“Any luck?” Spike lounged on the sofa. He smiled at Jet as the older man sat down heavily on the chair. Faye plopped herself down onto the table.
“Yeah, but he was a small fry, only worth five thousand.” Jet sighed heavily, crossing his arms.
“And five thousand split two ways…” Spike trailed off, his grin broadening.
Jet narrowed his eyes, “Doesn’t pay the bills.” He finished, “what are you so happy about Spike?”
“Hungry?” Jessica leaned against the back of the couch, smiling.
Jet was even more suspicious. “Yeah,” he said carefully, then watched as she left, having gotten the same response from Faye. “Ok Spike, what are you two up to?” Faye perked up a bit, rousing from the exhausted stupor she was in.
Jessica was busy cooking when she heard the outburst from Jet and Faye.
“Five-hundred million!?”
She couldn’t help it; she collapsed, giggling, on the floor and it was several minutes before she could stand up again and resume cooking. She was still grinning when she brought the food out, and then sat down beside Spike.
“So, you decided not to pay attention to what I said before I left huh?” Jet’s tone was serious, but his eyes were smiling as he took a bite.
“Oh no I didn’t, he did try to leave, but I stopped him.” She nudged Spike with her elbow. “Show him, I’m sure it’s a nice color by now.”
Spike rolled his eyes at her but raised his shirt to expose his chest.
Jet whistled appreciatively, “How’d she do that?” the bruise was hand-sized and a dark plum color.
“She landed a flying kick on me; you should be careful Jet, she is dangerous.” He smiled, “I’ve also got a nice knot on the back of my head where it had a run-in with the ground.”
Jet chuckled, but Jessica had stopped paying attention. Her gaze was fixed on the horrendous scar that marred Spike’s lower torso from one side to the other. She hesitantly reached out a hand.
“How did that happen?” She gently brushed the ridge of scar tissue.
Spike’s face hardened into a blank mask and Jet fell silent, watching him. “A friend gave that to me as a parting gift.” His mouth twisted in a grimace, “a very old friend.” He pulled his shirt back down and Jessica added another mistake to her rapidly growing list. Jet quietly started eating again as Spike stood up and quietly walked out.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Noodles and Pocky
Jessica found it hard to tear her eyes away from the unusual sight of Ein eating noodles. Until she felt Spike’s eyes on her and realized that he had said her name twice. She looked up, the back of her neck burning.
“What?”
“Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“Well my parents taught me initially, and my brother-in-law taught me Japanese cooking, but my dad’s the one who encouraged me to experiment like this.” She waved a hand at the plates that held the sesame-soy fried instant noodles. “I can make a good meal out of anything, as long as I have basic necessities.”
Spike grunted, he was too busy eating to form a reply, and Jessica followed his example so that they ate in silence.
“Seconds!” Ed hollered from her corner, holding up her empty plate.
Jessica smiled, “Hang on a minute Ed, I’ll get you something.” She retrieved her backpack and started digging in the pockets. “Aha!” She sat up, holding a small box in her hand. “Here Ed.”
Ed inspected the box. “What is it?”
“Its Pocky. Here,” Jessica opened the box, and the package inside, handing it to Ed. “Try one.”
Ed pulled out one of the skinny strawberry-coated sticks, licked it suspiciously, and then popped it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up and she quickly set to devouring the whole box. Jessica pulled out two more, holding one out to Spike.
“Want one?”
He took the proffered box from her and she sat back, pulling her feet up onto the chair’s cushion and slowly savored each chocolate-covered biscuit-stick.
“These have to be my favorite candy. I guess they must not make them anymore huh?”
Spike shook his head, Pocky dangling out of his mouth like a cigarette, Jessica grinned.
“When did they leave?” Spike said suddenly, startling her out of her reverie.
“Jet and Faye? Um, about an hour before you came back.” She looked at him with narrowed eyes, “Why?” she asked warily.
“No reason.” He stretched out on the sofa, propping his feet up. “Think I’ll sleep for a while.” He closed his eyes.
Jessica watched him for a while then, assured that he was asleep, pulled her backpack to her and started digging through it, searching.
Ten minutes later she had a small pile of items that she deemed “useless.” Her cell phone (no towers so no signal, besides who would she call?), the contents of her wallet (different currency), her plane ticket, her passport, and her Japanese-to-English dictionary. She reached across the table and poked Spike. He shifted, but didn’t wake up.
“Hey Spike,” she whispered, poking him again. “Hey Spike,” she said louder. “How much would someone pay for paper money?” His eyes opened, and she realized how close they were, she drew back.
“Huh?” Spike said sleepily, sitting up.
“How much d’you think I’d get for this stuff?” She gestured to the pile on the table, “If I’m really stuck, I don’t need them.”
He looked over each item carefully, fingering the stack of bills and the credit cards with especial care.
“Well?” Jessica asked after a while. “How much would I get?”
“A lot more than any bounty that Jet and Faye could be getting.”
She looked at him for a while. “You’re feeling better right? Sober?” he nodded; she smiled. “D’ya think we’ll be done before they get back?”
“Yeah, most likely, if I know Faye.”
Jessica stood up, “then let’s go!” she held out her hand to him, pulling him to his feet and towards the door. Then she stopped, “wait, where should we go?”
Spike narrowed his eyes for a moment, then he grinned.
“I think I know a place.”
“What?”
“Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“Well my parents taught me initially, and my brother-in-law taught me Japanese cooking, but my dad’s the one who encouraged me to experiment like this.” She waved a hand at the plates that held the sesame-soy fried instant noodles. “I can make a good meal out of anything, as long as I have basic necessities.”
Spike grunted, he was too busy eating to form a reply, and Jessica followed his example so that they ate in silence.
“Seconds!” Ed hollered from her corner, holding up her empty plate.
Jessica smiled, “Hang on a minute Ed, I’ll get you something.” She retrieved her backpack and started digging in the pockets. “Aha!” She sat up, holding a small box in her hand. “Here Ed.”
Ed inspected the box. “What is it?”
