The squirrel leaped out of the news van rushing towards the dust filled streets with his crew tagging behind him. The dust just hung there, like a hazy smoke, the only thing penetrating through it were the emergency lights rotating around over and over again. Right away his fancy suit was covered in a layer of soot and grime, but he didn't care, he was too mesmerized by the scene before him, the people being helped onto stretchers, the victims crying out in pain.
"Right here is good, set up right here," he said as the camera man fixed up the tripod and prepared the live broadcast. The squirrel readied himself with the microphone close to his lips and before he knew it, the red light came on.
"This is Daniel Karona with CLN news, I'm coming to you live from Furpaw Avenue near the intersection at Main near downtown Corneria City where an incredible scene is unfolding behind me."
Olivia and the other operators and advisors all stopped bickering and stood in silence as the news broadcast came on the largest screen in the control room. Soon all the screens were showing the same exasperated looking squirrel. He was somewhat eccentric in appearance, dark gray almost black fur, and hair that was a deep shade of green. Eccentric, but professional would be one way to put it. He had a serious scowl as he spoke with morose conviction. "At approximately 8:44p.m. an explosion occurred at the crowded intersection you see behind me," he continued. "Steve can we zoom in on the intersection behind me, just to get a better look." The camera panned off the reporter and focused in on the haze filled street scene of emergency lights and sirens. "This is most unfortunate," continued the squirrel off camera, "In an age where we were all looking forward to peace...and now...this..."
"Intelligence," whispered Olivia.
The raccoon advisor standing next to her slowly looked at her as she stared in a daze. "Chancellor Cardus?"
"I said intelligence," she added louder. "Get me intelligence. I want to know how this happened because we all know this wasn't an accident." She looked down at the shorter raccoon who was sternly glaring at her. "But I have a feeling you already know who's responsible."
"As do you," he said with equal heaviness.
"Comm operations," started Olivia. A hare with a headset on turned around. "Yes Chancellor?"
"Get me Xavier Zan, he should have just landed on Zoness by now. "Perfect timing for him," she said off-handedly.
Wolf woke up with a start. He was lying on a couch, his uniform sleeves ripped off at the shoulder exposing many small bandages on his arms. Before he could say anything Fox re-entered the living room with a box of supplies in his hands.
"Oh you're awake," he started.
Wolf looked around. "Where are we?"
"Well..." Fox kneeled by the couch digging through the medical kit he brought. "You weren't hurt too bad, just some cuts and bruises, so I figured it wouldn't be necessary to take you to the hospital. So I uh..." he paused, "...brought you back to my place."
Wolf felt his face, his eye patch was missing. It was probably blown clear off his face. He groaned as a dull pain seethed through his forehead. "Ok, first off...what the hell was that," he mumbled, still rubbing his face. "I just remember...this big explosion and then...you...and now I'm here..."
"Yeah I remember the same thing," Fox joked. He dabbed a cotton ball with alcohol from a small brown bottle. "Hang on, you got a nasty one on your arm here that I didn't get." He leaned over Wolf, dabbing the cotton swab where needed. The lupine hissed and recoiled when the swab touched his arm.
"Oh c'mon, it's not that bad." Fox returned the cotton swab as Wolf bore with the stinging pain.
"You're hurt." Wolf pointed to a cut above Fox's brow.
"I'll be fine. You had it a lot worse, I just got lucky." He continued dabbing. "Those other bandages on your arm are for quick healing," Wolf looked down at his arms. "You should be able to take those off in a few minutes. And then..." Fox put the cotton swab away, closing up the medical kit. "And then, good as new."
Wolf sat up looking at Fox. However the rest of the room distracted him for a moment. It was nicely furnished but still had a boyish mess tossed around, a large screen TV, nice end table covered in crumpled clothes, a chair with similar clutter. There was even a wall sized window with a view of the mountains in the distance. "This is a pretty nice place you got here McCloud."
Fox laughed, "Well, you save a planet you get the best. I'm sure your place is just as nice."
