Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop nor do I own 'Dancing Queen' which is
the title for chapter 2.
A/N: Absolutely blown away with the reviews! Keep em comin and spread the
story around. I'll do my best!
Wanted: Dead Or Alive - Dancing Queen
A few more shots flew through the air as rain descended to the ground. Ed would fire twice and then run for it, with Spike Spiegel clasped in her left hand. The criminal doctor took one more shot, grazing Ed's right bicep. She grimaced but tossed the former bounty hunter into the Swordfish and sealed the compartment shut. Another round of bullets were shot as the ancient ship took off. Ed peered at the cowboy. His eyes seemed so blank; so lost. She shook off a rising chill and headed towards Saturn to find the infamous Faye Valentine.
It wasn't a large city but big enough to house the woman's two casinos and three escort service companies. Indeed, Faye had made quite a profit from these places but it wasn't hard work that got her there. Two years after Spike had "passed away", she had met a billionaire in a small cafe. The woman with the lost past was working as waitress when the man offered to take out to dinner. Faye ended up falling for him but refused his proposal for marriage because of the past she had led - bounty hunting, stealing, lying, and a debt too large for her own pocket...not to mention her gambling habits. The man asked her once again to marry him and then asked her if she trusted him. She gave in, only to find out that he was a muli- billionaire businessman. He took care of her debt and then gave her a large check to start her own business and make her own fortune. "You're an independent woman Faye," Ed recalled hearing him say one time. "Gamble with my money and create your own franchise." Faye couldn't believe her luck, and before she knew it, she had opened a casino and an escort service. Now the hard luck woman was the reigning business queen of Saturn.
Ed turned to Spike, who hadn't spoken a word. He just sat there, that old cool spunk he used to carry evaporating before her very eyes. His hair was wet, probably from the rain, and he reminded Ed of a lost child....just like she had been.
"Do you remember anything?" Spike lifted his head up to meet hers.
"It's.....everything's familiar but it's fuzzy. Real fuzzy."
"Do you remember me?"
"I'll try to, but don't expect any great results...." Ed couldn't help but smile to herself. *At least he still has his dry sense of humor.*
Neon lights raced across the windows of the Swordfish, creating a mesmorizing scene for both bounty hunters. The city of Ermos was like Las Vegas - only brighter. Holographic orange butterflies fluttered over the streets and billboards advertising skimpy models graced the sidelines of the streets. Ed parked beside a brightly lit neon purple casino with giant blue letters reading "Black Dog Casino." Ed grinned at the title of Faye's casino and hopped out of the Swordfish. Spike, however, was hesitant to follow. Ed gazed at Spike's attire and prayed that no one had seen his akward apparel. She searched the area for a formidable style of clothing. Finally, she spotted a Frank Sinatra wanna - be donning the casual clothes that Spike had been known for.
"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." Spike gaped at the young red- haired stranger.
"And where exactly would I go?" However, Ed was listening. Instead, she was sneaking up behind the impersonator and two minutes later, was heaving a half - naked, unconcious male over her shoulder and tossing him into the alley. She tossed the clothes at Spike who just gawked at her as if she was criminally insane.
"I take it you do this often?" Ed shrugged and tapped her foot as if to indicate her impatience. "Yea. Yea. I'm hurrying." Not a minute later, the two were strolling into Black Dog Casino.
Faye tapped the bell on the service desk and blew a strand of hair out of her face. It was time to test her employees out and so far the man on duty was getting a VERY low score. She tapped the bell one more time before leaning over the counter to retrieve her room key. She cursed under her breath as she felt the cold metal of the service desk hit her almost bare chest. *Of all nights to meet up with politicians, and my employees choose THIS time to jet - leaving me without a room in an evening gown.*
"Damnit....stupid.....people....Damn I broke a nail....almost...got .....it!" Just as Faye's thin finger grasped the card to get into her room, a small cough shook her off balance, causing her to drop her card. She bit her bottom crimson covered lip and stood to meet the person who caught he off guard face to face. "WHAT?! Ed?! Is that you?" She had to squint for a moment but immediately recognized the red hair. "It is!" She embraced the girl with both arms and held her tightly. Ed lightly pushed her away and ran a nervous palm through her flaming locks.
Spike rolled his eyes as the girl had pulled him through the crowded gaming room and was standing behind her when the young woman coughed to gain another woman's attention. He had been growing bored but then he heard that voice. That annoying, whiney, high-pitched voice that caused his whole body to tense up.
"Faye, I wish it were good terms that brought me here tod-"A gun click silenced Ed as she stared at her gun being pointed at Faye's forhead.
"You stole five woolongs from my coat pocket!!!" Faye stared at the man holding a pistol to her head. Her cheeks were at first red from shock and embarrassment and then to anger.
