A/N: for those of you who are keeping up with this piece, yay! Thank you Destructor. For those of you who REMEMBER Iliria's Curse, you rule! That was written in 1996, yaw'll. I started this in 2003, for someone who LOVED Iliria's Curse. I had to go back and re-read it a few times to make sure Iliria acts like she's supposed to when I write her. I hope I portrey her just as villianous. Fox went through what Fara is now going through. I've got up to chapter 8 done, in 2003, so when I get this posted, I'll have to FINISH chapter 8, before posting it. I've only got a few paragraphs into chapter 8 and it's been that way for two years now. I figured if I posted this on and some people liked it, there would be more reason to finish it ;;;

Ken

RockstarTravistyATaolDOTcom

CHAPTER

"collecting dust"

"You're not allowed to be apart of me," Fox said under his breath. His words were directed to the Iririan, Iliria, who had tormented him for a year now. He said it again, his words slightly louder. Fox shook his head and took a deep breath. He thought for a moment, of how much he loved Fara and how much he wanted to prove it to her, so that she would see him the way he saw her.

"You're NOT allowed to be APART of me!" Fox shouted, punching the side of the arwing he stood in front of. Feeling stronger about this situation with Iliria, he began to alight the ladder, climbing into the cockpit, nodding firmly. He knew this was the right thing to do. It was the only thing he could do.

Fox had to turn this all around and pick up the pieces. He had to wake up and he had to see things better than they were. Fara was right beyond his fingertips. One more push and he would be there, but he knew the metaphorical water was deeper than he originally thought. He just had to make sure he wouldn't sink when it was time for that last hard push. He could almost taste the metaphorical air just beyond the surface which only seemed a few feet above his head. His heart was about to burst, knowing what this mission could do to his soul.

Iliria had not even thought about sending him into battle against his best friend before, and he knew that Iliria would play that card to keep him from killing her. He knew that Fara would loyally protect that skunk to the death and that's where the water truly got deep. He only needed to tread these turbulent waters long enough for his team to help him rescue she for whom he burned, from the only love he'd ever truly, truly known in his life.

His ship shot out of GreatFox and into the inky tendrils of raven that gripped his arwing. His confidence began to rise again, once his team came up on either side of him. They knew what to do and they would fight just as hard as they did the previous year, for Fox's heart, now. Fox burned to take Iliria down hard, for one last time. He knew these guys would fight just as hard for Fara as they did for Fox the year before, only now Fox had the advantage.

"So where was that signal traced to?" Fox said to no one in general.

"Well, I t-t-traced it t-t-to the far end of sector Z," Slippy explained. "I lost the signal for a moment but then it re-emerged beyond Aquais, heading into the Sector 'Y' Nebula. They're moving with the interstellar life forms, trying to blend," The frog continued.

"Then let's get a move on. Autopilot and Hyper-jump... engaged." Fox's command was given and all four Arwings leaped forward, surrounded by streaks of white.

Coming out of the jump, four Arwings slowed in the thick yellow cloud of the Sector "Y" Nebula. Fox's jaw dropped as he saw the old NightHawk cruiser up ahead on his scope. Quickly suppressing past memories, Fox punched his afterburners, coming up on the underside, looking for the shuttle docking bay doors. Peppy came up behind him while Slippy started an attack along the top portion of the outer hull. Falco, on the other hand, started swarming the area, keeping an eye out for any approaching enemy, Iririans or anything of the like. Once he felt the area was safe, he brought his own fighter along side Fox and Peppy's craft.

Finally, Fox located the double doors on the bottom side of the ship and blinked, realizing the bay was rather large. He dipped his nose down to get some room, then pulled back up, burying a nova bomb into the bay doors, blowing them wide open. Quickly, the trio made the move to pull in and land. No sooner had they pulled into the empty bay, then the Emergency bulkhead doors slammed shut, causing the swirling suction to stop. The meager compliment of fighters had been sucked right off the deck along with any small crew that had been in the general area, which would make things easy, to be sure.

McCloud's canopy opened and he leapt out, drawing a blaster pistol into each paw. Peppy disembarked from his own fighter, carrying an automatic blaster rifle, holding it over his chest, protectively. Yet no one rushed the bay, everything was silent... too silent.

