BEEP BEEP
A blue furred hand reached out from behind the bed covers and switched off the alarm clock. A blue vixen got up from the bed and slowly made her way to the bathroom. Krystal removed her nightgown, stepped into the shower and turned it on. The hot water poured down onto her head and ran down her back.
Krystal thought back to her dream, she was with Fox on Sauria, they were on the shores of Cape Claw, talking, laughing, kissing. Everything was perfect, but then that alarm went off, destroying her dream and bringing her back to reality. Those dreams were very rare, and she hated it when she woke up. But it was worse when she had nightmares, ones that haunted her nearly every time she slept, of her losing Fox in that battle over Venom. She turned off the shower, stepped out and grabbed a white towel from the rack. She wrapped it round her and made her way to her room.
After getting dressed in a blue T-shirt, black jeans and boots, she made her way down stairs and grabbed her car keys and a small bunch of flowers. She went outside, got into her car and drove off.
Parking in front of a graveyard, grabbed the flowers, got out and slowly made her way through the graves. She walked towards section, where a very large group of white grave stones, all of them the same, all of them wearing the mark of the Cornerian Defence Force , in rows of twenty, stretching back for a long way.
Krystal made her way through the graves, the black writing stood out, revealing the names of those they marked. Joseph Williams, Amy Michelson, Roger Kane, Natalie Star, the list was endless. Krystal felt tears swell in her eyes as stopped in front of the grave it pained her to look at. Above the mark of the CDF, was the logo of Team Star Fox, and below it was written:
In Memory of Fox McCloud.
Who was one of the many who sacrificed themselves in the battle against Andross' forces over Venom. May they be remembered for eternity.
Lylat has lost one of our greatest heroes, to have ever lived.
Tears ran down Krystal's cheeks as she placed the flowers at the foot of the grave stone. After what seemed like a life time, Krystal turned around and slowly walked away.
-x-x-x-
Fox woke up feeling refreshed; it had been a year since he had slept liked that. He looked out of the front window of the bridge to see he was coming up to a grey planet, Kew.
Kew was a planet that was full of vice and loss. Gambling, drugs, prostitution, illegal goods, all of it attracted people to have some of it, but the crime rate was the most dangerous in Lylat, with theft, rape, murder, and abductions being the most common. It was a good place to find mercenaries, bounty hunters, assassins, smugglers and other types of scum. The only authorities on the planet were the multiple crime gangs that were waging a constant war with each other for control. However, several people would take arms against the gangs to bring real law and order to Kew, unfortunately, they were always wiped out.
Fox switched off the auto-pilot and grabbed the control stick; he guided the shuttle through the atmosphere and towards the nearest space port. He looked over the magnificent skyscrapers that only masked what really happens, as he flew towards the space port. There were 5 long Airstrips, where several large ships nearby, ranging from cargo types to passenger types, while there was a large area of hangers with a large variety of smaller aircraft coming and going from there. There were small cargo shuttles and private shuttles.
A small hologram head of a white vixen appeared on the dash board in front of Fox. Fox looked at her and had a lump formed in his throat, if she recognised him, then the pig would be alerted and flea.
"Unidentified shuttle; you are nearing Kew Airstrip No. 082, what is your business?" she said bluntly.
"Uh...Requesting permission to land." Replied Fox, slightly nervous.
"Permission granted. Head for landing Hanger: 247" She said and her hologram disappeared.
Fox breathed a sigh of relieve, she didn't recognise him from all of the scars on his face. He carefully guided the shuttle towards the hanger he had been told to land in, there was hiss as the landing gear lowered. The shuttle entered the hanger and slowly landed.
Fox got up from his chair and made his way to the storage room. Inside were several grey metal box crates which contained large numbers of different weapons, ammunition, armour and other equipment and supplies. Fox opened an armour crate and picked up the helmet inside. The vixen might not have recognised him but there was the chance of someone recognising him and blowing his cover.
After placing on his helmet, Fox searched through the crates for some weapons. He selected a M64 Blaster pistol (which was small and had a laser target device underneath the barrel), a XK-47 Energy Rifle (which was like a machine gun, with a cylinder clip, a mid-range scope, and a grenade launcher underneath the barrel), and four grenades, to give him the more mercenary look and not attract any attention. He walked down the ramp and exited the hanger.
-x-x-x-
Fox walked through a crowded street; people of all different species were rushing around, but would slow down to get out off his way. He had spent most of the day searching for any information involving that fucking pig, the sun was beginning to set and he had nothing.
