"You know, Corneria doesn't believe in torturing prisoners." Bryan's grin was deep and threatening. He was looking the attacker strait in the eye. Turning his back to him he pulled a small pair of ear plugs from his pocket, handing them to the in room guards.

"You guys are going to need these in a few minutes." He said, turning back around. He pulled a small silver 'gun' from under his jacket.

"We used to use these back when Earth was still around. Small, compact. If I were to shoot this at your head, it would explode into millions of pieces, while still keeping you alive long enough to pass out and die from the pain." He said, patting the metallic object slightly. His grin was spreading.

"Now, as I was saying Corneria doesn't believe in torturing their prisoners. However, we do not operate under their particular jurisdiction - we've been granted our own rules and laws. Now, I myself would never do this, except this is war time, and war needs… extreme measures."

It was now the animal he was interrogating began to worry. "This particular weapon is a personal favorite of mine. It's powerful, loud, and perfect for short range destruction. That is why I handed those two nice security guards over then some ear plugs. Their ears are more sensitive to the sound then mine." He said, pulling the chair the suspect was sitting in backwards so that his feet were fully exposed.

"Now, which foot would you like to lose first? Or will you just tell me what I want to know? Lets find out. Who sent you?"

Getting no response Bryan sighed, aiming the weapon better he pretended to take his time.

"Alright, alright! Akita! He sent me! He said to make the bitch worry so that she would do our dirty work for us. Get on your inside. Find out what she could and report back to me!"

Another grin appeared. "Very good." He said, placing the silver object to the head of the suspect. "But I don't like you calling good friends of mine bitches. So, you have lost a sympathy point. Now, lets try question number two… What is Akita planning?"

"What? I can't tell you that."

Bryan hit him with the butt of the gun, placing it back to his head again.

"Wrong answer pal."

"You're crazy!"

"Thanks for noticing - now, talk!"

"Freaking crazy humans."

Bryan turned to the guards. "I really don't think he understands me that well…" He said, digging the weapon deeper into his suspects head. Making sure that he felt the cool metal.

"Plans, now!"

"Alright! He plans to place more bombs around Corneria. He says since his old man couldn't pull it off with that large ship of his, he plans to do it using smaller units! Now get that damn thing away from me!"

Sighing, Bryan clicked the 'weapon' again. "Last question, give me an answer, and I won't shoot you. Where is he planting the bombs?"

"I don't know! I only know where I was supposed to plant! That's it!"

"It'll do. Did you plant yet?"

"No. But if I don't report in, another will plant for me, and it'll be in a different spot than where I was supposed to plant."

"Where will they plant it?"

"My spot is at the Exile concert. It starts in one hour. They'll plant during the concert and set it off shortly after they leave it! There, I told you!"

Bryan nodded to the guards who took out their plugs. A creepy, dark smile was now on his face. "Good job, you'll live to see your own death." He said, taking a small white object from his other pocket, placing it on the table… he lit it with the 'gun'.

"Smoking is such a bad habit, but this thing is major fun at parties."

"Hey! That's police brutality! I can report you!"

Bryan just grinned. "There is me, you, and two guards. Lets see, you're a terrorist, so no one will believe you. And I can deny my actions. And as for those two, you guys see anything?"

One of the guards shook her head, and the other just smiled. "Nothing at all, sir."

Bryan leaned in, blowing out the flame. "See?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So, you never told me which you prefer to be called." Bryan said, sitting back in his unit outside of the hospital. Brea or 'Kasey', had just been released from the hospital after all of her testing. One of her eyes was slightly bruised along with a few other parts, and she winced a little when he hit a bump, no matter how soft it was.

"Well… the truth is I started a new life… new people, heck, new planet… Besides, I've got a cool new codename to go with my new name."

Bryan grinned. Yup, same old Kasey - just a new body.

"Oh, yah. What, you've outgrown 'The Major'?"

"Makes me sound like a porn star… Dracous helped me come up with my new name. Shadowflame, sounds cool, huh?"

"Yah it does. So, we're sticking with Brea."

"Yup… now, about that lunch?"

Bryan just grinned. "Alright, but we'll need to get it to go. I'm gonna have to stash you back at Military HQ for a little while. Got a mission to run."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They found themselves at the concert just as the crowd was shuffling in. It seemed like security was almost non-existent, and even if it was there, it would have been ineffective as the concert was in an open field. Access wasn't controlled to much. There was a fence, but it was low enough to the ground where anyone could jump it without being noticed.

Another tactical fault was the absence of high ground vantage points. The nearest acceptable high ground support spot was a building in the city, which was more than three miles away - no good.

