Starzone: Liberation

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash looked  at the one called Ves, clearly he had instigated the fight, still, he had to have done something rough to set Marcus off like that.

Dash turned to Ruby, "I'll be right back," he told her, "There's something I need to know. But you can come if you want to."

Dash started walking down the path after Marcus, he caught up with him and called to him. "Marcus wait, I want to talk to you."

[Kursed]

"Dash Let Lupe handle it!"ruby said following Dash.

[Guest Para Astaroth]

Marcus never responded to the people calling out to him.  Sensing a disturbance within Marcus, Para stood in front of Marcus and halted him with is hand held out, then Marcus came to a stop with Para's hand extended out and pressed against his chest.  "Answer them, Marcus.  There's no need in holding it back for too long."  Para ordered.  Marcus stared at Para for a few moments and pushed Para's hand aside.

"...It's none of your business.  I have a mission and it needs to be accomplished."  Marcus retaliated and walked on past Para.  Dash's asumption about Marcus was correct; Marcus' mind was set and something was controlling him so much that he was acting too violently.  Was it all the wars he has been in that caused him to act so?  Is he having reaccurances from past events?  Some things were a blur amongst Marcus' wondering thoughts as his mind kept flashing visions of death, dispair and chaos; something of which he never would have thought twice to think of, until now.

Soon, feeling the urge to respond, he stopped in his tracks, which caused the unit to halt also, and he turned halfways; staring at Dash.  "You," he called out amongst the group, "I'll have that word with you, if you must.  Units; at ease until the time being.  Everyone remain at your posts.  I'll be back momentarily."  As the soldiers crouched, sat down, and checked their gear, Marcus walked a ways from the group and motioned to Dash.

[Kursed]

"IF you make one violent move towards him marcus."Lupe threatented her  blue eyes begning to glow.

[Guest Para Astaroth]

Para placed his hand gently onto Lupe's shoulder and slowly shook his head, "Don't worry about that right now.  He said he would have a word with that person next to Regul, so I don't believe he's going to do anything rash."  He looked over at Marcus and glared.  "If he does, then we'll step in."

***************************************

While the events unfolded, Ves stopped a few meters from the unit and stood there, looking at them.  The soldiers in his squad took one glance at him, then turned away; walking away and joining other squadmates.  He only shrugged and sat down near a stone that was petruding from the ground, but was as smooth as a tree stump.  He then placed his right leg onto his left leg, and began taking off his boots.  "Damn hitch-hiker...  Always get one in these things...!"  He grumbled to himself and proceeded to slide the boot off and reach inside, pulling the rock out and throwing it to the distance.  He then slid it back on and started relacing the boot; putting one lace through other holes and then starting to tie them together.

He then removed the clip from his rifle and checked to see if he had enough rounds in it and slid it back in, slapping it all the way in, and pulling the lever back placing a fresh round in the chamber.  He then set it aside, placed his elbows onto his knees and clasped his hands together against his lips as he stared out into the distance at the smoking AA implacements.

***************************************

Regul then motioned to her troops to disband for a few minutes and they removed their goggles, along with their ski masks.  Regul did the same and proceeded to Krystal to have a little chat with her.  "Uhm, hi...  Thanks for giving us covering fire back there.  I...  I haven't anyone back me up in awhile.  Not for awhile since Ves gave me covering fire a few years back in the first Vectran/Hellfurion war back on Vectra."  She said, her voice a little cracky from talking so quietly back on the battleground.  She didn't know how to act since she's never spoken to anyone from another planet, besides Marcus and Para, and tried her best to act like a true soldier, which she sometimes failed at doing so.

*******************************************

[Kursed]

"Anytime."KRystal replied simply she leaned against the ruins of one of the artillery cannons "It was a plesure after all we can't all die now can we?"

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash walked over to where Marcus was standing. He looked at him long and hard before speaking.

