Author Notes: My Betas have vanished! Oh noes! Well, having to make due, I have not forgotten the lessons they gave me. With the improvements, they allowed me to realize, I'm still utilizing every detail. I'd like to say sorry for how long it's taken me to submit this chapter, It's been sitting in my documents for a couple of weeks. I just wanted to wait for my betas to return, but it might not happen. Much longer chapter this time, and a different tone. I could definitely use more Betas, should you be interested, please don't hesitate!

Without further stalling: here's Wolf.

The gavel struck three times.

"Wolf O'Donnel, how do you plead?"

"Guilty."

It would be pointless to argue, the Tribunal had already made its decision. In the eyes of Corneria, he was nothing more than the scum they dedicated themselves to eradicating. In their eyes, there were no questions on who tried to take Fox's life that night aboard the Great Fox. Why would there be? After all, he did once work for the worst evil imaginable; after all, he did dedicate himself to shooting down Star Fox.

They said it was an 'open-and-shut case.' The rise and fall of the 'Quadrant Killer,' spacers everywhere would sleep easier knowing Wolf would soon be put to death. Even the crimes against the Lylat System charge would've sufficed one life sentence alone.

Circumstances. Wolf spat.

"Very well." Ambassador Nikita Fennec turned to the other members of the Tribunal: General Pepper and First-among-equals, Gentleman Ursu. "The Tribunal hereby condemns you to live out your days as prisoner aboard the Steel Kennel."

It wasn't the sentence he was expecting, though it didn't offer any hope to the matter – it only prolonged the inevitable. Wolf stepped from his seat, his wrists contained in energy-cuffs, his body in a lavender jump suit; the guards took him by the elbows escorting him from the chamber. Only two members of Star Fox stayed for the celebration: Krystal was trying to be strong with Peppy at her side. His good-eye didn't leave Peppy's satisfied gaze.

Wolf could see the police in their white uniforms lining the hall; particularly one doberman would not break his gaze that was fixed on him. The officer broke formation and kicked him to the ground with a blow to Wolf's gut. "You sunnova-bitch; my brother was on that ship off Macbeth!"

Wolf strained and smiled, "You ignorant, pup."

"I'll kill you!" The crazed canine was pulled away by his fellow officers. "I'll see you dead, Wolf!" The guards continued, dragging Wolf towards the ship that would take him to it. "You're dead!" It was the largest prison vessel in the galaxy, highest security, a place of legend and horror-stories to mercenaries. Those who board the Steel Kennel, board a ship for the last time in their lives. The Steel Kennel is massive, kilometers of cells, thousands of the worst filth imaginable – it was now home.

--

"Don't look at me like that – he needs medical attention!"

"As soon as you stop breathing, Wolf. Get away from him!" Falco's blaster was drawn.

Krystal called from behind him, "Falco!?"

"Get back, Krystal, I think he just killed Fox."

Krystal pushed the bird aside and gagged at what she saw. "No...No!" Her eyes found the statuette. "Is that?" She shoved Falco, "You bastard! What have you done?!"

--

The prison transport offered little in the way of view – but Wolf found a small window he climbed to look through. The dark-side of Corneria glittered with the many lights of the metropolis. Satellites flashed as they slowly made their way across the planet. No personnel manned the vessel. Wolf was locked in a cabin away from the small ship's controls – he was used to the isolation. He'd have to be used to isolation; that would be his life from here on in.

--

"Krystal? 'What have I done?' What are you talking about?!"

"I want you off this ship." Krystal took the small statuette and flung it at Falco – it smashed against the wall. "Where're the others? They should be here! I'm going to get Peppy – and we're landing."

Falco looked at the statuette and returned his anger to Wolf, "You did this! You tried to blame it on me?!"

"I should rip out your throat."

"Get away from Fox, against the wall!"

--

The shuttle hissed as began docking with the Steel Kennel. A missile fired away from it; Wolf had never heard of anything about combat capabilities of the prison – the rocket sped into the emptiness of space. He stepped away from the window. The door slid and a light flooded the small cabin, blinded he stepped forward. The guards here had pristine, sleek black body armor and faceless masks. They grabbed him.

--

"Every second wasted on me is one you're stealing from Fox!" Wolf tossed his blaster aside.

"Step back, Falco." Krystal stepped in. Though she seemed different, unplugged; her eyes were wild and red from crying. She looked to the statuette and it seemed to begin floating on its own, she gave a severe snap of her neck to glare towards Wolf.

