Disclaimer - I don't own Cowboy Bebop. Don't try suing me.
Chapter 13 - Don't Speak
"I really feel
I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end"
"Ed! Are they still behind us?" Faye yelled out over the sound of the
engine and wind rushing by as they sped down the street. She really
needed to get her engine tuned, but now was not the time to think about
such things. "Ed?"
The young hacker, who was fiddling with some mechanical device hidden
in the depths of her backpack, looked up and opened her mouth to speak.
She was, however, interrupted as a shower of bullets ricocheted off the
pavement around them. Faye swerved out of the way and onto the
sidewalk to avoid losing a tire.
Edward glanced into the rearview mirror, seeing the several black cars
speeding behind them. "Um, Edward would have to say yes!"
"All right," Faye frowned. "Desperate times call for desperate measures.
You almost ready?"
"Edward needs a couple more seconds."
A bullet whizzed by Faye's ear, shattering her rearview mirror. "Damn!"
She pressed the gas pedal to the floor. "Edward, 'a couple more seconds'
isn't something we have right now!"
"Um… sorry?"
=====
"…Forgotten thoughts of yesterday, through my eyes I see the past. I
don't know, I don't know, I don't know why… I believe, I believe in the
truth, from inside."
Spike opened his eyes, a disoriented look on his face as he stared around
the room.
"Go away, go away, go away, from me… Leave me alone --"
He groaned slightly, grabbing the remote control from its spot on the floor,
turning off the television. "There's nothing good on anyway."
"Whimper… bark, bark!"
Spike sat up and gave Ein a long scowl. As usual, the dog didn't even
flinch. "What do you want?" he asked. "As smart as you are, I hope you
don't expect me to feed you." He blinked slightly. "Hmph, I'm starting to
sound like Faye." He flinched slightly, setting his feet on the floor.
Staring down at the table in front of him, he saw two empty beer bottles
and a packet of cigarettes with no cigarettes in them. "So, this is what
she's reduced me to…"
Ein barked.
"What?" Spike replied. "I hope you're not suggesting I'm worried about
her - or Jet and Ed, because I'm not. They can handle themselves just
fine without my help." He withered slightly under the dog's gaze.
'Pathetic, I can't even lie to a dog.' He got up, depositing the empty
bottles and the cigarette package in the trash.
However, rather than heading back to his seat on the couch, Spike decided
to roam about the ship. Granted, there were still parts of the ship that
remained untouched and undiscovered by himself or the others, but it felt
strangely comforting to wander about the ship, looking and touching things
he hadn't seen in three years.
'Three long years,' he thought to himself. He sighed, rubbing his neck
absently. "I should've come back a helluva lot sooner." Ein whimpered,
wagging his short little tail as he followed behind him. "So, you agree,
huh? Even though you and Ed left before I did."
Ein barked again, causing Spike to look up. To his surprise, he found
himself standing in Faye's room.
"Here again, hm?" Spike chuckled ruefully. "Well, Faye Valentine, it
seems no matter what I do, there's just no escaping you."
=====
"Person, Faye-Faye, person!" Edward exclaimed.
"I see'im!" Faye exclaimed, yanking the wheel to the right. Her car
swerved, narrowly missing a pedestrian crossing the street as they sped
around the corner. The pedestrian yelled a stream of curses as they drove
out of earshot.
"Edward did not know some of those," Edward mused.
"Neither did I," Faye admitted, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
"Don't go repeating any of them though, I don't want Jet thinking I'm a
bad influence on you or anything," She paused, frowning slightly. "Not
that I'd care…"
Edward giggled. "Edward thinks Faye-Faye is silly!" she exclaimed.
"Edward also thinks she is ready!"
"Really?" Faye asked, her face lighting up. However, it dimmed slightly
soon afterwards. "Wait a minute, whaddya mean 'thinks'? Are you sure
this is gonna work?"
"Edward is almost positive." she answered. "It worked on Bebop-Bebop."
"All right, Ed…" Faye replied with uncertainty. She whipped out her
communicator, holding it to her ear with her free hand. "Jet, you there?"
Elsewhere, the Hammerhead's port and starboard thrusters came to life,
lifting the craft into the air. Bullets rained and ricocheted off of the ship's
hull, leaving nothing more than little dents.
Jet picked up his communicator. "Yeah, I just took off." he answered,
watching his scope for any sight of Faye's car. "Where are you guys?"
Though there was no visual, Jet could hear Ed and Faye's car tires
squealing. "I nearly took out the road sign for 5th and DuBois." Faye
answered. "We're still about 20 minutes from the port."
Jet cursed softly. At this rate, they weren't going to reach it. "Damn."
=====
Spike sat down on the edge of Faye's bed, glancing around at his
surroundings. Despite how complex the woman seemed at times, Faye
appeared to have very simple tastes. Though Spike had never been inside
her room during their time on the Bebop, it seemed as though Faye really
hadn't changed that much since she claimed the room as her own.
There were a few plants sparsely placed around the room, a tiny rose
bush on her dresser and a small bonsai tree sitting on her nightstand - a gift
from Jet no doubt. Several boxes remained stacked neatly in the corner
while some of Faye's outfits hung over the closet door. The comforter on
her bed was a soft blue - fluffy and very comfortable as Spike had realized
earlier.
