Note: I do not own Cowboy Bebop or From Dusk Till Dawn, they belong to their rightful owners and creators. This is a fic I crossed between the two. Thank you and enjoy the fic. ^_^
A mars police station ship pulls into the gateway and a real live mars police officer, Asimov Solensan steps out. Solensan is in a trenchcoat with his badge hooked on the pocket, and a revolver on his hip.
It's about an hour and a half before sundown and Asimov is off duty for the day. The only ship in the gateway parking lot is the Bebop.
El Rey's World of Liquor.
A young hawaiian shirt wearing man named Abdul Hakim sits on a stool behind the counter. A few customers fiddle about. A man wearing a white suit, blue tie, and shades. holds hands with a pretty brown haired girl in a violet dress and red highheels. they look through magazines.
Asimov Solensan enters the store
'It's a hot goddamn day!' he says to Hakim.
'hmm.? haven't felt it a bit. Been inside with the air conitioner blasting all day long, officer.' said Abdul.
'Not even for lunch?' Asimov said as Hakim nods to the officer.
'I am by myself today, I ate my lunch out of the microwave.'
Asimov Solensan walks over to the beer cooler, as if done ritually every night, takes out a bottle of wine, pops it open and joins Abdul Hakim by the front counter.
'Jesus H. Christ man, that microwave food will kill you as quick as a bullet. Those burritos are only fit for a bounty hunter high on weed. Pull me down a bottle of whisky. I'm getting tanked tonight.'
'whats the matter?' Abdul asked him.
'Awww, it's just been a shit ass day. Every inch of it hot and miserable. First off, Katerina at the Casino got some sort of sick, so that Edward friend of her's was working on the craps table. That fucking idiot don't know rat shit from beef with bell peppers. I ate breakfast at ten, was puking up in a blanket like a sick dog by eleven thirty.' Asimov continued. 'hmph. Isn't there a law or something against assholes serving food to other planets.' Hakim asked.
'Well Hakim, if there ain't there sure oughta be. Who knows what goes on inside a dealer's mind?'
'You could sue the shit out of her you know. That kid belongs under a hacker's tent not screwing other people's codes and shit. you could own that fucking casino.' said Hakim.
'What the hell would i do with that 10 year old punk? Besides, Katerina's got enough of a cross to bear just being friends with that egghead. Then all this Mars shit happened. You heard about that bank robbery in Mars, didn't you?' said Asimov.
'That's all that's been on the monitor all day. They killed some people did they not?' Abdul asked.
'Four Marshalls, three cops, and three civilians. And they took a lady blackjack dealer as a hostage.' he answers and Hakim doesn't say anything as he continues. 'They will probably make a run for the gateway, which would bring them this way. And if we get our hands on those fuckheads, we are talking payback time. We will get them all right. I gotta take a piss. I'm gonna use your commode.'
'Knock yourself out, Asimov.' said Hakim.
Asimov Solensan drops his last drip of wine, crushes the bottle, and exits in the bathroom.
The Black suited man by the beer cooler turns around and, with a hostage in tow, walks rapidly toward Abdul Hakim, and the hostage is crying.
'Do you think I'm fucking playing with you, asshole?' the man says to Hakim, pointing to the hostage. 'Do you want this young man to die? or that young girl? or your mars bosom buddy with the badge? or yourself? Now I don't wanna do it, but I'll turn this fucking store into the fucking Wild Bunch if I even think you're fucking with me.'
The two men in black suits are the notorious mars bank robbers, Spike Spiegel and Jet Black. "The Bebop Gang." And the other customers are all being held hostage. Spike is the man with dark green hair, light brown eyes and barb wire-like tatoo from his neck to the bottom of his arm. Jet is the one with a goatee, metal bar next to his eye, and a scar from the top and bottom of his eye.
'What do you want from me? I did what you said.' Hakim said.
'Letting him use your toilet? No store does that.' said Spike.
'He comes in here every day and we bullshit. He's used my toilet a thousand fucking times. If I told him no, he'd know something was up.'
'I want that son of a bitch out outta here, in his ship, and down the road or you can change the name of this place to "El Rey's World of Blood."' he says to Hakim.
Jet, holding tightly the hand of the terrified woman, leans next to Spike's ear and whispers something and he turns to look at Hakim.
'Were you giving that man signals?'
'What? Are you kidding? I did not do anything.' Hakim says as Jet whispers something else in Spike's ear.
'He says you were scratching.' Spike said.
'I was not scratching dammit.' said Hakim.
'Are you calling him a liar?'
'I am not calling him a liar, okay?' Hakim controls himself and continues. 'I'm simply saying that if I was scratching, and if I did scratch, it's not because I was signaling the cop, it's because I'm fucking scared shitless. '
Jet speaks for the first time in a low calm voice to Spike.
'Wait a minute, Asimov's taking a piss. Why don't I just go in there, blow his head off and get the hell outta here.' 'Don't do that. Look, you asked me to act natural, and I am acting as natural -- in fact, under the circumstances, I think I oughta get a fucking Academy Award for how natural I'm acting. You asked me to get rid of him, I'm doing my best.' Hakim said.
'Yeah, well your best better get a hell of a lot fucking better or you're gonna feel a hell of a fucking lot worse.' before he continued the toilet flushes. 'All right, everybody be cool. You be cool.'
Everybody goes back to what they were doing.
Asimov steps back out of the back. He appears to be unaware of the situation.
'Yeah, and I am gonna be right back at it tomorrow. So tonight I am gonna go out with my girlfriend and have a good vacation. How much is the bottle?' he asked Hakim.
'it's Seven Woolong.' Hakim answered.
'Jesus H. christ. You bucking for early retirement or something?'
'Shit yeah.'
Out of nowhere Jet whips out his forty-five automatic and shoots Asimov in the head.
Asimov Solensan goes down screaming. Jet Black stands over him and continues shooting him some more and Spike charges forward.
'Hey, Hey! What the fuck was that all about, Jet?' he said to him.
'He signaled the cop.' Jet answered.
'I did not. You gotta believe me, I didn't.' Hakim said hysterically to Spike.
