Star Wolf Adventures : Galaxy War

(Version 1.2)

Chapter Thirty-Four : The End...

Hello, I'm Tala Zwift, reporting live from Corneria City. Peace talks have been taking place for the past two weeks, and finally we at CRN channel 38 have good news to report. According to an official statement by General Hare, leader of the Cornerian armies, an agreement has been reached.

"We are pleased to announce that the Galactic Alliance has been joined by all of the major planets in the galaxy, and that we now stand together as one people. Those nations that stood against us have either surrendered control to us, or agreed to the peace treaty that we offered. In some cases, such as the planet Lom, the citizens took matters into their own hands, removing dictators from command, and then contacting us to accept our treaty."

General Hare went on to say that this is a monumentous step forward for the entire galaxy, and what he hoped would be an end to war and tyranny. General Hare was appointed to the council of elders for the Galactic Alliance, along with such names as Icis Mazza, Queen Mandara, Beltino Toad, and Aronius Pepper. The council will be headed up by Prince Cor, of the Cornerian royal family.

In other breaking news, it has been announced that Fox McCloud, of the famed team Star Fox, will be retiring from active duty. He and Star Fox pilot Krystal Saphira announced their simultaneous retirements on the heels of the announcement of their engagement to be married. The Star Fox name will also be retired, but rumor has it that a new team will soon take it's place. Many assumed this would be team Star Wolf, led by ex-mercenary Wolf O'Donnell, but General Pepper dispelled this rumor during his speech.

"Wolf O'Donnell and team Star Wolf are heroes, and did this galaxy a service we could never repay... However, they will not be replacing Star Fox. I can tell you a familiar face will be heading up a new team, but cannot reveal details at this time."

That leaves us all waiting and wondering, however other rumors point to the possibility of Falco Lombardi taking the helm of the new team of heroes. With his-

The vidscreen went black, as Wolf O'Donnell tossed the remote aside. He hadn't really been paying attention to the pretty blonde tell the news, he had just been staring at the screen while he struggled with all the thoughts bouncing around inside his head, as they had been since leaving Venom eighteen days before.

"I really need to delegate some of my thoughts," Wolf muttered, jokingly. "Maybe to CT64, he has plenty of mental storage." Sighing, Wolf stood, and headed out of his private quarters aboard the Great Wolfen. It had just been returned to him the day before, after extensive repairs had been done. The battle above Venom had taken it's toll on the flagship, but you couldn't tell it now.

Of all the things troubling him, the formemost was that Wolf had a meeting to attend to... And he didn't know what to expect from the man he was to meet with. Even more concerning was who Wolf was to bring with him.

"Andrew, you ready?" Wolf called down the hallway.

"I think so, Cap," Andrew replied, sounding uncertain. "But, I'm nervous." Together the two walked down the hallway, down the landing ramp, and into the sunshine of Corneria.

"You were brave enough to fly straight at your uncle, and unload a bomb into his face, but you're not brave enough to meet one normal man?" Wolf inquired, as they headed for a nearby skiff.

"He wasn't my real uncle, I had backup, and this is not a normal man," Andrew countered each point.

Wolf rolled his eyes.

"Fine, be nervous," he muttered. Little did Andrew know, but Wolf was nervous too.

*****

"Why did you do it?"

"I had to, I told you."

"No, you didn't... You could've just trusted that things would work out the way they were supposed to."

"I couldn't let him die."

D sighed.

"I know," he murmured. "I know. But now... There must be repercussions. You broke a very important rule. You interfered with the natural course of life."

Josh nodded, glumly.

"So, let me guess... I have to mop the golden streets? Or... Oh no, don't tell me I'm going to be a doorman! That's the most boring job in the history of the afterlife." He hung his head. "Hello, welcome to the first day of forever, may I take your coat?"

D tried hard not to laugh, and said, "Actually, it's neither of those. But, I'll let Him tell you."

"I'm not getting demoted to the NetherWorld, am I?" Josh asked, his face going pale. But D had already disappeared, leaving Josh to walk forward, and enter the golden building before him... To learn his fate.

*****

"Sit down, please..."

Wolf and Andrew sat down in two very comfortable chairs, facing a desk. Sitting behind the desk was a not-so-imposing looking person, with an imposing name and title.

"We're honored to be here, Prince Cor," Wolf commented, nodding his head. "Even though we... Err..."

"Don't know why you're here?" Cor offered.

