Disclaimer: See Prologue
Outlaw Star: All in the Name of Love
Chapter 4: Part 6
"Okay folks, this being our last set for the night; we're going to slow it down a bit." Paul announced.
"Is there anybody going to listen to my story
All about the girl who came to stay?
She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry,
Still you don't regret a single day.
Ah girl ! Girl ! Girl !
When I think of all the times I've tried to leave her,
She will turn to me and start to cry.
And she promises the earth to me and I believe her,
After all this time I don't know why.
Ah girl ! Girl ! Girl !
… "
"Umm," Jim stood in front of Aisha looking down at the floor with his hands at his sides.
"What's wrong Jim?" The Ctarl Ctarl looked down at her little friend. "Don't you want to dance?"
"Yeah!" He looked up at her, afraid she might give up on him and walk away.
"It's just," he looked left then right at the other people dancing. "I don't know how to dance like that." He said sheepishly.
"You don't know how to waltz?" Aisha grinned.
Jim lowered his head again and shook it from side to side.
Aisha put her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Don't laugh! It's not like I ever took the time to take dancing lessons or anything." He frowned sadly.
"Don't worry Jim, you've got the best teacher in the galaxy right here in front of you." Aisha smiled, taking his one hand and placing it on the side of her waist then placing her hand on his shoulder. Then taking his other hand into hers, she said. "Okay, now just let the music move you and by applying a little bit of pressure at my waist, guide me in the direction you want me to go. Here, I'll start us off."
Aisha began by swaying to the music and Jim followed suit. Then she applied gentle pressure to his shoulder to draw him toward her, then used her other hand to guide him to his left. She repeated this several times, going back and forth, and side to side, all the time moving her body to the rhythm of the music. Jim did his best to keep up, watching Aisha's feet as they moved and trying to anticipate which direction she was going to move next.
"Jim, don't look at my feet, look into my eyes. When you're dancing with a lady, you want to give her your undivided attention. Let her feel special, like she's the only other person in the room." She told him.
"But how do I know if I'm moving right?"
"Let the music guide you. Feel the rhythm and move with it."
"You make it sound so easy." The fair-haired boy said, embarrassed by his awkwardness.
"Well, I guess six years of ballet school and three years of academy dance training does give me an advantage." She smiled.
"Wait a minute, you had to take dance lessons as part of your academy training?" The young teen raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"Mmm hmm, dancing was important. Officers are often required to attend balls and official parties where high ranking government and military officials would socialize on the dance floor. I… " Aisha hesitated, not sure if she wanted to recall a memory that was both a moment of pride and severe disappointment for her. Looking down at Jim, she decide, 'what can it hurt?' "You know, I once danced with the Emperor of the Ctarl Ctarl Empire."
"Really?" The boy's eyes grew large in amazement.
"Mmm hmm, at the Imperial Palace no less." She beamed with pride.
"What were you doing at the Imperial Palace Aisha?" He asked out of genuine curiosity.
"Umm…" 'Okay, know you've done it Aisha. You can't tell him about the Coalition, so make something up. Quick.' She thought quickly then said, "Well, my father is a member of the High Command and so he brought me along to an official celebration the Emperor held for the High Command."
"Oh," Jim considered her response for a moment then asked, "Why didn't he take your mother?"
"She was sick at the time and couldn't go but she insisted that he go and take me along." She smiled.
"Jim smiled back sadly. "It must be nice?"
Aisha nodded before she realized she didn't know what Jim was referring to. "What must be nice?"
"Having a family that loves you, that cares about you."
"Yeah, it is nice." Aisha responded with a hint of melancholy in her voice. She noticed the song had changed to something even slower and a little sad. She pulled Jim closer to her until he found his face gently pressing between her ample bosom. He blushed and looked up to see if Aisha had noticed what she had done. She just smiled sadly at him and tenderly rested her cheek on his head as she slid her hand around his back to his opposite shoulder to hold him closer. Jim wrapped his arm around her waist and let his head, rest against her delicate mound.
Relishing the moment, a tear rolled down Jim's cheek as he wished this moment would never end. Aisha blinked back tears of happier times, of things gone painfully wrong for her and of old friends greatly missed. Then she thought of Jim and she smiled. 'I'm so lucky to have a friend like you Jim.'
