TWELVE
Shepherd's abdomen burned fiercer than anything she thought possible, but it still didn't remove her mind from what was unveiling on her ship. She watched in crushing disbelief as nearly half of her crew in the bridge stood and joined the predator on the walkway; all of them carrying the sub-blaster rifles that they kept at their workstations. Bonds were broken as friends of the traitors learned that they had truly known nothing about their fellow comrades. The remaining loyal Cornerian soldiers stayed behind their cover, watching seemingly as helpless as the Admiral felt.
Fury instantly erupted in Shepherd at the sight of pride in the unveiled Venomian soldier's expressions. Many of these soldiers she had presented awards to personally, thanking them for their selfless and dedicated service to the fleet for accomplishments they'd made right beside her; now she would watch as they became the very scum she worked to defend Lylat from. Shepherd looked back upon her loyal soldiers, her rage motivating her to speak words of encouragement before whatever came next. "Don't let these traitors scare you, soldiers." Shepherd fought through the urge to cough up more blood as her abdominal organs flared in agony from her speech. "These lying scum know nothing of the strength it takes to defeat the heart of the true Cornerian military!"
Shepherd suddenly felt a large gloved hand wrap around the back of her neck as claws instantaneously sank into her flesh. Shepherd gritted her teeth, doing everything she could to keep from howling her pain.
The beast's deep, steely voice boomed throughout the bridge. "Heed those words, soldiers, as they flow from the mouth of the very hypocrite that has watched many of you die; whilst she lives on."
Shepherd screwed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth even stronger as the images of every group of pilots and support crew she lost under her command began flashing before her, up to the present IRT members she had witnessed get shocked to death between two walls of her government's own technology. Fight as their leader… The admiral turned her head toward the predator, ignoring her tearing flesh and warm creeks of blood trickling down her nape as the lion's claws sliced through her densely furred skin like paper. Don't let them die in the presence of defeat.
Shepherd met the gaze of the hunter's mask with focused hatred in her own expression. "These animals chose to entrust their lives under me, just as they chose to entrust their lives under the Cornerian military." Shepherd looked back out toward her animals. "They did not falter then, and they will not falter now."
The admiral heard a pleased purr rising from the hunter's throat. "And now, they will die from the very corruption that has lived inside our entire government; long before us."
The Admiral didn't have a moment to comprehend his words before a loud, steady, static beeping began to sound over the intercom of the bridge.
The lion glanced at the lieutenant, who had already made his way down to the communications panel the sound's source information was appearing on.
The lieutenant studied the panel, then looked up at the hunter with a malicious smirk and a nod.
The lion slowly scanned over the entire bridge. Shepherd felt the predator's grip slowly tightening around her neck, the claws sliding even deeper into her flesh as her blood flowed into her uniform's collar and the floor; her chest and shoulders now soaking in its pool. Suddenly the hunter released the admiral, and Shepherd's face slapped the floor through the thick puddle as the rest of her body went limp; her entire white jacket now soaked and speckled in scarlett. Blood poured from her five neck wounds as she heard the continued muffled beeping coming from the intercoms.
Shepherd's attention was brought to the polycarbonate dome overhead the bridge as a widespread, live feed of Dash Bowman appeared. Even through blurring, blood filled vision, Shepherd remembered him as clearly as she had as a Lieutenant on the day of The Storm; standing on the flight deck of a similar carrier in orbit a few hundred thousand miles from the red planet, Venom. So... this is it. She thought as she was slowly losing her battle for consciousness, realizing how correct she had been on the Venomian's strategically placed forces; how they had merely been holding out for time for this to happen. Now, not even the arrival of their own reinforcements would deliver them from what was here.
…
Live video feeds opened on every civilized, industrialized, and militarized planet in existence in the Lylat System. Bowman's figure and solemn expression filled city screens, communication panels, hologram tables, and domestic televisions on Corneria, Katina, Macbeth, Zoness, Fitchina and any space station or vessel under the Cornerian government; his voice carried through intercoms where visual applications were not present. Entire cities slowly ceased movement as trillions of animals turned their attention toward the display of the monster they thought dead for two years. Military facilities ceased all operations as they either saw or heard the ape's presence, including the Katina Military Intelligence HQ.
"WARNING," Dash began, mimicking the monotone used in standard emergency broadcasts. "THIS IS THE USE OF THE LYLAT EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT A TEST."
Fox McCloud's ears picked up on Bowman's voice as he numbly dragged Slippy's limp body past the bloody, barely conscious Bill Grey to the machine room's floor hatch that would take them down to the waterways. Fox's eyes slowly narrowed, hardening as they bled a single tear that rolled into his cheek fur as Dash delivered his message.
"THE CORNERIAN GOVERNMENT'S CYBER SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH AN INTELLIGENT VIRUS CAUSING ALL OPERATING SYSTEMS UNDER THE CORNERIAN GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL TO BE RELIQUISHED TO THE VENOMIAN GOVERNMENT."
The lion stood completely still on the bridge's center walkway, eyes closed behind his mask, listening to Bowman give his message as a long-caged fury slowly began to revive within.
"CIVILIANS AND MILITARY ALIKE ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO LAY DOWN ANY DEFENSES AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND COMPLY WITH THE VENOMIAN GOVERNMENT'S DEMANDS. ANY RESISTANCE WILL BE MET WITH INSTANT CORRECTIVE ACTION OF ANY MEANS WITHOUT FURTHER WARNING."
