Chapter 8: Kino Kyouro
"Well, well, well…" Skye smirked and accelerated into Titania's atmosphere slowly, tiny flames crisping off of his arwing's shield. "This'll be some reunion… the notorious Kyouro… we've had a few 'Meetings' before, you know."
"Meetings?" Krystal sighed. "By that I assume…? Hmm… you tend to get in a lot of fights, don't you?"
"Where did you get that idea?" Skye smirked and increased his speed as she followed with the rest of the team. "You don't mean… you and I, do you? Now, now, we aren't fighting, we're… 'Bickering'. They're different, you know."
Downward they spiraled in formation, Skye's claws scratched at the back of his head, his eyes closed. His mind was racing, though his body was calm.
"Hmm… guys?" He ran his fingers through his hair and swallowed a bit, finally nervous. "I guess this is our first mission involving… violence. Just be careful, okay? After all, you're my team, and…" He swallowed again and coughed. "And if you screw up, I'll kill you all."
"Ugh…" Krystal groaned and accelerated more, next to Skye so she could glance at him in her view. "For a second, I thought that was 'The Real Skye', but… you always tend to make a joke at the end."
"Aw… I can't make jokes?" He grinned. "And so you know, I'm hoping that THAT isn't 'The Real Krystal', hm? Cheer up… or I'll make you cheer up." He put on the sternest look possible and went to max speed, jetting away in a blaze toward Titania.
"So… we get to shoot some guys down?" Falco stretched and cracked his back. "Been waitin' all month for a nice dogfight. A month at least."
"Heh, heh… then I guess you'll have to keep waiting, pal. They're all over the outpost… we can't risk aerial attacks with the villages being used as cover, we'd end up killing too many unnecessary people. We're gonna have to take it to the ground, blasters and all."
"Ah… I guess that explains your little emotional warning." Falco smiled contently and landed in the dead center of the desert, followed by Skye.
"Hm. Have fun, Falco. Just remember… while emotional, death threats are death threats. Star Fox team, away!"
With a groan of discontent, they followed in pursuit of the town's assailants.
The team rushed across the burning desert sands and stopped to stare in disbelief at the flaming town. For a mile around, the outpost was being consumed with a glittering and slowly spreading flame, slowly.
"Well, well, well… they work fast." Skye spat into the fire
"This is… horrible…" Fara hung her head and stepped back from the heat, her eyes beginning to water from it.
"… Welcome to the job… sorry to say. There's no time, we have to get the job done. We're gonna have to get in there and rescue who we can, then catch the Tigers. Are you up to it, team?"
"I… guess. It hurts to watch it all, but…" Fara wiped her eyes. "I can do it, I can do it."
"All… part of the job. Let's just get it over with. Lucky for us, it looks like the fire's only in here… we don't have any time to put it out, we have to go…" Krystal dashed off first, past the flames, and into the heart of the damage as the rest looked on and slowly began to follow.
"Krys… wait… grr…" Skye ran off after her with a snarl. "No one beats me to the punch, not even you."
The other side of the outpost was in just as much chaos, though not yet in flames. The gang sulked about, searching the huts and buildings. Two rats slinked around, watching and searching for anything of value.
"What is this, boss? Ain't nothing of value in 'ere. All I can find is food and… change. Coins. Coins all over the place!"
"Not even valuable coins, boss. Nearly worthless, this currency and all. And the darn sand… why'd we come here again? It's not even close to worth it, boss! Now that we've gotten all of this nothing, we've got the Cornerians on our tails, again…"
"Ah, shuddap, you stupid goon." The leader crossed his arms and growled with his gruff voice. "Not like we came here for this crap anyways. We're huntin' for bigger game. There's a load of treasure just out there waitin' for us, and we'll square off with whoever tries to stop us, aye?" The brash-talking desert fox scratched at the sandy overgrown fur on his chin and growled once more, coughing and taking a swig from the jug at his side. His entire body was covered in stiff yellow-orange fur and clotted together with sand.
"Yeah, about that, boss… ya never really told us what this 'Supposed treasure' was. Do you really distrust us that much?"
"Heh." He coughed again and spat with a small gag. "Stupid sand. Anyways… you really think you fellas deserve to know? I mean… you're a bunch of desert rats." He kicked the first goon's slim tail with a snicker. "Literally. Not to be stereotypical, folks, but… rats aren't usually the most trustworthy. That's why I got two blades. One for each side, and one for each of ya. Now… with that dainty little detail in mind, what were you guys askin' about again?"
The two looked at each other nervously and put on their best fake smiles. "Nothin', sir. Let's just go do whatever… we were doing."
"Attaboys! C'mon, let's burn the rest of these huts down and dig once they're totaled." He snickered and spit out some of his drink through his lit match and watched pleasantly as it burst into a stream of flame and set the hut ablaze like a snaking chain of fire. "C'mon, boys. It's treasure time!"
The team marched through a sweltering hollow between the village, looking down in awe at the charred remains of buildings… and occasionally people. The sun was fixed in the sky, haunting over the group as they pressed on, silent. Skye shook sand out of his ears and scratched about his head, his eyes nearly closed to ward off the biting sandstorm from his eyes. Krystal also winced at the sand as it stung with every touch on her.
