Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Unveiled Emotions ❯ Ending ( Chapter 35 )

The sky above was cloudy when they reached Quillhaven but that was normal. When the early pioneers build the town, they constructed a glass-like dome to provide oxygen to its inhabitants. But with the increase of space travel, some adjustments had to be made. A couple of men in black suits watched as the ship was exposed to a contamination scanner than patiently waited for the hatch to open.

"Do you think he'll fight it?" one asked, then listened to the silence.

"Vicious isn't stupid," the other replied.

"What about the Taliban?"

"Shoot him if you have to."

"What about the other one? The female?"

"We're not supposed to do anything about her. That's someone else's objective. Here they come."

The first man in a suit gasped as Pheonix's claws dug into his neck.

"Start talking or else he's dead," Pheonix hissed and the second man stared at him in shock.

"Where did you come from?" he managed to ask and Pheonix grinned evilly.

"That's none of your business. Now you've got five seconds to talk or else he's dead."

"All right. We simply have orders to bring Vicious to the head of the syndicate."

"I thought you were the head," Rei said and Vicious looked at her.

"Apparently, some things have been going on during my absence," he replied. "Who am I supposed to be brought to?"

"You're just supposed to come quietly with us," the man said and Vicious pushed Rei away from him. She reached out for him then stopped at his thought.

"Let go of him, Pheonix. I don't know how long it will take so you know what to," Vicious said and the Taliban folded his arms.

"I told you I'm not going to be a permanent sitter," he said then took Rei's hand. "Let's go."

"But..." Rei protested and Pheonix glared at her.

"If we stay any longer, I'm afraid you'll become a target for someone."

"Again?"

"You should be used to it by now."

"Well I'm not."

He dragged her away from the hangar and down a side street. She watched his ears twitch intently and glanced nervously behind her.

"You really think someone will try it?" she asked.

"Look, I sensed something back there. Someone or something else was in that hangar. It was something that couldn't be detected by your ability otherwise you would have known about it."

"How did you know it was there, then?"

"I told you. I could sense it. I'm sure Vicious is in little danger but someone will be after you if not now. Come on. Let's get you to a safe place. If I can find one, that is."

****************************************************

"Our passenger is extremely quiet," one of the men commented and the other shrugged his shoulders.

"He's probably too concerned about the female to think straight," the other replied.

"Sad, isn't it? Such a man like that to be brought down by a woman. He was no better than the rest of us."

"Killing that bitch will be a favor to him."

"I'm sure whoever has those orders will get it done."

"But what about the Taliban that took her? He knows something is going on."

"He'll have to be killed. How long does that sedative you gave him last?"

"We still have a few hours before he wakes up," the second man replied.

"He's running out of moves. The bastard's been lucky for too long," the first replied as a light began flashing on the control deck.

"What is it?"

"It says there's an oxygen leak."

"How can that be?"

The fire alarm went off and the tall man threw open the door. He screamed then fell back, his suit becoming stained with crimson as he fell to the floor. A long shaft stuck out from his chest with a piece of paper stuffed in the opposite end and Jupitarian characters written on it.

"Vicious," the man growled as he gazed down at his companion's corpse. The fire in the back ravaged the supplies, hungrily making its way to the fuel tank as the internal temperature of the ship rose to an unbearable height. "Damn you!!"

Down on the streets of Jupiter, the ship's explosion looked like a high altitude fireworks display with the atmosphere around the explosion lighting up with bright colors. Then came the metallic rain, showering shards of the ship and everything it carried down to the streets below. Pheonix shielded his eyes as he gazed up at the sky.

"I can bet who that was," he commented and Rei looked at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"That was Vicious' calling card. He's extremely deadly when it comes to you. I just hope I'll be a good enough match for my opponent."

"What opponent?"

"The guy that's going to try to kill you."

"Why do people want to kill me so much? Even my own father wanted me dead. Why? What did I do that was so bad?"

"In each event, you were a victim of circumstances. In Vicious' case, your fault is loving him. Watch it."

He pushed her to the ground, just as something shot overhead. Pheonix sprang up as he searched the area for her potential murderer.

"Oh come now, I'm not about to take a cheap shot," a voice hissed.

"Don't try anything," Pheonix warned and the voice laughed.

"I won't. At least not yet. I'd like Vicious to witness the final blow."

