Star Fox Assault: Is it Really Over? Part 2
#2 of Star Fox Assault: Is it really over?
Star Fox Assault: Is it finally over? Part 2
By Maraxk
All names and titles copy write Rare and Nintendo.
Several hours later, Krystal awoke to the sound of a small beeping noise coming from the door of her temporary sleeping quarters in the Cornerian under ground base. Groggily she pulled her self out of bed; bringing a paw up to hold the towel she remembered falling asleep in, in place. Pressing a button on the panel next to the door she cleared her throat.
"Ugh...Y-yes, who is it?"
"Hey Krystal, did I wake you? You've been sleeping nearly all day, I just wanted to check and see if you were alright." came the concerned voice of Fox over the intercom.
"Yeah, and I'm all right" she said yawning once more "What time is it?"
"It's just about 16:00 Cornerian time. Are you dressed?"
"Umm, no, not exactly..." Krystal said a little hesitantly blushing a bit and subconsciously tightening the towel a little more.
"Oh, u-umm well, t-there's food in the mess hall, I just thought you might, y'know, want to go grab a bite to eat here in a while?"
This made Krystal giggle a little as it was very apparent in Fox's voice that he was blushing even though she couldn't see him.
"Hehe, of course Fox. I'll be out in a while, just give me a bit, okay?"
"Sure thing Krystal." Fox said with a nervous yet happy voice.
Krystal giggled again; Fox was such a sweet heart. He's so shy when she's around and whenever she spoke to him. But all in all he was great guy. After all, he was the one who saved her from being trapped in that crystal only a few years ago on her home planet of Sauria when General Claw, his minions, and even Andross tried to destroy it. And not to mention the fact that he had saved her several times during the war with the apariods and the queen. She wasn't completely sure of her feelings towards the courageous vulpine when she first met him but now she knew. She had fallen for him, but she didn't want to let him know her feelings till she was ready. Besides, he still had his own feelings to sort out still.
She snapped out of her day dreaming and shook her head. "I don't want to keep Fox waiting do I?" she said to herself before dropping the towel and going over to closet and clothes rack. Stepping back into her jump suit was kind of out of the question for now. She sighed as she opened the closet door. "Only army regulation clothes I see. Well, I guess it's better than putting that sweaty jump suit back on." She said reaching into the closet and pulling a set of clothing out.
In the mess hall......
Fox and Slippy sat on one of the benches of the tables in the mess hall where a few soldiers were as well but the two were seated away from the rest. Occasionally a soldier would pass by the two and salute or congratulate the two for saving them and the rest of the Lylat system and everything else similar to the subject. They were grateful for every compliment that they had received but it was growing tiring after the last thirty or forty soldiers. This was why they worked alone, but still on the side of the Cornerian army and of course for the good of the Lylat system.
"Geez Slippy do you ever think they'll let us be for one minute?" Fox said with his head propped up on the table by an elbow, his other paw idly tracing the ring of glass he had been drinking from.
"Don't be so mean Fox. They're just showing their appreciation. Besides what else do you expect from everyone after just saving the entire Lylat system?"
"I guess you're, right..." Fox sighed rolling his eyes.
Just then Krystal stepped into the hall, her eyes scanning the room back and forth looking for Fox, and sign of any other of the team members.
Fox blinked as he saw Krystal enter the hall, he was about to call her over when he stopped, his mouth slack open as he saw what Krystal was wearing. It was very obvious that what she was wearing was the regulation clothing for recruits of the Cornerian army. This included combat boots, a pair of camouflage khaki pants that looked like they had way too many pockets, and the same for the vest which covered a pure white tank top. All of it contrasted well with her azul fur.
Finally spotting both fox and Slippy she smiled and headed their way. She was embarrassed wearing the clothes she was. They just weren't her style really, but evidently Fox liked them judging by the expression on his face as she came closer to get a closer look at him. As she approached the two twirled a little.
"What do you think guys? Not my style at all, huh?" she said with a fake frown on her muzzle
"No, no, no, you look great Krystal. You look, um, really good." Fox said blushing through his fur, the inside of his ears burning with embarrassment.
