Lylat System
The anticipation was building, even though it didn't show on the two people sitting in a seat each on the bridge of the Great Fox. The both of them had their boots resting nonchalantly on the dash in front of them, heads slightly upturned as they were gazing out the windows. Straight ahead a bright, white star was burning, with a smaller, dim, red star close by, and they were able to make out the nebulas and a couple of the planets in the Lylat System.
They had done their best to keep themselves busy during the long journey; physical exercise, combat training and going over their ships and weapons. Kursed investigated the experimental Arwing II-X, paying particular attention to the enhancements to it, some of which likely inspired by Cerinian design. She had even tried to teach Fox some words in the Cerinian language, and ROB had fed everything into a new translator file for Fox's headset, since you'd never know when that might come in handy.
Deep in thought, Fox was drumming his fingers on the chair's armrest.
"All right," Kursed finally spoke up. "Are you going to spit it out, or do I need to search you?"
That was one thing that hadn't changed. Even without using her telepathy, she knew when there was something Fox didn't know how to talk about.
"It's about Kamuy," admitted Fox. "She said she knew you."
"You've said that."
He sighed deeply and in a sombre voice recapped his conversation with Kamuy; about how Krystal had been promising Protector apprentice, but troubled and seeking conflict. How she had fled and possibly out of spite joined their sworn enemy, who brought on the doom of Cerinia. "She said that deception and destruction is in your nature."
"Thanks, that makes me feel great!"
"I remember the words very clearly," Fox continued. "Because they're a bunch of lies. The moment before she said that, I had been thinking about you joining Star Wolf, and she just picked it right out of my mind and fed it right back to me."
He turned his head towards her, his eyebrows furrowing.
"But the best lies are close to the truth. Maybe you are a warrior, a Protector of Cerinia? Maybe Kamuy is the traitor, and tried to get rid of you because you'd found something out?"
He studied Kursed intently, looking for any sort of reaction, but her poker face gave nothing away.
"Attention! I have detected two incoming ships," interrupted ROB.
Fox turned to the robot.
"Have you got a visual?"
ROB put a magnification up on the monitor. At first all they could see were two dots, but they quickly grew into the shapes of two fighters. One had the distinct silhouette of an Arwing, but with unusual front swept wings. The other had two split wings, each in the shape of a Y not unlike a Venomian Invader III fighter, but was painted in red.
"Well, well, well,... This is good news," started Fox. "That's the Sky Claw and the Cat's Paw!"
"We are being hailed," called ROB.
"Put 'em through."
First the head of a pink feline with white muzzle and fringe appeared on a monitor, and then a second monitor showed a blue avian, who's smirk dropped and turned into a stupefied face when he saw the person next to Fox.
"Blue? Is that you?" he said with eyes and beak hanging open.
"Hi Falco," said Kursed and stood up. "It's been a while."
The bird's surprised expression turned into a scowl.
"I like your new look," said the feline, "you've changed quite a bit Krystal."
"Thanks Katt! Good to see you," continued the vixen, who had taken to wearing Fox's jackets, but still with those leather pants. "but the name's Kursed now. Yeah, I've changed that too."
Two pairs of eyes with raised brows stared back at her, so she continued, "Hey, why don't you guys come on board? I could use some good company."
"Ouch, Fox! That's gotta hurt!" chuckled Katt. "But it serves you right after treating my friend like that."
Kursed smirked as Fox tried to sink through the backrest of the chair.
Soon after they were sharing a joyous meal of rehydrated Cornerian Army rations and bottled water, while standing in the kitchen of the Great Fox. Yet Kursed was acutely aware of the tension. Fox was leaning on a bench, pretending to eat while keenly studying Falco's expression. Falco just poked around in his portion while scowling at Kursed, and she could feel the distrust radiating from his mind. She knew well where that stemmed from. Falco had been there with Fox on Titania, when Wolf had stolen the device that would help them defeat the Anglars, and revealed that it had been her plan. Falco had neither forgiven nor forgotten.
Only Katt was merrily munching away at her portion.
"I must say I was a bit surprised when I heard you'd gone missing," said Katt with a mouth full of food. "Why did you leave Lylat?"
"When people started hissing 'traitor' at me in the streets, I couldn't stay," muttered Kursed and lowered her gaze. She could sense that the avian was thinking the same word, just not saying it out aloud.
"People are idiots!" the feline burst out. "Yeah, I heard the talk too, but Star Wolf or not, the whole system would be under Anglar rule without you."
"Hey, thanks Katt!"
"So where did you go and what have you been up to?" Falco asked.
"Mostly around Kew collecting bounties," said Kursed.
"You, a bounty hunter?" Katt replied with widened eyes before taking another gulp from her water bottle.
