A/N: Yay, I put up a new chapter! It wasn't for one of the stories that I'd planned on but, hell it's a new chapter! Anyhow, pardon my optimism; I finally got the ability to update and POW writer's block throws a surprise left and knocks me on my ass. Anyhow, sorry for all the bullfashism ^_^ Hopefully I'll be updating at a reasonable pace again here pretty soon, however, until then please enjoy wheat we've got...

The Footsteps in the darkness ~ SkullFox

Frag the weak, hurdle the dead ~ Mykll

Back doors to problems lead to better results and hidden treasures ~ Jamie


Chapter 15: Rerouted…

The Venomian soldier fell to the ground with a soft thud as his weapon clattered noisily to the stone surface of the alleyway, with a still smoldering hole in the back of his skull. A pink furred feline stepped away from the wall wiping a large spat of blood from the left side of her face before sighing and flicking the blood from her paws…

"Next time you get to be the distraction." She said to a familiar dark furred coyote, "that way you get covered in brain matter. You have any idea how much this crap smells?"

Reiko chuckled patting the Zonessian on the shoulder, "Good to know that bone hasn't effected your personality Katt…I think Jane was right you're gonna be just fine."

Katt shot the canine a short sided smile, "And you had some sort of doubt about that?"

Miyu strode by before peeking around the corner of the next building, "You two love birds wanna give the lovey crap a rest? That building's still six blocks away and we've only got about two hours to get that power router back online, or the entire resistance corp is gonna fly right into this planet."

Suddenly their white furred poodle companion stepped down from a fire escape that hung overhead, "No more soldiers down fifteenth," She pointed out stepping over to the orange furred Lynx.

"But?" Miyu asked.

"There's a whole platoon patrolling Emerick and Twelfth."

Reiko sighed, "Tell me that's not the address we're headed for."

Katt chuckled, "Alright…it's not…"

"You're playing me…" Reiko said peeking around the corner of the building.

"Nope," Katt replied, "it's the intersection that leads to it."

Just down the road Reiko could see a crossroads that seemed slightly blocked off by a few overturned cars. It didn't really look like a military blockade. It was actually more like a gang stronghold that was being protected by common thugs. There was a moment in which Reiko was certain that he'd seen something that looked like a furry white tail pass by the barricade before he realized that there was nothing really there. It only took a moment before he reached to Miyu pulling her back around the corner of the building. With a deep sigh Reiko removed a small cloth pouch from his back and knelt down removing several small metal objects from the case. It was as the three ladies watched that the coyote removed what could only be the frame of a large rifle; he screwed a long black barrel into the frame and produced a soft looking stock that locked easily into place, before he slid a large magazine into the weapon's undercarriage…

"What the hell is that?" Katt asked.

Reiko stood up as he pulled the bandages from his once missing eye, "This is Emma…" He said laying the weapon over his right shoulder patting it's stock with his free paw, "…she's my number one lady…we've been through a lot together," He said holding up a large, nearly six inch long bullet with a yellow casing at it's tip, "and this is junior. High velocity incendiary round with a simtax warhead. This bullet is special made by only one person, and you're looking at him, it'll take down anything that moves and won't leave a damned thing left to tell ya he's gone."

Miyu looked to Fay, then Katt, and back to Reiko, "So that's your plan? You're just gonna shot at anything out there that moves?"

Reiko sighed shaking his head, "Miyu what did you see around that corner?" He asked, "nothing right? Well I can tell you that there are at least seven snipers in that clearing; two on the roof of that far off bank, one hidden up on the balcony of the third floor of the apartment building off to the right of it, and several more hiding along the street…" He pointed out heading up the fire escape.

"So you're gonna shoot while we're the bait?" Katt asked.

Reiko chuckled, "Wouldn't dream of that…" He said, "…let me just say that there's a reason they call me Dead Eye Reiko."

The pale furred vixen sat up in pain looking to her palms; her nerves were still on fire, parts of her anatomy tingled from the shock of the attack she'd suffered at the hands of the animal she'd once, mistakenly thought could be her friend. Looking herself over she was happy enough to see that only portions of her once white uniform were either stained crimson with her blood, or torn and tattered. Unfortunately all she could make of the small cell she lay in was a buzzing screen of light that seemed to paint the entire room in a light blue glow. It was as she stood up that the vixen realized that her right eye was slightly swollen, though quite a bit still not too much to block out her sight. She took a small step toward the screen of light, looking to the white, green lit walls…

"Jamie?" She called hoping the crimson furred vixen was somewhere in another cell nearby, however her call went unanswered.

