StarFox Adventures: In Cold Blood Chapter 1: Repeat, a star fox fanfic

Star Fox Adventures: In Cold Blood

Descrip:

It's not easy saving the galaxy, especially when previous rescuees can't stay away from trouble. When the Star Fox team decides to take a well earned break to visit some old friends, they run into more than they had expected. They treck to dinosaur planet only to see a planet covered in black clouds with the all to familiar chunks of land orbiting a few miles above its surface. They land to find there are no dinosaurs to be seen, Thorntail Hollow is overrun in trees, vines and other greenery but void of other life. Where did they all go, they couldn't possibly have vanished. They then come upon a mysterious, but beautiful vixen who tells them the planet is in danger and offers her assistance. Krystal suspects this strange vixens appearance, especially on Dinosaur Planet, but when she brings it up, they shrug her off as jealous. How will Krystal uncover the secrets that she believes are hidden beneath this furry females striking appearance. Can she do this before it's too late, because there is something unnervingly familiar about her, and her attire.

Rated: M-Violence, Language, Nudity

Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama

Section: Video Games, Star Fox Adventures

Authoress's Note

Star Fox Adventures was the first GC game I got, and I adored every minute of it. I can't tell you whether it was the story line, the amazing graphics (from what I was used to), or the fact that I've been completely obsessed with dinosaurs since I was a wee one and still am...but who knows. So, I wrote my own story, I really hope it's likeable and it gets ratings. I honestly like comments more than favorites, because faving my story doesn't tell me anything except you like it. Please tell me why or why not.

As such I must explain, when I do video game fic's I like to make the distances longer. Take Zelda OOT for example, though you can have Link across Hyrule Field in a mere five minutes, that makes the land seem small and insignificant, no bigger than my home town. In those, it tends to take at least a day to travel from Hyrule Town to Lon Lon Ranch, so don't be surprised if distances are increased beyond video game limits in my fiction.

Repeat

The feeling was divided among the members of the Star Fox team, but the majority of those divided opinions landed on excitement. It was rather past the time needed for a break, but they were grateful for it none the less. Fox couldn't remember the last time a mercenary wasn't needed one way or another and the endless work didn't always add up to the payment he received.

Though it was true, none of them (including himself) expected him to want to vacation to Dinosaur planet.

How long had it been? At least ten years since he'd visited the prehistoric planet, his last visit not exactly the type that would lead to the assumption of him wanting to visit again. Fox hadn't exactly felt the pay had been all worth the trip, of course, he contented that Krystal joining the team was pay enough. But they all knew that no matter how much he felt attracted to the vixen, he was attracted to money just barely less than her.

Dinosaur Planet, inhabited by the giant beasts, hadn't exactly been the most welcoming of challenges. With none of his usual weaponry behind him, Fox hadn't been really convinced that a skinny piece of metal with powers would be helpful to him on the quest to save the planet from the monstrous General Scales. But Krystal's staff had proved more effective than he had at first credited, but it was just as much a quest to gain it's full power as it was to save the planet from falling apart.

He also hadn't been extremely thrilled to find that not only did he have to replace the spell stones to their holding places, he also had to return the Krazoa Spirits to the palace to free Krystal and finish the task of saving the dinosaurs. Fox was far more accustomed to blasting his enemies heads off with some sort of gun that shot some sort of explosive like ammo out of it. Not running for his life from a giant redeye who's only goal was to eat him like a snack.

If all that wasn't enough, having to pick a fight yet again with Andross hadn't been on the top of his to-do list.

So why return to the planet that caused him so much grief.

Fox wouldn't admit it, but he rather missed the ancient serenity of the place, (that is, the ancient serenity that it had when he wasn't being chased by sharpclaw) and even that pesky little prince had rather grown on him in a way he didn't care to describe. The ocean had been nice, Thorntail Hollow had been as well, in fact, all the places had been and most likely would be twice as nice when they were carnivore free.

He figured that was the only explanation and told the team he didn't bother to explain anything else, that they were going to Dinosaur Planet and that was the end of it.

And even know, he could hardly restrain his excitement as the map showed them approaching the planet ever so closer. Maybe an hour at the most, and they would be there, only that long.

He looked around at his team, either they had no care in the world about this soon coming vacation, or were skilled in the art of hiding their excitement as well. Slippy was mindlessly tinkering with Robs controlls, while Falco shamelessly flirted with Krystal (who much to Fox's relief, seemed very uninterested in Falco's attempts, none the less Fox sent a warning look to Falco who shrugged sheepishly.)

