[Author's Note: Well, I WAS done on Sunday with this segment, but inspiration hit and I thought I could meld this with the next segment. It turned out to be too big, so this alone is Chapter 10. Well, at least the final segment is half-done, so very soon until the conclusion! -Foxmerc-]
CHAPTER 10
Endgame
Later that day
Great Fox, armory
1407 hours
After what seemed like an eternity clearing things up with the Corneria City Police, Fox and Gage kicked back in the Great Fox, taking turns telling a part of the story to Falco. The avian, having missed the action yet again, simply listened with his arms folded and a scowl on his beak.
“So Stefan’s dead,” he muttered when all was said. “You don’t seem too happy about it, hotshot.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to be the one to do it,” Fox muttered angrily back. On the ride back to the ship, after the initial rush had faded, Fox realized that he was actually angry that Stefan was dead. He wished the bastard was alive…so he could kill him again, himself.
Gage rolled his eyes and said, “Fox, he’s dead, let it go. It doesn’t matter who killed him. We have slightly more pressing issues.”
Fox nodded. He’d been able to keep it somewhat out of his mind for a year, what’s a few more days? There’ll be plenty of time to think later.“Should we take a look at that disk?”
“Might as well,” Gage said, taking the small disk that Charon threw to him out of his pocket. He tossed it to Fox, who stuck it in the wall’s viewscreen. Within seconds, a grid popped up on the screen, with two blinking red dots spaced a few inches apart.
“What’re they supposed to be?” Fox wondered aloud, but the screen answered before his teammates could. It flashed to a 3D map of barren, sandy terrain, with a small complex of a few warehouses in the middle. After a minute, it panned over to show a cargo train on a track heading off into the desert, towards the other red dot. It then flashed again and showed a larger complex with numerous buildings and guard towers, all encircled in a huge metal wall. A train track led directly into the complex. Below the picture in bright white lettering were the words “Rogara Outpost”.
“I get it,” Gage said, leaning back in his chair as the map recording looped back to the beginning. “It’s a supply depot. It’s standard Venom procedure, I’ve seen it before.”
“What is?” Fox asked.
“Well, since Venom isn’t the most hospitable planet, they keep the supplies in depots instead of in the outposts themselves. That way, one depot can supply numerous outposts around it. It cuts costs down, too.”
“But if that depot’s destroyed, all those outposts suffer.”
“Right. But since the Venom military hasn’t exactly been financially stable for a while, they’re taking their chances. The cost of building Overlord must be sapping whatever funds they have dry.”
“So what’s Charon saying?” Falco said with a shrug. “That we should destroy the depot? Halt production?”
“I don’t think so,” Gage continued. “Overlord’s already built if they’re striking so soon. I think he wants us to hijack the train.”
Fox slowly nodded, running the plausibility of the plan in his head. “We still don’t know how big Overlord is, or its defenses. It’s not on the map, of course, they wouldn’t show it. But chances are they have every soldier and weapon they can get guarding it. It’s their last chance. So if we somehow get on the train, we can cruise right in, past the defenses.”
Gage and Falco nodded and the captain spoke up. “That’s a cute plan, but we’re forgetting that a small army of soldiers will be waiting for us, with Charon for dessert. I don’t care if he gave us this information or not, I don’t trust him. It could be a trap for all we know. We can’t do this one by ourselves, guys, I say we call General Pepper, see when the cavalry’s coming, and go in with them.”
“Fine with me,” Falco grumbled. “You’d probably leave me back again anyway.”
“It’s ‘cause you’re dependable,” Fox said with a grin as he punched in the general’s number, receiving a scoff from his friend.
On the first ring, the general’s face appeared, set with the lines and shadows that have come to mean only one thing…bad news. “What?!” he answered irritably.
“Are you ok?” Fox asked, already knowing the answer.
“McCloud,” Pepper said with a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid I have some really bad news.”
“You don’t say.”
“Venom must’ve anticipated this since we discovered their plans. A few hours ago, just about every base we have beyond Katina was attacked. Small forces, not enough to capture any bases, but enough to surprise us and wipe out any chance of making an effective attack on Overlord. It was a smart move, unfortunately. We don’t have enough time to get there.”
Silence fell over the room as the three teammates stared slack-jawed at the screen.
“What are you saying, Sir?” Gage asked finally. “There’s no hope of an attack on Overlord?”
“I’m afraid not,” Pepper replied glumly. “We’re evacuating Macbeth City as we speak, but there’s no way we can everyone out in time, especially with the chaos going on there.”
“What do you mean? How many people are left?”