Not wanted to cause any panic, the team members were dressed in baggy clothing to keep the body armor and holsters hidden. For the time, they just seemed like fans of the music. What active members of the Star Fox crew they could use took positions in random spots, also adding to the fan affect. Bryan and Mei stood backstage, looking around them for a moment at the crew who was getting ready for the show.

"Alright, guys, ever one ready?"

"Oh yah, can't wait to see the show." Jackie reported in.

"Same here. This ought to be interesting." Dean.

"It is amazing how fast they get used to humans around here. They all just think we're here for a party." Ivan added. Getting no more reports, Bryan sighed. "Looks like we're ready to fly." He said, turning to Mei.

"HQ here. All clear on this end. I've got my vital link established and I can even tell you that Falco is having an adrenalin rush."

"Hush you." Falco hissed playfully over the line.

HQ, or Brea - just giggled into the radio. "Sure thing. I've got full access to every database and my SATLink access is completely setup and running. I can see that single gray hair appearing on Bryan's head. Ready when you guys are."

"Gray hair, commander? Getting old for this job aren't we?" Mei asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Nope, just dealing with you guys did it to me."

"Anyway, Brea kind of reminds me of Kasey… sad memories…"

"She does, huh? Imagine that…" Bryan concluded, keeping a strait face.

As the crowd began screaming the band started to play. It was only half-way through the song that they all came to a conclusion. "What's this? Earth music?" Mei asked, looking out on the stage from her vantage point on the side, behind a backdrop.

"Yah!" A stage hand called over the music. "They're known for music from other planets. They really don't do originals, just translations and stuff."

Mei grinned, stepping back a little bit. "Man, if only the RIAA were here, they'd sue them into tomorrow."

"Yeah." Bryan agreed as he began walking off to go around the back of the stage.

"This just in from C-Medical, Sir Fox McCloud is awake and talking." Brea said over the radio, everyone could hear the smirk in her voice. "Good to see he can't keep quiet." Falco countered.

Looking around one of the storerooms Bryan found boot prints leading in and out, left in a dark green liquid of some kind. "Definitely not water." He whispered to himself, drawing his weapon from its holster, he moved from the front of the back of the room. In the back he found one of the stage hands, checking for a pulse he found that there was still one, but it was weak. Without help he wouldn't make it more than another ten minutes.

"Hey guys, we're in play. I've got a downed civilian in the back store room. Missing his clothing, Mei, I need you here. I've got heavy bleeding."

"I copy, on the way. Keep your eyes out guys, these guys are using some old Yakuza tricks. Makes me thing they spent some time on our old home. I would bet some cash that we'll find another couple downed civilians, all missing clothing. Makes it harder for us to track him. Look for someone wearing baggy clothing or who really looks like they just don't belong."

It wasn't until a moment later when Mei was standing in the same doorway Bryan had been before. She moved swiftly across the room, kneeling down. "Man, looks fatal…" She whispered. Bryan stood back up, holstering his weapon. "Found him here a few moments ago. Doesn't look good."

"Looks like you guys are in the big one. I'm running some scans over my link. See if I can find anyone who doesn't belong entering the stage area. Got a time frame for me?" Brea asked from her seat at HQ.

"Judging by the bleeding and the amount of blood present… anywhere from the last half hour would do it." Mei responded.

"Copy that. Hold on, see what I can find."

Standing guard, Bryan looked around the room some more. "Got some freaky stuff back here…" He said, looking around for anything that seemed further out of place.

"I've got it! Looks like your boy was led in by a female… lets see what I can get with description. I'm looking at a female… five feet, four inches tall… judging by the tale I'd say she was either a feline or a vix… hard to tell from here. Lets see… she's a maroon color… wearing some sort of a pendant… can't say much more than that… sorry guys."

"You did good. Keep your eyes open everyone." Bryan said into his radio. "Room is clear, nothing here." He said, looking over a shoulder at Mei.

"I've got a red vixen running across the stage, just behind the drummer. Orders?" Dean called over the radio. "Chase her, she's got the bomb! I'm heading in your direction! Brea, track with the link!"

"In pursuit."

"I copy boss, tracking now… I've got her!"

Bryan had ran out of the room, leaving Mei doing her medic job. He turned the corner with his weapon drawn, just in time for the red fox to run right into him. They both fell to the ground just as Dean showed up, point his weapon at her.

"DCTU! Stay down! Hands!" He called, just as the fox got back on her feet and was about to run, Bryan grabbed her arm, pinning it behind her back she struggled for a moment. Dean came up behind him, holding her down while Bryan holstered his weapon and went for his radio.

