Hi, everybody. In my opinion, the last chapter was a major disappointment, but I have some decent ideas for this one. I'm working off of the last chapter, hoping this one will be better. Two quick things:
1. Still no Starfox or Starwolf in this chapter, because it's tough to work them into the story right now. Let me know if you want me to make another one of those "extra" things, 'cuz I can probably talk about them there.
2. In case you were wondering, the song in the last chapter that Fox heard in his head was supposed to be "I Own You" by Shinedown. THEY ARE AMAZING, look them up on youtube or something!
Reviews, as always, are appreciated. Okay, let's do this!
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The pounding against the steel door grew more and more deafening with each passing second. Knowing they had barely any time left, Fox and Wolf mentally prepared themselves for battle. Both of the experienced fighters tried their best to calm their jittery nerves and clear their heads. Especially in hand-to-hand combat, letting emotions get in the way lead to failure. And when fighting for your life, failure was not an option.
Wolf took deep breaths, desperately trying to stuff as much oxygen as possible down his throat. His heavy breathing soothed him, emptying his thoughts. Just seconds before, he had almost lost it. The cruel mix of anxiety, exhaustion and pain building up inside him numbed his weak muscles, and he came dangerously close to losing consciousness. Right before he hit the ground, however, Fox caught him. A few comforting words from the vulpine, and Wolf found the energy to stand and attempt to gain control of his frazzled nerves.
Now, the oxygen seeping through him brought forth a new sense of serenity, along with the familiar yearning he felt just before a major fight. Combat was what he lived for. Every fight he got into, whether it was in a bar or an arena, he put his heart and soul into. No matter what, he gave his all.
Still, something was bothering him. He heard a whisper from the back of his skull. It was almost impossible to hear, and yet Wolf found he couldn't ignore it. It was a phrase, one he'd heard during his first head-on encounter with the feline adversary. For some undefinable reason, Wolf couldn't stop himself from listening. And, no matter how hard he tried, the whisper was still haunting him.
He knows your every move...He knows...
Wolf squeezed his eyelids shut, trying to force himself to block out the repetitive whisper. Unfortunately, there it still was, taunting him. But he refused to allow any sort of facial expression to acknowledge the fact he was battling with a voice in his head. He decided that once the heat of the upcoming fight took over his senses, he wouldn't hear it at all.
He opened his eyes quickly, accepting the quizzical look from Fox and returning with one of his own. "What?"
"You sure you're okay?" Fox asked. This was a big fight, and the last thing Fox wanted was for Wolf to collapse or something.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Wolf huffed. Their gazes were averted to the door, listening as the battered metal slowly gave way. After a few more thumps, the heavy, exhausted door finally collapsed to the ground, revealing the crazed tiger, arms spread and fangs bared, standing before them.
It wasn't difficult to see that X was angry. But anger didn't even begin to describe the expression on the cat's face. The artificial red light emitting from his left eye socket cut through the dim room, cutting through the chamber as menacingly as though it was made of plasma. His natural eye was ablaze with anger, rage...and insanity. His breaths were heavy, and even in the dim light his sharpened, metallic claws glowed.
As he spoke, his voice grew raspier, quieter, and even more malicious with every word. "A game. That's all this was. Ever since you arrived, you have not seen my true potential. I was playing with you two. And you...you think you've fooled me at my own game."
He let out a chuckle, and now his words grew more amplified. "But you're wrong. You don't realize that I am in control of this game. I can never lose, for this game is mine. Like a little girl, playing with a tea set. But unlike a little girl, I don't spill tea." He took a solid step forward, but Fox and Wolf held their ground. "I spill blood."
Wolf growled, and X's eye caught on him. His sights remained locked on the lupine, but he retraced his step. Wolf's eyes narrowed, and he growled louder. It was now his turn to move forward, and the cat took a nearly untraceable step back.
Wolf continued to inch closer to X, his previous thoughts flooding his mind. He was dizzy. He was exhausted. Every move he made caused his joints to cry out in agony. He had no weapons, no nourishment, and no team.
He suddenly found himself back on that night, a few days back. The night when he'd seen his father. The crazed, drugged murderer he had called a father. For so long, Wolf had been haunted by that childhood memory. The tree, the argument, the gunshot...it all replayed through his mind, so clearly he could have sworn it had happened yesterday.
