A week passed, the torture to StarFox on Venom continued the times and the intensity of the sessions also increased. Leon and Vixen were using almost every trick they had in their sadistic arsenals to attempt to discover anything about either Mariko's or Boomer's next move. Peppy was even added to the list due to StarFox's previous association with Ariel Triton. Unfortunately the older rabbit wasn't doing well against the combined efforts of Vixen and Leon.
Black Dolphin's plans to raid Venom continued. Things seemed to be what passed for 'normal' aboard the New Atlantis, except from the occasional 'odd' sounds from either Ariel or Wolf's quarters wherever the two were bickering at the time. Over the past week Boomer and Mariko had made a few more re-con missions to Venom, gathering more specific information, planting a few more surprises, and doing final repairs on the teams four jets. One evening while Ariel and Wolf were 'occupied' Boomer and Mariko were in the hanger bays doing the final preparations for the raid ahead.
"You know." Muttered Mariko, running a final check on the hull of the prototype, newly christened 'KnightFall' after their last mission on MacBeth, "Once I can buy between those two, but several times? In the same week?!"
Boomer nodded, "I've heard of creative forms of rehabilitation but I think Ariel is taking it a bit too far."
"Ha!" chuckled Mariko in response, "From what I've heard Ariel is no saint herself, heaven help us all if this turned into something instead of a part time thing."
"Meaning?" Asked Boomer.
"Think about the kids, if any..." Replied Mariko. Both gave a shutter and went back to work.
A few hours later:
The whole team was in his or her jets ready to blast off, "Everybody know what to do when we reach the surface of Venom?"
"Aside from kicking Andross's cronies into next year?" Quipped Boomer.
Ariel shook her head; this was the LAST team she was ever going to form, ever.
"Yeah we know, we know, you've told us like twenty times already, now lets just do this..." Growled Wolf.
Ariel decided not to continue the debate with Wolf, they didn't have time for the delay it would cause. "Okay let's go! Venom here we come!"
The four jets blasted off in unison from the cloaked New Atlantis and toward Venom and Andross's stronghold.
Back on Venom:
"What's the status of locating the Black Dolphin Team?" rumbled Andross to a few of his most trusted advisors.
"Other than the team's destruction of the Supply Train on MacBeth about two weeks ago, they seem to be laying low sir. None of the members have been seen anywhere." The raccoon looked nervous, they had just gotten the Forever Train running again after StarFox destroyed it a month before the takeover, so much as bringing up that subject was enough to set Andross off lately.
"Any ideas who the Venom traitor is?" The ape snarled.
"No sir." Swallowed a tiger, he took a deep breath, Andross was not going to like the observation that he and the others had found. "The only hint on who the traitor might be is the type of information that the Dolphins have been using."
Spinning on the tiger Andross's face darkened. "Meaning!"
The tiger swallowed, "The WolvenIII on Zoness, the store of heavy weapons and other supplies at Headquarter Base on Katina, the precise locations of the Slave Camps on Corneria, the Forever Train's status on MacBeth all of this was not common knowledge among your subjects sir." He paused before continuing, "Only someone with access to your inner circle would have that information."
"There are only three groups who have that kind of access!" Hissed Andross, "My Elite Guard, all of you, and...." Andross paused for a moment, then his face contorted in fury, "StarWolf." When Andross placed the emphasis on 'Wolf' they knew he had put the pieces together and figured out the most likely identity of the traitor.
"DISMISSED!" roared the really upset Emperor of Venom, the advisors quickly made haste to escape. As soon as they were out of the room Andross roared again. "EXPLAIN!"
Vixen appeared form the shadows, the original theory was that one of Andross's personal advisors was leaking information to Ariel Triton, Vixen had concealed herself in the room as they talked to scan the advisors for any signs of betrayal. Now appeared that somebody wasn't leaking information out, but giving it directly to Ariel Triton herself. "There is no way he could have survived!" She hissed. "I shoved him out of an airlock with the rest of the trash, the only way is if another ship was close by to pick him up as he was shoved out of the transport! Per the scans on the bridge at that time, there wasn't a ship within range to do so!"
