PAST CHAPTER UPDATES FOR RETURNING READERS: Updates to Fox and Lucy in chapters 2 and 8; providing some insight to their childhood connection. Update to Krystal's arm condition in chapters 9-10. Updates to Cornerian/New Cornerian Military's color scheme to a shimmering, flawless white with gold trim. All major characters affected to include: Wolf, Leon, Panther, and Krystal; descriptions found in chapter 2. Shepherd; description found in chapter 3. The Lion/Predator/Hunter/Guardian Five; description found in chapter 7. Dalles; description found in chapter 9. Most all non Katina based Cornerian and New Cornerian military personnel, descriptions found throughout Star Fox Descent
ELEVEN
Fox walked away from the panel Dalles had used to contact Bowman and salvaged a couple fully loaded power cells for the blaster of the dead guard off the corpse's uniform; slipping them into his own left pant pocket. Should be enough, long as I don't get bogged down in a firefight. He knelt by the limp body's side, searching it for anything else he could use.
Slippy had remained at the panel, still milling over their planned routes. "So… how are we getting past the scanners that are getting us into these pump rooms?" He asked, his tone distant and reflective.
Fox ceased his search, sweat instantly began building on his forehead. Damn it! I had completely forgotten about the scanners... He looked the corpse up and down, ending at its hands. His eyes locked onto them, and Fox became completely still.
"If only R.O.B had been asked to come along too, eh?" Slippy mused, growing anxious from lost time. "I mean, I m-might be able to-"
"Don't take your eyes off that control panel." Fox replied sternly.
Slippy's anxiety went up a few levels. "W-Why?" He asked, looking back at Fox.
Fox stood up, stepped on the right hand, and aimed his blaster toward the elbow.
Slippy's anxiety rocketed. "Okay Fox, I really think you're-"
Fox explosively turned on his friend. "Slippy, I don't have time for this! Any second now we're going to have other guards knocking down the door. If they're real Cornerian military, they'll arrest us for what we've done! If they're Dash's men, they'll kill us! I'm going to-you know what?!" Fox turned toward and aimed his blaster back at the elbow.
Slippy looked away on instinct, and heard five, paced shots fire into the flesh. Almost immediately following them, the horrifying sound of twisting and tearing flesh and bone fell upon his ears. It was all he needed to visualize what Fox was doing, and it only got worse as he heard Fox begin to stomp on the remainder of the attached limb until it was completely severed.
Slippy was flooded with nausea, and began to rock in different directions on his feet as his vision blurred and his ears filled with static. The feeling paused when he felt two hands placed on his shoulders. The hands rotated his body toward their owner, and he came face to face with a terrified, moist eyed Fox.
"Look Slippy… If I don't escape, if-if we… don't escape… Krystal's life will be over; all of this will be in vain. I need your help; I need… your help. Please… please help me."
Slippy looked down at the ground and swallowed, trying his best to calm his buzzing head and rolling stomach. As it subsided he was able to gather his mentality. He looked back up at his best friend. You're still Fox, I can see it. Slippy smiled, finding the strength he needed to be confident in his decision. "What can I do?"
Fox breath a sharp sigh of relief, then lowered his head and chuckled before looking back up at Slippy. "I need you to take that arm that I've wrapped in my down jacket and carry it with us."
Slippy's pupils dilated as he looked over at the down jacket now placed beside them; one end was damp with whatever blood had managed to leak through the seared, mutilated flesh, while the other revealed a few fingers of the hand they would need.
"It's that, or you'll need to take the lead and shoot our way out."
Slippy gulped and looked back at Fox, who continued staring at him in patient desperation. I can see it… cant I? Slippy breathed in quickly, then blew it out with force. "When I tell you that you're like a brother to me." He said as he kneeled at the wrapped limb and picked it up with his left hand. "There should be no doubt."
Fox gave a heartfelt smile. "Slippy, I believed you from the moment you agreed to join this team."
Without skipping a beat, Fox stepped away from his brother and returned to the dead guard. He had already salvaged a couple flash bangs from the body, now he was aiming for the white BDU jacket; though he cursed himself for taking the hand before removing the coat. That's what you get for not thinking… Well, you'll just have to deal with a bloody half sleeve. He sat the body up straight and began working the jacket off the corpse.
"Why are you wasting your time on that? I thought we had to go?!" Slippy exclaimed.
