TCD 01: We Hate Our Chains

“How do things look?”

“Calm and clear, Commander! Our ships are ready to head to Clubia at anytime!”

The kitsune in the blue officer suit nodded. “Affirmative. We leave at 1600 hours.”

The sailor, a black dog humanoid, saluted and ran off the ships. Turning towards the ocean, the fox commander let his shoulders sag and sighed.

Fox McCloud had been a member of the Diamando Navy ever since his thirteenth birthday. Despite his young age, he had shown promise and a love of the sea; something the Emperor had saw when he appointed the kitsune to be a member of the navy’s main battleship. He was promoted to Naval Commander of that same battleship on his eighteenth birthday; the Emperor had seen the kitsune’s leadership and abilities.

‘And now our fair emperor is dead…’ He thought regretfully. Wolf didn’t count as a ruler. He never should’ve. ‘Hopefully Sonic knows the truth…’

Both the hedgehog and wolf humanoids had been advisors under the previous emperor; both had been there when the incident happened, and while Wolf, the sneak, the traitor, was the one who rose to power and told the people Emperor Snake had died of a heart attack, Sonic, Snake’s closest advisor, had been striped of power and forced to leave the castle.

But Sonic was not to be taken down without a fight. He quickly won his way to head of the main hydroelectric factory, despite his massive fear of water. He had started the "Jokers", a rebel group determined to rid the kingdom of Wolf once and for all and see that the right ruler take the throne; whether it was Sonic, another advisor, or, Fox deeply hoped, Snake.

The kitsune couldn’t stand the fact that Emperor Snake could be dead! It was unthinkable! The man had access to the most technological weapons and accessories, and he had never been sick in his life! He never even fell to the common cold! Furthermore, Diamando had the best medicine in all Cardulx…how a leader could die of a disease here!?

But it had been two years since Wolf’s announcement, his conquest of power, and the slow deterioration of Diamando began. Two years were long…and there was absolute no sight or sound of the last emperor.

And there was little the Jokers were able to do; they recruited, and plotted, but there was little they could do against Wolf without actually harming innocents. And the dictator was doing enough damage already.

He heard the clicking, and peered down by the ship’s hull; a male dolphin was banging against the side, clicking and chatting away.

“What’s this? Bored? I thought dolphins never got bored?” Fox asked, glancing at the goofy animal with a grin. The dolphin looked up and began chattering. “No, no, she’s not here. Still at work, from what I can guess. I doubt we’ll need Dolphin Knights anytime soon. Or Shark Knights, for that matter,” he added thoughtfully, glancing to the sky. When the dolphin banged into the ship, he looked back down at it. “You know what? Do something worthwhile; make a trip to Clubia. You can stand the cold water, can’t you? I’ll let your boss know; she’ll be happy you’re finally doing work for us anyway.”

The dolphin laughed as it dived back into the water. It jumped and twisted in midair a few feet ahead, a sign of farewell, before fully taking off underneath the waves.

“Sir! The ships are ready to be loaded. Shall we prepare?” The sailor from before returned, saluting the kitsune.

Fox turned and nodded. “Prepare any and all nonperishable foods and items for delivery. Ready all perishables forty five minuets before take off; we aren’t trading as much this time around.”

“Emperor Wolf says we shouldn’t trade with them at all,” the sailor said sadly. “That they are atheists who should burn for not believing.”

“And clearly our Emperor doesn’t understand that they do have a religion, and that they do believe in the great goddess Cardina,” Fox said. “They just have about fifty other gods and goddesses who helped her out, from what I hear. Besides, as long as Queen Zelda, Regent Link, and Minister Marth believe in free religion, the majority will rule, and just because Diamando’s ruler hates that concept doesn’t mean its people do.”

“Sir, I understand!” The sailor shouted. “Freedom of religion will always win!”

“Good. Now get to loading.” The dog humanoid saluted before taking off again. The kitsune turned back to the ocean.

They were in chains; locked behind bared cages.

Fox wanted out.

-------

“Okay people! That’s enough! Put your weapons away; we continue tomorrow!”

Samus tugged at her goggles, removing them from her face before following her fellow technicians out of the room. Ignoring the chatter, she made her way to her locker, putting the goggles and a hand sized blaster away. She also removed her white lab coat, revealing her blue Zero Suit. Hanging the coat, she slammed the locker door shut and stalked out of the room.

“Hey Sam!” A fellow worker, a gerudo, caught up with the slinking technician. She wore the uniform of her people, but instead of it being a deep purple, it was a bright white. “The girls are thinking of a night at a club. What say you?”

“Other plans, Nabooru,” Samus said, shrugging. “I’m going with Fox on the trade ship; it’s been a while.”

“Ahhh, going to see your old flame, eh?” The gerudo asked, elbowing the other. Ignoring the glare Samus was sending her way, she continued. “No matter, no matter; not my place to say; I’m like him, aren’t I?”

