Dance of the Macabre

Chapter 7

Author's Note: Just before I begin, I would like to thank Hand of Blades, he is the only one who is reviewing my stories so thanks Hand. All you people who are too lazy to review, shape up please and even if you review it anonymously, I'll still be happy. Ok, here we go.

I awoke sometime during the night and something told me that there was going to be a disturbance. I went into the weapons room and I grabbed the AR33, I took some ammo for it and also strapped on a belt in which I put the ammo and a few grenades. The others were sleeping but I felt a paw on my shoulder.

"Fox, where are you going?" It was Calyx.

"Calyx, I feel that something isn't right here. Where is Zima?"

"Probably up in her room, why?"

"Because I feel that something is wrong. Grab a weapon and let's go." Calyx took a pistol, shot gun and plenty of explosive shells. We snuck upstairs and I looked into the dark club; there was no change and my eyes quickly adapted to the darkness. I'd had an operation on my vision to allow my eyes to 'see' in the dark, it had come in handy several times. "Wait here, I'll be back." I said and Calyx held his shotgun to his chest as I crouch-walked to where the stairs were. I looked up and I slowly advanced up the stairs; when I came up to the top, I opened the door slowly and the moon's light shown through the window. I saw Zima and since her fur was completely pitch black, I could only see her outline. I walked over and I shook her. "Zima," She stirred and rolled over.

"Fox? What are you doing here?"

"Something is wrong, I can feel it." She sat up and I looked out the window. The streets had a few animals on it but since it was very late, they were mostly empty. "I need to get out of here." I turned to the panther and she was already dressed.

"Ok, but what about the others?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't care about Falco, I have already died once, and I will not do it again. The tigers are still green in their ways and I can't take them. Now Calyx is a different story, he is a seasoned mercenary and I could use him by my side but since I saw something between you and him, I'm going to ask him to stay here."

"Fox, you can't do that, what if the Feds raid this place and they are found?"

"Well," I paused and Calyx came up the stairs.

"Hey, I was wondering what you two were doing."

"Calyx, I have to ask you something." I said.

"Yes Fox, anything."

"You are going to stay here with Zima and the rest of my group. I need to leave this place now and I'm going to have to part ways now." Calyx was generally shocked and his jaw dropped. "Keep them safe and try not to get caught. Unless you want to leave with me, we have to leave now." Calyx looked over to Zima and she grasped his paw.

"It's up to you Calyx." He was torn between Zima and me, I could tell by looking at him.

"Fox, I need to stay here, the two tigers, Janus and Mishkin need someone that they can look up to as an example." I stuck out my paw and I took his black one in mine.

"You will always be my friend, panther. No matter what."

"Don't get caught and sent back to Shark Tank, Fox."

"I won't." I listened carefully and the sound of silence was deafening. I walked over to the window and it squeaked open as I looked out; Zoness for the first time was still. "Good bye." I leapt out the window and landed on the roof the strip club. The AR33 lay on my back and the ammo felt strangely light as I hit the street. I ran back to the ship and I was surprised to see it was still there. I walked up to it and the hatch opened at my presence; I walked into the craft and the lights had been cut. The darkness consumed me and the hatch shut behind. I walked into the cockpit and sat down in the pilot's seat; I switched the craft on and the engines roared to life as I hit the thrusters. The craft rose off the ground and I hit the warp; Zoness was gone and I was on the run again.

I sat back in the cockpit and I wondered where I would go. Where could I go? I am an inmate at Shark Tank Correctional Facility and they must be scouring the galaxy looking for me. Besides, everyone knew my face; they could easily ID me as the serial killer I was.

I had to go back. I turned the ship around and pushed the throttle forward as far as the engines could allow.

Another day passed since Fox was gone. Calyx threw back a shot of hard whisky and he continued his conversation with Zima.

"I'm still wondering why Fox left."

"He had to Calyx; he said something about that night didn't feel right."

"I still wish he had stayed." Janus and Mishkin sat next to him and they watched the strippers, this was their first time in the scene.

"So what do you think of that one Janus?" Mishkin asked as he pointed to a feline.

"Nah, I like that one better." Janus replied as he pointed to a tigress on a pole.

"Oh, I didn't see her."

"How could you miss?" Janus began to elaborate and the tigress noticed. She slid off the pole and walked over to them.

"Well, it's been a long time since I've seen two young tigers in here." The pair was struck dumb and she laughed. She sat in between them and she knew what they were looking at. "So, how do you two like the selection tonight?"

"Well, um, they're, I mean it is very um," Janus stumbled on his words as the tigress nuzzled his ear.

