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Description
Between missions

Sitting in the nightclub, Chase took a sip of the water Mira had once again placed in front of him.  As he sat, a vixen sat beside him, her red-orange fur bathed in the glow of the lights around.
"So, heard you took out another Sev`fel machine Chase." The vixen smirked, looking at him.
"Yeah…but we lost what we were after." Chase replied, his ears lowered.
The vixen smiled gently, rubbing Chase's back.  As she did, her lips moved to a smile.
"Uh, what are you doing Ashley?" Chase asked, his ears perked.
"Just…relaxing…you hun." The vixen smiled softly, "A little something no one else can do right now."
Chase glanced to her, "You know I'm technically taken, Dusk-1."
"I know, and I'm glad you finally are, even if you and her never talk about it or admit it to each other.  And do you really feel the need to call me by my tag," The vixen smiled before adding, "Ronin-1."
Mira walked over, "Ashley, are you giving Foxie trouble again?"
The vixen smiled, "Come on, you know me, Mira.  Would I ever cause too much trouble for Chase?"
The wolf smiled playfully, her tawny eyes looking over Chase as he tail slowly wagged, "Yes."
Ashley giggled as Chase blushed a bit, very unused to the attention.  With that, Mira smiled and picked up an empty glass, setting it aside.
"So, I heard your partner got a little sick on the last mission." Mira stated, "How bad is it?"
"She'll be alright in a day or two I guess." Chase replied, taking another sip, "I'm just glad it's not bad."
Mira nodded, "Well, if she needs anything you tell me, OK?"
Chase smiled, "Thanks Mira."
Ashley swiveled her stool around, leaning back against the bar, "So, what's our next move?"
Chase sighed, taking another sip of water.  As he did, Mira leaned against the bar as well, her ears perked curiously.  The fox looked down at the glass of water for a minute.
"I have no idea really." Chase admitted, "We don't even know where the Sev`fel are until they hit us.  And even when we do drive them off world they're still just falling back to another colony they already own.  So basically, we're screwed."
"Well, at least you and Krystal keep forcing them to give up their prizes." Ashley replied, "First Stone Ghost, then that orbital station, your old home colony 341, and now Fichina and that cannon.  You two are making quite a name for yourselves as the Ronin team."
Chase chuckled lightly, "Yeah I guess."
Mira shook her head, "As true as that is, I think you two should exercise more caution about your identities."
Ashley huffed gently, flicking a lock of red hair away from her eyes as Chase nodded in agreement.  Chase understood Mira's reasoning behind her words.  If anything happened to Krystal, there was an excellent chance that Chase would lose it completely.
"I doubt they realize who Krystal or I am." Chase replied, finishing the glass of water, "I mean, what're the odds that they would try to track just one mercenary team when we have a lot of others doing the same jobs?"
"I'll admit it's not likely.  But you know as well as I do that Krystal needs you, and visa-versa.  If anything happened to you, she'd be alone again.  And if you lost her…I don't think anyone would survive your attacks." Mira answered,  "So be careful on this next job.  It still could be a trap."
"Alright I wi-" Chase began when something clicked, "Wait…how do you know about my next assignment?  No one is supposed to know since it's off the record.  Even Krystal doesn't know."
The wolfess giggled, picking up his glass and wiping it out with a cloth, "I'm your caretaker Foxie.  Have been since the day you arrived twenty years ago."
Mira set the glass down in the sink, the tip of her tail visibly wagging over the top of the bar as she bent down to grab another, "Most of your missions go through me first, then to you and Krystal."
Chase smirked, "Right, I always forget about that."
Ashley looked at Mira, her eyes travelling over the wolf's well developed body, "How old were you when Chase first arrived?  I mean, you're thirty five now."
"Fifteen." Mira replied with a smile.
Ashley shook her head quickly, "Fifteen?  And you raised a six year old?"
Mira chuckled gently, "I was a very mature fifteen year old girl."
"Can we get back to the point?" Chase asked.
When Mira nodded, Chase asked, "So what do you know about my next assignment?"