Fox had the hatch open and was preparing to descend with Slippy, but stopped as he heard Bowman's threat to the Cornerian military. He glanced over at the door the IRT members continued to cut through, then shifted his eyes over to Bill.
"BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, AS THE VENOMIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE DURING THE CHANGE OF COMMAND. YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED. ALL HAIL THE BLOOD OF ANDROSS; LYLAT'S ETERNAL RULER." Bowman erupted into a mad, distorted fit of laughter full of an unnerving, unbound energy as his body merrily danced around the room he broadcasted from; then the transmission went dark.
…
Silence fell over the entire bridge of cruiser Charlie-eighteen. The hunter's heart pounded, his fists were clenched, and his teeth were bared behind his mask. He was now in complete control to give the execution order for all the soldiers loyal to the Cornerian government.
The black rat's low, scratchy voice filled his head and pulled him from the moment. "You think I'm your target, you think I'm the despicable monster behind these operations." Geming gave a short, raspy chuckle. "Fool, I'm merely a sewer rat that was conditionally enabled by the very Politicians and their Generals that sent you to extract me."
Guardian five stood behind a blast resistant glass window surrounded by a concrete wall. Underneath the window was a table covered in documents the hunter had yet to read. The rest of the room was made entirely of solid rock; minus a solid, window-less concrete door to the rear of the cave. Through the glass Guardian five stood before was Geming, and behind Geming was a toned and graciously curved female snow leopard that had been stripped down to her black underclothes, muzzled, and secured to a flat steel table with steel restraints across her wrists, upper body, legs, and her ankles. Her diamond white irises glistened through her disgusted expression at the rodent that was her captor.
Carts filled with surgery tools surrounded her and a bright light hung above her. Geming's entire side of the cave was set up to be an operating area on portable, white flooring; yet the snow leopard appeared unfazed by all of it.
Geming stepped toward the window, his voice coming from an intercom unit placed in a corner of Guardian five's portion of the cave. "It's all right in front of you, Guardian: traded intelligence, quid pro quo; including black operation authorizations and falsified backgrounds. Oh no, those weren't me. Those were provided to me by the Cornerians so that I could set up shop with my own security and work under the radar. I was their eyes underground, my ring and I worked with them to bring down groups that they considered less… financially yielding."
Guardian five held Geming's agitatedly bored gaze for a moment longer before looking down and scanning through the different documents, finding that each item the rat had mentioned was present, some even authorized by the stamp or signature of General Pepper. Even sales and trades of equipment and schematics dating all the way back to before the Lylat wars were within the stacks, and an Arspace Dynamics made many appearances; especially in the earlier dated documents. As the dates went on, different corporations began to take its place; but one name was printed on a majority of the heap regardless of the company title; some of them being dated within the last month. He stared at the name longer than the rest as it conjured an unfamiliar, yet haunting rage within him: Yaru De Pon.
"Are you a patriot, Guardian? Or do you just like the taste of blood?" Geming asked with earnest interest.
Guardian five's eyes snapped up to Geming's and stared at him wrathfully.
The black rat continued, unfazed. "You know the only reason you were sent after me? I'd outlived my worth. So there you both were, the Cornerian government's hand reaching out to collect its investment." Geming picked up a long scalpel from one of the trays. "How aware were you that even during the darkest wars, you were merely dying for someone's paycheck…?"
Guardian five crumpled the current paper in his hand. "This all could've been forged by you."
Geming shrugged as he walked behind the table the female leopard was strapped to, facing the lion again as he stopped. "Do your research Guardian, think of what you just witnessed. Military is a politician's stick, a stick handed to them by its very Generals. You go where he or she swings, and in time they swing at what is considered Corneria's best future and financial interests. And when one stick breaks-" Geming looked at the she-cat, who merely rolled her eyes at him. "They secure the next one." The black rat stated as he returned his emotionless stare to Guardian five, "I guess that means you're not a patriot, because by the crash, I take it you fought back?" He ended, using the scalpel to gesture toward Guardian five.
The lion recalled every word up to the crash, everything else was dark until he woke up in his current confinement. Shock sparked in his heart as he lifted his shirt up to see where he'd been shot in his abdomen, but all he saw was a hairless patch of his own skin; any trace of the burn gone, and only a hint of the agonizing pain remained.
Geming merely smirked at his captive's movements. "So a broken, tossed aside stick…" Geming began slowly tracing just above Guardian ten's fur with the scalpel, this time her muscles tensed wherever the blade hovered over; her face trying to conceal the growing fear inside of her. The black rat revealed a slight smirk as he looked back at the lion. "And one who was really a snake."
Guardian five instinctively threw himself at the window, attempting to punch through the glass with all his might; the glass didn't even vibrate.
Geming acted as if he hadn't even noticed his attempted entry. "But is a snake a villain, I wonder? Or only hated by those who try to grab him…?" Geming stepped away from Guardian ten and walked toward Guardian five. "Don't you see, Guardian?" His eyes darkened as his head lowered. "I'm a snake too. Together, we're going to bring the broken sticks they tossed aside and lay them right before their eyes. Once my message is written, I'm charging you with the responsibility of delivering it. I'd highly suggest using a method that lets all of Corneria know what its government is responsible for."
Guardian five erupted into a fury of attacks, throwing fist after fist into the glass; ceasing only to slam his entire body into it.