'It smelled like Jasmine,' Spike mused to himself. 'Just like she does.' He
paused, wondering how he had known that. Granted, he was sharp when
it came to things like that, but there were very few occasions when he
had been close enough to her to pick up on such things.
Suddenly, he began to chuckle softly. Before long, his chuckles turned
into all out gales of laughter. Tears of mirth began forming in his eyes.
Ein, whom was sitting at his feet, cocked his head to the side.
"I don't believe it," Spike breathed, after his laughter began to subside. "I
didn't want to believe it before… but I really have fallen for Faye." He
scratched his head. "I mean, here I am, sitting in her room… just thinking
about her - like I always do." He sobered slightly, closing his eyes. "What
I don't understand is…"
Ein was listening intently, almost as if he knew what Spike was going to
say.
"I just don't understand. Why?"
====
Faye rounded Holmes and Market, using her side-view mirror to take
blind shots at the cars behind her. Occasionally, she would get lucky,
taking out a tire or a mirror, but still that was not enough to slow them
down.
"I'm getting sick of this!" she exclaimed. "Ed, have you got that stuff
hooked up yet? Gimme one of those green vials you cooked up."
"Can't," Edward replied. "Edward just used the last one."
"Damn." Faye replied, biting her lip.
"Faye-Faye and Edward have no choice," Edward replied. Though there
was a grin on her face, her tone was very grave. She whipped out a little
makeshift joystick. "It's Edward's turn to drive!"
"Heaven help us!" Faye exclaimed. Faye was not a very religious woman,
but she crossed herself anyway, muttering bits and pieces of the few
prayers she knew. When she finished, she slammed her boot down on
the brake. She turned the wheel as hard as she could, fishtailing the car
in the middle of the street before finally coming to a stop. There they sat,
facing their pursuers who were less than a half of a mile away.
"Faye, Ed," Jet's voice came over the communicator again. "I lost your
position, where are you?"
"Ed?"
"Faye-Faye knocked over a sign reading Holmes and Market." Edward
replied.
"Did you hear that, Jet?"
"Yeah," Jet answered. "You sure don't drive well under pressure, do
you?"
"You know what, Jet? Kiss my ass!"
"Kissee, kissee, wissee!" While Faye was struggling to reload her gun,
out of one of the closer car windows emerged a gunman, aiming at them.
Edward, taking out the gun Faye had given her, took aim and fired.
Hearing a gunshot, Jet frowned with worry. "You two in trouble?"
Faye, though very impressed with Edward's excellent aim and precision,
looked at the cars coming towards them with increasing concern.
"Sort of."
"Try getting away on foot," Jet replied. "I'll be there in…"
"Forget that!" Faye exclaimed, hugging her wheel possessively. "There's
no way I'm letting those hoods trash my car! It's a classic!"
Edward laughed nervously.
"Faye," Jet groaned. "Now is definitely not the time to get attached to
your worldly possessions. Name a spot for me to pick you guys up."
"Never mind that, Jet," Faye's voice held an edge of nervousness and
amusement to it. "Ed and I got it under control."
"Huh?"
Edward grinned. "Is Faye-Faye ready now?" she asked.
Faye put on her sunglasses, smirking lightly. "As much as I'll ever be." she
replied. "But first…" She took out a disc, putting it into a disc player. "A
little something to lighten the mood."
Edward stared at the antique device in fascination. "Faye-Faye is playing
classical music to soothe her nerves?"
Jet blinked, listening in. "Classical music?"
Faye laughed. "Not quite." With that, she pressed play.
Jet nearly lost control of the Hammerhead, startled by the cacophony of
sound bombarding his ears. A loud banging guitar riff filled the cockpit, as
Faye's CD began playing…
I'm gonna get free
I'm gonna get free
I'm gonna get free
Ride into the sun
"Now, Ed!" Faye exclaimed.
"Righty-o, Miss Faye-Faye!" Edward squealed. She yanked down on the
joystick in her hands, the car once again coming to life. Untouched by
Faye, the steering wheel and gas pedal seemed to move at their own
accord, sending the car careening towards their pursuers.
She never loved me
She never loved me
She never loved me
Why should anyone?
Edward laughed with glee, wiggling her elbows in the air. "Time for a
game of Chicken!" she exclaimed. "Buck, buck, Ba-cawww!!"
Faye laughed nervously. However, once the cars started swerving out
of the way, her confidence quickly returned. "Keep it up, Ed!" she
exclaimed. "It's like a shooting gallery - you line'em up," She reached
down behind her seat, pulling out a long rifle. "And I'll take'em out!"
Come here, come here, come here
I'll take your photo for ya
Come here, come here, come here
Drive you around the corna
Come here, come here, come here
You know you really oughta
Come here, come here, come here
Move out of California!
As Edward maneuvered through and around the pursuing cars, giggling
madly as if she was winning some car racing game, Faye was busy
cocking her rifle, blowing out tires as they passed along.
After a few moments, a ship could be heard overhead. Quick to react,
Faye raised her gun to the sky, only to see the Hammerhead hovering
above them.
"Whoa there, woman," Jet replied. "Put that thing away before you hurt
somebody!"
"Quit your whining, old man!" Faye grinned, yelling into her communicator.
"When I get tired of your shit, then I'll shoot you!"
