Incursion

-(-

I never remembered being so scared in my entire life, but I'd be the last to admit it out loud. When I saw that Vincent guy shoot Vicious like that, the blackness and the coldness of his eyes as he just held the trigger, I felt so scared, as if Mars would stop turning. It was just like my dream, and I thought dreams never came true.

It also scared me because I have grown almost dependant of him...I bite my bottom lip, and the knot is still in my stomach, because he is right down the hall in Spike's old bed, bandaged except his head and his shoulders. He hasn't moved in a week and five days.

"Faye, you finally decided to eat some food huh?" I turn, my violet hair swings slightly, Jet stands in the doorway looking at me sit by the couch with a plate of who-knows-what on my lap. The couch recently held Shin, 'til he decided to go practice fighting in Spike's old practice room.

"If you count this 'goo' food." I laugh. He scowls and sits on the table, once I thought I figured out Jet, he proves me wrong again. He told me Vicious killed Vincent with his prized katana by impaling it through the back of his skull, the point budding through his right cheek bone.

"You know Vicious has six bullets in him, not counting the tranquilizer bullet Alisa shot in him after he killed Vincent. He shouldn't be alive, it's just not possible." He crosses his arms and huffs, trying to make heads and tails of the situation. I just throw back my head and laugh.

"Since when has that ever stopped him? Everyone thought he should have died before now at some point, but he hasn't. He could really careless ya know?" I smile slightly, a reflex when thinking about him in a good light, Princess comes prancing in next to Jet, sniffs him, and then paws at his metal arm. Jet shoves Prin off, she stomps away, feeling unwanted.

"I don't get it. Why is Julia after Vicious, and why bother creating a whole syndicate to find him? And what is about this Daemon? He seemed like a 'nobody' ten months ago, but now he has ties to not only Vicious, but to Gren...what in the hell have I gotten myself into?" He runs a hand through his thinning hair, which has grayed slightly in the past few years.

"What do you mean? You aren't in this...only Shin and Vicious are." I stretch out my legs, thinking of Vicious' serene face, and I am compelled to kiss him for the one millionth time today.

"I was the one who took him here; if I left him to Alisa I wouldn't have HIM as a problem!" He yelled angrily, I frown my ruby lips. Jet has loathed Vicious since the day Spike fell from that cathedral window. It is hard; to be comrades with Spike, then his murderer is half-dead in Spike's own bed. I bet Jet put him there, instead of the couch, 'cause he didn't want to look at him.

"You have got to stop pinning the whole Spike death on him, you know. It was all three of them, Vicious, Julia and Spike. Yeah it's unfair and it sucks for Spike to die; I'd like to see the lunkhead back, but he isn't coming back...and...well...we cant take that out solely on Vicious. Yeah it's easier to....but it's not right." I look at Jet, trying to get through to him...I don't think I will though. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

"How are you and Shin? Still pissed?" Jet's changing the subject. My head drops down and supports itself on my hand as I lean foreword. What to do? I am still pissed as hell Shin did something like that, but he truly believes that Vicious killed Lin. If I thought that someone killed my brother, I'd be angry too.

"Don't know. I'll think about it later. He's recovering well; I owe my life to the kid." I grin slightly, Shin has always been there; I can't deny that. When he pushed me out of the way like that, the hate mostly melted. The only thing I could think of doing was getting revenge for shooting him down. Shin, Jet, Ed, and of course Vicious, are the only people who I have left, and those people don't come in and out like revolving doors.

"You have to remember, he's just a kid. Kids make mistakes...even though he is a nineteen year old. You can't expect him to know that the leader of the Black Falcons was Julia. Hell, I didn't even know till Vicious told me." Jet confessed. I can't really remember a time where we just talked before, times have changed. Three years ago if someone told me that I'd be talking with Jet and looking after a silver haired space samurai, I'd probably laugh in their face then smack them.

