Chapter 4: Rescue Mission
Bill stepped into the newly built Great Fox followed by Katt and the rest of Starfox.
"Wow Fox! What have you done with this thing? For once it looks new," Bill said jokingly.
"Peppy destroyed it on out last mission when we had to beat the aparoids," Fox said looking at Peppy, smiling rather sheepishly. "But he did it for the Lylat System so I suppose we could let him get away with it this time." Peppy's grinned widened. "We had to rebuild a new Great Fox," Fox finished. He led the way to the Great Fox's bridge to get ready for the trip to Sauria. "Okay ROB, can you set a course to Sauria," Fox asked entering the Great Fox's bridge.
"Affirmative, setting course for Sauria. We will arrive at approximately 1000 hours tomorrow morning."ROB's monotone voice said.
- - -
Fox couldn't get to sleep.
I wonder who kidnapped Krystal and why? At least she managed to contact us and give us info on where there taking her. I miss her so much. It's really weird. When I'm around her I feel so happy. It's the weirdest feeling. What if I'm in... no... it seems to soon, but that's the only thing I can think of why I feel like this.
Suddenly a wave of drowsiness washed over him and he fell into a light, dreamless sleep.
- - -
"McCloud get up to the bridge, now, I mean we are here to rescue your girlfriend," Falco's voice rang over the COM of the ship. Fox woke up and looked at the clock next to his bedside.
Geez ... it's already time to go save Krystal. I wonder what we're up against. Well, better get to the bridge before Falco has to come here and drag me down there.
Fox, bounced up from his bed and walked up to the bridge, deep in thought. When he entered the bridge he found the Starfox crew plus Bill and Katt waiting for him."Finally McCloud. I thought I was going to have to leave pretty soon if you didn't hurry because you know I can't stand being around Falco!" Katt said, looking over at Falco with a look of fury on her muzzle. Falco stared back, emotionless.
"I didn't know you two hated each other. The last time you saw each other you were great friends," Fox said looking at Katt and Falco quizzically.
"Oh, blue-boy over there didn't tell you what happened?" Katt continued, voice slightly rising at her mentioning of Falco. Falco rolled his eyes, mumbling to himself.
"We should get going with saving Krystal," Bill said changing the subject, trying to avoid further arguments between Falco and Katt.
"Whatever Fox says, I mean she is his girlfriend," Katt said. Fox, not wanting to have Krystal waiting, dismissed the mocking from Katt.
"Let's go! Bill, Katt, did you two bring your fighters?" Fox asked. Katt, disappointed with not getting an answer out of Fox, quickly answered.
"Sure Foxboy, whatever."
"You think I'd leave without the Greenie 1?" Bill asked jokingly.
"Slippy, do you wanna come?" Fox asked the green frog standing beside him. Slippy, who had never wanted the question asked at him started stuttering.
"Well...uh...I don't ...uh...wanna mess you guys up so...I'll just stay out of this one," Slippy answered nervously walking towards Peppy.
"Whatever you want Slippy. Okay then, let's go to the hangar bay," Fox said running out the bridge doors. The four of them shortly arrived at the hangar bay and hopped into their fighters, each in their own style. After getting himself comfortable in the confined spaces of his arwing, Fox contacted Peppy. "Are we ready to launch?" he asked strapping himself in.
"You're all ready to go in ten seconds," Peppy answered from the other side.
"Thanks Pep," Fox replied getting ready to launch and for the mission ahead of them.
I hope Krystal is okay and that whoever kidnapped her hasn't done anything to harm her.
Fox sighed and hoped that it wouldn't be too difficult. He was cut out of his thoughts as his arwing launched into the stars. Although he had seen the same sight plenty of times, it had never failed to amaze him. He knew the others would be seconds behind him so Fox focused and turned his arwing to Sauria. A blue light started blinking informing him of an incoming message, so he let it pass. It was Bill
"Where are we gonna land?" he asked questioningly.
