Ah...apologies readers, this should have been up a while ago, but honestly, I decided on a rewrite of the whole chapter just last night. Also, this chapter did not got through a Beta read, although Cpt. Fox did give me some advice which helped. Anyway, this chapter is not my best, I'm sure it sucks and I KNOW that it is full of grammer and spelling mistakes, because it is 0445 here and I just can not be assed to give anymore shits about it, I read through and fixed what I saw, but I'm sure I missed a lot. Anyway, I'll leave you to it, enjoy!
Star Fox: The Dead Planet Chapter 3: Forth and Away
Fox blinked slowly as he took another long draw from the bottle in front of him. After a few moments of pulling on it, he realized that the numbing liquid was gone, again. He set the bottle down on the couch next to him with a light thump, not even caring where it went now that its contents were gone. He didn't really care about a lot anymore, aside from where he could get his next drink. Some part of him was disgusted about the sorry state he was in, but, right now, under the effects of the blissfully mind numbing alcohol, Fox didn't care.
Fox blinked as he tried to remember how much time had passed. Not enough in his opinion, he gave a wet burp as he realized that it had only been a little over two months since he had watched them lower that casket into the ground. Fox looked around the dismal apartment that he currently shared with Falco. Falco, who was the only one who stuck around after...after it.
The walls were a pasty white, with yellow stains running through a few of them, a small TV sat on the floor of the room, and the one couch they had only had three seats and took up almost the entirety of the main room. Behind him was the tiny kitchen, where if he remembered he would sometimes grab something to eat, but really the only thing he cared about out of there was the fridge. The fridge, which held the supply of beer that he used to forget about everything, at least for a while.
Fox glanced to the right, down the hallway where the open door to that bathroom was calling him. He knew that shortly that alcohol was going to force its way out of his mouth, and it would probably be best if he was there. As if confirming his thoughts, Fox felt his stomach rumble and a pressure build in his throat.
Fox went to lift himself off the couch, and after failing twice and almost puking once, he finally managed to stand up, stumbling as the room swam around him, Fox felt his way down the hall, past his door on the right, then Falco's on the left, and into the bathroom. He found the toilet right as his body decided enough was enough, and tried to force all the alcohol out through his mouth at once.
Almost twenty minutes later, Fox managed to stumble out of the bathroom, he turned to his right and entered his room, then blinked and realized that his room was the other door. As he turned to leave he saw the one thing that Falco had put into the room.
It was a picture on his nightstand, innocent in its contents, yet the very sight sent the vulpines mind tumbling into despair yet again. In it Falco had his wings wrapped around the pink feline in front of him, Katt Monroe tilting her head up to steal one more kiss on the birds beak before the picture was taken. Fox fell to his knees, tears running down into his fur. It drew his mind to the fact that tha apartment was empty except for him because it was one of the rare stretches where Falco went to stay with Katt for a few days, and that thought let to another.
Nothing!
He had nothing! The only good thing he ever had, was Krystal, and he had driven her away in an attempt to protect her, and in the cruelest twists of irony, gotten her killed in the process. Fox fell forward, supporting his weight with his arms as his shoulders heaved while he cried.
People had told him the pain would go away...eventually. It had yet to go away, and never was going to go away. The only thing that ever helped was alcohol and even that was starting to lose its potency on him. He couldn't sleep at night, all he saw was her, that was if he didn't drink himself to sleep.
Fox glanced back up at the picture on the nightstand, and had an even more damming thought run through his mind.
"Falco, instead of taking care of his love life, hes been taking care of me, he should be spending more time with Katt. Not wasting it on my pathetic ass!"
Fox chocked on his sobs as he stared at the floor, blaming everything on himself.
His fault he chased Krystal away.
His fault she died.
His fault that Falco can't pursue a full relationship with Katt.
His fault.
His Fault!
His! Fault!
Fox reached up to wipe his eyes of tears, and as he did so he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was a small yellow plastic case tucked under Falco's bed. For some reason, that case gave him hope, hope in at least fixing Falco's life. Fox crawled towards the case, reaching out a shaky paw to grab it. He pulled it out slowly and gently set it on top of Falco's bed. Staring at it, Fox reached out and flipped the two clasps that kept the case closed, then slowly lifted the lid until gravity took it out of his hands and it thumped softly on the bed.
