Dreams. What do they mean exactly? They take you somewhere, then dump you to fend for yourself. They have no beginning, no ending, just the part in the middle. Things are unexplained and seem to happen for no reason. You travel, but the destination is not upto you. Things tend to be out of your control. Sometimes you feel peace. Othertimes you feel afraid, but what of?
The ball went up, fell down and up again. A pair of brown eyes followed it in a lazy, careless manner. The Bebop was heading to Jupiter. The journey from Mars to Jupiter was a long one, and long journey's tortured bored souls. That was how he felt; bored. Even though he and Faye constantly bickered, like they always do, this time it was not enough to pass the time. Then there was her.
Electra.
The beautiful, exotic Electra. She almost kicked his ass, and he likes a woman who can fight. He thought he was getting somewhere with her, when they were in jail together.
Because you can only keep the walls you build erect for so long, before something knocks them down. And when they do come down, it usually hurts more than the truth. He should know.
Lighting a cigarette, Spike took a puff, casually blowing it out before moving his long legs to get up. He walked as though his body was on auto-pilot, to the main room, or 'living room' as Jet likes to call it. Reaching into the cardboard box, he placed the pot noodles on the table amd pulled the wire to heat it. Frowning at having to eat yet more carbohydrates, his handsome face resigned into acceptance. This was all they ate. Ever. Noodles.
"Different flavours, different brands, but it's all just the same thing." He said in a low drawl.
Faye surveyed Spike with curiosity; he has always been mysterious, unreadable and a lone wolf. Now it seems the wolf has found his calling, then lost it again.
"So don't eat it then."
"You're so original." Spike bit back sarcastically in a husky tone.
Jet decided they should all take a break after that last bounty; Vincent. When they decided to take him on, they thought he was just another bounty, another cash injection. No one knew what would unfold, or how big it would become. Vincent is a lost cause, a man trying to find a reason for his existence, a purpose to his life, all without his memory. He could not remember his past, and so it was a near impossible task.
Electra is part of his past, Spike gathered that much. Though to what level, is abit of a mystery. Spike thought he was getting close to the truth. He asked her if she loved Vincent; she said she'll never know. Then when they met, on the tower that night on Halloween, it seemed Electra got some answers to her questions.
Spike could do with some answers to his own questions. He has this feeling, that he may never get them, like some of those situations in life which are just simply out of your grasp. The kind that make you feel like you're going insane. The kind which causes mental entropy to knock on your door.
Julia. Why did it happen? He thought he knew, but maybe not. At the time it felt like love, now in retrospect, things are clearer. People say you never forget your first love. Like your first girlfriend or boyfriend, your first kiss, the first time...
First. Spike remembers his first love so vividly. His initial taste of love, could be the reason why his world fell apart. He was sure of it. Even to this day, she still has a place in his heart. Clouding his vision and judgement when it came to the sensitive subject. The only woman he has ever truly loved. Her. Evie.
"We interupt to bring you important news," Suddenly blared from the old tv, "The Intergalatic Science Laboratories, Missanyo, have reported that their current project has gone missing,"
"Science project? More like guinea pig." Spike remarked in a bored tone.
"Shhh!" Faye hissed. "It might be worth alot."
"Aren't you a gifted mathmetician."
"Piss off." Faye snapped.
Having missed some important information about where the money for their next meal is coming from, they strain to hear the rest -- if there is any.
"...it's so dangerous the ISPF have given this a Code Red, the highest security alert given to a news report on the spot in twenty years. My name is Lisa Aiko, and now back to the newsroom." The news reporter smiled serenly.
"AAARRGH! Damn you SPIKE!" Faye threw her chopsticks at him but missed, and realising she had nothing to use to eat her noodles with, she nicks Spike's instead.
Seeing as there was only abit left, Spike down's the rest in one. Ein looks on sadly.
"Maybe next time Ein." He says to the dog, ruffling his head as he walks past.
Plonking himself on a stool in the front cabin, Jet seizes the chance to play chess. He notices something is going off again. Jet makes the first move, and is suprised his comrade actually responded at all.
"So what did I miss? Any new drama?" Jet said in a jokey voice.
To Jet, it was quite entertaining when Faye and Spike argued.
"Not much." Spike made a move. Jet made a clever move and took one of his pieces.
"Just info about our next bounty." Spike added matter-of-factly.
Ein had joined them and sat on the table next to the game. He whined a little and got some attention from Jet.
"How many wulongs?"
"Who knows?"
"80 million." Faye interupted, sauntering into the room.
"And we don't know what the bounty is; man, woman, child, THING." Faye sounded irritated, shooting Spike a sharp look, who only yawned.
"WHAT?! WHY DIDN'T YA LISTEN THEN?!"
Jet slammed both fists on the table, scaring Ein who scampered away. Spike casually got a cigarette and lit it, taking his time to smoke it. Faye was leaning against the wall, trying to look cool but her hands blew her cover; her fingers were twitching, a habit she has when she is nervous.
