I Updated the ending after a lot of you reviewed and left comments on it, hence the -Redux- part of the title.
Star Fox: The Dead Planet Chapter 13: The Dead Truth -Redux-
Fox was standing in front of the console when he heard Kursed gasp from behind him, he turned to face her "Kursed?" he called out, a frown forming on his face as he saw her back away from the glowing wall, her hands held out in front of her, and confusion plain on her face. She glanced down at her hands before turning to look at Fox. "Are you okay?" he asked as he took a step towards her
Kursed nodded. "Yeah, sorry, I'm fine." she paused and blinked. "But we're not alone in here, someone is coming this way, and we need to be ready for them." She pointed towards the console he had been ready to dig into. "Hide behind that console, I've got an idea." Fox stayed where he was, as Kursed moved into the center of the pathway. He frowned in confusion as she glanced at him. "Go! Trust me."
Fox glanced down the cave in the direction she was facing before he nodded and quickly retreated behind the console, crouching down into a small amount of space between the console and the wall of the cave. Fox peeked his head around the side and locked eyes with Kursed just as she sent him some last minute instructions. "No matter what happens, don't move until you know that you can get them both." Fox nodded and Kursed drew her staff, keeping it collapsed while he watched from his hiding place. A few moments later, he heard the scraping of boots as somebody approached Kursed.
He frowned when he realized that he couldn't see who it was from his position, before he could think about moving though, he saw a blue figure come around behind Kursed from the other side of the cave. Fox tightened his uninjured hand on his blaster and wanted to say something, but remembering what she had said, he stayed where he was and just kept track of the only non mutated Cerinian that he had seen since they had arrived.
When the voice spoke up though, Fox felt his eyes widen. That voice, Andross was alive, here and now, and not even fifty feet from Fox. He listened as Andross confused Krystal with Kursed, talking about eye dyes, skin pigments, and voice changers. While Fox thought about that, Andross moved on with his conversation, telling Kursed that he would have her staff, one way or another.
Fox got ready to move, adjusting his crouch and bringing his weapon to bear on the Cerinian that was sneaking its way up towards Kursed. He was just getting ready to make a move since the Cerinian was about to grab Kursed when she raised the staff and caused a red glow to appear. Fox felt his eyes widen and slid back behind the console, bracing himself against the wall. A few moments later the ground started to shake as the super quake distributed its energy into the surface below him. He saw several cracks spread out from underneath the console and climb up the wall in front of him.
He stuck his head around the corner again just in time to see Kursed leap out of a cloud of steam, whiffs of white trailing after he like she was a god about to smite a non believer, as she slammed her staff into the side of the head of the Cerinian who had been sneaking up behind her. Fox heard the impact from where he was, but what surprised him was the fact that the blow, which would have killed anybody else, just sent the Cerinian stumbling away from Kursed. Before she could finish him off, she turned around and dropped her staff down onto the ground, the shield forming just as a blaster shot hit it and smashed into the ceiling above her, dislodging even more rocks.
Fox watched as the Cerinian rushed up and laid both hands on her shoulders, picking her up and tossing her across the room like she weighed nothing. Fox got ready to make his move, to attack Andross and this new enemy before they could finish off Kursed after her painful impact with the wall. But as she flew, Kursed clutched the staff tightly and hit the wall with her shoulder, and then went right through it, like it wasn't even there.
Fox blinked, thinking he had missed something, but the reactions of the others confirmed what he saw.
The Cerinian moved over to where Kursed had gone through the wall, placing his hands on the surface and trying to push through it. He glanced over his shoulder and ducked out of the way as Andross sent a charge shot into the wall. "No!" He cried out when the small explosion cleared to reveal the plain wall. He stormed over to the Cerinian and smashed the blaster into his face, knocking him back a step. "Damn you! You played right into her trap! She knew that you were going to throw her, somehow she knew, and she used it against you. She had the staff and the wall just let her through!" Andross turned to face the wall. "Damn it!"
Fox took a moment to study the Cerinian and that was when he realized that while he may not have been mutated, something else entirely had happened to him. His face was slightly deformed from the blaster hit, but no blood flowed from his muzzle, tufts of his fur were stuck together while others were missing completely. The biggest thing though was the shiny circle of scar tissue that dominated his chest, that combined with the strength that he demonstrated when he threw Kursed like she was nothing convinced Fox that this enemy was one to treat with extreme caution.
Fox couldn't help the panicked thoughts that dominated his mind right now, all focused on what had happened to Kursed. He didn't know if he could help her right now, but he knew that if he could somehow take out both Andross and his Cerinian, he could at the very least, study the wall and try to figure something out. He glanced down at his blaster and his wrapped paw, he knew he couldn't do any close combat right now, so his first goal had to be the Cerinian, he switched his blaster to charge mode and was about to charge the shot when he heard Kursed's voice in his head.
"Fox, I'm okay, I'm on the other side, just stay hidden, don't attack yet. The Cerinian Andross has with him is stronger then you can handle. Just wait for a few more minutes and he should be removed from the fight."
Fox nearly sighed in relief, but he held it in, instead forming thoughts to send her way. "Kursed?! How did you ge-" Fox paused as he realized that the staff was what allowed her through, "Wait, never mind, what are you going to do that will get rid of Andross's helper"
There was such a long silence that Fox was worried something bad had happened, then he heard her voice again. "Hopefully fix Cerinia." Fox felt her withdraw from his mind and resisted the urge to curse since he still had more questions. All he could do now was sit behind the console and watch Andross fume as he stared at the wall in front of him, the Cerinian standing next to him, turning his head and keeping his gaze roaming the room.
