Dark Angel (Part 3)
Chapter 11
The sun was already high in the sky over Fortuna but it was still bitterly cold. Fortuna
had a faster rotation than any other planet in the Lylat system and so dusk and dawn
passed much quicker. As such the morning air had not had a chance to heat up yet.
If he noticed the cold Cameron didn't show it as he strode purposefully towards the
landing pad where the Angel was locked down. His long black coat swirled around him,
blowing in the wind like a pair of great black wings.
Angela the lovely wolf whom he had met at Mama Bella's cantina the night before did
show that she felt the cold.
"Why oh why did I have to agree to come with this guy?" She asked herself as her teeth
chattered. "Because you said you wanted to meet the guy I was waiting for," Cameron
returned with out even turning round.
The two of them reached the pad. A thick lair of frost covered the thermally insulated
dome that protected the ship underneath from the harsh climate. Brushing the snow from
the control panel with one black leather gloved hand in a single elegant movement, he
opened the dome revealing the aggressive, blade like shape of his fighter the Angel of
Vengeance.
The Angel was like the Arwings that Star Fox used except that its fuselage was almost
half again as long and the wings were forward swept. The twin mass driver cannons slung
under the wing tips, shone menacingly in the morning sunshine.
Upon seeing the Angel, Angela gasped like a lust struck teen faced with her favourite
movie star. "Ooh… nice hard ware. This thing must be a real eye-catcher at the spy of the
year show," she breathed. "Yep and she's got one kick ass sound system too," Cameron
replied.
Jumping up onto the wing Cameron set about releasing the mag-seals that kept would be
fighter jocks out of the cockpit. Once the cockpit was unsealed he jumped down and
opened up the hidden compartment that served as a weapons locker and stowed his
blaster pistol. Keeping the sword on his back he jumped strait into the cockpit. Looking
down to the ground he noticed Angela still standing on the snow next to the wing.
"Hey, you coming or what. The sooner you're in that back seat the sooner I can close up
the canopy and turn on the heater," He said gesturing to the co-pilots seat behind him.
Angela didn't need telling twice. As soon as the words left his mouth she had already
jumped onto the wing and vaulted into the seat. As the canopy hissed shut Cameron had
already begun his pre-flight procedures. As the ships systems came online he checked off
each system to the whine of the engines powering up.
"Okay lets see. Nav-systems online, Life support standing by, weapons five by five, fuel
check green, turbines to speed, atomic batteries to power," He said in a calm tone. Finally
he reached for a large wallet and selected a disk.
Spinning it on the end of his index finger he slotted it into the CD player on the main
control panel in front of him. Seconds later the thumping beats of his favourite band,
Sharon Apple started blasting out of the speakers on either side of the pilot's seat. "And
music to fly recklessly by," He shouted.
With that Cameron yanked the vertical thrust control right back and the Angel leapt off
the pad. Pointing the nose skyward he switched the forward thrust and was pushed back
into the seat as he kicked in the after burners, just as the lyrics to "Information High"
started.
Both Cameron and Angela shouted out loud in sheer enjoyment of flying fast. In a matter
of seconds they blasted past the clouds and up through the upper atmosphere. Looking
out the canopy and noticing the sky going darker and darker as they climbed Angela
realised they had already reached the stratosphere.
"Surface to atmospheric ceiling in only six point two seconds? Baby this girl's more than
just a pretty face. Turning round in his seat Cameron looked at her with more than a little
pride on his face. "Sound familiar," He said grinning devilishly. Angela blushed slightly.
Soon the stars were visible. They had reached orbit. Soon the young fox's face took on a
somewhat more serious look. Levelling out Cameron tapped a few keys on the keypad by
his left hand just below the throttle. Hearing a high-pitched whistling tone Angela looked
out the canopy window again to see the wing appear to fade out of view until only the
outline was visible.
As if sensing her next question Cameron spoke in the same calm tone he had done the
pre-flight check in. "The Angel is equipped with an active stealth device that not only
masks it from sensors, but also bends light around the hull surface rendering it virtually
invisible."
"Like I said, this must be a real eye-catcher at the spy of the year show," Angela said
giving him a sideways smile as she continued to stare out of the canopy. "It's not perfect
though. You can still see some distortion so if you're target is quick off the mark and
knows what to look for he may notice you," Cameron noted rather seriously.
"And lemme guess, you can't fire whilst cloaked," Angela added citing the old cliché
about such devices.
"Hell no I can fire whilst cloaked, but I can't hit any thing worth a damn because the light
distortion field disrupts the targeting matrix," Cameron replied matter of factly.
Settling back in his seat Cameron continued to tap keys. Soon the computer's cool,
electronic, female voice cut through the calmer tones of "Midnight" (Cameron's
favourite song). "Computer voice command system active."
Smiling slightly Cameron placed his hand back on the throttle control. "Computer,
activate long range tracking systems and pin point the position of Archam industries
Hunter class strike carrier designated Great fox. Also calculate firing solutions and
weapon calibration factors to disable target," He said calm and assured.
Quickly Angela clocked in on the name of the target. "Great Fox? You're looking for
some one on the Star Fox team?" She said in surprise.
"Yeah like I said, they'd love to meet you," Cameron said grinning evilly.
"It's in what capacity they want to meet me that's what worries me," She said in a
genuinely concerned tone.
Cameron just smiled and shook his head "I doubt these guys are as observant as I am. If
worst comes to worst then there's always plan B." "Plan B?" Angela asked.
As if to answer that question the Angel's computer chipped in again. "Firing solution
calibrated. You may fire when ready."
"You're going to try and shoot them down?" Angela exclaimed in even greater surprise.
Cameron simply shook his head and said, "No, just disable them. Great Fox has a major
power conduit running just under the hull skin below the upper port wing. A hit there will
knock out their weapons and main drives leaving them dead in space."
"And what if you miss?" Angela inquired. "I don't miss," He replied casually. "That's
pretty over-confident of you Cameron," Angela said with more than a little annoyance.
"Not really. The Angel has a highly sophisticated targeting system that combines active
scanning with intelligence data to zero in on targets weak points. Also the guns are set on
multidirectional gimbals that allow them to track their target. So you see 90% of the time
I don't miss," Cameron explained with more than a little pride in the Angel's abilities.
"Besides it shouldn't really come to that. I think I could get us in there without firing a
single shot," He said confidently.
The Ship's computer chimed in again "Target located E.T.A five minutes." "Has the
target detected us?" Cameron asked calmly.
"Negative, target has not engaged active tracking, however a single Bulldog class fighter
has been detected on an intercept course to the target," The electronic female voice
replied.
"Perfect! We can move in as he docks. Fasten your seat belt Angela, this is where it gets
interesting," He said, the evil grin having returned to his face.
Chapter 12
The Star Fox team had gathered the flight deck on Great Fox to welcome Bill aboard. Fox
had been looking forward to seeing his old best friend again. From the launch control
room that over looked the fighter bay he watched as the sleek Bulldog fighter ship
gracefully touched down. As the bay re-pressurised a mist formed as the water vapour
from the environmental systems condensed in the cold air.
Maybe if he hadn't turned away from the glass-steel window so soon he might have made
out a second, dagger like shape disturbing the mist.
Striding towards the bay door with Falco and Fara next to him he was soon joined by
Peppy and Slippy. Kat had remained on the bridge.
Despite their common friendship with Fox there had always been little love lost between
Kat and Bill. Bill's clean cut, strait and narrow, military approach to life had never really
gelled with the whimsical, carefree Kat Monroe.
