Chapter 18: Lion's Den

Obviously damaged machinery grinded as the door to the interior of the ship slid open; revealing the inside of what I assumed was an airlock, considering it looked almost identical to the one in Krystal's shuttle. The door on the opposite end was shut; the only thing occupying the space within a plastic crate that took up about half its width. The crate looked like it served as a table, complete with some objects sitting on top of it. Gritting my teeth, I holstered my Glock and acted quickly, dragging Krystal inside with me. It was rough treatment, but I would apologize to her later.

As her boots cleared the door I made my way for the crate; positioning her unconscious form behind it for some sort of concealment. The crate seemed to be used as a makeshift charging station for some device plugged into the wall; it looked like it was meant for the power cells that Krystal's suit used. I figured they needed some way to ward off against the cold.

A display identical to the one on the outside was attached to the wall above the crate, this time with a button labeled 'CYCLE' underneath. Apparently the airlock was still functional. I pressed the button; the buzz of pumps and other machinery coming to life all around me. I was making a ton of noise, and I was sure the pirates would come and investigate. I slipped the backpacks I was wearing to the floor, setting them beside Krystal's limp form. My hands went down to the AR15 hanging at my side; I would need every advantage I had for what was about to come. I glanced over to the readout as one of the numbers slowly started to climb.

It was then that a gruff, snarling voice came over a speaker embedded in the ceiling. "Theck," it inquired, "what in the hells are you doing? Your patrol isn't over yet! You know we had to shut down surveillance to conserve power! If you aren't bleeding out or haven't bagged a lizard, I'm going to send you back out in your fucking skivvies!" A soft beep caused me to glance over to the display.

EXT: 0.58a LOCK: 1.00a INT: 0.78a

The voice continued to broadcast over the speaker. "I'm warning you, if…" He was cut off by the interior door sliding open. A figure stood next to the doorframe, a fox that possessed the more normal fur color combination of russet and white. He was dressed in a mottled brown flightsuit but had opted to not wear body armor. It was a mistake he wouldn't regret for very long. Brown eyes widened as his eyes fell on me; a pissed off human with a rifle aimed at his chest. He knew that I had him dead to rights.

"Intrud…" he stared to call out, his hand dipping to a blaster pistol on his hip. I didn't let him. My ears rang as my rifle spoke twice in rapid succession; twin crimson blossoms erupting on the pirate's chest as he crumpled to the floor. What little training and experience I had via firing ranges and Airsoft games kicked in; I started to move forward while hugging the wall as multiple shouts of confusion and alarm erupted from further inside the craft.

"Six left…" I whispered as I kept inside the airlock, finding an angle where I could keep myself from being exposed to fields of fire. The interior lights were dim, which had me at a disadvantage; I did have a weapon light at my disposal but that would expose me.

Taking a deep breath of much warmer air I rushed into the entryway past the airlock, snapping my head around to scan for threats. A hallway bisected the entryway going fore to aft; movement to my left caught my attention. A feline pirate stood there; his mottled gray fur providing a flash of motion that I instinctively aimed at. All I really saw was a blaster rifle in his hands, but I was quicker to the draw. My rifle thundered again; the pirate collapsing as if he had been struck by lightning. Again I kept moving; a piece of sage advice I had remembered from my Airsoft days.

The move saved my life; a searing crimson beam lancing out from behind me. I let out an involuntary yelp as I hugged the wall, falling to my knee as another beam snapped out. I swung the AR15 around as I saw another pirate rushing forward; a dog of some sort with gray fur. I squeezed the trigger multiple times; the rifle roaring a response to the pirate's challenge. My shots went high; one connecting with the Lylatian's head. He was dead before he hit the ground, his blaster pistol flying from his grip as a puff of pink mist heralded his crumpling to the floor.

A vibration from behind me caused me to turn around; another pirate, this time a white rat with grizzled features and several scars, rushed me. I pivoted the rifle to block him from getting to me, but I was already on my knees and he knocked me over. His hands grappled with the AR15; trying to wrest it from my grip. The bastard was strong; despite the sling attaching it to my body I was under no illusions that I would retain control of the rifle. My index finger swept upwards, punching the magazine release button; I didn't want him to have any rounds to work with. As he yanked the rifle from my grip I stuck my finger into the trigger guard; trying to pivot the muzzle away from me as my digit bumped the trigger.

