Chapter 18

A Blow to Pride

"Ugg... That was a weird dream, wait a minute... this place looks all to familiar. Hmmmm, it looks like a cheap hotel, has an uncomfortable bed, and the number above the door says 216. Yup, whatever happened, I in the same hospital room I have been in twice already...What a blow to my pride..."

Roka sat up and looked around the room. Nobody was in here. He looked over at the end table and found some clothes and threw them on. It was a black tank top, blue jeans, and his patched trenchcoat he wore for his "disguize''. He noticed bandaged wrapping around his waist when he had put on his clothes. He had no idea where they came from, but he didn't really care. As he was about to leave the room, his cell phone rang. It was Constantini, the orange tiger who was a member of his team.

Constantini: Hey man, I heard you got popped pretty good last week by some snooty politician. I see you finally woke up. Well, on to buisiness, right now we have a hostage situation at the bank on North Main street. We have all da' boys here right now in hiding. How soon can you get here?

Roka: Sooner than you think. -click- Was I really out all week? I must have been popped pretty bad.

He ran out of the hospital, his wound was healing at a phenominal rate. By all means he should have been dead, but his brain was functioning rather fast and increasing his rate of recovery. He left the building and caught an air bus. He took the route which put him a quarter-mile from the bank. The rest of the way he ran, when he arrived at the big floating bank he noticed that the tiger was outside the yellow tape posing as a by-stander.

Roka: Hey hot stuff...

Constantini: Roka, glad you could make it. The rest of our team is finding a way into the bank as we speak, they are trying to enter from the rear where none of the action is.

Constantini's phone rang, his twin, Vance gave him the order to rush in. Roka and Constantini ran past the yellow tape sidearms in hand and they charged into the building. The three robbers had their attention on the two gunslingers threatining to kill their hostages. Roka made a feeble attempt to negotiate, only distracting them further. The didn't notice ten armed men climbing over the bank counters. The robbers heard the high pitched ringing of charged blasters behind them. The looked over and saw ten men in black suits aiming in.

robber: Ok man! We give! We give!

They dropped thier weapons and the police came rushing in cuffing them. To their surprise, the cops were pointing thier guns at Roka and his men.

officer: You are under arrest for work as a vigilante!

The whole crowd of people outside were cheering for the Blue Creek Mafia. There looked to be a threat of riot if they were arrested.The officer lowered his gun and the mafia ran out of the building into a large van parked behind the bank. They flew off, there next location was the hospital. Roka had to sneak back in without getting caught. He ran into the building looking for the safest possible route to his room. To his horror he saw Krystal with flowers walking towards the elevator. She stepped in and Roka took to the stairs. He was too late, Krystal had walked to room 216 on the third floor. She opened the door, shocked to see the bed empty, she went into the room. Roka snuck into room 217 which was fortunately empty, he put his ear on the wall and eavesdropped on Krystal.

Krystal: Hello? Fox? Roka is gone, I don't know where he is.

Fox: (on speaker) Well, maybe he went for a walk. Check the hallways, I'll be over as soon as I can.

Roka listened in and heard the door close. He opened the window and cwawled on the ledge and pulled himself over to room 216. To his delight, it was still slightly opened. He pulled it all the way open and entered his room, he closed the window, got undressed, neatly folded his clothes. He didn't need to worry about hidind his revolver, Constantini had an extra blaster waiting for him. His little adventure had been perfectly covered up, or so he thought...

Fox and Krystal entered 216 to find a young vulpine looking at the ceiling whit a dumb expression on his face.

Krystal: I swear he wasn't in here ten minutes ago. Roka?

Roka: I don't know where I been or what I done, but ya' know what? I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Ehehehehe.

Fox: He seem to be here if I'm not mistaken. He definately back to his normal stupid self.

Roka: Hey! So, what kind of horrible junk food have you been eating while I wasn't here to take care of you?

Fox: (ears droop) -sigh- Fichinese takeout...

