Chapter 14: Love and Hate

(Cornerian Department of Medicinal Research)

"What? What's going on, General!?" Fox asked. Everyone in the room was staring at his communicator, waiting for the response.

"I'm not sure, but we received this transmission along with the distress signal." the General said, uploading a recorded message. On the message, a Cornerian soldier stood in front of the screen, lights from laser fire illuminating the background. The occasional grunt could be heard in the background. Blood was dripping down from the side of his head, getting into his right eye. He was panting as he spoke.

"Corneria! This is…the Solsen Defense Outpost. We're…under attack! We need you to se-" at that moment, a blast sounded in the background, causing the screen to shake. The soldier ducked, covering his head. When it was clear, the soldier stood back up. "We need reinforcements! We're not sure who's attacking us, but whoever they are, they don't go down!" the soldier yelled. Then another laser shot out, hitting the soldier. He slowly reached up, pressing a button, ending the transmission.

"That's the entire message. We received this message twenty minutes ago. I need you to head out there, now!" the General commanded.

"I can't General, Falco and Slippy need two days to recuperate!" Fox said, obviously frustrated.

"Ugh. The Solsen Defense Outpost is nearing Corneria in its orbit. You should be able to reach it in two days. Get out there now! It'll be too late for you to save them, then. Try to look for survivors, as well as any information on the enemy, when you get there! Pepper, out!" the General ordered, the communication link disconnecting.

Fox turned around, then looked up at Slippy at Falco.

"You ready to go, then?" Fox asked.

"You heard the General." Falco said.

"C'mon, Fox. That transmission didn't sound too good. We have to help them!" Slippy said.

"Ok, let's go."

(Cornerian Streets)

Fox and Krystal wheeled their two teammates in wheelchairs, running towards the Hangars. Katt and Peppy followed closely behind.

"Hey! Watch it Fox! You nearly ran headlong into that pothole!" Falco complained.

"We have to get back to the Great Fox as soon as we can, Falco! I don't have time for your complaints!" Fox silenced him.

"Oh come on, Falco. If you didn't blow yourself up, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Katt joked, remaining a safe distance away from Falco.

"I didn't blow us up! It was retard over there!" Falco snorted angrily.

"Geez. That's the last time I try to save everyone." Slippy said sarcastically.

"If you're going to save everyone, remember to stay at least fifty meters away from me!" Falco joked along.

"Come on, guys. This is serious!" Fox said, pushing ahead again. "You got our Arwings, right Peppy?"

"Yes I did. Although that businessman had a few choice words for me when I got there." Peppy said, recalling the incident.

"Thanks, Peppy. All we have to do is reach the Hangars, then." Fox said, getting back on track.

"There are the Hangars now." Krystal said, turning Slippy's wheelchair in the direction of the Hangars.

(Aboard the Great Fox)

Fox ran up to the bridge while Katt and Krystal wheeled Falco and Slippy into the medical wing. Peppy followed closely behind Fox, ready to assist in take off. When they reached the Bridge, Fox and Peppy immediately started inputting commands, commanding ROB to work as well. After a couple of minutes, the Great Fox exited Corneria's atmosphere.

"Well, we came back home, just to leave again." Fox sighed, slumping into his chair.

"It's ok, Fox. C'mon, let's go down to the living area. I prepared a victory meal for everyone." Peppy said, opening the door.

"Ok, I'll send out the message for everyone to come down." Fox said, heading to the communicator next to the door.

(Medical Wing)

Krystal and Katt placed Falco and Slippy onto two patient beds inside the medical wing. Ever since the Great Fox upgraded to the Dreadnaught class, they had a surprisingly large medical wing, with eight patient beds lining the whole wall. Katt took this opportunity to redo some of Falco's bandages.

"AHHH!!! Do you have to yank them off like that!?" Falco asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Stop being such a pansy! Look, Slippy can handle it." Katt said, unrolling a new set of bandages.

"It's easy for me to take off bandages. All I have to do is secrete some mucus on my skin and they slide right off." Slippy said with a smile.

"Ok, that's just disgusting." Falco said. Katt ripped off another bandage, much to Falco's discontent. The ship started rattling as the girls replaced the bandages, indicating the ship had taken off.

"Looks like we're heading out again." Katt announced.

