Chapter 7
(A/N: Here's an important note. If you want to know when the next chapter is going to be updated, you can check my profile. In my profile, look for the chapter number, like Chapter 8. It will give you a short summary of Chapter 8 and when I think I will be able to update it.
Also, I have a summary of what Starfox: Villains Return. There's lots of little secrets being released there hint hint.)
"Slippy, get up, I need you're help." Slippy yawned and opened his tired eyes. He saw Falco standing over him.
"What do you want Falco?" Slippy asked the avian. He got up and reached over to the side of his bed to grab his red cap. It read "Slippy" in yellow letters. He put it on.
"Well, you know you know how the television is connected to the satellite on top of the Greatfox which reads the signals from Corneria." Slippy nodded. "And you know that the satellite is how we also get communications from outside the Greatfox." Falco continued.
"Falco, why do you think I'm the mechanic of the ship? I think I would know all of this stuff." Slippy said, annoyed that Falco was explaining how the Greatfox's communications worked, to him. Falco rolled his eyes and continued.
"Well, we aren't getting the signal for the television and I need you to fix it." Falco said.
He finally got to the point.
"Fine, but I doubt I will be able to fix it in space, remember, the satellite is on top of the Greatfox," Slippy said and walked with Falco to the bridge.
- - -
Fox yawned. Today they were going on the mission that General Pepper had given them.
Might as well go up to the bridge now and start preparing for the mission.
Fox got up from his bed, throwing back the covers. Slipping into his boots, he stretched and holstered his blaster. The door to his room slid open and revealed Krystal. She walked in, slowly, giving Fox time to study her angelic features, and stopped in front of him, making him nervous and causing him to blush slightly. She looked into his emerald eyes and whispered.
"Thank you for saving me yesterday." She smiled. "I really appreciate it." When she said that it reminded him of the first time he and Krystal had gotten time to talk. It was the first time he had saved her. He gulped and blushed a darker shade of red.
"Uh...sure...I wouldn't have left you," Fox said. He was starting to feel uneasy.
"I didn't think you would," she said, head leaning closer. Fox felt her fur and lip touch. He leaned in and it was a perfect kiss. Krystal put her arms around his neck, bringing them closer than ever. Krystal slowly drew away from Fox, her arms still wrapped around him. Fox gazed into her sapphire eyes, shining with happiness. He had never felt so calm in his life.
The vulpine pair heard a startled shriek so they both turned towards the sound. Slippy was standing at the doorway making gagging sounds. He ran out of Fox's room. The pair burst out into laughter. "Better go see what he wanted," Fox said, his nervousness gone and replaced with calmness and a sense of security. Krystal placed her arms back at her side and followed Fox out of his room. The couple walked side by side down to the bridge. Upon entering they saw Slippy talking to Falco, Katt leaning against the wall, and Bill sitting down on one of the chairs eating a piece of toast. When they heard the doors open and Fox and Krystal enter, they all looked up simultaneously. Fox walked over to his seat towards the middle of the bride and Krystal walked to hers.
"So, Fox, have a nice time in your room this morning?" Falco asked. Fox tried hard not to blush.
Oh no! Slippy told Falco about me and Krystal. He'll just keep bothering me now.
"What are you talking about Falco?" Fox asked, gulping. A large grin was slowly spreading across Falco's face.
"You know," Falco said. Fox was saved from answering when Peppy came in.
"We've arrived at Fortuna." Peppy said as he sat down in his seat, waiting for further commands. Fox faced Slippy.
"Oh, Slippy, why did you come to my room anyway?" Fox asked his childhood friend. Slippy hesitated then answered.
"Our communications aren't working. I'm gonna try to fix them while you are on the mission, but I don't think I will be able to until we get into a docking bay, so I can get on top of the Greatfox." Fox nodded, giving Slippy permission to work on the problem. The bridge doors once again slid open. Fox looked over and saw James walk in.
"What took you so long to get up here? Did you forget the way?" Fox joked.
