Chapter 4 Part 1
AN. Here is chapter 4. Sorry for the wait. I've decided to break it into two parts as it's going to get long and so that I can put it out faster.
One day later
A low key motel on Corneria
'In what is the hardest news to hit our beloved planet, Cornerian Military forces have confirmed that the celebrated hero of Lylat, Fox McCloud is dead. The news comes following yesterdays horific scenes of violence that left blood flowing through the streets of the planet for the first time since the Venom invasion five years ago.
Fox McCloud, real name Felicia McCloud, was shot down over the east side satellite city, Blackhaven yesterday by what military sources are calling a rogue squadron.
Eyewitness report that they watched the arwing enter formation with the squadron only to later be brought down as the squadron broke formation.
While a body was exhumed from the wreakage, authorities had till now refused from commenting on the pilot. The military has now confirmed by DNA tests that the body belonged to the vulpine hero.
The Corneria military has issued a bullitin for the following suspects. Sgt Daniel Lawson picture of a husky, Sgt Erica Foden, picture of a tigress and Capt. Ferris Martlet picture of a bobcat in relation to the shoot down of McCloud. All residents are requested to keep their eyes and ears open and practise extreme caution.If anyone knows of their whereabouts authorities urge them to come forward.'
TV switches off
"Can't believe, the military itself gunned down my arwing. I put my life on the line for some of these people and they turned on me," Felicia spoke in a subdued voice turning away from the now shut TV.
A pair of arms wrapped around her waist pulling her into a warm chest and lap as a muzzle nestled between her ears.
"Money will do that to people, not everyone is as noble as you. Now chin up pup, this was only the first of our problems," Wolf replied from his position behind her. "We still need to get you off world and to Saragosa and then we find out what is going on and where this hit originated."
Beep..beep
"Talk to me Leone," Wolf spoke as his comm activated.
"I just got contacted by the pink feline. The Great Fox is in upper planetary orbit and not responding to communications. Additionally that annoying frog has also been reported missing and hasn't been seen since he signed into the dry dock yesterday morning."
"So he's on board with persons unknown."
"That would be my bet. This is too organised to be just a random high value hit. Someone is pulling some serious strings here. We need to disappear pronto." The vixen meanwhile quietly listened to the conversation, only clued in to Wolf's side of events. The Lupine continued to speak over the comm for a few more minutes before disconnecting.
"Someone has taken over the Great Fox and likely has the frog in their grasps."
Felicia felt her heart stop.
"We need to rescue him and take it back," the vixen growled out as her body tensed.
Wolf felt his brow twitch in irritation before using his strength to twist the vixen around so that she now straddled his lap.
"We need to get off this planet!" Wolf growled , his eyes boring into her. "The military will be launching an assault on the carrier to get it back. Leave it to them."
The vixen for her part didn't bow down. "I need to ensure that Slippy is completely ok and get the Great Fox back."
"Do you understand what you are saying. You're dead in the eyes of the system. In the eyes of whoever put a target on your back. You can't just waltz up there, everything we just did to help you disappear will be shot to shit. Whoever ordered it hijacked wants it for something. We need to figure out who and why. You're not the hero any more pup, there's no basking or fighting in the limelight anymore."
Felicia growled as she struggles her way out of Wolf's grip. "Fine if you won't help me I'll do it myself. I'm marching right out that door and if you want to sit here then you can. I'm not leaving my friend out there."
Felicia moved to stand and walk to the door only to be roughly grabbed and pinned against the wall. Wolf for his part growled in her face anger burning in his eyes.
"And just what do you intend to do. Just walk up to them twerk your butt and say take me instead? You don't have a ship, a weapon and right now no common sense either. I promised James that I'd keep you alive and so help me that I will tie you to the bed to do so if you keep behaving like this."
Felicia fought back, struggling in the larger Wolf's grip to get free. "Let go of me, I have to do this. I won't let these people take my ship and hurt my friends."
SLAP
Felicia froze as a hand connected harshly with her cheek knocking her head to the side. Tears began to slowly pool in her eyes as her muzzle was harshly grabbed and she found herself face to face with Wolf.
