AUTHOR'S NOTE: Like last chapter, this one is by me, RySenkari. *waves* Hiya.

---

(Chapter 12: Fury)

Spike flew his Swordfish downward, descending upon the dark streets of the Martian cityscape. Although it was night, the lights that illuminated the streets made it seem nearly as bright as day.

"Faye's somewhere in this city, and I'm going to find her," Spike said with extreme determination. "I have to tell her how I really feel!"

The small fighter cruised over a busy street, soaring above several lanes of traffic.

"If only I knew who to ask...." Spike sighed. "Guess I'll just start asking people on the street.... this is gonna be one long night."

---

"Look at me, Faye."

"Just go, Miles...."

"LOOK AT ME!"

Back in the hotel suite, Miles had been berating Faye for the last fifteen minutes about 'bailing your sorry ass out' and 'this is gonna be a damn scar next month'. He seized Faye by both wrists and pulled her close so that she could get a better look at the damage Zelias had caused to him earlier.

"You didn't have to save me, you know," Faye said haughtily. "I can take care of my own damn self, and I don't need you!"

"Bitch!"

Miles slapped Faye hard across the face, sending her falling onto the queen-size bed behind her. He crawled on top of the bed and leaned over her.

"This...." Miles said, pointing to his blackened eye, "is your fault. You hear me?"

With a cry of fury, Faye leapt up and shoved Miles off of her. He tumbled back, nearly stumbling into the wall. She leapt off of the bed and looked him in the eye, breathing heavily.

"You're the reason I stopped trusting men a long time ago," Faye growled. "People like you that use force and fear and deception to push people around. I'm not going to take it anymore! I'm leaving!"

With that, Faye stormed toward the door again.

"Wait," Miles said, much quieter than last time. "Faye, I... I'm sorry."

Faye turned around.

"Like hell you are," Faye said. "You don't mean that."

"Yes... yes I do, Faye...." Miles said. "I just realized that.... it's not you who needs me, it's me who needs you. Faye, please... please stay... give me another chance."

Faye stopped. Her angry expression began to change, into one of sadness, and sympathy. Did this guy really mean what he said?

"You want another chance?" Faye asked, looking into his eyes. "Miles, you.... you're abusive. You hit me."

"I can change, Faye! That's not the real me!" Miles protested. Faye smirked.

"Yeah, right," Faye said, turning back toward the door. "I'm outta here. I've got enough money to go anywhere I want anyway."

"So much for the sympathy card," Miles thought. As Faye began to turn the knob on the door, Miles lunged at her. He roughly spun her around and punched her hard in the stomach, causing her to lurch forward and gasp.

"Damn... you... Miles..." Faye choked out.

"It's a big bad world out there, Faye, my dear," Miles said.

He picked up Faye and carrying her across the room to another door. It was the bathroom. He opened the door and roughly dropped her down inside, then closed the door. He walked over to the wall and picked up a chair, taking it over to the door and leaning it just under the doorknob, forming a barricade. Faye began to bang on the door from the inside, but it was no use.

---

"LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT OF HERE, DAMMIT!" Faye shrieked, pounding on the door as hard as she could. "MILES! YOU LET ME OUT! ARGH!"

Faye slumped down against the door and let out a harsh sigh.

"Miles... he's just like all the others..." Faye groaned. "Men are stupid."

---

"Haven't seen her, buddy."

"You sure?" Spike asked, leaning out of his Swordfish and interrogating a young, badly-dressed teenage boy with nappy brown hair and bloodshot eyes that indicated that he was on drugs.


"Dude, she's the hottest chick that I've like, ever seen... well, in a picture. But I think I might know someone who does know where she is," the teenager said.

"Yeah?" Spike asked. "Who?"

"This dude who runs this part of the streets," the teenager said. "I buy all my drugs from one of his men. Anyway, he's this like, bald-looking guy, you know? Looks like the Kingpin. Anyway, the dude's up in this warehouse building, you see?"

"This guy's clearly stoned," Spike thought. "But his tip might be helpful... bald guy in a warehouse, eh?"

"So son, where IS this warehouse?" Spike asked.

"Hell if I know," the teenager said. "Haven't been there in like, two days, man. But hey, there's a buncha dealers around here. They probably know a lot of stuff."

