Chapter 4 New Beginnings
Fox awoke with a start, glancing around for his clock, or one that was still in working condition. How long had he been out, as he still felt very fatigued.
He groaned as his eyes settled upon the time, "twenty-one hundred, you've got to be kidding me."
Rubbing his eyes, he flipped the covers away, and yawned. His body ached as he stood up from his bed, tugging a shirt on. He went about the room collecting a few articles of clothing and bunched them up in his arms.
"Rob, status report?"
"All other members currently at rest, the patient herself has improved considerably, heart rate nominal, and fluids have already been replaced. Currently the ship is set on course with the Gradius Shipping Yards, alerts will be made when docking procedures are requested."
"Great, if anything changes, please let me know." He dropped the clothing into a bag and hefted it, as an afterthought, took his tablet as well. "Might as well check my updates while I'm at it."
He trekked through the corridors, Peppy's snoring echoed throughout the corridor, bringing a small smile to the young vulpine. The lift doors greeted him with a quiet hiss of pistons and he entered the medical bay shortly after.
Looking forward to being debt free, Fox couldn't help but ease a smile onto his face, his sore muzzle causing him to cringe slightly.
The tablet pinged softly, taking hold of his attention, Pepper's name bouncing in the corner. Fox barked lazily, then took hold of the tablet, tapping its screen only to be greeted by the familiar eyes of a hound dog.
"McCloud, it's good to see you are awake!"
A sigh left the vulpine as he rolled his face in his hand then proceeded to connect the tablet to a monitor. He dropped the clothing onto the cot next to the girl, turning to face the General, "To what do I owe the pleasure Mac? Hell, what has you up this early, surely it can't be any complaints about my music being too loud can it?"
"Enjoy the laugh, I'd box your ears myself, but I've been dealing with the week's current news, surprised you haven't heard about it!"
Fox shook his head in response, "General, I've been running around on a low tech planet, I've hardly had time to catch up on current events."
"Damn, I had hoped you heard some news about the Prides Joy, apart from the media, we've had to silence as much of the news network as possible," the hound leaned back in his chair as static temporarily cluttered the screen.
"Sorry Mac, we might be entering a few dead points here, so make it quick."
"Fox, I know it's a bit soon to be asking, but the council wants to have your team pull some undercover work on our behalf, I've already sent the details to you and we look forward to your answer in two weeks time, after the CIC completes its work," the canine paused briefly rubbing his aged muzzle, "I wouldn't force this so quickly, but I trust your group in closed case matters like this, more than that, we need the help of your recon abilities to figure out whether or not we have an internal plot growing or not."
"Whoa, give me a second General!" Fox pinched his, "Now I know just a little bit about the Pride, you telling me, the whole ship is gone? What reason is there to use us in an investigation like this."
"Call it a hunch, but I've been getting uncomfortable feelings now, ever since the military has been getting slashed by the council left and right, this recent event has proven a little to unfortunate, and I would rather your team help me in an under the table investigation, I wouldn't trust the Cornerian Intel to work in my favor, not since they've had a change of command...again."
The vulpine let forth an exasperated groan, "General, I don't know, the team only just got back together, hell you've read the debrief haven't you?"
"Not a chance, not with all this going on, but I assumed all went well on Sauria!"
"Sir...Andross was back."
Silence greeted the vulpine as MacDonald Pepper merely gaped at him, whatever he had in his hands soon clattered upon the desk.
"You're not joking...are you," he couldn't believe it, even when Fox nodded, he merely gaped, "Fox, of all the people I deal with, why is it, that every time we put you out on the bill, you come back with ten times more than we bargained for?"
"Call it luck, or a curse, I don't know," a grin grew upon the foxes face, "I can't say it was him for sure, but damn me, it felt, sounded, even looked like him, trust me, you'll want to observe the report before asking anything else."
The general seemed to deflate in his chair, taking a handkerchief and dabbing it at his forehead, "Well have to go over the details personally, I don't feel it wise to let it go over the com so freely, but...back to the current affair, we've already offered to supply you with the newest arwing designs, making sure to have Arspace apply some specialized plating to protect them from the nebulas electrical storms."
"And the check?"
"It has already been forwarded to your account, I took the liberty of having the papers completed, you've yet to fail a mission!"
Fox heaved a sigh of relief, "Good, I'm glad you keep your faith in my team and I. I look forward to having this meeting with you General, but for the moment, I could use a bit of silence to go over the details you've sent me."
With a salute, the hound disconnected, leaving the weary kit to his own devices. Feeling lazy, he leaned back onto the medical counter and waved his paw at the screen, a moment later it accepted his input and opened the new mission briefing.
Taking a moment to look at the slumbering vixen, the previous conversation having not phased her in the slightest. His attention returned to the new report and he tapped his muzzle in thought, wincing as his claw brushed his wound.
"I need to stop doing that." He clapped his hands together and began to twiddle his thumbs. "So this is the Prides Joy."
-/Clear/CSCI-Poly/-
Name: AGOR/CVN Prides Joy
Class: Carrier/Research Vessel
Displacement: 100,000 to 104,600 long tons (100,000–106,300 t)
Length: Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)
Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m) Beam: Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m) Draft: Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)
Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 × Key Sec Fusion Reactors
4 × Plasma Drives
4 × shafts
520,000 shp (388 MW)
Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)
Range: Unlimited distance; 20 years Complement:
Ship's company: 4,200
Air wing: 2,480
Science Staff: 1480
Sensors and processing systems:
4 × Ck 90 ALLA guidance systems
4 × Ck 92 Radars Electronic Warfare
Armor: 10.5 in (64 mm) Honeycomb patterned ceramic titanium over vital spaces, Gideon foils enclosing electronics from EMP fields
Aircraft carried: 85–90 fixed wing and shuttles.
The Alpha-class Space Carrier ordered to supplement the loss of carriers Union and Caligula, maintaining the strength and capability of the Cornerian Navy. The ship is designed to be improvements on previous classes, in particular the Caligula and Forest supercarriers, although the arrangement of the ships is relatively similar to that of previous vessels. Among other design improvements, the two reactors take up less space than the eight rectors used on the Caligula. Along with a more generally improved design, this means that Alpha-class carriers can carry 90% more aviation fuel cells and 60% more ordnance when compared to the Forrest class.
