A/N: Hey everyone, sorry this took so long but, with my new work schedule i should actually have a lot more time to do my writing :D Thanks for your patience, and for all the support. Hope you all enjoy the chapter. Thanx again...

The Footsteps in the Darkness ~ SkullFox


Chapter 21: Hostility…

-The inability to separate the world and one's views of the world. Unfortunately, it is often this feeling of intense hostility that causes some to try to force their own image onto the world around them, in a means to make life more bearable; as well, some people's concepts of the way the world should be…is more askew than others-

The Cerinians that had been moved to Corneria seemed to adapt quite quickly to the technology of the modern age. It all seemed to mesmerize most of them. Some became good friends with the Cornerians they made contact with, while others refused any contact at all, claiming that outsiders, despite helping them so greatly, had no place in their way of life. For one young, heartbroken vixen however, none of it seemed to make a difference. The world had no color, no matter which of the new worlds she was seeing. Even her own people were no more than meshes of the same putrid mix of grays and whites. All the vibrancy in life, all the wonder and magic that there was in the entire universe no longer existed…there was no light, and the only thing she saw toward the future was darkness. Reena actually found herself wandering far from the compound. It didn't matter where she went; she felt the same. However that didn't stop others from hunting her down. She was not surprised that Nalya could find her no matter where it was she had gotten off to…then again Nalya could find anything…

"Reena…" Nalya called to the young vixen, "Why do you keep to such a place?" she asked, looking out over the city from the rooftop where she sat, which looked out over a sunset that seemed to make the entire city wash over with a golden glow.

"Even something so beautiful…" Reena replied, "I see it all and I feel nothing anymore. There is no warmth."

Nalya sat down beside Reena. "You miss the point my dear…" she said, "You are not the only of us that has lost."

Reena turned to her for a moment. "You know the same loss…" she said, looking back at the brilliant sunset, "How can you keep going if you feel the same pain that I do?"

Nalya sighed patting the vixen's shoulder. "What you are feeling right now Reena simply proves to me that you and Marr were simply meant to be," she said, "I feel the same loss for Tyrius. I do not know how, but there is a part of me that will not let go of him. That is how I know he is still there."

Reena sighed. "When I sleep at night I can almost feel him there." She chuckled. "When we slept I could never get away. He kept his grip as though he feared something would come along and steal me away from him in the night."

Nalya kept her paw on Reena's shoulder. "Reena, I know that it is hard…but have hope. I am afraid that in times like these, hope truly is all we have."

Reena looked over her shoulder smiling at the old vixen. "I will think about what you have said…" she said, causing Nalya to stand, "Thank you…Elder."

Nalya chuckled. "I am no Elder, Reena."

"You are the closest thing we have right now," she said, "We are all looking to you for guidance. You are the wisest Cerinian left."

Nalya chuckled again kissing the vixen on the top of her head. "Thank you dear," she said turning and walking away, "Try to make it back to the compound tonight, please. I would feel much safer knowing that you are asleep and well nearby. Krystal would be devastated if something were to happen to you."

Reena remained there for some time after Nalya had left her. She found herself considering the vixen's words of encouragement. Could her constant feeling of Marr's presence suggest that he really was alive somewhere? How could he live when he had died in her arms? As the questions rushed through her mind, Reena noticed that Sol had set hours ago and she had still not returned as she was planning. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake Marr's memories. However as she stood up finally, overlooking the city, something caused her to freeze…

"Poor little vixen," a familiar voice said, "How I wish there was something we could do to help. Or is there Rath'ma?"

At the sound of the voice, Reena shot about extending her staff, the only object she kept on hand at all times, only to have Mahlay hold out his paw, causing her arms to spread out, forming her body into a sort of crucifix…

"We have no intentions of fighting you Reena." He chuckled. "It would be pointless to try. The rules and regulations as far as combat is concerned do not exist out here in these other worlds. Rather than fight you, We've come to give you something. A small gift really, in hopes that you will understand why We have done what it is We have done."

