Requiem Jam

Prologue

Coming In From the Cold

****

There wasn't much to be seen in the Martian outback. Rocks and dust and sand. Lots and lots of rock and dust and sand, in varying dull shades of grays and reds. Away from the big, walled cities and farms, there wasn't anything green and the atmosphere was thin and cold, not much thicker than it had been pre-colonization. It only exceeded the freezing temperature of water one or two days a year.

Thus, there was no-one here to observe the tall, lithe figure which appeared out of the swirling, dusty air, striding easily over the dunes. Nor was there anyone to be surprised that even here in the freezing, unbreathably thin atmosphere, the figure did not appear to possess any breathing apparatus or special clothing, beside a pair of goggles to keep dust from his eyes.

Therefore, our non-existent observer was not surprised when the figure strode up to an ordinary appearing rocky outcrop, and through some indeterminate means made an inconspicuous boulder swing aside, revealing a metal door of modern construction.

If our hypothetical non-observer had entered the airlock door along with the man, for that's what it was, he would have had a chance to note the short, dark hair with a pigtail in the back which the man knocked the dust out of. He would see the weathered face of indeterminate age and startlingly brilliant blue eyes revealed as the goggles were removed. And the observer would have heard the first, gasping, deep breath the man took of the air released into the lock.

"Damn. It's always good to take a breath now and again, even if I don't really need it often" the man smirked as the inner airlock door cycled, admitting him into a spartan apartment.

Around the man, the apartment was automatically coming to life. Lights were turning on, stale air was beginning to circulate, and heat was pumped into the chamber. A compact galley along one wall became active, as evidenced by a inset door sliding open to reveal a large steaming cup and tray of food.

Quickly devouring the offered nutrition, the man disappeared behind a side door, from which shortly proceeded the noises typically accompanying use of a toilet and a shower.

Finally, the man reappeared, dressed in a clean outfit and toweling dry his hair. No longer permeated with dust, his outfit could now be seen to be a short sleeved lightweight red silk shirt with Chinese style ties closing the front, a pair of simple, unadorned dark drawstring pants, and a pair of dark slippers.

Turning the the wall opposite the galley, the man finally turned his attention to the com station, which had been blinking with new message notices since he had arrived.

"Well, let's see if the last six weeks of messages has anything more interesting then the last time." The man seemed to mutter to himself almost as much to hear his own voice as for any other reason.

"Hmmm, nobody new on the fight circuit. Nabiki's old accounts are still accumulating interest, only good thing she ever did for me. Ah ! a message !"

"Computer, play message."

"Date 2017, June 03. Venus entry station."

"Ranma. I don't know why I'm telling _you_ anything, but I may have found a lead about Akane."

The man listening to the message suddenly stiffened and hissed an indrawn breath. The arms of his chair twisted in his grip.

"There's a Japanese girl about the right age that apparently just got out of cryo-suspension a few years ago. She reportedly doesn't remember anything prior to her waking up, but she may have been put in suspension at about the time Akane disappeared. She's apparently bounty hunting now, with a crew of cowboys on a ship called the 'Bebop'. I hear she's going by the name Faye Valentine."

"I'll be looking too, but God only knows when I might find her. Uh, I think I'm on Ganymede right now. I hate to say it, especially to you, but I think we'd best work together on this. You know how to get in touch with me."

"Message ends. Instructions?"

Akane. Could it possibly be Akane ? Even if she wasn't, he had never before heard of any cryo-stasis facility from that long ago. Were there other people in it ? Even other Japanese ? Looking down, Ranma just now notices the grip he had on the now badly twisted arms of his chair.

"Useless piece of crap. Heh. At least the pig admits he can't get anywhere. Still as dumb as ever, too. Let's see now. To find a bounty hunter ... might as well use all that old money for something. Could be fun."

***

Hi Amigos! It's time once again for Big Shot. A dark skinned man in a glorified cowboy outfit steps into the camera.

The dark man is joined by a fair skinned woman in a revealing cowboy outfit With a bunch of New and Exciting bounties this week! Batting for us first today ...

The man on screen speaks again. ... is this man! Ranma Saotome! And he's worth a lot! There's a 10 million wulong bounty on him! Last known to be somewhere on Mars. The picture on screen is replaced by an old photograph of a much younger Ranma.

A small group of people in the living area of a spaceship called Bebop stare excitedly at the screen.

"10 million wulongs ?!" gasps a tall young Japanese looking woman. "What are we waiting for ! Get this crate moving Jet !"