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Outlaw Hard: Coming of Age	By : Outlaw_Hard Category: +M to R > Outlaw Star Views: 2111 -:- 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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Author’s Note: This story is meant to be a slow-burner, building up over a number of chapters. If you are expecting fireworks right at the start, you may be disappointed. It is my hope that the end justifies the means in this regard, and that it’ll be worth the wait.
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Explosions ripped through the region of space above the gas giant planet Yovust IV. Laser fire speared the darkness, barely missing the Outlaw Star as it jinked to starboard, bringing its own weapons to bear on the pursuing pirate.
“Gene, pull a few more degrees nadir!” Jim called out from the tactical console. “Aisha, Suzuka, get ready to lay down suppressive fire with the blasters so we can force him on the defensive!”
Gene pulled the craft in line with the pirate’s ship and then pushed the nose further in an arc to bring the cannons to bear on the approaching target. The blaster pistol that Gene controlled in the right-hand of the grappler arm was already out of ammunition, leaving him with only the heavy axe and a handful of missiles, aside from the cannons, to fight with.
Shots streaked out toward the pirate ship, which pulled upward and away, only to reveal a battery of missiles, which erupted into a full salvo aimed at the Outlaw Star. The missiles weaved about as they coursed towards their target.
Jim called out, “Evade!” and Gene pitched the ship back suddenly, taking evasive maneuvers. Melfina, who was in the tank assisting with sensing the paths of the missiles, helped Gene feel his way through the attack, setting up the cannons to act as a phalanx defense.
The cannons danced in their turrets as Aisha and Suzuka whittled down the missiles with defensive fire while Gene put the Outlaw Star’s nose back on target with the pirate ship, which was pulling away, already certain of its victory.
“Hold on tight, we’re going to hit this bastard really hard!” Gene called out to the crew as he pushed the craft into a high rate of acceleration. The few missiles that were left overshot their target and circled around to follow after the Outlaw Star. The pair of cannons picked them off with ease.
“Gene, don’t be so reckless damnit!” Jim called out as he was pressed deep into the cushions of his chair.
A sharp grin formed on Gene’s face even as Gilliam sounded two alarms: one for collision, one for structural failure eminent. The klaxons blared and lights flashed their warnings, but Gene was betting it all on one strike to finish the job.
The Outlaw Star’s axe shot forward suddenly, straining the joints of the grappler arm, timed perfectly with the Outlaw Star pulling away at the very last instant from colliding with the now panicked pirate. The axe tore through the skin of the pirate ship, causing one of the engines to explode. The rest of the ship ruptured against the force of the explosion, leaving little more than debris and death behind.
Gene laughed and shouted at the successful kill, easing back on the throttle. The rest of the crew sighed in relief.
Jim glared at Gene, “That was too close, Gene! You could have got us all killed! AGAIN!”
Gene just grinned at Jim, “Come on, we’re all in one piece and we got the bounty! No need to get caught up in the details..”
Shaking his head, Jim fumed. “We’re out of pistol ammo because you couldn’t wait to get in range! We’re almost out of missiles too! What if you had missed with the axe? We’re going to make almost no money on this bounty!”
Melfina sighed and shook her head. It was always like this. Aisha just stretched and yawned against the shouting, while Suzuka simply took the targeting headset off and sipped her tea.
“Come on Jim, knock it off, alright?” Gene said dismissively, “We’ll have plenty of time for you to yell at me when we get back to the shipyard and collect on the bounty.”
Jim’s eyes narrowed at Gene before he stripped off his headset and threw it onto the tactical console. Unstrapping himself from his seat in short sharp motions, he climbed out of it and stalked out of the bridge towards the crew quarters.
Once the door shut, Gene seemed to deflate a bit and sigh.
Aisha was the first to speak, “You’re both getting louder, you know? Aaagh, it’s like you’re an old married couple! It’s getting annoying nya!” She looked over to Suzuka, “You think so too, right?”
Suzuka just shook her head, looking to Gene, “Jim’s right, you know..”
Gene looked sullen, but he nodded, “Yeah, I know. Jim’s always right. He’s just been getting much more..I don’t know, aggressive? Lately it’s like he just won’t let it go, not like he used to.”
Suzuka replied, “He’s turning 17 soon. He isn’t as easy-going as he used to be when he was a child.”
Aisha nodded to Suzuka and looked to Gene, “Nyeah! He’s getting older and stronger too! I bet he could give you a run for your money, Gene Starwind!” Her expression turned to a mocking leer, “He might just win, too..”
Gene laughed, almost automatically, at the thought. “Jim’s way too young to take me on. He’ll have to wait a few more years to get the best of me,” he quipped easily to Aisha.
Suzuka sighed a little and took another sip of her tea.
“What?” Gene asked, having noticed the sigh, “You think he could pilot the Outlaw Star better than I can? He’s just a kid!”
Suzuka replied evenly, “You’re the one who has been saying that for the past couple years. I believe you’re the only one who hasn’t realized he isn’t a child anymore.” With that, she stood up from the gunnery chair and quietly made her way back to the crew quarters.
Gene stared at her as she left, stunned. He looked to Aisha, “What did that mean? I know Jim better than any of you..”
Aisha shook her head and also sighed, “You’re an idiot.” She left her chair and followed after Suzuka.
Watching Aisha leave, Gene looked to Melfina in the tank. She gazed back at him with a worried expression.
Gilliam announced, “We are nearing the wreckage, Gene.”
Gene looked back to the viewport and shook his head, “Well, I’ll have to deal with him once we’re done here and back at the station. Melfina, start setting up the coordinates to get back.”
Melfina called out through her mind’s connection with the tank, “Yes, Gene.”
The grappler arms secured their weapons into the ship’s body and reached out to began collecting parts of the pirate ship as both proof of bounty and for scrap.
“Oh, and Gene..” Melfina began.
“What is it Melfina?” Gene asked as he focused on gathering the twisted metal with the grappler hands.
Melfina hesitated for a moment, and then replied, “Jim is a man now. He isn’t the child that was there when I first met you both. He has grown strong..but he feels like he isn’t able to measure up to you. You’re like an older brother to him..but more.”
Gene replied, “Well, he’s like a kid brother to me..”
Melfina cut in, “But he’s not a child anymore. You should talk with him about this and see how he really feels.”
Gene grumbled, “Why am I the bad guy in this?” but didn’t say anything more until the salvage operation was complete.
Once the remnants of the pirate ship was secure, Gene called out, “Let’s head back to the station, Melfina.” As the ship turned to head back, Gene couldn’t help but add, “Maybe Jim will have cooled off by then..”
Melfina only shook her head a little before focusing on entering the pre-plotted course back to the station that had issued the bounty on the pirate.
Only after the ship was fully underway did Gene unstrap himself from the pilot’s chair and relax. He closed his eyes and soon nodded off. Melfina watched this, but did not attempt to wake him, letting him get a nap while he could.
Gene had no idea what sort of dream lay in store for him while he napped…
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Outlaw Hard: Coming of Age