After another hour of searching, Fox was no closer to finding his target. He thought of all the places that Pig could be.
'Ok, if I was a fat, ugly, asshole, where would I go?'
He looked around, he saw people walking up and down the now brightly lit street, heading into night clubs and strip clubs, and coming out drunk and vomiting. He then noticed a group of four odd-looking characters, a red vulpine, a black, towering Great Dane, and two pale green hawks. The vulpine wore a black, leather trench coat with a hood over urban camouflage combat armour. The Great Dane wore grey, heavy, battle scarred armour which had some leather straps holding parts of it together and various salvaged parts to replace other pieces, with a rifle slung around on his backs. The two hawks wore similar armour to the vulpine only without the urban camouflage style, and two pistols in holsters on their belts each.
They were standing beside the entrance to an alleyway; a white poodle saw them and went down the alleyway to avoid them, however they noticed her and crept after her, unaware that they were being followed themselves.
The poodle began to walk at a faster pace in an attempt to get away from the thugs, only for them to speed up and chase after her. She screamed and tried to run, but found it difficult in her heels. One of the hawks tackled her to the ground then picked her up. Her eyes were full of fear as they stared lustfully at her body. The Great Dane grabbed the top of her red dress and tore it off to reveal her black, nearly see-through bra, and then he tore it off, causing her breasts to spill out of the dress.
"Please...don't..." she sobbed, but her pleas feel on deaf ears.
The hawk chucked her onto the floor and lifted up the end of her dress to reveal a pair of black panties.
"Boys!" roared the vulpine, "We're gonna have fun tonight."
They all cheered as the vulpine began to pull off the poodles panties, and then reached for the zip on his trousers.
"Let her go!" they heard a demanding voice. They all turned around to see a figure in black armour, with red eye-lenses on the helmet. "Let, her, go!" he repeated.
The thugs roared with laughter at this so-called 'hero'. Eventually, the vulpine stopped laughing and turn to face the figure.
"Buddy, do you have any idea of who we are?" he asked, the figure didn't reply. "We're part of the Crimson Skulls, and if you had any brains, you will turn around and walk away."
"No!"
"Is that so?" he clicked his fingers, "Tiny, get rid of him."
The Great Dane slowly walked over to the figure, cracking his knuckles as he did. Soon, he was standing in front of armour figure, looking down on him. He reached out to grab him with his enormous paws, but the figure grabbed his arms and swung him into the wall.
The thugs were shocked by what they saw; the hawks drew their pistols and aimed at him, while the vulpine pulled a shot-gun from his trench coat. The Great Dane staggered to his feet and grabbed his rifle from his back.
"You asked for this, you little fucker!" roared the Great Dane.
Before they could fire, the figure charged at the Great Dane and punched him in the chest, his right arm going straight through. The thugs were shaken by the sight; one of the hawks panicked and fired his pistols. The lasers hit but had no effect. The figure slowly turned his head to face the hawk, the red lenses burned with concealed anger. Suddenly, the figure pulled his arm through the right side of the Great Danes chest. Ripping large chunks of flesh out as he did to reveal his clawed hand. The vulpine stammered back in horror, one of the hawks dropped his pistols and froze with fear and the other fell to the floor and began vomiting uncontrollably.
"Who's next?" said the figure in a low, threatening tone, as he removed lung chunks from in-between his claws.
The hawk that was standing pulled up the vomiting hawk and pushed him at the figure, then ran to try and get past. The figure stabbed the first hawk in the abdominal and ripped his torso apart. The other hawk had just past him; he grabbed his neck with his left hand and returned his right hand to normal. His left hand tore into the hawks as his right hand began to scrape off the flesh on the hawks skull. With a sudden pull, he tore out the skull from skin and separated it from the neck.
The vulpine was trembling as the figure tossed away the skull and headless body. The figure slowly walked through the pools of blood towards him. Quickly, he fired his shot-gun at the figures hip; the figure didn't flinch as the shot made contact. He fired again, this time hitting his left arm, just below his shoulder. The figure groaned slightly. The vulpine fired his third shot at the figures head. The right side of the figures helmet shattered, blood and small chunks of flesh were sent flying as the figure turned his head right from the impact. The vulpine grinned.
But suddenly, the figure turned to face him, his grin vanished. He could see flesh re-growing on the figures face through the blast hole of the helmet. Skin soon grew over the muscles, followed by orange and white fur. The eyelid opened to reveal a blood red eye that was glaring at the vulpine; his courage flowed out of him, and through his trousers.
