From: PyroPaws@aol.com Subject: Andross' Children We did a nice vertical landing in the grass beside The House. Another of the plusses for the g-diffuser. As I opened my hatch and jumped out I saw three animals running towards us, guns drawn. "They're quick." I said throwing my helmet back into my arwing. "Hold it right there." The leader of the group, a cheetah, said. "Relax." Josh said. "It's just Star Fox here to see the president." "Star Fox? You can't be." He said. "Crud does that mean we're not here?" Justin asked. "I feel like I'm here." I said. "Me too." Justin said. "But Spots here says we aren't." "I take it you know General Juniper's here?" the cheetah said raising an amused eye at Justin. "Why else would we be here?" Josh asked. "I know I shouldn't but I'll take you in." he said. "Chris, Jack, get back to your posts." The other tow animals nodded. We followed the cheetah into The House. He led us down a few halls. "And of course today I didn't bring my camera." Justin said shaking his head. "Wait here." The cheetah walked into the room. "President Adipose, Star Fox is here to see you." His voice floated back into the hall." "What!?!" this voice blasted. "Hum^Åthat must be Juniper." Justin said. "Send them in." A deeper voice said. The cheetah came back into the hall. "Have fun." He said. We entered the room. President Adipose was a large^Åwell huge hippopotamus. Next to him was raccoon. He looked mad so I decided that he had to be General Juniper. "Welcome Star Fox." President Adipose said. He shook Josh's hand and shook it. Then he shook each of our hands too. "So what brings you here?" he asked. "We have come to announce that Star Fox is back in the sky sir." Josh said. "You can't." General Juniper said. "Those ships are trash and you don't have a contract." "On the contrary. Great Fox is in excellent shape." Josh said. "And we're mercenaries. We don't need that contract." "You're parents have been missing for the past five seasons haven't they?" General Juniper asked. That question caught me by surprise. "Great Fox belongs to your father. Without him here Great Fox will be scrapped." "Great Fox belongs to me and my sister." Josh said. General Juniper looked at me. "And I suppose she's just here because she's you sister. Such a young girl should not be flying in a star squad." I got ready to tell him off when Josh interjected. "She may be young but she's a d-mn good pilot. She's the one who got us together in the first place so don't say anything about her again or you'll answer to me." Josh growled slightly. That speech shocked me as much as it shocked General Juniper. His face got really red. I was sort of glad that my brother had stood up for me. At least he hadn't called me Squirt. "No matter what you do I will never hire you." General Juniper said. "We are here is you ever need us Mr. President." Josh said to President Adipose. "It's good to see you back Star Fox." President Adipose shook Josh's hand again "Thank you sir." Josh smiled. Then we left. As soon as we got out of the building we all burst out laughing. "Did you see the look on Juniper's face when we went in there?" Josh laughed. "We could've cooked an egg on his head." I agreed. "He'll never hire us now." Kyle said. "We did make a good impression on the president though. If he wants to hire us Juniper won't be able to do anything about it." Daniel said. "That's true." Josh said. "This'll probably be all over the papers by tomorrow too." "So you guys are back?" We turned. The cheetah that had taken us into The House walked up. "Yep." Josh said. "I'm glad." He smiled. "My name's Speedy Serengeti." Josh introduced each of us. "I heard a rumor about you guys but I thought it was a joke. I guess I was wrong. I flew with your father when I was 18. He was my hero." Josh smiled. "He'd have a few things to say about that." "Wait Serengeti? You're that guy that got beat out for general when Pepper died aren't you?" Speedy nodded. "They told me I didn't have enough qualifications which was a nice way to say I was to young." "I remember my father saying he hoped you'd get the position." Josh said. "Really?" Speedy asked. "If you Star Fox ever need anything call me and I'll see if I can help you out." "Sure." Josh said. "You do the same." We said good bye to Speedy and then went to our arwings. "Well that's done." Josh said. "What do you guys say we get on some normal cloths and go out for the night?" "Party." Justin yelled. "This is demeaning, this is degrading, and this sucks too." Justin said. I was forced to agree. Just as we had thought the papers were screaming the next day about our return. We had been mobbed with interviews and we even appeared on the Oprah Wingfrey show. But the fame had only lasted a week. Then it had dropped off. Like General Juniper had said there was no war going on. We were forced to carry cargo. "Fixing up Great Fox exhausted our accounts." Josh sighed. "We need the money." "I can still see Juniper's face when he called us. An important mission to Titania, he said. The son of a bi-th." Kyle said angrily. "I just want to get this over with." I said sitting deeper into the chair. "Amen to that." Justin said. I could see Titania looming up in the window. "Incoming message from Titania." Robert said. "On screen." Josh said. A bear appeared on the screen. "Hello Star Fox. We've been waiting for you. You're clear for landing in Dock 4." "Thank you." Josh said. The screen switched off. "Take us down Robert." We landed on the dock and headed out to find someone to help us. As we stepped off the ramp and white rabbit ran past. "Excuse me." Josh said trying to stop him. "No time. I'm late, I'm late." The rabbit hopped off. "Okay?" Justin sounded confused. The bear we had talked to walked up. "Hello. Do you have the papers?" Josh handed him the papers General Juniper had given us. The bear took them and put them on his clipboard. "We'll get to you in an hour of so." He said. "Wait a minute? An hour?" "We're really busy." "There's no one else here." "Then they're on lunch." The bear snapped and walked away. "Something didn't feel right." I said. "If they were waiting for us then why aren't they ready?" Josh shook his head. "Well we can't do anything for now." It was two hours later that we were back in the air with the new cargo. It had taken them almost two hours before we finally threatened them into getting us the cargo. It took them no more then fifteen minutes to exchange cargo. We were all mad and irritable by the time Titania was out of sight. "Never will I ever do that again." Josh said. "Even if we have to give this up." "That's a little harsh." I said. "I mean she is my ship too. You couldn't do that without my say so." "Shut up both of you." Kyle said. "I'm trying to sleep." "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Justin said. "Shut up." We all yelled at him. Daniel was the only one of us who did not fight. He was on the computer doing something. So we just left him alone. He seemed to be content. Josh and I on the other hand got into quite a fight. Justin finally broke us up after I almost gave Josh a black eye. "Now just stop it both of you." Justin said angrily. "You are brother and sister." I glared at Josh. "Well if he hadn't used all that money on the uniforms^Å" I said. "Oh and you springing for the ion cannon was not expensive." Josh shot back. "Stop it." Justin shouted. "Just stop it. Do you want Juniper to be the one to break us apart?" I sighed and sat down. "He's right." "Sorry Squirt." Josh said. "Don't even start." I growled. "Now for a song to make us feel better." Justin said. "Ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety nine bottles of beer^Å" "Justin stop now or I'll shoot you right there." I said. "This is the song that doesn't end^Å" "Justin." We ended up singing all the way back to Corneria. Justin had to stop because his voice got horse, much to the amusement of Kyle. When Corneria came into view though we were all glad to be getting home. We headed down towards the Base. "It's good to be home." I said. "Yea even when it's half destroyed." Justin said looking out the window. "What?" We all ran to the window and looked out. The Cornerian Army Base lay beneath us. There was rubble everywhere as if it had been attacked. "What's going on?" Josh asked. "Robert call Juniper." "There is a call coming in from him." Robert said and the screen switched on. "Where were you?" General Juniper said angrily. "You make a big deal about coming back and then you're gone when we are attacked?" "What are you talking about?" Josh said. "What attack. We were on Titania trading the cargo you gave us." "What cargo? I did no such thing. We tried to contact you numerous times." General Juniper said. "We are just lucky we were able to hold them off. You can forget about us ever hiring you now." The screen switched off before Josh could get another word in. We all stood dumbfounded. "What just happened?" Kyle said. "We're in some serious crap." Justin replied. "And I may have an idea why." Daniel said looking up from the computer for the first time since we'd left Titania. "Look at this." We all went to stand behind the computer. "I hacked into Titania's computer system. Look at this message. Keep Star Fox busy as long as you can. And look where it's from." "Cornerian Army Base." Josh breathed. "Juniper?" "Can't prove it." I said. "And besides that there is no record of us ever being on Titania. We can't prove that we were there." "But the cargo." Kyle said. "What about that." We went to the Launching Bay and Josh pried the top off one of the crates. It was empty. "Sh-t." I said putting my hand to my forehead. "But why?" Kyle asked. "I can answer that." Justin said. "Why would Juniper want us to look bad? Because if we do President Adipose will never even think about signing us on to help. He wants to make sure we don't get a contract and with this happening it gives him the perfect excuse." Sometimes I