Poppins

"Who said bounty hunting was easy?"

"Who said you wouldn't have to travel across the galaxy to find your bounty?"

I began to figure it was that same nerd who invented high heeled pointy toed shoes for women. Those suckers hurt! I relied on my fantastic out dated tennis shoes and my glorifying seen better days holey jeans. Talk about comfy...

I shifted the gears from light flight to heavy flight and held on for dear life while the ship made the change. These outdated ships had not been built for comfort, and if you were one of those unfortunate people to ride in one you already knew that. But, it was all I could afford on my salary. So, why complain? Freelance work paid the bills and allowed me to take a holiday any time I wanted one. Therefore, no complaining, I reminded myself.

Miles and miles of space flashed before my eyes as the ship sped up and my retirement aged body slowed down. Traveling at speeds like these would keep me younger I'd been told. I remembered just laughing and asking for my paycheck. Age wasn't a factor for me... money was...

"Bata... bata three..." came a friendly voice on my subspace radio. "Hey, Bata!" I found myself calling back. "I'm three thousand miles out and closing. Is Jimmy Hopper nearby? Over..."

"You betcha... Bata, over..." came the sweet answering voice. "You've been out there too long, girly!"

I had to laugh. "I certainly have to depend on Jimmy," I answered rather amused at myself for asking about the antique sex robot I'd used a million times in the past when I'd been in this sector of the galaxy. "Get the old feller up and ready to hop!" I called back before I closed down the channel.

"Affirmative..." came the sweet reply. "He'll have his pucker up for you."

The reliable goat would be wonderful in bed before I began hunting for my bounty. A good fuck always settled down my nerves before I traveled across the known universe and beyond. Besides the bounty was just too good to pass up. I laughed again, what else did I have to do with the remainder of my life? Sittin'Ã? Â on a porch drinking lemonade with my old man wasn't gonna be happening in my life time. but, hey, I'd known that years ago.

Ã? Â I began my descent towards the plant and reduced my speed to light-flight. That's when I noticed a strange purple and gold ship circling the little planet. I'd been told that Nemo had broken out of prison in a night flight purple and gold equipped ship. And if I didn't miss my guess that was a night flight ship in the exact colors.

"Bata..." I found myself calling out in a too friendly tone towards theÃ? Â planet below me.

"Gotcha..." came the, really to quick, reply back. Bata was never used. That struck me as strange as the station itself had asked for its landing parties to use that word in communication with them.

"Bata..." I repeated again. "Don't tell me that Jimmy Hopper is too tired for me tonight... over."

"Jimmy is hopping and ready to go," came the reply. Once again the required word was deleted.

"Can I land on track, one hundred?" I asked.

"Track one hundred is open and waiting," came the answering sugary voice. "Jimmy will be waiting for your arrival."

I switched off the communications, shifted the neglected tub to landing and began loading up my guns. The only thing meeting me on track one hundred was Nemo.

My descent was slow and as always clicked to the ground without a hitch. These antique birds were known for that too. Perfect landings every time. You just had to love 'em even if it was only for that. I put my gun belt around my waist just as my doors opened and Nemo stepped inside.

"It's good to see you Poppins!" He said in a laughter filled voice. "You're going my way then... huh?" His glowing greenish eyes tried to give me faith where none existed...

"Looks like..." I answered calmly. Nemo and I knew each other from years back during the world's Carnival Fair they annually held every twelve full moons over in the Cinderella Galaxy. I'd collected fifteen franks for his capture and a membership to the fair every year since. His capture had been well worth my time. My stomach growled for those gravity defying hotdogs they sold every year.

"What's my bounty this year?" He asked smoothly as he stepped further into my ratty old girl.

"As always," I answered feeling kinda giddy, but fighting hard not to show it, "it's well worth my time."

"Care to share?" He inquired. "Split it fifty-fifty." He nodded in my direction. "Just you and me."

I leaned backÃ? Â onto the side of my view port just so I could take an unknown gander out the window. My insides felt like it was Christmas day again. I had to do this just right or everything was gonna be blown.

"Fifty-fifty you say?" I remarked while keeping the corner of my eye focused onÃ? Â the figure of Jimmy Hopper walking towards me like an out dated rental robot looking for the junk yard. The outdated bucket of rust still looked appealing to me. I have to keep him busy, I reminded myself.

"Whatcha gonna do with money in the hole?" I asked stiffly.

"I'll escape," he replied nonchalantly, "and head off into parts unknown for years to come."

Jimmy wobbled into the door just behind Nemo, startling him.

Quickly, I pulled out my pistol and let him have it in the leg, just like the old days. He toppled over and fell to the floor screaming.

"Jimmy!" I called out ever so glad to make his acquaintance once again.

Hours later after I'd collected my bounty and Jimmy and I had had our round in bed several times. I rose and headed out to my ship. Today, was a fine day to go on a vacation to parts unknown. I'd heard that Harold, the hot dog man, had vanished from plain sight in this direction some five months ago. Who knew how long his private hot dog was. I'd laughed when I'd said that to myself. Perhaps, I spent way too much time by myself laughing at my own bad jokes. Who knew and who cared. I'd made my farewells to the crew and I was off in search of more adventures with bounties to collect. Life wasn't boring in my corner of the universe. It was exciting! I felt it would always be exciting! But then I was Poppins no less. The last one in the known universe...