"I didn't steal nothing you idiot! You said I could borrow them!"
"When have I EVER let you borrow money from me?!"
"How'd you get my gun?", Ed instantly pondered.
"Well you did!! Wait a minute...how do you know about those five woolongs?" She squinted again at Spike, finally realizing who was standing in front of her. Her eyes swelled up with tears as she leaned in to hug the man she had once cared so deeply for.
"SPIKE!!" Spike grudginly accepted her hug and let his arms wrap around Faye as she cried her heart out. "You were dead.....At least I thought you were...." Spike gave her a lop sided smirk.
"Well you thought wrong but I won't hold it against you." Ed intercepted the conversation.
"You remember HER but not ME?!" Spike rubbed his neck.
"It's coming back piece by piece kiddo."
"You DO remember me!!!"
"Yep...and I guess I can't call you 'kid' anymore. Lord knows you've.....matured." Ed watched his eyes fall down to her chest and she turned abruptly, covering her chest.
"Hmph.......pervert." Faye's eyes were still red from crying but she managed to smile.
"It really is you. Come on you two. Let's go to the lounge and catch up over some drinks."
Faye swirled a straw around in her spring water as Spike thoughtfully sipped his whiskey and Ed gulped down a Bloody Mary. She casually lit a cigarette for Spike but kept her distance. She leaned back in her metal chair and finally took a drink from her glass of water.
"So why are you here?" Spike exhaled the nicotine.
"Well, I was near death and all remember from that day was watching a man walk towards me and call for a nurse to prepare a chamber. Then I drifted off to sleep to wake up to the same man and woman and a huge bill that I didn't even agree to. What about you? Last I checked, you were a chain smoker and a gambling drinker." Faye tried her best to keep her temper from rising.
"Well.....I got married and opened the casino plus a few other businesses -"
"An escort service." Faye shot Ed an ugly glare.
"It's only for dating purposes. If one of my girls chooses to have sex with the guy then they're let off the job. And the drinking and smoking....well....I quite two weeks ago. It's not healthy to raise a baby like that." Faye cradled her stomach.
"Baby?", Ed and Spike asked in unison.
"I just found out last night but i'm excited to tell Sonny when he gets back." Ed's Bloody Mary tipped over on the table as the doors of the lounge flew open.
"There he is!!!" Three men ran forward. Ed jumped out of her chair and pulled out her pistol.
"Faye, get him to Jet's!"
"But Ed!" Ed turned to face Faye.
"Now!" Faye grabbed Spike's hand and ran for the outside just as two men grabbed Ed from behind. Just as she had learned from the master, Bruce Lee, Ed pulled the two men forward; knocking them into one another. One recovered faster than the other and took a swing at the bounty hunter. Ed blocked the hit with her wrist and used her other wrist to hit the thug in the gut and then sent her elbow into his neck. He doubled over in pain. The other man pulled Ed's leg from underneath her and she went crashing to the floor. However, Ed was quicker than the man thought, and she sent herself backwards into a flip; kicking the man's chin up into the air. The first man recovered and took out a gun. Ed noticed this in time and slid behind a table. Her right arm was throbbing with pain from the earlier hit but she still managed to load and shoot her gun, giving her enough time to follow Faye and Spike to the Swordfish. But not enough time to escape the bullet heading for her calf muscle. She yelped in pain but kept running, firing a few shots to keep the two men busy.
Faye dashed up beside Spike as they made their way to his ship. A bullet skidded off the brick walls of the alley and Faye began to grow frustrated.
"Are you packing heat?"
"Not at the moment."
"Why not?!"
"It was on my list of things to do." Faye clasped her fingers around his shirt sleeve and pulled him behind a metal dumpster, raising her evening dress abover her thigh to retireve her own pistol.
"You'll never change, Faye."
"Let's hope not," was her only response as she fired a round of bullets.
~Earth~
Miggs' heeled shoes tapped loudly against the tile flooring of the building she had been called to. A man dressed in a suit fit for Al Pacino stood before her, flipping a coin in his hand. Miggs kept her head down to ackowledge his presence. Her blue curls fell over shoulders as her bangs shadowed her bright eyes. The man grinned wickedly.
"You know why the Sydicate wanted me to meet you here, don't you?"
"No."
"Spike Spiegel." Miggs' eyes flew open wide as she gawked at the snickering man.
"The one who got out alive." The man continued to snicker, his thin beady brown eyes turning into thin slits.
"Yes....and the one who killed your brother." Miggs held a palm to her heart.
"Vicious...." The man flipped the coin into the air and let it fall to the ground. The tiny pin sound sent chills down Miggs' spine.
"You know what you must do." He turned and walked into the darkness. Miggs stared at the dancing coin on the floor.
"Vicious..."
