I just realized I forgot disclaimers on the other few chapters. OOPSA! Here goes.....

I don't own Cowboy Bebop.

A/N: There is mention about Indians in this chapter, I don't think it is offensive, but for anyone who may see it that way, I apologize before hand and warn you now! ENJOY!

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"What do you mean they got her? You and Ein were supposed to be keeping an eye on things!" The man behind the desk was distraught. All of his careful planning gone. Wasted. Faye Valentine would not be coming to the Hodge City Tournament. It started tonight at six pm. And she was kidnapped.

"Ed is very sorry Jet -- Person! Ed fell asleep and the men had Faye -- Faye by then! Ed was scared, and so was Ein. They had guns." Edward truly did look remorseful.

Jet caved. After all, Ed was just a kid. A strange, neurotic, psychopathic kid, but a kid. Jet supposed that being found wandering in the desert, half-dead dehydrated and taken in by Indians could do that to a child. Ed was also Jets adopted daughter and the best damn tracker he knew of.

"It's ok Ed; there was nothing you could do. Tell ya what, you know who Spike Speigel is, can you deliver this message to him?" Jet handed Ed a hastily scrawled note.

"Yes sir! Edward will deliver!" Ed snatched the note from Jets fingers, saluted, stuffed it down her shirt, and took off out the door, Ein at her heels.

Jet sat behind the desk shaking his head and wondering if he was in over his head.


It was noon on Tournament day.

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"Put me down! I have to be somewhere! Let me go NOW!" Faye Valentine could be a formidable opponent normally. Faye valentine in a temper was just down right dangerous.

After being kidnapped, pawed, tied up, freezing all night and being made to ride miles in the dark, she was not a happy camper. Her hair was mussed and her boots scuffed. The wound in her shoulder was aching and starting to seep blood. She must have torn stitches in the tussle.

Her captors deposited her by a fire on a cold stone seat and shoved a flimsy tin plate of cold congealed beans in her hands. Faye looked at the food, shrugged and began to eat, holding the palate to her face and licking her beans. It was the best she could do with bound hands. Food was food. It was more than she had been eating lately. Being dainty and picky just led to an empty stomach.

"So what do you plan on doing with me? I assume there was a reason for you abducting me in the middle of the night?"

"Shaddap an' eat bitch." That would be the oh-so-cultured buffoon seated on a rock near her. He was a young guy, and could be okay looking if he had had any intelligence behind his eyes. Faye looked around the camp. They were alone. Smiling to herself she decided to try her luck.

Making her eyes big and innocent, she began to let water seep out of her eyes. Throwing in a little whimper here and there, she was the perfect damsel in distress.

"Hey, why are you crying? I thought you were supposed to be some tough as nails bitch?" The buffoon actually showed concern. Faye made her eyes even bigger.

"Who me? You must have the wrong person sugar." Faye's voice was as smooth as honey. She stuck out her chest on one end and ass on the other.

"Do you think it would be at all possible for you to...um...loosen my ropes? My skin is so fragile and these ropes are sooo rough, " carressing the word so to make it a purr. She gave a little pout, the eyes got bigger, and the voice silkier.

Buffoon felt as if he were drowning in emeralds.


"Sure thing miss, Let me get those for you."

Faye marveled at the way a man could be manipulated by big eyes and a nice rack. Buffoon missed the glint in Faye's eye as he got closer. She already had her hands free and clocked him on the back of the head knocking him out cold turkey. She took a moment to wonder at the stupidity of men then grabbed her things and whistled for Star. As she was running in the direction of the hoof beats, she stopped dead in her tracks.

A man was standing in front of her with a gun trained on her head.

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Spike felt better and looked like a whole new person. He had washed the trail dirt off, washed his clothes and shaved. The deadly lone wolf look was gone, replaced by a handsome carefree young man. As he ambled around the town with one hand in his pocket, many female heads turned in his direction. With a smirk, wave, and a "yo" he would be on his way.

"So where is this Red Moon Saloon?" He wondered aloud.

"MMMUUUAAAHHHHAAAAHHHH!" It was that same maniacal laughter from the canyon. Determined not to lose it this time, Spike darted down the alley the voice came from. There was a flash of red and brown and then Spike was cornered.

Great and Mighty Spike Speigel was cornered by a child and a small Welsh corgi. A maniacal child and a loud welsh corgi.

"So am I supposed to be scared?" Spike drawled, leaning on the wall and lighting a cigarette.


"Edward has a message -- message for Spike -- Person" The child waved her arms in glee.

"Edward, huh?" Spike raised an eyebrow at the strange child.


"Can't you just deliver messages in a normal fashion? I assume it was you in the canyon," Spike inhaled and exhaled the silvery smoke.

"You mean that wasn't normal? Edward sorry!" The child handed Spike Jet's hastily scrawled note and rolled away doing cartwheels.

"Talk about a strange town...and stranger people." Taking one last drag, Spike flung the butt to the ground and ground it out with his boot. Opening his note, his eyes widened.

Spike Speigel

I need to hire your services. I gather that you have already met Edward, my adopted daughter --

"Daughter? Could have fooled me," as Spike lit another cigarette.

And sometimes messenger. I originally had you and another lured to Hodge City with a poker tournament. I wished to hire the both of you for a job and knew a poker tournament would be the best way to get you here. Unfortunately the girl has been kidnapped and I need you to get her back --

" Girl? He thinks I'll work with a girl?" Spike lit another cigarette making it two he was smoking.

Before she seriously injures her captors and the bounty on her head goes up even higher. Her name is Faye Valentine. I am staying at the Yellow Star hotel where you can contact me.

Sincerely,

Jet Black

"Faye Valentine? He wants me to work with THE Faye Valentine? I don't know who this man is, but he's crazy!"

P.S. You will be handsomely rewarded for retrieving Faye from her

captors.

"Well well well. I've heard of Faye Valentine. She's supposed to be a pretty mean hand with a deck of cards. Maybe I'll just save her AFTER the tournament is over!"


Chuckling to himself, he lit a cigarette and fantasized about how he would spend all the money he would cheat -- er, win tonight.

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"Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?" Faye stood erect, head up and shoulders back. With her yellow duster blowing in the wind and the proud tilt of her head, she was a study in arrogance.

"Names Chet Dolly. Now be a good girl and let me tie your hands up."

Chuck's thin mouth was bent into an evil grin and there was a glint in his eyes that made Faye uneasy.

"Do it Miss Valentine, or I'll shoot you. I kidnapped you to remove you from the running in the Hodge City Poker Tournament. Must say I didn't expect you to be so easy to detain." Chet moved in closer breathing her scent and eying her tight red shirt.

"Then again, detainment isn't the only thing worth doing with a pretty little thing like you."

Seeing where his thoughts were roaming, Faye threw her head into his mouth, smashing his lips and spit into his face. Chet wiped blood and spit from his crushed lips.

"You'll wish you hadn't done that Faye," He said her name as though it were the vilest curse.

"It'll be a cold day in hell before I let you touch me like that," Faye's emerald eyes flared in anger.

She barely managed to avoid recoiling in fear as Chet sneered and reached for his bowie knife.

"Hey boss, much as I would like to watch you slice the bitch up, we gotta get goin' if we are going to be at the Red Moon in time for tonight."

Buffoon was awake and rubbing his head miserably, glaring daggers at Faye. She blew him a kiss and a wink.

"You're lucky bitch. Tie her up good and don't fall for any more of her tricks. We have a tournament to win." Chet lit a cigarette and curled his upper lip.

"Round up the rest of the boys. We have a green haired bastard to pay back as well."