After the debacle at the butchery, Phantom and Krystal drive towards the suburb where the Plunder was killed.

Chapter 5: First contact

The 427 engine of his black and red-striped '67 Chevy Camaro SS roars over the road as it is overshadowed by the green-leafed trees everywhere, slowly closing in on the road. The light coming from Lylat has trouble coming through the branches and leaves. Phantom doesn't mind, the light only blinds him. His fingers drum on the steering wheel, listening to Disturbed's The Night with earplugs. Krystal asked for that; she doesn't like metal that much. The shadows of the trees vary as they glide over the windshield while Krystal holds her head in her right paw, daydreaming a little. Only the sudden hit of the throttle by Phantom wakes her up. Apparently a nice part of the music took over. She taps him on his shoulder.

'Hunh? What?' yells Phantom. Unknown to him, is that his music sounds a little hard. Krystal gestures at he has to unplugs his earpieces, which Phantom grudgingly agrees to. He turns the MP3-player off and places his hand on the wheel again.

'What's up Krys?' he asks slightly annoyed. 'That was a good part.'

'I don't really care about that. Where are we going anyway?'

'We are off to the suburbs, where that Plunder got his head blown away by a cop.' He frowns. 'Good aim from that guy. I could easily have done the same.' he claims.

'Sure you can. But why are we leaving the city if it was committed in the suburbs?'

'You don't know Papetoon City that much eh? Doesn't matter. Here comes a summary of all the bullshit going on in this city. You have three classes... wait, four classes. Poor, middle-class, rich and *can't find the exact word for it* too rich. The 'too rich' live in those suburbs, away from the city.'

'I thought the description you were talking about was a dirty alley? How is that possible in a 'too rich' neighborhood?'

'Where we are going, is something different. It has been cleaned out by criminal gangs. *Krystal shivers by that thought* Yeah, it's really that bad. No rich fool ever set foot again in that wretched part of the city. There are two ruling gangs: Russians and the Dutch.'

'The Dutch!?'

'Hahahaa! I know what you mean. I was as surprised as you were. Yet, it is true. It seems the folk of the 'beggars army' has enough about their state of being left out of the core all the time. They are our 'allies' in combat. Why do you ask? Yes, I can hear your astonishment very well. A PI and the corps behind him working with a ruling criminal gang. I see it like this: if you can't beat it, why not collaborate with it? Besides, they aren't the most ruthless. They like clean, fast and without to much bullshit. And, they got the best fries and snacks in the universe. Ever tasted something called a 'frikandel'?'

'A what?'

'You heard me. A frikandel. Somewhat like a replacement for the stereotype hot dog. Don't know what it is, but man! That snack is tasty. My mouth is starting to water down already.'

'Anything else I should know?' asks Krystal, not interested in more details.

'Hmmm... nope. That's gotta be it. *looks at Krystal, who very concentrated at something* Is there a problem?'

'No...' says Krystal, still staring.

'Okay then.' says Phantom relieved. A long silence lingers in the car, with Krystal planning something out in her head with Phantom beside her, his fingers clutched around the wheel, as if he's expecting the inevitable. And there it is:

'Until you count the fact that you are keeping vital details to yourself.' concludes Krystal.

'*swallows hard* Wh..what do you mean?'

'Those other two sites, you got in your text. Those, Phantom.'

'I...I have no idea where you are talking about...' claims Phantom. He starts to sweat. The clammy drips flow down his cheek into his neck, increasing shivers coming up.

'You're a bad liar, aren't you?' remarks Krystal.

'Ah bah!' admits Phantom. He smacks his fist on the panel in front of him. Pain shoots like an arrow through his nerves as he retreats it and casts it off. 'AW! Shit...'

'Is it really that bad then?'

'Since I can't hold anything back when you are around, I will tell. Remember when I said 'you have only faced the remnants'?'

'Yeah... that's when you just received that message.'

'That message, contained two new cases involving your Fox guy. One is at a burned down hospital and the other in Central Archives.'

'All of them, conveniently placed in that suburb?'

'Logical eh?'

'Not at all. Why are we going to the alley first if the others seem to be more important?'

'Know the enemy you're fighting before looking where they came from. Their destruction is more vital at the moment than their place of birth. Either that, or we get a report from my best man in the field. I have already sent him out to check everything. Trust me, he's the best.'

Krystal nods in understanding as they leave the heavily forested area outside of Papetoon City. Phantom puts on his sunglasses and offers Krystal a spare one because the sun starts shining inside the car with full power. Krystal denies the offer.

