The Exquisite had just entered orbit
around Corneria and was preparing to land.
"Attention folks, this is your
captain speaking. We are preparing to
land on Corneria. Strap yourselves in
because we may encounter turbulence ahead. Our destination is Coastal City. In about six months, our company will reopen its newly remodeled landing
pad in Corneria City. So anyway, sit
back, and prepare for landing," said the captain. In his cabin, the hooded figure sat in his seat and looked out of
the window at the oncoming planet before holding up the empty canister of X-7.
"When you bring something into
existence, you'd better be prepared for the consequences of that decision,"
said the figure. The figure put the
canister in its box and strapped in as the ship started rocking through the
atmosphere. In the cabin next to the
figure, the passenger inside started coughing uncontrollably.
"Are you okay?" asked one of his
buddies.
"I hope so, but I'd better see the
doctor when we land," said the coughing passenger. The ship meanwhile, rocked and shifted from side to side before
righting itself.
"How long until we reach Coastal
City?" asked the captain.
"Ten minutes," said the pilot.
"That about does it for turbulence,"
said a technician.
"This is your captain, you are free
to move about your cabin. We'll be
landing soon," said the captain. The
robed figure moved around his cabin and took out a map of Coastal City. The figure took out a marker and put a few
circles around important spots for the release of some more of Viral Weapon
X-7. The circles were over a nearby
river, the water treatment plant, and then the Mantia Monument that honored all
who had died in the fight against the deadly bio-weapon. Then the ship flew over the city before
landing on the ground.
"Thank you for flying Exquisite
Intersystem Travels. Have a nice time
on Corneria and have a good trip home. Exquisite Intersystem Travels, the best in the business," said the
captain. The robed figure listened to
the message and laughed.
"Not when it's revealed that several
people were infected with a deadly virus," said the figure. Then the figure stood up and walked over to
the bed. The figure took out the X-7 box
and opened it up. The figure pressed a
button on it, and the canisters of X-7 were lowered deeper into the box. Then the robed figure put a suitcase on top
of the canisters and sealed it shut. The figure pulled out the handle on the side of the box and wheeled it
out of the room like a piece of luggage. The figure finally entered the hallway and followed the crowd of people
who were headed towards the exits to the outside on that level. The figure walked towards the exit ramp and
entered the ramp towards the Exquisite Travels building. Then the figure entered the main building
and headed for the elevator. The
elevator went to the ground level and then the robed figure got out. The figure then walked up to the rental car
office.
"I reserved a car," said the
figure. The worker and duty looked up
at the robed figure inquisitively and then opened up a catalog.
"Name?" asked the worker.
"Don Rwe," said the robed
figure. The worker flipped threw the
catalog before coming to the name.
"Okay, you reserved the L-7," said
the worker.
"That is correct," said the
figure. The worker got the keys and
handed them to the figure.
"It is in lot 7," said the
worker. The robed figure went first to
the bathroom and changed into more civilian clothing.
"Much better," said Don. Don walked out to the parking lot.
"May I help you with your box?"
asked the valet. Don looked at him and
then at the box.
"Handle it very carefully, it's
deadly," said Don.
"Of course it is sir," said the
valet sarcastically. Don just
sighed. Then they reached the L-7. The valet opened up the trunk and put the
box inside.
"Bye," said the valet. Don closed the door and took off. Don zoomed along the roadway looking at the
buildings and the peace and prosperity before shaking his head in disgust.
"You people make me sick," said Don
headed towards the water treatment plant.
Coastal City Hospital: A siren was
heard as an ambulance rumbled to a halt. A doctor rushed up to the hospital.
"What's wrong?" asked the doctor.
"Unknown, a whole group of people
just suddenly started writhing in pain at a local food joint," said one of the
ambulance personnel.
"Let's get them into the ER," said
the doctor. The patients were rushed to
the ER rooms and strapped down.
"They sure feel light," observed one
of the workers.
"Run an X-ray," said the
doctor. An image started displaying
itself on the nearby wall of all of the people.
"What the heck! Is this right?" asked the doctor. Instead of seeing all of the inner organs,
several were missing.
"Where are their organs?" another
doctor asked.
"Look!" exclaimed a worker. On the screen it showed different parts of
the patients bodies dissolving.
"This is too weird!" said one of the
workers.
"Get a sample from their bodies and
send it off to genetic examination stat," said one of the doctors. A genetic sample was taken and was
immediately shipped off for genetic testing.
"Whatever this is, it's dissolving
their insides," said the doctor.
"Is it contagious?" asked a worker.
"I hope not," said one of the
doctors.
Water Treatment Plant: "And this is
the cleaning tank," said the tour guide. Don and a group of people walked along some catwalks above the cleaning
tank.
"This tank is state of the art and
can filter everything out that's put in into it," said the guide.
