Chapter 9: Destination: Kymach, PART 2
The hoard of mind controlled Kymachians and echidnas stood only a few yards away. There were so many of them that Fox began to doubt that the two of them had any chance at victory. If they were going to win this fight, they would definitely need someone else to help, but for the moment, it was just the two of them staring down hundreds of Kymachians. Fox didn't know what he should do, it seemed like these mind-controlled animals were waiting for Fox and Krystal to make the first move. Should I attack, or should I wait...I'm sure the enemy controlling the Kymachian's minds has got to be watching from somewhere, waiting for me to make a wrong move...but I can't just stand here...
After a few seconds, still nothing had happened, neither side had made an attempt to move. Then suddenly, an echidna stumbled out from underneath one of the researchers tents. It fell right in between the two sides, but it did not seem to be under mind control. It looked at the group of Kymachians in fear and quickly began to retreat back to his tent. Before he could reach it, a small group of Kymachians jumped him and tackled him to the ground. He was completely buried underneath the pile of hooded Kymachians. Only the deafening sounds of the echidna's screams could be heard as the two sides continued the stand off. All of a sudden, the screaming stopped and silence returned to the desert. The Kymachians slowly returned to their side and left the echidna's body in the sand. It laid still for several seconds until suddenly, it jumped up onto its two feet and began to charge Fox and Krystal. So they really can take control of other animal's minds. I didn't know that this type of mind control existed...Fox heard the war cry of the Kymachians as the mass of creatures began to charge behind the echidna. He pointed his blaster and quickly picked off the fast approaching echidna. He briefly turned his focus to Krystal and said, "Be careful and good luck, if you need cover, just scream or something and I'll get to you as fast as possible." Krystal replied without losing her focus, "I'll probably be screaming even if I don't need help." With that the two ran off to the left and right of the Kymachians and began desperately shooting them down.
Fox went out wide to the left and took cover behind a rusted old piece of machinery. He propped his back against the cold metal frame of the machine and turned his head around the corner. He pointed his blaster around the corner and took several shots, each hitting its desired target with great precision. As the Kymachians neared his position, Fox began to climb up the machine and continued to take down more of the attacking enemies from the top of the old piece of machinery. Some of the attacking Kymachians were able to reach the old machine and began to climb up it. Fox tried to keep them off, but could not manage against the outrageous numbers of the attacking Kymachians. He thought to himself as he saw a Kymachian climb on top of the machine where he was standing, Oh this was a stupid idea, why did I climb on top of this...I need to get down, but if I jump, I'll just be swarmed by those Kymachians...This doesn't look good for me...
(On Krystal's side)
Krystal had decided to go the opposite direction of Fox, she didn't really know if she wanted to leave Fox, but for right now, she knew she would be fine on her own. Only a few of the Kymachians had decided to attack her. Krystal didn't notice this though, she was still worried about what the outcome of the fight would be, and after she saw all that had happened today...she was hesitant to shoot down any of the Kymachians. All this death reminded her of Cerinia...the war...her Father...it all seemed too close to what had happened four years ago on her home planet, and that was something she never wanted to relive, but she could hear Fox's voice in her head, encouraging her...Krystal, it's never easy to see deaths like that...but if you think about what we're fighting for...it kinda makes it seem less shocking...I still hate seeing all these dead bodies...but...it can't be helped...
Those words seemed to spark something within her...she turned to the approaching Kymachians and began to pick them off with ease, never missing her mark. She retreated behind a thick cactus and began to fire away at the quickly approaching hoard. They were still making good ground, even though Krystal was doing her best to keep them back. She saw that the Kymachians were getting too close for comfort, and decided to retreat again to an old truck in front her. As she began to withdraw, she felt something hold her back. She struggled against the force, but could not pull away. She looked back to see that her gray vest was stuck on the needles of the cactus. She didn't have any time to react as she realized this though; the Kymachians had reached the cactus, and began to surround her. She screamed desperately, "Fox! Help me...I'm surrounded, Help m...Ahhh...!" She was pulled under the group of Kymachians and her screams became muffled...
(On Fox's side)
Fox stood on top of the metal frame of the digging equipment, desperately trying to knock the Kymachians off. It seemed like there was no way for Fox to get rid of all these Kymachians before they overwhelmed him. As he fought, he suddenly felt a slight pain in his left shoulder. He stepped back in surprise, nothing had hit him, there were no Kymachians in attacking distance...but he still felt the strange pain in his shoulder...What is this, how did that happen...I didn't get hit by anything...so how come my shoulder hurts like this... Suddenly, Fox heard a shrill noise rising over the sands. He picked off a few of the approaching Kymachians, which gave him just enough time to see Krystal being piled on by a group of Kymachians. Oh no, they got Krystal...I gotta get over there fast...but, I can't get off this machine...all right, if I needed one thing to go in my favor...give it to me now! Fox turned from the Kymachians that were on top of the machine and he jumped off its metallic frame. He looked down to see where he would land, but no matter where he looked, there didn't seem to be a hole in the Kymachians forces. He tried to shoot a space in the crowd as he fell, but the holes he created were immediately filled in by the seemingly never-ending supply of Kymachians. He closed his eyes and hoped for a miracle...He heard the sound of laser fire and a few small explosions beneath him, then he felt himself hit the ground and his muscles tighten as he anticipated his death.
