A/N: I wanted to explain this story a little. The reason it's a little AU, is that this takes place back when Spike was working for the Red Dragon Syndicate. He's in his early 20's. I know this would mean that Faye would probably still be an icecube, but here's where the AU part comes in. Instead of being cryogenically frozen, she's about 20, and working for the Black Dragon Syndicate. The BDS is just like the RDS, and they're sworn enemies. Ummm…. I don't own Cowboy Bebop. (I'd give anything to own them, but sadly, it can never be...*tear*) The only characters I own are the Council and Blayce.
Now, our story continues.
"You will instrument our revenge on the Red Dragons!"
There was complete and utter silence in the Council room.
Faye stared in shock at the Council. "What? Excuse me, but how am I going to do that?!"
Lord Osamu leaned forward. "You will go undercover as the newest recruit of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Then you will find out who it was that killed Lord Neshi, and you will deliver them to us."
Faye blinked. "Wait. Rewind… You want me to pretend to be a Red Dragon, so that I can find out who Lord Neshi's murderer is, and bring him to justice?"
The Councilors nodded. "You are our best operative. We need someone with brains, brawn, and your particular skills." Said Lord Takako, raising a wry eyebrow.
Beginning to grasp the plan, Faye blinked again. "You mean, you want me to sleep my way to the murderer?!" she asked, incredulous.
Lord Osamu glared. "Only if necessary. We just need someone with your particular feminine wiles. They might give you that extra edge."
"You were the top private in the Lower Syndicate, and you have risen very quickly through the ranks. This mission is your chance to prove yourself. You are the first woman to have this much rank in our Syndicate. If you complete this task successfully, we will make you the first woman to become heir to the Leadership of this Syndicate."
A collective gasp flew around the room, as the shocking news circulated. Faye stood perfectly still in the center of the room, feeling all eyes on her.
"Very well. If this is the will of the Council, it will be done."
Faye took one last look around her apartment, checking to make sure she had everything. "I think that's it…" She declared, dumping her suitcase into the trunk of her new car, a sleek black convertible.
"Are you sure?" asked Blayce, leaning skeptically against the car. He had been assigned as her partner, because of his outburst on her behalf earlier, when Lord Rusha had been picking on her because she was late. "I thought women were typically supposed to pack everything that they, their sisters, their sisters' friends, their friends, their friends' sisters, and everyone else within mailing distance owned! I was expecting you to have at least double digits of suitcases!"
Faye raised an eyebrow and held out her hand. "Well, I'm not exactly your typical woman, now am I?" she asked, as Blayce dropped the keys into her palm. "Besides, if I need anything, I can come back here and get it, or I can just go buy a new one…" she said, producing a money card from her purse.
Blayce's jaw dropped, as Faye climbed into the convertible, pocketing the card. "The Council gave you your own money card?!"
She grinned. "It's unlimited too!"
He scrambled into the car next to her. "I can't believe it! They never do that!"
Faye laughed as the engine revved to life. "Ahhhh…. Purrs like a kitten…" she smirked, and pressed the gas pedal to the floor.
Blayce sighed as they flew along. "I guess it's not surprising… You're the only one who can peel out of here and make it sound so good…"
Faye pulled the car to a stop, outside a tall and foreboding glass building. She checked over herself one last time in the tiny mirror on the sunshield.
Her dark hair was sleek and glossy, hanging free to brush her black-clad shoulders. She wore a black dress suit, black high heels, and shiny black sunglasses. Brushing imaginary lint from her clothes, she pocketed the keys, and stepped out of the car.
Blayce exited from the other side, looking sharp, as always. But today, Faye had to admit that he looked especially nice. A loose black dress shirt, a matching black jacket and pants, freshly shined black shoes, and his longish blond hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail.
They checked each other over, Faye straightening his collar and buttoning his shirt cuffs, Blayce pulling stray hairs into place and readjusting her jacket. Simultaneously, they slicked back their eyebrows, winked at each other, and walked into the building.
Inside, a pair of burly guards, who inquired as to why they were there, immediately stopped them.
After learning that Faye and Blayce were the new recruits, they were searched for weapons, then directed them to a room at the end of the long corridor.
Spike Spiegel lay sprawled over a desk, dozing, as he dreamed of being somewhere besides this stuff room. Anywhere but here…He thought. Maybe sleeping, or taking a smoke, or eating, or kickboxing-Oh! That sounds nice…Without realizing it, he began going through the motions of his favorite punches.
"Dreaming of hurting someone again?" asked a wry voice from nearby. Spike's best friend Vicious, lounged over two chairs next to the desk. "I swear, you're going to turn into a sadist if I'm not careful…"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Vicious… Shut up. I'm just bored. And even if I am dreaming of hurting someone, it's probably you. Or maybe it's those recruit-wannabes that are forcing me to wait in this stupid room. Especially when I could be doing so many other things…"
Vicious chuckled, but stopped suddenly, and poked Spike in the side.
"What the hell Vicious! That hurt! And you say I'm sadistic…" he trailed off when he noticed that they were no longer alone in the room.
A tall blonde man dressed in all black stood in the doorway, looking like he was going burst out laughing.
But the person standing next to him overshadowed the man. It was a woman, the first one besides Julia who had ever set foot in this building.
She was medium height, wearing a black suit and heels, and slick black sunglasses. She had dark violet hair, and one delicately arched eyebrow was raised above the sunglasses.
Spike rolled over, and dropped into his chair, which Vicious had just vacated.
He schooled his features into a blank mask. "Now. I assume you two are the new recruits?"
