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Shattered

Chapter IV

They sat in the conference room after the video had faded to black. The room was silent as they tried to grasp the reality of the humans situation. "So that's what happened, I am the last of my people." Alexander sighed sadly.

General Pepper focused on him. "I, on behalf of the cornerian people offer my condolences, and I personally would like to commend your valorous efforts."

"Thank you sir, but I failed my people. I was supposed to get them out of there, because I didn't my entire race is gone. When I die so will my species." Alexander said quietly. He looked distraught as he sat in his chair. He clearly had no one or anything left. "I don't even know what to do anymore. I had no family left, they were converted into those things many years ago. The army was my family after that, and now I don't even have them. What do I do now?"

Krystal's heart bled for him. She lost everything when her planet was destroyed. She knew what it was like to be alone, to be the only one. She was about to suggest something when Pepper spoke.

"Well son, I don't know what it's like to lose everything to something like that, but if you need something to do you can join the cornerian army. We could use a soldier like you. Of course we would have to run some tests and what not before you would be cleared, but if you did pass I would be honored to have you."

"Like me? I failed my duty. Why would you want me?"

"You displayed conduct befitting of a good soldier and a will to keep going no matter the circumstances. We need more men like that." Pepper said seriously.

The human looked deep in thought, no doubt trying to puzzle out what he should do now. Fox was studying him closely. From what he saw he was brave and an excellent soldier. Someone that the starfox team could use. Fox also noticed how intensely Krystal was looking at him. She was obviously interested in him. With that in mind fox came to a decision. "General if I may, I have an idea."

Pepper stopped taking to the human. "What would that be Fox?"

"What if, if he agrees of course, he were to join Starfox?"

Pepper thought about it. "I don't have a problem with that, is that what you would like?" He asked Alexander.

He answered after a moment. "I don't want to be rude, but could I have a day to think about it? This is all going very fast. I was fighting monsters less then a day ago, and now I'm in some different place with people I have never seem before."

"Of course you can! How about I get some of my men to take you to an available room where you can rest?" Pepper said.

"That would be appreciated sir. I would also like to request that my handgun be returned. After it's...malfunction I would like to fix it." Alexander replied.

"Alright I'll see what I can do." Pepper pressed something on the wrist of his red and yellow uniform. Seconds later two armored huskies with strange looking rifles walked in from a side door. "Sergeant." Pepper called to one of them. Their ears perked up when they were called. "Please escort Alexander here to the open quarters on level 7, and on the way stop by the armory and return his pistol to him."

"Yes sir!" They said unanimously. The one on the left, a malamute, turned to Alexander "if you would follow us sir, we will take you now."

"Alright then." The human said as he got up from his seat near the door. He turned to the occupants of the room. " it was nice meeting you all I shall think on your offers." Alexander then followed the two huskies out of the room.

The room was quiet until Pepper spoke, "so Fox what do you think of all this?"

"Well sir, I think that his man has lost everything. I don't want to sound crude, but I think we should put him on suicide watch." Fox said bluntly.

"I agree, in most cases I have heard after people suffer extreme loss survivor guilt sets in. Which leads to most committing or attempting to commit suicide. So for that reason and that one alone we will be monitoring his room tonight. It also might help if someone were to stay with him. Perhaps someone who he can relate to?"

"I...I can sir." A voice said hurriedly. They turned to see the owner of the voice. It was Krystal. She looked decidedly nervous at all the attention. Falco was smirking from his seat across from her. "...I mean..uh I know what's it's like so....uh, I would be the logical choice!" She said quickly.

"I see no problem with that." Pepper said, "just ask one of the guards to show to his room when you are ready."

"Okay." She said meekly.

Alexander followed the guards as they walked down the hallways. "Uh...excuse me sir?" The other husky, a Siberian, said hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Uh...where are you from?"

"I'm from a very far away place. A place I hope you will never have to see." Alexander replied cryptically.

"Oh...okay then, so where are the rest of you?" The huskies were in front so they did not see his pained expression.

"They...are gone."

"Where did they go?" The ignorant dog asked.

"Nowhere."

