Oookay, it's been awhile. Blame all the usual RL crud, yanking on my chain. And my natural lack of writing-drive, it comes and goes.
Like a one-night stand, Panther might say.
Anyways, am back, this story isn't dead and I'm not abandoning it, no matter how long it takes to complete.
Your reviews are appreciated and i've taken em all to heart. Characters will get more depth, insofar as the story permits, and err I'm still struggling with the balance between 'telling' and letting the reader discover things in a more natural way.
Panther needs more screen-time, I admit, but then again so do others. Not sure how to fit it all in and still keep the story flowing and feeling vibrant and exciting.
Enough of that though, my struggles are my own, for now just enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!
##############
He'd left by the front entrance of the appartment and was surprised to find that, unlike the deserted alley and the emergency exit in the basement Panther had led him through, this corridor was clean and filled with a large number of passers-by. Fox unobtrusively kept himself to the shadows while scanning the steadily moving throng of people.
Since being captured he'd lost all track of time and pulled out his new comm. Tapped its screen, bringing it to life. Ah, 22:20 Sargasso Standard, right. It was probably shift-change then, he thought, seeing mostly workers in tech-garb, their clothes color-coded to denote different specialisms. Systems and mechanical engineers, software jockeys, docking crew, hydroponics specialists, he recognized a few. He breathed a small sigh of relief, spotting no deep-red uniforms of Andross' military forces. So far so good.
Something else caught his eye. If the crowd looked diverse because of their clothing, the variety of species was even more distinctive. Where Corneria City was mostly populated by canines and, on a smaller scale, by felines, here he saw representatives of almost every species known to Lylat, rubbing shoulders as they made their communal way to their destinations. He frowned. There WERE other species on Corneria, he knew there were, they just didn't come into the city much.
His frown deepened, Wolf's harsh words nagging at him. Corneria didn't have second-class citizens, those other species probably just didn't have jobs in the city, right? Fox grimaced, even to him that sounded just a bit too convenient. Seeing such a cultural diversity here, on Sargasso, going to work together, talking quietly amongst themselves, joking, laughing, rubbed his nose in a reality that he'd never wanted to consider, hadn't even been consciously aware of.
The wide pedestrian throughway stretched far to his left and right and he randomly picked a direction, lost in thought, wading into the stream, feeling safe in his new disguise. Okay, so mostly canines and felines on Corneria, with some other species living on the fringes of Corneria City. But was that really so strange? It didn't automatically mean that Cornerians were racists or that the government was actively encouraging segregation between species and classes of haves and have-nots, as Wolf had implied. Heck, on a broader scale there was even a kind of 'natural' distribution of races across Lylat's planets, so even though they all started out as Cornerian colonies during the period of expansion through the system, the main habitable planets of Katina, Papetoon, Sauria, Zoness and Macbeth all had major populations that were comprised of only a few main species. Nothing unexpected there, it was a natural process. Right?
Fox grimaced. Yeah fine but wasn't he just rationalizing things now? Maybe each planet's population had formed that way because of simple things like climate and a species' preference. Like Slippy's folk, most of them lived on Aquas, lots of water right? And Papetoon, where his own family came from, foxes and lynxes loved it there, loved the temperate climate and the endless plains and forests. The reptilian species felt right at home living on the tropical equatorial reaches of Sauria, avians like Falco were dominant in the lush jungles of Zoness, and lupines like Wolf could mostly be found on... Fox blinked, realizing he didn't know. He made a note to look it up someday.
But yeah. It didn't explain the class differences. And thinking about it, he had to admit that that kind of difference really did seem to exist. All the menial jobs in Corneria City? Rodents, badgers, stoats. And none of them actually lived in the city, they just transited in to do their jobs and at the end of a workday went back to their homes. Outside the city. Their much less luxurious homes, Fox thought. Far away from the city. Dammit.
Wolf, get the hell out of my head!
Corneria had a GOOD social system, okay maybe not perfect but hey, no system was ever perfect! People had food, had a roof above their heads, were happy enough, right? So yeah Corneria frowned on pirates and criminals like Wolf and his Sargasso gang here. What the heck did he expect? As if THIS place was all flowers and sunshine, he muttered with a scowl, getting a few worried glances and pulling his collar up while cutting through a narrow side-corridor, again choosing a direction at random.
It was Wolf who needed a reality-check, not himself or Krystal!
He was in a dark mood when he finally escaped the blue collar district and reached the commercial section of the station.
The station was on its night cycle and its main lights were dimmed, most illumination provided by streetlamps, holo-ads and garish signs promoting all kinds of entertainment. The bright lights cut through the surrounding darkness. Baisley's burgers, one shouted, get your meat here! Some others just said 'FOOD'. And of course there were clubs. For dancing. For...girls.
And boys, he noted.
He shrugged past it all, walked through a cone of light and caught sight of his reflection in a window. Pulled a face. His mother wouldn't recognize him now. He stared at himself, chest tightening. Vixy... how would things have been if his mother hadn't died...if his father hadn't died, murdered by that bastard Andross.
And Star Wolf.
He growled under his breath. Wolf. Wolf had Krystal, at this very moment, in his fucking bedroom. And had told them an unbelievable story that a child could poke holes through. Wolf suddenly had a conscious, was guided by noble moral principles? He cared about the people of Sargasso? And was plotting against Andross? Yeah right. Why the hell would he do that? As conflicts go, the outcome of this war wasn't at all certain, it could still go either way. Andross could win. And wouldn't Wolf be in a great position then, right-hand man of the emperor himself. Hell, he'd have it all!
