Chapter 4

Sabotage

            Time seemed to be at a standstill for Archer. Time was neverending, he didn't sleep, he didn't awake. He was caught in between, the only thing that ever made him alive was the feeling one got when making a kill. That somehow the ending of one life had enriched another.

            He roam the streets looking for his next target. Anyone one the street: Young, old, thin, fat, black, white, curly hair, bearded, clean-shaven. Didn't matter, it was only when he decided who had to die did he feel that his life was worth living.

            "I'd like one with lots of relish, please." A gentle looking young-man asked as he stood at the hot dog cart.

            The relish was dumped onto the hot-dog and given to the young man

            "That'll be three woolongs." The cheerful purple-haired woman behind the cart said

            The young man reached for some bills and dropped into her hand.

            "Here you go and keep the change."

            "Why thank you, you're so nice." Faye Valentine said sweetly as she put away the money. This caused Sam who stand a few feet away in the hot dog costume to get incenced. Although he had to wait till the customer was gone.

            "Why do you act so sweet to them but not the crew?" Sam demanded

            "Simple, they are nice to me and I've got to return the favor." Faye replied

            "I'm nice to you."

            "Sure you're Spike or who ever you are."

            "What?!" Sam exclaimed.

            "I know you Spike, I know how you think and this is not how you think even when you do think."

            "Well," Sam back-tracked. "It's just, you know the bounty and all."

            "Of course" Faye said as she checked the hot dogs. "Always the bounty."

            "Will you two stop arguing and keep watching for Archer!" Jet's gruff voice called out on the earpieces hidden both on Sam and Faye. "He's been reported to be in this area."

            "Something from your friends?" Faye asked out loud

            "According to my sources at ISSP. The murders have been around this area. Therefore Archer would be in the area."

            "How come ISSP doesn't go and arrest him?" Sam asked

            High above the city, in space at the Bebop. Jet Black sat at his computer terminal. He shook his head. This was unlike Spike although it was hard to predict Spike.

            "Because they don't want to spend the time. Look I want this bounty and try to get it this time the two of you!" Jet shouted causing both Sam and Faye to wince in pain from the earpieces.

            Sam threw his head down in pain but the hot dog costume did support his head. Just as he opened his eyes he saw someone in the distance. Walking towards them. Despite the crowd he knew who it was. It was Archer, the man whose bounty they wanted. Perhaps the reason Sam had leapt into here. He hope so anyway.

            "It's Archer!" Sam exclaimed

            Faye spun around causing her paper hat to fly off. However for Sam, the hot dog costume was firmly in place. He struggled to get it off as Faye began to give chase.

            But just as it seemed they had the drop, Archer reached into his coat and produced a semi-automatic machine gun. He then sprayed gunfire all over the street causing bystanders to dive for safety, shattering glass and shooting up Sam and Faye's hot dog cart.

            Faye dove behind some trash and returned fire. Her bullets danced around Archer but hit him in the shoulder. Despite the wound Archer kept firing.

            Sam dodged the gunfire but couldn't find anyplace to change. The costume made him a huge target. He was on instinct and that instinct didn't have him dive for cover. But instead run towards Archer. Gun in hand and firing but still in costume as a hot dog.

            Archer saw what was coming at him and turned around. The chase was on.