"Listen to me and listen to me good and get it in that thick skull of yours. This is not military combat. These are bounty hunters, the lowest of the low. You think they're going to just put a bolt in your head? Do you not get it? PoW treaties don't apply to them, hell they could keep you alive for months, torturing you, demeaning you, using you for their every desire before they finally decide to off you. You think that's the way you want to go, found naked in some back alley with a blaster hole in your head? Huh?," Wolf barked out forcing the vixen to stare into his eyes.
"You've had a very sheltered life only working for Corneria and around their territories. So I'm sorry if I won't let you just waltz up there riding on your figurative golden chariot..."
Wolf was interrupted as he was pulled away from the vixen as she fell to the floor, unable to support her weight.
The angered Lupine whirled around only to face Leon. "That's enough boss, she gets the picture. Go shower and cool off. I'll keep an eye on her."
Wolf growled before marching out of the room, shutting the door with a loud bang.
Felicia curled in on herself as Leone stood over her. "He's right you know. Them bounty hunters got no morals. Hell I've seen one unload a bolt into the face of a waitress at point blank in a bar on Kew for bumping into him while he was drinking. These people don't care about anything but the money. And right now you are a gold mine dressed in a flimsy sun dress and panties."
Felicia turned away facing away from the chameleon and facing the wall. "I just want to help my friends," she whimpered out.
Leone sighed," Lady you gotta understand, the only way your friends are gonna be safe is if you stay away from them. You saw what we had to risk to get you out? Would you really want to put us through something more difficult? We just had a gun battle on a major highway, Wolf almost took a bolt to the head, that blue chick almost died getting you out of danger... Does that really mean so little? I mean half an inch up or down and your quality time with Wolf would be spent at a graveyard, not to mention what could have happened to the blue chick. Then there is the fact you FORGOT to tell us about the tracking chip in your shoulder that pinned us as the target in the first place. This isn't sunshine and daisies, there's no medal or cheering crowds waiting at the end. You walk away with your life and that's the only best case scenario. "
Felicia bowed her head as tears continued to spill. Leon had been right, they had barely made it out alive yesterday and even her stay in this back alley motel was risky at best. Her line of thoughts was interrupted as a bag was dumped in her lap.
She looked up meeting eyes with the chameleon. "It's fur dye, use it and be ready to move. I've secured transport to get us off world and need a picture of you to forge the necessary documents. Now hop to it," Leon growled out, dragging the vixen to her feet and pushing her into the bathroom.
Flashback: Previous day
"Wolf, where are you taking us?" Felicia asked as she sat in the back of their hijacked pizza delivery car. Her eyes and head on a constant swivel.
"We're going to Blackhaven. There's a contact there that will help us get the documents we meed to make you disappear," Wolf spoke, his eyes fixed on the road.
Leon meanwhile kept his eyes on a laptop he had in his lap, his fingers flying over the touchscreen and holographic keys.
"You sure we can trust her? I got a bad feeling about going to her... especially after last time," Leon spoke without looking away from whatever he worked on.
"What do you mean by that?," the red fox asked.
"The girl's a loon and she's got a thing for Wolf. Like a thing thing, posters and the stuff and... was that a full body pillow or blow up doll?" Leon responded his last question pointed at Wolf.
"Don't know, don't care. Right now she's the best source of getting forged documents so we're going there," the lupine grumbled out.
Both vixens in the rear seat raised an eyebrow at that but stayed silent for the most part untill Krystal nudged Felicia.
"Maybe you should ask her where she bought it and keep one for yourself," the blue vixen spoke letting out a low giggle.
Felicia felt some blood rush to her face along with feeling more than one set of eyes one her.
Sucking in her breath she let out a low chuckle before responding, "maybe I should. I can probably replace this lump with a more useful model."
Krystal could help but giggle out while Wolf let out a grumble under his breath as he pulled the car onto the highway towards their destination.
It was then that Felicia's eyes moved to the large duffle bag that lay in the footwell. She had spotted it climbing in but hadn't questioned its purpose till now, "Are those weapons in there?"
Her question though went unanswered as red and blue strobes light up on the car behind them followed by a siren, just as they moved to the fast lane.
Wolf growled, they were doing the speed limit and the car hadn't been reported stolen. Something was wrong, he felt it.
However before he could react from the corner of his eye he saw the blue vixen stiffen, her pupils dialating.
One thought struck the wolf at that instant, she was a telepath.