Just when Jet was about to swoop in on Faye, Ed came bouncing in. Tomato was balanced on her head, and she was dancing around everyone.
"Newy-lewy, newy-lewy, newy-lewy. Ahhhhh, aren't the sta-arz pretty pretty?"
"Not now Ed." Jet said.
"Is it about the science experiment on the news?" Faye asked Ed.
"Ohhhhh, daaaaaattttt, er.... no, but I can check it on Tomato?"
"Alright. Do a search on Missanyo Scientific Laboratories." Spike drawled, taking Jet's knight.
"Bastard!"
"I've been called worse." Was Spike's cool reply.
"Swim swim, the bubbles are pretty, bubbles so pretty, swim in the sea." Ed sang aloud.
For the next few minutes, all you could hear was Ed singing. Jet was eager to win the chess game, while Spike couldn't care less but played it anyway. A bit of typing, a bit of singing, and the odd swearing from Jet as he lost yet another piece. Faye watched Ed every so often, checking her progress.
"Ed, you're computer seems to be going abit slow today."
"Tomato is working very hard already Faye-Faye. Done it! Look! Look!"
They all gathered around Ed's computer, peering into the screen. An image was loading when it suddenly went black.
"Huh? What just happened?"
"Ed's puter broken!" Ed wailed.
"Can you fix it kiddo?" Jet said.
"Uh-huh, but it will take a whi-le." Ed sniffed, cradling the computer and taking it somewhere. Ein followed.
Spike got up and left the room without a word, leaving Faye and Jet to wonder what to do next. Turning right, he flicked the light switch on. Taking the second left, he pressed the codes on the wall panel. The door opens and he enters the hanger. Climbing into his Swordfish, he fastens the hatch and prepares to take off.
"Where do you think you're goin?!" Jet's voice crackled from the reciever.
"Just going for a spin."
"Why what's botherin you?"
"I'll see you later Jet." Was Spike's cryptic reply.
He switched off the reciever before Jet had a chance to get a last word in. Warming the engine, he waited for the gates to part, and allow him to enter space. W-OOSH! He was out, and cruised around the galaxy. They had temporarily docked in Orion's Belt, stopping for supplies. Sitting there, the floating Swordfish was pretty comfy. Gazing as far as the eye can see, Spike watched as shooting stars whizzed past him, and the Gates.
Resting on the head rest, he lit a cigarette. Just as he was about the spark the lighter, when something floated by the front of the Swordfish. Pausing, Spike looked up, but saw nothing. Red embers burning the tobacco told him to take a puff. As he exhaled, the smoke formed a shapless cloud, as there was no gravity in space. With a long finger, Spike toyed with it, making it swirl and bend.
Something white sailed across his line of vision. But when he looked around to find whatever it was, there was nothing unsual. Just dust, Gates, Saturn to his left, the Moon to his far left, the Bebop below him, and a space suite to his right...
"A space suite huh? There might be something valuable in it."
Putting it into first gear, the Swordfish was cruising towards it when it suddenly zoomed away. Spike realised what happened; a rogue space thief just ran off with it. Not one to be beaten, Spike pressed the turbo charge button. In nought--to four seconds the Swordfish went from 0 to 180 mph, completely outstripping the thief. Spike positioned himself to face the thief, who promptly started shaking and frantically looking about. The space suite was lodged between the thief, and his spaceped.
Grinning, Spike then pressed the blue button. The laser cannon was warming up, and the thief must have seen the light because then he was sweating even more. Nobody steals from a bounty hunter.
But then he grinned back, which made Spike curious to know why. The thief reached into his pocket, and pulled out a Black Drop. It's a nuclear bomb that causes a black hole to open if used.
Spike saw the pin float away. The thief threw the Black Drop towards Spike, and shoved the space suite in the opposite direction before speeding away. Within seconds it exploded, creating a dimensional rip and sucking things in. He knew that if he went after it, he would risk his life.
So what?
Something is telling him it will be worth it. Pressing the Orange turbo button again, he zoomed towards the white space suite. Pressing the yellow button, some ropes shot out from the front of the Sword fish, and he controlled them to wrap around it. The black hole was getting stronger, and was beginning to draw the suite in. Spike felt some resistance as he tried to pull away, and pressed the red button to give extra power.
SNAP! One of the ropes was torn apart by the force of the black hole. For some reason, Spike just HAD TO retreive this space suite.
"SPIKE! WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU!" It was Faye on the receiver.
"NO! STAY BACK!"
"DON'T ARGUE SPIKE! JUST LET THAT THING GO WILL YA?!" This time it was Jet.
"I CAN'T!"
"YOU'LL GET SUCKED IN WITH IT!" Faye sounded concernd, "I'M COMING TO GET YOU!"
Sure enough, a few seconds later the Hopper (Faye's mini space ship thing) appeared. It's robotic arms clipped onto one of the wings on the Swordfish. Secured, she began pulling them away.
