Starfox: Fall of Lylat

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...From ashes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Aye Commander, on speakers and main viewer." The hail was linked and piped through to the Sunset Star's CIC. The holo image of their present position and pursuing ships faded and was replaced with the face of a stern looking feline. He wore an eye patch covering a nasty deep scar over his left eye. His face was cold and unforgiving as hes stared through the viewer.

 

   "You are not Stoss." he said with a baritone voice, ruined by cigar smoke.

 

   Madeline stepped forward. "I am Acting Commander Janis Madeline, to whom am I speaking?"

 

   "I wish to speak wish with your Commander."

 

   "He is...unavailable at the moment. I was hoping we could talk."

 

   "I have no desire to converse with YOU, Acting Commander. You are in no position..."

 

   Madeline interjected. "No position? You and I well know the reason behind all this. It is you who isn't in a position to make demands."

 

   The pirate leader laughed. "Well now, I expected an expert of tactics and an iron will, but certainly not intelligence and wit of your caliber from a member of the Cornerian Defense Force. An oversight on my part. Very well, you leave me no choice. You may call me, Saga."

 

   "Saga? Why do I get the feeling that isn't your name?"

 

   "Only a fool would do that. I'm a hunter, but a hunter can also become the hunted. Now what of my crew?"

 

   "They are safe. You can be assured of that."

 

   "And if they are not, shall we say killed by firing squad or death by torture or uh..."

 

   He hesitated for a moment. "...Shoved out an airlock?"

 

   Madeline froze and went white as did Chis who was standing nearby.

 

   "Oh don't look too surprised. After our partially successful endeavor with the spice freighter, we tapped into the wireless fleet com channels and tracked you. I must say I didn't expect such wretched, rashness from your Commander. When we found the bodies drifting, the hardest part of the whole thing was restraining my men from killing you all too soon. But believe it or not, there is honor among thieves. I'm willing to overlook the destruction of one my ships, if," he paused pointing with his index finger, "if you agree to one condition and one condition only."

 

   "And what condition is that?" Madeline asked.

 

   Saga had a smug look on his face and uttered his condition that would be there salvation.

 

   "Stoss."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   It was approaching nightfall and Chis was given a place to sleep. While eating the first real meal in long time, Chis was ready to ask some very important question.

 

   "So these Marauders, they only...?" Lee'et stopped him in mid sentence.

 

   "Shhh, it is bad luck to speak of them openly."

 

   "So can we whisper?"

 

   "How can you not know of them? They plague us almost all the time. No matter where we go, no matter how many we kill, they keep coming for us. It is a misery beyond words."

 

   "What do they want that you have?"

 

   Lee'et didn't say anything, but looked over to the children all bunched together being told stories by an old badger. Chis didn't have to ask again, he understood.

 

   "I see."

 

   "They kill everyone but the children and take them away."

 

   "To where? Has anyone tried following them?"

 

   "Yes, years ago. It was futile to chase, they traveled all day and all night and still couldn't catch them. That was before the time of the Great Birds."

 

   "Someday you're gonna have to tell me about that." Chis said eating.

 

   Lee'et's eyes wandered yet again upon Chisteran. "You said you were a long way from home and you do not know of the Demons that plague us?"

 

   Chis thought about it and how he was going to tell her. "Do you see those lights in the sky?"

 

   "The stars?"

 

   "Yes. Now what if I told you that just maybe people lived there."

 

   She laughed, "No one can live on a star."

 

   "No not ON a star. Here, look..." Chis placed his dish down and drew in the dirt a star and its orbiting planets. "Planets, uh big balls, round things in the sky. People live on them and they move around the stars like this."

 

   Lee'et scoffed and rolled with laughter. Chis sat up straight. "What?"

 

   "You tell bigger lies than Relva the Story Teller over there! Ahhahaha!"

 

   "NO, I'm serious. Wh-what do you call this?" Chis grabbed a handful of soil.

 

   "Umm, Dirt?"

 

   "Ah, what do you call this? This whole thing?" he gestured.

 

   "Are saying we live on a big ball, uh, planet?"

 

   "Yes! Yes, what do you call it?"

 

   "I don't know."

 

   Chis was beside himself. "What?! How can..."

 

   Just then a horn blew. Lee'et's mode of laughter changed and sprang from her place.

 

   "They are here!!! Demons come!!!"

 

   "Chis," Lee'et barked, "Are you a warrior?!"

 

   "Uh, of sorts!"

 

   "Good, we will need you!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...we rise...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Armed villagers stormed to the wooden barricade wall. Chis and Lee'et together joined them. Lee'et stopped at the base of the scaffolding walkway lining the barricade in the interior and spoke to one of the watchmen.

 

   "Ussal, do you see anything?"

 

   "Nothing Lee'et, it was Demen that saw it from the watchtower. Whatever it is it's gone."

 

   Demen had sworn he saw something outside the wall, but wasn't sure what it was. Regardless, the villagers stayed on alert. His curiousness peaked, Chis sought the one man who lived see a demon and tell the tale. Despite Lee'et's urging Chis with Lee'et entered the old man's hut.

 

   "Urgo, this is Chis. Hes come to ask you about the...demons."

 

   Urgo the old hound sat a table feeling around for his drink and food. He was blind.

 

   "Who are you, young man?" he asked.

 

   "Chisteran Agathol, sir."

 

   "Ah so formal. So you've come asking about "them"? Nothing much to tell really, some strange habits."

 

   "Please tell."

 

   "You don't really want to hear the ramblings of an old dog like me."

 

   "Yes, I wish to know."

 

   "Well then..."

 

   Urgo told Chis about his day as a healthy young boy. That was the only time had a good look at the beasts.

 

   "It was tall as a well built hut, thin limbs like branches on a young tree. I remember the eyes, cold, evil and red like a sunset. The skin was gray, gray and pale." The old hound stopped staring into the walls of his hut, remembering vividly. Chis drew closer.

 

   "Is that all? Is that all you know about them?"

 

   "Ha, I've only just seen one. I'm no expert."

 

   "Are you done, Chis?" Lee'et urged, looking at around outside for anyone listening.

 

   "Yes. Thank you sir."

 

   They left and joined the others. Lee'et pulled Chis aside. "Why would you endanger MY people like that?"

 

   "Lee'et, if we're gonna fight these things we need to know everything we can about them. You just can't let taboo get in the way."

 

   "THERE!" yelled a watchmen. Those on the wall fired their muskets. The smell of gun powder filled the air as terrified villagers blazed their weapons. Just then a deafening unearthly shriek filled the air as a dark shape leaped the wall, landing near the center of the village.  Chis saw and couldn't believe his eyes. A large figure maybe 8 feet by 9 inches darted in between the huts like a cat, wearing a dark cloak evading angered villagers musket fire.

 

   "Its looking for the children!" yelled Lee'et.

 

   Unarmed, Chis rushed to the cellar. Thats where they put the offspring in the event of an attack. He ran across the rooftops leaped off and re-injured his knee. Now that the demon was within reach he charged. The demon had just ripped the doors off the cellar and Chis heard the terrified screams of children. Chis grabbed hold of a shovel.

 

   "HEY!" he roared. The demon reacted and brushed Chis aside who lost grip of the shovel and it continued tearing its way into the cellar. Chis recovered his footing and caught a glimpse of an ax by a wood pile. After retrieving it, he charged over at it again this time sending the ax swinging deep into the beasts right shoulder. The ax cut deep and made the demon shriek again struggling to reach and remove the embedded article. This creature obviously felt pain, but it was no means a demon.

 

   Chis yanked out the ax by the handle and with it the beasts cloak. To Chis' surprise it wasn't a beast at all. The whirring and clicks of the figures motors and the red sensor eyes.

 

   'A robot?'

 

   Before Chis could attack the mechanized being anymore, it left leaping clearing the barricade into the dark night. Other villagers gave chase while Lee'et confronted Chis.

 

   "The children?"

 

   Chis struggled for breath, bent over with hands on his knee. "The kids are fine."

 

   One of the children came out of cellar. "The stranger fought off the demon by himself."

 

   Lee'et looked surprise. "Really?"

 

   "I just damaged it."

 

   "Don't you mean, 'hurt it'."

 

   "No."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Commander, you can't be serious."

 

   Madeline stood in the CIC of the Sunset Star making their choice realized. Half the CIC was opposed to the idea, even Chis.

 

   "I am serious. Truly, I hoped it didn't have to come to this."

 

   Chief Lagney shook his head. "Whatever we're gonna do, we better do it quick. Power reserves are down to 25%. Anything below 18% and we lose the reactor."

 

   Madeline looked at them all. "What choice do we have?" She toggled the interior ship comm link.

 

   "Security chief Ballum..." she hesitated, "remove Commander Stoss from his quarters and prepare the prisoner for transport."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and bring death...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chief Ballum and a couple other security officers strolled down the hallways of the Sunset Star to Stoss's quarters. They arrived and we're with a terrible sight.

 

   "Security team to CIC, the guard posted at the commanders quarters is dead and his side arm is missing."

 

   'Search the ship. Find him!' Madeline said over the comm link. The alert alarm inside the ship rang as armed personal stormed the vessel from bow to stern. Their search was thorough, but Stoss was no where to be found.

 

   "Dammit! Maintain a yellow internal alert, I don't want him anywhere near vital areas!"

 

   Chief Lagney glanced over at his handheld device with the engineering status. "22% and falling. Commander, if the reactor goes off-line..."

 

   "I know, I know." she seemed tired. "Now if I were Stoss, where would I hide?"

 

   "Security teams alpha and delta report no sign of him. He might be in the cargo hold." Chis said.

 

   "No, no enough time. He couldn't have gotten that far when the alert went up."

 

   "And hes not in engineering either," added Lagney, "Wherever he is, hes snug as a Titanian ruin bat."

 

   Together they stared at the schematics, solving the puzzle before time got a lead over them. Suddenly Chis' out of the box thinking came to him. "Did the security team check the commander's quarters?"

 

   "No why..." Madeline thought about and realized. "Oh gods, he slipped right by us."

 

   "No Janis," Said Stoss who cocked his pistol and aimed it at her. "Its not slipping if the Security Chief Ballum was with me all along."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   In the village, Chis was hailed a hero. His brave act had won him the respect and admiration of all. Now that it was daylight, they could work in safety on rebuilding the gap in the fortification. Villagers went to the forests were Chis had been once and found fresh lumber.

 

   It was breakfast and Chis was eager to feed and not only himself. Separating a morsel from his meal, he put it in his coat were a growing pup was used to residing. Lee'et noticed.

 

   "What do you have in there?"

 

   "A little creature I found. I guess it was abandoned by its mother." Chis showed it to her. Lee'et's eyes widened and look of disgust came over her.

 

   "What, whats wrong?"

