I gaze out at the stars from one of the corridor windows of the Great Fox, it has been two weeks since I arrived on Corneria and a few days since we left, most of it I spent on even more of Fox's training, only now I've had a chance to reflect on the events that have taken place. I place my my right hand on the thick glass, even with my hand covered by my suits body glove I can still feel the cold from the void of space. Part of me still cannot believe that I am here, that I am many light years away from Earth... but overall I decided to accept it even before the Great Fox arrived at Corneria.

I hear "Is everything okay?", my gaze shifts to see a reflection of Krystal walking up to me.

I lightly sigh and I say "I'm fine... just a bit homesick." as I slowly slide my hand across the glass.

Krystal places a hand on my left shoulder and she says "I know how you feel Adam."

I look to the blue vixen and I say "Are you really the last of your world?" nervous at the words leaving my mouth.

Krystal nods with a sad look and she says "That is correct. My homeworld was Cerenia, much like your Earth it was located outside the Lylat System but it was destroyed and I'm the only one who survived it."

So my theory was correct, Krystal had basically managed to escape her worlds apocalypse.

Krystal looks out of the window and says "My world was more tribal in a sense and our technology focused more on spiritual connection then a simple machine with code. While Cerenia wasn't as advanced as Corneria we did achieve space flight capability which is how I was able to escape."

I feel both interested and confused, interested because I'm learning of Krystal's world but confused because...

Krystal looks at me and she says "I know you've been curious since Fox brought it up, you bit your tongue because you were afraid of offending me or stepping on dangerous ground. I do appreciate that but don't be afriad to ask."

I nod and I say "Understand." kind of shyly.

Krystal lightly smiles, she comes closer to me, she places her right hand on my left shoulder and she says "You know... this armor suits you." as her fur-covered hand glides down from my shoulder down to my forearm.

My eyes glance between Krystal and her hand, as I do her smile becomes more warm.

Krystal says "It was nice chatting Adam, I'll see you later." keeping her smile, she slowly yet fluidly pulls her hand away and she begins to walk away.

Krystal disappears down the halls, I'm not entirely sure what just happened to any real extent, I look to the glass to see my cheeks lightly... blushing? Given my lack of information I decide to discard the thought and head to the hanger. I enter, I head over to the fighter given to me which is a modified cornerian fighter, now the fighter kept it's wing-mounted lasers but added onto it, mounted on both sides of the cockpit are small triple-barreled rapid firing lasers which means the equivelent would be high output machine guns, this modification has come at the expense of the fighters bomb capacity, esspecially since I had the firepower upgraded and it's painted like the other Star Fox fighters. My gaze goes to the fighters of the others, the first of which is Fox's arwing which has a white main body, on both sides are the primary thrusters known as the g-defusion system which involves two on each side and forming a side ways 'v' and after that are the wing themselves. The second is Slippy's which is huge, short and stocky with it looking more like an aircraft-shaped tank with a g-defusion system. The third is Falco's, which at an extremly quick glance looks like an arwing, but it's nose has been extended with a blue tip and it's wings greatly extended with three blue feather-like tips on each wing. The fourth and last is Krystal's and it looks more like a dinosaur inspired design as the cockpit has been shaped into a head on the main body which is shaped like a bird in flight, there's a tail added to the back and under each wing is a massive g-defusion system. Now while Fox's is still called an arwing, Slippy's is called the Bullfrog, Falco's is called the Sky Claw and Krystal's is called the Cloudrunner.

I move to my fighter, I place my right hand on it's hull, slowly gliding it across the starboard side.

I hear "Admiring the fighter?", my gaze shifts to see Fox coming towards me.

I say "I was just checking it out." with a light smile.

Fox says "All it needs is a g-defusion system, which Slippy is working on."

I say "Even though this is the main and most common flyer for the Cornerian Military, how did you get one so soon?" with a curious look.

Fox says "It was in our storage." with a bit of a... grumble?

I guess this particular fighter has a bit of a history behind it, but I decide for my sake not to dig deeper in that topic and I say "She's a real sturdy machine by the looks of it." with a smile.

Fox says "The cornerian fighter is indeed very sturdy and reliable, not to mention it is a really flexible design as it's weapon loadout can be quickly changed out as well as it's other systems."

Suddenly we hear over the intercom "All hands, report to the bridge." it's Peppy.

Fox and I break our small talk and head to the bridge, we make it to where everyone else is.

Fox says "What is it Peppy?"

Peppy says "We've got a transmission from Pepper."

Fox says "Put him through."

