Regret Chapter 16
#16 of STARFOX-6: Reflections of REGRET
Chapter -16-
"Reginald Shears"
*"Is someone there?" * said the long-faced hound. He stepped into a pillar of light, which illuminated his tan-colored fur then passed through it and back into the darkness. His dark brown ears framed either side of his face. His paw went to the side of his hip and he closed his fist around the hilt of a weapon. The full-tang katana sword rang out like a tuning fork as it was withdrawn from its sheath. As the tip was drawn free, it created a distinctive, 'shing' sound that resonated from the metal blade. "If you don't announce your intentions, I'll cut first and ask questions only if you survive... who is there?"
Shears sniffed at the air then quirked a brow. "...Familiar scent," he murmured. The hound ducked through the half-collapsed doorway and stepped out into the empty corridor. He sniffed again then brought his left paw to the base of the handle. A ring on his left index touched the handle, activating the battery cell inside. The blade charged, glowing with a soft orange light of energy. It helped to illuminate the hallway like an electronic torch. Shears lifted the sword, horizontally, above his head to brighten the area while keeping it above his own line of sight to keep his eyes dilated.
"I know you're here," he called. Natural acoustic reverb sounded throughout the concrete hallway. "I have your scent; I know you're not a reptile or marmoset! Come out of hiding slowly. Calm, steady steps with your paws where I can see them, mammal!" His only reply was silence.
The canine went back into the control room and opened another channel to the battleship in orbit above the planet.
Oikonny's face filled the dusty old screen. "Did you forget something, Reggie?"
Shears lowered his beam-sword. It dimmed back to a shiny metal blade. He slid it back into the sheath and lifted his gaze to the lanky ape up on the monitor. "I'm not alone down here. Scan the area and look for signs of intruders. I don't know where they are but there are two mammals. I recognized the scent of one... but I don't remember where I know it from."
"It could be Bowman or one of his..."
"No," said Shears. "It's not a simian. It's a mammal, possibly Cornerian. If Corneria or Katina is watching us... this could ruin things. Start monitoring their allies and the communication lines to the best of your ship's ability. I'll assemble a team of workers to start investigating the base."
"Reggie, this is highly unlikely. Those turrets were programmed to identify any target whose personal communicator wasn't set to emit a certain radio frequency. That means you and your men are safe but anything else, even an indigenous creature the size of my fist... anything... will be killed instantly. Now, finish up down there and get my base in functioning order."
"We're nearly to our first checkpoint. It will be ready in twenty-four hours. Just have my science team here first thing in the morning."
Andrew's face lit up. "Cheer up! They'll be there just as I'd promised! Do you really think you can restore him again?"
"Who? Your uncle or the bio-weapon we made from your uncle's DNA?"
"The clone," said Oikonny. "My uncle is dead and his body was never recovered. Are we on the same page here?"
"Right, sorry - I'm just tired from a long shift. Of course you meant the clone. Yes, the bio-weapon clone should take about three weeks then we can start downloading the memories of your uncle. Incubation is the hardest part. I'm going to go and assemble my security team, now. It's better to be safe than sorry. I'm not taking chances this time."
Andrew tilted his head. "This time? Did I miss something?"
"Yes," said the canine with a firm nod. "The first time I created the Andross Bio-Weapon clone, over a decade ago, I was entering the final phase. Some idiot Cornerian mercenary showed up on Titania and ruined it. Fox Mc-Something. Good sword fighter but his luck outweighed his skill. However, luck runs out - skill doesn't. I'm going to head my security detail. I'll contact you again in six hours." Reginald Shears closed the channel and stormed out of the room.
Fox and Krystal climbed out of the heating vent, replaced the metallic grate quietly then snuck down the hall in the opposite direction taken by Shears.
*Fox ran his fingers back through his headfur * and sighed softly. He pivoted on his toes then turned back the other direction, pacing the deck while pondering his next move. Krystal approached him and began walking with him. "Love, you're pretty pent up. This man, Shears, is capable of reviving Andross? There's no body, so why are you worried."
"He didn't have a body before, either," said the pilot. He stopped pacing and turned to his fiancée. "Krystal, he has DNA and the tapes of Andross' memories leading up to the Lylat War. During that time, the real Andross was presumed dead because he wasn't in Lylat - he was on Cerinia. What Shears was building... it was some sort of... bio-weapon thing with Andross' recorded memories programmed into its brain. Quite possibly, his invention was even more dangerous than the real Andross."
