Thanks again for all the awesome reviews and support.

Keep it real,

-SilencedFox

Prologue

I am starting to think that killing Magnus was a really bad idea. I can't say I didn't enjoy it and in fact when I pulled the trigger, it seemed like the right thing to do. He nearly destroyed half the damn city, killed so many innocents, and had one of the biggest roles in Andross's army. That justified it enough in my head. But what bothers me the most was the fact I didn't even think twice about it. It would have been a much wiser decision to let the bastard live. We could have learned so much from him; or at least that's what they kept telling me. Those idiots, they really thought he would talk? Doesn't matter now, oh no, not one bit. I'm think I'm losing my mind. I can't trust anyone. Everyone is out to get us now. Watch the news, read a paper, and sure enough you will see our names somewhere. They put a spin on the story of us taking down Magnus. They made it seem that it was our fault entirely that the bank tower collapsed. They failed to mention that it would have destroyed anyway had we shown up or not. Now we have been labeled vigilantes that need to be stopped and brought to justice. We are on the run, and it seems like the whole system is against us. Well, that's not entirely true. The populous seems to be divided on what they really believe. Some say we are still the saviors of this system. Others will believe just about anything they are told and agree that we should be taken into custody before more, "tragic events" take place due to our, "carelessness, and disregard" for the peoples' safety. They made it look like we just did it for the money... Unfortunately, the way things are today for the Star Fox team, everything we do is for the money. We are running out of supplies and weapons; things we need to live. We grounded the Great Fox in a secret location on Fortuna. We cut a deal with one of our new clients to hide our ship in return for our services. We have been doing a lot of jobs since we left Corneria. Most of them for space pirates, or crime organizations down on the planets' surfaces. It's nothing to be proud of, but they pay good, and they couldn't care less if the entire Corneria Army is looking for us. As long as we get the job done. Weather it be destroying an outpost full of rival space pirates, or blowing up a weapons smuggling operation somewhere on Katina, they deliver on their promises. I can't help imagine what my father would think of me, what I have forced the team to become. We are going against everything he stood for and what principles he founded Star Fox on. The more I think about it though makes me realize that he would have done the same thing. He wouldn't have turned himself in, he wouldn't just give up and admit defeat. He would keep running, he would keep trying to find a way to make things right again. He would make everyone see we aren't the enemy. Yeah, you could say we are working for the "bad guys" on occasion. But we have never taken a contract that would cause us to draw our weapons on the innocent. I have no problem taking down a space pirates' rival to make a bit of extra cash. I guess you could say we have become more like Star Wolf with each job we take... I'm beginning to really doubt I really saw my father when I was stranded on Venom. If he's really out there somewhere in heaven or whatever you want to call it, watching over me, then why do I feel so alone? I never mentioned it to anyone, they would probably think I'm crazy, or say it was just a dream. It probably was anyway. So maybe it was a bad idea to kill Magnus after all. I can't really say what it was exactly that brought me to do it. Maybe he really did get the best of me and proved my morals could be thrown aside if I wanted them to be. I remember the smug look on his face just like it was yesterday. I remember pulling the trigger and watching him fall to the ground; the life drained from his eyes. I think the real reason I killed him was simply because he knew my father. And depending on how you knew my father, could very well make you a dead man. There's no going back now. Magnus is dead, and we're wanted men because of it. They aren't making much of an effort to take us down even though you hear everyday on the news they are one step closer to bringing us to justice. There hasn't been any direct attacks on us, but they get us where it really hurts. They suspended our accounts so we can't spend any money the army payed us. So acquiring supplies has become a real bitch. Almost everything we need we get from the space pirates now; for a price of course. I don't know why the army turned on us, and I don't know why they just won't let us live in peace. You think after all we did for the army, they would just leave us alone and call it even. But we get by, day by day, always looking over our shoulders. We take the jobs no one wants and deal with the scum of the universe just so we can get our hands on weapons and supplies; it's how we survive. It's getting difficult though, we can't make money nearly as fast as we need to spend it. Tensions are high and my team is falling apart at the seams. I think it's time we dig a little deeper and try to find out why General Pepper wants us out of the picture. The people we work for, they got connections. They know people, who know people, who will talk. It's been one year since the bank tower incident back on Corneria. The Lylat system has been at peace for a year as well. Unfortunately, that peace once again has run dry. As it turns out, Magnus was a man of his word after all. He didn't bring at traditional war forth however; this is something entirely different. Small calculated attacks are being played out in almost every city on every planet. They are trying to break down the foundation of our civilization brick by brick until it collapses in on itself once and for all. Everyone is scared, no one can sleep peacefully during times like these. It doesn't matter what planet you are on and the army hasn't been much of a help either. They say they are doing all they can and they are taking every precaution to prevent these, "acts of terrorism." But people all over the Lylat System are still dying in these attacks, Corneria is still a wasteland, and we can't even talk to the Corneria Army with out the risk of them finding us and taking us in.....

I can't just stand by and let this happen.

When I walk the streets of the other planets' cities, usually trying to find work or an arms dealer, I find people gathered around talking about the attacks on other planets, and how the Army is doing nothing to help them. I always hear someone cry out about Star Fox. How we are the only ones that could save them. However that one person is usually cast out because they suggested a band of mercenaries were their only chance for survival in a time of chaos.

