Chapter Twenty-Two: Confrontations
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!
Rufus was laid down on a stretcher. His chest was wrapped with bandage, and his wounds were covered with gauze. Bloodstains remained on his red fur, and he's in a deep unconscious state. Life Support System was thankfully available, and it's currently keeping the renegade alive. This made Wulf think about him. For a person who looked tough and heartless, he knew how to deal with somebody having a deep personal problem.
"What… what happened to me?"
James looked at the red wolf. His forearm, stained with the victim's blood. "Why… did I resort to this? All I wanted was to see my son and not to see people being hurt by war… I wanted to change everything… but I don't want to see… people… dying…" he muttered with sympathy. A person like him who survived from a terrible war was psychologically scarred by it. He felt the hardship of losing loved ones, and he knew what others might feel if they lose theirs. When opportunity to change everything arose, he took it, not knowing the consequences…
"It's all… It's all a sudden maelstrom of chaos and… and mishaps!" Fox suddenly growled out. "Heh, I thought I'd never be fighting for Lylat again after quitting Star Fox. I thought I'd never see Wolf again. I thought I'd never fight somebody like you, dad…" He then glanced at himself, the evolved Fox McCloud. "Say, what did you mean when you said The Chosen Ones? You said about having special DNA patterns or something, so what do you mean by that?" Wulf wondered what Fox meant.
James looked at his son. "Well, you see, a test was given to your DNA sample to most of the hosts. You, Falco, Wolf, and Panther however, showed different results. Your DNA structure, along with the other three, was very compatible to the CEL virus, that it fused itself to the structure… just like mine. I don't know what I was thinking… Why… I promised myself I wouldn't want you to suffer… but… now…"
"Wait," Wulf commented from his statements, giving him a hypothesis. "When you said the virus fusing to the DNA structure, does that mean… Fox, and the rest, couldn't return back to normal?" The younger fox suddenly missed a heartbeat by that statement.
James nodded. He knew that, but because he was blinded by his foolish and mad ambition, he just ruined his son's life forever. "My goal for utopia… ended up ruining my loved ones' lives." He then showed a syringe that Wulf and Wolf carried when they infiltrated the base. "This vaccine is close on curing the ones normally-evolved. However, for Fox and the other Chosen Ones, there's no cure for it…"
Fox reflected to himself. The prince of the new Lylat… the thought flew over his head. It seemed that his father, upon believing the fact that his conceived utopia would occur, hurried ahead to change his life for the sake of the future… All were so sudden to him… He wished for a normal life… but now… "Dad," he told him in a low tone. "May I talk to Wulf… alone?" James agreed, and so he left the room for a while. With that done, the young McCloud suddenly punched Wulf, catching him off-guard.
"Ouch! What was that for!" Wulf reacted upon the hit. The fox gave a powerful blow. To mention as well, his masculine figure added power to that shoot.
"You know, I've been wanting to do that since the time I realized you asked me for help because of a problem I didn't want to face," Fox reasoned back. "It made me mad… for the fact that forcing me to a job I never wanted to do… You, in fact, brought me to Wolf! But… then… I realized my own load of bullshit… I forgot how to listen… and you made me reconcile to that. I forgot why I was called as the new leader of Star Fox… but your mission recalled that for me. I became selfish… but your sacrifice made it all clear to me… I just… wanted to say… thanks. If you didn't push me into helping you, I probably would have become the prince of my father's wild ambition, and Lylat's a new place."
Wulf waved his head. Although he felt gratified, he didn't accept it. "I don't deserve what you said… I'm just a merc doing my mission… and I don't want to see lives being torn apart… although… I have something important to say to you… Sometimes, doing missions mean duty, but if you put will into it, you'll see a different view… Oh… and thanks too…" He then rubbed his cheek, smiling. "Nice punch, by the way." Fox smiled back, and held out his hand. Wulf did the same, and the two made a handshake, a sign of friendship.