Several songs later, Gene and Melfina joined Aisha and Jim on the dance floor. The catgirl and the boy genius had returned to the dance position they started with. Jim was getting the hang of leading. He had to admit that Aisha was true to her boast, she was an excellent teacher. He soon found himself gazing over at Gene and Melfina every so often. They were dancing a beat or two slower then the music, wrapped in each other's arms and lost in their own world. The young genius' expression of concern didn't escape the catgirl's watchful eye.
"What's wrong Jim?"
"Augh, nothing." Her dance partner responded, embarrassed for having been caught staring at his partner.
The Ctarl Ctarl raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Well, it's just… Gene and Melfina."
"Ugh?" She looked over at them. "What about them?"
"They seem so happy together."
"Mmm hmm." She acknowledged. "They do make a cute couple." She smiled.
"Yeah, it's just. Well, I know how Gene is and I can't help be afraid. I don't want to see Melfina get hurt." The young teen's concern for the bio-android was obvious.
Aisha smiled down at Jim again. "You're too good."
"Ugh?"
"Worrying about your friends even when you should be enjoying yourself." The catgirl clarified.
Jim smiled sheepishly.
"Anyway, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Gene's feelings for Mel seem genuine and besides, Mel is a lot tougher emotionally than you think. Even if Gene is just toying with her, I'm sure she can handle it herself." She reassured him.
Jim sighed. "I hope you're right."
"Thank you, thank you very much." John said as the applause died down. "This next song we'd like to dedicate to the special group of outlaws that helped rid our planet of the scum that made living in fear a common thing."
A cheer went up through out the club.
"To the crew of the Outlaw Star, I hope you enjoy this one. A one, two, a one two three."
"In the town where I was born
Lived a ma-a-an who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the la-a-and of submarines
So we saaailed unto the sun
Till we fo-o-ound the sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
And our friends are all on board
many more of them live next door
and the band begins to play.
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
.
.
.
"
Upon hearing the chorus, all four crewmembers broke out in mild laughter. Looking from one to the other, they couldn't help but smile. Standing near the center of the dance floor they swayed to the rhythm of the music and sang along with the chorus.
As the night came to a close the band announced they were about to play the final song for the night. Everyone other then the crew of the Outlaw Star separated from their partners and walked closer to the stage. Most everyone at the bar and tables also got up and approached the stage. The crew looked on with confusion as everyone around them took the hand of their neighbor.
Just then the band began to play.
"When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be."
Melfina and Aisha smiled, taking the hand of their still confused partners, they walked up into the crowd. Then clasping each other's hand, they smiled at each other and began swaying to the music like everyone else was. Gene and Jim got the queue and even accepted the extended hands of the people around them.
Contemplating the words of the song, Gene realized how very childish his fight with Aisha was. He looked over at the Ctarl Ctarl, who was thoroughly enjoying the music.
Sensing a pair of eyes on her, the catgirl glanced over to her side and saw Gene staring at her. She wrinkled her brow, not sure of his reason for staring. Then Gene smiled at her and she knew it was his way of calling a truce between them. She smiled back. At that moment Melfina glanced at Gene and saw he was looking passed her, she glanced over at Aisha and saw her smiling back. Aisha, noticing Melfina's gaze looked over at her, smiled and winked. Melfina smiled back. The catgirl went back to listening to the music. The bio-android looked back over to the redheaded outlaw who was now smiling down at her. She returned the gesture and rested her head on his shoulder for only a moment then she went back to enjoying the music as well and so did Gene.
On the drive back to the ship, the crew was overflowing with laughter and joy. Plenty of good liquor and plenty of good music had lifted their spirits higher than they had been in a long time as they sang in unison.
"We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine."
They paused as they tried to remember any part other than the chorus. After a moment, they laughed and began again.
"We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine."
Laughing as they sped back to the Outlaw Star.
~~~~~~~~~~
AN: Well, that's it… for chapter 4 that is. ^_^ Hope you've enjoyed the light-hearted nature of chapter 4 because things start taking a more serious turn in the following chapters. Both physical and emotional pain will follow. I hope you'll find it as interesting and enjoyable as I found it to write. ^_^
Thank you for your reviews and comments. I really enjoy receiving them. They are what motivate me to continue to work on this story. So the more reviews I receive, the more time I'll try to make for this story. Just see what I mean by taking a look at my Escaflowne story, "All you need is Love, Isn't it?"
A. Amishi