He stood there, bracing himself as he sensed the Kymachians approaching to kill him...but nothing happened. He quickly opened his eyes and looked around. A large gap had somehow opened in the mass of Kymachians. Without hesitation, Fox took this opportunity to run through the small gap and went to help Krystal. As he ran, he looked up and saw Katt's pink fighter flying overhead to the landing area to land with the Arwings. Oh man, I'm never gonna here the end of that...Fox's thoughts were broken as he remembered Krystal, who was still a good distance away from him. The group of Kymachians were still piled on top of her, and they didn't seem to be getting off of her. When the Kymachians tackled the echidna, they got off almost immediately, but for some reason, they didn't seem to get off of Krystal. Fox took a desperate shot at the pile of Kymachians and managed to make a few of them fall off the mound. Fox ran into very close range and began to carefully blast the Kymachians off of Krystal. They didn't even seem to notice the fact that Fox was attacking them, they continued trying to stay in their assembled mass atop Krystal. Fox finished off the last of the Kymachians that were piled on top of Krystal and he quickly pushed them off of her. As he the pile of dead Kymachians got smaller, he began to see some kind of green light coming from underneath them. He could now see Krystal, who had many cuts and bruises and her uniform was slightly torn in places, but she did not seem to be bleeding that badly. He pulled the last of the Kymachians off of her to see that a small green forcefield surrounded her body. She had her eyes closed and was breathing heavily. The forcefield suddenly faded and she opened one eye, making sure it was safe. She stood up and turned to Fox. She ran over to him and said, "Oh Fox, you saved me...I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't come...Thank you Fox." She threw her arms around him and began to cry slightly. Fox hesitated and replied, "Uh...Ya, no problem...but I don't think it was me who saved you...did you have your eyes closed the whole time?" Krystal answered in between breaths, "No, I saw them jump on top of me...and they began to claw at me...but it was not as painful as I thought it would be...then I saw this green light...I think it came from that portable M.C.D. that we have in our vests...but...it doesn't..." Krystal cut herself off as she saw the remaining Kymachians beginning to approach from over Fox's shoulder. Fox looked back and saw them coming. "It's almost over, we're gonna finish this now...let's go Krystal, Katt should be here any second to help." Krystal wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and nodded happily, because for the first time, she somehow began to feel comfortable on this desert planet.
This time the two did not split up as they continued the fight against the Kymachians. They stayed together, making sure that nothing would happen to each other. They also fought much more efficiently when they were together. They fought side-by-side and slowly mowed down the still numerous Kymachians, who seemed to be incorporating a different tactic. The Kymachians began to quickly surround Fox and Krystal instead of attacking head on. Fox saw this and grabbed Krystal's arm, "Hang on, we can't get surrounded or we're dead." Krystal stopped shooting and grabbed onto Fox's arm with both hands. Fox started a mad dash to a small gap that the Kymachians had not yet filled in around them. It looked like he would make it with ease, but suddenly from behind the mass of Kymachians; a few of the mind controlled echidnas closed the gap. Fox blasted them out of the way, but then the Kymachians were able to fill in the space he created. Fox kept shooting, thinking that eventually he could thin them out enough so that he could fight his way through, but it seemed like there was an endless supply of these creatures. Fox couldn't stop though, he knew he couldn't get surrounded, but it seemed like there was no way out. Suddenly from behind the crowd of creatures, the familiar sound of a blaster broke the steady growling of the Kymachians, and the hole Fox had been trying to create suddenly opened wide. Through the hole, Fox could see the figure of Katt who was wearing that cocky smirk on her face. Fox broke through the surrounding Kymachians and looked back to see it become filled again. He stopped and looked over at Katt. She smirked and said, "That's two you owe me Foxboy..." Fox began to speak but then Katt suddenly shot her pink blaster just past his body at a dangerously close Kymachian. "Heh, well, now it's three. You better turn around and fight before I make it four." Fox smiled and turned to the approaching Kymachians; he could finally see their numbers beginning to fade.
With Katt helping, the fight seemed to go much smoother. The Kymachian ranks slowly began to fade until there were only about fifty left. The remaining Kymachians retreated back into the desert and left the bloody sands filled with dead bodies of the Kymachians and the lifeless echidnas. Katt holstered her blaster and said, "Well that didn't last very long, wasn't nearly as fun as I thought it'd be." Fox and Krystal were kneeling over, trying to catch their breath. Fox looked up at Katt and managed to say between breaths, "Ya...easy...Where were you when we started!?" Katt replied matter-of-factly, "I had to drag Slippy back to the Great Fox, remember? And besides, I figured a fighter of your status could take a few hundred of these little hooded guys without any help." Fox sighed, "Ya, that's in my Arwing, I almost never have to fight on land...and next time, just try and tell me before you abandon us, ok?" Katt just shrugged and answered, "You're the leader, not my place to argue with you sir." Fox rolled his eyes and said, "Ok then, why don't you get back to the Arwings and tell ROB were ready for that M.C.D. system?" Katt began to walk towards the landing area, and said back to him, "Ok, I'll just leave you and Krystal alone for a while...sorry I have to be here." Fox rolled his eyes again and looked back at the heavily panting and slightly bleeding Krystal. He bent down next to her and asked, "Are you ok? You fought really well out there, I don't think I could've done that well on my first mission..." Krystal continued to look down into the sand and replied, "It's...over? Fox..." She paused and regained her breath. "Is Katt gone...?" Fox nodded and she continued, "Then there is something I need to show you..."
Krystal felt Fox grasp her hand to help her up. She hopped up to her feet and mouthed a gentle 'thank you' at Fox. She carefully looked around the sands that were filled with many dead bodies. She approached one of the echidnas and put her hand against his neck. Krystal hesitated and said, "Fox, he is still alive, but he is going to die if we leave him like this." Krystal motioned for Fox to feel the echidnas pulse. He sat down and felt the irregular heart beat of the defeated echidna. Krystal signaled for Fox to stand back as she placed her hands on the echidna's chest. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. A soft blue light began to radiate around her, it flowed through her body and into her arms and hands. The same light began to encase the echidna and his muscles began to tense. The light seemed to close over some of the echidna's injuries as it continued to flow through him. Krystal opened her eyes and let the light fade from their bodies. She looked up at Fox and said, "Now feel his heartbeat...It...should be restored." Fox slowly bent down and placed his hand on the echidna's neck. Fox's eyes opened wide as he felt that the echidna's heartbeat had returned to normal. "This is the most powerful form of the energy of life, It can heal the severely wounded, but it is not strong enough to revive the dead..." Fox could only fall back into the sand in amazement, "Do you know what this kind of power could do? You could be one of the highest paid doctors in all of Corneria...It would save thousands of lives...and...I have this power too?" Krystal stood up and nodded, "Yes...but you still have a long way before you truly believe you do...when you believe you have the energy...you will be able to feel this power flowing through you...but now...you still doubt the fact that you do...you are afraid of having this power...It disturbs you...but...it is not strange for you to feel this..." Fox thought for a second and replied, "I don't know if that's it...it just seems so unreal...I've seen some weird stuff in my journeys...but nothing like this..." Krystal nodded and continued, "I too was unsettled by the energy of life when I was trained to use it...but..."
