Chapter 6

A Time of Healing

The surgeons were in a pickle, they had to remove the shrapnel from his stomach without causing severe internal bleeding. He appeared to be stable, for now. His bleeding had stopped and he seemed to be ok. He was bragging to the team about how tough he was, just being his plain old self.

Surgeon: Excuse me, I need to have a private word with you Mr. McCloud, (leaves room) Roka seems to be in stable condition. But the small piece of steel in his abdomen could be a real hazard, we may have to perform a surgery if it doesn't want to come out.

Fox: Oh, I see.

Surgeon: I strongly believe that he will live none the less.

Fox: Thanks.

Meanwhile, in Roka's hospital room.

Roka: You should have seen the look on that stupid monkey's face when I wipped out my bomb, ehehe. Those terrorist extremists had it comin'.

Falco: I can't believe you! You blow yourself up! Wipe out an army! And then live to brag about it! Ooooh! YOU are just too much!

Krystal: What were you thinking!? We thought you were dead! How could you?

Peppy: I think you went too far when you pulled this stunt Roka.

Roka: Sorry... I didn't think it would quite happen this way. I feel a little dizzy...

Surgeon: I want everybody to leave the room immediately! We have work to do!

A few surgeons enter the room and close the curtains close. They decide t perform the surgery. The clock is ticking. Outside, Fox could hear Roka groaning as the shrapnel is removed. It sounds though is if he is holding back his tears and trying to be strong. After one painstaking hour, the surgeon walks to the waiting room.

Surgeon: Well, I must say, that child of yours absolutely refuses to die. Through most of the procedure he kept talking about how he was not going to pass away in a hospital bed. It looks like that scrappy little child is going to make it.

At that time, General Pepper entered the hospital wanting to speak with Fox. He was informed that important information had been gathered and that Roka was hospitalized. So, Fox first told Pepper about Roka's "strategy".

General Pepper: So, he used a bomb as leverage in a negotiation? I must say, it takes a lot of guts to pull a trick like that. So you say he actually had the bomb wired to his nervous system so it would ignite if his life had ended? That is brilliant, and quite stupid.

Fox: He also found that someone was trying to rebuild the army of Andross. He called the leader a "stupid monkey".

General Pepper: Well Fox, that "stupid monkey" that you speak of has to be Andrew Oikonny. 'looks like we have some trouble on our hands.

Fox: He made a very rash decision, we will think of a punishment after he leaves the hospital.

General Pepper: Punishment? This child is a hero! He single handedly wiped out an entire army that could have desimated cities without military protection. The thing is, we had a double angent sent to the base before you were. She said that there were over five hundred armed soldiers. A force this size could have endend hundreds of lives. His decision was quite rash indeed, but I believe a reward would be more fit, don't you think?

Fox: Ok... Fine.

A week later Roka was back on his feet. He decided to stay on Corneria for a while. Fox let him use his apartment for a place to stay. The rest of the star fox team was up in the sky, waiting for missions from the chief.

Roka just wanted a short vacation, his first mission took alot out of him. He spent a lot of time with Mike at the music shop on Center Street.

Mike: So I hear you nearly got ya' self killed. Don't go scarrin' me like that ya' hear? Your my best customer, I can't afford to lose you.

Roka:Yeah, alright. Like I said before, Andross' legacy lives on.

Mike: Well, at least you stopped that monster from takin' any lives for the time bein'. Good job son.

Roka: So, got any more jazz, swing, or the like?

Mike: Nah, ain't got any more of them old songs yet. Ya' Know, you could try this CD, It's got some early rock' n 'roll. Why don't ya' give it a try?

Roka: Sure!

Over time, Roka began to like the classics. Mike told Roka about the different types of music and Roka listenened intently. Roka really liked big Mike. (Like I said Before, Mike becaome the father Roka never really had). One day, as he was heading towards the grocer to pick up some food to make dinner, he heard a cry for help. He limped over to the alley way where he heard the cry. There was a girl being robbed by some big ugly pit bull. Being the little gentleman that he was, he retaliated.

Roka: Let her go you little punk!

dog: Bold words coming from a broken little runt like you! Im gonna' break you up even more than you already are!