 

   "That is a Gorram, a pack hunter. Terrible and cruel. Why did let it live?"

 

   "It was helpless, hungry and cold. I just couldn't leave it. Now that I think about it, haven't given it a name."

 

   "Do yourself a favor and kill it. Eventually, it will turn on you."

 

   Chis didn't think that it would, but he wasn't a fool. He would be wise to heed her words. Chis picked up the pup. "Are you dangerous?" The pup gave an 'I'm tired and too hungry to care' look. Lee'et scoffed and took off. Chis followed her.

 

   "Where are you from?! You know nothing!" she said.
 

   "I told you." he replied.

 

   "Oh yes, the vulpine who lives among the stars." There was sarcasm in her voice. She looked away and crossed her arms. "I just want the truth, Chis."

 

   "I'm telling the truth. I come from a star called Solar and from its forth planet. I enrolled in the Defense Force, a force for good and operated on a ship. Then...something happened, I don't remember. Then I came here with no choice but to survive." He took her by the hands, unafraid and looked her in the eye. She shuttered a bit. "The first time we met, you knew I was telling the truth. Look me in the eye and see it again."

 

   Lee'et looked at the joining of their hands and into his eyes. They did not plead, not for the sole reason of believing. His eyes were sincere.

 

   "I believe you Chisteran Agathol that you tell the truth. Whether it is fact is another story, but I believe."

 

   'Well thats a start," he thought. He gave a warm smile. "Thank you."

 

   Just then the riders who went to the forest for lumber returned, empty handed. The villagers inside opened the gate and after riding into the village one dismounted.

 

   "What happened?" Lee'et asked.

 

   "In the forest near the treeline, the demon you wounded last night is there. We had no choice but to leave. It didn't follow us. We returned to get weapons and drive it away."

 

   Chis turned to them. "Let me go too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "What is this?" Madeline said with her hand raised. Stoss stood across the way, pistol leveled and his head tilted in a cocky manner.

 

   "So you think you can just hand me over to a bunch of thugs and terrorists? Laughable!" he turned Chis. "Maybe I should just give you to them and say it was your idea."

 

   It was clear to anyone in the CIC that Stoss was insane. His mannerisms, the way he looked around.

 

   "How could you?" Madeline said to Ballum.

 

   "He is the commander, not you."

 

   "Yes, but he is also insane. Can't you see that?"

 

   "Quiet!"  Stoss roared stumbling on the deck.

 

   Lagney peered down at his device which chimed. There was a text message: Partial power restored to FTL for one short emergency jump.

 

  When Stoss wasn't looking, Lagney lunged for the empty FTL station. Stoss reacted sluggishly and fired and shot Lagney sending him to the floor. The Cadet at the helm controls came up from his station, attacked Security Chief Ballum and wrestled away his weapon. The firing continued as the lights went out on the command deck because of resulting power failure on some decks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...pain and suffering...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   As soon as some of the villagers were saddled, they along with Chis departed for the forests. He heard that it was the same "demon" that he encountered earlier. It was this that prompted him go and investigate was this was truly all about. Lee'et didn't go this time, she stayed with her people and watched the group leaving. Chis turned around and saw Lee'et waving to him and waved back. There she stayed watching til they were no longer in sight.

 

 

 

 

 

   It was a two days ride to the treeline. Chis saw tools left behind the frightened villagers beside a couple fallen trees. They dismounted at the last known location of the "demon". Despite the murmurings of his fellow possey members, Chis knew this creature was in fact mechanical in origin. The fact that these robots repeatedly raided settlements and retreated suggested they must have a base of operations. Where he did not know and for now kept his suspicions to himself.

 

   "Alright," said Faye'dul, one of the leading warriors in the village, "we split into two groups. Cev, Gomine, Trask, come with me. Torin, take the newcomer and Shooder. We'll meet on the other side at the long meadow."

 

   "Here, take this Chis." Torin gave him a sword. It was short but with a wide blade that belonged to Urgo when he was young, the old blind one that Chis spoke to regarding the "demons". Chis took the archaic weapon and placed it on his belt. "Shooder, eyes front!" said Torin.

 

   As Faye'dul's group faded from sight, Chis and his walked through the dense primeval forest of redwoods and ferns. The only sounds to be heard were the echos of birds and the foot steps through the brush. Shooder brought up the rear while Torin took point who leveled his musket rifle at his hip, turning his head investigating ever sound while keeping a straight lined path. Chis held tightly his trusty lance gazing up at the trees above. It was possible the "demon" had gone from this place.

 

   "Torin, what do we look for?" Shooder asked.

 

   "Anything out of the ordinary. Now keep a lookout!"

 

   "Chis, you saw it didn't you? What did it look like?" Shooder was clearly frightened.

 

   "Shooder, stop asking so many questions!" Shouted Torin. Chis found himself caught in the middle of an argument he didn't want to be a part of. Between Shooder's excessive wanting of information and Torin's accusing him of cowardice, Chis was at a loss as to how to resolve it and rubbing his forehead with right hand. Then in the trees he could barely hear something, the crackling of branches. Chis tried to get their attention. The sound got louder and closer. He tried again and still no response.

 

   "HEY!"

 

   "WHAT?!" Torin replied sharply. Just then a huge four fingered, clawed, metal hand violently grasped Torin by the neck and upper chest and was pulled up into the trees. There was no time to react. Torin was gone with only his blood curdling scream to follow.

 

   "Shooder, come on!" Chis' leader instincts kicked in and ran deeper into forest.

 

   Torin had fired his rifle while in the trees and dropped it as Chis and Shooder pursued. Faye'dul's group heard them and saw Chis running toward the meadow. "Its in the trees!" he yelled.

 

   Just as he had said it, the "demon" had leaped from the trees and landed into the meadow still with Torin in his clutches barely alive. It reared up and bellowed a ear shattered sketch that sounded like nails on a chalk board. It stood in an alerted stance with an arm raised holding Torin as if to threaten them with his death. Its other arm twitched, Chis must have hit one of its drive motors and was practically useless. By that time Faye'dul's group reach them they raised their weapons and fired. Musket shots sprayed into the "demon" tearing into his metal skin and joints. The shots seemed to explode on impact.

 

   "Wait, wait! Torin!!!" Chis warned. It was too late, the "demon" used Torin as a shield and lunged at them casting his dead body aside. Those villager who remained charged knowing they had no time to reload their weapons, brandishing for melee combat. Chis remembered the sword he was given and went into the fray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Stoss continued to shoot wildly as Chief Ballum began pulling him out of the CIC. As the red emergency lights came on, Chis rushed to Lagney's side who pointed to his tablet-like device. Another cadet came over and applied pressure.

 

   "Commander, look!" Chis showed Madeline the message.

 

   "Good, Chis order a jump now!"

 

   Chis stormed to the FTL station only to find it had been damaged. "FTL nav computer is destroyed! We haven't got cor-ordinance."

 

   "Just punch it Chis!" she yelled.

 

   "We won't know where we're going!"

 

   "It doesn't matter, anywhere is better than here!!"

 

   Chis inserted the launch key, and counted down from ten. "JUMP!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...pestilence and shame...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   On the command of his ship, the one called himself "Saga" stared at the holoviewer of the Sunset Star. The ship had taken serious damage from the assault in the cloud and Saga sat in his chair counting his proverbial lucky stars. He looked up at his first officer. "Not much of a prize, is she?"

 

   "It depends on your point of view." He replied. Saga nodded his head, smug as ever and unworried. He believed the odds to be in his favor, but would leave no quarter for his enemies. However, there salvation proved to be his abortion. In a flash of light and speed, the CDF destroyer vanished from sight. Naturally it took Saga a few seconds to realize what happened.

 

   "Track them!" he roared, rising from his seat.

 

   "Unable, they didn't bother laying in a course. An unplotted jump like that...it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack if we started looking for them now."

 

   His plan shattered, Saga stared into the holoviewer this time in disbelief. Then he gave a devilish grin. "It doesn't matter," he said sitting back down in his chair laughing, "It REALLY doesn't matter."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Bursting out of light speed, the wounded Sunset Star went into sub-light. The CIC's computers were smashed; Stoss and his wild gun-play had dealt a heavy blow and ironically hit its mark. Chis, still clinging to the FTL control panel got up from the station toward the center of the command deck.

 

   "Medic to CIC." Madeline's voice echoed through the ship. Cadet Skor sat beside Engineer Chief Lagney who sustained a gut shot. "Hold on Chief, hold on."

 

   "Engineering, report." Madeline toggled the com-link again.

 

   "Assistant Engineer Olwich, Commander. We've suffered a major power falloff, requesting to deactivate primary systems to re-route to the main reactor."

 

   "Do it and make it quick, we don't want to be caught with our pants down out here."

 

   "Where are we anyway?" Chis asked. "And what about Stoss?"

 

   "We can't trust Ballum, hes shown us his colors or the security staff. Chis, go below and rally support from the other Cadets and non-commissioned personal and get to the weapons lockers before Stoss does. Use the maintenance shaft."

 

   "Yes ma'am."

 

 

 

 

 

   In the sub-levels, Stoss paced the deck like a caged animal. Any efforts from Security Chief Ballum to calm the on-edge former commander of the Sunset Star was met with hostility. The rest of the security staff nearby were already have second thoughts.

 

   "Everyone up THERE," he pointed, "is a mutineer!" Stoss continued waving around his pistol around the tanks of untreated dry-plasma of which Ballum was taking note.

 

   "Up there plotting away, devious deeds. Who do they think they are taking MY ship?!"

 

   Ballum stepped forward, "Yes, but how do you plan on...?"

 

   "Shhhhh!" Stoss shushed him and pointed again. "Do you hear it? Devious plans being carried out! Can you hear them?!"

 

 

 

 

 

   "We'd love to help Chis, but our hands are full trying to contain this breach in the hull. If we jump again, it'll vent us all into space." Chis had found a badly undermanned maintenance crew, headed by Kasprin Eddel forth highest ranking non-commissioned office on-board ship. What was worse, small arms lockers on Deck E were off blocked by a crossbeam that fail and added to the hull being buckled. He continued on hoping to find volunteers and was so far unsuccessful and found a com-link in the hallway and patched through to the CIC.

 

   "Cadet Agathol to CIC, our people are tied up down. I'm on Deck E, section 20. Descending to Deck F."

 

   "Noted. Be careful, Stoss' and his 'merry men' were reported down in that area. Proceed with caution."

 

   Chis turned and looked at the badly lit hallway and access ladder. This was where he was about to go.

 

   "And don't go down there without a weapon of some sort. Are you armed?"

 

   He looked down and found broken off pipe on the deck with a sharp smashed edge to a blunt point. "To an extent."

 

   "Good and come back in one piece. Madeline out." The com-link went off. Chis retrieved the pipe.

