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As much as he argued with Gene, Jim could only count a handful of times when he had been truly angry at his partner. It wouldn't be the first time Gene had ducked out of a job, but never one as important as this. There was a big sum of money involved, and Gene knew Jim wasn't able to handle the job alone.

His eyes lingered on his wristwatch, yet the numbers continued to tick by painstakingly. With Melfina at his side, he flashed a nervous smile at the client seated across the table, his hands wringing in his lap underneath it.

"S-so uhh...h-how long've you been on Centenial III?" he asked cheerfully.

The man regarded Jim darkly from over his shaded glasses...he looked as though he could crush them both between his fingers, and Jim was beginning to wonder why he needed Starwind and Hawkings at all. "...You asked me that five minutes ago."

Jim cringed, his eyes flickering toward Melfina, who stared worriedly back at him. "E-eh heheh..."

"Young man, am I wasting my time here?"

"N-no no!" Jim cried, flinging his hands wildly. "N-not at all! He'll be here any second now, guaranteed! U-uh..."

Damnit Gene...where are you? I need you...

"M-meanwhile, did you wanna get down to business, Mister uhh...umm..."

"...I would prefer to meet with the man I am supposed to be doing business with before I disclose any further information," came the curt reply.

Boy, talk about a shady character...nothing we haven't dealt with before, I guess.

"H-hehe...well, like I said, he'll be here any second now, no worries!"

"This...Gene Starwind. Exactly how long have you been with him?"

Taken aback by the question, but relieved to have the conversation steer away somewhat from the current predicament, Jim gave a nervous chuckle and paused to contemplate. "Me and Gene? We go waaaay back. Ever since he got to Centinnel III, practically, and that was five years ago."

"You must have been a very young boy at the time."

"Oh yeah, I was only around six, I guess," Jim said conversationally, linking his hands behind his head. "We made a pretty good team, though."

"You're a smart boy."

"Heh. That's what I hear."

"He's a genius," Melfina intercepted, smiling gently at Jim, who blushed.

"Ah, well..."

"I'd imagine, seeing as how you are able to co-manage a business," murmured the stranger.

"Yep, that's me...I fix and maintain stuff, Gene's the frontline man," Jim responded jovially.

"Would you say Starwind takes good care of you? After all, you are only an eleven year old boy now, are you not?"

"U-uh...y-yeah, I...guess? I mean, we pretty much take care of each other, and..."

"Do you think he is a responsible caretaker? Does he often leave the two of you unsupervised?" He gestured at Melfina then, who looked taken aback.

Jim looked at her too, somewhat hesitantly. The conversation had taken an odd turn. "...Yes..." he said slowly. "Uh...I mean no! I mean...well, Gene'll get your job done, don't you worry about that, sir! He's real responsible about that stuff, you can count on him to help you out no problem-,"

"That wasn't my question. James, my name is Staley Adams, I'm with the newly developed Child Welfare Association of the Environmental Bureau...we are a part of a government branch that specializes in social aspects and economics of Centenial III..." a badge was flashed before Jim's face, "...we have been investigating Gene Starwind for quite some time, and it has come to our attention that he has been living with a minor in his care. The government's new demographics and welfare department is responsible for overseeing the wellbeing of all Centenial III's citizens, in particular, its children."

Jim felt his stomach twisting uneasily...he glanced at his watch again under the table.

Gene...

"I came here this evening to interview both you and Mr Starwind in regards to your current...situation."

"Situation?" Jim echoed nervously.

"Mr Starwind's absence to this meeting further supports our initial evaluation...that is, the current conditions you are living under, James, are not suitable for a child."

"Hold on..." Jim began.

"Furthermore, we have reason to believe that Gene Starwind is unfit for the role of guardianship of a minor...a role that is hereby regarded as illegal and punishable by law."

"Wait a minute!" Jim exclaimed, standing up and knocking over his chair. "You can't say that, you can't do that! Talk about what's legal...you need evidence of charges, warrants, and a whole bunch of other crap before you come in here saying stuff like that!"