As Mahlay spoke he dropped his paw, causing Reena's body to be released. "You have nothing I want short of your head!" she shouted readying her weapon.

Mahlay chuckled, waggling his finger from side to side at her. "You see that is where you are wrong," he said stepping to one side revealing a familiar male Cerinian standing behind him, "We have something much more important to you than my head."

Reena instantly dropped her weapon. "Marr!" The male's expression remained blank. "What did you do to him?"

Mahlay chuckled, walking around Marr's still form. "Nothing…much. You see when We approached him on Cerinia, he was nearly dead…much more stubborn than We had imagined. You see he managed to trick Us. Somehow, he placed himself in a trance once he realized he was nearly dead…" he said, "For a moment I suppose that he even had himself convinced that he was dead…certainly managed to confuse Us. Unfortunately, he would have died had We left him on Cerinia. You see, with the Motherstone dead, the planet itself is becoming completely void of life, the air is almost completely toxic now…" he said, "When we found Marr however, he was huddled up in some small cavern. As you would imagine he attempted to attack Us as soon as he saw us. We managed to take him down with little to no damage to his body, but We were forced to place him in his current state or he'd have simply attacked Us again. We assured you however, he is very healthy…many of Our new followers are quite gifted in healing, and as you know, we Cerinians do heal rather quickly…"

Reena stepped forward, causing Mahlay to move away from Marr. "Think about it Reena. We can make this all go away, as if it had never happened. You and Marr can be happy again. Just say the word…and none of this ever took place. We are here to make peace. The elders deserved what it was We did to them. They wanted to control our lives. All We did was set us free of their hold."

Reena pressed her paw over the scar that had formed over the center of Marr's chest. His heartbeat was steady and calm. "Why did you come to me?"

Mahlay sighed. "We have no other reason than simply wanting to help…all leaders need people to call friends."

Reena simply leaned forward, resting her head on Marr's chest. "Alright…but do what you promised. Just make it all go away. I don't want to remember any of this." He'd brought Marr back to her, and she knew he could just as easily take him back away from her. "I don't care how you do it…I don't want him to remember any of this either. I'll do whatever you want, as long as I am with him…I don't care."

Mahlay's paw fell on her shoulder for a moment. "Do not worry…when you wake up, you'll remember nothing at all," he said as the vixen began to fall only to have Marr catch her suddenly, "When We are finished you will be together as I promised. Then Krystal would come to Us."

"I thought you had given up on that folly Mahlay," Rath'ma's voice rung in his ears.

Mahlay chuckled. "Do not worry Rath'ma, it is her mate that We are after. His influence here is more than We could ever have alone…We need him, and once We no longer do…Krystal may spend her life mourning his death."

Fox's small team found themselves overlooking a large fortress that Fox scarcely recalled. Night had set in hours ago and it was nearly morning. While most of the ladies of the group rested in the small space under the outcropping of rocks that Fox and Falco sat on, the anxious vulpine and falcon spied the area over, each with his own long range imaging device very much like the one that Fox recalled losing on this planet in his former life. It was as the landscape slowly scaled by that Fox stopped. Near a massive tower of stone and metal in the center of the area, Fox watched as several Sharpclaw dragged someone inside. Whoever it was, the person was completely limp. Fox quickly tapped Falco's shoulder…

"Hey…Falco…" he said, "Middle of the area," he said zooming in his device to its maximum range, "Those two have dad. I think mom is in that tower too."

Falco set down his device for a moment. "Either of you two know anything about that tower?" he asked looking to Fox as he passed his own device to the blue vixen that sat at his side.

Krystal shook her head. "I never came here before…"

"I was in that tower for a little while," Fox said, "But at the time I was kinda occupied. Didn't really notice anything other than the genetic weapon trying to roast my ass alive."

Krystal looked up and down the tower until her eyes caught something familiar near the very top. "Fox!" She ducked realizing that she'd yelled. "Fox…" she whispered, "Near the top of the tower."