Report as listed by Cpt. Harrison
Discovery of Vessel X has led the council to an agreement that the Nebula Graveyard should be considered Class 2 priority for research into the Genesis Movement.
Attached are documents and visual evidence giving proof of the possible existence of a civilization hidden behind the violent nebula.
Current trends in the nebula's magnetic storms have hampered any possibility of entering its field. Possible entrance via Z-minus north northeast and Y Positive west by west.
New ceramic plating has proven fortuitous in combating the storms EMP pulses. Testing begins with larger class ships.
Permission has been given to push through the storm, the council stands behind this new research and investigation, we look to enter it within the next six months.
Current staffing has been cut to a quarter due to the reconstruction of the Lylat systems territories. Should not be a problem. Skeleton Crews are more than ready to take up any slack in the chain.
-End-
-/Clear/CSSCI-Poly/-
He thumbed the images, his eyes treated to a rusted and crippled looking ship. Scars running along its hull giving evidence to internal combustions all along its armor.
"It's a ships graveyard, what makes this ship so special as to want to venture into that abyss?" he asked no one in particular.
"Supplies, if he's got us set to run through that storm, he's damn well gonna provide," Fox pulled out a stylus from the tablets side and chewed on its tip, "Hmm, Nav Beacons are a must, and it seems will be passing through Sector Y, not the greatest time of year, with the gala-rays in nesting, definitely need someone to help us navigate through them."
An idea came to him, and he grinned, sliding the stylus over the pad and bringing up a list of contacts. "K, k, k where is," his eyes gleamed as he tapped a name and began setting up a message.
To Katt Monroe,
this is Fox McCloud, asking for your assistance in navigating through Sector Y and for your support in a new mission. We will be docking at Gradius, General Pepper expects us for a briefing within two weeks. Cash up front and a bunk on the Great Fox if you decide to take us up on the offer.
P.S. Falco has returned to the Great Fox, thought you'd like to know!"
He tabbed the message over and sent it off. Grinning from ear to ear as he did, "Let's see how that bird-brain handles this!"
He tossed the tablet aside and took in a slow breath. Turning to face the slumbering vixen. He couldn't help but smile at the visage standing before him, blue furred clashed with the whites of her belly, tattoos adorning her body in exotic ways, and bright blue eyes that seemed to glow as they glared at him.
Fox blinked for a moment, his train of thought finally docking within his head. He heard her speak with an unknown dialect, her accent thick was very heavy.
"Oh?" he managed to say as a pair of cerulean hands reached out to touch his temple. Colors sparked in front of his eyes as all the sound in the world seemed to vanish, those angry blue eyes seemingly fading away.
"Mom!" he whined softly, a pair of arms hugged him tightly.
"I told you it was wet, and dress shoes are not meant for running around in the mud," she replied, rubbing his head gently. "And don't give me that innocent look, now close your mouth and get ready, you've academy classes soon, and I'll want you back afterwards, you remember where?"
"Yes mom, third floor over in the Logistics Center," he answered.
Vixy smiled and leaned forward, giving him a small kiss on his forehead, "Good, and remember not to annoy all the officers. With General Pepper coming in today, I'll want you on your best behavior!"
"Alright."
She rubbed his ear affectionately, the tiny kit chittering softly before turning and rushing off towards the other building.
A husky greeted him not far from the building, a grin on his face.
"Nice trip Fox, get me anything while you were down?" he grinned.
Fox slugged him on the shoulder, "Oh come on Bill, its these shoes, I can't stand them!"
"Well let's get going before the bell tolls, for it tolls for thee, who has himself four marks already!"
Fox shook his little head and groaned, "Bill, sometimes I wonder about you, but let's go, mom will box my ears worse than ever if I'm late!"
Both furs felt a rumble pass through them. Fox looking around bewildered.
"Earthquake?" he meant to say, but soon a loud eruption of sound followed and he found himself greeting the sky, his body crumpled upon the ground. Bill's yips finally reaching his ears, it sounded distorted and rather distant.
Jolting up from the ground, he blinked away tears of pain, what he saw sent chills into his stomach, the roaring inferno of the compound across from them brightened the cloudy day. It was like a train wreck, he couldn't turn away, and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Fox... she's stabilized."
He flinched as a firm hand gripped his shoulder. Looking up he was greeted by his father's eyes.
"What happened?"
"Someone had set off an explosive outside the Intel center, it's a miracle it didn't kill you or Bill," his words were soft, and solemn. "It seemed it was setup for Peppers arrival."
The older fox growled, hugging his son tightly against him. Fox continued to watch as the automated center worked on his mother's body in the emergency room, removing burnt and matted fur. Another container pumped regenerative nano cells over her wounds.
"Why, would someone do this?" the adolescent turned to face his father now, eyes brimming with tears.
"A declaration of things to come," James hissed, walking over to the window and placing his paw upon it. Tears visibly running down along his face now. "She hit her head pretty hard Fox, the doctors don't know if she'll be waking up anytime soon."
"Who did this?"
"Its only a hunch, but it may have been Dr. Andross."
Fox growled at the name, he knew it well, all the details. Once a great friend of General Pepper, he had been exiled to the planet Venom for illegal research into biological weaponry. The council had backed the decision when evidence was presented strongly implicating the simian in the complete genocide of multiple planets along the outer reaches of the Lylat System.
"He got mom instead," the young tod whimpered softly, rubbing wiping his nose.
"I can't say it was him, but still, the simian has done enough to site a revolution from amongst the dredges," James replied, clenching his fist tightly, "From the riots on Macbeth, to the major rise in raiders throughout Lylat, he's had a hand in everyone's misery."
A light above their heads flashed green, and James took his son by the hand, entering the operating room. Gently they both placed their paw over the vixen who laid upon the surgical table.
Fox couldn't cry anymore, his tears slowly ceasing as he watched his mother. The opening of the doors taking their attention as Peppy entered, the General following closely behind him.
"James, we came as soon as we could...how...how is she?" Peppy asked.
"Comatose...no longer critical...but still, she may never awaken again," James choked, "The blast has caused some major concussive trauma."
Pepper stood quietly, attired in his sleek crimson uniform.
"We've looked into all the connections attached to the owner of that vehicle," he growled, "This definitely reeks of Andross. The forensics team were able to find evidence of rare biological materials that can only be mind from the planet Venom."