"Eh...you got a better view, but I at least keep my place clean," said Wolf dryly. Fox smirked and looked out the window behind him. "Ah well you should see it at sunrise, it's night now so you can't see much, but man, when you see that sun coming up over those mountains. Nothing beats that."
Wolf smiled at him, but it slowly changed to a glum expression. "When that explosion hit...I was...reminded..."
Fox's eyes questioned him, "Reminded of what?"
"It reminded me of when I first crashed in the Wolfen...that same feeling, 7 years ago. It just came right back to me."
Fox looked at him carefully before looking down at the floor, "I'm sorry."
Wolf shook his head, "No, no. Don't be," he smiled. Fox got up and sat next to him on the couch not sure where to put his hands. They looked at each other.
"That cut looks bad Fox...," said Wolf, his words trailing off. Before Fox knew it, Wolf pulled a paw around the back of his head and motioned him close, his fingers massaging the fur on his neck. What was happening thought Fox. What was going on right now in this very moment? What was going through his head? My head? Our heads? This gesture of affection, what did it mean? Suddenly he felt a wet warmth, the warmth of Wolf's tongue lapping around the cut on his brow. It was awkward to be groomed like this, but at the same time it felt natural coming from Wolf. It felt good to be held this close. It felt...
...right?
"Falco? Falco, honey you can open your eyes, it's ok now." The avians eyelids shot up. He let go of the seat in front of him. "I'm fine," he muttered. "That wasn't bad."
Katt laughed, "Right...well we're on our way now. This flight will only be about four hours. She looked out the window, they were in space now getting ready to jump to light speed. "As for me," she said as she put on her eye mask, "I'm taking a cat nap."
"Right, you do that..." grumbled Falco as he watched her smile from behind the silly blue mask and rest her head on a pillow against the window.
"Tea or coffee?" asked the poodle flight attendant with a plastered smile.
"You got alcohol?" he asked. She smiled and pulled out a small bottle. "Well sir, today is your lucky day."
"I'm sure it is," he muttered dryly, taking the bottle from her.
Cecilia looked out the window from her apartment at the city's skyline, watching the billowing smoke trail with careful eyes. She held a cordless phone close to ear with both hands, her paws shaking, tail twitching, whiskers pressed back.
"Daddy," she uttered nervously. She took a deep breath, trying to pull her eyes away from the city lights. "When is this going to end...?"
"It is only the beginning my child."
She nodded stiffly, trying to accept the words.
"But know this Cecilia. It is all for the greater good, all of it."
"I know daddy," she choked.
"I have to take a very important call now. They want to talk to me. But please do not worry my child. All will be well soon. Keep to your part. Play your role, and know it is all for a greater purpose. Wolf O'Donnell trusts you as his secretary. Hold on to that trust tightly my child, because you will need it. Goodbye Cecilia."
"Goodbye daddy." The fiery colored tabby hung the phone up. Slowly she melted into her couch, hugging herself as tightly as she could, wrapping a tail around her for comfort.
"The call is processing Chancellor." The hare with a headset on typed into a computer console. Olivia turned to face the largest telescreen, straightening her black coat out with a scornful expression. She couldn't hide her anger and angst. Her raccoon advisor Akun stood at her side. Suddenly the screen came to life. A smug smiling tiger watched them from behind a desk.
"Ah, Chancellor Cardus. For what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You know damn well what!" she shouted. She wanted to keep her cool but failed. The cardinal was huffing angrily, her red feathers heaving up and down, beak and intense eyes scrunched up.
"I'm sorry." The tiger tilted his head. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"You're not going to tell me that you had nothing to do with what just happened are you?!"
"Of course not, we take full responsibility."
"Because!" Olivia continued blindly. "I know it was your people's doing! So don't EVEN deny it!"
"Chancellor Cardus!" hissed Akun. "He has already admitted it!"