The dog lands a punch right in Roka's face. He went flying and hit the ground. In his condition, that was more than he could take. He uses his wrist-strapped cruch to pull himself up and with his other hand, he pulled out his conceal carry, the 50.cal trapper. He stuck the big single shot right between the eyes. "get lost mutt..." The big dog ran for his life. Roka picked up the purse and was about to hand it to the girl when he noticed something, she was beautiful. She was a very light gray vixen wearing denim shorts and a dark blue tank top. She had a slender figure and a cute face, and She had short hair (kind of like Krystal). Roka handed her the purse. Then the girl gave him a kiss.

Roka (blushing) Hey waddya' do that for?!

girl: thanks for saving me.

Roka: Ummm... yeah, any time.

girl: Aren't you going to introduce yourself?

Roka: M-m-my name-s-s Roka.

Roxy: I'm Roxy it's good to meet you.

Roka: -gulp- well nice to meet you too. (oh no! What do I do?)

Roxy: What happened to you? Your leg is broken and you are covered in bandages.

Roka: I was in an accident. (she musn't know about what happenned! that's a secret.)

Roxy: I'm sorry to hear that.

Roka: Naww, it's fine. I'll get better. Ummm... Are you hungry?

Roxy: Sure, where should we eat?

Roka: (Crap, all I do is cook, I don't know the whereabouts of any restaurants) Why don't you choose? I haven't been here long any way, I don't know my way around that well.

Roxy: Ok then! My favorite restaurant is CFC. (corneria fried chicken, hahaha! I am such a clever writer.)

Roka: Ok, lets go!

The two went to CFC and had a meal there. Roxy like shopping so she went to the mall, Roka just decided to tag along. He didn't mind at all. At the gaming center was a young wolf, about seventeen. He saw Roxy and he had a sour expression on his face. He confronted her.

kid: Where have you been ya little slut?

Roka: Shut yer' mouth punk!

kid: Funny! Look at you! You're all bandaged up. You couldn't win a fight if your life depended on it!

Roka then lifts his shirt, exposing his trapper. "I have my guns do the fighting for me."

kid: gasp. I'm tellin the cops!

Roka: Don't bother, thay already know.

Roxy: Raian! You are such a coward. That's why I dumped you.

Roka: (Puts hand on face) Uggh! Just slap him or something and forget the high-school drama!

Raian: Why you little...

Roka: And what is it whith people always callig me little? Am I really that short?

Raian: Shut up! Come on Roxy let's go.

Roxy: No!

Raian: That's it! (he hits her in the face)

Roka: Hitting a girl... what an act of cowardice. You are small and weak. You had better leav now.

Raian: What are you gonna' do about it? You stupid little fox!

Roka: Now you've done it. We are taking this outside. I'll see you behind the mall in five minutes.

Raian: I'll be there you runt!

(Five minutes later)

Roka: Glad to see you came. Ready to apologize to Roxy?

Raian: Yeah right.

Roka drives his left fist into the lupine's throat causing him to fall to his knees. "Now apologize" "Never"

He then lifts his right hand, and shashes the lupine on the back of the head with his wrist-strapped cruch. He wimpers in shear pain. "Now will you apologize?" "OK! IM SORRY! IM SORRY!" The very humbled Raian runs away wimpering.

Roxy: Wow, noboby has ever stood up for me like that before. Thanks.

Roka: Hehehe. No problem! Would you like me to walk you home?

Roxy: Sure!

Roka walked Roxy home, he realized however that she lived in the bad side of town. It was decrepit and laiden with crime. He decided to take extra caution. They arrived at her house and her father was sitting on the porch. He was asleep, and smelled strongly of gin.

Roxy: Thanks for walkiong me home. Your're really sweet. (She gives him another kiss)

Roka: (Blushing with a hazy hue of red) Sure...

Roka began to limp his way home, but he realized something, he was lost. "Awwwww Crap! Maybe I can pick up a scent, nope, can't find it, great..." The poor little vulpine had to find his way home. To his great fortune, he found a taxi. He payed him the money and the driver took him to center street. "Perfect, now I can walk home." The little vulpine limped his way backed to the apartment.

"Well I've made a friend today, and an enemy too."

End of chapter 6