Title: Space Cowboys 5/?

AN: Thank you yellowhorde, Liz (I am so unworthy *bows*) for your replies. Anyway, on with the show.

Warnings/ Pairings: Language, violence (Knives/Legato)

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I don’t own Cowboy Bebop nor Trigun, so don’t sue.

 

“Mars?!” 

 

Wolfwood nearly lost control of the vehicle for the thirteenth time. “Where the hell is that?” Guttering and growling filled the hot silence.

 

“Mars. You know, the Red Planet...?” Spike however received two aloof stares.

 

A heavy chord struck in Vash’s gut. “Earth?!” Sweat dripped down the side of his face as last setting sun disappeared over the horizon.

 

Spike nodded hesitantly. “...Yeah...Earth.” He frowned. “You’ve heard of Earth?”

 

“Yeah...someone...once told me about it.” Familiar pains creaked deep within. 

 

“...and yet you’ve never heard of Mars?” Vash shook his head; a fluff ball brushed inside the Typhoon’s ribcage. This man knew of Earth. And if the legendary planet was true, if Earth actually existed  then--

“Well, no offense Mr. Stampede but I really need the money for your head.”  Spike withdrew his gun pointing it dead at the blonde’s face.

 

Without a hint, the jeep lunged forward sending Spike on the floor and Ed following after him while Vash laid tangled amongst his gnarly limbs. 

 

Wolfwood swore out loud, slapped the steering wheel and began twisting the keys. The engine whinnied, coughed, whinnied, coughed, whinnied, then fainted. “Piece of shit! This CAN’T happen now...” Wolfwood seethed as he climbed down from the driver’s seat. The desert sky was a sweet, deep blue blanketing the sand, and the air smelled dry and warm.  Popping the hood, he immediately began checking for the problem. Swearing and cursing ten times and again, Wolfwood tinkered like a mad scientist with the complexities.

 

“...That guy’s a priest, right?”

 

He leaned back, flipping the sweat off his forehead with a single palm. “No goddamned idea. Just up and dies.”

 

Something churned in his iron will--made him want to get out the tool box, fix the problem, and get back on track as soon as possible. But one could not fix something that was not broken--technically.  He sighed, scratching the back of his head. “Alright, Vash. Get the blankets.”

