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Outlaw Hard: Coming of Age	By : Outlaw_Hard Category: +M to R > Outlaw Star Views: 2112 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Outlaw Star, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Jim sat in the pilot’s chair, his arms stretched out across the controls. He was familiar with the controls, having studied the functions and mechanisms in depth, as well as having watched Gene work them for the past few years.
Gilliam spoke to Jim through the pink bot that he preferred, “We should have you fully trained to pilot the Outlaw Star, Jim, in case Gene is ever incapacitated.”
Jim grinned for a moment, “I’d love to fly, yes. It only makes sense to have a backup pilot, especially for emergencies.”
Gilliam replied, “You have the capacity to learn. We should have Gene teach you as soon as possible.”
Aisha and Suzuka were at their stations, though they wouldn’t be needed for the docking process. In fact, only Gene and Melfina were necessary, but the rest of the crew was much more comfortable being up front rather than waiting in the back.
Gene entered from the rear and came upon Jim, sitting in the pilot’s chair. He was about to crack a smart-ass remark, but he was still distracted by his swirling thoughts and emotions. He settled for ruffling Jim’s hair.
“So you think you’re ready for the hot seat, eh Jim?” he asked with a grin.
Jim’s mood darkened a bit at the hair ruffling, but he held back and just replied, “I’ve mentally ready for years, but now I feel like I’m physically ready, yes. Will you train me?”
The directness of Jim’s reply surprised Gene. He was expecting outrage at being treated like a kid, or even the usual banter about being cost-effective or something Jim-esque. He was so surprised that a moment passed before he recovered.
“Uh, sure Jim..” he replied slowly.
Suddenly Gene realized that Jim was staring back at him, his eyes full of confidence and determination. It was like Gene was looking in the mirror back when he first took the controls of the Outlaw Star. Something sparked within Gene, something he hadn’t felt since he first met Hilda all those years back. But, unlike then, the roles were reversed. He was now the expert and Jim was the brash upstart. Gene couldn’t help but grin and returned the stare equally.
“Yeah..why don’t you go ahead and dock with the station, Jim?” Gene stated evenly. “This’ll be your first lesson.”
Jim’s eyes bulged a little..but he recovered quickly and shrugged, “Sure, I’ve seen you do it a bunch of times before.”
The rest of the crew watched this in fascination. Aisha giggled softly in amusement while Suzuka simply closed her eyes, leaning back in her station chair quietly. Melfina looked pensive.
Gene whistled a little, “So you think you can handle this on your own without any help?”
Jim nodded, “Yeah I think so.”
Gene replied, “Fine by me.. I’ll be in your usual seat.”
Gilliam’s pink bot swiveled on its track and moved to above Jim’s head, “We’re ready to begin docking procedures, Jim.”
Jim nodded to Gilliam’s bot and replied, “Right. Pilot’s checklist.”
With that, the usual protocols began with checklists and clearance requests from the station. Everyone watched Jim go through the procedure as if he were an old hand at it. After a short time, it was the moment of truth, where the mental requirements met the physical demands.
Jim eased the Outlaw Star forward, his hands firmly gripping the controls. The ship moved according to his hands and the power surged through him right to his core. He felt the ship respond to even his fingertips. However, Jim was not Gene, and he focused on the task at hand.
Melfina could feel the differences in how the ship handled as soon as Jim’s hands touched the console. It was clear that Jim would not be the reckless hotshot that Gene was. He would never take as many risks, he would never risk the crew’s lives without completely understanding what it meant to do so. There was no hesitation in Jim’s hands, just certainty of purpose that would ensure the best outcome every time he piloted the Outlaw Star. Her pensive expression faded into a warm smile and she closed her eyes within the tank.
Aisha and Suzuka both watched curiously, not nearly as connected to the ship as Melfina was. For them, it was a moment of suspense. They were so used to Gene’s man-handling of the ship and reckless piloting that this seemed too slow, too easy. There were no collision klaxons blaring, no near misses. They couldn’t help but wait for some slip-up, some sort of crazy moment that seemed to always come to Gene far too quickly.
Instead, the docking procedure went like clockwork. Jim eased the Outlaw Star into the station’s docking clamps and secured the ship in the berth.
“Docking complete, Jim. Shall we connect to the station with the gangway?” Gilliam asked.
“Sure Gilliam, connect the gangway and contact the station’s salvage office, Jim replied. “We should get the salvage authenticated and offloaded as soon as we can so we can get the funds transferred into our account.”
“Yes Jim, I will contact them,” Gilliam replied.
Aisha couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing. She began rolling in her station chair, unable to stop, tears in her eyes amid the laughter.
Gene glared at Aisha, “What’s so funny?”
Suzuka replied on Aisha’s behalf, “Gene, we docked safely.”
“Yeah, so?” Gene replied with a frown, “I dock us all the time..”
“Yes, and emergency crews are always on stand-by when we signal the station that we’re on approach,” she replied cooly. “The station manager usually yells at us by now and we have to somehow convince them that we’re not trying to ram the station and that we’re not terrorists.”
Gene sputtered, but Aisha stopped laughing long enough to add, “Jim’s like a professional pilot compared to you, hahahah!”
Jim stood up from the pilot’s chair and stretched, “Everyone, the gangway is attached, so feel free to head into the station. I’m going to meet the salvage foreman and get that pirate wreckage scraped out of our hold.” He clapped Gene on the shoulder as he passed by, “Thanks Gene, it was great getting to dock the Outlaw Star.”
Gene stood with his mouth open, but he just stared at Jim as he left the bridge.
Aisha stood and stretched, “Nyaaaah that was fun!” She giggled at Gene as she made her way out of the bridge, but didn’t comment further.
Suzuka followed soon after Aisha.
Melfina watched Gene for a moment before speaking to him through the ship, “Gene, I’m going to head into the station with Aisha and Suzuka. Are you joining us..?”
Gene closed his mouth finally and looked to Melfina, “Uh, no, you three go on ahead.” He ran his hand through his hair, “I’m going to, uh, check on the salvage..yeah..”
Melfina smiled a little and nodded. The tube retracted into the deck along with her.
What the hell just happened? When did Jim learn how to pilot the Outlaw Star? And what’s with everyone laughing at me? I’m the best pilot in the galaxy damnit! I’ve proven it time and again! Che…
Gene made his way out of the bridge. He couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen next...
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Outlaw Hard: Coming of Age