“Its Pocky. Here,” Jessica opened the box, and the package inside, handing it to Ed. “Try one.”
Ed pulled out one of the skinny strawberry-coated sticks, licked it suspiciously, and then popped it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up and she quickly set to devouring the whole box. Jessica pulled out two more, holding one out to Spike.
“Want one?”
He took the proffered box from her and she sat back, pulling her feet up onto the chair’s cushion and slowly savored each chocolate-covered biscuit-stick.
“These have to be my favorite candy. I guess they must not make them anymore huh?”
Spike shook his head, Pocky dangling out of his mouth like a cigarette, Jessica grinned.
“When did they leave?” Spike said suddenly, startling her out of her reverie.
“Jet and Faye? Um, about an hour before you came back.” She looked at him with narrowed eyes, “Why?” she asked warily.
“No reason.” He stretched out on the sofa, propping his feet up. “Think I’ll sleep for a while.” He closed his eyes.
Jessica watched him for a while then, assured that he was asleep, pulled her backpack to her and started digging through it, searching.
Ten minutes later she had a small pile of items that she deemed “useless.” Her cell phone (no towers so no signal, besides who would she call?), the contents of her wallet (different currency), her plane ticket, her passport, and her Japanese-to-English dictionary. She reached across the table and poked Spike. He shifted, but didn’t wake up.
“Hey Spike,” she whispered, poking him again. “Hey Spike,” she said louder. “How much would someone pay for paper money?” His eyes opened, and she realized how close they were, she drew back.
“Huh?” Spike said sleepily, sitting up.
“How much d’you think I’d get for this stuff?” She gestured to the pile on the table, “If I’m really stuck, I don’t need them.”
He looked over each item carefully, fingering the stack of bills and the credit cards with especial care.
“Well?” Jessica asked after a while. “How much would I get?”
“A lot more than any bounty that Jet and Faye could be getting.”
She looked at him for a while. “You’re feeling better right? Sober?” he nodded; she smiled. “D’ya think we’ll be done before they get back?”
“Yeah, most likely, if I know Faye.”
Jessica stood up, “then let’s go!” she held out her hand to him, pulling him to his feet and towards the door. Then she stopped, “wait, where should we go?”
Spike narrowed his eyes for a moment, then he grinned.
“I think I know a place.”
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Spike
Spike stumbled back about half a day later. As he walked through the hallway he stopped, wondering why it seemed different. It took him a while to realize that he heard music. Confused, Spike followed the sound to the kitchen, vaguely wondering why Jet was listening to music while he cooked, though whatever he was cooking smelled great. He stopped in the doorway, surprised. Jessica was standing, hand on hip, spatula poised over the big wok, practically dancing (though without really moving) as she watched whatever it was she was cooking. After Spike had stood there for a few moments she looked up.
“It’ll be ready in a few minutes.” She gave a half-smile when he looked at her, seemingly dazed. “If you like the music that much I can hook it up to the ship’s sound system.” He stared at her, comprehended what she had said, shook his head, and turned and walked out.
“Damn.” She muttered, “Was he drunk?” She stirred the food absently, making sure the noodles didn’t stick, and listened to the music she knew by heart. Jessica quickly plated the food and started a second batch, humming quietly along with the music. She stopped, listening, and heard the sound of shuffling footsteps, just in time to see Spike appear once again in the doorway.
“What?” She couldn’t imagine what he could possibly want.
“Where’s Jet?” He seemed confused, but not really worried, and Jessica decided that he was drunk. She went back to stirring.
“He and Faye went off to catch some bounty, not sure where they are.” She looked up and was alarmed to find that he was gone. She muttered a curse under her breath and, turning off the stove, went after him.
“Spike!” she hollered, striding after him into the hangar. “Spike, stop.” She struggled to match his long-legged strides for a while then stopped, sighing. “Fine, you leave me no choice.” She said half to herself. She drew herself to her full height, took a deep breath measuring the distance (not far), and took off running. When she had halved the distance she launched herself into the air and aimed a flying kick into Spike’s chest, just as he turned.
Spike heard her footsteps, but had assumed she would tackle him and was completely taken by surprise when, as he turned to face her, she was flying through the air; leg extended and in perfect form. As a result, when her foot made contact, he found himself sprawled on the floor with Jessica straddling him, pinning him down.
“Jet told me to keep you here.” She huffed, out of breath. “He obviously knew you’d be in no condition to do anything, he was right.” She glared at him and he simply stared, shocked. She caught his glance and smirked, “Jet told me to use any means necessary, but he doesn’t know I can do that.” Jessica got up and held a hand out to Spike. “Come on, I need to get back to work.”
Spike sighed and let her pull him up, wincing as his head throbbed, and sucking in a breath. He instantly regretted that, rubbing his chest. He couldn’t believe that she could put that much force into a kick. He looked at her, closer than he had before, noting how she walked, how she held herself.
“How long have you been training?” He was careful to say it casually.
“About three years. I mostly taught myself, but I went to a training camp in Japan last summer, sort of.” She grimaced at the self-reminder of exactly where she was. She stopped at the kitchen door and looked hard at him. “I’ll be keeping an eye on the hallway so go do something.” She frowned, hating that she sounded like she was talking to a child. “Lunch will be ready in a few minutes.”
Spike half-leaned, half-slouched against the door frame across from her, “I think I might stay here.”
She rolled her eyes at him and turned the stove back on.
“It’ll be ready in a few minutes.” She gave a half-smile when he looked at her, seemingly dazed. “If you like the music that much I can hook it up to the ship’s sound system.” He stared at her, comprehended what she had said, shook his head, and turned and walked out.
“Damn.” She muttered, “Was he drunk?” She stirred the food absently, making sure the noodles didn’t stick, and listened to the music she knew by heart. Jessica quickly plated the food and started a second batch, humming quietly along with the music. She stopped, listening, and heard the sound of shuffling footsteps, just in time to see Spike appear once again in the doorway.
“What?” She couldn’t imagine what he could possibly want.
