Chapter 6: Corruption's Blood
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Wolf paced around the bridge scanning every section of the floor while Slippy worked
away on Rob with his wiring, generating a spark or two in the process.
"Has anyone seen my eye patch? I can't find it anywhere."
Slippy took off his goggles to get a clearer view of Wolf who was still pacing around
with his head down.
"You know, you don't really need it, you look just fine without it."
"It's not really about how I look, it's just about...covering up memories I'd rather not
think about."
"What kind of memories?"
Wolf stopped for a moment in his pacing while he ran his finger along the deep scar that
was slashed vertically down his eye and parts of his face.
"Just memories..."
After gazing for a second, he looked up and shook off the introspective expression that
laid upon on his face.
"...It's all in the past, don't worry about it."
Slippy shrugged as he put his goggles back on and began fiddling away with Rob again
using a variety of tools, flinching from the sparks ever so often.
Peppy's face lit up as he sat at his console punching around some buttons, "We're
approaching Fortuna. We'll be within orbiting range in 30 minutes."
"Great, I'll go tell Fox." Wolf said as he started walking towards Fox's quarters.
As Wolf entered the room, he saw that the lights were turned off. Curiously, he scanned
around the room until his eyes met Fox, whose silhouette was standing in front of the
glass window.
"I'm sorry am I disturbing?"
Fox turned around, partially startled. "No no not at all."
"Enjoying the view?"
"Yes...sometimes…it helps me think to stare out there at the stars." He changed his
expression into concern. "How are you? I know that you had a nasty throw from Rob."
"I'm fine, a little internal bleeding, Slippy had something to help for it, it's ok
now...What about you?"
"Just shaken...honestly, I'm confused. I can only hope that Bill has the answers I'm
looking for."
"I'm sure he does, which reminds me, we'll be arriving at Fortuna in 30 minutes, so we
better get ready."
Fox nodded his head, his eyes scanning around Wolf's face, "What happened to your eye
patch?"
"I can't find it, it got lost somewhere during our scuffle with Rob."
"Ah I see..." Fox looked around his room as though trying to find the words to say.
"How......how did you get that scar?...It's ok if you don't want to tell me, I'll understand."
Wolf sat down on Fox's bed looking out the window into the stars. "No...it's fine, I don't
mind."
Fox sat down next to Wolf as he began to speak.
"When I was very young…my parents abandoned me, I was living on the streets with the
gangs. We were just packs of wolves, scavenging for food, always cold, never happy..."
He paused for a moment before he continued, staring at the floor in a daze.
"I was eleven at the time...I was in a dark alley of the Denfen district in Talakar, just
south of Corneria City...I'm sure you've heard of it, quite a nasty place..." Fox nodded his head not taking
his eyes of Wolf.
"I...I found a runtberry plant...it was not much…but to me at the time it was a
spectacular treasure. Its berries tasting wonderful to my dry desperate tongue,
scrumptiously soothing my aching stomach with each morsel…
Wolf's expression changed from content to one of anguish.
"An older boy saw me. He tried to take it from me.....but I resisted...I did not want him
to have it...it was mine, I had found it, why should he have it."
Wolf's ear began to twitch as Fox felt an empathic cringe inside of him build…
"He took out a small knife...I was frozen, all I can remember is the pain...the knife...
across my face...through my eye...just pain."
Wolf ran his trembling hand along the scar and his pale whited out eye which also was
scarred before his expression changed from a painful daze to one of appeasement and pleasure.
"He got the berries...but I broke his arm in the process..."
Fox lowered his head in silent pity for Wolf.
"I nursed my wounds for weeks...I knew I was blinded in my left eye, but I hoped to God
that it would all go away, that someone would take me out of my nightmare...I spent 4
more years wishing that dream…until a scientist took me in his arms and told me he
would show me the stars..."
"...Andross."
"Yes...Andross."
"Wolf, I'm sorry, I didn't know..."
Wolf shook off the daze before looking at Fox, "No...it's fine, it's all in the past.
Really...it is."
"Fox, Wolf, this is Peppy, what are you two doing in there!? We're entering orbit with
Fortuna, you guys should get in here," said Peppy over the comm channel.
"Come on Wolf, let's go, just so you know...you have us now."