"Yeah," Wolf admitted. "Exactly."

Cor nodded.

"I can imagine you are curious," he said. "It's just that we have very important things to discuss, some of which you already know about, and some you do not. Later we will be join others who have a stake in all this, but for now, I wished to speak with the two of you alone."

"But why me?" Andrew piped up, then immediately slapped his hands over his mouth. He'd meant to just think that, not actually say it.

Cor laughed, however, and said, "Because this applies to you both." He then removed two sheets of paper from a drawer, and handed one to each of them. They were almost identical, except for the name at the top of the page.

Wolf scanned it quickly, but wasn't familiar with a lot of the long words that had been used to make the document look more important than it probably was. Instead of trying to digest it all, he said, "What's this all mean?" He'd had a headache for days, so his patience was lessened, especially when it came to decyphering the language of royalty.

"In a nutshell, besides commending you on your heroics, it grants you full amnesty of the past."

Wolf's good eye widened. Amnesty. Now that was a word he knew.
"You mean... The past... It's..." he struggled.

"Wiped clean," Prince Cor replied, with a nod. "Whatever indiscretions you might have been involved in, are now nonexistent, as far as your records reflect."

Andrew stared at the paper in silence. Wolf tapped him on the arm, bring him back to reality, and the apish pilot looked torn between grinning and sobbing. Finally he settled on grinning, and said, "Thank you, your highness, thank you so much!"

"Yeah... I can't tell you what this means," Wolf agreed.

"No need," the prince said, waving a hand. "The past is where it belongs. Now, Wolf, if you'll accompany me, we have other matters to discuss, elsewhere."

"Right," Wolf answered, standing. "Andrew? Head back and find the others... Tell them to be ready for an important meeting aboard the Great Wolfen."

Andrew tore his eyes from the paper in his hands long enough to nod, and then returned to gazing at his freedom as he walked out of the room.

"Wolf? This way, if you please."

Moments later, Wolf found himself in a large meeting room. Seated around a long table were a number of familiar faces. Prince Cor took a seat at one end of the table, and motioned for Wolf to take a seat at the other end. Also present were Peppy Hare, Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Narl Dirz, and Pablo Pym.

"Captain O'Donnell," Prince Cor intoned formally, "We of the Galactic Alliance wish to make you an offer. Will you hear it?"

Wolf knew it was a royal formality to talk like this, and to ask permission to proceed at every other sentence, but he just couldn't stand it. He said, "Yeah, and you don't need to ask my permission to talk, you're royalty, not me." This drew a quiet chuckle from some of the others, and Cor nodded, deciding to dispense with formality, and get on with it.

"All right, then, Wolf... We offer you a position on the council of elders, a squadron to command in the Cornerian armada, and the position of liasion between the Cornerian and Saurian governments, where you would still be heralded as the SharpClaw commander."

Wolf had suspected all of that. He'd discussed each option with Peppy, Fox, Pablo, and Narl a few days before. So, he already knew what he was going to say... Even though it was very difficult.

"I have to say that I am honored that you would offer me all of that, your majesty," Wolf said, standing. "It means a lot... And tells me that I'm a better person than I used to be, to earn your trust like this." He paused, then went on. "However, I have decided to turn down all of the positions offered to me. Elder, Commander, Liasion, and General. But, I would like to suggest alternatives for three of those..."

Prince Cor nodded again, seeming to have expected this.

"Please, go on," he instructed.

"For a commander of a squadron in the Cornerian armada, and also a liasion between Sauria and Corneria, I recommend Pablo G. Pym... And for general of the Saurian armies, I recommend Narl Dirz." Wolf took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "I'm just not ready to be tied down... I still have some soul searching to do, and... I've always wanted to see the far side of the universe. So, I will be leaving Corneria this evening. Thank you again for your trust and commendations."

He stepped back from the table, but waited patiently as Cor officially decreed that Pablo would be a commander and a liasion, and that Narl would henceforth be formally known as General Dirz of the SharpClaws.

Pablo had been unsure of Wolf's decision, but after discussing it for quite a while, days earlier, he eventually had agreed to the arrangement. Standing, he accepted the positions. Narl had been equally unsure during discussions, due to the fact that he considered Wolf a much better leader than himself. However, he stood and accepted his position without argument.

"That settled, we shall leave the opening in the council of Elders unclaimed," Cor announced. "Just as the one we offered Captain McCloud shall be. Should either of you change your minds, these positions will be available for you, always."

