Ep 17. Between Life and Machine

In the seventeenth episode of Outlaw Star season 1 titled "Between Life and Machine", Gene, Melfina, and Jim end up landing on a planet named Tenrei after being chased by enemy ships. The planet is known to have a dangerous and deadly atmosphere which has claimed the lives of many unlucky travelers. They find out the hard way that their ship, The Outlaw Star, has suffered some damages that require repairs.

The trio splits up to search for any materials or tools they may need to repair their ship and avoid being stranded indefinitely. While Gene and Jim go hunting for parts, Melfina has her own encounter with an unusual creature. The creature is a biomechanical organism that appears to be in distress.

Melfina, being the compassionate person she is, decides to help the creature and quickly realizes that the creature is not the only one on the planet. She finds a colony of biomechanical organisms, and they seem to be at war with another group of bioorganisms. Despite her initial hesitation and scared feelings at first, Melfina saw it fit to help assist this group and help them end their internal strife.

Meanwhile, Jim and Gene are on their own search. While they are gone from the ship, a group of enemies surrounds them. As if that is not enough, the Outlaw Star suddenly turns on them, proving to be a formidable enemy in their own fight. The crew quickly realizes that their ship has been hacked, as somebody or something malicious has invaded their system.

The episode is full of action-packed fighting sequences and intense moments as the trio fights to protect themselves from the invading enemy. With their ship against them, they must work diligently to steer it and defend themselves from the hacking attacks.

Back at the planet, Melfina continues to do her utmost to support the biomechanical colony. She soon realizes that these creatures are beyond anything she has encountered before, and their evolution has led them to be both machine-like and autonomous. She becomes determined to help the colony however she can, which includes offering her own body and energy supply to keep the biomechanical colony thriving.

After a successful battle, Gene and Jim head back to where the ship is docked on the planet. They quickly make some discoveries about their seemingly rogue ship and the unwelcome passerby who seems to have disrupted their voyage. They are shocked to find that their ship has been taken over artificially and for a sinister purpose.

Meanwhile, Melfina discovers that the biomechanical colony has a darker secret than she initially thought. While they appreciate her help, they are also working secretly on a project that could have dire consequences on the universe. Melfina now learns what it means to be between life and machine. As she struggles to understand better the biomechanical colony, what they represent for humanity, and if their existence is worth all the risks.

This episode of Outlaw Star is both action-packed and emotionally charged, a perfect combination that makes it an exciting addition to the anime series. With many questions left to be answered, the audience eagerly awaits future episodes of Outlaw Star.