Fox made hand gestures to Falco and Peppy, using his left paw to hook a thumb at Falco, and simultaneously putting his palm up to Peppy then making a circle motion with his finger. The pilots understood exactly what it was that Fox was trying to say... Falco hopped out of his fighter and began to follow McCloud out of the bay. Meanwhile, Peppy got down and hid for the moment, to secure the escape route.

"We're under attack, sweet heart," Iliria said, knowing who and why they were here. Fara glanced back at her mistress, an expression of shock on her features. She frowned sitting up. Looking around the bedroom, she didn't even realize she had just been sleeping. All she knew is that she woke up to Iliria's words. The Iririan was standing over Fara's bed, a concerned look upon her face.

"What... do we do? Where's the fighters, I'll go, who's attacking us?" Fara exclaimed. Iliria shook her head and placed a familiar looking blaster into Fara's hand. It caused the pilot to grow confused again.

"Where did you get this?" Fara said, recognizing her favorite weapon of choice. She lost it but she couldn't remember where. She thought for a moment then remembered slightly. She had been on Narconia 4 and ran out of bullets and threw the pistol at an Iririan to get away.

"Where did you get this?" Fara asked again.

"We're friends, remember? I retrieved this for you. I couldn't let you lose it! It belonged to you, Fara. Besides, this should prove that I trust you as much as you trust me," Iliria said. Fara nodded in understanding, taking the loaded weapon and checked the chamber. She then glanced down the barrel at the sighting marker and stood up from the bed.

"Who's going to provide fighter cover support?" Fara said in renewed confusion as to why she wasn't being allowed to fly this mission.

"Andross owes you, remember? Why not contact him and tell him that you're under attack and to send a fighter squadron?" Iliria's idea had merit. After all, Andross did blow her car up, or was it Vixy? No wait, she was Vixy right? Either way, he BETTER have some expendable fighters. She walked across the room and dialed venom on her personal room communicator.

The screen illuminated gently... then suddenly glowed brightly in the image of Andross. His irritated expression evaporated as he saw Vixy's face again. He licked his lips apprehensively, looking around himself in a pensive way before looking back to the monitor. "What... can I do for you, Vixy?"

"You owe me a favor. Now is your chance you redeem yourself to me," She said with a light smile. He nodded emphatically waiting to hear what her whim was.

"My ship is under attack from unknown hostiles. I'm in Sector Y. How fast can you have forces here?" The vixen asked, just as a loud thump of a nova blast shook the night hawk. It caused Andross, of all people, to gasp in surprise.

"I have my 10 finest fighter squadrons en route to Sector Y. They'll be in your aid within minutes, Andross out." The view screen went dark. Fara glanced back to Iliria, who was beaming brightly. Not only did she have Fara Phoenix under her control, she was slowly getting Andross back into her control as well. It only took a year to get him back. Oh this plan was going so well!

Fara looked back to the blaster in her hands, her mind clearing slightly. "But... that's my gun and you're...?"

Iliria nodded quietly. "Yes, it's yours. I'm giving it back to you, what are friends for? IF we weren't friends, then why would I have gone through such great trouble to retrieve it for you...? It IS yours, isn't it?" Iliria said

"But... You... you went all the way to Narconi4 to ...to get my gun?" Fara protested.

"Of course, dear. What are friends for? I would die for you, I would take a bullet from Fox McCloud for you," Iliria said. "Wouldn't you take a bullet from Fox McCloud for...me?" She asked.

Nodding, Fara could only concede that she would. "Of...course, there's no question of it," Fara said.

"Now if I was your enemy, Fara...would I give you a fully loaded pistol? That's just silly. It means that I trust you just like you trust me. Right?" Iliria smiled as Fara nodded, flipping the safety off.

"NIGHT HAWK BREECH," The monotone computer sounded. "TWO UNKNOWN PERSONAL IN HALLWAY Beta 3-5-5, Heading towards bridge, from shuttle bay 2" Fara glanced to Iliria after hearing the announcement. Iliria nodded quietly. Fara smiled, double checking the blaster before running out of the room, looking to keep her mistress safe.

Fox and Falco dashed down the hallway, stopping just before an intersection. Quietly, Fox peered around the corner left; Falco peered around the same corner, to the right. Fox and Falco had a chemistry that allowed them to work together as an amazing team when on a mission. One always had the other's back.

