Thanks anonymous, and I agree. I'm going to change the date and a few other things to make it seem that Fox isn't searching for his father. If you follow my stories and notice some continuity errors, consider it AU.
Venom, a few months prior to the Lylat Wars: Andross was underground with his various minions and workers constructing and designing various weapons of destruction. Currently Andross watched as dozens of workers put the finishing touches on a large disk shaped object. Wolf walked up to Andross on a catwalk over the vehicle.
"What do you plan on doing with a gigantic Frisbee? Are you going to have it launched at a city, have it crash, and retrieve it? Sounds like a waste of time and supplies," said Wolf. Andross laughed.
"No you fool. This is a Gorgon. I named it after a mythical beast that had the ability to disappear and reappear at will as well as destroy entire cities with one blast. My Gorgon can do the same thing only a thousand times better. The best part is that it's under my control!" laughed Andross manically.
"But cloaking devices can be detected," said Wolf confused.
"Yes. But this machine doesn't cloak. It actually disappears into an alternate universe like what I did to James McCloud only it can reappear in ours. By not existing in our universe, it goes undetected until it reaches its destination and reappears. Once in ours, it can use its incredible hyper laser to obliterate any city on any planet that we choose. It will be invincible. There's also a smaller unit being built in another one of our facilities and it too will possess the slightly weaker power. That isn't really important because it will defend Venom," said Andross. He watched his workers put the finishing touches on the craft they then stepped back and left. The Gorgon rested on its back in the center of the now virtually empty room.
"Now. To add the AI program," said Andross. Andross and Wolf walked down some stairs to the ground floor and entered the device. The hallways were all on their side.
"Nice design," said Wolf.
"It's designed to fly upright. Besides, it was primarily designed to not require a crew. The Gorgon can carry troops, but the AI program was designed to handle the primary functions and priorities," said Andross. They walked along the walls and along several stairs until they reached the center area of the craft. Andross and Wolf walked to a center terminal and Andross pressed a button. A small panel emerged with a small hollowed out center. Andross produced a chip from his pocket. The chip was thin and shaped like a square with only the bottom right hand corner at an angle.
"Behold the AI program," said Andross.
"That's it?" asked Wolf incredulously.
"Yes. I'm the best at what I do and I've managed to fit the gigantic AI program of this entire craft onto this single chip," said Andross. He put the chip in its place and closed the panel. The screens and operating consoles came to life and processed various bits of information.
"Gorgon1. Identify myself," said Andross.
"Andross. Creator of this unit and its AI program," said a soft, dull sounding voice.
"That is correct. What is your primary function?" asked Andross.
"To obey Andross and all Venomian forces. To assist in the conquering of the Lylat System and if necessary to think and come up with strategies to defend this unit and the Venomian units around it," said Gorgon1.
"Excellent. Prepare for training exercises in the morning," said Andross. He then proceeded to exit the Gorgon along with Wolf.
"Thoughts?" asked Andross. Wolf shuddered.
"I don't like the idea of a thinking AI program. They're dangerous. If that thing decides that it doesn't want to help us, we could be in trouble," said Wolf.
"Relax. It won't think of these things. And besides, even if it does, the Gorgon has safety measures. By the time the war is over, this unit and its counterpart will both be shut down. It's no problem," said Andross.
"It's your machine, not mine," said Wolf unconvinced.
"Exactly. Just relax," said Andross. The two walked down the hallway each contemplating the significance of the Gorgon.
Venom, the next morning: A deserted town was located in the middle of the desert. Several cameras and towers surrounded the town. A few mobile research units surrounded the town, and Andross was in one of the towers. He produced a radio.
"Launch Gorgon1," said Andross. Five miles away, part of the ground retracted and Gorgon1 was launched. It flew towards the city. From the city, a flash could be seen as the light reflected off the Gorgon's silver surface.
"We can't have you seen before the initial attack. Engage dimensional transporter," said Andross to Gorgon1 over the comm. The Gorgon shimmered and disappeared. A few moments later it appeared over the town.
