Fox: So I say this and you don't get slapped with a lawsuit?
Storyteller 2013: Yep and I can keep the chapters going.
*Fox shrugs then says*: The following is a non-profit Fan based adventure. Star fox, Star fox 64, Adventure, Assault, and Command are all owned by Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto. Please Support the official release.
ST: Thanks Fox. There is some mild language and some disturbing imagery in this chapter so you know, you have been warned.
Chapter Nine
Hidden Memories and Painful Secrets
Krystal walked down the hall that led to sick bay, her fears growing with every step. Around 2 A.M., a voice awakened her from her slumbers, "KRYSTAL! HELP ME!"
Ten minutes later, Amanda called her and Fox to sick bay. "It's Cyrus."
She met Fox outside sick bay. He was wearing a gray tank top and gray flannel pants. Krystal was wearing pink silk pajamas. The two stood there, dreading what might be on the other side of the door.
"Fox," she started to say, but he just turned to the door and went inside.
"I know. I just wish I could tell his family what happened to him… that he died trying to get home to them."
"Don't count him out just yet," Amanda said. "He's made quite the recovery."
Fox and Krystal turned to the bio beds, and there sat Cyrus in the blue sick bay recovery scrubs, arms crossed and looking like someone who had seen the darkest side of hell.
"When did he get out of the healing pod?" Krystal asked, feeling her and Fox's relief that their young friend was alive.
"About five minutes before I called you two. I fell asleep while I was looking over old medical files trying to find any kind of surgical procedures that could remove and restore his limbs like that. When alarms went off and I woke up and ran to the pods. When I got there, he was trying to kick his way out."
Amanda handed Fox the med pad and showed him a replay of Cyrus's brain activity for that time index. For a while, it sat in the normal pattern of R.E.M. sleep. Then it increased as if someone had put a stereo in his head and turned it on full blast. "That was not a standard nightmare he was having, what he was having is a full-on night-terror. And he claims not to know what he was dreaming about."
"Aside from the night terror, how is he doing?" Fox asked. Amanda shook her head and changed the screen on the med pad, "His stab wound has healed sooner than I expected. His blaster wound has healed remarkably well with the exception that it is still very tender. But I'm puzzled by something; he's burning up like he has a fever, but without any signs of infection, so I took a closer look. His body is working overtime to heal his injuries. His blood is pumping through his veins like he's working out, but what caught my eye was this…his platelets have trace amounts of theta radiation."
Fox peered closer at the chart, confused, while Krystal stared at Cyrus and was disturbed by what she felt. Cyrus bared nothing but fear—cold, paralyzing amounts of the emotion, but beneath the black waves there was something lurking, something that harkened her memories back to a time when her father told her and her siblings a time of demons and gods.
"Is that even possible? We picked him up months ago, why is it still there?" Krystal asked.
"I don't know, I can't explain it."
"Why did you call us? I don't mean to sound calloused, but couldn't this have waited till morning?" Fox asked.
Amanda scowled at him. "It could have, but he refuses to sleep. He won't let me give him something, and won't talk to me or even listen me! Cyrus listens to you and Krystal. I would appreciate it if you two could convince him to swallow his pride and let me help him."
Fox and Krystal looked at each other, then at Cyrus. "Alright, we'll talk to him. Is he well enough to sleep in his quarters?" Fox asked.
"Yes, he is," Amanda answered, "So long as he doesn't do anything too strenuous, and I'd like to see him for some tests as soon as possible."
"Alright then, you should get some sleep. We'll deal with him," Krystal said, giving her a comforting smile. "It's ok, really, we will tuck him into bed."
Amanda nodded and left the room. The two Vulpines approached the human and took a seat on the bed opposite him. Cyrus looked up with bloodshot eyes and did his best to appear happy to see them, but the façade didn't last long.
Fox put a hand on Cyrus's shoulder, "Come on, let's go for a walk."
Out in the hallway the three of them walked to the sonic lifts. On the way there, Fox did the best he could to explain to Cyrus about what they had found.
