So... no big spaceships allowed, no workers live there, no action at daylight, and shipping during nights. Could there be an easier way for druglords to operate? Besides, they got many of their merchandise sold the same night to the thousands that flooded dance clubs and partyhalls.
Spike and Jet started wondering around the Red District Station. After thirty minutes searching, they realized that there were no flights to Cosmos. Jet gave out a huge yawn, then barked at the information officer. "What do you mean the route is closed?!"
"That's a new law issued by the ISSP" the officer, a young 25-year or around guy, said standardly "No travel allowed to commercial satellites before bussiness hours"
"A new law? But that's ridiculous!" he blowed out. He turned to Spike, then turned back to the officer. "You mean there is no way we get the merchandise to the 'the place' during this hours?" Spike finally drew his attention into the chat.
"The place?" the officer repeated confused.
"Yeah, the place" Jet said through one end of his mouth , then backed off, "but, you seem to don't know what I'm talking about. New guys, never trained." He laid a hand over Spike's shoulder like trying to show him to the officer. "Just let me know where me and my 'assistant' can have a word with your boss." Jet gave Spike a small step in the foot so he could raise his arms. That's when the officer noticed the guns.
The officer gulped nervously. He checked into one of his file drawers looking for something. He took out a red envelope and handed it over to Jet who gave another yawn before catching it. "T-this wil g-et you past. Just hand it to the guys at the Services office and they will give you a pass for your transport."
Spike took the envelope and opened it. It was empty.
"I-t's meant to be j-just a symbol, that's what they told me. It shouldn't have anything, right?" the officer asked.
"Okay, boy, you did good. Keep up the work" said Jet and he started leaving. "Get going, Ikki" he said to Spike.
"S-s-sir, I think he means you. That's your name, right?" the officer said to him. Spike got mad, but all he could do was to nod and and go behind Jet until they got far enough. Then Spike started the question round.
"The Place? Ikki? Red Evelopes? Could I get to know some answers, 'boss'?" Spike asked in a bad mood. Nobody stepped on his foot and make him bite his cigar just for fun.
"Yeah, all that" Jet said nervous, "Well, I had to make up a story for us to get the BeBop through. Now that we have the envelope, we can get the pass and get down to Aldebaran's city to catch him." Some minutes went by with both of them walking, none of them talked.
"You still haven't answered me" Spike moaned.
"What? You mean the red envelope and stuff? I got some information bits from Bob, he happens to know something about how druglords arrange the gate with the police to work freely. It's so easy to get the trucks through pretending it's supplies for the nightclubs." Another couple of minutes passed by, both remained silent as they walked.
"You still haven't answered me" Spike moaned again.
"Huh? What didn't I explain yet?"
"Why you called me Ikki?"
"Ah, that. I heard it on one of the kids channels you zapped by. A really old show, I think they were still hand-drawn on those times." Finally, they made it to the Services Office. The first question Jet asked, feeling his eyes would just drop out of his face, was: "Why do they place the Services Office and the Information Office in different extremes of the floor?" Then he straightened up and showed the envelope.
---
The path was incredibly clear down to Cosmos, no flying ads, no traffic, no problems. Obviously, there were never many problems with a colony only acessed by a few shuttles. The first view Jet and Spike got from Cosmos was very inspiring: a ghost town.
"There is not a bare soul in this place" Spike remarked, just in case.
"Well, what were you expecting?" Jet questioned him between yawns, "except from one or two bums left on their own at closing time, this place can't be habitated. But nightclub offices should be open." No, they weren't, offices were closed too. "Ok, so offices aren't open either. Well, there has to be some place over here where the drugs arrive. This is the perfect time."
"Hey, you! The strange guys over there" someone shouted, "would ya keep it low, fellas? I'm trynia' sleep." A dirty, sleepy drunk with the galaxy's greatest hangover was trying to pretend he could sleep near a nightclub using his stepped coat as blanket. Spike approached the guy.
"Hi, there, buddy. Do you happen to have seen somethig strange around here lately?" he asked as if it were the most common question.
"I'm alone here, bucko. Except for you two bothering, buzz off."
Spike grinned. The guy felt the cold front of an Israeli Jericho 941 in his forehead. "I think we are not bothering you too much. If you care to answer, I know a good remedy for the hangover."
The guy tried to sit up. He featured a repulsive shrug. "Are ya bounty hunters?"
"Just trying to pay for the meat. So, did you see any movement at all?"
"Just a few guys moving some boxes to that club over there" the guy said pointing out a nightclub at the other side of the street. "Ya know what time is it?"
"Huh?" said Jet suddently feeling sleepy again, "and who cares what time is it? here in space its endlessness. You never know--" Spike knocked his speech out with his left elbow. "According to the clock over there, it's near 11:30... am."
"Well, then I better get running. Party's gonna start again." the guy said standing up.
"So early?" Spike asked.
"Not here. Party at 12:00pm, party at 12:00am. This whole sky is fake. In some minutes it will go wide dark all over the place and people from the other satellites will start coming to the party. I better get in the shuttle before they leave me here one more day." The bum started walking clumsily to the shuttle station.
"Well, at least we got a hint" Jet said.
"The place the guy mentioned is Aldebaran's?" Spike asked.
"Why don't you take a read in the sign" Jet groaned. The sign said
"Zodiac Nightclub". The banner next to the sign had the Taurus
constellation and a big Aldebaran on it. Spike didn't said anything more.
Jet yawned one more time.
-
"And now its time... for a commercial" (Punch, Cowboy BeBop the Movie).
This would be the part where the eyecatch is shown and we go for a
commercial break. I know this last two chapters may have a little too
much comedy for these two guys, but now action is starting. Wait for the
next chap.!