Wolf's growl was a mix between anger and frustration as he unloaded another magazine in their purseurs and ducked back into the vehicle. Outside the once clean satellite city to Corneria's capital was a war zone. Civilians ducked for screamed and ducked for cover. More than once, they had been targetted from a nearby building with Krystal being their only saving grace. The whole situation was dire.

"Leon, how do they have a bead on us?," he growled/shouted to the chameleon in the driver's seat over the sound of the wind rushing through the car from the missing windshield, missing roof and gunfire.

"Beats me boss..." he spoke only to throw the car into a four wheel drift as he rounded a bend well over the vehicle's capabilities. Tyres squealed in protest as the vehicle forced itself round the corner while the rear occupants. "Our comms are encrypted and we ditched your girl's and blue's comms before this even started. But we gotta do something soon, this car ain't going to take much more," he said, his eyes looking down at a Christmas tree of lights that flashed in the instrument panel.

Wolf growled in irritation as he reached his hand into the back seat.

"Hand me a mag!,"

Fox reached into the bag, only to frown and dig deeper.

"Hurry it up!... any time now," Wolf growled as he eyes their chasers currently kept at bay by whatever hocus pocus the blue chick could do with that staff of hers.

Felicia pulled out a mag and handed it to Wolf, "Last mag, only blasters after this."

Wolf grabbed the mag, popped it into the weapon, pulled back the bolt and rose out through the roof.

Bang... bang... bang...

A bike, part of the reducing number of vehicles chasing them, that had been gaining on them suddenly fishtailed, throwing the rider clear and into the path of a chasing SUV which did not stop, slow or avoid.

Fox felt sick as she watched the rider go under but steeled her nerve as she shouldered the rifle and aimed at the SUV.

"Duck!", Krystal's voice cried out as she grabbed Fox by her shoulder and yanked her head down. Seconds later a high power bolt flew past where her head had been and smashed through the car's central tunnel.

"F*! Wolf, I got no power, we're dead in the water," Leon cried as he slammed down on the clutch to keep the wheels spinning.

Wolf growled as he unloaded a controlled burst on to his target - the person shouldering the heavy blaster rifle sticking out the top of the SUV.

"Where's the bloody CDF?," Fox cried from the back as she pulled herself up and took aim at the closing SUV.

Leon pressed a finger to the pad on his wrist while also keeping eyes on the road and their pursuers. "CDF's mobilised but they're keeping air and ground cover over the capital and major adjoining population centres. This town ain't part of the cover for whatever convenient reason," Leon shouted sarcastically.

Felicia cursed as she unloaded a short burst into the SUV's windshield watching a figure slump down in the co-driver seat. She felt dread build up within her as she saw the vehicle's closing in. Things hadn't been this bad even during the Lylat War and she'd run opps with minimal cover and ammo before. She felt her confidence dim, was there a way out of this? Would this be her last moments with Wolf?

"Boss, we gotta do something quick," Leon bellowed as he looked over his shoulders at the incoming cars and bikes. "We ain't gonna survive this otherwise."

Wolf ducked back into the cabin, teeth grit as he tried to think of a way out. He turned to face the vixens in the back seat, Krystal's face showing sheet determination while Felicia's showed dread. He reached his hand out to her, a move she reciprocated, a small smile coming to her face. Wolf's lips twitched before his eyes widened as his ears perked. the howl of a jet engine growing nearer.

On instinct he forced himself from his seat, squeezing in the gap between the seats and trying to use his body to cover Felicia when the ground behind their car erupted in flames - only they didn't grown nearer but further away. Peaking over the seat Wolf watched the aircraft straffe the chasing convoy unleashing hell as vehicles were reduced to scrap, launched off their wheels or if lucky managed to dive down side streets. Before he could say anything a voice broke over his comm.

"Well Wolfy, you owe me one now," spoke a female voice in a taunting manner earning a growl in reply.

Felicia glanced up as the fighter did a low pass, her eyes instantly recognising the aircraft and it's custom bright paint - the Cats Paw II.

Meanwhile in the aircraft Katt grinned as she circled over the city trying to spot stragglers. However her search was interrupted by a call over the radio.

"Cat's Paw II, this is the CDF, you are in an unauthorised flight in a no fly zone. Cease all activities and prepare to be escorted to base."

Katt frowned... a no fly zone where the fight is? Something didn't add up. Sure this town was looked down on by most of Corneria's elite but to willingly let a fire fight spill out onto the streets.

"CDF, this is Cats Paw, I have hostiles engaging in a heavy firefight down there. What the hell are you guys doing? Where is general Pepper?" she barked into the radio.

The radio fell silent before another voice came over. "This is acting General Roland, General Pepper is... indisposed at this time. I am ordering you to get your merc loving ass out of my airspace or so help me I will shoot you down now! One less mercenary will only save us money to pay actual soldiers."

Katt ground her teeth in frustration as her hands tightened on the controls. She felt her anger rise befor she took a deep breath to calm herself.

"I hear ya, bugging out," she responded before flipping to her second encrypted comm.