Pepper swallowed hard and said gravely, “Estimated death toll is no less than one-hundred-thousand…and that’s if this Overlord’s capability is no more than the first’s.”
All for naught. Everything the team had done up until that point had been in vain. The horrible pangs of defeat welled up inside Fox, and he didn’t like it at all. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do?”
Pepper scoffed. “Not unless you feel like going after it yourselves. We’ll have enough forces mustered in that area for an attack next week, but no sooner. We—“
“Sir,” Gage interrupted. “Can you get my team up here?”
Pepper cocked an eyebrow. “I suppose; they’re still here in the base. Captain, don’t even think about it. I don’t want to lose another Dagger to another Overlord.”
“Let them make that make that decision, Sir.”
Pepper leaned back and thought for a minute, then said, “Alright, I’ll tell them what you want, but I’m not ordering anybody to do this. If they agree, I’ll have them up there by tonight.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Gage replied as the connection was cut.
* * *
Fox spent the rest of the day cursing his luck and taking it out on the paper targets in the shooting range. Falco soon joined him and the inevitable competition ensued, topped off by Falco’s inevitable grumbling after he lost. Fox thought about asking Gage to a match, but realized the captain could probably mop the floor with him. Besides, he had been holed up in the armory all day drawing out a plan, refusing help from the two StarFox members.
The plan was apparently completed around 6:00 PM, but Gage didn’t want to show it until Dagger arrived…if they arrived. All through a light dinner, Gage tapped his foot and looked towards the door, as if waiting for an important package in the mail.
“So what changed your mind?” Fox finally asked when Gage looked at the door for the twentieth time in as many seconds.
“Hm?”
“You seem almost eager to go pay Overlord a visit now.”
Gage nodded grimly and took a sip of water. “Just been thinking a bit. I was in there working on the plan, and I remembered that note you gave me.” He took the aforementioned note out of his pocket and tossed it to Fox. “She was a great girl.”
Fox grinned and pocketed the sacred note. “Well, that’s an improvement from your first opinion of her.”
Gage blushed slightly as he remembered that day in the cafeteria. “Yeah, well…sorry about that.”
“Forgotten.”
“So I was just thinking about what you said in the city today and all. Fate just played me a bad hand, but it’s my hand and I have to make the best of it. My traitor brother weighed against a hundred-thousand lives is no competition.”
“I just hope you don’t lose that way of thinking when you confront him.”
“Don’t worry,” Gage muttered darkly. “Like I said, Ike’s already dead.”
Fox opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by ROB’s monotonous tone on the intercom.
“Cornerian Army shuttle requesting permission to dock. Leader identifies himself as Lieutenant Forte.”
Gage grinned and stood. “See? I knew they’d show.”
“Sure you did,” Fox replied, then spoke in his comm. to ROB. “ROB, contact Falco and tell him to meet us in the hangar.”
“Yes, Sir.”
* * *
As the three teammates walked through the door to the huge, cold hangar they were greeted by an army shuttle docked next to the Arwings. Seven soldiers clad in army fatigues mulled around the hangar. Two were tossing black bags from the shuttle’s cargo hold, another two were running their hands along the nearest Arwing and talking to each other, and the other three were looking around the cavernous hangar. Finally, they saw Gage and waved. The captain waved back and jogged over, Fox and Falco following slowly behind.
Gage shook hands with a gray wolf that Fox remembered as Forte. The wolf said something with a grave expression, no doubt offering his condolences for the situation with Ike. Gage said something while shaking his head and hooked his thumb over his shoulder at Fox, which earned a sideways glance from Forte. The captain then looked back and waved Fox and Falco over.
“I got your back,” Falco whispered as they walked over.
“Falco, we’ve had enough run-ins with Dagger,” Fox said with a grin. “Besides, they’re Special Forces; they’d break us in half without even losing breath.”
Falco scoffed as they approached the shuttle. By this time, all seven members of the team were huddled around Gage and looking at Fox. Fortunately, this time Gage spoke first.
“Dagger, you all recognize Fox McCloud and Falco Lombardi. Fox, Falco, this is my second-in-command Lieutenant Forte.”
Gage continued down the line of soldiers, first being Private First Class Tailor, the sniper, a beagle with a long scar on his muzzle where grenade shrapnel got too close for comfort. Next was Corporal Penick, a huge, muscular bear that Fox guessed was heavy support before Gage said it. After him, towered by the huge bear, was the only female member of Dagger, Private Beaudoin. The pretty fennec was the scout, as evident by her slim frame, but Fox had no doubt that she could hold her own up close.
