Hey Friends! Sorry for the slightly late update, but I've caught up to myself now and I'm writing the story as I'm posting it...so here's to hoping I can write fast enough to keep weekly updates! But...this also means that the chapters aren't going through as much editing for continuity before they get posted. So, if you catch something that isn't working, please let me know. We're about to get to the final show-down (in a few chapters)...so here goes nothing. Have fun, dive in, and review! :)
Session Twenty Nine
The fact that she knew where Leon was but she couldn't get to him was driving her crazy. This mission would have been simple enough if she could waltz up to the eleventh floor, grab Leon, and jump out the nearest window onto the waiting Bebop. But she couldn't. For a couple of reasons. One, she was here as Malcolm's plus one, so she had to keep up the illusion at least for the majority of the night. Two, Villanova was holding a dinner for the Syndicates tonight and Faye would look very suspicious wandering the halls of the Tower while everybody else was at dinner (after all, you could only go so far while pretending to look for the bathroom). And three, Villanova had an impressive amount of guards posted in the Tower. And if Ed was right (which Faye was sure she was), then the eleventh floor was off-limits to everybody tonight.
Of course it couldn't be that easy.
However, Faye had to admit Villanova knew how to throw a party. She hosted everyone in a grand ballroom on the seventh and eighth floors of the Tower. It was a relatively small gathering of the Snake, Tiger, and Dragon higher ups, with perhaps twenty-five or thirty people from each of the rival Syndicates present. Villanova had only about twenty ranked Dragon members in the room, but all the staff were hers, making the total Red Dragon count far higher. Each Syndicate brought their own bodyguards as well, comprising about half of the attendance. The guards wore plain suits, usually with markings on the chest or arm, singling them out as Syndicate soldiers. The guards carried no visible weapons (not even the Dragon men) since Villanova had forbidden guns in the ballroom. But Faye was certain there was no shortage of hidden weapons in the room. So far, Faye hadn't seen either Draugh or Villanova, but, knowing them, she figured they would make a dramatic entrance later.
Everywhere she looked, the men and women in the ballroom were dressed to the nines and dripping money. Even Faye's white suit, which she'd bought off a particularly rewarding bounty a few years ago, paled in comparison to most of the outfits. There were men in suits that cost more than her Redtail and women in dresses that would buy someone a small apartment for a year. At least she wasn't the worst-dressed person in the room, Faye thought as she gave her feathered hat a jaunty tilt so that it covered one eye. She'd carried the hat with her down the street to avoid wind damage to the hefty plume that cascaded down the left side of the wide-brimmed white hat. She was glad she'd gone to the trouble of bringing it, since it allowed her to survey the ballroom from under the brim without being too obvious.
The ballroom spanned two stories, with a grand staircase leading down into the center of the room on one side. Crystal chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, reminding Faye of The Ares. She shuddered.
"You want my coat?" Malcolm asked, mistaking her shiver for a chill.
"No, I'm fine, thanks," she said.
He gave her a look that said he didn't entirely believe her, but he didn't ask questions. If only he knew what he was in for, Faye thought.
The rest of the ballroom was done up in attractive wood paneling, with red carpet accents and intricately patterned wood carvings on the walls. Several tables lined the upper floor of the ballroom, filled with delicate appetizers. Faye saw plates of sushi and calamari, dishes of cheese, sausages, and crackers, various styles of guacamole and fresh vegetables with all manner of dips and sauces. Villanova was pulling no stops tonight and she had the bar downstairs fully stocked and serving all manner of alcoholic drinks. So far, Faye noticed that all the Syndicate members were keeping close tabs on the number of drinks they had. The air was tense, even in the grandiose setting and she noticed more than a few shifty eyes watching the room for old enemies or new tricks.
"I don't think they enjoy being here," Faye whispered to Malcolm.
"As a general rule, the Syndicates don't usually get along," he agreed. "Gathering them all in one place is practically unheard of. But none of them dare miss it, because they are all afraid that if they do, they'll be one step behind their enemies. A fact I'm sure Villanova was counting on."
Faye nodded. She understood the principle well enough. "Right. Time to see what we can find out then. See if you can get any information on a special guest being entertained on the eleventh floor."
"The boy?" Malcolm mouthed.