Fox was just about out of patience when something happened. He placed a hand against his head and winced as pain stabbed its way into his skull like a stake. As he tried to figure out what was causing it, another burst of pain hit him, in the exact same spot, and then he realized what it was.
Kursed, she was in trouble, and in so much pain that he felt it on his end through their Bond.
The pain faded to a dull throb and Fox made a command decision right there. He adjusted his grip on his blaster and took a step out from behind the console, straightening to his full height while sliding his thumb along the power selection of his blaster. "Hey, Andross!" he called out as he took aim.
Andross whirled around at the sound of his name, he was already aiming his weapon, but Fox had already pulled the trigger on his weapon.
The blue bolt slammed into Andross's chest, driving him back a step, but not bringing him down, then another bolt hit him, and another, and another, Fox kept pulling the trigger as he walked towards Andross, only pausing in his shots to briefly check out the Cerinian, who seemed to be suffering from the same pain that Fox had just gotten over.
When he reached the halfway point to the wall, he stopped walking, he continued to fire a few more times, and by this time, Andross was back against the wall, his blaster dropped after the first three shots. As the last bolt of energy sank into his chest though, Andross groaned and his knees buckled as his weight pushed him back against the wall. His eyes rolled up into his head and his breathing took on a ragged tone.
Fox wanted to sneer at the ape, wanted to say something fitting, but the cold anger that had overtaken him right then wasn't about Andross. It was about Kursed, and finding a way to get to her. He spared another glance at the Cerinian who seemed to come back to his sense and started to walk towards Fox. He only got one step through before it happened again.
The pain struck them both this time, freezing the Cerinian in his tracks and causing Fox to drop to a knee and groan. As he tried to stand up, he felt Kursed's mind touch his, and he opened his eyes as a rush of memories that weren't his own flooded his mind. The only thing was, some of them felt like they were his own.
There he was, holding out a hand and clasping her blue furred paw so she didn't drop to the stone floor below her.
Then, he came running around a corner as an Aparoid chased him, only to be felled by the heavy blaster she held in her hands.
Now, he was standing in front of her, holding out his hand with a ring glistening in the dim light.
Another one, this time of the two of them kissing at his wedding.
Fox stood up, his eyes watering, and his connection to Kursed still there. "Kursed? Whats going on?! I'm seeing..." He trailed off as another memory flashed by in his head.
"You're sure nobody will be able to trace the body back to me?" The blue furred body in front of her was badly disfigured, making anything but a DNA test useless for identifying it.
The Doctor in front of her nodded. "Of course not, I'm insulted that you would ask, I typed your DNA into it, just like you asked, use this in combination with your new voice and eyes, I doubt anybody will connect Kursed with Krystal." The Doctor paused. "Of course, those tattoos could be a problem."
She sighed and held out a hand, a handful of credits sitting in a loose pile. "Make them gone then."
Fox felt his heart pound as he realized just what he was seeing. Shock dominated his system, along with the fading pain, and he felt like he couldn't breath. "...Krystal...?" Fox trailed off his own thought, not sure if he wanted to know the answer, or if he could handle it.
A moment later, he felt sadness flow through the Bond, along with the words that she was speaking out loud. "Fox...I'm so sorry...for running...for lying about who I am...Please forgive me..." Fox forced himself to take a step towards the wall. "Krystal!" he cried out as another wave of pain swarmed over him, he dimly heard the Cerinian scream in pain as it fell to the ground and Fox found himself glancing at it, its empty eyes staring straight ahead. He turned back to the wall and fought his way through the pain to pound a fist on the wall. "Krystal!" he called again, as if shouting at the wall would let him in.
Suddenly, the pain faded, and the connection weakened. This scared Fox more then anything he had encountered on this planet so far. "Krystal! Answer me!" he cried out in desperation, his fist still beating on the wall. He heard her voice again in his head, a quiet thing that had him stopped in his tracks. "Please forgive me...Fox..."
"I'm sorry, so sorry...please...I...I lo..." her voice faded out of his mind, as well as the connection and Fox grabbed his blaster from the ground. Shooting the wall, over and over again, tears starting to well in his eyes. He felt sick to his stomach, and the sudden sadness that had over taken him, combined with a wave of dizziness, and all he could think about was the conversation about the Bonds, and now he knew how it felt to lose one. He dropped the blaster to the ground and fell to his knees, staring at the wall. His mind was awash in sadness and loss, ten times worse then he had felt when she had first run off. He fell forward onto his hands, his shoulders heaving as tears ran down his muzzle to drop onto the ground. As he sat there crying he spoke up softly, his voice soft and tight with tears. "Dad...If you can hear me...please...help me..." Fox raised his head and stared glumly at the wall and blinked a few times.
He stood up when he realized that he could see through the wall, it was rapidly dissolving into nothing, leaving no mark that it had ever been there. Fox darted his eyes to the floor next to a crater where Krystal laid as if she had been thrown, one arm hanging limply over the edge of the crater, the other draped across her chest. One of her legs was folded beneath the other and her head was on it side.