The round in the chamber went off mere inches from the metal wall we were fighting next to. I felt the blast more than I heard it; an inhuman shriek echoing from the pirate as he caught several bullet fragments. White-hot lances of pain swept across my left hand, arm, and leg as I was subjected to the same treatment, but my opponent had caught the worst of it. The pirate stumbled backwards as I reached for my Glock; blood already welling up from multiple small lacerations on his face and arms. The handgun cracked twice; the pirate slumping backwards as the bullets cored him.

"It's a fucking Ippie!" another pirate shouted from the opposite end of the corridor. I responded with another pair of shots into the dimly lit surroundings; an agonized scream ringing out as I somehow hit another one. How many? I had lost count; adrenaline fueling my actions to overcome the pain. I caught another flash of moment and continued to pull the trigger; the cracks coming from the 9mm competing with a series of whining pops as blaster bolts stabbed out at me. I emptied the magazine down the corridor; gunfire and ringing ears drowning out all sound.

I dropped the Glock as its slide locked back; I didn't know if I had actually hit anyone with my fusillade and I needed to press any sort of advantage I had. Forcing the pain aside I filled my hands with the Model 29; aiming the hand cannon down the corridor as I moved forward. I just now noticed that the corridor leading aft was much longer, and was probably where the remainder of the pirates had holed up.

I proved myself right as a cry of rage came from an open doorway; this time the shorter profile of a fennec burst into the hallway. I threw myself to the floor as a burst of blaster bolts erupted from the short, stubby weapon in his hands. I barely avoided getting hit; instinctively pointing the big .44 at my assailant's chest and pulling the trigger. The earsplitting roar of the Magnum filled the corridor as the recoil snapped me wildly off target; the benefit of such a handgun was that I only needed one shot to do the job. While the fennec had the presence of mind to put on body armor, that didn't help him. He crashed against the opposite side of the narrow corridor; the rage in his eyes fading out as he slumped to the floor.

I got to my feet and strode forward with the big revolver in my hand; all too aware of the tacky wetness that started to creep all along my left side. Motion flashed in front of me; I snapped my aim up just in time to notice two figures had entered my line of fire.

The pirate was a lupine; dark gray fur nearly blending into the pitch surroundings. A blaster pistol was in one hand and his other arm restrained a smaller, petite figure against his bulk; what looked like another pistol pressed into the side of their throat. It was this other figure that caused me to hold my fire; I had found the Arwing's pilot.

I recognized her; a Cornerian canine with floppy ears and fur as white as the snow outside. She was a little shorter than Krystal and dressed in a teal and black flightsuit which matched her wrecked Arwing. Pale aqua eyes regarded me with hazy fascination; by her slumped stance and arms hanging limply at her sides something had happened to her while being held captive by the pirates.

My attention was snapped back to the pirate; a commanding baritone snapping from his lips as the blaster was leveled at me. "Drop the fucking slugthrower, Ippie!"

"Or what?" I growled, the Model 29's sights falling on the pirate's face. I knew I was running on a combination of fear and adrenaline; I was well aware that if I faltered it meant Fay's and Krystal's deaths along with my own.

"This autoinjector is set to deliver fifteen mills of Zuvex, Ippie," the pirate sneered. "If I push the button she'll have just a few minutes to enjoy the last trip of her life. Considering the live bounty for a member of Star Fox is three million creds, you're throwing away one hell of a payday."

"If you do that," I warned, "Mr. Smith here will pop your head like a water balloon."

"And you'll still be empty-handed on this thin-aired chunk of rock, Ippie," the wolf shot back, "nothing short of a Cornerian nannie-kit can deal with a Zuvex overdose, and we lost ours in the wreck. But, cooperate with me and we'll split the bounty."

I wasn't an idiot. Even if I went along with that the pirate was bound to put a laser bolt in me as soon as I dropped my guard. "What's stopping you from killing me as soon as I put down my gun?"