"It's too strong! Spike you have to let that damn thing go!"
"SPIKE!" Jet tried to get to him too.
(But I can't let it go...)
"JET!"
"Alright I'm coming to getcha!"
The two metal ropes shot from the Bebop and coiled around the Hopper and the Swordfish, slowly reeling them in. Spike's heart beat faster; the other rope that is still secured on the space suite is curling, ready to rip.
"Can't you move any quicker?!" Spike shouted to both of them.
"NO, cause that thing is holding us back!"
Eventually they made it; the space suite still tied to the Swordfish. The Bebop pulled away, and both space crafts landed in the closing chambers. Conveyor belts moved them to the air chambers, where the pilots got out. Faye marched straight up to Spike, jabbing a finger into his chest.
"You almost got us killed!" She shrieked.
"No shit."
"Come again?" Faye ordered.
"Shut it you two! Haven't you caused anough drama for one day already?!"
Jet was angry. When he was like that, everyone coward from him except Spike. He was not afraid of anything. Sometimes they wondered if that lack of fear was the main cause of the majority of his scrapes. For the three years they have known him, they still don't know why he is so reckless.
"A SPACE suite! Can Ed try fly?"
They ran over to it; it was lying face down, behind the Swordfish. The condition seemed quite new, yet when they turned it over, the other side was seriously damaged, and the visor was so badly scratched nobody could tell if there is someone in it.
"You're meaning to tell me, we risked our backsides for this?" Faye said with a tinge of irritaion, a classic sign her short temper was about to flare up.
"Well, it better have some treasure we can sell."
She reached to flip the visor, when Spike brushed her hand away with his.
"I'll do it." Came the low pitch which was almost threatening.
"JESUS!" Jet's voice boomed.
"AH! Ooooooooooohhh, it's scary wary, scary wary! Ha -HA!"
"What the fuck?!" Faye exclaimed.
Inside the suite, was a young woman. There was something odd about her. Her skin looked soft and glowing, long lashes framing those closed eyes, and she had a cute nose to boot. Spike was about to touch her face to check she is real, when Jet batted it aside.
"Wait! You don't even know if she's got any viruses!"
"She hasn't."
Faye quizzed him. "How do you know? You met her before?"
Spike simply shrugged his broad shoulders. Ein came along and began sniffing, and gave them a bark to signal the all clear.
"You sure sure, Einy?" Ed sang to the dog, who barked again.
"Einy says she's safe."
"Wanna take her to the living room then, cowboy?"
Spike lit a cigarette, then held the young woman under the arms while Jet took her legs, and together they carried her to the living room, Faye Ed and Ein in tow. They laid her down gently on the yellow sofa, and they sat on the green one. Faye went off to her room. Ed went away somewhere to fix Tomato. Jet got two pots of noodles from a box, pulling the strings to heat them. Gives one to Spike, who ate slowly. Spike was just putting some into his mouth, when he paused.
("Spiegel...")
"Did you hear anything?"
"Like thwhat?" Jet said with a mouthful.
Spike shook his head. Must be tired.
("Spiegel...")
This time it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Convinced he needed sleep, he ate more quickly.
("Spike Spiegel...")
"Alright who's there?" He suddenly said, slightly annoyed and getting his gun.
Gripping it with both hands for a better aim, he slowly looked around the room, poised and ready to shoot.
Jet raised a brow.
"What's the matter Spike? Ever since you got the space suite you've been acting weird. It's kinda creeping me out." He confessed.
Spike lit a cigarette, when Ed skipped into the room and instantly began to shiver, rubbing her arms for warmth. She ran down the steps and jumped onto the sofa next to Spike, clinging to his arm. The embers died away, not even managing to light the tobacco.
"Tis cold! Can we build snow men soon?" Her face lit up at the thought.
"You need SNOW to build snow men, right now we don't even have - ice?..." Jet trailed off.
Indeed it was getting seriously cold, because their breaths became white clouds of steam. One of the doors burst open.
"Okay which one of you turned the hot water OFF for a joke?! HEY I'M TALKING TO YOU GUYS!!! A-CHOOO!"
Faye, wet from coming from the shower, was only wearing a bathrobe. They all watched, as ice framed the walls, decorated the banister and icicles formed on the ceiling. It gradully crept round the room, like someone really was decorating it.
"Just like christmas." Spike commented.
"How can you be so calm?!" Faye shouted, obviously scared.
He turned to Faye. "What's there to be scared of? It's just ice."
"Spiegel..."
This time they all heard it, though where it came from was anyone's guess. The voice was definitely female, gentle and light as a whisper. It has been a very long time since any woman has called his name so softly, it made his knees go weak.
"Who are you? What are you?" Spike called out to no one.
"Do you think it's a demon or evil spirit?"
"Jet don't scare me; I hate demons." Faye whimpered.
"You know, they say that when it gets very cold, there could be a ghost present." Spike said.
"I hate them too." Faye said.
"The body..."
