--Chapter II--
Angel of mercy
Falco was having a hard time accepting it as he sat on the weight bench he'd just used, that fox had completely outrun him, what's worse was that it had recently dawned on him...that fox having fun with him. Now that he thought about it...he had fun doing it himself, it was a constant rush like nothing he was actually used to. As his thoughts swarmed he stood and looked around. The weight room he was in was pretty big for a hotel, the white colored room was full of the latest machines and there were several other animals in the room; a she-wolf at a steady run on a treadmill, an avian girl was running beside her engaging in some kind of girl talk, and across from him was a familiar golden brown fox who was benching quite a bit of weight. Falco wiped the sweat from his face as he walked over to the vulpine that was also drenched in sweat...
"Think we'll find this guy Fox?" He asked as Fox set the weights back on the hooks above him.
Fox wiped himself off with his own sweat towel, "Of course we will...I'd just like to know how he did that with the buildings."
"Search me...but he had to be moving hella fast to do it."
"Yeah no shit..." Fox replied, "...it looked like he sped up all at once."
Falco sighed, "I know...he wasn't being serious at any time during the chase...He was just playing with us."
"You noticed that too huh?"
Just then something struck Falco, "Say where's Krys? She usually dose this with us...feels odd not having her here."
"Good question..." Fox said pressing a button on his wrist communicator, "Hey Krys where are you?"
There was a hesitant moment before she answered, "I just needed some fresh air...I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Right...but next time take someone with you..." Fox said a bit worriedly, "...this place is not a laid back as are a lot of muggers and rapists out at night here."
"Thanks for the concern...but I've handled my share of both." She replied, "Just hold on and I'll be there soon."
As her voice cut out Falco snickered at Fox, "Remind me never to get married."
"Why is that?" Fox asked.
"Seems to me like the only thing you do now is worry about her..."
"Well yeah...she's my wife of course I worry about her." Fox said standing up.
Falco smiled as he changed the subject, "So...you two thinking about have'n any kids?"
Fox smiled as he realized that Falco was trying to embarrass him, "It's come up...we just aren't too sure about it at the time."
"A kit from you and her..." Falco thought out loud, "...be one cocky little bastard."
Fox scoffed at the thought, "Yeah...right wait until you have one...talk about cocky."
Falco shrugged his shoulder...it was true what could he say?...
"Hey when you're right you're right." Falco replied.
Then a laughing voice shot through the communicator, "You know this thing's still on." Krystal laughed.
"Shit!" Fox shouted as he turned the thing off.
Krystal was still smiling as she walked toward the hotel, "You're lucky you're so cute Fox..."
When time rolled around Sword headed out to the hanger he'd been instructed to...46D wasn't all that far from his motel if not but a few miles. It was however during the walk that a thought dawned on him..."I need a car."...It was a clear thought that often got to him, getting around at night by rooftop was one thing but, walking everywhere was quickly becoming his least favorite part of the day. It took him, roughly half an hour to reach the hanger. It was a newer building almost dome-like with an opened roof. He walked inside where he found the place to be massive, it was holding five ships at the moment but by the look could hold at least sixty. There were parts of ships just about everywhere and just before him was an old cargo ship. It was relatively large, with a squared body that sloped near the front forming the cockpit, it's ass end was a cluster of small thrusters, and there were several wings along it's sides that most likely folded outward on take off. Near the ship Dallas stood waving him in...
"Good you're here on time..." The raccoon said shaking Sword's hand, "...for now all you need to do is load these crates into the cargo bay, which is the big opened door on the side of this ship." He said pointing to a load of rather large crates then to the open door near the end of his ship.
Sword walked up to one of the crates that was a bit bigger than he was, "Now there's a hover dolly near the..."
He cut himself off as Sword hoisted the crate off the ground and carried it to the ship where he set it inside and came back for another...
"Or you...could just carry them." He said in a disbelieving tone.
The job took almost two hours, by Sword's count there were...58 of these crates, each was several hundred pounds but, he put it off as if this were average strength as he sat each crate inside the ship. There was however some writing that made him a bit curios; printed on their sides in large white letters were the words "Property of the Cornerian Military". As Dallas was gone for the time being Sword sneaked into the cargo bay and activated the terminal he found near a small grappling arm. He kept his mind scanning the area for Dallas's thoughts while he scanned over the intended destination of the cargo...
