Chapter 4

---

The next day, Wolf had been sent to pick up some groceries. Krystal had come with him and helped pick out some items. Now, they were returning to the Wolfen and talking to each other.

"So, you and Kyle were separated for eighteen years?" Krystal asked.

Wolf just nodded. He opened the cargo compartment and they put the bags inside.

"What happened to your eye?"

"It was shot, okay!" he snapped.

Krystal jerked backwards with her hands up.

"I'm sorry." Wolf said calmly, "It's just that I don't like to be reminded."

"I don't blame you." Krystal said, "I have some bad memories that I don't like to talk about either."

Wolf closed the compartment. Then, as he was about to open the cockpit, he noticed a red dot on his chest and began looking around.

"What's wrong?" Krystal asked.

Suddenly, Wolf spotted a panther, in a red convertable, aiming a sniper's rifle at him. Wolf barely had time to dodge the bullet that came flying at him. He reached for his blaster, but he had left it on the Great Fox. Then, he remembered the tracking device that Slippy gave him. He quickly pulled out the tracer gun and fired a tracer at the car. The tracer attached itself to the rear bumper, just as the car was driving away. Wolf made a note to track down the shooter and make him pay. He was relieved that he was still alive, but his relief soon turned into horror when he noticed that Krystal had been hit by the bullet and was now lying on the ground, wounded.

"Oh, no! Oh, God, NO!"

---

Kyle sat on the couch, playing the same video game for what seemed like the seven hundredth time. After beating the final boss, he put the gun down and turned off the game. Then he yawned and started to take a nap on the couch, when he heard his PDA beeping. He pushed the button and Wolf's face appeared.

"What's up, Wolf?" he asked.

"Krystal needs help. She's been shot!"

Kyle was shocked.

"I'm on my way." he said.

Falco and Kyle arrived in Falco's arwing. Wolf was holding his handkerchief to Krystal's wound and a several bystanders were watching. Kyle and Falco quickly got out of the arwing, and ran to Krystal.

"Give me some room!" Kyle said, "I'm a doctor!"

Everyone got out of his way. Experiencing a slight feeling of déjà vu, Kyle lifted Krystal's shirt. After removing the bullet and bandaging her wound, he checked her pulse and heart rate.

"She'll be alright." Kyle said, "Chalk up another life saved by Kyle Wolfowitz."

Everyone cheered and applauded in response. Krystal was still unconscious, but she was going to live.

"How'd this happen?" Falco asked.

"We were just coming back with the groceries, when some panther shot at me." Wolf said, "I didn't recognize him, so I don't know why he would want to kill me."

"We'll worry about that later." Kyle said, picking Krystal up, "Right now, let's get Krystal to the infirmary, where she'll be safe."

---

Krystal started to open her eyes.

"Are you feeling okay?" Kyle asked.

"Wh-what happened?" she asked. "Where am I?"

"It's okay, you're back on the Great Fox." Kyle said, "You were accidentally shot by someone who was aiming for Wolf."

"Whydid theywant to kill Wolf?"

"I don't know, but he apparently only brought one bullet, because he only took one shot."

Fox came into the room with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Is she alright?" he asked.

"Oh, good timing, Fox." Kyle said, "She's just woken up."

Fox walked up to her and handed her the flowers.

"Oh, for me?" Krystal said, "How romantic."

"I'm glad you're okay." Fox said, "I was hoping we could go out again. Maybe watch the Solar sun set on the beach."

Krystal smiled as she smelled the sweet perfume of the flowers.

"I'd like that." she said, "Maybe next week some time."

"Okay, sounds good. I'll belooking forward to that day."

He kissed her on the cheek and left. He then went the kitchen, where he noticed a note on the counter. He picked it up and read it. It said:

'Fox,

I'm sorry about what happened to Krystal. I think the shooter was intending to hit me. I managed to hit his car with a tracer and I'm going to track him down.

Wish me luck,

Wolf.

P.S. We got everything on the list. Enjoy.'

"Good luck, Wolf." he said, throwing it away, "Hope you teachthat punka lesson."

---

Wolf followed the tracer to a tavern at Corneria City. Checking the parking lot, he eventually found the shooter's car. He pulled the tracer off and put it away. Then, as he walked up to the tavern door, a leopard bouncer stopped him.

"Hand over your weapons." he said, "You'll get 'em back when you leave."

"Sure, no problem." Wolf said.

He drew his blaster and handed it to him. The bouncer then gave him a claim ticket and said, "Go on in."

Wolf walked into the tavern. There were patrons drinking at tables, playing pool, throwing darts, etc. Wolf looked around through the crowd, but couldn't find the panther he was looking for. One patron at the other end of the room was sitting at a table, wearing a black cloak and seemed to be watching him. He wore a hood over his head, so Wolf couldn't see his face. Wolf ignored him and walked up to the bar. The bartender, a rhinoceros, was cleaning one of his glasses and didn't notice Wolf.

"Bartender," Wolf said.

The bartender didn't hear him.

"Hey, Bartender!"

The bartender glanced in Wolf's direction, Wolf's appearance startled him and he dropped the glass on the floor.

"W-Wolf O'Donnell!" he said, "Sorry, I-I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I assure you, I'm not here to cause any trouble." Wolf replied. "I just need a little information."

"Sure, sure. What'cha wanna know?"

"I'm looking for a black panther, about this tall, who drives a red convertable."

"Oh yeah, that sounds like Frank. He's right over there at that table."

Wolf glanced over at the table. The panther he was looking for was sitting at the table, drinking by himself. He didn't seem to notice Wolf.

"Thanks." Wolf said.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out five credits.

"Here's something for your trouble." he said, handing it to the bartender.

Wolf noticed the panther getting up and walking in the Men's room. Seizing this opportunity to pursue his attacker, he waited outside the stall where the panther was doing his business. As the panther opened the door, he was startled to see a hand grab him by his shirt and pull him out.

"Hi there." Wolf said, as he pushed him against the wall.

"Y-you!"

"Yes. I want to know why you tried to shoot me!"

"I didn't want to do it, I swear! Someone hired me to do it! I needed the money!"

"Who was it!"

"I-I don't know his name! He was a green lizard, about this tall, and he had some kind of robotic eye. That's all I know!"

Wolf slowly put him down.

"Don't let me catch you near me or my friends again!" he said, "And get a haircut!"

Wolf walked out of the tavern. After getting his blaster back from the bouncer, Wolf started walking back to his Wolfen. As he got close, he felt as if he was being followed. He turned around and saw the cloaked figure from the tavern holding a tranquilizer gun, which he immediately fired. Without a second to dodge it, the dart hit him in the neck and he instantly passed out.

"Never send a panther to do a chameleon's job." said the figure.