1 TRAGIC SYMPHONY
A Cowboy Bebop fanfic by Michael Fitz-Gibbon
FIRST MOVEMENT
Restless.
That's what she was that day, restless. She usually could find one thing or another to do, but this day was different. It frustrated her. Beautiful women weren't supposed to be bored, were they? Maybe she wasn't as attractive as she assumed. This thought was shaken off as surely as the water now sprinkling on her legs off of the data dog Ein, who just had a flea bath. Jet must have been bored that day too, she figured. She could go to sleep, but it was hard to get to sleep because Edward seemed more hyper than usual that day. If she tried to sleep, the weird girl would just wake her up with some random rants and a dance. She considered teasing Spike about something, but didn't feel quite up to it. She was sure that the green-haired man was busy washing Swordfish II, and probably wouldn't even pay attention to her. As usual. Why weren't their any bounties she could go after?! Maybe there were, she hadn't checked that day, and was too lazy to. Faye Valentine was bored, and she just sat lazily around waiting for something to fall into her lap.
"Isn't 'Big Shots' coming on pretty soon?" she asked nobody in particular.
No answer. Ed sprang by a second later with something about talking clocks and rabbits with pocket watches. Faye rolled her eyes and waited for an answer to her question, still as complacent as she was seconds earlier. It didn't matter if the show was coming on soon, she didn't really feel like going after any bounties, either. Not unless their bounty was a substantial amount. She didn't really know what she wanted to do, she was just there, as lonely in the group as ever. She remembered what somebody told her, though. She was just afraid of them, afraid of abandonment. It didn't make sense then, and it still didn't make sense. She sighed and turned her head over to where Jet emerged from the kitchen. What was he up to? Last time she checked, they ran out of the shitake mushrooms that Ed had foolishly taken instead of a bounty. Jet started toward the computer that served as a television, holding a box of something in one arm. He sat down on a chair and activated the computer/TV. Big Shots was indeed on. Faye didn't know if Jet had actually heard her, but it didn't really matter, as she really didn't feel like chasing bounties.
"Howdy, and welcome to another episode of 'Big Shots', for bounty hunters!" the young blonde woman with the revealing clothes and large breasts greeted.
"It's time for today's 'Hot News'!" the tall dark man with the cowboy hat announced.
The picture of a medium-sized, middle-aged man with brown hair and a nervous look appeared with statistics on the screen. The cowboy-dressed man began to explain that the bounty head's name was Gill Whitman, accused of killing his wife and kidnapping their twelve year old daughter Christine. Faye's eyes shifted to Jet who sighed. Jet usually didn't have much of a reaction to the bounty heads' crimes, but was visibly disturbed by the man accused of killing and kidnapping. Maybe it reminded him of a case he worked on while with ISSP. She didn't want to force herself into the movement of such ideas into questions. Not that day, she was just too lazy. Ed pranced by and commented on the "bad bad man". Ein barked, signaling Spike's entrance into the room. He sat down on the other couch, and leaned forward to register Mr. Whitman's face into his memory. Faye guessed that he might be interested in finding the man. Inevitably, the size of the bounty reward was read. Twelve million woolong. A hefty reward, ultimately worthy of Faye's attention. She leaned forward and turned her head toward the monitor. She might be interesting in going after a bounty after all. Spike wasn't bothered by the crime the man was being accused of, it didn't matter to him much. He had gone after criminals accused of all sorts of things, and none of their crimes shocked him. Come to think of it, she was the same way. It was money, and money was money was money. Faye wondered if the bounty was for the retrieval of the man, or the man and the girl. Was the bounty for both, or would there be another reward for securing the girl? Faye waited for more information.
"Wait Punch," the blonde woman Judy said with her hand in the air, "shouldn't there be a bounty for returning the girl?"
"That's a good question," Punch replied. "As some of you buckaroos may have figured, the kidnapping charge still stands as he still has that girl with him. Therefore, an additional six million woolong will be added if you return her safe and sound."
"Wow, that's 18 million all together!" exclaimed Judy, being almost believable.
"Well, I'd say it's about right," commented Punch. "That man is bad news, he's been known to violent fits of rage and even child abuse! That girl shouldn't be near that mean ombre."
"That's right!" exclaimed Judy.
Eighteen million woolongs. Spike's face lit up with a smile that obviously meant his accepting the challenge of catching Whitman. Faye was able to retrieve her body from its lethargic state and become the slightest bit excited. Jet was surprised as well, but didn't light up at all. Spike and Faye didn't notice. Ein barked, and Ed danced around shouting something about the size of the reward. The money would be able to buy plenty of supplies, including much-needed food. The ebullient Ed noticed how Jet was brooding, and made it her goal to cheer him up.