The husky turned around confused. "What does that mean?"

"How about we hurry up and get to the armory?" The Malamute said to the innocent looking dog. He obviously understood what Alexander was implying.

"Oh...right let's get going!" The younger dog said before picking up his pace. Alexander gave a thankful nod to the older guard who just returned it and followed after the rapidly disappearing Siberian.

Alexander followed after them thinking that this was not going to be easy. Two minutest later they arrived at the armory. When Alexander walked in he could see a few cornerians in lab coats standing around a table. The most likely scientists were practically drooling over his broken gun. They had obviously never seen such an advanced slug thrower. Impatient he walked up to one of them and tapped him on the back.

The rabbit scientist sounded annoyed as he turned to face the interruption. "Excuse me, can't y...." The brown rabbit froze mid lecture. His muzzle was hanging open and his long floppy ears were laid out flat on his head almost blocking his blue eyes from view. His silence caused the others to investigate. When they all looked over they had similar expressions.

"Yes I was wondering if I could have my weapon back?" Alexander asked. He theorized that the only reason the egg heads weren't panicking was the fact that the two guards behind him were unalarmed by his presence, and Pepper had told everyone on base about him, but they probably did not think they would ever see him.

"Well...uh sir, I would like to study it more. It is a most fascinating weapon." The lapine's face lit up suddenly with an idea. "Maybe sir you could explain some of its workings to us?" He asked hopefully.

Alexander was hesitant to show anyone human technology. After a minute he scoffed internally. There was no one left that would object. "I suppose I could."

The scientist and his fellows were ecstatic. "Thank you sir! Your contribution to science will not be forgotten!"

"Yeah well...uh your welcome. Moving along what you are seeing here is the x-37 Sagittata. It was a relatively new weapon, having only been made a few years ago. It is different from other revolvers. This is because in fact it's cylinder is also its ammunition."

The scientists looked confused. "Allow me to explain, the cylinder is a block of tungsten carbide and steel. These elements are fused together to create a very potent combination."

"How does it work?" A geeky looking ferret asked.

"The block of metal is inserted into the weapon which becomes its cylinder." He points to the handguns cylinder. The weapon was sitting on the table. "The weapon then chips the slab of metal takes the shard and flings it out of the barrel at lethal velocity. "

"How large is the magazine?"

"The cylinder can contain anywhere from one hundred and fifty to two hundred shards."

"Amazing!" Another of the cornerians said, an eagle. "If we could harness this for ourselves soldiers could carry more ammo into battle!"

"That one you would have to figure out yourselves."

"Why?" The bunny asked.

"We never got the chance to adapt it to larger firearms."

"Oh...well in any case the cornerian science community thanks you for your assistance in this manner." The rabbit said gratefully.

"Your welcome, just because my people are gone does not mean our technology should perish alongside us." Alexander said somewhat sadly.

"Your people are gone?" The rabbit asked. Clearly Not everyone knew of his plight.

"Yes they were wiped out by a...plague." He said slowly.

The Siberian's ears twitched. He must have heard Alexander's explanation.

"I am truly sorry to hear that...?" The rabbit's unspoken question was answered.

"Alexander, Alexander Von Jäger."

"That is a interesting name."

"My family was from a place called Germany." He explained. "I don't know much about it though. I never had the chance to go there."

"Well then Alexander I hope to meet you again." The lapine said as he grabbed the pistol and returned it to its owner.

Alexander grabbed it and placed it in its holster on his waist. "So do I doctor....?" Alexander copied the rabbit.

"Doctor Adam Garullo." The rabbit stuck his paw out in a apparently universal gesture.

"It was nice meeting you doctor Adam." Alexander shook his paw. "May we cross paths once more."

Alexander after saying his goodbyes left flanked by the two guards. They walked down many corridors before coming across an elevator. The malamute pressed a button on the side and seconds later the metal doors slid open. The group stepped inside and Alexander could see one of them press the number seven. 'Strange I have come to a different place where they speak the same language and use the same mathematical system. The chances of that happening, and my arrival are simply astronomical,' he thought to himself. The doors opened and they entered yet another corridor. Although this time the Siberian decided to start talking.

