Author's note:

You mean that little Dog Girl, Dorethy and her little simian, Toto? The Wizard Of Zoo! ...That's one of the jokes I didn't use in conversation, this chapter. It amused me but just didn't find a place into the wording. By the way, I couldn't seem to find Simbiant. The spell check couldn't pull up the correct spelling so I left it spelled wrong. Sorry! I'm too lazy to hunt up a dictionary cause I'm poor and I'm too busy at work.

Most of you wonder how I balence two stories at once. I work at Budget CarTruck Rental 6:30am to 6:30pm every day. It's a quiet office, but the phone rings every few minutes and someone comes in to return or pick up every 10 minutes or so. So if you ever catch a disjointed thought in the middle of a paragraph. I prolly had to jump up and help a customer, but yeah, with nothing else to do all day, I just write. But with 11kb/s cellphone data card speed, trust me when I say that the punctuation is EATEN by quick editor and i'm unable to resave it properly because my bandwidth is so slow, it won't save. Yes, it sucks my pa-tootie.

So I try to write by day, proof in the evening, when i'm not doing music or roleplay (or video game) endevors, or on the days when I'm seeing my two kids (yes, i have two kids at 24. So sue me, i never got laid in highschool so i went a little crazy with it after highschool lol), so after this chapter, I'll be doing another two chapters for THE CURSE. I've been trying to do 1 of this, 2 of that, but lately it's been 1 of this, 1 of that, 2 of this, 2 of that, and back to 1, i've just been getting in different moods.

After these two stories are finished, which should hopefully be soon, I'll be re-releasing (a rewritten version) of my old StarFox Stories. They're good, they just need a desperate re-write. But they're good stuff. Just need a few changes here and there, but i wrote'em in 2002/2003. Old School whut! lol

All Right, finally, i wanna just say the latest chapter was very rushed. the last two days of work have been busy and i've been at the counter more than at my keyboard, which is usually the other way around. So my bad! I got everything i wanted to say into it, minus the joke i opened with in this note, but it just feels... loose, disjointed. So for that, I say... my bad! But it does answer alot of questions. Did my use of forshadowing work? Do you feel you can trust the Krazooa guy? Hmmm, I'll let you decide if ya do, but whether he's the bad guy, good guy, reprogrammed by the bad guy, or reprogrammed by the good guy to manipulate the team for the greater good for reasons they can't understand, like the Patriots from Metal Gear Solid2 or some crap... that's entirely up to... :shot:

Nah, I've got the basic idea for it, so we'll see where it leads -D Buwhahahahahahaha. On to Chapter 7, ANSWERS!
Thanks for reading and THANK you for the new reviews! They're cool as can be! I wrote this story for my home-slice in Cali, cause he felt they were really different Fox McClouds. Just like there are different fans, and he's a huge Fara/Fox Fan. So, yeah! Only a child of the 80's who grew up on startrek and comic books would come up with wacky storyline like this!11111!1!11!ONE1!11!111!ELEVEN. - with 50 !'s, I wonder how many of them refuse to show up thanks to QuickEditor, lol.

-ken


Chapter -7- Answers.

Fox McCloud's soft emerald irises fluttered shut. It had been quite the day. But this wasn't just any Fox McCloud. This was the Son of James and in just a few hours, he would propose to Krystal for her 18th birthday. It was tomorrow. His mind was on that, on himself, on his team, on the other StarFox team - he was thinking about anything but Planet Fortuna and the Monarch Dodora, right now.

Fara Phoenix, Krystal of Cerinia and Fox McCloud sat quietly on the bench seats that lined the back wall of the transport ship. Katt Monroe was piloting, with two Arwings on either side, both of which were Falco Lombardi. Fox would let himself get weirded out by this at a later time, right now, he tried not to think about it because it made his head hurt.

Katt leaned back over the shoulder rest and said, "Hey guys. I've got an incoming transmission from the other Fox McCloud. I'm gonna patch it through to the holographic display back there."

Fox Junior's upper body was displayed, free floating, in the middle of the shuttle. The holographic image faded just beyond where his comm-unit started, clipping him at the ears. "Hey, Mac. How's it going Krystal? How are you, love?"

Fara smiled, being the first to answer. "I'm good. I think Krystal and I worked a few things out. Have you found out anything?" Behind Phoenix, Krystal and Mac offered a wave to Junior.

"Yeah, I may have found the first real clue to solving this," Said Junior, his gaze averting for a moment before glancing back to the holo-camera, stairing right at Fara with a soft smile. "This planet, Sauria, it shows the same energy pattern in those bolts we keep seeing, in a bubble around the planet. I was thinking, maybe two teams of two could head down to the surface, see what we can't dig up and bring back to Slippy and ... Slippy." He paused, half grinning at how awkward it was to consider both Slippy Toads.

Mac glanced down for a moment, then stole a glance at Krystal. "I was thinking," he said. Junior tilted his head, interested in what his other half had to say. "Well, Junior, I was thinking ... I have a little experience with that Planet from last year. You and I should be team one, Kit and Snowy can be team two, I want Krystal and Peppy from the other universe to work together on trying to figure out what is going on here, and see if there's something larger behind all this, which ... I'll explain later, and Fara can help our Peppy, from this side, with the maps and keeping us from getting lost on Sauria. It's a big place."

Fox Junior's tinny voice came over the speaker built into the wall of the shuttle, adding, "Sounds good. I'm going to set down in a clearing here and wait for you guys. Any trouble finding the data boxes on Fortuna?"

Mac suddenly frowned. "We got them, but I don't want to talk about it." On the other side of Lylat, Junior sat in his cockpit, looking confused. Mac said he didn't want to talk about it, but behind the vulpine, Junior heard both girls burst into a fit of giggles. He wondered what that was about but decided to ask Mac in person.

"Fair enough. I'll see you when you get here. Talk to you soon, take care Krystal... I love you, Fara." He then cut transmission and glanced out his canopy to Kit and Snowy, motioning with his paw for them to follow him down to Sauria. Junior eased into the atmosphere, heading for a place the Arwing's computer called Thorntail Hollow.