"Hmmm...odd this says the shipment is assigned to go to Venom...not Corneria by order of..." He cut himself off as he sensed Dallas was near. Who he met as he hopped out of the cargo bay.
"Done already?" The raccoon asked.
Sword responded with a thumbs up and a smile, a smile that got a bit bigger as Dallas set a large roll of credits in his hand...
"Good job...I'll see you again in a few weeks."
Sword didn't stick around long, he had a mess of things to do. He'd need new clothes, although that wouldn't help him since his fur was so oddly colored. They'd nearly caught him today...and had she decided to Krystal probably could have, he could tell how strong her mind was, and her telepathy was as strong if not stronger than his own...but for some reason she just wanted to know the truth, Falco on the other hand seemed to want nothing more than to prove that he could catch Sword. As he thought about it Sword couldn't help but wonder if this avian was going to try again in the future...he really did enjoy the chase and hoped that they'd have another little chase sometime soon. He made sure to pay for his room for the night before heading into town, the only shop he'd buy clothes at was owned by a young vixen that was always making eyes at him...though his only reason for shopping there was because she only watched him, she didn't bombard him with pointless questions. To be honest he found her infatuation to be a little flattering...and at times a bit humorous as the slightest smile at her turned her white furred face a shade of red he'd never seen before. The store however was a bit far from the motel, in fact to buy time he did something he rarely had in the city...he called a cab...
The small bright yellow hover-car stopped in front of the motel and Sword quickly boarded it. Thankfully the cabbie wasn't a big talker. He asked for a destination, which Sword wrote down and handed to him, and that was pretty much it until they reached the store...
"That'll be 34 credits pal."
Sword reached into his pocket an handed the cabbie a bit more than the fare...which the cat took with an acceptant smile. The building he now stood in front of was a department mall, and the store he wanted was about six floors up. He entered through the glass doors to the thankful notion that there was almost nobody there, but there was a strong mental feeling in the food court that he now stood in. It was a large round room with black and white tiled floors and it's outer edge was surrounded with different food stands, the center of the room was nothing but tables and chairs. He opened his mind just enough to search out this strong feeling...
The first thought that hit him was from a food stand, "Shit!! Oh well what they don't know..."
"Well no more food from the teriyaki bar..." Sword said to himself.
Then another hit him a...stressed one, "Alright just hit the register and get out...nobody gets hurt and you get paid."
As he heard this particular thought he noticed it's origin. On the other side of the seating area was a large potted tree next to a pillar, which a lone black furred echidna leaned against, his tattered clothes stated that he possibly hadn't eaten a decent meal or slept in a decent bed in some time. Sword pulled out a large amount of money...as he had earlier noticed that for some reason he'd been overpaid...and walked up to the echidna and looked him in the eyes holding out the money. The ragged animal tried to take it only to be stopped by Sword's tight grip...
The echidna seemed confused until Sword reached out his open hand and motioned for the animal to give him something, while keeping a serious look on his face. When the animal did not reply Sword pointed at his pocket and snapped his fingers returning his hand to it's position. The now stunned echidna reached into his pocket and took out a small blaster which he placed in Sword's waiting hand. Sword smiled and released the money, then he placed the blaster in his own pocket and walked toward the elevators that were right down the hall. He entered the lift and pressed the glowing button for his desired floor. It was a sad thought about what he'd just seen, the poor creature was only hungry and cold...but it was all in the past now. As he got off on the sixth floor he stopped by a trash bin where he took out the blaster...he removed the plasma cartridge and disposed of both parts before walking the short distance to the small store. The vixen that owned the store always stayed opened late...by 8 o'clock most stores were shut down here but she kept hers opened for some reason. Her store was small indeed, only half of what the others were, it was marked by a hanging sign over the door that read "K's apparel"...
