Chapter 12: Whiskey You're the Devil
Oh, whiskey you're the devil.
You're leading me astray
-The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem
Faye found her victim quickly. He was busy bragging to a thomas caravan the perks of a motorized vehicle. "Ol' g'rl's ri' ov'r th're," Faye followed his flailing, leathery tan arm. "Bes' damn c'r on th' pl'net. Don' cos' much t' drive an' I c'n take 'roun' 'bout ten." She slunk closer when the man steered towards a local watering hole. Taking a deep breath, she put on her easy lay mask, ducked inside and ordered a shot. Parking nearby the grizzled man, she smiled seductively as she licked the back of her hand and sprinkled some salt.
"Damn, g'rlie. I ain't 'ever seen some'ne take a shot like th't." She licked the white granules off slowly, green locked on his squinty eyes. Cup to her lips, she gulped the glass' contents and popped the planet's interpretation of a lime into her mouth. Her smile grew when she caught him tripling his drinks for her every one. She ordered two more, following the same routine and pretending the cheap brand was far better than the turpentine on acid it was. She sniggered, he'd downed enough drinks to make Spike tipsy and she'd only been playing the game for a little over ten minutes. He ordered her a fourth shot, his garbled speech undecipherable now.
Playing drunker than she was she slipped off the stool and relieved the poor fellow of his precious keys. Giggling sweetly and swaying slightly she stood, glancing at her nonexistent watch. "Oh, my." She covered her mouth to titter, "I'd better go or my boyfriend will be pissed!" She wobbled and pouted, "He's always so jealous." Arm draped over her target's shoulder she wagged her finger. "Why just last week he beat three of my best guy friends up jus' cuz we were doin' shots. Can you believe that?" The congenial man's face fell, any hope of following dashed with the purposely innocent comment. She staggered a few feet towards the door, "Thanks for the company." She took the time to blow him a kiss before making her way out of the shady little bar.
Ed looked up at the tipsy shadow across her lap. Faye had returned, listing slightly to the left. She plopped gracelessly next to Ed with a sigh. The drinks she'd imbibed were disgusting; their effects, now hitting full force, were making the sway and flow of passing people unsettling. To avoid throwing up in the town center, she flopped over on the bench, her foot firmly planted on the ground, arm shielding her eyes.
"Silly Faye-Faye." The teen snickered, popped another doughnut in her mouth and quietly resumed people watching. She waved happily to a familiar, spiky haired blond across the way.
Teal eyes narrowed, jaw clenched as he marched towards the pair. "Faye! Faye!" She was forcefully wrenched up and violently shaken, "What have you been doing?"
Her head lolled around, face pinched in sickened discomfort.
Frowning he tipped closer and yelled, "Did you get us a ride?"
She blinked slowly, bottom jaw loosening.
"Why do you smell like cheap booze?" He stepped back with a scandalized gasp, "You went drinking with Ed!" Another heady whiff, "You did! What kind of example are you?"
Ed paused mid-chew and swallowed, "Faye-Faye got us keys." She jingled the ring and pointed, "It's the ugly vroom-vroom over there. Faye-Faye thought it would be best not to have a lot of people know where we were going," her volume and tone dropped, "just in case." She studied the gunman as though he were daft, "Faye-Faye had Ed stay here with a treat while she drank stinky stuff with the icky man."
Relieved, Vash sat down and accepted a proffered goody. He studied Faye as she melted back onto the bench, her head settling somewhere between her knees. Milly and Meryl had abandoned him in the square to purchase necessities. He frowned at the cowgirl's hunched spine, doubtful but ever hopeful she had acquired the keys legally.
Spike and Jet filtered out of the crowd just as the insurance girls materialized from the opposite direction laden with packages. Ed squealed and passed Jet the pilfered keys. Spike smirked at the fading Faye, stepped closer and immediately picked up the taint of alcohol wafting from her. Shaking his head he knocked her over with a bump of his hip to her shoulder, "Geez, Faye. It isn't even happy hour yet." She mumbled something about getting the job done before her back connected with gravel. Chuckling he followed the others towards the van. Faye righted herself and stumbled up the rear, a small tirade about disrespectful yokels and rude cowboys punctuating each drunken shuffle.
