Thanks to all you reviewers! Many thanks for the inspirational words of Why-is-buggie-takeN, the encouragement was very welcomed! Much appreciated, really is. So here's the next chapter. Tell me what you think guys!
Two Weeks Later
Faye
The first thing I felt when I woke up was the thickness of cauliflower taste in my mouth, the tell-tale sign of drinking without the brushing of teeth after. Besides that, the pounding headache of the sudden rush of movement, looking at the clock, it was already 2:00 pm, but I wasn't too surprised. This has been happening for a while now. Slowly lifting myself off the bed, I put on clean clothes, taking in the condition of my room. For the past two weeks this had become the norm, dirty night clothes on the floor, empty bottles littering the floor, cigarette marks on the walls. The broken beta player and tape were still on the floor, I really should clean it up…maybe another day. I'm just so tired, there's nothing I can do about it.
I walked into the common room, Ed was playing on her Tomato, Jet was no where to be seen and I didn't particularly want to run into him after last night. He had to come pick me up again, I assume at least, since I don't remember it but somehow I magically made it back to the Bebop. It was too early to start drinking, casino was my best bet. Tonight I might switch it up, instead of the bar, I hear the casino calling my name, maybe after my winning streak I'd get some shots. But first, coffee was in order. Ed's head perked up at my sudden move for the kitchen, she squealed and trailed behind me, Tomato balanced precariously on head.
"Where Faye-Faye go?" Ed asked cheekily, running around the kitchen in wide circles, her running came to a halt right in front of me as she leaned her face into mine, completely disregarding the established personal bubble. Taking my finger and pushing her face a reasonable distance from mine, I gave her the usual alibi.
"Casino, what's it to you?" Couldn't have her coming with me.
"Edward wants to come with!"
"Not a chance." I raised a defined eyebrow, the last time she asked me to come with was when I left to find my own home, even then, I didn't let her come. I actually had grown fond of her, like a little sister maybe. For a split second I felt like I should spend more time with her. It was quickly abolished, what would come of it anyway? That had always been my mentality. But still…it be nice to maybe go out for ice cream. Another day then, "Why do you want to anyway?"
"Ed never sees Faye-Faye anymore! Faye-Faye always sleeping." Huh, yeah, I have. I can't help it though. By impulse I ruffled the top of her hair. It was then that I realized she was just like I was; she didn't have any place to return to, then she forced her way into the Bebop, making her home here.
"Maybe next time Ed, we'll go out for a girl's night." Ed seemed to be pacified with this for she ran off arms wide imitating an airplane. Before Jet could stop me, I was out the door and into the hangar, prepping my craft to take off. Flying over the city was a sombrous kind of beautiful, the city skyline and bright colors made it beautiful, then the life below, the people and the cruelty exuded from the city made it sorrowful. Somehow I found myself flying past the center of the city, past every casino, past the outer city limits, the into the desert area. I didn't stop till I saw an old, animal skin tent.
Pulling open the tent flap I found myself enveloped in a cloud of thick smoke. I was beginning to think that old man knew everything, from the law of the cosmos to the simplicity of counting. The depth of his eyes told all. And I could tell, ever since I came in, he had known, even if I thought he was just a senile bumbling fool. This was the third time I visited him for the past two weeks. I don't know why I stopped there. Maybe I needed more reassurance, maybe I just wanted to prove myself wrong, maybe I already knew everything was pointless now, maybe I just needed someone to tell me.
Although we sat in silence, words were being spoken. I don't know why I felt so apprehensive, I've known for two whole years now. Grains of sand were slipping through his fingers, I wonder if he saw the parallel, maybe he was doing it one purpose. I knew he was about to speak when he blew smoke from his pipe. I knew what he was about to say, every meeting we reached a little closer to the answer. I could feel it in my soul that he was going to finally tell me now; what I've been waiting to hear.
"You're time is almost up." His gravely voice rang throughout the tent. I wish I could say I was even remotely surprised, truth was I wasn't. I found I wasn't scared, not even slightly shaken. A strange calm passed over me as I closed my eyes and inhaled the smoke filled air. Yes, this was what I was waiting for.