Suddenly, James was pushed into the room, destroying the door along the way. Fox immediately caught him, and he asked what happened. "Damn it… I didn't realize he too had CEL virus fused into his DNA…"
Wulf helped him up, and looked at the opening. He saw a familiar figure, making his heartbeat faster. "It.. it's… it's you!"
"So the one who claims to be the emperor of the new Lylat is now lowering to the likes of non-evolved fools! Even his son is following him! Some emperor you are! Perhaps it's time I do the master business and continue your so-called utopia!"
At the south-area of Corneria City, the supposed newly infested area seemed to be virus free. People were continuing their usual business. Since this area is pretty much far from the central part of the city, about many kilometers away, they only heard about the central part being infested and the water supply being held off. Having no idea of the infestation, they felt carefree.
An equine and his female squirrel companion were jogging around a track in an empty track and field stadium. It was about after a few minutes before they got tired and started to relax on the benches. One of them offered a drink at the drinking water fountain just near to their position.
"It looks like the water hasn't yet started to do its business in the city... yet. Hey, these two are going to drink the water! Are you sure we shouldn't warn them? I mean… Huh? Okay, fine… if you say so…"
After their thirst-quenching drink from the fountain, they continued to run. It was as if there was no CEL virus in that water… However, upon reaching half of the track, they started to feel pain. The horse knelt to the ground, and then started to roll on the ground. The female squirrel kept on grasping her head. They soon showed transformation. The stallion showed muscular growth through the legs, then to the arms, and finally to the chest. The clothes ripped as usual, and his mane started to flicker as if they were tinder. His nostrils started to release black smoke. The squirrel screeched as if her voice was destructible. Her evolution made her taller, and her hair acted like a harp of some sort.
"Okay guys, I'm worried. The two evolved. What's the plan anyway?"
Gustav jumped down from the tree he's hiding. He quickly placed the sniper scope away from his weapon, two attached blasters that acted as a sniper rifle. He was actually monitoring them from a slight distance. "So, what was that all about?"
"I calculated the time it takes for them to evolve upon drinking water. I wasn't able to do this back at the defense force base," Bark responded. "So it took them about ten to fifteen seconds… That's how fast the virus can complete the alteration of the DNA and the cells it controls." He then looked at the rest of the company – Slippy, Bill, Peppy, Leon, Katt, Falco, Panther, Lupe, Arma, Eagle, Garou, Fara, Louie, and Reynard. "Hmm… say Slippy, you haven't told me where Lupina went off." Garou was slightly worried about that question.
"She went off with Wolf. They said they're going to rescue Wulf," he and Bill replied chorally. The reason made the ice wolf quite nervous.
"Tough girl," Fara commented. "She's pretty strong and violent… don't you think?"
"She always likes looking for trouble," Garou answered her remark, "but sometimes, this could lead to serious situations. If Wulf gets captured, I'm pretty sure this captor ain't gonna be an easy bucket to kick."
"Wolf's with her, so all's okay… We should focus on our mission instead," Bark dissuaded them to prevent any more delays. "Anyway, our goal here is to wait until we're sure the majority of the population's evolved. That way, we wouldn't worry about innocent people. The defense soldiers, as well as the recovered people, are protecting the central area of the city and the gateways, so our worries should only be about this place… This is the last confrontation we're going to face… so we must at least feel sturdy and determined. There's no room for failing now."
Peppy glanced at the dog's eyes. "Seeing people in front of our eyes evolve… is something hard," he reasoned out, "but it's a sacrifice for them as well… I'll use that to build myself for this battle. What about you people?"
"Whatever Pepster said, I'm on it!" Falco grinned as he smacked his right fist to his left palm. "I don't know, but I kinda like this evolved me when I kick assholes!"
"Ditto, bird… Ditto…" Panther roared out in a suave manner.
"So… we're just going to watch, Sir Arfie?" Reynard asked Bark. "How long will it take?"
"It is estimated that the whole place would be evolved in about two minutes…" he answered the question while adjusting his glasses. "Let's remain in camo-mode until everything's done."