 

   "Oh well, could be worse I guess." he said as he descended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Watchout! Shooder, the legs!" Knocked to the side, the inexperienced warrior tumbled as the "demon" kicked him aside.

 

   "Stand your ground! Gev, distract it! I'll go in for the kill!" Faye'dul was the oldest and the most skilled warrior in the village. But even this lone "demon" was too much for all of them. It was acting like a wounded animal and not like a logical machine. Chis had noticed this while brandishing his newly given short-sword. The warriors had formed a half circle pressing the "demon" back. The machine waved and swatted its "paw" at them, forcing the hardy group to only advance so far. It continuously scanned for tactical edges and noticed Chis and became fixated.

 

   ...The boots...the advanced pistol...the patch above his left shoulder...Cornerian Defense Force...Sunset Star...

 

   With that the creature turned and abandoned the attack into meadow and the forest.

 

   "The hell was that about?" Trask said.

 

   'What just happened?' Chis thought. He was determined to find an answer and whistled for his Terror Bird. Like lightening his bird came and quickly hopping on he gave chase.

 

   "Chis!" yelled Faye'dul, "Wait!"

 

 

 

 

 

   Too late, he was already gone and couldn't hear the cries of the warriors behind. Sheathing his sword, he gave full attention to the hunt. The "demon" wove into between the trees running like an ape with its arm clawing into the dirt with the other dangling behind. The "demon" was strong but lacked speed and Chis was closing the gap behind. The Terror Bird was adapted to its habitat, becoming one with nature and expertly swift among the trees, while the "demon" tore at the landscape seeking escape.

 

   'What is it doing?' asked Chis who was close. Both came hurdling from the woods into a clearing, the robot reacted and spun to attack. The bird evaded but at the cost of Chis being caught by its metallic fist, dismounted and sent to the ground. Their next dual had commenced.

 

   Chis went for his lance but was cut off by the "demon", that had intensified its efforts. He went for his short-sword.

 

   'This'll do me no good without a soft spot to plant it. Wait, whats that?' Chis saw small an unprotected part of the robots chest between the chest plate. The Cadet rolled as the "demon" buried its fist into the ground. This was his chance! Quickly he darted forward and plunged the sword in the chest cavity of the robot. To Chis' surprise, the robot let out a shriek. It was almost as if it felt pain. It reacted violently and grabbed Chis by the throat. It didn't clap all the way, just enough to cause suffocation. The Cadet gasped for air and tried force himself free.

 

   In the moment he realized the sword was still in the chest of the robot and with a swift kick drove it in further. The result was his release and an ear shattering, digitized moan. In its agony it crawled to Chis who too was crawling away after being choked. Chis had enough of this affair, turned and went for the pistol in his pocket. The "demon" kept coming shrieking and groaning at it came closer, spilling a strange fluid on the ground below. Chis leveled the weapon and fired at point blank range and emptied the remain six shots into the robots head. The "demon" fell into the earth of the clearing and the shrieking ceased. Chis laid back in exhaustion, staring into the sky as it began to rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED... 

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...it is not for victory that we pursue...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis and the group warriors had returned to the villager from the night before. Faye'dul came bearing the body of their dead comrade across his saddle. Now it was morning and there was a cold change in the wind that forced the villagers in doors. Lee'et removed herself from her hut and went to where Chis was residing. She opened the door slightly.

 

   "Chis?" she whispered. Lee'et heard a faint noise that sounded like, "Come in."

 

   "I thought you would be asleep by now." she asked.

 

   "Nah, I couldn't."

 

   Lee'et took a seat by the dying fire and its bright coals. She placed a log on it. Thats when she noticed his face. "Whats wrong?"

 

   "I don't know. I'm just...thinking, about everything."

 

   "Like what, if you don't mind my asking?"

 

   It took Chis a moment to collect his thoughts. "When I joined the CDF, I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself and realized in some ways it wasn't. Commanders giving, taking orders while Generals and Admirals pat themselves on their backs for all their achievements. It seems when we weren't in a war, we'd fight among ourselves asking, "What are we doing here?" We'd find some way to explain it with passionate patriotism and continue to police the territories as if to find something incriminating. At least, this is what history teaches me."

 

   "Do you miss home?"

 

   "Not as much as I hoped. After my parents died, I had nowhere else to go. I remembered what my brother said when he served aboard his ship. 'It was like family', and so I thought I could find mine on the Sunset Star and for I while I did. It was home, but now...that too is gone. Then I came here."

 

   "And...what do you think...about here?"

 

   Chis turned and stared into her eyes as he did before. "Lee'et, here I feel like I belong."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Containment failing on Deck 40. Emergency bulkheads in place.

 

   Acting-commander Madeline stood in CIC looking over damage reports as the chief engineer came on the deck.

 

   "Lageny, I thought you were in sickbay."

 

   "I was, doc patched me up and said I was fine. So I came here. Any word on Cadet Agathol?"

 

   "None yet. He hasn't reported in."

 

 

 

   Holding fast to his weapon, Chis entered what could be rightly called enemy territory. The blinking running lights above him made it difficult to traverse the debris on the deck.

 

   'Just another waking hour in paradise.' he thought.

 

   Soon he came across a wall panel. Chis had no hope of using it because of a structural crossbeam went right through it. Ducking under it he moved on and came to a blast door. It was locked Chis was unable to override.

 

   'I gotta hand it to you Stoss,' Chis thought, 'you are a sneaky bastard.'

 

   Chis looked for any other of getting to the lower decks. He didn't want to back track, that was the last thing he wanted to do and used the service crawl-way.

 

 

 

   "Sir, what are we waiting for?" Ballum the security chief had confronted Commander Stoss.

 

   "We wait...for them...to come," Stoss seemed drained if his energy, "Then we storm...the hanger deck."

 

   "I don't understand sir. Wait for whom?"

 

   Stoss didn't answer, of course he didn't need to. There was only one obvious entity on-route. Stoss removed his sidearm from his holster. "I need to lead him our way."

 

   BLAM!

 

   Chis stopped climbing the maintenance ladder and heard the blast. It sounded like it was a level below him and vectored that direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The winds had died down and the villagers were now out and and about their various concerns. Chis too withdrew from his hut and saw it was a rather beautiful day. Suddenly he found himself swarmed by children.

 

   "Tell us a story! Please?"

 

   Chis was unprepared to being bombarded. Lee'et came to his rescue and explained.

 

   "The storyteller is unwell, so I thought..."

 

   Chis smiled. There was no more need to think of the past anymore. He was happy.

 

   This was his home now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[TCPeppyTc]

I like it! Keep it up!

[Snys93]

I like it! Keep it up!

 

Thanks

 

Any particular thing about it you like?

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...not the game or the pleasure...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The Cadet stepped off the ladder, his boots hitting the deck with a metallic thud. The moaning of the ship's hull were getting worse by the hour; the less time Chisteran Agathol spent in these lower levels the better. The Sunset Star had taken nasty blows before in her past, but now it seemed the ol' girl had bitten her last bite. There was no way she can last long in another fight, not now.

 

   Chis scaled the dimly lit hallway, his left hand feeling his way ahead while his right held a firm grip on loose pipe he found earlier. The light above were damaged and hung dangerously flickering due to loose connections. Ahead Chis saw glowing red lights. As he go closer he notice: DAMAGED COMPARTMENT POSSIBLE HULL BREACH DO NOT ENTER

 

   'Great, just what I need,' thought Chis gazing about. The wall panels didn't directed him to a alternate route, its possible that the ship computer core was damaged as well. As Chis approached the plasma treatment compartment, he heard muffled chattering beyond his position. With no way to contact the CIC, Chis decided to go further alone.

 

 

 

 

 

   "How are the internal sensors, chief?" Madeline paced the the command deck rubbing his shoulder from a previous injury.

 

   "I have to re-route to power and..." Lagney hesitated, "Sensors are on-line."

 

   "Get me Agathol's location."

 

   "Sensors are operating at less than 50%. Spotty at best. There!"

 

   The holo-imager booted up and the static images faded into recognizable shapes.

 

   "What the hell? What is he doing?" Madeline saw Chis advancing toward Stoss' general local. "Skor, tell me we have weapons!"

 

   Cadet Skor came bearing arms of different calibers and placed them near the holo-imager. "Five pistols, two SMGs and a battle rifle with a scope. It all I could scrounge. Plenty of ammo for each."

 

   "Skor, can you shoot?"

 

   "Second rated in my class, Ma'am."

 

   "Good enough. Lagney, secure the CIC. Have you and your team here arm themselves. Skor, with me!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Tell us a story!"

 

   The "natives" were indeed restless due to the fact Chis wasn't quick on the draw. He thought for a moment and remembered a story he was told as a child.

 

   "Do any of you know of the Vulpinus Stellarum?"

 

   The children had never of such a thing and went on to inquiring. "What is it, Chisteran?"

 

   He drew them in and sat on the ground. "Well, it goes like this..."

 

 

 

   Long ago, there was a little fox named Vulpinus. Vulpinus had everything any little fox wanted, food so he could never go hungry, a place to sleep that was cool and free from danger and room to jump and play all day long. But the little fox was not happy.

 

   Every night Vulpinus looked up in the sky and saw the wonderful things above. As the winds blew he could almost hear a voice in the sky that said, 'Come little fox.' Vulpinus wanted to but couldn't and this made him very sad.

 

   So one night, the little fox found the first star of the night and made a wish.

 

   'I wish, I wish to be in the sky...

 

   I wish, I wish to be up on high...

 

   I wish, I wish to see a star that sings...

 

   I wish, I wish...if only I had wings...'

 

   And the little fox cried all night and fell fast asleep. And as soon as all the stars came out, they all heard his wish and gave him what they wanted as much.

 

   As Vulpinus awoke that same night, why, he had wings! They were beautiful, the like he had never seen before and flew right away into the sky and laughed and played among the stars. But the stars warned him. 'Go back before daybreak or you will have to stay here with us forever.' But the little fox did not hear them. No, he was too busy playing, trying out his wings.

 

   By the time it was much passed daybreak, Vulpinus tried to go home. But he couldn't because he was lost and couldn't find home and the stars could not help him for he was warned. So he forever flies among the stars, searching, wandering, forever and ever. And if you're lucky on good night, you can see him fly across the heavens looking for home.

 

 

 

 

   The children cheered, "Tell us another!"

 

   Lee'et came by, "No, its late. Go to bed, now."

 

   The grumbling children went off to each his or her hut for the night. Lee'et sat by Chis by the fire.

 

   "You're a natural, you know that?"

 

   Chis chuckled, "You told me I was a convincing liar."

 

   "Don't mean that."

 

   Chis looked at Lee'et. "Then, what?"

 

   "With...children."

