A/N:Hey everyone, sorry about the stupid long wait. I've had some serious troubles invovling my family. I know it's bad juju and all but, I hope you all know how family can get in the way sometimes. I'm trying my hardest to get the next chapter done but, I have several previous engagements at the moment. I won't stop writing if that is a concern, it just may be a slight wait for chapter 26 as my biggest problem in my current location is being forced to used Dial-up. Damn Net-Zero sux. Anyhow, as many may know I've been helping a friend with a fic based off something I was working on a while back. He's revamped it a lot from the original, which honestly sucked...LOL but, that was back from when I started writing. I'll be in touch and hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon...thanks for the support...
The Footsteps in the darkness - SkullFox
Chapter 26: Uncertainty…
-How certain we are of the world around us is often the semblance of the way we perceive things. The friendships we hold dear, the thoughts of our own minds, even the world itself. A lot can be determined by uncertainty…we are fortunate to have our uncertainty, however, because without it we would never see the surprises in life for what they are…gifts…-
Fox and Krystal headed out, their mission more clear than ever; they had to stop Mahlay no matter the cost. The underground was familiar enough, both Fox and Krystal recalled the path they would take to get into the facility that led to where the Pandorum was still at rest. The smell of raw sewage was something that Fox was certain he'd never get used to but, it was all clearly put out of his mind as the two vulpine looked through a large vent that looked out into the area. The ship was something that no person could ever actually overlook. As large as a skyscraper laying on it's side, and more than three stories high. The torpedo shaped ship was propelled by what appeared to be a slew of round thrusters at it's back end, as well as more along it's underside. Krystal gasped in awe…
"I'd forgotten how large it actually was." She said.
Fox nodded, "It's meant to house more than six million crewmen," He replied as he noticed a march of people lined up on one of the thick metal catwalks that supplied a walking space around the ship, "look at that. I'm willing to bet that's his "so called" army. Funny though, I don't remember any of this. Why is he gathering up so many people to fight for him?"
"I am more concerned about how powerful he has become in order to control this many people at once." Krystal replied, "We have to get down there. Perhaps we can sneak on board."
Fox shook his head pointing out two individual animals standing at the entrance of the ship, "No. If Lloyd was waiting for us. I guarantee those two are watching for us too. Unfortunately for Mahlay, I still remember the other entrance. The absence of landing gear leaves a lot of room for those retrorockets on the back end of the ship. There's an exhaust port where we can get in."
Krystal sighed, "What do you think about the others Fox?" She asked, "They aren't about to stop just because we left."
"That's why we need to end this before they can get involved."
Krystal nodded, "You're right. We can't run the risk of everyone dying in this place," She said taking his hand, "at least if we should go, we'll do so together. The way it should be."
Fox quickly kissed the vixen, "Neither one of us is dying down here," He said leading her back to another tunnel, "not this time."
It didn't take long for Fox to lead the vixen through the network of tunnels down to a catwalk that crossed the back end of the ship. Krystal marveled at the massive engines that the ship was using as forward propulsion, but something else bothered her. She could feel Mahlay inside, and that meant that she was almost certain that he could clearly feel them coming as well. However, the vixen did her best to throw off his tracking at least enough so that he could not pinpoint their position. Moving through the small hatch in the side of the ship was a bit more of a tight squeeze than she could have enjoyed, but, luckily the cramped space only lasted a few meters before the two of them broke out into an open space. The Cargo Bay was located at the very base of the ship; it was a massive room filled with odd crates, most likely full of food supplies and other things needed by Mahlay's brainwashed crew. After a bit of time Fox turned to Krystal…
"Well…" He said, "…can you place a lock on him?"
Krystal closed her eyes for a moment, "Yes, he is in a room. A very large room, there are several females with him. The captain's quarters," She said, "give me a moment…" The vixen paused for a bit longer this time, "…second deck from the top, near the prow of the ship, it is located adjacent to the bridge."
Fox thought for a moment, "Alright, here's the plan…" The others will be here soon, "…I have the drive on me. This way we can upload Slippy's virus into the Power Grid and watch this thing go straight to hell. If last time was any proof, Mahlay will be waiting at the power grid for us…but, this time I'll be ready for him."
Krystal shook her head, "Fox…I do not like any of this. Something is not right here. I can feel it. Not just my telepathy but, every sense I have ever trusted is telling me we should retreat."
Fox looked to the vixen before resting his hand on her shoulder, "What are you talking about? We agreed that this was the best way to do this. As long as I have you and Galya with me, there's nothing we can't do."
Krystal's eyes showed her young lover fear that was not characteristic of her usual demeanor, "I was with you and I still am…but…" She looked about rubbing her arm, "…there is just something very unsettling about this place. I do not recall feeling like this before either. In that other life, this place was so quiet that it was just sort of surreal. Now, it frightens me just standing here."