I think it's time Star Fox proved their worth once again.

Chapter 8: Broken Wings

Macbeth, 7:12am.

A lone figure walked through the hallways of an old abandon building deep within the city of Macbeth. The building was an industrial structure complete with stained concrete floors, walls, and rusted metal piping running in all directions. The air was thick with dust and the smell of many different fumes passed through the nose of the lone individual.

The shadowy figure was draped with a hooded trench coat that covered his entire body; it was clear he wanted to hide his identity from plain site.

He approached a large metal door and pounded his fist on it. With each hit the clashing sounds of the metal door rang through the hallways.

A small rectangular peephole slid open on the door.

The hooded figure was met by a set of squinted eyes peering at him from the other side of the peephole.

Then the pair of eyes seemed to relax and light up with a sense of welcome, "I have been expecting you! Please let me welcome you inside my humble abode."

The sounds of many different types of locks being disengaged could be heard on the other side.

The door swung open to reveal a warthog, dressed in military style cargo pants and wearing nothing but a combat vest over his chest. The hog was a massive creature indeed. He stood nearly six and a half feet tall and must have weighed at least over three hundred pounds. He also had but one gnarled tusk coming from the inside of his mouth. The other tusk seemed to have been broken clean off.

The warthog stepped aside from the doorway and welcomed in his guest, "Please, make yourself at home." He said with a deep tone in his voice.

The hooded individual walked through the entryway and the warthog closed the door behind him, reseting all the locks in place.

The large industrial room was littered with all sorts of weapons. Tables upon tables were lined up with every gun and rifle imaginable. The boarded off windows, and the flickering florescent lights above made it an unsettling environment to reside in. Calling it a "home" barely fit the description at all.

"My friend, it is good to see you," the warthog took a seat behind an old rusted office desk, "Please, take a seat." The swine spoke with a thick accent.

With both hands the mercenary pulled back his hood, revealing the striped head of none other than Fox McCloud.

The vulpine took a seat on the other side of the desk, across from the warthog, "Dimitri."

"So comrade," The swine began, "How may I be of service."

Fox sighed, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees,"I just need some advice."

The warthog leaned back in his chair scratching his chin,"You know Fox, many times you have come here seeking only weapons, but now you come to seek conversation?"

"Yeah I know, it's strange, but you are the only one I trust these days." Fox replied.

"Alright." The hog leaned forward resting his arms on the desk, "What are the burdens that plague your soul."

Fox let out a heavy breath, "I just can't take all this running anymore, and I can't stomach what I have turned my team into. I even feel like they are starting to turn on me. All they talk about is how we should just turn ourselves in, and maybe cut a deal with the General."

The hog folded his hands together and nodded his head, "I see, and you don't believe in what they tell you?"

Fox shook his head, "No, that would be giving up! I just can't let them win like that. I would rather fight against Magnus' men on my own terms than be behind bars at an army base. And I still say Magnus because we haven't even figured out who they are being led by today."

Fox pounded his fist on the table, "I just don't get it!!" He yelled. "Why are they doing this to us?"

Dimitri replied, "To be honest comrade, I do not know. Why the government would slander heroes such as yourselves is quite puzzling."

"They even froze all the money we received for the Andross contract and taking Magnus down! They pretty much used us from the start! Shit, I just don't know what to do." Fox buried his face in his hands.

"You seek revenge?" The warthog asked.

The vulpine looked up at Dimitri and shook his head, "No, that won't fix anything. All that would do is prove that we really are what the army has labeled us."

"Which is?" The hog inquired.

Fox sighed, "Pirates, thieves, murderers, vigilantes. The list goes on."

"I suppose it wouldn't be easy being called those things. Especially being a hero such as yourself."

Fox scrunched his brow, "Would you stop calling me a hero? I'm...I'm no hero."

"No? Why do reject such an honorable title?"

"Because I fought the battle against Andross for revenge. That doesn't make me a hero at all."

The warthog laughed, "You know comrade, you really should stop being so hard on yourself! So what, you fought for revenge. We all have reasons for fighting. Just because yours was a personal reason, doesn't make you any less of a hero. You saved billions of lives Fox. Who knows what would have happened if Andross had his way and took over this system. Fox, For all I know, you have save my life from the cruel hands of fate."

"I know what would have happened. It would have been total annihilation of our kind. Magnus said it himself. He claimed that it was the apes time to reclaim this system for themselves. To rule over it like their ancestors did ages ago."

"I have trouble believing they could accomplishing something such as that. The Andross war machine is not even capable of taking over a single planet as of now. I mean, here on Macbeth, Venom is but our neighbor and this planet is still free from their tyranny," Dimitri added.

Fox nodded, "Yeah, that's true. But these attacks that are happening all over the system are killing thousands of people, and they are happening almost every week! I can't just sit here and let it happen! I can't just do nothing about it!"

"And why is that? Why do you not wish to just stand by and let the military take care of this problem."

"The military isn't doing a damn thing! They don't have the resources to track Magnus' men so they could prepare for the next attack! All they do is give the people false sense of security."

"You know what's funny?" The hog asked.

"What could possibly be funny right now." Fox jeered.

"You go on and on about how you want to save the people of Lylat, and yet you deny yourself the title of hero. I think you need to make peace with yourself, Fox, before you can really decide what actions you are going to take."

