Star Fox: Universe

Episode: 11

Season 1 : 闇の中で In the Dark

Star Fox and Characters are Copyright to Nintendo as well as the themes related to them.


A Matter of Days

Note: This chapter marks the end of "season 1" of Universe. I thank everyone who has read these first, trying eleven chapters and hope you have enjoyed them. Episode 12 will mark a few changes in how this story is done and more than likely the chapters will become much longer since I feel I haven't yet established the amount of detail I wanted with "season 1". Again, thanks for reading; comments and constructive criticism are welcome.

The only light in the large, circular room came from the holographic projector located in the center. Rows and rows of empty chairs laid witness to a display of fighters and capital ships rushing helter-skelter toward their enemies, laser fire zooming to and fro across the floating stage.

On the far corner of the display one of the larger Cornerian ships began to descend from its position as explosions from within spewed out more debris on the already littered battlefield. Ships of foreign design escaped from the fires of that destroyer along with several of the orange and red ships belonging to Wallace's crew.

A sigh escaped one of the three figures who stood before the projector as they continued to watch in anxious silence. The tallest of them was a rather solidly built deer-man, whose antlers displayed his full majesty and power; quite fitting for the man who was Chancellor of Corneria. Despite his rather young age of 35, the stresses placed upon him were gradually showing in his graying fur and tired eyes.

His two companions were none other than General Pepper himself as well as Judge Ricks, a wise, snow colored owl that was known for his disagreeable nature. He was one of the oldest members still working for the government and the oldest of the five councils so it was only natural that he'd be the most conservative.

"It's growing horribly apparent how right I was in opposing splitting up our fleet," Ricks said with a hint of arrogance, his words echoing within the large room.

Redgis closed his eyes, not too pleased with how often Ricks enjoyed pointing out obvious facts whenever it involved his rejected ideas. The Judge was one of two to be against dividing the military over the system, Lane being the second. The councilor was pretty much going to become exactly like him since she was taken under his wing. But thinking about trivial matters like that was to come about later, as he reopened his eyes and took a look at the battle projected above them.

"We've been reduced to three capital ships left," Redgis felt necessary to state the obvious.

"Other than the three government star ships, the planet only has about twenty more ships remaining that could head up there," Pepper added.

"And what about reinforcements? Any idea just how long they can arrive from Katina?"

"Not fast enough," scoffed Ricks. "Our little friend's firewall has made communication utterly difficult we're unsure if they even got our distress signals."

"I assure you that Ms. Monroe did her job and informed our troops," replied Pepper hotly. "As for Lyle's actions, I'm sure what he did was for our best interests, regardless of what the consequences are now."

"Regardless, Pepper?" he asked, amazed. "We're about to loose our planet to one, and I repeat, ONE ship. I don't count those shitty criminal ships because had our military remained stationed here in Corneria as I had insisted before, we would have easily taken care of them. And especially if communication wasn't hindered, we would have rallied up enough troops to retaliate quickly and effectively."

Redgis grunted, knowing that saying anything would further instigate comments from the old hoot. Light entered from the far end of the room as a door opened and two figures walked in. He recognized Councilor Cooper and Judge Krause's figures as they slowly made their approach. "I take it Fox went off to figure out what that 'missile' was then?"

"Yes, the mercenary had agreed with one exception," answered Krause who was rubbing his chin with his hand. "Peppy, that Cerinian fox and that bounty hunter were to be transported to his ship immediately."

"I would've rather the bounty hunter be imprisoned within my own ship." Ricks shook his head.

"You cannot overlook that the guy did take out that dragon that was kidnapping our citizens," said Cooper as she frowned at the Judge. "And not to mention that in his current state imprisoning him wouldn't be recommended to keep his health in check." She was satisfied that the owl couldn't reply.

The projector above them began to flash a series of red lights, all of them looking up at the sudden disturbance. More of the strange missiles were being launched this time, the small fighters swarming around them struggling to break through the heavy shielding that the Pirates unfortunately had.

The deer shook his head, disheartened with what he was about to say. "We have no choice. Our military is spread too thin for us to defend effectively. Pepper, send at most ten of our remaining star ships to aid our remaining three and have the rest set up an area that we can evacuate citizens though. We must leave the planet."

