Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters of the Cowboy Bebop
series (Spike, Jet, Faye, Eddie). They all belong to the Kadokawa-Shoten
Company and proper affiliates.
Maya: An Avenger's Story
Chapter 2: Things You Get Used To
I watch the sunrise as I lay in my false bravado of sound sleep. It was bright and stings the eyes. So much for the romantic imagery of nature's beauty. No wonder many of the romantic writers I know of were blind in their latter years. I pretend to wake up to the call of the guards to start the day. Two guards look at me with suspicious eyes, like I did something wrong as I approached my now open cell.
"Can I help you, boys?" I asked one of the guards.
"Where were you last night?" the guard on the right asked.
"In bed," I answered bluntly. "Did you happen to fall in love?"
"Cut the crap, Yoshida! Someone was in the office last night. Apparently, your file was misplaced and the head honcho is pretty pissed off!"
"My condolences, but last I checked, Yuji Makino's educational level was in the 8th grade before he dropped out."
"You just watch your back, Yoshida!" the guard on the left warned. "If we find out you were in the office last night, I WILL shoot you myself!"
"And what's going to change my answer?" I asked him sharply. "Fear of death?" They left empty handed with no answers to their investigation. I continued on my way to breakfast.
I found myself an empty table in the cafeteria area. Just the way I wanted it for the time being; alone and working out a plan. Three other people joined me on the table. It was Shorty and his two cohorts. I couldn't quite eat after they took their seats. It wasn't because they had some ugly mugs, but rather I was now about to be briefed.
"Sleep well last night?" Shorty asked me.
"You should know me better than that," I answered with the exclusion of sarcasm. "I don't get much sleep these days."
"Then I'll get to the point. Are you in or out?"
"I'm in. If your boys can get me a few guns, I can definitely travel."
"Glad to hear it. Meet me at your cell at 1530 hours. We'll get the plans ready and execute it immediately."
After that, I took a bite of the sausage and eggs with the gruel on my plate. I immediately spat it back out.
"That's gross!" Shorty exclaimed. "What did you do THAT for??"
"It tasted like bitter almonds," I replied. I left and threw the food away. Someone tried to poison me with cyanide. I had a pretty good idea who after noticing the guards at the door were turning around and reporting me spitting out my food. There was a backstabber within the law and didn't want me on the loose trying to find answers.
3:50PM was approaching fast. I raced to my cell to make it in fast enough so I wouldn't be left behind. The place was empty, making things perfect to discuss a plan. Of course, I was also fully aware that an empty place also means the suspicion of a setup. It wouldn't surprise me though; just one of those things you get used to. Shorty went over the plans and the map he stole from the office. The map itself was fully detailed and even showed places where all the ventilation ducts lead. The two musclemen would raid the armory as Shorty and I would make the escape ready for the four of us. Everything would fall in place like magic. By the time the guards noticed the escape with a few bullets short, we'd be long gone.
4:30PM, the plan was set in motion. Shorty and I ran for the mess hall, dodging security cameras and glances from the guards. At this point, stealth was as good a friend as Shorty. If any of the guards caught us, the game's over. From hallway to laundry baskets, we hid in every possible corner to evade the guards. As we approached the mess hall, Shorty and I quietly lifted a table into one of the overhead vent shafts. We quickly used the chairs as step ladders and started crawling through the vent system, with Shorty as point man. The dizzying twists and turns along with the heat were almost enough to make me puke, but it was worth it when we reached the landing pad where all the food supplies are delivered.
Shorty carefully lifts the cover and moves it aside to make an exit out of the vent. Lucky for us, we both landed behind some boxes, which provided enough cover to time our next move: getting into the cargo ship. We needed something to put out someone's lights. I happened to spot a lead pipe with a connector in the center on the ground. Taking it apart, Shorty and I had blunt weapons we could use to knock out the losers in the spaceship. We slipped past the guards and knocked out the workers and the captain of the cargo ship. The ship was ours! All that was left was to wait for Shorty's cohorts with the ammo.
The two musclemen had arrived after snapping the three guards' necks. Funny thing was that it wasn't part of the plan. No one was supposed to die. The cohorts hid the bodies behind some crates and approached into the ship with enough ammo to start a full-blown riot in the prison. The two approached like the feeling of impending doom. Shorty was nothing short of pissed and was about to start scolding them like children.
"What the hell were you two thinking?!" Shorty started. "The plan didn't call for killing the guards!"
"This ship isn't going anywhere," the blonde stated. "You two will be executed today, as now ordered by Yuji Makino."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shorty asked in disbelief.
"Meaning there was reason cyanide was in my breakfast," I declared in realization. "And the rather empty jail sector while we spoke of our plans of escape. Yuji must've bought the two out."
