For The Soul of The Stars: ATTACK! Pt2

Written By: Lynderia

Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Outlaw Star or its characters. I do own Kat, Proteus, Jaguar, and the clay face creatures, along with the Scorpion Pirates. That is all. ^_^

She had to keep him safe. She could never forgive herself if anything happened to him. Kat laid Proteus in a large cylinder.

What was she doing? He wanted, no needed to stay by her side. “Kat?”

Kat smiled, “Yeah.”

“I’m going to help.” Proteus tried to sit up but was too weak.

“Sorry guy, but you can’t.” She, herself, was weak.

Melfina looked at the two and began to cry. She hoped Proteus wouldn’t die. He was so nice to her. “What are you doing to him?”

Why had they followed her home? “You’re still here. Haven’t you caused enough damage.” Kat knew it wasn’t Melfina’s fault, but she wanted to be alone. She needed them to leave, to not follow her.

Melfina gave downcast eyes. She never meant for Proteus to get hurt on her account. She felt ashamed of herself. She had felt lost and alone, but somehow finding out that Proteus was a bio android too, made those feelings go away just a little.

“It wasn’t her fault!” Aisha shouted. She was tired and hungry, and that battle wasn’t one of her best. She looked like an amateur-they made her look like an amateur. She was a Ctarl-Ctarl!

Kat ignored them. Right now Proteus was important-the most important. “You’re going to be here for two weeks. Give me a call when you get out.” Her heart broke to see him like this. She was happy he wasn’t fully human yet because he would be dead right now.

He smiled ignoring the pain. Proteus had felt a part of Kat that she didn’t show much-never, and it made him happy. “Two weeks!” His voice was hoarse as he tried to bring humor into it. “Where’s my going away present?!”

Kat kissed him on his forehead. “Good enough.”

Proteus smiled as vapors were released into the cylinder.

“Let me take care of this while you rest.”

The doors of the cylinder closed as the chamber was filled with a pinkish liquid. Kat walked out of the room and waited for the others to follow. She then punched in some codes and the room door locked itself. “Security System has been activated. This is Stage 1a.”

Kat stared at the closed door for a moment. She sighed and then ran as fast as she could down the stairs. She needed everything.

Jim watched her. He, in a way, admired her. She was a genius. Kat’s workplace/garage was filled with what he considered art. From gun’s never seen to spaceship parts unknown. Kat’s blue case was sucking in all the objects around it empting the room. “What are we going to do now?” Jim directed the question to Gene.

What was she going to do now? Gene watched Kat as she bandaged her wounds. He noted she wasn’t doing a very good job with her bad shoulder. “I want some questions answered. First, what is Dragon Metallic?”

Kat ignored him and grabbed her small blue case leaving her empty workplace/garage. She was running out of time. Kat knew Jaguar wasn’t bluffing.

Suzuka knew that the girl who stood in front of them was not everything she seemed. “Dragon Metallic is a special type of metal. This metal is magical, and only a certain level of magic can be used on it.” Kat was not everything she appeared to be, Suzuka was certain.

Gene turned to ask Kat another question, but she was outside.

“Protocol ‘COVER’. Complete Stage 2!” Kat ordered. She would protect what she held dear. She would keep her promise. The promise she made so long ago.

Kat’s house shook. The crew of the Outlaw Star ran outside. They watched as the house was covered by metal and then disappeared.

“Where did it go?!” Aisha asked.

In response to the question, Kat was seen running-running fast.

It was a mess, and his head was still hurting. Swanzo pushed himself off the ground. He was happy to have gotten the emergency haul doors closed. He saw movement, “Who’s there?”

“Swanzo, I’m leaving. Is PII ready?”

Swanzo looked at her. She was in no condition to be going anywhere, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Kat was stubborn just like ‘Hot Ice’. “I don’t know. You’ll be lucky if it can still fly.”

“It’s been through worse.” Kat said. She took noticed to the way Swanzo had looked at her when he spoke. ‘I’ve been through worse.’ It was true; she had been through worse-a lot worse.

“You’re nuts, you know that.” Mike said walking up to her. She looked like hell.

“I know.”

“And how do you plan to get PII out of all this?” Mike asked. Debris was all over the place, it was a miracle that he and Swanzo survived.

“Voice code: ‘Rebirth’.”

Gene ran. He wondered how Kat could move so fast in her condition. She seemed to play a bigger role in all of this than he expected. He pushed open the docking bay doors. It sure was a mess. He spotted Swanzo and Mike. “Where’d she go?!”

“She just left.” Swanzo answered.

