Chapter 5: Proving your mettle
"Fox, it's been so long" the leader smirked. "You haven't written, called, or even bothered to visit. Makes one think you don't care about little ol' me anymore."
"That's because you left my team years ago without so much as a goodbye" Fox growled. "You and your friend just up and left, taking two Arwings with you."
"Where she goes, I go Fox. You know she wouldn't be able to survive on her own. If I waited to tell you I was leaving, I would have lost her trail and she would have wound up dead" the leader frowned.
"A note or a call from when you found her would have sufficed" Fox said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So Fox, care to tell me how you two know each other?" Katt asked calmly, fire dancing in her eyes.
"Oh? A new member Fox?" the leader giggled. "And she's a cutie too, I knew the short time we dated would have affect on you."
"Dated?" Katt growled, her fists clenching.
"So Foxie boy didn't tell you?" The leader draped an arm around Fox who was starting to sweat bullets at the look in Katt's eyes.
"Katt, this is Miyu Lynx, she was a member of Star Fox once. And, she's my old girlfriend" Fox said, praying to every deity he knew for a chance of survival from Katt's soon too erupt wrath.
"Your old girlfriend?" Katt hissed.
"Yes, unfortunately it didn't work out between us" Miyu sighed, draping an arm over her face and sighing dramatically. "While we were attracted to each other, our differences were too great. Oh, with parting comes sweet sorrow."
"Um, does this mean we can hide out here?" Tyson asked.
Miyu snapped her eyes to the human and got off Fox. Striding over, she looked him dead in the eye with Tyson staring right back. She was just an inch shorter than he was with brown fur that had black spots dotting all over.
"So you're the one who has caused all the trouble, hm?" Miyu muttered. "You don't look like much."
"Maybe not, but if I'm underestimated that just makes it all the easier to kill someone" Tyson retorted.
"Tough guy eh?" Miyu smirked. "Alright, you three can stay on one condition. Here on Sargasso one can stay as long as they are able to prove their worth. I already know all there is about those two" Miyu said pointing towards Fox and Katt "but I know next to nothing about you."
"So what?" Tyson snorted.
"So you're going to have to prove your mettle if you want to stay" Miyu grinned. "What can you do?"
"I was a soldier genetically enhanced to kill pirates" Tyson said with a feral grin. Some of the nearby pirates started shifting nervously at that.
"Not bad, but with no actual proof of that I'll need to test you" Miyu said as she pulled out a headset. "It's me. Yeah, send that new bounty hunter to Bloodpit. Thanks. Alright, follow me."
"Where are we going?" Fox asked.
"To the proving grounds pup, now move" Wolf said, prodding his back with a blaster.
After navigating through the large space station, Tyson found himself in a large circular pit with blood staining the ground. All around pirates sat jeering and placing bets on who would win.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen!" Miyu called out from an announcers box. "We've got ourselves quite the treat tonight! We have two newcomers waiting to prove themselves for our entertainment. From parts unknown and race unknown, we have our first challenger: Tyson Lowell!"
The pirates made a combination of cheering, jeering, and booing with a few throwing some food at him.
"Tough crowd" Tyson muttered, ducking a bag of popcorn.
"And his opponent. She's mean, she's tough, she's will tear your mind apart! You'll curse the day you faced her, it's Kursed!"
A vixen walked into the pit with a sensual style of grace. All the pirates started cheering, making catcalls, and other crude gestures. She ignored the calls though Tyson could see a very small smirk on her face.
"So you're my opponent? Don't look like much" Kursed commented.
"That seems to be the phrase of the day" Tyson muttered.
"Rules are simple. Why? Because there are no rules!" Miyu shouted. "One walks away and the other is fitted for a body bag. Are the contestants ready? No? Well too bad! Fight!"
"I'll try to make this quick" Tyson said as he charged Kursed.
"And I'll try to make this as painful as possible" Kursed replied dodging the first punch and swung her fist across his face, leaving some claw marks on his cheek.
"Not bad, but some kitten scratches aren't enough to put me down." Tyson took a boxing stance and started jabbing away, with Kursed easily dodging each punch. 'This isn't right, she's able to predict each one of my moves even before I make them. Either she has a great deal of training or she's telepathic' Tyson thought.
Kursed smirked at Tyson's frustration. "What's wrong? I thought you said you'd make this as quick as possible?"
"If you'd stand still, this would be over" Tyson grunted, jumping back.
"If you're not going to do anything, then I will!" Kursed said, charging Tyson. With two quick swings, she clawed through his shirt, leaving long gouges along his chest and a quick kick to the face broke his nose. "Had enough?" Kursed smirked.
"Not quite" Tyson grunted. He settled into a stance and attacked again. He tried a three punch combo followed by a knee to the stomach but was easily dodged by the smirking vixen.
"Stop trying to hit me and hit me" Kursed laughed.
"This is ridiculous" Tyson panted. "If this keeps up I'll be too tired to even stand up.
Tyson sighed as he grabbed his nose and bent it back into place. "That actually hurt. You can predict all I do, but lets see how well you can fight when even I won't know what I'll do."
