Chapter 2
Punched by an Angel
The next day had dawned and Roka's still could taste the sweet savour of victory concerning his midnight escapade. But now he had to deliver the package to Corneria's top scientists so they could do their tedious little experiments and what-not. Roka had the box loaded in his trusty old jerry-rig Arwing. He stretched his legs and prepared for his task. Before he left, Krystal got his attention, she wanted a word with him.
Krystal: Roka, there's something I want to ask you.
Roka: What is it, dear Krystal?
Krystal: Now's not the time for humor. Something has been troubling you, ever since I met you, but I never really could peer into your mind, unless you wanted me too. I need to know, what brings about this agnony that I sense coming from you?
Roka: Well now, that is a story for another day.
Krystal: So be it. I'll wait.
He fired up his Arwing and made his way through Corneria's atmosphere. The trip was pretty short, the Great Fox usually hovered only about 3,000 kilometers from Corneria. However,seemed like an eternity. He had some splainin' to do, and Roxy had probably forgotten about him, and if she hadn't, it would be her white knuckle to pay. He would have to look into the eyes of an angel and then eat the fist of the devil. It made his clanky legs quiver. His first stop was the big lab in the Capital. He saw the big white building in all its magnificence. Beltino, who was previously informed of Roka's arrival, was surprised to see him land right at the doorstep of the Research and Developement Complex. Roka clumsily pulled himself out of his ship with his big cardboard box in his hands. Beltino looked at the young vulpine walking towards him. Seeing the braces only made the image of his accident sharper. He saw the pictures of Roka when he was taken to Fichina Hospital. The cracked ribs, the bone fragments dangling frim his legs, and the look on Fox McCloud's face. It brought about such a cold, melancholic feeling.
Roka: Hello mister Beltino!!!
Beltino: .... Oh, umm, hello young man. I don't suppose you have something important to deliver, hmm?
Roka: Got it right here!
Beltino: Thank you for delivering this package. I suppose you were on your best behavior in our neighboring laboratory?
Roka: Absolutely not!
Beltino: Hehehe... I could have guessed. Would you like to see some of the wild inventions in the R and D?
Roka: Maybe later, I have a few important things I need to take care before the day is done.
Beltino: Well, ok then. But if you change your mind you are welcome any time!
Before Roka took flight, he called Fox with the communicator on his ship. Fox receieved the call in a minute or so and his head appeared on the little screen.
Fox: Hey, what's up?
Roka: Ummmm... Is it ok if I stay here for a little while? Not like too much time but umm... maybe a day or two? I need to take care of a few things. Nothing dangerous, just personal matters.
Fox: Krystal's gonna kill me, but I'll take the brunt. You deserve a little time to yourself, go right ahead.
Roka: Thanks. See ya' later. -click-
The nervous little fox took off and flew towards the air base. He landed in the usual spot and made his way towards the large storage building. He looked up at the bright shining sun and clear blue sky. But something more important was on his mind. "Why do I always land right here and then walk all the way over to the storage building to pick up my bike which I could have easily chucked into the bomb-bay?" He poured what was left of his homemade ethanol-oil mixture from the old steel gas can into the tank. Kicking the starter on the big red bike was a problem. He had to jump up and then force himself down to turn the engine over. Afer about three awkward tries he got his bike running, he popped it into first gear and took off into downtown Corneria City. It was always interesting to drive through the main part of the city because nobody would know what his strange machine was, and people would always give him a blank stare. As he made his way south, the big shiny buildings turned to more simple brick and mortar building and the roads were more concrete and less shining metal. He kept driving until he came apon one partucular brick building where he found a beautiful and yet dreary young vixen sitting on the front porch steps. This was not going to easy. How do you say... "Hello! Sorry I have been gone for two months! I was in a coma and I became a cripple!" without being so pathetically sincere? He found himself quivering and quite frankly, it was hard to speak.
Roka: Err... ummm... I'm sorry I have been gone for so long. I was in an accident and...