Inside, sitting in a specially made foam interior, was Falco's prized revolver. Fox reached out a paw and brushed it along the polished metal, and shined wooden handle. Fox worked his paw underneath the foam and lifted the heavy piece of weaponry out of the case. He stared it it for a long time, his mind telling him that this was the best option, while another part argued with him, pleading for the return of his sanity.
Fox narrowed his eyes, there was no way for him to be sane, not anymore.
He turned his gaze back to the case where six bullets sat in slots right below where the revolver had sat. Fox reached out and grabbed one, tucking it into his paw and standing up. He only would need one. With the gun in one paw and the bullet in the other, Fox turned around and made his way out of Falco's bedroom, he turned to go towards the bathroom, then decided against it. He tucked the gun into his waistband and made sure his shirt was covering it before turning to the apartment exit and heading for the door. He pulled it open and turned towards the stairs that would lead towards the roof, leaving the apartment door open as he left.
Three flights of stairs later, he pushed open the heavy door to the roof and walked out into the sunset, a beautiful thing of orange hues that decorated the Corneria City skyline. Fox inhaled once heavily, this would do, no need to go any further. Out here, the sound would be sure to carry for miles and somebody would come looking.
He laughed sourly as he thought about what reaction it might get, somebody finding the body of the once great Fox McCloud, with the back of his head blown out, the gun still in hand. At least they could get it cleaned up out here. Fox lifted the gun and noticed the sunlight bouncing its beams off the polished bits of metal.
After he was done staring he fumbled with the catch until he got the cylinder to slide out. With a shaky arm, he raised the paw holding the bullet and went to put it into the gun. It took him a few tries, but eventually he managed to get the round into the chamber, and he pushed the cylinder back into the revolver, drawing back the heavy hammer and inhaling one last time, staring out into the sunset.
As he did, he thought about watching the sunset, just, one, last, time. Perhaps, if the alcohol was still strong enough in, he might even be able to imagine that she would be sitting down next to him. Making up his mind, Fox went to sit down but ended up falling ungracefully onto his backside. He moved the revolver into his lap, and just stared into the sunset, his mind for once drifting to happier times, and not being depressed by them, since soon, it wouldn't matter anymore. He would be gone, but at least he would be with her.
As the moon started to rise, Fox's ear twitched as he heard sound from the still open stairway door. It almost sounded like Falco, but it couldn't, since Falco wasn't supposed to come back till tomorrow. His ear twitched again, there it was, a quiet yet desperate sounding call.
His name.
Fox blinked as he realized what must have happened. For some reason, Falco had come home early, and put the missing gun and open doors together. He was most likely heading up the stairwell at this moment. Fox took a steadier grip on the gun and forced himself to stand up. If he didn't do it soon, Falco would stop him, and he would have to go back to living life with out her. He couldn't do that, not one more day.
Fox sighed as he heard his name get louder, he opened his mouth and worked the barrel in, he breathed deeply a couple times, and closed his eyes.
"I'm coming Krystal."
"Tests complete."
Fox blinked and looked over at ROB as his voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Fox turned to his screen and noticed the test results, reading them aloud to himself. "G-Diffuser plant is running 100%, the engines are performing at max, and all power systems are function correctly." he glanced up at ROB "So, then, everything check outs?"
ROB nodded "Affirmative."
Fox checked his wrist gauntlet. "Alright Falco should be getting back soon, after that we can get the Hanger doors open and get the Great Fox over to the space port." Fox paused. "Oh that reminds me, call General Hare for me will you ROB?"
ROB nodded and Fox turned to the holographic display in the center of the bridge. After only a few moments, the system kicked to life and Peppy appeared, looking like he was stepping out a snow storm of pixels to become solid.
"Fox, what can I do for you?" the old hare asked as he appeared.
Fox saluted out of habit "On official business general, I need clearance to fly the Great Fox through the warehouse distract and to the space port."
Peppy nodded "I'll see that it gets done. When do you need it?"
Fox glanced at his wrist gauntlet "With in the hour would be nice." he glanced up, "Also, if you wouldn't mind sending over a couple of you men to escort Kursed to her ship, that would help. Then we could just have her meet us over the space port instead of taking time to dock and let her off, only to have her just get back on with her ship."
