EPISODE 3: INTO BURNING SPACE

"I'm not a cher--Urk! Land this thing and I'll show you who's a cherry!" -- Gene Starwind

Prologue: Narrator: With the development of the Munchausen Drive, which made faster-than-light space travel possible, humanity entered into a new era of great odysseys. They set out into the universe, into this infinite sea. Explorers, soldiers, colonists. All sorts of travelers with all sorts of names crossed the sea of stars and spread out across all sorts of worlds. But when law and order were created, those who disturbed it appeared. And when wealth and interest were made, those who plundered them appeared. Just as in the last great age of sailing, pirates were reborn in space. But in this new age of odysseys, a new breed of sailors appeared who worked outside the law, yet sided with neither space pirate nor Space Forces. Outlaws. This was the name given to those who traveled space with only his freedom as his guide.

Episode 3: Into Burning Space

Facing off against McCoy and his armor in the hallway of their hotel, Gene pulls out a revolver in spite of Hilda's protests. He assures her that they're just paint bullets, but of course Gene Starwind doesn't ever use just normal bullets of any kind. He fires a multichromatic blast at the viewscreen of McCoy's armor and renders it blind and useless as the paint can't be scraped off. Frustrated, McCoy exits the armor for some face to face dealings, but Hilda and her taser take care of him before he can even get started. So what was this attack all about anyhow? Time to get a little info out of McCoy's cronies.

The cronies prefer to play dumb, but a little persuasion from Hilda's boot and her reputation for playing rough gets them to spill. They were promised a big payout if they managed to keep Hilda at Blue Heaven, and it turns out the request came from none other than Ron MacDougall. Hilda rewards the stool pigeon with a nut-crunching kick to the groin and tells Gene to wake the others so they can head to the dock. Gene wants to know who MacDougall is, but as usual, Hilda's not answering questions and promises an explanation later.

At the dock Swanzo and his partner Mikey are just cleaning up the toughs sent to make sure Hilda stuck around. Hilda apologizes for the trouble, but Swanzo seems to have no trouble with doing her favors. When she tells him MacDougall put them up to it, Swanzo wonders what Hilda got herself messed up in this time to draw this kind of attention. Hilda casually mentions it's the Galactic Leyline, which Swanzo seems to think is a waste of time, chasing a myth. Hilda assures him she doesn't believe in anything until she's seen it with her own two eyes. Well, it looks like Horus has been repaired, although Mikey recommends an overhaul. Hilda turns it down in favor of an immediate launch. Swanzo drowns out Gene's protest by alerting Hilda to a ruckus at dock 12. Looks like they might have ships going after them, too. MacDougall's definitely interested in keeping Hilda on Blue Heaven. Mikey's shocked that ships would start a fight so close to Blue Heaven and break the rules, which according to Swanzo call for hand-to-hand combat only. Considering Horus's size, in his opinion, it'll be like sharks ganging up on a whale. Hilda isn't worried, though, and tells Swanzo to expect her back with a new ship she'll need his help with. Swanzo readily agrees and the crew boards Horus for the launch.

Sure enough, no sooner do they launch when five Class-C Grappler ships come after Horus. Hilda asks Gene if he has any space fighting experience, but Gene's confident about all he can do at the moment is puke. Horus warns that would cause a short circuit. Jim volunteers to man the guns in Gene's place and gets sent to the laser cannon. Melfina holds Gene's hand, worried, but Gene snatches it away, still playing the tough guy. Hilda orders Melfina to the auxiliary control chair. Horus warns them that evasive maneuvers are risky in Blue Heaven's asteroid field. Hilda continues accelerating as the Grapplers split into two groups and continue to pursue. Jim fires the laser cannon when they get close, but the Grapplers are shielded, so about all he can do with it is keep them on their toes. Gene is not enjoying space battle one bit. Two of the ships drop in from above. Hilda plays chicken with them to avoid getting blown to bits, further upsetting Gene's stomach. Perhaps a stiff belt from his flask will help.