Fox McCloud Junior reached for the red bandana about his neck, tugging it free and rubbing the cloth between his paws. He missed his home world. Right now, he should have just finished defeating Andross and began a vacation with Fara, planning out their marriage. The autopilot helped to lower the three Arwings gracefully to the grassy clearing.

"So what now?" Snowy asked over the communicator. The pretty, young snow leopard lifted a paw to adjust the violet colored contacts she wore, which matched perfectly with her spots, which she'd bleached and dyed to a matching shade of purple. Her eyes shifted over to the two men in their fighters, each large metallic bird sitting majestically in the sunlight, one next to the other.

"Well," Junior said, reattaching the pilot scarf, "You two go on and begin scouting. That way we're the most productive. Make sure you take some gear with you, because I have a feeling we're gonna be doing a little camping. I don't think we can search an entire planet for answers in just a few hours. Stay in communicator contact with Fara and the Peppy from your world. They'll be coordinating the mission from GreatFox."

"Copy that," She replied, climbing from her canopy. Kit did the same, sliding down the side of his hull and walking to the cargo hold under the fighter's belly. Snowy did the same, getting some emergency supplies and other gear that was often kept inside the Arwings. The two packed up and got their gear in order, making a check list of what they had, then hiked out of the area on foot.

Before leaving, the trio agreed that it would be up to them to search out old ruins and grounds like the Walled City and other areas that might hold a few answers, but it would be up to Fox and his other half to re-explore the Krazooa Palace ruins and the Force Point Temples. That would offer the most answers, but those places would be the most dangerous and require the most caution. Fox had nominated himself and Mac to take on that operation, letting the team survey the rest of the land.

-


Junior glanced up at the canopy release handle, stealing one last look at his exterior temperature reading. Humidity was at 99 and the temperature was a sweltering 101.5 degrees here. Lush jungle foliage could be found around the outside of the clearing, with an assortment of exotic plant life all along the stream that ran through the center of the Hollow.

Junior unbuttoned James' uniform shirt that he'd gotten from Fox and Peppy from this dimension, folding it neatly and placing it behind his seat. He then glanced down at the finely ironed military pants and frowned. They would get destroyed in a place like this. He reopened a communication to the other Fox and said, "Hey. I got one more request on your way here."

"What is it, M.J.?"

"Those... sweat pants from the medical bay? Bring a pair of those. They're one-size fit all, I don't want to ruin your father's clothes," Junior replied.

The indigenous Fox nodded and said, "I'll do that, set up camp. I'll bring the uniform you wore over here, also. I'll be there in 4 hours. Dress light. I was there last year during the beginning of autumn. It's now the middle of Summer and other than Snowhorn territory, it's going to be mighty hot. I'll bring you a utility vest. McCloud out." With that, Mac's face disappeared from the view screen above the dash.

Junior pushed the canopy open after stripping off the uniform pants of James McCloud, folding them properly and placing them behind the seat, with the shirt. He wore just boxers and boots now, and even in his lack of dress, the sweltering heat rushed into the cockpit and slammed into him like a wave from an intense fire.

Dropping to the grassy surface, he noticed all the dinosaurs throughout the field, grazing quietly, paying him no mind. Fox went to the cargo hold and took out the emergency field equipment, which included a tent and some poles, a shoulder harness and a blaster for the holster that was stitched into the harness.

After a moment, the canopy automatically lowered itself, reconfiguring the environment controls set inside the cockpit, which immediately caused the canopy window to grow foggy with condensation. He would have to bring Fara here just once before they went home, if time allowed. This planet was incredibly beautiful.

Within an hour, the tent was set up and several stones were placed in a circle with a few piles of wood. A strange bush-like plant hung from a tree by the water, smoldering right on the branches. Was it really that hot? With all the humidity in the air, he couldn't see how it was possible for them to burn right on the branches, but oddly enough it didn't seem to catch the rest of the tree on fire. He'd been drawn to it, but kept his distance, so as not to get burned. It would make fixing a campfire for cooking a total cinch.

The Campsite was all set up now and he took the opportunity to get himself washed. The boots and boxers were left on the ground, where they would stay dry and Junior found himself a little time to clean up in the stream. No one was around, other than the quiet dinosaurs, grazing on grass in the area.

After taking the next hour to swim, he laid down on the mossy ground, adjacent to the water, to let himself dry. An hour passed before Junior woke from his power nap. He pulled the boxers on then laced his hiking boots, tightly securing them about his ankles. As dusk neared, another Arwing appeared on the horizon, approaching the Hollow.

Junior grinned, elated that he would have something to make himself a bit more decent and awaited for his other half to find a spot in the clearing to set down. The reunion consisted of a handshake and a chuckle shared between the two, over the fact that Junior was in simple undergarment.

Mac handed the twin vulpine a pair of sweats and a vest, looking over the camp for a moment before turning to fidget with his wrist computer. He was resetting it to work as a translator which was a program that Slippy had put on it a year prior. Once that was set up, he walked back to his Arwing and pulled out two high power assault rifles and two battery powered hand-blasters.

"What're those for?" The shirtless McCloud said, taking the vest and pulling it over his arms, up over his shoulders, then reaching for the pants.

"Precaution," said the mercenary of the two. Junior smirked at the word his twin said and snatched the pair of guns, checking them before shouldering one and holstering the other.

"I don't think we're trying to blow the planet up, really," Junior said, reaching to adjust his headset with a smirk. His eyes moved to the open clearing all about them, drinking in it's lush environment. "Besides, this seems like the least endangered planet from what I've seen so far."

The Mercenary rolled his eyes, shouldering his own gun and holstering the pistol with a smirk. "You sound just like Pepper, from my Corneria. No offense, but if I could blow up the planet with a blaster, I'd be the destroyer of worlds, man." Mac snatched an extra pair of high-definition goggles, tossing them to Junior before closing the cargo compartment on his fighter. "Let's go. Just remember, I don't know if the SharpClaw are pissed off at me, still, or if the Lightfoot tribe plans to pounce my ass again, I wanna be ready for anything."

