Disclaimer: See the Prologue
Chapter 6 – Awakening
The Great Fox continued to sour through the blackness of outer space as it's crew was once again assembled at the bridge, waiting for General Pepper to once again graze the holographic communication system. Fox couldn't help but think about what is happening back at Sector C.
"Damn, I hope Bill's alright," Fox said, "We practically abandoned him and his squadron."
"Don't sweat it," Falco reassured him, "Bill and his boys always manages to worm their ways out of the toughest spots."
Fox nodded, smiling, "Whatever you say, Falco."
Pepper's image suddenly appeared on the projector.
General Pepper here, he begun, So? Find anything interesting?
"Have we?" Fox replied with fake enthusiasm, "We found what Oikonny was looking for."
I know, Pepper said, An 'Imperium of Man' transport cruiser. Grey told me about, just before I lost contact with him.
"We found a human in it, sir," Fox commented.
Pepper was silent for a second.
A human? he asked, unbelieving at first.
"That's right," Peppy confirmed, stepping forward, "A Space Marine."
I've heard about those techno-barbarians, Pepper snorted, They only live for one thing: War. They destroy anything that is thrown in front of them, all in the name of their 'Emperor.'
"How do you know that, sir?" Fox asked, interested.
I came across them once long ago, when I was a Major 20 year ago, Pepper answered, They weren't hostile towards me and my troops, but we got to see their destructive capabilities first hand.
He cleared his throat.
I assume either you or Grey has the human in custody"We do, sir," Fox answered.
Pepper smiled, Excellent. Deliver it to Corneria immediately. For it's own protection against Oikonny. We'll take it off your hands.
"What about Bill?" Fox asked, "He's in trouble."
"I've sent another batch of ships to Sector C," Pepper assured him, "He should be fine. Now, the Space Marine…"
"He hasn't been much trouble," Falco chided, "He's in some kinda coma and doesn't seem to be wanting to wake up anytime soon."
And we will keep it that way, Pepper said, The Space Marine is dangerous to everything it comes in contact with. Deliver him and you'll get paid.
Fox couldn't speak up for a moment, seeing how Corneria wants that human alive. He had his doubts, like what they are going to do to him, but…
"Sure," Fox agreed, "Star Fox out."
Pepper's image disappeared. Krystal headed for the door just then.
"Where're you going?" Fox queried, turning to her.
"Oh, I'm just going to check on our friend," she replied with a smile.
"He'll be the same how we left him," Slippy pointed out.
"You never know," Krystal replied, stepping out.
Fox had been noticing Krystal's reactions towards this human, and thought on that as she left the bridge.
'What are you hiding from us, Krys?' Fox thought, crossing his arms and sighing.
Krystal sighed as she left the bridge, where she found herself walking towards the infirmary and who laid in it, in deep sleep.
'Poor man,' she thought, 'About to be handed over to General Pepper and the Cornerian army. God knows what they are going to do to him.'
She then frowned.
'Which I'm not going to let happen. Damn it Fox, how could you agree to give him over?'
She stepped through the infirmary door into the darkness of the room. She blindly moved her hand across the wall for the light switch. She switched on the lights, which brightened up the room. She found to her complete surprise…
'Oh my GOD,' she thought, alarmed.
The table was bare. Krystal's eyes widened, knowing what has happened to the Space Marine.
'He's up! Sus-an sleep isn't supposed to wear off until…'
Suddenly, she felt movement from behind her. She frowned, before suddenly reaching for her staff, which was sheathed on her back.
She swung away at the now awake human Space Marine, who reached out and grabbed the other end of the weapon before it could connect with his chest, it's elemental energies stopped in it's tracks. Krystal's eyes went wide in horror, seeing as the behomoth held onto the deadly side of her staff, unfazed by it's power.
Krystal's noticed the frown on the human's face and the vehemence in his emerald green eyes, before she frowned herself and gripped the staff.
"Let go of my staff!" she cried.
Suddenly and expectantly, he let go of her staff, sending her on the floor. She groaned in pain, before quickly getting up and pointing her ancient weapon at the human.
She edged him away from the door, which he moved away, hands up slightly and still facing her.
"Hold your ground, human!" she exclaimed.
"Your Highness," the human spoke.
Krystal froze just then, hearing him speak. His tone of voice sounded kind, but strong and direct at the same time.
"Please," he said again, "I am not your enemy."
Meanwhile, back on the bridge…
"Wonder what's taking Krys so long?" Fox queried, "She was only just checking up on our friend, right?"
"Perhaps she's doing more than just 'checking' on him, Fox," Falco said snidely, "Come to think of it…"
Fox frowned at the avian, before getting up and heading out the door. Peppy then turned to the bird.
"Grow up, Falco," he said, annoyed.
"Whatever!"
In the infirmary, Krystal stood before the human, who was looking at her, as if waiting for orders. Krystal still held her staff in one hand.
"Alright," she begun, "What's your name, chapter and company?"
"Brother Mortensen," the human replied, "Ultramarines, 2nd Company."
