Mission 10 – Puppet Master

"I am extremely disappointed with the performance of the two of you." said General Pepper, "Dr. Zenotabi would be retrieving Cadet Damon's body back to his laboratory in a moment. He will give you further instructions from there. Pepper out."

Obsidian angrily kicked the glass wall of the cell where Andrew had once been, producing a series of miniscule cracks along the area where his boot had made contact. Perhaps the glass was not indestructible, or perhaps Obsidian was just strong . . . Very strong. The wolf stared at the motionless body of the young cadet in front of him. Why, of all people, Damon had to be the one? Nothing made sense at all. As far as he knew, Damon had been tortured by StarWolf for many years, and it was most unexpected for him to attempt to release Pigma and Andrew.

The wolf crouched down next to the hybrid on the ground, it was unmistakably Damon. A large portion of the teenager's chest had caved in as a result of Obsidian's punch. Blood was tricked down the corner of his lips, indicating severe internal damage. He also received a puncture wound from Obsidian's sword in his mid abdomen. For all Obsidian knew, he was dead. No one could survive a full-powered punch from Obsidian, besides Jade.

A few minutes later, Dr. Zenotabi arrived alone, turning on the lights of the wing as he entered. The rat doctor was the one worried about Damon's physical and mental health, and the sight he was about to see was not going to be encouraging. Seeing Damon and Obsidian, the doctor hurried over.

"Father . . . I didn't mean to." Obsidian said, his muzzle pointing at the ground. All his pride had dissolved in a single failed mission. "It was an accident."

"Let's not talk about for now, go and wake up your sister. We have a lot of work to do." By sister, Dr. Zenotabi meant Jade. The doctor extended his lanky arm and touched the cadet's neck, trying to get a pulse. His body was cold, and there was no pulse to be found. Worried, Zenotabi tried again, digging deeper with his fingers.

Jade woke, with a terrible headache. The punch she had received was strong enough to knock out a full grown buffalo. She mumbled something about killing Obsidian once everything was fixed, then walked down the corridor to meet her Father, leaning on the walls to support her weight.

"The two of you, listen." Dr. Zenotabi was quite in distress now. "Carry Cadet Damon to my vehicle, there may still be hope for him. Be very gentle, I didn't bring my medical kits because I didn't know you made the mess this big."

"Sorry Dad," Jade apologized, "This wouldn't have happened if Rocky didn't knock me out."

"NO EXCUSES! JUST DO WHAT I ASK!" Dr. Zenotabi scolded at Jade with malice. He watched the two pick up the cadet's body, one carrying his shoulders, the other carrying his feet. "Make sure the news and media doesn't get to this, or we'll have more things to fix up."
Obsidian stroked Damon's forehead lightly, it was his duty to watch over the unfortunate hybrid. Right now, they had him connected to a room full of medical equipment. An IV was strapped to his arm, a heart monitor blipped, and a respirator helped Damon's shallow and laborious breathing. Obsidian felt awful for putting him in this state, but was still curious why he was the one who attacked the prison.

Suddenly there was a faint gasp for air, a bit harder than what Obsidian had been used to hearing. He looked down at Damon, the hybrid's eyes fluttered open. Obsidian smiled down at him, "Good morning..."

Damon tried to moved, but groaned and stopped, "What's going on?" Damon's breath became a little ragged. Obsidian stroked his cheek to calm Damon down, so he wouldn't overexert himself.

"Damon, you're obviously in the hospital, do you know why?" Obsidian began his other job, besides playing Damon's caretaker; he was here to question the small hybrid.

"No, but why does my body hurt so much?" Damon began to tear, Obsidian could understand his pain.

"You don't remember a thing? You attacked the prison three days ago, releasing Andrew, you've been unconscious ever since." Obsidian said grimly.

"I couldn't have, I was asleep in my room." Damon said softly.

"So you say, well, I'm going to switch your IV for a moment. I'm going to give you some truth serum, to see how much you really know." Obsidian brought over a new IV container and replaced it with Damon's medication.

"O-okay..." Damon looked frightened, Obsidian wondered if the little hybrid knew more than he was telling. Obsidian waited for fifteen minutes as the serum took effect. He saw Damon's eyes dilate, and knew that he was ready.

"Damon, why did you attack the prison?" Obsidian simply asked.

Damon responded in rasping breaths, "I didn't attack the prison..."

"What is the last thing you remember?" Obsidian tried.

"Dreams . . . Nightmares. Mr. Ares." Damon said in a monotone manner.

"Dreams, what dreams have you been having?" Obsidian wondered if that might hold a valuable key.

"Dark halls . . . corridors . . . people . . . dead people . . . lots of blood." Damon answered.

