Episode 25 - The Real Folk Blues (part 1)

Vicious plans to assassinate the heads of the Syndicate, but his plans fail. Instead of killing Vicious on the spot, the Syndicate takes him to a holding cell. Meanwhile, Spike and Jet are sitting at a bar, reminiscing about Ed, Faye, and Ein. As they are talking, men outside open fire on them and Spike and Jet duck behind the bar. Spike turns to fire on one of them, but he recognizes the guy as Shin, Lin's twin brother.

Lin tells Spike that Vicious is going to be executed and covers them while they make their escape. That night, as Jet is being treated for a bullet wound, Spike remembers his past with Julia.

Meanwhile, Faye receives a communication from Spike, who tells her that he's heading to the city of Tharsis. He explains that Jet got shot in the leg and needs someone to help him now. As she's listening, a blond woman in a red convertible is being chased by a group of men. She shoots out the tires in one car and the blond woman picks her up. They continue to flee, Faye returning the fire from a second car.

After escaping from the pursuers, the pair begins to talk. Faye offers the blond woman a partnership in the bounty hunter trade, but the blond woman declines. She tells Faye she's looking for a bounty hunter though and drives her back to Faye's fighter. As they are driving, they exchange names and Faye is surprised when the blond woman says, "Julia." Julia tells Faye to tell Spike that she will be waiting there, a message that Spike will understand.

Meanwhile, Jet quietly warns Spike about the impending mission. He asks Spike not to think too much about the past, as if searching for proof that he was alive. Spike responds that this woman in his past was his proof that he was alive, which is why he must find her.As they are flying, they run into Faye. She goes to tell Spike the message, but the Bebop falls under attack. Meanwhile, Jet receives a message from one of his ISSP buddies that there was an attempted coup in the Syndicate and that Spike is in danger. However, fighter jets from the Syndicate are already headed towards the Bebop. Spike and Faye launch to defend the Bebop.

At the same time, the Syndicate prepares to kill Vicious. Before they fire, his crow returns and chaos ensues. Vicious is freed and he kills the current heads of the Syndicate with the help of other conspirators. After defeating all the fighters, Spike goes to the place where Julia will be. He shows up with a rose, but she shows up with a gun.