Disclaimer: See Prologue

Outlaw Star: All in the Name of Love

Chapter 5: Part 1

Aboard the ship, spirits were still high but toned down due to fatigue. With Melfina leaning against his arm with her eyes barely open, Gene stopped in front of his quarters and opened the door. Turning to Jim and Aisha, he said. "Well, goodnight. See you guys tomorrow morning." Gene knew full well that he wouldn't get up until sometime in the afternoon but saying see you in the morning sounded better. He guided Melfina into his room and closed the door.

Jim and Aisha continued down the hall. As they walked, they talked about what song they liked the best. Jim asked her how she felt dancing on stage, among other things. Before he knew it she had stopped in front of her quarters. Looking back down the hall, she giggled.

"You passed your own quarters Jim. Didn't you notice?" She asked.

"Ugh," Jim looked back down the hall as well. "Yeah, I guess I did, pass it I mean." He gave a big grin while scratching the back of his head.

"Well, goodnight Jim." She pressed the button to open the door and was about to step in when Jim spoke.

"Say Aisha…" She turned to look at the boy genius, her ears perked up in anticipation of a question or a favor being asked. "Umm… Aaah, thanks for teaching me how to dance. It was a lot of fun." He smiled sheepishly up to her.

Aisha grinned back, leaned forward and kissed Jim on the forehead. "You're welcome. Goodnight Jim."

"G-goodnight Aisha." He replied, wide-eyed.

She stepped back into her room and closed the door, still staring at the fair-haired boy as it closed.

The boy sighed then headed back to his quarters.

The Ctarl Ctarl continued staring at the door a moment longer. "What are you thinking, silly girl. He's just a child." She shook her head and turned toward her bed as she began removing her clothes and humming the chorus to the Yellow Submarine over and over again.

Gene removed all of Melfina's clothes except her panties. He laid her in bed on her side, facing away from him. Then he removed his clothes except this shorts and lay down next to her. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him, Melfina moaned her contentment. Gene smiled and kissed her gently on the back of her head. She moaned again and smiled as she unconsciously wrapped her arms over Gene's and drifted into a deep sleep. Happy with how the day had ended, the brash outlaw allowed himself to drift off to sleep as well.

Awakened by her crewmates' less than quiet entrance, Suzuka attempted to use her meditation techniques to dull the pain in her side and enable her to fall back to sleep. After a few minutes, she gave up, breathing heavily with her eyes barely open. "Damn." She said softly. "I've gotten too sloppy, too careless." She ran her fingers lightly over her wound. "This would never have happened before, not a year and a half ago."

She winced slightly as her fingers brushed the sore spot of her wound. "I'll have to double up on my training regiment. This won't happen again."

She began meditating again, trying a different technique this time. After about ten minutes, her features began to relax as her mind drifted away and the pain with it.

Jim lay face down on his bed and in his mind's eye he saw…

~~~

He was standing in a dark room where the only light present illuminated a single spot on a stage where Aisha stood. She was dancing, dancing just for him. She was wearing the same clothes she had on earlier only the skirt seemed a little bit shorter, the top seemed a little bit tighter and the heels of her shoes seemed a little bit higher. She moved slowly and seductively to the music; music he thought he recognized but couldn't quite place. Smiling, he thought, 'She's dancing just for me' as the feline gyrated in front of him.

The fair-haired boy swayed to the rhythm of the music as he watched her dance, his eyes affixed on her body. Gradually, he became aware of a certain tightness developing in his pants. Not sure what it was he immediately looked down. He turned crimson instantly and placed his hands over his fly in an attempt to hide the cause of his embarrassment. He gradually raised his gaze up to the Ctarl Ctarl, desperately hoping she hadn't noticed his arousal. But from the smile on her face and the direction of her gaze, he was certain she knew. Growing redder with embarrassment, Jim hung his head low waiting to hear Aisha laughing at him. Instead, she leaped down from the stage, walked over to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look up at her. Without saying a word, the Ctarl Ctarl kissed him full on the lips, gently at first but with more hunger and desire after just a few seconds. After getting over the initial shock, Jim joined in wholeheartedly. As their kiss deepened, he moaned with pleasure. Aisha giggled lightly as she broke the kiss and smiled at him. Jim simply stared back at her not sure what to do next. Gradually, Aisha allowed her hands to drift to behind Jim's head; she then slowly guided his face down onto her breasts. Jim breathed in deeply, taking in her scent, her aroma. The feline then began to stroke her thigh up and down between his legs. She then tilted his head to one side and lightly blow into his ear. Jim let out a near silent sigh of pleasure as he felt a sudden surge in his loins.