As he grew older and farther away from his roots, Wolf had been desperate to get away from remembering, and had even convinced himself that he had gotten over it and moved on. And yet, with one look at his father, Wolf was unable to defend himself. Instead, he had cowered in fear as the reincarnation of his murderous father bore down upon him. He wondered if he would have shared the same fate as his mother, if Fox hadn't been there.
Ever since he crashed into this barren planet, Wolf was deprived of the few possessions he had. His only source of familiarity was his blood rival. He had no contact with his real life, and his real teammates. And, on top of all that, his one true nightmare – the one thing that scared him more than anything else - had returned.
And why was he put through this misery? Why was he forced together with his biggest nemesis, deprived of any means of communication or sustainable food, and given no choice but to fight for survival? He had to suffer because of this enemy, this adversary who stood before him. Wolf felt his primitive instincts kick in. The need for the hunt. For the kill. And for once, he allowed a small part of himself to succumb to these feelings. There would be no mercy for this cat.
Even though the logical part of his mind told him to get a hold of himself, his instinctive self was growing stronger and more forceful inside him. He was like a shark, smelling blood. There was no stopping himself once he grew into his current state. All logic vanished from his exhausted mind. He was now functioning solely on strength, adrenaline, and the need for the kill.
Through his furious and almost primitive trance, he heard a faint movement beside him. Without looking, he knew Fox had seen the lupine's eyes switch from confusion to hatred. Without shifting his look, Wolf spoke to Fox. "Let me do this."
Fox attempted to persuade him otherwise, but the stubborn wolf refused to listen. "Fox," he said gruffly. "He took everything from me. He brought my father back to me. Now, he needs to feel what I've been through. I need to take away his life. And I need to bring him hell."
Fox opened his mouth to protest, to say that he'd had everything taken away too, and that he was acting without thinking. But something ferocious in Wolf's eyes silenced him. Sighing, Fox looked on as Wolf proceeded forward. With every forward step Wolf took, the cat would mirror with a backwards step. When Wolf was near the doorway, Fox silently mirrored Wolf's footsteps.
Suddenly, Wolf halted. Fox almost bumped into Wolf, but stopped himself when he realized he'd break Wolf's trance. Something told the vulpine that Wolf might turn around and snap his neck if he did anything close to touch him.
Noticing that Wolf stopped advancing, X stood still as well. "What's the matter? Gonna come and get me?"
Wolf snarled, then sprinted forward. Grinning, the cat ran forward as well. Wolf pulled his right arm back, balling his hand into his fist. Just before the two collided, however, the tiger stopped suddenly. Unable to keep himself immobile, Wolf swung his right paw forward. Shock crossed his face as the tiger grasped onto Wolf's fist, holding him back. As an attempt to free himself, Wolf lashed out with his left, only to find it caught in X's other paw.
X pushed Wolf, trying to alter his balance. However, Wolf stood steady, and slowly gained enough strength to push back. Now, the two were at a standoff, shaking, one pushing into the other.
The tiger laughed softly, then spoke. His words came out rocky, and he stuttered. It was difficult for him to manage speaking while holding off practically all of Wolf's brute force. "C'mon. Y-you have more than th-this in ya, right, Wolfie?"
Suddenly, Wolf stopped shaking. He felt a growl aroused from deep within his throat. As it grew closer and closer to escaping his mouth, it's volume steadily increased. By the time it was finally out of his windpipe, it was a full-out roar.
Using a strength Wolf never knew he possessed, he pushed X back. The cat was left stumbling for just a second, but that was all it took. Wolf spun, swinging his left foot into the cat's chest. Now, X was barely able to keep himself up. He left himself completely defenseless against Wolf's ferocious uppercut, which solidly connected with X's chin. X landed on his back, but quickly sprung to his feet.
Crouched on the ground, X tried to trip Wolf's feet out from underneath him, but Wolf easily jumped over the feline. X rose quickly, but before he had a chance to turn around Wolf forcefully shoved his elbow into the direct center of the cat's back.
