Chapter 9: Mind over Matter

(Jatrian Flatlands)

Fox and the team rocketed over the savanna of Jatria, heading towards the nearest town: Kanawa. It only took them a matter of seconds before they reached the town. It wasn't that much different from that of Corneria, just lots of more vegetation growing around the streets.

"Shouldn't there be more people around here?" Falco asked aloud.

"I don't sense anyone." Krystal responded. The streets were bare, not a soul walking its streets. Fox, however, remained on task.

"Where's the factory now, Slippy?" Fox asked.

"We should turn the corner, now." Slippy responded. "It'll be on our left."

"Let's get this scumbag!" Falco said enthusiastically.

"As sly as ever, Falco." Katt joked.

(Jatria Commercial Incorporated)

The team landed a block away from the building, going the rest of the way on foot. Fox sidled up along the building, his blaster drawn. He held his breath and looked in the window.

The factory was empty, no machines were moving. The only thing he could see out of the ordinary was a large mass in the far corner. The window, however, was made of smoked glass, preventing Fox from seeing anything more.

"I can't tell what's in there. But there's definitely something in there…" Fox announced.

"I think it's the townspeople, Fox!" Krystal said, concentrating inside the factory. "Something's interfering with my senses, though."

At that moment, a large, hangar door down the wall from their position opened up. Fox and the others quickly rushed behind the corner to avoid detection. Several men walked out, waving something inside the building out. A moment later, a cargo ship flew out, going into the atmosphere.

"Quick! We can sneak in through there!" Fox thought aloud. He dashed over to the door, the animals that had walked out already back inside the building, the door closing. Fox slid into the adjacent wall inside the building, followed by Katt, Falco, Krystal, and Slippy. They immediately rushed behind large boxes with the factory label upon them. Fox looked over the top of the boxes to see what exactly they had just entered.

He could see the several animals from before, joining a conglomeration of others, all of them standing obediently before a podium. After the rest of the animals joined the group, a figure in green rose to the pedestal. The crowd roared as he ascended. He allowed the applause to last a minute, then waved his hands to quiet the crowd. He took the microphone upon the pedestal, testing it. He took a deep breath, the crowd anxiously awaiting his words.

"The Mind has sent an edict! As the members of his body, we shall comply!!! Already his plan has been set into motion! LYLAT-" the figure started.

"IS IN OUR HANDS!!!" the crowd finished.

"As his glorious Palm, Palm Nordon, I will crush those that resist the Mind!" the man in green roared.

The crowd exploded in applause, awaiting the next statement just to glorify it.

"Yes, I believe we will start with the interlopers in our presence! SEIZE THEM!!!" the man announced.

Fox's ears perked up at the announcement. He looked up, seeing the group begin to mobilize. To his surprise, they converged around others in their group. Two cloaked citizens were thrust out into the open, gathering their composure.

"What do you have to say for yourselves!?" the little man demanded.

The two figures only looked to the ground.

"YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO!!!!" the green-cloaked figure yelled. Members of the crowd took sticks and struck the back of the figures' knees, causing them to collapse to the ground.

Fox watched on, relieved to see they hadn't been caught, but he felt sorry for those taking the punishment.

"We've got to do something!" Katt said to Fox, peering up from the boxes next to him.

"Yeah, this ain't right." Falco agreed.

"Right, but what can we do?" Fox thought aloud. "Krystal, can you sense any mind-control devices in effect?"

"Yes, but there's multiple ones. They're scattered about the room, running at a high-frequency." Krystal explained.

"Slippy, you can scan the room for these devices as well, right?"

"Sure thing!" Slippy said, taking out another device from his backpack.

At that moment, the man in green ordered more citizens to strike the two cloaked ones, knocking them unconscious. He laughed at their motionless bodies, causing the rest of the crowd to break into an uproar of laughter as well. Fox couldn't hear anything until the laughter died down. The little man had started talking again, tears forming in his face.

"-ahah, ah, now that we've taken care of the pests masquerading as us, now it's time to get rid of those that openly obstruct our progress!" the man announced.

Fox looked up at the boxes again, the citizens now heading toward their location behind the boxes.

"GET THEM!!!!!" the man roared.

"They found us!!!" Fox told the rest of them, jumping out from behind the boxes.

The team scattered in different directions from behind the boxes. Fox went off to right, Slippy sidling along the factory door where they entered, almost following Fox. Falco and Katt went alongside the adjacent wall to the left, and Krystal climbed a ladder near Falco and Katt up to a catwalk.

"Slippy!! Krystal!!! Find the devices and destroy them!!! Falco, Katt, and I'll cover you!!!" Fox strategized. He pulled out his blaster, firing at the legs of the citizens, making sure to avoid fatal blows. Katt and Falco followed suit, firing off into the crowd.

