====================
Session 2: And Your Bird Can Sing
Sometimes I think, oh yes, I'd move to
Where all the shooting stars are gone
With all of our wishes
====================
[Connecting to site...]
[Connected. One moment please.]
[You have now entered the Tomato Jungle. Welcome to the Jungle baby!]
DancingQueen: PLOOM!
DancingQueen: NEWSNEWS! Did you hear? Did you hear?
Footloose: Whatwhat? Did we hear what? Did we hear what?
WildAngel: I hear lots of things. You'll have to be a wee bit more specific.
Footloose: Yeah, but everything you hear is in your head and speaks with a British accent.
DancingQueen: It's E-do! She's been bountied!
Footloose: BOUNTIED?!
WildAngel: You're kidding! I most definitely haven't heard THAT...
Footloose: Wow, the things you miss when you're not paying attention to anything... who's
trying to nab her -- and "for what?!" may I add?
DancingQueen: anoanoano... don't say, don't say. only that she's the legendary hacker
Radical Edward.
WildAngel: Gee, and I can barely find the "On" button on my computer...
Footloose: those hunter-bunts will never catch E-do
DancingQueen: 3.14159...
Footloose: [virtually picks nose and flicks it at WildAngel]
DancingQueen: [starry eyes] I wonder if she'll get to meet some cool cowboys....
Footloose: she'd like that. she does seem like the adventurous type
WildAngel: [virtually thwaps Footloose with a rather large book]
Footloose: i bet i'm cooler than a bunch of cowboys... hmmph
WildAngel: You may be cooler, but if you got them mad, who would hurt more in the morning?
DancingQueen: Cracker! You go track down Ed then!
Footloose: I would, but the gang at the cyber country club are expecting me to do a lecture
on fashionable font colors later on
DancingQueen: Sure, that's what you always say. You could never track an outlaw if your life
depended on it.
Footloose: could 2!
DancingQueen: Yeah? You got a West-German Walther P99 gun like Jet Black?
Footloose: Jet Black? I could take Jet Black! Any time, day, or place... just so long as
he's not in the room.
WildAngel: Sure you could. [pats you on the head]
Footloose: Bite it, Angle. I bet I'm taller than you in real life.
DancingQueen: She's not a geometric shape, Foot-boy.
WildAngel: Actually, I am pretty angular. But! That's beside the point.
Footloose: oi, it took me 15 minutes to wipe out the guy who already had "Footloose" taken.
You can atleast credit me with the last 5 letters
DancingQueen: :P
Footloose: besides, Rad'll be just fine, you'll see
DancingQueen: Yeah, DoggieDog will take care of her.
Footloose: Queenie, you're not worried, are you?
DancingQueen: Naw..... are you?
Footloose: well, let's face the facts. Ed can hack her way in or out of anything from a bank
to a can of tuna.
DancingQueen: True, E-do is the best kompyutaa girl around...
Footloose: Yes! At last, rainforest.com has the new Intergalaktyk Model 5XC is in! That's
the fastest modem around!
DancingQueen: WAI~!
Footloose: Light speed is so outdated
WildAngel: See, I just turn my computer on and hope it works. It doesn't matter how fast...
Footloose: don't worry, kiddo -- hang with us and you'll... still be 4th best, but you'll
be a hacker none the less
WildAngel: Gee, thanks.
DancingQueen: Ah yes, soon you'll be as good as the Radical one herself!
Footloose: [gasp] Blasphemer! [giggles]
DancingQueen: Scoon, baby!
Footloose: anyway, what do you suggest we do? is there anything we can do to atleast
slow down the trackers
WildAngel: [working the crossword in the Venusian Times] Anyone have a four-letter
word for "woebegone"?
DancingQueen: Bang!
Footloose: Oi, the Venusian Times is not for creepy aliens like you!
WildAngel: Creepy aliens like me? Looked in a mirror lately?
Footloose: tsch! i don't need this
DancingQueen: Yeah Wild, read the Martian Chronicle. Ever so much better.
Footloose: (Martians -- belligerent fools they are)
DancingQueen: Oi! I don't have to take that from a pampered love-goddess wanabe!
Footloose: hey, i've got it! surely one of us can get into the central system of Otamot
DancingQueen: 3333? You wanna try for the heart of the Jungle? Good luck...
