Chapter 5: Side by Side
Hospital Room 301 07:30, 3 days later.
It's been nearly a week since Katt's rescue on Papetoon. With the exceptions of Fox's visits, Katt's week has been rather boring. Between eating her so called meals and watching the news, she figures sleeping would be a better use of her time. She couldn't wait to be released from this place.
It was seven-thirty in the morning. Katt ,who was still fast asleep, was woken up by what sounded like the door to her room. Annoyed and barely awake she glances over towards the overhead clock, and notices how early it still is.
"Who the hell could it be at this hour?" Katt thinks to herself, and hears the knocking again.
"Come in." Katt says while she yawns.
The door slowly opens and the visitor slowly walks in. Katt, still somewhat distracted by her sleepiness, pays little attention.
As Katt snaps herself to attention, her eyes widen in terror as she gets a closer look at her visitor. Standing merely six feet in front of her is a familiar red eye, black cloaked assassin. In her right hand she wields a silenced 9mm pistol aimed directly at Katt's head. Katt, frozen in terror, knows she's helpless.
"Say goodnight." the assassin sadistically says and squeezes the trigger...
Katt jumps up and nearly screams. Her heart was racing, and she was practically hyperventilating. She then looks forward and towards the door. Besides her, the room was empty. Realizing that it was just a dream, she puts her hand on her still somewhat sore wound and lets a out a sigh of relief.
"That was fucked up." Katt says to herself. After regaining her composer she looks over to the clock, which says 11:33am.
"Shit, I slept in late. At least I should be able to get out of here later." Katt says. Much to her surprise, she hears the door knock. Katt's heart rate began to rise again. Was it just coincidental or a bad omen, she wasn't sure. All she knew at this point was that this was too creepy for words.
"Come... in." she replies stumbling over her words. Katt watches closely as the door swings open. Seconds feel like hours as the visitor walks in. Much to Katt's relief, it was only her nurse.
"Good morning Ms. Monroe. I see your finally awake. I've been sent to tell you that you're being released, and that you have a ride waiting down stairs." the nurse says.
"Thank you." Katt says with little to no emotion, still slightly distraught. The nurse notices.
"Are you alright Ms. Monroe?" the nurse asks.
"I'm OK...just a little tired yet that's all. I just need some fresh air. I'll be ready in a few minutes." Katt replies.
"Do you require any assistance at all?" the nurse asks.
"No I'll be fine. I'll come get you when I'm done." Katt replies. The nurse then nods and walks out of the room. After stretching herself out, Katt then proceeds to the small bathroom. When she gets inside she changes into set of Fox's cloths, that he dropped off the day before for her. Needless to say they were a bit for her. Even when she tightened the belt as far as it would go.
"Before the days end. I'm buying myself some cloths. I'm not going more than twenty-four hours looking like this." Katt says to herself. After she finishes getting dressed she goes over to the sink and rinses her face off.
"I can't wait to take a shower. This will have to do for now." she says feeling kinda grimy. Eager to leave Katt grabs what few personnel items she had with and walks out of her room and signals the nurse. The nurse walks up to Katt pushing an empty wheelchair.
"I'd really much rather walk." Katt says.
"Are you sure ma'am? Technically all patients that are being out-processed are supposed to be in a chair." the nurse replies.
"Yeah I'd really rather walk. I've been sitting on my ass for almost a week. I need to stretch my legs out. Besides it was my chest that was wounded . I'm quite able to walk." Katt bluntly says.
"If you insist." the nurse replies and the two begin to head down stairs to the lobby. As Katt and the nurse proceed down towards the lobby, the nurse fills Katt in on all the insurance information. Katt was rather relieved and surprised to find out that Federation High Command covered all of her expenses. When she gets downstairs the receptionist hands Katt her out-processing papers. As she fills out the papers she wonders where Fox is.
"Where the hell is he? He's suppose to be here." Katt thinks herself. Once she finishes the papers she sets the pen down on the desk and begins to walk towards the door and sees the backside of a familiar vulpine outside through the window. She then smiles. "There he is." She then walks out the door and greets her old friend.
