Entry into a vulpine mind

Journal Entry 830

Got a new job thanks to the general, Mac always comes through for us, even if it is on his own terms.

Peppy will be getting on my case tomorrow that's for sure, hell, not my fault that I'm being deployed without my tools of trade, but what can a guy do? Money is tight, were in the black and this rust bucket could use a new shine.

So far I'm convinced the planet is screwed, but it won't stop me from trying to help. Figures, a backwater planet like this and it just happens to be in pieces, maybe something down there will give me a clue as to why it hasn't just up and split, least not while I'm still up here. Now that I think about it, do I really want to make land fall?

To be honest, I don't have much of a choice, last Slips told me, the ships coolants are on their last breath, once that goes, were stuck to slugging through the galaxy without the use of the drive engines. Leave it to me and my standards to turn down so many of these other jobs, I've never seen so much red ink bleed from my accounts.

Nice that Peppy can at least keep some things balanced with his star-tography, but only enough to keep the sharks off our hides. We're running out of places in Lylat to chart though, what with every other explorer out there.

If you ask me though, I worry bout that old hare, he knows his tactics, but his age hasn't done much for his eyes, he's left arwing duty, all that means is I'm stuck with finding another replacement pilot.

I'll tell you, being a famed mercenary unit, doesn't have a lot of ups as one hoped, no one's scrambling to help us stay afloat, never answering favors, everyone and their kid sister wants a piece of the action with us, and speaking of woman, I feel enough like a used sack of rice without them beating me inside out for a piece of my fur.

Anyhow, I touch down on Sauria tomorrow, if things go according to plan, which they always do, I'll be in and out quicker than a bass solo.

Note to self, better pack extra clothes.

Fox McCloud

Journal Entry 831

Nag, nag, nag, all I ever hear from the green one, all I asked for was a translator, but no, he's gotta eat my ear off first before even complying.

I think he does it just to get back at me for making fun of him during the flight sessions, or probably the fact that I can't reach him now, thanks to rob sending the last of the fuel all across the planet, again!

Its hard enough to help anyone here, most of them mutter, others mumble, I take it their talking to me, but by Inari how would I know?

For a civilization protected by the Cornerian government, you'd expect them to adopt some of our language.

Still, Slip came through in the end, passing me an update to my wrist com and updating me to the possible location of the fuel cells. Heck Peppy himself took a little time to map all the locations possible, needed it too, else I'd be wandering in circles.

Oh yeah, found the Queen, huge triceratops, though, I think she's seen better days. She's in a panic, lost a kid of hers, or something. Tricky I think. Shouldn't be hard to find though right?

Oh I did mention Mac's wonderful justification of dealing me a bad hand didn't I? Going in here unarmed sure has brightened my day. Course I probably would have shot everything around me, it's taken a lot of patience to stay my hand. I've one upped the old hound though, no idea how it got here, but I found the perfect weapon to use against this group that's been plaguing the area, sharp claws.

Its odd to be honest, the design of the staff, it reminds me of a photo my mother showed me from her days doing planetary logistics. I hope she wakes up one day.

Anyhow, it's definitely got bling to it, half expected it to bust apart, but I'll say this, it ain't gold that adorns this thing, it's tough, compact, and collapsible. Tell you what though, I wouldn't let the others know, but I had the strangest feeling when I grasped it, like ice water down the back kind of feeling. I swear, I could hear this voice in my head.

I'm telling you, this place might have me in a psychward by the end of it, I don't anyone will believe a thing I say about all I've come across.

One of the caves sure sent a shock through my system, but not as much as the shock I got when the staff let off a blast of fire. I've asked the natives here, honestly, their reaction didn't make me feel all to great bout asking the guys up above. I think I'll just keep this a secret between you and me.

Time for a moments rest though, see bout finding this kid once I've got my head on straight.

Fox McCloud

Journal 833

It stopped talking, that is all I can say, by Inari, the little guy is asleep, I will burn a forest worth of incense if I ever complete this mission.

He makes Slippy bearable, I know it's a kid, but for the love of mike, he ran, ran! After I had saved him from a Sharp Claws hideout.

Left me to hunt down the little tike upon a power sled. Speaking of which, I think I need to have a chat with the general at some point, they have power sleds, I'm not talking bout hamster juiced engines, I mean honest to goodness sleds with boosters and all.

Its gonna be one of those weeks, that's for sure.

Least the fruit here is alright, but what I'd give for some fried meat.

I'll say this, if I had known about the ice wasteland here, I'd have been more inclined to pack winter gear. My fur is icing up and breaking at the tips, I'm gonna look terrible once this is all through and done.

Oh the noise box is starting to stir.

Fox McCloud

Journal 836

Mammoths, they've plenty to complain about, but don't seem to ever offer anything worth my spit. Tradition this and betrayal that, something about a grand poobah of the group losing his daughter, all because she thought it best to give the sharp claw what they wanted, rather than lose her friends. Sure its noble, helping friends, but it doesn't make my job any easier.

