Dream or Reality? (Part 3)

[Cowboy_Bebop_Fanatic]

Jet sat in peace, trimming his bonsai tree. His gloved right hand trembled, shaking his pair of pruners. His trims were choppy and left jagged stubs. After a few branches fell, Jet stopped so not to over-prune it and kill his beloved tree.

Jet placed the pruners down and picked up a pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out and lit it. He moved the cigarette to his mouth and puffed it. Visibly upset about the recent events, he stood up and walked throughout the Bebop.

He examined every room as he walked past them. The burdened bounty hunter found Ed and Ein sleeping. Jet scratched his beard and concluded his walk in the cockpit. He fell back into his chair and puffed on the cigarette some more. He blew smoke rings and sat in peaceful bliss. Sleep was gratefully welcomed.


The Red Dragon Head Quarters were under repairs when Faye arrived. Parking a safe distance away, Faye walked to the building through a downpour and felt miserable. She didn't know how to explain it but the depressive thoughts of Spike being dead, seemed to dwindle with every step she took. The problem was, was that the closer she got to the Head Quarters; the more she thought Spike was dead. Her heart tells her one thing, while her brain tells another. A common struggle of the conscience of the human species.

Faye entered the Head Quarters and directed herself to a black-haired woman, chatting on a telephone behind her desk. The woman didn't give much attention to Faye. Faye gave the woman a few more moments to talk on the phone before slamming her hands down on the desk.

"When someone comes up to you to ask a question, you may want to hear it so you can answer it correctly," Faye hissed.

The woman gave her a disapproving look and hung up. A little shocked by
Faye's actions, the woman tried to act smooth and unfazed. The anger in Faye softened and eventually disappeared.

"And what do you want," the woman asked rudely.

"I want information on all causalities from the little incident that happened a few days ago," Faye retorted.

"Ha," the woman laughed. "You strut in here, the Red Dragon Syndicate's HQ, and come in here with that skimpy outfit on. Then you start hitting my desk and made me get off the phone with a very important man to the Red Dragon. All for what? Information about casualties from a few days ago! Don't make me laugh."

Faye suppressed her anger to say, "I see you're a woman that'll want something in return. I'll pay ya. All I need is to know about one person. Is that okay."

"How much do I get?"

"40,000 woolongs now and 260,000 when I get this guy. Only if he's alive, got that?"

"Yeah and you got yourself a deal honey. Now do you have a name or am I going to have to go by personal data?"

"I got a name. It's Spike, Spike Spiegel."

"Good. Now we can get down to business. I'm Nancy Londy. And you are?"

"I'm Faye Valentine."

The two shook hands and discussed briefly each other's past. Red Dragon members passed paying no attention to what Nancy and Faye were doing. Nancy diligently dug up all the information on Spike that she possibly could. She printed the information and gave it to Faye. Faye, in exchange, gave Nancy 40,000 woolongs. Happy that both sides were fair, Nancy went back to work and Faye went back out into the rainy streets of Tharsis to find a dry space to read.


Spike awoke with an itching sensation in his back. He scratched it and discovered a large bump. Oddly enough, there was another large bump located to the left of the first he had found. Puzzled by the discovery, Spike got out of bed and went to the bathroom for a look.

Spike stood in front of a cracked mirror and examined, to the best of his abilities, his back. Spike rolled his fingers over the bumps. He inched closer to his reflection. He stared into his eyes and tried to figure out what was going on.

?Weird,? Spike said.

With an immense burst of speed, Spike punched the mirror, shattering it into hundreds of shards. Most of the glass shards bounced on the floor and broke up even more. A substantial piece was lodged in Spike?s hand. Spike pulled it out and watched as the wound bled profusely. He washed his wound and exited his room. He started to search for the nurse who had kept him here in the shadows of deception.


Jet lied back in his chair, almost asleep, and letting the rest of his third cigarette diminish into a bestial mist. In the darkened cockpit, only the various monitors brought light into the room. Jet eventually fell asleep and was abruptly woken up by an incoming call. Jet looked at the image and noticed it was Faye in the Red Tail.