Following her were two youngish-looking soldiers, Privates Rho and Rhiain, raccoon and coyote, respectively. They couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, by Fox’s judgement, but the two scars on Rho’s head were proof enough that they’d seen their share of combat. Finishing off the line was Corporal Tien, a husky, the team’s medic and demolitions man. Fox made a mental note to stay away from him in combat; he never liked being by a guy with explosives.
“How’re things going up here, boss?” Forte asked, shooting a glance at Fox and Falco.
“Fine up until recent events. I assume you all know why you’re here, and you didn’t have to come. So thank you.”
“Hey, we’re a team. It was bad enough you had to come up here alone, we wouldn’t let you take on Overlord alone.”
“Especially with him,” muttered Beaudoin, her pretty face an expression of scorn. “Let’s see if this Overlord can be destroyed without losing the team this time.”
Fox opened his mouth to protest, but, to his surprise and the surprise of Dagger, Gage beat him to it.
“Hey,” Gage snapped, his eyes drilling into the fennec’s. “You’d be short a captain right now if it wasn’t for him. Yes, we are a team, and he’s part of it. I was wrong with what I said before, and I ask you all to show him the same respect you would show me. Alright?”
“Uh…yes, Sir.” The surprised Private said, confused (along with everyone else) at the captain’s change of heart. Fox just stood beside Gage, blushing slightly.
“Ok. McCloud will show you to where you’ll sleep tonight, and we’ll have a briefing in the armory at 2130. Fox?”
Fox nodded as Gage left and turned to the team. Small talk didn’t seem to be their interest, and Fox didn’t know what to say anyway. He was about to tell them to follow him when the Wolf, Forte, spoke up.
“Is that true? Did you save the captain’s life?”
Fox had been trying to think of what Gage was talking about since he said it, and he finally remembered. In Macbeth City, he had caught him in the Arwing when he was dangling from the rappel rope. Then he pushed him out of the way of Charon’s lasers when he was dazed. Then he bowled through the lobby in the Landmaster to pick him up. He saved his life three times, but in the tension of the battle, he didn’t even have time to think of that.
“Yeah,” Fox replied finally. “But I couldn’t have done any of this without him, so it all evens out.”
“Don’t be so modest,” Forte said with a grin…an actual showing of good faith. “It takes a lot to change that guy’s perspective.”
“I’m just glad I finally did.”
“Well, you’re alright by me,” the wolf said, giving Fox a pat on the shoulder. “Now, enough mushy crap, let’s get moving.”
* * *
It turned out that, including Slippy and Peppy’s vacant rooms, there were just enough beds for all ten of them. After throwing down their olive-drab bags, the team was invited to explore the ship and help themselves to whatever was left in the galley. As they went their separate ways, Fox found himself in a conversation with Rho and Beaudoin in the recreation room. The three sat at the sofas and talked while they waited for 9:30 to roll around.
“What kind of pistol do you use?” Rho asked, eyeing Fox’s holster.
“SVR 93 Mark 2,” Fox replied, taking it out and handing it to the raccoon. “Just got it in a couple months ago, less clunky than my old one.”
“Really? Same one I use.” Rho thoroughly checked out the pistol and handed it back. “Doesn’t look too clean.”
Fox grinned as he reholstered the gun. “I had to use it recently, and cleaning it hasn’t been top on my priority list since then.”
Rho nodded and Fox glanced over at Beaudoin. She was resting her head on her hand and staring out the thick window into the infinite space. It was odd to see such a seemingly fragile, pretty girl in an army uniform as part of Corneria’s top Special Forces team. Fox realized he was staring and tore his gaze away as Beaudoin sighed lightly and noticed him.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, straightening in her seat. “Did you say something?”
“Oh, no, Miss uh…I mean…I’m sorry, I’m too used to first names.”
The vixen laughed and said, “It’s Khestra, if that’s easier. Very smooth way to get my name, you want my number while you’re at it?”
Rho laughed as Fox sputtered denial that those were his intentions. Khestra held her hands up and said through a fit of giggles, “Just teasing you, Fox, it’s ok.”
Fox could feel his face burning, but laughed also. “It’s been awhile since I was accustomed to female teasing.”
“Well, I’m not looking for a guy, so don’t worry. This job’s murder on relationships.”
“Tell me about it.”
Before they could delve deeper into the finer points of job stress, the intercom buzzed with Gage’s voice.
“—it on? Am I doing it right? Oh, ok….ahem…Attention, everyone report to the armory for the briefing, I repeat, everyone to the armory for the briefing…ok, how do I turn it off? Same button?”
The trio laughed and stood. As they headed out the door of the recreation room to the armory, Khestra tapped Fox on the shoulder and pointed to a square patch of white carpet on the ground, significantly lighter than the rest.