"I guess we'll land in Thorntail Hollow. We don't wanna land in Dragon Rock or else they'll know we are coming," Fox answered. He saw Bill's confused glance after his mentioning of Thorntail Hollow and added, "I'll lead the way." Bill nodded and shut off the link. Fox felt the arwing rumble as he entered Sauria's atmosphere. Seeing Thorntail Hollow, Fox found a good space to land and landed his arwing smoothly and dismounted with a forward flip. Fox looked around seeing Thorntail Hollow in its usual state; the well in one corner, Warpstone in another, and all the Thorntails hanging about. Fox heard the other three fighters land next to his own and waited impatiently for the animals inside to hop out. Bill walked up next to him followed by Katt, then Falco.
"Where off to Foxboy?" Katt asked, looking around her.
"I know the way to Dragon Rock, so I guess that you can follow me." Fox answered uncertainly.
"Whatever McCloud, let's just get this over with," Falco said impatiently, not wanting to be on this rescue mission. Fox led, walking towards the well, then beyond.
"Okay, first we have to go to Moon Mountain Pass," Fox said as they walked along. "Then we hike up a mountain and then we're at Dragon Rock." he finished as they passed the well. Bill nodded keeping right behind Fox as Falco lagged behind. Katt, not wanting to be with Falco stayed with Fox and Bill. After a couple of minutes they arrived at the dull, bluish entrance of Moon Mountain Pass. "When we start going up, barrels will start rolling down, so we might wanna be more careful when passing by," Fox warned the others remembering his first trip to Moon Mountain Pass when the Sharpclaws had tried to keep him from entering.
"Whatever McCloud, I bet there aren't any more old barrels anyway," Falco said. The group of animals continued walking.
Falco doesn't seem to keen on helping us with this mission. I hope he doesn't try to screw it up on purpose. Knowing Falco he might try to do the whole thing by himself instead of messing us up.
They finally arrived at the bluish hill and glanced up. "Falco, that's not a very good idea," Bill said as Falco started walking up the hill, cockily.
"Just let the idiot go and kill himself," Katt said, uncaring. Bill shrugged and started after Falco, carefully, waiting for the barrels. Suddenly the barrels started rolling down the hill as they always had done before. Fox followed Bill and Falco shortly after the barrels had started coming at them. Katt followed reluctantly.
"See McCloud, it wasn't that hard," Falco snickered when he reached the top. He turned around which proved to be a mistake. A barrel hit him on the back of the head and sent him toppling to the ground. He picked himself up and moved to the side quickly, not wanting to get hit again. Katt snickered.
"Nice going birdbrain.," she said. She was enjoying herself immensely, considering the fact that she hated Falco. Bill rolled his eyes as Falco replied back.
"It's not like you could've done any better." Bill, Fox, and Katt arrived at the top as the argument continued.
Katt liking to argue faced Falco and said, "I at least can do better than you. If you haven't noticed I just made it all the way to the top of the hill without one scratch, unlike you."
"But, I bet I've done a lot of better things than you," Falco said.
"Well-" Katt started, but was interrupted by Bill.
"Can we just go," he whispered trying to stay out of earshot of Fox who was pacing around impatiently waiting for the argument to end. "Can't you two see that he really wants to save that girl and you aren't helping by arguing and wasting our time. They could be doing anything to her." Bill continued trying to get on with saving Fox's "girlfriend" as he thought.
"Whatever," Falco said rolling his eyes. Katt shrugged and looked over at Fox for directions.
"Are you two done bickering?" Fox asked hopefully looking up from the ground.
"Sure, if you mean blue boy over there," Katt answered. Fox sighed. "Let's just go." She said motioning forward into Moon Mountain Pass.
- - -
Krystal woke up and found herself on the cold dirt ground. She looked up and found saw dirty, rusted bars in front of her. Her head was throbbing with a dull pain and the memory of what had happened earlier filled her head.
I was standing there thinking about Fox when I was suddenly ambushed by three figures and shot by a stun ray. Once I woke up, he told me that they were taking me to Dragon Rock. I managed to contact Fox and when they saw me with the communicator in my hand, they knocked me out. I know who they were they're-
"I see the blue vixen finally woke up." Krystal looked up after being interrupted from her thoughts and saw a broad shaped, tallish shadow, who she instantly recognized as her kidnapper.
"What do you want with me?" Krystal asked frightened.
"Oh, we need you for our plans," the figure answered looking at Krystal with what she imagined was a maniacal grin. "I'll be back in a bit to have you do our bidding." Krystal gulped.