So why, why would he even consider rebellion? It was a huge gamble. Chances of success were exteremely low, he'd be going up against all of Andross' forces, a massive armada of ships and fighters, all of the mad scientist's special weapons, and last but not least, he'd be going up against Andross' powerful intellect.
If Wolf lost...he'd lose it all. He'd lose everything!
It just didn't make sense. If he understood anything about Wolf, it was that Wolf looked out for himself, first and foremost.
So his story was bullshit, right? There must be some other reason, some other explanation for Wolf's actions. What would Wolf gain by keeping up this charade? Did he want to turn him and Krystal against Corneria? Hah, that was ridiculous! He'd never ever fall for that, Corneria was his home, he'd fight to the death to protect its people!
He blinked.
Krystal.
Unlike himself, she didn't have a home to defend. She'd lost her planet, lost her people, there was nothing left of Cerinia if the stories were to be believed. She had nothing except Star Fox. Was that it? Did Wolf think that she was vulnerable, unsure of her place in the universe, uncertain of her future? Insecure of her relationship with himself.. ugh. Did he see her as Star Fox's weakest link? Was Wolf trying to get at him through Krystal? Is that why he kept them separated? Was he working on Krystal, trying to turn her loyalties, trying to corrupt her? And by corrupting her, get to him?
Now that sounded a lot more like Wolf. And he'd almost fallen for it. Godsdammit. The devious bastard.
Scowling, he cast his pointed muzzle about. He was not going to be duped into playing Wolf's game!
No way in hell.
##############
The gazelle was lithe, her body athletic, toned, her movements effortless and elegant as she danced, her body's gyrations slow and measured, erotically hypnotic. The raised platform showed her off to the whole club and multicoloured spotlights added to the effect, vibrant amber, purple and green lights highlighting the dancer's sensual curves while the club's patrons watched, cloaked in relative darkness.
It didn't hurt that she was wearing next to nothing. Sheer whisps of fabric clung here and there but did nothing to mask her ah, assets. On the contrary, they served to highlight every dip and curve of flesh and fur... no doubt, the overall effect was skillfully done and totally on purpose.
Panther nursed a red and orange cocktail while enjoying the view. Never seen this one before, must have arrived on one of the latest ships to dock at Sargasso. Well well... such a beauty deserved a proper welcome to the station, he mused, and perhaps some... personal guidance. Yes. All alone in a new environment, surrounded by strangers, that must be terribly intimidating.
He smiled to himself, taking a sip of his drink, savouring the iced fruit juice and gin on his tongue before swallowing. Rrryesss, surely she would welcome some... friendly help.
"Who is that?" he purred, mesmerized.
His companion of the evening, a dusky-furred ocelot, pulled a face and tightened her hold on his arm, her thoughts darkening. Fuck. Panther should be admiring her, right, and not some random floozy who made a living grinding a dancepole in a skeezy club? She had way more class than that bimbo up there! And she didn't hook up with Star Wolf's ace pilot to stand gawking at the competition, either!
They'd been dancing for a few hours already, flirting, hell he'd had his paws on her ass only minutes ago! She had him, and now this?
Panther was oblivious to his date's shift in mood.
"Don't know, don't care." she replied sourly, but then switched her tone, voice dropping to a seductive growl while putting more weight on his arm "C'mon... let's get out of here babe... I can think of much better things we could be doing...". She moulded her body against him, making it very clear what kind of things she had in mind.
Panther turned to her then, lips curved in a suggestive smile "Rrrwell my beauty... if I am not mistaken this shift should be over in a few minutes. Panther feels we should get acquainted with the lady and give her a proper welcome to Sargasso.". He flashed her a grin "Who knows, with any luck we could turn this into a party à trois, no..?"
Her outraged expression didn't seem to faze him one bit and he was about to continue when he paused, frowned, and pulled out his comm.
"Just a moment my lovely, Panther needs to take this."
Feline eyes narrowed at the small screen and his brow furrowed. Then he frowned deeper, muttering "... geofence boundary breached.. rr where the hell does he think he's going...?" and swiped at the device, pulling up maps. It took only a moment to locate his target.
"Shit."
He pushed his drink into the girl's hands. "Here, hold this. Raincheck!" and left her standing there, perplexed, as he turned and hurriedly pushed his way through the crowd, heading for the nearest exit. Curses trailed him as he jostled people in his haste.
Once outside and beyond the thumping rhythm of the music he speed-dialed a number and waited impatiently for a response.
"Come on... come on... " and when he heard the pick-up "Wolf?"
"You better have a damn good reason for waking me."
Panther bit his lip. He was out in the open and on a device that Star Wolf considered to be compromised. He couldn't just out and say that Fox McCloud was heading towards a part of Sargasso that he had no business being in. Andross' agents no doubt had their comms tapped.
"Panther would not call you for something trivial, as you well know."
A growl.
"Get to the point."
Panther grimaced. Always so charming, his boss.
"The smuggler we spoke of? Tracker indicates he's going places we don't want him going. Specifically, the sublevels under block B3.". Indicating compartments that housed Sargasso maintenance equipment, conduit junctions, secondary power distribution subsystems and the like. There was nothing down there that Fox should be interested in.