"Can… we take a break soon?" She spit angrily as sand began to clot up in her mouth.
"No… 'fraid not. I know it's tough, but we have to get it over with. Sooner the better…" He watched her occasionally, noting her expression, her clenched teeth and fists being pounded upon by tiny sand bits constantly… he wished he could do something, but he knew it wasn't his place. He was the leader, and that made the mission top priority. Falco winced as well, muttering under his breath, Fox and Fara clung together and were wary of Krystal's eyes should they wander over in their direction, Slippy kept quiet.
"Fox…" Fara whispered and nudged him in the side. "Fox… when should I do it?"
"Do… oh… yeah… not now. We're in the middle of the mission, not the best time. She's probably irritable, too." He snickered a little and got in front of her like a shield, so that the sand wouldn't touch her. "But later, after the mission, yeah."
"What's so funny?" Krystal looked back and spit a few pieces of coarse sand out. Her eyes were cold, Skye noticed too. They lacked the beautiful charm that made her so appealing to Fox once. He shivered a little and tried his best to look away while keeping eye contact with her. Her eyes were angry and red from the sand, but at the same time, sad. She never quite got over what had happened… though she took Skye's advice and tried to forget it. It wasn't the loss of Fox that angered her… nor Fara's self-centered passions… but she feared betrayal above all. She felt safe with Fox, but he still left her… neither of them understood how the other felt. But there was no chance to go back.
"Look! In the distance!" Fox broke off the gaze and pointed ahead to the group of three. "Maybe they're some Titanians?"
"Fat chance." Skye scoffed and walked ahead while the others stopped sharply. "Those are some gang members. And not just some gang members…" He shook his head and snapped his fingers with a surprisingly loud crack, shooting his hand to his side and pulling out his blaster.
"Wh-wha…?" A rat spun around and caught two shots in the chest, as did the other with one, both falling to the ground with cries of pain.
"So, good weather, huh?" Skye smiled. "Like a burning river of sandy pain."
"Heh… heh, heh, heh… you're quick. Got here fast… never would have thought they'd send you, of all people." The leader fox turned about with a blaster of his own aimed forward. "Thought they'd sent someone with training… ability. Certainly not you."
"Where are all the Titanians?" Krystal stepped forward with her own blaster out.
"My, my, my… where do I recognize you…?"
"Answer the question." She snapped with a quick response.
"Fine… they're not all dead, I'm sure you've noticed. They fled into the desert when the huts started going down. Wasn't worth our time to kill 'em, you see. The only ones that died were the morons who couldn't get away from the fire, though a select few morons, and those who tried to shoot back. I'm here to keep the peace, not-"
Skye shot a blast past his ear with the same pleased grin and stepped forward a few more steps. "Not too good with quick actions, I see. You haven't changed since the last time I captured you. How'd you get out anyways?"
"Escaped, of course. What would you expect of me?" He cackled with a hacking cough and stepped forward to meet Skye face to face.
"Shouldn't we do something…?" Fara tugged at Fox's arm. "Someone's gonna end up getting hurt at this rate…"
"Too late for that, little girl." The desert fox snarled and twirled his blaster in the air. "Now it's just a matter of time."
"Kino… why do you do these things?" Skye watched the fox's hands intently.
"Eh, got nothin' better to do. Nothin' better than to go out and snag some treasure, you know?"
"Um… no." Skye shot the second rat again. "Sorry, had to make it even."
"You know, you've got some nerve…" Kino kicked sand into Skye's face and shook his hair free of sand. "Some nerve comin' over here to start trouble like this. And some nerve to shoot my men like that. I know it's on stun, but… still hurts, eh? I've done nothin' too wrong… the huts, just think of that as… industrial expansion… the dead, think of 'em as self defense… and the treasure, think of it as MINE. That's all I came for, officer… now can I get back to work?" He laughed heartedly and caught a small click in the chest.
"Say cheese." Skye kicked sand back at Kino and pressed the tiny machine he stuck to Kino a second time, watching bolts fly off of Kino's skin and his hair stand on end as he toppled to the ground, twitching. "Having fun yet?"
"G-g-gah! You cheap punk! Can't you ever play fair?" He staggered to his feet and stared hopelessly at the Star Fox team, all of whom had their weapons at the ready. "Ah… bah. I'm toast. Why does this always gotta happen to me?"
"Because… you're never prepared." Skye grinned and kicked him in the face. "Now stay down!" He gloomily glared at Kino and put his foot to his throat. "Now… do you surrender?"
Kino coughed and hacked painfully. "You… you know I can't breathe well…! You're choking me…" He hacked harder until his eyes watered.
"Not that you deserve it, but… sorry." He lifted his foot a bit and wiped sand from his eyes for a moment. "Oh… and you guys can put the guns down now. No need… he's just a bit of scum that needs occasional dealing with."
"Yeah, yeah…" Kino coughed some more and rubbed his throat. "About that… you see… attack."