"Oh jeez, Do you two ever get away from each other? I'm sure you can find something better to do." "Katt, I'm sure they do, but you just keep butting in on them all the time." "Ya, not too sure about that Peppy..." Fox turned to see Katt and Peppy standing behind him. Fox stood up and said, "Well Katt, did you get that M.C.D. system down here?" Katt pointed up into the sky and replied, "ROB will be sending it down soon, so don't get all anxious Foxboy." Peppy spoke after her, "She contacted us after the fighting and we got the coordinates, so it should be dropped somewhere near the Arwings." Peppy started walking towards the landing area and signaled for the rest of the group to follow. Krystal walked to Fox's side and took his hand as they began to walk back across the desert back to the landing area. Fox and Krystal looked around at all the enemies they had defeated...all the lives that wouldn't have been lost if it wasn't for mind control...As Fox thought about this, his grip on Krystal's hand grew slightly tighter. Krystal looked down at their hands and asked, "What's wrong Fox? Is it...the energy?" Fox looked over at her and replied, "No...It's not that...it's just...I don't get why any one would do this to defenseless planets like this...I hate seeing all these innocent creatures die...but I guess it really can't be prevented...I just wish we knew who we were fighting against..." Krystal didn't know what to say, instead, she let go of Fox's hand and put her arm around his shoulders, trying to silently comfort him. Fox's mixed thoughts of anger and sadness quickly faded as he felt Krystal's arm around his shoulders.
Fox thought to himself as he also placed his arm around Krystal, This is weird...I've never felt like this around anyone...Krystal...How could I have met someone so perfect by such a complete accident...It's like...somehow...we were brought together...and I remember that scroll saying that we were destined to be together...but then...does that mean that we have no choice but to be together? Is this feeling that I have for her...real? Or is it given to me by destiny...So Krystal, her feelings might be caused by her wanting to fulfill the scroll's prophesy...does that mean...that she might not like me...at all? She might just be acting for the scroll...but...that can't be right...no way...I know that I...but...I'm sure that's not it...but...what if it is...?
Krystal glanced over at Fox, who was staring sadly into the sand..."What is it Fox...still thinking of the Kymachians...?" Fox looked up quickly, not realizing his expression had become so sad, "Well...no..." "Then what is it?" Fox looked over at her and replied, "Krystal...ask me again sometime...I still have to think about this..." Krystal began to stroke Fox's arm with the hand she had over his shoulder. Fox flashed a flashed a pleasant smile at Krystal and seemed to tell Krystal through his eyes, "I'm fine...don't worry about it." They continued walking, drawing comfort from the arm that they wrapped around each other.
A little while later, the group arrived back at the landing area and saw a large crate that was labeled with a big S on each of it's four sides. Peppy announced, "This must be it, let's open it up and see what we have to deal with." Peppy quickly entered a short access code and the crate slowly folded open in front of him to reveal the short range M.C.D. system. The machine itself was pretty small, and it was a polished silver color. It started with a wide base on the ground and slightly narrowed as it reached higher, so it looked similar to a large, metal triangle. Peppy walked up to the machine and studied the technology. Fox walked up behind him after a while and asked jokingly, "So are you gonna turn it on or what?" Peppy hesitated and answered, "Uh...I don't know how yet...just hang on a second...we're not in any kind of hurry here." Katt said from behind them, "Ya, not until the rest of those Kymachians ambush us while we're not looking..." Peppy replied, "I don't think they'll be back for...WOAH" Peppy stopped as he heard a blaster go off and the shot fly over his shoulder. He looked back at Katt who was now fighting of a new hoard of Kymachians. Fox turned and pulled his blaster and ran to help Katt. He shouted back at Peppy, "Hurry up and get that activated, if you get that set up, they should..." Fox stopped as he rolled out of the way of a lunging Kymachian. Peppy turned and looked at the machine...hoping that they could cover him as he tried to figure out the piece of equipment. Peppy muttered to himself, "Why can't they make these things like they used to..." Krystal stayed back and kept the Kymachians away from Peppy as he worked. Peppy kneeled down to look at a few panels on the bottom of the machine, as he did, a shot flew over him and hit an approaching Kymachian. Peppy whispered..."I'm gonna have a heart attack soon...I'm way to old for this much action...wait...here we go." Peppy flipped a few switches and looked back at a small screen on the machine. It read, "Requested action: Activation process... access denied. Required information: User Fox McCloud: Hand and eye scan...proceed?" Peppy slumped over and muttered, "Is that really necessary...it was so much easier back then..." He then stood up and screamed, "Fox, Get over here! This machine needs to do some scans on you to activate!" Fox turned and ran back towards the M.C.D. system. He picked off a few of the Kymachians as he proceeded to the machine. Fox quickly arrived at the M.C.D. system and tossed Peppy his blaster. Fox yelled as he placed his hand on one of the machines scanners, "You hold them off with this while I get this thing working, you remember how to use it right?" Peppy didn't reply, instead he jogged up next to Katt and began firing away at the Kymachians.
Fox turned his attention back to the machine, a soft green light was slowly moving up and down his hand. He ducked as a Kymachian dived at him, it fell over him and Krystal finished it with a shot to the neck. Fox was able to keep his hand on the scanner and it read, "Hand scan...complete. Next process: Eye scan." Fox looked around on the machine for the eye scanner while Krystal was firing blaster shots that traveled dangerously close to his body. Fox found the scanner and placed his eye in the apparatus. A bright red light scanned back and forth over his eye. Fox was starting to feel nervous, he could not see anything that was happening around him, one eye was in the scanner and the other could only see the metal frame of the M.C.D. system. He could only hear the blaster fire from his team's fighting. Fox anxiously pulled his eye away from the machine as he heard it announce, "Eye scan complete, Activate system now?" Fox looked over to the small screen in the middle of the machine and pressed the blinking green button. As he did, he felt one of the shots from Krystal graze past his leg, singeing some of his hair. He began to let out a small yelp, but held it in as he heard the machine say, "Activation commencing...Mind Control Forcefield now uploading..."
The machine began to emit a high-pitched screech as it became active. Fox covered his ears, hoping that somehow his hands could block out the loud noise. The rest of the team did the same as the noise continued to pierce through the desert. The Kymachians and echidnas all fell to the ground and began to make a noise that made them sound like they were in extreme pain, it was almost as terrible a noise as the M.C.D. system was making. This went on for a few minutes...Fox could feel the noise starting to settle, but it was still extremely loud. Suddenly, the screams of the creatures stopped and only the penetrating screech of the M.C.D. system could be heard. They laid completely motionless as the M.C.D. system continued to scream.