"I'm not sure I understand."
Fox nodded and pushed his paws into his pockets. His head lowered. "Andross made a blueprint of himself, genetically altered. He built this enormous head and hands; he inserted and wired himself into it and paraded around as the monster. Do you follow me so far?" He waited until she offered a nod then he continued. "Andross was defeated while inside of that thing. There was another one - a mechanical version, also on Venom. I defeated that one first then I went and defeated the biological one that he was controlling... it nearly killed him; it should have killed him but it didn't. He climbed out of that thing with nothing but a knife and his bare hands. He escaped to Cerinia."
"Where he messed up everything and eventually fled back to Sauria. Which is where we met."
"Right. And in his absence, Shears took that technology and tried to make himself an ANDROSS bio-weapon. He gave it a digital tape with Andross' memories programmed on it. His intent... hell if I know. Maybe he wanted to merge with the weapon and pretend to be Andross to take over Venom... or maybe he was going to let the bio-weapon control itself; maybe he was satisfied with the thought of being an underling. It's difficult to know for sure. Either way, I thought he died. I thought the Andross-head monster was dead. Four years later, I saw it attack me on Sauria with Andross inside of that thing. They grafted a Krazoa sculpture on the back to fool people. I killed the sonuvabitch again and I've not seen him since. Do you see where this is going?"
Krystal snapped her fingers with a firm nod. "You're saying that because Shears is still alive, he could make another one of those bio-weapons. Whether or not the real Andross is still alive doesn't matter... Shears is still dangerous, especially with that technology."
"You've got it. We have to find a way to figure out what his plan is so we can destroy all that work and the files to keep making that stuff. Then we need to take him out and make sure Andrew Oikonny can't pick up that line of work. Then... and only then... I will feel better."
"Oh, Fox, relax sweetheart. You and I... we're a team, Fox." She touched her forehead, gesturing to her frontal lobe. "If I'm this... then you are this," she added, lowering her paw and touching his chest above his heart. "With my telepathy and your instinct, we'll come crashing down on them so fast they won't know what hit them."
"Nothing would make me happier," said Fox with an impish grin.
Krystal wrapped her arms around him then snuggled her face into his chest. Her paw met something at the small of his back. She closed her fingers around a weapon and withdrew it by the handle. "What's this? Why're you carrying your gun around in your bedroom, Fox?" Her eyes lifted to him, wondering if he'd forgotten to take it off of his belt earlier. "Must you always carry that thing on you?"
He frowned. It wasn't that he forgot to take it off after the mission... he simply felt more comfortable having it on right now. He glanced to the left then back into her eyes. "I like having it on me right now." He noted the way she canted her head at him in confusion. Fox licked his lips and shrugged. He eased the weapon from her paws and put it on a charging pad. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to bring it to the bedroom."
Krystal went for the psychology approach. "Fox, are you carrying it because you're worried about this situation with Shears? Are you carrying it because you feel a certain way when it's within reach? Do you sleep better at night when it's beneath your pillow?"
He shook his head calmly. "I'm carrying it because I have someone to protect." Fox brought his fingers to her cheek, gently rubbing the side of her face. His paw slid upwards, guiding a lock of her hair back until it was behind her ear. "And, maybe, if I'm lucky..." Fox trailed off then lowered his paw to her tummy. "I might have more than one to protect one day soon."
The vixen's expression brightened a bit. She rewarded him with a kiss - an exceedingly pleasant one at that. He brought both of his paws up to her face and the two shared a kiss for several moments. After enjoying the lip joining, she glanced up at him and said, "Fox, after this situation is resolved..."
He grinned with a nod. McCloud brushed his nose against her own. "After this, we'll start planning our wedding."
A sly grin found its way to her muzzle. "Perfect."
*"Unacceptable," * murmured Dash. Bowman cut his gaze to the left then back to the right. He narrowed his gaze sharply and sighed through his nose. "My grandfather needs to remain dead - every iteration of him should stay that way. It's for the best."