The black rat stood completely calm with an almost sympathetic expression on his face. "I know… it's tragic what must be done, but you still have a chance for vengeance against them; vengeance I myself am no longer powerful enough or skilled enough to take. Deliver my message, make the entire system of Lylat aware of who oversees their safety and security, then do whatever it takes to stop them from making the same mistakes again."
The lion switched to the concrete door toward the back of the cave, using his claws to try and grip the small crack that separated the door from the frame, but to no avail. He began punching and kicking at the concrete, drawing blood from his knuckles as the solid door didn't even chip.
"I'm entrusting you with this Guardian, make things right."
The lion tore across the room and slammed his entire body against the glass, staring into Geming's eyes as if to pierce into them. "You do this, I will hunt you beyond the infinite universe we reside in. There is no distance you go that I will not find you, then leave you to commit suicide as the only other option would be to live with the permanent suffering I brought upon you." The lion hissed.
"I have no doubt you'd find me." Geming replied calmly, walking over to the side of the window and placing his hand on a button on the concrete wall. "But you'll waste precious time killing a sewer rat that only could do this because the politicians and their generals thought he was a stick. They're your real target Guardian, think on that as you listen to the consequence of their actions." Saying nothing further, he pressed the button causing a steel blind to slowly creep down the window toward its base. Geming looked into the Lion's eyes one last time before turning away and walking toward Guardian ten, who looked over at Guardian five with terror she no longer could contain.
Guardian five lowered with the blind to keep eye contact with her as long as possible. He yearned to speak words of comfort, but his voice wouldn't act; the ends of his mouth only twitched violently with his frantic expression. Overwhelmed with utter defeat, the lion simply placed his large padded palm on the window and gazed into her eyes as loving and comforting as he could.
Guardian ten's expression suddenly transformed, returning Guardian five's gaze with one of equal comfort: determination. He could almost hear her voice in his head as her brow furrowed and her mouth curved into a smile beneath her muzzle. Don't worry, I'll take this. They wouldn't have let me become a guardian angel if I couldn't. The blind closed.
Seconds later, Guardian ten's voice had suddenly come over the intercom. "About time you removed that, now I can insult your coned, two toothed face the whole way!"
The black rat's light chuckle followed. "I suggest saving your voice, you may not even have one left once I've written everything."
"This Angel's expressive, and she's going to make sure she gets everything off her mind before the good Alpha takes her." There was a slight pause, but the lion's throat tightened at what she said next, knowing it was meant for him. "Over."
Guardian five's head bowed as a single tear escaped his eye and fell to the ground. Good girl, Angel… Good girl…
The predator opened his tearing eyes, taking in the faces of the military that fought for the treacherous government that had contributed to her suffering. The hunter raised his supporting hand in the air, and signaled to reign fire. The turrets above, followed by the rifles of the soldiers standing beside him on the bridge, began ripping into the workstations below, ending the lives of those loyal to Corneria as they returned fire and moved to remain in cover; making a final attempt to fight back. The lion raised his rifle and began picking off any targets he could see. Their execution begins now, my Angel, the hunter thought vengefully, your suffering will no longer go unanswered.
….
Private Lory sat completely still, his mind had all but collapsed as he stared blankly at his master chief that had already fallen victim to the ruthless betrayal; whilst the remaining survivors did what they could to evade their own inevitable fates. Out of the corner of the Aussie's empty gaze, he caught sight of the Beagle lieutenant he had served under wearing an openly conceited smirk as he steadily fired at the remaining loyal Cornerians.
Lory's stomach resumed its fierce churning. Why is this happening?! He slowly looked directly above him, observing the front sides of all the other Venomians who were bringing this hell upon them. Lory saw the black lab he had been working with before the intruder appeared on the bridge; he saw the intruder himself firing shot after shot from his sniper rifle, never missing his target.
Lastly, he saw his admiral: Shepherd. She lay as still as Lory had, blood slowly drained out her mouth and streamed through the thick fur on her neck, adding to the ever spreading pool she lay in, but her eyes still held life as they remained locked on the carnage happening before her; her gaze utterly distraught. Lory's eyes scanned over the additional soldiers he knew and had enjoyed many conversations and memorable events with on Charlie Eighteen, his eyes falling back to the black lab, and then the lieutenant who stood a mere three meters to his right; blissfully lost in his actions.
An internal fire sparked inside Lory. He glanced to his left and saw his own sub-blaster rifle laying by his feet. There's no happy ending here… I'm going to die. He looked back over at the Lieutenant, the fire quickly building to a blaze.
…
Fox gently slid Slippy's body off his shoulder and laid him on his back on the cold, moist grated floor that lay adjacent to a colossal, rusted, in-ground steel door leading to the vast water supply tunnel beneath that would be their escape. Darkness hid the rest of the room around him; the only light he had was from the flashlight built into the rifle slung on his back.
Fox proceeded to stand up straight, but his somber gaze remained locked on Slippy. Fox's eyes didn't move a millimeter behind the shadows cast on his empty expression. The entire area around them was motionless; only the calm and silent rise and fall of Slippy's chest was alive in the darkness. 'When I tell you that you're like a brother to me, there should be no doubt.'
Countless memories flashed through Fox's head of the sacrifices Slippy had made for him over the years risking his life for the mission of team Star Fox; foremost twice at the hands of the Goras on Titania, and personally accompanying Fox into the Sargasso station without his fighter; never showing a gram of fear.
Slippy was also the first and only animal to know of Fox's abandonment of the Cornerian Flight Academy course prior to; as well as the only to receive an offer from Fox to join him. Slippy had been shocked when he found out that Fox wasn't going to even tell Bill.