Fox looked over to the small screen on the M.C.D. system, which was counting down to the time the forcefield would activate. It had counted down to ten seconds. Fox turned and pushed his head into the sand, This stupid noise is gonna drive me crazy if it keeps up...only eight seconds left...come on...come on! Can't it hurry up...two seconds...it's almost over...Suddenly, the deafening noise faded from the quiet sands of the desert and it could be heard echoing away into the sandy wasteland. Fox was finally able to uncover his ears and stand up. The rest of the team stood up shortly after him. Fox scanned the desert that was filled with motionless bodies of the unfortunate creatures.
Krystal walked up to one of them and placed a hand on its head. She announced, "It's still alive...and this one didn't seem to receive many injuries...wait...he's waking up." The whole team took a nervous step back as the Kymachian raised his head from the sand. It placed it's hand on it's head, which was concealed by its hooded cloak, and muttered, "How did I end up here...did I just..." It stopped itself as it looked up to see Fox and company staring down at him. It inched it's way back in the sand and asked, "Who...are you...I've never seen your species...What are you doing here?" Katt looked away and gruffly replied, "I'd think you'd act a little more grateful after we saved your little desert planet..." The Kymachian stood up and responded, "I do not really remember anything before I ended up here...all I remember was seeing a strange, green creature...I do not really know what exactly he was...but, I remember him saying to my tribe, "My friends, this land is so empty, and you are all proven warriors. I have a proposition. If you follow me, I will make Kymachians the greatest power in the universe. Your land will greatly prosper and grow, and all I want in return is your trust. So what will it be my friends?" I do not remember much after that...but...there was something else...a ship in the sky...and a sharp noise...and that's all I can remember..."
Fox's interest was sparked when he heard the vague description of what might've been their possible enemy. He walked up next to the short Kymachian and asked, "Can you remember anything else about that green creature that spoke to you?" It looked down and answered, "I cannot...he had a deep voice...and had a short snout...but that is all I can seem to remember...I'm sorry." Fox placed his head in his hand and desperately tried to find someone that would match that description...but he could think of no one. Peppy came up from behind him and began to fill in the Kymachian on what had just happened. "Your planet was placed under mind control...the creature that you talked to could've been the one who put you under his control. He told you if you followed him he'd give you power, but what he did was take all your power, and added it to his...but we broke the control he had on you and that's probably why you can't remember anything." The Kymachian looked up at him and replied, "And for that, we are ever thankful, I am sorry cannot be of much help..." The Kymachian looked around, noticing the many bodies of his tribe that were scattered across the sand. "I see that there has been a large fight...I must leave you now and help the others of my kind...and again, thank you." The short Kymachian strode off back through the desert and into the camp.
There was a brief silence...they took a little time to scan over the desert and see exactly what they had just accomplished. They had overcome hundreds of Kymachians and were successful in setting up the M.C.D. system. Krystal looked across a few yards of sand to Fox and exclaimed. "I can't believe it, looks like we actually did it Fox! We saved the planet!" Krystal turned and raced towards Fox. Katt stepped in between them as she approached and said, "Heh, I saw that one coming from a mile away. How bout' we save the celebration until we get back to the ship, I need to get off this sandbox before I suffocate, and I know you'd hate to see me go, right Fox?" Fox looked over and smirked, "Only because I owe you a couple...I guess I have to listen to you this time." Katt smiled and replied, "Good, and by the way...that means you still owe me two more...heh, it's like I have my own little slave..." Peppy broke the two-way conversation, "You don't know how much you sound like Falco right now Katt." Katt suddenly lost the smirk on her face and quickly replied, "Let's get back to the Great Fox...like I said, I'm ready to leave..." She quickly walked towards her fighter and opened its cockpit. She jumped in and fired up its thrusters, which gave off a bright pink glow. Peppy leaned over to Fox and said, "I guess she's pretty sensitive when it comes to Falco...I wonder how she really feels about him...I still can't believe he left right before she joined..." Fox replied, still focusing on the pink fighter, "I guess so, I could contact his Arwing when we get back...but Katt will probably act like she doesn't care...I should probably contact him anyway...just to see how he's doing..." There was a brief silence as Katt's ship quickly ascended into the clear blue sky above the desert. Fox walked up to his Arwing and said, "All right, let's get back to the Great Fox and tomorrow, we'll get our next assignment from Pepper." Fox climbed into his Arwing and activated its engines. He gently guided his fighter into the sky and into the now setting sun, which filled the sky with the many colors of sunset.
The comm system in Fox's Arwing began to blink a light blue, informing him of an incoming signal. Fox activated the small plasma screen in the Arwing's consol and Krystal's face appeared on the screen. Fox smiled and asked lightheartedly, "What's up, I'm trying to fly here." Krystal let out a soft giggle and replied sarcastically, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a skilled pilot." Fox grinned and replied, "I've had a few good reviews..." Krystal smiled and responded, "I was just wondering how your leg was doing...I'm sorry I hit it...it was a really tough shot..." Fox looked down at his leg and felt the burnt fur. "It's nothing...You didn't even really hit skin...but you gave my leg a nice shave..." Krystal grinned and replied, "Well, I'm just glad your ok..." There was a temporary silence until Krystal spoke again, "So where are we going next mission? Somewhere a little...cooler?" Fox smirked and responded, "I don't know...Pepper said he'd contact us tomorrow, so I guess he's gonna tell us then." Krystal nodded and replied enthusiastically, "I can't believe we actually did it Fox...We saved an entire planet...I've never felt so excited! I guess it's nothing new for you though huh?" Fox looked away from the screen and responded, trying to sound modest, "Ya, I guess I have...I have saved a lot of different planets...As weird as it seems...I guess I just kinda got used to it." Fox noticed the Great Fox coming into range, "Ok, I'll see you in the docking bay...later!" "Bye Fox."
Fox deactivated his comm system and focused on the small opening on the back of the Great Fox. He guided his Arwing into the docking bay and skillfully landed with out making almost any noise. He sat in his Arwing for a while, thinking to himself...Saving a planet...Did I say I was used to it? That doesn't even sound possible...It doesn't even seem like I've saved that many...I guess...I guess I have been in the service for a long time...but...I'm sure even someone like Peppy still gets at least a little excited over that...I don't think that's what I'm in this for, I'm not trying to be a hero...I'm just trying to get by like anyone else...maybe I just have too much to think about right now...but still...If saving a planet isn't my motivation...what is?