 

   Chis nervously looked away, toward the fire. "Not the same with women I see." Lee'et laughed.

 

   "Uh, yeah, sort of."

 

   "Do you believe that story you told?"

 

   "Well...uh, its just...a legend...and legends...take...ro-oo-ots in...fact."

 

   "So what does Vulpinus Stellarum mean?"

 

   "Roughly translated...from...the old..."

 

   "Don't be bashful, Chis." she said lovingly.

 

   "...the old...texts...its-s-s...its-s-s..."

 

   Chis forcefully tore himself away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I-I-I can't."

 

   "Whats wrong? Is it me?"

 

   "No, no no no...its me. You're fine, I mean good fine...you're pretty, beautiful...its me...I uh, I-I don't know...I've always been this way...Its not you at all."

 

   "Oh, okay. Do you want me to leave?"

 

   "No, you don't want-I mean you have to...you-you can um...stay...its okay I guess...Its fine...I guess..." Chis glanced at her and back to the ground, folding his hands.

 

   'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!' said in his head over and over again.

 

   "You're shy with women?" Lee'et asked.

 

   Chis opened his mouth to speak. Words didn't come out so he shut it and nodded his answer.

 

   "Well with practice..."

 

   "Pra-pra-pra-practice?"

 

   Lee'et walked closer to Chis trembling out of his boots, scared if anything.

 

   "Practice makes perfect."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   In the plasma treatment compartment of the Sunset Star, Stoss stood over the body of security chief Ballum. His head cocked to the side, clearly insane, his right hand twitching hold the pistol. "Oh, how the brave have fallen." he uttered sarcastically. Cadet Agathol was nearing his location armed only with a twisted pipe in the cover of darkness and creeping around the corner and saw the Commander stand above other bodies of the security staff he killed. Chis was only steps away from ending the madness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but the duty we have, the obligation...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   In his hut, Chis stirred himself into conscientiousness. His heart was beating in his head and groaned from the pain. He heard noises outside but they were muffled, his senses were extremely dulled. The CDF cadet rose to his feet, cracking his back and neck. He wasn't quite alert yet when he heard a shriek outside the hut. Chis stopped and put on his clothes and headed outside.

 

   He opened the door and was met by a intense bright which he believed to be the sun. But it wasn't. As his eyes adjusted, he began to realize that the other huts, the barricade and other structure had one alarming thing in common.

 

   They were all on fire.

 

   Chis' senses returned and were kicked into overdrive searching for any other villagers.

 

   "Hello! Anybody?!" No one answered. He gaze turned to his hut which too was being slowly engulfed in flames. He charged in for his more important trappings and left before the flames claimed him as well. Now he sought escape and was nearly trampled by a terror bird that crossed his path. The creature was ironically terrified and the saddle on its back too was on fire. Fire was everywhere. Suddenly Chis heard another shriek, the same as before and ran in that direction.

 

   His personal questions were answered upon seeing a robot standing over the body of a villager. It was the same design as the one he "killed", this one was bigger and more menacing. The red eyes of the metallic beast met Chis'. But before anything could go down, an loud air blast a signal perhaps sounded and echoed across the plains. The robot reacted, its head turned to the direction of the sky and leveled to the horizon. Its gaze slowly returned Chis and stared for five seconds before bolting through the flames, out of sight. Chis was no doubt bewildered.

 

   He stood there staring in the direction that the robot left as the flames grew higher and then moved to look for survivors.

 

 

 

   The cadet made a circular search pattern about the flames. It was obvious that any survivors wouldn't stay at the village site and would seek cover. He began walking to the treeline at the forest, it seemed like a good place to start. Finally he saw a sign and called out to them.

 

    What he saw was disheartening to say the least. Only a few remained. Shooder the warrior in training, Faye'dul the elder warrior who wounded, couple others and Lee'et.

 

    "Is this all?" Chis asked.

 

    "I'm afraid so, not many of us made to to the treeline." Faye'dul answered to pain.

 

    "They came out of nowhere without warning!" Shooder said dressing a cut on Faye'dul's leg, "They were out to kill us all this time!"

 

    "They always do, Shooder. Ow!"

 

    Chis moved toward Lee'et and called her by name. She didn't answer so he knelt beside her. "Lee'et? Are you okay?"

 

    She turned to him, tears had streamed down her face. Lee'et was strong vulpine, but she found it hard to hold them back any longer. She reached out and hugged Chis and sobbed into shoulder. Chis had little choice but to hug her back. "Its okay," he whispered.

 

    "I guess you can say we are the lucky ones."

 

    Chis turned to Faye'dul. "What do you mean?"

 

    "They took the children, all of them. We're no use to them so they slaughter us."

 

    "But why just them?"

 

    "No one knows." Lee'et added, drying her eyes, "Only that they go in the direction of the setting of the sun."

 

    "Many have followed," Fayedul said positioning his leg, "none have returned. It is an evil place that they go."

 

    Shooder looked up at Faye'dul, "How do you know that?"

 

    "How should I know! When I was young the elders of my day told me the same thing! OW! Be careful!!!"

 

    "West, huh?" Chis was staring off in that direction. It wasn't hard for Faye'dul to under where Chis was going with this. "Oh no, no NO! Chis no! We can't!"

 

    Chis grabbed his gear that he rescued from the flames. "You said in the past they went in large groups to chase the "demons", right?"

 

    "Well, yeah...but..."

 

    "And we're a group of seven. Less than a fly on the beasts back, wouldn't you say?"

 

    "Hey wait...don't..."

 

    Lee'et stood up. "A rescue?"

 

    "If you're willing help me. I can't do this on my own, but I'll try if I must."

 

    "It would be suicide! You have no chance of finding them, much less surviving!"

 

    Silence upon the treeline.

 

    "I'll go."

 

    Faye'dul was shocked, "Lee'et no! We can't go that way! Thats their land!"

 

    "Are you afraid, Faye'dul?"

 

    "Don't confuse fear with caution, Shooder."

 

    "Well, we better decide now," Chis concluded, "because I'm going, now."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Young Agathol, so nice of you to...join us." Stoss there with his back to Chis. The cadet was surprised that the Commander was expecting him.

 

   "Sir, Commader, we can stop this." Chis noticed the bodies. "Why?" he asked.

 

   "You ask why?" The commander turned sharply. "Mutiny is very frowned upon, especially in the CDF."

 

   "Sir, no one has mutinied. You're mistaken, we're loyal to you. Its just...why did you kill them...the pirates?"

 

   Stoss slowly approached Chisteran. "They died long before we found them. They died the moment they became thieves and terrorist. I was simply discarding empty shells."

 

   "And them?" Chis said glancing at the security staff.

 

   "Frankly," Stoss said as he leveled his pistol at Chis, "They asked too many questions."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...the infection that has spread wide across the vastness...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The landscape that had been peaceful and serene was disturbed by the spreading flames. A thick column of black smoke reached high into atmosphere, blown across the horizon blocking out the setting sun. The scent of death fill ed the air.

 

   Heading west, Chis Agathol carried his gear chasing the "demons" and their trail. He had no idea how to find them let alone catch up with them. But he continued, a tad bit afraid of the unknowns before him. But he wasn't alone, Lee'et who defended him at the treeline agreed to make the journey as well.

 

   "Thank you," said Chis to Lee'et, "even though its dangerous, I'm glad you decided to go with me."

 

   "Its alright, I wanted to."

 

   Then they heard a noise behind them. They both turned sharply only find it was Chis' faithful Gorram that missing during the blaze. It came running and whimpering at Chis' sight.

 

    "Hey, there you are. I've been looking all over for you." Agathol scooped up the pup and placed it in his tunic coat. "Wow you're bigger, aren't you?"

 

    Lee'et laughed lightly at the reunion. "Have you named her yet?"

 

    "I thought you didn't want me to keep it."

 

    "Well after seeing how she is with you, I don't know."

 

    Chis glanced at the horizon. "I'm terrible at naming pets anyway."

 

    "About Shanti? I had a Vololto with that name when I was a little girl."

 

    "A Vololto?"

 

    "Its a sort of tree dwelling mammal. They're quite gentle creatures, they always live in the trees."

 

    "I think its a good name." Chis replied nodding his head.

 

    Just then they heard grunted mumbling behind them. It was Faye'dul and Shooder.

 

    "Faye'dul, what are you to doing following us?" Lee'et asked rather puzzled.

 

    "Never mind that. I can't just let you go off on your own when you don't know where you're going!"

 

    "Sure we do," Chis stepped in, "west, the setting of the sun."

 

    "You see ts actually more than that. Faye'dul actually listened to elders, their warnings and things like that."

 

    "What Shooder is trying to say is I know how to get there, even though my knowledge is limited."

 

    "Yeah, thats not very hard to believe." Faye'dul reacted slapping Shooder on the back of the head for his wisecracking.

 

    "We should get going," added Faye'dul, "we need to make some progress before we camp."

 

 

 

   In his travels across this wondrous land, Chis had never gone this way toward the suns setting. The geology seemed to slowly change with each day of their journey, the plains faded into rolling hills and rivers where spaced trees peppered the landscape. The wildlife changed as well from huge herds to barely signs of life. As to the chase at hand, Faye'dul found tracks belonging to their fabled "demons" heading toward the mountains, a terrible chain of peaks infamously called the Standing Knifes that looked as if they could pierce the sky if they reached higher.

 

   "That? We have to go over that?"

 

   "If you wanna go home Shooder, you already know the way." Faye'dul said sarcastically. "And we're not going over, we're going through. Theres a pass in between those two small peaks to the left. See them?"

 

   "Is it safe?" asked Chis.

 

   "It gets snowed in by mid winter. This time of year, the snow should be melted."

 

   The two small peaks didn't look so small upon approach. Dwarfed by towering cliffs, the group made their way between the masses of stone. Faye'dul was half right, most of the snow had melt and what was left was a clean slush that could fill their canteens. Of course, they had a bit more climbing to do. Since most of the snow had become runoff for the rivers below, most of the rocky boulders were bare making them noticeable and easier to climb on. As they were doing so, Chis turned his attention Faye'dul.

 

   "Faye'dul, what happened to the other three at the treeline?"

 

   "They went to another village we know of and there they'll wait for our return. Lets keep up the pace, we're near the top."

 

   Reaching the summit first was Faye'dul, then Lee'et followed Chis and Shooder. Faye'dul stood staring at the horizon.

 

   "I don't imagine the worst is over with." said Chis.

 

   "No," replied Faye'dul, "We're not." There was a tone of dread in his voice and wasn't a good sign.

 

   "What is it?" Shooder who was the last to come up.

 

   Faye'dul pointed. "That I believe is the Sea of Fire."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Skor, do you read?" Madeline's voice came over a handheld communications device.

 

   "Cadet Skor, do you have them in sight?"