"Hey you, I've been looking for you. You going to get me out of here or what?" Katt says sarcastically, but with a snarky grin on her face.
"I see your sense of humor wasn't wounded at all." Fox humorously snaps back and lights up a cigarette. But before he could take a drag from it Katt swipes it from him. Slightly irritated Fox just shakes his head.
"That shit will kill you." Katt says as she begins to smoke it. Fox couldn't help but laugh at her hypocritical bit.
"Look who's talking." Fox replies as he grabs himself another.
"Oh this feels good, I haven't had a cig since I got captured. What brand are these anyways?" Katt asks as she enjoys her smoke.
"Fichina Blues." Fox replies.
"They're not bad. But still what hell are still standing here for? Let's blow this joint." Katt impatiently says.
"All right lets go. Your the most impatient person I know. By the way I'm parked on far end." Fox replies and begins walking towards the parking lot.
"What no limo?" Katt sarcastically says.
"Your pushing it. I could just leave your here you know." Fox says with a snarky grin on his face. Katt then puts her right arm around his back and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"You wouldn't do that to your favorite friend would you? Especially after poor little me got hurt." Katt sucks up in jokingly manner with a whinny childish voice. Normally in most cases Fox was extremely composed and stoic, often showing little to no emotion at all. For his line of work obviously it was necessary. But only for a handful select of people he would set his professionalism aside, Katt being one of them. This friendly trade of sarcasm and argument between the two of them dates back when they first became friends in the academy.
"Don't tempt me." Fox says shaking his head trying to keep a straight face. Katt then begins to laugh and removes her arms. Her laughter became short lived as the pain in her chest began to build up. Fox was able to tell that it must have hurt pretty damn bad.
"You OK?" Fox asks out of concern.
"I'm fine, I just have to try my hardest not to laugh much for a awhile. So where are we going?" Katt asks.
"Federation High Command, we have a briefing to attend to." Fox replies.
"I'm guessing they want to hear more about our little shoot out." Katt says.
"Yep, apparently they were able to decrypt some of the files." Fox says in a slightly eager tone.
"That was fast. I can't imagine that they decrypted all of it." Katt replies rather surprised.
"I wouldn't think so. Even the best decryption experts and systems would take weeks if not months to crack those files." Fox says.
"Must have been something worth while if they're calling us in all the sudden." Katt replies.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see." Fox says. The two continue to walk and converse the rest of the way towards Fox's vehicle. When they reach it, Katt's eyes sparkle with glee when she sees his motorcycle.
"Nice bike, is this a Nova Runner MK-IX?" Katt says as she gawks at the highly elegant blue sport bike.
"Yeah I got it last year after a small job on Zoness." Fox replies.
"This bike is sick. This model can put out like twenty-five thousand RPMs without seizing. I'm guessing this has the extra fuel injectors. The type of engine is a titanium/tungsten high performance hydrogen racing engine. I bet those racing tires weren't cheap either." Katt analytically says. Fox was rather impressed. He didn't even know all of that.
"That's pretty impressive. You know more about bikes than I do." Fox admits.
"Pfft I've been riding motorcycles long before I had my drivers license." Katt boasts.
"Yeah like that day during our freshman year at the academy. You got like three tickets. And if I remember correctly one was for not having a license obviously. The second was for speeding and the last one was for cussing out the MP. Then you spent the rest of the day in the brig." Fox comments chuckling slightly.
"That was a good day." Katt replies with smile of nostalgia."So can I drive?" Katt asks.
"What, no. You just got out of the damn hospital." Fox replies.
"Please, I won't break it." Katt says in a girly childish voice while pouting. Fox just sighs and shakes his head.
"Fine, just don't get us killed." he says and tosses her his keys.
"Score." She replies out of excitement. Katt then starts up the bike and revs the powerful engine a few times. "This thing's a beast. So shall we?"
"Let's jet." Fox says and positions himself on the backseat of the bike. When Katt was able to tell that he was on board she guns the throttle, squelching the rear tire, and speeds out of the parking lot.