How could she just leave? They had to help her. “Gene, we have to go after her!” Jim’s voice held alertness, as if he was scared for her-he was.

“Are you crazy Jim? If she went out there to kill herself, I say good riddance! The Scorpion Pirates were after her anyway.” Aisha said. After hearing what she said, it didn’t sound all that great. She, almost, sounded like Kat, but more…she didn’t know. Awful?

“That’s a mean thing to say!” Jim shouted. Kat might be mean to them, but she didn’t deserve to die because of it. At moments she was nice to him, and that’s all that mattered, “Gene, we have to go after her!” His voice was more urgent than before.

Gene closed his eyes in concentration. He wanted to find Uriel-whatever it was. The only person who knew was Kat-that’s what he was told. She was cute, but such a bitch! And Jim seemed really hung on helping her. “Let’s go!” Gene caught himself; he didn’t want to sound that enthusiastic.

The small fighter ships were still coming after her. Kat didn’t know how long she could keep fighting like this. She was tempted to bring out the big guns, but the thought about the after affects made her change her mind. The small fighter ships had totally surrounded Blue Heaven.

He was surrounded and his body was taking a pounding. “Gene, you are the captain, aren’t you going to do something?” Gilliam always wondered if Gene was qualified for the job as captain. True Gene had gotten the crew out of rough scraps, but Gilliam still didn’t like his methods; they were dangerous.

“Gilliam, can’t you see, I’m handling it!” Gene knew his usual recklessness could endanger Blue Heaven, so he had to say on his toes.

“Gene, I’ve spotted Kat’s ship.” Melfina informed.

“Jim, contact her!” From the looks of things she had more than she could handle.

Jim began typing away, “She’s blocking my transmissions!” What the hell was she thinking?! He just wanted to help her. Jim looked out toward the mini spaceship worriedly.

Why were they bothering her?! Couldn’t they see she was extremely busy. Without an AI, the system was slow, well slower than if Proteus were here. Kat almost wished Proteus was the operating system, almost. “Hand to Hand.”

Grappler arms stretched out. It wasn’t the normal metal ones, but these had a glow and seemed to be more flexible, like liquid.

He wasn’t a bit surprise she came. Jaguar smiled. She was also a decent pilot; she had still managed to keep herself alive after all. Jaguar chuckled, ‘Time to make this game more interesting.’ “Target the Outlaw Star, and fire the PD gun.”

She frowned when she saw a ship move in front of her. What were these people doing?! Kat decided to send a real time transmission, “Move your filthy fat ass from in front of me! If you hadn’t noticed only real ‘Outlaws’ were invited to this party.” Kat ended transmission.

“Ungrateful!” Aisha shouted angrily. She hardly wanted to be out here risking her life for some human girl, which of who had insulted her. Aisha was out here for Jim because he wanted to help the ungrateful girl, and she wanted to help him.

“It seems our help is unappreciated.” Suzuka said. In her opinion not only was Kat ungrateful, but it also seemed as she had too much pride that could get her killed.

“Well, it’s too late to stop crashing this party!” Gene couldn’t help but consider Kat a bitch! He was going to show her how much of an ‘Outlaw’ he was.

“Gene! We’ve been targeted!” Melfina said frantically.

“From where?”

“I…I don’t know!” She didn’t want to die, not like this. Was Harry right? Were they going to die?

“Jim…” Gene started.

“Ahead of you!”

Gilliam was scanning all the ships in the area and none were targeting them. What was going on? Wasn’t he the top of the line? Gilliam had taken great pride in that fact. But now… “Gene, move the ship!!” Gilliam shouted.

Too late, game over. Dark matter knocked the Outlaw Star out of its orbit.

Kat had tried to warn them but something was blocking her transmission to the Outlaw Star. It was their own faults, they should had been scanning in infer-red. Out of control, one of the Outlaw Star’s grappler arms hit PII. The arm went right into the cockpit, and then jerked out. Kat’s cockpit was filled with a clear substance, engulfing her.

The Outlaw Star and PII disappeared and a hole in space was all that was seen.

He laughed silently. Jaguar thought about a deer caught in head lights. They were making it so easy for him to enjoy himself. Now he watched, their time was running out. Jaguar continued laughed, but more loudly than before. The crew, which was all Scorpion Pirates, cringed at the sound. A ship then appeared from the darkness of space.

She wasn’t picking up anything. It was total silence and darkness. Melfina came out of the navigational chamber. “Gilliam?”

“Yes, Melfina.”

“Are you okay?” Melfina asked as she watched as the crew cleared their heads.

