Star Fox: Paladins of the Force (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE AND COMBAT!)

[Star_Dragon]

This 'fic was the result of boredom, too many Vanilla Cokes, and watching too many lightsaber duels on YouTube. So, Instead of just persisting with all of the above, I decided to do something. And thus: Star Fox - Paladins of the Force was born. It is still in the works, but I'll post the Prologue for your viewing pleasure. But be warned: this 'fic was meant for a mature audience ONLY!!!!! Enjoy!

Prologue

Fifteen-year-old Marcus McCloud was thrown against a wall. Blood leaked out from both his nostrils. He wiped it away and glared angrily at his attacker. The other kid, a stocky, heavyset, dark-skinned Terran with an affinity for picking fights with Marcus, laughed at him.

“Tell me when you’re going to fight for real!” he snarled.

“Watch it, dickhead! When my father--”

“Please, your father can’t bring a lawsuit onto a paper bag!” The terran sneered.

Figures, Marcus thought. After the destruction of the Anglar, Marcus’ mother and father fled here to Earth, in a remote part of the galaxy. Word of Fox McCloud’s valor had barely just reached this area of space. The administration here at Marion Jr. High School hadn’t a clue who Fox was, let alone how powerful he was. Out here, Marcus had no friends. No allies. Nothing but the love and support of his family, and that wasn’t enough in times like this.

The school bell rang, and Marcus instantly bolted off before the terran could get another hit.

“Yeah, that’s right – Run! Run like the little bitch you are!” the terran called after him.

Marcus continued running until he was sure he was out of earshot of the terran.

Why, oh WHY did mom and dad decide to come here? Marcus asked himself. His father had always preached pacifism, something that was hard to accomplish when you had a hundred or so racist terrans baying for your blood. As much as they hated this world, Fox and his wife, Krystal, simply refused to return to the Lylat system.

As Marcus walked down an alley near his house, he nearly tripped on a briefcase. Picking it up, he read the note hastily taped to it;

“To: Marcus McCloud. From: The Jek’ari.”

While Marcus had no clue who “The Jek’ari” was, he was surprised to find something addressed to him just lying around in an alley. Hefting the case under his arm, he continued home. Once there, he headed straight into his room and locked the door.

That done, he set the briefcase down on his desk and opened it. Inside was what Marcus thought to be a toy lightsaber.

You have GOT to be kidding me. What possible use could I have for--

Marcus’ thoughts were inadvertently interrupted when he activated the lightsaber. A bright blue blade appeared, and Marcus nearly dropped it.

“Whoa...” Marcus mumbled to himself.

After testing the lightsaber on a few things in his room, the thought hit him: for whatever reason this lightsaber came into his possession, it could bring an end to it all – his suffering, the bloodthirsty terrans...

... It could set him free.

The next morning, Marcus was up early. He hurried into his clothes, gathered his school supplies, and felt for the briefcase under his bed. He silently dragged it out, opened it, took the lightsaber within, and clipped it to his belt.  He also made sure that the lightsaber was hidden under his long-sleeve shirt.

Marcus opened his door and headed down the hall, only to run headlong into his father. If he noticed the slight lump where Marcus’ lightsaber was, he certainly didn’t show it as he said,

“Well, you’re up awfully early. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, given the fact that today is Friday.”

Friday was always sparring day, the day where students would be excused from all classes after lunch to spar with whatever they chose from the school equipment room. Some even went fist-to-fist, or brought equipment from home.

Marcus managed a casual response. “Yeah, well... what can I say? Sparring keeps me in shape.”

Fox chuckled. “Just don’t get carried away. Your mother and I know how much you don’t like the humans.”

Marcus nodded in agreement, and headed to the table to eat.

As Marcus walked to school, he discovered that the bright blue blade of the lightsaber made an excellent torchlight. He used it to navigate the various alleys and paths in the darkness of the 5:30 AM morning darkness. As he passed through the alley where he found the briefcase, he looked around for anything he may have overlooked. Nothing. All he could do was continue to school.

As the school day went on, Marcus found himself constantly looking to the clock. Time seemed to drag on for hours. The schoolwork was notoriously easy, the bullshit he put up with from the terrans was numerous, but he kept telling himself: They’ll get what they deserve.

