Chapter 3:
With a detached, unemotional look, the two leading escorts stopped in front of a large metal corridor.
"Your wingmen await you in this room, Mr. O'Donnell."
A condescending smirk flashed on Wolf's face. He tilted his head to the side, beckoning the subordinates to be gone. He stood, waiting as the cold, synchronized metal clinks of their boots gradually grew fainter and fainter. Have my trust, heh, my ass, Wolf laughed to himself in grim humor. Team Starwolf had inside matters to discuss; Wolf made sure that no one, not even his new ally, kept tabs on their affairs. No, he could not trust Scales. Something about the general's explanation seemed awkward and dubious. The logic presented to him was porous; why would Andross hide an alliance of such importance from him?
At last, Wolf cast a glance over his shoulders; the impassive reptilian escorts were out of sight. He tapped a button, and the interlocked metal slabs slowly hissed open. Leon, Pigma, and Andrew sat along the walls of the docking bay. They halted their previous conversation and lifted their eyes up to Wolf, seemly unfazed - as if half expecting to see him. Unlike his sentimental former friend Fox McCloud, Wolf saw little value in fully understanding and trusting the people around him. He never believed in strong ties among his team; they were merely brought together by a common goal, and a common employer. The ways of a Venomian rogue mercenary were lonely. Nevertheless, Wolf was surprised that team Starwolf was reunited again, under such circumstances.
"What took you so long, Wolf?" Leon demanded shrewdly.
"Spare me the tearful reunion. So, they got all of you rounded up here, huh?"
"Obviously," Andrew grunted, his arms folded in front of his chest; the same, unchanging obnoxious air hung about him.
"This is no joke Andrew. One more bratty word from you and you will get your share of consequences," Wolf reprimanded in a snarling tone, one clawed finger pointing threateningly at the impudent ape; he never liked Andrew, but he recruited him nonetheless, just because he was Andross' nephew.
Andrew rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. "Just a thought."
"How did Scales find you all?" Wolf continued gravely, hushing his voice so as not to be overheard. A great air of urgency could almost be smelled in his usually confident, disdainful tone.
"Why, didn't the general explain to you himself? It was Andross' will to have him take charge afterwards. He provided all the technology to the Venomian Empire…" Pigma replied, bemused by Wolf's unexplained anxiety.
"No – not that. I mean… what evidence did he present to you to prove that he is, indeed, who he claims himself to be? Surely, Andross had never spoken a word of him. Any idea, Andrew? After all, you are Andross' relative."
"Nope. Not a word about that general…"
Wolf's amber eyes gleamed with mixed apprehension and suspicion. His brow furrowed and his facial muscles tensed as he looked away, pondering. The others stared intently at their worried captain, waiting for a reaction, but silence stretched on. Amidst the awkward stillness, the intercom rang as loud and as clear as ever. The abrupt sound jolted Wolf out of his thinking.
"So, Wolf O'Donnell, do the new spacecrafts please you?"
"Yes, most certainly," he answered in a feigned confident voice, looking around furtively to check for security cameras. There wasn't a square inch on the flagship that wasn't being monitored. Turning around, Wolf whispered into his wingmen's ears.
"Appear to fully trust the general, but keep an eye on the him… he awaits our reply."
With that, he walked out of the room to give the general the team's answers. The three quickly sprang up and followed, tagging behind.
With a detached, unemotional look, the two leading escorts stopped in front of a large metal corridor.
"Your wingmen await you in this room, Mr. O'Donnell."
A condescending smirk flashed on Wolf's face. He tilted his head to the side, beckoning the subordinates to be gone. He stood, waiting as the cold, synchronized metal clinks of their boots gradually grew fainter and fainter. Have my trust, heh, my ass, Wolf laughed to himself in grim humor. Team Starwolf had inside matters to discuss; Wolf made sure that no one, not even his new ally, kept tabs on their affairs. No, he could not trust Scales. Something about the general's explanation seemed awkward and dubious. The logic presented to him was porous; why would Andross hide an alliance of such importance from him?
At last, Wolf cast a glance over his shoulders; the impassive reptilian escorts were out of sight. He tapped a button, and the interlocked metal slabs slowly hissed open. Leon, Pigma, and Andrew sat along the walls of the docking bay. They halted their previous conversation and lifted their eyes up to Wolf, seemly unfazed - as if half expecting to see him. Unlike his sentimental former friend Fox McCloud, Wolf saw little value in fully understanding and trusting the people around him. He never believed in strong ties among his team; they were merely brought together by a common goal, and a common employer. The ways of a Venomian rogue mercenary were lonely. Nevertheless, Wolf was surprised that team Starwolf was reunited again, under such circumstances.
"What took you so long, Wolf?" Leon demanded shrewdly.
"Spare me the tearful reunion. So, they got all of you rounded up here, huh?"
"Obviously," Andrew grunted, his arms folded in front of his chest; the same, unchanging obnoxious air hung about him.
"This is no joke Andrew. One more bratty word from you and you will get your share of consequences," Wolf reprimanded in a snarling tone, one clawed finger pointing threateningly at the impudent ape; he never liked Andrew, but he recruited him nonetheless, just because he was Andross' nephew.
Andrew rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. "Just a thought."
"How did Scales find you all?" Wolf continued gravely, hushing his voice so as not to be overheard. A great air of urgency could almost be smelled in his usually confident, disdainful tone.
"Why, didn't the general explain to you himself? It was Andross' will to have him take charge afterwards. He provided all the technology to the Venomian Empire…" Pigma replied, bemused by Wolf's unexplained anxiety.
"No – not that. I mean… what evidence did he present to you to prove that he is, indeed, who he claims himself to be? Surely, Andross had never spoken a word of him. Any idea, Andrew? After all, you are Andross' relative."
"Nope. Not a word about that general…"
Wolf's amber eyes gleamed with mixed apprehension and suspicion. His brow furrowed and his facial muscles tensed as he looked away, pondering. The others stared intently at their worried captain, waiting for a reaction, but silence stretched on. Amidst the awkward stillness, the intercom rang as loud and as clear as ever. The abrupt sound jolted Wolf out of his thinking.
"So, Wolf O'Donnell, do the new spacecrafts please you?"
"Yes, most certainly," he answered in a feigned confident voice, looking around furtively to check for security cameras. There wasn't a square inch on the flagship that wasn't being monitored. Turning around, Wolf whispered into his wingmen's ears.
"Appear to fully trust the general, but keep an eye on the him… he awaits our reply."
With that, he walked out of the room to give the general the team's answers. The three quickly sprang up and followed, tagging behind.