Session Seventeen

Captain Ary Servas crossed her arms and frowned at the security display. Sometimes Villanova's plans were too big for her own good. Not that Servas was complaining. As Villanova's head of security, she never complained. Even when she thought that the Syndicate was overreaching itself. No, she just sat in her command center and dispersed guards and troops and lackeys like she knew what she was doing and snapped at anyone who asked too many questions.

But today was taxing even her patience. First Andross' truck and its payload of Dragon's Eye didn't arrive. They'd all been hoping that the radio silence on his end had just been a glitch and he'd come grinning into the Tower like he always did. But no such luck. Second, a mysterious caller announced that he had Andross, and more importantly, the Dragon's Eye, captive. Which meant Servas now added "retrieving or finding a replacement for the Dragon's Eye in less than six days" to her to-do list. Third, she was still readying the Tower to host not one but two rival Syndicates for Villanova's take-back-control-of-the-Syndicates event. In a brazen show of ambition, Villanova had prematurely invited the White Tiger and Blue Snake Syndicates to share the spoils of the Red Dragon and enjoy a spectacle they'd never forget on the fifteenth anniversary of the Red Dragon's fall at Spike Spiegel's hand. The spectacle? Killing Spike himself.

Servas snorted. It was all an illusion. An illusion based on rumor and hearsay and legend. If this Spiegel fellow didn't already have a reputation among the Syndicates for mysteriously reappearing after being presumed dead, this event wouldn't exist in the first place. Servas was sure the other Syndicates were coming to rip the Dragon's heart out rather than for any interest in Spiegel. On the other hand, if what Villanova planned actually worked, then the Red Dragon would rise to a spot of dominance and prestige rivaling that of Yenrai's days. Or, at least, that's what Servas had been told. All she knew for sure was that this was a ridiculous breach of security and she was in charge of somehow making this event "safe."

And that she'd been told not to disturb Villanova anymore today, but she had a second call coming from Andross' radio no less, from a woman who claimed to be a friend, warning the Dragon of an ambush.

"And who did you say you were again?" Servas asked.

"Valentine," the woman answered. "And I've got some very important information for Miriatha."

Only very close associates of Villanova ever called her by her first name. But Servas had never heard of one named Valentine. "What sort of information?" Servas asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"It's regarding Andross and the Dragon's Eye. I need to warn the Dragon. But I need to talk to Miriatha. It's important."

"Ms. Villanova is not to be disturbed today. You can give me your warning," Servas said. After all, if it had to do with Andross and the Dragon's Eye, she needed this information just as much as Villanova.

"No. I can't speak to anyone else. And I don't have much time. If you don't put Miriatha on now, you'll regret it. She'll want to hear this."

Servas sighed. If she put Villanova on now, she'd regret this. And yet...something about the woman's desperate tone led Servas to believe she might just be telling the truth. She looked over at the call button for Villanova's office. This wouldn't be the first time she'd connected someone to Villanova without her permission and she wasn't dead yet, so one more time couldn't hurt. "Fine. I'll connect you. But you've only got five minutes, alright?"

"Alright," the woman agreed.

Servas pressed the button for Villanova's office.

"You think it's a trap?" Draugh asked.

"It could be," Villanova shrugged.

"And you're still going?"

"Of course I am. That was him."

"Spiegel's son?"

"Who else?" Villanova smiled. "This is our chance. He just walked himself into it."

"How can you be sure that was him?"

"Do you know anyone else with enough guts to challenge the Dragon? Damn, if the boy isn't Spiegel reincarnated," Villanova muttered. She looked up at Draugh with a gleam in her eye, rubbing her hands together. "And it's before our deadline."

Draugh scowled. "Don't you think - "

Villanova's phone beeped again. She jabbed the button.

"What now?" she demanded.

"There's a woman calling, ma'am."

"Captain, I told you not to - "

"She's calling from Andross' radio," Servas interrupted. "Her name's Valentine."

Villanova shared a glance with Draugh.

"Bebop," he mouthed.

"Put her through," Villanova said.

There was a slight click and then a woman's voice, speaking rapidly, as if she were trying to get through something unpleasant. "I want to make a deal."

"What have you got to offer?" Villanova asked.

There was a long pause. "Your Dragon's Eye and Andross."

"What do you want in return?"

"The lives of my friends."

Villanova smiled. "I think we can work something out."