"Well, thanks then, kid," Spike said, cruising off down the street. "That dumb kid's no help... but if I can find a dealer, he might know where I can find this mysterious bald man... God, this is why I don't live in the city."

---

"You mean Putz Bradley, right?" asked the next person Spike had found to interview, a tall, mean-looking black man with a golden necklace around his neck. "You're looking for The Shack."

"The shack?" Spike asked.


"The Shack," the man said. "Large warehouse on Bardough Street, just a few blocks that way. You can't miss it. Why you lookin' for him? You wanna sell drugs?"

"No, I'm looking for this woman," Spike said, showing the man a picture of Faye.


"Daaaaamn, that's a fine woman," the man said, gazing at the picture. "If I was Putz, I'da pimped her fine ass out to everybody in town by now-"

Spike grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him closer to the Swordfish's window.

"I'll tell you something right now, NOBODY touches Faye!" Spike yelled. "And if this... Putz Bradley guy's done ANYTHING to her, I swear to God, I'll-"

"Man, I just said what I'd do.... not that I'd do anything!" the man shouted. "Look, dawg, I swear I ain't seen nothin'!"

Spike dropped the man and drove off toward The Shack.

---

Miles sat on the bed, staring at the barricaded bathroom door. Faye had stopped trying to escape several minutes ago.


"You know, if you promise to be good, I'll let you out," Miles said, smirking.

"Go to hell," came the muffled reply from behind the door.


"Suit yourself," Miles said, standing up. "I've got some jobs to do, so I'm just gonna leave you here for a while. Can you handle being here by yourself?"

No reply.

"Then I'm-"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Miles cautiously stepped toward it.

"Police," came a gruff-sounding voice from outside. "Open up. We're looking for a Miss Faye Valentine, and we've gotten a tip that suggests she might be here."

"I see," Miles said. "They're looking for Faye? Hmmm... I wonder if there's a bounty on her head... but I'd prefer that she stay here, for now. I wonder..."

"We're also looking for a Mister Miles Harnett," the policeman said. "Now open up."

"Damn, the cops are after me too," Miles thought. He knelt down and took out a large rifle from under the bed. "I'm coming..."

Miles opened up the door. Two cops were standing outside. Without a word, Miles pointed the gun at one of the policemen and shot him right through the neck. The powerful shot sent the cop flying back, and the other cop instinctively pulled out his pistol. Miles was faster, though. He quickly cocked his gun and shot the other cop through the forehead. Faye screamed.

"MY GOD, MILES, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Faye screamed. With a powerful kick, the chair flew away from the door, and the purple-haired woman burst out of the bathroom. She gasped. "Miles, those were two cops you just-"

Within a second, the barrel of Miles' gun was between Faye's lips.

"I wasn't afraid to kill them, and I'm not afraid to do the same to you," Miles said. "Sit down."

Faye meekly sat down on the bed. Miles kicked the two bodies away from the door and closed it, then locked it.

"We won't be taken alive, Faye," Miles said. "If I die, so do you, and I'm not going to jail."

"You're freaking crazy..." Faye stammered, her voice lined with fear. "I can't believe..."

"That I'd kill a couple of dumb cops?" Miles asked. "You oughta know better by now."

"Oh my God, oh my God," Faye said over and over again, flopping down onto the bed and nervously resting her head on the pillow.

"Oh, come on now, Faye," Miles said, setting down the gun and sliding it back under the bed. "There's no reason to be scared of me, as long as you do everything I say. Now come on, you were so happy a while ago. And you've killed people too. Don't forget that."

Faye sat up.


"I've never... killed... a damn cop!" Faye shouted.

"Cop, street thug, what's the difference?" Miles asked. "Now cheer up, Faye. We've still got a lot of work to do."

---

The Swordfish landed just outside The Shack, the large warehouse which, supposedly was the workplace of the infamous Putz Bradley. Spike stepped outside of the Swordfish and walked through the large, metal doors. The building was completely empty, except for Putz, sitting at a large, wooden desk that seemed out of place sitting in the middle of a dingy warehouse, and three of his thugs, large, neatly dressed men who flanked their employer and wore stiff frowns on their faces. Spike slowly walked up to the desk.

"So," Putz said, smiling and showing his clean, white teeth, "what brings you here this time of night? Looking for a way to make some easy cash?"

Spike walked up to the desk and placed the picture of Faye down on Putz's desk.

