I love this story; I just hate how little free time I have to write it. I get maybe an hour after soccer before I'm either too tired or my head hurts too much. Then I have the weekends, which is when my chapters are usually getting done since I have a good deal of free time then. Well, let me not bore you, here's the next chapter of On the Rocks…

Hmmmm…. Seems I got a retarded flamer again. Here's something to clear it up "Lupe", this isn't a fic with Krystal on Star Wolf, this isn't a fic that's Krystal x Panther. This fic is simply based off one of the endings in Command, the game you mention in your flame review that has nothing to do with my story. I support Fox x Krystal, I support Krystal being on Star Fox, and if you took time to read more than the first sentence you'd know what was happening. Get the hell away from my fanfic; I don't take kindly to flamers. Farewell and go !*# yourself.

P.S. I found via Google that you suggested this on 4-chan, and no one liked the idea, so S T F U.

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The feline known as Panther Caruso was hovering in his wolfen about 100 yards from the surface of Zoness, twirling the card he had received but 15 minutes about in his hand.

Mental conflicts, not even slightly helped by the stabbing throbs in his shoulder, waged war in his mind… his choices were as so, decline the offer and live miserably, or take risks and either dies a warrior or live in happiness.

In those very words though, Panther came up with a choice quickly. What were a few risks to him? He needed the money.

His claws sliced the air as he slowly dragged his hand to the comm. link button on his ship… then his claw fell, the numbers that could be entered floated on the screen, 1-9 and 0.

He took a glance at the card for the first time, and then let his paw rest. Was he 100% sure, would he be willing to die without knowing the 'what if' with Krystal?

Betrayal, like times before, betrayal, his body moved on its own accord, claws gliding over the numbers putting in, and opening, the comm. link.

The silent first buzz, the emotion washing over him represented him being anxious, buzz two, nervousness, buzz 3, fear… and on buzz 4 it was replaced by an ominous silence.

The silence stayed as was for a minute before the pent up breath of Panther vented out, his hoarse breathing loud enough to be heard by the person on the other end.

"Hello?" came the voice of the raccoon he had gotten the card from. Panther dared not move a muscle fear still coming at him in waves, holding his voice down.

"Hello?" came the voice once more. Panther took a gulp of air and vented one single word, "Hey…"

"Who is this?"

"The panther you gave a business card to."

"Ahhhh, so have you made a decision?"

"Yes… yes I have…"

"Then what is that decision, I mean, I wouldn't want to just guess and give you too much 'information'," Panther swore he could hear the raccoon making the sarcastic motions from where he sat.

"I… I… I decided…. I decided to represent you."

The canopy of his ship was replaced with the image of the raccoon, just now allowing video chat.

Then he planted a paper to the camera, an address visible to him. The exact things the card said were, 'GO TO THIS ADDRESS: 169 SHADE BOULEVARD.'

The feline stored it into his memory, only wondering why the raccoon wrote in all capital letters…

Then the whole paper turned black, turning the letters invisible. It fell to the ground, disappearing into a wisp of smoke as the raccoon's smiling face reappeared.

"Nice," breathed the feline.

"Well see ya," responded the raccoon.

"Soon," replied Panther with a light chortle, as the comm. link blanked out, the canopy becoming translucent once more.

He keyed in the address just given to him. The globe representing Zoness appeared on his canopy. It spun quickly before it stopped, a yellow dot blinking and visible. Then a line traced it self to the little red wolfen a little bit away from the dot.

Once the line connected to the wolfen in the diagram, the image disappeared, Auto Pilot appearing on the screen. The boosters started on their own accord and shot to the location.

He glanced down to locate the pack of beer he had won, and grabbed one. He wanted his buzz back so badly. Fear can't be allowed.

He lifted one of the dark brown bottles of liquor, popping the cap off effortlessly and instantly taking a long sip of the bitter liquid.

The buzz he had before had returned, once again putting his emotions to the back of his mind.

He gently drummed his fingers on his pant leg; he had a good 10 minutes before he'd land.

The preposition was timed perfectly. He was given an opportunity to get money, to have something to fall on now that he left Star Wolf. He didn't have far to fall though…

With a million credits he could do so much more than he could imagine. The buzz wasn't perfect, and it let in one image… Krystal.

An explosion of rage at the thought of her, an explosion of rage at the image of a former lover, did he hate her?

"DAMN IT!" he screamed, his rage sending the bottle of beer into the canopy, the bottle losing and shattering. Liquor and shards of glass erupted in the ship.

Grazes and cuts adorned him. His blood flowed freely as the glass clattered to as far down as it could get.

Just then, his ship decided to land on the roof of the address. The canopy shot open, the wolfen ejected him into the air. Panther landed awkwardly on his feet.

He was forever scarred by the memory of her; he was forever scarred physically and mentally. "It's her fault… It's her god damn fault!"

He flung himself off of the single story building, preparing himself for the landing with his tail and forepaw.

He landed, a surprised gasp escaping him as pain erupted from his shoulder. He lost his balance and fell to a knee.

As luck would have it, a cab pulled up and released the raccoon, "A sight for sore eyes Panther Caruso."

"You know my name now?"

"I've known your name all along."

Panther caught himself before saying anything more. He just let out an involuntary shudder as a surge of pain coursed his system.

"Want to go in Panther?" Panther glanced up to see the raccoon grasping something in his paw. Releasing it, slightly, a key ring was revealed and a key adorned it, falling and sliding up and down the metal wire.

"Anywhere except here Dante," he replied dragging himself to his feet.

"Come on, I'll treat the wounds. Wouldn't want my fighter covered in infected scabs on first day, next week."

'At least there's someone here that appears nice. I won't fend for my own this entire time,' thought the now smiling feline.

As they made their way indoors, Panther felt the first hint of… of happiness… true happiness… he had found a friend of sorts… someone to count on. It's been so long since he had a true one. Please let this one be so.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm a tad bit of a perfectionist and this is actually the third try on the chapter because I kept overdoing it. If this seems a little below par, I apologize, the combination of the flamer, lack of a good night's sleep, and doing this chapter multiple times kinda screwed me over. Well, anyways, thanks for reading. Criticism please, no flaming. .