“Yes and no. Engines 1,2,3, and 4 are un-operational. Besides that I believe I am alright. Thank you for asking.” Gilliam had always like Melfina. She was a kind soul.

“Where are we?” Aisha asked.

“Everything and nowhere.” Jim answered. This confused him and everyone else.

“Jim is correct. We are everywhere and nowhere.” Gilliam agreed.

“Gilliam, can you pick up any ships in the area.” Gene asked.

“Only one. The ship is the one we were helping early, but it seems to be damaged.”

“Gilliam, contact…”

“I have but there is no answer. That ship has no AI. I will try a different method.” Gilliam used his talents as an AI to go into the system of PII. He was happy there were no firewalls and such. Gilliam could tell that they system once hosted an AI. “I’ve gain control of PII, and am now setting course for the ship into the holding area.” Gilliam was surprised to find PII at a high level of technology; it matched his, and it was only a mini spaceship.

The crew and captain viewed the small ship. Something was happening, a clear liquid was being filtered out. The doors of PII opened. This revealed an unconscious Kat.

“Is she dead?” Melfina asked. She looked peaceful.

“Only if we could be so lucky.” Suzuka commented. She got stares but could care less.

Kat’s eyes suddenly opened. Yes, only if she could be so lucky. Her head was pounding. She then removed herself from the cockpit taking her small blue case with her. Suddenly the room and everyone in it were spinning. Kat closed her eyes to get her bearings. Upon opening her eyes, Kat walked to the side of PII. “Great!” she exclaimed. She felt wetness run down the side of her face and knew it wasn’t the liquid form the cockpit. “Why didn’t you just leave me outside? I liked it there.” She said calmly.

If she was going to be rude, he was going to be rude. “You act as if we wanted to you, but Gilliam, the…”

“Yes, the ships computer brought me here.” Kat sat down. With her bad shoulder, she struggled to temporally bandage her head.

“Here, let me.” Melfina attempted to help.

“Don’t touch me. I would rather Death’s touch than yours.” Kat’s usual monotone, coldness, and facial features made Melfina back away with a shaking hand.

Finally finish helping herself, Kat brought out her computer and began typing. “Damn Bastards.”

“What?” Gene asked.

“Besides the fact that your stupid ship’s grappler arm hit my ship, but you…do you even now where we are?” Kat asked.

“No.”

“We’re everywhere and nowhere.”

“Do you know what that means?” Jim asked before Gene could start shouting. “We can’t figure where we are.”

The smart one. “We’re in a Pocket Dimension.”

“A Pocket…what?” Aisha asked.

“Dimension? It’s like having a box in your closet. Imagine putting a ship in that box and getting ready to close that box.

“It’s a box?” Aisha asked.

Her head was getting worse. Kat didn’t know if it was from her injury, or it was from Aisha’s stupidity. “Listen, if you want to get out of here it comes with a price.”

Suzuka couldn’t believe this little girl. Was she actually going to try and make money? “You little bitch!” Suzka spat out.

Kat stared coldly at her, “I’m not a bitch. I’m a cynical, morbid bitch!”

There was that look again. Suzuka noticed Kat looked like a She-Devil again. Suzuka wondered if that look portrayed who she really was on the inside as well as out.

Before anything could escalate farther, “What’s your price?” Gene asked.

“The price is working with me and following orders to a T. Simple really.”

This wasn’t what Gene was expecting, not at all. He was almost afraid to ask, “Is…that all?”

She had scared them. Good. Now they’ll think twice on bothering her again. “No, you’re going to have to cook me your livers then feed it to me. Can we please get started? I don’t want to be trapped in here with you damn ugly people!”

“Wait, what do you get out of this?” Jim asked. There had to be a catch of some kind.

“I get nothing.” Kat responded. She knew he was the smart one.

They were ready.

“Get up.” Kat ordered.

Gene looked up at her. Was she talking to him?

“Yeah you. Get up. I’ll be piloting.”

Gene knew she couldn’t possibly pilot with a bad shoulder and the bandage around her head was so red, you couldn’t tell it was once white. “I don’t think so. You’re in no condition.”

“I must agree with Gene, and he is the captain…”

“No one was talking to you Gilliam.” Kat was sick of Gilliam. He was always in her face telling her she should get rest and leave repairing the engines to Jim. “The Shit-Face Captain of the Outlaw Star is a horrible pilot, and I really want to get out of this pocket dimension.” She had to do this, it’s not that she didn’t believe in Gene’s abilities, it was just…

“Who are you calling Shit-Face?” Gene couldn’t believe the nerve of this girl. This was his ship!”

