Jet dashed to the Bridge as the dashboard lit up like Christmas. Initially, Jet chose to ignore the constant ringing originating from the speaker system, but thought against after the ringing persisted. He retrieved the call and the screen activated, displaying a familiar arduous face.
"Chief?"
The dark skinned man nodded and smirked at him. "Black Dog, you've been off the force for how many years now and yet, you're all I still hear about. I swear no matter where you go, it seems trouble loves to follow you."
Tell me about it, sighed Jet. "What can I do you for, Chief?"
"Officials in Saturn found a body."
"A body?" Jet's ears perked and an unexplainable unease plagued the pit of his stomach.
"A woman, about early to mid 20's, dark hair and slim built. The skin between the vic's shoulder blades was scorched. They found something in her stomach."
The intel spiraled in Jet's brain, sending him fumbling about in the Bridge, obviously distraught. He threw paperwork and maps from countertops, eyes scanning the area with great haste. Jet couldn't really consider the feeling as relief at finding his communicator. He stared upon it as if his mind could do the work and dial her number, ignoring the masculine voice calling out to him. He hadn't seen her all day. Edie. She left around the same time Spike took on another job. Spike requested to work it alone, which didn't bother Jet none, but Edie had reacted differently. She jumped into her Aguila, beside Jet's objections, muttering that she "had shit to take care of". Dread now festered his insides. Jet chewed on a nail and paced back and forth within the room.
"Jet!" The Chief's booming voice helped regain Jet's attention, but his mind dawdled elsewhere. "A charm of some sorts was found in the vic's abdomen. It was a small white rabbit and it was addressed to your ship."
"The B..Bebop?" Jet's mouth went dry as he tried figure this whole situation out. A white rabbit? Wait… He recalled the white rabbit Edie had given Ed, it was a charm, if he recalled correctly, that was attached to a thin chain. He remembered Edie pulling apart the rabbit and there, inside, resided a tiny black card.
"What was that you gave her?"
"A communicator chip."
"Chief...was there anything else found in the girl stomach?" Jet swallowed the lump entrapped in his throat.
"As in what, food? Coroner found no food in her system. It seemed she was starved to death."
Jet tried to find his voice. "Was she...pregnant?" The Chief's eyebrows shot up and discerned the worry and pain painted across Jet's worn appearance. He shook his head side to side and noted how Jet sighed in relief.
Okay so maybe it wasn't Edie. Who is the girl? What's with the charm? Could there be a chip housed in it? Why is it meant for the Bebop? Does this gotta do with that organization? Jet found himself with countless questions and all the while, no answers.
"This girl wasn't just murdered, she was sodomized and tortured. According to reports, her skin appeared filleted and her bones protruded through her open flesh. This is no usual case we're talking here. There's a bunch of red tape around the whole investigation."
"You mean…"
"Yeah, higher ups and officials don't wanna touch this case, let alone talk about it. Appears they're even helping cover it up. In the media, it's made out to be just some random killing by some sicko. But I know the smell of bullshit."
Jet nodded in agreement. This went over the heads of Saturn's Republic. "And the white rabbit?"
"Luckily, I know people in Saturn who owe me a couple of favors. They were able to get ahold of that charm. My sources say that officials don't know about it. We were fortunate enough that that bastard recognized the name of your ship. We will do a drop in Ganymede, our spot. The sooner, the better."
"Chief, I owe you one."
"Oh you owe me much more than one for this, Black Dog."
Spike meandered past the couches of the common area, soothing his aching tummy. It growled at him and jolted him when he so much as smelled food. His stomach usually gurgled to be fed.
"Spike!" Huffed Jet, sprinting toward him. He bowed his head and caught his breath. "Come with me to Ganymede."
"Ehhh...sure why not?"
The two made their way for the hangar.
"So what did the old man what?" Spike leapt from his Swordfish and strolled over to Jet, who was peering at his closed fist. He peeked over Jet's shoulder to see a rabbit head in his released grip. "Hey, that looks like the same rabbit as the one on Ed's cheap necklace."
Jet joined his two hands and manipulated the white toy with his fingers. "That necklace was a gift from Edie. Did she ever tell you what was so special about that rabbit?" He popped the head apart, displaying a small chip, eerily similar to that of Ed's. Spike's eyes widened and his interest peaked.
"A chip?" Jet did not respond but treaded to the common area, with Spike trailing behind. While Spike flung himself against the yellow couch, Jet fiddled with the computer, jamming the chip into its drive. Footage of a young woman around Edie's age came into picture. She sat against a couch, fooling around with her hands. She smiled pleasantly at the camera, still twirling her fingers.
"It's a transmission." breathed Jet, surveying the girl. His eyes roved from her head, covered in dark brown tresses, to her thin figure, perfectly matching the ID of the dead girl in Saturn. Is this the girl?
"Hi," she timidly waved at them then rested her hands in her lap. "You may not know me, but I know of you...Jet...Spike." Spike sprung up from his hunched position and supported his forearms against knees, peering into the computer screen.
"I've heard so much about you two from Edie." Her lips formed a slight grin but her eyes did not agree. Her eyes, along with her lips, were swollen and tainted red. "You see, I'm an old friend of hers and I'm forever in her debt. Knowing her, she hasn't told you a lot of things about her past. But I want you to know, that through the bullshit: her past life as an assassin and her sailor mouth, Edie has the biggest heart, full of love, aspirations and goals. By now I hope that you guys can see, most of, the love she has for you and that other little girl. I know her heart is puffed up with pride in your many talents and the little things that make you, you. Don't take her for granted, boys. Just as I'm indebted to her, she's indebted to you. She was broken and lost for so long, but thanks to you and your ship, you brought her back to life." The girl on the screen fought against the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. She tried to hide them behind sweet smiles and unconvincing laughter. Tears streaked her tired face and were replaced with fresh ones, as water flowed from her glossy eyes.
"And for that, I'm indebted to you," Her voice grew hoarse from the sob that subsided in her throat. "I must forewarn you of the danger that lies ahead. No doubt you realize the consequences that come along with your actions, but you should know the severity of this matter. Felix intends to tend to this situation, personally. It's only a matter of time for me. But for you...for Edie, it doesn't have to be that way. I beg you, Jet, Spike to put an end to this all. For the sake of Edie along with her unborn child."
Jet clinched his fist against his knee, watching tears slide down the pretty girl's cheeks. She smiled nonetheless.
"If I could ask one favor of you. Don't tell Edie about this chip. Destroy it, burn it, but don't forget my words. F-farewell new friends." Her voice cracked as she forced out her last goodbye. The transmission shuts off, leaving the screen in an obsidian oblivion. Jet eyed his reflection in the blank screen and rubbed his face, furiously, releasing a low growl. Spike dazed to the distance, caught in his own passing thoughts. Jet suddenly arose and retrieved the chip from the computer's drive, exiting the common area with the brittle chip within his tight grasp.
He now stood at the ship's bay, a sudden gust of wind soaring passed his ears. The sky sheathed in an ebony night's blanket of glimmering stars. Mars looks so far from here. Jet rose his hand to clutch at mid-heaven, to clutch the moons and neighboring planets in his grizzly hold. But his efforts came out barren, leaving him a little more lost in this godforsaken universe. He studied the chip in his other hand and chucked it to the sea beside him. As Jet turned to reenter the Bebop, a glint caught his eye. His vision returned to sky to scrutinize one star in particular. It flashed before him, glowing dimmer and dimmer in each passing moment. Jet snatched his head away from nature's biggest mystery, reminiscing of his visits with Laughing Bull.