"It appears to be our only option," Krause agreed, nodding grimly. "We'll have a better chance regrouping either in MacBeth or Venom in order to strike back."

"Then I'll prepare an announcement," Cooper added in. "I am a bit worried though…Even with the amount of shuttles we have, you are aware that not everyone will be able to escape. I'm afraid of what will happen to those who remain here."

Ricks shook his head, disgusted. "At the moment we cannot dwell on that matter. I'll take my ship and head toward Fichina and get our bases ready there."

"Then I'll contact Dash in Venom," said Redgis. "I'll explain the situation and hopefully we can set up a force in Ashford. Until then, keep contact with one another weekly. Once we get the fleet at full power we'll return."

They all nodded and made their exits, Ricks muttering under his breath. Redgis realized that Pepper was still following him, the hound still occasionally coughing from his previous sickness.

"You're not your usual self, Redgis," he said. "This past week I've watched you grow so weary and nervous. You can't let everything that Judge Ricks says get to you."

He gave a weary smile. "It's hard to admit that perhaps the senate and I were wrong in what we had decided to do. Not knowing that something like this would happen and spreading our military too thin…I suppose that we were only asking for this to happen someday soon."

"Well, you have to remember, Corneria has had peace for a few years now. Many of us were hoping that this would be the end of the conflict in Lylat, but it seems now that we've garnered attention by species outside of our system." He coughed once more, taking a break in his speech. "I just wonder how much longer we'll have to go on fighting like this."

Redgis sighed as they neared his office door. The halls that were usually guarded with several soldiers were nearly empty as the men were either in space or managing with the conflicts outside. "You were supposed to be retiring soon, last I recall." He gave the hound a careful look. "It looks like your health hasn't fully recovered since the Anglar War either, hasn't it?"

Pepper shrugged. "As long as I'm capable of helping I'll be fine. However once all this is past us, I would like to retire for good, yes. Anyway, I apologize but I have to make my leave now. Before I alert the troops I wish to give Falco a heads up about what is going on now."

"Alright," Redgis replied. "Best of luck to your men, and I'll keep in touch from Venom." Pepper nodded and walked away as the deer entered his office, placing both hands on his head as he tried to contemplate that everything around him was really happening.

"Are you alright, sir?"

Fox yawned and looked over to another vulpine who shared similar coloration to him. "Yes I'm fine," he replied. "Just have had a lot on my mind lately."

He seemed satisfied with the answer and went back to talking amongst the other soldiers in the truck. It was a typical military vehicle, used to transport troops on land-based operations. There were a total of twelve men in the back, Fox being one of them. He could see that most of them were young and more than likely were just fresh recruits who were stuck with duty on their home planet. Their conversation wasn't anything of any interest and Fox went back to staring out the window at the passing homes and trees.

Everything was moving at an incredible pace he didn't know if he would be able to keep up. War breaking out only yesterday…an acquaintance hurt in a battle…Pirates…Krystal …

"…Dragon, right?"

He looked back towards the soldiers, who were all gazing at him. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You were the guy that killed that dragon right?" one of them repeated. "The story has been passing around like wildfire at the academy!" This was followed by murmurs on how great Fox McCloud was and nods of awe.

"No, it wasn't me, really," he said in a slump, his ears lowering. "I only helped." There was an exchange of surprised looks within the truck. Fox chose to just ignore them, and resumed staring out the window and saw that the landscapes were slowing down. The engines were also slowly becoming inaudible of the hovering vehicle until it came to a complete stop, the soldiers exiting the truck and onto the asphalt road. He hesitated but followed their example and made his way out.

There were several police cars surrounding the area, their flashing lights spraying the scene in dancing blue and red. The area was taped off to prevent any civilians from getting anywhere too close, though it probably wasn't necessary with the area evacuated in case the pod happened to explode after all. It was located in the middle of a small street, the asphalt torn and cracked around it, surrounded by neat suburban houses of varying color.

"Mr. McCloud," began a voice, a Great Dane officer approaching him. "I'm the officer currently in charge of this problem." He seemed very pleased with given this sort of authority.

