Author's Note: This chapter is the other half of what was going to be all of chapter 3. But I had some "problems" along the way. At any rate, it's done now. So here it is...chapter 4.

Disclaimer: I don't own Outlaw Star.

Chapter 4: The Prisoner, Always

It was about eight in the morning by the time Gene and the others arrived at Fred Luo's place. Gene stepped out of the car and stretched his arms into the air.

"Ah man, I'm beat. Let's just get this over with. I need a nap." He complained, yawning loudly afterwards.

Jim stepped out of the car next, followed by Melfina. "Well, I feel fine. I don't know what you're complaining about, Gene." Jim said.

"You're only fine because you slept the whole way over here." Gene grumbled, adjusting his coat.

Jim just smiled and laughed. Gene, Jim and Melfina proceeded inside the building to come face to face with Stev, who was waiting for Gene to arrive.

"Hello there, Mr. Starwind. It's pleasure to meet you in person." He said, with a big smile on his face.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Gene responded, while Jim and Melfina stood at either side of him. "Now about our reward..."

Stev quickly interrupted Gene before he could continue. "Don't worry, I have the all of the money in the next room. Along with the Caster shells as well. Follow me, this way." he said, still smiling.

Stev led Gene and the others into a semi-small, dimly lit room. He walked over to a small vault on the wall and opened it up. He pulled out a bulky silver briefcase.

"Here it is, the 1.5 million wong and the Caster shells as well. Sorry about all of precautions, I worry too much for my own good." he said cheerfully, handing the briefcase to Gene.

"It's alright, thank you Mr. Stev. I appreciate doing business with you." Gene claimed, with a smile on his face.

Gene turned to leave, but then Jim spoke up. "Uh, excuse me, Mr. Stev. Do you know anything about this?" he asked, holding up a printed out copy of the data about Locke. Jim pointed to the part that was referring to the shipment that Stev had asked Starwind & Hawking Enterprises to keep from being stolen.

Stev glanced at the words for a moment, skimming through what was on the paper. "Hmm, no, I don't seem to be familiar with this boy. Those pirates must have made him stow away with my shipment." He responded, after he finished reading.

Stev's smile flattened out and a serious look appeared on his face. "But if pirates are looking for him. It's best not to get involved. Pirates, despite their being profitable for business, are very dangerous. Especially these days."

Gene turned around and walked back over, his smile was gone as well. "What do you know about these pirates?" he asked, with a concerned look.

"Well, judging by this report, they're probably Kei pirates. They seem to do a lot of experiments and other such things. Ever since Hanzanko, from the 108 Suns, died a year ago, power struggle is all that's been going within the Kei territory." Stev answered.

"How do you know so much about the Kei pirates?" Melfina asked politely.

Stev crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "It's hard to miss when you're doing business with them. I've also heard a lot rumors as well." he responded, nodding a few times.

"What kind of rumors?" Gene asked, crossing his arms as well.

Stev opened his eyes, took a quick glance at Melfina, then looked at Gene. The glance went unnoticed by Gene and Jim, but it gave Melfina an uneasy feeling. "I've heard that the Kei pirates were after an outlaw that stole a ship from them, along with a bio-android. Supposedly, the Anten Seven couldn't even take care of him. That all happened a year ago, around the same time Hanzanko died." He answered.

Gene, Jim and Melfina knew that rumor was about Gene. "Uh, anything else?" Jim asked, a little anxious to leave.

"Not really. Except that the Kei pirates are starting to search for that outlaw again, along with the ship and the bio-android." Stev claimed.

The room went silent for a few moments, until Gene spoke up. "Uh, well, we really should get going. See ya around." He said, turning back towards the door leave. He carried the briefcase by his side as he walked out of the room.

Jim and Melfina followed behind Gene closely. Stev uttered to himself as they left the building, "How'd they find out about that kid?"

Back at Starwind & Hawking Enterprises, Aisha and Locke were still sleeping. The whole room was silent, only their soft breathing could be heard. At some point, Suzuka had returned and was sitting on the couch across from the two. She watched them sleep, while she drank some tea. Aisha slowly awoke and opened her eyes, and found Suzuka looking down at Locke. She looked down at Locke as well, who was still asleep with his head lying on her lap, and then she looked back at Suzuka.

"I see the two of you have become friends." Suzuka said, taking a sip of her tea.