Peppy glanced to the side then back to Fox. "I have a few people nearby, they should be at your hanger shortly."
Fox smiled "You can't spare the two that have been keeping tabs on us through the night?"
Peppy blinked, then grinned sheepishly "Its not you Fox, its-"
Fox held up a hand. "Kursed, honestly, I don't blame you, but I figure they might be quicker, just a short stroll across the street."
Peppy nodded again "I'll page them just as soon as we're done here. Anything else?"
Fox shook his head "No, that should be it, ROB and I just finished running a system test, so once Falco gets here, we'll head out for the space port to takeoff."
"Very well, if nothing else comes up, contact me when you reach the planet."
Fox saluted again. "Yes sir. Fox out."
Peppy's form vanished, looking like he just exploded into little boxes and Fox turned to ROB. "ROB, take us off the Cornerian power grid, and get us back on our internal power."
Rob turned to face him. "Doing so will require a full system start of the Great Fox, please enter verification code."
Fox nodded and turned to his console punching in his code.
ROB looked down at his console "Confirmed. Proceeding with full system start."
Fox nodded "I'll be down on the crew deck, let me know if anything comes up." with that Fox turned to the open elevator and walked in, hitting the button for the crew deck as he did. Fox turned to face the doors as they closed and spent the few moments that the elevator took to descend trying to figure out why he had been thinking so hard on his past the past twenty four hours.
He could blame this mornings recall on the appearance of Kursed. Ever since he saw her, his thoughts kept drifting to Krystal, but even before that he found himself drifting into his memories with regular frequency.
Fox glanced up as the elevator doors slid open and he started working his way down the hallway, halfway down though the lights killed out through the ship for a few moments before coming back on. Fox continued on, using memory to guide himself to Kursed's door. As the lights came back on he reached out to knock on the door, only to pause as it slid open and Kursed stepped out into the hall, and into him.
Before Fox could even take a step back and begin to apologize, he felt her fist wrap in the loose fabric of his t-shirt and shove him back against the wall. Next thing he knew Kursed was in his face and snarling at him.
Fox raised an eyebrow at her and she blinked before stepping back and letting go of his shirt. "Thought you were an intruder."
Fox brushed the wrinkles out of his shirt. "You know, most people, they apologize when the do something like that."
Kursed scoffed "God I thought Fox McCloud was supposed to be tougher then this, all you've done since I've come aboard is whine." Kursed turned her head before moving to go back into her room. "Why did the power go out?"
Fox walked over to the entrance to her room, leaning on the door frame. "Taking the ship off of Corneria Cities power grid."
Kursed went to the large desk that Slippy had set along one wall and sat on it. "So we'll be leaving soon."
Fox nodded "Hopefully, But you'll be leaving much sooner though."
Kursed raised an eyebrow in response.
Fox sighed "Peppy is sending some men to escort you to your ship, that way, once we get the Great Fox to the space port, you'll be ready and able to just fly your ship into our hanger and dock. Save a bunch of time."
Kursed nodded.
Fox waited "Kursed, I kinda meant now."
Kursed rolled her eyes and slid off the desk. "Fine, at least I can change clothes." Kursed walked past him and headed for the elevator.
As she reached the elevator Fox called out "Oh, before I forget, whats your ships name? That way I can contact you when we're ready to leave."
Kursed stiffened as the elevator doors opened. Fox knew the name of her personal ship, so she couldn't very well tell him it was the Cloud Runner. Thinking quickly she stepped into the elevator and turned around. "I'll look for you." she said as the door closed.
Fox shook his head as the elevator doors closed and stepped away, heading for the side door that lead to the stairway. Fox started up the stairs, glad for the time, and the effort it took going up the spiral stair case to clear his head.
By the time he reached the top and exited into the side corridor that lead to the bridge, Fox was feeling more relaxed, something about Kursed always set him on edge, and the climb had helped him. He walked out onto the bridge and found Falco sitting in his chair, feet kicked up on the console and using his body weight to lean the chair back.
Falco gave him an offhanded wave "Hey Fox, was wondering where you were at. ROB tells me that all the tests checked out and that the ship is running on its own power again."
Fox nodded "Yeah, how about you, how did your morning go? Do we have a Forth?"