Wolf glanced at Fox, who smirked at him. Fox hadn't wanted the responsibility of the position, at least not so soon after retiring from Star Fox. He intended to spend as much time as possible with Krystal, due mostly to seeing how Slippy died before getting to spend very much time with Amanda, his fiancee.

"I'll remember that, your highness," Wolf replied, looking back at the prince. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other things to attend to, preparing for my departure."

"Of course," Prince Cor said. "Good luck, and may the stars always shine brightly above you."

Wolf knew that was his cue to say the last half of the old Cornerian salutation.

"And may peace reign always in Corneria," he said. He inclined his head toward the prince, and then quickly exited the room.

*****

"You have to, Wolf told me to get everyone," Andrew was insisting.

Arti sighed heavily.

"Okay, fine... I guess I need to talk to him anyway," he murmured, before striding away, out of sight.

Andrew watched him go, and shook his head. Arti had been in pretty bad shape when he was pulled from the wreckage of his ship, but he had control of his mind once more. Apparently, upon Kab's death, the mind-control probes he had implanted in Arti and Mac's brains ceased operations. This seemingly explained Mac's apparent kamikaze attack on Andross, as well.

But just because Arti was no longer evil, and working against them, it didn't mean that he was his old self. Nothing could be more untrue, in fact... So guilt-ridden over his vile acts while under Kab's control, he had barely spoken to any of them since returning to the ship after a week-long stay in a Bacta tank.

"I hope he can move on," Kay-Tee remarked, walking up to Andrew. "It's sad to see him so guilt-ridden, and closed off."

"I know," Andrew replied. "But, it would be kinda hard to get past... I mean... Poor Slippy."

Just then, a skiff approached. It was Wolf.

"All right, you lot... I want to talk to each of you separately... So, draw straws, and then come in one at a time, into the strategy room," he announced. "And be quick about it, will you?" He then hurried up the landing ramp, and into his flagship.

"What's eating him?" Andrew wondered aloud. "You'd think he'd be happy..."

"I think it's because he passed on all those great jobs," Kay-Tee said, thoughtfully. "It probably irks him a little bit. Oh, well... We'd better get in there, and decide who's going in first."

"I don't want to be first," Andrew stated firmly, causing his teammate to laugh.

*****

Wolf was seated at the long table in the strategy room, rubbing his temples with his fingers. A knock at the door announced the first arrival, and suddenly Wolf felt like he was back where it all had started... Interviewing recruits.

"Come in."

In walked Kay-Tee, who had no qualms about being first, whatsoever.

"Hiya, boss," he said cheerfully. He took the seat opposite Wolf, and smiled.

"Hey, kid," Wolf greeted him. "Okay, here it is... I'm leaving in a few hours, heading for the far side of the universe, and whatever adventures await between here and there. I don't know what I might find, or how long it'll take... But I don't intend to stop until I feel fulfilled." He paused, then said, "The question is... Do you want to come? Because, I have it on good authority that any of my pilots could land top positions in the Cornerian Armada. So, you have choices, kid."

Kay-Tee only spent about fifteen seconds thinking about it, before saying, "I'm in, boss. You need a pilot, a tech, and mainly, a chef... Because, where you're heading, it's possible there might not be a McSloppald's for lightyears around."

Wolf chuckled.

"All right, Kay-Tee... Thanks," he replied. "You can go, now." The young pilot exited the room, as Wolf bellowed, "NEXT!"

"Hey, chief," Dox said, as he walked in. "Yes, I'll go with you."

Wolf blinked, and asked, "How do you know...?"

"I'm a spy," was the reply he got, as Dox smirked, and then left the room.

Wolf shook his head... Now he was good at spying.

"NEXT!"

Andrew entered next, looking nervous. He was still holding the paper that declared him free of his past transgressions in his hands, as he sat down. Wolf told him basically the same thing he had told Kay-Tee, that he had a choice. Andrew stared at the paper for a long time, then looked up at Wolf.

"I was tempted for a minute to say one thing... But, really, I know I'd never be as happy if I did," the apish young pilot said quietly. "This ship has become my home, and all of you guys have become... My family. So... I choose to stay with team Star Wolf." He stood up, and headed toward the door.

