did he really start it? Could one person's actions affect the galaxy THAT much? No, they couldn't. It's not possible....Yet, it was. That possibility was staring me right in the face.
"Strife, you're right. I started this war. I can't believe it...."
I stamped my foot on the ground. This wasn't happing! "No! You didn't Gene. You didn't know Hazanko's death would be THAT important!! You can't blame this on yourself ALONE! The Forces and Ka-shinta are who to blame! They're the ones FIGHTING!"
"But....I still started it all...."
Damn! There was nothing I could say. He sank into that stupid "Everything is my fault and nothing you say will change it" phase. Well, I was going to change it. Not only that but I was going to change the whole FRIGGEN galaxy!!
"Gene, you're right. You did technically start this war and you can't change that...." I stopped to make sure we made eye contact. "That's my job now. If you could start this thing then I can end it. The war started with the actions of one outlaw and will end by the actions of another. I swear to you, Gene.....It. Will. End."
The pride I put into my words rose his own. I actually got through to him, I was so relived. He stood and grinned at me. "Damn kid, you're more cocky then I thought. Well you want to change this place so bad you'll need to be prepared. I got these out of storage for just this situation."
He pulled out his hand-shotgun and gave it to me, along with five big-ass shells. "It takes two shells each round and it only gets off one round at a time. Use it wisely."
I took the belt that came with the gun and strapped it to my waist, over my own belt which held my 9mm. This holster hung low on my waist stopping somewhere under my thigh. Perfect position to grab it if was an emergency. I placed the shells in the left pocket of my trench coat then stared at Gene. I was about to say thank you but he had one more thing to give me.
He pulled out a holstered weapon. The holster wasn't attached to a belt like the shotgun's, instead there were two mini-belts on it which were used to tie it to what I thought would be my OTHER thigh.
I took the weapon and absent-mindedly pulled the it out, like it was just some old .45. Seeing the weapon moved me beyond words. The barrel was longer then any normal handgun, it also looked industrially made. Two round vents were on the barrel, closer inspection concluded that they were meant to move in a circular manner. On the back of the gun was what seemed like a lever keeping the lock to the chamber sealed securely. I used my thumb to knock the lever down and watched as the camber popped open, clearly showing where the bullets should be placed.
"That's my baby." Gene said as I inspected the legend's 'legendary' gun. "My caster. I hope I don't have to tell you that it can only fire one shot at a time. You're pretty lucky too, after I got back from that life altering quest people caught on to what I used in battle. So because of people's love for nostalgia, they brought caster's out of retirement and starting selling shells in most major stores. Unfortunatly, they started making a new batch of shells. So shells from my time don't match their counterparts. For example, if a five of my time shot a small blue ball of energy then the five of this time might shoot a gigantic red beam. I found it disappointing, really."
I didn't take my eyes off the gun as I responded. "Yeah, me too. You don't know the effort I put into memorizing which number made which kind of boom."
"Well here's your chance to learn them all over again." He laughed after his statement.
After gazing and drooling at the caster, I holstered it and tied it to my side.
"Thank you Gene....I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything....Actions speak louder then words. You should know that by now."
I laughed, he DID have a point.
Jess came down with Melfina, Mel was still wearing her blue cloak but Jess traded her old beat up white shirt for some fuzzy beige and white striped coat/shit hybrid thing. What ever it was, it looked freaky. But that be damned she STILL looked good! Amazing....
"Ok, Strife. Ready to go?"
"You bet!" I practically yelled, jumping on the couch's arms and pointing my brand new caster at them.
As I did my pose, Jim walked through the door. "Heh, so Gene gave you that? He must have a saint's faith in you."
"Ha. I don't need faith, My own strength is good enough!! Especially with this ultimate gun!!"
Gene stopped my rant cold as he said. "You know, I have no shells for that. You'll have to get them yourself. Oh and don't ask Fred or Jay. Their stock ran out some time ago and they haven't bothered to refill it."
I sighed as my shoulders dropped down. Just great.
Jess giggled a bit and told me to get off the couch and get my ass into the ship.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going..."
Jess and I walked out the door and turned to Jim. Mel and Gene were still inside saying their 'goodbyes' Yuck....
"Well Strife, I hope you have a safe trip. You're dealing with a highly volatile variable."