Andrew Oikonny shifted his weight and turned away. His holographic image shimmered then flickered. "Listen, cousin, we need to work things out. I want you to know this could go very wrong for you if you don't see my way. I'll be running Venom and you'll be the one on my doorstep if you don't see the bigger picture. You're standing in the way of progress and I'm at the wheel of a steamroller!"
"Quite amusing analogy, Andy. I assure you that you're going in the wrong direction with this. Your uncle is dead. Leave it alone."
Oikonny's eyes widened. "He's your grandfather! BLOOD is thicker than WATER, you fool!"
"Andy, I'm blood-related to you. I'm doing the right thing. Why don't you join me? Vengeance is unnecessary. You fought in a war. People did their duty. Corneria won. Don't be a sore loser or a fool."
The tall, lanky simian threw his arms up in the air. "Dash Bowman, so help me YOU are DEAD TO ME!" The communication ended and Andrew's image disappeared.
The corner of Dash's mouth tugged into a slight grin. "Moron." He crossed the computer room and walked out into the main section of the aging mansion. At the center of the large manor was a pedestal with enormous feet and ankles jutting up from the base. The remainder of his grandfather's statue was long gone. Bowman shook his head at the marble plinth and said, "Stay dead old man. Venom will flourish with my help; all you did was mess things up."
MEANWHILE...
In orbit above Macbeth...
Reginald Shears clicked his heels together and brought a paw to his forehead in a gesture of salute. "Emperor Oikonny, I've returned from the surface."
Andrew glanced up from the holo-recorder with a frown. He unclenched his fists and frowned. "Reggie... Do you remember four years after the Lylat War ended? When I gave you the tapes with my uncle's memories on it? That spoiled little brat, Bowman, has access to the latest tapes on Venom. If we can get them, we can bring back Andross with all of his memories; he apparently made another backup of his mind that dates to when he was alive on Sauria. We need that tape. If knowledge is power then having the most recent tape will make him more powerful."
"You want me to take a group of soldiers to Venom and find it?"
"It won't be that easy. Perhaps we could commission someone to do it... Perhaps Panther Caruso. I don't want him to know why we need this tape but take some money and use it to bribe him."
"I'll contact him immediately, Emperor!" Shears saluted again then left the room, rubbing his paws together.
Six hours later...
With a flourish, Panther Caruso leapt from his fighter. The ground rose up to meet his feet. He placed his right paw between his knees, crouching in the grass. Caruso dug his fingers into the soft soil and lifted it. He sniffed at the dirt then brought a small bit to his muzzle and tasted it. His head lifted and he breathed in the fresh air.
The last time he set foot in this particular province was before the Anglar blitz. The ground where he stood was once dry, cracked and dead. Now it flourished with soil capable of supporting agriculture. He could taste the nutrient-rich fertile soil on the tip of his tongue. It was moist and dust-free. He spit it back off the tip of his tongue and stood up. "Mm, this is perfect for rosebush gardens."
The feline approached a tree not too far from where he landed. Moss grew up along one side, helping him to determine which direction he was facing. He placed his paw on the moss and pushed inwards, testing its softness. Caruso glanced over his shoulder then back to the area. Occasional trees dotted the landscape, the ground was rich and the wildflowers were fragrant.
To the west, heading towards the town in the distance, the meadow was teaming with wildlife and fauna. He removed his armored suit, stripping down to nothing. Panther casually stowed his gear into a hatch on the side of his fighter. Next, he removed a nice set of clothes and a vest. He dressed swiftly and put the stylish vest on then wrapped his knuckles against it. Despite the vest's fashionable appearance, he couldn't feel the knocking of his knuckles against his torso while wearing it.
A smile formed on Panther's maw. He removed his weapon and placed the barrel against a flap of the vest then tugged on the trigger. The cloth vest shimmered, absorbing the energy of the blaster. He nodded firmly, pleased with the test then holstered his weapon and began heading west, towards the town. Looming in the far distance, tall buildings of Shray-lek City shined brightly. Towering cranes and a construction dome glowed in the afternoon sunlight. "Ah, Fang-Claw. Such a small city - perhaps one day you'll be a capital of this region." He continued west, walking through the knee-high grassland and wildflowers.