“I don’t know why you even bothered coming here,” Samus said. “Diamando’s starting to suck, at least compared to the other kingdoms.”

“Well, Emperor Snake was such a nice man,” Nabooru admitted. “He was willing to give me a job; especially since I didn’t have any previous skills.”

“You have the natural talent though,” Samus said. “Emperor Snake was always good at detecting that. Half of us wouldn’t have had our jobs if it wasn’t for him, and Diamando wouldn’t have prospered for as long as it did.” She added with a laugh. “Still, you were so unused to things here.”

“What really got me was the water situation,” Nabooru said. “Spada only has the oasis and trade, and with the little rain the deserts have been getting and the fear that Wolf can cut the latter off at any time, coming here, where there are oceans.” She waved her arms. “You can see the difference.”

“Big difference.”

“So, give Falco my regards,” Nabooru said. “And if you ever get to see Clubia’s hotshot, tell him Nabooru thinks he’s dead sexy.” She winked.

“You always shoot high, don’t you?” Samus asked. “First the Regent’s advisor, now the Prime Minister of Clubia? Next think I know, you’ll tell me Emperor Snake was hot.”

“Well, he was…”

“Go and party,” Samus insisted, throwing her friend a soft punch to the shoulder. “Tell me all about it when I get back. If we get anything done, let me know about that too.”

“With you and Fox gone, I don’t think Sir Sonic has any plans,” Nabooru whispered, glancing around before relaxing her shoulders. “As for the fun stuff here,” She added louder. “…yeah, I’ll let you know.”

“Take care!”

“You too!”

The girls parted ways; Nabooru heading off to find other possible party candidates while Samus exited the lab.

Glancing towards the direction of the ocean, the technician let her thoughts wander to the past; once upon a time when things were going well.

“Samus!” A male voice snapped her back to reality and she turned; Wario ran up to her; his faithful R.O.B. wheeling behind him. “They’re loading perishables; Fox can’t wait much longer.”

“Of course,” Samus nodded. “Listen Wario…walk with me? I need to talk.”

“Sure.” The two began jogging towards the docks. “How are things in the weapons labs, anyway?”

“We haven’t been touched,” Samus replied. “Well, Emperor Wolf went to our superiors and demanded that we make more weapons, but that’s it. How about your end?”

The overseer rolled his eyes. “They’ve been bringing in criminals, and demanding we turn them into robots. I’ve seen what they’ve been doing too. Nasty shit. If Emperor Snake was here, he wouldn’t allow it. Never.”

“What about the alloys? And R.O.B.s?”

“They keep trying to make the R.O.B.s, but so far I was the only one able to make one.” Wario gestured to the machine behind him, which raised a hand. “As for those alloys, they’ve been making a mass army. Using data from the Pope of Cardina, the Queen of Hariano, an altar boy named Kirby, and our own hydro technician Falcon, they were able to—”

“Wait wait wait…hold the phone here!” Samus immediately stopped. “Pope Mario and Queen Zelda!? Where the hell did Wolf get their data? I thought the Pope didn’t fight!”

“Fight, self-defense, call it what you will,” Wario said. “I dunno how they got the DNA, but they got it. The red alloys are based off Falcon, the blue alloys of Queen Zelda, the yellow ones off the Pope, and the green ones off that kid Kirby.”

“You have to be kidding me!?”

“It gets worse,” Wario added, jogging again. Samus continued besides him; her eyes wide. “Wolf’s getting greedy; he wants one more. A purple alloy, based off the Prime Minister himself.”

“Four isn’t enough for him!?” Samus shrieked. “Basing them off the Pope of Cardina and the Queen of Hariano isn’t enough for him!? He had to steal the data of an innocent altar boy and one of our men as well? And now he wants another one based off Clubia’s Prime Minister!? He’s burning for this!”

“Sir Sonic wants you and Fox to warn him about this,” Wario said. “We’ll continue trying to hold him off; sabotaging these alloys seems to be the only thing we can do.”

“Wario…we’re trapped rats,” Tears were welling in the technician’s eyes. “We’re chained to a wall, and I hate them! I want to tear them apart and strangle Wolf with them!”

“I know that,” Wario said. “But what can we do!? We’re powerless right now; the only man who could truly save Diamando is—”

“Don’t say it!” Samus cried. “He is alive Wario…he’s got to be!”

“It’s been two years, Samus. Open your eyes!” The overseer shouted. The three had made it to the cargo ship, which was almost done loading. “I know you, Fox, and Sonic are holding onto that hope, but you have to realize it’s been two years!”

“Maybe…something got in his way…” Samus muttered.

“Maybe, but I think it’s time you got a handle on reality,” Wario said. “Right now, there is no Emperor Snake, and as it looks, there might never be again. I’m not saying he’s dead.” He added, holding his hands up as the other glared. “I’m just saying don’t hold your hopes too high; the higher they are, the harder the crash when they fall. Now go. Inform Fox about this. Make sure Wolf doesn’t get his way!”

