I begin to take the situation in as I scan him, something about this Sabre is gnawing at me but I can't put my finger on it, I say "Nice to make your acquaintance, is there anything I can help you with?"

Sabre says "You most likely will be able to. I am looking for Krystal, she's an old friend of mine."

I do my best to remain stoic, but mentally all I can think is 'My fiancee knows this guy? Maybe I can throw him off.' and I say "I'm sorry, I don't know where she is at the moment. But if you have a message I'll pass it on."

Sabre says "Just tell her I said hi and that maybe we can catch up? Then again it's been about five years, I doubt she'll remember me." with a shrug.

I say "I'll let her know."

Sabre gives me a thankful nod and he says "And I see you got a ring, congrats on that. From what I here your a force to be reckon with."

I say "Thank you." giving him a smile but all I can think of is trying to get some answers, though I need to talk to Krystal first.

We walk away from each other but I wait for  him to get out of earshot before I contact Fox via my comm "Fox, this is Adam. Do you read?"

Fox's voice comes through "I read you, what's going on?"

I say "I just had an encounter with a wolf named Sabre, he didn't attack me or anything but I have a strange feeling about him."

Fox gives an inquisitive "Hmm..." and he says "Doesn't ring any bells, I'll check the database just to be sure."

I say "Thank you Fox, if you find anything please let me know."

Fox says "You got it."

I get to my room and I see Krystal doing her nails, the blue vixen looks to me and she says "Hi hon." with a smile.

I say "Greetings love.", I give her a kiss and I sit next to her.

Krystal says "Are you feeling better?" with a curious gaze.

I say "Yeah, Fox and I even ended up doing a quick exercise." with a triumphant tone.

Krystal giggles and she says "Nice to hear you boys did well."

I take a moment and I say "I did meet someone on my way out, a wolf named Sabre."

Krystal's eyes twitch a little and she says "Sabre? That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. What did he say to you?"

I say "He just said that you were both old friends and that he wants to meet up and catch up."

The vixen sighs and she says "Hon, Sabre and I were friends... you could even have called us brother and sister at one point. But he and I had quite a falling out, we ended up fighting each other just prior to my home worlds destruction. You see his father and mine were allies of two different worlds, but the relationship soured due to a resource crisis and territorial disputes. The last time we met was aboard his ship, stating that he never trusted me, though I knew he was lying, he thought we betrayed him."

I say "Is he the one who..."

Krystal cuts me off "No, he didn't destroy my world, his world did suffer the same fate as mine however. Chances are he's here to seek revenge, thinking I had a part to play in the loss of his."

I jungle the information for a few moments, to think someone who is from a world that was allied to Krystal's is amazing enough as I never thought I would have gotten such a chance. But it's sad to hear it wasn't a reunion that would be in good spirit, if he's here then that could mean only one thing, a thought that strikes my heart.

Krystal says "Does anyone else know he's here?"

I nod and I say "I notified Fox and he said he would look into it."

We hear a knock at the door, causing us to freeze as we look to the door and we hear "I guess following you was the right call Adam, now look I'm willing to let you walk away if you leave Krystal to me."

I quickly open one of my suitcases, I open it's false bottom, I take out an mp40, I unfold the stock and ready it for action, I glance to Krystal who gives a nod as she gets on her communicator, I look back at the door and I say "Listen here! I don't want any trouble, but you coming after my fiancee isn't a move you want to make! I've got a sub machine gun here with a full mag and a quick trigger finger!"

A few moments pass, my sight doesn't leave the door at all, I don't even pay attention to what Krystal is saying on her comm, the door begins to suddenly get banged on, to where it sounds like it's getting hit with a hammer. I open fire, letting loose a six round burst at the door, I hear a loud thud, I slowly make my way around the bed, I look towards the floor as crimson invades underneath the door, I glance to Krystal who's looking at me with what sounds like an officer on the comm, what sounds like a shotgun takes the air and the door comes flying open, revealing what looks like an ex-venom soldier, I quickly blast him away as I run over to Krystal who ducks behind the bed, I grab more mags from my suit case and I aim my weapon over the bed.

