For
The Soul of The Stars: Questions, NO Answers
Written
By: Lynderia
Disclaimer:
I don’t own the characters of the great anime, imported from
He had been staring at the
ceiling of his hotel room for sometime now. He knew that this was the last
night he was going to be able to stay in the rented room. Gene thought about
the events that took place yesterday. Rock died a gruesome death, and he felt
guilty-guilty he let someone die for him again. Rock was protecting them. His
funeral was quick and short. Gene then thought about what Swanzo
told him after Kat had blown him off, “She’s eighteen, what do you expect… When
Hilda died she didn’t just lose a partner she lost three other people, her best
friend, sister, and mother. If I were you, stay out of her way…” By just
looking at her, she didn’t look eighteen. Then again, she carried herself quite
well. She was a mystery within itself-an enigma. Gene sighed before getting out
of bed. He had too many things on his mind.
This was the last ship and
she’ll be done.
Gene turned the corner. He ended
up at the docking bay area. He was going to walk toward the entrance when he
saw a figure. It was her-what was she doing here? He thought about it for a
moment; that was right, she was a mechanic. Gene continued to watch her from
the corner.
She let the doors close. She
entered the lock code. Kat sighed, she was exhausted, but it was her own fault,
no one told her to do six ships in one night. She started to walk away when she
suddenly fell. “What now?” she whispered to herself. She looked at the bundle
she tripped over. It was someone sleeping in a fetal position. She started
shaking the figure.
He felt someone touching him. He
sat up and stared at her.
Kat stared in response.
Gene looked at the two. What was
he doing here? Didn’t he leave Jim sleeping at the hotel?
“Jim, what are you doing here?
It’s three in the morning.” Kat asked.
He looked at her. She didn’t
look so cold like she was yesterday. She almost looked worried about him. “I
wanted to check on Gilliam but I saw you working, and I thought I should wait
until you finished.”
Kat stood and walked to the
dispenser. She brought back two cans of soda, and sat next to him. He stared at
her, and she held the cold soda to his forehead.
“Ah, that’s cold.” he said
loudly.
She smiled, “Not so loud.” She
handed the soda to Jim. “Gilliam is fine. You should go back to your hotel room;
your friends are going to worry when they wake up and not see you.”
Jim shrugged, “Are you really
eighteen?”
“Yes. My name’s Kat. I’m about
5’7” maybe taller. My hair is naturally black and gold. My eyes are naturally
ice blue. Some of my hobbies consist of robotics, computers, gymnastics,
martial arts, and some other stuff. Is there anything else you would like to
know Mr. Hawking?”
Jim laughed. “No, that’s all I
wanted to know.”
Kat watched him for a second or
two. “Aren’t you going to go back soon?” She knew better than to push people
around.
Jim sighed. His attempts at
changing the subject failed. “Maybe later this morning.”
Kat stood saying nothing. She
checked her small blue case to make sure her tools where in it, and started
walking.
“Wait. Are you just going to
leave me here?” Jim asked. He expected her to make sure he went back to the
hotel.
She wasn’t a babysitter, he was
hardly a child. “Are you afraid of the dark Jim? I’m not responsible for you,
Gene is. I told you what you could do, and left it totally up to you.”
She was acting almost cold
towards him, like he was a stranger. Like she never saved his life, “No, I’m
not afraid of the dark.” he nearly shouted. She had been so nice to him just
now, what had changed? “I just don’t want to stay at the hotel. Isn’t that okay!”
“You see him don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“No one told you to look. If you
had just left you wouldn’t have to witness how Rock died.” she whispered.
Jim stood staring at her as she
stared at him.
They heard footsteps. “Jim.” the
voice said. Gene came into the full light so that they could view him better.
“Gene, what are you doing here?”
Jim asked.
“Me? What about you? It’s late, lets go back.” Gene said.
Jim looked at Kat. She had
already started walking away from them. “Kat, wait up!” He dashed after her. He
noticed Gene was behind him. They caught up and started walking with her. “Kat,
I just wanted to thank you for the soda.”
“You’re welcome, good night.”
She said quickening her pace.
She was so short with him. Jim
didn’t understand her at all.
She felt someone jerk her back.
He was surprise she didn’t
retaliate with a back slap or a hard kick. “Who is Uriel?”
He finally got to ask. Gene didn’t know if she would answer, but kept an iron
grip on her arm.
Uriel. She heard the name
before. “Listen, it’s late and I don’t want to kill you, so let go.”
She said this in the same icy
tone when he had tried to help her that day, but he had to call her bluff-that
she wouldn’t kill him. He couldn’t just turn chicken again. “Rock told me you
would know. Now tell me who Uriel is.”
She wasn’t even sure if Uriel was a person. Uriel could
have been a thing or place. With the same arm he held onto, Kat punched Gene in
the face the elbowed him in the stomach. She watched him as he went to one knee
gasping for air. She pulled out a small knife.
