Book 2: Lylat & Ms. Flyer
Note: Also see Blu Flyer's Episode 4

         A trainer was coming. That much was clear. She had a strong aura, but didn't quite seem to know it.

         Lance O'Ryan sat quietly in the Arena, waiting for her. He already knew her name, it was Blu Flyer. He also knew she was an Aliroo, and possessed great strength and know-how in weapons. She carried a Ninetales, a Gengar, and an Articuno. As well as a Zapdos. Lance frowned; This match would be quick, and not because the dragons were fiesty.

         Blu finally entered, and Lance wearily told her about the power of dragons like he always did. He dreaded what the Articuno would do to the dragons, especially Ripley. The poor dragonair was so tiny. He considered switching Riples with Dragynn, but decided against it.

         Before long she had easily taken down the dragons. Though she hesitated at Ripley, feelings of regret coming strongly from her mind. She was obviously from one of the countries, Lance thought to himself. She's strong, and intelligent, yet has barely any psychic powers. If I were any normal Roo she'd have known what I was by now. Lance shrugged.

         Fyrwayle had been taken down easily by the ice-bird of Blu's. As she approached him, her aura of confidence and power nearly drowned him out, and he laughed shakily.

         He brushed a hand through his hair.

         "So now what?" She asked, hooking her thumbs on the belt loops of her jeans.

         "Well, you're the master. Of the world." He held out his hand, and she shook it.

         "C'mon this way," he said, gesturing to the back room. She grinned, going in. He wondered if she knew that she was dealing with a fellow Aliroo. "Blu Flyer, welcome to the Hall of Fame," he said, grinning.

         Blu grinned, then checked her watch. "Thats neat. Hey, I gotta run. But before I go, could I ask you a question?"

         He smiled, already knowing what she would ask. "Sure."

         "Where can I get a dragonair?"

         "I saw you eyeing Ripley," he said. "You can catch Dratinis in the Safari Zone, but they are very rare and hard to catch."

         He monitored her response. Without even sensing her mind he could tell she was a very busy Aliroo.

         Blu sighed gently, looking put off.

         "Alright. Could I... See him once before I go?"

         Lance unclipped Ripley's pokéball from his belt, and summoned the dragon. Ripley bubbled happily as Blu petted it on the head. She whispered something, then faced Lance.

         "He likes you," Lance said to her, "And so do I." That sounded odd. But still, she intrigued him. He wondered if he should tell her that he had been born on the same planet she had.

         Blu looked away and laughed. "What do you mean?"

         "You command a special presence...Something different." That didn't seem to register with her, so he shrugged, deciding it wasn't worth it. Instead, he made up, "I have a special offer to make to you. I am prepared to offer you a spot as a member of the Elite Four. If you take it, we will be the Elite Five."

         Blu laughed again, but shook her head. "No, I don't have enough time. I can't. I have an appointment to make...I'm sorry."

         Lance chuckled lightly. "No, thats okay. I really am getting sick of the girls, they are constantly bugging me about everything. Lorelei has ideas and Agatha is a witch. It would be nice to have someone new on the team, and you seem to know what you're doing. But, you said you have an appointment to make, so I won't keep you any longer." He stepped back. Blu was audacious enough to open her TDT portal right behind him where she thought he couldn't see. He shrugged, and went back to his suite to wait for the next trainer.

**

         Lance somewhat groomed his feather-like head of hair. He was to be called into a meeting, he was sure it was a mission. He hadn't had a mission for a very long time.

         He straightened his mage-gloves, and adjusted his mindmaster's cape. If he was going to be evaluated, he was going to look like he knew what he was doing.

         His TDT took him directly to the Chair'Roo's office. Old Greensborough was looking a bit heavier, and his shoulders wore the burden of his years. The dusty green Aliroo cocked his head as Lance arrived.

         "Reporting as directed, sir," Lance said. At the same time he thought it, using his powerful psyche to convey confidence and loyalty to the Alliance to all Roos who would receive it.

         "Lance O'Ryan?" A red Roo said.

         "Yes, sir. Son of Orion Lavinia. You requested my presence?"

         "Aye." Greensborough didn't look at Lance as he talked. Lance wondered how the old Roo had ever made it to the head of the Aliroo Alliance. "We have a mission for you."