"I see." A pause, then "Intercept the target. I'm on my way. Wolf out."
##############
"Hahah you put up a good fight! Where did you learn to play like that huh?"
Fox concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. He'd drank too much. But that seemed to be the culture here, booze was an integral part of making contacts and getting deals done. Oh and gambling. Gambling was a thing. Luckily he'd had lots of practice with Falco and the rest of the team, those hours of poker sure came in handy tonight.
"Good fight my ass. You guys took me for nearly two grand." he growled.
They all chuckled at that. "They" being an overweight bulldog named Hank, a lanky doberman going by the name of Boris and a brown hare whose name he'd forgotten. They'd left the dingy bar only a few minutes ago, with Fox in tow, and were now headed to their next destination. It was late and the corridors were pretty much deserted, especially after they left the main avenues. Lights were at a premium as well and it was getting darker as they headed deeper into the station's bowels.
"Boss, you sure about this...? Wolf really won't be happy if he finds out we ehh.. " the hare darted a nervous glance at Fox "... helped this guy escape the lockdown?"
The bulldog turned as if stung, all traces of laughter instantly gone. "Ralf, shut the fuck up! What Wolf doesn't know can't bother him. Besides, how d'ya think this could get back to us? No trail, no trace, we jack the ship, give it to this guy, and he goes and gets himself blown up. Easy cash!"
The doberman let out a low laugh while Ralf cringed and looked even more worried.
".. w-was just saying, I- I'm not sure this is a good idea and - "
"Well fine then, just fuck off and go back home, you fucking coward! Y'gonna say no to fifty big ones, huh? Good! More for Boris an' me!"
Well this wasn't going as planned, Fox thought, frowning. He'd blended in, invested HOURS playing poker and getting to know these lowlifes, and when the topic inevitably came around to the recent news and the situation Sargasso and its traders were in, he'd heaped it on, bitching along with the rest about how unfair it was and how his business dealings were suffering because of the lockdown.
And he'd hit jackpot. After some not-so-subtle hints that he wanted to get off the station really really bad and was willing to put serious money towards a solution, they hunkered down and made him an offer. Well, the bulldog did, his fat paunch resting on the table as he leaned in close and told Fox they knew of a ship. A small one, docked in an unusual spot near the belly of the station, that was owned by some freelancer who used it for courier missions. Surveillance was minimal down there, the dog explained, which let the courier guy slip in and out unnoticed.
And they'd hacked the command codes awhile ago because, just like Fox, they wanted to have options if this whole situation went pear-shaped.
Fox couldn't believe his luck. He'd buy the ship with Wolf''s money, hah the irony, get it prepped for launch and then get the hell back to Wolf's place to free Krystal! And if Wolf stood in his way, well too bad. He was done being jerked around.
That was the plan anyway. And now after all that effort these guys were getting cold feet? That wouldn't do, not at all.
"Look, guys, relax." he said, stepping forward "Stay frosty, we do this as planned and everybody goes home with their pockets full, right?" and poured the charm on with a big grin "Except me coz I get blown up haha!"
That broke the tension and they all had a good laugh.
"Haw, y're a funny one Jaakko! Okay! Let's get this show on the road!" and the bulldog led them deeper into the station.
Fox trudged along, the cool air helping to chase the alcoholic vapors from his mind. Yeah this was the Sargasso he'd expected, not what Wolf wanted him to see! Criminals, doing criminal things, that's what this place was all about. He couldn't wait to get off this damn station and leave it behind to its fate. When he got back he'd tell Pepper exactly what – ehh, hang on. What would he tell Pepper? The truth? Well yeah, of course right? He'd blow Wolf's little scheme out of the water and expose him for the lying scumbag he really was! He'd -
"Damn shame about that girl."
Fox's ears perked and he turned to the doberman. "What girl?"
Who just looked at him as if he were stupid or something. "Whaddayamean what girl? That Star Fox chick, it was all over the news!"
For a moment Fox feared he'd missed something, some new newsflash or.. or.. "Fox McCloud got ripped up and his teammate's being held captive by Wolf, is that what you mean?"
"Hell yeah man, what else?"
Fox breathed a sigh of relief. Damn. For a moment he feared something had happened to Krystal.
"Nobody's seen her since they got taken to Wolf, and hey, you saw what he did to McCloud! Imagine what she must be going through now!"
Fox grimaced, disturbingly enough the doberman sounded more excited than worried. He grit his teeth, what a douchebag.
"You say that like you'd love to give him some help with that." he snarked.
And got a brash laugh in return. "Ooooh hahah, sounds like we got ourselves a fanboy here! Whatcha gonna do about it huh, gonna step up to Wolf and demand sloppy seconds?"
They stood laughing at him, the bulldog having joined in. Even the hare added a nervous chuckle.
But it wasn't funny at all. These bastards couldn't care less about what happened to Krystal, they were sick, depraved scum, taking pleasure in another's misery! Something in him ticked over, something snapped. In the course of one day he'd lost a battle, had crashed and burned his Arwing, had almost lost Krystal, had been abused, had been shot in the back, watched a guy get viciously torn apart and had to put up with Wolf's bullshit, enough was enough!
"And what if I did?" he growled.
They blinked, confused.
"What if you did what, bud?"