Fox took back his binoculars, and he and Falco both looked toward the top of the tower where a familiar form stood near a window. "Holy shit…" Falco gasped. "It's your mom."

Fox studied the figure for a moment, before putting his binoculars away, "You're right…I'd know that form anywhere."

"I hope that she is in fair health," Galya's voice rang in his head.

Fox sighed, pulling the chrome knife from its sheath while pulling the short sword he'd received when he'd first begun his Viper training. "I'm going to take point. I need you all following behind me…wake up the others."

Falco sighed. "Look, I'm all up for this aggressive side you're showing and all, but…are you sure this is smart?"

Fox looked to the blue falcon. "I just watched two Sharpclaw soldiers drag my father's body into that tower. If their leader is really in league with Andross, and always has been…we need to get mom and dad out of there…and fast. I'm trying not to think about what Scales would do if he got his filthy hands on mom."

Falco looked about for a moment. "This Scales guy really that bad?"

He suddenly noticed a sudden shudder crawl through Krystal's body, causing Fox to pull her closer to him. "In that other life I was tilling you all about…" Fox paused for a moment. "I thought he was dead when I first saved Krystal from this planet. We came back here about…" He paused looking to the vixen for a moment. "Three years later. We actually really liked this place, and since it was apparently pretty peaceful after it was put back together, we came here to visit an old friend…in our case right now he isn't even born yet." He paused again. "First morning here, I couldn't find Krystal at all. When I found her, Scales had decided he was going to show me just what he thought of me…"

Falco looked to the vixen for a moment, who shuddered again. "He…raped her?"

Fox shook his head. "No…I didn't give him the chance luckily enough, but that's not the point…" Fox said, "He's got serious issues, and most of 'em lie on the fact that his race is male-dominant. So there's only one real thing on his mind when he sees a female of any species."

Falco cocked an eyebrow at the fox. "Dude, that's gross," he said, "I don't wanna think about something like that. I'm not sure I like that look in your eyes though," he said looking at Fox.

Fox sighed. "I can't let him leave that building alive…" he said, "Him or Andross. Last time I was here, Andross wasn't here anymore, but this time…he was never forced to leave…because I wasn't supposed to come here until I was in my late thirties."

"So?" Falco asked, "What does that mean?"

Fox shook his head. "It means that my parents are both stuck in that tower right now," he said looking to the tower, "Andross may still have some kind of feelings for my mother, but he definitely has no love for my dad. I don't know why it is he's still got dad alive, but I'm betting it's not pretty."

The lights of the room were no more than small torches. His head pounded and the lights of the room wore thin, his vision did not seem to be responding to light or dark, there was only the constant throbbing in his brain. He slowly opened his eyes only one small thing became completely clear. His arms were shackled to the walls, and the room he sat in was small, dank, and cold. No matter what he tried, his body would not stop shaking. His only thought was of the vixen that was being held somewhere above…Vixy was up there, she was alone, and worst of all…Andross was with her. Tilting his head to either side, James managed to rub his eyes a bit against the base of his paw. There was an all too familiar taste of blood in his mouth, and he could feel the warmth of a hot stream of blood that trailed down between his eyes. The event slowly came back to him. They had underestimated him, kept him barely locked up. He never really saw the shot coming that had knocked him out when he'd broken free, but this time it seemed that they made certain that he wouldn't manage a second escape. It was as the world blurred vaguely back into a visible haze that a familiar looking figure stood out through the darkness…

The vulpine spit out a bit of blood, by the taste clearly not his own.

"Andy…" He smiled.

The old white-haired ape stepped from the shadows. "Hello James…fancy meeting you here. I am certain that Vixy would be more than happy to see you right now, but I intend to save that little treat for a more opportune moment."