I yell "FOR THE FALLEN!!!" and spray the entire wall with 9mm rounds, the last round soon exits, a couple thuds echoing as I quickly reload.

The windows explode as two guys come crashing through, I quickly swing around, bringing one of them down but the other kicks me down, he aims his rifle at me but Krystal gives him a nasty kick which sends him out of the window, Sabre comes through the window, grabbing Krystal from behind, he tightly holds onto her as he aims a pistol at me which looks to be a desert eagle.

I toss the mp40 and I say "Please, I surrender... let her go Sabre!"

Sabre says "I don't think so, you see I aim to claim retribution for my world and show that at the end of the line, the traitor dies!"

I say "Sabre, she just told me that both your worlds shared the same fate. You can still end it here and we can call it even, but if you take her hostage... you better hope you have some powerful allies on your side!" with a growl at the end.

Sabre says "I have a lot of respect for you, so I'll tell you what... I'm set up at the abandoned area near the space port. I heard about your time behind enemy lines, I want to see what you've learned, make your way to me and beat me and you'll get your maiden back... fail and I'll slit her throat. Do we have a deal?" as he gives me a snear.

I slowly get up and I say "By nights end... I'll have your head!"

Krystal says "Hon?!" as she begins to tear up.

I say "I'll be there as soon as I can, don't worry I'll get you out. Trust me." trying to stay strong.

Krystal says "I-I know you will. I'm just scared." trying to look brave herself.

The wold has a grapple latch onto him and he takes Krystal out of the window with a helicopter taking them away, I grab my smg with it's magazines and slowly walk through the hotel, everyone looks my way and they instantly know what happened, especially when I get out of the building and I see my teammates, they instantly freeze.

Miyu says "Bro? Please tell me... that Krystal's okay." with concern and fear.

I say "Sabre took her and he's hired venoms to aid him."

Fox says "I uncovered a log with him just few minutes ago, but it wasn't much to go on."

I inform them of what took place and the wager Sabre has set, I contact Rob to send my suit down in it's light configuration with a list of weaponry and equipment. Fox and Miyu see that look in my eyes, the same gaze I had when Earth was destroyed, the same gaze that was the last many venoms saw before their lives ended. A pod lands in front of us, I assemble my suit and gear, along with the mp40 I now have an mg42 with a few spare barrels and a backpack having a 10,000 round backpack, my sidearm, some grenades, mines, explosive charges, a combat knife, a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun pistol and my vibrosword. I glance down to see a faint light coming from my necklace, I quickly grab some blue paint and paint the area around my eyes, recreating the eyes of Ra and Horus, I also paint my lucky number on the chest piece... 13.

Falco says "Adam, you can't seriously be thinking of doing this on your own!"

I say "I have to, it needs to be done that way. If he wants me to beat him single-handedly then it needs to be that way.", I look to everyone and I say "But I want the air to be monitored and all possible exits covered, weather I win or lose, he doesn't leave this planet alive." readying the mg42 with a great pull on it's charge handle.

Fox gives a hard nod and he says "No worries, we'll make sure that's covered." with an understanding tone.

Miyu sighs as she says "Just please, try to come back in one piece."

I look to my teammates, I give them a smile and I say "Krystal and I will be back before you know it." as I get my mg42 in it's place.

Fox says "Good luck trooper." with a salute and the others following suite.

I salute them back, I put my helmet on and I begin to make my way towards where Sabre said he was going to be.

I think 'Krystal.... I'm on my way!'

....................................................

