StarFox Chosen SEED

Chapter 2

StarFox Assembled

It was an empty sight throughout the clear, not an obstacle of any kind to be faced. Not even the motion of a passing asteroid could be felt, nothing but the stars that looked in from all sides.

It had been one of those months, very few calls, little to no action. It was something that hadn't happened often, not that any could be found complaining. The time of day was lost to the mind, something which wasn't monitored unless there was a set schedule for that week. The deepness of how far they had fallen in their conscious was light, hearing the sound of a low beep a few feet away.

His ears perked at the sound of this, waking him from a sleep which had now been washed away. His eyes staggered open soon after, coming to find the sound had come from a small device which was set atop a dresser aside the bed. The adjustment of his eyes to the darkness of the room took seconds, clearly seeing what the device read upon the small screen.

"Emergency."

There was no time to spare in his mind, sliding out of bed with a lingering tiredness which still weighed heavily. This was quickly shed off as he made his way to the right side of the room, stopping after reaching a closet. First came the pants which were pulled into place, next a shirt, making sure it was tucked in. The boots and upper gear came after, grabbing hold of his gloves which were the last to be sized into place. The bathroom was passed on their way out, making sure to rinse the tooth brush once finished.

Walking out past the door took little energy being that it was automatic. He headed down the main hall, only the dim lights overhead providing for a clear path which he followed. It didn't take long for him to reach yet another door, taking all but one step for it to slide aside.

All lights were on, yet there was nothing to hear, nor anyone to be found. This was something he found to be odd. Before he had the chance to further access the situation the chair roughly five yards from across turned without warning, revealing one of his very own comrades who looked directly at him

"Hey Fox, didn't expect you to be up for at least another couple hours." An anthropomorphic falcon kindly greeted.

"Falco," Fox said lessening the distance between them with another step forward. "Are you the only one up at this time?"

"Can't answer that for sure," Falco replied with the lift of his left arm with an apparent weight in hand. "Slippy was in here no more than thirty minutes ago, haven't seen him since."

"Is he still onboard?"

"That I can answer, yes," Falco answered now lifting with his right arm with a second weight in grasp. "I would have heard if he had taken flight."

"Good."

"Mind me asking what's up?"

"An apparent emergency."

"An emergency," Falco questioned with the drop of both weights before standing to his feet. "Where?"

"I don't know, nor do I have any of the details," Fox replied. "It was General Pepper who sent out the alert."

"What did he say?"

"There was no message left, which I can only assume means he wishes for us to meet with him in person."

He took that time to patch into the device which was strapped to his wrist, pulling up a hologram map which sited their current location.

"Just as I thought," Falco said facing him once more. "If we could arrive at Corneria in no more than twenty minutes, what do you say we go and further access the situation?"

"I'm all for it but first we'll need to."

He was cut off in mid-sentence, turning at the sound of the door opening from behind.

"Slippy." Fox said not surprised to see him.

"I thought I heard voices." Slippy said in response.

It was then that they were also joined by Rob, who stepped up next to Slippy.

"It would appear Fox has wakened." Rob spoke.

"Where'd you run off to anyway for such a long period?" Falco asked directing his attention at Slippy.

"Looking over some stuff in the engine room."

"Is everything alright?" Fox asked with small concern.

"Nothing to worry about."

"Hey Fox," Falco said with the cross of his arms. "Think we had better fill him in on that emergency."

"That's right."

"An emergency," Slippy said looking from one to the other. "Is something wrong?"

"A signal from General Pepper," Fox informed. "It would appear he wants to meet with us in Corneria."

"Did he leave a message to say what for?"

"Unfortunately not," Fox replied. "Which gives me the vibe he'd rather discuss matters with us in person."

"I think we've done enough nitpicking around the closet," Falco said uncrossing his arms. "What do you say we go ahead and pay him a visit?"

"Sounds good to me." Fox agreed.

"Don't you think we should go and awake the others first?" Slippy asked.

"Let them rest," Fox replied. "In all likelihood this will just be a briefing, we can always go over the details with them later."

"I couldn't agree more." Falco said.

"Let's head to the parking dock," Fox instructed before shifting his focus. "Rob once we've taken off make sure everything is closed up."

"Affirmative, I'll see to it."

