A/N: Wow, I'm so glad you guys liked it! I just knew you wouldn't! Well,
thanks for giving it a shot! All previous disclaimers still apply.
Session 2: Bounty Hunter Blues
Lone footsteps echoed through the hall, while elsewhere, food sizzled in a pan, and someone typed furiously upon their keyboard. A door slid open, revealing a completely darkened room.
"It's been a while..."
The light flipped on, revealing a room of cold steel walls and floors. There were two rounded doors, directly across from each other, positioned atop a balcony with stairs leading off to the side, and rusty metal fencing surrounding the balcony. In the middle of the two exits was a small living area with an old, patched and stained yellow couch and a matching chair seated across from it, with a steel coffee table in between.
Upon one of the small, raised platforms stood a dark-haired man, his frosty gaze leveled at a muscular, dark-skinned man across the room. The second man had his wrists tied above his head to the railing of the opposite balcony.
"You're right," he grinned. "It has been a while, Squall."
Squall stared at him for a long moment, before slowly ascending the stairs. "You were part of the inner circle," he said, as he stepped closer to the man. "You could've warned everyone... but instead, you kept silent."
"That's right."
"Seifer was your best friend. Fujin was your own damn flesh and blood. But that didn't matter at all to you."
"Not at all."
Squall nodded and turned to head back the way he came. "I just wanted to hear you say it."
The man behind him laughed. "So, maybe it was destiny, huh? You becoming a bounty hunter, and catching me and all... I guess it must be gratifying."
"It has nothing to do with revenge," Squall replied as the door slid open once more. "It's just business."
Squall left him, traveling down the hallway to the cockpit. As soon as the door opened, the sound of rapid clicking filled his ears. "Zell?" he called from the doorway.
Inside the cockpit a boy with blonde, spiked hair sat with his legs crossed, the over-sized goggles on his eyes hindering the view of the tattoo marked on his face. The room was dark, except for the glow of the computer screen in front of him, and the reflection of it in his goggle lenses. The monitor was on, but only he could see what the computer was actually doing. The monitor was blank.
"Yeah?"
"Are we gonna be there soon? I want this bastard off the ship."
Zell snickered. "I know what you mean. If I have to eat instant ramen noodles one more time..."
"Not him. The bounty."
Zell nodded. "I'm getting permission to land in Dollet as we speak. Is it just me, or is this awfully familiar?"
Squall didn't answer, but shared the same, exasperated sentiment. They had just been in Dollet the day before, when they had to take off and hunt down their bounty, who was hiding on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.
"Hey guys, come and get it!" a voice called from their kitchen.
Zell stood up with a sigh, pulling the goggles off his head. "We're set to land at dock A in half an hour. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll at least get soba noodles for a change."
"No noodles tonight," their cook answered in a deep, gravely voice when they entered the living area. "Tonight's my specialty. Bell peppers and beef."
Zell's face lit up, and he leaped onto the couch with sparkling eyes. "No more noodles! Why the sudden change?" he asked as he grabbed his plate.
"This bounty's worth a lot. I figured I could afford to splurge."
"You didn't splurge enough, Jet," Squall grumbled as he picked at his plate. "There's no beef in your bell peppers and beef. Just peppers. So you wouldn't really call it bell peppers and beef."
"You do when you're poor," Jet retorted.
"Oh man! Jet, I can't eat just peppers! I swear I'll be sick!" Zell whined. "You gotta give me something else, man! It's just not fair!"
"You'll eat what I give you, free loader!" he growled, glaring at the sixteen-year-old. "You do some actual work around here and we'll talk!"
Squall rubbed his forehead. All the bickering was giving him a headache, and the silent bounty's eyes burning into his back was making him lose his appetite. "I'm not hungry anymore. Come get me when we land." With that said, he sauntered out of the living area and toward his bedroom.
Zell waited until he was gone before swiping up his bowl of beef and bell peppers without the beef. "Great! More for me!"
The bulky-framed, pale man seated across from him rubbed the top of his head, which was completely lacking in hair, except around the back. A short, but wild beard grew down from the sides of his face, and on his chin, and his right eye was marked with a vertical scar, a small strip of metal running along the edge of the socket just beneath it. His left arm was prosthetic, both wounds having come from some kind of accident he didn't like to talk about.
"You know, he's probably gonna want that later," Jet pointed out.
"I know," Zell replied. "Too bad. It's first come, first serve on this ship. Hey. that's the life of a bounty hunter, right?"
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"Well, how do I look?"
Quistis, Nida, and Ed turned toward the bathroom, where the voice had come from. There, in the doorway, stood Faye in her street wear. Her violet locks were pushed away from her face with a yellow headband, which matched the vinyl, single-button vest she wore. Her bottom consisted of a short black skirt, which bared a considerable amount of her legs, and she wore a pair of white boots that came up just past her ankles.
"Isn't that a bit much?" Quistis asked as she studied her scantly clad comrade.
Faye shrugged. "It works for me."
"Faye-Faye's so pretty!" Edward squealed from her place in front of her laptop.
