Here it is, chapter 8. I'm sorry that it took so long to get here. There was a problem with my computer and/or , I couldn't submit anything. but, anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It contains a plot-twist that has probably been done before. Hell, EVERYTHING has been done, lol.

Anyway if this chapter upsets anyone, I apologize. This chapter turned a few people away from my fic when they first read it. Anyway, enjoy..:p


Chapter 8: Cornerian Corruption


It is a beautiful day on Corneria. The cold weather hasn't started yet and the trees are a magnificent blend of colors. The oceans gleam with the radiant light of the Lylat sun. It is a truly amazing day. Yes, it seemed like it'd be a wonderful afternoon for everyone.

Sadly, it is not a good day for a certain General. In a military base communication room, far from any Cornerian city, General Pepper is troubled. His hand is resting on his forehead, he's sighing with tremendous worry. He feels an ache inside of him, almost as if something will go wrong very soon. The communication room that he is in is vast, lit only by the various computers and electronic hubs scattered throughout the room. He sighs and almost sits down when he notices a black bear in a gray Cornerian army uniform walk up to him.

He salutes before speaking in an official sounding voice. "General, there is a Cornerian senator waiting for you in your office."

Pepper nods and says. "Lead the way then Commander Bruce."

Pepper is lead through a series of small corridors that are lined up with durasteel surfaces. They're lit by florescent light that comes up from the floorboards. After a few minutes he arrives in his office as the Commander salutes and leaves. Pepper is surprised at the identity of his visitor. It's a bulldog, one that he has known for years.

"Bill Grey!" Pepper exclaims as he shakes his hand. "It's been a long time. congratulations on your election victory."

"It's nice to see you to," Bill says with a distraught face. "But I am here to talk about a very serious matter."

"Please," Pepper says as he gestures toward one of the chairs in the room. "sit down."

"Well... I have good news and bad news, but mostly bad news..." Bill says as he sits down uncomfortably. "The good news is that we've built a second weapon, a replica of the one we lost a month ago. We've hidden it in a Cornerian building, it's data must not get out."

"What's the bad news then?" Pepper asks abruptly.

Bill quickly gets a concerned but very serious look on his face. "Pepper... the Cornerian Senate has made a terrible decision. One that could bring us all to ruin."

The look in Pepper's eyes quickly changes to one of discomfort. "What do you mean? What have they done?"

Bill gets up off of his chair and starts pacing around the room.

He speaks in a worried manner. "The Senate believes that they have connected the attack on our spy ship and the recent bombings in Corneria city."

"Why is that a bad thing?" Pepper questions in a confused way.

Bill puts his hands on his hips and sighs. "Because... they have accused Sauria. They believe that They're behind the attacks and that they are supporting all of the pirates in the Lylat system."

Pepper has a stunned, angry look on his face. "Wh-What? That's impossible! Sauria is our newest ally! Saurians have always been kind and peaceful!"

"That's what I tried to argue in the Senate today," Bill sighs again. "But the majority of the senators have already decided differently. They are corrupt General, their minds are poisoned. Poisoned by greed and selfish desires for monetary gain. They needed a planet to blame for the attacks in order to calm down the people of Corneria. They picked one."

"I will not do it," Pepper says confidently. "I will not lead the Cornerian army into a blind war just because the senate says so."

"There are many younger Generals in Corneria Pepper. All of them would be willing to take your place within a moments notice." Bill responds sadly.

"What proof do they have that Sauria is responsible for all this madness?" Pepper asks in a irritated way. "They cannot accuse without proof."

"Off the record Pepper... there is lots of this so called proof," Bill says with disdain. "There have been many pirate communications that seem to have originated from Saurian space. Saurian Communications that were intercepted prior to the attacks contained specific details about the bombings and raids. Also, some of the dead pirates that we've found had Saurian weapons and uniforms in their possession."

Pepper could see the sorrow in Bill's eyes, he knew what he had to do.

"I think I can prove that they were set up." Pepper ponders as he rubs his head. "You and me shall head to Venom at once. Bring about five other senators that you trust, who have the same view that we do. Our proof will be at Venom."

"Why?" Bill questions, unable to understand his logic.

"I will... explain on our way there." Pepper hesitates for a split second. "Now go and gather the senators who agree with you. Meet me in the military docking bay in an hour."

Bill smiles and nods as he shakes General Pepper's hand. "Thank you General, we shall stop this oncoming war together. Just like old times."

Bill turns around as the door slides open. He walks out and Pepper sighs deeply. He locks the door silently. He makes his way over to his desk and he begins to cough violently and uncontrolled. He groans in anguish as he gets a major headache. After a few seconds, the pain suddenly ceases. He continues to walk to his desk and sits down in front of his computer. He opens a large drawer in the bottom right corner of his desk. He's staring at a thick black robe. He sighs and takes it out of the drawer. He wears it over his entire body, hiding his skin from the world around him. He pulls the hood over his face and types a few keys on his keyboard. A white lizard shows up on the computer screen, wearing a red army uniform.

"I'm on my way to Venom again." Pepper says in a deep, sinister voice. "I'll be in a gray Cornerian ship. Do not shoot it down, let it pass into sector four."