"EVERYBODY DOWN!" the cry through both Wolf and Leon into action as they ducked low while Krystal, the source of the warning, grabbed Felicia and dragged her down. Not half a second later, the rear glass shattered as a blaster bolt passed through the driver seat headrest, millimetres from Wolf's head, and out the windshield followed closely by a second and a third and more.
"Damit... Why are they shooting at as?" Felicia questioned.
Leon growled as he hunched low in his seat, lips parting in a hiss, "Bounty hunters... those cops are probably dead in some ditch. Blue! the bag at your feet! Grab a weapon and open fire on them."
Krystal for her part reached into her purse drawing her collapsed staff, "I do not need a gun."
Seeing her pull the staff Leon went to launch a sarcastic comment only to pause as he watched the staff expand in the vixen's hand, glow blue and watch as a barrier seemed to erect absorbing the blaster bolts.
Felicia for her part reached into the bag and pulled out the first piece she got a hands on - a vintage ballistic round compact assault rifle.
"What the hell are you doing with a ballistic round weapon?" she admired the weapon in shock.
"Stop admiring it and just shoot it!," Wolf growled from his seat as he swerved to avoid a slow moving truck. All around them the sound of glass breaking and tyres squealing accompanied the discharge of blaster bolts and the occupants of the police cruiser rained down bolts on their vehicle.
"Hit the selector switch on the right, push it down two clicks, pull back the bolt at the top rear and hit them," Leon spoke as he contorted his way around the seat, his hand blindly reaching into the bag.
"Hope this works, drop the shield Krystal" Felicia said as she followed Leon's instructions as lined up the sights on the pursuing vehicle and pulled back on the trigger.
The recoil from the weapon nearly tore the weapon from her hand but she strengthened her grip, flexing her arm muscles to re-align the weapon on target and let fly a burst.
The result was instantaneous. With the iron sights lined up on target, both her and Krystal watched in sick fascination as the 7.62 calibre bullets crashed into the canine co-driver's chest as head. The dog's head snapped backwards, blood and gore spraying the cruiser's interior as the bullets essentially tore open his skull - unlike blaster bolts there was no cauterised wound, just destruction.
Of the two vixens, it was Krystal who managed to keep her feelings in check - her society's use of more physical combat weapons and related injuries having steeled her for similar sights.
Felicia on the other hand felt sick, sure she had killed and engaged in short range gun engagements but never with a ballistic weapon. Blaster bolts left cleaner shots while this weapon tore a person apart.
"Whistle, nice shot!" Leon commented as he pulled a second vintage assault rifle this with a secondary attachment.
The cruiser meanwhile had disengaged swerving wildly as the driver tried to avoid becoming like his partner.
Leon pulled half his body out the window," Keep it steady boss, Im gonna nail this a*le."
However before Wolf could respond, a reflection of light in the rear view caught his eye and thankfully so.
His right hand reaching out to grab Leon by the waist of his pants, he yanked the chameleon backwards while with his lef he threw the car into the central median and i to oncoming traffic. A second later an explosion rang out as the place where their pizza delivery car had been racing wemt up in a column of fire and debris.
Leon cursed as he threw his head nack out the window scanning for targets. His eyes quickly set upon a speeding SUV that had jumped the median behind them with a figure standing through the sunroof. Leon's eyes narrowed as scanned the figure and what he held.
"Wolf, swirve when I tell you to, this guy's got a granade launcher."
Wolf growled as he planted his foot down as far as it would go though it would prove futile. The exonobox delivery car stood little chance of outrunning the more powerful chase vehicles. As the two vehicles closed, the blaster fire resumed.
Krystal hirriedly threw up a shield as more bolts chewed up the road around the car.
"LEFT!" Leon's voice rang out as Wolf threw the car left as an explosion descimated the ground on their right before dodging left to avoid an oncoming vehicle.
"Dammit Fox, open fire on them," Wolf yelled put as he threw the car right and back left, almost causing the rear end to slide out as he avoided more cars.
Breaking from her stupor, Felicia brought the gun up to bear before releasing a controlled burst. Her shots raked the cruiser, the SUV diving right to avoid only for Leon to line it up from the passenger window.
Bang, the figure sticking from the SUV's sunroof rocked to the left, bang Felicia saw the figure's head rock backwards before he dissapeared into the vehicle only for someone to pop out again, blaster rifle blazing.
The back and forth exchange continued with neither sides scoring a hit on the other aside from vehicle body work until...
