-Chapter I, A New Way of Life-
Aaaaaaaaand welcome back to CNB, that's Cerinian News Broadcast. This is your host, Rastan, and I will be here with you throughout the night. Okay, we have a special report here. Apparently, a small indigenous village near the coast of western KRR was decimated by unknown attackers. Spacecraft were seen leaving the destroyed village. Upon investigation, KRR's Royal Marinia were greeted by a glimpse Hellaen itself. It was... Um... So bad infact, that KRR censorship laws prevent me from describing it, but from what I am reading... You... You do not want to know. According to Lt. Rikimaru Yamamoto, the soldier tasked with frequent check-ups on that village, there was a villager missing among the dead; A young girl that goes by the name of Kurisutaru Sarius DeUchida. The young girl was reported to be a blue and white vulpine about six years of age. She has white tattoos on her arms, hips, and lower back, possibly more. If you have any information, please inform the nearest Royal Marinia outpost, so that this girl may be found. Pray to the Krazoa for her survival. This is Rastan, with Meltdown, by Rin Kagamine.
-Date: 6th Lylatian Era, 6370, June 8th, 22:14, Location: Residence of the Late Lazaritz, Krazoan Republic of Rosnia, Cerinia, Zabroya System-
-Sanze Tabitur Detractorem-
It has been about five minutes since I kicked open the door of Lazaritz's home, that I may treat this young girl. I sat her down at the table that me and Lazaritz had eaten at, and then sat in the chair opposite her. Mind you, that table was extremely small, and it shared space with the kitchen. I remember thinking that she had to be terribly hungry, or simply attempting to set her mind astray of the events that passed not an hour ago. The reason I thought this, was mostly due to the fact that the carrots that I had given her previously were now almost gone. She was eating incredibly fast, and it is easy to choke on carrots.
"Will you tell me your name, child?" I asked her, as if she could hear me over the sound of her chewing. She just stared into space, eating like nothing at all was happening.
Saddened by the silence, I stood from my seat, and walked into the kitchen part of the room, that I may prepare some drink that may help her sleep.
About a minute later, I was finished preparing the drink, when I looked back to see that all of the carrots were now gone, and her head lay on the table, sulking. I walked back to the table and sat again, setting down the drink.
"Are you okay, child?" I asked, immediately feeling stupid afterwards. Of course she was not okay!
Of course, she began bawling. I knew exactly what she felt, seeing as I experienced a similar fate around her age, and I could feel that same pain again, only this time, it was for her.
"Come now, child. Drink this up. It will help you sleep." I said, sliding her the glass.
She carefully picked up the glass, and took a sip, but spit it out instantly.
"Oh, come on! Scotch is not too bad!" I said to her. Odd. It always helped me sleep.
I stood from my seat, took the girl up in my arms, and set her on the bed that I would usually use, though tonight, I would use the sofa.
Upon realizing that she was absolutely filthy, with dirt, soot, and blood covering her, I thought that she may need to be cleaned first.
"Perhaps you should bathe first." I said, ushering her into the bathroom.
"You… uh… know what you are doing right?" I asked. She shook her head.
I gave a loud sigh. I forgot she was from a indigenous village. They only had experience with lakes and rivers to bathe in, with use of modern technology restricted to the Chieftan and his familiy. I walked over to the bathtub and turned the nozzle to a comfortable temperature.
"Alright... when this tub fills up with water, I want you to climb inside, and see what you can do about all of that muck on you, okay?" She gave a nod.
As I was walking out, I tuned the washroom radio to CNB, Cerinian News Broadcast. CNB was basically a Radio station ran by three tigers that uses magic as its broadcast source, thus broadcasting throughout the entire planet. They play music, radio shows, and give news reports. They have been around for about fifty-four years, and was my personal favorite. They were currently playing Rin Kagamine's "Meltdown". Also one of my favorites.
"Is this music alright for you, child?" She gave another nod.
"Alright. If you are confused at all, just tap on the wall three times. I'll be right outside the door." I said. She nodded again, a little more enthusiastic this time.
