Mission 05 – New Arrivals

The entire StarFox crew, as well as their guest, was all seated in the recreation room. Krystal and Damon were on one couch. Damon was laid out on his side, clutching a throw pillow to his chest, his head on Krystal's lap. He was still steadily crying. He had stopped his out lashings, and now was lost in thought. Krystal scratched him soothingly between his oversized ears. She was running her fingers through the short military buzz cut, only slightly thicker and longer than the rest of his fur. The spines that were on his scalp were obscured by the hairstyle.

Fox stared at him from the next couch over, a bit envious that all his wife's attentions had gone to the awkward teenager. He looked like a child, just barely growing into his body. It was kind of sad to imagine he would look odd and disproportioned like that for the rest of his life. He was only slightly taller, and it was only by his ears being erect. If they were lowered, then they'd be the same height. Foxfelt deep sympathy for the child, but felt award the way his wife was treating the boy. He was almost a complete stranger, and yet Krystal was treating him like a son. Perhaps he was just paranoid and jealous, but he couldn't bear it any longer. He finally broke the silence, "You know kid, I lost both my father and my mother, you need to learn to cope." Everyone stared at him after he had snapped.

Damon blinked a few times, as if out of surprise. Then continued to cry, he stared at Fox. He then muttered out, "Cope?" he sunk his muzzle into the pillow he clutched. He took a couple of deep breaths, raised his muzzle, and continued to talk. "Fox, I-I just lost the only person who ever loved me. I don't have friends to fall back on like you do. Everyone hates me, everyone calls me a freak. Everyone is either scared by me, or repulsed, or they think they're superior." Damon closed his eyes, "Wolf was my only family, he was the first person to treat me as something higher than some dumb beast, or tool. He realized I have feelings, he raised me, took care of me, he even protected me."

"What about your biological parents?" Krystal asked, "Where are they?

Damon shook his head, "I don't have any, I'm just a genetic freak. Leon spliced both sperm and egg cells. He took apart and reassembled the seed I was made out of until he was satisfied. I don't even know what animal I am. I'm barely recognizably jackal, more canine than anything, and then reptilian DNA. I was grown in a test tube. All this was not meant to be put together like this, and so I mutated. A hybrid, a freak, a-a monster..."

Fox felt ashamed, realizing that would lead to problems, no wonder the kid couldn't accept things well. Then again, people grieve in different ways too. "I'm sorry kid..."

Peppy spoke, "So, you're a hybrid? Well that isn't too much of a problem; I mean different people have odd relationships. They normally have happy and healthy children."

Damon frowned, "No, I am a REAL hybrid, not like those happy and healthy children. I'm like a non sentient mule, a cross between two species...Except I am a cross between many different species."

"Oh!" Slippy exclaimed, obviously interested about the topic. "Are you stronger and hardier than a normal person? Do you have cool markings like ligers and stuff? Are you sterile?" The toad stopped there, realizing that everyone was staring at him.

Damon turned around; burying his head into the pillow he was holding. The boy cried again, curling up on the couch. Krystal rubbed his back softly, trying to calm him. She was perhaps the most patient one out of the whole team, save perhaps ROB. The rest of the team just stared at Slippy as if he committed some unspeakable crime. Falco looked particularly annoyed with Damon. Ever since they brought the kid onto the Great Fox he was crying, and the bird's patience was running out.

"Eh...heh, sorry, I'll just go now!" Slippy said audibly, then ran off to do his research, evading from the rest of his team. He wasn't surprised by the reaction that his team gave him, but he couldn't stay away from talking either.

"Alright, I am out of here. I had enough of this." Falco said, standing up from his seat a few minutes later. All this crying was starting to annoy him. "I am going to hang out in the bar or something, anyone coming with me?"

"I will, Falco." Peppy replied, getting up from his seat. The boy's whining was making the old hare uneasy too. He was now wondering if bringing Cadet Damon onto the Great Fox was a good idea. Unfortunately, it was too late to change their minds. Perhaps they could bear with the freak's tears for another day, and then send him back to the military.

