~~~~~
Woolong Worries Story: Revisited Anime: Cowboy Bebop Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Angst, Adult themes Advisory: Tildes are scene changes; a star encapsulated with tildes is a temporal change.
~~~~~ "Humans were meant to work and sweat for a living" (Jet Black, Episode 11 - Toys in the attic) ~~~~~
The respirator wheezed slowly, pumping the life-giving oxygen into his lungs. The bullet had sheared through flesh and bone finally settling amongst scar tissue in the lungs. His breath was ragged and agonising slow from the trauma, his body shaking slightly for some unknown reason. His dreams, induced by chemicals that steadily streamed from the saline compound through the IV, were in turmoil - images flashed and played as if projected by a broken vid screen. A woman grasped his clammy hand, silently praying for the best...
~~~~~
"The hyperspace port you are exiting is situated at Earth. Please pay the appropriate fee upon exit of the gate," the synthetic voice warbled through the communications channel. I sighed visibly. At least that is working fine. This whole trip was fraught with danger. First was the gravity generator. Next was the hot water cylinder, although, voicelessly I blamed one Faye Valentine for overusing it. I had forgotten how many showers a woman needed when she was on a ship, cruising in the middle of no-where. Sure, a guy goes for days, maybe weeks when he is in the company of the crew. Nevertheless, women. they need at least one a day. She quoted that she needed to keep her 'image'. I snorted, what do I care about her image? But that is digressing. The new gates sounded very good; the new vocal streaming meant that they did not broadcast in every known language, making it near impossible to understand what they are saying. Nevertheless, that meant new equipment, and more woolongs spent on simply obtaining it. Moreover, at about 5000 woolongs. it was 5000 more than what I have. It interfaced to the existing system by a plethora of errant wires and soldered plugs - a hack job at its best. It is not my fault that the short- band radio is 5 years too old. and the microwave receiver dish was unaligned. That meant more repairs. and more money. Something I was lacking at an extreme rate.
On strange sounds, I haven't heard Faye for a while. Maybe she is sleeping again, or eating my food. I cringed at the thought. She had already eaten the fridge clean, the cupboards dry and the emergency rations (I kept a close eye after the last time.). At this rate, even this bounty head won't replenish my bank account. I looked at the print-out I held. James T. Wylder - wanted for grand larceny and two counts of murder. What did he steal? No one knows, and the government is not going to tell us either. All that is known is that he killed to get a clean, albeit bloody getaway. It is rumoured through my net of colleagues that he has the Crypt-Breaker software. Big deal, I reply to them, the software was encoded to a level that is unparalleled by most software. But their answer is always the same. Jet. he has the key too!
"But I thought we destroyed it?" I would always reply, incredulous to the idea. Well... by destroy, including into casino circulation whereby it would become untraceable, until they punctured it, then consider it gone... However, only one person out of the vast networks of allegiances has been any help.
"Well. there was a backup." Casey told me. Casey was a young lassie - very intelligent one too. She worked with the master programmer on the Crypt- Break software, then working jointly with us to try and recover it. She was 19 then, and the ten long years haven't waned on her yet. The skin- tight lab coat she was wearing accentuated her voluptuous form. I couldn't help but to stare. until she snapped me out of my reverie. "Jet, are you even listening to me?"
"No." I quickly altered the answer with a goofy grin and furiously nodding my head.
Warily, she replied "Well, I better just recap just to be safe. The microprocessor was duplicated, at some point." I knew who must have done it, the supplier to Gordon, the casino manager. "Black market sales have pinpointed its location to Mr Wylder, or so my sources say." I grunted in concurrence. "Unfortunately, on delivery of it, the goons told to protect it were brutally slaughtered. It seems" she lowered her voice "that he was doing the premium `eye. Be careful Jet, you sexy thing." She giggled, adding the last comment and a blown kiss as she shut off the communication link.
I leaned back in my chair, the same goofy smile plastered on my face. She liked me. I know it.
"Don't be daft Jet. you're far too old for her" Faye sarcastically said with a smile as she glided up behind his chair. It was unnerving that she could almost read my mind, but I chose to ignore her as the ship plummeted into the gate. It always felt as if a resin was decelerating the ship smoothly - just so that it could be scanned by the gate's automatic payment block. I watched in dismay as another 500 woolongs was deducted from my bank account. At this stage. I dare not think about it as I swung around to engage Faye in another thrilling verbal free-for-all.
"Why Faye. Jealous.?" I snickered as her face contorted into a vicious looking snarl.
"Mr Black, unless you want another flattened nose, I would keep quiet." He curtly said as she left the navigation room. Strike another up for Jet!
