Disclaimer: See the Prologue
Chapter 37 – On The Run
In the control tower, the technicians were more than relieved that Star Fox was out of the way and wouldn't be able to shut down the systems, and were more than happy to get back to their posts, as they were working away at their terminals.
"Man, those freaks gave us a quite a scare," one primate of a technician commented.
"I'll say," another tech, a lizard replied.
They then smiled and focused on their screens. That was when…
"Hey, do you hear that?" the lizard asked.
"What?"
He could hear a slight beeping coming from somewhere close.
"It sounds like…beeping," the lizard replied, before putting his ear to the terminal, "It's coming from…underneath the…"
All eyes turned to the reptilian tech as he sat up from his chair and crouched, where he heard the beeping come from within the circuit panel of his terminal. He opened it…
…and found what appeared to be a palm-sized explosive device stuck to the wire inside of it. The technician's eyes widened.
"OH…"
At the moment in the megacannon complex…
"Enough of playing the villainous stereotype. Kill them…slowly."
…Fara gripped in her palm a detonator, which she then smiled and pushed.
And in that split-second in the control room.
"…SHITTTTTTTTT!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The control tower exploded, which Calgar saw from outside the canyon. He smiled and turned to his personal com…
"This is Lord Calgar to the fleet," he begun.
Yes, my lord, the other line replied.
"Prepare to deploy the remainder of our forces onto the following coordinates…"
He pushed a few buttons and a response from the other line later…
But my lord, that's the main enemy headquarters. The defences are…wait a minute…they're beginning to power down.
"My point exactly," Calgar said, "Now prepare to drop all remaining Space Marine squads now."
Right away, my lord.
He switched off his com…before standing on the edge of the canyon and letting out a really loud war cry…
"BY THE FURY OF THE ULTRAMARINES, YOU SHALL ALL FEEL THE EMPEROR'S WRATH!"
All Venomian eyes looked up at the large human who stood on the edge of the cannon, power fists pumped in the air and his shadow caste over the whole base as the sun was practically situated behind him.
He then opened up with his heavy bolts, spraying rocket-propelled lead over the crowds drawn from the structures of the base.
"TAKE COVER!" one of the Venomians cried.
They did so as they do dove behind any cover they could find, drawing their own weapons. A few broke cover to fire their weapons, but then felt a few long-range bolts blast through them. The Scouts had also joined the party, taking up position on top of a few of the bases' buildings.
"COME TASTE BOLT, YOU FILTHY ALIENS!" one of them cried.
Meanwhile in the facility, that explosion shook everyone off their feet, where Jacques took the first opportunity. He roared and swung his cuffed hands in the nearest Venom Marine, knocking both the wind out of him and off his feet. Another Marine saw him and fired, where the laser bolt blasted his cuffs off.
He smiled and, ignoring Andrew, lunged at the Marine, punching him across his helmet and taking his gun.
"GO, JACQUES!" Falco cheered, "GO!"
He fired his heavy blaster rifle at the Venom Marines, blasting them off their feet. He felt a blast hit him from behind; he gritted his teeth and spun around, firing and exploding the attacking Venom Marine's head off.
He then saw the daemon charge at him.
"ULTRAMARINE!" he bellowed.
Jacques aimed at his legs and fired, where he actually blew one of his limbs off, sending him onto the floor, blood spilling onto the floor from where his leg used to be.
"DON'T FUCKIN' MOVE!" he heard Andrew call out.
He spun around to find Andrew holding a gun to Krystal's head, her arm across her neck. He looked as pissed as an ape could get. Jacques' eyes went wide, as he realised he was holding his gun to Andrew, who had Krystal as his hostage.
"Put down the gun human," Andrew said, "Or I'll blow the vixen-of-your-dreams head all over the floor."
Krystal eyes narrowed as she struggled against his grip, "Don't do it! Kill him and end this once and for."
"NO!" Fox cried, him still in cuffs, "Do what Andrew says…"
"But…" Jacques begun, "I must end this!"
"And that's more important than her life?" Fox asked, "We can still beat him."
Jacques turned his head to him, before focussing back on Krystal, where he could see the pleading in her eyes. The young Marine exhaled painfully and dropped his gun.
"I am sorry, Your Highness," Jacques said, "Your life is still of importance to me."
Andrew grinned, "Now we're gonna walk out of here nice and slowly, while…"
More Venom Marines rushed into the room, heavy blasters drawn.
"…you get to play with my friends."
Fox shot a look of anger at the monkey, "Burn in Hell!"