"Mr. Alexander sir?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to apologize for my insensitive questioning earlier, it was completely unprofessional."

"Don't worry about it," he looked at the dog's id, "corporal Matthew. You had no idea so you were not at fault."

"Either way I just wanted to speak my mind."

"If it makes you feel better you are forgiven."

The dog looked relieved. "That's good to hear."

That's when the other dog, Alexander saw that his id said sergeant O'Malley, began talking. "Sir we are at your room."

Alexander saw that they had stopped outside a door. "So we are."

"This is where we take our leave." The sergeant said. "Farewell sir." He then headed back to the elevator, but the younger one hung back a little longer.

"It was nice meeting you sir."

"As it was for me to meet you. Thank you for showing me to my room. I have had a very long and strange day. I think I will need to rest awhile."

"Alright then sir, have a good day." Matthew ran to catch up to his sergeant.

Alexander watched them until the elevator door closed. Then he opened the door and entered the room they gave him.

The room was sparsely decorated, unsurprising considering it was on a military base. He took a little while to get acquainted with his new accommodations. Once he had figured out where everything was i.e closet, bathroom, bed, and table. He could only assume since there was no window that he was deep underground. Satisfied with his observational skills he then walked over to he table.

Unknown to him he was being monitored by Pepper and Starfox. They watched as he moved his wrist over the table and entered a button combination into his right wrist device. They watched in fascination as an outfit materialized onto the table. Once that was done he pressed another combination of buttons on the inside of his armor'a clavicle. There was a hiss of escaping air as the heavily armored suit broke up into segments while still holding its basic shape. Once that was done he exited through the back. He was now wearing an almost skintight undersuit that was black. The man was surprisingly muscular, his definition showed through the suit. They noticed that the rig was still connected to him and it was glowing a healthy shade of blue.

Fox saw the white furred spots on Krystal's muzzle pinken slightly, it made him smile knowingly. He heard a sound come from the screen and turned back to it. The door to the bathroom had closed and the outfit on the table was now gone. A few minutes later Alexander stepped out of the bathroom in his new apparel. He was now wearing black combat boots, black pants, a red shirt with black tribal markings, a leather jacket, black tactical gloves, and a black military cap with a logo on the visor that could not be seen all that well. Clearly the man was a fan of the color black Fox concluded.

Alexander then griped the heavy armor and pulled it to the side of the room, but not before taking the wrist modules and pistol holster and attaching them to his new clothes. They heard him humph satisfied with his efforts so far and go back to the table. He used them again and a little toolkit appeared on the table. He drew his revolver from it's holster and set it on the table. Alexander then opened the little tool case and started to tinker with the gun. In little time it looked like he had found out what was wrong with it and fixed it in short order. He pulled it up inserted the cylinder and spun the thing without any problems making the man nod to himself.

Then they watched worriedly as he began to intently stare at the newly repaired gun. Fox and Pepper started to think that maybe, giving a man who had attempted to kill himself earlier a gun, was a bad idea. They looked on as he stared at it for a long time before sighing and putting it back on the table, making the viewers all let out a collective sigh of relief, even Falco had, and he never did things like that.

"I guess I should go talk to him now." Krystal announced as she stood up.

"Okay Krys, we'll see you in a bit." Fox said. He then turned off the screen and got up. "Pepper and I have to sort things out anyways."

She said her goodbyes to the team and left the room. After asking a guard for directions she found herself outside his door. She was hesitant to knock. For some reason she was nervous. She didn't know why but she pushed through and rapped on the door softly.

Alexander was sitting at a table. Having just fixed his revolver, the inside mechanism for the conversion of the shards into deadly projectiles was jammed, he had no idea what to do now. He contemplated shooting himself and he almost did earlier, but there was something that he couldn't quite decipher that prevented him. After a minute he decided that the military would be the way to go. Maybe he'll die on some mission and won't have to worry about anything anymore.