hated it when Justin made sense. We all went glumly back up to the Control Room. "Put in a call to Speedy Serengeti." Josh told Robert. "Yes sir." Speedy popped up on the screen. "I had a feeling you would be calling." He said. "What happened?" Josh asked. "Basically we were attacked by a fleet of black fighters with no markings on them. It took them less then twenty minutes to reduce the base to all but rubble. Then they just turned tail and left." "Juniper said he tried to contact us. We never received a message. We were on some cargo carrying trip that ended up being crock." "And you think General Juniper's behind it?" "Pretty sure." Josh said. "Con you keep an eye out for anything he could be doing against us? We're going to stay out of the way for a little while until this calms down." "Sure, oh and one last thing. General Juniper's talked the president into signing an agreement with Venom. As of tomorrow we're going to have Venomian fighters here." Josh shook his head. "Thanks Speedy." The screen switched off. I sank down into the chair behind me. "This is bad." Kyle said. "Very bad." Josh agreed. "SOS. We are under attack. Please respond." I looked up from the game of cards I was playing. "Katinan Army Base is under attack. Please respond." It was two days after General Juniper had tricked us. Josh had refused to give up. We had gone to Meteo to take a break before we went to talk to President Adipose. "Who thinks we should respond?" Josh asked putting down his cards. "We'd never get there is time to help them." Kyle said. "We could if we use the warp." Robert said. "Warp?" "Great Fox used it once before to get to Katina." Robert said. "All right Star Fox. Do we help them?" We all nodded. The warp to Katina put us out practically right over the base. We were in our arwings in minutes and were speeding towards the base. I could see the black fighters swarming all over. The Katinan Army was trying their best to hold them off but they were loosing. I was nervous, as I admit, as we flew towards the base. I had been the best in my flight class, but this was real. There was a possibility that either me, or one of my friends could be shot down. "Identify yourselves." A voice said. "Star Fox." Josh replied. "We got your distress signal." "At least someone heard us." The voice sounded tired. "I'm General Hanger." "We'll help you out General." Josh said. "All right guys. Let's rock and roll." Some of the black fighters saw us coming and turned to meet us. I shot over top of the line of wings. After a quick glance I identified the black fighters as Series X-TA gefighters. They were good wings would be no problem for our arwings to handle. A glancing blow hit my right side. I turned hard to pull behind the gefighter. He tried to get me off his tail. No such luck. I got a rush of adrenaline as his gefighter exploded on the ground. Kyle and Justin flew past my view after a gefighter. "I say lord, these black wichamacalits are a mite annoying." Justin said with an old Cornerian accent. ~like British for you humans~ "Quite so Feather Head. Would you care to assist me in shooting down a few?" Kyle said mimicking the accent. "Golly good." Justin said. "Shall we?" The two of them together took down numerous gefighters. When it came to flying they had fun but when it came to their fighting they were all business. Don't ask me how they do it either. Daniel stayed close to Josh. I could tell he was nervous. "Watch your six Ash." He said suddenly. I turned in my seat to see that a gefighter had been trying to sneak up on me. I got ready to do a loop-de-loop when the gefighter went down. "You've got to be more careful Squirt." Josh said. "I was fine." I said. "Don't baby me." I boosted away from him. I locked on another target and took it down. I was getting the hang of it now. I shot forward again and over the top of the pyramid. I did a quick barrel roll to the left. Someone tried to get on my tail but I shook him off in about five seconds. Then I took him down. "Golly what was that?" Justin asked. "A bird, a plane?" "No it was Ash." Kyle said. I smiled. I took more gefighters down as I flew. Josh was doing great. He took down as many gefighters as I did. Daniel was still nervous but did okay. Kyle and Justin just had fun. "Crud, I can't shake this guy." Daniel said. I turned to find Daniel. He was off to my right. I pulled over shooting as I went. The gefighter behind Daniel went down under my fire. "Thanks Ash. I guess I'm a little slow." He said. "Don't worry about it." I replied. When I looked back over at the base I saw that almost all the black gefighters were gone. "Retreat." A voice suddenly said. Without knowing why, a chill raced up my spine. A cheer went up from the Katinan pilots. "Good job guys." Josh said to us. I didn't answer. "Thank you Star Fox." General Hanger said. "Of course you will be compensated for your troubles." He stated a number. My mouth pretty much hung open. "T^Åthank you General." Josh said trying to sound professional but I could tell he was shocked too. "We'll wire the money to your account." General Hanger said. "Thank you General." Josh said again. "Let's get back to Great Fox guys." "No more cargo, no more cargo." Justin said in a sing song voice. "And I expect a bonus." For the next few weeks we fought numerous battles on Aquas, Titania, Macbeth, and Fortuna. None of the attacks were very hard to win. It seemed that the black fighters were more testing us then trying to defeat us. General Juniper refused to send the Cornerian/Venomian Army to help out with any of the battles. It spread us pretty thin and we didn't get much sleep over those weeks. I was used to not getting much sleep but I was ready to drop. "Get some sleep." Josh said as we got back from stopping an assault on Fortuna. "We should've let them burn that ice ball." Justin said stumbling sleepily into me. I held him up as best as I could. We all but stumbled up to our rooms. I left Justin outside his door. I got to my room and stumbled inside. I didn't even bother to take of my uniform as I crawled into bed. I got a brief glance at my clock, 2:30 am, before I was asleep. "Ash get up." A voice broke into my slumber. I rolled over. "Not now." I mumbled. "Now, they're attacking Corneria and it's serious." I stumbled out of bed. My clock read 5 am. Josh stood in my doorway. "Come on." He said. Justin, Kyle, and Daniel were already in the Launching Bay. "President Adipose called." Josh explained. "The Venomian fighters are gone and the Cornerian Army can't hold them off." "They did this on purpose." Kyle said darkly. "They wore us down until we're to tired to fight and now they're taking our home." "I, for one, am not about to let them take Corneria." I said feeling the rush of adrenaline I always got before battles now. "None of us are." Josh said. "Let's go." We sped towards Corneria. The battle was raging. The black gefighters outnumbered Corneria's wings almost five to one. In addition to that there were three flagships. We shot into the fray cutting down as many of the gefighters as we could before they could resist. "God you don't know how glad we are to see you." Speedy said. "So Speedy, my man, you're still flying?" Justin asked. "Barely." Speedy replied. "These guys aren't going to just leave this time." "So Star Fox, you're here." General Juniper came over the radio. "Of course General." Josh said. I flew surprisingly well for how tired I knew I was. I flew under a fallen tower coming up underneath two gefighters. I quickly shot them down before gaining altitude and doing a quick U-turn back towards the main group. I saw Justin and Kyle fly past. They were there but I could tell the lack of sleep was effecting them. Their reaction time was slow and their flying was messy. "Pretty fancy flying." A voice said but no picture came with it. "You look a bit tired though. You should've stayed home." "Who is this?" I demanded after blocking my picture. I wasn't going to let him see me if I couldn't see him. "Check you six." I turned in my seat. There was a white wing following me so closely its nose was almost touching my tail. I turned hard to get away. I hadn't even seen him get on my tail. "And that's the only warning you Star Fox'll get. Prepare to watch Corneria fall." "Over our dead bodies." Josh said. "Who are you?" "HA! Just call us Star Raider." He said. I glanced around and saw that there were three other white wings in the air. The one who had been on my tail seemed to be the leader. His wing had black tips. "Wolfin-stars." Kyle said. "Those are nice ships. I thought they were still experimental." "They're still no match for our arwings." I said. "Those old buckets? Don't make me laugh." The Star Raider leader laughed. "Watch a real pilot fly." I searched the sky for his wolfin-star. He was on the far side of the base. I shot down as many gefighters as I could as I headed towards him. I could see the rest of my friends fly past. "Where are you going Ash?" Josh asked. I refused to answer. There seemed to be less gefighters but I could be imagining it. "I am going to bed for a freakin month after this." Justin said. "Get out of my way. Tired and cranky avis coming through." The Star Raider leader took down a Cornerian fighter before I could stop him. I pulled up behind him. He saw me right away. "So you want to play?" he asked. "Prepare to be shot down." I said. He shot forward and made a tight turn between two half fallen buildings. I followed him easily. I tried to lock onto him but he stayed out of range. He dove under a fallen arch. "Don't make me laugh." I said. "You're good but I'm better." I said. I matched him more for move but he stayed active enough to avoid my lock every time. "Ash." Josh cried. "Behind you." I didn't stop to think. I pulled a U-turn passing the wolfin-star that had been on my tail. I looked back watching the two wolfin-stars. Suddenly the two wings pulled U-turns and headed towards me. "Oh Lylat, they've