"Nofin this way," Falco muttered, standing up straight from his hunched over position. Fox did the same and both crossed the intersection, heading straight along the current corridor. Occasionally Falco would glance back over his shoulder while Fox kept his eyes trained on whatever might pop out in front of them.

Upon coming to another intersection, they did the same tactic as before, peeking around the corner, Falco knelt down just below Fox, peeking out the opposite direction. Nothing.

"You'd think there would be more than a skeleton crew.." Falco frowned thoughtfully not liking the quiet atmosphere.

"We can only hope," Fox replied, drawing his blaster due to the same weird feeling concerning the quiet. The two continued on towards the bridge, getting on either side of the double doors, pistols raised and ready. Fox nodded three times then both of them turned into the doorway which slid open from a sensor. Falco knelt down on one knee, keeping his pistol trained forward, while Fox stood, keeping his eyes peeled for anything...

The bridge was empty. ... wait... on second glance, Fox noticed a pair of ears sticking up overtop the Captain's chair. Falco moved to his feet, moving into the bridge and stepping to the left, to keep Fox covered while he approached the chair, flanking it.

The vulpine placed the gun directly out in front of him, reaching out with his other hand to slowly swivel the chair around so he was facing whoever it was, although it wasn't Iliria.. he knew that simply because the pair of ears weren't rabbit ears...

Fara Phoenix sat in that very chair, her pistol in Fox's face as he turned the chair to face him. They were at a stand off, each pointing their pistol at the other, staring silently into one another's eyes. Fara's lips curled up into a smirking grin.

Falco's jaw was the first to flop. Fox blinked before his muzzle parted with shock but ... part of him knew better; knew what Iliria was capable of. As Fox stepped back, Fara stood up, keeping her pistol trained on Fox's heart. Her eyes cut to Falco quickly.

"Drop the gun," She said. Her words were cold, distant. Falco cut a glance to Fox, getting the nod to go ahead and drop his weapon. The Avian's pistol clattered loudly on the ground. Fara offered a contented half-smile continuing, "Now put your foot on top of it and don't move." Well trained, that Fara.

"Now," she went on, "Slide your fingers off the trigger, and hold the butt by the tips of your fingers..." Fox did as she asked. "Good," she said, "Now place the barrel of the gun into your other paw and hand it to me, handle-first." Fox did so, placing the gun into her free paw. She lifted it and pointed it into his face, swiveling her first sidearm into Falco's direction.

The vixen flipped off the safety to her own pistol and cocked it. It caused Falco's brows to raise... she was pointing at him, ready to fire and that bothered him and he knew exactly what to do next... argue with Fox.

"You are now both prisoners of ..." Fara was suddenly cut off by an Angry Avian, who kicked his pistol at Fara, causing it to brush her foot.

"Dammit, Fox!" Lombardi hissed, "If it wasn't for us risking our LIVES to come out here and rescue your freakin' girlfriend, none of us would be held at gunpoint, THANKS ALOT, McCloud," Falco shouted.

"I told you this was voluntary," Fox snorted. "And I said it would be dangerous. I told you that you might die, didn't I?" Fox shot back.

"Yeah... You did mention something about it being dangerous," Falco conceded, placing his fists on his hips, shaking his head at the vulpine.

"And you're supposed to have my Six. So the question is," Fox growled in anger, "Who the hell has YOUR back, Lombardi?"

Falco threw his hands up in protest, much to Fara's surprise. "I guess I forgot, since I'm so used to having Fara to back me up! Sorry, geeze!"

Fox shook his head saying, "It's no excuse. You're lucky Fara doesn't kill us both right now for rushing in here to save her, without backup. She has every right to blast two stupid people like us, for not planning this out," McCloud said.

Fara looked confused. Part of her wanted to cry but part of her wanted to smack both of their heads together for trying to even suggest they were here to save her. Her eyes were heavy and so were the pistols in her outstretched paws, trained on either man, just waiting for the right itch to pull the trigger at either of them. But, in her state of reduced mental capacity, her head was playing ping-pong, moving from one to the other until her entire body was turning with their turn taking argument. Soon she was pointing her pistol at Falco when he spoke then at Fox when he spoke.

Suddenly, just as Falco took a breath to let out another reply and just as Fara turned to face him, Fox grabbed both of her wrists, catching her off guard. Both pistols went skittering to the floor, now numbering at 3 by her feet. Fox lifted a foot and kicked two of them away. Fara's own foot accidentally kicked the third out of the way, but not as hard, only knocking the gun a few feet from where they struggled.