There was a bell tied to the inside of the door handle as a warning of someone coming in, the room was a slight semi-circle with racks of clothes all about the place and some hanging from the walls. Against the wall to his right was a check out conter where a snow white tali was swishing back and forth from behind it rather low to the ground. He walked up to the spot where the appendage was. He smiled at the sight of his friend on all fours searching for something she'd obviously dropped. From where he was standing Sword could tell she was wearing a pair of slightly tight shorts that reached to the mid point of her thighs, and did a good job showing off her nicely shaped backside...
"There you are." She finally said sitting up onto her knees and placing a gold ring on her pinkie finger
She stood and stepped back causing her head to bump into Sword's chest, the sudden impact caused her to jump away and let out a loud shriek of surprise, that faded into a rather angered face as she turned to see Sword standing there chuckling under his breath...
"The hell is wrong with you!? You scared the shit outta me!"
"Sorry...but I couldn't help it."
He actually liked the idea that he had slipped up long ago and accidentally said something to her before, she was well aware that he was telepathic and often spent her time just thinking what she wanted to say...that way nobody else could hear their talk. As she stood there he noticed she looked a bit different than usual; she was wearing her hair, which was as white as her fur, in a long pony tail, her big light green eyes were highlighted by a dark eye liner, and for the most part she was wearing a rather tight sky blue t-shirt that showed off her rather impressive breasts, there was a gold bracelet on each of her wrists, and she was wearing a pair of sandals that tied around her calves...
"What are you all dolled up for?" Sword asked looking her over.
"Well if you must know...I was waiting for a date but...he's been late for over an hour." She said with a sigh, "Guess I got dressed up for nothing."
Sword looked her over again, "Why dress like this? I liked the way you were before."
"It's just the style." She replied with a smile as she spun around.
"No offense...but it looks more like an advertisement...don't change yourself for anyone Angel...if he doesn't like you for who you are then he doesn't deserve you."
Angel let out a long sigh, "Maybe you're right...but he was soooo cute."
Angel turned her head as she saw Sword smile, but her face still took the light red hue that he found so attractive...
"Oh well..." She replied, "...are you doing anything tonight?"
The question caught him off guard, she was usually so timid, "What?"
"Well my date skipped out on me and I have nothing to do after I close up...you know the food court closes pretty late."
He smiled again causing her usual reaction, "Alright but...only if you're the one with me...not this..." He agreed pointing to her.
For about half an hour she showed him through all her newest clothes; he bought several new shirts and pairs of pants as well as a pair of round lensed black shades with gold frames, though she protested against hiding his blue eyes. While he was looking around she had used one of the dressing rooms to change, she was now wearing a pair of light gray jeans and a t-shirt that hid her figure a bit better than before, her sandles were replaced by her usual black and white high top sneakers, she'd also removed the make up from her face...as agreed she changed back to the usual her, so he took her to the food court for dinner...
They found a seat near the middle of the seating area, she ordered their food from a pizza stand, as he couldn't physically talk and most tended to freak out when he did talk to them...they just seemed to have a problem with a disembodied voice in their head. Angel bought back the pizza after a few minutes and set it on their table...
"So...how's that night life treating you?" She thought to herself knowing he'd hear it.
Sword was just glad she didn't say it out loud, "Not good..." He replied as he picked a slice of the pizza and began to eat, "I killed a cop yesterday...Now that Star Fox team's on my tail."
She seemed a little excited at the mention of the famous group, "Really...did you meet them?"
"Just the blue vixen...Krystal right?"
"Really what was she like?"
Sword thought for a minute, "Frighteningly similar to you...just blue and a little...well less curvy."
Angel made a quaint little smile at him, "Did you just compliment my figure?"
"If you want to take it that way sure..." Sword replied, "...anyhow she saw right through me, knew about the Shadow thing and all, but most of all she was kind and understanding...not half as pretty as you in my opinion though."
"Well thank you for your honest opinion...but..." Angel started, "...I've read magazines and seen t.v interviews that declared her the most beautiful girl in Lylat."
"Different people different opinion...sure she's beautiful and all but...I don't know, she just doesn't appeal to me."
Angel scoffed a bit, "Well...that was blunt."
"No point in holding back..." He replied noticing the time, "...but we should get going...it's getting late and I have drugs to put a stop to."
"Right...I was having so much fun I'd forgotten about your nightlife."