They then all heard chuckling as the daemon got up on his other leg, the blood no longer leaking out on to the floor.
"Not before you," the daemon said, "We've got something special for all of you. We're going to send you on a one-way trip to the Eye where you will get to meet Khorne himself."
"The Eye of Terror?" Jacques exclaimed questioningly.
"The birthplace of Chaos itself," the daemon said, limping toward Andrew and his Cerinian hostage, "We're going to banish you to my place of birth where you will spend your eternities wreathing in pain!"
They then begun to walk towards the exit together…
"Bring them to the gate," Andrew ordered, "And we'll get this party really started!"
Suddenly, something smashed through the roof of the facility, crushing several Venom Marines. It was drop pod.
"The Emperor be praised!" Jacques exclaimed happily.
Andrew's eyes widened as Space Marine bursted out of the pod, armed with flame-throwers and heavy bolters, where they begun to cut down the startled Venom Marine. Jacques ran over to Fox and the others and tore off their binds.
"Ah, thank God," Falco cried, feeling his wrists.
Fox and Jacques shot Andrew's way, where he, the daemon and Krystal, ran through the exit. The young Marine grabbed Krystal's staff from a nearby table and gripped it firmly in his hands. He turned to Fox…
"We must save her!" Jacques exclaimed.
Fox nodded, "Let's move then!"
Star Fox then ran towards the exit, where the Venom Marines ignored them to fight the assaulting Ultramarine. When they stepped out of the facility, they found that all hell was breaking loose within and outside the crater.
Drop pods were falling out the sky towards the frightened Venomian hordes, where more Space Marines tore out of towards the battle, armed to the teeth. Marines lined the cliffs looking down over the crater, where they opened fire on the Venomians, who begun to fall to the ground like rose petals.
"Don't let any of those bastards live!" a sergeant cried.
Jacques smashed the face of the nearest Venomian with the butt-end of his rifle, before he sensed Krystal's presence.
"The temple!" he cried, "Oikonny's taking her to the temple!"
"Lead the way," Fox ordered, picking up the smashed Venomian's blaster rifle.
Falco, Fara and Slippy also grabbed weapons as they ran through the burning crater-of-a-base, past the Venomians fighting the Ultramarines, who in turn were slowly cutting them all down and systematically destroying the buildings in the base. The megacannon was struck by several missiles from the Marines and toppled over, where it crushed the cloning plant.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!" the Marines all cried as they continued to fight.
Star Fox made their way towards the end of the canyon, where they saw the massive tunnel carved into the canyon, where several stone steps led into it.
And climbing those steps was Andrew, the daemon and their hostage Krystal.
"Blast!" Andrew cursed, looking back, "They're still behind us!"
The daemon smiled, "I will take care of them, and the Ultramarines."
He limped down the steps were he was before Star Fox, who stopped at the sight of him.
"Limp aside, freak." Falco sneered, "Unless you won't to lose another leg."
Flashing a smirk of his own, the daemon said to Fox, "If Bill Grey was still alive, you would have told him for me: Thanks for your body, I no longer need you…"
His eyes then glowed with crimson energy.
"…NOW!"
The steps he stood on begun to crack, and Jacques knew what this way.
"No!" he exclaimed.
The daemon fell to his knees gripping his chest, where it looked like something was trying to break his way out of. Blood leaked from his eyes, ears and his mouth.
"What's happening to…" Fara begun.
"Get back!" Jacques cried.
The daemon, formally known as Bill Grey's body, outstretched his arms and begun to float into the air, crimson energy sprouting from. Krystal's eyes widened, knowing what was happening; whilst Andrew's eyes was full of glee.
"ALL OF LYLAT," the daemon cried, which drew the attention of the Space Marines, "WITNESS THE POWER OF CHAOS AT WORK!"
He then laughed maniacally, before suddenly plummeting into the ground and exploding in a shower of blood, followed by a massive roar…
"BLOODTHIRSTER!" a Marine cried.
…and a red-coloured winged bull-like creature rose from ground, clutching a huge battle axe in one hand. It roared as it looked down upon Star Fox.
"Holy shit," Falco said softly, "You're definitely a handsome devil…literally."
Jacques raised the staff and begun firing flame projectiles at the bloodthirster, followed by a whole heap of boltguns opening up on the daemon as the Space Marines charged forward. The daemon swung it's axe and sending Space Marines flying, before skewering one on the tip of it's axe.
Charging forward, Jacques fired the staff's ice blaster, causing the daemon to cry out in pain.
"Back, warp-spawn!" he exclaimed, "You will not defile Lylat with your presence!"