I scratched my head. "Well I guess the Outlaw Star may be still experimental, causing it to do things no one knew it could..."
Jim bit back I laugh. "True, but I was talking about Jessica."
"Ahh!! What?!?! DAD!!!!"
She crossed her arms then turned away as her father busted his sides in the doorway. Mel and Gene finally came out from the house. I stepped up to him.
"Guess this is goodbye, Gene."
He grinned and stared at me. "No, not goodbye. Goodbye's are for people who'll never meet again. This fits more into 'see you later'."
I felt my own grin grow. "Ok, See you later, then." I stuck my hand out as I spoke.
"See you later, Strife." He let his own hand meet mine as we shook.
I stepped back to let Jess and Mel get there last hugs in with the two ex- outlaws. Jim led us to some rent-a-car with no roof and told us everything was set up. "Just tell Gillium when you're ready to blast off."
I cranked the key, bringing the car to life. "Jim. Thank you again."
"No thank you. And take care."
With that I hit the gas and sped off to the dock.
Mel began to speak from the seat behind me. "So guys. Where to first?"
Jess turned to me, as if I had the answer to her question. "Um, I don't know....Wherever the stars take us!"
"And whatever gets us closer to the Leyline!" Jess added.
"Well, whatever the path, we'll do it together!!" Mel finished raising our enthusiasm.
Jess turned around to Mel as they continued the pep talk. "As a group!"
"As a team!"
"As a posse!!"
All of us laughed at Jess's last remark. We laughed good and loud.
"It's settled then! Leyline! Here....We.....COOOOOOMMMEEE!!!!!!!" I yelled while pushing the peddle as far to the floor as it would go and then some.
All three of us raised our hands up and practically jumped out of the seats as we shouted, cheered, and celebrated towards the docks. Our journey was now under way!!
--------------*-----------------*-----------------*-------------------*----- -------------*------------*--
Author's note: Hey, everyone! I'm back!! Are you glad? Really? Tell me the truth!! C'mon, I can take it!! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Man, I'm glad to be back. FFX-2 sucked my deep into it's world and just didn't let go. That is actually a good game. Even all those stupid sayings Rikku and Yuna make(Mostly Rikku, by the way) are good for a laugh!! But now it's beat and I'm back to writing. I hope this chapter was decent, I am still kinda rusty from the vacation I had. If you think it was good, tell me!!
Oh and about my FF story. For you people that read that, it is NOT dead. I repeat NOT!! DEAD!!! It's just that I lost the notebook I had been writing it in. Fret not for it HAS been found, it's update should be sometime within the next two days.
Now, if you excuse me, I have more reading, writing, and reviewing to do. The routines back in play, WORK TIME!
As always, this is Blades. "Good reading equals good times." I am OUT!
The Kei Pirates, long gone but not forgotten. Their memories are what built this new faction called the Ka-shinta. Don't ask me where the name came from. After all, it was thought up by Pirates.
From what I was told, it started about 20-someodd years ago. Sometime after Gene came back from the Leyline(Was does EVERTHING come back to that?!) With their leader and best fighters killed off they couldn't keep it together. The glue of the Kei was gone, now it was time for them to crumble.....Which they did with incredible speed. The Forces took this great advantage to strengthen their own hold on the galaxy, thus the first superpower was born.
Everyone did there best to stop them but come on.....They're the Space Forces! What are civilians going to do? Finally some Pirates, new and old, once again joined up to stop the Force's tyranny. But this would make them the good guys wouldn't it? Well that's what the people of the galaxy thought. So when the planets and space stations that weren't under the Forces control were asked to be governed by the Pirates why say no?
Well, they didn't, and because of that the Pirates gained enough force to become the second and last superpower in this war. Not only that, but they made a firm base on some dead-end, HEAVILY guarded planet and created the cynical group now known as the Ka-shinta.
Everything about the way they rule is different, I already explained how they enforce their power but their levels of command are also different. The Forces are more like an army with generals, captains, platoons, and what now. Now the Ka-shinta are like a pack of wolves. Only being held together and controlled by one person, without him they would crumble and fall. Guess history really does repeat itself.