Wolf smiled as he got up off the bed. "I know."
The two entered the bridge as the icy pale world of Fortuna filled the main viewer.
Fox walked towards Peppy's console as he began to speak, "Peppy, scan the planet for
bases, outposts, or...
"Fox this is Bill!"
Bill's face flashed upon the screen, "Boy am I glad to see you. It's not safe to talk over
this comm channel, so I'm giving you co-ordinates telling you where to land on the
planet...try to hurry."
The comm channel closed as Fox looked around the bridge.
"Not much for hellos is he?" said Falco sardonically.
Peppy stared into his console with squinting eyes, "Fox I'm getting those co-ordinates
now, they're for a small underground station in the southern hemisphere."
Alright, Falco, Slippy, Peppy, stay here on the Great Fox, Wolf, you're coming with me.
"Uh, ok...but how are we getting there?"
Fox started walking towards the hyperlift briskly, "With the Arwing of course."
A look of fear crept onto Wolf's face, "I see..."
"Relax, I'm sure it handles just like the Wolfen. It's a piece of cake, even a toad could fly
it!"
Slippy looked up with a hot glare. "Hey! I resent that!"
Everyone chuckled as Wolf and Fox stepped onto the hyperlift.
Fox punched a button as the doors closed and the lift began to zoom downward towards
the docking bay.
"Tell me about your friend Bill."
"Well...there isn't much to say, we went to school together, I haven't spoken to him in
almost a year though."
"I'm going to make a bad impression, I always do," said Wolf with pain in his voice.
"Relax, it's not hard to talk to Bill, he warms up to everyone."
"Hey didn't we fight over Fortuna once?...Yes...I believe you destroyed the Wolfen I
there."
Fox let out a small chuckle, "You have a pretty good memory. I also remember you
telling me that I'll be "joining my dad soon."
Wolf returned the laugh, "You remember that?! Wow, I'm sorry."
Fox subdued his chuckles while he spoke "Hey hey don't worry about it, like you said,
it's all in the past.
"Ah yes, quite true."
The lift doors opened to the docking bay as they stepped off. Fox pointed to the four
arwings lined up facing the opening, "There they are, take mine on the right, I'll fly in
Falco's."
"You don't mind?" questioned Wolf.
"No of course not, anyways, we don't want to keep Bill waiting."
Fox and Wolf hopped into their respective arwings as their overhead canopies closed
concealing them inside. Fox opened his comm channel so he could speak to Wolf.
"I've programmed the co-ordinates on auto-pilot, but if you feel comfortable you can
switch it off to get a feel of the ship."
"Eh, I'll see how I feel when I get out there."
"Engaging automatic launch sequence, please stand by," said the computer's voice in an
upbeat tone.
Wolf smiled to himself as he stared at the controls "Ok..."
"Alright, get ready Wolf, here we go."
The computer's voice continued, "Powering primary G-Diffuser, intake 99%, no
anomalies detected. Start sequence go."
The arwing began to vibrate intensely capturing Wolf's attention. He began to feel
nervous as he anticipating the burst of acceleration that would occur in a few seconds.
*WHOOOSH*
The ship shot out of the docking bay at lightning speed banking sharply around the edge
of the ship and zooming towards Fortuna.
"Good God Fox, this thing is fast!"
He could hear Fox laughing over the comm channel, "Yea, isn't it great?"
Wolf controlled his excitement as he spoke, "Nah, actually now that I think about it, the
Wolfen feels faster."
"Oh shutup."
"I'm disengaging the auto-control…now." Wolf took hold of the smooth pilot control
stick which felt nice in his hand, he moved it slightly to the left and right feeling the rush
as the ship banked in S curves through the heavens above Fortuna.
"Don't have too much fun, we're only landing on the planet, so prepare to head towards
those co-ordinates."
"Gotcha, heading towards the outpost."
The ship entered the upper atmosphere with incredible speed as the orange glow appeared
over the hull.
"Hull temperature, nominal, descent adequate" chimed the computer, as Wolf smiled.
"Quite fancy Fox...quite fancy indeed."
Soon their ships passed through the burning atmosphere into a smooth descent through
the troposphere. The view was brilliant from above the ground as they could see
hundreds of miles in each direction, even noticing the small curve in the planet's shape as
they flew above the clouds.
