Chapter 4

The Negotiator

Fox made it home from his trip to dinousar planet and brought back Krystal as a souvenier. It seemed that they were inseperable.

Fox: ...That's my team Krystal, and I want you to meet one more person, his name is Roka Embers, the newest member of our team.

Roka: Wow Fox, you have good taste!

Krystal: Stop! You're making me blush. hehe.

Roka: It's good to meet you! I know we will become good friends.

Roka and Krystal hit it off pretty well. Over the next few weeks they became close friends. Over this period, Roka had made another friend on Corneria; A big black panther named Mike. He owned Mike's Music Shop on Center Street in Corneria city. When getting groceries to make dinner for the team he noticed the shop and went in. That's where he met Mike. Over those next couple of weeks "Big Mike" became the father that Roka never really had. (You will hear more about this character later on.)

As for Krystal and Roka, they spent a lot of time together and developed a little ongoing joke that always made Fox mad. Thet pretended to be a "couple".

Krystal: So Sweetie, what are you making for dinner? (Just so you know he can cook, he does it for the team all the time.)

Roka: Only the best my dear.

Fox: Cut it out Roka!! She's my girl! Get your own!

Roka: Your just jealous of my boy-ish charm!

Fox: You are going to regret that...

Roka: You'd better not or you won't get anything to eat. Hehehehe.

Fox: -sigh- I guess I have competition.

Krystal: Well, seeing you get all fired up like that certainly is a lot of fun.

Roka enjoyed the life he had. He had freinds and who taught him many things. Slippy was especially happy with Roka because he like mechanics just as much as he did. However, Roka was more of an old-timy gearhead compared to Slippy who was a high-tech engineer. Roka had a lot to learn still, but he still tried to the best he could be. He wanted to go on a mission, but the team didn't think he was ready.

Roka: There havent been any missions in over a week, I'm dying!! Even though I never get to go on missions at least it's not as boring when I see what the team is up to.

Falco: Quit yer griping. You dont hear me cry-babyin'!

Roka: That's not what your journal says. (In a cold calm tone.)

Faclo: Whaaaaa??

Slippy: Well, I guess we can continue on that project of ours Roka. That idea of yours was different, but a weapon technology like that might work.

Roka: Ok, fine. We'll do it.

Falco: Come back here!

Roka, being a lover of antiquated weapons had searched the archives and found blueprints for a forgotten technology... FIREARMS.

He and Slippy had finished making an early 50cal. muzzle loading trapper pistol from the Great War and a Nickel Plate .38 special that the police force had used over 150 years ago. The two decided to show Fox the "new" weapon and what it was cabable of.

Fox: So you have some new weapon eh? You say it can pierce cold plasma shields and yet it fits in the palm of your hand. Funny.

Roka: Well, since the Great Fox has a firing range, we will show you.

At the firing range, Slippy set up a small plasma shield and put a target behind it.

Roka: Fox, will you give me your blaster?

Fox: Fine.

Roka fired the blaster at the shield and the beam of light ricochet everywhere. (A squeeling cat could be heard in the distance).

Roka then pulled out his 38. and fired apon the target. (BOOM) It pierced the shield and he nailed a bull'z eye.

Fox: What type of weapon is this?

Roka: It's called a firearm, it used lead as amunution. The cool thing about lead is that it cancels out anything "Star Wars". Lead is the most un-reactive element in creation. It's perfect against modern defense devices because

Fox: That's cool and all but i'll just stick with my blaster. Any more great ideas?

Roka: Yes! I'm bringin oil back! I have recreated the XR 200 trail bike; over 100 years ago something like this would have been used on a dirt racing track, it's a long forgotten sport. It uses gasoline, which is still available on Corneria. Lots of antique collectors drive the last of the oil burners back on the home planet. Oil is not mass produced but it sure is cheap.

Fox: Well, doesn't that sound soooo useful. It's cool that you like some of the antiques but come on! It has no functional use! It's too old.

Roka: You'll see.

Fox headed back to the bridge and Roka and Slippy went back to the workshop. "Slippy, this other little project of ours must be kept confidential, is that clear?" "Yes."