         Lance schooled his face in a calm look, as well as blocking the emotions of anticipation and relief.

         "Thank you, Sir. And what is the nature of this mission?"

         The red Roof shuffled his papers. Lance now recognized him, he was Kiv Sirris, the personal Advisor of the Chair'Roo.

         "We have been notified of a disturbance in the Lylat System. You've heard of it?"

         Lance nodded. "I have. Though I have never visited myself."

         "Good. The nature of the mission. As you are well aware of, the Lylat System is quite full of Aliroos. We have received information that someone has been distributing TransDimentional Transporters to Natives."

         Lance furrowed his brow. This was serious.

         Kiv continued. "We need you to go and find out who it is. Since you aren't, at the moment, occupied, and have the nessicary psychic ability to conceal your nature to any Aliroos there."

         Lance grinned inwardly. So his reputation had preceded him. Again.

         "I accept," he said.

         "Very good." Kiv handed Lance a folder. "Here is the information you will need to continue. It includes general information, a holodeck program, and history and background for you alias on Lylat. Good Luck, Mage."

         Lance nodded, taking the title in stride. He nodded to Greensborough, who looked as if he had fallen asleep. Lance tapped his TDT mentally, using telekinesis to trigger the transport back to his home on the Golden White Isles.

**

         Katina headquarters was impressive. Lance walked into the doors. He knew that there was a "situation" at hand. Andross, the evil entity of the Lylat System, was on the rampage. Lance played the part of the messenger who would go and get Blu. It had been deduced that the perpatrator was an Arwing pilot, and was scheduled to fly in this mission. The candidates were Trixxy Parker, Richard Parker, Drake Whitewing, Raya McCall, Darla Quincy, Strype Quincy, Cruisor Taylor, Boomer Flyer and Joey Flyer... Lance also recognized two names. Katt Monroe and Blu Flyer.

         The council was certain it was an Aliroo out of this group. Lance could not betray who he was to anyone, he was to be addressed as Lance O'Ryan, Solitary Missionary. At this moment he was to meet Blu Flyer in her Cornerian guise, which he had been told was actually an Aliroo-Anthromorph. Original, yet... Not so.

         He knocked on the door.

         "Come in."

         Lance opened the door, carrying the briefcase. She looked at him, and he her. She looked a lot like an Aliroo-morph. It was almost surrealistic. Lance caught a stray thought of distant familiarity from her.

         Blu stood and held out her hand.

         "CE Flyer," she said.

         "SM O'Ryan," he replied, shaking her hand. He looked into her eyes and wondered if she suspected anything yet. She didn't seem comfortable with his gaze, so he said, "Mind if I take a seat?"         

         "Not at all," Blu replied, taking a seat herself. "What brings you into my neck of the woods?"

         "Actually, it is quite important," O'Ryan said, bringing his breifcase onto his lap and flipping the locks.

         "I should hope so," Blu replied, writing something in her schedule book and filing papers. "I'm a very busy person, you know."

         "Then I'll be frank. Andross has broken free and is sending drones and agents into the system."

         Blu halted in her motions. "Andross?"

         He sighed. She was going to be this way. He liked that about her, she was direct. She reminded him of Pheobe in that way. He didn't want to think about Pheobe. "Blunt it is." He opened up his breifcase and took the Star Team jacket out. Blu gasped. He grinned inwardly, at least he had gotten her to be surprised. He handed the jacket to her. She looked it over.

         "Blu Flyer, you are formally invited to join Lt. Sm Parker and Quincy and I in an attack against Andross." He stood up to leave, "You have 12 hours for your decision."

         Blu looked at the jacket he had left on the table. She picked it up and actually smelled it. He arched an eyebrow. Thoughts of nostalgia came from her mind, and he understood.

         "No need, O'Ryan, I'm coming with you."

**

         Lance watched with mild amusement at all the Aliroos in the room. Katt looked almost the same, she carried over her natural pink color into her feline form. He also sensed the knowledge of his old friend Cobalt from the older Aliroos.

