More Than a Stranger

"Hullo" she said.

Rick just stared at her blankly. "Are you ok?" she asked tilting her head to the side. "I'm fine, thank you" Rick finally managed to say. .

"I knew I'd find you here." Krystal replied smiling. "You got me released?" Rick asked. "Yup, who else?" she answered happily.

"Why? How did you do that?" he asked." I know people, and besides, everyone here looks up to a member of team Starfox." she said walking around the bench.

She then sat down. "Sit" she motioned to Rick who asked "who's Starfox?"

"First things first, what's your name?"

"Rick, Rick Daygger" he answered.

"My name's Krystal" she said, extending her hand towards him. He shook her hand and shared a moment in which both shared a smile.

She then gathered herself enough to answer him. "The answer to your question; we are a team of mercenaries. We respond to objectives of high importance from Cornerian High Command. We are the last line of defense in any situation" she said.

"And you're in it?" he asked with disbelief.

"The one and only female, if that's what you mean" she said with a bit humor.

He looked at her uniform, a pair of shorts that were gray denim, with a short tan shirt and a dark gray cut jacket with white trim that was the same color as her white fur and the Corneria emblem that was a star with several rings around it, followed by a blue flame as the background.

She also wore some boots that showed part of her calves, the edges where yellow in color. She had a small device on her left wrist that resembled a yellow screen communicator; she had on a gold necklace choker.

"So you hungry?" she asked after a few minutes of silence. "Yeah, but I'm sorry to say I'm broke" he said giving a nervous laugh.

"No problem" she said smiling at him. "Follow me" she said extending her hand to Rick. He took her hand and followed her.

He was lost in thoughts of how this was changing his plans to keep moving. But he played along for the moment.

They both walked to a food stand and ordered. They sat in a small picnic table near the stand and waited.

"Why did you help me?" Rick finally asked her. His facial expression had changed from that of a warm personality to that of a cold soldier. "Why did I help you?" she asked him with the same look.

"Look, it's just that when people help me, they usually want something in return from me. What do you want?" he asked her bluntly.

She was taken aback from his sudden tone of voice. But she couldn't expect high class from him, not certainly after the previous night's events.

"There's something about you. You're different"

"Different as in how" Rick asked.

"When I saw you, you're eyes told me everything I needed to know" Krystal replied, looking away. "I could sense you were very distraught and needed a friend. I'd like to be your friend" she continued as she walked to the man who waived at her. Krystal walked towards the man and she received the food that Rick ordered.

"Here you go, enjoy" she said putting the food on the table.

Rick was hungry so he gladly took the food and began to eat. "A friend of mine is going to be here soon" she said pushing some if the buttons on her wrist device.

"Why?" asked her Rick nervously. He coughed a few times then looked at Krystal. "You mean one of the guys who were running with guns drawn at me yesterday?" he continued.

"Don't worry. I explained everything, they know you saved me from the explosion" she said. "I also would like to thank you for getting me out of the hands of those creeps. I can still feel his hands" she said looking at him as she shuttered.

"How did you know that? You were knocked out during that time..." asked Rick confused.

"I'm a telepath. I could feel and hear everything around me even thought I was unconscious" she said. "So that voice...it was you?" he said remembering the night of his fight.

"Yes I tried to help you but I wasn't any help" she said sadly.

"That's true, you weren't a great help. If it wasn't for you, I would've been fine during the match" he said.

Rick knew had been rude, but he then tried to switch the conversation. Nikki understood it was true, she shouldn't have had tried to enter his mind.

"I'm sorry for hitting you yesterday" she then said looking down. "I guess I have to be thankful for one thing though. If it wasn't for your help, I would have most likely been killed" he replied.

"Wait, so you can read minds right?" He asked.

"To a certain extent, yes"

"Can you try something for me?"

"Sure" replied Krystal.

"I'm gonna tell you something. Don't think I'm crazy or anything of that nature. You'll see. I'll show you" said Rick, as he brought his hands to his face and sighed.

"I'm lost. Here. Everything here. I'm trying to find the path to a life I once lived. If you looked into my mind. Do you think you can see my past life?"

"I don't know. I can try. Can you remember anything from your past? Childhood? Anything?" Answered Krystal switching sides to sit next to Rick.

"Sadly no."

"Okay, let me try something" Krystal said taking hold of Rick's hand. Krystal closed her eyes and focused around Rick's mind. She visualized his thoughts in her mind. She opened her eyes to see she was in a dark empty void of a room.

Like a dark aura covered the room corner to corner. In the middle of the room was a small white glowing orb.

What is this? She wondered.

She walked towards the orb and touched it. As she touched the orb, it expanded and out from within it came small projections of memories Rick had experienced up to that moment in time.

All she could see were from his current age. Nothing from when he was young. Krystal walked around from the images that played continuously and noticed several memories seemed "blocked". They were fuzzy and blacked out. She touched the image and without notice static filled her head. Pain filled her chest, not pain of an injury, but of an emotional turmoil.

Through the static she could make a voice. Rick's voice echoed inside her head, a yell of pain and sorrow filled the empty void of the room. More incoherent words came to and faded each passing second.

Krystal couldn't take it any longer and stopped. She opened her eyes and was facing Rick. His eyes were different. She could not imagine Rick going through that pain and how he could be so different from what she had seen.

His pain, his memories. What happened to him? She asked herself as she attempted to cover up her findings from Rick.

"So, what did you see?" He asked patiently.

"Nothing at the moment. Seems you've had quite a ride haven't you?"

Rick looked away slightly disappointed. "Yeah. I sure have. And it's not over. I don't see it ending any time soon either" he replied looking at her once more.

After he was done eating, Krystal stood up and waved at someone Rick couldn't see. Moments later, an orange fox dressed in a black and gray uniform with the same Corneria Emblem on a grey and white trimmed vest greeted them.

He then turned to Rick. "So you must be Rick. Am I right?" he said with a questioning look.

"Yes, who may I ask are you?" asked Rick. "I am Fox, leader of the Starfox Team"

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