AN – Well here is chapter two of my Star Fox story, I hope that the first chapter (for those who read it) was enjoyable.
Though truth be told I was hoping for more of a response then the single review I had gotten about the story. But I suppose since star fox is a pretty old series (most recent game released in 2006), I shouldn't be surprised that I didn't get a lot of responses. Still a bit unfortunate, but I'll deal.
Anyway here is chapter two, right where last chapter left off...enjoy!
I don't own star fox.
STAR FOX - normal speech
STAR FOX - thinking
Chapter 2: Who are you?
Fox's Arwing screamed across sky and space, his muscles reacting on pure instinct reverting back to the ace pilot he had once been. As the Great Fox grew closer in proximity, Fox's thoughts twisted in his mind as nervousness gripped his heart. He landed haphazardly in the docking bay of the aging warship, jumped out and sprinted to the bridge, his lungs burning for air he moved so fast.
"ROB tell me you have the warp-gates!" He shouted, flipping into the captain's chair.
"Affirmative..." The robot replied before turning from the controls of the bridge. "...the fifteen ships you had tracked have entered ten different warp-gates."
Hearing this Fox, thought back to the meeting he had with Kursed...trying to recall ANY hint that would aid him in finding out which gate she would have used.
The idea suddenly hit him like a blaster to the face. "ROB of those ten warp-gates...which ones have a bounty station close by?"
Hearing the inquiry, the robot turned back and began typing into the computer, with a very impatient vulpine watching on.
After a minute the robot stopped typing and turned back. "Of the ten warp-gates...only three have a bounty station within the same system."
Fox looked a bit relieved at this. "Which systems are they?"
"The Solar...Angel and...Lylat Systems."
Fox narrowed his eyes. "Well the Solar System is off-limits to us thanks to the alliance with the humans so that's out." He mused. "The Angel System despite its name is hostile towards anyone and anything that enters it. So that bounty station is for that system's lone use, that's a no go too." He continued. "And even Lylat is unfriendly to Krystal because of her leaving Star Fox..." He paused as his eyes narrowed. "...but it would still be the least dangerous. I mean if I couldn't recognize her straight out...I doubt others in Lylat will." He concluded, before turning to ROB. "ROB set a course for the warp-gate back to Lylat."
"Affirmative." The robot confirmed typing the coordinates into the computer.
"Please be right." He prayed as he felt the ship's engines engage.
It was an excruciating hour later that the Great Fox appeared back in the Lylat System via warp-gate. Fox wasted no time and was already running down the corridors to reach his Arwing.
"ETA for contact with bounty station...three minutes." He heard ROB's voice through the loud speakers.
Fox said nothing, and finally reached the docking bay to prep his ship for take off. He was in the cockpit typing away at the mini-computer, when he spoke out.
"ROB?"
"Yes Fox?"
"I want you to track any ships that leave the station from this point on, we entered the warp gate a little less than thirty minutes after Krystal. However because of all the red tape that comes with bounties it should still be another ten minutes before she gets her money and leaves." He explained.
"Affirmative...all ships with be tracked from this point on."
Fox finished the last preparations for take off as the cockpit closed. "Keep me informed ROB, I'm headin' out!" He announced before punching the throttle, as the engine and G-Diffusers hummed to life before rocketing him into deep space.
Fox got the necessary clearance to land in the port of the bounty station, and jumped out of the cockpit the moment the wheels of his landing gear stopped. He rushed through the hallways until he hit the main hub of the station where it reminded Fox of a business district on Corneria. There were slews of stores running along the walls of the station ranging from motels, to clothing, to food all made for the bounty hunter profession. Knowing that if he made a scene by running through the station Krystal might notice and run away...he was forced to head to the bounty collection agency in a fast walk. His eyes darted left and right looking for the blur furred vixen, but found nothing. His heart pounded louder, as nervousness began to grip him the closer and closer he got to the collection agency.
He finally reached his destination and surveyed the hunters in it, but still couldn't find her. He stepped inside and went to the only available collection agent.
The agent saw him and smiled. "Welcome to the bounty collection agency, I'll need your hunter account number before we can begin." The red avian requested.
"I'm not a bounty hunter...I just need information about one."