Fox shrugged as he let out a low frustrated growl, " Yeah, I guess you're right."

"You are the only one that comes to my shop with a heart full of remorse. These other pirates and thugs that buy my weapons do not share these traits. They could care less if our world burnt to the ground, but you, you always seem like you have a weight upon your shoulders."

"I just...I never thought, that the Star Fox team would be doing the work we do now. I always thought we would be doing missions solely for the General himself; work that was truly honorable. But now....well you know what kind of work we do. I can't even imagine doing the kind of work you do!"

"What, selling weapons? Trust me Fox, even I didn't foresee myself becoming an illegal arms merchant. But just like you, a twist of fate lead me down the wrong path. It use to bother me; selling weapons. But a wise man once said weapons are morally neutral until we apply them. It's only when they are used for good or evil, that they become good or evil. I live my life by those words Fox. I sell guns, not tools of evil."

Fox scratched his head, "Dimitri, what the hell did any of that mean?"

The warthog laughed, "Fox, you need to find a philosophy in life to live by, and apply yourself to it. Living without purpose can be quite wearing on the soul."

"Yeah, I guess." Fox hung is head.

Dimitri could tell the vulpine was quite troubled from the amount of stress he was under. He had to think of something that would at least set Fox in the right direction. Even the hog would admit his advice is a bit cryptic at times, but something did come to his mind that might inspire the young mercenary leader.

"Fox." Dimitri began, "Let me tell you a story about the war times of the Lylat system."

Fox lifted his head and rested it on his fist, "Alright, lets hear it."

The hog cleared his throat, "During the great Lylat war, when Andross unleashed his army, and many of his horrific creations upon our land, I was part of an underground operation that sheltered people from the fighting. Since most of the bloodshed took place among the streets of the cites, and blazed a burning path of destruction through places people called home, the innocent needed places to hide, until the fighting subsided. I remember my fellow comrades and myself managed to round up a few hundred people in the basement of this building."

Fox raised his brow in surprise, "You really did that?"

Dimitri nodded his head, "Yes Fox. Many of the surrounding buildings in this area, which are now abandoned, were once the sanctuaries of the victims of war. We were very lucky to not be found by Andross's soldiers, the murderous scum."

The hog sighed, "I remember just as if it was yesterday. Watching the families huddle together in fear as the sounds of falling bombs shook the very foundation of this building. It was just horrible to think that these innocent people lost everything within just a blink of an eye. All their hopes and dreams, gone, with only a moments notice. Everything in their lives became but an uncertainty. They didn't know if they would live to see another day, or if they would ever see their loved ones ever again. Every breath they took was a blessing to them, they didn't dare take their lives for granted during those terrible times."

Fox sighed, "I know what that feels like, I know what it means to lose ever-."

"FOX!" Dimitri interrupted with a shout, "You say you are familiar with loss, but you fail to realize that you have never lost everything."

The vulpine was caught off guard by the hogs stern response.

Dimitri continued, "You see Fox, you still have your friends, you still have your team. You never lost those things and you have never had to go through life without people who cared for you. But then again, I know that you lost your father and your mother when you were very young. When you are but a small kit, I'm sure your mother and Father were the two things that made up your entire world, and when those two people were suddenly taken from you, I'm sure it felt like you had lost everything."

"Just get to the point Dimitri," said Fox, sounding a bit frustrated.

The hog sighed, and tried to calm himself, "Look, I find it hard to believe that you only fought for revenge Fox. You yourself were once forced to go through a time of loss and grieving and I could only imagine that you fought through hundreds of thousands of Andross's fighters just so no one else would have to become victims of loss. Then...and then you claim that you are no hero! Fox, you are a savior to these people!"

"NO I'M NOT!" Fox slammed his fist on the table and stood from his seat. "A hero would have never done some of the things I am responsible for."

The hog slowly stood from his chair, towering over the angered vulpine, and looking him dead in the eyes, "You want a philosophy to live by? I have one for you because you seem to have a real problem with this."

"Oh really? What could that be."

Suddenly the hog reached over and grabbed Fox by the collar of his shirt and drug him over the desk. With one arm he lifted the vulpine by his neck and slammed him against the wall behind him.

Fox struggled to break free from the power grasp of the warthog.

The vulpine choked for air, "Dimitri! What are you doing?"

"WHO ARE YOU?!" Dimitri yelled. His booming voice caused the vulpine's ears to flip

backwards in fear.

"Wha...what?!" Fox replied totally confused.

"I ask, WHO are you?!"

"I'm.....I'm Fox McCloud!" He choked out.

"You are correct comrade! You are Fox McCloud! Leader of the Star Fox team! The son of the great James McCloud! The slayer of the evil Andross and the savior of the Lylat system! You want a philosophy to live by Fox? Then I have one for you : Never... forget... who, you, are."

He dropped the vulpine.

Fox fell in a heap with his back against the wall, gasping for air holding his neck.

"You see Fox." Dimitri began as he turned away from the vulpine, "The problem that you posses is that you tend to forget who you are. You forget where you come from, and you also seem to forget what you stand for. Once you clear your mind of all these uncertainties you have about yourself. It will be easier to choose your path."

Fox just sat in a slump on the floor, and looked up at the hog as he tried to catch his breath.

