His eyes opened, and it took a second to focus. Where was he? How long had he been out? Had he made it to the Bebop? Slowly, he sat up and looked around. He had been laying on a couch it what appeared to be a living area. It didn't take long to figure out he was on a ship, and a rather shabby one at that. His ankle was wrapped, probably sprained it in the fall. But who wrapped it? After the fall, he remembered nothing. But now, here he was. But where was here?

"Ah, you're awake."

He spun quickly to see a tall man holding a tray with some tea. He had one cybernetic arm, and a nasty scar on his face.

"Didn't think you'd come around for some time," the man said. "You're a fast healer."

Reaching for his gun, he discovered it was gone.

"Quite an arsenal you had on ya," the man smiled. "But I had to make sure you weren't gonna kill us while we slept."

"How long was I out," he finally managed to say.

"Half a day."

"Where am I?"

The man blinked. "You should know. You came walking up like you owned the place."

Memories flashed through his brain. "The…Bebop?"

"You got it," Jet smirked.

The stranger shook his head. "Spike…Spike Spiegel. Where is he?"

Jet's face went to a sullen look. "He's, he's gone."

"Well then I'll wait for him here."

"HE'S DEAD!" Jet shouted.

The stranger's eyes widened. Spike Spiegel dead? How? Who? How long? Where? How is this true? Thousands of new questions shot through his mind. His mission had failed. Just when things were going his way…no. He would not just quit. There had to be another way.

"Now, who are you?" Jet said flatly.

"Dante. Dante Razeal."

"And why did you want to see Spike?"

"It had to do with the Axiot."

"The what?!" Jet asked, confused.

Dante sat with his fingers intertwined. He looked at the table in front of him as he spoke. "I had information crucial to Spike and his quest to find the Axiot."

"What are you talking about? The only quest Spike was on was to find Julia, and that got him killed, along with her."

Faye had awoken and was making her way to the bathroom when she heard Spike's name. Silently she crept to the doorway and listened while the two spoke.

"Julia's dead too? Then Vicious was victorious. This is not good."

"Vicious died by Spike's hand. And Spike by Vicious'," Jet said. "They're both dead."

Dante nodded slightly. "Then there is still a chance. Both Spike and Vicious knew about the Axiot, but neither knew what I now know."

Jet grabbed Dante roughly by his collar and hauled him up to his face. "What the hell are you talking about? Are you saying that Spike had an alternate motive that he told no one?"

"Exactly," Dante said. "He couldn't tell anyone. He was in deep enough as it was."

Jet tossed Dante back on the couch and folded his arms. "So why are you telling me this now?"

"Knowing about the Axiot is nothing. Knowing what Spike, Vicious, Julia, and I know is what is the dangerous part."

"This doesn't make any sense," Jet snorted. "Spike never even hinted at something like this."

"Shows how much you knew about the guy, huh?" Dante smirked.

Jet turned suddenly and landed a right cross to Dante's jaw. The blow knocked Dante off of the couch and onto the floor behind it. It took him a second to get up and look at Jet.

"Sorry, I guess I forgot," Dante said.

"So now you know about Spike, I guess your job is over and you can go now."

"Yeah," Dante said, looking at the floor. "You're probably right."

He stood and started to leave, gathering his coat and shoes.

Jet led Dante back to the hangar doors and threw him his guns and grenades. "Here," Jet said. "Wouldn't want you to go out there defenseless."

"Thanks," Dante sneered before turning and walking outside.

Jet watched him go for a moment, and then turned and closed the door behind him. Usually Jet would pursue something like this and never let it die. But some things are better left dead.

Dante looked back at the Bebop as he reached the end of the launching deck. Spike was gone, so did that mean his life had no more meaning? He didn't have anywhere to go. No one he could stay with. And wandering the streets, it would take no time for those guys to catch up with him. But maybe it was for the best. Spike was the only one who could have reached the Axiot undetected. No one would ever suspect a bounty hunter so quickly. Especially one traveling with an ex-ISSP officer…Dante stopped walking and stared back at the Bebop. Spike was gone…but that didn't mean the memory had to die.

Jet had just settled back into his chair when there was a knocking on the hangar doors again. He groaned when he saw Dante on the monitor, smiling and waving.

Jet sighed and hit the intercom. "What do you want now?"

"I want to join your crew," Dante smiled.

"I have no crew. Now beat it!"

Dante stopped and stared at the camera. "Look. Spike knew as much as I did about this thing, and he trusted you enough to travel with you. Now I am asking you to trust me so that I can finish what he started. Think of it as honoring his name."