Now I bet you're asking "What part do the Outlaws play?" Well, none really. It's hard to explain so let me give everyone some kind of order. The Spaces Forces are, more or less, and unfair democracy. (Like any are fair to begin with?) They try to ACT like what they're doing is right, but they no it's not. Yet people still bow down to what they're saying. Being brainwashed by the bull they're spitting out. That's probably the worst part. How people actually DO think the Forces are good guys!!
Next is Ka-shinta. They're going to be classified as the imperials of the war. Basically it's their way or no way and the no way is always the way to death. "No way..." you think? Well, way. Ok, enough of using 'way'. These folks are the REAL tyrants of space. Everyone they rule knows they're evil but there's nothing those people can do, the Pirate's power is just too over whelming. They couldn't escape if they tried. And that's just how Ka- shinta wants it.
Now to the Outlaws. Where's there imperialist rule, where there's no more free reign, where there's a government that's just PUSHING for people to go anarchy. There are rebels. That's what we are, the rebels. The scum under the Forces and Ka's feet. The thorn in their side, the pain in their ass!! That's us!! We do what civilians can't. We fight the power, as lame as that sounds. Sadly, as with all rebel groups, we're the underdogs. We are also a very small and VERY unorganized group. We never band together for anything, we just do what's in our own power to stop these superpowers. This clearly is not working, the Outlaws are being wiped out like a pack of mice in a snake pen.
That's were my cause came in, I wanted to ban us together, make us stronger, make us a REAL threat to Ka and the Forces!! I found out that even banned together we didn't stand a chance....But I can't let this stop me. I did it once, I can do it again! I'm wiser this time, I know my mistakes and what to correct. This time....I will create a third superpower!! Us Outlaws will be KNOWN!
~~~****~~~***~~~***~~~***~~*~~~***~~~****~~~***~~~****~~~*~*~~***~~*
I woke up practically shaking out of my skin, which seemed thoroughly frozen, and turned to the window in my room. Actually it was just a pane, there was no glass in it. No wonder I was freezing. The sun....er....Whatever lit Sentinel III was just peaking over the horizon. I sat up and wiped the nasty crust from my eye. This made me think of why people called it 'wiping the sleep from their eyes.' It's not sleep! It's nasty crappy disgusting crust! I shook my head and started to get dressed, praying there was some coffee downstairs.
As I put my pants on I realized how tired I really was. I couldn't keep my body from falling back on the bed. I looked up and the ceiling and yawned long and loud. Flashbacks of yesterday filled my mind. Running from the Pirates, finding Gene. FIGHTING Gene. Meeting everyone else, flying on the Outlaw Star, coming here, meeting the jackass Jay, the fight with Ka and their legendary leader Ketsu.
I stopped thinking and focused on that last flashback. The leader of the Pirates.....The leader!! Ka-shinta's LEADER was after me!! Oh my god!! How did I survive?! Am I THAT wanted!?! ....I stopped and started to rationalize. No, it wasn't me....It was the sphere. What was so special about it? I wanted to know, I NEEDED to know. My allies fought and died for that, Sky and Volk lost their lives for that. Sky and Volk....Died....They're not coming back. Ever.
I shook my head and stopped a single tear from falling. Enough reminiscing. I had stuff to do.
It took all my strength just to drag my self upright. Then that and more to get downstairs....Where I was meet by a smell....A smell.A smell..OF COFFEE!
Just the smell alone was enough to get me running full speed down the stairs and to the kitchen. I saw a perfect boiling pot of the sacred drink and a mug. I never took a second thought of pouring myself some and heading out to the living room.
As I entered the room I saw Gene just sitting there staring in awe. Guess I was more anxious then I thought.
I sat next to him and asked what was up.
"You, me, and Jim. He's just now finishing prepping the ship."
"I said 'what' not 'who'."
"Ah sorry. My hearing must be slipping. Nothing's really up."
I sipped my drink and sat down. "So you're really giving up the fight, huh?"
He sighed and looked down. His bright, optimistic, joyous attitude was gone. Replaced by the dreaded seriousness of his decision.
"Yeah," he finally let out, "I am. Like I said, it's just time. I can't go on forever."
I put my cup down on my lap. Gene was giving up being an Outlaw. It just now hit me, like everything, late. I had to tell him everything now, this may be our last man-to-legend meeting.