Peppy looked a little more excited for the trip than the others, he was reviewing the maps Fox had gained on the planet and adding details Fox could not decipher from his sitting point. Turning back to his navigation system, he was surprised to see they were closer than just a few moments ago.

'Well duh...' he thought to himself and shook his head at his dull-headed excitement.

Looking out the wide window, he could see the small outline of the planet in the distance, from here, he couldn't make out much, but it almost looked like there might be a storm on the surface, it was too far to tell but there seemed to be a few clouds covering the planet.

He turned to his small computer and exited from his navigation view to log in the time and location for General Pepper since he wanted to know precisely when Fox's vacation began and when it ended.

'So he knows how much to scold me.'

Fox's guess had been as good as gold to him, usually the general was very picky on this sort of thing and didn't like breaks that took out of what he thought was well needed merc time. It didn't really matter to Fox, it was the general's fault he had trekked to Dinosaur Planet in the first place, if he hadn't, he might not have grown to like it and might've been vacationing on a more modern planet with fast food and markets.

Not this time though, it was time for a more exotic getaway, and Dinosaur Planet was the ideal place for such. Both remote and exotic, just a bunch of dinosaurs who really cared less if you walked around in the most outrageous of clothing to nothing at all. But it made a lot of sense, since they were dinosaurs. Surely if you were naked all the time too, there could be no room for embarrassment.

Fox thought of that and found his mind wandering shamelessly to the beautiful blue vixen across the room from him. What he wouldn't give to stay in that sort of environment with her alone.

He realized his thoughts had wandered and quickly returned to entering his log before saving and returning to navigation.

'20 minutes.' He smiled and watched the small circle in the distance slowly grow larger with each passing moment.

It wasn't right, it wasn't right at all.

"What happened here..." Fox said, more to himself than to anyone else that was crowded around him looking out the window all hosting the same shocked expressions.

The scene before them was certainly not what you'd expect after Fox's last visit.

The planet looked hardly different from the first time, it was falling apart. Chunks of land, possibly more numerable than before, orbited just outside the planets gravity field. Where you would have seen huge chasms on the main planet, nothing could be seen. The planet was covered in thick black clouds that lit up with the occasional bolt of lightning streaking through them.

It wasn't right.

They couldn't even get a signal in through the thick storm, it was interfering and looked just as impenetrable as a stone wall did to a bicycle. There was something terribly wrong with this picture, the planet shouldn't be falling apart again. A distress signal hadn't even been sent.

Yes, something was terribly wrong.

The transmitter crackled, "Fox I–oh..." General Pepper's large head surveyed the view they all had only turned away from because of the General's sudden appearance. "I see...you've already found out."

Fox blinked a little confused, and looking at his companions he could tell they were a bit perplexed at the Pepper's words as well.

"Already found out what General?" Fox asked, prodding out what the General must have intended to tell them when he appeared.

Pepper sighed, "You see it behind you...Dinosaur Planet's appearance is not how you left it back then."

His voice irritated Fox's sensitive hearing, it wasn't the usual annoyingly commanding voice that the Pepper tended to deem the best 'General' voice. His words were obviously forced and he had a paranoid edge to it that Fox picked up easily.

"Yeah, I see it." Fox pressed again.

Fox thought he probably should have given credit to the other members seeing the disaster as well, but he bypassed their presence for the moment as he really needed to hear what the General had to say so this wasn't really the time for polite chitchat, the image engraved into his brain that he knew was right behind him was a very pressing matter.

General Pepper sighed again, even more forlorn than before, "Dinosaur Planet isn't under the best of terms...quite literally, it's under the whether in more ways than one."

Fox couldn't help but sigh irritably, count on the General to state the obvious.

General looked up, "We received a distress call from the planet only an hour ago, our translators have been down so we just finished translating it ten minutes ago. It wasn't pretty, it didn't make as much sense as would have been liked but we were able to make out that there was some sort of conflict behind the voice-" he paused, whether for effect or just to think out his reply, before continuing "–a war...there was a battle of some sort at the time the message was sent to our mission base."

The group all murmured warily, Fox looked into the General's deep set eyes which suddenly looked tired and distraught.

