Starfox in: The Coto Murder Mystery

Note: Starfox, Fox McCloud, and Krystal are all property of Nintendo and so do not belong to me (well duh). All other characters are made up by me. Thank you.

This is my first fan fiction F.Y.I. so if you read & review, please be blunt even if you don't like it.

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The room was filled with chat of all sorts in the reception hall of the Coto Industries building. Fox and Krystal were helping themselves to the free all-you-can-eat buffet when Krystal asked, "So, Fox, who's this 'Saimon Coto' person anyway?"

"Well I've never met him in person, but I do know he's one of Corneria's richest and most powerful businessmen and the CEO of Coto Industries," Fox answered. "I don't know why he would invite us to such a fancy get together though."

"Actually this party is for my daughter."

"Whoa!" yelped Fox as he jumped back in surprise at the unexpected answer.

"Sorry to startle you," said the tall coyote that, though clearly in his fifties, was still physically fit. "I couldn't help but over hear your conversation. I'm Saimon Coto of Coto Industries," he said as he offered his hand to Fox.

"It's okay," replied Fox, shaking Saimon's hand. "I'm Fox McCloud, of the Starfox Team, and this is Krystal, friend and fellow pilot."

"Pleased to meet you," said Krystal, who the shook Saimon's hand herself.

"No need to introduce yourselves," said Saimon with a cheerful smile, "Everyone knows who you are. Come with me, please, there is someone I'd like you to meet."

"Sure," "Okay," said Fox and Krystal in unison. Saimon led the two vulpines to through the crowded hallway to a table with two more coyotes, this time both female.

"Mr. McCloud, I would like you to meet my daughter, Faye," said Saimon gesturing towards the younger looking of two coyotes, who turned around at the sound of Saimons voice.

"Nice to meet you," said Fox.

"Th-the pleasures all mine," said Faye bashfully. Even through her thick fur Fox could tell she was blushing.

"My daughter has always been an admirer of yours, Mr. McCloud," explained Saimon. "So I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for her twenty-fifth birthday if she got to meet you in person."

"Daddy, please you're embarrassing me!" said the now brightly blushing Faye.

"That's not a hard task, really," said the male coyote in a designers suit who had just walked up to the table. "You get embarrassed if someone so much as stares at you."

"Ellias!" scorned the older female coyote sitting at the table. "Be nice to your younger sister!"

"Sorry, mother. I'm just speaking the truth."

"Drop it!" said the woman, now in a serious tone and pointing a stern index finger at Ellias. Noticing Fox was still there she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, I'm sorry to have not introduced myself. I'm Saimon's wife, Raechel Coto. This is my son and heir to Coto Industries, Ellias." Fox saw Ellias' eyebrow twitch at that last statement.

"It's nice to meet you both," replied Fox.

"Excuse me, Mr. McCloud, but who is this young vixen with you?" asked Faye with a slight nod towards Krystal.

"This is Krystal," answered Fox. "She's my...um."

"I guess you could say I'm his girlfriend," answered Krystal for the blushing fox next to her.

"Aw, that's so sweet," said Faye.

"Such a unique fur color," said Ellias slyly as he examined Krystal (some places more elaborately then other's). "How interesting..."

"I leave you for five minutes and you're already looking at other women," said a black and white feline as she strutted over to Ellias in high-heeled shoes.

"Ah, Laura, you've finally decided to join us," said Raechel with a hint impatience in her voice.

"Sorry I'm late," Laura apologized. "My mani/pedi took longer then expected." She held out her right hand to show off her new French manicure.

"Laura, this is Fox McCloud and Krystal of the Starfox team," said Ellias. "Fox and Krystal, this is my lovely wife, Laura."

"Pleased to meet you," said Fox.

"Likewise," said Laura.

"Oh, I just remembered," Faye interjected. "There's someone I'd like you both to meet. Now where is he?..." she mumbled as she scanned the room from her position. "There he is! David! Come here, would you." A snow leopard who looked to be about Fox's age and height walked up to Faye. "Fox, Krystal, this is my fiancé, David." Faye gave the smiling young man a hug.

"It's nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand. "Faye is a big fan of yours."

"So we've heard," said Fox, with a glancing grin at Krystal.

Saimon cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Well now that we all know each other, let's get going with the festivities."

Several hours had passed when several of the guests started to leave. It wasn't long before the only ones left were Fox, Krystal, the Cato family and a few various employees. Faye insisted that Fox tell them about past missions. Saimon had left earlier to take care of some work in his office.

". . . I could've stayed there and stared for hours, until Peppy pulled me back to reality," narrated Fox, telling the story of his adventures on Dinosaur Planet and when he first saw Krystal.

"That's so lovely," sighed Rachel, both her hands over her heart.

"Yeah, it's so sweet I'm gettin' cavities here," snapped Ellias, more irritable than usual.

"Ellias!" shouted Faye, smacking her brother on the arm with the back of her hand.

"Sorry. I'm sorry," he apologized. "Excuse me for a sec." He left the room without saying another word.

"Is something the matter with him?" Krystal asked Faye.

"Well, Ellias hasn't been very happy since father announced he was handing over the company to David," whispered Faye. "Plus, he did just quit smoking."

"But your mother said Ellias was the company heir," said the confused Krystal, "and David isn't in the Coto bloodline."

"That's what Ellias said, but daddy thinks he's just not ready to be the CEO of such a big company just yet."

"Speaking of David, where is he?"

"He left about five minutes ago. He said something about talking with my father."

"Excuse me," asked Fox. "May I pause the story for a minute so I can get some water?"

"Sure," answered Fay. "You do remember where the executive lounge is, right?"

"Mmm hmm," Fox nodded.

"Faye, I'm going to go check on your father," said Rachel. "I swear, that man will be late for his own funeral."

Both Fox and Rachel left the room in opposite directions. When Fox arrived at the lounge he noticed David washing his hands at the sink.

"Hi, David, whatchya doing?"

"Oh!" jumped David, "I'm just---"

"AIIIEEE!!!"

This drew Fox's attention away from David. "That sounded like Mrs. Coto!" said Fox as he and Laura ran from the lounge to find the origin of the scream. Krystal, Faye, Laura, and Ellias had already found Mrs. Coto by the time David and Fox arrived. Rachel was curled up in a ball on the floor, trembling against the wall apposite of her husband's office door. Her hand was shaking as she pointed towards the office, and at what scared her.

Fox turned and saw what it was. There, Saimon Coto lay dead on the floor, a bleeding stab wound in his chest, directly over his heart.

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Well there you have it. The first chapter of my three-part story. More to come, soon. Please R&R if you don't mind. Thank you.