Mira thought for a moment, her tail wagging slowly back and forth as the wolf replied, "Alright, let me think.  Hiigan said you were to meet with a contact we have who has been monitoring Sev`fel communications between their scouting parties and the home world.  My guess is this guy knows where they're going to strike next and how. With that kind of intel, we could strike them first or set up a better defense."
"So it's a simple rendezvous with a contact then leave?" Chase asked, perking his ears curiously, "Since when is anything we do that simple?"
"Maybe you got lucky?" Ashley asked with a shrug.
Chase shook his head with a sigh, his ears flattening against his head, "Mark my words, this is not going to end well for me."
Mira shook her head, "It's not healthy for you to keep doubting yourself Foxie.  You'll be fine."
Chase sighed, "I won't be once Krystal finds out.  She thinks I'm going off to train for the day at another outpost."
"I won't tell her otherwise then." Mira nodded, "Although, leaving your partner out is a huge risk."
Chase looked down at the bar, "It's a necessary risk.  Cerinian foxes have always stood out from the crowd, and Krystal's no exception.  Plus, it's an open place.  If something goes wrong, I don't want her to get caught in the crossfire."
Ashley nodded in agreement, understanding Chase's reasoning.  As a red fox herself, Ashley knew well that there were so many red foxes in the system that it was hard to track just one, even one as dangerous as Chase.
But, a Cerinian blue fox was a different story.  Due to her fur color, Krystal stood out much more than her partner did, making her a liability for an assignment that hinged on no one noticing anything strange.  Due to the lack of her species through the Lylat system, Krystal was easily noticeable.  Not to mention that Krystal was still sick.  Her current illness could easily make her a vulnerable target, and Chase was not about to let that happen.
"Are you able to take weapons?" Ashley asked, "Or are you going in with blades only?"
"Dunno yet." Chase admitted, "Hiigan told me he'd brief me on the way to the meeting place.  But he knows that I won't go down without a pistol at my side.  I doubt anyone would hassle me over a sidearm that's not a blaster.  Especially since not too many of us use actual projectile weapons anymore since energy based weaponry like the blaster became standard issue for most police and military forces."
Mira smiled and patted his shoulder, "Well no worries then.  Just relax and keep your cool.  Everything should be fine."
Ashley nodded in agreement as Chase sighed and stood up.
"Thanks you two." The fox said, his ears perking a little, "Just keep it quiet from Krystal.  Last thing I need is her going off on me about going solo.  Bad enough I'll be lying to her about where I'm going."
Ashley simply smiled as Mira smirked and nodded, "Will do Foxie."
*           *          *
Later, Chase was lying on the bed, thinking.  In his mind, he knew the risks well.  If the meeting was discovered, or worse, a set-up by the Sev`fel, Chase would be on his own to handle them.
"Not exactly the ideal way to spend a mission." Chase thought, looking over at his partner who was changing into a pair of shorts and a tank top that showed off her softly furred midriff, "Much rather have Krystal at my side, anytime."
The blue furred vixen slid onto the bed, picking up a book as she did.  For still having the remnants of whatever it had been she had caught, Krystal looked surprising better than she had yesterday.
After their mission on the frozen wasteland planet Fichina, Krystal had been sneezing and coughing badly, her nose running as her system fought against the illness that had entered her body.  That had been two days ago.  Tonight, however, Krystal had her color back, although she still had the occasionally sniffle.
"So, how's Mira?" the vixen asked, propping up her pillows to lie against.
Chase smiled, "She's fine.  Glad we got back in one piece as always."
Krystal smiled, opening her book and placing the bookmark beside her bare leg, the lower half of the sun design on her upper legs showing.  As she did, the vixen smiled gently, touching Chase's leg.
"Still, it's always nice to have someone always waiting for you to come back." Krystal commented.
Chase nodded, placing his hand on Krystal's, "Yeah.  Lucky us huh?"
The vixen gave a soft giggle, stroking his leg, "She's not the only one worried, of course.  You know others care for you too, Chase."
Chase chuckled, picking up his Stinger 9mm handgun, "Well, whoever they are, they've got nothing to worry about.  I'm not going down anytime soon."
Krystal smiled softly; hugging her partner gently, "Let's hope that's true Chase.  I already lost two males I liked, and I don't think I could stand to lose another."