As the heavy bulkhead slid up, the slightly higher air pressure inside the bay caused the
mist to billow out into the corridor. Stood in the midst of the swirling fog was the half-
obscured form of Commander Bill Grey.
The grey and green flight suit and helmet of the Cornerian defence forces made his
stocky frame appear shadowy in the dimness of the flight deck.
"Bill, it's great to see ya man," Fox said enthusiastically, as he strode up to meet his
former classmate.
It was then that he noticed the gleam of light on metal. Through the gloom of the foggy
launch bay he could make out four feet of shining steel blade held against his old friend's
neck.
He could also make out the shape of the person holding the sword. Casually hold the
katana at arms length with the point against Bill's jugular was a tall dark figure whose
eyes glowed in the darkness as the light from the main corridor reflected on them.
"I suggest you and your team mates remove the power packs from you're pistols and
throw them over here," The figure ordered, cold and calm. Despite being a good five feet
from Bill, some thing about the stranger made Fox feel that any wrong move would be
fatal. To all concerned.
The fog started to clear as the bay heated up and the condensation evaporated. Soon the
mist pulled back to reveal the darkly handsome features of a tall fox with black fur and
green eyes.
His ears were held back threateningly against his skull and his tail whipped from side to
side. "Cameron Winter I presume," Fox said trying to remain calm.
"The power packs? Now if you please?" He replied, even colder this time.
Seeing no other way out Fox reached slowly and carefully for his blaster. Holding the
weapon up so Cameron could see it, he released the catch and let the energy clip fall out
of the handgrip and clatter on the deck. Kicking it over towards the sword-wielding fox
he nodded to the others to do the same. Following their leader's example Peppy and
Slippy disarmed their guns the same way Fox had.
Falco, reckless as ever, instead tried to draw his gun in attack. However before the
blaster's firing chamber had a chance to warm up, Cameron flew across the twenty feet or
so between him and Falco. Holding the sword in both hands Cameron brought the blade
scything down slicing Falco's blaster neatly in half. Stunned by the swords sharpness to
have cut through the metal gun he was then literally stunned as Cameron brought the
sword's pommel down on top of his head in another two handed strike that knocked him
to the floor laying him out cold.
Seeing this as his chance Bill charged as he tried to tackle the one who had just used him
as a hostage. Instead he was rewarded with a jackboot in the face that also knocked him
out cold as he was sent flipping backwards to land flat on his face, his head lolling and
blood trickling from his mouth.
Fara made for one of the guns that the others had dropped. As she stood, Cameron's free
hand shot underneath the back of his coat. Pulling out one of his blasters, he jammed it
against Fara's head before she could even replace the guns clip. The high pitched whine
of the firing chamber on Cameron's pistol made Fox's heart miss a beat.
Cameron then turned back to Fox. "Well if we are done with this little show of
pointlessness, I'm sure we can get down to business," he said, completely unfazed by the
violence that had just erupted. Then to Fox's surprise Cameron spun his sword once and
then sheathed it on his back, then doing the same with the blaster he had held to Fara's
temple.
Noticing the look of confusion on Fox's face Cameron spoke again in a slightly warmer
tone "If I wanted to kill any of you then you and you're team mates would have been dust
and ice crystals by now," he said in a reassuring tone.
That revelation had quite the opposite effect. Now Fox was more ill at ease with this guy
than when he had the sword drawn.
Only Peppy smiled. In fact he had been expecting some thing like this. "You're Connor
Winter's son alright," He said more than a little amused. Cameron just looked at him with
a cold look in his eyes.
Fox finally got over his anxiety about the black fox that stood within easy striking
distance of him and spoke. "Peppy? You knew this would happen?"
"Well not exactly, but this is how me and your father met Connor Winter. He took me
hostage on the landing field when we were interviewing applicants to form the squadron
and your father hired him on the spot," Peppy replied, chuckling to him self.
"So what was the point in that?" Fox asked. This was to both Peppy and Cameron. It was
Cameron who answered. "Two reasons actually. Firstly because I never take chances
when meeting new people. Second it was to show that I can," He explained, the same
discomforting smile on his face that he had shown Jessa back at the asteroid belt
encounter.
"So can I assume you're not going to try to kill us again?" Fox said uneasily. Cameron
simply nodded and held out his hand. Breathing a sigh of relief Fox smiled and shook
Cameron's out stretched hand.
At that moment Cameron raised his left hand to his ear. Fox hadn't noticed till now but
Cameron had been wearing a com-link the whole time. "Yeah, the situation is under
control. You can come on out now," He said speaking into mouthpiece that had been
obscured by his shiny, jet black fur.
In the background Fox could hear a high pitched noise. Then every one but Cameron
gasped as they saw a fighter appear seemingly out of nowhere right on the flight deck.
Once the ship had completely de-cloaked the canopy slid back and a beautiful young
female wolf vaulted out of the cockpit.
She had soft greyish brown fur and long dark hair, with a black stripe running up her
head and down the length of her tail. She was wearing tight black leggings, a matching
crop-top and a red jacket with sleeves rolled up to the elbow and strapped to her forearm
was a light blaster pistol.
As She strode across the launch bay Fox's mouth dropped open and his eyes bulged. So
would Bill's and Falco's if they weren't already unconscious on the deck.
"So I was right, you would have to beat some body up first," She said with a wicked
smile on her lips.
"So sue me, " Cameron said indicating to Falco's prone form "The stupid burk was thick
enough to try and pull a gun on me and the other one wasn't much brighter," he
continued smiling back.
"Oh I don't mind. It just means I win our bet. And it's a bet I intend to collect on," She
purred, brushing her tail under his face.
Turning back to Fox and still smiling he introduced her. "Fox Mccloud, I would like to
introduce Angela, my partner. Angela, Fox Mcloud." Kissing Angela on the hand Fox
tried his best to be suave "Charmed," he said in his best James Bond accent. Angela just
brushed him off and waved a finger tauntingly "Nice try but I'm already spoken for," She
giggled.
Fara glared at Fox for a moment and "humped".
"Well now that we all know each other now, lets get these two up to the medical bay,"
Cameron said indicating to Bill and Falco in turn.
"Then I could do with some breakfast and a decent cup of tea," He said suddenly looking
very tired.
Every one present nodded in agreement. Fox and Peppy both hauled a body each onto
their shoulders. As the group headed down the corridor to the lift Angela tapped Cameron
on the shoulder and whispered "Partner?"
"Well I couldn't just tell them you found me on the floor of a bar last night could I. I
mean with my reputation?" he said in his best 13th Earl of Chelmsford impression.
"Hmmm, I guess I'll just have to play along then," Angela whispered darkly.
Chapter 13
Peppy, Fox, Cameron, Kat and Angela sat round a table in the commissary a few decks
up from the launch deck. Cameron sat highly contented as he sipped from a steaming
mug of hot Earl Grey.
"You know there is nothing in this galaxy quite like a good cup of tea," He said, finally
looking relaxed for the first time since he came aboard. Peppy, the only other tea drinker
on the whole ship nodded in agreement. "Puts the nerves to rights after a long day,"
Peppy added.
Fox finally spoke up and said what he had been meaning ask since Peppy had told him
about how Cameron's father had been a member of the team years ago. "So Where have
you been all these years, I'd have thought you would have followed in your fathers
footsteps and joined us long ago."