"I also remember during the war time, when we sheltered people here, the fighting outside these walls began to intensify. The ground shook with a thunderous roar as if an earthquake was shaking the land. The people screamed in fear as they huddled together with their eyes clasped shut, waiting for the moment an enemy warhead would come crashing through the ceiling above."

Dimitri turned towards Fox and looked him dead in the eyes once more, "Then suddenly, with the sounds of fighter engines soaring and laser fire over head, the fighting came to an abrupt halt and It became dead silent. A fellow comrade and myself climbed the stairs to the roof of this building to see what had happened. When we made it to the roof, we saw the reason for the sudden silence. As far as the eye could see were the smolder wreckages of Andross's fighters and war machines as smoke stacks rose from all over the city. And in the distance, we could see your Arwings pushing onwards, destroying everything that dared to come between you and victory. We could only imagine you were heading towards the Andross weapons facility that was rumored to exist on this planet.

"Yeah." Fox climbed to his feet with a cough. "We were."

Dimitri smiled at Fox, "You have no idea how much hope you bring the people of Lylat. It doesn't matter what army, or government say about you, because it doesn't change what you did for this system."

Fox straighten his red bandanna around his neck, "You really like to get your point across."

"Well, you are quite the stubborn one. Sometimes you need something more than words to make your point more a little clearer."

Fox just sighed as he nodded his head in agreement. Dimitri was right about what he had said. Fox had trouble with remembering who he was, and where he came from. Although things are hard today for the Star Fox team, and they aren't exactly what they use to be, Fox just can't forget all the good he has done for the Lylat system. This didn't make things any clearer for the vulpine however. He still didn't know what to do about finding answer to why the government wants to take them down. More importantly he had no idea to finding answers on who is still leading the underground Andross movement. He had no resources when it came to finding out intel such as that because they were shut out from the Cornerian Army.

"I just don't know where to go from here Dimitri. I don't have a damn clue how find the answers that I'm looking for."

The vulpine sighed, "I wish I could just go home, back to Corneria. But now, the way things are, it's just not that simple.

Dimitri nodded, "I hear they are quarantining the planet because of some kind of sickness that has plagued the people of Corneria City."

"Sometimes, I feel like I was never able to save the one thing I fought so hard for. Corneria is nothing but a wasteland now. They were never able to get the city going in the right direction so the people could try to rebuild their lives." Fox explained.

A moment of silenced passed between the two.

Fox walked over to a near by table to take a look at Dimitri's wears.

"Well Fox, the best I can do for you still is sell you weapons. I gave you my advice, and now it is up to you weather you want to follow it or not."

Fox picked up a large pistol from the table before him. A tag hung from that said "Desert Eagle."

He pulled back the slide, and examined the weapon. He had a bit more knowledge about ballistic weapons these days since all his clients supplied his team with them. It almost seemed the era of energy weapons had come to an end overnight.

Dimitri stood next to the vulpine, "You know, you can't solve all your problems with a gun."

Fox let the slide lose and it snapped back into place, "Yeah, I know, but they help."

The warthog just laughed, "So are we going to do business or not?"

Fox smiled, "Sure, I guess I'm in the market for some new toys."

Then something caught the vulpine's attention, his ears shifting to the side towards what set off his senses.

He placed the gun slowing on the table and gave Dimitri a concerned look.

"What is it comrade?" Dimitri asked.

Fox put one finger up to his own snout, signaling to be quiet.

The vulpine slowly walked over to the large steel door and put his ear up against it.

He could hear muffled voices on the other side and the shuffling of heavily armed men. Sounds of what could possibly be a demo team rigging the door could be heard as well.

Could be the cops, could be worse.

It was time to leave.

Fox stepped back from the door and drew his side arm; his trusty modified blaster.

His new blaster was a half ballistic half energy weapon that was designed by Dimitri. It had to barrels, one that fired a laser round, and another that fired a bullet.

The combination was deadly.

Fox hurried back over to his friend, "There's someone out there, and it sounds like they are rigging the door."

"Then you must go comrade! Here, I can remove one of the obstructions from the windows and you can pass through there."

Dimitri grabbed a crowbar from his desk.

But before he could even turn towards the boarded up windows, four small booms rang out, and the large steel door was blown right from its hinges.

The door fell to the ground and slid a few feet.

"MOVE MOVE MOVE!" A commanding voice yelled out.

A small team of five men dressed in full assault swat gear moved in the room with their weapons drawn.

"HANDS UP! DON'T FUCKING MOVE OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE!" The head officer screamed at the top of his lungs.

Three of the swat officers moved in on Dimitri who was standing at his desk, and the other two slowly approached Fox, who was standing to the right of the hog, over by the weapons tables.

"FOX, GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Dimitri commanded.

The two SWAT officers approaching Fox aimed down their sights, "Don't even think about it McCloud. You ain't going anywhere."

Fox looked around, and there was clearly only one option.

"Sorry guys, gotta jet." In a flash Fox turned and made a dash for the boarded up windows.

"WAIT! STOP!" An officer yelled out.

Fox came closer and closer to his exit.

"DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY! LIGHT HIM UP!" A voice yelled out from behind him.

The two officers suppressed the triggers on their assault rifles and let the bullets fly.