"Yess... my liege..." The lizard replies while saluting. "Sstar Fox iss almosst here."

"Good," Pepper says in a even deeper voice. "Give them a little 'tour' of the facility, I shall kill them later."

"How will we know you when we ssee you my lord?" The lizard questions.

Pepper's eyes are starting to glow with a slight red hue. "I'll be the only one in a red uniform... Kill the others. We are close to our goal Glash. The people who are with me wish to spoil it. Do not fail me."

"I won't Ssire." Glash responds, slightly intimidated.

"Make sure you turn on the experimental telepathic blocker. One of Fox's team members has certain... abilities," Pepper says worriedly. "She must not sense anything."

"Yess my liege, sshe won't detect anything." Glash replies confidently.

Pepper presses a few more buttons on his keyboard and the screen goes blank. He types in another code in an attempt to contact someone else. After about a minute, an automated message machine comes through the computer.

"You've reached the Saurian Export Company. Sorry but no one is available to take your call right now. Leave your message after the beep and we'll call you back as soon as we can."

The machine buzzes as Pepper begins to speak. "Scales, It's me. Thanks to the meddling of the Cornerian Senate the war will come sooner then expected. Prepare your troops, I shall prepare mine. Our revenge will soon be complete."

Pepper then turns off his computer and begins to take off his robe. He places it in a small metal suitcase to the right of his desk. He begins to cough some more, only more heavily this time. He opens a small drawer in the top of his desk. It's filled with dozens of medicine bottles. He takes one and cracks it open. He inhales the last three pills in the container. Almost instantly, his skin color begins returning to normal and his eyes lose their reddish glow. He packs a few bottles in his suitcase and closes it. He pushes an intercom on his wrist.

"Sal.. Prepare a vessel for takeoff, I have some unfinished business to attend to..." Pepper chuckles lightly as he turns off the intercom.

***

It is a cold, sad day on Fichina. Panther's brother is being buried in a small snow filled cemetery located on the outskirts of the city. The wind is surprisingly calm. I feel very awkward being here, as I am the only fox in the crowd. Everyone else is a panther or some other type of cat. I didn't realize how much family and friends Panther really had. Wolf and Leon refused to come, but Panther wanted me along for support. I wanted to come as well, some feeling of guilt was drawing me to this place. That and the fact that Panther wanted me to remember him. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't. I met his whole family. Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, his mother and father. There are many children in attendance. Many of them are too young to understand what is happening. I'm wearing a black dress that I had just bought yesterday. Everyone else was wearing dark blue clothing, probably because black didn't go well with their fur.

The only other person who wasn't a Panther was the one who was gonna deliver the funeral speech. He was a tiger, dressed in a black suit and tie. After I had exchanged various introductions with numerous relatives, Panther and I take our seats in the front row to hear the speech, he holds my hand lightly. The tiger waves his hands, everyone sits down as he walks up to a small platform in front of us.

He speaks in a fluent voice, kind voice. "Welcome friends and family, I'm glad that all of you chose to come today. We have come to honor the life of Kobi Caroso. Many of you here today, knew Kobi very well. You'd know that he lead a very happy and fulfilling life. He brought joy to everyone around him. He wouldn't want us to focus on his death, so we shall focus on his life."

I take in many words as I'm sitting and listening to the speech. I learn many things that I never knew before. I know now that he loved snowboarding, ice fishing, camping, cooking and all kinds of other details that I couldn't have possibly figured out on my own.

"Lastly," the tiger says as he concludes. "We know that Kobi always tried to settle the conflicts he faced in his life peacefully. And that's what he'll be remembered for. Thank you for coming here to honor him, and may your day be blessed with warm feelings."

There is a light applause as the tiger steps down from the podium. As I wipe away a few tears I notice that Kobi's coffin is carefully being lowered into the ground. Everyone slowly gets up from their chairs and they place red roses onto the coffin. As I put mine on the coffin, I look over to my right and I notice that Panther is walking away from the crowd. I pay my respects to the people around me and I start to follow Panther. He's just walking in the snow, the wind is beginning to pick up. After about a minute of slow walking he stops suddenly and stares at the vast mountains off in the distance.

He notices me without turning around and says. "I grew up here. This was the only place I knew about for a long time."

"I figured that," I reply as I walk up closer and stare at the mountains too. "Your family is pretty amazing. I don't remember mine very well."

"Kobi and I used to play in those mountains when we were kids. We'd camp out for days at a time." Panther says as he smiles slightly.

I smile too as I laugh lightly. "You boys must have worried your mother sick back then."

"Yeah we did," Panther replies casually. "She still worries for me sometimes. I know you don't remember me very well Nikki. But I hope that one day you will."

I put my head down and turn away, slightly embarrassed. "We uh, should get going."

"You're right," Panther smiles. "It's time to finish what Kobi started. Everything he worked for will mean nothing if we don't fulfill his final wish."

Panther hugs me lightly as we start to walk back to the city. He made a promise to his brother. I have made the same one in my head. Scales must be stopped and I need to remember why he's after me.