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Hunting the Hunter
Time would pass since they last spoke. New conflicts emerged, and were resolved. The torch had been passed, a son led a defense, and a great enemy had been defeated. But, a promise was made, and not forgotten.
9 years later…
~A year after the end of the C.O.R. war, Axios formally enlisted into the Cornerian military. Due to his contributions over the years, and his close ties to Star Fox and the military leadership; Axios obtained the rank of Fleet Commander; just underneath the rank of High Commander which preceded Military General. However, Axios would not be a commander of a renowned military fleet.
After consulting with the military leadership, Axios would be the commander of the newly founded Black Mist Coalition, the first Cornerian black ops division. The soldiers within the Black Mist Coalition would receive advanced training, and newly acquired science would allow them to be augmented with implants to enhance their strength and agility. While the process was still within its planning stage, Axios acted closely with the Cornerian general in the meantime.
Within the Cornerian capital ship, the Carbon, Axios, along with two of his lieutenants, Joey Todd and Isaac Doran, stood alongside the newly inaugurated general Alexander Toran. The Carbon and its fleet had just entered the Philat region through the Lylat mega gate. As the ships proceeded through the gate, the crew noticed newly constructed mobile defense platforms aiming canons at the incoming fleet. "Cornerian ships, this is Philat Defense Platform 2." A platform commander said over the radio. "Provide clearance code for passage."
Toran stepped towards a terminal and rested his hand on a switch. "General Toran, Alexander, kilo five five two alpha niner." Toran said into the communicator.
"Copy that General." The platform commander responded. "Be advised, Philat is still in a state of political instability. Some regions have been labeled as hot zones meaning there's still conflict in the area. Best to avoid those regions if you don't want a civil war."
"Thank you commander. My fleet will pass through now."
As the ships of the 1st Excelsior fleet passed the defense platforms, Toran turned his attention to Axios, Isaac, and Joey. "Officially, we're here on a diplomatic mission of security." Toran said to the three of them. "Unofficially, I want to understand more clearly what is it you have me doing in this system."
Axios approached Toran's side and stepped close. "When we talked about forming the Black Mist Coalition, you said I could recruit my own group of individuals." He softly responded to Toran. "One of those men whom I planned on recruiting is hiding out here in Philat. He survived the war, I tracked him to a planet called Lumia. That's where we're going."
"I already have more than a thousand volunteers for your little black ops vision, Commander. Disciplined officers of the highest quality. Why are you so fixated on this one man? This renegade?"
"I know his abilities, and he has his resources. But on top of that, he owes me."
Toran let loose a sigh and turned his attention towards the front of the bridge. "Helmsman, set course for Lumia. I wanted us there ten minutes ago." Toran said.
"Yes sir!" A crewman responded. "All stations, prepare for hyperspace jump. Coordinates two two five six five oh niner. Destination, Lumia."
Axios stood next to Toran and crossed his arms. They watched as the blue hue of hyperspace surrounded the bridge windows. Within moments, the entire fleet jumped into hyperspace. As they traveled, Toran pressed a series of buttons on a nearby terminal and a holographic dossier appeared. As Toran read the file, Axios caught a glimpse of the data. "Reading up on his dossier?" He asked Toran.
"Name, Cyrus Evergreen." Toran responded. "Profile: Black furred fox with missing right eye wearing a black and white mask. Profession: Bounty hunter. Profile description: Target has had a history serving the fallen Hive organization as a bounty hunter. He ranked amongst their elite, and is to be avoided pending further action." Toran turned his head back towards Axios. "Are you sure this is a man you want within your unit?"
"His profile lists him as a renegade killer, but he's also one of the most loyal men you'll ever know."
Toran pressed another button and an image of a black and white masked fox appeared. Axios noticed only a single black eye socket on the white half of the mask, and his thoughts turned towards Cyrus's wounded eye. "He certainly looks loyal." Toran sarcastically said. "And quite friendly too."
"Alex, just trust me." Axios responded. "He's worth the trip."
"I hope you're right."
Moments after, the Cornerian ships exited hyperspace and they looked down upon a grey surfaced planet. "Sir, there is a planetary advisory alert." A crewman said. "We're on the edge of the habitable zone of the Philat star meaning the planet's surface temperature is colder than that of Fichina. The colonies are utilizing climate control towers to negate this effect, and thus created safe zones. However, even within the safe zones the temperature drops to 30 degrees below centigrade. Cold gear is advised."