?Jesus Faye, you look like hell. You better have something good, I was almost asleep.?

?And you think you look good? Even in the dumps, I am still a beautiful woman. A real man would say I look darling or exquisite and would shower me with other complements.?

?Quit your rambling and tell me what?s up Faye.?

?Hmph. You?re so rude Jet. I don?t see why I don?t search for Spike by myself.?

?You are searching for Spike by yourself! Now damnit Faye, either tell me what you have or let me sleep!?

?Fine,? Faye said and shoved a document on to the communicator screen. ?Read this.?

Jet read over the paper. It was an obituary. Jet scanned over it some more until he found Spike?s name.

Spiegel
Loved by all, missed by all. Spike Spiegel was confirmed dead after attempting to blow up a respectful organization yesterday. Services will be held tomorrow at Smith?s funeral home, in Tharsis, all day.

?That?s odd. That?s not even a decent obituary. Where did you dig this up from Faye? I?ve seen six-year-olds do better than that,? Jet stated.

?Not just that but the info is wrong. The last time I checked, the Red Dragon Syndicate did not get the award of one of the most respected organization of the year award. They were feared, not respected.?

?Good point Faye but we?re going to need more than a false obituary to find Spike. You got anything else??

?Yeah. Here?s something that?s really interesting.?

Jet examined the second paper. It happened to be a hospital record of Spike and latest entry was a few days ago.

Spiegel, Spike
Treated by: Doctor Hans Flo
Treated for gun shot wounds and a massive laceration in the abdominal area. Patient was in critical condition. Though we were able to treat the abdominal wounds, there still was a constant internal bleeding, which we could not stop. We transported him to another hospital but during the transport Ms. Coleen Buler abducted him.

?Okay Faye. I gotta ask you something,? Jet said and lit another cigarette.

?What, you don?t trust my connections? You think a woman can?t do things on her own? Jet, I know you think I?m just grasping for anything but I??

?Faye, I had to ask. You give me this hopeful info and I have no idea where you got it from. I?m not saying it?s false, I just want to know if you, in your heart, believe it?s true??

?Yes,? Faye said confidently. ?Here?s a little bit more. The nurse was last spotted going in and out of an abandoned hospital on the northern outskirts of Tharsis. And guess what? Little Miss Buler has a bounty of one million woolongs on her head for malpractice.?

?Killing two birds with one stone,? Jet said. ?I?ll be there in a little bit, Faye.?

?Thanks Jet,? Faye said. ?Thank you for still believing.?


The crowded halls were no more. Spike cautiously stepped towards the stairs. As he reached them, Spike eyed a camera, which was pocketed in the corner of the ceiling and walls. The camera, at the sight of Spike, sent an electronic message to Coleen, who was on the computer at the time. It also sounded an alarm, which triggered an immediate shut down of every path on the first, second, and third floors. Sensing the danger ahead, Spike darted down the stairs.

Upon reaching the third floor, he was abruptly stopped by a metallic door. A keypad rested one the left side of the door. A green glow came from each individual button. Spike cracked his knuckles and randomly typed buttons, continually hoping that one set would contain the necessary combination.


Ordering a decent amount of tranquilizer darts and morphine, Coleen rapidly finished her business and grinned sinisterly. She pushed herself away from her desk and grabbed the tranquilizer and three darts. Coleen returned to her computer and brought up the security lock screen. She punched in the password and the hospital returned to its normal state, vacant and silent. After the deactivation, Coleen raced to the stairs, worrying that she might lose Spike.


Shocked by the doors rising, Spike ran down the stairs. Still unaware of why he was here, Spike hurried his pace. As he reached the second floor, he turned to his right and crashed into Coleen. Coleen fell down half a story of stairs, while Spike only fell backwards. The spare darts fell out of Coleen?s pocket and eventually landed beside her. Although partially dazed, Coleen quickly stood up and aimed at Spike?s chest.