"Jetty Jet Jet Jetty Jetty Jet!! Shoooom in the sky you go, you jet! Go go go!" she rambled, twirling herself about one moment, and then jumping onto the table and spreading her arms out like she were a plane, giggling.
"Ed, get off the table," Spike said. "We're trying to watch 'Big Shots', okay?"
Ed complied, noticing how Jet's expression didn't change. She danced around behind him for a bit. Spike and Faye didn't hear a word from him, and usually if he had reserves about a bounty head he would express them right up front. Faye went back to thinking that it may have reminded him of a case he once worked on. Spike was reserved to thinking he just didn't like the set up. He often felt that way about some bounties himself. He smiled, and spoke to ease the tension.
"So Jet, what do you think? Eighteen million woolongs will by some more bonzai plants for ya," he said.
"Yeah, maybe," Jet mumbled.
"What's wrong, Jet?" Faye asked. "If you're scared of the big bad wife killer, we can hide you hear under a blanket and give you some formula."
"Shut up, Faye," Spike shot at the sarcastic woman. "Jet, what's wrong?"
"I don't like it, that's all," Jet replied. "I'd hate to get involved with this and have something happen to that child."
"Yeah, well that would really suck, but if we do get involved we can make sure she's safe," Faye proposed. "Doesn't that sound better?"
"I didn't know you liked children, Jet. You have soft spots for animals and kids, huh?" Spike said.
"Edward isn't a kid," Ed said matter-of-factly, and as usual, in the third person. "Ed is a yooooooung wooooman!"
"Quiet Ed," said Spike. "So, are we going to do this or what?"
"Eighteen million, huh?" Jet said with a smile. "We could sure use that money."
"No more musshhroooms!" Ed sang, dancing around. "Maybe some pizza!"
"I could go for some beef and bell peppers," said Spike with a rumbling stomach. "We could buy plenty of food with the money from this guy."
"There is one thing we should be concerned about, though," Faye commented. When Spike and Jet where all ears, she continued. "There will probably be plenty of other bounty hunters after this guy, ya know? I mean, if we run into some competition there might be trouble. So…"
"So, we'll have to work on this together, all the way," Spike finished Faye's sentence. "Yeah, we'll split everything three ways."
"Four ways!" sang Ed, twirling Ein around by his paws. The dog barked. "Five ways!" the girl corrected.
"Um… right," said Spike. "Well, four ways anyway."
"This means no withholding information from each other," Jet proclaimed. "We all have to participate equally, and share information as well. If we run into other bounty hunters, we need to try to avoid over agression. This means no massacring those that aren't wanted criminals."
"Hey, I can handle all that," said Spike. "What about you, Faye?"
"Please," she rolled her eyes. "Of course I can handle it. And when we find this guy and his daughter we split the reward no matter what. Hm, I already know what I'm going to do with my share of the reward."
"Gamble it away, no doubt," Spike guessed.
Faye opened her mouth to say something, but it would be futile. Of course she was going to hit the casinos. Gambling appealed to her, though she rarely won at it. Oh sure, she'd win a few games here and there, but she always ended up overdoing it and losing all her money. This time she would try a little harder, be a little luckier. She promised herself this time. Unfortunately, she had done that many times before, and the promise seemed forced and weary. Recovering from her indifference, Faye stood up and stretched, careful to notice whether or not the men where staring at her. They were glued to the television set, waiting for more details, but 'Big Shots' was temporarily away for commercial break. God, where could a woman's body be appreciated around here? Well Spike's "Julia" kept him dreaming, and Jet was more of a parental figure than a choice for a mate. He was married to his work, and she had a inkling it probably wouldn't work out between them. Add to that, she wasn't particularly attracted to him. The other two members beside her were an enigma of a dog and an even more of an enigma… Ed. Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Trivusky IV. Faye was curious about the girl, she seemed nothing like a girl her age would be. Faye first chalked it up to her being from Earth, but now she wasn't so sure why Ed was the way she was. At the current moment, it wasn't the most important thing on her mind. She sat back down and looked back at Spike and Jet, still staring attentivly and the screen. The show came back on, and Punch began to speak about some of the details in the case. Things were vague, so it was clear they were going to be investigating heavily for a while. After the show was over, they sat around, not moving an inch. The television went on to another program, and nobody made the move to switch it off. Ed danced around until she came to the group and sat down on the floor in front of the monitior. She changed the channel to a space action show. Spike got up first, then Jet. Faye sat around for a few more seconds taking in everything. She hadn't fully recovered from her laziness.
