A Stone Drag


A tale of the twisted genius behind an abomination and the words of the mighty


before the wise








Chapter 1


It Starts (Or Rather, DoesnÕt)


Under the spreading chestnut tree, 


I sold you and you sold me.





	Lights.


	Glowing lights, incredibly bright, lighting up downtown Haransdale.  Animals


of all size and shape making their way through the crowded streets of the


gargantuan modern city.  Shops, cabs, motels, dark unwelcoming alleys, towering


skyscrapers.  


	In such a town, who can pay attention to the newcomer?


	Who indeed.


	A few blocks down from one of HaransdaleÕs many giant squares, something was


happening.  Something, among a thousand other things happening at the same time. 


If one had had nothing better to do, one may have noticed three strangers running


like those gone mad down the street after something no one else could see.  If


one had had nothing better to do, of course.  Which everyone did.


	Bill GreyÕs tongue lolled out as he panted heavily, running as quickly as he


could, feet pounding the sidewalk.  Alongside him were Peppy Hare and Falco


Lombardi, members of the estranged mercenary unit, Star Fox.  He didnÕt know


either of them very well, but today they were a team--united for the common


good--and if achieving the common good meant running around KatinaÕs largest city


like complete idiots, well, then, thatÕs what they would have to do.


	Peppy slowed down a bit.  ÒIÕm getting too old for this!  WeÕll never catch


them anyway,Ó he puffed.


	Falco skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into a trash can from the slick


walkway.  He eyed some suspicious looking characters skulking in the alley. 


ÒPeppyÕs right.  We need to get a cab.Ó


	ÒHEY!! HEEEYY!!!Ó  Bill tried to hail a cab, and eventually one screeched to


a halt, splashing unsavoury street water in their faces.  Bill gagged, but yanked


the door open.  They tumbled into the cab and didnÕt bother to fasten their


seatbelts.  


	ÒFLOOR IT!Ó Falco ordered the driver, a stout raccoon, pointing in the


general direction of a nearby side street.  


	ÒMuch obliged, sir,Ó the driver mock saluted.  Then he took off like a bat


out of the other place and careened down the road at speeds approaching 200 km/h.


	Plastered against the back window of the vehicle, Peppy spoke.  ÒWhere do you


think theyÕre headed?Ó


	ÒProbably....out of town....thereÕs an office somewhere down there....IÕm not


sure....UULLGH!!Ó  Bill lurched forward as the cab hit a speed bump and almost


flipped over backwards.


	ÒWe better get there soon,Ó Falco moaned, clutching his stomach.  ÒI think


IÕm about to toss.Ó


	The high buildings gradually shortened, more trees and grass was visible, and


there were fewer pedestrians. Soon theyÕd left the city. Three more minutes of


their harrowing journey ensued until Bill stopped the cab in front of an


impossibly tall office building.  It was surrounded by a large grassy knoll with


a picturesque but obviously man-made pond and a few running trails.	


	Falco paid the driver, who nodded and then ricocheted insanely back to the


city.  ÒWell, are we ready?Ó  Bill blew out his breath slowly, staring up at the


glass-covered monstrosity of modern technology.


	ÒReady as weÕll ever be, and even if weÕre not we donÕt have time to get that


way,Ó Peppy responded, striding as majestically as one with his particular


physical build could manage.


	ÒLetÕs get this over with,Ó Falco took a deep breath, pulled open the door,


and they all stepped inside.





	Of course, thatÕs not the beginning of the story.





	ÒBill---HELP ME!!!!Ó  Fox dug his fingers deeper into the side of the cliff,


but his foot slipped on the tiny outcropping and he slid farther down the edge. 


Bill had just had enough time to grab a rope and secure it around a tree and


himself before Fox went over the side completely, and luckily he caught FoxÕs


hand just in time. He tried to pull his friend up, but, unfortunately, the only


tree he had enough rope to reach was a young sapling, and, also unfortunately, he


wasnÕt wearing his super-grip boots.


	ÒAAGH!Ó Bill slipped, fell on his backside, and bumped down some rocks before


hanging there, suspended by the thin rope.


	ÒGreat.  Just greaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!Ó  Fox screamed as he looked down at


the ground and slid a few more inches down the side.    


	The awful grating noise of a rope rubbing against gravel met the ears of the


motley pair, and Bill moaned.  The weight of both of them was too much for the


thin rope, especially when the thin rope was tied only to a flimsy, weak sapling.


 Fibers of it started to snap off, and Bill counted them, dread gnawing a hole in


his stomach.


	ÒHey, no need to fear, Katt is here,Ó they heard a smooth, confident voice


say.  ÒIÕll get the roWHOOAAAA!!!Ó  Katt strained as the rope snapped.  Luckily,


sheÕd grabbed it before it broke, but she wasnÕt standing very far from the edge


herself.  Ò*unnhh*  Maybe you two should *erg* cut down on the donuts?Ó she


gasped, pulling as hard as she could.  ÒItÕs....the adrenaline...why I can hold


you up....but I canÕt *gasp* keep this up for long!Ó Katt puffed.   Her heels dug


into the extreme edge of the top and she tried desperately to keep her balance. 


ÒSOMEONE HELP ME!!!Ó


	Peppy had come running as soon as heÕd heard Fox fall, and now he arrived. 


The long loose ends of KattÕs sash were blowing in the wind, so Peppy grabbed


them and pulled as hard as he could.


	ÒOuch! OUCH!  That hurts!!  Well, at least IÕm not down there with Tweedledum


and Tweedledumber,Ó Katt winced.  She managed a weak smile.  ÒOh well, I knew


this sash would come in handy someday if I wore it long enough. URRRGH!!Ó


	Peppy breathed hard.  ÒSLIPPY!! Get yer butt over here and HELP US!Ó


	ÒWhu--?  Okay, here I come!  OH MAH GAWSH!Ó  Slippy galloped over and gasped


when he saw what was going on.


	ÒSTOP GAWKING, YOU FOOL, AND HELP US!Ó Bill screeched at him.


	Slippy snatched the ends of PeppyÕs long coat and yanked hard.  ÒYou donÕt


need to get angry!  .....Man, I wish Falco were here!Ó


	ÒWell, heÕs not!Ó snapped Fox irritably.  You canÕt really blame him;


speaking as one who is seconds from death, he was actually extraordinarily


kindly.  ÒDo you think you can hold us up??Ó


	Bill grimaced, dangling uselessly from the rope.  Small pieces of rock coming


loose from the cliff face bounced off his jacket as Katt struggled for a firm


foothold.


