Ultraman, the Lylat Adventure

Chapter 8

Shodai's Mission

He couldn't believe it. He was so close. He had defeated the Garrison Member. He brought the Star Fox team to a stand-still, and he had the legendary General Pepper out-matched. So why is everything falling apart? Oikonny watched as the Ultra, Shodai, tore through his armada. As the same Ultra, whom he thought he had killed in the bowels of Venom, had seemingly been resurrected from the dead to exact his vengeance against him. Is this what it was? Karma? Some higher power working against him, in denying him his birthright, his destiny? The baboon just couldn't fathom it. He sat slack-jawed in his command seat, watching his ships be destroyed one by one, either by the Ultra, or by the Cornerian fleet. Then, he sees the Ultra head for the disabled arwings, and pause. Then, he felt a great rage well up, one that he wasn't able to contain. "FIRE EVERYTHING!" he screamed. Techies tapped away on consoles and laser bolts erupted out of cannons along the flag ship. Oikonny felt satisfaction at seeing the Ultra squirm under the laser fire. Then, the barrage stopped as suddenly as it had started. "WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED FIRING?" he screamed again. It was a wonder why his voice didn't go hoarse.

"Sir, the cannons are beginning to overheat. If we keep this up, the cannons will overheat, and destroy the ship." an ape officer informed.

"I DON'T CARE, JUST KEEP FIRING!" Oikonny yelled. The laser fire resumed, but this time Shodai erected a light barrier, the crimson bolts harmlessly deflected off of the shimmering wall of light. Suddenly, The laser fire stopped, and true to the ape officer's word, the cannon emplacements began to explode from overheating. Inside the flag ship, on the bridge, consoles were blowing up in techies' faces as alarms went off. Oikonny sat back down in his chair, holding his head. Then, he did something he didn't expect to do, he laughed. It was a chuckle, then it became a cackle of madness. Everything was falling apart at the seams around him. What else could he do? Shodai delivered the arwings to the Great Fox, and now faced the armada.

"Sir, we have to get you to an escape pod." one of the officers said. Oikonny looked at him dumbly, and said something he didn't expect himself to say; "I give up…" After being ushered to his escape craft, he was jettisoned in time to see Shodai destroy the great ship with his signature Spacium Beam. Shortly after, The Ultra delivered the life-raft to the same cruiser that General Pepper was on. After being apprehended by the General, Shodai went to the Great Fox, where his the team received their new member openly, as if he had been brought back to the land of the living. "Man, we thought you were dead when we saw you vanish in Venom!" Slippy said. It was a few minutes after Shodai returned to the Great Fox. After the team calmed down a bit, they began to ask what was on their minds: "How the heck did you get here?" Fox asked. "We thought that you had died."

"Well, I'm not one to brag, but we Ultras are hard to kill. True, I was on the verge of total drainage after the fight, but I was able to revert back to my anthro guise at the last moment. That's what that flash was that you probably saw. After I came to, I was able to rejuvenate myself, and…take care of business."

"What do you mean, 'take care of business'?" Krystal asked.

"That doesn't matter right now, the remains of the fleet escaped back to Venom. Even though Oikonny is gone, there are others who are bound to replace him, and in a few weeks or less, the same thing will happen all over again." Peppy said, joining the others. Steven smiled a bit.

"Don't worry about them, Peppy. The Venomian army won't be a threat, for a long time to come."

"How do you mean?"

"You remember my mentioning taking care of business?"

"Uh…yeah?" Falco said, unsure.

"Oikonny was stupid enough to tell me that there were two other factories on Venom supplying his army."

"So?" Fox asked. Then, Steven smiled, in an evil way.

