I don't own Outlaw Star. If I did, I wouldn't have to go to school. If I didn't go to school, I might have a life. If I had a life, I wouldn't be writing this story. So be glad.
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"You will stay in this chair," the C'tarl's deep golden eyes glared menacingly at Fred, paralyzing the young merchant on the spot, "Or you'll end up looking like your guards back there." Fred hid his face in terror as he sat in one of the dark green passenger seats of the tiny grappler ship. With a snort, the assassin walked to the pilot seat and spoke to his computer. "Artemis, set coordinates for an indirect route to Heiphong V. We'll stay there for a few days and re-supply," He then plopped comfortably in his seat and began to type something on a screen being reflected into his eye.
Fred sat timidly, afraid to even utter the smallest of sounds as he fidgeted uncomfortably with his long black hair. Minutes passed like hours, and hours like days, as time always seems to when you don't want it too, and the C'tarl still clicked away at his holo-keyboard. Fred had fallen asleep twice to the sound of that keyboard, sang countless road trip songs in his head countless times, and even made up a few parodies for his favorite song. Most of these parodies of course having to do with him getting together with Gene, or getting out of the mess he was in. But even such things as these cannot provide the mental stimulation a young man needs to stay in his right mind. It could have been the constant clacking of keys, or the total indifference from his capturer, but something in Fred had finally snapped. He needed to say something; he needed to communicate with another living organism before he went stark raving mad. And the only other living thing he knew of, was the one he was the most afraid to talk to.
Gathering the bravery he needed to open his mouth, Fred started small, "Can I at least know your name or something? It's not like I'm going to be able to get away or anything". The C'tarl's head snapped up, as if coming out of a trance, and made Fred jump.
"My name is of no importance to you. Shouldn't you be worried about other things, like your life maybe?" The assassin rotated in his seat to look at the weapon dealer, who still sat perfectly still.
"You haven't killed me yet, so you probably don't plan to," a rather smug look crossed Fred's face, at least for a man being held hostage, "That's usually how these things work, isn't it?"
"It's Anoki. Anoki Chyro Chyro" He replied dryly, turning back to his keyboard.
"Do you mind if we talk? I know I'm not in the position to complain but," Fred glanced in the direction of his audience who looked back at him irritably, "but aren't you bored at all? You've done nothing but type for the last 6 hours!" Fred sighed, almost disappointed at his complete lack of response from Anoki at all, "You're an odd one all right. All the C'tarl I'm aquatinted with, you can't get to shut up, if you'd even want to. They're usually so interesting… But then, assassins usually kill you, too."
"I doubt you've met anyone of real value to the C'tarl C'tarl Empire, why don't you meet one of them and tell me if you've changed your mind" Anoki mumbled, keeping his pace in whatever it was that he was typing.
"Ambassador Plenipotentiary and General of the Ca' Hote Hone, I think Aisha Clan Clan is of high enough rank, don't you?" a rather peeved Fred replied, who was this man to tell him whether or not his friends were important people? Anoki's ears flicked, and in one quick, gravity-defying moment he sprang up. Floating in what seemed like weightlessness; time seemed to pass slowly as the C'tarl maneuvered in the air. Gracefully flipping and maneuvering his body with those cat-like reflexes, he landed silently behind Fred, nearly a whole room's length away. Grabbing his chin, Anoki turned Fred's face dangerously close to his own.
White fangs glistening in the dull light and gold eyes hiding a dangerous flame in them, he said simply, "never say that name, ever again." He let go of Fred less than gently, walking back over to his seat with a growl in his throat.
Fred, no longer afraid of what might have been the end, but not willing to cause any more conflict than he was already in, continued, "What are you typing anyway?"
"I" Anoki was lightening up a bit, though still agitated from the uttering of Aisha's name, "Am trying to find the words to get a pardon for your life. My employer knows I haven't killed you yet, and is not happy". With a sigh, he pounded one last key and turned off the handheld computer. "I suppose that will have to do. It's just not my style to kill, if it can be helped," The brunette slouched back in his chair, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pants pocket and playing with it in his fingers, "Not that I won't kill, or seriously injure, mind you. So watch yourself, asshole... But when you're in Mr. Bigshot-Moneymaker's hands, you're not my problem anymore." He patted his pack against his hand and pulled out a cigarette, examining it for a moment before putting it in his mouth, "And as soon as you're not on my conscience, I don't give a fuck about what happens to you. You probably deserve what's coming to you anyway."
"If you don't like to kill, then why, exactly, are you and assassin?" Fred stared dumbfounded at Anoki, glad that he wasn't dead yet, but dreading their arrival to where ever they were going now more than ever, "no offense, but you could fly a grappler ship through that logic."
"It pays the bills and buys me cigarettes, hell, a job's a job right?" Anoki grinned, lighting up that cigarettes and taking a grateful puff.
"If you put it that way, any job would be worth it. If you don't like what you're doing, you might as well resort to prostitution or something just as low," Fred didn't know why, but he was beginning to feel an amount of disappointment in the man. How could anyone live a life they weren't suited for? Anoki seemed to be as intelligent as Aisha had been, her honors in high school and college showing through her rough exterior and landing her a leading job in the empire until her expulsion.
"As they say" Anoki stood up and strolled leisurely through the room for a moment before leaning against the wall and taking another puff, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but whips and chains excite me" he winked coyly. Fred's eyes widened, surprised by the words the C'tarl a few feet in front of him had said. Shaking it off, Fred looked disgustedly at the cigarette in Anoki's mouth.
"What's your problem? Don't like a good smoke?" Anoki blew some of the foggy veil towards Fred, "Not my problem, you can just fucking deal. Plus, if you die from it, then I did my job anyway. Why don't we go to the kitchen unit and get something to eat, I guess your company would be alright 'till it's time to drop you off, until you do something stupid like try to escape." The C'tarl made a shape like a gun with his hand and closed one eye to pretend to aim and fire at Fred, "Because then I'll put a bullet in the back of your fuckin' brain. Got it?"
"Sure, whatever. One last question," Fred waved away the smoke with a motion of his hand, "You have the first computer I've ever known with a female name, did you name her?"
"Actually, yes I did. Artemis was a goddess worshipped on the ancient planet Earth by some cultures as the deity of the hunt and the moon. Seems appropriate for a C'tarl ship, doesn't it?" And with that Anoki led Fred farther into the spaceship, answering Fred's questions and asking questions of his own.
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AN:
Blargh. Fine, I'll probably have Chapters 4 and 5 up by the second of July. We'll see. I make no promises.