"Yeah, Krystal, you look just like a Cornerian soldier." Slippy smiled and laughed at Fox's obvious discomfort.
"Thank you boys." Krystal said smiling and chuckling in her own way at the fox's shyness. "Have you two eaten already? I wasn't too long was I?"
"No, actually, we were waiting for you." Fox said getting to his feet along with Slippy.
Krystal frowned a bit furrowing her brow. "Where are the others? Falco, Peppy, and Beltino?"
"Dads visiting General Pepper, Falco has taken off on his own as usual, wouldn't be surprised if you found him in the gym somewhere, and Peppy went to go check on how the Arwing's are coming along on repairs and not to mention over see the plans of rebuilding the Great Fox. Everyone else is busy too, it's just us three." Slippy said scratching the back of his head in slight annoyance that everyone wasn't there.
"Oh I see, I hope they finish the Great Fox soon or at least move us to some better quarters. I wasn't to keen about the rooms they gave us." Krystal said blowing a stray strand of hair out of her eye.
"Yeah no kidding, they were small compared to our old rooms, eh? At least they had their own bathrooms." Fox said with a sigh. "But oh well, I'm starving, what about you guys? Let's get something to eat." They all nodded and walked over to the serving line and got in line, engaging in some light chatter as they prepared their plates.
In the meeting room of the mechanics bay...........
"Well from the blue prints you gave us Mr. Hare, its going to take quite a bit of time to rebuild the Great Fox. We need to order supplies and not to mention fuel, and since the attack it's been harder to get a hold of both." said the head mechanic to the old hare.
The mechanic was another hare like Peppy was named Gary, though very much younger than himself. His build was that of what you would expect of a mechanic. Strong but not overly built with muscle, fur dirty here and there and his clothes had several oil stains in them.
Peppy sighed and shook his head. "Well how long to you think it might take Gary?"
"Well, I want to say four or five Cornerian months, but judging on demand it might take even longer." The hare said taking off the cap he was wearing to scratch an itch on his forehead. "Sorry about the inconvenience, but if the apariods hadn't attacked Corneria I suppose it would have gotten done in a week or two."
"That's all right Gary," the old rabbit nodded scratching the back of his neck "just keep me updated on when the shipments and supplies come in. I'd like to oversee the construction myself.
"Sure thing Mr. Hare, will do." Gary smiled
"Oh and Gary?"
"Yes, Mr. Hare?"
"Call me Peppy."
"Oh, sure thing Mr...I mean Peppy." the mechanic corrected himself and saluted him.
The old hare laughed a little and saluted the younger buck before going off to check on the Arwings.
Back in the hall right outside of the mess hall........
"Wow, that was pretty good considering that was army food." Slippy said patting his stomach, completely full at this point. "What do you think, eh Fox?"
"Probably one of the best meals I've had in long time." Fox said leaning back and stretching his arms.
"I have to say that was very good as well." Krystal said with a sigh of content.
"Boy oh boy, after eating that much I could use a good nap. What about you guys?" Slippy said at the same time stretching his arms and yawning a little.
Krystal smiled but shook her head at Slippy, "Hehe, no thanks Slippy, I think I've had enough sleep for one day."
"That's for sure." Fox chuckled along with Krystal.
"Well okay, but I'm going to hit the sack." Slippy smiled at fox and gave him a wink, hidden to Krystal. "I'll see you two later!"
With that the young frog slipped down an adjacent corridor off towards to living quarters. Holding a hand up behind him in good bye. And Fox and Krystal were left alone walking down the hall. There was a small awkward silence before Krystal finally spoke up.
"So Fox...what shall we do. I'm sure we're both rested fairly well, and we've eaten. Is there anything to do in this place?" Krystal said playfully nudging him.
"Well, what do you feel like doing? There's the gym, the shooting range, or I'm fairly sure our Arwings should be fueled up if you want to take a nice flight out in the afternoon sky?" fox said still with a little nervousness in his voice.
"Oooh, being a little romantic aren't we fox?" Krystal said with a hint of sultriness in her voice. "Hehe, that sounds lovely but before we do I wouldn't relieving some stress on a few moving targets at the range. You up for it."
