Note: After this story, I shall write a story for Valentines Day. It will be a Falco x Katt story about Katt getting amnesia and everyone trying to restore her memories. Does that sound like a good story? Anyway, there are six chapters left after this one, so sorry if I rushed through this one like Unexpected Horrors. Now that I've cleared that up, let's move on to chapter eight.

Chapter 8: Catching A Killer Jackal

Bill took out his communicator and dialed a number that he knew well: Fox McCloud's number. After a few seconds, the Cornerian soldier was greeted by the voice of his mercenary friend.

"What is it, Bill?" Fox's voice rang out.

"Fox, tell your team to capture only Bloodscourge!" Bill spoke.

"What about Adrian DiMaggio?" The other male's voice came out of the other end, "Krystal told me that you and your new friends encountered him."

"We'll handle DiMaggio," Bill stated, "just tell the others to take Bloodscourge when we trap him! When we get rid of DiMaggio, I'll send a transmission to you so that you can pick us up!"

"We'll pick up the two Cerinians that are with you." Fox said, "After all, you have your own ship. I'm not sure about the bounty hunter though."

"She has her own ship." Krystal's voice came out of the communicator.

"Okay," Fox's voice said, "I guess that we'll pick up the two Cerinians Krystal told us about when you get done with DiMaggio. See you later!"

"See you!" Bill said prior to hanging up. After that, he saw Sabre, Randorn, and Maria standing near him.

"Why didn't you tell him that me and Sabre had a ship of our own?" Randorn asked.

"Sorry," Bill said, "I forgot about your ship."

"At least you told Star Fox to leave DiMaggio to us." Maria stated.

"Krystal told me everything about him," Sabre said, "so now we know that he's our enemy."

"I was kinda hoping that she could join us on our adventure," Bill said, "but she's busy with work."

"She is another Cerinian, so I don't get why the team didn't allow her to help us." Randorn said.

"She will help us by taking Bloodscourge back to Corneria with the rest of Star Fox." Bill said.

"I can only imagine why those Star Wolf jerks aren't after DiMaggio and his associates as well." Maria stated.

"Beats me." Bill said, "I just can't believe that they helped during the Aparoid invasion. I even asked them why they helped."

"What did they say?" Sabre asked.

"Wolf told me to get lost." The Cornerian soldier answered.

"Enough talk," Maria said, "let's catch Bloodscourge before he kills us!"

"All we need to do is to set up a trap." Randorn said.

"I've got just the stuff!" Bill said.

"So do I!" Maria said.

"Let's trap Bloodscourge!" Sabre said.

As Bloodscourge walked through the woods, he licked the blade of his machete. To him, today was a good day. Not only was he going to kill the enemies of his boss, but he was also going to help spread patriotism. However, even if his targets were dead, he still had to deal with enemies such as Star Fox and Star Wolf. They wouldn't really be much of a threat to DiMaggio, even if Star Fox had a telepath with them. He figured that he could just kill them all with no effort at all. Only time would tell.

Bloodscourge's ears picked up a noise. The noise in question was coming from deeper within the woods. The serial killer couldn't help but smile, knowing that his targets were around him.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Bloodscourge taunted.

"Why don't you come to us?!" Maria yelled.

"Challenge accepted!" The jackal chuckled as he walked into the area where his targets were. The four were within his sights, looking brave.

"Well, you're here." Sabre said.

"Why don't you get it over with?" Bill asked.

"I'll do so," Bloodscourge stated, "and I'll bring your heads to DiMaggio so that his patriotic galactic conquest can begin!"

"Try it!" Maria taunted.

Without warning, Bloodscourge ran towards the group. Before he could plunge his machete into any of them, the jackal was knocked down by a magic missile fired by Randorn. He got up and started to run towards the group again. In response, Bill fired his blaster at the serial killer. However, the jackal was quick to dodge each shot. Before Bloodscourge could swing his machete at the soldier, he was stopped by Sabre's sword.

"You're not killing any of us!" Sabre shouted.

"Oh, but I will!" Bloodscourge said, "When all of you are dead, DiMaggio will make sure that no one discovers what happened to you! Not only will two Cornerians be dead, but also two Cerinians!"

"Not going to happen!" The former Knight of Cerinia yelled.

"You wouldn't happen to know Krystal Bodimead, would you? The jackal asked.

"That's none of your business!" The Cerinian growled.

"It is," the serial killer sneered, "given how she's another Cerinian! I wonder how quickly I can get my knife across her pretty neck! I'll make the rest of Star Fox suffer before I kill them and Star Wolf!"

"Oh no, you won't!" Sabre shouted as he threw Bloodscourge to the side, "Now!"

Maria threw two green cube-shaped objects at Bloodscourge, which bound his hands and feet. After that, Bill fired a blaster that unleashed an enormous glass cube that concealed the serial killer. Now that the jackal was caught, all that was left was to contact Star Fox.

Sabre, did you catch Bloodscourge? Krystal's voice went through Sabre's head.

Yes, is a member of your team coming down to Fortuna to retrieve him? Sabre transmitted his thoughts.

Fox sent Slippy out to take Bloodscourge back to Corneria's prison, does that answer your question? The cobalt vixen's voice echoed in the wolf's head.

Yes. The former Knight of Cerinia transmitted his answer.

"Who's coming down here?" Randorn asked.

"Someone named Slippy." Sabre answered.

"I can't believe that Star Fox still has Slippy Toad employed!" Maria said, "That moron has the memory span of a goldfish!"

"But he's still the kind of guy who can be relied on!" Bill stated.

All of a sudden, an Arwing came down from the atmosphere and used a tractor beam to grab the prison that was holding Bloodscourge.

"You punks haven't seen the last of me!" The jackal shouted as the Arwing, piloted by Slippy, carried him off of the planet.

When the Arwing was gone, the four looked at each other.

"We make a great team!" Sabre stated.

"You got that right!" Bill said.

"Without a doubt!" Randorn said.

"Don't fool yourselves," Maria scoffed, "I'm just here to kill DiMaggio! I highly doubt that the person who employed me for the job would be pleased to hear that I let Star Fox take Bloodscourge back to jail! However, my job is just to kill DiMaggio! Maybe then I can finally get a good reward on someone's head!"

"We can help you," Bill said, "but you can tell your employer that DiMaggio's death was your doing!"

"Sounds like a plan!" Maria stated, "Let's move! I want to make DiMaggio suffer a little before I kill him!"

Note: Maria is not the kind of bounty hunter who you could happily consider an ally, even if her actions are ultimately for a good cause. She's essentially Kursed (Krystal's bounty hunter alias from Star Fox Command), but with a different backstory. I hope that everyone is doing okay during this pandemic. What did you guys think about this chapter? Let me know when you leave a review or give a constructive criticism. Until next time guys, peace!