For The Soul of The Stars: Never Changing

Written by: Lynderia

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Outlaw Star. However, I do own the clay face creatures and Kat. Thank you.

Were they nuts? They were in a spaceport. Gene pushed Melfina behind him as they both stood behind the Outlaw Star. “Gene, what do they want?” Melfina asked. She really didn’t understand the situation, or what Kat and Ronald had been speaking about.

Gene wasn’t sure, but he knew it had to be Kat. “I would guess Kat, but I’m not about to let them take my only lead to Uriel.” Gene said returning fire.

Instead of the clay face creatures engaging in physical, hand to hand, combat with the crew of the Outlaw Star and Kat, they had energy beams shooting out from their hands.

Ronald MacDougall stood watching. He didn’t have much to do. These creatures he was given were completely Tao magic, he was told no weapon known to man could stop them, not even a caster.

Kat scanned her inventory. She needed a weapon that could take out a lot of them with one shot. All the weapons she made were based on a totally different technological system. “Got it, the domino.”

“Kat, all we want is to team up with you. Is it that so bad?” Harry asked. He had imagined how fun it would be to work alongside Kat. She had saved him from the world of data. The world of data was a place where touch, smell, taste could not exist; it was lonely there, he had no one to talk to, to see, to touch, to smell, or even taste. He was alone, but she saved him-Kat saved him.

Kat was on top of the Outlaw Star. “Hey, Clay Faces!!” Just as she suspected, one after the other, they came after her jumping in the air. She had to target one just right. Kat knew now the clay face creatures worked in some sort of organized system. If she could break a major link, others would follow. She fired. The shot was a tiny red dot; it pierced through the face of one.

Ron stared. The clay face creature was supposed to regenerate itself, and by the looks of things it was doing exactly that. He smiled as the creature grew back its head. Suddenly, the head exploded, which caused a chain reaction. Ronald’s smile was turned upside down as he watched one by one the clay face creatures’ heads explode.

Jim stared in disbelief. Caster shells had no effect on the creatures, but a tiny dot did. What kinds of weapons was Kat using? “Kat, what was that?”

Kat still stood on the ship. Three were left out of, approximately six dozen, maybe more. She slipped the gun she held back into her small blue case and she pulled out another one. It was a bit bigger than her pervious weapon, and she fired it. The shape of the energy that was released for the weapon was a large lance. It plunged into the remaining three clay face creatures disintegrating their bodies. Jumping off the Outlaw Star, “Check and Mate, Ron.” Kat held an icy stare as she casually walked over to the MacDougall Brothers. “Leave”

Somehow Kat go the upper hand. Hilda always got the upper hand on him, and now Kat. Ronald MacDougall, now, was not a happy man. “Maybe next time.” he said walking out.

Harry couldn’t believe his brother. They were going to leave just like that? “Ron…” he began to protest.

“Come on Harry. There will always be another day.” Ronald sighed. He really had to teach his brother more about this line of work. Sometimes you win , sometime you lose, or sometimes you call it even and re-strategize. In this case the question was made and the answer was given, simple fact of the matter.

Harry sighed. He looked at Kat, who was still sending ice daggers at him. Harry stepped forward, stretched out a hand, and was about to move Kat’s hair from the side of her face when he felt something hard at the base of his neck.

“I think I heard your older brother is calling you, so you better go.” Kat said holding her gun at him. She didn’t move her icy stare from him.

“Then I guess I’ll see ‘ya around.” Harry waved, exiting. ‘Someday Kat, just someday.’ he thought meeting his brother in the long corridor.

Kat looked at her watch; it was only 9:30. It almost seemed like the night was over and the sun was about to rise. She was hungry, time to get something to eat.

Kat sat at a table followed by five other people. “What are you, freaking stalkers? God damn it!!” Kat said. She just wanted to have some time to herself, was that so much to ask for?

The crew of the Outlaw Star said nothing and stared at her. It was their turn to give her the silent treatment.