Jumping over the green sofa, he dashed over to the yellow one and studied the young woman in the space suite; Spike couldn't see anything different. Curiosity got the better of him, and he touched her face. Her flesh was soft to the touch, and the strange thing is, she didn't feel cold despite the ice surrounding them.
"She doesn't feel cold. Or warm" He stated.
"Whaddaya mean by that? She's gotta be either one."
Spike put Jet's hand on the woman's forehead, and it was then Jet knew what he meant. Faye leaned over to see and was confused.
"So is she dead?"
Jet puts a finger under her nose for signs of life. He gravely shook his head. Faye ran behind Spike, covering her mouth. Ed was looking at the woman upside down, tapping something into her computer.
"I found it! Lookey!" Ed made everyone jump.
"Missanyo Scientific Laboratories; the new science into genetics and cell reformation." Spike read in a low, bored tone.
"Man, this is old news."
"Awww," tap, tap, tap, tap tap tap tap, tap, "Wait! I foind mooooooooooooooore!!" Ed was moving her head like it was detached or something.
"Ewww. Gross."
"Don't look then."
"Get stuffed Spike."
The computer showed images of cells and operations, though what kind and for what purpose remains to be seen. While the gang read more about Missanyo, Ein went to find the tv remote and pressed the on button with his nose. The tv
came to life and the news was on.
"Nice one Ein, I forgot we missed it the FIRST time round." Faye threw daggers at Spike, who was not bothered by her at all.
"We have another crucial news bulletin to anounnce; prior to the news earlier today of a missing science project by the scientific company Missanyo, where the 'project' has powerful psychic abilities but as a result of its isolation, has become schitzsophrenic. The company has issued this warning on this scale, because they say it is very dangerous, yet they refuse to give us any more information. We still don't know if the project is even human, or the circumstances surrounding its disappearance."
"So do we run away or stay away form it?" Jet mused.
"Crikey. What's so dangerous they can't even tell us, yet feel they had to warn us about?"
"Bet there's a huge bounty for that head." Faye said as she heated a pot of chicken flavoured noodles.
"All you ever think about is money." Spike grabbed a beef satay flavoured one.
"We have just been informed of another one of Missanyo's projects,"
They all stopped eating. Ed stopped typing to look too.
"According to a middle aged man, who approached the ISPF after watching our news bulletin a few hours ago, says that around ten years ago Missanyo started a very classified project, one which broke the Kinaken Intergalactic Science Laws,"
"Hm, must've been some experiment."
Spike shoved his elbow at Jet him to tell him to be quiet. The Kinaken Intergalactic Science Laws, or KISL as it is known, is similiar to the ISPF. But the consequences are more severe. Break one of those laws, and its a straight life sentence. You get a trial, but so far nobody who has been trialed, was found not guilty.
"The project was apparently a fourteen year old girl, with dark hair and striking blueish-grey eyes, petite, and was last seen wearing a white space suite..."
Everyone slowly turned around, to look at the young woman lying on their yellow sofa. Then they slowly turned to look at each other, and then back to the news reporter.
"The middle aged man, known only as Jim Appleton, claims they took the girl AGAINST HER WILL, to become their guinea pig for this experiment, and he ALSO claims that, he intervened to try and save her. But he will not tell us the girl's name, origins or if he succeeded in saving her. What is strangest of all, is that the ISPF failed to find anything on this Jim Appleton. But the ISPF promise to investigate to find out if these claims are true.
I'm Fiona Skie, that is all for today, tune in for more news later this evening at eight pm. Goodbye."
"Ed wanted to make snow men." Ed said in a sad voice.
They all whizzed around and saw that all the ice had gone, and there was no trace of water to show it had even melted away. It just - vanished.
"Why isn't that kid scared like the rest of us??" Faye stared at Ed, the weird.
"Who says we are? Maybe it's just you Faye." Spike told her.
"I'm not afraid to say I'm a little spooked."
"Thank you Jet."
Spike walked over to the young woman in the space suite. He thought she is rather cute. But what happened to her out there?
---------------------------------------------
"Electra."
She saluted him upon arrival.
"Sir, I've gathered all the information available on Missanyo and their work."
"Well?"
"It seems they are doing more experiments than the KISL know of. One in particular is extremely classified. They show the KISL their work on genetics and cell reformation, but secretly they have also been conducting tests on a pair of teenagers."
The man sat in his chair, drinking his coffee. Then he gets a cigar from his drawer, and lights it. He takes a few puffs, watching the clouds of smoke dance and create cicles. Then his beady eyes fall on Electra.
"What kind of secret experiments?"
"It was something to do with dreams and parapsycology. One of the them managed to escape, but no one knew what happened to them."
"And the other one?"
"I do not know sir."
"Parapsycology..."
"I do not know about that either, sir." She admitted.
"You had better go find out then, Electra."
A messenger rushes to his side, whispering something in his ear.