A couple of hours ago: In the interior of the planet Venom, one of the massive factories that supplied the Venomian army was working hard. Since that the army was out, Oikonny ordered that reinforcements be ready to back-up the armada, not that the ape thought that it needed it. However, the very last thing that they would expect, if it was to be expected at all, was a fourty meter tall red and silver giant to suddenly materialize out of thin air. The reptilian workers and simian officers stopped what they were doing, and looked up as Shodai looked around him. In the enormous caver, his head was a few hundred meters shy of reaching the ceiling. He looked around, then he let loose hell upon them. Firing his Spacium Beam, Shodai swept the blue/white ray of destruction across all that he saw. The beam brought destruction to all that it touched. Whole buildings, structures, vehicles, and unfinished products all either burst into flame, exploded, or were incinerated on contact. The workers and officers tried to flee, but Shodai showed no mercy to the race he saw as little more than butchers. He knew their kind all too well. He made sure that none survived the assault. He personally saw to that. When everything was nothing more than a charred, smoking ruined, he nodded in satisfaction, and teleported to the next target.

Present time: After relaying the information to the others, the Star Fox team was more than a little shocked. As Steven told them what transpired, he had a very satisfied look upon his face. Of all the people there to be stunned, was Krystal, mostly due to her telepathy, and picking up Shodai's memories of what he did. "So, in conclusion, it's safe to say that the Venomian army won't trouble you people for a long time to come." Steven said, feeling proud of himself.

"Uhhh, well, at least you're ahhhh….thorough." Peppy said, laughing nervously. Steven nodded, and left to his quarters, and Krystal picked up the last thought before he left.

'That was kinda fun. No wonder beings like Baltan, Keronia and others like to do that kind of thing.' After that, the blue-furred vixen felt herself go a little pale.

"I think it's best not to get on his bad side." Peppy said, the other nodding in solemn agreement. Krystal paid the Ultra/vulpine a visit. After knocking, she did so. The Ultra/vulpine was standing in the mirror, topless, expecting himself, as if looking for any wounds or imperfections. The vixen just stared at him, seeing the back and front, the back in front of her, and the front reflecting in the mirror. Seeing the defined muscles like that, she couldn't help but stare.

'He's even more toned than Fox…' she thought to herself.

"Nice of you to think so." Steven said, smiling a bit. Krystal caught herself, and looked away. Steven laughed, and faced the blue-furred vulpine, a smirk on his face. "See something you like?" he asks. Krystal blushed a bit in embarrassment, eliciting another laugh from the vulpine.

"You shouldn't tease me like that." Krystal pouted. Steven laughed, replacing his shirt on his body.

"What was it that you needed?" he asked.

"I just wanted to say, that I'm sorry, about earlier."

"Huh? Earlier about what?" he asked, puzzled.

"About my race. You were right. It wouldn't be right of me to abandon the people who took me in after they had saved me, to be with my own people again. They need me here." Steven nodded in agreement.

"I don't blame you at all for your reaction. It's common among the other sentient beings that my kind have encountered."

"You sound like a deity when you say that."

"Really?" he asked.

"Or rather, more like an arrogant blow-hard." she replied, laughing a bit. Steven stiffened a bit, and Krystal tried to recover. "I didn't mean for that to come out the way it sounded, I…"

"It's alright. I'm used to it. Falco would've agreed with you." he said, sitting down. He had a sullen look upon his face, and Krystal tried to comfort him.

"You shouldn't take it so hard. He's not used to having someone like you…well…"

"Saving you?" Steven asked. He looked up, wearing a sad smile. Krystal didn't know what to say. "He's entitled to his opinion. My race has no business interfering with your lives. That's the main reason why I didn't want to make contact with you like this."

"But…all the same, I'm glad you did." Krystal replied, smiling.

"Why? Another thing, why did you show such unreserved kindness to me when we first met on Fortuna?"

"To answer the first question, because I wouldn't have met you." Steven was taken aback by this. "I thought I told you this. And as for the second question, I felt that, you were wounded, and needed aid. After you had saved us from your adversary, I felt that it was time for me to return the favor."

