Chapter 4: Payback
Gene Starwind sat in the pilots seat. Because of the fight earlier they had to wait for Jim (and Gene.) to recover fully. But Jim sat in front of him wide awake and glad to be able to walk. Before he had a broken leg and was bedridden. Gene's ribs were cracked and his arm had bled a lot. Aisha and Suzuka sat at their chairs, Melfina was already connecting to Gillian.
Jim turned around to look at Gene. "You sure your capable of piloting your were hurt bad ,Gene " He whispered. Gene glared at him. "You were a mass of bruises and fractured bones too…" he said back. Jim rolled him eyes and turned back to the keyboard. The outlaw star's engine started up and Blasted up. Gene kept an eye on Jim as it did.
Melfina told Gene that they were being Hailed by a ship. It was a yellow grappler ship with a strange shape. "Hello Gene…we've got to stop meeting like this. "Ron MacDougle joked in a rough voice. This times his lips moved. He was out of the tank and stood near a hologram of his younger brother. "Hello Melfina!" Harry said quickly. "Shut up you jerk!" Gene yelled. Ron glanced at the eleven-year-old.
"Had a nasty fall didn't you !" He taunted. Jim tried to look as calm as The others. He is messing with you ,Jim…trying to get you worried so you can't work the controls. "End transmission!" He yelled , Jim obeyed. The Light dimmed and Gene griped the controls. Engines hummed loudly. Gene glanced at Jim, "Don't sweat it …Those guy are dust…" His partner confronted him. "Be careful Gene…The ships repairs are not good enough to keep us together…"Melfina's voice warned him.
"Don't worry with a Strong C'tarl C'tarl at the guns we can't lose." Aisha bragged. Suzuka gripped the aimer In one hand looking peeved. "TEN MISSLES COMING FROM BOTH SIDES WE CAN"T AVOID THEM!" Melfina shouted. Gene snapped into focus and tried to dodge them anyway. Five hit the front and Jim flinched. Then He fired five antimissile, which blew up the others. Gene smile briefly then threw out the Grappler arms. "MacDOUGAL!"He shouted.
He brought the ship charging into The El' Dorado. The arms dented the ship and Ron's face appeared on the screen, very angry. "Take this. "Ron shouted. The other ship fired missile at the OUTLAW STAR. Jim typed furiously and then a sweat drop appeared. "Were out of missiles Gene." He informed him.
Ron MacDougal sneered, and watched the OUTLAW STAR shaking as the missile hit. Then He pulled out his grappler arms and made dents in the front. Jim began to rock back and fourth. Gene growled , I'm not letting you get hurt again., He told himself. The grappler arms were caught by The OUTLAW STAR's ,then rippled out. Ron and harry looked stunned. "All right ,Gene!" Jim cheered. Aisha looked impressed, The grappler arms burned up in the planets atmosphere. Ron fired two more missiles.
They hit the front of the ship. Jim was thrown into the back of his seat and knocked out. Gene got angry and used the grappler arms to throw the MacDougals towards the Ice planet. "Uh …Ron if we go into that atmosphere were toast!" He said worried. Ron looked furious, Then he pulled the switch. The MacDougale's ship shifted into Hyperdrive.
"We'll finish this later!" Ron shouted. Gene frowned as the OUTLAW STAR's lights grew brighter. Some fight…. The thought angrily. Then He remembered Jim. Jim was waking up now and Turned to Gene. "What'd I miss ?"He asked. "THE MacDOUGALS RAN LIKE COWARDS!" Aisha growled., "A strong C 'tarl C'tarl would never run !" She added.
Gene grinned and let his head fall back. "Mel…Plot a course for Sentinel three." Jim smiled and Melfina laughed. Gillian looked annoyed…"Gene you've really damaged this ship it will take a long time to repair it…"The computer said. "And tons of money…How are we gonna pay for it Gene?" Jim asked in a familiar tone. "Relax! We've got enough!" Gene insisted. Jim's face crunched up, "GENE! "He yelled and the grunted.
Melfina smiled as The two fought. "Gene you always do this! We have to have money to dock and eat!" Gene frowned "we've got plenty of Cargo space." He shouted back. "Yeah but it's partly empty now …You ate it all while you were hurt…"Jim yelled "You were Injured too …I'm not the one who cried until Melfina made you pancakes. "Gene shot back suddenly. Jim flushed and turned away. "I did not…"He retorted. "Gene! As I recall you also begged Melfina to cook you Your favorite dish for five straight weeks." Gillian said.