Chase's ears perked curiously at that.  With a smile, he realized Krystal was talking about him.
"You'd actually miss me, Krystal?" Chase asked.
The vixen smiled mysteriously, "I'll let you figure that out, Chase."
Chase smiled, just glad to have Krystal around to help keep him sane.  But behind that thought, Chase also felt something he never usually felt.  Guilt.
With a faint smile, the fox felt dread in his heart as he realized that if anything happened to him, his partner would once again be left alone, but this time against an enemy that would not capture her, but kill her the second she tried to fight back.  Without him, Krystal would become the only Ronin fighting the Sev`fel.  Even with all the other teams, he knew well that Krystal would feel alone.
"I guess Mira was right." Chase thought as he lay back against the pillow, "We do need each other.  If I do get my tail captured, there is no way I'll let them get to her while I'm still alive."
With that thought in his head, Chase sat up and grabbed his handgun.  After checking to be sure it was loaded, the fox smirked, setting it back down beside him.  To Chase, nothing was more reassuring than his partner at his side, and his trusty Stinger 9mm handgun, fully loaded with armor piercing, explosive tipped rounds, on his other side.
As he lay back again, the fox felt his partner slip her arms around him.  Smiling, Chase looked down at Krystal as the vixen looked back up at him, a soft smile on her lips.  Without a word, Krystal nuzzled against Chase's neck, her nose slowly moving through his fur as Chase held her gently, rubbing her back.
"Something on your mind Krystal?" Chase asked.
The vixen turned away, coughing a bit before laying back against Chase, "I just need a little extra warmth to help me sleep."
Chase smiled and hugged her close, stroking Krystal and pushing a lock of blue hair away from her emerald eyes, "I think I can help with that."
With that, Chase held Krystal tight and pulled the covers up over the two of them.  As he did, Krystal coughed a bit more.
"Get well soon Krystal." Chase said gently, stroking her neck as the vixen laid her head against his chest, "After all, I need you at a hundred percent again soon."
Krystal nodded, wanting nothing more than to hold Chase close and finally give him something she desperately wanted to.  But being sick, she couldn't kiss him without possibly making him sick too.  So, the vixen just hugged him tightly, nuzzling his chest.
Krystal looked up at Chase and replied softly, "I'll try to Chase.  After all, I can't leave you partner-less."
Chase smiled at that and rubbed Krystal's ears gently, "You know I couldn't do these missions without you."
With that, Chase bid Krystal 'goodnight' and closed his eyes.  Krystal was soon asleep against him, Chase's hands rubbing her back slowly.  But his mind was still active.
Chase felt terrible.  This would be the first mission since Krystal had returned to the corporation that he would do alone.  As he fell into another dreamless sleep, the fox could only hope that his lone mission wouldn't last long enough for Krystal to realize he was not on a training mission…
*           *          *
Hours later, Krystal had rolled over as she woke up.  As she glanced at the clock, the vixen noted the time, 4:40 Am.  Krystal knew that she and Chase still had a day off before Hiigan could give them a new mission, so she tried to fall asleep again. As she lay, Krystal closed her emerald eyes once more, trying to sleep, but for some reason, the vixen just couldn't seem to settle her mind.  Something wasn't right, she could feel it.
As she sat up, Krystal sighed, rubbing her neck gently and asked softly, "You awake Chase?"
When there was no reply, Krystal glanced to the side of the bed where her partner usually was laying.  To her surprise, Chase was gone!  With a sudden worry, Krystal looked to the bedside where Chase's extra handgun magazine as usually laying, but it had vanished as well.
In its place was a note.  As Krystal picked it up, she turned on the lamp by her side of the bed.
"Sorry, had to go out early for a training mission, long ride to any planet, after all." It read, "I should be back late tonight at the earliest.  Have a good day, Krystal.  And remember, try to get better soon."
Krystal shook her head and set the note back down.  In her mind, she knew well that Chase usually wouldn't go anywhere this early unless it was a mission or some kind of emergency.  Something about this just didn't sit well with her as Krystal lay back down.  She knew Chase would not usually lie to her about anything, but his note just seemed off.
With a tired sigh, Krystal rolled over and tried to fall back asleep, completely unaware of what was to come...