Faye nodded slightly. She and Jet had briefed Malcolm on the situation before partnering with him, but they'd agreed not to use Leon's name in public at the Dragon Tower in order to keep suspicion down should someone overhear them. For the same reason, she and Jet agreed she wouldn't wear a com to dinner tonight, since the Syndicates were probably watching for bugged intruders. The fact that all three rival Syndicates were in one place tonight would have all of their bodyguards and security on high alert. Faye figured it was better to ride as low on the radar as possible for now so that they'd have better chances of getting to Leon undetected tomorrow.
"I'll see what I can find out," Malcolm said, giving her a slight tilt of his hat.
"I'll see you in half an hour." Faye winked and blew Malcolm a kiss, as he joined an hors d'oeuvres table with a few other gentlemen. They greeted him as Maverick and he struck up a conversation.
Faye headed downstairs to investigate the gaming tables and dance floor. She kept her eye out for a man who looked lonely and was rewarded after a few seconds of searching by a tall man leaning on the bar with no companion in sight. He wasn't one of the White Tiger members that Malcolm had hastily introduced her to earlier tonight. He was more lanky than muscular, in a dark suit with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. He had a narrow face, looked to be about fifty, and watched the room through hooded eyes so dark they might have been black. His navy tie and sapphire cufflinks betrayed his allegiance to the Blue Snake, which meant Faye could safely ply him for information without blowing her cover. Faye walked up to the bar and ordered two martinis, noticing that the man didn't have a glass in front of him.
Once she got the drinks, she walked up and slid one to the man coyly. "What's a handsome man like you doing here all alone?" Faye asked.
The man looked over at her, and for a moment, Faye thought he wouldn't respond, but then the corner of his mouth quirked up and a smile lit his eyes as he looked her over. "I might ask the same of such a gorgeous lady," he said, accepting the drink.
"Well, you know how the White Tiger boys are. Always talking about business and competing with each other. I got tired of all the postering. I came looking for the company of someone...with a little more character." Faye let her gaze settle briefly on the man's immaculately pressed suit and the flash of the cufflinks at his wrist.
"So you came with the Tiger, Ms. …?"
"Ion," Faye said, extending her hand.
He took it gently and brought it to his lips. "A pleasure, Ms. Ion." He smiled, briefly showing pointed teeth. "My name is Asheteko, a member of the Blue Snake."
"How exotic," Faye smiled up at him. He released her hand and she took a sip of her martini. "So, Asheteko, do you know why we're all here tonight?" she asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I believe that Ms. Villanova said she had something to show the rest of the Syndicates. A show we would not soon forget, was how she phrased it."
"What do you think she meant by that?" Faye asked.
"I know she's marketing a new drug in the streets. If that is all she called us here for, I will be sorely disappointed. I've seen this new stuff - this Dragon's Eye, she calls it - " he paused and shrugged. "And it is nothing more than glorified Red Eye. It will turn a profit, certainly, but the recipe can be stolen for the right price, I am sure."
Faye was surprised that Asheteko talked so freely in front of the bartender, who was obviously a member of the Red Dragon. But then again, half of the Syndicates power came through threats, blackmail, and posturing. Making such bold claims may have just been his way of showing that the Snake wasn't afraid of the Dragon. He probably said it on purpose, knowing that the bartender would report to Villanova.
"Of course," Faye agreed, thinking that Asheteko didn't know the half of it. "But I've also heard rumors." She leaned in close like was telling a secret. Asheteko automatically leaned in closer as well. "I've heard that Villanova has Spiegel in her custody."
"Spike?" Asheteko asked, a note of awe in his voice. Faye chalked one up for herself on her mental scoreboard. She'd found someone who had known Spike back in his Syndicate days. "He's been dead for fifteen years." Asheteko's tone brooked no argument.
"That's what I think too," Faye said conspiratorially, feeling the sting of the words in her chest as she said them. "But she says she's got him alive."
"There's no way," Asheteko said, visibly shaken. "We all saw the destruction." He sounded more as if he were talking to himself than to Faye.
"What does it mean if he is alive?" Faye asked quietly.
Asheteko gave her a calculating glance, as if deciding how much to tell her.
"You did not know him when he was alive, did you?"
"I heard rumors," Faye said, feeling the ache in her chest grow bigger. Talking about Spike like she barely knew him felt like betrayal, but her carefully placed mask of confidence didn't slip. That was one thing she'd had enough practice with to be sure of.
"He was the best," Asheteko said simply. "If he truly is alive, perhaps he faked his death to leave the Syndicates behind. It would not be the first time that he did such a thing," Asheteko shrugged. "But if the Dragon caught him, it means he has lost his edge. It means either he tried to stop them again and failed, or they got the drop on him. It means the Dragon is stronger than any of us thought."