“Where’s Jet?” He seemed confused, but not really worried, and Jessica decided that he was drunk. She went back to stirring.
“He and Faye went off to catch some bounty, not sure where they are.” She looked up and was alarmed to find that he was gone. She muttered a curse under her breath and, turning off the stove, went after him.
“Spike!” she hollered, striding after him into the hangar. “Spike, stop.” She struggled to match his long-legged strides for a while then stopped, sighing. “Fine, you leave me no choice.” She said half to herself. She drew herself to her full height, took a deep breath measuring the distance (not far), and took off running. When she had halved the distance she launched herself into the air and aimed a flying kick into Spike’s chest, just as he turned.
Spike heard her footsteps, but had assumed she would tackle him and was completely taken by surprise when, as he turned to face her, she was flying through the air; leg extended and in perfect form. As a result, when her foot made contact, he found himself sprawled on the floor with Jessica straddling him, pinning him down.
“Jet told me to keep you here.” She huffed, out of breath. “He obviously knew you’d be in no condition to do anything, he was right.” She glared at him and he simply stared, shocked. She caught his glance and smirked, “Jet told me to use any means necessary, but he doesn’t know I can do that.” Jessica got up and held a hand out to Spike. “Come on, I need to get back to work.”
Spike sighed and let her pull him up, wincing as his head throbbed, and sucking in a breath. He instantly regretted that, rubbing his chest. He couldn’t believe that she could put that much force into a kick. He looked at her, closer than he had before, noting how she walked, how she held herself.
“How long have you been training?” He was careful to say it casually.
“About three years. I mostly taught myself, but I went to a training camp in Japan last summer, sort of.” She grimaced at the self-reminder of exactly where she was. She stopped at the kitchen door and looked hard at him. “I’ll be keeping an eye on the hallway so go do something.” She frowned, hating that she sounded like she was talking to a child. “Lunch will be ready in a few minutes.”
Spike half-leaned, half-slouched against the door frame across from her, “I think I might stay here.”
She rolled her eyes at him and turned the stove back on.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Explaining
“So how long were you intending to ‘keep’ this girl?” Faye demanded, standing over Jet. It had been a full day since Spike had left and there was still no sign of him, though Jet had a pretty good idea of where he was.
“Jessica? Well that’s up to her.” Jet wasn’t paying much attention to the show he was watching, but he also hadn’t been paying much attention to Faye either, until just now. “Anyway, it’s not like I’d just abandon her in Tokyo.”
“Jet!” Faye cried exasperatedly, “you said so yourself, she’s a human being not some stray, she’ll be able to take care of herself.”
“Faye she’s from fifty-nine years ago. You can’t just dump someone from 2012 in present day Tokyo and leave them there.”
“Why not, that’s practically what happened to me.” Faye crossed her arms and started to walk away.
“Yeah and look how you turned out.” Jet muttered but Faye was already across the room and didn’t hear. “My ship Faye, and my rules,” he said louder, “when we leave she can choose whether she stays or not.”
“Hey Jet?” he looked up, Jessica was peering around the door, hair still wet from the shower.
“Yeah?”
“Uh, where’s the kitchen?”
“Here, I’ll show you.”
Jet studied her surreptitiously as they walked down the hallway. Her clothes, though they seemed strange to him, suited her perfectly. She was wearing the shirt Ed had discovered and a pair of the most interesting pants. They were extra long, covered with pockets, and had an extra triangle of faded black denim sewn in at the bottom, making them bell out.
“My sister made them.” She was looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Jet stopped, looked around, and realized they were at the kitchen door. He went in, Jessica following.
“So, why are we in the kitchen?”
“I thought I’d cook for a while.” Jet looked at her, surprised. “Well since I’m staying I might as well earn my keep, right?” Jessica looked at him, hand on her hip. “Did you honestly think I was going to sit around and do nothing?” she laughed, “I’d go nuts! Besides I’m not a bad cook.” Jessica looked around the kitchen; it wasn’t much, a few gas elements, no oven, a wok, and some utensils and knives. Plenty of counter space though. Jet watched her, still surprised, then something she had said clicked with his earlier discussion with Faye. She had said she was staying.
“You heard, didn’t you?”
“It was hard not to, Faye’s pretty loud.” Jessica’s voice echoed slightly, she was rummaging around in a cupboard where she found: more pans. “When are we leaving?”
“When Spike gets back.” Whenever that is, Jet thought.
As if she were reading his thoughts Jessica laughed, “Yeah, whenever that is.” She was silent for a moment. “Where are we headed?”
“Nowhere definite yet, probably Mars; there’s always a few bounties there.”
There was a loud clang, a thump followed by a muffled curse, and then Jessica appeared, clutching her head. “Mars?”
“Oh yeah, I guess that never came up huh?” Jet paused, wondering how to summarize everything. “Well, uh, y’see Earth became too crowded after a while and people went and colonize some of the other planets, and we’re able to get to these colonies using gates, uh hyperspace gates,” Jet added quickly, seeing her confusion. “Well, there was an accident with one of the gates that blew up a piece of the Moon, it destroyed a lot of Earth’s surface and wiped out most of Earth’s population. So now humans mostly live in certain areas on Earth, and on colonies.” Jet looked at her carefully; she was white and swaying, in shock, again. “I think you’d better sit down.” He stopped her when she opened her mouth to protest. “You can start tomorrow. Right now you need to let your headache go away.” He gestured to her head. Jessica grimaced, nodded, and slowly walked out.
“Shit,” Jet muttered to himself, what else was he going to have to explain?
“Jessica? Well that’s up to her.” Jet wasn’t paying much attention to the show he was watching, but he also hadn’t been paying much attention to Faye either, until just now. “Anyway, it’s not like I’d just abandon her in Tokyo.”
“Jet!” Faye cried exasperatedly, “you said so yourself, she’s a human being not some stray, she’ll be able to take care of herself.”
“Faye she’s from fifty-nine years ago. You can’t just dump someone from 2012 in present day Tokyo and leave them there.”