"I'm not going to risk letting him in on this; I know he'd join if I asked. He has a future here, I'm not about to take that away from him..." Fox stated with earnest passion as he and Slippy stood by a bunk in Slippy's dorm.
"And we don't?" Slippy asked.
Fox's eyes flashed with realization, displaying instant conviction. "I… I'm sorry Slippy… I didn't mean it that way. I know I don't, but I should've never suggested you don't either…" He looked down at the ground.
"Come on Fox," Slippy bartered, "You can be just as successful as Grey-"
"-if I become the perfect soldier." Fox cut in, looking Slippy in the eye. "Fall in line, play Simon says, and pray that one day I'll be put on the strike team against Andross."
Slippy shut his mouth and stared down at the floor.
Fox continued, keeping his voice low to avoid any eavesdroppers in the neighboring rooms and hallways. "I may not even get the killing shot. I'm selfish Slippy; Peppy's offered me a way that I can hunt him down myself. I need to kill him for what he did to both my father and my mother; I won't rest until I do."
Slippy thought deeply on Fox's words before breathing a sigh. "You know, I keep trying; but I don't really have much of a future here either…"
Fox placed his hand on Slippy's shoulder. "Look, please don't start getting that idea in your head because of what I said; I was wrong. Stay here, keep chasing your dream. I've never doubted that you can become an extraordinary pilot!" He finished by giving Slippy's shoulder a light, spirit lifting push as he released it.
Slippy shrugged. "I'm a mechanic Fox… That's my gift, it's time I accepted it. I'd be honored to work with you and Peppy, keep you up and running and give you the tools you need to accomplish your dream."
Fox's expression turned serious. "I won't lie, I really could use you, but I need you to realize what I'm getting into. My father and Peppy did build some ties with the military, but not everything they did was under their approval. They had to keep making money for sustainment; sometimes that meant doing a job that was considered… vigilante-esk, by the Cornerian government's standards."
Slippy was taken back. "I thought they only took jobs that withheld the Cornerian Justice System?"
Fox smirked. "They only took jobs that upheld justice; but every now and then they'd take a job that the Cornerian Justice System would consider rash, irresponsible, unreasonable, unnecessary; I can go on." Fox walked over to the window in the dorm room, musing over his father's history as he observed the clear, sunny sky that stretched over an abundance of towering structures with countless military and civilian spacecraft flying to-and-fro throughout the Cornerian base. "But, that also held benefit to the military. My dad had become good friends with General Pepper when he served in the Cornerian army, and Pepper knew that my dad could be trusted with defending lives. So, the general authorized Star Fox to be contracted as a mercenary team; using them as an essential suicide squad to take on missions that the Cornerian government needed to further their goals, but held too many unnecessary risks for them to handle themselves." Sadness flowed into Fox's expression. "Exactly how my father died…"
Slippy looked at Fox questionably. "And… you want to continue said suicide squad?"
Fox's smirk returned as he looked at Slippy. "Whether I blame the Cornerian government for my father's death or not, he liked the rule-free life. Handling matters how he saw fit; not having to worry about if it would stand against some military or government official's beliefs. As far as the scouting mission on Venom, I saw it in his eyes the day he left; he wanted to go... He wanted the very same revenge that I now want." Fox's eyes peered at the ground as he started speaking through clenched teeth, nearly spitting the words like a feral. "That son of a bitch has now taken both my parents!" He growled, slamming his fist against the wall. "I'll do anything to make sure he's next!" Fox fell quiet, closing his eyes as he worked to slow his breathing.
A few moments passed, then Fox felt Slippy's hand placed on his shoulder. "Alright, you've sold me."
Fox glanced over at Slippy worriedly. "Just... take some time to think on it, Slippy. I truly meant it when I said you still have a future here, you could even transition to their tech program."
Slippy smiled as his voice rose a little in nervous excitement. "Just one question: are we… going AWOL?!"
Fox's eyes anxiously widened as he instantly put his finger to his lips. "You're gonna get us head maintenance for a year!" He hissed, continuing in a steady whisper. "No; no AWOL. Like I said, my father and Peppy have very close connections with General Pepper. Peppy's already gotten the General to agree to get me quietly discharged, and at my request he thinks the General would release a couple people I'd trust to take with me as well. But Slippy, this is a sudden decision from you; I really think you should sleep on it at least."
Slippy giggled, embarrassed by his outburst. "Too late, you've got me all excited now!" He exclaimed as quietly as he could. "Besides, what kind of brother would I be if I just let you go off and face all the fun and danger on your own?"
Slippy's last statement echoed in Fox's mind as the damp, cold darkness returned. His shadowed, somber expression remained unchanged as he stood staring at his unconscious friend.
Bill Grey stepped into the illuminated area of Fox's rifle-mounted flashlight and stood just to the rear of Fox's left side, musing at Fox for a few moments before joining him in staring at Slippy. "You know…" Bill began slowly, his echoing tone hinting that he was putting attentive thought into his statement, "it doesn't take much to see that you still beat the living shit out of yourself for your mistakes." Bill honed his tone to isolate the supportive and understanding sound. "Can't blame you after everything I've learned in the past three minutes, but it's not going to help you get out of this."
Fox turned to Bill and looked directly in his eyes, his emotionless expression preceding his weak, flat tone. "Don't… not this time." Fox stepped past Bill and began walking the platform they stood on, using the light from his blaster rifle to visually inspect the couples of generators and large industrial pipes that were built on the grounds; seemingly mapping out his surroundings.