"Hey, Andrew," Wolf called out. Andrew stopped short, and turned to listen. Wolf smirked, and said, "You're not the worst pilot I've ever seen... And you did kind of save my life once... So... It's good to have you aboard, kid."

Andrew grinned, and then left the room. A moment later, before Wolf could yell, Carlos Soldado entered. Wolf repeated the proposition to the ex-pirate, who seemed to give it careful thought.

"It's tempting, Wolf... But... I have family in this sector, and a girl here on Corneria," he replied. "I'd rather make this my base of operations, you know? And I got an offer that'll let me do that."

Wolf nodded.

"I understand, Carlos," he told him. "It was great flying with you... And I'll always remember what you risked to get us the information we needed during that Venom recon mission. Good luck with your new job." He shook the pilot's hand, and Carlos thanked Wolf for the opportunity to help out, then he left the strategy room.

"NEXT!"

"We decided to come in together, if you don't mind," CT64 intoned, as he entered the room. Lazlo was walking beside him. The two had become quite good friends in the last several weeks, although Lazlo could no longer hitch a ride on CT64's base.

CT64 now had a new, bipedal body, which was more similar to what he'd had before being nearly destroyed. He could've had a top of the line new frame, but had instead opted for a more salvaged look... It meant something, he'd reflected, to be made up of parts of other beings like yourself.

"Are you going to ditch us here on this planet?" Lazlo asked.

Wolf smirked.

"No, not unless you want me to," he said. He then gave them both the same proposition he had offered the others.

"I shall remain your navigator and team droid," CT64 answered without hesitation.

"I'm coming, too!" Lazlo threw in. "Traveling through the universe should be fun... Imagine all the things waiting to be dug up."

Moments later they were gone, replaced by Mumbo Jumbo, who had only to hear that basically everyone else was going, before quickly saying, "Mumbo go too." He then left the room.

"NEXT!"

"Scream much?" Bartimaeus cracked, as he strode in, and sat down at the table.

"No one can claim they didn't hear an order when I do," Wolf countered. He then repeated the proposition, totally convinced he knew what Bart was going to say.

"Hmm... Well, I can imagine the pay will be lousy, and goodness knows you'll be risking our lives at every turn," Bart said, rolling his eyes. "I imagine there are any number of lunatics like Emm waiting to make you their worst enemy. But, I have nothing better to do, so okay, I'll come."

Wolf's eye widened.

"You... Wait... You're coming?" he struggled to ask. "I didn't think you would."

"You couldn't manage without my skills," Bart stated, waving a hand. He left the room a moment later, leaving Wolf very surprised.

"Err... NEXT!"

There was only one person left to come in... Articerile Montague. He entered the room silently, and sat down at the table. He kept his eyes averted from Wolf, and seemed very troubled.

"Hey, Arti," Wolf said. "So... Look. You know I'm heading out... And all along I've been asking everybody if they want to come with me, or try their luck working somewhere else." He paused, then said, "But, kid, I really want you to come with us. To keep the original group together, and... Because you're a friend. You're part of this family, Arti."

Arti brought his eyes up, and met Wolf's gaze. He was quiet for a long minute, then spoke.

"I'm leaving," he said, his voice husky and quiet. "I'm going to get away from everything that's familiar to me, and just be by myself for a while. I can't deal with what I did, right now... I need to figure out how to be who I used to be, again."

"Kid, we can help you."

"You'd try," Arti countered, "But you can't help me. No one can... Only time can mend the damage. If it can ever be mended at all." He rose to his feet, and started to leave, but then reached out to shake Wolf's hand. "I'll never forget what this team gave me..." As he walked out of the room, Wolf stopped him.

"Hey... Stay frosty, Arti."

Arti nodded, then disappeared.

Wolf sighed, and rubbed his temples again. He had expected to lose Bart and Carlos... But he'd expected Arti to stay, along with the others. It didn't seem right to be moving forward without the robotics expert... But Wolf respected his wishes.

The sound of a quiet knocking interrupted Wolf's thoughts.

"I thought that was everyone," he muttered. "Come in." Glancing up, he smirked. "Should've known... You back to tell me that I did the right thing just now?"

Josh shook his head.

"No... I don't know what you did, so I couldn't say for sure," he replied. He took a seat at the table, looking uncomfortable.

Wolf noticed this, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"I broke a lot of rules helping you out," Josh told him. "And... I got demoted from my position as a messenger."

Wolf chuckled.

"What are you now, a holy janitor?" he quipped.

