The Shadow of a Fox Ch. 7 *Edit*

Chapter 7

KrystalBlaze and Felecia are a movie and a half into their movie spree when the garage door for the complex opens and a motorcycle drives in and parks next to ShadowFox's.

Startled Felecia leans over to KrystalBlaze, "I thought ShadowFox took the corvette? Does Ordo have a bike?"

Without turning away from the movie KrystalBlaze replies, "Yes and also yes. However Ordo's bike is purely for recreation his is modified for racing and not combat like ShadowFox's."

Surprised by KrystalBlaze's lack of reaction Felecia thinks to herself, "well if it isn't ShadowFox or Ordo then why isn't she worried?" Deciding that it wasn't worth worrying Felecia returns to the conversation of Ordo owning a racing motorcycle, "Really? So where does he store it?"

A female voice comes from the doorway, "He keeps it at my shop as a display piece when he isn't using it."

Felecia looks over to see a stunningly gorgeous white wolf Anthromorph hanging half way into the room covered in motorcycle racing gear. Felecia assumes that she is somewhere around six foot and four or so inches tall and mostly legs. "What, do all mercenaries moonlight as models?" Felecia thinks to herself. The wolf has brilliant pearl white fur with long, pin straight, light blue hair. With vibrant blue eyes that stand out in the sea of white.

The wolf leaned into the room a little farther to see if she can tell what movie they're watching and something catches the light just right and attracts Felecia's gaze. Her ears either have been heavily modified with robotic implants or have been replaced completely for some reason. However even the cybernetics fit the wolf's body they have a very natural look on her. Felecia noted that they must have been very expensive because unlike most cybernetic replacements hers have a smooth and streamline appearance compared to the bulky look of most other models.

KrystalBlaze pauses the movie, "Hello Arctic. How have you been?"

Arctic answers her in a sarcastic tone, "I was doing well until I heard that Shadow got the corvette shot up again and not even a month after I finished fixing it up from the last time." Smiling Arctic continues, "But that's what I get paid for though so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. How about you Marie?"

The name Marie confuses Felecia because it's the first time that she's heard it used since she joined this very interesting group.

KrystalBlaze stands up and moves over to Arctic, "I'm doing good. Can I get you a drink?" and guides Arctic back into the common room. Felecia turns off the television and gets up to follow them out.

Walking across the common room Arctic replies, "That would be lovely. So where is mister reckless at now?"

KrystalBlaze answers from across the room, "believe it or not he's on a vacation."

Arctic freezes in shock, "What!? That never happens."

Felecia walks out of Ordo's room as KrystalBlaze is pouring three drinks and Arctic is over by the coat rack taking off her racing jacket. When Arctic pulls her left arm out of the sleeve of her jacket Felecia notices that it is entirely cybernetic. Surprisingly the cybernetics didn't take away from the wolf's elegant beauty. Like her other replacements the arm was also very sleek and streamline in appearance. It was almost a perfect match to her natural arm. Felecia had seen many different cybernetic replacement parts at work however none of them were this well-crafted. Even with Arctic's tight fitting clothes Felecia is unable to tell where the cybernetic section and natural section of Arctic's body meet.

Arctic turns around and catches Felecia blatantly staring at her but Arctic has seen this reaction far too many times to let it affect her. Arctic calls over to Felecia who is still standing in Ordo's doorway, "It's not every day that you get to see someone with a complete cybernetic limb replacement." Arctic turns back around and pulls up the back of her shirt to show Felecia exactly how much of her was mechanical. The cybernetics covered her entire left arm as well as shoulder and reached as far in as her shoulder blade. KrystalBlaze walks up with the drinks waiting for Arctic to fix her shirt before giving hers to her and places the other two on the table.

Embarrassed by getting caught staring at Arctic's arm Felecia stumbles to find her words, "Oh I'm sorry, that was so rude of me. Please accept…"

Arctic cuts her off, "think nothing of it I would have been surprised if it didn't faze you. So are you going to introduce yourself or am I going to have to have Marie do it for you?" the sternness in Arctic's voice almost made her question seem like a demand.

"Sorry" Felecia walks over and shakes Arctic's already outstretched hand. "Dr. Felecia A Moore, pleased to meet you Miss Arctic."

"There, much better and there is no need for the 'Miss' we're all family around here. Well since neither Fox nor, more importantly, his corvette seem to be here I guess I can make this a social visit." The three females go and sit down on the new furniture that Felecia set up. Arctic runs her hand across the top of the leather recliner as she walks around it saying "I thought he got rid of this stuff years ago." as she sinks into it. "Almost forgot how comfortable it was."

