The Light of the Night Ch 4

The Light of the Night
Chapter Four: A Child's Despair and Fear

"Run Jonathan!! Run!"
The twelve year old arctic wolf did. He could hear the sounds of war behind him. His mother running beside him as they ran past building after building. The child could see the fear in his mother's eyes as she fixated on the road ahead. Nodding, the child continued to keep pace.
Suddenly a stray shell exploded upon a building above them. The child froze in fear but his mother shoved him away just as the rubble fell upon her.
"MOM!!"
The child rushed over and began digging through the debris. He uncovered her face as he cradle it in his tiny hands.
"Mom…."
"Son…please…go."
"No mom I won't leave you!! I need you!"
"Do as your mother says. Run, find your father. He'll look after you."
"No mom! Not without you!"
More shots rang overhead as the battle got closer. The child refused to leave his mother. Crying trying to free her. Screaming for help.
The following morning the sounds of battle had stopped as the Cornarian forces swept through the battle field. A platoon of huskies on a patrol had stumbled upon the two. The arctic wolf was crying over the body of a female.
"Mom….mommy…please wake up…mom."
Jonathan woke up with a start.
"MOM WAKE UP!!!"
He looked around. He was in his room that Wolf had provided. Jonathan drew his legs up to his chest as he place his head against his knees.
"That dream again."
"You should see someone about that."
Jonathan looked up and saw Wolf at the door. He slipped out of bed and walked to his clothes which were cleaned and neatly pressed. He slipped into his pants and pulled them over his boxers and then stared into the mirror.
"I take it you lost your mother when you were a child?"
Jonathan didn't say anything. Only nodded.
"I'll leave you alone then," and the lupine walked out.
Jonathan washed his face and stared into the mirror. He had removed his eye implant the night before so the wires that attached to the nerve dangled out of his socket. He fell to his knees and cried into the sink.
"Mommy…..mommy…"
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Wolf Jr. watched as the kind woman left again after feeding him. He knew she was good woman. Maybe she could help him get out. He quickly discarded the idea. He knew he would need daddy to get out alive.
"Well Timmy….looks like its just you and me."
Wolf Jr. looked around at his prison. There wasn't much, but he noticed a vent just across the room. He walked up to it and tried to jump to it. Not succeeding he tried again. He tried a few more times before giving up. He then looked to his bed.
"Maybe if I can move it I can reach it. What you think Timmy?"
He set the fox doll down and then grabbed the bed post. He jerked it trying to move it but soon realized it was screwed down to the floor. He studied the screws for a moment. Using his claw he began to try and loosen them. He grinned as the screw gave and came out.
"Righty tighty, lefty loosey," as he quickly set to removing them all.
Once he had all the screws removed he needed a place to hide them. Not seeing anything practical he sighed.
"Sorry Timmy, but I need you to hide these…" as he used one to cut open the seam on the fox doll and then shoved the screws inside. He then closed it as best he could.
"Daddy will be able to fix this when I find him."
Wolf Jr. then tried again to move the bed. This time it gave a couple inches with a loud creak. The child froze seeing if anyone took notice. When nothing happened he continued to move the bed.
Finally he had the head board beneath the vent. Climbing onto the top he found more screws on the vent cover. Wolf Jr. quickly removed them as well, his claws now chipping from the work. Again he shoved the screws into Timmy and then grabbed the pillow case and stuffed Timmy inside.
He looked at his prison again and then climbed into the vent. It was dusty inside but he moved silently and quickly. He smiled.
-This is like playing secret agents with daddy.-
He came across a vent opening and then peered out. He saw many people running around what appeared to be tanks and other military weapons.
"Daddy…if you are coming becarwol."
He continued his exploration, he soon found the galley and smelled the food coming from it. As he peered out the vent opening to get a better view the alarms went off. Wolf Jr. then froze, he knew right then they found him missing.
"FIND THAT BRAT!!! FIND HIM NOW!!" the voice over the loud speaker shouted.
Wolf Jr. turned around. He thought if he could at least get back to his prison they would think he was just over looked. But As he did he came face to face with a ventilation camera.
"He's in the ventilation! In the galley!" a voice shouted. Suddenly blasters began shooting into the duct work.
"NO! No you idoits he must be unharmed!" screamed a woman.