"That's right," Blondie confirmed. "We were hired to monitor you two since you happened to have a connection with each other. Yuji may not be the brightest, but he knew you probably would try something. I'm telling you right now, you really don't want to know the reason your daughter died. You're better off in the grave like your worthless wife!" Abruptly after, Shorty rushed Blondie and his cohort, swinging the lead pipe he used to knock out the workers and captain. He managed to jab the pipe into the bald guy, ending his existence on this mortal coil. The blonde got back up and shot Shorty in the back while he tried to pick up the gun. Shorty had purposely taken the pistol and threw it behind him in hopes of me intercepting it. I didn't disappoint him.
I dove for the gun that sailed in midair. I had a grasp of the gun and immediately pulled the trigger in Blondie's direction. The bullet sealed his fate by puncturing his sternum and blowing a hole into what one might suggest is the heart. The shock on him was so tremendous that all the guns he had fell out of his hands like the inevitable surrender to Death's visit on his doorstep. I approach him after getting back up from the ground. Blondie was scared.
"You'll...pay for this...!" Blondie gasped.
"Be grateful," I coldly stated. "You'll die a quick death." I put him out of his misery with bullets shot into his head. After that, I just rolled the body out of the ship with the bald guy with him. I check on Shorty, even though I knew what was going to happen.
"I...I'm sorry," Shorty breathed. "I...I seriously...didn't..."
"Not your fault," I interrupted. I knew he had good intents for me. He just trusted the wrong people. His left hand reached out weakly to hold my hand. I take hold of his hand.
"Don't...let...me hold...you back.... You...must escape... I'm scared...but I know...I'll soon...be...free...." Shorty's left hand fell over a limp. He was dead. I wasn't about to let his body fall into that prison.
The guards were fast approaching the ship. I shut all doors and prepared for take-off. I also made sure all boosters were ready to fire. As the guards prepared to open fire with the heavy artillery, I let loose with the afterburners and started my own barbecue party. As the body count rose up, I had as well into space.
It was a long chase in the field of stars, but I managed to avoid my pursuers by luck. A wormhole appeared which allowed access to another galaxy. I had a moment to breathe and find cover until I could formulate a plan for revenge and retribution. But before I could start that, I had another matter: Shorty.
The cargo ship had several escape pods for the crew and workers. I took Shorty's body and neatly placed it into a pod, then released it. He didn't deserve to be buried in that desert. He deserved much more than that, something more honorable. Though the sadness carries a heavy weight in my heart, I couldn't bring myself to cry anymore. For me, that thing about the people I care about dying on me was just another one of those things you get used to after a while.
Maya: An Avenger's Story
Chapter 2: Things You Get Used To
I watch the sunrise as I lay in my false bravado of sound sleep. It was bright and stings the eyes. So much for the romantic imagery of nature's beauty. No wonder many of the romantic writers I know of were blind in their latter years. I pretend to wake up to the call of the guards to start the day. Two guards look at me with suspicious eyes, like I did something wrong as I approached my now open cell.
"Can I help you, boys?" I asked one of the guards.
"Where were you last night?" the guard on the right asked.
"In bed," I answered bluntly. "Did you happen to fall in love?"
"Cut the crap, Yoshida! Someone was in the office last night. Apparently, your file was misplaced and the head honcho is pretty pissed off!"
"My condolences, but last I checked, Yuji Makino's educational level was in the 8th grade before he dropped out."
"You just watch your back, Yoshida!" the guard on the left warned. "If we find out you were in the office last night, I WILL shoot you myself!"
"And what's going to change my answer?" I asked him sharply. "Fear of death?" They left empty handed with no answers to their investigation. I continued on my way to breakfast.
I found myself an empty table in the cafeteria area. Just the way I wanted it for the time being; alone and working out a plan. Three other people joined me on the table. It was Shorty and his two cohorts. I couldn't quite eat after they took their seats. It wasn't because they had some ugly mugs, but rather I was now about to be briefed.
"Sleep well last night?" Shorty asked me.
"You should know me better than that," I answered with the exclusion of sarcasm. "I don't get much sleep these days."
"Then I'll get to the point. Are you in or out?"
"I'm in. If your boys can get me a few guns, I can definitely travel."
"Glad to hear it. Meet me at your cell at 1530 hours. We'll get the plans ready and execute it immediately."
After that, I took a bite of the sausage and eggs with the gruel on my plate. I immediately spat it back out.
"That's gross!" Shorty exclaimed. "What did you do THAT for??"
"It tasted like bitter almonds," I replied. I left and threw the food away. Someone tried to poison me with cyanide. I had a pretty good idea who after noticing the guards at the door were turning around and reporting me spitting out my food. There was a backstabber within the law and didn't want me on the loose trying to find answers.