Caruso brushed his fingers along the top of the high grass, sifting through the lush green tips. Such simplicity and harmony - a part of him enjoyed what Venom had become. "Your device worked, Doctor... it's a shame you're not alive to see it." His ears perked and Panther came to a stop. He glanced over his shoulder at the wake of marred grass leading back towards his ship in the distance. He sniffed at the air and strained his ears to listen. Silence. After a moment, the cicadas began chirping again. His gaze narrowed, pondering the possibility that he was being followed. Cautiously, Panther began walking again.
An hour later, the grassy fields turned to paved roads and buildings. Panther stuffed his paws into his pockets, walking along the sidewalk. He glanced up at a digital chronometer on the sign mounted above a kiosk and continued towards the downtown area.
Fourteen blocks and the street ended at a 'T' shaped intersection. The building that loomed ahead belonged to Dash Bowman's new government administration. From the outside, the building appeared to be a large library. Its architecture predated any other building in the city by at least several hundred years. The two-tone building had a lighter gray finish for the top three stories that appeared to be dated back to around the first Lylat War. The feline stood on the street corner, taking a moment to admire it.
A reptile manning a periodical stand took note of Caruso and, with a thick Venomian accent, spoke in Cornerian. "Breathtaking isn't it? That building housed the ancient library of our ancestors. Their words were lost to time until Andross Oikonny found it and translated the texts within. I heard his grandson is constructing a modern facility within and, soon, will open the doors to the public. It will be a museum. The top three floors will function as Town Hall until an official government building can be erected."
The onyx-furred cat glanced over his shoulder at the lizard and nodded respectfully. "What do you suppose is in there right now? Just construction? Perhaps the original contents were removed for now?"
"I doubt it," said the newsstand owner. "That building goes below ground several stories. Most likely, things will simply be moved around then put back into place during the construction efforts. I know the top of that building still houses all the digital effects dating back to Andross' reign."
"You know this for a fact?"
The lizard grinned a bit. "I used to work in that building when I was your age. My granddaughter is the head construction foreman... forewoman if you will... She's in there every morning at seven and works long hours... sometimes her crews will be in there until as late as midnight. It's rare but... it happens. We have breakfast together almost every morning an hour before I open my stand, here."
"Your granddaughter is a hard worker. Every day of the week?"
"She's religious. No construction on the weekend. That's why it's quiet right now. If it were midweek, you'd hear a good deal of noise coming from that building. Not from the top floors, mind ya'... just the section that will become a museum."
Panther glanced back at the building. "When do you think it will open to the public? I wouldn't mind seeing inside."
"Probably about two more months, be giving or be taking."
"...Pardon?" Panther blinked then chuckled. "Ah, two more months, give or take. I see what you mean. What did you think of Andross?"
"He helped our economy to flourish. The money went into education for reptiles. The marmosets that migrated to Venom were willing to get along with us. We may have lost the war but we would have remained an ignorant, uneducated people had that man not come to this world. And now look at it. Even after his death, he continues to make Venom a better place. I know many hated him because Venom became quite polluted in a very short time but... you can see how he managed to repair it. Beautiful - this planet is amazing, now. It was a desert when I was a little boy... now it's beyond belief."
The cat beamed, putting on an act. "I remember when it was a desert. I remember when the top three stories were constructed atop of that building," Panther lied.
"Really?"
With a nod, Caruso said, "I fly with Star Wolf. Surely you've heard of Star Wolf."
The lizard nodded emphatically despite his advanced age. "They were Andross' elite guard. Fearless mercenaries with ultra-advanced prototype fighters. Well then, I'm impressed and honored to meet you mister...?"
"Caruso. Panther Caruso. Might I ask what is your opinion of Andrew Oikonny?"
"It's neither good, nor is it bad. He tried his best but he couldn't live up to his mother's brilliance. He wasn't as motivated as his father's brother, although the boy certainly aspired to fill those shoes... His parents died and his paternal uncle was too busy to be a personal influence - Andrew lost his way and was never anyone's protégé. In the end he became an idiot - the biggest disappointment of Andross' family. No one will ever take him seriously."
"No one?"