"This should be interesting," said Spike. "Well, let's get started."
---^^^---
The air smelled of sulfer and gasoliine. He looked behind himself every few seconds to make sure she was behind him. He couldn't lose her, couldn't lose the only thing he had left. The Martian atmosphere was thick that day and there was fog in the streets. They wove in and out and turned and kept, and lingered. All the days, all the nights since it occurred were a frantic search of safety, and he was sure they were being followed closely. It was only a matter of time, and his mind was riddled with too many thoughts to think clearly. He had to, for her sake. Christine smiled at him, but he knew her fears and doubts. He could hear the slight whimpers and lulls in her speech, the hesitation in her step. Was she betraying him, her own father? The suspicion clung to him like an infant to its mother's breast. This very analogy was very apparent to him, and he knew she missed the warmth of her mother. In all the rush, they rarely had time to mourn. Maybe he shouldn't have tackled that man to the ground, or shot at him, but it was too late to reverse time. He was running for his life, an innocent man charged with something he never did, something he never could have done. Looking once more at his daughter, Gill realized that at the moment only he and Christine knew that for sure, and though she witnessed the events that occurred to cause their hell, her faith may falter anyway. He wouldn't, couldn't blame her.
"Don't worry, sweetie," he assured her. "We'll find somewhere safe to stay. Things will get worked out, too, you'll see. They will."
Inside he cursed himself for that promise. What could he do? One day her mother was there, the next day she was gunned down right in front of her. They wouldn't believe her, though. It was him they blamed for the murder, not the man in the park. They said he coached her into an explanation, that he threatened to kill her. The fingerprints on the gun and his wife's blood on him where all the proof they needed to call him a killer. To the ISSP, he murdered his wife. Presumed guilty before proven innocent, the way things really worked. It was over before it began. If he couldn't find some way to prove his innocence, he would imprisoned for life or get the death penalty, and either way Christine would be robbed of both her parents out of the entire mess. He looked back at her again, and she forced a smile, but it disappeared as quickly as the light into the fog. They continued on their wasy, failing to realize just how many people were trying to find them. The Bebop crew would follow next.
END OF FIRST MOVEMENT
A Cowboy Bebop fanfic by Michael Fitz-Gibbon
FIRST MOVEMENT
Restless.
That's what she was that day, restless. She usually could find one thing or another to do, but this day was different. It frustrated her. Beautiful women weren't supposed to be bored, were they? Maybe she wasn't as attractive as she assumed. This thought was shaken off as surely as the water now sprinkling on her legs off of the data dog Ein, who just had a flea bath. Jet must have been bored that day too, she figured. She could go to sleep, but it was hard to get to sleep because Edward seemed more hyper than usual that day. If she tried to sleep, the weird girl would just wake her up with some random rants and a dance. She considered teasing Spike about something, but didn't feel quite up to it. She was sure that the green-haired man was busy washing Swordfish II, and probably wouldn't even pay attention to her. As usual. Why weren't their any bounties she could go after?! Maybe there were, she hadn't checked that day, and was too lazy to. Faye Valentine was bored, and she just sat lazily around waiting for something to fall into her lap.
"Isn't 'Big Shots' coming on pretty soon?" she asked nobody in particular.
No answer. Ed sprang by a second later with something about talking clocks and rabbits with pocket watches. Faye rolled her eyes and waited for an answer to her question, still as complacent as she was seconds earlier. It didn't matter if the show was coming on soon, she didn't really feel like going after any bounties, either. Not unless their bounty was a substantial amount. She didn't really know what she wanted to do, she was just there, as lonely in the group as ever. She remembered what somebody told her, though. She was just afraid of them, afraid of abandonment. It didn't make sense then, and it still didn't make sense. She sighed and turned her head over to where Jet emerged from the kitchen. What was he up to? Last time she checked, they ran out of the shitake mushrooms that Ed had foolishly taken instead of a bounty. Jet started toward the computer that served as a television, holding a box of something in one arm. He sat down on a chair and activated the computer/TV. Big Shots was indeed on. Faye didn't know if Jet had actually heard her, but it didn't really matter, as she really didn't feel like chasing bounties.
"Howdy, and welcome to another episode of 'Big Shots', for bounty hunters!" the young blonde woman with the revealing clothes and large breasts greeted.
"It's time for today's 'Hot News'!" the tall dark man with the cowboy hat announced.