"Alright, set the arwing on landing sequence, it's the blue button on the left, you can't
miss it."
"Got it!"
The computer made a couple of beeps and chimes, "Landing sequence...initiated."
Soon their ships coasted to a slow descent as Wolf was surprised to see they were already
only a few meters above the ground.
As the ship landed and the engines shutdown with a waning hum, Wolf's canopy opened
to the howling winds of snow and ice.
Wolf jumped out of the ship landing on the frozen rock hard ground, and walked towards
Fox who was already out of his ship and was holding his scanner.
"That wasn't so bad," said Wolf with a chuckle.
Fox pointed to a small bunker with a single door. "There, I think that's the entrance."
Wolf rubbed his arms as the winds bit at his fingertips, "Alright, let's go inside before we
freeze to death out here.
They both entered the small bunker finding a set of narrow stairs leading downward
further into the ground. Fox and Wolf without hesitation began stepping down the stairs
with steady pace. When they reached the bottom they were greeted with another door.
"You think he'd be here to greet us," said Wolf with a curious tone in his voice.
"Yea...c'mon lets go through." Fox opened the door to a large room with dozens of
people standing inside talking, chatting and working at computer consoles in what
appeared to be a control center of some sort.
"There he is!" Fox heard Bill's familiar upbeat voice as he trotted towards Fox.
"Bill!" They embraced in a hug immediately as Wolf stood to the side and smiled at
everyone else insecurely as they stared at the three.
"Bill this is Wolf, I'd like you to meet him."
Bill's expression changed to a stunned look, "Is this the Wolf you were telling me
about?...Wolf as in...Wolf I work for Andross O'Donnell?"
"Yea yea but don't worry he's with us now."
"Ahh! Great news! Hey man, I'm William, everyone calls me Bill for short though," said
Bill as he vigorously shook Wolf's hand.
"Oh..., uh hi!" said Wolf as he looked uncomfortably at Fox.
"I only wish that our meeting was on better terms…come on I have so much to show and
tell you!"
Bill motioned the two further into the room with computers beeping and humming all
around as the people in there continued to do what they were doing before Fox and Wolf
had entered.
"This is the nerve center, here we can keep track of everything that is going in Lylat, our
sensor range is a bit limited, but we're still working on it. Right now you probably want
answers, am I right?"
Fox glanced at Wolf and nodded his head synchronously with him.
"Well answers, I got! However, they're not gonna be things you want to hear, follow
me."
Bill led the two into a small room that was away from all the commotion of the buzzing
nerve center.
"Ok, here's what we know so far...
A. Pepper has taken over Corneria.
B. He is amassing a huge amount of forces.
And C. He's doing all of this in order to "gain control of Lylat," said Bill while quoting
the phrase with his fingers.
"That's all you know?!" snapped Wolf.
"Hey hey chill your rockets man, let me finish!" Wolf calmed himself as he listened
intently.
"This all started while you've been in the outer rim, apparently he's been giving you
tedious missions to distract you from everything that he was doing on Corneria."
"That makes sense, I must admit these past few weeks have been a bit......mundane."
Bill smiled and continued, "Not only that but he has 'invited' the prime minister of
Zoness for a meeting at the government palace in Corneria City. We here think that this is
some sort of trap that he's going to use to get control of Zoness, we don't know exactly
what he's gonna do, but all we know is that it can't be good."
"He could just want to negotiate?" said Fox curiously.
Bill scoffed as he began to reply, "You're kidding right? You know he sent secret fighters
to come an assassinate me after promoting me to commander
"You got promoted?"
"Yea, that's not important though, the fact is that he sent forces after me all because I was
friends with you at school...It's strange, but it's like he has some sort of personal
vendetta against you."
"But why?! My father was such good friends with him, Pepper was practically like an
uncle to me! I can't even count the times I have saved his life and Corneria's prosperity
on my finge…"
"Well that doesn't seem to matter anymore Fox," said Bill abruptly cutting off Fox. "Fact
is, something has snapped in him...honestly, I knew this would happen someday, I could
always see it in him, he's a man with a strong personality, and strong ambition, but I
knew that the more power he gained the more his moral center would be distorted."
"Strangely enough, I have felt that way too, but I never questioned it...at least as long as
I got paid decently enough."