"Why did you pick up Vicious after I fell unconscious? You hate him." I sit back in my chair, eyeing him through mascara lashes. I know it looks stupid just applying makeup and not going anywhere. I never thought of leaving Vicious' side, when he wakes up, I want to look my best.

"I'd have a sinking feeling that you'd kill me if I didn't." Jet chuckled, sighing quietly afterwards.

"Well, thanks. I don't know of anyone who'd let the man who, and I quote, 'mercilessly slaughtered my precious bonsai' back on the ship." I smirked, he actually said that. He glared heavily at me. If looks could kill, he'd fry me on the spot.

"Shut up...." He grumbled and all was silent for a few minutes...are these those awkward silences that people talk about? I don't know...My hand absently landed on my mouth as I yawned, my head thudded dully, remembering the kiss that Vincent gave me. That kiss felt so wrong, so awkward, yet I felt weak. Yes, the invincible, unshakable, Faye Valentine, felt weak. When his tongue coiled in my mouth, I wanted nothing better than to get out of his grip. How dare he!!

"What's wrong?" Jet asked

"Nothing." I look down and my hand is clenched on the fork, I put my plate down, the food is mostly gone. I look to Princess trot up again after running away and I give her the rest of my 'mystery loaf'. She sniffs it before running away to find Ed again. The dog won't even eat it.

"Get some sleep Faye, I'll tell Shin to wake you if he wakes up." He looks at me sternly with those gray eyes, and I find my legs betray me and stand. I wave and mechanically walk to my room. I hear Shin punch and kick the punching bag, his crutches are propped up against the door, the uzi bullets ripped apart a tendon in his leg and it hasn't healed yet. For a moment I look into the room, and I smile. This is another secret from my past, but I had a little cousin who constantly immolated me and followed me around in the summer when I had no school. He was little and wanted to play soccer like I did. For some absurd reason, he reminds me of Shin. I don't know, but my little cousin, Marcello, did have dark hair and was a good-boy to a fault.

'Shin you idiot, you are so lucky Vicious is unconscious or you'd be dead.' I think as I go in my old room, the bed unmade, the TV from my generation and the beta tape-player are still there. I shed my black vinyl top and remove my matching shorts. I then proceed to put on one of Shin's over-sized T-shirts since I have no clothes; I am also wearing a pair of his clean boxers to bed.

As much as I have tried to appear indifferent to Vicious' condition, it's ripping me apart inside. I mean, what if he gets worse? He could have a punctured lung, or his liver might be bleeding, or something really bad that might just kill him. People think that he is some sort of demon, immortal; I even at times I think he can beat anyone he wants, but this incident just proves that he can be hurt too. As I lay upon my bed awake, my purple hair striping my face, I reassure myself that everything will be alright

I mean logically, if he did have a punctured lung, he'd be…dead by now. So, if he is alive and breathing now, he will be in the morning, and when he wakes up, the first thing I'll do is kiss him, to remind him that I have no choice but to be by his side, because if I am not, then I might never feel, right again. Ironically, he rescued me from the depression that Spike's death instilled.

'Does he make me happy?' Am I really one of those romance novel damsels-in-distress who whimper and cry when their hero gets hurt? I hope not; I hated romance novels. I adjust my weight on the sagging mattress so I'm comfy; I am feeling empty and chilly. I take the pillow from under my head and hug it close to my chest. Most people think Vicious Inverno is a demon, but he isn't, he is an angel. He is a deranged angel who finally got some damn wings. I silently laugh as I fall into a dreamless sleep, unaware of Ed's security system blinking red.

(POV change)

"I wonder what that was about…" I watch Faye walk away. I smile as I continue to routinely punch and kick the bag, over and over, like a machine. That is the way the Syndicate works, like a machine, and if one gear gets out of place, the whole thing blows. Vicious and Spike were the worst things to happen to the machine. High kick, left hook, right power foreword, left swing kick, uppercut, right hook.

