James Hawking, often called Jim, is an eleven-year-old boy who serves as the business partner and close companion of the protagonist, Gene Starwind. He is of Terran origin, with shaggy, spiked blond hair and bright blue eyes, and stands at a diminutive four feet six inches tall. He is the son of a legendary computer hacker known only as the Computer Wizard, a heritage that heavily influences his skillset.

Possessing a personality that is the direct opposite of his partner Gene, Jim is responsible, cautious, and honest. He prefers the security of an honest days work over the risky allure of a big score, often acting as a voice of reason and worrying about the groups finances and plans. Despite his youth, he displays a precocious and mature demeanor, though he can become bashful around beautiful women and, unlike Gene, has great integrity in such situations. He struggles to trust strangers easily, particularly those like the outlaw Hilda or the assassin Suzuka, whose initial motives are unclear. His core motivation is to support his surrogate family, effectively balancing the books and keeping him and Gene clothed and fed, while striving to make his older brother-figure proud of him.

In the story, Jim co-owns the freelance odd-job business Starwind and Hawking Enterprises on the planet Sentinel III. His role is to be the brains to Genes brawn, handling the technological, tactical, and administrative tasks that his partner neglects. He is the crews resident hacker, computer expert, and strategist, often supporting Gene in combat by analyzing enemy weaknesses. He is a key member of the crew aboard the ship Outlaw Star, where he modifies one of the Gilliam maintenance robots into a pink, personalized unit with silly eyebrows to serve as his link to the ships computer, Gilliam II.

His key relationships form the core of his character. He shares a close, brotherly bond with Gene, acting as the anchor to his partners recklessness. He develops a profound surrogate mother-son relationship with the android Melfina, from whom he seeks comfort and security, occasionally sleeping in her arms, and in return, he looks after her emotional state and shields her from Genes lecherous side. With the Ctarl-Ctarl warrior Aisha Clan-Clan, he has a sibling-like dynamic described as big sister and little brother, though he often becomes exasperated by her lack of tact.

Jim experiences small but significant moments of personal development. He is forced to accept that despite his intelligence and desire to fight on the front lines, his age and physical limitations mean he will always be the backup, providing tactical and fire support from a distance. One notable episode explores his first love, a young girl named Hanmyo, who is secretly a combat pilot tasked with destroying the Outlaw Star.

Jim Hawking possesses several notable abilities. He is a brilliant tactician and a practiced hacker, likely inherited from his father. He is surprisingly proficient with firearms and heavy weapons, able to carry a large arsenal on his small frame and withstand the recoil of a rocket launcher with ease. While he can be easily overpowered in close-quarters combat by trained assassins, his marksmanship is frighteningly accurate, and he can even drive vehicles with surprising skill for his age. This blend of youthful vulnerability and remarkable competence defines his role in the story.