Crawling in Spike noted the keys, "Where'd you get this?" Jet glanced at Faye through the rearview.
She gave a sloppy grin, "We're uh… borrrrrowinnnng it." Before her head drooped to the window with a soft thud.
"Faye." Jet rubbed his forehead, his tone all the lecture he needed.
She huffed and wobbled upright, tired of the lectures. "You wan' t' walk? Bemyguest. I'll jus' find somethin' sssmallller." She began a glassy eyed analysis of the surrounding vehicles, "Maybe that li'llle carrr overrrr there…or tha' mot'rcycle." She grinned, "Ed's got a sidecar!" She kept looking, happily ignoring the disgruntled stares.
Vash hissed, "Who'd you take it from?"
Faye paused and shifted her fuzzed glare his direction, "A dr'nk I followed int' a barrr." She gave a lethargic blink, "I saved the oth'r drivvvvvers. Guy's too smashed to…" She mimed steering, "Splat!"
Vash pinked. "You can't just take things!"
Faye tipped, "I worked very hard to get those keys!" She swayed slightly and frowned, "It takesss lots of work to se-duce an old lusssh into drinking more 'n' the girl he's trying to get slosssshed so he can…" She flip-flopped her hand, bored with the conversation. Vash frowned, Meryl gasped catching on. He altered to a confused scowl, Jet shook his head and Milly hummed. Spike smirked, nudging a snoozing Ed over with his foot. Jet turned the van over and puttered away from the bustling town. He had to give Faye credit, it was a stroke of brilliance.
The dry landscape flashed by, the monotonous brown blur lulling Faye and Spike asleep. Milly grinned and elbowed Meryl. Faye was slumped onto Spike's shoulder, his cheek resting on her head. Ed sprawled across the floor at their feet, twitching like a puppy. Jet snorted at the scene and returned his glare to the desert, scratching his arm absently. They won't think it's cute when those two wake up and start fighting.
Spike jerked awake when the van stopped. He glanced at his shoulder to find Faye nestled snuggly to his chest Ed's head propped on top his foot. Milly giggled, Jet coughed and slammed the door. Faye whipped up, her hand going for the gun at the small of her back, only to be blocked. She swung an instinctual fist towards the offense- only to be prevented contact. "Wake up and then decide what you want to do." He released when she glanced around, slowly processing where she was. Satisfied, Spike slid from the car to follow Vash's figure melting into the dark shadows of the cavern, Meryl and Milly hot on his heels. Faye retched at the back of the van. Stomach void she lethargically trailed the others, not wanting anything to do with what felt like her father's legacy because she couldn't remember what it was. But something about the soft hum and familiar spark made her uneasy. There were too many of those plant things hiding inside and it took everything she had not to turn tail and head in the opposite direction.
Ed scurried back and tugged the reluctant cowgirl towards the gaping entrance. "Come on Faye-Faye."
She stubbornly drug her feet with an angry, "Humph."
"Do it for science!" Ed squealed, her voice echoing off the walls.
"Fuck science." Faye grumped, "Fuck this plan. Fuck…"
"Faye-Faye." Ed dropped the snagged hand, "You are not attacking this with the proper spirit of an adventurer." She scowled, "This will be ed-u-cational."
The cowgirl snarled, "I have my degree." Frown, "Several actually."
Ed froze.
Faye paled, Where the hell'd that come from?
Red head quirked to the side, "Faye-Faye you went to college?"
She shrugged, "How the hell should I know?" stepping brazenly across the line marking light and dark. Ed scowled at her retreating back, What brought that up? Gold eyes narrowed, Faye-Faye has never mentioned school before. "Hmm…" she tapped the pads of her fingers together, "Edward has a mystery."
Both lost in their own thoughts, the two let Vash lead them through the tangled corridors, pausing before a large glass object. A soft, glowing hand appeared upon their entrance. Ed inched forward, eyes wide. Faye kept her distance.
