Chapter 8: Reunion
Aboard the aparoid flagship there was a great stirring four aparoids were headed for the rear hold, they were carrying a vulpine that had been captured in the space battle. For some reason their queen wanted him alive, it confused these unintelligent drones they existed simply to kill all that stood in the path of their 'perfection'.
They dragged the prisoner who had suffered several wounds to his head and torso; they dropped him in the rear hold before their queen. He stood glaring with hatred but he was in the back of his legs knocking him to his knees.
"You are wondering why you are alive." The queen asked the prisoner.
He simply stared angrily seething with rage, "Go to hell." He said
The Queen chuckled, "The mighty Fox Mcloud, now a weak prisoner."
"I guess that makes you a spineless aparoid bitch doesn't it?" Fox snarled
"Insolence!" The queen cried hammering Fox in the face with her fist. "I am your queen!"
Fox sweep kicked her feet out from under her. "Don't touch me!"
The queen stood up her eyes glowing and her exoskeleton began pulsating different colors, "Do not provoke me! I could kill you before your next heartbeat!"
She then kicked Fox in the face bloodying his nose and mouth, "Do you even know who I am?"
Fox scoffed, "I don't give a damn…Who you are to me you're just another aparoid."
The queen smirked, "Really? I can read your feeble thoughts you know who I am. You just refuse to accept it, I am the one you loved. Until the aparoids liberated me from my foolishness! I am Krystal you weak minded peon!"
Fox threw his fist in a punch but the queen grabbed it and twisted violently, a sickening crack followed, "You liar! She's dead I saw it myself!" Fox roared
"I died, but I was resurrected still serving your foolish cause I was the one responsible for the energy wave that saved your life. Until the aparoids liberated me I shall destroy your pathetic race and consume what remains!" Krystal shouted, she grabbed Fox by the back of his head and pushed head back tearing his fur.
Fox grabbed the arm holding his head trying to move it, but it was too strong. She lived? That was what I felt she was trying to reach out telepathically. I failed her again…Fox let go of Krystal's arm and clenched his fist, he braced himself and jumped forward loosing Krystal's grip and punched her in the face. He was met in the following seconds with a blistering kick in the stomach followed by a series of punches and jabs from some kind of energy blade.
"You think you can beat me? I shall grind you down until nothing is left. Unless you serve me, then I shall spare you." She offered, Fox spat a mixture of saliva and blood in her face. She wiped the glob off her face and motioned her minions to carry him away, "So you choose death. So be it."
Antares ran from the aparoid fleet closing in, Captain Raynor watched the aparoids hit the massive mine field blasting chunks out them. They were safe,
"Lieutenant Dyson is Star Fox safely aboard?" Raynor asked
"All save Fox." Dyson replied
Raynor remained quiet for a moment, "Damn it all." He paused, "Dyson set a course for Corneria. Contact Grand Admiral Tiberius, tell him to bring the full force of our fleet to bear."
Dyson nodded and set his course for home; At last, I'll see the spiraling towers and beautiful mountains of my home. But alas it will not last I have one more battle to fight. Dyson thought, he'd joined the crew two years prior his family had all been murdered in the war his full name was Antonio Dyson.
Falco walked down the white halls of Antares his spirits were low, his will shattered what was left of the courage he'd felt when they attacked the fleet was gone. He felt as if the life inside him was falling away, first Peppy had died, then Krystal and now he feared his best friend in the universe had as well. That left him to lead the battered Star Fox team against the aparoid hell that had engulfed the galaxy in turmoil. Damnit Fox! I don't want to lead this team! Why'd you do this? You were our last best chance to defeat them, now you've taken the easy way out. I should've died out there not you, they need you not me.
He kept walking until the mess hall came into view he saw Slippy walking into the hall Rhys close behind, At least they're okay I won't fail you Fox I will lead this team…
Slippy sat at a table, Falco sat next to him and Rhys sat across no one had said a word since Fox had left. "So uh who's going to lead us now that Fox is…well you know." Rhys asked
Falco answered, "I don't know Rhys, we need to take a vote this needs to be done this team cannot function without a leader."
Slippy sighed contemplating a response, "There is no team anymore Falco, there's nothing left. Fox is dead, Peppy is dead, Krystal is dead and I don't care to imagine that we'll live much longer either."
"Damnit Slippy, don't talk like that we are still a team first and foremost. All we have left is Star Fox and Fox will have died for nothing unless we keep fighting." Said Falco
"Yeah okay, fine then if have to have a leader then I say you Falco! You seem to be on top of things." Slippy replied
Rhys nodded in approval, "Slip's right Falco you're the man for the job we need a leader and you're it." Rhys paused, "But let's stay optimistic about Fox for now okay he may have escaped he had enough fuel to reach Solaris VIII." Rhys finished
"Fair enough, okay then 'team'" Falco replied, "We have some work to do."
A few days passed before the Antares pulled into high orbit over Corneria it docked with a nearby space station for repairs, the entire Cornerian fleet was awaiting them in orbit. Capt. Raynor stood aboard the bridge surveying the repairs he looked out his viewport and saw the fleet gathered he knew most of the ships by name but one stood out the last time he's seen it was in dry dock. The markings on the side bore its name the Balistner the new flagship of the Cornerian fleet it was four times bigger than any other ship he'd ever seen.