"A battle huh? So you want us to go down there, break up the fight and sort things out...shouldn't be a problem, no reason to be worked up over a little tantrum between kids then right?" Fox asked, but when the General didn't even bat an eye in amusement to Fox's sarcastic throw with humor, he felt less assured by his own words than before.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple Fox." Pepper's eyes looked back toward the planet with a distant expression, "We track the dates on the message, we received it today but...it was sent to us exactly 10 years ago."

It had been awhile since Fox had been at loss for some sarcastic or jokingly disrespectful comeback. His chin would have gladly rolled to the floor at that moment until the General spoke again.

"Yes Fox, after you saved it...to be exact, this signal was sent only five days after you departed the planet." Pepper looked back at the team, "something was missed, bypassed...whatever it was, it was a crucial task in preserving the planets safety–no–Fox, we all missed it, we all should have seen it but it's too late to lie pitifully in remorse, you know what your choices are–Pepper Out"

The image disappeared as abruptly as it had come, this only increased the earsplitting silence. Only the buzz of the computers penetrated it, not even a breath betrayed the absence of noise.

Fox's chin returned to his face as he gritted his teeth in anger, this was not what he had wanted to hear, he didn't like the idea that he had failed at a mission in some way or another. His usual motives had switched from his merc antics to a thirst for revenge. There were people–or dinosaurs–on that planet that were his friends through thick and thin, and there was no way he was going to turn this challenge down.

Money, for once, was the last thing on his mind.

"Crew, saddle up–we have a mission and whatever we're up against damn well better have done his homework because I am ready to kick some ass!"

The crew was snap to it faster than before, Slippy set about checking the Arwing's and preparing the miniature battle ships for flight to the planets surface. They would all be going this time...minus ROB who admitted he'd rather and keep watch on the ship. Although Fox normally might've wished for a slightly more capable robot, he found himself realizing he'd trust ROB with his life and agreed to the terms.

While the other's were doing work, Krystal found Fox staring out the window. His expression was controlled and serious, but she could see the intense worry in his eyes as they seemed to be trying to pierce the black clouds.

"Fox, it's going to be alright, we'll save or avenge whomever we must...but you can't just loose hope." She spoke soothingly in her strangely British accent.

Fox sighed and smiled at her, "I know that...I just wished I'd known...that I'd realized there was something missing–I just don't know what–"

"Fox, Fox–it's alright, we'll sort it out, there is no sense in worrying on what can't be undone–we have to worry about what's to be done, the future we can influence."

Fox couldn't suppress a light grin. Her cliche lines, though rather cheesy they were, never failed to reassure him and put a smile on his face.

"Alright Krystal, then lets get down there and clean up this mess."

She smiled, glad her words could help, and they both disappeared through the doors leading to the take-off pad.

It went by a lot faster than was anticipated, they were hovering above the dark clouds slowly and cautiously descending through them. When they broke the cover, they were in Thorntail Hollow, which was shear luck considering it was nigh impossible to track down in the whether.

But it was empty, void of the usual gentle thorntail's, eating peacefully in the grassy clearing even during a storm. That was odd, though the menacing thunder was a enough to make Fox feel that he would be under cover right now as well. But where such large herbivores could hide in the open and spacious area was beyond him. They would only pack the small space where Tricky's mother once rested, even then there was no covering. And the mother in the cave by the Warp Stone was probably not to keen to share her families space with a herd of lumbering beasts. It could be they were hidden in the caves scattered around that Fox had uncovered on his last mission.

But would they have even had the brain to notice? Fox still couldn't even imagine this storm bothering them unless just the tiniest bit. But not enough for all of them to abandon this peaceful area.

Now that he looked at it, that seemed to be exactly what had happened. Why, it seemed as if the hollow hadn't even been tread on for a few months at least if not more. The grass had grown exceedingly high and it was easier to see now that the ship had landed, the grass nearly reached the cockpit window. It was a task just to find the foot holds to climb down, though the grass that had been soft enough when it was only a couple inches off the ground would have probably cushioned the fall just as well if not better at it's current height.

Krystal quickly solved the problem with a swipe of her staff that in the same instant emitted a slashing flash of light, the grass within a ten feet radius from where she swung was eliminated to only knee height. Following her and a few more rounds of this, they were able to create a pathway to the pond and the dusty path that wound nearby it.