"Right then...I'll walk you home." Sword replied standing up.
Her place was only down the street several blocks, a nice little apartment that seemed to fit her lifestyle in a pretty average building. He often walked her home when he visited the store, of course looking the way she did, she was a constant target for the rapists that lurked in the nightly shadows. Luckily Sword had taught her to defend herself from these attacks with a small square device that she always carried now; there never was much to know about using a tazer but, he did teach her the best spots in which to shock someone...especially men. There was a growing chill in the air one that never did bother Sword but seemed to bother Angel a bit though not much, she took hold of Sword's arm and pulled him close hoping to gather some of his body heat, this act made Sword blush a bit though you couldn't tell with his red fur...but he could feel the heat in his face...
"Hey...I got a question." Angel suddenly said.
"And what might that be?"
"You remember how we met right?"
Sword recalled the occasion, he'd only lived in the city for about two weeks and was looking for a place to eat late at night. As he rounded a corner he could hear a scream coming from a nearby alley, as he walked by he could make out only her white figure in the shadows being assaulted by four figures. He remembered that at first he didn't want to get involved but then he heard it...
"Please...help me!!"
Her scream was full of fear, he couldn't explain why but the sound filled him with a type of rage that caused his blades to become fully erect on their own. The savagery that followed was over before Angel could realize what was happening. She opened her eyes to realize the massive state of gore that lay around her, her white fur was stained as red as her savior's from all the blood that spat from the deep wounds the blades had carved into the four animals, some had even severed appendages and other body parts, while others lay entrails onto the cold ground. It was then that she noticed her rescuer standing with his back to her a large, curved, blood-soaked blade protruding from each elbow...that was also the day he spoke to her...
"You okay..."
He snapped out of his thoughts as he heard her voice, "Hey you okay in there?"
"Sorry...a little lost in thought I guess. Anyhow you were saying something?"
Angel smiled, "Yeah about that day...why'd you help me? Several people passed as that was happening and none even looked my way. You on the other hand reacted so fast that I didn't even see you kill them."
Sword thought about it for a moment, "To be honest at first I thought of leaving the situation be...but...then I heard you scream for help and something snapped inside of me...I no longer had control of my emotions, all I could feel was rage, not the feel of their fresh blood against my skin, or the remorse for slaughtering them all, all I felt at that moment was the need to protect you."
"Wait you were gonna leave me?" Angel started.
"I thought of it for a brief moment...you see I couldn't bring any attention to the fact that I was on this planet."
Angel looked a bit concerned now, "Are...are you running from someone?"
"Technically I'm hiding." He replied, "You've no doubt heard of an organization called "OMNI" they've been after me for some years now. I'd like to tell you more but, I really would rather not put you in danger."
"But OMNI is no danger to anyone...they deal in computer goods and ship parts."
Sword sighed inwardly, "Just keep thinking that...you'll be safe."
As they finally reached her house she approached the front door...
"You know I really had a good time and we should..." Angel cut herself off as she turned to face an empty street, her date, as it were had vanished, "...do this again." She finished to herself, "He dose that way too often."
Sword now watched her from a nearby rooftop, "Sorry kid...but I have things to do tonight.". With those words he quickly vanished into the shadows and headed back to his room. It was almost ten o'clock, he had to get to the streets soon or the dealers might find refuge after learning of Giovanni's death. Unfortunately his room proved to be occupied as he entered, he now had on his coat and mask when he spoke to the person trying to hide in the shadows of the lightless room...
"Breaking and entering is a crime you know?"
The blue vixen stepped out into view, "So is murder."
"Look we could argue semantics all night...but, I have work to do." Sword said as he headed to the window.
"Wait!" Krystal said grabbing his arm, "They wouldn't listen...Fox believes me but says that a crime is a crime...there's..."
"No justification to murder...I know." Sword finished for her, "...but when justice fails to prevail we must take matters into our own hands."
