Fred Lou is a successful arms dealer on Sentinel III.  He is homosexual and Gene and Jim don't like to visit him very often due to the fact that he comes on to them.  Regardless of his sexual orientation Gene and Jim still do business with him, and Gene even saves him from Twilight Suzuka.    Fred equips Gene with many weapons throughout the series and even sponsors the Outlaw Star in the Heiphon Space Race.

"Gene, we have another rule in the Lou family. Trust can't be bought with money, but it can't take its place either. Trusting you and knowing I'll be paid by you is two different things all together."

-Fred Lou