Quistis shook her head, before tossing a gold, rounded bracelet to Faye. "There. It's a homing device, so we can keep tabs on you. If you're ever in trouble, press on that little indention. Part of it will slide back and reveal a button you can press to call us. And, as you requested, it matches your anklet."
Faye smiled and slid it onto her wrist, before stretching out her slender arm to admire how it looked. Her matching ankle bracelet rested loosely on the opposite leg, down over her white boot. She absent-mindedly tapped it with her other foot, and inside her pocket, her pair of dice flipped over to reveal a pair of snake eyes.
"So, anyone up for a game of Triple Triad, or dice before I leave?" she asked with a tiny smirk.
"This is a mission, not a casino," Quistis reprimanded. "Now get going. You have an appointment to be interviewed by the Red Dragon Syndicate. Setting up this interview cost us a pretty penny to Frank."
"Who's Frank-person?" Ed questioned.
"He sells us information sometimes. Or in this case, a good word to the head of the syndicate. His loyalty goes to the highest bidder, however. If his paycheck goes up next week, he'll be a devout member of the syndicate once again, sworn to secrecy. We can't afford to wait around for another opportunity like this, and if you're late, Mr. Spiegel will dismiss you all together. Understood?"
"Mr. Spiegel?"
"The head of the syndicate, Valentine. Didn't you go over the information I gave you? Oh, just get out of here. You're running out of time."
"Whatever you say, Quisty," Faye replied as she exited the small boat and climbed up onto the dock.
"My name is Quistis!" her leader shouted in exasperation. "This mission is doomed. Well, Edward, keep an eye on her. Nida, go out and gather information. I want to know what's going on at this dock, and all surrounding docks, understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" he saluted, sweat rolling down his forehead as he rushed out the door.
Quistis shook her head, taking a sip of coffee from her "#1 SeeD" mug. "It's falling apart already," she whispered to herself. "All according to plan."
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Rinoa chewed her lip nervously, peeking in through the small crack in the door. The room she saw inside was painted dark red, and had only one long, oak table in the center. A fireplace crackled with life on one wall, while the same, oriental-style dragon statues that had been in the lobby sat on either side of it. Members of the syndicate, ranging from young to old, were seated at the table, with Spike at the head, his back turned to the flames.
It amazed her how serious her normally laid-back brother could be at times like this. His jaw was set, his mouth pulled into a straight, thin line upon his face. The orange glow of the fire danced in his chocolate colored eye, while his darker prosthetic one seemed to be cast in shadow, giving him an eerie look.
"Everyone," Spike began, loud enough for her to hear. "There's a new member I'd like you all to meet."
Rinoa took a deep breath and straightened the short, silk blue dress she wore. It was a shade just lighter than navy, and strapless as well. She wore a short black jacket over her arms, and tall boots on her slender legs. She wanted to look nice for her first appearance to the other syndicate members, without looking too snobby.
"Please welcome my sister, Rinoa Heartilly."
Rinoa pushed open the thick, arched double doors and entered the room, her boots clicking on the polished marble floor. "Hello everyone," she said quietly, bowing slightly before the table. She was met only with silence and cold stares.
Spike growled a little, prompting a few mumbled hellos. Rinoa bowed once more before leaving the room, and waiting in the hall outside it. She noticed her fingers were shaking and her blood was burning with embarrassment.
A few moments later, Spike stepped out into the hall with her, carrying something behind his back. "They'll get used to you. Don't worry about it."
"They probably resent me for being the leader's little sister," she replied.
He shrugged. "Who cares about them? They're just a bunch of hard asses anyway. If I hadn't promised the former leaders that I would uphold tradition, I'd have gotten rid of them a long time ago. Anyway, you can't just laze around all day, young lady. I've got a new job for you."
Rinoa shook her head. "I'm not going back to Venus."
"Yeah, so drug runs aren't really your thing. I got that. But, you've always been a good judge of character. I figured I'd put that to use. Today, you'll be interviewing a woman that wants to join the syndicate. Just talk to her, get a feel for the kind of person she is, and tell me what you think. That's all."
"Sounds easy enough," Rinoa considered. "Now, what are you hiding behind your back?"
Spike grinned. "Something behind my back? There's nothing for you."
"Spike!" she whined, trying to reach behind his back. Being the martial arts expert that he was, he was much too fast for her.
He dodged her several times before finally bringing his hands out in front of him, chuckling. "I'll give you this now, but only if you promise to work on your speed." With that said, he revealed a simple, black- handled dagger with a dragon engraved on the blade. It even came with a scabbard and strap. "You remember how to use one, right?"
"Yeah, you taught me yourself, remember?"
Spike nodded and placed the weapon in her hand. "Keep it with you today. Someone in the syndicate put in a good word for this applicant, but you can never be to sure. And whatever you do, don't freeze."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. So, when do I meet her?"
"Margie will show her up to my office once she gets here, which better be soon. I'll talk to her a little, then you'll take her out for a walk or something."
"Got it," she replied. "What do I do until then?"
"Come with me. We'll wait for her in my office."