The drive to the Federation High Command HQ took roughly thirty minutes. During the course of the drive Fox was amazed at the fact that they didn't get pulled over by CDF troops. Along most of the highways Katt kept a steady speed of nearly 180km per hour. As they pull up to the front gate to the massive army base, they are stopped by two Cornerian Army MP's. The two MP's both wielding blaster SMGs, stroll towards the sport bike to check out their visitors.
"This is a secured area. I need to see some identification." the one MP states. Fox reaches into his left pant pocket and pulls out his military ID.
"McCloud Fox J, service number M6751." Fox says as he hand his ID card to the MP.
"And the lady." the MP replies.
"Kathryn A. Monroe sir." she says as quickly whips out her ID. The MP takes and looks it over quick.
"Captain you are cleared to proceed, but your friend here is not." the MP comments. This brings a bit of annoyance to the two.
"Look corporal, Ms. Monroe was specifically called to this briefing at the HQ, which is in about fifteen minutes, by the general himself. I'm sure you wouldn't want the post commander to be waiting now would you?" Fox advises in a tone that was mild yet rather convincing.
"I see sir, um let me radio ahead. Just a moment please." the MP says and takes a few steps back while pulling out his hand held radio."HQ this is Charlie 2, I have a Captain Fox McCloud and Kathryn Monroe here at the main gate requesting permission to enter. McCloud has the proper clearance but Ms. Monroe doesn't. What shall we do about her over?"
"Let her in. She was suppose to be on the clearance roster. Those two are major V.I.P contractors, DO NOT HASSLE THEM. Now direct them to the Operations Center."the unidentified voice replies in a rather annoyed tone.
"Yes sir, Charlie 2 out." the MP acknowledges and walks back towards Fox and Katt. "You are cleared to enter Ms. Monroe; you have been instructed to proceed to the Operations Center. Do you need directions at all?"
"No we'll be fine, thank you. Let's go Katt." Fox replies. The two then for a few moments as the MP opens the gate. Once the gate opens up Katt drives through and proceeds inside.
The base itself is massive. Almost like a small city. One wouldn't be able to tell until they actually got inside the gate. As Katt and Fox continue driving they pass several military logistics trucks. Once they reached Operations Center Fox looks up and sees a flight of Cornerian Saber class Hvy Interceptors fly overhead. The sight of formation flying always makes him grin. He honestly wished he had more jobs that involved flying. Still in his gaze Fox didn't even realize that they had stopped. Katt decided to snap him back to reality.
"Yo Fox, you alive there." Katt obnoxiously says while poking him in the side of the face.
"Oh yeah sorry. We should get inside." Fox replies.
"Duh." Katt responds.
"Smart ass." Fox comments.
"Oh you wouldn't have any other way." Katt sarcastically shoots back, always having to get the last words in. Fox just rolls his eyes and continued inside.
Inside Gen Hare's office 13:15 ten minutes later.
Within his highly decorated office the old general patiently awaits his two guests. Since the start of the insurgency, the hare has been more or less stressed. Between political pressure from the council and lack of popular support for military action, the general feels practically powerless to contain this threat. Trying to relax, lets out a sigh of relief as looks toward to couple of old photos on his desk. One of the photos has his family on it back when Vivian was still alive. Another was one that shows the original Star Fox team on it. The last one is a photo of Fox and his friends in their Academy dress uniforms about a month before their graduation and before James was killed.
"It's just not simple anymore." Peppy thinks to himself. As he continues to reminisce he is interrupted by his secretary, a white wolf CAF senior airmen.
"Sir the contractors have arrived and are awaiting outside the door."
"Thank you Janet; send them in." Peppy replies.
"Yes sir." she says and walks out of the room. As his guest walk in he grins and walks up to them giving them a friendly embrace.
"It's good to finally see you two in person. I think the last time I saw either of you was during the blitz." Peppy gladly greets his long time friends.
"It's good to see you to sir." Fox replies
"Same as well general." Katt says.
"No need for the formalities. Please sit down, we have much to discuss. It's unfortunate that this reunion is for such dire circumstances. By the way how are feeling Katt? Your injury sounded rather serious, but at least your looking better." Peppy says as he takes his seat.
