[Chapter 2: True Terror]
The Great Fox steadied itself once it left the gravitational field of Corneria. The only thing keeping everything from flying about was the gravity generator on the bottom of the ship. Zenth felt so natural… He felt as though he hadn't left Corneria, but he knew where he was.
"ROB, set course towards Fortuna," Fox demanded. Fox checked a map of the Lylat System. "ROB, also be on high alert for enemy ambushes. We'll be going through an asteroid field."
"Alright, Fox," ROB simply answered.
Falco left the lounge for his quarters. He was always ready for an attack. As he left, he gave Zenth a cold, hard look. Coolly, Zenth just stared back at Falco through the corner of his eye. Fara tensed a few feet away. She knew any momemt that Falco and Zenth would clash… Slippy left, also sensing the danger, to check on the Arwings again. Peppy stayed as well as Fara, to try to prevent any fighting.
Nothing happened as the Great Fox entered the asteroid field. ROB picked up something on radar… "…Large group of enemies approaching from 12 o'clock, high." ROB started a siren to warn everyone of the danger.
Everyone was prepared for this fight, and sensing a clash between Falco and Zenth. Surely this fight would mean something to something. (Alright Falco… Now let's see how this goes…) Zenth thought.
(I'll show all of you…) Falco said as he rushed toward the hangar. He ran toward the hangar trying to be the first as usual. Just as he entered, Zenth entered from the other side. Both of them eyed each other warily as they neared their Arwings. The rest of the Star Fox team quickly followed, and everyone launched when the hangar doors opened.
"Ok team," Fox started, magnifying the power of "team", "Let's show these guys what it means to fight Star Fox!" The Star Fox team entered the battle with only the sounds of engines and laser shots. Soon those sounds were accompanied by explosions. To both Zenth and Falco, no sounds existed. All of their energy was put into focusing on their task and showing up each other.
Peppy eyed a large group of fighters behind Zenth. "Look out Zenth!" he warned.
"You're a bit late Peppy, I've known…" Zenth said quietly. He knew exactly what he was going to do. He headed under a meteor, went up and disappeared. The enemy fighters quickly appeared above the meteor, being chased by Zenth. He had made a sudden stop behind the meteor, tricking the fighters in front of him. He then started to pursue another group.
Falco started shooting down a group that was about to pursue Katt. He then noticed Zenth chasing a group toward him. He decided to confront the same group from the front.
(Falco, what are you thinking?) Zenth questioned to himself. The rest of the team noticed what was happening, and tensed anxiously, nearly neglecting to look out for enemy fire. Falco and Zenth shot down an equal number of enemies, but one of the group remained. Each of them fired full force on the remaining enemy. Then, as soon as it was down, Zenth pulled a U-turn to escape hitting Falco, head on. The two raced into the fray, trying to outdo each other. With this competition, the fight didn't last for long. The crew returned to the Great Fox, relatively unharmed.
In the lounge, Zenth wanted to put an end to this, and knew exactly how to. When everyone was in the lounge he started, "Alright. Everyone here knows about the rivalry between Falco and myself." Zenth was being very decisive. He remembered to put Falco in front of him. "Now we're are going to put our skill to a vote. It could just be what we need. We will each tell ROB who, between the two of us, is a better pilot."
"I agree," Falco said confidently.
ROB tallied the votes. "The outcome is… Falco- 2, Abstains- 5, Zenth- 0."
"But…?" Fox started puzzled.
"I voted for Falco," Zenth admitted. "It's blatantly obvious that Falco's better."
Falco looked on in shock. (Maybe… I was wrong.) Falco thought.
"Of course, Falco," Zenth started with a smirk, "this does not mean I will not try to be better than you."
Falco felt respect toward Zenth, but still could bring himself to talk.
"Falco, say something already," Katt commanded.
"Why should I? He obviously knows I'm the best already," Falco stated.
"How'd I know that was coming?" Zenth questioned.
"Zenth," Fox whispered only to Zenth, "are you sure this is the smartest thing to do?"
"Don't worry," Zenth laughed quietly to Fox, "Would you rather we just went for each others throat?"
That "night", everything was peaceful. Zenth still kept quiet though. "Alright everyone, tomorrow, at about… 6:30 A.M. we should be start landing on Fortuna. Go get some shut eye." Everyone agreed, and left for their quarters, wondering what awaited on Fortuna. Before falling asleep, Zenth just remembered his family, and wished they new what he was doing for them. Just as he fell asleep, a strange warmth embraced Zenth.
"Enemy ship, Great Fox in sight Sire Drakk," a dark figured said.
"Well, you shouldn't have any trouble, shall you?" Drakk replied.
"Darkness is a cover no one can penatrate," laughed the dark figure.
"I expect NO failure this time, Granth," Drakk questioned.
"You cannot fire upon what you cannot see," Granth replied gleefully. "Communications down Sire. Just in case." Granth smirked in pleasure as he launched his single assault against the Great Fox.
Explosions rocked the ships, and woke everyone on board. Fox immediately disregarded the need of sleep, and ran to the command deck. The rest of the crew soon entered as well.
"We're under attack," Fox mentioned as if no one knew. "But there is no ship on radar. Nothing in sight."
Another explosion nearly knocked everyone over. "Well are we just going to sit here and get killed?" Zenth questioned angrily. "We need to make some course of action!"
"But we don't even know who's attacking us," Peppy replied.
"Look, here are our choices: Sit here, and die, or go out try to fight, and possibly live!" Falco responded quickly. "We have to move out, now!"
"I agree with Falco. Fox, you're the leader here," Zenth turned to Fox, "but whether you allow me to or not, I'm going to see what's happening."
"Ok, Slippy and Katt, you two stay here, maybe you can pick up something. The rest of us will split up and investigate."