	ÒOoohhhhh nooooo!Ó Peppy groaned as Slippy fell heavily on his rear and the


foolish looking train traveled a few feet.  Katt went over the side but managed


to curl her tail around PeppyÕs neck and pull herself back up as Slippy scrambled


clumsily to his feet.  Meanwhile, Peppy choked as KattÕs tail tightened, then


gasped and made an odd screaming noise in his throat.


	ÒOohh, IÕm SORRY!Ó Katt said.  ÒI didnÕt know that was you...Ó  She made an


apologetic face as she regained her foothold and resumed heaving on the rope with


all her might.


	But it was to no avail, for they slowly crept closer to the edge.  Katt bent


over the side, off-balance, teetering only millimeters away from certain demise.


Fox was sweating as he peered at the ground, who knows how many kilometers below.


 He tried to anchor himself a little by pressing his foot into a small dent in


the rock.


	ÒAAAHHHHHHH!Ó Katt screamed.





	ThatÕs not the beginning of the story, either.





	Fox flipped through an ancient magazine and chewed absent-mindedly on a


cookie.  He leaned back in the plush chair and skimmed a vaguely interesting


article, stopping every once in a while to take a sip of his tea, which was


rapidly losing heat and flavor on the plastic holding tray.  


	Across the room, the full-wall window displayed nothing but an endless void


of stars.  It was creepy, really, looking out that window, so Fox tried never to


look at it too long.  The wooden table and stools also lay across the room, and


at that moment they were occupied by Falco and Peppy, who were playing a card


game.


	Peppy peered at his cards.  ÒHit me!Ó


	ÒHere!Ó exclaimed Falco joyously, slapping a card down in front of Peppy and


making the old hare jump.


	ÒYouÕre gonna give me a heart attack,Ó grumbled Peppy, picking up his card


and looking at it.  ÒAw, dangit.  I went over 21 again.  HowÕs your hand look?Ó


	Falco grinned and displayed his cards, which added up to 19.  ÒProbably


woulda won even if you hadnÕt gotten the king,Ó he said gleefully.  ÒHeh heh.  I


love Blackjack.Ó


	ÒYeah, sure, of course you do.  Well, why donÕt you play it with Slippy or


something?  IÕm not a gambling man...Ó


	ÒAwww, you only say that because you never win.  Besides, Slippy wouldnÕt


understand it.  If I told him to hit me, heÕd probably take it literally.  So you


donÕt like Blackjack...up for a game of poker?Ó


	ÒNo, IÕve had enough card games for one day,Ó groaned Peppy, getting up from


the table.  ÒWhere is Slippy, anyway?Ó


	ÒRight here, O wise one!Ó Slippy skipped into the main lobby of Great Fox,


wielding a strange blaster.  ÒL-look what I made.  IÕve b-been working on it for


WEEKS!  T-thatÕs why I havenÕt b-been around.Ó


	ÒDarn, I was hoping you had disappeared,Ó commented Falco, folding his wings


behind his head and putting his feet on the card table.  ÒOh well...thereÕll be


other times....Ó


	Slippy gave him a dirty look and went on.  ÒItÕs REALLY c-cool!  It turns


n-nonliving material into liquid! You know, s-stuff like rocks and g-glass. And


it hardens INSTANTLY!  Observe.Ó  Slippy fired a shot at one leg of FoxÕs drink


tray, and it collapsed into a messy puddle of white goo.  As Slippy had said, it


hardened instantly, but FoxÕs tea splashed on top of it and his favourite teacup


shattered into pieces.  


	ÒSlippy!Ó yelled Fox, gathering up the shards of broken china.


	ÒSorry,Ó the toad blushed.


	ÒHey Slippy, how about a game of Blackjack?Ó  Falco shuffled the cards with a


big smile of the utmost wickedness.


	ÒI donÕt know h-how to play,Ó Slippy blinked.


	ÒOh.  How about poker?Ó


	ÒNope,Ó Slippy shook his head.


	ÒGin Rummy?Ó Falco sounded disappointed.


	ÒNo.  I d-donÕt know how to p-play any card games.  Except.....Ó


	ÒExcept?Ó


	ÒWar!Ó  Slippy finished.


	Falco dropped the cards on the table and ran out of the room screaming.  Fox


laughed.


	Slippy looked wounded.  ÒWhatÕd I say?Ó





	That was the beginning of the story.  Now on to the rest of it.





	





Chapter 2


Early Morning Blues and Greens


ÒA distant nightbird mocks the sun....Ó








	General Pepper cleared his throat and surveyed all his officers. ÒSo whatÕs


the news, gentlemen?Ó Pepper inquired, sounding like he really didnÕt want to


know.


	ÒNews...of course he knows thereÕs news, heÕs practically all-knowing,Ó


commented a captain.


	Lt. Comdr. Ferdinand Shalwast fidgeted.  The thin, reedy mockingbird shuffled


some papers for no apparent reason and answered the general tentatively.  ÒWell,


you see, sir, itÕs like this.  We were talking strategy the other day in the war


room...Ó


	ÒWithout me?Ó Pepper raised an eyebrow.  Shalwast blushed and gulped.


	ÒNo, never...youÕre the Cornerian armyÕs right arm,Ó responded a kiss-up


major quickly.


	ÒLeft arm too!Ó


	ÒWeÕd collapse without you,Ó squeaked another.


	ÒWell...yes, sir, but thatÕs not the point....the point is that we received a


hail from our base on Fortuna, and.....word is that Andross has a new and better


bio-weapon capable of incredible feats.  WeÕve heard some amazing things about


it, General, and quite frankly, weÕre terrified.Ó


	ÒOh yes, terrified....it frightened us awfully!Ó


	ÒWe were horrified, even!Ó


	ÒShaking in our boots!Ó


	Pepper grunted.  ÒDonÕt listen to rumors, flakes!  The communicator you spoke


with was probably just a puppet...a frightened officer, forced to lie to keep his


own life.  IÕm sure he was lured into saying things by Venomian scumbags.Ó


	ÒOooh...scumbags....good word, sir,Ó chimed in another commander.


	ÒOf course he was, sir!  YouÕre absolutely clairvoyant, sir....seeing that he


was forced..Ó


	ÒWow!  The manÕs a genius!Ó


	ÒHow could we be so blind?Ó


	ÒBut General.....,Ó  Shalwast sputtered.  ÒYou didnÕt see the things that


were done to the base.....an ordinary attack....not even Invader class....even


the Star Wolf team couldnÕt have done some of the things we saw.  And there


was...well, we saw it, sir......Ó Shalwast voiced miserably.