Cameron put down his tea and looked at Fox. "Well it was for a reason that I'm sure you
could understand. I simply prefer to do things my own way. My grandfather always told
me that I should be a warrior not a soldier. A soldier simply follows orders blindly and
never asks questions, a warrior thinks for him self and does what he knows is right," He
replied, calm and collected.
"Besides, working alone pays better," He said jokingly.
Fara came in at that point. "Well, Falco and Bill are going to be fine. Falco has a minor
concussion and Bill has a fractured jaw but the bonesetters I gave him should have it
healed in a day or so," she said, keeping her distance from Cameron as she sat down.
Some thing had been bothering Peppy since Cameron had come aboard. "I remember
Connor and well you're nothing like him. I mean Connor never seemed like the family
type. Why didn't he tell me he had a son?"
Cameron had that cold look in his eyes again. "You're right. My father wasn't the family
type. My father wasn't some one you'd be proud to be related to. When my mother
became pregnant with me, my dad ran almost as soon as I was born. Disgusted with his
son's actions, my grandfather took me and my mother in and raised me to be every thing
my father wasn't," he said. It was clear that he hated his father.
Then he noticed some thing. "Um, when you're friend Bill wakes up could you tell him
one of his teeth seems to be stuck to my boot," Cameron said half smiling.
Then Kat spoke up. "That's a point. Did you HAVE to rough up my poor Falco so
much?" She said rather grudgingly. Cameron smiled at this.
"Hey, he was the one who pulled a gun on me. It was there for his own fault for being
stupid," He said smirking.
"Besides you should have seen what he did to this loser in the bar last night," Angela
chipped in casting a smouldering look at Cameron.
Kat then started to grin slightly and one ear pricked up as she said, "Well I can't
complain though about what you did to Bill. Talk about a lack of thinking skills. What
you said about soldiers was bang on for him."
"Well that's enough sparkling repartee for now. Why did you come here and what does it
have to do with me?" Fox asked. Cameron picked up his mug of tea again and smiled.
"Finally we get down to brass tacks. Ok I'm assuming you know about the carrier group I
destroyed in the asteroid belt just off Corneria a week ago," He said, his cultured English
accent cool and calm as ever.
"Yeah. That's one of the reasons General Pepper brought us in," Fox replied.
Sipping his tea again Cameron narrowed his eyes and said "Well ask yourself: How does
a Volga class heavy carrier and two Azan class cruisers slip past not one but two early
warning defence nets and get within striking distance of the most strategically important
planet in this system?"
Fox thought about this question for a good few minutes, as did Peppy and Slippy.
Fox finally answered snapping his fingers "Maybe they have an active cloaking device. I
mean we've seen an automated defence weapon over Venom that had one. That way they
could remain undetected."
Slippy who had remained silent till now then spoke "Unlikely. The power requirements
to cloak a capital ship as big as that would be enormous."
Then Cameron added to this "He's right, as the physical mass of an object increases, the
power required for the light bending camouflage increases at a staggering rate. Besides I
tracked that fleet for three days through soft sleep with the active cloak and never lost
sensor contact with them."
"You knew they were coming! And you didn't warn any one?" Fox exclaimed, in both
surprise and some anger. Cameron however was unfazed by this.
Instead he spoke calm and cool as if nothing had happened. "If I had warned the C.D.F
then the fleet would have been intercepted early and the full extent of this threat would
not be apparent. Fleet ships are getting through and they are not being detected till it's too
late."
Peppy, logical and wise as ever backed him up "He's right Fox, we could have an
invasion fleet on our door step and we wouldn't even know it till the bombs started to
drop."
"I engaged the fleet when became apparent they had made it all the way to Cornerian
space unchallenged and the rest as they say is history," Cameron said before finishing his
tea.
"So how are they pulling it off then," Slippy piped up again.
Cameron smiled his discomforting smile again. "The same way I knew you were coming
and how you knew where to find me. The Cornerian defence surveillance network," He
said, cool as ice.
"Their hacking the defence nets?" Peppy exclaimed. "That or some ones cutting holes for
them to slip through," Cameron said in the same cold tone. "An inside job?" Fox added.
"That would be logical. If you were trying to conquer this system and brute force failed,
you're next option is subterfuge," Cameron explained.
"So what now?" Angela asked, a little taken back by all this.
Cameron just turned to her and grinned. "First, as long as we are still in orbit we may as
well get your ship up here, Because once that's done we're heading for the source of the
Cornerian defence net."
"Corneria here we come," Slippy added.
"Meantime I think I better give your friend back his tooth," Cameron said as he pulled
Bill's tooth out of his jackboot sole.
Chapter 14
Having dropped Angela off on the ground Cameron took off again and circled the landing
ground just outside of Freeholm. Checking his radar he smiled as he saw the prearranged
IFF signal that showed that Angela had found her ship and was air born.
"I'm in the air and ready to move out," Angela said. Her warm, soothing, contralto voice
had lost none of its seductive power. Even over the com-link. "Great, form up on me and
lets get back to Great Fox," Cameron replied brightly.
As Angela's ship pulled alongside the Angel, Cameron took in the full detail of its
design. The ship (which Angela had told him was called the Wandering Star) was an old
Aerodyne Dolphin class trade ship.
The name Dolphin suited it perfectly. Despite the great age of these ships they were still
regarded with high esteem by those who owned them. The ship had a long, elegant hull
that looked rather more like a submarine than a star ship, with a keel fin just below the
engine housing.
The dappled, turquoise hull made the whole thing look more like some kind of sea
creature. And despite being three times the Angel's size, it could probably outperform
most fighters if it had to.
It was possibly one of the most beautiful things Cameron had ever seen.
"Hmm, nice ship. I was kind of expecting some thing like this," Cameron said as the
Wandering Star pulled up close to his starboard wing.
Angela looked across at him, smiling with pride in her ship. "And why is that?" She
asked. Cameron just grinned him self and said "Logic. A drop dead gorgeous lady would
have an equally drop dead gorgeous looking ship."
"You sure know what a girl wants to hear. I'll remember to pay you back accordingly,"
Angela replied, her sultry tone of voice smouldering like the embers of a fire.
As soon as they were in orbit Cameron set about reacquiring Great Fox's position. "Okay
nav-com says on our present course we should catch up with Great Fox in fifteen minutes
if we hit full burn all the way," He said, cool and measured.
"Oh good, that should give us some time to chat," Angela replied, half sarcastically.
"Well there was some thing I wanted to ask you," Cameron said, unfazed by Angela's
apparent lack of zeal.
"Go ahead, shoot," Angela replied. Cameron's face had taken on a more serious look.
"Why did you keep you're original name? Given the number of people across this whole
quadrant who hate or fear Wolf O'donnel, I was very surprised that his sister still has his
name," He asked carefully.
Angela looked tired and she sighed a little before answering.
"I guess it was a bit foolish, given how dangerous it is to be even associated with Wolf.
Particularly in this system. But despite all the bad things he's done, he's still my brother
and I still love him. That's why I do so much business in this system. I keep thinking that
maybe he'll quit. Take his team and go work for some one else. But what ever he does I
decided I would all ways be there for him. For better or worse." Angela's voice was
mournful.
It was clear she cared about her brother. Cameron envied her though. Her brother may
have been the cruellest, most vicious pilot ever to fly, but at least she had a brother. At
least she had family.
The only family he had ever known had been his mother and grandfather. His whole life
his grandfather treated him as his own son. Every day they would get up early to do their
daily fencing exercises. As the sun rose over mountains they would duel and practice.