~~~

Jim's eyes shot open instantly. He lifted himself onto his hands and knees. Not only could he feel the moistness in his pajama bottoms, he could see it there and on the bed sheet as well. Now Jim really did turn crimson.

"How embarrassing." Jim moaned his displeasure with himself.

Sliding out of bed, he pulled off his pajamas and put on a fresh pair. Looking over at the bed, he decided to pull the sheets off as well. Gathering everything up, he opened the door to his room. Looking down one end of the corridor first then the other to ensure no one was around, he then proceeded to the laundry room, quietly closed the door behind him.

"We all live in a yello submmeen, yell submmee, ye s-sub…me" Aisha sang in her sleep with a faint smile on her face. Slowly the smile faded. "Mmm, mmm." And her eyes opened to a sliver. "Mtta, mtta, mtta." The cat girl rose from her bed with a groan. "Damned Terran liquor, goes through me like a waterfall."

She wrapped her sheet around her naked body, not really expected to run into anyone at this time of night but deciding that to err on the side of discretion was best. She exited her room and headed down to the lavatory. After taking care of business, she decided to get rid of the putrid taste in her mouth with some of the cactus juice stored in the refrigerator in the galley. Opening the refrigerator, she took out one of the liter bottles, opened it and drank it all down in six quick gulps.

"Aaah! That was good." She turned and carelessly tossed the empty container toward the dispensary. It hit the side of the dispensary door and fell to the ground. Aisha proceeded down the corridor in sleepwalking mode toward her quarters; completely unaware that the portion of her sheet that was covering her chest had slipped loose leaving her nipples partially exposed. While still a ways from her quarters, she approached a closed door that suddenly sprang open and Jim stepped out. Looking down the opposite end of the corridor first, Jim was unaware that the catgirl was practically standing behind him.

"What are you doing up so late Jim?" Aisha muttered.

"Augh!" The boy jumped out of this skin as he quickly turned around and found himself staring at the feline's chest and her partially exposed nipples, then at her face, then down at her chest again, then her face once again. "A…A…Aisha, wh-what are you doing up?" Jim stammered out, his face as red as a tomato.

"Mmm, needed something to drink. All that alcohol left me thirsty. She glanced over at the door, drawn to it by the sounds coming from behind it. Then she recognized it. "You're doing laundry at this time of night?" She gave him a strange look.

"Ugh… yeah. I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd get caught up on my wash." Jim lied, grinning stupidly.

Leaning forward till they were nearly eye level, Aisha stared at the boy for a moment. His eyes kept darting from her eyes to her chest, which was now almost completely exposed to him with the feline leaning forward as she was, back and forth, back and forth. As the Ctarl Ctarl stared at him, his face grew a bright red as sweat began rolling down his forehead. His anxiety grew with each passing moment, as he became more and more certain that Aisha was going to comment on his wandering eyes.

Finally Aisha spoke. "Terrans are so weird." She commented then straightened up and continued down the corridor to her room.

Relieved by her comment, he watched her walk down the hall to her room. Just as she reached it and opened her door, the sheet finished coming undone and fell to Aisha's feet. Without a second thought Aisha bent over and picked up the sheet; entered her room, closed her door and fell right back to sleep.

"Aaah!" Jim's eyes went wide as large beads of sweat sprang up on his forehead from the bird's eye view he got of Aisha's bare backside and more. Desperately trying to control his breathing as sweat continued to roll down his face, he became aware of another part of his body that was extremely moist again. He looked down to see he had soiled his pajamas once again. "Ah Damn!" He turned and re-entered the laundry room once again, locking the door behind him.