"Nah, I was looking to see if you were taking care of this place while I was gone." James answered, grinning. Fox grinned too.
"Well, let's start on the mission," Fox said to the team, getting up from his seat. "You coming?" Fox asked James. James suddenly looked uneasy, and looked away. Fox eyed James suspiciously.
"Um, no, I'll stay here and help fix the problem with the communications." Fox gave him a strange look, and led the way up to the Greatfox's hanger bay.
Wonder what's wrong. He normally loved to go on missions, at least when I was a kit he did.
"Fox, I need to tell you something!" Krystal called. "It's about your father," she continued urgently, catching up with Fox.
"What is it?" Fox asked her as they continued their way up to the bridge. Before Krystal could explain, a beeping noise was heard and Fox looked down at his communicator. Someone was trying to contact him so he let it through. It was Falco.
"Get up here McCloud! We can't wait all day." Falco said impatiently. He was already at the hangar bay. Fox rolled his eyes and quickly shut off the com. Already used to Falco's thin patience, he didn't say anything.
"Why don't you tell me after the mission?" Fox asked. Krystal sighed and reluctantly agreed, feeling put down.
- - -
Fortuna was a lush green planet that wasn't very inhabited, except for insect life, being that the planet was humid, hot, and was raining. The rain was pouring down heavily and high winds made flying the arwings very difficult.
The four arwing fighters swooped in on the planet, following the energy readings from the mysterious base. Going north, the energy readings started coming stronger. "Alright, follow me. Remember, we aren't sure what we're up against so no one play the hero." Fox said, leading the team through the rainy weather. Something new appeared on the radar, and whoever they were, they were approaching quickly. His stomach tightened, with the combination of bad weather and enemies. "We got some bogies coming this way, probably from the base. Be prepared to put up a fight," Fox said. A laser split through a cluster of trees and caused the fighters to fly out of formation.
"This is it," Krystal said before taking on some enemies. "Fox, these fighters have the Venomian colors and designs." She continued to study the fighters closely.
"She's right!" Katt said, swerving to avoid getting hit by enemy laser fire.
"What is the Venomian militia doing here?" Falco asked, targeting one of the fighters. Fox shrugged, then realizing that no one could see him in his arwing, spoke.
"I have no idea, but we need to find out!" Fox barrel rolled and hit a targeting Venomian fighter with his lasers. Fox set his communications to the Greatfox. "Peppy, can you track one of the Venomian fighters and see why they're here?" Fox asked. He waited a few seconds for an answer and then tried again. All he got was a bunch of static. "Peppy come in!" Fox said. More static. Fox set his communications back with his group. "I can't contact Peppy!" Fox said, starting to get nervous.
"We lost the communications with Corneria earlier, remember Fox?" Bill said, recalling the difficulties that the team was having that morning.
"But I didn't think that we wouldn't be able to contact the Greatfox." Krystal said. She swerved and blasted an enemy fighter into pieces. Fox sighed. Without the communications with the Greatfox, the mission was going to get harder. Fox looked down at his radar and saw more fighters approaching.
"We're nearing the base, get ready to attack," Fox said. Bill sent out a nova bomb and blasted apart the group of Venomian fighters, leaving none. "Great job Bill!" Fox said, eying the destruction the bomb had caused to the fighters. Bill gave a cocky grin. The group flew through a cluster of trees and once through, a small base in construction stood in front of them, bearing the Venomian markings, of the colors red, black, and a snake, wrapped around a spear. It was mostly built into the towering rock.
"This...is the base!?! The threatening base!?!" Falco said, a hint of laughter in his voice. "What harm could this do to Corneria? It's only being built," Falco said.
"Falco, if you haven't noticed, it bears the Venomian markings, meaning, we still have to check it out to see who runs it, take him or her to Corneria, and blow this place up!" Katt said, annoyance in her voice. Falco rolled his eyes and sighed.
"C'mon Katt, can't you ever have some fun?" he asked her, now eying her pink fighter, hovering in front of the base.