Fox ran forward and slid to his knees next to her, he took a few panicked moments to glance over her body before moving her arm and putting his head on her chest, listening for the sounds of life. There were none and Fox pulled back, lifting her head up so that she was staring at the ceiling and stacking his hands on her chest and pushing down, counting under his breath as he did so.
"One, two, three, four, five..." he continued until fifteen, then he leaned over her and blew into her muzzle. He paused for a moment before he was back to the chest compressions, again, counting under his breath. He was dimly aware of people running towards him, but he couldn't focus on that right now, all he could see was that memory of Krystal talking about becoming Kursed. He felt so stupid for ignoring the signs, but now that he knew, he couldn't stand the thought of losing her again, this time for real.
He kept this up for another two minutes, dimly aware of Katt crying into Falco's shoulder behind him. Fox never stopped, he went long past the point where any other sane person would have stopped. He had just finished another set of chest compression when he froze. He cocked his ear and reared back slightly as Krystal sucked in a ragged breath of air and coughed as her eyes flew open and her back arched. He felt her dig her claws into his leg, but he didn't care because she locked gazes with him and her eyes returned to their normal size. "...Fox..." she said softly as her body relaxed and her eyes closed again.
Fox panicked for a moment until he realized that she was still breathing, she had just passed out. He sighed and gently picked her up, slowly working his way up to his feet. "Its okay." he said softly. "I've got you now" He turned around and faced Falco and Katt. "I see you guys found you way down easy enough."
Where both Krystal and Fox were covered in dirt and had various scratches, Falco and Katt only looked sweaty from a long walk.
Falco nodded. "Yeah, it turns into a giant staircase pretty quickly in. Was an easy trip, doesn't look like you had an easy of a time though."
Fox shook his head. "I bet the stairs were so he could get out easier." Fox nodded at Andross, now laying on the floor, his chest rising and falling slowly.
Falco blinked before he pulled his revolver out of its holster and walked over to the ape. He leaned down and placed the barrel to the side of his head.
"Falco, wait." Fox wasn't sure why he said it, and from the look Falco gave him, he couldn't believe it either.
Falco shook his head. "Fox, this is Andross, we can't let him live, he could escape." He snorted softly. "I'm surprised you didn't kill him."
Fox thought about that himself for a moment. "I thought that he might be useful, plus the stun shots were the fastest setting on the gun. I needed to buy time." Fox paused and glanced at Katt. "Did you guys run into Typhoon? I didn't see him down here."
Katt shook her head sadly. "We found him alright, halfway down on a landing, a knife in his back, and a broken neck. We covered him with a cloth and continued on."
Fox sighed. "Damn, Bill's going to be devastated." he shook his head, before he glanced up at Falco and nodded.
The gun shot was louder then it should have been, echoing through the cave and causing Fox's ears to ring. Falco stood up and looked at the red that decorated the floor in front of him before nodding and tucking his revolver back into his holster. He turned back to Fox and gestured with his head. Fox looked at Katt. "Go and find her staff will you?"
Katt nodded and the two other pilots waited while Katt searched around quickly and picked up the staff, its base was scorched black and it was stuck in its collapsed form. Katt walked back over to Fox and tucked it into the holster on Krystal's back.
Falco and Katt started walking towards where they had come from, Fox following along behind them, carrying the unconscious Krystal in his arms. He would pause occasionally as they climbed to check and make sure she was still breathing.
It was during one of these pauses that Katt glanced over her shoulder and chewed on her lip for a moment before she spoke up. "Uh...Fox, there's something I need to tell you, just in case. It's about Kursed."
Fox shook his head. "I know."
Katt blinked. "You know? Since when?"
Fox glanced down the stairway "Down there, before she...well, before she died, I saw everything."
Falco glanced between the two of them. "Is there something I should know?"
Fox pushed on ahead, shaking his head when Katt opened her mouth. "It can wait, lets keep going, I want to get her back on the Great Fox as soon as I can."
Falco spoke up. "How? Katt's ship doesn't have enough room, and the Arwing only seats one."
Fox glanced over his shoulder. "We can make room in Katt's ship, it won't be comfortable for her, but she's not really in a position to complain. Then I'll wing ride with you down to the village to get her ship, and fly it up." Fox shook his head. "Then we can put this damned planet behind us and get on with our lives."
Falco was silent for a moment before he glanced at Katt who nodded. He started walking again. "Alright then, lets get moving."
It took them another hour to reach the surface since the stairway went to the mountain peak. When they emerged. Fox looked up into the sky and felt his eyes widen as she saw the streaks of blue that were slowly fading out of the sky. He glanced at Katt who was watching the streaks as well. "Why do you think they're fading?"
Fox continued towards Katt's ship. "If I had to guess, I would say it was something that happened down below." He waited for Katt to hop up into her ship and drop down a crate for him to stand on before he handed Krystal up to the feline. As he let go of her he locked eyes with Katt. "Make sure shes okay, and get her straight to the med bay."
Katt nodded and backed out of sight to tuck Krystal behind her pilots seat. Fox lifted up the crate and backed away so Katt could take off. As she flew away Falco came up and stood next to Fox, the two pilots watching as the last of the blue faded out of sight.
"So...Is Kursed...?" Falco trailed as if he couldn't believe he was asking it.
Fox was silent for a moment. "Yeah."
Falco shook his head. "Damn." He glanced at his friend. "This entire time?" Fox nodded. "How are you handling it?"