“Why not, that’s practically what happened to me.” Faye crossed her arms and started to walk away.
“Yeah and look how you turned out.” Jet muttered but Faye was already across the room and didn’t hear. “My ship Faye, and my rules,” he said louder, “when we leave she can choose whether she stays or not.”
“Hey Jet?” he looked up, Jessica was peering around the door, hair still wet from the shower.
“Yeah?”
“Uh, where’s the kitchen?”
“Here, I’ll show you.”
Jet studied her surreptitiously as they walked down the hallway. Her clothes, though they seemed strange to him, suited her perfectly. She was wearing the shirt Ed had discovered and a pair of the most interesting pants. They were extra long, covered with pockets, and had an extra triangle of faded black denim sewn in at the bottom, making them bell out.
“My sister made them.” She was looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Jet stopped, looked around, and realized they were at the kitchen door. He went in, Jessica following.
“So, why are we in the kitchen?”
“I thought I’d cook for a while.” Jet looked at her, surprised. “Well since I’m staying I might as well earn my keep, right?” Jessica looked at him, hand on her hip. “Did you honestly think I was going to sit around and do nothing?” she laughed, “I’d go nuts! Besides I’m not a bad cook.” Jessica looked around the kitchen; it wasn’t much, a few gas elements, no oven, a wok, and some utensils and knives. Plenty of counter space though. Jet watched her, still surprised, then something she had said clicked with his earlier discussion with Faye. She had said she was staying.
“You heard, didn’t you?”
“It was hard not to, Faye’s pretty loud.” Jessica’s voice echoed slightly, she was rummaging around in a cupboard where she found: more pans. “When are we leaving?”
“When Spike gets back.” Whenever that is, Jet thought.
As if she were reading his thoughts Jessica laughed, “Yeah, whenever that is.” She was silent for a moment. “Where are we headed?”
“Nowhere definite yet, probably Mars; there’s always a few bounties there.”
There was a loud clang, a thump followed by a muffled curse, and then Jessica appeared, clutching her head. “Mars?”
“Oh yeah, I guess that never came up huh?” Jet paused, wondering how to summarize everything. “Well, uh, y’see Earth became too crowded after a while and people went and colonize some of the other planets, and we’re able to get to these colonies using gates, uh hyperspace gates,” Jet added quickly, seeing her confusion. “Well, there was an accident with one of the gates that blew up a piece of the Moon, it destroyed a lot of Earth’s surface and wiped out most of Earth’s population. So now humans mostly live in certain areas on Earth, and on colonies.” Jet looked at her carefully; she was white and swaying, in shock, again. “I think you’d better sit down.” He stopped her when she opened her mouth to protest. “You can start tomorrow. Right now you need to let your headache go away.” He gestured to her head. Jessica grimaced, nodded, and slowly walked out.
“Shit,” Jet muttered to himself, what else was he going to have to explain?
Who are you
“I hate to be blunt,” Jessica looked up at the tall scruffy-haired man, “but who exactly are you?” His question made her smile.
“I could ask you the same question.” She stood up, putting out her hand. “I’m Jessica. Jessica Rhodes.”
He accepted her hand. “Spike Spiegel.” She could tell from his tone that this was his actual name, not a nickname which surprised her. Jessica looked him in the eyes and noticed that one was a different color, not as true a brown, as if it wasn’t real. He blinked, looking slightly surprised, and she looked away dropping his hand and feeling somewhat confused.
“Jet Black.” The big man held out a hand to her; Jessica was relieved to see it wasn’t the mechanical one, and took it with a smile. He looked at her curiously, as if trying to find what had surprised Spike. He didn’t seem to find it and dropped her hand. She turned to the woman and raised her eyebrows; she didn’t seem the type who shook hands.
“Faye Valentine.” She looked rather pointedly at Jessica, “I’m like you y’know.” Then turned and walked out of the room.
Jessica suddenly had to sit down. She felt shaky and light-headed and guessed that she hadn’t eaten for a while. She had wanted to do the teleport on an empty stomach, to avoid any unpleasant side effects. Her stomach rumbled loudly in protest of its emptiness and she looked up, immediately regretting the sudden movement as the room swayed. “How long have I been out?”
“Close to six hours,” Jet replied and, noting her pallor, added, “are you feeling ok?”
“I’m hungry. I left on an empty stomach.” It growled again, emphasizing her words.
“I’ll go see if I can find something.” Jet said, walking towards the door and leaving Jessica alone with Spike. Ed and Ein having disappeared some time ago.
“What did she mean?” Jessica began.
“Huh?” Spike looked up; he had been deep in thought.
“Faye. What did she mean, that she was like me?” Jessica got up and started re-packing her backpack.
“She’s just remembered.” Jessica looked up, confused. “Her past; she’d forgotten. Fifty-four years ago she was cryogenically frozen; they brought her back to life a few years ago.”
“Oh,” she continued packing.
“She was pretty shocked y’know, when she saw your stuff.” Spike lit a cigarette, releasing a cloud of smoke. “It must have been a bit like seeing a ghost, all that stuff from the past.” He took another pull on his cigarette, looking down at her as he leaned against the wall. “Do your eyes always change color?” She looked up at the sudden change of topic and Spike saw that they were greenish again. “When we found you your eyes were a greenish color; then later they turned blue. Now they’re green again.”
“Oh,” she laughed, “it kind of has to do with my mood. If I’m sick, worried, or upset, they’re green, but when I’m calm or happy they’re light blue, well grey actually. I get it from my dad. Your eyes are two different colors.” The comment sort of slipped out. “One isn’t as brown as the other. Did you lose it?” She looked up, saw his face go blank, and realized her mistake.
“Yeah,” he said after a while, “a long time ago.”
“Sorry,” she grimaced at her stupidity, “I won’t ask about it anymore.” She stood up and lurched sideways, lightheadedness making her dizzy. Spike stepped forward quickly and caught her, and suddenly their face were inches apart. Jessica stared into his eyes, still surprised at what had happened and, seeing how shocked he was, quickly backed up.