"What?" Skye make a soft and deep groan of irritation as roughly ten other rats surfaced from behind with low powered machine guns of their own, snarling and snickering to themselves.
"We got 'em, boss. Leave it to us."
"So… Mr. Abison… do you concede this match to me, or risk the death of your various teammates?" Kino sat up and crossed his legs.
"You wouldn't… not over a stupid game. As much of a brash idiot you are, you wouldn't do that… I know you wouldn't."
"Oh…? Skye, Skye, Skye… it is exactly those brash tendencies that make me the fox I am today." He swished his hand and his lackeys raised their weapons, one firing a warning shot. "Shall we chance another shot, possibly one more accurate, Sir Abison?"
"No, no, no, you-" He twitched and yelped suddenly along with Krystal, who had received a burn mark on her shoulder from a second shot. "H-hey!"
"Heh. Told ya you underestimated me. Now give up the match. Now! Or I'll give the girl too many burns to count!"
Krystal gripped her shoulder painfully and teared up slightly, shaking her head. Skye had no choice… he hated it, but he was cornered.
"Fine, fine. I give up. Happy enough? Now get lost, Kino…"
"Hm. Now what is the score? 7-1? 8-1?"
"What the heck is going on?" Fara surprised herself with her volume and stumbled around on her feet in the sand. "What are you two talking about?
"Um… er…" Skye shuffled his feet. "Meet Kino. Um… we're obtained a bit of a rivalry from our numerous encounters…"
"He's a MURDERER!" Fara screeched angrily and run up to Kino. "You'll get what's comin' to ya, pal. Just you wait."
"Yeah, I bet, girl…" Kino coughed once more.
"Say… Kino…" Skye smiled a bit.
Kino watched over at him and hacked, wincing. "What is it this time?"
"Ha, ha…" Skye looked down as Kino looked up and their eyes met at Skye's arm… positioned at Kino's forehead, blaster and all.
"Oh… muffins. Whaddya you want, name your terms…" Kino sulked about, internally refusing the idea that he fell for nearly his own idea.
"You let us go… and come with us back… and I'll let you keep that point. Hm?" He clicked a gadget on his side and the Great Fox came down over the desert sand.
"Oh, please…" Fara sighed heavily. "You honestly think that he'd give himself up for a stupid gam-"
"Sweet deal!" Kino walked around Skye and headed straight for his ship. "I'll find the treasure later… I got plenty o' time, after all."
A long silence began as everyone stared around at the rest of the group and the sandstorm began to subside.
"That… you've got to be kidding me…" Krystal wiped her eyes of tears again and walked back. "Bunch of freaks."
"Hey! You're not going anywhere with that burn on you until I've taken a look at it…" Skye slid up next to her and examined her shoulder.
"I'll…" She looked down a bit and shuffled her feet with another sigh. "I'll be fine… sheesh. I can take care of myself, you know!"
"Yeah. But I can still watch out for you."
"Fine… if you must."
"If I must. You look fine for now, but I have some medicine for that back in the ship… remind me when we get there." He smiled and ran off ahead and to Kino, who was leaning on the ship.
"Hey, Skye! How's it goin'?"
"How's it- Kino… this is bad even for you! This isn't some stupid heist… I'm not gonna help bail you out this time! You killed some people! Other people! As in… 'Living' people! That's a major crime… not the normal crap you're usually in for!"
"Hey… at least I'm not drunk this time. Hehe…" He cackled again with a cough. "Sorry for the scare in advance… I never killed anyone. I set the huts on fire, yeah, but I honestly don't know what happened to those few burnt bodies you saw layin' around… those aren't mine. I promise. And you know that I always keep promises… no matter how much of a trust-unworthy goon I may be! Scout's honor."
Skye gave a final long sigh and headed into his arwing. "We'll talk later… once we've gotten this all sorted out. You'll fly the GF, of course." He got into his arwing and gave another sigh. Another long day defeated, though it was a bit of an anticlimax in the rest of the team's eyes. But something made it different for him… whether it was the encounter with Krystal and the possible loss of her, nay any of the team… or just the reunion with Kino, his heart was still pounding. He clutched his chest with his hand, feeling his pulse with his palm and twitched hard as a crack came from the panel of buttons in front of him.
"Skye…? Yo… hello…? Skye! Come in!"
"Ah… good to see you remember how to work the intercom." He turned the intercom to send and spoke. "What is it now, Kino?"
"Hey, just felt like sayin' hi. Thanks again… means a lot. So…" He grinned, though Skye couldn't see it. "About her…"
"No, Kino. Answer's no."
"Aw, c'mon! Honestly… you know that-"
"No is no… and it remains no, Ki."
"Fine, fine… but besides her… find yourself a vixen yet?"
"No. Once again. Do you get that word? No."
"Bah… boring and stuffy, as always…"
"Wait… stuffy? Since when am I stuffy?" Skye narrowed his eyes and talked loudly.
Kino turned his intercom off and listened to Skye shout at him before Skye finally gave up.
"Well, a new adventure begins, Skye." He took a swig of his drink again and lifted the Great Fox from the ground. "Good to know you've still kept your charm over the years, good buddy. Cheers." Kino laughed again.