"I've got her, sweeping now." He said into it, just in time for him to here a high pitched yell and a groan. He turned around to see Dean laying on the ground and the vixen girl about to run. Bryan grabbed her shoulder before she was out of reach, throwing her to the ground, a black package falling out from under her jacket and sliding across the stage. He flipped her over, drawing his weapon again and pointing it to her forehead. "Move again!"

She struggled for a moment while Bryan grabbed his radio.

"Could use some help her guys!"

Flipping her back over he pulled both her hands behind her back, handcuffing them before pulling both her feet up, he handcuffed them too, before tying both cuffs together with a third set. "You are not pulling that stunt on me." He said as he turned around looking at Dean. "You alright?"

"Yah." Came the grunt. "It's a good thing there aren't any human girls interested in me though, I don't think I'll be doing much reproduction after that hit."

Mei was the next to arrive. "What's he doing?" She said, pointing to Dean while holstering her weapon. "Little miss vixen over here decided to play nut cracker."

"Ouch…"

"What are you doing? Let me go! I'll scream!" The red fox yelled, struggling with her bonds. Bryan just ignored her, moving slowly towards the black box. He gave it the once over before going for his radio again.

"Brea, I've got a package here, black box. That our unit?"

"Hold on, I'll try and scan it from here." Meanwhile, Mei was check the suspect. "I've got a knife over here. Matches our wounds on the stage hand."

"Copy that. I've run a bio-scan on your black box. It's inactive, but it's our bomb. You guys calling clear?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I really don't think you realize just how much trouble you are in." The prosecutor yelled at the female fox. "You are going down for Terrorism and Assault with a deadly weapon, possibly attempted murder!"

The suspect still held her stiff lip. Either growing frustrated and trying a scare tactic, he slammed his hands down on the table. "Don't you get it! You are going to fry for this! The least you can do is tell us who helped you! Who you are with!"

Behind the prosecutor was a one way glass pane, the team sat behind it.

"Man, this is going no where…" Brea said, leaning against the wall. "Look at that guy, he's four times her size. This is going to go one of two ways - either she's going to be scared shitless of him and burst out with the entire plan, or she's going to be too intimidated by him to say anything at all."

Bryan and Mei stood nearest to the glass. "Well… lets see where this goes." Dean responded. "Heartless…" Brea sighed.

"This isn't right, I'm telling you. I studied that device, any fifth grader could have easily armed and detonated it. It was almost like she didn't want to bomb the place. Plus, the CSU teams said that the wounds that were on the stage hand seemed almost like defense wounds. Like he attacked her. Not the other way around. I'd say she was either to scared to pull it off, or simply changed her mind." Katt's examination of the entire situation matched the assessments made by both Bryan and Mei to the letter. Bryan himself was about to stop the whole interrogation and try it himself, still he stood his ground.

"You need to tell us something! If you don't you will die! Don't you get that?" The prosecutor yelled again, slamming his fists into walls and the table. Bryan caught the slight movement, the quiver. She had reached her breaking point and was trying hard not to show it. It was all true, she really didn't want to do what she had been tasked in doing.

And slowly, before his very eyes, The Darkness' plans were starting to go slack.

Seeing that things were starting to get way out of hand, Bryan closed his eyes for a moment. What he saw when he opened them caught him by surprise. He now had her cornered in the small room, yelling things at her. He looked to his left and saw the look of pure horror on Mei's face.

He quickly ran out of the darkened room and next door. Trying the knob he found it locked, this was quickly fixed with a swift kick to the area just above it. The door fell off its hinges as both him and Mei rushed the entry way. Mei, being the first in, quickly grabbed the taller fur by the shoulders, slamming him down on the table and pinning him there. "That is enough!" She yelled at him. "This interrogation is over!"

"She knows something!" He growled back at her, she just smacked him in the back of the head. "Don't you growl at me."

After a few moments of wrestling between Mei and the other fur, Ethan, he was led away from the room to sit in one of the holding cells. The fight had ended when he took a swing at her, she laid him out before it even had a chance to land.

The door was fixed and now Bryan found himself sitting at the other side of the table, the clearly shaken vixen in front of him trembled from the past fear and any of it remaining.

"You shouldn't of had to go through that…" He found himself whispering to her, drawing something deep within him to help calm her.

"It is my belief that you had no intention of setting off that bomb. We also believe that you had no choice when it came to that body guard. Look, I have no intention of yelling at you or threatening you."

The trembling returned. "You… you put that… thing… to my head… you were going to kill me!"

"You posed a threat. I was protecting myself and my agents. It wasn't personal."

"I… I can't tell you anything."