Rinoa followed Spike down the hallway, and past the room where the Red Dragon's inner circle met. At the end of the hall was another set of double doors, with dragons carved into the rich, mahogany wood. Spike pushed the doors aside, revealing a large, spacious office with a huge window looking out over the skyline of the city.
"Nice," Rinoa commented, gazing around. The floor was the same white marble as in the hallway, but a thick Persian rug decorated the middle of the room. Atop the rug sat Spike's desk, with a red-cushioned, Victorian- style chair behind it. Two black leather chairs were positioned it front of it, facing the desk. Spike's chair sat with its back to the window, and plush, red velvet curtains were gathered at the sides, waiting to be drawn.
Spike laughed. "I hate this place. It's so stuffy."
A beep from the top of Spike's desk interrupted to the two. "Mr. Spiegel, your interview is here."
"Send her up," he replied curtly, before turning to the window and drawing the curtains. The room instantly went dark, and he stumbled around for a moment until he found the switch to turn on the red glass sconces one either side of the window. They came to light with a faint, haunting glow, casting the room in a dim, hellish sort of light.
"What's with all this?"
Spike sat back in his chair, his form completely swallowed within the large frame. "Intimidation. You want to see how well a new applicant endures under pressure."
Rinoa leaned casually against the desk, and both kept their eyes on the door. After a few moments of silence had passed, the doors were pushed open, and Margie's usual scowl was revealed. Behind her a tall, slender figure appeared, sporting a small smirk and a pair of sunglasses.
"Come in!" Spike ordered, his voice echoing slightly.
The figure that could only be described as a woman stepped in, and Margie closed the doors behind her. The light upon her made it seem as if her entire body were blushing, and the devil-may-care smile delicately twisting her lips gave her an impish look. "Hi," she greeted in a smooth, mischievous voice.
From her point of view, she could see only the silhouette of a tall, winged chair, with the tips of what must have been the syndicate leader's unruly hair poking up at the top. Through the shadows she could see a single, dark eye glaring at her from across the room. "Your name?"
Her smile grew, and she tried to suppress the small shiver in her spine when she heard his low, sexy voice. "Faye Maximoto," she lied flawlessly.
"Why do you want to join the syndicate?"
"Quick cash, of course."
She couldn't see it in the darkness, but Spike's smile grew at her display of boldness. "What do you think you could possibly have to offer us?"
"I'm great at cards," she answered with a tone of humor in her voice.
"Triple Triad? Do you cheat?"
"Yes, Triple Triad is my specialty," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "Cheat? A lady such as myself would never cheat."
"That's all Ms. Maximoto. Thank you. If you would now go with my associate, she's going to take a walk with you, maybe ask you a couple questions. Is that alright with you?"
Faye shrugged. "Sure, I need a smoke anyway."
Spike pulled his own pack from his pocket and handed one to Rinoa, as well as his lighter. "You can bum one from me."
Rinoa crossed the room and handed her the cigarette, which Faye placed between her lips without hesitation. Rinoa lit the tip of the cigarette for her, before tossing the lighter back to Spike.
"You two can go now. Walk about the city in any place that you wish."
Rinoa and Faye wordlessly exited the room and took the elevator down to the lobby. Back in his office, Spike leaned back in his chair and laughed. A beautiful, and interesting woman, who seemed to have her wits about her... That was certainly a change from the usual type that applied for membership. As his mind reflected on the short skirt she wore, he suddenly remembered something important he should've told the girls. He ran to the elevator as fast as he could, tapping his foot in impatient as it made its slow descent.
"You can go anywhere but the-" Spike had begun as soon as the doors slid open. One quick glance around the lobby revealed that it was empty, save for Margie. "Docks..." he finished in a mumble of frustration.
Already out of the building, and halfway down the street, Rinoa turned her head to study Faye in the sunlight. "How 'bout a walk around the docks," she suggested. She'd heard it was really peaceful, and she'd yet to be able to visit.
Faye shrugged. "Sure. But dock C is closed for construction I think," she lied again. "We'll have to go to another one."
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"Are you sure?" Quistis demanded as she stared Nida down.
"Y-yes ma'am. F-fairly certain," he stuttered, shying away from his leaders sharp, almost accusing gaze.
"Great," Quistis growled. "So we were wrong in our assumption. Dock C is clean. Dock A is hiding syndicate members. If we move now, it will look suspicious." Quistis turned to the younger SeeD behind her, who sat cross-legged on the cold steel floor with large goggles strapped to her fluffy red head. "Ed, where is Faye now? Please tell me she's at least made it to the syndicate building."
"Faye-Faye has left the building!" the small girl announced. "Faye- Faye appears to be headed in this direction."
"Oh no. That can only me that she messed up the interview," Quistis groaned.
"I don't know, Quisty-Wisty!" Ed replied. "Faye-Faye's going to Dock A. Dock, smock, lock. Edward's hungry!"
"Dock A!" Quistis exclaimed, ignoring Ed's other comments. She turned to Nida once more. "But isn't that where..."
"D-do you think the syndicate is trying to o-off her?" he squeaked.