It all began. They were hearing painful screams and sufferings. Many are slowly exiting their places, as either evolved ones or soon-to-be-evolved ones. Bark predicted perfectly well about the occurrence. The water supplied everywhere, and the flow was fast.
Just in front of their location, a black male wolf police dropped down in pain. Slippy wanted to help him but Louie stopped him. They could only observe. He howled as he hugged his body tightly. His irises changed color, from brown to red. His muscles expanded, ripping off his clothing, leaving only his underwear, his torn gloves, and his dog tags. He madly howled as the road he was standing on created a crater. Garou suddenly felt the force that they're going to fight.
Beside him was a female puma breathing hardly. She too, was in the midst of evolution. "I can't allow her to feel pain!" Panther proclaimed as he was about to exit, but was pulled back by Katt and Lupe. "But, a woman needs my help! I cannot resist a maiden's cry!" The puma roared as her body changed to a leaner structure. Her outfit was sliced off, thanks to the gale that surrounded her, leaving her with minimal clothing. Her look suddenly changed to a ferocious one. "Oh lady one…"
"Umm… how about this analogy…" Eagle told him. "Try to make every lady your target, and put in your head that you're saving them… and in the end, you'll be their knight in shining armor… err… knight clad in nothingness!" The panther smiled from his remark.
Two minutes passed. Bark removed the cloaking device from their position. "Okay guys, time to act is now!" he commanded as the group readied for a charge.
"Dad!"
Fox immediately covered James from a fire stream that crossed the room. His nine tails absorbed them, in which he then whipped it so that the fire would return. However, the target just absorbed the attack.
"Is that your best, Star Fox? How pathetic!"
"Damn it all!" Wulf shouted as he unleashed his neutron blade. "I thought we already locked you up! I thought we already restrained you and knocked you down, Kane!" However, the green muscular tyrannosaurus rex-turned-dragon just laughed and approached them.
"Just like lord… or should I say James McCloud, said. I am one of those creatures who are mutual to the virus. It gave me strength to pull out from the restraints you gave to me…" he grinned as he looked at James. "You used me as a tool… Now, this tool is going to crush you!"
Fox lunged forward for a punch, but Kane just grabbed his fist and hurled him to the floor. Wulf dove with his blade but the dragon caught it with his hand. He gave him a punch to the stomach, sending him to the floor as well. "At first, I was afraid of evolving, as I might lose my mind. However, when you gave me the vial containing the CEL virus, you changed everything I think about evolved creatures! With these power, physique, and ability, I can take over Lylat! Since you're a pathetic leader after all, I'll take your place!"
James however, didn't like it. "I now see what these people… and my son… are fighting for! I can see now what I'm fighting for as well!" he yelled as he charged towards the dragon. The two were pushing each other with their arms. It's muscle against muscle.
However, Kane wasn't about to lose to him. He quickly released his push, and grabbed James by the arms with his claws. He then approached the fox's side of the neck, and bit it with his sharp teeth. This gave James a painful injury. He tried to move, but the reptilian restrained his arms. The bite was going deeper, and he might die.
"Ryou Chikara Dangan!" (Charge Power Shot!)
An orb of aura suddenly hit the dragon's back, giving him a backache. Although it wasn't painful, it distracted him, releasing James. As Kane looked at his back, he saw a new face… a she wolf wearing a red jacket and short pink pants. Beside her was a wolf with muscles and black trunks. "Who the… Who are you?"
"Kane, you forgot me!" Wolf smiled as he flexed an arm. "It's me, Wolf."
"So you must be the man named Kane! I'm Lupina Klaus, daughter of Gen. Lupine Klaus of Terra System, member of Galaxy Wulf!" she proclaimed as she pointed the dragon.
Fox and Wulf immediately got up to help James out from his injury. It wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. As Wulf was treating it, he was startled from Lupina's introduction. "Why does she have to do that?" he sighed.