- - -
Fox had led the group under the the wooden structure and up onto the top floor. He looked around the corners to make sure there were no Sharpclaw and then they walked into the building at the top of the hill they were just climbing. "Alright, to get to Dragon Rock we have to climb over the cliff located on the side of this building. Once we look over, we should see Dragon Rock in front of us and then we can save Krystal!" Fox said, finishing hurriedly. The group walked over to the side of the building and after a short climb they made it to the top. Fox looked over and saw Dragon Rock, it's evil features glaring out visibly. The huge fortress that had kept Boss Drakor, was still standing in the middle of Dragon Rock. The orange, yellow color of Dragon Rock was almost blinding, and the dust was swirling around in the wind.
"This is the hideout?" Falco asked with a hint of laughter in his voice. "This place is a junkyard!" Katt rolled her eyes.
"If you don't remember, this is a primitive planet, inhabited by dinosaurs," Katt said looking at Falco with an evil glare.
"It doesn't seem like it's just inhabited by dinosaurs," Bill added pointing at a tall building that had not been there the last time Fox came to Dragon Rock. "I don't think dinosaurs would've been able to build that," Bill finished still looking at the structure with a confused look on his snout.
"That wasn't here the last time," Fox said taking out his binoculars from his backpack. He started scanning the building. It was a very big building, but where it met with the cliff was a courtyard. Suddenly something else caught Fox's eye. He redirected his binoculars next to the large structure. He saw an old arwing used during the Lylat Wars, or maybe before. "There is an older version of the arwing next to the building. Whose do you think it belongs to?" Fox asked the other three who were also studying the arwing.
"Duh, the enemies," Falco answered quickly, without thinking. Bill shrugged and didn't answer, same with Katt.
"Well, back to saving Krystal," Fox said, constructing a plan in his head to get into the hideout. After little hesitation he said "I know! If we walk along the top of this cliff we can jump right into the courtyard! Remember, it meets with the cliff!"
"Awesome plan Fox!" Bill congratulated his friend on his superb thinking. Fox nodded and then motioned for his friends to come along with him.
"We're going to have to be really quiet," Fox whispered to the three as they walked to the enemies base, furtively. After a couple of minutes of walking the base stood in front of the group. "All we have to do is jump down quietly," Fox whispered looking down into the courtyard of the base. The fall was about fifteen feet.
"Don't you think it's a bit high to jump from?" Falco asked Fox uncertainly. "I mean, we don't want to get ourselves hurt from the jump," Falco continued. He looked down and shuddered, which was unusual for the avian.
"Wassa matter Falco? Scared?" Katt asked, mocking Falco. Falco looked slightly embarrassed then answered the waiting feline.
"No..."
"Well, go ahead, jump," Katt said with an evil glare visible on her face. She loved taunting Falco. Falco didn't move, but just looked down. Katt saw he was going to make no move. She looked at Fox then Bill before descending down into the courtyard with a slight grunt. Fox saw that she made it down easily and jumped after her at the same time that Bill did. Falco was left alone at the top. He looked around him and then looked back down.
"What are you waiting for Falco?" Bill whispered up to him. Falco looked around him one more time.
"Hold on a sec," Falco whispered down. He knew he was being selfish.
I can't just not save Krystal because she and Fox remind me of Katt and I before our big argument. I want Fox to be happy, don't I? What am I thinking, I don't normally care abut other animals. Still, Fox is my friend.
Falco looked back down and saw the others waiting. Sighing he jumped down into the enemy courtyard. "Why'd you take so long Falco?" Katt asked looking at the avian that just landed next to her.
"Why do you wanna know?" he replied emotionless. He wasn't going to tell Katt.
"I think I should know," Katt replied, determined to get an answer out of Falco.
"Can you two just stop arguing for once!?!" Bill whispered to the two animals that were really starting to annoy him.
"I'm trying to get an answer out of Falco, and I'm determined," Katt responded, angry that Falco still hadn't answered her main question.
"On a mission," Fox interrupted. He sighed wanting everyone to be quiet. Fox raised his vision slightly then froze. Bill noticed his friend freeze as he heard the others continue arguing.
"What's wrong Fox?" Bill asked, following Fox's line of vision. Before he could look at what Fox was looking at, Fox responded quickly and quietly.
"Hide"
"Why?" Bill asked still confused. Falco and Katt had stopped fighting when they saw what was going on. Everything was silent.