"Edward will save Faye-Faye!" Ed yelled, jumping to her feet. "Don't worry Nida-person, and Quisty-Wisty!"
With that the hyper SeeD exited the boat and went loping off on all fours in the direction of the other docks. "Edward Wong Hau Pepilu Tivrusky the fourth to the rescue!"
"S-should we go after them?"
Quistis shook her head. "It's far too late for damage control."
Over in dock A, a small boat sat off to itself, bobbing several yards away from the other ships. Painted on the side was a bright yellow butterfly, the sunny color joining with the sparkling blue of the ocean for a cheerful, sunny tone about the ship. Inside, bunches of wires and switches were strewn across the floor while a petite girl with dark, gravity-defying hair sat in the middle, singing along to the song on her headphones as she worked tirelessly at the mechanisms around her.
"Train, take us away!" she screeched, more than a little off key. "Far away, into the future. so I can blow it to smithereens!" she laughed at her substitute of lyrics.
On the pier, Rinoa and Faye stood, looking out at the seemingly endless ocean. "What made you decide to turn to a life of crime, anyway?" Rinoa was asking.
"It's the only thing I've ever known," Faye replied. "What about you? You seem way too nice to be in this business."
"It was either crime, or tyranny," Rinoa answered. "My father was... not a nice man. So I joined the syndicate to escape."
"Evil-Syndicate-Person-Lady!" came a shout from atop a pile of crates. They both looked up to see a little girl standing there, hunched over with her fingers pushed out and her teeth bared like an animal. "I'll save you, Faye-Faye!"
With that she jumped down from the crates and ran at Faye, colliding into her with the full force of her body weight and momentum. Faye was knocked back, off the pier, her back hitting against the side of an old warehouse. Ed fell flat on her face in the spot where Faye had been.
Further down the main pier of dock A, a large, rusty ship with the word 'Bebop' painted on the side in sloppy red letters was parked. Inside, in the living room, Jet and Zell were finishing off their meals before heading off to turn the bounty in. The entire ship seemed to rumble and shake, suddenly, and it titled widely to one side. The two found themselves in a pile on the floor, while the railing the bounty was tied to snapped, and he made for the exit.
Squall came running into the living room moments later, having been thrown off his bed from the tilting. "What the hell's going on?" he demanded of the tangled mess of limbs and bell peppers on the floor.
"I don't know," Jet shouted in reply. "Raijin's getting away. Get after him!
Squall nodded and ran for the exit, soon coming to the top deck of the ship. He studied the area, seeing that one of the piers was completely gone, and pieces of it were adrift in the water. His eyes caught on something blue, and flailing, and for a moment he thought Raijin had jumped into the water, only to find he couldn't swim. A laugh from the main pier alerted him to Raijin's true whereabouts. He was running for the city. Squall realized then that the person in the water was actually a drowning woman.
His gaze shifted from the drowning woman to the retreating Raijin several times before he finally jumped into the water, muttering a curse as he did.
On the main pier Faye ran around, panicked. She couldn't swim, and it appeared that neither could Rinoa. In fact, she couldn't even see Rinoa anymore. Faye called for help several times, only to realize that she was alone.
"Shit! What am I gonna do? They're gonna think I was responsible for this!" Faye cried. "I have to do something, I have to try and explain!" she rambled to herself before taking off for the dock exit, screaming all the way there.
Squall gently carried the unconscious woman back to the Bebop, laying her out on the deck and checking for a pulse. It was there, but faint, and she was no longer breathing. He opened her mouth, briefly realizing that it was the same woman he'd seen at Seifer's before lowering his mouth to hers. After several moments of CPR, Rinoa coughed up the water she'd been choking on, her eyes slowly fluttering open.
She looked up to find herself staring into a pair of frosty sapphire eyes. She realized a man was hovering over her, water from his hair gently dripping onto her face. She smiled slightly as she took in his features. The same man she'd seen the day before, only this time, he wore a tight white T-shirt, the water soaked through causing it to cling to his body.
"Hi," she whispered gently.
He stood up. "You cost me my bounty," he growled, then held up something in his hands. "I take it this belongs to you... Ms. Dragon."
"What?" she asked groggily as her eyes focused on her dragon-engraved dagger. It had been strapped around her leg, beneath her skirt, but her skirt had probably ridden up, revealing the weapon.
As she was sitting up, a red-tipped bullet jumped up the side of the ship and shot itself at her. "Evil-Syndicate-Lady-Person!"
Rinoa let loose a squeal as she felt the child's teeth puncture both her jacket and her shoulder.
"A Red Dragon Syndicate member that caused me to lose my bounty," Squall considered. "I only saw you yesterday and already you've caused me more trouble than anyone else I've met. Don't think you're going anywhere anytime soon. Not until I get some answers."
Inside the boat with the yellow butterfly, a pair of emerald eyes peeked out through the window at the debris floating on the water. "Oopsies... a little too close to the pier."
**
See you space cowboy...
