Chapter 3

The Encounter

The sun was rising, and the storm had cleared. A young little vulpine found himself waking up on old bench swing. It was certainly a beautiful morning, and it was disturbed by the buzzing of a cell phone.

Roka: Uh... Hello?

Fox: Hey Roka, Fox here.

Roka: Oh, hey... So, did she beat you good?

Fox: Luckily not. I mentioned Roxy, becasue I knew that's exactly you're after, and she thought right away that it was "good and right to be reunited with the one you love."

Roka: Aehhh... Shut up.

Fox: You don't have to worry about coming back up to the ship. All of us are coming down for some formal occasion, and we desperately need to give our ship a recharge. I'm sure you want to hear all about it.

Roka: Oh, definately.

Fox: I will give you a call later. It's at the big suite near the center of the Capital. See ya' soon. -click-

Now Roka had a task he really didn't want to do. He enjoyed a party here and there; and even formal things were fine to him. The one thing he couldn't stand though, was rich and fancy things. Stuff like that just made him sick; and he had to go to some fancy place for some royal nonesuch. He just sat there on the rusty old bench swing on the front porch thinking about the last time he went to he went to a party. Now that wasn't very enjoyable. To make things worse, Roka had a lot of loose ends to tie up before he could get into any more trouble. He wanted to explain some things to his comrades, and he also wanted to know who keeps trying to kill him. His most recent encounter was the would-be assasin in the hospital a little while ago. The figure wearing a mask was caught on video surveilance, but there was no face or a name. "Too much to do" , he thought to himself. His thoughts were cut short when the door flung open and lovely young Roxy came out with a smile on her face.

Roxy: Good morning!

Roka: Oh, good morning. Awkard silence...

Roxy: Yeah...

Roka: Hehehehe... I love ruining the moment.

Roxy: Roka, we need to talk. Something... something bad happened.

Roka: Yeah, what?

Roxy: I was a bit nervous to tell you before, but... s-someone b-broke in recently and stole my... the gift you gave me... the nec....

Roka: Oh my gosh! Someone broke in? Why didn't you tell me? You weren't hurt were you? Everything ok? Are you hurt?.........

Roxy felt a lump in her throat. Roka didn't even hear her mention anything about her neclace. He only cared about her; she had never felt this loved, ever. She looked at him with tears in her eyes, while he still stood there rambling about her saftey and well being. She was honored.

Roxy: Thank you so much Roka. You don't know how much I love you.

Roka: Uh..whaaaa?

She kissed him lighty on the forehead and he turned bright red. He felt so bewildered and yet so charmed by her gentle act of love that he didn't know what to do with himself. Roxy gave him a warm embrace and he did the same. He felt so calm; for the first time in a long time he felt this peaceful warmth surrounding his body. It amazed him how a simple embrace could bring himself out of the troubles of the world for a brief moment. All he could do was stand there; he wished this moment could last forever, and it certainly felt like an eternity. Perhaps it was love. This moment ended all to soon when Roxy looked at him with concern.

Roxy: My neclace you gave me was stolen I'm so sorry.

Roka: That was nothing more than a shiny stone, something like that can be replaced. However, you are a treasure for more valuable than the most precious of gems; I can't replace you. But... Doesn't hurt lookin' for it! Maybe I can pick up his scent. Then I'll track him down and teach 'em a lesson or two. Was anything else stolen?

Roxy: All of dad's booze.

Roka: That could explain a few things... I'll give this place the go'around.

He began crawling on the ground sniffing for things, he was a little weighted down by his braces which put his body in some awkward flattened postion. After about five two minutes, he found out his culprit.

Roka: I spy mith my little eye something that starts with big, perverted, wolf.

Roxy: You don't mean...

Roka: Roxy?

Roxy: What?

Roka: I can't get up.

Roxy: -sigh- Grrrr.... Since when were you so heavy? Eh.... Hmmmmmmm!!!!

Roka: Oh, knock it off! Just help me up!

Roxy: Gehhhhhh! There we go!

Roka: Thanks... Just so you know, Raian O'Donnel did it...

Roxy: Are you sure?

Roka: What else smells like sex and cheap booze?

Roxy: That was a very rude comment...

Roka: I'm sorry...

The first thing that the young foxes did was try to find Raian O'Donnel. Roka was able to pick up his scent and it wasn't long before they found him on some street corner getting all makey-outy with some... nevermind. Anywho, Roka found the young whoremonger and demanded the neclace he stole from Roxy.

Roka: Give Roxy her neclace back you little punk!

Raian: Well look who it is, clanky... and skanky. How are those broken legs of yours doin?

Roka: Coming from the mindless slave to sex who can't even think with the head on his shoulders.

Raian: I would break your legs, but I see thats already been taken care of. Maybe I'll break your arms too.

Roka: Oh? Did I touch something there? I certainly didn't grab anything... And you! Stay right where you are! I want that neclace.

