Thanks for the good reviews, guys. Second installment:
Chapter Two - A Chance Encounter
(Music: - "Waltz For Zizi" - OST 1, Track 8)
Spike dragged his feet as he walked into the dark, smoky bar. It was early evening, but the bar was almost empty. The barkeep nodded to Spike, and poured him a strong drink. Spike took a long drag on his cigarette, then flicked it into an ashtray. The bartender could tell that Spike needed another drink, and poured it without a word. A young man walked up to Spike and tried to start a friendly conversation; Spike ignored him, and watched a monitor displaying weather conditions on all the inhabuted planets and asteroids. He lit another cigarette absent-mindedly, then extinguished the glowing butt with equal boredness.
Spike was thinking about all he had left, and he realized it wasn't much. Vicious had always hated him, they had always contended for the Syndicate's approval. And most of the time, Spike got it. Vicious tended to kill a target, while Spike almost never failed to bring them to the Council alive. And in that final, explosive fight, Vicious had left him to die. Without a second thougt, Vicious had left him on the sidewalk. And then Julia had rescued him... her sweet song was running through Spike's mind even now. He was suddenly interrupted by a deep voice that was strangely familiar...
"You're lucky you escaped the ISSP today, kid. I could've turned you in, but I didn't. You reminded me of myself too much. Have a round on me." The cyborg-man waved to the barkeep, and he brought a large bottle that was hidden underneath the bar to view, pouring small glasses for each of them. Only then did Spike look up into the man's eyes.
"Who are you? Why did you help me today?" Spike asked, not really expecting an answer.
"My name is Jet, Jet Black. As to why I helped you... I don't really know. I guess I saw that at your age, that's exactly what I was doing... trying to stay alive on the streets. What brings you to Ganymede? You don't sound like a local."
Spike replied, "I'm here cause this is where the first transport off Mars was going. As to trying to stay alive, I could care less. I'm only alive because of a woman. I'm just in a bad dream I never woke up from." He finished his drink, and stood up to leave. "Thanks anyway, Jet. And I saw your ISSP insignia, too. Don't try to befriend criminals anymore." With that, Spike walked out, leaving the door swinging in his wake. Jet stared after him, then got up and left himself.
Back outside, Spike realized how cold it was on Ganymede. He walked slowly back to his motel room, if you could call it that. It was almost the size of a broom closet, and the mattress rotted away about a decade ago. But it was all Spike could afford. Spike fell asleep as soon as he lay down, dreaming about Julia.
Stay tuned for Chapter Three - All In A Day's Work! Same bat-time, same bat-channel!
Chapter Two - A Chance Encounter
(Music: - "Waltz For Zizi" - OST 1, Track 8)
Spike dragged his feet as he walked into the dark, smoky bar. It was early evening, but the bar was almost empty. The barkeep nodded to Spike, and poured him a strong drink. Spike took a long drag on his cigarette, then flicked it into an ashtray. The bartender could tell that Spike needed another drink, and poured it without a word. A young man walked up to Spike and tried to start a friendly conversation; Spike ignored him, and watched a monitor displaying weather conditions on all the inhabuted planets and asteroids. He lit another cigarette absent-mindedly, then extinguished the glowing butt with equal boredness.
Spike was thinking about all he had left, and he realized it wasn't much. Vicious had always hated him, they had always contended for the Syndicate's approval. And most of the time, Spike got it. Vicious tended to kill a target, while Spike almost never failed to bring them to the Council alive. And in that final, explosive fight, Vicious had left him to die. Without a second thougt, Vicious had left him on the sidewalk. And then Julia had rescued him... her sweet song was running through Spike's mind even now. He was suddenly interrupted by a deep voice that was strangely familiar...
"You're lucky you escaped the ISSP today, kid. I could've turned you in, but I didn't. You reminded me of myself too much. Have a round on me." The cyborg-man waved to the barkeep, and he brought a large bottle that was hidden underneath the bar to view, pouring small glasses for each of them. Only then did Spike look up into the man's eyes.
"Who are you? Why did you help me today?" Spike asked, not really expecting an answer.
"My name is Jet, Jet Black. As to why I helped you... I don't really know. I guess I saw that at your age, that's exactly what I was doing... trying to stay alive on the streets. What brings you to Ganymede? You don't sound like a local."
Spike replied, "I'm here cause this is where the first transport off Mars was going. As to trying to stay alive, I could care less. I'm only alive because of a woman. I'm just in a bad dream I never woke up from." He finished his drink, and stood up to leave. "Thanks anyway, Jet. And I saw your ISSP insignia, too. Don't try to befriend criminals anymore." With that, Spike walked out, leaving the door swinging in his wake. Jet stared after him, then got up and left himself.
Back outside, Spike realized how cold it was on Ganymede. He walked slowly back to his motel room, if you could call it that. It was almost the size of a broom closet, and the mattress rotted away about a decade ago. But it was all Spike could afford. Spike fell asleep as soon as he lay down, dreaming about Julia.
Stay tuned for Chapter Three - All In A Day's Work! Same bat-time, same bat-channel!