"You've got a ship, right?" the pirate asked. "You must've escaped the Ippie freighter when the Remnant hit you. If I bolt you I can't take your ship; I'm stuck here. I've already told you what my bargaining chip is; one and a half million creds is a fortune on Ipran, and I've even got another job if you want to help me."

"Do you think I'm a moron?" I retorted, still holding onto the big .44. "I've murked your buddies; you've got all the reason in the world to shoot me."

"I'm pretty sure even an Ippie can do the math," the pirate laughed. "Three million split eight ways, or two? Do you think the rest of those fuckups are worth that much to me?"

Fay's eyes met mine before blinking several times. I could see the fear and determination in her gaze, even if she likely didn't realize I wasn't here to claim a bounty on her. Her eyes darted up and to her left, like she was trying to tell me something. "You realize I have no reason to trust you, right?" I continued the act; I wasn't too confident I could hit him without too much risk to Fay.

"Funny words coming from someone who has a slugthrower jammed in my face," the wolf spat. "I should just thank you for the easy three million!" His finger tightened on the blaster's trigger.

Several things happened almost simultaneously. Fay lunged forward, her jaws opening and snapping shut on the forearm holding her in place. The pirate yelped and flinched; the blaster pistol going wide as it fired, the bolt snapping past my head close enough for me to feel a wave of heat. My finger stroked the revolver's trigger, almost immediately drowning out the blaster's whine-pop with a thunderclap that would have made Harry Callahan proud. At a distance of fifteen feet I didn't miss; the pirate's head snapping back as if I had cracked him in the muzzle with a sledgehammer. The .44 hollowpoint didn't quite live up to the fictional detective's claims, but the pirate didn't live long enough to regret feeling lucky. The lupine collapsed as Fay twisted away from his corpse; slumping against the wall as she regarded me with an empty, unfocused gaze.

I reached her in a couple of steps, just then noticing a faint bloodstain on the side of her neck. The bastard had pumped her full of that shit, whatever it was. A faintly accented voice weakly called out to me, but only managed a choked gasp. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment before they glazed over; the Cornerian sliding limply to the floor. I bit back another curse; the realization that both Krystal and Fay were dying settling around my mind like a dark cloak.

I needed to act; if I let fear and despair take over neither of them would have a chance. I wasn't a trained medical professional, but we took along that medical kit we found in the shuttle. I just needed a safe area to bring them to. Leaving Fay where she was I sprinted back down the hall, peering into rooms until I found one with several bunks. That would do, but my running was far from over.

I rushed back into the airlock, dropping my empty rifle on the deck in exchange for the backpacks I had been wearing earlier. A wave of relief settled over me as I realized Krystal was conscious and trying to sit; she gave me a tired, confused expression as I helped her up. "What happened?" she weakly rasped.

"No time to explain," I rushed. "The Arwing pilot is dying; I need to stabilize her. I'll come back for you, I promise." Her seemingly miraculous recovery was a massive weight off my shoulders, but I needed to move fast if I wanted to save Fay's life. The pain was starting to set in now; a dull ache radiating from my left leg, arm, hand, and side.

I tossed the backpacks into the bunkroom on my way back; making the best of the adrenaline rush I picked Fay's limp form off the floor and rushed her into one of the beds. Her breathing was slow and very shallow; whatever drug she was given was pretty damn powerful. Frowning, I reached into my backpack and pulled out the case containing the medical kit, hoping the instructions were in layman's terms.

The scanner that Krystal had used on us was a good place to start; again I was grateful for the pendant she had made for me. I pushed the button and was greeted with a holographic representation of Fay moments later. I concentrated on the information I was presented:

Patient ID: LaSpaniae, Fayenne

Species: Canine, Cornerian Standard

Sex: Female

Age: 26cy, DOB 06/08/3067

Height: 167cm

Weight: 62kg

Pulse: 28/m

Resp: 6/m

Enhancements Detected: CME RE107, NT504, INH020

Status: New patient, details retrieved from MediPlant

ALERT: Lethal kartosidone overdose detected! Vital signs dropping! Administrate 2cc dose of Agent C via indicated autoinjector!