--

His head still ached from that impact, still dizzy. The roars echoed in his head, countless prisoners, 40-stories of cells, all were screaming. The noise melted into one throbbing mass in Wolf's skull, pulsing with every escorted step. They entered a lift which provided some shield from the shouts that rattled around them. "I bet this job pays well." The lift opened.

"It's got its benefits."

Wolf found his height only reached the waist of the monster before him. "I am the warden of the Steel Kennel. But you, Wolf…" The bulldog bent over to meet him by the face, "You can call me Bruno."

Wolf wiped the globs of saliva from his face. "Well aren't you a big boy."

The enormous warden bellowed his laughter, "I had to pull some strings to see you on my ship, Wolf." Bruno walked ahead as he spoke, his guards pulling bringing Wolf behind him. "Yes, the Tribunal was quick to pass their death sentence, especially Pepper. But I thought, 'why not try to do some good here?' It's not everyday we get a celebrity in the Kennel after all. I'm sure you'll be quite popular here. Ah, here's your living accommodation: suite 2013F."

Wolf stared at the energy grid that engulfed the simple cell. "Home sweet home."

Bruno chuckled. "Yes! But there's a formal dress code, you see." He pulled out steel collar and snapped it around Wolf's neck. "There's one more thing...oh, of course." Bruno had a moist, toothy grin.

His meaty fingers wrapped themselves around Wolf's cybernetic eye. A slow tug shattered Wolf with years of pain as the implanted machinery began to rip from his socket. Wolf's screams silenced the prisoners' as they were watching what was occurring, blood dripped to the prison floor.

Wolf's mind jumped away.

He was laughing beside Fox. How that memory seemed so long ago. They even shared an embrace. Was he making this up?

The pain returned and the vision faded.

Bruno held the eye in the palm of his enormous paw, dripping with blood. He grinned, "I was hoping it wasn't fake." Wolf was suddenly too weak to even keep his stance; his body drooped for the ground. The guards kicked at his legs, forcing him to stand. Bruno released the energy grid and Wolf was thrown to the cell's floor. "Nighty-night, Wolfie." Wolf did not move. The grid was reactivated and it glowed against his back. Bruno and his guards left him. Lights began to dim, leaving Wolf to pass out in the darkness.

--

A quiet whisper woke him. "Psst. Psst."

Wolf peeled his face from the cold floor, his fur sticky with blood. He coughed and gagged against the smell of it. Pressing a claw to the floor he steadied himself onto his knees, hissing at the cold air blowing into his exposed socket. Wolf crawled to his cot and tore a piece from the sheet – he tied a crude eye-patch into place.

The whispers continued. "ey, saw what appened…was real nasty. You allight? Bruno don't always see newbies to their cubbies, so you must have interested him some ow…poor soul."

Wolf groaned. He sat onto the cot.

"You there? You awake? You live?"

"I'm alive."

"Good. Some'ne talk to, finally. Well, sir, I'm sorry yer live, life ere makes one wish fer a quick death. But I am your loyal servant."

"What are you blabbering about?"

"Why, yer the iffamous Wolf! Don't think yer name don't ring more than a few bells ere."

Wolf leaned against the cold steel of the cell wall. "It doesn't matter."

"Oh, no, yer wrong, friend. In this place, repertation is all that matters. If you remember anything of the living conditions on Venom, you should be fine here."

"What do you know about Venom-?"

"They should be turning the lights back on soon."

He leapt to his feet. "Of the Kennel or Venom!?"

"Shh."

As the stranger had noted, the lights began to pulse back to life. Wolf could hear the steps of the soldiers approaching. Feedback echoed through the prison, an intercom.

Bruno's voice filled the ship. "Attention all residents of the Steel Kennel, another pathetic soul had decided to let you rot and was killed during a futile escape. Any deaths aboard the ship, as you all should know by now, are expelled via missile. If your cabin happens to be on the starboard side, you should be able to witness his send off."

Wolf was on the starboard side, he watched as the small missile hurdled into nothingness.

The black-garbed soldiers were pacing the halls now.

Bruno finished, "Does my old heart good to see justice handled in such an efficient manner. This is the only way anybody leaves the Kennel. That is all."

"My name is Anthony, by the way. Tell me 'ow a lord of your stature ended up bein' caught?"

Wolf sighed and closed his eye. "Circumstances."

He saw blood dripping over the small bronze statuette, beside Fox's body.

Wolf roared and drove his fists into the cell wall.

"Keep your strength, friend. Are you punchin' the wall?!"

"He stole everything from me! I'll get my teeth around his feathery throat!"

"Relationship issues?"

Wolf ceased his punching. "Don't piss me off!" He pressed his paw against the energy grid, staring into space. "I'll get out of here…no one is going to take me alive."