At the mention of his mate's name, something in James snapped, causing him to lunge forward. The shackles about his wrists pulled his arms back so hard that his shoulders hurt, halting his movement mere inches from the ape's face. Andross chuckled…

"So incredibly violent…" He sneered. "Tell me James, have you any idea how it feels to love someone all your life, and when you finally get the nerve to tell that person…they tear out your heart and spit on it?"

James snarled. "Take a step closer and I'll show you how it really feels."

Andross laughed, turning his back to the imprisoned vulpine. "You take me for some sort of fool?" he asked, "Of course I'd never stand a chance against the legendary James McCloud…then again you were always like this growing up, weren't you? Strong, popular, handsome…it was no wonder why she left me for you," he said as he took a few steps away before suddenly turning about, "But you never deserved her…not for one moment did you…"

"GET OVER YOURSELF!" James spat angrily. "She didn't leave you for me. Vixy left you because she couldn't stand to watch you slowly turn into this thing that's standing in front of me," he said, "She left because she couldn't sit by and watch as you slowly lost your fucking mind."

"Yes James," Andross retorted, "Perhaps I am mad…but with all that I have seen, is it not justified? I sat by my entire life, watched, doing nothing but good for Lylatians everywhere, only to slowly watch my people be cast out to that worthless, unlivable ball of waste and death. We deserted Venom…"

"Because you all poisoned it," James growled, "You stripped away every livable resource there, and when you were done you though you could all just move on to Lylat and pull the same shit."

Andross nodded. "Yes, we did violate Venom completely, didn't we? In fact were it not for my great, great grandfather, this whole thing possibly never would have happened…but I am attempting to fix it…" he said, "I have developed a device that will purify everything on Venom; the water, the air, the soil. It will be like a fresh breath of life to the planet itself. With all the studying I've been doing on atmospheric development and bio-rhythmics, I can even make Titania livable, if given the time. And when I finally put all of this to the test, all of Lylat will welcome me back into their arms as a hero…"

"Nobody follows a madman Andross," James said, "People aren't stupid…after all that you've done to them, you really think that they'll just welcome you back with open arms? You really are out of your fucking mind."

Andross chuckled. "You act as though I would give them an open choice," he said, "After all, once I present your body to them and prove that not even the great James McCloud can stand in my way…they will all fall in line," he said, "As for Vixy, it will take time, but she will eventually accept the fact that her and I are simply two of a kind…" He paused on his way out of the room. "She and I will be together forever, even if she has to be stuffed and mounted in my study. Good bye for now James…" he said stopping near the two large Sharpclaw guards that stood near his cell, "Do as you wish…just keep him alive."

One of the two guards entered the room, leaving the other to wander off. It seemed like only this particular guard was having much of a bad day. It was as the animal approached him however, that something caught his attention. This guard had a small ring of keys attached to his belt…not only that, there was a blaster tucked into his belt as well. It seemed only appropriate for one that had no way of acquiring a holster for it. It was as this large reptile stepped up to James that the guard drove its large fist into the defenseless vulpine's gut, which drove James against the wall. James's mind instantly went to the thick chains that held his wrists. He kept against the wall causing the reptile to step forward this time. However, as the Sharpclaw threw his large fist, the nimble fox seemed to leap off the wall and over the reptiles head, his slight flip causing the chains of his shackles to wrap about the lizard's neck…and before there could be any sort of retaliation, James spun about, wrapping the chains completely around the creature's neck. Fearful that there was not enough force pressed against the reptile's neck, James walked up to the large lizard's back and placed his feet against the back of his head, while pulling on his shackles until he could feel the trickle of blood oozing from under his bindings. The Sharpclaw flailed madly in an attempt to pull the chains from his neck, but found that the tangled mess about his neck was far too much. Unfortunately for the fox however, this reptile was much more intelligent than most, and in a very quick response to his situation, the Sharpclaw reached for the blaster in his belt and lined the barrel up with the chains, firing a single shot. The near silent blast of light and heat ate through the chain instantly, causing James to fall back off of the reptile's back…