Slippy and Katt remained on the control deck to try to find anything, as the rest of the crew left the hangar in their Arwings. As soon as they left, they were under fire. "Ha! You can't even see me, yet you wish to fight!" Granth grinned at his prey.
"Fox! Directly in front of you! The signals coming from there!" Slippy informed. Fox shot directly in front of him, as something exploded.
"You take me for a fool!? That machine was just a mini-communicator. You cannot pick up the signals I send to it!" Granth reveled in his master plan. "Of course, I have deployed several of these devices…"
"Fox, we can't keep this up! We don't even know if what we're looking for is here!" Peppy warned. Granth shot Peppy several times from behind. Fox noticed where the shots came from and destroyed the machine.
"Gun turrets, Star Fox. You won't ever see me, let alone live!" Granth was pleased at his plan effects.
"Fox, I have to dock now!" Peppy said. "Sorry I can't be of any help."
Zenth tensed at this tough opponent. (Where is he… I'll find him…) Zenth's eyes scanned the area. He looked toward the Great Fox. "Wha… FOX! He is here! He's just got a black ship!"
"Zenth, are you sure?" Fox asked.
"Positive. He passed between the Great Fox and myself," Zenth replied. "Whose the fool now?"
Granth started barraging Zenth with utter madness. "You are my prime target! Rest assure you shall not survive!" Granth yelled, angered by his plan being revealed. Bullets surround Zenth's ship from every direction.
"Slippy, there's one thing he can't hide!" Katt suddenly remembered. "He won't be able to hide his heat signature!"
"You're right," Slippy responded to Katt. "We need someone to dock for just a moment!" Slippy demanded of the crew. "We have a plan!"
"Be right there Slip," Falco responded. Falco quickly docked onto the Great Fox. "What's this plan of yours?" Falco inquired, skeptically.
"You'll see, just hope the others can wait long enough," Katt smiled.
Zenth sped behind the Great Fox. (The first thing to fire at me is gone…) Zenth awaiting his opponent's arrival, but nothing happened.
"Oh, my dear Zenth, surely you understand by now?" Granth inquired.
"How… do you know my name?" Zenth replied.
"Oh let's just say, word gets around very fast," Granth smirked. "Come and fight me if you dare. Or are you full of fear?"
(The second I show myself to anything on the other side of this ship, I'm dead…) Zenth thought. Zenth then picked up the message Slippy put out. (He's got a plan! I'll have to distract this guy for a while) Zenth headed out, ready to dadge anything and everything.
"I knew you'd fight me, Zenth. I know more about you, than yourself!" Granth gloated, believing his mission would soon be over. "NOW YOU DIE!" A flurry of shots flew through the dark space.
Zenth dodged the shots with extreme effort. "You know more of me? Than didn't you think I could dodge that?" Zenth questioned
"Oh but I'm just getting started…"
"Alright, Falco. Now look here; you will be able to see this guy, by detecting his heat signature," Slippy showed Falco the devise put into his Arwing. "When you've located him, send the data to everyone else."
"This guy's going down!" Falco yelled in delight. Falco got into his Arwing, and left again.
"Falco, what happened in there?" Fox asked trying keep Granth's fire away from Zenth.
"You'll see…" Falco said as he located Granth. "Hey moron! Behind ya!" Falco gloated as he sent the data to the other pilots.
"But… how?" Granth questioned to himself, noticing the craft behind him. "It doesn't matter! You all shall perish!" Granth started unleashing missile barrages upon every craft. "HAHA! BURN!"
"You're the only one dying today!" Zenth screamed to Granth as he placed a few well-aimed shots into Granth's small ship's hull.
"You can either dodge or fight! You cannot do both!" Granth smirked.
"Really?" Fara questioned. "Then I guess I can't do… this!" Fara skillfully dodged the barrage of missiles while hitting Granth's ship directly in the engine.
"It doesn't matter if I die! You all perish…" Granth said his last words as his ship blew up.
Back on the ship, the crew had one last meeting. "I may be speaking out of place, but this is important," Zenth started. "I don't know how much longer I can stay with Star Fox…"
"What? What do you mean?" Katt inquired.
"They know me… I'm their target." Zenth admitted. "How they know me, I have no idea."
"Zenth, if they want you dead, it's because they fear you," Fox replied. "You're apparently exactly what they don't want to fight. I think it's important that you stay with us."
"Fox, I apparently have enemies out there. If you hadn't been on Corneria during their first attack, you wouldn't be in this. If I leave, there's a slim chance they might leave you alone."
"And if they don't leave us alone? Zenth, we're all stronger together," Peppy insisted.
"I… I don't want any deaths on my conscience. I couldn't take that," Zenth admitted.
"Zenth, as commander of Star Fox, I am offering you free support. I'm already being paid by Pepper, and no group attacks someone they fear because of their power, without galactic conquest on their minds. Besides, if you do stay, you could always stay as a pilot for us. Even if you disagree, we have that contract with Pepper to destroy these people, so we'd be following you anyway."
Zenth grinned at Fox. "I see my stubbornness is rubbing off on you. Ok, I'll stay, but I won't be pleased by this decision. I still see myself as a major threat to you. We shall continue tomorrow, hopefully, on Fortuna. For now, I believe most of us need rest."
"Alright, everyone get some rest. See you all tomorrow morning, before we arrive on Fortuna," Fox agreed.
Ok this chapter is done. As a matter of fact, this stories done! All feedback or requests to use my characters go to:
Zenth@sfx64.com
Anything, good or bad criticism is wanted! If you've read this earlier, there is not be another chapter, I was just going insane, so this fic is over. The next in the series is underway, so far it is only known as "Destiny and Pride: Fear and Fortuna". Title is of course subject to change…
