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Story [Cowboy Bebop] Space Dementia (Newly updated! 28/11/08)

Discussion in 'Non Star Wars Fan Fiction' started by Penguinator, Jul 24, 2008.

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  1. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    Title: Space Dementia
    Author: Penguinator-176
    Genre: Suspense/Action/Sci-Fi/Humour/Horror
    Summary: The Bebop's crew finds an old wreck orbiting a remote Martian moon with hidden secrets.
    Other: Credit must go to Muse for their song "Space Dementia", a snippet of which leads into this story, and to Shinichiro Watanabe; he made Cowboy Bebop, I'm just playing in his sandbox. Feedback welcomed!



    H-8 is the one for me
    it gives me all I need
    and helps me co-exist with the chill

    Space Dementia by Muse

    [hr]
    [b]Space Dementia[/b]

    The hulking shape of the freighter came into focus as the pilot steered his craft closer. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming on the planet's dark side like a great predator. It was odd, the pilot mused, that such a ship should be so feared simply because of outward appearances. Then again, he thought, everyone's got their superstitions.

    "This the place?"

    The pilot nearly jumped out of his skin, thanking the sluggish physics of zero-gravity as his heart slowed. He probably would have shot straight to the ceiling if he was planetside.

    Looking back, he said, "Er, yeah, this is it, Spike."

    "Why are you smiling like that?"

    "Like what?"

    "Like that, something scare you?"

    The pilot looked away, his face colouring furiously. "No. No, nothing. You wanna take all day or do you wanna make some money?"

    Spike floated over to the windows, staring out at the derelict hulk, hands in his pockets, jacket sleeves rolled up. "How much money was it, Jet?"

    The pilot frowned. "Come on, Spike, you don't forget numbers that big."

    Spike turned around, grinning beneath his wild mop of hair. "Just tell me again. I wanna hear it again."

    Jet grinned, stretching his big arms out far, the left glinting from it's mechanical nature. He gave a chuckle. "Okay."

    ***

    Stretched out languidly on one of the Bebop's few seats that could be considered comfortable, two long, shapely legs draped over the back of the sofa, sharp eyes hidden behind sunglasses, was the sexiest gal this side of Mars. The other side too, for that matter.

    She wasn't exactly clueless about this fact, either. The skimpy yellow outfit she wore didn't so much accentuate her alluring figure as it did present it for all to see, much to the chagrin of some of her crewmates. Well, one crewmate, and she wasn't quite sure what he was so grumpy about half the time anyways.

    Her pleasant catnap was just getting to the good part, where she fell asleep.

    "Faye-Faye!"

    Her eyes snapped open in surprise, pain and anger as a skinny ball of energy dropped onto her stomach, jumping up and down.

    "Edward! I'm trying to sleep, damn it! Go play with the mutt or something!" With a heave, Faye managed to push the young girl off her, grunting in anger as she did so.

    "We're here, Faye-Faye! We're here!"

    Faye sat up suddenly - so soon? Maybe she'd stumbled upon a secret to meditation.

    ***

    "The Achilles," said Jet aloud, leaning over the sofa as Ed tinkered away on a set of 3D schematics floating in the darkened lounge. "Went missing a year ago, shipping some kinda new pharmaceuticals or something like that. Anyways, we found her, we get the bounty, lots of money for us."

    Spike's head perked up slightly at the mention of money. "I like big numbers with a lot of zeroes after them. Maybe we can get some decents grub after this job."

    Faye leaned forwards, brow furrowed. "If anything, that money's mine, after what you two pulled back at the casino!"

    Spike leapt to his feet, "It's not our fault your crappy scheme went down the drain, sister, we split the cash, hell, if anything, we get a bigger share than you!"

    "Well, excuse me, Mr. Spiegel, but it's not my fault I got stuck with the bills from the big sleep, okay? And as for my 'scheme', it was working out perfectly fine until you guys showed up!" yelled Faye, now on her feet as well.

    Jet raised his hands in exasperation, wanting to stop the fight but knowing there wasn't really anything he could do. Once they set
     
  2. Reynar_Tedros

    Reynar_Tedros Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 3, 2006
    [face_dancing]

    Awesome. Looking forward to more.
     