“Sorry,” she said again, hating how that was all she seemed able to say.
Spike shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out, brushing past Jet as he went through the door.
“Spike?” he called.
“I’m going out.” Came the faint reply.
“What was that all about?” Jet walked over and set down a large Styrofoam cup.
“I think it was something I said. What’s this?” She poked at the cup.
“Instant noodles; just pull the string. They’re all we have.” He said apologetically and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Jessica pulled the string and jumped at the sudden hiss of steam that exploded from under the cup. At the same moment there was a loud noise, reminding Jessica of a plane, outside and she looked out the window to see a red (jet, plane, ship? She wasn’t sure) take off from the deck. Jet followed her gaze.
“Don’t worry about Spike, he’ll come around. He’s been through a lot.”
“I could ask you the same question.” She stood up, putting out her hand. “I’m Jessica. Jessica Rhodes.”
He accepted her hand. “Spike Spiegel.” She could tell from his tone that this was his actual name, not a nickname which surprised her. Jessica looked him in the eyes and noticed that one was a different color, not as true a brown, as if it wasn’t real. He blinked, looking slightly surprised, and she looked away dropping his hand and feeling somewhat confused.
“Jet Black.” The big man held out a hand to her; Jessica was relieved to see it wasn’t the mechanical one, and took it with a smile. He looked at her curiously, as if trying to find what had surprised Spike. He didn’t seem to find it and dropped her hand. She turned to the woman and raised her eyebrows; she didn’t seem the type who shook hands.
“Faye Valentine.” She looked rather pointedly at Jessica, “I’m like you y’know.” Then turned and walked out of the room.
Jessica suddenly had to sit down. She felt shaky and light-headed and guessed that she hadn’t eaten for a while. She had wanted to do the teleport on an empty stomach, to avoid any unpleasant side effects. Her stomach rumbled loudly in protest of its emptiness and she looked up, immediately regretting the sudden movement as the room swayed. “How long have I been out?”
“Close to six hours,” Jet replied and, noting her pallor, added, “are you feeling ok?”
“I’m hungry. I left on an empty stomach.” It growled again, emphasizing her words.
“I’ll go see if I can find something.” Jet said, walking towards the door and leaving Jessica alone with Spike. Ed and Ein having disappeared some time ago.
“What did she mean?” Jessica began.
“Huh?” Spike looked up; he had been deep in thought.
“Faye. What did she mean, that she was like me?” Jessica got up and started re-packing her backpack.
“She’s just remembered.” Jessica looked up, confused. “Her past; she’d forgotten. Fifty-four years ago she was cryogenically frozen; they brought her back to life a few years ago.”
“Oh,” she continued packing.
“She was pretty shocked y’know, when she saw your stuff.” Spike lit a cigarette, releasing a cloud of smoke. “It must have been a bit like seeing a ghost, all that stuff from the past.” He took another pull on his cigarette, looking down at her as he leaned against the wall. “Do your eyes always change color?” She looked up at the sudden change of topic and Spike saw that they were greenish again. “When we found you your eyes were a greenish color; then later they turned blue. Now they’re green again.”
“Oh,” she laughed, “it kind of has to do with my mood. If I’m sick, worried, or upset, they’re green, but when I’m calm or happy they’re light blue, well grey actually. I get it from my dad. Your eyes are two different colors.” The comment sort of slipped out. “One isn’t as brown as the other. Did you lose it?” She looked up, saw his face go blank, and realized her mistake.
“Yeah,” he said after a while, “a long time ago.”
“Sorry,” she grimaced at her stupidity, “I won’t ask about it anymore.” She stood up and lurched sideways, lightheadedness making her dizzy. Spike stepped forward quickly and caught her, and suddenly their face were inches apart. Jessica stared into his eyes, still surprised at what had happened and, seeing how shocked he was, quickly backed up.
“Sorry,” she said again, hating how that was all she seemed able to say.
Spike shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out, brushing past Jet as he went through the door.
“Spike?” he called.
“I’m going out.” Came the faint reply.
“What was that all about?” Jet walked over and set down a large Styrofoam cup.
“I think it was something I said. What’s this?” She poked at the cup.
“Instant noodles; just pull the string. They’re all we have.” He said apologetically and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Jessica pulled the string and jumped at the sudden hiss of steam that exploded from under the cup. At the same moment there was a loud noise, reminding Jessica of a plane, outside and she looked out the window to see a red (jet, plane, ship? She wasn’t sure) take off from the deck. Jet followed her gaze.
“Don’t worry about Spike, he’ll come around. He’s been through a lot.”
Futuristic Paranoia
The dog woke her. Jessica was dragged out of the black of unconsciousness by a cold nose being shoved into her hand. The sensation was so familiar that she opened her eyes expecting to see her mixed-breed mutt sitting beside her bed and waiting for her morning run. A pair of light amber eyes stared at her out of an orange corgi face. She knew where she was. Jessica ruffled the little dog’s fur as she sat up carefully.
“So, how much do you think this stuff would be worth?” The voice, the desert voice, stopped her dead; she didn’t think, just acted.
“No!” She sprang up off the small couch and turned to face the source of the voice.
The four people who stared up at her, around the pile of her belongings, with similar expressions of shock and guilt couldn’t have been more different. The one who had spoken was tall, even crouching she could tell, and his scruffy black hair stuck out at odd angles making it look as though he had just woken up. His outfit reminded her of something someone might have worn in “Saturday Night Fever.” His yellow silk shirt even had the collar turned up; even with the cigarette dangling from his lip he looked sexy. His hands looked like they were itching to hold a gun.
The larger man was intimidating. He wore a weird one-piece outfit that, had the sleeves not been ripped off, might have resembled the jumpsuits astronauts wore on the space station. His boots looked like the greaves of a medieval knight’s armor. He was bald-headed with a fringe of black hair on the sides that grew into sideburns and a beard; and a scar running through his right eye, with a strange metal something-or-other on his cheek. His left arm was mechanical, and a cigarette burned unchecked in its hand.