 

   "Not yet ma'am, but I'm nearing Cadet Agathol's last known location. What are my firing orders?"

 

   â€‹"Get Stoss in your sights. If any hostel action is taken, you take him out. Thats an order."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

After re-reading this story and the additions you have made since then, I'm addicted.  You've succeeded to the point where I MUST know what happens next.  You're truly an inspiration.  There are minor grammar issues, but it does not get in the way of the story.  Thank you for this story.  Thank God for your story.

[Snys93]

After re-reading this story and the additions you have made since then, I'm addicted.  You've succeeded to the point where I MUST know what happens next.  You're truly an inspiration.  There are minor grammar issues, but it does not get in the way of the story.  Thank you for this story.  Thank God for your story.

 

Wow, I had no idea. Thank you.

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...It is not war...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The journey so far was hard and treacherous. At least with the comfort of trees and grasslands it was enough to brighten the spirit; the hope of achieving that long awaited destination of a seemingly endless trek. But now it appeared as if that the land rejected them. The trees and grass were replaced by parched weeds in the soil turned useless as it had been blasted by the sun for thousands years. It was simple geology, the towering mountain chain for the most part blocked any moisture to the other side creating a rain starve wasteland. Chis was right to mark Faye'dul's expression of fear, for this was of the world for his people the place where they did not go.

 

   "The tracks end here. Is there a way across it?" asked Chis.

 

   Faye'dul paced muttering to himself favoring his leg from his previous injury. "If we had wings..."

 

   "Well we don't and neither do they. But they must have found some way of crossing the desert."

 

   "Faye'dul, they had the children with them," Lee'et added, "they need them alive."

 

   "And so there is a way." Chis concluded.

 

   "This is insane! This isn't just any desert! Its called the Sea of Fire for a reason!" Faye'dul paused to collect his thoughts. Chis crouched beside him. "Faye'dul I know, I understand. Believe me I'm afraid and I won't say that you are. But there are children out there terrified, away from home, wondering if anyone is out there to save them. We've come this far, should we give up now?"

 

   Faye'dul waved his head around and sighed. He knew the count and it was too great in his mind. He turned his attention to Shooder. "You've been silent long enough. What do you think?"

 

   Poor Shooder was about to speak.

 

   "Forget it, you're coming anyway. Okay heres the plan..."

 

 

 

 

   The plan was simple and easy to follow: conserve water and travel at night. Sandstorm were an issue from time to time and in some cases easy to deal with. Faye'dul learned a trick from an old feline to ride out the sand for emergencies using thick blankets and long reeds as clear markers. Hopefully they wouldn't have to use them, but Faye'dul showed them all how it was done.

 

   It was almost sundown that they started across the Sea of Fire. As they covered ten miles, Chis turned and took his last look at the mountains. It was something to look forward to, a pleasing sign if they made it back this way again and then resumed with the others. As they walked the miles seemed to blend together and the slowly the hard, dry soil became sand and found themselves surrounded by dunes. If it weren't for the stars they would have nothing to keep a baring, except Chis' compass that came in handy as nightly cloud overcast blocked out sky. Their canteens were full and spirits were high.

 

 

 

 

   Near sunup and the group of four pitched camp. Listening to Faye'dul's instructions they each took their thick blanket, buried it at one end and using weighted stakes to secure the other. Once inside you dig out in the sand a hole and lay in it. It was hard for Chis to sleep during the day, but eventually he got used to it. One day he was sleeping especially good.

 

   Chisteran...

 

   'Hmmm...'

 

   Chisteran...

 

   The red furred vulpine opened his blue eyes. He blinked and took a double take. The light above him was different and there was something rather strange about it. He felt the ground and expected sand but instead found a metallic deck, artificial.

 

   'The Sunset Star?' he thought, clearly reckoning his old ship. He was in his assigned bunk in the cadets crew quarters, got up and walked the length of the room to the entrance and opened it. The textures, the smells, the dream was so lifelike. Chis poked his head out of the doorway and looked at both ends of the hallway.

 

   'Nothing.'

 

   Going left down to the intersecting hallway, there was not a soul. Chis knowing full well it was a dream refused to get caught up in it.

 

   "Excuse me."

 

   Chis' head darted around at the source of the voice.

 

   "Excuse me!" It was definitely a female voice for sure.

 

   "Where are you?"

 

   "HERE!"

 

   'Whoa, this is some dream.' Chis turned to see a dance hall girl that seemed to be having trouble.

 

   "I can't reach this zipper."

 

   'Oh gods, its one of THOSE dreams.'

 

   She seemed rather desperate. "Hurry will you, I'm on in 20 seconds!"

 

   'Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!'

 

   "HURRY!!!"

 

   Chis bolted and without thinking zipped it up a little too fast.

 

   "OUCH!!!!!"

 

   'Oops.'

 

   "That better not have drawn any blood!!!"

 

   Chis sighed and face palmed. "How can this get any worse?"

 

   "ATTEEEEEEENTION!!!" Chis' eyes widened. He remembered that voice.

 

   "ABOOOOOOOOUT FACE!!! THAT WAS SLOPPY ENLISTEE! VERY SLOPPY!! IF YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'LL BE DOIN' KP DUTY, FOR LIFE!!!!!!"

 

   â€‹'Sergeant Cavess! Holy crap, he must have made an imprint on my psyche. I always thought he had it in for me.'

 

   "DO YOU OR DO YOU NOT WHAT TO MAKE IT, ENLISTEE?!!!"

 

   "YES SIR, I DO, SIR!!!"

 

   "UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT!! IS THAT CORRECT, ENLISTEE?!!!"

 

   "SIR YES SIR!!!"

 

   "WROOOOOOOONG!!!!!! I ALWAYS GET WHAT I WANT!!! NOW YOU FALL IN WITH THE REST OF THEM!!! MOVE IT!! MOVE IT!!! MOVE IT!!!!"

 

   The cadet was so caught up in his remembrance of basic CDF training, he complied with the sergeants. He ran up the other end of the hallway and down the access way to the engineering deck. The sarge disappeared and his orders echoed away. Chis still jogged at a stiff pace before realizing what he was in fact doing and stopped.

 

   "Ah! There you are. Come here young man." In engineering, there was an old hound with table with equipment and air canisters. He kept waving at Chis to come over to his end of the compartment. "Now, do you know who I am?"

 

   Chis had no choice but to shake his head 'no'.

 

   "Thats too bad," the old hound lamented, scratching his head, "I can't remember either. It must be the gas."

 

   "Gas?"

 

   The hounds eyes lit up. "Yes! You see, I'm an inventor...uh of sorts. Gases have been around for, well...since the beginning of time...presumable. I have invented a flavoring agent that tastes of the real thing without adding to your waistline. For quick examples, chocolate bar, cotton candy and my ultimate favorite, butter scotch puddling!" The hound sprayed some in Chis' face who choked instantly.

 

   "No no no, you're doing it wrong."

 

   "Wha-how am I...?"

 

   "You are supposed to inhale and taste while exhaling. See?"

 

   "So like huffing?"

 

   "Wha-it-well, no NOT at all! For shame young man, for even thinking of such disgusting things!"

 

   'Whatever, I'm out of here.'

 

   Chis continued his way passed the secondary cargo hold until he found the hanger deck. Low and behold there of all things was a prayer tent with a limited audience and a priest with a microphone. There was an organ present with its player and small choir singing joyfully.

 

   "Brothers and sisters, today we have a child in audience with us tonight who suffers day and night with pains about his belly. Bring the child hither! Bring him to the forgiving arms of the Goddess!"

 

   The choir, when the word Goddess or the name of the Goddess was mentioned chanted it once in musical harmony before resuming a humming melody. A mother and father desperately brought their child, a little girl who cried in pain to the preach/priest.

 

   "Ooooooh Goddess!"

 

   "Goddess!"

 

   "Merciful lady, we call to you! Heal this poor, suffering child to a state of health as previous to her station! Isis!!"

 

   "Isis!!"

 

   "We call to you, Lady Isis!!!"

 

   "Isis!!!"

 

   "Give us a sign of your presence!!!! HEEEEEEAL!!!!!!"

 

   The cadet could not believe his eyes. This was all taking place in his dream. Rolling his eyes, he continued onward.

 

   "You there! You doubt the Goddess?!! You doubt Isis and her powers of healing?!!!"

 

   He stopped. Chis knew the preacher was talking to him and turned. "You're asking the wrong person about, gods and goddess'."

 

   The preacher thumped down to him til he was square in the face. "How can you NOT believe," he said as he motioned with his hands, "when the proof is around you?! The gods speak to us through everything if you are willing to hear."

 

   Chis drew closer to the Jackal, there was bitterness in his eyes. "If I know one thing, its that the gods don't listen themselves!"

 

   With that Chis removed himself from the hanger deck and onward.

 

   "Peace be with you, unbeliever!" his words echoed, "May you return one day!"

 

   'Don't count on it!'

 

   He continued, memories of his parents, his brother and there deaths came to mind. He remembered the pain, how it ate at him. He just wanted to let his rage out. Just before he could give in, another voice called to him.

 

   "Chisteran?"

 

   Knowing that voice as well, he turned to find Lieutenant Madeline.

 

   "L-Lieutenant," he stuttered, "Janis, how...?"

 

   "Please, theres no time. You have to go back."

 

   "Back? Back where? I don't understand."

 

   "To Corneria and tell them about us."

 

   "Janis, I can't. I'm stuck, marooned you might say and the ship is gone. How?"

 

   Madeline touched Chis' face tenderly. "Knowing you, you'll find a way."

 

   Chisteran...Chis...

 

   'The voice again.'

 

   Chis...can you hear me...Chisteran...wake up!

 

 

 

 

   Waking up abruptly, he found Lee'et kneeling over him. "Are you okay?"

 

   "Uh, yeah. Whats up?"

 

   "Its near sundown. Faye'dul said its time to move."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Above on a nearby catwalk, Cadet Skor crawled above the plasma tanks. Skor toggled her comm link.

 

   "Commander, its Skor. I have located them and so far its nearly impossible to get a clear shot."

 

   "Dammit, we can't wait! Is Cadet Agathol alright?"

 

   "Uncertain. Wait, yes, I see him and Commander Stoss has a pistol pointed at him!"

 

   "Move it Skor, give me that clear shot!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...It is...survival...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Five days in," Shooder panted, "and still nothing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   True to its name, the Sea of Fire bore its meaning with a hellish, maddening heat. It was nearly impossible to dig far enough in the sand to not feel the "fire". But as the days progressed, even the simplest task of digging was taxing.

 

   The sands seemed endless, every dunes looked the same. Things got so bad Chis' compass ceased to point north as Faye'dul's worst fears become realized. "We don't have enough water to make it back." Chis approaches Faye'dul.