"I died over fifty years ago." I lifted myself off the floor and made my way out of the tent. It had started raining, I felt the beads of water massage my face, rolling down my cheeks and trailing down my neck, I was completely soaked, but I found I had not a care. Knowing made me feel more alive than I had in the last five years. I had gotten the answer I came for. Now all I needed was a drink, or five.
Jet
All was quiet on the Bebop. Ed and Ein went on deck to play with her Tomato. Faye was probably out; again. I sighed, idly sitting in front of my Bonsai tree garden. Damn, my tree had become lopsided in one unbalanced snip. Her emotions came in waves; depression, disbelief, anger, then finally silent resignation. Her current stage: silent resignation. It was noticeable when she reached the last stage. She woke up, went through the motions, then went to sleep. It was as if nothing ever happened, it went by unacknowledged. I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried. But, I was sure, almost positive, that this was as good as it could get, my lie was what helped her in the end, I think. I didn't know how the hell she got home that night, but she did, and that's all I cared about; although I'm pretty sure I could take a guess at how it happened or exactly who happened.
Spike was alive, that much was obvious. I wasn't even the one to find out about it first. ISSP, for once in their entire career since I left, came up with the info. Not the name or picture, but I pieced it together easily enough. It was only when Faye said the name 'Swimming Bird' that I was absolutely sure who it was, without a doubt in my mind. Not that I'd tell her, he was bad news and he finally realized it that night after our furious encounter. She was going to get hurt, even more so than now.
"Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!" I could hear Ed's voice echo through the halls and to avoid her barreling into my trees I got up and began making my way to the kitchen. Walking down the hallway, I passed empty rooms. The first of which had been vacant for a little over two years now; Spike's. There was nothing left in the room save for a single mattress and ruffled sheets, nothing had been touched once he left. He never had anything of his own besides the clothes on his back, a pack on cigarettes and his faithful Jericho. Next room up was Ed's, looking in, I couldn't really tell what was what. Heaps and piles of wires and electronic devices littered the floor.
Faye's was the one furthest down, closest to the showers that she loves to hog. Peeking in, I saw the ratty suitcase she had used to shove her belongings into on her frequent escapes. The looked fully packed, but shoved into the corner of her room. My eyes traveled over to the TV set and the beta player; the one that was thoroughly smashed along with a smashed tape sitting atop of it. I scratched at my head due to the sudden itch and annoyance from seeing the player that Spike and I went through such troubles to acquire. It was done for. I bent down to pick up the pieces and discard them; since it was broken it meant she didn't want to see it I assume. Moving it around, I found something else, underneath all the bits. Another tape?
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. When the hell did this come? Faye paid a COD charge herself? Fat chance. Who the hell were these tapes even from? I needed a smoke. Holding the tape in my hands sprang up whole new questions. She had never mentioned it at all. Then again, the first tape was never talked about. Even after she regained her memory, we never spoke about her past. Each of the Bebop's crew had an ambiguous past, and to each his own I say. After the initial confusion, an insatiable curiosity rose with fury.
I had to watch it. It was laying underneath a pile of junk, out of sight, she couldn't even watch it because she destroyed the player, she probably wouldn't even miss it if I got in back under all the garbage soon. With this line of thinking, I justified my stealing of the tape. Slipping it into the pocket of my pant, I controlled my walk to a stroll, my guilt somewhat trailing behind me. I knew she wasn't going to be home for a while, hell, I was the one who would have to pick her up again. She would be too drunk to even remember about the tape, despite that, I felt the tape become heavier in my pocket.
Grumbling to myself, I thought about the change in her. For the first couple days after, she cried in her room. She didn't eat, didn't shower, didn't sleep. Then, it changed all of the sudden. She got up and showered and ate and then, for the next couple days, she frequented that damn 'Crow Bar.' She had believed he would come back for her, that he was really there, that it wasn't just a dream. She sat there at the bar everyday. After the first couple days, we began running low on money, meaning no food for the perpetually hungry Ed. When this happened I decided to take the offensive and get Faye off her ass. My interference brought upon the anger stage. Old Faye returned, the argumentative pig-headed fool. Her tantrums shook the walls and Ed soon called her the 'ticking-time bomb go boom lady.' She only listened to me once we didn't even have enough money to buy dog food.