got g-diffusers." I said. "What?" Josh asked. "Told you they were good ships." The Star Raider leader said. "Now would Corneria care to surrender so we can save ourselves some time." "Never." Josh spat. "All right. Corneria surrenders." General Juniper said. "What?" Everyone on Corneria's side yelped in surprise. "Corneria retreat." General Juniper ordered. "We knew you were an idiot but I never figured you for a traitor." Justin growled. "Get out of here Star Fox." Josh ordered. "This is not over Star Raider." I growled. "Yes it is. Your General surrendered." The Star Raider leader said. We were heading away when that stopped me. General? General Juniper couldn't surrender Corneria. Not without President Adipose. Only the president could surrender Corneria. "Josh?" I asked. My arwing was suddenly locked on to. I heard Josh yell. "Ash!" I turned to see the laser coming right for me. Closer, closer, I couldn't move. There was a flash of silver. Josh took the blow. His wing was torn from his arwing. "Josh!!!!" I screamed. My heart wrenched in my chest as Josh's arwing hit the ground. It burst into flames. Rage raced through me as I looked up at the retreating wolfin-star. I pulled my arwing around. "Get back in there Star Fox." I ordered. "Gladly." Justin said anger in his voice too. "You can't surrender Corneria, Juniper." I spat. "Where's Adipose? You kill him?" "How dare you." General Juniper said. "How dare you." I said. Most of the black gefighters were back in the flagships. I cut through the remaining ones. They started to come back out of the flagships. I knew I'd just have to take out the flagships myself. I headed towards the closest one. My mind raced as I tried to remember where its weak spot was. "Stop him." The Star Raider leader said. "Under the wings." A voice said. I dove suddenly. Just as I was about to hit the ground I pulled up hard underneath the flagship. I shot two bombs. They tore into the underside of the wing. The flagship exploded taking out all the black gefighters that were to close. I pulled away. "Get him now. Tusk, Buddy, Simon? Where are you?" "Cool it Raider." Tusk said. "He can't take them out himself. We got him." "Cover me guys." I said. "Got you Ash." Justin said pulling up next to me. Daniel appeared on my other side. "We'll clear the road." Speedy and Kyle shot out in front of me and took down all the gefighters in my way. "Do I have to do everything myself?" Raider shouted. I saw his wolfin-star coming in from the side. Speedy broke away and flew towards him. Amazingly neither hit the other as they flew past each other. But the distraction gave me the space I needed. I cut loose tow bombs on the flagship. They first flagship exploded and then drifted into the other taking it down too. "Yes." I heard Daniel cry. "You will see me again." Raider said. "Count on it." I said. The wolfin-stars turned and sped off with all the remaining black gefighters. A transport unit too off from the base carrying General Juniper. I sighed heavily. The threat was gone, Corneria was safe, but that was my brother's arwing burning on the ground. We landed with the few Cornerian pilots who were left. The base was in ruins. There were only two buildings still standing. A short plumb dog ran up to us. "I'm the doctor here." He said. "We managed to save your pilot." "What?" I asked in surprise. "Follow me." the dog said. I followed him down the hall numbly aware that Daniel, Justin, Kyle and Speedy were with me. We entered a room full of beds with hurt pilots in them. Josh was in the bed closest to the door. I ran to his side. A pretty cat was just finishing bandaging his head. I took his hand. "He's in a coma." The dog said. "Broken rib, concussion, and third degree burns. He's in bad shape." "Will he live?" I asked. "I don't know. All we can do is wait." I closed my eyes holding back tears. Justin moved to my side and put his arm around my shoulder. He knew I didn't want to talk so he was just there for me. I felt the exhaustion completely take over, and my eyelids drooped. The next morning I woke up feeling very refreshed. I was in a room by myself on a bed. The ceiling was half fallen in. Outside the window I could see the destroyed base. I sat on the edge of the bed and put my head in my hands. The scene from the day before played through my head again. There was a knock on the door. "Come in." I said. The door opened. Justin stood in the doorway holding a tray of food. Kyle and Daniel peeked around the door. "We thought you might be hungry." Justin said. "Thanks." I replied. He came over and set the tray on the bed next to me. I looked at the tray but I just wasn't hungry. I sighed. "How are you holding together?" Justin asked. I've been better." I said. "Well we were talking^Åwell about what we're going to do." Justin said. "I mean Josh is^Åwell." "You handled everything great when Josh was shut down^ÅI mean^Åum." "We want you to take over as leader." Daniel blurted out. I stopped shocked. "Me?" I looked at each of them in turn. I was the youngest in the group and they all knew how reckless I could be sometimes. Why would they want me as their leader? "Yea Ash. I mean you're the obvious choice." Justin said. "It would go to Kyle's head to much." Kyle cuffed Justin lightly. "Come on Ash. What do you say?" My father had been the youngest in Star Fox when he had become the leader. Maybe I could so this. "All right guys." I said. "If that's what you want." "Good." Daniel smiled. "Now General Serengeti wants to see us." Kyle said. "General?" I asked. "The Cornerian Army needed a general." Justin said. "And Speedy just sort of took over. He's doing a great job getting thins back in order as fast as he can." "Let's go then." I said standing up. I grabbed an apple from the tray and took a bite. We headed down the half-destroyed halls. General Serengeti was out on the runway, helping load the rubble into a truck. He stopped when he saw us approach. "So general?" I asked. "How does it feel?" "Not any different." He replied. "But I did realize something. When Star Raider showed up. Their wings^Å" "Those wolfin-stars?" Kyle asked. "As far as we know they were still experimental." General Serengeti said. "But they were being developed by a team on Venom." "Oh." I said. "And I take it you'd like us to go and see if we can find anything out." "Yes and I'm willing to sign you to a contract with the Cornerian Army, if you would like, to secure your services until were figure this whole thing out." "Gladly General." I said. "Come on Ash, you want to play?" Kyle asked dealing out cards to himself, Justin and Daniel. I shook me head sipping the drink I was holding. "I'm not really in the mood." "She's just eager to get to Venom." Justin smiled looking at the cards he was holding. "You bet I am." I said. "That guys who shot down Josh is going to pay." "And we all know how Ash can get when she's determined." Kyle put down a card. "I almost feel sorry for the guy." Justin said putting a card on Kyle's card. "Almost." He stressed when I raised an eyebrow at him. "Well I for one am ready to take the whole lot of them out." Daniel said. He put down a card and announced. "I win." "Crud." Justin sighed. "How'd you do that?" Kyle asked. "I'm not just good with computers." Daniel smiled. "If they're even on Venom." I said. "Ash there is a wolfin-star approaching from the direction of Venom. There is no response and the wing is not doing anything." Robert said. "What?" I asked. "Oh screen." A picture of a wolfin-star appeared. Just as Robert had said the wing was not doing anything but heading forward. It was Raider's wing. "Robert, bring him in." I said. "Ash it could be a trap." Kyle said. "So we'll keep our guns ready." I said heading to the Launching Bay. We watched as the wolfin-star was brought in. Gun in hand I made my way over to the side of the wing. I climbed up and popped open the hatch. Warily I looked inside. Then I gasped. "Ash?" Justin asked. "It's^ÅRaider." I said. Raider lay in the bottom of his wing soaked in blood. There were three major cuts. One across his forehead, on down his right arm, and the third across him chest. I reached in slowly and felt for a pulse. His heartbeat felt very weak. For a brief second instead of Raider I saw Josh lying there helpless. "Help me Jus." I said. "Dan see it you can find a doctor nearby who can get here quick." "Okay Ash." Daniel sounded skeptical. Justin climbed onto the wing beside me. He gaped at Raider. "Wow. He's in bad shape." I nodded as we carefully lifted him from the arwing and lowered him to Kyle who lay him on the floor. "God what happened to him?" Kyle asked in shock. "Hopefully he'll live so we can find out." Justin said. "Crap, he bled all over my jacket." Daniel came back in. "There's another starship heading to Titania, and there's a doctor on board. I don't know if he'll get here in time but he's coming." "Well unless we want to wonder about this for the rest of our lives we'd better hope he does." As soon as the doctor, a cheerful squirrel, arrived he ordered us out of the Sick Bay where we had taken Raider. We played cards for the two hours that the doctor was in the room. "This is one lucky wolf." He said coming into the Sitting Room. We all looked up. "Though if that chest wound had been much deeper he would not be breathing right now." "Is he going to live?" Kyle asked. The doctor nodded. "He's lost a lot of blood. Those three cuts puzzle me. I have never seen any claw or weapon leave anything like them. And they are positioned interestingly too. Who ever he was fighting knew what they were doing. Well anyway I bandaged him up and he should be fine." "Thank you for your help doctor." I said. "I'm just glad I could help your friend Star Fox." He said. "He's not a friend." Justin muttered. "What?" "Nothing." I smiled. "We'll wire the money to you." "Okay. He does need rest for at least a few days." "We'll make sure of that." I said and I showed the doctor out. "Well you have the unconscious captain of Star Raider in your Sick Bay, what are you going to do now?" Justin asked in an announcer like voice. "I'm going to bed." I yawned. "It's been a long day." I ended up not being able to sleep. I wandered the halls thinking. Thinking about Corneria and the danger she was in. About my brother who might never wake up. About my team, the best friends anyone could ever hope to have. And about Raider, leader of Star Raider, my enemy, who's life I had saved. I sighed and stopped my walking. I found myself next to the Sick Bay doors. I went inside. Raider lay on the bed still unconscious. I felt my temper rise inside me. He groaned and his eyes slowly opened. "What the^Å? Oh I must be dead. Didn't think it would hurt quite this much." He said. "Nope you're not dead^Åyet." I said. He turned his head quickly towards me but it must have hurt because he winced and turned away. "Oh God, I'm in hell." He said. "No. You're on Great Fox." "Same thing." He said turning towards me, slower this time. "And who are you?