A/N: For those of you who love looooong chapters, this one is for you (over 6500). Please R&R…enjoy!
Chapter V: Suspicions Arise
Fox and Krystal exited the medical ward and proceeded back to the lounge. As they rounded the corner Peppy rounded the same corner almost causing a collision. Peppy startled almost dropped the mug of coffee he was carrying, "Hey Fox…Krystal, how are you two doing?" He asked with a grin and a nod.
"We are doing just fine, just got back from getting Fox's back x-rayed." Krystal acknowledged to the elderly hare.
Peppy slowly nodded, "Ah, so what did Ray say?"
Fox tilted his head in confusion, "Ray? Don't you mean Rod?"
Peppy shook his squinted his eyes and shook his head slowly, "No…I mean Ray Hanson. Where did you get the name Rod from?" Peppy asked taking a sip of coffee from his mug. "We haven't hired anyone new, if we had I would know about it." The grey hare looked out the window and stared into space in thought. A plane soared in the distance and some birds flew by, then Peppy looked back to the two foxes. "I'm going to run a check on this name…it was Rod Kapline right?"
"Yes sir it's Rod Kapline…K.A.P.L.I.N.E." Krystal alleged spelling out the last name for Peppy. He motioned for them to follow him to the lounge where his laptop was located. The doors to the lounge slid open and the three trotted through the doors and headed for Peppy's laptop which was placed on the coffee table. He set his coffee on the table and flipped the top open. Peppy sat down on the leather sofa in front of his computer, and Fox and Krystal parked themselves on the matching leather chairs adjacent to Peppy. The hare clicked a few keys and the Cornerian Army mainframe appeared with a login screen. Peppy put his name and password and clicked sign in. He successfully logged into the mainframe and clicked on staff and then name search. He typed in Rod Kapline and pressed enter. On the screen hundreds of names flowed on the screen at lightning speed, and soon "No results found" appeared on the screen. Peppy leaned back in his seat and folded his arms, "Just as I thought, there is no one by the name of Kapline anywhere on the staff list" He mused.
Fox looked at Krystal and she gazed back at him, "So what are you saying Peppy…This guy could be conspiring against us?" Fox asked while resting his paw on his chin.
Peppy looked up to the ceiling and sighed, "Possibly…we can't take any chances though. Just out of curiosity why do you ask?" Peppy said adjusting his glance at Fox.
"Well after he took my x-ray he came back saying that I was due for a blood test, so he took a small vile of my blood." The vulpine alleged noticing that Peppy's expression had turned to concern.
The soft furred hare then got up from the couch and began to pace in thought. "Fox…you have to somehow get that blood back from Dr. Kapline, there's no telling what he's up to."
Fox rested his paw on his chin and thought about how he could get his blood back and information about this "Dr. Kapline" at the same time. He thought of a plan he then opened his maw to speak then shook his head and continued to think. Falco strolled through the doorway, and got a glimpse of Peppy pacing back and forth and the two foxes staring off into space. He raised his eyebrows and shook his head slowly, "I'm not even going to ask." The avian snickered and disappeared through the opening on the other side of the room. Fox suddenly perked up and snapped his fingers, "I've got it, I think this is the best we can do."
"Lay it on us Fox, we are all ears." Peppy said with enthusiasm.
"What if I snuck into the office in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping? I think that would be the safest time to get what we need." The vulpine mused with his fist still resting on his chin. He looked at the hare through the top of his eyes and waited for his answer.
After a few silent moments Peppy finally nodded his head, "Ok I think that's the best idea. We will do this at 2:30 AM."
Krystal gazed over at Fox, "Are you sure Fox, even in your current condition? Maybe I should go as well…just in case things go wrong." The furry blue vixen alleged.
"Yes I'm sure I can do this, Dr. Kapline just said I had minor bruising to my…wait…that's if he was telling the truth." Fox said realizing that his back could be truly injured if Kapline wasn't as he appeared. "Well none the less I have to do this, it's the only way to know the truth."