Junior shrugged, muttering a subtle, "Sure thing, killer."

"Don't patronize me," Mac said with a chuckle. "This way," he added, motioning towards the opposite end of the Hollow. A sign was written in what looked like scribble, but it showed up on the indigenous McCloud's PDA as "Moon Mountain Pass / Volcano Force Point Temple". The Merc's eyes panned to the left to his Military twin and grinned. "We start here. It's going to be a little weird. But we've got two Force Point Temples to visit and a set of Palace ruins. But there's no way to get our Arwings up to the palace for the most part, so we've got two routes of travel."

"And those are?" Junior tilted his head.

The white-haired Fox shook his head, running a paw up through that vanilla tuft between his ears. "Scale a damn cliff or the Warp Stone. I actually scaled a mountain already, today. So that's going to make the WarpStone choice one. You know, I think we should head there, first. It's actually a better place to start for Answers. The walls are covered with hieroglyphic writing and if Team Toad can figure out what it says, we should be all set," The Mercenary McCloud said.

"Let's go, lead the way."

Mac nodded, heading through the clearing and up a grassy hill, through a crumbling hole in an ancient brick wall. On the other side was a circular stream that ran down into the main part of the hollow, in the center, a giant statue sat motionless. The two McClouds approached the front of the statue and the shirtless Fox stepped back, letting his counterpart take care of business, here.

Indigenous Fox lifted his paws to his muzzle and shouted up at the stone, "Hey! I'm back, I need to go to the Krazooa Palace, wake up!" The stone was motionless. McCloud stepped back, standing directly in a circular patch of discolored grass and shouted again, "Hey! Warpstone! Wake up, man!" The statue didn't budge. He glanced over his shoulder at Junior and frowned. "I know this has got to look... totally off the wall, but this thing really moves and talks."

"I think you really don't want to scale a mountain," said Captain McCloud, shaking his head softly.

Mac nodded in agreement, saying, "You're right, I don't. And this thing is perched up on a cliff with a straight drop of nine thousand feet. It sits on the summit of the second highest part of the planet, with a building ten stories tall. We're gonna be on the rooftop, by the end of the night. I've landed my fighter on the roof at one point, but it's tricky because of how hard it rains up there."

"It rains at that height?" Junior inquired with an incredulous air, his brow quirked.

"It's not cold in that climate. Just rains a whole lot. Not always, but eighty-five percent of the year, it has rainfall up there. So, there's another problem," Fox told the Captain, with a slight shrug. "I could try and land us up there, but only one Arwing could fit. I don't have room for the second person, and then, to get inside the main part of the building, we'd have to rappel ten stories down the side, but it's another nine thousand feet before you hit the bottom if you fall. So the thing is, would you be willing to get air dropped from a harness, since both of our fighters are a one seater?"

"It's possible, but who pilots and who dangles?" Junior asked, folding his arms across the front of his chest, causing his vest to bunch up somewhat. He still wore the red bandana under his neck, however.

"Paper, Rock, Scissors?" Mac asked with a grin. "You know, we're both going to try and wind up thinking the same way and picking the same thing."

"Probably," Junior admitted "But I get worker's compensation, so I'll dangle. You've flown and landed on there before, you drive. Besides, I'd feel bad if I dropped you," Junior added at the end, with a grin.

"Wouldn't want to guilt ya, if I bit the dust, c'mon, it's going to be a forty-five minute flight at a speed that slow enough for you to breath," Mac said, reaching behind his head, scritching the nape of his neck with a sigh. It was a long time to leave a shirtless man in the wind.

The military fox shook his head and smiled. He had an idea. "Oxygen mask. I'll crawl up into your storage hold, after we put all the gear into mine, then when we're there, I'll drop down on a harness. Let's go," Junior said. His military mind was quickly utilizing their fighters as best as possible. He would fit in there, if he laid in the fetal position. It was going to be awkward but not impossible.

-


Kit Karamak McCloud, nephew of Fox and boyfriend of Diane 'Snowy' Rosen sat down on a rock, squinting into his binoculars. The herd of small dinosaurs trampled across a field in various formations, heading off into the distance. He put the binoculars into his lap, his gaze shifting to Snowy, gently tugging her onto his lap.

Diane shifted her weight to get comfortable, sitting across his thighs, looking out over the paradise with a soft sigh. "It's such a beautiful place here. It's kinda hard to believe Corneria was planning developments to be built," She said with almost remorse. There was so much to this planet that putting a large population on it would be downright bad. But it didn't matter, she still wanted to live here, more than anything. It was incredible, without a doubt.

"What's on your mind?" Kit asked quietly. Running his fingertips through her hair, he rested his chin on her shoulder, looking out over the field. She smiled at her affectionate boyfriend, nuzzling into him at his soft scritches.

Snowy leaned up, still upon his lap. "I'm actually just keeping an open mind... There's too much to try and think about with Fox's situation, not including the fact he's about to propose to Krystal. That's gonna be so awesome, I wish I could be there to see her face for it."

"Yeah," Kit's voice trailed off into more of a murmur, the two simply holding. Above them, the clouds swirled open and a vortex of light began to shimmer, far above. Kit and Snowy raised their heads, looking up into the sky, curiosity causing their hearts to race at the oddly fantastic sight.

Without further warning, a constant, solid beam reached down from the heavens, striking the field, causing several of the nomadic dinosaur groups to split up, the herds forking around the massive pillar of illumination. It was such an awesome display, even the rocks in the area, including the one that Kit and Snowy sat upon, began to become incandescent, radiating with what could only be described as an aura.

Both pilots rose to their feet, squinting down at the field below, where the beam met the ground. They slid down the hillside, heading for the field, now that the dinosaur stampeding began to shift in a different direction, heading away from the light. The two approached it cautiously, Snowy pulling out sensory gear.

