"Are you sure you don't want to try some of that potion? This is really cool!"

The tiny terran glared at his giant feline friend, "I already told you no! Fred's gonna be furious when he finds out we used some of his serum....... I just hope there's an antidote."

"Antidote?" Aisha laughed, "You make it sound like this is a bad thing! I wish you'd try some of the potion, it'd be a lot of fun having you the same size as I am....... Oh, no matter, I kind of like you this way........ You're really cute when you're the size of a mouse boy! Not that you weren't cute before."

"I'm not cute!" Jim growled, frustrated, "And I'm not a mouse boy!"

"Whatever you say." Aisha used her pinky to rub Jim's head and mess up his hair.

Jim wished Aisha would quit comparing him to a mouse. Aisha was like a big sister to him and he trusted her, the name just really annoyed him.

Aisha looked down at all the Terrans trying to escape from the street, "Wow, they're so scared of me! Well I can't blame them, I am a mighty Ctarl Ctarl!" Aisha let out a triumphant laugh.

"I think it has more to do with the fact that you're 20 times taller than most people." Jim pointed out.

"Look at them scurry." Aisha stared at them, fascinated.

Jim didn't like the glint in her eye, it was like a predator surveying its prey. At normal size Ctarl Ctarl could really pack it away. Jim could only guess how much food a 100 foot tall one would need.

"Let's go find Gene," Jim suggested, "He might still be in trouble."

"Yeah, okay!" When she turned to leave the ring in Aisha's braided hair went flying like a wrecking ball into the building besides her. The entire left side of the building caved in.

"Oops! I really don't want to have to pay for that!" Aisha gulped, images of being a waiter for the rest of her life suddenly haunted her.

"Then let's get out of here!" Jim suggested, "And be careful from now on!"

"Right!"

..................................................................


It had been hard but Gene and Suzuka had been able to defeat the security force troopers without seriously injuring any of them. The last thing Gene needed was a murder charge. Whatever Fred's package was it had sparked the interest of the authorities. Gene doubted that the crew would be able to return to the Heifong system anytime soon. They decided to head towards Fred's building on foot. They didn't get very far when they were attacked again........... This time by Kei pirates.

"Maybe we should hail a cab." Suzuka suggested.

"Do you have money for the fare?"

"....... No. What about that money for that job we took outside of Blue Heaven? Don't we have any wong left?"

"No!" Gene spat, "Jim wasted a huge chunk of it on 'upgrades' and Aisha spent the rest on twinkies."

"........... I hope the others are okay."

"........ Yeah." Gene was a little worried, he hoped Jim, Melfina, and Aisha got away safely.

"Gene Starwind, you've been a thorn in our side for quite some time." The threatening voice came from behind them.

Turning they saw 3 men dressed in black. Their leader, the one who had addressed them, had spiky brown hair, an eye patch, and a shawl covering his mouth.

"You interfered at the Galactic Leyline and now you meddle in our affairs once again." People started to move off the sidewalk and go to the other side of the street sensing something was brewing.

'The Kei Pirates are after this thing too?' Gene thought mentally, 'Fred what have you gotten me into this time?'

"Okay I've had enough of this crap!" a second later Gene had his caster in hand 'only 3 shells, none of them all that powerful, I better not mess this up!'

"You've got five seconds to just walk away." The pirate leader merely cackled, "1... 2... 5!" Gene fired at on of the surprised pirates.

The man was instantly incinerated. Cursing the remaining two drew their weapons. A fire fight quickly ensued. Gene nipped the leader's shoulder with a well aimed caster shot but it wasn't enough to take the man down. Suzuka moved forward katana in hand, with one swift stroke her foe crumpled to the ground. The spiky haired pirate leader proved to be some what more of a challenge. Dodging melfina's thrusts he fired of a shot that ripped the sword from her hands and sent it flying to the air. Spinning it finally hit the street and slid under a car nearly 20 feet away. Gene fired off his remaining shot and missed causing a crater in the ground behind the enraged pirate. The pirate saw that Gene was out of ammo.

"Heh, nice try Starwind. I hope hell is hot enough for ya!" He aimed his gun at Gene's head.

"Damn!"

Just then