I realize that in comparison, Lin and I were the best things to happen to the Syndicate, we did as we were ordered. We weren't individuals; we were a statistic, a loyal number, a titanium syndicate gear that made everything run like clockwork. I minded a little, Lin didn't, he liked things logical, simple, effortless. Unfortunately, Spike and Vicious were two rogues who were individuals and neither compromised; neither followed orders, and neither liked things the way they were, simple .Crouching leg swing, double left jab, crossover, right hook, duck, double left kick to the chest and head, end it with in a perfect roundhouse, the bag quivers in fright.

I felt my leg throb as I walk slowly over to the floor and put some ice on it. The bullet scars still raw. Luckily, however, I told Jet a few months back of a medical wholesaler on Venus who supplies top-notch supplies to the Syndicates. If we didn't have these supplies, I'd be doing weeks of that crappy physical therapy, and Vicious might be six feet under.

Yet I wonder if he really did kill Vicious. Even though Vicious is a murderer, he doesn't lie, he is honest. And that is what confuses me. If in fact Vicious hadn't used a gun since titan, which I can never remember ever handling one….then why was Lin killed with a gun that didn't match the Syndicate's?

Unless, Vicious really didn't kill him, and Lin was killed by someone else. Who would kill Lin? It was a routine Red Eye delivery….at least that is what I was informed it was by Lin. God dammit this whole thing is making my head spin.

I sigh as I think back on if what I tried to accomplish was the right thing. I mean, I never would have turned Vicious in if Alisa told me that Julia was the leader of the Black Falcons. I grimace as I remember Julia. Yeah, she was…err…is one woman I have never figured out. She wanted to seem so innocent, but yet such a tired liar at the same time. She wanted some guy to take her away from the dream that she endured. That in itself is ok, but she started to mess with Spike and Vicious, and actually become apart of the Syndicate, is when things started to get complicated.

I take a small towel and wipe the sweat from my forehead, it is too quiet. This kind of quiet always makes me daydream, especially about the past. Vicious seemed less and less cold but more and more secretive when he was around her, now that I remember, it has been so long ago I almost forgot what Vicious was like before Julia. I was only thirteen back then, but I remember Lin and Julia glaring at each other. Julia was making things complicated; Lin liked things simple.

He wanted Julia to leave. Mao wanted Julia to go too, only because Vicious was happy. Mao loathed Vicious as much as he loathed he own son, Blade. Mao was a guy who was never satisfied, neither was Julia. Both found Vicious and left him because they thought they found the next best thing, Spike.

As I move around the ice pack, I begin to reflect on the past, something I shouldn't do, but I am anyway. When Vicious found out about Julia and Spike; he changed for the worse. He only talked to Lin, and that is when he was in a good mood, I never remembering pitying or even liking Vicious because everyone liked Spike so much better, it was natural. Besides, it was a Syndicate, not a social club.

I think that is what drove Vicious over the edge, probably living in Spike's shadow even though they were equally good fighters. I don't regret liking Spike, everyone did, he was like a bug lamp and we were the bugs. The thing that gets me though, is I have something in common with Vicious, we both tried to get out of another's shadow. My brother was sharp and he had immense skill. Everyone expected that of me, and if I wasn't identical, I'd be fired.

"SHIN-PERSON! Tomato says there is an emergency! Baddie Syndicate ships are closing onto Bebop fast!" I whip around, out of my little day dream, my sweaty wet hair slaps against my forehead. Damn…with two Syndicates after us, I don't know if it is the Red Dragons or the Black Falcons. I yell to Ed

"Ed wake up Jet and Faye, tell them I'm going out in my ship!" I jog past Ed and Ein to the hangar door in the revolving hall. I leap though the entrance, hearing the roar of zip crafts flying closely by. If I didn't know better I'd say they are the Red Dragons. I run to my Syndicate cruiser and jump in hastily.