Arctic looks over at Felecia. "So a doctor? I knew that Fox had a thing for the smart ones but you seem a little out of place here. I understand why Marie here stayed but what made you give up on your life? What's in it for you?"

Stunned beyond words Felecia just stares at Arctic.

KrystalBlaze speaks up for her, "Oh she's not part of the team."

Arctic smiles and gives Felecia a look saying that she knew better than that, "not yet anyways."

KrystalBlaze, knowing that Arctic was under the impression that Felecia was invited here as a friend and maybe even a potential member, decides to clue her in completely on the situation. "She was a recovery that we haven't been able to hand over yet. Fox has been having issues with our contractor."

"Even so it's not like the two of them to bring their work home with them instead of taking it to one of their safe houses. I've only seen it once," she shoots a glance over to KrystalBlaze, "and we all know how that turned out." She takes a sip of her drink, "with drama."

Arctic's cell phone starts to ring, "if you'll excuse me I have to take this." And with that she dismisses herself and walks outside.

As soon as the door closes Felecia turns to KrystalBlaze with an appalled expression however KrystalBlaze stops her before she can say anything. "I know what you're thinking and it's not like that."

Still upset Felecia can't hold back, "Oh really, it's not because it sure as hell seems like it! Who the hell does she think she is?!"

Still calm KrystalBlaze places her hand on Felecia's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, "She may seem cold and-"

"Shrill" Felecia adds in bitterly.

KrystalBlaze sighs, "I was going to say a little harsh. But it's only because she doesn't know you."

"She seems to know you, MARIE, and it didn't keep her from insulting you too!"

Still using a calming tone and looking straight into Felecia's eyes KrystalBlaze continues, "She didn't insult me. I know it sounded like she did but she was right. When ShadowFox brought me here and told Ordo that I was staying it created a rift between the two. They were constantly fighting about it and it almost seemed like they were going to break up the team because of it." KrystalBlaze sits back into the sofa and stares at the table. "They were at each other's throats and Arctic knew it was my fault. At first she was as hard on me as Fox and Ordo were on each other. I hated her with a passion but then I came to understand her. She was just looking out for them and didn't want their friendship destroyed because of me. Even though she didn't like me she still listened to me when I just needed to vent."

Arctic's voice comes from behind them as she walks back toward her seat, "In the end Fox won the argument and, just like he always does so well, started mending the burning bridges. He convinced us both that she was going to be a part of the team and for us to treat her as such. It took a lot of adjusting but we eventually came around and accepted KrystalBlaze."

Still cooling down Felecia decides to try civil conversation, "there has to be more to it than that."

Arctic leans on the back of the sofa between the other two, "Oh there is but that's for another time. That was ShadowFox on the phone he should be here within the next two hours."

"Arctic if I may, are you actually a part of the team? I've been here for a while and I've only heard your name a handful of times yet you come strolling in here like you've lived here for years."

"I guess that is a valid question." Arctic responds as she sits back down. "Yes and no. Yes I'm considered one of the family but no I don't go out on missions."

"Not to sound insensitive but is it because of that?" Felecia indicates Arctic's arm.

Arctic looks down at her hand and flexes its mechanical fingers, "No, no that's not the reason. In fact quite the opposite I feel that I may be even more fit for a mission now that I have the prosthetics. The reason I've stopped doing missions is because it was all for naught. I thought, I felt, that I was helping the greater good." Arctic chuckles a little and puts some false motivation behind her next statement, "You know finding and killing the bad guys. Saving the day and getting the girl." Felecia can tell that she is being sarcastic. "But the world is gray and sometimes that means working with the bad guys to find a different one. I didn't believe it, I didn't want to. And in the end it cost me. Ordo and Fox however they knew all too well how the system worked." Arctic looks back up at Felecia and her remorse completely dissolves, "instead I'm their mechanic and a damn good one too."

This little bit of information caught Felecia off guard, "Wait you're their mechanic but I thought ShadowFox took care of all of the mechanical work"

Arctic laughs, "Ha he's good but not that good."

"So do you build the suits then as well?"

"Heavens no. He does that entirely on his own, I have no idea how he is able to design those like he does. The entire process is a closely guarded secret that was handed down to him by one of Alicia's teammates."

"I guess someone must have leaked the secret because I've heard of other suits like theirs." Felecia adds.

Arctic laughs a little at Felecia's naivety before correcting her, "Yes there are other armors out there but not like theirs. Shadow's suits have fully integrated power and communication systems as well as their own self sustained security systems that activate automatically when the wearer's vitals hit certain points."

Amazed Felecia thinks aloud, "just think of the years upon years of research and development that it had to have taken to design those enhancements."