I had experience with helping bathe a person. My mentor, Lazaritz was 96 years old when he died. I often had to take care of him as he was unable to do so himself. I walked out and closed the door behind me. I pulled up a chair in front of the bathroom and started to read "The Divine Comedy". She was in there for twenty minutes. I was starting to wonder if she was alright. She did not knock, not even once, but I could still hear the water moving as if she were washing. Very curious indeed.
...
After the young girl successfully got through her bath... alone... which I found odd in her inexperience, I tucked her into my bed, made sure she was comfortable, and told her that if she needed anything, she needed only to call me.
I gathered some blankets from the closet to make my own bedding on the sofa. I did not decide to sleep in Lazaritz's room, because I wanted to respect him. He had just passed away after all.
I was walking through the hallway, into the sad excuse for a familiy room we had, when I suddenly realized what my future held. I began to believe I had not a single purpose since my mentor, Lazaritz, had passed, but this girl was proof that I was wrong. Surely, it was God's invisible hand that brought us together. Surely, it was God's invisible hand who appointed me this task to love and nurture this young fox. It was my duty, of course, now that her own mother used her dying words to pass responsibility and safe keeping of this poor, traumatized child unto me, to take care of her, and make sure she is loved. But... I was but 16 years young then. Not Zitola, nor Lazaritz, ever taught me to be a father. I supposed that I could make due with what I knew already, but with the future in store for us, that would prove to be extremely difficult.
I continued down the hall and into the family room, and then set the blankets down on the sofa, that I may make bedding. As I turned around to pick up a pillow, the young girl was standing in the hallway.
"Is there something wrong, child?" I asked.
She slowly walked over to me, and wrapped her arms around my leg. I will not lie, I felt akward. I did not dare say anything, but a few seconds later, I heard her small voice say,
"Thank you, Lepmobhix." Confusion hit me again. This was the second time I have heard that name. I decided to disregard it for the moment, and instead, replied,
"Your welcome, Love." I put my hands on her back, to console her.
"I don't want to be alone." She said, still hugging my leg.
"Oh, child. You are not alone. I am here for you now." I replied. She began to cry again.
"Let us go. Back to bed. I said, picking her up, walking to my bed, and tucking her in again.
"There you are, Love." I said.
As I was about to leave, she spoke again.
"Will you stay with me?" She asked, still crying. I just stared at her a moment, trying my best not to cry as well.
"Of course I will." I said, climbing into the opposite side of the bed. I wrapped my arm around her, waiting for her to fall asleep.
Among other things, she was overwhelmed with terror, sadness, and confusion. She did not stop shaking, and it took her about an hour of crying and screaming to successfully fall asleep... most likely from exhaustion. I, however... did not sleep at all... I was too busy remembering the same feelings of my early childhood. That cold, empty feeling in your heart, and in your soul. Helplessness, hopelessness, heartbreak, confusion... Pain. But like I said earlier, those feelings that have passed me years ago, were now re-awakened... for her...
-Date: 6th Lylatian era 6370, February 3rd, 01:00, Trans-System Calender. Location: Great Fox, Within Zoness Vicinity, Lylat System
-Vulpes Ultor (Fox) McCloud-
I would introduce myself... into my little slice of this record of trauma and hardship. But that is unnecessary. You know me. You know me well. I will save the formalities, as such things are trivial... At least now they are. I guess I should start with telling you about a dream I once had. A dream that changed the way I thought of things... In the long run that is.
To begin, I found myself in a very distorted rendition of the Great Fox. Pictures were not what they used to be, all of the furniture was black, and the floors, walls, and ceiling felt like gel, although they looked solid. The lights were on, but this feeling of a terrible darkness and fear came over me. I felt as though it was midnight... Only on a planet like Sauria, where the sky is not lit up with cities. I still had a sense of existance within the room, which looked oddly like my quarters, yet my feet seemed to be non-existant, as if I was a floating spectre.
I moved through the ship, until I reached the bridge. All of the controls were replaced with Cerinian-like wooden shelves and desks of mahogany. Not a single ship-mate was to be found, and this room was much... much... darker...
I found ROB sitting in the captain's seat. He was covered in a black cloak, and he looked more like a mannequin than an android. Upon removing the cloak, however, he was gone. As if the cloak swept him away into nothing.