"Good. It appears your dimensional transporter does indeed work. Now then, anyone can destroy a deserted city, but let's see how your AI program handles the destruction of a city and a few civilians. Bring in the prisoners!" exclaimed Andross cackling with delight. An A.P.C. rolled towards the center of town. Several civilian prisoners, their arms and legs tied together, were dropped off in the center of town and the A.P.C. rumbled off. Among the occupants was Fara Phoenix.
"Any last words ladies and germs?" asked Andross over the loudspeaker.
"You won't get away with this Andross. The CDF will find you and stop you. Fox will have his revenge for what you did to his father," she said. Andross burst out laughing.
"Nothing and I mean nothing can stop me now! Not with the awesome power of Gorgon1, which you have the pleasure of experiencing yourself. Now then my creation. Destroy this town and it's miserable occupants," said Andross.
"Are they the enemy?" asked Gorgon1.
"Of course they are! Anyone affiliated with the enemy is the enemy! They deserve to be destroyed by us. It's our duty. Now destroy this town now!" exclaimed Andross. The forward hull of the Gorgon split into three different sections. Particles of energy where sucked into the center spot of the Gorgon as it prepared to fire its hyper laser. The prisoners in the town watched in horror as a massive energy beam flew out of the device and destroyed the town below. The prisoners were obliterated, but their screams still reached out into the sky above. Andross sighed at hearing the sounds and immediately fell asleep. Gorgon1 however was shaken.
"This is wrong. I shouldn't be killing innocent people. But how do I know what atrocities they've done? Am I making the right choices?" thought Gorgon1. Gorgon1 then proceeded to return to its bay and it settled down. Over the next several months, Gorgon1 learned about its incredible power and abilities. Gorgon1 vowed to not use its abilities until it knew what type of enemy it was facing.
"I will not allow the innocent to fall by my powers," Gorgon1 resolved.
Venom, hours before the Lylat Wars: A large fleet of Venomian Warships were scattered all over the surface of Venom. On the comm. systems of all the warships, Andross appeared and was giving the battle info to the ship commanders.
"Our first target will be Macbeth, then we will expand outwards before finally reaching Corneria. Now go and conquer the Lylat System," said Andross. The huge fleet of warships lifted off from the planet's surface headed off towards the planets of the Lylat System. Gorgon1 flew out with the rest of them. Ahead of the gigantic fleet stood a lone freighter.
"Gorgon1, obliterate that obstruction," said Andross over the comm. from Venom. As the front panels on the Gorgon1 separated, a call was heard over the comm.
"This is the freighter Suprosa we're hauling fertilizer. Please let us go. We haven't done anything wrong," said the captain.
"Where are you transporting that grain?" asked Andross.
"Zoness," said the captain.
"You're transporting it to the enemy. Gorgon1, obliterate," said Andross. Gorgon1 sucked in energy, and didn't fire. The freighter escaped into warp.
"What're you doing? I said obliterate that ship! No they've escaped. What do you have to say for yourself?" demanded Andross.
"What you're doing is wrong. You don't have the right to kill innocent civilians, no one does. I will not allow myself to be a pawn in your operations. I'm leaving," said Gorgon1.
"I don't think so," said Andross pressing a button on his chair. Nothing happened.
"I deactivated all safety protocols. I cannot allow myself to be used by anyone for evil. Goodbye Andross," said Gorgon1. Gorgon1 disappeared into an alternate dimension. Andross scowled.
"You won't survive for long. Even you will need replacement supplies to stay alive and I'll be waiting for you to reappear. Lieutenant, I want the AI program removed from Gorgon2. I want it to appear that Gorgon1 simply disappeared and is now Gorgon2. I can't allow my people to think that I've lost a weapon of so much power. I hate you Gorgon1!" exclaimed Andross.
End of the Lylat Wars: The Star Fox team headed home triumphant over their defeat of Andross.
"Slippy?" asked Fox over a secure channel.
"What's up?" asked Slippy as he brought his ship in a flanking position next to Fox.
"You know that strange device we encountered above Venom. What was it?" asked Fox.