"What'd you think I'd do? Serve coffee in a space port cafe?"
Katt sprayed the water all over Falco, and burst out laughing. Falco tried to wipe it off as best as he could, but then he looked closer at Kursed's scarred face.
"Hang on!" he said. "You're not the Kursed - Are you? I've heard rumours totally cold and fearless killer."
"Trust me, I've seen her in action," Fox said flatly.
"But enough about that," interrupted Kursed, eager to change topic.
"Yeah, what brings you guys here?" Fox tried to help out.
"Funny you should ask," said Falco, pulled out a blaster and pointed it at a shocked Fox. "We've come to collect the bounty on your head."
"It's too good to pass up on for two small time mercenaries like us," Katt added.
"I can relate," said Kursed, nodding in understanding.
The blood drained from Fox's boggle-eyed face, his brain unable to comprehend what was happening. The faint whirr of the blasters pointed at him charging up barely even registered in his ears. It was understandable that the Ruffians had been interested in the bounty, but how could his friends betray him? All his efforts shouldn't end like this, so he wracked his brain, searching for a way out.
There was a faint chuckle ... then another ... followed by one more.
Katt was the first to break down in giggles, soon followed by a hearty laugh from Falco. Even Kursed chuckled a little.
Oh, Fox got it, and his heart started beating again. With her telepathy she'd of course sensed that Falco was joking and just went with it. But it was the first laugh he'd heard from Kursed since they'd met, and that had to count for something.
"You should've seen your face!" cackled Falco as Katt was bending over and clutching her stomach. Fox slumped down on a chair and exhaled loudly.
"Set it to stun and put him out of his misery," said the vixen. "He can take it."
"That's what she did when I'd tracked her down," sighed the vulpine.
"Sounds like you had a happy reunion," grinned Falco as Katt's laughing fit continued. Fox was just sitting there shaking his head.
"Hey girl!" said Katt, wiped the tears from her eyes, and turned towards the violet-haired vixen. "Want to check out what I've done to my ship?"
Kursed just shrugged, but Katt took her by the arm and promptly pulled her out of the kitchen.
"We've got some girl's talk to catch up on," Katt called to the boys as she and the vixen headed towards the flight deck.
"So...," started Kursed tentatively as they were walking through the cold corridors. "You're working with Falco again?"
"Yeah," replied the feline. "I'm working with him and working on him."
"Still think you can make a man out of him?"
"Maybe," Katt giggled. "He's mellowed down just a little bit. We've actually been going steady for a while now without too much fighting. Even a birdbrain can learn eventually."
"I'm happy for you," said the vixen with a smile, and to her surprise she found that she actually meant it. She'd always liked Katt's down-to-earth demeanour, and it felt nice to not be cold and hard Kursed, but to care a little for a change.
"I was pretty shocked when I heard you were with Star Wolf." Then Katt went straight to the point as always. "Were you desperate to get back in space, or was it out of spite?"
"Bit of both," admitted Kursed. And I'm not proud of it, she added to herself.
"That figures. Fox was an idiot, but he knows that now. Are you back together?"
"We're working together," said the vixen and looked at the feline with a blank stare.
"Oh, come on, that stubborn fool still loves you. Even Falco can see that!"
Katt stopped and faced Kursed. She adjusted the jacket Kursed was wearing - Fox's jacket - and smoothed out a couple of wrinkles.
"He looks good on you," the feline continued, admiring her own work. "If I didn't have a certain big blue bird, I think I'd snare a fox instead."
Kursed just shrugged, but felt just the briefest sensation of jealousy over Katt's remark. Fox didn't say it out loud, but she could feel that his love for her was as strong as ever, even though she'd betrayed him. But for her, love had always led to hurt. She'd succeeded in becoming so cold and hard, that she didn't believe she deserved to be loved anymore. Maybe that's why her budding relationship with Hope had never blossomed. Yet she desperately craved to be loved. She'd never felt so torn in her whole life.
"So what do you want to do about the Cerinians?" Katt asked.
"I want to learn about my past."
"Or do you want to knock that Kamuy off her throne, incidentally saving Corneria in the process?"
Kursed replied to Katt's question with a sly smile. That thought had crossed her mind.
"Where did you go anyway?" Fox asked in a serious tone as they were making their way through the Great Fox.
"What do you mean?"
"One day we were sitting there drinking beer in the Great Fox, next thing I know you're gone. I could have used some help getting out of Kamuy's clutches."
"I had to help Katt out of a tight spot and one thing lead to another."
"Ah, girls!" said Fox, and Falco nodded in agreement. "You seem quite cozy. Are you back together?"
"Mostly, but you know what she's like. Sometimes feathers and fur is flying."
"Because you piss her off, no doubt," Fox chuckled. Falco's feathered fist connected with his shoulder, though not too hard, as if it were out of a joking manner. They both smiled.