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Next session: "He glared at me with such disgust I thought for certain he would kill me then, and there. Yet, he only continued to sit and stare. I would give anything right now, just to know what goes on behind those eyes. I'm a captive to a mighty lion, and I'm the dragon he despises." Next Session: Red Dragon Jazz
Session 2: Bounty Hunter Blues
Lone footsteps echoed through the hall, while elsewhere, food sizzled in a pan, and someone typed furiously upon their keyboard. A door slid open, revealing a completely darkened room.
"It's been a while..."
The light flipped on, revealing a room of cold steel walls and floors. There were two rounded doors, directly across from each other, positioned atop a balcony with stairs leading off to the side, and rusty metal fencing surrounding the balcony. In the middle of the two exits was a small living area with an old, patched and stained yellow couch and a matching chair seated across from it, with a steel coffee table in between.
Upon one of the small, raised platforms stood a dark-haired man, his frosty gaze leveled at a muscular, dark-skinned man across the room. The second man had his wrists tied above his head to the railing of the opposite balcony.
"You're right," he grinned. "It has been a while, Squall."
Squall stared at him for a long moment, before slowly ascending the stairs. "You were part of the inner circle," he said, as he stepped closer to the man. "You could've warned everyone... but instead, you kept silent."
"That's right."
"Seifer was your best friend. Fujin was your own damn flesh and blood. But that didn't matter at all to you."
"Not at all."
Squall nodded and turned to head back the way he came. "I just wanted to hear you say it."
The man behind him laughed. "So, maybe it was destiny, huh? You becoming a bounty hunter, and catching me and all... I guess it must be gratifying."
"It has nothing to do with revenge," Squall replied as the door slid open once more. "It's just business."
Squall left him, traveling down the hallway to the cockpit. As soon as the door opened, the sound of rapid clicking filled his ears. "Zell?" he called from the doorway.
Inside the cockpit a boy with blonde, spiked hair sat with his legs crossed, the over-sized goggles on his eyes hindering the view of the tattoo marked on his face. The room was dark, except for the glow of the computer screen in front of him, and the reflection of it in his goggle lenses. The monitor was on, but only he could see what the computer was actually doing. The monitor was blank.
"Yeah?"
"Are we gonna be there soon? I want this bastard off the ship."
Zell snickered. "I know what you mean. If I have to eat instant ramen noodles one more time..."
"Not him. The bounty."
Zell nodded. "I'm getting permission to land in Dollet as we speak. Is it just me, or is this awfully familiar?"
Squall didn't answer, but shared the same, exasperated sentiment. They had just been in Dollet the day before, when they had to take off and hunt down their bounty, who was hiding on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.
"Hey guys, come and get it!" a voice called from their kitchen.
Zell stood up with a sigh, pulling the goggles off his head. "We're set to land at dock A in half an hour. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll at least get soba noodles for a change."
"No noodles tonight," their cook answered in a deep, gravely voice when they entered the living area. "Tonight's my specialty. Bell peppers and beef."
Zell's face lit up, and he leaped onto the couch with sparkling eyes. "No more noodles! Why the sudden change?" he asked as he grabbed his plate.
"This bounty's worth a lot. I figured I could afford to splurge."
"You didn't splurge enough, Jet," Squall grumbled as he picked at his plate. "There's no beef in your bell peppers and beef. Just peppers. So you wouldn't really call it bell peppers and beef."
"You do when you're poor," Jet retorted.
"Oh man! Jet, I can't eat just peppers! I swear I'll be sick!" Zell whined. "You gotta give me something else, man! It's just not fair!"
"You'll eat what I give you, free loader!" he growled, glaring at the sixteen-year-old. "You do some actual work around here and we'll talk!"
Squall rubbed his forehead. All the bickering was giving him a headache, and the silent bounty's eyes burning into his back was making him lose his appetite. "I'm not hungry anymore. Come get me when we land." With that said, he sauntered out of the living area and toward his bedroom.
Zell waited until he was gone before swiping up his bowl of beef and bell peppers without the beef. "Great! More for me!"
The bulky-framed, pale man seated across from him rubbed the top of his head, which was completely lacking in hair, except around the back. A short, but wild beard grew down from the sides of his face, and on his chin, and his right eye was marked with a vertical scar, a small strip of metal running along the edge of the socket just beneath it. His left arm was prosthetic, both wounds having come from some kind of accident he didn't like to talk about.
"You know, he's probably gonna want that later," Jet pointed out.
"I know," Zell replied. "Too bad. It's first come, first serve on this ship. Hey. that's the life of a bounty hunter, right?"
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"Well, how do I look?"
Quistis, Nida, and Ed turned toward the bathroom, where the voice had come from. There, in the doorway, stood Faye in her street wear. Her violet locks were pushed away from her face with a yellow headband, which matched the vinyl, single-button vest she wore. Her bottom consisted of a short black skirt, which bared a considerable amount of her legs, and she wore a pair of white boots that came up just past her ankles.
"Isn't that a bit much?" Quistis asked as she studied her scantly clad comrade.
Faye shrugged. "It works for me."
"Faye-Faye's so pretty!" Edward squealed from her place in front of her laptop.