Description
Between missions

Sitting in the nightclub, Chase took a sip of the water Mira had once again placed in front of him.  As he sat, a vixen sat beside him, her red-orange fur bathed in the glow of the lights around.
"So, heard you took out another Sev`fel machine Chase." The vixen smirked, looking at him.
"Yeah…but we lost what we were after." Chase replied, his ears lowered.
The vixen smiled gently, rubbing Chase's back.  As she did, her lips moved to a smile.
"Uh, what are you doing Ashley?" Chase asked, his ears perked.
"Just…relaxing…you hun." The vixen smiled softly, "A little something no one else can do right now."
Chase glanced to her, "You know I'm technically taken, Dusk-1."
"I know, and I'm glad you finally are, even if you and her never talk about it or admit it to each other.  And do you really feel the need to call me by my tag," The vixen smiled before adding, "Ronin-1."
Mira walked over, "Ashley, are you giving Foxie trouble again?"
The vixen smiled, "Come on, you know me, Mira.  Would I ever cause too much trouble for Chase?"
The wolf smiled playfully, her tawny eyes looking over Chase as he tail slowly wagged, "Yes."
Ashley giggled as Chase blushed a bit, very unused to the attention.  With that, Mira smiled and picked up an empty glass, setting it aside.
"So, I heard your partner got a little sick on the last mission." Mira stated, "How bad is it?"
"She'll be alright in a day or two I guess." Chase replied, taking another sip, "I'm just glad it's not bad."
Mira nodded, "Well, if she needs anything you tell me, OK?"
Chase smiled, "Thanks Mira."
Ashley swiveled her stool around, leaning back against the bar, "So, what's our next move?"
Chase sighed, taking another sip of water.  As he did, Mira leaned against the bar as well, her ears perked curiously.  The fox looked down at the glass of water for a minute.
"I have no idea really." Chase admitted, "We don't even know where the Sev`fel are until they hit us.  And even when we do drive them off world they're still just falling back to another colony they already own.  So basically, we're screwed."
"Well, at least you and Krystal keep forcing them to give up their prizes." Ashley replied, "First Stone Ghost, then that orbital station, your old home colony 341, and now Fichina and that cannon.  You two are making quite a name for yourselves as the Ronin team."
Chase chuckled lightly, "Yeah I guess."
Mira shook her head, "As true as that is, I think you two should exercise more caution about your identities."
Ashley huffed gently, flicking a lock of red hair away from her eyes as Chase nodded in agreement.  Chase understood Mira's reasoning behind her words.  If anything happened to Krystal, there was an excellent chance that Chase would lose it completely.
"I doubt they realize who Krystal or I am." Chase replied, finishing the glass of water, "I mean, what're the odds that they would try to track just one mercenary team when we have a lot of others doing the same jobs?"
"I'll admit it's not likely.  But you know as well as I do that Krystal needs you, and visa-versa.  If anything happened to you, she'd be alone again.  And if you lost her…I don't think anyone would survive your attacks." Mira answered,  "So be careful on this next job.  It still could be a trap."
"Alright I wi-" Chase began when something clicked, "Wait…how do you know about my next assignment?  No one is supposed to know since it's off the record.  Even Krystal doesn't know."
The wolfess giggled, picking up his glass and wiping it out with a cloth, "I'm your caretaker Foxie.  Have been since the day you arrived twenty years ago."
Mira set the glass down in the sink, the tip of her tail visibly wagging over the top of the bar as she bent down to grab another, "Most of your missions go through me first, then to you and Krystal."
Chase smirked, "Right, I always forget about that."
Ashley looked at Mira, her eyes travelling over the wolf's well developed body, "How old were you when Chase first arrived?  I mean, you're thirty five now."
"Fifteen." Mira replied with a smile.
Ashley shook her head quickly, "Fifteen?  And you raised a six year old?"
Mira chuckled gently, "I was a very mature fifteen year old girl."
"Can we get back to the point?" Chase asked.
When Mira nodded, Chase asked, "So what do you know about my next assignment?"
