Hey, sorry it took so long to update but I was laid out by this flu bug that's been skulking around leeching and sucking the life out of innocent students while they are working diligently on their Fanfic's but I'm back now! Did you miss me?

Bw: No-

FB: Wa! You didn't miss me? I'M SO ALONE!

BW: No-

FB: All aloney, on my owney!

BW: I WAS GOING TO SAY NO HEY!

FB: Oh...don't you look at me like that...BW? Old buddy old pal?

BW: (with Van from Escaflowne's sword) CHARGE!

-

The Debt Comes First

" Mel?…Melfina!…Can you hear me Mel!"

Jim edged forward, a confused and scared look plastered over his young features. Melfina's eyes were expressionless, her body was stiff, her lips were tight.

'What the hell am I supposed to do? Where's Gene when you need him? What did she mean Leyline Project: Phase 2?'

As if reading the panicked rabble of thoughts running through Jim's head, Melfina blinked.

"Mel?" prompted Jim, a little more gently than before.

As Jim watched her, he could see the light flood back into her eyes. Her lips and shoulders slackened. She looked…human again. Shakily, she raised her hand to her head. Her big brown eyes were rimmed with tears.

"What's happened? What's wrong?" asked Jim taking another step forward.

"Where's Gene?" Melfina was looking right at Jim now, eyes desperate.

"He went out for a drink earlier," said Jim in a bemused voice, " Please tell me what's wrong Melfina! What did you mean Leyline Project: Phase 2?"

"What? Did I say something Jim?" Melfina didn't wait for a response, dismissing her questions to the matter of greater importance.

"I have to talk to G-"

The gun shot cut her off mid-sentence. She went shock white, her pupils were small and quivering.

"Oh no," she whispered. "It's already started!"

She launched into a run, heading straight through the living area to the front door, tears streaming out behind her. Jim followed, thoroughly confused, his thoughts thrown into disarray by the gun shot.

Melfina had reached the front door and had thrown it open. She stood perfectly still, silhouetting the daylight. Cautiously, Jim peered round her small frame into the street.

"Please give me a job! It's your fault I was fired in the first place Gene Starwind!"

Just outside the door, Gene stood shaking his foot, violently trying to dislodge the unmistakable form of Aisha.

"Get the hell off of me!" snapped Gene furiously. Swinging his black pistol round, he fired again.

'So that's what the gun shot was.' thought Jim, relieved.

Aisha wasn't so relieved.

" WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO? KILL ME!"

"No, I'm trying to make you let go," explained Gene calmly. "Now let go!"

"I'm so glad you're alright."

Beside Melfina, Jim could feel her shudder, tears falling over her cheeks and cascading onto the street. Gene frowned hard at her, concern pulling at his scarred features.

" Uh Shit, what's wrong Mel?" asked Gene soothingly. He leaned forward and pulled her into his embrace. She felt Gene's strong arms close around her and she buried her face in his chest.

"What's wrong Mel?" asked Aisha detaching herself from Gene's leg.

"Jim quick, close the door!" yelled Gene, egging Melfina inside. Stubbornly Aisha stuck her foot in the doorway. She smiled smugly at Gene and said:

'Now, about that job offer…"

-

"…and that's when she said Leyline Project: Phase 2" finished Jim. He and Gene looked at Melfina sitting huddled on the sofa, a blanket pulled over her trembling shoulders.

"I really don't remember saying that. I'm sorry Gene." said Melfina sadly.

"Hey, no worries, we'll find out what it all means!" said Gene, flashing a reassuring grin.

"Oh no you don't!"

Jim stood over Gene wearing the look of an authoritative parent.

"We've still got that debt to Fred Luo to pay off before we can go on another treasure hunt."

"Oh come on Jim, don't you wanna know why Melfina went nuts?" whined Gene.

"Of course I do, but the debt comes first. Besides if that White Fire guy you mentioned was a pirate there's sure to be more coming to look for us and we're short a crew member on the Outlaw Star anyway. There's no way I'm going into space one crew member short with pirates about!"

"Oh, alright." said Gene haughtily crossing his arms.

"Good," said Jim, satisfied with his partner's response. "Now, tell me about that gun the pirate used. You said it could stand up to the power of a normal caster shell no problem?"

"Yeah, he said I'd have to use a rare shell to do any sort of damage to it." said Gene in a bored voice.

"He called it on Orikalcose?"

"That's right." said Gene, puzzled.

Without saying another word, Jim wandered off, a thoughtful look lining his face.

Gene made sure he was well out of ear shot before he made to speak to Melfina.

"Okay, what happened to you?"

Melfina looked at him with startled eyes. She seemed almost embarrassed or…resentful towards him.

"It…I…"

"Look, if you don't wanna talk…" said Gene getting up gruffly.

"No Gene. It's just…"

In her mind she could see the whole dark scene play out again. Gene stood before the nameless figure. She had the caster, Gene's favourite gun. Gene's arms were held high. He was talking to her like a civilised person. The whole thing was a gesture of surrender.

It was ignored.

"You've outlived your usefulness Gene Starwind."

She couldn't hear the gun shot. All she could see was Gene's eyes on hers as he fell from this life to the next.

"…she shot you Gene." finished Melfina sobbing into her arms.

Gene didn't know how to react. The breath caught in his throat. His skin grew cold. He felt himself grab the arm of the chair and sit down, all the while his mind played back the sentence Melfina had just said.

"I searched the internet for the Orikalcose but it's a rare gun. It's hard to find." said Jim dragging a long printout sheet into the living room.

"You are aware that Aisha's eating everything she can get her hands on in the kitchen? What's wrong?" asked Jim finally looking up from his printout.

"Nothing," said Gene breathing in and regaining himself, " We can ask Fred about the the gun when we see him tomorrow."

Jim stopped dead.

"You knew it was coming Jim." said Gene in a warning tone.

"I know," groaned Jim. "But do I seriously have to come? The guy creeps me out!"

"You were the one that said 'The debt comes first', besides if I go, you go!"

Melfina watched Gene closely and sighed. He had gone pale for a second and had sat down but now he seemed perfectly fine. How could he just put something like this aside?

'He's dealing with it in his own way,' she thought to herself. 'I'm glad he's alright, at least for now…'

-

Well in this exciting chapter we find out that Gene is ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE! And Aisha is now in dire need of a job. Why she's crawling back to Gene and the others when they are as broke as a window which has just had a rock thrown through it, I don't know but then Aisha was never the brightest bulb in the warehouse now was she. So next time, it's off to Fred's place! Onwards and...something...