The hoard of mind controlled Kymachians and echidnas stood only a few yards away. There were so many of them that Fox began to doubt that the two of them had any chance at victory. If they were going to win this fight, they would definitely need someone else to help, but for the moment, it was just the two of them staring down hundreds of Kymachians. Fox didn't know what he should do, it seemed like these mind-controlled animals were waiting for Fox and Krystal to make the first move. Should I attack, or should I wait...I'm sure the enemy controlling the Kymachian's minds has got to be watching from somewhere, waiting for me to make a wrong move...but I can't just stand here...
After a few seconds, still nothing had happened, neither side had made an attempt to move. Then suddenly, an echidna stumbled out from underneath one of the researchers tents. It fell right in between the two sides, but it did not seem to be under mind control. It looked at the group of Kymachians in fear and quickly began to retreat back to his tent. Before he could reach it, a small group of Kymachians jumped him and tackled him to the ground. He was completely buried underneath the pile of hooded Kymachians. Only the deafening sounds of the echidna's screams could be heard as the two sides continued the stand off. All of a sudden, the screaming stopped and silence returned to the desert. The Kymachians slowly returned to their side and left the echidna's body in the sand. It laid still for several seconds until suddenly, it jumped up onto its two feet and began to charge Fox and Krystal. So they really can take control of other animal's minds. I didn't know that this type of mind control existed...Fox heard the war cry of the Kymachians as the mass of creatures began to charge behind the echidna. He pointed his blaster and quickly picked off the fast approaching echidna. He briefly turned his focus to Krystal and said, "Be careful and good luck, if you need cover, just scream or something and I'll get to you as fast as possible." Krystal replied without losing her focus, "I'll probably be screaming even if I don't need help." With that the two ran off to the left and right of the Kymachians and began desperately shooting them down.
Fox went out wide to the left and took cover behind a rusted old piece of machinery. He propped his back against the cold metal frame of the machine and turned his head around the corner. He pointed his blaster around the corner and took several shots, each hitting its desired target with great precision. As the Kymachians neared his position, Fox began to climb up the machine and continued to take down more of the attacking enemies from the top of the old piece of machinery. Some of the attacking Kymachians were able to reach the old machine and began to climb up it. Fox tried to keep them off, but could not manage against the outrageous numbers of the attacking Kymachians. He thought to himself as he saw a Kymachian climb on top of the machine where he was standing, Oh this was a stupid idea, why did I climb on top of this...I need to get down, but if I jump, I'll just be swarmed by those Kymachians...This doesn't look good for me...
(On Krystal's side)
Krystal had decided to go the opposite direction of Fox, she didn't really know if she wanted to leave Fox, but for right now, she knew she would be fine on her own. Only a few of the Kymachians had decided to attack her. Krystal didn't notice this though, she was still worried about what the outcome of the fight would be, and after she saw all that had happened today...she was hesitant to shoot down any of the Kymachians. All this death reminded her of Cerinia...the war...her Father...it all seemed too close to what had happened four years ago on her home planet, and that was something she never wanted to relive, but she could hear Fox's voice in her head, encouraging her...Krystal, it's never easy to see deaths like that...but if you think about what we're fighting for...it kinda makes it seem less shocking...I still hate seeing all these dead bodies...but...it can't be helped...
Those words seemed to spark something within her...she turned to the approaching Kymachians and began to pick them off with ease, never missing her mark. She retreated behind a thick cactus and began to fire away at the quickly approaching hoard. They were still making good ground, even though Krystal was doing her best to keep them back. She saw that the Kymachians were getting too close for comfort, and decided to retreat again to an old truck in front her. As she began to withdraw, she felt something hold her back. She struggled against the force, but could not pull away. She looked back to see that her gray vest was stuck on the needles of the cactus. She didn't have any time to react as she realized this though; the Kymachians had reached the cactus, and began to surround her. She screamed desperately, "Fox! Help me...I'm surrounded, Help m...Ahhh...!" She was pulled under the group of Kymachians and her screams became muffled...
(On Fox's side)
Fox stood on top of the metal frame of the digging equipment, desperately trying to knock the Kymachians off. It seemed like there was no way for Fox to get rid of all these Kymachians before they overwhelmed him. As he fought, he suddenly felt a slight pain in his left shoulder. He stepped back in surprise, nothing had hit him, there were no Kymachians in attacking distance...but he still felt the strange pain in his shoulder...What is this, how did that happen...I didn't get hit by anything...so how come my shoulder hurts like this... Suddenly, Fox heard a shrill noise rising over the sands. He picked off a few of the approaching Kymachians, which gave him just enough time to see Krystal being piled on by a group of Kymachians. Oh no, they got Krystal...I gotta get over there fast...but, I can't get off this machine...all right, if I needed one thing to go in my favor...give it to me now! Fox turned from the Kymachians that were on top of the machine and he jumped off its metallic frame. He looked down to see where he would land, but no matter where he looked, there didn't seem to be a hole in the Kymachians forces. He tried to shoot a space in the crowd as he fell, but the holes he created were immediately filled in by the seemingly never-ending supply of Kymachians. He closed his eyes and hoped for a miracle...He heard the sound of laser fire and a few small explosions beneath him, then he felt himself hit the ground and his muscles tighten as he anticipated his death.