Jet laughed. "You two got this," He looked down at the select few still
left shooting at the two vehicles. "Or do you want me to take care of it?"
"Well, we don't want to hog all the action," Faye replied, feigning
graciousness. "By all means, go right ahead."
Jet chuckled, activating the Hammerhead's crane, shooting its hook into
the last remaining car. He lifted it into the air, swinging it over the heads
of the remaining gunmen. "All right," he barked over the loud speaker.
"Who still wants some?"
As Edward swung the car around, still giggling madly, Faye muttered
dryly, "Men."
The car came to a stop and Faye hopped out, just in time to notice
Arnold and Valhoun duck into an alley.
She smirked to herself, tucking her gun into her jacket. She ran after
them, cocking her rifle. It looked as if the hunt was just beginning.
=====
It was almost like one of those bad Mexican standoffs. Arnold was
down, leaning against the wall clutching a bullet wound at his shoulder.
Faye scoffed lightly; he'd live. Valhoun however…
"I see you're not unarmed this time, Valhoun." she remarked dryly,
eyeing the gun in his hand.
"You're observant." Valhoun replied. "I have to say you've put up more
of a fight than you did the last time."
Faye smirked. "I guess you could say I've learned a few more tricks."
"Really?" Valhoun grinned. "I'd like to see some of those. Put down that
little pop gun of yours and let's see what you can do."
Faye cocked her rifle. "Not likely."
Arnold, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, slowly
scrambled to his feet in hopes of escaping unnoticed.
--Click!-- "Ah, ah, ah." Edward grinned down at him cutely as she held
her gun to his temple. "Edward does not think it would be good for you to
move right now."
Faye grinned. "Well, there you have it."
"Shoot him," Valhoun replied. "See what I care. The only reason I
haven't done it was because I had orders not to."
"Orders?" Faye looked up to see Jet standing beside her, his gun raised
as well. "Orders from who, Aeolis?"
"Back off, Jet!" Faye exclaimed. "I wanted to bust him."
"Take a number, Faye." Jet replied with a scowl. He fired, hitting
Valhoun slightly to the right of his heart.
"What the hell are you doing?" Faye cried out. "You can't kill him!"
"This guy has caused a whole lot of trouble for a lot of people," Jet
replied evenly. "Ruined a lot of lives… and for what? Some sick thrill?!"
Valhoun chuckled, clutching his wound. "What're you gonna do, Black?"
he asked. "Kill me? Your little huntress friend would be out of a bounty…
it'd be a shame, too… what with her risking her life last time to get it for
you."
"Shut the hell up!" Jet roared, pointing his gun down towards him as he
stepped in front of Faye in a protective-like gesture. "You weren't even
our original target, but you know what? I don't give a damn about any
bounty! I promised myself I'd find your ass one day and now I have!
Luck just so happened to be shining on me today, Valhoun. Do you know
why?" Valhoun remained silent. "Even though you're only worth 50, 000 …
you're wanted dead or alive."
Valhoun rose to his feet, rasping and chuckling, blood oozing from his
wound. "You gonna shoot me, Black?" he asked. "Take revenge for all
those innocents I've slain? And the two-bit thugs… you gonna avenge
them, too?"
"They didn't deserve what you did to them," Jet said with a sneer. "They
were nothing compared to what you are… You're lower than the dirt
beneath my shoes."
"Then shoot, my friend!" Valhoun laughed. "Shoot me now! In cold
blood! You kill a fellow cop… and you're no better than I am!"
Jet scowled. "Ed, turn away, now!" He began pulling back on the
trigger.
Valhoun snickered, whipping a gun out from the folds of his trench coat.
Before he could even pull the trigger, both Jet and Faye fired, quickly
sending him into oblivion.
Jet scowled, turning away from his lifeless body. "You're not a cop," he
said slightly above a whisper. "And neither am I… not anymore."
Faye let out a heavy sigh of relief, silently thanking the benevolent deity
that had been watching over them. "Rest in peace, Valerie," she
murmured.
"Yeah," Jet added. "Same thing goes for you, Melinda." Faye glanced
over at him. "That goes for you, too, you know."
Faye smirked. "I'm not dead yet." she replied nonchalantly. "After
sticking around in this lifetime for close to 80 years, a little scuffle like
this one isn't gonna send me packin' so easily."
"Hey!" Jet and Faye turned their attention to Arnold, whom Edward was
now standing upon growling as she held him at gunpoint. "Couldja get this
thing off of me!"
"Hey!" Faye snapped. "Just because she isn't exactly cute little Edith-"
Jet blinked. "Edith?"
"-doesn't make her a thing." Faye pointed her rifle at his torso.
"Wh-what do you want from me?" Arnold exclaimed.
"Answers, of course." Jet replied. "So I suggest you start talking, or else
we're just gonna have to leave you in young Edith's tender loving care."
Edward growled and barked.
=====
Spike opened his eyes. Moving his hands away from his face, he looked
up, staring at his reflection in a stand-up mirror hanging on the wall across
from him. His expression was one of fear, sadness, and confusion. "I fell
in love with Julia… I swore to love her until the day I died… I thought if I
could just be with her, I would cherish her forever…" He glanced down at
his hands. "She died in my arms, leaving me thinking that I had nothing left
to live for - aside from killing Vicious." He looked up, speaking more to
himself than to Ein. "Suddenly I find myself alone, thinking of what never
was and what might possibly be. Now, I find myself here again living the
same old life, only the story has changed completely. I'm still tied to the
past, only the past is different."