“Please stop!!” Jim shouted. She
really was going to kill him.
She stared at Jim, knowing that
she succeeded in scaring them both. Her stare turned deadly as she looked Gene
in the face. “I wasn’t bluffing.”
Her stare reminded Gene of ice
daggers, but he said nothing and stood.
She put away her pocket knife,
and before leaving, “Hilda should have killed you both on Sentinel, but since
you’re still alive that means more fun for me.” she
smiled. Her smile was cruel, almost tauntingly teasing. Kat walked away from
Jim and Gene feeling that she scared them enough.
They watched as her figure
disappeared into the darkness of night. They finally let out their breath-now
that she was gone. Kat, known to some as Hellfire Diamond was a mystery, a
mystery that was almost deadly to try and solve.
Aisha
laughed. How could Gene let some kid do that to him? “You let some kid beat you
up!” She laughed some more.
“Aisha,
it’s not funny. Gene and Jim could have gotten seriously hurt” Melfina was scared of Kat. She was so cold, she wasn’t a
human being-she just couldn’t be.
“I’m serious Aisha.
She’s pretty strong, and she’s not some kid. She’s practically an adult by some
standards.” Gene warned. Kat had elbowed him pretty hard, and the spot was
still sore.
Aisha
swallowed the last of her misao soup. “A Ctarl-Ctarl wouldn’t let a weak human girl beat them down
and come running home like a scared chicken.” Aisha
couldn’t help but to laugh. However, Aisha had to
admit the way Kat acted was unnerving. A human who she couldn’t scare by just
being a Ctarl-Ctar, now that was a bit scary.
“We better stay focused. Rock
told Gene to protect Uriel and Kat has something to
do with this. If she wants Gene dead we will have no other choice but to deal
with her accordingly.” Suzuka continued to drink her
tea.
“I don’t think we’re going to
have to kill her. I doubt she would come near us on her own if given the
chance.” Jim told his friends.
“I hope you’re right.” Melfina was worried. What had they gotten themselves into?
A loud perky speaker caught
their attention.
“KAT!” the waitress said.
How could she be so perky? It
was nine in the morning. Kat mumbled something incomprehensible, and Proteus
laughed.
“Cythnia,
leave Kat and Proteus alone, and get back to work!!”
“Kay!!” The waitress bounced
away going to a table to take orders.
“Thanks for coming.” the
bartender said.
“No prob
Charlie. You know you can always call me to fill in when you’re short.” Kat
said as she rested her head on the bar.
“I think she’s needs something
to wake her up. Unlike Ms. Prozac Prone over there, our Kat isn’t a morning
person.” Proteus said. He knew she put in too many hours at the dock.
“A Hyper Ginceta.” Kat mumbled.
Charlie got a shot glass and
poured. Kat took the bottle taking two big gulps. “Thanks.” Kat got up heading
toward the back taking the bottle with her.
Proteus smiled. He didn’t expect
Kat to drink the whole bottle. He pulled out 20 wong. “She got home late.”
It was just too early in the
morning. Why had she told Charlie she would fill in and why had these stupid
waitress outfits had to look so style-less, in her opinion, maybe it was sleep
that was affecting her vision.
“Kat, I’m so glad you’re working
with me today. We’re packed!” Cythnia smiled.
“Leave me alone.”
Cythnia
frowned. She was just trying to make a simple conversation. Kat never talked to
her. Did she think she was some ditz? “Kat, table 3 ordered more misao soup.”
Kat picked up the order and
left.
“Here’s your misao
soup, please don’t hesitate to order anything else.” She said this without
looking at her customers.
“Didn’t expect to see you here?
I expected after our run in earlier this morning I wouldn’t see you again. But
here you are.” Gene smiled an ever charming smile.
Kat didn’t even look at him and
went to take another order. She left leaving Gene talking to air.
Aisha
dived into her misao soup happily.
“That was rude of her.” Suzuka commented.
Even though Aisha
had finally finished eating they stayed and watched Kat a while.
“Sorry sir, but we don’t serve
that kind of service here!” Cythnia shouted.
“Bitch, do what I say!” a huge
muscular man yelled. He yanked her back placing her in his slap. He began
licking her face. “See, it’s not that bad.”
“Stop it!” Cythnia
shouted. She struggled to get out of his lap, but he had a secure grip on her.
Before he could lick her again,
“Didn’t she say stop.”
He looked at the figure. She
looked young, he liked young. “So, what you gonna do
about it? Take her place.” He smirked.
“Cythnia,
get up.”
Cythnia
did as she was told, and stepped behind Kat. The man didn’t bother to hold her
instead he tried to grab the figure that stood in front of him.
Idiot.
“Did I say I was going to take her place?” Kat stared at him. Her gaze stood
directly on him.
“Bitch, you lied to me?! Little
whore, come and sit on Daddy’s lap.” He tried grabbing her arm.
