From Ringshadow Date: 11 Apr 1999 Okay! ~grin!~ Thanks. This is the next one in my High Class Soldiers series...a lot of stuff that happened in the 'Magic Vision' (which is posted), is mentioned here. Sorry if it's a bit confusing. Also, remember Invasion? Well I'm playing with a sequel. Combat Artist "Emperor, by ordering us to retreat, we've lost O'Donnel and Powalski!" Protested Sorceress. "I'm aware of that." Andrew replied, looking out the window. Both stood on the observation deck of the Super Destroyer Vengance. "Sir, I..." "Quiet, Commander Night." He said quietly, turning to face her. "Both were my friends, but I lost too many pilots fighting that mercenary group. While I dislike leaving O'Donnel and Powalski for dead, you must understand that I am thinking in terms of my pilots on the whole. I do not wish them dead." "Yes, sir." She said begrudgingly, obviously angry. "Sorceress. They were my friends also. But right now I think in terms of my pilot squads. I lost 63 pilots in an attempt to revenge two friends, an attempt that failed. You MUST understand that I did this for the better of the entire Venom Military. Do you understand?" She nodded, calming down slightly. "Whoever's down there has something we didn't expect, but upon hearing that they were using ships, I should have pulled them back. Energy sheilds can't block bullets and shrapnel. I was a fool, and did not act fast enough. In the mean time, that's in the past now. I want to focus on seeing if we can win this war. And I want your opinion on it." She decided that he was better then Andross as a leader. At least he cared enough for his men to know when to pull back. "I don't think we'll ever win aerial attacks, sir. They're too well prepared for that, and your uncle proved that fact." "True. So what do you suggest?" "I suggest ground invasions, planet by planet. I don't think spreading out system-wide is a good idea." "A good thought. But the ground troops need training, and that will take three months." "Lylat can be distracted sir. I have an idea about how to keep them busy during those three months, and I think I know a peaceful place where you can get some decent training." "Continue, Sorceress." "How goes construction Beltino?" Mary looked up at the hull of her ship. It was a Capital Ship, larger then the Great Fox, barely fitting in the construction hanger. What had been a skeleton of metal a month ago was covered in metal plating, showing a slightly hammer headed design and large engines. Though it was going to be privately owned, the ship had too many guns and too large of engines to be considered a simple personal transport. "Fast. My builders were quite willing to work on your ship. Said it was a nice change from military orders." "Well, and toss in that I'm paying everyone who works on my ship a thousand-dollar bonus..." Beltino wordlessly grinned. "Sir, we've got the floors set up and the computer equipment is going in as we speak." Said one of the workers, coming up. "Great, Danny. Keep up the good work. Oh, do you mind if Ms. Frances and I take a look around inside?" "Go ahead, but wear hard hats." "I have to say I am most impressed." Mary remarked, walking through the still-being-constructed corridors. "And pleased." "Hey I said that if you said jump we'd say how high." Beltino replied. "You're just interested in the money." "Partly." He admitted freely. "A thousand dollars is nice. But I also enjoy my job, Ms. Frances." A cell phone rang, and Mary had to search her assorted pockets to find it. "Yeah?" "You hear?" The voice of Mary's informer, Eva Shadowwalker, inquired. "All satellites in Lylat are destroyed. Venom's suspected but no one can prove it." "Damn! Thanks for telling me!" "No problem." Click. She sighed and hung up. "Trouble. Venom may be starting things again." "Trouble for you, more work for me." "Money grubber." "Hired murderer." He shot back. "Kerlruit?" One of the Generals asked, raising both eyebrows. "This insanity, as you've already called it, is so simple." Andrew replied, standing and leaning on the table, regarding the eight Generals seated. "We've already agreed that an air attack will fail. So we need to attack from the ground, and to do that, we need better trained men. Correct?" "We've already reached that, yes." One said impatiently. "Well. Fighting on the ground isn't just about walking around with a gun." Said another. "I