Chapter 9 up! Woop, woop! This one's about the same length as usual, sorry about that.
BW: Well that's just not good enough is it.
FB: I'm sorry but it works because of the next chapter and I made a really good cliffhanger in this one.
BW: (twitchy eyed) Cliff...hanger?...
FB: Erm...(seeing look on BW's face) Did I say cliffhanger, I meant...oh no!
BW: Argh!
(FB runs away)
BW: Come back here, you coward!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Outlaw Star series although government officials might want to give it to me as a peace offering when I leave the alien space craft. I come in peace.
-
The Twilight Generals
From his vantage point on the rooftop, White Fire could see all. He stood on the edge, masked by the shadows of the night, with his eyes locked on the building labelled: 'Starwind and Hawking Enterprises'.
"Got you."
Reaching through the darkness, he fingered the handle of his Orikalcose. But…
Something caught his eye. With lightening reactions his eyes had taken in every minute detail of the five silhouettes standing in the space port before the grappler ship the Outlaw Star. He knew them all instantly and when he spoke his voice a smile.
"So she sent The Twilight Generals? That means her trust in my judgement is wearing thin."
For a brief moment, his darkened form could just be picked out from the shadows but in the blink of an eye, the form dispersed. White Fire was gone.
-
Jim was the first to stir. He rolled over groggily, listening to the approaching footsteps. What kind of client came at…
He glared morbidly at the clock.
…2:28am!
Blindly, he reached out to poke Flynn.
"Flynn…Flynn?…Flynn! Wake up you lazy-"
"Wha?…I'm up." groaned Flynn flicking Jim's finger off of his back. He sat up.
"Whassamatter?" Flynn asked barely moving his mouth.
"Someone's coming." said Jim, more alert.
"What the hell!" exclaimed Flynn. "It's bloody 2:30 in the morning!"
The swift rap on the door roared out through the silence in the building.
"Go and get Gene." instructed Flynn warily.
Nodding in understanding, Jim slipped through the slightly open bedroom door.
Flynn kicked the door wide open and edged towards the front of the building. His hand fell on the smooth handle but he didn't turn it.
"State your business here." called Flynn formally through the door.
"I won't sugar coat it. We're here for Melfina and the red head with the caster." said the man on the other side. His voice was close to the door.
At the top of the stairs, Jim started. He knew that voice.
"What's the matter Jim?" asked Melfina urgently.
"Nothing." said Jim in a confused voice.
"Well aren't we suddenly Mr and Mrs Popular." muttered Gene loading up an automatic pistol and his trusty caster.
Below, Aisha and Suzuka had already joined Flynn at the front door. Aisha's fur bristled, her claws flexed at the thought of battle.
"Now open the door!" insisted another voice.
"Make us!" shouted Aisha angrily.
"Your call." said the man on the other side.
Flynn picked it up before the others. Pushing Aisha aside hesiezed Suzuka's kimono and threw her down on the floor along with himself.
The explosion tore threw the wall like a meteorite. A great bang erupted through the wall and although Flynn and the others had their eyes closed, the searing light still seemed to blind them. Shards of plaster and wood shot over the room like bullets, Gene had to ram into Jim and Melfina to get them down in time.
All of this took place in the space of about twenty seconds. They stepped through the rubble.
"How many are there Osaka?"
"4 fighters, 2 bystanders according to The Midnight Eye." explained the one known as Osaka.
The one nearest the back smiled a smile with no emotion.
"I have foreseen this, you don't need me."
Without further discussion he turned on his heel and walked from the building. As he left, Flynn felt a significant shift in the energies in the air. He had power. More than Flynn had ever felt.
"4 on 4, I get the assassin." hissed Akira. She eyed Suzuka licking her lips. Hearing this, Suzuka pushed Flynn's arm off and readied her wooden sword.
"I want the Ctarl Ctarl." said the younger of the two women stepping forward. Aisha's narrow eyes followed her. She expected her face to masked with the look of a murderer but her face was kind and gentle.
"She's yours Hexen." said Osaka, hand twitching in agreement. His sharp eyes scanned the last one, the man who had spoken before.
"Which one do you want?"
"Gene Starwind." said the man. His eyes were positioned on the top of the stairwell but he wasn't looking at Gene, he was watching Jim.
Jim shivered.
"That means I have you."
Osaka's yellowed eyes regarded Flynn judgementally.
Flynn met his look as though meeting his challenge and stood up.
It was a 1on 1 even match when they had originally outnumbered the Outlaw Star crew. They were toying with them.
Suzuka struck first.
"I've had enough!"
Her wooden sword sliced through the air with deadly force. But Akira knew the rhythms of Suzuka's attack and vaulted backwards bending her body into impossible shapes. The sword cut through the wall like hot butter and Akira remained standing.
Their eyes interlocked.
"Come and get me assassin."
Suzuka thrust forward and plunged her sword into Akira's form. At the last moment Akira shifted outside in a movement too quick for even Suzuka's eyes.
At the same time, Gene had bought out the automatic pistol and had fired at his chosen opponent. The bullet ripped through the air. Gene smirked cockily.
"Bull's eye!"
"Not quite." Gene spun round. The figure of his opponent was crouched low on the opposite side of the stairwell. His frame was still, Jim's struggling frame wasn't.
"Gene, help! Gene!"
Jim felt the prick of the gun nozzle on his neck and was silenced.
-
So in this chapter we're given a lot more information about these weird Twilight General people but who is the guy fighting Gene and how the hell does Jim know him? Also why does everyone keep coming after Gene and Mel? What do they know that the Outlaw Star crew doesn't? And no offence to them or anything but they are in some deep shit with these Twilight Generals. Anyway as usual, the annoying cliffhanger will be sorted out next chapter...if you can stand to wait that long...(manic laughter)