Fox couldn't really say no to that, its hard to unwind after a long battle such as the one they just fought. A few targets here and there would be nice.
"Sure Krystal, I'm up for it!"
"Let's go then!"
The base was pretty huge and it took them a decent ten minute walk to get to the shooting range area. Once inside they walked up to the counter were a female feline had her feet propped up on the counter and her nose buried in a magazine of sorts. Fox didn't catch what she was reading but by the way she reacted as he cleared his throat to get her attention it must have been something she didn't want anyone to see.
As Fox cleared his throat, Jenny, the shooting range attendant, swiftly sat up with a start and threw the magazine in an open drawer and shut it immediately. There was more than a noticeable blush in her cheeks through her white fur.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did we startle you?" Krystal said a bit concerned.
"It's okay; I just didn't hear you come in. I was a little busy with something." the calico cat said a bit nervously. "We haven't had that many soldiers come in awhile, ever since the aparoid attack. Wait a second..." the cat said holding a finger at the, two arching a brow at them for a second, a look of deep thought in her expression. Then with an excited smile on face she said "You're members of the Star Fox team aren'tcha?
Fox rolled his eyes, "Here we go again.." he thought to himself.
"Yes, yes we are, and this here's the leader." Krystal said smiling at the calico as she grabbed Fox's arm despite his hesitant protests as she hugged herself to him. Making Fox blush even more than he did a little while ago, scratching the back of his head.
"Wow, it's a pleasure to meet you two! I'm Jenny, I run this little outfit here." the calico said holding out her arms to the surrounding walls, which were covered in an assortment of Blasters, guns, and ammunition of all sorts. "What can I do for you guys. If there's anything you need or want to try out, it's on me!"
"Oh? Why thank you erm, Jenny was it? That's very kind of you!"
"It's the least I can do for the saviors of the Lylat system. Please help yourself to what you like. It's not like these blasters are getting much use anyways."
"Thank you again, Jenny." Fox said this time, finally speaking up after recovering from the small cuddle that Krystal had given him.
Both of the vulpines' gazed about the room, so many guns and yet so little time to try each and every one out. One particular blaster caught Fox's eyes. It was a model he had not seen before, reaching towards it and picking it off the shelf, he held in his hands. It was light, not like his trusty hand-blaster. The barrel was slightly longer too.
"Ah, I see you like that model. We got it in just before the invasion." Jenny said watching Fox fondle and flip the blaster in his hand.
"Yeah, it's lighter than my own, not to mention it looks like it's built for long distances." He said twirling the blaster by its trigger ring. "How long is its battery life?
"The company it came from said that battery in that certain blaster can last well over 400,000 shots fired. Not to mention its charge shot capability is a lot stronger than normal."
"How much stronger?" Fox said with a cocked eyebrow in interest.
"Why don't you see for yourself. Follow me." the calico coming out from behind the counter and pulling a key out of her pocket unlocked a side door of the room. Opening it, she ushered the two inside.
Meanwhile in the arwing hanger.....
Peppy walked into the arwing hanger and looked around, there didn't seem to be any sign of anyone in the spacious hanger. It was completely silent except for the soft buzzing noise of the air cooling system.
"Hello?" the old hare called out. "Is anyone around, I came by to check on how the arwings are doing." He paused and listened, but no answer greeted him.
He began to walk towards where the arwings were lined up in a row, each of them were lined in a way where pointing in a diagonal direction in relevance to the rooms angles. They were fairly close to each other as well. The wings of each where nearly touching the hull of the next.
Since it seemed no one was around to give him a report on how the arwings were doing he decided to inspect them on his personal basis. He walked down the line looking at each one with expertise, occasionally checking spots here and there for anything out of the ordinary. When he got to Krystal's ship he noticed something strange. The cargo hold was open and underneath it were a couple of prying tools and other various tools scattered underneath the hull.
Peppy "hmm'd" a bit as he walked closer. "Maybe they took off on break and left the equipment here to continue later." He said to himself rubbing his chin in thought. Stepping even closer he managed a look inside of the cargo hold. Empty. Peppy shrugged and stood back up, about to turn around when he felt a paw land on his shoulder.