"I can amen to that," said Wolf breaking his own silence.
Bill looked at Wolf with a confused smile as Fox smirked, "...Right, well right now I'm
just hiding out here on Fortuna because I, and anyone else with me, have been labeled as
traitorous by Pepper. That includes you too Fox...and Wolf.
"Yea we know, we actually had a run in with him a few hours ago," said Fox rubbing his
neck.
"You did?!"
"Yea, but it was indirectly. He accessed our ship robot's control matrix, and used him to
try and kill me. He spoke through him for a few moments so I knew it was Pepper."
"Goodness man, well I'm glad you're ok, I'm definitely going to need your help in this
struggle." Bill glanced at Wolf with a warm smile, "and his friends of course."
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*In Corneria City, The Government Palace*
Pepper looked into the mirror brushing off his pins that were lined neatly on his deep red
uniform; he adjusted his matching military style hat a little to the side and stared at the
reflection as it coldly stared back.
"General Pepper, Prime Minister Calar Troikas of Zoness is here to see you," said the
guard fearfully as he clasped his hands together.
"Oh wonderful, send him in right away."
The tall awkward looking squid walked in slowly observing the opulence of Pepper's
office.
"Please come right in Prime Minister Troikas!" said Pepper warmly as he gestured his
visitor further in.
Troikas' face lightened a little, "Ah please, Troikas was my father's name, call me Calar."
Pepper began fumbling through his wine cabinet, "Certainly Calar, would you like a
drink?"
"Yes, thank you." Calar continued looking around the room as he stood idly in front of
Pepper's desk. "Is there any specific reason that you wanted to see me? It said in the
message that it was urgent."
Pepper looked up while he poured two glasses of wine. "Please Calar, sit."
Calar sat down slowly as he continued to watch Pepper pour the wine in silence.
"Tell me, how is Zoness these days?"
Calar's face brightened as he began to speak, "Oh things have really turned around for us,
the planet is almost fully restored to its original beauty. Our clean up programs have been
an excellent success, and our genetic scientists have even restored Kani back to their
original size, perfect for fitting on a dinner plate again! As you know, the pollution made
Kani, once a favored food dish, into gigantic monsters. Oh it was really quite awful, but
all is well now. I can honestly say that Kani is my favorite delicacy."
"Oh that's just fantastic, I'm really happy for you Calar. Hey! You know what a favorite
delicacy of mine is?"
Calar chuckled, "No, what?"
"Fresh calamari!"
Calar's face froze at the remark, "...What?"
*BANG*
The Prime Minister flinched a little, as his eyes looked down General Pepper's figure to
see his arm extended holding an old fashioned silver pistol in his right hand. He looked
up to find a delirious smile washed over Pepper's face.
"General...you've...sho…"
*BANG BANG BANG*
Three more shots rang through the room; three more bullets pelted the calamari's body.
Calar looked down at his stomach to see his orange blood oozing out the orifices created
by the archaic bullets.
The squid let out a soft groan as he slumped over in his chair, collapsing to the floor.
The General slowly stepped over Calar and pointed the gun to his head.
Calar was now breathing heavily his eyes sifted slowly around until they focused on
Pepper who was now staring into his soul with piercing cold eyes.
"Pepper...Wh...why have you done this?...why?"
*BANG*
The final bullet ripped through Calar's head killing him instantly. Orange blood sprayed
on Pepper's face as a look of pleasure filled his expression. He licked around his lips
tasting the marine animal's salty blood.
"Mmm, they should make you a delicacy on Zoness!"
Pepper walked casually over to his desk as Calar's blood began to pool on the floor. He
pressed a small red button next to his computer console.
"Yes general?"
"Could you send a clean up crew into my office? I'm afraid I've made quite a mess."
"Yes sir."
"Also I'd like you to prepare to send the attack fleet to Zoness. It would be nice to get
that underway as soon as possible."
"Of course, right away sir." *click*
Pepper sat down at his desk while he wiped his face with a red scarf, which bore the gold
insignia of James McCloud.
"I wipe corruption's blood over your father Fox...now you are next."
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Hey, if you're reading, please review, the input helps a lot. I'd also like to thank everyone
who has written reviews so far, I really appreciate them! Chapter 7 coming soon!