"Does it matter? Without the permission of the council, there is no point, the most that will happen, is a strongly worded letter of empty threats, it's all we've ever done, just what do they think they are waiting for?" James turned away from his wife to face the others, "It's all games to them, no they would rather wait and watch as the whole world burned before acting."
"James, you can't talk like this about the council," warned the hound, "You know as well as I that it's the will of the people to not have a war, that's the way things go, they don't want to acknowledge such a future, they want their security!"
"Security be damned, what is the point of wants, if they will not fight for it!" James spat, "Look at us, look at Lylat, there is an army growing out there, and it'll be us sticking our noses to their cracks if we continue to do nothing."
"Calm down Jim," Peppy stepped in between the two of them, then gestured down to Fox, "You're better to keep a cool head, for Vixy's sake, think of your son!"
It gave pause to the older vulpine who slowly turned to face his young pup, his sons eyes regarding him with a broken innocence.
"Fox," he knelt and placed his a hands upon his shoulders, "Stay with your mother tonight, and I'll return shortly, I need to discuss some matters with Uncle Mac, and Uncle Peppy here alright!"
The others looked elsewhere at the mention of their nicknames, after Fox gave a nod, James gestured for the others to follow him.
"Feel like its blackmail when you call me that," said MacDonald.
Fox heard the other two laugh weakly as they entered the hallway. Slowly he turned and crawled over to his mother's side, nuzzling his head against her.
"Wake up, please."
"I'm leaving shortly, you know what this means don't you?" said James a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, "I hope you've got everything packed!"
"I do," said Fox quietly, "Dad, I want to help, I can pilot with the best of them, can't I come?"
"I've told you Fox, you aren't ready for this, there is more to this than you can understand right now," his father rubbed his head gently, "You have a duty right now, you need to take care of your mother, Pepper has already had her transferred to Saint Reynard's Hospital and she'll be taken care of until she recovers."
"But why are you leaving us?" barked Fox, "Why can't you tell me anything?"
James paused and observed his sons resolute determination to block his path, with a shake of his head he looked into his sons eyes and answered, "I'm taking a path that I pray you do not have to follow Fox, I aim to make a strike where no others have, and with Peppers help, this may be all we need to end things before this pot decides to boil over. Its why I need you to stay here, to grow stronger than me, because everything may rest upon your shoulders one day if I fail."
"James, the ships ready, me and Pigma are waiting for you to arrive," Peppy's voice chattered from the vulpines com.
"Pigma!" the younger fox felt as though he'd choke on his own bile, "That pig? How can you trust him?"
"Because he has worked with me and Peppy for a long time during our run with the military, he has a green eye, sure, but he's been with us through tough times."
"I still don't trust him, he sticks by only for the profit. Dad, be careful around him."
They both looked at each other, then hugged, James gently patting his son on the head saying "You need to understand that I, we, Peppy, Pigma, and I choose to do what we need, to finish this before it even begins."
Fox nodded, "I understand, but I wish you'd let me help you."
Whipping a pair of shades out and adjusting them firmly upon his muzzle James replied, "I expect you to be the greatest fighter ever, just trust your instincts, and believe. Sometimes belief and faith in something good is all we have to hold on to, and never let yourself be deceived, I've always been proud of you, and I look forward to seeing you spread what I've taught you all these years, but."
Pepper frowned standing to block his path, guards flanking him on either side, "Calm down Fox, you need to give Peppy some time, its only luck that we found him and the Great Fox intact."
"And my father?"
The hound seemed to tense, "All we could acquire from the communications line, is that Andross had lost him in a warp gate, possibly the black hole."
The kit hissed violently, "Him, of all people, this trouble, my parents."
His fists began to tighten, blood drawing from his claws as they punctured his own skin.
"We believe Pigma was paid off by the doctor to lure both your father, Peppy, and the rest of the specialists into a trap," Pepper tugged his hat away and placed it under his shoulder, wiping his brow, "It worked, somehow if it weren't for Peppy and James."
Fox fumed as he took a seat, the general watching him for a moment before entering the emergency room.
The vulpine stirred his thoughts, running his mind through many ideas, and plans. Vengeance crossed his mind and settled for awhile.
"Get back at them, to get back at them all," he growled, body beginning to tremble, 'But then what' his mind persisted. It gave him pause, 'What will you become. Is such a thing worth the sacrifice, would you destroy who you've become to be something so much like the ones you hate?'
It was an hour later when the general stepped out of the room. Looking over at Fox, he watched as the kit held his face in his hands. He wanted to say something, to offer advice, but in the end, he left the young kit alone.
Quietly Fox stood, his mind clear and determination burning behind his eyes. Looking to the operating room, he skimmed over the rooms digital clipboard and then made his way to where they had relocated Peppy.
The hare looked up as the young fox entered his room.
"Fox, it's good to see you," the hare sounded exhausted, "After the military, I was afraid of more officials wanting to bother me or, the media, it's a surprise they've not caught on to what's happened."
"I'm quitting the academy," Fox said blankly.
Peppy merely gaped at him, was it the medicine? "Fox if I wasn't mistaken, you just said."
"I'm quitting, and I'm taking over Star Fox."
"But your moth-"
"Mom will be no safer here with my protection, if Andross decides to attack us, here on Corneria, and if I continue my way within the academy, I'll just be another number in the frontline, and I will not cater to a politicians armchair warfare."
Peppy eye the young fox cautiously, the furs burning eyes green with an intense fire, the once young and rambunctious vulpine seemingly gone.
"You'll need a team."
"I've one in mind."
'A mechanic?"
"Done. Can pilot a ship just as easily as tighten a nut."
"Money."
"In time!"
"Damn it Fox, this is suicide, you can't just shoulder your way into this, what do you know about command? What use is a team if your willingly going to throw them away." Peppy growled "Your still a kid!"
"I don't look to throw my team away," the reply was very emotionless and soft, "I need guidance, yes, but not from the military, from you, I look to you to help me. I am my own piece upon the board, I will not be some pawn to the government, not when they sit on their hands, and grin and bear their teeth in false smiles."
Peppy gestured the young kit to come closer and he did. The hare placed a gentle hand upon his head then in a flash rapped his fist sharply across his head.
"Don't get smart with me, just because you think you know it all, doesn't mean anything, I'm not going to let you walk around believing a mercs life gives you more power than not!"