Krystal focused her senses, concentrating on where the closest device was located. She rushed over the catwalk, finding a switchbox located on the wall. She took her blaster and shot the lock off of the switchbox. She found a thin, cylindrical tube inside the switchbox. She took the hilt of her blaster and smashed the tube, shattering it into little pieces. She felt the brain-wave signal dissipate instantly, so she moved on.

Slippy rushed over to a nearby van held inside the factory. He took out another device from his backpack. He waved the sensor in front of the van, slowly scanning the van and the wall behind it. He found a switchbox on the wall behind the van. He took out the second device and aimed it at the lock on the switchbox. He pulled the trigger, firing off a highly-pressurized blast of air, smashing a dent into the switchbox. He saw a cylindrical tube inside the box, waving the sensor in front of it. Sure of himself, he aimed the air blaster at the tube and shattered it with a blast of air.

Katt and Falco slowly inched along the wall, firing off into the group. Countless numbers fell to the ground, but the hold on their minds were strong. They would get up after a second or so, dragging their injured limbs behind them.

"They just keep coming!" Falco cried out, dropping the nearest two citizens.

"Just keep shooting!" Katt reminded him.

Fox, in the meantime, aimed his shots carefully into the crowd. Most of the group had focused upon Katt and Falco, so he picked off those at the back of the group. When a path had been cleared, he rushed his way up to the podium. There, he stood face-to-face with the green-cloaked man. He was a koala, and he started snickering when Fox reached the top of the steps.

"So, Mr. McCloud, what an honor it is to meet you! The Mind told me about you! He said you'd be causing trouble. I'm so glad I get to finish you off now, the Mind will be so happy!" the koala chuckled. "He'll say: 'I'm so glad I trusted you, Nordon! You have brought me the head of my enemy! I need someone like you to rule beside me. Come, Nordon!'"

The koala chuckled to himself, making Fox anxious.

He's clearly lost it. What the heck does he think he's doing?

"Now, my pesky Fox. It's time you went goodnight!" the koala screamed, throwing his green-coat open, revealing two Gatling guns. As he lifted the Gatling guns into ready position, he shoved a box out into the crowd with his foot. "There my Digits! Use those to your liking! Take care of these non-believers. LYLAT IS IN OUR HANDS!!!"

The crowd swarmed upon the box, drawing weapons of various types from it.

"Oh, crap!" Falco said, grabbing Katt and diving behind the boxes from before, narrowly avoiding machine gun fire.

Krystal had taken out another device in the upper-corner of the catwalk when laser-fire ricocheted off the ceiling. She ducked down, concentrating to see where any other devices were, as the citizens below shouted and screamed, firing their weapons off randomly in her direction.

Slippy had run to the front of the podium, taking out another device set upon its face. When he saw the citizens arming themselves with weapons, he rushed behind the van from before, covering his head. Laser-fire followed his movements, clipping his back. He was unharmed, however, only his clothes smoking.

Fox had a stand-off with the koala, his blaster drawn. They circled each other upon the podium stage.

"Nordon, was it? What is it your group plans to do?" Fox asked, continuing his circling motions.

"Why would I tell a commoner like you!? The Hands of Lylat are for the elite! The Mind nor his Palms would dare reveal anything to the likes of you! You're even below a filthy Digit!" the koala sniped.

"What gives you the right to take control of innocent people like this!?" Fox accused.

"The Mind! The Mind gives me the right!!! His will is absolute!! He's promised us a new age for Lylat!! One where we can exist!!!" Nordon daydreamed. "Enough of the questions! DIE!!!!"

The Gatling guns rattled in the koala's arms, lasers sprinkling from the point. Fox dove behind the podium, his back facing the koala. When he tried to peek out, lasers flew where he was, forcing him to retract his head.

"Uh-uh-uhh! I can see you there!" Nordon jested.

Krystal continued to duck behind the safety of the catwalk. Constant laser-fire continued to stream from the citizens as they laughed. Krystal took this time to concentrate her senses. She could sense only one device remaining, coming from the center of the ceiling. She opened her eyes to find the device. She couldn't see anything. Then, a lone blast shot upwards, striking something in the ceiling. A cover was knocked loose, revealing the last switchbox. Krystal tried aiming her blaster towards the box, only to have more lasers fire up towards her.

"Slippy! The last device is on the ceiling!!!" Krystal called to Slippy over the ensuing chaos. Slippy peeked out from behind the van, seeing Krystal pointing to the loose cover-door upon the ceiling.