"He was only trying to help you." I heard a familiar voice say... My father's voice.
The dream that I was having suddenly became a lucid dream, and I started to panic. Frantically, I looked around for the source of his voice. Upon returning my eyes to the captain's seat, I saw him. He sat there, in the same cloak I removed from ROB.
"Dad!" I yelled, attempting to grab him, but I was unable to, as he was intangible.
"Dad! Why did you go!" I yelled. I forgot to mention that my father had died less than a year ago.
"Just try to resist. Trust me. It'll be good for you." He said.
I was still panic stricken, and confused. My dream had now become lucid, which meant that I was aware that I was indeed dreaming, and I could now control my actions. I had no idea if the father I was talking to was an illusion of the mind, or a ghost.
"Fox. My boy... I am so sorry I was not there for you. I am so sorry you had to find out the hard way. Please, take caution. Please. There is nothing I can do for you here." He said.
I was now on... what felt like my knees, before him, begging him not to go. All he did was shake his head.
"You do not want to be where I am now. I can only hope a better fate awaits you. Just please... think about what you do. Think about a life before you take it. Think about just how much that life is worth. It will do you a greater good than you can imagine." He said.
I was so confused, I could not speak. I could not move. I could not think.
"Perhaps sometime I can leave this place. Believe me... this is not the place for my son. Oh God... I love you." He said, before burning and rotting away into one great pile of bones on the captain's chair.
I couldn't do anything. I wanted to cry, but I was still like stone. No matter how I tried, none of me could move. I wanted to wake up, but I could not do that either. I had no choice... I was being forced to look at my father's bones, or what seemed to be them.
After a considerable amount of effort, I managed to tightly close my eyes, accompanied by a long, terrifying scream. Soon after, I sprang from my bed, crying, screaming, and covered in sweat. The next thing I knew, Falco and Slippy came bursting through my door.
"What the fuck's going on!?" Slippy exclaimed.
I continued to scream and cry, totally forgeting my existance in this current realm. I did, however, notice Falco as he ran to me, grabbed my shoulders, and started shaking me aggresively.
"Vulpes! What the fuck is wrong!?" He yelled. In response, and mostly due to my maniacal panic, I slapped him, instantly reducing the entire room into silence. Not a sound was made. My screaming and crying had ceased. I simply stared at my ship-mates, with tears rolling down my fur.
"Just go away..." I said to them angrily.
"Fuck. We were only trying to help." Slippy said.
"He was only trying to help you." I heard my father's voice say again.
Seemingly within an instant, and without notice, Peppy was at my bedside, and the others had left.
"Are you okay, Fox?" He asked in that fatherly tone.
I did not say anything. How could I? I had no idea what to say. I was confused, devastated, and angry. Boy, was I angry.
"Fox... I am going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me." He said. I did not reply, so he continued.
"Okay... How should I put this? Do yout think... that maybe... you need help? Like professional help?" He asked. I just stared at him.
"Fox... what I heard a few minutes ago, and what Falco and Slippy explained to me... That seems to me like a night terror. And if I know you, you were dreaming about your father. Is that true?" He asked.
"It wasn't a dream. A premonition is more like it." I replied eventually.
"How so? Would you elaborate please?" He asked.
I told him about my dream, and about what my father said to me. He seemed terrified, yet I have no idea why he would be.
"The contents of your dream disturbs me greatly, Fox. However, I cannot tell you if they mean anything. If you are having problems, any problems at all, especially regarding your father's death... You only need to talk to me." He said.
"Yeah." I replied simply, and he left my quarters.
I was glad to have Peppy around. Jonathan Holmes Strider is his real name, and he knew my father well. He has always been like a father to me since my own passed.
After changing my sheets that were soaked through and through with sweat, and drying myself, I went to sleep, and did so as soon as my head hit my pillow.
Another thing I should mention, is that prior to being forced into military service by the Cornerian Contraband Bureau, my father had quite the reputation as a drug lord in the underworld. After they caught him, he was sentenced to a standard-length-term in the CNF, or Cornerian Naval Forces, this is the naval branch of the CDF. A standard term is about twelve years, by the by.
I woke up to the sound of knocking on my chamber door.