'No thanks. Already have those new lenses.'

'UV-protective?'

'Yep, the newest.'

'Wow... technology progresses a little to fast for me.'

'You should know, it's from your little brother's company.'

'Spec? Nah... I don't believe that.'

A beaten up blue sign at the right side of the road says in white letters: Drunken forest.

'Interesting environment you guys have here.' she comments cynical.

'Don't blame that on me. We just crossed the border of a climate zone. *I'm a little closer to home* This is the Papetoon tundra. Very small and meaningless in comparison, but it's still here. That, because of the temperature rising over the years, the permafrost in the ground is decreasing. Therefore, the few trees *points ahead* in front of us are tilted, looking like they are drunk.'

'And why the sign?'

'The environment isn't the only thing drunk here.' warns Phantom.

The suburb looks like slum as the two step out of their car. It's parked near a few other police vehicles.

'Don't you need a jacket or something?' asks Phantom. 'It's pretty chilly over here.' he says as he zips up his jacket.

'No, my suit alone is good enough.'

'Okay, then. Let's meet Adonis.' he states as he takes off his sunglasses, clips it onto his belt and walks around his car towards the alley on his right. Krystal stops.

'Adonis? He's your best man?' she verifies.

'Yeah, you know him?' Phantom stops as well.

'Yes I do. He helped my people.'

'Helped? What happened then?'

'You know where Adonis comes from?'

'Some destroyed planet in Recus... why?'

'I'm from Cerinia, a planet nearby his. It was also destroyed.'

'Also in Recus?'

'No... not in Recus...'

'Apazoid?' he comments sarcastically.

'What? No, not that planet or system. That one was purple and I was the only one left of my kind already when I witnessed it's destruction.'

'Painful memory, right?' says Phantom leaning against the right headlight with his hip before inserting another wooden spike in his mouth, notching to her time in Starfox service.

'*sigh* Maybe... but what I can't figure out *Phantom walks into the alley, she follows* is how you two met.'

'Adonis and I? It seems that two broken souls have a way of finding each other.'

'Two?'

'*comes a little closer* You're not the only one with problems Krystal. You have your foxy love, I have a childhood trauma.' he whispers before looking up. His face seems to light up as he sees Adonis writing something down on paper, slightly bend over the dead Plunder on the ground.

'Adonis!' shouts Phantom. The long white haired grey vulpine Adonis is a little startled as he looks up to be greeted by a stretched out from Phantom.

'Wow... Phan, don't ever do that again okay?' he states as he shakes his hand.

'Sorry, what do you got for us?'

'Us? *notices Krystal* What the...' stutters Adonis as he focuses on Krystal.

'K..Krystal?'

'Yep, that's me Adonis.'

'So Phantom, finally got a hold on a good chick this time?' he comments sarcastically.

'Is it that obvious then?' chuckles Phantom. Krystal stomps him in his right side with an elbow.

'Oomph! That... that was unnecessary...' claims Phantom, gasping for air.

'Haha, always a joker aren't you Krystal?' states Adonis before turning to his note-block.

'Found anything?' asks Phantom, with his breath reclaimed.

'Yeah, the hospital wasn't a hospital anymore. Completely burned down to the ground. Surroundings weren't pretty either.'

*Tell me something I don't know...* complains Phantom. Krystal already prepares her elbow before Phantom grabs it, dismaying her attempt.

'A petty thief was found with a fire axe chopped in the back of his head in chock-full trashcan in the alley facing the hospital...' continues Adonis, reading it all from his note-block. 'And strange black gooey circles have been found. That, and fairly large burned up spot.'

'Barbecue?'

'Sort of yeah... The only thing *loosen a photo from a paper-clip stuck to one of the notes* that was clean, were a match to footprints. Barefoot, to be exact.' he concludes as he shows the picture. Phantom grabs him and Krystal looks at it.

'That Fox's feet?'

'Why do you ask me?'

'*sigh* Since you came closer to him than any of us could ever come. For various reasons of course. In short: we never did him.' he ends blunt as he hands over the photo.

Thinking that he defiantly deserves a punch to the face, or preferably in the *private*, Krystal can condemn herself. She rubs her chin, trying to remember those moments in the bedroom.

'Yeah, these are similar to Fox's.' she states. Adonis grabs the photo again. 'You sure?' he verifies.

'Fairly sure.'

'Well, then I have more bad news for you.' he claims as he reaches for a far away pocket somewhere in his jacket.

'More bad news? Can it get any worse than?'