"I was somebody's lab rat?" Cyrus asked breathlessly.
"It seems that way, but why and for what, we don't know," Fox answered. "And that explains some things, like how you are able to speak Cornerian."
"What? I thought you were speaking English. You sound just as if you are from Earth."
Krystal shook her head, "No, you're speaking Cornerian, and by your accent, you sound like you're from Corneria City."
They boarded the lift, keyed in Cyrus's floor and waited. Cyrus ran his fingers through his hair as though he were trying to find some small scar under his hair. Fox looked over at Cyrus and cleared his throat. "Amanda wanted to run some tests on you as soon as you're up to it," He said. Cyrus only nodded his head. "Cyrus, how do you feel?"
"I've been better, much better than this. I feel like my mind is being toyed, beaten, and just plain screwed with all around by something or someone just for the Set damned fun of it." "I'm tired, but I can't sleep because I don't want to see the faces again," He chuckled mirthlessly, "And now I find out that I'm a lab rat that has escaped from N.I.M.H!"
Tears ran down his face as his list came to a close. He brushed them away angrily with the back of his hand. "How the hell do you think I'm feeling?!"
"Cyrus," Krystal said sharply, anger flashing in her eyes, "Don't you dare snap at Fox like that! He's just trying to help you! If you want to lash out or pout, do it on your own! Am I clear?"
Cyrus backed away from her, completely stunned. He had never seen or heard her when she was angry. Now that he had, Cyrus could only say, "Yes ma'am."
"Cyrus, I know you're afraid and you're confused, but you are not alone here. You've got friends to help you! Don't bury it inside! Open up to us… let us help you." She said, giving Cyrus a warm smile.
Cyrus smiled in return, if only a little. "Do you know who could have done this to me?"
Fox raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember, do you? I assumed Andrew might have something to do with it."
"But I told you, Fox, the last thing I remember I was on Earth, and then I was in a lab that was falling apart. He couldn't have had enough time to dismember me and put me back together."
"Think back, was there anything that was out of place? Anything, no matter how small, could be important," Fox said.
Cyrus thought for a moment. "Like I said, unless you think golden sunshine would have something to do with this, I can't help."
Krystal's ears went forward when Cyrus said this. "Actually you can."
"You're sure this will work?" Cyrus asked.
The human and the two foxes were in Cyrus's quarters. Fox sat in an arm chair trying not to fall asleep. Cyrus sat in the other feeling a little anxious about what they were about to do.
"I'm sure you just have to trust me on this," Krystal said as she knelt down on a pillow set on the floor between the two chairs.
"I'm not sure I understand this whole… what did you call it?" Fox asked.
"Dor`vum invocation, and basically I'll attempt to build a telepathic bridge between our minds to circumnavigate Cyrus's memory block and find some answers."
"And you'll only be able to see what I want you to see? I mean, as far as my memories go?"
"That's right. If there is something you don't want Fox and I to see, we won't be able to."
Fox nodded his head. "'Kay, so how does it work?"
"Fox, I'll need you to close your eyes and relax. Cyrus, I'll need you to meditate on the day you were taken from earth, and try not to panic when I touch your mind. Are you ready?"
"Let's do this." Cyrus said.
"Let's rock and roll." Fox said.
Krystal closed her eyes and reached out with her thoughts. She touched Fox 's mind and laid the stepping stones for the bridge, then felt for Cyrus and was surprised by how quickly Cyrus's powers had developed. She felt Cyrus was ready for her and Fox. She laid the final stone, and she and Fox dove into the memory of Cyrus Blaze.
The first thing the two Vulpines noticed was a street running with noontime traffic under a dark gray sky. The people that passed them were blurred as if they were erased, redrawn, and erased again from an artist's sketch pad.
Fox looked up and down the street then shook his head. "Where do we go now? I don't see Cyrus anywhere."