"No," Josh answered. "I'm... Alive."

Wolf stopped chuckling, and stared at him.

"You're kidding me, right?" he asked.

Josh shook his head again.

"No... Believe me, this is more shocking for me than you can imagine," he said. He rapped a knuckle on the metal desk, and then winced. "Ouch... Haven't felt a pain in... Decades."

Wolf supposed he shouldn't be surprised... After all he'd seen lately, this wasn't that unsual.

"Well, doesn't seem like punishment to me," he reasoned. "Maybe you can't teleport yourself around anymore, or get inside peoples' heads... But at least you're a living being again, yeah?"

"I guess so," Josh agreed. "No powers... But alive."

"So, what're you going to do now?" Wolf inquired. "Is your sister still around? Or other family?"

Josh looked uncomfortable.

"She's living a happy life, with a family of her own," he told Wolf. "How could I turn that upside down by showing up out of the blue? I'm the same age I was when I died... I couldn't explain that without really affecting the dynamic of her life."

"Good point... So where will you go?"

"Actually... I was wondering if... You needed another pilot?"

"You?" Wolf asked, incredulously.

"Hey, I was a great pilot before I died," Josh argued. "And it wouldn't take me long to shake the rust off, I'm sure." He paused, then said, "You're the only person I know. Aside from my sister, that is. But, you know my true story, unlike the one I'll have to fabricate for anyone else I meet."

Wolf frowned thoughtfully. He wasn't sure what to say... Josh had been a great help, no doubt, but he'd also been somewhat of an annoyance. Then again, he had felt the same way toward his other teammates at times. Finally, Wolf nodded.

"Welcome to Star Wolf."

"I appreciate this, Wolf..."

"Well, you're lucky this ship has plenty of rooms, and that I stocked up on extra fighter ships," Wolf said, standing. "The one extra of each is yours. When you meet the others, just tell them you saved my life one time, and I owed you, so you asked for a job." He smirked. "You and Andrew will have something in common..."

"Thanks," Josh said, nodding. "Oh... By the way... I have a message for you from the man upstairs."

Wolf raised an eyebrow, saying, "Go ahead."

"It was short and simple... 'Good job'."

Wolf glanced upward, and nodded.

"Thanks... Boss."

*****

It was almost lift-off time. The Great Wolfen was stocked and ready to go. The team, including the new members, were ready. All that remained was to say goodbye to a few friends.

"Wolf... I'm sorry to see you go, but I wish you luck," Pablo Pym stated, shaking the Star Wolf captain's hand. "I hope you find what you're looking for out there."

"Thanks, Pablo."

"Take care, Wolf," Fox told him. "And if you ever need someone to bail you out of trouble... Let me know."

Wolf studied his former enemy's face for a moment, then said, "Same to you." He then shook his hand, erasing the past as effectively as the word amnesty had. A friendship long abandoned had been somewhat restored.

"Hey, O'Donnell," Falco spoke up. "Don't cause too much trouble out there, or they might send me to bring you in." He smirked. It had just been announced that he would form a team called Star Falco, with Bill Grey, Kain Frederick, Rider Storm, and Carlos Soldado.

Wolf rolled his eyes.

"If the galaxy wasn't at peace, I'm not sure I could leave with you patrolling Lylat," he said. "I'd be too afraid for Lylat." The two might never be friends, but angry remarks had become humorous zingers... It was definitely an improvement.

"You will be missssed, brother," Narl remarked. "But I will lead the ressst of our brothersss proudly."

Wolf nodded.

"I know you will," he stated.

"Best of luck to you, Wolf, and be sure to come back someday," Peppy instructed.

"Sure thing, General." He couldn't help adding emphasis to the title, just for old time's sake. "Thanks."

"I'm glad we got a chance to work together in this, Wolf," Icis Mazza said to him. "We lost some great friends, but saved the galaxy."

"That we did, Mazza... So long as we never forget Gil, SUB36, Slippy, and all the others whose lives were taken, it is something to look back on and be proud of." Wolf stood back, as the rest of his team shook hands, and said goodbye, to the others. Arti hadn't waited around, Wolf noted with regret. But there was nothing he could do about that.

Moments later, he realized that it was time.

"All right... Team? Take your positions aboard ship," he called out. Looking at the small group there, he said, "Thanks... And goodbye." He then dashed up the landing ramp after the others, and into his ship.

