Chapter 3

A New Journey Begins

"What a day... My girlfriend is murdered and my father is an angel."

Roka just had too much nagging at his mind; he walked through the city in the dark night, not knowing where to go. While he was walking, he came apon a small local bar and stepped

inside. The bar tender looked at the dispair on his face and offered him a free drink.

tender: Hey kid, you don't look so good, the first one on me eh?

Roka: Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, and he who is deceieved by it is not wise. Sir, a real man doesn't settle his problems with alcohol, he looks for a solution. Besides, I'm only nineteen anyway, I just need a cup of coffee.

tender: Ehehe, If half my customers were smart as you, I'd be outta' buisiness! One coffee comin' right up.

The old black lab fired up the kettle and started to boil some nice hot coffee.

tender: One more thing kid, Raian sits in that seat. He'll throw a coniption fit no doubt if he finds you sitting there. He turned twenty-one recently and he acts like he's all that cuz' he can drink. For some reason the regulars think dat he's somethin' special ya' know?

As if on que, Raian, Roka's old rival walked into the bar with a swagger in his step and a "cool guy" attitude.

Raian: Hey guys, how y'all doin? Eh? What do you think your doin' in my chair pal?

Roka: Please, I'm having a bad day, just let me be for a few minutes and I'll leave.

Raian: I don't think you understand just who your dealin' with. I'm Raian O'donnel, cousin of Wolf O'donnel.

Roka: I don't care if you're the cousin of Rosie O'Donnel, just let me be.

Raian: You little piecs of metal, who do you think you are?

With his right hand, Roka grabbed Raian's throat brought him to his knees.

Roka: Who am I? When I was only sixteen years old I dessimated an entire Venomian army. I brought an entire gang to its knees, I beat your cousin' at drinkin' and I outwitted Fox McCloud countless times, I was captured by Andrew Oikonny himself and survived! And I loved only one girl, with a passion that a low-life like you could never understand! I am Roka Embers! The one that no man can kill!

Raian looked up at him with a deep imposing fear. Noboby in thw whole bar could believe thier ears or eyes.

Raian: -Cough.- But how? You've been dead for two and a half years.

Roka: Guess again old rival, you are in the wrong hands.

And with that he dropped him on the floor leaving him wide-eyed and jaw to the floor.

He walked out into the night, remembering that he left his bike at the cemetary, but that was a good run, the Cornerian air bas was only a few miles north of the city. If he could run there, it would be a few miles shorter. He ran north towards the base and to his old beater. He ran as fast as he could and what seemed to be no time at all he arrived at the air base ready for anything. He opened the gate and slowly crept in the base; it looked like there was nobody around. To his good fortune, the interceptor looked untouched. Roka pulled open the cockpit and flew into the night, hoping to find Fox, maybe he could help. Roka flew his old ship slowly gaining altitude, everything seemed better than normal, did someone repair it while he was gone? He didn't care, he needed to see his old frined.

Roka: Alright, this thing is runnin' good, time to hit the booster and hit the atmosphere.

The old ship rattled as it pierced through the atmosphere and made it to space. Roka was suffering from a bit of a blackout from the lack of a g-diffuser. He pulled out the neclace neclace from his tattered old jeans, thinking about the time he first gave it to her. He looked forward flying around the atmosphere. The great fox usually was stationed in the area; he was right, or so he thought. Roka looked at what seemed to be the Great Fox, but it looked quite different.

Roka: What now? Did he go and buy a new toy while I was gone? I wander...

Roka flew his ship towards the docking bay of the ship, the large door opened and he entered in. It was really quite convenient that the security wasn't tight, perhaps things were pretty slow. He landed inside the bay and opened the gate of his old interceptor, he walked through this great new ship, it looked a lot like the old one, but his room was without a doubt gone. He made his way through the main hall and towards the bridge, what he saw did not please him. Right before him was a sad excuse for a man. He saw Fox McCloud with blood-shot eyes and a bottle in hand. Roka confronted the miserable orange vulpine.

Roka: What have you been doing these past two years Fox?

Fox: (slurred speech) Who are you?

Roka: You probably don't remeber do you? I was you favorite little trouble-maker a long time ago.

Fox: No! It's the ghost of him! He's come for revenge!

Roka picked him up by his collar and shook him.

Roka: Get a hold of yourself! Sober up or something! I have been gone for over two years and I find you sitting on your chair drinking booze? What is wrong with you!

Fox: I am responsible for your death, I should have been there for you. I...

Roka: Your going to let a little thing like that stop you?!

Fox: When I heard the distress signal you sent, I didn't respond because I was an angry fool. And because of it you died and Krystal eventually found and left me. I deserve all of it, this sorrow, this pain... Have you wandered why I have drinking myself to death?! Huh? Now you know Roka, I'm the one who killed you, not Oikonny, it was me!

Roka let go of him and put his hands to his head.

Roka: "No, now is not the time to lose my composure, suck it in and let it out later. I need to retain my anger." So you thought drinking was the only way out of the situation ay? Fox, someone oughtta beat some sense into you! And it just might be me!

Falco walked into the bridge right when he said that and had his blaster in hand.

Falco: Who are you? And why are you threating Fox?

Roka: Not now Falco. Someone needs to teach this bum a lesson.

Falco fired a shot and Roka stopped it with his metal arm.

Roka: Falco, do you even know who you just tried to kill?

Fox: Falco, just put the gun down, it's Roka, it's not an intruder, it's Roka.

Falco just stood there gaping. He was completely speechless, this tall, muscular figure was his young friend?

Faclo: H-h-h-how? I don't bleieve it... Roka? Is that really you?

Roka: It has been too long old friend. I need your help, and byt the looks of it Fox need help too. Looks like we all have our problems.

-End of Chapter 3