Footloose: i can conquer the heart of anything... son of Venus, remember?
WildAngel: [rolls eyes] How can we forget?
Footloose: but you lot will have to help -- i'm the famous 15-minute hacker... I can't undo
Ed's and DoggyD's work alone!
DancingQueen: I'm up for the challenge! You in Wild?
WildAngel: Sure! I'm game!
Footloose: Let's cut footloose, baby girls!
***
For several moments, all that Faye found herself able to do was blink at the image before
her. This girl-this child-who had been so naïve and innocent a few years ago was now
placed in the same category as murderers and thieves? It just did not make any sense.
Surely there was some sort of mistake. Surely Ed was pulling the same kind of trick that
she used to, changing the bounties as she saw fit in order to get what she wanted. But what
could she possibly want out of this? "It doesn't specify what she's wanted for," she
pointed out silently.
"After doing quite a bit of research and asking around, the best that I can tell is that
she apparently has the ability to hack into and control every one of Earth's satellites
simultaneously."
"I thought she could do that already."
"Older ones like the AI satellite she helped us catch, yes, but the majority of Earth's
satellites are highly sophisticated government controlled models. To hack into a single
one is a challenge. To hack into all of them at once is nothing short of impossible."
"So what harm is there in that? The most destruction I've ever seen her do was cover
computer screens with annoying little smiley faces."
"They say that she has been discreetly transferring millions of woolongs to her own
account for the past several months. They would have noticed it sooner, but she has
been very good at covering her tracks."
Faye found herself slamming her fist on the table, much harder than even she expected.
In her adrenaline rush, she did not notice the pain that throbbed in her wrist afterwards.
"This is about money?! Who do those Earthlings think she is?"
"Not just about money, Faye. Those Earthlings depend upon satellite communication to
keep in contact with the outside world. The very idea of someone being in control of
every satellite scares them. And there is nothing more powerful than a planet of frightened
people."
It was at that moment that Faye decided she needed a cigarette, and bad. As she inhaled
the familiar taste of tobacco smoke, she allowed herself to review the situation in her
mind. "So what do you want me to do about it? I lost contact with Ed the same time that
you did."
Jet crossed his tree trunk-like arms across his chest and looked at her with that same
stern glare that he used to often use. "The girl needs help. She can't just be left to
fend for herself."
"You'd give up that much money to help her? You always were the sentimental type."
"Look, a lot of bounty hunters are already on the move. We may be too late as it is."
"I'm not that girl's babysitter. If she wants to play outlaw, she can face the consequences.
What happens to her is not my concern."
It was Jet's turn to slam his fist on the table now, and he darn near broke the thing in
half. "Dammit Faye, this isn't a joke! Do you want to see that girl with a gun to her
head? No one else is going to help her, you know that! Her own father can't remember
her name!"
The green eyed girl slowly rose to leave. "If you're quite finished, I should be getting
back to work."
As she turned away, she was stopped by Jet muttering her name. "You lived under this roof
for months. You ate my food, you had a bed to sleep on, I repaired your ship, one of us was
always there to back you up. Don't you think that you owe me?"
Faye stared down at the dress that draped lightly around her calves. The borrowed white
dress that she had no intention of returning. "I owe everyone, remember? What makes you
so special?"
***
The chill wind rushed across Faye's shoulders as the Bebop took off and disappeared into
the thick clouds overhead, once again leaving her alone on the lonely planet of Zeus.
What should she care? She had a home, she made a decent amount of money, and she certainly
did not have to face so-called comrades that felt nothing but contempt towards her.
Like him.
She felt a hot tear on her cheek. Was she really still so bitter after all these years?
Through the unnatural glow of the street light next to her, she could see large powdery
snowflakes drifting down. She turned her face skywards and allowed the soft ice crystals
to touch her face, melting upon her skin and mixing with the salt of her tears. From the
deserted parking lot in which she stood, no sound could be heard through the muffled silence
save her own quiet sobs.
Faye Valentine gazed at the clouds, dimly lit by the city lights, and tried not to imagine
a pair of mismatched eyes there.
====================
Author's note: Wow, I never expected to get so many reviews! Arigato to everyone who
reviewed this fic. It's people like you that keep me writing. Also thank you to Tsukai
and AngelAnne, who I couldn't have written this session without.
