A/N: Ugh.

Pen: Feeling better?

I guess so.

Pen: Good. *shoves story to author* You can deal with this nonsense for a while then.

Ow, not so loud. *sits down* Hello, everyone. Let's get to it then. Marcus, Fox, Falco, and all the others belong to Nintendo. Sword, Pen, and the story belong to me. Please do not use without permission. Thank you to bryan mccloud and Marcus for their recent reviews.

Pen: *rolls Sword along* It's like rolling a bowling ball.

Sword: I'm gonna go for a 7-10 split! Ooo, and how about a banana split?

Please enjoy.

Chapter 7- Airforce Base Charlie

The island that the Airforce Base was nestled into appeared as a dark lump rising out of the water in the distance. With the gathering thunder clouds overhead, it was difficult to see much of anything besides the steep mountain ranges acting as a natural shield for the base from water attacks. Marcus' father had taken him here a time or two, visiting old friends from the Airforce and he started to recall the memories he had of the base's layout.

Then a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, lighting up the horizon and stealing Marcus' attention away from the island. Hovering several hundred feet above, massive flagships watched over the island like giant beasts keeping watch over their young. Before he could gasp in shock, the light disappeared and returned the horizon to its murky, featureless form.

"Everyone else saw that, right?" Tad asked.

"Yeah," Falco said, his tone grim.

"At least it's not an ambush," Valerie said.

"Let's go lower," Marcus said. "There should be a small cove on the left," he remembered. "We can land there and scout it out." The rest agreed and followed him around the island, their ships barely touching the water as they stayed low and under any radar.

The cove was right where he remembered and they landed their ships on the beach. Before Marcus climbed out, he checked the storage compartments near him. A blaster, some credits, and, when he rooted through some other junk deeper, a basic repair kit. Could come in handy, he thought, stuffing the blaster and repair kit in his pocket and leaving the rest behind.

While the others descended their ships, he checked out the side of the pirate ship. There was a logo of some kind painted on the side. A wolf's head of some sort, but it didn't seem familiar to him. Maybe some kind of gang? One that Falco knew and would have him spooked? He would ask about it later.

"Which way?" Val asked.

"Should be a path here," Marcus said, pointing at a narrow dirt path leading through a short cave and winding up the mountain sides. They fell in line behind him and headed up the path, careful of rocks and other steep areas. Soon, they crested the mountain and had a full view of the island. Or as much as they could see in the dark.

The flagships still docked overhead, now monstrously large from this position. Circular entrances shunted open and close like gills on their underbellies, allowing the Anglar ships buzzing around them to enter and leave at will.

Below in the valley of the mountains, the base had taken plenty of damage, Buildings had been leveled and dozens of wrecked remains of Cornerian ships lay in heaps all around. Fires were still burning throughout, not in danger of setting the base ablaze, but granting enough light for them to see the carnage first-hand. And, much to Marcus' chagrin, enough to see those who had fallen.

The battle- Slaughter seems more appropriate.- was already over and lost. Even the enemy knew that, as the small Anglar planes merely patrolled at a leisurely pace, waiting for the flagships to act. But if the battle was over and done with, why did they linger here? For hostages? For something in the base?

Everyone seemed to have the same thought."What now?" Val asked.

"Unless I'm mistaken, that's the command center," Marcus said, pointing to the central building. The building with the most activity around it. "I would think the radio room would be in there."

"I think you're right," Falco said. "That's assuming these guys didn't blow it to bits already and force the base to broadcast from somewhere else on the island." Marcus looked around and noted how many spots in the mountains alone one could hide. Little nooks and and small caves. Anything was possible.

"This is our best shot for now," he said. "At least we can try to find out what's happening."

Falco nodded and began climbing down. "Let's get a little closer and see if we can't find a way in."


Almost immediately after Fox had taken a seat beside Krystal, Dash changed his mind and had the entire Star Fox team and family stand, marching them through the rain to the administration building and into the headmaster's office. A half dozen soldiers followed, tying them securely to chairs and lining them against the wall.

While Dash directed the soldiers' placement in and outside of the office, Fox leaned into Krystal. "You okay? Are you all okay"

"We're fine," she said, answering for everyone. "What about Marcus? Did he escape?"

"And Tad?" Slippy and Amanda piped up.

Lucy's eyes widened to the same size as Slippy's. "And Valerie? Is she safe?"

"I'm not sure, but I think they got away." Their anxiety remained and he couldn't blame them. He had felt the same since last seeing Marcus. "But they're with Falco, remember?" he said, using the same line of logic he had used on himself. "I'm sure he got them out. You know how he is."

"Oh, so Falco is here," Dash said, coming into the tail-end of the conversation. "And here I thought I would have to make do with an incomplete set. This is splendid."

