So, this chapter, like I said in my update on my profile, is going to be awesome. I said to keep an eye out mainly because there is a surprise. So let's not keep you waiting

On with the story…

The Trap? Pt. 1

Today was the day. Fox had gone over the plan with us multiple times, most of them without me in the room. This was because Krystal had successfully informed them all of the danger waiting for us at Aquas, how Austin was in control and had full access to my mind. To my surprise, Fox found absolutely zero danger in me- he had lost no trust in me and had faith in me, even commenting on the fact that I could be used to beat Austin.

But, since the day began, I had noticed nothing within my head. Austin was not chained to me and my mind was free to think and come out of hiding. Why this was I had no idea, perhaps something had happen to Austin causing him to focus his attention away from me and towards whatever it was distracting him. Whatever it was, we were taking this chance to ambush and possibly even kill him right now, without him even knowing.

I was standing on the Great Fox's bridge with Fox and the others. Tailing Great Fox was Great Fox II, another Dreadnaught class ship created solely to house the new members of the team during missions. Though it had a completely different design- a long design with two rows acting as the main hangers- it was almost near the strength and power of the Great Fox. Oddly enough, I had a strange feeling, like I had seen it before, but I disregarded the feeling altogether.

The blue planet was approaching quickly. I had tried reaching out, looking for Austin either out in orbit or on the surface. Krystal even assisted in this attempt, only to find that he was nowhere to be found, not in space, not on the surface, and not even in this sector of Lylat.

"This is odd" I said as I opened my eyes, "Neither can I find Austin nor is he chained to my mind. It's like he just disappeared altogether."

Krystal added on, "This is strange indeed, I can't find him either."

I shook my head in confusion, "This isn't good."

Falco quickly chimed in, "To be fair, none of this is good." He always had some sort of joke or some sort of remark that had to be made. Just like

Fox raised his hand to his chin, pondering the odd situation, "Kevin" he said, "Are you sure that Austin told you to come to Aquas?"

I shrugged, "I don't know how I could hear otherwise. Honestly I'm just as confused as you are."

"Diego" Fox said over the comms, contacting Great Fox II's captain, Diego Armstrong, "This is Fox, do you copy?"

Diego, a pantherine with dark purple fur, appeared on the forward holo screen, "Loud and clear boss." he had a strong cariocan accent and was always on point, ready for any orders and taking his job rather seriously, but with a twist of his bronx attitude.

Fox made a gesture in mid air, causing a holo screen to appear in front of him. He pulled up a feed of the radar, "Is Great Fox II detecting anything odd on the scanners or radar? Something's definitely up, but we're kind of in the dark right now."

Diego looked over at the radar holo screens and shook his head, "Nothin boss, doesn't look like there's anything here."

I spoke up as I finally found something living on the surface of the planet, it wasn't a native animal, but it was a being that I had recognized. I couldn't make out who it was exactly, but I could tell that I had indeed sensed this before.

"Hold on" I said as I noticed the presence, "Something is on the surface, it's not an indigenous animal."

Fox looked over, "Is it Austin?"

I shook my head, "Possibly, but it's hard to tell. Something it clouding it, keeping me away- but I know it's there."

Krystal smiled, "If that's the case then it's definitely Austin."

A deep sigh came from my mouth, "Why is it that I have the worst feeling about this?"

I wasn't wrong to feel this way. Austin had disappeared from my head and I wasn't able to find any traces of him anywhere, even with the minor training to unlock even more of my telepathy.

The training Krystal had put me through was tough- for simply learning how to use more of the ability, it's surprisingly difficult and painful. She had told me that her father tried training her, only to fail due to her apparent weakness to it. However, with the situation at hand, she started to pass down the teachings to me, making me stronger with my mind and giving me more control over my telepathy. So far, I was able to strike pain in any foe I connect my mind to, similar to how Austin did so to me when he had captured me. I felt as though this was the only thing I would need to kill the deranged Cerinian, but deep down I knew it would take a little more than just that.

"Alright" Fox said, "I think Delta Fox should head down and scout out the area. Since our plan is useless here, we'll have to wing it." he continued over the comms, "Delta Fox, gear up and ready the transport."

I stepped up, "I'm going with them. They'll need someone down there to sniff out whatever is hiding down there. Plus, I can provide some killer sniper support."

Fox looked over, "Are you sure Kevin? What if it is Austin down there and he ends up killing you?"

I smiled slightly, "I'm worried about dying unless I don't fight before it happens." I then raised my arm up to my side, activating the holo communicator and walking out of the bridge, "Delta Fox, meet me on the surface, I'm heading down now to get a quick scope and secure you all a landing zone."

Jayce Hope, the leader of the squad, replied, "Copy that boss, we're gearing up as we speak"

I nodded, "Good. If I were you, I'd pack a good amount of ammo capsules. Who knows what's down there waiting."

"Copy that boss" Jayce said before ending the comm line.