	ÒWHAAAAAAAT?!Ó


	ÒOh yes, we were shocked too!Ó


	ÒCanÕt blame you one bit!Ó


	ÒItÕs just a shocking piece of information!Ó


	ÒI think you took it rather well!Ó


	ÒWhat a level head!Ó


	ÒSHUT UP!Ó yelled Pepper over the din of the yes-man officers.


	They did so.


	ÒGo on, Mr. Shalwast?Ó beseeched Pepper, grimacing.


	Shalwast swallowed hard. ÒIt was the bio-weapon, sir.  It looked kind of like


a large rottweiler.Ó


	ÒWell, maybe it WAS a rottweiler, you dingleberries!Ó roared Pepper.


	Shalwast flinched.  ÒNo......no, sir.....it showed us things....it wasnÕt


just a dog.  It was made of stone, and it was monstrous.Ó


	ÒGigantic.Ó


	ÒEnormous.Ó


	ÒGargantuan!Ó


	Pepper silenced the officers again with a look, then turned back to Shalwast.


 ÒStone, you say?Ó


	ÒYes sir, gray stone.  And it turned itself into liquid.  Its fist was huge. 


It.....punched through a wall and didnÕt even flinch.Ó


	Pepper paled.  ÒWait, what you said before...it...turned itself


into....liquid?Ó


	ÒYes.  Yes, sir.  We saw someone run in and shoot it with a blaster; it was


no small blaster either, sir, and the thing....a chunk of its face flew


off....but it just sort of filled back in.Ó


	Now it was PepperÕs turn to fidget.  ÒWhat happened then, lieutenant?Ó


	It was actually lieutenant commander, but Shalwast didnÕt correct the


general.  ÒWell....the one....who shot at it.....the thing threw him out the


window.  Right through the glass.  We could hear him screaming all the way down. 


He must have landed in snow, but thereÕs no guarantee he lived....of course, itÕs


only one soldier......but still, the bio-weapon picked him up like he weighed


nothing.  We donÕt know what to do, sir...Ó


	Pepper frowned.  ÒI donÕt know either, Shalwast.  Call in the Star Fox team


and anyone else you can find who might be able to handle the job.Ó


	ÒBut sir.....blasters have no effect on him......Ó


	ÒI said CALL IN THE STAR FOX TEAM!Ó Pepper barked, slamming his fist on the


table.  Shalwast jumped a full four inches and then fled the room to comply with


the generalÕs orders with half the Cornerian fleetÕs commanding officers hot on


his trail.





	Fox sipped a new cup of tea out of another teacup, but didnÕt like this one


nearly as much.  I liked the blue flowers, Fox thought crankily to himself. This


one is ugly.  Aargh!  Slippy is so annoying sometimes.  He better buy me a new


cup, Fox decided, annoyed.


	Falco paraded into the room.  ÒHey, thereÕs a call for you.  Peppy says itÕs


important.Ó


	ÒWho is it?Ó Fox bolted from his seat, secretly hoping it would be Fara.  He


hadnÕt heard from her in months.


	ÒDonÕt ask me,Ó Falco shrugged.  ÒSome Cornerian joker. It wasnÕt Fara, if


thatÕs what you wanted to know.  But I wasnÕt really paying attention.  I was


trying to have some lunch, actually.  Anyway, IÕd better get back to my peanut


butter and honey sandwich.  Gab your head off, okay?Ó  Falco left the rec room


with Fox behind him.


	Sitting across the room chewing on his sandwich, Falco watched Fox speak with


Lt. Comdr. Shalwast.  ÒItÕs an emergency,Ó wailed the mockingbird.


	Fox was profoundly disappointed.  He thought he and his team would finally


get a break from defending the galaxy, but no such luck. ÒTell Slippy and Peppy


to get their Arwings ready,Ó Fox told his friend, walking quickly out of the


room.


	Falco ran after him.  ÒHey, whatÕs this all about??Ó


	ÒThereÕs some bio-weapon.Ó


	ÒYeah?  And what else is new?  Bio-weaponry is AndrossÕs thing.  So he made


one.  Big whoop.  Why do WE have to take care of it?Ó


	ÒThis oneÕs different,Ó Fox muttered cryptically and trotted briskly into his


chamber.  Falco grumbled a little and went off to notify Slippy and Peppy of


their situation.





	Ten minutes later, Falco entered the main recreation hall, where everyone


else was chilling out before they left and gathering supplies.  Falco noticed


Peppy making a call to someone.  ÒYouÕre calling in people to help us?Ó


	ÒYeah,Ó Fox answered.  Peppy motioned for them to be quieter.  Fox lowered


his voice.  ÒWeÕre calling mainly friends, but mostly just people we know who


have skill.  WeÕre gonna need all the help we can get.Ó


	ÒYou havenÕt called....Have you?Ó


	Fox sighed heavily and put on his


IÕm-the-leader-of-this-team-so-you-just-better-do-what-I-say face.  ÒLike I said,


Falco, weÕre going to need all the help we can get.  Now you may not get along so


well with Katt, but sheÕs got as much skill as you or I do, so youÕre just going


to have to get over it.Ó


	ÒSure.  Fine. Whatever.Ó  Falco shrugged and started packing supplies into a


small bag.  ItÕs not so much that we donÕt get along with each other--maybe that


we used to get along a little too well.  But I havenÕt had an actual, normal,


real-person conversation with her in years. And our last one didnÕt go too well. 


Falco always felt a little uncomfortable when she was around, even though it had


only happened three or four times since heÕd last seen her all those years ago on


Corneria.  He usually didnÕt have a problem with making up for that by making


snide comments, though.


	Soon the Star Fox team was packed up and ready to head to Corneria for their


mission briefing.  Slippy set the coordinates on Great Fox as they hopped into


their Arwings and made their way towards Corneria City.





	ÒAn audience, Pepper?Ó  Capt. Navarro, a stout beaver, made a sort of


sideways pucker with his mouth that made him appear rather disrespectful.  He


looked incredibly bored as he shuffled some papers around, mostly just for the


sake of making some noise.


	ÒWhatÕs the matter, Captain?Ó Pepper was a tad touchy, and he wanted to get


this over with as quickly as possible; Star Fox would be here any minute.


	ÒCall me crazy, Pepper, but I donÕt think the Star Fox team is going to


accept a suicide mission.  We have no known weaknesses on this thing.  Fox


doesnÕt strike me as the temperamental type whoÕd rush into an almost hopeless


situation.  Especially when heÕs not actually under your command.  What are you


planning on telling the poor dumb clod to make him accept this?Ó


	I.....er....hadnÕt really thought about it.Ó  Pepper stroked his chin.


	ÒWell, maybe you better start thinking,Ó Navarro made a sort of half sneer. 