He stood there, bracing himself as he sensed the Kymachians approaching to kill him...but nothing happened. He quickly opened his eyes and looked around. A large gap had somehow opened in the mass of Kymachians. Without hesitation, Fox took this opportunity to run through the small gap and went to help Krystal. As he ran, he looked up and saw Katt's pink fighter flying overhead to the landing area to land with the Arwings. Oh man, I'm never gonna here the end of that...Fox's thoughts were broken as he remembered Krystal, who was still a good distance away from him. The group of Kymachians were still piled on top of her, and they didn't seem to be getting off of her. When the Kymachians tackled the echidna, they got off almost immediately, but for some reason, they didn't seem to get off of Krystal. Fox took a desperate shot at the pile of Kymachians and managed to make a few of them fall off the mound. Fox ran into very close range and began to carefully blast the Kymachians off of Krystal. They didn't even seem to notice the fact that Fox was attacking them, they continued trying to stay in their assembled mass atop Krystal. Fox finished off the last of the Kymachians that were piled on top of Krystal and he quickly pushed them off of her. As he the pile of dead Kymachians got smaller, he began to see some kind of green light coming from underneath them. He could now see Krystal, who had many cuts and bruises and her uniform was slightly torn in places, but she did not seem to be bleeding that badly. He pulled the last of the Kymachians off of her to see that a small green forcefield surrounded her body. She had her eyes closed and was breathing heavily. The forcefield suddenly faded and she opened one eye, making sure it was safe. She stood up and turned to Fox. She ran over to him and said, "Oh Fox, you saved me...I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't come...Thank you Fox." She threw her arms around him and began to cry slightly. Fox hesitated and replied, "Uh...Ya, no problem...but I don't think it was me who saved you...did you have your eyes closed the whole time?" Krystal answered in between breaths, "No, I saw them jump on top of me...and they began to claw at me...but it was not as painful as I thought it would be...then I saw this green light...I think it came from that portable M.C.D. that we have in our vests...but...it doesn't..." Krystal cut herself off as she saw the remaining Kymachians beginning to approach from over Fox's shoulder. Fox looked back and saw them coming. "It's almost over, we're gonna finish this now...let's go Krystal, Katt should be here any second to help." Krystal wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and nodded happily, because for the first time, she somehow began to feel comfortable on this desert planet.
This time the two did not split up as they continued the fight against the Kymachians. They stayed together, making sure that nothing would happen to each other. They also fought much more efficiently when they were together. They fought side-by-side and slowly mowed down the still numerous Kymachians, who seemed to be incorporating a different tactic. The Kymachians began to quickly surround Fox and Krystal instead of attacking head on. Fox saw this and grabbed Krystal's arm, "Hang on, we can't get surrounded or we're dead." Krystal stopped shooting and grabbed onto Fox's arm with both hands. Fox started a mad dash to a small gap that the Kymachians had not yet filled in around them. It looked like he would make it with ease, but suddenly from behind the mass of Kymachians; a few of the mind controlled echidnas closed the gap. Fox blasted them out of the way, but then the Kymachians were able to fill in the space he created. Fox kept shooting, thinking that eventually he could thin them out enough so that he could fight his way through, but it seemed like there was an endless supply of these creatures. Fox couldn't stop though, he knew he couldn't get surrounded, but it seemed like there was no way out. Suddenly from behind the crowd of creatures, the familiar sound of a blaster broke the steady growling of the Kymachians, and the hole Fox had been trying to create suddenly opened wide. Through the hole, Fox could see the figure of Katt who was wearing that cocky smirk on her face. Fox broke through the surrounding Kymachians and looked back to see it become filled again. He stopped and looked over at Katt. She smirked and said, "That's two you owe me Foxboy..." Fox began to speak but then Katt suddenly shot her pink blaster just past his body at a dangerously close Kymachian. "Heh, well, now it's three. You better turn around and fight before I make it four." Fox smiled and turned to the approaching Kymachians; he could finally see their numbers beginning to fade.
With Katt helping, the fight seemed to go much smoother. The Kymachian ranks slowly began to fade until there were only about fifty left. The remaining Kymachians retreated back into the desert and left the bloody sands filled with dead bodies of the Kymachians and the lifeless echidnas. Katt holstered her blaster and said, "Well that didn't last very long, wasn't nearly as fun as I thought it'd be." Fox and Krystal were kneeling over, trying to catch their breath. Fox looked up at Katt and managed to say between breaths, "Ya...easy...Where were you when we started!?" Katt replied matter-of-factly, "I had to drag Slippy back to the Great Fox, remember? And besides, I figured a fighter of your status could take a few hundred of these little hooded guys without any help." Fox sighed, "Ya, that's in my Arwing, I almost never have to fight on land...and next time, just try and tell me before you abandon us, ok?" Katt just shrugged and answered, "You're the leader, not my place to argue with you sir." Fox rolled his eyes and said, "Ok then, why don't you get back to the Arwings and tell ROB were ready for that M.C.D. system?" Katt began to walk towards the landing area, and said back to him, "Ok, I'll just leave you and Krystal alone for a while...sorry I have to be here." Fox rolled his eyes again and looked back at the heavily panting and slightly bleeding Krystal. He bent down next to her and asked, "Are you ok? You fought really well out there, I don't think I could've done that well on my first mission..." Krystal continued to look down into the sand and replied, "It's...over? Fox..." She paused and regained her breath. "Is Katt gone...?" Fox nodded and she continued, "Then there is something I need to show you..."
Krystal felt Fox grasp her hand to help her up. She hopped up to her feet and mouthed a gentle 'thank you' at Fox. She carefully looked around the sands that were filled with many dead bodies. She approached one of the echidnas and put her hand against his neck. Krystal hesitated and said, "Fox, he is still alive, but he is going to die if we leave him like this." Krystal motioned for Fox to feel the echidnas pulse. He sat down and felt the irregular heart beat of the defeated echidna. Krystal signaled for Fox to stand back as she placed her hands on the echidna's chest. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. A soft blue light began to radiate around her, it flowed through her body and into her arms and hands. The same light began to encase the echidna and his muscles began to tense. The light seemed to close over some of the echidna's injuries as it continued to flow through him. Krystal opened her eyes and let the light fade from their bodies. She looked up at Fox and said, "Now feel his heartbeat...It...should be restored." Fox slowly bent down and placed his hand on the echidna's neck. Fox's eyes opened wide as he felt that the echidna's heartbeat had returned to normal. "This is the most powerful form of the energy of life, It can heal the severely wounded, but it is not strong enough to revive the dead..." Fox could only fall back into the sand in amazement, "Do you know what this kind of power could do? You could be one of the highest paid doctors in all of Corneria...It would save thousands of lives...and...I have this power too?" Krystal stood up and nodded, "Yes...but you still have a long way before you truly believe you do...when you believe you have the energy...you will be able to feel this power flowing through you...but now...you still doubt the fact that you do...you are afraid of having this power...It disturbs you...but...it is not strange for you to feel this..." Fox thought for a second and replied, "I don't know if that's it...it just seems so unreal...I've seen some weird stuff in my journeys...but nothing like this..." Krystal nodded and continued, "I too was unsettled by the energy of life when I was trained to use it...but..."
