Chapter 4
Princess Zelda and Link waited in the courtyard corridor adjacent the castle's main building for a solitary Arwing. The stone platform and lack of trees provided plenty of room for such a craft to land. And the outer wall and its trees would hide such an occurrence from all but the most adept Castle Town citizen. Rain beat mercilessly on the Hylian Princess and Legendary Hero as they waited. A strange noise and tremendous gust of air accompanied the azure flames shooting out the bottom and the back ends of a descending metallic craft that looked to Link like some sort of strange flute. He looked at Princess Zelda and she nodded. A small aft portion of its underbelly extended out to cradle the vehicle as it landed. The long rectangular glass hatch opened with a hiss. Out leapt a small fox decked out in lime green with a silver colored flight jacket and white Mohawk of fur on his head. He immediately noticed the pair waiting for him and extended a gloved hand in greeting.
"You two must be the party I was looking for," said the creature. Link was surprised an animal like this was capable of speech, let alone his speech. "I was instructed to head to these coordinates right here, and meet a Princess Zelda and a Captain Link. I'm Fox McCloud, leader of the Star Fox team."
"Yes, I am Princess Zelda," said the Hylian Princess, meeting Fox's hand in a firm shake. "And this is Link." She gestured to the speechless man in the green tunic. "Where is the rest of your party?"
"They're still in orbit," responded Fox casually. "But don't worry, they can still participate in our conversation."
"Very well then. We should get out of this terrible storm and negotiate services," stated the Princess. "Right this way." She started toward Hyrule Castle's main building and the two males followed.
Link remained speechless, studying this walking, talking canine very carefully. He had seen his share of adventurers, and immediately recognized this fox's type: cocky, but intelligent. Probably more mercenary in his style too. I wonder if his whole team is of that sort…
"You don't say much, do you?" Link looked up to see Fox staring at him almost competitively.
"Sorry," coughed Link. "It's just that I'm used to fighting creatures like you if they're sentient enough to talk, because they're usually trying to kill me."
"Well, I'm here to work with you," stated Fox. "If we can negotiate properly."
Yep, the mercenary, thought Link as they continued down the corridors toward the palace den.
…
Samus' hunter-class gunship broke beneath the clouds and cruised over the narrow river. The dull orange vessel cruised between towers of stone and steel toward the Cornerian Military Building. The Intergalactic Bounty Hunter was going to meet with General Pepper to get the briefing in general. Well, in a manner of speaking.
"Lady, we are receiving a proximity hail from the Military Building," stated Adam, the ship's computer. "I shall transmit it."
"Very good," stated Samus.
Onscreen appeared the face of an aged basset hound with droopy jowls. His facial slovenliness contrasted sharply his rubicund command uniform with its spruce golden sashes and epaulettes. Atop his head sat a matching shako displaying the appropriate insignia. Samus immediately regarded this official trustworthy.
"Hello, I am General Pepper, Commander-in-Chief of the Cornerian Defense forces. You must be Samus Aran. Councilman Trogg contacted me earlier this morning. Thank you again for agreeing to this mission."
"Well, you guys are paying me quite nicely for it," cloyed Samus.
"Our usual squadron was not available for this mission and you have quite the reputation for missions like this one. Now then, a band of rogue Space Pirates has kidnapped the niece of a Cornerian magistrate. We received the ransom note this afternoon and immediately began tracking the engine trail of the spacecraft that had sent it. They seem to have landed in our own backyard. Out beyond the city lies a place called the Ukuku Wilderness. The Space Pirates were last seen causing trouble near Lightfoot Village."
"Y'know General, I'll probably be able to find it faster if you send my ship the coordinates," remarked Samus shortly.
"Yes, well, these Pirates have traveling with them someone we understand you've encountered a time or two." A smaller screen appeared on the view screen next to the aged beagle and Samus bristled at the picture: a dull metallic humanoid body with several golden ports.
"Yes." Samus' brow furrowed. "He is a dangerous supersoldier known as Kanden. He's completely insane. That humanoid lab accident nearly killed me the last time we met."
"If you should need any help send me a call, and I will round up a squadron for you. Good luck, Samus." With that message, the General's image disappeared from the ship's view screen. The ship's computer received and uploaded the coordinates of the mysterious jungle known as Ukuku Wilderness.
"Adam, silence all incoming transmissions for the next two hours. I've got to get some sleep," stated Samus, yawning. "This day has been exhausting."
"Yes, lady," replied the computer. "I will dim the lights as well." Samus disappeared into her sleeping chamber and sank into bed.