Welcome back to another chapter! Really quick, around June or July of 2015, I will be starting something that will basically take all my time. June (july at latest), will start Bootcamp! Then right after that is 6 months of "A" School for CT in the Navy. Yup I am going on a path for my career and I can't wait to be part of it and chaining off into something I love.

Also, the team is big, don't forget that. I have named every character and have created the plot around them so this means that this one may be rather long.

That was a quick update…. so let's continue with the story (I have the plot down and I hope you all enjoy it)

Anomoly?

Life at the estate was somewhat soothing for me, and to be honest it helped with whenever I would encounter a memory coming back to me. Star Fox was no longer the small squad that it had used to be, it was now a 25 pilot unit. I remember when they started the mass expansion of the property so that we could hous those who wanted to stay here with the rest of the team. It was incredibly generous of the construction company to do it for free of charge and it took them no time to finish it off. The house now housed all 25 of us and we lived like one big family, in a weird kind of way. Since we were a large team, we were split into different squads, like before, each having it's own strength and role. We went from Alpha to Foxtrot and had three tech experts alongside Slippy.

Fox and I had just finished our meeting with the General about our new assignments. They were rather small but he promised to pay a large sum for the completion of them. Being the Mercenaries-for-hire that we are, we took them regardless of the sum of money promised for the success.

When we arrived back at the estate, we called a meeting in the underground room. All 25 of us were gathered and we listened to Fox outline the plan. Delta and Foxtrot Fox were dismissed as they were ground squads and had no role in the missions, and the rest of us were assigned a job. Beta Fox, Falco, and Slippy were to escort a small group of vessels to the Sector Y nebula so that goods could be safely transported to the fleet in place. Fox, Krystal, I, and Charlie Squad were to assist a CDF squad with the scouting of Meteo; according to Pepper, strange readings had been coming from there, both energy and physical activity.

This part of the job puzzled me as I knew of no other gangs in existence that would be using Meteo as a form of hideout. I had killed Wolf long ago and Star Wolf had been eradicated long ago, so it could be possible that the remnants of his gang could be up to something. I could see exactly why this would be the case. Wolf's men finally trying to get some revenge after some time of planning makes perfect sense in my mind.

"Krystal, Kevin, Charlie, mind if I speak with you all for a second?" Fox said as we tried to exit the room.

The six of us gathered around Fox and listened to what it was he had to say.

He simply shrugged at us, "I have my theories and my doubts, but nothing is set in stone until we see exactly what it is that's happening."

"What do you mean?" Krystal asked.

"I mean that this Meteo thing sounds like a trap. Think about it, Wolf and his crew were killed a while back, but his gang is possibly still in existence. Who is to say this activity isn't from them?"

I smiled slightly, "My thoughts exactly."

One of the members from Charlie Squad, a hard headed show-off avian by the name of Jordan Fisher, gave a slight chuckle, "Do you really think we'd fall for something like this?" Jordan was basically a clone of Falco, only more focused on showing his skills off and giving smart-ass remarks.

Jess Pierce, a grey vulpine with incredible intelligence, shot Jordan a foul look, "We're going in because of a job. It's an indirect springing of the trap. So in other words, yes, we are falling for it." It was obvious that the two didn't get along so well- Jess being a more serious person than Jordan was.

I spoke up as a new thought came to my mind, "You know… to be honest, I'd much rather run into Wolf's gang. I don't think we can handle another damn war."

Fox nodded slowly, "I can see why you feel this, but I agree. Too much has been happening, so let's hope for the best."

I didn't want another war to fight, the trauma I had from the past wars was enough. Even though I was older, an adult mentally, I could be affected just as much as when I was 16 and seeing death for the first time, killing for the first time, and experiencing loss for the first time.

Penny Pierce, a leporine and the stepsister of Jess, "And if it isn't Wolf's gang?"

Fox shrugged and sighed, "Then we hope the trap doesn't work."

A sudden flashback from my past shot through my brain. Out of no where my head ached in pain as I saw two memories of my past. . Two memories that have haunted me suddenly reared their ugly heads.