Night comes in, the abandon area is surrounded by military and law enforcement, the tallest building being the de facto headquarters, Sabre takes the whole scene in, knowing at least few snipers may already have their crossairs on his head, they just haven't pulled the trigger yet. Krystal is tied to a chair, her telepathic mind seeking Adam's thoughts, she can sense him lurking in the abandoned area but she's also keeping an eye on what the mercenaries are thinking, they have a lot of hatred for the human but they have a fear that outweighs it.

The blue vixen looks to the wolf and she says "You can still walk away Sabre, if you value your life and the lives of your soldiers, surrender and all that'll happen is that you get locked in a cell."

Sabre looks to her and he says "Your significant other has already pointed out he plans to kill me, do you really expect me to just surrender to him?" with a smirk.

Krystal says "Listen to me, when Adam gets pushed over the edge, when he gets angry and vengeful... he turns into someone you really don't want to mess with. He nearly took out a third of a base after his eye was torn out, he single-handedly defeated and killed Panther from Star Wolf, he brutally killed Andrew Okinney and slaughtered numerous venoms after Earth was lost. There doesn't have to be any more killing Sabre, you can put an end to this before it's too late, otherwise Adam won't stop until he ends you."

Sabre blinks at her words and he says "Good, that just means by the time he gets to me, he'll be fired up."

Krystal snears at the wolf and she says "Compared to what he's fought against thus far, you and your one hundred hired guns are nothing."

Sabre says "We'll see about that.... Kursed."

An explosion gets their attention, distant gunfire from an mg42 takes the air, the distinctive rate of fire giving it's clear intent. Krystal now knows there is no going back, she gave Sabre a chance to at least try to retrify the situation, instead her old friend wants to settle a vendetta with her.

Sabre's radio says "Squads alpha 9 and bravo 7 are gone, I'm the last of delta 2! Send reinfor....", the voice becomes strangled as a metallic rattle can be heard, like a chain clanking against itself, the breathing soon stops and with it a hard thud.

Sabre looks to Krystal as he says into the comm "Delta 2, respond."

..................

"Delta 2 respond."

I pick the radio up, I say "I'm here, so make yourself ready." and I toss it at the nearest wall as I keep moving.

Rain begins to fall as flares are launched into the air, I get to the buildings perimeter and I see the entrance is fortified with a heavy machine gun out front but it looks like there aren't any more patrols, though the area has no cover. I get a frag grenade ready and I charge out with the mg42 blazing, the bullets hit all over the place, taking some of the enemy out and pinning the rest, I toss the grenade which takes out the abandoned machine gun emplacement, I flank around the corner and spray the cowering soldiers, I open the side of the mg42, I toss the hot barrel and pop a new one in. Looking at the structure, I put my two explosive charges on the side, I get to a safe distance and detonate them, blasting a nice hole in the structure, I step through the hole, my helmet adjusting to the dust, I open fire with the general machine gun as I exit the dust, running behind a solid half wall to use for cover, return fire comes my way. I clench my teeth as I wait for the rounds to pause, the bullets stop to which I quickly jump up and open fire, taking down two soldiers, one flanks to my left, I pull out the shotgun and blast him with both barrels. A fourth comes at my right, he grabs on to my mg42, I bash my helmeted head against his which staggers him long enough for me to deliver a burst into him.

I reload the shotgun, I think 'It's going to be quite a fight on the way up... anything to get Krystal back.', I look to the stairs and I begin to make my way up.

...............................

The sound of gunfire echoing through out the building continues, Sabre and Krystal hear the radio chatter of panicking venoms, the explosion of Adam's remaining grenade, the sound of the mg42 making up most the sound with an occasional shotgun bast by the sound of it. By the sound of it about half way up the building the mg42 must've run out of ammunition because the more puny sound of the mp40 takes over, Sabre takes it all in as he goes over the numbers in his head, the human had devastated the fortified floor where most of his men were as the few remaining soldiers there went silent one by one, it was down to him and around 20 venoms, he looks to a squad of four commandos who nod and leave the room.

Krystal says "You are running out of men Sabre, order them to stand down and surrender. What is the point in continuing this?"