The black feline slowly layed the neclace, which Roka hade given to Roxy, on the gound before her feet. As for Raian, he was searing hot with anger and ready for a fight. He charged at Roka with a surprising speed and landed a punch in his gut, knocking him backwards. That was about all he could take. He had been so weakened from his long stay at the hospital that he had little strength left in him. Raian reared back for another punch but suddenly was stopped in mid swing. Roka looked up and saw a big, black panther holding the little renegade by the wrist, and sowly began to squeeze. The sound of popping joints and ligaments was possitively mortifying. Raian let out a scream of pain as Mike's massive hand clamped down on him.

Mike: Look here son, I suggest you straighten up and change ya' lifestyle a bit. Do ya' undastand?

Raian: Y-y-y-yes sir.....

Mike: Good. Now if I ever sees you hurtin' my boy again, I ain't gonna be so nice.

Raian took off and ran as fast as he could. As for the slut, she was long gone, but the neclace was sitting right there on the ground. Mike walked over to it and picked it up. He stared at it for long time. Concentrating on it, remembering something. He turned around and walked over to Roka and helped him up, gave him the neclace and patted him on the head.

Mike: It's been a long time son.

Roka: Well, something bad happened and...

Mike: I understand, les just say a little someone told me about ya' whereabouts. I been keepin' my eye on you makin' sure you's safe. I see you brought the misses with ya'.

Roxy: Thank you so much for your help. I thought Roka was going to be injured very badly.

Mike: No worries honey.

Roxy: My name is Roxy, it's good to meet you.

Mike: Thay call me Big Mike. It's a pleasure.

Roka: Thank's for bailin' me out. I thought I was a gonner. Well, at least we got our neclace back eh?

Mike: Young lady, make sure you take good care a' dat neclace.

Roxy: Yes sir, I will.

Mike: I'll be seein' you kids soon I hope. But I needs to get back to tendin' the shop.

They said their farewells and the young couple walked back home. Roxy was delighted about the return of her neclace, but thought it would be best to sterilize. She didn't want to end up with some strange dizeases. Now that Roka was back, he could keep an eye on the present so that his strange dream could be prevented. It was still burnt into his mind and all the images of destruction, defeat, and especially Roxy's death made him shudder. Roka looked towards horizon. There was a long road ahead of him.

When Roxy entered her house, Roka stayed outside. He said his farewell. What he really needed was to take a walk and think about things. Not just the present or the future, but also himself. He knew he was ruined as a child, but that gave him no excuse to ruin his ruin his future. There's too much to live for in such a short life; why should he give up? And why should he be unhappy because of his past? He has a future and a chance at a real, once in a lifetime love. Why give it up? At that point he knew he was blessed; from his ashes of destruction came the roses of sucess. He had good friends, a good realtionship, and hope. What was really bothering him was the big "secret mission" General Pepper sent him on. That whole maffia thing was a big training excercise and also a test. The general wanted to test his patriotism and willingness to brake the law under the worst of circumstances. "What a brilliant practical joke", he thought to himself, "I guess I was out-foxed".

Roka kept on walking through the more upscale part of the city with thoughts runnung through his head. Suddenly, he heard an unusual noise; it sounded Iike the grinding of metal. Far ahead of him was a taxi the had lost control and smashed into the ground, and slowly began to catch fire. He ran as fast as his clanky legs could take him. He charged towrads the window of the vehicle and threw his fist into it. He made a fine crack in the glass, but his hand was in excrutiating pain. He tried again with his elbow, but to no avail. He tried one more time, biulding up all the strengt he could muster, and threw his whole body into the window. The fire was spreading - he only had a few seconds - instinct took over. He smashed his head into the glass one more time, shattering it. With his good hand he pulled open the lock and opened the doors. He pulled out a cab driver and then, what he was not expecting, was a delicate figure the looked strikingly like his mother. But that wasn't important, someone's life was in jeopardy. He hurredly opened te door fom the inside and pulled the young lady out of the vehicle. He dragged her out of the way of danger as the cab's vinyl seats rappidly caught fire.

Roka's legs were now in a state of total pain, the adrenaline rush put too much stress on his body. He crawled over to the cab driver; he was still breathing. He pulled himself over to the girl, she wasn't. He began to push up and down rappidly on her chest and tried to get a response. By now his heart was pounding, he absolutely could not let someone die if there was something he could do about it. He was getting desperate now, why wouldn't she breath? Suddenly, he heard sirens. He looked over his shoulder and saw an ambulance come rushing towards him. He saw two medics exit the vehicle and come running towads him.

Roka: Help! She's not breathing!

medic: Quick, get the electrode pulsator!

Roka: Can you save her?

medic: Hold on...

He put the strange device down on her ribs and a bright arc was emitted. She began to tense up as the electricity ran through her body. Roka cringed as she lay there, it only brought back memories of the strange radiation experiments performed the test subject of Andross. Amazingly, she began to breath! He eyes slowly began to open and she became conscience. Roka looked down on her with relief, she made it. She looked so familiar... he can't be her mother... she's too young. Who was she?

girl: Huh? What happened? It is all so fuzzy.

Roka: Are you all right?

girl: Think so...

Roka: Thank the Lord... I'm glad to see that your all right. That was one nasty crash.

girl: Did you save me?

Roka: *blushes* Well, I guess. My name is Roka, it's nice to meet you!

"Thank you for saving me Roka. My name is LeCarra Embers."

END OF CHAPTER 3.