3:50PM was approaching fast. I raced to my cell to make it in fast enough so I wouldn't be left behind. The place was empty, making things perfect to discuss a plan. Of course, I was also fully aware that an empty place also means the suspicion of a setup. It wouldn't surprise me though; just one of those things you get used to. Shorty went over the plans and the map he stole from the office. The map itself was fully detailed and even showed places where all the ventilation ducts lead. The two musclemen would raid the armory as Shorty and I would make the escape ready for the four of us. Everything would fall in place like magic. By the time the guards noticed the escape with a few bullets short, we'd be long gone.
4:30PM, the plan was set in motion. Shorty and I ran for the mess hall, dodging security cameras and glances from the guards. At this point, stealth was as good a friend as Shorty. If any of the guards caught us, the game's over. From hallway to laundry baskets, we hid in every possible corner to evade the guards. As we approached the mess hall, Shorty and I quietly lifted a table into one of the overhead vent shafts. We quickly used the chairs as step ladders and started crawling through the vent system, with Shorty as point man. The dizzying twists and turns along with the heat were almost enough to make me puke, but it was worth it when we reached the landing pad where all the food supplies are delivered.
Shorty carefully lifts the cover and moves it aside to make an exit out of the vent. Lucky for us, we both landed behind some boxes, which provided enough cover to time our next move: getting into the cargo ship. We needed something to put out someone's lights. I happened to spot a lead pipe with a connector in the center on the ground. Taking it apart, Shorty and I had blunt weapons we could use to knock out the losers in the spaceship. We slipped past the guards and knocked out the workers and the captain of the cargo ship. The ship was ours! All that was left was to wait for Shorty's cohorts with the ammo.
The two musclemen had arrived after snapping the three guards' necks. Funny thing was that it wasn't part of the plan. No one was supposed to die. The cohorts hid the bodies behind some crates and approached into the ship with enough ammo to start a full-blown riot in the prison. The two approached like the feeling of impending doom. Shorty was nothing short of pissed and was about to start scolding them like children.
"What the hell were you two thinking?!" Shorty started. "The plan didn't call for killing the guards!"
"This ship isn't going anywhere," the blonde stated. "You two will be executed today, as now ordered by Yuji Makino."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shorty asked in disbelief.
"Meaning there was reason cyanide was in my breakfast," I declared in realization. "And the rather empty jail sector while we spoke of our plans of escape. Yuji must've bought the two out."
"That's right," Blondie confirmed. "We were hired to monitor you two since you happened to have a connection with each other. Yuji may not be the brightest, but he knew you probably would try something. I'm telling you right now, you really don't want to know the reason your daughter died. You're better off in the grave like your worthless wife!" Abruptly after, Shorty rushed Blondie and his cohort, swinging the lead pipe he used to knock out the workers and captain. He managed to jab the pipe into the bald guy, ending his existence on this mortal coil. The blonde got back up and shot Shorty in the back while he tried to pick up the gun. Shorty had purposely taken the pistol and threw it behind him in hopes of me intercepting it. I didn't disappoint him.
I dove for the gun that sailed in midair. I had a grasp of the gun and immediately pulled the trigger in Blondie's direction. The bullet sealed his fate by puncturing his sternum and blowing a hole into what one might suggest is the heart. The shock on him was so tremendous that all the guns he had fell out of his hands like the inevitable surrender to Death's visit on his doorstep. I approach him after getting back up from the ground. Blondie was scared.
"You'll...pay for this...!" Blondie gasped.
"Be grateful," I coldly stated. "You'll die a quick death." I put him out of his misery with bullets shot into his head. After that, I just rolled the body out of the ship with the bald guy with him. I check on Shorty, even though I knew what was going to happen.
"I...I'm sorry," Shorty breathed. "I...I seriously...didn't..."
"Not your fault," I interrupted. I knew he had good intents for me. He just trusted the wrong people. His left hand reached out weakly to hold my hand. I take hold of his hand.
"Don't...let...me hold...you back.... You...must escape... I'm scared...but I know...I'll soon...be...free...." Shorty's left hand fell over a limp. He was dead. I wasn't about to let his body fall into that prison.
The guards were fast approaching the ship. I shut all doors and prepared for take-off. I also made sure all boosters were ready to fire. As the guards prepared to open fire with the heavy artillery, I let loose with the afterburners and started my own barbecue party. As the body count rose up, I had as well into space.
It was a long chase in the field of stars, but I managed to avoid my pursuers by luck. A wormhole appeared which allowed access to another galaxy. I had a moment to breathe and find cover until I could formulate a plan for revenge and retribution. But before I could start that, I had another matter: Shorty.
The cargo ship had several escape pods for the crew and workers. I took Shorty's body and neatly placed it into a pod, then released it. He didn't deserve to be buried in that desert. He deserved much more than that, something more honorable. Though the sadness carries a heavy weight in my heart, I couldn't bring myself to cry anymore. For me, that thing about the people I care about dying on me was just another one of those things you get used to after a while.