"Got it!" Slippy announced, readying his air gun. He steadied his shaking hands. Nordon, however, had noticed the team's efforts to thwart their plans.

"Get him you idiots!!" Nordon screamed, pointing at Slippy.

The citizens turned towards Slippy. Slippy fired off a blast, just as a laser struck his left-hand. He fell to the floor, clutching his hand. The air-blast, however, struck its target. Only half of the tube remained. Krystal looked down at the citizens, but they continued to fire.

What's wrong!? We destroyed the device!

She concentrated her senses again. She could feel slight brain-wave patterns emanating from what remained of the device.

"It's not completely destroyed!" she called out. She tried to shoot, only to be stopped by the citizens again.

"I'm tired of this crap!!!" Falco yelled. He ran out from behind the crates, heading towards the ammunitions box the citizens scavenged.

"FALCO!!! NO!!!" Katt called after him.

Falco dove at the box, picking it up as he sprinted over to Slippy's van. He reached in, looking for something to use. He pulled out a single grenade.

Good as anything!

He activated the grenade and tossed it into the air, aiming for the switchbox. As he finished his toss, he was struck by several blasts of laser fire. He fell to the ground near Slippy, his left shoulder struck twice, one shot striking his torso.

The grenade exploded right when it neared the switchbox. Several chunks of ceiling fell to the ground. Krystal sensed the absence of the brain-wave and looked down at the citizens. They all had collapsed to the ground.

"NOOO!!!" Nordon screamed.

Fox took advantage of this distraction. He quickly aimed his blaster at the koala's feet and shot a blast. It struck Nordon's right foot. The koala cried out in pain. Fox rushed out from his hiding spot, sprinting toward the koala.

"TAKE THIS!!!" Fox yelled, his left knee connecting with the koala's chin. The koala was sent into the air for several seconds, flying backwards. He crashed upon the ground with a thud.

(Jatrian Base)

Fox and the team gathered everyone inside the factory and placed them inside the several vans. They rode over to the base, where the soldiers took over.

"Thank you, Team StarFox!" the head soldier said. He looked over to Nordon, who was tied up. "So he's the cause of all of this?"

"Yep. Him and his little devices." Fox confirmed. Fox looked around, the citizens had regained their senses and started to help out with the rest of the cleanup. "So you got all of your soldiers back?"

"Yessir, Mr. McCloud! Everyone's accounted for. Even Ian!" the second soldier announced, indicating a soldier helping out dressing wounds.

"Good, good. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask both him and Nordon a couple of questions before we leave." Fox stated.

"Sure thing." Wilson responded. "We couldn't have done any of this without your help!"

Fox walked over to where Private Ian was.

"Hey, Private Ian?" Fox asked.

"Yessir!" Ian saluted.

"Can I ask you some questions?"

"Of course, sir!" Ian said, finishing wrapping a citizen's leg. The two walked past several portable cots, one of which had Slippy and Falco.

"AHH!!! That hurts!!" Falco yelled, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Oh, don't be such a baby!" Katt told him, biting off the bandage as she finished wrapping his shoulder. "There, done!"

"Thanks, Katt." Falco said, rotating his arm to check for pains.

"Wow, Falco. That's like, the second time I've ever heard you actually say 'thanks'." Slippy said, laughing.

"Shut up, Froggy! Why don't you thank the both of us! We're the ones that dragged your unconscious body out of that factory!" Falco roared.

"Me thank you!? Why would I do that!? If it wasn't for me, you'd still be getting shot at!"

"Please! It was my grenade that finished the device! You just got shot in the hand and fainted!"

"Ok, boys, settle down. Now help me clean up the rest of these guys!" Katt said, dragging Falco and Slippy behind her.

Krystal was sitting atop her Arwing.

"-so we're coming up in a little bit." Krystal finished saying to her wrist communicator.

"Alright, then. I'll have a large meal all ready for when you guys get back! It'll be marvelous!" Peppy said. "See you then."

Krystal closed the link and descended from her Arwing.

If it was this bad on this planet, I wonder how bad it is elsewhere…

"Hey, Krystal! Help us out here, will ya!?" Katt called over, Falco and Slippy mummifying one citizen behind her.

"Alright." Krystal responded, jogging over to the medical cots.

Fox and Ian ignored the commotion as they were out of earshot.

"Now, tell me, do you remember anything before you disappeared?" Fox asked, going straight to the point.

"Not really. I remember getting the message from the Commander that my brother died. It really tore me up. Ever since both of our parents died, we've always relied on each other. Losing him really tore me up inside." Ian explained.

"Do you remember getting the lamp? The one from Jatria Commercial?" Fox continued.

