"You let him go?"

"Yes."

"That was one of the dumbest things you've ever done!" Coria stared up at her brother from behind her desk. There were no words that could pass between them that would solve either of their problems. It had been a foolish move indeed. She should have shot Spike when he'd turned to leave, but she hadn't been able to.

"I watched their fight, brother. Vicious obviously didn't want that man dead. He purposefully didn't strike a killing blow." Pushing away from her desk and abandoning any hope of sleep that night she started her traditional pacing next to the window. "I've only been causing Vicious more pain by delaying his death, but I can't just let go. This entire syndicate if crumbling around us, and I can't stop myself from trying to prevent it."

"You're crazy."

She laughed and figured that she must sound half mad. Snatching up her wine glass she threw it at her brother and took pleasure it the sound of it shattering against the wall as he moved out of its path. "Yes, I believe I have gone insane. But that's what makes this so fun."

"Your using redeye aren't you?"

"I've slowed down. My mind is confused brother, I need it to keep my place. Go back to the Bebop, and keep your end of the bargain. I want people to know about us."

"I'll see you in hell sister, save me a place would you?" With that he turned slamming the large doors behind him. A heavy silence fell across the room as she watched out the window curiously.

"I'll save you a place dear brother, but I will not get there first if I have my way." She laughed lightly turning away from the lively city below. "Perhaps I really have gone mad."

Faye strummed her fingers and stared angrily at the sleeping figure of Spike sprawled across the couch. She and Jet had been out all night looking for him, and the bastard had the nerve to be sleeping right here in broad daylight while they worried about him. Jet had just chuckled and set about to fixing the ship.

Soren walked in and smiled at her sheepishly. "Eh? What happened to the ship last night?"

"WHERE THE HELL WHERE YOU?" Faye snapped stomping her foot. Angry she turned stomping around grabbing Spike's ankle and yanking him off the couch into the floor.

"What the hell?"

"Where were you? How dare you be here lazing about when Jet and I were looking for you all night!"

Spike laughed carefully pulling himself to his feet and stretching. Faye was the bitch yes, but in her own way he knew she cared. The thought mad him laugh harder as he waved Soren away. Something about the way the man walked suddenly caught his attention. Yes, Soren was Coria's brother. It was obvious to him now that the man had told the truth there. But how much had he told them? Was he in league with the syndicate? Their secret and seemingly harmless watcher?

No, he'd had syndicate training. That was obvious of the way the man moved. Now, was he still involved, or was he AWOL?

"SPIKE!" Faye shouted shoving him backward over onto the couch. His eyes never left Soren until solid wall blocked his view.

"Faye."

She stopped suddenly registering the sudden seriousness in his eyes and tone. "Yes?"

"Soren was part of the syndicate once. Whatever you do, don't go any where alone with him. Okay?"

"Yes, sure. But Spike, what happened last night?"

Edward chose that moment to spring up squealing out of the room the opposite way Soren had went, and gave him a moment to think. He couldn't tell her Vicious was still clinging to life in a small way. He'd been stupid not to shoot Vicious or Coria when they were both vulnerable.

"Faye, she wants the syndicate to be remembered throughout history. She wants what has always functioned behind the scenes to suddenly be scene up close and personal by all. Have you any idea how she might accomplish this?"

"Oh sure, take over a planet, blow up several building, take it with them as her empire crumbles, and leave it in chaos." Faye shrugged and turned from him leaving his mind in turmoil.

Would Coria really do that to in Vicious' name to make sure he and the syndicate where remember? To go so far was pushing the limits of anything ever done by a syndicate before. Throughout history there had been power struggles between ordered government and organized crime but still . . . No, she wouldn't dare try something like that with them already falling apart.

With that thought caught in his mind, and despite Faye's scrutinizing stare, his mind ran over the possibilities of each planet and where the syndicate quarters where stationed. In the end, the was only one plausible place, Mars. It was also a symbol to the syndicate, and they already ran most of it from behind the scenes. The Red Planet, the Red Dragon Syndicate. How could he have been so stupid? It was obvious!

He jumped up turning his back to Faye, and quickened his pace as he entered the safety of the hall away from her gaze. If he was wrong though? Oh, Almighty did he hope he was wrong? Then again, who was he to try and stop them?

The thoughts lingered overwhelming his mind, and even as he tried to sleep they forced their way into his dreams. He had to do something. Vicious, no matter how cruel or power hungry he'd become, would not want what Coria was aiming for. The question was, how?

A/N: Sorry long time no update. I apologize. Busy busy.