Star Wolf Adventures : Galaxy War

(Version 1.2)

Chapter Ten : Countdown Initiated

"Captain's log... Lucky thing I've got this recorder in my wrist computer, so I can update. We're hostages now, my team and I, as well as Pym and his crew. Our captor is the Ancient Minister of Enniess. I was blasted from behind by his droid CT64, and everyone else was tied up... Aside from Arti and Dox, who are in Bacta tanks, and... Mumbo..."

Wolf still couldn't believe it... Mumbo Jumbo, the shaman/mechanic/pilot, was dead. He'd been avenged, at least, when his killer, the Gruntling, had died at Wolf's hands, but... It didn't change the fact that the skull-faced shaman was gone.

"I think CT64 might not like his boss' plans," Kay-Tee said, interrupting Wolf's thoughts.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Wolf inquired.

"When Mac was talking about the billions that would die if the star was turned into a blackhole, the droid was staring at him pretty hard, and he seemed pretty shocked," Kay-Tee told him. The young pilot was trying not to think of Mumbo, and focus on getting out of the mess they were in.

"I noticed him hesitate before following the Minister, too," El Boton interjected. "Like he wanted us to tell him more."

Wolf pondered that for a moment.

"He shot me in the back, but he only stunned me," he said, thoughtfully.

"And he insisted your other two men be taken to the Bacta tanks, as well," Pablo G. Pym added.

Wolf nodded. Adding all that to the fact that he hadn't turned Dox in when he caught the spy prowling around made it seem like the droid might just have caring side. Billions of innocent sentients dying would bother someone with even a little decency.

"We'll have to keep an eye on him, he may prove useful," Wolf said. "And then... There's Andrew."

"You really think he'll be much help?" Kay-Tee asked.

"I'd like to think so," Wolf replied. "He had moments where he wasn't

a complete idiot, when he worked for me. He could fight when he had to... And this is definitely a 'have to' situation."

"Well, I'll go get him then," Kay-Tee said, slipping out of his shackles.

"Hey! How'd you do that?!?" Zack Vee wanted to know.

"It's the feathers, it makes me hard to shackle," Kay-Tee said with a shrug. "What should I tell Andrew, boss?"

"Tell him it's life or death for him as well as us," said Wolf. "Also, go get those backup weapons... You remember where they are, right?" Kay-Tee nodded, so Wolf went on. "Sneak back here, but stay silent... If the droid or the Minister is in here, stay back until I signal you... I have a feeling that there's more to this situation than meets the eye."

"Right, boss," the Kay-Tee said with confidence he didn't really feel. "Wait, how will you explain my absence?"

"The Minister is preoccupied with his plan," Wolf said. "The only one who might notice is CT64. If he really is unsure about his leader's plans, he might overlook it. If not... Then you'll have to be ready to frag his metallic hide."

Kay-Tee nodded, then disappeared into the inner corridors of the NinsonX. Pablo sighed, glancing around the docking area, where they were imprisoned.

"I have conflicting emotions, Wolf," he said, heavily. "Part of me just wants to take my ship and get out of here. The other part of me wants to make sure the Minister's evil plan gets stopped." He paused, then glanced at Wolf. "You ever have those kinds of feelings?"

Wolf snorted. He'd had so much of that lately, he could write a fanfiction about it.

"Yeah, I get you," he replied. "But right now, to be honest, I pretty much have my mind set on stopping the Ancient Minister. He's partially to blame for what happened to Mumbo... And now, with his plans... He's gotta be stopped."

"No kidding," Mac Banno said, rolling his eyes. "You do realize that when that star collapses, after he's used it, we'll be the first to implode, right?"

"Way to cheer us up, Mac," Zack said, making a face.

"That just makes it all the more important," Wolf said. "If you're the kind of person who's only out for number one... Like I used to be... Then there's still a reason to fight. That's why I hope Andrew will come through..."

*****

Kay-Tee quickly made his way through the NinsonX, and back to the room where Andrew was getting his Bacta treatments. The ex-Star Wolf member would be close to 100% healed, but getting him to risk that health was the real problem.

Opening the door, Kay-Tee stepped inside, seeing Andrew sitting up, stretching and yawning.
"Oh, finally!" Andrew said, making a face. "I was starving! You brought the food, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't," Kay-Tee said, frowning. "I came because we need your help! The boss told me to get you, and-"

"Oh, so he thinks I'll just start taking orders from him, now, eh?" Andrew said, sneering. "Well, fat chance. I want some food, and then I want to get off this stinking ship, and back home."

"That's not going to happen, you idiot!" Kay-Tee snapped. "We're all about to die!"

"D-die?!? UNCLE ANDROSS!"

"Shut up!" Kay-Tee warned, worried the noise might attract CT64. "Look... SeaBee Emm and his creature/assistant are dead, but his partner in crime, the Ancient Minister, is cooking up a plan that'll wipe out this solar system, and everyone in it... Including us."

Andrew paled, swallowed hard, and then spoke much more quietly.

"Wh-what can we do?" he asked, tentatively.

"The boss and the crew of the NinsonX are shackled in the docking bay, right now, while the Minister gets ready to destroy the star," Kay-Tee said, hurriedly. "It's up to us to get the backup guns, and take them to the boss and the others."

"You know where these weapons are?"

"Yes, I do... So, will you come with me?" Kay-Tee waited anxiously

for his reply.

Andrew hesitated, then nodded.

"I'll come," he said, getting shakily to his feet. "I might be a little slow, I haven't moved since the accident, you know... But I'll come... I don't wanna die."