Still in the asteroid field, a large ship comes into view, a Ctarl-Ctarl cruiser. Hilda tells Horus to warn them they're on a collision course, but Horus answers that they claim they have the right of way. On board the cruiser, the Orta Honehone, the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire's Ambassador Plenipotentiary Aisha Clan-Clan demands that everyone clear the way. The Grapplers aren't willing to take on the Ctarl-Ctarl, but Hilda shines her on, telling her she's claiming the right of way as a departing ship. Gene asks Jim what the Ctarl-Ctarl are like. Jim replies that they're like a cross between human and tiger, real nasty. This isn't making Gene feel like giving up the booze. The Ctarl-Ctarl are shocked that the oncoming ship isn't changing course. Hilda advises that if they drop their shields there will be enough room for them to pass. Aisha is outraged that anyone would defy the Ctarl-Ctarl Empire, but faced with a collision danger, the Orta Honehone's crew do as Hilda says. This risky move has Jim doing a duck and cover, sure they're going to die. Gene cracks open an eye and foregoes comment, dealing with the situation be getting in a few more swallows from that flask. Horus makes it past the Orta Honehone, which takes mild damage from asteroids with its shields down, further enraging Aisha. The Grapplers decide that if Hilda could do it, so can they, but Aisha's not about to let everyone walk all over her authority and demands they stop. They don't quite have Hilda's bronze cahones, so they surrender to the massive ship. Hilda, on the other hand, just accelerates more in spite of Horus's warning about the asteroid field not yet being cleared and Gene's cheek-puffing heaves. Aisha really goes off at this insult and orders her crew to fire on the escaping Outlaw ship. She ignores the captain's warning about firing within the asteroid belt, feeling it necessary to restore the honor of the Ctarl-Ctarl empire. Cannon blasts, however are easily evaded by Horus and only serve to break up the last few asteroids as Hilda clears the field and escapes. The crew of the Orta Honehone comment to each other that Aisha blew it.

On Horus, Gene gets himself together enough to ask Hilda where they're going this time. Hilda's vague answer is that they're headed to a little star-system to meet up with some of her friends.

Back on the Orta Honehone, Aisha 'interrogates' the captured Outlaws. All she gets from them though is that it was Hilda who got away. Outraged, Aisha orders them to be executed later, and for the crew to pursue the escaped ship at once. The crew replies that they can't, they've been ordered to stay at Blue Heaven. Frustrated, Aisha flies into another rage as the crew tersely inform her that they were following orders in contacting home in the first place. Aisha must not pay much attention to her assignments.

On Horus, Gene is unhappy to find out they're still three sub-ether jumps from their destination. He decides to use the opportunity to ask Hilda about the Galactic Leyline. Hilda replies that it's a place the Kei Pirates are desperate to find on the idea that there's a huge treasure there. Gene then asks about MacDougall, but rather than answering herself, Hilda has Horus read out the datafile on the MacDougall brothers. Apparently there's not much. They call themselves Outlaws but their position is unclear. They'll do any job for the right price. Their names aren't even known. Asked by Gene why they're poking around in her business, Hilda suggests he ask them. Gene tries another tact, suggesting that he and Hilda talk it over in bed. Hilda taunts him by telling him a cherry isn't worth her time. Gene protests that he's not a cherry and would show her if she'd land, but another dry heave cuts him short. Jim groans to Melfina about grown-ups and their sleazy conversations. Melfina innocently tells Gene it's too bad he can't perform, cracking Hilda up, much to Gene's embarrassment.