"Genius deduction." Falco said with an apparent amount of sarcasm.

"Oops, looks like I messed up this bandage. Guess I have to do it again." Katt said, yanking off the bandage again.

When she finished affixing the new one, Fox's face appeared on the communicator next to the door.

"Hey, everyone. You done over there?" Fox asked.

"Just about." Krystal answered.

"Good. Peppy made dinner already. So when you're done, come down to the living area."

"Ok, see ya then." Katt confirmed. Fox ended the transmission. "Anymore snippy remarks?" Katt asked Falco, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope, I'm good." Falco said meekly.

"Good. Let's go eat!" Katt said, running out the door with Falco's wheelchair. Slippy and Krystal just sighed, slowly exiting the medical wing.

(Cornerian Academy, Room 203)

Fox continued sitting in the chair, still shocked at the bird's attack. Slippy tried looking for a way to console his new friend.

"Hey, Fox. Come on. It's ok. C'mon Fox." Slippy tried pleading.

"Why'd he say that?" Fox murmured, continuing to stare blankly.

"I don't know, Fox. But you don't deserve that. Come on, let's watch the tracking device again." Slippy offered, holding up the console. As he did so, Falco and Katt walked into the room. Falco went straight to his seat, ignoring the distressed vulpine. Katt took a seat as well.

"We're really sorry for his earlier behavior." Katt said, scratching the back of her head.

"No, not really." Falco said, his arms crossed. "I stand by what I said."

Fox shot a glare at him.

"Why are you such a jerk!?" Fox exploded, standing up, his emotions running out of control. "What did I ever do to you!?"

"It's not you. It's everyone else." Falco said coolly, reclining in his chair.

"What!?" Fox asked through gritted teeth.

"I don't have anything against you, but I stand by what I said." Falco stated again.

"How can you say that, you-you…" Fox stammered.

"Falco, maybe you should apologize." Katt insisted.

"No, I mean what I said, now he knows what we felt." Falco said.

As he said that, the teacher finally walked into the classroom, downtrodden.

"So you're the only ones, huh." he said gloomily. Fox sat back down in his chair, glaring at Falco. Falco merely sat up in his chair and looked at the board.

(The Living Area)

Katt and Falco burst into the living area, soon followed by Krystal and Slippy. Peppy and Fox already had most of the plates set up, finishing the last couple of dishes.

"Wow, looks good." Katt said, wheeling Falco up to the table.

"Yeah. You really went all out, didn't ya Peppy?" Falco said, looking at the food.

"Well, it was supposed to be a victory dinner…" Peppy started.

"But we did our job, Peppy! So it is a victory dinner!" Slippy exclaimed, Krystal wheeling him up to the table as well.

"Haha. I suppose you're right there, Slip. So let's get started then!" Peppy said, piling his plate with food.

"You gonna be able to move your arms alright, guys?" Fox asked Falco and Slippy.

"Yeah, the medication we took before we left seems to have kicked in." Falco explained. "Wish they'd work on these bandages you ripped off, though."

"You want me to pull them off again!?" Katt threatened.

"Never mind." Falco said, defeated again.

The team finished their celebratory dinner, and then lingered in the living area for a while. Slippy was flipping around the channels on their television. Fox's ears perked up when he heard the news channel.

"Hey, Slippy. Go back to that news channel." Fox asked.

"Sure thing." Slippy said, doing as he was told. The picture behind the newscaster depicted a road filled with burning debris.

"Today, Team StarFox, hired by General Pepper, apparently thwarted yet another terrorist scheme today. This picture here shows the remains of a Jatrian cargo van, which members of Team StarFox apprehended from the terrorists. Inside, devices used for mind-control were found. We have several eye-witness accounts of Team StarFox's actions." the newscaster reported. The picture behind the reporter then switched to that of a kangaroo, the camera zooming in.

"Yes, well. I heard this knocking at my door, then, when I answered it, there was a fox there. He asked me if I received a package today. I told him yes. He asked if I could go get it, so I did. I brought him this clock, which, as you can see, he tore apart. I didn't know it had a terrorist device in it though." the kangaroo explained.

"Oh sure, she doesn't mention the grief she gave me about the clock." Fox said, aggravated. The camera then switched to a panda. "Oh no." Fox sighed.

