Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ No Nothing ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Not mine, Bebop is. Sound like Yoda, I do.

Chapter 3

The BeBop was silent as everyone aboard was asleep. Everyone, except for Spike.

Reclined in an armchair with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, Spike held something open in his hands that he'd hoped to never see again after high school: a book. In fact, it was a book by the name of Daze.

'The world of Maria's existence had just turned upside down. The fine line between fantasy and reality had been shattered, along with her remaining shreds of sanity. Left was right, right was left, up was down, down was up. The laws of physics no longer applied in this realm of horrors. And there was her sister, lying on the floor with a hole through -'

"What's got you up in the wee hours of the night, cowboy?" a voice from behind him asked.

Spinning his head around, Spike caught sight of Jenni standing there, her hair untidily pulled back and clothed in one of his old shirts and pair of pants. "In the middle of a good book," he replied.

This appeared to have caught Jenni's interest since she walked over and sat opposite Spike. "What's it called?"

Leaning forward, Spike held up the cover and said, "Daze. Ever heard of it?"

"Once or twice." A small smile crept onto her face, one which she quickly tried to hide.

"Tell me," Spike said while laying the book down on a nearby table, "does Maria's world ever turn right side up?"

"Not before it starts spinning in maddening circles," Jenni replied with a small, sad frown. Hoisting herself to her feet, Jenni walked over to Spike and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "Night." Spike didn't say a word, but he did steal a quick glance down the front of her, actually his, shirt as she bent forward.

After Jenni left the room again, Spike picked up the book and continued reading.

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"Any news on the girl yet?" a voice from a high-backed armchair asked the men standing behind it.

Shifting nervously, one of the men replied, "No, sir. She appears to have just vanished off the face of the planet."

This did not please the man in the chair. The other man stepped forward and said, "Sir, we appear to have been hacked, and there <i>is<i> a nine-million woolong bounty on her. Perhaps she was taken by some bounty hunter for their reward."

"Hmmm . . . Get Marty on the line."

"Right away, Sir," the men replied before turning and leaving the room.

The man started petting the cat that was seated on his lap. "Don't worry, Hermes," the man said with an overwhelming sadness. "She'll be back."

At that moment another man appeared on the large screen in front of the man in the chair. This man on the screen was short and stocky, with glasses and thinning blonde hair. "H-Hello, Turo," the man on the screen replied anxiously.

"Good day, Marty. Now tell me, what do you know about the disappearance of one of our emissaries?"

Nervously shifting his eyes around the room, Marty said, "N-N-Nothing. I don't know anything."

"You know how much I hate it when you lie to me, Marty," Turo said from his chair. "Why don't you tell me what you know about the nine-million woolong bounty on Jenni Nox, before I have to do a demonstration of what could be in store for you?"

Marty's eyes got wide in fright. "All I heard was s-something about the bounty. I-I-If she's been picked up, they haven't contacted us yet."

Turo let his hand hover above the connection dial before saying, "Keep your ears open for anything on her, and let me know. Otherwise, the ISSP just might find one of their officers . . . dead." His hand fell, and the connection was cut off.

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The crew aboard the BeBop was seated around a blank screen in their usual states of existence: flat broke and bored out of their minds.

Spike sat there, vacantly staring at the screen, when he noticed Jenni pull out a cigarette and attempt to light it with a battered lighter. Grinning slightly, he pulled his own out of a pocket and held it in front of her. "I thought you said it was a nasty habit."

"It is," she said, leaning over to touch the tip of the cigarette to the flame. Reclining back next to Spike, she exhaled and said, "Besides, it's tempting when you've got 'em lying all over the place."

"They'll be gone by the end of tomorrow," Jet said from his position of laying down on one of the sofas.

Nobody said anything, and Spike turned on the screen with the toe of his boot. The same corny Hillbilly music and the same Punch and Judy appeared on the screen as Big Shot began. "So this is where you get all your information," Jenni said skeptically.

"Only who we're after," Faye replied, shuffling and dealing out a deck of cards.

Pushing the cards back to Faye, Spike said, "That's what we have our little hacker Radical Edward for."

"Wait a minute," Jenni said. Then, pointing to Ed she said, "You're Radical Edward?!"

With a wide grin. Ed said, "Yeppers, that's me!"

"I almost lost all of my info on our database last year because of you," Jenni said with a would-be angry look if it wasn't for the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile.

Ed got an awed look on her face. "You're TauroJen, aren't you!" Jenni didn't say a word, but Ed started jumping up and down. "You're a genius! Almost every time I tried to get through to something important, you almost always had it already broken through and demolished!"

"Why thank you for the compliment, Ed," Jenni said.

Faye wasn't paying attention to Ed and Jenni's conversation. "Don't you want to play Black Jack with us, Spike?" she asked.

"I'm not in the mood to lose my last four-thousand woolongs, especially to you," Spike said, paying more attention to the screen. "Hey Jet, ever heard of Ernie Kolossi?"