Bill turned and followed, thinking of ways to enter Fox's mind and alleviate his inner demons. "Dude, you're getting your buddy out of here safe whether he likes it or not." Bill wiped the remaining blood from his snout as he added, "As for me, had I known what you were up against, I would've never put myself in front of your blaster."
Fox answered Bill without even looking at him; his volume growing stronger. "We've got Bowman's soldiers coming down that ladder any second. You want to help me? Pick up Slippy's pistol and take up a firing position. If not, then you're just an annoyance as far as I'm concerned."
Bill let the cold reply roll off his shoulder, understanding the numb sensation Fox was undergoing. "Fox, when it comes to you and me, all you have to do is ask. You already have my paw in this, but we're going to be far more effective if you let me inside your head; I can help you."
Fox stopped dead in his tracks and turned back on Bill faster and harder than he had the first time; his voice darker than Bill had ever heard from him. "I just had my best friend, my own brother, tell me that he refused to go any further because I had gone too far and was blind to all the damage I was causing." Fox's words erupted into a growl. "What the hell kind of help do you think you can offer me?!"
Bill kept his caring demeanor as he opened his mouth to respond.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Fox instantly cut him off, his growl resonating throughout the surrounding darkness. "All I want from you is your ability to shoot! Whether it be at them or me, I don't care; but shut up, and PICK ONE!
Bill held Fox's fierce expression, noticing the equal amount of pure desperation that burned in them; realizing that Fox had completely abandoned himself and was only fighting for those he cared about. Before he could make any more attempts, both Bill and Fox looked toward the nerve spiking sound of the IRT bursting through the door above and heading towards the hatch the three of them had descended through. Bill grabbed Fox's shoulder, getting both Fox's attention and his blaster rifle barrel pointed straight at his chest.
Bill raised a hand in a show of peace. "Turn off that light, wait for them to throw any projectiles, then turn your light on and post at the base of the ladder. Your light will handicap the night vision I bet my bone they'll be using. Don't let a single one of them get down here without falling." He finished with a smirk before sprinting towards Slippy; in search of his hand blaster.
Fox acted without argument. Bill had never been infantry, but through the bulldog's father, simulation training, and his very own mindset, he thought and fought like one. Fox doused his flashlight and took cover behind one of the generators as the sound of multiple flash grenades dropped and spread across the floor. Fox closed his eyes and waited for the explosions, then switched his light on, aimed at the ladder opening, and opened fire as he began walking toward its base. He stopped and kneeled about two meters from it to avoid placing himself anywhere near directly underneath the opening. He could see a body or two trying to get a shot on him between his firing blasts, but he made sure to keep up his blast rate enough to keep them at bay.
One end of a black rope suddenly dropped through the opening and hit the floor, its slack forming a coil on the grated ground. Fox knew they were planning to rappel in at rapid speed.
"Stay right there, Fox; and aim at their feet! Hit 'em with everything you got!" Bill shouted a few meters to his side.
Fox's adrenaline had his heart racing as it sent his blood sprinting through his veins and pulsing in his ears. He quickly changed out the power cells in his rifle, instantaneously observing a few more flash grenades drop through the opening that went off the moment he saw them. Damn it! They charged them! Fox instinctively dove away from the ladder and rolled until his vision cleared; he had been blind for five seconds. As he regained his vision, Bill's blaster fire illuminated the rope as the first body crumpled on the ground with two more currently under fire as they descended.
Fox joined in firing at the bodies' limbs while their attention was off him; successfully bringing them both plummeting to the floor.
Bill instantly sprinted from his cover toward the barely conscious IRT members. "Keep your sights trained on that opening Fox! I'm going to start equipping their gear, you're doing the same once I'm done!"
Fox complied as Bill reached the bodies and ripped their helmets off. "This is what you get dudes; for betraying your own blood!" His growl sentenced as he permanently extinguished each of their lives.
Fox continued his cover fire on the opening as Bill dragged away the corpse closest to his size and hastily began removing and equipping the armor; only bothering with the core plates and helmet. Bill had it on in ten seconds, pocketing a couple flash and shock grenades, as well as a few power cells before picking up the soldier's specialized blaster rifle.
"Alright Fox, go!" Bill ordered as he took up position near the ladder base and relieved Fox of giving cover fire. "Move fast, won't be long till amphibious fighters show up! And keep your light towards the ground now; I've got their night vision!"
Fox darted to the bodies and found one that was slightly bigger than him, but it was the best fit of the remaining two. He dragged it with his open hand over to cover, the weight of the dog noticeably taking a toll on his arm, yet he ignored the pain as he began throwing the armor on.
"FETCH BOYS!" He heard Bill Grey shout, followed shortly by an explosion, then intensified electricity flowing through the room above accompanied by the whimpering and yelps of the soldiers still in it; the blue bolts casting their own chaotic glow on the bay walls. Bill suddenly rounded the corner where Fox was working; excitement beaming from his face. "Oh that was beaaast!" He ended with a deep growl. "I threw a shock grenade right up into their hole; fried them senseless!"
Fox wished he could, but he shared no joy in Bill's accomplishment. "How do you find this so easy?" He asked, fitting his ears into the helmet's ear slots best he could before securing it to his head. The visor activated, giving him a glowing, green hued view of the entire room. Fox turned off his rifle light and proceeded to check the visor to make sure everything functioned properly. The visor was similar to the eyepiece on his own headset; read outs and charts of all sorts appeared on the transparent green screen, it was just a matter of figuring out what controlled what.