There was a long pause. Dante was about to give up and go when the doors opened. Flashing a victory sign, he hurried on board and made his way to the living area. Jet walked in seconds after him and plopped down onto the couch, lighting a cigarette. Watching Dante for a moment, Jet blew smoke and then motioned toward the young man.

"I'm giving you one chance," Jet said. "And that's all you're getting. If I don't see results, I'm ditching your ass, got it?"

"Believe me," Dante smiled. "You won't be disappointed. Now then, how soon can we leave?"

"As soon as the ship is repaired."

"Great! Let's get started."

"What makes you think I'm going to just help you without even knowing you?" Jet smirked. "It took Spike quite some time to earn my trust."

"So I'm on my own? I don't even know where to begin."

Jet looked past Dante toward the hall. He thought he saw something, but it must have been the shadows.

"The hull was busted up pretty bad after the attack," Jet said, puffing on his cigarette. "I started patching it up. You'll be able to see where I left off."

"By myself?"

"You have to earn it," Jet said flatly. "Spike knew that. I'm surprised he would trust someone who didn't."

Jet stood and left Dante alone with his thoughts. Dante watched Jet leave and sighed. Where was he going to find supplies?

-----

The storm had passed. Brief, sporadic sprinkles are all that remained of the rain. Dante smiled as he removed his hood and looked around the market square. Dozens of merchants had their shops set up, bartering and selling goods to anyone who would buy. The smell of freshly baked bread and spices filled the air. The people began to pack the streets, squeezing between one another to get at the deals. Dante grinned and made his way through the crowd. He bumped into several people on his way through the throng; it was unavoidable. As he came out on the other side, Dante grinned even wider. As he rounded the corner, he pulled out the wallets and purses he had pinched.

These should help, he thought as he made his way toward the scrap yard.

Jet pulled up a list of bounties on his screen. Scrolling through the list he came upon Dante's picture.

"I knew I'd seen his face before," Jet smirked. "Hmmm. Says he's a thief AND a con artist."

Jet leaned back in his chair and puffed a cigarette.

"Well, Mr. Razeal, seems like your little game is up."

Dante strolled into the scrap yard just as the owner was finishing up a transaction.

"And just insert your card here," the owner indicated. "And these spare ship parts are as good as yours."

Dante's ears perked up as he caught the end of the sentence. Eyeing the truck next to him, a devilish grin formed on his face. He casually made his way to the driver's side and gave the handle a little tug. No luck. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small, thin wire and jammed it into the lock. Dante fiddled with it for a few seconds before it clicked. Opening the door, Dante hopped into the truck and hit the accelerator.

"Ah, now I can finally finish my project. Do you know that making this ship from scratch has taken me six years but now…hey…HEY THAT'S MY TRUCK!!"

Dante laughed to himself as he watched the two men run into the street and yelled at him as he sped off.

"This must be my luck day," Dante chuckled as he sped toward the Bebop.

Upon his arrival, Dante quickly parked the truck down an alley and made his way to the hangar doors. Jet was waiting for him with his arms folded and smoking another cigarette.

"Well Jet," Dante smirked. "It seems that I'm now one step closer to bringing the Bebop back to life…"

Jet was on him in an instant, lifting Dante by his throat and slamming him into the side of the Bebop.

"Dante Razeal," Jet hissed. "Wanted for theft, fraud, forgery, grand theft, and being a con artist. There's a thirty million woolong bounty on your head."

"You forgot that also in fifty attempts, I've never been caught," Dante grinned.

"Heh, well I guess it's my lucky day."

Dante shifted, and then suddenly broke free from Jet's grasp. Flipping over the older man, Dante landed in a fighting stance.

"So now you want to try your luck? What happened to us being partners?"

Jet raised his gun up. "When were you planning on telling me about the bounty? Was it before or after you robbed us blind?"

"Us?" Dante asked. "Uh, I didn't think it mattered. I was willing to help you, shouldn't that be enough?"

"Forgive me for not taking help without asking its price."

"No price," Dante said. "All I want is to finish what Spike started."

Jet stared at Dante hard for a moment before lowering his gun.

"Like I said," Jet said flatly. "One chance."

Dante nodded and ran back to the truck. Gathering a few pieces of metal, he ran back to the ship and began looking the ship over for holes and other damage. For the most part, the ship was in pretty good shape. There was no unusual damage, aside from the occasional bullet hole, but nothing that would take more than a day of repair. Dante eagerly started repairs. He patched holes, reconnected busted wires, and made sure other areas were in good shape as well. Inside the Bebop, Jet listened to an old blues track to drown out the noise of Dante's repairs.

"The kid's got drive," Jet nodded. "But that won't be enough."