Finally, lunch came, and after that, sparring in the gym. Finally, Marcus thought, he can show his true skills he’d learned over the years – from both mother and father. No holding back. No mercy.

Surprisingly, all the members of his father’s old Star Fox team was there to see this. Uncle Falco, Uncle Slippy and Aunt Amanda. Hell, even Fox and Krystal were there.

When Marcus was called up to spar, he was glad to hear his opponent’s name: Darion Heath. The very Terran that attacked him yesterday. Now was Marcus’ chance to show Darion and his band that Marcus was not to be trifled with lightly. When the two of them bowed to each other, they exchanged threats.

“This time, dickhead, you’re going to be the one with a bloody nose.” Marcus threatened.

“Bring it on, blue boy.” Darion whispered.

The two of them walked halfway to opposite sides of the gym and turned to face each other. As soon as the announcer said “Weapons at the ready,” Marcus took off his long-sleeve shirt, revealing his lightsaber. It was a cylindrical hilt, with eight black metal flanges extending halfway up the hilt and an emitter shaped like the drinking part of a wine glass. Marcus grabbed it, thumbed the red button, and the blue blade flashed to life with a loud snap-hiss.

On the other side of the gym, Darion threw off his jacket, revealing his sagging pants and two lightsaber hilts. He slowly grabbed them, connected the bottoms, twisted and locked them in place, and both crimson blades flared to life as he twirled the now Lightsaber staff. After a moment, Darion began to twirl the staff before him and charged Marcus. Marcus eagerly charged him back, deflecting hit after hit. He leapt over him while swinging, and would have taken Darion’s head off had he not blocked it.

No holding back. No mercy. Marcus kept this on his mind as he dueled Darion. Darion was good with a staff, but he was, by far, not a master, despite what he thought. For the longest time, Marcus studied his pattern, and found several flaws. One: Darion exposed his back to his opponent way too much. Two: his stance was as clumsy as it was stupid. The only reason he’d lasted this long was because Marcus was studying him.

Now, as the end of the duel grew near, Marcus decided it was time to make his impression – On Darion, on his band, on the audience. No holding back. No mercy.

Marcus deflected a blow aimed at his head, dropped to the floor, spun, and swept Darion’s feet from under him. He then brought his lightsaber up, over, and onto Darion. Darion barely brought his lightsaber up in time to block it, and Marcus kicked the lightsaber staff out of his hand and into mid-air, where he chopped off both ends to disable the saber, and held his lightsaber at Darion’s throat.

“Take it easy, man!” Darion said nervously. “It’s just a game!”

But Marcus wasn’t about to take anymore bullshit from Darion. He smacked Darion on the nose with the hilt of his lightsaber.

“That’s for the bloody nose you gave me the other day,” Marcus said. He then stabbed the blade into Darion’s hand and thumbed off the activation. “And that’s for everything else. Consider yourself warned.” With that said, Marcus clipped his lightsaber to his belt and left the gym. With any luck, Darion and his band would get the message.

[rainfyre66]

Interesting, I like it so far! Hope to see more, I'll be reading it.

[Star_Dragon]

Here's Chapter One...

Chapter One

Invitation

In the weekend after the duel, Marcus explained where he had gotten the lightsaber and why he’d injured Darion with it. Much to his surprise, he got a light punishment, and the following school week, his father walked him to school. Before Marcus could head through the door, Fox stopped him.

“Here,” he said, “take this.” and handed Marcus his lightsaber. “Just in case Darion and his pals didn’t get the message you sent them.”

Marcus smiled, accepted his lightsaber, clipped it to his belt, and stated, “You’re the best, dad.”

“Go get ‘em, tiger.” Fox said. Fox watched as his son walked confidently toward the school, and finally watched as he disappeared into the building.

Then, conscious of the fact that there were still things that needed to be done, Fox turned and left. Marcus was on his own for now.

Marcus had no more than gone halfway across the intervening hall to get to his morning class when a voice boomed from behind him.

“Hey, blue boy!” It was Darion. Marcus turned to face him. He had a bandage over his palm where Marcus’ lightsaber had stabbed through. “We got some unfinished business to take care of.”