"Not with you around," she mumbled, barely audible.
"What was that?" he asked, voice raising, temper rising.
"Just stop," Fox said, interrupting, this time being the one to sigh. "Okay, we attack the base, on foot," Fox said. Bill and Krystal nodded in unison.
Fox started landing his arwing, slowly, carefully, and smoothly, the rest of the team shortly following suit. Fox jumped out as soon as his cockpit opened and then started for the base, his team quickly catching up. "When we get inside, we split; me and Krystal, Falco, Katt, and Bill." Fox said.
"Great...I'm stuck with you," Falco and Katt said in unison to each other. They exchanged death glances. Fox shook his head and stared at the keypad in front of the door, protecting the base from any intruders.
"What good does that do when we can just go sneak in through the part of the base that's under construction." Katt said, not even bothering look at the keypad.
"It's almost as if they want us to go in," Bill whispered to the group. Krystal placed her fingers to her temples.
"Bill is right! I'm sensing that they want us to go in," she said, placing her hands back at her sides. The news made Fox even more nervous than he was feeling. Everyone looked at Fox, wanting more directions. "What now," Krystal asked, glancing at the base. Fox thought for a moment.
If we go into the base, the enemy might have something set up for us. But if we don't then this mission will fail and we won't know who is in charge. They could plan some sort of attack on Corneria. Hmm... I don't want to put the team in danger.
"Split into your groups...we're going in!" Fox said.
- - -
"Remind me why we didn't put the bomb at the front of the base," Andrew said to Wolf. Wolf leaned back in his seat. The room they were in contained a large, circular table in the middle with comfy seats surrounding it. The walls were metal and a dark gray color, making the room look boring and dull. No decorations were hung up on the walls. It was the only room finished in the base.
"They would be able to tell the energy difference coming from the bomb at the front of the base, so we set it at the middle of the base so they energy difference would be difficult to notice. We also sent the Venomian Militia after Starfox so they won't suspect anything about us going to easy on them. If they did then I doubt that they would go into the base," Wolf said. He stretched his arms as he finished. Andrew didn't seem pleased, but he didn't say anything.
- - -
Fara was nearing the base. Looking down she saw the crashed remains of Venomian fighters.
I wonder if Fox did this?
She pushed the throttle causing the ship to go faster. She didn't know if she would get to the base in time to save the team. Flying through a cluster of trees the base loomed ahead. She looked down and saw Starfox's arwings on the ground.
They already went in? I thought Starwolf planted a base at the entrance. Maybe...they changed their plans.
She landed her fighter and dismounted, heading in the base, determined to find her friends and save them.
- - -
Entering deeper into the base, the light seemed distant, almost as if it had been a dream, disappearing into nothing. Darkness surrounded the pair, making them think of the scary stories they had been scared of when they were younger. The only thing they knew of, was each other, hearing their footsteps as they walked along the ever darkening hallway.
Krystal knew of nothing, as she walked in the base with Fox. If she didn't hear his footsteps, she would've sworn she was alone. Once in a while, she would see a flash of lightening, as it was still raining outside, or feel a raindrop fall on her muzzle. Once in a while, she thought she saw a shadow sneak by them, or hear something breathing uneasily. She was almost positive that whoever had built the base wanted them dead. Well, the Venomians always wanted the Starfox team dead. She jumped as she heard something fall to the ground, but quickly realized her companion had tripped over one of the unknown shadows, which turned out to be a box.
"I'm okay," Fox whispered, from behind the box. As Krystal studied the box, she thought it looked like it contained weapons. Krystal looked behind the box to see Fox, his head, leaning against the side. That was all she could make out.
"Are you okay?" she asked through her laughter.
He looks so cute like that, laying there after tripping over the box.
"I'm fine," he answered, lifting himself from the cold rocky ground. There was silence, as neither knew what to say to the other. After a moment, Fox's figure motioned to continue walking, deeper into the never-ending darkness.