Fox wasn't sure what to say, Krystal's perception had always been in a league of it's own. If she said there was something wrong with the situation then there was, "What do you want us to do then?" Fox asked, "turn around and go back? If he gets this thing airborne what can we do about it from there? It's armor is too thick, it's weapons are too strong, and it can support an entire army of it's own. If he gets this thing out there, he'll be free to do whatever he wants. That's just the point though…what does he want?"
Krystal shook her head, "I don't dare delve any deeper into his mind. If I do it will be impossible to disguise our location from him."
Fox nodded, "Alright. Then we'll upload the virus and get the hell outta here. If you don't wanna be here then we don't need to stay here any longer than we have to."
Krystal nodded, "Good, but, you have to promise that you will not fight him. I do not understand these feelings but, I am almost absolutely certain that it would not end for the best."
"Then lets get this over with nice and fast."
Hesitantly agreeing. Krystal and Fox made their way through the ship's corridors. It was many times the size of anything on it's inside even; where only two or three could walk abreast of one another in the halls of the Great Fox, Krystal was clearly certain that at least six, or even ten could walk side by side in these hallways. The entire ship seemed to carry an air of menace, as if the ship itself were evil. With her senses on a constant state of alert, the vixen's nerves stood on end, as did the fur along her back and tail. Something about the ship was just off…perhaps it was the dark aura, or even the feel of the fact that Mahlay was actually aboard…but, it was more than enough to drive her practically mad. The segments of the ship seemed eerily quiet, this was horrible considering the fact that so many were around and aboard the ship. The thought of so many people actually caused the vixen's mind to trail back to another thought. How powerful would Mahlay have to be in order to hold so many minds? The thought chilled her to her bones, she had once watched her mother take over the minds of twenty individual minds at once…but, it had taken a tremendous amount out of her.
Before she could turn her attention away from her thoughts, Fox came to a sudden stop in front of her causing her to run into him. She couldn't remember ever having been so scatterbrained, not since the first time she'd arrived on Corneria and began to experience their prosperous technology first hand. Looking over Fox's shoulder a deathly chill ran down Krystal's spine causing what felt like every hair on her body to stand on end. Her blood ran cold, and her heartbeat began to erratically speed up. Before them was a large, open room, with a massive cylindrical shaft traveling up through the center of a catwalk. She could feel the same sensations that she was experiencing travel through Fox's body as well…
"Wow…" Fox whispered, "…almost like looking at your own grave isn't it?"
Krystal looped her arm around Fox's pulling him close to her, "It's hard to believe that this is the place my life ended. It's so cold…"
"Fox, you must do this quickly. I am not certain why but, I cannot sense Mahlay here." Galya's voice echoed into the young vulpine's head causing him to look to Krystal.
"You can still sense Mahlay. Right?"
Krystal nodded, "Yes. He has not moved."
Fox seemed to barely move his arm as he peered down to the half-concealed bit of Galya's blade, he quickly shot about bringing the knife up to meet with something that let off a metallic chime. Krystal took notice to a small half-inch thick metal spike lodged in the wall beside her. It was a familiar little object, that caused the vixen to look to the young Cerinian standing in the shadows, the white stripes in her fur the only real thing showing through the shadows she stood in…
"You know when I lost Marr," A voice came from the other side of the room, "I thought I had lost my greatest asset, but, for someone that can easily control every mind…" Mahlay continued stepping out into the light, "…it all seems so useless to bother holding one above others."
Fox instantly noticed that the strange bracer Mahlay once wore had spread from his shoulder to his fingertips in a full gauntlet. Krystal took note that Reena, who still stood in the shadows had not yet moved, it was clear that Mahlay wanted to do most of this for himself; after being helpless for so many years, perhaps this was his way of feeling powerful now. It was as he stepped forward Fox met with a step of his own, however, as Fox moved the tip of the chrome knife in his hand seemed to move slowly. In the instant it took for him to hold Galya up, it became clear to him that the weapon had become nothing short of a longsword. The now four foot weapon was quickly swung out to his side, extending from his hip…
"Krystal…" An unfamiliar voice seemed to come from Fox, "…once the fighting begins, leave this place. I will not allow Fox to come to harm you have my word."
The blue vixen gasped as she realized what was happening, "Galya?"
Fox looked over his shoulder only to show that his eyes had glossed over completely, "Do not worry. I am not certain how this had come to happen, but, I must do what I can to end this as it stands."
It was in that moment that Reena seemed to shake her head, "Krystal? Wh–-where am I? What is going on here?"
Krystal rushed to the vixen's side, "Forget it. You have to get off of this ship."
