Over the passing weeks, Spike had grown to fancy Edie's room. Spike originally believed the encounter was a one night fling until Edie crept through his door, days after the first incident, and straddled his lap while he read. Which other activities pursued. Spike and Edie based their time together on a neutral agreement. While riding and thrusting were permitted, kissing was not. The two shook hands on it. A lust without love.
"Do you believe in fate?" She questioned Spike as she rested on his bare chest. Edie enjoyed asking him about deep concepts because he answered her philosophically. She mused off his intellect.
"Fate," Spike began, continuing to peer into his new novel. "Fate is a cruel mistress. I don't think every single thing is predestined, but I do believe some things are bound to happen."
"I used to never believe in fate. I just thought people got what was coming to them." Edie traced the gnashes and scars that slew about his pectorals and laid, listening to his heart beat slowly.
"Don't you think what would be coming to them would be, in fact, fate?"
"If you're a criminal, you put yourself out there to be killed and lose everything. I think you make the first step to the kind of fate you want."
"I think of fate like death. No matter who are or what you do differently, fate is going to follow you to the ends of the world." Spike set aside his book and threw his hands behind his head as he stared up the ceiling. Edie sat up and plopped herself on his stomach. Her bare body bounced comfortably on his.
"So even if you're an angel now, the fate you had when you were a devil will still follow you?" Edie rested her hands on his chest and searched his face for answers. Spike stayed silent and continued to stare up.
"Then I guess I'll get what's coming to me." She snickered.
Edie believed it to be true. The fate of Eddy followed her. She had to pay for her sins. For the many men and women she killed. For La Puerta. For Felix. It all lingered behind Edie. She was suffocated by it. Her only escape from it was death itself. Luckily, she no longer feared death. Rather, welcomed it. As her thoughts raced through her head, Spike raised his hands to clinch her waist.
"So will I." Spike added, caressing her hips.
... a year ago, Saturn
"Come on, where are you?" Edie searched far and wide for her bounty. She had only recently become a bounty hunter and she was pretty content with the line of work. She bounced from odd job to odd job just to be able to care for herself. After saving enough Woolang she bought the Aguila, which became her one dwelling. But odd jobs just weren't cutting it anymore for Edie. She was finding herself bored. When she discovered bounty hunting, she was thrilled. The job as a bounty hunter could provide her with some sort of livelihood. The only thing she feared was running into La Puerta while on the job. But Edie believed she disguised herself well enough not to be recognized by the henchmen and lower rank. And she both dressed herself and carried herself in a totally different manner. Edie was one of the guys now.
After sharing the photo of the bounty, Ray Neil, around in neighborhoods and slums, Edie assumed she'd found a hit. An elderly woman browsed Edie's figure and then cheered. She informed Edie that Ray was her grandson and that she was glad he finally got himself a girlfriend. And a pretty one at that. The woman invited Edie to her home, where Ray resided. At finally meeting Ray, Edie was dumbfounded.
"You're...You're just a kid!" She cried, opening the door to an 18 year-old with a pretty face.
He gazed down at her in confusion and the elderly woman took Edie's hand, tugging her into the small house. The grandmother excused herself to make tea for the guest, leaving Edie with Ray.
"I'm sorry Ray, but you're going to have to come with me." She stood tall and pulled handcuffs from her back pockets.
"You're a bounty hunter, aren't you?" He meekly quizzed. Edie nodded in reply.
"Look, I know you're not going to believe me but please, just hear me out!" Ray appeared frightened and pale.
Edie stopped in her tracks. She looked at his face, at his body language, at his demeanor. He seemed sincere. Something is not right.
"I didn't do anything. I'm innocent. You gotta believe me. Did you read the charges put on me? Two counts of murder. Robbery. Grand theft auto. I committed none of those things! I'm not capable of such gruesome crimes."
"Then why are they charging you?"
"My DNA was found at every scene of the crime. How am I supposed to explain that? I was nowhere near where they were are all committed. Even with a confirmed alibi, the physical evidence is going to lock me away." The boy's face was flushed and water dripped from his eyes. "My grandma knows nothing about all this. She just thinks I'm visiting."
His hands engulfed his face to keep Edie from seeing him any further. "You gotta believe me." Ray muffled in his hands, swallowing his wails. Edie comforted him with a handle of his shoulder and Ray glanced up at her.
"I believe you. And I'm going to help you figure this out." She beamed confidently.
Tears streamed down the young man's face and searched for the words to express his gratitude till the front door was kicked in. Edie instantly pulled out her favorite Magnum Desert Eagle from the back of her jeans and pointed it straight for the burly intruder. The intruder pointed his Walther P99 back at her.
"I'm taking the boy." the stranger gruffed.