Before she could reply he fell from the window, she rushed to the opened window but, he was nowhere to be seen. As he figured Falco would be patrolling the rooftops after their little footrace, he stuck to the shadows of the alleys; this would also give him access to most of the lower level dealers that...any one of them could lead him to the one he was looking for but one in particular stuck to his mind. A lowlife rat named Garex, he was small bodied, and even smaller minded, yet he tried to put off that he was bigger than he was, the vermin was for the most part proud of himself...he'd tried to kill Sword a number of times and always managed to get away, this time things seemed to work out a bit differently however. As he reached the base of the building that was Garex's known safe house he could make out a low voice coming from an open window several floors up...
That was Garex's voice alright...it had a dull rasp from a time when he was stabbed in the throat with an ice pick...Sword found it a bit amusing as when pissed off his voice tended to whistle. At this point however the rat was simply ranting on and on to another person about how he wasn't afraid of Sword and that Gio had just gotten careless. Then something really made Sword laugh...
"I wish that son of a bitch was here right now I'd..."
The brown furred rat's latest rant was cut off as he noticed the frightened look on his subordinate's face, who was staring at the window...the drabbily dressed rat spun about to see Sword's masked figure sitting in the window sill in a lackadaisical manner...
"Don't stop on my account Garex this is an interesting story...you'd what?..." Sword's disembodied voice echoed into the back of the rat's mind.
"What the fuck do you want?!" Garex demanded his voice involuntarily whistling after every other syllable.
The rat's face had some questionable differences from the last time they'd met, a patch of brown fur was missing from the side of his head where almost a complete ear was missing. He was wearing his normal attire a long gray coat he seemed to never take off, with raggedy jeans and a torn white under shirt.
Sword stood up and took a step forward, "Just a little information...that's all, then you and your friend here can go back to whatever you do in your spare time..."
"What kind of information?"
The blades form Sword's elbows made an eerie scraping sound as their tips peeked over his shoulders, "The kind that's worth a lot more than your life." Sword said with a smile. "Now then where's Tio...little snot rag's been in hiding ever since I almost killed him last summer. Leave it to rats like you to find the most barren, unseen parts of the city to hide."
A cocky sneer crossed the rat's face, "So can't find my cousin can ya?..."
"Not yet...but I have a pretty good idea on how to make him come to me..."
Before Garex could realized what was happening a tight grip cut off his oxygen...the rat kicked and flailed about trying everything to break Sword's single handed vice around his neck but soon passed out from the lack of air. The white rat that was with Garex still refused to move from his spot even when Sword stood next to him with the limp rat still in his grip...
"Now, you listen very carefully...the abandoned hanger on star port D-19...you will tell Tio to meet me there at ! o'clock, or I send him each separate part of this lowlife."
As Sword leaped from the window he knew there'd be no turning back now...he made his way to the abandoned hanger. It was like any other hanger but, it was rusty and condemned...large panels were missing and this hanger happened to belong to Sword, he claimed it from a drug lord some time ago, the premises was booby trapped in a way only Sword himself would know the way in. Inside the hanger was empty accept for a single Wolfen class fighter that Sword kept nearby...just in case. Garex awoke screaming to no avail as he realized he was hanging from a service crane about two stories off the ground, his arms were tied to his sides. Far below him he could make out the figure of his captor sitting atop the Wolfen below...
"You'll never get away with this!...Tio'll be here soon and..."
Sword rose his head enough to see the fidgeting rat, "I'm counting on his arrival..." Sword cut him off, "...as well you should be. Because you haven't got much of a bright future otherwise."
"You think I'm afraid of fall'n from here?!" Garex yelled.
Sword smiled as he pressed a small button causing the rope around Garex to tighten and pull him toward the crane arm's hand where the rope was fed through a small pulley, "Who said I was going to drop you?" Sword asked with a chuckle, "If he doesn't show up this device will feed the rope holding you through that pulley...and you with it. Doesn't that sound like a lot more fun?"
Now Garex was paranoid the idea of being pulled through the small wheel didn't seem too fun. He knew that Tio would come, unfortunately that was what Sword wanted so Garex didn't know whether or not that was a good thing now. The time seemed to drag on forever before there was a loud explosion outside that rattled the building's foundation...
"Sounds like company has arrived..." Sword's ghostly voice crept through the rat's skull.