Spike was certain the cave wasn't empty. At the sound of distant footsteps he turned and pulled his gun, locating the noise echoing from behind. Faye noting his wary approach of a connecting hallway, roughly forced Ed under a table. "Stay." She tipped the wood to shield the teen. Jet scowled at her behavior. She bounced her head towards the hall and hissed, "We've company." Spike was already at the entrance, attempting to see who had come calling. Faye's gaze swiveled to Milly, "Watch Ed." She darted to a column just catty corner Spike, Jet at the opposite. Vash moved silently to cover the insurance girls.
Discernible conversation began to drift from the black opening.
"You d'n't know shi-it."
"The doc said to make it quick." A soft, threatening growl rumbled from the space.
Gasp. "Wha's wrong with the mutt?"
A female voice whispered harshly and nervously, "Hey guys. I… I don't think we're alone."
Another effeminate grumble, "Bet it's that damn runaway."
Chilly chuckle, "Interesting." Fingers snapped, "You know the plan." Something glass shattered.
The second girl sniped, "Fuck you, Timan." Footsteps slowly faded as three other fugitives broke through the tunnel doorway. Leo immediately lunged for Spike. Dottie remained behind with Timan critically eying the scenery.
"I think we'll need that surprise in the car." His lips separated, "Then we can finish harvesting uninterrupted." The pale man frowned, "Source forgot to mention any travel plans." He stepped back and withdrew a comm.
The girl nodded, "Fine." Eyes narrowing, "I'll just keep the rude cowgirl busy." She flexed her fists, "Make fun of me, huh?"
"Very well." He smirked, "Pick your bone with Valentine."
Sniff, "She's the reason Scargrow got hurt."
"Hn." Timan melted further into the dark.
The farm girl hacker remained, staring intently at something over Faye's shoulder. Jet followed Dottie's gaze to a cowering Ed. He waved his hand, "Shit! Ed, get back!" Faye turned to see the teen had moved from her hiding place to watch the strange bounties.
"Otto," Dottie's malevolent gaze unflinching as she purred to a dog nearby, "Sic." The mammoth hound shot right for the quivering girl. Teeth bared, it prepared to pounce. Faye tried to catch the beast's hind leg, missing she took aim for the vicious mongrel.
"Bitch!" Dot shrieked, "You stay away from my puppy!" She rushed closer, "It's bad enough you hurt..."
Faye snorted and steadied her gun. "That isn't a dog, it's a rabid horse."
Dottie slammed into Faye's back, sending the weapon skittering across the floor. She gave a startled yelp, green eyes following her gun as it skipped towards Spike and Leo. Dottie cackled, grabbing at Faye's shirt. "That's right Leo!" She purred, "They're the ones that hurt Scargrow. Finish him!" Faye tensed then pulled up on all fours, scrambling to reach Ed before the dog. An internal chant of: Spike can handle himself. Get to Ed. Save Ed. Dottie ripped Faye backwards with a handful of hair, forcing her to stare at the ceiling. With her prey in a vulnerable position Dottie crawled on top, pinning Faye to the ground. Fists primed she began pummeling the cowgirl. Faye, blocked the worst attacks as she continued to try and reach the oddly immobile teen. Spike grunted when his knuckles grated across his opponent's teeth; accompanied by Ed's cry and the sound of gunfire. It was too much, Faye's composure shattered. She just wanted to rid herself and the universe of the wretchedly vile, little girl impersonator. She sat up. Head smashing into the Dot's chin and knocking the startled woman back. Her elbow quickly connected to cheek. Faye snarled the swing hadn't been low enough to clip her jaw. Unfazed she continued her assault on the child like woman, determined to make her pay in spades.
