The Lylat Wars- Combat Evolved

Chapter One

Enter Star Fox

Fox showered for what felt like hours in his private quarters, although it was only minutes. With the warm, soapy water washing away some of his stress and tension, Fox felt better, but not "good" in the traditional sense. That ideal was long gone in his world. As he stepped out and dressed Fox suddenly felt pangs of hunger. He hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before.

"ROB, what's for dinner?" Fox said. He felt odd, as if he were talking to himself. He knew ROB could hear him from anywhere in the ship (and that bothered him occasionally) but yet he still felt alone in certain places, his private quarters being one of them.

Momentarily the disembodied voice of ROB 64 replied flatly, "steak and potatoes."

"Sounds great, ROB." Fox didn't really care what he'd soon be eating, but simply felt the need to talk to someone, to assure himself that someone was still there. He was lonely and broken, his habits leaving him in dire straits with his friends and family.

Silently Fox walked the halls of his ship- The Great Fox, a mammoth vessel of dreadnought classification. It felt big when filled with full crew and equipment. With only Fox, Peppy, and ROB aboard it felt virtually empty.

Fox stalked past the now uninhabited crew quarters, nearing the observation bridge, he felt pangs of sadness.

"Nothing lasts forever, Fox." Peppy Hare strolled beside Fox, leading him to a chair. "Sit down Fox."

Fox sat, his eyes struggled to adjust to the brightness of the room, the harsh lighting only further accentuating the bright red vessels that popped from the whites of his eyes. All said, Fox was ready for Peppy to speak, but he remained discomfortingly silent.

Peppy stared blankly out through the large glass windscreen for several seconds before speaking, "Fox, Katina is under attack by an unknown force. They're not Venomian, and they're not any of their known associates."

"Huh?" Fox's mind had wandered from the present situation. Even after eleven hours of sleep his body still ached under tremendous fatigue.

"Are you strung out again?" Peppy's voice came harshly to Fox's ears.

"Yeah, but just a little." Fox was telling the truth.

Peppy opened his mouth to speak further, but Fox interrupted, "So what do we do?"

"We-" Peppy said harshly, "do nothing until further notice. I however will fly to the point of contact and see what's what. You, you strung out junkie, will mind the Great Fox while I take my leave."

Fox looked shocked, but deep down knew it was for the best that he stay behind. "Alright Peppy. What else do we know about these attackers?"

"According to data ascertained at the attack site, they're calling themselves "The Covenant"." Replied Peppy.

"The Covenant, huh?" Replied Fox. "I've heard of them. If they're reputation is anything to go by you may need some help."

"Its too bad your in no shape to fly. You look like you just had a vicodin eating contest with Courtney Love- and you won."

Fox was confused, "Courtney- who?"

"Never mind, she was before your and my time anyway. But- in all seriousness, I'd welcome any help I can get. But you don't want to risk it, do you?"

Peppy looked somewhat helpless in his stature. He was older now, the years of fighting having taken such a toll on his body that the intervening years after fighting hadn't helped him much. He, much like Fox, was a broken soldier.

It was clear to Fox that Peppy needed help.

"Peppy, for you I'd do anything." Replied Fox thoughtfully. "I'm fresh and clean now. Really."

"Are you sure, kid? I don't want anything to go wrong down there."

"Sure I'm sure, Peppy." Fox smiled a crooked smile as he shook his head lightly. "Everything's a-okay up here." He pointed to his head, while looking slightly down. His eyes were freshly inflamed as the lighting in the room grew brighter. ROB had turned up the lights.

"I'm really not sure about this. You haven't had a job in months. You're rusty."

"No rustier than you, old man." Fox replied coyly.

Peppy glared angrily at the fox. Thinking he'd blown his chance Fox quickly conceded, "I'm only joking Peppy."

"I guess I could use the help. Alright, kid go get ready, we're dusting off in five."

Fox gave a hearty, if unusual, "Yes sir!" before dashing off back to his room.

Five minutes later Fox was strolling down the hallway. He had on a long sleeved shirt, which he wore for two reasons; He liked it, and most importantly of all, it covered his fresh new needle marks.

"Everyone finds their courage in different places..." Fox thought to himself as he strapped himself into his Arwing, bringing the glass and metal enclosure down before strapping his belt across his unsightly large gut. Fox turned his commlink on, he stated excitedly "Ready for takeoff, Peppy old pal."

As the Fox and Peppy launched from the ships bay, Fox felt something he hadn't felt in a long time; fear. Not fear for himself, or even for Peppy. But fear for the civilians of Katina. He hoped to his Christian God in heaven that nothing would happen like it did the last time he'd been in action. "Those people didn't deserve to die like that."

As both men blasted off into hyperspace Fox switched on his commlink; "Peppy, I've been getting my courage from the bottle and the needle for too long now, he said. "Today I get my courage from you."

"10-4 good buddy." Peppy was ready for action.

Momentarily they were there, and what they saw was absolutely catastrophic.