For The Soul of The Stars: Discovery of The Heart

Written By: Lynderia

Disclaimer: It’s a real shame that I do not own Outlaw Star and its characters. However, I do own Kat, Proteus, The Dark Stars, and all new characters introduced to make this story.

Aisha gobbled down the last of her breakfast. “Thanks Melfina. It was great!!” Aisha smiled as Melfina smiled back. She was trying hard for worry not to consume her thoughts, but she couldn’t get the thought of something horrible happening to Jim out her head. In one more day they would be at their destination. Aisha often thought Kat was leading them into a trap to try to get rid of them and run away, but it didn’t seem like that anymore. Kat had stayed in her room for almost a week now. She couldn’t get over the feeling that Kat didn’t want them around because that was the only way to protect all of them. “No, that can’t be right. She’s a bitch!” Aisha whispered.

“Did you say you wanted seconds?” Melifna asked as she stirred her pot. In one more day they would be able to save Jim.

“Yes please!!” Aisha laughed.

She smiled to herself as she heard Aisha laughed. She guessed it was good that all of them tried to hide their worries about the situation. One more day until she would have to face her past. Kat’s expression changed as she entered the kitchen.

The food Aisha was about to put in her mouth didn’t make it.

The spoon Melfina held dropped, landing loudly on the floor. This was an unexpected surprise.

Suzuka swallowed a bit harder than usual. She didn’t expect the girl to ever come out of her room. They had one more day before they would reached their given destination. Suzuka never thought Kat could be so much of a hermit and totally ignore what was around her. She wondered what Kat did in her room for so long.

Proteus smiled. He was happy she had finally come out of that room. He was beginning to think she was sick of him. “Decided to stop being a room hermit.” He chuckled a bit.

Kat could no long hold her flat expression as a smile lit her face up with brilliance. He could always make her smile. Kat made her way towards him and sat on his lap. “I can’t believe your eating that crap. I’m not going anywhere near anything Nature’s Freak cooked!”

Proteus shook his head. He knew Kat would make a comment, but this way he knew she was her normal self. “It won’t hurt you to try some.”

Melfina didn’t know what to think of those two. Why was Proteus, besides Jim, the only person Kat ever smiled at? Were they lovers and she was just now seeing it? She was first attracted to Proteus on a superficial level; he was a bio android like her. Melfina could no longer say that she was only attracted to him just because he was a bio android. She loved the person he was. Proteus was so open and warm. Maybe she was in love with Proteus, or falling in love with him. Melfina was unsure, but she was sure that she held special feelings for him.

“I rather eat dirt, thank you very much!”

Proteus laughed and ruffled her hair. Kat began to complain as he continued to laugh. It was a shame she wasn’t like this with others. He wished Kat would open up to people like she had done with him and a few others.

Those two looked like they were in a different world. “Kat, I need to know what the planet is going to be like.” Gene said calmly staring at her. For a minute there she reminded him of Katrina. Katrina had always sat in Proteus’ lap, while he got bitten by Twinkle. He did miss her and the annoying kitten. Gene was sure that Katrina was the same girl he had met when he was a child, but what did she have to do with all of this? Why had she shown up in the first place?

Kat’s flat expression returned as she looked at Gene. “You’ll know what it’s like when you see it.”

What kind of an answer was that? He did have another question for her though. “Who is Katrina?”

“How should I know that? I never met the little girl. And from what I’ve been told she was very intelligent and had a guardian beast named Twinkle.” Kat wondered why he would suddenly ask that.

Gene stared at her. He couldn’t tell if she was lying, but he felt some connection to both Kat and Katrina. He just didn’t know.

The Outlaw Star started to shake suddenly. Gilliam didn’t know what was going on. It seemed like a force was pulling at the ship. “Gene, please come to the bridge!” The Outlaw Star shook again knocking the people on board off their feet.

Looking on the view screen, “What is that?!?!” Gene shouted looking at the large creature. Not only was the creature large, it was hideous as well.

“I don’t have any data on it, Gene. But if it continues to bump into the ship…” Gilliam began.