 

~~~~

 

Huddled around the fire Ed, Spike Vash and Nick sat, sipping instant tea. Luckily, their jeep had been well supplied with necessities: blankets, canteens, and food ration packs.

 

Vash sat in between Ed and Spike, crunching on a loud granola bar. “So, tell me more about Earth...” He focused on teenage hack.

 

“Oh yes! Ed’s home planet in fact! Earth is big, and blue if you look at it from outer space.” Ed sat with her legs folded up to her chest, rocking back and forth from her butt to her toes. “Lots of people. All different shapes and sizes. And big cities! With paved roads, puppies and kitties!”

 

“...Ed...” Spike’s eyebrow twitched in slight annoyance. Here he was, knowing nothing about these strangers and Ed was blabbing every single piece of information her brain could generate.

 

“Oceans, rivers, water! Wa~vy!” She wiggled her arms like funky waves.  “And rain! especially during the hotter seasons. The sky gets all gray. BOOM! ZAP! Lightning! Thu~n-dar!” Ed bellowed.

 

“...Ed,” Spike massaged his temples.

 

“Jet-person always says,” she placed her hands on her hips and made her voice low, “‘Nothing good ever comes from earth.’” Vash gazed in awe as he listened. “And Earth is the main planet for space craft manufacturing.” Her explanations sounded like a car salesman’s pitch.

 

“Space ships?”  Wolfwood embraced his tea with both, sandy hands.

 

Her wild head flopped up and down. “Uh huh! MONO crafts! All sorts of shapes and sizes--”

 

“ED!” Spike stared down at the swirling tea, a little too wary of what might really be in the cup. “That’s enough...” Buttoning her lip, she pouted and sat back. “Our business, or what we have left of it anyway,” he gave Ed a menacing look, “isn’t all that important.”  

 

Setting his cup down beside him, Vash smiled. “Aw come on now. We’re friends here--”

 

“Speak for yourself...” Wolfwood interrupted briefly, not looking at the three as he drank heavily.   

 

Gazing up, Spike sighed at the skies. Being back on the Bebop right now seemed so much better than on some spent unknown rock with spent, unknown weirdoes. A sixty billion wulong bounty certainly did have its challenges. If one was willing to be stranded and thrown to the harsh winds and wilds of this place, he or she definitely deserved something in return.

 

Ed giggled as Vash played ‘This Little Piggy’ with each of her toes. Spike grunted. “Uhm, Ed. Don’t you think it’s getting a little late?” She just looked at him perplexed. Jerking his head to the right, he made his signal nice and clear.

 

“Oh...okay...” she hung her head and stood up. “Ed says goodnight!” A quick hug around the boys’ necks and she was off to curl up in the confines of their vehicle. 

 

A stillness settled over them for a minute. Lighting up a cigarette, Nick let out a long white curl. “Cute kid...she yours?” Spike started, nearly choking on his drink. “Hah, calm down. Just joking...” He took another puff. “So...enjoying yourself here on Gunsmoke?”  Spike itched, watching that delicious cigarette dwindle bit by bit. As if the priest were sensing the man’s distress he pulled out his pack. “Want one?”

 

He was silent, not wanting to give in to this asshole...but dammit this was a matter of life and death. “Christ, yes!” And  in less than a few seconds Spike felt sweet, warm nicotine fill his lungs once again. “As for being happy here, to put it nicely...fuck no.” The three laughed. “This place sucks.”

 

He sipped deeply from the filter, its hot end glowing brighter than the fire. “Ed seems to really like it here though.”

 

Wolfwood stretched his long legs and replied, “Eh, she’s just like that. Been a lot of places, loves them all. She’s a real nomad.” He tilted his head up to the sky. “I’ve known kids like that. Some of ‘em were the ultimate pioneers. “They were always into stuff. Always picking locks, snooping in stuff, totally crazy and goofy.” Spike smiled, raising his sweaty brow in agreement. 

 

Vash scratched scalp, a desolate look plaguing his handsome features. “I...I just don’t understand...” The other two glanced over at the Humanoid Typhoon. “Rem said...Earth was destroyed a long, long time ago. Said its resources were depleted, that the planet was falling apart. And yet, Ed talks about it like some big amusement park.

 

The bounty hunter shrugged. “Don’t really know what to tell you. Been there, seen it. Turned in a head from Earth three months ago actually. ”

 

“I mean,” he gazed at his boots rather sadly, “Earth doesn’t exist in this time. Yet you guys just drop in like it’s  right next door.”

 