Samus pulled of a secret salute. “We can only try. Keep him busy in the meanwhile, okay?”

Wario pulled the salute as well. “Take care of yourself. C’mon R.O.B.!” The robot and creator headed back to the city.

“We’re still trapped rats chained to a wall…” Samus muttered. “Emperor Snake…” She closed her eyes. “Great goddess Cardina, loving and caring for all your people, please bring our true emperor back to us…alive…We hate our chains…” She fought back the tears and ran onboard the ship.

The chains were tight. The barred cage couldn’t feel sunlight.

Samus wanted out.

-------

Falcon still felt dizzy. He said nothing as the little blue pikmin finished placing a bandage around the technician’s head, but did give a small thumbs up motion to the pint-sized studier who was commanding the small plants.

“How you feeling?” Olimar asked, looking concerned behind his helmet. His spacesuit was required whenever in the pikmin’s little biosphere, and as time wore by, he was used to wearing it twenty four seven.

“Like Goroh ram my Blue Falcon into a wall,” Falcon admitted when the blue pikmin jumped off his shoulder. “Being in a race is one thing; being a puppet for those…things is another.”

“Hopefully you’ll be fine before the next Grand Prix, right?” Olimar asked.

“With all the work Emperor Wolf’s been giving me, as well as the stuff on the side, I think I may have to take a Grand Prix off,” Falcon replied, shrugging. “Still, as long as I keep my job both ways, I’ll be fine.”

“Uhhh…about that,” Olimar glanced around the room before continuing in a whisper. “The dictator wants more alloys. I heard he’s targeting Clubia’s ruler.”

“The Minister?” Falcon asked; eyes agog behind his helmet. He brushed his white lab coat absentmindedly as he continued. “That will make our relationship with Clubia great. We’ll have a war in no time at this rate!”

“That’s what I think too,” Olimar said. “War’s coming, and we’re trapped in chains. Falcon; why did this have to happen? Why did Emperor Snake have to die?”

“Our true emperor isn’t dead,” a male voice interjected rudely before its owner appeared in the room.

“Sir Sonic!” Olimar made the secret salute hastily. “I…I must be getting drowsy! Of course he isn’t dead!”

“You have to admit though,” Falcon countered, preparing for the worse. “It’s been…what, two years? Two long years, in which we were forced to make more and more weapons, including these alloys, and no word. Nothing. Maybe he was able to escape the castle, but ended up dying anyway.”

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes,” Sonic said. “He won’t abandon us; he’ll return.”

“Eventually, it will!” Olimar cried. “I hate to say this, Sir Sonic, but people are starting to lose hope that he will…”

“Olimar. Don’t you have pikmin to take care of?” It was a statement hidden underneath a question, and Olimar could hear the anger hiding underneath the hedgehog’s voice.

He quickly bobbed his head. “I’m sorry!”

Falcon spoke only after the small Joker left the room. “That was harsh Sonic. No using hiding from the truth; no matter how unpleasant.”

“Falcon, I’m well aware that we’re probably the only ones who believe Emperor Snake will return,” Sonic said. “But with Wolf’s reign seemingly impossible to break, it’s all we can hold onto now. He can chain us, but he can’t take away our pride.”

The technician rose from his chair. “It was a smart move by Wolf, wasn’t it? Attacking the Minister instead of the Regent.”

“Link is closer to us, but Diamando and Spada have a friendship,” Sonic said. “And everyone knows Link doesn’t trust Wolf, and wouldn’t offer the DNA like Zelda and Mario did. If it comes down to fighting or obeying, I’m sure Link and his people wouldn’t hesitate in picking up their weapons.

“Meanwhile, Clubia is more isolated, but we’re the only ones who really trade with them. However, while our people are getting along fine, things between the leaders are shaky at best. If Marth commands his people to pick up their weapons, it’s war. End of story. Even if the Senators make a fuss about it, it could lead to war.”

“If Wolf plans on asking for the DNA data like he did Queen Zelda and Pope Mario, then at least it won’t be so bad, right?” Falcon asked.

“I doubt he even plans on that,” Sonic replied. “More humiliation for Clubia, and it sends a message to Hariano and Spada. Wolf’s got the entire land of Cardulx in chains, and if we don’t do something soon, we’re all done for.”

“If Emperor Snake was still alive…”

“He is, Falcon. And he’s the key.”

“And if it comes to war?”

Sonic looked at Falcon; there was very little emotion in the hedgehog’s eyes. “I don’t doubt it; war will probably come either way. But if he’s involved, then things will work out. I know it.”

The chains kept them to the ground. The barred cage kept them in the small area.

Sonic didn’t like it.

-------

From the window, he watched the people of Diamando go about their daily lives.

He wondered vaguely if any Jokers were wandering around his castle. The bugs.

He was the one who tied them all to the chains. He was the one who issued the bars on the cage.

He was the one who became Emperor.

Wolf loved it.