Faye took another sip of her martini to hide her expression. Then Villanova had been right. If she could really convince the Syndicates that Leon was Spike, she'd be asserting a dominance greater than Yenrai. As far as Faye knew, Spike was the only person in the galaxy who had ever single-handedly destroyed a Syndicate. He was a legend. A legacy. If Villanova could destroy that, then she would destroy everything Spike stood for. She would destroy any sign of weakness and rise to the top of the the Syndicates again. She would destroy Spike and all that remained of him in one go, just like he did to the Dragon. But there was no way Spike could rebuild. If Leon was lost, so was Spike's memory and everything Faye had been fighting for.
"You seem very quiet, Ms. Ion," Asheteko said, sipping from his martini.
"I'm sorry," Faye said, giving him a smile. "I was just thinking that Villanova must be very crafty to pull all this off."
"Aye, she is." Asheteko nodded. "Though I believe she would do well to remember that she leads a fledgling Syndicate and not an experienced guild. She may have fire, but the snake has wisdom." Asheteko drained his glass and set it on the bar beside Faye's now empty glass.
"And now, Ms. Ion, would you excuse me? I do believe our hostess has arrived and the Snake wishes to bid her a most warm welcome."
Faye followed Asheteko's eyes to the top of the staircase where Villanova had just entered, on the arm of Draugh, clad in a dress made of red and gold material that flowed as she moved so that she almost appeared as if she were on fire. Her hair was spiked tonight, resembling a dragon's crest, and while Faye was certain she'd look ridiculous with such a hairstyle, it made Villanova look fierce. Beside her, Draugh looked almost plain in his night-black suit and red shirt, but there was a quiet power that oozed from him that Faye had rarely seen in her few encounters with him.
Faye slipped away from the bar. It was time she find Malcolm again and fall back under the illusion of the attractive and empty-headed Tiger's girl.
Dinner was a tense affair and Faye was glad when she and Malcolm finally retired to their room for the night. She'd stayed away from Villanova as much as possible during dinner, and her disguise seemed to have held. When Malcolm introduced her to Villanova, there'd been no sign of recognition from the Dragon leader. Faye knew she was crafty, but she was pretty sure Villanova would have a tell if she recognized her and Faye had seen nothing. In fact, Villanova had barely given her the time of day when they met. She'd been much more impressed with Malcolm, but that made sense. With his 'ambition' within the Tiger, he'd be catching eyes from the rival Syndicates.
Faye sat in a chair in the bedroom she and Malcolm shared, already changed out of her pantsuit and into a white silk robe embroidered with a gold tiger over a tank top and shorts. Malcolm had given it to her earlier to further her disguise, but she hoped she'd get to keep it when all this was over. Not only was it glamorous, but it was comfortable and it would make a great addition to her wardrobe.
Just then, Malcolm came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of white silk pants that matched her robe, with a gold tiger embroidered on the right leg. He wasn't wearing a shirt and his brown hair was somewhat tousled, falling over one eye. Faye stared at his well-muscled figure a moment longer than she meant to. The young ISSP officer was handsome. He caught her staring and gave her a wink. Faye found herself blushing as he dropped onto the couch in front of her. He reached into the pocket of his suit coat, which was draped over the arm of the couch, and pulled out a silver cigarette case. He snapped it open and laid it on the coffee table between them, pulling out a cigarette and offering it to Faye. She accepted it and he pulled one out for himself, then grabbed a lighter out of his suit coat as well. He lit Faye's cigarette, then his own before speaking.
"We can talk without worrying about them overhearing us now." He gestured at the cigarette case. "This little piece of tech will scramble any bugs they've planted in the room. I can't do anything about the security cameras, so they can still see us, but we can talk freely."
Faye took a second glance at the case as she let out a smoky breath. "ISSP's upped their gadgets," she said appreciatively.
"Nah," Malcolm laughed. "This baby is Tiger tech."
Faye chuckled. "I should have known."
"Despite all their flaws, the Syndicates do have their moments," Malcolm said, leaning back and stretching his arms across the back of the couch. "So, what did you find out from Asheteko?"
"You saw me talking to him?"
Malcolm nodded. "I was a bit surprised you went straight for the Snake leader."
"He's the head of the Snake?" Faye asked, eyes widening slightly.
Malcolm nodded again.