"What's the situation?"

"At the moment, we've been able to evacuate all civilians out of the area. There are reports of life from within the pod, but we didn't want to open it until you had arrived."

"I see." The dane beckoned him to follow as they ducked under the tapes and into the impact area. Fox signaled the other soldiers to surround the area and the troops quickly encircled the pod as the vulpine made his way to the door. He didn't understand why by his gut was telling him something was going to go horribly wrong.

The door itself wasn't too obliged to open so easily, and it took a bit of effort to finally pull it off as a freezing cold chill escaped from the insides. There were no lights inside but the afternoon sunlight being swallowed up by the darkness revealed eight sort of encasements lining the walls, all fogged up to the point he couldn't make out what was inside them. Across from the door was an unconscious husky, who had used some sort of belt to fasten himself to the wall.

As Fox grew closer to the canine, he realized with horror that it was his old friend. "Bill?!"

The husky groaned, probably knocked out from the impact with land, blood running down his forehead. Fox quickly undid his binds and carried him over his shoulders outside as the officers and soldiers around him looked with curiosity. The dane wasn't sure of what to do himself and walked inside the pod to see if he could do anything.

The rear doors to the truck were still open and Fox decided it best to lay his friend down in one of the seats inside. From the looks of it he had been involved in a great deal of fighting already. The lupine realized that it must've been Bill's team that was sent to investigate the strange signal they were later sent to investigate.

"Wha…what…" muttered Bill who was slowly coming to his senses.

"It's alright. Your in Corneria now, buddy," Fox comforted as he adjusted the seat so the husky could lie down.

However, he just bolted back on his feet quickly, Fox holding him as he nearly lost his balance. "C-Corneria?! What? We're on Corneria?!" He slowly looked at Fox as if he was just noticing him. "Fox…where is the escape pod?"

He gave him a strange look. "It's just outside. Why?"

Bill's face was quickly washed over with fear. Outside, there was a sound of breaking glass followed by a screech from a creature that Fox could not picture. It was followed by a scream as well as more glass breaking. Both he and Bill quickly stumbled out of the truck to see that the great dane was crawling out of the pod, three jellyfish-like creatures clinging onto him firmly.

The other nearby soldiers and officers were struck down in horror as the remaining five metroids emerged out of the pod, quickly and brutally stabbing their long pincers into their flesh to feed. The lucky recruits who were too far to reach immediately made a run for it, scattering out in different directions.

Bill grabbed hold of Fox before the vulpine could fire with his blaster. "It won't do any good. These things will turn them to dust, and if we don't get out of here too, we'll be the same."

Fox looked back at the dying men and saw that what Bill said was true. Their colors were quickly fading and the great dane had already began to blow away with the wind. The three metroids that had latched onto him were angrily competing with their siblings for a bit of the other prey that had fallen, their eerie screeches piercing the silent air.

Without a moment's hesitation, Fox shut the rear doors of the truck and took the drivers seat; Bill taking the seat beside him as they both drove away in haste. Looking at the rearview mirror he could see that they were not being followed. In the sky were many fiery objects, making a slow descent onto the planet below.

Everything in the medical bay on board the Great Fox was new to Krystal. The only time she had been on this new version was during a sort of "vacation" in which she insisted that Fox take her and Marcus along on one of his missions. She was fed up with him always leaving to do his job and not spending enough time with the family.

The only light came from a tall lamp on the corner of the room. In the past year Krystal had grown fond of dim light compared to the overbearing brightness the ceiling lights usually cast. Four beds that were evenly spaced were placed in the far end of the room whereas the area closest to the door had walls lined with cabinets stocked full with medical supplies. There was a console on top of the nearest counter, used to send messages throughout the ship as well as activate the medical robots that would hover in the air and perform light tasks when needed.

She had placed Lyle in the farthest bed, nearest the window. He slept peacefully despite the constant beeping of the monitor as well as the battle engaged within viewing distance outside.

A tone rang over the intercom system as Peppy began to speak. "Krystal, once you have finished in the med bay head to the bridge. There's an important message being announced by the government."

