Chapter 14
"Life is a precious thing, it is strong but fragile, and can be created with little effort..."
The team had set the Great Fox into orbit around Papetoon's nearest moon, Fox hadn't gotten any sleep in the three days they'd been there...not because of the constant screams he heard in his head but...rather the sheer fact that they'd stopped altogether. There was an empty silence in the room, despite the fact that the one person he could always talk to was there. Fox could only stare out his window at what was once his home planet and wait for the crew from Corneria to get there to assess the situation...Fox let out a desperate loud sigh...
Krystal, sensing that something was wrong, climbed out of the bed and wrapped herself in a green robe, "What's wrong love?" She asked leaning into his side.
"You can sense it too...can't you?" Fox asked as he reached an arm around her waist, "They're all dead...every single person on that planet is dead. I can't sense any thoughts at all."
Krystal suddenly shivered involuntarily, "...C-can you feel that?"
All of a sudden they both nearly collapsed as an ominous presence filled their psyches...
"Who-who are you?" Fox demanded attempting to hold both Krystal and himself up.
A low screeching voice then ran through their heads, it was like nails scraping against the insides of their skulls, "WE HAVE MANY NAMES...FOR WE ARE THE SHADOW THAT DEVOURS."
As the voice pierced their skulls Fox could fell an utter emptiness in his own existence, thoughts of suicide almost instantly rushed to his mind...was this voice responsible for this lapse in thought? He quickly realized that if he felt like this that she must as well and took Krystal into a deep embrace...
"Why have you done this?" Fox demanded.
"YOU PEOPLE SICKEN US...YOU CLING TO A LIFE THAT DOSE NOT WANT YOU..." The voice replied, "...YOUR KIND FAULTERS AND YET YOU CLING TO LIFE, KEEPING WITH YOU FALSE HOPES OF SALVATION. IT WOULD BE FAR EASIER TO JUST GIVE UP AND DIE...WOULDN'T YOU AGREE...MCCLOUD." The word McCloud replaced his feelings of depression with that of pure hatred.
"Andross..." Fox growled...as he looked on at the dying planed there was only one thing he could do, "...Fox to bridge...get us out of here...NOW!!"
Within minutes there was nothing left of the voice in Fox's head...Krystal, with her advanced powers couldn't handle the pressure of the strange force and had passed out, she was now resting in their bed. Fox sat by their window, Andross was alive...but what was all this "we" and "us" talk. He sounded...like an Aparoid...he couldn't wrap his mind around the idea all he found himself able to do was to sit at Krystal's side and think of what may happen; to him, to the system...to her. The one thought that bothered him most was what could happen to her and if there was anything he could do about it, he wanted to believe that he could protect her from this new threat but, after Andross's voice alone gave him such hopelessness how could he hope to stop him this time. As he sat there his thoughts began to bring tears of hopelessness to his eyes, the short sobs that followed woke Krystal from her sleep...
"Fox? Fox what's wrong?" She asked sitting up and taking the distraught vulpine into her arms.
Fox simply pulled her in as tight as he could, "I-I have...to fight him."
"I understand..."
She was cut off as Fox pulled her away, "...I don't...I don't think I'll live through it this time. He wiped out an entire planet in a matter of hours...how could I possibly stand up to something like that. All I want to do now is to keep you safe."
A single kiss from her sweet lips seemed to make all his doubts vanish, "Fox...you'll think of something...you always do. You will pull through this..." She kissed him again melting away his fears, and the two fell into each other and were soon engulfed in their love for one another yet again. Fox felt that this wasn't the proper time for this but, now with such a powerful presence near he didn't know how much longer he had with her...so he decided that every moment from here on would have to count for everything...whatever she wanted...he'd make it hers somehow.
000
Fox awoke to an alien surrounding...an open field that was barren, the clouds overhead were so dark and black that the only light he could see was given off by the constant lightning bolts that struck all around. In the distance he could see what looked like the remains of a small city...Papetoon, he knew this place, this field was where his father would take him on picnics before his mother died. As he looked around he noticed a single fox standing near a downed tree...he quickly approached the oddly familiar shape until it's details came into perfect view highlighted by the flashes from the lightning...
"Look at it Fox." The stranger said, waving his arm across the horizon, "This is all that's left of your beloved Papetoon. The same fate that will be yielded to your Corneria...if he is not stopped."
"F-father?"
"No Fox we are sorry but...this is just an image we took from your memory. We hope it dose not offend."
"No...but who are you and where are we?" Fox asked.
"This is no more than what we can show you...what our brethren have done to your home. We are the spirits of those long past, we managed to possess the nanites that where placed within your body. We are Krystal's brethren..."
Fox was stunned, "Wait...brethren? The nanites are possessed by the dead Cerinians?"
The image of his father nodded...