"I don't believe that."

"It is true! I can't tell you anything… they'll kill me."

"I won't lie to you. They will try… but we can prevent stuff like that."

There was a slight pause, almost like she was studying him.

"Listen. We've learned a few things over the past few years. Using that knowledge we've been able to tell that you didn't want to carry out that bombing. Isn't that why you tossed the package when we tackled you? Lets face it, you had no intention of committing any kind of terrorist acts. So, tell us this, why were you there?"

"I was forced."

"By who?"

She just shook her head at him. "Alright, too much information. Lets try this. Who are you, what is your name?"

There was a brief sigh, almost like she was even pondering to tell him that.

"Teresa Ra Van." She spoke, looking down at the table.

"As in, sister to Akita Ra Van?"

"And completely looking to be disowned. Look, I don't condone what my brother does, by any means. But… when your only family threatens to kill you if you don't comply, it tends to break you down."

"I bet… And you're worried by telling us this that he will come after you?"

Teresa lifted up her left sleeve, showing Bryan a scar. "That is from the first time I didn't obey. There wasn't a second."

"Well since we are spilling things, anything else you can tell us?"

"Hell, I'm already as good as dead… might as well screw him in the process. He plans to plant bombs around the city, you already know that. What you may not know is that he will only plant them at free public events. The next attack is supposed to occur at the town tag sale in two days. I don't know how is planting or where. But, since my attack failed they may have another one planned already."

Reaching across the table, Bryan grabbed one of the paws. "You're scared of him aren't you? Listen, we'll keep you here, under lock and key. If any of his men get within a mile of this building we'll be called and get here before they even hit the front door. You'll be safe, promise. And here, take this." He said, handing her a small device. "This is an alert bracelet, you wear it on your wrist. If anyone approaches you or you need help, you press that button." He said, pointing to it before pressing it - no more than a moment later his radio went off.

"Sir, I've got a police alert coming from signal 127 - it looks like its coming from Military HQ. Copy?"

"Yah, just a test."

"Copy, disengaging alarm."

"See? They'll tell us where you are right after you push the button. The closest unit will respond and pick you up, okay?"

Before she had a chance to respond there was a knock on the door that startled them both.

"Sir, you've got a visitor!" Someone called through the door. Bryan stood, stepping out of the room for a moment. Two guards were standing outside the door. Bryan took a few paces down the hall, following the guard into another room.

Bryan smiled. "Look who's up and about already!" He said, kneeling down to same level as the wheel chair. Fox just laughed at him. "You think a shot to the chest will keep me down?" Bryan just smirked, standing back up he smiled at Krystal. "How's that leg of yours?"

"Almost completely healed, just a twinge of pain here and there. Doctor says he has to stay in the chair for at least another week. I've already caught him sneaking out of it."

"Imagine that."

"So, what's going on with the current issue? Heard you guys nabbed some girl down at the Exile concert?" Fox asked, looking up.

"Uh… yah… And let me tell you, this whole thing is showing the planning of one sick bastard. The girl? Akita's own sister. And she was forced into it, she says by threat of death, and to be honest, me and the rest of the team believe her." He said, sighing. "I don't know anymore… this whole thing has me confused. From what I've seen myself and from what records I can find and just the word on the street - Akita has no way of running this whole thing himself, yet all threads are leading to him! So either someone else has covered their tracks greatly, or we are missing something big."

There was a long moment of silence in which each other had their own thoughts.

"Allow me to talk to her." Krystal said, looking down the long hall towards the interrogation room.

Bryan led the back to the room. "Don't see what we have to lose…" He whispered to himself, stopping to let Fox wheel himself into the viewing room, Bryan opened the door, allowing Krystal to step in first.

"Alright, Teresa - we're going to try this tactic. Since you don't appear to like men too much, I was wondering if you would be able to tell someone else information that we need…" He said, while Krystal sat in one of the chairs.

"You must be Teresa, I am Krystal. I was hoping me and you could talk." She said, only looking over her shoulder long enough to remind Bryan that he needed to leave.

He nodded once, heading for the viewing room. Opening the door he watched Fox try and stand to get a better view of the screen. "Sit down. Krystal will have my head if you pull a stupid stunt." He warned, moving to stand next to him.

Watching through the screen, Bryan could easily hear the two talking.

"So, I understand that you're not to fond of the male species? Though, I do condone the fact that you told Bryan some information, I sense that you haven't told us everything…"

"What are you? A Physic?"

Bryan couldn't help but grin into the glass.

"One could assume," Krystal began. "that I am sensitive to other's feelings…"

"Look, I already told that other cop everything I know."