His mother would always be there. She would sing to keep them in rhythm, her sweet
clear voice drifting over the valley like a soft breeze.
After sword practice he and his grandfather would sit out under the trees and his
grandfather would teach him his lessons. Everyday he would learn the importance of
honour, integrity and responsibility. Every thing his father had lacked.
Then one day everything changed. On a spring day when he was five years old, a man
came. A fox, with deep red fur, carrying a sword. Little Cameron didn't know him but the
stranger seemed to have known him.
The stranger introduced himself as James and said that he had been a friend of Cameron's
father. He then told Cameron, his mother and Grandfather that his father had died. A tear
had rolled down his grandfather's cheek as James told him how his son had given his life
for another and done to first truly noble thing he had ever done.
James stayed a few months. In that time Cameron had grown to like him like an older
brother. James had told him stories of all the places he had been to. But most of all he
told him about his home system, Lylat.
But it was Cameron's mother who had grown closest to the tall red fox. Even at his
young age, Cameron could see love when he saw it. So when James and his mother left,
Cameron didn't cry. He was just glad to know that his mother would be happy.
Cameron stayed and trained with his grandfather. He heard twice more from his mother.
The first time was to say that she and James were married. The second, a year later was to
tell him that he had a new half brother.
But then he heard the worst news of his life. On his fifteenth birthday James came back.
Just as he had carried the news of Connor's death, he carried the tale of his wife's death
in an accident caused by some crazed scientist.
After that Cameron was never quite the same.
Chapter 15
It was about two days into the voyage to Corneria. Most of those two days Cameron had
spent asleep. Given that prior to coming aboard Great Fox the last time Cameron got any
sleep was when the stew at Mama Bella's had rendered him unconscious.
Angela walked into the gym to do her daily exercises. Cameron was already there.
He had divested himself of his long coat and his T-shirt but he still wore his combat
trousers, leather gloves and jackboots. He had his sword drawn and was going through a
complex training sequence. Facing him was a hologram of a tall fox, with black fur,
which apart from being four times his age and the scar over his right eye and having
narrower features looked just like Cameron.
"That must be his grandfather," She thought to her self.
At first glance it looked like Cameron was simply following a learnt pattern as he
matched the hologram strike for strike. But no, this was interactive. Cameron was
duelling with the hologram as it adapted and changed style with machine speed.
But fast as the hologram was Cameron still fought like a demon. The flash of the blade
weaving a steel storm around him, some times just centimetres away from his body.
But even the greatest swordsman has his limits. This duel had been raging for some time.
How long, Angela had no idea. But given Cameron's excellent physical condition it must
have been a long time.
Sweat poured off him. His sleek jet-black fur clung to him like a Lycra suit, matted and
soaked. Even through the cold whistling of the blade she could hear him panting,
desperate for oxygen to keep him fighting. Then he lost his footing. Exsausted he
stumbled to one knee, the hologram of his father didn't even break stride as it brought its
broadsword down between Cameron's shoulders and then disappeared.
Cameron stayed there, crumpled onto his knees, panting and spluttering as his body
recovered. The only show that there was any strength left in his body was in how his
hand was still clenched around his sword's handle. The holographic sparring computer
chimed and then announced the statistics of this bout. " Difficulty rating 10.Time 2hours
52minutes 29seconds. Strikes scored 3. Strikes taken 1. Swordsmanship rating 89%."
Not having the benefit of seeing Cameron fight a real duel, Angela didn't know whether
or not to be impressed. She walked over to the young knight and gently laid a hand on his
shoulder. Suddenly Cameron's limp body burst into motion. In a blur he stood and swung
his sword in a deadly arc towards Angela's neck.
The blade stopped only centimetres from striking. Cameron's eyes were blazing with an
internal fire. That wild, furious look was one Angela had seen before in the single eye of
her brother, Wolf.
As if in realisation of what he had almost done, Cameron dropped the sword. As the
sword fell from his grasp the burning look left his eyes.
Cameron sank to his knees again. "I'm sorry," he said softly. Angela knelt down next to
him and smiled. "Don't worry about it. I don't think I could go on like that for nearly
three hours with out feeling a little crazy," She said reassuringly.
"I still have to apologise. It was a trained reflex, bred into me from generations of
Tiirshak. By now I should have developed the self mastery to control my reactions," He
said in the same soft tone.
"Don't beat yourself up. You've got me to do that for you now," Angela said gigglingly.
Cameron finally looked up and smiled. Seeing his smile Angela reached over and kissed
him.
"So like what's with the sparring hologram of you're dad. I mean I've heard of fighting
your fathers ghost but I've never met any one who actually took it literally," Angela
asked.
Looking over to the sparring computer Cameron said "Its kind of a tradition in my
family, we would spar with their parents to keep in shape. Since my father is dead and my
grandfather is on the other side of the galaxy, this is the next best thing. It's mostly an
exercise in endurance."
Angela's face took on its smouldering, wicked look and the evil smile crossed her lips.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to see for my self how well you've worked on that
endurance," She said seductively.
Cameron's eyes widened as Angela strode off to the showers, stripping off her already
rather skimpy black crop top. One arm across her body, the other beckoning to Cameron
she turned to half face him. "Well, you coming or not?" She said duskily.
On the deck above, Falco was in the galley getting more ice for the lump on the top of his
head, that Cameron had given him during his rather dramatic entrance. Even after two
days his head still ached. A hand reached out and pinched him on the backside. The
shock made him stand strait up and bang his already sore head on the inside of the
freezer.
"How's the head sugar?" Kat asked good-naturedly. Rubbing his head Flaco glared at
her. "A lot worse than it was thirty seconds ago," He grumbled.
Kat was wearing pair of blue denim cut offs with thigh length boots, a Wight t-shit with
the arms cut of and knotted above her midriff and a black leather jacket. Strapped across
her back in a manor similar to Cameron's sword was her long-rifle. In addition to being
an ace pilot Kat was also credited as an expert sniper.
Although Kat flirted with almost every man she met it was common knowledge that she
was madly in love with Falco. How ever it was not common knowledge whether or not
Falco returned her love. If so then it was a love/hate relationship.
"Sorry bout that hon. I really am. It could be worse. That loser Bill still can't talk yet. His
jaw still hurts so badly he has to write note to communicate
e. You weren't too badly damaged," She said, half-apologising and half-flirting again.
"Why are you still here Kat? That Winter guy turned out to be on our side so we don't
need back up. Why haven't you left to go bother some body else?" Falco enquired
grouchily.
Turning her back on him and crossing her arms and "Humphing" at him slightly Kat
turned to leave.
"Since when have ah needed a reason to go where ah like, or in this case stay where ah
like. Particularly when that "Winter guy" happens to be a handsome cultured gentleman.
In that light, why ah bother with you is quite a mystery to me now," She said indignantly.
As she stormed out the weight of Falco's actions hit him. "In the face of a scantily clad
fox, Dixie chick, I just have to tell her to piss off and leave me alone," He thought to him
self and slapping his hand to his forehead. Wincing as this added to his already chronic
headache.
Soon however his attention was drawn to something else. Walking over to the wall he
activated the intercom system. "Hey slip, you there?" he said as he called in on the
bridge.
"Yeah, what's up?" Slippy returned.
"I thought you fixed the ships plumbing last week," Falco said sounding slightly
annoyed.
"I thought I did too," Slippy replied, more than a little confused. "Well how come we got
that banging noise from the pipes again?"