mean, I'm in command of the ground units, I should know! In spite of what you think, I agree with Andrew...oops, sir. How do you want to be addressed?" Andrew sighed. "Go ahead and use my first name, or sir. Emperor still makes me look for my Uncle." Snickers rose from some of the Generals. "Quiet." He ordered. "Thanks for agreeing with me, General Moore. Continue, if you wish." "As I was saying, it's not just walking around with a gun. You've got to have some experience in a lot of things, including tactics and most importantly hand-to-hand combat. We don't have any good trainers here, and Kerlruit is an excellent choice to get the men trained." "What makes you say so?" Demanded General Williams. "Simple. Nonaffiliated. Famous for hand-to-hand combat. Nonbiased." "Famous all right, they hold Mortal Kombat yearly!" "General Williams." Andrew said quietly. "Kerlruit doesn't have war as we think of it. Their Championship is the replacement of war there. Twelve countries each put in ten fighters. The country whose fighter comes out on top rules the planet for the following year, when the Championship is fought again, and they may loose or keep ruling status." "How do you know that sir?" "I looked into it recently. A show of hands, please. Who here thinks it's a good idea to get our ground troops professionally trained?" After a few minutes thought, all hands went up, including a reluctant General Williams. "General Moore is the only General who will accompany the troops. The rest will remain here. Training will take about three months, and in that time, we've got to keep Lylat busy without loosing our men." "And just how do you plan to do that?" "Commander Night?" He gestured for the female avian to come forward. "Would you care to explain?" "Yes, sir." "I don't get it." General Pepper looked at the report. "Why take out all of our satellites then not do anything?" "I'd tell you if I knew." Fox sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was woke up at three this morning to double-check if the satellites were truely gone, and that they were." "Have you had breakfast?" Having known Fox since he was six or so months old, the General felt partly responsible for him, and almost completely responsible for Fox's father's death. Fox gave him a bemused look. "Oh what do you think? Do you really think the President would let me stop mid-order so I could eat and get some coffee?" "No." "Right. I haven't eaten since I woke up, and it's been..." He glanced at his watch. "Eight hours. Not much to drink either." "Go take a break then, you deserve it. Everything in this report?" "Correct." "Then go eat and relax, I'll debrief the President." "He'll skin both of us alive. He wanted me to do the debriefing." "I'll deal with it. Not even the President can get what he wants full time." Fox laughed and left the room. "Welcome to Kerlruit, Lord Oikonny." Said President Granger, shaking hands with Andrew warmly. "I understand you are looking for better training for your ground troops." "Yes indeed." Andrew smiled. General Moore joined them, and also shook hands with Granger. A summer breeze kicked up as the trio walked across the runway toward a black surburban, with mud-covered tires. Andrew rose an eyebrow. "Hey, it's an all terrain vehicle." Granger got in. The chauffer rolled his eyes. Moore grinned, getting in. Andrew also got in, and closed the door. "When do you want to start this training?" Granger asked. "As soon as possible." Andrew replied simply. "I should be able to take care of that. I assume you want to see the training facilities?" "If possible, yes." "Jeremy, the training arena." Granger told the chauffer. "Yes sir." Jeremy replied. It was HUGE. The main building was the size of an enclosed baseball stadium, surrounded by large fields that appeared to be set up as some sort of training courses. Also there was some smaller buildings, what appeared to be personnel buildings. "Goodness gracious." Breathed Moore. Granger smiled as the surburban was pulled up in front of the stadium. A young man wearing a black fighting outfit came out, and warmly clasped Granger's hand. "As usual, an honor to have you here, friend." "Randy, I'd like you to meet Lord Oikonny and General Moore. They need your help." "Oh? In what way?" "Their soldiers are in need of training in combat arts. I was hoping you'd be able to help." "Well, I should be