"Gene, I want you to know. You're my idol. You're my inspiration for everything I've ever done. Sure I had great, GREAT friends and allies to help me out but what you did always pushed me on. Hell, I even started a rag-tag group of rebels just to try and change the galaxy....Like you did...."
Gene smiled, but only a bit. I couldn't tell but he might've been enjoying this more then he let on.
"Me? You're idol? Wow, some person to put your faith in. I was just some Outlaw that was graced by fate. I didn't change the galaxy, Strife. I just did things to my own accord, which coincidently changed some people's look on life..."
"Look on life? You killed Hazanko! You single handedly brought down the entire Kei Pirates! That made you a legend above legends, people will always remember your story! How Gene Starwind beat Hazanko and brought down the evil Keis! And because of that the Forces got the upper hand and started this whole mess!! Now we have to worry about the Forces and Ka- shinta! This entire war was started because you killed ONE person!! That one death lead to countless others!! You BAST-"
I put my hands over my mouth, eyes wider then saucers. Was I about to cuss out Gene Starwind? My IDOL?? My respect turned to anger and I hadn't even notice. I couldn't believe I went from praising to yelling that quickly. My instincts caught on quicker then my thoughts. I even wanted to hurt Gene. I was so angry.....Because of what I just realized. I also didn't notice that I was now standing, wiping that very hot coffee that I spilled on my jeans.
Gene looked stared at me, almost seeming to space out. My words hit him hard, VERY hard. Probably harder then anything in his life. This was epiphany kind of hard. And that's saying something. We both just figured out a horrifying truth. Gene threw the pebble that became the large snowball the war is now. He started this whole thing. It was his fault.
Really? Did he really start it? Could one person's actions affect the galaxy THAT much? No, they couldn't. It's not possible....Yet, it was. That possibility was staring me right in the face.
"Strife, you're right. I started this war. I can't believe it...."
I stamped my foot on the ground. This wasn't happing! "No! You didn't Gene. You didn't know Hazanko's death would be THAT important!! You can't blame this on yourself ALONE! The Forces and Ka-shinta are who to blame! They're the ones FIGHTING!"
"But....I still started it all...."
Damn! There was nothing I could say. He sank into that stupid "Everything is my fault and nothing you say will change it" phase. Well, I was going to change it. Not only that but I was going to change the whole FRIGGEN galaxy!!
"Gene, you're right. You did technically start this war and you can't change that...." I stopped to make sure we made eye contact. "That's my job now. If you could start this thing then I can end it. The war started with the actions of one outlaw and will end by the actions of another. I swear to you, Gene.....It. Will. End."
The pride I put into my words rose his own. I actually got through to him, I was so relived. He stood and grinned at me. "Damn kid, you're more cocky then I thought. Well you want to change this place so bad you'll need to be prepared. I got these out of storage for just this situation."
He pulled out his hand-shotgun and gave it to me, along with five big-ass shells. "It takes two shells each round and it only gets off one round at a time. Use it wisely."
I took the belt that came with the gun and strapped it to my waist, over my own belt which held my 9mm. This holster hung low on my waist stopping somewhere under my thigh. Perfect position to grab it if was an emergency. I placed the shells in the left pocket of my trench coat then stared at Gene. I was about to say thank you but he had one more thing to give me.
He pulled out a holstered weapon. The holster wasn't attached to a belt like the shotgun's, instead there were two mini-belts on it which were used to tie it to what I thought would be my OTHER thigh.
I took the weapon and absent-mindedly pulled the it out, like it was just some old .45. Seeing the weapon moved me beyond words. The barrel was longer then any normal handgun, it also looked industrially made. Two round vents were on the barrel, closer inspection concluded that they were meant to move in a circular manner. On the back of the gun was what seemed like a lever keeping the lock to the chamber sealed securely. I used my thumb to knock the lever down and watched as the camber popped open, clearly showing where the bullets should be placed.
"That's my baby." Gene said as I inspected the legend's 'legendary' gun. "My caster. I hope I don't have to tell you that it can only fire one shot at a time. You're pretty lucky too, after I got back from that life altering quest people caught on to what I used in battle. So because of people's love for nostalgia, they brought caster's out of retirement and starting selling shells in most major stores. Unfortunatly, they started making a new batch of shells. So shells from my time don't match their counterparts. For example, if a five of my time shot a small blue ball of energy then the five of this time might shoot a gigantic red beam. I found it disappointing, really."