"It looks like some sort of tractor beam but according to this readout, there's absolutely nothing here. It's just thin air with no energy reading, certainly nothing that would make every stone in the area glow," She reported. They approached the beam, only a few feet from it now, nearly close enough to reach out and touch it.

Kit nodded, reaching out to swipe his paw through it. His furry fingers passed through the light with no effect. He drew his soft digits back to his eyes, but there was nothing different, no burns, nothing.

"Wait, I'm starting to read something," She said, holding the sensor equipment up infront of the light, hoping that it would read better. "I've got matter and it looks like it's starting to materialize or amass, directly infront of us."

"Well this light looks like enough 'mass' to make the Dinosaurs change direction of their herd to head away from it and around it," Kit replied, peeking over at the display on Snowy's sensor display. "What's the matter?" He grinned, trying to make a joke of the fact that something solid was forming, although they couldn't see through the light to tell, for themselves.

"Funny. Yes, it's solid matter but it's growing in size and density... as well as complexity. It's starting to resemble a being, but it's difficult to tell," She said, shaking her head.

Kit glanced back to the massive pillar of light, taking a serious expression, hoping that this wasn't going to be something very bad. The light began to dissipate, the rocks and stones in the immediate area losing their glowing luster, fading to normal. Directly where the pillar of light was, previously, stood a crystallized statue-like being.

It resembled a highly detailed, life-sized battle chess piece, from one of the boards they had back at the base. It stood about 5 foot 10 inches, with fantastic 15 inch scythes for wrists and hands. The articulate nature of the statue's battle gear on it's chest, a crisscross of what looked like leather straps, over it's shoulders, holding a solid metal plate over it's torso and back, decorated in beautiful patterns and glyphs.

They were so completely drawn in with simple fascination that they both jumped, startled, when Krystal's voice came over the communicator. "I sense something angry and full of passion for bloodshed, are you guys all right?"

"Somehow," Snowy began, looking down at her handheld sensor unit, "A solid stone statue has just arrived directly infront of us. Could this be how the Monarch Dodora wound up on Fortuna? Things from other dimensions are winding up in this Lylat, from animals to statue objects?"

"Possibly, but I sense a new presence in your area, and I can feel in my chest, a feeling of fear, anger and rage. It... feels like you're being hunted," Krystal explained. Snowy shook her head, followed by Kit.

"Sorry, we're just checking out this Statue, and we're in the middle of a field. There was a dinosaur migration going on," Kit said, clearing his throat then continuing, "But that stopped when this thing appeared. We're pretty far out in the field, so I don't see anything else that coulda beamed down here to sneak up on us," He said, panning his gaze about the clearing.

"Stay sharp. I'll monitor your progress from here, Krystal out." No sooner did her transmission cut, did Kit's communicator lose signal. The reception indicator went from full to zero. That's when Snowy nudged him, pointing at the statue and backing away.

"What?" Kit tilted his head, looking at the harmless chunk of concrete with his brows raised.

"It's..." Snowy's words didn't matter. Kit saw it now, too. The concrete shell was cracking. Some of the details on the stone statue's body and armor began to lose definition in parts where the concrete started to liquefy. Across the head and arms, down to the scythes, the stone was cracking at several joints in the being's form.

Snowy's sensor gadget began to chirp. The proximity alarm warned of a new presence in the area, directly infront of them. The two backed up a bit further, Kit drawing a personal blaster. He took aim as they backed away slowly. Suddenly, the stony figure shattered, dust swirling about it and a perfectly replicated live being stood where the statue sat only a moment before.

It growled and hissed, gnashing it's teeth and swinging those razor sharp scythes at them, turning to walk towards the two. Snowy slowly began to pack the sensor display and secure it to her uniform, still walking backwards, very slowly. "It doesn't look happy. After hearing what Krystal said, feel free to shoot it, sweetheart," Snowy said in a very slow, calm voice, trying not to startle or piss off the unidentified freakish being. It had no fur, but a muddled, black fleshy face. It resembled some measure of monster, approaching them at the same speed in which they backed away.

Kit lifted his wrist comm to his lips, speaking into it as the two backed away slow and cautiously. "Away team two, to the Fox Twins," He said, trying to keep his sense of humor about the situation.

"Go ahead, Kit." It was the brash tones of Mercenary Mac, Fox McCloud indigenous to this universe. "I'm dropping my twin on the summit of Krazooa Palace, and it's a 9,500 foot drop to the bottom if I miss, isn't that nice?"

"Great, beautiful. Love to chitchat, but right now, I've got an unknown hostile on the Planet's surface and we're about five feet from it. Isn't that nice?" Kit replied, in the same ending inquiry, just to be sarcastic.

"Shoot it," Fox replied.

"I'm about to, Uncle Fox. If you don't get any reply, it's because my reception is being strange. I can't even raise GreatFox at all, just so you know." Kit then lifted his blaster back to sight the creature, pulling the trigger. The blaster shot slammed into the beast's head, causing it's head to whip back. It looked pissed off now, raising it's scythes. "Dammit," He muttered under his breath.

Snowy frowned thoughtfully. "That's how we say hi in this universe, mister freak," She said, still backing away, along side of Kit. Suddenly, the freakish being lunged at the both of them...

-


Fox Junior knelt on the roof of the Krazooa Palace, wind rustling through his fur, drizzle falling about the area. He spoke into the communicator headset, to his other half. "All right, it appears to be safe to land. You ready to scale down the side of this thing?"

"Sure," Came the reply from Mac, over Junior's comm. "Let's make fireworks and get paid," Came an addendum to the reply. Junior shook his head, walking up onto the large block podium in the center. Just a year earlier, Krystal hovered above this platform, suspended inside of a glasslike crystalline cage. Her name was fitting for that reason.

The Arwing lowered to a clear section of the roof and within a moment, Fox joined Captain McCloud, stopping to look over the side at the dizzying 10 story plummet to the concrete courtyard overlooking another nine-thousand foot drop. Mac unshouldered his backpack and began pulling rope and pegs from it.

