RusVal-Hello again, me again.
Jazz-And me!
RusVal-I don't own anything but this story.
Jazz-And me!
RusVal-So without further ado, on with the story!
Jazz-And me!
(RusVal clobbers Jazz over the head with a mallet)
Ch. 2: Shooting Stars
Fox McCloud sat down in the captain's chair of the Great Fox, hoping to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Falco! Don't do that!
Which he wasn't going to get as Falco ran through the room carrying one of Slippy's doodads, with Slippy in hot pursuit. Fox got up as the running duo went through the hallway towards the hanger. Sighing, Fox jogged in pursuit of the two. When he caught up, Falco was holding the object out of Slippy's reach while Slippy jumped up and down trying to get it. As Falco reached back, Fox snatched the item out of the bird-man's hands.
Falco said in surprise as he looked at his now empty hand before glaring at Fox through squinting eyes. Fox just juggled the strange thingy he was holding before giving it to Slippy.
Thanks Fox, Slippy said cheerfully, even out of an Arwing, you always seem to help me out somehow.
Yeah, well, he got a lot of practice, Falco muttered.
Slippy retorted.
So, Slippy, Fox said quickly, trying to change the subject, What exactly is that thing?
Slippy explained sheepishly, it's a key part to the coffee machine. I was trying to fix it before Falco snatched this.
Fox stood there for a second before shaking his head. Falco, on the other hand, was trying his hardest not to break out laughing. Before Falco could start guffawing, ROB came over the intercom.
Message from General Pepper. Priority one, ROB droned out in the way a robot can.
Boy, that sounds familiar, Fox muttered before the three of them ran back towards the main deck.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
When the group got there, they could see that Peppy was already there, talking to General Pepper about something.
So, Fox, Peppy joked, I see you were running off with your teammates again.
Well, you see, Slippy tried to explain.
It doesn't matter now. Your here, and that's all that matters now, General Pepper stated, getting right to the point.
So what brings you calling again General? Fox asked, taking charge.
Fox, after your heroic events on Dinosaur Planet, we have once again come into your dept.
Oh, no need to worry about that, Fox cheerfully remarked, you already signed our check.
And a big one at that, Falco added.
Pepper continued, ignoring them, we once again ask for your help. Although our need doesn't require you to save the system...
Falco whispered to Slippy, causing the young frog to snicker.
...it is of high importance. Recently, Cornarian explorers came across a temperate world that seems like a good planet to colonize if possible. However, the explorers came across intelligent life.
How intelligent? Falco asked, If very, then I want them to program my VCR.
There are a variety of animals on the planet with civilizations of there own. Upon discovering this, a science vessel was deployed to study these creatures.
So, what's the problem? Fox questioned.
The science vessel was blown up by some satellites surrounding the planet, Pepper confessed.
Yeah, that's a problem, Falco commented with a smirk.
Wait, it gets worse, Peppy declared.
Fox shifted in his captain's chair, which he sat on when he came in. When Peppy says something gets worse, it usually meant he had to work harder.
The scout drone the vessel was using was in the middle of a mission when the control panel on the ship was destroyed, Peppy reported, and at that time became a mindless machine.
What's so special about a robot drone? Falco asked, before quickly adding, No offense, ROB.
None taken, Falco, ROB droned out.
The drone is a new, high-tech SDX-45, Pepper replied.
Slippy gasped. He then blushed a little when Fox and Falco looked at him questioningly. Peppy then nodded towards Slippy, signaling him to talk.
An SDX-45 is the most high-tech machine around, Slippy explained, it has infrared sensors, advanced radar and sight equipment, an information databank of a supercomputer, and an experimental cloaking device.
Falco whistled, heavy stuff.
Actually, it's quite light... Slippy added before Fox interrupted.
He meant it was major stuff, Slippy, Fox commented.
Oh, right, Slippy muttered.
Anyway, if the main control panel is destroyed, the SDX automatically disengages its cloak, and will land in a safe spot. There, it will self-destruct, Peppy continued.
Falco remarked.
However, something has gone wrong, and it won't self-destruct, Pepper proclaimed, We can't let anyone on that planet find that drone. It has all information on our history! If it falls into the wrong hands, an evil tyrant might gain the technology needed to conquer the planet! If that happens, then he might came after us! This could become another Andross!
Couldn't you send another team? Falco asked.
The device has already been exposed for a day, and you are the closest to the world, Pepper said with great urgency, time is of the essence. We can't risk another day.
Fox took a second to think about what they had just learned. If Pepper was right, and the drone falls into the wrong hands, then it might lead to a problem that might be hard to take out. As much as Fox was itching for some action, at least as soon as he got some rest, they couldn't afford for another evil tyrant to try to take over. They weren't even sure if the first one had been truly destroyed.
Ok, General, Fox said finally, What do you need us to do?
* * * * * * * * * * *
A stealth mission, Falco groaned over the comlink, why does it have to be a stealth mission?
Because we can't let the natives know we are here, Fox answered for the hundrethed time.