Fox kept working as he answered, "This jacket is going to keep the turrets from shooting at us once Dash has control of them." He successfully pulled the coat from the body, which he let drop as he slipped the coat on himself; ignoring the cold, wet feel of the bloody, right sleeve end that dampened his own sleeves. "If you feel the shoulders of the jacket, there's a pair of strobe devices that all the automated systems pick up on and recognize as friendly. Until we're able to get one for you, if we are, you'd better stay freaking glued to me!"
Slippy gave a mock salute. "Yes sir!"
Fox smiled as he ensured all his gear was where he wanted it. Both the flashbang holsters had been easily pulled from the guard's belt and secured on Fox's; he kept all the equipment on his left side. The blaster was able to be squeezed into Fox's own holster, though he had already predetermined that it would remain in his hands until a better weapon was found.
All set, Fox looked over at Slippy. "You ready?"
Slippy had the wrapped limb tucked tightly under his left arm. He gave Fox a confident nod. "Let's get out of here."
Suddenly, both Slippy and Fox fell dead silent as they heard a turret activate in the room. Upon the second Fox recognized the sound, he leapt and tackled Slippy to the ground, shielding him from the turret's sight. Fox looked up in the direction of the mechanical sounds, and saw it was placed nearly dead center in the ceiling. The turret slowly spun clockwise as it searched the room for a target, but it found none. "It works." Fox whispered with a chuckle. He steadily brought himself up to one knee, lined up the pistol's sights on the turret, and fired three quick shots. The turret had gone haywire with the first shot, searching for a target; the second shot did it damage, and the third maimed it enough to disable it.
Slippy groaned. "Alright… Uh… let's go with plan 'A' now, where I'm glued to your back instead of squashed by your front."
Fox gave another chuckle "Yeah, sounds-"
The click of a door beginning to open silenced him; the door they had originally came through. Fast as it began to open, Fox ripped a flash bang from his pouch, pulled the pin and chucked it towards the door. He had been quick, but he watched in alarm as a second flash bang was thrown in the room with them as well. "Eyes shut!" He yelled as he dropped back onto Slippy, grabbed and pressed Slippy's head into his shoulder, and buried his own eyes in Slippy's shoulder. The second he was deafened by the bang of the grenade, Fox looked up, got to his feet, and began running to the door; with Slippy following his lead. He knew there would be guards to both sides of the door, and he wasn't sure if what he was about to do would be considered suicide. Please let that grenade have blinded them!
Upon reaching the door, Fox threw a rear kick to Slippy's chest, dove onto the floor, and rolled onto his back as he slid out the exit. The second his head entered the hallway, he looked to his left, and saw two disoriented guards trying to regain their composure. Fox zeroed his sights in on the center of their bodies, and fired one shot at each guard. The instant both shots had been sent, he rolled over to his right side and observed three guards. Panic struck him as he observed these guards where actually attempting to hone in on him. Without bothering to perfect his aim, Fox fired off a total of four shots in their direction. To Fox's thrilled adrenaline, all three bodies dropped to the floor; though one instantly began forcing himself back up. Fox matched his speed as he pushed himself up while firing another three blasts into the guard's body before he could lift his own rifle. The guard fell lifeless, and Fox found his breath again over his pounding heart. Fox forced himself to keep his head; he knew there'd be plenty more on the way.
He got to his feet and went straight back to Slippy, kneeling down to his stunned friend's side. "Are you okay?"
"Just… (cough) one question… Why?!"
Fox looked at Slippy with pity as he switched out the power cells in his hand blaster. "I didn't want you following me out there and getting shot… I wasn't sure yet if you could hear again, nor did I want to openly announce that I was a few feet from the door."
"Okay, good enough." Slippy said, giving Fox a pained, enthusiastic expression and a thumbs up. Without warning, the frog rolled over on his side and vomited violently on the floor.
The guilt over everything he had put his friend through burned inside himself. When we get through this, I'll never ask anything of you again; I swear on my life. "If there weren't armed soldiers on their way I wouldn't say this, but we gotta go Slippy." Fox offered his hand to him.
Slippy instantly took it, hacking up and spitting out the last of the vile glop as Fox pulled him up. "I'm not out yet." He said, grinning pathetically.
"Good." Fox replied with a nod and a smile before turning back toward the exit. Kneeling at the doorway, he quickly checked the hallway for approaching forces; taking caution not to expose too much of his own head. Upon neither seeing nor hearing any threat, Fox sized up the different corpses, grabbed the one closest to Slippy's size by its uniform collar, and dragged it back inside the room. "Get that jacket on." He ordered as he slid the body over towards Slippy, then headed back out to secure an assault blaster rifle he had observed all the response force carrying.