The large lizard attempted to call out, only to wrap his large clawed hands about his aching throat before turning about in anger. Fortunately as the reptile whipped the blaster in his hand in James's direction, a thick chain slapped against his hand, knocking the weapon into the air. The Sharpclaw instantly retorted by lunging forward, however James once again leaped into the air this time coming down on the reptile's back with a blaster now in his paw. The shot that pierced the back of the reptile's helmet spattered the floor beneath them with a large spat of blood, and as the reptile's body quivered a bit after the shot, James retrieved the keys from the animal's belt, not wasting any time in removing his shackles. With his paws on his knees, James doubled over, breathing heavily for a moment. It had been a long time since he'd known this kind of action…at the very least any legwork. However, his mind went back to the vixen that was somewhere in the building, and he rushed off in dire need to see her freed from the clutches of the madman that had captured them both, before it became far too late…

Fox slunk up beside the door of the entrance of the tower. He was certain that Falco would be angry with him, and even through Krystal seemed upset with him, he knew that she at the very least would understand why he was rushing off on his own. Something told Fox that it was time to move in on the tower, but he also did not want to get the others caught up in what might happen. There was something odd about how this was all playing out. There were no guards outside, even though he was certain that Scales was smart enough to at least send a few guards back out to watch the tower's entrance. It was as he stood there that Fox sniffed the air for a moment…

"You smell that?" he instinctively asked, not noticing that Galya was the only being nearby.

There was a light chuckle. "How can I smell anything? I do not possess a nose."

Fox shook his head. "I smell blood…" he said, "Sharpclaw blood…a lot of it."

Fox slowly pushed the door open only to have a single Sharpclaw warrior fall through the slowly opening doors. A blaster had seared a lightly bleeding wound through his right eye. The death was most likely instantaneous as there was little to no chance of the animal actually having lived through the experience. There was no doubt in Fox's mind. Somehow his father had broken free and managed to get hold of one of the weapons that was taken from the Great Fox. It seemed like there were bodies no matter where he turned or where he went. Finally however, the carnage led the young Fox to what seemed like a spiral staircase that led up the massive tower while leading about the walls. Oddly the inside of the tower looked nothing like he recalled, in fact, it was well made and logically put together. It was amazing how much ten years difference could make to such a structure, turning it from something so well constructed, into the horrible structure that he recalled from his past life. It was as he neared the top of the building, exhausted and almost completely out of breath…that Fox looked about to the four dead Sharpclaw that lay at his feet…

"Forty-five shots…" He sighed. "I doubt he's got a back up battery for that blaster he's using, and if it was fully charged the one he's got isn't well off."

"What does that mean?" Galya asked.

Fox rushed off with a renewed vigor. "It means my dad is about to burst into Andross's office…practically unarmed."

As Fox finally cleared the last step of the stairs, a shot rang out. Not the shot of a blaster; it was far too loud, but what carried his feet even faster than ever was the sound of his mother's voice screaming his father's name. He barreled into the open hall where a pair of massive red doors had been thrown open. Fox gasped at the sight of General Scales, the tyrant that would eventually attempt to overthrow the entire planet, impaled through his neck on the sharp guardrails that kept passers from falling from the stairs. A blaster had been fired through both his thighs, and his right arm had been hit in his upper shoulder…next to the body was a small hand blaster that had been carelessly tossed aside. Finally stepping through the doors the scene spread out before him. Vixy stood off to one side of her mate, whereas James stood cradling a wound in his left side, and a familiar Venomian stood at the far end of the room with his paw clutching the wound that leaked blood down the side of his neck. The white vixen looked to Fox as soon as he stepped into the room, but her attention went right back to James…

"Face it Andross…" James half chuckled, "With Fox here…you're as good as dead. You've only got one more shot, and even if you killed me, you'd still be dead."

Andross sighed, lowering the large revolver he held. He'd been beaten. There was no chance of him getting out alive. "Well then…" He sighed. "I suppose I should put this bullet where it'll do the most damage then, shouldn't I?"