Ed froze. The dog was too fast and big. She heard Jet growl, "Move!" but couldn't follow his instructions. Someone plowed into her, forcing air from her lungs in a frightened squeal as she was roughly thrown aside. Meryl lay on top of her. She wiggled from underneath and watched as Jet took the brunt of the attack. Mechanical arm met mouth and the dog forced his razor teeth deep in the synthetic appendage. Jet glanced at Faye to see if she could provide back-up. His heart sank as he watched her tackled from behind, her gun disappearing. Vash had Timan in his sights, trying to gauge the other's movements. Spike was hastily reintroducing a hairy man's face to a wall with repetitive, squishy thumps. Leo flailed, the back of his hand catching Spike in the gut. Jet swung at the dog, doing his best to keep the killer away from Ed and the girls. It released only to charge again. Jet prepared for the onslaught, teeth gritted, body tense. Eyes closed he waited and hunkered lower for an attack that never came.
Blinking slowly he glanced at the point on his arm the dog should be clamped to. Face twisting with thought. Had he missed something? Frazzled he scanned the room, swinging around to find Ed behind Meryl. Certain Milly was the victim he turned her direction and couldn't help the startled chuckle that escaped. Adrenaline, panic and paternal instinct evaporated instantly at the sight of the tall girl. Stun gun aimed behind him, an earnest expression hardened upon her face. He followed her bead and sighed. The dog lay several feet away, tongue out and unmoving.
Nervous chuckle, "Nice shot."
"Thanks, Mr. Jet." She began lowering the weapon. "Are you OK?"
A disturbing crack instantaneous with a pained groan drew the five's focus to the wrestling pairs across the room.
Faye was furious. How dare they? She wasn't sure why she was ferociously livid or with whom. Nor did she care, as she rounded on the annoying woman, swiping a trail of blood from her chin. The girl did her best to appear fearless but her nervous gestures, and tell-tale glances screamed she was terrified. Faye spit some of the congealing liquid on the floor, she hissed, hand swiping out and catching a pigtail. With a vicious jerk she yanked Dottie close. In one smooth, calculated movement, she cracked the back pedaling woman across the jaw and let her drop. Snarling, her hand grabbed the second ribboned tail and yanked up, pulling the shocked bounty close. Dottie yelped, trying to follow her hair.
"You nasty excuse." Faye shook the woman, "You just sit back and watch, don't you?" Her grip shifted from hair to chin. With all her weight, Faye thrust the head back into the dirt floor. She rasped, "You let your friends beat the shit out of me." Another brutal slam, "Attack my family." SLAM! "Hurt my father's hard work! Our dream!" Her fingers shook, "What the hell is your problem?"
Dottie's eyes were unfocused and glazed, she snickered thickly.
"What have the angels done to you?" Faye rose and kicked the woman's gut. "What did Ed ever do to you?" Faye knelt, eyes narrowed, her hand slipping behind her, reaching for a second concealed weapon. "You're not going to damage anymore of the work my parents devoted their lives to." Voice low, she growled, "I'd start clickin' those shoes together…"
Spike had quickly dispatched Leo. The man was more a pussy cat than a lion. He cowered the second Spike's fist cracked him in the stomach. With a pained mew, he slipped to a knee. A small bottle working free from his pocket to shatter on the floor.
Spike tutted, "Ah… come-on, you didn't seem to mind jerking Faye around like a ragdoll while she was in your company." A foot connected with temple. Head bounced off wall, the movement repeated. Desperate, Leo swung back. The flat of his hand slapping Spike's stomach. The cowboy grunted but continued his assault. "Wouldn't have happened if you hadn't beaten her tied up." Elbow to cheek, he clucked, "What, don't you like it rough?" Sole to diaphragm. "You dish it out, don't ya?"
Leo whimpered clutching his stomach, "Timan was th' one beat h'r up. Dottie took notes. I j's pulled her fr'm st'rage an' did as tol'!" He sobbed softly. "Shi' I tink you broke m' teef."
Spike's eyes narrowed, "Sorry Leo. Your story just doesn't add up. I saw the claw marks." He knelt, fist connecting with skull. Silencing Leo's pained moans and expletives. Spike studied his hands the only wound a nasty split on his knuckles from the fanged tooth a few feet away. He rounded on where he'd last seen Timan, hell bent on returning what was owed for Faye's mistreatment and the loss of his racer.