"Don't you have any common decency? Can't you understand what Krys- what that girl might be going through, right now, at this very minute? Don't you care, is it really all about making a few gold Lylats, huh, to pay for your next beer, your next hamburger, your next fucking blowjob?"
He'd lost it, he knew it, but he didn't care, these people were unbelievable!
"How can you just stand there joking?" he continued, "Isn't there any part of you that wants to go help her? Seriously? What kind of men are you?"
He didn't know when he'd drawn his blaster but the three goons flinched back, alarmed, hands going for their own weapons.
"Whoa whoa bud, easy there!" the bulldog said "... we didn't mean nothing by it, no need to getcher self all riled up an' stuff!"
Fox stood panting, eyes wild, dangerous.
Hank slowly held his hands to the side, palms out, and continued: "Calm down man, deep breaths, we've all had a few too many, let's not blow a good deal over some girl we don't even know, okay?"
It wasn't easy to slide his blaster back into its holster, but he managed it. This was exactly the difference between him and Wolf. This. Being the good guy wasn't just about saving those you cared about, no, you saved everyone! Because it was the right thing to do! These lowlifes here? They couldn't care less, they only cared about themselves.
And Wolf was no different.
So he put his gun away, pretended to shrug it off, blamed the booze with a few offhand comments and they continued on their way. He had a mission to accomplish, Krystal depended on him. He wasn't going to let his anger get the better of him and jeopardize that.
Machinery hummed and throbbed under their feet and the air smelled of oil, hydraulic fluid and wet iron. There were hardly any lights in this part of the station, they'd descended a couple of levels. It was colder as well. That made sense, nobody lived down here, why would you spend resources on heating? The warmth that radiated down from the levels above was enough to keep things bearable.
They had just rounded a corner. There was no warning. Fox heard only the briefest of sounds, cloth against cloth, before his head violently slammed forward, the suckerpunch catching him totally unawares.
He smacked to the floor, cold steel deckplates pressed hard against his face. They took his blaster, gave him a few kicks for good measure.
Fox groaned and crawled to all fours, cursing "Unhh what the heck..?" then got up and stood swaying, his head still ringing from the hit. He turned to find the bulldog watching him impassively. Boris the doberman was looking at him like he was a piece of meat. And Ralf, the hare, just looked nervous and slightly apologetic.
"Okay twinkletoes. By now y've probably got the message that there's been a change of plan."
The doberman snickered.
"There is no ship, there never was a ship. If you cooperate y'll get through this just fine. No hard feelings, we're just gonna rob ya."
The bulldog's tone hardened "Now grab your credit scrip and transfer all the cash to my account." Boris held Fox's blaster trained on him, looking way too eager.
Dammit. He should have seen this coming, it was too much of a coincidence. How could he have been so stupid? So careless? He was furious. Fox rubbed the back of his head and felt a warm wetness. Blood.
"And if I do? What then? You're going to let me walk away, just like that?"
The bulldog shrugged. "Sure man.". But Fox could see the real answer in the hare's eyes. They weren't going to let him walk away. He'd seen their faces, knew their names. He was a witness and could cause trouble.
But not if he were dead.
Fox growled a "You scumbags..." and suddenly dashed forward, catching the doberman by surprise.
They were no match for a trained mercenary. The dog squeezed the trigger but the shot went past his ear and Fox didn't give the dobie time for a second one, shoulder-checking him in the chest and using momentum to send him crashing into a bulkhead, turning in the movement to take control of the gun.
A second discharge fired loudly, the crimson blast strobing the near-darkness and painting the scene a vivid red. The bulldog ducked and drew his own blaster, trying to get a bead on Fox but hindered by the doberman who was now struggling, fighting back. Damn he was strong! Fox raised his boot and stamped it down on the guy's instep, smiling grimly as a loud yelp cut through the air and the dobie's grip on the gun loosened. A quick reverse turn put pressure on his wrist and resulted in a smooth disarm. Fox lowered his center of gravity and shoved the doberman towards their leader, gaining a few vital seconds as the two thugs tumbled to the ground. The hare, where was he, did he have a gun-?
Fox almost laughed out loud. Ralf was sat on his behind where he'd apparently landed after Fox had flashed into action. The hare's eyes were wide and scared. No threat there.
He spun back towards the canines and was raising his blaster when suddenly shots rang out.
Boris' head exploded and his lanky frame froze as if supended in time, before slowly toppling over. Hank stood staring down at his chest. Or what was left of it.
They both collapsed onto the deck, blood swiftly pooling beneath their lifeless bodies.
Fox stared, shocked, as a figure detached itself from the shadows.
"P-Panther..?"
##############
This just wasn't working out, he thought with a growl. What a fucking clusterfuck!
He was making good time, boots thudding solidly on the deckplates as he loped through dark corridors and down dank stairwells. Even so, he was going to be late. Maybe too late even. Despite his speed he was still minutes away from Fox and was silently raging, running a mental monologue. Godsdammit Panther, you were supposed to stick close to him, like a shadow! And prevent this kind of shit from happening! Well fucking good job there, well done!
Wolf snarled. He needed crewmates he could depend on! He couldn't be everywhere himself, couldn't do everything himself! What the hell use were they if he couldn't delegate and trust that the job got done, and got done right!
If Panther had been getting his dick wet instead of paying attention to his job the feline was in for a world of hurt, he fumed.
And Fox!
