Disclaimer: I do not own CB
Spike's POV
'Today is going to be one of those days. Slow and boring. Sitting on this couch all day and watching T.V. is getting annoying. I could train, but I trained this morning and Shin is no where to be in sight.' With the remote in my hand, I flipped through the channels slowly until I came to the news. "Today's top story. Yesterday wanted criminal Don Dangler was caught by the Blue Coyote and Red Dragon. Ever since these two have appeared, the crime rate has gone down." I heard the news anchorman say. 'Of course the crime rate is down! People are afraid that a bounty will be stuck on them and we'll come and get them.'
But in truth, it sucked being a celebrity. Yeah, they didn't have any pictures of us, but, I don't want there to be any hint of me still being alive. What if Vicious tracked me down? What if she tracked me down? I'm probably ready for Vicious, but if he catches me off guard I'm dead. Her? I'm definitely not ready for. Hell, I left her crying on the Bebop. She'll probably hate me for walking out like that. We were like her family and here I am supposed to be dead.
Well, I guess I might as well find something to do instead of sitting here all day. Hell, my ship needs to repaired. Bringing my feet off the couch sure did take a lot of energy. Man did I feel stiff. After stretching my legs, I walked over toward the front door and opened it. Stepping outside, I walked down the sidewalk and looked around the neighborhood. My neighbor, Ms. Johnson, waved at me. "Hello Spike!" "Hey Ms. Johnson!" I replied. Jet and Faye would freak if they saw how friendly I was with the people in this neighborhood. But then again, I've known these people my whole life. Me, Shin, Lyn and Vicious grew up in this neighborhood on this very street. These people even knew that I was the Blue Coyote and Shin was the Red Dragon, but they knew to keep it to themselves or me and Shin wouldn't be walking among the living anymore.
The elderly lady walked over toward me, "Spike my boy. Did you greet the new neighbors?" 'The new neighbors? That's right, Mr. Calloway moved out about a month ago. He lived across the street and down the road several houses away.' "Haven't had time." I lied to her. I hate lying to Ms. Johnson, she was my old elementary school teacher so she knew when I was lying. "Spike. I know you've been home all day. What could you do to keep you from visiting the new neighbors?" "You know. Stuff." "Well, don't let that bounty hunting go to your head. It'll get you killed. Besides, you really should settle down. The ladies over there look like they could take care of you." "Ladies?" "Three ladies and an old man. A blond, a brunette and some purple haired girl." 'Couldn't be! Well, I mean, hell what are the chances?'
Placing my hands into my jacket's pocket, I interrogated my old school teacher once more, "So. Did you get any names?" "Um, I think one of them was named Janet." 'Not her.' "Another was Sheryl." 'Still in the green.' "What was the last one's name? For some reason I can't remember her or the old man's name either. And him you'd remember easily. Especially with that prosthetic arm of his." 'Prosthetic arm? Damn. Couldn't be! Seriously, well I hope it isn't.' "Tell me, does that man have a metal plate under one eye?" I questioned. I already knew it was him, but I had to make sure. "Why yes deary." "Shit. Why did Jet and Faye decide to come here?" "Yes that's her name. Faye. Faye Valentine. Why Spike, so you already did meet them!" She doesn't know how right she is. "Listen. Ms. Johnson, whatever you do, don't let them know that I live here."
Naturally she looked at me funny but she knew I wouldn't make a request unless it was important. She just nodded with a huge sigh, "Spike. Tell me, who are those people?" "The blond and brunette I don't know. But Faye and Jet were, at one time, my old partners. When I left to fight Vicious, I left her crying. Crying because she thought I was going to die." "I see. Well Spike, I won't let them know that you're here. But, is it right to let them think that you're dead?" "As far as I'm concern, I've been dead as long as I can remember." With those final words, I walked over to the garage and went to the Swordfish II after grabbing a box of tools. The thrusters were acting up so they were in need of repair. Hopefully I'll be done when Shin gets back.
Hours really do go by fast when you're busy. I didn't realize that until Shin had came back. He opened the garage door and started to speak in the calm yet happy voice of his, "Hey Spike." "Yo." I replied keeping my cool while turning a nut. "I'd like you to meet Sheryl." 'Sheryl. Sheryl. Where does that name ring a bell? Oh yeah! That's the name of one of Faye's friends.' Hoping that she was a redhead instead of a blond or a brunette, I crawled out from under the speedster and looked up. I knew I looked like crap, my yellow dress shirt and blue dress pants were covered in grease but apparently she didn't mind. As I looked at her hair, my mind kept screaming, 'Run you idiot! She might tell Faye about you!' She was a brunette, damn. "Hello Spike. Name's Sheryl. Sheryl Collins." I shook her hands, "Spike. Spike Spiegal."
As I shook her hands, I glared at Shin who just ignored it, "Sheryl met me as I was coming home. Apparently her and three others moved into Mr. Calloway's old home." "Oh, we're just here temporarily. From six months to about a year. Normally we stay on a ship." She said looking around. "So what do you do?" Shin asked while I stood up and grabbed my jacket off of my ship. "We're bounty hunters. How about you?" Before Shin could answer, I quickly jumped in, "We're performers." I pulled out a coin and performed a little illusion to where it disappeared in front of her eyes. "That's neat!"
She seemed like she bought it but she soon after went into thought. 'Dammit. Don't tell me I'm that known?' Yeah, Spike Spiegal. A name known to many bounties. A fear name might one add. Only two bounty hunters were alive who's name struck fear into criminals and was known throughout space. Hell, the T.V. even performed a special on them. Andy…huh…forgot his last name and Spike Spiegal, which is me. Hate to say it, but Andy quit and Spike Spiegal is dead as far as the records show. But now the Blue Coyote and Red Dragon are among the ranks of cowboy legends. Damn does it suck, and this bimbo Shin brought probably knows the name! Hell, Faye or Jet might have even mentioned me.
"Isn't Spike Spiegal the name of that bounty hunter? Wait! You're him!" She chirped, man did I have to think of a way out of this quickly. "Heh, as if. Spike Spiegal the bounty hunter is dead. I'm just a performer who's name is that of a ghost." Yeah, I had to keep my cool. Even though I seem cool on the outside, my mind is always different. Sometimes it's scared, sad, pissed, or frustrated. But one thing I've always been good at was hiding how I was feeling with a mask. The mask of a cowboy who's calm when faced with death. Can't say I'm to happy about it, but, if I wasn't then I'd probably be dead by now.
"Well, I have to go. It's been nice meeting you Mr. Spiegal." She turned around and stepped out of the door with Shin close behind. "Shin, you better not go over to her house." I growled. Shit, if he did we'd be screwed. Faye hasn't met him but Jet sure as hell has. Hell, I bet Jet will never forget the day he met him.