"LONG… LIVE…. YUTHAN!" A trap that was so easily sprung… "Kevin!" I could see Fox running towards me... "GET BACK! THAT ISN'T KEVIN!"

"KRYSTAL!" The near death of a close friend, at the hands of one of her own kind, a trap set by him "I'M GONNA KILL YOU, AUSTIN!" I can Krystal lying on the floor near death and Austin to the side of me on the ground lifeless.

My head boomed in pain and Krystal and Cobe Cage quickly caught me. Cobe was another avian that was quiet and didn't speak much, though had incredible flying skills.

The two helped me sit back down at the table while the others watched in somewhat horror and absolute confusion.

"Oh no" Krystal said as she had the expression of pain on her face.

"Holy... what the hell just happened?" I asked as I held my head in absolute pain.

Krystal placed her hand on my head and closed her eyes, "Unbelievable" she said and paused for a moment. She then shook her head saying "How can they be so strong?"

Fox looked at her, "What is it?"

"His mind" she said, "I… I have no words for what's happening."

I slouched over and dug my head into my hands, suddenly slamming my fist on the arm of the chair I was in. I was frustrated, confused, and mad; after all I had done, the therapy Krystal and I went through, the coping I did, the power of Prometheus... they still haunt me as if they happened yesterday or mere minutes ago.

I sensed the worry in both Fox and Krystal. My power I had taken from Prometheus was becoming my strong suit, but the memories were immune to it; I couldn't erase them, I couldn't hide them, I couldn't even think they weren't there.I felt the anger rise in me, and then suddenly decided to take a deep breath. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, I released the anger built in me and relaxed.

As I inhaled and exhaled, I remember the words of my mother who taught me about this skill. She told me that whenever something has not gone my way and that there is no way of doing so, just take deep breaths and let it out nice and slowly. At this thought I felt a tear roll down my eye. It wasn't the thought of the how the technique can work, but the thought of my mother being gone. It was impossible for me to look at it any other way- the one I loved my entire life, the one that cared for me, the one I abandoned… was gone.

I took a deep breath, shakingly, and sighed "I can handle this" I said, knowing full well I couldn't.

Krystal shook her head, "No, you need to sit this one out Kevin. What if something were to happen out there and you suffered another flashback like this?"

I simply shook my head and looked at Fox, "Better not keep the CDF squad waiting." I then walked around the large table and up the stairs to the surface level of the house.

I sensed the pain in Krystal, knowing that all she has done has proven to be completely worthless. She was worried, I was worried, and the others had no clue about it.

I thought to myself, "I just need to fight…" I sighed softly, "I can do this."

I was determined to go on this mission and live the life I had taken up. I'm not going to simply leave because of the thoughts and struggles of my past, I'd brand myself as a coward if I hid and simply abandoned everything.

The team and I were all walking to the east end of the house, part of the extension. On the wall was a large blast proof door. We all waited until the door slid open, revealing a very large elevator. The 7 of us stepped inside and felt as the elevator started to move downwards. The special extension the estate received was intended to help us get into the air for missions and other various assignments.

As the door slid open, an extremely large hangar type room was revealed. The elevator was on the back wall of earth. Around the middle of the room were rows of walkways held up by the side walls of earth. Along each row were Arwings for the team. I looked up and saw that the row of Arwing's that had mine, Fox, Krystal, Falco, and Slippy's Arwing were being moved. Falco and Slippy were being carried by a large mechanism and were placed on another launching system just at the entrance of the large hangar door.

I took the small elevator with Fox and Krystal up to the row with our Arwing's. I jogged over to my Arwing and raised my arm up slightly, opening my holo communicator. Entering a quick command I had my white pilot suit teleported onto me, a new method adapted from the armor teleportation. I then quickly jumped up into my Arwing and awaited the launch mechanism.

Just as I finished strapping in I looked up and saw both Falco and Slippy instantly speed up and carried through the insanely large tunnel. This new mechanism would speed us through this tunnel and launch us into the sky at the other end, kind of like a slingshot.

"Communications line, green." Fox said over the comms, "All ships start your systems."