'When they were talkin' he mouthed the words "Help Us."' Jet said to Spike.
'You fucking liar! I didn't say shit!' Hakim shouted as Jet shoots Abdul Hakim and he falls down behind the counter.
Spike grabs Jet and throws him up against the wall.
'Will you stop it. what the fuck is wrong with you?! Goddamnit--' before Spike could finish Jet interrupted him.
'Spike, he did it. You were by the beer cooler with your back turned. I was by the magazines, I could see his face. And I saw him mouth the words:'
he mouths the word "Help Us" While Hakim lies on the behind the counter bleeding from his bullet wound, he opens his floor safe and pulls out a gun from it.
'Start the Bebop.' said Spike as he releases his partner.
'You believe me don't you, Spike?' Jet asked.
'Shut the fuck up and start the Bebop.' Jet walks away from Spike and crosses the counter......when Abdul Hakim springs up, gun in hand, and shoots Jet in the shoulder. he falls to his knees, howling. Both Hakim and Spike spray the store with gunfire. Spike dives down an aisle. He reloads his .45 Hakim ducks behind the counter and reloads. Jet has crawled to safety behind an aisle and the hostages have run out screaming.
'Jet? you okay?' he yelled out.
'I'm not dead, but i'm definetly shot in the fucking hand I told you that bastard said, "Help Us."' Jet yelled to Spike.
'I never said help us!' Hakim yelled.
'Well that don't matter now, cause you got about two fucking seconds to live. Jet. When I count three, shoot out the bottles behind him.' Spike yelled out to Jet. 'One... Two... Three.'
The Bebop Gang start firing toward the counter. They hit the bottles of alcohol on the shelf behind Abdul Hakim. Hakim is crouched on the ground as glass, debris and alcohol rains down on him. Jet keeps firing as Spike grabs a roll of paper towels from off a shelf, he douses the paper towels with lighter fluid, sets it on fire with his lighter, then tosses it. The flaming roll of paper towels flies through the air. The fireball lands behind the counter.
The entire counter area immediately bursts into flames as Hakim screams from behind the counter.
Spike smiles to himself and stands. Jet shakes his head in amusement and stands. Abdul Hakim runs out from behind the counter, engulfed in flames, still holding his weapon and firing. Spike and Jet hit the ground firing their .45's. Hakim, the human torch, falls like a tree into the pastry display. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black rise from the rubble. they exit El Rey's World of Liquor, pick up the map and leave as the store is bursting into flames.
'What did I tell you? What did I say to you? I said buy the road map and leave.' Spike said.
'What the fuck am i suppose to do, Spike? He recognized us.' said Jet.
'He did not recognize shit.'
'Spike, I'm telling you, the way he looked at us -- you especially -- I knew he knew.'
Both Spike and Jet stand on opposite sides of the ship "Bebop." They both climb in the "Bebop" (Spike behind the wheel). Spike starts it up. The souped up engine roars to life.
'Low Profile. Do you know what the words "Low Profile" mean?' he asked Jet.
'Hey, Jet, how's your hand? It hurts like a fucking son of a bitch Spike, thanks for asking!'
'Let me tell you what "Low Profile" means. It is not taking a girl hostage. It is not shooting a police and it is not setting fire to a fuckin' building.' Spike explained.
'Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.' Jet muttered out. The Bebop tears out of the gateway parking lot backwards, hits through the gate, and speeds off down the galaxy.
"From Bebop Till Dawn"
Spike stands at the front desk of the El Rey Inn. A standard issue Mars motel. Jet sits outside in the Bebop. Nobody responses to the bell. Spike then bangs on it impatiently five times. Hold your horses damn it. An old timer walks through a curtain behind the counter after eating a BBQ rib. 'Now, what in the hell do you want?' he says to Spike. 'What do you think i want, ya mean old bastard? I want a fuckin' room.' Spike answers.
Jet sits in the Bebop cockpit listening to Megumi Hayashibara and Mai Yamane on the radio. He watches from his perspective, Spike taking the walking outside and getting in the ship. Spike starts it up, and drives them to their room.
'Do they have cable?' he asked Spike.
'No.'
'Do they have an X-rated channel?' Jet asked him again.
'No. Do they have a waterbed?'
'They don't have anything except four walls and a roof, and that's all we need.' Spike answered again. Their ship drives up to room *9, but they park backing up the cargo area close to the door. 'Open the door. We gotta do this fast.' Spike said as he tosses Jet the motel keys. The Bebop Gang get out of the car. Jet opens the door. Spike goes to the Trunk, looks around the courtyard. it's empty. he opens the trunk revealing a young woman in her late thirties lying scrunched up in the trunk. She is the hostage blackjack dealer from the Casino. She's Stiff, scared and looks an absolute mess. The Bebop Gang, quick as lightening, yank the woman out of the trunk and whisk her into the motel room. Spike closes, looks around for any Bloody eye-witnesses, doesn't see any and slams the door. Spike turns from the door, see's the hostage woman standing. 'You. Plant yourself in that chair.' Spike said as she sits down in the chair. the hostage said.
'What are you planning on doing with -- --'
'I said plant yourself. Plants don't talk. You wanna get on my good side? Just sit still and don't make a peep.' Spike interrupted her. she shuts up. Jet slowly takes off his overcoat. He winces from his wound. Spike helps him get his jacket off. Jet's shirt is bloody around the shoulder area. His wound is wrapped underneath.
'how does it feel, Jet?' he asked.
'How do you think, it hurts like a son of a bitch.' Jet answered. Jet goes over to the bed and lies down on it. Spike takes the pillow and stacks them for Jet to prop his back up against.
'I got both rooms on either of us, so we don't got to worry about eavesdropping assholes. how does that feel? Jet, you okay?' Spike said.
'Feels good, Spike.' he answered.
'Good I'm gonna go get the Woolong.' Spike heads for the door. he goes into the bebop, takes out a big suitcase. He scans the perimeter with his eyes, goes back inside. Spike comes back in, lays the suitcase on the bed. Jet has the T.V. remote control in his hand and he's flipping stations. Spike looks at the watch. he says to the hostage.
'It's about five o' clock. What time does it get dark around here?'