The group outside quickly hurried away, to allow the ship to take off. The Great Wolfen's powerful engines roared to life, and the ship began hovering upward, into the sunset skies of Corneria. As Wolf took his seat on the command deck, he had to admit that despite the guilt and misgivings, he felt pretty good. Better than he had in a long time.

Except for one thing.

"I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something," Wolf remarked, to his teammates. "Something important."

"Like what?" Dox asked, as their ship started working it's way out of Corneria's atmoshphere, so they could jump to hyperspace.

"This may sound crazy, but... I think it has something to do with eggs," Wolf said, scratching his head.

"You want me to cook some up?" Kay-Tee offered.

"No..." Wolf shook his head.

Josh glanced over at him, and said, "You're probably just unwilling to accept that you're completely prepared to leave this galaxy behind, and your brain is making excuses for you to stay."

Wolf shot him a look.

"Thank you Dr. Phil," he muttered. "No... I'll think of it sometime." He closed his eyes, muttering the word 'eggs' over and over, but nothing came to him. In fact, it wouldn't come to him for a very long time. Unfortunately.

"Ready to jump to hyperspace," CT64 intoned. "On your mark, sir."

"Hmm? Oh, right. Begi-"

"Wait! What's that?!?" Kay-Tee exclaimed. "Coming toward us!"

*****

(Sauria...)

*CRACK* *BANG* CRAAAACCCKKK* *CHOOSH* *CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH*

"Free at last!" a booming voice thundered. "They will regret this betrayal... I will have my revenge! I will kill them all!"

And, leaving behind the remains of what looked like a gigantic eggshell, General Scales exited his closet, and headed off to find someone who could tell him what had happened since he'd been 'away'.

*****

(Venom... 16 days before)

Venomia City had been been silent for two days. No fleeing citizens, no exploding bombs, no crashing ships, no collapsing buldings, no giant robotic tyrant, no cavalry ships flying to and fro, and no heroes standing on the spot where they had liberated a galaxy. Just silence... Except for one small sound.

The sound of a body pulling itself along the rough ground by one hand. Inch by agonizing inch, the burned and bloodied form made it's way forward, though where the person was headed, they didn't know. All they had to live for was the next inch... And then the next... And then the next.

Then something changed. The hand that had been groping forward, trying to find purchase, closed around a small object. The hand quit groping... It held the object tightly, as a miraculous thing happened. Plate-like armor began to form on the reaching arm, then spread across the body. Long crimson claws sprouted from each hand. And skeletal wings erupted from the person's back.

But, most important of all, a surge of energy rushed into the person's brain, and gave them the strength to rise to their feet. Glowing red eyes took stock of their surroundings. The devastation meant nothing... The emptiness meant nothing. All that mattered was finding a way out of the city. In mere weeks, an effort would begin to bring it back to it's former greatness. But for now it would stand as a reminder of what evil could accomplish if given the chance.

"I must find a ship... I'm not strong enough to go very far, but I must... I need to leave this planet, and everything that happened here... So that I can rebuild my life... And when I'm strong... And I understand this power that is coursing through my veins... I will begin to make plans... Plans like my father, may he burn eternally, could only dream about... Yes... They will all learn to fear the name Mafefe!" The boy smiled coldly, his eyes burning brightly red, as he started slowly down the street.

*****

(Back to the present, above Corneria...)

"It looks like... Some sort of energy storm," Bartimaeus commented, as they all stared at the front vidscreen.

"Is it going to hit us?" Lazlo asked, worriedly.

Wolf shook his head.

"No, kid... It's going to miss Corneria entirely," he said. "It's just so big that it looks closer..."

"Mumbo like colors," the shaman stated.

They all watched in awe as the swirling mass of light, color, and electricity filled their vision. It was almost hypnotic, the way it moved, with no real patterns, just random surging.

Dox noticed something on a computer screen near him, and sat down to check it.

"Hey, this is weird," he murmured. "Some sort of signal is emanating from the energy storm."

Wolf glanced his way.

"Comm signal?" he inquired.

"Not sure, it's... I can't make it out," Dox said, shaking his head.

Kay-Tee and Andrew went to their stations, and attempted to decode the signal.

"This isn't like any encryption I've ever seen," Kay-Tee said, a moment later. "In fact-"

"Wait, it's not encrypted!" Dox interrupted. "It's just old!" He entered a command on his terminal holoboard, and suddenly the main vidscreen filled with static. Snatches of words could be heard now and then, but were garbled. "Give it a second to adjust," Dox added. "It's having to use an obsolete program."