"Yes, well. When Mr. McCloud showed up, he asked me if I received a package today. I told him yes, then went to retrieve the items I had received today, like he asked. Today, however, was delivery day, so I showed him all the items I had received. Then, he asked if any were from Jatria. I gave him my Jatrian lamp, not wanting to hinder his progress." the panda said with a smile.

"WHAT!? That's not what happened! He tried forcing me to pay for it, then when I even told him I was on StarFox, he called me a thief for taking it!" Fox yelled at the television.

"Hey, at least you're on T.V." Falco said from his chair. "We're the ones that disarmed all of them, and we don't even get mentioned."

"Like I want to hear from these people." Fox said, slumping down back into his chair. Krystal patted him on the head. The camera then switched back to the reporter.

"Looks like Team StarFox is getting busy. We asked General Pepper's secretary where they were, and she told us they were already sent out to their next mission. So, if any of you out there received a package from a Jatrian shipping company, be sure to check it thoroughly for a terrorist device. If you find one, be sure to send it to the Cornerian Command Building as soon as possible. This is Amy Sybak, Channel-" Slippy turned off the television.

"Hey, ROB!" Fox called to the robot from his seat. "How long till we reach the Defense Outpost?"

"Estimated time to reach Solsen Defense Outpost: 34 hours, 53 minutes" the robot stated.

"Ok, I say we all rest up, then." Fox announced. "You guys are gonna need all the rest you can get." he said, indicating Falco and Slippy.

"Yeah, yeah." Falco said.

"C'mon, Falco. I'll help you with those bandages before heading off to the guest room." Katt offered, already rolling his wheelchair out of the living area.

"You want me to roll you to your room, Slippy?" Krystal asked.

"If you could, that'd be great. I think I took too much medicine, I'm having trouble moving my arms." Slippy said, failing to raise his arms above his head.

Fox headed to the door, followed by Peppy.

"G'night Peppy." Fox said.

"Night, Fox." the hare said in return.

(Falco's Room)

Katt wheeled Falco into his room. It was much slower than the way it was before, much to Falco's surprise.

"Ok, ready to get those bandages off?" Katt asked, pressing a button to close the door.

"You're not going to yank them off again, are ya?" Falco asked, suspicious of her actions.

Katt just walked up behind him, then gently pulled off the bandages. Falco winced, expecting pain, but found none. He relaxed, letting the feline pull the bandages off. Katt took the time to inspect his wounds more thoroughly. The doctors had stitched together several large gashes, and burns ran down along his arms, some burns reaching his face.. Underneath the bandage on his left arm was a metal pole, used to straighten out the broken bone. Katt remembered finding him in the wreckage, the door pressed down upon his arm. She figured that was what broke it.

"You're a real mess, aren't you?" Katt asked, pulling off the last of the bandages.

"Yeah, well. I didn't think those things would explode. Guess I have Slippy to thank for that." Falco said, propping himself up on his right arm. He slowly stood up, his legs not used to supporting his weight again. He slowly made his way towards his bed. He made it halfway before his legs faltered. Katt caught him by his left shoulder before he hit the ground.

"Need help?" she asked, helping him over the rest of the way to his bed.

"Thanks, Katt." he said, lying down.

"You gonna be ok?" Katt asked as she rolled the wheelchair next to his bed.

"Yeah, I think I'm good." Falco responded.

"Ok, then. Night." Katt said, walking towards the door. Falco watched her walk, then called out after her.

"Where did you sleep that night, the night you came onto the ship?" he asked.

"I told you, I slept in the guest room." she said, still walking towards the door.

"So you're telling me you found the guest rooms in the dark? In this huge ship?"

"Good night, Falco." Katt told him again. She opened the door.

"Sweet Dreams, Kitty-Katt." Falco called out.

Katt closed the door, tears welling up in her eyes. She dashed down the hall, and went into her room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes: Well, this went faster than expected. Did everyone enjoy the constant stream of updates? Another chapter describing the bonds between the teammates, I know. At least it had a little action in the beginning. Don't worry, I'll get to the main action sequences again, if not in the second half of the next chapter, then in the chapter after that. Did everyone enjoy the cute little scene at the end? I enjoy little cute scenes like that every once in a while. It makes the characters feel more real. Oh, and if someone doesn't mind, I need a list of dog breeds. It's getting harder to think of different dog types as I go along. The only ones that come to mind that I didn't use yet are Newfoundland and Golden Retriever. And Bloodhound, which I might use later. If I could get a list of dog breeds, as well as a list of more animals, that'd be great. So, now that all of that is out of the way, time for reviews!