Pepper's hologram appears and he says "Star Fox, it's been confirmed that the Venom forces are on the move and are spread out through out the system. Evidence shows that the base on Fortuna has been re-built and it maybe a staging ground."

Fox says "We'll check it out."

Pepper says "Good luck Star Fox." and his hologram fades.

Fox says "Rob get to Fortuna as soon as possible."

Rob says "Affirmative."

Slippy comes up to me and he says "The g-defusion system for your fighter are almost done and they'll be installed by the time we get to Fortuna."

I nod and I say "Excellent work Slippy." with a light smile.

Falco says "What should we call your ride?"

This catches every ones attention, I begin to think of a name for my fighter and I come up with a name for it.

I say "It'll be called the Phalanx." with a light smile.

The ride to Fortuna is proving to be particularly uneventful so I kept myself busy by helping Slippy with my fighter. The time was slipping like loose sand through your hands as I was more focused working with Slippy and learning more about the technology he and the others work with.

Slippy puts the last panel in place and he says "All set."

I say "Thank you for hooking up my fighter Slippy." with a light smile.

Slippy says "No problemo." with a smile and trying to act cool.

Suddenly an alarm begins to blare, I notice Slippy has quickly made his way to his fighter, I realize that it's time to deploy and I quickly get into the Phalanx. It doesn't take long for Krystal, Fox and Falco to enter the hanger and get into their fighters. I have my helmet activate, good thing the cockpit had it's canopy refitted so my helmet isn't hindered.

I hear on my comm "Adam, given that your only experience here is based on simulators I want you to stay close to any of us." it's Fox.

I say "Copy that, I will remain in tight formation."

I hear Slippy "Remember because of your armament you don't have any bombs to use."

I say "What can I say? I like dogfights." with a smile.

I hear Falco "You had it made that way on purpose did you?"

I say "Indeed I did." maintaining my smirk as I quickly double check my systems.

The five of us leave the Great Fox in a skein formation, Fox is at the head, followed by Slippy and Falco and lastly Krystal and myself.

I hear Krystal "How's the Phalanx Adam?"

I say "She's holding well so far, but the real test is in the fray."

I hear Fox "Just don't get carried away."

I see in front of us a huge wave of fighters and even cruisers, my mouth drops and I say "Ooh la la." in shock.

I hear Fox "Okay, here's the plan. Falco we're going to need you to strafe them and help break up their line, Slippy and I will take the left and Krystal and Adam will take the right. Move out!"

On that we split up to do our roles.

I say "Krystal, I'll follow your lead."

I hear Krystal "Copy that, stay close and stay sharp."

Our five fighters clash with the Venom forces, the lasers of my fighter destroying those of the enemy and even a cruiser here and there. What's unnerving though is their sheer numbers, sure they're frail as glass but it's extremely difficult with these insane numbers.

I say "There's so many of them!"

I hear Krystal "Just keep up, they'll falter soon or later."

I'm not sure how many I've shot down but they seem to rely more on numbers... but if that's the case it's not serving them well as they just keep hurling themselves at us with no co-ordination at all. Now while they're easy to shoot down it's getting harder and harder because of their swarming tactics to the point where Krystal and I had to break our formation as would be easy targets. A force of five fighters comes at me from the front in what looks to be a row, all five begin to unleash their firepower, I wind to my port side to dodge, I boost to get behind them, I pull a tight maneuver to starboard and I open up with all of my fighters weapons, obliterating them into space scrap.

I feel my innards churn from the g-forces a bit but my sheer adrenaline allows me to ignore it, the electro-impulses in my brain becoming stronger and more erratic... it feels amazing and dare I say quenching. At this point the enemy no longer has my pity nor remorse... they will only feel my spite and the heat from my weapons.

I hear Fox "Their lines are buckling!"

I hear Krystal "Adam, three enemies to your seven!"

I quickly shift the Phalanx around and sure enough three fighters are heading towards me... but they aren't like the others. The first is huge, a black nose with a red mid-section with black underneath, wings like those of an arwing with a white top fin towards the back. The second looks rather frail-looking, it has the same coloration as the first but it's a bit more compact and to me seems a bit stripped. The third is actually a bit bulky and for the most part it isn't that different from the first but I can see it's main weapon from here which is a big beam cannon.

I say "Guys, they just broke out the big guns."

Suddenly I hear "I take it your the human we've heard about?" in a rough male voice with a slight snarl.

I say "Yeah that's me, name's Adam..."

The same voice says "We aren't here for small talk, we are Star Wolf and we're here to take you out!"

I hear Krystal "Adam, fall back! Let us take them on!"