Falco nodded "Like she could say no to me. Shes at the spaceport now, getting her ship ready to liftoff, I told her to wait there until we made it to the space port, then she could dock with us."
Fox walked over to sit at his console "Good, how did she sound about joining up with us?"
Falco frowned "Kinda excited actually, which is unusual for her."
Fox raised an eyebrow and grinned at his friend "Really?"
Falco waved his arm "Not what I meant. I could always tell when she was about to go on a job because she would calm down and get all professional. By when I told her she would be flying with us, she got giddy."
Fox laughed softly "Well, we have two weeks to find out why."
Falco scoffed "It'll take me two days." he glanced over at Fox "Wheres princess personalty?"
Fox stretched "I had Peppy send some men to escort her to her ship so she could just fly up and dock when we reached the space port. You probably just missed her when you returned."
Falco laughed "Good."
Fox looked over at ROB as he spoke up. "We have just received clearance to make a low pass over the warehouse distract towards Corneria City Spaceport."
Fox sat forward at his console while Falco sat properly in his seat. "Alright ROB, opening the Hanger doors. As soon as we're clear, take us up."
"Affirmative. Releaseing docking clamps now and firing planetary thrusters."
The ship shuddered and dropped a few feet as the clamps released and lowered into the ground as the thrusters fired to keep the ship floating. Fox pressed a button on his console. "Opening Hanger doors."
Outside the ship, the cross beams that ran underneath the roof, transformed slightly as the motors and servos went into life for the first time in years and worked to life the warehouse roof up. It sepearated at its peak and opened up till it was lined up with the walls.
"ROB takes us up."
The ship shuddered slightly as the thrusters underneath the ship increased their power and lifted the Great Fox out of the hanger and into the open air. Fox blinked as the bright sunlight of the morning found its way through the view screen. Falco reached forward on his console and set the dimmer for the view screen, allowing them both to see a lot easier.
"ROB, takes us to the space port, low thrust, we don't need to be making to much traffic right now, plus it'll give our team members time to get their ships ready."
ROB nodded "Affirmative, estimated time to Corneria City Space Port is twenty-five minutes."
-Cloud Runner II: Cockpit-
Kursed frowned as she sat down in her seat, the two government goons were still sitting outside watching her. It wasn't like she could take off anyway, per the generals orders, her ship was under lock down, magnetically secured to the landing pad. Kursed shook her head as she called up a display on her view screen. Locating what she needed, she quickly set about changing the identification for her ship. She scrolled through ones that she had used in the past before smiling and selecting one she liked.
Her smile widened as she thought about what kinda grief it might cause when the traffic controllers went to unlock her ship and found the registration didn't match. That taken care of, Kursed set an alert on her scanner to let her know when it detected the Great Fox II and moved to the small shower in her cabin. Since her ship wasn't very big, her cabin was really just an small room with a capsule bed and shower. It was cramped, uncomfortable, and hers. She quickly stripped out of her old jump suit and slid open the door to the shower, sliding in and laying down. She closed her eyes and started the water running, she washed her fur as quickly as she could in the cramped area before shutting the water off and letting it drain.
She sighed, it felt good to be properly clean again. Sure when she had been locked up in the cell they had taken her to the showers regularly and let her wash. But it wasn't her soap and shampoo and it wasn't her shower. Kursed went to the chest where she kept her clothes and sorted through outfits before deciding on jeans and a blue t-shirt. She reached down to where she had discarded her combat suit and pulled the white belt off of it, detaching the holsters so she could loop it around her waist on her jeans. She reattached both holsters and walked out of her room and into her armory.
She grabbed her heavy blaster from its spot on the wall and tucked it into the holster on her right leg. Thinking about it for a moment, she detached the holster from her left leg and attached a large pouch instead, then she reached out and grabbed her illegal handgun. An extremely old .50 caliber pistol. She checked the clip making sure the large bullets were in there before sliding it into her pouch and pulling the flap closed, making sure that the gun was covered up properly. She turned back to her cockpit when she heard a beeping sound.
As she walked in and sat down in the chair she saw it was the alert that the Great Fox II had entered the airspace and was waiting for take off clearance. She glanced out at her guards before starting her ships system. This drew the attention of the traffic tower.