"Oh jeez, Do you two ever get away from each other? I'm sure you can find something better to do." "Katt, I'm sure they do, but you just keep butting in on them all the time." "Ya, not too sure about that Peppy..." Fox turned to see Katt and Peppy standing behind him. Fox stood up and said, "Well Katt, did you get that M.C.D. system down here?" Katt pointed up into the sky and replied, "ROB will be sending it down soon, so don't get all anxious Foxboy." Peppy spoke after her, "She contacted us after the fighting and we got the coordinates, so it should be dropped somewhere near the Arwings." Peppy started walking towards the landing area and signaled for the rest of the group to follow. Krystal walked to Fox's side and took his hand as they began to walk back across the desert back to the landing area. Fox and Krystal looked around at all the enemies they had defeated...all the lives that wouldn't have been lost if it wasn't for mind control...As Fox thought about this, his grip on Krystal's hand grew slightly tighter. Krystal looked down at their hands and asked, "What's wrong Fox? Is it...the energy?" Fox looked over at her and replied, "No...It's not that...it's just...I don't get why any one would do this to defenseless planets like this...I hate seeing all these innocent creatures die...but I guess it really can't be prevented...I just wish we knew who we were fighting against..." Krystal didn't know what to say, instead, she let go of Fox's hand and put her arm around his shoulders, trying to silently comfort him. Fox's mixed thoughts of anger and sadness quickly faded as he felt Krystal's arm around his shoulders.
Fox thought to himself as he also placed his arm around Krystal, This is weird...I've never felt like this around anyone...Krystal...How could I have met someone so perfect by such a complete accident...It's like...somehow...we were brought together...and I remember that scroll saying that we were destined to be together...but then...does that mean that we have no choice but to be together? Is this feeling that I have for her...real? Or is it given to me by destiny...So Krystal, her feelings might be caused by her wanting to fulfill the scroll's prophesy...does that mean...that she might not like me...at all? She might just be acting for the scroll...but...that can't be right...no way...I know that I...but...I'm sure that's not it...but...what if it is...?
Krystal glanced over at Fox, who was staring sadly into the sand..."What is it Fox...still thinking of the Kymachians...?" Fox looked up quickly, not realizing his expression had become so sad, "Well...no..." "Then what is it?" Fox looked over at her and replied, "Krystal...ask me again sometime...I still have to think about this..." Krystal began to stroke Fox's arm with the hand she had over his shoulder. Fox flashed a flashed a pleasant smile at Krystal and seemed to tell Krystal through his eyes, "I'm fine...don't worry about it." They continued walking, drawing comfort from the arm that they wrapped around each other.
A little while later, the group arrived back at the landing area and saw a large crate that was labeled with a big S on each of it's four sides. Peppy announced, "This must be it, let's open it up and see what we have to deal with." Peppy quickly entered a short access code and the crate slowly folded open in front of him to reveal the short range M.C.D. system. The machine itself was pretty small, and it was a polished silver color. It started with a wide base on the ground and slightly narrowed as it reached higher, so it looked similar to a large, metal triangle. Peppy walked up to the machine and studied the technology. Fox walked up behind him after a while and asked jokingly, "So are you gonna turn it on or what?" Peppy hesitated and answered, "Uh...I don't know how yet...just hang on a second...we're not in any kind of hurry here." Katt said from behind them, "Ya, not until the rest of those Kymachians ambush us while we're not looking..." Peppy replied, "I don't think they'll be back for...WOAH" Peppy stopped as he heard a blaster go off and the shot fly over his shoulder. He looked back at Katt who was now fighting of a new hoard of Kymachians. Fox turned and pulled his blaster and ran to help Katt. He shouted back at Peppy, "Hurry up and get that activated, if you get that set up, they should..." Fox stopped as he rolled out of the way of a lunging Kymachian. Peppy turned and looked at the machine...hoping that they could cover him as he tried to figure out the piece of equipment. Peppy muttered to himself, "Why can't they make these things like they used to..." Krystal stayed back and kept the Kymachians away from Peppy as he worked. Peppy kneeled down to look at a few panels on the bottom of the machine, as he did, a shot flew over him and hit an approaching Kymachian. Peppy whispered..."I'm gonna have a heart attack soon...I'm way to old for this much action...wait...here we go." Peppy flipped a few switches and looked back at a small screen on the machine. It read, "Requested action: Activation process... access denied. Required information: User Fox McCloud: Hand and eye scan...proceed?" Peppy slumped over and muttered, "Is that really necessary...it was so much easier back then..." He then stood up and screamed, "Fox, Get over here! This machine needs to do some scans on you to activate!" Fox turned and ran back towards the M.C.D. system. He picked off a few of the Kymachians as he proceeded to the machine. Fox quickly arrived at the M.C.D. system and tossed Peppy his blaster. Fox yelled as he placed his hand on one of the machines scanners, "You hold them off with this while I get this thing working, you remember how to use it right?" Peppy didn't reply, instead he jogged up next to Katt and began firing away at the Kymachians.
Fox turned his attention back to the machine, a soft green light was slowly moving up and down his hand. He ducked as a Kymachian dived at him, it fell over him and Krystal finished it with a shot to the neck. Fox was able to keep his hand on the scanner and it read, "Hand scan...complete. Next process: Eye scan." Fox looked around on the machine for the eye scanner while Krystal was firing blaster shots that traveled dangerously close to his body. Fox found the scanner and placed his eye in the apparatus. A bright red light scanned back and forth over his eye. Fox was starting to feel nervous, he could not see anything that was happening around him, one eye was in the scanner and the other could only see the metal frame of the M.C.D. system. He could only hear the blaster fire from his team's fighting. Fox anxiously pulled his eye away from the machine as he heard it announce, "Eye scan complete, Activate system now?" Fox looked over to the small screen in the middle of the machine and pressed the blinking green button. As he did, he felt one of the shots from Krystal graze past his leg, singeing some of his hair. He began to let out a small yelp, but held it in as he heard the machine say, "Activation commencing...Mind Control Forcefield now uploading..."
The machine began to emit a high-pitched screech as it became active. Fox covered his ears, hoping that somehow his hands could block out the loud noise. The rest of the team did the same as the noise continued to pierce through the desert. The Kymachians and echidnas all fell to the ground and began to make a noise that made them sound like they were in extreme pain, it was almost as terrible a noise as the M.C.D. system was making. This went on for a few minutes...Fox could feel the noise starting to settle, but it was still extremely loud. Suddenly, the screams of the creatures stopped and only the penetrating screech of the M.C.D. system could be heard. They laid completely motionless as the M.C.D. system continued to scream.