"Hide," Fox said again and then dove behind a pillar that was holding up the building. The confused animals still didn't know what was going on so they followed suit. All of them landing behind the same pillar.
"It's a camera," Fox whispered as he motioned for the device keeping watch of the entire courtyard. The courtyard had nothing except a passageway leading for the next room. "I think it might have spotted us for a sec." Fox continued to whisper. "We're going to have to hurry with getting Krystal out of here before security comes."
"Why didn't we check for cameras when we snuck in?" Falco asked yelling at himself inside of his head for being so stupid.
"Because this is a primitive planet and primitive planets aren't supposed to have hidden cameras." Katt answered Falco's question.
"So, we're still moving, even if we were spotted?" Bill asked, unsure if he wanted to risk being caught by the enemies, whoever they were. Fox nodded and ran towards the entrance to the main part of the base.
- - -
The mysterious shadow was lingering around his office in the base when one of his security guards ran in panting heavily. "What is it?" the unknown figure asked the guard. The guard couldn't answer right away because he was so out of breath. The figure waited patiently for his worker to catch his breath. Taking in another gulp of air he started.
"Commander, I ran here as soon as I saw this on the cameras. McCloud and his lackeys made it into the base. What should we do?" The figure filled with anger.
"I didn't think the vixen's message made it through when she was contacting for help." The unknown figure paused then continued in his slightly gruff voice, "Here's the plan," Wolf O' Donnell started with a malicious grin.
- - -
Fox, Bill, Falco, and Katt had been searching around the enemy base for half an hour, but still no one had found where they were keeping Krystal.
"Wait, here's a hallway we haven't explored yet," Fox said after his discovery. They walked in, after searching for security cameras and finding none. The hallway was a dirty gray in color and had only one door marked "Jail Cells." "It's a little obvious this is where they're keeping Krystal," Fox said opening the door with a loud creak that filled the empty hallway. Once the door was completely open the team saw rows and rows of cells. There was nothing in each one except for the second to last one on the left.
"Fox!" Krystal cried out with joy as she saw her savior walking towards the cell which she was being kept in. Fox looked relieved and studied the lock on the cell. Finding no keys hanging from the walls Fox took the only option left. He took a bar in each hand and easily pried open a hole in the bars of the cell.
"Well, that was easier than I expected," he said with a smirk. Krystal jumped through the hole and suddenly hugged Fox. Fox caught off guard with the sudden display of emotion portrayed by Krystal started stuttering.
"Th-they d-d-idn't...do anything to hurt you...did they, cause if they did, I'll pound them from head to tail!" Fox said with disgust in his voice.
"No, I'm fine Fox," Krystal said, still hugging her hero. Falco smirked.
"Apparently those bars are primitively built, otherwise Foxboy wouldn't have been able to open up a hole in them." Katt said studying the gaping hole.
"Can we just stop with figuring out what's primitive and what's modern," Falco said, tearing his eyes off of the vulpine couple. "If you don't remember we got spotted by the camera."
"Yeah, let's go before they can find us," Fox agreed and sprinted out the door.
- - -
The vulpine father was running for all he was worth towards the courtyard. He needed to warn his son, Fox, and his team about O-Donnell's plan. He had been hiding in the room and had heard everything. He was lucky to have been able to sneak out of the room.
- - -
The team had been trying to find the way back to the courtyard for a couple of minutes, but hadn't had much luck. After a few more minutes of searching they found the familiar opening. Walking into the courtyard, everything was as it was left. A dull silence filled the room making the group uneasy. "How do we get up and out?" Krystal asked looking up and around seeing if she could answer her own question.
"We're going to have to climb up the pillars," Fox answered looking up at Dragon Rock's glaring sky.
"You won't be going anywhere McCloud, at least not with the vixen." A familiar voice was heard from behind one of the pillars. Fox redirected his sight towards the voice. He saw a figure emerge from behind the pillar and it walked into the dull sunlight revealing his identity.
"Wolf," Fox growled, then saw he was followed by Leon Powalski and Panther Caruso. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Fox, they're the ones that kidnapped me," Krystal whispered to her lover.
"Why'd you kidnap her anyway," Fox continued questioning. Wolf smirked and answered after a brief pause.