able to." Randy ran his hands through his fur thoughtfully, tail wagging slightly, then turned to Andrew and Moore. "Would you like a tour of the facilities?" "Yes, we would." Moore said eagerly. Randy led them into the arena. It was huge and circular, the floor filled with sand and raked even, or had been. Now it had been kicked up into piles and dips. Ten people in matching clothing reclined at the edge of the area, all between 15 and 18 years old. Randy whistled, two fingers in his mouth. The ten teenagers glanced up, then bounced to their feet and strode over to him. "What's up? We're just taking our breather, like you said we could." Said one, a strong-looking female silver vixen. "I know, I just want to introduce you to someone." "Oh." "These are Lord Oikonny and General Moore. I'm showing them around, and I decided it would be best to first introduce them to my best fighters." Randy turned to the two Lylatians, and introduced them to his fighters. The vixen was the team leader, Kasan. The other fighters eagerly introduced themselves, five boys and four other girls. After the tour, when Randy explained why Andrew and Moore were there, the fighters agreed to help with the training. Kasan was delighted to meet the Lylatians, and agreed to help train the ground soldiers. "One of the cruisers left late last night, warped out system." Fox yawned tiredly. "Falco caught it leaving on one of his patrols." Pepper nodded, mildly concerned over how haggard Fox looked. "Quit worrying over me." Fox growled. "I can't help but do so." Pepper patted Fox's shoulder. "Thanks for sticking with this." "The only good thing about this mission is that I'm getting paid sir." "I know, I know. Where do you think that cruiser was heading?" "Only place I can think of is Kerlruit, but why go there?" "What do you know about Kerlruit?" "Not much. But I know someone who knows quite a bit. She may be hard to find though." "Go ahead. We need her information in this too, I suppose." "Why do want to know about Kerlruit?" Mary asked, surprised. Fox explained. She sat back, rubbing her scarred arm thoughtfully, and closed her eyes. The roar of the watching crowd, the feel of the sand of the fighting arena benieth her feet, the country uniform she was wearing that was made of fine silk, the heavy professional sword she was swinging. "Mary?" She opened her eyes. "To tell that is to go back in time. It's a long story indeed." Fox nodded. "It's a story I've never told before." "I'll listen." "You've got better things to do. It would be just as easy to look it up in the databases." "The databases weren't in the Championship, Mary." "That's true." She sighed softly. "Anyone else want to hear this? I only want to tell this once, if I have to tell it at all." "Probably. May I make some calls?" "Go ahead. I've got a lot to remember." "I don't believe that you just kicked my butt." Moore was sprawled in the sand, surprised but unhurt. Kasan smiled wickedly. "I can see why your soldiers need help if you're an exceptional fighter!" "How long have you been doing this?" He replied. She pulled him to his feet. "Eight years. Started when I was nine, and I'm seventeen now." "Goodness." "It's honorable. Next championship is in five months, and I'm going to compete." "Think you'll win?" "If I do it's a great honor. If I don't, I would have died for my country. Surely you, a soldier and a General, can understand that." "Sure I can." He rubbed his ribcage absently. "If I hurt you, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." "Nah. Just nursing my ego." She laughed, and clapped him on the back. "Shuttles ho!" Cried Ciaro, standing at the open doors. "Right." Andrew went outside and watched the two shuttles circle once, dip their wings, and head for the airport. "How many we training?" Kasan walked over to him. "Currently, I only planned to train..." "How many?" "175-200." He said finally. "I was reluctant to say so many..." "We can handle it. I'm just worried that they can't." "Meaning?" "I just kicked your General's tail, Lord Oikonny. And if he's exceptional, well...it's going to be a long three months." "Ah." "To keep from rambling, I need to know what you want to know." Mary said. "Just the facts, ma'am." Falco quipped. "Smartass. You want to know about the Championship itself, right?" "Correct." General Pepper said. She sighed. "I imagine you do know some of the basics--once