Early mid-morning, Suzuka woke up, confident that everyone else would still be sleeping after their late night out, she proceeded to the lavatory with her personal Med. supplies in hand. She carefully removed the bandages and inspected the wound. "Good, two more treatments and no one will be able to tell." She said to herself.

In the galley, she once again prepared the salve and applied it while it was still hot. As she was boiling the water for her medicinal tea, she heard footsteps approach. She quickly placed the pot she used for the salve to wash and turned to face the person who was approaching.

"Oh, good morning Suzuka. Did you sleep well?" Melfina inquired, standing at the doorway in one of Gene's T-shirts.

"Quite well, thank you." The assassin replied.

Noticing Suzuka had a pot on the stove Melfina stepped toward the cooking area. "I'm sorry Suzuka. Please, let me do that."

"It is just water. Besides, aren't you still tired." The taller woman asked.

"No, not really. I only require about four hours of sleep a night."

"I see."

"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" The bio-android asked.

"I'm not quite hungry at the moment but why don't you go shower and change and by then I'm sure you'll have at least one other person to cook for." Suzuka casually suggested.

"Oh, okay." Melfina agreed. "Well, see you in a little bit then."

The Kimono clad assassin nodded politely.

Watching the ships navigator turn and head back down the corridor, she took out a small handful of herbs from her pouch and placed them in the boiling water; turning on the exhaust fan to dissipate the foul smell of the tea.

While Melfina was in the shower, Suzuka drank her medicinal tea, put the pot to wash, returned her Med. kit to her room and returned to the galley. Melfina returned moments later in a red dress and her usual black pumps. Her hair was still damp and her features looked fresh and clean from just being scrubbed.

"What would you like for breakfast Suzuka?" She asked as she entered the galley.

"Your vegetarian omelet would be nice with a side of rice and some strong coffee." Responded the assassin.

"Okay." The ship's cook replied cheerfully. She immediately set to work.

The initial odor of foul smelling herbs caused Aisha to toss and turn in her sleep. Not that anyone else could smell it with the Outlaw Star's air circulating system. But the Ctarl Ctarl's olfactory glands were more acute then most. Now the smell of food cooking served to wake her completely. Aisha arrived in the galley freshly showered and dressed with her customary smile on.

"Good morning you two. Mmm, something sure smiles good. Am I on time for breakfast?" She asked with a grin.

"Good morning Aisha." The bio-android responded cheerfully. "Right on time as always."

Having already served Suzuka, Melfina served up a hearty helping for Aisha and pulled something out of her hip pocket. Setting the plate down in front of the catgirl, Mel placed the object under the plate making sure to leave just enough of it exposed for the catgirl to see.

Aisha dug into her meal with the veracity her crewmates had grown accustomed to seeing from her. Not until she was halfway done with her meal did she notice that there was something sticking out from under her plate. Setting the fork down and lifting her plate she found a wad of cash.

"Wha?" She picked it up and quickly counted it. "Mel, what's this?" She asked, looking up at her crewmate.

"It's your winnings from last night, except for the 100 wong I borrowed from Gene." Mel replied sheepishly.

"But why? You beat me fair and square," confusion still written across the Ctarl Ctarl's face.

Suzuka looked up slightly from her meal, her eyebrow raised in a questioning manner but she held her tongue, not wanting to interfere in what was clearly none of her business.

"No, not really. You see; Jim missed the beginning of the arm wrestling competition but I didn't. I saw when they went over the rules and one of the rules was no physical contact between contestants except for their hands. I won by cheating."

"But why did you do it if you knew it was wrong?" A confused and slightly angry Aisha asked.

"Well," The ship's navigator and cook paused, "everyone was getting so into it that even the band had forgotten to go back on stage and Gene was so upset for losing to you so easily that I just wanted to cheer him up. I didn't mean to embarrass you Aisha. Really, I'm sorry." She lowered her head ashamed of her actions last night and the embarrassment it caused her friend.

Aisha smiled, "Aaah, that's okay. It was kinda funny now that I think about it." She laughed.

Looking up and seeing the smile on her friend's face, Mel chuckled slightly and agreed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Suzuka looked on form the corner of her eye as she drank her tea, not knowing what they were talking about and certain she would be better off that way.