After checking thoroughly, they concluded that the queen was nowhere range of them. Fox finally decided it was time they consult the Warp Stone. Perhaps he'd have a better knowledge of where the thorntail's had disappeared to. As they crossed the stretch of the hollow, they were surprised at the growth rate things had taken on there. The already vine covered walls had been double–even triple coated with the, now flowering, vines. Small tree's grew on the ridge of the wall as well, this made it impossible to see what was beyond the wall, and for some reason this irritated Fox.

"Perhaps I should go in...by myself." He said quietly.

The crew looked at him, their expressions perplexed and wondering. But one decided look from him and they all backed down.

"Don't be too long Fox, we wouldn't want to waste our lovely vacation." Krystal said, though her words were meant to be mere playful banter, he could hear her worry.

"I'll be fine."

As he walked up the hill to the hole, that he himself so unceremoniously blew open during his last visitation, he was aware of the pain that was developing in his calves as he progressed the incline.

"No more random snacking in the kitchen for you ol' boy..." he muttered grudgingly.

He was nearly crawling as he topped the hill and looked at the entrance to see it was covered by thick vines as well. He groaned and stood up moving forward to assess the 'damage' thinking what he wouldn't give to have Tricky right now.

After a couple of frustrating minutes, he finally pulled the thick plant life apart enough for him to scramble through. He was still brushing leaves out of his tail when his eyes were fixated on the most terrifying of views.

He didn't stay long.

The others tried painfully to calm Fox and get out of him what he had seen. But Fox was trembling too terribly with emotion from the image--the Warp Stone--destroyed and left as a pile of rubble. They finally managed to haul him under the waterfall where he had blasted open a hidden cave years before.

It was remote, and safe from the rain. Though the window did let in a breeze, it was a surprise and relief to see the Sharp Claw crates still intact. They opened them, more like demolished them, to find that the fruit inside was still surprisingly safe and preserved.

After feeding Fox and calming him down, they tried to coax it out of him, he opened his mouth and began to tremble when a cool voice broke through their thoughts.

"0ei jun kxo Warp Stone kxod, a'm jehh0 0ei xut ke joo kxuk."

They all spun around to see a figure standing in the shadows they had not noticed before. It's face was hooded, but it's gender and species was easy to determine even in the dark cave.

The female fox moved quietly out of her hiding space and pulled the hood off of her head. She was even lovelier in the pale light of the fireflies that flitted in and out of the hole, along with the flickering moonlight that attempted to push through the clouds.

Her fur was deep violet and slowly faded to white on her belly, feet, hands and tail. Her face had a patch of pale yellow fur right down her forehead to her nose. Her face was pale violet and her bottom lip was black. Her hair, though slightly messy in a disarray, was smooth and sleek, pitch black as well. Her eyes weren't easy to make out in the darkness, but they seemed to be violently yellow with no pupil to be seen and a tint of violet across the whole eye that could have just been a reflection of her similarly colored fur.

Her hard curvy body, alert ears and gently twitching tail showed that she was not one to be trifled with. Yet they couldn't help but agree that she was absolutely stunning, at least that was the thought going through all the species of male in the group.

She spoke again, her silky smooth voice adding to the hypnotic attitude she had already caused to come over them.

"Te 0ei jfoub kxo cudwiuwo ev kxo tadejuih?"

They all looked at each other slightly perplexed, except Krystal who spoke next.

"Kxo0 te dek bden kxo cudwiuwo, A um kxo edc0 edo kxuk sud jfoub udt idtohjkudt ak vciodkc0."

The crew looked from Krystal to the violet vixen with perplexity. The latter nodded to Krystal as if she understood something.

"0ei khuloc nakx kxom?"

Krystal nodded, "Kxoah coutoh, Fox Mcloud, julot mo kod 0ouhj uwe nxaco kxo0 noho xoho, A xulo bdend kxo tadejuihj misx ev m0 cavo udt xulo couhdot ke jfoub rekx kxo cudwiuwoj kxuk uho fhojodk den."

The purple vixen looked at Fox, who stared at Krystal when she mentioned his name, before she replied, "Xo xuj jkhedw voocadwj veh 0ei A joo...nxuk sud A succ 0ei udt nxe uho kxo ekxohj nakx 0ei?"

"M0 dumo aj Krystal, kxaj aj kxo Star Fox shon: Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare udt Falco Lambardi...kxo0 uho ucc m0 vhaodtj udt ucc0'j ev kxaj fcudok, kxo0 julot ak 10 0ouhj uwe vhem General Scales."