"Fightin' spirit, that's good. You'll defnately need that in ere. Just don't do anything stupid, nobody's escaped from the Kennel for the 200 years it's existed."

"I think you underestimate me; reputation is everything."

After hours of silence, their food arrived in the hands of the guards, for a few seconds the grid was downed to allow the trays to be set into the cell. Five officers escorted the food to each cell. Wolf took count. He stared at the dry kibble that filled the tray.

Anthony sighed. "Day'n the lap o' luxury…eat up, friend, this is our only meal everyday."

Wolf stomached eating. "Anthony, what're you in for?"

"Me? Well, it's been so long. Not sure I een remember….ah, thassit! I was a spacer in them G-Zero races. My pit mate, Felina, we were closer than pit mates – she was beautiful. Then, she defected to other racer groups…by screwin' them! Found them goin' at it in my garage! Two shots, to each of 'em. One. Two."

Wolf pressed his hand to his bandage, it had bled through. "I thought your name sounded familiar." He applied a second makeshift bandage. "Anthony Lugubris."

"At yer service, sir. Y'know, I tried to talk to the fellow in the cell just over from yers. Haven't gott'n anything more than a cough out of'm though."

"How long have you been in here?" Wolf began to take in his surroundings: one sink, one toilet, and one bed.

Anthony sighed. "After what 'appened I was free for about a year…but eventually publicity catches you in some small pub in the bad side of Corneria. After yer face has been seen by 'undreds it's not 'ard for em to find you. I would not never wish what een 'appens 'ere on the scumbag who plogged my girl. To answer your question it's been five years, I think."

Moments passed.

"Mister O'Donnel, do you have someone waiting fer you on the outside?"

"Perhaps you've forgotten that it's a life sentence." Wolf stretched to lie on the cot, his arms crossed behind him.

"True. Oh...I've got a girl out there - a daughter. The only thing sacred from my marriage was that sweet daughter of mine. She should be nearing her late teens now...I do miss her somethin' terrible. She don't know her old man rots in this place, is better that way, I think. If I could only see Emily before I'd die, that would put everything in the okay for me. Come on now, Wolf. There must be somebody…or are you really the cold, lonely animal everyone makes ye out to be?"

Another voice stirred the silence. "I'd see my son before he saw me."

Anthony stuttered. "Wassat…who I think it was?"

Wolf tried to strain against the screen to see the face of the man who spoke from the cell over.

Anthony tried to press the stranger further. "A son you say?"

Wolf listened as the stranger slid back into his cell.

"Ah, c'mon I gets some actual words out of you, then silence?"

The stranger's voice was like sand shifting down a hill. It was scratchy and no louder than whisper. "You're a terrible spacer."

Anthony chuckled. His quiet laughter halted as the lights began to dim. "Is it that time already? Well, gentlemen, you certainly made today move much faster than the last."

Wolf had to admit, he could lick this if he had to spend years here. With Anthony in the cell over, however, an escape was beginning to seem possible. He closed his good eye and began to drift to sleep.

--

From growing warmth around his neck, a jolt threw him from his cot. Wolf jumped to his knees and raked his neck for the collar. The pain running through his skin, he growled. It ceased and he could smell his fur sparking and singeing away.

"Good morning, Wolfie." Bruno smiled from behind the energy gate, with a small remote in his paw.

"The hell do you want?"

"I just wanted to see how you look before I broke your will. The festivities have yet to begin." His saliva globbed down the energy screen. "We're close to the no communication zone; once we're there, anything goes. You see, Corneria frowns on the mistreatment of her prisoners, but on the dark-side of Sector-X...well what mother doesn't know."

"Why did you bring me here? Why not let the Tribunal finish me?" Wolf stood.

"…and miss the chance to torture a villain of your stature? Never. There are other motives. I can't quite cash in your bounty myself – it's not the lawful thing to do. I always need a middle-man, once your will is broken perhaps I'll consider you a powerful investment."

The darkness poured over them.

Wolf threw himself against the screen, baring his teeth with a snarl. "You won't take me alive!"

Bruno raised his eyebrow. "Really?" A button was pressed and Wolf's collar began to hum as the energy charged within it – it released.

Wolf was thrown back as the pain ripped through his muscles. In defiance, despite the pain, he pressed himself back to the violent manner before the blast. "Do it! Is that all you've got!?"

The warden grinned. "You're going to make this fun." He turned a dial and pressed it again. The energy charged again, louder.

Wolf could smell his skin beginning to sizzle as another blast threw him back. He charged for the glass again. "No! I'll have your throat! Do it!"

