Chapter One: Cloudy Days
Red Alert
It has been a year since Star Fox finished their last mission (and got disbanded). Now, Lylat needs a hero more than ever, as a syndicate threatens life. Will an untrusting fox, a mysterious lupine and an old enemy help each other out, and to discover what lies in them?
I do not own any of the official Star Fox characters, but I do own made-up ones. If you do know the fan-fictions I made, then you'd probably know the other characters. I've finally found an inspiration to make a story again! All right! Okamichan is back in the house again! Oh, and you might want to visit my gallery at http:wolfoxokamichan.deviantart.com, where art meets application!
It has been a year since we've gone through our own ways. I realized that we all have our own lives, and that we don't want our whole lifetime to linger in outer space, blasting hell or whatever is out there, threatening everyone here at the ground. At least we've found our place down here at Corneria, and, well, even if we feel a little bit uncomfortable, we're very sure that we've finally found peace here.
Slippy became one of the technical engineers at a nuclear laboratory. Peppy just recently entered at a college, teaching Science. Falco, who seems to be very fortunate among the four of us, became a fitness model and is frequently at the cover of magazines. As for me, I am just here, inside my condominium, eating breakfast, watching the morning news. My work as one of the security guards roaming at a weapons storage and development lab might sound strange for some who knew me as a space cowboy, but I feel comfortable. There are enforcers out there, and even the law, and it's their job to protect the citizens in Lylat, not me. I really don't want to carry that burden. You may say I've changed, but actually, I discovered that it was the "real" me…
After our last mission, we knew that salary would be scarce. Our equipment wouldn't last longer anymore, and we couldn't keep up with the advancing technology. We don't have the budget for that. Even Slippy realized why Falco left; it was because we're getting short on our funds. In the end, we have to move on with our lives. While we didn't expect to see, and probably know, each other again, we're pretty much sure that fate would be playing with its cards again, and… well… it's all right for me, as long as I don't see "him". That bastard… that "wolf"…
"In our local news, the Bio-Weapons Institute was attacked last night by the unsuspecting criminal group. Security guards were found with tranquilizers, putting them to sleep and allowing the thieves to enter. They destroyed the cameras, and they did it very well. No signs for clues were found, and nobody knows what they did inside. Only the records of different microorganisms were stolen. This has been the second infiltration here in Corneria. As we recall, these mysterious thieves also attacked a dam, but nothing was stolen. Investigators have been trying to figure out who these robbers are and what they're doing…"
The large monitor continued its purpose, giving the news to the occasional viewers. In front of this is a sofa, and sitting on the lounge is a brown fox, eating cereal while watching the latest news. By the way of his appearance, it seems that he's been up to something for at least a year ago: a security guard of some weapons development on the planet. He's none other than Fox, and a year after his last mission; it seems that he's changed a lot. His new physique, look and life would give him a new vision on his next hours.
"No more Star Fox to ask to investigate the problem," Fox remarked as he takes a spoonful of the breakfast, slowly chewing and swallowing it afterwards. "It's up to them to fix those kinds of problems now, it's their job anyway." He then places his unfinished meal to a table, and then glanced at a magazine on which Falco the model was on the cover. "You're a still a lucky bitch, eh Falco," he grunted as he looks at the avian that's showing his back muscles. He then picks it up and places it to a pile of magazines, laughing on the way. "But you'll always be second to me, no matter what fame you have today… Oh well, better go to work." He then moved on, preparing himself for work, not knowing that this day will be different from his regular ones.
A ping suddenly echoed from the room a while after Fox just finished bathing. "I'm coming, all right! Just wait a minute!" he shouted as he hurriedly puts on his lower outfit: his underwear, his shorts, and his camo-designed pants. He quickly puts on his socks and then his boots. The door alarm again pinged, and this time, he answered it.
As the door slides to open, a strange person new to him was there: wolf with light-blue fur, and a dark blue hair. His outfit is a grey vest with a sleeveless dark-blue shirt with a belt buckled from his left shoulder to his right side of his waist. He has dirty grey pants and a dark green-toned pair of boots. From his looks, it seems that he's on uniform, and that he's like a member of some group of mercenaries or the like.
"Are you Mr. Fox McCloud?" the wolf asked in a polite yet hurried way, "if you are, then please come with me now! This is very urgent!" However, his greetings were welcomed with a blaster pointing at him. Fox quickly drew his weapon, pointing it to the wolf who just rung at his door. "Mr. McCloud, we have no time for this!"
"Save your words," Fox harshly growled as he pulls the lupine towards the inside of his close then closing the door, while still pointing the weapon at the wolf's head. "I know you're one of his friends out there. I don't know what he wants with me this time, but I'm pretty sure you're here to do something against me! Your politeness didn't deceive me. Now tell me what you're up to…" Distrusting wolves because of some past trauma, he pointed the pistol to the forehead of the blue wolf.
"I don't wish to hurt you, but if you say so…" the guest stated from his qualm. He quickly swayed his head away from the pistol, quickly moving his reflexes and grabbing Fox's armed arm. He then grabbed the pistol, disarming Fox, and removing the laser canister from the turret of the blaster. "I don't know what you're talking about, but from the way you reacted earlier, you sounded like you've been dissed." Fox, after hearing what the visitor said, slowly calmed down. He breathed for a while, and then he sat at the sofa.
"I guess I should be sorry. I really don't trust wolves because of something that happened before," Fox confessed as he grabs his sleeveless undershirt. "What were you going to tell me again? Oh, and before that, who are you?" The guest smiled and stood up from the seat, grabbing what looks like a medium-sized flashlight from his utility belt.
"My name is Wulf McWolf, leader of the mercenary forces Galaxy Wulf from the neighboring system Terra," he then pushes a button from his gadget, unleashing a long beam-like sword blade. The flashlight thing was actually a weapon. "We've been assigned by your planet's leaders to help figure out the strange attacks of specific institutes days ago. But because we're new here, I looked up on mercs like us in this planet and all points to you, Fox McCloud, leader of Star Fox." Fox laughed at the last comment of the lupine.
"Nice toy, now you may want to turn it off because you're going to scare a lot of people," he chuckled as he puts on his vest. "Your good, but I'm sorry. I can't help you. Star Fox has been disbanded a year ago and we've been through with our lives. I didn't expect the government to call help from people light years away. They should realize that they have enforcers and the law and what the heck, not us. It's their job. Besides, I don't have time for this. I have a job you know!"
"If you didn't help us out, there might be no time for anybody else! Please Fox, I'm begging you," Wulf pleaded in a dramatic manner as he returns his weapon back and pulled Fox up. "I looked up on my list of people to look, you're the person I was expecting to come along quickly, no questions asked. This person known as Falco Lombardi might not come along because of his stardom ranking, and this Wolf O'Donnell… I haven't confirmed his whereabouts. Heck, nobody knew he still exists." Fox was startled when he heard the name Wolf. Wanting to settle a score secretly, he reluctantly nodded his head.
"All right, I will go with you," Fox replied to the wolf who just became enlightened, "but after we settle this case, don't come looking for me again, all right." It seems that Fox's day would be long again, but maybe this time, he would find something worthwhile, like finally putting the conflicts in his mind to rest, but can he trust this wolf he just recently met?