Adonis manages to grab his PDA from his pocket, at last. 'Possibly... *shows the screen to Krystal* if these footprints are the same, then yes.'

The screen shows a picture taken from the scene. The floor is white, expect for a large puddle of black goo with footprints imprinted in it. Again, barefoot and exactly alike. A tear comes up.

'Yes, *snivel* that's the same. W...were was that taken?'

'Papetoon Central Archives.'

'Why was he there?'

'*checks his PDA again* According to reports... wow, prepare for what will come Krystal. It seems he was there, killed a few personnel for shits and giggles it seems, hacked into the computer, looked for whatever was left of the McCloud bloodline. Three results came up.'

'Three? I thought Fox was the last...'

'It seems his father somehow survived and you... *shows a picture* have a son Krystal.'

'E..excuse me...?'

'It seems that Fox made a IVF embryo, to make sure that you guys would get a child, even if complications came up. Since Fox is dead and now your son Marcus too... James is the only one left.'

'*grumble* The third symbol... cut all relations to family by cutting them. *Fuck, he's progressing beyond the Gatekeeper's capabilities. Délarbé isn't the Gatekeeper's host, but it is becoming the other way around!*

'*turns around* Sorry, I..I have to make a phone-call.' she cries.

'Sure, don't worry about it Krys.' says Phantom as he walks closer towards Adonis. While they are talking, Krystal grabs her phone.

*Phone*

Estelle?

Yes, that's me.

C..can you do *snivel* something for me...?

Have you been crying again? Fox again, right?

Y..yes, him again.

What can I do for you?

I need s..someone to guide me...

Isn't Phantom there then?

Very funny. Someone we can guide me in telepathy. I want to contact Fox. I need some guidance in that.

I have just the guy for you. His name is Nether and very specialized in these sort of things.

Thanks Estelle. You're a great friend, you know that?

Dry your tears Krys. I'll take care of it.

*Phone*

'And?'

'Everything is okay Phantom. I just got another contact.'

Somewhere, a spooky grey ear listens from behind a hole between stack of wooden bars placed on the other side of the street, facing the alley.

'Harhar... very interesting my queen. It seems that Estelle means a lot to you...*but also she has dirty secrets. Panther much?* much like you used to him. What you did *gasp* was unbelievable. I can only dream of such destruction of just a single soul. You could have been my apprentice...' states the figure as he walks away from the alley. With a snap of his fingers, the color of a small part of the sky above him turns sickening purple and very thick, hauling a shadow over him, before taking it along with him, like a child with a balloon. The five Sons of Plunder, including Bernard, soon join the shadow; the sun is dangerous. Whistling the theme once more, he disappears around the corner.

*You think you can escape my grasp that easy Délarbé? I created you...* is barely heard by him as the Gatekeeper crawls over the ground towards him. He follows him, wherever he goes. Also around this corner...

*You're mine foxy. I'll teach you!*

'When are you supposed to meet with that Nether?' wonders Phantom.

Krystal shrugs. 'I don't know. Estelle would take care of it.'

'Are you sure you can trust Estelle? I mean, yeah, she made sure I was here, but still. We both know her past of uh... 'adultery'.'

Krystal shakes her head. 'Estelle's past Phantom. You hit the right spot. I'm sure she's changed.'

'Hhm... will if you think that, I'm not gonna argue. *looks at Adonis behind him* Ado! Take everything to the morgue will ya?'

Adonis signals that it's okay.

'Great. I can always count on you.' complements Phantom before turning to Krystal again. 'No worries, I pay him. Uh... shall we?' he asks as he points to his car.

'Where are we going then?'

'I'm gonna drop you off at a hotel or something. *watch displays 17:18* Unless you wanna sleep in my house...' He starts walking to the car.

'Yeah... *slight disgust* a hotel is a good idea...'

'Suddenly grossed out or something? I'm not that bad, come on!'

'I'm not a whore, okay?'

'If I treated you like one, than I'm sorry. But still, the choice is always there.' states Phantom generous.

'Thanks for the offer, and sorry for my behavior.' apologizes Krystal before closing the door of the car, where they both took place in in the meantime.

'No matter Krystal. If I heard that my ex, for who I still care *which I absolutely don't! Fucking Tiff bitch!*, turned into some devilish nut on a killing spree to collect strange symbols giving him supernatural abilities and finding out how much he really cared about you... *out of breath* I would do the exact same.'

'Thanks Phantom. You're not that bad, you know?'

