Disclaimer: Don't own, no money making, etc.
Session Ten: One Singular Sensation
Three Months Later…
Mira heard the familiar click of the deadbolt as the door to her apartment opened. She switched on the lights and set her bag down by the kitchen counter. The place was simply furnished, she didn't intend to stay here all that long. She had a bed, kitchen, bathroom and her pride and joy. Mira turned her computer on and waited for it boot up.
While the machine beeped and whirled, she allowed her mind to drift over the past few months. She had spent her time grieving and planning. Now, it was time to set those plans into action. Her longing for peacefulness had been temporarily shed. Her blind eyes to murder had been turned. She hated what she had to be, but if Vicious could be dealt with now, she wouldn't have to worry about him in the long run. And there was Gren. He didn't deserve to die the way he had. His death needed to be avenged. And Spike needed to be free as well. The poor soul had lost too many people in his life. The list was almost as long as Mira's. And now, both had lost their true love. There were no more soul mates to be found. At times, like these, she still felt the acute loss of Gren. She had a feeling she would always feel an empty spot in her heart that could never be filled. When he died, he had taken a part of her with him. A part that could never be revived again.
The computer was up and waiting. At least she was a master of this world. She could easily predict the outcome of whatever situation she came across. Life in cyberspace was so simple if you knew how to bend the code. She was her own entity on the galactic information highway. She was untouchable and all powerful. No one knew her real name, no one knew her pain, no one knew her weaknesses. She couldn't be exploited. However, that didn't apply to everyone else.
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Jet poked his head around the doorway and looked around the living quarters. Spike was sprawled out on the couch, Faye was sitting in the chair, reading a magazine and Ed was on the floor on the computer. He missed seeing Mira thrown among the group. He had nothing against Gren, but Mira added some spice to this motley crew. He enjoyed their discussions in the bridge and her suggestions in the kitchen. She was a pleasure to have around. And if she ever came back, Jet was sure that if Spike didn't wisen up and marry the girl, he would. He shook his head. Ten years his junior, but the girl had the eyes of fifty year old. She appeared to be the kind of person that was forced to grow up before she was ready and only continued to mature. The ex-ISSP officer looked at the wiry figure that was lounging on the couch. Jet laughed to himself. Mira was too good for the lunk head.
"Hey Ed, any decent bounties out?"
"Hmm…there's a 1000 woolong reward for a bank robber on Venus. Another 800 woolong reward for drug dealer on Saturn. Ooohhh…."
Jet leaned over the girl's shoulder. "What?"
"No one's caught the Scarlet Nanashi yet. The reward just doubled."
"You're joking? What would that bring it up to now?"
"That would bring it up to a wopping 20 woolongs! Who-hoo!" Ed cooed.
Spike looked up. "Who's the Scarlet Nanashi?"
Faye put down her magazine and stretched her arms. "Some computer hacking Syndicate. No one can catch the geeks. Ed's talked to one of them online before, but they ended up crashing our systems."
Jet turned to Spike. "You want to give it shot?"
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "Why not? Ed, try to get ahold of one again and see if we can't track them."
"Okay."
Ed went back to clicking on her key board. Jet went back into the kitchen to finish dinner. Faye went back to her magazine and Spike went back to sleeping. Ed's sound of awe drew everyone around the computer in a split second. They all stared at the words in disbelief.
Hello again Radical Edward. May I call you Ed?
Sure. Am I invading your space again?
No, not at all. In fact, I was looking for you. I need your help.
Okay. I can't promise anything though.
That's all right. Just listen. I need to meet with someone and I need you to deliver the message to that person.
Ed stared at the screen for a moment, working her fingers without pressing any keys. How could she phrase this next question without appearing obvious of her intention?
Do you want to get out of the Scarlet Nanashi?
The cursor blinked for an eternity. Ed held her breath, waiting for the systems to crash once more. Instead, a reply came back. One that she didn't expect.
You think that the Scarlet Nanashi are a Syndicate?
Aren't you?
No, not at all. I am the Scarlet Nanashi. And last I checked, there was only one of me.
But the bounty-
So, someone put a bounty out, thinking that there was a group of us? Sorry Ed, just me.
Faye spoke up from behind Jet. "Well, that's depressing."
You said that you wanted me to deliver a message. What is it and to whom?
Tell Spike to meet me at the graveyard. At the Eckener grave.
The screen went blank. The systems remained intact this time. Everyone turned to face Spike, who merely threw his hands up in the air.
"Like I'm suppose to know who that was?"
"Well," Jet moved off towards the kitchen again, "I guess you'll find out soon enough."
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Mira shut down her computer and stood up to stretch her muscles. Just imaging the looks on Jet, Faye and Spike's faces when she told them that the Nanashi weren't a Syndicate gave her a laugh. She felt sorry for them though. They were probably counting on that bounty. She wondered what they were going to do when they found out she was the Nanashi? Well, she couldn't worry about that now. Grabbing her purse and car keys, she headed out. She had one more thing to do before she met Spike.
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The sales girl at the shopping center was far too bubbly for Mira's taste, but she merely forced a smile on her face and nodded her head as the short blond woman went through all the hair colors for her, commenting on what would look best on her hair. Finally the woman had reached the end of isle and took a breath, waiting for Mira's input.
"Actually, I was looking for something that would take the color out of my hair."
"That's not your real color?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"But it looks so natural." The girl reached out to touch it.
Mira took a step back. She hated it when strangers stepped into her space. "Thank you. Now, do you have something that could take all this color out?"
"Actually, we just got something in last week. It's a new chemical that does remove dye from hair. It has a natural-"
"Thank you. I'll take some."
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Mira turned on the shower and followed the directions on the bottle. After all the solution has been used and had set, she stepped into the shower. Streams of red flowed through the drain. She found it to be very symbolic of her life. She had spent the past few years trying to cover up her past sins of murder. Now, she had cleaned herself of those stains only to add more. But now it was the people that had ordered her to kill those others that she was going after. She was finally bringing them to justice. When the water ran clear, she toweled herself off and got dressed. By the time she looked at herself in the mirror again, her whole appearance had completely changed. Dressed in black jeans, a black blouse and bright red leather jacket, the Scarlet Nanashi had finally taken form. She ran her fingers through still damp hair that hung in limp, elbow length, ash gray locks. She looked so…old. A lot older than her twenty-seven years. She wondered if Spike would even recognize her. Grabbing her car keys once more, she picked up her duffle bag, and locked her door for the last time. If everything went according to her plan, she would be back on the Bebop, hunting down Vicious. But things rarely went according to plan. And she still had to tell Spike one more thing before they began their Dragon hunt. His reaction to that would determine her allowance on the Bebop. Pulling out of the parking lot of the apartment complex, she hoped Spike was in a good mood. Her fate depended on it.