Another twist of the dial and another charge.

His muscles twisted under the charge and Wolf dropped to a knee. Finding hatred as a source of strength he charged the fence again, rising off his knee.

Another twist of the dial and another charge.

The heat was increasing. Wolf could feel the charge boiling his insides. The blast threw him back.

"All this effort for what, Wolf? You're finished." Bruno was maintaining the charge as his turned off the cell's grid. He stepped into the cell with the flinching Wolf. "You will bow to me!" With another twist the charge strength increased – it beeped warningly.

"I'll die before –"

"Then die!" Bruno released the charge into Wolf.

The blast sent Wolf's back into the steel sink, bending it from the immense impact. The

pipes spilled the water over Wolf's blackened body.

"Not bad, Wolf. You made it all the way to level seven. That's a new record. Congratulations. There are eleven levels on this bad boy and guarantee it can kill you."

Wolf's vision began to fade as he watched Bruno leave the cell, the energy field up once more.

Come on now, Wolf. There must be somebody…or are you really the cold, lonely animal everyone makes ye out to be? Anthony's words filled the coming silence.

--

Wolf looked at his paws. They felt so…soft? The sky was a strange blue and the colors filtered in and out of themselves. A field of flowers spilled forever around him. They felt so…soft…against his fur. The cool breeze circled the clouds around them.

Them?

Was he not alone? He licked his paw pads, his tongue was so…soft. Wolf collapsed against the bright shades of the flowers feeling them wrap around his skin, he was becoming one with the flowers. Fox was there as well, he seemed so worried. If only he realized how…soft…everything was. Wolf laughed as he was tickled by the loving plants.

"Wolf!" Fox called, but he seemed so distant. "Wolf!" Why didn't Fox just lie there beside him? "Wolf!" Fox fired his way. Wolf couldn't care. The shots struck the dirt around him; the sound was like the…soft…drums of the orchestra. He missed the orchestra.

He felt Fox's arms wrap around his body. Why was that silly animal carrying him? To be in his arms warmed him deeply, he felt at his cheek. It was just so…soft. Fox was so worried. Wolf wanted to bury his nose in his fur. And perhaps, plant a tree.

"Fox?" The noise rattled his own body and tickled his insides. The silly fox just placed him in his Arwing. The leather was just so…soft…he wrapped his arms around Fox as he climbed into the pilot seat.

Wolf could not help but nibble at those ears of his and whisper. "I belong here."

--

The water splashed against his face washing away the bandage from his eye. Wolf groaned, still disoriented.

What in the hell was that?

His ears finally ceased their buzzing; he could hear Anthony yelling now. "…Wolf! Hey, Wolf! Wolf!"

"…Anthony?"

"Oh God, you're still alive. You were out for a good two days! I could've sworn yer dead."

Wolf's body ached too much for him to move. He slid to the ground, watching his blood drain with the spraying water.

"Wolf, I'm ready. You don't need to ask me. I trust you. I've been planning an escape since day one." Wolf listened, but could not gather the strength to reply. Anthony continued. "If we can get ourselves to the missile bay, maybe, just maybe, we can launch ourselves back to Corneria."

The lights dimmed. It was the only chance he had. He ripped another bandage for himself before falling into a dreamless sleep.

Bruno's voice filled the ship. "Attention all residents of the Steel Kennel: welcome to another wonderful day here aboard my ship. I know everyone had another restful night's sleep in the darkness of Sector-X; so you should all be rested for today's activities. Let's all give a moment of silence to the five who were killed in last night's games. That is all."

The missiles launched into the emptiness of space.

Anthony sighed. "Wolf, let's do lunch sometime. You should really see m'daughter."

Then the escape would have to be now - during lunch.

Wolf gathered the hint and steeled himself. He watched as the guards made their way down from the other cells – delivering food. They were at the stranger's cell now. Wolf held his breath.

The grid went down. The guards, Wolf counted five. He kicked the tray into the air and shots fired. Wolf pummeled one guard off the safety-rail as the guard and the tray both fell the many stories downward. A shot struck his thigh but it didn't matter, a claw is all it took to rip away his mask and delve his fangs into the throat of the panther. Three more. Wolf reached for the rifle that had been dropped, he rolled as he fired. With three taps at the trigger, three lay dead before him now. He dove for the passkey; it was only a matter of time before lockdown occurred. Wolf ran to Anthony who had a shocked look on his reptilian face and extended a toothy smile as he downed his grid.

Wolf stepped back to the stranger's cell but he quickly voiced his opposition, "Leave me, you fool. Time is short!"