"Did you ever feel remorse when you shot down any of Andross' forces?" Bill asked with innocent curiosity.
"No more than the healthy mind." Fox replied as he came to terms with the visor, secured two flash grenades to his belt, and exchanged the power cells in his left cargo pocket with the ones he pulled from the IRT corpse.
"That's what these dogs are now. All throughout this base, throughout the universe, they are now trying to kill any of my brothers that are still loyal to Lylat, including you. So if I have to kill them to protect my brethren, I'll kill every, last, one of them till the Cornerian Military has been purged of its traitors."
"Then wake up Bill!" Fox barked. "You're looking at the one that lit the fuse!"
Bill paused, yet his expression was unreactive towards Fox's outburst. "What'd you do, Fox?" Bill asked. "Do you really think Bowman needed you so badly that had you refused, his whole plan would've fallen through?"
Fox went to rebuttal, but his words caught in his throat as he began to realize the point of Bill's question.
"He had to of already had all this in place, years and years of work set in stone. Are you really the only one that he could use to kick it all off?"
Fox thought of Dash's assassin. He thought of all the other soldiers that came and went from the facility as he looked in the direction of their assaulters.
Bill placed his hand on Fox's shoulder. "Buddy, take this with a grain of salt: Stop giving yourself so much credit."
Fox almost chuckled, yet his mind still cogitated over why he was even there. Fox was reminded of all the nightmares inflicted on him on Venom, and a nearly overwhelming sense of doom awakened inside him.
"Right on Schedule!" Bill yelled as he opened fire, pulling Fox from his thoughts. "Two cruisers rising from the pool, each loaded with six deployable IRT troops; shoot them first!"
Fox dashed to the other end of the generator and peered out towards the steel doors that had retracted, observing the couple short, bullet shaped, two-man fighters, with personnel benches mounted to both sides and duel short rearward swept wings built on the rear of the craft, rise from the water beneath. The personnel benches were loaded with three masked IRT members each that were strapped to the sides of the aircraft. Equally concerning were the dual turrets that shortly extended the front of the craft.
Fox's visor automatically targeted the three soldiers in his sight and he joined Bill in firing at the Venomians. He couldn't tell if he had hit any before he had to duck back behind the generator as the amphibious jets began hammering high powered lasers into their cover.
Bill locked eyes with Fox. "Sprint to that generator farthest to the rear, act as oversight and make sure none of them sneak up on me!" He ordered, pointing back at the skyward hatch.
Fox rushed toward where the ladder was, ensuring that he kept the large obstacles on the platform between himself and the watercraft. The amphibious jets were small enough for the open area above the in-ground water supply, but they wouldn't be able to weave between the obstacles on the platform without crashing. As he approached the ladder, he caught sight of two more IRT soldiers sliding down the rope. Fox raised his rifle at the first red diamond his visor painted and hit the limbs perfectly. Fox was amazed at the control of the IRT weaponry as he dove to his side, barely dodging the second soldier's fire as one blast skimmed his helmet.
Fox took aim, but Bill made the shot first. "Change of plan, Fox! Come here!" Fox looked over at Bill who had taken cover behind a large three-pipe line up, with hardly a few decimeter gap between each that was further back from the generator they had previously been at.
Fox reached it in seconds as Bill took aim and blasted at the first IRT member to round the generator. "Back to back Fox! Help me when you can, but keep a sharp eye on that ladder!"
Fox checked the opening briefly, found no movement, then eyed the opposing side of the generator that Bill was covering. A second later, two more IRT members attempted to advance over the top. Fox rained blasts at both, wounding one and sending the other ducking back behind his cover.
Bill had successfully taken down his targets and was waiting for the next group. "They're smart! Be constantly on the lookout for a change in tactics! Flash-bangs are useless at this point; just pray they don't toss a load of shock grenades!"
Fox hadn't thought about how the visors attached to the helmets they now wore were flash resistant. A stab of fear hit him at the thought of the IRT deciding to fry the whole room. Slippy abruptly entered Fox's mind. "FUCK!" Fox spat, trying to catch a glimpse of where he left his friend lying, but he was hidden behind a generator that blocked Fox's view of him; and the machine's internal workings prevented a reading on his heat signature. Lylat, please think he's already dead!
Bill was unable to recognize Fox's outburst as three more IRT soldiers tore from both sides of the generators, and two more climbed over the top of it. "They're rushing us Fox!"
Fox instantly raised his rifle at the three that were coming around to the side opposing where Bill was focused, sweeping his fire at their feet. Fox hit two of them while the third dove and rolled to a kneeling position and returned fire, forcing Fox to pull back behind his cover. Suddenly, a flurry of shots hammered into his armored back; slamming him to the ground. Fox drove himself to swiftly roll to his side and continue firing at the feet of his original target, making the shot before the soldier could. Fox rolled to his back and searched through the piping for what shot at him, seeing one of the soldiers approaching with his aim locked on him.
Fox quickly rolled out of his view behind the large metal tube as the blasts tore through the grated floor where he had initially been. Leaping to his feet, Fox held tight against the pipe with his rifle trained on whatever was about to round the corner. Faster than he could comprehend, a hand grabbed his rifle, pulled it up and around the head of the IRT soldier that came around with it; proceeded by a bright-lit, humming blade aiming for Fox's neck.