"Peppy," Fox yelped softly holding a hand to the lump on his head, "All I can do is follow my father, and I can't do that if I'm stuck behind the military lines, how can I trust myself and my instincts if some holiday decoration of an officer decides to ignore it."
"So you think it better to become that officer then?"
"No, I expect to be a leader who takes account of those he trusts and to do everything in his power to protect them."
Peppy shook his head, falling back onto his pillow, "Boy, I'm too old for this, and you're going to bring me to a speedy death."
Fox smiled weakly and pulled a seat up to the bedside, "Peppy, I mean it, Pepper can't do anything, and after this, he'll have more red tape tying his hands behind his back than ever."
"I know, but, I can't Fox," he watched the young pups expression seem to slowly turn downcast, "No, none of your sass kid, I'm not in any condition to continue this conversation."
Fox nodded regrettably understanding Peppy's position.
"But," the vulpine looked up at the hare hopeful, "Fox, complete the academy, show me your willing to put in the work, the effort, and the care to protect your team, and maybe, just maybe I'll consider having this conversation with you."
The vulpine grinned, fires ablaze within his eyes again.
"Now get out of here and let an old man rest!"
Peppy gave a low whistle as he observed the vulpine, coming away from the post office. He couldn't believe that the eighteen year old kit had gone to achieve the improbable.
"So?" he eyed the envelope clutched in the kits paws.
"I passed," he grinned, pulling the degree out from the envelope.
Peppy shook his head in disbelief, "When I said prove yourself four years ago, I didn't mean literally put yourself through an advance business course while still taking academy classes."
"True, but then you'd hold the lack of business etiquette against me, and besides, I'm the one who'll be stuck with the paper work right?"
The hare took hold of the diploma and examined it, "Top marks and all, you certainly know how to take things seriously, ever thought about living a life Fox?"
"Didn't feel there was a need too, what with a war on the horizon, I wanna get the Generals ok to branch off and pull work on the sidelines for him, it's the only way well be able to strike at the good doctors weakest links."
Scenery changed as the two sat quietly in a lonely street corner cafe, the patrons ignoring the two as they talked.
"Fox, before I even give you any information I've pulled , I must tell you, you will be killing people, I don't want this illusion that your taking a mere hunk of metal out of the sky, you are going to be in it to end this war, and that will unfortunately involve you taking another's life."
Fox crossed his arms and gave a nod as the hare continued, "You'll be living twin lives, as a leader, and as Fox McCloud. James said it himself, when it's time to be professional, you act, these are things you learn. I can't teach that to you."
"I know, I don't look to live my life, I choose to lead so that others can stay who they are, I know it's not a position to envy, but I'm willingly taking this mantel, no tears, no anger, I will help to put an end to this coming fight."
"Fox, it doesn't need to be like that, you have much that you must strive for, and living is at the top of the list."
"When it comes to that bridge, I'll cross it, but for now, I look to set myself aside and do what I can to assist the Cornerian Military."
"If that is how you will play it, just remember what I've said alright," from under his coat, Peppy pulled a few documents and passed them to Fox. "This is all the information I was able to scrounge up from a few friends in Intel, Andross seeks to utilize warp gates as a means to strike at Corneria, possibility of Meteos being the launching grounds is fairly high."
"So then, how long does it give us?" Fox asked.
"I don't know a month or two at the most. Andross has already been mobilizing on the outskirts of Venom, and its possible he may already have stations hidden around this sector!"
Vulpine shuffled through the pages, "Gates, they can't be anything small, how is it Corneria hasn't noticed?"
"Corneria has been...negligent, even Pepper admits it, he's had to move the mass of Corneria's military to the outlying planets, the idea of creating a military blockade to keep any intruders from entering." replied Peppy, "And so to with all the extended range radar systems, Corneria has practically been left blind at the behest of the council."
"The council...how pretentious can they get," growled Fox, "So, were stuck waiting for them to cry for our help, is that it?"
"It's the only answer I can think of," the hare paused for a moment before uttering, "Most we can do is pull the odd job close to the Meteos system, if we can spot anything we can make the alert."
"Its settled then," Fox tapped the docs, then pulled out his tablet, opening up a map of Lylat, "We see about pulling some babysitting missions, maybe even a few patrol routes, there are already a few small jobs we can pull to suffice the pay necessary, and still keep a look out, but until things truly boil over, we've no choice but to stay quiet on the sides till beckoned."
"I know you hate waiting, but it needs to be done," assured Peppy, "The General will come through for us, I just hope it's not too late."
"Me too Peppy, me too."
"Those fools had no faith in my works, I who had brought about the golden age in space technology, cast out by those bigots, those politicians who only seek to gorge themselves upon the fame and fortune of my works, I am grew tired of those boars taking all the credit for funding the work that I committed to science, they only saw it as advancements for Lylat, to travel, they couldn't understand the power that I was willing to give them, only for a little control," Andross roared with rage, the stalks of his eyes slithering their way through space towards the vulpines fighter.
"You are sick." Fox said disgusted by the simians' ramblings, "You had it all, and you wanted more, you killed innocents to get what you wanted, you would have gone the exact same way even with political backings for your twisted experiments."
It laughed insanely at Fox, "The young pup thinks he can understand the works of a genius, a lone boy of a father who couldn't even stop me, oh how great this is Fox, I see it now, the last and final attempt to save a universe from me, the mad scientist who asked only a little to give so much. Well then! It ends here boy, and it ends now. You will wish to have never meddled with me, and now you will regret ever doubting my genius, my god hood!"
The fight was on, Fox banked and rolled around the massive brain, his ship lancing out with its red hot beams. The punishment he was inflicting upon the simian mind devastating.
It ended climatically, he felt the heat of the explosion all over his body, and this was real do much more real than before, he felt all the rage that had been contained within the simian wash over him. It was the end he thought.
"Don't ever give up my son!"
Fox couldn't believe what he was hearing "Father!"
Before him, beckoning for him to follow was his father's Arwing, not wasting a second Fox gave chase after the ship as it dodged and boosted through Andross's complex, the exit lay before him, but the phantom ship was nowhere to be.
"Trust your instincts Fox. I'll always be proud of you."
He looked everywhere as he left Venom behind, yet no sign of the ship was to be seen, no reading of life.