         "Here are your assignments. Star Fox, you will take this route here," General Pepper drew a line across the planets. Lance didn't quite pay attention as the General droned on, he admittedly, found it all quite boring. He knew he could "leach" the information from Blu. She knew what she was doing and didn't have enough psychic sense to stop her ideas, emotions and information from leaking out into the public. "...Does everyone understand?"

         They nodded. Lance nodded too.

         "Good. This has been a war breifing, mind you, so get your asses out there on the line!! Go! Go!" Pepper tapped his pointer rapidly on the table. Then he grinned and saluted.

         "Lets go, guys," Fox said.

**

         "All right, lets open the wings," Blu said over the comm.

         Lance was getting the hand of the Arwing. He'd practised with the holodeck program, but it wasn't quite the same. But he still seemed better than he thought he was.

         "I hate to say it, but I'm bored," Blu called over the comm.

         "I hear ya," Strype replied.

         "Why are ships coming out of the base?" Trixxy asked. Lance had to be careful around Trixxy; she had enough Psyche to possibly catch a suspicious idea. Nothing incriminating, but he had to be careful.

         Suddenly something blinked on the dashboard. Lance's ship was equipped with different sensors. Most of them were actually hooked into the Aliroo Lylatian Embassy, and others were just advanced Arwing controls.

         "A bomb has been planted at the base!" He said, reading the monitor.

         Blu groaned.

         "Geeze, can anyone take care of it?"

         The comm blarked.

         "Can't let you do that, Star Flyer!"

         "Andross has ordred us to take you down."

         "Trixxy, long time no see!"

         "Andross's enemy is MY enemy!!"

         Blu growled. Lance wondered who they were.

         "Great. Just who I need to see...Star Wolf."

         Lance frowned. Star Wolf? Ah yes. He remembered this team from the breifing. Wolf O'Conner: renegade star team leader. Obsessed with proving his skills. This information was from the PADDs. From Blu, Lance got feelings of irritation, but not hate.

         "She's too strong!" Leon screamed, breaking Lance out of the trance.

         "Dude, I've got a better ship!" Blu exclaimed.

         "What the hell?" Wolf said, banking right.

         Lance really had no idea what was going on, but instead turned in a lazy curve. He saw a spiked ship following blu's ship, and fired a few shots, accuratly. The ship rattled. Blu manuevered a backflip, then a U-turn. As she turned around, flying past him in the opposite direction, he fired The ship spun to the ground.

         "Got 'im!" Trixxy called, taking down another.

         "There's one more ta go," Blu announced. She turned on the radar.

         Lance looked to his dashboard, "Guys, we've got one minute before the bomb explodes..."

         Blu shot a bomb and finished Andrew.

         "I'll take care of the bomb now," she said, and directed her ship towards the entrance to the base. Lance led the rest of the ships out into orbit.

**

         The next area which they came to was Sector X. It was so-named because of it's basic shape. Boomer joined them, and the five ventured into the ruin of the sector. Lance could sense nothing.

         "Do you think its a trap?" Trixxy asked.

         "Most likely," O'Ryan said. He could sense anticipation, but the source was vague. "Whichever, its not gonna be us who have to run home to mama. They can bring it on, I can handle it."

         "That sounds almost egotistical from such a charming guy like you," Blu said.

         Lance arched an eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? He grinned.

         "Can't I be egotistical?" He asked over the comm.

         "Sure ya can," Trixxy replied, "But not too much or Blu'll never --"

         Blu interupted the transmission with a polite, "Shut up Trixxy." Then she laughed. "I like my men egotistical, it builds character," she joked.

         "Well then, did I score a point?" Lance asked, playing along.

         Suddenly, a giant arm rocketed by her ship, making it rattle slightly. The space in between the ships compressed. Lance sensed no life except the strong auras of Blu and Boomer.

         "What is it?" Strype asked.

         The arm boosted and turned, and suddenly another came out from the debris. Then, a metallic torso assembled from the floating space debris.

         "Where is the creator?" It said in a machine-like voice.

         "Whats he talking about?" Lance asked, "He's crazy!" He arched his Arwing in, and scored shots at the head. Lance had to get close to scan it for anything that would work as a lead. He needed proximity...

         "O'Ryan! Look out!" Blu yelled. One of the arms moved and grabbed his ship, and flung it at a tremendous speed towards the nearest planet, Titania.