a year, and it's the replacement of war. There's a lot of details though..." She started trying to explain the Championship to Falco, General Pepper, and Fox. It stirred her memory up, that was for certain. It wasn't long afterward that she started having flashbacks. The shuttle went through the cloud layer and touched down at the airport. It was a medical shuttle really, but did have a few passengers. One of these was Mary. She was nervous, but Kerlruit seemed to be the only place she could think of off the top of her head that would be even remotely safe from Lightning. She doubted Lightning would think to look on Kerlruit to find her. And after all, what better place for a now immortal black belt then a planet that made a business of hand-to-hand combat? She walked down the ramp, having no possessions except what she wore, and a few hundred credits. While on Corneria she had worn the cape during her two-hour run to hide her from people's eyes, on Kerlruit she seemed to attract attention by wearing it. She swept it back and put the hood down, and confronted one of the security guards. Her question about the Kerlruit Championship and how she could receive training made him stare, stunned. "How do you expect to do that? Most train since they were eight or nine!" "I am a black belt, sir. I know quite a bit about hand-to- hand. I just wish to compete." "A Lylatian in the Championship, that'll be the day. Which country do you want to fight for?" She admitted to not knowing. He sighed. "Young lady, go across town, and find the Training Arena. Someone there will probably be able to help you." "Thanks." She left the airport. Kerlruit's current capitol didn't seem to be focused on technology, like Corneria City was. Rather, it was an open, beautiful city, then in late spring. She caught a ride on a trolley, and within fifteen minutes was at the Training Arena. The size and aura of it mildly stunned her, but she walked up the road toward the main building. What better place for a black belt, she told herself, though she was no longer certain. A man only about thirty came out and met her. "Help you?" She awkwardly explained. He circled her. "A black belt hmm? Able to use assorted weaponry? All well and good, young lady. But here little is done for a person's own glory." "I'm on the run, sir." She blurted. "I came here to hide. I don't think my hunter will come here to find me. And even if you don't want me to compete, well, I don't think there's such thing as too much training." He considered that. "I must consider this, and discuss it with my other fighters. Come, I suppose you better meet them." Andrew wished Moore luck, and left on his shuttle to return to the Lylat System. If anything, he said with poor humor to Moore, he had to keep an eye on the other Generals, and Sorceress. Moore agreed. Kasan, after winning over Moore's top ten fighters, was treated with respect. The fighters split up and each took a group, hoping to teach the soldiers the basics within a week. But Kasan's curiosity began to get to her, though she didn't say a word. Nagging doubts were always on the edge of her mind while she worked with the Venomians. To her, they were obnoxious, arrogant glory hounds. She had to struggle with them at first. But hadn't she heard something about Venom rebelling against the rest of the Lylat system and attacking it..? She pushed her doubts further out of her mind, focusing on getting her group into shape. 200 soldiers and ten people working with them meant that each fighter had to train 20 soldiers. Not a bad size really. Still, they had a lot to learn. The Venomian bombers streaked over Corneria City, dropping buster bombs and other such destructive items. But when the air force retaliated, they fell back and retreated. "Just explosives." Fox propped one foot up on a piece of rubble. "No chemical or biological agents. Hmph." "No deaths. Got a huge number of cuts and bruisers, couple concussions, a few broken bones. A subway train jumped the tracks, and a hospital lost its top floor." General Pepper took off his hat and rubbed his ears thoughtfully. "Still no successful satellite launches, by the way, though our scouts seem to think they're doing this to other planets as well. They aren't going near Aquas though." "Hmph." Fox repeated. "Ah, that was never my favorite building anyway." Falco remarked, looking up at the half-collapsed