"Over my dead body." Edie snarled back. Ray cowered behind Edie as she guarded him. The stranger laughed at her.
"How old are you, kid? Nice gun you got there." He teased.
"Old enough to know how to use it and make sure the job's done." She calmed herself. "Look, I don't want to kill you. You're a bounty hunter, right? I am too. Just listen to me for a sec and then if you still want to come at us, I'll give you everything I got." Edie affirmed a stern glare at the intruder. From aside the room, they heard Ray's grandmother squeal in fear.
"Go back into the kitchen, please." Edie soothed, her magnum remaining in the air. The small elder obeyed and attempted to remain composed and optimistic.
"I'm listening." replied the intruder.
"This kid is not responsible for those crimes. I can feel it. I know it. There has got to be another explanation. I'm asking you nicely, can you help me figure this out?"
The stranger eyed her cautiously and peeked at the trembling boy behind her. He gradually eased down his weapon.
"Hell, I hope I don't come to regret this." He rubbed the back of his head.
"You can trust me." She proudly proclaimed, lowering her gun as well. "My name is Edie." she held out her hand for a formal handshake.
He gripped her hand and squeezed. "Jet."
...
"Why didn't you tell me about any of this?" cried the fragile lady as she clung to her grandson's collar.
"I didn't want to worry you, Obaasan!" Ray felt ashamed at seeing his grandmother's eyes cloud.
"Yet now the police are looking for you and calling you a murderer!"
Jet and Edie sat in silence aside from them, contemplating explanations. Edie had explained the situation to Jet and Jet, being skeptical, tried to make sense of it all. DNA was the ultimate proof, but how could it not be his DNA?
"I'm in debt to you two for helping my grandson prove his innocence." She bowed lowly and the gesture embarrassed Edie a bit.
"No no, it's our duty to do the right thing!" Edie picked up the elderly woman.
"I just don't get it. How did this guy end up with your DNA? Got any close friends or any personal vendettas?" Jet scratched the side of his head.
"No." Ray moused and lowered his eyes to his trembling hands.
"Ray... there is something you must know." began his grandmother. "You have a twin."
"A twin!?" chorused the three. What are we in, some twisted soap opera?
"You were separated at birth."
"Identical?" pitched in Jet. The small woman nodded.
"Well, sounds like you got an evil twin, Ray." smirked Edie, trying to make light of the matter. At seeing his communicator buzz, Jet excused himself.
"So in order to clear your name, we got to find this twin of yours."
"We've got a sighting on Earth" interrupted Jet.
"So what do we do with the kid?" Edie pointed to Ray. "We can't leave him here. No doubt more bounty hunters are going to be after him."
"If you want to take him, you're responsible for him." Jet rigidly admonished, walking to exit the house. Edie muttered to herself and Ray tagged himself along, flush creeping onto his cheeks.
As a team, the two were able to finally locate Ray's twin in Asia. They even found a name for him. Nano. No last name. Never told anyone his last name. Rumor had it that he had ties with big gangs in China. They ambled around China, finally narrowing down their search to a particular gang Nano mostly associated himself with. Of course, in dealing with gangs, nothing was simple and given. Jet and Edie, along with Ray, dodged bullets, fought henchmen and got into a few ship chases on the way. Most resulting in heavy damage to both their ships and resources. They expected a battle out of Nano but were astounded to find otherwise. It appeared Nano was in too much shock at seeing his reflection in Ray to fight free from Jet's grasp.
After turning in Nano and clearing Ray's reputation, Ray appeared quite intrigued by Earth's Asia minor. He requested to be left there to explore and learn more about Nano. Edie cautioned him. Based on his looks, he could be easily mistaken for Nano. Ray took the advice and bowed to Edie and Jet, promising to see them again. Edie smiled to herself at seeing him wander off into the unknown. She saw a lot of herself in that young man. She twirled to face Jet.
"And here's your half of the bounty." swiping Woolangs into Jet's account. He stuttered to deter her, knowing that she really earned it all, but she insisted persistently.
"Not bad work back there." Jet chuckled nervously. He had to admit, he had grown to admire her tenacity. Her vivacious attitude kept his spirit up and she exceeded his previous expectations of her. In addition, it had been a while since he'd worked with anyone since Faye left.
"Hey, want drinks? My treat!" A goofy grin spread across her lips, spinning the card full of fresh Woolang.
The water cascaded and followed the curves of her body as she laid her head against the wall. Hot water never felt so good. A smile crawled on Edie's face.
Was it fate that united us, Jet? It could've been any other bounty hunter that slammed himself into that kid's door. You could've passed me off as a liar and shot at me. Was it truly the fate that I deserve that guided you to me?