'That's what all of clients say. But I don't see this much: *pads on her shoulder twice* You're not bad either.' he ends before hitting the throttle. The tires shriek before a smoke trial and black tire tracks are all that's left on the spot where the Camaro was parked.

'Oh, how about your so called 'mouth-watering snack'?' remembers Krystal.

'Nah... maybe later. First priority right now: Find a place for you to sleep. You look ragged from this wild trip.'

Krystal unleashed a large puff of relieve before changing the angle on the chair, making it more comfortable to sleep. Before she can even close her eyes, her smartphone starts to buzz. She grabs it.

'Estelle?'

'No... *looks at the screen* unknown.'

'Maybe that Nether dude.'

*Phone*

Hello?

*heavy breathing, three times*

Hello!?

Krystal...

*Wow, hollow voice* T...that's me...

Estelle said you need help to contact someone?

Indeed. I need to conta...

Meet me at Mumblar Avenue 1029, the alley next to it. 19:30. Bring Phantom with you.

Sure... wait how do y...

*Phone*

Krystal looks astonished at her phone.

'Something wrong?'

'Nothing more than a rude jackass I guess...'

'Where and when?'

'Mumblar Avenue 1029. Odd name...'

'Names are names. Weird or straight to the point... we all have one.'

'Very philosophical.' she comments dry.

Night falls as the streetlights shine faintly, giving the otherwise completely dark street an orange glow. Yellow headlights break the darkness even more, until the roaring engine is turned off. Two doors are heard being slammed shut simultaneously before two silhouettes make it into the alley. On the right, a building saying 1029 next to the door. The alley is as dark as the streets would be without any lightening. Only one spot is highlighted.

'That the spot?' asks Phantom.

'I think so...' hopes Krystal.

As they come closer, the front of a left boot steps into the light. Another joins, after a dramatic pause. The figure is wearing a brown, dusty looking mantle with a hood covering all of his face. Only the tip of his nose is visible in the light.

'Krystal, I presume?' he asks monotonous. The voice sounds heavy, hollow, far away and tends to that of a woman.

'That's me. You are Nether, right?'

'Indeed I'am Krystal. I see you brought your friend along with you...'

'Yes, Phantom. But how did you...'

'No time for explanations my child.'

'*My child!?*'

'Indeed my child. I'm also specialized in telepathy, therefore I hear everything that you think. Well, why do you prefer my guidance over the rest?'

'Estelle sends her regards on that one.'

'Very interesting... don't hang out with that Estelle too much. I sense dark presences around her...'

'What kind then?' frowns Krystal.

'Argh... I don't know. But they are too weak. We can't fight them. That is something for the future. Now, let's focus on your trip. What is your destination? *looks towards Phantom* If you truly think this is 'bullshit', than I suggest you take a step back Phantom. Krystal, please come forward.'

'Fine...' exhales Phantom. He takes a step back as Krystal steps into the light.

'What is your destination?'

'The Nether.'

'I see. Now, concentrate Krystal. Get on your knees and face the light.' he commands as if going to Nether is daily business.

'Get on your knees... be careful mister Nether. *shows badge and gun* I'm licensed to kill.'

'Be gone.' he states easily. 'For this, Krystal needs upper concentration, not cynical comments from a rogue PI.'

'Fine...' waves Phantom off. 'Krys, I'm with the car if you're looking for me.'

Krystal nods a little, already to focused on the light, at which she looks at with barely opened eyes. Nether raises his arms and Krystal starts to heave. Only twice, without anything really happening. Like releasing a Krazoa Spirit, a ghostly version of her comes out of her soul. It is pulled towards Nether's open hands. He preaches some unintelligible words before shooting the spirit up in the sky. Krystal's eyes glow blue; connection has been made.

*Somewhere else*

A spiked ball with a small part of the tail disappears into his newly acquired backpack.

*Where you belong serpentine freak...*

He snaps a stolen cell phone shut before tossing it away.

*That problem with Estelle is taken care off... Something sly will be revealed to Krystal's eyes soon.'

The LCD clock far away from the black stone paneled street says 19:01. It starts to drizzle as he stands in front of the wooden door of a local pub. A sign squeaks in the wind; someone needs some oil. The paint on it is mostly flushed away. Doesn't matter. Russian was never his best language.