The agent's beak curved into a frown. "I'm sorry sir, you may not be aware of this but giving out hunter information to anyone, especially a civilian, is against the rules."
Fox's eyes narrowed in frustration. "FINE! Can you at least tell me if a hunter by the name of Kursed was here in the last hour!? She is a dark blue furred vixen wearing a red spacesuit."
The Hawk shook his head. "I'm sorry sir that information is still in the purview of breaking the..."
The sound of the bird's skull smashing into the wooden desk, stopped his answer mid-sentence. The cry of pain, loud crack of wood, and animalistic growl emanating from Fox forced all nearby attention on the vulpine and Hawk which now had Fox's blaster pressed hard against his temple.
"I don't have the time for your damn red tape...either you tell me now or..."
"Hey whats going on here!?" A loud boisterous though feminine voice roared in annoyance.
All attention was now on the tan furred vixen coming out of the manager's office. She immediately saw the situation and ran up to them, her hand already on the grip of her own blaster.
"HEY YOU! GET YOUR PAWS OFF..." Her voice trailed off when her eyes met Fox's. "...F...Fox?"
Fox's eyes dilated in recognition and both grips on his blaster and head of the agent loosened. "F..Fara?"
The vixen broke out into a huge smile. "My Inari...Fox McCloud...I haven't seen you since.." She paused to think about it. "...the last testing of the X2OA Arwing, that your team used in the Lylat wars!" She said in happiness, heading towards Fox before hugging him.
Fox was just as surprised to see one of his best friends on a bounty station as well. The last time they saw each other was as she said, he was just coming into the command of Star Fox, and she was the Cornerian Army's chief test pilot. He hugged the vixen back, and smiled despite the situation he was just in...it was good to see a friendly face after so long.
They released one another a minute later, with Fara looking at Fox up and down. "You've grown up Fox.. How have you been? What have you been up to after the Angler invasion?" She questioned in rapid-fire succession.
"Miss Phoenix...aren't you going to have him arrested for what he did?" The now free avian questioned angrily, massaging the side of his face that hit the desk.
Fara turned to her worker with an 'are you serious?' expression. "Do you have any idea who this is!? This is Fox McCloud, a furry who helped save this system from destruction and enslavement countless times! And you want me to have him arrested!?" She questioned in disbelief, before leveling a glare at the Hawk. "Get back to work before you're out of a job!" She ordered heatedly.
The bird gulped and did as was told. "You didn't have to be so harsh Fara...he was right. I over reacted because of my emotions when he was simply doing his job." Fox defended.
Fara turned, her glare now focused on Fox. "Yes I know...so I will kindly ask you to not man-handle my subordinates or next time I will HAVE to press charges...hero or no." She countered, making Fox squirm slightly in guilt. "Now what exactly could set off the calm, and cool demeanor of the famous Fox McCloud?"
Fox's eyes glazed over with sadness. "Unfortunately Fara I don't have the time to explain the situation. I need your help finding a bounty hunter!"
Fara could hear in Fox's voice how serious and nervous he was, and he wouldn't ask something so illegal if he didn't REALLY need the information.
"Come into my office." She commanded, and headed for it with Fox behind her. "Now who is the bounty hunter you're looking for?" She questioned once the door to her office was closed, and had rounded her large oak desk.
"Her name is Kursed...I believe that she just came here to get the bounty off some dog furry. She is a blue..."
He paused when Fara put her hand up in a 'stop' motion. "I know who she is...and you're right she WAS here. I was actually the one who handled her transaction."
Fox's expression turned to one of relief and hope. "HOW LONG AGO WAS SHE HERE!?" He shouted.
From Fox's reaction Fara could tell this was about more than just business...this was something personal to him and she wanted to know why.
"I answered your question Fox...now answer mine. Why is she so important to find?"
Fox's body twitched impatiently, his eyes pleading to just give him the information he wanted. "Fara I don't have the time!" He urged, his breaths coming out in upset pants.
Her eyes narrowed defiantly. "Then make time, or that is all you'll learn! The way you're reacting is completely unlike you...and its worrying me Fox. I want to know why this Kursed is so important!" She countered.
Hearing the concern in her voice, Fox forcibly calmed himself down, and looked away from his long time friend. "Its because Kursed...is Krystal."
