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Episode 9
"A Journey of Adventure! Huh?"
Gilliam is unhappy that he has to take a dangerous route
because Gene is so reckless.
Jim, Melfina, and Suzuka are sleeping while Gene practices his
sighting...on one of Gilliam's faces! Gilliam tells Gene to get some rest,
and Gene says he'll go to bed. He starts to ask Gilliam something, then
drops his gun on his foot!
Gilliam's heads transport parts to Jim. Melfina shows up and
asks for salt; Jim gives her a giant bag of it. Jim asks Gilliam if Gene's
awake yet, but Gilliam can't get him out of bed (not even with five of
Gilliam's pods hopping on him!). Jim comes in to get Gene up; Gene
embraces him and asks 'Rosie' for a kiss. Jim puts a pillow on his face.
Gene finally gets up, and complains that there's nothing that needs done,
so why should he get up? But the cargo hold needs straightened (they
hadn't secured it before they launched!). Jim says they need to talk about
Starwind and Hawking Enterprises. Jim still wants to go to Heifong, but he
doesn't think they'll just find a job there--they have no connections, so
they need a plan or they won't be able to buy food.
Gene idly eats food Mel made, and Jim complains that Gene
leaves everything to chance. They have 750,000 wong to pay back!
Melfina asks them to stop fighting. Suzuka comes in and turns
off the stove--Mel was letting it boil over. Jim thinks Suzuka's a problem
too. Suzuka says, "What a kid." Gene teases Jim, saying Suzuka
called Jim a baby, but Suzuka was referring to Gene. Gene leaves,
annoyed, and Suzuka calmly drinks her tea.
Jim wants to know what they'll do about Suzuka, but they need
her because of the Kei pirates. Jim worries that she'll try to kill him,
and Gene says not to worry. His father said, 'People who make it big think
big.' Jim prefers to think things through. Gene asks where they
are--they're three days from Heifong.
Gene does his laundry... He says he wishes pirates would
attack (he's bored!). Gene was washing his (navy blue) boxers. He has to
hang them to dry; he puts them on Gilliam's maintenance rail! Gilliam
tells Gene to put them in Gene's room--Gene doesn't want to sleep with
underwear in front of his face, but Gilliam objects that they're his.
"That's why I don't wanna!" says Gene.
Jim is still mad. There's a station near where they are...
Gene comes down from the cargo hold; a pink Gilliam comes down,
and Gene laughs. Jim painted it! Gene calls it cute and laughs, but it's a
good idea to have one stand out.
Gene says he's going to a station and says Jim can come if he
wants. Jim protests that they have no money, but Gene says not to worry.
They pull into the station. The gang gets out. Jim wants to
know what they're doing. Gene says it's to make money. Suzuka leaves them
but will be back for launch.
At a nice restaurant, Gene eats like a pig. Gene says if Jim
doesn't hurry, he'll eat his food, so Jim eats ravenously too. Mel offers
Jim her food. Gene says kids are lucky--"all the ladies are nice to
'em." Gene and Jim are about to come to blows...
Outside, Mel looks at pretty jewelry in a store. Gene explains
that there's a wanted man, Zomba (sp?), worth 10,000 wong outside the
city--there's no data on him, but everyone knows it. Jim has doubts about
thinking big (and argues with Gene), but he'll help anyway. Melfina asks
if something's wrong--a crowd is watching Jim and Gene's argument. They
send Melfina back to the ship.
Gene goes to a saloon and asks about someone upstairs--everyone
flees upon finding Gene is a bounty hunter. He barges into the room
upstairs and finds Zomba, a man in a suit reading a book.
"Let's take this outside," he says--he doesn't want
to get his room dirty.
They go to a church and stand off. Jim is hiding behind some
rubble. Zomba runs at Gene with a knife; Gene has one too. Zomba's back is
his weak point (according to Jim, who has a computer)--Gene nails him in
the back, and he sparks; Gene notes that it's a disappointed. But he's not
out yet! Zomba grows spikes. Gene shoots him (he doesn't hold back when
fighting cyborgs).
They get 2,000 wong; it was a dummy android, not Zomba. Gene
says "When you're a guy you have to do big things." Jim doesn't
agree.
Suzuka says they had the same idea, and says she just made a
trifle... The other people in the area are amazed, saying she took
down Zomba and got the 10,000 wong!
"Looks like we won't have a chance to prove our
manliness," says Jim.
Gene screams.
They walk through the street; Gene sulks. There's an
announcement on a video screen. Gene sees a familiar ship, but says,
"Let's go to Heifong, partner!" They go back to the ship and
launch, but the ship on the screen belonged to MacDougall... |
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Episode 10
"Gathering for the Space Race"
In the Space Race, corporate ships and private pilots with
corporate sponsors fly dangerous races, competing for fame, not money.