*So... this is where those vodka-addicts come together? How unoriginal. *grabs a letter from a sidepocket on the backpack* Hum... it seems that this is the location.*

He throws the paper away as it is quickly drenched as the rain intensifies. He knocks on the door, once, before opening it himself. Everything is made of wood. The chairs, the table which is a hybrid between a normal table and a poker table, the decorations on the wall and the wall itself. A feeling of 'pleasant Irish pub' lingers through the air. A normal bar is placed on the left side of the table. In the back, there is a cocktail bar. Next to that, a somewhat obese polar bear, dressed in a black tuxedo, is cleaning out his favorite glass. As he hears the door slam shut behind him, he turns around, waggly.

'Nice place you got here...' comments Délarbé dry.

'Don't you think?' interrupts the bear immediately. His Russian accent is very audible. 'Gives a certain feeling, right?'

'I don't interest myself for feelings that much.'

'Of course not. Well, suit your self. Take a seat.' points the bear with his chubby fingers. When Délarbé sits down, putting his arms crossed on the edge of the table, he rises his left paw and hangs his head against it.

'So, why am I here?' he asks bored.

'You seem a little fusty. I can't talk to a man without him being fully up and running.'

'Fun degrades me. What drink can you recommend?'

'Either the B-52 or the Coal Mine. Cause you seem like a good guy.'

'Good... harhar... sure. *glances to the guy behind the cocktail bar* Black Russian. Don't go easy on the vodka.' he commands.

The polar bear frowns. 'That is very insulting mister Délarbé. That's why we call it the Coal Mine.'

'*gets his drink* Do I look like a give a shit about your feelings? I love breaking those pathetic emotions. Look into my eyes before you start asking more questions full of bullshit. Do these eyes *points at them* seem emotion-full to you?' he states as he gulfs it all down in one go.

'I haven't been offended like that since ever! No one insults IVAN!'

'Ivan, typical.'

'And now my name as well!' Ivan gets into rage mode and flips over the table to his right. Délarbé isn't shocked or anything. He's actually more bored than ever.

'*Long, overdone yawn* Is this façade gonna take any longer?'

'Kill him!'

Two gang-members step out of the shadowy corners to Délarbé's left and right respectively. They all hold PPSH-410, with extended drum magazines. He smirks and extracts his claws. Suddenly, his eyes, complete with irises and pupils, turn away into his head. Like a ragdoll, his face bungles a little while his lifeless body slowly melts off the chair.

'Что за черт? (what the hell?)' wonders the one on the right. The one on the left tabs with his barrel against Délarbé. This causes him to fall off the chair completely. With a large thud, scaring those around him, that ends Délarbé's visit to the Russians.

'Что случилось? (what happened?)' wonders Ivan.

'Не знаю (no idea)'

'Очистите его. Он будет помнить своего следующего визита. (Clean him up. He will remember his next visit.)'

'Haha. Я уверен, что он будет. (I'm sure he will.)'

A sudden crack breaks the ever lingering silence in the room where he's tucked to a chair. Blindfolded and drenched in sweat, from the thousands of attempts to get out of his containment. His red-brownish fur is undamaged and is still stuck to his own body. He decides to take advantage of the situation, as the guards are probably distracted by the sudden crack. He wiggles around on the chair, trying to escape the grasp of the rope knotted around him. Only this makes them act like a constrictor. When he's finally out of breath, his chair stops its wiggling.

'LAARGH!' he shouts as he reclaims his breath. 'Fuck! Another worthless attempt. I have one wish... just one. Get me out of here with someone! Doesn't matter who the fuck it is, at least someone!'

As if his wish is heard, a voice breaks the silence again.

*Visitor!* echoes through the room.

'Visitor?' he says to himself. 'Is that possible over here?'

Suddenly, he hears certain tabs of heels on the floor coming from a hallway in front right of him. His blindfold burns away, without burning him. He looks around and is surprised to see how innocent the Nether looks. No fires of the damned, no moans from the forsaken... just white tablets forming a wall in different heights, lengths and widths. His chair stands right in the middle of the square room. It reminds him of a solitary confinement cell; him tucked in in a enclosed white room. The tabs get louder, coming closer.

'No way...' he comments. Like adjusting a parabolic antenna, he adjusts the position of his ears to get the best of the sound. It all to come to inevitable conclusion.

'When I said 'someone'... I would like to rephrase that wish. Everyone(!), expect her!'

Too little, too late. The tabs come closer as Fox bows his head in agony. The tabbing stops right in front of him. He opens his eyes to see his own knees and the blue-black boots and shin-pads of a familiar suit. He slowly looks up to her face. Her eyes sparkle when he looks in them. However, not for long as he can't stand looking into her eyes any longer. He quickly looks to his right, as if his eyes are burning.

