Alex just wanted to cry as she thought of what he just said and what Jet told her earlier. She remembers him telling her how if the Red Dragon had a leader, they'd come looking for Blade to kill him. She didn't want to see that happen.
"Blade, we have to go and talk to Jet." She said pushing her emotions aside for now and beginning to walk quickly towards the docks again. He reached out and grabbed her arm, as she whirled around, Blade caught sight of the gun on her belt loop. He was shocked by it and let her go. She continued walking and he soon followed behind. A wind began to blow, so she buttoned up the coat all the way and walked with her hair flowing and her hands in her pockets. He followed behind her walking tall, as if he was proud to be seen with her. They walked a short time until they emerged out onto the windy docks. The seawater and the wind combined to create a spray every time a wave broke. Alex led Blade out on the rickety wooden pier and towards the large red interstellar ship with the word 'Bebop' spray-painted on the side in black. She walked up to the door and banged on it loudly three times. A few moments later, it opened to reveal Jet in an apron holding a sauté pan.
"Alex! Back so soon? I was getting some sauce together for tonight's dinner." He said stirring whatever was in the pan with a wooden spoon.
"Blade is here to lean more about Vicious." She said expressionless as she walked past Jet and into the ship. She kept walking until both Jet and Blade could no longer see her leaving them both at the door.
"She said you'd tell me everything you knew about him. She told me she'd tell me what she knew, but I guess after I told her about the feelings I had for her she just didn't want to hear it." he explained.
"Oh, well something must be eating her right now, don't worry about it. She'll be fine by about seven or so. Come in though, won't you? Have a seat in the kitchen and I can tell you what I know." Jet said inviting the boy inside. Blade followed Jet through the ship to the living area where there were a few pieces of furniture. Alex was lounged across the bright yellow couch reading a book, not paying attention to the two men coming in and heading into the kitchen area. She looked angry and upset at the same time as she read. Blade was starting to worry. He took a seat at the table near the stove where Jet was cooking.
"Alex, we got a call from a musician over on earth about a 19th century cello, he'll have it for us as early as next week." Jet said not knowing that she told Blade they were bounty hunters. Alex just glared at him over the top of the couch for a moment but returned to her reading.
"She told me the truth about you two. How you're bounty hunters and you met last night." Blade explained. Jet nodded and smiled.
"She did, alright, at least that'll clear things up a little." He said.
"So did you know my father directly?" Blade asked becoming slightly distraught. Jet looked at him. He knew Blade was going to be upset, but Alex should've at least warned him.
"He killed my partner." Jet said. Blade was surprised.
"He what? I'm sure it was just an accident!" He said trying to clear his father's tarnished name.
"It was no accident. The story is, they worked together for a crime syndicate, the Red Dragon. My partner, Spike, met a woman by the name of Julia and he was happy with her. So happy, he faked his own death to leave the organization to be with her. Your father met her and then she was in love with him. The love was still there between Spike and Julia, but it was also there between Julia and Vicious. Spike and Vicious found out about each other and began to fight over her. Because Vicious was still in the Red Dragon, he told them that Spike was still alive and there was a woman involved. At first he told only Julia that if she could kill him, she'd be released from the Red Dragon without complications but when Julia realized that Vicious lived up to his name, she ran back to Spike to try and kill him out of love, so that he wouldn't have to face Vicious, but wound up trying to run off with him and start over. Red Dragon found them and as they were trying to get away, Julia was shot and she died is Spike's arms." Just then there was the slam of a door. Both Jet and Blade turned to see that Alex was no longer on the couch. "She must really be upset, the poor girl."
"I don't know why she's like this. After I told her how I really felt about her, she just wouldn't react to anything." Blade said confused and growing more worried.
"Was it something that would depress her? Did you tell her you didn't like her or something?" Jet asked him. Blade shook his head.
"No, quite the opposite actually. I told her I loved her and I dreamed of us being happy as husband and wife." He said.
"Oh no." Jet said as he looked to the door as he heard her guitar playing.
"What? What did I do?" Blade asked concerned.
"After Julia died in Spike's arms, he knew it was the work of Vicious so he went off with the intent of killing him. At this point, your father became power hungry and killed the leaders of the Red Dragon and took over. He was the leader and when Spike returned to find this, it only made him angrier. The two of them battled it out and it was a draw."
"So my father is still alive?" Blade asked enthusiastically. Jet frowned.