Spike puckered his lips, puffing out a heavy white string, “Actually, we got here through a warp gate from the Jupiter sector.” He smirked, “Saw your bounty on some covered files and me and Ed decided to come get you....” Taking another drag, Spike hunched forward, watching the tiny grains of sand trickle over themselves.  “Unfortunately, our ship’s busted, it doesn’t look like they sell any crafts here, and only God knows where a  radio station might be.”

 

Cold whispering tickled the backs of their necks as the winds picked up, making the fire bounce. Vash straightened significantly, “Have you ever seen...a strange man...since you’ve been here?”

 

Spike chuckled, “I haven’t seen a regular man once in my life.”

 

Vash kept serious, “I really mean it. He’s got blue hair, rather quiet.”

 

Spike talked around the cigarette at his lips, “Gold eyes...?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

Wolfwood peeked an eye over to the dusty darkness outside their campfire. Something tittered and moved away. Shadows never did sit well in Wolfwood’s stomach, and he draped a hand over his comforting Punisher which lay slightly submerged in the sand. Paying less attention to the conversation at hand, Wolfwood focused all of his senses out, sight mostly, but his hearing kicked in too. At first there was nothing. Just the low pitch whistling of the wind sand in his dry ears. Then it came, like a faint tickle on the hairs of his arms. Sizzling notes mixed with the much louder roar of the desert winds made him listen. The sound of something a little familiar.

 

“Wolfwood?”

 

“Huh?” He turned around. Vash and Spike looked a little warily at the priest. “Oh it’s nothing, Just...thinking.” He tossed his smoldering cigarette in the convenient, never ending ashtray and stood to go sleep in the truck. Clearing his throat, Wolfwood said, “Well, Spike. Until we get that jeep up and running again, I doubt poaching Needle-Noggin over there will do you much good.”

 

Spike wanted to kick him in the teeth. And yet, he knew the taller guy was right. Extinguishing his smoke, he tossed it over one shoulder. Suspiciously, he watched as Nick sauntered back.

 

“Don’t worry, she’s safe. Nick would rather slit his own throat open than hurt a child.” Spike’s shoulders fell lax. Vash looked over at him and they made eye contact. That was all--but there was something much deeper, something alive there. Vash stared and stared, making Spike uncomfortable. In the next second, Spike was on his back looking at Vash who was absorbed with the bounty hunter. “I knew it! Your eyes are different colors.”  He continued to stare, chocolate and caramel irises each speaking with the Typhoon’s own aqua blues.

 

“Hey! Do ya mind?!” Struggling to remove himself from the pin, Spike found it frightfully difficult. Impossible actually.  Pushing on the red-clad shoulders and torso, Vash might has well have been a two thousand pound statue. 

 

“Oh! Sorry...” he squeaked, springing up from the ground.  The stars twinkled over head, billions of them. All of them suspended in black-blue ink. Vash gazed at them, wishing he could live among them, free, without being  hunted.  “Ever wonder what it’s like to be like them?”

 

“A hot, gigantic ball of gas? Yeah, now that you mention it...”

 

They chuckled. “No seriously. I’ve only been in outer space once. That was...a long time ago. And...” Vash twiddled his thumbs shyly, eyes drooping.  “You come from there. Your world sounds so much better than this one. People here are so cold. Their hearts are....drier than the very sand we sit upon tonight.”

 

Spike shook his head, “Well....don’t get your hopes up. Folks aren’t too much different on my side of town either.” A softness, as strange as he found it to be, had neatly come over him. It was as if he had let his guard down around the blond man, despite the fact that he knew it was entirely perilous. It was as if he was conversing with a lonely child.

 

Vash smiled sadly and gazed at the jeep. “She’s so wonderful. Ed. I mean, I love how she laughs, her smile--”

 

Spike stood up, his lean figure reaching to the stars. “Yeah, it’s much better than that fake one you wear all the time.” Grunting softly, muscles stretched, Spike looked over at the bounty head. “You wanna see Earth for yourself, huh?”  Vash blushed and turned his head away.  “Get me off this dust bowl and we just might see...” He said as he headed back to the broken van.   

 