The vixen gave Lyle one final look before going through the sliding doors and through the halls of the Great Fox. She could already hear that the broadcast had already started as she entered the bridge. A holographic image of a female collie stood above their projector located in the center of the bridge, wearing a nervous and tired look on her face.

"…and things are not going as well as we had initially anticipated. These Aranian's have unfortunately been revealed to us to be Pirates from a distant part of the universe and are notorious for various crimes. We regretfully admit that this information was revealed to us too late, and even at the loss of beloved Councilor Heather Lane."

"Also, we have been recently informed that these Pirates are launching a form of escape pod onto our planets surface. I urge everyone to not get near any of these as they are more than likely traps and will more than likely injure you. We have sent our national hero, Fox McCloud to investigate a nearby pod and are awaiting further information."

"It is now that the council and I regretfully inform the masses that we are left with no other option than to organize a mass evacuation of the planet. Our local military is struggling with the criminal fleets that have joined forces with the Pirates and have unfortunately been spread too thin within the past few years."

"We will be creating a wall with our remaining fleet so that civilian ships may escape without any harm, though I strongly warn everyone to remain within the designated zones to avoid any unnecessary deaths. Those without their own form of space flight should make their way to the nearest ports and take shelter in the several escape shuttles that the military has established. I regretfully say that space is limited and we'll be accepting people in a first come, first serve basis. We will also be loading these ships beyond normal capacity to fit in enough people we can. Try and stay with your families as these ships will not be going to the same destinations. We will be fleeing to the nearby planets of Fichina, MacBeth and Katina."

"For those who are left on the planet, I cannot offer much consolation," she closed her eyes, distressed. "However, if you can, quickly make your way to any nearby military bases to seek protection within the compounds and soldiers stationed there."

"Once again, I apologize on behalf of the government council. I wish everyone good luck and Godspeed." The transmission slowly faded until nothing remained of the image.

Peppy was rubbing his chin and seated on a chair in front of the ships navigation system. "How interesting," he muttered while slowly shaking his head. "Looks like once again we've come to this, doesn't it?"

Krystal just stood lost in thought. A similar feeling she had before the mission to capture the ambassador was growing stronger in her heart. The voice in her mind winning over her as it convinced her to trust her instincts. "I'm going back down there," she said firmly.

Peppy turned from his chair to face her, seeing her determined look. "You're worried about Fox again, aren't you?" He saw her nod in reply. The hare shook his head, slightly amused. "You know that I can't stop you from going. Take your old arwing in the hangar bay. Fox has been keeping good care of it since you left the team, so I'm sure the Cloud Runner is still in great shape."

She smiled as she too shook her head slightly. "I'm sure I'll have to thank him later then."

"You take care down there," cautioned Peppy as she turned to leave. "Who knows what trouble these Pirates have for us?"

The emergency message had finished over the truck's radio, the two men silently contemplating the seriousness the war had quickly taken. Fox glanced over at his friend who continued to mope around in silence. Whatever was on his mind is really weighing him down, he thought.

"Bill," he saw the husky look at him with distraught eyes. "Can you send a message to Pepper about what happened back there. Our scientist are gonna have to find out a way to counter this bio weapon the pirates have launched here."

"Sure thing," he replied under his breath, pressing a few buttons on the trucks radio and pulling out a small microphone attached to it. "This is Captain Bill Grey of Team Husky. General Pepper, are you there?"

There was a brief moment of static before the general replied. "Bill! My God, boy, it's good to hear from you. Did you find out about that signal?"

The husky hesitated. "Yes, the source was from the Pirate Frigate. They were amassing as many mercenary and criminal families to their cause."

"Ah, that. It's been brought to light with our sour battle up in space. Was your team able to find out anything else?"

"No, unfortunately. However we did get a copy of their recent database information. It's written in their native language and requires translation. If our scientists can figure out what-"

"Ah, don't worry about that for now," Pepper interrupted, his voice seemingly stressed. "Just hold on to that information for now. Where are you at the moment?"

"Corneria, sir. I was forcibly knocked into one of the pirate holding pods by Wolf." Fox gave Bill a surprised look at the mention of his rival while managing to deal with the increasing traffic that panicked citizens were creating.

