Chapter 2: What's Past.
"The soul takes flight to a world that is invisible and
there arriving she is sure of bliss and forever dwells in
paradise."
Plato
Jet moved about the empty ship aimlessly. After Spike's abrupt departure, he had thrown himself into fixing the Redtail. When that was done he had started on the Hammerhead and the Bebop itself. He cleaned the ship from top to bottom. As long as he was busy, he didn't have to worry. He didn't have to think about how Spike wasn't coming back. Somewhere between cleaning the forward hold and the kitchen, Jet was vaguely aware of the sound of the Redtail lifting off and flying away. Two hours later he found Faye's note.
Jet,
Thanks. I'll be back.
It was around that time that the communicator buzzed indicating an incoming call. He picked it up and turned it on, nervously eyeing the image of an old ISSP friend that appeared. "Yeah?"
"I've got news about your partner. He trashed the Syndicate building. I'd say he was in real trouble except the members seem to have sworn loyalty to him. There are rumors that he killed a man named Vicious. He was their last head guy." The man shook his head and his frown deepened. "I gotta tell you, Jet. Two coups in this short a span is bad news. The syndicates are violent as hell but they keep order. I don't know what's going to happen now. The political climate was explosive before but this is just madness."
Jet's eyes widened as he absorbed the officer's words. "He's alive?"
The other man smiled slightly. "Yeah. Busted up pretty good but very much alive. He's at Mariam County Hospital. I wouldn't recommend going for a visit though. He's under heavy syndicate guard."
Jet nodded and returned his friend's smile. "Thanks for the update. It's good to know he's all right."
"Sure thing, Jet."
Jet turned the communicator off and sat silently for several minutes before turning it back on. He punched in the sequence that would call Faye's com unit. It buzzed several times before going to a message service. "Call the Bebop Faye. I've got news."
But Faye didn't call the Bebop. At least not immediately. Faye had just returned to her ship after making a quick stop to rest on Ganymede. It had taken her a while to decide where to go but she'd finally decided on Earth. She had a sudden and overwhelming desire to check on Ed. When she climbed into the cockpit she saw the light on her com unit blinking steadily. She sighed and hit the button to listen to the message. "Call the Bebop Faye. I've got news." Her body froze and her stomach bottomed out. She knew what the news would be. Spike was dead. She took a calming breath and reached for the buttons on the console that would allow her to return Jet's call. Again, she froze, hand mere inches from the console. She couldn't do it. Not yet. Faye slouched in her seat, visibly shaken and sighed. She wasn't ready.
tbc(reviews are a wonderful thing.)
"The soul takes flight to a world that is invisible and
there arriving she is sure of bliss and forever dwells in
paradise."
Plato
Jet moved about the empty ship aimlessly. After Spike's abrupt departure, he had thrown himself into fixing the Redtail. When that was done he had started on the Hammerhead and the Bebop itself. He cleaned the ship from top to bottom. As long as he was busy, he didn't have to worry. He didn't have to think about how Spike wasn't coming back. Somewhere between cleaning the forward hold and the kitchen, Jet was vaguely aware of the sound of the Redtail lifting off and flying away. Two hours later he found Faye's note.
Jet,
Thanks. I'll be back.
It was around that time that the communicator buzzed indicating an incoming call. He picked it up and turned it on, nervously eyeing the image of an old ISSP friend that appeared. "Yeah?"
"I've got news about your partner. He trashed the Syndicate building. I'd say he was in real trouble except the members seem to have sworn loyalty to him. There are rumors that he killed a man named Vicious. He was their last head guy." The man shook his head and his frown deepened. "I gotta tell you, Jet. Two coups in this short a span is bad news. The syndicates are violent as hell but they keep order. I don't know what's going to happen now. The political climate was explosive before but this is just madness."
Jet's eyes widened as he absorbed the officer's words. "He's alive?"
The other man smiled slightly. "Yeah. Busted up pretty good but very much alive. He's at Mariam County Hospital. I wouldn't recommend going for a visit though. He's under heavy syndicate guard."
Jet nodded and returned his friend's smile. "Thanks for the update. It's good to know he's all right."
"Sure thing, Jet."
Jet turned the communicator off and sat silently for several minutes before turning it back on. He punched in the sequence that would call Faye's com unit. It buzzed several times before going to a message service. "Call the Bebop Faye. I've got news."
But Faye didn't call the Bebop. At least not immediately. Faye had just returned to her ship after making a quick stop to rest on Ganymede. It had taken her a while to decide where to go but she'd finally decided on Earth. She had a sudden and overwhelming desire to check on Ed. When she climbed into the cockpit she saw the light on her com unit blinking steadily. She sighed and hit the button to listen to the message. "Call the Bebop Faye. I've got news." Her body froze and her stomach bottomed out. She knew what the news would be. Spike was dead. She took a calming breath and reached for the buttons on the console that would allow her to return Jet's call. Again, she froze, hand mere inches from the console. She couldn't do it. Not yet. Faye slouched in her seat, visibly shaken and sighed. She wasn't ready.
tbc(reviews are a wonderful thing.)