Anthony stretched gleefully as he stepped from his pen – the lizard picked up a blaster with his tail and juggled it into his hands. "Les get to work." They dashed for the lift. The gecko tapped the call button to the lift with Wolf keeping watch. "Is gunna be at the basement level. With that racket you cooked up, I say we got maybe three minutes?"

"Do we have enough time?"

"Don't 'ave a say in the matter. We're as good as dead if we 'esitate!" The lift opened and they both stepped inside. "Besides I am Anthony Lugubris, afterall. I'm the fastest reptile out there."

Wolf checked his blaster. "You always came in third, Tony."

"I din't say the fastest animal. You know, I expected more opposition-"

"Don't say any more than that." The other prisoners were screaming to be freed, others cheering them on. The noise halted as they reached the basement level, the lift doors opened.

The iron tunnel was shallow; both of them had to duck to make their way onward.

"There 'tis." The mammoth feeder was within their grasp, already loaded with empty canisters. They ran towards the launcher. "It's too easy."

"Would you shut up?!"

"Why, you superstitious?"

"Not exactly. Listen. Why did the prisoners suddenly…?" The prisoners were silent.

"Dynamic pause? I mean we are so close to…" Anthony collapsed.

The lift doors opened, Bruno had arrived. "No one leaves the Kennel, Wolf! I thought I made this clear!"

Anthony was kicking in his pain.

"What happened to the other prisoners?"

Bruno held up his remote. "With this, I can control all the prisoners' collars. You see the stupidity in it all? I could give them eleven levels of pain they never knew existed and their blood would be on your hands."

"Do it, there's nothing more you can take from me." Wolf threw his gaze through the rifle's scope. "Do it and we'll both die!"

Bruno pressed the button and Wolf was thrown to his fours. "Welcome to level eight. The prisoners are dying, Wolf!"

Anthony flailed about screaming. "Do it, Wolf! Kill him! For Emily!"

Wolf picked himself up, stabling himself for his shot.

"Level nine!"

Wolf howled – the bolt threw him from his weapon.

Bruno kicked the gun aside. "You see how pathetic you are?!" He picked up the lizard by his throat and tossed him in the canister. "If you really wanted to get launched so badly, Anthony, you should've just told me." The cannons pointed to empty space. He clawed against the shaft as the clear casing closed over him.

"No! No - please! Help! Wolf!" Anthony's cries were swallowed by the explosion as he was launched. Wolf pushed past the pain, it ripping through his uniform, through his skin. He pushed past it all to watch Anthony's look of horror as he sped to a slow death. Wolf's tears rolled off his cheek.

"Level ten!"

--

It was gone now. Anthony was gone now. He only wanted to see his daughter; it was the only thing he had left. I only wanted to see Fox and he was gone too. Falco stole that from me and put me here.

Wolf stirred to wake himself, praying to awake in that strange field of flowers. His insides burned, his muscles ached, and his hope was shattered; his eye opened to be greeted once more by the quiet buzzing of the cell. "Anthony…" He called wishing for a reply.

"He's gone, Wolf. Bruno killed him."

Wolf pressed his arm to hold himself as he tried to stand. He remembered Anthony's terrified gaze. "Why did he have to die!? He just wanted to see his little girl!"

"Don't forget: we're all murderers."

"It's different."

"Is it? Is it, really? Is that what you thought when you snuffed out people's lives during the Lylat Wars?"

"What do you know about the Lylat Wars?"

"That money talks."

Wolf pressed his paw against the surface of the energy field. "…It's different."

"You talk in your sleep, Wolf. You kept mumbling Fox's name. Did you really kill him?"

"What difference does it make? I'm going to die here. I'll never know what really happened on the Great Fox."

"Maybe it was Falco."

"Did I say his name in my sleep as well?" The stranger didn't respond. "Did I?!" His shout echoed down the corridors.

The stranger was still silent.

Wolf pounded his fists against the screen.

Meals came. Guards left, though this time they were more cautious. Ten guards now brought the day's meals.

Wolf leaned against the energy field. He could count the minutes in the hours that past, counting each mistake which could've allowed Anthony to still be alive. He nearly fell over when the cell-door disabled, Wolf backed into the cell not sure if this was the 'game' that was killing the other prisoners.

"Wolf." It was Bruno. He and his guards entered his cell.

"What do you want!" The guards grabbed Wolf and he struggled trying to escape their grasp. There was a click as his collar fell to the ground. "What is going on?!"

"You're being freed." Bruno sounded disappointed.

"Why!?"

Falco stepped into the cell.