Mira thought for a moment, her tail wagging slowly back and forth as the wolf replied, "Alright, let me think.  Hiigan said you were to meet with a contact we have who has been monitoring Sev`fel communications between their scouting parties and the home world.  My guess is this guy knows where they're going to strike next and how. With that kind of intel, we could strike them first or set up a better defense."
"So it's a simple rendezvous with a contact then leave?" Chase asked, perking his ears curiously, "Since when is anything we do that simple?"
"Maybe you got lucky?" Ashley asked with a shrug.
Chase shook his head with a sigh, his ears flattening against his head, "Mark my words, this is not going to end well for me."
Mira shook her head, "It's not healthy for you to keep doubting yourself Foxie.  You'll be fine."
Chase sighed, "I won't be once Krystal finds out.  She thinks I'm going off to train for the day at another outpost."
"I won't tell her otherwise then." Mira nodded, "Although, leaving your partner out is a huge risk."
Chase looked down at the bar, "It's a necessary risk.  Cerinian foxes have always stood out from the crowd, and Krystal's no exception.  Plus, it's an open place.  If something goes wrong, I don't want her to get caught in the crossfire."
Ashley nodded in agreement, understanding Chase's reasoning.  As a red fox herself, Ashley knew well that there were so many red foxes in the system that it was hard to track just one, even one as dangerous as Chase.
But, a Cerinian blue fox was a different story.  Due to her fur color, Krystal stood out much more than her partner did, making her a liability for an assignment that hinged on no one noticing anything strange.  Due to the lack of her species through the Lylat system, Krystal was easily noticeable.  Not to mention that Krystal was still sick.  Her current illness could easily make her a vulnerable target, and Chase was not about to let that happen.
"Are you able to take weapons?" Ashley asked, "Or are you going in with blades only?"
"Dunno yet." Chase admitted, "Hiigan told me he'd brief me on the way to the meeting place.  But he knows that I won't go down without a pistol at my side.  I doubt anyone would hassle me over a sidearm that's not a blaster.  Especially since not too many of us use actual projectile weapons anymore since energy based weaponry like the blaster became standard issue for most police and military forces."
Mira smiled and patted his shoulder, "Well no worries then.  Just relax and keep your cool.  Everything should be fine."
Ashley nodded in agreement as Chase sighed and stood up.
"Thanks you two." The fox said, his ears perking a little, "Just keep it quiet from Krystal.  Last thing I need is her going off on me about going solo.  Bad enough I'll be lying to her about where I'm going."
Ashley simply smiled as Mira smirked and nodded, "Will do Foxie."
*           *          *
Later, Chase was lying on the bed, thinking.  In his mind, he knew the risks well.  If the meeting was discovered, or worse, a set-up by the Sev`fel, Chase would be on his own to handle them.
"Not exactly the ideal way to spend a mission." Chase thought, looking over at his partner who was changing into a pair of shorts and a tank top that showed off her softly furred midriff, "Much rather have Krystal at my side, anytime."
The blue furred vixen slid onto the bed, picking up a book as she did.  For still having the remnants of whatever it had been she had caught, Krystal looked surprising better than she had yesterday.
After their mission on the frozen wasteland planet Fichina, Krystal had been sneezing and coughing badly, her nose running as her system fought against the illness that had entered her body.  That had been two days ago.  Tonight, however, Krystal had her color back, although she still had the occasionally sniffle.
"So, how's Mira?" the vixen asked, propping up her pillows to lie against.
Chase smiled, "She's fine.  Glad we got back in one piece as always."
Krystal smiled, opening her book and placing the bookmark beside her bare leg, the lower half of the sun design on her upper legs showing.  As she did, the vixen smiled gently, touching Chase's leg.
"Still, it's always nice to have someone always waiting for you to come back." Krystal commented.
Chase nodded, placing his hand on Krystal's, "Yeah.  Lucky us huh?"
The vixen gave a soft giggle, stroking his leg, "She's not the only one worried, of course.  You know others care for you too, Chase."
Chase chuckled, picking up his Stinger 9mm handgun, "Well, whoever they are, they've got nothing to worry about.  I'm not going down anytime soon."
Krystal smiled softly; hugging her partner gently, "Let's hope that's true Chase.  I already lost two males I liked, and I don't think I could stand to lose another."