The OLS pulls into Heifong. Jim complains that since it's an
urban planet, port fees will be expensive, but Gene says things will work
out.
The gang is on a train--Jim looks out and is impressed with the
city. Gene tells him not to be so excited (it's embarrassing) but then he
looks out the window and he, too, is impressed.
Gene's decided they're entering the space race. Gene and Jim
talk to an entry lady about it--Gene wants to see data on just one other
ship in the race, but the lady says that wouldn't be fair--so Gene asks
for the lady to give him her phone number (to Jim's annoyance). The lady
says Gene knows the office phone number. Participation in the race costs a
$150,000 wong entry fee. Jim and Gene stare, and Gene gets angry that no
pilot could enter such a race. The lady suggests they find a sponsor (it
would be good advertising for a company). Gene mouths off to the lady and
says they'll enter the race...but he doesn't know how.
They eat at a noodle stand. Gene wants to enter to use the race
as advertisement (as no money is awarded for winning), and, Gene
things MacDougall is in the race--he has to enter to make sure. Gene asks
Suzuka if he can borrow the money, but she subscribes to the notion
'neither a borrower nor a lender be.' She leaves (she'll come back after
the race).
They have to go to the Luo Company headquarters. Fred happens
to be on Heifong; he'd be glad to sponsor Gene. If they finish in the top
three, he'll pay for it (if they make 4th place or less, they'll owe him
even more money!). Gene says he needs 400,000 wong; Fred easily
agrees, but he gives Gene an extremely girly yellow and pink jumpsuit to
wear in the winners' circle. (He doesn't have one for Melfina; they
shouldn't be parading her around, since the Kei pirates are looking for
all of them, but especially Melfina.) As they leave, the security guard
tells Gene not to screw up. Gene's surprised the guard (who usually hates
Gene) is cheering for him, but the bodyguard wants Gene to return 'the
young master's love!
They leave the planet. Gilliam says that this is how a space
launch should be--civilized planets are wonderful. But Gilliam is confused
about the space race, and why Suzuka isn't with them. At the outer-space
docks, Gene looks at all the ships and doesn't see MacDougall's; Jim wants
to go to the pre-race party. Melfina isn't with them.
On the ship, Melfina has Gilliam access Heifong's largest
database; she wants to look up who she is and why she was created. Gilliam
isn't permitted to think about himself, but he understands; he says he'll
help.
At the pre-race party, they announce that there are 13
corporate ships and 27 private ships, all competing for honor. Gene still
wonders if MacDougall is there. He asks a lady for a drink--she turns
around, revealing herself to be Aisha! She throws her tray down.
Aisha springs back and is ready to take her revenge. She thanks
the god of all Ctarl--she had to hitchhike across all space to find him,
and wound up on Heifong with a waitress job...
Her boss tells her to behave herself. He nods and a couple men
drag her off. The boss says if Aisha makes any more scenes, she won't get
paid.
On the Outlaw Star, Gilliam says he can't find any information.
Melfina smiles and says it's okay. Gilliam promises they'll find out about
Melfina; Melfina says Gene promised that, too. Gene and Jim come back; Jim
brought Melfina some food.
It's 12 hours 'til the race; they have to get ready.
Gene details the path of the race (there's checkpoints, etc.).
Gilliam says that since they're in a race, they ought to go for it and win
it. He says no ship is better than the Outlaw Star. Jim is worried--they
have to make the top three--but he's excited that if they win they get
200,000 wong profit!
A Ctarl-Ctarl ship has entered. Aisha is on board and wants
them to win (the people in the ship have to obey; she's an Imperial
Officer).
Harry Williams with his ship the El Dorado has finally
arrived--it's the favorite, and Gene thinks he recognizes the ship. Harry
is a confident-looking guy with green hair tied back by a pink bow. Gene
tries to talk to Harry, but Harry won't answer. Gene wants to catch up
with that ship, but they'd be caught by the race officials--Gene decides
they can wait.
Suzuka is in a casino. She sees the Outlaw Star on a TV screen
and snaps her fingers. A guy in a tuxedo comes up to her. She bets 20,000
on the Outlaw Star.
An old guy with glasses recognizes the Outlaw Star's model.
The Outlaw Star finally launches to start the race (they had
been delayed because the ships can't all launch together). It's 230
million kilometers to the end... It takes 14 hours to reach the first
checkpoint (for top ships), and the Outlaw Star is behind because they
started in the middle. The checkpoint is in-between two revolving planets.
The other ships are going up over the planets and down to hit the
checkpoint (so they don't get hit by the planets!) but if they time it
right, they can go straight through. But this will cause a tidal effect...
Gene decides to do it the hard, faster way. They near, but a massive wave
closes in on them from the first planet. There's no escape route, and the
checkpoint will be swallowed by the wave... |
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Episode 11
"Adrift in Subspace"
There's no escape route, and the checkpoint will be swallowed
up--Gene says they have to plow right through it (the Outlaw Star is
the fastest ship in the galaxy). They make it through.