As I exited the elevator and into the landing bay, I threw my fist down and slammed the ground, activating my armor. The black exoskeleton suit instantly teleported onto me and began to sync to my body. Since it was an exoskeleton, it had to do so each time so that it could adapt to the strength I have when it is active.

I cracked my neck and walked into the armory. It was added into the ship after Star Fox grew into a unit. The small room had three rows with shelves in between. Each shelve had D-9 blaster pistols, D-10 Auto-Rifles, and EL-8 Gatling Guns. However on the back wall were some special weapons. On the wall were four guns that were used specifically by us. My weapon was specially created by Space Dynamics and was tailored towards my skill of using one of its kind. I had nicknamed it Ripper, thought it was really a heavily upgraded XSD-1 sniper rifle, one with a state of the art digital scope, a greatly extended magazine, a barrel that silences the discharging plasma, and even a G-Diffuser to make the shots pinpoint accurate.

I loved going out to the range and firing the gun, though not a single job had come up where I could really utilize the power it had, until now. I grabbed the weapon and slung it onto my back where it magnetized to it. I reached down to a small drawer and grabbed five more energy cells for the behemoth sniper rifle and placed them in my leg holster. I then walked over to the shelves and grabbed a D-9 pistol, loading it with a cell and lowering it to my right leg holster. The holster extended out from my leg and I placed it within, ready for the mission at hand.

I walked out of the armory, only to find Krystal waiting over by her Arwing, wearing her flight suit and holding a D-9 pistol to her side.

"Uh, Krystal?" I asked, "What are you doing?"

She smiled, "I'm coming along with you. Austin is too powerful for you to handle. If both of us are there, then we can probably cripple him enough so that Delta Fox can fight or even kill him."

I sighed and lowered my head. I knew it was a bad idea to let her come along, especially since Austin was far more powerful than both of us combined. Truly he was, Austin was damn near a god with his power of telepathy, but I couldn't risk all of Delta Fox and I getting killed, but at the same time I didn't want Krystal in harms way, especially when that harm is Austin.

That memory plays back through my head every once in a while. The day Austin and I first met, nearly dying and nearly losing a friend. That friend was standing right before me, and she was willing to go back out there and risking her life to fight the same person that had grown even more powerful than the first time. That idea made my stomach ache and my head spin, the thought of her actually dying, the thought of my closest friend being killed was not something I wanted to endure.

I shook my head slowly, quickly turning it into a vigorous shake, "No, no, absolutely not. You're insane if you think you're going down there with us. Do you not remember what happened last time, Krys? Do you not remember the pain you had endured from that bat shit insane Cerinian? I am not going to let you go back out and face him when he is even more powerful than before."

"Kevin.." She said with her mouth open.

I quickly stopped her, "Please…" I said softly, "... Austin is too strong…" I shook my head once, "I don't want you to die Krystal. He almost did it once… and if you died… then… I don't know what I'd do. I could never forgive myself for letting it happen at the hands of a madman. You are my closest friend, and I don't want to lose you, and neither does anyone else on this team." I paused, "Please… just go back to the bridge and monitor the situation from there."

Krystal lowered her head. She thought hard about the decision and I could tell that she was seriously considering the danger in the mission.

"Alright…" she said ever so softly, "... just promise me one thing"

I smiled slightly. The thought of Krystal taking the safer route made me happy. She was indeed my closest friend and even a mother figure to me. I always felt like she was the woman that filled the hole in my life where my mother had filled. Krystal has been nice, she has helped me in my times of need, and she has always been there for everyone, not only me.

"Come back alive" She said before tackling me and squeezing me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around her as well, "I'll be fine…"

I let Krystal go and looked at my Arwing. I took a deep breath and readied myself. Using the added strength of the exo armor, I jumped onto the wing and took a seat in the cockpit. The engines of the Arwing started to whirl to life and spew their plasma energy. I looked ahead, out into the open space and took another deep breath praying that the mission go as planned and that no one be harmed.

The Arwing shot out of the hangar and into space. The wings expanded instantly and the ship was in my control. I veered towards the large blue planet and headed right for the marked area on the smart canopy, the mark was located over an island that was literally in the middle of the ocean. It was small and had no other islands around it, it was lonely and looked like the perfect place for anyone to hideout on.

I smiled slightly, "I'm not going to let you live this time you son of a bitch."

To Be Continued…

Oh my, what do we have here? Looks like Kevin is in for a little surprise next chapter ;). I've got a really nice surprise cooking in the next chapter, so be ready for it.

So, tell me what you thought. I have been able to devote more time to my writing recently since my class schedule has cleared up nicely. Early classes that get out around noon and no classes on Fridays.

Please, leave me a review and tell me if you liked it, if I need to improve on something, if I need to add something. Hell, I'll even take some suggestions that I may try to work into the book. Really, I appreciate and LOVE hearing from you all.

And so…

Until Next Time…