Fox and Krystal were rushing down the hall, auto rifles in tow in pursuit of the Venom Boarding Team. The two came to what appeared to be a five way intersection.

Fox asked, "Well—which way?"

Krystal focused for a minute and said, "I'm sorry Fox there is just too much interference, I can't pick them up."

Fox exclaimed, "Ahh shit!"

He then noticed a call box on the wall and ripped it open holding down the button and yelling, "Anyone respond!"

Bluestone's voice cam over the com exclaiming, "McCloud, but I thought that Michaels said---"

Fox cut him off saying, "No time—me and Krystal are trying to intersect the borders. The rest of my team is in the fighters, we are at a five way intersection on level 93—which way?"

Bluestone said, "Alright then, do you see any markings on the ceiling?"

Krystal looked up and saw a series of symbols and said, "Yes it says H3EDF17."

Bluestone replied, "O.K. gives me a sec."

Over the com they could hear what sounded like typing and finally, "Alright there, do you know which way you came into the intersection?"

Fox said, "Yes, there is now a path to the left—a path to the right—one straight ahead going left and one straight ahead going right."

Bluestone said, "Go down the one straight right. You'll see a lift bank further on. Take it up to level 100and as soon as you exit make another right and head straight down the hall. That will take you to the CPU core. We lost contact with the security check points about a minute ago. If they get to the core they could shut down our weapons, kill everyone still in statis—all sorts of stuff I don't even want to imagine."

Fox said, "Thanks!" turning off the com. He and Krystal ran down the designated hall and after another minute came to the lift bank. One of the lifts opened automatically and there was Ken and two other Zeon soldiers.

Fox exclaimed, "Ken where the hells were you?"

Ken said, "Ah, shut up! I was down analyzing one of the old Zakus when the Apes started blasting. Me and these two engineers are heading for the Great Fox."

Fox shoved Ken back into the elevator and Krystal followed.

Ken yelled, "Hey what the—"

Fox cut him off saying, "Ship is already gone. The apes are messing with the main computer."

Fox then punched in the correct numbers and the lift's door slammed and the lift began to rise. One of the Zeon engineers that were with Ken exclaimed, "Crap! There is a small armory off the room security checkpoint. We should probably grab what we can."

Up in the core, we see the Crimson Furred Fox and several Venom troopers hot wiring the main computer. The computer was massive and the terminals were on a small completely enclosed platform in the middle of the room. To get there, you had to cross a small retractable bridge.

One Lemur said, "All right we are in—commencing full download."

An Iguana listened to a com and explained, "Secondary objective achieved, we have retrieved the sleeper. Can't get to Michaels as he is too heavily guarded."

Another Lemur added, "We should have full download in five minutes—Sir what's the matter?"

The Crimson Fox said, "Something's coming—I can feel it."

He then yelled, "I'm going outside to defend the entrance to the Core. Continue downloading."

Back outside, Fox, Krystal, Ken and the two engineers passed a secondary security checkpoint. When at the first checkpoint at the armory, Ken only having a large combat knife looted a 10mm SMG and pistol, the two engineers also grabbed the same and Fox managed to find lying loosely in a crate a couple of flash bangs.

Just like the last checkpoint there was no one there, alive at least. Broken glass, smashed computers, shell casings and massive scorch marks everywhere. Charred helmets and small pieces of cloth littered the floor. There were also several bodies that looked to be literally severed in half. Even more disturbing was there was no mess and gore. Whatever did this somehow cauterized everything instantly.

Fox mumbled, "I think I'm going to throw up."

Ken knelled down along side one of the bodies and said, "No way in the name of

Gaia could ordinary weapons do this." Ken then yanked out the guns current clip and using one he grabbed in the armory, slapped it in. Loaded with anti personnel tracer rounds instead of the usual it was apparent to Fox that Ken was taking whatever was going on very seriously. He also noticed that the two engineers were following Ken's lead replacing standard shells with tracer rounds.

The group proceeded further down the hall padding more carnage. Finally, Fox raised his had signaling everyone to stop. Using a small piece of metal, Fox positioned it to see around the corner.

Fox quietly said, "The Core is straight ahead, but there is only one person guarding it. Can't make anything else out. Lucky I found anything reflective at all."

Before anything else was said, the two engineers leaped around the corner firing. About a second later to Fox and his group's horror, the two burst into flames and disintegrated.

Nothing left but two scorch marks and scraps of uniform.

Krystal tightened her grip on her staff. "Whoever this is, he is using magic."

Ken whispered, "Wait a sec, I thought only you could do that"

Krystal nodded and said, "I didn't think there was anyone like me left." Then she added, "I'll go first, the two of you get behind me."

Fox exclaimed, "Krys are you sure?"

Krystal said, "I know the exact same trick, hardly every use it, and not on such a scale, but I know how to counter it."

Fox nodded and said, "Just be careful."

Ken added, "We'll be right behind you."

Krystal then got up and turned the corner holding her staff in a combat stance. Fox and Ken following behind, guns raised. In front of them was a Crimson Furred Fox in a Venom space suit holding a short sword engraved with strange markings.

Krystal pointed her staff at him and shouted, "Drop the blade now!"

The Crimson Fox turned around and upon seeing Krystal his eyes widened. Almost immediately they narrowed and he said, "Ah but this must be fate."

Ken yelled, "Didn't you hear the lady, drop the frigin sword."

The Crimson Fox yelled, "Stay out of things you cannot understand, you ignorant creature—or does though wish to meet thy end like the others?"

Fox then said, "I don't know how you are like Krystal but there is no way I'm going to let you leave this place alive."

The Crimson replied, "Ah and you must be McCloud, the mercenary demon of a corrupt democracy repressing the reptilian and simian races."

Fox was now pissed and yelled, "Demon of What? You are out of your mind Andross was conducting a genocide against us."

The Crimson said, "Well Corneria did it first, we're just returning the favor. After all it is the belief of the spirits of our ancestors that everything we do in life has an equal and opposite reaction."

Fox was about to fire when Krystal said, "Wait." She then while holding her stance asked, "Who are you?"

The Crimson chuckled and said, "Well you don't remember me, but that is to be expected, considering how much force I put behind that spell—allow me to Krystal to enlighten you and your friends of all their sins. I am Saber of the Crimson Sky Clan, Prince of Cerenia the planet in which Corneria destroyed—as well as your cousin by blood."

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Next: Part II: Blood Stained Past

Rave Drifter