Tricky has definitely made a turn around, what with helping me to hunt down some equipment in order to barter with this fuzzes. The force stone is apparently floating up in the sky upon a piece of the land that had decided to vacate the planet entirely. Grand.

Oh yeah, remember the fuel, its hovelled in a little hole in the ground, this really weird lizard expects me to pay him in scarabs, ick.

Well I hope he's happy anyhow, he has what he wanted. She, it, I don't know, it has what it wants, and I got the fuel canisters back.

Fox McCloud

Journal 837

I never was that kid, you know, the one who would ask in health class what it's like to be eaten, never cared, wasn't something I needed to know, nor wanted to experience.

So yeah, I was eaten by big and ugly, I don't know what else you'd call it, but its big, its ugly, and it decided I was worth digesting. See my face, course not your a journal, but you'd see that I have Pepper must die written all over it!

With this, I'll be putting a dent in the war chest, that is for sure.

Right, I found the daughter of the tribe, funny that, is everyone I'm trying to help either incompetent or on the verge of trying to kill me?

Talk about unappreciative. Still I got the force stone, and I had made my way across to Moon Mountain, all the way to the volcano's force point.

I'm going to kick a few z's here before heading back, its rather safe here.

Fox McCloud

Journal 838

Can't sleep, I'm at this temple, and I just had to write these thoughts down. I've continued to feel these weird thoughts every now and then.

More than that, I've had visions I never thought I'd see again. I've got this locket with me, gift from one of mom's many trips. Cerenia , that's the name of the place, one of her logistics occupations before the accident.

Well I've kept it with me, always, at the time I was still a young kit, eight going nine, I remember it well. Well is it strange to see someone you've never met? Is it this staff, or just this place?

I'm at a temple right now, and I've had this feeling.

I keep seeing the face of this girl, and she seems to always be on my mind now. Weird, I've never really cared much for girls, not with my line of work, said it before, I'll say it again, and again. Most of them just wanted to acknowledge my fame, hell I'm not anything special, take away my arwing, my gun, and I've got nothing.

I got guilt tripped by Tricky into helping a spirit anyhow. I'm getting bad vibes though, hackles raised and all, but it spoke of others needing help, and something about freeing someone entrapped within the temples tower.

All I know it's probably one of the temple inhabitants imprisoned here by the sharp claw. I'm not for leaving folks to rot though, so I might as well see what I can do.

Spirit really bugs me though, specially now, with it roaming around in my head. Should I be writing this down? If anything I'm surprised I've not completely lost my head.

Fox McCloud

Journal 839

How long was I staring at her? I don't know, but it's the girl, the one I kept seeing in my head, the same little girl from the locket around my neck. How did she arrive here though, and why?

I wish I could have spoken to her, but she stood there, embraced by that crystal prison. Ironic though, as the spirit spoke her name to me. "Krystal"

If Peppy hadn't snapped me out of my trance, I could have just stood there and stared. It wouldn't have helped her cause though, and I'm thankful for the old hare bringing me back to reality.

I don't know how she's survived, or how long she's been stuck in there, but I'm going to do everything I can to free her and put this place back together.

Fox McCloud

Journal 842

I've obtained the final stone, and I've never felt so tired, I've tried though, honestly, it's been a grueling week and I'm scared, terrified that when that prison opens, she'll have already left.

I hate seeing others in pain, I hate seeing them lost. I know she's there, weak, but still hanging on, I can feel it.

With this final piece to the puzzle I'd have the job capped, the girl rescued, a planet saved, and a pay check ready to pay off the loan sharks. Over all, I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

All the stones have been put in place, but it seems, that one final stone must be placed, and then the final confrontation with General Scar, he's waiting for me at the temple, I know it. I've seen what he's done, and I won't allow him to do as he pleases.

He set into motion this catastrophe, more so than that, I've learned he had a partnership with Andross, long long ago. It explains the ships, the technology I've been seeing. Sides, Scales can't be the one in charge, surely as this planets dictator, he is a force to be reckoned with, but he is not smart, I've proven that easily, if the inhabitants here had fought with a little more brain than brute force, this planet may have never split.

But then, I guess I'd never have the chance of running into Krystal.

I look forward to going home after this, but what of the girl, would she care to join us? I would hope so, I'd bear with the others joshing me just to have her company.

I wonder if she minds Rock.

I've haven't really gotten used to having the Krozoa embody me as a carrier, but every time one envelops me, I feel all weird and stuff, like my senses have been heightened, I've heard things whispering while in the Krozoa Palace, warning me almost, and it creeps me out. I just wanna get this over with as fast as possible before it drives me mad.

Cripes sake I just read what I wrote, seriously it just doesn't sound any good no matter how I reword it.

Fox McCloud


Mh47e cleaned it a little, and stuck to a more cocky young attitude for his character.