"They killed each other. Red Dragon has no leader. That's why he sent you the letter. He had been plotting the takeover of the syndicate for a long time. So he sent you the letter saying that he was the leader already before he actually took over. The problem is now, that since there is no leader, anyone can waltz in and claim leadership. The only way the leadership can be passed is down through family. The leaders before Vicious had no families so Vicious killed them and claimed leadership. Now you're supposed to be the one heading the Red Dragon since you're Vicious' son. No one knows he had a family; he left you and your mother and joined. Now that he's dead and no one knows of you, anyone can go in there and claim leadership. The only problem is that if they discover that you are his son, they'll either force you into becoming the leader or the person that is leading them will come out and find you."
"So what's the big deal? I can tell them I don't want to be involved in the organization and have someone else lead them." Blade said.
"The big deal is that if you don't head the syndicate, they'll kill you. If they have a leader already and they find out, they'll come out and find you and then kill you. That's why Alex is upset and that's why she won't talk to you about anything relating to a relationship between you and her. She knows that either way, you'll be killed and she doesn't want to see another loved one die." Jet explained. Blade didn't know what to say. He didn't know that it was this serious. Although he now knew why Alex was upset, he didn't know what to do. Should he go back and head the Red Dragon or should he wait until they come for him? He didn't want to wait around and find out but he didn't want to walk into his own death either.
"Jet, what should I do? Any advice is welcome." Blade asked.
"My suggestion is to act like nothing is wrong. At the first sign of danger, contact us and we'll come and get you. We'll hide you and try and get you to fake death. That's all I can think of." He said.
"Thanks. I'd better get going; I don't want anyone back home to worry. My dogs are like that." He said trying to lighten the mood.
"Yea, I know how they can get sometimes." Jet smiled as he thought of Ein for a moment.
"Thanks a lot Jet. And when you talk to Alex, tell her I still love her." He said smiling. Jet chuckled.
"Alright, I will. Good luck to you, Blade." He said as he watched the silver-haired young man walk out the door down the corridor. He turned around and saw Alex sanding in the open doorway to her room staring at him. Her hair was hanging in her face and she still looked upset.
"Sounds like you two are getting to be good friends." She said as she looked around the open space of the living area. Jet only smiled.
"He sends his love." He said. Alex looked at him for a moment before looking to the floor.
"I wish he wouldn't." She said sadly. "He knows not what he does."
"Blade, we have to go and talk to Jet." She said pushing her emotions aside for now and beginning to walk quickly towards the docks again. He reached out and grabbed her arm, as she whirled around, Blade caught sight of the gun on her belt loop. He was shocked by it and let her go. She continued walking and he soon followed behind. A wind began to blow, so she buttoned up the coat all the way and walked with her hair flowing and her hands in her pockets. He followed behind her walking tall, as if he was proud to be seen with her. They walked a short time until they emerged out onto the windy docks. The seawater and the wind combined to create a spray every time a wave broke. Alex led Blade out on the rickety wooden pier and towards the large red interstellar ship with the word 'Bebop' spray-painted on the side in black. She walked up to the door and banged on it loudly three times. A few moments later, it opened to reveal Jet in an apron holding a sauté pan.
"Alex! Back so soon? I was getting some sauce together for tonight's dinner." He said stirring whatever was in the pan with a wooden spoon.
"Blade is here to lean more about Vicious." She said expressionless as she walked past Jet and into the ship. She kept walking until both Jet and Blade could no longer see her leaving them both at the door.
"She said you'd tell me everything you knew about him. She told me she'd tell me what she knew, but I guess after I told her about the feelings I had for her she just didn't want to hear it." he explained.
"Oh, well something must be eating her right now, don't worry about it. She'll be fine by about seven or so. Come in though, won't you? Have a seat in the kitchen and I can tell you what I know." Jet said inviting the boy inside. Blade followed Jet through the ship to the living area where there were a few pieces of furniture. Alex was lounged across the bright yellow couch reading a book, not paying attention to the two men coming in and heading into the kitchen area. She looked angry and upset at the same time as she read. Blade was starting to worry. He took a seat at the table near the stove where Jet was cooking.
"Alex, we got a call from a musician over on earth about a 19th century cello, he'll have it for us as early as next week." Jet said not knowing that she told Blade they were bounty hunters. Alex just glared at him over the top of the couch for a moment but returned to her reading.
"She told me the truth about you two. How you're bounty hunters and you met last night." Blade explained. Jet nodded and smiled.
