Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Not For Bounty ❯ 03 An Old Aquaintance ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Not For Bounty
Author- Byakko Rei


Chapter 3
An Old Acquaintance

Faye was a solitary figure at the counter of the Red Dog Bar. She sipped her house brand beer and occasionally took a drag from her slim cigar. She could easily see the entrance from the mirror behind the bar and watched as the regulars trickled in after work. She and Spike used to come here together... but that was over now. She took another draught of her drink, then reached into her shirt pocket for some woolongs. As she proffered the money to the bartender her eyes caught the arrival of a striking stranger who toted a black leather attaché case.

The slender, dark-haired man hesitated slightly, then made his way over to *her*. Faye's heart sped up slightly from his scrutiny of her and she felt a curious twinge in her loins. Her cheeks warmed as he approached. There was something familiar about his sapphire blue eyes and she was drawn helplessly into their mystery. She was suddenly reminded of something she'd overheard Spike tell Jet on the Bebop after Julia died and before he went after Vicious.

Jet had asked Spike why he had been smitten by only one woman. Spike had replied that Julia had been an enigma with gorgeous blonde hair and long shapely legs. He had drowned every time he looked into the dark blue pools of her eyes and walked away thirsty. He had seen her seductively enrapture enemies with her charm, get what information she wanted from them, then slit their throats in cold blood. He had loved Julia because she was the only woman that had ever made him feel *alive*. Being with her meant being a part of certain danger and he had found it... exhilarating.

Faye wondered why she had been reminded of that, until she noticed how truly arresting this gentleman's eyes were. Her breath caught; this 'man' was Julia. Her anger quickly rose to a boil at the gall of the woman. How *dare* she show up now after Spike's death!

"Spike said you died in his arms," Faye stated abruptly.

"Hello, Faye, mind if I join you?" the dark-haired man greeted casually, ignoring the outburst.

"It's a free place... sit where you like," Faye replied coolly from behind a fog of sweet cigar smoke, "I'm leaving."

Julia addressed the bartender as she eased onto a barstool next to Faye's. "I'll have what my friend here is drinking, please." Julia laid her briefcase down onto the countertop and took a long drink before she spoke. "We need to talk," she stated quietly.

"We have nothing to talk about, Julia," Faye replied coldly as she stood to leave.

"I miss Spike, too," Julia responded intuitively to Faye's back. "When I woke up in a lab, the only thing I wanted to do was go stop Spike from going after Vicious and the Red Dragon." She drew in a measured breath, "But I was about three months too late. Whoever is in charge now cruelly tried to use Spike's death to lure me into their brainwashing program." Julia's information was met with silent indifference initially.

"At least Spike knew you loved him before you died," Faye began harshly, then turned around to regard the disguised blonde. "You know, Julia, he was devastated after that... it was as if his whole purpose for *being* was gone. He never saw past you... and I never told him that I... how I truly felt about him before he died."

"I'm sure Spike knew you cared for him," Julia assured her. She took a few sips from her beer then spoke carefully, "You know Faye, you and I are not so different. Neither of us asked to be revived from certain death. That we live while others we loved have perished may never seem fair. But since we have been given another chance at life, I think we ought to try and make something meaningful of it...." Julia paused.

Faye began to process Julia's existence and wondered if it was still possible for Spike to be alive, too. So instead of decking the woman, she sat back down. "I'm listening," she snapped impatiently.

"Faye, I'm alive right now because of an experimental virus strain developed by the Red Dragon. Their goal is to create a race of super beings that can be controlled to do their bidding. The Gatherers are the result of experiment failure. I don't know for sure who is alive or dead, but I do know that I managed to escape and the Red Dragon must be stopped." Julia paused to take another sip of her brew and continued to look at the mug as she set it down. "I need the Bebop's resources and a pilot of your caliber, Faye. I can pay well... are you interested?"

Faye glanced over at the woman's profile. Delicate, yet strong. Sensitive, yet guarded. Calm, and despite the short black toupee... beautiful. Faye turned away from her. "Nope. I have a previous engagement. A friend of mine is in trouble and needs the Bebop's help. Sorry." Faye downed the rest of her brew, faintly surprised at the genuine look of disappointment that briefly crossed Julia's face. As she rose to leave again, she felt a soft restraining touch on her forearm. Faye moved it away as though she had been scorched.

"Faye, if you can set aside your resentment towards me, I may be of some use to you regarding the Crime Syndicate. Would you reconsider my offer if I were to aid you with your mission?" Julia asked as she gazed up into Faye's large, inscrutable, emerald eyes. She could see this woman's trust would not come easily.

Faye frowned as she mulled it over. Jet was *not* going to approve of another female 'bathroom hog' on his ship. However, bounty hunting *had* been tedious without Spike and their larders were bare. She returned Julia's gaze. "If you actually have skills that can help us, I will accept your offer... provided the price is right," she agreed shrewdly.

Julia paid for her unfinished drink and the two woman left the Red Dog to disrupt Jet's comfortable lifestyle.


To be continued....