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Wolf paced around the bridge scanning every section of the floor while Slippy worked
away on Rob with his wiring, generating a spark or two in the process.
"Has anyone seen my eye patch? I can't find it anywhere."
Slippy took off his goggles to get a clearer view of Wolf who was still pacing around
with his head down.
"You know, you don't really need it, you look just fine without it."
"It's not really about how I look, it's just about...covering up memories I'd rather not
think about."
"What kind of memories?"
Wolf stopped for a moment in his pacing while he ran his finger along the deep scar that
was slashed vertically down his eye and parts of his face.
"Just memories..."
After gazing for a second, he looked up and shook off the introspective expression that
laid upon on his face.
"...It's all in the past, don't worry about it."
Slippy shrugged as he put his goggles back on and began fiddling away with Rob again
using a variety of tools, flinching from the sparks ever so often.
Peppy's face lit up as he sat at his console punching around some buttons, "We're
approaching Fortuna. We'll be within orbiting range in 30 minutes."
"Great, I'll go tell Fox." Wolf said as he started walking towards Fox's quarters.
As Wolf entered the room, he saw that the lights were turned off. Curiously, he scanned
around the room until his eyes met Fox, whose silhouette was standing in front of the
glass window.
"I'm sorry am I disturbing?"
Fox turned around, partially startled. "No no not at all."
"Enjoying the view?"
"Yes...sometimes…it helps me think to stare out there at the stars." He changed his
expression into concern. "How are you? I know that you had a nasty throw from Rob."
"I'm fine, a little internal bleeding, Slippy had something to help for it, it's ok
now...What about you?"
"Just shaken...honestly, I'm confused. I can only hope that Bill has the answers I'm
looking for."
"I'm sure he does, which reminds me, we'll be arriving at Fortuna in 30 minutes, so we
better get ready."
Fox nodded his head, his eyes scanning around Wolf's face, "What happened to your eye
patch?"
"I can't find it, it got lost somewhere during our scuffle with Rob."
"Ah I see..." Fox looked around his room as though trying to find the words to say.
"How......how did you get that scar?...It's ok if you don't want to tell me, I'll understand."
Wolf sat down on Fox's bed looking out the window into the stars. "No...it's fine, I don't
mind."
Fox sat down next to Wolf as he began to speak.
"When I was very young…my parents abandoned me, I was living on the streets with the
gangs. We were just packs of wolves, scavenging for food, always cold, never happy..."
He paused for a moment before he continued, staring at the floor in a daze.
"I was eleven at the time...I was in a dark alley of the Denfen district in Talakar, just
south of Corneria City...I'm sure you've heard of it, quite a nasty place..." Fox nodded his head not taking
his eyes of Wolf.
"I...I found a runtberry plant...it was not much…but to me at the time it was a
spectacular treasure. Its berries tasting wonderful to my dry desperate tongue,
scrumptiously soothing my aching stomach with each morsel…
Wolf's expression changed from content to one of anguish.
"An older boy saw me. He tried to take it from me.....but I resisted...I did not want him
to have it...it was mine, I had found it, why should he have it."
Wolf's ear began to twitch as Fox felt an empathic cringe inside of him build…
"He took out a small knife...I was frozen, all I can remember is the pain...the knife...
across my face...through my eye...just pain."
Wolf ran his trembling hand along the scar and his pale whited out eye which also was
scarred before his expression changed from a painful daze to one of appeasement and pleasure.
"He got the berries...but I broke his arm in the process..."
Fox lowered his head in silent pity for Wolf.
"I nursed my wounds for weeks...I knew I was blinded in my left eye, but I hoped to God
that it would all go away, that someone would take me out of my nightmare...I spent 4
more years wishing that dream…until a scientist took me in his arms and told me he
would show me the stars..."
"...Andross."
"Yes...Andross."
"Wolf, I'm sorry, I didn't know..."
Wolf shook off the daze before looking at Fox, "No...it's fine, it's all in the past.
Really...it is."
"Fox, Wolf, this is Peppy, what are you two doing in there!? We're entering orbit with
Fortuna, you guys should get in here," said Peppy over the comm channel.
"Come on Wolf, let's go, just so you know...you have us now."
Wolf smiled as he got up off the bed. "I know."