The woman was smoking as well. Her black hair had a bluish tinge to it, and she was tall, with a long waist, and skinny; which made her outfit more striking. She wore matching yellow (what looked like pleather or rubber) short low-rise shorts and a short cut tank that exposed all of her torso, from the bottom of her ribcage to well below her navel. The shorts were held up by suspenders and the whole thing was topped by a loose red shrug fastened with a knot.
The child, the girl, was the first to react. She smiled hugely, making her eyes almost close, and stood up. Her red hair and brown eyes contrasted nicely with her dark, sun-tanned skin. Her outfit was simple; a loose sleeveless white t-shirt and tight-fitting spandex shorts that stopped slightly below mid thigh. Her feet were bare.
“Hi!” It was amazing the amount of emotion that was packed into that single word. So much that the one syllable became two. “Ein likes you, so Ed does too.”
Jessica felt her eyebrows rise, Ein? That must be the dog, so Ed was…
“Ed. That’s an unusual name for a girl.” The girl grinned and Jessica smiled back.
“How did you figure that out?” the big man asked. He looked stunned. “It took us a whole day before we realized she was a girl.”
So, Jessica thought, they weren’t related, at least not to Ed, which made sense. “I have four nieces and three older sisters. I know.” The fact that they had been going through her stuff forgotten, she looked around, pausing to stare at the city that loomed outside the windows, then turned back to face the group. “I feel kind of silly for asking this, but is that Tokyo out there?” She pointed toward the hulking city. They nodded. “Good. Can you get me to shore? I need to get to the Newtronics Incorporated building so I can report in.” They looked confused. “See, I was a volunteer in a teleportation experiment, and something must have gone wrong”
She was cut off by the woman.
“Teleportation experiment? They gave up on that in 2012; and Newtronics went bankrupt not two years after.”
“What?” Jessica felt confused, but a glimmer of comprehension wormed its way into her thoughts. “Why did they give up on the experiment?” she whispered.
“They lost a volunteer. They say she disappeared and never showed up at the arrival point.”
What year is it?” Her eyes were wide, and she was pale and shaking.
“2071.” Jessica sat down abruptly, not caring that she sat on the table. The others stood up, keeping her in their line of sight.
“Me.” She nearly choked on the word. “The volunteer they lost was me. It was supposed to be a jump from Kansas in the U.S. to Tokyo; the first continent to continent teleport. But something must have gone wrong. I’m in Tokyo all right, but fifty-nine years in the future.”
“So, how much do you think this stuff would be worth?” The voice, the desert voice, stopped her dead; she didn’t think, just acted.
“No!” She sprang up off the small couch and turned to face the source of the voice.
The four people who stared up at her, around the pile of her belongings, with similar expressions of shock and guilt couldn’t have been more different. The one who had spoken was tall, even crouching she could tell, and his scruffy black hair stuck out at odd angles making it look as though he had just woken up. His outfit reminded her of something someone might have worn in “Saturday Night Fever.” His yellow silk shirt even had the collar turned up; even with the cigarette dangling from his lip he looked sexy. His hands looked like they were itching to hold a gun.
The larger man was intimidating. He wore a weird one-piece outfit that, had the sleeves not been ripped off, might have resembled the jumpsuits astronauts wore on the space station. His boots looked like the greaves of a medieval knight’s armor. He was bald-headed with a fringe of black hair on the sides that grew into sideburns and a beard; and a scar running through his right eye, with a strange metal something-or-other on his cheek. His left arm was mechanical, and a cigarette burned unchecked in its hand.
The woman was smoking as well. Her black hair had a bluish tinge to it, and she was tall, with a long waist, and skinny; which made her outfit more striking. She wore matching yellow (what looked like pleather or rubber) short low-rise shorts and a short cut tank that exposed all of her torso, from the bottom of her ribcage to well below her navel. The shorts were held up by suspenders and the whole thing was topped by a loose red shrug fastened with a knot.
The child, the girl, was the first to react. She smiled hugely, making her eyes almost close, and stood up. Her red hair and brown eyes contrasted nicely with her dark, sun-tanned skin. Her outfit was simple; a loose sleeveless white t-shirt and tight-fitting spandex shorts that stopped slightly below mid thigh. Her feet were bare.
“Hi!” It was amazing the amount of emotion that was packed into that single word. So much that the one syllable became two. “Ein likes you, so Ed does too.”
Jessica felt her eyebrows rise, Ein? That must be the dog, so Ed was…
“Ed. That’s an unusual name for a girl.” The girl grinned and Jessica smiled back.
“How did you figure that out?” the big man asked. He looked stunned. “It took us a whole day before we realized she was a girl.”
So, Jessica thought, they weren’t related, at least not to Ed, which made sense. “I have four nieces and three older sisters. I know.” The fact that they had been going through her stuff forgotten, she looked around, pausing to stare at the city that loomed outside the windows, then turned back to face the group. “I feel kind of silly for asking this, but is that Tokyo out there?” She pointed toward the hulking city. They nodded. “Good. Can you get me to shore? I need to get to the Newtronics Incorporated building so I can report in.” They looked confused. “See, I was a volunteer in a teleportation experiment, and something must have gone wrong”
She was cut off by the woman.
“Teleportation experiment? They gave up on that in 2012; and Newtronics went bankrupt not two years after.”
“What?” Jessica felt confused, but a glimmer of comprehension wormed its way into her thoughts. “Why did they give up on the experiment?” she whispered.
“They lost a volunteer. They say she disappeared and never showed up at the arrival point.”
What year is it?” Her eyes were wide, and she was pale and shaking.
“2071.” Jessica sat down abruptly, not caring that she sat on the table. The others stood up, keeping her in their line of sight.
“Me.” She nearly choked on the word. “The volunteer they lost was me. It was supposed to be a jump from Kansas in the U.S. to Tokyo; the first continent to continent teleport. But something must have gone wrong. I’m in Tokyo all right, but fifty-nine years in the future.”