Fox blinked and met his friends eyes, and Falco could see that he wasn't really focused on the here and now, he seemed to be running things through his mind. "I honestly don't know. I'm still trying to process it all." he said after while. He shook his head and rubbed a hand over his face. "Lets just get back to Krystal's fighter, and get out of here."
Falco nodded and walked over to his Arwing, the canopy opening as he neared. He leaped up into the cockpit and started up the engines. Fox jumping up and grabbing a wing edge and pulling himself up, tucking his body close to the rest of the ship and holding on with one hand. He gave Falco a thumbs up and Falco lifted the Arwing off the ground slowly, turning around and making his way towards the village.
As they flew closer, Fox looked down over the edge of the wing. He couldn't help the curse that escaped his lips as he saw what was around Krystal's fighter. As Falco brought the Arwing in for a landing next to Kursed's ship, he saw what Fox did and he popped his canopy after he landed to walk around with Fox.
All the mutated Cerinians, or at least, Fox assumed all of them, were laying around the village, some in the huts, some in the street, and a lot in front of the stairs that led to the palace. Falco covered Fox while he bent down and checked the pulses of a few of the Cerinians.
He stood up from the last one and dusted his hands off. "Dead, all of them." He shook his head sadly while he followed Falco towards Krystal's ship.
Falco spoke up as they reached the ship and Fox ducked underneath the ship towards the rear hatch. "How do you think it happened?"
Fox's voice was muffled "I have no idea, I'm hoping Krystal will when she wakes up."
When the ladder dropped to the ground Falco raised an eyebrow. "How did you know the code?"
Fox paused with his foot on the ladder. "I saw everything Falco, all her memories as Kursed, I watched her buy this ship, and I saw her set the codes to open it and disable the fail-safes." Fox glanced at Falco. "I'll see you on the ship Falco." With that Fox climbed up into the ship and moved towards the cockpit. Falco nodded and ran over to his Arwing, hopping in and lifting the ship off the ground. He waited for Fox to get Krystal's ship started. When Fox lifted her ship into the air next to his, Falco led the way into space towards the Great Fox.
When they reached the ship, Fox put the ship down on the same landing pad that Krystal had put it on when she had first come aboard. He shut the ship down and made for the exit in the rear. He glanced around once more at the darkened ship before he climbed down the ladder.
Krystal sighed as she sat down in her seat. She ran her eyes over the controls of her craft and frowned at the thoughts that were running through her head. Here she was, back on the Great Fox, and even after everything that had happened on the trip to Cerinia, and on the planet itself, she was still running away. At least both parties were to blame this time. Him for what he said, and her for listening. Krystal scoffed softly as she reached forward and started the ship. So be it, he wanted her gone, she was gone, and this time, she wouldn't look back.
"So why haven't I left yet? It's what we both want after all..."
Krystal stared at her hand on the flight sticks, her thumb along the throttle slider that would lift her ship off the ground. All she needed to do was flick her thumb up and she would be gone, and allowed to slip back into Kursed, forget everything she had just done and go back to bounty hunting again.
A few minutes passed, and she was still glaring at her hand with hard eyes like it was her hands fault for not letting her leave. She growled softly and flung herself back in her seat as she let go of the flight sticks, crossing her arms and closing eyes as she thought about what had taken place when she had woken up a week ago.
"I know I'm not dead, if I was dead, my head wouldn't be pounding right now, and my body wouldn't feel like it had just been tossed around inside a bag of rocks a few times. I should try and do something, I need to see where I am, make sure..." She tried to open her eyes but the blinding lights above her immediately sent scything bolts of pain right into her head. She moaned softly and screwed her eyes shut as she waited for the pain to pass.
A soft voice spoke up from her right. "Kursed?"
"Kursed? ...no...that's not my name...not anymore..."
The voice spoke up again, "...Krystal?"
Her mind made the connection right then. "Fox..."
Krystal squinted her eyes and moaned again as she tried to tilt her head away from the light. "Oh, sorry. Give me a second, I'll fix that." She heard footsteps walk across the room and the beep of a control panel and the lights faded into darkness. Krystal sighed softly and opened her eyes the rest of the way, turning her head to see Fox standing in the shadows by the door, his hand still reaching out to touch the control panel. "How's that?" he asked softly, his voice just barely carrying across the room.
Krystal tried to speak but all that came out was a dry rasp. She swallowed a few times and tried again. "Better." she said quietly, her voice rough from disuse. Fox walked over towards the bed slowly and pulled over a stool, sitting down just out of her reach and clasping his hands in front of his face while he stared at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice starting to sound more like herself. She blinked as she realized something, her hand moving up to her throat. "Wait..."
"I turned it off, or rather, I had ROB remove it, it got damaged by something and was just a useless lump on your vocal cords." He shrugged, his hands still clasped in front of his face. "Sorry."
Krystal frowned, she tried to reach out with her mind to see what was up, but her head still hurt too much for her to be able to concentrate. She decided to try and read him through the bond, but found that she couldn't feel that either. She tilted her head back to look at the ceiling. "What happened? What's wrong that you're staring at me like that?"