"Why are you all showing this to me?"
"Because of all the creatures in this universe...you are the one that Andross fears." The apparition said taking in an unfamiliar voice, "Fox...please...keep her safe. She has lost everything and suffered so much in her short life, I fear that she would not last if she were to loose you as well...I am glad that my daughter has found one who cares for her so."
"Why come to me with all of this?" Fox asked realizing that this new voice was Krystal's father, "I finally found out what I wanted to do with my life...I...I just want to live in peace with Krystal."
"Fox we come to you now because with Andross still among the living there is no peace...He will come to you soon, he will want the last Cerinians...my daughters. Keep them safe."
Fox's expression faded into a dark gloom, "If...if I stop Andross. Will this all stop?"
"I have seen your future Fox...you must fight this last fight. You have more power than you'll ever know." This time the voice was a familiar female voice that instantly brought tears to his eyes.
"Mom? But how?"
"I am here...with my people and most of all with you my son."
Something clicked in Fox's head, "Wait...if you're here...then..."
"I was, as are you of Cerinian decent. I am sorry to have kept it from you for so long." She said, "We as a people are naturally drawn to one another, this is why you and Krystal were drawn to one another even after three years of separation. Your father and I were not sure how you would develop but, even as a child you displayed heightened senses, physical strength, and an intuition that seemed unnatural. All of the things you may have thought were caused by the nanites were already there, the nanites in your blood are actually a weapon Fox made to self destruct whenever given the command, but since they are made of living computers we have been able to possess them...you must find a way to have Slippy or Beltino get them out of your system. And dear don't be too shocked when you wake up...Krystal has been waiting for you."
"Waiting? Hang on how long have I been here?"
"All will become clear in time..." His mother said, "...good bye my son. I love you Fox, stay safe, and remember that now you have more reason to fight than you ever have."
000
It wasn't long after all went dark he could feel a strange, familiar warmth all around him. As his eyes slowly blinked open he found himself in a familiar surrounding. The Cornerian hospital, a smile came to his face as he heard Krystal's near silent snore beside him; he chuckled a bit but instantly recoiled putting a paw over his head. "Was that all a dream? No it couldn't be...if so how'd I wake up here?" He thought to himself, "How long have I been out?" He then looked at the blue angel that was asleep on his bed, he couldn't help himself as he leaned in and placed a kiss on the side of her muzzle. This of course roused her from her sleep, rubbing her eyes as she woke...
Her eyes grew wide as she noticed him, "Fox! You're awake!" She shouted wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'm fine Krys...but...how long have I been like this?"
Falco's voice sounded from near the door, "Seven days..."
"Falco...listen I need to see Peppy about something...and tell him that I'm not about to wait for him to reply." Fox said in a slightly testy voice, "And get Slippy down here too..."
"No problem pal." Falco said leaving the room.
Fox turned back to Krystal to find her with tears in her eyes, not being able to watch her cry he took her in his arms.
"I...I thought something had happened to you." She said rubbing her face into his chest.
"I...I talked to them..." Fox said, "...the Cerinians. Your father...my...my mother."
"Fox...there's something that we need to talk about. You remember our first...romantic encounter?" She asked seeming a bit nervous.
"How could I forget?" Fox answered standing up.
"Well, I started feeling kind of strange recently so I saw one of the doctors here..."
"And?" Fox encouraged her to go on as he walked over to her side.
Krystal sat up, she bit her lip as she rested her hands on her stomach and looked at him...
Fox instantly realized what she was trying to tell him, he was dumbfounded, "A-a-a-are you sure?"
"Mhm...the doctor said that there's no other explanation. Either I'm pregnant or...I have two hearts."
Fox froze up, Krystal instantly became nervous. She hoped he'd be happy to hear it but so far his expression was non-existent. Until he looked her in the eyes, he couldn't help but to smile which instantly washed away her fears. Fox missed having a family, but now that wasn't a factor anymore...but something didn't set well with him; his mother's spirit had spoke of this..."You have more reason to fight now than ever"
Krystal's eye began to pool over with tears, "Fox...please say something..."
Krystal was still nervous until Fox smiled at her, he helped her to her feet, drew an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him in a tender embrace, "Don't tell me that you didn't think I'd be happy to hear that. Despite being one of the most confusing...you just made this the happiest day of my life..." He said gently engaging her in a warm kiss.
"AHEM!"
The two slowly and reluctantly released one another and turned to find Wolf standing there with a hot cup of coffee in his hand.
"I really hate to interrupt this moment between you two but...we've got a problem..." Wolf siad.
Fox sighed deeply with a flame of frustration, "Not now...I've had enough problems for one day, or week...or however long it's been."
"That's well enough...I can bother you with the details later. Slippy should be on his way up right now I sort of outran him."