Roxy: Oh. Hello Roka! What were you doing for so long that made you completely disapear!!!???!!! I got fired from my job, my dad hasn't gotten any more sober, I'm in a financial tumult, and my last hope mysteriously disapears. I'm having a wonderful week! .....Yaaaaaa!!!
At a speed only matched by light, she drove her fist into his face. Roka felt himself fly up about ten feet and then hit the sidewalk. "That went well." He clumsily picked himself up and looked into her eyes apologetically.
Roka: Your're right, I'm sorry.
Roxy: Wait! I didn't mean...
He turned and ran south into a more poverty stricken part of the capital. He just needed time to think. Even though it pained him dreadfully, he still ran - farther south; he felt like his whole world was caving in on him, he had finally hit rock bottom. He ran for a long time, he wasn't sure how long; he looked west towards the setting sun amidst the tired old buildings. It appeared tired and sad too as it sank under the horizon, like his heart. After a while, he put his back against a brick wall and sat down on some crumbling sidewalk under the shadow of an abandoned old apartment building. It soon became dark as he sat there thinking, gazing up into the sky which was rapidly growing cloudy. "How ironic, it looks like it's going to rain, just like in some sappy love story. Now all I need is some great revelation and then suddenly things would be perfect! Bah, that would never happen." It slowly began to rain and Roka's cheerful optimism had finally been defeated; he had been through more than any man could handle and he figured that life simply sucked. He looked to his right, and then to his left, and found something sitting by an old dumpster; he picked himself up, crawled over to it and grabbed it ever so gently. It was an old tattered Bible; and even though its cover was rough and its pages withered, it was somehow complete and unchanged. He looked down at it - and it was though as if it was looking back up at him, trying to tell him something. He opened it up - and just sat there, looking through the pages of a long forgotten wisdom of old. As he sat there reading, he gained a new insight, maybe life isn't so bad. Even though bad things happen, life goes on and you just gotta' stick it out. Only one life is given and the days of it are truly numbered. "Let the rain come down." he thought to himself. "And they say God doesn't have a sense of humor." As he sat there thinking, he heard the sounds of footsteps on the wet sidewalk. He looked up found a young grey vixen walkng towards him with umbrella in hand.
Roka: Hey.
Roxy: Hey. So, why are you sitting here?
Roka: Just trying to figure things out. Doesn't hurt to sit down and thing once in a while.
Roxy: You wanna' come home?
Roka: ...Why not? Can you help me up? I'm a little stiff.
Roxy: Sure.
She pulled him to his feet and they walked home together. As they were walking, Roxy couldn't help but wonder what happened to him. She looked down at the lag braces over his jeans and the casts bulging through. Roxy felt even more ashamed that she let herself act in such a vile manner. They kept walking together for what seem like an innumarable measure of time. Not a word was spoken as they made thier way home, the only thing heard was the gentle rainfall kissing the surface of the old tattered streets.
Roxy: Oh look, we finally made it home. Achoo!
Roka: Oh my, you look cold, lets get inside.
They walked up the crumbling stairs to the front door - together. The screen door flung open and a red-eyed Mr. Beryl with bottle in hand was looking down on them.
Mr. Beryl: Get inside doggone it! Where you been at you miserable little brat!?!
Roxy I-I-I'm s-s-sorry.
Mr. Beryl: Yer' gonna' get it now.
He clumsily reared back his left fist and swung forward, only to be stopped by Roka's face. He stepped right in front to protect his best girl. Roka retalliated and hooked him in the jaw knocking him out. He lay there on floor, fast asleep and smelling strongly of cheap Taiosky Beer.
Roka: You ok?
Roxy: I should be asking you that.
Roka: Has he done this to you before?
Roxy: I umm... yes... he-he has.
Roka: Never again will this happen, I promise.
Roxy: Thank you Roka.
She burried her his in his chest and Roka gave her a warm, gentle embrace which felt wonderfull. In such a world full of struggles and pain, Roka found a brief moment of peace, but it wasn't simply an ease of tension, it was peace like a river. Holding her inhis arms made him feel alive again, he felt such a calming relief.
Roka: I love you Roxy.
Roxy: I love you too, you little burden.