X's eyes bulged as he sunk to his knees. He felt as though his back had snapped in half. As he was on the ground, he felt a sharp pain in his ribs, courtesy of Wolf's boot colliding with X's side. As excruciating pain seared through him, he allowed himself to be dragged to his feet like a rag doll; Wolf holding him by the scruff of his neck. As X swayed, trying subconsciously to keep his balance, Wolf took a few steps back, then thrust his side against the tiger's exposed stomach. The force of the impact sent the cat flying across the room. The rush of air around him filled X's lungs as he was flung through the air, actually allowing him to breathe. He landed on his back, sliding a meter or two, then rolled over and struggled to his feet.
X was facing away from Wolf, still bent over a little. From the other side of the room, Fox clearly heard his ragged breaths. Grinning slightly, Wolf slowly approached X. The cat still hadn't turned around. Wolf brought his right arm above the feline's back, ready to strike. But, as he readied himself for the possibly fatal blow, the small voice hissed in his head.
He knows your every move...
Wolf shook his head violently, shaking the mind from his thoughts. He quickly brought his elbow down, but before it could make contact with X's back, the feline attacked. Wolf felt it before he saw it. In a flash, X had thrown his right arm back and latched his claws into Wolf's forearm. Wolf instinctively cried out in pain. Without moving his body, X turned his head slightly, almost facing Wolf. If not for his ears, Wolf would never have heard what X said.
"...Every move."
X balled his mechanical hand into a fist, pulled it back, and turned. He watched as his fist sailed into the lupine's muzzle. The force behind it was equal, at least, to Wolf's. The startled wolf stumbled backward, not expecting the fierce blow. Now it was the tiger who grinned. He kicked Wolf, hard, in the gut, causing Wolf to lean forward and gulp in much-needed air. Slipping behind Wolf, X caught his neck in the crook of his elbow, preventing the lupine from moving. With his free paw, X pinched the tip of Wolf's left ear with his claws.
The cry of agony and pain erupting from Wolf's throat was louder than Fox even thought possible. All the years he'd fought Wolf, and he had never discovered a true weak point. Of all places...his ear? As the consciousness faded from Wolf's eyes, Fox's own widened. He watched helplessly as the struggling Wolf finally sunk to the dark ground.
Slowly, X turned around to face Fox. He had a crazed grin on his face and a glint of pure madness in his eye. Fox clenched his fists; he was face to face with a true psychopath.
"Heh, that was just too easy." As he spoke, X slowly padded towards Fox. Each step he took caused Fox to tense up a little tighter. "You would think I deserve a challenge from the two best fighters in the system, after all the shit I put you through."
Fox's gaze darted to Wolf's limp body, then shot back to X. His eyes narrowed. "You know it all, don't you? You know everything about us."
X threw his head back, laughing manically. "Of course I do! It's the goal of any scientist to know every single detail about their materials for experimentation!"
Fox's eyebrows furrowed, and his expression was parts anger, confusion, and mild disgust. "Experimentation?"
X nodded. "Yes, experimentation. I am a scientist, after all. Of course, the type of experiments I conduct may seem a bit...unusual. But it is science all the same. I've always had a goal, just as Andross did. To form a highly skilled, modified army, and take over the Lylat System."
"You wanted an army," Fox echoed. "And of course, the only way you decide to get one is by bribing, blackmailing, and altogether destroying the people of some defenseless planet, then forcing the remaining citizens to join your army. Which is exactly what Andross did years ago."
"Don't ever say me and Andross did anything similar," X spat. "That failure did nothing but waste an entire horde of followers. My army will be much more modified, much more skilled, and much more successful than that ape could ever hope to have been."
"So you are setting out to do what Andross never could." Fox stated it as though he almost agreed. "But what does that have to do with me? And Wolf? Why did you want us here?"
"I knew there would be some who stood in my way. One by one, my foes mysteriously...disappeared. I brought their bodies back here, determined to create the ultimate fighter and soldier. The minions you encountered – the ones who changed their form – were once two of my biggest threats. I may have gone a bit too far conducing experiments on their bodies, because the shape shifting ability was an accident. A helpful one at that, but I could never repeat it. Those two were in great physical condition, and none of my other...samples...had the strength to stand up to the more challenging experiments."