Aisha looked back down at Locke and sighed, then she looked at Suzuka again. "No, he's real scared of me for some reason. I, somehow, got him to calm down a little." She responded.

"That's understandable. It would be safe to assume that the only Ctarl Ctarl he has met, before you, were those two that attacked him. He probably thinks all Ctarl Ctarl are like that, so he would obviously be afraid of you. He might even be afraid of me as well. I was the first to find him after all." Suzuka said, voicing her opinion.

Locke moved slightly in his sleep, burying his face into Aisha's lap. Just then, there was a light knock on the door. Suzuka placed her cup of tea down on the table and walked over the door. She unlocked the door and opened it up to see and tall man wearing a black trench coat looking back at her. His long spiked hair covered most of his face except his right eye and his mouth.

"Is Gene Starwind here?" the man asked.

Suzuka's eyes narrowed. "You...Why are you here?" She asked.

"Is that the way to talk to someone you haven't seen in two years. You haven't changed a bit, Suzuka. I only wanted to talk with Mr. Starwind." the man replied with a devilish smile.

"What is this about, Kyen?" Suzuka asked.

Kyen smiled again and laughed demonically. "Oh, I see how it is...I'd never expect you, of all people, to fall for someone." He exclaimed.

"That isn't the case. I only work with him from time to time." Suzuka said, her grip on the door handle tightening.

Aisha looked over the couch at Suzuka. "Hey, what's going on?" she asked with a confused look on her face.

"Suzuka, I know about how you killed Hitoriga. But that doesn't mean that you skills will ever surpass mine." Kyen announced. He glared back at her; his eye color wasn't what would be considered human-like at all.

Kyen looked inside and saw Aisha sitting on the couch, he also noticed Locke lying there as well. Kyen smirked sinisterly and began walking away. Suzuka glared at Kyen as he walked away. "I'll be back...for the XGP, the bio-android girl...and that boy as well. Be ready to defend yourself." Kyen remarked, laughing again afterwards.

Suzuka closed the door, walked back to over to the couch, sat down and calmly resumed drinking her tea. Aisha was still confused as to what just happened. "Do you know that guy, Suzu?" She asked, tilting her head to a side.

"He's just an acquaintance." Suzuka stated, not looking at the Ctarl Ctarl.

"Then why was he talking about Melfina and the Outlaw Star...and Locke? Aisha asked, looking concerned.

Suzuka put her cup down on the table again. "He's a member of a group of assassins that work for the Kei pirates. But..." She said, still not looking at Aisha.

"But what?" Aisha asked.

"I...killed him two years ago. At least I thought I did." Suzuka replied.

"What?! Then how...?" Aisha stammered.

"I don't know how he survived. But we should inform Gene about him as soon as possible." Suzuka responded.

"Yeah." Aisha said, nodding. She looked down at Locke with a worried expression on her face. "But why are the Kei pirates after Melfina and Locke?"

Suzuka took another sip of her tea. "I don't know." She said, looking at Locke as well.

Locke began to stir again in his sleep. He brushed his face against Aisha's lap, and then he opened his eyes slowly. He looked left and noticed that he was lying on a women's lap. He blushed and quickly sat up. He looked over to see that it was the Ctarl Ctarl woman from before. Then he looked across from him to see another woman. She was the one that had found him in the first place. He blushed even more and looked down at the floor. Now he had no way of making an escape. It was two against one, and if he tried to make a break for it, he'd surely be caught.

"Don't worry, we're not gonna hurt ya." Aisha said, trying to prevent Locke from freaking out again.

"Yes, we mean you no harm." Suzuka said.

"...Ahh..." was all Locke said in a strained voice.

"Are you ok?" Aisha asked.

Locke remained silent and looked down at his bandaged chest. "Are you unable to speak?" Suzuka asked.

Locke nodded slowly. Aisha looked at Suzuka, confused. "Is that even possible?" she asked.

Suzuka nodded, "Sometimes, when a person experiences something life-threatening, they may be scared into silence." She said, then sipping on her tea again.

A sad feeling overcame Locke. He was in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people, nowhere to run and probably no hope of escape. He felt like a prisoner, as always.

Does Stev have anything to do with the pirates? What's with this Kyen that showed up at Starwind & Hawking Enterprises? And what is the mystery behind Locke? There's gonna be some more action in Chapter 5. Like fighting and stuff, oh yeah! R&R, I really enjoy reading all of those good comments. Thank you!