Fox and Falco were back in their Arwings, flying in tight formation with the Great Fox as the made their way towards the target planet. During the flight, Fox had set his fighter to autopilot to catch a quick nap, but Falco's constant whining kept him from the satisfaction. So instead, Fox took the time to look over what had happened over the last month. Shortly after saving Dinosaur Planet, General Pepper paid their bill, which they immediately used to fix up the Great Fox. Falco stayed, saying that all the good action revolved around Fox, and Fox wasn't sure if he should have taken that as a compliment. Finally, although she had stuck around for a little bit, Krystal ran off on some other adventure. Fox paused when he thought of her. Despite his teammate's beliefs that they were in love with one another, Fox and Krystal really didn't have any deep feelings about one another. Sure, there was a slight spark when they first saw each other, but that quickly went out when they spent time with each other for a while. Even the others had to admit, they didn't have much in common. She went out and helped people for free, something Fox would never do. It was a sad truth, but Fox was a mercenary, and he usually did what he did for the money as well as the right of the cause. Also, Krystal had wanted to stay and protect Dinosaur Planet, and Fox couldn't stand to stay on one planet for to long. So, he left. It took a while, but he finally got over it.
Fox's thoughts were quickly interrupted when Falco exclaimed, Wow! Would you look at that!
Fox quickly turned his attention to the task at hand, switching to manual piloting. What he saw, though, caused him to suppress a low whistle. In the orbit of the planet were large portions of tiny debris. At first Fox wondered if it was the science vessel. When a chunk of a computer, the only debris bigger than a fingertip, flew by his cockpit, Fox knew it must have been.
It was just annihilated! Falco exclaimed as the Arwings flew ahead of the Great Fox.
It looks sort of like those 10,000 piece jigsaws, Slippy observed from the Great Fox, the ship must have been hit pretty hard.
Well, you couldn't pay me to place all these pieces back together, Falco snorted.
Be careful, Peppy warned, also from the Great Fox, those satellites that took it out may still be around.
Don't worry, Fox responded, Falco and I can handle them.
Don't get overconfident, Fox, Peppy emphasized, we don't know what we are facing here.
Fox nodded, although he knew Peppy couldn't see him, and angled his Arwing down towards the planet's surface, with Falco following suit. As Pepper had told them before they left, time was of the essence, and they had to find the SDX, and then destroy it as fast as they could.
We'll head down to the surface, Fox declared, ROB, keep the Great Fox a good distance from the planet, and only try to enter the surface if we need you too.
Roger, Fox, ROB replied before turning the Great Fox around and heading away from the strange world.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ok, Falco, have you picked up the SDX's signature? Fox asked as the two Arwings flew over the strangely familiar, yet beautiful landscape of the surface. Both Fox and Falco had been flying high, trying to avoid detection by remaining over the clouds, but low enough so the satellites couldn't hit them.
Not yet, Falco scowled, and if we don't find it, I'm going to...oh, wait, I got it!
Fox almost laughed at Falco's little tirade, but became deathly serious as he to picked up the SDX's signature. However, as they got closer, he noticed multiple blips on the radar screen. What the...
Fox looked up, trying to get a visual, and what he saw shocked him. Just straight ahead, lying on a field was, according to the radar, the SDX. That, however, wasn't what shocked him. To his left, barely in visual range below the clouds, was an ancient propellor-propelled airplane heading towards the scout drone. To the right, on the other hand, was a fleet of blimps, as Fox could remember from Aviation history class.
Looks like we'll have to hurry up, Falco, Fox observed, we can't let them see that drone!
To that, both Arwings hit the afterburner, blazing past the speed of sound as they dived towards the target. Fox lined up the brackets of cross hairs, trying to get a lock for a long distant shot. he had to get this right the first time, or their cover would be blown. At 500 feet, Fox charged his laser and locked on to the drone. At 400 feet both he and Falco shot a charged laser and pulled a tight U-turn. Fox could only imagine the G-forces from such a turn without a G-diffuser as they rocketed towards space. As they did, Fox looked back to see an explosion replacing the drone. Breathing a sigh of relief, Fox turned back forward, and in the process he saw the plane keeping the same course towards the plume of smoke that was once the drone. Fox looked the other way, he saw the blimps were heavily armed with missiles. When he looked back at the plane, he saw that it had two people in it, and he could see that they had no weapons whatsoever.
Hey, Fox. You all right? Falco asked.
Fox was torn. He had completed his mission. All he had to do now was fly home and collect the check. However, when the two Arwings were getting close to the point where they could make a jump to space, he looked back and saw the plane turn around. He also saw the blimps fire at the plane. That decided the matter in Fox's mind, and he jammed the control stick to the right and back, quickly turning back the other way.
Fox, what the heck are you doing?! Falco demanded.
I'm going back, Fox simply answered.
Are you nuts, you'll be spotted for sure! Falco shouted.
I don't care. Those people are going to get slaughtered if we don't help. I can't live with myself if I allow that to happen, Fox proclaimed as he jammed the throttle forward.
Falco watched as Fox jetted off, then rolled his eyes.
Here we go again.
Jazz-Dude, this is getting exciting! Who is in the plane? Will Fox be successful at saving them? Find out next time on StarSonic!
RusVal-And another chapter bites the dust.
Jazz-And so will you, dude. Your going to get burned by Fox/Krystal fans!
RusVal-Yeah, I should probably explain. You see, I unfortunately haven't been able to play StarFox Adventures...
Jazz-Bummer.
RusVal-So there are some story elements, like Krystal's reactions to Fox, that I don't know. So, instead of using information that might confuse people, I'd say they broke up and use the information that I do know and can use to make it work.
Jazz-Well, I hope the audience understands that.
RusVal-I hope so, too, but it shouldn't make much of a difference. So, until the next chapter, which I plan to get done as soon as I can, later days!