'About seven, sir.'
'Good. I'm going towards the gateway to check things out while it's still daylight. Call Mao Yenrai and arrange the rendezvous.'
'Hey Spike, when you talk to him, see if you can arrange a better deal than thirty percent.' Jet said.
'That's our standard, Jet. They ain't about to change it for us.' said Spike.
'Did you even try to negotiate?'
'These guys are not spic firecracker salesman from Pluto. They don't even know the meaning of the word barter. You wanna stay in Venus? You give them thirty percent of your loot. It's scripture. So it is written, so shall it be done. You want sanctuary, you pay the price, and the price is thirty percent. Now, this conversation is over.' Jet shrugs and turns back to the T.V.. Spike turns to the hostage, grabs a chair and slides it up in front of her. 'Now, we need to have a talk. What's your name?' Spike asked the hostage.
'Stella Bonnaro.' Spike shakes her hand.
'Hello Stella, I'm Spike Spiegel and that's my partner Jet Black. Let's cut to the chase. I'm gonna ask you a question and all I want is a yes or no answer. Do you want to live through this?' she nods as in yes. 'Good. Then let me explain the house rules. Follow the rules, we'll get along like a house on fire. Rule number one: No noise, no question. You make a noise......Mr. 45 makes a noise. You ask a question, Mr. 45 answers it. Now are you absolutely, positively clear about rule number one?' Stella nods again. 'Rule number two: You do what we say, when we say it. If you don't see rule number one.' Spike takes the .45 places the barrel next to Stella's cheek. She squirms and shuts her eyes. He pulls back the hammer and continues. 'Rule number three: Don't you ever try and fucking run on us. Because I got five little friends, and they all run faster then you can. Got it?' She nods her head yes.
He takes the gun away and replaces the hammer.
'Stella, you hang in there, follow the rules, and don't fuck with us, you will get out of this alive. I give you my word. Okay?'
Spike said to the hostage and she nodded her head yes and he exits the motel. Jet looks to the T.V., then looks to Stella sitting across the room in the chair. 'Do you want to come up here on the bed and watch T.V. with me? Come on.' He pats the empty space next to him. She gets out of her chair, walks across the bed and sits next to him.
A phone booth outside of a gas station. Spike is in the middle of a conversation with the party on the other end.
'Things are real hot here. Crossing's gonna be a bitch. Don't worry, we'll get across. But when we do, where do we go? Can we make it as close to the gateway as possible? because Mars wants our balls Mao. The quicker we're in your protection. The better I'll Feel. Okay where do you want us to meet you at? The Venus Twister? I love it already. Okay, Mao, I'll see you and your men at the "Venus Twister" tomorrow morning. Bye, my friend.' Spike hangs up the phone, lights up a cigar with his Zippo lighter and exits out of the station.
Jet lies on the bed by himself, propped up by pillows, watching T.V., taking on hits from a water bong in the shape of a cowboy. On T.V. A local newscasters named Judy is reporting a story about the "Bebop Gang."
'This bloody crime spree started just a week ago today. The leader of the "Bebop Gang..." Spike Spiegel was serving time in Mars State Penitentiary. A bank robbery in which two law enforcement officers lost their lives. Having served eight years of his twenty-two year sentence, Spike Spiegel was brought to Mars Court House for his first parole hearing. It was while at the court house that this man...his partner Jet Black former ISSP Police officer, a known armed robber and sex offender, pulled off a daring daylight escape. Resulting in the death of four Mars law enforcement officers, and about six hours ago, during a daylight liquor store robbery in Mars, The "Bebop Gang" killed another Martian Ranger......Asmiov Solensan....and liquor store clerk Abdul Hakim. Then they proceed to burn the store down to the ground. That changes the death toll to fifteen. Five Mars Police Officers... Four Civilians. and one hostage...... blackjack dealer Stella Bonnaro. Heading the case to bring these fugitives to justice is former Big Shot host Punch. We talked with Punch earlier this afternoon.'
'For the time being we are very confident we will aprehend the fugitives in the next seventy-two hours. The bounty hunters, Mars law enforcement and Mars Police Officers have all joined forces in forming a dragnet to snare Spike Spiegel and Jet Black.'
'Punch, does it appear that they are heading for Venus. Yes, it does, Judy. We have already alerted the Venus authorities. They intend to cooperate every way possible in bringing these fugitives to justice.'
'Are you optimistic about the safety of the hostage they took, Stella Bonnaro?'
'We've received no news one way or the other. We can only hope for the best.'
'What about the report from an eyewitness at the liquor store who said one of the members was shot?'
'This can't be confirmed at this time, but we do believe it to be true. We have reason to believe it was former ISSP Officer Jet Black, and he was shot in the vincinity of his hand by the store's clerk.'
'Is it safe to assume that because the death count involved and the loss of life of law enforcement officers, that the bounty hunters, the police force and mars enforcement are taking this manhunt personally?'
'I would say that's a very safe assumption.'
Jet smiles and immitate's the newscaster. 'Is it safe to assume since the law enforcement authorities in the great planet Mars are homosexuals of a sick and deviate nature, they will be too busy fucking each other up the ass to actually catch "The Bebop Gang?"' he immitate's the Big Shot hosts' voice. 'I would say that's a very safe assumption.' He changes the channel on the T.V. and sees a Hello Kitty cartoon on the screen. Spike enters the room carrying a six pack of wine and two take-out bags of Big Kahuna burgers.
'Shit, I started to get worried. Where the fuck have you been, Spike?' he said.
'I was sight seeing Jet.' Spike answered.
'what did you see?'
'Cops.'
'Did you look at the gates?' Spike dumps the burgers on the bed. Both men pop open wines and Jet goes to town on a hamburger. Spike flips off the T.V.
'Yeah, I saw the gates. Through binoculars from on top of a high building. That's about as close as I risked getting. What does the T.V. say?' Spike asked.
'They are going to apprehend us in seventy-two hours.' Jet answers as Spike sits down and takes a hit off his wine and says to himself.
'I gotta figure a way to get across that goddamn gateway. Longer we fuck around Mars our lives are not worth a shit.' 'Look, fuck the gates. Let's just dig in and wait for things to cool down.'
