Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own Outlaw Star or Cowboy Bebop or anything affiliated with said shows.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"Hey Gilliam, I'm all finished down here, go ahead and fire it up." Jim said as he popped his head out from underneath the main console of the XGP.

"Right away Jim." Gilliam's robotic voice replied over the speaker system since his little pink robot was currently working on repairs somewhere else.

Sliding his body out, Jim stood up and tossed his mini-computer on Gene's seat before looking up to the screens that ran the entire length of the ship's cockpit. A series of diagnostic reports were running down them and Jim quickly scanned the information as the Outlaw Star ran through its startup process one final time.

"Main engines online. All systems go." Gilliam said once he was finished. "We are ready to launch as soon as the rest of the crew arrives."

Jim stretched his arms over his head then picked up his computer and shoved it into his pocket. "They should be here soon enough. Gene said they were only going out for supplies, and Mel promised she'd keep him out of trouble."

"What about Suzuka and Aisha?" Gilliam asked curiously. "Will they be joining us this time as well?"

"Not sure." Jim replied absently. "Aisha said something about a job and Suzuka mentioned some kind of meeting, but who knows. I guess we'll find out if they get here." Scratching his head he glanced around the empty area and nodded. "Since everything's set in here I think I'll go and take a shower. Let me know when they arrive please."

"Very we-."

Blinking when the voice cut out, Jim turned towards the main screen curiously. "Hey Gilliam, you alright?"

"…ha, Ed found you!" A childish voice said cheerfully after several moments of silence. "They said Ed wouldn't be able to do it, but Ed showed them. Ed's the greatest, isn't that right Ein?"

The voice faded a little, Jim assumed it moved away from a microphone, and soon giggles could be heard along with what sounded like someone jumping around. "…um, hello?" He asked slowly. "Is someone there?"

Crashes were heard before the voice came over the speakers once more. "Hello! My name's Ed. Oh, and this is Ein. Say hi Ein."

Jim jumped into the nearest seat, which just so happened to be Aisha's, and jacked his computer into the port. Pressing a few buttons, he began scanning. "Okay, so you're Ed. Well Ed, my name is Jim."

"Nice to meet you Jim!" Ed chirped.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too." Jim replied, covering up the beep his computer made when it found what it was searching for by clearing his throat. His fingers flew over the keys as he began a trace on whoever was hacking into Gilliam's A.I. "So, um, what are you doing Ed? Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"Yep, you, but Ed already found you so there's nothing to search for anymore." Ed's voice sounded disappointed at the thought of not having anything to do, but then it perked right up. "Want to play a game with me? Do you know the game chess? Ed is really good. Spike and Faye-Faye won't play with Ed and Jet is way too easy to beat so Ed's always looking for a new opponent."

Eyes never leaving his screen, Jim's response was halfhearted at best. "Eh, sure, I'll play you sometime." There was a girlish squeal, but he ignored it in favor of following the hack. Whoever it was knew what they were doing and he was having a hell of a time trying to find the starting location. The signal bounced off just about every satellite in the surrounding galaxy and it was still going. Suddenly the door to the cockpit opened with a hiss and Jim jerked his head up in surprise.

"You sure are jumpy tonight." Gene said as he pulled off his jacket and tossed it over the back of his seat. "Something wrong?"

Jim opened his mouth to explain what was going on when Gilliam's voice came over the speakers and the screens returned to normal. It was as if nothing had happened.

"Welcome back Gene, Melfina. How was your trip?" Gilliam asked politely.

Melfina, who had come in behind Gene, smiled at the small pink robot that dropped down from the ceiling. "It was fine. We managed to get all of the necessary supplies for the ship, as well as some specialty items for the kitchen I've been wanting for awhile now."

"Yeah, Aisha's storing all the gear in the cargo hold as we speak. We'll leave once the girls get up here." Gene said, kicking his feet up on the console near his seat.

"I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me." Melfina said as she turned around and headed out. "It's time for me to start lunch."

Waving, Gene leaned back and got comfortable in his chair. "Will do. Oh, and how about adding some of that new spicy stuff we got to the stew."

Melfina smiled. "Sure, anything else?" She asked. When Gene shook his head, she nodded. "I'll see you guys later then." With that she was gone.

Jim watched things unfold in a kind of daze and he was starting to wonder if maybe he'd imagined the whole scenario with the weird voice. The computer in his hands beeped again and his eyes widened when he saw what was on the screen.

Ed will play with you soon. Bye-bye!

Nearly dropping the computer in his shock, Jim stood up and began to step away from the seat he had occupied.

"I knew you sat in my seat while I was gone." Aisha said from the doorway, hands on her hips and a frown on her face. "What have I told you about staying away from my spot you little shrimp."

"Relax Aisha, I'm sure Jim was only checking the weapons system, there's no need to get so mad." Suzuka said calmly as she stepped around the Ctarl-Ctarl to take her seat on the opposite side of the cockpit. "Although why I bother telling you anything is beyond me, your head's so thick I doubt anything gets through that skull of yours."

"What did you say?" Aisha growled, her anger shifting almost immediately.

Suzuka waved a hand at her dismissively. "Nothing."

Before the two could get into an actual fight, and most likely destroy part of the ship in the process, Gene sat up and whistled to get their attention. When their eyes focused on him, he shook his head. "Give it a rest you two, we're on the port's schedule here and I won't be fined just so you can sit there and bicker. If you want to fight, save it until you're off the ship will ya."

Aisha glared at Suzuka before sitting down with a huff. "Whatever, she's not worth the effort anyway." She muttered under her breath.

Since the fight had been dealt with and everything was quiet now, Gene pulled out his key and inserted it into the ignition. "Alright Gilliam, let's get going."