"Whoa!" the old hare said turning around and reaching for his side arm.
"Hey, hey, calm down old man. Its just me." came the steady and always cool voice of Falco.
"Jeez, Falco, you scared the wits out of me." the old hare panted as he calmed down. "What are you doing in here?"
"I came to see how the arwings were doing. I wanted to go for a spin. Its waaay to boring in this old base. A guy can't find any entertainment." He said with a smirk on his beak cocking his head backwards.
"Well as for how they're doing I'm not sure whether or not they're completely ready. Of course I can't find the mechanic crew anywhere, I suppose they went out on a break for now."
"Feh, bunch of slackers." the avian chuckled. "I'll just check and see how my arwing is doing myself then." he said before walking over to his arwing and pushing a couple of buttons on a small panel. The cockpit opened and a step ladder was produced for him to use. Hopping up into the cockpit Falco sat down and immediately started to press button on the panel to bring to idle spaceship to life.
"What the hell....?" Falco said suddenly.
"What is it, Falco? Anything wrong?" Peppy said walking over to the side of the arwing.
"My fuel has been drained...there was at least half a dozen fuel cells left when we landed these things." Falco said holding his hands up in the air.
"Hmm, that is strange indeed. I don't think the mechanics would drain them just to work on them. Hmm, perhaps there's a leak.." Peppy said moving over to the fuel tank injector, tapping a few controls near it, bringing up a small holographic image of all four tanks. They were completely empty for sure but there were no signs of a leak in any of the tanks. "Hmm, this is very odd. Check the flight log Falco, see if the engines have been started since they've been landed."
"No go Pops, these things haven't moved at all, still showing the exact time we landed them."
"Hmm, let's check the other arwings and see if the same thing has happened to them as well..."
Sure enough, the two checked all of the ships. Each one completely drained of its fuel. And none of them showing any signs of leakage.
"Hmm, this is very odd. I'll go have a talk with Gary and tell him whets happened. The other mechanics still haven't showed up either. This just doesn't seem right."
"I know what you mean Pops, I'll see if anyone has seen them and I'll see if I can't get their butts in here and explain what's happening."
"Okay Falco, you do that. I'll go tell the others what has happened as well."
With that the two went their separate ways. Something was going on and they intended on finding out just what or who it was.
Back at the shooting range
KKKKSSSHHhhhhhheeeewwwwwwwwww.....
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMmmmmmmmmm
"Wow, you weren't kidding, this thing is powerful." came Fox's a little over exhilarated voice after he had just shot a target off in the distance of the shooting range.
The shooting range was much like a long indoor field where rails and various other mechanic devices had been built into the walls, floor and ceiling. All of which produced several holographic but tangible targets susceptible only to blaster fire.
"I told ya. That things got one hell of a kick to its fire."
Ksheeeww Ksheeew Ksheeew
Three more targets received the blaster fire and exploded into tiny pixels which quickly reformed and began moving again.
"Fox, don't hog all the fun, let me try it." Krystal said nudging fox a bit with her elbow. She was getting a bit annoyed with him. He obviously had a thing for fire power, and it shifted his focus like she wasn't even there.
"Oh, um, sure Krystal. Do you know how to use it?" Fox said a little embarrassed at getting so carried away and held the gun out to the blue vixen.
"Do I know how to use it?" Krystal said with a mocking tone and a smirk.
In an instant, she had snatched the blaster from Fox's hands and twirled it twice on her finger, clicking the safety out of place, and went to town. Firing away at every target she saw.
Ksheeew Booom Ksheww Booom Ksh Boom Boom
Was all that Fox and the Calico feline had heard before they turned back to the range to see nothing but a cloud of blue translucent pixels floating around. Some of the pixels reformed but were soon shattered once more into a blue haze. But out of the haze they could make out one small little target left, it zoomed around apparently afraid of getting hit and tried to run and hide.
"Does that..." Krystal had turned to the two, her gun arm still pointed out into the range as it fired one last time, shattering the little target into pieces."...answer your question?" Krystal said pulling her arm back and twirling the smoking blaster in her paw before stopping it and pulled the barrel up to her lips, blowing softly at the smoke billowing out.