"Good!" Kay-Tee said, somewhat relieved to not be in this alone. "Now, come on! We gotta get those guns."

*****

Wolf and the others were almost to the point of dozing, when metallic footsteps caused them to look up. CT64 was coming toward them slowly.

"Well, come in, have a chat," said Wolf, smirking. "What can we do for you?"

The droid hesitated, then asked, "Is it true? Will billions of sentients die if my liege's plans are made reality?"

Wolf nodded.

"The way he's talking, yeah," he said. "He'll level this solar system, and maybe the next..."

CT64, being a droid, was hard to read, but Wolf thought he seemed very nervous.

"But... There are other ways, surely? Ways that he can use the star without harming so many?" he asked.

"Not that I know of, droid," Wolf said, with a shrug. "He doesn't seem to care, anyway..."

"My master is very caring!" CT64 said emphatically. "He is striving to save Enniess, and save our people! I just... I do not understand how his plan could harm so many others... I must think about this."

"Don't think too long, CT64," Pablo said quietly. "Time's running short."

CT64 looked from Wolf to Pablo, then turned to walk away. He stopped short, however, and turned back. He scanned the group, then titled his head slightly as he said, "You should have your friend return before my liege notices his absence." The droid then walked out of sight once more.

"I hope we can count on him to help," Pablo commented.

"Or at least not help his boss," El added.

Wolf shook his head.

"We can't count on anybody but ourselves..." he murmured. "But some help would be nice."

*****

Kay-Tee and Andrew quickly located the weapons stash. There were a few rifles and some pistols... Not a lot, but better than nothing. Besides, they were only up against one short dude and a droid, right? Kay-Tee wasn't sure what Wolf meant by there being more than met the eye about the situation.

"Here, let's use this duffel bag to carry them," Kay-Tee instructed.

Andrew started placing the weapons in the bag.

"So you're my replacement, eh?" he asked, looking at the Anthro-Avian.

"One of the replacements," Kay-Tee said, shrugging. "Me, Arti, Dox, and..." He trailed off.

"What?"

"Nothing, forget it," Kay-Tee said, shaking his head. "Come on, we need to get back to the boss."

"You think... Well... You think he might let me come back if I help him out?" Andrew asked, suddenly.

Kay-Tee looked at the apish fellow in surprise.

"You mean you want to be part of the team again?" he asked. "What about your uncle?"

"He'll kill me for messing up so bad... Again..." Andrew said miserably. "This was my last chance. He more or less said I wasn't to come back without this shipment... And since the chances of that are looking slim, I'm guessing I won't be heading back to Venomia City anytime soon."

Venomia City, the capital for planet Venom, was where Lord Andross lived. Once an eccentric but brilliant scientist, he had become completely mad over time... He'd been in and out of a body multiple times, often opting to be just a giant-sized head and pair of hands.

Andrew wasn't sure what his uncle looked like nowadays... He'd only spoken to him through holomessages, of late, and they always showed only his head when he spoke. Andross had been strange, as well, lately... Well, stranger than usual. Andrew suspected something was wrong. Perhaps it was Star Fox, or even Wolf's move for independence. Or maybe it was something more.

Regardless, Andrew wasn't sure he even wanted to go back... His uncle was seeming less likely to protect him, if worst came to worst.

"I can't speak for the boss, but... Helping now would better your chances, man," Kay-Tee said, shrugging. "So, come on! We need to hurry."

Andrew nodded, and followed him, carrying the duffel full of weapons. The two snuck quietly down the corridor, and back toward the docking bay. Reaching it, Kay-Tee peeked around the corner, then immediately pulled his head back.

"He's in there!" he whispered.

"Who?"

"The Ancient Minister."

*****

"It... Is... Time!" the Ancient Minister exclaimed. "The... Countdown... Will... Now... Begin!"

He moved to a computer panel, which was patched into the computer system of the |_33+ Hacker, by CT64. After typing in a command, the computer began to speak.

"Name?" the system asked.

"Ancient... Minister..."

"Voice pattern confirmed. Ancient Minister of Enniess. Password?"

"Odyssey..."

"Password confirmed. Begin countdown?"

"Master, are you certain that this is right? All of those people will die!" CT64 interrupted.

The Ancient Minister turned slowly to face his assistant, and his bright yellow eyes seemed to bore holes into the droid.

"You... Would... Question... Me?" he asked, his mechanical-sounding voice developing an edge. "I... Am... Your... Liege... Lord!"

"Yes, but... Master... The innocent sentients..."

"ENOUGH!" the Ancient Minister boomed. "No... Price... Is... Too... Great... For... Enniess... And... Our... Success!"

CT64 glanced over at Wolf, then back at his master. He then bowed.

"Yes, my lord," he said, and stepped to the side. "Forgive me."

Wolf frowned... Was he really giving in? He shook his head, then glanced to the side. He caught sight of a beaky face peeking around the corner from inside the ship. It disappeared quickly, but Wolf knew who it was. Kay-Tee with the weapons... And possibly Andrew.

He hoped they would stay put just a little longer... He wanted to be free of the shackles before their plan was discovered. Wolf thought he knew what tricks the Ancient Minister had up his sleeves... The diminuitive tyrant was much more dangerous than the others could possibly imagine.

"Begin countdown?" the computer asked again.

"Yes..." replied the Minister.

On every display panel in the room, large red numbers appeared... And began ticking downward.

30:00 to star collapse...

29:59 to star collapse...

29:58 to star collapse...

The countdown had begun...

End of Chapter Ten