This caught Jet's attention. "Hell yeah. He was one of my buddies from my days at the ISSP."

"Turns out your friend has a one million woolong bounty on him," Spike said, turning the screen to face Jet.

"What?!" Leaning forward, Jet watched the screen carefully. "I'll be damned. Stole some secret documents from Ganymede."

Faye looked at Jet and Spike. "Well? Are we gonna take it?" Both Jet and Spike nodded, while Ed started firing up Tomato. Then, pointing to Jenni, Faye said, "We'd better let the ISSP know we have her, so we can get al least one reward."

Jenni's head perked up at this. "Don't call the ISSP, please."

Jet got up and started to amble towards the controls. "Sorry, but unless we let them know -"

Pulling a pistol from down her shirt, Jenni got to her feet and held it pointed towards Jet. "Don't tell them you have me," she ordered quietly, despite the slight quiver in her voice.

"Can I ask why not?" Faye asked from behind her.

Jenni revolved around to face Faye and said, "He has someone stationed there."

"Who's 'he'?" Spike asked calmly from his original position.

"Turo Yenrai," Jenni said. At the mention of his name, Spike slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers, which was filled with an emotion he'd seen many times before: fear. "Head of the Black Cobras. And you will not contact the ISSP regarding me, because I will not go back to them!"

Standing there helplessly, Jet caught Spike's gaze. "Don't tell them," Spike said with a tone of finality.

This answer wasn't good enough for Faye. "What do you mean!? We could tell them and as good as have nine-million -"

"You know, we could still turn you in for the six million you're worth," Spike said, his temper starting to flare. This got Faye to shut up, but she was still glaring daggers at Spike's back after he retreated to the shower near his chambers.

Jet shook his head and said, "Some things never change." Seating himself in front of a large communications screen, Jet called up his friend on Ganymede, Bob. "Hey there, Bob."

"What can I do for you, Jet?" Bob asked in his usual distracted manner.

"I need you to tell me what you know about Ernie Kolossi," Jet said as both Faye and Jenni came over.

Bob just flipped the page of his dirty magazine. "Stole some docs referring to the Gates Incident. From what I've heard around here, he's had some crazy idea of fixing the glitch and creating a set of gates to outside the galaxy. Something about contacting alien life."

"Do you have any idea where he is?" Although Bob usually provided pretty accurate information, his attention span was that of a two-year-old.

"He left the moon before anyone even realized he was gone. He could be anywhere," Bob said, his eyes not straying from his magazine for a second. "They didn't say this when they broadcasted the info, but if you catch him and return the documents to Ganymede in perfect condition, the reward's doubled," he said, facing Jet for the first time in their entire conversation.

"Thanks again, Bob," Jet said before turning off the communications satellite and the screen went blank.

Facing Jet, Jenni made a proposition. "If I help you guys catch this lunatic, you let me stay on here with you." Jet looked uncertain of the proposition, so Jenni told him, "I don't want any payment, as of yet."

"Hmmmm . . ." Jet said in thought. "You help us catch and turn him in, and you can stay."

"Er, isn't that how we ended up with the kid?" Faye asked.

"Aren't you the one who promised her she could come aboard?" Jet asked Faye pointedly.

Faye grimaced at this and said, "Fine, I say she can stay."

Ed came running in the room with Ein at her heels and said, "She should stay! She should stay! And Edward found Kolossi!"

The group that had assembled went over to see where their latest victim was located. "He's headed for Venus," Faye noted.

Jenni took off for the kitchen at lightning speed. Jet and Faye watched after her, asking the other the same question. "What the hell is she doing?"

Spike stepped into the room, wearing only a towel around his waist from his recent shower. "What have you found on our man Kolossi?"

"He's a complete nutcase, and he's headed for Venus," Jet said, not even turning to look at Spike. "Jenni's in the kitchen. Go make sure she's not making a bomb or something."

"Or eating as much as Faye here," Spike said before turning around to check on Jenni.

Eyes still glued to Tomato, Jet yelled to Spike, "Put on something more than a towel before you go in there!" However, Spike either didn't hear or ignored Jet's order. "Jerk."

Standing just outside the door, Spike saw Jenni's jacket thrown carelessly on the floor as she rummaged through the refridgerator and numerous cupboards. While doing so, a song Spike had never heard came from her mouth in the most beautiful voice Spike had heard. Even more beautiful than Julia's.

"In your eyes I see a darkness that torments you, and in your head where it dwells. I'd give you my hand if you'd reach out and grab it. Let's walk away from this hell . . . Oh, I didn't see you there. Still don't, as a matter of fact," She said, smiling and rummaging at the same time.

"What was that song?" Spike asked, watching her maneuver around the cramped room.

"It's an old one my grandparents used to sing. Called 'In The Dark'. Popular in the early twenty-first century," she said, her movements not slowing one bit. "Got any booze around this place?"