His gaze wandered from the mirror to a picture resting on Faye's dresser.
As he stared closer, he saw a picture of Faye standing between Macy and
Jet. With her arms wrapped around the two men's necks, she winked as
she made a kissy face towards the camera. Though Jet looked a bit
uncomfortable being so close to Macy, Faye almost looked genuinely
happy.
"Yeah… he and Jet kept me sane."
He frowned, turning away. "This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "What's
wrong with me?" He turned to Ein. "I can't just go walk up to her and say,
'Hey, Faye? Even though you're a shrew woman and I ridicule you every
chance I get, but guess what, I think I'm in love with you!' Do you have
any idea how stupid that sounds?" Ein made a whimpering sound. Spike
scowled slightly. "Why am I asking you? You're just a dog!" He rubbed
his hands through his hair in frustration. "Aargghh! I can't take this
anymore!" He got up, storming out the door. "It's time to settle this
once and for all."
He entered the cabin in determined strides. Grabbing his jacket and his
gun, he marched up the stairs and opened the hatch, only to be glomped
by a tangle of arms and legs.
"Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed. "Spike-person, Spike-person! You
missed all the fun-fun!"
"Fun?" Spike blinked, trying to keep his balance as he slowly made his
way back down the stairs with Edward still attached to him.
"Yeah, it seems Edward had a real blast," Jet replied, coming down
the steps. "Gunfights and car chases, sex, drugs, and alcohol - seems
like she got to see it all on her first big hunt."
"You make it sound like some demented baby book," Spike muttered,
looking slightly flustered. He had been worried about them after all.
Jet walked towards him, noticing his jacket and gun in his hands. "Going
somewhere?" he asked with a smirk.
"Not really." Spike answered, looking away. "So, how'd it go?"
"Edward will tell Spike-person everything!" Edward exclaimed. "First, it
was Faye-Faye and Edward at the Casablanca Café! Edward and
Faye-Faye order drinks and scoped out for bad guys. Faye-Faye spots
Arnold, but he comes to us with Aeolis Valhoun-,"
"Aeolis?" Spike asked with a frown. "You guys saw Aeolis?" He
immediately noticed Faye's presence was absent from the room.
"Yeah," Jet replied, sitting down on the couch, lighting a cigarette. "It
seems Faye and I both had a score to settle with him."
"I see…"
"-Edward and Faye-Faye follow bad-persons out of Casablanca cuz
Edward pretended she and Faye-Faye were sisters selling funky
mushrooms to survive cuz we were orphans all alone in the world.
Alone, alooone!" Edward released her hold on Spike, dropping to the
floor for effect. She however, jumped up again, clomping around in
her boots as she continued her story. "Edward tried to sell
mushrooms to Valhoun-bounty-person but he wasn't fooled, so
Edward tried to sell fake Bloody-eye to Arnold, but then Arnold
turned a gun on us and was like, 'Give Arnold Bloody-Eye or Arnold
will shoot you!' and then Faye-Faye says, 'No way! Weren't you
listening? We need that money!' And then Jet-person shows up! After
that there were explosions, and shootings, and car chases! Oh, and
Edward caught Arnold!"
"Really?" Spike asked, thoroughly amused by Edward's tale. However,
as he listened, he let his eyes roam around the room.
"Oh! And guess what, Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed.
"Faye-Faye says Edward can keep the clothes - except the shoes,
because Edward does not like wearing shoes." She yanked the boots off,
depositing them on the floor as she glided around in her stockings.
"Edward likes to wiggle her toes, toes, toes." She stopped, turning to Jet.
"Does Jet-person think Edward can keep the bang-bang gun, too?"
"Hell no!" Jet replied, thrusting his hand out, taking the weapon from her.
"I'll hold onto it until you need it again. The last thing I need is for you
to accidentally shoot Ein or something." The bark that came from Ein's
spot next to the couch almost sounded indignant.
Spike laughed, rising out of his seat to stretch. With that, he dug his
hands into his pockets and began walking away.
"Hey, Spike." The lanky bounty hunter stopped, looking back at Jet.
"We really could have used your help today."
Surprisingly enough, he looked guilty. "Yeah," he replied quietly,
glancing away. "Sorry 'bout that Jet. You, too, Ed."
"It's okey dokey smokey, Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed, sliding
around giddily with Ein in her arms.
"Yeah, well," Jet began, rubbing his bald head with his human hand.
"I guess I better get dinner started. Is Sukiyaki okay?"
"Yay!"
Spike smirked. "Whatever you want, Jet." he replied. "Though I think
I prefer Faye's cooking over yours."
Jet laughed heartily. "You and me both," he agreed. "Unfortunately,
she's down in the hangar moping over the damage done on her car."
He glanced up at him with a 'you know what you have to do' type look.
Chuckling softly, Spike made his way towards the hangar. "Whatever
you say," he called over his shoulder. "Dad."
Jet blinked for a few moments, watching Spike's retreating back. He
smiled and chuckled to himself. "That lunkhead."