Krystal strongly disagreed with the vulpine, "Fox I really don't think you should do this. Let me do it instead…please." Krystal begged putting on her sad puppy dog face and looking the vulpine she loved square in the eyes. Most of the time when she did her typical guilt trick it worked 99 percent of the time.
That look made Fox's heart sink. He found it extremely difficult to resist that hypnotic look that the vixen would put on him. As much as he struggled to look away from her gaze he couldn't. "Well…you see I…err…p-please try to understand…I know that you are capable of doing this but…I just don't think it's safe." Fox stuttered trying to keep his mind off of the vixens gaze. "If you did go on this job and this Kapline was working with Invictus, he may capture you and hold you hostage or worse you could be killed, and I couldn't live with my self if something like that happened to you."
Krystal just remained silent and smiled. Although she didn't totally agree with what he said, but she greatly appreciated his concern for her and that made her love the vulpine even more.
"Then it's settled, Fox will search the office for information about Dr. Kapline at 2:30 in the morning." Peppy alleged going over the plan one more time. He reached for his coffee on the table and took a sip, "Well I have some other business to take care of so I'll see you two around." He mused saluting to Fox and Krystal and he trotted out the door.
The pair of foxes were the only ones left in the lounge, Fox let out a sigh and arose from the brown leather couch. He raised his arm and glanced at his watch, 1:13 pm. "Time for a well deserved rest" The vulpine thought to himself. At long last he had a chance to rest and relax his mind from everything that had happened to him in the past fourteen hours of his life. He had a chance to plan out how he would carry out his next mission, and had a chance to ask himself why. If Dr. Kapline was working against them why did he take his blood? Why would Invictus target Krystal? Could it be that she is the only soul in the entire universe that can destroy him? These were the questions that seemed to roll around in the realms of his complex mind. With all that on his mind he quietly strolled out of the room without saying one word. Krystal slowly stood up and a look of concern appeared on her bright visage. That was the first time that Fox ever left her without saying anything and that worried her.
Fox arrived at his door and it slid open. He passed through it and immediately kicked off his boots which revealed his golden brown paws. He proceeded to his bathroom, flipped on the light, and leaned over the sink. The sink was nickel silver with three touch sensitive pads, a red one for hot water, a blue one for cold water, and a grey one to turn the sink on and off. He took his thumb and gently placed it on the grey pad. The clear liquid came gushing forth like the Great Falls of Sauria. As the water was running he placed his thumb over the blue pad making it as cold as it could be. The vulpine cupped his paws and placed them under the icy water. He then took the water sitting in his paws, closed his eyes, and splashed it on his face, and beads of water ran off the soft furry hairs on his visage. He depressed the grey button and the water stopped as fast as it started. He reached over and took the green towel that was draped over the shower door and dabbed his soaked muzzle. Fox draped the towel back over the shower door and backed out of the restroom. He ambled over to his bed and lied down on his back, his eyes grew heavy in the dark room and soon he drifted off into a deep sleep.
There was a whisper, "Fox…" The mysterious voice echoed throughout the room, it was heard again, "Fox…" The vulpine slowly opened his green eyes only to see his father standing over him.
Fox shot up in his bed, "Dad?" He shouted with glee. He rubbed his eyes and looked again to see if this was just his imagination. When he took his paws away from his eyes his father still remained, standing by his side. He jumped off the bed and hugged his father with all of his strength.
"Well…I…see you are still as strong as ever Fox." James strained to say while being squeezed by his son. Fox loosened his grip and was flustered at seeing his father again, his paws twitched with joy and a few tears escaped his sea green eyes. James put his paw on his sons shoulder, "My…how you've grown up. Just look at you, you've grown into one handsome young vulpine. It seems like only yesterday I was bringing you home from the hospital." James alleged admiring his grown up son. Fox beamed at his father's comment, what he heard made him feel very proud of himself.
"But dad…I thought you were dead." Fox said looking into his fathers sea blue eyes.
James took his paw off his sons shoulder, "I am Fox…I'm reaching to you through your mind thanks to your lady friend."
