Chapter 5: Know Thy Enemy
The more Jet walked the more frustrated he became. He had ducked into so many buildings, taken so many twists and turns that he had almost gotten himself lost. All this and still he could not shake the feeling he was being watched. The entire time he couldn't see any people or vehicles following. He should have been able to ditch whoever was behind him by now and it was beginning to become a frustrating effort. He was about to try ducking down another alley when the communicator in his pocket beeped. This was something he did not need right now.
"Yeah?" He answered with what little patience he had left. Spike's picture appeared on the screen.
"Good, nothing's happened yet." Spike said when Jet answered.
"Is this a social call or do you have something to tell me?" Jet asked, his patience quickly running out.
"Not now, someone might be listening in." Spike said.
[That's strange. It's not like Spike to worry about who might hear anything.] Jet thought.
"Do you still have your gun with you?" Spike asked out of the blue.
"Of course I do. Spike what is …..?"
"Get rid of it." Spike interrupted. The question and order caught Jet off guard. For one it was a stupid question and two it was usually the other way around when orders were given.
"Why would I want to get rid of it?" Jet demanded.
"Because if you don't you'll end up just like those guys in the warehouse." Spike said, sounding a little impatient himself. That caught Jet's attention. The way Spike had said told Jet that Spike knew something he didn't. Something so important that he didn't want to discuss it over the comm. His methods might need work but Jet was certain Spike knew what he was talking about.
"Alright, just let me find somewhere to pawn it off so I can get a replacement and get it back later." Spike shook his head.
"That's too dangerous. Just leave the gun on the ground."
"Too dangerous!? Listen Spike, I may or may not be being followed and I'm not going to go around unarmed."
"Jet, if you're being followed by what we think you are getting rid of the gun will make him leave you alone. He won't follow you if you're unarmed."
"Spike, that's nuts. Just who the hell do you think is after me?!"
"All I can say now is that if were right it's more then we bargained for, and going unarmed is the best option to keep yourself alive." It made no sense but nothing else had so far, and Spike sounded sure of himself. Jet took out his gun, removed the clip and ejected the bullet in the chamber then picked it up. Now sure there would be no accidents if the gun was found Jet put it on the ground.
"Ok, now what?"
"Get back to the ship and we can explain everything."
"It'd better be good." Jet warned him before he clicked off the comm. Scowling he ducked down the alley in one last attempt to lose whoever was following him. Strangely enough the feeling started to fade and that made him nervous. His best efforts to lose the tail had been unsuccessful, but after he had done what Spike had advised the effects were immediate, and then there was all the secrecy. What the hell had they gotten themselves into?
The Predator continued to follow his prey no matter how hard it tried to shake him. It was about to walk between two buildings when something it was carrying beeped. The ooman took something out of his pocket and spoke into it. A communication device no doubt, not unlike the ones oomans had used during the last hunt. What surprised the Predator was the voice that came from the device sounded like the one called Spike. There was interference coming from the device so there was a possibility he was mistaken, but when the one armed ooman had called the other one Spike he knew there was no doubt it was the same ooman that had wounded him earlier. He could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation but from the actions the one armed ooman was not happy about something. He had been called Jet, another ooman oddity. Why would someone be named after a piece of machinery? It made little sense to him, and the prey's next move was odd as well. It took out the weapon it was carrying and ejected the ammunition clip and then slid back the top portion of the weapon, causing a lead projectile that was used for ammunition to fly from it. He then picked up the unfired projectile and put the weapon on the ground, stood up and walked away. A curious choice of action, most oomans would never give up a weapon so easily. Perhaps it was a distraction, to try and throw off those he believed to be following him. A clever ploy, but an ineffective one. Still, such a situation might prove useful. If the one armed one known as Jet truly believed that he had lost his pursuers he might lead him to the one called Spike. He had originally planed to let Spike search him out, to see if he was truly the hunter he seemed to be. However an opportunity like this seldom presented itself and it was foolish to waste it. The Predator resumed his pursuit, but only at the farthest range his vision would allow to make absolutely sure that the ooman was not alerted to his presence.