In that same second, a breeze
swept passed his wrist. He started to scream in pain as he looked at the stub
end of his arm. His hand was missing.
Kat stared at him, no emotion
showing. “You’re lucky that it was just your hand. It can be replaced.” She was
referring to the metal and blood.
“You know how much that cost me.
You’re going to pay.” He moved an inch closer. He felt a sharp point resting at
his pelvic area.
“Can you afford to replace this?
I doubt its metal.” Kat smiled cruelly at him.
“You wouldn’t.”
Kat sent him ice daggers.
Her stare sent shivers down his
spine. “I’m sorry. Here,” he said placing 200 wong on the table, “for all the trouble I caused and
my meal.” He smiled glad he didn’t lose apart of his anatomy that metal could
never replace. Before leaving, he bowed to Charlie, “Sorry for the trouble,” and
he left.
“Kat,
thanks.” Cythnia said crying on her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” Kat asked.
Cythnia
looked at her with tear filled eyes and smiled, “Yeah.”
“Then, I suggest you get back to
work.” Kat smiled before giving her a tissue.
Cythnia
smiled nodding her head.
Clapping was heard. “Well,
wasn’t that entertaining?!”
“Yes, very entertaining.”
The two figures were now known
to the whole bar. They were Ronald and Harry MacDougall respectively. Better
know as The MacDougall Brothers. Mercenaries hired to the highest buyer.
They looked in shock.
Gene had sworn he saw Harry die
with his own eyes.
Jim saw Ronald die. He saw him
lifeless in a pool of his own blood.
Melfina
could only mentally say, ‘Harry.’ He had help free her from the Galactic Leyline-he had died.
She stared. She never got a
break. Just one measly damn break! An outlaw’s life was never easy. Kat did the
only thing she could do-ignore them. She walked back to the bar getting the
next order.
Harry walked over to her and
moved the hair from her ear whispering, “We have to talk.” He had missed her.
“I’m busy or don’t you see me
working.” Kat really didn’t have time for the MacClown
Brothers.
Harry held her hand tight. “Not
really.” Her hands were always soft. Considering the work she did one would
think her hands would be dry and hard, but they weren’t-her hands were soft.
He gently removed Kat’s hand from
Harry’s. Proteus knew who he was, it really was no big
secret. “She’s busy. Now get your clown ass away from her.” Proteus said this
with a sincere smile.
Harry’s first reflex was to
throw a punch, which Proteus expertly caught. Harry looked at him up and down.
He concluded his opponent was about 6’ and looked to be, maybe 25, and
definitely not a genuine human. “Cybrog.”
“The name’s Proteus. Species: none
of your business. I’m 6’/6’1” give or take a few. You can say I’m about 25. My
hobbies consist of kicking your ass here, kicking your ass across Blue Heaven,
and many other things pertaining to kicking your ass just about anywhere.”
Proteus smiled politely as he let go of Harry’s fist. He knew he had gotten him
angry.
Kat giggled. She had taught him
well.
Harry was furious. How dare this
man say such things? And in front of Kat, the woman who had saved his life.
Harry growled in response. “What’s your relation to her?”
Proteus stared at him with a
polite smile on his face. He knew he was annoying Harry, and enjoyed every bit
of if.
How dare he?!!! Harry brought up
his fist again to inflict pain, “I’m going to wipe that stupid smile off your
face!!”
Before he could, “Harry.”
Harry stopped and looked at the
person who had said his name, “Ron, I’m about to…”
Ronald knew what his younger
brother was about to do. This was not the time for such trivial things. He
really had to teach his brother these things. “Later, right now let’s deal with
Kat.” He looked at her with a cat-like grin.
She stared at him hard, and
pushed pass Harry stalking toward his older brother. Upon passing him, “No.”
she whispered in his ear. She continued to a table, it was Gene and Company.
“Is there anything else you would like to order?”
They stared at her. What was
going on?
“No thanks, we’re fine.” Jim
spoke.
“Here’s your bill.” she said
placing it on the table, “You can pay it at the bar.”
Kat was about to walk to another
table when Ronald MacDougall stood in front of her. “We’ll talk later.”
She kept her gaze straight ahead
staring at his chest area, “How about we don’t.”
Ronald smiled, “Harry, we’re
going.”
“I’ll see you later.” Harry said
angrily as he pointed at Proteus.
With his
polite smile, “Anytime, asshole! Anytime.”
As Harry passed Gene’s table he
whispered loud enough for all of them to hear, “You’re all going to die.” A
devilish grin appeared on his face as he said this.
Melfina
didn’t like the way that sounded, and the way he said it with that grin made
her worry. It sounded as if it were true, and there
wasn’t anyway to escape their fate-to escape Death!
End
After
Thoughts: I just couldn’t resist! I had to put the MacDougall Brothers in my fic!! SailorRai@aol.com