"Damn, I thought they wouldn't follow us to Venus…" I hear Jet shouting as I open the hangar and my Lamborghini inspired cruiser with short wings, spins out the hangar. My nervous finger already planted on the machine gun trigger. I have a radio contact, it's Jet.

"Shin, don't be stupid, there are at least five ships out there!" It's time to show them what the Syndicate has taught me. Yes, dog-fighting is not my specialty, but I am far from an amateur.

"Have some faith Jet, I was in the Syndicate for thirteen years remember?!" I smile as I pull on the controls and my ship flips over in pursuit of another ship. My muscles tense as my fingers mechanically tap over the keyboard quickly and I record all information on this one cruiser by sending out a radar scan. Syndicate ships do have some rather interesting devices.

I grab the gun control stick quickly, aim, lock, fire. The bullets riddle the side of the other Syndicate ship, creating a sphere of fire. My own radar goes off; there is another ship behind me. I twist my neck around to see if they are trying to find a missile lock. I trip my fingers over the keyboard as I drop a mine and accelerate away. The ship behind me explodes as I speed back to bebop, looking for the other three I missed.

I spot two ships coming straight at me side by side, a few yards of space in between. I smile, they think they can out smart me…well, looks like I'm going to have to show them! They sprayed machine gun fire as I twist the controls to the right so my cruiser flies completely vertical, the right side facing down. The bullets zip harmlessly by.

I push another button quickly, a guy custom made this for me on my cruiser. I remember he taught me this technique since the other syndicate used it so much. Right when that they were point blank, two high density titanium blades whip sturdily out from my cruiser, one from the roof, facing right, the other from the underside facing left. Needless to say, when I went between them, sparks lit up the sky as the two ships were severed in two.

"Kids don't try that at home" I chuckled as I veer back around towards Bebop, looking for the ones I missed.

"Shin, I'm coming ou—" Faye's face crackles mysteriously away, they are jamming the radio. I see Faye's RedTail emerge from the hangar as my radar goes off. Some ship has a missile lock on me! Two missiles screech towards me as I dive low and spiral away to avoid them. Both missiles miss, but the ship is still on me. I turn the controls harshly as I make a sharp U-turn and speed towards the ship, pressing down on the missile joystick. To my horror, they didn't just scramble the radio, but my missile controls as well.

"I can't even radio in!" I bite out. The syndicate ship took the advantage of my seconds of frustration by shooting the right wing of my cruiser. The bullets dent the metal and pierce it, but luckily I can still fly. I fly upwards and back, following the ship as he closes in on the RedTail, who is chasing and shooting down another syndicate ship. I press down on the trigger as the ship fills with bullets and explodes.

"Yeah! Ok only like one left." I turn and to my horror, another wave of Syndicate ships swarm the once dark void of space. I tap some keys on my keyboard rapidly I trying out some new technology that The Red Dragons acquired. It is not much, but it is a repel grid that will repel some missiles and machine gun rounds if enough energy is transferred to it by the engine. In other words, my speed and my agility will slow down, but I see little choice.

I bite my lip as I activate the repel grid, my sweaty hands grip the controls as I try again to fire a missile at the nearest syndicate ship. I see Faye struggling, but successfully dodging their untimely onslaught. Damn, the missiles still won't budge! I resort to my machine guns again; I press the buttons on the top of each control stick and spray into the new ships.

"At least something is going for me." I mumble as the repel grid flings back magazines of machine gun rounds. I manage to shoot down a couple by sneaking up behind the ships, but that is when the unthinkable happened. I tried to keep every ship I could ahead of me, but one sneaked up behind me and fired a sinking missile at the right engine of my cruiser. The repel grid deflected it, but it exploded as it did, causing my right engine to shut down completely.

