For The Soul of The Stars: Issued Challenge

Written By: Lynderia

Disclaimer: Outlaw Star is not a creation of mine, but For The Soul of The Stars is. ‘Nuff said!! ^_^

Upon passing Ronald MacDougall, Gene aimed his loaded caster. “Don’t think about it.” Gene knew they were working with Jaguar and probably still working with him. He wasn’t going to take any chances.

Ron raised an eyebrow. “What business would I have with you, Gene Starwind?” He just wanted to get off this planet. He hoped his guest would hurry up and arrive.

“You’re working with Jaguar, are you not?” Suzuka asked.

“My business is of my own lady. Don’t put your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Ron landed in front of them with his own caster in hand.

“If you think I’m going to let you take Jim, you’re dead wrong, MacDougall.” Aisha shouted. She felt ready to fight. This time she would go all out. Nothing would stop her; she was a Ctarl-Ctarl warrior.

Why were they here? “My brother and I aren’t afraid of your worthless threats.” Harry said as he walked out of the ship. He was sporting a smile on his refreshed face.

He looked happy. She had never seen him quite like that. “Harry.” Melfina said.

“Don’t speak to me Melfina. You have no right.” Harry looked away from them.

Melfina was a bit hurt. Why did he hate her so much? She had to find out. “Why, Harry?”

“You left me. Left me all alone.” Harry said sadly. He thought she was his friend. He learned she would never love him while she was in love with Starwind, but she was his friend who left him alone in that horrible place. The world of data was so lonely, but a person who he had known longer than her had saved him; Kat had saved him.

Melfina felt guilt. Was it possible that his mind had been digitized because of her? If that was so, Harry got stuck in the cold world of data. She disliked going in there to even to navigate the Outlaw Star. That was one of the reasons why she always felt alone. Maybe that’s why she became Gene’s girlfriend for about nine months, to not feel lonely, but it wasn’t enough and she needed something more. “I’m sorry.”

“Whatever.” Harry said not looking at her.

Proteus couldn’t know Harry’s pain, but he did understand. He watched as Gene and Ron were shouting at each other, which was very uninteresting. He looked around the dock and saw a figure in a white hooded cloak. His eyes widen. Had she come to apologize? Had she come back to stay with him?

She watched every step she took. This was destiny. Every step she took was predestined. Kat sighed, she was beginning to understand destiny and fate. She knew destiny could always change, but fate could never change. There were always a wide variety of paths to take to get to a destination. Kat suddenly stopped in front of the shouting group. She just became aware of their voices.

“You finally decided to join us.” Ron spoke. His throat was sore from shouting.

Knowing she wouldn’t answer, “Let’s go then.” Harry said leading her into the Shangrilla. He was happy she was going to be traveling with them, even if it was just for a little while.

He jerked her back. What was she doing? “Kat.” Proteus said.

She didn’t answer. Kat knew the moment she opened her mouth weakness would be shown. She couldn’t allow that. Her heart was still shattered from the day before.

He held her arm firmly. “Were these the paying clients you were talking about? Did you purposely get me upset because you knew I wouldn’t approve?” Proteus watched her from the back. She gave no indication she was paying attention. “Kat, answer me!!”

Kat felt a hard lump in her throat; she swallowed it and opened her mouth, “If you continue to stand in my way, I will have no choice but to destroy you.” Her voice was a monotone, but held an edge of iciness.

“I see.” Proteus felt crushed as he allowed his hand to fall to his side defeated. She was treating him as an enemy; someone she seemly hated. Why was she doing this? What had changed between them?

Harry saw the hurt in Proteus’ eyes and smiled. This was perfect.

‘I’m so sorry Proteus, please forgive me. Please!!!’ Kat thought still staring at her boots. She was sorry. Proteus didn’t deserve this; she didn’t deserve him.

He couldn’t let her leave-not again. Jim felt something. Something was taking a hold of him again, and he was gone. Jim’s hands grabbed onto Kat’s wrists. “You will not be going anywhere.” The voice was dark and held humor.

She felt something, but didn’t know what it was. She knew it wasn’t Jim, it was something else. Maybe because it was in Jim’s body she couldn’t sense it-this so called ‘Uriel’. “I go where I please.”

Her arms were brought behind her. “As you can see, I’m stronger than you, and like I said before, you shall be near me at all times.” the voice laughed.

Kat tried as hard as she could to free herself, but she couldn’t. This thing was strong. She felt herself being pulled back; almost dragged. “Jim, wake up!”

Gene watched as Jim walked off with Kat. The amazing thing was that he was using one hand to hold both her wrist behind her. This wasn’t the Jim he knew. Gene watched in horror as a figure appeared a few yards away from Jim. “Jim!!”

He couldn’t fail. His masters had healed him from his burns but replaced them with their own. It had taken awhile, but he had healed. Jaguar watched Jim dragging Kat. This was his chance. “You.”

Jim’s body stopped, “I see you come back for me. Your last attempt was a bit pathetic.” the dark voice laughed.