Fox let go of the rifle with his right hand and used it to block the knife, swiftly following with a forward kick to the IRT member's core. The soldier stumbled back as both of them dropped Fox's rifle. Fox backed away to keep distance between himself and the soldier. This dog can kill me in half a second!
The soldier rushed him, thrusting the glowing blade at his stomach as Fox thrust his core rearward. The soldier took advantage of Fox's move by sending a reverse spin kick to his head, knocking Fox to the ground. Fox's helmet helped lessen the blow's toll as he instantly rolled with the momentum of his fall, escaping the blazing blade that the soldier plummeted between the grates; slicing through a few of them. While Fox got to his feet, he pulled a flash grenade from the clip on his belt and set his index and middle finger through the pin's pull ring.
As he turned to face the IRT member, Fox used his right leg to launch a lengthy kick in the soldier's direction. The soldier caught it, and Fox's heart leapt as the dog plunged the searing knife into Fox's upper, outer thigh. Fox yelped as he instinctively thrust his left leg into the soldier's chest, freeing his right leg from both the blade and the soldier's grasp as Fox's body struck the floor flat. Fox fought to keep his head in the fight, pulling the grenade pin as the soldier lunged at him; blade raised high in the air. Fox swung his free arm to smack the incoming blade to the side, battling the painful impact of the entire IRT dog's weight smashing down on him as he shoved the small cylinder into the soldier's helmet. Fox closed his eyes, shielded his face and turned just before the bang went off; feeling its impact and all the blood that splattered with it.
The blast knocked the body off to Fox's side, who refused to lie there for even a moment as he rolled to his side and took in his surroundings. First, he noticed the still humming knife that the IRT soldier had assaulted him with. He grabbed it and switched it off, securing it in the rear waist of his pants after the blade dissipated.
Next Fox looked for Bill. The bulldog was focused on keeping one of the IRT members pinned behind a different pipe toward where Slippy was, as well as engaging in a firefight with the second soldier that had advanced over the generator. Fox went to leap to his feet but was brought right back down, howling from the cramping pain of the muscles in his leg that had been severed. Lylat please no, PLEASE!
Fox fought to stand again, but the muscles in his leg began seizing; bringing him back to the ground. Fox grit his teeth as he slammed his fist into the floor with a loud growl. I've come all this way… I'm not going down now! I'M NOT! Fox looked over at Grey as visions of Krystal's suffering clouded his mind and her tormented scream filled his ears. "Not now… I'm not fucking going down now!" Fox placed both his palms on the floor and pulled both his feet underneath him, ordering his brain to rewire its commands to whatever muscles his right leg had left. Once standing, he limped towards Bill as fast as he could, announcing himself as he approached so as not to get a blast from Grey himself. "If you missed me, I'm back."
"I certainly didn't miss whatever you did to the other guy!" Bill said through a thrilled chuckle.
"I don't even know what that was…" Fox murmured as he snatched up his blaster rifle and swung its barrel over to the direction of the soldier that was dashing around in the open; attempting to get different angles on Grey. The soldier caught sight of Fox and took aim, allowing Bill the opportunity to finally get his killing shot.
"YEEEAAAH!" Bill growled victoriously with a fist pump from his supporting hand, quickly returning his attention to the soldier he had pinned down.
Fox smirked as he began working his way around to where he could see the remaining soldier and hopefully: Slippy. All movement ceased when the sound of clanking and rolling metal hit multiple spots on the grated ground. Each grenade ignited, encasing the entire room with bolts of electricity that sent all occupants into a violent seizure; Fox's mind lost all sanity as the visor's night vision glitched out. The next thing he knew he was back on the ground, fading in and out of a pitch-dark reality and unconsciousness.
Suddenly, an intense flurry of bright red laser fire began tearing through the room, revealing a Venomian soldier in a Cornerian flight uniform that was approaching him, blaster pistol trained on Fox's head. The shots burned through the pilot before he reached Fox, as well as tore into any of the surrounding metal objects. Fox stared in confusion at the chaos before he drifted back into darkness.
His eyes opened again to complete blackness throughout the room other than the orange glow of the heated metal edges and the rising smoke and spraying water from the different generators and pipes that had been fired upon. The darkness returned.
The next time Fox's eyes opened, he saw a bright flash light approaching him, with the feathered silhouette of Falco right behind it. He carried his fully equipped, tricked out, loaded blaster rifle; one of the items being the tactical light. Falco knelt at Fox's side and grasped the back of his head, pulling off his helmet. "You okay? Fox?!"
Fox closed his eyes in heightened relief before his memory returned, spiking his anxiety. "Slippy! Bill!" He jolted awake, and began working to his hands and knees. "They're… here… need to be okay!"
Falco scanned the room with his light. "Bill's over there, seems like he's coming too. Where'd you last see Slip'?!"
Fox looked around best he could in his dazed state, wobbly pointing in the general direction of where he had left him.
Falco shone the light in the same direction and gave a relieved smile. "Looks like he'll make it too."
Fox's gaze shot back up and saw Slippy staggering out from behind the generator he had left him behind. Relief flooded him again, almost causing his muscles to give; though his nerves tensed as uncertainty replaced his comfort over how Slippy would respond to him. His uncertainty was confirmed when Slippy stopped and stared at Fox, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and pain.