After conducting another check of the hallway, Fox stepped out, sheathed the hand blaster he carried, and grabbed a rifle nearest to him. He pulled a couple pouches loaded with assault rifle power cells off one guard's belt and secured them on the left side of his own. Fox then searched for and found a hand blaster secured to one of the soldier's waist holsters. He unsheathed it and checked its power cell. Fully charged. He searched the corpse further and found another couple power cells for the laser pistol. Awesome.
Suddenly, Fox's ears twitched at picking up the light sound of boots traveling across the solid floors. He wasted no time darting back into the room he had been in, finding that Slippy had successfully removed the jacket from the body and just begun securing it on himself. "They're coming Slip; sounds like another group. We've gotta get out of here before they corner us again."
"Got it." Slippy anxiously answered as he hurried his pace beyond his already rushed attempt to get the jacket on. With both arms successfully through, Slippy took the laser pistol and ammunition that Fox was holding out to him.
"When we're traveling," Fox began instructing, "I'll watch the way we're headed, and you keep a solid eye behind us; the whole time. Agreed?"
Slippy nodded, then took a deep breath. "I don't know how much good I'm going to do you." Slippy said nervously, openly jostling the severed arm within his own.
"You did marvels in Sargasso. Just keep one firm hand on the arm, and the other on your weapon." Fox responded over his shoulder, already headed towards the door. Suddenly, he heard another door open; the door in the center of the room's balcony.
Fox whirled over toward the sound and watched a guard take aim at Slippy. Instantaneously, Fox set his sights on the guard and pulled the trigger.
Slippy's heart stopped and his body numbed as he watched the soldier that was less than a second from killing him, withdraw from Fox's fire; the Toad's brain instantly registered the amount of the jeopardy he and Fox were in. To his own disbelief, he found himself rushing to Fox's side.
"They're backing into cover." Fox informed him. "Start heading down the hallway, I'll keep them suppressed!" He commanded; continuing to fire short, controlled bursts at the intruding soldiers.
Slippy kicked into gear and stepped into the hall, rounding the end of the exit door Fox was using as cover and hugging the wall to his right as he began traveling away from Fox. "I'm moving Fox!" Slippy yelled out at the last second.
"Copy!" Came Fox's reply.
Slippy slowed his pace to give Fox time to reach him, keeping a sharp eye on the path ahead of him. Slippy nearly jumped when he felt Fox's back come in contact with his own.
"Swap me directions." Fox ordered in a lower voice.
Slippy didn't even respond as he rotated towards the wall while Fox went the other way around him. Slippy completely faced the direction Fox had and brought his blaster up to where Fox had been firing; giving off a couple shots when he saw their attackers peek out the door they had just exited.
"Great job Slippy." Fox complemented. "Don't let them have as much as-" Fox's fell silent as he watched a soldier pop out of the corner ahead of him. In the split-second Fox had before the dog had its rifle trained on him, Fox fired a clean burst to the soldier's head. The dog dropped, and Fox rushed to the corner; fighting victory's intoxicating sting that threatened to take his guard.
As he approached, Fox used his left hand to secure his second flash bang. Unwilling to set down his rifle, he bit down on the ring of the pin and tugged as his left hand pulled the body of the grenade away. The pin refused to give easily, and Fox began to wince as his teeth and gums voiced their pain. Come on! His head swung back as the pin finally came free, and Fox counted off three seconds before throwing the flash bang down the intersecting corridor by bouncing it off its opposing wall.
The grenade ignited the moment it left Fox's sight, and once more he took the gamble that he had successfully blinded whoever else was around the corner. With a split-second glance back at Slippy to make sure he was still in control of their six, Fox leaned around the corner and lifted his rifle's holographic sight to his eye.
Three total, all staggering blind; get the closest first. Fox thought as he fired a couple blasts at the center mass of a guard on the opposing side of the hallway, about three meters from him. Now the second on my side of the hallway. Fox snapped his aim over to the hostile and held down the trigger until his target dropped. Fox observed a fourth guard directly behind the second, and the third was another two meters back and in the middle of the passageway. Hit the one you're already aimed at-fuck! Fox ducked back behind cover as the two remaining guards had dropped to the ground and began blind firing in Fox's direction. Stay in control, stay in control!
"You hit Fox?" He heard Slippy ask.