~~~~~
The air hung limply over the ocean as the Bebop engaged the landing sequence; engine recesses and major vents creaked closed as the ablated hull hit the ocean below. I sighed; thankful that the ship hadn't turned on the "We're sinking and there is nothing you can do about it" light. The fine salt water spray worked its way into the gaps between the hull plates on the upper deck however. With that, I groaned silently, meant that it needs to be washed down, or those plates will corrode, costing me...
Ultimately, life seems do revolve around Woolongs... or some derivative of it. Which only though sweat and blood you can procure them.
"So, going for a little rendezvous?" Faye quipped at me as I stormed out of the cockpit. She pulled a smug face as I glared at her.
"No." I glared, "I am off to find out next pay-check Faye." She slightly smirked at my outburst. I smiled and added "More than you" I chuckled at her sudden scowl.
"I might just forget to disengage the magnetic deck then. Mr Black"
"No go, the magnets are disabled - we are planet-bound. You should remember that!"
"Whatever. just get some food while your out.. that is, if you get your bounty"
"I will"
"Betcha you wont" My muscles tensed as she uttered those words. How dare she doubt my abilities!
"I WILL and I WILL have my cake too" I swore that she was laughing as I stormed off.
~~~~~
Wearily, after plastering the area with enquires, I drew a blank. People either didn't want to disclose his location - or they were telling the truth. To avoid the mocking that Faye was most likely to dish out, I walked into the revolving doors. It squeaked noisily as I entered the hotel; its faded paintwork and grimy surfaces reflected the state of living that I can afford. The receptionist cheerfully smiled and quipped a quick greeting. I had to smile back, mainly due to the energy that she extruded. She was quite pretty, a smaller girl, about 18, with a slight form. Her red hair was cropped to shoulder length, framing her beaming face. Her loose fitting top hung on her lanky frame, and a badge with "Francois" was pinned on without much care. She seemed to be familiar. that kind of energy is something rare in people these days.
"Can I get a room? The cheapest if possible"
"Sure Jet-person, 1 room, coming right up" she said, waving her fingers above her head
"HANG ON!" I exclaimed ".is that you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry for the delay people, Its my fault that I am a lazy person, and work has had me really busy. So read and review please
Maelgwyn
Woolong Worries Story: Revisited Anime: Cowboy Bebop Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Angst, Adult themes Advisory: Tildes are scene changes; a star encapsulated with tildes is a temporal change.
~~~~~ "Humans were meant to work and sweat for a living" (Jet Black, Episode 11 - Toys in the attic) ~~~~~
The respirator wheezed slowly, pumping the life-giving oxygen into his lungs. The bullet had sheared through flesh and bone finally settling amongst scar tissue in the lungs. His breath was ragged and agonising slow from the trauma, his body shaking slightly for some unknown reason. His dreams, induced by chemicals that steadily streamed from the saline compound through the IV, were in turmoil - images flashed and played as if projected by a broken vid screen. A woman grasped his clammy hand, silently praying for the best...
~~~~~
"The hyperspace port you are exiting is situated at Earth. Please pay the appropriate fee upon exit of the gate," the synthetic voice warbled through the communications channel. I sighed visibly. At least that is working fine. This whole trip was fraught with danger. First was the gravity generator. Next was the hot water cylinder, although, voicelessly I blamed one Faye Valentine for overusing it. I had forgotten how many showers a woman needed when she was on a ship, cruising in the middle of no-where. Sure, a guy goes for days, maybe weeks when he is in the company of the crew. Nevertheless, women. they need at least one a day. She quoted that she needed to keep her 'image'. I snorted, what do I care about her image? But that is digressing. The new gates sounded very good; the new vocal streaming meant that they did not broadcast in every known language, making it near impossible to understand what they are saying. Nevertheless, that meant new equipment, and more woolongs spent on simply obtaining it. Moreover, at about 5000 woolongs. it was 5000 more than what I have. It interfaced to the existing system by a plethora of errant wires and soldered plugs - a hack job at its best. It is not my fault that the short- band radio is 5 years too old. and the microwave receiver dish was unaligned. That meant more repairs. and more money. Something I was lacking at an extreme rate.
On strange sounds, I haven't heard Faye for a while. Maybe she is sleeping again, or eating my food. I cringed at the thought. She had already eaten the fridge clean, the cupboards dry and the emergency rations (I kept a close eye after the last time.). At this rate, even this bounty head won't replenish my bank account. I looked at the print-out I held. James T. Wylder - wanted for grand larceny and two counts of murder. What did he steal? No one knows, and the government is not going to tell us either. All that is known is that he killed to get a clean, albeit bloody getaway. It is rumoured through my net of colleagues that he has the Crypt-Breaker software. Big deal, I reply to them, the software was encoded to a level that is unparalleled by most software. But their answer is always the same. Jet. he has the key too!