The picture of a medium-sized, middle-aged man with brown hair and a nervous look appeared with statistics on the screen. The cowboy-dressed man began to explain that the bounty head's name was Gill Whitman, accused of killing his wife and kidnapping their twelve year old daughter Christine. Faye's eyes shifted to Jet who sighed. Jet usually didn't have much of a reaction to the bounty heads' crimes, but was visibly disturbed by the man accused of killing and kidnapping. Maybe it reminded him of a case he worked on while with ISSP. She didn't want to force herself into the movement of such ideas into questions. Not that day, she was just too lazy. Ed pranced by and commented on the "bad bad man". Ein barked, signaling Spike's entrance into the room. He sat down on the other couch, and leaned forward to register Mr. Whitman's face into his memory. Faye guessed that he might be interested in finding the man. Inevitably, the size of the bounty reward was read. Twelve million woolong. A hefty reward, ultimately worthy of Faye's attention. She leaned forward and turned her head toward the monitor. She might be interesting in going after a bounty after all. Spike wasn't bothered by the crime the man was being accused of, it didn't matter to him much. He had gone after criminals accused of all sorts of things, and none of their crimes shocked him. Come to think of it, she was the same way. It was money, and money was money was money. Faye wondered if the bounty was for the retrieval of the man, or the man and the girl. Was the bounty for both, or would there be another reward for securing the girl? Faye waited for more information.
"Wait Punch," the blonde woman Judy said with her hand in the air, "shouldn't there be a bounty for returning the girl?"
"That's a good question," Punch replied. "As some of you buckaroos may have figured, the kidnapping charge still stands as he still has that girl with him. Therefore, an additional six million woolong will be added if you return her safe and sound."
"Wow, that's 18 million all together!" exclaimed Judy, being almost believable.
"Well, I'd say it's about right," commented Punch. "That man is bad news, he's been known to violent fits of rage and even child abuse! That girl shouldn't be near that mean ombre."
"That's right!" exclaimed Judy.
Eighteen million woolongs. Spike's face lit up with a smile that obviously meant his accepting the challenge of catching Whitman. Faye was able to retrieve her body from its lethargic state and become the slightest bit excited. Jet was surprised as well, but didn't light up at all. Spike and Faye didn't notice. Ein barked, and Ed danced around shouting something about the size of the reward. The money would be able to buy plenty of supplies, including much-needed food. The ebullient Ed noticed how Jet was brooding, and made it her goal to cheer him up.
"Jetty Jet Jet Jetty Jetty Jet!! Shoooom in the sky you go, you jet! Go go go!" she rambled, twirling herself about one moment, and then jumping onto the table and spreading her arms out like she were a plane, giggling.
"Ed, get off the table," Spike said. "We're trying to watch 'Big Shots', okay?"
Ed complied, noticing how Jet's expression didn't change. She danced around behind him for a bit. Spike and Faye didn't hear a word from him, and usually if he had reserves about a bounty head he would express them right up front. Faye went back to thinking that it may have reminded him of a case he once worked on. Spike was reserved to thinking he just didn't like the set up. He often felt that way about some bounties himself. He smiled, and spoke to ease the tension.
"So Jet, what do you think? Eighteen million woolongs will by some more bonzai plants for ya," he said.
"Yeah, maybe," Jet mumbled.
"What's wrong, Jet?" Faye asked. "If you're scared of the big bad wife killer, we can hide you hear under a blanket and give you some formula."
"Shut up, Faye," Spike shot at the sarcastic woman. "Jet, what's wrong?"
"I don't like it, that's all," Jet replied. "I'd hate to get involved with this and have something happen to that child."
"Yeah, well that would really suck, but if we do get involved we can make sure she's safe," Faye proposed. "Doesn't that sound better?"
"I didn't know you liked children, Jet. You have soft spots for animals and kids, huh?" Spike said.
"Edward isn't a kid," Ed said matter-of-factly, and as usual, in the third person. "Ed is a yooooooung wooooman!"
"Quiet Ed," said Spike. "So, are we going to do this or what?"
"Eighteen million, huh?" Jet said with a smile. "We could sure use that money."
"No more musshhroooms!" Ed sang, dancing around. "Maybe some pizza!"
"I could go for some beef and bell peppers," said Spike with a rumbling stomach. "We could buy plenty of food with the money from this guy."
"There is one thing we should be concerned about, though," Faye commented. When Spike and Jet where all ears, she continued. "There will probably be plenty of other bounty hunters after this guy, ya know? I mean, if we run into some competition there might be trouble. So…"
"So, we'll have to work on this together, all the way," Spike finished Faye's sentence. "Yeah, we'll split everything three ways."
