Five seconds.

Wolf pulled back on the speed gauge and released the landing rudders.

Three seconds.

"Fox! Pull up!" Wolf cried. He didn't exactly like the idea of his prey dying unfairly though a crash. He'd rather kill him personally.

Fox pulled at the controls at the last seconds. The craft seemed to rise a bit. His heart skipped a beat, but then the craft fell once more.

Wolf jumped out of his Arwing and into the rain, in disbelief. "There isn't anything we can do to save him…" He growled.

Fox felt the ship collide with the earth, but other than that he was numb. "Why…didn't….that kill me…?"

And he fell into darkness.

Leon glared at the brake fox. "Don't test me child," he hissed.

He then took a step closer to Falco, holding his charged blaster firm. He shot a glance at the homing launcher, almost as if he expected it to get up and start firing automatically.

Krystal glanced up at Leon for a brief second. Then Panther purred, "You really are lovely when you're mad…"

Krystal grew flustered and angry, but she told herself to wait for orders before taking out her anger on the foolish cat.

Suddenly she cried out and withdrew the hand that once held her blaster. Singed slightly and blaster-less, she looked around for the source that knocked her weapon away.

"Go on Leon…after all, she did dare you," A voice said from within the shadows. Kouga then stepped into the faint light of the hallway, holding a brightly colored blaster that was smoking at her side.

"Aww…you gotta be kidding me!" Falco groaned, throwing his arms down.

The cat turned to look at the falcon who rescued her. "You really are quite the genius… Tie up your hostage, but leave her with all of her weapons and the containment unlocked. I'm so scared," Kouga spat, rolling her eyes.

Krystal looked up at Falco confused. "Falco…what is she talking about…?"

"Gimme a break! I save your damn life but you're gonna kill me and Krystal anyways?" Falco complained.

Leon cocked his gun. "Silence fool…" He snapped.

"No…" Kouga whispered, advancing towards Falco. She then gripped his beak and pulled his face so their eyes were mere inches apart, "I'll let her go."

Falco's eyes widened, and he gave Krystal a stressed look. "Well then I ask one moment to wish her off," Falco stated firmly, pushing Kouga away.

"Fine," The cat whispered.

"But Kouga…you know he'll call for arms," Panther snarled.

"Foolish child…she knows nothing of the tactics of star battles," Leon objected.

"Falco…I feel terrible…I'm so sorry…" Krystal said as they walked down the main hallway for a few moments.

Falco put his wings on her shoulders and stared her down. "Don't get all emotional on me now… I need your to get Fox. Tell him I'm captive on the Wolfen. He will know what to do," he whispered.

Krystal closed her eyes. "Just don't get yourself killed…you are a valued member. And I don't think Fox would ever forgive me," she stated, forcing a laugh.

"Alright lover time is over," Panther snarled

"What?" Falco growled.

Leon lifted his weapon again. "Don't forget you have no arms, bird," He spat.

Falco sighed angrily. He had forgotten, and he was in need of a plan. "I shoulda just nabbed the hell launcher and attacked these goons when I had the chance…loosing a few feathers wouldn't of killed me," he thought as the two Wolfen members escorted him to a new cell.

"Fox."

"Hrm…just a little…longer….mmzz…"

"Fox!"

"Wha…whaddizit?" Fox slurred.

"Fox, get out of that craft, NOW!" General Pepper demanded.

"General Pepper? …but why am I alive…?" Fox said, still feeling rather drowsy.

"When you broke through the atmosphere, aparoids attached onto your ship…and shortly after Wolf shot through your engine they invaded it, causing your Arwing to shut down instantly," Pepper explained.

"But…my Arwing! It works now!" Fox said, feeling more positive.

"NO! Fox, get out of there NOW! If you stay in and the aparoids gain full control, you'll be taken as well! Get out NOW!" Pepper cried forcefully.

"Got it." Fox stated. He then leapt out of the Arwing stealthily, and raced off onto the highway. Suddenly he cried out, "AHH! …my leg…" His left leg was bleeding heavily, and looked slightly crushed. "General…I'm going to need some assistance…" he whispered into his communicator.

"I'd be glad to help, pup," Wolf chuckled, towering over Fox.

"Sooner would defiantly be better than later," Fox added, remaining unusually calm for someone about to meet their death via blaster.

Lasers then spilled from the sky, narrowly missing Fox. One hit Wolf in the side and he snarled and instantly began to charge his blaster, ignoring the burning pain and blood.

The Arwing dipped lower, and landed for a brief moment, when Fox breathed, "Krystal." He then staggered over to her. Rather than seeing a confident, smiling vixen, he saw a concerned and stressed one.

"Get in behind me…you'll have to fly," She whispered quickly.

Fox pulled himself into the craft as best he could, and then fell into the seat with Krystal sitting mere inches in front of him. For a few seconds he felt safe again, but when the ship gave a groan and shook, he remembered Wolf was still standing there.

"General Pepper," Fox said loudly as he flipped on the communicator and began to lift off Corneria, "send men to take Wolf down. He's currently on Corneria."

"Certainly, Fox. I'll send them after this transmission." He paused, "Oh. I see you and Krystal tried to squeeze into an one-man Arwing?" He raised his eyebrow and gave a small smile.

"She was just coming to pick me up…we're on our way back to the Great Fox now," Fox explained honestly. He then switched on the boosters and was off Corneria in mere seconds. While he was leaving, he saw the men Pepper had sent rocketing towards Corneria.

After a few moments of getting stabilized, the two foxes say in silence. Fox's thought were with Falco, thanking him mentally for freeing Krystal. He sighed; and whispered, "I'm glad you're safe…did Panther or Leon do anything to you?"

Krystal shook her head. "No, but they took Falco," she replied gravely.

"What? How could anyone capture that bird?" Fox cried.

Krystal then explained what went on inside the Wolfen briefly. She ended with, "But now…I am receiving calls of great distress from inside the Wolfen!"

"We've got to get back to him…" Fox said, forcing the controls to the side, turning the ship around.