Session 14: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Across the universe, hundreds of hypergates have suddenly been sabotaged. The saboteurs have been paid by several blind transactions from an untraceable account. The hypergate manufacturers response: a huge bounty for all the saboteurs! But when all are caught...none of them know the ringleader!

On the Bebop, Jet, Faye, and Spike have returned with the only clues on their search: a chess piece, which Ed discovers is really a link to play Chess on the Net. Ed begins to play, while Jet heads off to talk to the company.

Once there, Jet is informed that in no uncertain terms is he to do anything other than catch the bounty. No questions, no nothing. But a bug Jet planted allows him to learn about a man named Chessmaster Hex, who helped design the Hypergates.

Back on the Bebop, a little digging reveals that Chessmaster Hex went missing years ago after a small spat with the company over the safety of the Hypergates. So where is Hex? Why, playing chess against Ed over the net, of course!

After tracing the signal, Spike and Faye head to an old drifter's home, only to find that Hex is now a 90 year old, senile man who has forgotten everything about the hypergates. He has since forgotton about the arrangements of the sabotage, and now lives only to play chess.

Jet makes a deal with the company. No bounty, and their secret stays safe...as long as no one touches Hex. But, back on the Bebop, Ed finally loses to Hex. Afterwards, Hex dies.

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...