Gilliam tells Gene to put down the engine outputs; they're in
sixth place. Now they have 500,000,000 kilometers to reach Heifong V.
Suzuka is on the beach, listening to radio announcements of the
race and sipping a drink.
Back on the ship, Jim is sleeping. Gene wakes him; they're near
a maintenance station--they're supposed to stop for an hour and
maintenance the ship, but the ship's fine. Gene suggests they maintenance
themselves. They pull into the station, and Gene notices MacDougall's
ship.
Inside the restaurant, Gene approaches the crew of the El
Dorado and asks for MacDougall--no one with that name is there, though.
Gene picks Harry up by his collar and asks why the pirates want the XGP
and why his people want to destroy it. Harry calls for help from the race
officials and Gene leaves, pushing Harry down.
Gene asks if Harry was MacDougall, he can't ignore him any
more. The El Dorado leaves, but it's 11 minutes until the Outlaw Star can
leave. Harry gets data on Gene's ship. Fred watches the race on TV, but it
doesn't cover private ships.
Aisha's ship approaches the third checkpoint. Harry pilots the
El Dorado to gain time; Aisha pushes buttons randomly and announces a
sneak attack on the Outlaw Star.
"With a single machine gun?" one of the pilots
asks--it's a trading ship. Aisha goes for the last resort.
The Outlaw Star is going through the more dangerous of two
possible checkpoints (of course)--they have to rely on their eyes, not the
instruments. Gene takes the shortest route through a bunch of asteroids
and clears it. Another ship has a mayday--the guy abandoned ship. Jim says
the course's marshall will pick him up soon, but Gene says they should
help him. Jim says that's not like Gene; Gene says it's no fun to drift
through space all alone. He goes out in a spacesuit (getting dizzy as he
exits), and brings the drifter inside. The drifter takes off an opaque
helmet--it's Aisha!
Aisha asks if the MacDougall brothers have the key to the
Galactic Leyline--Gene says they know more than he does. He tells
Aisha to go back but she won't leave until she gets her info. She looks
around the ship, fascinated. "This is one strange ship. It won't move
if you're not naked?"
"Geez, one cat-girl shows up and everything goes out of
whack," Gene comments.
Suzuka takes a bath while listening to the race on TV.
Aisha reclines in a seat. The ship starts to form a sub-ether
bubble--but there are objects coming in--missiles? They can't do anything;
it's 18 seconds until they hit subether, but 16 seconds until impact. Gene
says he'll shake the missiles. Aisha asks what's going on. They hit
sub-ether right as the missiles hit.
The El Dorado shows up; its crew is impressed. Harry says the
Outlaw Star will probably disintegrate. The ship was an eyesore to him and
his brother.
The Outlaw Star has a lot of stress on it and is unsafe; Gene
cuts the engine systems by removing the key. The ship goes dark, but
everyone's OK. The ship runs on auxiliary power, and Gene puts the key
back in. They're now safely back in normal space.
Aisha says the ship is stronger than she thought, and Gilliam
notes that he is the most advanced and intelligent ship in the
galaxy.
The ship has life support intact, but the ether drive and two
Newton reactors are not. But, the sub-ether drive's working, except the
reactors are not working.. The ether drive is too slow. The gang looks
despondent.
Aisha complains about their lack of enthusiasm--they can't give
up! She says you need guts to swim in a stream. Gene realizes they can go
in the ether stream (any normal ship would break in the ether
stream, but the Outlaw Star can make it out of one...). Jim doesn't want
to hear it, as usual; everyone else trusts Gene.
The ship enters its grappler arm mode and puts up its shields.
The El Dorado gets through checkpoint 4 in 4th place, but
there's an ether stream around Heifong I, so the Outlaw Star will do
better than 1st. The Outlaw Star gets out of the ether stream and goes
through the checkpoint--they're in 1st place for a minute, but wind up in
3rd, until another ship finishes with a faster time; the Outlaw Star is
fourth. Suzuka tears up her ticket. But, they are first in the Privateer
category. Aisha and Jim wear the outfits Fred provided the Outlaw Star
crew with earlier; they have the Luo name prominently displayed on the
back. Fred says he'll give them half the money, 200,000. The El Dorado
drops out of the race, but left Gene a communication cube... |
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Episode 12
"Mortal Combat with the El Dorado"
Everyone who knows more than mere rumors about the MacDougall
brothers is dead.