"What about Mr. Ares?" The wolf asked curiously.

"He woke me up. . . Then nothing." Damon was gasping in short harsh breaths.

"I think that this raises a lot of questions. I'll let you rest for now." Obsidian spoke; he gave Damon another fifteen minute passage, the serum slowly wearing off. Finally Damon came back around. "Damon, do you know you're responsible for the deaths of sixty-three people?"

Damon's eyes widened, weakly he cried, "What?"

"You're the one who attacked the prison and released Leon. I want to know why you did it, and why you're not remembering any of it." Obsidian said bluntly, he then realized he hadn't taken the best approach, due to Damon's fragile nature. "I'm sorry little brother..."

Damon whimpered, then closed his eyes and weakly cried. His breaths soon became ragged again, forcing him to stop. Obsidian rubbed the hybrid's cheek softly, trying to comfort him. "Don't beat yourself up; I'm sure there's an explanation. I know you wouldn't kill so many people purposefully." The older wolf said soothingly. "You're not that kind of person. Now try and get some rest, I need to go talk with Dr. Zenotabi."

Damon mumbled, "Wait," Obsidian turned back to Damon, "Am I going to be okay?"

Obsidian frowned, "Yes, thanks to your abilities you'll be fine..." he paused, "I'm sorry Damon..."

"What do you have to be sorry for?" Damon asked innocently.

"I'm the one who hurt you so badly; I didn't know it was you. I broke your rib cage and stabbed you in the stomach. If not for your special abilities you might be dead right now. I'm truly sorry, I went overboard, and even if it had been someone else I went too far." Obsidian began to tear, "Please forgive me Damon..."

Damon coughed, and then spoke "Obsidian, don't cry, I forgive you. I don't blame you at all. You were just trying to stop me; I know you would never intentionally hurt me like this." Damon put on a weak smile, and then let out a shuddering gasp before slowly fading into unconsciousness.
"So what information did you acquire from Damon?" Dr. Zenotabi asked, his chair swiveling to face Obsidian. "Did he admit anything?"

"No, Father. He did not admit anything." Obsidian replied, "I used a dose of truth serum on him. I am positive that he doesn't remember anything."

"Hmm, perhaps I may have some answers for this. I would need to do a CAT scan for Damon to support my hypothesis." Zenotabi eyed the young wolf curiously, "Obsidian, have you been crying?"

"Err . . . Yes Father." Obsidian replied, slightly ashamed. He was rather surprised with himself for tearing. He had shamelessly killed many before, mainly criminals, but why was he crying for a freakish little teenager that he nearly killed?

Zenotabi smiled, "Looks like you've bonded with my specimen thirteen quite well, my boy. You are doing quite well, except for letting Andrew escape."

"I am sorry, Father." Obsidian was still ashamed of failing at his mission. This had never happened before. His perfect record was ruined. The wolf fell on his knees. "Please punish me."

"On the other hand, you were also the one who captured Andrew." Zenotabi said calmly, as if he did not notice Obsidian's request. "I have yet to reward you on that. What do you wish? I may first reward you, and then discipline you. Or, I may do nothing."

"Then I wish for you to do nothing, Father." Obsidian looked up at the rat doctor, his creator. "And I ask to be excused."

"You are excused, Obsidian." Zenotabi answered, "Keep in mind that Jade would receive her reward, for both capturing and safeguarding Pigma Dengar." The rat smiled as he watched Obsidian move towards the door. He then stood up from the chair and prepared a CAT scan for Damon. If his hypothesis was correct, then Damon was more dangerous than they had imagined previously.

"Father, if I may interject, I don't think it would be wise to move Damon in his state." The black wolf said, twirling around.

Zenotabi raised an eyebrow, "Oh, and why not?"

"We barely arrived with him safely here three days ago, he is still in a critical state. Even barely whispering is severely exhausting to him. Moving him may do more harm than good." Obsidian said, looking slightly worried.

"We need to find out if what I fear is true now. If not we could be endangering ourselves further." Zenotabi said sternly.

"Please father, I m just concerned for Damon's well being. If you won't listen to me this way, then I ask that you let him rest as my reward. You may punish me however you wish, but please, let the poor boy sleep." Obsidian pleaded.

Zenotabi stared at the wolf, "Alright, I'll wait until he's feeling better. We must not let Damon know anything is the matter. We must not talk to him about anything pertaining to StarWolf. We must also watch him very, very closely for any signs of strange behavior. If my hypothesis is correct, then Leon is using Damon as a tool, and Damon doesn't know it.

"Yes father, I will notify StarFox and sister of this immediately." Obsidian turned on his heel and started to walk out of the room.