I hear another voice "Aww look at that, she's protecting this insect!" in a sickly voice and another says "I'll give the gift from my rose... the gift of death!" in a far more refined voice.

I hear Fox "Wolf, you and your team are to leave Adam alone!"

I hear the first voice which I guess is Wolf "With the price on his head and the pay we're getting I don't think so. Leon your up first!"

The sickly voice reigns "Time for you to suffer!"

The second of the three suddenly jolts fourth, from the status on my cockpit he has a lock on me, but green weapons fire hits his shield from above and Falco's Sky Claw boosts past him.

I hear what I now know is Leon "Come here hatchling!" as he goes after Falco.

I hear the gruff voice "Panther... crush him!"

I hear the refined voice "Very well."

The bulky fighter fires it's cannon, I quickly evade but I barely make it.

I say "You want to fight me? FINE! Feel the might of the Phalanx!!!" and I floor the accelerator towards the two craft.

I hear "Krystal "Adam, don't!" followed by Panther "Very well my prey, let's dance!"

The fighter with the big weapon moves with a hard boost, it's weapon creeping it's aim towards my fighter. Seeing that thing fire, it can no doubt blow through my shield and destroy my fighter in a single shot as the reading on my sensors proved it's overwhelming output. I boost my thrusters, trying to be as possible so I don't get hit, I notice that his fighter is slow to turn, I pass him as I quickly get into a tight turn, the other fighter moves to intercept me but weapons fire from Fox and Krystal break his advance.

I say "Let's see how tough your armor is!" and I unleash my full arsenal on him.

It takes a few second of continuous fire but his shield break as he goes to turn, peppering fighters armor with laser fire and blackend marks. As my fighter passes his, I can see him as he glares at me. He literally is a Panther, his eyes are a striking bright yellow, his fur is an intense black and his suit is mostly purple with his protective chest plate being white. It's clear that I've ticked him off as he looks to be growling with his teeth showing.

I hear Panther "I'll rip your eyes out of your skull for that!" with anger.

I say "Not if I declaw you first." as I break left.

Panther comes at me but he sees how close we are to smashing into each other, he turns his craft upside down and lowers it avoid me, I see a opportunity, I grab my safety cable from my left, tie it around my left gauntlet, open my cockpit and I jump out. My right gauntlet turns into an energy sword, I stab the crafts underbelly, the energy blade effortlessly cuts through the armor and internals as sparks fly, I pull my blade out, I jump off the fighter and get back into the Phalanx thanks to the cable. The slash on Panther's fighter ignites and explodes which reduces the underside to nothing and his engines stop.

I aim my fighters weapons at Panther, I say "Checkmate." and I unleash all of my weapons again.

My weapons peel through his fighters armor, ripping through the internal components in the rear and mid-section. A warning goes off in my cockpit, Wolf's fighter comes in from above with it's lasers blazing, the lasers hit my fighters shields as I fly away but Wolf is on my tail.

I hear Wolf "You won't get away with that you arrogant pup!" as he fires his lasers.

I begin to think of how to get out of this, I decide to try to pull off a scissors to try to get Wolf in my firing arc. A massive energy blast comes and hits me, my fighters shields become almost stripped of their power as Leon's fighter comes down on me from above. I smirk as I decide to face Leon's craft and boost with Wolf still on my tail.

I think 'Let's play chicken!'

I hear Leon "Do you have a death wish runt!"

I say "Do you?"

Leon's fighter suddenly boosts, from my radar the three fighters are very close together, at the last second I break right, Wolf and Leon clip each other which wrecks their port wings. Leon's fighter turns my way, his main weapon fires at me, breaking my shields and hitting my engines. Wolf's fight banks around and fires at my under carriage.

I say "I'm falling back! I've taken too much damage!"

I hear Fox "Copy that."

I hear Panther "I don't think so whelp!"

Out of the corner of my eye I see Panther's beam cannon shot rush towards me, it hits just behind my cockpit, I hear an explosion with my fighter really propelling itself to the Great Fox.

I yell "BLAST IT ALL!!!" trying to regain some control of the craft, even working with the g-deffusion system isn't working.

I hear Krystal "Can you make it back to the Great Fox!"

I say "I should be able to..."

A second explosion occurs and my fighter really begins to move.

I yell "SCRATCH THAT! IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE!" as I brace for impact.

My fighter crashes into the Great Fox hanger, my Phalanx is scrapping the hanger floor as it screams until finally it slams into a wall which sends my protected head into my console.

I hear Krystal "Adam? Adam are you there? Adam please respond!"

Krystal's voice begins to fade as I feel my mind drift because of the impact and g-forces and then everything cuts out.

To be continued...