“Yeah, I know.” Gene said staring at the creature in anger.

She didn’t like this. It seemed as if The Dark Stars were trying to find out if she was on the ship. Kat began, “Gilliam, it’s a Dogen. It’s a creature with immense power. If you’re not careful it will drain the ship of all its power.”

The Dogen spoke, “I have come to challenge Gene Starwind. As Uriel’s Guardian he must die. The Dark Stars has declared it so. Come Gene Starwind, fight me on the battlefield, or your friends and yourself shall die on this ship.”

“Gene.” Melfina said. Things were going so smoothly. She almost had forgotten about the dangers they would have to face when rescuing Jim.

“You’re not going to fight that thing alone, are you Gene?!” Aisha asked. She couldn’t see how Gene would be able to stand up against that thing without all their help. She just didn’t want to see him do it alone, she wanted to help in anyway she could.

“He has no choice but to fight me alone.” the Dogen said. It’s green eyes blazed with unnatural energy.

“What is your decision Gene?” Suzuka asked. She was thinking Kat was the one who had brought the Dogen here to get rid of them. “It could be a trick.” Why would something attack them now?

“I accept your challenge.” Gene said. He didn’t even know what he was doing.

The Dogen held a smile on his hideous form. Some how it entered from the view screen and floated in front of Gene. “You have accepted the challenge, and now you must battle.” The Dogen transformed into an energy dagger and entered Gene’s chest.

Gene’s eyes widen as he held his hurting chest. Everything was swarming together. Gene dropped to the floor.

Suzuka checked his pulse. “He’s still alive.” She turned to Kat, “Did you do this? Did you call this Dogen?” She wouldn’t let something like this pass over Kat, she knew Kat was capable of anything.

Kat stared at Suzuka with ice filled eyes. “Dogens are creations of The Dark Stars, Ogre Lady.” She could be blamed for this one either way. If she hadn’t meet or stayed with them they wouldn’t be in this situation, would they? Destiny was weird. “Proteus, take Gene to his room.”

Proteus nodded.

“Can’t you do something? Can’t you use your magic to save him?” Melfina asked. She held her tears.

“If I do use magic or whatever, The Dark Stars will know that I’m here, and that’s not in the game plan. If Gene is endanger of losing his life I will interfere, for now I will monitor his life force.” Kat said. She didn’t like this at all. The Dark Stars must have known exactly where the Outlaw Star was to have sent a Dogen. And if Gene wasn’t strong enough to fight against the Dogen, they knew she would interfere. Rock told her when she was still very young, that The Dark Stars planned to use Uriel to destroy all creation. At that time no one, but The Dark Stars, knew who or what Uriel was. Kat began to wonder if Rock had finally found out who or what Uriel was and came to tell her.

Gene didn’t like this. How did he get here? He was on Xenon again. Gene stopped walking when he saw the tree. It was the willow tree, which was on a high hill in the center of the cemetery. The Dogen appeared, and Gene’s muscles tensed.

“I thought this was the perfect place to have a battle. I have chosen a form from your heart.” the Dogen laughed as a branches of the willow tree wrapped around his form. When the branches receded a new figure was left behind.

Gene’s eyes widen. “Kat!”

Kat held her hand to Gene’s forehead. He wasn’t doing so good. He must be Uriel’s Guardian to be going through all of this. “You must fight.” Kat whispered.

Gene’s body felt the tombstone crumble under him. He sat up and began to cough up blood. Why did the Dogen have to choose Kat? He watched as Kat ran toward him. He dodged her punched but she appeared by his side kicking him, sending him flying. Gene could feel himself dying slowly. He had to pull himself together or he would die. He the heard a faint whisper, <You must fight.> “Kat?”

“Yes.” the Kat in front of him laughed. This was too easy. He would kill the Guardian using the form of a little girl. This was also so very funny. The Dogen, as Kat, began punching and kicking Gene with unbelievable speed.

Gene crashed into another tombstone. What was going on? Gene tried to push himself from the ground but fell back into the rubble. He was hurting all over. Maybe fighting this Dogen wasn’t such a good idea.

