Session 14

The following week was a grueling one. Quinn was in and out of questioning for days while Mack prepared to face a judge. When the mask had came back from the lab, the results showed that Mack had left undeleted footage within the masks files.  

The biggest piece of leftover evidence that Mack had failed to remove from the device was footage of her directly threatening Quinn with her plans the very first night she had stolen the mask. The evidence provided was indisputable, and on the morning of Quinn's fifth day spent in the station, she heard that Mack's verdict had gone through.

She was found guilty on account of multiple 1st degree murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, trespassing, and the list went on. She was sentenced to life in prison without  possibility for parole. Quinn was delighted to hear how brutal her punishment was going to be, and it gave her even more power to know that Mack had requested to talk to her before being sent away. Quinn declined her request knowing that whatever she had to say was most likely not worth her time. 

She figured if she ever wanted to speak with Mack again she could surely visit her in prison. Quinn knew Mack wasn't going to be busy anytime soon so there was really no need rush. 

Once Mack was officially sent away, Quinn began the transition back to her normal life. She knew it wasn't going to be easy considering her reputation, but as soon as Mack's guilty verdict hit the media, Quinn's name made headlines galaxy wide. 

Of course there was much more to clean up besides her name, but thankfully Quinn had a very refutable lawyer to back her up. She had been in and out of countless meetings with her all day, and once they were all finally over, Quinn was cleared to head home. 

That night was possibly the most reliving night of her life. After months spent away from home and days being kept behind bars, she was finally free to live again. 

Once Quinn had left the police station, she began making her way back to her apartment which her lawyer had graciously reopened for her. 

When Quinn stepped out of the station she noticed how warm it was. She quickly removed Spikes coat (which she had been wearing for days now) before swinging it over her shoulder. She hated that she was still holding on to the damn thing, but to be fair it was the only source of warmth she had on her. She was carrying it for survival reasons and that was all. 

The night was still young, and as Quinn made her way down the  bustling city streets, a streak of purple hair caught her eye in the distance. She stopped for a moment before realizing who it was. 

"Faye!" Quinn shouted. She watched as Faye waved before quickly breaking into a light jog.

"I'm assuming you're headed to collect Mack's bounty?" Quinn inquired once Faye had caught up to her. 

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she heaved as she caught her breath. 

"What're you doing out here so late anyways?" Quinn asked, and Faye turned her head towards  the massive skyscraper that towered over the city streets just a few blocks away. 

"Ah, so you're a gambler," Quinn raised an eyebrow as she watched the bright, twinkling lights of the casino sign shimmer in the distance. 

"It's a side hustle," she shrugged through a smile as her eyes darted towards the jacket that hung lazily over Quinn's right shoulder. 

"Is that Spike's?" She asked suddenly, and Quinn began to blush. 

"Yeah, it is," Quinn's expression twisted as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She hated the effect Spike still had over her even though it had been days since she last saw him. Why couldn't she just forget about him already? 

 "Uh, how's he doing by the way?" Quinn asked nervously. She bit her tongue after posing the question. Did she really care to know? Regardless, the words had already left her mouth and it was too late to take it back now.  Faye tilted her head quizzically as she paused to think. 

"Same old same old. He already claimed his share of the bounty, but I'm not sure where he is now," she added with a shrug, and Quinn frowned in response. She was almost hoping Faye would say he was with her, or maybe that she was going to meet up with him soon. She wanted to see him again, but it didn't look like she was going to tonight. 

"I see," Quinn paused before a sudden question popped into her mind. 

"Oh I've been meaning to ask, how much am I- well, Mack, worth anyways?" Quinn asked, and a surprised expression grew upon Faye's face. 

"You don't know?" She raised an eyebrow. Quinn shook her head.

"175 million Woolongs," she grinned happily. Quinn's eyes almost popped out of her head. 175 million Woolongs? There had to be some sort of error there... No way she was worth that much!

"You're kidding me, right?" Quinn laughed sarcastically as Faye happily shook her head. 

"Nope! This will keep us set for quite sometime," she smiled again, clasping her hands in front of her face excitedly. 

"I definitely owe you one, give me your transfer info, I'll send you some reward money once my accounts unfreeze," Quinn asked as she pulled out her cellphone. Faye was quick to input her information, and after a quick thank you and a short goodbye, Faye had disappeared into the night. 