Fox tucked his head down as the bullets ripped into the fast approaching sheet of wood and chipped away the old concrete wall bordering the window.

The vulpine took a quick glance at his exit once more. This is gonna hurt.

He jumped shoulder 1st at the window crashing through; splintering the wood protecting the glass panel he shattered soon after.

--

--

The rising sun painted a orange haze over Macbeth's horizon. The rays of blazing ball of light shined through a dirt covered, cracked windshield of an old car.

Falco Lombardi, sitting in the driver's seat of the beat-up vehicle reached up and flipped open the sun visor above him, trying to block out the sun.

The car was parked in a back ally across from the industrial building Fox was meeting the arms dealer in.

Falco glanced down at an old news paper he was reading as the radio blasted.

He was growing impatient waiting for his Captain to return, and hopefully with new weapons in hand.

He lowered the newspaper from his eyes one more time and glanced at the clock, "Christ Fox, what the hell is taking so long?"

Falco glanced up from the clock and squinted through the windshield to see if maybe Fox was on his way back.

Nothing.

"God dammit Fox COME ON!"

But before the avian could return to his reading material he saw something that made is eyes grow wide in surprise.

From across the street he saw a figure explode out of one of the windows on third floor of the industrial structure.

It was Fox.

"Ooooh shit." Falco said to himself.

He watched Fox tumble through the air and slam into the fire escape on the adjacent building one story down.

"That's not good." Falco blankly stated.

The vulpine managed to grab hold of the scaffolding with one arm. Now he was dangling with a two story drop below him.

Falco just watch with a sly smile on his face, his wings still grasping the news paper.

Then Fox lost his grip and dropped straight down towards the ground below-

Falco held his breath as his eyes followed the free-falling vulpine. Shit, please don't break your legs.

-Right into a open dumpster.

Trash erupted from the dumpster as the mercenary crashed into it.

Then a few seconds later Fox's head popped out of the dumpster and Falco gave a sigh of relief.....and then looked down at his news paper once more.

Across the street Fox scrambled over the edge of the dumpster and planted his feet on solid ground, "Well," Fox was short of breath, "That....wasn't so bad, I guess I'm okay."

The vulpine glanced up at the window he passed through and saw one of the SWAT officers looking down at him, "Shit he made it! Come on! New orders we gotta take him! Alive! Secure the warthog as well!"

"Dammit, I'll get you out Dimitri, don't worry." Fox said to himself.

The vulpine looked to his right and saw his get-away vehicle with Falco behind the wheel.

Fox ran for the car, but almost instantly a sharp pain shot from his shoulder and then across his chest, "Ahhhh, FFFuck. Just had to smash the window with your bad shoulder didn't you Fox?"

He fought through the pain and sprinted towards his ticket out of here.

Falco still looking down at his news paper, was startled by the sound of screeching tires. He quickly looked up from his reading to see Fox with his arms outstretched at a civilian vehicle that nearly ran him over.

The driver, an old feline, hung out the window and cursed at Fox, "Watch it you freakin' moron!"

Fox just shrugged it off and continued his dash towards his safe haven.

Falco shook his head and looked down once more.

Then a few seconds later Fox was pounding his paw on the hood of their ride, trying to get Falco's attention.

The vulpine threw open the passenger side door, and quickly fell into the seat.

Fox slammed the door shut, "Alright, let's go." He said, out of breath, as if nothing had happened.

Falco didn't even look over at his captain, "No guns?"

"Uh...No." Fox swallowed hard and continued to pant heavily.

"I'm pretty sure we came here for guns. Didn't we talk about it? I distinctly remember you saying, Falco, oh shit, I can't wait to get some new guns." Falco said the last quote in a monotone manner.

"Falco, start the fucking car, and get us out of here!"

"Now you are yelling at me. See Fox, this isn't how you should treat your fellow co-workers."

"Falco, did you not see what just happened?!"

Falco quickly glanced at Fox with a serious look, "Yeah, yeah I did. You crossed the god damn street without looking both ways, what kind of leader are you?!"

Fox just blankly stared at the avian, "I'm going to kill you."

"What?"

"I'm going to reach over, wrap my hands around your feathered neck, and strangle the ever-loving shit out of you, if you don't start this damn car right now, and drive us out of here."

Falco just raised one brow, "You're bleeding."

Fox looked down at his open paw, and watched a drop of crimson red trickle off the end of his snout and land in his palm.

The vulpine just gave a heavy sigh and fell back in his seat.

Falco cracked a smile, "That was pretty smooth flying Fox." The avian said, trying not to burst out laughing.

Fox slowly turned his head towards the chuckling bird, "So you saw all of it."

Falco nodded, "Oh yeah, it was classic."

"And you just sat here."

"No, I was reading."

Fox's eyes darted around, and then locked with Falco's again, "When the fuck did you start reading?"

"Hey man, I'm an intellectual. I keep it real. I gotta know what's going on in the world."

Fox clenched his teeth, "Okay, THAT'S IT!"

"Huh?"

Fox dove at Falco and grabbed the avian by the throat.

The enraged vulpine had an iron grip around Falco's neck and jerked him back and forward, "WHAT....IS...WRONG...WITH....YOU!"

Falco choked for air, as he tried to pry Fox's grip from his neck, "Fox...I think...You might be...taking me...too seriously. ACK!"