He looked up, to see the burning outline of a Katina fighter pass over his ships cockpit, bolts of energy lanced across his ship and he pulled hard on the joystick, feeling his heart beat in his throat as the arwing pulled a sharp loop.
His radio echoed with the loud cries of other fighters as the military was battered by the venomian armada. Over the horizon loomed a massive ship, slowly working its way towards the central arcology, many innocents housed within it.
"Fox, you need to hit west by west now," shouted Bill, "All units, don't let that ship through, we need more time for the civilians to evacuate!"
He yelped loudly as he felt his ship rock violent, out the side of his window he could see the smoke of his arwing as it tried to keep itself balanced, a large chunk of the wing now missing, the g-diffusers doing all they could to keep his flight steady.
The battle was intense, ships on both sides taking burning dives down to the planet's surface, leaving there mark in history as a burnt out husk of metal. The fox watched as the craft moved closer, slowly it flipped, presenting its central cannon to the city below.
He had to act, if he waited too long, there would be a massacre, and he aimed not to have that blood upon his hands. With a sharp snap of the arwing, the fuselage pointed towards the ships massive weapon.
"Clear the area," he shouted, the glass cockpit seemed to scream at him it its green, reds, and whites. Warning klaxons blaring into his ears as his ships proximity grew closer to the cannon. Sparks began to appear as the prongs of the cannon seemed to activate, charging and farming together, a particle ball growing.
A lone smart bomb ejected from the arwing, following a steady path to the particle cluster and hitting it.
Fox watched, his breath caught in his throat as a small spark flashed within the mother ships core, soon followed by a chain of explosions, rocking its body, it seemed to groan loudly as metal and debris twisted. The ship slowly rocking to the side and diving away from the arcology. Massive explosions tearing it apart.
A grin sat upon the foxes face for a mere moment, turbulence slammed into his ship. A sickening crunch echoed in his ears and he turned to see a burning piece of metal jammed into his opposing g-diffuser. The ship dived, slamming the vulpine into his seat as g-forces began tearing at his ship, the ground quickly came up to meet him.
"How does he do it?" an avian asked quietly in hopes that Fox would not hear.
Peppy turned in his seat to face the bird, "Do what?"
"How does he keep such a straight face, it pisses me off that he can sit there and act so high and mighty during the war!"
"Falco, all of us have some way of handling shell shock."
"Peppy, he goes down there, after each mission, he goes to the hospitals, the medical bays, I've heard the other guys talk about it, even Bill, says its odd, he just enters and watches, sometimes greeting the wounded."
"For him it's a reminder of what it means to be in command Falco, he fights along with us, but whenever we make a hit, it's still under his orders, he's different in that regard to his father, where we had the whole band of brothers to share our thoughts with, it's not so much here," he gestured to the whole of the Great Fox, "Four fellas on a ship, it's not so much an atmosphere of family that you usually find within a company of soldiers, and most of all, he hasn't anyone to share anything with, you've got to remember, he lost a lot through his years."
Falco shrugged eyeing the vulpine who seemed to distracted by his own work to pay attention to the two of them.
"I don't know, doesn't that seem a bit harsh? Hell, I thought he'd have someone to talk to at least, a girlfriend, anything? I mean I got Katt, and I tell you, it does wonders," the avian chirped.
"It does, but you have to be willing to share, you can't just force these things," Peppy frowned, "Sadly it's how some people handle the stress."
"I don't know, a corked bottle doesn't do much if it keeps getting shook up, at some point all that pressure has to go somewhere, you've heard about the others before, once that shell shock hits you, it sticks to ya something harsh!"
"Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't," the hare pulled a small stick of celery out and nibbled it idly, "Remember, no family to go to, and no relations, he's in his own world sometimes, and it's the only place he'll let himself wander, it can be colorful, or it can be void of anything."
Fox stood and moved over to the other two, "Alright guys, we have an ops. Well be hitting Macbeth, Slippy has the tank all geared and ready to go, I'll need you both to assist me from the air, if we can stop Andross's production facilities, will severely cripple his operations!"
They both gave him a salute, taking their things and then all three left for the hanger.
Darkness, or was it? He didn't know. He held his small hands out before him, cut and bruised, bloody from years of abuse, of fighting. He stood, his small legs weary with pain, the tiny kit tried walking, only to fall.
Tears ran down his face as crawled like an animal, far ahead of him a small light glimmered. He whimpered, moving as fast as he could, feeling as though the darkness would lose him in its abyss forever.
Warmth, sweet wonderful warmth enveloped him as he neared the source of the light, a little fire, its soft pops and sparks echoing in the cold. Carefully the kit held his hand out towards the flaws and cooed softly at. The warmth began to die, and his eyes opened in horror. Blood seemed to rain from his hands, pouring from the clawed scars of his hands and dousing the warm flames, leaving him in the dark again.
He shivered, staring at the smoke and broke down, his small bloody little paws rubbing at his face.
'I'm sorry.'
He shuddered, shrinking away from a gentle glow that stood before him, his eyes averted from the bright light. Bloodied paws covered his face in fear of this strange happening.
"Why are you alone?" it asked, "Why do you cry?"
"It's quiet."
"What of your friends?"
"So quiet," he repeated, rubbing his eyes red with blood, "Go away!"
Crimson began to pool around him, washing the ground in its red tide and surrounding him. Slowly it rose, enveloping him in its wake.
Krystal opened her eyes slowly, staring at the alien walls that surrounded her. What of the stone, what of the temple, and her prison?
Her ears flicked towards a blurry figure, listening as he spoke in a familiar tongue, though it came through muffled and distant.
"Cornerian?" she thought, he was speaking to someone else, his attention taken by a figure on the monitor before him. He was chuckling softly before the screens occupant vanished.
Military words reached her ears and she glanced around, spotting her staff, it sat cradled in a pack not far from her, its tip covered in green blood. Her eyes narrowed at the sight and turned to focus upon the only other rooms tenant.
Carefully she moved away from her cot, a gentle tug nearly causing her to yelp in pain. She looked to her arm and noticed the needle sticking out from it. She pulled it out, letting it hang by the cot. Then arms outstretched she moved towards her possible assailant.
He turned, his green eyes regarding her with an unknown emotion behind them. He seemed to be admiring her which brought a seething anger to her.
"Oh?"
It was the last thing he said before her hands clasped onto his temples.