"Why are you doing this, Dash?" Peppy asked. "Why are you working with the Anglars?"

Dash bent over, leering in the old man's face, his lips stretched back over his large, unnatural teeth. "My, my, my. Time must have caught up with you if you can't see what's right in front of your face." His eyes shifted to Fox. "Why don't I let your little protégé fill you in?"

"They're not the Anglars," Fox said, briefly explaining his tussle on the balcony with the robot. "They're all machines. Made by you?"

"But of course," Dash said. "I'm happy they gave you such a challenge. I should make a note to work on their reaction time though."

"That still doesn't explain what you're doing here," Krystal said. "Why attack Corneria? You helped us before."

Dash waved off her plea. "Many years ago. All of you were allies of convenience. The Anglars were always a problem on Venom, even during Andross' reign. It was only after his death they tried to seize power for themselves."

"So you needed us to clear the way for you?" Fox reasoned.

"Exactly," he said, lifting his blaster and admiring its finish. "I lacked the resources to match theirs. But once the Anglar Emperor was defeated, I was free to return to the planet and understood my grandfather's grand vision for this galaxy, to lead it into a new era instead of controlled by a tired, out-of-touch old guard.

"I must admit, not all of this was my own doing. The Anglars had some pretty advanced designs too. Ideas that my grandfather never thought of." He circled around on of the soldiers, sweeping some imaginary dust from its shoulder. "Of course, on the whole, Andross' designs were far superior. You can't imagine some of the things he cooked up, things he never got to build and you never got to see. But I promise, you will one day."

"And you attacked Corneria why?"

"Strike where the enemy is weakest. The Cornerian government hasn't had a challenge in a long while. They were never fantastic to begin with, always relying on the legendary Star Fox to come to their rescue, but especially now they have become fat, weak, and slothful in their complacency. With Corneria being the central hub of the galaxy, it should be all too easy to spread out to the other systems."

"You're insane," Amanda said.

"No, my dear," he smiled. "I'm only finishing what my grandfather started. A war to control the galaxy. And making sure all of you don't get in my way."

"That's the reason why?" Peppy asked. "You're doing this for a family grudge?"

Dash cocked an eyebrow. "Grudge?" he said, as if the word was foreign to his lips. "You mean against you stopping him? No, that's just a personal hate he had for you. I believe I said 'control the galaxy', 'new era', did I not?" He looked to one of the soldiers for confirmation, but they didn't respond. "No, this is simply eliminating any elements that can stop me. You're good, Star Fox. Very good, enough to destroy Andross and inspire hope in the people of Corneria. I can't allow you to stay around, simple as that."

He raised his blaster and fired one bolt into Peppy's chest. The rabbit gasped and slumped over in his chair, a cauterized hole sizzling from his shirt.

"Now, that, would be a family grudge," he said and nodded to Lucy. "I'm sure she'll have a fierce one against mine. Hope you understand the difference now."

Lucy's mouth hung open, her eyes slowly blinking, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. Then as quick as lightning, her mind snapped back into focus, digesting the situation all at once, and she yelled at the top of her lungs. "NO!"

Everyone screamed for Peppy, trying to get some sort of response out of him. But the old hare didn't move. "Is he breathing?" Lucy demanded of Slippy, who leaned in close to Peppy, listening for any sign of life. A heartbeat, a gasp, anything. "Is he breathing?"

"I...maybe?" he swallowed, "I can't hear anything. I don't know."

Fox stretched his bonds, thrashing in his chair, snapping his teeth at the ropes and at Dash. "You low-down, son of a-"

Another bolt between his ears silenced the room. "Shut. Up," Dash said calmly. "Or the next two go in your wife's pretty eyes."

Fox snarled, his claws clenched, but he sat back in his chair, fuming at Dash. Slippy continued to check Peppy, but there was still no response.

"Now, sit tight. I have a bird of yours to find. Because if anyone can give you a run for your money at being a nuisance, Fox, it's Falco." He summoned one of the soldiers and directed it to spread the order to capture Falco on sight, along with the children. Once he dismissed the soldier, he gave the team a once-over. "I have to leave for a while. Conquering planets isn't all fun and games. If you're very good, then when I get back, I'll let you see your children one last time." A nasty grin worked its way up his cheek. "If not, then watching Peppy there isn't even a sample of what I'll do to them. And each of you will see every, single detail of what I'll do. I promise you that."


Marcus shivered and looked around the mountainside. Something didn't sit right. Of course not. You're heading into enemy territory.

That wasn't quite it. There was something more, as if there was danger, both far and near at the same time, to someone close. Like his parents. Concentrate on this. We'll save them soon.