To Be Continued…
Chapter 11
The sun was already high in the sky over Fortuna but it was still bitterly cold. Fortuna
had a faster rotation than any other planet in the Lylat system and so dusk and dawn
passed much quicker. As such the morning air had not had a chance to heat up yet.
If he noticed the cold Cameron didn't show it as he strode purposefully towards the
landing pad where the Angel was locked down. His long black coat swirled around him,
blowing in the wind like a pair of great black wings.
Angela the lovely wolf whom he had met at Mama Bella's cantina the night before did
show that she felt the cold.
"Why oh why did I have to agree to come with this guy?" She asked herself as her teeth
chattered. "Because you said you wanted to meet the guy I was waiting for," Cameron
returned with out even turning round.
The two of them reached the pad. A thick lair of frost covered the thermally insulated
dome that protected the ship underneath from the harsh climate. Brushing the snow from
the control panel with one black leather gloved hand in a single elegant movement, he
opened the dome revealing the aggressive, blade like shape of his fighter the Angel of
Vengeance.
The Angel was like the Arwings that Star Fox used except that its fuselage was almost
half again as long and the wings were forward swept. The twin mass driver cannons slung
under the wing tips, shone menacingly in the morning sunshine.
Upon seeing the Angel, Angela gasped like a lust struck teen faced with her favourite
movie star. "Ooh… nice hard ware. This thing must be a real eye-catcher at the spy of the
year show," she breathed. "Yep and she's got one kick ass sound system too," Cameron
replied.
Jumping up onto the wing Cameron set about releasing the mag-seals that kept would be
fighter jocks out of the cockpit. Once the cockpit was unsealed he jumped down and
opened up the hidden compartment that served as a weapons locker and stowed his
blaster pistol. Keeping the sword on his back he jumped strait into the cockpit. Looking
down to the ground he noticed Angela still standing on the snow next to the wing.
"Hey, you coming or what. The sooner you're in that back seat the sooner I can close up
the canopy and turn on the heater," He said gesturing to the co-pilots seat behind him.
Angela didn't need telling twice. As soon as the words left his mouth she had already
jumped onto the wing and vaulted into the seat. As the canopy hissed shut Cameron had
already begun his pre-flight procedures. As the ships systems came online he checked off
each system to the whine of the engines powering up.
"Okay lets see. Nav-systems online, Life support standing by, weapons five by five, fuel
check green, turbines to speed, atomic batteries to power," He said in a calm tone. Finally
he reached for a large wallet and selected a disk.
Spinning it on the end of his index finger he slotted it into the CD player on the main
control panel in front of him. Seconds later the thumping beats of his favourite band,
Sharon Apple started blasting out of the speakers on either side of the pilot's seat. "And
music to fly recklessly by," He shouted.
With that Cameron yanked the vertical thrust control right back and the Angel leapt off
the pad. Pointing the nose skyward he switched the forward thrust and was pushed back
into the seat as he kicked in the after burners, just as the lyrics to "Information High"
started.
Both Cameron and Angela shouted out loud in sheer enjoyment of flying fast. In a matter
of seconds they blasted past the clouds and up through the upper atmosphere. Looking
out the canopy and noticing the sky going darker and darker as they climbed Angela
realised they had already reached the stratosphere.
"Surface to atmospheric ceiling in only six point two seconds? Baby this girl's more than
just a pretty face. Turning round in his seat Cameron looked at her with more than a little
pride on his face. "Sound familiar," He said grinning devilishly. Angela blushed slightly.
Soon the stars were visible. They had reached orbit. Soon the young fox's face took on a
somewhat more serious look. Levelling out Cameron tapped a few keys on the keypad by
his left hand just below the throttle. Hearing a high-pitched whistling tone Angela looked
out the canopy window again to see the wing appear to fade out of view until only the
outline was visible.
As if sensing her next question Cameron spoke in the same calm tone he had done the
pre-flight check in. "The Angel is equipped with an active stealth device that not only
masks it from sensors, but also bends light around the hull surface rendering it virtually
invisible."
"Like I said, this must be a real eye-catcher at the spy of the year show," Angela said
giving him a sideways smile as she continued to stare out of the canopy. "It's not perfect
though. You can still see some distortion so if you're target is quick off the mark and
knows what to look for he may notice you," Cameron noted rather seriously.
"And lemme guess, you can't fire whilst cloaked," Angela added citing the old cliché
about such devices.
"Hell no I can fire whilst cloaked, but I can't hit any thing worth a damn because the light
distortion field disrupts the targeting matrix," Cameron replied matter of factly.
Settling back in his seat Cameron continued to tap keys. Soon the computer's cool,
electronic, female voice cut through the calmer tones of "Midnight" (Cameron's
favourite song). "Computer voice command system active."
Smiling slightly Cameron placed his hand back on the throttle control. "Computer,
activate long range tracking systems and pin point the position of Archam industries
Hunter class strike carrier designated Great fox. Also calculate firing solutions and
weapon calibration factors to disable target," He said calm and assured.
Quickly Angela clocked in on the name of the target. "Great Fox? You're looking for
some one on the Star Fox team?" She said in surprise.
"Yeah like I said, they'd love to meet you," Cameron said grinning evilly.
"It's in what capacity they want to meet me that's what worries me," She said in a
genuinely concerned tone.
Cameron just smiled and shook his head "I doubt these guys are as observant as I am. If
worst comes to worst then there's always plan B." "Plan B?" Angela asked.
As if to answer that question the Angel's computer chipped in again. "Firing solution
calibrated. You may fire when ready."
"You're going to try and shoot them down?" Angela exclaimed in even greater surprise.
Cameron simply shook his head and said, "No, just disable them. Great Fox has a major
power conduit running just under the hull skin below the upper port wing. A hit there will
knock out their weapons and main drives leaving them dead in space."
"And what if you miss?" Angela inquired. "I don't miss," He replied casually. "That's
pretty over-confident of you Cameron," Angela said with more than a little annoyance.
"Not really. The Angel has a highly sophisticated targeting system that combines active
scanning with intelligence data to zero in on targets weak points. Also the guns are set on
multidirectional gimbals that allow them to track their target. So you see 90% of the time
I don't miss," Cameron explained with more than a little pride in the Angel's abilities.
"Besides it shouldn't really come to that. I think I could get us in there without firing a
single shot," He said confidently.
The Ship's computer chimed in again "Target located E.T.A five minutes." "Has the
target detected us?" Cameron asked calmly.
"Negative, target has not engaged active tracking, however a single Bulldog class fighter
has been detected on an intercept course to the target," The electronic female voice
replied.
"Perfect! We can move in as he docks. Fasten your seat belt Angela, this is where it gets
interesting," He said, the evil grin having returned to his face.
Chapter 12
The Star Fox team had gathered the flight deck on Great Fox to welcome Bill aboard. Fox
had been looking forward to seeing his old best friend again. From the launch control
room that over looked the fighter bay he watched as the sleek Bulldog fighter ship
gracefully touched down. As the bay re-pressurised a mist formed as the water vapour
from the environmental systems condensed in the cold air.
Maybe if he hadn't turned away from the glass-steel window so soon he might have made
out a second, dagger like shape disturbing the mist.
Striding towards the bay door with Falco and Fara next to him he was soon joined by
Peppy and Slippy. Kat had remained on the bridge.
Despite their common friendship with Fox there had always been little love lost between
Kat and Bill. Bill's clean cut, strait and narrow, military approach to life had never really
gelled with the whimsical, carefree Kat Monroe.