He scowled the man no longer there.
Vash yelped, "He ran off." The gunman jumped, "Faye. FAYE!"
Spike turned and stared, shocked. He'd never seen Faye this angry. Her face and arms criss-crossed with oozing scratches, hair disheveled, Holy shit! She's goin' to kill that girl!
"Faye stop!"
Jet moved, if he didn't Faye would kill the woman with her bare hands. "Faye. Faye!"
Vash grabbed her shoulder and gave it a rough jerked, trying to pull her back.
Jet continued yelling, "Faye, stop. Ed's OK." She wormed away from Vash's hold and lunged for the crumpled body, a blade clutched in her hand. Jet snagged her by the waist, smashed her against him and shook. Mouth near her ear he growled, "Ed. Is. OK." The message setting in Faye stilled and turned her attention to Spike, the knife flashing silver as it twinkled to the floor. The cowboy studied the scene with his usual smirk, a bloody hand tapping his pack of smokes against the other.
Ed stared, shocked. Gold eyes flickered to the stunned insurance girls and Vash before swinging back to the heavily breathing Faye.
Faye-Faye would do that for Edward? She scowled as Jet's grip tightened around the shaking cowgirl.
Milly giggled, "She sure protects you, doesn't she?" Fiery head of hair tipped sideways. Milly rubbed the teen's back, "My big brothers would do the same thing if someone tried to hurt me."
Meryl nodded, "You'd think Ed was family."
Vash glanced at the girls with a grin, "To Faye she is."
Ed swallowed, "Edward thought Faye-Faye liked her like a pet." Blink, "You know, a hamster or something cute and loveable."
Vash fluffed her hair, "Nah. You're worth more 'n a rodent, kid."
She chewed her lip. A satisfied grin melting across her face. "Wow." The happy moment fizzled, running away in a panic as the metallic man returned with something in his hand.
He tossed the device in the air as his eyebrow rose. Milky eyes swiveled to Spike, "Hm... Living like you do there is bound to be some dark piece of guilt or fear somewhere." He snickered, "Shall we see if the Doc's new toy works?" He bounced his head towards the insurance girls, "You go down first." Timan's eyes landed on Jet, "You go down the hardest." He pulled a pin and sent the small metal ball skipping across the dusty floor before slinking back into shadow.
The room shook as the gas slithered across the floor. Its blue-gray hue and swirling patterns disorienting. The air became charged and heavy. Gravity pulled down with more force. The room spun and swayed as a ghostly buzz turned into a screech.
Ed covered her ears, flopping over with a pitiful moan. Meryl followed suit. The bulb flickered, unfazed by the drama unfolding outside its glass protection but unhappy with what was happening. Spike and Vash stubbornly tried to hold their ground. The cowboy slowly inched towards the source of the disturbance. Faye sat; the room's movements much easier to handle low to the ground as she studied her situation and surroundings. She frowned at the sight of two shady figures slipping in to collect Dot and the dog. Green swiveled to the entrance, noting through the fog that Leo had been dragged away.
Vash toppled over. His gun still clutched tightly, an echoing report overwhelming the noise. The ball shattered, smoke dissipating instantly.
Dazed Milly and Faye glanced around.
Faye crawled to Jet. Roughly, she shook him. He blinked several times his eyes unfocussed. An impatient hand slapped his face. He groaned, mumbled something incoherently. The tone so full of pain Faye's blood chilled. On the second none to gentle tap to his cheek he stilled, sat up and rubbed his head as he scooted back. "I'm fine." Faye inched closer, worried. He batted her away, "Go help Spike, I… I'm…" swallow, "I'm fine."
Milly nudged Ed's cheek with a soft pat. Instantly awakened, the girl leveled a teary gaze on Faye and scurried up to Jet, clinging tightly to his vest. He roughly patted her head, unsure what to do, still processing his own troubled visions. Vash was attending to Meryl. Gently he cradled her head while holding a limp hand. The softly muttered words unintelligible in the cavernous space. Faye made her way to Spike, scooping up her discarded weapons on the way.
