Back in action....

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 1

I was relaxing in my house that night...I could see the lights of Corneria City in the distance from my living room.  Misty and I had been in bed....making love for three hours....we were both sore, so I was taking a break, while she slept upstairs.  I, Julius Quasar, had my life here on Corneria, and in the Star Fox Team, working out great.

I would've had a cigarette after sex, but I don't smoke...Misty was really gentle, and I appreciated that.  I sat down on the couch, cooling off, when I heard a sharp tap at my door.  I could have sworn I locked that front gate.  I opened the dutch door's top half, to come face to face with Danny Foxglove.  Uh-oh.  "Heya, Julius...mind if we come in?" he asked, grinning at me, revealing a gold tooth among his regular teeth.  He sounded like David L. Lander, a.k.a. David Landau.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squiggy)

Behind his was an enormous red fox, with a puzzled expression on his face.  I let them in.  "This is my brother, Joey, and you no doubt know our sister, Lola...." Danny said to me.  "Duh..Hi...your house is small..." said Joey, in his deep, throaty voice, sounding like Brad Garret

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Garrett).

"Where's Lola?  Did she sent you?" I asked them.

"This has nothing to do with Lola...it's about you...and what we did for you at Libertyville Detention Center..." Danny said.

He explained to me....When I worked with Doug to kill Ely Messner for the Foxgloves, the arrangement was for Doug to kill Ely, and get a Cornerian Citizenship and a job in exchange for the killing.  But Doug tried to trick me into doing his dirty work for him, and leave me holding the bag, but I double crossed him before he could double cross me, and I killed Doug after we killed Ely.  With Doug dead, I collected on his bounty.  However, Danny told me I needed to do the Foxglove Crime Family a favor, since I was not the intended recipient of the Cornerian Citizenship papers, and the CDF job, yet Danny got that stuff for me anyways, I now owed him and the family a favor.

"I almost decided not to give you the Cornerian Citizenship Papers and that CDF job.  I coulda backed out of that deal, since it was intended for Doug and not you, and there would've been nothing you could do about it, you'd be in a jail cell by now, probably...what would you have done, complained to the cops?  They'd know you killed Ely!  You couldn't bring Ely back to life!  I decided to honor the deal, for you, because with Doug dead, we had no close human affiliate to help us now.

But that's where you come in, Julius!  You owe us, so you're gonna help us.  Right, Joey?" Danny said, turning to Joey.  "Duh...uhhh...yeah?" said Joey.  "Right!" said Danny.  He handed me a matchbook to a nightclub.  "Be here tomorrow at sunset!  Use the password in the matchbook to get in.  And don't tell anyone we were here tonight, or about where you're going, or what we talked about.  Capiche?" he asked me. I nodded.  Danny and Joey left.

I headed upstairs, after locking the gate and front door, and crawled into bed with Misty as she slept.

***

The next morning, I was cooking breakfast for me and Misty.  She came downstairs, wearing her fishnets, her leotards, but not her skirt or boots.  She hugged me from behind, as I kissed her.  "Was somebody here last night?" she asked me.  "Uh...that...might have been the TV you heard..." I said, which was the half truth, I had the TV on a little bit when Joey and Danny came over, but the volume was turned down low so I wouldn't wake Misty.

"Oh...I could have sworn I heard two of Lola's brothers in the living room..but it must have been the TV." she said in her sweet, breathy voice.  "Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean for it to wake you, I was watching a little TV last night after we..you know..." I said, finishing up the cooking.

"At least you weren't smoking..." said Misty, smiling at me as I served her breakfast, and then myself.  "Any word from Fox?" I asked Misty.  "Well...the CDF might need our help tracking down a human mercenary who has a couple of stolen IPBM warheads..." said Misty.  "But there's nothing concrete yet, involving us and the rest of Star Fox..."  she said.

After breakfast, I did the dishes, and Misty got dressed.  I exchanged a deep kiss with her and said "At sunset, I gotta go somewhere for an appointment, but hopefully I won't be long...here's some money to order a pizza.." I said to her, handing her some money.

"Where you going?" she asked me.  "Uh...just an appointment, is all...doctor's appointment." I said.  "Okay...be safe...I love you, Julius." she said.  "I love you too, Misty." I replied, and we kissed.