'Jet, it's gonna get a lot fucking worse before it gets any fucking better. We showed our ass on Mars. We killed Martian fucking Rangerss. They ain't gonna stop looking until they find us, and when they find us, they are gonna kill us. Martians take it personnal when you kill their law enforcement officers. The Martian Police have already started a motel and hotel search for us.' he said to Jet.
'How do you know, Spike?'
'I heard it on the radio. We gotta get our asses into Venus tonight. Mao Yenrai is gonna meet us tomorrow morning at a rendezvous on the other side, then Mao and his boys will escort us to Venus and -- Where's Stella?' Spike stops and looks around for the woman.
'What, Spike?' Jet asked as Spike gets out of his chair.
'What'd ya mean, what? The fucking woman, the hostage. Where the fuck is she, Jet!?'
'She's in the other room, Spike.'
'What the fuck is she doing there?!' Spike goes to the door of the adjoining room.
'Spike, before you open the door, let me explain what happened.' Spike stops and looks at Jet. He knows what he means. He can't say anything, only point at his younger sibling. Then he bursts open the door. The dead, naked body of Stella Bonnaro lies dead on the bed. It's obvious Jet raped and killed her. Spike covers his eyes with his hands. He slowly enters the room with the dead body, saying to himself. 'Oh, Jet, what's wrong with you?' Jet rises from the bed. 'Now, Spike before you flip out, let me just explain what happened.' Jet said as Spike slowly turns to him, then walks toward him and Jet backs up.
'Yeah, explain it to me. I need an explanation. What is the matter with you?'
'There's nothing wrong with me, Spike. That woman tried to escape and I did what I had to do.' Jet explained.
'No. That woman wouldn't of said shit if she had a mouthful.'
'Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Once you left, she became a whole different person.'
'Is it me? Is it my fault?' Spike said as he slowly approaches to Jet.
'It's not your fault, it's her fault!' Spike grabs Jet and throws him in the corner of the room, holding tightly to his wrist. 'Is this my fault? Do you think this is what I am? This is not me! I am a professional fucking thief. I steal Woolong. But I don't kill people I don't have to, and I don't fucking rape women. What you are fucking doin' ain't how it's done. Do you fucking understand?' Spike said.
'Spike if you were me --' before Jet could finish Spike interrupted him.
'Just say yes! Nothing else, just say fucking yes, Spike, I fucking understand.'
'Yes, Spike, I understand.' Jet said as Spike shakes his hand and whispers in his ear.
'We get into Venus, it's gonna be sweet Rosemary, 100 proof wine, and beef with bell peppers. None of this shit's gonna matter.'
El Rey's Gravy Train
a table is occupied by Faye Valentine and her friends. They definitely fall into the road-weary category. The other members consist of herself, Faye, age 23, a beautiful, smart and deadly bounty hunter with rough edges. Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, age 13, a tomboyish hacker, and Julia, age 27, a woman on the run from her past. The three of them are wolfing down a late lunch.
'We got about two more hours of daylight left. That'll get us into Venus, which is right next to the gate. We'll stop at a motel--' before Faye could finish, Julia interrupted her and said.
'Stop? We're not going to actually stop at a motel, are we?' then she and Edward began to speak together, obviously repeating something that Faye has said about three hundred times.
'We got a cargo ship. We don't need those overpriced termite havens. We're self contained.'
'Okay, Okay, maybe I was a little overzealous, but give me a break, I just brought it.' Faye finished and Ed and Julia continue the impersonation.
'Why, just look at all the stuff in it. You got your kitchen -- you got your microwave -- you got your sink -- you got your shower -- Feel this, real metal paneling. That's real metal, too, not that fake stuff.'
'Unless you two wiseacres wanna be introduced to the joys of hitchhiking, what say we drop this?' Faye said.
'The truth hurts.' Edward said to Julia.
'It's the bitterest of pills.' Julia said to Edward.
'You two ought to start a stand-up act, because you're just wasting your humor on me.' said Faye.
'Ain't it the truth. Why do you want to stop?' Julia asked Faye.
'I'm exhausted.' she answered.
'Lie in the back, Faye, I'll drive us into Venus.' Julia said to Faye. Faye gives Julia a look that says, 'You are not touching my new cargo ship.'
'I just bet you would. Don't even think about it. Besides, I want to have one night's sleep in an honest-to-goodness bed.'
'The beds in the ship are okay, but they're not like a real bed.'
'I'll be right back. I'm gonna go use the bathroom.' Edward said. He gets up from the table and walks out back to the restroom.
Faye and Julia are left alone. Ed and Julia are in the front seat of the cargo ship. the cargo ship's parked in front of the El Rey Inn's front office. Faye is inside getting a room from the old timer.
'Hmph! I can't believe she's stopping here. This place looks totally cruddy' Julia said as Faye walks out of the office, opens the cargo ship door and climbs in.
'This place is a flop house.' Edward said.
'It's not no damn flop house. It's basic and simple. That doesn't make it a flop house. If it doesn't have a pool, we're looking for a new place.' said Julia. Starting the huge ship and slowly maneuvering it through the courtyard.
'It has a bed. That's all I care about for now.' Faye said.
'Other places have beds, they also have Cable T.V., a gym, room service.' Edward said. Spike walks out of room #9 with a wine in his hand. He's thinking about how he's going to get over the gate. Lost in thought, he steps out in the path of Faye Valentine's cargo ship. Faye slams on the brakes. Spike jumps back, startled. Both Ed and Julia are tossed out of their seats onto the floor. Faye gets pissed and yells at Spike out the window.
'Watch where you're going fuckhead!' Spike just stands right in their way without moving, gazing up at the giant cargo ship.
'What the hell is this guy's problem?' Edward asked.
'I have no idea.' Faye answered. Spike continues stand in their way, making no attempt to move. Not threatening them. just looking at them.
'Anytime, asshole.' A smile breaks out on the escaped fugitive's face and he politely steps to one side to let them pass. The Sword of Damocles is lifted from above Spike's head. He just solved a problem that a mere fifty seconds ago seemed unsolvable. He knows exactly how he's going to cross the gate. Whistling "The Real Folk Blues", he turns and walks back into room #9.