  3. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    I love this show, and you captured the Bebop?s crew perfectly in this. I could almost see the show playing in my mind as I was reading. Yeah, Jet would be the one superstitious here, Spike there for the money and some adventure, I?d dare say. The fight between Spike and Faye was done well, as was Edward?s eccentric ways. Will Ein be making any appearances? Nice job! If you are starting a PM list, I would very much like to be on it!


    --later--

    6669 [face_devil]
     
  4. blubeast1237

    blubeast1237 Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 10, 2007
    I think I just poopedied my pants. I love Cowboy Bebop, man, and you captured it awesomely. I felt like I was actually watching a part of the show. You know, the set up? Hehe, easy money.

    Also, this better just be the first session of many too.:cool:

    -B-
     
  5. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    Thanks for the feedback! This is only the first bit or so of the entire story - I may do another session sometime in the future, but that's on the horizon. Darth_Leia_6669, it wouldn't be a proper Bebop story without Ein! I will be sure to PM you the moment it's updated. Thanks again!
     
  6. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005


    The Swordfish launched from the Bebop with ease. Spike leaned into the old racer's seat, letting his hands rest gently on the controls. The Swordfish was like an old lover; he knew each and every detail of it blindfolded, could feel his way around with no effort at all. Cruising idly past rusted relics, long since abandoned by their pilots, he began to wonder if this was really worth all the money. "What's the matter, cowboy," he muttered to himself, "losing your cool?" With a chuckle, he dipped the Swordfish between two parallel scraps of steel.

    "Slow down you lunkhead!"

    Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Faye's slower ship - hot pink, of all things - swooping between wrecks. [i]Who buys a hot pink fighter? Hell, who even makes a hot pink fighter?[/i] This broad was really getting on his nerves. She should have been off the ship long ago, damn it, but Jet and his heart of gold just kept her around. There was probably some other reason than that, Spike thought, but he figured it was best to keep that quiet. If Jet thought he had a chance with her, he was in for a shock. Who could blame him? Those legs that went on forever, the way her smile toyed with you, it sucked you in.

    Hell, he'd even caught himself giving her the once over. She was sexy; no denying it. Sometimes, when he was able to tune out her voice, all that attitude - he couldn't stand women with attitude - she looked fine. Finer than fine. Perfect, almost. When she wasn't whining or complaining, her voice lilting gently, just that sort of purr... Those legs, the body, the smile, the eyes...

    "Hey, numbskull, quit your daydreaming and pay attention!" There it was again. The yelling. Spike sighed heavily. So much for a first date...

    Jet's voice crackled over the speakers. "Spike, are you listening to me?"

    The shaggy-haired bounty hunter laughed. "I was trying not to."

    He could almost picture Jet's look of exasperation back on the Bebop. With more than a healthy edge of annoyance in his voice, the ex-cop said, "Like I was saying, Spike, Ed's hacked into the ship's systems. It's actually in pretty good condition, except for the engines and a big layer of dust everywhere." Faye sighed.

    "Dust? I hate dust."

    ***

    Faye's white boots hit the metal floor of the ship's docking bay with a light clunk. For a ship that hadn't been seen in a year, the Achilles was surprisingly tidy. It was, oddly enough, clean and tidy. No small craft remained in the cargo ship's belly. Spike remembered reading something Jet had shown to him about the job; no survivors or escape pods were ever found. He had a sneaking suspicion that something was going to go wrong very soon. This was way too simple a job for the amount of cash they were getting.

    "There's nothing here. Nothing at all," said Faye aloud. Spike nodded. "No one was ever found. No survivors. So no one got off the ship..."

    Faye finished the sentence. "And there are no bodies or skeletons."

    Spike smiled grimly. "Not here, anyways."

    ***

    Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, goggles wrapped about her eyes, orange hair spiking about brilliantly, flew through the systems of the Achilles. Life support was working excellently, recycling air at an unheard of quality. The only real explanation was that no other vital systems were being used - almost as if someone had made the concious decision to route all additional power to artifical gravity and atmosphere. "Engine go vroom?" she mused, swooping down to another, darker node. A few simple glances gave her the answer she wanted: ENGINE DAMAGE EXCEEDS VARIABLES.

    Well, she wouldn't try to start the engines, then. And she'd leave life support alone, after one last check, just to make sure...

    A little screen on the bright green life support node, previously unseen, began to blink rapidly. With a few short keystrokes, Ed brought it into view: the same layout of the ship they'd seen before with a multitude of red dots milling about it. She brought it up on her main screen, pulling off her goggles. "What's this, Ein?"