Then something startled the two bickering mercenaries causing them to nearly leap out of their skin. A large armored swat truck, with the horn and siren blaring came barreling down the ally way and it wasn't stopping.

Falco pushed Fox back into his seat and fumbled for the ignition, "HOLY SHIT! YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS!"

"YOU THINK I DOVE OUT THE WINDOW FOR NOTHING?!" Fox yelled back, his voice cracking.

Falco got the car started and threw it into reverse, "GEE I DON'T KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU JUST LIKED TO MAKE FLASHY EXITS!"

"BUCKLE UP FOXIE!" Falco punched the pedal to the floor before Fox could follow his advice, naturally.

The vulpine fell forward smashing into the dashboard as the car bolted in reverse.

He looked up through the windshield as he pushed himself back into his seat; the swat truck was gaining fast.

Fox propped his feet up on the dash, and buckled himself in.

Falco had his arm over hanging over his seat as he looked through the back window, and guided their vehicle backwards down the ally, at full speed, "We are so screwed McCloud!"

"Just keep driving!" Fox ordered.

"Didn't plan on stopping!"

Fox's eyes grew wide, "Oh man, not good."

A swat officer emerged from the passenger side window of the truck, with a rifle in hand.

"YOU'RE TELLING ME!" Falco replied.

"Huh?" Fox turned to look out the back window, "Oh crap....."

They were heading right for a semi-truck that was driving across the street the ally way intersected with.

"SHIT, GET YOUR HEAD DOWN FOX!"

The two mercenaries ducked down low as they could as Falco drove the car right under the trailer of the semi.

It ripped the roof of the car clean off.

Then but seconds later the swat truck smashed in the trailer causing it to tumble over on its side.

Fox and Falco's vehicle was but a few feet from being crushed by the trailer as it smashed into the ground.

The two mercenaries were showered in broken glass, there was nothing but the morning sky above them now.

They both popped their heads up in disbelief.

"WE FUCKIN' MADE IT!" Falco cheered as he slammed on the breaks and brought the car to a stop.

"We ain't done yet!" Fox yelled as he pointed.

The swat truck drove around the crumpled trailer, smoke coming from its smashed in grill.

"So what's the plan Fox?" Falco asked.

"Let's head downtown, we can lose them there and hopefully find a new set of wheels."

"Good idea, our ride is a little run down."

The avian pushed the pedal to the floor causing the rear tires to screech.

They headed west, towards the heart of the broken down Macbeth metropolis. Given the desert setting of the planet, all the buildings were worn from the constant sand storms and harsh weather the climate brought year round. A dull pallet of grey and brown seemed to be the theme of this city. Old concrete structures rose from the cold desert floor, reaching towards the bleak sky's above. The worn and cracked streets complemented the abandoned market places scattered throughout the city.

It was all a blur however.

The old buildings of the industrial city rushed by as the two mercenaries pushed their wrecked vehicle to the limit.

Fox looked over his shoulder and saw the swat truck gaining on them once again, "Shit, they're back, Falco."

The avian glanced on the side view mirror that was barely hanging on to the door. He saw the large black assault vehicle becoming ever closer as they drove on.

The downtown area was fast approaching; the ominous looming buildings were in view.

They had to be careful though, as desolate as the city of Macbeth seemed, it did have quite a population.

Falco weaved in and out of civilian vehicles that were also driving along the city streets.

Onlookers from the streets and other cars stared as the mercenaries flew down the road with the top missing from their car, and the swat truck in hot pursuit.

Fox noticed they weren't alone, "Falco, be careful man, we don't want anyone getting hurt. Then they really will have a reason to lock us up."

Falco gave an annoyed glance, "Hey, shit happens, I'll do my best, alright?!"

Fox nodded and looked back once more at their pursuers, "Oh no..."

The avian glanced in the side mirror once more and saw a rifleman leaning out of the passenger side window once more. "Not good Fox."

Falco did his best to weave in and out of traffic, trying not to be an easy target.

The swat officer steadied his aim, and activated his laser sighting.

They were now minutes away from the heart of the city. They blasted through intersection after intersection, somehow catching all the green lights.

A gun shot rang out and soon after Falco nearly lost control of the car.

"Shit, he got one of the rear tires!" Falco yelled.

"Just keep driving!" Fox barked.

"Yes sir! Oh, and could you do me a favor?!" Falco replied.

"What is it Falco?" Fox yelled back.

"SHOOT BACK!!"

"You crazy?! I pull my gun, and he's going to blow my head off!"

"Oh come on, he isn't that good of a shot."

Falco glanced in the side mirror just as the rifle man blew it off with a single round.

The avian's eyes grew wide, "Uh...on second thought, I think he's had a lot of practice."

The car jerked once more, as the rubber tore from the back-wheel. Sparks flew everywhere as the wheel ground against the road.

"Dammit!" The wheel jerked out of Falco's hands as they barreled towards another intersection.

This time the traffic light was red.

"HOLD ON FOX!" Falco yelled as they drew closer and closer to the cross traffic.

Fox braced himself, his feet against the dashboard.

They made it through the 1st set of lanes, but weren't as lucky for the opposite side.

A civilian vehicle slammed into the backside of Star Fox's vehicle, stalling the engine, and causing them to spin out.