Mahlay's attention seemed completely drawn to Fox alone now his own eyes showing only pale whites, "Galya…It is good to see you again."
Fox stepped forward, "Rath'ma. This is your only warning. Leave that vessel this instant, we have lived out our time…this is their time. You have no right to do this."
Mahlay laughed, "What do I care for time?" He said looking over the bright red fox that stood before him, "have you not realized?" He asked spreading his arms, "When our souls were fused with that of the Krazoa, we became more powerful than any living thing. Do you not see the truth that is right before your eyes? We can after all find you a new vessel, one that is not quite so…male."
Fox shook his head, "Oh Rath'ma. If only you had not been so greedy. This body is not a vessel; Fox McCloud is my friend," He said pointing the sword in his hand at the young Cerinian male, "and once I cut you from that body, I will return this body to it's rightful owner."
Mahlay shook his head, "It is sad that I will have to kill you this way Galya. You were always the most beautiful of your siblings."
Fox spun the blade in his hand before aiming it's point at Mahlay's face, "As well as the strongest. You will never best us Rath'ma. You could not then, and you cannot now."
Mahlay shook his head with a heavy sigh before he seemed to cover the distance with little to no effort. However, his metal encased arm came down onto the blade of the sword in Fox's hand, which was used to quickly push him away. The flurry of blows that rang off of the metal gauntlet, spraying them both with a shower of sparks. In an instant, Mahlay's free hand shot forward, his palm colliding with Fox's chest, sending the red furred vulpine soaring into the air, however, Fox seemed to stop in mid flight before slowly floating back to the ground…
"Fox is not yet aware of what his contact with the stones has done to him." He said, "you will not be allowed to cower your way out of this Rath'ma. It is time that you paid for your crimes."
"My CRIMES!" Mahlay shouted, his outstretched palm sending a ball of flames toward Fox which was slapped away, "what about the fools that did cast me aside. They did the same thing to Mahlay, they pushed him away, treated him as though he was nothing. I have given him hope, power. Everything that can force their respect."
The possessed red vulpine shot forward, the slash that came from underhand tore a deep groove into the metal catwalk upon which they stood. As the sword's tip broke free of the metal floor, it slid across the fround of Mahlay's chest, causing a shallow wound to spray fresh blood across the floor. In response to this Mahlay pivoted on his back foot, spinning about and tearing his clawed gauntlet across Fox's chest, leaving five deep cuts across his right breast that tore his shirt horribly. The claw swipe was followed by a powerful kick that sent the young fox reeling back, however, it was almost just as quickly that Fox launched himself forward…
The spikes along the forearm of Mahlay's gauntlet tore a wound across Fox's forehead, before a powerful downward kick landed across his back, driving his chest into the floor. The powerful kick was followed by Fox's body suddenly floating back into the air, where he involuntarily shifted to look Mahlay in the eyes…
"You underestimated me very much Galya," He chuckled, "you see. I not only have all the knowledge of what you taught me, and the others, but, also what Mahlay has learned."
Fox smiled, "I have also learned something very important Mahlay," She chuckled holding out her hand toward his face. A powerful blast of light suddenly caused Mahlay's hold on Fox to give way as he reeled back screaming in pain, "you always had trouble relying on your other senses."
When his sight finally did return, Mahlay turned to find that Fox was already installing the virus he carried into the ship. As Fox finished the sequence however, the point of a familiar chrome sword burst through his chest. With a firm grip on the blade, Mahlay effortlessly lifted the animal impaled at it's other end, before tossing sword and Fox both aside. Mahlay sighed as he looked over the screen that Fox had worked at…
"Well then perhaps we are both meant to die in this place…" Mahlay chuckled, "…together."
It was a familiar voice that replied, but, it was clearly not Galya's, "I am afraid you are mistaken Rath'ma."
Mahlay's ears instantly stood on end before he turned to see a black furred female rabbit cradling the injured fox in her arms. A gorgeous medalion dangled from her neck…
"Sariyanna?" He asked.
The lapin nodded, "Good bye Rath'ma.
Mahlya quickly rushed forward only to be met with a sprinkle of falling dust that remained of the two bodies that seemed to instantly vanish…
Fox woke to a warm hand on his face, the hand moved along his cheek, before gently rubbing his head. There was a familiar aura about this person, but of course there was only one person on his mind as he opened his eyes. The one standing over him was indeed Cerinian, and beautiful for that matter. Her long blue hair, split down the center dividing her fur, half white, half blue. Her long hair was lightly curled the gorgeous creature was familiar, and yet strange to him at the same time. Uncertain why it came to him so suddenly the crimson vulpine looked about before looking to the vixen's brilliant eyes…
"Galya?"
The vixen smiled brightly, "Hello Fox McCloud…"