Fox was in awe, he knew Krystal was good with a blaster, but not THIS good. His jaw was slacked, as well as Jenny's. Both of their eyes wide with wonder.
"K-Krystal, when did you learn to shoot like that?" Fox finally spoke up
"You should know, Fox, you've used my staff before. It's not much different than this blaster. Back on Sauria, I was the guardian, I had to defend it from all harm." Krystal said clicking the safety back in place and holding it out to Fox, who took it hesitantly. "I was known for my accuracy and the dinosaurs always challenged me to hit something. Like blue mushrooms they couldn't quite reach on their own."
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"You never asked, Fox." Krystal chuckled a little.
"Well, I, er...You've got me there Krystal." He smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"That was some might fancy shooting there Miss Krystal. I'm pretty good myself, but I've never managed to get every single target out there at once." Jenny finally spoke up.
"Thank you Jenny, and please just call me Krystal."
After a couple more hours of shooting and trying out different weapons, Krystal and Fox, finally decided it was time to leave. They said their good byes to Jenny, whom told them they were welcome back any time they wanted and even offered if Fox wanted to keep the blaster he liked so much. He declined for now since he knew he wouldn't be needing it for a long time to come.
As the two walked once again down the halls of the underground base alone, Krystal reminisced what it was like again back on Sauria, before what happened with General Scales and Andross. It was very peaceful there and nothing much ever happened to her. And though she loved it, there was never anything to do, so when Fox and his team came to help save the planet, she jumped at the chance to leave with them, knowing the planet was in good shape in the hands of the Queen, King, and Prince Tricky.
"Speaking of Tricky, Fox." Krystal said raising an eyebrow and turning her head to look at Fox who did the same. "Remember what we were talking about after we had saved Sauria?"
"Umm, a little yeah, what about it?" It didn't hit him what she was talking about till his eyes met hers.
There was a gentle smile across her muzzle, and a bit of longing in her eyes, as Krystal stared back into his green eyes.
"There's something I've been wanting to tell you...." She said lowering her head a bit.
"What is it Krystal?" Fox felt his cheeks flushing, he knew something big was coming, and he knew he wasn't prepared for it. He was starting to get nervous again.
"I....I.." Krystal started out, trying to get out the words her heart had been telling her for so long to tell him. "Fox, ever since you saved me from the prison that General Scales put me in back when Sauria was in danger. I've always been so grateful to you but never showing how I feel truly. I've been giving you subtle hints every now and then but I guess, it would just be easier for me to say it..."
Fox definitely knew what was coming, but he was stuck, his eyes were locked with hers. He knew his feelings for her, but never could bring himself to tell her.
"Fox, I-"
"There you two are!"
Krystal didn't get to finish what she was about to say when they heard Peppy's voice call out to them. The two of them turning towards the old hare who stumbled to them. The interruption made Fox sigh in relief.
"What is it Peppy?" Fox said, still flushed from the near intimate moment with Krystal, but calming down now.
"I've been looking for you two all over the base." The old hare said as he panted as he reached the two, looking between them. "Oh, I'm sorry, was I interrupting anything?"
"Umm, not at all Peppy. What is it?" Krystal said calming herself down as well.
"Phew, well, it seems someone or something has drained the fuel cells in all of your arwings, not to mention, a couple of mechanics have gone missing and haven't showed up at all today. Their quarters have been checked they still can't find them."
"Are you sure they just didn't just leave the base to have a day off or something?" Fox said folding his arms and raising a brow.
"No, we've checked video footage of all the exits and there hasn't been a sign of them. And not just that-"
Suddenly, Peppy was interrupted by the sound of the loud speaker that broadcasted throughout the whole base.
"PEPPY HARE, PLEASE REPORT TO GENERAL PEPPER'S QUARTERS IMMEDIATLY. PEPPY HARE, PLEASE REPORT TO GENERAL PEPPER'S QUARTERS."
To Be Continued...
Sorry guys, nothing juicy this time *laughs manically before looking around* You guys aren't going to kill me are you? Hehe, oh well, there needed to be some story and tension build up before anything sexual happens again. You guys will just have to wait, again. Again Sorry *shrugs his shoulders*