Star Fox Alliance: Chapter 5
In the med lab, ROB had set up a quarantine force field. Leon was lying on a bed, still in uniform. ROB was checking his lifesigns, but someone else's life was more in danger.
Wolf roared as he picked up Fox by the collar and slammed him into the wall.
"You fool!" He yelled as he raised his fist to beat the living daylights out of Fox. "The Great Fox could have blasted that thing from orbit!"
"As I recall," Fox growled, "you were the one so eager to attack the thing!"
Wolf let go and punched Fox directly in the face. Fox's head slammed back into the wall and he slid down it, dazed. A weak laser flew from the corner and hit Wolf and he flew backwards. Peppy came out from the corner.
"Wolf, you can spend a few hours in the brig cooling off." Peppy said calmly.
Wolf groaned from the floor. That laser obviously wasn't as weak as Fox had thought.
Falco and Slippy walked into the med lab, taking care to stay behind the quarantine field.
"How is he ROB?" Falco asked.
"His life signs are stable, however, complications have arisen."
"Such as?" Slippy enquired.
"Processes such as breathing and reproduction have been damaged."
"Ah, right. Breathing and… WHAT!" Falco exclaimed.
"Reproduction. This is seemingly a temporary problem, as is the breathing. The virus was similar to anthrax, but not the same. Its genetic material was different, it was weaker than the real strain and caused different symptoms. I was able to form an antidote very quickly."
"Good work." Falco complimented.
"Proximity alert. Proximity alert." The computer warned.
"What is it computer?" Falco asked.
"Identified as: CSS Dagger."
Falco thought for a moment. The Dagger was an experimental Cornerian StarShip. It had apparently been attacked by an unidentified band of pirates who wanted its experimental hyperdrive. It was rumoured to have a great potential for using energy efficiently.
"Computer, scan for lifesigns and species." Slippy ordered.
"There are 67 lifesigns. 2 android, 60 Venomian and 5 Cornerian."
"Computer, contact General Pepper and get us authorisation to storm the ship."
Falco had gotten Wolf out of the brig. Now, Falco, Wolf, Panther and Krystal were about to touch down in the landing bay.
"Remember," Wolf said, "they are Venomian, so don't get captured." Everyone knew he was primarily speaking to Krystal, as she had never really encountered Venomians before.
They touched down on the platforms, and jumped out. Krsytal drew her staff and her blaster, ready to kill any Venomians.
"We take no prisoners." Falco said, blaster drawn. "We rescue the Cornerians, and kill the Venomians." Everyone simply nodded. "Panther and Krystal, make your way to the bridge. Wolf, you go with me to the brig."
Krystal and Panther met resistance almost immediately. They started blasting, and did the usual to keep themselves interested. Counting their kills.
"Fifteen!" Krystal yelled as she took one down with a well placed shot.
"Seventeen!" Panther yelled back, firing a few shots into the crowd of Venomians. Soon the crowd had been eroded significantly, leaving four Venomians.
Panther and Krystal had been fighting back-to-back, much to Panther's delight, but now they both jumped forwards and took two each with them. Krystal holstered her gun and drew her staff. She and Panther had twenty-eight kills each. She fire-blasted one of the Venomians directly in the chest and he flew backwards, smashing his head against a pole and caught fire. After thirty seconds, he was a small pile of ashes.
Panther had dispatched one of his pursuers, and was now blasting at the other. They both caught a lift platform and were rolling and dodging from each other's shots. The lift had led them to the ammunitions room. They mentally agreed a truce while they reached for other weapons. Panther quickly grabbed a sword and a gatling gun.
Panther threw the sword and it glistened as it flew through the air. It went straight through the Venomian's head and he fell to the floor. Panther withdrew the sword and wiped it down on the soldier's shirt. Panther turned around and looked for the sheath. He picked it up and hooked it to his belt. He liked it.
He put the sword away and looked for Krystal out of the viewing window. She was still fighting the final Venomian. Panther looked on, horrified at the beating Krystal was taking. Blood trailed from her mouth and sprayed away with every punch. He immediately jumped out of the window and ran back to her.
Krystal was on the floor and the Venomian was about to pull the trigger.
"Night night." He hissed. Panther arrived just at the right time, blasting a small hole through the Venomian's head.
"31." Panther said, grinning.
Falco and Wolf obviously met no resistance. All the Venomians had flocked toward Krytsal and Panther.
"Wolf, lets get going." Falco said.
They moved quietly along the corridor, occasionally pausing to take out security cameras. Eventually they reached the brig.
There were five Cornerian soldiers, three male, two female. Falco grimaced. The females had been tortured, and probably raped. No one of them was conscious.
"Beltino…" Wolf said into his comm. "Get a lock on them and beam them directly to the med lab."
"Got it, Wolf." Beltino replied.
The five disappeared in a haze of light. Falco and Wolf made their way to the bridge.
Panther and Krystal were waiting for them.
"Are you OK?" Falco said to Krystal, looking at the bruises on her face.
"Yeah." She replied. "Just a bit shaken." Wolf noted the sword on Panther's belt, similar to his own, but said nothing.
"Are we getting out of this heap or what?" Panther asked Falco.
"Relax." Falco said. "We're the only four here now, right Peppy?" He said into his comm.
"No." Peppy replied bluntly. "But my advice is that you get the hell out of there."
"Why?" Panther asked.
"There was one Venomian only badly injured. He set off the self destruct system. You have one minute to get the hell out of there, cos there's an anti teleportation field around the ship now."
The four of them were gone, running to the landing bays as quickly as possible.
Leon walked slowly onto the bridge and took his place.
"Are you OK now Leon?" Fox asked, genuine concern on his face.
"Yeah." Leon winced, hand on his chest. "Breathing's the worst."
"They're in trouble on the ship." Fox explained. "They have one minute left." Leon noticed the panic etched on Fox's face.
Falco swore repeatedly as he ran. They had half a minute and had only just got to the ships. They would then have to clear the blast zone. They jumped in and took off. They flew out of the bay. 20 seconds. 10 seconds. 5…4…3…2…1… The ship exploded, and the smaller ships were hurled in different directions.
A burst of ststic came from the radio, and Falco made out Peppy's voice.
"Huh?" Falco asked.
"Message repeat: Falco, we're locked on."
All four shipswere beamed back to the Great Fox.
Well, there you have it, chapter 5. The next scene's takin' me a while, so it could be a couple of days before it is up. There'll be a lot of emotion! Fox and Krystal grow closer, and Leon and Wolf talk to the female victims of the Venomians. R&R! And just for you guys... a sneak preview! -cerberus.
Tinan looked at Wolf, tears blurring her vision.
"High and mighty Lord O'Donnell." She hissed. "You were obviously in charge of that attack, seeing as you're so chummy with Andross." Wolf tried to reply, but there were no words to excuse himself from that particular crime. "You let those slimy sons of bitches rape me!" She screamed, absolutely hysterical now.
Wolf slowly lifted her muzzle with two fingers, looking directly into her eyes.
"Now listen sweetheart," he began, his tone icy, "when I was second in command at Venom, any rapists were handed to Leon for torture practice. I had any rapists slaughtered like the snakes they were." His tone changed, and he spoke louder. "But then, Andross fell. And when he fell, so did I. Very few respected me, and lots of people were raped. Not always physically! The were raped of their dignity!" He snarled, "And I was forced to kill..." He moved even closer. "Every... Last... One."