“Listen up Shit-Face, I’m ordering you to get up!!” Kat pushed him hard with her good arm.

Without another argument Gene got up.

Melfina was already in the navigational chamber; Jim was at his station as were Aisha and Suzuka.

“Melfina, have the engines ready for sub ether mode. I need you to listen to my instructions carefully and precisely. When we get out Jaguar isn’t going to let up.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I recalibrated the engine system. Everything should work.”

Melfina smiled, a little. Kat sounded nice to her for once.

Gene watched her. Somehow they were moving on thrust. He noted she gave no indication of pain. He knew if he were Kat he would have been gasping in pain every five seconds.

“The hole is closing!!” Aisha panicked.

Saying nothing the grappler arms were used to pull the ship out of the pocket dimension.

It had to be her. Jaguar knew she was a formidable opponent. He would enjoy the challenge. “Send out the fighters!” he ordered.

“Aisha, fire weapons!” Kat ordered. Here goes nothing, “Melfina, go into ether using engine 1only!”

Kat brought the ship into the direction where Aisha had fired. The ship sped up, “Sub ether mode in 3,2,1.” The ship seemed to disappear in a flash of light. “Jim, use brakes to steer a U-turn!”

Had he heard right? “Are you nuts?”

“Melfina, keep using engine 1. Don’t take us out of sub ether mode! Jim, do it!”

“We could be crushed. I…” Gilliam argued.

“Making a U-turn!” Kat said. She knew what she was doing.

From the floor, “We’re going back?” Gene asked.

“Melfina, shift from engine 1 and go to engine 2!”

“You can’t do that in sub ether mode!” Gilliam protested. This girl was crazy, trying to pull stunts like this.

“Do it.”

The ship was starting to shake.

“Go to engine 3!”

“Kat, what are you doing?!” Jim shouted. He felt sick to his stomach. If he had any lunch he would have already brought it back up.

Jim wasn’t the only one. Gene was already barfing up. Melfina felt sick too. Aisha held the arms of the chair tight. Suzuka closed her eyes, hoping the feeling would pass.

“Engine 4!” Just a little more.

The turbulence was getting worse.

“Now use all engines together.”

“Make it stop!” Aisha screamed. Her nails dug deep into the chair until they couldn’t dig any farther. When she got out of this she was going to kill the little Bitch!

“Cut all engines!!”

Gasping for air, “Where are we, Melfina?” Gene asked.

Melfina organized herself, “We’re…” She couldn’t believe it, “We’re in the Hiefong area.”

“Are you sure Mel?” Jim asked. It would have taken days to get there.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Melfina sounded relieved. They didn’t die, they somehow survived.

Aisha pushed herself off her chair and stalked toward the pilot seat. She looked at Kat. How could she just sit there, as if it were nothing? “You…” Aisha pulled Kat up by the shirt, “What the hell was that all about?!” She wanted answers. It took all of Aisha’s might not to strangle the girl in her grasp.

Kat didn’t even bother to look at her. “The original direction was in the direction of Sentinel, the closest place to go and the most logical…” She was weak, “They wouldn’t think that we would head for Heifong. Heifong would take too long to get to.”

Kat had scared the daylights out of her. Aisha was angry, she hated feeling scared. “You…” Aisha threw Kat in the direction of Suzuka. Suzuka got up and stepped to the side. Kat landed on the control panel hard and landed on the floor with a hard thump.

“Please. There shouldn’t be such violence on the bridge.” Gilliam said. He felt sorry for the girl, Kat. Not only had she gotten them away from the enemy, she was a helpless rag doll.

Kat pushed herself from the floor. Stupid Ctarl-Ctarl. She held the chair for support. Kat felt her body ready to give out, but she wouldn’t let them see. Tiredly, “Gilliam open a channel to the spaceport.”

Gilliam silently complied.

“This is the Outlaw Star needing assistance. All our engines had a meltdown and we need permission to dock.” Kat said.

“This is Heifong Spaceport. You are not Starwind.”

“No, I’m Kat.”

“Oh. Hiya Kat! This is Sisko. Back so soon! How ‘bout dinner later?” The voice was light hearted.

“I’m not in the mood.” Kat said quietly. She doubted she could even move from this spot.

“You sound tired. Permission granted.”

“Thanks.” She was so very tired.

End

After Thoughts: Wasn’t that a fun ride!! ^_^ If you find any grammatical mistakes, please feel free to bring it to my attention. Go read the next part, alright. SailorRai@aol.com