~~~~

 

Ed’s eyes peeked open. The dark van was comfortably hot, and she could make out two figures sleeping. Crawling out quietly, the hacker caught Spike napping on his side by the burning embers. Pulling the blanket up, she curled next to him. His strong lean frame formed a barrier against the harsh, sand winds; she felt safe and tranquil. 

 

“Can’t sleep?”

 

“...” The popping, remains of the blaze shined against her golden eyes. “...Ed...had a bad dream....”

 

Spike hummed. “Wanna talk about it?”  Ed had already bothered lunk-head enough with this whole fiasco. Why would he ask to hear about Ed’s problems. But something inside seemed wrong--even more sinful would it have been to withhold it. As if he had felt her uncertainty, Spike slid his arm around her protectively. “I’m listening.”

 

Hesitating, Edward almost said ‘no.’ But the words started to trickle out like a leaking faucet. “Well...Ed...and Spike-person, and Faye-Faye and Jet-person, we...we were all on earth. Ed can’t remember where it was exactly, but...it was beautiful. There was grass, and trees, and the sky was nice and blue.” She giggled. “There were big fishes in the sky and Ein was there too, chasing them. Faye-Faye and Jet-person were dancing.  And, you were smiling,” Spike’s heart grimaced. Since when did Ed become so seriously emotional? He berated himself though. Ed was a human being, perfectly capable of feeling sorrow and joy and expressing those sensations just as well as the next person. “But...a man came. Ed couldn’t see him too good, but there was something mean. He--he was...cold.” Ed shivered from remembrance although a pleasant burn sat in front of her. “Everything changed. No more pretty grass or trees. No more flying fishies. And then...everybody was gone. Ed tried to call you but you weren’t there. Ed was alone.” She trembled. “It hurt...it hurt Ed so bad. That man...”

 

Spike’s arm tightened around the little girl. His chest swelled and his eyes dare he admit it, grew watery. “Ed...I promise. I won’t leave you.” And he meant it. With every inch of his wretched existence. Spike vowed to Ed and himself that she would not be alone.  “Nothing can take me, or Jet-person, or Faye-Faye and Ein from you. You’re stuck with us.” He smiled and nuzzled her head.

 

“Heehee....” she chuckled lowly. “Thanks lunk-head.” 