Suddenly the vixen could hear something behind her that slowly built into a muffled voice, "They took her away a few hours ago…" It pointed out, "…they'll do the same to you soon enough. I don't envy you…I used to be that bastard's friend, and look at what he's done to me."

Whipping about the vixen stared off into the darkest corner of the small room, where there sat a small shadowy figure, it seemed that her shadow was actually the only real thing blocking the animal from her sight until she stepped to one side. The vixen gasped placing her paw over her mouth; the animal that sat in the corner was terribly malnourished, she could scarcely even recognize the little toad's face, he had somehow managed to withhold his musculature despite clearly being starved half to death. The vixen managed to hold in her tears somehow, though on the inside there was no measure to how happy she was to see him; before her was the animal she owed her life to. Had it not been for this one little mechanic, Falco would have gotten away with shooting her all those years ago. Bending down the vixen lifted the injured toad carrying him to the murphy style bed. However, as she stood from laying him in the bed, the toad looked strangely into her eyes. The pale furred vixen stepped away looking out the door of the small room…

"You know you really look a lot like someone I used to know, but, I guess she's dead by now…" The toad said, "…what's your name? Mine's Slippy…sorry if I'm coming off as irritating at the moment, I've been in this cell for three years…I don't find many people other than myself to talk to in here. I'm I being irritating?"

The vixen chuckled over her suppressed tears still keeping her back to Slippy, "No…you aren't…I'd be talkative too if I were in here that long. My name's Kursed. My friend's…"

"Jamie…" Slippy cut her off, "…we talked for a few minutes before they took her away."

The vixen turned her head enough to see the toad's slightly mangled legs, "Did "he" do that to you?" She asked tilting her neck toward the animal's legs.

Slippy looked to his legs for a moment and scoffed, "Yeah…" He chuckled, "…every week he has them set, then has them broken again two weeks later."

"Why would he do such a thing to an old friend?" Kursed asked.

Slippy chuckled, "He leaned from experience," He replied, "Falco knows better than to challenge me to a battle of wits. He left me in perfect health when they had me in my first cell…they were hunting me down again in less than an hour."

Kursed chuckled inwardly before looking to the ceiling of the cell, "Has anyone else been through here?"

Slippy sighed, "Yeah, they dragged a guy in a white cloak through here a few hours ago, but, he wasn't moving or saying anything…and he was bleeding all over the place. Who was he?"

Kursed did not want to say it, "Nobody important…he just has information that I'd rather these people didn't have."

The vixen turned toward Slippy slowly making her way over to him, "Listen…if I can get us out of this cell, can you lead me out? I'd do it myself but I was out when they dragged me in here."

Slippy looked to her for a moment, it seemed that for a second or two he couldn't look away from her eyes, "I remember the way out…" He nodded, "…in fact I know a shortcut, though they've probably put someone on patrol detail now," He chuckled, "I wouldn't dare use the vents, that's how I got out of here last time. I heard em say next time someone escapes, they'll have someone ready to pump some sort of gas into the vents."

"Is there any point of weakness in this shield?" She asked looking to the screen of light that barred her exit of the cell.

Slippy lowered his head, 'Only when they take someone out or put someone back, and even then there's usually two of them, and they're usually pretty heavily armed."

"Males I can handle…" The vixen smiled, "…most males are easy enough to deal with."

Slippy sighed, "Some men don't care how pretty you are, they only care about money."

The vixen smiled even brighter as she patted the toad's head, "I think you'll find my powers of persuasion are a step above the norm."

Slippy noticed something about the vixen's smile, "I could swear we've met before"

Kursed bore a half cocked grin, "I tend to have that effect on people."

He knew that it could not possibly be who he imagined it was; she was far to brash, cocky, but, she was still kind and loving to an extent even though she attempted to hide it. He could see the vixen from the Den so clearly when he looked into her eyes that it was like looking back into the past. He had not doubt in his mind that she was still alive but, he simply was forced to weigh the odds of her actually finding her way here to him. However it was as he sat there that the toad realized why it was she held back, she simply did not want to cause him any undue stress. It was as she stood by the barrier that the toad finally sighed…

"I really would have hoped you'd say something," He finally said, "but, I understand why you wouldn't," As she seemed to simply ignore him, "I had to convince myself but, I can still see it in your eyes Krystal. You can change your fur, and even your mannerisms but, your eyes will always give away who you are to people that knew you."

