Chapter 7: The Fine Line Between Right and Wrong is No Longer Black and White

Well, I had been wanting to see my boy since I faked my death…but not in this manner...—James McCloud, Sr.


Ring-ring-ring. Somewhere in a Venomian base, a phone rang incessantly. Down a flight of steel stairs, turn left, and in the first dimly lit office on the right, James stirred in his sleep as his phone rang. One green eye opened as he gazed at the new disruption. He kicked his feet grudginglyoff the desk, and leaned forward while picking up the receiver. While listening, he let his eyes wander across the walls, as he was accostomed to do when he was bored.

It was no more than ten by ten, a small amount for someone who'd defected from their number one threat, James often thought. The whole office was a disgusting grey, and with the exception of some pictures on his walls, had absolutely no personality. Opening a drawer in his desk, he glanced at the worn picture he kept hidden of him and Fox at his son'sorientation into the military academy. They both looked so happy then...

After a few moments, he perked his ears as the other end finally said something worth listening to. He slammed the drawer shut, and leaned forward as if the offending party were in front of him. He opened his mouth, protesting in a tired yet firm voice.

"…But sir, he hasn't been giving us any trouble lately—yes, sir, I remember your encounter four years ago—but—no-I don't think that this is-but-no, sir, you don't have to question where my loyalty lies. You know damn well who I align myself with...No, don't send Wolf, I'll do it..." James slammed the phone down, tears of frustrationwelling up in his eyes. He was unaware of the figureleaning inhis doorway, watching him with a sicksmirk. The fox got up, throwing on the jacket that had been slung over the chair carelessly. Starting out the door, he froze when he saw who was standing there.

The wicked countenance of Wolf O'Donnell glowered at him from where he stood. James met his stare, rolled his eyes, then brushed past him without a word. The lupine wasn't so easily passed up. Hejogged up behind James, slowing down to meet his pace,"So, it would seem Lord Andross is finally ready for him, eh? It's only been—what—four years?"

"Shut up. I don't want to talk about this." James snapped, "Wait—why do you care?"

"I just don't see why he would send you for him…I mean, after all, he's your son, how are we to be sure that you will stay faithfull to our lord? Hn, I could just as easily do it, in fact, it would be my distinct pleasure to be the one to present him t—"

James turned sharply, causing Wolf to stop short. The fox stepped closer, almost inches from him, "You'll be shuting up now, unless you want to lose that other eye."

"So protective. I'm fingind it hard to beleive still that you could be so devoted to Lord Andross—" Leon stepped around the corner then, carrying a clipboard while absentmindedly scribbling on it. Wolf grabbed him as he was passing, pullingthe surprised lizardinto the conversation, "—so maybe you should take one of us with you."

Leon'sconfusion subsided as he realized that Andross had finally issued the order he often spoke of, and apparently was sending the father to retrieve the son. A smile to match Wolf's spread across his scaley face. Leon had been promised some time with the younger McCloud to do what he wished. He'd spent the last year repairing his tools, and retreiving newer and more painfull ones. Needless to say, it seemed it was all he could do to keep from giggling like a school girl.

James looked at Leon, "You won't touch him either."

"Oh, well, I'm afraid that's not up to you, old friend. His lordship made sure we'd have ample time to work out our frustrations on your bo—" James delt a hard blow to his jaw in mid-sentence, sending him falling back onto Wolf, who caught him only to throw him to the ground as he rushed the fox.

James's head hit the wall hard, but not hard enough. He returned that maneuver with a knee to the gut, while Wolf doubled over. He then slammed his elbow into the back of his head, sending him instantly to the ground. Leon had recovered, and was about to strike when a large hand grabbed and wretched his wrist. The lizard dropped to his knees with a yelp, causing Wolf and James to stop and look.

Immediately kneeling, they put their right fisted hands over their hearts, heads low. Andross let go of Leon, who assumed the same position with some noted grumbling. The ape looked much more muscular than when he'd first come across Fox. He'd been tirelessly training both his body and mind to be prepared for the second encounter with the young vulpine. He'd make an example of him for sure this time.

"I'll not have this in my base. McCloud,you're behavior gives me due cause to beleive that you may notbe the right man for this job—"

"I'd never do such a thing, Lord Andross. I've pledged myself to you, and only you."

"I'm not so sure. O'Donnel, looks like you get your wish. You go with him," hewaited until the two were down thecorridor and around the corner before heturned to Leon with a smirk, "I believe you have some instruments to prepare. Go."

James winced at the thought of his son on the bloody table, crying out in agony. And worse, the thought of his son's face when he realized his father had handed him over to his sadistic mortal enemy.

Andross headed the other way down the hall, smiling to himself with his arms behind his back. Leon followed shortly behind, like a well trained puppy.


The possessed Fox's eyes flickered for a moment, still focusing on the two in front of him. His smile grew wider. He knew his plan had worked. The pair before him seemed to be confused by his change of expression. He figured it wouldn't hurt to enlighten them.

"It would seem that all my work is finally paying off. James and Wolf are on their way here."

Falco stared wide eyed, "What! What do you mean they're on their way!"