"See that room over there? That's where we go if you want all your fantasies to come true." Janus looked over and the striped female stood up. "I'll give you some time to think about it." She walked off and Mishkin punched his brother in the arm.

"Ohh, you know what she was thinking right?" Janus could only nod and someone entered the club.

"Fox!" Calyx said as I walked up to them.

"I've come back; I just couldn't leave you guys." Zima smiled at me and I nodded as Calyx moved over to me.

"I thought you weren't going to come back."

"Well, I had a chat with myself and I knew I couldn't just up and leave you guys." The door opened again and I turned, Falco walked in and I noticed a look in his eye.

"Fox," That was all he said and I knew something was wrong. I pulled out a napkin and motioned for pen from Zima. She quickly handed me one and I wrote on the paper. Bug? He nodded and I gave him the articles.

Feds caught me, get out of here. They found your ship and know you are here. The news was heartbreaking and I turned to the others.

We have to leave, Feds are coming for me. Do you have transportation Zima? She nodded and I patted the AR33 on my back, it might come in handy. Falco suddenly collapsed to the floor and I felt his pulse, it had flat lined.

"Come on, we have to go now!" I said as Zima led the way. We went through the back room and she opened the door to the small garage. It had a souped up roadster in it and there was only room for three.

I heard the screams of the strippers in the other room and I picked the AR33 up.

"I'll stay here to fend them off, you guys get out of here."

"But-" Zima started to say when Calyx flat out kissed her. She was taken aback but gave in after a few seconds.

"Take the tigers and get out of here. If we go back to prison, so be it." Calyx said and Zima started the car. The tigers jumped in and she shot out of the garage as the Feds approached the room we were in.

"I'll take down the lead ones and you can grab some of their weapons."

"Just like when we were mercenaries, eh Fox?" I nodded and the AR33 felt alive in my paws as I crouched and slammed a clip in. A grenade flew in but Calyx with his lighting reflexes caught it and threw it back. There was a yell and the grenade detonated; a wolf was thrown into the room with an M4 and Calyx jumped on him. He broke the wolf's neck and while rolling to avoid the fire, grabbed the M4 and some ammo. The M4 is a short weapon with a large clip of 200 rounds and obscene recoil.

But it gets the job done. Calyx climbed on top of a small rack and he held the M4 like it was an old friend.

"Hey, surrender in there."

"You will not be harmed if you do." I heard two voices say and I whispered to Calyx.

"They will rush in after a few seconds of silence, kill all." He nodded and they did as I predicted. They were no ordinary Feds, the SWAT team had been sent in and they were heavily armored. I pulled the trigger and I took down one as Calyx opened up with his gun. They were caught in an ambush and blood cascaded onto the wall as I felt the clip run dry. I put another clip in and let loose again; the M4 rifle was silent and I noticed that Calyx had taken a hit. The SWAT team pulled back and I rushed over to my friend; he had taken a hit above the heart, into the shoulder, and blood was slowly leaking out of him.

"Fox, they got me."

"You'll pull through; I'll get us out of here." The team swarmed in behind me and I was caught.

"Throw down your weapon and stand up SLOWLY!" Someone yelled. I put down my gun and I slowly stood up. I turned around and there were three members of the team left. "Now raise your paws and-" He was cut of my fist and I used him as a animal shield.

"I'm not dying today." I whispered in his ear as I kept my head behind his.

"Let him go! Do it!"

"No, you'll have to kill me!" I yelled back and the back door to the garage opened. I looked back and black suited SWAT members piled in. They opened up with their weapons and I felt the impacts of the lasers on my back.

The doctor walked over to the autopsy table and three other figures were there with him. He pulled up his glasses and held his clipboard as they looked down on a white sheeted object.

"Gentlemen, we are here today to examine the body of a renowned mercenary. Any questions before he is examined?"

"Just that I hope he died a painful death." The Warden of Shark Tank said.

"We'll see." The doctor said as he pulled the sheet back; the body of Fox McCloud was exposed and he began pointing out the injuries. "Thirty bullets to the back, one to the head, four to the leg and one to the right arm. I have thoroughly examined him and Fox McCloud is pronounced dead at 1200 hours." He replaced the sheet and General Pepper sighed.

"I'm glad that this serial killer has been disposed of." He said and he left the coroner's office. The Warden left without saying a word and the doctor walked up to the third figure.

"Well, he's dead." The figure nodded and he traced a paw on his muzzle.

"You have saved my brother and me; light has left, never to return. I will miss you Fox McCloud." Mishkin said as he left the office.

Author's Note: Well, that's it. I hope you enjoyed the ride and I will post up another few stories that I lost when my account was closed. As always, drop me a line as a review or email.

Great Fox 1

Silver Meta Dragon