Andross's eyes narrowed "Doesn't Triton's main ship have a cloak?"
Vixen's eyes widened, "A million to one dice roll and that son of a bitch rolled a lucky seven! Some how the Dolphins were not only able to get Wolf aboard their ship in time, but did so right under our noses!!!"
"Start re-arranging things, I want whatever information O'Donnell may still have null and void yesterday!" No sooner did Andross finish his sentence then the whole place shook from a massive explosion.
"Too late." Growled Vixen, "I smell the fine hand of Miss Gray along with the scent of sulfur and plastique."
"Ariel Triton always did have perfect timing." Snarled Andross as he looked out the window, the front of the base was a mixture of smoke, rubble and absolute chaos. "Get Leon and head for the dungeons, that's where at least two members of the Black Dolphins will be headed. Give the following orders to all the captains, any person not in Venom uniform is to be shot and killed on sight! Especially if they have only one eye!"
Vixen smiled and sprinted out of the chamber.
"My, my." Muttered Ariel, "I have to admit it Gray, you do good work." The bomb diversion worked better than Ariel dreamed nobody even noticed the four very unique jets landing behind the base. By now the small group was inside the base and hiding in the shadows. Boomer smiled.
"Thanks, one was hidden under the radar tower, I think that helped." She handed Ariel a remote, "This one will detonate the final bombs I placed in the two armories on the east and west sides of the base, I would not recommend being inside the base when you hit the button."
"Advice taken." Replied Ariel. "Okay you two free the prisoners, Wolf and I will have a bit of fun."
"Only you would consider this fun." Growled Wolf, but he followed Ariel anyway.
"Right." Muttered Mariko, "Come on the dungeon is this way." As she and Boomer jogged off down a corridor heading toward the dungeons.
Meanwhile Leon and Vixen were sprinting toward the dungeons themselves. "What kind of idiots would do this kind of attack on Venom's strongest base." Muttered Leon under his breath.
"The smart kind." Hissed Vixen. "We were completely unprepared for it if you hadn't noticed. Just like the raid on Katina." Vixen stopped dead in her tracks, then smiled darkly.
"What!?" Growled Leon glaring at her.
"The Dolphins are here on the ground, I'm already picking up Mariko, it's about time the little mutton showed up."
"Fine, Fine." Replied Leon, "Let's go!" The two broke into a sprint while Vixen used her powers as a compass in an attempt to exactly locate Mariko and the other Dolphins.
"Oh crap." Muttered Mariko, getting a funny look on her face. "We have a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Asked Boomer. Both paused in the shadows.
"A Rogue Knight Problem." Groaned Mariko, "Looks like an old enemy of mine threw her towel in with Andross. We'll have to split up, I'll see if I can get her away from here and you free the others, I'll meet you at the Great Fox."
"Gotcha." Replied Boomer, and the two of them split up.
"Be careful" called Mariko, "That Rogue is trying to home in on me, she may have back up that'll try to stop anybody else."
Boomer nodded in agreement and headed along the twisting halls at double time.
"Clever." Hissed Vixen. "Mariko is moving away from the dungeons, evidently she is with somebody else, and is trying to lead me away."
"Get her, I'll take care of whoever else is trying to free the prisoners." Replied Leon. Both split up to their respective targets.
A short time later Boomer was consulting a small map of the base on a vid screen strapped to her arm. "Okay the central dungeons are not too far from here..." her mutterings were halted as she heard a few small explosions. "Well, it sounds like somebody found Ariel and ..." That was also cut off as she was on the receiving end of a stun blast to the center of her back. She collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Leon smiled as he lowered his pistol. "Lieutenant Beatrice Gray I presume?" he asked as he approached the female dog as she lay motionless. "Funny I was expecting a bit more of a challenge." Leon bent over Boomer to check her vitals, he did want her alive for a bit longer.
A hand darted up and grabbed Leon's collar. "Challenge? I'd be happy to oblige!" She then decked Leon's jaw with her free hand and sent him staggering back. "Next time check to see what your target is wearing before you fire a stun blast." Boomer drawled as she stood up and brushed the dust off of her flak vest, made to resist blaster fire.