"Initiate launch sequence" a robotic voice said from the speakers in the hangar.

The second row of Arwing's just above ours, Charlie Fox, was lowered into the device and shot off through the tunnel. Finally, Krystal, Fox, and I were lowered into it. I cracked my neck and started the engines and G-Diffuser. Just ahead I could see the small orbs of light from Charlie Squads Arwings engines, still speeding through the tunnel.

All of the sudden, our four were launched forward. I loved the feeling of speed from this and watching as the lights from the tunnel sped past at blinding speeds- It was mesmerizing to say the least.

About 10 seconds passed and the end of the tunnel was approaching quickly. I grabbed hold of the controls and readied myself to pilot. Instantly, I felt the Arwing lift off of the slingshot system and looked as it was now flying through the air. Literally no time passed and we were already above the cloud cover just from the launch itself. Just like we were in space, we spun extremely fast until the wing's extended out. It never grew old on me; regardless of how many times I launched like that, I always loved the feeling as it reminded me that I was with friends and doing something good… at a price.

"Alright team" Fox said over the comms, "Let's go and see what's wrong with meteo."

Fox, Krystal, I, and Charlie Fox all headed in the direction of Meteo, ready to face the dangers that supposedly awaited us.

"Sir" Penny said over the comms, "Should we try to contact the squad telling them that we are en route?"

The feed, which was recently upgraded to provide one of every member simultaneously, enlarged that from Penny to Fox, whom nodded in agreement, "Good idea" he paused and set up the comm line, "Cornerian Defense Force Squad Bulldog 1, this is Fox McCloud of Star Fox. Do you read me?"

The HUD then moved the other feed's away, giving a larger one with static. We were all met with the silence and the white noise from the broken comm line. None of us knew what was happening, and quite frankly it gave me an incredibly horrible feeling about what was to come.

"Cornerian Defense Force Squad… Bulldog 1, do you copy?"

I started to grow a worried. First off I was confused as to why they weren't responding to a simple communication line, and second I was confused as to why we received static. Slippy had taught me a few strings about communications, and I knew that static usually meant that the other end of the line was heavily tampered with or even simply eradicated.

"Technical issues?" Jess asked.

Jordan shrugged, "I mean, it can happen… right?"

Krystal suddenly gasped deeply. It was out of nowhere and incredibly loud, as if she was just frightened by one of her worst fears.

I jumped at the sudden noise and damn near fired a few lasers into open space. I wasn't ready for something like that and it honestly caught me extremely off guard. Not only that, but my emotions and the feeling about this mission contributed to my jumpiness.

"Fuck… what hap-..." I said as I cut myself off. Instantly I could feel the emotion radiating off of Krystal. Whatever it was that she had sensed, I was not far behind from sensing as well. I was sent into a trance from the distress and pain that slapped me in the face.

"Uhhh, what just happened?" Penny asked with confusion and fear on her face.

I shook myself out of the trance, "Prime you weapons NOW!"

Right after I said this I changed the weapon systems to use the Ultra Lasers. Thankfully the Arwing had enough power to do so.

"Bul-" Fox tried to contact the squad once more, however I cut him off abruptly as I knew it was no use.

"Enough Fox, there's a reason why they aren't answering." I snapped as I sensed something still within the asteroid field, "Oh fuck… something is out there."

We were rapidly approaching the large asteroid field. The light from both Lylat Prime and Solar gave us the best visibility, giving us the upper hand at finding whatever it was that was out there.

I sensed something out of place. Just as I had got within range to see what was wrong, I felt the pain and the death within the field. Faint brain patterns from the squad holding up, all of which killed in cold blood. Destroyed by an unknown enemy hiding in the fields.

"Krystal…" I said as my heart sank slightly, "... do… do you feel this?"

She nodded slowly, "My god…"

Fox spoke softly, "Keep your guard up."

The 7 of us then entered the asteroid field, ready to fight. Neither Krystal nor I knew what was in store for us within this dangerous area. Already we lost ten allies before even discovering what it was that had killed them.

