Did You Ever See A Dream Walking?
By roxyravette
Chapter 4Beware the Girl Next Door
"Are you done yet?" Faye called out from her lounging position on the yellow couch of the Bebop. Jo shot the scantily clad woman of the crew a poisonous look and went back to work on her portable computer. But even that was an impossible task. The others from the crew of the Bebop were present, save for the Spike. He had disappeared somewhere. Their presence was making it difficult for her to concentrate. She had been furiously typing on the godforsaken machine for nearly three hours.
"It's not my fault that White Rabbit messed with the component." she answered angrily, not even bothering to look up again from the computer. "It's taking me awhile to unscramble his code." Jet looked up from where he had been cooking dinner and shouted to her.
"Don't mind her." he said, ignoring Faye's icy glare. "She's always grumpy when a bounty head goes and dies on us."
"Not to mention the fact that we nearly drowned in that damnable elevator!" Faye piped in.
"But you didn't." Jet retorted. Faye grumbled and rolled over, putting her back to Jo. Jet just laughed and flipped the stir fry with a quick flick of his wrist. Jo let the scent of food assault her nostrils but kept her eyes glued to the screen. Her fingers kept typing deftly and suddenly she stopped. Her brown eyes narrowed into angry dangerous slits and she unexpectedly threw back her head and screamed. The sound jolted both Ed and Jet nearly a foot into the air. Faye remained motionless, nothing short of the world ending would wake her up. Jo met the astonished faces and a blush spread across her pretty face.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I still can't seem to figure it out."
"Let Edward do it!" Ed jumped to the spot in front of the computer and into Jo's face. Jo leaned away from the youngster, putting distance between them. Ed just smiled and began working on the laptop.
"I don't thinks so. I've been trying for hours." Jo said doubtfully as she tried to move the child out of her way. "How can a little boy like you crack the code?" Ed turned around with a huge grin on her cherub face.
"Silly, Ed's not a boy." she said matter-of-factly. "Ed's a girl." Jo still looked confused.
"Oh," she said. "but that still doesn't explain how you can figure it out." Jet moved from where he was cooking and into the living area.
"Easy," he said, starting to explain how Ed came to live on the Bebop. When he was done, Jo stared at him and then back at the child in front of her.
"This is Radical Edward?" she said in disbelief as she pointed to the little girl. "I'm sorry, but I need a bit more proof."
"Aha!" Ed suddenly shouted. "Code cracked and Rabbit Killer on standby!" Faye rolled over and looked at Jo smugly.
"Is that enough proof for you?" she asked. Jet moved over to pat Ed's head affectionately.
"Good job Ed." Jo was staring at her computer as if it had grown limbs and started talking.
"I can't believe it," she thought aloud. "She actually did it." Ed nodded.
"Ed would have done it earlier but you looked like you were having fun." Jo bristled at Ed's little joke. Jet laughed uneasily. He couldn't deny the fact that Ed occasionally had a way of teasing people until they wanted to throttle her just to keep her quiet. He shooed her away, promising her a reward, and looked over Jo's shoulder to survey Ed's handiwork.
"So do you have the anti-virus now?" Jet asked. Jo just nodded dumbly.
"All I have to do is out it on a disc and we can give it to the Earth government."
"Good, get to it." Jet said as he returned to the kitchen. "I'll take you back to your apartment and we'll hand over the anti-virus to claim the bounty." Jo nodded and began to work. Faye sat up from her position on the couch.
"Speaking of claiming the bounty," Faye said slowly. "Where is the five hundred thousand that you promised us?" Jo looked up, recognition flaring to life in her eyes.
"Oh that," she said as she pulled out her money card. "I don't have cash but I can give you a direct deposit." Faye smiled greedily, her emerald eyes glittering with want.
"Actually that's perfect." she said happily. Jo swiped her card and handed it back to her.
"There you go. One hundred and twenty-five thousand woolongs." Faye took back her card and frowned.
"Only that. We don't split the money four ways." Faye said. Jo gave a little oh of surprise.