He pulled a small gun with a hook half buried in the muzzle, then pointed it half way down the wall and fired. It snagged into the wall tightly and he gave a tug on the cable that ran out the backside of the gun to a spool in his backpack. "All right, Cap'n. You go first. I'll give you more rope, you tie the end into where the hook-shot is burried in the wall half way down, then drop to the bottom, carefully. This gun will let me use it as ... well you'll see, but it's more dangerous my way, if you're not used to using one of these, so move your tail," He said, liking the fact he was ordering around a captain.

"Yeah, yeah - you ready, Fox?" Junior asked, glancing over the side one more time. It was quite a drop, without a parachute. He took the rope in his paws and began to climb over the side, the wind and drizzle whipping at him on the wind sheer present on the building's side. Within ten minutes, he made it all the way down to the first story. Mac couldn't have been prouder.

He tied the rope around the nearest goatee of one of the Krazooa Statues on the roof, then took the gun tightly in his paws and leapt over the side. As he fell, he turned his body about, placing his boots against the wall to slow his descent. Dust and loose rubble clouded up in his wake as his shoes dragged the wall surface, more than half way down now. He straightened his back and legs, slowing him to a near stop about two and a half stories from the bottom.

From here on out, he walked his way down the wall, hopping from the rope to the ground with a grin, after making it look so easy. Junior cast a light grin, seeing how confident his other half could be. The two exchanged nods before Mac walked passed him, heading for the entrance. Fox Junior fell into step, the two making their way inside.

It was empty. It wasn't filled with injured EarthWalkers like last time Mac was here, just an eerie, empty set of halls and a few deteriorating fuel cell stations that were out of service. Junior's gaze panned about, the fur standing up upon the back of his neck. "This place feels haunted."

"Get over it, there are spirits all over this place," The mercenary said, stopping just short of an intersection and peeking around the next corner. "What... the hell is that thing?" Fox Junior knelt down, peering around the same corner, his head poking out into the intersection beneath his doppelganger.

"Good grief, Fox," The captain muttered. "Guess you were right about bringing those guns, good planning."

"Feh. I was hoping they would be for looks. As much as I love to blast the bad guys, that thing looks like serious trouble. I didn't bring any grenades, either. All right, let's ask the guys to drop-transfer us some equipment. I don't think that guy can pick up our guns with those huge blades for arms," Mac replied, pulling his assault rifle around from the shoulder strap with his right paw, while lifting his left paw, speaking into the wrist communicator.

"GreatFox, this is Fox, you guys read?" Nothing. He glanced down at his wrist-comm and frowned. Kit was right, no reception. But that made little sense, should have been acting like a huge Satellite in the atmosphere. Was their signal being jammed by something else? "You try, Captain," Fox said, checking the safety of his rifle.

Junior pressed a button on his headset and spoke clearly but quietly, "Captain McCloud to GreatFox." Nothing. He pressed another button to make the call on all channels. "Captain McCloud to GreatFox, do you read? We've engaged enemy hostile forces, Over?" His voice could be heard with a measure of shrieking feedback on Mac's wrist communicator.

"This is Kit, all ties to GreatFox have been jammed because if you do a signal trace, we're getting our transmission bounced back at us," Mac's Nephew said with a wanton sigh. "I've found a weak spot on these guys with the sharp arms. It's very difficult to hit, so we're going back to our fighters to procure a Sniper Rifle... but, you need to hit'em in the neck to take'em out in one kill. Everything else is thick armor. You can knock'em down or out by hosing them in the face with an automatic rifle, but it's just a waste of ammunition unless you're surrounded."

"Thanks, Lieutenant," Replied the Captain, clearing his throat and returning his attention back to the monstrosity out in the next room. By this time, however, it was beginning to approach, having heard them from the nearby corridor. "Crap. Here it comes, Fox. You ready?"

"I'm ready to beat it's ass," The mercenary replied with a scoff of confidence. He then bolted around the corner, running with his blaster unholstered, his rifle resecured over his shoulder. The good Captain was sure to follow, pulling his own assault rifle out, to provide covering fire, so that his Mercenary counterpart could concentrate on taking careful aim on such a sharp approach. It would be a difficult shot to be sure.

Fox Junior's rifle gushed hot pulses of laser fire, beading over the monster's head and chest on a fast approach. It seemed dazed, unable to attack under the harsh onslaught of blaster fire. Mac kept his arms firm and his elbows loose, feet crossing one passed the other, his eye gazing down the pistol's sight. A single shot lanced out, striking the beast directly in it's throat.

Much to the surprise of both McClouds, the head snapped up, it's jaw dropped open to screech in defeat then simply began to glow. A fiery aura surrounded the beast, with yellow streaks lancing through it, as if it was a ball of lava, cracking and shifting before disintegrating into a wisp of ashes which fluttered upward, propelled outward by the heat of the monster's combustion. The illumination that had emanated from the dying creature was extinguished.

Fox and Fox knelt down on either side of the messy pile of ashes, examining the freakish remains of the dead monster, both shocked that it cremated itself upon death. The Captain lifted his head, facing his twin and muttered, "That was different."

"Yeah," Mac agreed. "So much for taking it back to the GreatFox for study... at least not intact. I'd really like to know more about what we're up against, so I can figure out what else to use on it. I can't hit the thing in it's neck every time, no one's that good of a shot."

"At least you're honest."

"Humble, Captain. I know I'd probably miss at least once if we were surrounded by one hundred of these things," Mac said with a grin. Junior shook his head, scooping a pawful of ash into his vest pocket and pulling the Velcro cover down, securing the pocket and it's contents.

"You're also full of..." Junior paused, his ears perked. "I heard something. It sounded like it came from this way," he said, bolting off towards a hallway across the large room they stood in, now. His Mercenary counterpart followed, keeping his pistol drawn, as it was more accurate than a high power rifle.

A room opened up unlike anything Fox Junior had ever seen before. There were platforms that were suspended by tension cables in the center of a pillar-shaped room, 10 stories high. A walkway ledge circled each story, as far up as they could both see. The Fox native to this universe knew this room well. Once upon a time, each platform had massive fan blades spinning that propelled his body upwards to the next ledge, but none of them were running.