"Anyone who pretends to take him seriously is only using him because of his blood-relation status. However, the boy is simply too dense to see people using him. The Anglars even duped him into their employ. Silly young Andrew thought he was an important part of the Anglar war machine... in the end, they tricked him into flying for them for free. They pretended to rave about his 'skills' as a pilot... he was charmed and flew into battle for them as a volunteer. He was just a fighter pilot, nothing special. He didn't lead any squadrons, he didn't help in the war room... he was just an idiot pilot in a crappy ship. Everyone laughed behind his back. I respect him for trying a few years ago... but, going back further than the Anglar war, the Venom war machine watched Oikonny fall in defeat to a single attack from a single Aparoid. The military fell back and formed a defense perimeter around Venom and warded off the Aparoids. Those damned things created a great deal of suffering for most of Lylat but Venom managed to repel the bionic bugs. They did it without Andrew. It became strikingly obvious that we didn't need him as our leader anyhow."
Panther smiled. "And here I thought I talked too much. No offense."
"None taken."
Thirty minutes later...
The interior of the large building was rather dim. Sunlight filtered in through the gaps between planks that covered most of the windows. A soft tapping of metal accompanied each of the footfalls as he made his way through the ancient library. Next, he made his way up the dusty staircase to the sixth floor. The walls changed coloration. The door leading out of the stairwell was metallic and modern. It opened with ease but the hinges squeaked somewhat.
The fourth door on the far right led to an impressive bookshelf of archived digital cassettes. Dust tarps covered several of the shelves but some had crumpled to the floor. At a leisurely pace, he ran his fingertips over the spines of the assorted tape collection. Each one was carefully labeled. The next section down was tarp-covered but it was easily pulled from the shelf and thrown aside. He continued further down until finding a tape labeled, "Dr. Andross Oikonny - fourth brain-scan. Master Copy."
"Ahh, it is still here. Impressive." The tape was drawn from the shelf; he opened the case, checked to ensure the tape was within then closed it and stowed the cassette in his pocket. A small electronic device was withdrawn from his pocket and waved over the tapes to the immediate left and right of the new gap on the shelf. The magnetic pulsation wand was returned to his pocket with a smirk. He turned about then froze, hearing noise out in the hall. Quickly, he ducked behind a row of shelves and activated a personal cloaking device from the computerized remote in his right pocket. He glanced down at his hands, watching as they faded from his gaze. He leaned back against the far wall and waited in silence.
Panther Caruso walked in through the door at the far end of the room and began a casual stroll along the uncovered shelves at the center of the room. The feline's graceful stride brought him to a gap on the shelf where a cassette was missing.
Caruso trailed his fingers along the cassette spines until locating one labeled, "Dr. Andross Oikonny - third brain-scan. Master Copy." The broad-shouldered thirty-something mercenary cleared his throat and tilted his head. "Hmm... Panther thinks this must be the most current tape. Very well; such a simple mission for such a fantastic rate of pay." The cat froze and perked his ears. A great deal of footsteps could be heard out in the hallway.
Panther gritted his teeth and sniffed at the air then quirked his brows. "That scent is familiar..." He blinked, seeing a dozen marmosets filter in through the door. Caruso tilted his head in slight confusion. "I was going to pay for this rental, I swear. I have my library card right here in my pocket."
The ranking soldier wasn't amused. "Stealing from Dash Bowman's grandfather? You do realize this is closed to the public."
"Allow me to introduce myself..."
"Save it, Panther Caruso," said the soldier. He withdrew a pistol and pointed it at the feline, despite his eleven comrades having assault rifles leveled on Caruso's torso. "We've been monitoring you for quite some time. We're not sure how you arrived on Venom but you can tell us all about it when we put you in a military interrogation room."
"My ship is too stealthy for you to have detected. I am afraid I am at a disadvantage... everyone knows and loves Panther Caruso of Star Wolf... but I don't know you're name... only the rank you hold," he said, nodding towards the man's uniform. "So, el capitán, you have a name?"
"Listen, Caruso, I don't have to bring you back alive. I don't really care about you. You're delusional to think that you're loved like some sort of celebrity. A joke, truly. A pilot for Star Wolf... seriously... Think about it you idiot... Star Wolf was the group of failures who were paid to protect the mentally retarded self-proclaimed dictator of Venom who did nothing more than... oh... I dunno'... ruin the environment with bio-weapons and pollution. Then he crashed our economy with his obsession of vengeance against Corneria. Star Wolf? Please. Your credentials are as much of a joke as that ex-dictator, Doctor Andross."
