Yay! Thanx for the great reviews guys…I was afraid there was going to be some riots….
Hey! Some Jetty and Eddy in this chapter!
Faye kicked the covers off her bed with a frustrated groan and wondered how it could be so damn hot out in the middle of space. She sat up, stifling a yawn and brushing her hair out of her face. Glancing around blurrily, Faye caught sight of her digital clock. 2:32 A.M. Faye fell backwards and squeezed her eyes shut, willing sleep to overtake her. She opened one eye. 2:32 A.M.
"Argh!" Faye complained, jumping out of bed. She paced the small bit of floor space in her room, the cold metal beneath her feet calming her. After a few minutes of pacing, she changed direction and padded over to her closet, removing a small T.V. and beta player. She set it on her bed gently and sat cross-legged in front of the screen. Faye hit play and rested her head in one hand as a slim, black-haired girl with bright green eyes appeared on the screen. She blushed and giggled, surrounded by a large group of friends. Her voice was soft and hesitant, light and clear as a bird's as she spoke directly into the camera. She smiled cheerfully, the light haloing her slight figure as she waved her pomp-pomps expertly. Faye reached out and stroked the screen with one finger.
"I know you," she murmured softly. "I know all your dreams and desires, I know how you think and I know your opinions. I know your favorite color, favorite food, and favorite T.V. show. I know that you were me. I know it, but I don't feel it." Faye slammed a fist down on her bed. "I remember, but it doesn't seem real…it's like a dream.
"It will come to you in time, Faye." Faye gasped and twisted around.
"Jet! What the hell are you doing – "
"Your door was open," he said mildly, stepping into her room.
"Oh, and I suppose you think that gives you the right to eavesdrop on me," she said sarcastically, hoping the darkness hid the redness of her cheeks.
"Listen, Faye," Jet said seriously, "I know you've been dreaming about your past. I've walked by your room at night and heard you mumbling in your sleep – recalling conversations with friends and family, I suppose." Faye nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, I have been dreaming…It's like I completed the border of a puzzle and now I'm filling it in. I'm remembering the details."
"So it's coming," Jet said gently. "One day all the spaces will be filled and your memory will be complete."
"A fat lot of good that will do me," Faye said bitterly. Jet cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Look…uh, I know Spike and I never made you feel all that welcome here on the Bebop, but you are…welcome here, that is," he stuttered. Faye lifted one eyebrow. "Aw, hell," he said, rubbing his neck. "My excuse is that I'm a crotchety old man who worries too much, and I didn't want one more person to lose sleep over."
"And what's Spike's excuse?" Faye asked softly.
"He cares about you," Jet said bluntly. "He likes to pretend that he's dead to the world and nothing affects him, but from day one, you've been able to get under his skin." Faye turned around and perched on the edge of her bed.
"He cares about me," she repeated dully, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't think so, Jet." Jet snorted.
"Fine. Believe what you want to. But Faye?" She looked up at him and he gestured at her new green skirt and blouse, both of which hung in the closet. "Your memories are coming back…you are that little girl, but everyone grows up. Everyone changes. Don't try to be someone you're not." He walked out and closed the door quietly behind him. Faye sat still for a long time, then sighed and moved the equipment on her bed back to the closet. She crawled into bed and let sleep overcome her.
sitting in the rain alone
looking at a place that's gone
boarded up my memories
but something's drawn me here again and
i cannot leave the past alone
hoped that i would never find
all the shit i left behind
now i find the child in me is going to remind me that i
i can't forget my past for long
so take a look outside yourself
and tell me what you see
i can't believe
that you won't see the change in me
give me strength to find the road that's lost in me
give me time to heal and build myself a dream
give me eyes to see the world surrounding me
give me strength to be only me
i don't want to hear the things
you say you know all you've redeemed
'cause i can't change what's come before
build myself some better dreams
and cast off the fear that holds me here
so take a look outside yourself
and tell me what you see
i can't believe
that you won't see the change in me
give me strength to find the road that's lost in me
give me time to heal and build myself a dream
give me eyes to see the world surrounding me
give me strength to be only me
Faye checked her watch and sighed in irritation, placing one hand on her hip. Cherry blossoms clung to her off-white cashmere sweater and swirled around her slender legs and brown, knee-length skirt.