"Gah" Leon pulled back into the car, a blaster wound in his shoulder. "Son of a... that's f*ing it," he hissed out in anger and pain as he raised the gun and fired point blank into the roof of the car. Sparks errupted as the two vixens yelped and ducked for cover while Wolf too flinched and cursed.
Leon ignored the yelps and curses as he emptied a full clip into the roof before rotating the gun and slamming the butt into the roof. The result was instantaneous as a roughly circular section of the rooftore from the car and flew away and straight through the drive side of the gaining cruiser's missing windshield.
The cruiser jolted violently left and right before plowing headfirst into an oncoming lorry.
Leon didnt care, as he reached back into the bag in the rear footwell pulling out a box seconds later. "You want to blow us up huh? Two can play that game."
The chameleon cocked open the lower gun attachment before chambering a fist sized round and cocking the pump action.
"Eat high ex you bastards," Leon shouted rising from the hole in the roof and aiming for their pursuers
Fwump, followed by a moment of silence before the the ground in front of the SUV disappeared in a fiery explosion.
Leon quickly ducked back into the cabin as blaster rounds rained down where he once stood. Reloading a round he went to pop off another shot only for a blue vulpine to block him.
"My turn," Krystal spoke grimly, her eyes blazing. "Fox push them right."
Said vixen lined up her eyes on the pursuing vehicle before unloading another burst successfully catching the SUV's front right tyre causing the vehicle to break traction.
Krystal immediately followed aiming her staff at the road before releasing an ice spell freezing the road over. The pursuers stood no chance. The flat tyre compounded with the ice forced the SUV into a spin, off the road into a tree.
With the small respite Leon grabbed his laptop again, letting out a grunt of satisfaction as it booted up without a hitch despite the fire fight.
His fingers flew over the keys as he went about doing whatever he was.
"Wolf, CDF and local PD channels have light up like Christmas trees. I'm seeing codes for swat and military mobilization across the planet and a complete halt to all flights entering and exiting the planet. We need a place to lay low and make her disappear," the chameleon spoke eyes not lifting off the screen.
Wolf grunted in response gritting his teeth as he kept his eyes on the road with the occasional glances at the rear view mirror and receding cloud of smoke.
"We need to get off the highway and get another ride. Cops will be swarming all over us given the damage."
"Contact our friend at the auxiliary airfield near here. Double funds, with air transport arrangement to the CDF military facility and Blackhaven and no questions asked," Wolf spoke as he swerved right and onto the exit ramp before addressing Krystal.
"Keep that head of your on Blue, we're going through populated space and don't want to be jumped."
"On it," the cerulean vixen spoke as her eyes seemed to glass over slightly indicating her diving into her telepathic powers.
Fox meanwhile kept her eyes peeled, scanning left and right, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
"You holding up good pup?" Wolf questioned pulling one hand off the steering and reaching behind to pat the vixen's knee. Felicia's concentration seemed to break as she felt the hand on her knee.
"Ye..yeah, shaken up but good," she responded absentmindedly placing her own hand over the Wolf's.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind and the constant thrum of the engine before Krystal perked up.
"I'm sensing hostile intent closing in, there's more than a few and they seem to be coming from behind."
Wolf's lips pulled back on a snarl as he pulled the blaster that had remained holstered in his waistband till now.
"Leon, take over, I'm already getting sick of these bastards coming at us."
The chameleon, now sporting an additional earpiece, tucked away the laptop. What followed next was an awkward dance as wolf and lizard exchanged positions.
"Boss, I'd say don't waste the blaster and use lead instead. These guys are coming in waves which suggests co-ordination so they could be rocking delfectors."
Immediately dropping the blaster at his feet, the Lupine commandeered Leon's now discarded rifle with the underslung grenade launcher, beckoning the two vixens at the back to toss him ammo clips. Clicking a fresh magazine in place, the wolf pulled the eye patch from over his right eye, a red glowing prosthetic now visible.
They targeted his pup and he was going to wash this planet's streets with their blood.
Sorry this took forever to get out but life keeps getting in the way.Please let me know what you think in the comments, I know some find this story pairing to be odd but please humour me. I like to try things that are different from the majority.Anyhow please be patient as i will be working on an update for Balto: Story of a Wolf next so dont expect a new chapter anytime soon.