It lit a fire under her ass needless to say, since during times of scarce food she had become accustomed to Ein's. She almost became obsessive in her hunting. She took on any and every, even when we did get enough money to buy food. I think she took her excessive anger out on them all. She became relentless. I couldn't call her reckless though, she never once came home with a scratch. Not the tiniest bruise or the slightest cut. After many days of that, she never spoke of the Spike subject. It was like she didn't even know who Spike was. As if he was never part of her life, as if it had all faded away. This may be in part due to her nonstop drinking, while before it was just at the 'Crow Bar' in hopes to see Spike again, this time, it seemed to be just to drink it all away. Now instead of my story, she would really drink herself under the table, resulting in a call from Josh to the Bebop. Needless to say, Josh and I had become very well acquainted.
The large vein in my neck popped out due to irritation at Faye and Ed, whose teeth were currently barring into my forearm, oh right, hungry.
"Ed…"
"Hwuangry." Her voice was muffled because my forearm which was currently between her teeth. My mind was too preoccupied to cook now. I spied bananas, real pieces of fresh fruit on the counter; we could afford those nowadays. I ripped one off and threw it at her, she squealed happily and caught it.
"Potassium, go." I grumbled, watching her zoom out of the room, banana in hand. I was already out and halfway to my Hammerhead before I realized where I was heading. Mars, downtown district, video freak fanboy. Hopefully, he won't recognize me, but the overall metal of my body was irrefutable. I made my way to the hangar and powered up my ship. The tape felt like a dead weight. Taking off, I flew off over the city, the signs and building creating a gallery of lights across the skyline. It was only when I landed that I noticed something; more specifically someone.
"Where is Jet-Person going?" A squeal came from behind me as a chin plopped down on my shoulder.
"Dammit Ed!" I shouted as I jumped.
"Jet-Person had heart-boom! Jet-Person know not that Edward was there!" Ed spazzed. Of course, I thought.
"Edward wants to go too!" I sighed, I seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Leaving her on the Bebop alone would cause untold horrors. On the other hand taking her with me could prove to be a veritable hassle. But…my Bonsai trees were onboard….God dammit, she was coming. I found a spot to land my craft, and Ed immediately jumped out like a flying monkey. Slowly walking down the district I prayed to some higher power that the video junkie wouldn't remember me.
Random screens lit the night, neon signs blazed in the sky, the overwhelming smell of sewer and beef filled the air, this was the Mars I knew. Ed ran to and fro, pressing her face against window panes and stuffing her hands in random piles of junk, then finally trailing behind me with wide eyes. I think she saw the beta tape in my hands, her eyes took on a glassy look of interest, she was somewhat salivating over it. Rounding the corner, I saw the TV screens piled up one on top of another, and in the very back I saw the milky white glow of a screen casting over a young brat.
Ed
Jet-Person walked into hidey hole. No come out for long time. Jet-Person come out lots later, Edward bored now! Ed no like the face of Jet-Person when we go home, angry and unhappy. Shoulders looked low to ground like Ein-doggy's! He ignored Edward all the way home! Jet-Person was holding a new beta, Faye-Persons? I take tape right out of Jet-Person's handy hands, he almost break, he no notice Ed take.
—when Spike-Person come back? Ed no see after Jet-Person and Spike-Person fight fourteen dubloon days ago!
Faye-Faye not home yet. Jet-Person needs to pick Faye-Faye up still. Poor Faye-Faye! Ed hears Faye-Faye cry nights.
"Ed give that back!" Jet-Person noticed Ed holding beta. Jet-Person so serious now.
"Ed, look at me, we don't tell Faye about today at all." Jet-Person has shiny in eyes now.
Ed nods.
Jet-Person hugs Ed. It is nice, but Ed confused.
Jet-Person is almost Father-Person! Ed feels something wrong.
Ed knows Jet-Person quiet crying, Ed crying now too.
Ed can't understand.
I had to throw a little Edward in there. Please review!