"I though you did, giving the fourth to Ed." she said innocently. "She does deserve it since she cracked the code." Faye was about to say something but Jet stopped her.
"Let Ed have the fourth." Jet said firmly. "Besides, when I come back there'll be more money in those greedy paws of yours." Faye snorted and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Jet asked. "Aren't you hungry?" Faye tied her red jacket more securely around her waist and turned to look like him.
"I'm going to the tracks. I'll get a cup of ramen while I'm there." Jet smiled.
"She never changes." he thought. "So what is it this time? Puppies or Ponies?" Faye favored Jet with a smile before she left.
"I'm feeling lucky tonight. Both." she said over her shoulder as she disappeared.
***
Jet walked into the common area of the Bebop with a contented grin plastered to his face. He had just come back from dropping off Jo and collecting the bounty earlier than he had expected. It had gone surprisingly well too. The Earth government had been so desperate that they had upped the amount on the bounty, bringing a grand total of six million woolongs on his account card. Not to mention the extra money that Jo had given them. All in all, it wasn't a pretty bad haul, considering the amount of effort that went into it. Jet's face fell as he thought of the ambush that had awaited Spike and Faye. It was odd that the bounty head was murdered at the place where they were supposed to meet. He had immediately thought that maybe Jo had done him in. Jet didn't have any evidence against her, he didn't have any proving her innocent either. Well everything was all done and taken care of. They would probably never see Josephine Liddell again. Jet flicked on the lights and started at the form of his lanky partner lying on the sofa. Jet frowned and neared his companion. His usual attire was in disarray. His jacket was bundled under his head as a pillow and his yellow shirt unbuttoned, exposing a thin wife beater. Jet poked his companion in the stomach. Unexpectedly, Spike winced, sitting up to glare at Jet.
"Why the hell did you do that?" he asked still groggy from sleep. Spike held his ribs gingerly. Jet looked confused for a minute before he lifted Spike's wife beater up to reveal the bandages on his ribs.
"When did this happen?" he asked shocked. Spike pulled his shirt down roughly, forgetting for a moment the pain of moving.
"I bruised a couple of ribs falling down the elevator shaft." He said as he lay back down, nursing his middle. "Don't worry, I'm fine." Jet frowned deepened.
"Still, you should have told someone." Jet insisted. Spike lips broke out into a lopsided grin as he closed his eyes.
"Yes, Dad." He mocked. Jet grunted his disapproval.
"Well if you want your allowance, Son," he sneered. "I'd talk a little more respectfully." At that Spike sat up, obviously awake.
"How much?" he asked as he tossed his account card at Jet. Jet caught it with ease.
"Two million enough for you?" he asked. Spike grinned and nodded his head furiously. Jet made the transaction and tossed the card back to him.
"What are you going to do with it?" Jet questioned. Spike pocketed the card and lay back down on the strangely lumpy but comfortable couch. Spike watched as the fan made lazy circles, clicking its way around.
"I'm going to find another cruiser." He said dreamily. "I'm tired of having to use Faye's Red Tail."
"Speaking of Faye, is she back yet?" Jet wanted to know. Spike shook his head and stretched lazily.
"Nope, where is she?" he asked lazily. Jet sighed.
"Where else but the track." At that moment, the person they were talking about stormed through the threshold with a plies of packages and bags. A contented look was on her face and they could clearly tell she had been shopping.
"Hey guys." she acknowledged. "I decided not to waste money and bought clothes instead." Spike grunted and closed his eyes.
"Hey Faye," Jet called to her as she was about to disappear through the hallway to her room. "I've got two million more woolongs for you to blow." Before Faye could answer however, Ed pounced on her, causing her to fall from her already heavy load. Faye lay sprawled out on the floor with Ed standing over her.
"Faye-Faye!" the child grinned. Faye groaned and sat up, rubbing her back gently.
"What is it Ed?" Faye asked. Ed sat down besides her, balancing the Tomato on her head.
"There is a message for the Bebop-Bebop!" she said gleefully. "Ed was waiting for you to get back." Jet moved to where he could see and read it out loud.