Faye replayed her conversation with Asheteko in her head, making sure she hadn't said anything that would give her away. Now that she knew his position within the Snake, some of his comments made more sense."Well, he certainly seems impressed with Villanova," Faye finally said. "He also made it clear that the Snake wasn't intimidated by the Dragon. But from the way he was talking, if Villanova succeeds in recreating Spike tomorrow, she'll pull more sway with the Syndicates than any crime boss before her."
Malcolm smoked for a moment in silence. "Spike must've been one hell of a guy to hold this much sway over the Syndicates."
"He was," Faye agreed.
Malcolm raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue, but she left it at that.
"Well, I guess we oughta call your friends, then," he said after a minute.
"Yeah." Faye pulled her phone out of the pocket of her robe and punched in Jet's number. She laid the phone on the table, but kept the screen blank so that anyone watching couldn't tell who she and Malcolm were talking to.
Jet picked up after two rings.
"Did you find anything?" he asked.
"A few things, yeah," Faye said.
"A few things is better than no things," Ed chipped in. Jet had patched her through from the hospital.
Malcolm chuckled. He'd briefly met Jet and Ed over the phone before teaming up with Faye. Jet had been surprised that Malcolm had already known him by reputation.
"What, you thought Bob never talked about you, old man?" Malcolm had asked.
"Well, no," Jet had admitted, rubbing his head. "I just didn't think I was still talked about that much."
"Everyone who's anyone in ISSP still knows about the Black Dog. Besides, even if they don't remember your police days, you're pretty famous as a bounty hunter."
Jet had chuckled at that while Ed whooped in the background. "We're famous!"
But Malcolm had taken to the team quickly and Faye was glad they seemed to have someone to trust again.
"So, what did you find, Faye?" Jet asked, breaking into her thoughts.
"Well, for starters, Villanova certainly doesn't have a shortage of wulongs at her disposal," Faye said. "Either her drug is doing very well, or she's got some serious money laundering going on. We should be prepared for anything tomorrow. If this dinner's anything to go by, she'll have all sorts of defenses up around the tower."
"That's what I was afraid of," Jet said.
Faye sat back and smoked for a minute. "But that's what Ed's for, right?"
"Yup!" Ed crowed. "Leave the defenses to me. Ed can take them offline in a wink." Faye imagined Ed winking to emphasize her point.
"And then I can get the Bebop close for extraction," Jet said. "That part's not the problem. The problem is figuring out when to swap you out with Leon."
Malcolm leaned forward. "I think I can help with that one."
"Shoot," Jet told him.
"I learned from a couple of Dragon guys tonight that whatever Villanova is planning is supposed to go down at noon tomorrow. I've spent some time studying the Dragon Tower maps and I'd bet that she'll either gather us all in the ballroom again or the conference room on the tenth floor. Either way, they'll have to move Leon from the eleventh floor for whatever their plan is. My guess is that they'll put him in a holding room somewhere nearby so that they can bring him out quickly when Villanova plans to reveal him. More dramatic that way. So what we need to do is figure out where they're putting him and have Faye swap places before the reveal, but after they've moved him. That way, there's less time and people to discover Faye's plot before the reveal."
There was silence on the other side for a minute and Faye could imagine Jet nodding. Then, when she and Malcolm didn't respond, he spoke. "That sounds plausible. Malcolm, you think too much like a Syndicate man."
Malcolm snorted. "Hardly. I'm just thinking a few steps ahead."
"But you're right," Faye said. "Ed, you can keep an eye on wherever they move Leon, right?"
"Yup!"
"Is there anywhere in the tower you can't see?"
"Um, the bathrooms," Ed said.
Malcolm laughed. "I don't think they're going to hold him in a bathroom."
Faye gave him a glare.
He sobered up, but there was a smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Right then," Faye said. "So all we have to do is get Ed to watch Leon's progress tomorrow. Then, when Ed sees them move Leon, Malcolm and I come up with an excuse to get me out of Villanova's meeting. According to the itinerary she gave everybody at dinner tonight, we're all supposed to meet again tomorrow at 10:30. That gives us an hour and a half to make our move."
"Give or take," Jet said. "You know that this is probably going to go down in typical Bebop fashion."
Faye took a draw on her cigarette. "I'm planning on it," she said.
"Is that good or bad?" Malcolm asked.
"That depends on how you're looking at it," Ed said. "Lots of things go boom and wulongs go bye-bye, but we always make it out alive in the end."
Malcolm ran a hand through his hair. "At least, that's the goal, anyway," he said quietly.