We're still with Jet, who is about to be sent on a journey far different than he imagined. This chapter is by TianNing.

Again, we don't own the Bebop characters. All other characters are the creations of TianNing. Although the overall story is rated PG13, this chapter is PG.

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Beans

Clouds of dust kicked up by the Hammerhead's thrusters were still blowing across the crude landing strip when Jet reached the circle of boulders that was Laughing Bull's camp. The place was even quieter than usual, though the smell of cooking beans told him someone was home.

"Yo! Bull!" he called from the arched gateway. "You here, Old Man?"

Near the front of Bull's yurt, beside a smouldering cooking fire, a small form moved and caught Jet's eye. "Andrew! Is your grandfather here?"

The boy stood up and walked purposefully towards Jet. "He said you'd be coming," said Andrew. "He made me wait so you'd be sure to get his message. Want some supper?"

Jet half smiled. "Your grandad keeps a pretty meager pantry. Sure there's enough?"

Andrew smiled. "There's enough. Grandfather knows the size of your appetite. He had me take the Dragonfly out to Granger's Crossing yesterday to stock up."

"Ah. Then I guess he won't be needing this?" Jet grinned and drew a flask of expensive liquor from his breast pocket.

Andrew held out his hand. "There's always room for that."

Jet reached into his front pocket and pulled out a small jackknife, its handle inlaid with polished Martian stones. "Brought something for you, too," he said. "A little better than the old one you were using last time."

The boy's eyes shone as he accepted the gift. "Thank you, Running Rock," he said solemnly. "You have always been generous to my family."

As the two settled by the fire, Jet wondered why he felt almost relieved that Laughing Bull was not here. At least it meant he wouldn't have to indulge in some mystic journey right away. He watched in silence while Andrew ladled beans into two bowls, and didn't speak until they were midway through the meal.

"So where's the Old Man?" he said at last.

"You're not keeping track of the dates," said Andrew, with light reproach. "It's December back on Earth. Grandfather always goes home to prepare for the solstice rituals around this time."

"He's in Ontario?" Jet was dismayed.

"Well, that's not far for your ship, right?" said Andrew. "He said you could give me a lift. That's why I stayed to wait for you."

Jet stared, open-mouthed. "You're kidding me."

"Kidding about what?" Andrew spoke around a mouthful of beans. "Grandfather said you needed to go there, too, and that you could take me. He's never wrong about such things."

Jet scowled down at his beans. It wasn't the first time the old man had managed to manipulate him into doing something he hadn't known he didn't want to do. "I wasn't planning on going to Earth at the moment. I was just coming here for someadvice."

"Yes, that's what Grandfather said you were coming for," agreed Andrew. "He said you wouldn't mind dropping me off on your way to see him."

Jet closed his eyes in irritation, silently counting up the gate fees he'd need for a trip to earth. Maybe he didn't need Bull's confusing advice, after all, he thought. And then he opened his eyes and saw the boy's earnest, trusting face. Silently, he cursed the old shaman, and wondered why he was being tested. "Fine," he said shortly. "Did he leave an itinerary, and perhaps a special meal request?"

Andrew laughed. "He just said for you to drop me off at the main entrance to the university, and I could find my way from there. That's no trouble for you, is it?"

Jet scanned the stars and located the faraway, white-glowing body that was his birth planet. "No," he sighed. "No trouble at all."