As the heavy bulkhead slid up, the slightly higher air pressure inside the bay caused the
mist to billow out into the corridor. Stood in the midst of the swirling fog was the half-
obscured form of Commander Bill Grey.
The grey and green flight suit and helmet of the Cornerian defence forces made his
stocky frame appear shadowy in the dimness of the flight deck.
"Bill, it's great to see ya man," Fox said enthusiastically, as he strode up to meet his
former classmate.
It was then that he noticed the gleam of light on metal. Through the gloom of the foggy
launch bay he could make out four feet of shining steel blade held against his old friend's
neck.
He could also make out the shape of the person holding the sword. Casually hold the
katana at arms length with the point against Bill's jugular was a tall dark figure whose
eyes glowed in the darkness as the light from the main corridor reflected on them.
"I suggest you and your team mates remove the power packs from you're pistols and
throw them over here," The figure ordered, cold and calm. Despite being a good five feet
from Bill, some thing about the stranger made Fox feel that any wrong move would be
fatal. To all concerned.
The fog started to clear as the bay heated up and the condensation evaporated. Soon the
mist pulled back to reveal the darkly handsome features of a tall fox with black fur and
green eyes.
His ears were held back threateningly against his skull and his tail whipped from side to
side. "Cameron Winter I presume," Fox said trying to remain calm.
"The power packs? Now if you please?" He replied, even colder this time.
Seeing no other way out Fox reached slowly and carefully for his blaster. Holding the
weapon up so Cameron could see it, he released the catch and let the energy clip fall out
of the handgrip and clatter on the deck. Kicking it over towards the sword-wielding fox
he nodded to the others to do the same. Following their leader's example Peppy and
Slippy disarmed their guns the same way Fox had.
Falco, reckless as ever, instead tried to draw his gun in attack. However before the
blaster's firing chamber had a chance to warm up, Cameron flew across the twenty feet or
so between him and Falco. Holding the sword in both hands Cameron brought the blade
scything down slicing Falco's blaster neatly in half. Stunned by the swords sharpness to
have cut through the metal gun he was then literally stunned as Cameron brought the
sword's pommel down on top of his head in another two handed strike that knocked him
to the floor laying him out cold.
Seeing this as his chance Bill charged as he tried to tackle the one who had just used him
as a hostage. Instead he was rewarded with a jackboot in the face that also knocked him
out cold as he was sent flipping backwards to land flat on his face, his head lolling and
blood trickling from his mouth.
Fara made for one of the guns that the others had dropped. As she stood, Cameron's free
hand shot underneath the back of his coat. Pulling out one of his blasters, he jammed it
against Fara's head before she could even replace the guns clip. The high pitched whine
of the firing chamber on Cameron's pistol made Fox's heart miss a beat.
Cameron then turned back to Fox. "Well if we are done with this little show of
pointlessness, I'm sure we can get down to business," he said, completely unfazed by the
violence that had just erupted. Then to Fox's surprise Cameron spun his sword once and
then sheathed it on his back, then doing the same with the blaster he had held to Fara's
temple.
Noticing the look of confusion on Fox's face Cameron spoke again in a slightly warmer
tone "If I wanted to kill any of you then you and you're team mates would have been dust
and ice crystals by now," he said in a reassuring tone.
That revelation had quite the opposite effect. Now Fox was more ill at ease with this guy
than when he had the sword drawn.
Only Peppy smiled. In fact he had been expecting some thing like this. "You're Connor
Winter's son alright," He said more than a little amused. Cameron just looked at him with
a cold look in his eyes.
Fox finally got over his anxiety about the black fox that stood within easy striking
distance of him and spoke. "Peppy? You knew this would happen?"
"Well not exactly, but this is how me and your father met Connor Winter. He took me
hostage on the landing field when we were interviewing applicants to form the squadron
and your father hired him on the spot," Peppy replied, chuckling to him self.
"So what was the point in that?" Fox asked. This was to both Peppy and Cameron. It was
Cameron who answered. "Two reasons actually. Firstly because I never take chances
when meeting new people. Second it was to show that I can," He explained, the same
discomforting smile on his face that he had shown Jessa back at the asteroid belt
encounter.
"So can I assume you're not going to try to kill us again?" Fox said uneasily. Cameron
simply nodded and held out his hand. Breathing a sigh of relief Fox smiled and shook
Cameron's out stretched hand.
At that moment Cameron raised his left hand to his ear. Fox hadn't noticed till now but
Cameron had been wearing a com-link the whole time. "Yeah, the situation is under
control. You can come on out now," He said speaking into mouthpiece that had been
obscured by his shiny, jet black fur.
In the background Fox could hear a high pitched noise. Then every one but Cameron
gasped as they saw a fighter appear seemingly out of nowhere right on the flight deck.
Once the ship had completely de-cloaked the canopy slid back and a beautiful young
female wolf vaulted out of the cockpit.
She had soft greyish brown fur and long dark hair, with a black stripe running up her
head and down the length of her tail. She was wearing tight black leggings, a matching
crop-top and a red jacket with sleeves rolled up to the elbow and strapped to her forearm
was a light blaster pistol.
As She strode across the launch bay Fox's mouth dropped open and his eyes bulged. So
would Bill's and Falco's if they weren't already unconscious on the deck.
"So I was right, you would have to beat some body up first," She said with a wicked
smile on her lips.
"So sue me, " Cameron said indicating to Falco's prone form "The stupid burk was thick
enough to try and pull a gun on me and the other one wasn't much brighter," he
continued smiling back.
"Oh I don't mind. It just means I win our bet. And it's a bet I intend to collect on," She
purred, brushing her tail under his face.
Turning back to Fox and still smiling he introduced her. "Fox Mccloud, I would like to
introduce Angela, my partner. Angela, Fox Mcloud." Kissing Angela on the hand Fox
tried his best to be suave "Charmed," he said in his best James Bond accent. Angela just
brushed him off and waved a finger tauntingly "Nice try but I'm already spoken for," She
giggled.
Fara glared at Fox for a moment and "humped".
"Well now that we all know each other now, lets get these two up to the medical bay,"
Cameron said indicating to Bill and Falco in turn.
"Then I could do with some breakfast and a decent cup of tea," He said suddenly looking
very tired.
Every one present nodded in agreement. Fox and Peppy both hauled a body each onto
their shoulders. As the group headed down the corridor to the lift Angela tapped Cameron
on the shoulder and whispered "Partner?"
"Well I couldn't just tell them you found me on the floor of a bar last night could I. I
mean with my reputation?" he said in his best 13th Earl of Chelmsford impression.
"Hmmm, I guess I'll just have to play along then," Angela whispered darkly.
Chapter 13
Peppy, Fox, Cameron, Kat and Angela sat round a table in the commissary a few decks
up from the launch deck. Cameron sat highly contented as he sipped from a steaming
mug of hot Earl Grey.
"You know there is nothing in this galaxy quite like a good cup of tea," He said, finally
looking relaxed for the first time since he came aboard. Peppy, the only other tea drinker
on the whole ship nodded in agreement. "Puts the nerves to rights after a long day,"
Peppy added.
Fox finally spoke up and said what he had been meaning ask since Peppy had told him
about how Cameron's father had been a member of the team years ago. "So Where have
you been all these years, I'd have thought you would have followed in your fathers
footsteps and joined us long ago."