"Is 'Brother' your first name?" she asked curiously.
"My first name is Jacques," the Space Marine now known as Jacques Mortensen corrected.
"And what am I?" Krystal asked.
Jacques looked at her queerly, "Crown Princess Krystal of Cerinia."
Krystal's eyes widened. He knew all about her…
'This has to be him,' she thought, 'There is no other explanation.'
Suddenly, the infirmary door opened.
"Hey Krys," Fox begun, "Just come in to…HOLY CRAP!"
He suddenly pulled out his blaster. Jacques quickly snatched Krystal's staff and held the point to the vulpine's throat. Fox gasped, dropping his blaster, which cluttered on the steel floor.
"Krystal," Fox gasped, feeling the point of her own staff held by a 7-foot tall human, who had just suddenly woken up from a coma.
"Jacques," Krystal said, putting her hand over his as he held the staff.
The Marine looked over at Krystal, lowering the staff, allowing Fox to breathe. Krystal then took the staff off him.
"I apologise, Your Highness," Jacques said, "I had no idea you are familiar with this vulpine."
"That's ok," Krystal said sympathetically and smiling slightly, knowing he was only protecting her.
Fox decided to step in.
"You two know each other?" Fox asked, sensing the obvious between the both of them.
The human and the Cerinian's head turned his way.
"We do," Jacques replied.
"For how long?"
"Since Cerinia," Krystal replied, "I tried to tell you before, but…"
"It's a good time to tell us all now," Fox cut in, "No interruptions."
He then smiled, noting how ROB interrupted her the last time.
Krystal then smiled back and strode past him, down the hallway. As Jacques was about to follow her…
"Hold it."
Fox put a paw on the Marine's chest-plate.
"Yes?" Jacques said.
"What have you got to do with Princess Krystal?" Fox asked smartly, "Space Marine?"
Jacques looked deeply at him, his eyes penetrating through his exterior into his soul, which made Fox feel slightly on edge.
"I saved her life from Cerinia's demise," he answered with finality.
Fox felt stunned.
"I…see."
On the bridge Falco, Peppy and Slippy were also starting to feel uneasy, Falco most of all.
"Wonder what's taking Fox and Krys?" Falco growled, then turned to Slippy and smirked, "Hope they ain't playing around with your toys on that canned piece of meat."
"Get real," Slippy retorted.
Krystal then stepped onto the bridge.
"Krystal," Peppy greeted, smiling, "How's our guest?"
"He's up," Krystal replied.
Falco was about to open his loudmouth beak when he, Slippy and Peppy spotted Fox in the doorway, alongside a 7-foot-tall heavily armoured human.
Their eye simply widened, with Slippy's throat going dry at the sight of the Space Marine, one of the Imperium's greatest warriors. Falco however…
"LOOK OUT!" he yelled, drawing his blaster, "FOX!"
"At ease, Falco," Fox said calmly, "He's with us."
Falco's blaster still trained on the Marine, Slippy asked, "What's he doing up and out of the infirmary?"
"Your machine woke me out of Sus-an sleep, Frog," Jacques replied, then smiled, "Which I must thank you for."
"Err…you're welcome," Slippy replied, unsure.
Falco still pointed his blaster at Jacques.
"Put the gun down, Falco!" Fox exclaimed.
Falco shook his head, "I don't believe this! He'll kill us all the second we let out guard down! He'll crush us under his boot!"
"What are you talking about?" Krystal cried, "I know this human."
"How?" Falco asked, with contempt.
"He saved my life," Krystal answered, heated.
"What?" Falco asked again, his grip on his gun loosening.
"I mean you no harm, avian," Jacques said, "In the name of the Emperor and the Imperium of Man, I come in peace."
"That's what you people said before!" Falco growled, "Those words have no meaning from humans."
"But out of my mouth," Jacques countered, "They do."
Krystal stepped forwards towards him, eyes filled with emotion.
"Please Falco," she pleaded, "Trust me, Fox and him."
Anyone was a sucker for Krystal's beautiful, blue eyes. He complied, lowering the blaster, but still holding onto it.
"I'll take your word for it," Falco said to the Marine, "For now."
Everything became still over the bridge as they gradually got used to the situation. Fox broke the silence with a nervous smile.
"So, Jacques Mortensen of the Ultramarines, 2nd Company."
The Marine turned to him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Fox said, patting him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, "I'm Fox McCloud, head of the Star Fox team."
Jacques nodded, smiling lightly, "Excellent to meet a commander, a leader of his people."
"Right…." Fox said unsure, rolling his eyes backwards, "Anyway, this is Slippy Toad, our technology specialist, or our 'Tech-guy.'"
Fox indicated the frog, who was sitting there, eyes slightly widened as seeing Fox introduce him to Space Marine.
'Like a Techmarine,' Jacques thought, 'For his species.'
Slippy smiled awkwardly, waving his hand slightly.
"Hi."
"Peppy Hare, senior member of the team," Fox said smiling, edging towards the rabbit.
"My pleasure, son," Peppy said also smiling, stretching his hand forward.