The command center towered above them. The night had grown exceedingly warm as the small fires burned the scant vegetation around them. Marcus crouched behind a bombed-out wall with the others and peered over the crumbling stone. No real sign of life anywhere.

"Anyone have any ideas?" he asked.

"We could use the buildings for cover," Tad said. "Make our way around to the front."

"Only thing to worry about is any guards. They could be waiting in the wings. Now, we could divert their attention," Falco said, picking up a discarded, unused grenade from behind the wall. The owner must have never had a chance to throw it in time. "That's assuming we can find something large enough to grab their attention. And enough firepower to distract them with."

Most of the base was demolished, so their only option would be some large explosion. Falco did have a point that they would need to gather enough materials for it, which would take precious time. And if they did set off a distraction, that was sure to alert the enemy to an intruder.

He looked to Val for her input, but she was preoccupied with something in the armory across from the wall they hid behind. "Val?" he asked.

"We could ask him," she pointed. In the pitch black entryway, they saw a pair of deep green eyes staring back at them, and a blaster emerged from the shadows after it.

"Woah, friendly," Marcus said, raising his hands.

"Call sign?" the gunner asked, never taking his eyes off them.

Falco squinted and leaned forward. "Bill? Is that you?"

The gun froze and a white snout slowly appeared, followed by a bulldog's face. "Falco?" he asked incredulously. A ship flew by overhead and he ducked back into the shadows. Once the ship passed by, he waved them into the armory. "This way! Hurry up!"

They scurried into the building, taking shelter from the windows and door. "Down here," he said, pointing to a set of stairs that led deep into the ground. "Get below." They quickly descended the stairs and the bulldog hit a button below the ground, closing a hatch over the stairwell and hiding it.

He hopped down and zeroed in on Falco. "That really you?"

"In the flesh," Falco said, spreading his arms.

The bulldog sized him up. "Can't be. You're too old and fat." He broke out into a grin and clasped Falco in a hug, patting his back. "I should've known you'd be in the middle of this as usual. The others with you?" He looked around and noticed Marcus, Valerie, and Tad.

"You three from the Academy?" he asked.

They noted the Colonel patches on his shoulder and immediately saluted him. "Yes, sir," Val said.

"At ease," the Colonel said, chuckling. "Nice to know the situation hasn't broken down all order in the military."

"Valerie, Tad, and Marcus," Falco said, introducing them quickly and then pushed Marcus forward a little. "You should at least know this one well enough. I'm sure you get bombarded will all the same pictures I do."

The bulldog focused on Marcus' features for a moment, then his eyes widened in recognition. "Fox's kid!" he said, then pointed out the other two. "Slippy's and," he snapped his fingers, "Lucy's. Wow," he turned back to Marcus, "I haven't seen you since you were this high," he said, holding the edge of his palm flat against his stomach. "You probably don't remember me. Name's Bill Grey. I'm a friend of your dad's."

"Yeah, I think I do," Marcus said, shaking his hand. "My dad used to tell me all about you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, they grow up so fast," Falco said, ending the introductions. "Look, we need your help."

"I'll say. You were about to walk right into the hornet's nest." He beckoned them to follow him down the steel-lined tunnel. "So, how did you wind up here?"

"It's a long story," Marcus said and gave a brief account of their night thus far.

Bill grimaced by the end of the story. "I'm sorry about your folks. They're good people. If I could help, I would, but I'm afraid we're grounded."

"Who's in charge?" Falco asked.

Bill grimace shifted into a wry grin. "You're looking at the poor sap. The general is M.I.A."

"You are screwed," Falco said, offering a chuckle with his joke. But between Falco and his friend, Marcus sensed that there was truth in the words. Their plan for back-up from the base wasn't looking likely. "No ships?"

"Some. But they're being watched by our friends above. They took over the base, hunted many of us down, and cut off all communications. We've been stuck here for hours with no word from anyone. Guess we know why now."

"Any idea what they want?" Marcus asked.

Bill clucked his tongue. "I have a theory, but we can discuss it inside. Here we are," he tapped a code into a keypad beside a door and it slid open, revealing a small emergency barracks, lined with bunks, and a handful of squads sleeping, eating, cleaning weapons, or in corners killing time amongst conversation and card games.

"Let's get you something to eat. I'm betting you're hungry."

Marcus hadn't realized it, but his stomach was trying to eat itself and growled at the mention of food. "Very. Thank you."

Bill nodded, sweeping them inside and closing the door behind them.

A/N:

Sword: *rolls back into the room and rolls too far* Noooooo!

That one part was a hard and we agonized if we should include it. In the end, we decided to.

Sword: *rolls backwards* B-B-But he's not…he's not really…?

We'll have more out soon. In the meantime, thank you for reading and please let us know what you think of it so far. See you soon!