Session 2: And Your Bird Can Sing
Sometimes I think, oh yes, I'd move to
Where all the shooting stars are gone
With all of our wishes
====================
[Connecting to site...]
[Connected. One moment please.]
[You have now entered the Tomato Jungle. Welcome to the Jungle baby!]
DancingQueen: PLOOM!
DancingQueen: NEWSNEWS! Did you hear? Did you hear?
Footloose: Whatwhat? Did we hear what? Did we hear what?
WildAngel: I hear lots of things. You'll have to be a wee bit more specific.
Footloose: Yeah, but everything you hear is in your head and speaks with a British accent.
DancingQueen: It's E-do! She's been bountied!
Footloose: BOUNTIED?!
WildAngel: You're kidding! I most definitely haven't heard THAT...
Footloose: Wow, the things you miss when you're not paying attention to anything... who's
trying to nab her -- and "for what?!" may I add?
DancingQueen: anoanoano... don't say, don't say. only that she's the legendary hacker
Radical Edward.
WildAngel: Gee, and I can barely find the "On" button on my computer...
Footloose: those hunter-bunts will never catch E-do
DancingQueen: 3.14159...
Footloose: [virtually picks nose and flicks it at WildAngel]
DancingQueen: [starry eyes] I wonder if she'll get to meet some cool cowboys....
Footloose: she'd like that. she does seem like the adventurous type
WildAngel: [virtually thwaps Footloose with a rather large book]
Footloose: i bet i'm cooler than a bunch of cowboys... hmmph
WildAngel: You may be cooler, but if you got them mad, who would hurt more in the morning?
DancingQueen: Cracker! You go track down Ed then!
Footloose: I would, but the gang at the cyber country club are expecting me to do a lecture
on fashionable font colors later on
DancingQueen: Sure, that's what you always say. You could never track an outlaw if your life
depended on it.
Footloose: could 2!
DancingQueen: Yeah? You got a West-German Walther P99 gun like Jet Black?
Footloose: Jet Black? I could take Jet Black! Any time, day, or place... just so long as
he's not in the room.
WildAngel: Sure you could. [pats you on the head]
Footloose: Bite it, Angle. I bet I'm taller than you in real life.
DancingQueen: She's not a geometric shape, Foot-boy.
WildAngel: Actually, I am pretty angular. But! That's beside the point.
Footloose: oi, it took me 15 minutes to wipe out the guy who already had "Footloose" taken.
You can atleast credit me with the last 5 letters
DancingQueen: :P
Footloose: besides, Rad'll be just fine, you'll see
DancingQueen: Yeah, DoggieDog will take care of her.
Footloose: Queenie, you're not worried, are you?
DancingQueen: Naw..... are you?
Footloose: well, let's face the facts. Ed can hack her way in or out of anything from a bank
to a can of tuna.
DancingQueen: True, E-do is the best kompyutaa girl around...
Footloose: Yes! At last, rainforest.com has the new Intergalaktyk Model 5XC is in! That's
the fastest modem around!
DancingQueen: WAI~!
Footloose: Light speed is so outdated
WildAngel: See, I just turn my computer on and hope it works. It doesn't matter how fast...
Footloose: don't worry, kiddo -- hang with us and you'll... still be 4th best, but you'll
be a hacker none the less
WildAngel: Gee, thanks.
DancingQueen: Ah yes, soon you'll be as good as the Radical one herself!
Footloose: [gasp] Blasphemer! [giggles]
DancingQueen: Scoon, baby!
Footloose: anyway, what do you suggest we do? is there anything we can do to atleast
slow down the trackers
WildAngel: [working the crossword in the Venusian Times] Anyone have a four-letter
word for "woebegone"?
DancingQueen: Bang!
Footloose: Oi, the Venusian Times is not for creepy aliens like you!
WildAngel: Creepy aliens like me? Looked in a mirror lately?
Footloose: tsch! i don't need this
DancingQueen: Yeah Wild, read the Martian Chronicle. Ever so much better.
Footloose: (Martians -- belligerent fools they are)
DancingQueen: Oi! I don't have to take that from a pampered love-goddess wanabe!
Footloose: hey, i've got it! surely one of us can get into the central system of Otamot
DancingQueen: 3333? You wanna try for the heart of the Jungle? Good luck...