A mars police station ship pulls into the gateway and a real live mars police officer, Asimov Solensan steps out. Solensan is in a trenchcoat with his badge hooked on the pocket, and a revolver on his hip.
It's about an hour and a half before sundown and Asimov is off duty for the day. The only ship in the gateway parking lot is the Bebop.
El Rey's World of Liquor.
A young hawaiian shirt wearing man named Abdul Hakim sits on a stool behind the counter. A few customers fiddle about. A man wearing a white suit, blue tie, and shades. holds hands with a pretty brown haired girl in a violet dress and red highheels. they look through magazines.
Asimov Solensan enters the store
'It's a hot goddamn day!' he says to Hakim.
'hmm.? haven't felt it a bit. Been inside with the air conitioner blasting all day long, officer.' said Abdul.
'Not even for lunch?' Asimov said as Hakim nods to the officer.
'I am by myself today, I ate my lunch out of the microwave.'
Asimov Solensan walks over to the beer cooler, as if done ritually every night, takes out a bottle of wine, pops it open and joins Abdul Hakim by the front counter.
'Jesus H. Christ man, that microwave food will kill you as quick as a bullet. Those burritos are only fit for a bounty hunter high on weed. Pull me down a bottle of whisky. I'm getting tanked tonight.'
'whats the matter?' Abdul asked him.
'Awww, it's just been a shit ass day. Every inch of it hot and miserable. First off, Katerina at the Casino got some sort of sick, so that Edward friend of her's was working on the craps table. That fucking idiot don't know rat shit from beef with bell peppers. I ate breakfast at ten, was puking up in a blanket like a sick dog by eleven thirty.' Asimov continued. 'hmph. Isn't there a law or something against assholes serving food to other planets.' Hakim asked.
'Well Hakim, if there ain't there sure oughta be. Who knows what goes on inside a dealer's mind?'
'You could sue the shit out of her you know. That kid belongs under a hacker's tent not screwing other people's codes and shit. you could own that fucking casino.' said Hakim.
'What the hell would i do with that 10 year old punk? Besides, Katerina's got enough of a cross to bear just being friends with that egghead. Then all this Mars shit happened. You heard about that bank robbery in Mars, didn't you?' said Asimov.
'That's all that's been on the monitor all day. They killed some people did they not?' Abdul asked.
'Four Marshalls, three cops, and three civilians. And they took a lady blackjack dealer as a hostage.' he answers and Hakim doesn't say anything as he continues. 'They will probably make a run for the gateway, which would bring them this way. And if we get our hands on those fuckheads, we are talking payback time. We will get them all right. I gotta take a piss. I'm gonna use your commode.'
'Knock yourself out, Asimov.' said Hakim.
Asimov Solensan drops his last drip of wine, crushes the bottle, and exits in the bathroom.
The Black suited man by the beer cooler turns around and, with a hostage in tow, walks rapidly toward Abdul Hakim, and the hostage is crying.
'Do you think I'm fucking playing with you, asshole?' the man says to Hakim, pointing to the hostage. 'Do you want this young man to die? or that young girl? or your mars bosom buddy with the badge? or yourself? Now I don't wanna do it, but I'll turn this fucking store into the fucking Wild Bunch if I even think you're fucking with me.'
The two men in black suits are the notorious mars bank robbers, Spike Spiegel and Jet Black. "The Bebop Gang." And the other customers are all being held hostage. Spike is the man with dark green hair, light brown eyes and barb wire-like tatoo from his neck to the bottom of his arm. Jet is the one with a goatee, metal bar next to his eye, and a scar from the top and bottom of his eye.
'What do you want from me? I did what you said.' Hakim said.
'Letting him use your toilet? No store does that.' said Spike.
'He comes in here every day and we bullshit. He's used my toilet a thousand fucking times. If I told him no, he'd know something was up.'
'I want that son of a bitch out outta here, in his ship, and down the road or you can change the name of this place to "El Rey's World of Blood."' he says to Hakim.
Jet, holding tightly the hand of the terrified woman, leans next to Spike's ear and whispers something and he turns to look at Hakim.
'Were you giving that man signals?'
'What? Are you kidding? I did not do anything.' Hakim says as Jet whispers something else in Spike's ear.
'He says you were scratching.' Spike said.
'I was not scratching dammit.' said Hakim.
'Are you calling him a liar?'
'I am not calling him a liar, okay?' Hakim controls himself and continues. 'I'm simply saying that if I was scratching, and if I did scratch, it's not because I was signaling the cop, it's because I'm fucking scared shitless. '
Jet speaks for the first time in a low calm voice to Spike.
'Wait a minute, Asimov's taking a piss. Why don't I just go in there, blow his head off and get the hell outta here.' 'Don't do that. Look, you asked me to act natural, and I am acting as natural -- in fact, under the circumstances, I think I oughta get a fucking Academy Award for how natural I'm acting. You asked me to get rid of him, I'm doing my best.' Hakim said.
'Yeah, well your best better get a hell of a lot fucking better or you're gonna feel a hell of a fucking lot worse.' before he continued the toilet flushes. 'All right, everybody be cool. You be cool.'
Everybody goes back to what they were doing.
Asimov steps back out of the back. He appears to be unaware of the situation.
'Yeah, and I am gonna be right back at it tomorrow. So tonight I am gonna go out with my girlfriend and have a good vacation. How much is the bottle?' he asked Hakim.
'it's Seven Woolong.' Hakim answered.
'Jesus H. christ. You bucking for early retirement or something?'
'Shit yeah.'
Out of nowhere Jet whips out his forty-five automatic and shoots Asimov in the head.
Asimov Solensan goes down screaming. Jet Black stands over him and continues shooting him some more and Spike charges forward.
'Hey, Hey! What the fuck was that all about, Jet?' he said to him.
'He signaled the cop.' Jet answered.
'I did not. You gotta believe me, I didn't.' Hakim said hysterically to Spike.
'When they were talkin' he mouthed the words "Help Us."' Jet said to Spike.
