Hey, everyone! Finally got a free day (FINALLY!), so I decided I'd do this instead of all the studying I'm supposed to be doing. Personally, I find this much more interesting. But, if you read this story and feel like you'd rather be doing homework, review & let me know! Ha, that was a really weird way of asking for reviews...well, whatever. Enjoy!
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The screen was the only thing that brightened the darkness of the realm. An unseen figure watched it intensely. The screen showed two images, each clear as crystal. One showed five small space fighter crafts turning course and boosting towards their mothership. This sight caused the figure to give a small smile. The other showed a black fox collapsing lifelessly to the ground, dispersing the smile formed not even a second before.
"Incompetence," he muttered. "Seems as though the two most well-known space mercenary captains really earn their title."
The silhouette turned to a seemingly empty corner of the room. For the second time, their glaring mouth curled into a grin.
"Isn't that right, General?"
A muffled cry was the response. Though it was shrouded in darkness, a small wooden chair rested in the corner. Bound tightly to the chair was an aging hound, covered in military medals. His quiet cries were a result of the duct tape tightly wrapped around his snout.
"Heh, cry all you want Pepper." The dark voice spat out the name. "Even if they manage to find my other assistant, they will never defeat him. Your army will fall without the help of your precious elite fliers, for they cannot help you without their leaders."
He turned back to the screen. Not even his cloak of darkness could disguise the burning fury, rage and evil glinting in his beaded eyes. "O'Donnell and McCloud will fall. Nobody, not even the most ruthless mercenary...or hero...can resist falling to the darkness."
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The loose gravel crunched beneath their boots. Odd-shaped trees and strange flying birds provided the only scenery for the two wanderers. Nonetheless, their species-enhanced eyes scanned constantly, searching for a large, menacing wolf.
Fox and Wolf had walked for at least a mile, finally stopping for a break when the sun was directly centered in the sky. They discovered some juicy red berries, each about the size of a baseball. Careful examination of the fruit determined that it was harmless, and the two ate in silence, savoring their break.
After their short stop, they were off again. Wanderers with less common sense would easily get lost, but the experienced mercenaries cut odd symbols into boulders about a hundred meters apart with their newly-acquired knives.
Besides the occasional stop at a boulder, the two walked in silence. Not so long ago, Fox and Wolf were rivals. But fate had a way of turning things sometimes. Three times the two had to work together to stop a dangerous horde of enemies, all seeming to lead to one powerful and evil adversary. Now, the wolf and fox were searching for one of the assistants to this cruel foe; a shadowy creature that had taken the form of Wolf's father.
The last time they'd encountered the impostor father, he'd scared the lights out of Wolf. Past memories of his father still haunted him. Luckily, Fox had surprisingly come to his rescue, and the wolf staggered off with sore bruises.
A similar attack from a different enemy had occurred the night after. Fox woke up to discover his father's murderer, Andross, lurking in the shadows. Like Wolf's dad, Andross had been dead for several years. Fox himself had killed him. But, when Fox figured out that fear was what the enemies were using to get the pilots to submit to them, his foe was startled. However, he then turned into a dark version of Fox, representing the one fear deep inside the vulpine: he was scared he'd fail.
As Fox was slowly losing the battle against himself, Wolf rushed in. After knocking the black vulpine out, they tried to interrogate him. However, when the ebony fox revealed nothing, Wolf took a tight grip on his neck. He didn't realize how strong his hold was until Fox noticed the life draining from the enemies' eyes. The final words of their foe still echoed in Fox's head.
"One of your fears have been defeated. You will only find your true foe when you conquer the other."
Wolf's thoughts were similar. After the battle, Fox explained to Wolf that fear is what the enemy is using against them. This angered Wolf greatly. How was using fear even fair? And how did these enemies know their fears anyway?
Wolf thought even deeper. Fox's enemy. Could he have been a foe from a mission? No, they looked too alike. A brother? Wolf had never heard Fox had a brother, not even in the news. When asked, Fox revealed the fox was a morphed version of himself, but didn't go into it further.
But the curiosity was eating away at Wolf. Finally, it grew too unbearable. "Fox," he said, breaking the seemingly everlasting silence, "how do you fight yourself?"
Fox didn't respond at first, choosing to watch the ground instead. "Well?" Wolf asked. He was growing impatient as the seconds stretched into minutes. "Can you answer?"
Fox's head snapped up. "It was...a part of me," he said slowly, as though choosing his words cautiously. "A darker part of me. A part of me that's scared...of failure. That I'll let someone down." He looked over at Wolf. The lupine just stared back. Then, he chuckled quietly. Fox shot him a questioning look. "What?" he asked.