The Taliban bared his fangs as he held out his hand for Rei to take. She did and stood up, sensing his agitation although she could not hear it.

"What is it?" Rei asked and he shook his head.

"Nothing. I don't want you to worry," he said and began walking. That guy is fast, he thought as he took out a cigarette. He's faster than me. What advantage do I have? Brains? Flexibility? Strength? I sure as hell don't have a stealth advantage because I barely dodged that warning shot. Damn. Someone definitely wants to kill her this time.

"Would you tell me what you're thinking?" Rei asked and Pheonix glanced at her.

"I willingly had my thoughts blocked for a reason," he replied.

"You mean...?"

"I visited an experimental lab on my accord. I did not want my mind subjected to cerebral scans. Mind probes in a simpler language."

"Why would anyone want to do that?"

"Because I've got a lot of contacts and information certain people would love to have and they'd go to extreme measures to get it."

"Like who?"

"Well some of my clients have not been exactly reputable so the police would have an interest in what I know."

"But they wouldn't probe you."

"The police can be pretty rough when they want to be. Ask Spike Spiegal's friend Jett. He used to be a cop."

"Where are we going now?"

"I don't know. There's no point in hiding you. He'll find you when he wants to."

Rei said nothing as she crossed her arms over her chest. Vicious was coming and he was enraged. Pheonix winced in pain as he laid a hand on his ear.

"Don't yell. I've got sensitive ears. I'll give you the location but be careful. Someone's out here...waiting," Pheonix said.

"Where is he?" Rei asked.

"On his way. I bet that's just the way he wants it, too."

"Vicious?"

"No."

She fell silent as Pheonix tried to locate the invisible enemy. He was severely doubting his senses and he needed something to reassure himself. He saw a flicker of something in the dim street light and he grinned. He hadn't lost everything. He knew exactly where his opponent was.

*********************************************

Vicious approached her, wary like Pheonix had suggested. Pheonix suddenly brought a hand to his neck and drew it away. What had hit him? He hadn't felt anything and he hadn't heard anything. Rei ran up to Vicious and embraced him. He gently touched her shoulders as she leaned closer to him. He cherished her warmth as she ran her hand underneath his chin.

She was about to kiss him when suddenly, she snapped back in shock as an unidentified object pierced her skin. Blood stained the front of her clothes and Vicious watched in slow motion as her face expressed a mixture of confusion, terror, and death. He was losing her and there wasn't anything he could do about it. He ran a finger through her aqua hair for a moment then embraced her as he tried to savor what life was still left within her body.

Rei, he thought and she watched him with dying eyes. I can't save you.

"I know you can't but thank you for everything. I'm...thankful for the time I spent with you. I'm glad I got to know...your...true self..." she gasped and Vicious eyes hardened.

I do love you, he thought then smiled slightly. It's more difficult to say it than it is to think it. I would have liked our time to be more but it didn't work out that way. Don't worry, though. I'll be fine. I'll be damned if I let them beat me like this.

He watched the flame of life flash from her eyes and stared at her. He had seen death so many times before but why was it so hard to let her go? He let her body fall from his grasp as he allowed his trademark self take control of his emotions.

"Come on. I know you're alive," Vicious said darkly and Pheonix shook convulsively.

"What the hell...? Damn it! I couldn't protect another one," he said and Vicious looked at him.

"She wasn't yours to save."

"I know, but I know the feeling of loss."

"What are you talking about?"

"You cared for her. I was that way once before I erased such feelings from my mind."

"I see. So that's why she couldn't hear you."

"Are you just going to leave her there?"

"No. Sanders take her away."

The doctor appeared in a lab coat and sprayed something onto Rei's body. He then signaled for an assistant and together they picked Rei's body up and carried her off.

"I'm afraid I don't give up too easily," Vicious said.

"What's that's supposed to mean?" Pheonix asked.

"You should see in a few months. That is, if you want to stay around for that long."

"Tempting. Why don't I get back to you on that?"

"All right. Let's get back to my office and I'll pay you."

"When did you get another office?"

"I've always had more than one office. Now come on."

"What are you going to do with her body?"

"You'll see. Come on and collect your pay. This adventure is over."

Pheonix followed him fully aware of the stone cold glare of the basilisk in front of him. Perhaps his loss was the best for everyone. At least he was once again acting like the demon spawn he was known as. Things were certainly getting back to normal and perhaps...perhaps the syndicate would be truly ruthless again.