Star Fox: The Next Generation Chapter 1

[Asper Sarnoff]

"The hog" wasn't exactly the place one would ask someone out to. The bar was filled with thick smoke floating under the roof, and the noise of the, mildly put, questionable clientel was deafening. The boxes along the walls were filled with people discussing crimes they already had comitted, or planned to do. In the middle of the room there was a snooker table, so dirty one could almost not make out the original color of the fabric. Around a couple of round tables sat those who preferred card play. Suspicious eyes stared down at their hands, only looking up at their opponents from time to time, or anyone that passed by to close.

At the inner wall of the bar was the counter itself. This was where the really tough guys hung around. Wathcing the rest of the bar watchfully, only breaking the silence to order more cheap booze from the hog behind the counter.

The noice of a door swinging open broke trough the noice and caught everyones attention. Several cocked an eyebrow as they realised the new guy to enter the bar, wasn't really a guy at all.

The sigar smoke, the smell of sweat, booze and other things almost made Freya hurl as she made her way trough the bar, heading for the counter. Some people caught eye of her belt buckle and dived down among their friends, whispering. It was working as she had predicted.

Suddenly, her path was blocked by a large figure. A scarred dobberman bent down and stared her straight into her eyes before he opened his mouth and snuffled, "What's a pretty little pup like you doing in a place like this?".

Freya could clearly smell from his breath and at the way he spoke that the man was drunk, and also hadn't realised he was crossing blades with the daughter of Lylats most feared crimelord.

"Step aside." She said tonelessly, deciding to give him only one chance to obey. The dobberman let out a giggle before he responded, "I think not, I'd rather take you with me at the backroom and give you a good...OOMMPH"

He was broken of as her tightly clenched fist exploded into his soft belly. Before he had time to counter, her other fist sent his head upwards in a swift uppercut. The dobberman stumbled backwards, bleeding from his mouth after he had bit his toungue during the blow, gasping for air.

Swift as a striking viper, Freya spun around and kicked up her right leg in a reverse spinning kick. She could clearly hear the crunching of bones as the heel of her boot connected with his face. Crushing his nose.

The dobberman stumbled backwards a couple of steps before falling down to the floor like an empty sack. Freya passed by him, noticing he was breathing, as she had intended.

The whole bar followed her every step as she made her way up to the counter and leant onto it. The bartender was actually smiling, if that foul grin could count as a smile. "You truly are your fathers daughter." He noted as he came up to her.

"I don't know if I'll take that as a compliment." She answered. "You've spread the word?"

"Yes I have ma'am. They'll come flocking to you soon enough."

[Kursed]

"ya  know TI ever since I've got here i've had  a oddly familair yet bad feeling the feeling I got when starwolf is around yet it's diffrent depise the fact it's being muffled by the planet dieing."Kari muttered

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Attila watched Freya beat up the doberman.

When she finished, Attila approach Freya.

"Star Wolf?" he asked her.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Freya turned around and excamined the new person to approach her, a cat, as she leant backwards casually on the counter. "That depends." She answered. "On if you're a fool who thinks he can nick the top gun position amongst Lylats mercenaries by killing one of Starwolf. Or, if you're just a fool who thinks he's got what it takes to fly under their colors." She were a bit afraid that she might have overstepped a line or two there, but hid her concern under a cold, proffesional face.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Attila answered with "The second of the two, 'cept I'm no fool...you'd be the fool for not letting me in...".  Attila puled out a pair of cigars.  "Wanna smoke?" he offered one to Freya.

[Asper Sarnoff]

"I don't smoke. To dangerous." She answered jokingly. Them both knowing what they did for a living couldn't really be compared to the dangers of smoking. "I'll wait to see if any more... interesting prospects turn up before we go for a flight to test your skills in the cockpit. You do have an aircraft, don't you?"

[Guest Julius Quasar]

"I don't smoke. To dangerous." She answered jokingly. Them both knowing what they did for a living couldn't really be compared to the dangers of smoking. "I'll wait to see if any more... interesting prospects turn up before we go for a flight to test your skills in the cockpit. You do have an aircraft, don't you?"