    The sma
     
  7. Reynar_Tedros

    Reynar_Tedros Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 3, 2006
    I'm not familiar with this franchise at all, but you still manage to make it entertaining, and make me want to read more. Good work.
     
  8. blubeast1237

    blubeast1237 Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 10, 2007
    Giggety. I love Spike and now its time for him to break out the old Jericho. Question though, are ou making up the Spike eyeing of Faye, or was it seen more in the movie? I do remember thinking I saw something in him like her in the movie.

    Once again, nice job.

    -B-
     
  9. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    They had a moment at the end of the series, and Watanabe (the creator of the show) has hinted that Spike is sort of indirect with his feelings. I just figure they're both playing hard to get.
     
  10. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    It's never easy for them, is it? [face_laugh] Must be something about making the show interesting or something... :eek: [face_laugh]

    Liked the way Spike started daydreaming about Faye, always wondered what was up with them. I'm still convinced they snuck around at least once, but maybe not. She does get quite annoying at times!

    Yay, there's Ein! (always loved the dog for some reason [face_love] ) You're right, it wouldn't be a proper Bebop story without him!

    Awesome, and keep me on that list please!

    --later--
    6669 [face_devil]
     
  11. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005


    Stirring silently in the dark, Olaf got to his feet. Another day, another fight, another death...perhaps it would be his turn today. It would prove an end to this constant struggle - [i]they[/i] were always out there, watching and waiting and biding their time, snatching up anyone foolish enough to step out of the safety of their fortified walls. A few crates and the wreckage from one of their would-be saviours worked quite well as makeshift reinforcements. They'd even managed to rig up one of the ship's smaller guns as a mounted turret. As long as they kept their watch vigilant, the survivors could hold out.

    Olaf laughed inwardly at the irony of it. Those things out there were survivors, too.

    The bearded man checked his pistol - more like a handheld cannon - six bullets rested in the magnum's chambers. [i]More than enough[/i], he thought, [i]to kill anything that moves[/i]. Of all the things he'd found on the Achilles with his fellows, this was his favourite and most treasured. More than a weapon, the pistol was a tool, an inspiration, a reminder of how hard he had to fight to live.

    He checked the watch. All alive, all awake, but tired. Some were just children, no more than thirteen. Of all the people who had been aboard the Achilles, Olaf was now the oldest. At sixty-five, his beard and hair had grown long and lost its colour, but his hand remained as steady as ever. Whenever the younger men asked him about his rock steady shot, he'd always explain that he was a hunter back on one of Mars' moons. He never could recall the name of the place, he said, and that ended the talk. The younger fighters would always speculate about what hunting ground he had claimed, assuming of course that it was one of those few moons converted for wildlife. He couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't hunt...at least not wild animals.

    "John, how are we this morning?" he asked softly. The sentry looked up at him.

    "I was clean all night, but I think Mary over there had to tag a few of 'em," said John with a yawn, rubbing his eyes. "I've gotta get soem shut-eye, sir, sorry."

    Olaf smiled warmly. "No need to apologize, John; you go get some rest."

    The young man smiled, packing up his kit and returning to the warmth of the living quarters. Following their network of hallway blockades, he came to the woman Mary.

    "Mornin', sir!" she barked cheerfully, polishing the rifle that kept her safe through the night.

    "Morning, Mary. John says you tagged a few of them last night? You okay?"

    She grinned, a big toothy affair. She pushed a dreadlock out of her face. "More'n okay, boss, I managed to hit 'em where it hurts!"

    Olaf smiled. "Glad to hear it. Nothing new to report?"

    She shook her head. "Nah, same ol' same ol'. I'm off, sir, gotta get home afore my man wakes up," she said with her big grin.

    Olaf dipped his head, gesturing her to the safety of home. Mary was good. A fighter, strong and proud. [i]Proud Mary[/i], he mused, humming the tune to himself, smiling.

    His crackling radio cut short the memories of the song. "Sir, we've got five bogeys tracking to your position. Suggest you man the big gun."

    With a glance at the local viewscreen, he counted the heat signatures himself, noting how close they were. "No time to warm her up, control." With that, Olaf drew his pistol, checking the chambers once again. Six shots. Five bogeys. Easy math.