Fox looked over to the small screen on the M.C.D. system, which was counting down to the time the forcefield would activate. It had counted down to ten seconds. Fox turned and pushed his head into the sand, This stupid noise is gonna drive me crazy if it keeps up...only eight seconds left...come on...come on! Can't it hurry up...two seconds...it's almost over...Suddenly, the deafening noise faded from the quiet sands of the desert and it could be heard echoing away into the sandy wasteland. Fox was finally able to uncover his ears and stand up. The rest of the team stood up shortly after him. Fox scanned the desert that was filled with motionless bodies of the unfortunate creatures.
Krystal walked up to one of them and placed a hand on its head. She announced, "It's still alive...and this one didn't seem to receive many injuries...wait...he's waking up." The whole team took a nervous step back as the Kymachian raised his head from the sand. It placed it's hand on it's head, which was concealed by its hooded cloak, and muttered, "How did I end up here...did I just..." It stopped itself as it looked up to see Fox and company staring down at him. It inched it's way back in the sand and asked, "Who...are you...I've never seen your species...What are you doing here?" Katt looked away and gruffly replied, "I'd think you'd act a little more grateful after we saved your little desert planet..." The Kymachian stood up and responded, "I do not really remember anything before I ended up here...all I remember was seeing a strange, green creature...I do not really know what exactly he was...but, I remember him saying to my tribe, "My friends, this land is so empty, and you are all proven warriors. I have a proposition. If you follow me, I will make Kymachians the greatest power in the universe. Your land will greatly prosper and grow, and all I want in return is your trust. So what will it be my friends?" I do not remember much after that...but...there was something else...a ship in the sky...and a sharp noise...and that's all I can remember..."
Fox's interest was sparked when he heard the vague description of what might've been their possible enemy. He walked up next to the short Kymachian and asked, "Can you remember anything else about that green creature that spoke to you?" It looked down and answered, "I cannot...he had a deep voice...and had a short snout...but that is all I can seem to remember...I'm sorry." Fox placed his head in his hand and desperately tried to find someone that would match that description...but he could think of no one. Peppy came up from behind him and began to fill in the Kymachian on what had just happened. "Your planet was placed under mind control...the creature that you talked to could've been the one who put you under his control. He told you if you followed him he'd give you power, but what he did was take all your power, and added it to his...but we broke the control he had on you and that's probably why you can't remember anything." The Kymachian looked up at him and replied, "And for that, we are ever thankful, I am sorry cannot be of much help..." The Kymachian looked around, noticing the many bodies of his tribe that were scattered across the sand. "I see that there has been a large fight...I must leave you now and help the others of my kind...and again, thank you." The short Kymachian strode off back through the desert and into the camp.
There was a brief silence...they took a little time to scan over the desert and see exactly what they had just accomplished. They had overcome hundreds of Kymachians and were successful in setting up the M.C.D. system. Krystal looked across a few yards of sand to Fox and exclaimed. "I can't believe it, looks like we actually did it Fox! We saved the planet!" Krystal turned and raced towards Fox. Katt stepped in between them as she approached and said, "Heh, I saw that one coming from a mile away. How bout' we save the celebration until we get back to the ship, I need to get off this sandbox before I suffocate, and I know you'd hate to see me go, right Fox?" Fox looked over and smirked, "Only because I owe you a couple...I guess I have to listen to you this time." Katt smiled and replied, "Good, and by the way...that means you still owe me two more...heh, it's like I have my own little slave..." Peppy broke the two-way conversation, "You don't know how much you sound like Falco right now Katt." Katt suddenly lost the smirk on her face and quickly replied, "Let's get back to the Great Fox...like I said, I'm ready to leave..." She quickly walked towards her fighter and opened its cockpit. She jumped in and fired up its thrusters, which gave off a bright pink glow. Peppy leaned over to Fox and said, "I guess she's pretty sensitive when it comes to Falco...I wonder how she really feels about him...I still can't believe he left right before she joined..." Fox replied, still focusing on the pink fighter, "I guess so, I could contact his Arwing when we get back...but Katt will probably act like she doesn't care...I should probably contact him anyway...just to see how he's doing..." There was a brief silence as Katt's ship quickly ascended into the clear blue sky above the desert. Fox walked up to his Arwing and said, "All right, let's get back to the Great Fox and tomorrow, we'll get our next assignment from Pepper." Fox climbed into his Arwing and activated its engines. He gently guided his fighter into the sky and into the now setting sun, which filled the sky with the many colors of sunset.
The comm system in Fox's Arwing began to blink a light blue, informing him of an incoming signal. Fox activated the small plasma screen in the Arwing's consol and Krystal's face appeared on the screen. Fox smiled and asked lightheartedly, "What's up, I'm trying to fly here." Krystal let out a soft giggle and replied sarcastically, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a skilled pilot." Fox grinned and replied, "I've had a few good reviews..." Krystal smiled and responded, "I was just wondering how your leg was doing...I'm sorry I hit it...it was a really tough shot..." Fox looked down at his leg and felt the burnt fur. "It's nothing...You didn't even really hit skin...but you gave my leg a nice shave..." Krystal grinned and replied, "Well, I'm just glad your ok..." There was a temporary silence until Krystal spoke again, "So where are we going next mission? Somewhere a little...cooler?" Fox smirked and responded, "I don't know...Pepper said he'd contact us tomorrow, so I guess he's gonna tell us then." Krystal nodded and replied enthusiastically, "I can't believe we actually did it Fox...We saved an entire planet...I've never felt so excited! I guess it's nothing new for you though huh?" Fox looked away from the screen and responded, trying to sound modest, "Ya, I guess I have...I have saved a lot of different planets...As weird as it seems...I guess I just kinda got used to it." Fox noticed the Great Fox coming into range, "Ok, I'll see you in the docking bay...later!" "Bye Fox."
Fox deactivated his comm system and focused on the small opening on the back of the Great Fox. He guided his Arwing into the docking bay and skillfully landed with out making almost any noise. He sat in his Arwing for a while, thinking to himself...Saving a planet...Did I say I was used to it? That doesn't even sound possible...It doesn't even seem like I've saved that many...I guess...I guess I have been in the service for a long time...but...I'm sure even someone like Peppy still gets at least a little excited over that...I don't think that's what I'm in this for, I'm not trying to be a hero...I'm just trying to get by like anyone else...maybe I just have too much to think about right now...but still...If saving a planet isn't my motivation...what is?