"Wolf, there's a parking structure a block ahead. Get there, go down to level sub level 3, there's a black sedan, keys are hidden above the muffler. Use it. And heads up, something isn't right with the CDF, recommend body scans before moving. Felicia was CDF before Star Fox."

Meanwhile down below

Wolf relayed the directions to Leon who currently lead the convoy. The car has been ditched half a block back with the four now on foot. Everyone kept their eyes peeled. Leon was up front, a heavy blaster rifle at the ready, the equipment bag with additional weapons slung over his shoulder. Krystal and Felicia were in the centre, the former having her staff at the ready while the latter now held a blaster pistol. Bring up the rear was Wolf who too carried a heavy blaster at the ready.

The convoy made quick progress, the streets were deserted, people having run off the streets leaving them deserted. Progress was brisk as the team quickly piled into the parking lot making their way down to sub level 3 and finding the vehicle - one of only 5 parked on the level.

"Ok, take 5, but be ready to move, Leon you have the scanner?" Wolf spoke. The reaction was immediate, Krystal slowly fell to here knees, back leaning against the car as she breathed deeply. The poor vixen was exhausted for extensive use of her staff and abilities. Felicia meanwhile slowly settled next to the vixen running her hand up and down here back to help sooth her.

Leon meanwhile had reached into one of the pockets on the weapons bag he carried before pulling out a wand looking device. Fixing Wolf a nod, he walked over to the two vixens before proceeding to run the wand over Krystal.

Nothing.

He turned the wand to Felicia running it up her body and as he reached her hip, beep!

Leon paused, running the wand over the same area again getting the same reaponse. He proceeded with the scan but nothing else came up. Turning back to Wolf he nodded his head and pointed to his right hip.

Wolf walked over to Felicia, grabbing her by her arm and forcing her to her feet.

"You have a tracker implant?" he questioned. He watched Felicia's eyes show confusion before they widened in shock.

This only seemed to set off Wolf more, "You have a tracking implant!?," he roared in her face his hands tightening uncomfortably on her upper arm.

Felicia struggled to get out of his grip.

"It was standard procedure back then, but... but it was deactivated when I left the CDF."

"Bullshit!" Wolf roared in her face, grip tightening further

"Wolf, let go, you're hurting me," Felicia spoke as she tried to free her arm only for Wolf to snap at her.

"You realise the amount of shit you just put us into? Corneria could find you at any time. Heck they could get their hands on me if they tried. It had us pinned as the target for the last f*ing two hours if not more. Had us almost killed and you didn't say any...," Wolf's rant was halted as a staff came around his neck cutting off his air supply. His arms flailed as he tried to relieve the pressure, Felicia being released from his grip. His body tipped backwards as his feet left the ground before he painfully slammed front down onto the concrete floor.

Groaning in pain, he climbed to his hands and knees before looking up only to find a glowing staff in his face. Krystal stood between him and Fox, at the ready for combat, staff pointed at him and a blaster in her other hand pointed at Leon. Behind her stood a teary eyed Felicia. The lupine climbed gingery to his feet as he shook his head. He's lost his cool in this situation when he shouldn't have.

"I'm sorry...," he spoke before looking up and into Felicia's eyes, "I'm sorry," before turning and walking over to Leon, pause for a minute and carry on towards the stairwell.

Leon approached the vixen pair, arms raised in surrender.

"I'm just gonna need to deactivate the tracker. It'll only take a few minutes before holding up the wand and a digital pad."

20 mins later.

Wolf returned from wherever he had gone. Entering the floor he found Leon at work on his data pad while Felicia and Krystal sat further away, the former with her knees tucked into her chest while the latter had her arm wrapped around her but had now turned to glare at him.

Holding his arms up he slowly approached the pair. A growl from Krystal causing him to pause but he continued onwards settling down on Fox's other side.

He slowly wrapped his arm around her, pulling her from Krystal grasp and into his.

"I'm sorry, I was frustrated, tired, annoyed and I let my anger get the best of me at the worst time and at the wrong person," he spoke in a subdued voice as he nuzzled her head between the ears. The vixen just hummed in reply, but not really responding to the wolf.

"Please Felicia, I'm sorry. I should have trusted you more and let you explain. I just... I'm just exhausted from everything we just went through to keep us alive. Covering our tracks, getting to you before anyone else did... please will you talk to me."

Felicia finally replied her voice low," I... I didn't know... the tracker was deactivated as part of the CDF discharge process... I... I didn't know it was active all this time..."

Wolf pulled her further into a hug, "I belive you... this game... this... this entire set up is just so wrong... we need to leave Corneria as soon as possible. Will you come with me?"

Wolf felt Fox stiffen in his grip before letting out a short huff, "Yes."

Nodding Wolf stood up from his place moving towards Leon and discussing some matters. Ten minutes later a black sedan pulled out of the parking lot from the opposite side and disappeared into the darkening city streets.

A/n: Sorry this chapter is extremely late. just not had much time on hand and been struggling with inspiration.

Please let me know what you guys think.