He hated to admit it, but the betrayal stung. It stung bad. Fox hadn't believed him, hadn't bought into his story and had used his freedom not to get a good look at Sargasso and its community, no, instead he tried to find his way off the station. Wolf let out a snarl of impotent rage. What the hell would it take to make Fox understand? And if Fox was such a problem, what to expect of Pepper?
He huffed a breath, frustrated. This just wasn't going to work. They'd never trust him, he'd been a fucking fool to even entertain the thought.
Well fine then!
He'd have to do this the hard way.
##############
"Well hello McCloud, been busy I see..."
Fox straightened but didn't lower his blaster.
"Panther, how did you... oh." Fox glanced down at his clothes. How stupid. His clothes, the comm they gave him. Of course. Tracker.
The dark feline saw Fox's thoughts in his eyes and nodded, approaching in that deceptively casual and elegant manner that he affected. Fox wasn't deceived though, the cat could move fast and was a deadly opponent. As he had just witnessed.
"You can put your gun away now, there is no need." Panther drawled, cutting a disparaging look at Ralf who was still cowering on the deck, eyes wide, shaking badly.
Fox frowned. "Panther, I had this, you didn't have to..." He gestured at the bodies "...that."
The feline reached Fox's side.
"Oh dear Fox, your innocence is almost appealing..." he purred "... but also quite misguided. You realize they were going to execute you, yes?"
"Yes but -"
"W-wait! Fox? Fox McCLOUD?" Ralf's voice cut through the conversation.
They both turned towards the hare, who was staring at them in shock, eyes wide.
"You're Fox McCloud? THE Fox McCloud? B-but I thought... the news, the vids, they...". The hare's voice trembled. As did his long ears. And his whiskers. He was a pathetic sight, obviously not cut out for this line of work.
Just as Fox and Panther were about to reply, a new voice cut through the darkness. It was low, edging on a growl.
"Oh isn't this just fucking lovely."
##############
Wolf surveyed the scene, a look of distaste twisting his muzzle before focusing on Fox.
"Seriously, what the fuck?" he asked sourly.
Fox and Panther shared a look. It was Fox who finally spoke.
"I'm done being jerked around, Wolf. I don't know what your game is but it certainly isn't the bullshit story you've been feeding me."
Wolf didn't answer, and instead silently moved toward the dead bodies where he crouched, boots firmly planted in the slowly expanding pool of blood. He turned the doberman over and stared for a moment at what was left of his face.
Finally he looked up. "These men are dead because of your little stunt." And pointed a claw-tipped finger at Fox. "They usually wouldn't pull shit like this. But you gave them an opportunity they couldn't pass up, a steak too juicy to ignore."
For a moment Wolf just stared, his single violet eye glowing hard and unforgiving in the semi-darkness. His voice, when he continued, was deeper, harsher.
"They're all dead because you couldn't stick to the plan!"
The accusation hit surprisingly hard and Fox bristled. "Don't you lay this on me! You shot us down, you captured us, you staged this whole obscure charade! Whatever happens because of it is your fault!"
The fact that it had been Wolf's men who had done the shooting and capturing, and not Wolf personally, seemed irrelevant to the fox. Nonetheless, his words struck home.
Wolf was furious. But kept a tight rein on his emotions. He simply stood and continued, voice tight.
"I heard what the hare said. He made you, your cover is blown. Nice job."
Fox opened his muzzle to hotly reply but Panther beat him to it.
"Wolf, the mistake was mine, Panther sincerely apologizes." The feline had lost his earlier composure and was now agitated, was radiating frustration, long black tail lashing behind him. If anything he seemed disappointed in himself for having called Fox by his name. He should have known better. It had been a rookie mistake, careless. Which he prided himself on not being.
"No shit. Get your head screwed on straight, Panther. We can't afford slip-ups."
Wolf turned to the hare.
"What's your name, kid?"
"R-Ralf..?"
Wolf pulled his blaster from the deep recesses of his long overcoat.
"No! Wolf, no!" and there was Fox, hanging onto his arm.
Wolf cut his rival a look. Shifted the gun to his free hand.
"What?"
"There's been enough killing today, Wolf. No more."
The bigger mercenary sneered. "It's obvious you don't have the balls to clean up the mess you made. Now get outta my way before you get hurt."
Fox released his arm but didn't retreat. On the contrary, he moved to stand in front of Wolf, blocking his view of the hare.
"No."
Wolf's hand tightened around the blaster. His arm was still hanging by his side but it would only take a moment to bring the weapon to bear. Damn you Fox... standing there, knowing nothing of the consequences of your actions, the ruin it will bring down upon everyone. Ignorant hero logic, Wolf silently raged, you can't save everybody Fox, people die, this is war!
His body shifted subtly, preparing to move fast, decisively.
He felt a presence near his eight o'clock. He may be blind on that side but his senses were keen. Panther. So when the feline spoke he wasn't startled. Just slightly more pissed off.
"Wolf. I... Panther believes Fox may have a point."
Wolf snarled. "Shit, what, you too?"
But Panther didn't back down. "No, no, at least not the way he sees it." and turned to briefly glance at the fox "... what Panther is trying to say... is that you have had enough killing for one day."
Panther leaned in closer, so that only Wolf could hear. "It does not seem fair that you should be the only one to take these burdens upon yourself, Wolf. It is not healthy." and continuing "The fault was mine. It seems only fitting that I should set this straight."