End of Chapter 13
Chapter 13 - Don't Speak
"I really feel
I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end"
"Ed! Are they still behind us?" Faye yelled out over the sound of the
engine and wind rushing by as they sped down the street. She really
needed to get her engine tuned, but now was not the time to think about
such things. "Ed?"
The young hacker, who was fiddling with some mechanical device hidden
in the depths of her backpack, looked up and opened her mouth to speak.
She was, however, interrupted as a shower of bullets ricocheted off the
pavement around them. Faye swerved out of the way and onto the
sidewalk to avoid losing a tire.
Edward glanced into the rearview mirror, seeing the several black cars
speeding behind them. "Um, Edward would have to say yes!"
"All right," Faye frowned. "Desperate times call for desperate measures.
You almost ready?"
"Edward needs a couple more seconds."
A bullet whizzed by Faye's ear, shattering her rearview mirror. "Damn!"
She pressed the gas pedal to the floor. "Edward, 'a couple more seconds'
isn't something we have right now!"
"Um… sorry?"
=====
"…Forgotten thoughts of yesterday, through my eyes I see the past. I
don't know, I don't know, I don't know why… I believe, I believe in the
truth, from inside."
Spike opened his eyes, a disoriented look on his face as he stared around
the room.
"Go away, go away, go away, from me… Leave me alone --"
He groaned slightly, grabbing the remote control from its spot on the floor,
turning off the television. "There's nothing good on anyway."
"Whimper… bark, bark!"
Spike sat up and gave Ein a long scowl. As usual, the dog didn't even
flinch. "What do you want?" he asked. "As smart as you are, I hope you
don't expect me to feed you." He blinked slightly. "Hmph, I'm starting to
sound like Faye." He flinched slightly, setting his feet on the floor.
Staring down at the table in front of him, he saw two empty beer bottles
and a packet of cigarettes with no cigarettes in them. "So, this is what
she's reduced me to…"
Ein barked.
"What?" Spike replied. "I hope you're not suggesting I'm worried about
her - or Jet and Ed, because I'm not. They can handle themselves just
fine without my help." He withered slightly under the dog's gaze.
'Pathetic, I can't even lie to a dog.' He got up, depositing the empty
bottles and the cigarette package in the trash.
However, rather than heading back to his seat on the couch, Spike decided
to roam about the ship. Granted, there were still parts of the ship that
remained untouched and undiscovered by himself or the others, but it felt
strangely comforting to wander about the ship, looking and touching things
he hadn't seen in three years.
'Three long years,' he thought to himself. He sighed, rubbing his neck
absently. "I should've come back a helluva lot sooner." Ein whimpered,
wagging his short little tail as he followed behind him. "So, you agree,
huh? Even though you and Ed left before I did."
Ein barked again, causing Spike to look up. To his surprise, he found
himself standing in Faye's room.
"Here again, hm?" Spike chuckled ruefully. "Well, Faye Valentine, it
seems no matter what I do, there's just no escaping you."
=====
"Person, Faye-Faye, person!" Edward exclaimed.
"I see'im!" Faye exclaimed, yanking the wheel to the right. Her car
swerved, narrowly missing a pedestrian crossing the street as they sped
around the corner. The pedestrian yelled a stream of curses as they drove
out of earshot.
"Edward did not know some of those," Edward mused.
"Neither did I," Faye admitted, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
"Don't go repeating any of them though, I don't want Jet thinking I'm a
bad influence on you or anything," She paused, frowning slightly. "Not
that I'd care…"
Edward giggled. "Edward thinks Faye-Faye is silly!" she exclaimed.
"Edward also thinks she is ready!"
"Really?" Faye asked, her face lighting up. However, it dimmed slightly
soon afterwards. "Wait a minute, whaddya mean 'thinks'? Are you sure
this is gonna work?"
"Edward is almost positive." she answered. "It worked on Bebop-Bebop."
"All right, Ed…" Faye replied with uncertainty. She whipped out her
communicator, holding it to her ear with her free hand. "Jet, you there?"
Elsewhere, the Hammerhead's port and starboard thrusters came to life,
lifting the craft into the air. Bullets rained and ricocheted off of the ship's
hull, leaving nothing more than little dents.
Jet picked up his communicator. "Yeah, I just took off." he answered,
watching his scope for any sight of Faye's car. "Where are you guys?"
Though there was no visual, Jet could hear Ed and Faye's car tires
squealing. "I nearly took out the road sign for 5th and DuBois." Faye
answered. "We're still about 20 minutes from the port."
Jet cursed softly. At this rate, they weren't going to reach it. "Damn."
=====
Spike sat down on the edge of Faye's bed, glancing around at his
surroundings. Despite how complex the woman seemed at times, Faye
appeared to have very simple tastes. Though Spike had never been inside
her room during their time on the Bebop, it seemed as though Faye really
hadn't changed that much since she claimed the room as her own.
There were a few plants sparsely placed around the room, a tiny rose
bush on her dresser and a small bonsai tree sitting on her nightstand - a gift
from Jet no doubt. Several boxes remained stacked neatly in the corner
while some of Faye's outfits hung over the closet door. The comforter on
her bed was a soft blue - fluffy and very comfortable as Spike had realized
earlier.
