Chapter Text
Jet had removed the goggles, then bandaged Carerro's arm as the bounty glared balefully at him. Jet liked the way Spike had cuffed him. Would be hard to get out of THAT, but they still had to keep an eye on him.
The two walked away from him, out of earshot but where they could still see him. Both reached for a cigarette and lit up. Blowing smoke, Spike eyed Jet's injured shoulder, "You going to be ok to fly?" It just occurred to Jet that it would be hard to pilot the Hammerhead with an injured wing. Shit! He really did NOT want Spike on Mars. Not yet. He groaned.
Spike blew out a long stream of smoke, considering. "I'll do it. Don't know anyone in Alba City, it should be ok."
Jet was extremely unhappy. He had gotten accustomed to having Spike around, someone that he could depend on, and he didn't want to lose him. Poor kid deserves a chance, can't let him throw it away. Spike interrupted his thoughts. "Forget about it, I'll take him down. It's been at least four months, if anyone was looking for me they'd have given up by now." Spike turned and smiled at him "It'll be exciting!"
Spike hung out in the living area, gun in hand, watching Carerro. He wouldn't mind giving the asshole a kick or two, but refrained, half fearing he wouldn't stop once he got started. Gotta bring 'em back alive. Damn. Jet returned from the bridge and reported that they were a few hours away from Mars. He didn't want to stick around, but decided to splash down in Alba City anyway. The bounty hunters broke out a deck of cards and started a game of gin. Spike had broken out a couple cans of cola, which they enjoyed while they played and chatted. Bounty head's complaints about his discomfort were pointedly ignored by the two playing cards.
It was Spike's first landing on the Bebop, and actually his first water landing in a ship that size. He wished he could have been on the bridge to see it, but even from where he sat it was a unique sensation. He could feel the ship descending, slowing. Then it was on the water, slowing even more, coasting to the dock that Jet had arranged to rent for a few hours. There was a slow rocking motion that he found to be rather pleasant. Spike smiled.
Jet emerged from the bridge, "Ok, we're docked." Then lowering his voice, "just be careful, ok?"
Spike nodded and headed over to uncuff Carerro from the ladder then cuffed his hands behind his back just to be safe. He stuffed him into the Swordfish and jumped in after him. Jet opened the door to let him out, urging him to hurry back.
The Swordfish sped off towards the police station. Carerro was starting to sweat, and frankly, Spike thought, he was starting to smell. Well, he'd smelled worse he thought, shuddering at the memory. He glanced down periodically at the man's hands to make sure he wasn't going to try anything and was satisfied that he was secure. Thankfully, he spent the trip in silence so he wouldn't have to listen to him. Spike was finding perspiration forming on his own forehead. It had been four months since he escaped, he has to have been written off by now. It's probably going to be a while before I get over that he thought.
Thankfully, there were no further incidents as he turned in Carerro and was given the code to collect the bounty. He headed over to the kiosk and slid his card into the waiting slot, punched in the code and the screen displayed a picture of Carerro with a line through his face, saying "captured" below it. The machine indicated that the card had been paid, so he withdrew it and shoved it into his hip pocket, pleased. He lit a congratulatory cigarette and turned to head back to his waiting speeder.
The police station was in a skanky part of town, but Spike didn't quicken his pace. Hands in pockets, he was halfway to the Swordfish when he passed a trash receptacle. Pausing, he noticed a half wadded up flyer at the top of the heap with some Chinese writing of a name on it that caught his attention. Taking it out, he spread out the wrinkles and saw that it was a "Missing person" flyer that was dated from four months ago. There was an old, slightly unfocused picture of himself looking back at him from the paper. There was a reward for any information regarding his whereabouts accompanied by a phone number to call in Tarsis. Stomach churned. Yeah, time to go. Shit.
That was taken when I was in high school. I don't look much like that any more anyway he thought, wadding the flyer up and tossing it back into the trash. Good thing I didn't have any recent pictures taken!
Spike didn't waste any time getting into the Swordfish then heading back to the Bebop. As he approached for a landing, he saw Jet on the bridge waiting for him. A smile broke out on the big guy who waved, then moved to open the door for him. Jet hadn't left the bridge since Spike took off with Carerro. Cursing his clumsiness at getting himself shot, he waited with growing concern for the young man to return. Spike had the bounty money and presented the card to Jet so he could distribute the funds among the accounts.
"Run into any trouble?"
Spike shrugged, "Nope. Piece of cake. Which reminds me, what's for dinner?"
"Something special, I think. You'll find out," he said with a wink. Not wanting to stick around, Jet moved towards the bridge to take off. He wanted to head back to the asteroid belt for a while. Spike wanted to watch, so he followed him and took a seat in the navigator's chair in front of and just below Jet's.
The Bebop pulled away from the dock, slowly turning out towards open water, then picked up speed. Spike watched fascinated as the waves crashing on the front of the ship grew smaller as it rose from the sea, up towards space. After a single orbit, Jet locked in his course, then rose to make supper.
Left on his own, Spike yawned and stretched elaborately, then parked himself on the sofa in the living area. Checking the time, he reached out with his foot and switched on the vid screen.
... are all you 300,000 bounty hunters in the solar system doing?
It's time for BIG SHOT, the show that brings you information about fugitives!