'Well, if it isn't Heartbreak Warfare herself eh?' he starts.

'Why Fox? Why do you torment me?'

'Torment you? I(!) torment you!? Whahahaha! Sure, nice joke there Krystal. *angry* Why the fuck do you think!?' he screams.

'Will you take it easy please?' answers Krystal shocked. 'I've been through a lot.'

'A lot... *awkward laugh* you(!)... have been through a lot...' he comments sarcastically, turning his head around the room. All but looking at her

'Yes! I have been Fox. That's how I feel!' states Krystal while only being answered by Fox's mocking laughter.

'*suddenly brute, serious and looking at her* Do you even think, for one miserable damned second of your forsaken life, that your pain was nothing comparable to mine? What I felt!? Like I haven't given you enough examples! You just WALKED AWAY for them! Titania wasn't enough for you!? *sigh* I guess you have found everything I held back on you, didn't you?'

'We had a son?'

'Yeah, just to be sure. You were my everything Krystal! What else could I do? I sacrificed so FUCKING much for you! I lost my parents, I've been in thousands of missions saving everyone from violence and destruction with the exact same thing and would gave my life for your safety!'

'Then why did you send me away?'

'Why do you think!?'

'I-I don't know...'

'Geh... you don't know huh? Let me *swallows* let me tell something then. When I told you to get out, did it came to your mind, just once, to take a lot inside of my twisted and over-concerned mind to see why the hell I would send you away? No, right? You know why?'

'W-well why than?' defends Krystal desperately.

'Because you handle with your head instead of your heart. After all I taught you about that, you still go back to your old stubborn self... A telepath, or even everyone should use their heart when making decisions. Whatever I taught you: Weapons training, Arwing control and even the art of sword-fighting. All of those, included the same lesson. Listen to your heart, before it tells you goodbye.' ends Fox.

'B..but... I-I thought...'

'And there it is again. The weak apology à la 'I thought'. Seriously Krystal? By the way, how's Panther huh? How is my, rival in love? That Panther, that took my everything away from me and that everything seems to happy with it, how is he?' he asks sarcastic. 'I'm not interested in that.' he shouts as Krystal tries to start.

'You are nothing more than an ordinary whore Krystal! Do you hear me!? A fucking... uncaring... bitch-load of a filthy whore-shit! Even that, is an understatement! I'm just Mister Unlucky being stuck to his obsession with you!' he screams.

Krystal holds her tears back bravely before turning around and leaving Fox behind, who is all of the sudden very exhausted. When at the door-post, she takes one last look at the broken down ex-leader of Starfox, gasping for air again. With barely opened eyes, he looks right in Krystal's eyes, screaming for help.

*The head! It wasn't Fox's core talking... it was his head. He's thinking something... what is it?*

*Thought*

Even after all I have said to you Krystal. Whatever I called you, insulted you or even threatened you... there is one thing that will never, ever change. I will always love you. Stuck to a great obsession... that's what I'm. Free from this Krystal, please.

Fox!?

Yes, it's me. And yes, I said that I love you. I really love you, with everything I have. Now that it's of my chest and too late already... you finally unraveled the head and core theory, didn't you?

What can I do? Tell me! I really want to help.

Okay then. You have to come alone.

Alone?

Only then you can free me. With Nether, everything is protected. Yes, I can sense his presence. Now that I'm in your mind, I have the same abilities for now. Enough explanation. You have to come alone. It is risky indeed. That Délarbé can't come here, but when Nether isn't there, he'll come.

You could die Fox! I won't let you do that!

You have to! We have to... otherwise I'll be here for the rest of my soul's lifetime. I just wanna be amongst the living again. Even if that means losing you forever. I'd rather live miserable then live like this. At least with you around. That's all I ever wish for.

Th...that's very sweet Fox. I mean that.

I know. Contact me again. Alone, don't forget it.

I will Fox. I'll uh... see you soon then.

*Thought*

She walks out the door as Fox looks a lot more cheerful. She is in indecision.

*He just said 'I love you'... what is that feeling I have? No... it can't be... I-I am with Panther! Fox is gone, out of my system!*

However, her core thinks different. She feels a shock of positive energy run throughout her body as she remembers the words again, and most certainly the moment Fox's mouth formed those very words.

*Nothing is 'too late already' Fox. Somewhere, I guess you still have a chance...*

Krystal finally manged to get to Fox. After some anger taken, Krystal accepts her task to get Fox out of there. Will she succeed? What happened to Délarbé? Find it out in the next chapter.