It's time for Spike and Vicious to duke it out. And what is this strange power coming out of Spike? I'm not gonna tell you. Just read and post a review if you wish.

-Randall Flagg2

(1)

Both the girls were unconscious. That was good. Vicious was not one to tolerate noisy children. And anyway, he needed both of these girls to lure Spike into his trap.

"He'll come. Oh yes, he'll come."

In the distance, he could hear footsteps. He had no doubt of who it was. It was finally time to settle the score.

Vicious dug into his coat pocket and came out with a handful of firecrackers. He had to make sure Spike got to the right location. He set them on the ground and took out a lighter. Going as fast as he could, he lit the firecrackers and tossed them into the air. Each one of them exploded with a loud BANG.

The footsteps further away stopped. Then they began to come towards him.

Vicious grabbed his katana. It was time at last.

(2)

Spike came to the clearing. He had heard the firecrackers and had followed the sound to this area of the forest. As he expected, Vicious was there. So were Ed and Serenity, both of them sprawled out on the ground.

"So you came." Vicious' voice was as cold as ever.

"I never knew you would have to kidnap kids to get me to fight you. That's been done countless times."

"Well I needed some way to bring you to me. I never even knew you had become a father Spike."

Spike glared bitterly at his former friend. "They aren't mine!!! They just happen to live with me!"

Vicious smirked. "Either way, it makes no difference. It's time to settle what we started earlier."

Spike took out his gun and Vicious his sword.

And the battle was on.

(3)

Spike raised his gun and fired. Vicious simply jumped to one side and charged. With one swing of his sword, Vicious almost severed Spike's head. Thankfully the bounty hunter was equally fast and managed to duck but Vicious was equally fast and did a downwards stab. Spike simply twisted his body to one side and then did a low kick. Vicious jumped and tried to land on Spike, but he caught Vicious' foot and shoved him backwards. The red dragon operative stumbled back. Quick as a flash, Spike jumped to his feet and began throwing kicks at his opponent. Vicious would either block, or dodge every one of them.

The battle raged on for nearly twenty minutes, neither of them gaining the upper hand. It seemed as though they would be locked in combat forever. Then at last, Vicious managed to stab Spike in the leg. Spike sank to his knees. Vicious stood over him triumphantly.

"So this is what it comes down to. We finally fight and you fail at long last. I never thought you would be this weak Spike."

Spike was becoming desperate. If he couldn't find some way to win in the next few seconds, he was a goner.

"I'm just getting warmed up Vicious." he said confidently, hiding the fact that he was worried.

"Oh really? Then why do you not rise? Are you so confident in your abilities that you think you can lie on the ground and still defeat me?" Vicious taunted. "It seems I'm going to have to deal with you now."

Vicious stabbed his katana downwards.

And then the strangest thing happened.

(4)

Just as Vicious stabbed at Spike, a bright flash of crimson red covered his body. Vicious stopped just inches away from Spike. What in the world was going on here?

When the flash died down, Spike had risen, but his body was glowing crimson red. His eyes were shining bright white. Even his hair was glowing bright red. On his forehead, was a strange circular symbol.

Vicious backed away. He refused to believe what was going on here. This could not be real.

Vicious stabbed Spike, only to watch in horror as his katana shattered upon impact. He tried punching and kicking Spike, but that didn't work either. It just bounced off of him.

Spike finally grabbed Vicious and cocked his fist back. Electricity surged out of it. Then he swung his fist forward and BAM. Vicious went flying away. He went so far as to go completely out of the woods.

Just as Vicious sailed off, Spike stopped glowing red. His body went back to normal.

"What just happened?" he thought. "What did I just do? It felt as if something else had taken over me!"

Spike thought about it for quite some time, but then decided it wasn't worth losing sleep over. He was just glad to have escaped Vicious alive.

He gathered up the girls, Serenity in one arm, Ed in the other, and headed for home.

To be continued...

(Ending theme is The Real Folk Blues)

Serenity's voice: Now that Vicious is gone, we can all breathe easy. Well, some of us can. What am I doing with that book of practical jokes? What am I planning? Should I prank everybody in the house? I won't tell, but one thing is for sure. Ed and Faye are going to cash in on the action. Next on Random Adventures with the Bebop: Day of the pranksters. Look out bebop! Your in trouble!