"Krystal?" Fox asked.
James nodded his dark golden head, "Yes and what a fine woman she is Fox. She must mean everything in the world to you right?" Fox nodded in agreement. "Well don't let her slip out of your grasp. I think you two have a future together."
Fox's face lit up with excitement, "D-do you really think I have a chance with Krystal?" He asked with a giddy tone.
James gave a huge grin to his son and chuckled at the way Fox responded to him, "Yes…Indeed I do my son." James' tone suddenly grew serious which immediately grabbed Fox's full attention, "Now Fox listen, you must be totally aware that Invictus is dangerous, extremely dangerous. It's like dealing with Andross on a whole new level. As you may as well be aware of now, he totally wiped the planet Cerinia off the map." Fox just remained silent and nodded. "He has powers beyond imaginable, he can use his mind to make people do his bidding, he can crush his enemies minds causing pain beyond anyone's comprehension, and that's just the beginning." James mused. "Just remember my son, if you ever come into contact with him…use extreme caution, I don't want you to end up like I did with Andross."
Fox let out a big grin to his father, "I won't father don't you worry, I'll make sure Invictus wishes he was never born."
James reached out and rubbed the top of his son's soft furred head, "That's just like you Fox…as brave as can be, you have always been like that and I know that will never change." James started backing up towards the door, and Fox started to follow. James held up his paw to signal his son to stop following. "I'm sorry Fox but you have to stay behind."
"Why? Where are you going?" Fox asked eyes glistening.
The door to the room slid open and a bright white light shot through the door making Fox recoil, "I'm going back to a place where you will eventually come to, but not for a very long time." James winked at his son, "Goodbye for now…Fox." James waved to his son and disappeared into the light and it grew less and less as the door slid shut.
The vulpine's eyes slowly opened up and saw Krystal standing over him with her paws resting on his head. She squinted her glistening green eyes and let out a silent smile. "Are you alright Fox?" She asked sweetly. "You seemed…uneasy when you left the lounge."
"I just had a lot on my mind, that's all." Fox said beginning to sit up in his bed. "Krystal…thanks…I didn't know you could transfer spirits of the deceased into others minds."
"Yes it's nice ability but I don't use it often, it causes too much stress on my mind, plus sometimes it can painful to use." The vixen said lightly rubbing her forehead. "I just thought I'd use it to cheer you up. I know how much you love your father so I decided to help out a bit."
Just then there was a pounding outside the door, it was Falco. "Fox! Fox, open the door there's something I want to show you."
The panicking tone of the avian's voice alarmed the vulpine and made him think something had happened. The door flew open and Falco was standing in the doorway holding up a hardware magazine that was full of new weapons that were being sold at the hardware store. The avian was pointing at a three barreled rocket launcher, "Dude I've been waiting ages for this baby to come out. We've got to get some for the team."
Fox rolled his eyes, "Falco another weapon? Don't you think we have enough of them already?" Fox could not stop this weapon crazed eagle, he knew that nothing could stop him from buying a new weapon, especially one like this. He was jumping around like a fox cub in a candy store, he really wanted that rocket launcher.
"Fine Falco lets go, I need to get out anyway." Fox alleged raising his arms above his head and stretching out his muscles. Falco jumped from the doorway and Fox looked back at Krystal who was standing just behind him. "I swear he can be just like a kid can't he?" Fox mused chuckling under his breath.
The small blue vixen nodded and chuckled along with him. "Hey Krystal, my brain just hatched an idea. Why don't you come with us, you haven't been out all day."
"Oh thanks for the offer Fox but I think I should stay here. I know I'd be safe with you and Falco but just in case Dr. Kapline is conspiring against us, I think I should be the defense…just in case." Krystal chimed.
"Alright then I'll see you later, if you ever feel like you are in danger call me." The golden furred vulpine mused heading for the door. He stopped just short of it turned around and winked at Krystal.
