The docking bay doors opened slowly and both Vera and Sukiko winced again the bright flood lights that snapped on in the darkness. With a wave of fear washed over her as she threw herself over Vera and moved behind the protection of the hall as a rain of bullets flooded the bay.

Glancing down she looked at the wound in Vera's side. I've failed? I've never failed in protecting someone?

The wound was deep, and as Jet rushed to her side he took Vera from her. Spike and Faye had taken places and started returning fire. "I'll see what I can do. No promises. Her body is oddly weak." Jet kept checking the child over as Sukiko turned with the awkward grace that told her she was in her other 'form'.

With a dangerous growl she paced out in the fire, and smiled inwardly as it receded. The shocked looks of those dozen or so men before her were setting her blood on fire. Without warning she rushed forward biting into the first man's throat and ripping it out.

The metallic taste in her mouth drove her forward clawing into the nearest opponent, and savored the taste of their blood. The scent of her fear was driving her over the edge as she took down one after the other. Many were retreating as huffed in exhaustion.

Despite her rage, she hadn't been prepared for what she saw coming through the fleeing men. Her blood stilled in her veins as before her Vicious can closer; step by slow agonizing step. Each time he stepped closer her heart clenched in her chest painfully, until she found herself standing on her two human feet.

He glanced at her before pulling her into a tight embrace. Slowly she responded to his gesture wrapping her arms around him until she sagged against him in sorrow and fatigue.

His voice sounded hoarse as he finally spoke quietly near her ear. His word were only for her to hear this time, and she knew that. "I'm glad you found her before they did, but I already knew you wouldn't be able to protect her alone." His voice cut off and she heard him swallow a cry of his own. "I'm sorry I can too late."

With that he turned to Jet who came near carrying Vera's limp body. Sukiko couldn't stop the sobs that overtook her body as Vicious accepted his dead child's body, and left as silently as he'd come. She wasn't sure when she went to her temporary room. I will find and kill them all! This is wrong! They were her last thoughts before she returned to her tear filled slumber.

Swift, jerky movements of the crowd below made Sukiko ache in sympathy for those who danced. Once, ever so long ago, she had been one of those dancers. The only difference, was her movements were not so jerky and would not be felt in the morning. In fact, they were smooth and flawless. For each performance she'd practice until she dropped from exhaustion and then got up and did it again.

Even the dancing below could not take away her sorrow. Vicious had implied she'd bought his daughter only a little more time before a death that had come far too early. Once, it had been her escape from the loss of her own parents and lack of affection. A laugh bubbled up from her throat as she watch Faye dancing down in the crowd. Spike and Jet sat in a far corner with their mouths hanging open slightly in shock.

No, these people were not used to the kind of fun of a normal person. They were bounty hunters after all. They did not live from paycheck to paycheck. They lived from bounty to bounty. It wasn't a hard life unless crime rates went down, or crime became minor. Then again, she did not envy them for their life style.

For the money they earned, their lives were on the line constantly. Any day they could be killed and only a handful would mourn then. Why was it again I took up this life myself? She brushed the thought aside reminded herself it was only temporary. No, this was not the life she'd want for the rest of her life.

Her feline feature had become far more prominent since her complete transformation, and her entire body ached from the stress. There wasn't a lot that could be done, but she found some comfort in the drink. Yes, the Compre Nevre was the only place she wanted to be at the moment.

She tried not to jump when the slender, yet ever so strong, hands came to rest beside her's on the railing. One of hand slipped over her's and gave a reassuring squeeze as he looked over the expressionlessly. Sukiko was surprise as she looked at him. He'd tied his hair back at the nape of his neck and it actually looked somewhat tamed.

"I didn't even know your hair was long enough to do that."

"It's grown quite a bit since I was 'killed'." His laugh was forced and she twined her fingers with his.

"I am no longer human?"

"No, you are something else now. Nathan wants you now more than ever, and he'll stop at nothing."

:Neither is he:

"He's not human either."

Vicious turned to her curiously. His eyes asking what he seemed to be unable to speak.

"I don't know how I know this, but he isn't. It's just a feeling, and a strong one. He's like me, but somehow has found a way to hide it. Tell me what you know!"

His jaw tightened and he pushed away from the railing into the privacy of the room behind them. She'd followed him here, and hid that she had even from the crew of the Bebop. She had simply persuaded the book keeper to tell her where Vicious was staying.

Closing the battered door behind her, Sukiko was surprised at how quite it was within the small room. Vicious was pacing back and force now down to just his gray slacks, and his shirt thrown carelessly over the back of a three-legged chair.

"Tell me." He remained silent and her angry boiled up through her. "Damn it Vicious tell me what you know! You know more than you're confessing to! You're too smart to take on a job and NOT know everything about it!"

He stiffened visibly at her accusation and turned to her. "It's a genetic defect that was discovered by accident. Men and women who were infertile volunteered for the tests. The results? They were horribly changed, and those women who became pregnant died long before giving birth. Five months into their pregnancy they were found dead. Just suddenly dropped down without any visible sign of death."

"Nathan was one of them?"

"One of the first round, and instead of accepting it. He's been doing testing to reverse it. You were one of many, and the only successful specimen he'd created. The others, they were deformed and overwhelmed by mutated gene. He manipulated them trying to copy what was done to him, and reverse it."

"You said that already!" Sukiko sat precariously on the three-legged chair bracing it against the wall.

"Beyond that, I don't know what he wants."

Running a clawed hand across his back lightly Sukiko left.

:Tomorrow:

There was that nagging voice again; the same that had told her Nathan was like her. So strange. What is tomorrow? Tell me what it is you're trying to say?

:Tomorrow! Get him tomorrow:

Who?

:Nathan, get him! Get him tomorrow! Avenge us! Avenge us all:

Shaking her head she rid herself from the voices that had begun to plague her. It was like many voices being forced into one; a crowd speaking as one. Faye was the first to greet her as they left the building. With the crumbling structure left far behind her, Sukiko said her goodbyes, much to their surprise, and left.

:They're watching! They're coming! They won't leave you be! They won't let us be! They don't understand! Make them understand:

Her body ached signifying the change in her body to that of the large feline.

Yes, we'll make them understand! We'll kill HIM! We'll seek our revenge! The thoughts startled her as she found herself running with all her might toward a large business building.

:No! Not now! Not yet! Tomorrow:

Her head rang with the force of the voices as she shrank back into the shadows of the night. Vicious, please I never though I'd be asking you for help, but help me! Help me to control myself! They're overwhelming me! Her own thoughts seemed weak as she lay down on the cool stones.

Vicious sat up in his bed wiping the sweat from his face. Something was wrong, he needed to be somewhere. He just didn't know where. Where was he to be! Cursing lowly he dressed and left for Nathan's head quarters. It wasn't far, but it seem that was were his instincts were calling him. That, was where he needed to be.