OK...I do not own Cowboy Bebop. Sorry for crazy transmissions of Ch 4. Computer problems, well, more like operator error so I guess brain problems. Please read and review.

Chapter 4 – Transition

Jet took off and headed toward the quadrant address Ed had given him. It was a long shot for sure. He thought about what he might say when he got there. He did not have a clue. It probably would not matter anyway. The odds were very low on this project, but then, that could sometimes bring a man luck.

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"I said keep shooting spike!"

"I am shooting damnit; you keep shooting, where's your ship, is it close?"

"What ship? I drove Spike, I didn't think you'd fit in the Redtail; do you want out of here or not?"

"No Faye, I'd like to be left alone to die again." Spike smartassed half seriously.

"Duck you idiot!" Faye yelled as a bullet whizzed over spike's head. "I swear I'll beat you if you get hurt again, are you paying attention? Is that your blood? Do you care?" Faye shouted louder this time, grabbing Spike's bloody blue hospital scrub shirt and yanking him down out of danger.

"No," he said.

"No WHAT!" Faye said exasperated.

"Not his blood Faye. "Kitty said palely.

Spike turns to look back down the hallway towards the break room and labs. It is quieter; no gunshots now but he can hear shouts. They are in a hurry to collect something. He begins to wonder what it is.

"Time to find out what this game is all about" he said out loud as he pivoted.

"You're not going back down there!" Kitty and Faye admonished at once.

"Oh yes I am," said Spike, "They know we're here I'm not waiting to be attacked."

"But it's my fight," insisted Kitty, "They want my notes and the equipment. It's very competitive. I don't care. Now let's get out of here; please listen to your sister." Spike noticed a hint of panic in the young doctor's face as he evaded another bullet effortlessly. This time Faye had no need to warn him. So much for the offensive... Here goes he thought, who told her she was his sister?

"Sister!" snorted Spike with mirth as he pushed the doctor ahead him and out of the way of the line of fire. "That's a laugh; we work together...Faye's here on a bounty...aren't you Faye?"

"No, I brought you here a year ago I had no idea you would survive." Faye said flatly. She could not longer hear return fire. That must be the end of the good guys Faye thought, they'll be after us next.

"What's your first name doc?" Spike smiled.

"Kitty," She managed to squeek.

"Mmmmm, well Kitty this is a gun, I want you to go..." Spike patronized.

"I'm staying with you." Kitty interrupted. "Besides, I know how to use a gun."

"Your funeral, pity such a beauty too," taunted Faye. "Come on you two we'll have time for meet and greet later. Kitty, if you do know your way around that gun, cover the hallway. Spike just wants to show off. Let's go Spike" Faye ordered. "Before I shoot you."

"OK, OK Faye, don't kill me just yet I need a cigarette first." Spike said.

They made their way outside to the car and began the drive to Faye's place. "Who'd you bag Faye? Must have been someone big with a ride like this. Where are your, ahh, here they are." Spike proceeded to light the cigarette with the car's lighter and almost coughed out his toenails when he inhaled.

"Slowly rookie, it's been awhile. I'd check your credit chip too, I'll bet it's looking fat just now." Giggled Faye.

"I don't even have it. What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Spike.

"Katsu" stated Faye with a smile. "I have it."

"Who's Katsu, your bounty?" Spike asked casually, too casually. "What did he do wrong?"

"Come on Spike you only know one Katsu," said Faye singsongingly - alarmingly like Ed.

"The one I knew is long dead Faye, and since when did you want to know so much about my past? Stop mocking me." Spike was angry now.

"Whoa...easy Spike...your dead friend?... He paid for your medical care, her research and my life for the last year, not to mention Julia's final expenses," Faye's voice lowered to barely a whisper. "He was alive and well when he left three months ago and he had better come back that way." She resumed at normal volume.

Spike was silent. He was not sure which news was more worrisome. That Katsu had broken his cover or that he had buried Julia without him. The reality of her death hit him hard. His chest tightened and he had trouble breathing. He watched the buildings roll by through the salty tears starting to collect in his eyes; they wobbled in the distance like the scene in a funhouse mirror.

He wondered how long Katsu was able to stay. The risk he had taken to transport him was tremendous. Leave it to Katsu to confess to a pretty girl with a pistol. Some things will never change. But there may have been enough of the old timers slaughtered by then that he was not even recognized. Who knows, Spike just hoped Katsu had not signed his death warrant to save his pathetic hide. What a waste to save one who was not sure if he was happy to be alive or not. If he were dead would he be with her? Somehow he highly doubted it. The cycle of life has a funny way of making you believe there might be reconciliation on the other side but come on, what are the odds. That feeling was back. The black one. The heavy one. The one that squeezed him slowly from the inside out and threatened to drive him insane.

He wished that Katsu and Faye had never come to save him. Everything felt so final all of a sudden. Like there would never be an end to the pain that had started flowing through him. The only time he didn't feel it half as much was when he was arguing with Faye or fighting. He was more cavalier than even before, if you can imagine such a thing. His bravado this evening at the lab had bordered on the insane.