'It smelled like Jasmine,' Spike mused to himself. 'Just like she does.' He
paused, wondering how he had known that. Granted, he was sharp when
it came to things like that, but there were very few occasions when he
had been close enough to her to pick up on such things.
Suddenly, he began to chuckle softly. Before long, his chuckles turned
into all out gales of laughter. Tears of mirth began forming in his eyes.
Ein, whom was sitting at his feet, cocked his head to the side.
"I don't believe it," Spike breathed, after his laughter began to subside. "I
didn't want to believe it before… but I really have fallen for Faye." He
scratched his head. "I mean, here I am, sitting in her room… just thinking
about her - like I always do." He sobered slightly, closing his eyes. "What
I don't understand is…"
Ein was listening intently, almost as if he knew what Spike was going to
say.
"I just don't understand. Why?"
====
Faye rounded Holmes and Market, using her side-view mirror to take
blind shots at the cars behind her. Occasionally, she would get lucky,
taking out a tire or a mirror, but still that was not enough to slow them
down.
"I'm getting sick of this!" she exclaimed. "Ed, have you got that stuff
hooked up yet? Gimme one of those green vials you cooked up."
"Can't," Edward replied. "Edward just used the last one."
"Damn." Faye replied, biting her lip.
"Faye-Faye and Edward have no choice," Edward replied. Though there
was a grin on her face, her tone was very grave. She whipped out a little
makeshift joystick. "It's Edward's turn to drive!"
"Heaven help us!" Faye exclaimed. Faye was not a very religious woman,
but she crossed herself anyway, muttering bits and pieces of the few
prayers she knew. When she finished, she slammed her boot down on
the brake. She turned the wheel as hard as she could, fishtailing the car
in the middle of the street before finally coming to a stop. There they sat,
facing their pursuers who were less than a half of a mile away.
"Faye, Ed," Jet's voice came over the communicator again. "I lost your
position, where are you?"
"Ed?"
"Faye-Faye knocked over a sign reading Holmes and Market." Edward
replied.
"Did you hear that, Jet?"
"Yeah," Jet answered. "You sure don't drive well under pressure, do
you?"
"You know what, Jet? Kiss my ass!"
"Kissee, kissee, wissee!" While Faye was struggling to reload her gun,
out of one of the closer car windows emerged a gunman, aiming at them.
Edward, taking out the gun Faye had given her, took aim and fired.
Hearing a gunshot, Jet frowned with worry. "You two in trouble?"
Faye, though very impressed with Edward's excellent aim and precision,
looked at the cars coming towards them with increasing concern.
"Sort of."
"Try getting away on foot," Jet replied. "I'll be there in…"
"Forget that!" Faye exclaimed, hugging her wheel possessively. "There's
no way I'm letting those hoods trash my car! It's a classic!"
Edward laughed nervously.
"Faye," Jet groaned. "Now is definitely not the time to get attached to
your worldly possessions. Name a spot for me to pick you guys up."
"Never mind that, Jet," Faye's voice held an edge of nervousness and
amusement to it. "Ed and I got it under control."
"Huh?"
Edward grinned. "Is Faye-Faye ready now?" she asked.
Faye put on her sunglasses, smirking lightly. "As much as I'll ever be." she
replied. "But first…" She took out a disc, putting it into a disc player. "A
little something to lighten the mood."
Edward stared at the antique device in fascination. "Faye-Faye is playing
classical music to soothe her nerves?"
Jet blinked, listening in. "Classical music?"
Faye laughed. "Not quite." With that, she pressed play.
Jet nearly lost control of the Hammerhead, startled by the cacophony of
sound bombarding his ears. A loud banging guitar riff filled the cockpit, as
Faye's CD began playing…
I'm gonna get free
I'm gonna get free
I'm gonna get free
Ride into the sun
"Now, Ed!" Faye exclaimed.
"Righty-o, Miss Faye-Faye!" Edward squealed. She yanked down on the
joystick in her hands, the car once again coming to life. Untouched by
Faye, the steering wheel and gas pedal seemed to move at their own
accord, sending the car careening towards their pursuers.
She never loved me
She never loved me
She never loved me
Why should anyone?
Edward laughed with glee, wiggling her elbows in the air. "Time for a
game of Chicken!" she exclaimed. "Buck, buck, Ba-cawww!!"
Faye laughed nervously. However, once the cars started swerving out
of the way, her confidence quickly returned. "Keep it up, Ed!" she
exclaimed. "It's like a shooting gallery - you line'em up," She reached
down behind her seat, pulling out a long rifle. "And I'll take'em out!"
Come here, come here, come here
I'll take your photo for ya
Come here, come here, come here
Drive you around the corna
Come here, come here, come here
You know you really oughta
Come here, come here, come here
Move out of California!
As Edward maneuvered through and around the pursuing cars, giggling
madly as if she was winning some car racing game, Faye was busy
cocking her rifle, blowing out tires as they passed along.
After a few moments, a ship could be heard overhead. Quick to react,
Faye raised her gun to the sky, only to see the Hammerhead hovering
above them.
"Whoa there, woman," Jet replied. "Put that thing away before you hurt
somebody!"
"Quit your whining, old man!" Faye grinned, yelling into her communicator.
"When I get tired of your shit, then I'll shoot you!"