Jet continued to walk in ways designed to lose anyone following him, just in case Spike had been wrong. After he was sure he couldn't feel someone's eyes boring into the back of his head he started back to where he had left the Hammerhead. When he got to it he checked it over thoroughly to make sure no one had messed with it while he was wandering in circles. There was no sign of bombs or tracking devices so he got in and started it up. As he started his vertical takeoff junk on the ground was caught in the updraft caused by the engines and began striking the hull of the Hammerhead.
"Can't those idiots do something as simple as keep a landing pad clean?" Jet asked to no one in particular. He then heard a loud clang that made him wince. "Damn it!! That's another repair I'll have to make!!" He exclaimed as he took off towards the Bebop.
The one armed male had persisted in walking irrationally in an attempt to lose his 'pursuers'. That had not lasted long because he soon believed that he was safe and returned to the area where he left his personal craft. The Predator had been hoping it was a wheeled form of transportation, that type was easy to follow. But when it turned out the ooman had a personal flying craft the Predator had been forced to change plans. Opening a small compartment on his wrist he removed a tagging device. It was seldom used but it was highly effective. If the prey was to be saved for any reason this device was used to track them until it was time for it to be killed. It was attached to a major blood vessel, usually a neck artery, and if it there was any effort to try and removed the device it would first cause great pain. If the prey persisted the device would cut through the blood vessel and death would come in a matter of seconds. It had never been used on an ooman before and it would be impossible to do so now but there was an alternative. Activating the signal beacon of the device he threw it as hard as he could at the ooman's craft. The device went inside the hull of the craft and lodged itself there. As the craft rose he activated the tracking device and the signal came through loud and clear. Now there was no need to hurry, he could track the craft wherever it went. It was only a matter of time now.
On the Bebop Faye and Ed watched as Spike sent the warning to Jet.
"Well that takes care of that." Spike said after Jet had hung up. "If MPU is right the alien should be looking for someone else to skin right about now."
"So we just sit and wait for Jet to come back instead of trying for the bounty ourselves." Faye said.
"Faye, we don't know everything that these things are capable of. We can't go after him without knowing everything possible." Spike answered.
"So lets start asking. Hey MPU."
"Yes." The AI program responded.
"What can you tell us about these Predator things?"
"What do you want to know?" MPU asked.
"Everything you've got of course!" Faye answered. "How strong they are, what weapons they use, how they sneak around with nobody seeing them. Stuff like that."
"I can only answer specific inquiries." MPU informed her. Before Faye could make a remark he spoke again. "In response to you own inquires the answers are as follows. The strength of these creatures is estimated to be at least ten times that of a normal human. The known weapons they use are as follows." The computer-generated image of the alien again appeared on screen. MPU magnified the wrist area. "On one wrist are two serrated blades made of an unknown metal. The metal is of unknown strength but it is believed to be stronger then even the highest grade of steel. On the opposite wrist is the nuclear self destruct device."
"Wait a minute." Spike interrupted. "You're telling us that this guy has an atomic bomb strapped to his wrist?"
"Affirmative." MPU answered. "According to both Major Shafer and officer Harrigan a code was needed to activate a timer that eventually set off the nuclear reaction. Officer Harrigan was able to cut the device in two during his battle and destroy it, severing the alien's arm in the process."
"It's nice to know we can destroy it without having it detonate." Spike remarked. "What did he use to do it?"
"This." MPU answered and displayed the picture of a device that looked like a discuss sharpened at two ends. "This disk is remotely controlled and is made of same material as the wristblades. In addition they have been known to carry a spear made of the same metal."
"Anything that resembles a gun?" Spike asked.
"Yes. An energy weapon is mounted on the shoulder that is capable of firing explosive bolts of energy."
"These bolts wouldn't happen to be blue would they?" Spike asked.
"According to all data yes. To continue with the original inquiry, the aliens are able to move around stealthily by using a device that enables them to blend into whatever environment they are in, rendering them almost invisible."
"How could they do something like that?" Faye asked. "Holograms?"
"You came up with that all by yourself?" Spike teased.