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'm hurt." I said. "Ash McCloud. Ring a bell?" "Oh shit you're a girl?" "Yes." I said. "It's actually Ashley but what do you care?" "Not a rat's ass." He said turning away. "I can still kill you, you know." I snapped. "You're helpless like that." "So then why haven't you already?" he snapped back his golden eyes staring into mine. Gold eyes? Why did they seen familiar? "I don't hit others while they are down; or retreating." I growled. "I gave no order for Tusk to do what he did." Raider snapped. "So don't blame me." "Too bad." I said. "Cause I do. That pilot was my brother." Raider was silent for a second. "You are exactly like what my father said you McCloud's were like. " "And how is that?" I asked. "Over confident and stuck up." He said. "Who is your father?" "You don't know?" Raider tried to raise an eyebrow but he winced again. "Freaking bandages. My father is Wolf O' Donnel." I nodded. It made sense. Our fathers had been enemies and now their children were too. "Why did you save me?" "It's a good guy thing. You wouldn't understand." I stated. "Oh hell Ash." Raider said. "Just kill me now. I don't care anymore." "Not quite yet. We've got a few questions for you." "Yea right. Like I'd tell you anything." "We can always turn you over to the Cornerian Army. I doubt they'd be as kind as we are." I snapped. He set is face. "How long do I have to stay in this bed?" he asked. I shrugged. He sighed and lay back in his bed. "I have the worst fucking headache." He said. "I hope a caused it." I muttered leaving the room. The next day was not much better. Raider refused to talk to anyone anymore then yelling at them. We fed him of course but he was very bad about it. General Serengeti was not happy about the fact that we were holding Raider but there was nothing he could do. We canceled the trip to Venom for a while and stayed in orbit of Titania. I let the boys go down for the night and I stayed aboard to keep an eye on Raider. I was in the Sitting Room reading on the couch when the door opened and Raider walked in. "You shouldn't be up." I said. "I didn't know you cared." He said. "I don't." I snapped looking up. Suddenly his golden eyes locked on mine. Golden? Raider? Wait a minute. "You^Åyou're that vixen from the bar over a year ago." He said. "I knew you looked familiar." "Oh crap." I said in annoyance. "This is great. Of course you never carried out your threat." I stood up. Raider took that as a challenge and moved to defend. I shook my head and walked past him out of the room. After a brief pause I heard him follow. I walked into the kitchen and to the refrigerator. You're just going to leave me alone?" "I can tie you up if you'd like." I said turning around with two sandwiches in my hands. "Here catch." I tossed a sandwich to him. He caught it clumsily in his left hand. "I don't get you." Raider said. "And I don't get you." I said taking a bite of the sandwich. He looked at me again. His golden eyes seemed to the drilling a hole into me. "Keep the damn sandwich." He shot and threw it to the floor. "Oh this is going to me fun." I sighed as he left the room. "So'd you have fun up here with Raider last night?" Justin asked. "Loads." I said dryly. "Get anything out of him?" Kyle asked. "Attitude." I said. "I'm ready to just turn him over to General Serengeti." "Why don't we then?" Kyle asked. "Because there was some reason Raider was almost killed and it may help us to know." I sighed. "I could always beat it out of him." Kyle suggested. "I wouldn't mind that." I said. "But we can't." "I'd like to see you try it." Raider growled from the doorway. I turned. "Great." Justin muttered. Raider had taken off the bandages slowing his still healing wounds. "So you want to beat me froggy?" he walked into the room. "I would in a heartbeat." Kyle sneered. "Do you always do what a girl tells you to?" Raider asked. "Yes." Kyle stood up. "You got a problem with that." "Hold it Kyle." I said stepping between them. I had the urge to let them duke it out but I didn't want to have to stop it. "Scared I might hurt him?" Raider asked. "Get off your high horse." I snapped. "You'd be dead if it wasn't for us. You don't have to trust us or like us but just keep your mouth shut." "If you don't want me here just get rid of me." He snapped. "If you think I'll ever listen to you you're crazy." "Maybe I am." I said. "Crazy for wanting to revenge my brother. Crazy for saving your life, and crazy for fighting an enemy that I don't even know." "You want to know who you're fighting?" Raider asked still growling slightly. "You're fighting something more evil then you could ever think." I stayed silent not wanting to accidentally make Raider stop. The rest of my team must have realized that too because they said nothing. "Picture a cat with the arms, head, and wings of an eagle. Then imagine that it can change its shape to become anyone by seeing them once. Then imagine they were born to fight, kill, and be evil. You now have a picture of a gryphon, Andross' children." "What do you mean Andross' children? I asked. "Just that. They were created my Andross before he was killed." Raider said and suddenly he didn't seem so angry. I could see a trace of fear in his eyes. He fingered the scab on his forehead. "And now they want revenge on Lylat." I shook my head and sat down in the chair behind me. "So now what do we do?" Kyle asked. "Say our prayers." Justin said. "That's what happened to you then?" I asked. "They tried to kill you." Raider turned away and refused to answer. "All right I have a deal for you Raider. You hate these gryphons as much as we do, maybe for different reasons but still. If you fly with us against them and tell us everything you know we won't turn you over to Corneria and you might have a chance to redeem yourself." He looked at me the fear gone. "Never." He spat and he left the room. "Um Ash? What did you do? He can't fly with us." Justin said. "Not if you guys really don't want." I said. "But we could use his knowledge and hatred of Venom." "Well you're the boss, boss." Kyle said. I smiled uncertainly. We expected the gryphons to stay quiet for a least a few more days. Their defeat on Corneria should have slowed them down. No such luck. It was early the next day when we got a call from Mcbeth. "Our forces are hardly holding them off in our atmosphere." General Argner, the general on Mcbeth, said. "I hate to do this to you Star Fox but we need your help." I glanced at Justin and Daniel. They both nodded. "No problem general. We'll be there as soon as we can." "Thank you." General Argner said and the screen switched off. We hurried to the Launching Bay. Kyle slammed down the hood of his arwing as we walked in. "Trouble?" he asked seeing our faces. "On Mcbeth." I replied. "I guess it's a good thing that I just finished." Kyle said. "I^Å" he stopped in mid sentence looking at something behind me. I turned around. Raider stood in the doorway. He walked towards me. "This doesn't change anything." He said. "But I'm coming." "As you like." I said turning and jumping into my arwing. "All right guys. Ready?" "I'm ready here." Kyle said. "Here we go, into the wild black of space. Off we go into the fight." Justin sang. "Justin?" "I'm ready." He said. "Fine here." Daniel said sounding amused. I didn't bother to wait for Raider. We shot out of the Launching Bay. The force over Mcbeth was not as strong as the one on Corneria had been but it was still enough to keep us on our toes. We shot into the fray. This was routine now. "Bout time you Star Fox showed up." A voice squealed. "Star Raider get them." I glanced around and spotted the white wolfin-stars. Tuck's was now tipped in red. I made a beeline for it as I felt my temper rising. He was going to pay for shooting down my brother. "So what did The Voice tell you Tusk?" Raider asked in a dull voice. "Raider? You're still alive?" Tusk squealed. "Prepare to be shot down." "No Tusk. It'll be you who is shot down." Raider said. I felt a few glancing blows from above. I turned but the gefighter stayed on me. I got ready to try again when it exploded. I saw Raider's wing fly by. "Thanks Raider." I said. There was no reply. The fight stretched on. Raider proved himself to be able to still fly. He saved everyone at least once though I had to help him out a few times. Tusk pretty much stayed as far away from us as he could. Every time I tried to get close he would order a few gefighters to get in the way. "Hey Ash, relax." Kyle said. "I will not." I snapped heading for Tusk again. "Stop him." Tusk squealed again. He still thought I was a boy just like Raider had. This time I pushed the last of my power to my shields and flew past the gefighters taking major hits. I pulled onto Tusk's tail and got ready to get a lock on him. Suddenly Raider flew past between us taking the lock. "You crazy bastard. I had him." I