Quistis shook her head, before tossing a gold, rounded bracelet to Faye. "There. It's a homing device, so we can keep tabs on you. If you're ever in trouble, press on that little indention. Part of it will slide back and reveal a button you can press to call us. And, as you requested, it matches your anklet."
Faye smiled and slid it onto her wrist, before stretching out her slender arm to admire how it looked. Her matching ankle bracelet rested loosely on the opposite leg, down over her white boot. She absent-mindedly tapped it with her other foot, and inside her pocket, her pair of dice flipped over to reveal a pair of snake eyes.
"So, anyone up for a game of Triple Triad, or dice before I leave?" she asked with a tiny smirk.
"This is a mission, not a casino," Quistis reprimanded. "Now get going. You have an appointment to be interviewed by the Red Dragon Syndicate. Setting up this interview cost us a pretty penny to Frank."
"Who's Frank-person?" Ed questioned.
"He sells us information sometimes. Or in this case, a good word to the head of the syndicate. His loyalty goes to the highest bidder, however. If his paycheck goes up next week, he'll be a devout member of the syndicate once again, sworn to secrecy. We can't afford to wait around for another opportunity like this, and if you're late, Mr. Spiegel will dismiss you all together. Understood?"
"Mr. Spiegel?"
"The head of the syndicate, Valentine. Didn't you go over the information I gave you? Oh, just get out of here. You're running out of time."
"Whatever you say, Quisty," Faye replied as she exited the small boat and climbed up onto the dock.
"My name is Quistis!" her leader shouted in exasperation. "This mission is doomed. Well, Edward, keep an eye on her. Nida, go out and gather information. I want to know what's going on at this dock, and all surrounding docks, understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" he saluted, sweat rolling down his forehead as he rushed out the door.
Quistis shook her head, taking a sip of coffee from her "#1 SeeD" mug. "It's falling apart already," she whispered to herself. "All according to plan."
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Rinoa chewed her lip nervously, peeking in through the small crack in the door. The room she saw inside was painted dark red, and had only one long, oak table in the center. A fireplace crackled with life on one wall, while the same, oriental-style dragon statues that had been in the lobby sat on either side of it. Members of the syndicate, ranging from young to old, were seated at the table, with Spike at the head, his back turned to the flames.
It amazed her how serious her normally laid-back brother could be at times like this. His jaw was set, his mouth pulled into a straight, thin line upon his face. The orange glow of the fire danced in his chocolate colored eye, while his darker prosthetic one seemed to be cast in shadow, giving him an eerie look.
"Everyone," Spike began, loud enough for her to hear. "There's a new member I'd like you all to meet."
Rinoa took a deep breath and straightened the short, silk blue dress she wore. It was a shade just lighter than navy, and strapless as well. She wore a short black jacket over her arms, and tall boots on her slender legs. She wanted to look nice for her first appearance to the other syndicate members, without looking too snobby.
"Please welcome my sister, Rinoa Heartilly."
Rinoa pushed open the thick, arched double doors and entered the room, her boots clicking on the polished marble floor. "Hello everyone," she said quietly, bowing slightly before the table. She was met only with silence and cold stares.
Spike growled a little, prompting a few mumbled hellos. Rinoa bowed once more before leaving the room, and waiting in the hall outside it. She noticed her fingers were shaking and her blood was burning with embarrassment.
A few moments later, Spike stepped out into the hall with her, carrying something behind his back. "They'll get used to you. Don't worry about it."
"They probably resent me for being the leader's little sister," she replied.
He shrugged. "Who cares about them? They're just a bunch of hard asses anyway. If I hadn't promised the former leaders that I would uphold tradition, I'd have gotten rid of them a long time ago. Anyway, you can't just laze around all day, young lady. I've got a new job for you."
Rinoa shook her head. "I'm not going back to Venus."
"Yeah, so drug runs aren't really your thing. I got that. But, you've always been a good judge of character. I figured I'd put that to use. Today, you'll be interviewing a woman that wants to join the syndicate. Just talk to her, get a feel for the kind of person she is, and tell me what you think. That's all."
"Sounds easy enough," Rinoa considered. "Now, what are you hiding behind your back?"
Spike grinned. "Something behind my back? There's nothing for you."
"Spike!" she whined, trying to reach behind his back. Being the martial arts expert that he was, he was much too fast for her.
He dodged her several times before finally bringing his hands out in front of him, chuckling. "I'll give you this now, but only if you promise to work on your speed." With that said, he revealed a simple, black- handled dagger with a dragon engraved on the blade. It even came with a scabbard and strap. "You remember how to use one, right?"
"Yeah, you taught me yourself, remember?"
Spike nodded and placed the weapon in her hand. "Keep it with you today. Someone in the syndicate put in a good word for this applicant, but you can never be to sure. And whatever you do, don't freeze."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. So, when do I meet her?"
"Margie will show her up to my office once she gets here, which better be soon. I'll talk to her a little, then you'll take her out for a walk or something."
"Got it," she replied. "What do I do until then?"
"Come with me. We'll wait for her in my office."
Rinoa followed Spike down the hallway, and past the room where the Red Dragon's inner circle met. At the end of the hall was another set of double doors, with dragons carved into the rich, mahogany wood. Spike pushed the doors aside, revealing a large, spacious office with a huge window looking out over the skyline of the city.