“Didn’t get enough of a beating last week?” Marcus asked.

“I didn’t take no beating.” Darion snapped. “But you about to get a ass-whoopin’.”

“You couldn’t handle me on Friday, what makes you think you can beat me now?” Marcus asked.

“You was just lucky Friday. I’m gonna get you today.” Darion growled. He ignited a crimson lightsaber and suddenly threw it at Marcus. Marcus, quicker in reflex, ignited his own lightsaber and deflected it into the ceiling.

“Okay, that was just pathetic.” Marcus said. “I’m not as stupid as you would think.”

“Marcus McCloud, please report to the principal’s office.” came a voice over the school intercom.

“Good luck getting that from there.” Marcus said as he extinguished his saber and clipped it to his belt. He turned and left, leaving Darion wondering how he’d get his lightsaber out of the ceiling that was six feet out of his reach.

Marcus wound his way through the twisting hallways of his school until he came to the principal’s office. The door was open. The principal stared at him from within the room. Not good.

Marcus hesitantly entered. The principal sat back in his chair as Marcus sat down.

“So, Mr. McCloud, I understand that you injured Darion Heath in last Friday’s Sparring match. Is this correct?”

Marcus gulped. “Yes, but--”

“And unless I’m much mistaken, your lightsaber is an actual weapon. Correct?”

“Well, yes, I--”

“While the sign outside says that weapons are illegal in this facility, there are very few among the student body that know of this school’s true purpose.” The principal said.

Marcus started to voice his reasons when he heard the “School’s true purpose” part of his principal’s speech. “‘True purpose,’ sir? What do you mean?”

“I’ve had my eye on you ever since your father enrolled you here. I’ve watched as you made enemy after enemy. You defeated a good number of them through various means, but Darion’s defeat at your hands proves out my hunch.”

Marcus was confused. “Um... I’m not sure I get it.”

“This school’s true purpose is to look for potential candidates to take into our order.”

Marcus frowned. “What order?”

“We are called Jedi, but this particular jedi order is called the Paladins of the Force. Most individuals we induct make excellent jedi, but for some like you... we give special training.”

Marcus decided to play along. “Say I were interested. When and how could I start?”

The principal simply opened his desk drawer and tossed Marcus a small box. Inside was a small blue pill. “Just take that tonight when you go home and bring your lightsaber here tomorrow. Just keep in mind that acceptance into the Paladin Academy is a lifelong undertaking, and possibly the most important decision you will make in your young life.”

Marcus nodded, grabbed his backpack, and started to leave when the principal said one last thing.

“If you take that pill, come here expecting trouble; for it will most certainly find you.”

Marcus left without a word.

That night, Marcus explained what happened to his parents and relatives, and they were both surprised and confused.

“Let me get this straight,” Falco said incredulously. “The school you go to is designed to test the strength of the students? Just so they might become ‘Paladins of the Force?’”

“Your uncle is right,” Fox stated. “This story sounds hard to believe.”

“If I’m lying about being invited to the academy, then why am I not in jail?” Marcus asked. “Dad, you know the rules of any school – no weapons allowed! That includes lightsabers. If I was lying, then I would’ve been arrested as soon as I brandished my lightsaber on Friday!” There was a momentary pause.

“You have to admit,” Slippy commented, “he’s got a point.”

“And the story fits the rumors I’ve heard ever since dad enrolled me in Marion Jr. High!” Marcus exclaimed.

“Rumors?” Fox asked. “What rumors?”

“About what happens every six weeks,” Marcus replied. “They say that every six weeks, those who made the highest scores in the sparring matches disappear. Some say that a hooded figure kidnaps them. Others say that they go to a special school.”

“He’s right,” Krystal said. “Those are exactly the rumors I’ve heard about the place. His story fits the rumors perfectly.”

“Question is,” Amanda added, “What really happens; do they go to this ‘special school,’ or are they kidnapped?”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Fox replied. “Marcus has to take that pill.”

There was a long moment of silence. None were without trepidation or doubt. They knew the risks.

But the advantages, it seems, far outweighed the risks. So Marcus did it.

He took the blue pill...