"Oy." She whacked his cheek, "Come on, wake up." He swiped at her hand, grumbling. Unable to hear him the others watched, stunned, as Faye bristled. She used her free hand and swung again, the crack ricocheting off the walls.
"Get up, Lunkhead!"
Spike caught her shoulder, spun it towards the wall and leveled his Jericho to her forehead. In the same instant, Faye brought her Glock to rest at his chest.
Spike snarled, "I di'n't ask f'r help."
She seethed, "I'm not offering, dumbass!" stomped his foot, pulled the gun from under his chin and fired it into the ceiling. The escaping gas singed his cheek. His safety released and pressed tighter to her forehead, knocking her head roughly into the wall. She let out a pained yelp and returned the gesture. The tip of her gun indenting skin, "I guarantee that if you pull that trigger, I'll take you with me."
"Bullshit." Spike pressed her tighter to the wall, "You're dead."
Faye gasped. "Do I look dead to you, moron?"
"I shot you. You're just a fuckin' illusion." The gun dropped minimally.
"Who the hell you talkin' to Spike?" Her gun shook before she shot several more rounds overhead.
He didn't flinch.
"Shit. You're the idiot that goes around spouting he isn't sure whether reality is real or just a dream and now that you're obviously hallucinating you can't wrap your fuckin' head around it?"
He blinked and pressed the gun harder against her. "Dream or not, you're dead."
"It's me, Lunkhead. I'm Faye." She snarled, "Do you really want me to shoot you?" She forced his hand back through the gun pressed to her head, "This some kind of fucked up way to make things even? I shoot you and then you return to your usual mope? I didn't die like Julia." Her gun pressed tighter, his head instinctively tipping back. She hissed, "I promise you push this and I will take every opportunity to poke your stitches."
He shook his head. "Shut up!"
Her voice dropped to a pleading whisper, "Please Spike. Stop. This… this isn't funny."
"Shut up." The safety clicked back. Faye's followed. Another blink. The gun was tucked away. Faye's disappeared behind her.
Blink.
She leaned closer, her hand softly patting his cheek as she whispered, "Spike?"
His eyes widened before his head tilt, his hand slid to her waist and he leaned close, his breath grazing her cheek, "You didn't die when I shot you?"
Faye swallowed and studied his expression, unsure whether this was genuine or the weird grenade's doing, "No. I'm here. You hit my shoulder remember?"
His fingers tightened their hold, his head lowering. "Good." Noses touching he stilled, "I don't want..." Swallow, "I thought I'd…" Faye froze in shock as she watched him with a blend of hope, fear and disappointment. He blinked, glanced at her lips, blinked. Eyes widening he jerked away roughly, ran a hand nervously through his hair and turned to the gawping crowd.
Faye gave a hasty sigh and watched Spike continue to battle with what he'd seen. Neither he nor Jet appeared comfortable with whatever it was.
Meryl snorted, not noticing Vash's arm around her. "That was intense." She glanced at her hand, still held gently by the gunman and blushed, removing it hastily. Vash continued to study Spike. "He acts like he saw his worst nightmare."
Milly nodded.
Ed pressed tighter to Jet with a soft squeak.
Jet sighed, "I'm pretty sure the effects of that thing would have killed us all that or..." His eyes narrowed, "we would've ended up killing each other."
Meryl and Milly gasped.
Spike smirked, "Did you like your dream?"
Meryl glared at the cowboy, "You like yours?"
Jet coughed and continued, "From what I could gather it was made to cause delusions, forcing the person to react to them before destroying themselves." He glanced at the confused Faye, "Those closest to the source suffered the effects the strongest." His gaze shifted to Spike, "Interesting dream, Spike-o?"
Spike's gaze flickered towards the gloating man before he studied the smear that lead down the hall. "Whose is that, the furry guy's?" He caught Faye shift. Glancing at his bloody knuckles Spike gave a malicious grin, "Hope I punctured a lung when I busted his ribs."
