Chapter One: Finding A Friend

The darkness of the city Trillion would give even the toughest space pirate the chills. The never ending rain hammers at the huge skyscrapers and streets. Miscreants wander mindlessly around in the shadows, looking to buy, or sell on the black market of Zoness. No one decent ever comes to Trillion, not after space pirates claimed it as their territory a few years after the Lylat Wars. It's a sespool of scrubby criminals and violent serpents of the underworld.

Just above the city, a single arwing flies over and lands in a starport docking bay. The cock pit hatch opens up and Fox Mcloud climbs out onto the cold steel of the massive building. He examines the area and notices that a group of four jackals had taken an interest in his presence.

Fox Mcloud was former leader of the Star Fox Team. An emotionally torn pilot on a constant search for his lost father, James Mcloud, who was captured by Andross before the Lylat Wars. He was also a strong, courageous, sly fox who led the Star Fox team to destroy Andross in the Lylat Wars and once again when Andross used the spirits of a lost planet to raise himself from the dead. Though small, Fox Mcloud was one tough brute.

The group of jackals moved in towards Fox, who calmly turned to meet them. As they got closer, Fox could smell the dead carcass in their breath, and noticed they were all black with brown spots. Each very unkempt, ugly, and gave off a look of stupidity.

"How can we help you, slick?" The middle jackal, obviously the leader, asked.

"I'm looking for a friend, where's a good place to gain some information about recent in comers?" Fox was very cool about the way he talked, he didn't want to start a fight, yet made sure the jackals didn't want to mess with him. But they were too stupid to take the clue.

"I'll tell you where you can get some information, but it'll cost you your pretty ship." The leader moved in and sniffed Fox. Fox flicked the end of his nose. The jackal jumped back, enraged, he pulled out a blaster. But Fox was too quick. He had already blown two of the bastards brains out and was moving in on the third. A kick to the face delayed the leader and he fell back to the floor. Fox grabbed the third minion around the head and snapped his thin neck. Look of murder haunted Fox's eyes. He finally pinned the leader and aimed his gun at his forehead.

" You were saying?" Fox dug his foot into the pinned jackal.

"Frost! He knows everything that goes on around these parts! He'll probably know!" Fox let up on the skanky jackal. "He owns a bar down at the end of the street. You won't make it out though, those guys dispise Cornerian scum! You're going to fry."

"I'll be sure to watch my back." Fox began to walk away.

"Scum!" The jackal hollered. The room fell silent and Fox was gone.

"One Ragin' Rhino coming up!" The bartender of Frost's bar rushed back and forth behind the counter. No need for much detail. You've seen one bar, you've seen them all. A bunch of filthy drunk pirates inhabited place, and it smelled like rotten fish and vomit. Fox gagged as he walked in. Obviously the pirates weren't drunk enough to not smell when a Cornerian walked in, because the room fell silent, mugs hit the tables and many reached for their blasters.

"What do you want, scum?" The hypocritical remark intrigued Fox.

"I want to speak to Frost." A few chuckles arose at various parts of the bar.

"No one see's Frost without an appointment." A large bull dog stood up in the back of the bar. "Do you have an appointment?" Others stood up behind the bull dog and they made their way towards Fox. Fox rolled his eyes, annoyed at the possibility of another fight.

"It's ok, I think I know why he's here." A huge blue rhino stepped up to Fox from the side. He was well built, and projected an image of success, Fox couldn't help but respect him.

"You Frost?" Fox felt tiny compared to the giant 8 foot rhino that stood before him. His horn had to be the size of Fox's entire leg.

"What's it to you?" Frost moved in closer, but Fox held his ground. Frost was impressed.

"I'm looking for my friend, Peppy Hare, I am Fox Mcloud, former leader of the Star Fox team. Peppy was a fellow wing mate of mine, I'm here to recover him." Frost stroked his chin, his face looked as if he was trying to recall something.

"Yes, I remember an old feller with a curious pendant much like yours." Frost pointed at the Star Fox pendant on Fox's vest. "He was Cornerian, so I had some of my people keep an eye on him. Last I heard he found himself a nice little hole to sleep in. I'd be surprised the poor guy made it this long here, with the rains and all. Try checking down by the Rackler Inn, seems thats where his home is."

Fox examined Frost curiously. His face full of doubt, and surprise. Frost noticed his face and chuckled. He placed a heavy hand on Fox's shoulder.

"Just because I run a hell-hole like this doesn't mean I have no respect for a good fighter! That bastard took out six of my best boys the second day here!" Frost chuckled. "Now get out of my bar before I have you shot. Don't come back either, or I'll have you shot." Frost's face went stern. Fox smiled and hauled ass out of there.

A couple of pirates and the bull-dog came up behind him.

"Give him five minutes to find his friend, then drop them into the gutter." The bull dog laughed and made his way out. "Oh and Tommy, make sure they're dead first..."

The Rockler Inn was a sleazy building stuck between two other monstrous unknown buildings. The red neon sign that read "Rockler Inn" lit up most of the street around it. Fox came to an alleyway off to the side of the inn. It was dark, and water rushed down it into the sewer drains.

"Peppy!?" Fox began to make his way down the alley. Small critters rushed from under garbage and made for their holes in the walls. "Peppy! Can you hear me?" Something moved a little ways down. Garbage tumbled out into the middle of the alley. Fox ran to the small hole in the side of the building. He could barely make out a dark figure inside a small room with no bed, lights or anything.

"Peppy? Is that you?" Fox scrambled in the hole and stood up on the other side. The place leaked like a sieve, the dark lump of garbage bags moved, and Fox could just make out a long, grey ear. "Peppy!" Fox pulled off the garbage bags. The sight before him made him want to cry.

Peppy Hare lay mangled on some rotten food and garbage bags he used for a bed. His eyes stared blankly at Fox, but they would not focus in on him. His ears were bent and torn. The old hare was skinnier than a toothpick, and had trouble breathing.

"Oh god! Peppy, you poor old man! Let's get you outta here before we run into more trouble." Fox began to lift Peppy from his rotten bed and turned for the hole. Two figures stood in the way. One, Tommy the Bulldog, the other some ugly pirate from the bar.

"He doesn't look good, do you want us to put him out of his misery?" Tommy pulled out a plasma rifle, cocked it, and moved towards Fox.

"Stay back, you wouldn't want to get between me and my friend. Leave us be, I have who I came for, I will be leaving as soon as possible." Fox's grip tightened around Peppy. Peppy's limp body was still completely motionless.

"Seems like Frost doesn't wish that to happen. He orders you dead, and your little friend." Tommy made for Peppy but Fox pulled away and kicked him in the stomach. Tommy keeled over and his pirate friend came in as backup. Tommy grabbed Fox's leg, stopping him from escaping. The pirate came in closer, there was a burst of light and the pirate was on the ground. Another, and Tommy's arm was blown in two, Fox fell back with the severed arm's hand still clutching his leg. Peppy's body rolled across the floor. Tommy let out a scream and another flash of light splattered his brains all over the floor.

Another dark figure appeared at the hole. It leaned down to see his damage. Fox tore the arm from his leg and threw it across the room. He then clambered over to Peppy and felt for his pulse. The son of a bitch was still alive. Fox turned back to the fellow at the hole.

"Fox Mcloud, come with me. The resistance needs you."