Jet laughed. "You two got this," He looked down at the select few still
left shooting at the two vehicles. "Or do you want me to take care of it?"
"Well, we don't want to hog all the action," Faye replied, feigning
graciousness. "By all means, go right ahead."
Jet chuckled, activating the Hammerhead's crane, shooting its hook into
the last remaining car. He lifted it into the air, swinging it over the heads
of the remaining gunmen. "All right," he barked over the loud speaker.
"Who still wants some?"
As Edward swung the car around, still giggling madly, Faye muttered
dryly, "Men."
The car came to a stop and Faye hopped out, just in time to notice
Arnold and Valhoun duck into an alley.
She smirked to herself, tucking her gun into her jacket. She ran after
them, cocking her rifle. It looked as if the hunt was just beginning.
=====
It was almost like one of those bad Mexican standoffs. Arnold was
down, leaning against the wall clutching a bullet wound at his shoulder.
Faye scoffed lightly; he'd live. Valhoun however…
"I see you're not unarmed this time, Valhoun." she remarked dryly,
eyeing the gun in his hand.
"You're observant." Valhoun replied. "I have to say you've put up more
of a fight than you did the last time."
Faye smirked. "I guess you could say I've learned a few more tricks."
"Really?" Valhoun grinned. "I'd like to see some of those. Put down that
little pop gun of yours and let's see what you can do."
Faye cocked her rifle. "Not likely."
Arnold, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, slowly
scrambled to his feet in hopes of escaping unnoticed.
--Click!-- "Ah, ah, ah." Edward grinned down at him cutely as she held
her gun to his temple. "Edward does not think it would be good for you to
move right now."
Faye grinned. "Well, there you have it."
"Shoot him," Valhoun replied. "See what I care. The only reason I
haven't done it was because I had orders not to."
"Orders?" Faye looked up to see Jet standing beside her, his gun raised
as well. "Orders from who, Aeolis?"
"Back off, Jet!" Faye exclaimed. "I wanted to bust him."
"Take a number, Faye." Jet replied with a scowl. He fired, hitting
Valhoun slightly to the right of his heart.
"What the hell are you doing?" Faye cried out. "You can't kill him!"
"This guy has caused a whole lot of trouble for a lot of people," Jet
replied evenly. "Ruined a lot of lives… and for what? Some sick thrill?!"
Valhoun chuckled, clutching his wound. "What're you gonna do, Black?"
he asked. "Kill me? Your little huntress friend would be out of a bounty…
it'd be a shame, too… what with her risking her life last time to get it for
you."
"Shut the hell up!" Jet roared, pointing his gun down towards him as he
stepped in front of Faye in a protective-like gesture. "You weren't even
our original target, but you know what? I don't give a damn about any
bounty! I promised myself I'd find your ass one day and now I have!
Luck just so happened to be shining on me today, Valhoun. Do you know
why?" Valhoun remained silent. "Even though you're only worth 50, 000 …
you're wanted dead or alive."
Valhoun rose to his feet, rasping and chuckling, blood oozing from his
wound. "You gonna shoot me, Black?" he asked. "Take revenge for all
those innocents I've slain? And the two-bit thugs… you gonna avenge
them, too?"
"They didn't deserve what you did to them," Jet said with a sneer. "They
were nothing compared to what you are… You're lower than the dirt
beneath my shoes."
"Then shoot, my friend!" Valhoun laughed. "Shoot me now! In cold
blood! You kill a fellow cop… and you're no better than I am!"
Jet scowled. "Ed, turn away, now!" He began pulling back on the
trigger.
Valhoun snickered, whipping a gun out from the folds of his trench coat.
Before he could even pull the trigger, both Jet and Faye fired, quickly
sending him into oblivion.
Jet scowled, turning away from his lifeless body. "You're not a cop," he
said slightly above a whisper. "And neither am I… not anymore."
Faye let out a heavy sigh of relief, silently thanking the benevolent deity
that had been watching over them. "Rest in peace, Valerie," she
murmured.
"Yeah," Jet added. "Same thing goes for you, Melinda." Faye glanced
over at him. "That goes for you, too, you know."
Faye smirked. "I'm not dead yet." she replied nonchalantly. "After
sticking around in this lifetime for close to 80 years, a little scuffle like
this one isn't gonna send me packin' so easily."
"Hey!" Jet and Faye turned their attention to Arnold, whom Edward was
now standing upon growling as she held him at gunpoint. "Couldja get this
thing off of me!"
"Hey!" Faye snapped. "Just because she isn't exactly cute little Edith-"
Jet blinked. "Edith?"
"-doesn't make her a thing." Faye pointed her rifle at his torso.
"Wh-what do you want from me?" Arnold exclaimed.
"Answers, of course." Jet replied. "So I suggest you start talking, or else
we're just gonna have to leave you in young Edith's tender loving care."
Edward growled and barked.
=====
Spike opened his eyes. Moving his hands away from his face, he looked
up, staring at his reflection in a stand-up mirror hanging on the wall across
from him. His expression was one of fear, sadness, and confusion. "I fell
in love with Julia… I swore to love her until the day I died… I thought if I
could just be with her, I would cherish her forever…" He glanced down at
his hands. "She died in my arms, leaving me thinking that I had nothing left
to live for - aside from killing Vicious." He looked up, speaking more to
himself than to Ein. "Suddenly I find myself alone, thinking of what never
was and what might possibly be. Now, I find myself here again living the
same old life, only the story has changed completely. I'm still tied to the
past, only the past is different."