"Comburo Minae!" she hissed, her grip firm. His eyes rolled up into his head and his body went limp, the weight pulling him from her hands to collapse onto the floor, she growled and spat "Monster!"
It was then that she began to clearly see her surroundings. Turning back to the cot, she spotted the neatly folded clothing next to it. The bag itself full of eggs and other mementos of the Saurian planet. A ping cause her to turn and she examined the monitor, a message icon bouncing in the corner.
She held out her hand and ran her fingers across it, the digital envelope opening, an odd sense of foreboding and doubt beginning to fill her senses.
Department of the Cornerian Council
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE COUNCIL SESSION HAS AWARDED THE
CORNERIAN DEFENSE COMMENDATION MEDAL
TO
MERCENARY UNIT STAR FOX
COMMANDING LEADER
FOX MCCLOUD
FOR
Meritorious Service while serving as a reconnaissance and Military Operator for the Cornerian Government in the recovery and repair of the Saurian conflict. Fox McCloud is singularly responsible for the flawless recuperation of the Saurian Planet and-
She blinked, running her eyes over the message again, pausing over "Fox McCloud." At first it felt like it was a joke.
"It couldn't be!"
She moved away from the monitor and looked to the cot again, examining the bag and reading the words "Electrolytes" upon it. Then her eyes surveyed her surrounding, noticing the Winged Fox logo stamp upon a few of the cabinets.
A paw rose up to her mouth in shock and she spun on her heels to look upon the floor where the one known as Fox McCloud lay, crumpled in a heap.
"No!" she nearly shouted, kneeling at his side and tugging him close against her body, "No, no, no!"
She held his face and felt her stomach turn, he was pale under his fur, his face, already wrapped in bandages from whatever he had suffered earlier, had begun to bleed again.
"No, don't do this," she hugged his head gently to her breast, softly chanting, "Liceo socious sanitas."
A glow began to envelop the two of them as she brought her head down to gently touch against his, nuzzling gently. Calling out into his memories for his soul.
Colors and images flashed before her eyes, some lingering for mere moments, others seeming to last for an eternity, hidden memories, secrets of his past of what made him Fox McCloud playing out in varying .
"But where is his soul?" she wondered, frightened it had already left. A dark void surrounding her glowing form came as an answer, like a desolate valley. Off in the distance, a small flicker of light seemed to glow for a mere moment before vanishing.
She made haste towards the wisp of smoke, watching it coil slowly into the night sky before vanishing. Her eyes had to adjust to the dim hue of the land, a small trembling figure sat before her, crawling away as fast as it could, a small trail of black following.
She spoke to what seemed to be a small child, asking the kit why it cried and listening to its lonely answer.
"Where is the soul? Where is your life?" she asked in fear, reaching out towards the kit. He recoiled, the ichor surrounding him rose and engulfed them both.
Another vision embraced her and she watched in silence.
He took long slow breathes as he observed the other pilot across from him, the billowing plume of smoke rising from the venomian fighter.
"Don't do anything stupid," said Fox, his weapon trained upon the feline pilot.
She hissed at him, her arms up in surrender as the fox moved slowly towards her.
"By order of the Pinkerton Miranda, you are a prisoner of war and well be transferring you to the Cornerian military for interrogation."
Her eyes turned to slits as she glared at him, fangs bared. As he gripped her arm, she acted with a only a felines grace, twisting around his body and landing a blow to his back.
He nearly dropped, the kidney punch sending a shock through his body. With a sharp push, he jumped backwards into her, both of them rolling to the ground.
She made a quick snap kick, knocking the gun away from his hand, propped upon her hand she pushed, and snapped her other foot out, nearly catching him square in the face.
With a tuck and roll, Fox took a handful of dirt and threw it at the feline. She flinched and he used the moment to tackle her back to the ground, straddling a top her.
Her claws raked across his and then clenched tightly. He yelped in pain falling back as she came down atop him, pushing his hand firmly against this chest, digging those ivory daggers into him.
Fox's hand desperately tried to push her off, his other dragging along the ground for something, anything. The cool feel of metal met his grasp and he tugged, hard, swinging the piece of scrap and banging it against the other pilots head.
Rolling, hands clasped tightly to her now cracked helmet, she hissed and spat at him. Wearily Fox side stepped around her before kicking out, it was easily blocked and they both began brawling.
She twisted into a feint, readying an axe kick. Fox caught it only just, and punched her hard in the gut. At first he watched satisfied that he had taken care of her, but soon his face took on one of horror as he watched her stumble.
"No!" he shouted as feline let forth a gasp of shock a sickening sound tearing into the air.
Cold yellow eyes regarded him, wide open in surprise. A small trial of crimson following along the ragged and twisted wing of her fighter. The tip sticking out from her breast.
It as his first person to person confrontation of the war, his first kill. Slowly he moved to the felines side, shifting her carefully and removing her helmet. A small photo hung within it, it appeared to be a family, the merc seemingly taking the side of Andross to supply for her young ones.
"But...why," said Fox to the silence, "Why."
He began punching the ships side, harder and harder, feeling as though his knuckles would give way, "Why that mad man, why would you join him!"
He couldn't cry, he felt such emotions had left him long ago, instead he felt anger as he slammed his fist over and over denting the ships plating.
"I won't let this go on," he promised himself, tugging the photo and pocketing it. He turned to look at the pilot, closing her eyes and pulling her corpse from the wreckage. Silently he pulled a scrap of metal away and began digging, digging till he beheld the vast black hole.
Soon enough the body laid quietly below, the pilots helmet upon the scrap iron cross that marked it.
She watched the image fade away into the landscape, then turned to find the kit had vanished, a lone cross the only thing marking the empty landscape.
Kneeling she began to dig into the dirt, the land seemed to fight against her, like sand upon the beach, each hand full she moved seemed to wash back into the hole. Soon a small trial trickled down from the helmet that crowned the cross.
Her gaze following it as it trailed and vanished into the horizon. There she noticed something peculiar. A house, quiet and lonesome, nestled within a black forest. It frightened her, the house itself seemed uninviting, with its isolated yet pristine architecture.
Yet it beckoned her in with the soft words of hidden memories, its door slowly opening, a small hand print upon the frame. Enter she did, into the quiet and dark corridors of the dwelling.
Shadows seem to dance along the walls like coiling smoke in the wind, what little light came from outside its windows lit the thin outlines of bad memories which bled throughout the building, like exposed capillaries, shifting and twining.