"Very well," Fox said with the nod of his head. "Let's head out guys."

There was nothing else that needed to be said on the matter. After shutting off all lights in the control room they raced down the dark halls, heading to where their battleships known as Arwings were to be found. They hopped into their respected vehicles once there, igniting their engines before finally strapping up.

"Is everyone ready?" Fox radioed.

"No setbacks here." Slippy replied.

"Let's get this show going."

With that said the three pilots took off, wandering into the darkness of space, ready to tackle yet another adventure. They flew for several minutes, picking up speed during the duration. They rarely talked on the way, unsure of what the emergency would bring. For all they knew a battle could have broken out, maybe even one in the current area of where they soared.

It was only a matter of time before they closed in on the planet, bracing themselves for the entry past the planets atmosphere which was to soon come. It was shaky for the first moments, but became sooth after dashing past the clouds.

"How's everyone functioning?"

"Couldn't be better." Falco replied as he slowed up in speed after slicing through a patch of clouds.

The others did the same as well, gradually decreasing in the speed that they moved at.

"There's a strong trail of wind ahead," Fox reported. "I thought the both of you would want to know."

"I'll keep that in mind," Slippy radioed. "Thanks Fox."

A rough wall of wind pushed against them as predicted, taking little time for them to pass through. He checked the map displayed on the arwing screen to find out where their current position was.

"Approximately ten minutes until we reach the Cornerian base." Falco said.

"Not long at all." Fox commented.

Things fell silent after that, all eyes on deck as they scoured the skies with the use of their eyes as they continued on. It soon became evident that there was no kind of battle was going on. The question then became what could the emergency be referring to? That was the same thought that had clawed its way into each of their minds.

They closed in on the base soon after, not taking long for them to receive a private transmission.

"You're flying in territorial skies," An unfamiliar voice spoke. "Identify yourselves."

"This is Fox of the Starfox team," Fox informed. "We've been called in by General Pepper to see to an emergency of some kind."

Several moments past as the three continued to descend to the grounds below.

"You may proceed." The same voice from before spoke.

They did just that, continuing to where the parking area could be seen from afar. After further decelerating in speed they finally touched down, one of the smoother landings the three had, had as a group. They all leaped out simultaneously, touching down to the ground just in time to see the general along with two soldiers at his side heading toward them from a large garage just across the way.

"So glad the three of you could make it."

"We try to assist whenever we can." Fox said as the three walked toward him as well.

They reached one another soon after.

"So what's the buzz behind this emergency?" Falco said being the first to speak.

"It might not be what you were expecting to hear upon arriving."

"We're all ears." Fox said.

"Very well," General Pepper began. "The disturbance that led to me calling you here today is an orange level emergency."

"Only an orange." Falco said voicing his displeasure.

"A disappearance to be exact."

"A disappearance?"

"We've lost several of our soldiers at a far corner of the Lylat System," General Pepper explained. "Commander Gurich and his unit were the last to go missing."

"Gurich… I believe I've heard that name before." Slippy said giving it some thought.

"I wouldn't be surprised," General Pepper said. "He was one of our best, he just recently got promoted to commander status three months ago."

"So what's the story behind these disappearances?" Fox asked

"That's just the thing.. we're not entirely sure."

"Not sure?"

"Here's the thing, the area of Lylat that I mentioned is a place where many have gone but have yet to return," General Pepper continued. "We haven't even received a response from any when trying to contact them."

"Do you believe they were attacked?"

"I can't not say."

"Sounds like something serious is going down," Falco commented. "You called in the right group, we'll have this whole thing sorted in no time."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves Falco," Fox warned before facing the general once more. "Is there anything else you can tell us about the situation that we should know?"

"I'm afraid not."

"What's the quickest route to this location?" Slippy asked.

"I'm glad that you asked." General Pepper said letting out a smile.

He raised his right hand, pointing to the left were two large standing poles could be found about fifty yards apart.

"What's that," Falco asked. "North-West?"

"Not what I was getting at," General Pepper said in response. "Those poles there are part of a new project we've been working on."

"What kind of project?" Fox asked more than interested to hear.

"Transportation," General Pepper replied. "We've been working on several methods now for these past few months."

"So what's so special about these poles you got here?" Falco asked.