Once again, Krystal started imagining monsters and ghosts, jumping out at her. The gloom never seemed to end, and eventually, she felt like it was sucking her into a vortex, of nothing, but ghosts, darkness, and all her fears. She was jerked from her imaginary world, when she bumped into Fox, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway. He suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her behind another shadow, which she supposed was another box. Krystal was about to retort when she heard voices, and sucked in her breath.
"Xulo kxoo semo ook?" the first speaker said, the voice sounding like a Sharpclaws'.
"A kxadb kxoo odkohot kxo rujo u cakkco nxaco uwe," a second voice, also like a Sharpclaws' said. Fox looked a Krystal, a puzzled look on his face. Krystal listened intently; she knew this language. The voices continued.
"Ex, ebuo. Nxod tat General Scales juo no xulo ke opak kxo rujo?" the first voice asked. Krystal saw Fox's ears perk up when he heard General Scales' name.
"General Scales juat kxuk no jxeict veccen Wolf's adjkhiskaedj udt Wolf juat ke opak nxod no xouht u ceit, erdepaeij roofadw deajo." the second voice said. Krystal heard the footsteps of the two voices walking away from them and gradually fade away. Krystal let out the breath she had been holding the whole time.
After a few more seconds hesitation Fox asked her, "What were they saying? It was Saurian, wasn't it?" she nodded, knowing she had been right about her theory, earlier.
"It was. They were talking about some sort of bomb and when to exit the base. I think they might be waiting for someone..." She hesitated. "Us." Lightening flashed through the sky, illuminating the hallway and giving Krystal a chance to see Fox's reaction. He seemed to be staring off, into space.
"Did they say what the bomb was for?" Fox inquired. Krystal gave a moments hesitation.
"No, I don't think they did," she answered with a sigh from Fox. Krystal saw Fox reach down, to his communication device. He was trying to contact the other members. The first avail, all he got was static. More static. Fox tried again, and it worked, relieving Krystal of some anxiousness.
- - -
Katt sighed as she walked along with Bill and Falco. They hadn't found anything, not even a guard patrolling the base. Everything was quiet, the only thing she heard being her companions' footsteps. She knew this side of the base had more light than the side that Fox and Krystal had taken. A little more light at least.
Why did a volunteer to come with Starfox anyway? This is way to boring.
She sighed again as she turned a corner of the base for what seemed like the millionth time. The familiar sound of the communicator interrupted the silence and startled her, she being the one to jump. "What's the matter Katt? Did the communicator scare you?" Falco asked with a taunting tone.
"Of course not! It was getting to quiet anyway," Katt answered gruffly. Falco shrugged and answered his communicator after a second glance at Katt.
"What is it Fox?" he asked.
"Falco, we found out that there are Sharpclaw here!" Fox said. Falco hesitated.
"What are Sharpclaw again?" he asked. Bill let out something that sounded like a sigh and laughter. Falco shot him a death glance, causing Bill to regain his composure.
"Falco!" Fox said, clearly exasperated.
"I'm sorry! Remember, I wasn't on that mission with you." Falco said.
"Nice excuse Falco," Katt said, butting into the conversation, a smile smile creeping up her face.
Finally, my chance to get back at him!
Falco let out a series of spluttered words, before disregarding Katt and getting back to the conversation with Fox. "What are Sharpclaw?" he asked again. Katt rolled her eyes.
"They were dinosaurs working for General Scales on the Sauria mission. Me and Krystal just met up with some. They mentioned Wolf and Scales," Fox added.
"This could get bad," Bill said as they continued to walk through the dull hallway. Falco nodded and then shut off the com. They continued to walk, in silence once again. Katt and Falco sighed in unison, once again followed by their annoyed glances. Katt's ears perked up as she heard someone's footsteps other than her groups.
Maybe it's a Sharpclaw.