"GO get the guys so you can clear my escape. I don't want to have to fight guards while struggling with her, go!" Falco nodded and pulled out his spare firearm disappearing back into the hallway to clear the area for Fox and Fara's escape. The double doors of the bridge slid shut behind him as he quickly departed the room, leaving the two foxes to duel it out by paw.

Fara suddenly balled her fist up, planting a powerful right hook against Fox's left cheek, causing his head to snap back. Before he could even react, her knee was planted into his gut and her elbow was planted into his shoulder. Fox stammered before his muzzle was met by an uppercut that laid him out flat on his back. His eyes opened, slightly, to get a good view of the ceiling. Tiny floating dots of light buzzed around like fireflies, dancing in front of his eyes. They had no particular pattern or order, just randomly-floating little dots of light...

"Get up," Fara said scornfully. Her narrow gaze was avoided as Fox tried to stare through the field of jubilant fireflies...or dancing stars or whatever they were. He shook his head, trying to regain lost equilibrium and shake off the effects of the four hit combination. Slowly, Fox sat up, placing his paws on the floor and lifting to his feet.

This time, Fara came at him with two quick jabs and a kick, directed at his shoulder. Fox quickly lifted his arms in a defensive posture, enduring each punch and keeping his balance against the force of her kick. She came at him again, another round of military combat style punches, then dropped to the floor trying to sweep him off his feet. He was ready for her, dodging back and hopping over her leg, which passed underneath his body.

His fight instincts told him to execute a quick kick to the face, as soon as he leapt, but it never happened. Fara quickly put another round of walloping punches against his arms, bruising them, followed by a low kick, meant for his knees. Fox lifted his leg, catching her kick with his shin, blocking her move.

"Quit that crap and fight will you?" She launched her right fist at his head, again.

This time, Fox caught her wrist, putting his palm against her elbow, closing her arm. It caused her arm to unextend and her other fist to quickly lash out at his gut. His free hand quickly dropped to his side, catching the wrist of her other hand, trapped against his waist. Fox quickly grabbed at both her wrists, lifting them over her head, using his body to force her to spin around, so that he had both of her hands behind her back, crossed over one another.

Fara struggled for a moment then went still. Fox leaned forward, his chest brushing her shoulder blades as he leaned over her shoulder to whisper into her ears.

"Fara, I can't and won't hurt you, I love you." His words, however, went on deaf ears. She jolted her head backwards, head butting him in the nose. McCloud winced at that salty, metallic taste of vitae on his tongue. A sanguine trail ran down his chin, wiped away against his shoulder, keeping his grip upon her wrists, behind her back still.

It was just then that Fara put her left foot up on top of the Bridge's Captain's chair, her right foot upon the backrest and jumped off of it, lifting her hands over her head and landing behind Fox. She extended her palm, placing a forceful thrust against his lower back. Her other paw tightened into a fist, getting in a kidney shot before she kicked out his knees almost all in one swift second.

Fox felt himself being knocked forward. The armrest of the Captain's chair rushed up to meet his jaw, his head snapping back as he hit it, collapsing to the floor. Fara walked around him for a moment, circling her pray before adding a well placed kick to his gut. To her surprise, he groaned.

"So," She smirked, "You're still alive. Feh. I thought maybe that last fall might have broken your neck... You're more resilient than I anticipated. Let's go, c'mon now, round two, get up."

Fox, lying on his side, rolled over onto his stomach, pushing himself up to his knees. His arms felt like jello and were covered with bruises. His head dropped, vomiting up blood onto the deck.

"My word... Did I rupture your stomach?" Fara giggled with glee.

"No; Lucky for you, I was just rejecting whatever I accidentally swallowed," Fox replied, coughing after every several words. He rose back to his feet, getting in a combat stance, keeping his fists out in front of him.

The vixen sneered, "you're totally pathetic. I always told myself that my enemy would be well trained and battle hardened... you disappoint me," She cackled.

"I'm not your enemy," He told her, dodging the occasional left jab and right hook. Fox thought that perhaps reverse psychology could work, so he knelt down and picked up the pistol that he knew to be hers. He shoved the blaster into her fist after catching her wrist with his free paw then forced her to burry the barrel into his gut.