Finally coming out of sub-ether at their destination, Hilda points them to a moon where she says her friends will meet them. However, there's no ships in sight or on radar and nobody answers her hail. Gene wonders if they're early or Hilda got stood up, but Hilda's sure that's not the case. As they close in, radar and the cameras pick up the debris of a destroyed ship. Hilda takes them in closer and identifies it as the Leprechaun, one of the ships she was supposed to meet. Horus confirms the debris as what's left of the Leprechaun and the Purgatory, the other ship. Melfina warns Hilda that a ship is lifting off of the moon and coming after them. It's the Kei Pirates. The Pirates launch their fighters. On board the ship, the young female pirate watches. An offscreen man seems to have orchestrated the meeting as he says "Just like I told you." The man is revealed, an Outlaw on the pirate ship. Aha, it's MacDougall himself, taking an easy job, knowing the Guild pays well. He asks if the pirates will need any more help as his brother is standing by in their ship. His offer is turned down. This is now a pirate job.

Hilda's hatred of pirates is only increased by seeing their involvement in the deaths of her friends. She informs Gene that they're going to accelerate and fly right down the pirates' throats, then orders Gene to the gunner's chair. Gene again refuses to help, at which point Hilda loses it, grabbing him by the collar and asking how long he's going to keep whining about everything. Gene still balks, Hilda asking him when he'll stop running away. Gene is stunned and says he's not running as he thinks back to the attack on his father's ship. A last stiff belt from his flask puts his attitude back in place and he tells her not to bitch if he pukes on everything. Her reply is that if he wants to be a Spacer he'd better learn to hold it in. Gene calls her a slave driver, but takes over the guns from Jim. Jim's not too sure about it, but Gene's not about to let Jim see any lack of confidence on his part.

The fighters close in, Hilda telling Gene to use missiles. The Tao master casts a spell as he comes in, making contact with Horus's hull but doing no damage. Gene fires another volley, but with a sinister laugh, the Tao master retreats. MacDougall asks if they're going to let Hilda get away and is told it's not his concern. The Tao master has branded Hilda and promises that she'll never escape and they'll take back everything she's stolen, making her regret taking on the Guild.

Hilda sets a course for Farfallas. Gene is once again full of questions. Hilda tells him Farfallas is a desert planet and they're going there because the Grappler ship she's after is hidden there. Gene is surprised to get a straight answer, and Hilda tells him she found out she could trust him as a crew member. Gene starts off a snappy reply, but another dry heave hits him and Jim guides him to the bathroom before things get messy in the cockpit. Melfina's only question for Hilda is why she was brought along. Hilda asks if she would rather have stayed with the pirates and assures Melfina she would never mistreat her. This seems to satisfy Melfina.

As Horus enters sub-ether, the young female pirate orders that as soon as all fighters are in they'll begin pursuit. MacDougall again offers help and is refused. He heads out, explaining that his brother is there to pick him up. The MacDougall's ship separates from the pirate vessel and we get the first glimpse of the elusive younger MacDougall as both brothers watch the pirate ship depart. The elder MacDougall comments that this "should prove to be interesting" and laughs.

Back at Blue Heaven, Aisha Clan-Clan gets a recorded message from the Empire berating her actions and her failure to capture Hilda and Horus. In spite of it being a recording, she continues to try to talk back to the message, earning growing contempt from the Orta Honehone's captain. Aisha is stripped of her rank and assigned as a resident officer at Blue Heaven with the assignment to gather information on the Galactic Leyline while the Orta Honehone continues to pursue Hilda.

In the Farfallas system, Hilda seems to be driving straight into the sun. Gene keeps up a running commentary about the logic of this until Horus announces that he's found it. 'It' turns out to be an asteroid that contains the ship, which Hilda explains is very special, having been built with the brains of the pirates and the technology of the Space Forces. Gene is understandably surprised that these two powers would team up for anything. Hilda announces that she's taking them in.

To be continued!

Next Episode: Okay, now I get it. So the pirates were after this baby, huh? Now I'm convinced-- Hey Hilda, don't leave me hanging out here! The pirates flock toward a mysterious spaceship that was hidden on an asteroid! We have to deal with some bad luck that comes our way! My long years of discipline are being put to the test! Next time on Outlaw Star, When the Hot Ice Melts! You better get ready!