Mysteries Within

Chapter 3: Second Encounter

The two continued to wander the streets of Mars without a clue as to Spike's whereabouts. Considering they truly had no other choice, Jet stopped in his tracks and motioned for Faye to listen.

"This man…spoke of stars. Guardian stars, that each of us have when we are born. I came to him once before to find where Spike was, and he said something to me that I still don't get…" he took a long pause to recant the old man's exact words: "…his star is about to fall."

"Jet…what did he say?"

"He said…that a star falls when one is dead. He said that Spike's star…was about to fall."

"N…no…its not possible…JET! Tell me it didn't happen!"

"Well…there's only one way to find out if his star has fallen. We're going back to the old man."


Faye pushed aside the red curtains to find a disorganized mess of old junk scattered all across the small room. Sitting down on the floor was an Indian looking man, old in age and eyes seeming to be barely functional. He was filtering the sand through his hands and sensing the arrival of the two by hearing alone. He spoke out to them, as if sensing their aura's before they had even entered the area.

"Running Rock…I see you have brought a friend with you. Crazy Tree, you wish to know if he is still alive, do you not?"

Faye, in astonishment, managed to respond to the strange man's question. "Yes, I do."

"The answer you seek lies above you, in the stars. His star isn't shining as brightly as it should, Crazy Tree. His fate is still undecided."

"What do you mean his fate is still undecided!" interjected Faye.

"As time passes, the star shall move forward and either fall from the sky or shine brighter than ever. The human life is represented by a guardian star in the sky, one that tells the future for all living beings. You must find out where this man is before his star falls, and make this star shine again."

Faye and Jet shot each other perplexed looks of confusion. Neither of them understood a word this man said, and yet both of them trusted his judgment. Spike, either dead or alive, had to be revealed for themselves. And so, without so much as a nod of recognition, the two exited through the red curtains back unto the streets of Mars.

"What do you think he could have possibly meant by 'undecided fate'?" asked Faye.

"Perhaps that is something we should find out for ourselves."

In the near distance, a trio of men in black suits began thundering past inhabitants on the sidewalk, appearing to be in some sort of rush. One of the men had a very distinguishable afro atop his head, and a bandage across his nose. Faye couldn't make out what he shouted from that distance, but could see he had some business with them judging by the direction his outstretched forefinger was in. The two bounty hunters made a sprint for the back alleys, trying to get a good vantage point before the men approached them. Jet could tell as well as Faye could that these men had intent for revenge. Jet took a position behind a small garbage can, while Faye placed her gentle back behind a large dumpster. Jet had his handgun already loaded as he drew it from its holster. Faye placed a couple of rounds in her handgun as she crouched down and peeked over her left shoulder to witness their approach.

All three of the men, as expected, had their guns drawn and took careful observation of the alleyway surroundings. One by one, they each moved in and scoped out possible hiding positions. Faye's fragile frame popped out from behind the dumpster, careless aim taken as she fired one round in their general direction and dove back behind the dumpster. Of course, the bullet barely came close to any portion of their bodies. Providing cover fire for Faye to escape, Jet sent 3 bullets to the chest of the short, bald man in the suit. The man spewed out blood from his mouth and hit the floor like a rock. The two remaining men each fired 2 rounds at the garbage can that Jet popped out from behind, as jet slid the rolling can into the afro guy and sent one direct bullet deep into the skull of the man next to him. Both men fell to the ground, the afro guy the only survivor left from Jet's fury. Jet's massive metal hand clenched the throat of the one survivor, slamming him upwards into the brick wall while still gripping him by the neck. It was then that it hit Jet that these guys getups looked pretty familiar.

"Who do you work for?" came the stern statement from Jet, giving the man another slam into the brick wall. The cracking of bone echoed throughout the entire alleyway.

"The…Red Dragon…I work for…the Red Dragon…"

"And what business do you have with us?"

"N-nothing sir, just let me go…"

Jet sensed the fear in the man's slurred words. The fear he has heard too many times when he has his foes in a desperate situation such as this. Jet knew this man wasn't giving up all the information based on the sole purpose of fear. He didn't give him time to explain any more, choking the man out as he struggled for a good couple of minutes as the man gasped for air. Jet tossed his lifeless body by his throat atop the other fallen one, showing how much regard he had for the dead.

"I can't deal with his kind. These Syndicate Hot Shots piss me off."

All Faye could do was gasp in horror as she ran out from behind the dumpster and towards Jet. Faye had witnessed the entire interrogation process of Jet's with complete disapproval, but their really wasn't much she could do to stop Jet when he goes on these fits of uncontrollable rage.

"Jet…you didn't have to kill him…"

"Believe me Faye, its for both of our own goods. When you let a Syndicate rat get away just like that, he will scurry to his nest and cal upon others until you are dead. You must always remember to clean up after yourself, and leave no leftovers."

Faye was astonished at how sadistic Jet sounded just after he had gotten a kill. In a sense, she was right, and so she had no place to argue with him. She let the situation pass her mind as she led the two of them out of the alleyway.

The streets were more quiet and secluded as time wore on. Only the dim streetlights and lights from the buildings illuminated their path of straight walkways and dirty pavement.

The image of the man in black etched into Faye's mind seemed as if it were getting closer to her with every step she took, the steady approach of the black mass nearing towards her side of the sidewalk. The figure simply brushed past her shoulder, not offering any sign of recognition nor apologies for the accidental bump. Faye was a bit stirred at the fact that he didn't say a word, ever, and so she stopped abruptly to catch the man off guard with a yell.

"What the hell is your prob…lem?" Faye noticed that the man was no longer in sight, and strangely enough, they was no way he could have escaped her eyesight. There was no alleys, no fire ladders, and no open doors. It was another one of those weird occurrences that seemed to be happening ever since Spike's departure. Jet turned to Faye with a look of concern.

"What was that, Faye?"

"Uh…I don't know. I could have sworn…" She took a long pause to stop and think about it all.

"Could have sworn what?"

"Could have sworn…oh, nothing. Jet, I'm getting a little impatient with the search, and I'm really skeptical about it all. Just wandering all over Mars isn't helping us one bit…"

"Its…all we can do for now."

Jet and Faye took a breather together on the porch outside a convenience store, Jet already going for his cigarettes from his pocket. He pulled out the half full box along with his lighter, looking to his left at the disappointed look on Faye's face.

"Well what's the matter now?" asked Jet.

"I'm out of smokes, and I'm dead broke. I'm having a nicotine fit…"

"Here, I have plenty. Take one of mine."

Jet leaned over and extended the open pack of cigarettes to Faye, flicking one cigarette up for Faye to have. Two slender fingers pinched the object from the top, placing it in her mouth in one fluid motion. Jet had just finished lighting up his, inhaling deeply as he flicked the lighter on for Faye. The glowing flame lit the cigarette in seconds, as she too took a deep inhale of it. The flame retracted back into the lighter as Jet pocketed the object. Almost simultaneously, the two of them let out an exaggerated, and much needed, exhale of smoke as they gazed into nothingness. Nothing but complete silence. Eventually, Jet broke the silence with his deep, cutthroat voice.

"Yup…its just one of those days."


A/N: I've decided to release this Chapter a bit earlier than usual, as I wish not to keep you waiting. With this Chapter, the story takes a quick turn in the violence direction. I didn't mean to shock anyone if I did, and I really don't know if that scene of brutality would put this under a different category and/or rating. I will keep everything the same, but please let me know if you believe otherwise.