Enter the Bebop Crew
”What the-what d’ya suppose that was?” Jet leaned forward, trying to get a better view of what had just landed on his ship; his cigarette dangled on the edge of his lip.
“Huh?” Spike looked up, barely awake from his recent nap.
“Something just landed on the Bebop. Christ! I think it’s a person!” Jet’s face was pressed against the glass.
“What?! Let me see.” Spike walked over to where Jet was standing. “Damn. You’re right. D’ya think they’re all right? Hey, I think the just fainted.” They both watched as the figure slumped sideways on the deck.
“What are you two staring at?” Faye walked up the stairs and then watched silently as Jet and Spike ran outside. “What’s gotten in to those two?”
“Ed knows.” Faye turned to stare at Ed, who was busy at her computer. “A person landed on the ship.”
“Really?” Faye moved to the window and stared out.
Jessica swam through blackness for an indeterminable length of time that was punctuated infrequently by the sound of muted voices, which brought random images up from the depths of her subconscious. The images made no sense to her, disjointed as they were. The first was deep and sonorous and brought images of mountains, waterfalls, and canyons. The second was a rough low tenor accompanied by deserts and wildfire. The third was female, light and airy, but with an acerbic edge to its undertones as if it were used to sarcasm; it ushered in images of predators, lions, tigers, wolves. The fourth and final voice was a child’s, high, with a laugh hiding inside waiting to break out and bringing burbling mountain streams and rivers. She resurfaced momentarily from the viscous blackness to a coolness on her forehead, but the mountain voice lulled her back under.
“What d’ya suppose happened to her?” Jet sat on the coffee table and stared at the twenty-something spiky-haired young woman that lay unconscious on the sofa.
“The real question is what do we do with her?” Spike sat on the chair opposite, arms crossed and a cigarette clamped firmly between his teeth. Jet glared at him over his shoulder.
“She fell out of the sky. Where d’you suppose she came from?”
“We could leave her here on Earth.” Faye leaned against the wall, her head tipped back as she contemplated.
“Where? We don’t have the money to leave her anywhere.” Spike retorted.
“You don’t need money to leave someone in an alley.”
“That’s inhuman! This is a person we’re talking about, not a stray dog.” Jet objected, his face red.
“Ed thinks her clothes look funny.” All three of them turned to look at Ed, who was busy rummaging through the contents of the woman’s backpack. “Ed thinks it all looks funny.” Ed held up a black t-shirt that read “I didn’t forget I just don’t care.”
“Ed!” Jet said, “you don’t just go through a person’s things.”
“Hey Ed, let me see that.” Faye had a strange look on her face, a mixture of shock and disbelief. She walked over to the pile of clothes and stuff that Ed had unceremoniously dumped out of the backpack. She looked hard at the shirt, Jet and Spike peering over her shoulders, then she rummaged through the pile, pulling out random objects for inspection.
“Not weird, old.” She said finally. “All of this stuff is old.” Her eyes were wide as she stared at the shirt again.
“What do you care if her fashion sense is a few years out of date?” Spike prodded the pile with his foot.
“I don’t mean old as in a few years old. I mean old as in a few decades. Close to six.” Faye picked up a small electronic device. “This was developed in 2012, when they first started using fuel cells in technology. This thing looks brand-new.”
“What is it?” Ed looked at it open-mouthed and wide-eyed.
“It’s a music player. And look,” Faye held up something else. “She has books from the 2000 years that are in good condition.” Faye waved the paperback. “This thing should have disintegrated years and years ago.”
Spike looked at the contents of the backpack with new interest. “So, how much do you think this stuff would be worth?”
“No!” The voice made them all jump guiltily.
They all turned to stare at the wild-eyed formerly unconscious woman who stood glaring at them furiously.
“Huh?” Spike looked up, barely awake from his recent nap.
“Something just landed on the Bebop. Christ! I think it’s a person!” Jet’s face was pressed against the glass.
“What?! Let me see.” Spike walked over to where Jet was standing. “Damn. You’re right. D’ya think they’re all right? Hey, I think the just fainted.” They both watched as the figure slumped sideways on the deck.
“What are you two staring at?” Faye walked up the stairs and then watched silently as Jet and Spike ran outside. “What’s gotten in to those two?”
“Ed knows.” Faye turned to stare at Ed, who was busy at her computer. “A person landed on the ship.”
“Really?” Faye moved to the window and stared out.
Jessica swam through blackness for an indeterminable length of time that was punctuated infrequently by the sound of muted voices, which brought random images up from the depths of her subconscious. The images made no sense to her, disjointed as they were. The first was deep and sonorous and brought images of mountains, waterfalls, and canyons. The second was a rough low tenor accompanied by deserts and wildfire. The third was female, light and airy, but with an acerbic edge to its undertones as if it were used to sarcasm; it ushered in images of predators, lions, tigers, wolves. The fourth and final voice was a child’s, high, with a laugh hiding inside waiting to break out and bringing burbling mountain streams and rivers. She resurfaced momentarily from the viscous blackness to a coolness on her forehead, but the mountain voice lulled her back under.
“What d’ya suppose happened to her?” Jet sat on the coffee table and stared at the twenty-something spiky-haired young woman that lay unconscious on the sofa.
“The real question is what do we do with her?” Spike sat on the chair opposite, arms crossed and a cigarette clamped firmly between his teeth. Jet glared at him over his shoulder.
“She fell out of the sky. Where d’you suppose she came from?”
“We could leave her here on Earth.” Faye leaned against the wall, her head tipped back as she contemplated.
“Where? We don’t have the money to leave her anywhere.” Spike retorted.
“You don’t need money to leave someone in an alley.”
“That’s inhuman! This is a person we’re talking about, not a stray dog.” Jet objected, his face red.
“Ed thinks her clothes look funny.” All three of them turned to look at Ed, who was busy rummaging through the contents of the woman’s backpack. “Ed thinks it all looks funny.” Ed held up a black t-shirt that read “I didn’t forget I just don’t care.”
“Ed!” Jet said, “you don’t just go through a person’s things.”