Later that day, I went to the nightclub, following the address on the matchbook, there was a password written on the inside. "Roald Dahl sent me!".  I walked up to the front door.  I knocked, and a slot in the door slid open.  "Whadd'ya want?" a big, gorilla bouncer (he was literally a gorilla) said to me through the slot.

"Roald Dahl sent me!" I said. "WHHHAAAT!?" the bouncer replied.  He shut the slot, then reopened it in five minutes.  "Go around the side." he said.

I went around the side, and that's when I was grabbed from behind, and a stun gun was pressed to my neck.  I blacked out, and woke up in a basement club, not the same place I was before.  Joey and Danny,were there, along with two red female vixens, probably Lola's sisters, stared at me.

After I fully came to, Danny spoke to me.

"Hello, Julius, sorry for that stun gun attack in that alleyway, in case you didn't guess, we aren't at that club.  We had to move you, in case you were being followed.  You want something to eat, or drink?" Danny asked me.  "Ugh...uhh..no, thanks..." I replied.

"Okay, then, if you want, we'll get straight down to business..." said Danny.  "Okay." I said.

"Here's what we need you to do..." Danny began

*that's it for this chapter*

[Kursed]

wheres Lola?

[Guest Julius Quasar]

wheres Lola?

(the story's just starting, right now I'm in my private house with Misty, Lola's brothers are just visiting me for something they need from me)

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 2

Danny Foxglove, Joey Foxglove, Angie Foxglove, and Marie Foxglove, all sat at the table, and Danny waved them out of the room.  "Take off, girls, we're gonna talk to Lola's friend here..." he said, and as the girls left, they smiled at me, giggled, and whispered to each other about me as they left. 

Danny turned to me.  "We need you to come with us to Zoness, tomorrow....there's a huge luxury hotel and casino there, all the rooms are suites...a human named Hank Smeltz has a briefcase containing the missile codes, activation electronic key, a map to where the stolen IPBM warheads are hidden, and the disk containing the computer software that can track all and/or any IPBM missile paths and patterns. 

You have to grab those, kill Hank, kill Dr. Knott, and kill Don Tabbiloni, a smoke tabby cat mafia boss whom we've got some bad blood stirred up with now, and we need you to kill a scientist friend of his, Dr. Knott, who used to work for Dr. Andross, who can verify the authenticity of the material that Hank is selling to the Don.  The missile warheads themselves, and the material to them we told ya' about, were all property of Dr. Andross, except for the missile tracking software, which was the exclusive property of the  CDF, until a professional computer hacker stole them.  Although Andross did create that software program.

Anyways, that settles it.  We'll provide you with the weapons.  Don Tabbiloni and Dr. Knott are gonna buy the merchandise from Hank with a black briefcase fulla blood diamonds, totally untraceable, totally valuable.  We just mainly want the Missiles and the paperwork, the electronic and software accessories to 'em...but scoring the diamonds won't hurt either!  It would pay us back and then some, in exchange we provide you with a weapon or two..." Danny and Joey chuckled, mobster style, and I smiled at them.  "I'm in...but I gotta be discreet, if I spend too long away from Corneria, my friends will get suspicious..." I said.  "Well, I can't guarantee that, but we'll try to work it out so you'll be back with Misty at your little...'house'..in no time..." said Danny.

They took me into the back room of their underground club.  I selected three weapons, a stun gun with anti-charge-back 800,000 volts of power, a fiber-wire garrote, and a C4 style, radio controlled undetectable antipersonnel mine.

We went over the plan on how to kill our three targets, and then Danny drove me home, dropping me off by my car neat the park and ride train station.  "We'll bring your stuff by the location we agreed to pick you up at...you need to make up a story, a cover for being out...." said Danny.  "No prob...Misty is going with Lola and the rest of the girls...a girls night out...I can be gone pretty late, and Misty won't notice." I said.  "We know, we told Lola to take the girls out tomorrow night." Danny grinned.  "Thanks!  Brilliant." I said. Danny nodded, and said "Lola ain't in on this, so don't mention any of this to anyone, got it?".  I nodded.

I drove home, and Misty was watching TV, and she greeted me.  "Julius, I'm going on a girls night out tomorrow night, you gonna be okay by yourself?  I'm sorry this is so last minute." she said.  "I'll manage..." I said, as I kissed her.