skyscraper. Katt punched his shoulder. "Lucky it's Sunday, or there would have been a lot of casualties." "That's little respect for religion." "No churches were bombed. Looks like this was precision bombing." Fara said, sliding down a piece of girder from where she had been standing on a piece of rubble. Fox caught her. "Put me down!" "Why should I?" "Will you two let up for once?!" Falco exploded. Fox rolled his eyes and set Fara down. "Since when do you have room to talk?" "INCOMING!" General Pepper shouted. A bomber streaked over head, and with a loud BOOM, the skyscraper collapsed, falling onto an empty neighboring building and taking that one out as well. "Jeez!" Fox said from the ground. "crackle...hiss....Fox?.....crackle....do you read me?" He tapped his headset. "I read you, you're breaking up though. Who's this?" "It's Bill...." The radio broke up again into a burst of ear- splitting static, making Fox wince and rub his ears. "Sorry...we had to improvise, we couldn't get a radio satellite up without those damn Venomians shooting it down as soon as it reached orbit!" More static. He waited the static out. "Hey Billy! I understand, we haven't gotten a satellite up either. But if not, how are you talking to me?" Pause. "We sent up some drones. You know, robotic planes. They move around and fire back..." CRACKLE! "So the Venomians haven't gotten them down yet. I'm using them as a relay to talk to you. By the way, is Venom trying to bomb you into oblivion?" "Damn good idea! Yes they are. Damage but no casualties. How about you?" "The same. High Schoolers are happy. No school for the next..." A burst of static cut him off. "They got the high school?" "WHAT High school? There isn't one there anymore!" Fox laughed. "Talk to you later. We need to catch up if we get some free time, Fox!" "Agreed. Clear." Fox glanced at the others. "Looks like Billy's having the same problem we are." "Hm. Wonder why they're bombing us." General Pepper rubbed his ears again, deep in thought. "Incoming bomber from 2 o'clock!" Falco shouted. A high-pitched whistle; and another skyscraper met its doom. "What the hell?! Why haven't our guys gotten them yet?!" Pepper exploded angrily. "We've gotten a few of them." Said the radio defensively. "They're so fast and maneuverable that they fly rings around us, but they have nearly no armor. If you have a problem with our progress, YOU come up here and shoot at this flying circus!" Falco laughed. "That's being grossly insubordinate, pilot." Pepper remarked. "Well sir it's the truth!" In the end, Mary was accepted into the training facility, though it wasn't said if she was going to compete or not. Though she did win fights, she was also loosing on a regular basis as well. The other fighters were younger then she was, all teenagers who had been training for years. She respected them, but was always surprised at first by their expertise, pride, and honor about their profession. Another thing was that some of the moves they did required magic. TRUE magic. Also, there was strategy and such. At first, she spent as much time sitting on her tail studying then practicing. Her time in the classrooms paid off though, when she started winning more fights. Little known to the Lylat system, the first three rounds of a Championship was without death, and without weaponry. Strict hand-to- hand, no Fatality. To use a weapon or kill your opponent in these fights was on par with High Treason, but instead of being put in jail, the guilty fighter forever lost their honor and respect. And on Kerlruit, honor was a very serious business indeed. After four months of training with the team, she learned that she was indeed competing. The first fight was an exhibition, showing off how good the team was this year. No deaths of course, it was an open air tourney, against another team which had agreed to the exhibition. "Silk!" Mary said, pleasantly surprised, rubbing the fighting uniform between her fingers. The cloth was exquisite, soft and light. "Yes indeed." The trainer, a man named Randy, nodded. "Only the best for our fighters." She smiled, and went to her bedroom to change. The uniform fit perfectly, the belt that held it closed was braided silk cords. No weapons for this tourney, so she didn't have to wear a weapons belt or scabbard. If she did, however, the belt and scabbard were beautifully decorated; and the professional