He laughed at his fallen enemy. “Is this person the one you hold so close to your heart that you cannot tell that she isn’t really here? You are weak Gene Starwind!!” Kat laughed. He was winning. “Gene Starwind, you are unworthy to protect The Dark Stars’ Uriel!” Kat began to run toward Gene.

Kat sensed Gene at the border of life and death. “Gene, don’t you want to see Jim again. Fight the Dogen. See past the illusion.” Kat whispered. She didn’t know if words alone would help. She didn’t even know if Gene could hear her, but if she did use magic to pull him out The Dark Stars would know for certain she was on this ship, and it would put them all in danger.

<Gene, don’t you want to see Jim again. Fight the Dogen. See past the illusion.>

Gene turned on his back to see Kat standing above him with murderous humor glinting in her eyes. “Kat.”

“That’s right Gene Starwind. Kat will kill you now!” An energy sword appeared in Kat hand as she brought it down to give the final blow.

Gene raised his caster. “Kat.” He said as he looked at the figure. He repeated her name. Gene was searching his heart for the answer. Kat’s form above him melted away to reveal a hideous monstrosity. “You’re not my Kat!!” Gene screamed as he fire his weapon.

The figure screamed in pain as it was blown backward. How was it possible? No one could see through his illusions. He used their heart. It was impossible!!

Gene pushed his body off the ground. He looked at his caster. It seemed to have changed. It was the same color and style, but it was a little slimmer. The barrel wasn’t as wide, and the caster as a whole grew a little, not too much though. “I win you ugly piece of shit!!” Gene fired his gun.

The Dogen screamed in pain. “You have destroyed me Guardian of The Dark Stars’ Uriel. Now you will face The Dark Stars themselves.” The Dogen disappeared from sight.

Kat had been watching when Gene’s caster evolved. She began to try and figure out just exactly who gave him that caster. Casters didn’t usual evolve unless they were made especially for that person. There was only one person she could think of that might have given Gene his caster. ‘Father.’

Gene’s eyes opened tiredly. He looked around to find himself in his room. “Kat?” Had she been with him the entire time?

“It seems that you’ve beaten the Dogen. Lucky for you.” Kat said with a flat expression as she removed herself from the space she had occupied on his bed. Her voice was a monotone. Kat was about to take a step forward when she felt something jerk her back.

What was he doing? Gene had latched his hand onto her wrist pulling her back onto the spot she had occupied on his bed. He stared at her.

“What are you doing, Captain Shit-Face?” Kat said. She looked straight ahead in the darkness. She could feel Gene moving closer to her.

He wanted her to look at him. “Kat, I…” Gene soon found himself on the floor. The Outlaw Star was shaking uncontrollably.

‘That Dogen must have made a worm-hole at the last minute.’ Kat thought as she made her way for the door. The shaking stopped. “Gilliam, is everything functional?!”

“Yes, but can you please come to the bridge. We have reached our intended destination.” Gilliam answered.

“Gene, I’m glad to see you are better.” Gilliam greeted his Captain. The crew was here and accounted for except one, Jim.

“Thanks, Gil. Can you blow up the picture?” Gene smiled.

Gilliam did as he was asked.

Collected gasped were heard around the bridge. Was this some sort of cosmic joke?

Proteus saw the shock in their eyes. What was going on? Kat was the only one who didn’t look surprised. “Where are we?” he asked.

“The Galactic Leyline, but how?” Aisha asked aloud, but more to herself. How could they be here? The Galactic Leyline disappeared and…

“This may be the Galactic Leyline to you. The rightful name of this planet is Ankaa. This is my home.” Kat said as she looked at the screen. It had been eleven years; had it really been so long? She had put the planet to sleep before she left, and here it was, still asleep.

End

After Thoughts: So, so, what’s the verdict for this chapter? Kat’s from the Galactic Leyline! Is that really possible? Well, in this story it is. Please, if you have any comments or/and questions feel free to e-mail me. ~~Lynderia