To Boomer's surprise Leon was getting up, Either I'm loosing my touch or he's tougher than I thought, she mused. Not to Boomer's surprise he pulled the blaster on her. "No more Mister Nice Lizard." He hissed about to pull the trigger.
Boomer snorted with disgust as she kicked the pistol out of his hand, "Nice try, care to try and fight with out the toys?" He answered giving her a sucker punch that knocked the wind out her. She staggered back.
"How's that?" sneered Leon as he aimed his next punch at her face. "Your brother is going to be so happy to see you." Boomer didn't answer but grabbed his wrist before the punch connected, she prayed that she remembered how to do this trick.
"This is for Bill." She snarled and gave Leon's wrist a sharp turn and was rewarded by the sounds of snapping bone. He howled in pain and tried to get away, but Boomer had too tight of a grip as she continued to apply pressure to the broken joint.
"You little bi...ARG!" Gasped Leon, Boomer smiled.
"What were you going to say? Hmm?" She then twisted his wrist a bit more and hit a few more pressure points. "That was for Roverians." She hissed. Leon gritted his teeth to keep from screaming in pain, he'd never give her that satisfaction, since he wasn't talking she continued to. "How does it feel to be on the receiving end of pain for once monster?" Boomer's face darkened, "With either one punch or one shot I could kill you right now and no judge or jury in Corneria would ever convict me. Hell, they might even give me a metal for it."
"So do it." Hissed Leon, "Or are you like your brother and don't have the guts!" Boomer's face contorted in fury as he raised her booted foot and brought it down on his kneecap shattering it on contact and forcing the joint to bend in opposite direction. She then let go of his wrist. The Great Leon Powalski, Terror of both the Venom and Cornerian Armies collapsed to the ground unable to speak due to the pain and not willing to cry out due to his pride.
"I'm not going to kill you." Stated Boomer in flat tones, "That's too easy of a way out for you, I'd rather see you suffer in a prison than embrace death. I'll be back for you Leon, pray for death if you want, I may hand you over to the Cornerian Government when this is all over but that doesn't mean it I will make it an easy trip for you." She pivoted on her heal and sprinted off leaving Leon behind to consider the future.
Within another corridor of the complex Mariko was slipping through the shadows with her saber in her hand but not activated ignoring the chaos the raid was causing around her, and paying attention to what her instincts as a Knight told her. She's here, close, I know it, damn it! Of all the Rogue Knights in the universe, why did Andross hire her? Mariko's thoughts were interrupted by a soft sound behind her. A second later Mariko's pale gray saber was countering a set of two blood red sabers borne by an all too familiar face.
"Vixen." Stated Mariko as she once again saw the evil yellow eyes of the off-white feline she battled so long ago.
Vixen gave a sinister smile, "Shall we dance?" Her casual comment contradicted the vicious attack she directed at Mariko.
Mariko countered the attacks and noticed something odd; she smiled as she commented. "Your sabers are almost new, what happened, some lucky novice steal them from under your nose?"
Vixen's face contorted in fury as she lunged again. "That's none of your business whelp! Now quit talking and fight." Mariko blocked as many of Vixen's slashes as she could, but a few strikes slipped through her defenses forcing her to step back, luckily the new form fitting battle armor she had dug up absorbed most of the hits.
"Time for some offence instead of defense." Muttered Mariko to herself. She gathered up her legs and using the skills the power of creation gave her species jumped and flipped over Vixen and attacked from behind before the Rogue Knight even registered what happened.
Vixen pivoted and blocked the second set of attacks, Vixen did have one tactical advantage over Mariko, she was wielding a set two sabers to Mariko's single weapon, it was tougher to block and attack but not impossible. The trick was to hit Vixen's buttons so she would lose her control. That's how Mariko won in their first battle, though this time Mari knew it wouldn't be that easy. She contemplated how to do this as both sabers slashed over her head. The banter between the two fighters continued as they tried to kill each other.
"I still have a score to settle with you Mutton!" snarled the Feline, blocking Mariko's latest attack.