The figure grabbed the vulpine by the neck with his right hand and lifted him up into the air. The vulpine grabbed his hands and tried to loosen his grip, but to no success.
"W-w-who ar-e gasp y-yo-u?" stuttered the vulpine.
"I am Fox McCloud."
The vulpine froze in horror, Fox McCloud was alive! How was this possible? He saw Fox raise his other hand and watched it change into a claw.
"P-p-please, d-don't kill me." The vulpine begged.
"You threatened a defenceless woman, you don't deserve mercy." Growled Fox.
He positioned his index claw and middle claw in front of the vulpines eyes. The vulpine gulped. Fox pushed his two claws in through the vulpines eyes. The vulpine shook and gasped as his life slowly faded away. Fox removed his claws and let go of the body, allowing it to drop to the floor. He removed his trench coat, put it on and turned to face the petrified poodle.
"You are going to forget what you saw." Said Fox in a gruff tone.
The poodle nodded and watched as Fox walked out of the alleyway, pulling the hood above his head. However no-one was aware of two hooded figures on a roof top above them.
"Did you see that? He killed those four assholes!" said one.
"I know, but did you see the way he killed? He basically butchered them." Said the other.
"No doubt about it though, he could be of use to us."
"Follow him, I'll inform command."
-x-x-x-
Fox walked through the streets of flashing lights, pissed teenagers and shady characters. He was tired and he had found no information regarding the pig, or anything relating to 'Ghost Company. He began thinking he was wasting his time.
He headed over and entered a large, two floored strip club with red neon lighting that decorated the entire outside, its name shone in red: Venus. Inside the sounds of thumping music, whistling and cheering could be heard as soon as Fox entered the club, he looked around to see horny old bastards sitting in chairs with handfuls of money, gawking at young and barely legal girls dancing along poles in nothing but a thong some had nothing on at all. Fox was disgusted.
He sat at the bar counter and bought a pint of the strongest drink available for a small amount of credits he 'borrowed'. He quickly removed his helmet and pulled his hood back up before anyone could notice him. He looked down at the green liquid in his glass, he never drank much alcohol before, he took a sip and felt it burn the insides of his throat.
"This stool taken?" asked a voice.
Fox turned around to see a black crow standing next to him. He just made a no gesture with his head, before returning to his drink. The crow sat in the stool and waited to be served.
"So how have things been for you?" he asked.
"I'm not looking for company," said Fox in a gruff tone.
"Ha ha! You're on Kew my friend, here, you never drink alone!"
"Yeah, well I do!" Fox spat back.
The crow was taken back slightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of cigarettes and a lighter.
"Fair enough," he placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit the end, "So, what do you think of the gang war?"
"I don't give a shit."
"Huh, I thought a mercenary like you would be looking to profit from it."
"Do you want something, or are you just trying to get on my bad side?" growled Fox in an annoyed tone.
The crow took another deep drag of his cigarette and turned to Fox.
"No, I saw your bad side when you tore apart those four Crimson Skulls, Fox McCloud."
Fox eyes widened in shock, his ears were twitching underneath his hood. Did he hear that right? He had been seen killing those thugs, and heard revealing his name.
"Who the fuck are you, and what do you want?" he growled.
"I'm the one who's got a job offer for you," he said in a smug tone, "I work for a group of people who have been waging war with the gangs, trying to bring order and peace to this planet."
"Sorry, not interested."
"Look around you; this is the result of the gangs having all the power. Most of these girls are slaves and their barely older than children. This just a fraction of what they do." The crow was struggling to hold back his rage.
"I didn't come here to help you; I came because I want answers, and payback!" Fox was on the verge of crushing the glass in his hand.
"Does it not appeal to you that the evil have all the power, while the innocent are forced to live in shit?"
"I have my own problems, and you have yours. Deal with it!"
The crow was now biting his tongue to stop himself punching Fox in the face, even if he would be ripped to shreds for it.
"Then how about this, you help us, we'll help you."
Fox had to admit it; he was intrigued by the offer. If they could help him find the pig, then maybe it was worth helping them.
"Ok then, you've got a deal."
The crow smiled triumphantly.
"The names Black-wing, now then, about that job."
A/N: Ok, I know chapter 3 isn't as long or as violent as the last one, but I am not going to turn Fox into a bloodthirsty, murdering psychopath...yet. Also I thought I might give you a little idea of how Krystal is cooping; I will be showing how the others are later on. Sorry I couldn't get this up sooner, I've been studying for my A-levels so I haven't had much time for this. Hope you understand.