Bigger than even the aparoid ships, it had greater weapons and shields it was faster and had more fighters. The massive ship was long and was shaped like a spearhead but it had two large fins protruding at a slanted angles turrets were everywhere on the monster. It had two more fins on the bottom side and two large plank like wings sticking out of its sides towards the rear the front was sort of pointed but it had four massive guns at the front.
And at its rear it had twelve massive impressed engines and small maneuvering thrusters for emergencies. Raynor took pleasure at the thought of going into battle alongside such a vessel, which hull gleamed in the bright sunlight from the nearby sun.
Falco walked through the narrow corridors of the small battleship Magnificent, Slippy was with him, they were in command of this Blitzkrieg-class ship. Designed for mass production and lighting war tactics, "Well Slip this is it today we attack the aparoid home world with the whole fleet this time. Just like four years ago."
Slippy tried to look brave and strong be he couldn't, he was scared everyone was scared the aparoids were something that no matter what they just couldn't seem to beat. But today was the last chance kill or be killed, every ship in the Cornerian navy was ready even the mighty Balistner, was going in. "Falco we will not fail."
Falco sighed, "I don't know Slippy will we fail? Why should this time be any different than all the other times we engaged the aparoids all the other failed attacks all the good men dead. Can we win this fight?"
"It's not matter of if but of when, we cannot lose Falco. Fox, Krystal, Peppy and so many others have died and we have to win for them so their deaths are not in vain." Slippy replied
"I'm so glad you think we can win this one Slip, but without Fox what chance do we stand? He was the only thing holding this team together. Without him can we even fight as a team?"
Slippy shrugged. "Well Fox isn't here is he? You are our leader now Falco step up and lead us. I can't do it and Rhys can't do it only you can."
"I don't want this Slippy; I don't want to lead this team I don't want to fight this war I don't want anyone to die anymore! I just want this all to end and it will, one or another either I will die or they will." Falco replied anger and grief affecting his tone, he tried to hide but he couldn't he scared and depressed.
Slippy began to think and study the situation he was in, he'd never really thought about the war and the death he tried especially hard not too. All of it hit him how royally screwed they all were the sheer gravity of the situation had finally sunk in. "Falco sometimes we just gotta trust that we will win even though by all rights we are doomed."
Falco chuckled lightly, "You have a hell of a way of making the gravity of the situation sink in."
Slippy nodded and made his way further down the hall and onto the bridge of the small battleship he looked out the window and saw the Cornerian armada gathered around. In just a few hours they would all attack the aparoid home world in one desperate strike; it was still recovering from the nuclear attack. Raynor would be tried in court for his un-authorized use of nuclear weapons and jeopardizing the safety of his officers. But it wouldn't be until they either won the war or lost it.
Fox sat in the hold of the aparoid ship thinking about Krystal and how he had failed, I failed her but I can still save her she remembers who she is and who I am there's still hope I will save her and punish these monsters. Fox sized up the aparoid guards three heavy infantry and two tanks. He looked around for anything that could help him defeat them and escape with Krystal. There was nothing it was the first time in his life that he was in an entirely hopeless situation.
Titan stood aboard the bridge of the aparoid flagship Krystal beside him they stared out at the massive fleet gathered over their home world. Krystal looked down at the once ice blue hellish planet where the aparoid swarms once prowled in great numbers. Now all that was left was massive clouds of radiated particles the sky was beige. And the surface was burning the air unlivable now the once mighty home world of the aparoids was dust, Raynor's daft plan had worked the bulk of the aparoid army had survived the attack.
Krystal looked out into open space; she never had before just take in the beauty of it all but now she did thoughts of it obsessed her she knew it would one day be hers. She thought of how the swarms would control all and all would be one and that someday she would make Fox like herself and they would kill Titan and rule the universe. "Titan, why do we not simply attack with all we have and crush the Cornerians for what they have done?"
"All in good time my dear even now the Cornerians are planning a massive assault against us. But I will deal with this, there is no longer a reason to remain here on Eshan it is dust now we will leave this world and go take Corneria and make it our own with our mighty fleet." Titan responded.
Krystal nodded with approval, there was a lot to gain from their plans and far less to lose for the fleet. But she knew there was one threat and it was onboard their very ship, Fox can still ruin us and destroy our plans he must be put under extreme guard. "Master we have one issue to deal with; Fox has some abilities that we cannot stop if he finds them. All of the Krazoa except one have been in his body there is a huge chance he can summon their power to his purposes."
Titan didn't seem to care about what Krystal had just pointed out to him, "He cannot beat me I can destroy him with ease…Perhaps we should kill him now?"
"No!" Krystal cried, "I mean…Now would not be the best time to do so."
"Krystal my daughter you are still weak in your affection for him this will doom you but for now he will live. Do not let your feelings affect your judgment in the heat of battle."
"I do not care for him… And it will not weaken my resolve I will lead this army and slaughter this Cornerian infestation." Krystal replied
Titan nodded. "Very good my dear then you will do what is necessary."