"I don't know what I heard, but it came from here. How do we get up there? You left the rappel-gun outside, so we could get back up the wall later, right?" The Captain asked with a frown.

Mac groaned, scolding himself. "Yeah, that was pretty damn dumb of me. There should be a way up to the roof through here, as well, but bringing it would have been smart, just in case. I could go back and get it. Usually this place has power and massive fans lift you up to the next ledge, it's pretty crazy. This place was dreamed up by some insane person, I'm sure."

"Let's not be so eager to separate just yet," Junior said, walking along the smooth, well rounded walls of the bottom of the cylinder-shaped chamber. This was a mess, the place was a labyrinth and that helped nothing. A tapping sound came from above them. "There! That's what I heard! It's above us," He said, pulling out his high definition goggles.

The Mercenary Fox McCloud squinted about the 9 stories that were above their current floor, his jaw dropping, his ears laying flat at the sight of several of the scythe-armed beasts approaching the edge of several floors, as far up as the very top walkway. The one from the 10th floor dropped down first, sailing through the air. Junior saw it too, putting his binoculars away and pulling out his assault rifle.

Somewhere around the 6th story, it shifted into the statue form of itself. This caused it to fall with less resistance, speeding up, not just from the density but because it dropped through the air more quickly. It slammed into the first story floor, but to the team's amusement, it didn't stop. The floor crumbled beneath the stone creature, which was apparently hollow.

"Here's a tip, falling 10 stories onto a floor without a solid block of foundation is a good way to ... aw hell," Mac said with a chuckle, "I don't even think I can come up with something funny to say to that. That was just classic, man." His words got a nod of agreement from Junior. The furry Captain knelt down by the hole, flashing a small Maglite into the inky void beneath them.

"Get ready, the rest seem like they're ready to jump down and pounce our tail at any second," Junior said, still gazing down into the hole. There was no sign of the creature. Just a statue that seemed to be broken into several fragments, down in the basement of the room.

"Yeah, well... I guess he didn't survive the fall as gracefully as he would have liked. Guess that makes them dangerous and ugly, but not too smart," Mac said, keeping his blaster aimed up at some of the threatening looking monsters that stood at the edge of the walkways, several stories up.

"I say we go down there. Maybe those guys up there realized that jumping down here isn't the best way to fight us. I have a feeling they learned fast," Junior said, still peering down into the hole.

"Fair enough. Ladies first," Mac said, keeping his gun sights pointed upwards, just in case. Junior shrugged off the silly immature comment and began to slide down into the dark hole in the floor, feet first. He lifted his arms, his body slipping into the abyss. After a moment, Fox heard the Captain's voice shout up from the hole in success.

"C'mon down, it's safe. Yeah, this thing shattered like a vase. That's their other weak point, it seems. If we can catch'em before they change, they shatter. Let's go!" Junior flashed the light upwards at the hole, waving it at Mac to follow. The Mercenary shook his head, rolling his eyes. He sat down, sliding his legs into the hole, keeping his gun pointed upwards on the monsters above him, then slide downwards, disappearing underneath the floor of the huge round room, having never known, in the past, to venture underneath, through the thin flooring into the hollow space beneath.

The two stood side by side now, Junior holding his flashlight, Mac holding his pistol. Without warning, the walls began to incandesce, filling the room with light. It was a square grand-ballroom style hall. At the far end stood an ominous being, it's arms folded. The guy wore some sort of ankle-length cloak and the shoulders of the fabric rose upwards in an odd looking garment. He had no fur, but stood up right on two legs, much as they did. The being wasn't even from Lylat.

It's flesh had a soft greenish/grayish tint to it and the large, ovular eyes were the blackest obsidian. It's gaze seemed both evil and yet neutral all at once. The two foxes faced the being, beginning to approach, slowly. Junior had a bad feeling in his gut about this guy, while the Mercenary Fox McCloud opened his muzzle to introduce himself.

"We're both Fox McCloud from the StarFox team. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Mac asked this, keeping his tone professional and courteous, as the two approached. He was a little tall, maybe about 6'5", give or take an inch.

"I know who you are," The being said in a very subtle, smooth voice. It may have been a little weird looking, but it was damn sure to have the most awe inspiring voice they'd ever heard. It was like a song voice, almost. "It was I who brought you both here. This has happened, for I need you both. Without you both, there is no way the other can succeed."

Junior quirked a brow. "One of those, 'all will be lost' scenarios, Sir?" They continued their slow, cautious approach of the ethereal being. "And what are those things up there, with the razor arms?"

"They are the pawns. They are thieves and work for the greater force, The Black Templar. They've come to release the Krazooa spirits, break the seals and take the Force Stones. So I have assembled you both," The being said in that soft, melodic, masculine voice.

"So they're bad guys? How come that one jumped off the top floor, up there?" Mac asked, pointing his gun back at the hole in the ceiling that leads up to the chamber above.

"I forced him to fall. Without his plummet, there would be no hole in the floor. And you would not have found me. I have the answers you seek, but to return you both to a state of complete safety, I will require your assistance."

"How did you bring me and my team here? It wasn't you that threw us into the black hole," Junior said, still distrusting the being.

"These pawns that you have fought, are controlled by a manipulative spirit species, who works for The Black Templar. They manipulated a being to remove the spell stones from the force point temples in Your Lylat, Fox McCloud Junior. The planet was destroyed and the Krazooa civilization was destroyed, before Corneria came to evolve from simple animals and wildlife. That is why you have your Asteroid Belt. The gravity of Corneria caused much of Sauria to orbit Corneria."

Mac frowned. "What about Meteo, our asteroid belt?"