About ten seconds went by, and then suddenly the vidscreen was filled with the image of a person. He was right in the middle of his transmission, and seemed earnest. He was an imposing looking Anthro-Wolf... Barrell-chested, broad-shouldered, and sporting a wicked looking scar that covered one side of his face, blotting out an eye.

To most of the others, he seemed intimidating, but they'd seen much worse... They just looked on with interest. Wolf, however, looked utterly shocked... A look that Josh was making use of as well.

"...pulling this ship along through space, and I can't break free! Anyone listening, please respond! Mayday, mayday! Can anyone hear me? This is Slash O'Donnell, requesting help from any ships or planets listening! I'm aboard a ship that's not my own, so I can't name it... All I know is that I'm with a girl who claims to be from the future, named Laina Xiao. We're caught in some sort of vortex... It's pulling this ship along through space, and I can't break free! If anyone's out there, respond, %$#& you! This is Slash O'Donnell, reques-*BZZZZZZZTTTTT*..."

The screen went black, then reverted to showing the view before them once more. They could see that the storm was now moving past Corneria, and now seemed to be picking up speed, moving quickly away. Everyone sat in silence for a moment, digesting what they had just heard. Finally, it was Lazlo who spoke.

"Did he say O'Donnell?" he asked.

Dox frowned.

"Yeah, he did," he replied. "Hey... Chief... Do you know that guy?"

Everyone turned to look at Wolf, and were surprised to see he was still staring at the vidscreen, his mouth open, his eye wide, and his hands clenched tightly around the arm rests of the captain's chair.

"Boss? You okay?" Kay-Tee asked, worriedly.

"Who was that?" Andrew threw in.

Wolf slowly detached his hands from the arm rests, closed his mouth, and swallowed hard.

"That... Was my father," he murmured, then turned to look at Josh.

The former messenger nodded slowly.

"I don't understand it, but... Yes, it was," he agreed.

Just then, before anyone could ask any questions, the comm alert went off again, this time showing an incoming holomessage from Corneria. Kay-Tee patched it through immediately.

"Hey, Wolf?" It was Fox, looking confused.

Wolf looked at the screen, and managed to say, "What?"

"We just intercepted the strangest thing... The techs at Armada HQ patched it through to me and Peppy... That was... Wasn't that your father? From inside that... Storm?"

Wolf wasn't sure how to answer that.

"It couldn't be," he said. "I know it couldn't... But... It was." He frowned, then said, "Let me talk to one of your techs. Right now." A moment later, he was.

"It might possibly have been a transdimensional storm," a Cornerian tech said, after verifying what Wolf saw and heard. "Think of it as a revolving door, hurtling through space... A door into the stream of time itself."

"So... You're saying that... My father might really be alive, and in that thing?" Wolf struggled to ask.

"Possibly... Though, it would only be because he was displaced from time at some point prior to his death... And somehow he was brought together with this Laina, whom he claims is from the future."

"It... It would be the future, to him," Wolf replied. "She died several years ago, though..."

"I'm not saying this is all true, or that I understand it, but some twist of fate has possibly brought your father and this Laina together, displacing them from their appropriate times, before they died, and..."

"And...? Can they be saved?"

"That I don't know," the scientist admitted. "The whole thing is so unstable that drawing too close might drag you into the time stream yourself. Actually keeping up with it at the speed it can travel will be near impossible... And, if you do catch it, the attempt to try and pull your father's ship out of the vortex might cause them to be instantly destroyed. But..."

"What? Tell me!" Wolf demanded.

"There's also a small, and I mean minute, chance that they might, just maybe, be able to exit the vortex into this time... Unharmed."

"That's all I needed to know," Wolf declared. He closed the comm link, then looked at his team, who were waiting expectantly. He then turned and stared out the vidscreen, at the rapidly disappearing lightshow. "CT64, keep us on that thing's trail... We've got a TimeStorm to catch."

___________The End____________

And that's it... Thanks to all those who have enjoyed reading this from beginning to end. Be sure to tell your friends! lol Nah, but thanks, and keep an eye out for the sequel which will be coming in the near future. (For exclusive SWA extras, head to the Chaos Gaming Community forums... The link is in my profile.) For now... WolfManJon, out.