In his silky smooth, calm voice, Caruso continued to speak suavely. "Listen, there's no reason we can't..."
The captain rolled his eyes and said, "Shut up or I'll shoot you, moron. Put the cassette back on the shelf, drop your weapon and kick it to me then lay down on the ground."
"Let us come to a different diplomatic solution as your suggestion is not agreeable to me."
The captain ground his teeth together. "You moron, it wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. There's no room for détente here. If you don't comply I'll shoot you in the torso. If you still don't comply, I'll order these men to open fire and the janitor will be scraping your remains off the wall and floor."
Panther balked, insulted by the man's words. He withdrew his weapon and pointed it back at them. "How dare you say..."
The captain groaned and fired his pistol. The energy round struck Panther's vest, which shimmered from absorption of the attack. The feline chuckled in reply, causing the military captain to glower. "That's it. I don't have time for this idiot's nonsense... men, open fire on the target." Simultaneous to the order, Panther opened fire on his attackers while starting to pivot.
No sooner was the command given, an energy wave came from out of nowhere, knocking all twelve soldiers to the floor. Some were thrown into the hallway. Caruso blinked. He stopped in mid-pivot and looked down at his modified magnum. "Hmm... perhaps this prototype 'zapper' pistol packs more punch than initially realized." He shoved the tape into his vest pocket, securing it with a zipper. The feline hurried through the door, leaping over the men on the ground. He sprinted down the hall before they could recover and made his way for the stairs. By the time he reached the door, he could hear the soldiers getting back to their feet and shouting.
Caruso disappeared into the stairwell. Nine of the soldiers scurried after him. The remaining two helped their captain to his feet. The officer grunted then said, "Check the shelf and see what he's taken. It's in order with a decimal code on the spine. We can figure out which number is missing and report it to Ranger Bowman."
Quite suddenly an unseen force lifted up the two riflemen. With the way their chins were elevated, it appeared they were hoisted up from their throats. Choking and gagging sounds emanated from both marmosets. Their assault rifles clattered on the floor. They kicked their legs and reached up to the unseen grip at their necklines. Their bodies continued to flail for a moment but then calmed as each man's neck was crushed.
The captain's eyes widened in confusion and he lifted his pistol. Both soldiers were slammed together then they fell to the ground, bleeding from their mouths. From out of nowhere, a walking cane came upwards and struck the captain beneath his chin. His head snapped back and he dropped to the ground dead from a broken neck.
The captain's eyes glazed over, reflecting the image of a bloody boot print on the floor in front of his nose. The print was far larger than those of any known feline... A booming voice came from thin air. "I've done more for this planet than you could have ever hoped to understand. Ungrateful imbecile." The sound of departing footsteps filled the hallway in tandem with the soft tapping of a cane on the tile floor.
*Andrew Oikonny clenched his fists * in frustration. He looked back at Panther then to the view screen. Static lines snowed the display with occasional flashes of data images. "This tape is no good!" he shouted. "The only thing that could corrupt it this badly is a very, very powerful magnetic source. And it would have to be extremely concentrated and in extreme proximity to the cassette! Bowman must have sabotaged these tapes before you arrived! Damn him!"
Caruso folded his arms. "A clever trick but why keep the cassettes shelved if he purposefully destroyed the data contained on them? If they're rendered useless then they're only taking up space."
"I don't KNOW!" Andrew ejected the tape and threw it at a random crewmember spitefully. "This is disappointing to say the least." He reached for another cassette, labeled, "Doctor Andross Oikonny - First brain-scan. Master Copy." He pushed the tape into the slot and typed on the keyboard. Instead of trying to read the actual contents as he did with the last tape, he used the computer to pull up an ascii detail of the contents. Rather suddenly, Andrew stood up from his chair and scoffed at the terminal. "It's not possible!"
"What is the matter, boss?"
Andrew glowered and dropped back into the station's chair. "The files on this tape are also corrupted! I just viewed the contents yesterday! There's nothing on this ship with the focused magnetic power to have wiped out this cassette's contents between then and now!"
"What does this mean?"
"Someone has sabotaged both tapes!" Andrew cried in reply.