"Lylat and it's parallel are a simbiant pair of dimensions. That simple change, twenty-five thousand years ago caused every difference between your two dimensions. Had it not happened, had they not succeeded, there, everything would be identical. It cannot be reversed. The Galaxy is a living, self-repairing aware entity. It opened the black hole in both Asteroid belts, using fate, to allow rocks from one universe, to traverse to this universe, so that the two would match. But even the powers that be do not replace entire planets, including every being lost. Life is irreplaceable."

"So you're telling me, that the two Lylat systems are trying to have some measure of similarity, to heal itself and restore order, but because of that one lose of Sauria, in Junior's home universe, it caused an effect that chaotically changed most details and events in some way?" Mac had heard this term before, but he couldn't remember the details.

Junior turned the flashlight off, pushing it into his pocket. "So Chaos Theory, or whatever that theory is called, created that infamous butterfly effect, and the loss of a planet changed billions of details, some as minute as having one different family member, causing Fox , here to have different color headfur, and me to have lost my father differently?"

"That is correct. Every difference. The death of Fara Phoenix in one universe, the decision made by the hospital staff during the birth of Slippy Toad, the debris that destroyed Aquies and Zoness in your Lylat," The being said to Junior.

"So are you gonna tell me that you're the last remaining Krazooa?" The milky headfured Fox asked, holstering his blaster.

"Incorrect. I am an artificial intelligence made by them, who survived the ice age that brought a return of the Dinosaur population. I have a mission for you both. Without the success of this mission, both Lylat systems are in grave peril. Sauria, Aquias, Zoness and Fachinia will not be the only planets to be destroyed in the alternative Lylat system. For one of you to try and take on this mission alone, the numbers are statistically impossible," The being said.

"How did you push that guy off the tenth story, mister Artificial Intelligence?" Mac asked.

The being lifted it's hand, causing part of the shattered stone remains of one of the 'pawns' to fly outward and land in his palm. "Artificial telekinesis. I have honed my intelligence and am able to learn at my own rate. You must retrieve the force stones from the other Lylat and bring them here. It will keep them out of the hands of the Black Templar in that universe, and the combined power of all the spell stones on this Sauria will provide enough of a protective barricade that they'll be safe for all time," the being explained.

The two McClouds looked at one another, it was impossible to judge his personality or character. He could have had an ulterior motive and without each team's resident Telepath, it was nearly impossible to guess at this guy's intentions. He could have been the Black Templar Spirit or whatever in the heck he was talking about. Fox Junior's eyes shifted to the other Fox.

"Give us a moment to discuss this?" The Captain said, turning to his other half and leading him a few feet away from the ethereal being, so they could speak in private. "Yeah, I don't trust this guy, what about you?"

"Of course not, he's not putting a retainer fee down, he must not mean business. But then again, if he offered more than a modest amount, I wouldn't trust him either. What're your reasons?" Mac asked, grinning slightly about the joke over money.

"We have no reception in which to contact GreatFox," Junior reminded his twin. "We're blocked from My Peppy and your Krystal. The only two people who would be able to help us make a decision on this guy. He gave me a little display up in Orbit, by bouncing energy bolts of the same energy resonance frequency, right off the planet's atmosphere, manipulating me to think this planet has answers. Here we are. I think he's the guy he was talking about, why else would he want all the spell stones brought to him? Something doesn't smell right."

"But here we are, he's already provided answers as to why things are different, you think that's a lie too?" Mac asked, keeping his head low, near his other half, so that their conversation was kept private.

"He can probably hear us anyhow," Junior mused. "But that would be our luck. Now, if he has the power to send us over to my side to retrieve these spell stones buried in the asteroids of our belt around Corneria... I'll be impressed and we can assume that even if we take this mission from him, we can use the ride back home. Then, hopefully by then, we'll know if this guy is legit, because Krystal and Peppy will put their heads together to figure this guy out for us."

"You're saying, if he manipulates us into doing his dirty work, we manipulate him back by not giving him the Force Stones from your Lylat and just using him for the free ride home?" The indigenous McCloud grinned deviously. This military guy might have a little mercenary in him, just yet. "You're clever. And if he's legit and is something left behind by the real Krazooa to protect this place or something, we can shove the things up his butt and a mission success gets everyone back where they belong and we all feel good about saving the universe and every dimension in existence and all that, and all that happy stuff?"

"Exactly," Junior said, patting his twin on the shoulder.

"Well, since I have a healthy bank account again, I think I can spare doing something exciting for free," Mac joshed, patting the Captain back on his own shoulder. "I say if we don't run into this Black Templar guy, then we know this guy is being one sided, so to speak. But we're going to need help with this."

"What about the guy who's dating your sister?" Captain McCloud asked.

"Dude!" Mac stood up straight, putting his paws on his hips, shouting so the entire room could hear. "Does EVERYONE know about that?"

"Don't think I would avoid a 4 hour chance to converse with Fara, while waiting for you to arrive to Sauria. Besides, Kit knew about it because he still keeps communication with his Aunt," Junior said, rolling his eyes, trying not to blush at his doppelganger's outburst. "Listen to me, I don't know the guy but if he's a good pilot and he doesn't want you to die before your chance to personally apologize to your sister, and goes out of his way to treat you like his personal ward, then bring him," Junior said, folding his arms.

"We'll see. I don't want too many cooks in the kitchen and he's no busboy or tender," The mercenary admitted with a foul sounding sigh. "But right now, let's talk to this guy and get the hell out of here."

"Personally, I think Andross threw us over here, and he's taking advantage of the coincidence. But if he has the power to get us back, I'd be more willing to believe him," Junior said, stealing a glance at the being, over his twin's shoulder.

As if to prove Junior's earlier statement right, about the guy's ability to hear their private conversation from across the room, he raised that pleasant, yet powerful voice once more and said, "Andross threw you into the black hole. I saw the opportunity to beg your allegiance and so I created the wormhole to pull you out and into this Universe. I was unable to confront you both, prior to this point, because you and your team was not ready," The Krazooa duplicate added. "Now that you've all found yourselves... your true selves, you'll be able to work as a team to accomplish your goals. It's true, there are still kinks to be worked out, but your chances of survival have increased. And if it is monetary favors you wish, young Mercenary, I have no use for the forgotten treasure of Sauria. I will give to you, a small piece, worth the value of your cruiser ship, and no more...this is upfront, for trying."