"Four ways!" sang Ed, twirling Ein around by his paws. The dog barked. "Five ways!" the girl corrected.
"Um… right," said Spike. "Well, four ways anyway."
"This means no withholding information from each other," Jet proclaimed. "We all have to participate equally, and share information as well. If we run into other bounty hunters, we need to try to avoid over agression. This means no massacring those that aren't wanted criminals."
"Hey, I can handle all that," said Spike. "What about you, Faye?"
"Please," she rolled her eyes. "Of course I can handle it. And when we find this guy and his daughter we split the reward no matter what. Hm, I already know what I'm going to do with my share of the reward."
"Gamble it away, no doubt," Spike guessed.
Faye opened her mouth to say something, but it would be futile. Of course she was going to hit the casinos. Gambling appealed to her, though she rarely won at it. Oh sure, she'd win a few games here and there, but she always ended up overdoing it and losing all her money. This time she would try a little harder, be a little luckier. She promised herself this time. Unfortunately, she had done that many times before, and the promise seemed forced and weary. Recovering from her indifference, Faye stood up and stretched, careful to notice whether or not the men where staring at her. They were glued to the television set, waiting for more details, but 'Big Shots' was temporarily away for commercial break. God, where could a woman's body be appreciated around here? Well Spike's "Julia" kept him dreaming, and Jet was more of a parental figure than a choice for a mate. He was married to his work, and she had a inkling it probably wouldn't work out between them. Add to that, she wasn't particularly attracted to him. The other two members beside her were an enigma of a dog and an even more of an enigma… Ed. Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Trivusky IV. Faye was curious about the girl, she seemed nothing like a girl her age would be. Faye first chalked it up to her being from Earth, but now she wasn't so sure why Ed was the way she was. At the current moment, it wasn't the most important thing on her mind. She sat back down and looked back at Spike and Jet, still staring attentivly and the screen. The show came back on, and Punch began to speak about some of the details in the case. Things were vague, so it was clear they were going to be investigating heavily for a while. After the show was over, they sat around, not moving an inch. The television went on to another program, and nobody made the move to switch it off. Ed danced around until she came to the group and sat down on the floor in front of the monitior. She changed the channel to a space action show. Spike got up first, then Jet. Faye sat around for a few more seconds taking in everything. She hadn't fully recovered from her laziness.
"This should be interesting," said Spike. "Well, let's get started."
---^^^---
The air smelled of sulfer and gasoliine. He looked behind himself every few seconds to make sure she was behind him. He couldn't lose her, couldn't lose the only thing he had left. The Martian atmosphere was thick that day and there was fog in the streets. They wove in and out and turned and kept, and lingered. All the days, all the nights since it occurred were a frantic search of safety, and he was sure they were being followed closely. It was only a matter of time, and his mind was riddled with too many thoughts to think clearly. He had to, for her sake. Christine smiled at him, but he knew her fears and doubts. He could hear the slight whimpers and lulls in her speech, the hesitation in her step. Was she betraying him, her own father? The suspicion clung to him like an infant to its mother's breast. This very analogy was very apparent to him, and he knew she missed the warmth of her mother. In all the rush, they rarely had time to mourn. Maybe he shouldn't have tackled that man to the ground, or shot at him, but it was too late to reverse time. He was running for his life, an innocent man charged with something he never did, something he never could have done. Looking once more at his daughter, Gill realized that at the moment only he and Christine knew that for sure, and though she witnessed the events that occurred to cause their hell, her faith may falter anyway. He wouldn't, couldn't blame her.
"Don't worry, sweetie," he assured her. "We'll find somewhere safe to stay. Things will get worked out, too, you'll see. They will."
Inside he cursed himself for that promise. What could he do? One day her mother was there, the next day she was gunned down right in front of her. They wouldn't believe her, though. It was him they blamed for the murder, not the man in the park. They said he coached her into an explanation, that he threatened to kill her. The fingerprints on the gun and his wife's blood on him where all the proof they needed to call him a killer. To the ISSP, he murdered his wife. Presumed guilty before proven innocent, the way things really worked. It was over before it began. If he couldn't find some way to prove his innocence, he would imprisoned for life or get the death penalty, and either way Christine would be robbed of both her parents out of the entire mess. He looked back at her again, and she forced a smile, but it disappeared as quickly as the light into the fog. They continued on their wasy, failing to realize just how many people were trying to find them. The Bebop crew would follow next.
END OF FIRST MOVEMENT