He took half a step back, voice at normal volume again "Please Wolf, listen to Fox. Accompany him back to the appartment. I feel it would be good if you two took some time to... ah... speak under normal circumstances for once. No space battle, no combat, no chains. Just the two of you."
The cat then looked down at the dead bodies and sighed. "I will take care of this."
For a moment Wolf looked as if he was going to argue. But a look passed across his muzzle and he clenched his jaw. Nodded, once.
"Fine. Fox, you're with me."
##############
The way back to the appartment started in silence, the two mercenary leaders trudging along without speaking.
Fox was the first to cave.
"Wolf. Talk to me."
"Why?"
"Why? Augh! You can't just leave me in the dark and expect me to play along!"
The wolf's reply was surly. "What's the use, why should I explain anything? You won't believe me anyway."
Silence.
"Try. Make an effort."
Wolf stopped and rounded on him, fists clenched. "Why the fuck should I make an effort? Tell me Fox. Fuckin' enlighten me!"
Fox matched his rival glare for glare. "You said you needed us! We don't even want to be here!"
"I don't want you here either! You got here by letting your ass get captured, by no fault of mine!"
Things were about to get messy, the wolf loomed, violence in his eye. But something in Fox's expression made Wolf back away, anger fading.
"For fuck's sake Fox..." He stood for a moment, pinching the bridge of his muzzle as if to stave off a headache. "The situation isn't ideal, I get that. We have to- " Wolf noticed Fox was looking at him strangely. "What?"
"What just happened there Wolf?"
Now it was Wolf's turn to look puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"One moment you looked as if you were going to tear into me. Then you suddenly backed off. Why?"
Wolf's expression deepened into a frown. "Is this your way of changing the subject?"
"No! Hear me out. There's something you're not telling me. What is it?"
Nothing showed on his face but Wolf's mind was in turmoil. Sure, he could tell Fox that this was just a respite, that he was going to have his hide someday, the way things should be. In space, not here in some slimy dark corridor. He could even say that he respected Fox, that Fox was the only person who ever gave him a real challenge.
He could say all that, and more. And it would all be true.
"Or I could just tell him the real reason." Wolf thought. "That he has his father's eyes."
"The same eyes that looked right at me, before I put a blaster bolt between 'em."
Wolf turned away.
"It's fucking late. Come on."
And with that, he walked off.
##############
Leon's ship docked smoothly, its pilot exiting the cockpit just as elegantly once the craft had come to a full standstill. The checkpoints had let him pass unchallenged, Andross' local fleet having been briefed the day before. Wolf's override codes had done the rest, had opened the doors to Sargasso station itself.
All in all his mission hadn't taken very long. But then again, these were just last-minute tweaks. The mission proper, the big parts, had been set in motion more than six months ago.
His long tail curled in satisfaction.
They were entering endgame.
##############
"You say anything about this to anyone and your life is forfeit. Understood?"
Ralf could only stare, still in shock.
"Get in."
"Wh-what...? What are you-?"
The hare squeaked sharply as a big strong paw closed over the loose fur at the back of his neck and shoved him bodily into the cage.
"Get in already!" Panther closed the door, locked it.
"I- I don't understand!" The hare's eyes were wide, terrified. Trembling paws grasped the steel bars. "Wh-Why do you even have something like this in your quarters?!"
The ebon-black feline frowned. Now was not the time to elaborate on all the different ways one could enjoy ahh... relationships. It was obvious that this Ralf person had never heard of or experienced any form of BDSM. At best he'd be a Little, Panther mused. At worst a Slave, or a Forced sub... but the hare was oblivious, not having a clue to this world and its intricacies, and was therefor useless. Having said that, his hobby-cage was definitely proving useful in this situation, even if its charms were lost on its occupant.
"You stay in there, Panther will feed you, you will live. Understood?"
"But, but..."
A loud growl. "The alternative is death, do you understand? Panther is loath to execute you, as it would, even by proxy, lay an extra burden on Wolf's mind. So this is your salvation."
After a few heartbeats, Panther continued.
"Panther will feed you, take care of you. Until this is over."
The hare didn't understand, it was evident in his expression. But Panther didn't have the time nor the patience to explain further. He had two bodies to get rid of. He curled a lip in distaste, he hated wet work.
##############
"Wolf."
"What now?"
"How's Krystal?"
Wolf thought back to the last moments he'd been together with the vixen. The way she had lain on his bed, sprawled bonelessly across the sheets. No fear, no inhibitions. Completely at his mercy. He bit his lip. The word 'boneless' hadn't applied to him in that moment. At all. Damn, how did he keep getting himself into this kind of shit?
Fox picked up on the wolf's hesitation.
"Wolf?!"
"Oh. Um. Right, she's ah... fine." Blue was extremely fine, he thought to himself. But this wasn't the place nor the time for such thoughts. If ever, he added.
"What do you mean, fine?"
He looked around. No risk of being overheard down here, they were still in the dark, unfrequented underbelly of Sargasso. Lights were few and far between and they hadn't seen a soul since they'd left the scene of the ambush.
Wolf shrugged and decided to go for part of the truth. Hopefully that would derail Fox's thoughts enough to keep him from poking his snout into things he really really didn't want to talk about.
"I had to hit her."
Fox froze in his tracks. "You what?!"