Kursed frowned at what he said, not understanding. Tyson leapt out of the pit and into the crowd. Spying what he was looking for, he grabbed what he needed from several spectators much to their anger. Hoping back into the pit, Kursed saw he was holding several alcoholic beverages.
"Time for a history lesson with one of the most oldest fighting styles known to my kind" Tyson smirked before he started chugging each drink down. After going through the eighth one, his face was slightly red from the buzz he was feeling. "Drunken Fist" was the last coherent thing Tyson said before the alcohol took full affect.
"You're going to fight me drunk?" Kursed asked, trying to hold in her laughter but failing.
"W-what choo laughin at?" Tyson mumbled between hiccups and slurring his words. "Stoopid furry." He suddenly raced forward and swung both his arms down much to Kursed's surprise. She barely managed to jump out of the way as Tyson's arms cracked the ground she just occupied.
'How? I should've been able to read his mind and seen that coming!' Kursed thought frantically. Kursed tried prying into his mind but could only find jumbled images and thoughts, his mind being affected by the devil drink was currently blocking her attempts at reading his moves.
"Ware you goin? I not finish wit choo yet" Tyson slurred, charging forward and delivering a kick to Kursed's stomach that sent her flying back onto the ground.
The vixen laid on the ground, clutching her stomach. She saw a shadow above her and barely managed to roll out of the way of the drunken fighters stomp. If he had managed to hit her with that, she would've been crushed.
"Had 'nough?" Tyson asked before falling back onto the ground. All was quiet before snoring was heard.
Kursed cautiously approached her opponent to see him sleeping on the ground. She shrugged her shoulders and was about to kill him when an iron grip found itself around her throat.
"Tricked ya" Tyson grinned drunkenly.
Kursed desperately clawed at him to try and get him off, only succeeding in tearing off his shirt and leaving a few scratches that he didn't even notice. Finally, all circulation to her brain was cut off and she passed out.
"Night-night" Tyson mumbled, dropping the vixen to the floor.
"Not bad for a new guy" Miyu said eyeing the human. "Now finish her!"
"No."
Miyu paused, not sure of what she just heard. "What did you just say?"
"No, don't wanna" Tyson said, folding his arms.
"Obviously you didn't hear me in the beginning, you either kill her or be killed yourself. Two go in, one comes out."
"Make me" Tyson said.
"You heard him boys, sick him!" Miyu grinned savagely. She had liked him, he was certainly different and quite exotic for being an entirely different species. But the one unspoken rule of Sargasso was no one says no to her.
The pirates who had been sitting in the stands all grinned and started hopping into the arena, all wanting a piece of the drunken fighter. Unfortunately for them, Tyson's genetic enhancements were kicking in. While it was possible for Tyson to get drunk after so many drinks, the augmentations never lasted long. While he could fight well drunkenly, he was a artist of death when sober.
Tyson sighed as he grabbed a punch from a cougar and crushed the fist before tossing the offender over his shoulder. Blocking a kick from a eagle, he grabbed the avian by the leg and spun him around in a circle knocking away the pirates that tried surrounding him.
"Boring, you guys are no fun" Tyson said. "Now you can back off, or I start cutting things off." From the compartments in his arms the two flat tipped blades sprung out, making all the pirates freeze in place and slowly start backing away.
"You would go this far so you wouldn't have to kill someone that just tried to kill you?" Miyu asked, standing at the edge of the pit.
"I really don't like being forced into things" Tyson said, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, she was an interesting opponent that I would like to fight again. Not everyday you go against someone that can predict every single one of your moves."
"Very well, I will allow you both to live. To add icing to the cake, I'll even allow you to stay with Fox and Katt while you're here."
"How very . . . generous of you, especially after you ordered your men to kill me" Tyson deadpanned.
"I really am, aren't I? It's a hard life being so generous but it is a burden that I must bare for the good of my people" Miyu sighed.
"Just like when she was on the team" Fox said walking down the steps with Katt next to him.
"She is a strange one" Katt agreed. "But as long as she knows that you're off limits everything will be fine."
"From a psychotic girlfriend to a possessive one. I just can't win" Fox silently whimpered.
"It could be worse pup that's for sure" Wolf said standing next to him.
"If you're both done talking, I'd like to fit you for coffins now" Katt said smiling brightly with a dark aura of death floating around her.
"So how is this going to work for us?" Tyson asked as he climbed out of the pit.
"Well, I'll assign the three of you some rooms for your stay and after that will be up to you" Miyu said shrugging her shoulders. "Of course I'll ask you three from time to time to help me out with some missions in payment of staying here but that's about it."
"Great, we'll be able to figure out the murder of General Pepper and who is trying to frame us in the meantime" Fox said, sacrificing Wolf to Katt.
"Fine, whatever you want to do" Miyu said waving them off. "You're ship can stay in the hangar up on deck thirty two. I'll have one of my men show to your rooms. First though, some ground rules."
"One, any trouble will not be tolerated. You cause any problems on this station and you will be killed. Two, if the call to arms is sounded you will be expected to answer it. Cowardice and desertion will result in death. You can leave this station if you wish, I don't keep prisoners out of my own men. Three, all spoils are to be given to the Keeper. He will give you your share if you were a part of a raid. Have to make money to keep this station running somehow. Any questions?"