Chase's ears perked curiously at that.  With a smile, he realized Krystal was talking about him.
"You'd actually miss me, Krystal?" Chase asked.
The vixen smiled mysteriously, "I'll let you figure that out, Chase."
Chase smiled, just glad to have Krystal around to help keep him sane.  But behind that thought, Chase also felt something he never usually felt.  Guilt.
With a faint smile, the fox felt dread in his heart as he realized that if anything happened to him, his partner would once again be left alone, but this time against an enemy that would not capture her, but kill her the second she tried to fight back.  Without him, Krystal would become the only Ronin fighting the Sev`fel.  Even with all the other teams, he knew well that Krystal would feel alone.
"I guess Mira was right." Chase thought as he lay back against the pillow, "We do need each other.  If I do get my tail captured, there is no way I'll let them get to her while I'm still alive."
With that thought in his head, Chase sat up and grabbed his handgun.  After checking to be sure it was loaded, the fox smirked, setting it back down beside him.  To Chase, nothing was more reassuring than his partner at his side, and his trusty Stinger 9mm handgun, fully loaded with armor piercing, explosive tipped rounds, on his other side.
As he lay back again, the fox felt his partner slip her arms around him.  Smiling, Chase looked down at Krystal as the vixen looked back up at him, a soft smile on her lips.  Without a word, Krystal nuzzled against Chase's neck, her nose slowly moving through his fur as Chase held her gently, rubbing her back.
"Something on your mind Krystal?" Chase asked.
The vixen turned away, coughing a bit before laying back against Chase, "I just need a little extra warmth to help me sleep."
Chase smiled and hugged her close, stroking Krystal and pushing a lock of blue hair away from her emerald eyes, "I think I can help with that."
With that, Chase held Krystal tight and pulled the covers up over the two of them.  As he did, Krystal coughed a bit more.
"Get well soon Krystal." Chase said gently, stroking her neck as the vixen laid her head against his chest, "After all, I need you at a hundred percent again soon."
Krystal nodded, wanting nothing more than to hold Chase close and finally give him something she desperately wanted to.  But being sick, she couldn't kiss him without possibly making him sick too.  So, the vixen just hugged him tightly, nuzzling his chest.
Krystal looked up at Chase and replied softly, "I'll try to Chase.  After all, I can't leave you partner-less."
Chase smiled at that and rubbed Krystal's ears gently, "You know I couldn't do these missions without you."
With that, Chase bid Krystal 'goodnight' and closed his eyes.  Krystal was soon asleep against him, Chase's hands rubbing her back slowly.  But his mind was still active.
Chase felt terrible.  This would be the first mission since Krystal had returned to the corporation that he would do alone.  As he fell into another dreamless sleep, the fox could only hope that his lone mission wouldn't last long enough for Krystal to realize he was not on a training mission…
*           *          *
Hours later, Krystal had rolled over as she woke up.  As she glanced at the clock, the vixen noted the time, 4:40 Am.  Krystal knew that she and Chase still had a day off before Hiigan could give them a new mission, so she tried to fall asleep again. As she lay, Krystal closed her emerald eyes once more, trying to sleep, but for some reason, the vixen just couldn't seem to settle her mind.  Something wasn't right, she could feel it.
As she sat up, Krystal sighed, rubbing her neck gently and asked softly, "You awake Chase?"
When there was no reply, Krystal glanced to the side of the bed where her partner usually was laying.  To her surprise, Chase was gone!  With a sudden worry, Krystal looked to the bedside where Chase's extra handgun magazine as usually laying, but it had vanished as well.
In its place was a note.  As Krystal picked it up, she turned on the lamp by her side of the bed.
"Sorry, had to go out early for a training mission, long ride to any planet, after all." It read, "I should be back late tonight at the earliest.  Have a good day, Krystal.  And remember, try to get better soon."
Krystal shook her head and set the note back down.  In her mind, she knew well that Chase usually wouldn't go anywhere this early unless it was a mission or some kind of emergency.  Something about this just didn't sit well with her as Krystal lay back down.  She knew Chase would not usually lie to her about anything, but his note just seemed off.
With a tired sigh, Krystal rolled over and tried to fall back asleep, completely unaware of what was to come...