shouted. "I should shoot you down." "He's mine." Raider growled. "Retreat." Tusk ordered. "Coward." I growled. The gefighters and Star Raider pulled back leaving Mcbeth airspace. "Thank you Star Fox." General Argner said. I said as polite a good bye as I could manage and we all head back to Great Fox. I was still steaming as we docked and got out of our arwings. Raider did the smart thing and got out of there before I could get my hands on him. "I'm going to go change and get to work on these arwings." Kyle said. "And I'm starved." Justin said. "Come on Dan." That left me alone in the Bay. My team knew me. They knew the best way for me to clam down was to be alone. I just couldn't believe Tusk had slipped through my fingers. Maybe the mistake was keeping Raider here. Even if he was a good pilot. I needed to clear my head. We had tow extra wings in the back of the Bay for emergencies. I got one out and shot from the Bay. Without knowing why I headed towards Venom. I guess I figured I could see if there was anything around. I felt myself relax at the controls of the arwing. I really did love to fly. Suddenly below me, or actually below me in terms of Venom, three gefighters were flying past. I zoned in on your radio signal. "Man why do we have to find the Great Fox?" one complained. "Because if we destroy Great Fox, Star Fox will be gone." Another said. That was all I needed to hear. I turned towards them and when I got close enough I shot down the middle of the group. "We got one of them." One of the pilots said. It was then that I realized my mistake. Why would three wings be looking for Great Fox alone? A starship and a few dozen gefighters appeared seemingly out of no where. I cussed quietly. I could run but how far could I get and I couldn't lead them back to Great Fox. "Robert?" I said. "Hey Ash. What's up?" Daniel said over the radio. "I'm in a little trouble." I said as my arwing shook. "We'll bring Great Fox." "No." I cut him off. "I don't want her in this. I need some back up." "Kyle and Robert have all the wings under repair. None of them are flight worthy right now." "There is an extra wing in the back of the Bay." "Who do you want me to send?" Daniel asked. I was silent for a second. There was only one pilot on Great Fox who would be able to help me alone. "Send Raider." I said. "Are you sure?" Daniel asked in amazement. "Now." I nearly screamed as my arwing shook from another hit. I turned my attention back to staying alive. It was a lot different being in a dogfight by myself. Every gefighter was on my tail and they were all trying to shoot me down. I did every trick I knew to try and shake the gefighters but when I lost one there was just another to replace it. "I take it this means you trust me?" Raider's voice came over the radio. "What other choice did I have?" I asked. He shot down the gefighters on my tail and then pulled up beside me. "So what's the plan?" he asked. "Stay alive." "Sounds good to me." He said. We plowed through the gefighters side by side. Not a word was said. It was strange but I seemed to know what Raider's next move would be. We had their numbers down when suddenly a gefighter hurled towards me. Before I could react our wings hit and my right wing was torn from the body of my arwing. My arwing spun out of control right towards Venom. I tried to regain control but it was no use. "Ash. You've got to get out of that spin." Raider pulled as close as he could to my spinning arwing. "What's it look like I'm trying to do?" I snapped. Then he did the most dangerous and gutsy thing I'd ever seen. He moved him arwing closer to my remaining wing as it spun by. They hit with a gut wrenching jolt. Somehow neither of the two wings came off and the hit had stopped the spinout. We entered Venom's atmosphere as I tried to pull up. "Dang." I said. "I can't pull up. Not with only one wing." "Then get ready for another blow." Raider said. He maneuvered his arwing beneath mine and puled up. My arwing came to rest on his. "I can't pull out of this dive with this much weight." Raider said grimly. "But I can try to soften the landing." I looked down at the mountain range we were headed for. "Define soft." I said and prepared for impact. "Ash wake up." A soothing voice said. I groaned and tried to open my eyes. I felt like I was on Solar it was so hot. "Ash, damnit, wake up." Raider's voice cut into my sleep. I opened my eyes. Fire lapped at the control board in front of me. I could feel Raider yanking at my arms trying to pull me free. My foot was caught in the seat belt. I kicked it off and scrambled out of the flaming arwing. My cloths were half charred and so were parts of my fur. Raider didn't look much better though he had not bee as close to the fire. We got a safe distance away from the two burning arwings. "Well that's twice you're saved my life." I said. "You'd better be careful or I might start trusting you." "They're not going to let us get away." Raider said. "Not that easily." Suddenly I jumped forward onto Raider pushing him to the ground. A laser lanced out over us. "I didn't know you cared." Raider said. "I don't." I said. "But that's one payback." We scrambled to our feet and ran towards a large rock. More guns fired out behind us. We dove behind the rock and lay breathing hard. Raider's hand went to his side but he didn't have his gun. I pulled mine out. I slowly stuck my head around the rock and shot a dog that was a little to close. "They were ready for us." I sighed. "So what do we do?" "Well we can't stay here." Raider said. I nodded. "So we make a run for it." "On three." Raider said. "One...two...three!" We sprang away from the rock running as fast as we could. It was not long before we heard pursuit. We raced over the rocky ground. "Do you have any idea where we're going?" Raider asked panting. "No." I said. "I've never been to this freakin planet before." The lasers hit the dirt just behind us. I sprinted faster. "I can't say it was nice knowing you." Raider said. "Ditto." I said. Then suddenly I pitched forward as the ground gave way beneath me. I screamed as I fell into darkness. I groaned. And tried to open my eyes. This was happening too much lately. "I think the vixen's waking up." A voice said. I opened my eyes slowly. Above me was the rough ceiling of a cave. I turned my head slowly. My vision spun. I groaned again closing my eyes. "Relax." Another voice, deeper this time, said. "Just take your time." A damp cloth was placed on my head. "Where am I?" I asked, my eyes still closed. "You're safe." The voice said. I opened my eyes. Standing next to me was a creature unlike anything I'd ever seen. The body of a cat, sleek and graceful, the head and arms of an eagle. It was what Raider had described to be gryphons. "Oh Lylat." I tried to sit up but my head spun. I had to lay back down. "Don't try and get up. The tallest of the three said moving towards me. He was gray in color "Why so it's easier to kill me?" I snapped. "What?" the younger looking one, who was black, asked. Raider shifted on the bed beside me and opened his eyes. He saw the gryphons and immediately fear took over his eyes. "No." he said and fell off the back of the bed onto the floor. The tall gryphon moved towards him. "Get away from me gryphon!" he screamed. "Gryphon?" the gryphon said sounding confused. "No, we're not gryphons. We're griffins." "What's the difference." I said. "You're trying to destroy Lylat, what does it matter." "Oh, no." the white gryphon said. "No you've got it wrong. It's complicated to explain but we won't hurt you. We're griffins." The black griffin helped Raider up. His leg was in bandages. "You^Åyou look like^Å" Raider said nervously. "Gryphons, yes we should." The gray griffin said. "My name is Storm. This is Star and Blizzard." "Ash McCloud." I said. "And he's Raider O' Donnel." "We know." Storm said. "We've been watching you for some time now." "Watching us? Maybe you'd better explain. From the beginning." I said. "All right." Storm said. "We were created by Andross as a sort of experiment." "Andross created you?" "Yes we were his first experiments in intelligent killers, creatures that would be ruthless killers. He created us in his image. We were perfect except for one factor. You've heard of Kyth before right?" I nodded. We had learned a little about it on Katina. It was a sort of telepathy, mind reading thing or something. I hadn't paid much attention to the lessons. It was being studied on Katina extensively over the past few years but they'd not had much success with it." "Well Andross made our brains fully Kyth supporting." Storm said. "I remember hearing about some experiments with Kyth." Raider said. "They found some fox they thought had it." "He did." Storm said. "But he couldn't control it. Andross thought being able to read minds would make us better killers. We would know other's weaknesses, their faults. And it worked except for one thing. We were able to read Andross' mind and knew what he wanted us to do. We refused and he banished us. Only twenty of us survived." "So you made your lives here in these mountains?" I asked. Storm nodded. "Then Andross tried again. He kept the same DNA but instead of the Kyth supporting brains he made them able to change shape, to morph, into anything they see just once. They are as intelligent as us but pure evil. After Andross was killed they swore revenge on the Lylat system" "And just like Andross they knew that the center of the resistance is Corneria and they wanted to take it out." I said. "General Juniper." Storm said. "Was one of them. In disguise." "Oh my. That explains a lot." I said sighing. "Yes it does." Storm said. "We are willing to fight but we don't have the resources. We were breed to kill and we will. But for Lylat, not against it." "Tell me more about this Kyth thing." I said. "For starters you both have quite a bit of it for lylatians." Storm said. "What? Kyth? How could we?" I asked looked from Storm to Raider. "Does