The bloodthirster jumped into the air before landing before Jacques, sending the young Marine flying, as well as his staff out of his hands.
"I got it!" Fox exclaimed, jumping into the air and grabbing the staff.
He landed near Jacques, who was flat on his back, but still conscious. Fara ran up to him and Fox.
"You guys alright?" she asked.
They then turned to the daemon, which roared and charged at them.
"No we're not!" Falco exclaimed, as he and Slippy threw themselves before the fallen Marine and firing their heavy blasters, aiming at the bloodthirsters eyes, "EAT LASER!"
The daemon cried out in pain, stepping back some, before it shook his head and charging forwards, axe firmly in his hands.
"C'mon, get up!" Fox cried as he and Falco tried to get Jacques on his feet through lifting his shoulder, Fara firing at the daemon with her blaster rifle.
Just as the bloodthirster was about bring it's axe down on the group, Lord Calgar threw himself from atop a building towards the daemon and delivered a crushing power punch to it's face, sending it falling to the ground. He landed on the asphalt, cracking it.
Fox smirked as he and Falco let go of Jacques, "And I thought you weren't joining us."
"I live to fight the ruinous powers," Calgar replied firmly, "I shall never run from the face of Chaos."
And with that, Calgar swung his massive fists against the bloodthirster, causing it to bellow out in pain. It retaliated by swinging it's axe and striking Calgar, sending him flying into the nearest wall and falling face first.
Surprisingly, he got back up and feeling relatively unfazed.
"The Emperor's word drives me on!" Calgar exclaimed, before firing his heavy bolters at the bloodthirster, who began to charge at the chapter-master.
Some metres away…
"Fox," Slippy cried, "We've got to do something!"
"I know," Fox frowned, gripping Krystal's staff.
He ran towards Calgar, where the daemon was almost upon him. He never noticed Fox jumping up on his back and pushing himself high into the air…
"Whoa!" Fara cried.
…and towards the daemon, where he sank the staff deep into the bloodthirsters chest, where both blood and Chaotic energy sprouted from the daemon. It screamed as it begun to shake violently before toppling backward onto it's back, where it appeared to fade into the ground and back where it came from.
The closest place to Hell.
Jacques' eyes widened, as did Calgar's and most of the Space Marine who could only so much as witness the fighting between Star Fox and the Warp-spawn.
The young Marine smiled and thought, 'McCloud, you amaze me in more ways than one.'
Calgar frowned as he looked upon the steps leading into the Chaos temple, before checking into his com.
"All squads, except those lining the edge of the crater," he begun, "Converge into the temple, weapons live. We are going to end this once and for all."
The sergeants all complied…
Yes, my lord.
Right away, my lord.
Jacques moved to get up painfully, where he saw Calgar stand before him.
"On your feet, Mortensen," he said, "Oikonny has got himself a hostage."
Knowing all to well who that was, he did so, getting up on his own two feet, much to the amazement of Star Fox.
'He never gives up,' Fox thought, before smiling, 'That's our Jacques.'
Looking over the crater base from all sides were 4 squads of Space Marines, who were all, confused.
"Why are we holding our position here?" one of them asked.
Suddenly, another Marine felt a laser bolt tear through his back and out his chest, before falling forward onto the ground. The others of the squad span around to see masses of colonists, all angry looking and holding swords, axes, chainsaws and some laser weaponry, converging towards the crater.
"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" they chanted, "SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"
The four squads of ten Marines each faced the cultists coming towards all sides of the crater. One determined looking sergeant raised his chainsword into the air and cried out…
"KILL EM' ALL!"
They then all opened up with their heavy weaponry, cutting them all done as they charged forward, yelling obscenities at them.
Meanwhile…
"Why is it dark in here?" Slippy queried.
Star Fox and the Ultramarines were moving through the cave that was cut into the side of the canyon. They had all charged with enthusiasm, ready to face Chaos head on, but somewhat slowed down when nothing but darkness greeted them.
"Damn it, I hate dark places," Falco chided, gripping his weapon.
Calgar powered fists clinched as he readied for hell to spring on them at any minute. If what the Lords of Terra told him were true about the Chaos temple found on Papetoon in the Lylat system, then things were going to become ugly fast.
"Stand firm, servants of the Emperor," Calgar called out, "Your aim shall not falter."
As if on cue, lights suddenly went on to reveal they were walking down a stone hallway with Chaotic rambling carved on the walls…
"LOOK OUT! HORRORS!"
…and monstrous entities were before them.
"SPACE MARINES, ATTACK!"