Fox sighed as the rest of his team left the room. He calmly strolled over to his wife and sat next to the cadet. Wolf O'Donnell's death to the young cadet was almost an equivalent to death of James McCloud. Deep inside he felt empathy for Damon, but there was nothing that he could do. Who would have guessed the death of a criminal could cause so much pain? Perhaps every Cornerian was cheering for the mercenary's death now, but StarFox, the ones that were supposed to cheer, silently mourned for Wolf.
Fox, Krystal, and Damon were still in the recreation room. Damon was asleep on the floor in the middle of the room. Tricky was snoring Right beside him. They were snuggling close together, Damon had one arm around Tricky, and the other he was using to suck his thumb.

Krystal giggled as she nuzzled her husband, "Oh, that's so adorable. It makes me want to have children of our own."

Fox mock groaned, "We just got married, perhaps we should settle in a little before we start thinking about kids Krys. Besides, if Damon is going to be sticking around, I'm sure you'll get your fill of these adorable moments."

Krystal pushed her husband lightly, "Don't be so rude, he's dealing with this a best he can. I don't see why you and the others have such a problem with him. It's just a few tears; the poor kid has a right to be sad. His life is a complete mess, and now his surrogate father is dead. The boy has no one left, cut him some slack."

Fox's PDA beeped, and the projection of General Pepper interrupted the couple, "Good Evening Fox, Krystal, How is Damon?"

Fox motioned to the center of the room, and Pepper chuckled, "Seems he's made himself at home. Perhaps this is the kind of environment he should be in. He needs somewhere that is caring and nurturing, something he didn't get as a child. He's certainly not going to get it in the military..."

Fox interjected, "I know where you're going with this general. Let us make the decision of whether he stays or not. Is that okay with you?"

General Pepper nodded, "I apologize, I didn't mean to be so brash."

Krystal smiled, "Don't worry; we'll go take a vote on it now, while he's still asleep."

"All right, I'm glad he's asleep. I would apologize for having to kill Wolf, but I don't think he'd hear me out. I have a gift for him, perhaps and incentive for you to keep him as well." Pepper winked, "Hear me out here, we confiscated two of the four Wolfen II's. Wolf requested that we give one to Damon, and for the wrong I've done both of them I'm complying. You may have the other Wolfen, since I know your Arwing was destroyed."

Fox nodded and smiled, "That's very generous of you sir, we'll consider your offer. I suppose we'll go decide whether he stays with us, or goes back with you now. Fox out..."
The StarFox crew was assembled on the bridge. Tricky had been expertly smuggled away from Damon and was now wide awake. Fox stood at the head of the bridge, next to ROB. "Alright, we're here to decide whether we allow Damon to stay with us, or if we send him back to the military."

Falco huffed, "My answer is no, he's annoying, a crybaby. He'll cause too much trouble."

Peppy nodded in agreement, "Not that I don't like the kid, but if he's going to be depressed all the time he'll just be in our way."

Krystal glared at the two, "I can't believe you two are so cold, that child needs us right now. It would ultimately crush him if we turned him away."

Tricky spoke next, "I want him to stay, he's nice, and I don't think he's going to be crying forever. We just need to help him along."

Slippy fidgeted, "Well, while I think he's nice, and I'm interested in him. I don't think we should let him stay." Slippy gulped as he looked at Falco, and Fox wondered if his old teammate had "persuaded" the toad to vote no.

Fox turned to ROB, "You're entitled to your say too ROB, you're as much a crew member as any of us."

ROB stood a moment, then spoke, "I vote affirmative, the boy's abilities could prove to be a valuable asset. Ms. Krystal's and Prince Tricky's points are valid as well and I stand by them."

Fox thought a moment, "So that's three who vote no, and three for yes. As the leader, I'll decide if he stays or goes," Fox stood for a moment, deliberating, then he made hi decision, "I think we'd be doing an injustice to ourselves, but an even greater injustice to the kid if we didn't let him stay. Damon is going to stay here with us, and become a full member of the crew."