We went to bed, made love for an hour and a half, and as we lay resting soundly afterward, spooning in bed.  "Misty?" I asked her.  "Yeah?" she asked.  "Thanks for being with me, and for coming back to me." I said.  "Thanks for having me back." she said.  "I love you." I said.  "I love you too." she said, and we both drifted off to sleep.

*that's it for this chapter*

[evilwaffles]

Pretty good, keep it going. Insteresting change to first person narration than your usual third person.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Pretty good, keep it going. Interesting change to first person narration than your usual third person.

Thanks.  A "Julius Quasar" story is always 1st person P.O.V., but my other fanfics are mostly 3rd person or narrative, except for my "Who is...Todd McCloud?" fanfic (told by Todd and Lola's P.O.V.)...

[rainfyre66]

Hmm, should be interesting. Your stories are always entertaining!  :D

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Hmm, should be interesting. Your stories are always entertaining! 

Thanks!  My schedule is kinda tight and unpredictable, so it may be a while before my next chapter(s) are posted.

I like your stories too, rainfyre66, and yours too, evilwaffles!

[Kursed]

Thanks!  My schedule is kinda tight and unpredictable, so it may be a while before my next chapter(s) are posted.

I like your stories too, rainfyre66, and yours too, evilwaffles!

what about me? I like your stories too.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

what about me? I like your stories too.

Thanks, I like your stories too!  I'm sorry I didn't thank you earlier. :facepalm:

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 3

The next night, Misty went out with Lola, Tigress, Krystal, Fara, Fay, Miyu, Akasha, Madame Vulpine, Katt, and Babs.  The Malestrom pulled up and Misty kissed me, kicking back her foot, and then boarded.  "Bye Julius!" the girls called out to me.  "Bye!" I replied. 

After they left, I grabbed a small backpack from my closet, and changed into a pair of plaid lounge pants, cheap flip flop sandals, and a thin white undershirt.  An hour later, the limousine pulled up.  The back door opened.  "Ready, Julius?" asked Danny.  "Ready!" I climbed in.  We headed towards planet Zoness.

***

Danny handed me the antipersonnel mine, the garrote, and the stun gun.  We went over the plan.  After that, we pulled up in front of the hotel/casino on Zoness.  "Good luck, Julius...by the way, don't screw this up, or we'll have to kill you..." Danny said.  I nodded, and took my backpack with me.

I headed into the casino.  There were two attractive females, a cat and a vixen, wearing "hat check girl" outfits (fishnet stockings, black leotards, red tailcoat vests, red and black hats, and black high heeled shoes).  One of them approached me.  "Good evening sir!  Welcome to the Shore Hotel and Casino" she said.  "Thanks. Where's the lobby?" I asked the cat.  She told me where it was, and I thanked her and headed through the lobby, and down the steps to the casino.  I walked through the casino, made a right, and headed into the lounge, as per Joey's instructions.

I saw the human, Hank Smeltz.  He was hanging around the lounge. I talked to a showgirl vixen, asking her about that human sitting at the bar, laughing.  "Oh, yeah, he's really friendly...you said you're his friend?  Well, he's staying in room 707, if you want to talk to him.  He gave me his room number..." she said, giggling.  "Thanks, I appreciate that." I said to her.

"No problem, sweetie!" she said to me.

I suddenly saw Hank head out of the bar.  I followed him out of the bar, out of the casino, and over to the elevators.  I followed Hank into the elevator.  The elevators were key card coded, for whatever floor you were staying on, as a new security measure.  For example, if you were in room 707, if you swiped the key card to your room through it, the elevator took you to the seventh floor.

Hank turned to me.  "Hey, wait!  What floor are you going to?" he asked me.  "I'm in room 706, so it's the seventh floor." I said.  "Oh, okay..hey, neighbor, I'm in 707." he said.  "Cool!  I got here 2 days ago." I said.  "Just arrived yesterday, myself!" Hank replied.  We chuckled, as we rode to the seventh floor.  Hank wore a dark brown jacket, a dark blue button up short sleeve shirt, black side zip boots with dark socks, a black belt with a silver 2 prong buckle, and designer dark colored jeans.

We were still laughing, and chumming it up as we left the elevator, walking past the guard in the hall.  It turns out rooms 706 and 707 were at the back of the 7th floor hallways, far away from everything else. How convenient!