"I would love to see how they have evolved over the years," Arctic looks around a little, "he has a display room around here somewhere."

KrystalBlaze inquires, "Display room?"

"Well kind of like a museum that he stores all of his retired as well as failed suits and armors. I've tried looking for it before but I can't seem to find it and I'm running out of places to look."

"So are you sure that it exists then?" Felecia asks.

"I'm positive it does because one time I was with him after a mission that his gear got really chewed up and despite all of the pain that he was obviously in he still made a joke about that one joining the others. So I asked Ordo about it and he knew that he kept the older models as study material for possible upgrades. But he didn't know where."

Curiosity gripped the other two and the thought of being able to see how ShadowFox's armors have evolved over the years excited Felecia, "Well we have some time where haven't you looked yet?"

Arctic turns a cold gaze on Felecia, "Well he has it hidden for a reason and I've already said too much. I still don't think that it was a good idea that they even let you stay here it's a major security risk."

KrystalBlaze sees Felecia's hurt expression and decides to deflect the conversation, "so Arctic what do you think of the new look?"

"I wasn't expecting it at all actually I thought ShadowFox got rid of this furniture years ago." Arctic knew more than she was revealing. "What made him bring it back out all of a sudden?"

Worried Felecia starts to answer, "I-"

KrystalBlaze completely overrides her, "I brought it out. I got tired of the same old stuff so I did some looking around. I ended up finding all of this in the storage room so I dusted it off and set it up out here."

"Really, so ShadowFox doesn't know about this yet?" Arctic asks her almost as if she caught KrystalBlaze with her hand in the cookie jar.

Felecia was starting to realize that 'Arctic' was a very fitting call sign for her.

"No I was planning on surprising him with it." KrystalBlaze answers innocently.

"So I take it that you took the very brave and bold step in cleaning Ordo's room for him then because I know that he isn't the type to do that himself." Arctic continues

Running with it KrystalBlaze continues, "He may not have thought that it was all that bad but it was becoming a health risk to the rest of us." They both knew that it was a lie because even though Ordo was a little disorganized he was still very clean.

"Well I do like the way it all looks and I'm sure that the guys will agree. So did you do anything with ShadowFox's room?"

"No he locks it every time he leaves and besides I don't think he'd appreciate it that much." Knowing that the air was just getting way too thick in the room KrystalBlaze tries to ventilate it a little. "Um Arctic may I have a word with you please?"

Arctic coolly answers, "Certainly" and gets out of her chair.

KrystalBlaze gets up and walks outside with Arctic, "I know what you're doing Arctic you did the same thing with me at first. You don't want us becoming too attached to her and then have to hand her over."

Arctic looks at KrystalBlaze, "it's more than that Marie. Think about that poor scientist in there you were in a situation similar to hers before. Forcibly uprooted from the normality that was your life and thrown into this chaotic mess. Then after being around it for long enough this way of living becomes the new normal. She still has a chance to return to her old normal but if she gets too comfortable here I fear that she won't be able to. Just ask yourself do you think that if you were given the chance to return to your life as Marie could you do it?"

KrystalBlaze looks down taking in all that Arctic had just said, "No I don't think I could."

Arctic lifts KrystalBlaze's head back up so she can see into her eyes, "I can tell that you're already becoming friends but think about when she goes away you'll have to cut all connections with her and vice versa. Or else it could become a major safety risk for you and her. And say that you do keep in touch with her what kind of damage do you think will happen to her if you don't make it back from a mission?"

Starting to see Arctic's point KrystalBlaze comes up with questions of her own, "Have ShadowFox and Ordo thought about this?"

Arctic sighs and gives KrystalBlaze a caring look, it's almost motherly, "Ordo and ShadowFox mean well by bringing her here. They want her to be comfortable but they don't think about the risks because they don't know about them. Just look at the two of them. ShadowFox, bless his broken soul, has lost everything and depends almost entirely on himself. He clings onto memories in order to keep going each day. I really don't think that he remembers what it's like to be a normal civilian anymore to live a normal life. I think he surrendered that luxury long ago just to keep his sanity. And poor Ordo isn't much better his only family is his brothers and sisters in arms."

KrystalBlaze breaths, "ShadowFox and his squad mates."

"Not just them dear." Arctic pauses for a second. "We're included in that but even still the threat of death and loss is a constant of each and every one of them. He's already prepared for that and even if you don't realize it yet so are you, just to a lesser degree. That scientist in there isn't mentally prepared for that kind of loss. And hopefully someday soon she will go home and all of this will just be like a bad dream."