The ape's motion was quick and precise. It was thrown with such speed and precision that there was little to no time to react before the three vulpine realized what had happened. James was dumbstruck as Vixy collapsed into his arms, a small wound in her chest ebbing a thick crimson as she let out a choked gasp in an attempt to say something through the blood that flooded her lungs. James's attention was however drawn to the old scientist as he let out a scream of agony as he watched his right hand fallen from his arm. His attention then shifted to his son, who held a small, mirror-polished blade. His eyes were glazed over in a haze of disbelief and bitter rage, tears trailed down his cheeks…the anger that welled up inside him caused Fox to grit his teeth, so hard in fact that his gums began to flood his mouth with his own blood. Before James could react, the young fox shot across the room with speed unlike anything he'd ever seen. Andross didn't even seem to have any time to utter the words that left his lips as no more than a spat of blood that plastered across the front of Fox's face. A twist of the knife in Fox's paws caused the ape's mouth to fall open in a silent cry of pain, before he felt the weapon being torn free of his ribs. The ape stumbled, falling against the wall of the room where he slid into a seated position. It was as he sat there that the ape smiled at Fox before reaching his only good hand into his pocket and pressing a small button at the end of a small metal tube before Fox hand the chance to realize that it was some sort of detonator. It was as the blind rage left Fox's eyes that he turned about. James sat there with the bloodstained white vixen in his arms, cradling her head gently in the cook of his elbow as she lay across his lap. She struggled to say something, only to have James press his lips against hers…

"Shhhh…" he hushed her. "I won't leave you, not like this," he consoled her, "Son…get out of here. If I know him as well as I think I do…this whole place will go up in just another minute."

Shaking off the situation for a moment, Fox rushed to his parents' sides. "Dad I'm not leaving you here!"

The expression on his fathers face as he whipped his head about to meet his son's eyes was not one he'd ever seen on the old vulpine's face. It was as if all the life had simply left him the instant that bullet had torn through his mother's body. He slowly turned about, resting his head against Vixy's…

"I'm staying…" he said, "You've proven to me that you're capable of taking care of yourself. I just want you to know…that no father has ever been as proud of his son as I am. I can't live without her Fox, and I don't plan on trying."

Not bothering to wipe away the tears that blurred his vision, Fox stepped toward his father. "Dad…" He paused. "I don't want to be alone…not again."

James sighed, stroking Vixy's head. "Fox…you can't save everyone. It's pointless to try. If your little chart taught me anything, it was that I never actually saw how well I really had it…" He paused, stroking Vixy's hair. "Until I started to think about what it would be like to lose the two of you. That was why I gave up Star Fox. Not because of Peppy, or anything else, but because I realized just how close I was to losing the two of you."

Suddenly a familiar voice sounded as someone pulled on Fox's arm, causing him to turn about where he found Krystal pulling him toward the balcony near where Andross lay dead. A familiar looking Cloudrunner stood out on the ledge…

"Fox…" She paused looking to Vixy. "Oh no. James…"

"No…" James shook his head. "Just get Fox out of here before this building collapses," he said looking to the two of them, "Krystal, take care of this moron for us…" He smiled looking to the cold vixen in his arms. "And don't be afraid to put your foot down…it always worked for her."

She could sense that his mind was made up. There wasn't a force in life or death that could tear him from his mate's side. The sapphire-furred vixen placed her paw on Fox's shoulder…

"Fox, you can't change his mind…" she assured him, "We have to go now, before the Sharpclaw regroup."

The vixen resorted to pulling him away from the scene until they were finally standing out on the balcony that looked far down to the ground below. Suddenly snapping out of his trance like state of sorrow, Fox leaped onto the Cloudrunner's back, and when Krystal mounted up behind him, the large reptilian bird dropped from the tower before leveling out and soaring off over the forests. He refused to look back, even when he heard the sound of the first explosion. He couldn't bring himself to look back and watch the flame remind him of the childhood loss that he'd had failed to correct…