"Aw," replied Mariko with mock concern, "still upset that a Novice Knight was able to beat you in a fair fight?" She in turn lunged again at Vixen's mid-section where her armor was the weakest; it still bore a patch from a recent battle. Looked like Vixen was on the receiving end of a flame-thrower, judging from some burns around the patch.
Vixen's anger was barley in check. "You are still a Novice compared to me girl." The feline carefully examined Mariko's new battle armor, attempting to find it's weakest point.
"Not exactly, Vixen." Drawled Mariko, "I've gotten a tad better then last time we met. Here's a demonstration!" Mariko suddenly slashed he saber upward, as she had hoped Vixen drew back, Mariko's target wasn't Vixen herself, it was her weapon.
"Nooooooo!!!!!" Howled Vixen as one of her sabers exploded in her hand. "You little!"
Mariko smiled and spun her saber, "Now lets take off the kid gloves, shall we?" Now at one saber a piece the battle had truly begun. There was no longer any talk; just the hum of their sabers, the electric crackle as the weapons clashed and the sound of the two fighters heavy breathing were the only things echoing in the hallway where they battled.
Boomer had finally made it to the dungeons, to her surprise most of the upper levels were practically empty. What few souls remained barely registered Boomer's presence, all but one that is.
"Good Lord! Lieutenant Gray!" Gasped a very familiar voice. Boomer spun around and almost passed out with relief.
"General Pepper! Hang on I'll have you out in a sec sir." Boomer jogged over to his cell and had the lock popped in less than a minute. Thankfully it appeared that his only injuries were a loss of weight from his internment.
"Thank you Lieutenant." Replied Pepper, stepping out of the cell with relief.
"Thank me when we get StarFox plus my brother and get off of Venom sir." Replied Boomer, heading down the hall where the access to the lowest levels was. General Pepper nodded and followed.
A short time later Boomer was cracking the lock on the heavy iron door while General Pepper kept an eye out armed with her blaster. With a soft creak the heavy door swung open and Boomer carefully worked her way down the damp stone stairs.
Katt Monroe carefully peeked from her cell to see who just came down. Being so far underground prevented all of them from hearing the explosions and chaos occurring above. She about sagged with relief as she saw Boomer and General Pepper coming down the stairs. "Boomer!" yelled Katt with joy. The rest of StarFox quickly got up and darted toward the bars of their cells, hope finally realized as Boomer began to work on deactivating the laser bars of the cells.
Due to the heavier codes, it took a bit longer to get the cells open than it took her to free General Pepper. Pepper gave a visual check of StarFox and the others to see if they all could get out under their power. With the exceptions of Fox and Peppy who were not moving much, all appeared able to walk at least.
"Finally." Hissed Boomer as the lasers deactivated and the cells opened. Boomer jogged to where Pepper had told here where her brother was. "Bill?" She carefully asked as he slowly crept out of his cell.
Bill Gray was never so glad as to see his sister as he was right now. He gave her a weak smile, "What took you so long?" He asked. Boomer almost cried, she was so glad to see him. Though her joy was quickly dashed as Pepper came out of Peppy's cell.
"He's not good." Whispered the General. Boomer took a deep breath and darted into the cell, not good was an understatement, Peppy might be dead in a matter of days if they hadn't come when they did. Peppy's injuries by Leon were beyond her skills to treat as a field medic. Boomer was going to need Mariko's help and healing skills.
She took a deep breath and prayed that Mariko has handled the Rogue Knight by now as Boomer clicked on her com-link, "Mari? Are you there?"
Mariko's mind was so focused on the fight that she didn't even notice her com-link beeping until Vixen commented on it for her. "Will you please answer that thing?!" The very battered feline spat.
It finally sunk into Mariko's brain that Vixen was referring to her com-link, "Oh." Stated Mariko. She then tossed a tear gas bomb straight into Vixen's furious face and darted around a corner to answer her com-link. "Mariko here. This better be good Boomer." The Knight panted.
Boomer took a deep breath, "Sorry but I need your field medic experience ASAP, both Peppy and Fox are in very bad shape." Before Boomer could comment anymore she heard the com-link turn off, she had a feeling that Mariko was sprinting to the dungeons double time, regardless on which way the battle was going with the Rogue Knight.