He pointed at Wolf, but his eye never altered from Fox's face. "That is why I specifically need you and O'Donnell, among other reasons. You two are in top physical condition; you can take any of my experiments. So, I formulated a plan to get you here, and take you down. But I knew you were the best, better than anyone else ever was. And any fighter worthy of their title knows that the only way to take down the best is by giving the best to them. I spent days, weeks, months even, trying to find every single detail about you two. Your skills, your training, your past...your weaknesses. Your fears."
Fox clenched his fists. "What kind of sources did you have?"
"Wolf was easy. The Cornerian military must really hate him, 'cuz there was a bio of him up on their site. The have one for every enemy, along with their rank based on threat. Photos, past information, fighting strengths and weaknesses...very useful in the wrong hands. O'Donnell got a 9.5 out of 10, listed as 'murderous and merciless'."
Fox rolled his eyes slightly. Of course Wolf was marked that way. Just a few days ago, he was considered one of the biggest dangers in the Lylat System. Until the crazed scientist that stood before him showed up, that is.
"You, on the other hand, were very difficult. I hacked into the military system, and found a listing of all the soldiers in the army, navy, air force. But you aren't part of the military, so I looked for any sort of link to your name. Anywhere I looked, it was the same useless information. Posted by the fans; nothing solid. Every file I read about you I could have found in some magazine. I discovered a little bit about your background, but nothing really helpful.
"But, as I told Wolf, I've been watching you. I had secret cameras set up all over this planet. As you've made progress, I've been seeing you fight. I know your tactics, your skills, your strengths in a fight. But still, no weaknesses. I sent the reincarnation of Andross after you, as a guess. But as I suspected, you weren't afraid. However, my experiment finally found your true fear, deep inside you. Failure."
Fox glared at the feline. The frigidness of his cold eyes could have made water turn to ice. His eyes narrowed, as though he were daring the cat to keep talking, or stay alive. The freezing look Fox received from X was equally as harsh. He obviously didn't care too much about Fox's silent threat. Fox crossed his arms, and the talkative foe continued.
"Still, even though I have your history, combat technique, and fear figured out...I need a weakness. That's why you are still standing. I want you to feel suffering in the worst way possible." A sadistic grin crept onto the cat's face.
Fox felt his hackles rising. A deep force within him surged through his veins. He'd never let this way before, but something told him he had to kill X. And not quickly, either. He needed to make it slow, painful...brutally painful. X needed a reminder who exactly he was dealing with. He needed to be the last thing the cat saw, as he took his final breath...
Fox blinked. He knew of this emotion inside him. It was a feeling of hate, of pure, blind rage. It was basically as though his primitive instincts were taking over his body and mind. And he despised it.
He thought back to Wolf, and the blazing fury he'd seen swirling in his lavender eyes. He recognized the growling, snarling, roaring...he must have been feeling the same way. The murderous emotion, deprived from a distant soul from generations ago, had to explain the fire that was in Wolf's eyes before he charged at X. And now, Wolf was collapsed in a pathetic heap on the cold ground.
This emotion was one Fox was familiar with, this primitive need to kill. And he tried to avoid it at all costs. When he let himself gain too much emotion, he left himself open. It was like a firefighter throwing his hose down and charging into a blazing fire. Any successful combatant knew that the key to victory was staying focused and shutting down their feelings.
X dimly caught the change of emotion in Fox's eyes. For just a second, X could have sworn a flash of red meld with the green in the vulpine's eyes, but before his vision could fully process in his mind it was gone, and he found himself facing the usual emotionless yet concealing expression in Fox's eyes.
X squinted, searching to see if he'd just imagine the redness in Fox's irises. Fox however, averted his gaze to the ground, making it impossible for X to look into his eyes. It was almost as though Fox had read his thoughts. Giving up, he sighed. "Got anything to say, McCloud? Or do you just wanna die in silence?"
Fox snapped his head up, a look of confidence and serenity showing on his face. X was slightly taken aback by the fox's calm disposition. "Let me get just one thing straight." Fox's tone was even, low; its commanding tone silenced the comment X was going to make. His arms still crossed, Fox narrowed his eyes, causing a cold spike to shoot up X's spine. "I won't die."
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Okay, that's it for this one. This chapter was supposed to be longer. But then I realized if I kept going it would just be an insanely long chapter. Well, it'd be long to me, anyways. Please review, the next one will be up soon! Later!