'You fucking liar! I didn't say shit!' Hakim shouted as Jet shoots Abdul Hakim and he falls down behind the counter.
Spike grabs Jet and throws him up against the wall.
'Will you stop it. what the fuck is wrong with you?! Goddamnit--' before Spike could finish Jet interrupted him.
'Spike, he did it. You were by the beer cooler with your back turned. I was by the magazines, I could see his face. And I saw him mouth the words:'
he mouths the word "Help Us" While Hakim lies on the behind the counter bleeding from his bullet wound, he opens his floor safe and pulls out a gun from it.
'Start the Bebop.' said Spike as he releases his partner.
'You believe me don't you, Spike?' Jet asked.
'Shut the fuck up and start the Bebop.' Jet walks away from Spike and crosses the counter......when Abdul Hakim springs up, gun in hand, and shoots Jet in the shoulder. he falls to his knees, howling. Both Hakim and Spike spray the store with gunfire. Spike dives down an aisle. He reloads his .45 Hakim ducks behind the counter and reloads. Jet has crawled to safety behind an aisle and the hostages have run out screaming.
'Jet? you okay?' he yelled out.
'I'm not dead, but i'm definetly shot in the fucking hand I told you that bastard said, "Help Us."' Jet yelled to Spike.
'I never said help us!' Hakim yelled.
'Well that don't matter now, cause you got about two fucking seconds to live. Jet. When I count three, shoot out the bottles behind him.' Spike yelled out to Jet. 'One... Two... Three.'
The Bebop Gang start firing toward the counter. They hit the bottles of alcohol on the shelf behind Abdul Hakim. Hakim is crouched on the ground as glass, debris and alcohol rains down on him. Jet keeps firing as Spike grabs a roll of paper towels from off a shelf, he douses the paper towels with lighter fluid, sets it on fire with his lighter, then tosses it. The flaming roll of paper towels flies through the air. The fireball lands behind the counter.
The entire counter area immediately bursts into flames as Hakim screams from behind the counter.
Spike smiles to himself and stands. Jet shakes his head in amusement and stands. Abdul Hakim runs out from behind the counter, engulfed in flames, still holding his weapon and firing. Spike and Jet hit the ground firing their .45's. Hakim, the human torch, falls like a tree into the pastry display. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black rise from the rubble. they exit El Rey's World of Liquor, pick up the map and leave as the store is bursting into flames.
'What did I tell you? What did I say to you? I said buy the road map and leave.' Spike said.
'What the fuck am i suppose to do, Spike? He recognized us.' said Jet.
'He did not recognize shit.'
'Spike, I'm telling you, the way he looked at us -- you especially -- I knew he knew.'
Both Spike and Jet stand on opposite sides of the ship "Bebop." They both climb in the "Bebop" (Spike behind the wheel). Spike starts it up. The souped up engine roars to life.
'Low Profile. Do you know what the words "Low Profile" mean?' he asked Jet.
'Hey, Jet, how's your hand? It hurts like a fucking son of a bitch Spike, thanks for asking!'
'Let me tell you what "Low Profile" means. It is not taking a girl hostage. It is not shooting a police and it is not setting fire to a fuckin' building.' Spike explained.
'Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.' Jet muttered out. The Bebop tears out of the gateway parking lot backwards, hits through the gate, and speeds off down the galaxy.
"From Bebop Till Dawn"
Spike stands at the front desk of the El Rey Inn. A standard issue Mars motel. Jet sits outside in the Bebop. Nobody responses to the bell. Spike then bangs on it impatiently five times. Hold your horses damn it. An old timer walks through a curtain behind the counter after eating a BBQ rib. 'Now, what in the hell do you want?' he says to Spike. 'What do you think i want, ya mean old bastard? I want a fuckin' room.' Spike answers.
Jet sits in the Bebop cockpit listening to Megumi Hayashibara and Mai Yamane on the radio. He watches from his perspective, Spike taking the walking outside and getting in the ship. Spike starts it up, and drives them to their room.
'Do they have cable?' he asked Spike.
'No.'
'Do they have an X-rated channel?' Jet asked him again.
'No. Do they have a waterbed?'
'They don't have anything except four walls and a roof, and that's all we need.' Spike answered again. Their ship drives up to room *9, but they park backing up the cargo area close to the door. 'Open the door. We gotta do this fast.' Spike said as he tosses Jet the motel keys. The Bebop Gang get out of the car. Jet opens the door. Spike goes to the Trunk, looks around the courtyard. it's empty. he opens the trunk revealing a young woman in her late thirties lying scrunched up in the trunk. She is the hostage blackjack dealer from the Casino. She's Stiff, scared and looks an absolute mess. The Bebop Gang, quick as lightening, yank the woman out of the trunk and whisk her into the motel room. Spike closes, looks around for any Bloody eye-witnesses, doesn't see any and slams the door. Spike turns from the door, see's the hostage woman standing. 'You. Plant yourself in that chair.' Spike said as she sits down in the chair. the hostage said.
'What are you planning on doing with -- --'
'I said plant yourself. Plants don't talk. You wanna get on my good side? Just sit still and don't make a peep.' Spike interrupted her. she shuts up. Jet slowly takes off his overcoat. He winces from his wound. Spike helps him get his jacket off. Jet's shirt is bloody around the shoulder area. His wound is wrapped underneath.
'how does it feel, Jet?' he asked.
'How do you think, it hurts like a son of a bitch.' Jet answered. Jet goes over to the bed and lies down on it. Spike takes the pillow and stacks them for Jet to prop his back up against.
'I got both rooms on either of us, so we don't got to worry about eavesdropping assholes. how does that feel? Jet, you okay?' Spike said.
'Feels good, Spike.' he answered.
'Good I'm gonna go get the Woolong.' Spike heads for the door. he goes into the bebop, takes out a big suitcase. He scans the perimeter with his eyes, goes back inside. Spike comes back in, lays the suitcase on the bed. Jet has the T.V. remote control in his hand and he's flipping stations. Spike looks at the watch. he says to the hostage.
'It's about five o' clock. What time does it get dark around here?'
'About seven, sir.'
'Good. I'm going towards the gateway to check things out while it's still daylight. Call Mao Yenrai and arrange the rendezvous.'