The two entered the bridge as the icy pale world of Fortuna filled the main viewer.
Fox walked towards Peppy's console as he began to speak, "Peppy, scan the planet for
bases, outposts, or...
"Fox this is Bill!"
Bill's face flashed upon the screen, "Boy am I glad to see you. It's not safe to talk over
this comm channel, so I'm giving you co-ordinates telling you where to land on the
planet...try to hurry."
The comm channel closed as Fox looked around the bridge.
"Not much for hellos is he?" said Falco sardonically.
Peppy stared into his console with squinting eyes, "Fox I'm getting those co-ordinates
now, they're for a small underground station in the southern hemisphere."
Alright, Falco, Slippy, Peppy, stay here on the Great Fox, Wolf, you're coming with me.
"Uh, ok...but how are we getting there?"
Fox started walking towards the hyperlift briskly, "With the Arwing of course."
A look of fear crept onto Wolf's face, "I see..."
"Relax, I'm sure it handles just like the Wolfen. It's a piece of cake, even a toad could fly
it!"
Slippy looked up with a hot glare. "Hey! I resent that!"
Everyone chuckled as Wolf and Fox stepped onto the hyperlift.
Fox punched a button as the doors closed and the lift began to zoom downward towards
the docking bay.
"Tell me about your friend Bill."
"Well...there isn't much to say, we went to school together, I haven't spoken to him in
almost a year though."
"I'm going to make a bad impression, I always do," said Wolf with pain in his voice.
"Relax, it's not hard to talk to Bill, he warms up to everyone."
"Hey didn't we fight over Fortuna once?...Yes...I believe you destroyed the Wolfen I
there."
Fox let out a small chuckle, "You have a pretty good memory. I also remember you
telling me that I'll be "joining my dad soon."
Wolf returned the laugh, "You remember that?! Wow, I'm sorry."
Fox subdued his chuckles while he spoke "Hey hey don't worry about it, like you said,
it's all in the past.
"Ah yes, quite true."
The lift doors opened to the docking bay as they stepped off. Fox pointed to the four
arwings lined up facing the opening, "There they are, take mine on the right, I'll fly in
Falco's."
"You don't mind?" questioned Wolf.
"No of course not, anyways, we don't want to keep Bill waiting."
Fox and Wolf hopped into their respective arwings as their overhead canopies closed
concealing them inside. Fox opened his comm channel so he could speak to Wolf.
"I've programmed the co-ordinates on auto-pilot, but if you feel comfortable you can
switch it off to get a feel of the ship."
"Eh, I'll see how I feel when I get out there."
"Engaging automatic launch sequence, please stand by," said the computer's voice in an
upbeat tone.
Wolf smiled to himself as he stared at the controls "Ok..."
"Alright, get ready Wolf, here we go."
The computer's voice continued, "Powering primary G-Diffuser, intake 99%, no
anomalies detected. Start sequence go."
The arwing began to vibrate intensely capturing Wolf's attention. He began to feel
nervous as he anticipating the burst of acceleration that would occur in a few seconds.
*WHOOOSH*
The ship shot out of the docking bay at lightning speed banking sharply around the edge
of the ship and zooming towards Fortuna.
"Good God Fox, this thing is fast!"
He could hear Fox laughing over the comm channel, "Yea, isn't it great?"
Wolf controlled his excitement as he spoke, "Nah, actually now that I think about it, the
Wolfen feels faster."
"Oh shutup."
"I'm disengaging the auto-control…now." Wolf took hold of the smooth pilot control
stick which felt nice in his hand, he moved it slightly to the left and right feeling the rush
as the ship banked in S curves through the heavens above Fortuna.
"Don't have too much fun, we're only landing on the planet, so prepare to head towards
those co-ordinates."
"Gotcha, heading towards the outpost."
The ship entered the upper atmosphere with incredible speed as the orange glow appeared
over the hull.
"Hull temperature, nominal, descent adequate" chimed the computer, as Wolf smiled.
"Quite fancy Fox...quite fancy indeed."
Soon their ships passed through the burning atmosphere into a smooth descent through
the troposphere. The view was brilliant from above the ground as they could see
hundreds of miles in each direction, even noticing the small curve in the planet's shape as
they flew above the clouds.