Fox was silent for a moment. "You did it, you saved Cerinia, and in the process I saw your entire life as Kursed." Krystal winced and Fox changed subject suddenly. "Falco and Katt have a running bet for when you were going to wake up." Krystal looked at him again, and Fox continued before she could ask. "We're in orbit above Corneria. You spent the entire trip passed out from what ever happened on the other side of that wall. Falco wanted to fly you down to the medical center in Corneria City, but I decided to just see if you would wake up here." He paused for a moment, and inhaled. "As for what's wrong...how about we start with the part where you faked your death and hid from me for almost eight years."
Krystal glanced away, unable to stare at the hurt in his eyes. "Fox I-"
Fox started talking again, quieting her. "I could almost forgive you doing what you did, faking your death. Seeing it from your point of view, I can see the sense in what you did." Krystal glanced at him, and watched his eyes harden, when he started speaking again, his voice was hard. "What I can't forget is that fact that you didn't tell me about it. What I can't forgive is that you didn't tell me what you were feeling all those years ago. What will never fade is the pain I felt as I tried to cope with the loss." Fox paused, and sighed as he stared at the ceiling. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and had lost the hard tone. "Does that work for what's wrong?"
Krystal watched and waited for him to look back down and meet her eyes. When he did she spoke up. "Fox, I know that I hurt you, I get that you're angry with me. I don't blame you, but-"
Fox stood up and Krystal fell silent. "Don't even try to make excuses Krystal. Not now, not after all this." He walked around to the end of her bed and stood with his back facing her. "You know, I felt guilty for falling in love with Kursed. I really did, I wondered if you were up there watching somewhere. Turns out, you were watching me, just as Kursed." He glanced over his shoulder at her. "Did it amuse you, to see me after all this time, to show back up and let me fall in love with you again?"
Krystal tried to sit up. "Fox I never-"
Fox just raised a hand and she fell quiet again "I'll admit I'm not the most clear headed right now. When you died on the other side of the wall, and I realized just how stupid I had been, all I could think of was getting through that wall, and getting you in my arms again. But now, that I've had time to process all this on the trip back." He turned around and looked at her again. "I almost can't stand to look at you right now. I thought I knew you, turns out I knew nothing about you, nothing about how you act."
Krystal blinked and felt tears building up. Fox sighed and shook his head. "Now I made you cry..." He trailed off and Krystal watched as he walked back over to the stool and sat down. His head was hanging into his hands and he was quiet for a long while before he spoke up. "Do you remember when we talked about Bonds?" he didn't wait for her to answer. "You told me what you saw of others when they lost their mate...when their Bonds were broken..." he trailed off and raised his head, locking eyes with her. "I thought I felt bad when I realized you had left all those years ago, but it was nothing compared to the pain and feelings that dominated me when you died back there." Tears were freely running down into his fur as he stared at Krystal. "I can't feel you anymore in my head Krystal, and I don't know if that's a good thing or bad."
"Fox..." Krystal started again. "Fox, I'm so sorry for what I did to you, I realized a while ago what a mistake that was. I wanted to tell you who I was, I should have, it's just that, I was scared of how you would react, I can't blame you for being angry with me, but I hope you can forgive me."
Fox was silent for a moment, the tears still running out of his eyes as he blinked at her. "Let me just ask you one thing then." Krystal nodded and Fox continued. "If you went back to the past and could do it all over again, would you? Would you run away and become Kursed?"
Krystal was silent for a long time, her eyes still locked with Fox's. After ten minutes of silence, tears started to flow from her own eyes and Fox knew the answer before she voiced it. "...Yes...Yes I would...being Kursed...It changed me, some for the better, and some for the worst, but I don't regret it." She paused and sighed, looking down at the bed spread and finally breaking eye contact. "I just regret not telling you about it."
Fox nodded. "I see..." He trailed off and stood up, wiping his eyes to make sure they were clear of tears before he moved back to the door. He paused by the exit and glanced over his shoulder at her. "Fill out a report about everything that happened that I can use when I brief Peppy." He paused again, he sighed softly, then reached into his pocket and tossed something at her that landed on her chest. before he turned back to the hallway. When he spoke next, his voice was hard "Then I want you off my ship, and I never want to see you again." Before she could respond to those cold words, Fox stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving her in the dark of the Med-bay.
Krystal reached down and picked up the small golden chain that had landed on her chest, a golden band was strung through the links and even though it was dark in the room, Krystal could still make out the initials on the inside of the ring. The etched letters seemed to pull light out of nowhere and glint accusingly at her, Krystal closed her palm around the ring and held it against her chest, hoping Fox would come back into her room.
He never came back to see her.
Katt stopped in once to see how she was, and to tell her that Falco was too confused about all this right now. But otherwise Krystal was left to stew in her own thoughts. Confused and hurt by the feelings that she could feel being released on the ship, Krystal took Fox's last words to heart. Focusing on working up to her full strength so that as soon as she was able, she would be able to leave and get back to being who she was. If she could just get away from Fox and all of the drama of Lylat, she felt like she would be alright, there were bounties to collect after all, not just in Lylat, but in other systems as well. By the end of the week, her face was cold and hard again, she locked away her emotions and let them stew, her only thoughts being on getting her body back up to full strength. She would just hang around long enough to make sure that she got that clean slate from Peppy, then Fox would never have to worry about seeing her again. She would make sure of it.
"And yet..."
Krystal was still sitting in her seat, staring at the controls, she knew that up on the bridge, Fox was giving a holographic briefing to Peppy and answering any questions he had about the report that Fox had already given him. She knew that he had filed the report since she had already received an alert on her ships on board computer from Peppy that she was free to go about her business, but to keep her nose clean.