Fara's eyes widened, as everything made sense now. "T...That can't be! I just saw her and I'll admit she resembles Krystal a little but Kursed is the complete opposite of what I've heard Krystal was like!" She debated, and while having never met Krystal personally she knew enough about the vixen from rumors, stories, and the swarm of media stories after Star Wolf was announced as the saviors of Lylat from the Angler invasion forces.
Fox's shoulders slumped. "I know how crazy it may seem...but I know..." He paused to look back into Fara's eyes. "...I KNOW its her."
Fara didn't know what to say, but she knew no matter what Fox needed to see Kursed again to verify the truth for himself. "I'll help you Fox..." She announced, and heard Fox give a whispered 'thank you'. "...she actually left only a few minutes before you probably got here."
"Then there is still time!" He mentally cried, and ran to the door.
"Fox!" She shouted, stopping him in his tracks. "Her assigned dock is C4! However if she is already gone...you can find her on Titania. She told me that if I needed to contact her about a bounty that she had a hideout there.".
Fox smiled. "Thank you Fara...thank you so much. No matter what happens...I'll come back here and we'll catch up." He promised and left before she had a chance to say anything.
Fara smiled wistfully where Fox just stood. "Go get her Fox." She mentally cheered, having known from several sources that Fox and Krystal were once deeply in love, despite neither confessing it and having the falling out they later had.
Fox zigzagged through the crowd of bounty hunters, knocking into several but not stopping to apologize. As he rushed past the sign indicating dock C4 he repeated 'Please be there' in his mind like a mantra. He could see the blast doors which led to the dock several yards ahead of him, before he skidded to a stop with the doors automatically opening.
"FUCK!" He cursed...Kursed's ship was gone.
He clicked his tongue against his teeth in annoyance, before remembering what Fara told him. He wasted no time and headed towards the dock containing his Arwing.
"ROB!" He called out, having opened his communicator while running.
"Yes Fox?"
"I want you to hack into the station's records and track the ship that was parked in dock C4 ten minutes ago. I also want the Great Fox to head to Titania, and I'll rendezvous with you in it's orbit."
"Affirmative."
Fox reached his Arwing several minutes later, and blasted out of the bounty station, his engine running at maximum for Titania. Once again Fox could only stew in his thoughts and feelings until he finally reached his destination and saw the Great Fox as well as the sand-colored planet. As much as he wanted to just fly through the planet's atmosphere and search for her...he knew it would be far more dangerous and time consuming to do so. Instead he docked back up with the flag ship and headed towards the bridge.
"ROB, report!"
The robot turned from the console. "Tracking the ship designated 'Silent Phantom' from dock C4 of the bounty station was a success. The G-Diffusers's emissions left a trail which led to our current location."
Fox nodded. "Good...show me the emission's trail on the view screen." He ordered, as the robot pressed a few buttons.
The view screen hummed, before it showed the view that the bridge currently had of outer space. Suddenly a light blue trail began to form snaking its way across the screen and dropping into Titania's atmosphere.
"Well that certainly makes searching for her easier." Fox mused, now knowing her general location on the hazardous planet.
"ROB, from where the emission's trail ends on the planet I want you to find the safest landing spot in that quadrant for my Arwing."
The sound of typing, was the robot's answer to Fox's order. "The emissions ended in quadrant 26...the largest ruins of the species which had once colonized Titania. The closest 'safe' landing zone is five miles from where the emissions stopped, indicating the 'Silent Phantom's engine was shut down."
Fox grunted in frustration...fives miles wasn't that far, however on a planet with such a hazardous environment like Titania it may as well be fifty miles.
"Very well...input that information into my Arwing." He ordered before leaving the bridge.
He reached his Arwing and began the prep for launch, happy that his ship was fueled up again, having expended nearly all of it to get to Titania. He was ready to leave and about to press the throttle, however a thought hit him, and opened up the comm's link.
"ROB?"
"Yes fox?"
"Keep track of the Silent Phantom...if I'm still gone and it takes off let me know."