"We just needed her for our plans. You aren't going to leave with her, so hand her over," Wolf said ruffly. He took out his blaster and motioned for the two behind him to follow suit. Leon did willingly, but Panther did a little more hesitantly. Wolf rolled his eyes after noticing the black panther cared for the blue Cerinian vixen.
"Never," Fox answered, motioning for his team to also take out their blasters. Everyone did except Krystal who didn't have hers.
"If you say so," Wolf said. From behind some pillars a huge group of animals bearing the Venomian badge walked out, each carrying a different weapon.
"This is going to be a problem," Bill whispered looking at each enemy in turn.
"Get them," Wolf commanded as Panther jumped at Bill, Leon at Falco, and himself at Fox. Fox rolled out of the way.
"Krystal, Katt, take out the others, catch!" Fox yelled and threw his blaster to Krystal who caught it and started shooting at the Venomian soldiers. "Be careful," he called to Krystal as he dodged a punch that Wolf had thrown at him.
Wolf was caught off balance when he missed and Fox took it as an opportunity to knock Wolf down with a side kick. Wolf jumped back to his feet and aimed another punch at Fox. Fox saw it coming and ducked, taking time to trip Wolf. Wolf was caught off guard with Fox's sudden move.
- - -
Bill Grey was having extremely good luck fighting against the feline, Panther Caruso. He had managed to get Panther really winded and confused with all his dodging. After a short period of time Panther managed to throw in a couple of kicks, but Bill dodged everyone single one. Panther just wasn't having any luck.
- - -
Krystal was doing well, hiding behind pillars, shooting at the occasional bad guy, checking on Fox once in a while. She knew she had to keep the Venomian soldiers away, or else they could get at the rest of the team.
- - -
Leon had landed on top of Falco and the two of them were rolling on the ground of the courtyard. "Heh... I got you now Lombardi!" Leon laughed as he landed on top of Falco and punched him time after time.
"That's what you think lizard face," Falco yelled as he pushed Leon off with his feet. Leon caught himself and landed smoothly, as if nothing ever happened. Falco jumped up facing Leon and neither made their move, each waiting for their opponent. One of the Venomian soldiers fighting around them tripped and he pressed the trigger on his blaster causing it to shoot. Falco cried out in pain as the shot hit him in the arm. He fell to the floor as Leon smiled, happy to have ended the battle. "No, Falco!" Katt screamed as she ran over to him.
- - -
Fox had started having some problem against Wolf. Wolf had started using his blaster and started trying to hit Fox. Fox dodged and hid behind one of the many pillars.
I can't stay here forever, Wolf will find me soon enough.
As if one cue, Wolf appeared from the side of the pillar and threw a fist at Fox. It collided with his face. Fox fell to the ground, and couldn't recover as quickly as he wanted to. Wolf took advantage of this and pointed his blaster at Fox. Fox closed his eyes, waiting for the pain to hit him.
I can't die, I mean, won't the team fall apart. And what about Krystal. I don't want her mourning over me for the rest of her life. I just can't die. The team and Corneria are depending on me.
He didn't feel anything for a couple of seconds and he heard a thump, so he opened his eyes and looked up. He saw someone he thought he would never see again standing over him, holding out his paw. "Father...?" Fox whispered, wide eyed. He couldn't believe it, his long thought dead father was actually standing over him, alive.
How is this possible? I thought he was murdered by Andross.
Fox looked behind his father and saw Wolf O' Donnell on the ground, knocked out. Fox took his father's paw, still staring in disbelief. "How is it possible, I thought you were dead?" Fox said. He embraced his dad tears filling his eyes.
"I'll tell you later, but for now we have to finish this battle." James McCloud said hugging his son whom he had not seen for ten years.
- - -
Krystal had just finished fighting all the Venomians and was kneeling on the ground panting. The floor was littered with bodies. She looked back to see Fox and saw him with someone that looked just like him.
What... who is he?
She then looked for Bill and saw that he had scared away Panther. Bill was fine and leaning against the wall, also panting.
Krystal looked for Falco and saw an unbelievable sight. Falco was on the ground groaning with Katt standing over him crying. "Oh no..." Krystal whispered and ran towards Falco.
(Author's Note: Yay, I updated. Hope you guys like it! Well, I'll update in one to two weeks.)