Jaguar titled his head to the side. He could sense its power. It had grown since their last encounter. “My masters thought it was time to get you. Are you ready to go?”

“The Dark Stars wish to have a meeting with me, I accept. Plus, I have a present for them.”

If anyone could see Kat’ eyes, they filled with shock, fear, sadness, and almost tears. She didn’t want to go back. She couldn’t go back, and what about Jim. If they got Jim, wouldn’t the universe be destroyed. Her aura flared.

Jaguar watched as Jim’s eyes filled with excitement.

“Do you think your battle aura can stop me? And if your not careful you can kill the boy.” the voice warned. It was enjoying itself.

She had to do something. “Jim, you must fight. You must come back.”

“Your words have no effect.” the voice said walking toward Jaguar.

“Jim!”

“Kat, I can’t…” It was Jim’s voice. The sweet, caring, loving voice that everyone knew and loved.

“Jim you must. You must fight. Do you want people to die? Do you want Gene, your Anki, to die?!” Kat shouted.

Jim’s hand released her wrists. He fell to his knees. “Kat…I’m.”

Jaguar snarled in annoyance. The boy was only a couple of inches away from him. Jaguar ran full speed towards the kneeling Jim.

Kat sensed Jaguar’s movement, and in a swift movement grabbed Jim and jumped from the path.

“Nice move. You will hand the boy over, my Kitty.”

Kat removed her white hooded cloak and wrapped it around Jim. “Don’t take it off.” She whispered. She stared at Jaguar.

A realization suddenly hit him, “It was you, wasn’t it?!!” he shouted in anger.

Kat said nothing and continued to stare at him. Her eyes didn’t waver. It held nothing but ice.

“You sent that Dragon! Yes, it had to be you.” Her power was the only power, so far, he couldn’t sense, and he didn’t sense that Dragon. He looked at her. She said nothing.

Proteus had been listening. If what Jaguar said was true, Kat hadn’t abandoned them. She had to be hiding something, but what?

“Very well. I will have to teach you a lesson.” Jaguar said standing in a fighting stance.

*Get the boy, Jaguar.*

*Yes, we will deal with the girl.*

*Do not fail again!*

*We will take great pleasure in punishing you again.*

*Do as we ask, Jaguar. Remember you are important to us, so do what is asked.*

*Yes, your eminences.* Jaguar answered telepathically. He still wasn’t used to his masters telepathically voicing their demands.

Jaguar ran toward Kat and threw a punch. Kat blocked, but was sent reeling back. Jaguar’s hands reached out to grab the frightened Jim. Something happened, energy burst from the cloak Jim wore, sending Jaguar crashing into a wall yards away.

Kat got to Jim, and took him to Gene, “Leave now.”

Gene, at first, stared at her. “Are you coming?”

“Don’t question me, leave!” Kat turned her attention to Ron and Harry, “Let’s go.”

Harry nodded and ran into the ship. Ron stared at Kat, “What…”

“Get in the damn ship!!” Kat said. She shoved him in, and was about to go in herself when a strong wind, directed only at her, blew her yards away from the Shangrilla.

Kat stood ready to run back, but the Shangrilla was gone in that one second. She sensed their power. She was so close. They took away her last chance.

“We’ve heard so much about you from Jaguar.” A voice said as a hooded figure appeared. One by one hooded figures appeared.

Kat stared. It was The Dark Stars. Did they know who she was?

Suzuka got a terrible feeling. She could sense each of their powers, and each was immense. But, there was one which was a notch higher than the rest. She also noted their respective colors. Blue, Red, Black, Purple, and Grey-Silver. The one in Grey-Silver had the highest power level, and they all used Tao Magic. “Kat, a word of advice, get away from them.”

“Now, why would she what to do that? We won’t harm her, not that much anyway.” Black said. It was said in a humorous tone.

“If you think I’m going to let you hurt her, you’re wrong!” Proteus shouted.

“How interesting? The bio android made out of Dragon Metallic thinks he can do something about it.” Red said. The voice was murderous; ready to do battle.

“Everyone should calm down. No use wasting energy on them.” Blue said. The tone of the statement was rational.

“Ah, that’s right. Why waste time on inferior beings? They are only mortals and we can destroy them at anytime.” Purple said. The opinion was voiced in a conceited way.

Grey-Silver said nothing as he stared at Kat. Kat kept her gaze on the ground. She hoped they didn’t know who she was. She prayed that they didn’t.

“In the last battle you said it wasn’t your fight, but now this is your battle. If you do not fight I will kill the male bio android. Do you accept this battle girl?” Grey-Silver said.

What choice did she have? If she didn’t fight, Proteus would die and it would be all her fault. His life would end without him fully evolving into a human being, he wouldn’t be able to experience certain things, and she would truly lose him forever. “I accept this battle.”

End

After Thoughts: Whoa!! I’m kind of speechless at the moment. Kat and The Dark Stars are going to street fight, who will win?? Hm…. Want to know?! ^_^ You’re just going to have to wait until the next chapter!! ~~Lynderia