Cameron put down his tea and looked at Fox. "Well it was for a reason that I'm sure you
could understand. I simply prefer to do things my own way. My grandfather always told
me that I should be a warrior not a soldier. A soldier simply follows orders blindly and
never asks questions, a warrior thinks for him self and does what he knows is right," He
replied, calm and collected.
"Besides, working alone pays better," He said jokingly.
Fara came in at that point. "Well, Falco and Bill are going to be fine. Falco has a minor
concussion and Bill has a fractured jaw but the bonesetters I gave him should have it
healed in a day or so," she said, keeping her distance from Cameron as she sat down.
Some thing had been bothering Peppy since Cameron had come aboard. "I remember
Connor and well you're nothing like him. I mean Connor never seemed like the family
type. Why didn't he tell me he had a son?"
Cameron had that cold look in his eyes again. "You're right. My father wasn't the family
type. My father wasn't some one you'd be proud to be related to. When my mother
became pregnant with me, my dad ran almost as soon as I was born. Disgusted with his
son's actions, my grandfather took me and my mother in and raised me to be every thing
my father wasn't," he said. It was clear that he hated his father.
Then he noticed some thing. "Um, when you're friend Bill wakes up could you tell him
one of his teeth seems to be stuck to my boot," Cameron said half smiling.
Then Kat spoke up. "That's a point. Did you HAVE to rough up my poor Falco so
much?" She said rather grudgingly. Cameron smiled at this.
"Hey, he was the one who pulled a gun on me. It was there for his own fault for being
stupid," He said smirking.
"Besides you should have seen what he did to this loser in the bar last night," Angela
chipped in casting a smouldering look at Cameron.
Kat then started to grin slightly and one ear pricked up as she said, "Well I can't
complain though about what you did to Bill. Talk about a lack of thinking skills. What
you said about soldiers was bang on for him."
"Well that's enough sparkling repartee for now. Why did you come here and what does it
have to do with me?" Fox asked. Cameron picked up his mug of tea again and smiled.
"Finally we get down to brass tacks. Ok I'm assuming you know about the carrier group I
destroyed in the asteroid belt just off Corneria a week ago," He said, his cultured English
accent cool and calm as ever.
"Yeah. That's one of the reasons General Pepper brought us in," Fox replied.
Sipping his tea again Cameron narrowed his eyes and said "Well ask yourself: How does
a Volga class heavy carrier and two Azan class cruisers slip past not one but two early
warning defence nets and get within striking distance of the most strategically important
planet in this system?"
Fox thought about this question for a good few minutes, as did Peppy and Slippy.
Fox finally answered snapping his fingers "Maybe they have an active cloaking device. I
mean we've seen an automated defence weapon over Venom that had one. That way they
could remain undetected."
Slippy who had remained silent till now then spoke "Unlikely. The power requirements
to cloak a capital ship as big as that would be enormous."
Then Cameron added to this "He's right, as the physical mass of an object increases, the
power required for the light bending camouflage increases at a staggering rate. Besides I
tracked that fleet for three days through soft sleep with the active cloak and never lost
sensor contact with them."
"You knew they were coming! And you didn't warn any one?" Fox exclaimed, in both
surprise and some anger. Cameron however was unfazed by this.
Instead he spoke calm and cool as if nothing had happened. "If I had warned the C.D.F
then the fleet would have been intercepted early and the full extent of this threat would
not be apparent. Fleet ships are getting through and they are not being detected till it's too
late."
Peppy, logical and wise as ever backed him up "He's right Fox, we could have an
invasion fleet on our door step and we wouldn't even know it till the bombs started to
drop."
"I engaged the fleet when became apparent they had made it all the way to Cornerian
space unchallenged and the rest as they say is history," Cameron said before finishing his
tea.
"So how are they pulling it off then," Slippy piped up again.
Cameron smiled his discomforting smile again. "The same way I knew you were coming
and how you knew where to find me. The Cornerian defence surveillance network," He
said, cool as ice.
"Their hacking the defence nets?" Peppy exclaimed. "That or some ones cutting holes for
them to slip through," Cameron said in the same cold tone. "An inside job?" Fox added.
"That would be logical. If you were trying to conquer this system and brute force failed,
you're next option is subterfuge," Cameron explained.
"So what now?" Angela asked, a little taken back by all this.
Cameron just turned to her and grinned. "First, as long as we are still in orbit we may as
well get your ship up here, Because once that's done we're heading for the source of the
Cornerian defence net."
"Corneria here we come," Slippy added.
"Meantime I think I better give your friend back his tooth," Cameron said as he pulled
Bill's tooth out of his jackboot sole.
Chapter 14
Having dropped Angela off on the ground Cameron took off again and circled the landing
ground just outside of Freeholm. Checking his radar he smiled as he saw the prearranged
IFF signal that showed that Angela had found her ship and was air born.
"I'm in the air and ready to move out," Angela said. Her warm, soothing, contralto voice
had lost none of its seductive power. Even over the com-link. "Great, form up on me and
lets get back to Great Fox," Cameron replied brightly.
As Angela's ship pulled alongside the Angel, Cameron took in the full detail of its
design. The ship (which Angela had told him was called the Wandering Star) was an old
Aerodyne Dolphin class trade ship.
The name Dolphin suited it perfectly. Despite the great age of these ships they were still
regarded with high esteem by those who owned them. The ship had a long, elegant hull
that looked rather more like a submarine than a star ship, with a keel fin just below the
engine housing.
The dappled, turquoise hull made the whole thing look more like some kind of sea
creature. And despite being three times the Angel's size, it could probably outperform
most fighters if it had to.
It was possibly one of the most beautiful things Cameron had ever seen.
"Hmm, nice ship. I was kind of expecting some thing like this," Cameron said as the
Wandering Star pulled up close to his starboard wing.
Angela looked across at him, smiling with pride in her ship. "And why is that?" She
asked. Cameron just grinned him self and said "Logic. A drop dead gorgeous lady would
have an equally drop dead gorgeous looking ship."
"You sure know what a girl wants to hear. I'll remember to pay you back accordingly,"
Angela replied, her sultry tone of voice smouldering like the embers of a fire.
As soon as they were in orbit Cameron set about reacquiring Great Fox's position. "Okay
nav-com says on our present course we should catch up with Great Fox in fifteen minutes
if we hit full burn all the way," He said, cool and measured.
"Oh good, that should give us some time to chat," Angela replied, half sarcastically.
"Well there was some thing I wanted to ask you," Cameron said, unfazed by Angela's
apparent lack of zeal.
"Go ahead, shoot," Angela replied. Cameron's face had taken on a more serious look.
"Why did you keep you're original name? Given the number of people across this whole
quadrant who hate or fear Wolf O'donnel, I was very surprised that his sister still has his
name," He asked carefully.
Angela looked tired and she sighed a little before answering.
"I guess it was a bit foolish, given how dangerous it is to be even associated with Wolf.
Particularly in this system. But despite all the bad things he's done, he's still my brother
and I still love him. That's why I do so much business in this system. I keep thinking that
maybe he'll quit. Take his team and go work for some one else. But what ever he does I
decided I would all ways be there for him. For better or worse." Angela's voice was
mournful.
It was clear she cared about her brother. Cameron envied her though. Her brother may
have been the cruellest, most vicious pilot ever to fly, but at least she had a brother. At
least she had family.
The only family he had ever known had been his mother and grandfather. His whole life
his grandfather treated him as his own son. Every day they would get up early to do their
daily fencing exercises. As the sun rose over mountains they would duel and practice.