"I'm told there is a very strong signal coming from Orion's Belt. These two might be linked. You are to investigate and you can choose your own team. You will be briefed about the mission at 20:00 hours. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Saluting, Electra left the room.
(What if this takes me to Spike?)
The ball went up, fell down and up again. A pair of brown eyes followed it in a lazy, careless manner. The Bebop was heading to Jupiter. The journey from Mars to Jupiter was a long one, and long journey's tortured bored souls. That was how he felt; bored. Even though he and Faye constantly bickered, like they always do, this time it was not enough to pass the time. Then there was her.
Electra.
The beautiful, exotic Electra. She almost kicked his ass, and he likes a woman who can fight. He thought he was getting somewhere with her, when they were in jail together.
Because you can only keep the walls you build erect for so long, before something knocks them down. And when they do come down, it usually hurts more than the truth. He should know.
Lighting a cigarette, Spike took a puff, casually blowing it out before moving his long legs to get up. He walked as though his body was on auto-pilot, to the main room, or 'living room' as Jet likes to call it. Reaching into the cardboard box, he placed the pot noodles on the table amd pulled the wire to heat it. Frowning at having to eat yet more carbohydrates, his handsome face resigned into acceptance. This was all they ate. Ever. Noodles.
"Different flavours, different brands, but it's all just the same thing." He said in a low drawl.
Faye surveyed Spike with curiosity; he has always been mysterious, unreadable and a lone wolf. Now it seems the wolf has found his calling, then lost it again.
"So don't eat it then."
"You're so original." Spike bit back sarcastically in a husky tone.
Jet decided they should all take a break after that last bounty; Vincent. When they decided to take him on, they thought he was just another bounty, another cash injection. No one knew what would unfold, or how big it would become. Vincent is a lost cause, a man trying to find a reason for his existence, a purpose to his life, all without his memory. He could not remember his past, and so it was a near impossible task.
Electra is part of his past, Spike gathered that much. Though to what level, is abit of a mystery. Spike thought he was getting close to the truth. He asked her if she loved Vincent; she said she'll never know. Then when they met, on the tower that night on Halloween, it seemed Electra got some answers to her questions.
Spike could do with some answers to his own questions. He has this feeling, that he may never get them, like some of those situations in life which are just simply out of your grasp. The kind that make you feel like you're going insane. The kind which causes mental entropy to knock on your door.
Julia. Why did it happen? He thought he knew, but maybe not. At the time it felt like love, now in retrospect, things are clearer. People say you never forget your first love. Like your first girlfriend or boyfriend, your first kiss, the first time...
First. Spike remembers his first love so vividly. His initial taste of love, could be the reason why his world fell apart. He was sure of it. Even to this day, she still has a place in his heart. Clouding his vision and judgement when it came to the sensitive subject. The only woman he has ever truly loved. Her. Evie.
"We interupt to bring you important news," Suddenly blared from the old tv, "The Intergalatic Science Laboratories, Missanyo, have reported that their current project has gone missing,"
"Science project? More like guinea pig." Spike remarked in a bored tone.
"Shhh!" Faye hissed. "It might be worth alot."
"Aren't you a gifted mathmetician."
"Piss off." Faye snapped.
Having missed some important information about where the money for their next meal is coming from, they strain to hear the rest -- if there is any.
"...it's so dangerous the ISPF have given this a Code Red, the highest security alert given to a news report on the spot in twenty years. My name is Lisa Aiko, and now back to the newsroom." The news reporter smiled serenly.
"AAARRGH! Damn you SPIKE!" Faye threw her chopsticks at him but missed, and realising she had nothing to use to eat her noodles with, she nicks Spike's instead.
Seeing as there was only abit left, Spike down's the rest in one. Ein looks on sadly.
"Maybe next time Ein." He says to the dog, ruffling his head as he walks past.
Plonking himself on a stool in the front cabin, Jet seizes the chance to play chess. He notices something is going off again. Jet makes the first move, and is suprised his comrade actually responded at all.
"So what did I miss? Any new drama?" Jet said in a jokey voice.
To Jet, it was quite entertaining when Faye and Spike argued.
"Not much." Spike made a move. Jet made a clever move and took one of his pieces.
"Just info about our next bounty." Spike added matter-of-factly.
Ein had joined them and sat on the table next to the game. He whined a little and got some attention from Jet.
"How many wulongs?"
"Who knows?"
"80 million." Faye interupted, sauntering into the room.
"And we don't know what the bounty is; man, woman, child, THING." Faye sounded irritated, shooting Spike a sharp look, who only yawned.
"WHAT?! WHY DIDN'T YA LISTEN THEN?!"
Jet slammed both fists on the table, scaring Ein who scampered away. Spike casually got a cigarette and lit it, taking his time to smoke it. Faye was leaning against the wall, trying to look cool but her hands blew her cover; her fingers were twitching, a habit she has when she is nervous.
Just when Jet was about to swoop in on Faye, Ed came bouncing in. Tomato was balanced on her head, and she was dancing around everyone.