Later that afternoon

---

"Okay Gene, I've stowed away the meat in the temporary meat lockers we purchased and secured the rest of our supplies. Jim informed his partner over the comm system.

"Great Jim, I'm almost done securing the cases of liquor and I've already run through the ships pre-flight check list so we should be ready to leave within the hour." The red-haired outlaw replied.

"Excuse me Gene." Gillium lowered himself down the storage compartment where Gene was.

"Yeah, what is it now Gillium?" The outlaw moaned.

"It seems there are several gentlemen waiting outside the main hatch requesting to speak with you." The ship's computer replied coolie.

"Friend or Foe?"

"Apparently friend, one of the gentlemen identified himself as the Regional Governor. My data banks indicate that this is the same gentleman whom Jim spoke with yesterday who identified himself as such."

"Really, well in that case I guess I should go say my farewells." Gene climbed the ladder out of the storage bay and proceeded to the main hatch.

As the hatch door opened, Gene could see Gillium was correct. He immediately recognized the marshal and the mayor of New Santa Fe, and though he wasn't a 100% sure, he thought he recognized the other men from the celebration yesterday, mayors all and the Regional Governor as well. They all took a few steps back, being startled to find a gun pointed at them.

Gene re-holstered his piece. "Sorry about that but you can't be too sure. What can I do for you gentlemen?" He asked as he stepped out onto the platform.

The governor spoke first. "Mr. Starwind, we've come to see if there was anything we could do to persuade you to stay a little while longer."

One of the mayors continued. "Though the criminals has been either captured or killed, once word of your departure reaches the outer regions a whole new crop of criminals will be invading our planet all over again."

"Well, we can't stay here forever." Gene informed them.

"Not forever, just two more months." The marshal said. He held out a letter for Gene to read. "My requests for additional support have finally been answered but it won't arrive for two more months. And two months is enough time for the planet to be turned back into the cesspool of crime it was before you arrived. That's why we're asking you to stay just two more months."

"You'd be compensated, of course." The mayor of Celtic City added.

"Well, we'd already made the decision to leave but I suppose I can round up my crew and … "

"No need, we're all here." Suzuka said.

Gene turned to find his crew standing behind him just inside the hatch door.

"So what sort of compensation are we talking about?" Asked Aisha.

"Five thousand wong a week for each of you." Answered the Governor.

"That is a tempting offer. Can you give us a minute to talk it over?" The outlaw replied.

"Of course." Replied the Governor.

Gene stepped back on board his ship and closed the hatch. "So what do you guys think?"

"I have no desire to stay here any longer. The chances of a major crime wave arriving here within the next two months are slim to none." Said Suzuka.

"So you think they're lying about needing our protections?" Asked Jim.

"No, I think they are considering a worst case scenario and in that case, 200,000 wong is a small price to pay for piece of mind. But I for one don't care to sit around doing nothing on the outside chance that some fugitives may decide to make this planet their home." The assassin answered.

"I agree with Suzuka." Said Jim. "We've been here long enough. I'm ready to go home."

"I feel the same way." Replied Gene. "What do you think Melfina?"

"I… I don't know. What ever you decide Gene." She said timidly.

"So it's settled then. We go…" Gene was cutoff suddenly.

"Hey! No one asked me!" Aisha yelled.

"Ugh, okay Aisha what do you think?" He asked impatiently.

"I think you guys are nuts! Five thousand wong each just to baby sit a planet. It's like free money! I say we stay." She said enthusiastically.

"Okay, raise your hands if you want to stay." Instructed Gene.

Aisha's hand shot straight up into the air.

"All right now, if you want to leave." Continued Gene.

Suzuka, Jim and Gene all raised their hands simultaneously. Looking from Gene to Jim, Melfina slowly raised her hand as well.

"Grrrr! Fine! I'll stay here and collect all the compensation myself!" The Ctarl Ctarl snapped.

"Are you sure about that Aisha?" Jim asked.

"Sure. It'll be like a two month paid vacation." She smiled.

"But how will you get back to Heifong?" The fair-haired boy asked.