"Now, if you truly don't feel anything towards me... not even confusion, pull this trigger and it'll be over with." Fox's words were filled with conviction and rich, empathetic tones. To his relief, Fara frowned. Her eyes moved over him, drinking in the form of the man before her.

Fox didn't feel any pain, it was as if his bruises and wounds were resolved. To his surprise... his ears perked at the sound of discharge. That's when it hit him like a wave. The pain that lanced through his body as the blaster discharge erupted out of his back, passing through him completely. McCloud's eyes went wide, his jaw flopped open. He didn't have to say anything, the word "WHY?" was practically plastered all over his face. His lips formed that "O" ...that expression which so many fallen soldiers had on their face before falling to their death.

Somehow, Fox managed his balance once he collapsed to his knees. His head weakly lifted, glaring up at her; this time it was his eyes that were filled with confusion.

"I've always considered myself raised as a good girl with a good religious up bringing, so I'm going to let you pray to whatever God you wish to pray to, then I'm going to jam my finger into your eye socket and end your miserable life," She said. These would be words that would haunt Fox forever, should he live through this.

After a moment, Fara cradled Fox's head in one paw, reaching her other paw up, extending a furry digit and lifting it so that he could see that it would be the tool of his undoing. She drew her arm back, ready to end his life.

"STOP!" It was Iliria's voice. Fara reached her paw from behind his head and shoved him over, onto his back. A pool of blood began to gather underneath his fallen body. He shivered in misery, looking up at the two females standing over him. Contempt for one, sorrow for the other.

"You owe me your life, Fox. I've spared your life and therefore you're in debt to me," Iliria smiled. Fox was in no position to argue and he struggled with holding onto that consciousness that threatened to slip away. His eye lids were heavy... did he have a concussion from hitting his head on the chair's armrest? Or maybe it was that blaster shot to the gut. He did get shot, didn't he? He couldn't even think straight right now.

"This was once your pitiful boyfriend, Fara? I thought a man was supposed to be strong so he could protect you. I thought you were supposed to feel safe with the man you love?" Iliria's words sunk into Fox's brain, what little bit of his subconscious that could make sense of what she was saying, when he was so close to fainting.

"He's dying," Fara muttered, "do you wish me to dispose of his corpse?"

"No, no no," Iliria giggled, placing her paw on Fara's shoulder, then lifting her palm to Fara's cheek. The vixen nuzzled against Iliria's paw as if it was the friendliest touch she'd ever experienced. "He wouldn't be able to pay child support if you did that," Iliria said, tickled with her joke.

"What shall we do with him," Fara breathed. "Leave him?"

Iliria simply smiled as she replied to her pet, "We'll let his team come for him. We're not at war with these fools, there's no need for further bloodshed. Come, let us leave him for the mercy of fate. Then we'll soon see if he was a man of stamina or not." With that, Iliria guided Fara towards the double doors Falco had ran through just earlier. The Iririan glanced back at Fox over her shoulder and smiled.

"Remember: Not only did I win, I spared your life. You owe me. Feel free to come back and serve me, you made a wonderful male figure at my side. Perhaps I'll share your company again sometime, eh? See you around, Fox," Iliria said in motherly tones. The double doors shut behind them and he was alone.

Fox weakly lifted his right arm up. With his left paw, he pressed the small blue button on his gauntlet before his eyes fluttered shut and he could feel himself slipping downward, spiraling into the darkness.

The sharp jolt of his surroundings shook him to a semi-conscious state. Fox's eyes fluttered open. Everything was black.. there were those stars again.. or were those real ones? He couldn't be sure. He thought he heard someone's voice in the background, muttering curses under their breath before the jolting sensation again.

"Where the hell did these no-good Venomeeze bastards come from?" Fox was fairly sure it was Falco's voice but right now, he couldn't be sure he wasn't dreaming. There was another jolt of movement followed by a deep red glow all around him... The red glow faded, replaced by the green glow of what was apparently a radar scope that Fox was laying on. The green stabbed at his right eye as he was lying, slumped against the backseat controls of Falco's arwing. But the darkness soon swallowed him once more, drowning out the distant sounds of blaster fire and ion cannons and similar sounds of fighter combat.

He could remember one thing: breathing hurt. But it was a pain that only lasted a moment or so... then there was nothing again. He slipped, once more, into the depths of unconsciousness, fleeing into peace for the time being.