 

~~~

 

Spike shot upwards, wearing only his unbuttoned, yellow dress shirt and the loosened black tie around his neck. She was screaming.   “Ed!”  Spike rushed to adjust himself, buttoning his shirt and slipping on his jacket. Making sure his weapon was on his person he stood. “Ed I’m--”

Ed flailed desperately, trying to evade Vash’s infamous tickle torture. “Vash-person, NO! Ed can’t take it anymore!!” she howled loudly. The morning suns were bubbling on the horizon, blurring the distance ahead. Wolfwood was submerged in the mechanics of the truck, shirtless and grunting. Slowly, his heart returned to the normal pace and his adrenaline level tapered.

 

Being slightly educated in the department of vehicles, Spike decided to aid Nick. “Need any help.” Spike removed his jacket again, tossing across the top of the risen hood. Wolfwood contemplated refusing the bounty hunter’s help. But four hands could fix a busted jeep faster than  two, and maybe, just maybe this goon could figure out what was wrong.

 

Standing back, the priest grunted. “Sure.”

 

“So what’s the problem?” The Martian leaned over to scope  the twisting and turning metallic frenzy.

 

“That IS the problem. I can’t find what’s wrong. The transmission is in good condition. The oil is recent. She had a full tank of gas before we left, I’m sure of it.”

 

Spike reached in and started to tinker, “Spark plugs look okay, engine seems pretty rusted though. How old is the thing?” Nick shrugged and Spike stood up. “Welp, if it ain’t under the hood, it’s gotta be underneath.” The undersides of the truck were smothered in grimy, greasy sand. So much was there that Spike couldn’t tell which parts were which. “Hell, the damn thing just might be clogged.”

 

Ed hollered as she rode Vash like a horse. “Faster! Faster!!” Completely indifferent to the sand in his clothes and hair, Vash plodded around in circles on his hands and knees as quickly as he could.  “Heeyaw!” Bouncing around erratically, Edward grappled Vash around his throat using her lanky, brown arms, pulling him down.

 

Vash coughed, dirt filling his eyes and nose. “Ack! Ed!”

 

“Hey Needle-Noggin! Make yourself useful and help us out with this thing!” Nick called.

 

“Aww....” Ed drooped.  Climbing off, Ed stood up to watch the Typhoon slink over to the priest and the hunter. The brilliant morning sky covered their heads, not leaving a single millimeter exposed. Ed bounded after Vash, not wanting to be by herself. She frolicked and played on the miniature dunes by the truck.

 

A bullet whizzed by her ear.

 

In the next second Vash and Nick were covering her. Ed lay face flat in the sand, Nick pressing down on her back with his hand while Vash held his gun near his nose. “Something’s out there.”  Spike scrambled from underneath the truck, withdrawing his weapon. The all crouched together, unsure of the predators lurking about them.

 

“I don’t see anyone...” Spike murmured. But that didn’t satisfy the three. Bullets didn’t just fly by from nowhere.  Ed squirmed, trying to breath and remove her face from the sand, but they ignored her as they prepared themselves for battle.

A lone silhouette  caught Vash’s eye. “There!” The sandy winds died down, and she stepped forward. A tall, thin, beautiful woman sporting a tan trench coat and one eye stared indifferently at the three.  The wind picked up again and one more shuffled from the horizon. Big and burly, the man had to be well over six feet tall. The violet spandex he wore enhanced his muscular tone and he held a mad gaze, with eerie  yellow eyes. Or perhaps the sun made them seem that way.

 

Spike’s coat and tie flapped wildly to the left, “Friends of yours?”

 

“Uh-uh.” Vash shook his head. “But I can guess where they came from...” The large man raised his arm up, wielding an automatic machine gun. “Scatter!” As the stranger opened fire, Vash and Spike rolled in opposite directions and Wolfwood yanked Ed up, dragging her back to the vehicle for cover.   

 

He moved his arm across the desert, bullets pounding the dirt one by one in an invisible flurry; quick sandy  wisps exploded.

 

The woman snapped at her partner. “Monev you idiot! Don’t hit the target!” Pumping his bicep to load a second round, he grinned. “Hush wench. I know what I’m doing.” Sucking between her teeth, Dominique vanished.  Busying the ace gunman, Monev lost track of the bounty hunter which cost him dearly. A bullet slammed into his machinegun-arm, igniting it out of commission. Everything played by the second and before the leviathan could discern what occurred, Spike landed two high kicks to Monev’s face.  Vash decided to let the bounty hunter handle the big guy while he himself would look for the lovely woman.

 

“Hello, Vash the Stampede,” a lilting voice cooed from behind. As he spun around, she held a classic pistol less than an inch from his nose.

 

Nick was fairly tense, clutching his ultimate cross, and Ed whooping and cheering ecstatically didn’t help much either. “Alright!” She laughed, “A shoot out showdown!

 

Raising a dark eyebrow, Wolfwood smiled a bit. “Don’t be so scared. They’re only two crazed maniacs trying to kill us.”  Peeking around the jeep, Wolfwood saw Spike taking down the gigantic mercenary with ease, and that Vash wasn’t fairing so well. “Stay here” he grunted. “Hang on Needle-Noggin.” 

 

Leaving Ed however proved to be a fatal mistake. As soon as Wolfwood was at least twenty feet from the girl, Dominique vanished from their views. Ed, who was watching the two battles squealed in shock when a white, gloved hand covered her mouth. “Gotcha,” she whispered.

 

“Ed!” Vash cried. Two light blurs moved across the sand, one was a brown trench coat, the other a lanky, innocent red-head.

 

Though no one was there, Spike felt the butt of a gun slam into the back of his skull. He stumbled and fell to his knees as the giant made an effort to stand. “Come on Monev, we got her.” Spike blanched. Turning his throbbing head around, he saw a stunned Vash and Wolfwood minus Ed. Turning, Monev retreated with the bodiless voice.

 

It seemed as if his lungs disconnected themselves from his windpipe. Scrambling up to his feet, he skidded down the hill and rushed to the jeep. No Ed. Appearing next to him, Vash rubbed his forehead in frustration and the priest frowned at his feet.  Spike believed he was about to have a seizure. After he had promised  her, swore to her, gave his utmost word that he would never leave her...

 

“Ed...” he croaked.

 

CR: Okay. Viola!

Spike: It’s Voila, stupid...

CR: Eh heh... ^-^;;;

AN: Thanks for reading. Next chapter is soon to come!