    Around the corner came a blur of motion. He levelled his right hand, staring down the barrel.
    "Wait until you see them, old man..." he muttered to himself. As the things neared, he squinted in surprise. Two of them were human - true humans, running from the three things. A man in a blue jacket and a woman in yellow and not much else, approaching fast. No time to let them find cover.

    "Heads down!" he bellowed, taking aim at the first thing. The revolver went off with a mighty crack.

    ***

    Spike heard the man yell something, indistinguishable over the screeches and howls behind them. He heard the shot before anything else, dropping to the floor, pulling Fay
     
  12. blubeast1237

    blubeast1237 Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 10, 2007
    Spike...outgunned?[face_worried]

    Dude, please start PMing me when this is updated.

    -B-
     
  13. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    OOOH, this doesn't sound good. It's a good thing I know Spike's fighting style doesn't require weapons! But would even that be enough?

    Love this story, pulls you right in and begging for more! Keep me on that list please! [face_dancing]

    --later--
    6669 [face_devil]
     
  14. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    I solemnly swear that this will be updated soonish...most likely in the next week or so, depending on how hard I study for midterms...
     
  15. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    Yikes...no updates since September? I'll have to fix that for you guys.




    Tempered from hard years, Olaf's nerves never got the better of him. His hands were steady, strong, fluid, and fast. They had to be, with a life like his, and if this youngster wanted to figure out just how good a shot he was the hard way, then so be it. The handgun lay out of harm's way, behind the kid. Don't go trying anything now, thought the old man, his resolve hard as steel with aim to match.

    ***

    Spike bit his lip in frustration. A little voice in his head told him to cool off and try to talk to the man, but a far bigger voice told him to get his gun back.

    "Pretty good...for an old timer." Spike mused, standing up slowly, hands up. The old man scowled. Spike had him.

    "Don't try anything now, boy. You won't make it."

    Spike smirked, shifting his weight. "Don't miss, pal."

    Faye stared in shock at the two. "What the hell are you two doing? Would you just put down your-"

    "Stay down, ma'am." interrupted the old man.

    "Ma'am?" howled Faye, shooting to her feet.

    Spike spun around, diving for his Jericho. Over Faye's yelling, he still managed to hear the hammer pull back. Out of time, thought Spike, his hand finding the butt of the pistol. He grabbed hold, spun around, pulled the trigger - too late! The revolver cracked, spitting death at Spike. Without thinking, he pulled the trigger, returning fire. A sharp, metallic ringing filled the air, sparks emanating from nowhere. Bullets ricocheted around the narrow corridor, embedding themselves harmlessly in the walls.

    ***

    Olaf's aim faltered for the first time in a long time. He lowered his revolver, jaw agape. An empty silence filled the air of the corridor. He patted his chest, amazed that he was uninjured. "How-?" he mumbled, staring in disbelief. Against all odds, the bullets had collided in midair, slamming into each other and ricocheting away into harmless resting places.

    He's either better than you, thought Olaf, or he wants to help out. Either way, he figured, it was probably a good idea to put his gun away.

    "How about this - we talk."

    ***

    Spike tried to relax, managing to keep his adrenaline in check. "Sounds good to me." He slipped his gun into it's holster.

    Faye finally stood up, saying, "Away from the monsters, please."

    As the three turned to the barricade, she whispered to Spike, "I didn't know you could do that, that was incredible!"

    Spike only grinned, figuring it was probably better to let them both think that he'd meant to shoot the other bullet out of the air.

    [hr]
     
  16. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    Yeah Spike, let them believe you did that on purpose. I won't tell no one...;)

    I'm glad that Olaf decided to talk. After all, I'm not sure Spike could pull that trick a second time. Plus I think that it's for the best, given the situation and all. Nice update, and I hope to see more soon!

    --later--
    6669 [face_devil]
     
  17. blubeast1237

    blubeast1237 Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 10, 2007
    Haha, the don't miss part was so Spike.

    I remember in the show how he used to shift between foot use, especially while he was fighting.

    NICE update and Thanks for bringing this back, not to suck up to you, but you really are capturing the image of the show.

    -B-
     
  18. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    I'm glad you guys think so, because at times I feel like I'm grabbing at stuff that isn't there! :p
     
  19. blubeast1237

    blubeast1237 Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 10, 2007
    And isn't that what Christmas is truly about?

    -B-
     
  20. Penguinator

    Penguinator Former Mod star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 23, 2005
    Well, Christmas is about giving, but I suppose you could extrapolate that.
     
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