"Um yes, what about-" Tyson started.
"No? Good" Miyu said walking away. "Fay, get down here. I need you to show our new guests to their rooms. No I don't care if you want to study their ship or not just get down here!"
"Fay's here too?" Fox asked, surprised.
"Of course, I told you that I wouldn't leave her. She wouldn't make it on her own" Miyu said. "The only reason why we're here now is that the only way to keep her still is to have something for her too study. This station was large enough to keep her occupied for some time now. Once she's done, we'll probably move on to somewhere else."
Tyson raised an eyebrow. "You'd move on and leave all this, just for her?"
"Of course, we grew up together and have been with each other ever since" Miyu said shrugging her shoulders.
"That's one hell of a friendship" Fox commented.
"Or she's lesbian" Tyson said.
"You have three seconds to run before I kill you for that remark" Miyu said.
"Bugger" and with that Tyson was on the run, again.
"Get back here!" Miyu shouted.
"I guess we'll wait here for Fay then" Fox said, sighing.
About an hour later, a white furred spaniel walked in holding a data pad.
"If you'll follow me I'll show you to your room" the spaniel said, not even bothering too look up.
"Nice too see you too Fay" Fox laughed. "Still stuck in the machines just like Slippy."
Fay looked up in surprise. "Fox? Oh it is you Fox!" The dog swept Fox up in a hug of surprising strength, nearly breaking his back.
"Fay, back" Fox groaned but was ignored.
"I haven't seen you in forever! How are you? How's Slippy? Is he still mad that I beat him in that contest and left before he could try to get back at me?" Fay asked in rapid fire.
"I don't think he can answer your questions while your choking him" Katt said, holding her laughter back.
"Oh, sorry" Fay said, dropping the half dead fox.
"Air, I've never realized how precious you are" Fox gasped.
"Drama queen" Katt snorted.
Fay had the decency enough to look sheepish. "So you guys need to be shown to the rooms right?"
"Yeah, we had a third member with us but Miyu is currently trying to kill him" Fox said.
"Did he say no to her?" Fay asked.
"Earlier when he refused to kill Kursed" Katt answered.
"That'd do it" Fay sighed.
"Actually, he said that Miyu was lesbian" Katt said, snickering.
"I stand corrected then" Fay laughed. "I'm actually surprised she isn't lesbian by now."
"She's not?" Fox asked surprised.
"Despite what nearly everyone thinks, no she's not" Fay said.
"Then is she seeing anyone?" Fox asked.
Fay shook her head. "No, she's spends most of her time either worrying over me or running this station."
"Sounds pretty lonely" Katt said.
Fay merely shrugged her shoulders. "It's either me or she just hasn't found the guy yet that can put up with her. Now come on, let's get you too your rooms. Faster I do that, faster I can study that new ship."
Fox laughed. "Same old Fay Spaniel. Careful though, that's Tyson's ship. He has an A.I on that ship with orders to kill anyone who steps on board without his permission."
Fay perked up at that. "Oh? Where is he now?"
"Get back here damn it!"
"Screw you, you crazy bitch!"
Katt shook her head and sighed. "Currently still being chased by Miyu apparently."
"Alright, follow me."
The group walked into a nearby lift and Fay punched in a floor.
"So Fay, how have you been? I haven't seen you since you left Star Fox."
Fay smiled as she thought of the times she had back on his team. "Well, I am sorry for leaving but it felt like it was just time for me to go. After leaving, me and Miyu traveled for a while visiting Zoness, Titania, and an old base on Fichina. We did our parts during the wars serving as a mechanic and mercenary pilot, for Corneria of course. After the last war, we stumbled across the Sargasso station."
She sighed as she thought back to seeing the large station. "It was love at first sight, such a large technological wonder. I wanted to start studying it immediately but one doesn't just go into a base full of pirates, much less Sargasso station. Miyu found out that Wolf was the leader and challenged him for the station. Of course, she won. I still can't figure out how she did it. The rest is history as you can see."
"But how did Miyu beat Wolf" Fox asked. "I remember her being a good pilot but not good enough to take on Wolf alone and win."
"Only one person knows Fox, and that is Miyu Lynx."
The lift made a soft ding as it stopped. The doors opened and a blur rushed in before forcing the doors closed making the lift resume it's panted as he listened to the frustrated cries of Miyu from below. He had been lucky enough to pick up a small water canteen and hit the lift button while it was going up during his escape from the enraged lynx. Turning around, he grinned at the three occupants.
"So, what'd I miss?"
The only response was Fay squealing at the sight of his mechanical arms.
End of Chapter. Hm, I don't feel right about this chapter for some reason. Probably just me. Now I received quite a few guesses on who the leader was, some close but just falling short. Miyu and Fay were fun characters to bring in. Why? Because they don't really have set personalities, making them clay. Being able to mold them without really changing anything since there is nothing too change. Plus it was great fun writting drunk words. Suck it spell check! So, I guess tune in next time for another thrilling chapter of . . . fuck what was the title again? Bugger, read and review people! Good night!