"She did, alright, at least that'll clear things up a little." He said.
"So did you know my father directly?" Blade asked becoming slightly distraught. Jet looked at him. He knew Blade was going to be upset, but Alex should've at least warned him.
"He killed my partner." Jet said. Blade was surprised.
"He what? I'm sure it was just an accident!" He said trying to clear his father's tarnished name.
"It was no accident. The story is, they worked together for a crime syndicate, the Red Dragon. My partner, Spike, met a woman by the name of Julia and he was happy with her. So happy, he faked his own death to leave the organization to be with her. Your father met her and then she was in love with him. The love was still there between Spike and Julia, but it was also there between Julia and Vicious. Spike and Vicious found out about each other and began to fight over her. Because Vicious was still in the Red Dragon, he told them that Spike was still alive and there was a woman involved. At first he told only Julia that if she could kill him, she'd be released from the Red Dragon without complications but when Julia realized that Vicious lived up to his name, she ran back to Spike to try and kill him out of love, so that he wouldn't have to face Vicious, but wound up trying to run off with him and start over. Red Dragon found them and as they were trying to get away, Julia was shot and she died is Spike's arms." Just then there was the slam of a door. Both Jet and Blade turned to see that Alex was no longer on the couch. "She must really be upset, the poor girl."
"I don't know why she's like this. After I told her how I really felt about her, she just wouldn't react to anything." Blade said confused and growing more worried.
"Was it something that would depress her? Did you tell her you didn't like her or something?" Jet asked him. Blade shook his head.
"No, quite the opposite actually. I told her I loved her and I dreamed of us being happy as husband and wife." He said.
"Oh no." Jet said as he looked to the door as he heard her guitar playing.
"What? What did I do?" Blade asked concerned.
"After Julia died in Spike's arms, he knew it was the work of Vicious so he went off with the intent of killing him. At this point, your father became power hungry and killed the leaders of the Red Dragon and took over. He was the leader and when Spike returned to find this, it only made him angrier. The two of them battled it out and it was a draw."
"So my father is still alive?" Blade asked enthusiastically. Jet frowned.
"They killed each other. Red Dragon has no leader. That's why he sent you the letter. He had been plotting the takeover of the syndicate for a long time. So he sent you the letter saying that he was the leader already before he actually took over. The problem is now, that since there is no leader, anyone can waltz in and claim leadership. The only way the leadership can be passed is down through family. The leaders before Vicious had no families so Vicious killed them and claimed leadership. Now you're supposed to be the one heading the Red Dragon since you're Vicious' son. No one knows he had a family; he left you and your mother and joined. Now that he's dead and no one knows of you, anyone can go in there and claim leadership. The only problem is that if they discover that you are his son, they'll either force you into becoming the leader or the person that is leading them will come out and find you."
"So what's the big deal? I can tell them I don't want to be involved in the organization and have someone else lead them." Blade said.
"The big deal is that if you don't head the syndicate, they'll kill you. If they have a leader already and they find out, they'll come out and find you and then kill you. That's why Alex is upset and that's why she won't talk to you about anything relating to a relationship between you and her. She knows that either way, you'll be killed and she doesn't want to see another loved one die." Jet explained. Blade didn't know what to say. He didn't know that it was this serious. Although he now knew why Alex was upset, he didn't know what to do. Should he go back and head the Red Dragon or should he wait until they come for him? He didn't want to wait around and find out but he didn't want to walk into his own death either.
"Jet, what should I do? Any advice is welcome." Blade asked.
"My suggestion is to act like nothing is wrong. At the first sign of danger, contact us and we'll come and get you. We'll hide you and try and get you to fake death. That's all I can think of." He said.
"Thanks. I'd better get going; I don't want anyone back home to worry. My dogs are like that." He said trying to lighten the mood.
"Yea, I know how they can get sometimes." Jet smiled as he thought of Ein for a moment.
"Thanks a lot Jet. And when you talk to Alex, tell her I still love her." He said smiling. Jet chuckled.
"Alright, I will. Good luck to you, Blade." He said as he watched the silver-haired young man walk out the door down the corridor. He turned around and saw Alex sanding in the open doorway to her room staring at him. Her hair was hanging in her face and she still looked upset.
"Sounds like you two are getting to be good friends." She said as she looked around the open space of the living area. Jet only smiled.
"He sends his love." He said. Alex looked at him for a moment before looking to the floor.
"I wish he wouldn't." She said sadly. "He knows not what he does."