"That was a person! A… A human being!" Vash was disgusted at the lack of concern. His blood chilled when Knives' voice floated around his head, 'I told you they were different, brother.'
He sighed, "Not now."
Meryl glared at him.
Knives continued, 'Use your thoughts, Vash.' He frowned, 'Come here.'
A chorus of voices fell in sync as Vash neared the closest bulb, 'Yes. Come, we have much to do.' The chatter increased when Vash stepped onto the platform. 'Hello, Vash.' He waited, they would continue in a moment. 'It has been a while. Why are you reluctant to help our nephew?'
He stiffened, 'Who?'
Knives broke in, 'He doesn't know.'
'He will…' the voices melted to one, 'Let us speak with him. To Spike.'
"Uh…" Vash pulled from the bulb, "Spike?"
Jerkily, the cowboy pulled further from Faye. Relieved of the distraction he obeyed the promptings and touched the glass. His eyes widened with alarm. It was warm. 'Relax. They just want to introduce themselves.' Vash's calm voice soothed.
'Listen.' Knives' abrupt order from inside.
Frowning, eyes open Spike turned to glare at the gunman. "Who?" A lazy shrug and goofy grin replied. Satisfied he had done as told, Vash left Spike to scan the area.
Faye shuddered, this felt frighteningly familiar. Meryl fussed over Ed's scrapes and bruises. The teen eased from the undesired mothering to gently swipe Faye's bruised lip, "Is Faye-Faye OK?" She smiled and hugged the girl. Ed stiffened at the unfamiliar contact before carefully returning the embrace. Faye released, brushing at her eyes.
"Why is Faye-Faye dripping?" Ed snagged a stray tear with a frown.
She giggled, "I was worried about you, you stupid brat."
"Faye-Faye was upset about Spike too." She frowned, digging at the floor with a toe.
She grinned then swiped away all emotion, "Don't tell anyone, or I'll tie you to the RedTail again." They both turned, shocked to see Spike's hand mirrored by a strangely tinted, effeminate one. Faye studied the creature within. A long lost memory sparking to life.
"Be careful honey." The aged voice was soft, patient.
Faye recalled turning to her dad, "Daddy what is that? Why is that lady in a fish tank?"
He chuckled, "I guess you're right." His gray head dropped to examine a notebook clutched in his hands, mumbling to himself with a friendly bounce of his shoulders, "She's an angel in a fishbowl."
Ed turned towards the woman, "What was that Faye-Faye?"
She shook her head, chasing the memory away. With a shrug she mumbled, "Something my dad said once."
Ed scowled, Faye-Faye has never mentioned a father-person before.
Spike frowned at the flickering bulb, 'What's going on?'
'You are one of us.' The voices chimed softly.
Sniff, 'No I'm out here NOT in there with you.'
They giggled. 'You are a part of us then.' Chatter, 'Or should we say we are a part of you.'
'What?' Spike attempted to remove himself from the situation, only to be held fast.
'Have you ever wondered how you could survive what would have killed another human?' He couldn't see them, but he sensed numerous heads tipping. 'Or why your childhood is fragmented?'
'I figured neither heaven nor hell wanted me and I'd gotten brain damage from the refusals.' Shrug. 'You know lack of oxygen, dead neurons, that kind of thing.' Shift, 'My choice of self-medication probably doesn't help.'
An assured male voice cut through, 'There's a reason you can't remember your parents, they disappeared to keep you safe. Sisters,' He sounded surprised, 'I thought Vash and I were the only ones.'
The voices answered, 'No brother. There are a few left.' Silence filled Spike's mind. The sensation he was being measured unsettling. 'Nephew, you do not need us… not like we need you.' Verbal chaos, 'There is one with you who does and we need her. We owe it to her father.' The thrum calmed, 'She can save us.'
'Who,' he frowned trying to decide which girl they were referring to, 'Ed?' He closed his eyes hoping his guess was right and certain he was dead wrong.
The voices tinkled, 'You know who we seek. We promise to help her.'