"Pretty good, but still a bit sore. And thanks for covering the expenses." Katt replies.
"It's no problem. If anything I should be thanking you. That data you recovered will go along way in ending this conflict." Peppy says with gratitude.
"Lets just hope we can act on this before the crisis worsens." Fox comments.
"Agreed." Peppy replies.
"So what do you find anyways?" Katt asks.
"Not a whole lot yet. Fortunately we did manage to get a few names and locations that could give us a head start." Peppy says.
"So who and where then?" Fox asks.
"Does the name Vertan ring a bell at all?" Peppy says.
"Yes if your talking about Colonel Alexander Vertan, renegade special forces officer, than yes. He severed as General Sage's XO during the war, before he disappeared that is." Fox replies.
"That's correct, during the war he and Sage were rather close. Although it's safe to assume that Vertan's still working for Sage, we don't have any confirmation yet. If he is than things have just gotten a lot more complicated." Peppy says.
"For sure. What was Vertan up to anyways?" Katt asks.
"From what we were able to decipher the data fragments mention something about a weapons trafficking racket from the planet Usella, that Vertan signed for." Peppy replies.
"Usella, that's two parsecs away." Fox says somewhat surprised.
"Indeed, the Crimson Blade's influence is spreading like a wildfire." Peppy replies.
"Did the data mention anything about where on Usella their staging at or about any other operations their conducting?" Fox asks.
"Negative, all we know is of the arms deals. It's not much but it's concrete intel. You should be able to use that as a starting point at least." Peppy replies.
"I guess I can't argue with that." Fox says.
"Isabella Ourumov." Katt says out of the blue. This catches Fox and Peppy's attention.
"What?" Fox asks.
"You mean who not what. Isabella Ourumov was one of my old smuggling contacts back about six years ago. She's runs several businesses on Usella." Katt replies.
"Interesting, would she help us? Plus is she trustworthy?" Peppy asks.
"Hard to say. Her loyalty is to money. She runs at least a dozen major businesses their, some legitimate others not so much. She knows about all the major imports and exports within the system. But her and her people aren't murderers, and she typically will try to stay clear of organizations like terrorist groups. But there again it's been years since I've dealt with her, it could be anyone's guess as to what she would do." Katt comments.
"This is very risky, but if you could convince her to help us, that might be our best shot at getting on the trail of our enemy." Peppy replies.
"Agreed, Usella will be my next target then." Fox says in consensus.
"You mean our next target. I'm coming with you. You can't do this alone." Katt protests.
"Your in no condition to be fighting." Fox comments.
"So what am I supposed to do then, sit on my ass while the assassin stabs me in my sleep?" Katt replies in a angered tone. Peppy decides to intervene.
"Although Fox is correct about your condition. But I'm afraid Katt's right." Peppy comments. Katt turns her head towards Fox and sticks out her tongue at him. Fox just shakes his head. " After uncovering this info this only proves that you'd be way in over head going by yourself. Plus Katt needs someone to keep an eye on her. Kursed will most defiantly be gunning for both of you. So in turn, I'm officially assigning Katt to your mission. You'll surely need another team member to pull this off."
Fox just lets out a sigh of annoyance."Alright fair enough. Now what else did you find in those files?"
"Not much else but that Kursed was mentioned a few times. For what and why has yet to be determined. But one is for sure is that she has very close ties with the Crimson Blade. That isn't good. She's a high priority target now. Like the other figure heads in their cell, you must find her and stop her." Peppy replies.
"Don't worry, when the time comes she'll find me, and I'll do whats necessary. Now whats the status of the other teams?" Fox asks.
"Well technically that's classified but the situation calls for it. Major Vance's commando team is on Sauria gathering intel on the Saurian Brotherhood. So far they've lost two of their team members. We lost contact with Falco's team over Venom about a week ago. We have no information regarding what happened. Miyu and Fara are on Von-Tressur, chasing an arms dealer they think is might be supplying the different factions. Last I heard, their alright at least." Peppy reports.
"Send them my contact information next time they give you an update." Fox says.