As in reply, Cyrus strode into view across the street, a merry look in his eyes and a happy spring in his step. As they watched, Cyrus' voice reached their ears narrating his thoughts. "It was a day like any other day. I got up and worked out… routine. I ate breakfast and showered, went to work… routine. I put books away, helped take them down and check them out… routine. But it was around noon when I realized that there was something important happening today. A book that I co-wrote with a fellow writer, an old friend, had just been released. My boss was surprised that I had shown up for work and sent me off to enjoy my latest triumph. As you can see, I was on cloud nine, walking on sunshine and feelin' good."
As Cyrus walked into a small convenience store, Fox and Krystal followed after him. The inside of the store was well organized so that the customer could find what was needed without a problem. Cyrus made his way to the checkout where the cashier, a red and black haired man in his early twenties, and a young blond haired woman with blue highlights stood talking. A little girl with dark red hair stood by her looking bored. As Cyrus approached, the man looked up and smiled brightly.
"Well look, it's our author friend! Congrats on yours and Hannah's novel!"
Cyrus smiled back, and handed his basket to him. "Thanks, Mike! Hey there, little Jenny!" The little girl did not respond, but did her best to hide behind her escort.
"Babysitting, Alyssa?"
The woman nodded.
"Did my sister talk to you?"
Alyssa, the woman with the blonde and blue hair, nodded her head. "Yep, we are set to do the vid on Wednesday. That is, if you can take time out of your schedule," She teased.
"HMM, I don't know. I might have to push you back a few weeks," Cyrus said in a mock seriousness, then smiled, "But it sounds good to me! I'll see you then."
He turned his attention back to Mike. "How much do I owe you, Mike?"
Mike typed a few keys on the cash register. "Well you're splurging today, $45.95."
Cyrus paid him $60. "Keep the change, Mike. I got to get going. My mom is stopping by later to put the final touches for the release party tonight. I'll see you guys there, okay?"
Cyrus turned and headed for the door. Fox tried to move out of the way but was too slow. Fox braced himself waiting for Cyrus to bump into him, but Cyrus passed through him as if Fox were a ghost.
"What the f-?" He started to say.
"We are just shadows in Cyrus's memories. What we see and hear at this time is what he remembers. Here, he can't see us or hear us. The only thing we can do is watch," Krystal said.
Fox turned to the door. "Well if that's the case, we have to get going. Otherwise, we lose him."
Krystal and Fox walked out the door and found themselves on peaceful street in some suburb. They looked over their shoulders expecting to see the door they had just come through. Instead, they saw Cyrus driving right through them, and pull into a drive way of a house.
"I finished a few more errands that day, none of which are worth mentioning, and arrived back home at around 3:30." Cyrus continued his narration, like he was some kind of radio actor, as he got out of his car with his groceries and a small white bag that held some video games. Krystal and Fox ran across the street and into the house just as Cyrus, after fumbling with the lock, walked inside and looked about the living room with Krystal and Fox.
"Cozy, ain't it? Four bedrooms, not counting the den in the basement, good sized kitchen with a gas stove, you know… the usual stuff. The furniture was left to me by my older brother, the loveseat and armchairs I kept up here, and the couch that came with them is down in the den along with my TV, movies, and video games. My mom loves it, and my dad thinks that I should have some roommates. Ahh, and there's my little buddy coming around the corner." Down on the floor, strutting like it was a king, was a black cat. It passed a gaze over its master then walked away as if saying, "Oh…hi there, you've returned."
"Hello, Edgewood," Cyrus said, as he walked into the kitchen and set his bags down on the counter, then picked up the cat, "What do you say we take a nap on the couch for awhile?" The cat purred in response. As Cyrus walked over to the basement door, he passed through Krystal's slim figure, and for some odd reason, he turned and looked back at her with a confused look on his face. "That's the second time that I felt someone or something is watching me. Perhaps it's time to look into getting a roommate," he said to the cat, then went down stairs.
"Krystal, can Cyrus feel us… like our presence, I mean?"
"I'm just as puzzled as you are. Unless he did feel something was there in his house with him. He shouldn't be able to feel us."