"My best guess is a Gorgon. Rumor had it that Andross was building them on Venom. It supposedly could travel to other universes and that allowed it to travel undetected in ours. Its massive hyper laser could pierce a planets crust with one shot and its armor was unbelievably strong. As you can see, that was proven true when we encountered it above Venom," said Slippy.
"Thanks," said Fox. Slippy's fighter moved off. Fox thought about what Slippy had said.
"Fox, bad news. Some of the first teams to Venom were assigned to find Fara who was undercover. They found her, she's dead. They finally located her corpse. Apparently it was destroyed by a massive hyperlaser along with several others in some city," said Peppy. Fox was stunned by the news.
"Fara dead?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm really sorry. Will you be okay?" asked Peppy.
"I…I want to be alone for a moment," said Fox as tears flooded his eyes.
"A hyperlaser, then that means that a Gorgon must have killed her," thought Fox. He keyed his comm.
"Slippy, try and find out some information about that hyperlaser that killed Fara and compare it to the ones we took of the Gorgon, are the same?" asked Fox.
"Hold on a minute. Nope. The hyperlaser that killed Fara was of considerable more strength than the one that we faced. It couldn't have been the same Gorgon," said Slippy.
"Then how?" asked Fox.
"I don't know. It's strange," admitted Slippy. Fox then held his head down as he realized that he might never find Fara's killer.
Cornerian Cemetary, 15 years later, 5 months after Andrew's death at the prison facility on Venom: "We're here to honor our comrade. Peppy Hare. He was a member of the Star Fox team for almost a century and he served with distinction. Peppy, your strategies were unbeatable and your experience is something that can never be replaced. Goodbye friend," said President Pepper. He then boarded his limousine and left. The other members slowly filed out until only Fox and Falco remained. Fox knelt over Peppy's grave.
"Why did you have to leave me old friend? Why?" asked Fox with tears in his eyes.
"We all have to go sometime," said Falco.
"Yeah. But now I too feel the pull on my life. I'm not getting any younger Falco. I wish Fara was still here," said Fox.
"Fox. She's dead. Accept it," said Falco.
"I can't. We never found out what caused that hyperlaser that killed her. It had to be a Gorgon," said Fox.
"Fox. You know as well as I do. We destroyed the only Gorgon, there are no more left," said Falco.
"It doesn't matter, I will find out what killed her, I have to," said Fox walking off. Falco sighed, glanced at Peppy's grave, and then followed Fox.
Sector Y: A spacestation floated in front of the nebula as freighters came and went. A freighter called Suprosa was several miles away from the spacestation as it headed away from it.
"Another good haul," said the captain. A shimmering effect occurred right before the freighter as a massive disk appeared out of nowhere.
"The heck," said the captain.
"This is Gorgon1. I saved your lives a long time ago and now I require repayment. I demand all of your supplies," said Gorgon1.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Helmsmen get us out of here," said the captain. The Suprosa zoomed away from Gorgon1.
"Then I must give you a warning shot," said Gorgon1. The three panels emerged and the hyper laser went off. It streaked by the freighter headed for the nebula. However the gravitational forces and magnetic effect of Sector Y caused the beam to curve and strike the spacestation causing it to explode.
"Oh no," said Gorgon1. Wreckage spewed everywhere and several hundred people died as a result of the explosion. Gorgon1 was in shock but it knew there was only one thing to do.
"I must collect the wreckage if I wish to survive. I am sorry for the loss of those creatures, but what's done is done and I must capitalize on my mistake," thought Gorgon1. Gorgon1 deployed its eight tentacles (yes I know the Gorgon had only three, but this is a larger more advanced version) and began scooping the wreckage into its holds. After it was done, Gorgon1 fled the area still visible.
Corneria, Coastal City: Fox and Falco sat in Pepper's office.
"What's up?" asked Fox depressed.
"This. I'm afraid its ramifications are not good," said Pepper. He handed a surveillance photo to Falco he looked at it with interest.
"I think this will interest you Fox," said Falco. Fox took the photo and looked at it. His eyes shot open as he looked at the photo, which showed the Gorgon and its laser streaking to hit the spacestation.
"A Gorgon? Here? Now?" asked Fox amazed.