"Sure thing Fox. That's all I have for you for now. Be sure to give me a regular report. I'll contact you when find more information. Good luck you two; I fear you'll need." Peppy replies and shakes their hands. Fox and Katt then walk out of the room. As soon as they leave Peppy looks back down to his pictures.
"Were all counting on you two. You're the only one's that can stop them. Just don't die in the process."
Outside the Operations Center five minutes later.
Their time walking after the briefing was rather quiet. Fox wasn't exactly thrilled having Katt assigned to the mission. Although he wasn't mad, she is his friend after all, but still the thought of putting a friend who was also wounded into the front lines, didn't exactly settle well with him. However deep down he knows that he needs her for this.
"Maybe I can convince her to withdraw from the mission...Aww who am I kidding." Fox thinks to himself and then looks over towards Katt.
"Look Fox I know you want me to sit this one out. But I'm here whether you like it or not." Katt says in disappointed tone.
"It's not that I don't want your help or that I don't think you can handle it. Its the fact that I don't want to risk loosing any more of my friends." Fox replies.
"And you don't think I don't either Fox. Most of your friends are my friends to you know. Miyu and Fara are out there; and I won't sit idly while the Crimson Blade and that psychopathic bitch hunts them down or you for matter. Your not putting me at risk, I am. Trust me. We made a pretty good team back on Papetoon right." Katt says in a concerned tone. Fox then let out a small grin.
"Yeah we did make a good team back there. Alright I suppose I could use some help especially a mechanic. Plus talking to a robot gets kinda old after awhile." Fox replies.
"At-ta boy that the spirit. We can be a new Star Fox team, just you and me. Plus I still have keys to your bike so yeah." Katt says with dirty grin on her face she dangles his keys in front of him.
"I suppose that would complicate things for me. As Star Fox goes it's dead. Were just security contractors now, nothing more." Fox replies.
"Your no fun. Oh before we head into orbit I desperately need to get some cloths. I know what your thinking, It won't take that long." Katt says in a manner that she is rather excited.
"Alright fair enough." Fox replies.
"By the way I'm driving again." Katt says.
"Fine but I'm flying the gunship back." Fox groans as he climbs on the back of his bike. Katt then climbs up and starts it up.
"Lets roll."
Great Fox 17:25 shipboard time.
After the grueling shopping experience, which in Fox's opinion was a fate worse than death, Fox spent the next couple of hours acquainting Katt to the ship. Needless to say Katt was less than impressed with the ship's current condition. Once she got herself settled in, she and Fox decide to relax in the rec-room for awhile before departing for Usella.
"You know I think this is probably the nicest room on the ship, I like the old rustic look you have going in here. And I will say, you do have a sick sound system. I bet you could heard those beasts from space." Katt says comments as she looks around in the rustic rec-room/bar.
"I take great pride in those speakers. They weren't cheap either. I have them wired to the bridge, hanger, and in engineering. I like my music." Fox replies.
"Nice, now what's with the various weapons hanging on the walls?" Katt asks.
"Trophies from past missions. Like that shield in front of the crossing battle axes, I got those from a couple Sharpclaw I killed. That blaster rifle I picked up from a Sargasso Space Pirate, and that SMG right there is the one you picked up on Papetoon." Fox says.
"Cool, So when are we heading out then?" Katt asks.
"We'll leave in a few hours. I would like to get an engine diagnostic before we go. Usella is a good 24hr long trip. Although I'm sure the engines can take it, but just in case I want to check them out. Last thing we want is an overload or a burn out during warp." Fox replies.
"Yeah that would suck ass, oh by the way I still owe you a drink." Katt replies and walks behind bar which has a pretty decent selection of various types of alcohol.
"That you do." Fox says in a jokingly manner. Katt then grabs a pair of glasses and pours them each a glass of Scotch.
"Here you are Fox free of charge." Katt says sarcastically Fox just chuckles slightly and grabs his drink."Cheers to my good looks and your combat skills. Between those none of those Crimson Blade bastards will stop us. Right partner?" Katt then holds out her glass. Fox then grins and nods his head and extends his glass.
"Damn straight, partner."
Authors notes: Sorry it took so long. That was a long chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing.