The Renegade

This is the continuation of StarFox 01 Series 01; except this is from Falco's perspective. Please enjoy!

Falco rested his head lightly against his pillow, he was so out of it. What was wrong with him? He felt queasy inside; something wasn't right. His natural instincts told him something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He had recently been suspended from duty; but why was that? Falco thought. General Pepper had said I was acting too suspicious lately, that I could compromise his entire operation. What did he mean by that? Was it because I demanded to know what happened to Fox? Was that the whole reason for my discharge? Falco was tired of thinking, this was all too puzzling. As he tried to recall exactly what happened his head started to ache.

"God, I really need some rest" Falco was exhausted. It was almost as if he was compelled to sleep. He didn't care, he let himself succumb to his weariness. Too many strange things were going on, so he decided that this small "vacation" wasn't bad at all.

It was an unpleasant night; Falco was plagued with nightmares recurring nightmares. Oddly enough they were of Fox. Each time his dream repeated it was more horrifying and grotesque than the last. Not to mention more distinct. Falco envisioned Fox captured and tortured among a group of hellish and distorted figures. Who were they? It was almost as if Falco could think freely during his reverie. The dreams were freakishly real in a ghostly and ethereal fashion. The scenes were becoming more graphic and intense; pushing the boundaries of Falco's sanity. He writhed uncomfortably; sweat matted his tangled feathers.

Falco began to feel pangs of sheer pain. Something even more bizarre was happening now. There was a flash of bright, mesmerizing light and the episode changed, he saw Krystal in plain view; her features saddened, almost lifeless. Falco's breathing was fast and deep; he was awake and his eyes were wide open. But this vision entranced his sight, it was all he could see. Krystal was lying there, weeping on her bed; "Krystal? What the hell is going on?" But she never answered. Somebody entered the room; it was almost as if a scene was playing out before him. It's so real… Falco thought. But the fact that Falco couldn't intervene dispelled the authenticity of the dream. The shaded figure very silently snuck up behind Krystal. He examined her, for what purpose Falco didn't know. The shadowy assailant unsheathed a knife, carefully. Falco wished he could call out to her but he couldn't, he was constricted by the limitations of the dream.

Nooooo…. Falco said weakly.

The assassin swiftly raised his blade and slit her throat. Falco's eyes began to tear, he was usually adamantine but this scarred him. His body convulsed in a maelstrom of terror and disbelief. This dream was like an illness; wearing away what strength he had left in him.

ARGH! He managed to shout. Falco would not let this nightmare continue to scar him. Defiance was his defining characteristic; he was always strong willed! With this last burst of confidence Falco snapped out of his trance.

He tried to adjust, Falco's head still ached but at least most of his cramps were gone.

"That was horrifying, what the hell just happened? It didn't make any sense… Did it? Falco swallowed… Fox has disappeared, but General Pepper had even said that he was on some kind of top-secret mission. Did that tie in with Pepper's mysterious operation. Perhaps he was hiding something of importance. That made some sense to Falco; but why had he foreshadowed Fox and Krystal's deaths? Was that a real augury or just a nightmare?

Falco nervously called up Krystal, the phone rang a couple times. He tugged his collar, sweat beading down his neck. "Damn…." he heard some one pick up, finally.

"Krystal" he gasped.

"…." Silence.

"Are you there, who's there?"

He trembled, no one answered. It was just dead silence.

Falco urgently yelled into the phone;"If you are there, please listen to me I have.." He heard the receiver being slammed…

"Augh, damn! I better get over there…."

Falco grabbed his coat and raced out the front door. He hopped into his hovercar a slick exotic model with a flame template embroidering the hood. As he got in he adorned his comm-link and contacted Slippy, he was in garage as usual tinkering with a new invention.

"Slippy!" but he didn't notice, the toad was too occupied with his gadgets to respond.

"Hey Slippy this is important I need you to get over to Krystal's as soon as possible!"

He instantly broke away from what he was doing and spoke into his comm-link. "Can do!" he said assuredly.

"That means now!" With that Falco flicked his comm off and headed for Krystal's place…

Falco arrived outside the house several minutes later, but Slippy was no where to be seen. "God where is he?"

Falco tried calling him up one more time, but he wasn't there. Hope he's on his way, Falco thought.

This was a dismal night; it was raining and dark clouds veiled the sky. He peered into Krystal's house, but everything seemed dead. No lights were on but her car was there…

He dare not go in alone, his gut feeling told him to wait for Slippy. Falco padded his holster; he made sure he had his trusty silver magnum, it had come in handy more than once. Falco was about to investigate around the back of the house; when a shrill noise alarmed him.

Falco turned around quickly with his pistol readied. But it was only Slippy and that atrocious horn of his!

Falco briefly explained to Slippy his nightmares, he was taken aback.

"Falco I think you were suspended for a good reason, are you feeling alright? That dream sounds crazy… maybe you should see a psychiatrist!"

"Look Slippy you don't have to believe me. It was probably just a bad dream but I have a bad feeling about Krystal and Fox…"

"But I thought Fox was on…."

"I know that's what General Pepper said but Fox has been gone for a long time."

"I see what you mean that's fishy."

"And there have been bizarre things going on lately as well. I mean I haven't seen Krystal for a couple weeks…"

"hmmm.. So you care about Krystal, eh" Slippy said suggestively.

"Shut your god damned mouth, This isn't a laughing matter. When I called her up after something like 7 rings or so somebody picked up. I said it was urgent and that I wanted to talk to Krystal… but I don't even know who answered. They hung up on me… it was strange the person listened for a couple seconds. I am sure it wasn't Krystal she's not like that even when she's upset… Look lets just go inside. Maybe nothings wrong. Possibly she's not even home."

Slippy and Falco entered through the front door. Everything was dark and there were no lights on. They allowed sometime for their eyes to adjust.

"I think I can hear something coming from up stairs, lets go, quietly. Slippy be cautious and don't fumble, kay?"

He nodded. They crept up the stairs, surprisingly with out making a sound.