She sighed as she reached out to take the flight sticks in her hand, only to have that same feeling from before stop her from going any further then that. She reached out to try and feel for Fox, but like she had discovered after their conversation in the Med-bay, their Bond was well and truly broke. All she could sense from him was what he was broadcasting up on the bridge. A burning feeling of disappointment, duty, and some sadness, tinged with regret.
She stood up and walked over to the small section of her ship that housed her room. She glanced at her staff briefly before dropping to her knees in front of the chest that held her clothes. She unlocked it and lifted the lid up, pulling out the various drawers that folded inside keeping her clothes organized. She reached down to the bottom and picked at the corner with one of her claws, catching the small hole and lifting the dusty false bottom out of the chest and laying it next to her.
She looked down into the hidden compartment in the chest and reached for the items inside. The first thing she pulled out was the wrapped package of clothes that she laid out next to her on the floor before she undid the bundle and revealed her last set of clothes that she had worn on Cerinia. The white cloth that just barely passed for a swim suit in Lylat had been something standard for her to wear at all times of the year on Cerinia. She rubbed a finger over the cloth remembering when she first got the clothes from her mother.
Next she pulled out a small box the rattled gently as she set it down on the ground, she flipped the catch and lifted the lid, letting the gems and arm bands that she had been wearing when she left all those years ago glint dimly in the light from her cabin. She reached back into the chest and pulled out various other nick-knacks that she had collected over the years she had spent in Lylat as Krystal, taking a moment to gaze at each one and remember different times, happier times. As she set the various things around her, she formed a circle of her past life, and she paused before she reached back into the chest and pulled out a small wrapped frame.
She carefully unwrapped the picture frame and set it down in front of her. The picture was still clear as day thanks to its plastic coating, and Krystal picked up the picture and flipped it over, staring at the neat little writing on the back, that was perfectly legible, yet still looked like a hasty scrawl that covered the white space.
"Hey Krystal, please don't be mad, but I was on Sauria for a Job and I saw you and Fox sneak off to escape Tricky's party, and I don't blame you. Anyway, I followed you, and it looked like you guys were having a private moment, but when I saw the sun start to set, it just was so beautiful looking with you two there, I had to take a picture, I only made two copies, this one, and one that I'm going to sneak into Fox's things before I leave. You're welcome.
3
– Katt"
Krystal set the frame back down in front of her, then she reached underneath her shirt and pulled out the gold chain that Fox had given her before he left the Med-Bay a week ago. She held the small golden band tight in her fist as she closed her eyes and slipped into a meditative state, praying to the gods for guidance.
She stayed that way for a few moments before she sighed. "What are you doing here?" she asked softly
"Simple, you asked for guidance, here I am."
Krystal opened her eyes and turned her head to look at 'Marcus' who was suddenly sitting next to her. "I meant what are you doing here in Lylat, shouldn't you be trapped on Cerinia or something? Besides, I prayed to the gods, not to ghosts who go around wearing the skin of my dead father."
'Marcus' nodded. "Normally, you would be right, but Cerinia's core pulses with a surge of suppressed power. All thanks to you of course, so I'm capable of reaching you even out here in Lylat. As for praying to the Gods, what makes you think I'm not in contact with them, maybe they sent me in their steed? Did you ever think of that?" 'Marcus' grinned at Krystal as she growled softly in her throat and frowned at him.
She shook her head "Fine then, guide me."
'Marcus' just laughed. "Has it ever been that simple? The only thing I come bearing is some advice." 'Marcus' paused and waved at the circle of mementos from her past life. "You already know what you need to do, it's the same thing as what you want to do. You're just having trouble accepting the fact that they are one and the same."
Krystal blinked and 'Marcus' was gone. She scoffed quietly as she mumbled to herself. "That was just unhelpful in so many ways." She still paused though, and took his words to heart, turning them over in her head, and thinking about what she wanted to do.
She wanted to leave. So, why couldn't she bring herself to do it?
It struck her suddenly, she knew what she needed to do. Standing up, she left her room and went into her cockpit, sitting down at the seat and plugging in some commands into her computer before reaching for her flight sticks.
"Why hasn't she left yet? ROB told me that she left the med bay over an hour ago."
"Fox? Is everything okay?"
"Hmm?" Fox looked away from the viewport and turned to face the holographic projector where Peppy's form was floating.
Peppy frowned as he continued. "You've been staring out your view port this entire time, when I ask a question about your report, you took a good ten seconds to respond, if at all."
Fox sighed and sagged back into his chair. "Sorry Sir, I just have a lot on my mind."
"No, just one thing...and she's currently in my hanger bay."
Peppy's eyes softened, he reached forward and pressed a button on his end. "It's just Peppy right now Fox. Is there anything I can help with?"
Fox glanced out back towards the viewport, his eyes straining to catch any movement, but he had yet to see any ship leave. "Did I mean it?"
"It's about Kursed..." he started softly, Peppy didn't interrupt, just watched. "Peppy...she's...Krystal..." Peppy glanced down at the floor and was quiet for a while, long enough that Fox focused on him. "Peppy?
Peppy looked up, and when he met Fox's eyes, his were sad. "Fox...I hate to tell you this, but I long had my suspicions that Kursed was Krystal."
Fox stood up suddenly "What?! You knew?!"