"Newy-lewy, newy-lewy, newy-lewy. Ahhhhh, aren't the sta-arz pretty pretty?"
"Not now Ed." Jet said.
"Is it about the science experiment on the news?" Faye asked Ed.
"Ohhhhh, daaaaaattttt, er.... no, but I can check it on Tomato?"
"Alright. Do a search on Missanyo Scientific Laboratories." Spike drawled, taking Jet's knight.
"Bastard!"
"I've been called worse." Was Spike's cool reply.
"Swim swim, the bubbles are pretty, bubbles so pretty, swim in the sea." Ed sang aloud.
For the next few minutes, all you could hear was Ed singing. Jet was eager to win the chess game, while Spike couldn't care less but played it anyway. A bit of typing, a bit of singing, and the odd swearing from Jet as he lost yet another piece. Faye watched Ed every so often, checking her progress.
"Ed, you're computer seems to be going abit slow today."
"Tomato is working very hard already Faye-Faye. Done it! Look! Look!"
They all gathered around Ed's computer, peering into the screen. An image was loading when it suddenly went black.
"Huh? What just happened?"
"Ed's puter broken!" Ed wailed.
"Can you fix it kiddo?" Jet said.
"Uh-huh, but it will take a whi-le." Ed sniffed, cradling the computer and taking it somewhere. Ein followed.
Spike got up and left the room without a word, leaving Faye and Jet to wonder what to do next. Turning right, he flicked the light switch on. Taking the second left, he pressed the codes on the wall panel. The door opens and he enters the hanger. Climbing into his Swordfish, he fastens the hatch and prepares to take off.
"Where do you think you're goin?!" Jet's voice crackled from the reciever.
"Just going for a spin."
"Why what's botherin you?"
"I'll see you later Jet." Was Spike's cryptic reply.
He switched off the reciever before Jet had a chance to get a last word in. Warming the engine, he waited for the gates to part, and allow him to enter space. W-OOSH! He was out, and cruised around the galaxy. They had temporarily docked in Orion's Belt, stopping for supplies. Sitting there, the floating Swordfish was pretty comfy. Gazing as far as the eye can see, Spike watched as shooting stars whizzed past him, and the Gates.
Resting on the head rest, he lit a cigarette. Just as he was about the spark the lighter, when something floated by the front of the Swordfish. Pausing, Spike looked up, but saw nothing. Red embers burning the tobacco told him to take a puff. As he exhaled, the smoke formed a shapless cloud, as there was no gravity in space. With a long finger, Spike toyed with it, making it swirl and bend.
Something white sailed across his line of vision. But when he looked around to find whatever it was, there was nothing unsual. Just dust, Gates, Saturn to his left, the Moon to his far left, the Bebop below him, and a space suite to his right...
"A space suite huh? There might be something valuable in it."
Putting it into first gear, the Swordfish was cruising towards it when it suddenly zoomed away. Spike realised what happened; a rogue space thief just ran off with it. Not one to be beaten, Spike pressed the turbo charge button. In nought--to four seconds the Swordfish went from 0 to 180 mph, completely outstripping the thief. Spike positioned himself to face the thief, who promptly started shaking and frantically looking about. The space suite was lodged between the thief, and his spaceped.
Grinning, Spike then pressed the blue button. The laser cannon was warming up, and the thief must have seen the light because then he was sweating even more. Nobody steals from a bounty hunter.
But then he grinned back, which made Spike curious to know why. The thief reached into his pocket, and pulled out a Black Drop. It's a nuclear bomb that causes a black hole to open if used.
Spike saw the pin float away. The thief threw the Black Drop towards Spike, and shoved the space suite in the opposite direction before speeding away. Within seconds it exploded, creating a dimensional rip and sucking things in. He knew that if he went after it, he would risk his life.
So what?
Something is telling him it will be worth it. Pressing the Orange turbo button again, he zoomed towards the white space suite. Pressing the yellow button, some ropes shot out from the front of the Sword fish, and he controlled them to wrap around it. The black hole was getting stronger, and was beginning to draw the suite in. Spike felt some resistance as he tried to pull away, and pressed the red button to give extra power.
SNAP! One of the ropes was torn apart by the force of the black hole. For some reason, Spike just HAD TO retreive this space suite.
"SPIKE! WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU!" It was Faye on the receiver.
"NO! STAY BACK!"
"DON'T ARGUE SPIKE! JUST LET THAT THING GO WILL YA?!" This time it was Jet.
"I CAN'T!"
"YOU'LL GET SUCKED IN WITH IT!" Faye sounded concernd, "I'M COMING TO GET YOU!"
Sure enough, a few seconds later the Hopper (Faye's mini space ship thing) appeared. It's robotic arms clipped onto one of the wings on the Swordfish. Secured, she began pulling them away.
"It's too strong! Spike you have to let that damn thing go!"
"SPIKE!" Jet tried to get to him too.
(But I can't let it go...)
"JET!"