"What?" Invictus' deep booming voice roared through out the room. "What do you mean he's still alive? Didn't I specifically tell you to take care of him?" He was a white bearded ape with a bionic eye that was taking the place of his where his left eye used to be. He quickly stood up and gave a haunting gaze to the poor soul he was screaming at, it was Andrew. "I swear if you weren't my great nephew I'd kill you in the most horrible way possible." The tyrant gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the table and it cracked from the middle to the top. Andrew jumped when his huge fist clashed with the table he had never seen Invictus this furious before. A small buzzing sound was heard coming from the left side of the room where a small transporter was stationed on a small table. Invictus marched over to the small device and depressed a blue button, a small click was heard followed by a hissing sound signaling the decompression of the air. The device opened revealing a small vile filled with red liquid. Invictus quickly took the vile from inside the device and gazed at it. Then a vile grin appeared on his façade and he spun around, "At last…after all of this time I've finally gotten it, Fox McCloud's blood." He rapidly ambled over to Andrew and held out the vile to him, "Take this down to the lab."
Andrew looked at the vile and then back at Invictus, "Now?"
Invictus placed his simian paw on his head and shook it, "No tomorrow egg head…Now go ahead." Andrew quickly left with no questions asked, and as soon as he was out of sight Invictus bowed around and scoffed, "Now…what a moron."
"There she is." Falco awed at the crimson red rocket launcher displayed in the window just outside of the hardware store. "Fox we've got to get some for the team, do you realize how unstoppable we would be with one of these things?" Falco reached out his feathered hand to push the door open.
"Falco…?" A voice was heard in the distance.
The avian's ears twitched, the familiar voice caught his attention. He gazed back around the corner to see a red feathered eagle wearing a blue and green sports jacket running up to him. Falco's eyes went wide, "Oscar!" He shouted shaking his friends hand. "Man I haven't seen you since I left the old gang."
"Yeah I know, dude how come you quit?" The scarlet colored falcon asked.
Falco crossed his arms, "It just wasn't my thing"
Oscar approached his long lost friend and nudged his shoulder, "Heh…It wasn't my thing either, I quit the Dark Serpent about four weeks ago." He chuckled, "Oh and who's your friend?"
Fox extended his paw, "Fox McCloud, lead pilot of the StarFox team."
Oscar quickly jolted his head back and his russet eyes went wide, "You? You are THE Fox McCloud? Wow, it's such an honor to meet you I've heard some awesome stories about you and your team. I only wish I could meet the other members of the team." Falco cleared his throat and an egotistical grin stretched from either side of his visage. Oscar just stared at his avian friend at disbelief and shook his cranium slowly, "No freaking way. Falco…you are part of the StarFox team?"
Falco's ego was starting to kick in, "Yep…I'm the ace pilot of the team." The avian said brushing the shoulder of his blue and yellow shirt with his wing.
Oscar gazed in awe, "I figured, you always were the best pilot of the gang." The avian spun his head flicking the feathers on his head, "So what are you doing here in the first place?"
Falco pointed at the rocket launcher hanging on display in the window, "That…that's why were here. I've been waiting for ages for this beautiful thing to be released."
The ruby feathered avian nodded and grinned, "Yeah, I own one…it's a legend launcher man, you must get one." Falco was just about to chime in when Oscar raised his wing to halt him from speaking, "That is…if you have enough cash."
Falco shook his head, "Man whatever lets just go inside."
The shimmering glass doors were pushed open and a bell was heard alerting the shopkeeper that he had customers. A red wooden door in the back of the store creaked open and a grey furred fox appeared holding a clipboard. He strolled over to the counter where the cash register was and set it down and glanced up at his customers. "Names Simon Palmer mates, how can I help you?" He alleged in a british tone.
The blue avian pointed in the direction of the window, "Do you have any of those in stock?"
Simon raised his eyebrows, "Ah those X-class models just came in yesterday, but they've been extremely popular and we ran out the very first day." Falco growled under his breath. "Oh don't fret sir I'll place you on order and they will be in, in about three days."
The avian shrugged his shoulders, "Well that's better than nothing."
The grey vulpine brought up his clipboard, "How many can I put ya down for mate?"