One of the devices inside the kit lit up with a green glow; it looked just like the one the now deceased pirate had used on her. It looked simple enough to use; I pushed the device against her neck and pressed the button; it whirred and pulsed, accompanied by a soft beep from the scanner. The device's display flashed another prompt:

Update: Agent C administration complete. Patient vital signs will stabilize momentarily. CAUTION: Multiple Agent C doses required to completely counteract kartosidone overdose. Administer next dose in 2:29:50, reminder alarm is now set. No further action is necessary until then. Scan another patient? (Yes/No)

I waited a moment to observe Fay; she was still unconscious but her breathing had started to stabilize. Somehow, I did it. I selected the 'Yes' option; I was still very concerned at what happened to Krystal. It didn't make much sense to me, but I hoped the automated medical kit had some insight. I stood up and slid my gloves and jacket off; wincing as the clothing slid against the wounds I had sustained. I sighed in frustration as I noticed a few holes had been torn into both of them; there wasn't anything I could do about it now. The arm of my sweatshirt was spotted with blood and my left hand was coated with it; I could see jagged pieces of bright, shiny copper sticking out of my skin.

I was moving a little slower as I walked out into the corridor; my tired mind surveying the carnage I had made. Unlike the Sharpclaw I somehow didn't feel much remorse for what I did; I didn't really want to think about the implications of that as I entered the airlock again.

Krystal was now sitting on the crate; she looked about as ragged and tired as I felt. Her emerald eyes weren't as glassy but they were listless; when she spoke it sounded like she was suffering a severe cold. "How are they, che?" she rasped.

She squeaked in surprise as my response was to wrap my arms around her; despite my slightly shredded arm and leg I felt the deep-seated need to be close to her. "Goddamn it, I almost lost you, Krys…"

"What… happened?" She sounded genuinely confused. "I remember closing in on the pirate's vessel then waking up in this airlock. I'm mostly okay except my head hurts, I'm congested, and I feel very tired."

I explained the events of the past twenty or so minutes as I clung to her; just because right now I needed her. I ignored the sting of the bullet fragments digging into my skin, especially after her arms wrapped around me. "What scares me the most is that I don't know what happened to you. We need to figure that out."

She nodded as I helped her to her feet; her legs were still shaky. We emerged from the airlock and into the chaos I had a large part in creating; I tried not to think about the death I had caused as I guided her to the room. I could tell Krystal had stiffened at the sight of it. "You fought like a demon…" she managed, her voice still rough and congested.

"I had to," I replied, "I was scared of losing you. I was scared that I had already lost you." I guided her into the bunkroom; the sensation of her hands clasping around my uninjured one was blissful.

She glanced to Fay; the Cornerian's unconscious form looking almost peaceful compared to our somewhat ragged, battle-scarred selves. "You saved more than my life today, my che. You saved hers as well as your own." My vulpine companion gave me a tired smile as I helped her out of her equipment and onto the opposing bunk.

I took a deep breath as I grasped her hand, taking solace in her emerald eyes. "I know, hon," I admitted, my voice coming out as exhausted as I felt. "I'm just tired of our lives constantly being in peril."

Her hand grasped mine tightly. "I as well, dearheart," she leaned back onto the bunk, her voice still somewhat gravelly, "just please understand we are making a difference."

I nodded at her. She had a point; at the same time I still felt gravely out of my element. I had just taken on a ship full of armed pirates, but most of that had been luck and ferocity, not skill. "Do you mind if I scan you with the medical kit? We need to know what happened to you."

The vixen nodded at me. "I may fall asleep, if that's okay? I'm still feeling exhausted."

I smiled at her. "Rest, foxy. I'll make sure you're safe here." I reached up and ran my hand through her hair; a soft smile tugging at her lips as she fell into a fitful slumber. I didn't have that luxury; I needed to work and to prepare. The medical scanner was ready and I had well over an hour before Fay needed another dose of the juice. I turned it to Krystal and let it do its thing; looking at the readout:

Patient ID: *UNKNOWN*

Species: Vulpine, Cerinian

Sex: Female

Age: 27-30cy approx

Height: 172cm

Weight: 67kg

Pulse: 94/m

Resp: 22/m

Status: Existing patient, no MediPlant detected, active medical nanites detected.