"Nope, stay put!" Fox quickly replied. They're firing upwards, please don't let me regret this! Fox kneeled then leapt out into the hallway. Once his side had impacted the ground, he fired into the displayed shoulder, neck, and jaw area of both targets before they could adjust. His rifle discharged the last shot as he slid to a stop, and instantly got back to his feet and began heading down the hallway, hugging the wall as he strode. "What's the status of the guards on our six?"
"Two guards attempted to come out, I shot one and the other ducked back in cover before I could get a lock on him." Slippy reported as he took cover behind the other side of the corner he was at, firing another couple warning shots where he held the first set of guards at bay; proceeding to switch out the power cell in his own hand blaster.
"Keep your eye out, a few of them might be going around." Hopefully there's not too much more, our door should be just ahead. Fox looked up to the passage ceiling and noticed the small, black domes that indicated security cameras. His nerves sent a bolt through his heart as he slid to a stop. They still know where we are… where we're headed… He raised his blaster and attempted to shoot it out, but the lasers failed to sear through the material. They'll be setting something up just ahead, preparing to cut us off, then assault us from behind. He quickly milled over all their tunnel access points, recalling one a few hallways back. We've had to already deplete a good amount of their security, the heart of what's left will be up ahead. If we move quick enough…
Fox went with his instinct, and instantly darted back in the direction they had come. "Let's move Slip!" Fox caught Slippy's bewildered expression as he passed him.
"Fox, what the heck are we doing?!" Slippy yelled out as he nearly lost his footing taking off after Fox.
Get ready, one most likely coming down the hall. Fox brought his rifle's sights to his eye as he slowed and leaned out the corner he was intending to round. Crap! He ducked back behind his side of the cover, just dodging the flurry of blasts that flew by. He was already on the ground. They must've given him the heads up, and now he's got us cornered! The rest will be here any moment! Fox jerked his head over towards Slippy. "Keep him shooting at this corner?!"
Slippy gave Fox a brief, confused stare before simply shrugging his shoulders and switching positions with Fox at the corner. Fox slowly began walking towards the other wall of the hallway he and Slippy were in until he had the guard in view. The guard fired more shots at Fox; who retreated back a few steps. "Now Slippy!"
Slippy leaned out the corner and fired his pistol at the guard. The instant he did so, Fox lunged back out into the intersection.
The guard had retreated, giving Fox the time to close the distance on his location. Reaching the corner, Fox ensured Slippy had followed him and signaled for Slippy to take the corner. "Same thing as back there?"
Slippy nodded, securing his cover and exposing himself just enough to draw the guards fire.
"When I leap out, you're going to have to blast him."
Slippy swung a stunned look at Fox for a split second, but swiftly refaced his corner in apparent acceptance.
Praying his tactics were wise, Fox waited for Slippy to draw the guard's fire, then rolled into the open hall.
As the guard's blasts travelled towards his position, Slippy leaned out and dropped their opponent.
All the guard's limbs fell flat on the ground as life left his body.
Fox stood slowly; taking in the corpse for what it was. His eyes locked on the golden emblem marking his distant alley, recalling the simpler times when these loyal soldiers would cheer and drink to the honor and glory of Star Fox. The Vulpes' firing hand cringed around his rifle grip as he looked at the charred holes boring deep into the canine's flesh.
Slippy started down the hall but stopped in his tracks and looked back at Fox in panic when he noticed Fox wasn't following. "Aren't we going this way now?! Bravo three?!"
Fox shook himself free of his thoughts to get moving and acknowledge Slippy's question. "Fast as we can!" The two brothers took off down the intersecting hall, but Fox's eyes remained clouded; barely acknowledging the door they were headed towards was now in sight. It doesn't matter... only one thing matters. Fox fought to keep his pace steady and controlled, but he couldn't help speeding up in desperation to escape; leaving Slippy wheezing as he tried to keep up. We're getting out of here, and I'm freeing Krys- Fox heard a click and the sliding of an opening door to his left. As he looked over, he didn't even have time to feel the impact of the dog that charged out and rammed into his side. Fox was taken to the ground and the canine instantly began working to get a dominant fighting position on the Vulpine. Fox fought the oncoming shock of the blow as he countered the dog's attempts to pin him down.
The canine spoke. "I don't know what your game is, Fox, but I'm not letting you go any further!"
Fox instantly recognized the voice as he met the eyes of a brown bulldog. "Bill?!" Fox's focus shattered, quickly taking any control he had as the lean, robust bulldog, wearing a similar pure white dress uniform as Captain Dalles, took advantage of his disoriented state.
