The Choices We Make

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Star Fox or any of the Nintendo characters mentioned in this story, in any way, shape, or form. All I own is Ebon, other custom characters, and the plot.

AN: This story takes place after Star Fox command, ending number one Fox and Krystal. Please read and review! I hate Panther Caruso just to be clear, so on with the story.

Summary: The choices made in one's own life simply does not affect just one being. It affects those close to that being as well. When a rouge experiment is found by team Star Fox three months after the events in Star Fox Command, Fox learns firsthand that the choices he makes can have dire consequences for those close to him.

Chapter 1: Seeking Elements

Running. So much blasted running. How long had this gone on? How had things come down to this? Why had it come down to him being sought out like prey, a fresh morsel for the pack that had been chasing him for what felt like an eternity. His breathing hitched, ragged pants escaping him with each staggered movement. His vision clouded and the steady pitter-patter of rain quickened as a loud clap of thunder echoed throughout the ebony-bathed city of Corneria.

His pursuers were rushing behind him, their heavy footfalls sounding on the pavement over his quickened stagger. He slipped, a light cry of surprise sounding from him before he instinctively shot his arm forward, and used it to launch himself back into a standing position. He heard the grunts and calls from the heavily-armed group pursuing him, yet he paid them no mind as he continued on in his fearful sprint. Pale blue eyes widened in shock at the sight of a large, chain-linked fence before his ebony-furred visage grew to be a mask of sheer anger and determination.

"No where to run now, freak." Came the voice of a large and well-built pitbull behind him. Slowly turning around with an ice-cold glare, the sable-furred lupine let his hackles rise as a deep growl began to form within his broad chest. His ears stood alert and the fur on the back of his thick neck stood on edge as a slight gust of wind began to swirl around him.

"I promise you, that I'll be the one to rip the life away from your body." The young wolf hissed quietly as his eyes narrowed. His whole body seemed to tense and in a mere moment, just as lightening crackled down from the heavens, he was gone in a mere swirl of wind.

"Dammit!" The pitbull slammed his fist into the building beside him, cracking the cement loudly as most of his team visibly winced behind him. "That damn punk got away again!" Just as he was about to bring his other fist down on the lid of a trashcan, a loud beeping resounded from along his belt. Picking up his radio, he lifted it to his muzzle with a deep frown. "This Bennet…"

"Have you captured our elusive wolf, Mr. Bennet?" Came the cool voice from the radio. "You know it won't do us or Corneria, any well to have hi, running about, don't you?" His tone seemed to change, almost as if he were addressing a child.

"Of course I know!" The pitbull's voice rose and his own hackles rose in a deepened growl. "With how much I've studied this kid, I even know about his damn sex life!"

"As wonderful as your rather…questionable knowledge about the boy is, it does not change the fact that I need to know if he was apprehended or not." The voice crackled over the communications link, before suddenly deepening as the speaker took on a menacing tone. "Do you have him or not?"

The growling within the canine's throat quickly ceased as a large lump had formed within his neck. "N-n…no sir." His crew stiffened behind him, a few of them shuffling around nervously at the sudden weakened tone of their commanding officer.

A momentary silence dominated the alley, before the voice spoke once again; this time holding a hard edge to it. "Then I suggest that you make sure to capture him within the next week, Mr. Bennet…our experiment must be found, after all." The voice, obviously masculine paused for a minute before a light chuckle sounded from the radio; causing the canine to tremble fearfully. "I'd hate to tell your wife and children that you died in the line of work…understood?"

Even though the detached voice was unable to see it, the hulking pitbull gave a weak nod and whispered weakly, "Understood, by your command director. Bennet out."

--

The way she walked, the way she smiled, the way she moved, and each of her mannerisms caused him to become enraptured. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he truly loved the cerulean vixen walking ahead of him. The only problem was that she had been less than friendly towards him, ever since they defeated the arpathroid (sp?) threat. Yes, she joined the team, and yes, she spoke to him, but it was all business and nothing more when it came to the two of them. She made sure of that.

He lost count of the many times he apologized to her, each on ending with a slight nod on her part. It was infuriating! Here she was, right in front of him. So close, and yet he couldn't even be with her. Was this his punishment? Having her so close, but being unable to attain the vixen who had captured his heart from the moment he saw her? Maybe he did deserve it, He did force her off of the team, after all. Still, she had already broken his heart by joining with Star wolf and starting a relationship with Panther, a choice that often caused his heart to ache whenever he thought of it.

She couldn't even call him by his name anymore, always referring to him by sir or captain. Hell, even a spiteful comment would've been better than the cold and emotionless titles she used with him, which bought up another question. Did she truly love him…did she harbor feelings for Fox McCloud within her heart or was it all just a game…one meant to torture his soul?

Looking behind her, the cerulean vulpine tilted her head, pretending to look over Fox's shoulders as his thoughts dwelled heavily on her mind. Turning away and giving a false laugh to a joke told by Slippy toad, she let her head lower slightly, following the cracked sidewalks of the recently rebuilt Corneria. It ha been three months, three painful months for her and for Fox. She knew how he felt and she knew of her own feelings for him, so what was keeping her from rekindling the flame that was still burning brightly between the two? Pride. That was it. She would not come crawling back, no matter what. She was raised as a warrior and warriors do not crawl back pitifully. If he could just show her, just physically do something to express his love for her then just maybe she could take him back. True she did use Panther. After all, there was no possible way she could even consider to be with such an egotistical buffoon, yet what did it cost her? Fox's heartache, that much was easily seen, but just how deep did the ache go? What she felt was staggering, causing her head to hurt slightly, yet she didn't alert anyone to it, nor did she speak with Fox. The team was out for a night on the town. It was time to relax and enjoy the more simple pleasures of life.

Swimf!

A loud sound echoed throughout the street they were on and a tall, well-built, ebony lupine stumbled out of one of the alleyways, bumping into Falco before falling to the ground in a crumpled heap.

"Hey! Watch where the hell you're-" The avian had cut himself off as he saw the lupine lying on the ground unconscious, crimson liquid coating his dusk-colored fur as the neon lights bathed him with their intense glow. "Holy shit…"

Slippy crouched down, reaching over to feel for a pulse on the young wolf's wrist. Finally finding a weak one, after a few moments he spoke. "He's alive…but just barely." He glanced at Fox, tilting his head inquiringly as he awaited his orders.

The vulpine leader frowned deeply, still curious from the sound that accompanied the wolf's entrance. He glanced at his teammates, taking note of Slippy's quizzical gaze, Falco's thoughtful expression, and Krystal's state of worry. "…I don't know…"

Instantly snapping around, the azure vixen stared directly into Fox's emerald eyes, her own cerulean hues pleading with him as she moved closer. "Fox…" It was the first time in a long time that she had called him that. "Please. We can't leave him like this." She swallowed the lump that had been forming in her throat as she felt a few stray thoughts from the unconscious mind of the lupine. "He'll die."

He sighed softly, knowing that he had a difficult choice to make. Take a stranger into his ship that was close by and endanger his team with an unknown being, or let an innocent suffer and die miserably. His eyebrows lowered. The answer was obvious. "He's coming with us." Without any protest from the rest of his team, the swift vulpine strode over to the lupine and lifted him off of the ground ,walking towards the direction of his ship. He looked over his shoulder at his assembled team, the night of merriment that had been planned now being completely forgotten as he murmured. "We should get him to the medical bay…and soon."

He strode towards the outskirts of Corneria purposefully, unable to see the look of admiration directed to him by the azure vixen who held his very heart in her hand.

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So what do you think? Like it? Love it? Hate it?