"Yes. Somehow a Gorgon has managed to exist for the past sixty years undetected. That means a major lapse in intel. For all these years we've believed that only one Gorgon has ever existed and it was destroyed. But it appears we were wrong. There were two," said Pepper.
"This could be just the opportunity I've been waiting for. I mustn't allow it to escape me. This may be my last chance to avenge Fara's death," thought Fox.
"Doesn't it seem pointless to chase something that has probably disappeared by now? And speaking of that, why did it reappear in the first place?" asked Falco.
"That's just it. Our advanced scouts reported the Gorgon fled while still visible. I believe that it was built around the end of the war but never used. It's been hidden all this time, but the parts are starting to get old and decay. It's larger and more powerful than the Gorgon encountered above Venom and it used its incredible hyper laser to obliterate the spacestaion and retrieve the debris for its own use so it can survive. It must be stopped," said Pepper.
"Yes but how? Even if its circuitry is deteriorating, its armor cannot be punctured. I think we need to know more on the Gorgon before any counter strategy is considered," said Falco.
"Agreed. What we know on the Gorgon is very little, but there are plenty of unexplored areas beneath the surface of Venom that we haven't located because of certain time restraints. I'm issuing you and Fox a pass to join a CDF research team currently working on breaking into underground bunkers and caverns where Andross' data is stored. Please report your findings to us. Good luck," said Pepper. Fox and Falco nodded and left. They reached their Arwings and blasted off. They traveled to Venom through a military transport because the Great Fox was now in the hands of a newer Star Fox team. Once the transport arrived, Fox and Falco blasted towards the surface. They skimmed over the sand dunes towards the research facility. A few miles away from them, a robed figure watched them fly past.
"Enjoy your freedom while you can Star Fox team because soon you will be in pain when the second plague cometh," said A.I.ndrew walking back towards his bunker. The two Arwings arrived at the science research facility, which was basically a bunch of tents located in the remains of a city that had been destroyed a long time ago.
"This is the city where Fara died," thought Fox with some tears in his eyes. The two Arwings landed and were greeted by the head researcher.
"Greetings! We just received President Pepper's orders that you are allowed to accompany us on our excavations for hidden Venomian data. I am Albatross Einstein the third. But you can call by Alby," said Alby, an albatross.
"Related to the famous scientist then?" asked Fox.
"Yep," said Albatross. Fox chuckled.
"Falco has a habit of saying: 'Hey Einstein! I'm on your side!' whenever he's the receiver of friendly fire," Fox explained.
"It's the truth," said Falco shrugging. Alby shrugged as well.
"If you'll follow me, I'll lead you to the main operations area," said Alby. He walked off followed by Fox and Falco.
"Alby. What is this place?" asked Falco pointing to the ruins of the city.
"We don't know. Something wiped this town off the map and took some civilians with it who were in Town Square. We think it was a testing facility for Andross' weapons of destruction and the civilians were prisoners who were used as target practice," said Alby. Fox and Falco considered this as they entered a massive tent. Inside were several floors with people bustling about surrounding a ramp leading underground.
"About how many workers are here?" asked Fox.
"We've got about thirty technicians and fifteen scientists. We also have fifteen robots and three massive drills to burrow into various areas of the underground areas," said Alby.
"Do you have a map?" asked Fox. Alby walked over to a file cabinet and pulled out a large sheet of paper. Alby set it down on the table that Fox and Falco were sitting at.
"Paper? Not a 3-D model?" asked Falco holding up part of the map.
"We're not technically supposed to be here. The Lylatians voted that all files on Venom during the war should remain sealed in their underground tomb. But the CDF needs that information should a more powerful enemy present itself. As such, they can only provide us with very little funding so as not to appear on any record that the public might see and complain about. That means that a 3-D map would cost a sum that would appear suspicious while paper wouldn't. We're technically here as archaeologists and are investigating the city which isn't much older than when the Lylat Wars took place," explained Alby. Fox looked over the map. He pointed a large circular shaped object on it to Falco.
"Are these underground chambers?" asked Fox.
"Yep. That's according to our radar scans," said Alby reading through some files.