Jacques look at him curiously, before reaching forward and shaking it. Peppy gritted his teeth in pain, causing the Marine to let go suddenly.
"My apologies," Jacques said.
Peppy rubbed his hand slightly, "Think nothing of it. It happens a lot when you're my age."
Fox cringed slightly, seeing the old hare and the young human interact awkwardly.
"And there of course," Fox continued, "There is…"
"Falco!" the bird stepped forward up to the Marine, "Falco Lombardi, chief pilot and overall ass-kicker. I need no introduction."
"I see that," Jacques commented, "And I sense your contempt over my presence, and much of my species as well."
Falco glared daggers at the Marine. Fox decided to step in, sensing the friction between the both of them.
"So," Fox begun loudly, "Do you mind telling us how you came about drifting amongst what was once known as Cerinia."
'Emperor bless that beautiful world,' Jacques thought.
He then looked back at the vulpine, and nodded, "It is a long story, you might want to get comfortable."
Falco smirked and flopped down on the nearest seat, "Way ahead of ya."
Fox sat as his usual place, as did Slippy. Krystal however stood around and near Jacques.
"How long has it been since Cerinia's death?" Jacques first asked.
"Thirteen years," Krystal answered, glumly.
"Well," Jacques begun, "Four years before, my chapter the Ultramarines was scouting the edges of the Lylat System. We came across a world whose populace was in ways more biologically similar to human than the other Lylation races. And they were in conflict with one another. We decided as peacemakers to spread our Emperor's good word and faith. We landed on the planet, made ourselves known to those deserving and stopped the fighting, siding with the righteous against those of darkness."
'This sounds like a fantasy novel,' Falco thought, amused.
"The Cerinians were grateful of our rightful intrusion and asked if it was ever possible for the Imperium to associate with their kind. We believe we could, seeing that Cerinians were not that different from humans. The Lords of Terra, the Emperor's highest ministers, approved our mingling with these 'aliens.'"
'Aliens?' Peppy thought slightly berated.
"The Ultramarine 2nd Company was the Imperium's strongarm on Cerinia, task to defend both the Cerinian and the growing human colonists. Then one day…"
He cut himself off, before glancing over at Krystal, who looked back softly and nodded. He then continued.
"Cerinia was invaded by the Forces of Disorder," he continued, "At first we managed to hold off their small numbers, but eventually…"
He frowned slightly, making everyone in the room feel once again uneasy.
"…they attacked in their thousands, killing everything in their paths. We fought to the last man, Cerinian and Space Marine side-by-side. Nothing survived the final battle except me…"
He then looked over at Krystal again.
"…and the Crown Princess of Cerinia."
Fox, composing himself after hearing that epic, turned to Krystal.
"Is this true, Krys?"
She nodded, "Jacques saved my life from the destruction. He got me off the planet, giving me my staff. But…"
She thought of how she watched him collapse on his knees, before the transport ship she was sitting in took off after destroying one of Andross' massive death machines with the staff.
"…I thought you died," she finished, looking deeply at him.
Jacques smiled slightly, "I would have. But with the Emperor looking down upon me, I fought on towards safety."
He remembered how he picked himself up from the hangar floor and staggered towards another transport ship, lying in wait for him. He had collapsed into the pilot's seat, where he just pushed random buttons, seeing no time to set a proper course. When the space dust cleared over Cerinia's explosion, he had found he was just amongst his pieces. Seeing he was now too weak to do anything, he put himself into Sus-an sleep. Until he was awoken by Slippy's scanning devices thirteen years later…now.
Peppy's next remark pulled him out of his thoughts.
"That was quite an epic, Jacques," Peppy commented, "It should be the basis of a table-top war game."
"Yeah," Slippy joined in, smiling, "With the Space Marines and the Cerinians on the side of Order."
Everyone chuckled, even Jacques who gave a smile of amusement. The tone then became serious again.
"Who were these 'Forces of Disorder?'" Fox asked.
Jacques cleared his throat, before saying, "They were an alliance of Venomians…"
Suddenly, ROB's voice cut over Jacques explanation.
"Slip-space rupture detected."
'Dammit,' Fox thought, irritated, 'Always cuts in like this…'
"Where?" Peppy asked, getting up from his seat and over towards ROB and his terminal.
"All around the Great Fox," ROB explained, "1 Venomian cruiser and 1 wing of Fighters."
"So Andrew wants another round?" Falco said, smiling devilishly, "We'll give it to him, all right."
Suddenly the Great Fox was struck by a massive blast of energy, sending everyone off their feet.
"What the hell…?" Fox cried.
The ship turned on it's side, along with the Imperium craft which was still attached to, leaving it completely open to attack.
"They must be here for Jacques," Peppy cried, "They wouldn't risk destroying both the ships."
"Only to keep us bottled up in here," Fox added, then cursed, "Damn!"
Jacques eyes widened as he picked himself up, sensing something he hasn't sensed in long time.
'The Warp?' he thought, horrified, 'It can't be? How could they have harnessed it?'