Wolf had stopped too. He wasn't the kind to avoid confrontations or tough issues. Might as well cut to the chase and get this over with.
"Just like you, she has a role to play. She'll be on the news tomorrow and hey guess what? Wouldn't it be strange if she looked all okay and unharmed?" Wolf growled. "I fuckin' tore you to bloody pieces and then dragged her off to my bedroom! Get a clue, Fox!"
The fox in question just narrowed his eyes, hackles up. "Wolf, what did you do?"
Again he shrugged, bottling his agitation. Fair enough, the guy was concerned about a member of his team, hell, he got that.
"I offered her a choice between a fat lip or a black eye. She chose the shiner."
Wolf leaned back against a bulkhead as Fox processed the information. Fox seemed the type who needed to 'talk things out', he mused. Must be his feminine side, feh. He huffed, a thin smile curling his lip, and continued.
"She was a real trooper about it, took it like a pro." The smile widened into a wicked grin. "Makes me wonder what else she can take."
Okay, maybe he was pushing things. But he was having fun with this, he admitted to himself, and – oh haw! Fox was in his face, snarling!
"Don't you dare!"
Wolf's grin widened.
"Or what McCloud? You gonna kick my ass?" he snorted. "What fuckin' claim do you have on her anyways? You've been pussyfooting around her for what, two years now? Two fuckin' years? You know she likes you, why the hell haven't you made your move?"
Fox's grip on his overcoat loosened, a flash of something crossing his expression. "She's... she's..."
"Oh for fuck's sake, if you say she's like a sister to you I'm gonna barf!" Wolf pushed off the wall, Fox's weight not slowing him down one bit. "Seriously McCloud, I mean, seriously? I've only known her for a day and let me tell ya, Blue is fuckin' impressive! And I don't just mean her butt."
Fox let that slide.
"Blue?"
"Yeah, your girl, Krystal."
"She's not my- "
"You kissed! Saw it on the security recordings. Why are you lying to me?"
"I'm not lying! It's just... complicated, okay?" Fox's demeanor shifted from confused to irritated. "And, and besides" he sputtered, "why the heck are we talking about this anyway? Get off me!"
Fox pushed away, lightly panting.
Wolf smirked, holding his hands out to his sides. "Wasn't me holding onto you, pup."
The fox ignored the bait and instead shifted tack.
"Why do you need us Wolf? Why won't you tell us anything? How in heck do you expect us to cooperate while you keep us in the dark like this?
Wolf frowned "Nice, change the subject, okay fine."
He let let out a sigh and resumed his place against the bulkhead, arms crossed. Thought fast. As irritating as Fox was, he had a point. Now was as good a time as any, might as well use the moment. The subtle approach sure as hell hadn't worked.
"Told you we were going up against Andross, right?"
Fox just nodded, looking wary, waiting for Wolf to continue.
"We'll be fighting side by side. I'm giving you and Blue a Wolfen each. Sargasso's trading families are in on this. First we take out Krait's forces and commandeer his ships. Together with the traders' forces we head out to the staging area where Andross' fleet is gonna be. We fight, we subdue, and we claim that fleet as well."
During Wolf's explanation Fox's jaw had slowly been sagging in disbelief. What the actual feck? Had Wolf lost his mind? That plan didn't stand a chance in hell of succeeding!
"Wolf, are you crazy?"
Wolf frowned. "No comment."
"No really, I mean, there's no way that'll work, the odds are so stacked against you! That's a massive fleet! What the heck were you thinking, you praying for some kind of divine intervention or something? Because that's the only way you can hope to fight such huge forces and win!"
Wolf shrugged. "Leon."
"Wh-what?"
"Leon. He's been busy with a little project we came up with."
Wolf pushed off the wall and quietly stepped closer, body-language and voice intense.
"Fox, when we go up against Andross, most of his fleet personnel will be incapacitated. Capital ship crews, fighter pilots."
Fox frowned "I don't understand."
Wolf bit his lip on a sarcastic reply. And instead explained. "Most of the crews will be unconscious or getting there, we have a window of a few minutes. In that time we'll hafta get past the fighters and into the capital ships, and secure engineering and the bridge. Don't want 'em self-destructing on us."
"Unconscious?"
Wolf nodded. "Been working on the set-up for months, Fox. Trust me, it'll work."
Fox meanwhile, was taking it all in.
"And Andross? I don't see how he could so easily be incapacitated."
"You're right, we have another plan for that. When Leon gets back that's the first thing we're gonna set in motion."
Fox frowned. "Sounds too good to be true. And, why do you need me and Blue- er, Krystal for this?"
Now it was Wolf's turn to frown. "Stop yanking my chain, pup. I don't need you and Blue but I hafta deal with the fact that you were dropped in my lap! I'm using your death and her mistreatment to strengthen the image in Andross' mind that now is the time to strike against Corneria!"
A gasp. "What?!"
Wolf grit his teeth in exasperation. "It's propaganda 101 McCloud, don't they teach you anything at the Academy? The broadcasts of your death have sent shockwaves through Corneria! People are terrified that now you're gone, now Star Fox has lost its leader, the CDF won't be able to protect them! They're scared shitless. And the pressure on Pepper is growing. He's losing his support, people are openly questioning his ability to protect them!"
"So in other words..."
"Exactly! Corneria is now at its most vulnerable. Now is the time to strike!"