broadsword that was her preferred weapon had a gilded hilt. The exhibition was something that she would always remember. The main thing was the roar of the crowd in the bleachers when a good hit was landed, or when they thought someone was winning. Though it wasn't for their own glory, some of the fighters did cater to the crowd. Mary didn't. Though she loved the excited yells and cheers when she fought, for her this WAS business. Before Kerlruit, she had helped train, basically always winning fights, or tying. Now, winning was more uncertain, you couldn't tell until the very end. She savored it for some reason, enjoying the challenge...and the safety of her new found family. Randy was impressed, and after the fights he saw her in, informed her that she was going to compete. "I'd say we're confusing the hell out of them!" Laughed Sorceress, helping repair one of the bombers. "I'm glad you think so, but they get more and more bold. I wish not to loose fighters in your distractions." Andrew replied. "Well, who says we're going to bomb them for three months straight, sir?" She wiggled an eyebrow. "Everybody on the whole cell block...was dancing to the jail house rock, yeah. I AM SO GOD DAMN BORED!" Wolf moaned, rattling a drum solo on the bars of his cell. "We can't trust you enough to let you out." Korgan said, eyes narrowing. "You already betrayed your trust." "When did we do that?" Leon asked. "When you armed yourselves and killed four of Majic's fighters. Pissed him off, and he no longer trusts you. You're stuck here." "Why can't the Cornerian ship just hurry up and get here?!" Wolf sighed. "Your boss had all the satellites shot out." She sat on the guard's desk, regarding the two prisoners with mild dislike. "We can't contact anyone off planet genius, or haven't been able to yet. We're probably going to have to send a messenger." "How long are we stuck here?" Leon asked. "Oh don't tell me you're sick of my company." She sarcastically replied. "If I had my way..." He growled, turning away and crossing his arms. "What? You'd what?" "I'd be happier and you'd be just a little more submissive." "You wouldn't like me if I was submissive, scaley, because if I WAS, I'd be dead right now." She left. "You'll never give up will you?" Wolf observed. "Nah." He shrugged. "She isn't going to come around any time soon you know." "Yeah I know." "Then why are you being so stubborn?" "I don't know." Wolf rolled his eyes and shut up. "If you do find the Venomians you can't touch them." Pepper paced Fox as they approached the landed Great Fox. "It's neutral ground after all. We just want information, if possible." "Check." "Watch your six huh?" "You know I will." "HEY WAIT UP!" A feathered form tackled Fox and sent both tumbling. "Glad to see me?" Fox asked, shaking his head, dazed. "Didn't want you to leave without me!" Falco laughed, stood, and helped Fox up. "Where's your uniform? Man, you're a sorry looking pilot." "Thank you sir." Falco said sarcastically, and strode up the extended ramp of the Great Fox, looking quite comfortable in his leather jacket and jeans. "Sheesh." Fox combed his fingers through his fur, getting the grass and leaves out. Pepper grinned. "That hyperactive, smart mouthed, insubordinate... Talk to you later General." Fox saluted, and walked up the ramp, glaring at the grass stains on his once clean jacket. "Fly high Fox." Pepper murmured, turning to go back to his car. "Sore?" Kasan crossed her arms. Moore was rubbing assorted places on his body, wincing. "Yes." "Means you'll be stronger and better in a few days, I'm willing to bet." She flipped a hand, and continued her own stretches. "What's your title again?" "Titles. Warrior and Combat Artist." "Combat Artist. Sounds like someone who uses Tai Kwon Do to do paintings." "Funny. No, it's nothing like that at all. Here, fighting is as much an art form as sculpture or paintings." Randy strode up. "Trouble, or at least maybe for you, General." "Like?" Moore asked. "Another Lylatian ship landed about five minutes ago, and they've pulled up in front of the training facility." "Whom?" "General Moore?" Fox asked, raising an eyebrow. "Young man I said wait outside." Randy said sharply. "Sorry. My curiosity got the better of me." "McCloud. Surprise, surprise." Moore replied. "We can't fight here." "Then why are you here?" "Information, General." "Right, uh-huh. Pepper making you be