Realizing the cold truth of things KrystalBlaze agrees and they both start walking back inside and right as Arctic reaches the door KrystalBlaze's hand grabs her arm and turns her around. Chocked up KrystalBlaze tries to ask Arctic, "Will I ever become part of their family?" Arctic can see that she is fighting off tears as she awaits Arctic's answer.

Arctic gives her a sincere smile and answers her, "you already are dear. ShadowFox would easily give up his own life for your safety or even happiness. I know he seems distant at times but he would do anything for you. Hell they both would." Arctic gives KrystalBlaze a hug as the metal prosthetics in her arm causes KrystalBlaze to shiver. "Even I would help you with anything if you ever asked for it."

KrystalBlaze returns the embrace, "Thank you."

Arctic wipes the only tear off of KrystalBlaze's cheek. "Now let's not forget that you have a guest inside but just keep in mind what I've told you."

Felecia wasn't stupid she knew that they were talking about her but doesn't let that bother her because she knows that she is the outsider here. That doesn't keep her from trying to find a comfort zone though. "So Arctic who did your prosthetics? They don't look like any models that I'm familiar with."

Thinking that Felecia is just being nosy Arctic gives her a sharp and sarcastic answer, "A very talented surgeon."

KrystalBlaze leans closer to Arctic and whispers that Felecia works in the biomechanical field.

Still thinking that Felecia has no right to know any of that highly personal information Arctic doesn't say anything else. The awkward silence is promptly interrupted by the distinct sound of ShadowFox's corvette driving down the driveway outside. The trio turn and watch as the garage door opens and ShadowFox pulls into his parking space.

He climbs out of the driver's seat slowly using the car's frame to keep himself upright as he stares at the new furniture laid out in the common room. Swallowing hard he looks up at KrystalBlaze and Felecia, "I've spoken to our contractor and it looks like we'll be able to send you home soon doctor. So why don't the two of you go have a girls' day…" he looks at the time and corrects himself, "…evening out on the town. Go do some shopping, dinner, movie whatever you feel like doing. Maybe you can even convince Arctic here to join you."

Arctic gives a polite declining gesture, "Thank you but no. I want to get started on these repairs as soon as I can."

Confused KrystalBlaze decides not to argue and jokingly says to Felecia, "Alright let's get dolled up and go have some fun."

ShadowFox removes a key from his key ring. Arctic sees him do this and in a hushed whisper asks if he's sure that he wants to do that. He ignores her and calls to KrystalBlaze, "catch" before tossing it to her.

She catches the key and asks him, "What's this for?"

"It's for a white Pontiac Firebird that I have stored at Arctic's shop. If you're going out on the town you might as well do it in style. I would lend you the vette here but it needs some work."

KrystalBlaze looks at him, something is off but she can't tell what. "Ok thanks. Oh Fox what do you think about the new layout?"

"It looks good." He tries his best to walk normally over to his room and enters it without even turning on the lights and disappears into the darkness.

Arctic has almost finished assessing the damage done to the Corvette when KrystalBlaze and Felecia walk out of KrystalBlaze's room ready to go and have some fun.

"You sure you don't want to come with us Arctic?" KrystalBlaze asks her one last time. Arctic looks over at them and politely shakes her head in refusal. KrystalBlaze just shrugs it off and yells to ShadowFox, "You want anything while we're out?"

His voice just answers back from his room, "have fun you two."

They both climb into KrystalBlaze's truck to go pick up the firebird and as soon as they pull out of the complex the trunk of the corvette pops open.

Arctic opens the trunk the rest of the way and turns around only to be face to face with ShadowFox. "If I didn't know any better I would think that you were trying to get rid of them."

ShadowFox looks deep into her eyes, "but you do know better and you do know that I sent them away on purpose."

The two just stand there mere inches away from each other with their gazes locked on each other. After a few silent moments ShadowFox is the first one to move. He steps around her and starts sorting out his equipment that is in the trunk.

"You're hiding something Fox. What is it?"

He doesn't answer her, he just keeps working. He walks past Arctic, like she wasn't even there, with a box of ammunition and carries it into his room to restock the containers.

"I take it that you didn't really go on vacation did you?" Arctic asks him not expecting an answer from him. She turns around to help him unload his gear and the first thing she picks up is covered in dried blood. She is use to the sight of blood and dead bodies but this caught her off guard as she jumps a little and drops the gear.

ShadowFox is standing next to her now, "It's not mine, well most of it isn't anyways." He pulls his tactical suit out of the trunk. Portions of the suit had blood stains scattered throughout however there is one section that is completely saturated in blood. ShadowFox finds a small hole in the fabric located at the focal point of the blood and examines it closely. "Of all the places for her shaking hands to shoot she hits me between the plates." He murmurs to himself. Arctic's cyberneticly enhanced hearing picks up every one of his spoken words.