Peppy smiled and nodded, respecting his leader's decision. Falco on the other hand was grumbling, and kicked a bolt across the room. Krystal was overjoyed and ran over and kissed her husband on the cheek. Slippy had taken ROB over and was tinkering with their jukebox. Fox scanned the room for Tricky, but the young dinosaur was nowhere to be found. Undoubtedly he was going to alert Damon of the good news. Perhaps now the kid would cheer up and be happier.
"Ugh...My head." said Wolf O'Donnell, waking up in the middle of a specialized hospital room. There was a sign on the door with "Quarantined Patient" and "Do Not Enter" on it. The first sensation he felt after the throbbing headache and the confusion was a tingling feeling in his dead eye socket. Blinking, he found himself looking into the world with two eyes, for the first time in many years. "What the . . .?"

"Oh, good morning Mr. Ares." said nurse in a protective suit, entering the room. Once in, she immediately took off the clumsy outfit, revealing a black cat in a red leather suit. It was Jade, the assassin who killed Wolf O'Donnell two weeks ago. "You slept for quite a long time, Mr. Ares. My boss was starting to wonder about my skills, as a matter of fact."

"What did you call me?" the wolf sat up from the bed, completely puzzled by the young feline. "Why am I here? What's going on?"

"You have many questions, Mr. Ares." Jade cat said with a smile. "And I can only answer some of them." The cat opened her briefcase, which was sitting on the window sill. Inside was a pile of documents, a few different disguises, and her beloved sniper rifle. She grabbed the pile of documents, and then abruptly threw them into O'Donnell's lap. "Read those when you have the time, I'll just give you the basic instructions for now."

"Err...Mind telling me what's going on, Lady?" Wolf said, wondering why a nurse was carrying a dismantled sniper rifle in her briefcase. He nervously reached for the vase next to him, hoping to defend himself if necessary.

"Put that vase down, I don't want to clean up your mess if you spill it." said the cat, still gathering some objects in her briefcase. Jade could see the wolf from the reflection on the window, as well as the shuffling noises he made while grabbing the vase. The cat turned around, with a military uniform in her arms. "This is your uniform, Lieutenant Ares."

"Alright Lady, really, stop playing around and tell me what is going on. Was I supposed to be executed or something?" Wolf asked taking a brief glance at the documents the cat threw on the bed. "The last thing I remember was...I was walking to the car, and then something hit me in the back of the head..."

"I would advise you to be quiet, Lieutenant." Jade said with a commanding tune, "Wolf O'Donnell was assassinated two weeks ago; you are no longer Wolf O'Donnell. You are Sirus Ares, second Lieutenant of the Cornerian Army, former veteran of the Lylat War. Your status was MIA for the last nine years. The rest of your platoon was killed during the war. Your identification papers are in the brown envelope. The rest are just additional information about your background, status, occupations, and stuff like that. You got that so far?"

"Err...Yes." Things were starting to make sense for Wolf, no, Lieutenant Ares. Someone killed Wolf O'Donnell two weeks ago, and somehow he survived. And this cat lady was telling him what happened two weeks ago, and what was going to happen in the near future. He idly scratched his new eye, wondering what happened with that.

"Good." said the black cat. "Your new eye is robotic, with a ten times maximum optical zoom and 200 mega pixels resolution. It also matches your other eye, just so you know. You can check it out with a mirror later. I cannot stay for too long."

"Why are you doing this? Who is doing this?" Wolf asked with a demanding tone. He needed answers, and he needed them now. "Who are you?"

"I cannot answer those questions yet." Jade replied, "I am just telling you what I was required to tell you. Read the papers and you would find out the rest. And oh, don't forget about this." The cat bent down and pulled out a business suitcase under Mr. Ares' bed. "Inside you would find a military issued blaster, your pilot license, you driving license, car keys and a bunch of other stuff that you might need. If in doubt, shoot first, ask questions later. Good bye, Mr. Ares, and good luck with your new assignment." The black cat then did the most spectacular thing that puzzled wolf had ever seen. Grabbing her briefcase, she jumped out the window.