"Heh...yeah, I got a decommissioned CDF custom fighter with twin lasers...I got it and fixed it up during CDF's budget crunch, it works, gets me from point A to point B...and I only smoke if the mod feels right...I'm not a chain smoker." Attila said, putting away the cigars.

"I found an ad in a flier from you guys, in this bar, and I sent you a transmission, talking about joining Star Wolf...it was a lucky coincidence I ran into you here today...something told me to come down here today..." Attila added.

[Tiberius]

"ya  know TI ever since I've got here i've had  a oddly familair yet bad feeling the feeling I got when starwolf is around yet it's diffrent depise the fact it's being muffled by the planet dieing."Kari muttered

"Looks like we've got competition then... Lets go." he got in his shuttle and waited for everyone else to strap in.

[Kursed]

Alex got in  strapping down she still looked gloomy

Kari strapped down making sure here weapons where still there.

[Asper Sarnoff]

"Heh...yeah, I got a decommissioned CDF custom fighter with twin lasers...I got it and fixed it up during CDF's budget crunch, it works, gets me from point A to point B...and I only smoke if the mod feels right...I'm not a chain smoker." Attila said, putting away the cigars.

"I found an ad in a flier from you guys, in this bar, and I sent you a transmission, talking about joining Star Wolf...it was a lucky coincidence I ran into you here today...something told me to come down here today..." Attila added.

"A CDF? You'll be hard pressed to keep up with me in that case." Freya teased the cat. Testing him for any signs of unstability and to short a fuse. Those kind of people didn't work to well in a team.

She'd need two more pilots however, and as far as she could see, it didn't look good. She had hoped a good dozen would flock to her once she stepped into the bar, but it seemed Starwolfs repultation wasn't quite as good as she had first believed. And that did sting a bit deep down in her chest.

The team her father, Leon, and Panther had worked so hard to forge into an invincible ace scuadron, only surpassed by Starfox, was now only a faint glimmer of old glory.

But it was this she had set out to do, to make Starwolf rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and finally surpass their archrivals Starfox. And then, she would finally make her father proud of her.

(Okay, as far as I can work out. Tiberius, two of Kursed's characters, and soon, Odin will form the new Starfox. But we only have two on Starwolf with Freya and Attila. Braux said he wanted to participate, but to me it seemed like his character would be more fitting as a member of Starfox than Starwolf, and we still lack one character, preferably another player.)

[Tiberius]

(I know.. But we still have to keep going.)

Tiberius took off and headed for Corneria City.

[Kursed]

(I know.. But we still have to keep going.)

Tiberius took off and headed for Corneria City.

"Either way Ti we need to be  Careful..."Kari replied

"It's going to rain acid I can feel it."Alex muttered weakly.

[Tiberius]

"Good thing I brought rain coats." said Tiberius.

[Kursed]

Kari looked around outside the windows she saw a dieing planet "What happend Tiberius I remember lylat being a oasis compared to Titania now it's  looking more like a junkyard."Kari muttered

[Tiberius]

"I know..." said Tiberius.

[Kursed]

"I know..." said Tiberius.

"So what happened?"Kari asked

[Guest Julius Quasar]

"A CDF? You'll be hard pressed to keep up with me in that case." Freya teased the cat. Testing him for any signs of instability and to short a fuse. Those kind of people didn't work to well in a team.

She'd need two more pilots however, and as far as she could see, it didn't look good. She had hoped a good dozen would flock to her once she stepped into the bar, but it seemed Starwolfs reputation wasn't quite as good as she had first believed. And that did sting a bit deep down in her chest.

The team her father, Leon, and Panther had worked so hard to forge into an invincible ace squadron, only surpassed by Starfox, was now only a faint glimmer of old glory.

But it was this she had set out to do, to make Starwolf rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and finally surpass their archrivals Starfox. And then, she would finally make her father proud of her.