The tiger laughed deeply. "Oh Miss Cardus." Her face went blank, body lifelessly stiff. "You make me laugh. I hope now you understand where I'm coming from when I say that I want my people to have our nation rightfully recognized." He crossed his hands, intertwining his fingers.
Olivia took a deep breath, straightening her coat once again. "I'm sorry Xavier Zan. The Cornerian government does not negotiate with terrorists."
The tiger's smile turned to a frown, but still held a smug appearance. "Miss Cardus you disappoint me. And unfortunately...you will also disappoint your people greatly."
"What do you mean?" she snapped.
"What I mean is...," the smile returned to his face. "I'm sure it won't look too good for your public image if there are..." he paused, his smirk widening, "more terrorist attacks perhaps?"
"There won't be any more terrorist attacks. I won't allow it."
"Don't over-estimate your power Chancellor."
"Don't under-estimate your ego."
He raised his hand up. "Honestly Miss Cardus, let's look at this realistically. This has been planned for a long time now, even during the Androssian take over when your esteemed General Pepper lost touch with his mind." He chuckled softly. "So what that means is my terrorist cells are already in place. They're just waiting to strike on my command." He extended a claw and dug it into his wood desk. She stayed silent, as did everyone else. "I hope you put some thought into that Miss Cardus." He started tracing a little design with his claw, the splinters flaking off the timber as he went along. "And I also hope that Corneria plans to forward a commission to recognize the Tigrinian Federation as an independent entity on Zoness by the end of the week." Olivia opened her beak to speak but Xavier raised his paw up. "I'm sorry Miss Cardus, this conversation is over." The screen went blank as she stood with a shell shocked expression.
Wolf pulled away from Fox, looking at him carefully with deep eyes. Fox did the same. "Do you..." he whispered. "Want to stay the night?" Wolf questioned him with his eyes. "I mean!" started Fox. "You know...til you heal and stuff."
Wolf smiled. "I'd be glad to stay..." His voice was hardly above a whisper. They were still in an awkward position on the couch, Fox leaning over Wolf who was lying under him.
"What are we doing Fox...?" he asked softly.
"I don't know anymore," he whispered. He started pulling the bandages off Wolf's arms, the cuts no longer visible from the ointment. Without anymore words he lowered his head and started grooming the gray fur on his arm, licking about where the cuts once were. Wolf didn't know what to think anymore, merely melting deeper into the soft cushions of the couch and staring up at the ceiling as this continued. It felt good, no, incredible. The past months of his life might have been crazy and this was only adding to it, the feeling of Fox's tongue lapping up to his shoulder then to his neck. But for a moment Wolf thought how he'd been holding it all back for so long. He couldn't hide it anymore, it was all exciting to him, it was all pleasurable, it felt so good and he wanted more, he wanted Fox. As the vulpine's tongue lapped up his neck, he lowered his muzzle and their noses met. The sudden touch was like a bolt of lightening shooting straight to his heart. The warmth that he felt in his stomach was electrifying. Tonight he had almost died and he would have left this world without knowing this, these feelings. Suddenly for the first moment in his life, he felt alive. He didn't hold back anymore. He pressed his lips to Fox's and let the warmth flow through him because he didn't want to hold it back. He couldn't hold it back, not anymore, not after living, not after experiencing such feeling. He drank in his scent, tasting it, tasting him. Inside his head he was laughing, after all these years he thought, after all of my life, suddenly it all felt right. Fox placed a paw on Wolf's chest, intensifying the embrace, unbuttoning the charred blue fabric that once was his uniform. The buttons fell, but he kept pulling, unable to focus during the ecstasy of it all.
Things came to an ease, and they slowed, Fox inching back and opening his eyes. "Wolf...," the name barely escaped his muzzle. He was now nearly on top of him, crouched on all fours over him as Wolf's eyes looked back into his, one blue, and the other scarred and foggy gray, they both watched him with equal heaviness, but almost a drunken appeasement as well. He was holding Fox's arm, tenderly brushing the orange fur with his claws, his foot paw found his leg and he felt the fur with his toes. He drank in his scent as Fox huffed around his muzzle, just breathing and feeling him, massaging his shoulders unsure of what to do.