"For trying? What's that supposed to mean?" Mac asked, turning away from Junior, crossing his arms across his chest. The military twin stood besides him, crossing his own arms over his still-bare chest.

The computer-generated AI Krazooa lifted it's chin, glancing down it's nose, adding to the effect of the seriousness of the matter. "If you do not succeed, money will be of no use. You will not be able to spend it, because this Lylat will attempt to resemble the other Lylat. But because of the effect of the law of Chaos, I cannot guarantee it will be Zoness and Aquies that are destroyed. After twenty-five thousand years, the orbit has changed enough that, by my personal calculations, it would be Corneria and Katina that are effected by Sauria's destruction. With an asteroid belt already in place infront of Corneria, more rock debris would cause a clutter, pushing asteroids into Corneria and Katina, the forth and fifth planet from your sun, and the devastation would end all life on those two planets."

The being tilted it's head, adding, "Are you willing to risk not giving your all? Are you willing to try, so that you have something to come home to and spend your fortune, enjoy it and live to a respectable age for a mortal species? I can see that you do not trust me, so I invite you to bring your telepathic crew to visit. I've often found myself currious if such abilities work on sentient, intelligent beings created from someone other than the Goddess, herself..."

Junior had to offer a soft smile at that. The guy was sounding like he was a curious, lonely explorer, talking like that. "And if they're able to read your heart and mind, will that solve your questions?

The Krazooa shook his head slowly. "If that question is answered in a positive outcome, I will pursue a new inquiry."

"And that is?" Mac asked, looking the being over with a thoughtful frown.

"If I have a soul," The Krazooa replied. "Now, time is of the essence. I know you didn't know this, but when the two systems line up and their orbital patterns match, the dimensional differences are saw as wounds and the healing properties of the actual cosmos itself began to mend, so that the two systems resemble one another, more closely. Once they're identical, the healing will be complete. As you can see, this means every living being is effected. Everything has to match, right down to the choices that are made on both sides of the dimensional border."

Both McClouds blinked. "Wait a minute," The mercenary said, shifting his weight and starting to approach the Krazooa. "Then how do these Force Stones mean jack? having two full sets in the same universe would screw up the whole healing thing even further and it could cause even more devastation!"

"Yeah, this sounds like crap, you just want the damn things for yourself," Junior snapped, pulling his assault rifle from his shoulder.

"The Lylat in which this being came from," The Krazooa said, pointing at Captain Fox McCloud Junior, "Is in the alpha pattern. When the Universal cleansing happens, the secondary Lylat will try to mirror it. This Lylat will be filled with a chaos that was witnessed by the other Lylat 25,000 years ago. However, that long ago, the forth and fifth planets were not populated by a civilized species. The Lylat from which this visitor has come from will be unharmed by this Cleansing. But I would like to hope that this StarFox team feels the way I do... That this system needs not parish needlessly. These stones have the power to protect Sauria, by holding it together, even with otherworldly forces attempting to rip it apart. Two sets would be enough to save this entire system. I cannot, however, guarantee which system will be in the position of Alpha the next time the orbital patterns are in matching positions, 24,984 years from now. I can only make sure that both sets of Force Stones are used to protect it, if I'm still around, by then."

Both McClouds eyed one another, knowing the other was suspicious of this weirdo. Something just didn't seem right about him. This guy laid things out in a seedy worded way that made little sense in many aspects. It sounded like a mishmash of half truths. But right now, if this guy was saying they needed to go to Junior's universe, he most likely had a method to get them there, safely. That was the one thing that made them agree to this entire ordeal.

"We'll do it, but we have errands and questions, first. But those questions will be in the paws of our team, which," Junior smirked, taking the pause as a chance to add his own little sort of drama to the situation, "Isn't just two telepaths. It's two engineering geniuses, two big-gun pilots and two second-in-command personal," He continued, speaking of Krystal, The alternative Peppy Hare, Both Falco Lombardi's, Fara and the grandfatherly Peppy from this side of the galactic pond.

"Yes, I know of your team. I brought them together, did I not? However, I advise against allowing the Mercenary, Lord Wolf O'Donnell to help your team. If I could suggest, bring the Snow Leopard instead," The Krazooa said, looking over the two as if he were some omnipotent being. "Now, I will send you back to your ship. Make use of the platform fans, in the section above. My apologies, I cannot fight off all the reanimated stone creature pawns, but there are 7, that should help you plan your way up."

"We'll be back with the team to interrogate you," Mac said, folding his arms. "We're not going to speak for our team, they have the right to choose. We lead them in missions they want to be apart of, got it?" The Mercenary decided, right there, that Snowy would have to stay here, first and foremost, to explain what happened if they don't come back, so the Cornerian military can search Sauria for this guy. Second of all, he decided that he would ask Wolf to join the team, before heading over, because of the simple fact he didn't trust this guy and he wanted to throw some sort of loop into this guy's plans, just in case he was counting on something to be precise.

"Guess we'll be leaving then," Junior said, turning to his twin, who nodded, the two heading back towards the center of the room, standing underneath the hole in the ground. The floor began to shift beneath them and slats opened very slightly, the blades of a fan beginning to spin, growing in speed. Within a half of a moment, it's power was enough to lift both McClouds to the ceiling, where they were able to climb up into the chamber above.

Above them, all the platform fans were now operating normally, and they would be able to propel themselves up to the entrance in the ceiling, the way this dimension's Fox remembered to travel, when he went to visit Krystal in her glassy prison, before releasing each Krazooa spirit.

And strangely, after taking all those tests for the Krazooa, to prove himself in worth and in heart, was this all just about to become his final test? And depending on if he helped to pull off something difficult, or if he were able to see through a hoax, would he pass or fail? Only time would tell. Time.. and a measure of success.


(next)

Chapter 8: "Raiders, Pirates, Mercenaries, Oh my!"