(Okay, as far as I can work out. Tiberius, two of Kursed's characters, and soon, Odin will form the new Starfox. But we only have two on Starwolf with Freya and Attila. Braux said he wanted to participate, but to me it seemed like his character would be more fitting as a member of Starfox than Starwolf, and we still lack one character, preferably another player.)

"There ain't exactly a line wrapped 'round the block for pilots and mercenaries willing to to Star Wolf, I'm sure you'll have to take what you can get...." Attila observed, maintaining his cool.

"And no offense, doll, but Star Wolf doesn't exactly have a stellar track record for hiring 'the best', hell, you think they woulda learned from Star Fox's mistake, and NOT recruiting Pigma Dengar...but, pencils do got erasers, I guess." Attila thought.  He was going to say this, but decided to bite his tongue (not literally).  :wink:

[Asper Sarnoff]

(Of course. But we should be looking around a bit for anyone else that might be interested in joining. If more than we need wants in, then I might lend away one of my characters if they so wanted.)

"We aren't desperate for new pilots." Freya responded, wanting to give the cat the feeling of uncertainess. "But see as there is no one else here right now, we might as well start the tests now."

She stretched out a long gracefull leg, hooked it into a spare bar stool and dragged it to her before she pushed herself up on it. "First of, tell me about yourself. Name, age, background, the lot."

[Guest Julius Quasar]

"The name's Attila Sharavan..." Attila told Freya everything he could about himself, omitting his mental illness and asylum incarceration.  When he finished, he asked Freya "How about you?".

[Tiberius]

"So what happened?"Kari asked

"Dax Malon dropped the ban on pollution. Corneria literally turned into a giant trashcan." he said.

[Kursed]

"Dax Malon dropped the ban on pollution. Corneria literally turned into a giant trashcan." he said.

"I Can clearly see that."Kari replied "let's hurry then the sooner we get this resolved the sooner Corneria will look like it use to."

[Braux]

(Long start to the week, sorry that I can't be on here 24/7... )

===

Several miles above the metropolis that was Corneria city, a small millitary transport fell its way through the blue-grey atmosphere.

On board were several groups of CDF employed squads. Anyone and everyone from goodwill workers to the soliders that kept them safe. They had just got done going through a year long tour on a faraway planet.

"Dang... the star was Sol was it? they had some good food, that's all I can say..."

Trent was sitting on one of the benches, strapped in but still knocking around a good-some. On his way home from this trip. He was dressed in CDF issued urban camo fatuges, a solider, and protection plan for some of the workers and engineers, conversation was thick in the small transport.

"Attention passengers, We'll be arriving on scheduled time, fifteen minutes till touchdown..."'

His neck hurt, so did his back, and his head, but all that was expected after 5 months in cyrostasis.

The tour had good pay, not to mention seeing some great stuff, but there was always a need for cash, especally in times like this.

The only thing that lept into his mind as far as payment, was a mercenary job. But that was nearly out of the question, especally with all the corruption, and merc teams being disbanded...

"Passengers, five minutes until touchdown... Please keep your harness on."

One of his squad-mates of the 205th, Rodregiz, turned to him. "Yo Nap? wadda gonna do when you get back?"

He turned with a sly smile, stating half sarcasticly "Gotta call mom..."

[Asper Sarnoff]

"How about you?".

Freya sent Attila a cold gaze. He had quite the bold and direct attitude, and for a moment, she figured with opening up and actually tell him all. But even how desperate she were beneath the calm surface for someone to talk to, to share her pain with, she decided to hold back.

In the following seconds, images from her life flickered past inside her mind.

One episode was clearer than the other. She were only ten; a young, vulnerable girl trapped in a world of mercenaries. She remembered she were running trough Sargasso space station. Tears dripping down her face, rage burning trough her like the fires on Solar.

As she rounded a corner, she bumped straight into someone, blinded by tears and rage as she was.

"Calm down my little space rose. What is the matter?" A deep voice purred trough to her. The man crouched down in front of her, revealing himself to be Panther. He reached out a large hand and rested it carefully on her left shoulder. "You and your dad have been fighting again? Haven't you?" he asked with concern in his voice.