“Hey Ed, let me see that.” Faye had a strange look on her face, a mixture of shock and disbelief. She walked over to the pile of clothes and stuff that Ed had unceremoniously dumped out of the backpack. She looked hard at the shirt, Jet and Spike peering over her shoulders, then she rummaged through the pile, pulling out random objects for inspection.
“Not weird, old.” She said finally. “All of this stuff is old.” Her eyes were wide as she stared at the shirt again.
“What do you care if her fashion sense is a few years out of date?” Spike prodded the pile with his foot.
“I don’t mean old as in a few years old. I mean old as in a few decades. Close to six.” Faye picked up a small electronic device. “This was developed in 2012, when they first started using fuel cells in technology. This thing looks brand-new.”
“What is it?” Ed looked at it open-mouthed and wide-eyed.
“It’s a music player. And look,” Faye held up something else. “She has books from the 2000 years that are in good condition.” Faye waved the paperback. “This thing should have disintegrated years and years ago.”
Spike looked at the contents of the backpack with new interest. “So, how much do you think this stuff would be worth?”
“No!” The voice made them all jump guiltily.
They all turned to stare at the wild-eyed formerly unconscious woman who stood glaring at them furiously.
Cowboy Bebop: Another Girl, Another Planet
(Somewhere in Kansas-2012)
“Ready Miss Rhodes?” The small mousey technician looked around the monitor at the young woman on the platform. She nodded. “All right then, stand-by everyone.”
A chorus of “standing by” echoed across the lab. The young woman shifted where she stood; pulling on the shoulder straps of her backpack, mentally checking that she had everything: wallet, music player, plane ticket, books, phone, clothes, Japanese to English dictionary. Jessica Rhodes was a woman of average build, with steel grey eyes that sometimes looked blue or green, auburn hair, and a perpetual tan. By popular standards she might be pretty if, it dictated, she kept her hair in a conventional style (maybe not so short) and wore makeup. She was more comfortable in t-shirts and jeans than any designer fashions, despised pink, and never wore skirts. A strong and determined woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer, she had been in love only once.
Now she stood nervously on the small raised platform at Newtronics headquarters watching the lab technician and his assistant run through the final checklist.
“Stand-by Tokyo,” the technician spoke into a headset and, from her position, Jessica could hear faintly, “Standing by,” issuing from the earpiece.
“Ready?” the small man scanned the room. “Teleportation in five, four, three …” He was pressing buttons as he spoke, Jessica’s hand tightened on the strap of her backpack. “…two, one.” He pressed the final button. Jessica closed her eyes, but the light still blinded her as she became the first person to attempt a long-distance teleportation.
She landed with an audible thump, which she had expected, but was immediately disoriented by the rocking motion that threw her off balance. Jessica opened her eyes as she fell backward and glimpsed blue sky before she landed on her butt on the deck of… a ship? It was unlike any ship she had ever seen, besides a spaceship in a movie, yet it was rocking gently in a harbor near other ships like it. Was Japan developing some new type of ship? Obviously, something had gone wrong with the teleportation and she had somehow landed here. Jessica was distracted from her thoughts by a loud noise and looked up, expecting a plane, and saw… a space ship. It could be nothing else.
“Oh shit.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she panicked; her palms began to sweat and she was shook by spasms of trembling. She slowly started scooting her way backwards, only to be stopped by the railing. Jessica felt her breath come in ragged gasps as she turned and faced the monstrous impossible city before her.
“Ready Miss Rhodes?” The small mousey technician looked around the monitor at the young woman on the platform. She nodded. “All right then, stand-by everyone.”
A chorus of “standing by” echoed across the lab. The young woman shifted where she stood; pulling on the shoulder straps of her backpack, mentally checking that she had everything: wallet, music player, plane ticket, books, phone, clothes, Japanese to English dictionary. Jessica Rhodes was a woman of average build, with steel grey eyes that sometimes looked blue or green, auburn hair, and a perpetual tan. By popular standards she might be pretty if, it dictated, she kept her hair in a conventional style (maybe not so short) and wore makeup. She was more comfortable in t-shirts and jeans than any designer fashions, despised pink, and never wore skirts. A strong and determined woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer, she had been in love only once.
Now she stood nervously on the small raised platform at Newtronics headquarters watching the lab technician and his assistant run through the final checklist.
“Stand-by Tokyo,” the technician spoke into a headset and, from her position, Jessica could hear faintly, “Standing by,” issuing from the earpiece.
“Ready?” the small man scanned the room. “Teleportation in five, four, three …” He was pressing buttons as he spoke, Jessica’s hand tightened on the strap of her backpack. “…two, one.” He pressed the final button. Jessica closed her eyes, but the light still blinded her as she became the first person to attempt a long-distance teleportation.
She landed with an audible thump, which she had expected, but was immediately disoriented by the rocking motion that threw her off balance. Jessica opened her eyes as she fell backward and glimpsed blue sky before she landed on her butt on the deck of… a ship? It was unlike any ship she had ever seen, besides a spaceship in a movie, yet it was rocking gently in a harbor near other ships like it. Was Japan developing some new type of ship? Obviously, something had gone wrong with the teleportation and she had somehow landed here. Jessica was distracted from her thoughts by a loud noise and looked up, expecting a plane, and saw… a space ship. It could be nothing else.
“Oh shit.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she panicked; her palms began to sweat and she was shook by spasms of trembling. She slowly started scooting her way backwards, only to be stopped by the railing. Jessica felt her breath come in ragged gasps as she turned and faced the monstrous impossible city before her.
Hey there
Hello hello, for those who know my other blog at becausepublishingisiffy.blogspot.com this is my anime blog! I will be posting a periodical story here about Cowboy Bebop. See, I really didn't like the ending of that show, so I created a little story of my own to sort of make me feel better. I thought it would be interesting to speculate what would happen if someone from their past, our future, say 2012 was somehow transported to their present day in 2071 and was then stuck. With them. I wanted to figure out how they would react, to this unexpected guest. so, here it is. :)
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