As Quinn continued her journey home, she wished she at least had the chance to say goodbye to Jet one last time. It saddened her to think she probably wouldn't run into him, or any of them again, but a the same time she new it wasn't personal. They were bounty hunters after all, and Quinn new she was noting but a lengthy trade deal. 

She shook her negative thoughts out of her head as she continued walking down the crowded city streets. The nightlife scene was a big part of her old life, and for the first time in awhile she finally felt like she was at home. 

The best part of it all was the fact that she was no  longer a wanted criminal. She occasionally got a glance or two from a passing stranger, but since her name had been publicly cleared, no one asked her any questions. It was nice being a free woman again. 

...

The walk home was short, and as soon as she reached her apartment building, a wave of tranquility washed over her. She was so happy to finally be safe, and even though she was leaving a piece of her behind in the past, she didn't dwell on her sorrow. Instead she embraced her emotions, and as she used her fingerprint to unlock the door to the lobby, she smiled a genuine smile that she hadn't expressed in ages. 

It was refreshing, and as she took the glass elevator all the way up to the top floor of her building, she didn't allow herself to think about the Bebop crew at all, especially not the man she was trying her absolute hardest to completely remove from her memory. 

When she reached her floor she stepped out of the elevator and made her way to her apartment. When she got to her front door she noticed there was a note from her lawyer stuck beneath the doors peephole . 

Someone dropped off your shuttle earlier, it's parked in your usual space on the rooftop! Left the keys on your table!

Quinn smiled as she pulled the note off the door. She didn't even want to think about who had dropped it off for her, so she just pretended like her lawyer had managed to retrieve it. Of course there was a little voice in the back of her head telling her who had really done the favour for her, but as far as she was concerned, that voice was stupid and needed to shut up immediately. 

 She placed her finger along the reader and as the door swung open in front of her, she was greeted by the pleasant smell of lavender and vanilla. 

Quinn's lawyer had sure hired a magician to take care of the place. The apartment was spotless. Quinn closed the door behind her before taking off her shoes and making her way towards the living area. Her fireplace was lit, and a handful of candles were left burning on the glass coffee table. 

She walked through the living room and down the hallway that lead to her bedroom. Before she explored the rest of her apartment, she had something to take care of first. Once she made it into her room, she immediately pushed the door open and sprinted towards her walk in closet.

She threw open the sliding doors before rushing to grab a free hanger. She threw Spikes jacket off of her shoulders before hanging up his coat behind a massive row of her own assorted jackets and blazers. 

 As she tucked the blue fabric into the depths of her closet, she fought the urge to take it out and get rid of it. But as she walked away from her massive collection of clothing, she knew she couldn't get rid of it; at least not yet. 

She was ready to forget him, but she didn't want to let him go.

...

That night Quinn swore slept better than she'd ever had in her entire life. She finally had her own bed, in her own home, without any distractions at all. There was no need to sleep with one eye open, and for the first time  in ages she fell asleep with a full stomach. 

Sleep was her release, especially since she knew she'd have the chance to sleep in the following morning. Quinn wasn't required to step back into work until Microz was able to get her files sorted out. After disappearing for nine months and having her name slandered across the entire galaxy, it was going to be hard for her to return to her original position. 

Luckily for her she still had a job. Since Mack was now gone they needed someone to fill her position, and of course now that Quinn was back, she was the first person considered for the placement. It was just going to take a little bit of time before she could fully return. 

If anything, Quinn was glad everything had played out the way it had. Her technology was now  making headlines, and she knew when she got back to work that her tech would be her primary focus. It was nothing but smooth sailing ahead of her for now.

Finally the fantasy she had been dreaming about for so long had now came to life. She didn't have to run anymore, and although she was initially skeptical about returning to her old life, her first night back at home quickly snapped her out of that mindset. 

She enjoyed her job, and even though Mack wasn't in her life anymore, that first night she spent alone in her cell was more than enough to tell her she didn't have a life running either.

No one as waiting for her on either side, and she was ok with that. It was time for her to focus on herself. No distractions, no running, no crazy ex-girlfriends, and no more space cowboys.