The two Vulpines followed Cyrus downstairs to the den, a wide copper and brown room with a large flat screen TV, on either side of which were bookshelves holding books, movies, and games. A large dark brown couch sat a few feet away from a window and a couple closed doors, which led to a guest bedroom and the laundry room.
Fox looked about the room and nodded his head in approval. "Not too shabby! I wonder what he could do with his room if he decided to stay with the team."
Cyrus set his cat down on the floor and stretched himself on the couch with his face up-turned to the ceiling, and closed his eyes. Krystal walked over to the young man and knelt by his side.
"Fox, come over here a moment, would you?" She asked.
Fox walked over to her and knelt down to her level. "What is it?"
"Look out the window and tell me what you see."
Fox looked outside and soon saw what she meant. The sky overhead was dark with thunder clouds. Not one of the sun's rays was visible to the eye.
"This… this doesn't make any sense. Was Cyrus lying when he said the last thing he saw was the sun?" He asked, standing up, scratching the back of his head.
"No, he wasn't. Fox, there has to be something we…."
She never had a chance to finish what she said. For at that moment, there was a bright flash of gold light, and then the room went black.
Light—brilliant golden light surrounded them. Fear and confusion raged through them like a flood. Pain— nerve-ripping, mind shattering pain tore through their bodies. Krystal tried to break the connection between them, but could not. Something was holding her in place, forcing them to share in Cyrus's pain, or was she even Krystal? All was jumbled together; no one could tell who was who anymore. "Let me go! LET ME GO!"
Looking about, but nearly blind by all the light, their ears ringing as if caught in an explosion, but still they could hear the sound of Cyrus's screams of pain and terror … along with a deep guttural voice speaking in some ancient tongue. Just as their eyes adjusted to the light, images jumbled together flashed before their eyes.
Cyrus was confined within crimson bolts of energy—energy tracing down his chest and tearing it open—revealed his still animated organs. Claws of ethereal gold caressed his insides like treasure, as energy bolts striking and slicing like a scalpel taking samples. Tendrils of energy drilled into his head, drilling deeper and deeper into his brain, before healing the wound shut without leaving a scar. Suddenly, Cyrus's flesh glowed as whatever entered his head ignited with light. Cyrus ripped his arms away from his shackles and clawed at his skull, as if trying to release the bright white flames contained there. He screamed, and brilliant light shone from his mouth and eyes. His body froze and convulsed for a few minutes, before falling back, lifeless. Then, all went black. From out of the darkness, a soft voice said, "The weak will be purged."
With a loud shriek, an insect-like face charged out of the dark, and ripped through Fox and Krystal.
Krystal screamed and fell to the floor curled up into a ball while clutching her head. Fox sat up as if from a nightmare and went to Krystal's side, while Cyrus rolled out of his chair and heaved, but the only thing that came up was bile.
Fox tried to pick Krystal up and hold her, but she squirmed and beat her fists against his chest, trying to free herself. She's trapped in her mind! I got to get her back to reality before she goes crazy! Fox thought.
"KRYSTAL!" He shouted, taking hold of her arms and giving her a shake. Krystal became still, but her eyes were still wild with fear.
"Krystal, snap out of it, we're back. It's ok, calm down." Fox said, softly. She soon settled down and embraced him, sobbing gently. Fox looked to Cyrus and said, "Do you have any tea?"
"Does it matter if it's iced?"
Fox shook his head as he sat her in the chair he was previously sitting in. Cyrus ran to the kitchen, and soon returned with a tall glass of tea which he handed to Fox.
"Here you are, Krystal, this will help settle your nerves," Fox said as he put the glass to her lips. Krystal took a few sips, then took the glass and drained it. Krystal sighed as she wiped her mouth.
"Thank you, Cyrus." She sounded tired, shaken, and a little worried at the same time. He was about to speak and offer a word of comfort, but she waived him off.
"I'm okay, Cyrus, really I am. I just need to rest for a moment."
They all sat together in the dimly lit room. Each trying to think of something to say after the things that they had seen, but the words would not come. What can you say to someone when you have seen the horrors they have suffered, shared the pain they have felt, as if you had been there with them? How do you banish what you have seen, or try to offer comfort, knowing in your heart it won't be enough?