As Hank said "Well, see ya' alter, he turned to scan his room key card.  As he did this, I took out my garrote, flexed the loop, and strangled Hank to death.  I took his key card that he had dropped, and scanned it, opening the door, and then I dragged Hank into his suite, then laid his corpse on the couch. 

I took his laser pistol, which had an integrated silencer inside the barrel, and then I took his VIP Lounge invitation, which he had to get into the VIP Lounge to meet with Don Tabbiloni.  I also took Hank's clothes, stuffing my own clothes and sandals into my small backpack.  I put my stun gun, antipersonnel mine and silenced laser pistol and rolled them up in the newspaper from my backpack, and then placed them in Hank's silver briefcase, which already contained the missile codes, activation electronic key, a map to where the stolen IPBM warheads are hidden, and the disk containing the computer software that can track all and/or any IPBM missile paths and patterns.

But I was able to carefully fit my weapons, rolled up in newspaper, with them.  I was ready to roll.  Joey warned me I'd be searched prior to entering the VIP Lounge.  I still had my fiber wire garrote hidden in my (or Hank's) coat, since it didn't trigger metal detectors.  I left the room, with Hank's clothes on me, his briefcase in my hand, his corpse on the couch, and my clothes in my backpack.

***

I was at the entrance of the VIP Lounge.  I showed the guards my VIP invitation.  The two pit bull dog guards there ran metal detector wands up and down my person, and when they didn't go off, the guards checked my backpack (clean), and my briefcase.  I was worried they would find the weapons and bomb, but it was well rolled up in the newspaper.  Clean.  I was allowed into the VIP Lounge.  Once inside, I went into one of the rooms there, and, in privacy, I removed the contents of the briefcase into my backpack, with the exception of the silenced laser pistol, which I pocketed, and the bomb/mine, which I activated.  I placed the mine in the silver briefcase, and crumpled the newspaper into a ball, and placed it atop the mine and its pressure pad.  I closed the lid on top of them, putting pressure on the mine.  Whoever opened the briefcase lid next would be blown to kingdom come.

I then waited in that room for the Don. The scientist had just arrived, as I was heading out of Hank's room, and into the Lounge.  He had his bodyguards with him, and was up in his room. 

*that's it for this chapter*

[evilwaffles]

That was cool for cats (very good), keep them coming Julius. :yes:

[Guest Julius Quasar]

That was cool for cats (very good), keep them coming Julius.

Thanks!  You liked the name of that Mafia cat Don, eh?

[Kursed]

Kylie:I swear you and todd are lucky men to meet soo many pretty girls *Smacked by Akasha* WHaaat? your the prettiest little kitty around you know that?

keep it coming while Akasha and I beat up Kylie don't worry he'll live we're just going to jump on him a bit :D

[rainfyre66]

Great chapter, I'm excited for more! This should be good...

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Kylie:I swear you and todd are lucky men to meet soo many pretty girls *Smacked by Akasha* WHaaat? your the prettiest little kitty around you know that?

keep it coming while Akasha and I beat up Kylie don't worry he'll live we're just going to jump on him a bit

Great chapter, I'm excited for more! This should be good...

Thank you very much, Kursed, rainfyre66, Kylie, and Akasha!  :wink:

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 4

I had seen the scientist, Dr. Knott, heading towards the elevator as I had stepped off.  He was a mean looking barn owl, a known recluse, [former] Andross Scientific Research scientist (who got off from criminal charges by turning state's witness against Andross during the Lylat Wars), with an entourage of doberman bodyguards in dark suits and sunglasses.  The Scientist himself was carrying a black briefcase, containing the payment for the materials I had, the payment no doubt being very valuable, untraceable blood diamonds, from MY planet, Earth.

I was waiting in the VIP Lounge, and sure enough, ten minutes later, the Don arrived, with his bodyguards, mean looking cougars, in dark suits and sunglasses.  They entered the Lounge, without being screened for weapons, I noticed, and sat in the private room with me.  I laid my briefcase down on the table next to me.  Don Tabbiloni, an old, smoke tabby cat, with heavy jowls, and a letter "M" on his forehead, greeted me.