         "O'Ryan! Damn!"

         Lance heard the words flicker as his ship was propelled toward Titania. The ship jerked violently as the gravity took hold and tugged the ship toward the surface. He pulled up on the nav, and took out his TDT, just in case.

         The tought shell of the Arwing hit the ground. Lance jerked on the nav, trying to bring the nose up. He was halfway successful; The bottom of the ship bounced the ship up. Lance was battered around, and lights on the dash blinked madly.

         "O'Ryan to Flyer! Respond!" Lance whamed the dash with his fist. "Damnit, work!"

         Lance took the repair kit from the ceiling and opened a panel in the Arwing. As he began to work, the Arwing shook. He looked outside. One of the plants had grabbed his ship! It clamped on to the Arwing, holding it steady. Lance frowned. Now what?

         "O...an," a voice said over the comm.

         "Ugh. Yeah?" Lance responded immedeatly, wondering if the transmission yould go through.

         "...ou....kay? We...r... na ....tchy... t! ....ang tight," Blu said. Lance shrugged, and began to work on the panel.

         "Remind me never to be egotistical again," He muttered over the bad link. He watched the ships ahead.

         Blu swooped in low, trying to cut off the plant and free the Arwing. As she came in near, the ground shuddered. Sudenly, the plant raised out of the ground, revieling a tentacled monster. Lance held onto the frame of the Arwing as the animal began to rumble backwards, taking his Arwing with.

         Boomer's came into view. The two gave chase, and the creature began running backwards, swinping at them with it's arms the entire time. Blu aimed for its chest instinctively. It's armored plating rattled, and finally blew off, exposing it's heart. An arm broke free, and Lance's Arwing was released, and he imedeatly boosted upwards. He arched his ship up and out of reach, then fell into line behind them.

         "Bad link," he said, "I'm going to space to see if I can fix it."

         Lance worked feverishly, attempting to fix the Arwing. He had taken plenty of holodeck courses, he knew how it worked... There! Like a friend had said to him once, 'No matter what it is, it's always just a bunch of wires connected to a bunch of other wires!"

         "Got it down, let's make tracks to Bolse!" he said.

**

         They neared the space station. Lance sensed an Aliroo form inside. He wondered who it was.

         "Hey, Flyer." He tapped the comm. "Thanks for saving my life."

         Blu laughed. "No prob. Any time."

         She didn't say anything else. He shrugged, and banked, chasing after a ship. He shot at it, but it spun, and his lasers bounced off.

         "There's a sheild around the core," she said.

         "These ships are sheilded, too," Boomer added, and shot at an enemy to prove his point. The lasers bounced off like before.

         "Lets take out the towers!" Blu said, following Lance's exact line of thought. The towers, with energy transmitters, were feeding the sheilf around the core.

         "I'll cover ya, Blu," he said, following her.

         She arched, trying to get a good balance on the rotating sattelite. Lance worked hard to take care of any enemies that might take her down. Trixxy and Boomer had their hands...er...paws full at this point, and it was all he could do from keeping Blu's ship from being overwhelmed.

         Finally, the last tower exploded. The sheild fizzled and was deactivated. Suddenly, a whole new swarm of enemy ships flew in from space. They must have monitored the towers and sheild! The core appeared, and Blu turned in to attack. Lance arched about, orbiting the edge of the station. Another blip appeared on the radar.

         "Heya guys, long time no see!" Chirped a voice. Lance knew this must be Cruisor, the Aliroo in the station. He said nothing as the others exchanged greetings. He felt a bit left out... But then, they didn't expect him to know who and what they were.

         "Ha! Hey Cruise! Sssssssup??" Cried Trixxy.

         "Nuttin' much, jus' hangin'," Cruisor replied. He looped about. "I wuz in there messing with the computer when they put up da sheild. Not much fun. I heard the towers blastin,' got in mah Arwing and here I am! Hey guys, lets kick some bootie, huh?" The six ships targeted on the core, shooting simultaneously. It sparked, and began emitting blue lasers. The six ignored them and continued to close in. The core popped, their cue to veer away. After several mini explosions the core blew up, and the six of them turned without a rest towards the planet Venom.