"What was…? No, what were those things?" Cyrus asked, his voice no louder than a whisper, as if he did not want the monster that they had just seen to find him and rip him open again. "What was that?"
"It is the nightmare of my people. The nemesis of the gods and the ones whose will and fury will shatter the heavens and plunge the universe into the vortex of chaos," Krystal replied in a low voice, sounding as if she were in a trance. "It was a Cha`ha, a Chaos god, but I can't say which one it was."
"Krystal, what are you talking about?" Fox asked.
"The thing that took Cyrus from Earth was a Chaos god. One of seven demon-gods that warred with the gods for control of the universe," she said, looking at Fox.
"But why would gods want to take me from earth?" Cyrus asked. "I'm a nobody."
"I'm not sure," Krystal replied, "but I think they chose you to be an avatar for one of them. That is why they tore you up like that, and it might explain one other thing."
"What would that be?" Fox asked.
"Andrew's odd behavior. Remember how he has assassinated most of his contacts? I think he may be serving the Cha'ha or may have been chosen as an avatar like Cyrus was. According to legend, those who have been chosen would be given incredible power, but their dark side will be amplified and they would do deeds that they would never do before, like betray and murder his friends, among other depraved things."
"Krystal, are you sure about this?" Fox asked, looking skeptical, but he knew better than to doubt the existence of such beings.
"Yes, but I'll have to do some more research before I'm certain."
"Well, at any rate, it's something to report to Peppy. I'll see if I can contact him." He walked over to Cyrus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Cyrus, I'm sorry if what we did upset you."
Cyrus stood up and just gave a smile. "I wanted to know just as you did. There is nothing to apologize for, Fox, and don't blame yourself about Macbeth. Stuff like that happens in battle." Fox looked surprised, then just nodded and left the room, leaving Cyrus and Krystal together.
"So it's good to see your gift is working well," Krystal said, in a pleasant voice. But beneath the sweet sounding tone was a touch of venom.
"Yeah, I…" Cyrus started then closed his eyes and grimaced. "You know, don't you?"
"Yes, I saw the way you handled my brother's blade and I couldn't help but notice that you could handle it just like him, blow for blow. Everything was perfect down to his fighting stance. Now I never learned how to fight with it, and by that logic I couldn't have taught you, but somehow you know how to fight with it as though he trained you himself. So tell me, what have you been doing with the Chaos Blade?" Krystal asked, growling and her ears flat against her head.
Cyrus turned away from her, ashamed. I should have told you sooner, Krystal. He said with his thoughts, hoping that she would sense the truth in his words. Your brother left his memories in the blade so that I would be able to use it in battle. It – I just...
"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!? GOTA-RA, CYRUS, HOW COULD YOU?" She screamed with her thoughts and voice. Cyrus winced from her fury. He had never seen Krystal this angry! Through the mental link, he could feel that she was close, very close to losing her self-control. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we had a mission to do. I didn't want you to be distracted."
"Oh, bullshit! You could have still told me using your gift. Cyrus, I thought I could trust you!"
Cyrus turned back to face Krystal. "What is that supposed to mean? You can trust me, Krystal. I haven't done anything that would change that!"
Krystal stepped back as if Cyrus had slapped her, "You don't understand!"
"What don't I understand?"
"When I began to train you to control your telepathy, I made it clear that if you experienced something that was new you would tell me. My brother's blade was not just some reward to be given away. It is a symbol of how far you've come and how disciplined you are and…."
"So my actions are causing you to doubt you're your trust in me! Is that it, Krystal?" Cyrus snapped back at her.
"In this case, yes!" She replied. Cyrus rolled his eyes and turned away from her.
"It's not like I wanted to have this power in the first place, Krystal, or asked to be taken away from my home!"
"Cyrus, that's not the point! You lied to me and messed with things that you don't understand!"
Cyrus's pride was hurt by her words. He knew she was right, but he had acted in her best interests, at least that's what he thought at first.