"Nice," Rinoa commented, gazing around. The floor was the same white marble as in the hallway, but a thick Persian rug decorated the middle of the room. Atop the rug sat Spike's desk, with a red-cushioned, Victorian- style chair behind it. Two black leather chairs were positioned it front of it, facing the desk. Spike's chair sat with its back to the window, and plush, red velvet curtains were gathered at the sides, waiting to be drawn.
Spike laughed. "I hate this place. It's so stuffy."
A beep from the top of Spike's desk interrupted to the two. "Mr. Spiegel, your interview is here."
"Send her up," he replied curtly, before turning to the window and drawing the curtains. The room instantly went dark, and he stumbled around for a moment until he found the switch to turn on the red glass sconces one either side of the window. They came to light with a faint, haunting glow, casting the room in a dim, hellish sort of light.
"What's with all this?"
Spike sat back in his chair, his form completely swallowed within the large frame. "Intimidation. You want to see how well a new applicant endures under pressure."
Rinoa leaned casually against the desk, and both kept their eyes on the door. After a few moments of silence had passed, the doors were pushed open, and Margie's usual scowl was revealed. Behind her a tall, slender figure appeared, sporting a small smirk and a pair of sunglasses.
"Come in!" Spike ordered, his voice echoing slightly.
The figure that could only be described as a woman stepped in, and Margie closed the doors behind her. The light upon her made it seem as if her entire body were blushing, and the devil-may-care smile delicately twisting her lips gave her an impish look. "Hi," she greeted in a smooth, mischievous voice.
From her point of view, she could see only the silhouette of a tall, winged chair, with the tips of what must have been the syndicate leader's unruly hair poking up at the top. Through the shadows she could see a single, dark eye glaring at her from across the room. "Your name?"
Her smile grew, and she tried to suppress the small shiver in her spine when she heard his low, sexy voice. "Faye Maximoto," she lied flawlessly.
"Why do you want to join the syndicate?"
"Quick cash, of course."
She couldn't see it in the darkness, but Spike's smile grew at her display of boldness. "What do you think you could possibly have to offer us?"
"I'm great at cards," she answered with a tone of humor in her voice.
"Triple Triad? Do you cheat?"
"Yes, Triple Triad is my specialty," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "Cheat? A lady such as myself would never cheat."
"That's all Ms. Maximoto. Thank you. If you would now go with my associate, she's going to take a walk with you, maybe ask you a couple questions. Is that alright with you?"
Faye shrugged. "Sure, I need a smoke anyway."
Spike pulled his own pack from his pocket and handed one to Rinoa, as well as his lighter. "You can bum one from me."
Rinoa crossed the room and handed her the cigarette, which Faye placed between her lips without hesitation. Rinoa lit the tip of the cigarette for her, before tossing the lighter back to Spike.
"You two can go now. Walk about the city in any place that you wish."
Rinoa and Faye wordlessly exited the room and took the elevator down to the lobby. Back in his office, Spike leaned back in his chair and laughed. A beautiful, and interesting woman, who seemed to have her wits about her... That was certainly a change from the usual type that applied for membership. As his mind reflected on the short skirt she wore, he suddenly remembered something important he should've told the girls. He ran to the elevator as fast as he could, tapping his foot in impatient as it made its slow descent.
"You can go anywhere but the-" Spike had begun as soon as the doors slid open. One quick glance around the lobby revealed that it was empty, save for Margie. "Docks..." he finished in a mumble of frustration.
Already out of the building, and halfway down the street, Rinoa turned her head to study Faye in the sunlight. "How 'bout a walk around the docks," she suggested. She'd heard it was really peaceful, and she'd yet to be able to visit.
Faye shrugged. "Sure. But dock C is closed for construction I think," she lied again. "We'll have to go to another one."
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"Are you sure?" Quistis demanded as she stared Nida down.
"Y-yes ma'am. F-fairly certain," he stuttered, shying away from his leaders sharp, almost accusing gaze.
"Great," Quistis growled. "So we were wrong in our assumption. Dock C is clean. Dock A is hiding syndicate members. If we move now, it will look suspicious." Quistis turned to the younger SeeD behind her, who sat cross-legged on the cold steel floor with large goggles strapped to her fluffy red head. "Ed, where is Faye now? Please tell me she's at least made it to the syndicate building."
"Faye-Faye has left the building!" the small girl announced. "Faye- Faye appears to be headed in this direction."
"Oh no. That can only me that she messed up the interview," Quistis groaned.
"I don't know, Quisty-Wisty!" Ed replied. "Faye-Faye's going to Dock A. Dock, smock, lock. Edward's hungry!"
"Dock A!" Quistis exclaimed, ignoring Ed's other comments. She turned to Nida once more. "But isn't that where..."
"D-do you think the syndicate is trying to o-off her?" he squeaked.
"Edward will save Faye-Faye!" Ed yelled, jumping to her feet. "Don't worry Nida-person, and Quisty-Wisty!"