**

         The group of Arwings sped towards Venom at a high velocity. Nearing the atmosphere, they met up with Star Flyer2 and Star Fox. Star Drake was still taking care of the open space; once they defeated Andross here, the rest would be easy. Once they got Andross.

         "Heyhey Fox! Hey Joe! This is the last stop. And its the last fight, for Us, or for Andross. Give him a run for his money, lets take him on now!" Blu called. The sixteen Arwings barrel rolled and came in level to the ground. They fell into formation behind Fox, Joey and Blu. Lance took his place on the sides above them. While the others were considering how to destroy Andross, Lance was busy considering who the traitor was. None of them held treacherous intentions, as far as he could sense. This frustrated the psychic, he was used to having it easy. The only person he could not read was Katt Monroe, whom he knew was an Aliroo. And a magically endowed one. He wondered if she remembered him, from way back when. He decided not to say anything, but would keep an eye on her. She was the only on, as far as he knew, who could possibly block out his mental ears. And she could do it with magic.

         The first obstacle presented itself as a maze of corridors. At first it was easy; Half of the wings took left, the rest took right. Each hall then split, and eventually Lance ended up with Blu. The valley narrowed, and then came a miniature obstacle course; Bars of stone stretched across the valleys, and the two Arwings had to either dive or climb in hight to avoid them.

         The silence was disturbing.

         "Say, O'Ryan," Blu said, "I never caught your first name. Mind if I ask?"

         "Not at all," O'Ryan replied. "It's Lance." Maybe she would figure it out...         

         "Lance??" Blu asked, sounding less suprised then she felt. "I...I knew a Lance once..." She was quiet again. Lance grinned. So maybe she was putting pieces together? Now that she had his name maybe she could figure it out. Lance was quite sure that Blu was not the traitor. He had to think about who it was. The mission was drawing to a close. At this point Lance was prone to think Katt.

         "Andross is an insane fool," Lance commented. He shook his head. Katt? He had known her from the Academy! She had had some odd ideas, but he didn't think she was a traitor...

         "Here, here," Blu replied, "When I get back to Corneria, all I want is a nice bowl of Titanian Pasta..."

         Lance smiled. When they got back. He realized he might like to go out somewhere fancy. Blu Flyer intrigued him, he realized he would like to know her better. After all, the only times he had met her had been fleeting; She was a very complex character. So he said,

         "I hear ya. What say we go to the Lylat Café?"

         "Why Lance, if I didn't know better I'd say you were asking me on a date," Blu said. She sounded unbelieving.

         "What if I am?" He asked. Date, dinner. Whatever.

         "I'd say... Lets go for it."

         Lance smiled. Well, if they got out of this alive, and if he found out who was the "Evil" one, it would be a date. He wanted to figure out this puzzle before long...

         "Go for what?" Boomer asked, catching the rear end of the conversation as he joined them. Soon all sixteen ships were back together. None looked damaged. Lance felt excitement, agitation. They were ready to take on Andross, no matter what the cost. The only person who felt different was Katt. She had the same anticipation, but hers was different. Lance concluded she must be the one. He wondered what he would do about it now.

         "For what?" Falco said.

         "Who's going for what?" Added Peppy.

         "Go for a date," Blu said. "Me and Lance. So there."

         "Oh?" Trixxy giggled, "Where?"

         "Lylat Café. For Titanian Pasta," Lance added, barely listening to the conversation. He was more interested in what and how to dispose of Katt. He couldn't just take her down, OR use his TDT to zap her out. Anyways, she probably had a million spells up her sleeve. Lance knew spells. He was a Mage after all. But Katt...Katt was very magical.

         A horde of little ships dug themselves out of the ground, interupting his thoughta. Blu shot out a bomb, and it caught the main portion of the ships. The rest were spinning, firing.

         "I've got an idea, let's change the subject," Trixxy mumbled.

         "Incoming!" Chard yelled. Lance looked ahead. A mass of giant bars were heading straight for them! The Arwings dodged to the side. The bars suddenly arched down, planting their ends in the ground. The effect was terrible; Slanted columns caught in criss cross patterns. The Arwings threaded through the maze, and when they made it to the otherside, they all heard unfortunatly familiar voices.