"Affirmative"
With that Fox punched the throttle and shot like an arrow into Titania's atmosphere following ROB's flight plan. Fox mentally complimented ROB when his landing gear touched the sandy surface of Titania. The descent and even landing were as smooth as he could have ever hoped considering the howling sandstorms which devastated the planet every few days. He got out of the cockpit and wrapped his cloak around his body for what little protection it would allow in the harsh environment.
He pressed his comm's link button on his wrist. "ROB? How is the link?"
Some static came in before he heard the robot's voice. "Signal strength at 94%"
He nodded at the reading. "Good...then from my location which way is the Silent Phantom?"
Some more static entered the comm. "The Silent Phantom is 4.85 miles northeast of your current location."
Fox clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Well that's a bit less than anticipated anyway." He thought before heading out in the necessary direction.
It had taken Fox about three hours to traverse the nearly five miles of the desert-like conditions that made up Titania's surface. In the general area of where the Silent Phantom landed, he noticed the many ruins of a city which once stood there.
"This would certainly be a perfect place to make a hideout...the ruins can act as a defense against attack, obstacles for enemies while retreating, and camouflage for attacks. Not only that but if you repaired some of the less destroyed ruins they could act as a suitable living area." He mused while keeping an eye out, until he found what he had been looking for.
Several hundred yards away Fox could see the Silent Phantom with a camouflaging tarp over it. From the sky it would look just like the terrain around it. And considering only a crazy person would leave a ship to go searching a place like Titania on foot, where the camouflage wouldn't protect the ship, the tarp gave a nearly perfect defense from searches.
Fox chuckled to himself. "Suppose that includes me."
Knowing he was close, and not wanting to take chances, he took out his blaster, but kept it hidden under his cloak. He approached the ship cautiously, keeping his head on a swivel in case Kursed knew he was here and tried something. He reached the ship, and smiled in triumph seeing his dried blood on the hull, taking away any remaining doubts that this was the wrong ship. He checked the cockpit and found Kursed gone, though stayed inside to take advantage of the ship's infrared scanner. He smiled when the scanner showed a lone figure about a hundred yards out. He left the ship and raced in the direction of the heat signature. When he reached the place the signature originated, he whistled lowly in his mind.
"Well that's one way to make yourself at home." He mused, seeing the vastly refurbished ruins before him.
It seemed that Kursed's admittance to a 'hideout' to Fara was putting it mildly. The place looked like a mansion...albeit a run down mansion...but a mansion nonetheless. And considering the half dozen laser turrets mounted in strategic places, as well as what looked like a high-powered rail-gun mounted on the top of the building it looked more like a fortress than anything.
"Son of a bitch..." He cursed under his breath. "...when Krystal doesn't want people to find her she REALLY doesn't want people to find her."
Fox being a fighter for as long as he had been knew that observation was the key. He looked around and found several rocks in the sand. He picked them up, and tested the laser turrets by throwing them one at a time in different directions...no rock survived.
"No real surprise there..." He mused. "...though clearly those turrets aren't top of the line, if they were I wouldn't even be standing here. They must be older models because of their shorter range of targeting." He grabbed a dozen more rocks before sighing. "Well I just hope I haven't lost my touch." He preyed to himself.
Fox closed his eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them, determination now shining in them. Then he throw the all the rocks into the turret's target range, and made a mad dash for a door of the mansion a moment afterward. Fox's ear's twitched each time he heard a rock explode from a blast, as he kept running towards the door.
"Four..." He counted down the remaining rocks getting that much closer o the door. "...three..." He noticed one of the turrets target him as he sidestepped the laser. "...two..." He felt another turret target him, so he unhooked his cloak and jumped from under it's protection with the blast shooting through the clothing. "...one!" He made a dive towards the door, though felt the heat of a laser graze his leg.
Fox crashed through the door, nearly pulling it off it's hinges, as he tumbled on the ground several times until he stopped now lying on his back, his feet pointed towards the door.
"I SHOULD congratulate you on being the ONLY furry out of many to have successfully breached my home..." Fox heard a familiar voice say, as he opened his eyes and once again saw a blaster pointed between his eyes, with Kursed standing above him. "...however considering I'm growing quite tired of this game of Cat and Mouse we seem to be playing McCloud, I'll allow you to live instead...for now.."