"Alright, set the arwing on landing sequence, it's the blue button on the left, you can't
miss it."
"Got it!"
The computer made a couple of beeps and chimes, "Landing sequence...initiated."
Soon their ships coasted to a slow descent as Wolf was surprised to see they were already
only a few meters above the ground.
As the ship landed and the engines shutdown with a waning hum, Wolf's canopy opened
to the howling winds of snow and ice.
Wolf jumped out of the ship landing on the frozen rock hard ground, and walked towards
Fox who was already out of his ship and was holding his scanner.
"That wasn't so bad," said Wolf with a chuckle.
Fox pointed to a small bunker with a single door. "There, I think that's the entrance."
Wolf rubbed his arms as the winds bit at his fingertips, "Alright, let's go inside before we
freeze to death out here.
They both entered the small bunker finding a set of narrow stairs leading downward
further into the ground. Fox and Wolf without hesitation began stepping down the stairs
with steady pace. When they reached the bottom they were greeted with another door.
"You think he'd be here to greet us," said Wolf with a curious tone in his voice.
"Yea...c'mon lets go through." Fox opened the door to a large room with dozens of
people standing inside talking, chatting and working at computer consoles in what
appeared to be a control center of some sort.
"There he is!" Fox heard Bill's familiar upbeat voice as he trotted towards Fox.
"Bill!" They embraced in a hug immediately as Wolf stood to the side and smiled at
everyone else insecurely as they stared at the three.
"Bill this is Wolf, I'd like you to meet him."
Bill's expression changed to a stunned look, "Is this the Wolf you were telling me
about?...Wolf as in...Wolf I work for Andross O'Donnell?"
"Yea yea but don't worry he's with us now."
"Ahh! Great news! Hey man, I'm William, everyone calls me Bill for short though," said
Bill as he vigorously shook Wolf's hand.
"Oh..., uh hi!" said Wolf as he looked uncomfortably at Fox.
"I only wish that our meeting was on better terms…come on I have so much to show and
tell you!"
Bill motioned the two further into the room with computers beeping and humming all
around as the people in there continued to do what they were doing before Fox and Wolf
had entered.
"This is the nerve center, here we can keep track of everything that is going in Lylat, our
sensor range is a bit limited, but we're still working on it. Right now you probably want
answers, am I right?"
Fox glanced at Wolf and nodded his head synchronously with him.
"Well answers, I got! However, they're not gonna be things you want to hear, follow
me."
Bill led the two into a small room that was away from all the commotion of the buzzing
nerve center.
"Ok, here's what we know so far...
A. Pepper has taken over Corneria.
B. He is amassing a huge amount of forces.
And C. He's doing all of this in order to "gain control of Lylat," said Bill while quoting
the phrase with his fingers.
"That's all you know?!" snapped Wolf.
"Hey hey chill your rockets man, let me finish!" Wolf calmed himself as he listened
intently.
"This all started while you've been in the outer rim, apparently he's been giving you
tedious missions to distract you from everything that he was doing on Corneria."
"That makes sense, I must admit these past few weeks have been a bit......mundane."
Bill smiled and continued, "Not only that but he has 'invited' the prime minister of
Zoness for a meeting at the government palace in Corneria City. We here think that this is
some sort of trap that he's going to use to get control of Zoness, we don't know exactly
what he's gonna do, but all we know is that it can't be good."
"He could just want to negotiate?" said Fox curiously.
Bill scoffed as he began to reply, "You're kidding right? You know he sent secret fighters
to come an assassinate me after promoting me to commander
"You got promoted?"
"Yea, that's not important though, the fact is that he sent forces after me all because I was
friends with you at school...It's strange, but it's like he has some sort of personal
vendetta against you."
"But why?! My father was such good friends with him, Pepper was practically like an
uncle to me! I can't even count the times I have saved his life and Corneria's prosperity
on my finge…"
"Well that doesn't seem to matter anymore Fox," said Bill abruptly cutting off Fox. "Fact
is, something has snapped in him...honestly, I knew this would happen someday, I could
always see it in him, he's a man with a strong personality, and strong ambition, but I
knew that the more power he gained the more his moral center would be distorted."
"Strangely enough, I have felt that way too, but I never questioned it...at least as long as
I got paid decently enough."