Mutant-reptile like Horrors of the Dark God Tzeentch filled the hallway and was charging towards them, already flinging fireballs down the narrow path. Everyone crouched and opened up with their weapons, blasting them back to where they came from.
"Push forward!" Jacques exclaimed.
Staff in hand and head down, he moved forwards amidst the gunfire sailing above his head. Horror shuffled towards them, were one tap of his staff vanquished them.
"Jacques!" Fox exclaimed.
Tired of the pace he was moving, he got up and charged, swinging the staff and knocking daemons out of the way. The other Marine upon seeing him drew their swords and cried out as they charged, following Jacques as if he was a weed-whacker and the daemons were the weeds.
Fox felt a fireball skim the side of his face. He bit his lip and pressed forward, until they reached yet another large chamber made of stone and which was lined with statues of Chaos Space Marines, daemons and Chaos Gods.
"Oh my God!" Slippy exclaimed.
They were all before what appeared to be a portal-like structure, where crimson energy sprouted from it and were flinging all manner of Warp-spawned entities.
"It's a daemon gate!" Calgar cried, "Brothers! Repel the daemons!"
"No, wait!" Fox cried, seeing whom was being dragged towards the gate.
It was Krystal, and she was struggling against the grip of two Venom Marines, where Andrew was standing behind them, and arms crossed and smiling.
"Don't struggle," he said, "You'll eventually grow to like it in there."
Fox stepped forward, anger welling up inside of him and gripping his blaster rifle.
"OIKONNY!"
"Damn," Andrew cursed softly, before smiling and turning around, "Ah, McCloud. Good of you to join us as we were about to venture into the unknown.
"For God's sake, you don't know what you are doing!"
"Don't I?" Andrew replied, then retorted, "Chaos is the only true answer towards Lylat's problems. Sure it may cause death and destruction, but at least it brings obedience and order…"
"Disorder can never bring about obedience," Calgar said, "Only faith in the Emperor can do that, as well as safeguard you."
"You believe that crap?" Andrew chuckled, "You believe a corpse sitting in a large golden box on Terra? You're full of crap, Macragge. All of humanity…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Is, and full of, CRAP!"
Not wanting to listen to another word, Jacques raised his staff and fired off a blast, which as if in slow motion, sailed towards Oikonny and hit him in the shoulder. He cried out and fell back…
"WIPE THEM OUT!" he cried out in pain.
The daemons charged at Star Fox and the Ultramarines, who in return moved fully in the room and opened with their boltguns, heavy bolters, plasma rifles, flame-throwers, missiles launchers and blaster rifles.
"C'mon!" Falco exclaimed, "EAT 'RIGHTEOUS' FIREPOWER!"
Fara smirked, "That's telling em'!"
A Venom Marine helped Andrew on his feet, before Fox blasted him himself, as he ran forward up the steps towards the gate.
"Krystal!"
The vixen turned to him and smiled, seeing him run towards her.
"Fox!" she cried out, hands outstretched.
Suddenly, she felt Andrew's hand on her shoulder.
"Get in there, bitch!" he exclaimed, before pushing here in the gate.
She screamed as she fell backwards into the energy field, followed by Andrew who jumped in. Fox's eyes widened.
"NO!" he screamed.
A Horror suddenly jumped out of the gate and knocked him down. It opened it's large, almost rubbery mouth, ready to consume him when he felt a blow from Jacques' staff. The vulpine looked up at the Marine…
…whose face was that of shock and distress.
"Jacques!" Fox begun distressed, "It's Krystal…"
"I know," Jacques said, "I know."
He then stepped backward amidst the firepower and the daemonic energies spewing forwards from the gate.
"What are you doing?" Fox cried, before thinking, 'He wouldn't…'
Smashing a daemon into the ground, Calgar noticed Jacques and him stepping back from ever-growing violent gate.
'He wouldn't,' he thought.
Falco, Slippy and Fara noticed Jacques rearing up, gripping Krystal's staff in his hand. Falco looked like as if he was surprised…
"He wouldn't!" Slippy cried.
Jacques narrowed his eyes in determination.
"He would," Falco added.
Fox panicked as he stood up from the ground and stepping in front of Jacques.
"Don't do it!" he exclaimed, "WAIT FOR ME!"
Jacques charged forward, knocking Fox over roughly. He ran up the small steps towards the gates, his face showing no drop of fear of what laid on the other side.
'Krystal,' he thought, 'I am coming!'
He closed his eyes as he jumped into the gate where it was still spewing out daemons…and into the unknown.