Faye hid a smile as the two men struggled to regain their dignity.
"Now. I assume you are the new recruits?" asked the one on the right with the unruly green hair.
Faye nodded slightly, but offered no other response.
The two men exchanged glances. The other man, who had thick silver hair, raised an eyebrow. "Do you have names?"
Faye allowed a tiny smirk to tease the corners of her mouth. "I am Faye Valentine." She crooked a finger at Blayce. "And this is Blayce Gallahan."
After the interview, the two men ushered them through another door, down a short corridor, and into a large room with lots of mirrors. Faye was sure that several of them were two way, allowing people to watch them without being seen.
The room was littered with punching bags, weights, and other such things. Faye smiled, but hid it quickly, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. The green haired man met her eyes with a solemn expression, and Faye winced inwardly. But then he did the most surprising thing. He winked! It was gone so quickly that Faye was sure she had imagined it, but one glance at Blayce told her that he had seen it too.
The silver haired one was gesturing to them, so Faye pushed that strange fact into the back of her mind to puzzle over later.
"Red Dragons must have at least a little fighting experience. This is not for the weak of heart or stomach." He seemed to be looking specifically at Faye, who bristled.
"Both Blayce and I are not rudimentary fighters, I can assure you."
The silver haired man raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you are both well qualified, but I'm afraid we'll need to see a demonstration." He looked at Blayce. "You first."
Blayce went quickly through a combination of punches and kicks, keeping it simple.
"Very nice." The silver haired man nodded, and turned away.
"Wait!" Faye's fists were clenched. "You haven't seen me fight yet!"
The silver hair man turned slowly around, looking like a bee had just stung him. "I said, this job is not for the weak of heart or stomach. Women are both."
With a snarl, she threw herself at him, determined to show him just how weak her stomach was.
Blayce caught her arms, and held her back, while everyone else in the room looked startled. "Calm down Faye. I know you're good. Calm down. Don't blow this…" he hissed quietly.
Faye abruptly relaxed, though she still glared fiercely.
The silver haired man looked vaguely shocked. "Very well. If you're so good, why don't we have a little match? Gallahan versus Valentine."
Faye began to smile, and nodded her head. "Very well." She pulled off her jacket, folding it neatly, and draping it over a chair. Off came her shoes and knee-highs, piled next to her jacket.
Blayce had also discarded his jacket, and was standing opposite her, fists up, knees bent.
Faye sunk easily into a fighter's crouch, a smirk turning up the corners of her mouth.
Spike regarded the match with a silent interest. The fighters were completely still for moment, then they flew together in a flurry of punches, kicks, and blocks. For many seconds, they fought, neither seeming to have the advantage. Then just as abruptly, they broke away.
Blayce stumbled backwards, looking the worse for the wear. His blond hair was falling out of his ponytail, and several bruises already beginning to puff up.
The woman, Faye he reminded himself, was bleeding slightly from a split lip, but she did not seem notice it at all. Smirking, she hitched her skirt up to the base of her hips, freeing a good amount of leg.
Vicious nudged Spike, grinning. The woman noticed, but said nothing, keeping her attention on the fight.
The fight began to wind down, as the woman obviously had the upper hand. She aimed a kick at Blayce's midsection, but he caught her leg, and turned it, forcing her to the ground. But instead of falling, she moved faster than her partner, throwing herself forward, onto Blayce. Her added weight unbalanced him, and he fell backwards with her on top of him. Her foot pressed against his windpipe, and he held his hands up. "I yield…again."
Vicious looked surprised in spite of himself. "Again? You mean she's beaten you before?"
Faye reached down and pulled Blayce to his feet, as he grinned at her. "Of course. I don't think I've ever beaten her…"
Vicious shook his head, "Great…" he muttered. "A He-woman…"
Faye looked up when she heard that. "Oh…" she said. "I'm ALL woman…" she sauntered forward, her hips swaying slightly as she walked. "I'm female from head…" she placed one finger on Vicious' forehead. "To toe…" she dragged it lightly down to his stomach.
Vicious stammered something, blinking rapidly.
Spike was turning blue from attempting to contain his laughter. He stuffed his fist in his mouth, and pounded his fist on his leg, tears of mirth pouring down his face.
Vicious regained his composure, and glared at Spike and Faye. "Let us go to the next test…" he gestured for them to precede him. Spike slapped him heartily on the shoulder as he walked past, still snickering.
The next test was marksmanship. This time, Vicious did not make any sexist inferences, which was good, because, once again, Faye bested her partner. Spike watched, impressed, as she placed a steady row of bullets across the targets.
She blew the smoke off the muzzle of her gun, and smiled. "Is there any other tests I need to go through?"
Vicious looked over his clipboard. "Do you-"
"Vicious." A cold voice froze both Spike and Vicious in their tracks. "Lord Akihito!" they bowed low.
A middle-aged man wearing a Gucci suit strode past the men. "I have but one test left for you, until you can enter the ranks of the Red Dragon Syndicate." He regarded Faye with hard eyes. He pointed to Blayce. "Shoot him."
Closing her eyes, Faye stretched out her arm, and pulled the trigger.
Blayce dropped, her bullet embedded in his skull.
Well. Now you have met our leading man, and discovered some of the heroine's hidden talents. The hero his more of a supporting role in this chapter, as his best friend is more vocal than he is. But he is not on the backburner, oh no. As of now, the hero and heroine are still wary of each other. The heroine has just made the first of her painful decisions. Killing her partner like that will haunt her for the rest of her life, as it is the cause that sets off a whole chain of tragic events. And this is just the beginning…