"Look, I don't know what went on back there between you and that idiot Ves, but you need to learn to control yourself. I don't like him either, but we're going to need to depend on each other if we want to survive. There is nothing wrong with acting on your emotions, but if you let them control you completely, it will destroy you. I know it because it almost almost happened to me once, along with someone else's life."

Dash continued. "I'm not trying to play psychiatrist here, but I want you to tell me what set you off, if you know what's wrong, you can work to fix it."

[Guest Para Astaroth]

"I suppose not..."  Regul replied back, folding her arms and looking off to the distance.  Her squad were convulsing among one another and playing tick-tack-toe in the sand.  "I just hope we just finish this mission and get off this planet.  I already hate it..."

*****************************************

Marcus nodded in sympathy and stared at Dash square in the eyes.  "If you really want to know, then so be it."  He turned to the side, head held slighty down, then looked up at the sky.  "Approximately ten years ago, I was assigned to a reconisance mission with a squad of Cornerian troopers highly trained for that specific reason we were assigned to do:  Infiltrate a hostile base on Fichina, disable the alarms and auto-turrets, and get what we need, then get out; simple as that."  His expression went tense after he started remembering things more vividly; his eyes zipping back and form as he looked up at the sky, "A door opens.  Men and women panting under their masks.  The ground crunching beneath their feet and shouting.  The sky is stricken to the darkness of night and flashes about.  'Move up', a soldier says in haste.  We did so.  Minutes past.  Hours.  We reach the door.  My heart was beating faster.  Faster.  A demolitionist was setting a charge; a rookie.  He continues with setting as I peered over a soldier behind me.  Area was clear.  Soon, a shout arises; the rookie shields his face.  A blinding light engulfs my vision; paralyzing what I once saw.  Explosion.  Everything blurs and comes into focus.  Bodies aroused on the ground; dead.  Feet heavy, I rushed to check lifesigns.  None.  I see my fiance.  Heart drops.  Feelings of dispair and hate take over.  Clutching her in my arms, I wept.  Wet drops trinkle down my face.  Few more drop onto my neck.  It was...  cold.  A rumble above me is loud.  A light flashes and water pours from down from the sky.  Rain.  The alarms are blaring.  I turned and ran with haste.  Pain was never existing.  Adrenaline pumping."

He blinked his eyes and several tears rolled down his face, then he closed his eyes, baring his teeth, clenching his fist and his arm shaking.  Marcus turned his head and rose his hand to Dash, "Could you...  Give me a minute...?"  His voice was crackling under the vision he saw from a flashback.

*****************************************

Ves was staring over across the hill to Marcus; he saw Marcus change drastically from moment to moment.  He turned his head slightly, not knowing why he held his hand to Dash, and stood up; walking back to his unit.  He tapped a soldier that was in his squad, "Hey, wonder what's up with him?"  The squadmate looked over his shoulder at Marcus, then back to Ves and shrugged.

"I dunno?"  He responded and went back to convulsing to his unit.  Ves bit his lower lip in thought and placed his hands onto his hips as he looked around and then to the ground.  Sighing under his breath and shrugging, he trudged back to his spot and sat back onto the rock.

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash listened to Marcus's story, quietly. He realized how much of a blow that had to have been, to lose the one he loved most, in such a terrible way.

Dash looked back at Ruby, and also thought about his little sister Sheila. The two people he loved most in the world. He thought back to his and Sheila's time spent living on the street. How he fought tooth and nail with the ferocity of a beast to make sure no harm came to her, how he did things he never thought he would do just to keep her safe. He also thought of Ruby, and he knew he would do the same things again to make sure she would be safe as well.

He walked over to Marcus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Marcus, I'm sure that if there was anything you could have done to save her, you would have done it without question, one will do that for the ones he loves."

Dash shouldered his Shotgun, "I'll be out there to watch your back." he said.

Dash walked away back toward Ruby. He just stood and looked at her, the thoughts of Marcus and his fiancé still fresh in his mind. Suddenly he embraced her, no words were spoken to her, he just stood there and held her, thankful for having her in his life.

