Second Breakdown

Disclaimer: All of Star Fox characters, names, trademarks, etc. are owned by Nintendo. Anything else belongs to me.

Review Report (as of June 16, 2005):

Kane3 – Hmm… actually, it's not you, unless you're a demented scientist who likes to evolve people for the sake of ruling an entire system! If you wish to know this Kane, I suggest you to read the prequel Red Alert, another Star Fox fic of mine!

End of Report

Again, for you to learn the background information on Kane, the evolution incident in Corneria, James, and the appearance of Galaxy Wulf, read the prequel.

Chapter 2 – Sleuth

"Say, did Wolf and his company receive the message?" Slippy wondered as he commanded to the console an increase of speed. "We're already five-hundred light years away from the farthest planet in Lylat, so we're in neutral space territory until about two-hundred light years. I doubt that Wolfens can surpass the speed of a starship, and even in Great Fox, it'll take about an hour before it reaches the capital planet in Terra System…"

"We have no time to worry about that, okay," Fox shrugged while seated on the captain's chair. "Look, we only sent him a message requesting a help. It's up to him and his gang if he helps out or not. Speaking of which, don't you think he'll revive Star Wolf again?"

Falco tapped the fox's shoulder and grinned, "That sounds great, then! I miss the good ol' bitchin' time when I kept tearing Leon's wing with laser!" Fox laughed along the way. Yes, he too missed having dogfights with Wolf.

"Well then, what do you guys intend to do?" James asked them as he carried a toolbox containing tools for setting up a vehicle. "Peppy and I will be fixing the Arwings… Say, Falco, why not give us a hand?" He simply replied with a nod, since it's hard to argue with a person having physical strength like James. They then moved towards the docking bay for the modifications.

"I'll take some java. How about you, Slipster?" the vulpine asked the frog. "Will I get you one?"

"Decaf, Fox," he replied.

After a few minutes, Fox returned while carrying two mugs filled with coffee. "Here you go Slippy!"

"Thanks Fox," he answered back in his usual high-toned voice. When he took his first sip, the console suddenly alarmed him about an incoming message. "Huh? Take a look at this Fox! It's from Space Den! It's from Galaxy Wulf!"

"Really? Put it on!" the fox suddenly jerked out, almost spilling the caffeine around his jacket. "Aw, shit! Anyway, here he is."

At the monitor, Wulf's image appeared. By the looks of his face, he could mean something bad.

Fox, this is Wulf McWolf…

"You're clear here! All right, what's the news?"

I know I'm putting my personal life here, but… the kidnappers, they took my father too…

"They took who, your father? That's…"

They used him as an insurance policy... They'll evolve him and the soldiers if I do something funny before or during the ransom exchange. Please, you have to help me rescue him and the officers... I have a feeling that the ransom is just a trap… And not only that, this Artemis, our enemy, says that her evolution cannot be removed…

"Wulf…"

If… if you're willing to help me, go to this coordinates. It's an empty asteroid, but it's large enough for many ships to land. Bark has already placed the artificial atmosphere here…

"Wulf, you helped me rescue my father from an ambitious dream… I'll save yours too! Don't worry!"

T-thanks… Fox…

The message cut off, with Fox McCloud thinking of what the wolf had done to him. "He really needs our help, my help," he sighed out. "All right, Slippy. Did you get all of the coordinates? We'll head there as soon as possible."

"…already resetting our course!" he answered with eagerness. "I can't wait to see them once more, and their Terran technology! I want to know that artificial atmosphere device! Oh, I'll tell the others too!"

"Here's some orange juice," Lupina told Wulf as she sat beside him. They were at the lounge of Space Den, Galaxy Wulf's ship. "So, how's your mom?"

"She's all right," he replied with a worried look. "Aramias and George are also fine… I'm just worried about my dad… I can't let that Artemis character evolve him! If that happens, I don't know what I'm about to do…" His hand that was holding the mug shook with nervousness. He never had felt such worry. "I… I have to do something…" He suddenly noticed Bark entering the room, so he asked him, "Say, Bark, do you remember the last mission we had? You were able to create an antibody, thanks to my Anatyde. Can you make another one?"

The dog approached the worried wolf. "Wulf", he explained and eased him, "I haven't acquired the data of the virus yet, and something tells me that that Artemis person isn't lying about the evolution being incurable. The only thing I can advice to you is that you should be calm… Keep a clear thinking, because we'll need that… Even if Star Fox will help us, jumping to the foe's base will only make things hard…"

"What do you mean by jumping to the foe's base?"

Eagle, who just recently finished making tea, headed to the lounge carrying a tray containing a teakettle and some small cups, and then continued what Bark was saying. "Bark here was able to trace the origin of the message using the signals. The evil witch's hideout is in Colonium. By scanning the planet's surface, he figured out that it was an abandoned factory of some sort, with hidden laser fences and anti-air turret laser guns."