his gophers huh?" "Not funny. Sometimes." Kasan studied the new arrival. A red fox, wore a flashy uniform and a shoulder holster. Stood with great pride, head high and back straight. Another military guy, but there was something different about him. "Who might you be?" "Fox McCloud. A pilot. Working for the Cornerian Government." "Oh. Okay. Like that tells me much. What do you want?" "Like I said, information. Who might you be?" He crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow lazily. "Kasan. Combat Artist and Warrior." "Oh? Sounds like a tough, if honorable job, Warrior Kasan." He bowed respectably. "Who taught you your manners?" She blurted, surprised. "Another great warrior did." He replied, straightening up. "Someone who was once very close to me. I'm sorry if I interrupted your practice, Warrior Kasan." "Training, actually." "You're training these...soldiers?" He nodded toward the Venomians, who all looked like they'd love to put a bullet or two in him. "Yes, why?" "Curiosity." "Would you accept a challenge?" "To fight you? A great honor. I would indeed accept." He tossed his gun to a teammate who had materialized behind him, and stepped into a fighting stance. She also stepped into a fighting stance. He attacked, and managed to stay on his feet for five minutes straight. Kasan enjoyed the challenge, but in the end, had him pinned in the sand. "I surrender. Now let me up." Fox snapped. She pushed herself up and pulled him up easily. "You held against me for a long time, though. Usually takes me about thirty seconds on them." She nodded toward the Venomians. "But they're learning." He laughed, dusting himself off. "Thanks for the compliment and the butt kicking, I probably needed the ego deflation." "What?" She blinked. "Never mind." His copilot, Falco, tossed Fox his gun back. "Fox got beat by a girl, Fox got beat by a girl..." He murmured to himself. "Excuse me Warrior..." Fox went aside and put Falco into a headlock. "Okay. I got beat. For once. So lay off featherhead." He let his copilot up. "Okay, okay. Sheesh." Falco growled. The pair left. Fox reported, and after hanging around Kerlruit for a few hours, they returned to Lylat, honoring the no-fire zone around Kerlruit the entire time. The audience roared in excitement. The fighter Mary was up against was a younger, faster dog, but he wasn't as strong as she was. Or as experienced. But still she remained focused, giving him a chance even if, deep down, she knew he'd end up sprawled in the sand. The dog, a young man named Robin, yipped in excitement every now and then, cornering off the arena walls, swinging his sword expertly, catching her arm. She gasped, stumbling back. Her arm throbbed and bled, staining and ruining the silk. She had never been hurt in combat before, or at least this seriously. She didn't need to look at the wound to know it would have needed stitching if she wasn't immortal. Robin yipped again. "First blood, Robin." Said the loudspeaker. "You won't make it to the championship!" Robin taunted. "With that wound, you'll have to forfeit or fight weakened!" "Prove it, pup!" She lunged, swinging the sword. The sand was hot under her feet; this arena was warm anyway, on the equator. Sweat stuck the silk uniform to her in various places. Her arm throbbed painfully with each movement, but she ignored it, staying calm, forcing Robin onto defense. She sensed, rather then saw, the blast of defensive magic fly towards her from her opponent. She deflected it back to him automatically. With a scream of surprise, he fell back, hitting the sand. The crowd roared again, on their feet, clapping and shouting. Some screamed, 'Finish him, Silent Bullet!' She sheathed the sword, approaching him. "Mercy..." He whimpered, muscles seized up, eyes full of pain. She looked at the referee, who had walked over to near where they were. "Mercy call, Ref." Then, she helped him up and led him to his team's area, so he could be tended. Her own arm had healed, or was nearly healed. That evening, Randy confronted her. "The more you fight the more I like your style." He remarked. "What do you mean?" She glanced up at him. "Most of the other fighters would have finished off Robin. You gave Mercy." "He wanted Mercy." She replied. "Begged for it. I am not a ruthless killer. I am just a fighter." "If you say so. Just tell your screaming fans that." Both laughed. "How many rounds do