'Hey Spike, when you talk to him, see if you can arrange a better deal than thirty percent.' Jet said.
'That's our standard, Jet. They ain't about to change it for us.' said Spike.
'Did you even try to negotiate?'
'These guys are not spic firecracker salesman from Pluto. They don't even know the meaning of the word barter. You wanna stay in Venus? You give them thirty percent of your loot. It's scripture. So it is written, so shall it be done. You want sanctuary, you pay the price, and the price is thirty percent. Now, this conversation is over.' Jet shrugs and turns back to the T.V.. Spike turns to the hostage, grabs a chair and slides it up in front of her. 'Now, we need to have a talk. What's your name?' Spike asked the hostage.
'Stella Bonnaro.' Spike shakes her hand.
'Hello Stella, I'm Spike Spiegel and that's my partner Jet Black. Let's cut to the chase. I'm gonna ask you a question and all I want is a yes or no answer. Do you want to live through this?' she nods as in yes. 'Good. Then let me explain the house rules. Follow the rules, we'll get along like a house on fire. Rule number one: No noise, no question. You make a noise......Mr. 45 makes a noise. You ask a question, Mr. 45 answers it. Now are you absolutely, positively clear about rule number one?' Stella nods again. 'Rule number two: You do what we say, when we say it. If you don't see rule number one.' Spike takes the .45 places the barrel next to Stella's cheek. She squirms and shuts her eyes. He pulls back the hammer and continues. 'Rule number three: Don't you ever try and fucking run on us. Because I got five little friends, and they all run faster then you can. Got it?' She nods her head yes.
He takes the gun away and replaces the hammer.
'Stella, you hang in there, follow the rules, and don't fuck with us, you will get out of this alive. I give you my word. Okay?'
Spike said to the hostage and she nodded her head yes and he exits the motel. Jet looks to the T.V., then looks to Stella sitting across the room in the chair. 'Do you want to come up here on the bed and watch T.V. with me? Come on.' He pats the empty space next to him. She gets out of her chair, walks across the bed and sits next to him.
A phone booth outside of a gas station. Spike is in the middle of a conversation with the party on the other end.
'Things are real hot here. Crossing's gonna be a bitch. Don't worry, we'll get across. But when we do, where do we go? Can we make it as close to the gateway as possible? because Mars wants our balls Mao. The quicker we're in your protection. The better I'll Feel. Okay where do you want us to meet you at? The Venus Twister? I love it already. Okay, Mao, I'll see you and your men at the "Venus Twister" tomorrow morning. Bye, my friend.' Spike hangs up the phone, lights up a cigar with his Zippo lighter and exits out of the station.
Jet lies on the bed by himself, propped up by pillows, watching T.V., taking on hits from a water bong in the shape of a cowboy. On T.V. A local newscasters named Judy is reporting a story about the "Bebop Gang."
'This bloody crime spree started just a week ago today. The leader of the "Bebop Gang..." Spike Spiegel was serving time in Mars State Penitentiary. A bank robbery in which two law enforcement officers lost their lives. Having served eight years of his twenty-two year sentence, Spike Spiegel was brought to Mars Court House for his first parole hearing. It was while at the court house that this man...his partner Jet Black former ISSP Police officer, a known armed robber and sex offender, pulled off a daring daylight escape. Resulting in the death of four Mars law enforcement officers, and about six hours ago, during a daylight liquor store robbery in Mars, The "Bebop Gang" killed another Martian Ranger......Asmiov Solensan....and liquor store clerk Abdul Hakim. Then they proceed to burn the store down to the ground. That changes the death toll to fifteen. Five Mars Police Officers... Four Civilians. and one hostage...... blackjack dealer Stella Bonnaro. Heading the case to bring these fugitives to justice is former Big Shot host Punch. We talked with Punch earlier this afternoon.'
'For the time being we are very confident we will aprehend the fugitives in the next seventy-two hours. The bounty hunters, Mars law enforcement and Mars Police Officers have all joined forces in forming a dragnet to snare Spike Spiegel and Jet Black.'
'Punch, does it appear that they are heading for Venus. Yes, it does, Judy. We have already alerted the Venus authorities. They intend to cooperate every way possible in bringing these fugitives to justice.'
'Are you optimistic about the safety of the hostage they took, Stella Bonnaro?'
'We've received no news one way or the other. We can only hope for the best.'
'What about the report from an eyewitness at the liquor store who said one of the members was shot?'
'This can't be confirmed at this time, but we do believe it to be true. We have reason to believe it was former ISSP Officer Jet Black, and he was shot in the vincinity of his hand by the store's clerk.'
'Is it safe to assume that because the death count involved and the loss of life of law enforcement officers, that the bounty hunters, the police force and mars enforcement are taking this manhunt personally?'
'I would say that's a very safe assumption.'
Jet smiles and immitate's the newscaster. 'Is it safe to assume since the law enforcement authorities in the great planet Mars are homosexuals of a sick and deviate nature, they will be too busy fucking each other up the ass to actually catch "The Bebop Gang?"' he immitate's the Big Shot hosts' voice. 'I would say that's a very safe assumption.' He changes the channel on the T.V. and sees a Hello Kitty cartoon on the screen. Spike enters the room carrying a six pack of wine and two take-out bags of Big Kahuna burgers.
'Shit, I started to get worried. Where the fuck have you been, Spike?' he said.
'I was sight seeing Jet.' Spike answered.
'what did you see?'
'Cops.'
'Did you look at the gates?' Spike dumps the burgers on the bed. Both men pop open wines and Jet goes to town on a hamburger. Spike flips off the T.V.
'Yeah, I saw the gates. Through binoculars from on top of a high building. That's about as close as I risked getting. What does the T.V. say?' Spike asked.
'They are going to apprehend us in seventy-two hours.' Jet answers as Spike sits down and takes a hit off his wine and says to himself.
'I gotta figure a way to get across that goddamn gateway. Longer we fuck around Mars our lives are not worth a shit.' 'Look, fuck the gates. Let's just dig in and wait for things to cool down.'
