Mission 27 – Genesis

(Authors' notes: After a heated discussion, the authors of StarFox: Stings I and II have decided to merge the two stories into one continuous story. Any materials concerning Strings 2 would also receive a brand new plot, so stay tuned for more updates.)

"Fox, slow down or you are going to kill someone!" Peppy sat leaning against a corridor in the Great Fox, watching the vulpine disappear around the corner, towards the hanger. Apparently Fox had knocked the old hare off his feet. Peppy was shaking his fist. "Where are you off to?"

"Sorry! I'll tell you when I get back!" Fox shouted back as he darted towards the hanger. He was exited, anxious, and very hasty. The vulpine punched in the password into his bracelet as he came close to his Arwing, and hopped into the ship's cockpit in one fluid movement. Within another ten seconds, he was off.

"Fox, according to the Cornerian air-traffic laws, your aircraft's speed limit exceed the legal speed limit by a hundred and twenty miles per hour." ROB's warned through the speaker of the cockpit, "I highly advise you to slow down."

"Shut up ROB, not now." Fox pulled the accelerator, and his ship entered the sonic boom. With his superb controlling skills, he drove the Arwing near the city skyline, dodging and twisting around sky scrapers. "I am in a hurry."

"You will approach your destination in three . . . two . . . one." ROB's calculations were confused by Fox's irregular speed, "You just missed it."

"ROB, next time start counting down when I am about fifteen seconds away." Fox complained, and did a spectacular summersault. The Arwing streaked along the sky, and landed on a vacant helipad atop of a building.

"Sorry, but I am not programmed to. . ." The robot's voice was muted as Fox closed the cockpit screen, running towards the nearest elevator. He pressed the button, and waited for the lift to arrive. His heart was pounding in excitement, and he was tapping his foot impatiently. Finally a beep rang, and the vulpine dived into the elevator. Scanning the brief description on each floor, the quickly pressed the square button with the number "5" engraved on it. The doors closed, and the lift descended.

Fox burst out the metallic box, pushing people aside rudely. A man cursed at him, and the vulpine only apologized briefly and ran off in the opposite direction. Finally he came to a corridor with glass windows on both sides. He took a look through one of the windows, and saw rows of adorable infants lying in their little cribs. Fox smiled through his teeth, finally stumbling upon what he was looking for. The exhausted vulpine pressed his face against the window, staring at a pair of new born kits. The two babies had the most recognizable fur color. One of them was fiery orange, just like Fox's own fur. When gazed upon at the right angle, the little kit's fur had a peculiar golden tint. The baby was sleeping quietly, its little paw griping the edge of the small blanket covering it. Next to the orange one was an active kit, sucking its thumb and kicking its blanket off with its little legs. This one had Krystal's unmistakable blue-colored fur and a strip of silver on its head, just like Fox's white strip. Like its twin, this kit had a silver tint to its soft fur when gazed upon at the correct angle. Its little green eyes were wide open, staring at Fox. They were Fox McCloud's son and daughter, Cory and Clare McCloud.

Fox looked at his children, admiring their beauty, wondering which one was Cory and which one was Clare. Soon enough, a pair of feline nurses came to cart the twins off to see their mother. Fox rubbed his hands nervously as he followed the two nurses into another wing of the hospital. One of the nurses turned around and smiled at the young leader of the famous StarFox team.

"Mr. McCloud, right?" She asked, "Congratulations."

"Err . . . Thanks." Fox replied, "How is my wife doing?"

"Oh, she is doing fine." The nurse replied, pushing the little baby further down the corridor to catch up with the other cart. "Follow me, Sir."

"C-Could you slow down a little ma'am?" Fox asked. He was a little worried about his child as the nurse sped up to draw alongside with the other. Of course, the nurse only giggled at his request. Fox realized that he shouldn't interfere with the nurses' work, "Sorry . . . I'm just a little nervous."

"It's okay." The nurse smiled, and opened a door on her left. They carted the babies into the room, and waited for Fox to enter before closing the door. Krystal lay on the bed, grinning weakly at Fox.