 

   "Right and the only logical thing to do is to go further."

 

   Faye'dul gives Chis a disapproving leer and stands up at eye level. "Theres nothing out here. That much is certain and yet still you insist we press onward. Its suicide!"

 

   "Our purpose is to find where those children have been taken and when we do, to bring them back."

 

   "A purpose ordained by YOU! We have little supplies left and I strongly urge anyone who listens to leave while we still can."

 

   Staring at Shooder and Lee'et, Faye'dul expected an answer. Taking their silence as a reply, he began to storm off into the moon lit night.

 

   "Faye'dul, no!" shouted Shooder. The hunter did not answer and disappeared into the night as Chis watched his figure vanish hearing only the gentle breeze across the dunes.

 

   "Now what?" Lee'et asked, "Faye'dul gone, supplies low..."

 

   "Its hopeless." Shooder sat and laid back to where he head hit the sand. Sighing Chis gazed about at the surrounding landscape while looking at his compass that spun wildly. 'I don't understand it.' he muttered.

 

   Shooder meanwhile tired from that days ordeal, dug in the heated sands with his bare hands.

 

   "What are you doing?" said Lee'et.

 

   "Every desert has water. If you dig far enough..." Shooder stopped, realizing the futile nature of digging for water in this particular desert. "Well, I don't imagine we'll be moving tonight anyway."

 

   Chis walked along the sands of a moderate sized dune. What was the deal with the compass? it was fine a while ago. Lee'et noticed Chis begin to scale a dune downwards. "Chis wait." She ran and follow so as not to get him lost among the similar looking sands. The cadet arrived at the base with another in front trying to unravel this mystery. Suddenly the sand beneath his feet felt different and right away he knew it was rather odd. Testing it again a second and third time with his foot, he dropped to his left knee and brushed away the loose sand revealing a smooth surface.

 

   It was metallic, artificial. Rust, worn by time yet the sands and heat preserved it. Naturally he began searching for other chucks of metal. It didn't take him long to discover that the whole base of the dunes was peppered with debris showing the same rate of decay. Lee'et arrived at the base of the dunes and saw what fragments Chis had already uncovered.

 

   "You found something?" she asked.

 

   "I'm not sure." Chis said uncovering yet another fragment that had burn marks and carbon scoring. He then placed his erratic compass by. No change.

 

   "Dammit, thats not it. I thought it would have been something magnetic but its certainly not these plates." He stood and stared around seeing Shooder closing behind.

 

   "Faye'dul's fear of this place," Chis thought out loud, "metal debris and the compass." He then turned to them.

 

   "Lee'et, what happened here? This desert is like any desert I've been to. Why is it called the Sea of Fire? What makes this place special?"

 

   "I remember a stories the Elders used to tell, but nothing like this. Only the story of the Great Birds."

 

   "What are these Great Birds?" Chis asked. Shooder came forward.

 

   "The Great Birds fable is very important, only by experienced elders is it to be repeated."

 

   "But what makes this story different from all the others?"

 

   Lee'et sighed, "I will tell him."

 

   "But Lee'et-"

 

   "I'm sick of the taboo! I'll tell him once we make camp."

 

 

 

 

   Once came was made, Lee'et begin that...

 

   'Not all the world was barren and ruined. In a time of peace, our forefathers lived without worry, need or want. All stories begin with good and evil and in this there is such. Two great evils unnamed and yet continue to haunt the dreams of children. They sought the destruction of life, the Jackal and the Snake. They would have succeeded if it were not for the Great Birds, defiant and unafraid. Many of the Birds were lost and came down in fire. Where they fell, they brought sickness and burned the forests and shrubs til nothing remained. The battle was long and fierce until they both vanished from the sky. No one has seen them ever again. Some say they are still waging war in the heavens...

 

   "...and thats all."

 

   "Do you believe that?" Chis inquired.

 

   "I don't know, its a strange story indeed. I was told it with hopes of being a leader in the tribe's council."

 

   Chis grabbed a smaller piece of metal and examined it. "This stuff isn't natural."

 

   "It came out of the ground, didn't it?" Lee'et exclaimed, "I've seen other tribe forge metals before."

 

   "Yeah, but look," He took a larger piece and set it before them. "Look no hammer marks, feels its weight. Its definitely made by people...just...not from around here. I-It might be a wreck."

 

   Chis looked toward the moderate sized dune he stared before and then beyond that. "We came from that way," he pointed, "and maybe..." Chis took off toward the dunes. Shooder shook his head. "There he goes again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Climbing to the top, Chis made his way passed the smaller dune and began climbing the second larger mound of sand. At first it was difficult but he managed to make his way around it. Lee'et again pursued him believing it to be nothing more than a wild goose chase. She saw Chis stop before continuing. "Dammit, slow down!"

 

   The cadet climbed down to the base and saw it there, over half was submerged in the sand. It was a ship alright, big, a silent witness of the blowing sand for decades if not a hundreds of years. Chis gave a shout upon seeing it and wanted an better look who was later joined by Lee'et. Agathol tried looking for a hatch or way to get in.

 

   "Is it wonderful? My people built ships like this to travel the stars. She doesn't now, does she? Its not like we can fly her out of here. Haha! Maybe theres something we can use."

 

   "Chis."

 

   "I doubt the galley is fresh, but hopefully there might be some equipment we can use."

 

   "Chis."

 

   "What?"

 

   He turned to see Lee'et staring at the massive hulk. "Chis, what does this say?"

 

   Lee'et continued to point as Chis Agathol came away from the fallen craft.

 

   "Where?" he said.

 

   "There."

 

   Chisteran peered up at the bow section of the ship not covered by the sand. He didn't notice it before and couldn't believe that it was. It was different then he remembered. He trembled as he uttered the words and call letters:

 

 

 

 

 

CDF-D-132 Sunset Star...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Sir," Chis said put his hands up, "May I ask one more question, sir."

 

   Lowering his weapon Commander Stoss agreed. "Ask away."

 

   "Why are you doing this?"

 

   Stoss looked at his feet, puzzlement on his face. "Why?" The commander seemed more confused then he already was and composed himself. "Five years, I was assigned to a special mission. We weren't briefed until we arrived, til we were far outside of Lylat. We encountered a species unknown to us and my ship and crew were assigned to escort their stricken vessels to a safe harbor. Those...people were considered guests of the Cornerian government and for the time being were told to wait on a abandoned research colony. High brass called it 'temporary sheltering', another word for interment camp. I also was reassigned ship these people there. Somehow I knew they weren't coming back. Why? You're asking the wrong..."

 

   He heard a noise on the catwalk and reacted sharply. Stoss turned to Agathol. "You son of a b-!"

 

   The commander had fired his gun at the same time Chis tried to wrestled it away from him. The bullet missed Chis's ear by a inch and nicked a plasma container. On the CIC, the alarm sounded.

 

   "Coolant leak!" Shouted Lagney. Madeline toggled the comlink. "Skor get out of there! Skor! Skor do you read?!" The lieutenant left the CIC. "Lagney, take the con!"

 

   Stoss struggled free from Chis and ascended away from the plasma. Chis gave pursuit while Stoss cast aside the weapon realizing it was out of ammo. The commander marched with purpose across the catwalk when he was confronted with an energy weapon set to stun in the face and stopped in his tracks. It was Cadet Skor who had lost her battlerifle when the plasma container had burst. "Sir, you are under arrest." Stoss turned to see Chis approach from behind.

 

   "Its over, sir. Come quietly."

 

   Stoss grinned psychotically. "If I can't have my ship," He said as he pulled out the detonator, "neither will you."

 

   "No sir, NO!" Too late, neither cadet had gotten to him in time. Stoss had triggered the detonator on several explosive charges throughout the ship to he placed when avoided detection. The explosions that followed rocked the ship from bow to stern violently as bulkheads and personal were blasted by pressure waves that structurally weakened the ship. Off balance, Skor fired her blaster meant for Stoss at Chis. Stoss then grabbed the weapon from her and threw her off the catwalk in the toxic plasma below.

 

   As the commander disappeared, acting-commander Janis Madeline arrived and found Chis unconscious. Taking him she dragged him out of the compartment and sealed the bulkhead.

 

   "Report!" she barked at a crew member frantic about the hallway, as support frames began to give way.

 

   "We're losing hull integrity ma'am! We're losing the ship!"

 

   "Activate the automation computer! Order all hatches and emergency bulkheads to be secured! Wheres the quickest to sickbay?!"

 

   "Its not accessible from this deck, ma'am! Some of the emergency bulkheads already engaged! There is coolant plasma everywhere!"

 

   "What about the cryo-chamber?!"

 

   "Its intact, but why?!"

 

   'Sorry Chisteran.' Madeline dragged Agathol into the cryo-chamber and into a cryo-tube. 'Its better for you, for now.'

 

   She exited the chamber and ordered CIC to begin automation transfer.

 

   "This is Lagney in CIC, there is a malfuction in the computer core."

 

   Just then, the echoes of locking mechanisms disengaging filled the ship. Madeline toggled the comm near the cryo-chamber.

 

   "Lagney, what was that?!"

 

   'The computer just imputed an emergency vacuum vent! I can't stop it!'

 

   The onboard A.I. came on the P.A. comm system.

 

   "Emergency vacuum vent in 5, 4, 3, 2..."

 

   "Oh gods."

 

   "...1."

 

   In a flash, all the bulkheads, all deck hatches were vented to the vacuum of space as part of last resort order to rid the ship of all threats including fires, alien plagues and enemy boarding parties. None of the ship's crew had time to reach shelters in time and the crew lost. All but one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis collapsed to his knees in the sand, his hands at his sides. There was no doubt, it was his ship and he couldn't shake the feeling that it was his fault of whatever he thought happened.

 

   "I'm-I'm back where I started." he sobbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Final

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The evening sun had come, blazing as it sailed across the open sky before yet again descending at the other end of the horizon. Chisteran Agathol, the one who had come so far in so little time sat motionless unable to assimilate the information to where it made any sense. A worried Lee'et attempted to guide him back from his thoughts as he stared out into the cold, dark night. Even Shanti was worried, sitting at his feet whining.

 

   "Whats wrong with him?", asked Shooder, peering with his head lower while resting on his walking stick. "Hes been like this for hours."

 

   "Shhhhh!" Shushed Lee'et while attempting to get Chis to eat what little food was left.

 

   "Maybe Faye'dul was right, we've come too far."

 

   "Its too late for now."

 

   Shooder knelt by Lee'et's side trying to reason as best he could. "Its obvious hes beyond help."

 

   Her gaze turned to Shooder. "What do you mean by that?"

 

   "The longer we wait the less of a chance we have to..."

 

   "What are you saying?! That we leave him?!!"