This is stupid! He thought to himself.
Yes it is Cyrus. I just-
GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I'VE HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE FUCKING WITH IT AND I DON'T NEED YOU IN HERE DOING IT EITHER, BITCH!
He broke the connection like glass,shoved her away with such force, mentally, that Krystal fell to the floor. Cyrus turned around and hurried over to her side.
"Krystal! I'm sorry I didn't mean to do that I…."
He never had a chance to finish what he said. Krystal stood up and slapped Cyrus, her claws scratching his face, and her eyes were filled with tears of hurt and rage. "You have no idea how much pain you have caused me in this matter! I thought you were beyond things like this, Cyrus, but I was wrong. You are not ready to continue in your training. Good night, Cyrus Blaze. Don't come to me for help with your gift. You are now alone in this matter."
Krystal left the room with mixed feelings, when she felt Cyrus call after her.
You said I have no idea how much pain you are in, but, I'm sorry Krys, I am. I'm just tired of too many questions and not enough answers. You are right. I misused my powers, lied to you, and I have broken your trust. As such, I won't use my abilities anymore and I will return what belongs to you by right, and if you so desire, I will no longer call myself your friend. But you're wrong. I do know what pain you are in, because I too have lost a brother.
Krystal stopped, ran back to Cyrus's room and entered it, but Cyrus was gone, save for the Shor` Mu blade laying on the glass coffee table. She picked it up and held it to her breast. She reached out trying to find him, but he had closed himself off from her touch. Krystal fell to her knees. "I'm sorry, too, Cyrus."
"You're sure Krystal knows what she is talking about?"
Peppy Hare sat at his desk in the military command center on Corneria, as a thunderstorm raged outside. In the middle of the dark room, a hologram of Fox McCloud hovered in midair.
Fox scowled at the aging hare. "Since when do you doubt Krystal, Peppy? Especially after we have been on a mission that has made no sense at all? This is the first lead we've had, and the first words out of your mouth are stupid questions! What's wrong?"
Peppy didn't answer, but looked around the room as if unsure of how safe it was.
"Peppy, what's wrong? You're acting paranoid, and it's got us all worried," Fox said, changing tact.
"I can't explain it now, Fox, but I believe that what Andrew is doing is just a part of a bigger picture. I think that there is some kind of invasion going on."
"Peppy, what?"
The hare shook his gray head. "No, not here I can't be sure who is listening in. I'll call you from someplace else then I'll tell you all I know when I get there."
"Peppy, come on. You can tell me now, we are on a secure channel." Fox Said, bewildered, but Peppy couldn't be swayed.
"NO FOX!" He shouted. "I can't risk it, Peppy out."
Peppy closed the channel, quickly changed out of his military uniform into his orange and brown flight suit, armed himself with his Maverick R5 blaster, and left the office making his way down to the sonic lift. While he was in the lif,t he disabled the camera then sent a file to his old friend and predecessor Pepper Hound. It's in your hands now, General Pepper. You've got to get this to Fox before it's too late! Then he put his wrist panel down on the floor and vaporized it with his blaster. After he reached the garage level, he ran to his hover car, but before he had gone five feet, his ears picked up the shuffling of feet and the humming of blaster rifles.
He spun to his right, drew his own blaster and opened fire. Three Canines fell as the bolts tore through them, painting the wall red with their blood. Then he turned left, putting down two more before they could get off a shot. Suddenly, a gloved hand clamped down on his blaster hand.
"Heh, heh! I should have known you would not come as quietly, Peppy," said a sinister voice. Peppy turned his head to the hand's owner, his eyes growing wider as he recognized the face.
"YOU! HOW THE HELL ARE YOU STILL ALIVE, S-?"
Peppy's words were cut off as something heavy struck the base of his skull, and Peppy Hare fell to the floor, unconscious.
Storyteller 2013: Thanks for reading this chapter. If you like it, please review, and if you have any ideas for how it will end or have any tips, let me know to help me help you enjoy it better! See you Next time!