Fox couldn't quite believe it...he had actually found her again. "Krystal..." He whispered, making her arch a delicate brow.
"I do believe I said my name was Kursed." She corrected, taking the blaster from his head, allowing him to get up.
He did so, though wobbled still dizzy from the leap. "I know what you called yourself...but I know you. You ARE Krystal...the last of the Cerinians." He accused confidently.
Kursed merely looked at him for a moment before turning and took a seat in a rather luxurious looking chair.
"And what prey-tell makes you think I'm her...aside from our similar looks?"
"Your eyes..." He answered bluntly, making her tilt her head in question. "...no...not the eyes themselves...but what lies underneath them. Under your cold, heartless eyes as Kursed, I can still see the kindness and warmth you let show back when you called yourself Krystal." He explained.
Kursed scoffed harshly. "Is that ALL the evidence you have McCloud? If so I must say your investigative skills are quite lacking."
He shook his head. "I also heard your Cerinian accent when you called me Fox before you left Kew."
At this admittance, Kursed's eyes widened before all pretense of what little hospitality she had shown vanished, with her body language growing hostile. She shot up from her seat, a low threatening growl rumbling at the base of her throat, getting right into Fox's face with her ears lying flat against her head.
"Leave...NOW!" She barked harshly.
Fox was taken aback by her abrupt change. "W...What?"
Kursed's growl resounded through the room, her muzzle peeling back showing her shining fangs. "LEAVE!" She snarled.
Getting enough time to rein in his surprise, he took a defiant step forward, their snouts now barely an inch apart.
"No! I broke a promise to you once already, I'm not going to make the same stupid mistake again!"
Kursed's ears perked at this, as she took a step back. "ROX!" She yelled, making Fox tense and look around for a possible partner he didn't account for.
"Yes Kursed?" A feminine robotic voice called out from what seemed like the house itself.
Fox merely watched in surprise as Kursed spoke again. "Deactivate perimeter defenses." She ordered, and no sooner had she, did the low humming of the laser turrets from outside stop, indicating them powered down. "Fight me!" She then commanded.
Fox looked at her like she grew a second head. "What do you me..."
Fox's question was cut short as a fist smashed into his face so hard it sent him flying through the doorway he had just entered from and slid several feet through the sand before stopping.
He groaned in pain at the sucker punch. "Damn...she got stronger." He admitted, wobbly getting to his feet.
When he steadied himself, he looked up to see Kursed rushing towards him, her right arm cocked back ready for another hit. His eyes widened at seeing the fierce glint in her eyes, and had he not been such a superb hand-to-hand fighter in the Cornerian academy. he probably wouldn't have dodged the fist the was thrust at him like a spear, when Kursed reached him. She followed up with a knee to his stomach which forced him to cough and lean over. Kursed tried to knee him in his bent over snout but he recovered enough to catch the knee with his open palm, before grabbing her prone leg, and spun launching her away from him.
She landed gracefully in a crouching position in the sand. "Krystal what the hell are you doing!?" He yelled across the way, as she got up and leveled a heated glare at him.
"You said you aren't going to leave...which means I will just have to beat you until you do!"
His expression turned to shock and confusion. "Krystal, this...this is insane! I'm not going to fight you! I can't possibly fight you!" He retorted.
He heard another angry growl from her before she rushed towards him again, though now knowing the situation he was better prepared for it. As she reached him, she tried to slide across the sand to sweep his feet from under him, but he just jumped into the air. Though he quickly learned that was a mistake when he felt a fluffy appendage, which he quickly realized was her tail, grab his ankle and slam him harshly face first into the sand. He raised his face from the sand and coughed having some in his mouth and nose. He then saw an eclipsing shadow growing over him, before his eyes widened and he rolled out of the way as Kursed appeared delivering an Axe-Kick to the sand where his skull was only moments before.
He got to his feet and jumped back to get some distance between them. "Why are you not fighting back Fox McCloud? Surely the rumors of your skills as a fighter that I've heard so much about aren't just tall tales." She mocked after dusting the sand off her uniform.
The old Fox would have taken the bait, hook, line and sinker, but he wasn't the same foolish kit he had once been. His experiences and pain caused him to evolve into a more stable and mindful adult.