Kitty rode on, quietly listening to Spike and Faye catch up, but they had become silent now. They were obviously very close, closer than most comrades. Julia must have been his lover Kitty decided and Katsu was obviously the man Faye was with that day. But why did he leave if he cared about these two so much she thought. Hmmm, she may never know. They were pulling up to The City hotel. It was one of the finest in town...and one of the most notorious.

"SPIKE," Faye shouted, Look up! Am I dreaming? Look lunkhead look! Before it's gone."

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As Jet approached the industrial quarter of the downtown area he noticed smoke rising from one of the buildings. He came closer and approached the building now he could she that there were police everywhere. Several body bags were being carried from inside a two story building. Very unlucky.

"4228...There goes my lead," Jet muttered, it was the address on his screen. He turned the Hammerhead around and headed back uptown before returning to the Bebop empty handed.

"I'm too old for this crap," he told the city's beautiful skyline, "Why do I insist on the hard road so often when I could be happy tending bonsai"

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"I don't know Faye!" Spike's shout echoed in the stairwell. "I did not get a good look ok, I'm an idiot right?" He cajoled. "It could have been the Hammerhead I can't tell you for sure. What would Jet be doing on Mars." Spike was panting now. "Faye, do we have to climb all these stairs? Are you trying to kill us?"

"Way too many people in the elevators here Spike. This way is much safer, only two more flights." Faye said not fazed by the hike at all. "It'll help you keep your girlish figure," she said with an evil grin as she punched him in his hard flat stomach. Her hand lingered just a split second tingling suddenly as if it had fallen asleep.

"Ooof" Spike replied swiping back at her a second too late to make contact. She had quickly hopped ahead of him and out of range. He noticed the swing of her breasts. They had to be real, fake boobs don't move like that he smiled to himself.

Faye stopped at an elegant marble landing and slid her key past the lock. The door opened onto her suite. Kitty let out a little gasp. "It's so big inside, look at those ceilings." They were impressive one had the feeling of limitless space in the main living area.

"Something's not right," said Faye, "I think someone has been in here."

"Who Faye another ex boyfriend?" demanded Spike moving ahead of the girls and entering the back room of the suite...

"If I knew that do you think I would be worried? You've been out too long Spike. Your brain is soft," chided Faye from the living room.

"I can tell you this much Faye," Spike started as he swung his body to the right to avoid the blow of a syndicate goon. "This place is not safe." Spike's left foot lifted from the floor and glided gracefully into the jawline of his attacker with a sickening crack. Blood spurted from his mouth as he went to draw his gun. His mistake. Spike dodged to the left as the bullet from Faye's gloc hit its mark sending a spray of blood and grey matter backwards with the body.

"I think you may be on to something Spike. Who knew? Brains, green hair and sex appeal. Catch." Faye threw him his credit chip and was headed for the door motioning for Kitty and Spike to follow. "Spike you'll find your Jerichos in the closet and the Swordfish II in the hangar downstairs. If they have not blown it to bits by now it should be sitting next to the Red Tail."

"Wait Faye, what the hell's your plan?" Spike yelled after her as he grabbed his guns. His hands tingled with pleasure as he held them once more.

"It's not my plan its Katsu's. We get out, and then this place blows. I can't allow them to find anything linked to him, including me. He's in danger because of us already." Said Faye grimly.

"Tell me about it." Spike moaned, thinking about an ancient promise to Katsu's dead father.

"Wait a minute; you're going to blow the whole building?" Kitty blurted, finally finding her voice. "You can't just kill a bunch of innocents, come on now, who are the bad guys here? I don't want anything to do with this. I have half a mind to call the cops!"

"Great...I knew she was gonna be trouble." Quipped Faye. They were running now. She was worried about reaching the zips in time.

"Kitty! Come on," Spike pleaded with a stalling Kitty. "How many innocents do you think are in this building besides you? You've heard of this place; they call it The Syndie Hotel for a reason you know. Not a bunch of angels here. Now come on please, stop being difficult."

"DIFFICULT!," She shouted, "They still have a right to live. You can't just take that away from people. Who are you guys anyhow!" Kitty was yelling now.

Spike grinned slowly and looked up at her through lowered eyes as he softly drawled, "We're just humble cowboys ma'am. Now let us get you out of here. I won't take no for an answer." He had grabbed Kitty about the waist and had a firm hold on here. She screamed and bit him, but he held on blandly running to catch up with Faye. Finally! Man she was quick. "Great, now look what you've done! Must you always blow things up Ms. Valentine?"

"Me!" Faye's gun was out and instantly aimed at his head. "What the hell do you think I was doing at the lab today Spike. I came to get you. Katsu and I saved YOU you ungrateful bastard."

"Well that wasn't very smart now was it." Spike shot back pissed. "Do something smart for me Faye. Go and find Jet before we shoot each other. If he's in the galaxy bring him and the Bebop to the east side of city dock 7 in three hours." He was still holding on to a struggling Kitty who was amazingly strong for her size. She was in the process of chewing his arm off like an animal in a cage. "Ouch, Shit!" he cried. He changed his grip again and decided to deal with the screaming.