"Speaking of returning…" Steven said, reaching behind himself for his back pocket. He pulled out the kerchief that Krystal used to bind his wound, and handed it back to the blue-furred vixen. "I think that, you need this more than I do." Krystal looked at it, then at Steven. Eventually, the vixen accepted the cloth back from Steven.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." Steven replied.

Several hours later saw General Pepper in his office once more. After the ape Oikonny was safely behind bars, he was able to relax, somewhat. He was aware of the threat posed by the one pursued by Shodai. He wanted to communicate with the Ultra, to tell him that he knew, and that he wanted to help.. It might be an awkward situation, but he feels the need to do it. After going over the last of the reports, he decided to ring the Star Fox team. On board the Great Fox, Fox McCloud was sitting in the command chair as Slippy and Peppy went over the diagnostic checks of the systems the ship. Going over a vessel as big as the Great Fox itself was a chore. Despite getting major upgrades, it still looked like it was a little beaten up. If not for the huge check that Fox got from single handedly saving Sauria a couple of months ago, the Great Fox would've been sold for spare parts by now, and the team would've been grounded for a long time. Also, it was fortuitous in another light; it allowed Krystal to become the newest member of the Star Fox team, and the interests of the team leader. Never really having much of a love-life, Fox was hoping to get to know the vixen a little better in the near future. However, with everything going on, what with Shodai/Steven being here and the new threat hanging over them, he doesn't think that he will find the time. Then, the screen in front him flickered, and the face of General Pepper was looking back at him. Fox stood straight up at the sight of him. "General Pepper." Fox said, saluting.

"At ease, Fox. I want to ask you something."

"What, General?"

"Could you send Steven, or should I say Shodai, to see me. It's imperative that I speak with him and try to sort this matter out. You all should be here as well, since it will pertain to you as well."

"Of course, General, right away." Fox answered. Shortly after, Great Fox docked in a space port in Corneria City, just outside of the Cornerian Army Command Center. The six anthros made their way to the CACC, and entered the spacious building. Making turns through several hallways, the group finally made it to the General's quarters. The door had a glass view with the word 'General' written on it. Fox knocked three times, and was bidden to enter. The team went in, and saw the General sitting behind his desk, hands together, propped up on his elbows, expecting them. He gave the team a slight smile, and addressed Steven.

"That was fine work you did back there, Steven. It's little wonder why your superiors sent you here, after this invader of sorts." The vulpine stiffened. Had his cover been blown? General Pepper laughed, and sat up, leaning back in the chair. "You can relax. Only the team and I know who you really are Steven, or should I say, Shodai, as you are known on M78, in the fourth galaxy." Steven tilted his head to one side, slightly, puzzled. "Your superior told me that you were pursuing a malevolent being, and that you might come past the Lylat System. If you were to avoid us, then nothing. However, if you were to chase your query here, I was to hand this to you" he held up an object that was shaped like a diamond. Steven gasped slightly when he saw it. "Yes. Zoffy gave me this, when he approached me. He told me that you might be here, chasing an evil alien. If you were to remain here for any length of time, I was to give this to you. He said it contained new orders for you." Pepper held it out, and Steven accepted it, rather uneasily. Knowing full well that he couldn't activate it while he was still an anthro, Steven pulled out his Beta Capsule, and converted to his Ultra form. The object in his hand glowed, and levitated. Then, it floated over to the side of the room, and changed. It started to spin rapidly, then the glow became a light, and it swelled until it became swirling mass of light as big as a man. The light changed again, becoming nearly transparent, then it became a shimmering red and gold color, with a person standing in it, if indeed he could be called a person. The being standing in the vortex looked much like Shodai did, save for the several studs that went up his chest and arms.

"Zoffy-Taijo…" Shodai said. The being in the vortex nodded, and addressed the other Ultra. Then, both began to speak in their native tongues.

"Space Patrolman Shodai. I have been monitoring your progress, and like with Earth, it has been exemplary. However, the being that you have been pursuing across the gulf of space has made his way to then Lylat System."

"I know, Commander. He had already enlisted the aide of one of the natives of this system. However, he has been dealt with. Now, all that's left is him."