He sat there for a few minutes until he heard a gentle knock on his door. Getting up he went over to the door and opened it slowly. Standing there was the beautiful blue vixen from that Fox guy's team. She was in a conservative blue and black uniform with small armor plates and she had a stick like object strapped to her waist. Her eyes were a sparkling sea green that complimented her blue and white fur. He noticed that he was allot taller then her. He stared at her for awhile before remembering his manners. You couldn't blame the guy it's not every day a blue fox women knocks on your door. "Hello miss...Krystal, how can I help you?"

She looked incredibly nervous. It made him feel bad that it was probably his fault. "Uh...yes...uh I came to...uh talk to you." She said weakly.

"Of course come on in." He gestured for her to enter. She walked in hesitantly as he pulled a seat out for her. "Please sit."

"Thank you." She replied as she sat down in he seat and he pushed it in for her. "You're so polite." She commented.

"Yes well my mother always taught me to be polite and kind to ladies, no matter what."

"Your mother sounded like a great women."

"She was, she taught me everything I know. I will miss her dearly." Alexander said sadly.

"I'm sorry about your people and family, I know what's it's like to lose everything." Krystal said knowingly.

"Really?" Alexander asked intrigued.

"Yes, my people were not cornerians."

"Is that why you are blue?"

"Correct I am a Cerinian. From the dead world, Cerinia."

"Dead world? It was destroyed?"

"It was destroyed by a evil primate called Andross."

Alexander frowned deeply. "I am truly sorry to hear that, I wish that I could have been there to stop it."

This baffled Krystal. This man was more concerned about her then himself. This made her feel a certain warmth inside. No one besides fox had ever really shown that level of care. And fox was more of a brother to her.

"Why would you want to?"

At this he really looked depressed and Krystal felt terrible for asking. "I failed my people so maybe I could have helped another's."

"It wasn't your fault. I saw you fight against those things. You did all you could and more. That's all that could have been asked of you." She tried to placate him.

"In the end it does not matter, they're gone." They sat in silence. Noticing that this was not the way to go about this Alexander switched tactics. "So anyways why don't you tell me about yourself."

Krystal smiled, she was glad to be on a different topic. "Okay, well I was born and raised on my home planet and after it's destruction I went to find the one responsible. During my search I heard a distress call from a planet called Sauria. Shortly after I arrived I was captured. Only much later was I rescued by Fox, who as it turned out was fighting the one responsible for my planets destruction. Once Andross was defeated I decided to join Starfox. Since then we have been doing small missions for General Pepper. And that's my story."

"Interesting, and I guess it's only fair that I tell you mine." Alexander said.

"Only if you want to." Krystal said kindly.

"No, it's alright I can tell you." He took a minute to collect his thoughts. "I was born on a planet called Tython V. I spent most of my youth there with my mother and sister. Life was rough as our father had died fighting rebels forcing my mom to work many jobs. In order to help with the bills I dropped out of school and joined the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces, or S.C.A.F at fifteen. A year later the marker war started. I fought those things for two years before we tried to run away from them. My family did not make it. I lived the next four years on the Phoenix space station before the attack, and now here I am"

Krystal nodded "sounds like a harrowing life."

"Indeed it was, but I'm not complaining, I escaped where as everyone else did not."

"Well I'm glad you did." Krystal said.

Alexander smiled at her sadly. "I'll be honest with you I was not set on living very long after that." Hearing that made her frown. "But I think now it won't be so bad."

The spent a hour or so talking about small things. It almost made him forget he was the only human left, and he was now on a planet with walking talking animals. Eventually she said she was tired and so Alexander led her to the door.

"It was nice talking to you Krystal."

She smiled broadly, causing the tips of her sharp pointy teeth to appear faintly. "It was a pleasure talking with you as well Alexander. I hope you consider Fox's offer I would like to work with you."

"Truth be told I was planning to join the military. That's what my life was." She looked sad. Her ears started to droop and her tail was limp. "But after talking with you I think I will take his offer."

She immediately perked up. "Really! That's great!"

"Yeah I think so to, goodnight Krystal."

"Goodnight Alexander." After saying her goodbyes she left and disappeared down the hallway.

He closed the door after she left and walked back to his bed. He sat down and smiled to himself. 'Maybe things won't be so bad."