Chapter 2

"ALL OF IT??" shrieks Faye, "How could they have gotten ALL of it? That collection is huge! When it's taken out for shows they usually only take about a quarter of it and even then it takes two armored cars to carry it. That's. well. it's just impossible they could have gotten it all." she finishes, stamping her foot.

Jet sighs. "We're dealing with some real pros here. No wonder the bounty is so high, if they really did get it all. Any more details about the robbery? Like maybe how they got in, or how they got the jewels out? Any clues they left?" Said Jet leaning over to Edward.

"Yeah! They haven't been able to tell how they got in and there aren't any real clues, but it does say how they got the jewels out." Ed said

"Ok Ed. HOW did they get them out?" Spike asks rolling his eyes.

"OK Spikey-Spike! They took the vault they were in! Right out of the wall!" Ed cheers, doing her little dance.

"WHAT?" all three exclaim!

"They took." Jet says.

"out the." Spike's eye twitches.

"ENTIRE vault." Faye is in shock.

"Yup!" Ed chirps happily.

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---10 days ago---

What a strange situation they woke up in. It was better than most people got, no doubt about that, but still. 50 years asleep. Everything was so different from the world they knew. For starters, they weren't even on Earth anymore, but Mars. The event, the gate disaster, that caused them to be in cold sleep in the first place had caused so much damage that the Earth was barely habitable, and even then only underground.

The thought of never seeing France again the way he remembered was saddening to Lupin. Then he thought of the fact that he and his friends were alive, and there was a whole new world waiting for them. This cheered him up greatly. Lupin was not one to dwell too long on things that couldn't be changed. The other thing he had to brighten his mood was that they were finally out of that hospital. The three days spent there after waking up seemed like it was forever, especially with having to remember to use the names of their fake IDs. Now they were all walking free. There was going to be a lot of adjusting to do but in the meantime.

"So, where do we go from here?" asked Jigen.

"Well, I don't know about you, but after enduring that hospital food, I want to get some real food! Let's find a good restaurant and chow down." Lupin said.

"Do we have enough money? Currency has changed, we need to be sure we will have enough to live on while we figure out our next move." Goemon said

Fujiko spoke up, "I want a good meal as much as you Lupin, but for once I think I have to agree with Goemon. There's still too much we don't know about how things work here yet." She held up her banking stick. "I mean I don't even know where I use this much less how much is on it."

Goemon nodded, "As well as the fact we don't know how much things cost now. It could be a significant change. The hospital did their best to enable us to survive here, but their resources are limited. We must be careful while we learn about this place."

Lupin looked annoyed, "Fine. You guys can starve, but I'm going to eat. I think we can afford one meal before we have to worry. Besides it's better to plan on a full stomach sitting somewhere comfortable, don't you think?"

The rest of the gang looked at each other for a moment before Jigen sighed heavily. They knew when Lupin really wanted to get his way it was either give in or suffer his endless pouting. This time however Jigen at least was going to make him compromise. "All right, we'll go eat. God knows I could go for some decent food," Lupin brightened & Jigen continued "But, we're not going anywhere fancy. A diner or something will be just fine."

Lupin looked disappointed "But Jigen." he began to whine

"No. I'm not going to listen to this today." Jigen stated. "And I'm not going to let you get us into a situation where we're too broke to eat and then have to listen to you carry on how hungry you are." he continued, leveling his finger at Lupin. "I've been working with you too many years to not know your patterns. I've let myself agree with you a lot of the times when I thought you were being foolish, but the situation is just too big this time. Sorry Lupin, but it's a compromise or you go alone." He finished, crossing his arms.

Lupin looked to the others for help, "Goemon?"

"Jigen is right," he said simply

"Fujiko? Fuji-baby?" he said, his eyes growing large & liquid
"Sorry lover, but this time I have to agree with Jigen, much as I hate to say it."

Lupin sulked, "Well! I expected as much from those two, but not you Fujiko."

"I'm sorry darling. Please come with us, I'd be so lonely without you there." Fujiko said, using the sultry voice that always turned him to jelly. He looked about ready to relent she thought. Just a bit more. "Please. For me?" she said, drawing out the words and pulling the tips of her fingers under his chin with a gentle stroke.

Jigen and Goemon looked away in disgust but heard Lupin say waveringly "Ok Fuji-baby. Anything for you." Lupin looked over at the other two. "So where are we going?"

A short time later the whole gang is sitting at a nearby diner, having just finished placing their orders. "So, now that we're getting some real food, what's the plan?" Jigen asks. "Well," Lupin begins, "we need to figure out how to get some more money. You know, what our first job is going to be. So of course we'll need to get a safe house we can work out of while we plan that & a car or whatever they have like that nowadays would be a good idea too, because after all, I'm sure we'll need one. Then we'll have to figure out where to go to lay low and plan the next job."

Everyone is staring at him as if he's lost his mind totally. Jigen is the first to recover, "I always knew you were crazy but I didn't think you were that crazy! How can you sit there and act like it's just another day and another job? I agree we need to figure out how to earn our way here but I think you've got your priorities a little backwards!"

Lupin looks Jigen straight in the eye and says quietly "Well what do you suggest? That we just get regular jobs? Start living the 9-5 life? Because unless I've been totally wrong about you, all of you, for all these years, none of us are the type that could live that kind of life without withering away. At least not for long. Maybe you think I'm getting ahead of myself, and maybe this time I am," he brightens and continues, "but that's why I've got you guys! You're the ones who think of all that practical stuff, while I'm the creative genius."

This last comment earns many rolled eyes and heavy sighs as they hear Lupin's high opinion of himself once again. "OK Lupin. You're right about us and the 9-5 life." Fujiko replies, "However, I think we should find a place to stay first and foremost. Then we'll figure out our next move. Right now though I need to visit the ladies room. Excuse me."

"I think I'll excuse myself as well before the food gets here. Gotta wash off all those hospital germs!" Lupin says, grinning.

As Lupin follows Fujiko towards the restrooms Goemon says "So Jigen, what do you make of all this?"

"I think we're in over our heads right now. We need more time before we get back to work."

"I agree. I believe that we need to balance our situation better before taking any actions."

"Fujiko is making me uneasy." Jigen says. Goemon gives him a pointed look as he continues, "More than usual at any rate. She's being too nice and cooperative. It's making me nervous. She's usually only like this when she's got a plan and when she's got a plan it usually involves us getting screwed."

Goemon nodded, "I understand your feelings, but in this case I feel I cannot agree as wholeheartedly as I normally would. I believe that in our current situation she is simply staying with those whom she knows, at least until she gains more familiarity with the world we have been thrust into now."

Jigen took a long pull on his drink. "I guess we'll just have to make the best of things as they are for now."

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Hey there everyone! Sorry it's taken me so long to update. Dern writer's block. Anyway things should be better now so keep checking back for more frequent updates. I know things have been Lupin heavy right now, but I thought the Lupin gang needed more "establish" time after they awake in the future, as the Bebop crew are "natives". Never fear, the Bebop crew will get their time soon. So enough of my rambling, just R/R please!

By a fan for fans. No copyright infringement intended. No money here either.