Chapter 7

Chapter 7

An Old Foe

James walked into Christy's room. The past few days had been pretty dull while waiting for the ship to charge for a warp gate. It was now only an hour away.

James found Christy sitting on her bed, facing her small plasma screen television. He walked over to stand beside her. "Only an hour to go. You just about ready?"

She quickly glanced at him then turned back to the TV. "Look at this." She spoke in a soft, almost scared tone.

The television was tuned to IPN, InterPlanetary News. Scarlet was standing on a platform in front of the Senate House, giving a speech. "The Free Planets of Lylat have captured the Star Fox team. This is an act of war. Clearly they do not want to come peacefully. We must take action."

James could see why Christy was scared. "How can she do this? Using our parents as an excuse to start a war. It's crazy."

"I know." Christy flipped off the TV as she stood. "Let's get Max."

"He's already on the bridge waiting. Let's go."

"Hold on a moment." She turned around, went to a cabinet, and took out a small gauntlet. She came back and handed it to him. "I want you to take this."

James took it, but didn't know what it was. "What is it?"

"It's a miniature, camouflage dart launcher loaded with two poison-tipped darts. I want you to use it if you get into trouble."

He tried to hand it back to her. "You know I hate using guns."

She refused to take it. "You may need it. Trust me."

With a sigh, he wrapped the gauntlet around his wrist. It almost instantly changed to blend in with his fur. "Cool," was his only reply.

An hour later, James, Christy, Max, and ROB stood on the Fox I's bridge, a large, green warp gate open in front of them. James, being his father's heir, took command. "ROB, take us in."

The ship surged forward into the gate. As the bridge moved through, the planet Sauria appeared before them. The prominent Ice Mountain was directly in front of them, with Thorntail Hollow slightly to the south. The hollow was their landing point because it was within easy reach of almost every region of the planet.

As the group moved through the halls towards the rear hanger, James couldn't help but notice the weapons on Max. He had a blaster on one hip, a machine gun on the other, and a small rocket launcher strapped across his back.

James glared at his through squinted eyes. "You're prepared, aren't you?"

Max looked back, noticed the weapons on James, and gave his reply. "I see you're obviously not."

James was carrying two longblades across his back, a small dagger in his shoe, several throwing knives in his sleeves, as well as two longer knives in his jacket and the dart gun. Most of the weapons were concealed, though, so Max couldn't see them. He simply smiled back. "We'll see who's more prepared."

The group entered the cruiser, which promptly shut its entrance hatch. Christy fired up the engines and flew down to the planet.

The ship landed without a bump. As the hatch lowered, James and Christy gazed out at the world that they so deeply loved. This was where their parents had first met, as well as where they had spent so many vacations together.

But as they looked around, they noticed that something was different.

Christy was the first to speak it. "Where are all of the Thorntails?"

She was right. Normally, this place was crawling with them. But now, it was disserted.

"Let's look around. Maybe we can find something." James again took command.

The group went their separate ways. James search near the Thorntail Store, Christy searched by the Queen's Cave, and Max looked around the field where they landed.

For five minutes, they found nothing. Then Max discovered a small cube with a tiny button on it. He called the others over. When they were all assembled, he pressed the button.

Without warning, half a dozen panels in the rock walls opened and dozens of large dinos spilled out. They resembled small T-rexes, but were blue, green, and brown. James and Christy recognized them from their parents' stories. "Sharpclaws!"

The group was quickly surrounded, forcing them to go back to back. Max and Christy drew their blasters while James drew both of his longblades.

Some of the Sharpclaws parted to let someone through. The figure was twice the height of the Sharpclaws, but of the same species. He also looked twice as fierce.

Again, James and Christy recognized him. They both gasped in sheer horror. "General Scales?"

"Yes." He was speaking in old Saurian, but I will translate for you.

James was quite puzzled. "I thought you died when you released your Krazoa Spirit."

"I almost did. But I recovered. And now I am back to take over Sauria and the whole Lylat System."

Christy intervened. "How do you plan on doing that?"

"I wish I could explain, but you are about to die so it won't do you any good." At these words, the rest of the Sharpclaws readied themselves.

James and Christy did likewise. Max, who could not understand a word that was being said, followed their example. This was going to be quite a fight, even for James.

James waited until Scales, who had backed up to avoid confrontation,

gave his soldiers the command.

"Attack!"