Falco thought for a moment, "Seven." Simon scribbled the notes on his clipboard.
"Ok let me crosscheck your order…it's seven X-class crimson rocket launchers, that comes to…" Simon handed the clipboard over to Falco and the avian's jaw dropped.
Oscar guffawed at the sight of his avian friend, "See, it's not cheap is it Falco?"
Falco gazed up and sighed, "No s Sherlock, hell no it's not cheap."
A wide grin came along the other avian's mug and he brought a small black book out of his jacket pocket. "I'll pay for them, this will be a gift for the StarFox team for all the times you all have saved the Lylat System." He flipped open the black book to write a check to pay for the massive rocket launchers.
Fox lowered his eyebrows, "You don't have to pay for them we can take care of it. Also this may be a bit harsh but…you don't seem very tough for a former gang member, and I mean that in the nicest possible way."
Oscar stopped writing and redirected his gaze to fox, "Is that so? Is that a challenge?" Before the vulpine could speak the avian continued, "I'll tell you what...I challenge you to a sparring match and if you win you can pay, but if I win I'll pay for these bazookas."
Fox reached out his paw and shook Oscars wing, "It's a deal I'll meet you at the sparing rink across the street."
The avian shook his head, "No need my friend through that door over there is this warehouse's personal rink." He alleged pointing to a red door on the opposite side of the room.
"Nice, I never knew that was there." Fox mused.
The duo stepped through the door and grabbed the equipment sitting on the shelves by the rink. Fox slipped the red padded helmet over his head and attached his red gloves. On the adjacent side of the room Oscar did the same with his blue gear. The dueling duo climbed through the ropes of the ring. The avian started warming up his muscles doing a series of stretches. "I've always dreamed of fighting the Fox McCloud, now I'm getting my chance. And I'm going to win!"
Fox approached his opponent and they both gently tapped each others fists as a sign of good sportsmanship. "We'll see, lets begin." Fox mused and he brought his gloved fist up and hopped around.
The two strafed back and forth around each other trying to predict who would make the first move. Oscar lurched forward and swung his fist at Fox's visage who leaned back making the avian's fist miss completely. Fox countered bringing his paw directly in contact with Oscar's stomach. The eagle grabbed his abdomen and Fox launched an uppercut in his jaw causing him to stumble back into the black ropes surrounding the arena. Oscar charged towards the readied vulpine leapt into the air and performed an aerial kick. As his foot approached fox's body the vulpine extended his gloved arm and caught it, and with all of his strength tossed the avian to the other end of the arena. Oscar flew across the ring and landed on his stomach. He then rolled onto his back and his eye caught Fox in the air with his fist pulled back, he let out a silent "whoa", rolled to the left and Fox's paw slammed into the padded floor.
The two quickly got to their feet and caught their breath. They were both sweating and panting heavily, Fox gazed up at Oscar who's shoulders were heaving he didn't expect him to be this strong. "Wow, I-I was de-definitely wrong about you Oscar." Fox staggered trying to catch his breath. "You are quite the skilled fighter." He reached up and wiped the sweat from his fuzzy forehead.
Oscar staggered a laugh, "heh…I told you I was tougher than I look…shall we continue?"
Fox gritted his teeth to pump himself up and put up his paws. Oscar sprinted towards the vulpine dropped himself to the floor and swept his foot under Fox's causing the vulpine to loose his footing and plunge to the ground. When the vulpine hit the ground he quickly launched himself back to his feet. His communicator suddenly chirped, startled he jumped back and answered the call. "Yeah?" Fox said into the communicator.
Peppy's voice staggered in a raspy voice, "Fox…Fox are you there?"
Fox lowered his eyebrows, "Peppy what's wrong? Are you alright you sound hurt?"
"It…it just happened so fast we didn't know what to do." Peppy's voice was shaky.
Fox was becoming concerned, "Peppy what happened over there, what's going on?"
"I-it was Dr. Kapline, you were right he w-was working for In-Invictus, he attacked us and…and…." Peppy was now starting to sob.