Zenotabi called, "Obsidian," he watched as the young wolf turned around nervously, "You have received your reward, but there is still the matter of a suitable punishment for your failure. Speak with Star Fox and come back here in one hour, I will have decided your punishment then."
Damon slowly roused, and found he was looking into the smiling face of Sirus Ares. Damon coughed, and smiled weakly back. Sirus grabbed Damon's hand and squeezed it gently.

"Hello..." Ares said soothingly.

"How long have I been out?" Damon whispered.

Ares smiled, "Actually Obsidian says it's only been about an hour since you last woke up. How are you feeling?"

Damon coughed, "My chest has collapsed and there's a hole in my stomach. I'm on top of the world..."

"Well, I'm just here to visit and keep an eye on you. They wanted someone with you here, just to make sure you're okay." Sirus said, patting Damon's arm. "Do you want anything?"

"Some water would be nice..." Damon said.
Ares chuckled, and produced a small baby's bottle. Damon gave the older lupine a glare mixed with embarrassment. Ares shrugged, "You aren't strong enough to drink from a glass yet." Ares gently removed Damon's oxygen mask, and placed the bottle in the side of his muzzle. Damon clamped down and sucked softly, then started choking lightly. Ares immediately began rubbing Damon's throat and the water rolled own.

Ares frowned, "Damon, are you okay, I'm sorry, I guess you're not even strong enough to swallow on your own." He sighed in relief as Damon nodded. He replaced the oxygen mask and smiled. "If you need anything, just tell me. We can get you just about anything you want." Damon shook his head, and then held his palm open. Ares understood, he placed his hand in Damon's. All Damon wanted right now was companionship.

Obsidian returned to Zenotabi's office exactly one hour from the time he had left. Zenotabi was sitting at his Desk, and Jade was leaning in one of the corners. Obsidian looked confused, "Alright father, I'm here for my punishment, but what is Jade doing here?"

Zenotabi frowned, "She is here to help with your punishment. Remove your coat and shirt and lay them on my desk. Then you will kneel in front of the desk and place both hands behind your head."

Obsidian frowned, but did what Zenotabi asked. His muscled form on display, Zenotabi stared for a moment. Then the rat spoke, "It would be a shame to disfigure such a handsome form. Jade, I want you to hurt him, but make sure you leave no wounds that would scar."

Zenotabi handed Jade a whip, Jade looked at it sadly. Zentoabi frowned, "Don't disobey me Jade, your brother failed, and so he needs to be punished. Give him fifty stripes, begin now." Jade frowned, lowering her head in doubt. Zenotabi growled, "Do you need to be punished as well. Whip your brother before I have you receiving a worse treatment."

Jade raised the whip, and brought it down lightly on Obsidian's exposed back. A small hiss protruding from his lips, and a welt formed on his back where he had been struck.

Zenotabi frowned, "Harder..." Jade struck him again. Zenotabi was still unsatisfied, "Harder..." Another crack, this time a small bit of blood leaked from the slash. Zenotabi said again, "Harder." Jade let the whip loose, a yelp of pain emitting from her brother. Zenotabi kept telling her to strike him harder with each blow. By the end of his beating Obsidian was on the ground sobbing, his back was raw and bloodied. Jade knelt down and stroked Obsidian's face, her eyes seeping tears too. Zenotabi gave her some bandages and some salves to help with the healing.

Jade, "Please dress your brother's wounds, don't worry, he will be fine. I'm sorry the both of you had to endure that. This will teach you both to be stronger." With that, Zenotabi left the room. Jade applied the medications and bandages, and then held her brother gently.

"That served you right for knocking me out, Rocky." Jade tried to joke though her sobs. The punishment was actually painful for her as well. The cat kissed the wolf on the cheek, sniffing. "I am sorry Rocky, I am so sorry. . ." Obsidian held her in return, sobbing in pain.
Two days later, Fox McCloud went to the hospital to visit Damon. As far as he knew, the kid had enough strength to eat and talk without too much difficulty now, due to his remarkably fast healing rate. Most of the broken bones in his ribcage were starting to heal, and his internal organs were functioning normally, except for his lungs and stomach.

Fox went to the specialized hospital room, knocked on the door then went in. It was empty, except for Damon and the machines he was linked up to. The electrocardiogram was removed already, leaving the teenager with only the oxygen mask and the IV. The boy was sleeping when Fox arrived.

Fox quietly strolled over to Damon's side, smiling at the boy. He couldn't help but gently stroke the boy's forehead. Krystal was right, Damon was adorable. Suddenly the images of Bill Grey's children murdered in their playroom flashed in Fox's mind. Fox began to tear. "Leon Powalski, I swear on my dead father's grave, I will find you, and I will kill you."