His gaze wandered from the mirror to a picture resting on Faye's dresser.
As he stared closer, he saw a picture of Faye standing between Macy and
Jet. With her arms wrapped around the two men's necks, she winked as
she made a kissy face towards the camera. Though Jet looked a bit
uncomfortable being so close to Macy, Faye almost looked genuinely
happy.
"Yeah… he and Jet kept me sane."
He frowned, turning away. "This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed. "What's
wrong with me?" He turned to Ein. "I can't just go walk up to her and say,
'Hey, Faye? Even though you're a shrew woman and I ridicule you every
chance I get, but guess what, I think I'm in love with you!' Do you have
any idea how stupid that sounds?" Ein made a whimpering sound. Spike
scowled slightly. "Why am I asking you? You're just a dog!" He rubbed
his hands through his hair in frustration. "Aargghh! I can't take this
anymore!" He got up, storming out the door. "It's time to settle this
once and for all."
He entered the cabin in determined strides. Grabbing his jacket and his
gun, he marched up the stairs and opened the hatch, only to be glomped
by a tangle of arms and legs.
"Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed. "Spike-person, Spike-person! You
missed all the fun-fun!"
"Fun?" Spike blinked, trying to keep his balance as he slowly made his
way back down the stairs with Edward still attached to him.
"Yeah, it seems Edward had a real blast," Jet replied, coming down
the steps. "Gunfights and car chases, sex, drugs, and alcohol - seems
like she got to see it all on her first big hunt."
"You make it sound like some demented baby book," Spike muttered,
looking slightly flustered. He had been worried about them after all.
Jet walked towards him, noticing his jacket and gun in his hands. "Going
somewhere?" he asked with a smirk.
"Not really." Spike answered, looking away. "So, how'd it go?"
"Edward will tell Spike-person everything!" Edward exclaimed. "First, it
was Faye-Faye and Edward at the Casablanca Café! Edward and
Faye-Faye order drinks and scoped out for bad guys. Faye-Faye spots
Arnold, but he comes to us with Aeolis Valhoun-,"
"Aeolis?" Spike asked with a frown. "You guys saw Aeolis?" He
immediately noticed Faye's presence was absent from the room.
"Yeah," Jet replied, sitting down on the couch, lighting a cigarette. "It
seems Faye and I both had a score to settle with him."
"I see…"
"-Edward and Faye-Faye follow bad-persons out of Casablanca cuz
Edward pretended she and Faye-Faye were sisters selling funky
mushrooms to survive cuz we were orphans all alone in the world.
Alone, alooone!" Edward released her hold on Spike, dropping to the
floor for effect. She however, jumped up again, clomping around in
her boots as she continued her story. "Edward tried to sell
mushrooms to Valhoun-bounty-person but he wasn't fooled, so
Edward tried to sell fake Bloody-eye to Arnold, but then Arnold
turned a gun on us and was like, 'Give Arnold Bloody-Eye or Arnold
will shoot you!' and then Faye-Faye says, 'No way! Weren't you
listening? We need that money!' And then Jet-person shows up! After
that there were explosions, and shootings, and car chases! Oh, and
Edward caught Arnold!"
"Really?" Spike asked, thoroughly amused by Edward's tale. However,
as he listened, he let his eyes roam around the room.
"Oh! And guess what, Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed.
"Faye-Faye says Edward can keep the clothes - except the shoes,
because Edward does not like wearing shoes." She yanked the boots off,
depositing them on the floor as she glided around in her stockings.
"Edward likes to wiggle her toes, toes, toes." She stopped, turning to Jet.
"Does Jet-person think Edward can keep the bang-bang gun, too?"
"Hell no!" Jet replied, thrusting his hand out, taking the weapon from her.
"I'll hold onto it until you need it again. The last thing I need is for you
to accidentally shoot Ein or something." The bark that came from Ein's
spot next to the couch almost sounded indignant.
Spike laughed, rising out of his seat to stretch. With that, he dug his
hands into his pockets and began walking away.
"Hey, Spike." The lanky bounty hunter stopped, looking back at Jet.
"We really could have used your help today."
Surprisingly enough, he looked guilty. "Yeah," he replied quietly,
glancing away. "Sorry 'bout that Jet. You, too, Ed."
"It's okey dokey smokey, Spike-person!" Edward exclaimed, sliding
around giddily with Ein in her arms.
"Yeah, well," Jet began, rubbing his bald head with his human hand.
"I guess I better get dinner started. Is Sukiyaki okay?"
"Yay!"
Spike smirked. "Whatever you want, Jet." he replied. "Though I think
I prefer Faye's cooking over yours."
Jet laughed heartily. "You and me both," he agreed. "Unfortunately,
she's down in the hangar moping over the damage done on her car."
He glanced up at him with a 'you know what you have to do' type look.
Chuckling softly, Spike made his way towards the hangar. "Whatever
you say," he called over his shoulder. "Dad."
Jet blinked for a few moments, watching Spike's retreating back. He
smiled and chuckled to himself. "That lunkhead."
End of Chapter 13