Fox's eyes were huge now, he was frightened and nothing could prepare him for what he heard next. "Peppy calm down, just calm down and tell me what else happened?" The vulpine mused, trying to be as calm as possible. There was a strong silence the hare didn't respond to the question. "Peppy!" Fox shouted.
A small gasp escaped the soft furred hare his reaction to Fox's yell, "I'm sorry Fox…I'm so sorry but…but…he kidnapped Krystal."
Fox's hands started trembling and he dropped to his knees, "No…Kry-Krystal this can't be happening." Waves upon waves of guilt filled the vulpine's body, "It's my fault, if I hadn't of left that damn ship none of this would have happened…I'm sorry."
"Fox listen, it's obvious that Kapline knows you'll find him and come after Krystal so he's obviously plotting something." Peppy assumed. "Adding..to..th..a…t…ther…" The communicator grew into static.
"Peppy are you there…Come in Peppy." Fox mused tapping his device.
"Greetings Fox McCloud, do you know who this is?" A familiar voice echoed out of the communicator.
The vulpine gritted his teeth, "Kapline!"
A vile laugh crawled out of the device, "That's correct but call me Gemini, I'm sure you know I have a little friend with me."
A small frightened voice was heard in the background, "Fox help me, please hel…"
"Shut up, no one said you could talk!" Gemini smacked her across her fragile maw.
The sound of the simian striking Krystal enraged Fox beyond his limits, "Keep you hands off her, I swear on my life you will pay for what you've done!" The vulpine mused through closed teeth.
"I'll tell you what, leave the building you are in and go to the phone booth at the corner of Onctaria and Juniper. I'll give more instructions when you get there." Gemini said then the communicator clicked off before Fox could speak. The vulpine ripped off his red padded helmet and gloves and leapt off the arena. He started sprinting out the door when Oscar's voice was heard.
"Fox wait…let me help you out, I know what it feels like to lose a loved one and I won't let that happen to you." The avian mused, taking off his equipment.
"Oh wait mate take this." Simon held out a blaster to Fox, "Now show those bloody bastards that mess with one person and you mess with Corneria."
Fox took the blaster, gave a slight nod and charged out the door. He shoved open the glass doors and the phone booth caught his eye. The vulpine examined the area around the booth to make sure it wasn't a trap. Everything seemed in order, he slowly approached it and stood there not knowing what to do next. The phone started to ring and the vulpine reached up and took the receiver off the hook. "Hey you followed my instructions good job. Now this is what I want you to do next, you see that blaster in your hand?"
A chill ran down Fox's spine he had realized that he was being watched by Gemini. "Y-yes…what about it?" Fox stuttered, he started to look around the area to see if he could spot where he was hiding.
A giggle was heard in the phone, "Don't bother looking for me you won't find me. Now listen carefully, point that gun at your friend in front of you." Gemini demanded calmly. Fox adjusted his gaze from the gun to who was standing before him, it was Falco.
The vulpine's heart sank, "No, I refuse!" Fox shouted into the phone.
Gemini clicked his tongue, "Oh I don't think you want to refuse, of course if that's your final answer you know what I'll do next." The sound of a charging gun was heard which unleashed surges of fear through both Krystal and Fox's bodies. "So…is that your final answer?" The simian sauntered behind Krystal and placed the machine gun to the back of her delicate blue head and waited for an answer.
"W-wait…I-I'll do it." Fox mused raising the gun aiming at Falco. The avian's eyes widened and he slowly put up his hands. Pedestrians started panicking and quickly made distance from Fox.
"Fox, what are you doing? Put the gun down." Falco mused as calmly as possible
"I'm sorry Falco…I'm so, so sorry." Fox said tears starting to flow down his eyes. "I have always cherished our friendship…always." Fox depressed a button and then he began charging the blaster. "Forgive me my friend."
Falco held out his hands in front of him, "Fox wait…" Fox fired and a light blue laser struck Falco and he plunged to the cold ground.