Sabre doesn't answer her, he looked stoic and despite his bravado, he was facing a force that wouldn't stop no matter what was thrown at it... and that made him scared. He looks to the cameras in front of him, giving him a view of the floor just below him.

.................................

I step through a door way as I toss my helmet, the plates of my armor are covered in dirt and dust with visible cracks in almost all of them, the last mag of my smg is down to half capacity and my combat knife having been lost in hand to hand combat. I quickly fold the mp40's stock and I put my shotgun in my left hand as I slowly advance and check my corners, I hear a creak which catches my attention, I dive to the left just as shotgun and smg fire riddles the area, I spray my smg until it runs out and I ditch it, so I ready my sword, an enemy gets close and fire my last two shells before tossing the shotgun and make ready with my sidearm blaster to which I switch to full auto.

One comes at me with a sword of his own, I get up and our blades clash but my vibrosword goes through his, I raise my pistol....

"STOP!!!"

Everyone freezes at Sabre's voice, the venom in front of me eyes my sidearm, particularly my finger, I slowly release my finger from it as I continue to eye him.

Sabre's voice continues "I-I surrender, to any surviving mercenaries, discard your weapons and leave. you're already paid, Just leave."

The venoms look to me, I admit I just want to kill them given how much hatred for them for destroying Earth, but I decide to honor Sabre's words and I put my gear away and I say "Get out of here, the battle is over."

The venoms toss their equipment and they begin to head down stairs, I start to make my way up to the next floor where more venoms are coming, I enter a large room where Krystal is rubbing her wrists as she stands by the door, Sabre is standing in front of a window with his sword drawn. He sees me, he lowers his head as he puts his sword away and gets on his knees, I run over to him and sock him to the left side of his face and knock him out. Krystal comes over to me and embraces me, I hug her back as I sigh in relief. We find ourselves answering questions and filling reports on what happened, with Sabre in cuffs and Krystal safe I don't have any need to worry anymore, though I think maybe it is time to just do something else.

Fox says "How are you guys holding up?" as he comes over to Krystal and I.

Krystal says "I think we've been better, but thankfully the whole situation turned out as well as it did."

Fox looks to me and he says "I'm surprised, you let Sabre go."

I look to the two foxes and I say "I think maybe, there's been enough killing. I think it's time to find a new way to live." with a tired sigh at the end.

Krystal says "Are you saying that, it is that time?"

I nod and I say "Yeah... I am. Being a part of Star Fox has been great, but after fighting for the past few years, I think it's time to retire from it. I will miss it but, I want a more peaceful existence, don't you?"

Krystal takes my hand and she says "I do and I know how you feel because I feel the same way, but we still have to fill out the paper work and get everything situated."

Fox looks at both of us and he says "I'll contact Pepper, he'll point you guys in the right direction and where you go for employment I'll vouch for you." with a warm smile.

Krystal looks to me and she says "But hon, are you sure? I mean we were talking about it but I wasn't expecting it so soon."

I say "I am sure, being among the stars is amazing and I've seen so many things, experienced so many things. But I've served proudly since arriving in the Lylat System, it's been an honor being a part of Star Fox and meeting my comrades, seeing them every day and fighting side-by-side when all hell breaks loose, the more I think about it though the more I think it may be time to settle down.", I look squarely at Krystal and I say "Besides, we've both been talking about setting our lives up and it'll be easier doing it now then down the road since we're still young." with a smile.

Fox gives me a proud look, he sighs "It sounds to me his mind is made up."

Krystal gives me a smile "It'll take some time for the paper work to go through and all, but when all is said and done we'll have our own lives." and she embraces me.

I manage to get a new hotel room... since the last room got shot up and we spend a couple of days filling out some forms for government aid and planning for when we do leave Star Fox, but also planning for something else as Krystal's cycle is going to hit her soon and after talking about it... we both decided we are going to try.

To be continued...