ÒGoing to tell him that this is a liquifying concrete canine who laid waste to an


entire Fortunese base single-handedly?  Something that any known physical weapon


has no effect on?  ItÕs time to wake up and smell the liquid paper, my friend,Ó


Navarro carried on.  ÒTime to spread it over the truth, okay?  We gotta get this


mission accomplished but youÕre going about it all wrong.  Trust me. Maybe these


are just rumours, Pepper,Ó Navarro finished with a wink.  ÒOnly rumours.  Rumours


you want him to check out.Ó


	Pepper grunted.  ÒYouÕve got a point, Captain.  IÕll do that.   As for you,


youÕd better learn to be more respectful before it gets you into trouble.  You


can call me General just like everyone else in this army does.Ó


	Navarro smirked.  ÒIÕll take that into account.....General.Ó  He appeared so


utterly nonchalant as he made a lazy salute and exited the war room that it


seemed as if he must practise it. Just as he left, Fox walked in.  Peppy, Falco,


and Slippy stood a little outside the doorway.


	Fox took a seat.  ÒWhatÕs this all about, General?Ó


	Pepper smiled, showing his teeth.  ÒWeÕve noticed some strange activity on


Fortuna near a former base.Ó


	ÒFormer?Ó


	ÒOh, yes...it was attacked by a large squadron of Invader-class Venomian


starfighters last week.  Since then weÕve monitored odd happenings.  We believe


there may just be a bio-weapon.  Do you think your team could check it out?Ó


	ÒI donÕt see why not, General.Ó  Fox frowned. ÒBut why us?  If theyÕre just


rumors of a bio-weapon that you donÕt know anything about, why send us?  It seems


like a job a rookie squad could handle.  Unless thereÕs something youÕre not


telling me.  The commander we spoke to on the com-link seemed to think this was


rather urgent.Ó


	ÒI didnÕt ask you to analyse this, McCloud,Ó Pepper narrowed his eyes.  ÒAre


you going to do it or not?Ó


	Fox was a bit surprised, but he nodded.  ÒYes, sir.  WeÕll do it.Ó  He left


the room, puzzled.


	The rest of the Star Fox team trotted after him down the hallway.  ÒHey, so


whatÕs the deal, Fox?Ó  Peppy inquired.


	ÒIÕm not entirely sure, Peppy.  Pepper says itÕs only some rumors of a


bio-weapon.  But you saw that guy we talked to.  He was frantic.  He was almost


in hysterics.  SomethingÕs not right here.Ó


	ÒYeah, whatever.  Well, letÕs hope itÕs something good wrong and not


something that could potentially kill us wrong.  LetÕs get this over with before


anything else happens.Ó  Falco jogged slowly down the long corridor.


	ÒFalcoÕs right,Ó chimed in Slippy.  ÒLetÕs wait until we see how bad this is


before we start painting pictures of nightmare monsters, huh?Ó


	ÒIf you guys say so,Ó Fox shrugged.  ÒIÕm just going with my gut instinct.Ó 


Meanwhile, the Star Fox team had arrived on the sunny landing pad of the


Cornerian ArmyÕs headquarters.


	ÒUh-huh.  LetÕs just get over there, okay?  IÕm getting bored.Ó  Falco used


the remote control locks theyÕd been given for their Arwings by the Army a few


months ago to open the top of his jet.  ÒHeh heh,Ó  Falco said to himself.  ÒI


love these little remote control thingies.Ó  He climbed into his Arwing and used


the remote control again to close the top. The others did likewise, and soon all


four swirled straight upwards and cleared CorneriaÕs atmosphere.





	Space flights get boring after a while, and Fox felt sleepy.  Slippy sent him


a message on the com-link.  ÒHey, Fox, Katt and Bill are going to be waiting for


us on Fortuna, right?Ó


	ÒYeah, yeah.Ó


	Slippy forgot to make it a private message, so Peppy and Falco overheard. 


ÒThe only people you got in touch with were Katt and Bill?!Ó Falco queried


incredulously.  


	ÒWe asked Bill about the units he controls, but he had a hard enough time


getting off himself, much less 60 soldiers,Ó  Fox massaged his temples.  ÒWe


tried at least 30 other squadrons, but they couldnÕt help, either.  We were lucky


to get any help at all.Ó


	ÒGreat,Ó  Falco rolled his eyes.  ÒWeÕre fighting something PepperÕs afraid


to tell you about and we only have two other people to help?Ó


	ÒI thought you were the one who said we should look on the bright side of


this until we know for sure itÕs gonna be bad.Ó


	ÒYouÕre mistaking me for that painfully optimistic amphiboid in the next


Arwing.  I was the one who said we should look on the bright side until we find


out we have six people against something Pepper lied to us about so you would


accept the mission.Ó


	ÒYou think thatÕs what he did?Ó  Fox worried.


	ÒWhy else would he not tell you about what was up with that Shalwast


character you talked to, Fox?  It makes sense,Ó  Peppy shrugged.


	ÒJust peachy,Ó  Fox growled.


	ÒWhy did we elect him leader?Ó  Falco murmured.


	ÒNow approaching Fortuna,Ó  Slippy announced cheerfully.  ÒShall we go on? 


IÕve got a lock on the location of the former base.Ó


	ÒFormer base...destroyed by Venomian Invaders.....Ó  Fox muttered to himself.


 Or a former base destroyed by the bio-weapon?  He curbed the clashing instincts


he was getting and nosed down, spiraling downwards through the different layers


of the atmosphere.  It wasnÕt a cakewalk, entering an atmosphere;  it took a


little knowledge to keep from becoming just another brightly coloured smudge on


the skyÕs canvas, but you didnÕt have to be a rocket scientist.  However, Fox was


tired and worried, so it was maybe just a bit more difficult than it ought to


have been.  


	They reached a cruising altitude and skimmed across the land.  Within


minutes, they came upon the still-smoking remains of the Fortunese Ice Eye base. 


Slippy gasped.  ÒWOW!  What did THAT?  ItÕs awful!!Ó


	ÒYouÕre telling me!  My gosh...Ó  Fox gawked at the terrible destruction. 


ÒLetÕs get in closer.Ó  


	They flew around in slow circles around what was left of Ice Eye, taking in


what little information they could gather from the damage.  ÒWhatever did that is


something I wish I wasnÕt facing with only six people,Ó  Falco voiced grimly.


	ÒDo I hafta say ditto?Ó  Peppy gritted his teeth.  


	ÒNo, okay, you donÕt have to, but why donÕt you anyway, because it might make


me feel better.Ó  Listening to Falco, Fox wondered if he was out of his bird. 


Out of his bird, Fox snickered to himself.   Heh, I made a pun.  Heh heh


heh...heehee!