"I know you've been at Kew," continued Fox. "And I know you've been in the Primordial Race."
"What? That was years ago, but how'd you know about that anyway?"
"I've been in it too!"
"Can't have," scowled Falco. "You're still alive!"
"I won!" grinned Fox. "We seem to have a knack for racing you and me. Hey, maybe we should hang up our blasters and become G-Zero race pilots instead?"
"Did you completely lose your marbles out there?" scoffed Falco, but then he became all serious. "Do you trust her? Blueness?"
"Yeah, I do. I trust her to do what's best for her."
"And if that's to collect your bounty and take off with Kamuy?"
"If that's what she needs to find herself again, I won't stop her."
Falco watched Fox's face closely for any hint of sarcasm, but there was none, and he realised how serious Fox was. Abruptly he stepped in front of Fox and tried to stare him down.
"How can you help her? She betrayed you? I remember every word of what Wolf said to us on Titania. 'If you've got a message for Krystal, I'll deliver it! This was her plan after all!'"
To Falco's shock, Fox grabbed hold of Falco's jacked and pushed him up against the wall with surprising force.
"And that was because I pushed her away. I betrayed her first. And I still went to her on Katina, begging her to come back. I'd already forgiven. You're the one holding the grudge."
Fox's green eyes were staring straight at Falco with an intensity the avian hadn't seen in a long time. Even though he was taller than the fox, he felt intimidated and broke the gaze first. Fox let go and continued his walk.
"So...," Falco said, feeling rather deflated. "Have you got a plan for saving Corneria, or leaving that to the last minute as usual?"
"How can you have a plan against people who can read your mind? We have to be unpredictable, and I could really use your help there. Or should I say... expertise?"
"You flatter me!"
"We need to find any allies we can," continued Fox. "Peppy and Slippy are under their control. Maybe you could suss Lucy out, and contact any freelancers you think might be on our side."
They forgot what nearly had turned into a fight, and bounced some ideas off each other as they walked past the living quarters towards the flight deck. They found the girls chatting away beside the Cat's Paw.
"Sorry to break up the mood," said Falco. "But Katt and I need to get a move on if we're gonna help you guys."
"Will you really help up?" Kursed asked.
"Of course!" exclaimed Katt. Fox watched with some jealousy as the blue vixen he loved gave both Katt and Falco big hugs.
"You're welcome to stay," Fox offered.
"To frickin cold in here!" said Falco. "You being a penny pincher?"
"The central heating is broken," said Kursed, "among other things."
"Okay, although I've got my fluffy feather boa to keep me warm, I think I'll pass on the offer," said Katt. The girls embraced again. "See you soon, Blueness!"
They watched Katt and Falco board their ships and depart after the sweet but too short visit. As they walked back towards the living quarters, Fox could see on the vixen's face that another of those mental battles was raging like a thunderstorm. Finally she spoke.
"About Star Wolf, it wasn't just in spite...," she started hesitantly. "I was sure you'd hear about it and come running back to me. But you hurt me and I wanted to hurt you back, at least a little bit. I'm sorry!"
"You don't need to say sorry for anything," Fox replied and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I said I'm sorry!" she growled and glared at him, since saying sorry didn't come easy for Kursed. He did't think his next words were necessary, but he said them anyway.
"I forgive you!"
"And I forgive you for pushing me off the team," she whispered. He put his other hand on her other shoulder and slowly leaned in to kiss her, but she put her fingers in front of his mouth and said, "Friends?"
The word felt like a warm and bittersweet dagger stabbing through his heart. Still, it was better than being hated. How can we be lovers, if we can't be friends?
That sounds like a corny old song, she replied into his mind. Then she said aloud, "We should get some rest while we can."
"I'll get you some more blankets," he said and headed towards a spare bedroom.
"Hey, Fox!"
He stopped in his tracks. It was the first time Kursed has spoken his name. He turned around and saw something he hand't seen in a long time, something he had been desperately hoping for. The vixen was wearing a small and shy yet sly smile. An expression that definitely was Krystal's.
"Bring your pelt too, please."
It's so warm for a cold heart and soul.
Lord O'Donnell was making himself comfortable with a drink in the lounge of his Sargasso hideout, having just come back from a long trip to the Star Wolf Centre on Corneria. Sure, after the Anglar Wars his citizen status had been restored, so he could come and go there as he pleased. He even felt a slightly perverted pleasure in being treated as a hero, but he had no intention of becoming a regular tax payer there any time soon. His less-than-legal enterprises were way too lucrative, although Corneria was a good place to gather intel and drum up business.