"What do you think they're saying?" Slippy whispered to Fox. The vulpine merely shrugged. He looked to Falco.

"Don't look at me. I don't speak alien-ese." the avian replied. Krystal was at a loss as well, even though her sixth sense had enabled her to translate most languages. This one was impossible for her to figure out.

"Right. Your orders are as follows: you are to remain in the Lylat System until the threat has been dealt with. Enlist the aide of the natives as you see fit, but do not, in any way, interfere with their way of life. I should not have to tell you about the reasons why."

"No, Commander." Zoffy nodded, then the image flickered and died, the diamond returning to the Ultras hand. Shodai looked down at it, thinking. 'This is not the way it was supposed to be. Now the Lylat System will be made into my new battle ground with my enemy. That means innocent lives will be lost before this ordeal will be over…'

"Steven?" Krystal asked. The alien turned to face them, setting his glowing eyes upon them. "Are you alright?" she asked. Steven looked to them, then away.

"No, I'm not." he replied. "This was not the way it was supposed to happen. You people were not supposed to be involved in this…" The Warrior of Light clutched the object in his fist tightly, feeling the hopelessness of the situation wash over him. He had flashbacks of his previous battles, on planets like Earth, how the destruction caused there had been great, the casualties unbearable. Now, he sees the exact same thing happening again. He threw a fist at the wall facing him, the arm going through it to the elbow. The action surprised and shocked everyone. "DAMMIT!" Shodai shouted. He kept his arm where it was, not moving it. Debris from the impact fell off of the edge around the hole that he had made through the six-inch concrete wall. The Ultra was breathing heavily. Krystal went over, and placed a hand on Shodai's arm. The alien turned his head, looking into the vixen's caring eyes. His arm dropped from the hole that it had made, hanging limply by his side. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" he said, barely above a whisper. Krystal embraced him, her head resting on his broad chest. The red and silver alien just held her there. He had another flashback: He was back on Fortuna, unconscious after landing on the planet's surface. When he came to, he found an alien beauty looking down at him. She looked like a fox, like the kind he had seen on Earth, except this one was blue, walked on two legs, and wore a type of flight suit. He tried to get up, startled by this new development.

"Easy, easy. I won't hurt you." she said, in a soft voice. Shodai could feel the warmth in it, and was put at ease from it. He rose up, and felt a sharp pain lance through his right arm, grasping it quickly. "Does it hurt?" she asked, holding the arm gently. The alien vixen pulled out a kerchief, and tied it around the arm, over the wounded area. "There. In a little while, it will be good as new." she said, feeling satisfied. Shodai looked down, and felt the cloth of the kerchief, and looked at the alien girl who continued to smile at him.

"A-arigato…" he said. The alien girl tilted her head to one side.

"What?" she asked.

"Arigato." Shodai replied, his voice having a type of echo-effect. The alien girl smiled again.

"Well, if that's your way of saying 'thank you', then you are very welcome." she replied. Shodai nodded. He heard voices, and someone's approach. The alien girl turned her head to the sound of her companions approaching. Shodai took a few steps back, and looked up.

"SHUWATCH!" the alien girl looked just in time to see Shodai fly through the air, and back out into space. Back in the present, Shodai sees the same alien girl displaying the same type of unreserved kindness as she had displayed on Fortuna. This made Shodai hold Krystal tighter than before. The blue-furred vixen shared the same memory as Shodai did, and smiled. The increase in pressure made her breath come shorter, but it didn't really matter to her. She can feel the anguish come off of the warrior in droves. He knows what lies in store for them, and has a good idea of the pain and sacrifices that might have to be made before this ordeal is over. She pulled away, and looked up at the red and silver alien warrior, still having that same warm smile on her muzzle. Shodai looked down, his mask-like visage featureless, but the vixen could feel the alien smile as well on the inside.