"Go find Jet, are you insane, I'm not even sure I saw him," shouted Faye. They were running faster now, dragging Kitty with them, towards the basement hangars. She just hoped that they were not too late already. If the ships were there they had a chance. "What am I supposed to do email Jet and hope the ship appears on time."

"You still have his EMAIL!" It was Spike shouting now, "why didn't you say so, and you call me the idiot. Get in your ship and try to contact him Faye. Get out of this airspace!"

"No kidding Spike." Faye said flatly. "Dock 7 eastside, I'll be there. I just don't know who I'll be with." Faye took off in a blast of smoke, relieved to be in her ship and to have Spike tucked into his.

"You WILL find Jet Faye." Spike yelled after her as he shoved Kitty into the small cramped but newly remodeled Swordfish. "We're going to your place he grinned. Every doc I ever knew kept a small arsenal of supplies at home. We're going to need them." It was too cramped for Kitty to physically fight anymore so she started yelling again.

"How can you just let all of those people die?" Kitty demanded.

"They would have come after us. Would you rather die instead? Would you rather I die or Faye? There are plenty of bad men in there Kitty, ones who would rather kill than ask questions. Do you understand? How many innocent people do you think they have killed among them in that place? You wanna be next?! Come on doc put two and two together!" Spike growled at her angrily. Besides since when could anyone keep Faye from blowing stuff up he moaned to himself. The low rumble started in the distance followed by an explosion that startled Kitty into speech again.

"No, NO!! I do not understand the need for all of this killing." She quieted a little as the craft gained altitude. "Head uptown, past the second bridge on the left, big townhouse, really big you can't miss it, put it down on the roof." Kitty said calmly. No matter how angry she was, she felt like she needed this man. This made her even angrier, but quieter.

As they started to get out on Kitty's very swank rooftop Spike stopped her. "I don't think you should go in there. I'm sure the goon squad has paid a visit here too."

"I doubt it Kitty replied. This place is mine by inheritance and I doubt anyone could have made the connection. It took me years to find it myself." She smiled knowingly.

"But the men at the lab were pros Kitty, they will have searched your place by now." Spike argued.

"They probably have," she smartassed, "its back downtown by the lab and contains nothing important to me; or my project."

She pushed past Spike and pressed on a round flat stone next to the elevator doorway that was barely perceptible in the dark. A small cylinder slid out and Kitty fitted her left eye to it. "Katherine Rose Lancing plus guest Spike" she stated. The machine lit up and scanned her eye. Spike was impressed. She motioned toward him.

"Give it your good eye huh?" she teased. Spike complied, and as the scan finished the elevator door opened. OK so perhaps they were safe for now. Spike stood in the elevator freshly scanned and slackjawed in utter awe of the security system.

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Faye aimed her zip craft higher and higher into the atmosphere and way out of range of the destruction below her. That particular piece of syndie heaven was sinking into the bowels of Mars. It felt good. She did what Katsu had asked. But really she just liked to blow things up.

Now on to the email, she doubted it would work. What a lame plan. Email him Spike says. She started typing on the ships computer...Jet, Spike and I need you. City Dick "Oops" she giggled, backspacing. City Dock 7 eastside "Fuck what the hell time is it? Ok, 1300 hours, she continued typing. A fat lot of good this will do.

Flicking the radio on with a highly polished nail Faye relaxed into her thoughts. She had found Spike, plus one lame redhead, but all in all a very good thing. She was startled to realize how much she had missed him and how much she missed him still now. She could still feel the muscles of his stomach in her memory. She had been surprised at her arousal when she hit him earlier. The feel of his taught frame was etched into her fingertips. She brought them to her lips and held them there. What was she thinking! She had wrestled around with Spike before? A little tension yes, but nothing that lingered. Still she could not get the feel of him off her mind, or the yearning sensation out of her groin as she drifted off to sleep waiting for 1300 hours or her email alert, blushing at her own thoughts.

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Spike left Kitty snug in her steel fortress. She was not going anywhere else today. She was adamant. Spike was not about to cross her. He had a feeling she could be trouble he didn't want to be the trigger. It took two minutes for the roof to open and the Swordfish to appear ushered in by three "garage bot's" Kitty called them. Weird. When he got to the eastside dock he was surprised and relieved to see Faye there. She was alone. That was not the part that surprised him. That she didn't run off. Now that was surprising. Faye followed Spike silently to Kitty's townhouse.

"Watch this," Spike said excitedly. "Totally teckorgasmic." Spike held his good eye to the cylinder that he had released and the computer started scanning. GUEST SPIKE ONE please wait for clearance. Unidentified guest please approach for scan.

"What the hell is this place? "stammered Faye as she leaned into the machine..

Kitty's voice came over the com. From downstairs she had scanned her retina and was now telling the computer system, "Guest Spike and Guest Faye visitor clearance activated." Well, thought Faye this may be a good hideout afterall.

As Spike and Faye made their decent to the main floor, the garage bots were busy putting away zip craft. They did not notice the blinking computer in the Redtail. Jet would just have to wait.

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Author's note. Please read and review. Encouragement needed 