Bill Grey spoke again. "I hope you know I take zero enjoyment in this!"
Fox grit his teeth. What are you doing Fox, fight!
Bill had him on his back, and was working to roll him onto his front when Fox heard Slippy yell out: "Let him go Bill! We don't want any quarrel with you!"
Bill's stern, amused voice followed. "You're the one who's truly shocked me, Toad!"
Fox felt Bill's grip loosen as he confronted Slippy. Here's your chance Fox!
Bill continued; the sternness in his voice slowly taking over. "Put the gun down, dude; you aren't going to pull that trigger."
Fox rolled himself to his side and pushed off Bill's leg with his arms as he slid his hips and legs out from underneath Bill's. Fox quickly repeated the action before Bill could regain his position over him. Fox proceeded to draw his legs in and kick them straight into Bill's chest, sending him flying backward. Fox quickly got to his feet and grabbed his rifle that had been knocked from his hands, wasting no time on setting its sights on Bill; who had barely got his feet back underneath him.
The two ceased all movement as they stared cautiously at each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Fox observed the additional intelligence soldiers and contract employees watching from the doorway. "Any of you move," Fox warned, keeping Bill in his sights, "You lose your lives. Slippy, go get that door open!"
"On it." Slippy replied shakily.
Fox slowly started backing toward bravo three, keeping his blaster trained on Bill; who's amusement was gone.
"Bro, what the hell is going on?! You would really kill a friend?!"
Fox kept backing towards Slippy, but his stone expression remained on Bill. "You have no idea what I've already done; you're already good as dead. Look at the soldiers in the room you leapt out of. Today, over half of them will betray you, and every other loyal Cornerian."
Bill uttered a concerned chuckle. "Fox, you've ost it! Come on buddy, let me help; why are you doing this?!"
Slippy butted in. "It's open Fox, let's go!"
"Coming Slip." Fox felt his heel touch the base of the doorway. "I'm trying to save a life that I've destroyed; it won't be long until you see the proof in my warning." Fox paused, fighting memories of the past friendship that threatened to break him as he began to gaze at his longtime friend..
"Dude… that uh…" Echoes of Bill's past voice pulled Fox's thoughts into a dorm style room furnished with a couple beds and desks.
Fox himself was now staring out its window; his eye sockets dark and moist as he glared out past his reflection at the shimmering city resting upon its green plains; all bathed in the darkening orange glow of dusk.
Bill had approached from behind him and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Successful or no, that was one epic escape."
Fox hadn't even tensed in response.
Bill had continued on as his hand slid off of Fox. "It only fell through cause you were up against your old man's orders. Like father, like son; you know? We all know James wouldn't just sit back either, thus he gave base security a heads up with a few tips; and dude," Bill gave Fox's shoulder another firm pat, gripping it tight as he gave it a firm shake. "you still nearly bested them! I wish you'd've told me, I'd've helped you for sure!"
"I've already earned my reputation for bending the rules." Fox answered irritably. "I'm lucky Pepper's as good as family and that I have his sympathy right now." His eyes lowered subtly. "I wasn't about to start dragging your name through the mud."
Bill chuckled. "C'mon man, I'm not that clean. I've gotten in trouble for a party or two, sneaking off base, a few stunts… Oh!" Bill laughed softly, "and remember that time we were in formation, waiting on our Petty Officer, and heard that music vibing in the distance? I still hardly believe I got all of us to-"
"Whatever you say, gold leader." Fox replied dryly.
That brought the silence Fox was looking for, but after a pause, Bill's voice came as sincere and unwavering as ever. "I'd have done it though. You know that right?"
"Yes." Fox replied, his voice now void of emotion as he looked back out at the ever moving utopia before him; stars beginning to shimmer through the fading sky above. "That's why I didn't ask."
The room fell silent again as Bill stepped back from Fox and leaned back on one of the bunks.
Fox continued to disregard him as his gaze locked onto the stars, his eyes slowly hardening as hatred infected them.
"You wouldn't let anything kill you, yeah?" Bill's voice was still warm, yet now carried a serious edge.
Fox's eyes flashed with surprise, feeling his resolve fracture.
"Neither will he."
The statement brought Fox's sight back to the present Bill Grey; the dog's expression still frustrated and bewildered.
The coldness in Fox's eyes returned as grave concern infected them. "Please... be careful."