Spike turned, in a daze he mumbled, "Faye, come here for a sec."
She inched within the circle of light, concerned.
"Closer Faye." He smiled.
She took another half step within the halo.
Spike's eyebrow quirked. "They aren't going to bite." He stepped forward. Faye took a tentative, instinctual step back. With a sigh he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bulb. "Faye," He grit between tugs, "Come." Pull. "On." Yank.
She froze, her feet digging trenches in the dirt floor as he reeled her closer. "Spike I don't think I should mess with these things." Her foot met the metal base, sparking her need to pull away with more vigor, "My… my dad…"
He gently forced her closer, using her momentum and concentration on escaping against her. Now safely on the platform, he wrapped an arm around her waist and took her shaking fingers within his own. Chin resting on her quivering shoulder he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, certain he was dreaming. Shrugging off the odd sensation he wasn't in control he let his hand slip across her stomach. She gasped when his other slid down her arm, fingers curling between her own. Before she could react, he had her palm against the glass. He eased her fingers out flat and turned his face towards her. His nose brushing her cheek.
"They say they can help you," his voice lowered, "let them, please." She gasped and tried to ask what was going on but he had stepped away. Outside the bulb's glow, the fog dissipated. Scowling, he studied the panic stricken woman.
She shot him a plaintive look, her arm melting into the glass, "I… I don't want this." She turned trying to wrench free. "I want to go!" Her feet scrabbled helplessly against the dusty floor. "I told you something bad would happen!" Green shifted to the staring cowboy. "NO. I don't want to meet them. Help me. Spike!" She sounded frightened. He scowled, Faye never sounded scared, and tried to step forward, Jet's massive hand stilling his progress. Desperate, Faye pressed her other hand against the glass for leverage. "Wait! Please." It too began melting into the strangely pulsing structure. A fearful sob escaped, "I'm not ready."
Ed and the girls gasped.
Faye whimpered, "Spike!"
"Spike, why the hell'd you…" Jet forgot his rant. The structure pulsed. Its light expanded, sucking Faye into its blinding luminosity. Spike pulled away, lunging for the bulb, grabbing air where Faye had been. "What the hell just happened?" Jet spun towards the stunned insurance girls then back to Spike kneeling on top the swaths of disruption caused by Faye's shoes.
Spike touched the glass, it was cool. Softly mumbled, "They said they could help her, Jet." He pressed his ear to the bulb, eyes closed. The glow had been painful, What happened? Where'd she go?
Vash, just catching Faye's abduction, tugged the cowboy away, "She's OK. They won't hurt her." Spike wrenched from the touch and swung. Catching Vash in the jaw. He sighed, wondering how Spike's aim could be so consistent and that he would miss the cues every time.
Grumble, "Dumb karma." He rolled his eyes, Had to say he couldn't hit when he was unconscious, didn't I?
"Violence won't bring her back." Meryl hissed, "They'll free her when they want. Just wait."
Spike refused to be moved, his hand firmly pressed to the chilling bulb.
Jet scowled, "Did I just see that thing eat Faye?"
Ed nodded, "Yes. Nom. Nom. Nom. Gulp." She held her hand out and shrugged, "No more Faye-Faye."
Meryl stepped next to upset cowboy, "Those that worship the plants as gods would call this a miracle."
Spike shook his head, "I don't worship them. It's not a miracle it's just another fuckin' mess." He touched the glass again. "This shit hole of a planet's fucked everything up."
"Miss Faye will be back." Milly sat next to Ed, gently rocking the quaking teen. "Mr. Vash is related to them and he wouldn't hurt anyone."
Spike's head jerked.
Vash studied Ed. He eased close and ruffled her hair, "She'll be fine, kiddo." She blinked and gave a small nod. Meryl grabbed Vash's lapel and dragged him with her, under the pretense of collecting supplies. Spike sank to the floor next to the softly humming bulb, his head resting against the glass. Jet scowled, whatever was going on with his partner was new and a bit disturbing.
Since when does Spike visibly fuss over anything? Especially Faye!