"Hello, Hank Smeltz..." he said, his voice reminding me that of Joe Mantegna.  "Hello..." I replied.  "The merchandise will be inspected, before the payment to you is transferred...of course, you understand...it's just prudence." said Don Tabbiloni.  "Sure." I replied.  "Would you like a drink, perhaps?" asked the Don.  "No thanks." I replied.  The two of us sat down, and one of the Don's bodyguards headed up to Dr. Knott's suite.

As the Don and I waited, the vixen showgirl I talked to earlier came into the room and danced for us.  I was hoping she wouldn't recognize me and blow my cover.  But fortunately she didn't.  As she danced, the Don started clapping his hands as she did. Then the bodyguard who

had  headed up to Dr. Knott's suite returned, holding a black briefcase.  The showgirl vixen who danced for us left the room, and the Don whispered something to the bodyguard, but I couldn't hear him.  The bodyguard nodded, set down the black briefcase, and took my silver briefcase, and headed up to Dr. Knott's suite again.

After he left, I removed my backpack, and then my jacket slowly, and reached into the inside pocket fr my silenced laser pistol.  I held the jacket, draped over my arm, as I took hold of the laser gun, I aimed the laser gun, with my jacket draped over my right arm.  Don Tabbiloni got suspicious of my actions, but before he could make a moved, I fired the laser gun right at the Don's head, killing him instantly.  I quickly put my jacket back on, after moving the silenced laser pistol back to the inside pocket of the jacket.

I put on my backpack, grabbed my black briefcase full of blood diamonds, and got up, leaving the VIP Lounge.  One of the Don's bodyguard said something to me, but I wasn't listening.  I left the VIP Lounge quickly, and headed through the bar, then the casino, out through the side service exit into the alleyway.  I heard a loud explosion from the upstairs hotel suites.  A limo pulled up, honked its horn, and I got in.  Mission accomplished, but not complete....

***

As I was in the limousine/spaceship, with Joey and Danny, I handed them the missile codes, activation electronic key, a map to where the stolen IPBM warheads are hidden, and the disk containing the computer software that can track all and/or any IPBM missile paths and patterns.  We split the blood diamonds  4 ways, Me, Joey, Danny, and the Foxglove family tribute...I was gonna have my share of blood diamonds made into pieces of fine jewelery for Misty.  I put my share of diamonds into my backpack.

It turned out the warheads were kept in a storage facility on planet Corneria.  Also, in that briefcase of Hank's, there was an envelope with the paperwork where there was a key to the storage locker, and a receipt to show to the guard at the facility.  We arrived at Corneria, where we puled into a meat packing plant parking lot.  I was about to get out of the limo, but Danny stopped me.

"Not....so..fast!  Where do ya' think you're going?" he asked me.  "Where am I supposed to go?" I asked him.  "You need to take this!  And this!"  Danny handed me the envelope containing the storage locker key and rental receipt, along with the keys to one of the meat packing panel trucks in the parking lot. 

"You gotta pick up the warheads, load 'em up, and take them to this address, we'll pick up the truck from there, leave the keys in the truck, and don't lock the cabin of it.  Capiche?" said Danny.  "Got it." I replied.  I took my backpack, and as I headed for the truck, I heard Danny shout "Joey, you moron, get those diamonds outta your mouth!  They ain't hard candy!"  I heard Joey spitting them out, and saying something, but I couldn't hear what it was, I was too busy laughing...that Joey, oh boy...

***

I pulled up to the storage facility, and parked the truck at the loading docks.  I went to the front office, and showed the warthog guard my receipt and key, and he allowed me into the facility.  I went to locker # 137, unlocked it, and took the wheeled, large green metal box, containing the warheads.  The box was the size of a top loading freezer, like you'd find in a garage or basement. 

I wheeled out the box, shut the locker, and wheeled the box to the gates of the loading docks, opened the gates, wheeled out the box, shut the gates, and then wheeled the box over to the truck, opened the back of the truck, loaded the box, and then shut the truck.  I drove over to the address and parked.  The black limo showed up.  I took my backpack, and Danny and Joey got out.

"We'll take it from here, our limo driver will take you home.  Remember, Julius, we'll be watching you, to make sure you keep quiet, capiche?  Don't tell anyone about this!" Danny sneered.  "You got it!" I said.  "Joey, for the last time, those aren't candies, spit out those diamonds!" Danny shouted in frustration. 