"Fox. You aren't still asleep in there, are you?" It was Peppy.
"If you sleep too much, then who will guide us? Fearless leader?" Peppy continued with a laugh.
"I'll be up in a minute." I said angrily.
I did not feel like doing anything that day, and you could clearly tell by the look on my face, and the clothes that I wore. That day, I wore a pair of jeans that were cut off below the knee so I could show off my robotic feet, ankle, and shin, which I used to think were cool, but let me tell you, synthetic body-parts are annoying as Hell. I also wore a black t-shirt with the logo of one of my favorite bands, Metallica, and I wore my usual white Team Starfox jacket. As soon as I was completely ready, I set out for the bridge.
When I got to the bridge, I was greeted by the usual scene of Slippy making coffee, Peppy smoking a cigar like he shouldn't be, and Falco explaining sex to ROB for his own enjoyment.
I sat in the captain's seat, after Slippy handed me some coffee with the remark that I wasn't "Awake yet". I examined my monitor, for any possible contracts. To my disappointment, there were zero, but there was a message from General Pepper saying that he needed to see me... But he didn't say what for.
"Ahhh. Alright guys. ROB, set a course for Corneria, would you? Double quick." I asked ROB. He chimed back with his usual,
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"What are we going to Corneria for, Fox?" Slippy asked me, being nosy as usual.
"Good ol' Pepper wants to see me quick-like." I replied.
"Did he say why?" He asked again.
"Nope." I replied simply, and took a sip of Slippy's amazing coffee.
We reached Corneria about an hour later, after heading over to Zoness to use that planet's warp-gate. I headed down to the surface alone. Michael asked to see me, not the others. When I got there however, I noticed that the New Red Isle Regional Spaceport security had been heavily reinforced, they would only let organic Lylatians through. No Queans, Secronians, or androids. It seems as though I forgtot to mention that androids roam the Lylat System freely. You would never guess it unless they told you, or you busted them open. They look just like organic people, and have the same rights too. Well... Not at this spaceport they didn't. Not at the moment, anyways. I decided to walk up to one of the officers and ask her what all the fuss was about.
"Excuse me miss." I said to a lioness.
"Yes sir?" She said, turning to look at me, but when she did, she gave me an odd look.
"You're James' son, aren't you?" She asked.
"Y-Yes, I am Vulpes McCloud. Um... I was wondering what all of this security is about. Are there terrorist threats or something?" I asked
"Yes... Um... I'm not sure, kid. But I will need to see a passport." She said, holding out her hand.
The way she looked at me disturbed me greatly. People have been giving me that look ever since my father had passed away. I found it very odd indeed. I pulled out my passport, and handed it to her. As soon as she gave me the okay, I walked to the Public Transport Station. Most people did not recognize my face, but those who did, acted starngely. Very strangely. They acted like I had some sort of contagious sickness.
I jumped aboard one of the buses, and rode it all the way to the CDF Headquarters in downtown Menska. As I walked up the steps of this enourmous buillding to the front entrance, I suddenly had a very dark feeling flood me, and I thought of the dream I had the night before. I kept trying to remember what it was that my father said to me, but I couldn't.
When I reached the top of the staircase, I was greeted by the Red Isle City Memorial Statue, which I will explain the importance of later. Two soldiers were waiting for me outside the entrance.
"Vulpes McCloud?" One of them yelled out to me, a black labrador.
"That's me." I yelled back.
"General Pepper is right this way. Please follow us." He said, and led me into the building.
I had not the slightest clue why, but I was scared... Really scared...
-Date: 6th Lylatian era 6370, February 3rd, 11:03, Trans-System Calender. Location: CDF Headquarters, Menska, Red Isle Region, Corneria, Lylat System
-General Michael Baxter Pepper-
"We have no choice, Mr. Baxter. Do it now, elseways we will not have any other chance for a great deal of time!" My master yelled at me. I was sitting in my office, arguing with him over the phone.
"But Master! The political part of this has not been cleared! It will fail within days if there is any instablilty whatsoever!" I yelled at him.
"I will handle the political side of this, Mr. Baxter! You know your place. The president has already been swayed. It will not take to long for his commitee to clear it. Just do as you are told, General." He said.