"Nice job I personally didn't think you would go through with it." Gemini's vile voice echoed in entertainment.
"I-I've done it…now let Krystal go." Fox pleaded.
"Goodbye McCloud…" That's the last thing the vulpine heard before the sound was cut of from the receiver.
"Wait you promised!" Fox shouted holding the receiver in front of his face. He pulled it away from his visage, gritted his razor sharp teeth and slammed the phone back on its hook. "Damn!"
Meanwhile Oscar was staring at his friend's lifeless body, hands trembling with terror. He slowly gazed up at Fox and slowly began to back away. "W-what have you done? Y-you shot m-my best fri-friend." Further and further he backed away in fear that Fox may shoot him as well.
"Oscar relax, he's not dead. I set it to stun right before I shot him, he should wake up in about an hour." Fox mused. Oscar shut his eyes and let out a hard sigh of relief. Fox continued, "In the meantime Gemini is watching us as we speak, so we have to make this look like he's really dead."
Little did the vulpine know he was being watched through the scope of a sniper rifle located in a skyscraper just across the street. Looking down the scope was none other than that ruthless simian Gemini. Krystal was tied up in a chair right behind him. She wiggled her hands and feet trying to slip out of the ropes. She successfully wormed her hands out of the coiling ropes and they fell to the floor, next…her feet. She suddenly heard the charging of the rifle, which told her she only had a little time left to save Fox from certain death. The vixen twisted her feet back and forth and the ropes slowly started to inch their way down her ankles. Success the ropes were loose enough to allow her to slip her feet though them. Quietly she raised herself from the chair turned around clutched the bottom of the chair with one paw and grabbed the back portion with the other, and lifted it over her head.
"You're a dead fox now." Gemini's vile voice whispered.
Krystal tip toed behind the simian and slammed the metallic chair over his head. He yelled in pain and fired the rifle, the red laser traveled out of the window directly at fox's head. It skimmed the fur on the top of fox's cranium, he ducked in reflex and glanced in the direction in which he felt the laser skim his fur. It was at that moment he realized that Gemini was hiding in the tower just across the street. Fox signaled a police officer to come to him.
A security officer ran up to the vulpine then looked down on the ground to see Falco's semi-lifeless body lying on the ground. "Oh my god what happened here?" The officer shouted.
"Listen don't worry about him he'll be fine, just stay with him…ok?" Fox commanded the officer.
He nodded unsure of what was going on and then vulpine signaled Oscar and they both darted across the street. An oncoming car was drifting down the road and the driver caught eye of the two running across the street. He took his foot and slammed down on the brake pedal and the car came screeching to a halt just inches from the duo. The driver hung his head out the window, "Hey what the hell is your problem?"
Meanwhile Gemini groaned and staggered to his feet, then he redirected his gaze to Krystal and growled, "Wrong move." He turned and grabbed his blaster beside the rifle, and turned to shoot the blue vixen. As he turned Krystal swirled around with a roundhouse kick, knocked the blaster out of his hand and it slid across the carpeted floor. The simian closed his teeth and turned his head to his blaster, then turned it back just in time to see another foot heading straight at his maw. It landed with a 'smack' and he twisted 180 degrees in the air, landed on his stomach. He groaned and pushed himself to his feet. The simian leisurely twisted his head and his neck bones crackled. Krystal had her paws up, she was ready for anything and felt as though she had the upper hand. Gemini slightly turned his head and looked out of the corner of his eye at her and silently started giggling. The volume of his laughter increased as he reached over and tapped on a device on his wrist. The vixen gasped when she started to notice Gemini disappearing. Little by little he vanished until he was no more. She strafed around the room, it was dead silent not a sound was heard. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she wildly swung her fist behind her only damaging the air.
She emptied her mind of all thoughts and shut her glistening eyes. Gemini's brainwaves ran through her superior mind, then her ears twitched and she fiercely kicked out in front of her. A strident scream was heard and the simian reappeared holding his groin. He stumbled back into the wall and slid down to the cold floor. His breathing was staggered and the ape glanced up at the blue vixen, "I…h-hate you…" He sternly declared. Krystal shrugged her shoulders and turned her back to him. Gemini rotated his head to the left and gazed down at the floor. His blaster was lying by his leg, he reached his tan paw over and lifted it off the floor. He aimed it at Krystal's azure back.