"Wow! What the?" Lieutenant Ares scuttled out of his bed and looked down the opened window. All he could see was a young girl, dressed in red, walking casually away from the hospital, many floors below. Who was she? What was she? The wolf looked back at the messy bed and the scattered documents. According to the lady who just jumped out of the window and walked away casually, he was supposed to read them for further information and instructions. So, Mr. Ares picked up a sheet of paper and began to read, trying to understand who he was supposed to be, and his new assignments.
Lieutenant Ares parked his car and looked up at the large ship at the docking bay. Yes, the Great Fox, the legendary ship and home of the StarFox team. His task today was to become a fighter pilot for StarFox, as it was printed clearly on his "assignment sheet". Whoever was behind this plan was either a genius, or a monster, with an ambiguous goal. Sirus Ares, formerly known as Wolf O'Donnell, was to capture Leon Powalski alive, and to keep Cadet Damon's mind and body in good health. Every step of his procedure was written down on paper, as if some omniscient being was guiding him through a list of words.

Sirus walked up to the two guards and showed his identification papers, then passed through the metal detector of the checkpoint. Almost immediately the alarm sounded, and the two guards nervously approached the lieutenant. By rank, Ares was a superior officer of the guards, who were merely cadets.

"Excuse me Sir, but you would have to leave that here." Said one of the cadets nervously, pointing at the wolf's blaster. "Weapons are not allowed beyond this point." They did not recognize he was the late Wolf O'Donnell. Ares looked at least five years younger, and perhaps twice as handsome and attractive. It was all part of the master's plan.

"That's alright," the lieutenant replied with a smile, taking off the blaster and its holster, "Here you go. Please keep it safe, because I would hate to see it broken." With that, the tall lupine proceeded towards the spacecraft, carrying only his briefcase. Sirus never understood why a blaster was part of his outfit, since it was more of an annoyance than a protection.

Beneath the Great Fox, ROB was already waiting for the lieutenant's arrival. Dr. Zenotabi had already arranged an interview with StarFox for Mr. Ares yesterday. If everything were to go well, the lieutenant would be part of StarFox by the end of the day.

"Greetings, Lieutenant Sirus Ares." greeted ROB with a bow, "Please follow me."

"You can call me Mr. Ares." the lupine said as he followed the robot into the spacecraft. ROB lead him into a small lobby, and hurried off to fetch Fox, Peppy and Falco.

Ares simply glanced around the small room. It was quite pleasing to the eye, no doubt the crew cleaned it for his arrival. There were several pot plants around the room, each holding an exotic plant that the wolf had never seen before. They were tall plants with a single stalk, a trio of leaves, and a large blue crystal in the middle. Ares couldn't help but to touch the shimmering crystal, but he withdrew his hand in surprise as the crystal broke off, the plant withering instantly afterwards.

"Ah, do not worry about that, Lieutenant." said Peppy, "It will regenerate itself in a few minutes. You may keep the crystal as a souvenir, if you want."

"Oh, how kind of you," Mr. Ares picked up the shimmering crystal, "Quite a strange and exotic plant you have here."

"Let's cut the nonsense and get to work," said another voice. It was Falco Lombardi, standing not far off with his arms crossed. "I am really curious to see if you are as good as the rat doctor said you were." Of course, he wasn't in a particularly bright mood, ever since Cadet Damon became part of StarFox.

"I am sure you would find out soon enough, Mr. Lombardi, I presume?" Ares said, bowing his head lightly. Oh yes, the arrogant one. Working with him would be difficult, but it wasn't anything impossible.

Fox McCloud entered the lobby, studying the newcomer for a moment or two. "Well, are you ready?" Fox finally spoke, "If you are, follow me to the simulators, you should be skilled enough, I assume?" Fox wasn't expecting anything from this lupine. In fact, StarFox wasn't in need of another member right now. Therefore, the test was going to be more difficult than usual.

"I have a little suggestion." Falco said with a smirk, "Why don't we throw the crybaby in the simulator as well? It doesn't hurt to see if the kid could fly an Arwing or not."

Fox stopped walking for a moment, pondering on the matter. "Actually, let's do that, go ahead and fetch him, and the rest of us can wait by the simulators." Fox was curious to see if Damon could fly an Arwing or not. It was also a good way to test the kid's potentials as a future pilot.

Soon, all the participants were sitting inside their simulator cockpits, waiting for the test to begin. Fox and Falco, however, had their own agendas to make the test more interesting, for both Sirus and Damon. They were going to be their enemies.