With that the hyper SeeD exited the boat and went loping off on all fours in the direction of the other docks. "Edward Wong Hau Pepilu Tivrusky the fourth to the rescue!"
"S-should we go after them?"
Quistis shook her head. "It's far too late for damage control."
Over in dock A, a small boat sat off to itself, bobbing several yards away from the other ships. Painted on the side was a bright yellow butterfly, the sunny color joining with the sparkling blue of the ocean for a cheerful, sunny tone about the ship. Inside, bunches of wires and switches were strewn across the floor while a petite girl with dark, gravity-defying hair sat in the middle, singing along to the song on her headphones as she worked tirelessly at the mechanisms around her.
"Train, take us away!" she screeched, more than a little off key. "Far away, into the future. so I can blow it to smithereens!" she laughed at her substitute of lyrics.
On the pier, Rinoa and Faye stood, looking out at the seemingly endless ocean. "What made you decide to turn to a life of crime, anyway?" Rinoa was asking.
"It's the only thing I've ever known," Faye replied. "What about you? You seem way too nice to be in this business."
"It was either crime, or tyranny," Rinoa answered. "My father was... not a nice man. So I joined the syndicate to escape."
"Evil-Syndicate-Person-Lady!" came a shout from atop a pile of crates. They both looked up to see a little girl standing there, hunched over with her fingers pushed out and her teeth bared like an animal. "I'll save you, Faye-Faye!"
With that she jumped down from the crates and ran at Faye, colliding into her with the full force of her body weight and momentum. Faye was knocked back, off the pier, her back hitting against the side of an old warehouse. Ed fell flat on her face in the spot where Faye had been.
Further down the main pier of dock A, a large, rusty ship with the word 'Bebop' painted on the side in sloppy red letters was parked. Inside, in the living room, Jet and Zell were finishing off their meals before heading off to turn the bounty in. The entire ship seemed to rumble and shake, suddenly, and it titled widely to one side. The two found themselves in a pile on the floor, while the railing the bounty was tied to snapped, and he made for the exit.
Squall came running into the living room moments later, having been thrown off his bed from the tilting. "What the hell's going on?" he demanded of the tangled mess of limbs and bell peppers on the floor.
"I don't know," Jet shouted in reply. "Raijin's getting away. Get after him!
Squall nodded and ran for the exit, soon coming to the top deck of the ship. He studied the area, seeing that one of the piers was completely gone, and pieces of it were adrift in the water. His eyes caught on something blue, and flailing, and for a moment he thought Raijin had jumped into the water, only to find he couldn't swim. A laugh from the main pier alerted him to Raijin's true whereabouts. He was running for the city. Squall realized then that the person in the water was actually a drowning woman.
His gaze shifted from the drowning woman to the retreating Raijin several times before he finally jumped into the water, muttering a curse as he did.
On the main pier Faye ran around, panicked. She couldn't swim, and it appeared that neither could Rinoa. In fact, she couldn't even see Rinoa anymore. Faye called for help several times, only to realize that she was alone.
"Shit! What am I gonna do? They're gonna think I was responsible for this!" Faye cried. "I have to do something, I have to try and explain!" she rambled to herself before taking off for the dock exit, screaming all the way there.
Squall gently carried the unconscious woman back to the Bebop, laying her out on the deck and checking for a pulse. It was there, but faint, and she was no longer breathing. He opened her mouth, briefly realizing that it was the same woman he'd seen at Seifer's before lowering his mouth to hers. After several moments of CPR, Rinoa coughed up the water she'd been choking on, her eyes slowly fluttering open.
She looked up to find herself staring into a pair of frosty sapphire eyes. She realized a man was hovering over her, water from his hair gently dripping onto her face. She smiled slightly as she took in his features. The same man she'd seen the day before, only this time, he wore a tight white T-shirt, the water soaked through causing it to cling to his body.
"Hi," she whispered gently.
He stood up. "You cost me my bounty," he growled, then held up something in his hands. "I take it this belongs to you... Ms. Dragon."
"What?" she asked groggily as her eyes focused on her dragon-engraved dagger. It had been strapped around her leg, beneath her skirt, but her skirt had probably ridden up, revealing the weapon.
As she was sitting up, a red-tipped bullet jumped up the side of the ship and shot itself at her. "Evil-Syndicate-Lady-Person!"
Rinoa let loose a squeal as she felt the child's teeth puncture both her jacket and her shoulder.
"A Red Dragon Syndicate member that caused me to lose my bounty," Squall considered. "I only saw you yesterday and already you've caused me more trouble than anyone else I've met. Don't think you're going anywhere anytime soon. Not until I get some answers."
Inside the boat with the yellow butterfly, a pair of emerald eyes peeked out through the window at the debris floating on the water. "Oopsies... a little too close to the pier."
**
See you space cowboy...
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Next session: "He glared at me with such disgust I thought for certain he would kill me then, and there. Yet, he only continued to sit and stare. I would give anything right now, just to know what goes on behind those eyes. I'm a captive to a mighty lion, and I'm the dragon he despises." Next Session: Red Dragon Jazz