?Don?t move my love,? Coleen said. ?This relationship was meant to be. Fate brought us here, and it?ll keep you with me until we die!?

?Who the hell are you and what are you doing??

?It?s me Spike, Coleen Buler. I was the nurse who took care of you. Don?t you remember??

?No,? Spike simply stated.

Coleen briefly explained what had happened up to where they stood at that very moment. Spike peered down the stairs and tired to locate another exit. Unfortunately there was only one and Coleen was blocking it.

?I thought we would live together and have children of our own. Spike, I will not let you leave!?

Coleen shot the tranquilizer. Spike jumped to the right and barely avoided the dart. He landed on his side and knocked the wind out of himself. Coleen reloaded the tranquilizer, pocketed the final one, and ran up the stairs.

?I must confess. I had made love with you while you were unconscious. I did it with you a few times. Even though you did not interact with me, your warmth and presence was enough to satisfy me. But now I need more. I want you, now!?

Coleen turned the corner to face Spike?s fist. Coleen flew backwards and pulled the trigger. The dart zipped past Spike?s shoulder and jammed itself into the wall. Taking advantage of the open opportunity, Spike fled down stairs as fast as he possibly could. He reached the midway point of the second and first floor, when a dart stuck into his leg. He turned around in time to see Coleen, holding her face, and walking down the stairs.

Coleen slowly approached Spike. She had won but barely. She dragged Spike up the stairs. Oblivious of her surroundings, Coleen did not see the nearing person from the steps below.

?Let him go,? the person said.

Coleen looked away from Spike, to see that a barrel of a gun was pointing at her forehead. Her gaze shifted from the gun to the holder. The holder?s eyes burned with anger, and swift vengeance was obtainable by the pull of the trigger.

?Who are you,? Coleen asked. ?Can?t you see my soul mate and I are exploring new opportunities? And we don?t need your help.?

?I didn?t know Spike still had a soul mate and you, Coleen, were his. By the way, my name?s Faye Valentine and I want you to let go of Spike.?

Coleen gently placed Spike down and moved away from Faye. Coleen tried to escape and ran up the stairs. Faye shot her in the leg. Blood spurted from the orifice as Coleen fell. Moments later Jet appeared and carried Spike to the Red Tail. Faye followed closely behind holding Coleen.
?I called the police. They should be here soon enough,? Jet said placing Spike into the Red Tail. ?Go take Spike back to the Bebop, I?ll watch her.?

Faye?s emerald eyes shimmered with joy as she hopped into the Red Tail. She started the engine and waited for Jet had himself and Coleen far enough away. When Jet and Faye made eye contact, Faye mouthed the words ?Thank you? ad took off, straight for the Bebop.

A few hours passed, as Faye anxiously waited for Spike to wake up. Faye kneeled on the floor beside the couch, where Spike lied. She had her fingers intertwined with Spike?s and whispered miscellaneous things into his hands. From that position, Spike wakes up to see Faye.

?Faye, is that you??

?Yeah Spike, it?s me. I know I look like hell but all women have a bad day. It looks like today is that day,? Faye said and laughed.

?Then today?s gotta be the worse day of your life Faye. You look really bad.?

The two laughed full heartily and Faye moved closer to Spike. Unaware of this move Spike continued to laugh. Faye eventually reached Spike?s face. She moved her hand across his face. Spike opens his eyes and turned to Faye. He leaned forward and Faye done the same. They kissed. Their lips pressed together, spilling all of their emotions into that kiss. They stopped and gazed into each other?s eyes.

Faye leaned over and whispered, ?I love you, Spike.?

Easy Come, Easy Go

[Kanya Barton]

Wow, that was good. You cut right to the chase there. Awesome, I hate it when writers go through all this shit to comeup with something that can be summed up in three words..."I love you." How romantic! Great, great, humongously great job!

[dark-angel]

everything Kanya says is true please write a sequel please

[elyra-chan]

Good job! This ending was perfect for your story. Keep writing!