Sorry about the cliffy but I had to, ya know? Of course you do. Next chapter: Spike and Jet reunite and Miggs' betrayal.
Wanted: Dead Or Alive - Dancing Queen
A few more shots flew through the air as rain descended to the ground. Ed would fire twice and then run for it, with Spike Spiegel clasped in her left hand. The criminal doctor took one more shot, grazing Ed's right bicep. She grimaced but tossed the former bounty hunter into the Swordfish and sealed the compartment shut. Another round of bullets were shot as the ancient ship took off. Ed peered at the cowboy. His eyes seemed so blank; so lost. She shook off a rising chill and headed towards Saturn to find the infamous Faye Valentine.
It wasn't a large city but big enough to house the woman's two casinos and three escort service companies. Indeed, Faye had made quite a profit from these places but it wasn't hard work that got her there. Two years after Spike had "passed away", she had met a billionaire in a small cafe. The woman with the lost past was working as waitress when the man offered to take out to dinner. Faye ended up falling for him but refused his proposal for marriage because of the past she had led - bounty hunting, stealing, lying, and a debt too large for her own pocket...not to mention her gambling habits. The man asked her once again to marry him and then asked her if she trusted him. She gave in, only to find out that he was a muli- billionaire businessman. He took care of her debt and then gave her a large check to start her own business and make her own fortune. "You're an independent woman Faye," Ed recalled hearing him say one time. "Gamble with my money and create your own franchise." Faye couldn't believe her luck, and before she knew it, she had opened a casino and an escort service. Now the hard luck woman was the reigning business queen of Saturn.
Ed turned to Spike, who hadn't spoken a word. He just sat there, that old cool spunk he used to carry evaporating before her very eyes. His hair was wet, probably from the rain, and he reminded Ed of a lost child....just like she had been.
"Do you remember anything?" Spike lifted his head up to meet hers.
"It's.....everything's familiar but it's fuzzy. Real fuzzy."
"Do you remember me?"
"I'll try to, but don't expect any great results...." Ed couldn't help but smile to herself. *At least he still has his dry sense of humor.*
Neon lights raced across the windows of the Swordfish, creating a mesmorizing scene for both bounty hunters. The city of Ermos was like Las Vegas - only brighter. Holographic orange butterflies fluttered over the streets and billboards advertising skimpy models graced the sidelines of the streets. Ed parked beside a brightly lit neon purple casino with giant blue letters reading "Black Dog Casino." Ed grinned at the title of Faye's casino and hopped out of the Swordfish. Spike, however, was hesitant to follow. Ed gazed at Spike's attire and prayed that no one had seen his akward apparel. She searched the area for a formidable style of clothing. Finally, she spotted a Frank Sinatra wanna - be donning the casual clothes that Spike had been known for.
"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." Spike gaped at the young red- haired stranger.
"And where exactly would I go?" However, Ed was listening. Instead, she was sneaking up behind the impersonator and two minutes later, was heaving a half - naked, unconcious male over her shoulder and tossing him into the alley. She tossed the clothes at Spike who just gawked at her as if she was criminally insane.
"I take it you do this often?" Ed shrugged and tapped her foot as if to indicate her impatience. "Yea. Yea. I'm hurrying." Not a minute later, the two were strolling into Black Dog Casino.
Faye tapped the bell on the service desk and blew a strand of hair out of her face. It was time to test her employees out and so far the man on duty was getting a VERY low score. She tapped the bell one more time before leaning over the counter to retrieve her room key. She cursed under her breath as she felt the cold metal of the service desk hit her almost bare chest. *Of all nights to meet up with politicians, and my employees choose THIS time to jet - leaving me without a room in an evening gown.*
"Damnit....stupid.....people....Damn I broke a nail....almost...got .....it!" Just as Faye's thin finger grasped the card to get into her room, a small cough shook her off balance, causing her to drop her card. She bit her bottom crimson covered lip and stood to meet the person who caught he off guard face to face. "WHAT?! Ed?! Is that you?" She had to squint for a moment but immediately recognized the red hair. "It is!" She embraced the girl with both arms and held her tightly. Ed lightly pushed her away and ran a nervous palm through her flaming locks.
Spike rolled his eyes as the girl had pulled him through the crowded gaming room and was standing behind her when the young woman coughed to gain another woman's attention. He had been growing bored but then he heard that voice. That annoying, whiney, high-pitched voice that caused his whole body to tense up.
"Faye, I wish it were good terms that brought me here tod-"A gun click silenced Ed as she stared at her gun being pointed at Faye's forhead.
"You stole five woolongs from my coat pocket!!!" Faye stared at the man holding a pistol to her head. Her cheeks were at first red from shock and embarrassment and then to anger.
"I didn't steal nothing you idiot! You said I could borrow them!"
"When have I EVER let you borrow money from me?!"