"Everything?" someone asked.
"Believe me everything," responded
the guide. Then they reached a murky
tank.
"Here's our water that will be
purified. Feel free to put into it
whatever you want, I guarantee you won't be drinking any of it," said the
guide. A couple of the tourists threw
in some pieces of trash and food. Don
took out an X-7 canister and poured the contents into the tank before walking
after the tour.
"They really should rethink their
policies because the X-7 was designed to pass through any filtration unit,"
said Don with a smile.
Genetic Testing Room: A worker ran
in with the genetic samples and handed it to the chief tester.
"I don't know what this is, but it
dissolves inner tissue," said the worker before running back to the ER. The scientist picked up one of the samples
and put it into a microscope.
"Let's see what you are my friend,
since working in the bio-weapons division for the Cornerian Army, I doubt
you'll be un-curable," said the scientist. The scientist zoomed into maximum magnification. The scientist's eyes went wide open as it
saw what was on the microscope. He then
pushed the microscope away.
"I must be seeing things," said the
doctor laughing nervously. He looked
again and pushed the microscope away and started hyperventilating.
"The X-7, oh my," said the scientist
about to pass out.
"No, must maintain control,
control," said the scientist. The
scientist reached for the phone and dialed in a number.
"Cornerian Army," said the phone.
"Get me General Pepper immediately!"
yelled the scientist.
General Pepper's office: Jake was in
the room hitting a paddleball while talking to General Pepper.
"So like I said, your crops are
being destroyed by neutrinos from what was once Sector Z," said Jake.
"Interesting," said Pepper. Then the phone started ringing.
"Pepper," said Pepper.
"Urgent call for you sir, a
scientist Monroe at Community General Hospital of Coastal City," said the
secretary. Pepper looked up at Jake.
"I have an urgent call," said
Pepper.
"Alright, I'll go talk to the
secretary of the environment," said Jake. Jake turned and walked out of the office.
"What's up Monroe?" asked Pepper.
"I need a secure line," said
Monroe. Pepper pressed a button on the
phone.
"Secure. Monroe you sound scared," said Pepper.
"I am. I've just seen a ghost. I don't know how to say this nicely so I'll just say it. I just received samples from a group of
patients in our ER. The samples contain
pieces of Viral Weapon X-7," said Monroe.
"You're joking," said Pepper
disbelieving Monroe.
"I assure you general, I'm dead
serious," said Monroe.
"How could it be X-7? You and I both know that virus whipped
itself out on the prison facility," said Pepper.
"This is Grade-A X-7," said Monroe.
"I'm coming over myself," said
Pepper.
"It's no good, the sample just
burned itself out and the patients just vanished as well, that means that the
virus was at the end of its life span," said Monroe.
"Then it's been in their systems for
at least a week," said Pepper.
"Yes, and according to latest info,
people are turning up all over the city," said Pepper.
"Anything in common among them?"
asked Pepper.
"I was hoping that the army could
find out," said Monroe.
"Right. Remember, don't drink or anything," said Pepper.
"That much is certain," said Monroe.
"Now then, we need to hire someone
who's third party and wouldn't leak the story," said Pepper.
"I don't know anyone who would. However, they would have to be vaccinated,"
said Monroe.
"And the president. How many shots do we have?" asked Pepper.
"Three," said Monroe.
"Where are they?" Pepper asked.
"Vault 12," responded Monroe.
"Let me try and contact the Star Fox
team," said Pepper. Pepper turned to
the comm. system and activated it.
"Star Fox team," said Pepper. The system then reached the Star Fox team
comm. system.
"This is the Star Fox team, we're
currently on vacation and there's no way to reach us," said the comm. system.
"Dang! They're AWOL," said Pepper.
"Now what," Monroe said. Pepper looked at the security cams and saw
Jake and the secretary of the environment.
"I know who to get," said
Pepper. Pepper hit a button on the
phone and in the secretary of the environment's office the phone rang.
"Yes," said the secretary.
"I want you and Jake Thomas in my
office stat," said Pepper. The
secretary and Jake left the room.
"I found two candidates. They'll have to be inoculated," said Pepper.
"Yeah, then the president," said
Monroe.
Mantia Monument Building: After saturating the river with a can of X-7, Don had made his
way into the monument. All over the
building were pictures, sculptures, and eyewitness accounts of Mantia's attacks
both during the time of the original Star Fox team and the new one. Don stood over a balcony alone and popped
open another canister. Then Don poured
its contents over the people below.
"The memory of a killer should be honored with
death," said Don.
Pepper's Office: The door opened and Jake and the secretary of defense (named Lara Jade)
walked in.
"Sit down, I've got a story to tell
you. It begins during Andross' attempt
to conquer the Lylat System," began Pepper.