I have left?" "If you win them all? Four." "I thought I had three." "If you win the third, you go to the Final." She blinked. "You think I'll go that far?" "I know you will. Good night." He left. "WHAT THE HELL!" Katt shouted. After the first war, she had been given her own squad of fighters, which she led proudly. But nothing much had happened since then. Now, a wall of Venomian fighters roared into Sector Z. Thousands. Her squad split up and did what they could. But it was no use. A flight of Venomian cruisers hung just on the edge of their air space, like a fan, all engines pointed toward Venom, noses out. "Well sir, we secured Sector Z." Said General Richardson proudly. "Good. Keep me updated." Andross replied via the screen. "Our ground soldiers are on the way, General. I have a good feeling about this." "I've been waiting three months for this sir." "Well, carry on." "WHAT?" Falco's jaw dropped. "That's what the report said." Fox replied, voice numb. "Katt Monroe gone, her squad gone too. Or at least, no radio contact, and they've been trying for hours." "Oh, god..." He mumbled, and left the room. The Lylat Military hurried, gathering forces, sending them into battle. But the three months, time in which they could have attacked the practically defenseless cruisers, had paid off for the Venomians. It was simply an overpowering, at first. "This is crucial guys." Fox said, leading the Star Fox team into battle. "Pepper said that if we can't hold them here, we won't be able to hold them at all." "Roger that." Peppy said. "Out of my way." Falco dove into battle, snarling to himself. "Oh, great." Fox moaned. "He's out for blood." "Do. You. Blame. Me." Falco snapped, biting off every word in his fury. "Beltino, she's lifting off." Mary announced, walking up the ramp. "But..." "You said the Weatherlight was finished." "Yes, but..." "I paid you. I'm taking off." She ran up to the bridge and rattled off instructions. The Weatherlight broke free of the building straps and shot for space. "BILL!" Fox shouted "Did you miss me?" Bill's squads came into battle, lasers flashing. "Yes I did, you sorry little ingrate! Help us out here!" "Whoa buddy, cool it. I brought the drones. We should be able to reach the other air force teams." The message went out. "Welcome aboard." Mary remarked. A variety of people had docked with the Weatherlight, including Warrior, Draco, Gustile, Eva, and Jordian. "Where we heading?" She explained, and halfway through it, the ship warped. "Pull back." Andrew said, looking at the battle. "All forces pull back to Macbeth." The Venomians did so. "Sir, we could have won that battle." Protested General Williams. "We also could have lost. General, I've got Sector Z, Titania, Bolse, and Macbeth. I think it's best we establish bases in said areas and repair before attempting to go any farther." "Good point sir." "BEJESUS!" Fox gasped when the Weatherlight came out of a warp next to the Great Fox. "Hey Fox. It's Mary. Look, we have one of your comrades on board..." "Katt, baby..." Falco sat on the edge of the bed, lacing his fingers with hers. She opened her eyes with effort. "Falco...oh man....I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I remember...fighting...but not... escaping..." "Mary found your plane drifting, emergency beacon on. Seems you were in pretty bad shape." "Still am." She pointed out an IV weakly. "Who's Mary? The sword carrying bunny?" "Apt description. That's her." ".... My team?" "Katt, baby, I'm sorry...they're all gone." "This is not the time to discuss out-of-system manners, Mr. President." General Pepper said tensely. "I've got a system-wide war on my hands, and you want me to do something about Kerlruit?" "General, you may not know this, but Kerlruit is actually a very early colonization planet. We dropped people off there, then cut contact off. We wanted to see if they would form their own society." "Are you saying that the whole of Kerlruit is an experiment?!" "Yes, and now a disasterous one, if Andrew can get his fighters trained there. The Senate and I have discussed this, General. Kerlruit is now part of Lylat. The Championship is now outlawed. And by the way, you've got two Star Wolf team members to pick up off of Aquas." 'Why does this always happen to me?' Pepper thought wearily. "I suggest diplomats for Kerlruit, but I can take care of O'Donnel and Powalski." "Good. Do so. ASAP."