Yet, it had become a strange place the last few months. He had bad vibes about the Cerinian involvement. General Peppy wasn't acting himself, and those tele-neuronic implants freaked Wolf out. He didn't trust for one moment that the wearer was in full control. With the Cerinian visitors openly admitting that many of them were telepathic, he wondered whether another Cerinian also had been, someone who had been on his team. He'd thought that Krystal's actions and reflexes often had been a bit too good to just be because of keen senses and intuition. But if she'd had a sixth sense, then everything fell into place.
"We're being hailed!" came Leon's voice over the comms system. What? He didn't expect anyone.
"Put it on the screen and get your sorry tails in here" he replied. Leon and Panther scampered in just as the picture and an all too familiar face came through. What the...?
"Fox! What makes you think you can just drop in here all the time?"
"I need help."
"Just like on Corneria against the Aparoids?" said Wolf smugly.
"The Cerinians are taking over Corneria. If you've been there lately, you would have seen it."
Odd, thought Wolf. It's not like Fox not to take the bait.
"Looks to me like the place is going gangbusters."
"For a while," continued Fox. "Until all the resources have been used up. They're destroying the planet. I can't take them on myself."
"Why should I care?"
"Move over. I've got this!" said another voice and a blue vixen appeared in view. She was curvy and pretty, apart from a scar on a cheek and a chipped ear. Her hair was a violent shade of violet and she was wearing black leather. Leon's eyes uncrossed and Panther's jaw dropped.
I'll be damned, thought Wolf. He recalled a mission to Kew to track down a valuable asset and bring it to Lylat, a failed solo mission from which Panther returned empty handed with stories of a fearless bounty hunter. It had taken a lot of coaxing from Wolf's side before Panther finally admitted that the bounty hunter was female, a purple haired vixen of all things. The last tracking signals from the Cloud Runner had shown that Krystal had been travelling in the general direction of Kew before she vanished. Although the ship hadn't been designed for such a journey, Wolf had suspected that there was a link, which however Panther had stubbornly denied. But seeing those familiar sea green eyes removed any doubt.
"Let me see... Kursed I presume?"
"Pleased to meet you!" she replied. "So you knew."
Wolf liked this version of Krystal, but he was intrigued by Panther's reaction, and what really had happened on Kew. It wasn't like the feline to be speechless. Oh, here he goes.
"My darling space flower? What has happened to your beautiful face?"
"Oh, you know, every rose has its thorn."
"Are you coming back to Star Wolf?"
"Sorry Panther," she said with a smirk and pointed with her thumb over her shoulder in the general direction of Fox. "But this guy came for me, so I might let him hang around, at least for a bit."
The vulpine looked puzzled, his jaw opening ever so slightly, but with no sound coming out. Wolf chuckled. She had turned into a badass!
"And he's right," continued Kursed. "Corneria is getting destroyed and you should care, because you live off the spoils. Those people will take everything and move on. Then there will only be a fight until the last man standing over the scraps that are left. You may well be that last man standing, but you'll still only get scraps."
"They don't scare me. I've taken on Aparoids and Anglars before."
"This is different. They're Cerinians and telepaths, like me! Yeah, I know that you knew that. And they know what you're doing before you do it, because they'll know what you're thinking. How'd you think Panther and Leon could never beat me?" She smiled sweetly at him. "Trust me, I've taken down bigger and badder guys than you!"
"Really?" His voice lowered to a growl at the thinly veiled threat.
"Imagine firing and throwing punches, but hitting nothing, because they see it all coming."
"So how are you going to take them on then?"
"By not overthinking it and using brute force. And that's where we need help."
"Just muscle, huh?" said Wolf feeling slightly offended, and not hiding it.
"We need a big fleet and a distraction, so round up any rebels and mercenaries you can think of. We've got Falco on the case too, engaging any PMCs who might be on our side. Then we need more intel and we've got a man on the ground for that."
"On Corneria?"
"Yep, he just doesn't know it. Actually, we could need a man helping to retrieve him. Any volunteers?"
She winked at Panther who's eyes widened just for a moment, like he had been startled. But then he regained his composure and purred, "I won't let you down!"
Let Panther and Fox have fun trying to tame her, Wolf mused, but then his thoughts took a serious turn. A mercenary turned bounty hunter with those powers would be force to be reckoned with, and he wracked his brain over the ramifications. He couldn't make up his mind as to whether she would make a formidable ally, or an even more dangerous threat. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, they say, but does that go for a mindreader?
Likewise, he didn't know whether to join Fox's crusade or not. It depended on whether the Cerinians would stop when Corneria was used up, or continue to vanquish the whole system. But assisting the vulpine pair take on the Cerinians might at least answer that question, at least if it could be done discreetly.
Author's Note: Credit and thanks to SpaceCat010 for beta reading and suggesting improvements. There will be some action in the next chapter. I promise.