As I flew threw and passed several meteorites and asteroids, I could sense something was near. For some odd reason, I couldn't tell where it was exactly, what it was, or even if it was something at all.

"Krystal" I said, "Can you find anything?"

She shook her head, "No, but I can feel the presence of someone here."

I was somewhat relieved when she said that she was sensing the presence of another being. Deep down I had initially thought we would be fighting some sort of creature or an essence of something. But now I felt like the Wolf's gang theory was true.

"What… the fuck…" I said softly as I continued to fly over asteroids, still unable to find what it was I was sensing.

All of the sudden, I felt a spike in the activity I had tracked, almost as if the being is suddenly moving and with adrenaline in it's system. The brain activity and waves left behind by whatever it was that had done so simply jolted, causing me to flinch slightly.

"Argh…" I said as I grabbed my head from the slight sting, "Krystal?" I said, "Please tell me that was you just getting startled by something." My fingers were on both triggers and my eyes were shooting around carefully looking at every asteroid near me.

She shook her head once more, "No… it wasn't…"

"CONTACT!" Penny suddenly yelled, "Oh shit!"

My eyes shot down to the the control panel on my left. I typed in a quick command, activating the smart canopy. The ship scanned and it outlined all the Arwing's in sight. One of which seemed to floating aimlessly. Even with this device, it wasn't hard to find where it was Penny was located. Her sudden brain activity was like a straight line to her. I cracked my neck, had my fingers ready, and pushed the throttle forward all the way, zooming to the direction of Penny.

As I came over an asteroid, I found her and her Arwing, disabled and floating through space, just as the smart canopy outlined it to be.

"Oh shit!" I yelled as I zoomed down to it and stopped, peaking inside of the cockpit.

"Where is Penny!" Jess suddenly yelled, "Kevin! Where is she!?" The sound and emotion coming from his voice was enough to know that he was deathly afraid and expecting the worst.

I looked up and saw her in the cockpit, safe but unconscious.

She's unconscious but alive." I said, suddenly slamming my fist down, "What the fuck is happening?" I yelled, "Get Peppy to teleport her out of there." I said as I started to look around frantically.

All of the sudden, the brain activity from the being spiked once more. My comms went dead, and my smart canopy was shut off. Fear struck my body and the thought of action came to my mind; whatever was out there had targeted me, but I was ready for it.

"Come on out, you piece of shit." I said to myself as I tried to look around. I started to fly forward, circling around Penny's Arwing and looking all around me cautiously.

I looked off to one of the asteroids in front of me and noticed something odd in the pitch black shadow it had. Something a bit lighter, moving softly.

"There you are…"

I readied my finger and was just about to fire. Out of nowhere, a bright flash of blue light emitted from the exact spot I was looking at. My Arwing shook violently as electricity surged from the front HUD all the way to the back of the Arwing.

"No! No no no no!" I yelled repeatedly as I tried to restart the ship. To no avail, I continued to look forward as my Arwing was now slowly spinning.

My breathing intensified as I saw an oddly shaped ship arise from the shadow of the asteroid. I saw it fly slowly and towards Penny's Arwing.

"...oh no…" I said quietly and watching in horror. Suddenly another blue flash came from the ship, but it looked like it came from Penny's Arwing. A sigh of relief came through my mouth as she was now safe. However, the ship examining the Arwing slowly reversed away from it, turning towards me and flying closer to me.

My breathing was even more intense and my heart was pounding against my chest. I wasn't scared in any way, but the adrenaline and the thought of what is to come was too much for me.

"Go ahead and kill me, you fucker!" I yelled.

Suddenly, my vision went black. I felt nothing and all that I could see around me was darkness and emptiness. It was a sight too familiar to me, and it struck immense fear into my mind and intense flashbacks that I had long forgotten.

Whoever it was... it took me...

TO BE CONTINUED…

Oh DAMN! It took me forever to write this one. Why, do you ask? Well, writers block! It's a total pain in the arse but I did come through it and created this! I really hope you guys like where I am going with this and I am glad to say that this one will be very suspenseful and different from my other books.

As always, my readers…

*manly voice* TOODLES!