“Hey Cece, lemme have plain white rice, no salt, baked Salmon with a little butter, and cabbage, dash of chicken broth. Oh yeah, and a bottle of fine wine.” Kat ordered.

“Honey, what about you friends?” asked the woman in a regal waitress outfit.

“What friends? The ugly ones sitting at my table, but really doesn’t exist.” Kat smiled.

CeCe started laughing. She worked in this small restaurant, hell she owned this small restaurant. In all her years she hadn’t met anyone like Kat. At first glance she thought Kat was a lost fourteen year old looking for a job, but then she noticed Kat to be a girl of very few words, which made her seem older. Kat always seemed to come in when no one else was dining, and she, CeCe, would tell Kat her life story. Kat never complained, or told her to go away, she would always listen. One night when she came to talk with Kat, Kat told her, CeCe, her age and occupation. She was shocked, but Kat also told her that it was alright to not talk to her anymore, and that she would understand. CeCe smiled at the memory. Yes, Kat was a piece of work.

Kat ate slowly, enjoying each sensation on her taste buds.

Aisha looked on as she held her stomach. Kat was making her hungry! “Excuse me,” Aisha addressed CeCe, “but can I have a large order of what Kat’s having?!”

Everyone else thought that they were the only ones who Kat made hungry, but quickly pushed it aside to order something to eat. CeCe laughed; what a show!

“That was so delicious!” Aisha said wiping her mouth.

“Yes, very good.” Melfina smiled. Dinner was actually uneventful, which she was happy for.

“I’m stuffed. I don’t think I can eat another bite.” Jim said.

“Both you and me buddy!” Gene said sitting back in his chair.

“Yes, a very excellent meal.” Suzuka agreed.

Kat sipped the last of her wine, “Uncivilized pigs.” They ordered for an army and sat stuffing their faces. Once or twice she had to brush chunks of food off her face. The worse of it was they all ate with their mouths open, damn cows.

CeCe smiled. This was the first time she had ever seen Kat have a meal with anyone.

“So Kat, are you going to help us find Uriel?” Gene asked. The question was casual, like it was apart of everyday conversation.

Kat looked at the ceiling. She was only eighteen, who could she possibly help? She was always getting into trouble. What should she tell them? Kat closed her eyes. She knew they all had good hearts; she saw their hearts, and Rock had told Gene to come to her, but… “I suppose.” Kat said looking at Gene.

Gene only stared at her. He was looking for something but what. “Well then, good. I was ready to get really violent on you.”

Instead of retorting, Kat got up to paid for her meal. “Here CeCe.”

“Night Honey.” CeCe said looking at the money she was given. “Kat, how many times must I tell you I don’t need such a large tip? At this rate you’re going to go bankrupt.”

“Night CeCe. And take care of yourself and your kids.” Kat said exiting.

Gene and crew got ready to leave. “You don’t think I’m going to let you skip out on the bill.” CeCe inquired.

“But I saw Kat give you 200 wong.” Aisha objected.

“That was for her meal, now if you don’t have the money there are dishes to be washed, a floor to be sweep and mopped, and tables to be cleaned!” CeCe said with a grin. She had known they didn’t have money, but she still fed them.

Aisha sighed, “Point me to the kitchen.”

“I’ll sweep.” Melfina said.

“I’ve got the tables.” Jim said getting a rag.

And here he thought he was getting a free meal, “I guess there’s nothing for me to do.” Gene said slouching a little more.

“You get the windows!” CeCe said. “And you…” She began to address Suzuka.

“Will pay for her meal, and leave a tip.” Suzuka said resting money on the table. “I’ll see you later Gene.” Suzuka said walking out.

Some things just never change.

End

After Thoughts: This was really a simple chapter, nothing really all that important happened except Kat agreeing to help Gene find Uriel. This chapter also gives the idea that the crew’s habits haven’t changed much in the last year, and it also gives us the relationship established between Kat and the MacDougall Brothers. Thanks for reading. ~~Lynderia