Footloose: i can conquer the heart of anything... son of Venus, remember?
WildAngel: [rolls eyes] How can we forget?
Footloose: but you lot will have to help -- i'm the famous 15-minute hacker... I can't undo
Ed's and DoggyD's work alone!
DancingQueen: I'm up for the challenge! You in Wild?
WildAngel: Sure! I'm game!
Footloose: Let's cut footloose, baby girls!
***
For several moments, all that Faye found herself able to do was blink at the image before
her. This girl-this child-who had been so naïve and innocent a few years ago was now
placed in the same category as murderers and thieves? It just did not make any sense.
Surely there was some sort of mistake. Surely Ed was pulling the same kind of trick that
she used to, changing the bounties as she saw fit in order to get what she wanted. But what
could she possibly want out of this? "It doesn't specify what she's wanted for," she
pointed out silently.
"After doing quite a bit of research and asking around, the best that I can tell is that
she apparently has the ability to hack into and control every one of Earth's satellites
simultaneously."
"I thought she could do that already."
"Older ones like the AI satellite she helped us catch, yes, but the majority of Earth's
satellites are highly sophisticated government controlled models. To hack into a single
one is a challenge. To hack into all of them at once is nothing short of impossible."
"So what harm is there in that? The most destruction I've ever seen her do was cover
computer screens with annoying little smiley faces."
"They say that she has been discreetly transferring millions of woolongs to her own
account for the past several months. They would have noticed it sooner, but she has
been very good at covering her tracks."
Faye found herself slamming her fist on the table, much harder than even she expected.
In her adrenaline rush, she did not notice the pain that throbbed in her wrist afterwards.
"This is about money?! Who do those Earthlings think she is?"
"Not just about money, Faye. Those Earthlings depend upon satellite communication to
keep in contact with the outside world. The very idea of someone being in control of
every satellite scares them. And there is nothing more powerful than a planet of frightened
people."
It was at that moment that Faye decided she needed a cigarette, and bad. As she inhaled
the familiar taste of tobacco smoke, she allowed herself to review the situation in her
mind. "So what do you want me to do about it? I lost contact with Ed the same time that
you did."
Jet crossed his tree trunk-like arms across his chest and looked at her with that same
stern glare that he used to often use. "The girl needs help. She can't just be left to
fend for herself."
"You'd give up that much money to help her? You always were the sentimental type."
"Look, a lot of bounty hunters are already on the move. We may be too late as it is."
"I'm not that girl's babysitter. If she wants to play outlaw, she can face the consequences.
What happens to her is not my concern."
It was Jet's turn to slam his fist on the table now, and he darn near broke the thing in
half. "Dammit Faye, this isn't a joke! Do you want to see that girl with a gun to her
head? No one else is going to help her, you know that! Her own father can't remember
her name!"
The green eyed girl slowly rose to leave. "If you're quite finished, I should be getting
back to work."
As she turned away, she was stopped by Jet muttering her name. "You lived under this roof
for months. You ate my food, you had a bed to sleep on, I repaired your ship, one of us was
always there to back you up. Don't you think that you owe me?"
Faye stared down at the dress that draped lightly around her calves. The borrowed white
dress that she had no intention of returning. "I owe everyone, remember? What makes you
so special?"
***
The chill wind rushed across Faye's shoulders as the Bebop took off and disappeared into
the thick clouds overhead, once again leaving her alone on the lonely planet of Zeus.
What should she care? She had a home, she made a decent amount of money, and she certainly
did not have to face so-called comrades that felt nothing but contempt towards her.
Like him.
She felt a hot tear on her cheek. Was she really still so bitter after all these years?
Through the unnatural glow of the street light next to her, she could see large powdery
snowflakes drifting down. She turned her face skywards and allowed the soft ice crystals
to touch her face, melting upon her skin and mixing with the salt of her tears. From the
deserted parking lot in which she stood, no sound could be heard through the muffled silence
save her own quiet sobs.
Faye Valentine gazed at the clouds, dimly lit by the city lights, and tried not to imagine
a pair of mismatched eyes there.
====================
Author's note: Wow, I never expected to get so many reviews! Arigato to everyone who
reviewed this fic. It's people like you that keep me writing. Also thank you to Tsukai
and AngelAnne, who I couldn't have written this session without.