"But I thought we destroyed it?" I would always reply, incredulous to the idea. Well... by destroy, including into casino circulation whereby it would become untraceable, until they punctured it, then consider it gone... However, only one person out of the vast networks of allegiances has been any help.
"Well. there was a backup." Casey told me. Casey was a young lassie - very intelligent one too. She worked with the master programmer on the Crypt- Break software, then working jointly with us to try and recover it. She was 19 then, and the ten long years haven't waned on her yet. The skin- tight lab coat she was wearing accentuated her voluptuous form. I couldn't help but to stare. until she snapped me out of my reverie. "Jet, are you even listening to me?"
"No." I quickly altered the answer with a goofy grin and furiously nodding my head.
Warily, she replied "Well, I better just recap just to be safe. The microprocessor was duplicated, at some point." I knew who must have done it, the supplier to Gordon, the casino manager. "Black market sales have pinpointed its location to Mr Wylder, or so my sources say." I grunted in concurrence. "Unfortunately, on delivery of it, the goons told to protect it were brutally slaughtered. It seems" she lowered her voice "that he was doing the premium `eye. Be careful Jet, you sexy thing." She giggled, adding the last comment and a blown kiss as she shut off the communication link.
I leaned back in my chair, the same goofy smile plastered on my face. She liked me. I know it.
"Don't be daft Jet. you're far too old for her" Faye sarcastically said with a smile as she glided up behind his chair. It was unnerving that she could almost read my mind, but I chose to ignore her as the ship plummeted into the gate. It always felt as if a resin was decelerating the ship smoothly - just so that it could be scanned by the gate's automatic payment block. I watched in dismay as another 500 woolongs was deducted from my bank account. At this stage. I dare not think about it as I swung around to engage Faye in another thrilling verbal free-for-all.
"Why Faye. Jealous.?" I snickered as her face contorted into a vicious looking snarl.
"Mr Black, unless you want another flattened nose, I would keep quiet." He curtly said as she left the navigation room. Strike another up for Jet!
~~~~~
The air hung limply over the ocean as the Bebop engaged the landing sequence; engine recesses and major vents creaked closed as the ablated hull hit the ocean below. I sighed; thankful that the ship hadn't turned on the "We're sinking and there is nothing you can do about it" light. The fine salt water spray worked its way into the gaps between the hull plates on the upper deck however. With that, I groaned silently, meant that it needs to be washed down, or those plates will corrode, costing me...
Ultimately, life seems do revolve around Woolongs... or some derivative of it. Which only though sweat and blood you can procure them.
"So, going for a little rendezvous?" Faye quipped at me as I stormed out of the cockpit. She pulled a smug face as I glared at her.
"No." I glared, "I am off to find out next pay-check Faye." She slightly smirked at my outburst. I smiled and added "More than you" I chuckled at her sudden scowl.
"I might just forget to disengage the magnetic deck then. Mr Black"
"No go, the magnets are disabled - we are planet-bound. You should remember that!"
"Whatever. just get some food while your out.. that is, if you get your bounty"
"I will"
"Betcha you wont" My muscles tensed as she uttered those words. How dare she doubt my abilities!
"I WILL and I WILL have my cake too" I swore that she was laughing as I stormed off.
~~~~~
Wearily, after plastering the area with enquires, I drew a blank. People either didn't want to disclose his location - or they were telling the truth. To avoid the mocking that Faye was most likely to dish out, I walked into the revolving doors. It squeaked noisily as I entered the hotel; its faded paintwork and grimy surfaces reflected the state of living that I can afford. The receptionist cheerfully smiled and quipped a quick greeting. I had to smile back, mainly due to the energy that she extruded. She was quite pretty, a smaller girl, about 18, with a slight form. Her red hair was cropped to shoulder length, framing her beaming face. Her loose fitting top hung on her lanky frame, and a badge with "Francois" was pinned on without much care. She seemed to be familiar. that kind of energy is something rare in people these days.
"Can I get a room? The cheapest if possible"
"Sure Jet-person, 1 room, coming right up" she said, waving her fingers above her head
"HANG ON!" I exclaimed ".is that you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry for the delay people, Its my fault that I am a lazy person, and work has had me really busy. So read and review please
Maelgwyn