A/N: This is my last update until I return from E3 on Friday. Expect the next chapter either Saturday or Sunday.
Bebop Blues
Chapter 9: Bad Dog No Biscuit
He felt actual relief to have his feet on solid ground.
He supposed he was truly alive, then.
He hadn't felt relief in any form for many years.
"Spike!"
Ed came bounding down the hill, Ein close at her heels.
She had grown.
As she flung her arms around Spike, he noticed to what extent. She was taller now, by at least two inches. Her hair had grown out a bit, though it remained wild and unmanageable.
As she hugged him tighter, he realized she was wearing a sports bra.
It bothered him a bit to see childlike fourteen-year-old Ed under this new light, but a year changes things.
She at least seemed to pick up a few normal habits on Earth.
"Father-person bought Ed more clothes! He also packed Ed's trunk with food for the trip!"
"Trip?"
Her face fell. "Edward is not coming back to Bebop?"
"Oh. That trip. Well, I don't see why not."
"Yay! Edward missed Bebop too much, so Father-person told Edward to get back in touch!"
She still had her ridiculous dialect, but he could dig it.
He found that he could dig a lot more these days.
She began zooming around, her arms outstretched like an airplane before she hugged Spike again.
"Ed, I can't breathe."
She released him instantly. "Oh! I am sorry! I am excited!"
So the third-person reversion to speech was her excitement.
Ed had grown more than he thought.
"Well, let's get started then."
Ed nodded and pulled her trunk to the Swordfish; Spike lifted it into the cockpit.
He had met her on the edge of town, so he decided to trek on foot towards the nearest store; he had to try and pick up any leads he could. Ein hopped onto Ed's head, and they began their search for this mystery plant.
Following close behind him, Ed was clacking away at her Tomato. "Edward believes you should get a car!"
"Why is that, Ed?"
She pointed to a motorcycle speeding off. "Because Faye-Faye and mystery woman said desert flower! The eavesdropping com told me so!"
He blinked at the retreating vehicle.
The woman certainly had style.
"After them! To win the race!" Edward flailed wildly, Ein barking in agreement.
"Swordfish is quicker."
Ed nodded vigorously, and off the trio ran to return to the ship.
He didn't think that through, though. Ein could have stowed easily, but Ed made one passenger too many with her trunk of belongings.
"Edward has tracked Faye-Faye's com!"
Spike, with Ein in his lap and Ed behind him in the tiny space between his seat and the edge of the cockpit, revved the engine. "Where to?"
But Ed had already sent the coordinates.
They were off.
As they approached the cantina, the blue motorcycle parked in front and a group of men shooting amongst themselves, Spike began cursing.
"Move it, pup, I can't reach the controls."
Ein's foot slipped forward.
The plasma cannon fired.
A parked jeep that had slipped by Spike's gaze bounced as the shot blasted two of the men near the bar.
The third was injured.
"Dammit!"
"Bad Ein! No doggie treat for you!"
Ein whimpered.
Spike pulled the Swordfish around to the back of the bar, hopping out to stand on the roof; Ed and Ein followed his lead.
Three women ran from the bar, guns at the ready; one tore into the jeep.
He saw a man fall as Faye's Glock shatter his kneecap.
He had to admit he was a bit impressed by that.
He had taken notice of Mai's combat, her initial kick in much style of his own.
But now she was twirling with madness.
Spike recognized the jive.
He had hoped he'd never seen it again.
The third woman had lobbed a grenade, and another approaching jeep exploded.
He pulled out his Jericho taking shots carefully.
He didn't have many bullets.
And there was another vehicle coming.
"Is there anything you can do, Ed?"
"Edward is on it!"
He saw Faye snipe.
And miss the second shot.
In slow motion, he saw the man pull out his gun.
And without thinking, he lunged from the roof directly to Faye.
He pulled his arms around her, and they rolled, the bullet grazing his sleeve near his shoulder.
He heard Mai yell his name.
And he was hovering over Faye.
She looked like a deer in headlights.
He was starting to sound like Jet.
Any other time he had been in this position, he would have made some witty quip about losing a bet or repaying a debt.
He whispered in her ear, almost inaudibly. "Always in trouble, aren't you?"
He stood up quickly and took a shot at her attacker, watching Mai follow suit.
The third woman claimed the kill.
The fifth jeep was close.
"I'm out of grenades!"
"Allow Edward!" He grinned. 'Atta girl. "Zoom, zoom, click, clack-" she hit the final key, "-BOOM!"
Two men rolled out of the jeep just before the vehicle exploded.
"Edward helped!" Ein was barking, too.
There were five left.
He and Mai exchanged smirks; turning back to back, they were pleased to find that the remainder of men had no remaining bullets.
He fought like he was born again.
She flowed with him nicely.
As they took a simultaneous punch, he grinned beside himself.
He knew he could dig this woman.
"Not bad, cowboy."
"Not too bad yourself, huntress. We make a good team."
"Always happy to oblige."
Ed jumped off the roof to run to the two. "Crazy lady with the fancy moves! Edward is Edward!" She took a deep bow.
Ein jumped from her head and followed suit.
"I'm Mai."
Spike leaned forward, his mouth close to Mai's cheek. "You mind telling me what you've been up to?"
Her eyes were frantic, looking for something.
Spike spotted Faye. She hadn't budged.
He walked to her slowly, and extended his hand to help her up.
He kept his eyes on hers as she stood. 'Didn't think I'd risk life and limb for this.'
He braced himself for the oncoming cascade of insults and expletives she would no doubt send his way.
So he was shocked to hear her say, "You're... Alive."
He grinned wildly. He missed her after all.
"Yo."