"And what of the rest of the Lylat System? Have they been swayed as well?" I asked.
"I have this under control, Mr Baxter. The Cornerian Federation is going to launch a system-wide political campaign along with our plan in an attampt at territorial expansion. Soon the entire Lylat System will wave the Cornerian flag. As for us... Just do as I instruct, and it should not fail. Now go. I have other matters to attend to if we want this to pull through." He said.
"But... How could this pass through? It will take more than what you can offer for this to sway the public!" I exclaimed.
"If the public wishes to ignore my gift, then it will pass as... Well... An affront to God that must be extinguished? Yes... I think that will do nicely. What better way to bring fear to the people than with religious terror?" He said. "Are you running out of trust for me? Mr. Baxter?" He asked, after a few seconds.
That terrified me. You do not want this man asking you questions such as this.
"No, Sir. Not at all. It will be now then, yes?"
"Yeeeeeeeees. Now would be best, Mr. Baxter..." He replied slowly, in a strangely soothing voice, and hung up. I could almost hear the crooked, yet strangely comforting smile on his face... and it scared me.
"Oh God..." I said aloud, putting down the phone. I was shaking so much, one could say that the pins on my uniform were falling off. The truth is, I love my master... But he terrifies me. It is physically painful how intimidating he can be.
"Okay. Let us continue." I said to no-one at all.
"Alright... It is now time... Finally... After many years of waiting. It is now time to set in motion this crusade" I said aloud. First step: Wait for Vulpes McCloud to enter my office. I jumped in my seat when I heard on knock on my door.
"AH!" I yelled.
"6,1,9,2,0,4." A soldier said... A faithful one...
"Oh! Oh my... One second!" I exclaimed. I was extremely nervous. Vulpes was here.
"You can do this, Michael." I whispered to myself quickly.
"Come in." I said.
The door opened, and there stood Vulpes Ultor McCloud; son of James Metibur McCloud, and also a very skilled PMC.
"Ah! Fox! Come in boy, take a seat." I said, ushering him to a chair facing my desk.
"Heya General. So... Before we start... What the Hell is going on? When I arrived at the spaceport, foreigners and androids were being denied their rights. And I think I saw some soldiers there too. What's with that?" He asked.
"Well... Your father's death has caused a frenzy. The other three systems are not taking too kindly to us using a drug lord as a military tool. When he died, news of his criminal involvement spread like wildfire. I am restricting foreign access to the Lylat System for now. As for androids, they can easily be used as tools for terrorism." I lied. It was an unstable lie, but it should hold.
"Hm. Alright then, General. What did you call me here for?" He asked, seemingly accepting my lie.
Second step: Lie about the war.
"First, I should ask you if you have been keeping up to date with the cold-war between the Cornerian Federation and the Empire of Venom?" I asked him.
"Of course I have. Last I heard, things were getting tense. Has something happened?" He said.
"Oh... More than you know. Andross is now threatening open war against us. His armies are vast and powerful, and we may need some... professional... military assisstance. I, of course, am reffering to you and your PMC's. To keep it short, we need your help." I said.
"Oh my God! That serious!?" He asked, shocked. "How did that happen!?"
"The Cornerian Federation is attempting a territorial expansion. We expect to have the will of every planet, excluding Venom and Sauria, within our grasp. Andross is not too happy about it, and now has the perfect excuse to spark all-out war." I lied again. Well... At least about the second part.
"Then why don't we stop the territorial expansion!?" He asked.
"It is too late for that, my boy. Andross is fed up, one way or the other." I replied, lying again.
"Oh shit... So... What do you want me to do?" He asked.
"For now, I want you on standby. We have estimated about five to six months before Andross' fuse runs out." I replied.
"Well... How the hell do you know that!?" He asked, my heart pumped harder.
"We know..." I replied simply.
He just sat there for a moment, trying to contemplate and understand all of which I had told him. I almost felt bad for him. It is too bad he cannot join me, but he is part of the plan.
"That is all, my boy." I finally said. He slowly stood from his chair, and left without a word.
Third step: Initiate the plan.
As soon as I was certain that Vulpes had left the building, I phoned a... trusted... subordinate of mine.
"Hello?" I heard.