Peppy shook his head. "Not until just now, like I said, I just had my suspicions, it seemed odd the Kursed just kinda appeared around the same time you found 'Krystals' body. So I looked deeper into it, and, it just all seemed to fit, I'm sorry for now telling you, I should have, but you had so much going on at the time, that it just...well, it eventually faded from my mind. I didn't start thinking about it again until Cerinia showed up."
Fox shook his head. "Peppy...I...I need some time Peppy, do you mind if we pick this up tomorrow?"
Peppy sighed, but he nodded. "Alright, I'll come up to the Great Fox tomorrow, then we can finish this talk in private." Peppy faded from view and Fox walked over to the viewport, starting out into space, most of his view was obstructed by the low atmosphere dock that the Great Fox was currently sitting in, but Fox wasn't paying attention to the view, his mind was busy with other thoughts.
Eventually though his curiosity overcame him, never once did he see a ship leave, and it made him wonder. He turned around made his way through the dimmed bridge towards the elevator, he reached for the button before he remembered that while the technicians had shut down the power core to check it over. Turning instead towards the the door that led to the stairway he walked towards and tapped the button that opened the door, glad that the heavy automatic doors had small back up batteries inside them.
He worked his way down the staircase, his footsteps echoing around the small space and distracting his thoughts. When he reached deck five he opened the door and headed out into the small hallway, his path leading him towards the room at the far end. He felt a small bit of surprise when he saw that the door was already open. He slowed his steps and walked slowly towards the room, poking his head around the side to see who was inside.
Krystal was standing next to the bed, holding a picture in her hands, she was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, her hair hanging from its ponytail. He watched her for a moment before she sighed and spoke up. "So are you going to come in and ask me what's on your mind? Or are you just going to stand there all day?"
Fox shook his head and stepped all the way into the room, getting right into it. "Why haven't you left yet. I told you I wanted you gone."
Krystal was silent for a moment before she finally turned to face him, her head canted towards the ground, the gold chain with her ring hanging around her neck. She spoke up in a quiet voice "'He'll say some things he doesn't mean, but he'll love you anyway.'" Fox frowned as she stopped and raised her gaze to his, locking eyes. "I haven't been able to get those words out of my head, not since Katt first told them to me back on Cerinia." She sighed again and sat down on the bed, glancing around the room. "I missed this place, I told myself that I didn't, but I lied to myself every time. I miss everything about this ship, the sounds it makes as it moves through space, ROB...but most of all...you." she glanced at him again. "Did you really mean it Fox?" she ask softly
Fox was quiet for a moment while he gave it thought. "I...I don't know, I'm still confused about all of this. I thought I knew what I wanted, but..."
Krystal stood up and walked towards him. "If if makes you feel any better, I may not regret the choice to be Kursed, but I do regret leaving you the way I did. I was scared of how you would react, scared of you rejecting me, so I ran away, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. But most of all, I regret ruining what chances we had to start again." she paused and chuckled sourly. "I guess I really am cursed huh? But it after all this time, I finally see that I'm the cause of all of it." she shook her head. "I have nobody to blame but myself." She sighed and held out the picture. "Here, take this, I want you to have it, I know you already have one, but this one is mine, and while I'll be keeping the ring, I don't think that I could keep the picture. Not if I can never come back."
Fox took the picture silently, staring at the photo of them on Sauria, he flipped the picture over and read the note on the back. Krystal moved over to the closet and grabbed a bag of clothes from inside. She glanced once more at Fox. "Sorry it turned out this way Fox, really, I am." she walked past him and out the door. Fox watched her go, before he turned back to the picture.
His entire being ached to forgive her, to just try again, but that part of him that had suffered for all these years couldn't just let her off the hook. He wished there was someway that he could keep her around. He raised his head suddenly and moved out into the hallway where Krystal was about to walk into the stairway.
"Krystal."
She paused and glanced down the hallway at him, she left her bag by the stairway and moved back towards him, coming to a stop a few feet away and crossing her arms. "Yes?"
Fox chewed on his lip for a moment. "You never gave me an answer you know."
Krystal frowned. "About what?"
Fox smiled at her softly. "About joining Star Fox, we still need a forth pilot after all."
Krystal watched him for a full minute, her face unreadable, and without the Bond, Fox had no idea what she was thinking about. Eventually she let out a small huff of surprise before she put a hand on her hip. "Are you okay with that? After all of this?"
Fox shook his head. "You know what my dad always told me right? Trust your instincts." she nodded and Fox continued. "Right now my instincts are screaming to take my time in this, to just let things play out for a bit before I make a decision." Fox shrugged, "I figured that I might as well still take advantage of your skills while I figure it all out." Fox held out a hand. "Sound fair?"
Krystal glanced down at the hand before she smiled softly as well and clasped in her own, shaking is sharply. "Deal."
Fox nodded. "Then its done, welcome back to Star Fox Krystal, I'm sure you remember where you room is at." Fox gave her a mock salute, his good mood restored for the first time since they had left Cerinia, he wasn't sure why, but deciding to keep Krystal around just felt right, and he couldn't help offering a silent thanks to his father as he moved past Krystal.
He only made it a few steps down the hallway before she spoke up. "Just like that? I'm part of Star Fox again?"