Out of nowhere Arctic smacks him across the face, "You self-centered egotistical bastard! What if she killed you?! Huh? What then?! Did you ever think about her feelings? Or were you too concerned about yourself? Obviously not since you let her shoot you."

Arctic's sudden smack didn't even cause ShadowFox to flinch; he was too numb to even really take notice. She might as well have been screaming at the wall. "Well I guess I can't wear this one again. Looks like you're joining the others." He starts to walk off with the suit in hand.

Arctic steps in front of him, "Are you even listening to me?!" He still has the same vacant expression on his face and she tries to get his attention by giving him a quick shove. ShadowFox steps back to catch himself but he is completely on auto pilot and it doesn't seem to register that Arctic is trying to get his attention or is just doing a really good job ignoring her. Arctic knows that she has to snap him out of this daze but doesn't know how to short of physical abuse. ShadowFox starts to walk around her again and thinking quickly Arctic goes for another hit.

Just before her hand makes contact he grabs her by the wrist and he glares down at her. Arctic was still standing defiant but she could feel his gaze burning into her. For the first time since she had started working with them she had a genuine fear of ShadowFox. A deep anger has just awoken within him and even with her cybernetic enhancements she stood little chance in a one on one fight against him. Then just for a second the anger started to waver and the ShadowFox that she knew started to show through. There was a war going on inside of him and she knew that now was her best chance.

Trying her best to keep her composure she places a gentle hand on his cheek. "Fox. Fox listen to me. It wasn't your fault." She struck an exposed nerve and he just topples.

ShadowFox was falling apart in front of her, "I gassed her Arctic. I gassed her. Instead of just telling her about the information from the start I gassed her…" he just kept rambling on.

Arctic had never seen him this emotionally distraught in fact she didn't think that it was even possible. He still wasn't crying though and she knew that he needed to vent that emotional pressure before he actually hurts someone or even himself. But what was she going to do she doesn't know enough about him. How was she supposed to make a hardened killer cry? There was only one thing that she could think of.

Arctic takes the bloodied suit from his grip and drops it on the floor before embracing him in a comforting hug. Unexpectedly he throws his arms around her and buries his head into her shoulder. His face hits her metallic shoulder with the distinct clank of bone on metal. Arctic winces a little knowing how badly a blow like that would hurt normally and she places her hand on the back of his head much like a mother would to her child.

Still mumbling he starts to sob as Arctic gives off a sigh of relief, "there you go just let it all out." Then she realizes that he isn't saying the same thing that he was earlier and she tries to listen as best as she could. "We all knew it… …bad mission…" She knew that he wasn't talking about KrystalBlaze anymore and tries to listen closer. "…promised… …let go…" Arctic was worried that if she calmed him down that he'd lock back up like he has been but she just couldn't understand him. "Fox. Fox! Look at me. You promised who? What did you promise?"

He was starting to balance out as he picks his head up and wiping the few tears that managed to leave his eyes from his face he looks at Arctic. "Huh?" He takes a slow breath, "What are you talking about?"

Arctic couldn't believe that she didn't see this coming sooner. Those were emotions that were suppressed for so long that the reasons are alien to him and he no longer has any conscious control over them. "Is it about… …Alicia? Fox you were betrayed and ambushed. There was nothing that you could do and it's a miracle that you've made it out of there alive."

The stone emotionless mask that ShadowFox hides behind is back on his face now and he is completely calm, on the outside at least. "I know that Arctic and there is no point in mulling over it." He reaches down and picks the tactical suit up off of the ground.

Arctic realizes that she missed her window and brings the conversation back to the here and now. "You know if she ever sees that suit she'll know that it was you."

ShadowFox lets out a long slow breath. "I know."

Arctic continues, "She'll never trust you the same way."

Still in the same expressionless tone he replies, "I know"

"And she'll never be able to forgive herself for shooting you."

ShadowFox pauses and then proceeds to walk across the common room with suit in hand.

Arctic calls after him, "You, more than anyone, should know how hard it is to find self-forgiveness Fox!"

Still walking he approaches the storage room door. "Well then I guess we should keep her from finding out now shouldn't we?"

Arctic doesn't understand why he is taking it over there instead of into his room, unless, his museum. "Fox where are you going with that?"

"It's getting moved to my R&D room." He lifts the suit up a little higher to get a better look at it, "There were a few things in this suit that are worth noting." He walks into the storage room and Arctic goes to follow him but he locks the door behind himself.

"I'll just wait here then," Arctic says aloud to no one as she goes back to inspecting the vette.