CAUTION: Scan indicates minor cerebral and moderate pulmonary edema! Nanite logs indicate severe hypoxia consistent with prolonged exposure to high altitude environment! Please administrate supplemental oxygen(not contained with kit) or allow at least 12hr0m in environment of at least 0.80a for full recovery! Existing nanites from previous use have been reactivated to aid recovery. No further action necessary.

I frowned at the information. I wasn't a doctor, but the indications of hypoxia seemed very strange. There was that altitude warning on the shuttle's airlock, but the Snowhorn, Sharpclaw, and I all seemed to be unaffected by it. Additionally Krystal had fought alongside me on Ice Mountain and had no ill effects other than her encounter with volcanic fumes. Either way I was glad she was alive.

The next task was to get myself patched up; something I was dreading but I probably shouldn't be walking around with a bunch of copper and lead fragments stuck in me. I turned the scanner on myself and awaited the results:

Patient ID: *UNKNOWN*

Species: Ipranian, Subtype D

Sex: Male

Age: 32-35cy approx

Height: 180cm

Weight: 102kg

Pulse: 67/m

Resp: 11/m

Status: Existing patient, no MediPlant detected, active medical nanites detected.

CAUTION: Multiple minor lacerations consistent with light shrapnel detected! Heavy metal exposure[lead] detected! Please apply nanite solution D to affected areas!

NOTICE: Scan indicates minor symptoms of high altitude exposure. Expected symptoms include minor headache and fatigue. Ensure proper hydration and observe exertion limits. Nanites also detect increased levels of adrenaline and other stress hormones, indicating high-stress survival and/or combat environment. Reflex boosters have been introduced to help ensure patient performance and survival.

I noticed I was doing a lot of frowning and scowling; according to the scan I actually was getting affected by the altitude, but it didn't seem nearly as bad as what Krystal had endured. Strange. Equally strange was the comment about reflex boosters; had that been actively helping me out?

I found the nanite solution the medical kit indicated; it was a very sticky, rubbery goop that acted like a skin coating. I slathered a thin layer on my arm and hand; I was a bit glad that Fay was unconscious because I had to partially undress to take care of the fragments that had peppered my side and leg. The substance dried quickly and seemed to hold the fragments in place; as with the still healing wound on my side the goop acted like a strong topical anesthetic as I no longer felt the itching, burning irritation from the fragments. I turned back to the scanner to see if there was any more information.

Update: Nanite solution D has been applied. Nanites will seal wounds and break down foreign contaminants. Please allow up to 72 hours for breakdown of foreign material. Do not remove or disturb nanite covering; normal bathing/washing is permitted. Common side effects include irritation/itching of wound site, warm sensations in wound site, and cloudy urine as components are broken down and filtered. Please ensure adequate hydration.

NOTICE: Nanite toxicity threshold is at 88.7%. Do not expose patient to further medical nanites until active nanites have completed their procedures and broken down!

Well, that didn't sound horrible when compared to trying to dig everything out with tweezers, but the warning was a little alarming. When I was finished I looked around the room; Krystal was sleeping soundly, Fay was still unconscious and I had precious little to do for the next hour. I switched the scanner over to Fay's entry and stuck it in my pocket; I still had work to do. I wasn't looking forward to the grim tasks ahead, but I needed to do it.

Those grim tasks included dragging the bodies of the fallen pirates to the airlock. There wasn't much I could do about the bloodstains and the viscera that resulted from my frantic firefight, but I could at least do the dignified thing. I removed weapons from the bodies and set them aside, heeding Krystal's warning about the biometric locks on blasters. I left personal effects alone, but anything that looked like access cards or anything needed to explore the rest of the ship I gathered.

The alarm sounded for the next antidote injection; I made my way over to Fay and gave it to her. This time there was a response; a little bit of a flinch and a murmur from the Cornerian pilot's lips. It seemed like she was making progress. The scanner's timer reset for another two and a half hours. "Break's over..." I muttered, returning to the grim task I had set for myself.

I cycled the airlock again, bracing myself for the cold. It had gotten colder; I could tell that night was about to fall over the floating chunk of Sauria. I drug the bodies of the fallen pirates out into the snow; piling it over them to create makeshift cairns. Darkness had just about fallen by the time I had finished; it was my cue to get back inside. It was almost time to tend to Fay's recovery, anyway.