"No!" Fox's reassuring voice was heard, he dove at Gemini, the apes gun was forced to the right as he pulled the trigger. The shot went wild and traveled through the window shattering it into pieces and glass fragments scattered all over the ground. Fox then grabbed the apes black shirt and forcefully smacked him across his mug. Gemini returned the favor, he thrust his left fist forward smacking the vulpine in his maw which forced him away.
Both of them staggered to their feet and stared each other down. Gemini suddenly bent down and picked up a large razor sharp fragment of glass. He swiped it at the vulpine's throat and it shimmered in the sun with every swing. Fox swayed left and right dodging the simian's attacks.
With his next swing the vulpine grabbed Gemini's wrist and gave it a hard twist. The bones were heard cracking in the body part. The ape cried out in pain and before he could put down his blaster to grab his wrist he was grabbed from behind by Oscar. The avian wrapped his arm around the simian's neck and held him in a head lock. They ambled around the room struggling with each other. Gemini struggled to get free from Oscar's grasp, he pointed his blaster behind him and fired. A shot rang out from the firearm. The laser passed through Oscar's chest and out of his back. With one last attack the avian let go of the head lock and shoved Gemini towards the open window. The eagle then collapsed to the ground. The ape stumbled and plunged to the ground, he rolled toward the window clawing with his paws trying to desperately grab anything that would keep him from plummeting out the window. There was nothing, he rolled out the window catching the ledge as he fell. He whined in agony, when he caught the ledge he slammed his brown furred paw down on a jagged piece of glass. Blood gushed out from the top of his hand and dripped off the ledge. He felt the red stained piece of glass slicing through his paw. "Please help me…please…don't let me fall." Gemini pleaded for his life. Further and further the glass traveled up his hand, he could feel his life literally slipping away. He glanced down behind him to see he was hundreds of feet above the surface of Corneria. Gemini gazed back only to find Fox staring down at him. He begged Fox for help but he only refused. "I can never forgive you for what you've done." Fox said in a cold tone. The last inch of skin was cut through and Gemini plunged to the ground below. Gemini fell 10 stories…35…50…75, then he slammed onto a car parked below. The roof of the car flattened and the windows popped and with his last and final breath Gemini cursed Fox's name.
The vulpine quickly turned and ran to Oscar's side, Krystal was holding up his head. "Oscar…my god…are you ok?" Fox asked.
Oscar grinned and gazed up at Fox, "I'm not going to make it." He choked. A pool of blood was formed around his body.
A tear formed in Fox's eye, "Don't say that…we will get you to a hospital and get you well."
The avian struggled and held up his wing, "Don't worry about that, I did what I could and that's all I care about."
Fox then realized that he couldn't win this argument, "I'm sorry you got dragged into this, but thank you for all you've done."
Tears formed in all of their eyes they could see that their friend was slipping away. "I-it's not a problem…It was an honor fighting…at your side." Oscar's pupils grew small and his head slumped over to the side…he was gone.
Fox put his paw on the avian's visage and slid it over his eyes closing them. Krystal set her paw on Fox's. "Goodbye Oscar, you were a great fighter and friend and we will never forget you." Fox mused, tears rolling down his face.
A/N: Ok...I almost ran out of material and I feel like I got a little lazy in my writing and if I did I'm sorry. I'll say this...I love writing but 6000 words is a little much for me to write so I'll just keep it between 5000 and 5500 alrighty? I really appreciate all of my readers and fans, I'll keep writing for everyone and no matter how difficult it gets for me...I'LL NEVER GIVE UP. But for right now I'm putting this story on hold and I'm going to start a second FanFiction...StarFox Adventures: Directors Cut...This will be a side story until I can think of more material for this one. Once again thanks for all of your support and consideration.