“What happened there? Get careless with a beer or something?”
Fox glanced at the carpet and quickly looked away. The scene still played out in his eyes every time he looked at the spot. Two shadows still clutched each other on the ground, clinging desperately to each other, trying to make their last moments together last forever. Two shadows still declared their love, a love they knew they would never share in the physical world. Two shadows were still torn apart by the approaching inevitable.
“Yeah,” Fox finally replied. “I got careless with something.”
* * *
The only light in the dim armory came from the glowing panels behind the racks of instruments of warfare and the large viewscreen on the far wall. The tension in the room hung as heavy as the darkness itself, the gravity of the situation they were about to face weighing on each soldier at the sight of the outpost on the screen. Fear was a luxury none of them could afford, and they shut it off in a way only years of training could provide. However, the two mercenaries did not have the benefit of that training and Fox’s rapid foot-tapping echoed through the room like a frantic metronome.
Gage stood by the screen and quickly counted heads to make sure they were all there. Satisfied with the result, he shuffled a few papers, cleared his throat, and began his briefing.
“First of all, thank you all again for coming. I’ve, uh…I’ve discovered a few things since we last spoke, and I feel the need to inform you now. From new information I uncovered, it looks like this is going to be a lot harder than I first thought. I’m going to be perfectly straight with you…I’ve never seen outnumbering statistics this large. If Macbeth City was not in direct danger, I wouldn’t even think of going with this mission. The chances of a scratch-free completion are next to nothing. This said, if any man…or woman…wants no further part in this, now’s the chance to speak up. I’ll understand.”
Fox glanced around and saw that all seven Dagger soldiers were staring straight back at their captain, not even bothering to see if anyone would leave. They knew no one would, they knew they had each others’ backs to the end. It was a special bond only received in combat that made men closer than brothers. With a curt nod, Gage continued.
“Alright, let’s get down to the dirt then. On the screen, you see a top-down view of Rogara Outpost, seemingly a small, nondescript base on Venom. However, what you don’t see is a two-by-one structure that has just finished completion, lying just outside the base.”
“Sir,” Tailor jumped in. “What do you mean two-by-one?”
“Miles,” Gage replied gravely. “Two-by-one miles. The law of weapons of mass destruction is proven again; this one is bigger and badder than the first. But that doesn’t matter if we don’t let it fire. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This earned scattered nods around the room.
“Now here’s the plan. Falco, you’re on pilot duty. Set down here,” Gage pointed off in the desert a few kilometers west of the outpost. “And drop off the team, minus Fox and myself. Forte, you’re in command. You all hold here until you see the signal.”
“What signal?” Forte asked.
“That’s where Fox and I come in.” He pointed to the east end of the base, where the train tracks led into the assumed storage building. “Off to the east, there is a small, lightly guarded supply depot. Fox and I will infiltrate this depot and hijack the train that makes its daily run into Rogara. We cut the brakes, uncouple the last car, and let the rest run into the base. When it blows, that’s your signal. The distraction should draw away most guards from the west side.”
Gage pointed to a tall guard towers just inside the west gate. “Tailor, I want you up in this tower to cover the assault team’s infiltration and exfiltration. Chances are some soldiers will mosey on back, and it’s a long haul to Overlord, so pick them off as you see them. The assault team will make their way from the west gate to the north gate, where the only known entrance to Overlord is. Once inside, your job is to find the main control room. If they wizened up, there won’t be any self-destruct, so your objective is to destroy the consoles that control the launch. That will at least buy us a few days so General Pepper can mass a proper attack. With that completed, move out to the extraction point outside the west gate, where Falco will pick you up. Any questions?”
“Rules of engagement?” Penick asked.
“Open season on Venom troops, fire at will. Watch your fire, though, there are still civilians there. Anything else?”
Rhiain spoke up. “Sir, what are you and McCloud going to be doing during all this.”
Gage hesitated then looked straight at Fox. “We’re going to move in after the assault team and eliminate the commanding officer…Ike.”
“Just you two?”
“Yes…that is, if Fox agrees to accompany me.”
All eyes turned to Fox at this, but he knew Gage’s motivation behind this. They were the two people that Ike hurt the most. The traitor was behind Fox’s framing, which led to Vixy’s death. All this time, is anger had been directed towards only half of the enemy: Stefan. Now it was time to put it to rest once and for all. He nodded at Gage.
“Alright, that’s all,” Gage concluded. “Gentlemen, and ladies, the success of this mission will depend much upon your instincts and a lot of luck. This is very sparse information, but it’s the best we can get. I believe in your abilities, and I believe we can do this. We haven’t failed a single mission yet, so let’s not break the record. Ok?”