"Ah, I see," Putz said. "I sent her down to waste Zelias Teraski a couple hours ago."

"Eh?" Spike asked. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"Oh, so you don't know?" Putz asked. "Her and her boyfriend have come down here a few times lately. Last time though, she was by herself. Looked pretty pissed off, too. Maybe her and her boyfriend split up."

"Boyfriend?" Spike thought to himself. "Faye got a boyfriend? Wait a second..."

"Just... what kind of stuff have this woman and her boyfriend been doing?" Spike asked.

"Ah, ah, ah," Putz said, waving his finger. "It's not good business to reveal the private lives of your customers. You know, that old confidentiality thing. But I could tell you in exchange for something."

"Exchange for what?" Spike asked. "I don't have much money on me."

"No, no, no, you don't understand," Putz said. "I just want you to do a job for me."

Putz held up a picture of his own, of a man with a scraggly mustache and beard.

"You off this dude for me, and we'll talk," Putz said.

"Not gonna work that way," Spike said. "But this could work."

Spike took out his trusty Jericho .357 and pointed it at Putz's head.

"You tell me where Faye and her... boyfriend are, or I'll give you a third eye," Spike said. Immediately, Putz's three thugs took out pistols of their own.

"Gentlemen, wait," Putz said. "You've got quite a bit of guts, treating me like this. Quick, too. Alright, then. The woman and her boyfriend are staying in a suite at the Suarrez Heights, downtown. Happy?"

"Very," Spike said. "Now, tell your men to put their guns down."


"Guns down, boys," Putz said. The three thugs put their guns away. Spike did the same.

"Good," Spike said, slowly backing toward the door. "Have a nice evening."

"You too," Putz said. "Oh, and... one more thing. Watch out for my doorman."

Before Spike had the chance to turn around, a silver chain was yanked against Spike's neck from behind by a tall, well-built man wearing a white tuxedo. As Spike began to choke, Putz's three thugs took out their guns.

"Better end this quick," Spike said. He elbowed the large man who was choking him in the stomach, causing him to release his hold on Spike just long enough for Spike to roll under the man's legs. The thugs' shots all impacted the large man, killing him before he hit the ground. Spike took out his Jericho and fired several shots, hitting two of Putz's thugs in the arm and causing them to drop their guns. The third thug ran at Spike. Spike jumped up and kicked the thug hard in the face, knocking him out instantly. Putz's other two injured thugs ran at Spike and attempted to punch him with their good arms, but Spike slipped away from the punches and leapt up again, kicking both men in the back and knocking them to the ground. Spike pointed his gun at Putz, who stood up and clapped.

"Not bad, not bad," Putz said. "You know, a guy like you could prove quite useful."

"I know," Spike said, walking up to the man and extending his hand. "In fact, let's team up right now."

Putz gasped in shock.


"Well, well, well, this is....more than I expected..."

"No, I really want to work for you," Spike said. "Put 'er there."

But as Putz leaned in to shake Spike's hand, Spike knocked him out with the butt of his gun.

"Normally, I'd be happy to work for you," Spike said, standing over Putz, who had collapsed onto his wooden desk. "But there's a 15 million wulong bounty on your sorry ass. This is my lucky day."

---

After shoving a tied-up Putz into the trunk of his Swordfish, Spike flew off toward Suarrez Heights. Just then, Spike noticed something. Parked by the side of the road was a very familiar space fighter.

"That's the Redtail!" Spike said, swooping over and parking next to it. "I don't believe it... Faye?"

At that moment, a tall, lanky-looking man sauntered over to the driver's side door of the Redtail. He opened it up and climbed inside. Spike ran over to the man and took out his gun.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" the man shouted.

"That ship belongs to a friend of mine," Spike said, pointing his Jericho at the man's head. "Get the hell out, NOW."

"I don't know what you're talking about, dude. I bought this ship for 500,000 wulongs off a dude!"

"A... dude?" Spike asked.

"Some guy named Miles sold it to me! He said he had to get rid of it quick! That's all I know, I swear!"

Spike lifted the man out of the Redtail and close to his face.

"I don't care who you bought it from, it's not yours," Spike said. "Give me the key."

"Hell no," the man said. "You're not gonna shoot me anyway. You don't have the balls."

Spike dropped the man to the ground.