Wolf could almost see the gears revolving in Fox's mind, the little cogwheels churning and grinding as he worked to put all the pieces together.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Assuming this works, and that's a big if!" Fox muttered something that Wolf couldn't hear, before continuing. "Okay, so, if, let's say this all goes spiffingly."
Wolf rolled his eye. Spiffingly, who even talks like that? But he held his peace and just listened.
"Once you've taken control of Andross' fleet, what's to stop you from attacking Corneria? As you said, they'll be at their weakest!"
Wolf mulled that over for a moment.
"Fox. What do you think I want out've all of this?"
"Uhhh. Power? Riches? Become the tyrannical über-ruler of the whole Lylat system?"
Wolf's shoulders sagged and he ran a hand down his his muzzle, clearly frustrated. Godsdammit he should smack the little fucker. Is that what people thought of him? His voice, when he finally answered, sounded weary.
"No Fox. I'm sure you won't understand, but I'll tell you anyway." He inhaled, and let it out on the next word.
"Freedom."
"Freedom? From what?"
"Ghah!" the wolf snarled. "From everything! From fucking Andross, from fucking Corneria, from... everything! And not just freedom for me but for Sargasso as well!"
Wolf stood panting, expression haggard.
"Fox, for once in my life I've actually built something instead of just destroying things. The people of Sargasso... they... they deserve a fucking chance! To not be outcasts, to not be treated like scum!"
"To not be treated like me" he thought silently.
Wolf cut off his rant and stared, then turned away. He'd said too much. Dammit, his blood was boiling, what the hell had just happened, he never opened himself up that much, not to anyone! Now Fox was just gonna laugh at him, make fun of his convictions, demean them with his fucking superior Cornerian attitude, he didn't have a fucking clue what it was like!
A long moment passed, and the expected derision didn't come. Just as Wolf was about to turn around he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Wolf..."
What? He didn't know what to think, so harshly shrugged the hand off.
"Leave me the fuck alone, I don't expect you to understand." he muttered.
"Wolf. C'mon. It's been a long night and... and I need some time to let this all sink in. You have to admit, it's pretty heavy... and goes against everything I know about you."
"You're saying it's hard to believe. You think I'm playing you, luring you into a trap."
"I didn't say that!"
"But you thought it."
Silence, one heartbeat, two.
"Yeah, I did." Fox finally admitted. "Even so, Wolf, nobody's that good an actor. The way you... I mean, I get it, I believe you honestly feel that way... but."
"But?"
"You feel that way now, but what are you going to do once you have the fleet, once you have all that power. Can we trust you then? What's to stop you from using it?"
It was a valid question. Once he had control of such an unstoppable force, what would be holding him back if he decided to use it? Would he be able to resist the temptation? Should he even? Because yes, he could feel it, even now. He didn't like the Cornerian way of life, didn't like their militaristic political setup, didn't like their attitude towards the other races. Had no reason to like the people. They hated him. Wouldn't it be so much easier to conquer the whole lot, show them the error of their ways, and guide them into a new, more equal kind of society? By force if needs be?
Wolf sighed. Nice rationalization there. He'd be exactly the monster they all expected him to be.
Even so, a small voice still whispered, even so, wouldn't it all be for the good in the end? What do you care what people think about you? If one big bloody coup is what it takes to change society, make the Lylat system a better place for everyone, and gain your freedom, why not just do it? It would be a small sacrifice for a bigger good!
Wolf repressed a shudder. The small voice sounded like Andross. Fuck that.
"You."
"What?"
"You. You're my failsafe, Fox."
"If I can't resist the temptation... " Wolf looked back over his shoulder and caught Fox's eyes.
"You will be there to stop me."
He shook himself, squared his shoulders.
"Come on. Bet you haven't touched the beer in your fridge."
##############
Author's notes:
Doesn't sound like Wolf is going to get much sleep tonight. Tough, no rest for the wicked and all that.
So, what now? The plot thickens, as they say, and things are becoming more clear, by small increments. Not sure yet how Fox is going to process all this. Hell, his first guess may even be partially true, that Wolf is working on Krystal Stockholme-syndrome style, to get her to bond and win her over to his side. Wouldn't put that past him, to be honest. Also, was going to say 'the Dark side', but in Wolf's case it would be the 'Dark-gray side', duh ;P
Be that as it may, Wolf's larger picture could still hold up. Then again, why would he risk it, all noble motivations aside, why would he risk everything on a long-shot like this? Fox wasn't wrong in his first analysis, Wolf is a survivor and a move like this doesn't seem to fit. Wolf suddenly has a conscious, he suddenly cares, not just about himself but about others as well? That just didn't feel right. Something is off here, something is missing. There must be something else driving Wolf to gamble on a longshot like this.
The endeavour itself sounds promising, if everthing goes to plan. Blitz Andross's forces while they're incapacitated? Sound military tactics, might even work. Take out Andross himself, to ensure that the whole opposition loses its leadership and crumbles, ripe for the taking? Yeah that sounds like Wolf. Better be a damned good plan though. If it fails, he's toast.
And Krystal, well. On a more personal level things are developing in ways Wolf hasn't anticipated. It's becoming increasingly difficult to separate work from pleasu- er, personal matters. Not something he's used to dealing with. No doubt breakfast is gonna be hella awkward.
Fucking distractions.
Am grinning so hard here.