"'To the Bebop, Upon the use of the anti-virus, Rabbit Killer, Earth systems have returned to normal. However, before it was destroyed, the virus released numerous documents pertaining to the wanted hacker, the Queen of Hearts. We request that you report back to EPD headquarters for questioning on the matter. –Amos Lacey, EPD.'"
"Shit." Spike cursed softly. Faye's curious expression dropped, replaced with a deep scowl.
"Great." she muttered. "Just when I thought things were working out for us." Jet closed his eyes and ran a heavy metallic hand through his hair. Ed took in their somber expressions as Ein whined at the sudden change of atmosphere. The Tomato beeped, disturbing the silence.
"What is it now?" Jet said annoyed. Ed looked over at the screen. A communication link established itself on the screen.
"It's a call for the Bebop from the Queen of Hearts." the girl answered. Jet sighed loudly enough for both Faye and Spike. All three leaned over the screen as Jet pressed one of the keys to answer the call. Jo's digital face came onto the screen. She gave the crew a small smile.
"You guys don't look so happy to see me." she said nervously. "I'm guessing you already heard about what happened."
"What do you want?" Faye snapped angrily.
"I'd like to request landing clearance if that's alright with you."
"No." Faye said automatically.
"I don't believe that you are a Captain." Her eyes turned to Jet. "I just want to talk about this."
"Why should we listen to you?" Jet asked cautiously. Even though it was just an image. Jet could see her eye glitter with tears as her face crumpled.
"Please?" she asked. Before Faye or Spike could say anything, Jet motioned for Ed to open the hanger doors.
"Fine, but you've got five minutes to talk." With that said, he closed the link.
"Jet!" they yelled. He whirled to look at them.
"What?" he asked "We could at least give her the benefit of the doubt."
"Ed will go get her!" Faye sighed as she watched her go.
"Geez, Jet." she berated him. "You'll do anything for a pretty face." Jet just shrugged and waited for her arrival. Ed came back, leading Jo downstairs and into the common area. Jo sat down in the yellow chair with Jet and Faye sitting across from her. Spike leaned on the couch. Jo meet each of their hardened expressions and waited.
"Talk." Faye commanded. Jo took the hint and explained what happened.
"It seems like White Rabbit tampered with the component so that no matter what I would be exposed." She said in a rush.
"So what do you want from us?" Spike interrupted.
"I was just about to get to that." she retorted. "I would like to stay here, until the EPD has given up. You don't have to see them. It was merely a request."
"Why should we help you?" Faye snorted, her dislike dripping in her voice. Jo blinked at Faye's anger.
"I believe I can be a valuable financial benefit as well as a helpful addition to the crew." She said simply. "At least until EPD stops looking for me."
"No!" Faye said firmly.
"Absolutely not!" Spike added. "We do not need another person on this ship." Jo cocked an elegant eyebrow at their rejection.
"I didn't want to have to resort to this but," she started. "What if I tell EPD all sorts of inventive stories about your ruthlessness? That you knew form the beginning that I was a criminal. That you killed White Rabbit and forced me to make the anti-virus. I don't think that would be good for you." Spike and Faye sat stunned, mouths opened in surprise. Faye found her voice first.
"And you call us ruthless?" she yelled. "That's blackmail!" Jet and Spike were silent.
"I see that you realize how deep you are in." she answered. "All that I'm asking is that you help me until this all blows over." It was obvious that they had no choice. Spike and Jet relented, nodding with bitter acceptance. Faye however was not so easily put off.
"You conniving little bitch!" Faye shrieked. Jo flipped her hair over one shoulder and looked Faye right in the eye.
"Thank you." she grinned maliciously, her brown eyes twinkling with mischief. "But just call me the innocent girl next door."
A/N
So there you have it. Sorry, but this chapter was a ton of dialogue. It's taking me awhile to set up the characterization of Jo and the other and I'm trying not to screw it up here. So did you like the dialogue? Do you like the chapters longer or shorter? Do you want more action or surprises? More original/old characters? Please let me know. That's what I'm here for. Check back soon for Chapter 5, Unwanted Guests are Full of Surprises.