	ÒDitto,Ó said Peppy dutifully.


	ÒI think I see Katt and Bill a little ways from here.  LetÕs take Ôem down,


boys.Ó  Fox gazed into the distance.


	ÒKatt and Bill?!Ó  Slippy shrieked.


	ÒNo, dummy, the Arwings!Ó  Falco assuaged the toadÕs worries, somewhat


rudely.


	ÒOooohhhh, good,Ó  Slippy sighed in relief.


	Soon they were on the ground.  The impossibly bright sunlight was bouncing


off the snow and making everything too bright to look at.  Bill was the only one


not in considerable pain, as he had sunglasses.  The others werenÕt so lucky.  


	Katt waved merrily as they trooped over. ÒThereÕs no need to look so happy


about this,Ó Falco frowned.  


	ÒOh, youÕre so GRUMPY!  WhatÕs with that base, anyway?Ó  she responded


cheerfully.


	ÒYou know the thing that did all that?Ó  Fox indicated the smoldering,


pyramid-shaped casualty of war.  ÒThatÕs the thing weÕre fighting.Ó


	Rather bemused, Katt raised her eyebrows.  ÒNo one told me we were going


against a whole army.Ó


	ÒWeÕre not,Ó  Fox answered darkly.  ÒWeÕre going up against one person.Ó


	Bill did not look happy.  ÒAw, man!  You gotta be kidding me!Ó 


	Peppy turned to look at him.  ÒAfraid not.  Well, you two havenÕt seen any


traces of it, have you?Ó


	ÒI just got here,Ó  Katt answered.  ÒI was buying this new outfit for


Fortuna.  AinÕt it nice?Ó  She showed off her shiny purple fur-lined parka.


	ÒOh sure, itÕs great,Ó  Falco rolled his eyes.  ÒI canÕt believe youÕre


talking about a new outfit instead of this bio-weapon??Ó


	ÒGlad you like it,Ó she answered, not at all fazed.  ÒSo itÕs a bio-weapon? 


This should be fun.Ó


	ÒIf you say so,Ó  Bill looked a bit worried.


	ÒMaybe we should get a better look at the damage,Ó suggested Peppy.  ÒWe


couldnÕt really see much from the air.Ó


	ÒSounds fine to me,Ó Fox consented, and they trooped dutifully over the half


kilometer or so to the base to inspect the fine lines of destruction.


	Slippy folded his arms behind his back and craned his stubby neck to look at


the whole building.  ÒI wonder if anybody in there is still alive?Ó


	ÒI seriously doubt it,Ó Fox rubbed the back of his neck.  ÒI guess we could


look, though.Ó


	ÒYouÕll be wasting your time, man,Ó  Bill said.  ÒIt looks like the inside is


completely burned out.Ó


	ÒOooohhhh.....Ó


	ÒEh...?Ó  Peppy swiveled around and jumped.  ÒFox, thereÕs someone over


there!Ó


	All six ran over to a lone pine marten in a privateÕs uniform.  ÒAre you


okay, mister?Ó  SlippyÕs mouth hung open.


	ÒDoes he look okay, Slippy??Ó  Falco yelled incredulously.


	ÒDonÕt worry....Õbout me....Õm not important,Ó  the furry creature raised a


paw weakly, which immediately fell limply back into the snow.  ÒItÕs


the....the....bio...Ó his speech slurred as he tried to communicate successfully.


	ÒBio-weapon?Ó coached Fox.


	The soldier managed a nod.  ÒItÕll....kill....us all....you have to....stop


it.Ó


	ÒHow?Ó  Fox urged.


	ÒFox, please,Ó  Peppy said distastefully.  ÒThe manÕs in pain.  We have to do


something for him.Ó


	ÒYouÕre right, of course,Ó  Fox sighed.  ÒDo any of you know anything about


medicine?Ó


	Slowly, they all shook their heads.  Bill meekly raised a paw.  ÒI have a


first-aid kit and a booklet I got in the mail.Ó


	ÒItÕll have to do,Ó  Peppy frowned.


	They set up one of their tents and fixed a cot for the pine marten.  Falco


and Fox carefully lifted him onto it while Bill searched frantically through the


pamphlet.


	ÒDudes, maybe we should just take him to a hospital,Ó  he said hopelessly,


tossing the booklet up in the air.


	ÒYouÕre....probably right.  Well, who wants to take him?Ó  Fox made an


unhappy face.


	ÒMy shipÕs too small,Ó Katt dismissed the possibility that she could possibly


be helpful in this situation with a wave of her hand.


	ÒMine too,Ó seconded Bill.


	Falco gave Katt a curious look.  ÒYour ship is not too small.  What are you


trying to pull?Ó  Katt ignored him, as did everyone else.


	ÒI canÕt go! You need me here!Ó  Slippy commented self-righteously.


	ÒI donÕt want to leave you guys here by yourselves,Ó  Peppy chewed his lower


lip.


	ÒI do,Ó  Falco grinned.  ÒNah, just kidding.  But as usual, it looks like


itÕs up to me to save the day.  You can thank me later...Ó


	ÒWell, okay,Ó conceded Fox.  ÒI guess youÕd better hurry.Ó


	KattÕs expression was somewhat reminiscent of a little girl whoÕs dropped her


ice cream in the dirt.


	


	A few short moments later, Falco waved a goodbye as his Arwing, loaded down


with an extra passenger, soared off the ground and off Fortuna.


	This seemed like a good idea a few minutes ago, Fox thought.  Why does it


feel so....I donÕt know, final?


	Peppy nudged him.  ÒItÕs gonna be okay, Fox.Ó


	ÒWhat is?Ó


	ÒThis.  Everything.  WeÕll pull through.Ó


	ÒIt sounds nice, IÕll give you that.  But how can you be so sure?Ó


	ÒI canÕt.Ó


	ÒGee, thatÕs encouraging.Ó  Fox sighed. 


	As FalcoÕs ship exited the atmosphere and disappeared from view, Bill turned


around and folded his hands behind his back.  ÒSo what happens now?Ó


	Nobody really knew, so they just sort of stood around staring at each other


for a few minutes. After a few suggestions including ÒHow about we go looking for


the bio-weapon?Ó, ÒHow about we forget the bio-weapon and go out for ice cream?Ó,


and ÒHow about if we find the bio-weapon and offer him ice cream to see if heÕll


be nice to us?Ó, they were jolted out of their strange conversation by an odd


sound coming from the innards of the wrecked Ice Eye base.


	ÒWhatÕs that?Ó  Katt cocked her head.


	ÒIt sure sounds...erm...interesting,Ó  Slippy made a thoughtful face.