Before Garex could look down to Sword the fox had vanished into the shadows. Sword waited in the seclusion of the darkness where he remained hidden until a slightly taller rat walked through the missing double doors of the hanger...this rat was a smokey gray color with a black muzzle, his blue three piece suit and long hair were both very well kept. This manicured rat turned toward the door and signaled to someone. Another figure walked in, much larger, a horse with a black mane of hair and a reddish-brown fur, he was much taller and more muscular than Sword or the rats, and held to his side by a single massive arm was a familiar vixen with snow white fur...a sharp blade was held to her throat...
"Tio! Help!" Garex yelled.
"Hang on Garex we'll get you down in just a minute." Tio reassured his cousin, "Now listen up Shadow!" He yelled into the darkness, "We know who you are! And if you're smart I wouldn't suggest trying anything heroic or Stalyon here may nick something vital!" He pointed to the large horse holding Angel at knife point.
"Thought never crossed my mind." Sword's voice rang seemed to come form all around them.
"Then what say you let this moron go and your little girlfriend here'll live to see her next birthday."
"Take him..." Sword's voice said only to Tio this time, "He's served his purpose."
Tio managed to get to the crane before he heard a muffled sound followed by the thud of Stalyon's large body hitting the metal floor, his body was set in a fit of convulsions as a stab wound in his neck fountained blood into the air. Tio shrugged the loss he could hire hundreds of men that size. Soon he and his cousin began to walk toward the doors before a large metal structure fell in place over the doorless opening casting the entire room into perpetual darkness. Tio quickly pulled a blaster from his coat...though he couldn't see five feet in front of his face...
"Coward come out and fight me!" Tio yelled.
An almost sadistic laughter cut through the rats's heads, "Now why would I do that so quickly?" Sword's voice followed the laugh, "I'd rather ask you something."
"What!?"
"A simple riddle...answer it correctly and you won't die." Sword's voice continued.
Tio faltered for a moment before putting away his blaster, "No tricks? I answer...we leave...right?"
"That's it..." Sword replied, "Listen up now: I am nothing, yet my presence is everywhere, I am that which the light can never illuminate."
"What kind of riddle is that?" Tio asked in a frustrated voice.
"One that has an answer."
In that instance Tio saw was appeared to be two small green circles that were lit by what little moonlight there was in the room. An obvious sign that Sword had nocturnal vision as most foxes did to some extent or other. Sword was simply waiting for the moment that Tio would get the riddle wrong, he didn't care that they'd been debating among themselves just what the answer was...he was certain they'd fail anyway. After an hour was up Sword was growing tired of the silence...
"How dose it feel?" Sword asked. "Fear I mean. You see I've never known fear...but right now you must be terrified, you could drop dead at any moment and not a soul that mattered would come looking for you."
His words stuck, Tio could no longer think of the riddle, "Just shut up and fight me!" He finally yelled.
Tio froze as a hot breath struck the side of his face and the cold edge of a blade pressed lightly into his throat...
"I am...The Darkness."
Garex couldn't see anything even as he heard Tio scream just before his voice went deathly silent. He froze as a hand came to rest on his shoulder, the breath that grazed his ear carried a grim chill, to him it was no less than the tough of death's frigid hand. His body began to shake involuntarily as his mind prepared him for what was to come but...nothing happened. Sword was halted by Angel who'd taken him by his arm...
"Please...no more killing. Just turn him in Please."
Her pleas were enough, and Sword's erect blades slowly sank back into their sheathes. There were tears in the vixen's eyes...she'd seen enough death, and Sword hoped that it would be the last she'd ever see. As Garex realized what was happening he let out a long heavy sigh of relief, the vixen was an angel of mercy sent to spare his life...
"You should thank the lady..." Sword said, "...After you wake up."
Sword's words were cut off as a heavy fist struck Garex in the back of the head forcing him into an unconscious state. As soon as he got home Sword would call in and turn him in...but for now he just wanted to get Angel home...his service for the night had been done. The area's Hype man was dead and the other would be in prison for some time. Now his thoughts were placed back on Fox and his team, who were going to try capturing him again eventually, but for tonight he could at least sleep well.
A/N: I will begin updating this asap...well as soon as I can get over my writer's block. I did some serious rework on this chapter as well as chapter 1.