Spike asked her vaguely, "You're not getting yourself hammered before we leave, are you?"

"No. If this guy's half as crazy as he's made out to be, my guess is we're going to have one hell of a time catching and bringing him in fully conscious. That's why I'm making a mild tranquilizer to pump him full of when we get to him," Jenni said, investigating another cabinet.

"What do you mean, 'we'?" Spike asked Jenni.

"Jet and I decided that if I helped you guys catch and turn in this guy, I get to stay on with you," Jenni said, still hunting for the ingredients. "So are you gonna help me, or do I have to tear the room apart myself?"

Stepping up behind her, Spike reached up above both of their heads and pulled out a blue bottle. Turning it so she could see Callisto Vodka printed on the label, he asked, "Strong enough?"

"Perfect," she said before turning to face Spike for the first time since he'd joined her in the room. The only reason she kept breathing was her persistent self-reminders to do so. The masculine chest in front of her was carefully molded and sculpted to match his lanky frame, like the body of a martial artist. His arms were carved with long, lean muscles, emanating with strength and tenderness. His legs were the same way, supported on two large feet. She could only imagine what was hidden beneath the towel. Gaze traveling back up, her eyes met Spike's in a meaningful connection. Jenni felt her knees starting to buckle as she got lost in his chocolate-colored eyes, left one darker than the right. Something about the greenish tint of his hair and pale skin seemed to emphasize his aura of mystery and secrecy. "You have gorgeous eyes," she said to Spike, barely above a whisper.

Spike himself was experiencing something similar. The white shirt that hugged her ample curves was thin enough to partially see through, and clashed horribly with her white pants. Nevertheless, it gave her the impression of being an angel. Her blue tinted hair shimmered in the light overhead, and the slight rosy twinge on her cheeks made her ashen skin glow. For the first time, Spike saw a glimmer of vulnerability in her black coffee eyes. "I can say likewise," he said before wrapping one arm around her waist and closing the gap between them.

Jenni didn't hesitate one bit in her lips meeting Spike's halfway. She was surprised at the gentle intensity with which he kissed her, almost as if he was afraid she would vanish like an illusion. To confirm to him that she was real, Jenni began running her hands up over his bare chest.

Spike noted in amusement that she tasted like strawberries as he ran his hand through her hair, which smelled of roses. Jenni's hands traveled up the back of his neck and began to cascade through his hair, causing Spike to notice his self control deteriorating at an alarming rate.

The room seemed to spin as Jenni's legs gave way underneath her. Lucky for her, Spike's strong arm and the wall she was pressed against kept her from collapsing.

This was the last straw for Spike. The hand that was on Jenni's back went to the front of her shirt, where it started to slowly unbutton it. Instead of protesting in the form of a powerful punch to the eye as usual, Jenni actually invited the action. This caught her unawares, as it did Spike.

"Hey! I don't know what's going on in there, but we're almost ready to take off!" Jet yelled through the door, causing Spike and Jenni to spring apart.

Spike picked up the bottle and yelled loud enough for Jet to hear, "Dammit, where's the vodka?!" Handing it to Jenni, he looked deeply, if not a bit longingly, into her eyes before exiting the room and leaving her alone once again. Slightly flushed, she rebuttoned the top part of the front of her shirt to the third button and returned to her earlier task.

Walking off in no particular direction, Spike was stopped by the sound of Jet's slightly amused voice. "Hmm, interesting. You go in there normal in all ways, and come out smelling like a fruit basket and your face bright red."

"Watch it," Spike said, but the grin on his face betrayed him. "So when're we leaving for Venus?"

Jet glanced at his watch and said, "As soon as you get your ass in gear and the girl gets out of the kitchen. Faye's already waiting out there, and Ed's got everything computerwise good to go."

"Damn!" Spike ran out and into a room where his laundry was hanging to dry.

Jenni came through the door, holding a clear jar containing a clear liquid. "Where're you keeping my artillery?" she asked.

Eyeing her suspiciously, Jet asked, "What're you planning on doing?"

"Filling some darts with this."

Taking the jar from her hands, Jet held it at eye level and asked, "What the hell is it?"

"Tranquilizer," she said while briskly snatching it back out of his hands. "Now where are they?"

"Just give her the damn gun!" Spike yelled while running past them to the hangar, still trying to put pants, shirt, and tie on over black boxers and white wife-beater.

Jenni raised an eyebrow as she watched Spike leave them again. "Er, is he always like that?"

"No," Jet said, smirking at Jenni, "something's just got his head up in the asteroids." Retracting her gun from a small locked cabinet, he continued, "More like someone."

Paying more attention to counting her darts, Jenni nearly dropped them and glared up at Jet. "Very funny," she said before taking off for the hangar.

"It's the truth, though," Jet yelled after her as he followed her out to join the others.

Okies, song credits go to The Juliana Theory. other than that, all I have to say is REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!