	ÒSort of a weird humming.  And whatÕs that?Ó  BillÕs mouth hung open.


	ÒIt couldnÕt be...splashing?Ó  Fox inquired, surprised.


	ÒUhmm...guys?Ó  Katt spoke up.


	ÒWhat?Ó  Peppy was trying to listen to the noises from inside the base.


	ÒDo you have any evidence that the bio-weapon has left this area?Ó


	ÒOh, SHOOT...Ó  Fox muttered under his breath.


	And with that, the top of the base just popped off, filling the air with the


smell of smoke and fire.  


	ÒAAAHHH!!!Ó Katt shrieked as they all dove out of the way of the large chunk


of building, which crashed into the ground right where they had been standing. 


Smoke billowed from the cavity that had formerly been covered by the pointed top,


and the few windows that were still intact on the lower part of the base began


spontaneously shattering and popping out.  Flying glass flew in all directions


like poison darts.  The shaken five managed to avoid most of them, but Bill cried


out in pain as a shard of glass made a large gash in the edge of his finger.  He


popped the bleeding appendage into his mouth and cursed loudly but


unintelligibly.


	Then there was an extremely loud explosion that shook the ground as Ice Eye


ceased to exist altogether.  Katt, Bill, Fox, Slippy and Peppy were all thrown


clear by the blast and landed none too pleasantly in snowbanks sixty feet away. 


The momentum of the blast carried all of them deep into the side, and the snow


quickly filled the holes back in.  Trapped in the snowbank with a sparse amount


of air, Fox kicked wildy and tried to dig out.  Feeling something odd on his back


foot, he lashed out with a strong kick.  


	Slippy gasped and stuck his head out of the top of the snowbank, rubbing his


nose.  ÒOUCH! ItÕs only me!  WhatÕd you go and do that for??!Ó


	ÒOoops....IÕm sorry.  WhereÕs everyone else?Ó


	ÒMMBTLTHptooey!Ó  BillÕs snout appeared, but the rest of him was still firmly


planted in the snow.  Soon they were all reasonably safe, from the snow at least.


 Fox and Slippy freed themselves and pulled Bill out by his nose.  He didnÕt


enjoy that too much, but it was necessary.  Next they had to yank Katt out by her


tail, which also wasnÕt very enjoyable.  Peppy brought up the rear with the


lovely experience of being tugged out by one of his long ears.  Sitting on the


hill rubbing any sore body parts, they looked at the blackened crater in the spot


where Ice Eye had formerly been.  The scorched earth surrounding the ghost of the


base smoked and gave off a distinct odour of sulphur.  Fox plugged his nose.


	ÒHey, how did that boulder get there?  I didnÕt see that before,Ó  Katt


massaged her tail with one hand and shaded her eyes with the other.  She peered


at a large rock lying near the smoldering hole.


	ÒMe either,Ó  Bill concurred.  ÒMaybe it was thrown there by the explosion.Ó


	ÒWait a minute....the rock is rolling,Ó  Fox looked hard at it.  ÒWind,


maybe?Ó


	ÒIÕve got a bad feeling about this, Fox.Ó


	ÒYou and me both, Peppy.Ó


	The rock came to a stop a few meters in front of the snowbank.  Worried, they


began climbing to their feet and making their way down the other side of the


large hill.   The boulder made a strange sound and started shifting and


flattening.


	ÒLetÕs...uhmm...get out of here a little faster...Ó  Slippy suggested.


	ÒYEEEAAGH!!!!Ó











Chapter 3


Can You Dig It?


ÒI sing the praise of never-change with every single breath...Ó








	ÒLombardi?  What are you doing back here already?  I heard your team was on


Fortuna,Ó a surprised nurse at the Corneria City hospital checked in the wounded


pine marten.  It wasnÕt just any old nurse; she was Gloria Stevens, the same


nurse who had cared for the Star Fox team on their last visit to the hospital. 


Oddly enough, those visits seemed to occur rather regularly.  


	ÒMy team is on Fortuna,Ó  Falco sighed.  ÒI just came back to get this guy


into a little better medical care than what it outlines in BillÕs pamphlet.Ó


	ÒWhoÕs Bill?  Nevermind, it doesnÕt matter.  There have been rumours going


around,Ó the French poodle chatted.  ÒHave you seen the papers?Ó


	ÒWell, letÕs think about this logically,Ó  Falco said sardonically.  ÒIÕve


been on Fortuna for the past day or so, and I rushed back to Corneria as fast as


my little airplane would go to get a soldier to the hospital.  On top of that,


IÕve been on Great Fox for the past two weeks.  I guess the answer is no, I


havenÕt seen the papers.Ó


	ÒYou donÕt have to get angry,Ó replied the nurse, miffed.  


	ÒIÕm not angry, just a little tired,Ó  Falco said, with subtle overtones of


apology.  ÒWhatÕs in the papers?Ó


	ÒJust things.  WeÕve heard lots of things.  About what youÕre fighting.Ó


	ÒThat itÕs a bio-weapon?  We know.Ó


	ÒA bio-weapon?Ó  Gloria looked confused.  ÒWe heard it was a squadron of


Invader class ships, lying in wait to ambush you.Ó


	ÒIÕm sure thatÕs what they want you to think.  But itÕs not.  ItÕs worse than


that.Ó


	ÒAre you sure?Ó  the nurse folded her arms critically.  Falco sighed.


	ÒNo, IÕm not sure.  Thanks for helping this guy here.  IÕll be on my way


now.Ó  He turned and tottered off down the corridor to the parking lot, hoping


nobody had vandalised his Arwing yet.





	ÒCanÕt....canÕt breathe....Ó Katt choked out.  Gritty ectoplasm closed around


her outstretched fingers as she sank into the mire.


	ÒHAAAAAAAALP!!!Ó  Slippy was screaming over and over, trying desperately to


keep a piece of the liquid stone at bay by blasting it relentlessly with a


phaser.  It was to no avail, and a bit of stone curled around his ankle and


yanked him down.


	The gooey rock was spreading out now, covering a lot of distance.  A bulge


formed in the center and it reared up.  Katt had disappeared from view entirely. 


Bill stood a few feet away from the mass of liquid, paralysed with fright.  Fox


clung wildly to a scrubby, dead tree while the bio-weapon pulled on his feet with


all its strength.  


	Peppy  ran around the edge of the mess of stone and grabbed SlippyÕs hand. 


With phaser set to level 9, he blasted the tendril that was trying to drag the


toad down.  The force shattered the stone and threw Peppy and Slippy back 90 feet


into a forest.  Small pieces of wet rock thrown by the blast quickly reformed and


began searching for a new target.  