"Are we done giving eachother hugs? Because I think we need to get back to the issue at hand here." Falco interjected. Krystal turned, surprised by the avian as if he had just popped out of thin air. Shodai nodded, and took the object in his hand. Fox saw the emotional exchange between the two, and couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He had barely known the blue-furred vixen for a couple of months, and yet Steven got hugged by her after meeting her just a few scant weeks ago.

"I wish that you wouldn't take the issue as lightly, Falco. There's more at stake here than you realize." Shodai replied, his voice echoing slightly.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Still clutching the item, Shodai walked over to the others, and held his hand out. The item floated off of his hand, and in front of all of them, the glow returning and increasing gradually. "What is that, anyway?" the avian asked.

"It serves as a communication device on my planet, allowing two or more people to converse with eachother, no matter where they are in the known or unknown universe."

"A communication device…" Slippy said. Shodai nodded.

"However, it can only be activated by the energy given off by an Ultra being. That's why I transformed."

"So, are you calling your superior again?" Peppy asked. Shodai shook his head.

"While we are able to communicate with eachother, this device serves has another function."

"Which is?" Falco asked, getting tired with all the talking and no action.

"It also has access to our archives and records. And, that is what I am doing right now."

"What for, to give us a history lesson?" Krystal shot a glare at Falco's direction, which was ignored.

"To put it bluntly, yes. In order for you to understand my enemy, you must know more about him." The object's rotation and luminescence increased while the conversation went on, until it became a ball of light. "Good, it's ready now." Shodai did an arm gesture, and the light expanded to roughly the size of a man. The center of the light became a shape, then took form being a little bit bigger than a basketball. It was a planet, but none of which that the Star Fox team had not seen before. It looked like Corneria, but the planet was covered with more water than theirs was, and the landmasses were different. To Shodai, however, it was a world that he knew all too well. "Before I came to the Lylat system, I was assigned to the Sol System, which is located two galaxies away from here. The planet that you see, is the only planet in the system capable of supporting life. The inhabitants call it…Earth." The others looked at it as it revolved in front of them. The north and south American continents were coming into view, then Europe, then Asia.

"It's pretty…" Krystal said. Shodai nodded.

"Yes. Its beauty rivals Corneria's. That's why it was sought after by other alien beings. Most of which were, regrettably, malevolent in nature. That's also the first time I met…them."

"'Them'? Them who?" Fox asked.

"A race of highly advanced beings, rivaling my own in some cases. At first, they came to Earth, claiming that their ship was damaged and needed to repair it. However, they had another goal in mind." Shodai said.

"What goal was that?" Slippy asked.

"They destroyed their own world in a nuclear test, and that their ship held what was left of their civilization. They were on a journey to find a new home."

"Let me guess. They found Earth to be preferable." Fox said. Shodai nodded.

"Exactly. Once their demands had been made to subjugate the world to their will, they sent their chosen to prepare the planet for their coming. However, it was during the first week of my stay on Earth, and I dispatched with the aliens."

"What does that have to do with us?" Fox asked. Shodai continued.

"A few months later, the aliens reappeared, after I thought that I had destroyed them all. The survivors made it to a planet near Earth, and had resituated themselves. They declared war on Earth, and even took over a human to lure me and a group of others to the planet that they had stayed on. I defeated them again, but it had me thinking. If those survived, who's to say that others might not have, as well? After I left Earth, I decided to scour the cosmos, hunting down a prey that I hoped to be extinct. However, I found one of them two galaxies away from here. I chased him through space, to your Lylat system, unfortunately."

"And the rest, they say, is history." Peppy added.

"What's the name of the alien race?" Fox asked.

"They call themselves the Baltans." Shodai replied. "And now, one of them has his sights on your planet, and is intent on turning it into a slave colony."

"Can we fight back?" Slippy asked. Shodai shook his head.

"I wish you could. However, those who fight back, are often exterminated, and their home planet destroyed along with them." Shodai sighed, and moved to the window, looking out of it. "They're like locusts. They move from planet to planet and exhaust its resources until there's nothing left. And the people living on the planet are often used as slave labor, or worse."