Fox was at the bridge for briefing on a new mission finally. "Fox, General Pepper here, in the "Black Wilderness" region on Corneria there has been sightings of Andross' followers assembling. There is an old abandoned military base there and you need you to get some information and find out what they are planning. You would be easy to spot in the croud but Roka is not a well known member. He could be useful to you." "OK chief, I guess I'll give him a shot."

Fox, Falco, and Roka went to Corneria in the arwings and found the "Black Wilderness" region about 700 miles south-west of Corneria City. The radars picked up traces of vehicles which marked the spot for the old military base. The team landed and Roka pulled his XR 200 out of the bomb-bay.

Fox: You brought that old thing along? I told you thats it's useless!

Roka: Well, we'll see who gets to the base faster.

Vroooooom!! Roka went speeding off into the harsh trails through the large green forest.

Falco: Well, I guess those things arent all that bad... Eh, Fox? Hehehe.

Fox: Shut up!

After one hour Fox and Falco made it to the outskirts of the base. They were hiding near the entrance and saw that Roka's bike was parked right next to one of the buildings and he was in the croud of about 200 Andross followers. They were all outside setting up a camp and the ring-leader, a Monkey of some sort was sitting inside the office building at the old base. Roka walked inside the base and and entered the office building to speak with the leader. Fox and Falco could hear the conversation between the leader and Roka.

Roka: It's clear that you are rebuilding Andross' army. So can I join?

leader: Well kid, you got anything useful to the team? We need strong men so we can crush all who oppose us, especially the Star Fox Team!

Roka: Yeah. (pulls out revolver) I'm a crack shot.

leader: Wait, is that a firearm? hahaha! How is that useful?

Roka: Simple, these things fire lead rounds which pierce those stupid plasma shields.

leader: Well, isn't that intriguing? What's also intrguing is that little ear-piece that your wearing. Care to explain that?

Roka: Alright, so you got me. What are you gonna' do about it eh? General Pepper wants you and so does the Star Fox team . Well, since you know now, you're going to come to my terms.

leader: Oh really? Coming to the terms of a rebelious teenager? Guards, sieze him!

Right then Roka took off his black leather coat, under it was a smart-bomb.

Roka: Hmhmhmhm. Funny. Your're going to kill me? Doing that would be the mistake of your life. See these wires running into the back of my neck? They monitor my nerve impusles; the computer inside this bomb knows every single function my body is performing. If any system were to shut down, say brain waves, nerve impulses, blood-flow, this computer would know. If the sensor in this little fire-cracker indicates a system shutdown, the bomb will ignite.

leader: You are bluffing, not only will I have you killed but tortured drom dusk till dawn!!!

Roka got a sickening and menacing look in his eyes and began to smile and laugh hystericaly. He looked though as if he had gone mad.

Roka pulled out his revolver and stuck in a round, he began playing roulette. Spuuuuuurrrr! Click! (the leader's expression changed) Spurrrrr! Click! "You wouldn't dare" (Now there was shear terror in his eyes) Spurrrrrrr! ...

leader: No wait, I'll come to your terms; what do you want?

Roka: Hehehehe. Well, I want you to call off everything, Andross is dead so just quit and go home!

leader: You little bastard... I decline.

CLICK!...BANG!

Roka's head began to bleed as he slowly fell to the ground. Beep! Beep! Beep! The bomb began ticking, "NOOOOOOO!!!" The leader got onto a ship and flew out of the base. Fox saw everything through his binoculars, and heard everything through the microphone. Total shock was on his face. He fell backwards and passed out. Roka... was dead. "Fox! Fox! Wake up! What happened?" He then came too.

Fox: I saw everything, we need to get back to the arwings! A bomb is going to go off!

Falco: What the heck is going on?

Fox: Don't question me, just go!

Falco: What about Ro...

Fox: SHUT UP!!

The two ran back towards the arwings and and got on, when they were up in the sky, they saw the base explode and a mushroom cloud enter the air. Roka had blown up the entire base. Falco then realized what had happened, he felt his heart sink and he felt sick to his stomach. Not a word was spoken as they flew towards the Great Fox. What were they going to do now?

End of Chapter 4.