"Cloudrunner II you are not-" the voice cut off and Kursed smiled "Cursed Claw, your ship is on lock down. You are not allowed to leave yet."
Kursed hit the talk button. "You should check again, my ride is here, so I should be free to go any second now."
There was a pause in which she was sure that the officer in charge of the tower was contacting Peppy. A few moments later his voice came back over the radio. "You have been cleared for take off Cursed Claw, but I have also been informed that we are to keep a lock on you with our weapons and if you go anywhere aside from the Great Fox II, we will open fire."
Kursed lifted her ship off the ground "Good, I'll make sure I stay still then, you might actually be able to hit something for once." Kursed cut the connection and spun her ship around until the Great Fox came into view. She pinged the bridge as she flew towards the ship.
Fox's voice came out of her speakers next. "Kursed?"
Kursed rolled her eyes "Who else would it be Dropout?"
She heard Fox's sigh through the speaker. "And we all just starting to miss you too. Alright, head for the front of the ship, I'll have ROB prep a dock for you."
Kursed nodded to herself as Fox closed the connection and made her way to the front of the ship, flying in front of the hanger and slowly moving her ship inside. As she passed fully into the ship, the doors behind her started sliding shut, she glanced to her left to see two Arwings sitting in their special launching docks, down a bit and two her right were landing pads, just big enough for other star fighters, one was already occupied, the other had flashing lights that were signaling her to land. As she landed, Kursed looked out her view port at the other ship, it was then that she noticed Falco standing next to it, with Fox walking across the hanger towards him.
The ship was circular in design with two triangular points that looked like ears, with slick wings sticking out of its side. The ship was colored a dark purple with some pink highlights. Kursed went to the back of her ship, and exited via her ladder. As she walked towards the two pilots, a hatch popped open on the underside of the ship they were staring at and a pink feline dropped down to land gracefully on the floor.
She was dressed in cut off jeans and a purple t-shirt that left her middle exposed. Hanging from her waist was a loose belt, which had a wrench and working gloves hanging from a loop on her left leg, and a small blaster hanging from her right. Around her head she wore a brown bandana with spots for her ears to poke out. Hanging from her left ear was a small earring with a blue gem. She looked like a teenager ready for a night on the town. Which Kursed realized was the point, for if anybody missed the gleam in her deep blue sea eyes, it was easy to think of Katt Monroe as a empty headed feline instead of the smart and efficient scavenger she was.
Kursed stopped where she was just a few feet away from Fox and Falco as Katt walked out from under her ship.
"Fox, it's been too long!" Katt called out as she stepped forward and held out a hand for the vulpine to shake. Fox smiled as he shook her hand then stepped back so she could hug Falco. Katt turned to face her and put a hand on her hip. "Can't say I've seen you before, although you look a hell of a lot like someone I used to know. Whats your name?"
Kursed raised an eyebrow while she folded her arms across her chest. "Kursed."
Katt took a step back to study her, "Well, at least your reputation procedures you. I guess I shouldn't have expected a handshake and a 'how ya do' from one of the most ruthless bounty hunters out there."
Kursed scoffed "What is it with people on this ship, always wanting to shake hands and pointing out useless bullshit."
Katt raised an eyebrow. "Well, your a bitch alright." she held out her hand, despite what had just been said. "Katt Monroe."
Kursed didn't take the hand. "I know who you are. You're just as well known as I am in certain circles."
Falco leaned over to Fox and using a stage whisper spoke up. "I think that's the longest sentence I've heard her say without cussing."
Kursed raised her left hand and middle finger at the bird. "Bite me Dropout."
Falco grinned as Katt stepped forward with a frown "Alright, we're drawing lines right now princess. If you're around me, Falco is off limits, I'm the only one allowed to call him names or insult him."
Falco gave a playful wave "Love you too sweet heart."
Katt didn't even turn around as she raised her own paw and flipped him off. "See, like that." she said as she kept staring at Kursed. "You keep it on a civil level and we won't have to see who would win in a fight."
Fox leaned over to Falco and using the same stage whisper that the bird had. "I put five on Katt right now."
Falco grinned and nodded "Five on Kursed."
Katt frowned "Shouldn't it be the other way around you two?" she called out.
Falco shrugged "I would, but he already put money down on you."