By the time Vixen cleared her eyes of the noxious fumes, Mariko was long gone. A quick scan revealed that Mariko was almost to the dungeons and that somebody else, most likely Beatrice Gray, had already freed StarFox and the others. Vixen decided that since Andross was all but defeated, she had better save her own tail. She silently sent out a message to Mariko.
This is not the end Mutton! This round goes again to you, but we will meet again. Until then enjoy putting McCloud's mind back together if he'll let you near him, I had fun destroying it and his trust in you!
Mariko didn't bother sending a response, despite her injuries from the duel with Vixen she ran even faster to the dungeons, Vixen's message only confirmed her worst fears about Fox and the others. She only prayed she was in time to repair the damage done by the Rogue. When she finally got there Boomer motioned to one of the cells Peppy's to be exact. Pepper was helping Katt, Bill, Falco, and Slippy to move around under their own power, Boomer was entering another cell, Fox's if Mariko's memory served. When Mariko entered Peppy's cell she was filled with fury, Leon had been absolutely brutal with him, due to his age he wasn't faring as well as herself and the others.
"Peppy?" Mariko asked as she began to treat his injuries as best as she could. "Can you hear me?" After a few minutes of talking while she was working and very little response it finally hit Mariko what Peppy had done. He was a telepath, not as strong as she was but one all the same! He had pulled into his mind to cope with the pain, but now he was too weak to pull himself out of the trance, Mariko would have to jumpstart him, for lack of better term. She focused for a few seconds and sent to him.
Peppy? Can you hear me? It's Mari, wake up!
Peppy finally stirred and groaned, "I can hear you, you don't have to shout." Mariko sighed with relief.
"Thank the Gods, sorry about that but we've got to hurry. It's only a matter of time before Old Ape-Face figures out that you're breaking out of this dump." She got under the other rabbit's arm and helped him to his feet. As they exited the cell she asked. "Can everybody keep moving?"
All nodded, Boomer was guiding Fox out of his cell, Mariko only gave him a glance and shuttered. Physically he looked no worse than the rest of the team, but it was what she could see and nobody else could that scared her. She had not seen anybody that mentally injured since she helped recover Bill after his capture and torture by Leon. Vixen may have had the last laugh after all. Mariko swallowed, that die hasn't been cast yet, "Let's go! Next stop is the GreatFox then Corneria." The battered party slowly made it's way out of the dungeons and toward freedom.
Thirty minutes later another series of explosions rocked the base. Ariel looked out a nearby window and smiled as she saw a few hangers engulfed by flame. Shortly afterwards she saw the familiar swan shaped ship takeoff escorted by both the Shockwave and the KnightFall. "Yes!" hissed Ariel as she tapped her com-link. "Delphi, GreatFox is about to break through the Venom defenses, lock onto their heading and clear a path ASAP."
"Acknowledged." Came the reply. The New Atlantis uncloaked catching most of the Venom lines off guard and bulldozed a clear path as the GreatFox blast away from Venom and straight for Corneria. The ship then recloaked to await further instructions.
As Delphi relayed the news of the Great Fox's escape to Ariel, she smiled. "Part one is in the can, now the real game begins." She ran a final check on the gear she had Boomer make for her, all was ready, she had left Wolf behind as they booby-trapped StarWolf's hanger bays, two of the four WolvenII's were missing, but they had fun stuffing a missile into the exhaust ports of both jets. One was Pigma's, Ariel thought with an evil chuckle, as brand new jet too. Wolf was sticking an extra one in Andrew's jet when Ariel snuck away from him. She consulted a very detailed map of the base on a PADD and jogged down a few hallways toward her true goal.
As she vanished Wolf appeared from the shadows and smiled. "The games up Triton, now to see the real motivation for this mission of yours." He looked at his own PADD, during his last 'bout' with Ariel he had kept his head clear long enough to slip a tracer on her gear. His PADD not only outlined the base but received the tracer's signals as well. He readied his blaster took a few breaths and followed Ariel through the bases inner halls.
On to Chapter Seven
Back to Black Dolphins Rising