Bill heard it too, quickly followed by Falco. The three of them each dove behind one of the many boxes littering the hallway. Katt listened closely. The footsteps were getting closer to them. The footsteps were about to pass the box where Katt was hiding behind, when Bill jumped out at the unknown figure and tackled it to the ground. Katt jumped up from her kneeling position, her blaster drawn and aimed at the figure that Bill had just tackled to the ground. "Fara..." Bill and Katt said simultaneously.
"Bill!" Fara said, a relieved sigh. Bill stood up and helped Fara to her feet. "What are you doing here?" he inquired.
"I was looking for you," she said. "Where's Fox?" she asked, her tone changing from joy, to seriousness.
"He's on the other side of the base, with Krystal." Katt said quickly. Fara mumbled something that sounded like cussing before jumping after the sound of thunder, slightly making the base shake.
- - -
Beeping was heard all of a sudden, making Krystal shudder, as she thought of what the Sharpclaw had said about obnoxious beeping. "Fox! We have to get out of here! The Sharpclaw said to exit the base when we heard a beeping noise, as in a bomb is going to go off!" Krystal said, pacing back and forth.
"Come on," Fox said, darting back the way they were coming from.
"Wait, the others," Krystal said, remembering the other group of animals. Fox stopped, reached down to his communication device. Static. He tried again, but no avail.
"Dang it!" Fox looked up, clearly determined to do something. "We have to find them and warn them," he decided. "But," Krystal looked at him, and tried to read his expression, as much as she could in the dark. "But," he said again. "You have to leave the base and go back to the Greatfox. I don't want to put you in danger," he said. Krystal could tell by the tone of his voice that he really cared for her, but she knew she had to stay.
"Fox, I can't leave," she said softly. The noise was starting to get louder, affecting her hearing, somewhat. "We're teammates," she continued, her voice soft. Fox looked up at her, new hope in his face, although she couldn't see it, she could feel it.
"Alright then, let's go," Fox said, new hope also visible in his tone of voice. Krystal smiled, although she knew Fox couldn't see her and followed him, at a brisk pace, to find the other group.
(A/N: Here's the translation to what was spoken in Saurian.)
"Have they come yet?" the first speaker said, the voice sounding like a Sharpclaws'.
"I think they entered the base a little while ago," a second voice said, also like a Sharpclaws' said.
"Oh, okay. When did General Scales say we have to exit the base?" the first voice asked.
"General Scales said that we should follow Wolf's instructions and Wolf said to exit when we heard a loud, obnoxious beeping noise." the second voice said. Fox listened even more intently at the mentioning of Wolf's name.
(A/N: There's the translation. Now, onto the reviews...)
Chapter 5:
CO Raven:
Great! James is back! Oh yeah. On another note, make sure you plan out who will win the tug of war over Fox. Whoever loses should probably be paired up with someone too, so plan ahead.
(A/N: I have the perfect guy for Fara, so stay tuned.)
Greg Miller:
Hey, I just went to a random chapter to see how well you write and I must say I am impressed with the James McCloud scene. It's really neat to picture the thoughts of the old Star Fox pilots and their moods before Pigma's betrayal. It's the little details that make your story stick out--learning that Pigma usually sang along with the music made me smile. Your story seems to mature as you write further on, too. Make sure you go back to your earlier chapters and make some edits, like fixing the Slippy's written scream and stuttering in the first chapter. From a little reading I can tell that you can spin very entertaining tales for fanfiction's readers. Way to go! If you get the chance, let me know what you think of my fanfic. It's called Star Fox: The Lylat Wars. Any feedback would be appreciated!
(A/N: Glad you enjoyed the chapter (I know, I say that a lot.) Thanks for the compliments and tips! Like your fic, really well written!)
Chapter 6:
CO Raven:
I've got one more tip. Make sure Starfox doesn't win too easily. There has to be something to balance out James, Bill, Fara, and Katt. They massively outnumber starwolf. One interesting idea is for James to be fake. Good job so far. Keep it up.(A/N: Don't worry, I'll make Starfox doesn't win too easily. BTW, there's going to be MORE villains, coming soon. Thanks!)