that mean you can read our minds?" Raider asked. "No. Kyth is very apparent if you know what to look for. Anyway your Kyth would block me even if I did try." "So what does this mean?" I asked. "It means you need to be trained." Storm said. "People with Kyth are very susceptible to those around them. If you were to go up against the gryphons their evil would be too much for you to handle. You need to be able to protect yourselves." "Storm, Rainbow says there's a flagship flying over head. It's not one of theirs." Blizzard said. I looked around puzzled. There were no other gryphons in the room. "Another of the benefits of Kyth." Blizzard said. "I think they're your friends." "IS there any way to contact them?" I asked. "Storm smiled. "Of course." "God Ash we thought you were dead." Justin ran up to me when they had arrived. The griffins had a huge cave that Great Fox was sitting in. Kyle and Daniel were equally happy to see me. "So he's still alive?" Kyle looked at Raider Raider just regarded the toad coldly but said nothing. "So what are we going to do now?" Daniel asked. "We're staying here for a while. I've got a bit to learn from the griffins." I said. "Well then." Justin said glancing at Star. "Let's get unpacked." We stayed for nearly two weeks. Star took Raider and me and slowly taught us our powers. It was a grueling process and it usually left us mentally exhausted at the end of each lesson. I tried everything I could. Star said my Kyth was stronger so I could do more then Raider. It soon became apparent. Storm and Blizzard taught us The Arts. A form of fighting they had learned before they had rebelled against Andross. They had said they were good fighters. I was forced to agree. They were deadly with The Arts. With a weapon in their hands they were unbeatable. "I remember my mom teaching me this when I was younger." I said as we finished up a lesson. "So do we." Storm said. I stopped suddenly and looked at the griffin. "What?" "You knew that your mother used to work for Andross right?" Storm asked. I nodded. My mom had told me how she had been tricked into working for Andross after her home and family was destroyed. Then she had joined up with Star Fox and helped them to destroy the base. "She taught us to fight when we were first created. The Arts was a dying style of fighting but Andross knew it would be good for us to learn it." "Makes sense." Raider said. "Did the gryphons learn it to?" "Unfortunately yes." Storm said. "But we have something they don't have." He pulled the saber that was hanging from his belt out. It glittered brightly. Without a word the griffin slammed it against the cave wall. I was shocked. He handed it to me. I checked the blade. There was not a nick, or even a scratch on it. "Wow." I said. "We found a new type of metal in the caves that is very much like that which is found on stars. After a bit of experimenting we managed to make a few dozen of these. We call them star sabers. "It's beautiful." I handed it back. "Thank you." Storm said. Daniel, Kyle, and a gray griffin named Rainbow walked into the room. "Are you sure the Hard Drive can take all that?" he was asking Rainbow. "Sure thing." She replied. "It'll improve the speed and accuracy of the system too." "Man you guys are smart." Kyle said. Rainbow just smiled. We had come to find out that the griffins were very nice. "Now I think you're ready to try something new Ash." Star said. "It's called that Color Room though we don't use it often. It's very draining and even we can't stay long. It's more for communicating over long distances but it'll be useful to know." I nodded. "What about Raider?" "He needs to train a bit more before he tries it." Star said. Raider nodded. He was still a little scared of his newfound power. He'd never admit it but I could tell. Star sat down on the floor and I sat next to her. "Now let yourself go and follow me." She said. I closed my eyes and called on my Kyth. I felt Star moving away and I followed. I felt like I was moving through a think fog, then we came out. I was in a room. Colors of every shade mixed and swirled around me on the ceiling, walls, and floor though I couldn't see any of them. I tried to turn my head but I couldn't move. I said in a sort of thought speech. Star said appearing in front of me. I tried again. This time I moved easily. I said. Star said. >Now tell me if you start to get tired.> I nodded. I moved around getting my movements to be more natural and smooth. It took some work. a new voice said. I recognized it and the feeling that came with it immediately. My mother faded into view in front of me. she embraced me. I felt tears in my eyes. It had been so long. We pulled apart and she saw Star. Star said. I asked. She said. Star said. I said. she said. I did. Immediately information, faster then I could comprehend, rushed into my head. My mom was telling me everything she knew about the gryphons and the fortress. Suddenly I couldn't breath. I gasped for breath and dropped to my knees. my mom's voice was full of worry. Star said quickly. I tried again to breathe but no air would come. My vision started to fade. I felt Star grab me and pull. she said I tried to and as I blanked out I felt a huge yank and a rip. I was back in the cave gasping for breath. Air rushed into my starved lungs. "Crap Ash. You scared us to death." Justin was kneeling beside me. "We thought we'd have to let Kyle lead." I smiled slightly still pulling air into my lings. I was finally able to get up. "I saw my mom." I said. "I know where our parents are." "So we're going?" Kyle asked. I nodded. "Let me come with you." Star said. "I want to help." "You're welcome to." I said. "Thank you for your hospitality Storm but we have to go." He nodded. "Then take this." He took a saber from the shelf next to him and held it out to me. "I couldn't." "You can." I took the saber and shook the griffin's hand. We smiled at each other and then my team and me headed to Great Fox. The first thing we did was to called General Serengeti and called a meeting with all the generals in Lylat. They agreed after we explained what we knew and we were scheduled to meet with them in Corneria City. As we entered the room all the generals looked up. General Serengeti spotted Raider right away. "What is he doing here?" The cheetah asked ready to call the guards if he had to. "He's with us General." I said. "Relax." The generals were not thrilled as Raider took a seat next to us at the table. Star was shrouded in a black cloak, which hid all of her but her head. She was dismissed without a second thought. "No generals, we call you here because we know now who we are fighting." I said and I waited for a reaction. It came quickly. All the generals murmured to each other. "Well?" General Serengeti prompted. "Venom." I said. "But not them exactly." "Venom? But how? Why?" General Angler, Macbeth's general asked. "It's a little complicated." I said. "So I am going to let Star here tell you what it's all about." Star stood up. She did not look nervous at all. She regarded the generals with a look of indifference. "Well it all started a few years before Andross was defeated." Star went on to tell the generals all about griffins and gryphons. I could tell that the generals were having trouble believing it. Star kept going until she got to the part about the gryphons wanting revenge. "So you're trying to tell us that some creation of Andross' is trying to destroy Lylat to avenge Andross' death?" General Angler asked with skepticism in his voice. Star nodded. "And why would we be expected to believe you?" Star looked at me and I nodded shortly. Star let the black cloak drop relieving her cat body and eagle like arms and wings. The generals just stared in amazement. "Gryphon?" General Serengeti asked me. "No griffin." I replied. "They are the good ones and they are on our side against the gryphons. Star has offered to fly with Star Fox to help us out." "So what do we do?" General Angler sounded a little humbled. "I met my mother and she has given me a sort of map of the gryphon's fortress on Venom and Raider knows where it is." "Your mother? Vixey's still alive?" "Along with the rest of the Star Fox team." I said. "And that's what we're going to do. We're going to break into the fortress and get our parents and then destroy it from the inside." "Then what do you need us for?" General Serengeti asked. "We need you to be a distraction." I said. "It is good that the gryphons think Raider and I are dead. It's going to be us and Star breaking into the fortress." I hadn't told this last part to my team yet. "Ash!" Justin asked in surprise. "Why?" "Because if you and Dan and Kyle are there fighting they'll let their guard down and send everyone to fight you. We can sneak in and they won't have any idea that we are there." "That's crazy Ash. You don't just break into the enemies fortress." Kyle said. "They only way we can destroy the fortress is from inside and I won't do that until our parents are safe." "But why does it have to be from inside?" General Serengeti asked. "Because," I replied. "The fortress is deep underground." "But why take Raider. I mean he could^Åwell^Å" General Serengeti didn't finish. He didn't have to. "Turn on you." Kyle said bluntly. "You can't go down there with him." Raider growled lowly but then turned from the room and left. "You don't have any say in what I do Kyle." I said. "Now generals we have to go." Once we were back on Great Fox Kyle went off in a huff. Star, Daniel, and Justin sat down in the control room with me. "Robert. Where is Raider?" I asked. "On level 4 in room 2." Robert replied. "But that room's locked." Daniel said. "Then he opened it." Justin said leaning back and propping his feet up. "Going into the melting pot Ash?" "I think so." I said. I headed down to level 4 and stopped outside the door. There was no sound coming from inside. I pushed the door open and walked inside. The room was covered in dust. It looked like it had been untouched for many years. It sort of looked like a trophy room. There were dust coated pictures hanging all over the walls. There were pictures of my grandfather and his team, and some of my father, with his Star Fox team. On the shelves were metals in their boxes. I looked around in wonder. There was a trail of footprints leading to the back of the room. I followed them around behind a pile of dust covered boxes. Raider sat on the floor behind the bushed his eyes closed. "Raider, what are you doing?" I asked. He didn't answer. I knelt down and touched his arm. "Raider?" There was still no reply. "Okay fine." I said standing up. "Be like that." I turned and started to walk away. Suddenly I heard Raider grunt. His breaths began to come in short shallow gasps. I watched as he jerked on the ground. Then it dawned on me. He was Kything and now he was trapped. I knelt next to him and shook my head. "I don't know if I can do this." I said and then I called on my Kyth. I felt the thick dragging feeling and then I found myself in the Color Room again. Raider lay on the floor in front of me gasping. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?" I said. He looked up at me; I could see fear in his eyes. "Leave me alone." He gasped. "No you don't." I said and took a hold of him. I started to pull. Raider tried to break my grip but he was too weak now. I yanked his as I headed back to my own body. I felt him coming with me. Suddenly I was back in my body and Raider lay gasping on the floor. My forehead was covered in sweat. "You crazy wolf." I said. "Why in the heck did you do that?" He took a few deep breaths. "Why did you save me?" "Because that's no way to die." I said. "Anyway you think you're going to get out of this that easily? Wait. You were trying to kill yourself weren't you?" "I didn't know you cared." He said. He sat back against the wall. I moved to sit beside him not arguing. "What do I have to live for anymore? I'm wanted by every planet in Lylat. I'm not wanted here. There's no reason to live anymore." "Jeez Raider." I said. "In case you didn't realize it there was a reason I asked for you to come and back me up. You're a freakin good pilot." "So?" I sighed. "The point is, you are needed. I don't think we'd ever admit it allowed but you're a part of this team now." He looked at me. "When was that decided?" "I'm not sure. It just wouldn't be right without you anymore." He sighed. "You're team doesn't think so." "They just won't admit it. I mean you did do some things that are hard to forgive. Now come on. We have some plans to come up with." I stood up and offered my hand. "By the way, how'd you get in this room." He took my hand and I pulled him up. "That, is a secret." He smiled slightly. My and my team spent the rest of the day on our plans. Everyone had input and Justin, to our surprise, had some very good ideas. I put together a crude map using the information my mom had given me. I still couldn't make sense of all the information but it was straightening out. "I still think this is crazy." Kyle said when we took a break. "And why would that be? Because I'm going?" Raider asked. Kyle regarded him. "Maybe." Raider leaned back. He was different somehow after the incident the other day. He seemed a little more in control though I could still see his spirit burning in his golden eyes. "Now then." I said. "I think we're ready." We looked at each other nervously. This was no small thing we were going to do. "No we're not." Justin said standing up. "If I'm going to risk my life tomorrow I want to party tonight." I smiled. "Sounds good to me." We partied most of the night away. We danced and talked the night away. I had a great time and we had forgotten about our nervousness by the time we got home. The next morning we were all up at the crack of dawn. We met in the Launching Bay and stood for a while saying nothing. The plan ran through my mind. I was checking for anything we could have forgotten, any mistake. The Cornerian Army would attack to be joined by Kyle, Justin, and Daniel. Then Raider, Star and I would sneak in while they were distracted. Once inside we would have to wing it as Justin put it. There was no way to know how many people there would be inside or what would happen. "Well Now how are we supposed to be optimistic if everyone's depressed and worried." Justin said. "Come on join me in a rousing song of "The Vida Loca." "Anything but that." I laughed. Kyle and Daniel cracked smiles and Raider rolled his eyes. I took my hand and put it out. "Ash McCloud. Let's kick some griffin butt." Justin jumped right in. "Justin Lombardi. It's time for some payback." Daniel was next. "Daniel Gray, I'm pumped and ready to go." "Kyle Toad, They'll never know what hit em." Star moved up and put her hand on the pile. "Star Eaglewing, those gryphons are going down." Raider stayed back watching us. I knew he was debating weather to join us. "Come on Raider, man." Kyle said. "You belong here now." Raider smiled. It was the first time I'd ever seen him do it before. He walked up and put his hand on the pile. "Raider O' Donnel, Let's do this." "Star Fox." We said and it was time to go. "Okay so far so good." I said. I was close enough to Venom to see the battle between Corneria and the gryphon's fighters start. Star and Raider's arwing were behind me. We were waiting. "Okay guys^Ågo." I said to the rest of my team. "And no one get shot down." "Eye eye ma'am." Justin said. "And good luck." I saw their three arwings join the fight. "So Star Fox. We see you're missing a member or two." I heard Tusk's voice. "And you'll pay for it scum." Kyle said with venom in his voice. I almost believed that I was dead. "That's our cue guys." I said to Raider and Star. We moved toward Venom. We came in from the back, if you could call it that. Raider knew where the fortress was and we soon found it. We landed a mile or two behind it. "Okay everyone stay together." I said adjusting my star saber on my hip. We moved off through the forest towards the fortress. We kept silent with our Kyth wide open. We only talked through our Kyth. Star said. Raider said. The sun was above us before the fortress came into view. We sat in some bushes for a few minutes surveying the scene. We could see where more and more wing were coming out to head to the battle above. There were only two guards at the entrance. We could handle them easily. I said. Raider said. He and Star inched around through the bushes towards the guards. Just as they got ready to strike something hit me from behind. I couldn't figure out how someone had snuck up on me as I fell into darkness. "Ow my head^Å" I sat up finding my hands tied. "It could be worse." A voice said. In front of me stood a gryphon. I could tell because of the evil radiating from him. I block myself as best as I could. Standing all around me were other gryphons of different colors and sizes. "We thought you might still be alive. Those good for nothing griffins." The tallest gryphon growled. "Now where are your friends?" "Like I'd tell you." I said standing up. The gryphons was still taller a full head taller then I was. The other gryphons were as tall as I was if not taller. "So you're the famous McCloud?" the gryphon said. "Yes, but you already knew that." I said. "So what are you going to do with me now?" "Kill you more then likely." He said. "Though The Warrior has ask to be able to beat you first." I took a step back glaring at them. What now? I thought to myself. I just hope Raider and Star are okay. "Where are my parents?" I growled. "Safe, for the time being." The tallest gryphons said. "So they are alive." I said. I called on my Kyth and scanned his mind. It took most of my strength to hold back the overflow of evil from him mind. Got it. I said happily as I found the way to the room where my parents were. Now to get there. "Yes in a sense." The gryphon said. 'The ropes are loose. Make a run for it.' A voice said. The ropes holding me arms suddenly became slack. I ran for the door. All the gryphons jumped for me but I jumped away. I was out the door before they could get me. I raced down the hall towards where my parents were being held. "Stop her." I heard the gryphons yell. I turned a corner and someone gabbed me pulling me back. Their hand clamped over my mouth as the door shut. "God Ash. We were so worried about you." It was Raider. I turned around. Star stood behind him. "You had to get in the easy way." She smiled. "How'd you escape." "Luck." I said. "but I know where my parents are." "That's good except for one thing." Raider said. "What?" Both Star and I asked. "How the heck are we going to get out of here? I mean we can't exactly sneak nine people out of here. Especially when everyone here knows our faces. I thought for minute. "Wait they don't know Star. She can walk around and find a way out. They won't know that she's not supposed to be here." "It could work." Raider said. "The room my parents are in is sealed off. I think we can get in through the vents and then we can wait in there." I said. "Could be a plan." Raider said. "I think there's a vent in here." "Okay Star. Be careful and let's go." I said. Raider pulled the grate off the vent and I climbed inside. He followed me in and shut the grate. When we were inside Star opened the door and headed out. Raider said. I smiled. We moved through the vents towards the room. I did not know where I was going but as I went along it seemed to come to me. Raider said. I said. I was not sure how far we had to go left. We turned right and suddenly the vent got smaller and narrower. I went forward. Raider said. I carefully turned around. Raider had backed up and was refusing to go forward. I asked. I backed out carefully and moved next to him. Raider didn't answer. I could feel Raider's nervousness with my empathy. I said. He looked at me. he said. I said. He stopped for a second and just stared at me. I don't even know why I said it