AN - Finally. It's been a while, but I'm resuming this. Hooray for not-dead...ness.
Here's the next chapter.
StarFox © Nintendo of Japan
-Wing.
In a cell a few floors down a mixed-breed fox, 28-year-old Joseph Clarke, sat on the military-style cot bed latched to the wall. He had unusual turquoise eyes and russet orange fur, with black markings he had inherited from his father. They were on the tips of his ears, the tip of his tail and also his hands and lower arms like a pair of long gloves. It was a similar story with his paws and shins. Joseph's black hair was short atop his head, and his muzzle ended in a black nose. His mind was currently attempting to guess when Wolf's plan would be underway. His eyes stared on blankly at the wall.
Behind him lay his partner and mate, 27-year-old Fay Deveraux. She was a Fichinan spaniel, with silver-white fur and a petite muzzle ending with a pink nose. She had pure white hair, a trait common to people from Fichina, and deep blue eyes that Joseph could stare into for hours. They had met on a station orbiting the gas giant Eladard three years ago, working for the same mercenary company. They had gone from teammates, to friends, to lovers, to mates in the space of two years. She was sound asleep, so he was careful not to swish his tail and wake her. He wished that Wolf would be here soon.
It was a wish granted, however, as Wolf picked this moment to knock loudly on the cell door.
"Clarke, you in there?" he growled.
"Of course they are," came an oddly familiar voice, "I can sense two presences on the other side of the door, and one of their minds speaks like the man in your memory."
"Wait, sense? His memory? My mind? And that accent... is she a..."
His train of thought was presently interrupted by the sound of the door being kicked in. Fay awoke with a start, her instincts kicking in. She leapt off the bed and whirled around to face them, dropping into a defensive stance.
"Woah, woah, easy there Snow White! I'm on your side." Wolf said, raising his hands to reveal them to be empty. Fay relaxed, and leaned up against the far wall. Joseph stood from the cot, and he and Wolf glared at each other. Suddenly, however, the two began to chuckle, and tackled each other into a hug.
"Hey O'D! How ya' been keeping?" Joseph asked the lupine.
"Not bad, Joey, not bad. How 'bout you, eh? Is this your girlfriend, or am I really that outta' the loop?"
At this Joseph broke away and began to blush fervently. "Uh... well... she's, uh, actually my... uh... We're, uh..."
Fay was in a similar state. "We're actually..."
"...Mates." they finally replied at the same time, causing both of their blushes to deepen further.
Wolf stared at the duo with a smug grin on his face. "Oh. Right. Ah, don't worry, I always knew you'd find 'The One' at some point Joseph."
Krystal decided now was the best time to step in. "So, about the plan...?"
Joseph suddenly took in a sharp gasp, and Krystal turned to face him. "Um, is everything alright?"
Joseph simply stood, his mouth agape. "You're... you're a Cerinian!"
"Erm... yes. Why?" the vixen replied, head tilted to one side quizzically.
"I, I... nothing, nevermind" He replied, turning to Wolf
Krystal looked confused, but simply shrugged it off. Inside however, she frowned. She tried to read Joseph's mind to see how he knew of Cerinia. She couldn't penetrate his mind, however. "His mental blocks are surprisingly strong. Almost 'Cerinian-grade', for lack of a better term" She thought "There's definitely more to this, and him than meets the eye..."
"OK, OK, Come here, Joseph, Snow." From his shoulder, Wolf shrugged two backpacks. Joseph opened one; Inside was a mercenary-looking uniform, an R-90 Blaster Pistol, a holster, and a full-muzzle flight helmet. Fay lifted out her helmet, and a frown played upon her face.
"Do we have to wear these hunks of junk over our muzzles?" she asked, "I'm a pilot, and I'm a hacker, but I'm not some merc tinhead."
"Sorry there Snowy, but a face like yours is gonna stick out like a sore thumb." Wolf told her. He turned to face the group as a whole. "Right, the plan: Fay, is it?" She nodded. "Right, Fay is going to my office to tap into the Sargasso mainframe and override the capacitors mounted on the station's core. While this is happening, Joseph and Krystal are coming with me to the lowermost floor, my private hangar, to the mothership I've located, and we'll grab three Arwings. I'll autohelm a fourth into position. At this point, the 'diversion' will kick in, we'll blow in a window, and Fay can float on outta' there and into her cockpit, but she'll have no oxygen, so this part has to be perfect, and you'll have to hold your breath. No hitches, or she's spaced; exactly why you need that helmet: It's got a 60-second O2-pack in the mouthpiece. Then, I autohelm the mothership out, and we dock and go. Simple. Any questions?"
Joseph pouted. "Why the additional Arwings? I know Fay can handle herself."
"If the station starts to blow, everyone will try to evacuate. Most of them in fighters, including Leon and Panther and their custom Wolfens. She might need air cover."
Next, Krystal raised her paw. "How will we know when Fay's done?"
A smirk briefly played across her canine muzzle.
"Oh, you'll know, Krystal. Trust me. You'll know."