I won't lie to you…I don't own starfox. Sorry, but it's the truth. But forget about me, and enjoy this mild chapter while it lasts. The next one will be quite graphic.

Fox had been instucted to report to the east training ground, and seeing that it came from the top dog, he doubted he could effectivly argue. What he had yet to understand was why the Holy One, the being nobody except Cila saw, came to him in person. And as Fox neared the training room entrance, he heard a cry of pain that made him only the slightest bit uncomfortable with this. When he actually went in, he was both amused and disgusted at the same time. In this room was the Starwolf team. Wolf, Leon, and Panther were all here. Leon was not his favorite person in the world, though he and Wolf had made an alliance during the aparoid attack. What amused him was the sight of Leon lying on the floor, beaten and bruised with a seven foot tall lion standing over him.

" Just what I thought; you haven't strength nor skill." The lion said this with a booming voice like a bass drum. He was thickly built, and his mane was tied back in a ponytail. Fox had found out earlier from Neil that having your hair tied back was a symbol of athourity within the pirate ranks. That might explain why Dagon's brain had been so long. Wolf and Panther watched with silent laughter as Leon tried his hardest to overcome the lion, but he moved too swiftly, and was much too strong. Leon finally submitted, and was returned to his ranks with half the pride he had when he challenged the lion, who now noticed Fox.

" Hope I'm not late." Fox said, looking at Wolf, who shook his head with a grin. The lion walked over to him in only four strides of his huge legs.

" Tell me, little creature." He said with his booming voice. " Are you one of strength?"

" I'd like to think that." Fox said as casually as he could. Then, he felt something…something unpleasant. The lion was squinting his eyes in what appeared to be focus and concentration. Then, Fox felt a pain he had never felt before. It was like a razor sharp, probing claw being forced into his skull, but when he clutched his head, he felt nothing that had not been there before. His headache dissapeared then as though it had never happened. In a strange way he could not explain, Fox felt…violated somehow.

" You are mistaken." He said sternly. " Though your body is strong, your mental resiliance has been weakened and I have seen the inner you…you are a coward." Fox was insulted by this to no end. Nobody had "ever" accused him of being a coward…but perhapse this lion was right. During a time great crisis, two things can happen to a person. When a person is forced to go through a great hardship, they will be strengthened by it over time; the body and mind adapt. But when the hardship is never overcome, and it's punishing blows never cease, one can only grow tired and weak from the struggle. Fox had endured things that would have driven most to suicide, but with the spark that still had remained within him, he had kept his will to live. Though he had survived the ordeal, his mentality had been weakened and the fire that had once burned in his eyes was all but completely quenched. He realized now, that the lion was right. He was weak." I can see it in your eyes…you know you are weak. But I have been given the task of reigniting your warrior spirit." He turned to Wolf and his crew. " That goes for all of you. There is but one among you who has not been weakened by our crushing assault. It is Leon Powalski. But though he is brave, he is also stupid. Stupid for challenging someone more than twice his size. May his bruises serve him well in the ways of wisdom." Leon's face turned crimson at this. Not from shame. It was rage. The chameleon leapt forward and swung his right fist at the lion's face. Big mistake. The lion deftly caught his hand and twisted his arm behind his back in a most painful lock.

" Stupid, everyone." He repeated. " So, so very stupid." Then, Fox heard Leon say something too quiet for him to hear. Right when Leon said this, the lion tugged at his arm with brutal force. Fox could hear the sickening pop of his tendons and bone as the pressure increased, the chameleon screaming. Then, in one fluid motion, he ripped the arm from the rest of Leon. Wolf gagged when he saw the red, glistening socket that had once held Leon's arm in place. Blood splattered the floor in what seemed like gallons. Leon remained silent when he realized what had happened. It was amazing how he could take physical punishment with such…silence. The lion dropped the twitching severed limb in front of the one-armed Chameleon. Then, he then pulled out some sort of communicator device, and pushed three buttons on the dial.

" Medical down to East B – 47. And hurry before he bleeds to death."

Borik Fei. That was a name that not even the ever-stubborn Leon would disrespect. He had done that already, and it had cost him an arm. Borik Fei was the most brutal, merciless person that Fox had ever met…but he was also very, very powerful. If you placed even a toe out of line, he would step on it. If you mouthed off, you got a fat lip. It was a crude method of training, but it worked, and well at that. For four grueling months, Borik Fei worked on re-building the minds and bodies of the four mercs. Though it sickened Fox to have to work with Leon, he at least had a chance to see how Wolf had faired during the invasion…no better than he did.

Fox was beginning to see things in a different light. At first, he hated these filthy pirates with every fiber of his being; now he was not sure that hating them would do any good. He had already shed his tears for his dead companions, but it disturbed him that the desire for revenge did not exist within him. Maby the desire for revenge had been overridden by something more vital: survival. Fox McCloud was not sure how, but he was beginning to feel kindred with these pirates. He expected them to be savage, brutal monsters that were morally void and thirsted for blood. He now saw how wrong he was. They were organized, intelligent, and morally void. He had to respect them for that (besides the last part.)

The day had finally come when the four merceneries had been rebuilt in body and mind. But one thing remained. And Dagon showed up for this reason.

" It seemes you have all preformed to the satisfaction of my second Handlord here." He said, casting a glance at Borik. " But I am afraid that you have been training for another form of training. And you are still not ready for it." His complexion lightened after he said this. " However…I have decided that though it may kill you, you all shall have your inner strength awakened…starting with Wolf."

" What!" Wolf said in an outrage. " If it might kill me, than I would rather train longer! Whatever you're planning to do, I don't want it! And neither does the rest of my team."

" Perhapse I have not made myself clear; if you refuse to be awakened, then I will consider your skin something that would look good nailed to my wall." Wolf bit his lower lip.

" Ok…what are you going to do to us?"

" I will put it in a more simple term. All of you are blind. You were born blind, as all mortal beings are. When I awaken you, you will be able to see as I do. When I awaken you, you will be as a demi-god. Rest well tonight, and pay homage to whatever god you may worship…you may be meeting him."

All will be revealed in time. I can promise the next chapter will be up sometime next week(I'll try to) and for those of you who don't want to wait that long, go rent Starfox Assault. The next chapter will be a bit…violent. So read with caution.