"Engines on." Gilliam stated. "Navigation and weapon systems all functioning normally."

Gene took a hold of the gear sticks with a smile. "Then here we go."

Everyone was so focused on Gilliam and Gene that no one noticed when Jim slipped out of the cockpit and headed to his room. Tucking his computer into his pocket, he rubbed a hand over his eyes. "I wonder if I should tell Gene about Ed. He did hack into Gilliam after all, but then again, he didn't really do anything…at least not that I can find." He mumbled to himself as he walked down the hallway. "Maybe I'll just keep this to myself for now, until I can figure out exactly what happened anyway."

ooooo

Ed rolled around on the floor with a computer held above her. Scratching her head with her toe, she looked over at the dog next to her. "Hey Ein, what did you think of our new friend?"

"Who are you talking to Ed?" Faye asked from the hall as she stepped into the room.

"Ed made a new friend." Ed said with a smile, looking up at Faye from her spot on the floor.

Taking as seat on the couch, Faye smiled. "I see, and who is this new friend of yours?" She asked as she crossed her legs.

Spike came in and plopped down opposite Faye. Kicking his feet up on the table he leaned back in the seat. "Who cares, what I want to know is if you found out where our next bounty is hiding."

"Yep, Ed found the Outlaw Star ship. It took a little longer than usual, and Ed had to bounce the signal all over the galaxy, but the coordinates are right here." Ed replied without looking away from her screen. "They're docked at Blue Heaven, but the logs say they'll be leaving port soon and heading into space. I put a tracker on their ship so we'll be able to follow them."

"So who are we going after this time?" Jet asked as he joined the others in the room. "And please tell me the bounty's at least worth the risk. I won't get my head shot off for anything less than 10,000."

Spike leaned forward and hit a few buttons on a remote near the table causing the screen to come alive. An image of a red headed guy with a smirk floated in mid air, the words 'Gene Starwind, Owner/Pilot of the Outlaw Star' running beneath it. "Here's the guy we're after, said to be some kind of Outlaw that flies with a rag-tag crew. Shouldn't be too difficult to bring in."

"And how much is he worth?" Jet asked again, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Yeah, he sure doesn't look like much and there's nothing listed here about what he's done or why he's wanted." Faye added as she leaned over Spike's leg to get a better look.

Pushing the scantily clad woman off, Spike flicked off the screen. "Actually, it's a private bounty. Heard about it from a friend, and yes the guy who's offering it is legit, some kind of businessman or something. Don't know why, but that's none of our concern anyway so long as we get paid right?"

Jet nodded. "True, but you still haven't answered my question. How much is the bounty on this guy?"

Spike was silent for a moment and Faye and Jet leaned in as the anticipation grew. "The bounty's 100,000." He said finally, smirking when Faye almost fell off the couch in shock.

"Seriously?" Faye asked. "That much for some pathetic looking guy?"

Jet stepped closer and looked Spike directly in the eye. "What's the catch? What aren't you telling us?"

"Nothing." Spike said as he pulled out a cigarette and lit up. "I heard a rumor that the guy offering the bounty has some kind of connection to this Starwind fella, but everything checked out. It's a simple pick up and deliver job."

Faye sat back and tapped her chin in thought. "Then why the high bounty? I mean what's so special about this guy anyway?"

Shrugging, Spike took another drag before snuffing it out on the bottom of his shoe. "Who cares, the job's legit so I say we just grab the guy and get our money."

"Sounds good to me. I haven't had a decent meal in days; it'll be good to finally have some actual food again." Jet said as he headed towards the cockpit of the Bebop. "So where are we headed?"

"Blue Heaven, or at least that general vicinity." Spike replied. "Ed says they'll be leaving soon, so we're likely to meet them in space which'll make things a little easier for us, no outside interference and whatnot." Faye stood up and began walking away so he called after her. "And where do you think you're going?"

"I think I'll go take a nap. My fighter's in need of some serious repairs remember, it won't be of any use in a fight so I'm obviously not going to be needed. Wake me when we get paid." With a wave, she disappeared down the hall.

"Faye-Faye is tired." Ed sang as she began rolling around on the floor again. "Ed thinks Ein's tired too."

Pulling out another cigarette, Spike snorted. "If that freeloader thinks she's going to get any of that bounty she's lost her damn mind." He muttered under his breath.

ooooo

Gene released the controls and ran a hand through his hair. "Hey Gilliam, set a course for Sentinel III." He said before yawning.

"Heading home?" Suzuka asked around her cup of tea.

"Yeah, we haven't been there in a while and there are a few things I need to get for the ship back at the garage. That and I heard about another possible job offer and figured why not." Gene said as he stood up with a stretch. Grabbing his jacket off the back of his seat, he tossed it over one shoulder. "I'm taking a nap, let me know if there's any trouble." Waving, he walked out and headed down the hallway.

Once Gene was out of sight Aisha leaned over the edge of her chair and crossed her arms so she could rest her chin on them. "Hey, want to play a game or something? We've got a few hours before we get planet-side and I don't want to sit around doing nothing. I've got a deck of cards." She offered, waving the small pack in the air with a grin.

Suzuka took another sip of tea before standing. "Why don't you go bother Jim, I'm sure he'll jump at a chance to beat you again."

"I would, but he's not here right now and you are. It's so much easier to just bug you instead of walking all the way to his room." Aisha said cheekily, receiving a face full of lukewarm tea for the comment.

Without another word Suzuka left the cockpit.

Aisha rolled her eyes as she wiped the water off with her hand. "Geez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." She muttered, climbing out of her seat. Glancing around the empty area, she shrugged before heading out. There wasn't anyone left to bother so she may as well leave too.