Kursed shook her head slowly before turning to the hallway that lead to the elevator. "Its like dealing with five year olds." she said as she walked by.
The three of them watched her go. Katt eventually spoke up "So, this is going to be fun."
Fox laughed sourly "You have no idea."
Katt focused on the vulpine. "How are you holding up?"
Fox looked at her and Katt sighed ."Fox, even if Falco hadn't told me, I noticed it too. She looks a hell of a lot like Krystal."
Fox sighed and turned to watch Kursed as she entered the hallway and turned the corner. "Yea, I know."
Falco scoffed, "I think its messing with him."
Fox shook his head. "Its not that."
Katt walked up to Falco and leaned on his shoulder. "Then what is it?"
Fox was silent for a moment, before he turned to face his friends. "Its going to sound crazy, but the reason she throws me off my game is because of what I feel here." as he finished he tapped the side of his head.
At the pairs raised eyebrows, Fox rolled his eyes and explained. "I noticed it about a month of so after Krystal and I got married. Whenever we were near by each other, there was just this feeling, right here." Fox tapped the side of his head again. "I could tell what she was thinking sometimes, and I always knew where she was at."
Falco glanced at Katt. "Your saying the feeling is back?"
Fox nodded "Yeah, I don't know if its something all Cerinians do, but its really messing with me right now."
Katt stepped back from Falco. "Wow, I can understand that." she jerked a thumb at Falco. "If I had to deal with him thinking about sex all day constantly in my head, I might go crazy as well."
Falco's "Hey!" was covered by Fox and Katt's laughter. After it died down, Katt turned to her boyfriend. "Alright bird boy, give me a tour, I've never been on this ship you know."
Before they could do that Fox looked down at his wrist gauntlet as ROB's voice came out of it. "We are next in line for launch."
Fox nodded "Thanks ROB." he turned to Falco and Katt "Tours going to have to wait until we hit space. Come on, lets head to the bridge."
As the three of them headed into the hallway and eventually into the elevator, they missed Kursed sitting on a step in the stairwell, having just moved in there to avoid being seen. Her hand was against her head and her thoughts were bouncing around in confusion.
"I had no idea a bond had formed. I just assumed that it was part of my natural abilities." Kursed stood up and faced the wall punching it in anger "Its not fair! I left him behind! I'm different now! We've changed, I can't go back to him. And definitely not after the fake body shit I pulled." she sighed as she stepped away from the wall and sat back down on the step. She closed her eyes and started to meditate, she had long since grown used to not using her powers, only really using them when in a desperate situation, but now that she was looking for it, she could feel Fox, sitting in his own little corner of her mind. She worked quickly to build up mental walls with in herself, locking away her memories of Krystal, and her changes to Kursed. If there was any chance the Fox could pull something from her mind, he might be able to figure out that she was Krystal.
The biggest issue was her own self doubt. Since being here, and being around him, even for as little as twelve hours, she realized how much she really missed it all, and the doubts of her decision from years ago were now starting to eat at her confidence.
Had she really done the right thing for herself, leaving him as she did?
Of course you did, you could never be happy being a housewife while he ran off to do missions. Besides, its not like you love him anymore, hes changed and so have you.
Kursed nodded to herself and stood up. "I don't love him anymore." she softly to herself, after a pause she added "Right?"
Okay, there ya have it, I'm sorry for how bad it was, but I do think that Chapter four will make up for as pretty much the whole thing focuses on Kursed and Fox, which lets be honest, that what you came to this story for. I also happen to think that chapter four is quite awesome so far.
Also, fun fact, I added Bio break downs on my profile pages for Fox, Kursed, Falco, and Katt, just to kinda give you an idea of why they act the way they do in the story. It's basic at the moment, but I will add more over time and as the story progresses. If you want to look at em, just head to my profile page and scroll down until you see –Star Fox: The Dead Planet- Also, random thought, just because its so late, or rather early for me, I really need to stop reading Cap. Fox's stories{speaking of, if you have not read Broken of Fate, please, go do yourself a favor and read them}, now I have an idea for another little Star Fox story, gah! I need to get back to my Ratchet and Clank stories, and finish Star Fox: ReArmed Conflict! So many ideas, so little time to write them out in.
Anyway, until the next chapter,
Peace,
- Emile