 

   With a gulp, he replied knowing she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "Its the best chance we have."

 

   For Lee'et the idea was simply unthinkable. To abandon him now after what they had all been through would be gut wrenching to say the least. There was no denying it, she loved him. Shooder could see it in her eyes as she stared intently, literally begging Chis to come out of it. By that time Shooder gave up and realized his pleas fell upon deaf ears and stared up at the letters and numbers above him that seemed so alien to him.

 

   "Did he ever say what this meant?"

 

   Lee'et didn't answer. She now had sat beside the red vulpine, wrapped her arm about him and resting her head on his shoulder and started drifting off into sleep due to the cool night air. High winds above pushed the clouds as the twin moons shined full. It didn't take long however when the serenity vanished.

 

 

 

 

   Out of the night from behind the dunes was a rumbling sound, a sound that not only startled Lee'et and Shooder but awakened Chis as well. The rumblings grew louder and to Chis who had just come out of the trance shook as with a chill down the spine.

 

   "It must be thunder!" Shooder shouted.

 

   "Thrusters!! Thats certainly not thunder! Those are thrusters!!" Chis added as he looked up. "We need cover!"

 

   "Chisteran!" Lee'et could hardly contain herself, but the glee was short lived when she saw a shape descend out of the starry night. Chis was right, they were thrusters indeed, a ship by the looks of it. But the design and configuration was unknown to him, hence the urgency. It was large about 85 meters in length and 55 in breath in the shape of a rectangle with four engines that pivoted on gyros to either hover or horizontally for forward thrust. It had no discernible cockpit, no windows and view ports. It spiraled slowly clockwise, blasting sand in every direction as the craft landed.

 

   The three vulpines ran and hide in the wreckage of the Sunset Star, not knowing who or what was paying them a visit. As the main engines disengaged, silence fell only to be replaced with the sound of the whirring of a hatch or ramp. Chis peered around a severed hull plate as the sand settled just in time to see robotic drones exiting the vehicle. They were similar to the 'demons' who attacked and ultimately destroyed the village. The Cadet who was hidden from view began to observe their habits.

 

   "Demons!" Shooder whispering after struggling for a brief glimpse.

 

   "They're not demons, Shooder." Chis whisptered back, "They are robots, artificial life."

 

   "You mean someone made them?" asked Lee'et.

 

   "Exactly. They look kind of like the loaderbots at Onyx Station 3."

 

   "Thats nice. Why are they here!" A semi-panicky Shooder was not like this situation at all. Cadet Agathol continued observing to see one drone tearing armor plating and exposed support structures from the downed vessel. "Its seem they are part of a salvaging operation. By the looks of things, they've been making return trips for while now."

 

   Then Chis glanced over at the landed craft. Its stern was pointed toward the salvage robots with boarding ramp extended that direction. Chis had a thought. It seemed crazy but it just might be their ticket out of the desert.

 

   Turning to the others, Chis said, "Follow me," and quickly sprinted toward the lander. Shooder's jaw dropped and turned to Lee'et who wasn't there and had already left to join Chis.

 

   'Oh, what am I doing?' Shooder asked himself as he decided to join the others. Their timing could be more perfect. Just as they found themselves inside did the drones return to the lander with their salvaged materials. Lucky they were out of sight, hidden in the hold beneath another deck might for the drone's housing ports which they entered and powered down. Without warning the lander lurched and was airborne. Chis turned to Shooder who laid on his back closing his eyes.

 

   "You doing okay?"

 

   "Do I look okay?!" he whispered sarcastically.

 

   Taking his hand Lee'et held it with her with a firm grip. It came as no surprise or Chis since they were quite possibly the first of their people to be suspended in flight. "Hey, you alright."

 

   "I'm not really cut out for this." she laughed.

 

   "You're doing fine. Look at it this way, at least we don't have walk all the way."

 

   "But how do you know they're taking us where we need to go?"

 

   "I don't know, but it can't be worse than where we were. Maybe we should get some sleep."

 

   "Chis?"

 

   "Yeah?"

 

   "Its...kind of cold...Could I...?" Lee'et put her arm around him and pulled him close for warmth.

 

   "Oh, uh...okay...sure."

 

   "Think nothing of it...just..."

 

   In that instant, their eyes met. It was obvious how she felt for him and wondered if he was the same. But over the short while they've known each other their bound was tightening, along with disappearing Chis' shyness. He felt comfortable with her and no longer avoided her glances. Was she the 'one'?

 

   "I'm fine by the way," Shooder interjected, still not hot on the whole flying thing. In that instance the moment was gone.

 

   "You're welcome to join us, Shooder. It must be cold over there."

 

   "Nope, Lee'et I'm quite okay. I'll just shiver with my back turn-."

 

   Suddenly the lander had stopped applying forward thrust and hovered before seemingly descending.

 

   "Whats happening? Chis, whats going on? Why have we stopped?"

 

   "Shooder, calm down. We must already be there. Perhaps their base is closer than we thought."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   As the minutes went by, it was clear that they were descending into a deep abyss. If it wasn't for the lack of windows on the lander at least they would have some sort of an idea as to what the surroundings are like. Shooder was showing clear signs of claustrophobia.

 

   "Try not thinking about where you are. Maybe that'll help." say Lee'et who tries her hardest to keep Shooder who has had just about enough of the foot and a half of crawl space. "Oh, I hope we land soon."

 

   As soon as it was said, low behold they touched bottom. The thud of the landing gears and low descending whirring of the engines made it a definite, obvious 'yes'. Then the familiar sound of the drone removing them stomping on the crafts deck and out via the boarding ramp. Chis and crew jumped to the chance.

 

   "Alright, lets go!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Upon exiting the vehicle, Chis' first impulse was to see this abyss they went down. Peppered with lights fixtures lining the interior of the shaft, Chis can see the several individual levels they passed by.

 

   "I don't know how we're gonna get out of here." he exclaimed.

 

   As they move away from the lander, they come to realize that the whole bottom of the shaft is one giant hanger. Some craft are similar to the lander they rode on the way in, while others are distant older variants with some disassembled dead hulks.

 

   The three make their way to the other end of the hanger and find a tunnel carved in the rock. Inside they find it poorly lit with precariously hanging lights as the rocky tunnel fades into a metallic hallway poorly managed and in dire need of repair. Its turbo-lift systems and bulkheads that have rusted shut, offering insight that this was a functioning base at one time. They continue further until a series of small but alarming tremors erupt around them. Chis loses his footing and stumbles to the deck below him.

 

   "Ow, dammit! Is everyone okay?" Chis waits for an answer but nothing comes. Troubled he turns around and find both Lee'et and Shooder are missing. Not only that, Shanti is gone as well as he discovers checking his coat.

 

   "The hell? Lee'et?! Shooder?" The Cadet begins to double back. "Shanti! Here girl! Where are you?!"

 

   Its no use. Somehow they were gone and no explanation he had could account for it.

 

   'What the hell is up with this planet?' he thought, 'My ship has been here longer than I have and now this? Whats happening?'

 

   Chis continues onward the his original direction hoping to find some answers to his many questions. Finally, he reaches a vast dome shaped room of carved rock with aging support structures many times smaller than the hanger. He pans around to at the room for a look. Suddenly something catches his eye. A shape both shadowy and ghostly, standing in his way. Chis understandably is startled by this sudden encounter.

 

    "Hello?" The shape eerily answers him but its voice is inaudible.

 

    "I can't understand you."

 

    Again the shape speaks. Each time it becomes more clearer.

 

    "I can barely understand. What do you want?"

 

    "C-c-c-c-c-o-o-o-o-m-m-m-m-e-e-e-e c-c-c-c-c-l-l-l-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-s-s-s-s-s-s-e-e-e-e-e-r-r-r-r-r..."

 

    "Why? What do you want?"

 

    "C-c-c-c-c-o-o-o-o-m-m-m-m-e-e-e-e c-c-c-c-c-l-l-l-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-s-s-s-s-s-s-e-e-e-e-e-r-r-r-r-r..."

 

    Chis decides to comply and the shadow lifts and extends its arm to him. Out of thin air an object appears in its right arm.

 

    "T-t-t-t-t-t-a-a-a-a-a-a-k-k-k-k-k-k-e-e-e-e-e-e-e t-t-t-t-t-t-t-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-s-s-s-s-s-s..."

 

    The Cadet takes the object which is indeed an artifact. "What is this? Whats it for?"

 

    "W-w-w-w-w-h-h-h-h-e-e-e-n-n-n t-t-t-h-h-h-e-e-e t-t-t-t-i-i-i-m-m-m-m-e-e c-c-c-c-o-o-o-o-m-m-m-m-e-e-e-s-s, y-y-y-y-o-o-u-u w-w-w-w-w-i-i-i-l-l-l-l k-k-k-k-k-k-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w-w-w..."

 

    With that the presence disappears leaving Chis in utter confusion.

 

    "Whatever." he then stows the artifact in his satchel and continues onward through the room when he senses another presence and this time is about to draw a weapon, namely the short sword he was given.

 

    "Whose there?!"

 

    "Away with your weapon."

 

    The voice sounded vaguely familiar. "At last, after so long you have finally arrived."

 

    "Who are you," Chis looks around, studying his surroundings. "More importantly, where are you?"

 

    "It is strange to me how you have changed. You've become strong and no longer the weak, pathetic, shy boy you once were. And still the metal must be tested despite the manner of which it was forged in this of all worlds."

 

    "What do you mean?"

 

    "So many question, so little answers. What is a journey without discovery or a tale with an abrupt ending? Since your arrival you showed little promise, but the equation includes you still. Naturally I was curious to see how far you would go and whether or not you fail in the attempt. You have provided me with amusement and it seems you are valuable though previously I would have disagreed in the past."

 

    "I've had enough of your philosophical crap!"

 

    "Poor stupid creature. So damn two dimensional, its appalling. I'm here!"

 

    Chis spun to find a disgusting sight. Along with lungs, a heart and few essential organs housed in liquid containers, a disembodied brain formed a nucleus tied in with a huge computer core.

 

    "I doubt you recognize me," the brain spoke, "Personally I would prefer my body, but it is intoxicating. The past, the present and the future. To see them all at once, backwards and forwards. If you only knew how the universe and time truly function, you would understand. I believe you have felt its effects?"

 

    "If you mean my friends and my ship..."

 

    "Indeed. When you stood on this planet for the first time, watching your vessel crashing to the planet above you, it was you who traversed time."

 

    "How far?"

 

    "456 years, 73 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes and 12 seconds."

 

    "What?"

 

    "You passed through a temporal rift without your knowledge."

 

    "Thats impossible, no one can survive that kind of transference."

 

    "And yet you are here, a testament to the unbounded limits of my power."

 

    "You did it? How? Wait, where are my friends?!"