"Alright I'm coming to getcha!"
The two metal ropes shot from the Bebop and coiled around the Hopper and the Swordfish, slowly reeling them in. Spike's heart beat faster; the other rope that is still secured on the space suite is curling, ready to rip.
"Can't you move any quicker?!" Spike shouted to both of them.
"NO, cause that thing is holding us back!"
Eventually they made it; the space suite still tied to the Swordfish. The Bebop pulled away, and both space crafts landed in the closing chambers. Conveyor belts moved them to the air chambers, where the pilots got out. Faye marched straight up to Spike, jabbing a finger into his chest.
"You almost got us killed!" She shrieked.
"No shit."
"Come again?" Faye ordered.
"Shut it you two! Haven't you caused anough drama for one day already?!"
Jet was angry. When he was like that, everyone coward from him except Spike. He was not afraid of anything. Sometimes they wondered if that lack of fear was the main cause of the majority of his scrapes. For the three years they have known him, they still don't know why he is so reckless.
"A SPACE suite! Can Ed try fly?"
They ran over to it; it was lying face down, behind the Swordfish. The condition seemed quite new, yet when they turned it over, the other side was seriously damaged, and the visor was so badly scratched nobody could tell if there is someone in it.
"You're meaning to tell me, we risked our backsides for this?" Faye said with a tinge of irritaion, a classic sign her short temper was about to flare up.
"Well, it better have some treasure we can sell."
She reached to flip the visor, when Spike brushed her hand away with his.
"I'll do it." Came the low pitch which was almost threatening.
"JESUS!" Jet's voice boomed.
"AH! Ooooooooooohhh, it's scary wary, scary wary! Ha -HA!"
"What the fuck?!" Faye exclaimed.
Inside the suite, was a young woman. There was something odd about her. Her skin looked soft and glowing, long lashes framing those closed eyes, and she had a cute nose to boot. Spike was about to touch her face to check she is real, when Jet batted it aside.
"Wait! You don't even know if she's got any viruses!"
"She hasn't."
Faye quizzed him. "How do you know? You met her before?"
Spike simply shrugged his broad shoulders. Ein came along and began sniffing, and gave them a bark to signal the all clear.
"You sure sure, Einy?" Ed sang to the dog, who barked again.
"Einy says she's safe."
"Wanna take her to the living room then, cowboy?"
Spike lit a cigarette, then held the young woman under the arms while Jet took her legs, and together they carried her to the living room, Faye Ed and Ein in tow. They laid her down gently on the yellow sofa, and they sat on the green one. Faye went off to her room. Ed went away somewhere to fix Tomato. Jet got two pots of noodles from a box, pulling the strings to heat them. Gives one to Spike, who ate slowly. Spike was just putting some into his mouth, when he paused.
("Spiegel...")
"Did you hear anything?"
"Like thwhat?" Jet said with a mouthful.
Spike shook his head. Must be tired.
("Spiegel...")
This time it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Convinced he needed sleep, he ate more quickly.
("Spike Spiegel...")
"Alright who's there?" He suddenly said, slightly annoyed and getting his gun.
Gripping it with both hands for a better aim, he slowly looked around the room, poised and ready to shoot.
Jet raised a brow.
"What's the matter Spike? Ever since you got the space suite you've been acting weird. It's kinda creeping me out." He confessed.
Spike lit a cigarette, when Ed skipped into the room and instantly began to shiver, rubbing her arms for warmth. She ran down the steps and jumped onto the sofa next to Spike, clinging to his arm. The embers died away, not even managing to light the tobacco.
"Tis cold! Can we build snow men soon?" Her face lit up at the thought.
"You need SNOW to build snow men, right now we don't even have - ice?..." Jet trailed off.
Indeed it was getting seriously cold, because their breaths became white clouds of steam. One of the doors burst open.
"Okay which one of you turned the hot water OFF for a joke?! HEY I'M TALKING TO YOU GUYS!!! A-CHOOO!"
Faye, wet from coming from the shower, was only wearing a bathrobe. They all watched, as ice framed the walls, decorated the banister and icicles formed on the ceiling. It gradully crept round the room, like someone really was decorating it.
"Just like christmas." Spike commented.
"How can you be so calm?!" Faye shouted, obviously scared.
He turned to Faye. "What's there to be scared of? It's just ice."
"Spiegel..."
This time they all heard it, though where it came from was anyone's guess. The voice was definitely female, gentle and light as a whisper. It has been a very long time since any woman has called his name so softly, it made his knees go weak.
"Who are you? What are you?" Spike called out to no one.
"Do you think it's a demon or evil spirit?"
"Jet don't scare me; I hate demons." Faye whimpered.
"You know, they say that when it gets very cold, there could be a ghost present." Spike said.
"I hate them too." Faye said.
"The body..."
Jumping over the green sofa, he dashed over to the yellow one and studied the young woman in the space suite; Spike couldn't see anything different. Curiosity got the better of him, and he touched her face. Her flesh was soft to the touch, and the strange thing is, she didn't feel cold despite the ice surrounding them.