The cityscape was a blur as Falco tried to get control of their car.

Finally they came to a stop on the corner of side walk, facing the intersection they failed to clear.

Falco's heart was about to leap out of his chest as he sat frozen behind the wheel, "You...you alright Fox?....Fox?"

The avian slowly glanced to his right, Fox was gone, there was nothing but an empty seat, and a torn safety belt.

"Shit!!! OH SHIT!!! FOX."

Falco threw open the driver door and stumbled into the street looking for his captain in a panic "Fox where are you?!" He cried out.

"Dude chill out! I'm right here."

Falco whipped around and saw Fox climbing out of the backseat of their car.

The avian let out a sigh of relive, "God dammit Fox, I thought you were roadkill! How the hell you get back there?"

Fox planted both feet on the asphalt and brushed off his coat, "Hell if I know, I think I blacked out when we were hit. It's nice to know you give a shit about me though."

Falco shook his head, "Yeah whatever Fox-."

Suddenly the sounds of blaring car horns could be heard from all angles.

The car they ran into them made it's way onto the wrong side of the road, causing a chain-reaction.

They watched as car after car spun out of control trying to avoid crashing into one another.

Then the blaring siren of the swat truck rang out as it just entered the intersection, barreling towards the two mercenaries.

They widened their stance as the armored vehicle came closer and closer.

Fox and Falco turned to run, both glancing to their right as they did making sure they weren't about to be hit by cross traffic.

However they saw a city bus rocketing down the street, the driver not paying any attention to the road.

The two dove for the pavement as the bus T-boned the swat truck a good twenty feet behind them.

All the windows of the bus blew out as it crumpled from the intense crash. The bus's back wheels lifted from the gourd upon impact, tossing its passengers all over the floor.

The swat truck was totally disabled. It was going nowhere with a twelve ton bus lodged in the side of it. The officers inside the vehicle were all knocked unconscious from the collision.

Falco and Fox climbed to their feet, and turned towards the wreckage.

There was broken glass everywhere, the bus was full of people who were now probably injured from the crash. Crumbled cars littered the street on the opposite side. Some ran off the road, crashing into the buildings the lined the streets. Smoke plumes rose to the sky and the cries of injured innocents could be heard.

Falco's heart sank as he ran his wings through the feathers upon his head, "Oh man, oh man....This is not good. This not fuckin' good. Come on Fox, nows our chance, let's get out of here."

The vulpine stood beside his partner as his eye's fixated on the wrecked bus. He could see the people inside, crying out for help.

"No. We gotta help those people! Come on, let's go! Move!" Fox ran for the bus.

Falco just stood there in disbelief, "WHAT?! No Fox! We gotta leave right now! The police are going to show up any minute!"

Fox stopped dead in his tracks, and then marched back up to Falco, "Listen, because of us, all this happened," Fox motioned his arm towards all the twisted metal, "So you can either leave, or help me out. I know you hate it when I bark orders at you, and I also know it's rare that you actually follow any of them, so I'm giving you a choice this time."

Fox turned away and ran for the bus, leaving Falco behind him.

Falco his clenched his wing tips into fists, "What the fuck has gotten into you?! Oh, I'm sorry, what? You gonna wait for the cops and the uhh... the god damn paramedics to show up?! You gonna help load these people into the friggin' ambulances? You gonna make everything right? You think everyone is going to think you're a big fuckin' hero?! You and I both know what's going to happen to us if we stick around. People are going to point fingers, we are gonna get cuffed, and then that's it; game over."

Fox turned towards the bus, with an undeniable guilt.

Once again, the vulpine twisted his head around, back at Falco. "You gonna help me or not?"

Falco just sighed as he rolled his eyes, his vision drifting away from his leader.

Suddenly Falco's eye's grew wide in surprise, then he squinted them trying to focus on what caught his attention, "What the...."

Fox raised one brow, "What? What is it?"

The avian raised his arm and pointed, "Across the street! On top of that building! I Think I saw someone up there."

Fox ran his vision across the roof tops of the many commercial buildings that lined the streets, "I....I don't see anyth- OH SHIT!"

A dark figure that appeared to be holding some sort of shoulder mounted weapon arose from his hiding spot on the rooftops.

SilencedFox Presents...

Next thing they knew a RPG was screaming through the air, leaving a trail of smoke behind it.

Within only a second, the explosive hit its target.

The bus, still full of injured civilians, erupted in a massive blazing fireball.

The vulpine and Avian were catapulted through the air, away from the powerful blast.

A SilencedFox Production, in association with Snake Of The Rose Productions...

Fox helplessly tumbled out of control until he landed flat on his back against the concrete road. His momentum caused him to flip backwards on to his stomach after crashing down on his back.

The horrific event drained the life out of him, he could barely move.

He picked his head up, trying to make any sense of what happened.

His vision was blurry and slowly fading.

Written by SilencedFox86....

The sounds that flooded his ears were truly haunting. The screams of people burning to death, the slowly approaching sounds of sirens and, the cries of the innocent.

Fox could feel the force and hear the deafening blast of another explosion.

More screams of terror.

Fox rolled on his back and reached into his jacket.

He pulled out a silver auto-injecting syringe with a Star Fox emblem on it.

He jammed the needle into his neck and released the contents into his body.

