Chapter 29: Fichinia
The ship flew through the skies of Fichina, not a word being spoken. James was standing, his hand on the rail connected to the ceiling of the ship, his head down. Diamond had her head buried into her hands while Deoxyia sat on the opposite side. Yuki stood at the door to the ship, staring off into space. They had gotten out of the base and had given Zach's body to the soldiers waiting outside. They took the body and radioed in the news about Fortuna, and Zach's death. Zach's body was taken back to Corneria on a separate ship, while an arsenal of others made their way to Fortuna.
Their ship had gotten there ahead of the others, but whether or not they beat Shadow, they did not know. The pilot's voice suddenly crackled over the intercom, breaking them out of their trance. "We're landing soon, finding the base is up to you guys." "Copy that," James replied, letting go of the railing. He loaded up his shot gun and holstered his pistol at his side. He grabbed a bag full of provisions and other survival gear on his back. Who knew how long they'd be here? He looked around at the others on the ship. "Hey, we've gotta get moving. Time is most likely not on our side," he said. Deoxyia nodded and stood up, packing her stuff. Yuki had his at his side for the entire trip. Diamond hesitated before finally standing up and getting her stuff ready.
"Alright, the plan is to locate the base and get there before Shadow, and if we're lucky, the rest of the military. With Zach dead, his promise to give us time with Void won't be followed through." The ship began its descent, and within moments had landed on the surface of Fortuna. The snow was being blown around in a violent, vicious fashion and clung their fur and clothes the minute they stepped out of the ship. "Damn, we chose an awful time to get here," Yuki said, shielding his face. James merely grunted and attempted to look around through the snow. They were on a Cornerian military base that much he could tell. "Hey pilot, where are we located?" he asked. The pilot had started to climb back into the cock pit, but turned to answer the question. "This is the main Cornerian military base on Fichinia, 10 klicks south of the city Cray." James nodded and the pilot climbed back into the ship.
"Good luck to you. Don't get killed," the pilot said before starting the ship and taking off. James looked off into the distance, seeing only snow. "I can't see worth shit in this weather," James said. Yuki nodded and replied, "Yeah, no kidding. Did Void happen to tell you where the base might be located?" James shook his head and scowled, "No, he only told me a basic location. He said it was up to me to find it myself." Yuki scowled as well. "Of course he did." They stood in silence in a minute before James turned to Diamond and Deoxyia. They were looking at each other, as if trying to find something out. James went to speak before Deoxyia's eyes suddenly shot open. "I know you! You're Diamond! I was friends with you when we were kids!" James had a look of disbelief on his face at the words coming out of Deoxyia's mouth. Are they seriously doing this now?
Diamond's eyes widened as well, but upon seeing James' expression, shrank down to their normal size. "Yeah, I remember you, but we'll have to catch up later." James rolled his eyes and turned back to Yuki, who was looking out in the distance. "So, where was this general location?" Yuki asked turning back to look at James. James walked up beside him and stood silent for a minute, as if pondering the question. Then he pointed out into the distance and said, "See that mountain out there?" Yuki looked over and saw the faint outline of a mountain. "Yeah, I see it." "That's Mt. Oscuridad. It means mountain of darkness. It's not too far from Cray and if I had to make an educated guess Void's base is somewhere around there."
Yuki nodded and rested his hand on the pistol at his side. Something in the air just didn't feel right. It brought with it a sense of danger, and created a pit in Yuki's stomach. "We best get going then, or else we're going to get caught in a lot worse of a storm," the lion said trying to shake the feeling. James nodded and turned back to the two vixens, who were currently chatting like a bunch of cheerleaders about childhood memories. "Alright girls, cut the gossip. We gotta get a vehicle and get moving to Cray, time is short." Deoxyia gave James a venomous look for a brief instance before turning back to Diamond and saying something, causing the blue vixen to nod.