	Bill finally overcame his fright and ran maniacally around, trying to draw


the stone juggernaut away from Fox.  It worked, but a little too well.  A wave of


stone splashed at him and nearly enveloped him; he dove out of the way just in


time.  Fox and Bill ran wildly for the forest, turning around every once in a


while to fire a shot at their strange pursuer.  Fox halted.  ÒWhereÕs Katt?!Ó


	The answer came in the form of a writhing bulge on the outskirts of the mass.


 A furry pink head popped up from the stone and took a big breath, then screamed


for all it was worth.  Fox and Bill ran back to her as fast as they could and


tried to pull her out.


	ÒOUCH!! OUCH!! Please, STOP THAT!Ó  she remarked, a comment pertaining to


their yanking on her ears.  


	ÒItÕs no use!  We canÕt get her out!Ó  Bill wailed.


	ÒDONÕT SAY THAT!Ó  Katt moaned.


	Fox pulled his phaser and set it as high as it would go.  Bill did the same. 


They couldnÕt really see where to fire, so they just shot anywhere.  


	FoxÕs extremely fast retreat into the forest was stopped abruptly by a tree. 


Groaning, he slid to the ground.


	Katt was free, but recoil from one of the shots had struck her in the leg. 


Practically immobilised, she tried to crawl for the woods.  She cried in odd,


choking gasps, both from sheer terror and from the pain.  ÒH-h-eellp meee!Ó she


sobbed.


	But it was no use; Peppy, Slippy, and Bill were too far back to hear, and Fox


was in no shape to do much of anything.  The frothing lake of rock had reformed


and was grouping into a tall pillar, ready to crush her.  She tried to scream,


but nothing came out.


	ÒHIIIIIIII-YEEEEEEHAAA!!!!Ó an exuberantly loud shriek rang out through the


chilled air.  Puffy-eyed, Katt lifted her head and looked around for the sound


that seemed to come from everywhere.  


	And with that, a cracking shot split through what seemed to be the planetÕs


very existence.  Katt winced from the volume and almost immediately after passed


out.


	It was impossible to tell what happened next; it seemed at first like the


rocky bio-weapon had split into two halves and shattered upon the hard-packed


stone, then it was as if a great wind had broken it up and scattered it to the


four winds for fate to deal with; it could have been a thousand or more things,


but there were only two witnesses, one of whom had initiated ÒitÓ, whatever ÒitÓ


was.  And he never seemed to tell the truth anyway.  As it happened, it seemed


that they heard a scream that was almost like KattÕs voice.





	Falco stopped in a greasy spoon diner for a quick bite to eat, then left


Corneria.  The  flight from Corneria to Fortuna was a long and lonely one, and


after a few hours he got bored, input the coordinates for the former baseÕs


location, set the Arwing to autopilot and went to sleep.


	He came to more than seven hours later, still in space.  ÒThatÕs funny,Ó he


mumbled to himself.  ÒI should have gotten there by now....Ó  He looked out the


open window and almost choked on his next breath.  There were no stars.		


	He checked his radar; it was extremely long-ranged and he had often used it


to locate Great Fox, his teammates, subspace anomalies--that kind of thing.  Now


it registered nothing: No planets, no people, no meteors.  Falco stared at it for


more than two minutes in disbelief.  Finally it started to pick something up; but


within a few rushed moments whatever it was had disappeared, and the instruments


used to read the device began mindlessly twirling and registering impossible


numbers.  He swore quietly.  ÒI used this danged thing to locate people more than


halfway across Lylat!  What the heck is wrong with it?!Ó  


	He stared out the window, hoping the radar was just malfunctioning. 


Searching through the freakish realm of blackness, he saw nothing.  


	What he saw next was a sight that was imprinted on his mind for the rest of


his life.  Most of the things he saw were things that had already been imprinted


on his mind.  FalcoÕs mind seemed to almost shut down as he watched the horrible


scenes flash over and over again; then he panicked and did something that, in


hindsight, was really rather rash.





	Peppy put cold washcloths on Katt and FoxÕs foreheads and raised an eyebrow. 


ÒYa havenÕt said a single understandable thing since you came in here, mister,Ó


he proclaimed skeptically.  ÒWould you mind explaininÕ just who you are and what


happened?Ó


	ÒNameÕs McCoy.  Radley McCoy.  The real McCoy.  YouÕre lucky IÕm an amiable


old sot, or your friends here would be in some trouble.  You kids these days,


young rips with their long hair and their loud music; theyÕre lucky I didnÕt help


out that guy against Ôem.  As for you, Mr. Hare, you seem extremely well along in


years...Ó


	ÒWhat!Ó


	Ò...Frankly, IÕd think that someone as seasoned as you would have calmed down


these whippersnappers afore they got themselves into this much trouble. Call


yourself a chaperone?  Why, for all I know you put them up to this!  And you


being so old, you oughta know better.  You should be ashamed of yourself.Ó


	ÒWell, thanks.  Now that youÕve lectured me, ya mind telling me who you are


and what happened?Ó


	ÒI told you.  IÕm Radley McCoy.  As for what happened, the kids were causing


trouble for the entire neighbourhood and I put a stop to it.Ó


	ÒNeighbourhood??Ó  PeppyÕs mouth dropped open.  ÒNeighbourhood?!  Are you


some kind of loon?  Nobody lives on Fortuna!Ó


	ÒI do, donÕt I?Ó  Radley drew himself up.  He was a stocky badger with an


odd, rasping voice and a strange outfit; he acted insane, but something about him


made it seem that he couldnÕt really be skipping without a rope.  It was hard to


explain, but it was impossible to write him off as crazy.


	Peppy sighed and sat down heavily on the canvas floor.  The tent wasnÕt


completely watertight, and snow was beginning to melt through.  There were


already a few small puddles of water lying around.  He was trying to decide what


he should say to Radley McCoy when Slippy galloped merrily through the tent flap


and jumped to a stop in the middle of the room, Bill in towe.  ÒWe found some


wood we can use for a fire,Ó Slippy announced cheerfully.  ÒWeÕll have a roaring


inferno in no time!  WonÕt that be fun?Ó


	Bill concurred.  ÒWeÕve got a stack at least as high as the tent, and we can


get more.Ó


	Peppy nodded his approval.  ÒSounds good.  Why donÕt ya start building one? 


I think there were some matches in that first-aid kit.Ó


	Bill went to work, and soon they had a fire going just outside the tent


entrance.  Katt shifted a little and woke up.  Immediately she wished she hadnÕt.