but then I realized that it was true. He moved over and kissed me on the cheek and then moved into the vent. I blushed, smiling and then I followed him. At the end of the very long vent was a grate. Raider said. He pushed the grate off and climbed out. I followed him. We were in a small room that had a feint bluish light shining. "What are those?" Raider asked in surprise. I looked up at tube like containers lining the room. I moved forward and wiped the condensation off it. A familiar face stared back. "Oh God. It's my dad." "What?" Raider moved to another of the containers and wiped it's face. "This one's a toad." "Kyle's dad." I said. "They must be in suspended animation." Raider moved to the control panel. He pulled up the screen and began typing. "They've been in there for more then a year." He said. "Can you get them out?" I asked looking at my father's motionless figure. "I think." Raider said. He typed a few more things and then there was the sound of escaping air as the tubes opened. My father stumbled out coughing. All around me the rest of my team's parents came out coughing and breathing deeply. "Dad." I said jumping into his arms. "Ash? What? Oh Ash." He hugged me fiercely. "Ashley." My mom was hugging dad and me from behind. "What happened?" the dog, who had to be Daniel's dad Bill asked. "It's a long story." I said pulling back, happy tears in my eyes. "Fox? Is that you?" a voice said. My dad turned around to face another fox. "Dad?" my dad asked in disbelief. "You're alive?" "And it seems that I'm younger then you son." James said. It was true. James McCloud. The first leader of Star Fox, my dad's dad was alive and he only looked thirty. I was getting confused. "What happened to you dad. Why are you so young?" my dad asked. "Last I remember was that traitor Pigma turning us over to Andross. He wanted to keep me out of the way so he put me in that thing." He pointed to the tube. "It kept me at the same age as I was when I went in I suppose." "I thought you were dead." My mom said. "In a way I was Vixey." James said. "I see you finally met my son." My mom and dad smiled. I was still shocked. "And don't tell me this is my granddaughter." He looked towards me and smiled. There was warmth in that smile. I nodded. It was going to be kinda weird having a grandfather that was only ten or so years older then I was. "I feel so behind in everything." James said. "Not much more then any of the rest of us. It must be some story of what's been going on since we've been out of action." Falco said. "And we have plenty of time to tell it because we have to wait here for a while until Star gets us a way out." Raider said. "And you are?" my dad asked raising an eyebrow at Raider. I knew why he wouldn't exactly trust a wolf. "Raider O' Donnel sir." Raider said. "O' Donnel?" "He's a friend dad. And a member of the team. It really is a long story." I said. "And we'd like to hear it." Slippy said in his high pitched voice. I took a deep breath. I don't know how long it took to tell the story. I started from the beginning. I left out specific details but the parents got the basic idea. "So Lylat's at war with itself again." James shook his head. I nodded. "And still really with Andross. The gryphons are as deadly and evil as, if not more, then he was." "So you're friend Star is a griffin? And she's Andross' creation but good?" Katt asked. "This is more complicated then I thought." "Tell me about it." Raider said. "And we have to live it." I said. "Now as soon as Star gets us a way out she'll be here to get us out." Suddenly an alarm blared. "Or that could happen." Bill said grimly. "Now what?" The door was pushed open and Star appeared. "Oh good you found them." She said. "Everyone Star, Star everyone." Raider said. "Now let's go." We all raced out of the room. "What'd you do?" I asked Star as we headed towards the Launching Bay. "Just set up a few bombs. This place is going to go up like a forest fire." "A girl after my own heart." My mom said. "They're to busy trying to find the bombs to try and stop us." Star said. "And there are plenty of extra wings to get us out of here." We arrived in the Launching Bay. There was not a soul in sight. We all picked wings and jumped in. "As soon as we get up there we'll be in the middle of a fight." I said. "So be ready." "Check." My dad said. "Ready here." My mom said. "It's been so long." James said. "Bout time actually." Falco laughed. "I'm ready sugar." Katt said. "Let's go." Slippy cheered. "I'm ready." Bill said. "I'm go." Raider said. "And it's time to take them down." Star said. We shot out of the Bay headed up out of the atmosphere. I could still hear the alarms blaring behind us. Above us the battle raged. "Need any help?" I asked. "Ash!" Justin cried. "And all our parents." I said. "Let's rock and roll Star Fox." I heard cries of dismay coming from all the Venomian pilots. We tore though them like a tornado. Suddenly below us there was a huge explosion that shook our wings. The fortress went up in a ball of flames. "I might of used a little to much powder." Star said innocently. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Justin laughed. "Yes!" a cheer went up from the Cornerian pilots. It did not, however, scare away the Venomian pilots. If anything they redoubled their efforts. I found flying with my new Kyth was strange at first. I knew exactly when on of the Venomian fighters was on my tail without looking. I could tell if someone on our side needed help. It was a whole new experience. I took down fighter after fighter. It was totally cool flying with the old Star Fox team. My grandfather flew like he had not been stuck in a tube for fifty years. Raider pulled up beside me. "I spy and annoying pork." He said. Looking forward I could see Tusk and the other two wolfin-stars. The Venomians were grossly outnumbered by this time but Star Raider was giving a good account of themselves. I shot forward. Tusk saw me coming. This time he did not turn tail and run, he flew at me shooting. The shots ripped burns down the sides of the pathetic wing. We shot past each other. I pulled around wishing for my g-diffuser. Tusk was flying away. Raider shot in front of him. Tusk's guns ripped into Raider's wing taking off half of the right wing. Raider cussed. In that moment that Tusk was busy I locked onto him and fired a missile. Tusk didn't have time to scream before his wing exploded. "For you Josh." I said. "Crud. I forgot these aren't arwings." Raider said. "You need to dock?" I asked. "Not till everyone of these guys are gone." Raider said. I smiled. "Let's go then." The other two members of Star Raider were taking out quickly by James and Daniel. Without them there was not much challenge left. The Cornerian Army and three generations of Star Fox cleared the area quickly. Not one Venomian wing flew away from that battle. There was a lot of celebration going on for the next few days. That was to be expected. We headed back to Corneria and there was an awards ceremony. We all got medals. I put mine in the dusty room that Raider had opened. We spent the week getting our parents back into the here and now. I hadn't realized how much Corneria had changed in just one year. We were celebrities again and I was sure everything would be fine. That was until I found out about Josh. "He's dying. His body's just giving out." The doctor said. "You can see him but he won't be able to respond." My parents had known about Josh and we had visited him many times since we had gotten back to Corneria. The base was almost completely rebuilt. Josh was still in the Sick Bay at the base. My mom cried a little and my dad just held her. James came, he told me he was to young for me to call him grandfather, though said he felt out of place. The rest of my team was there too. I just sort of sat by his bed with my head in my hands. Star moved up beside me. "Your brother has a very high amount of Kyth ability." She said. "So?" I said looking up. She raised her eyebrows and then I understood. I pulled slowly into the Color Room. I looked around and slowly Josh faded into view in front of me. Physically he looked fine but he looked tired. "Josh." I ran over and hugged him. "I missed you so much." "I know." He said. "Why are you here? Why don't you come back?" I asked. "I can't anymore." He said. "I'm to tired. I only stayed this long to help you." "You can't die." I said. "Mom and dad are back and James^Å" "You don't really need me anymore. You're doing a great job as Star Fox leader." "I need you Josh, as a brother. Please don't leave." I begged. "I have to. Death's been after me for a while. I managed to get some more time but it's run out." "I'll miss you." I said. He smiled. "Don't mourn to long. You know I hate that." Then he was gone. Right out from in front of me. I dropped my head and felt tears squeeze out. Raider and Star appeared beside me. "He's gone." Raider said quietly. I just nodded. The day of the funeral was beautiful. Solar shone out of a cloudless blue sky. There were birds chirping in the tree above the grave. I wondered why. It should be rainy, or at least cloudy. That's how I felt inside. I stood next to the coffin in full uniform. Justin, Kyle, Daniel, and Raider and Star, who were now officially part of the team, stood next to me. Everyone one else was there too. All of our parents, General Serengeti, and members of the army and friends. The preacher said a prayer and the casket was lowered and buried. Everyone else headed to the lunch that was being served. I stayed. I knelt by the fresh earth and put down the flowers I had been holding. "Bye Josh." I said. "Good bye Squirt." A voice whispered and then a breeze blew between my ears ruffling the fur. I looked up at the tree above me. Not a leaf on it stirred. "Come on Ash. It'll be alright." My team appeared beside me. "Yeah I know." I said standing up. I threw my arms around Justin and Daniel's shoulders and smiled. "I know." ~Vixey Starr~