Freya just nodded in response, trying desperatly to stop the tears flowing. Never show weakness to anyone had her father told her.

"He's a hard man. And demands absolute obedience, even from his family and his few friends." Panther spoke. "But he does care for you, more than anyone else." Freya gave out a loud sob before her voice became clear enough to speak. "I wish he were dead. And my mother where still alive."

Panther grabbed hold of her gently and brought her into a soft hug. Freya clinged to him, as he was a life raft in the storming sea that was her life. "Loosing her almost broke him Freya. If he hadn't had you, he wouldn't have made it."

A shout in a very familiar voice then came to her ears: "Freya!"

Panther broke her grip slowly and lifted her onto her feets. "He's looking for you Freya. You better get back."

"Yes, I suppose so." She almost whispered as she turned around and started walking back to where Wolf's voice where coming from. "You're going to make your dad proud one day Freya. That I am certain of." Panther said after her.

She returned to reality, Attila was looking at her curiously, as the long pause had made him think she would actually answer him. "I'm sorry, but that will have to wait till later." She answered him.

[Kursed]

Krystal by now  had walked into the royal garden within the palace walls she looked over the vairous beautiful plants locally grown on Cerinia some were even from Sauria. She sighed and looked to the sky where the Star Lylat would normally be seen at night. "I hope Corneria is  still as beautiful as ever although I doubt even Corneria can match the untamed beauty  here or on Sauria."She muttered to herself as a lone Cerinian girl walked up to Krystal. "Princess Krystal?"the girl uttered out. "Yes?"Krystal asked turning to the girl her expression changing quickly back to happy althoguh she knew the telepath already knew her mood. "What do I get a friend that likes chocolate and Flowers for her birthday?" The little girl asked . "chocolate flowers,  silly."Krystal replied patting the girl on the head. "oh yeah thank you Princess Krystal."The girl said bowing respectfully before running off.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Freya sent Attila a cold gaze. He had quite the bold and direct attitude, and for a moment, she figured with opening up and actually tell him all. But even how desperate she were beneath the calm surface for someone to talk to, to share her pain with, she decided to hold back.

In the following seconds, images from her life flickered past inside her mind.

One episode was clearer than the other. She were only ten; a young, vulnerable girl trapped in a world of mercenaries. She remembered she were running trough Sargasso space station. Tears dripping down her face, rage burning trough her like the fires on Solar.

As she rounded a corner, she bumped straight into someone, blinded by tears and rage as she was.

"Calm down my little space rose. What is the matter?" A deep voice purred trough to her. The man crouched down in front of her, revealing himself to be Panther. He reached out a large hand and rested it carefully on her left shoulder. "You and your dad have been fighting again? Haven't you?" he asked with concern in his voice.

Freya just nodded in response, trying desperatly to stop the tears flowing. Never show weakness to anyone had her father told her.

"He's a hard man. And demands absolute obedience, even from his family and his few friends." Panther spoke. "But he does care for you, more than anyone else." Freya gave out a loud sob before her voice became clear enough to speak. "I wish he were dead. And my mother where still alive."

Panther grabbed hold of her gently and brought her into a soft hug. Freya clinged to him, as he was a life raft in the storming sea that was her life. "Loosing her almost broke him Freya. If he hadn't had you, he wouldn't have made it."

A shout in a very familiar voice then came to her ears: "Freya!"

Panther broke her grip slowly and lifted her onto her feets. "He's looking for you Freya. You better get back."

"Yes, I suppose so." She almost whispered as she turned around and started walking back to where Wolf's voice where coming from. "You're going to make your dad proud one day Freya. That I am certain of." Panther said after her.

She returned to reality, Attila was looking at her curiously, as the long pause had made him think she would actually answer him. "I'm sorry, but that will have to wait till later." She answered him.

"Oh, okay....just thought I'd ask...didn't wanna seem dumb or nothin'..." said Attila, staring off into space.