"What's worse?" Slippy asked.

"Use your imagination." Shodai replied. When he did, Slippy shuddered. The red and silver alien turned to face them. "I didn't want for you people to go through this. Now, I dragged you into my conflict. Before this is over, I assure you, much blood will be spilt. The enemy you face is totally unlike anything that you have encountered, that I guarantee."

"I don't know, buddy. You haven't met…"

"Andross?" Shodai asked. "I know about him. I know that he declared war on the Lylat System, and nearly succeeded in taking it over."

"You learned that from our own records." Fox said.

"I also know that your father, James McCloud was murdered by him. How, during your high-school days, you nearly obsessed with defeating Andross. When Peppy offered you the chance to lead a new Star Fox team, you practically jumped at the chance without a second's hesitation. You and your team battled through Corneria, Meteo, Sectors X, Y, and Z, Fichina, Macbeth and several others, before reaching the stronghold of the mad ape scientist. How you were able to defeat the Star Wolf team several times, and how you, Fox, defeated Andross single handedly. Then, you saved the planet Sauria from the same being again, this time saving, not just the planet, but your newest member as well." Shodai said, gesturing to Krystal. "And now, you face against a threat that you cannot imagine."

"Okay, that's it!" Falco stormed to the Ultra. "I'm getting sick and tired of your lousy attitude, pal! Ever since you joined our little group, you've been doing nothing, except show off how powerful that you really are compared to us. We get it, alright! We get the fact that you belong to a race of super beings that could walk on water and such, but you're not the protector of this system, we are! We're the ones who fought Andross, and defeated him! We're the ones who risked life and limb to protect the Lylat System, while you off playing 'superhero' on some alien world! You have no idea how much we have suffered!" The avian was right in Shodai's face, standing up to his shoulders, glaring at him. The Ultra's mask-like face prevented him from betraying any emotions. However, the same could not be said for Krystal.

"Falco, that's enough!" she said, shoving the avian away. "All you've done ever since Steven got here is attack him! He's been the one helping us, and you stand here, belittling him! Did you forget that he nearly died in Venom, or that he saved us, including you no less, from Oikonny at least twice? You don't have the right to speak to him like that!" Falco rolled his eyes.

"Oh, for God's sake, Krystal! Will you just stop it? We all know that have a crush for Steven, or rather Shodai, since that's who he really is! Admit it, ever since you met him on Fortuna, you had a thing for him! Fox wasn't good enough for you, it seems, so you decided to head for the alien over there! That hug explains it. I suppose that you've slept with him as well?" 'SMACK!' Krystal's fist connected with his eye once more, and Falco fell. However, she didn't stop. Before he could get back up, the vixen kicked him in the ribs repeatedly, snarling in rage. Shodai got the vixen off of him, while Fox tended to his friend. All the while, general Pepper looked on at the developing scene, not saying anything, but mentally noting everything. Peppy was doing likewise, while Slippy looked from friend to friend, wondering how bad things were going to get. Krystal fought against Shodai's grip, even spinning around and smacking him on the side of his silvery face. His head turned, and Krystal gasped, realizing what it was that she had done. Shodai released the Krystal, the vixen stepping back from the Ultra.

"Steven…I…" If any emotion could be betrayed by his mask-like face, it would either be sorrow, or pity. Falco stood back up, a couple of his ribs undoubtedly fractured by the assault. He and Fox looked at the pair before them, wondering just how far this will go.

Venom: the figure sat in the chair, going over the feed of Shodai destroying the armada, along with the Cornerian fleet. While he did lose Oikonny in the process, he was now able to gather almost all of the data needed to bring to life his own ultimate weapon. Then, he heard an alarm, and almost bolted out of the chair and to another room. He looked inside, and saw that, to his great relief, that nothing was disturbed. The alarm was more than likely due to some involuntary, embryonic movement. 'Please, just wait a little while longer. It won't be much longer...'