"I know there is more to it. Come on, lets hear it…"

"I've got nothing to say."

"You're not going to fool me. Listen, I can tell when you're telling a lie and when you are not. Do not lie to me. Look, I really do hate being mean to others, but, your brother attacked and nearly killed my mate. Which triggers this little pit of anger right here," She said, pointing to a spot on her chest. "so, as you can understand, I'm surprising some rage over here. Just tell us what we need to know. I really don't see what is so difficult…"

"Difficult? You're mate war nearly killed, nearly - not was. Mine was! I refused him once and he nearly kills me and then killed my mate, alright? So don't lecture me about dead loved ones."

"Alright, want to play body count? You're brother to date has killed several thousand of his own people. He has killed more than two-hundred Cornerians, what about their families? Oh, better yet - what about the entire population of Earth? Hmm? Not good enough, alright - then lets try the murder of a special agent and then the attempted murder of another. Now while I am sorry for your loss, I believe the other out weigh yours."

Teresa was silent for a moment. "All those people… when my brother started he said he would only clean the filth - the thugs… but… an entire planet? And now bombs in public places…"

Behind the glass Bryan was pulling commentary duty. "You know… while back on Earth we had this guy who's idea of 'cleaning the filth' was killing anyone who didn't agree with him or wasn't like him… he killed more than four thousand people who we're his race, religion, or of his beliefs…"

Back in the room, silence had taken over. "Look, now you know why we need to know what he has planned… other wise more innocent people are going to get killed." Krystal prodded, meaning using her mind to sense the breaking point of Teresa.

"Look… I saw a file of his a while back… I wasn't supposed to, and I was punished for finding out some information but… Alright, his plans seem to flow in steps, every move mapped out and then some. He even has plans for if you guys succeed… no matter what you do, he has something planned for it. This is what it comes down to… you guys are going to have one hell of a fight on your hands… and… I will supply what information you'll need to beat him… damn, things were never supposed to go down like this…"

Krystal smiled, sliding a pad across the table. "We'll need you to write down what you know. Anything from weapons to who's supplying them. Think you can do that?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bryan approached from behind Bill who was looking down over a ledge. Hearing the footsteps coming up behind him he turned, grinning as a pair of darkly tinted sun glasses settled on his face.

"You're just in time, they're about to take their first run through the building." He said, pointing down over the ledge. Bryan walked to it, looking down. "Wow, just like back at home. Even the doorways, nice touch."

The open-roofed building was a clearing house, or more commonly referred to as a shooting or training house. It offered a complex layout of rooms, hallways, and stairs. The instructors could watch from the top of the building along with cameras inside of it to watch an entry team's progress.

Right now a team of nine were stacking up on the entry point.

"I see what you guys are doing… a full element of five officers for the main clearing element, then the remaining four for recovery and removal… nice…"

"Just wait for them to go through, this is the second team of the day."

"How'd the first do?"

"Eh… I've seen better."

Bryan nodded, grabbing a pair of glasses from his pocket as the team below him opened the door. They were met with the first hallway. They tossed in a flash bang, taking the perfect moment to rush the doorway so that they made it right after the blast.

The four officers not on the element remind outside, guarding the open windows and, one the team had left the hallway to clear the building, the doorway until called for.

Inside, they had stacked on another door again. The performed the same open and bang tactic. This time, finding a hostage. As they moved for the room another called out. "Moving on, trailers!" Two of the outer guards turned towards the hallway, moving down it and stacking on the doorway, waiting for the all clear.

"Element reporting, we have contact! One hostage, healthy and moving. Compliant. Trailers!"

One of the guards patted the other on the back as they entered the doorway.

The test had continued on for another twenty minutes. Once it was over Bryan met the team on at the exit point, just as they were coming out and moving towards the tables filled with random snacks.

"Very good job you guys. I didn't spot a single mistake in there." One of them stopped, removing his mask. "You… you saw us, sir? That's quite the honor, coming from you."

Another came up behind him, patting him on the shoulder. At first Bryan thought this was another male. "Close you're mouth, Kyle, you're drooling on the commander's boots." She said, removing her own mask. Bryan's surprise was to see that the element leader had been Brea herself.

"How'd you get back here so fast?" He asked, walking with her towards the tables.

"When you went in to talk to that girl, I had to jet over here and get ready for the test."

"Ah, you guys did good."

"I don't know, I guess… Still think we could have done better."

"Forever critical of your work. For goodness sake, take a compliment."

"Yah, yah. So, you'd get any other information?"

"A couple of things. Meet at the new base for briefing in about four hours. Hell, bring you team. They could use this as a field assignment."