"Fox, to your left!" Slippy yelled out, lifting his hand blaster and firing shots in the direction he warned of.
Fox turned and dove the rest of the way into bravo three, right as his previous position was assaulted by blasts from approaching security guards.
Slippy ducked in with him and went to close and secure the door behind them via a control panel similar to the one on the other side of the wall.
Fox worked his way to his feet, only to be knocked back to the ground by a similar force as he had been earlier. He had managed to land on his left side, and looked up with little surprise at the culprit. "Damn it, Bill; get out of here!" Fox growled and grunted as he fought Bill's continued attempt to roll him to his front.
"I'm sorry dude, but you give me no choice when you come in here and start killing Cornerian soldiers!"
Fox's fury began to build. "You have no idea-" With all the force he could muster, he broke free from Bill's grip and rotated himself onto his back by thrusting his left fist straight into Bill's jaw.
Bill gave a sharp whine from the blow, and before he could respond, Fox brought his right knee rocketing into Bill's rump; sending the dog forward till his skull smacked the ground.
"-how many of your Cornerian soldiers-" Fox quickly used both his arms and his right leg to toss Bill overhead; off himself. "-are about to kill you!"
Bill went crashing onto his back as Fox got his own feet underneath himself and searched for his rifle.
Slippy had managed to get the door closed right behind Bill, and the only light in the room currently came from the panel Slippy was working at; Fox's assault blaster had slid off somewhere in the darkness surrounding them.
Fox instantly went to pull his hand blaster, but Bill had gotten to his feet and rushed toward him just as he had it unsheathed.
Bill secured both of Fox's wrists with his hands and smashed him up against a trio of large pipes that ran vertical from the floor up toward the ceiling; causing Fox to drop his hand blaster.
Soon as Slippy had overwritten the door's lock to remain closed, he dropped the severed arm he'd been carrying and looked over to where Fox and Bill were struggling. His conscience told him to move, but his body remained put. I know I should help… He thought, wrestling with his own conscience, but Bill's right, I can't do anything! I wasn't anywhere near ready to pull the trigger back there! He looked down at his hand blaster. Am I right for that? Am I the one still maintaining my sanity? He looked back over at Fox, observing his aggressive expression and listening in on what was being said.
Bill worked to keep Fox pinned against the pipes. "I want to believe you Fox, but that's one strong accusation; I'm gonna need proof." Bill growled, working to dodge Fox's attempts to kick at his legs and abdomen.
Fox took advantage of directing Bill's attention downward and smashed his forehead into the roof of bill's snout; weakening him enough to knock him back with a kick to his core. "You're going to have all the proof you need within the hour!"
Slippy gulped. Dash Bowman… Krystal… the corrupt Cornerians… Slippy's grip grew tighter on his pistol. Fox is just fighting everything pitted against him, not like he isn't trying to save Bill either… His grip grew shaky. But I still can't do it, I can't threaten Bill; can't even bluff him. Slippy was bombarded with memories of the history they all shared at the Cornerian Flight Academy.
"What's up guys?" Came Bill's echo.
Slippy was now staring at a sun heated, concrete surface; sweat dripping off his face as he struggled to push himself up as he quietly puffed, "Nineteen…". He looked up in the direction of the greeting.
"I'm Grey." The bulldog announced jovially as his shredded upper body beneath his fitted, jaded blue, standard issue t-shirt continued to pump out push ups with little more effort than if he were taking a relaxing stroll.
"McCloud..." Fox grunted from his own space on the pavement between Grey and Slippy. Though Fox looked far more concentrated with a bit more sweat bleeding from his fur, his own lean muscle bulged beneath his damp undershirt and down both his arms as they kept the Vulpes' body moving nearly as fast as Grey's.
"So the rumors are true…" Bill huffed, a glint in his eye as he cracked a grin. "Hardcore."
"Thanks…" Fox grunted again, his focused expression seeming not to care.
"And how about you?" Bill directed his gaze back at Slippy, the bulldog's arms hardly having slowed their pace.
Slippy groaned and grunted furociously as his own arms fought to push himself up again. "I-I'm…" With a loud puff he collapsed to the smoldering ground. "Toad…" He moaned distraught.
Another mutt fighting gravity with more ease barked out not far behind them, "There's a reason the phrase is, Alpha Dog." The statement drew a collection of amused yips from the hound's surrounding comrades.