[Kursed]

"I suppose not..."  Regul replied back, folding her arms and looking off to the distance.  Her squad were convulsing among one another and playing tick-tack-toe in the sand.  "I just hope we just finish this mission and get off this planet.  I already hate it..."

*****************************************

Marcus nodded in sympathy and stared at Dash square in the eyes.  "If you really want to know, then so be it."  He turned to the side, head held slighty down, then looked up at the sky.  "Approximately ten years ago, I was assigned to a reconisance mission with a squad of Cornerian troopers highly trained for that specific reason we were assigned to do:  Infiltrate a hostile base on Fichina, disable the alarms and auto-turrets, and get what we need, then get out; simple as that."  His expression went tense after he started remembering things more vividly; his eyes zipping back and form as he looked up at the sky, "A door opens.  Men and women panting under their masks.  The ground crunching beneath their feet and shouting.  The sky is stricken to the darkness of night and flashes about.  'Move up', a soldier says in haste.  We did so.  Minutes past.  Hours.  We reach the door.  My heart was beating faster.  Faster.  A demolitionist was setting a charge; a rookie.  He continues with setting as I peered over a soldier behind me.  Area was clear.  Soon, a shout arises; the rookie shields his face.  A blinding light engulfs my vision; paralyzing what I once saw.  Explosion.  Everything blurs and comes into focus.  Bodies aroused on the ground; dead.  Feet heavy, I rushed to check lifesigns.  None.  I see my fiance.  Heart drops.  Feelings of dispair and hate take over.  Clutching her in my arms, I wept.  Wet drops trinkle down my face.  Few more drop onto my neck.  It was...  cold.  A rumble above me is loud.  A light flashes and water pours from down from the sky.  Rain.  The alarms are blaring.  I turned and ran with haste.  Pain was never existing.  Adrenaline pumping."

He blinked his eyes and several tears rolled down his face, then he closed his eyes, baring his teeth, clenching his fist and his arm shaking.  Marcus turned his head and rose his hand to Dash, "Could you...  Give me a minute...?"  His voice was crackling under the vision he saw from a flashback.

*****************************************

Ves was staring over across the hill to Marcus; he saw Marcus change drastically from moment to moment.  He turned his head slightly, not knowing why he held his hand to Dash, and stood up; walking back to his unit.  He tapped a soldier that was in his squad, "Hey, wonder what's up with him?"  The squadmate looked over his shoulder at Marcus, then back to Ves and shrugged.

"I dunno?"  He responded and went back to convulsing to his unit.  Ves bit his lower lip in thought and placed his hands onto his hips as he looked around and then to the ground.  Sighing under his breath and shrugging, he trudged back to his spot and sat back onto the rock.

"You need to move on Marcus. would she want you to be doing this?"Lupe asked trying to pull him into a kiss.

Dash listened to Marcus's story, quietly. He realized how much of a blow that had to have been, to lose the one he loved most, in such a terrible way.

Dash looked back at Ruby, and also thought about his little sister Sheila. The two people he loved most in the world. He thought back to his and Sheila's time spent living on the street. How he fought tooth and nail with the ferocity of a beast to make sure no harm came to her, how he did things he never thought he would do just to keep her safe. He also thought of Ruby, and he knew he would do the same things again to make sure she would be safe as well.

He walked over to Marcus and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Marcus, I'm sure that if there was anything you could have done to save her, you would have done it without question, one will do that for the ones he loves."

Dash shouldered his Shotgun, "I'll be out there to watch your back." he said.

Dash walked away back toward Ruby. He just stood and looked at her, the thoughts of Marcus and his fiancé still fresh in his mind. Suddenly he embraced her, no words were spoken to her, he just stood there and held her, thankful for having her in his life.

Ruby Gasped lokoign over to Marcus and Lupe in front of her then embraced Dash "Don't forget about Sheila now." The black she-wolf mutterd.

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash let go of Ruby and turned to Marcus.

"We've still got a job to do." he said, "Where is the next target?"

[Kursed]

"I Believe that's up to Marcus. Our job is done here."Krystal replied. The blue Vixen  had been walking up to the group  followed Closely by the white she-wolf Tala.