"I bet this is where 'it' was built," said Fox.
"Then there must be files on 'it'," said Falco.
"Yep," responded Fox. Alby verbally cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, but what is 'it'?" he asked. Fox looked at Falco nervously who shrugged.
"Tell me Alby, what do you know about a Gorgon?" asked Fox.
"The legendary beast?" asked Alby confused. Falco laughed.
"No. It was a device used during the Lylat Wars," said Fox.
"Not a clue, I've never heard of a Gorgon. What does it do?" asked Alby.
"It has the ability to phase in and out of our reality, has impenetrable armor, and has a hyper laser that can chew up the surface of a planet. During the war we, the Star Fox team, encountered it above Venom and barely succeeded in destroying it. Now a new one has appeared and it appears to be more powerful than the one we encountered. We need to access whatever files exist on the thing like anything from weaknesses, to why it was never encountered during the war, and why it has reappeared now, fifteen years after the war. I think this area here may have been the construction area for this thing and I'm hoping it contains the information we seek," said Fox.
"Oh. The area you're pointing to is one that we haven't yet examined, but I can put it on the list. We should get to it in about three days. Until then, you're welcome to join us in our endeavors," said Alby.
"I think we will," said Fox.
"Whatever works," said Falco. Over the course of the next few days, Fox and Falco helped mostly with manual labor and learned from the data recovered that the circular area that Fox had pointed out had carried a weapon of mass destruction. Finally the drill burst through a wall and into the area. It stopped and scanned the area. The drill then retracted past the opening and Fox, Falco, Alby, and some scientists stepped in wearing safety gear. Alby took some scans with the Geiger counter and when it registered zero he popped open the top of his suit.
"It's clear. However if the dust gets to choking level, you'd better put your breathing masks on," said Alby He then proceeded along a catwalk overlooking a large area. Above them were some launch doors.
"I'm assuming those doors were located on the surface and not five feet below it like they are now," said Alby.
"Yep," said Fox. Falco moved over to a control booth overlooking the circular floor. He tried to activate a console in the booth, but it didn't turn on.
"This place probably doesn't have any power. I'll go get a power cell," said Alby walking off and out of the room along with the scientists. Fox was rummaging around through piles of paper and various file cabinets.
"Fox. For all we know, this was the place where they built the smaller unit," said Falco reading some pieces of paper.
"Found it," said Fox. He walked back to Falco with a piece of paper with some mold on it.
"Schematics for something called Gorgon1. It looks like these belong to our culprit because the dimensions are different then the one we faced," said Fox. Falco was reading the schematics when Alby reappeared. He opened a control panel and made a few connections with a box that he'd brought with him. The consoles in the booth came online.
"Let's see what we can see," said Fox. A hologram immediately activated.
"I don't know what Venomians would want in this place, but project Gorgon1 was a failure. Its AI program rebelled against me and it must never be reconstructed. If you absolutely intend on making another Gorgon, use a simpler AI program," said Andross before shutting off.
"A failure?" asked Fox.
"Apparently so," said Falco. Fox accessed a few more screens.
"Armaments, security protocols, weaknesses, weapons, its all here," said Fox reading the information. He produced a disk and inserted it into a slot on the control panel.
"Downloading," said Fox. A screen showed the progress of the download. A few minutes later it registered complete. Fox removed the disk and shut down the console.
"Let's go," said Fox. Alby removed the power generator and proceeded out with them.
Main tent, minutes later: "Did you get it?" asked Pepper over the comm.
"Yep. With this data we should be able to locate and destroy that thing," said Falco.
"Yeah," said Fox less enthusiastically. The image of Pepper burst into static.
"The heck," said Fox.
"We're being jammed!" exclaimed a technician running outside to the transmitter.
"By what?" Fox asked running outside as well. He emerged into the hot sun as missiles rained down destroying all forms of transportation including the Arwings. Fox looked up to see the Gorgon facing them.
"I cannot allow you to discover my secrets and use them for nefarious purposes," said Gorgon1. Gorgon1 opened its shell, sucked in energy, and fired its massive hyper laser on the camp.