'Jet, it's gonna get a lot fucking worse before it gets any fucking better. We showed our ass on Mars. We killed Martian fucking Rangerss. They ain't gonna stop looking until they find us, and when they find us, they are gonna kill us. Martians take it personnal when you kill their law enforcement officers. The Martian Police have already started a motel and hotel search for us.' he said to Jet.
'How do you know, Spike?'
'I heard it on the radio. We gotta get our asses into Venus tonight. Mao Yenrai is gonna meet us tomorrow morning at a rendezvous on the other side, then Mao and his boys will escort us to Venus and -- Where's Stella?' Spike stops and looks around for the woman.
'What, Spike?' Jet asked as Spike gets out of his chair.
'What'd ya mean, what? The fucking woman, the hostage. Where the fuck is she, Jet!?'
'She's in the other room, Spike.'
'What the fuck is she doing there?!' Spike goes to the door of the adjoining room.
'Spike, before you open the door, let me explain what happened.' Spike stops and looks at Jet. He knows what he means. He can't say anything, only point at his younger sibling. Then he bursts open the door. The dead, naked body of Stella Bonnaro lies dead on the bed. It's obvious Jet raped and killed her. Spike covers his eyes with his hands. He slowly enters the room with the dead body, saying to himself. 'Oh, Jet, what's wrong with you?' Jet rises from the bed. 'Now, Spike before you flip out, let me just explain what happened.' Jet said as Spike slowly turns to him, then walks toward him and Jet backs up.
'Yeah, explain it to me. I need an explanation. What is the matter with you?'
'There's nothing wrong with me, Spike. That woman tried to escape and I did what I had to do.' Jet explained.
'No. That woman wouldn't of said shit if she had a mouthful.'
'Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Once you left, she became a whole different person.'
'Is it me? Is it my fault?' Spike said as he slowly approaches to Jet.
'It's not your fault, it's her fault!' Spike grabs Jet and throws him in the corner of the room, holding tightly to his wrist. 'Is this my fault? Do you think this is what I am? This is not me! I am a professional fucking thief. I steal Woolong. But I don't kill people I don't have to, and I don't fucking rape women. What you are fucking doin' ain't how it's done. Do you fucking understand?' Spike said.
'Spike if you were me --' before Jet could finish Spike interrupted him.
'Just say yes! Nothing else, just say fucking yes, Spike, I fucking understand.'
'Yes, Spike, I understand.' Jet said as Spike shakes his hand and whispers in his ear.
'We get into Venus, it's gonna be sweet Rosemary, 100 proof wine, and beef with bell peppers. None of this shit's gonna matter.'
El Rey's Gravy Train
a table is occupied by Faye Valentine and her friends. They definitely fall into the road-weary category. The other members consist of herself, Faye, age 23, a beautiful, smart and deadly bounty hunter with rough edges. Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, age 13, a tomboyish hacker, and Julia, age 27, a woman on the run from her past. The three of them are wolfing down a late lunch.
'We got about two more hours of daylight left. That'll get us into Venus, which is right next to the gate. We'll stop at a motel--' before Faye could finish, Julia interrupted her and said.
'Stop? We're not going to actually stop at a motel, are we?' then she and Edward began to speak together, obviously repeating something that Faye has said about three hundred times.
'We got a cargo ship. We don't need those overpriced termite havens. We're self contained.'
'Okay, Okay, maybe I was a little overzealous, but give me a break, I just brought it.' Faye finished and Ed and Julia continue the impersonation.
'Why, just look at all the stuff in it. You got your kitchen -- you got your microwave -- you got your sink -- you got your shower -- Feel this, real metal paneling. That's real metal, too, not that fake stuff.'
'Unless you two wiseacres wanna be introduced to the joys of hitchhiking, what say we drop this?' Faye said.
'The truth hurts.' Edward said to Julia.
'It's the bitterest of pills.' Julia said to Edward.
'You two ought to start a stand-up act, because you're just wasting your humor on me.' said Faye.
'Ain't it the truth. Why do you want to stop?' Julia asked Faye.
'I'm exhausted.' she answered.
'Lie in the back, Faye, I'll drive us into Venus.' Julia said to Faye. Faye gives Julia a look that says, 'You are not touching my new cargo ship.'
'I just bet you would. Don't even think about it. Besides, I want to have one night's sleep in an honest-to-goodness bed.'
'The beds in the ship are okay, but they're not like a real bed.'
'I'll be right back. I'm gonna go use the bathroom.' Edward said. He gets up from the table and walks out back to the restroom.
Faye and Julia are left alone. Ed and Julia are in the front seat of the cargo ship. the cargo ship's parked in front of the El Rey Inn's front office. Faye is inside getting a room from the old timer.
'Hmph! I can't believe she's stopping here. This place looks totally cruddy' Julia said as Faye walks out of the office, opens the cargo ship door and climbs in.
'This place is a flop house.' Edward said.
'It's not no damn flop house. It's basic and simple. That doesn't make it a flop house. If it doesn't have a pool, we're looking for a new place.' said Julia. Starting the huge ship and slowly maneuvering it through the courtyard.
'It has a bed. That's all I care about for now.' Faye said.
'Other places have beds, they also have Cable T.V., a gym, room service.' Edward said. Spike walks out of room #9 with a wine in his hand. He's thinking about how he's going to get over the gate. Lost in thought, he steps out in the path of Faye Valentine's cargo ship. Faye slams on the brakes. Spike jumps back, startled. Both Ed and Julia are tossed out of their seats onto the floor. Faye gets pissed and yells at Spike out the window.
'Watch where you're going fuckhead!' Spike just stands right in their way without moving, gazing up at the giant cargo ship.
'What the hell is this guy's problem?' Edward asked.
'I have no idea.' Faye answered. Spike continues stand in their way, making no attempt to move. Not threatening them. just looking at them.
'Anytime, asshole.' A smile breaks out on the escaped fugitive's face and he politely steps to one side to let them pass. The Sword of Damocles is lifted from above Spike's head. He just solved a problem that a mere fifty seconds ago seemed unsolvable. He knows exactly how he's going to cross the gate. Whistling "The Real Folk Blues", he turns and walks back into room #9.