Disclaimer: I disclaim my fanfiction, although I'm not entirely sure what disclaim means.

Chapter 7: Regards

"Alright, let's get this over with. What are your plans, Fox?"

"Patience, Falco. You can't stalk a wolf empty-handed."

"Har har har. I'm laughing with mirth. Enough jokes. What do you got?"

Fox sighed. Falco wasn't the kind of guy who waits. He was the kind of guy who gets right down to business, without precautions.

"Incoming transmission from the Cornerian fleet."

"Thanks ROB. Put it on the monitor."

"Bill Grey speaking here. Permission to board the bridge."

"Granted," Fox said, "ROB, how many ships are boarding the Great Fox III?

"Two."

"Only two?" Falco exclaimed, "You must be short-circuiting, tin can!"

"Negative. My systems say that two ships are boarding."

Fox didn't seem surprised. General Peppy knew Fox was able to command a good small-sized force better than a whole fleet of ships.

Bill walked into the mission control room with a rather short companion by his side. "Bill Grey at your service!" he saluted.

The second pilot did likewise, "Dash Bowman reporting, sir!"

Fox grimaced. Bill, he knew. The kid, no. But Dash's face rang a bell. It looked familiar.

"Alright Dash, if you want to be under my command, you have to follow my every order. Got it?"

"Understood, sir!

Fox was already beginning to like the kid. "What is your ship equipped with?"

"Twin lasers and a newly equipped multi-lock, sir!" Dash shouted.

Fox nodded. Locking lasers were good for this kind of battle. "Okay. Bill, what do you got?"

While Fox continued to talk to their new comrades, Falco went over to the main computer to try and find Star Wolf's location.

"Do you need assistance?" ROB asked.

"Shut up, bucket-head. I can do this myself."

As Falco continued scanning Aquas for life-forms, he became aware of something he hadn't noticed before. "Uh, Fox? You might want to come see this."

Fox stopped talking and went over to Falco, "What's up?"

"Well, as you know, there's hardly any land on Aquas."

Fox nodded his head, "Right, it's an ocean planet."

"Well the only land on Aquas happens to be surrounded by enormous mountains," Falco continued, "and that's the spot where Star Wolf chose to camp."

Fox swore. This would mean that the battle would be too risky to fight in ships unless Star Wolf flew out of their disclosed location. Instead of a dogfight in the air, it would be a shootout on the land.

"Alright, change of plans. Who here has a hand-blaster?" Fox looked around. Falco and he did, of course. Bill shook his head sadly, but Dash immediately looked like he wanted to say something.

"You don't need permission to speak Dash, just say it."

Dash smiled, "I don't have a blaster, but I do have this!" He pulled out a short metal stick out of his belt. At once it expanded to a full sized staff, adjusting perfectly to Dash's height. At both ends of the staff were a pair of glowing red gems.

Fox gasped. It looked just like. . . .

"Hold on!" Fox rushed up to what used to be Krystal's bedroom in the upper part of the Great Fox III. He began searching the room until he finally found what he was looking for.

As soon as he reached the control room Fox pulled out Krystal's last possession that was still on the ship - a staff exactly identical to Dash's. It began to expand to Fox's height. The only difference between the two weapons (besides the different lengths) was that Krystal's had glowing purple gems at the ends.

"They're the same," Fox said, "How did you get yours, Dash?"

"I received it from my grandfather, Andross. That was before you killed him, of course."

Fox and Falco were stunned into silence. After a moment, Falco broke the hushed scene, "The kid's joking, right?" he then turned to Dash, "You're kidding, right?"

Bill spoke up, "He is not joking Falco, but don't be alarmed. We, the Cornerian fleet, have found him trustworthy."

Fox didn't let his guard down, "Dash, if you're not lying, this means I killed your grandfather."

"It's alright sir, I know he was a bad man. I won't vow revenge or anything."

"Right," Fox said slowly, "Do you know how your grandfather got his staff?"

Dash shook his head, "I inherited it. I was barely old enough to know what's going on when he gave it to me. He told me to never lose it, and to make sure I found its secrets within."

Secrets? Fox wondered, Could he mean the magical capabilities of the staff?

"And have you found any of these. . . er, secrets?"

Dash shook his head yet again, "No, but I can fight with it pretty well!"

Fox's mind raced. He tried to think of a plan that would work with the current circumstances.

"Ok, I have an idea. Falco, Dash and me will go down to the surface and arrest Star Wolf. Bill, since he doesn't have a weapon, will wait up here. If Star Wolf kills us or gets away, Bill will track them and bring more troops. Everyone understand?"

The plan seemed like a good idea to everybody (ROB included!). Dash, Fox and Falco began to prepare their ships to land on Aquas. Before they left, Fox pulled Dash aside.

"Loyalty or no loyalty, you're still the descendant of Andross," Fox growled, "So I'll be keeping a close eye on you. Don't try and pull anything."

Dash didn't react at first. "Yes, sir!" he said eventually.

Fox just sighed and went to his Arwing II.

"Prepare for launch."

The three ships then left the hanger to face the danger on Aquas below.

Author's note: I took the glowing red staff idea from Galadriadhar and his fanfiction: Return to Dinosaur Planet. Thanks Gala!

Keep the reviews going! New ideas are always welcome and they really help!