"Understood, lieutenant." Toran responded. "Axios, you three are up. Shuttle transport is waiting for you in hanger two. You have forty eight hours to find this man, and bring him in. I need to move the fleet in the meantime to keep up appearances."
"Copy that." Axios responded. "Joey, Isaac, let's roll."
"Aren't you forgetting someone?!" An A.I. called out.
Axios quickly looked at Toran's terminal and noticed a small, three tailed fox standing above it. "You're taking me with too, right?" Sigma asked.
Axios chuckled and approached the terminal. He held out his wrist gauntlet and Sigma reached out for it. Within moments, Sigma transferred himself into Axios's wrist gauntlet and the indicator turned blue. "All right, let's do this!" Sigma exclaimed. "Woo!"
Toran lowered his head and smiled, and at the same time nodded his head. "Forty eight hours." He said to Axios. "Starting now."
Axios nodded his head and the trio left the bridge. They went towards a nearby armory and collected their weapons and gear. As they prepped themselves for the cold, Isaac turned to Axios. "So what's the deal with this guy?" He asked upon putting on a tight thermal liner. "You never mentioned him to us during the Crimson war, during the C.O.R. war… what makes this guy so special?"
"He's someone I helped out about nine years ago." Axios responded upon loading his blaster. "He owes me a favor for saving a family member. I'm calling it in."
"You expect this guy to work for you full time based on a favor?" Joey asked. "That's pushing it boss."
"It might be, but knowing him he'll come through. Let's get moving, we're on a clock."
The trio left the armory and quickly made their way to the capital ship's hangar. They boarded a shuttle and Axios sat himself within the pilot's seat. Isaac joined him as his copilot and Joey sat within the main cabin.
The shuttle took off and quickly made its way through the hangar shields. As it sped away from the Carbon, the three of them watched the fleet disappear into another hyperspace jump away from the system. "We're on our own now boss." Joey said.
"Copy that." Axios responded. "Toran's taking the fleet to a planet called Synera. Last I read, it's where Philat's political leaders are designating the capital world."
"Think a fleet is really necessary over there?" Isaac asked. "Is the political situation really that bad right now?"
"It is, but eyes forward. We're coming up on Lumia. Sigma, find a place where we can land this bucket. Primarily within grid two-zero-one."
"Scanning." Sigma responded. "Well, I've got no four star hotels for star ports, but I got a few located."
"Hit me up, Sigma." Isaac said.
Isaac and Axios noticed three new landing sites appear on the HUD of their shuttle. "Hellbig, Trenn, and Arcer." Isaac said to Axios. "Three larger cities where we can set her down corresponding to the grid you gave us."
"We'll start with Arcer." Axios said. "Sigma, give me a route"
"You got it." Sigma responded.
"Why Arcer?" Isaac asked.
"Because if my information is good, and it normally is. We're going to find someone in Arcer who can lead us to Cyrus."
A flight path appeared on the HUD of the shuttle and Axios followed it all the way to the planet's surface. Time would pass, and the ship would eventually make a landing within a local star port within the city. As they touched down within a circular pit, Axios powered down the ship and the trio made their way off. They were greeted by an elderly rat wearing thick clothing. "Howdy there strangers." The rat said. "Names Linas. What brings y'all 'round 'ere?"
"We're visiting a friend." Axios responded. "Heard there was a good tavern around here for a drink too."
Linas looked up and scratched his chin. "Well there's that tavern down the road 'ere." He said. "Them blacks are the cream of the crop if ya catchin' my drift."
"Thanks for the tip." Axios reached into the back of his jacket and pulled out a handful of credits. "For our ship."
Linas took the money and tipped his hat. "She'll be ripe and ready by the time ya boys get back 'ere."
Axios nodded his head and the trio left the docking pit. As they left the star port, a cold breeze hit them and Axios pulled out a winter hat to put on his head. "Damn it." He said. "The lieutenant wasn't kidding."
"Our thermal liners are struggling to keep up." Isaac said as he looked at his wrist gauntlet. "Best we stay in the safe zones and try to get out of the cold quick."
"So where to?" Joey asked.
"The tavern." Axios responded. "Based on my intel, our first point of contact it there."
The trio made their way down the street and eventually found the tavern on the side. They walked inside and a large crowd of people gathered at the many tables enjoying their drinks. As the trio made their way to the front, the many people in the bar were giving them strange looks.