"How'd you get my gun?", Ed instantly pondered.
"Well you did!! Wait a minute...how do you know about those five woolongs?" She squinted again at Spike, finally realizing who was standing in front of her. Her eyes swelled up with tears as she leaned in to hug the man she had once cared so deeply for.
"SPIKE!!" Spike grudginly accepted her hug and let his arms wrap around Faye as she cried her heart out. "You were dead.....At least I thought you were...." Spike gave her a lop sided smirk.
"Well you thought wrong but I won't hold it against you." Ed intercepted the conversation.
"You remember HER but not ME?!" Spike rubbed his neck.
"It's coming back piece by piece kiddo."
"You DO remember me!!!"
"Yep...and I guess I can't call you 'kid' anymore. Lord knows you've.....matured." Ed watched his eyes fall down to her chest and she turned abruptly, covering her chest.
"Hmph.......pervert." Faye's eyes were still red from crying but she managed to smile.
"It really is you. Come on you two. Let's go to the lounge and catch up over some drinks."
Faye swirled a straw around in her spring water as Spike thoughtfully sipped his whiskey and Ed gulped down a Bloody Mary. She casually lit a cigarette for Spike but kept her distance. She leaned back in her metal chair and finally took a drink from her glass of water.
"So why are you here?" Spike exhaled the nicotine.
"Well, I was near death and all remember from that day was watching a man walk towards me and call for a nurse to prepare a chamber. Then I drifted off to sleep to wake up to the same man and woman and a huge bill that I didn't even agree to. What about you? Last I checked, you were a chain smoker and a gambling drinker." Faye tried her best to keep her temper from rising.
"Well.....I got married and opened the casino plus a few other businesses -"
"An escort service." Faye shot Ed an ugly glare.
"It's only for dating purposes. If one of my girls chooses to have sex with the guy then they're let off the job. And the drinking and smoking....well....I quite two weeks ago. It's not healthy to raise a baby like that." Faye cradled her stomach.
"Baby?", Ed and Spike asked in unison.
"I just found out last night but i'm excited to tell Sonny when he gets back." Ed's Bloody Mary tipped over on the table as the doors of the lounge flew open.
"There he is!!!" Three men ran forward. Ed jumped out of her chair and pulled out her pistol.
"Faye, get him to Jet's!"
"But Ed!" Ed turned to face Faye.
"Now!" Faye grabbed Spike's hand and ran for the outside just as two men grabbed Ed from behind. Just as she had learned from the master, Bruce Lee, Ed pulled the two men forward; knocking them into one another. One recovered faster than the other and took a swing at the bounty hunter. Ed blocked the hit with her wrist and used her other wrist to hit the thug in the gut and then sent her elbow into his neck. He doubled over in pain. The other man pulled Ed's leg from underneath her and she went crashing to the floor. However, Ed was quicker than the man thought, and she sent herself backwards into a flip; kicking the man's chin up into the air. The first man recovered and took out a gun. Ed noticed this in time and slid behind a table. Her right arm was throbbing with pain from the earlier hit but she still managed to load and shoot her gun, giving her enough time to follow Faye and Spike to the Swordfish. But not enough time to escape the bullet heading for her calf muscle. She yelped in pain but kept running, firing a few shots to keep the two men busy.
Faye dashed up beside Spike as they made their way to his ship. A bullet skidded off the brick walls of the alley and Faye began to grow frustrated.
"Are you packing heat?"
"Not at the moment."
"Why not?!"
"It was on my list of things to do." Faye clasped her fingers around his shirt sleeve and pulled him behind a metal dumpster, raising her evening dress abover her thigh to retireve her own pistol.
"You'll never change, Faye."
"Let's hope not," was her only response as she fired a round of bullets.
~Earth~
Miggs' heeled shoes tapped loudly against the tile flooring of the building she had been called to. A man dressed in a suit fit for Al Pacino stood before her, flipping a coin in his hand. Miggs kept her head down to ackowledge his presence. Her blue curls fell over shoulders as her bangs shadowed her bright eyes. The man grinned wickedly.
"You know why the Sydicate wanted me to meet you here, don't you?"
"No."
"Spike Spiegel." Miggs' eyes flew open wide as she gawked at the snickering man.
"The one who got out alive." The man continued to snicker, his thin beady brown eyes turning into thin slits.
"Yes....and the one who killed your brother." Miggs held a palm to her heart.
"Vicious...." The man flipped the coin into the air and let it fall to the ground. The tiny pin sound sent chills down Miggs' spine.
"You know what you must do." He turned and walked into the darkness. Miggs stared at the dancing coin on the floor.
"Vicious..."
Sorry about the cliffy but I had to, ya know? Of course you do. Next chapter: Spike and Jet reunite and Miggs' betrayal.
