Out of the Ashes
is an Outlaw Star fanfic by Breakaway-Republic, the latest in a series.
Notably, its one of the few Outlaw Star fanfics to bring back "Hot Ice" Hilda in (as one reviewer put it) the right damned way.
Currently incomplete, and has been since 2004, but Word of God is that the author may yet consider going back and finishing it off at some point.
Out of the Ashes contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Suzuka and Aisha, of course, and Hilda quickly picks up right where she left off. The story also introduces newcomer Takana, who as one reviewer put it, is an unholy amalgam of all the best fighting traits of the other characters. Naturally, she's an Action Girl in spades. To a lesser extent, Melfina also gets in on the action, finally picking up a gun to protect Gene.
- Attack Its Weak Point: Ctarl-Ctarl are notoriously tough, such that bullets bounce right off, knives shatter, and even caster shells do little more than stun them. How do combatants (especially Hilda) get around this? Usually they aim for the ear, pointing directly into the brain. Even if it's not fatal, their ears are very sensitive, as Takana can attest.
- Babies Ever After: Melfina is bearing Gene's child.
- Back from the Dead: "Hot Ice" Hilda. Later revealed to be a clone of the original with most of her memories. One of the few times in fanfiction done right.
- Back Up Twin: Played with. Clone Hilda was never meant to replace the original, only sow confusion and allow the original greater freedom of opportunity. However, by the end, she's more or less fully stepped into the role of her predecessor, who is naturally deceased.
- Big Eater: Aisha remains in fine form, as always."Remember, Aisha..." Jim almost whispered in a mischievous tone, "this meal essentially cost us 150,000 Wong, so you might as well get your money's worth."
"Mmmm-Hmmm!" she enthusiastically nodded. "I'll be over by the buffet if you need me." It was almost like letting a bull loose in a china shop.
- Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Takana gets paid a pittance for killing Hilda, but far, far more if she brings in the outlaw alive, which is a new trick for the Hunter-Tracker. This is because her employer needs Hilda to find and access some rare items she stole from him.
- Cat Fight: Puns aside, Aisha and Takana throw down a few times against one another. Considering the raw strength of a Ctarl-Ctarl and their aggressive, territorial personalities, it makes sense.
- Clones Are People, Too: Though she later realizes she isn't the "original" Hilda, the clone quickly accepts her role as a replacement for the original, taking both the good and the bad that comes with that.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: The aptly named Ewan 'Craven' of Craven Industries, who routinely sells his clients junk and then turns around and sells better to their opposition just as readily, forcing them to keep coming to him for more and more expensive upgrades.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Takana's childhood was pretty good... but shortly after that her life hit a shocking swerve, and by the present she's not in the happiest of places.
- Dead Fic: Per
Word of God, more 'comatose' than 'dead' leaving some hope of it being completed in the future. - Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Takana abhors the pity she receives from Melfina when she tells her tragic backstory.
- Dramatic Drop: Seeing Hilda apparently alive and well causes Jim to drop his morning coffee, practically right on his feet. He's so stunned he barely even notices he burnt his foot except to realize it means he's not dreaming.
- Expendable Clone: Apparently how the original Hilda felt about her duplicate. She must not have realized just how very life-like it would become. Subverted by the rest of the Outlaw's crew, who see Clones Are People, Too.
- Fantastic Drug: Iaru root, which seems to stimulate Ctarl-Ctarl senses and metabolism. It's also highly addictive.
- Henpecked Husband: Fred Luo has become one of these thanks to marrying the Strongest Woman in the Universe (not counting Aisha) who frowns on his gambling habits and risky ventures. It prevents him from funding the Outlaw Star for another year in the Space Race.
- Interspecies Romance: The possibility of Ctarl-Ctarls and Humans being an item is brought up several times. Also, while supposedly 'Human' bio-synthetic androids such as Melfina and Hilda may also be considered this.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Hilda has no memories of what happened prior to Blue Heaven. We later learn this is because this is not the original Hilda, but a clone, and thus would have no memories beyond the point of the cloning process which took place at Blue Heaven.
- MacGuffin: The Scepter of Orubuu-Ria. It's a relic from the Ctarl-Ctarl empire that's practically a worthless stick to Terrans, but Aisha's people prize it above almost all else, and to get it back would restore her to her former rank and position.
- No One Could Survive That!: Hilda blew herself up while falling into a star. So how is she Back from the Dead? It's not the original, but a clone.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: Takana Jaci-Jaci takes this up a notch even compared to her Ctarl counterpart, Aisha Clan-Clan.
- Refuge in Audacity: Several times Hilda brazenly puts herself in the public eye, despite knowing there's a bounty hunter with a personal grudge looking for her. When asked by Gene if this is a good idea, she points out he did something similar last year when the Kei Pirates were hunting him. He concedes her point.
- Running Gag: Suzuka again loses her bet on the Outlaw Star winning the Great Space Race.
- The Immodest Orgasm: Gene and Melfina are said to be very passionate about their new love life. It's driven the rest of the crew to bunk out in the XGP to get away from the noise.