"Hm, I suppose you could say that I 'influenced' Andross into the belief that now's the time to act. It's most funny; he boasts about his mental powers, yet I hardly had to infaltrate his mind at all. I guess when your anger and hate is focused on one person above all others, it doesn't take much convincing to get them motivated."

"You're going to get Fox killed!" Falco barely had enough time to belt this out before hisbody flew back violently, crashing into Peppy. They both fell back into the wall as Fox's arm was repositioned back to his side.

"The ends justify the means. If I don't kill James, then the army Andross is raising will know all the secrets of the Cornerian defenses: Where all the troops are, where the weapons are being manufactured now, what their strategy is,...everything they could have to hide from him. After I handle thi sboy's father, I can go on to stop Andross from destroying this system as I swore to do when I dawned the uniform and affirmed the oath...much like you all have done. Can you tell me that your friend would disapprove of this action?"

The pair were silent. They knew, deep in their hearts, that Fox would die to save the system, without inhibitions.


In the dark reaches of his mind's prison, Fox dryly wept. He felt like he'd been there for weeks, maybe months even. The waves of despair he had felt washing over him had ceased, but only because, he was sure, that it was impossible to feel any more lonely and desolate. He slowly brought his knees up to his chest, lowering his head to rest on them.

Vaguely, he wondered if death felt like this. And he wondered if it was possible that in fact, he was dead. He couldn't be sure anymore. A tear rolled down his cheek as he screamed in agony of the thought.


An increasingly loud revving filled the hanger of the base as the large and new warmachine prepared to blast off into the stretching universe, towards Lylat...towards Corneria. James checked the maps, star-flux reports, and projectile equations one last time while his accomplice cheerfully flipped the necessary switches, pressed the buttons, and took the controls into his eager paws. The fox grumbled, flipping one piece of paper over and over, looking relieved at something.

"Hey, Dingus, you failed to calculate exactly how we're going to get within Corneria's airspace undetected."

"Well, if you weren't such a pussy, you could've done it yourself. And yes I did. Check this out, " he handed him a folded paper from his pocket which showed a diagram of a strange piece of machinery, "See that? That's the new toy I installed after our last round with the Lylatian forces, from one of their ships. It's a piece of equipment featuredin all their fighters, freighters, and miscellaneous star-craft. It's quite new.

"When their radar signal from the Lylatian defense satellitesbounces off this, it'll recognize it as friendly aircraft, and won't dispatch automated defenses to us. Currently, our machine is programmed to be read as a small merchant ship en route to Corneria.You see now? We're the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing."

"...I know how this works...I'm the one who downloaded the information on these and gave it to Lord Andross." His voice conveyed the annoyance of his partner's assinine behavior.

"Yeah, but I figured the report was so full of big words, you might need me to break it down in layman terms."

The ship gave a small kick, and the thrusters blasted to life, propelling the craft forward. James leaned back in his seat from the sudden movement, then sat rigidly staring out into the infinent stars. His mind was racing, his palms were sweaty, and that sickening lurching feeling in the pit of his stomach was becoming more and more prominent. Wolf, however, was quite the opposite. Smiling, feeling better than he had in days, and most excited about what was going to transpire.


Falco had, in the seconds that passed, managed to get back to his feet. Peppy had followed suit after a lingering moment. The avian grabbed his shoulder, the pain coming back in dull throbs. Fox's body stood motionless,iceblue eyestransfixed upon them both, expecting them to answer him. Falco finally got aggrivated, and broke the silence, "...Well, no...but regardless..."

He was losing ground, and he knew it. This...thing...was stronger, faster, and smarter than him. He couldn't do anything to stop him...or could he. After all, all that strength and speed factored in, his body was still a weak anthropomorphic one. A surprise hit in the right area would render him unconcious, just like any other person. Falco stepped out off the way of the door. Peppy glared at him confused, or at least so until he saw the look the bird had on his face.

"I'm glad you finally quit your futile attempts to hinder me. Now come, we've got plenty to do," He made his way for the door while Falco walked around him, next to the phone that was on the table. Slowly, while Greg's back was turned, he reached for it, closing his fingers around the bulk of it. Peppy had already caught on, and had fetched the door for the possessed body. Greg had barely made it across the threshold outside when Falco practically lept across the distance between them, striking him upside the head with all the strength he could muster before hobbling backwards while gripping his shoulder. The phone gave a slight ring when ithad made contact; sendinga splash of blood across the porch and the ceiling.Fox's body went limp and fell straight down, almost hitting the floor had the hare not jumped forth and caught him. Looking around, they pulled the unconcious form back into the house, closing the door.

Falco went through every drawer he could find, grabbing anything that could be used to bind. He found a stash of handcuffs in the table where the phone had been, and some rope in the living room, along with a great pile of things the vulpine might need on missions.

Peppy had sat on the floor with the fox leaning against him, and had busied himselfwith trying to stop the bleeding from the wound. Only after applying some serious pressure did it start to taper off. Falco reappeared in the room when the blood finally stopped, and had violently thrown Fox onto his stomach, pulling his arms behind his back and double cuffing them. Peppy had caught on to the idea, and took the rope from his friend and started binding the boy's ankles and knees.

They both stood back when the job was complete, looking on as the body lay prone on the floor, chest rising and falling calmly.