Roka: I thought as much, shame on you.

Krystal: "What did you do to evade me so well Roka? What did you do?" Well, I guess I went to the wrong room that's all.

Fox: I heard a group a vigilantes saved the day this morning at the bank. A group of ten or so men snuck into the bank and saved the hostages.

Fox and Krystal watched the news on the little tv in his room. Roka broke out into a cold sweat. The reporter was talking about the event as the replay of the incident took up the screen.To his fortune, Fox didn't feel any suspicion at the moment so he wasn't examining the tv like a scantron machine. His fortune didn't last, Fox noticed a small vulpine sporting a tattered coat and blue jeans. He didn't say anything to Roka, not while Krystal was here.

Krystal: Guess I'l be going, things to do.

Fox: Ok...Now tell me Roka, not to long ago you receieved a letter from this "Blue Creek Mafia" and now I hear reports of vigilantes delivering gangs to the polices. The most interesting part about this, is that you covered yourself up so well. I saw a little red furball in a tattered trenchcoat on the screen. It kind of looks like this one. (picks up coat). I'm dissapointed in you Roka. You shoot first, ask questions later.

Roka: That's a lie. I shoot, I don't ask questions. Dead people don't answer questions, in fact they don't do much of anything.

Fox: I can't believe you became a part of this gang of vigilantes.

Roka: The position was given to me.

Fox: What is that supposed to mean?

Roka: An old man named Emedio de Luca died in my arms a few weeks ago. He gave me position as leader. He was also a vigilante like myself. He wanted to end the crimes in this city, I felt like I had an obligation to finish his work. I was like it was my duty to clean this place out. Now I have been living a double life. A mercenery by day and a gang fighter by night. It's one stressful job.

Fox: You lied to the whole team. You could have asked us for help, but no, he had to go off on your little adventures and lie about everything you did to cover it up.

Roka: At least none of you were involved. I made it my best effort to do that much...

Fox: You may be helping the people of this city, but you are still breaking the law.

Roka: Have you even seen what I have seen? The world I live in has no law! The Blue Creek Mafia does most of its dirty-work in the south corner of this city. If you spen one night there without watching you back, someone will be chewing on it.

Fox: Why are you fighting so hard? This is such a thankless life.

Roka: I'm doing it for Roxy. She lives in that hell. Her mother left her, her father is a drunk! I want to make life a bit better for her! I don't need any money or thanks from anybody. Waking up every morning knowing that she is safe is thanks enough.

By now Roka was in tears. His double life began to unfold before Fox and the lies he used to keep things quiet were coming out. He made his big confession.

Roka: I didn't want you to get involved because I didn't want anyone to get hurt.

Fox: It's a little too late to confess Roka. I respect the fact that you were willing to take a bullet for our sakes, but living a lie isn't right.

Roka: I'm sorry, I'll check out of the hospital and I will be on my way. I can cover the bill. I won't interfere with your life any more.

And with that he got dressed and left the hospital. Fox watched him part his own way. He was a threat to the well being of the team, maybe his absence would be a good thing.

Roka finally had himself prepared to leave. He had his bike, his revolver, and his bank account. He didn't even fly back up to the Great Fox, so his room was left untouched. He was still at the air base when he receieved a strange phone call:

??: Hello Roka Embers, I hear you are a mercenary for hire. I have a job for you.

Roka: Yeah?

??: Forgive my rude behavior, my name is Ralauc Ladone, I need you to do me a favor.

Roka: State your terms, I ain't got all day.

Ralauc: On an asteriod in the large belt near Fichina, there is a large ore mine. The reason why I need you is because I need personal protection, I own this mine and people are out to get me. Large companies have been coming after me because my shrewd buisiness tactics. When you arrive in the asteroid belt, I will be able to reach you via a communications system.

Roka: Ok, I accept. I will fly to the asteroid belt immediately. -click-

--

Ralauc: How was that Andrew?

Andrew: You did an excellent job my boy, you are my finest creation.