"Hmm, I don't know but I'm going to find out." She pressed the button to open the hatch door and stepped out onto the platform. "All right, you're looking for a bodyguard for your planet? Well, I'm just the Ctarl Ctarl for the job. She boasted, placing her hands on her hips and thrusting her chest out in a show of strength.

"Ugh?" was the combined reaction of the planet's representative.

"What she means is, she's volunteered to stay behind and guard your planet for you for the next two months." The red-haired outlaw clarified.

"And the rest of you?" The mayor of New Santa Fe asked.

"We'll be leaving this afternoon but don't worry. Aisha is as fierce a Ctarl Ctarl as they come. She can handle the job." He added.

"That's right! So you have nothing to worry about." Interjected Aisha. "But if you want my services, it won't be cheap."

"Ugh?" The representative reacted again.

"Twenty-thousand wong per week, in advance." She demanded.

"Ugh?" Was the reaction from her crewmates.

"One minute please." The governor said as the group huddled together.

A few moments later the governor turned and said, "Twelve-thousand per week, half in advance and half at the end of the two months."

Aisha considered the offer for a minute then responded. "Fourteen-thousand, and you provide free room and board, and free transport for me back to Heifong at the end of the two months."

The group huddled together for another minute then the Governor turned again and exclaimed. "Deal!" As he extended his hand.

"Okay!" Aisha smiled and shook his hand firmly.

In Aisha's quarters

---

Jim sat on Aisha's bed as she filled a duffel bag with all of the belongings she had on the Outlaw Star.

"I can't believe you decided to stay." He finally said after several minutes of silence.

"Like I said before, it's like free money. Besides, this way I get to check out the other nightclubs on this rock." She gave her body a little shake, imitating the dancing they did last night, hoping to get a smile from Jim. Instead he just hung his head. She stopped what she was doing and walked over to him. Kneeling down in front of him she placed her hands on his. "Say, don't be so glum. I know you're going to miss me, I'm going to miss you too. But two months will pass before you know it and you'll be yelling at me not to call you a kid just like before." She reassured him with a smile.

Jim couldn't help but smile back. "You be careful, okay. The governor and the marshal aren't willing to pay you fourteen thousand a week just so you can dance the nights away. It may not be as dangerous as it was with all the criminals running loose before but you still have to be cautious. Promise me you'll be careful."

Aisha smiled, "I'll be careful."

"Promise!"

"I promise." She smiled softly.

Knowing a Ctarl Ctarl was as good as their word; Jim relaxed and smiled back at Aisha.

"Come here." She said as she took him in her arms and hugged him tightly.

Standing at the hatch door with her duffel bag over her shoulder, Aisha said her good-byes.

"So I guess we'll see you in a couple of months then." Gene said, shaking her hand.

"Yea, a couple of months will pass in no time." She replied.

"I know. I guess I'll have to take advantage of the peace and quiet while it lasts." He teased.

"Very funny Gene." She glared at him.

"Things won't be the same without you." Suzuka said shaking Aisha's hand.

"Yea, I'm going to miss you too Suzu, but it's only two months."

Suzuka just gritted her teeth and remained silent.

"Good luck Aisha. I hope you don't run into to much trouble." Melfina said with quivering eyes and a shaky hand.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle whatever comes along. Isn't that right Jim?" She smiled at her young friend.

Jim gave a weak smile in return and nodded. "Right." He croaked out.

"Be sure to keep everything running smoothly while I'm gone, okay Jim. I'm counting on you." She gave the boy genius the thumbs up and he returned the gesture without saying a word.

With that, the Ctarl Ctarl pressed the button to open the hatch and walked down the plank to the elevator. Entering, she pressed the down button and gave a last wave to her friends. Each returned the gesture in their unique style.

Placing a reassuring hand on Jim's shoulder, Melfina asked. "Are you all right Jim?"

He shook his head to the negative. "But I will be in about two months." Turning to head toward the bridge, he said in a soft voice. "Come on guys, let's go home."

"That's the best thing I've heard all day." Retorted Gene as they all walked to the bridge.

~~~~~~

AN: Not things will start changing and this story will start to take on a new look. Hope you like what I have planned. I'd like to thank those who took the time to review my last chapter. I'm glad you liked it.

A. Amishi