(The first several minutes of this flip back and forth between
the past and the present in generally well-timed transitions, but I
couldn't get that to work her; it was too confusing. ^_^;)
The El Dorado had dropped out of the race, but left a
communication cube. It told the Outlaw Star crew to meet them at Leone
Language Point in 50 hours; if they beat the El Dorado, they will tell
them everything they wanted to know. Aisha demands to come along with Gene
and company; they ruined her odds of moving up in the world. She's
searching for the Galactic Leyline, a huge treasure she wants to get. Gene
says it's a gate; Aisha claims it's made out of Dragonite. Gene says they
can't take Aisha, but she says if they know about the Galactic Leyline,
she's definitely coming.
They walk out on a bridge; a doctor-ish looking man who's a
race official named Gwen Khan asks where they got their ship. He says a
lot of repetitive things, and Gene says they found it as a "derelict
with no owner"--Gwen says there's no problem, and Gene and company
walk by. But Gwen stops them and says he wants the ship to be--nothing,
nothing at all, and walks off.
So, the Outlaw Star is looking for the El Dorado, but they're
in a magnetic field (as is the El Dorado). Radar is no good in a magnetic
field, so they need to use their eyes; Aisha volunteers. The ship is
functioning okay (its repairs were done hastily, but they are done).
There are missiles coming from 9 o' clock, according to Gilliam; Jim spots
the El Dorado.
Harry suggests they have a one-on-one duel; Gene doesn't
object, but complains that this is MacDougall's home territory. Harry
promises he's not from around Heifong.
Gene says the traps won't work in an asteroid field and goes
ahead, asking Aisha to watch their back. Melfina detects missiles; the
Outlaw Star dodges. Harry has accurate missiles; Gene wants to make it a
close-quarters fight. They see the El Dorado, which disappears and
reappears behind them! The Outlaw Star dodges more missiles. Gene asks if
the El Dorado is more maneuverable than the Outlaw Star; Gilliam assures
him it's not. The MacDougall brothers won't come at Gene from the front;
missiles come at the Outlaw Star from both sides! Gene uses a grappling
arm with a gun to shoot the missiles before they hit the ship. Gene pants
and realizes he'll have to go all out against Harry.
Missiles come from 9:00 and 3:00; Gene shoots most of them, but
one hits the ship. Gene thinks MacDougall will be out of missiles soon,
and then the Outlaw Star can win. The Outlaw Star crew argues. Melfina
says the bridge is getting hot, isn't it? Gilliam lowers the temperature
in the ship.
Jim wants to use cameras, while Aisha says they should plow in
and crush MacDougall. Gene says if Aisha doesn't shut up, he'll throw her
out. He ponders, and politely asks Aisha to do him a favor--let him throw
her off the ship.
Harry has 24% of his missiles left. He tells an underling to
make sure the Outlaw Star crew doesn't figure out that there's another
ship. Outside the Outlaw Star, Aisha spots MacDougall's ship! It has
Grappler arms, too! The Outlaw Star and El Dorado grapple; Harry has four
arms, two of which punch the Outlaw Star while the Outlaw Star's two are
locked with two of El Dorado's. "Die, die, die, die!" says
Harry.
The Outlaw Star gets its arms free and catches the El Dorado.
Gene tells Jim to take control and goes through a drill tunnel which
pierces into the El Dorado.
Gene comes in the El Dorado with a gun; he shoots a guy in the
leg. The guy falls and says, "That hurt!"--Gene realizes it's
not MacDougall. Gene uses a smoke bomb and shoots someone in the arm, and
asks him where MacDougall is. He falls. Gene knocks down a door and pulls
a gun on Harry; Harry puts his hands up--but he has a shiny chip on the
back of his neck.
Gilliam is being hacked into; he goes into protective mode and
says 'good night.' Melfina seems to be in trouble, too.
Harry's employers wanted the XGP destroyed; he says he doesn't
ask his employers why they want what they want. The pirates are involved
with the Galactic Leyline--but Harry is going to trash the computer.....he
sees Melfina, naked. She asks him to stay away, and Harry laughs wickedly.
Gene shoots the chip off of Harry's neck, and shoots Harry's
arm. Harry whines. Gene holds his gun to Harry's forehead and asks why
they destroyed his dad's ship six years ago. Harry protests that 6 years
ago, he was only 12! Gene asks where Harry's brother is. Jim (through
Gene's earring) says there's another El Dorado! Harry goes nuts and says
he'll destroy them. But there's two ships; that's why the El Dorado could
be 'more maneuverable.' One of the El Dorados explodes! The Outlaw Star
follows the other, which blows up a large asteroid. Gilliam says they're
in danger and asks them to take evasive action.
Harry's brother bandages him, who cries and whine--the brother
tell shim to be a MacDougall man and promises they'll do worse than that
to whoever did that to him. Harry remembers 'that woman'...
Gene says they have to go back to Heifong and try again; he
apologizes to Melfina for losing another lead.
Aisha whines to be picked up (she's still in space!); Gene
decides to (otherwise, she'll haunt him again). Melfina thinks of Harry
MacDougall... |
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House