Wolf Jr. looked out the grate covered opening and saw the same woman who fed him earlier. She walked up to the opening and stood on a chair. She looked at him with her soft expression.
"It's alright, come on."
Wolf Jr. shook his head. He worked hard to get free and he was not going back.
"Please…I promise no one will hurt you."
Wolf Jr. backed away a bit, clinging to Timmy. She saw the fear in his eyes, the way he trembled. She looked over her shoulder.
"GET LOST!!"
The others left without incident as she turned back to him.
"See the scary men are gone. Come on."
Wolf Jr. crawled back to the opening as she unscrewed the grate. She took him in both hands and dusted him off. Again he leapt into he arms and cried.
"I want daddy!!"
She said nothing as she carried him back to the cell, carrying the pillow case with her and Wolf Jr. crying into her shoulder.
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"How in Venom's name did that brat get free!?"
"Evidently he unscrewed his bed and made his way out by the vents."
Sirterano snarled as he back handed the tiger, "I do not pay you for excuses! Make sure this time he can't leave!!"
The Tiger held the side of his face, a bit of shock and anger flashed but then he left without a word.
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Wolf Jr. cried as the ball and chain as clasped around his foot. The woman looked to the tiger as he walked away.
"You know this isn't right. He's only a child."
"I know….but it's the boss's orders."
"Screw the orders! Look at him! He's completely innocent in all this."
The tiger looked at Wolf Jr., and only shook his head as he walked off.
"Brother damn it!!" as she slugged the wall beside her, "Damn it…"
Wolf Jr. tried to walk to her but fell from the weight of the chain. She walked over and scooped him up.
"Why is this happening, why me…" as Wolf Jr. curled into arms.
"I don't know child…I don't know."
She rocked him gently, as a tear fell down her cheek as well.
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Fox looked down at Marcus as he slept. He himself had not been able to sleep since he got the word that Wolf Jr. was taken. And to make matters worse he and his friends were not able to help directly.
"Fox come, you need to sleep."
"Sorry Krystal, I can't. It's not right that Wolf needs to constantly suffer like this. I know he mad some poor choices but now he is trying to right them. Blast, what hurts the most is we can't help him."
Krystal turned him around and kissed her husband's forehead.
"Come to bed."
Fox looked one more time at Marcus before nodding and headed back to the bridge. Falco was leaning back in his chair, a pair of headphones blasting away his taste in music. Slippy was playing games on his console again as Krystal sat her station monitoring he periodic scans. Fox's eyes then wondered to where Jonathan's station use to be.
He felt a weight in his chest come to him as he thought back to when Jonathan was a part of Starfox. The success they had with many missions, the number of hostages they were able to rescue without injury being inflicted upon them.
"Thinking about Jonathan?"
Fox only nodded at first.
"He was a great asset to the team. I wished he had stayed with us."
"Maybe it's good he is not."
"How can you say that?"
"Because Fox, if he was he not be able to help Wolf now. And who know what Sirterano would be doing to him now."
"But Krystal, Wolf did save my life during the war campain on the aparoids. I…I feel guilty not helping him."
"We all do. But there is nothing more we can do if we are to keep Wolf Jr. alive. We gathered the information Jonathan needed. Right now all we can really do is keep faith that he will come through for us."
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General Pepper and Peppy looked at each other from across the table.
"Yes, it's clear that Sirterano plans to start another rebellion."
"Looks that way. He has the money and the resources. Look what he did to Wolf's base of operations at Sargasso."
Peppy place his hand to his chin as he surveyed the damage photos on the screen.
"To take Wolf's forces completely by surprise is frightening. We should prepare our troops for an attack at any time."
"I already sent word to the commanders. They responded back that they are battle ready."
"Good. Lets hope Jonathan remains true to form and gives the signal when we can attack."
The screen bleeped as Slippy's image appeared.
"Pardon my intrusion I did some research, seems that this creep who has Wolf's son also got his hands on the Landmaster's beta blueprints. I also found out he has had numerous vendors supporting his war against Wolf. I'm sending the list to you two now."
Peppy smiled, "Great detective work Slippy. Least we can put a stop on his war supplies."
"What are you two gonna do about the baddy mercs joining him."
The two elderly general shook their heads.
"War might be unavoidable. And I had my fair share of em. I doubt the Lylat system can handle another war."
All three nodded in silent agreement. Sirterano must be stopped at all costs.