Reviews:

-paranoidsocialclub 2009-01-01 . chapter 13

You were right. Short chapter, but I forgive you!
Solsen, eh? All that pops into mind is Solar... oh well. You've probably got plans for it... (imagines Moon Mountain Pass) sorry... i couldn't help myself

~PSC, Who is replaying Star Fox Adventures and admiring the scenery...~

Cape Claw and the Ocean Force Point Temple were very nice, relaxing places... So was the walled city and the Krazoa Palace

Yay, not hated for short fillers! Yeah, Solsen is another made up area, like Jatria. I was thinking of Bolse Defense Outpost from StarFox 64 when I created it. And yeah, I got plans for it. Although it's not going to be like Moon Mountain Pass…more tech and whatnot. Yeah, I liked StarFox Adventures. It was like Legend of Zelda (which is another one of my favorite series) but for StarFox. I don't see why everyone dissed it, it seemed better than some of the games out there nowadays. Here's to another chapter!

-theXbeat08 2009-01-01 . chapter 13

My god, yet another cliffhanger. I know you said that they weren't your one joy in life, but...are you sure?

Creepy adjectives used for creepy enemies just make it more exciting. I honestly can't think of a noncreepy enemy in any scenario. I also think creepy is a good word to use over and over again.

Thanks for the compliment about the talkshow thing! And I completely agree! I just don't get people who like the Fox/Wolf thing! It's just WRONG!! Sorry, I feel kinda strong about it. Keep up the great suspense!

Good luck!
theXbeat08

Um, cliff…hanger? Just joking. But seriously, get used to them. They're gonna be everywhere. I like to make endings as memorable as possible. Oh yeah, the creep factor is gonna be cranked up to 11 in the Solsen Outpost arc of this story. I don't want to give anything away though, so I'll leave it at that. And yeah, creepy is fun. Your welcome, I liked the little talkshow thing, although I bet you got a lot of grief about it for putting it in instead of the actual story. People are just so greedy. Yeah, I feel just as strongly about the Fox/Wolf thing. Some people are just twisted. Here's to suspense! And to another chapter!

-Flamer Lucan 2009-01-01 . chapter 13

Well, this story sucks. I read the first chapter, which was great, but then it went downhill. Here's a hint: Plan out your chapters before this story, Which can be salvaged, turns into a heaping pile of **. Sorry if I'm coming off harsh, but I don't want to see another story fall victim to My-**-Can-Write-Better-**-Than-This syndrome.
Ch. 1: 9/10
Ch. 2: 8/10
Ch. 3: 5/10 (where it starts to drop
Ch. 4: 7/10
Ch. 5: 8/10
Ch. 6: 5/10
Ch. 7: 4/10
Ch. 8: 7/10
Ch. 9: 5/10
Ch. 10: 8/10
Ch. 11: 3/10
Ch. 12: 4/10
Ch. 13: 2/10

Well, I'm telling you now, that is harsh. I will thank you, however, for the compliment on the first chapter. And I do plan out the chapters before I write them. I'm not some juvenile writing a picture book here. And here's a hint for you: learn to use English better. I see a couple of grammatical errors in this one message alone. Seriously, I got a couple of underlines when I pasted your message into my Word document. 'Which' should be lowercase if you plan on using it in that context, which I don't suggest you do, because the abundant commas throw off the whole sentence. The sentence should go like this: 'Plan out your chapters before writing the story. Then, they can be salvaged, before they turn into a heaping pile of ****'. I mean, really, where do you come off!? You get a profile on this website for only one day, and you're already judging people's stuff!? You don't even have any stories of your own up! All you did was set up a community where you put people's work that don't reach 'your standards'. You don't have a Beta Reader Profile or anything to show you're a legitimate writer. So sorry if I offended the 'Almighty Writing God', but until you put up some work that proves to me you aren't at a kindergarten-reading level, your review is just going to be considered a complete load. Thank you for complimenting the first chapter. Have a nice day.