Bill's movement pulled Slippy's attention as Grey successfully got to his feet. "Well, at least I know what that feels like now." He said with the same thrilled chuckle he had before as he pulled off his fried helmet. Suddenly he winced from immense pain. "Mmmph! This headache…"
Slippy became slightly confused as his glance traveled back and forth between Bill and Fox.
Fox didn't dare speak or make any kind of motion to Slippy, he would accept whatever form of judgment his brother chose to give him. For the time being, Fox chose to acknowledge Bill. "You certainly called that one." He said as he took the feathered hand Falco offered. "Thank LylAAA!" Fox hollered in agony as the cramping and seizing in his leg returned, sending him to the knee of his injured leg.
Falco knelt with him and began anxiously looking him over. "What is that all about?!" He exclaimed after his light shown on Fox's injury.
"Nothing." Fox growled, forcing his nerves to forget the pain as he got himself back on his feet.
"That gash in your leg don't look like nothing." Falco said, analyzing the large, seared opening.
"I'm glad you came when you did." Fox snarled, forcing the conversation to move along.
Falco grunted in frustration. "I'll just add it to the long list of times I've saved your pelt. You're letting me carry you to the Tadpole."
Fox ignored Falco before turning back towards Slippy.
Slippy appeared to be milling the whole situation over, then he proceeded to look over at Grey. "What happened…?"
Fox felt a sharp stab from Slippy looking towards Bill for guidance.
Bill smiled at Slippy. "Fox and I kicked tail and took tags, until we needed some help from this feathered jet." Bill stated, walking over to Falco with an outstretched hand.
"Not bad." Falco said as he took Bill's hand; allowing himself to be pulled into a brief, casual hug.
"Good to see you again Falco." Bill said upon releasing him.
"You're lookin good Bill, any bling underneath the armor?"
Bill chuckled with a nod. "Each one has its own unique story too."
"You'll have to tell me what a fighter pilot like you is doing in a place like this; if our next visit isn't on a time table."
"Ya bro."
Slippy stood confused, glancing at Fox; whom waited nervously waiting for his temperament towards him. Slippy's stare went blank as he shrugged. "I… guess a lot happened while I was out?"
Fox's gaze fell to the ground as he searched for words. "Uh… yeah… nothing short of Dash making the official announcement of his newfound control of Lylat… but, Bill and I did manage to fight off what was sent after us."
Slippy appeared briefly overwhelmed but ended up just accepting the situation. "Well… I guess you have a knack for quickly making peace after knocking friends out." He playfully poked.
Fox knew Slippy was just teasing him, but those words couldn't have stung worse. "I'm sorry…" He began, screwing his eyes shut tight, "I just refuse to leave you behind. Amanda would kill me if I hadn't already done myself in."
Slippy looked down at the ground. "I… I don't really know how to respond to what's happened… I guess I just… need some time…?"
Fox's heart was crushed; helpless to feeling that he had just lost Slippy. He was completely unable to meet his brother's eyes as his peripheral vision caught Slippy look up at him.
"What's important is you did get us out, including Bill." Slippy added, looking over in Grey's direction; who was currently approaching them.
"Well dude," He started, looking warmly at Fox. "Seems like you have someplace to be."
Fox's expression grew deeply grave as the weight of his mission instantly returned. He had forgotten everything other than his immediate surroundings. "Will you come with us?" He asked hurriedly; looking up at Bill.
"You're in good hands now, the rest of my brothers need me here."
"You'll be walking into a slaughterhouse." Fox argued.
"Then I'll die with them." Bill said proudly. "As you would die with yours." He finished, glancing over at Slippy.
Fox sighed in surrender. "Thank you Bill… for everything."
"Don't mention it dude!" He said, giving Fox a light pat on the back. "Safe flying." Bill finished, turning and heading back towards the ladder from whence they came.
"Safe travels." Fox replied before turning to Falco. "Ready?"
Falco studied him. "What did Dash end up having you steal?"
"Nothing. Long story. I'll tell you on the way out."
Falco had tried to enter at the end of each statement, but Fox spoke too fast for him. Falco exhaled through his nostrils in silent frustration. "You're still giving me your arm."
"I've still got to save her Falco; I'm going to have to learn to push through it." Fox stated as he started limping in the direction of the Tadpole; using the light from the rifle he still carried to guide his way.
Falco forced himself under Fox's rifle arm and manipulated it so Fox was involuntarily using Falco as support. "R.O.B.'s got a few tricks that can fix you up once you're back on The Fox. Till then: you're being carried."
Fox sighed in irritated defeat. "Guess I didn't think of that…"
Bill had stopped in his tracks and turned back towards them at Fox's first statement. "You have a damsel to save Fox?! Is it that blue vixen?"
Falco butted in. "Ho yeah! He's not only gotten down with her before me, but she still has yet to even glance at my co-pilot."
"So she's a smart beauty then?" Bill snickered.
"Heh heh; fuck you." Was the blue falcon's flat reply.
Fox ignored it all and looked back at Bill's fire illuminated silhouette as he, Falco, and Slippy reached the pool where the Tadpole awaited. "I'll tell you everything if we both survive."
….
Author's note: Thank you for your time. Whether you enjoyed or did not enjoy the story thus far, an informative review is always welcome to help me gauge exactly how this fanfiction is being received by my readers. Critiques on grammar, spelling, plot, style, etc. will always be received by me judgment free.
As my returning readers can attest, my schedule is unpredictable. I could post new content in a week, or you may not see anything for another three plus months. Regardless, my promise still holds: I will not quit on this story, and will see it through to its end.
-Mark Nicholson