Adams gave a dull chuckle. "You really are a smart boy," he mused. "However on the contrary, James, you'll find that we have all the evidence we need. Coming here was merely a formality for Starwind's benefit...one I see was hardly necessary. His absence only concludes the case that has already been placed together on our part...James Hawkings, your current living situation is no longer acceptable by government standards. You are hereby relinquished from the care of Gene Starwind, a former fugitive harboring an outlaw ship and making a minimum wage income by the standards of Centennial III. Gene Starwind, despite his absence, is hereby dubbed 'unfit' in his guardianship over a minor, and will be arrested upon his return."

"NO!"

"Jim!" Melfina cried anxiously, rising to her feet as he did. Jim balled his hands into fists.

"You can't do this! You can't just bust in here and do this!" he yelled. "And you can't arrest Gene just like that!"

"You will be placed under government care and supervision until further notice," Adams continued, raising his voice over Jim's protests. "A boy your age needs to be in a stable environment, a good home. He needs to be taken care of, to go to school..."

"School?! Sure, if you want me to TEACH there!" Jim yelled. "You can't do this!"

But Adams was already placing a formal-looking document on the table and rising to his feet.

"If you would make sure Mr Starwind receives that upon his return," he said coolly to Melfina. "Come, James. It's all right."

"NO! I'm staying here!" Jim yelled. "I WANT to stay with Gene!"

Adams gave a thin smile. "I'm sorry, James, but that is no longer possible."

"MELFINA!" Jim cried, but Adams had already wrapped his arms around him, holding him firmly to keep him from struggling further. "Hey, let go of me!!"

"It will be easier if you come quietly, James."

"No, lemme go! PUT ME DOWN, DAMNIT! Gene's guardianship is just fine! Besides, I don't need a guardian! We're partners!"

"You do, James. And tell me - guardian or partner - where is Mr Starwind at this moment?"

Jim opened his mouth, but fell silent for a moment or so...Adams gave another thin smile. "...As expected."

"...YOU STILL CAN'T TAKE ME!" Jim yelled. "Hey! You think you're trying to arrest me now or something?! Lemme go!"

"You are not being arrested. Trust me, James, you will find your life to be far better from hereon out. You'll have good food, a safe place to sleep. A boy your age shouldn't be working shady deals with strangers...he should be enriching his life, going to school..."

"I don't need school! I don't need enrichment! ...I need...Gene..."

"Jim!" Melfina cried, but Adams held up a hand as she came toward them.

"Please do not make this any more difficult than it has to be. I'm sure you would not want to make things any worse for Mr Starwind, now would you?"

Melfina hesitated. Her expression became pained. "Jim..."

Frustrated, yet defeated for the mean time, Jim looked at her from under the man's arm. "I'll try get a hold of him. You know...the usual way. But...tell him...tell Gene..." he trailed off, and lowered his eyes to the ground. "...I don't know," he murmured finally. "I don't know what to tell the b*****d..."

Suddenly resigned, he allowed himself to be guided limply from the building...he found himself placed in the back of a law enforcement vehicle, which rumbled to life beneath him as they took off into the heart of the city. He was vaguely aware of being plagued with questions, of other people in the car, of being led into a police station until he could be 'resituated' into a 'government-based location'...yet it all seemed dull, surreal. Emotions chased each other around inside his chest, yet he could not place any of them, despite their intensity...he shifted restlessly, gazed without seeing into the world around him...an unfamiliar world that made no sense to him. At one point, he heard them say that Gene would be permitted to come to the station to 'follow up'...and to say goodbye. Jim wondered if they would try to arrest Gene afterwards...if Gene would stand for it. If he'd maybe even try to bail Jim out at the same time. He would, wouldn't he? When he had hurried to the station, frought with anger and worry, annoyance that such a thing had taken place in his absence. Perhaps even guilty.

Yet the hours passed, the people came and went, and Jim remained seated in a hard, white, plastic chair, waiting. Deflecting the questions, or ignoring them completely. Trying to recall what had happened. Realizing how much time had passed. And realizing, with each moment he waited, how foolish he felt.

When at last he was taken again, off in the back of a car, accompanied by a social worker - Adams, perhaps, he couldn't tell anymore - he felt nothing. The world around him was dull, lifeless, just like he was on the inside. He wasn't sure if hours had passed, or even if it had been a whole day and night before he was taken off to be relocated again, taken away from the police station. Either way, it was to the point where no one could wait any longer...not even Jim. Time had passed.

Gene had not come.