One of the bridge security guards approached Panther with a weapon. Andrew swiveled about in the seat and said, "Stow your weapon, you idiot. It wasn't Panther Caruso who sabotaged the tapes, because he never came in contact with the first tape. Besides, he was on Venom up until just now." The guard did as instructed and backed away. Andrew brought his right hand to his mouth, rubbed his lips then he lowered his palm to his chin, cradling it in thought. "But it is possible that someone on this ship may have somehow did this. We need to search the crew until we find a device capable of emitting some sort of magnetic pulse capable of corrupting the data on these cassettes. Perhaps a crewmember managed to walk by Panther with just such a device after using it on the tape that was kept here, on the bridge. Whoever is responsible for this will pay with their own blood."
Caruso frowned. "May I ask what these tapes were for?"
The tall, lanky ape slouched a bit in the seat. "I wanted the latest copy of Andross' brain scan. I was going to use them to create a bio-weapon version of my Uncle. We would bring him back, give him his memories and use him to take back Venom from Dash Bowman. But now both tapes are apparently corrupted. Damn it!" Oikonny sat up, seeing the doors to the bridge swish open. Shears walked in and spoke with one of the officers, he turned pail then he approached Andrew.
"Is it true what the bridge Commander just told me?"
Andrew nodded, looking quite disgusted. "Yes, Reggie, both tapes were recently sabotaged somehow. I've deduced that Panther Caruso couldn't possibly be at fault." He reached for the cassette case and glared at the plastic spine. Andrew's expression changed dramatically. "While it no longer matters..." His eyes lifted to the feline. "You pinched the wrong damn tape. This is labeled the third brain scan... the most recent one would have been the fourth."
Panther shrugged. "There was no fourth tape. However, there was a gap besides this tape. Someone must have already taken the one you sought. This was the highest and most recent one on the shelf."
Oikonny threw the empty case in the air and exclaimed, "That idiot cousin of mine is TAUNTING US!" He breathed for a moment, fuming in anger, then said, "Bowman took the one we would need and must have somehow wiped the older ones with a magnetic..."
Panther pointed at the terminal where Andrew was still sitting. "That theory doesn't explain how your original copy was suddenly corrupted, as you pointed out just a moment ago."
Andrew blinked twice. "You're right. So then... Dash took the most recent tape and hid it... one of his men must have infiltrated this ship and used a high-tech magnetic force-emitting device to wipe out the first tape and the third tape, brought to the bridge by Panther." He looked back at the black-furred feline. "What crewmembers walked by you in the hallway on the way here. Could you point out their faces?"
"I'm afraid you are the only one who was anywhere near me between the flight deck and the bridge, Andrew. Perhaps your infiltrator installed a magnetic device inside of this terminal, designed to erase the cassettes as soon as they're put into the drive."
"Yes, of course!" agreed the lanky ape.
Shears removed a digital cassette from a case in a terminal across the bridge. He glanced at the label, "Sensor backup - weekend tape." He approached the console where Andrew still sat and shoved the tape into the deck. It loaded on the screen, displaying digital information. The canine snorted disdainfully. "So much for your theory, Mister Caruso. If it were true, this tape would have immediately corrupted as soon as I put it into the drive. It appears to be working just fine, doesn't it? No... someone managed to figure out how to destroy the contents of those two tapes without our knowledge. Whoever they are... they're very clever."
"Sir!" Everyone looked over at the helmsman. "I'm showing a ship just launched from the hanger. I don't have visual confirmation but the sensors are reading that a ship just passed through the force field and I'm tracking an energy signature - it's moving away from our position but I can't get a direct lock."
The crewmember put an external view on the main display at the front of the bridge but there was no ship on the screen. Shears blinked and approached the helm. "Are you sure? I don't see anything." He looked over the man's shoulder then announced, "Andrew, the scanners show an energy source growing weaker... it could be a cloaked ship!"
Andrew stood up and hurried to the far end of the bridge. "A stealth ship that could fit onto the flight deck of this battle cruiser? That's physically impossible. No one has that sort of technology - the power plant necessary to cloak a ship needs to be enormous and wouldn't be able to fit through the hanger bay doors on an A-6 Perimeter-Class ship!"
Panther unfolded then refolded his arms. "Not unless there's a prototype ship with a prototype power plant... but wouldn't this assailant also have to be invisible to get through this ship without being seen? Then they would have to erase both cassette tapes and leave without any of us knowing it."