The vixens eyes scanned over each member as their names were mentioned, at the mention of Scales, her eyes flashed with something that looked like anger. She must have been an enemy of the evil ruler as well.

"Loh0 nocc, m0 dumo aj Amethyst, A xulo rood u wuihtaud ed kxaj fcudok veh mud0 0ouhj udt A kxudb 0ei udt 0eih vhaodtj veh 0eih ovvehkj 10 0ouhj uwe, idvehkidukoc0, A edc0 jfoub kxo Dinosaur Language."

The crew continued to look confused.

Krystal returned her attention to the crew and said, with irritation etching her voice at their reaction to the girl.

"She said her name is Amethyst, she is a protector of this planet–she also wants to thank those that helped the planet 10 years ago."

They all mouthed an "o" and nodded.

"What does she want with us though?" Fox asked speculatively.

Krystal groaned, "What happened to the translator you had?"

The other's exchanged glances.

"Well...we kinda gave it up to Pepper, so he'd catch future needs from the planet...I don't have the materials to sort out remaking it." Slippy said rather quickly.

Sighing, she turned back to Amethyst, "M0 semfudaedj najx ke bden nx0 0ei xulo semo ke ij?"

Amethyst nodded and answered, "Uj 0ei uho urco ke joo, kxaj fcudok aj ad whulo tudwoh edso uwuad. Nxod 0eih semmhut julot kxo fcudok xo muto edo whulo ohheh ad couladw...idvehkidukoc0, deret0 bdenj nxuk nuj covk roxadt. Je ak aj m0 tik0 ke nuksx eloh udt fhekosk kxo fcudok, udt jadso 0ei uho xoho ke julo ak A evvoh m0 johlasoj."

Krystal spoke English, "she wants to help us."

They exchanged glances yet again, Fox looked at Krystal, "Maybe we should decide as a group."

This was agreeable, and votes were exchanged. All were in favor of Amethysts help...except one.

Krystal's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at each one of the crew members, "Have you lost your minds?" Her heavy accent made her sound all the more menacing.

Falco rolled his eyes, "Gee Krystal, what's got you worked up?"

"I don't trust her." She formed each word and consonant with sharp accuracy.

Not an ounce of surprise crossed the birds face, "Oh really?"

"Yes."

"I think your jealous."

If she didn't look dangerous already, she could easily put a kitten in a coma with her stare now.

"I. Am. Not. Jealous." She seethed.

Falco grinned, "Then it's settled, Amethyst will join the team! I can have a shot at someone else instead of Krystal for awhile!"

The groan from a few of the others was monotonous.

Though it wasn't her preference, Krystal could see she had lost the battle. She wheeled on Amethyst.

"Uchawxk, 0ei uho fuhk ev kxo shon. Rik A nuhd 0ei—."

Amethyst smiled, easy and relaxed.

"A nacc dek ro jirzosk ke jisx laco uskj, 0ei ted'k xulo ke vouh, olod kxo sesb0 raht nedk xulo u sxudso ed mo."

Krystal looked alarmed, "Kxuk nuj dek nxuk A nuj kh0–."

The yellow eyes narrowed and Amethyst's lips curled into a toothy grin, "Ex, A bden loh0 nocc nxuk 0ei modk, A'm zijk jamfc0 kh0adw ke cawxkod kxo sedlohjukaed."

The vixen's stared at eachother in silence for awhile. Finally, Krystal sighed deeply and nodded.

"Nocsemo..." she said.

Amethysts rather frightening look melted into a sickeningly sweet smile, almost too fruity. But Krystal wasn't sure if that was a real cover up...or just her so-called jealousy.

The crew seemed to understand that this meant all was well, they welcomed Amethyst and asked her to join them. She did and was soon joined in laughing at their stories that she pretended to understand.

Or so it seemed.

Krystal watched, trying to keep herself calm and collected. She would have her eye on this Amethyst...no...she'd have both eyes on her.

There was something unnerving about this mysterious fox.

I hope the first chapter didn't absolutely bore you. And please DO NOT FEAR! Amethyst will not end up being a Mary-Sue I swear it! I just want that impression that she's perfect...too perfect...mull over that one for awhile.

Read, Review and Roll Along! The next chapter is written and it's waiting for you to want it!