Her footsteps seemed to betray no sound, the mere echo of silence repeating throughout the house, only to be broken by the soft whispers of the past.
The rattling of feet above Krystals head gave pause to the vixen, then slowly she turned towards the stairs, following its twisted path.
It would have been better if the house wasn't so clean and empty of life. Nothing seemed to acknowledge her existence within, no mote of dust, no shadows from her glow, the house seemed to weave its own story, echo's of the vulpines past etched into the fabric of time.
She paused, eyeing the sad and solitary figure huddled in a corner. Its eyes covered with a small blind, a ball rolling between its tiny paws.
"Fox?" she moved slowly and carefully towards him.
He froze, the ball rolling away from his hands, "Who is it?"
"My name is Krystal."
"Do I know you?" he asked.
"I shouldn't talk to people I don't know then." He turned back to the ball, rolling it around.
She knelt before him, "Why are you here?"
"It's my home," he answered, gesturing to the house, "It's kept me safe. It protects me from the things outside."
She cocked her head slightly, "What things?"
"Anything, the cold, the heat, strangers, are you sure I don't know you?" he asked again, "You smell familiar to me."
"We may have met, briefly," she answered guiltily.
"Oh, well that's good, you're not sposed to be here if I don't know you."
Gently she reached out to him, taking his hands in hers. He flinched and tried to pull away, but she wouldn't allow him to. Drawing him close, her fingers moving up to work at the knot upon the blindfold covering his eyes.
"No," he whimpered softly, "I don't wanna see anything."
"It is not your life to suffer," she said warmly, tugging away the Scrap of clothe, "No one deserves to suffer, to be alone, no matter how much they believe it is for the better of others!"
Her hands slid slowly along his muzzle and lifted his face up to hers, black eyes regarded her in terror as they seemed to bleed his worst fears.
"I'm sorry, it's not your fault," she whispered.
He shook his head shouting, "Stop it!"
"I'm sorry," she wrapped her arms around the small tod and holding him closely, "It's not your fault!"
He choked, hugging her tightly as he began to cry, his tears fading drop by drop as they touched her glowing form.
"You're warm," he choked, nuzzling against her.
Krystal opened her eyes and regarded the young man in her arms. Leaning back against the medical stand of the Great Fox's med bay. She gently rubbed her fingers delicately along his muzzle, the bleeding having stopped.
"I never meant to harm the one who saved me," she said softly, rubbing his ear, "I didn't even know I was rescued."
Fox swallowed a breathe of air and looked up into her eyes, he felt himself flush as he realized what he was nuzzling against.
She gasped as he quickly hoisted her into the air with his arms, lifting her up against the stand behind her, those frightening blacks still held in his eyes.
"I nearly get myself killed, by everything on that planet, only to have the person I saved turn on me?"
"I'm sorry," she cried in surprise, placing her hand on his, the effort before having already drained her of her talents.
"You had no right to see what you did," he shouted, "None!"
He was breathing raggedly, an almost black like miasma surrounded him, his aura tainted and unclean, only a single glimmer of light winked in between the swirl of hate and anger.
"Please," she begged, reaching out to it, his grip tightening.
'Don't hurt me.'
His eyes widened in horror, releasing her as he stumbled back, tripping over his own feet. He regarded her with jade green eyes now, the black taint slowly dispersing into nothingness. They both looked away, sitting in silence. The soft hum of the AC filling the room. The vixen began to shiver.
"It must be cold," he said softly collecting the blanket from the cot and draping it over her shoulders, still not looking. "I didn't mean to hurt you...I'm sorry."
She froze slightly as he wrapped her, then whimpered softly as he lifted her carefully in his arms. Setting her down upon the cot. Fox rubbed his eyes wearily taking a seat on its edge.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered softly, "I would never, not to you."
He hung his head, a gray cloud of depression slowly sweeping in over him. The vixen frowning as she watched him curl up, head in his hands like the kit she had seen before.
Slowly she shifted on the cot and tugged the fox into her arms, hugging him tightly, just like before. He nuzzled her gently.
"Your warm," he whispered.
'Share your burden with me'
He paused, again a voice in his head, but this time warm and soothing, no hint of malice in it. He looked up to the vixen hugging him, questions burning in his eyes.
"Yes, I can?" she answered him, her voice soft, "When I choose to that is."
He felt stumped, the idea of a telepath here in his ship, this girl. He could accept the Krozoa spirits, he could accept that monster.
"It wasn't Andross," she whispered, giving him pause in his mental ramblings.
"How do you know that?"
"The spirit that you had released, it plagues upon the wants and desires of those around us," she began to preen her tail, "Do not believe that only the good exist, for they have those whom have been imprisoned for their vices, that one, that beast, responsible for my imprisonment, his was a vice for power, greed, and war, even suffering."
"He seemed so real though."
"It does that, it takes the worst that it can find, and that simian, was the worst it saw, hidden deep in your mind, all his emotions, his greed, it was delectable to his touch and he consumed it, became it, and with it, he took your fears, your pain, and your burdens."
Fox shook his head, "Unbelievable, just unbelievable, spirits, magic, and now you."
His paw caressed her muzzle, turning her so she would meet his eyes. They paused for a moment, reading each other's eyes, green and blue seeming to mix together in their reflections.
'Will you trust me,' her mind hummed softly within his, 'Let me carry your wounds, and I shall let you know all of mine in time.'
"How...are you speaking to me?" he asked suddenly, the question throwing her off, "Your Cornerian is perfect."
"Oh, well I wasn't on that rock all my life," she answered timidly, "I came to Sauria only after the end of the war, before that I was an orphan in Katina."
Her paw rose out from under the blanket, rubbing along the vulpines neck and holding up the pendant. It clicked open, the soft hum of its music box ringing in the med bay.
"Your favorite song?"
"Yes," he replied, "She used to sing it to me."
"I know this photo!" She examined the image within it, "It's me!"
"I figured," he said, a hint of exhaustion in his voice, "That means, you've met my mother, back before, you lost your home."
He leaned back, his eyes closed as his tired mind tried to continue its futile work at piecing together all that happened. An old melody tickled his ears, though a new voice sang it softly, it followed in tune with the pendant.
"When did you learn that song?"