Joey spit out the blood diamonds again and pocketed them.  He and Danny got into the truck and drove away, and I got into the limo, and was driven home.  When I arrived home, it was dark, and quiet in the house.  Great!  I let myself in, put my clothes I wore earlier back on, and hung up hank's clothes in the back of my closet, and I hid the blood diamonds in a small sack, in my room, as a surprise for Misty.  I put away my backpack, and went to watch TV downstairs.  A few minutes later, Misty came home.  "Hi Julius!" she said. "Hi Misty." I replied, and we exchanged kisses, and we went to bed.

*that's it for this chapter*

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 5

The next morning, I woke up early, while Misty was still sleeping.  I gathered up Hank's clothes, my undershirt and lounge pants, along with my cheap sandals, and placed them in a shopping bag.  I got the sack full of blood diamonds, and the laser pistol with the integrated silencer in the barrel, and I placed them in my backpack, then got dressed.

I left Misty a note on the dry erase board in the living room.

~Misty, I'll be back shortly, had to run a few errands, be back soon.  I love you.  -JQ

I took my car out, and took my backpack with the laser gun and sack of blood diamonds up to Todd's old loft in Corneria City, where I hid them.  I then dropped off the clothes at the local thrift store.  I then drove home, in plenty of time.  Misty was still asleep, so I erased my message on the dry erase board, and changed back into my P.J.'s, and went to bed.

Something warned me to cover my tracks....Misty and I woke up, shared a warm shower together, got dressed, ate breakfast, and went to McCloud Ranch to see Fox.  Misty flew my Arwing, as I wing rode on it.  Misty's ship was at McCloud Ranch.  I was having some serious fun wing riding!  It was awesome.  I was a little disappointed it ended so fast.

We went into the main building, and joined our friends, Team Star Fox in the den, where they were all watching the news on TV.  "Hi Misty, Hi Julius!" they said.  "Hi!" we replied.  Misty and I sat next to Todd and Lola, as the news came back on.  Everyone was there, Fox, Falco, Krystal, Slippy, Katt, Fara, Fay, Miyu, Tigress, Kylie (a.k.a. Tony), Todd, Lola, Babs, Edge, Akasha, Silas, Pal, Madame Vulpine, Conrad, Misty, and me.

"Falco, I can't see!" complained Slippy.  "Slippy, get off me!" Falco said as he shoved Slippy off of his shoulder.  Slippy had been trying to peer over Falco's shoulder like a person trying to look over a fence taller than them.  "Quiet, you two, the news is back on!" said Fox.

A bespectacled vixen appeared on the news, saying

"In a shocking turn of events, a triple homicide occurred on planet Zoness last night, at the Shores Hotel and Casino.  Mob kingpin Don Tabbiloni, Recluse Scientist Dr. Knott, and Earthling Human Expatriate Hank Smeltz, were all found murdered there, by C4 Bomb explosive agent, a laser gunshot to the head, and a strangulation device, possibly fiber wire.  No gunshots were heard by witnesses, and despite the tight security of the Casino's VIP Lounge, where one of the victims was gunned down, the murderer still managed to use a gun in there, discrediting any efforts to increase gun and/or weapons control legislation of any kind.  The authorities have no clue as to the killer's appearance, as no one claims to have seen him or her....stay tuned for more details as investigation events warrant."

"That killer meant business!" said Falco. "I'll say!  He sounds like one mean S.O.B." said Todd, chuckling.  "Whoever did this, had a deeper motive than what meets the eye, I'll bet." said Tigress.  "I agree.  All three murders must also be connected in some way." said Fox...

***

We were eating lunch, a barbecue.  I could barely eat at all.  My stomach was in knots.  "Julius, are you okay?" Krystal placed a hand on my arm, as I was staring at the ground.  "Nothing!  I mean...uh...What?" I asked, forgetting her question.  "Are you okay?" Krystal repeated.  "Uh...sure!  Why....wouldn't I be okay?" I said, my voice breaking.

Akasha was staring at me suspiciously across the patio.  I climbed into the freestanding hammock, and lay there, staring at the beautiful clear blue sky.  It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day.  And I couldn't enjoy it.  I could hear the others laughing, arguing, joking, and talking, having fun...someone came up and gently rocked the hammock, as she leaned over me, her face in my face.  "Julius, are you okay?" asked Tigress, her facial expression twisted in concern.  "Yeah.." I lied.  "Then why are you lying there like you're on your deathbed?" she asked. 