His mother would always be there. She would sing to keep them in rhythm, her sweet
clear voice drifting over the valley like a soft breeze.
After sword practice he and his grandfather would sit out under the trees and his
grandfather would teach him his lessons. Everyday he would learn the importance of
honour, integrity and responsibility. Every thing his father had lacked.
Then one day everything changed. On a spring day when he was five years old, a man
came. A fox, with deep red fur, carrying a sword. Little Cameron didn't know him but the
stranger seemed to have known him.
The stranger introduced himself as James and said that he had been a friend of Cameron's
father. He then told Cameron, his mother and Grandfather that his father had died. A tear
had rolled down his grandfather's cheek as James told him how his son had given his life
for another and done to first truly noble thing he had ever done.
James stayed a few months. In that time Cameron had grown to like him like an older
brother. James had told him stories of all the places he had been to. But most of all he
told him about his home system, Lylat.
But it was Cameron's mother who had grown closest to the tall red fox. Even at his
young age, Cameron could see love when he saw it. So when James and his mother left,
Cameron didn't cry. He was just glad to know that his mother would be happy.
Cameron stayed and trained with his grandfather. He heard twice more from his mother.
The first time was to say that she and James were married. The second, a year later was to
tell him that he had a new half brother.
But then he heard the worst news of his life. On his fifteenth birthday James came back.
Just as he had carried the news of Connor's death, he carried the tale of his wife's death
in an accident caused by some crazed scientist.
After that Cameron was never quite the same.
Chapter 15
It was about two days into the voyage to Corneria. Most of those two days Cameron had
spent asleep. Given that prior to coming aboard Great Fox the last time Cameron got any
sleep was when the stew at Mama Bella's had rendered him unconscious.
Angela walked into the gym to do her daily exercises. Cameron was already there.
He had divested himself of his long coat and his T-shirt but he still wore his combat
trousers, leather gloves and jackboots. He had his sword drawn and was going through a
complex training sequence. Facing him was a hologram of a tall fox, with black fur,
which apart from being four times his age and the scar over his right eye and having
narrower features looked just like Cameron.
"That must be his grandfather," She thought to her self.
At first glance it looked like Cameron was simply following a learnt pattern as he
matched the hologram strike for strike. But no, this was interactive. Cameron was
duelling with the hologram as it adapted and changed style with machine speed.
But fast as the hologram was Cameron still fought like a demon. The flash of the blade
weaving a steel storm around him, some times just centimetres away from his body.
But even the greatest swordsman has his limits. This duel had been raging for some time.
How long, Angela had no idea. But given Cameron's excellent physical condition it must
have been a long time.
Sweat poured off him. His sleek jet-black fur clung to him like a Lycra suit, matted and
soaked. Even through the cold whistling of the blade she could hear him panting,
desperate for oxygen to keep him fighting. Then he lost his footing. Exsausted he
stumbled to one knee, the hologram of his father didn't even break stride as it brought its
broadsword down between Cameron's shoulders and then disappeared.
Cameron stayed there, crumpled onto his knees, panting and spluttering as his body
recovered. The only show that there was any strength left in his body was in how his
hand was still clenched around his sword's handle. The holographic sparring computer
chimed and then announced the statistics of this bout. " Difficulty rating 10.Time 2hours
52minutes 29seconds. Strikes scored 3. Strikes taken 1. Swordsmanship rating 89%."
Not having the benefit of seeing Cameron fight a real duel, Angela didn't know whether
or not to be impressed. She walked over to the young knight and gently laid a hand on his
shoulder. Suddenly Cameron's limp body burst into motion. In a blur he stood and swung
his sword in a deadly arc towards Angela's neck.
The blade stopped only centimetres from striking. Cameron's eyes were blazing with an
internal fire. That wild, furious look was one Angela had seen before in the single eye of
her brother, Wolf.
As if in realisation of what he had almost done, Cameron dropped the sword. As the
sword fell from his grasp the burning look left his eyes.
Cameron sank to his knees again. "I'm sorry," he said softly. Angela knelt down next to
him and smiled. "Don't worry about it. I don't think I could go on like that for nearly
three hours with out feeling a little crazy," She said reassuringly.
"I still have to apologise. It was a trained reflex, bred into me from generations of
Tiirshak. By now I should have developed the self mastery to control my reactions," He
said in the same soft tone.
"Don't beat yourself up. You've got me to do that for you now," Angela said gigglingly.
Cameron finally looked up and smiled. Seeing his smile Angela reached over and kissed
him.
"So like what's with the sparring hologram of you're dad. I mean I've heard of fighting
your fathers ghost but I've never met any one who actually took it literally," Angela
asked.
Looking over to the sparring computer Cameron said "Its kind of a tradition in my
family, we would spar with their parents to keep in shape. Since my father is dead and my
grandfather is on the other side of the galaxy, this is the next best thing. It's mostly an
exercise in endurance."
Angela's face took on its smouldering, wicked look and the evil smile crossed her lips.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to see for my self how well you've worked on that
endurance," She said seductively.
Cameron's eyes widened as Angela strode off to the showers, stripping off her already
rather skimpy black crop top. One arm across her body, the other beckoning to Cameron
she turned to half face him. "Well, you coming or not?" She said duskily.
On the deck above, Falco was in the galley getting more ice for the lump on the top of his
head, that Cameron had given him during his rather dramatic entrance. Even after two
days his head still ached. A hand reached out and pinched him on the backside. The
shock made him stand strait up and bang his already sore head on the inside of the
freezer.
"How's the head sugar?" Kat asked good-naturedly. Rubbing his head Flaco glared at
her. "A lot worse than it was thirty seconds ago," He grumbled.
Kat was wearing pair of blue denim cut offs with thigh length boots, a Wight t-shit with
the arms cut of and knotted above her midriff and a black leather jacket. Strapped across
her back in a manor similar to Cameron's sword was her long-rifle. In addition to being
an ace pilot Kat was also credited as an expert sniper.
Although Kat flirted with almost every man she met it was common knowledge that she
was madly in love with Falco. How ever it was not common knowledge whether or not
Falco returned her love. If so then it was a love/hate relationship.
"Sorry bout that hon. I really am. It could be worse. That loser Bill still can't talk yet. His
jaw still hurts so badly he has to write note to communicate
e. You weren't too badly damaged," She said, half-apologising and half-flirting again.
"Why are you still here Kat? That Winter guy turned out to be on our side so we don't
need back up. Why haven't you left to go bother some body else?" Falco enquired
grouchily.
Turning her back on him and crossing her arms and "Humphing" at him slightly Kat
turned to leave.
"Since when have ah needed a reason to go where ah like, or in this case stay where ah
like. Particularly when that "Winter guy" happens to be a handsome cultured gentleman.
In that light, why ah bother with you is quite a mystery to me now," She said indignantly.
As she stormed out the weight of Falco's actions hit him. "In the face of a scantily clad
fox, Dixie chick, I just have to tell her to piss off and leave me alone," He thought to him
self and slapping his hand to his forehead. Wincing as this added to his already chronic
headache.
Soon however his attention was drawn to something else. Walking over to the wall he
activated the intercom system. "Hey slip, you there?" he said as he called in on the
bridge.
"Yeah, what's up?" Slippy returned.
"I thought you fixed the ships plumbing last week," Falco said sounding slightly
annoyed.
"I thought I did too," Slippy replied, more than a little confused. "Well how come we got
that banging noise from the pipes again?"
To Be Continued…