 

    "That is unimportant. Your comrades, they are quite safe I assure you...for now. And now to the matter at hand."

 

    "If she is harmed-!"

 

    "Be silent!!! Now is not the time. You, Chisteran Agathol, assigned to the destroyer escort Sunset Star registry DE-132, comissioned by the Cornerian Defense Force, lost and presumed destroyed with the loss of all hands. In my studies I have searched to understand the equation of what became of the timeline. I have found that to be...YOU."

 

     "Me?"

 

     "Yes, your absence in the timeline, the events, the conflicts has caused an alternate reality, a ripple effect that is felt even here. During the crew of the Sunset Star's final moments, you were placed in the ships cryo-chamber. After a devastating loss of ship control, the entire crew perished. Functioning on enough minimal power, the vessel was able to sustain you for 221 years before disengaging. The seven years or so spent on-board was a feat but short lived once you reached Raabolun."

 

     "Raabolun?"

 

     "That is the name of this world. Even its wretched inhabitants know not its name."

 

     "So, you want to send back in time and correct the wrong?"

 

     "Its more than that. Your very presence solidifies the distortion from becoming irreversible. You must go back now."

 

     "And the people on the surface?"

 

     "What about them?"

 

     "What happens to that them? If those are your drones, your robots, they're kidnapping children. Why?"

 

     "Do not concern yourself with them. There are a means to an end."

 

     "They are people, they have rights."

 

     "They have none for they are all machines."

 

     Chis paused. "You're lying."

 

     "Solidifying your relationship with the one called Lee'et will not benefit anyone. They are remnants of one of several of my experiments that reached a dead end. Synthetic life, artificial as the drones they call 'demons'. Need proof?"

 

     "Chis?" The familiar voice of from behind him.

 

     "As you can see young Agathol, these 'mistakes' are more trouble then they're worth. Emotions and desires, things I should have siphoned from the genetic code. But I was too curious, too lenient with fabrications as these! Look hard, Agathol. Is she a woman or a doll with software?"

 

     "Chis, whats going on? Where are you, I'm scared! I can't see you"

 

     "Let her go, please."

 

     "Very well, lets see how long see'll last."

 

     The image of Lee'et was suspended by a advance force field which the brain deactivated. Chis rushes to her side.

 

     "Lee'et its me, I'm with you now." he says holding her hand after catching before he hits the deck.

 

     "Chisteran, I lov-." Lee'et then noticed her expose bio-technological exoskeleton. "Whaa? What is this?! Chis what is happened to me?!!"

 

     The Cadet answered with a heavy heart, but stuttered and couldn't find the words.

 

     "Painful as this MAY seem I can make it go away, in a matter of speaking. If you agree to return."

 

     "Ma-make her as she was...before she met me."

 

     The Lee'et doppelganger vanished from Chis' arms.

 

     "I'm glad you have seen the light at last, Agathol." A craft appeared, lowered from the ceiling to Chis' level.

 

     "This is a one-maned time ship. Use it to travel back to your time and be quick about it."

 

     "Can I ask you a question?"

 

     "Ask away."

 

     The Cadet tensed up, remembering where he heard that voice before.

 

     "Funny you should say that...Commander."

 

     "Whaa?!" the brain stuttered.

 

     "Whats the matter, at a loss for words? All this time you made look as if I was the only one who survived, that someone else was there. Now its obvious, painfully obvious. And now I have the upper hand. I wouldn't be in this predicament if it wasn't for you. You accused us of being mutineers when we were nothing but loyal and you repaid that loyalty with distrust. But we didn't know you'd would carry it that far. Our only crime wasn't killing you sooner and now..."

 

     Reaching behind him, Chis unsheathed his short sword and raised it to strike.

 

     "No, no, you need me to sustain the temporal threshold!!!"

 

     "Goodbye, Commander Stoss!!!

 

     Within moments, every container was smashed all while Stoss's computer synthesized voice scream until Chis decimated the brain container. The Cadet took a step back from he had done when the tremors that signified temporal fields. As he stumbled he remembered the small time ship and inside was a space suit from his era rigged and ready. Wasting no time, he changed into the suit and boarded the time ship. Inside the ship had no controls, only a preset to his original time. As it activated so did the launch tunnel that opened to accommodate the small craft to escape to the surface. The complex, the base, the abyss hanger, it all crumbled within seconds of the time ships leaving.

 

     As the ship prepared for it time-jump, Chis looked back at the planet that had been his home for seven plus years, Raabolun.

 

     Then, it was time.

 

     "Time jump in 3...2...1"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     As Chis moved through the time barrier he notice it was fluctuating and remember what Stoss had said. A split second later, the distortion wake collapsed crushing the cockpit shielding, the framework and...

 

     "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHGG!!!!"

 

     ...his right arm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     For Chis, the pain was intense. Drifting, powerless, with no sign of rescue, Chis pasted out numerous times from the pain. Each time he made a habit of checking his oxygen levels which was currently too low. He knew he had two possible ways of dying: blood loss or lack of air. He was determined to have neither.

 

     Separating himself from time ship he decided to end his life by removing his helmet to the vacuum of space.

 

     'No help is coming,' he thought. 'It'll be a kindness I suppose.'

 

     Using only his good arm he reached for the release on the back of his helmet. Closing his eye, he began to turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     "McDowell, come in McDowell. This is Echo 1 to CDF-AC-423 McDowell, Come in McDowell. Spotted a wreckage half a parsec out. Doesn't look like its been out here too long. McDowell I have found what appears to be the pilot. He is adrift. That is a confirm body McDowell..."

 

 

 

 

 

     "Wait McDowell, we got something! Confirmed McDowell, we have a live survivor! Requesting evac shuttle ASAP!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     ...Cadet Agathol...

 

     "Hmmm..."

 

     "Cadet? Can you hear me?"

 

     "Wha-where am I?"

 

     "Carrier McDowell, sickbay. Easy son, you're lucky to be alive. I'm the Chief Medical Officer. We're gonna take good care of you till we get you home."

 

     "Home..."

 

     "Now I need you to take it easy for while. You can sleep or I can turn the wireless on for you."

 

     "The wireless if you don't mind, I've been away and I'd like to get up to speed."

 

     The Medical Officer before leaving turned on the subspace radio transceiver. On it was a program of calming music that was soon interrupted by a special news bulletin:

 

     "We interrupt this program to bring you a special update regarding what many are calling the trial of the century. Within weeks of his first hearing, today Dr. Andross was sentenced to exile for his deliberate act of terrorism upon Corneria City's skyline district. The location of his exile was not elaborated on as General Pepper of the Cornerian Army who is in charge of Dr. Andross' relocation denied to comment on the matter. Rioting in the streets has resulted of the sentencing by the same voters who repealed the death penalty scream for justice as they clashed with police. We now return you to your original programing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Corneria, fourth planet of the Lylat system...

 

     At the capital of Corneria City, a special board of inquiry had conducted for five months by the Admiral and her Vice Admirals.

 

     "Cadet Agathol, due to the fact you are the only survivor of the Sunset Star registry DE-132, this board of inquiry was no doubt suspicious of your involvement with her untimely demise of her and her crew. However, according to the testimony given and evidence presented, we the members of the board of inquiry have ruled that Cadet Chisteran Agathol was not responsible for the destruction of the ill-fated Sunset Star and her crew. And as a commendation for his loyalty and service and willingness to continue a military career, we have advance Chisteran Agathol to the rank of Lieutenant and a new commission. Well done Lieutenant." ~ Admiral Deshanko, Commander of the 3rd Blue Banner Fleet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     ...5 years later...

 

 

     "Sir, the task force has responded. Awaiting your orders."

 

     A fleet of ships stood poised, about to take part in one of the largest engagements during the war. A garbled transmission came from ahead of the group of vessels.

 

     "This the heavy cruiser Mishara...we are und...reque...enforcements!"

 

     The commander of the lead ship answered on the CIC.

 

     "This is Commander Agathol of the 3rd Blue Banner Fleet, we're en-route to Sector Y to your location. All ships, Condition One!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chisteran Agathol will return in

Before the Dawn

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

I still maintain what I said before about your writing.  I was a little confused about the ending.  I get the part about the inhabitants being robots themselves and I even get why the other robots were capturing children.  Here are some points I don't get:

 

1. 1.     What about the artifact that 'whoever' gives to Chisteran?  It doesn't seem to be used or even mentioned anymore after it is given to him, so why is it in the story?

 

1. 2.     Stories involving time travel always confuse me.  Given this isn't as crazy as the ending of The Terminator, I am still puzzled about it in general.  I don't even have any examples or anything to support this.  It's just a time travel thing, so I guess it isn't anything you can help anyway.

 

1. 3.     Did Chisteran return to his own time or just simply escape the planet?  I'm not exactly sure what happened.

 

This is still a very good story, but I just don't know if the ending can compare to the rest of the story.  Sorry, but I just didn't like it.  I was happy to read this story though and I can't wait to read the next one you're working on.

Edited September 27, 2013 by BlueRaccoon

[Snys93]

I still maintain what I said before about your writing.  I was a little confused about the ending.  I get the part about the inhabitants being robots themselves and I even get why the other robots were capturing children.  Here are some points I don't get:

 

1. 1.     What about the artifact that 'whoever' gives to Chisteran?  It doesn't seem to be used or even mentioned anymore after it is given to him, so why is it in the story?

 

1. 2.     Stories involving time travel always confuse me.  Given this isn't as crazy as the ending of The Terminator, I am still puzzled about it in general.  I don't even have any examples or anything to support this.  It's just a time travel thing, so I guess it isn't anything you can help anyway.

 

1. 3.     Did Chisteran return to his own time or just simply escape the planet?  I'm not exactly sure what happened.

 

This is still a very good story, but I just don't know if the ending can compare to the rest of the story.  Sorry, but I just didn't like it.  I was happy to read this story though and I can't wait to read the next one you're working on.

 

I'm sorry for the confusion and I offer a few explanations as to the ending that I hope will clear things up a bit.

 

1. The artifact has a particular significance that when be touched upon in a later sequel.

 

2. The planet Raabolun is surrounded by time rifts that constantly open and close, sending objects into the past or future. Chis passed through two such rifts, one while he was on the ship and the other after he fell from orbit via escape pod onto the planet surface.

 

3. Chis did escape by using the time ship's last ounce of energy stored for one final jump back to his own time. He was later recovered by the CDF carrier McDowell and returned to Corneria where he was debriefed by his superiors. The last few lines depict Chisteran Agathol as a Commander and commanding a capital ship during the height of the Vemonian War in Sector Y.

 

I hope that cleared some stuff up. Let me know if otherwise

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

That all makes sense now.  Thank you for that.

[Snys93]

That all makes sense now.  Thank you for that.

 

Glad to have helped.