Suddenly everything because clear, his vision, his hearing, and everything other sense that was dulled from the explosion.

Edited by Snake Of The Rose...

Fox climbed to his feet and pulled his blaster.

His mind was clear, but a overpowering feeling of rage came over him.

Something was moving in the corner of his eye.

His head snapped to the left to only see Falco stumbling to his feet as well.

Starring Fox McCloud...

Fox was breathing heavily, and had his teeth bared in anger, "You alright?!"

Falco drew his weapon, "Yeah I'm fuckin; fantastic, this...is some good shit." Falco tossed his own syringe to the ground.

On the other side of the street three black vans pulled up to the scene of chaos.

The doors on the ominous vehicles flew open, and fully armed gorillas pour out, randomly opening fire on the innocent bystanders still trying to either escape or help others that were injured.

There were about fifteen to twenty of them from what Fox could tell.

The two mercenaries located their previous vehicle and hid behind it for cover, they were yet to be spotted.

Fox reached for his ear, and activated his com-link, "Slippy! This is Fox! Do you copy!?"

A moment of static, then he finally got a response, "This is Slippy! How ya doin Fox?"

Slippy Toad...

"We just got caught up in a god damn attack on the downtown area of the city! We need some freaking air support! NOW!"

"WHAT?! Oh geez! Uh....okay, got your position! Peppy is going to be your air support on his one guys. He will be there within five minutes!"

"Roger that Slip, Fox out."

Fox peered around the side of their cover and saw the apes holding some sort of formation around their vehicles, shooting anything that moved.

Soon the police rolled up, an entire squad of ten squad cars followed by two swat trucks, only to be fired upon by the crazed apes.

Bullet holes were riddled throughout the cop cars, as windshields were blown out and the broken glass was soaked in blood.

Barely any of the peace officers were able to even get out of their vehicles before they were caught up in the barrage of bullets.

Falco Lombardi...

"Well Fox, I must say this has been one hell of a day, they could seriously make a god damn movie out of this shit." Yelled Falco.

Fox checked his blaster to make sure it was combat ready, and then made his way over to the trunk of the car.

"Fox, what are you doing?" Falco asked.

The vulpine managed to open the smashed in trunk, and pulled out a large duffle bag.

He quickly dodge back into cover with the bag. Lucky for them they were clear on the other side of the eight lane main street that ran through the heart of the city, safe from anyone's view on the other side.

Fox unzipped the bag and pulled out an MP5, and a M4 automatic shotgun.

He held a weapon in each hand, "Take your pick, it's all we got."

Falco's mouth hung open, "You fucking serious?! I didn't know we were gonna play, who can get shot in the face 1st, today!"

"Look, Peppy will swoop in, we clean up the stragglers. I think we can handle it! Now pick a gun!"

Falco snatched the shotgun from Fox's paw, "Any time you get to play hero, you always gotta take it."

"I just think it's time we did some good for once."

Peppy Hare...

"Fox! This is Peppy! I'm about a minute away! I need a target!"

"Uh roger that. You're target is three black vans, on the east side of the intersection we have been pinpointed at. It's surround by what has to be Andross guerrilla fighters."

"Target confirmed! Take cover boys! I'll be approaching from the southwest!"

The distant familiar sound of a screaming Arwing jet engine was slowing growing louder and louder.

Another RPG was fired from the roof top just behind Falco and Fox.

The explosive landed right in the middle of the squad of Police cars, sending flaming twisted metal through the air in the midsts of another fireball.

Fox and Falco's hearts were racing faster than they had ever felt before. Could be the drug that got them back on their feet, could be the anticipation of action, it didn't seem to really matter.

Then, with a deafening roar, the lone Star Fox Arwing soared over head and unleashed an onslaught of laser fire on the Andross guerrillas.

They scattered in all directions, most of them being cut down, others engulfed in the explosion of one of their own vehicles.

John McStacey...

Fox and Falco cheered in the demise of their enemies.

"Nice one Peppy!" Fox said over the com-link.

"Coming in for another pass! Watch your heads!"

Miles down the road they could see their fighter, now approaching from the north.

Then the sounds of another kind of rocket was heard.

"SHIT I JUST GOT LIT UP!"

A anti-aircraft rocket screamed from another near by roof top, and slammed into the Arwing.

The Arwing appeared to lose power, and then dropped right out of the sky.

"No, no! Just one rocket? That's impossible!"

"Shit he's coming right for us!" Falco yelled.

The Arwing slammed into the street a quarter mile away, breaking off one of the wings, and then tumbled and crashed through cars the littered the road. Civilians ran for cover in this makeshift war zone.

Aaron McStacey...

Fox and Falco watched in horror as the broken ship tumbled right through the intersection, and then finally came to a stop.

"PEPPY!!! NOO!!!" Fox ran for the flaming wreckage of the Arwing.

"FOX! WAIT!" Falco tried to grab the vulpine, but it was too late.

Now he was plain as day, an open target.

Someone near by was lining up their crosshairs over a panicked orange Fox.

Falco could see another ape standing upon a building across with an RPG launcher mounted on his shoulder.

And Fara Phoenix...

The avian whipped our his blaster, and took aim; it was an impossible shot. Falco closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.

STAR FOX: HOW WE SURVIVE

SEASON 2.

Thanks again for reading!