[Star Fox Runner]

"Done? What do you mean done?" Dash asked Krystal.

[Kursed]

"We were told to cover the armies while they moved into  position nothing more."Krystal replied. "We can stay though ,but unless Marcus wants us to go with him we're staying here."Krystal noted.

[Guest Para Astaroth]

Marcus took a few steps away and placed a hand over his eyes, silently sobbing.  Succombing to his distraughtness, he knelt down on a knee, head hung over with his hand scraping dirt in, and kept sobbing.  He remained there for a few minutes before thinking to Lupe, "I need a few minutes to recollect myself.  Go on without me; I'll catch up soon."  His voice speaking out to Lupe seemed calm, but amidst his voice, a young woman's voice was calling his name quietly, but in a sympathetic manner.

[Kursed]

Marcus took a few steps away and placed a hand over his eyes, silently sobbing.  Succombing to his distraughtness, he knelt down on a knee, head hung over with his hand scraping dirt in, and kept sobbing.  He remained there for a few minutes before thinking to Lupe, "I need a few minutes to recollect myself.  Go on without me; I'll catch up soon."  His voice speaking out to Lupe seemed calm, but amidst his voice, a young woman's voice was calling his name quietly, but in a sympathetic manner.

"No i'm here for you MArcus, lean on me use me as a towel I don't care I came all this way to comfort you."Lupe replied.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

As Todd and the General stood in the the control room, with a few Helghast bodyguard soldiers, General Belial said to Todd.  "Todd...?"

"Yes, sir?" asked Todd.

"If there was a spy amongst us, would you alert me about it?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't I?" asked Todd.

"Well, Todd, I have reason to suspect you for conspiring against the Helghast, to assist the ISA and the CDF in defeating Venom and the Helghast.  Let's face it, Cornerians and Venomians hate each other, and we, the Helghast, have Venomians as our allies, and the Cornerians are allied with the ISA..." he said.

"...and?" Todd screwed up his courage, tried to stall for time.  What point was General Belial getting to? He wondered.

The General led Todd outside, and handed him a set of binoculars.  Todd could see a battered, bruised, and bleeding Lieutenant Klaro sitting in the doorway of a Helghast drop ship, which hovered in the air several feet above Todd and the General.  He had a rope around his neck!  A Helghast officer was shouting into Lt. Klaro's ear, and then pushed him out of the drop ship.  Lt. Klaro was hanged.

The General took the binoculars from Todd.

"This half-bred, maggot works for the ISA as a spy.  He brought you in, Todd.  Normally, I'd have you tortured, interrogated, and then shot!  But you don't know enough...and I see...potential, in you, Todd.  Yes, yes...potential!  The CDF keeps you in the dark, the ISA keeps them and you in the dark.  You and the CDF have been blinded by lies, fed to you by the imperialist ISA pigs.  It's time I showed you the truth...offered you...'an education'.  What do you say, Todd?  I can trust you most, if you're willing to earn an education."

the General said, his back to Todd.

"Well...I dunno..." said Todd.

"I thought so.  Take him away!  Bill the Star Fox Team for the bullet!!" said General Belial to his bodyguard soldiers.  They nodded, and advanced on Todd.

"NO! Wait!  I didn't say 'NO'...I'll do it!" Todd blurted out, hoping to buy some time.

The General raised an arm to stop his men, and he smiled.  "Very good, Todd!  I knew you'd be reasonable!  I for one, can tell, deep down, you secretly hate the ISA as much as we do...yes...and us Helghans don't care for the Venomians, we would've sided with the Cornerians and the CDF, but the ISA blinded them, we were too late.  The Venomians, to us, are nothing but a means to an end.  A simple 'education' will be good for you, Todd..." he said.

Todd was taken deep into the base, into a room with a chair with straps and a fully enclosed helmet mask on top of it.

"This, is where your 'education' takes place...a better life, a better tomorrow...for you, for Helghan, and many more..." said the General, as Todd was strapped into the chair, and the helmet was placed on his head.