"Because I'm not going to fight you Krystal." He repeated.
"I told you...my name is Kursed!" She screamed and once again attacked him, however he noticed that she was faster than before, and was having a much harder time defending himself without hurting her. "Fight back McCloud!" She roared, before tackling him to the ground.
Fox grunted in pain, thanks to Kursed's extra weight pinning him down as she straddled his stomach when they landed in the hot sand. He had no time to recover as he immediately felt Kursed's fists bury themselves deeply in any opening she could find on his stomach, ribs, chest and head. Every time her fists landed, it felt like he was being hit by a sledgehammer, his flesh instantly caving in and twisting grotesquely from the inhuman strength behind them. Yet they also seemed as fast as lightning, when one fist pulled away, the other impacted him immediately, sending him deeper and deeper into the sand crater his body was forming from her attacks.
In one instance when her fist connected with his jaw he could have sworn he was going to black out. Whether it be from the immense pain in his jaw, which he immediately thought had been broken, or from whiplash when his head twisted viciously to the side from the blow. He could see the fury not only in her blazing gaze, but also her trembling body as each blow landed. It was almost as if Krystal's spirit had taken possession of Kursed's body and was now taking out all of her untapped rage on him He spit up several spurts of blood during the devastating assault, before he could concentrate enough to begin blocking. He was successful somewhat, but Kursed had him at a very obvious disadvantage with him pinned. That however changed when he turned his head at the last second from a blow that threatened to impale his head with her claws. The attack had only grazed his cheek, blood already trickling down his fur. More importantly however, her strike was so strong that her hand got stuck in the sand.
Fox took his chance, as she attempted to pry her hand free. "I won't fight back!" He defied, before grabbing the vixen's toned thighs and with all his might flipped her up and over him.
The flip did the trick, though inadvertently dislodged Kursed's hand as her back slammed onto the sand making her grunt in both surprise and pain. Fox scrambled to his feet to try and pin her down, but as he reached her had no time to react to what she did. Kursed had just pushed off the sand doing a back-flip, only for her boots to connect square in the middle of Fox's snout. He wobbled backwards, his eyes slightly watering from the blow, watching through blurry vision as Kursed finished her flip, and was once again back on her feet.. Fox wiped the blood running down his nose and knew if his snout wasn't broken by her very first punch in the mansion...it sure was now. He spit out a glob of blood, knowing that at the rate things were progressing he was going to either end up dead, or unconscious...neither appealing to him for obvious reasons He decided to attempt to end this unnecessary fighting, and bum-rushed Kursed.
Kursed saw this, and prepared herself for his attack, however was caught by surprise when only a few feet from her Fox skidded to a stop. The skid caused a wave of sand to cascade into the air heading right towards her. Her natural instincts kicked in and her arms automatically went up to protect her face from the blast of sand when it smashed into her. No sooner did the sand hit her that a paw grabbed her right wrist and pulled it painfully behind her back. At the same time an arm circled her chest, entrapping her other arm, and pulled her flush against a body. She could feel warm, labored breath tickling her ear with the same rhythm of the expanding and contracting chest pressed against her back.
Despite the situation, Fox couldn't help himself. "Inari...I missed her smell" He thought with her hair tickling his nose as he breathed...reminding him of her nearly intoxicating scent he enjoyed all those years ago.
"So is this it?" Her voice whispered, knocking him out of his pleasant thoughts. "Was this pathetic spectacle ALL the resolve the great Fox McCloud had to find the vixen he declared to find no matter what? If so, its no wonder why you haven't found her yet...and transversely the reason I won't tell you where she is!" She growled.
Her final words caused Fox's grip to loosen from surprise. "What do you...AGHH!" He began but howled in pain mid-sentence when Kursed's boot rose up straight between his legs and connected square in his groin.
Kursed jumped out of his grasp easily, as Fox fell to his knees in pain already feeling the bile rise in his throat from the pain. He tried to look up through blurry eyes, only to see seconds before Kursed's boot slam into his temple from a roundhouse kick...then he saw darkness.
AN – So there is chapter two, with the pair's first TRUE encounter and Kursed beating the shit out of Fox...not that he didn't deserve it.
Review if you like with your thoughts or comments.