"6, 1, 9, 2, 0, 4. Now." I said.
"Yessir." I heard the reply, and hung up.
I walked out of my office, and into my private conference room, where sat several faithful commanders. I made my way to the end of the table, and had a seat.
"Shut and lock that door, extra-tight." I told one of my commanders.
"Yessir." He replied.
I dialed my master's private number, so that at least his voice could join us.
"Are we truly ready for this?" I asked my commanders.
"Aye!" They all replied simultaneously.
After several seconds, my master's voice flooded the room.
"Mr. Baxter?" He said. It is his habit to call people by their middle names.
"Yes sir. We are ready." I said.
"Good. Gentlemen, I advise you link your neural-nets to me, and to each other for the time being. It will assist you greatly." He said, and we all did so without a word.
Neural technology. Only Queans make this stuff, and most Lylatian brains cannot handle it. We have been specialy trained by the Que themselves to use such tech. All of our faithful have one.
"We are set, and ready to go, Master." One of my commanders said.
"I should hope so. Gentlemen, the image you are about to see is of the Zabroyan planet, Cerinia. As you may have already guessed, our plan will start here. The Cerinians are the least technologically advanced people in the four systems, which makes them an easy target. Now, you may think that their false Krazoa gods may be of interest, but the truth is, is that their religion means nothing. It is not an issue, and do not concern yourselves with it. This is, however, our cover. Mr. Baxter has informed me, to my disappointment, that the Lylatian public will not be easily swayed by our promises. Therefor, to justify the invasion of Cerinia, it will be masked as a crusade, so to speak. We will pretend that this invasion is because of the false Krazoa gods, while in truth, it is simply the best starting point for our operation. This weapon of false religious terror will be an excellent tool in persuading the non-faithful to destroy this planet." He explained.
"Master. Will the Cornerian Federation, or the Venomian Empire head this assault?" I asked.
"Mr. Baxter, your armies will head this assault on Cerinia. Andross knows what he must do, and the Lylat Wars has been engineered to pry focus away from the invasion of Cerinia. Andross has his orders. Do not concern yourself with it." He replied.
"So... First, we will need to cut off trading routes with Venom, which Andross can take care of. And of course, we will need to sever any contact with the Cerinian ally, Sauria. Which will not be a problem if the rest of the Federation is on lockdown, assuming this territorial expansion succeeds." I said.
"Good thinking, Mr. Baxter. As you all may already have learned, Saurian Krazoa gods, and Cerinian Krazoa gods, are of different origin. If Sauria is disturbed in any way, it will soil our overall plans, and break our cover. Do not go anywhere near Sauria. They will need to remain docile. Now we all know that information of this invasion could leak into the public very quickly, and could ignite a war that we really cannot afford. If the Queans find out about this, we are as good as dead. Understood?" He said.
"Understood." We all said.
"Good. Now, we have some inside men on the job on Cerinia, as well as in more private matters. If any problems should occur that could stop our progress, they will know, and will be ordered to remove said problem." He said.
"General?" One of the commanders called me.
"Yes?" I replied.
"What about team Starfox. They can be a serious problem.
"I just got word that they have been informed of the fake Lylat Wars. Good work, Mr. Baxter." My master replied for me.
"Master is currently working on persuading the governments of the Lylat System to to unite with our federation, and, ultimately, our cause. This should be done before we start." One of my commanders said.
"That, as a matter of fact, should be done before the month is out. Soon, this entire system, excluding sauria, will be under our control. Mr. Baxter? Your armies are on standby to play war games with Andross, correct?" My master asked me.
"Yes sir." I replied.
"Good. I will send word to Andross that he may prepare his armies for invasion. That should be all, Gentlemen. But remember, this is only beginning. We have a long way before we achieve our goal. Mr Baxter, keep an eye on team Starfox. Your commander had a point that they could be a huge problem. I have men keeping an eye on them as well. If they make one wrong move, eliminate them." He said.
"Alright. I will put my armies on standby. I will await your call, then we can begin." I said.
"Give it about five to six months. Andross can be slow at times." He replied.
"Yes sir." I said, and out neural connection cut off.
"Alright, men. Let's get to work!"
Salvation, here I come!