Axios sat at the bar stool and Joey and Isaac stood by his side. A large brown boar wiped a glass mug clean and smiled at his own reflection from the glass. "I'll be right witcha in a bit, kids." The boar said. "In the meantime, think on what it is ya want from the menu there."
"I'm not looking for a drink." Axios responded. "I'm looking for someone."
The boar set his mug down and turned to face Axios. He paused for a moment upon looking at Axios's face, and he felt his pulse quicken. Realizing this, Axios could see that the boar was looking at him with a familiar feeling. He became confused as Axios did not know the boar, but the boar appeared to know him. "Well, who is it that you lookin' for?" the boar asked.
"Before I get there, do we know each other?" Axios asked.
"Nope, but I know that look. Ol' friend of mine had that same look on his face." The boar reached out his hand. "Name's Paolo."
Axios reached out and took Paolo's hand. "Name's Axios." He responded. "The two behind me are Isaac, and Joey."
Paolo's heart stopped for a moment at the thought of hearing Axios's name. "Axios…?" Paolo said. "You said your name is Axios?"
At this moment, Axios locked gazes with Paolo and he could see it all. Axios realized that Paolo was familiar with him. "It's you." Axios said.
Paolo took a deep breath to calm his nerves and he sat in a stool across from Axios. "So, you is lookin' for me then eh?" He said to Axios. "Or, is it you lookin' for someone else?"
"Paolo Dumbar. You're the one I'm looking for now because there's someone else I need to find later." Axios said. "You're a former information broker for Hive. Dropped off the grid when you defected, and been running ever since. That was until two years ago when you found a nice life here in Lumia. Bartender once more, but you're still brokering information. At least, for a price."
Axios noticed Paolo look down to his side. Paolo looked upon a shotgun mounted underneath the bar counter. However, Axios was one step ahead of him. "Relax." Axios said. "I'm not here looking for trouble. I'm with the Cornerian military, and you know why I'm here."
"Ya lookin' for my kid…" Paolo said. "Ya lookin' for Cy."
"Smart man. Know where I can find him?"
Paolo took a deep breath and looked away from the shotgun. "Truth be told, you is supposed to be dead. Least, that's what Cy told me." He said. "Cy told me 'bout what ya did for 'em nine years ago. Kid still owes ya. Kid also told me that you is one of his only friends these days. Said I ought to serve ya free."
"Well I appreciate the gesture. Now, about my question?"
"Yea, yea." Paolo reached behind for his back pocket and pulled out a small PDA. He pressed a few buttons on it and Axios held out his wrist gauntlet. After a brief moment, all the data from the PDA was transferred to Axios's wrist gauntlet. "Normally I'd charge ya a hefty price for that intel there, but since Cy seems to trust ya, this one's on the house. That there is his coordinates." Paolo said. "Ya should be able to take care of the rest."
Axios nodded his head and stood up. "Hey." Paolo said as he stood. "One more thing."
"Yes?" Axios asked.
"That kid, he is like a son to me. Saved my life too when them Hive boys came after me. Helped me start over, and I owe em. So when ya find em, ya take good care of that kid and ya tell 'em that Paolo wants a visit. But if I 'ear that you screwed that kid over, I'll pump ya full of plasma. Ya 'ear?"
Axios nodded his head and reached into his jacket. He took out another handful of credits and set them on the bar counter top. "Thanks for the help." He said.
Axios, Isaac, and Joey left the tavern and found themselves within the cold city streets. "Where too now?" Joey asked.
"We're going to the mountains." Axios responded. "I've got coordinates."
The trio made their way back to the star port and met up with Linas. After a brief exchange of words, they boarded their shuttle and lifted off into the air. They flew high into the atmosphere towards a dark zone of the planet, and as they looked down they could see a sizable mountain range. "Sigma, what do you have?" Axios asked as he looked through his windshield.
"Well, we're looking at the Kendar Mountains." Sigma responded. "This place is considered a dark zone though. I'm not finding a climate control tower anywhere on scanners."
"Think maybe the pig set us up?" Joey asked.
"Unlikely." Isaac interjected. "He recognized Axios's face before they even exchanged names. I think he was being genuine."
"Regardless stay on your toes." Axios said. "Joey, I want you on the rear guns just in case."
"Roger that." Joey walked to the rear of the cabin and opened a door at the end. He lowered his head and sat within a seat surrounded by a dome. A pair of canons slowly powered up as he worked with the turret controls, and he strapped himself in. "I'm in." He said over the ship comm.
"Isaac, eyes peeled." Axios said. "I'm taking her down."