"Wait, yeah. I think I do… oh that's right! I remember now! It was from my brother! He ordered it for me since I told him I couldn't get much reading done out here with the light from Solar so far away. I guess he looked for a company near here and ordered it. But I got it after I heard about his death, so it only made me sadder."

"And you used it that night?"

"Yeah. I turned it on for some reading, trying to get my mind off my brother's death. Then I remember it started to get late, so I turned it off and tried to get to sleep. It was almost lights-out anyway… then there was this…buzzing…" Ian drifted off.

"A buzzing?" Fox asked, intrigued.

"Yeah, it started out as a buzzing, then it became something else. It went to a…drone…after that. Then it…" Ian's face turned pale. "Then it became a…a voice."

"A VOICE!?" Fox asked.

"Yeah, it was real deep, and eerie. It called out to me. It told me about my brother, about how he didn't have to die…then it went dark." Ian remembered.

"Do you remember the exact words!?" Fox inquired.

"It was like: 'Adyx didn't have to die. In my world, all is one. There is no strife. Join us. Allow us to take your life into our hands…'" Ian quoted.

"Ok, thank you for your help." Fox said, noticing Ian's expression of worry.

"Oh, yeah, ok then." Ian said, color returning to his face.

"You go back to help out the rest of the citizens, now." Fox ordered.

"Yessir!" Ian said, rushing back to the medical cots.

Now for Nordon.

Fox went over to the bound Koala. He picked him up by the collar of his green coat. Nordon looked off to the side.

"What are you doing here!?" Fox asked through barred teeth.

"Like I'd tell dirt like you!" Nordon spat out.

"I'll ask you again, what do the Hands of Lylat plan on doing!?" Fox asked, shaking him slightly.

"Go to Hell!" Nordon said, spitting on Fox.

Fox tossed him to the ground, then kicked him in the face. Krystal and the others looked over, then continued their cleanup, telling the citizens to concentrate.

"I'm asking you nicely! What was the point of coming here!?"

"To rid the world of scum like you!"

"WRONG ANSWER!" Fox said, kicking him in the face again. Nordon spat out blood, then glared up at Fox. Fox glared right back. "We're going to stop you, and your organization! We're Team StarFox!"

"Hah! It's too late to stop us now! Your precious Corneria will be the first to fall! Your emotions will get the better of you! Our devices are set!" Nordon laughed.

"What do you mean!?" Fox asked, kneeling on the ground, grasping his collar again.

"Bon Voyage!" Nordon smiled.

Fox suddenly remembered the ship from the factory.

"WHERE'S THAT SHIP HEADED!?!?!?" Fox asked, shaking Nordon violently. The koala only laughed. Fox dropped the koala back on the ground and rushed over to the others.

"WE HAVE TO GO, NOW!!!" Fox yelled.

"What? Why? What's wrong Fox?" Krystal asked. But Fox ignored her. Instead, he pulled up Peppy on his communicator.

"PEPPY!!!! Did any ships leave Jatria's atmosphere in the past four hours!?"

"Huh, what? Yes, one cargo ship." Peppy said calmly.

"Can you track it!?" Fox asked anxiously.

"Um, yeah, one second." Peppy said, looking towards another screen. "It's headed towards Corneria, why?"

Fox cut the link.

"EVERYBODY MOVE, NOW!!! CORNERIA IS IN DANGER!!!!!"

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Author's Notes: Whoot. Fast chapter upload. Not much has really changed between now and yesterday… I just had to write this chapter though. Another battle scene, and pretty kickass if I may say so myself. Face kicking, awesome. So, yeah, I think I will do a Tales of Symphonia 2 fanfic. I really suggest you people check out the two games, they're really good for those that like RPGs.

Reviews:

Only one, can't expect that many in only a day's time.

-paranoidsocialclub 2008-12-07 . chapter 8

to answer your question, it's actually in your E-Mail, and also... I'm one of those people who can't fully unlock everything no matter how hard I tried... :P

The chapter was great(as usual)! Meh... I didn't get the movie reference...
~PSC~ (as if you didn't know)

Thanks for the info, kind sir/madame. I read the PM and I have to say Days of the Phoenix got it right on the money. I even got a new idea now, thanks to that PM! So everybody thank Days of the Phoenix. And don't worry about unlocking everything, I played Assault an insane amount of time with my friends. Like over 600 hours. That much. It's crazy. And for those that care. The movie reference is "Saving Private Ryan". Private Ian = Private Ryan. I know, bad. But I get to put my bad jokes in! I'm the author damn it. Remember, you can't spell 'authoritay' without 'author'! Thanks for the encouraging reviews. I hope you continue to read and enjoy!