"Heh, pass me the tea, Eagle!" Garou, who suddenly entered the lounge and butted in the discussion, reacted. "If that's what four-eyes meant about that bitch's base, then we have to get there by using our fighters! It's a good thing I've been keeping my gorgeous Ice Fang II in top condition!"

"Who asked you?" the smart dog just gritted, making the ice wolf growl. He then heard something landing outside. "Huh? Hmm… Wulf, it looks like we have company… It's them…"

"Whoa-ho-ho!" Falco gasped as he exited the ship without a space suit. "Wow, if we have this stuff in Lylat, we won't need any beach tours! We can take a vacation at a big space rock!"

"Enjoy yourself, Falco Lombardi," Peppy sighed. "Remember though, don't get too far. You might reach the limit of the atmosphere and die!" The bird started to annoy him after hearing such statements.

"Where's Wulf?" Slippy wondered. However, he stopped when he saw Wulf, Bark, Garou, Eagle, and Lupina approaching them. It was noticeable that the leader of Galaxy Wulf was having deep thoughts.

Fox approached him and shook his hand. "Uh, Wulf, it's good to see you," he greeted him. "I know you're having a big burden right now, so at least let me ease it up, okay? Star Fox is ready to help you…"

"Fox…"

"Wulf McWolf, I, James McCloud, the former leader of Star Fox, shall also give assistance," James nodded as he tapped the wolf's shoulder. "I owe you everything… and I know it'll be painful if such event occurs… Anyway, has Wolf, Leon, and Panther already landed here?"

"Why'd you ask?" Lupina questioned them. "I thought they were with you…"

"Well, those guys probably have their reasons for not coming," Falco suddenly hissed with glee. "I mean, except for Leon, Wolf and Panther were evolved, and if you ask me, I think they're trying to readjust back to their normal lives now that they're… normal."

"So you're telling us that you wanted to take a break?" Slippy laughed. "Sorry, birdbrain, but it won't work!" The two suddenly quarreled to the ground.

PING

"Huh? A message?" Eagle noted the people around. "Guys, let's head back to Space Den. A message has just arrived."

Back at the bridge, everybody paid attention to the new message. It came from Gen. Lupine, another general of TERRA Squad. If you might ask, he's Lupina's father.

"Galaxy Wulf," he began in a fast pace, "and you must be Star Fox of Lylat System. I am General Lupine Klaus, one of the generals in TERRA Squad, and the appointed head of planet Colonium, but enough introductions! This is urgent! We just received a note, or more like a threat, from the kidnapper Artemis. The message contains her new deal, and… well… see for yourself…" A screen appeared and played the message.

Greetings, TERRA Squad! It's me again, and well, I am bored! Forget the ransom date being long! I want it within two hours! And guess what…

It showed a raccoon chained to a wall with a metal headband. By the looks of his face, he was one of the commanders who were kidnapped. Stripped leaving only with his shorts, his body revealed wounds and scratches.

I've decided to show you an example of my evolution trick! Unlike your cliché ways of transforming a life form, I have devised mine! By simply inputting a specific wave pattern, I can evolve a person into something I want! Let's say, I want Cmd. Colt to be a high-pitched killer…

The raccoon suddenly screamed out as electric waves were transmitted to his brain via the headband. He cried out for thirty seconds before it was removed from his head and his chains were released. After a few more seconds, his body started to evolve. As his anatomy expanded and bulked up, the fur on his back and on his tail slowly stiffened. Afterwards, he was just like an evolved person back at Lylat, only this time he looked dangerous. Cmd. Colt growled out, making the place shake.

He's mine now! By simply using those waves to permanently alter the brain, the pituitary gland does the changes to the anatomy while the altered brain changes his personality, thoughts, everything! That's one down and five to go, and that's counting Mr. Lupus McWolf! I want 20,000,000 DL in my account within 1 hour, not 2 hours anymore! Please fail so that I can change them into…

Before the message was finished, Wulf cut it off. "General," he replied with a slight sign of terror, "whatever happens, don't do the ransom… I'll save them… I won't let this happen to him… to them…"

"Are you sure, McWolf?" Lupine asked for clarification. "We want to help you, too…"

"Dad, I think Wulf knows what he's doing," Lupina insisted. "You can help us though, by keeping your ears up and getting ready for our help call."

"Very well, then… Just, just be careful…"

As the general logged, off, Bark and the others were now clarified. "So that's why it's incurable," he noted to them. "The body itself allowed change because the brain was now under her influence… It cannot be cured by an antidote…"

"Then that just means we have to act now," Wulf ordered out with his heart.

Star Fox however, looked at him as a son wanting to save his father. Falco, Peppy, James, Slippy, and Fox could see his anguish hiding behind the responsible look…