As if that were a cue from above, the short green toad burst through the door nearly knocking Wolf on his ass. Slippy stopped in front of Fox...
"You...called..." He stuttered trying to catch his breath.
Fox thought back to what the Cerinians within the nanites had told him, "Can you clear the nanites from my system?"
"Well...yeah...but why?"
"They're bombs...and they're synchronized to go off all at once. There's...something holding back their triggering mechanism."
Slippy and Wolf both took a step or two away from him, Krystal simply held on to his arm. "I-I'll go have the doctors prep the transfusion."
"The what...?" Fox asked.
"Well they are machines so an EMP will knock them off line for at least a few minutes if they are advanced enough. The your blood is pumped out and through a small magnetic chamber that filters them out at the same time filtering your blood back into your system."
"Right then get to it."
(Four hours later...)
Fox lay in his bed with an I.V in his arm draining small amounts of blood out of his system which would then filter slowly into a small cylinder and back into his other arm. Because of the methods used for the procedure he was taken to the top floor of the building; the small cylinder continuously emitted a small electrical sound...the proof that the room was full of EMP waves, the room was entirely bare accept for the two machines. Any electrical device within ten yards of the small area based electrical pulse would instantly stop working, this was why it was only safe to do so on the top floor where all electrical devices were strictly prohibited. To Fox's discomfort however there were no visitors allowed upstairs spare for the one he needed to talk to the most. He'd now been expecting Peppy for hours... Finally! Fox said to himself as he heard the door open to reveal the old hare in a red general's uniform, his face was awry with uncertainty...
"How's the transfusion going Fox?" He asked as he sat in a nearby seat, grunting with the discomfort in his old bones.
Fox remained silent...
"Come on Fox...what is it?" Peppy asked as he realized the vulpine wasn't very happy with him.
"You knew didn't you?" Fox almost whispered.
Peppy was taken by the words, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"How could you hide it from me like that for all these years?..." Fox continued, "...I always knew mom was different...but every time I asked her about it she changed the subject. The nanites had nothing to do with my telepathy...it was always there wasn't it?... waiting for me to find it for myself."
Peppy looked hurt, his once cheerful expression was now full of guild and sorrow, "So you know now?"
"Yes..."
"It's true...I was with your father when he brought her back from Cerinia. He crashed there and I was left to care for the Great Fox. He spent a grand total of three weeks there. When he came back he informed me that he'd fallen in love with a white vixen and was taking her home with him. About a year later you were born and James retired... After that there was the whole incident with Andross, then we end up here..."
Fox was confused, "I understand and all but...why would they just abandon mom like that?"
"I don't know...James said it had something to do with the fact that she was a white fox."
"Actually...it may be a bit more complicated than that." Krystal's voice echoed into the room as she entered from behind Peppy.
"I thought there were no visitors allowed up here." Fox said as Krystal hugged him.
She laughed a bit, "Peppy pulled some strings."
"Thanks Peppy." Fox said from over Krystal's shoulder.
"Look Fox...I'll explain the whole situation with your mother when you're released in a few hours... Peppy has a...well not exactly a mission for us."
"What is it Peppy?" Fox said, "I planed on retiring but it seems like my hand has been forced."
"Right...I need your team to go to Katina...there you'll meet with Bill Gray and deliver a package that's it..."
Peppy didn't seem like himself, where he was normally very forward he was bing unusually caring, not that he didn't show that he cared it just felt wrong...
Fox's procedure was done in just a few more short hours, after which he was inspected for any more of the small mechanical parasites. It was just as his mother had told him, he could still feel the thoughts of everyone baring down on him...being in a hospital he was overcome by negative vibes that seemed to be coming from all directions at once. Fox was released to return to his old room where he was given his uniform which he happily changed into. Krystal smiled as he walked out of the bathroom wearing his green uniform, it was relieving to see him back to his old self. As the two were ready to leave Falco ran into the room...
"Yo Krys we got a problem..." He said excitedly, "...Amila...she's gone."
"What!?" Krystal shouted.
"The nurses went to check on her this morning and she was gone...I checked the space port too...one ship was missing a small transport ship was stolen from hanger B-12, by a blue furred fox."
Fox was concerned as was Krystal, but they just looked to the positives...she was safe and obviously healthy enough to escape. With their minds at ease the crew met aboard the Great Fox where Fox soon found himself home among the stars...and with Krystal still by his side he was at peace despite what had happened to his home world. Unfortunately his mind was swayed by a disturbing notion...now with his love carrying his child, he had no other choice but to fight. Sure he could run, but Andross would simply follow, the Cerinians had made it clear that he was after the last of them and that meant Krystal and possibly even Fox himself. Thinking about it didn't help all he could do was wait and hope...
(A.N: 15 may well be the last chapter...being one of my first fics I think this went over rather well...thx for your support:-D)