The vixen simply breathed heavily, barely managing to force back her tears…

"I won't blame you if you leave me here," He said, "I'd just slow you down."

Suddenly the vixen shot about stomping over to him where she jabbed a finger into his chest, "You listen to me. You saved my life, so don't think for one second that I have no intentions of returning the favor…you and Fox," She said turning about, "once I get us out of this cell I have to get to Corneria before they manage to execute him."

"Execute?" The toad wondered, "Fox is dead…isn't he?"

The vixen sighed as she looked back away, "I'm sorry Slippy," She said, "but, it looks like Falco and Peppy are the only two that died."

"But Falco's not…."

The toad cut himself off as the pale furred vixen glanced over her shoulder at him simply causing the mechanic to silence himself, "So you're gonna kill him then?"

Kursed sighed, "Wouldn't you if you managed to get your hands on him right now?"

Slippy shook his head, "No…but, I'd probably make him wish he was dead."

It was as that thought crossed her mind that the vixen knelt beside the toad examining his legs…

"We have to get your legs at least partially fixed, or we'll never get you out of here. I have a plan but, I'm going to need Jamie to pull it off."

Reiko focused his eyes along the sights of his rifle; there was nothing that could have prepared him for what his Link was capable of. He chuckled inwardly as the entire intersection seemed to rush up before his eyes; he could see everything, including the multi-colored jumbles that lay in wait. He could see everything, and now that he could see them he knew where to place every shot. He looked about a bit more, and found what it was he wanted to find. In the first building across from him he could make out a small blotch of colors that clearly indicated that there was a sniper in wait. With a bit of a frown he turned his attention to the building across from he one he was watching, only to find another sniper was waiting there, the two further down the main road of the intersection, they were clearly in the place just in case anyone made it past the blockade. It was as he surveyed the area that Reiko took a deep breath…

"Katt, Miyu…" He whispered, "…you two hear me?"

"Loud and clear," Miyu's voice responded lightly, "so, what's the plan?"

"Simple," Reiko replied, "…once I start shooting, you three get access to that mainframe, once we get it online, we'll be just fine. First off though, which one of you three is the fastest runner?"

Katt sighed, "Why don't I like the sound of this too much?"

"You're gonna love this next part," Reiko chuckled, "once you hear the first shot…and trust me you will hear it. I need the fastest of the three of you over to that building pronto…secure a way in then we'll be good for the other two. So who's it gonna be?"

Fay's voice was the one that came through, "I'll do it. I've always been faster than Miyu and Katt's still injured."

"Well…that was fast," Reiko sighed setting his sights, "Miyu, Fay…Katt. You three be careful…okay?"

"Don't worry about us Reiko," Miyu retorted, "just make sure you don't get shot up there."

Reiko chuckled to himself as he brought his focus back to the weapon he held. It had been forever since he'd gotten to use it; back during his stay with the military his rifle was his life, his career as a sniper was the single best time of his life. Bringing his weapon's sight to rest he zeroed in on his first target…the fuel tank of a vehicle being used in the barricade where two animals were clearly hiding in wait. With a smile the coyote wrapped is finger around the trigger of his old friend and gently squeezed. Even though the shot was muffled, the weapon still sounded off like a clap of thunder, the girls had been expecting to hear the shot but, Fay nearly hit the deck when she sat the fireball that engulfed one of the vehicles in the barricade before two more suddenly followed after. Stunned for a moment, the white furred poodle leaped to her feet and rushed off, not bothering with anything else. Not even when another shot rang our causing a spray of glass to fall down from overhead as she turned around the corner taking a side alley behind one of the buildings to keep away from the madness…

As several more shots rang out a voice rang through Miyu's skull, "Get your asses moving now! I see more troops! It was a set up! Move! Move! Move!" Reiko's voice shot through her headset.