"Well I didn't hear you say anything intelligent." Faye responded.
"Holograms are a possibility." MPU said, ignoring the argument. "The theory that has been accepted is that these aliens have some sort of device that can bend the light around them."
"The perfect camouflage." Spike said.
"It would appear that way." MPU confirmed. "Is there any other information you would like to request?"
"Are there any weaknesses these guys have?" Spike asked after a moment of thought.
"It was once thought that they could see only in the infrared spectrum. During the attempted capture in Los Angeles suits were worn that trapped body heat but were ineffective. It is still unknown why the plan failed. Do you wish for more information?"
"I think that's all we'll need." Spike said and MPU shut down. Spike let out a sigh and leaned back. "As it stands we're up against an alien that likes to hunt armed people for sport that's ten times stronger then us, can turn invisible whenever it wants and can see in infrared." He turned towards Faye. "Feel like going after this one alone?"
"Not anymore." Faye admitted. "Suddenly it seems like even ten billion isn't enough for this. Maybe we should put this information on the net, let everybody know what's going on." Spike shook his head.
"We can't do that. People are nervous enough already. Telling them that a real alien is behind all this would cause a panic. That would give this guy a lot of targets. It looks like we're the ones that are going to have to deal with this."
"Lucky us." Faye said glumly. "About the only thing we have going for us now is that it's not following Jet anymore."
"What's not following me anymore?" Both turned as Jet walked into the lounge. They had been so preoccupied that they hadn't heard him land. "I hope you two have a good explanation for acting so strangely."
"We do Jet, believe me." Spike assured him.
"You'd better sit down for this." Faye warned him. Jet did.
"So who's behind Dragonslayer?" Jet asked.
"An alien hunter that takes human body parts as trophies." Spike said as if he was describing the weather. Jet responded by looking at Spike like he had completely flipped out. "Hey you asked." Spike reminded him.
"You had better come up with something more convincing then that." Jet said, anger showing through in his voice. "I had to ditch my gun and rush back here because you two suddenly buy into conspiracy theories!?!
"It's the truth." Spike said calmly.
"It is true." Faye seconded. "I didn't believe it myself until I saw everything MPU showed us." Jet gave her an angry glance then noticed the seriousness on her face. He turned back to Spike and saw the same look.
"You're really serious?" Jet asked. "You actually believe an alien is behind all this?" Spike nodded.
"All the evidence seems to point that way." Spike said. Jet considered it for a moment. Faye and Spike seemed to be convinced of this and if both of them could agree on this there must something be something to it.
"Ok. What do you know so far?" Jet finally asked.
"MPU can explain it better then we can." Spike told him. "Hey MPU." At the sound of its name MPU reappeared on Tomato's screen.
"Yes?" The program asked.
"Tell Jet everything you've told us so far." Spike ordered.
"Very well." MPU answered and started to repeat everything he had told Faye and Spike.
Off to one side Ein lay napping, despite all the commotion that had gone on so far. One of his ears began to twitch, trying to pick up a faint sound that the others couldn't hear. He suddenly lifted his head upright, wide awake, and looked in the direction of the hangar. His ears went back and he let out a low growl. Ed was the only one who noticed Ein's strange actions.
"What's wrong Ein?" Ed asked. Ein's only response was to growl louder. Without warning Ein jumped up and ran full speed towards the hangar barking loudly. "Ein wait up!!" Ed yelled as she ran off after him. Those gathered around Tomato paid little attention to what had just happened. Those two were always acting strangely, so why should now be any different?
Ein had a large lead on Ed and ran into the hangar first. As Ed got closer she heard more growling and louder barking, then heard Ein let out a loud yelp of pain. Without thinking Ed ran into the hangar and saw Ein lying on the floor, whining loudly, and rushed over to him.
"What happened Ein?" She asked. Ein let out another whine and looked over to the other side of the hangar. Ed looked to and saw something human shaped, but was see through. A flash of yellow came from where it's eyes should be and it rushed forward. Ed let out a short but very loud scream before a transparent hand clamped over her mouth. The hand then lifted her up and she found herself looking into a pair of glowing yellow eyes.