"We should get you out of these burnt clothes," he whispered as he kneaded his fur. Wolf nodded, still in a daze. They both were in a daze not sure where either of them was going.
The space plane rolled across the tarmac at the space port on Zoness. Hundreds of construction cranes dotted the island capital with flocks of seagulls gliding through the ocean breeze. It was mid-afternoon in Zoness City and it was apparent from all the construction going on that they were indeed rebuilding from the previous devastation.
"This is a security alert," came a voice from speakers above everyone's seats. Falco and Katt awoke with a start. "All inbound flights from Corneria will undergo a maximum security check at the main terminal gate do to recent events. Thank you for your co-operation."
Katt looked at Falco. "Recent events?"
He looked at her carefully. "Keep your PDA on. I'm sure Olivia will let us know."
Akun stood at the meeting table with his ears perked out stiffly. "Chancellor Cardus, I assume you'll be taking immediate action!"
"What kind of action?" she questioned harshly. "Right now we need to figure out where these terrorist cells are and work up a diplomatic plan of accession Advisor Akun."
"Nonsense, he's probably bluffing!" he retorted as he sat down. "We need to cut off the head of the serpent at its source." He balled his hand into a fist. "I recommend working with Chancellor Leto of Zoness to move toward a full strike plan on the Tigrinian Islands to destabilize the province."
"What?!" shouted Olivia. "Do you have any idea how that will look in front of the Katinians or the Macbethians?!" She looked around the meeting room at the other advisors. Two canines and an older white horse, however Akun's raccoon masked eyes intensified their glare across from her. "Akun, you want to strike a province, no, an island chain, of no less than a quarter of a million people. I'm not about to play the role of galactic bully. There are alternatives to solving this situation."
"This is a waste of time Chancellor!" he shouted. "You are putting the planet in needless danger!"
"Oh I'm the one putting the planet in needless danger? Sending a strike force to Zoness will only aggravate the situation!"
Akun raised his chin defiantly. "You will motion for the strike squad Chancellor."
"No I will NOT!"
The room went quiet, the other advisors not even budging to say anything. Akun was breathing heavily, as was Olivia, both obviously stressed from the recent events and from each other. It was also getting late into the night, fatigue was nipping at their focus.
"Let me put it this way Chancellor," started the raccoon coldly. "Your power is an illusion here, a false image. You are the figurehead of Corneria's government, the label on the packaging, the juggling mascot, the public entertainer, the decal. I will move the senate to order a strike. You cannot stop it."
Olivia drooped back into her seat, unable to say anything. She felt defeated in front of everyone in that meeting room but Akun was right. With the entire senate behind him, she couldn't stop him. Everything felt like it was slipping from her very fingertips in that moment right there as she watched the raccoon's heavy eyes burrow into her.
Fox opened the door to the fluorescent lit bathroom, Wolf following him closely. They entered the large marble tiled room together. There was a sink, a shower, but their focus wasn't on their surroundings. They were both bare-chested, breathing heavily, just watching each other. Fox's eyes drifted down Wolf's figure as he shut the door, following the trail of thick white fur that started at his heaving chest and worked its way down to his navel, going lower and lower until disappearing below his belt. Fox pulled Wolf close by the waist. He submitted to his tug and leaned into Fox, breathing into his shoulder and digging his paws into the fiery orange fur on his back. Something carnal was building inside Fox, Wolf too. He sensed it, in his scent, in his eyes, this carnal feeling of want and need. It was always there, just hidden, covered and subdued. He knew it was there though, from the day he first saw Wolf in the hangar on the Great Fox. And now it was rising inside him from the pit of his stomach up to his neck and flowing into his head, the rushing burning heat of unreserved desire.
Wolf finally said something as Fox dug his muzzle into his neck making him gasp.
"We should have done this a long time ago..."