Ah, 4 readers on one chapter. What more could I ask for?
mjolk: I'd like to think that I have a good plot in mind, but bebop fans are hard to please when it comes to fanfics, so we'll see if you think the story is good if you continue.
Aftertaste of a Razorblade: Well I'm glad you like this, a lot.
dj Destiny: Thank you. You meet the person narrating in this chapter, except now it's in the third person. I wanted the prologue to give a little background that writing in the third person couldn't give.
Eternity's Angel of Mercy: Thank you very much. Yeah, this is my first Bebop, but I've read enough to know, at least to assume, I know what the fans might like. Your praise is not only encouraging; it is much appreciated.
Chapter 1: A Game of Cat and Mouse
"Howdy all you space cowboys! It's time for Big Shot, the show for bounty hunters. Boy do we have a bounty for you." A sunglasses wearing, hooded figure at the corner of the long wooden bar raised her head a little upon hearing the voice of the over excited host of the show blaring from the television on the wall. She took a slow sip from the glass in her hand as the picture of the newest bounty head flashed on the screen. She raised her eyebrows, a smile forming on her face. Downing the rest of her drink, she tossed money onto the bar and left.
Once outside she let out a laugh. Only two hours ago she had set the gears in motion that would result in her having her face plastered on the only show bounty hunters watched habitually. It was a risk, she knew, but it was the fastest way she could think of to get what she wanted. Or rather, who.
She ambled leisurely down the streets of Tharsis City, where her weeklong search had brought her. She still hadn't found who she was looking for, and, becoming impatient, that was why she decided to become a bounty head. Her prey was illusive, though everyone she talked to knew who he was, they just didn't seem to know where to find him. Either that, or they didn't want to tell her. He seemed like one to have friends in high places.
"Spike Spiegel? Sure, I've heard of 'em," the bartender on Ganymede had told her.
"Do you know where I can find him?" She asked as nonchalantly as possible.
"What do you want with 'em?"
"I don't want anything with him. I just want to know where he is."
"Well, I don't know that. I haven't seen him in a while."
"Do you know anyone who has?"
"No."
It was the same thing from everyone. All that she had learned about her target was that he smoked and drank. Quite a few people swore that he was dead, however. That intrigued her, but no one cared to reveal the details as to why they thought he wasn't around at all. She became more curious the longer it took her to find him, instead of becoming discouraged. However, she wasn't getting anywhere. At least, she wasn't getting anywhere until a day prior.
"You looking for Spiegel?" A rugged man with a black beard, muscular physique, and an artificial arm asked her after overhearing her conversation with a bartender on Venus. Cat stared at him for a moment before snapping to attention to answer his question.
"Maybe. Why?"
"Because maybe I know a little about him."
"Really?" she asked casually. She hoped she hid her excitement well; she didn't want to seem over eager, for that might arouse suspicion. "Like what?"
"I'm not one who gives away things for free." He smiled wryly. "I don't like charity."
"How much?"
"Two thousand woolongs."
"Fine." She took out a bankcard, keeping it just beyond his reach. "What do you know?"
"Money first." She chuckled sardonically.
"Right, so you can run without telling me anything? You insult my intelligence, Mr…"
"Black. Jet Black. And you are?"
"Cat. Alexander," she replied hesitantly.
"Well, I didn't mean to insult you, Ms. Alexander, but I don't care to have you running out with my information and my money," Jet Black said simply, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Half now, half after, then."
"That works for me." They made their transaction and ordered new drinks.
"Tell me what you know about Spike Spiegel, Jet Black."
"All right. Well, he's a bounty hunter. And he has green hair and smokes. And he—"
"Doesn't like it when other people get into his business," a voice from behind Cat said. Suddenly she found herself with a gun in her back. She gave no signal that she felt it. She simply grinned and turned around. She liked what she saw, for standing there with one hand casually in his pocket the other clutching a gun, was Spike Spiegel, the very man she wanted to see.
"It seems you got away without telling me anything, Mr. Black. Enjoy the money," She said, amused. She finished her drink, keeping her eyes on Spike and the gun he still had trained on her.
"Who are you?" Spike demanded, focusing his unmatched eyes on her.
"No one special, just a friend of a friend."
"Mind telling me who that is?"
"I do mind. See you around." With that, Cat stood and walked out of the bar. She finally knew where Spike was, finally saw what he looked like, and finally discovered what had drawn Julia to him. The calm way he spoke, the dangerous way he held his gun, everything about him, she decided during those few minutes of conversation, was magnetic. Julia was right; you do get a funny feeling staring into his eyes.
It was at that very moment that Cat realized that the only way she could really sit and talk to Spike was to get him to come to her. He didn't seem like one who would listen to reason unless he heard the clicking of a cash register in the background. She had to become his prey.
******
A/N: A tiny detail I failed to mention: this takes place around the Jupiter Jazz episodes. I'm making this how Spike finds out that Julia was on Callisto instead of him finding out by Ed and the mentioning of the codename 'Julia'. So yeah, think in terms of that time period.
Plutonian