"If you fly in between them you'll almost instantly be transported to wherever we have the field set to."

"Sounds like some high tech."

"I'd go into further detail but time isn't exactly on our side right now."

"So am I right in assuming that if we fly in between those poles it will take us to where all those soldiers disappeared?" Fox asked.

"Close," General Pepper replied. "You'll still have to fly for about an hour before reaching the exact location, but that beats flying for days wouldn't you say?"

"I can't argue that."

"Have these poles been tested before?" Slippy asked looking for a little reassurance.

"Yes, of course."

"Were they used by Gurich's unit who went looking for the others?" Falco asked.

"No, it wasn't up and running at the time," General Pepper replied. "They went searching the old fashioned way."

"I take it this transportation device is limited by distance, correct?" Fox asked.

"Keen as always young Mr. Mccloud."

"Is it currently functional?"

"You bet."

"Good," Fox said. "Is there anything else we need to know before taking flight?"

"I guess that means you've accepted the mission," General Pepper said pleased to hear. "And to answer your question, no, there is nothing further that you need to know."

"We'll report back as soon as we can," Fox said before turning back for his arwing. "Team, let's head out."

"Don't have to tell me twice." Falco said following in his footsteps.

"Fox," General Pepper said speaking one final time. "When you pass through just keep heading straight, no way you can miss it."

He didn't feel the need to verbally respond, simply nodding his head. The three returned to their arwings soon after, buckling in like they had before.

"Here goes nothing."

With that he shot forward with a burst of speed, power driving in between the poles as instructed. All fell completely for the first moments, almost as if he was trapped within an emptiness of time. Before he knew it things were clear once again, immediately checking the radar to see the two of them just barely trailing from behind.

"Are the two of you holding up ok back there?" Fox radioed.

"Never better." Slippy said being the first of the two to reply.

"I'm alive." Falco remarked.

"Remember what the general said, we head straight from here." Fox reminded.

Everything was pure focus from there on out, knowing now that they were entering the realm of the unknown. They flew for many minutes to come, each piling on as they neared the location they were told of. After nearly an hour of nothing but darkness gazing stars in the distance they finally came upon an obstacle.

"Asteroids up ahead, stay sharp team."

It was at times like these where they could be clearly distinguished by their movements, a dive into the inner minds of each. Slippy of the three took the most conservative approach, when in doubt, keeping his distance between any space rocks that came to sight. Fox on the other hand was one to try and keep a clear cut path, using sharp controlling to maneuver his way forward, not allowing anything to get in his way. This left Falco, speeding his way along with sight worthy and dangerous barrel rolls which helped to crease him along the way, always taking pleasure in the moment of it all.

It was at that given second that two large space rocks were to collide, he took this time to speed on through, finishing up with a spinning twirl which landed him in front of the other two.

"Show off." Slippy muttered upon seeing this.

Without warning several objects appeared on radar, no more than three hundred yards away.

"Here we are," Fox said. "I think the sites just ahead guys."

"Bout time." Falco said.

They moved as a unit from there on out, staying close as they approached what they were uncertain of. Tension rose, focus at its highest since their trip had begun. It was only moments before it all came into light, looking ahead to see the cemetery of floating battleships in the clear.

"What the heck happened here?!" Falco exclaimed.

"Only one way of finding out." Fox said picking up in speed.

The others did the same, keeping pace with him. They arrived into the thick of things in no time, coming to find the disturbing truth.

"There's no one in any of these ships," Slippy quickly pointed out. "Where could they have all gone to?"

"That's a really good question," Fox said. "Spread out, let's see if we can get some answers."

"Loud and clear Fox."

With that the three did just that, heading in separate directions to try and collect information for what could have conspired. He pulled up next to an empty ship roughly the size of his, looking it over with the best of his abilities from his position.

"Doesn't look like it has been breached," Fox thought. "If that is true then how could anyone have ejected from this ship?"

He took matters further, using his arwing to scan the ship across to hopefully gain some headway. Before anything could come of it he heard his voice crash through the mic.

"Hey guys," Falco radioed. "You might want to come and check this out."

"What is it Falco?" Fox asked.

"A body," Falco replied. "There's someone in this ship."

Could this be the answer they were hoping to find?

To Be Continued