"C'mon Slippy…" Fox huffed as encouragingly as he could through his own exhaustion; his focused stare still fixed towards the ground. "Don't give up… you've got this…"
"I bet he shreds us both at squats and lunges." Bill stated boastfully, his playful eyes glancing over at Fox.
Fox nodded swiftly, shaking a few beads of sweat from his ears and forehead above a shaky smile. "Definitely lunges." He grunted.
Slippy gave a weak laugh as he rolled his face to the side. "My arms still have strength." He panted, lifting one of his short, slender, sweat laden limbs to flex it; showing off the muscle it was indeed packed with. "I'm just a spacecraft tech, not a marathoner."
The bulldog gave a loud growl, part from delight and part from an attempt to keep himself going as his stamina was finally seeming to wear. "Am I seriously in the presence of both James McCloud and Beltino Toad juniors?!" His exhaustion seemed to fade again as his speed picked back up. "Wicked!"
A combat boot suddenly planted itself onto Bill's backside, bringing the canine's pace to a halt midrise. "Another one of your chatty days, eh Grey?" Came a deep, unamused growl. "I'm sorta curious what runs out first, recruit; your mouth or your muscle."
"Neither sir!" Bill growled delightfully, pushing past the boot's added resistance as he continued his exercise. "Too big of shoes to keep up with!" He huffed with an admiring glance at Fox and Slippy.
A sharp, dense spray of ice cold water suddenly stung Slippy's face as he found himself now wearing nothing but his boxer briefs, and hanging by his arms. A rope around his wrists suspended him from a steel ceiling; his feet just inches above a wet concrete floor.
"G-guys, this t-totally puts me in a s-surf-ing mood once we're out-outta here." Bill announced through chattering teeth, the stinging cold water dripping off his own bare, short furred pelt as he hung in the same state as Slippy and a mass of other anthropoids arranged in a spaced, organized layout.
"Another of the few times where I'm with you, Grey." Slippy said with a weary smile, managing not to shiver as much as the bulldog. "I wouldn't mind a little swim at the lake…"
"Yeah, y-you and that thin, p-p-permeable skin of yours." Bill said with a jealous tone, accompanied by that ever harmless glint in his eye. "You're just s-soak-ing all this right up, a-aren't-t you?"
Slippy smiled with an embarrassed blush and was about to respond when another blast of water assaulted his entire body, sending it swinging and spinning every which way. The onslaught continued far longer than he had anticipated, and by the time it finally ceased he was a huffing, purple hued mess.
A white furred pitbull terrier dawning a tan uniform and equipped with the power washer wand got right into Slippy's face; giving a soft growl through a smirk. "Even toads can drown." He manipulated a dial on the sprayer's nozzle. "Or maybe we'll just boil you for a bit; see what frog legs taste like."
Slippy's pupils expanded, "I m-might have to sit surfing out-t-t this time…."
Bill chuckled across the way. "Aw, c-come on Toad; this week isn't all that b-bad."
Slippy chuckled nervously as the terrier's growl sharpened. Suddenly the pitbull whipped around and blasted Fox, who was suspended several feet away from both Slippy and Bill, with a jet that poured as much steam from the nozzle as water.
Fox howled in agony as his entire coat was doused relentlessly; his ears and snout not spared.
"How about you, McCloud Junior?! Daddy's job still seem as glorious?!" The hound continued his onslaught as he drew closer to the Vulpes, still spraying for a few moments more once he got as close as he'd been to Slippy, before cutting the power.
Fox repeatedly spit the water from his mouth as his expression grimaced in clear torment, his ears flicking more water off as steam continued to fume from his own soaked pelt now; his overheated skin underneath turning his orange pelt a fiery red.
Bill looked over at Fox. "How ab-bout it McC-c-cloud? B-bro?" He inquired, teeth still chattering. "You game?"
Fox briefly looked over at Bill, the struggle of trying to keep the irritation out of his gaze all too obvious, then glanced over at Slippy with a gentle look of pity. "Let's uh… just get through this first… Always more easy going options…"
"Yeah p-p-pal!"
Slippy had felt slight relief that Bill sounded equally as enthusiastic about changing ideas.
"I know of some sick concerts, some action or horror flicks in theaters; we could go check one of those out. g-get a decent bite to eat and everything!"
"Gets us off the base either way." Fox said, glancing questionably back at Slippy.
Slippy smiled subtly. "Now that, I'm game fo-" Slippy was assaulted with another high pressure, sub-zero spray of water, filling his open mouth and forcing his eyes to retract into his head as he felt the indescribable sting tear all through his hanging, corpse-like state. He could hear the white pitbull again as the dog's voice drew away from him and Fox and went closer to Bill.