James just shook his head and headed towards what looked like a vehicle bay. He walked up to the door, Yuki at his side, and knocked. A voice rang out on an intercom next to the door. "What's your business here?" "I'm James McClue and I've been sent by General Fred to locate Void's base on this planet. However in order to get to Cray I'm going to need a vehicle." There was silence for a moment before the voice replied, "How many in your party?" "Four," James replied. Again there was silence. "Identify the other members of your party." James groaned and replied, "Diamond, ex member of Star Falco, Yuki (what's your last name? Ah, ok.) Yuki Scarlet and a vixen named Deoxyia who provided information."
The door opened and out stepped a Siberian husky. "Alright, we got a snow rover all loaded up for you and ready to go. Good luck out there, that storm's awful." James thanked the man and nodded to the two vixens and the main door of bay slid open. Inside were a lot of boxes and one, or two vehicles. James picked the biggest one, the one he assumed was a snow rover, and begin throwing his stuff into it. Yuki, Diamond, and Deoxyia did the same. James climbed into the driver's seat and Yuki gave him a pouty face. "What?" James asked starting the car. "Why do you get to drive?" Yuki whined. James rolled his eyes and said, "Just get in the damn car." Yuki groaned and climbed into the front seat and was met by a venomous glare from Diamond. "Say anything and I leave you behind," James said. Diamond scoffed and sat in the back next to Deoxyia.
James backed the car out of the bay and almost immediately the door began to close. James turned the car towards Cray, and put the rover into forward. "Everybody ready?" he asked. Yuki nodded towards him, followed by Diamond and Deoxyia. "Then off we go," the vulpine said before slamming his foot down on the gas.
…
Void stared out the window of his command room, lost in his own thoughts. His mind raced with thoughts and possibilities, plans and strategies. He was finally brought out of his mind by the sound of the door opening. A cougar walked in, a look of fear in his eyes that he was trying to hide by standing tall. "Um Void…" the cougar paused trying to regain his composure. Void turned and said, "Quit cowering. Say what you want and be done with it." The cougar hung his head in shame, but continued anyways. "Void sir, I regret to inform you that a large majority of Corneria's military appears to be mobilizing." "Why would that be?" the vulpine asked. "We're not entirely sure sir, but it appears they're heading towards Fichinia." Void drifted off into space leaving the cougar to wonder what he was thinking. A few minutes passed by when Void suddenly snapped back into reality. "I'm sorry what did you say? I zoned out." The cougar wore a look of disbelief on his face. He was scared of this guy?
"Um, Corneria's troops are moblilizing towards Fichinia," the cougar said. Void thought for another minute before speaking, "James, you sneaky bastard." The cougar looked at Void again with disbelief. "There was an emergency Slayer base on Fichinia, but I put it out of comission. The dumb ass just lead the entire Cornerian military on a wild goose chase." The cougar sighed and spoke again, "It also appears that Mark O'Donnell has revealed his alliance with Shadow and he made it public by killing ex Star Fox member Zach Lomgardi." Void spun around, him now the one wearing the look of disbelief.
"What? Zach's dead?!" Void said. The cougar nodded and continued, "Then it seems Mark reported the Fichinia information to Shadow. He has Mark and a few others headed there now." Void spun towards the ship's computer. "That doesn't make any sense, Shadow's not dumb he would've already checked the records, looked through files, eventually found out my Fichinia base was out of comission. He of all people should know that it's a false lead." The cougar tried to speak, but Void was so busy typing on the computer he seemed to have forgotten the cat even existed. Void was bringing up records and files on the computer and what appeared to be security footage. There were soldiers marching through the hallways, and vehicles all around the base.
"What the hell…" Void said. "Are those not your men?" The cougar asked. Void spun around again and replied, "No, they're not. Shadow's leading them right into a trap. He's going to keep the military on Fichinia so he can attack Corneria I'm guessing." The cougar's eyes widened. "He's that brilliant? And the military doesn't even have a clue?!" "Bingo," Void said typing on the computer. "Looks like we too are mobilizing sooner than expected. Start getting the army together, and prepare a way to Corneria." "Yes sir," The cougar said before running out of the room. Void stared back out the window his mind lost in thought. You're a clever bastard Shadow, he thought, but I'm not resting until I've taken you down.