Miyu quickly turned to the pink feline beside her, "Sorry about this Katt…"

The Lynx gave Katt no time to reply as she quickly lifted Katt onto her shoulders and shot down the street. Though she wasn't very fast, she was more than strong enough to carry the feline's feminine frame with her. As she ran along she could hear the gunfire nipping at her heels but, there was little she could do about it, luckily however, as Reiko watched on he noticed the feline ducking down the same alleyway that Fay had taken. With a sigh, Reiko looked out into the distance; there was a massive plume of black smoke from the vehicles he'd blown up, covering his position. However, as his high teck eye zoomed in on the far off street, where he could make out the small patrol of troops that were actually headed in the girls's direction. In a bit of a panic the coyote looked through his things. His ammo reserves were dry. Suddenly his paw brushed against the front of his shirt; he quickly reached down the front of his shirt pulling up a single bullet held by a small chain. He quickly pulled snapping the thin chain before lifting his rifle into his arms and manually loading the shell. He quickly peered along the barrel lining up his last shot…

With that final shot ringing out over the landscape, the bullet tore into a soldier's skull completely fragmenting the creature's head. As it continued to travel however, the bullet's path drove it through another solider's upper chest, before finally causing a third soldier's abdomen to burst open spraying his entrails across his fellow soldiers. Quickly the small platoon shot about aiming their weapons. At first Reiko was certain that they were not going to notice him until a fell wind blew through the area causing a break in the black smoke…allowing the soldiers a brief glimpse of him allowing them to zero in on their new target…

"Thank you God." Reiko chuckled looking to the sky.

However suddenly a shot grazed the coyote's ear causing him to duck before quickly rushing off, "Nevermind…fuck you don't ever help me again."

Kursed sighed as she stood up backing way from Slippy slightly. If she hadn't gagged him before setting his broken bones, she was certain that he would have alerted a guard somewhere. To be honest she was beginning to worry about Jamie, the vixen had not returned for hours, and that was after she'd come to. According to Slippy, Jamie had been gone for more than five hours…which he claimed was not that unusual, however, as she waited by the white furred vixen looked back to the toad that still lay on the murphy bed…

"Any better? Can you move them?" She asked.

Slippy moved his legs about a bit, "Yeah, but, I'm not about to attempt walking."

Kursed sighed, "I don't blame you."

Suddenly the far off door to the room opened allowing a single soldier to step into the room. He was short for a soldier, but, wore the body armor as well as a black polished helmet. The soldiers made his way across the room stopping by the screen of blue light, where he clearly scanned the white furred vixen up and down for a moment…

"See something you like?" The vixen scoffed folding her arms across her chest.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" A familiar voice emitted from the soldier's helmet as he removed it allowing long red hair to fall down around his shoulders. Kursed smiled when she saw Jamie's smiling face.

Laughing a bit to herself Kursed slowly approached the light screen, "Oh I think I am really beginning to like you. How'd you manage to throw the guards off?"

Jamie shook her head allowing her hair to flutter around her head, "Like I said before; males are easy. If they think they're getting something they want, they'll let their guard down in a heartbeat," She said deactivating the screen, "I would imagine with a figure like yours you'd have used it to get what you want at some point. A vixen as pretty as you could do a lot of damage with your body," She said looking over the vixen's shoulder, "hi shorty." She said.

Slippy chuckled, "Is she always like this?"

Kursed laughed, "Yes," She replied, "and I'm a little glad she is."

Jamie chuckled, "Well thank you," She said, "finally some recognition. Now let's get you and your little friend out of here…I have this funny feeling that this whole city is about to turn into the sixth ring of hell."

"What about my scythe?" Kursed asked hoisting Slippy up onto her shoulders.

"Couldn't get to it but, I do know where it is." Jamie replied, "we'll have to get it out of there ourselves."

"Well that's the least of our problems right now," Kursed said.

"Yeah, just get me to a command console and I'll light this place up like they won't believe." Slippy said.

As the three headed out of the room, Kursed's mind struggled with all that was going on. She'd had no idea what she was bying into when she'd joined Star Fox all those years ago. At the moment she could only hope that Fox was still alive, that Reiko and the others were doing the best they could get that power grid back up and running, and most of all, she simply hoped that the three of them could get out of this place alive…


Now I'm certain there were a few spelling or grammar issues since my grammar is atrocious...but, anyone that's read my stuff before knows that right?

As always thanks for the views, keep reading and I'll try again to post another chapter asap. Till then see ya... ^_^