"Always the chatterbox, eh Grey? If you'd shut your jowls for once they might have an easier time. Some friend he is, ay guys?!" The dog hollered back towards Slippy and Fox; who were still being mercilessly pelted by other uniformed tormentors.
"None of us would've joined if we expected easy." Bill growled confidently in return.
"Also damn inspirational." The terrier growled with him, menacingly amused before raising his voice back to a shout. "The team morale never lasts, you know. The second we separate you and get you behind closed doors, you all break."
Slippy smiled as he remembered Bill's undaunted response.
"You with me, next to naked and soaking wet, alone in a room together?" The bulldog growled with a challenging smirk. "Careful… You'll un-bury my bone."
Slippy was thrown back into the present as he watched Bill catch a kick Fox sent his way and use it to bring Fox back to the ground. "You expect me to just believe that half the people in this building are going to just start killing everyone?!" Slippy suddenly observed the red liquid strewn across Bill's muzzle
Spine against the ground, Fox threw fists where he could land them on Bill's frame and attempted to throw him off balance. The passionate fury in Fox's eyes was inextinguishable; completely oblivious to the scarlet fluid dripping onto his face from Bill's snout. "Believe it or not, it's happening! Remember Dash Bowman?!" Fox grunted out.
Slippy clenched his fists again. I can't just keep standing here. If Bill knew our situation, he… he would want us to fight. He would want us to try to stop Bowman. I have to do something! Slippy instantly started searching for the way into the sewers from the room they were in. I may not be able to fight Bill, but I can be ready for when Fox beats him... I hope… He swallowed as he glanced over at the modern Bill and Fox.
Bill had frozen in place from hearing Bowman's name, and Fox used his leg to bring the bulldog's head plummeting to the ground. Fox got to his feet in a second.
Slippy began to breathe a sigh of relief, but all his oxygen left him from what came next.
"Forgive me for this…" Fox said with remorse.
Bill raised his hand in defense. "Wait…"
Slippy wished he could've looked away for the bone numbing kick Fox delivered to Bill's face. He knew Fox had to gain victory over Bill somehow, but he never could have imagined it in the way that Fox did. Bill even tried to stop him… Slippy's eyes danced between the fetal curled bulldog and the fox that stood above him.
Slippy heard Fox call out to him as he walked over to a certain side of the room; searching the ground for something.
Slippy looked back at Bill and saw a trail of blood trickling from his mouth and down through the grated floor. After a couple seconds, he found the voice to answer. "Here…"
Fox looked in his direction, observed him, then went back to searching; instantaneously bending down and picking up a hand blaster off the ground, sheathing it as he spoke. "Alright Slippy… you have to make a choice right here." Fox kept searching the ground for another item. "If I've gone too far in your eyes… you need to take your blaster and stop me now." Fox leaned down and picked up the blaster rifle he was searching for.
They both were interrupted by the sound of a cutting torch getting fired up behind the door Slippy had programmed to remain closed.
Fox continued speaking, bringing Slippy's attention back to him. "But if not, I need you to accept all that I've done and keep moving."
"Or what?"
Fox came to an instant halt and looked over at Slippy.
Slippy gulped as his palms started to sweat. He clenched them tightly. "Are… a-are you going to leave m-me behind?" His voice began to rise as he spoke. "And… if I t-try to stop you, will you t-take me out; just like Bill there?!"
Fox remained completely silent and still; staring at the toad with wide, stunned eyes.
Slippy clenched his teeth in terror. "Y-you know as well as I d-do that Krystal wouldn't want this… yet you persist on d-diving deeper, for her."
Fox's afflicted expression mellowed until it was unreadable, but by the way Fox had tensed, Slippy could tell that his words hit Fox like a bullet.
Slippy swallowed his panging fear to finish his sentence. "S-so brother… how much further are y-you willing to go?"
….
Author's Note: Thank you for your time. Whether you enjoyed or did not enjoy the story thus far, an informative review is always welcome to help me gauge exactly how this fanfiction is being received by my readers. Critiques on grammar, spelling, plot, style, etc. will always be received by me judgement free.
As my returning readers can attest, my schedule is unpredictable. I could post new content in a week, or you may not see anything for another 3+ months. Regardless, my promise still holds: I will not quit on this story, and will see it through to its end.
-Mark Nicholson