The wolf 's volume increased, his chuckles turning to laughs. "What kinda fear is that? Who's scared of themselves? That's just messed up, pup."
Fox growled. "Don't CALL me that!" Wolf's eyebrows raised, surprised at Fox's reaction. "I HATE that nickname!" The vulpine's voice was full of anger. Wolf slowly backed away, but Fox never let the distance between them reach more than three feet.
"Calm down, pup-" Wolf started, but was interrupted by a pain in his shoulder. Before he could even flinch, Fox had lunged forward and punched him in the arm.
"Ow!" Wolf cried out, then glared at Fox. "What the hell?"
Fox shook off his temper and shrugged. "I told you to stop. Maybe now you'll listen." Wolf snarled at him. "Ah, shut up," Fox replied. "Do you like nicknames, Wolfie?" The lupine, who had started walking forward, stopped suddenly. Fox grinned as Wolf's fur stood on end.
"What was that?" The lupine spoke in a fierce whisper, slowly turning around and surprising Fox. He'd been expecting Wolf's tone to be its usual roar.
"You heard me..." Fox replied. He leaned forward, arms crossed. "...Wolfie."
Faster than a blink, Fox was burrowed into the ground. Wolf sat on top of him, breathing heavily; a fire deep within his eyes danced tauntingly at the fox.
"If you know what's good for you," Wolf spoke quietly, "you'll shut up."
Fox didn't respond. He just wanted the older canine off of him; their body masses about thirty pounds apart.
Grinning, Wolf stood. Slowly, Fox brought himself to his feet. He brushed the dirt off of him. "Hell, Wolf! How much do you weigh? You almost crushed my windpipe!"
"Now maybe you'll remember to watch yourself, McCloud," Wolf replied. "I'm guessing I have about thirty pounds and five or six inches on you, so you definitely don't want me hitting you that hard again..." He leaned closer to the younger vulpine. "...'cuz you may not survive next time."
Fox looked straight into Wolf's face, ignoring the fact he had to tilt his head pretty far back. "That's where you're wrong, O'Donnell. 'Cuz sure, maybe I'm only 5'8", and only weigh 185." He grinned at the obviously larger canine. "But I can sure as hell beat your 215-pound ass."
"Wanna bet on that?" Wolf cracked his knuckles menacingly.
"Not yet," Fox replied. "Let's find your dad first. Then we'll settle this."
Grudgingly, Wolf agreed. "Fine. But don't forget, Fox...when this is all over, your ass is mine."
The two continued walking, silence settling over them once again. Wolf, like last time, grew bored of the silence quickly. He thought back to the battles. He remembered that when the black fox disappeared to finish him, Fox knew exactly where he was. How'd he know? He asked his thoughts out loud.
"It's something I'd do in a battle," Fox replied, "if I had that advantage. Sneak up when an enemy is most vulnerable."
Wolf nodded, and the two walked again in silence. Again, Wolf attempted to break it. "Why do you hate that nickname?"
"Why do you ask so many questions?"
"I dunno," Wolf responded. "Got an answer?"
Fox stared off into the distance, his gaze falling upward. "My dad called me that," he said quietly. "Ever since he died, I've never wanted anyone calling me that. Ever."
Wolf nodded, as though he understood. "Funny, Fox, that's why I hate Wolfie. Before he did drugs, the only one who called me that...was my dad."
Fox's eyes widened. "Your father!"
Wolf gave him a confused look. "Yeah, Fox, another word for dad is father."
"No!" Fox rolled his eyes. He pointed at something behind Wolf. "There's your father!"
Wolf turned to see the form of Blake O'Donnell grinning meticulously back at them. He stood on a raised hill, surrounded by about thirty red-faced thugs that the two faced before.
Wolf and Fox looked at each other. Fox noticed a blaze of fire in Wolf's lavender eyes. "Ready, Wolf?"
Wolf's eyes narrowed. "Let's finish this."
The two nodded, and ran towards the horde of enemies. As they charged, Wolf's mind raced. Memories of his father flashed through his mind. His own anger swirled around the images of his father. His thoughts spoke to him. I'm done with you, he thought. I'm done with all you've put me through. Finally, after all this time, I'll have my way.
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Sorry this one's short. It was supposed to have more, but I'm cutting out the fight scene and putting it in the next chapter. Typing's tough 'cuz I'm supposed to be asleep and nobody can hear me. Anyway, I'll try to update soon, maybe in a few days. TGIF tomorrow! Anyway, R/R if you have any thoughts...and that's about it. Later!