"He's late!" she said out loud, green eyes glinting dangerously. "Again…" Her anger dimmed and she became saddened, remembering when he would run to get to their meeting spot five minutes early. Now it was like pulling teeth to get him just to notice her… "Hi, remember me?" Faye muttered sarcastically. "We've only been dating for five years, ever since junior high." She sighed and tossed her shoulder-length hair, cut choppily to frame her delicate face. David had always loved her hair, forever running his fingers through her sleek, dark strands, twisting and tugging gently. Last week, on their anniversary, she had presented him with a lock of her hair, hoping to remind him of those romantic days. But he had only stared at her, as if to ask, 'What am I supposed to do with this?' and apologized for forgetting her present. Faye checked her watch again. Half an hour late. She threw up her hands and grabbed her books off the ground, stalking off in the direction of her house.
"Faye! Wait up!" Faye's heart leapt as she recognized the voice, but she only faltered for a minute. Then she raised her head a tad higher and continued to march in the opposite direction. The sound of feet slapping on asphalt grew steadily louder, and before long a hand tugged on Faye's shoulder, turning her about face. "Hey, didn't you hear me?" David panted, bent over slightly with his hands resting on his legs. He flashed an apologetic grin at her. "Sorry I'm late… One of my after school meetings ran over." Faye gave him a stony glare, lips pressed together tightly. David's smile faded. "Faye…I am sorry," he said softly. "It's just…with applications and everything, I've been so busy…" he reached over and tugged on a strand of her hair playfully. "Forgive me?" Faye felt her resolve to be angry melt away. She leaned against him and rested her cheek against the soft fabric of his sweater.
"Of course," she rolled her eyes. "I let you get away with murder." They turned together and began walking up the street.
"Because of my dashing good looks?" David suggested.
"No, because you make a good pack mule," Faye laughed, handing him her books to carry. David tucked the books under his arm with a groan, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders.
Spike snuffed his cigarette out on the dashboard and laid it to rest with the countless other broken stubs. This was the fourth time he'd watched the CD, hunched over the screen in Swordfish II.
"You must understand Faye, I was never in love with Julia." Spike flinched and pulled another cigarette from his carton, hands shaking slightly. You fucking bastard. It was all a fucking game to you. "She was a glimpse into my past, a mere taste of another – " Spike's eyes narrowed. What the hell is he talking about there? It's like he's saying it for Faye's benefit, like he's reassuring her…fuck if I know. Spike tuned out as Vicious described how he'd tricked him and Julia. It infuriated him and distracted him from listening for clues. On the screen, Vicious unlocked Faye's handcuffs and helped her to her feet. Spike ground his teeth, fingernails biting into his knee as he realized what was coming next.
"Ooooh!" Ed's fluffy mane of red-orange hair filled Spike's vision as she pressed her face up to the screen. "Why is the strange man kissing Faye-Faye?" Spike yanked Ed out of the way and hit the pause button.
"Ed! What are you doing up? Don't you have a…bed time, or something?" Ed laughed, using Spike's head as a footstep to climb onto the hood of the Swordfish.
"Silly Spike-person! Silly, silly, silly Spike-person," she chanted, doing a series of somersaults and cartwheels.
"Yeah… Hey, stop bouncing around like that, you're going to dent the hood," Spike mumbled around his cigarette, watching Ed warily. "Ed, I'm kind of busy, so unless there was something you wanted to tell me…"
"Something to tell Spike-person!" Ed affirmed, pausing mid-cartwheel and ending up in a handstand. She bounded to her feet and stood up straight, assuming a mock serious expression. "'Last week, a mysterious woman," Ed's voice rose and fell theatrically, "walked into the headquarters of the infamous Red Dragon Syndicate during broad daylight, sporting a pair of dark sunglasses and toting a machinegun." Ed arranged her hands as though she were holding a gun and began to shoot randomly around the hanger, ending with a shot right between Spike's eyes. She then pulled a folded piece of paper out from the waistband of her spandex shorts and shoved it in Spike's face. Spike took it from her and opened it silently. It appeared to be a news article.
You'se guys wanna find out what happened just before Faye shot Vicious? How she got to the top floor? Next chapter, babes….
"Give Me Strength" lyrics by Over The Rhine.