"I dunno..." I replied.  Tigress sighed and walked away.  I heard her talking to someone.  Ten minutes later Krystal came over to me.  "Julius..you look worried...are you sure nothing is wrong?" she asked me.  "I'm....sure..." I replied.  Krystal walked off, and I heard her whispering.  Five minutes later, Falco and Slippy came up to me.  "Yo!  Julius!  How's it going?" asked Falco.  "Good." I answered in a monotone.  "Why are you just lying there then?" asked Slippy.  "...'cause I'm not standing up." I answered.  "What!?" Slippy asked, confused.  He and Falco walked away.

Fara walked up to the hammock, and poked me in the shoulder.  "Julius, you've had this guilty expression on your face all day...if there's something you want to talk to me about...." Fara hinted that she knew I was up to no good, and she wanted to know what I was up to.  "Thanks...If I want to talk, I'll...tell...someone...you..." I said, not putting much effort into my dialogue with anyone. 

Akasha walked up to the hammock.  "Hey, Julius, what's your deal!?" she asked me.  "Nothing." I replied.  Akasha crawled under the hammock and poked me in the back.  Hard.  "Ow!  Stop!" I shouted.  "Get out of the hammock." said Akasha, still poking me.  I got out of the hammock.  Akasha then followed me around.  I sat down on the bench, next to Misty, and Akasha backed off. 

"Julius, hon...what's wrong?  You look miserable." said Misty, snuggling against me.  I fought a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.  "I just feel kinda sick, must've been something I ate earlier today or last night." I said.  "What did you eat?" Misty asked me.  "Well, it wasn't breakfast, or lunch, we both ate that and you're not sick...maybe it was the leftovers I ate last night." I replied.

I got up to go to the bathroom.  But I secretly opened the small window there, which opened to the patio.  I listened to the conversations of my friends.

"I'm worried about Julius, he's been acting so weird lately."

"We've noticed, Slippy.  I think it has something to do with what we saw on the news this morning."

"Yeah...those murders at the Shores Hotel and Casino...you think he had something to do with that?  Or maybe he knows something..."

Todd: "It would explain why he's got 'Guilty' written all over his face."

"But...why would Julius do that?"

Misty: "If he had done that, maybe someone forced him to do it.  They might have also intimidated him into being quiet."

Lola: "Could be...he definitely had that same guilty expression on his face that Todd gets whenever he did something bad that he's ashamed of."

Tigress: "I'll make him talk!!!"

Kylie: "Now, Tigress, we have to be careful about this.  We also can't jump to conclusions.  As the saying goes, there are two sides to every story."

Akasha: "I wonder what Julius knows?"

Edge: "We can't go all 'interrogation mode' with a desk lamp in the face, on Julius, or he'll just shut his mouth.  Maybe even do something crazy."

Babs: "Edge is right.  Julius might run away in fear..."

"We gotta get him to talk, without making it seem like we're not trying to get him to talk."

Madame Vulpine: "Perhaps we could read his mind, or hypnotize him."

"Too risky.  He may try to block us out."

Conrad: "Maybe we should follow him around for a bit, secretly...after he's let his guard down.  He'll either go to who hired him, or they'll come to him."

"That could take too long."

Silas: "What if Julius' will is no longer his own?  Is he being controlled?"

"Kylie and I would've detected that.  So would Madame Vulpine."

Madame Vulpine: "I sensed Julius feeling a great sense of fear, and guilt..."

Pal: "He's up to something all right...if he did have anything to do with last night's triple homicide, we need to find out why."

They had my number...

Later that afternoon, late afternoon, we were in the rec room.  We went inside at sunset.

Fox called me into the rec room, and the others sat all around, staring at me.  "Julius, come join us.  We're gonna try to see if we can solve a puzzle..." said Fox.  I froze in place at first.  Were they going to try to crack the triple homicide case?  Were they gonna interrogate me?  I didn't want to seem any more suspicious, so I headed to the rec room.

As I entered the rec room, I saw a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle on the card table.  "Wanna help us out?" asked Slippy, pointing to the jigsaw puzzle.  I smiled, and felt a sense of relief.  "Sure!" I said.  We began to work on the jigsaw puzzle...I realized, though, they might have been trying to get me to lower my guard.  But, I decided to go along with it, but be careful in what I said and how I behaved...