"That's absurd," said Oikonny with a roll of his eyes. "I've heard of shield generators that can redirect radar but... cloaking a person so well that you can't even see them face to face? I don't think so. A suit with a power source capable of refracting light on a person... that's one thing... but you'd be able to see a ghostly outline of their body rather easily. That sort of technology is only useful in poor lighting or on a battlefield plagued with the fog of war. What you're suggesting simply doesn't exist."
"Fair enough," said Caruso with a shrug. He sniffed at the air again. There was something familiar about a lingering scent... he'd smelled the very same scent back on Venom, earlier. However, it didn't belong to Dash Bowman. A sigh passed his lips, followed by a frown. "Well... it appears my usefulness here has run out. I'll take my leave... but first... there's the matter of payment for my services."
Oikonny grumbled softly and headed into the ready room. A moment later, he emerged with a briefcase and passed it to Panther. "Keep your personal communicator around. We may recall you if an issue surfaces. I'd better not find out that you were somehow involved in erasing these tapes. I doubt it was you because you were never anywhere near the other tape, which is also corrupted now... but if I find out that you were somehow working for Bowman... We know where to find you."
"Indeed you do," said Caruso. "I would start your search by closely examining the sensors in your hanger... whatever energy anomaly they detected a few moments ago... that's the key to unlocking this mystery. At least it seems to me that is where you should start. Take it or leave it... that is just my advice. But if Dash somehow invented a way to cloak a person and a small ship... then we've all underestimated him."
"You're dismissed, Panther Caruso." Andrew turned away from the feline and faced Shears. "Send those tapes down to the lab and have them studied by... someone. Also, send a technician to the hanger deck and run a full diagnostic on the sensor array. Once we know everything is working normally we can proceed with an investigation into the energy anomaly we saw leaving the hanger. If it was a small ship... then we've misjudged my cousin."
Shears nodded and left the bridge with Panther. Once they were in the hallway together, he asked the pilot, "How's your nose?"
"Fairly good. Did you detect that scent, too? Familiar is it not?"
Shears nodded in reply. "I know it very well. When did you first notice it?"
Panther stretched as they walked side-by-side towards the flight deck. "On Venom. Then I noticed it again a few moments ago. It's very familiar but I can tell you that it is NOT Dash Bowman in a stealth uniform of some sort... Although it is similar to Dash."
Reginald Shears sniffed again at the hallway. "Agreed. It's not Dash... but it is the scent of an ape. It certainly doesn't belong to Andrew, either. I just can't seem to place it but I know that scent so well... it's a shame that simians have such a piss-poor sense of smell. Me, on the other hand, I can smell it so well I can practically taste the scent. It's of someone I knew but I just can't place it."
"Then we agree on one thing... it's someone we both knew from our past but haven't seen in a while, so we're both unable to figure out the identity of this scent. Keep your eyes open... whoever they are... they're apparently able to craft technology capable of cloaking a person and a fighter to the plain eye. I know of only one such genius but he's dead and was too vocal - too outspoken - to hide."
"Indeed. I'll start an investigation. For now, Panther, you should go on your way." They stopped in front of the main doors leading to the hanger. "Thank you for your assistance, Mister Caruso. Remember our agreement... everything you've seen here today is to be forgotten. Understood?"
Caruso nodded firmly. "It shall be per our agreement from when you first contacted me."
"Splendid." Shears stepped into the doorway and watched Caruso board a fighter. Moments later, the modified Wolfen passed through the force field and exited the battle cruiser.
The tan-furred canine approached a computer terminal on the wall and compared the activity monitor information from Panther's departure through the field. He then time-indexed back to several moments ago when the energy anomaly occurred. The readings were nearly identical to when Panther's ship passed through the force field seconds ago. Shears rubbed his chin and sighed. "While the power signature is slightly different, the anomaly is nearly the same as when Panther left the hanger... this can mean only one thing... the anomaly must have been caused by a ship passing through the force field."
A nearby deck hand quirked a brow at the well-dressed Cornerian canine. "Sir?" He looked around then back at Shears. "Were... you speaking to me, Sir?"
"No, young man... I was talking to myself out loud. As you were," he told the deck hand. The man wondered off, leaving Shears alone. Again, he began rubbing the bottom of his muzzle in thought. "Hmm..."