Chapter Four: Open Your Heart
I don't own Star Fox, but I own my characters. Using my characters means you have to ask permission from me and giving me credit. I would be delighted then when you do! This is probably one of my long-running stories, so bear with it!
A few long lost memories returned to Fox and Falco. It was the time when they were young, the time when war was the only answer. It was a few years ago, and their retentions were still strong, although they were buried. They feared those sad forgotten events would return, and they were right.
"So the bitch is still alive, even after all these years…" Falco ironically greeted his long lost enemy. "Now I can say that evil has nine lives. I thought you and your teammates got blown up during the explosion in Venom, but I was wrong, and I like it!" He then rushed towards Leon, grabbing him to the collar of his robe and tightening his grip to the neck. "I can now kill the fucking hell out from you! I'll get the revenge I truly deserve!" Wulf immediately pulled the bird's arms, roughly releasing Leon and dropping him down.
"We can't kill him! He has all the information we need about Wolf!" he yelled as he lets go of Falco's arms. "Besides, it's immoral to kill a person, even if he's evil! If you do, you'll be just one of them! You'll also lose your dignity" However, the angry bird shouldered him to his cheek, and then punched him to the stomach, making him sit down to the floor with blood dripping from his mouth. Fox then grappled Falco to restrain him until he's calm.
"Don't give me a fucking reason why I shouldn't do this!" he yelled out as he tries to free himself from Fox's arms. "He should die, and I don't care if I become one of them! Hell, I don't even care about my dignity, because I don't have one!" He started to slow down then, as he gets tired of throwing tantrums. Wulf tried to stand up, and he was helped by Leon.
"Hmm… so there are still a few people who have true dignity in them," Leon remarked in a monotonous way. "What a laugh, though, as people with dignity never survive long, and that they are weak. Anyway, I heard from your friend, your new wolf companion, about me being the only person to direct you to Wolf. Well, even if you greeted me in a… well… excited way, I'll still lead you to them. The only catch is, why?"
"Damn… Just better make sure you're going to tell the truth about that son of a bitch's whereabouts," Falco grunted as he rests down to a chair. Wulf then explained to Leon what was happening.
He comprehended, "I hope you read the news, because this involves mostly about the strange attacks here in Corneria. You see, this system's defense force tried everything to track these strange attacks, and they came up with no answer. Because Star Fox is now unavailable, they tried to contact neighboring systems, and it was a lucky call for them to contact Terra System. When we heard the news, we were sent off here, and then I took out the list on who'll be able to help us on our mission, and Wolf is one of those people that would be a good benefit here. You see, we're trying to solve a case here, about a mysterious syndicate trying to steal files from the city's buildings." Leon nodded then glanced at his eyes.
"I just hope you're telling the truth," he replied with a serious look on his face. "It was a few months ago since I've last visited my friend Wolf. I just recently left him with my bank account so that he can grab money. Before, I was taking care of him from his injuries, and now, well, he doesn't need my help much unlike before." He then walked back, and continued, "This place is like hell covered with heavenly decorations. At first, I thought they send me here to this section because of my intellect, but then, they actually knew my true identity, and started black-mailing me. They lowered my salary and give me more work, but I endured it just for Wolf. I'm afraid that if I get caught, no one would take care of him, and the authorities might know his whereabouts as well. But now, Wolf can finally be safe, that's why I can now leave this inferno…" Fox got mad after hearing what Leon said.
"I couldn't believe it! Wolf's even maltreating his only friend!" he growled as he urges them to move on. "He doesn't deserve people that care about him! He's selfish bullshit that only cares about him! Let's go! I wanna go talk to that prick!" Leon tried to say something, but he was halted by Wulf.
It is a fine day for reading something in the park, when the sun stretches out its rays to the ground. For Slippy Toad, it is also a fine day to test the new Micro-Atom Macro-Vibrator, a small gadget that makes miniscule molecules vibrate in high speed, a very strange contraption indeed, especially for making quickly-done shakes.