"Oh, look at my beautiful babies!" The vixen's voice was quite hoarse from screaming during labor, but all her pain was forgotten at the sight of her children. The nurses gently lifted the two kits off their carts and handed them to Krystal, while Fox watched. They nodded at the couple, and exited the door. One of them turned around to remind Fox that there was a sink in the room, and wash his hands before handling the kits. Fox thanked them both, and closed the door after them. He immediately rushed to the sink and vigorously washed his hands.

"So how did you get here, honey?" Krystal asked, giggling at the sight of Fox washing his hands so thoroughly. Picked up the two kits, each in one arm, and held them closer to her.

"I flew on my Arwing." Fox replied as he wiped his hands on a towel. He sat down next to Krystal, admiring the babies. They were both sleeping, the blue one sucking its thumb. "So mind telling me which one is which?"

"The blue one is Cory, the orange one is Clare." She replied, smiling at her husband, who still looked quite nervous. "Go on and touch them, they don't bite."

"Okay. . ." Fox reached for orange kit, which happened to be closer to him, and gently stroke the fur on its head. The small fox's fur felt finer then silk in his palm. Fox smiled, and moved to pick the baby up, "May I?"

"Of course, you are her father, Fox." Krystal picked up the baby Clare and handed her to her father, "Say hi to Daddy, Clare."

Fox chuckled, and picked up the orange kit. At the exact moment Krystal's hand left the baby girl, an ear piercing wail admitted from her. Fox's eyes widened in surprise, and looked helplessly at his wife, holding the baby under its arms. The little kit began to cry harder and harder, kicking and flailing her little arms around.

"Fox, you have to hug her, like this." Krystal demonstrated with the blue-furred boy, holding him gently in her lap. She patted the baby's back softly, and let the small kit rest in her arms, "See?"

"Err . . . okay." Fox awkwardly arranged the wailing baby into the correct hold, and she slowly calmed down. Within a minute, the girl was sleeping once again. Fox rolled his eyes and sighed, "I never thought about being a father this early . . . I'm only twenty eight."

"Well, get ready to dedicate the next twenty years of your life to your children." Krystal joked, "You have a long way to go."
Fox sighed, looking at the baby girl in his arms. A smile appeared on his face, "Well, I am off to a good start . . . right?"

Krystal chuckled, patting little Cory on the back, "So how does it feel to be a father?"

"It feels strange." Fox replied, looking at his own daughter, sleeping sweetly in his arms. "It's like . . . so foreign and exotic, almost unbelievable."

"Oh come on honey." Krystal giggled, "When the sperm hits the egg, a baby pops out nine months later. I am sure you learnt that in school."

"Yes, but they don't teach you what it feels like to hold your baby for the first time." Fox said in a slightly serious tone, "I don't know how to explain it. It's just weird. I-I mean I like it and everything . . . but it's still weird."

"You just need some time to settle down Fox." Krystal smiled, "Forget about Leon and everything. I am sure you will be a great father."

A flashback suddenly took over Fox's thoughts. They were knocking at Bill Grey's door. They opened the door . . . It was freezing cold. Then they saw the dead children, with their throats ripped open, their blood clotting on the carpet, smeared on the wall. Then there was Bill and his wife, and the evil message. MY REVENGE HAS JUST BEGUN.

"Fox?" a voice spoke. It was Krystal's voice, "Are you okay?"

"It's Leon . . . Bill's house . . . his kids, his wife, all dead." Fox said, gritting his teeth. The images seemed to be carved into his mind, so deeply that he could never forget them, no matter how hard he tried. Fox held his daughter closer to his chest, "What if he comes to us next?"

"Fox, don't worry about Leon. We lived fine for a year now." Krystal said, reaching weakly to stroke Fox's forehead. She could see Fox in distress, and she knew the reason. She too could see the images in her head. They never left. "Fox, come on, you are supposed to be happy."

"Right . . . be happy." Fox smiled, "Sorry, I couldn't help it."
"So, can you get me out of the hospital?" Krystal asked with a grin, "I really don't like this bed. It doesn't smell like you."

"Alright, I'll fly you home right after we do the papers." Fox gently placed the slumbering little kit next to Krystal. He kissed his wife and children, and walked out the door.