"O'Donnell is helping the pirates then? I would have expected better from him in recent events," the general said in disappointment.

"It's not just that, sir. When I first met him he was imprisoned with us in a holding cell. Afterward, it seemed like he was an entirely different person. I think the Pirates did something to him. But other than that, these pods carry a strange bio weapon. They travel in swarms and latch onto their victims to feed of them. They eventually turn into dust once the monsters finish feeding."

"Wait, you were in one of these pods?! Is Fox with you?"

Bill handed the microphone to the vulpine who grabbed it with a free hand, the other still on the wheel of the truck. "I'm here, General. Most of the men and officers at the scene were killed while others ran away terrified."

They couldn't see that Pepper had placed a hand to cover his eyes as he sat on his desk, heavy in thought. "Fox, take Bill and his men back to the Great Fox for now and meet up with me in Katina. We'll see what we can do then."

Bill stopped Fox from asking anymore about his men, shaking his head solemnly. "Alright, sir," he replied. "We'll meet you at Katina."

"Fox, a last warning. There are reports that another pod had landed near your HQ. The Pirates had launched another fifty or so onto the planet and we were able to take down five thanks to Falco and the others out in space."

"Thanks, we'll be careful. Fox, out." He glanced ahead of them at how heavy the traffic had become along the floating highway. Without a moment's hesitation, he swerved heavily to the right, through the median and onto the opposing traffic lane. The road wasn't in use, and upon seeing their example, many others began to follow suit, rushing ahead of their friends who were stuck in the stop and go lane. Bill wasn't fazed, used to his friend's reckless fits since their academy days.

Fox took the nearest exit, adjusting the truck to make the sharp turn. It led to a quiet road surrounded thickly by trees. The Star Fox HQ stood in the distance, its dome shaped exterior revealing that something had damaged its roof as it showed a gaping hole. He stopped the car in front of the two glass doors at the entrance, both he and Bill getting out and holding their blasters as the familiar screech the metroids screamed was from within.

"So you have fighting experience against these things?" Fox asked Bill, walking through the sliding glass doors and into the empty base.

"No, not really," Bill admitted. "I only was able to see what they were capable of." The husky followed close behind his friend. "But if they're all together we won't be able to do much against them all."

"One by one then," he mused. "Well it can't be as hard as taking down that dragon, I suppose."

"You killed it?"

"I'll tell you about it on the Great Fox later."

The lights within the building were off, adding more to the tension that both men already felt. Fox, who was accustomed to the place wasn't able to recognize how foreign it had suddenly become. On the corner of the nearest wall was an elevator. The vulpine pressed the up button a few times with no response as Bill kept an eye out for anything among the hallways.

"We'll have to take the stairs. Looks like power got knocked out."

"How far are the stairs?" Bill asked, still watching over the hall.

"The last door on the left," Fox replied, pointing behind them.

Their hurried footsteps on the tile flooring echoed throughout the corridor. As they got closer to the stairway, the sliding doors opened by them self as a metroid hovered lazily out. Both Fox and Bill quickly halted and raised their weapons. The metroid screeched, alerted by the life near it and hungrily twitched its two large pincers.

They both quickly began firing as it began to hover closer to them, the shots hitting the metroids jelly like body with little to no effect. It must've known an opportunity had been given to it, as the metroid quickly directed its teeth toward Fox and quickly lunged toward him. The vulpine quickly jumped aside as it flew past him, giving off a disappointed screech.

"Let's just get out of here!" Fox commanded and both he and Bill made it past the sliding door and up the stairs, ignoring the fact that the doors below them had opened once again as the metroid followed them.

On the third floor, they found themselves in another long hallway and ran past the other doors lining the walls and past the double glass doors of the hanger bay. Fox let out a disgusted howl as the current state of the room became clear. Both he and Bill slowly and cautiously made an approach to the last arwing in the area, crushed underneath the pirate encasement pod. There was something behind that Fox couldn't make out.

