Chapter Twelve: Get Ready

I don't own Star Fox, but I own my characters. Using my characters means you have to ask me for permission 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!

Bark quickly mixed the last batch of fluids inside an Erlenmeyer flask. After a few minutes, Leon quickly transferred the material to a low-temperature cooler to lower the temperature of the chemical immediately.

"Negative twenty-five degrees Celsius should be fine," Slippy ordered as he skimmed Bark's instructions at the monitor. "And then quickly pull it out after twenty seconds." Leon followed as he placed the experiment in the cooler. He set it to the desired temperature, and the machine started to cool down.

"What's the cooling for?" Wolf asked the three, but it seemed that the three were too busy.

"I guess the chemical is too hot," Wulf answered with vagueness, "or maybe it needs to be in a cool surroundings to work…"

"Wrong," Bark growled to them as he took out many syringes and some sort of bombs. Leon and Slippy carefully but quickly placed the fluid solution to a holder, and Bark slowly filled the injections with the solution. "The anti-virus we three cultured would die if they were to be exposed in high temperatures."

"Excuse me, but where did you get the ones you need to culture?" Wulf asked once more.

"From Wolf's blood," Leon explained with interest. "My partner's blood cells carry that virus, so we cultured it. And we were able to create an antibody program out of that culture!" Wulf realized that Leon liked blood, but this wasn't the time for hilarious comments.

Eventually, Pepper and Katt arrived to the laboratory. Slippy told them earlier to contact the city and warn them about the water. It's pretty much obvious that Kane had already infested the water supply of the whole planet, and that the people are unaware of it.

Katt reported, "We were able to tell them news reporters that the water supply is dangerous. The general wasn't at the city, fortunately, so I guess he's safe since he's in a meeting at Fortuna. Our only problem is the reporters. What if they don't want to believe what we have just said?" Peppy also nodded.

"Not only that, they've got Fox too. We have to save him before he turns into one of them," he agreed.

Bark then gave each of them a syringe filled with the antibody. He didn't give Wulf and Wolf, though. "Okay, on three, I want you guys to inject this at your side of the neck. I didn't give the two since Wolf's already came into senses, and Wulf is immune to the virus," he told them as he pointed his syringe to his side of the neck.

"I understand why Wulf doesn't need it," Wolf wondered, "but why not me? Won't this thing cure me?"

"Wait… I'll answer that later… Three!"

Bark, and the rest, who were pointing their needles at the confirmed position, injected the fluid. A slight pain conjured up, but they quickly forgot about it, since the chemical was quickly transferred from the injection to their bloodstream. After they disposed the needles, everyone relaxed a bit.

"From what I hypothesized, we'll feel slightly dizzy for a few seconds," Bark smiled as he cleaned his glasses, "as for your question, Wolf, we three weren't able to make an antidote that will revert you or any of the infected ones back to normal, since we're running out of time. The one we created will only serve as an antibody to give us a full proof protection against the virus and as a psychological medicine that will make the thinking of the infected person back to normal." Wolf slightly felt disappointed, knowing that he won't return normal for a while. He felt afraid, looking at his own body.

"Don't worry! We'll need your powers to stop Kane and to save Fox!" Wulf cheered him up. He then faced the five, telling them, "We have to save Fox now. I was able to place a homing device on Falco's back without him noticing it, so I can easily track him down."

"Then you'll need this!" Slippy shouted as he quickly rushed to give a satchel containing two filled syringes and a bomb-like device. Wulf looked at the bomb-like gadget, which actually caught his eye.

"That bomb contains the pressurized version of the antibody," Leon explained once more. "I remembered the sonic bomb you used, so I suggested a vaccine bomb! The bomb will release powerful gas containing the antibody. It will enter the body of the person who sniffs it, and the person will be cured!"

"That's why we'll be staying here, to treat the ones below, the people of the defense force who've been infected," Peppy finalized. "You two, better be careful."

"Roger…"

As the two left, Bark glanced at the ship's monitor. "Okay, he's here…" he told them. The ship slowly encountered turbulence, and their acceleration was suddenly reduced. The whole place shook, and then it stopped. What just happened?

"Damn…"

Fox grumbled as he tried to release himself from the shackles he's restrained. A few meters away from him is a contraption that seemed to be another restraining device, only this time, the victim's laid down to the smooth surface of the device, and his arms and legs were to be shackled there. He couldn't picture himself being on that thing. He then heard footsteps, and they were growing louder… When he glanced at the door, he noticed a tall lizard and a bird beside him. It's Falco, and the lizard's Kane.

"We should've made him drink the water so that we won't have to waste time!" Falco argued as he burst his arms with fire.

"Relax," Kane smiled, "I want him to savor his last moments as a regular person before evolving into a powerful species!" Fox didn't get the two, for he wasn't paying attention to Wulf, Bark, and anybody else before.

"What… what are you talking about?" Fox asked to clarify himself. "What have you done to Falco, bullshit?"

"Why you… that's no way to talk to the boss!" the bird grumbled as he rushed forward to strike Fox to the cheek. "I'll have to teach him a lesson if he keeps on doing that!"

"Falco, you don't have to worry, he's just uninformed," the lizard smiled, pulling two panthers on chains, "maybe because he's not listening to his comrades. This demonstration might give him an idea on what's happening…" A couple of panther captives, a male and a female, were pushed into the room. Fox looked keenly, as he saw the fear in their eyes.

"Please, don't do this to her! Evolve me, but please not her!" the make panther pleaded, but Falco kicked him down. The female panther tried to catch her lover.

"Why evolve one when you can evolve both?" Kane replied with a grimly smile. A group of evolved soldiers entered the room, holding the two firmly. Another one carried two glasses of water. The couple was forced to drink the contents… the infested water. Fox thought that this was just torture, but he didn't realize what would happen…

As the couple finished drinking, they were released. Spasms jerked their bodies. Intense pain flooded their anatomical structure. The male burst out with a muscular and powerful anatomy, while the female has the lean and agile look. Their tails slowly changed, turning into strong, flail-like whips that could easily topple the walls.

"Thank you, Lord Kane… We are in your debt…" the two replied as they left the room. Kane laughed and Falco applauded.

Fox was stunned. No wonder Wolf looked like one of them… he was forced to evolve! His companions were trying to tell him about this, but he ignored them. He realized that his mistrustful attitude and his selfishness led him to this. He doesn't want to end up like them. He's afraid… He couldn't think well…