"You're right," Spike said. "But I can do this."

Spike kicked the man in the head, sprawling him out on the concrete. Then, he stomped on the man's leg.

"Aaaaah!" the man shouted. "Alright! Alright! Take the damn key!"


The man tossed a small space fighter key over to Spike.

"I'm calling the cops on you!" the man shouted as he limped off weakly. "You'll see! I'm pressing charges!"

"Whatever," Spike said. He took some towing cables out of the trunk of the Swordfish (having to reach under the still-unconscious Putz to do so), and hooked the Redtail to the back of the Swordfish. Then, he flew off toward Suarrez Heights once more.

"I'm really worried now," Spike thought. "Why would anyone try to sell Faye's ship... don't worry, Faye! I'm coming! Whoever this Miles is, he'd better not have hurt you!"

---

"You know, there's nothing really stopping me from taking that rifle and shooting you dead," Faye said, sitting on the bed and staring at Miles.

"I'd love to see you try," Miles said. "It'd give me a reason to show you who's boss."

"I bet I could kick your ass even without that damn gun," Faye smirked, taunting Miles. "I don't know why the hell you're keeping me around."

Miles turned around and looked at Faye.

"You know exactly why," Miles said. "If you haven't figured it out yet, you're dumber than you look."

Faye smiled.

"Oh," Faye said. "I shoulda known. Silly me."

Faye began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Miles asked. Faye continued laughing. Miles leapt onto the bed and grabbed Faye's chin hard with his right hand, causing Faye to stop laughing and wince in pain. "What is so damn funny?"

"It's not..." Faye said, anger starting to creep back into her voice. "Let go of me."

"What's so funny?" Miles growled again. "You think you could stop me? You're a weak, fragile little doll. You'd break if someone dropped you. You think you're tough, but you're the weakest, most pathetic piece of trash I've ever seen."

"Let... go... of me..." Faye growled. She spat on Miles, causing him to curse and release Faye's chin to wipe the spit off of his face. Then, Miles snapped. He punched Faye on her left cheek as hard as he could, causing her to scream and fall down onto the bed. Blood began to slowly trickle from her nose.

"I told you," Miles said. "Anyone could do that. You need me, Faye."

Faye began to sit up.

"Don't get up," Miles said. "Don't you DARE get up!"

Miles grabbed Faye's hair and began to pull it down, causing her to scream again. She grabbed Miles' arm and dug her fingernails into it, breaking his skin.

"So that's all you can do?" Miles asked as blood began to seep down his arm. "Looks like I'll have to declaw you, kitty."

Faye released her grip on Miles' arm and flopped onto her back, kicking Miles hard in the mouth with the heel on her right foot. The impact caused Miles to lose his balance and fall off the bed, hitting his head hard on the floor.


"That's IT!" Faye shouted. "You're the one that's not getting up, Miles!"

With an intense fury that seemed to completely overcome her, Faye leapt onto Miles and punched him in the jaw with all the force she could muster. Ignoring her stinging fist, Faye punched Miles again in the eye, not even giving him a chance to launch a counterattack. She continued her assault, punching Miles in the face several times, not even paying attention to where she was punching him, just trying to inflict as much pain as possible. Finally, the rush of adrenaline was over. She slowly, slowly got up and backed away from Miles. She looked at her fists. Nearly all of the knuckles were split and bleeding, and a few of them were even broken.

"Oh, damn..." Faye said quietly, looking at her hands. She looked down at Miles' battered face and smiled. "Damn, damn, damn..."

Faye turned around and walked toward the door.

"I hope you learned your lesson, you dumb bastard," Faye said. "When you wake up, say hi to the plastic surgeon for me."

Faye giggled in spite of herself. She felt free, independent... oh sure, she'd kicked people's asses before. But this... this was the first time she'd ever felt genuinely good doing it.

"Now to find my Redtail..." Faye said. "And some bandages."

The sound of a rifle cocking behind Faye sent chills down her spine.

"That was fun," Miles said, his voice slightly different from missing three teeth and having an enlarged lip. "Now get on the damn bed."

---

Yay! Faye-Faye kicked that guy's butt. But booooo, Faye-Faye's in trouble! Yay! Spike's coming to her rescue! But booooo, he might not make it in time. The exciting conclusion of Come Back... coming soon! Please review!