"She doesn't feel cold. Or warm" He stated.
"Whaddaya mean by that? She's gotta be either one."
Spike put Jet's hand on the woman's forehead, and it was then Jet knew what he meant. Faye leaned over to see and was confused.
"So is she dead?"
Jet puts a finger under her nose for signs of life. He gravely shook his head. Faye ran behind Spike, covering her mouth. Ed was looking at the woman upside down, tapping something into her computer.
"I found it! Lookey!" Ed made everyone jump.
"Missanyo Scientific Laboratories; the new science into genetics and cell reformation." Spike read in a low, bored tone.
"Man, this is old news."
"Awww," tap, tap, tap, tap tap tap tap, tap, "Wait! I foind mooooooooooooooore!!" Ed was moving her head like it was detached or something.
"Ewww. Gross."
"Don't look then."
"Get stuffed Spike."
The computer showed images of cells and operations, though what kind and for what purpose remains to be seen. While the gang read more about Missanyo, Ein went to find the tv remote and pressed the on button with his nose. The tv
came to life and the news was on.
"Nice one Ein, I forgot we missed it the FIRST time round." Faye threw daggers at Spike, who was not bothered by her at all.
"We have another crucial news bulletin to anounnce; prior to the news earlier today of a missing science project by the scientific company Missanyo, where the 'project' has powerful psychic abilities but as a result of its isolation, has become schitzsophrenic. The company has issued this warning on this scale, because they say it is very dangerous, yet they refuse to give us any more information. We still don't know if the project is even human, or the circumstances surrounding its disappearance."
"So do we run away or stay away form it?" Jet mused.
"Crikey. What's so dangerous they can't even tell us, yet feel they had to warn us about?"
"Bet there's a huge bounty for that head." Faye said as she heated a pot of chicken flavoured noodles.
"All you ever think about is money." Spike grabbed a beef satay flavoured one.
"We have just been informed of another one of Missanyo's projects,"
They all stopped eating. Ed stopped typing to look too.
"According to a middle aged man, who approached the ISPF after watching our news bulletin a few hours ago, says that around ten years ago Missanyo started a very classified project, one which broke the Kinaken Intergalactic Science Laws,"
"Hm, must've been some experiment."
Spike shoved his elbow at Jet him to tell him to be quiet. The Kinaken Intergalactic Science Laws, or KISL as it is known, is similiar to the ISPF. But the consequences are more severe. Break one of those laws, and its a straight life sentence. You get a trial, but so far nobody who has been trialed, was found not guilty.
"The project was apparently a fourteen year old girl, with dark hair and striking blueish-grey eyes, petite, and was last seen wearing a white space suite..."
Everyone slowly turned around, to look at the young woman lying on their yellow sofa. Then they slowly turned to look at each other, and then back to the news reporter.
"The middle aged man, known only as Jim Appleton, claims they took the girl AGAINST HER WILL, to become their guinea pig for this experiment, and he ALSO claims that, he intervened to try and save her. But he will not tell us the girl's name, origins or if he succeeded in saving her. What is strangest of all, is that the ISPF failed to find anything on this Jim Appleton. But the ISPF promise to investigate to find out if these claims are true.
I'm Fiona Skie, that is all for today, tune in for more news later this evening at eight pm. Goodbye."
"Ed wanted to make snow men." Ed said in a sad voice.
They all whizzed around and saw that all the ice had gone, and there was no trace of water to show it had even melted away. It just - vanished.
"Why isn't that kid scared like the rest of us??" Faye stared at Ed, the weird.
"Who says we are? Maybe it's just you Faye." Spike told her.
"I'm not afraid to say I'm a little spooked."
"Thank you Jet."
Spike walked over to the young woman in the space suite. He thought she is rather cute. But what happened to her out there?
---------------------------------------------
"Electra."
She saluted him upon arrival.
"Sir, I've gathered all the information available on Missanyo and their work."
"Well?"
"It seems they are doing more experiments than the KISL know of. One in particular is extremely classified. They show the KISL their work on genetics and cell reformation, but secretly they have also been conducting tests on a pair of teenagers."
The man sat in his chair, drinking his coffee. Then he gets a cigar from his drawer, and lights it. He takes a few puffs, watching the clouds of smoke dance and create cicles. Then his beady eyes fall on Electra.
"What kind of secret experiments?"
"It was something to do with dreams and parapsycology. One of the them managed to escape, but no one knew what happened to them."
"And the other one?"
"I do not know sir."
"Parapsycology..."
"I do not know about that either, sir." She admitted.
"You had better go find out then, Electra."
A messenger rushes to his side, whispering something in his ear.
"I'm told there is a very strong signal coming from Orion's Belt. These two might be linked. You are to investigate and you can choose your own team. You will be briefed about the mission at 20:00 hours. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Saluting, Electra left the room.
(What if this takes me to Spike?)