The metroid that had been chasing them broke through the glass doors behind them, screeching as it lunged toward Bill. Before it latched onto him with its sharp pincers it was struck down by a cold blast, immediately freezing it. Bill caught the frozen ball and dropped it in surprised disgust.

"I knew you'd come around," said Krystal's voice, as she emerged from the shadows behind the broken door.

Fox gave a heavy sigh as he saw her. "I told you to stay at the Great Fox," he said, though his tone gave off the impression he was glad she was around.

She looked at Bill and back to Fox. "I brought down the Cloud Runner, but it might be difficult to fit us three in there. There are also strange creatures in this place. I can freeze them but the quickly thaw and break out of their encasing…"

"Then we'll just leave as fast as we can," replied Fox, as he slowly approached her, getting within her ear range. "I know this might be weird with how we've been lately…but…just sit on my lap on the Cloud Runner."

She blushed and gave him an incredulous look. "Fox…I."

"Just don't think about it…" He saw her nod slowly as the metroid behind them slowly began to quiver; the noise of the shattering ice growing steadily stronger.

"If you two don't mind," said Bill, "Let's just get out of here before this thing's friends arrive."

The nodded in agreement and quickly rushed down the stairs and onto the Cloud Runner which was hiding behind the pod. As the cockpit opened, another screech was heard from above and two more metroids slowly descended upon them. Ahead of them the frozen metroid had finally broken out of its icy prison, rushing towards them locked inside their arwing.

Fox immediately lifted up the ships force field but was dismayed when he saw the three creatures cling onto the invisible walls, his computer monitor warning that energy was slowly being depleted.

"My God! They're eating the ships power!" he exclaimed as the engines ignited with a loud roar.

The ship slowly hovered above the ground and Fox quickly directed the craft outside the hangar bay, the sunlight pouring in through the green glass. With some difficulty, mostly because Krystal was sitting on his lap, he pulled back on his joystick and allowed the Cloud Runner to ascend, hoping that the effects of the atmosphere would pull the metroids off. The ship slowly became enveloped with fire as they elevated higher, the shields taking a massive drain from the effect, but just as he hoped, the metroids couldn't bear against the massive amount of energy being lashed at them. Two had pulled off their hold and clumsily hovered back down toward the earth below, whereas one was quickly disintegrated.

"Well, looks like we made it after all," Bill said behind them as they slowly approached the Great Fox.

"Yeah," agreed Fox. "Too bad we lost something important along the way."

Krystal sighed and looked outside at the Great Fox as it became larger before them. "At least we're all okay, that's all that matters right now.

"Well, looks like Fox decided to show up after all!" smirked Falco as his face appeared over the console. The avian could see his friend wasn't too thrilled with his lack of space in the Cloud Runner. "Don't worry, Fox. Once the last evacuating ship has made it safely outside the planet, Katt, Slip and I will be heading back."

The vulpine gave a short chuckle. "Sure thing. Once I get these two back, I'll head out and join you guys." Krystal gave him a short disapproving nudge but he ignored her for the meantime.

In the distance four large capital ships rose out of the atmosphere of Corneria, one belonging to Pepper and his crew, the others to the Chancellor, Judge Ricks, and Judge Krasue along with Councilor Cooper. They were followed by several smaller fighter ships as well as a trail of civilian ones, each making a hasty retreat to their respected destinations.

Mahat, through the eyes of Wolf, saw what was happening and smiled, pleased at their quick victory.

"Sir, what do we do about the Cornerians?" asked one of Wallace's men over the radio.

"Just leave them be for now," replied Wolf. "We've won this battle and claimed our just reward. Let the cowards run and spread the tale of how the Pirates took down their planet in a few days."

The answer spread a vast cheer throughout the battlefield as the Cornerian star ships slowly began a retreat and the Pirate frigate slowly approached the planet, greedily ready to take hold of its rightful prize.

It was only two days and a night since their first assault; Corneria had officially fallen.


Season End: Yami no naka de

Note: Hope you guys enjoyed reading! I should really be working on school essays but couldn't help but submit this! ,

The story has almost reached 1000 hits! I'm so glad XD. Thanks to everyone who has read and responded! Once this week is over I'll start working on Season 2: jikan ha dare no mikata. Until next time!