"Will you really, Fox?" said a voice, Damon's voice. The previously sleeping teen was now awake, grinning at Fox.

"Yes, I – ah!" Fox found a hand digging into his trachea, threatening to collapse his windpipe. He glanced down in horror, it was Damon. The fox gripped the hybrid's arm with both of his hands, barely removing the deadly claw from his throat. "What are you doing?" he asked, fighting the teen's freakish strength.

"You see, it would be my pleasure to fight you face to face." Damon said with a grin, sitting up from the bed. He suddenly knocked Fox to the ground, both hands wrapping around Fox's throat in an attempt to strangle him. "But it is much easier to do it through my puppet."

Fox gagged as powerful fingers wrapped around his neck. How was the hybrid able to apply so much strength, while his body was completely damaged? Was Damon feeling anything at all? Questions started to dart across Fox's mind faster than he could grasp them. The fox fought, trying to push the hybrid's arms back in vain. As a final result, Fox reached for his blaster and pressed it against Damon's stomach. "Get off. . .or I'll. . .shoot you." He gasped through his constricted windpipe. He couldn't endure this for much longer; sooner or later he would be choked to death.

"Go ahead and shoot your friend, Fox." Damon said with a twisted grin, "I don't care if you kill him. His purpose is served." The hybrid's claws continued to squeeze McCloud's neck like a pair of vice grips.

"Leon . . . What did you do to Damon?" Fox realized that the teenager was being controlled somehow by the lizard, somewhere. The Fox rammed the gun into Damon's wound, where Obsidian had impaled him with a sword. However, the hybrid acted as if he didn't feel anything. Fox began to see black rings closing in around his vision. He fired his blaster, and the grip on his neck loosened slightly, allowing him to take a gasp of air.

"Wouldn't you wish to know?" Leon said through Damon's mouth. "Too bad you are going to die soon, so why bother even telling?" The hybrid lunged again, choking Fox with renewed strength.

Fox's limits were broken, he was dying. Suddenly the teenager was no longer Damon, it was Leon. With anger blazing in his eyes, Fox fired his blaster into Damon's abdomen, then again, again, and again. Blood splattered all over the room, over Fox, over Damon, over everything. At the end, all was still. Fox lay unconscious on the ground, with Damon sprawled on top of him.
Obsidian tried to smile, but even the shirt on his back hurt him. Jade had hurt him severely. He would bear the pain though, to ensure the safety of Damon he would bear the stinging for a few days. He was headed there now; he wanted to see Damon and his smiling optimism even in his anguish. He had a tray loaded with food; he heard Fox was there, so he had loaded it for three.

Soon it would be time for the CAT scan, but whatever his father had planned could go through now. Obsidian felt it had been his duty to protect Damon. He felt bad enough when he found out it was Damon who he hurt. Then Damon had been so forgiving. Obsidian wouldn't have forgiven himself if anything were to happen to Damon. Although it probably wouldn't, his father was very careful. He probably had no reason to worry. Still, there was too high a risk in Obsidian's eyes.

Smiling Obsidian opened the door to Damon's room. He knew that when he opened his eyes Damon would be lying in bed, breathing softly, but happy. Fox by his side, perhaps the two exchanging stories. Unfortunately he didn't hear anything. He opened his eyes and immediately dropped the tray. Blood and fragments of body matter splattered everywhere. Damon was lying on top of Fox, who were both on the floor; Fox was clutching a blaster in his hand. Damon was shot in the abdomen five times, with five exit wounds in his lower back.

He immediately pulled Damon off of Fox. He checked Damon's pulse, and then Fox's. Both were still alive, and he was thankful for that. He immediately called his father.

He waited as the line rang, and only wished his father would answer sooner.

Finally the phone picked up, "Yes?" Zenotabi's voice said on the other line.

"Father, please get down to Damon's room now, there's been a terrible accident." Obsidian said, panic filling his voice. For this he could be punished again. Not that he cared about that at the moment; he cared more for the safety of Fox and Damon.

"What happened?" Zenotabi said, sounding slightly alarmed, after noticing the panic in Obsidians voice.

Obsidian answered, "Damon and Fox are both unconscious, Damon's been shot several times, looks like Fox had to do it."

"This is exactly what I feared would happen. I understand Damon's critical condition, but after he's treated we need to immediately give him a CAT. I'll be down quickly with assistance."

Obsidian sounded slightly relived, "Yes, thank you father, I will have them ready for transport." He then heard the line click, and he quickly began situating the bodies so they would be easy to move onto gurneys so they could be rushed into the emergency wing. Obsidian frowned, this was awful, and again it was his fault. Maybe Damon might be able to forgive Obsidian, but Obsidian might never forgive himself.