"Ah! This is life!" Slippy smiled as he relaxes himself on a recliner, places his shades to his eyes, turns on the volume of his mp3 player, and takes a quick sip at the drink made from his machine. "It was a while before I missed Star Fox, but I guess I have a better job now, I guess. Being an items-return clerk of a mall wouldn't be much exciting as before, but I guess… this is a safe job… but I really, REALLY miss the action… sigh…" However, without his consent, an adolescent wearing skates noticed the invention of Slippy, and being a delinquent, he thought of something stupid.
"Aw dude! This could be science fair's first-prize!" He then grabbed it, and then whispered, "Hey man, could I take this uh… stuff for a while?!" He then trekked off, giving the toad a startle and a sudden glance around him.
"M-my Micro-Atom Macro-Vibrator!!!" he screamed after realizing his missing object. "Y-yikes! Hey, what's the big idea, stealing other people's stuff!?" He then stood up, and immediately dashed off to follow the thief. Without luck though, he couldn't catch up.
The teen looked at his back, giving a tongue out to the frog which was a large gap away. "See ya around, sucker!" he laughed. He kept on skating away from Slippy. However, he suddenly bumped onto something. He mumbled as he tries to stand up, "What the fuck?!" But then, as he glanced in front of him, he suddenly gasped in fear. In front of him is a muscular eagle, a bald eagle type, with a blue and scarlet bandanna worn on his head. He wears a brown vest, and dark green pants. His anatomy made the teen cry in fear, as because no avian in Lylat has their wings on their back and their talons as both their hands and feet, much like a griffon.
"It's really not nice to steal other people's things," the eagle proclaimed as he grabs the screaming delinquent and the machine, shooting him at the trash can. He then flies towards Slippy, and immediately gives him the machine. "I think this gizmo belongs to you. You should be more careful next time, okay?" The frog was just taken aghast by the marvelous bird.
"Who… who are you?!" Slippy asked the avian. He just smiled at him and landed on his feet.
"My name is Eagle Gerald, and I was hoping if you could take me around, say on foot…" he greeted with a laugh. "It's rather hard to navigate through building-piled cities, so I guess taking a walk would be easier. I suddenly stumbled here when I saw you chasing that thief."
"No sweat! Sure I can take you around," Slippy smiled. "Anyway, it's boring around here, so I guess talking to a unique person like you wouldn't be much a boner or anything. Oh, and the name's Slippy Toad!" The two then walked away, grabbing a hotdog on the way.
"Here we are," Leon declared to his companions as he opens the door of a somewhat dilapidated house. "It's not much but we're able to live here, and it's completely tranquil if you ask me. Anyway you guys sit on that couch while I call on Wolf, and don't worry; I won't tell who you guys are." He then walked upstairs, leaving Wulf, Fox, and Falco seated at a broken-down sofa.
"Well, this brings memories back when I was a teen," Falco remarked as he pounces on the sofa with springs and foam sticking from the seat. "I used to sit on these things, before I turned into a superstar!"
"Well, at least we got here rather fine…" Wulf also added. He then recognized Fox's uneasy face, so he asked him, "Is Wolf bothering you again?" Fox sighed and just stood up from the seat and glanced at the window.
"It's pretty hard to believe that in a few years, the ones that you thought you wouldn't see would come back and face you again…" Fox replied in a low tone. Wulf understood his feelings, as he already felt that. He tapped Fox's shoulders, giving the Star Fox leader a slight emotional support.
Footsteps were heard from the top of the stairs. It seems that they are about to come down. Leon then came down first, followed by a black wolf with a familiar eye-patch. He now has a well-built body, and unlike before, where he usually wears his Venomian uniform, now he just has a pair of old boots, faded pants, and a belt where his dagger and a bust-out blaster is held. Scars were seen on his sculpted body, and it seems it was scary to look at. His tail is the only one that didn't change, for it only grew slightly bigger than before. He was surprised to see Fox in front of him, and of course, Fox too, was surprise.
Leon introduced the gruff wolf, "Boys, I want you to meet Wolf O'Donnell!" Wulf felt something unsure in the atmosphere, and he suddenly realized something is about to happen, and it's not going to be pleasant.