"From her, your mother," Krystal placed the necklace back under his shirt, "When I was young, I hardly new a word of Cornerian, so she would sit with me and teach me that song as a start, she told me how she would sing it to her kit when he was afraid, or lonesome."
A small smile appeared on his face, "Alright, think you can follow me?"
A small nod answered him, both of them standing from the cot. Before they moved on, Krystal turned to collect her staff, hugging it close to her
He grinned, "So I take it you don't normally venture across the system with next to nothing on as armor?"
She frowned, face reddening in embarrassment, "No, not really, it was all that was left after my craft was destroyed by the Sharp Claw, that and my staff."
They stepped onto the lift, Fox asking her to wait a moment as he went back to collect the clothing.
"I thought you'd probably want a little more than bikini armor aboard this ship, what with us heading to the Gradius Shipyards, the last thing you need is everyone getting googlely eyed over you!"
"Oh, and wouldn't that sadden you just a bit?" she grinned as he began to turn different shades of red, "What was that the hare said? Ten minutes."
"You know, I've no objection to flushing you out the airlock as well with the others," groaned the fox as the vixen began to laugh.
"You'd never do that."
A loud gurgle rumbled in the elevator. The vixens face turning scarlet.
"I take it your hungry?" grinned Fox, "Well get you settled, then I'll bring you some food, alright?"
She nodded in silence, hugging her belly tightly, giving it a few muttered curses under her breath.
They entered the long corridor leading up to the bridge, pausing before one of the doors on the side. Fox ran his fingers along its panel and it opened quietly. Ushering the vixen inside, he swiped the light panel.
"You can use my room, that is till the Great Fox earns her extension, settle yourself in and I'll bring you some food."
She began to object, but he silenced her easily enough, "Don't think of it, I'm not going to have you lying on a medical cot for the rest of the trip."
She huffed silently with a pout, taking a seat on the bed as Fox left the room.
She began looking around its quarters, having seen it a few times during her brief mental connection to the mercenary leader.
Comfortable came to mind. A bathroom entrance sat in the corner, taking a damp piece of cloth from the sink, she carefully cleaned her staff. With a small smile, she placed it upon Fox's desk and examined his computer. Tapping the screen. Nothing came up, she tapped it again.
"Locked," she muttered. She had hoped to get an update about the Lylat System, her time on Sauria having deprived her of any news from the outside world.
The soft hiss of air signaled the vulpines return. A tray balanced in his hands.
"We're sadly due for a restock," he apologized, setting the tray down on the bedside table. The contents of the soup and meat steamed. "Usually the others like to raid the fridge to its bones, so I tend to smuggle some food away for safe keeping, emergencies, or for guests."
She couldn't help but drool at the scent, giving a small prayer of thanks, she chewed a piece of meat and churred softly.
"Meat, hmmm sweat and tender too," she purred, "I've been on those stupid eggs and fruits for so longs, I've nearly forgotten the taste!"
"Well, I do pride myself on cooking," he chuckled, turning to his desk and thumbing along its panel, the monitor flared to life, "There, I take it, since you're not so native to Sauria, you'll like to peruse the net, connection might be a bit slow here and there, the ships passing through a few dead spaces, so signals gonna come out a little weak every now and then."
"Thank you, and yes, it's been a long time, I need to make sure people know I'm still around!" she spoke between mouthfuls of food.
He grinned, leaning against the wall and watching her eat, continuing his admiration of the vixen.
She pushed the tray away and patted her belly, letting a deep sigh of relief escape her. "I need to see if I can get in contact with a friend."
Fox tilted his head slightly as she continued, "No, nothing like that, he's an old gentlemen who rescued me and some other Cerenians from some slavers during our escape many years back, he's the one responsible for getting me setup in Katina."
"Hmm, well if he becomes difficult to find, I'll bet Peppy can help. During his stint with the military, he had befriended many of the higher ranking officers."
A yawn escaped the vixens lips no matter how hard she tried to stifle it.
Fox examined the desk clock and muttered, "It's only been a few hours, we should turn in for the day, I'd like to ask you more questions later if that's alright?"
"It is," she answered, watching as he made to leave the room, "Where are you going?"
"Oh, to our break room, we've a couch there that I can crash on, nothing to worry about."
She rubbed her tail nervously for a moment, asking "Could...could you please stay here? I don't really want to be left alone."
It sounded childish to her, but Fox merely smiled, pulling a chair over to the bedside.
"I guess I could brave it, just as long as you don't go poking around my mind alright," he jested.
Krystal gently took his paws in hers, startling him, "I promise not to if you'd like."
His mind raced for a moment, he gently rubbed her hands answering "Krystal, I trust you. I do wonder though, how can you do what you do without the staff?"
"It is a natural ability for my people, as far as I've learned, I never got to learn enough though."
Her mind touched his, and for once he felt it, gently flowing within his memories. She paused on a thought of his and her eyes widen slightly, "You could use the staff?"
"Well, yeah, couldn't anyone?"
She shook her head, "No, there is a reason why it's my staff, it was passed to me by my parents with their blessing, the only way you could use it would be."
"Yes?" Fox waited for an answer, the vixen seemed stunned all of a suddenly, "Krystal?"
"Tu mei animus militis"
Fox cringed slightly at the alien words, looking about and then checking himself over, "I...didn't do something wrong did I?"
A bashful smile grew upon her face, her hands cupping her cheeks, "No, I can't say anything right now. Just give me a little time to think this through ok, I promise I'll have an answer for you, have a goodnight Fox."
Confusion stamped itself to his expression, and he shrugged, moving over to the lights, and dimming them. Flickering stars added a faint glow to the room as he relaxed back in the chair, quickly his body caught up to him, putting him back into a deep slumber, all the while the vixen watched.
"Tu mei animus militis...I never thought it possible," carefully moving out of the bed she smiled, caressing Fox's brow and placing a kiss upon his forehead, "Thank you, I hope to repay you, for all you've done for me."
She crawled back under the covers and took in its scent deeply, nuzzling into the warm blankets, eyes glazing over with sleep.
MH47E here and working on the next bit, taking a little experience of some friends ptsd but putting a lighter touch on it.
Also can you guess the language?
Hope you folks are enjoying this, I look forward to spilling out more as time comes!
Also if the memory run seems to loop and twist and confuse, its kind of the idea, as his we see his mind slowly unravel