*that's it for this chapter*

[Kursed]

I know what you've been doing Julius

this is quiet intresting.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I know what you've been doing Julius

this is quiet intresting.

"Don't tell, 'kay?"

Thanks, Kursed.

[Asper Sarnoff]

I'd love to read it Julius, but I sadly don't have time now, or in the foreseable future. Sorry about that.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

I'd love to read it Julius, but I sadly don't have time now, or in the foreseable future. Sorry about that.

it's cool.  thanks anyways.

[Kursed]

more ,please

[Guest Julius Quasar]

more ,please

Thanks!  I'll work on chapter 6 later.  I had to fix some of Todd's dialogue, now it reads as:

Todd: "It would explain why he's got 'Guilty' written all over his face."

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Chapter 6

We worked on the jigsaw puzzle for a while, having fun, joking..but I had a feeling that the team was gonna get me to spill the beans about the night before...I also had a feeling that a noose was tightening around my neck.  As if to further validate that feeling, there was the sound of the doorbell ringing.  Fox got up to answer it.

Instinctively, I got up and headed for the bathroom.  I climbed out the window, and made my way around the main building of McCloud Ranch, as I heard Peppy's voice...

"DAMN IT, JULIUS!"

I broke into a run, and I heard several voices shouting at me "Stop!  You're under arrest!" I was being pursued by the CDF, the CCPD, and the Lylat Federation Interpol.  They had come with General Peppy Hare to McCloud Ranch to place me under arrest.  I had an outstanding warrant, as what I did last night came to a head.

Peppy had been standing at the back door, he had seen me running away.  "Stop!  Julius!  Get back here!" my teammates shouted at me. Tigress, Kylie, Akasha, Falco, Babs, Fox, and Slippy were in hot pursuit behind the authorities.  I ran up the side of a nearby hill.  There was an aerial craft flying over me, shining a spotlight on me.  "Stop!  Or We'll shoot!" someone yelled over the bullhorn. 

"Stop in the Name of the Lylat Federation!  Stop in the name of Corneria!  Stop in the name of the law!  Stop in the name of common decency!  GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" a CDF officer shouted at me.  I started laughing, and only ran faster.  Akasha and Slippy were gaining on me.  How could someone as short as Akasha, and as fat and short as Slippy move so fast?  They were beating the pursuing authorities!

Tigress picked up momentum, and caught up to Akasha and Slippy, Akasha still in the lead by a foot.  I heard them shouting at me, the CDF, Interpol, and CCPD shouting at me and blowing whistles (I know, I know...blowing whistles....like early 1900's keystone cops, ha ha!).  Finally, Akasha ran ahead of me, and made me trip, and Tigress caught up to me...

"I got him!" she shouted.

The CDF, CCPD, and Lylat Federation Interpol placed stun cuffs on me.

"Julius Quasar, you're under arrest, for the Premeditated murders of Dr. Knott, Don Tabbiloni, and Hank Smeltz, for illegal possession of weapons of mass destruction, for obstruction of justice, for evidence tampering, and for swallowing gum!"  the Lylat Federation head Interpol Officer in charge of the arrest said to me.

A CDF officer whispered something into the Interpol Officer's ear, and he said "Oh, really?" and the CDF officer nodded, and then the Interpol officer said to me "Strike that last charge, you're not under arrest for swallowing gum, since that's no longer illegal.  But you're still in big trouble for those other crimes, mister!  You have the right to remain silent!  Anything you say, blah, blah, blah, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah..."

I was being led away in handcuffs, and fighting every step of the way.  Technically, I wasn't resisting arrest, as I was already under arrest.  But I wasn't going with dignity.  I struggled, swore, shouted "I didn't do nothin'!  I didn't do nothin'!  Like I said, I didn't do nothin'!  Lemme go you stinkin' Nazis!"

To make matters worse, a news crew showed up, and they filmed the whole thing...

I was shoved in the back of the paddy wagon, a hover-car paddy wagon resembling a Dodge Humpback Paddy Wagon, and taken to the Metro Jail downtown.  The siren sounded, making that European Emergency Vehicle Siren "Nah-Nah, Nah-Nah!" racket.

*that's it for this chapter*