         "Don't get too cocky Star Fox," O'Conner sneered, "You thought you'd get by this easy?"

         "The parties' just begun!" Leon swung around and tailed Blu's ship. She backflipped, and shot at him.

         "Star Wolf, what's your damn problem?" Boomer asked, "You're out numbered! And out armed!"

         "Am I?" Wolf asked. Suddenly, there was a flash of pink. Katt Monroe's small ship turned, and fired a bomb straight towards Falco. Before his ship even hit the ground, she pivoted in the air and shot down Boomer with a charged up hyper-nuker.

         Lance swore under his breath, a pang of guilt stabbing him in the heart. He reached with his mind to Falco. He sighed in relief when he felt life. He would not have his faults being the death of Natives!

         Lance pulled in, bearing down on Leon's ship. He fired. Leon was not dumb, and his ship was quite advanced. He barreled, turned, and shot at Lance's ship. Lance grinned, and exerted a bit of hit power. He nudged Leon's brain, suggesting that there was turbulance...

         Leon's ship veered out of control, and Lance laughed. But it wasn't enough. Already Star Wolf was taking advantage of the Alliance ship's suprise: Cruisor, Strype, Chard, Tayla, Slippy, Peppy were already in bad shape. They had to retreat. Hopefully they could return to Bolse for repairs. The only wings left were Fox, Trixxy, Bill, Joey, Ricky, and Blu.

         "Joey, Ricky, Bill: Escort the other wings to Bolse," she directed, "Now!"

         The trio obliged. Lance marveled at the command.

         Something was coming out of the ground. A tunnel had opened, and it seemed to wait. A voice seeped out, and it send tremors into the air.

         "Fox McCloud," the deep, rumbling voice said, "I have someone you may wish to meet. Come, see me."

         "Who is that, Fox?" Blu asked. Lance reckoned it was probably Andross.

         "Andross," Fox replied, confirming Lance's thoughts.

         "Then go! You can take him on! We'll hold them off here! GO!" Blu said, encouragment and confidence riding her voice to Fox's Arwing. The native didn't object; he shot up and down into the portal.

         "Lets take care of these guys now," Blu said.

         Lance honed in, and fired on Leon. He rapidly fired, keeping the X-Wing from flipping. Finally Leon's ship careened with the ground. Finally Lance watched the ship. He caught something out of the corner of his eye...It was Wolf! The bastard was zooming into the sky, evading the radar. Lance followed him.

         "One more guys, one more," Blu said. Lance frowned as Wolf arched about, firing at Blu. Lance fidgeted with the controllers as Wolf's X-wing came down upon Blu's ship. Lance arched in a wide turn. At the same time he took out his TDT, programmed for PokéWorld. He frowned. He hadn't wanted to do this...

         Wolf powered a laser on the cannons of his ship. The blow would destroy the Arwing... Lance came in above Blu and transported out just before contact...

**

         Lance frowned, and paced his suite. There was a knock on the door. It opened before he could lock it. Lorelei opened the door, her presence very nearly dropping the room's temperature.

         "What's wrong, honey?" Lorelei asked.

         Lance shuddered. "Don't call me that, Lor," he said. "Get out!"

         Lorelei cocked her head. "Aww, Lancey, you don't look happy," she remarked.

         "Yes, that's because you're in my room. Beat it!" Lance pointed at the door.

         "I just wanted to see Ripley," Lorelei lied, slinking out the door.

         Ripley.

         Lance realized he could tell Blu the truth, now! But... She would still be on her way back...

         Lance snatched his TDT off the table, grabbing Ripley's Pokéball. He flashed to Blu's living quarters on Corneria. He would have stayed, but his TDT told him another trainer was coming. He frowned, placed Ripley's Pokéball on the table, and flashed off to meet the trainer.

**

         Lance frowned at the Trainer, and the kid walked sadly off. Lance was too seasoned to pity the trainer. He merely stood there until the trainer was gone.

         "Lance?"

         Lance turned to Blu's voice. He grinned, letting out a bit of psychic power, a feeling of ¤.

         "I'm sorry Blu, I didn't think it would turn out this way."

         She grinned, emotions of happiness and foolishness hovering near her mind. He hugged her and any uncertainty washed away.