"I can amen to that," said Wolf breaking his own silence.
Bill looked at Wolf with a confused smile as Fox smirked, "...Right, well right now I'm
just hiding out here on Fortuna because I, and anyone else with me, have been labeled as
traitorous by Pepper. That includes you too Fox...and Wolf.
"Yea we know, we actually had a run in with him a few hours ago," said Fox rubbing his
neck.
"You did?!"
"Yea, but it was indirectly. He accessed our ship robot's control matrix, and used him to
try and kill me. He spoke through him for a few moments so I knew it was Pepper."
"Goodness man, well I'm glad you're ok, I'm definitely going to need your help in this
struggle." Bill glanced at Wolf with a warm smile, "and his friends of course."
****************************************
*In Corneria City, The Government Palace*
Pepper looked into the mirror brushing off his pins that were lined neatly on his deep red
uniform; he adjusted his matching military style hat a little to the side and stared at the
reflection as it coldly stared back.
"General Pepper, Prime Minister Calar Troikas of Zoness is here to see you," said the
guard fearfully as he clasped his hands together.
"Oh wonderful, send him in right away."
The tall awkward looking squid walked in slowly observing the opulence of Pepper's
office.
"Please come right in Prime Minister Troikas!" said Pepper warmly as he gestured his
visitor further in.
Troikas' face lightened a little, "Ah please, Troikas was my father's name, call me Calar."
Pepper began fumbling through his wine cabinet, "Certainly Calar, would you like a
drink?"
"Yes, thank you." Calar continued looking around the room as he stood idly in front of
Pepper's desk. "Is there any specific reason that you wanted to see me? It said in the
message that it was urgent."
Pepper looked up while he poured two glasses of wine. "Please Calar, sit."
Calar sat down slowly as he continued to watch Pepper pour the wine in silence.
"Tell me, how is Zoness these days?"
Calar's face brightened as he began to speak, "Oh things have really turned around for us,
the planet is almost fully restored to its original beauty. Our clean up programs have been
an excellent success, and our genetic scientists have even restored Kani back to their
original size, perfect for fitting on a dinner plate again! As you know, the pollution made
Kani, once a favored food dish, into gigantic monsters. Oh it was really quite awful, but
all is well now. I can honestly say that Kani is my favorite delicacy."
"Oh that's just fantastic, I'm really happy for you Calar. Hey! You know what a favorite
delicacy of mine is?"
Calar chuckled, "No, what?"
"Fresh calamari!"
Calar's face froze at the remark, "...What?"
*BANG*
The Prime Minister flinched a little, as his eyes looked down General Pepper's figure to
see his arm extended holding an old fashioned silver pistol in his right hand. He looked
up to find a delirious smile washed over Pepper's face.
"General...you've...sho…"
*BANG BANG BANG*
Three more shots rang through the room; three more bullets pelted the calamari's body.
Calar looked down at his stomach to see his orange blood oozing out the orifices created
by the archaic bullets.
The squid let out a soft groan as he slumped over in his chair, collapsing to the floor.
The General slowly stepped over Calar and pointed the gun to his head.
Calar was now breathing heavily his eyes sifted slowly around until they focused on
Pepper who was now staring into his soul with piercing cold eyes.
"Pepper...Wh...why have you done this?...why?"
*BANG*
The final bullet ripped through Calar's head killing him instantly. Orange blood sprayed
on Pepper's face as a look of pleasure filled his expression. He licked around his lips
tasting the marine animal's salty blood.
"Mmm, they should make you a delicacy on Zoness!"
Pepper walked casually over to his desk as Calar's blood began to pool on the floor. He
pressed a small red button next to his computer console.
"Yes general?"
"Could you send a clean up crew into my office? I'm afraid I've made quite a mess."
"Yes sir."
"Also I'd like you to prepare to send the attack fleet to Zoness. It would be nice to get
that underway as soon as possible."
"Of course, right away sir." *click*
Pepper sat down at his desk while he wiped his face with a red scarf, which bore the gold
insignia of James McCloud.
"I wipe corruption's blood over your father Fox...now you are next."
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Hey, if you're reading, please review, the input helps a lot. I'd also like to thank everyone
who has written reviews so far, I really appreciate them! Chapter 7 coming soon!