I didn't take my eyes off the gun as I responded. "Yeah, me too. You don't know the effort I put into memorizing which number made which kind of boom."
"Well here's your chance to learn them all over again." He laughed after his statement.
After gazing and drooling at the caster, I holstered it and tied it to my side.
"Thank you Gene....I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything....Actions speak louder then words. You should know that by now."
I laughed, he DID have a point.
Jess came down with Melfina, Mel was still wearing her blue cloak but Jess traded her old beat up white shirt for some fuzzy beige and white striped coat/shit hybrid thing. What ever it was, it looked freaky. But that be damned she STILL looked good! Amazing....
"Ok, Strife. Ready to go?"
"You bet!" I practically yelled, jumping on the couch's arms and pointing my brand new caster at them.
As I did my pose, Jim walked through the door. "Heh, so Gene gave you that? He must have a saint's faith in you."
"Ha. I don't need faith, My own strength is good enough!! Especially with this ultimate gun!!"
Gene stopped my rant cold as he said. "You know, I have no shells for that. You'll have to get them yourself. Oh and don't ask Fred or Jay. Their stock ran out some time ago and they haven't bothered to refill it."
I sighed as my shoulders dropped down. Just great.
Jess giggled a bit and told me to get off the couch and get my ass into the ship.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going..."
Jess and I walked out the door and turned to Jim. Mel and Gene were still inside saying their 'goodbyes' Yuck....
"Well Strife, I hope you have a safe trip. You're dealing with a highly volatile variable."
I scratched my head. "Well I guess the Outlaw Star may be still experimental, causing it to do things no one knew it could..."
Jim bit back I laugh. "True, but I was talking about Jessica."
"Ahh!! What?!?! DAD!!!!"
She crossed her arms then turned away as her father busted his sides in the doorway. Mel and Gene finally came out from the house. I stepped up to him.
"Guess this is goodbye, Gene."
He grinned and stared at me. "No, not goodbye. Goodbye's are for people who'll never meet again. This fits more into 'see you later'."
I felt my own grin grow. "Ok, See you later, then." I stuck my hand out as I spoke.
"See you later, Strife." He let his own hand meet mine as we shook.
I stepped back to let Jess and Mel get there last hugs in with the two ex- outlaws. Jim led us to some rent-a-car with no roof and told us everything was set up. "Just tell Gillium when you're ready to blast off."
I cranked the key, bringing the car to life. "Jim. Thank you again."
"No thank you. And take care."
With that I hit the gas and sped off to the dock.
Mel began to speak from the seat behind me. "So guys. Where to first?"
Jess turned to me, as if I had the answer to her question. "Um, I don't know....Wherever the stars take us!"
"And whatever gets us closer to the Leyline!" Jess added.
"Well, whatever the path, we'll do it together!!" Mel finished raising our enthusiasm.
Jess turned around to Mel as they continued the pep talk. "As a group!"
"As a team!"
"As a posse!!"
All of us laughed at Jess's last remark. We laughed good and loud.
"It's settled then! Leyline! Here....We.....COOOOOOMMMEEE!!!!!!!" I yelled while pushing the peddle as far to the floor as it would go and then some.
All three of us raised our hands up and practically jumped out of the seats as we shouted, cheered, and celebrated towards the docks. Our journey was now under way!!
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Author's note: Hey, everyone! I'm back!! Are you glad? Really? Tell me the truth!! C'mon, I can take it!! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Man, I'm glad to be back. FFX-2 sucked my deep into it's world and just didn't let go. That is actually a good game. Even all those stupid sayings Rikku and Yuna make(Mostly Rikku, by the way) are good for a laugh!! But now it's beat and I'm back to writing. I hope this chapter was decent, I am still kinda rusty from the vacation I had. If you think it was good, tell me!!
Oh and about my FF story. For you people that read that, it is NOT dead. I repeat NOT!! DEAD!!! It's just that I lost the notebook I had been writing it in. Fret not for it HAS been found, it's update should be sometime within the next two days.
Now, if you excuse me, I have more reading, writing, and reviewing to do. The routines back in play, WORK TIME!
As always, this is Blades. "Good reading equals good times." I am OUT!