 


	ÒOoohhhwwww!!!!Ó  she wailed.  ÒIt hurts!Ó


	Peppy pulled a strong painkiller out of their first-aid kit; that kit was the


only provision they had, and he intended to make use of it.  He forced a couple


down her throat and then administered a sedative.  


	Now, feeling good from the painkiller and almost drunk from the sedative,


Katt was just lying there, a grin plastered on her face.  She wasnÕt asleep yet,


but would be that way very soon.  Slippy skipped in with some leaves.  ÒHere,


chew on these.Ó


	She took a couple of pulls at them and then spat them out, gagging.  ÒEeewww!


 What are those supposed to do?!Ó


	ÒThey taste bad,Ó Slippy grinned.  Katt attempted to slug him.  Still


laughing, he ran off out into the frozen woods.





	Falco fired a nova bomb.


	It was a stupid thing to do; there wasnÕt really any logical evidence that


would allow one to assume that it would help at all, but at the time Falco was so


fervent in his wish to make the terrible visions stop that he didnÕt care.  Just


shoot it and maybe itÕll go away, he thought feverishly.


	Of course it didnÕt.   And as soon as the bay doors on his Arwing that


allowed a bomb to discharge opened, he felt a horrible sucking pull and a strange


clammy darkness flow into the plane.  The cold dark fingers of a black hole crept


over him as all the breath whooshed out of his body in one long gasp, and a


furtive thought that he wasnÕt going to make it out alive this time was the last


thing he knew before the blackness that dominated the world outside the Arwing


enveloped him, too.








Chapter 4


Tapioca Tundra


ÒAnd one more time, the faded dream is saddened by the news.Ó





	Slippy and Bill prowled around the forest looking for the Bio-weapon.  A new


dose of courage in the form of Radley McCoyÕs vintage Ô66 had made them


idiotically brave.  ÒOh BIOWEAPONEAPONEAPONEAPON!!!!!Ó Bill screeched, and


giggled.  ÒHeh heh, that was funny.  See, I didnÕt say the biow part.  IsnÕt


that...funny....Uh, Slippy?  Nevermind....itÕs not very funny....who am I


kidding!  Of course it is!  HAHAHAHAHA!Ó


	Slippy had somehow gotten separated from Bill and found himself back at the


tent.  He cavorted drunkenly inside and stuck his index finger in the air.  ÒI


love you!!!Ó he announced.


	Peppy looked up blankly.  ÒWho?Ó


	Slippy pointed at the the tent pole purposefully.  ÒLaura!Ó


	Peppy blinked.  ÒOkay.Ó


	Fox, sitting in a heap on the floor, an undistinguishable figure swathed in


multitudes of blankets, swami-style, swayed drunkenly on the floor.  It wasnÕt


RadleyÕs cup of cheer that was getting to him; it was the heavy sedatives Peppy


kept making him and Katt swallow.  Peppy wasnÕt a guy with a surplus of medical


knowledge; he figured that as long as they were off somewhere in Happy-Land he


wouldnÕt have to deal with the wounds.  But it wouldnÕt keep; the bottle was


already a quarter shy of being full, theyÕd barely made it through the last night


with the help of Bill and SlippyÕs weak fire, and there was still no word from


Falco.  It had been two days since theyÕd all arrived on Fortuna and the fuel in


their Arwings was frozen solid.  Bill said KattÕs ship had a heater and the fuel


was all right, but she was, in all logical terms of speech, tripping, and nobody


else wanted to fly around for no reason.  She didnÕt have enough fuel to get


anywhere, really, anyway.


	Radley McCoy haunted their camp from time to time with outrageous tales of


yore and plenty to drink.  Bill and Slippy didnÕt mind.  Katt and Fox thought


everything was psychedelic and when they were semi-conscious all they could do


was be amazed by the pretty colours.  Peppy secretly wished McCoy would go away;


the wine wasnÕt doing Slippy and Bill any real good, and in his opinion they


would function much better without the hangovers they had woken up with that


morning.  


	Anyway, Slippy collapsed on the floor seconds after his declaration of love


and Peppy shoved him into a cot and gave him a couple of sedatives.  Bill


wandered around for a few more hours and once he thought he heard the Bio-Weapon


behind him, so he got spooked and came back to the tent.  


	Things went this way for almost two weeks.  It was a life, but not much of


one; the bottle of sedatives had only a few pills left in it, and Peppy fretted


constantly.  Slippy had caught a cold almost immediately, and Bill was always out


in the woods wasting time.  The only person who was always there was Radley


McCoy, who spouted off old medical cures he used to know that had to do with


herbs and all that rot, but every time Peppy asked him if he could make one of


them, Radley would turn his head and say something to the effect of ÒEh, whatÕs


this you say?  Herbs?  Herbs donÕt grow on Fortuna, you twit!  ItÕs an ice chunk!


 All these years IÕve been here looking for herbs, and do you think IÕve found


any?  LOOK  AROUND YOU!  What I wouldnÕt give for a hot bath and some chocolate


cake,Ó and then heÕd be off talking about all the things he missed from his old


home, which seemed like it was on Corneria, or Katina, or somewhere nice, but he


never really said exactly where.


	


	Falco was lost in a world of indescribable terror and stifling beauty.  He


could not think of any experience he had ever undergone that had been more


enjoyable or more agonizing; but he couldnÕt really think then, at least not in


the sense of the word we usually attribute it to.  Indeed, there were many things


he couldnÕt do when the original meanings of the words were held; see, for


example, or move, or hear, or feel.  But there was a higher sense that took


control of him now, and it was one that he could never after describe.  Once Fox


had made the mistake of saying Òof course the experience was much too vague to


describe it in words,Ó when Falco had once tried and failed to do so.  	


	Falco had turned on him almost immediately, not in anger, but almost in


despair. ÒNo, it is words that are too vague--this experience is much too


definite for language to ever be able to give even a distorted picture of it.Ó 


Fox had kept his mouth shut after that.


	The terrible scenes from his past, his present and eons into his future that


had been so unignorable and horrifying before had ended, and a different kind of


horror had taken its place.  But along with the horror had come such a remarkable


peace, a joy of equal magnitute and yet at the same time almost synonymous with


the terror he felt.


	Wherever he was, he felt an uncontrollable desire to get away from it, but


something inside him wanted to stay, to stay forever, to--to do what?  He had


almost thought Òto see this,Ó before he remembered he wasnÕt seeing anything--was


he?  No, he was sure he wasnÕt.  What he was doing instead of seeing was far


better and far worse.  And it was still something he knew he would never be able


to express in our meager, ugly language.


	And still it continued.  Time had no meaning, but it dragged on meaninglessly


nonetheless.  It was not over yet.  It would not ever be over.




















to be continued