Fox glanced over his shoulder at her. "There is all that paper work that we have to fill out, but yeah, you're Star Fox again." He turned and continued to the stairwell, pausing to nudge her bag with his foot. "Oh, and you shouldn't block doors with your bag." With that he stepped through and Krystal shook her head as she tried to figure out what he was planing that suddenly had him in such a good mood. Giving up for the moment, Krystal decided not to look at the gift to closely and went back to grab her bag, taking it back to her room and setting it down on her bed.
Her bed. She glanced around, her eyes landing on the picture she had given Fox. She reached up a hand to rub her fingers over her old ring. Someday she would get the right to wear the ring on her finger again, but it would only be after she earned it. She grinned as she held the ring up before her. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she did always like a challenge.
End of Act 1
Edit 08-21-13-Gave the ending a little bit of a make over to try and improve on some things since a lot of you mentioned the ending in reviews. See, I take that stuff into account. Anyway, let me know what you think, I also expanded on the bonus stuff down below. I also know a few of you had issues with Andross's quick end, but it went that way for a reason, I'm not quite sure why, but there was a reason for it. I may go back and look into it further, maybe even rewrite it into a fight between Fox and Andross, but...I dunno, it just doesn't feel right to do that. Meh, while I muse on that... I leave you to the rest of the original authors note.
But first, got to take that time for Guest Reviews!
JackLinks: Yay Chalk! Best flavor ever, also, I try not to stress, but its just the way I am, I just feel like this chapter is not going to satisfy you guys in anyway, like I've let you down. I did enjoy writing it though, I always do.
Blake O'Donnell: [hands you jaw] here, I think you dropped this. Also, in that question I meant the update for chapter 12. Seeing what all happened in it. As for leaving people hanging, I do try not to, but...Well, at least there is some closure for now right?
Guest: Glad you love it, as for you update, here, and now.
Right, Act 1, so, about chapter seven or so,I realized that I had this huge arc plotted for Fox and Krystal rebuilding their relationship and what not, but I didn't have enough of the arc with Cerinina to fit it all with out padding it with dumb things. So, I decided that I would make this a three act story, each act focusing on a different part of the rebuilding. The First Act, as you can tell by the last chapter name, was about finding out the Truth about Kursed, and the Second Act will be a focus on them getting to know each other again, Fox with getting used to this more aggressive Krystal who wants to start again, and Krystal with this colder Fox, hurt by what he sees as the ultimate betrayal.
Well, that's the general plan anyway, we'll see what happens.
So...Before I go drop dead like a log on my bed, Just some things for you all to mull over...
Since my last update, Dead Planet has gotten over 800 hits, also 14 reviews in the first twenty four hours. So, damn, awesome. I love you all to bits for this, and as is the normal, something for you here ahead.
Enjoy, then review, I suppose I'll let that decide what happens with this story. If I continue it or not, or if you all want it to just end like this.
It was the shrill alarm that woke him.
It wasn't an warning alarm or anything, it was just his alarm clock, waking him up early so that he could get ready for the day. Fox McCloud reached up and rubbed his forehead gently as he rolled over in bed, his arm flailing about for a moment before it located his wooden nightstand, and the screeching box on top of it. As his paw located the snooze button and quieted the alarm, Fox groaned and rolled over again, burying his muzzle into his pillow and try and get a few more minutes of sleep.
A female voice spoke up. "Well, I never thought I would see the day, a lazy Fox McCloud." there was a pause, then the voice continued coyly. "Whatever could have happened to bring this about?"
Despite how tired he was, and how close he was to drifting off again, Fox couldn't help but grin into the fabric of his pillow. He didn't bother to move when he spoke, so his voice was muffled as he answered the question. "As if you don't know, since you're the cause."
The voice was shocked. "Me? Why, what could you mean by that?"
Fox turned his head, the grin still plastered on his face as he took in the cobalt vixen laying next to him. She was flat on her stomach, like Fox, but she had kicked off her end of the covers and her legs were waving gently back and forth through the air, with her tail resting up over her shoulder. Her hair was loose and flowed around her face as she grinned at Fox, and she all she had on was her black bra and panties.
Fox's grin turned playful to match her tone. "You know damn well what I mean by that."
Krystal made a surprised face and covered her mouth with one hand. "Hmm, you know, I think I might know something about that."
Fox laughed softly and reached out a paw, taking hers and pulling her over to him. They rolled over each other and she ended up on top with a laugh. Fox copied her laugh, keeping her paws entwined with his. He lowered his voice and raised his head to whisper in her ear. "I love this."
Krystal's own voice was quiet. "Love what?"
Fox rubbed a finger over the gold band on her finger as he spoke up. "This, you, waking up to you every morning. Touching you whenever I want, it feels so right."
Krystal pulled back a bit and put on a fake frown. "Fox McCloud, you make me sound like a possession."
Fox reached up and nipped her lightly on the shoulder, and Krystal shuddered above him. "You are my possession." he whispered softly into her ear.
Krystal grinned and leaned down, retuning the nip on the shoulder, as she pulled away she kissed his ear gently. "I'm fine with that, just as long as you remember that you are my possession as well."
Fox hugged her tight to him and brought their muzzles together in a deep kiss. When they separated a few minutes later Fox chuckled softly. "I'm fine with that." he said, repeating her own words back at her.
Also, Tales of Xilla is awesome, if any of you are JRPG lovers and have a PS3, you're only hurting yourselves for not playing this game. That and Dragons Crown.
Peace,
- Emile