"If I don't dock soon, I'll be dead once the flames reach the gas tank or the left engine." I punch the shaking controls as all the alarms blink red. I look out my cracking windshield to see the RedTail get hit by a stun-missile, a type of missile that shuts down all engines and controls. I am pitiful; I can't even defend her against a syndicate armada… My eyes constrict into little shards of glass; my cruiser is spiraling downward towards Bebop's deck like one of those old fighter-jet movies. Then I notice in slow motion as a Syndicate ship closes in on Faye.

"They are taking her back…with their grappling cord!" Damn…at least she will be alive for a small while. A control panel sparks and burns my arm, the left engine finally gives out as the entire back portion of my cruiser ignites in a stream of flames. I witness vulnerably as I see the Redtail being towed away from Bebop quickly by another ship. I see Faye slumped over in the driver's seat and an idea sparks in my mind.

I press my last resort button, praying that it will work. My cruiser's last words were sending out a tracking bug attaching to the back of the RedTail before it hits the Bebop deck with a crunching thud and a fountain of fire. The last thing I thought was 'They better find her.'

-to far to reach-

-(-

Ok sorry for the long wait, and yes, No VF Fluff…it's one of those things where 'the longer you wait the better it is'.

And yes, some of Julia's, Vicious' past has been reveled. Needless to say, Shin doesn't like Julia…big surprise (who does?). I had to get inspired for this chapter! don't worry, I will finish this fic definately! There are just a lot of possibilities that I have to filter through to get the best ending….some call that writers block…but I am inspired, so never fear!

Anyway I should have done this last chapter…but here they are R2Rs!

hands out prizes to everyone….they are… Pool Floaties! Its summer! Party!

Azly-chan: I'm glad you think that Vicious and Faye are cute together, they are a definitely odd pairing, but cool nonetheless thanks for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter!

Pimpin satan: yeah Vicious jealous…of andy? Who saw that coming? Hehehe anyway, yes Julia is unfortunately back, but we will see what Vicious has to say about that…and Im happy you drew a connection to the past line where blade said that…coolies! I never really liked Alisa, she could have ended their relationship better than with a damn watch, at least give him some money or something….but hey that's my mind thinking…Thankz for always reviewin!

Blazed: I love it when the minor characters are in the fics, so im glad that I have a fan in that genre! and I really don't think that Jet and Vicious will be that good of buddies, it will take some getting used to…And here is the age old question 'who does like Julia?' believe me I'm not a Julia fan…so lets see what will happen cackles evillythanks for your reviews!

Mae: well I hoped you liked the Vincent chapter cause he was really only in one and a half, anyway, I couldn't help but to put his character in it since him and Vicious were both on Titan. Thanx for reviewing!

Kaelin77: I can tell you think my chapters are suspenseful XD. Well I love a good suspense story, I hope mine will still fit the bill, thank you for reviewing!

Lets-play-with-matches: why does everyone think that lime-jello is creepy?! It tastes really good! Anyway, yes I agree with the whole Michael Jackson impersonator, Electra needs a fashion consultant desperately. And stop spanking Shin! he is just confused! Of course the oggling of Vicious, not much Vicious in this chapter. And yeah, I think the bad guys just like to piss of Vicious because they do a great job…strawberries, don't ask.. thanks for your colorful reviews!

Bunny breath: Hey another new reviewer! And I love your name, even though bunnies scare me sometimes. Anyway, thanks for the fight scene compliment…I try!

Rogue night: WOW eyes get all wide and happy thanks for the review, my goal tada! is to make this seem as CB like as possible while making the difference that spike is unfortunately dead. cries anyway, thanks so much for your uplifting review; it made my r2rs more fun.

Samina: It was really cheesy wasn't it? Oh well, a little ooc now and then never hurt anyone. Besides, we couldn't have him go down silent, that's not the Bebop way! Well, no Faye Vicious fluff, but don't worry…. Thanx for the compliment on the fight scene, I struggled with this one, the first space fight scene ive really tackled thanx for reviewing!!!!!!

If I forgot anyone, im sorry, flame me and yell, its my mistake if I forgot.

Your ff buddy L.O.H.