He received enthusiastic whoops from his team and more sweat from the two mercenaries. Even Falco didn’t have any quip or false bravado for the moment. Fox looked around the room and knew it in his gut that not all of them would be alive in day’s time, if any at all. And they probably knew it too, but that didn’t stop them. They had countless lives in their hands, and they accepted that responsibility when they signed up, even if it meant their own deaths. Fox couldn’t remember ever feeling more respect for anyone than he did at that moment, and it was a better feeling to know that he had the strength to be a part of it.
“Alright,” Gage said. “Get some rest. We move out at 1800 hours tomorrow.”
* * *
“No! Please, don’t!”
Searing pain ripped through Fox’s arm as the blade tore his flesh. His blood splattered across the stone wall of the dim torture room, joining the lost life of the numerous victims before him. The cut soaked his shirt and fur in dark crimson, the excess dripping to form a puddle around his shackled feet. Wolf looked on in pleasure, though Fox didn’t know how that was possible: Wolf’s own face was covered in blood from a singed hole where his good eye used to be.
The blade made a few more passes, each one adding to the macabre blood mosaic on the wall, each one earning a scream of pain from the disheveled fox. Wolf’s scornful voice could be heard echoing in the room, mocking Fox’s pitiful situation.
“You can’t win, McCloud. What do you think you’re doing? Saving the galaxy again? Ha! This is beyond you…this is beyond anyone.”
Fox bowed his head, gasping for air, feeling himself slowly float into unconsciousness. He closed his eyes, and half-hoped it would be for the last time.
But then it was all gone. His next breath was a reward of clean, cool air as fresh as a spring day back home. His pain was gone as suddenly as it had been inflicted, and a brilliant light filled the room. His shackles had disappeared, and Fox stood straight, brought back to life with renewed vigor and strength, gazing into the heavenly light where Wolf had stood moments before.
A figure slowly emerged from the brilliance, the very person that Fox made synonymous with joy and salvation: Vicenzia Hohleran. The gray vixen, bathed in an aura of golden rays, smiled at Fox and held out her hand. Fox gently took it, so afraid she might vanish the second they touched, and gazed at the smile that had made everything alright back in life. Vixy rested her other hand on Fox’s and gently squeezed in reassurance.
“Fox,” she spoke softly, her words like notes of the most endearing hymn. “Only you control your fate. Nothing is beyond you.”
“Vixy,” Fox whispered shakily, tears flowing freely down his muzzle. “But I…I couldn’t save you. You’re dead because of me. If I hadn’t dragged you into this…”
“Oh, Fox,” Vixy sighed, pulling Fox closer. “If you hadn’t pulled me into this, I never would have been truly happy. What’s a full life worth if it is devoid of love?”
Fox just stared back at her. Since her death, Fox had countless thoughts of things he wished he could say to her again. But they all could be summed up in two sentences.
“I miss you so much,” Fox choked out, hugging her gently. “I love you.”
Vixy hugged him back, enveloping him in the warmth and serenity of her presence. “I’ve never left you, Fox. And I never will leave you.” She kissed him gently on the muzzle and took a step back. “Now go, with my love and with my blessing. You can succeed, Fox. I know you can.”
Fox reached for her, but she had stepped back into the light, and with a blinding flash, she was gone.
Fox awoke, but not to the startling fright after a nightmare; it was as if being gently stirred by a soft kiss. He sat up in his dark room and looked around, trying to get his bearings. The dream had been so real, so lucid…he could still feel Vixy’s touch and hear her reassuring words. Absently, he reached up and felt his muzzle. The fur under his eyes was still wet from the tears.
With a heavy sigh, Fox fell back on the bed and wiped his eyes dry. It was a wonder he had gotten to sleep at all with the anxiousness of the mission crawling around inside his gut. The more he thought about it, the more impossible it all seemed. His only reassurance was that he thought the same way the first time he infiltrated the metal behemoth, and it turned out alright.
Could that have sparked the dream, his worry about the mission? Certainly the part about Wolf, but what about Vixy? So far every dream he’s had about Vixy since her death were tormenting scenes of sadness. But this one…it wasn’t even like a dream…it was like seeing her again for real.
An overwhelming calmness flowed through Fox’s veins as he remembered her words. “If you hadn’t pulled me into this, I never would have been truly happy.” Could it be he had been given a last chance to make his peace with Vixy’s death, at the time he needed it the most?
With this thought in his head, Fox drifted back into sleep, Vixy’s words echoing as clear as they had moments before.
“I’ve never left you, Fox. And I never will leave you.”
“Nothing is beyond you…”
-Conclusion coming soon!-