Todd had no choice.  If he refused, he'd be shot.  He needed to maintain the trust of the Helghast.  And what's the harm in a simple 'education', anyways? he thought.

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash looked out over the field and he spotted something. He looked out to see a small group of Venomians moving out along the field. He whispered to the group.

"Heads up. We got a small enemy patrol moving around out there." he said.

[Kursed]

"Quick Dash put these on your belt and activate them!"Ruby exlaimed hadning dash a personal sheild genorator and cloaking devise.

Krystal and tala activated their cloak dissappearing from sight.

"Marcus?"Lupe asked

[Star Fox Runner]

Dash placed the cloaking device onto his belt and activated it, suddenly his body went transparent. "Whoa! Cool!" Dash said.

Dash picked up a discarded sniper rifle and loaded some rounds into it so Ruby could use hers. He peered through the scope and watched the patrol. "Don't fire on them unless they see us. No use taking unnecessary lives." he said.

[Kursed]

"Would you turn on the shield first?"Ruby asked."I gave you a personal sheild."Ruby added activating her cloak her personal shield worked with the cloak she had.

[Guest Para Astaroth]

Overhearing Dash refer to the patrol team, his instincts kicked in, and he forced himself to ignore the flashback for now.  He rose to his feet, wiping his eyes, then walked over to the unit.  "Alright,"  Marcus began, his voice hardened and firm.  "I will be needed three of you to remain here with me while the rest of you split off into separate groups."  He looked over at the scout in his squad, "Do you know how to handle one of these?"  Marcus was holding the Vectran assault rifle he was given; the scout tilting his head back and forth.

"A little primitive to what I'm use to," the scout responded in his heavy Germanic accent, "But nothing I cannot handle."  He took the rifle in exchange for giving Marcus his sniper rifle.

"You," Marcus called out to a spotter, pointing to him.  "I am going to need coordinates for the patrol team.  Are you up for the job?"

"Absolutely, sir!"  The female British toned trooper accepted and she walked up to him.  "Where do I need to go, sir?"  Marcus pointed to a nearby hill.  Without questioning, the soldier ran back to gather her equipment, then sprinted off towards the hill.  Marcus started climbing up the hill in front of him, crouched over, then proned as he adjusted the lens' focus, and cocking the rifle; finger over the trigger and waiting.

[Star Fox Runner]

"Would you turn on the shield first?"Ruby asked."I gave you a personal sheild."Ruby added activating her cloak her personal shield worked with the cloak she had.

"Oh, sorry." Dash said as he activated his shield. He whispered to Marcus. "I'll stay up here and give you cover fire." he said.

[Kursed]

"Will you be needing us Marcus?"Krystal asked.

"Yes marcus mind if we tag along?"Lupe asked

"Dash and I will stay put at least  untill his arm heals."Ruby noted.

[Guest Para Astaroth]

Marcus nodded to Dash, and looked over his shoulder to Krystal and Lupe.  "All I need you to do is fan off in separate groups and flank the patrol whenever I give the first shot."  He turned a little more to the girls and to the unit, whom all look a little confused by Marcus' order.  "In other words," he began, "Whenever you hear me fire the first shot, that's your cues to sprint off into four-manned groups.  Understood?"  The unit immediately responded with numerous 'yes, sir's, and Marcus turned back around; looking down the scope of the sniper rifle and remaining as still as a statue.  "Runner,"  Marcus whispered over his comm channel, "Patrol location?"

"Approximately fourty-five degrees east, wind speed fifteen knots."  The spotter immediately chimed back with her binoculars pressed against her eyes, scanning the desert like an unmanned gun-implacement.  Marcus slowly manuvere the rifle in the directions given, then soon spotted the patrol off in the distance.  They were advancing heavily in their position, but a few yards behind them were heavily armored tanks and gunships hovering just above them.  Marcus flipped over and then hand-signaled 'thirty men, left; four tanks, behind; four gunships, above.' then he flipped back over.