[Living Quarters of the Hyper-Dimensional Cargo Compartment of the Earth Walker, currently docked at Cornerian Freelancer Main HQ, Corneria, 15 ALW]

"Star Wolf has saved the system from the Anglar Blitz, but one of their members, Krystal of Cerinia, has become hated by the public due to her betraying Star Fox-" *kzzt*

"I knew that Krystal woman was bad news ever since she showed up out of nowhere with no explanation of who she was or where she's been-" *kzzt*

"Public Enemy No. 1, Krystal of Cerinia, has disappeared from the Lylat System. The public urges General Peppy Hare not to go looking for her, insisting that the galaxy is better off without a traitor such as her-" *click* *THUD*

The remote control fell to the floor after colliding with the wall, as its thrower, a chestnut fox with unkempt red hair, placed his head in his hands, and began to sob quietly. "I should've been there…" he wept, "I should've been there for her when all of this started…I should've let her know she wasn't alone…first my brother kicks her off the team…then the entire system turns against her…Krazoa, I shouldn't have taken that mission…"

Drexel had taken a Priority H mission to hunt the bounty of a rogue who was once part of the Venomian Forces during the time of Andross, and who had fled the Lylat System prior to the Anglar Blitz. By the time he got back, Peppy had grim news of the whole ordeal, and Drexel was heartbroken to hear about how Krystal's life had taken such a turn for the worse. He told Peppy that he wanted to find Krystal and give her the support he should've given her, but Peppy said that it would take a while, and he wasn't even sure how to assign him the mission without the risk of another Freelancer taking it and using it as an excuse to hunt and kill the blue vixen, a task many of the Freelancers were itching to take should the opportunity arise. Now Drexel was sitting in his ship, waiting for the mission to show up in his contracts log, hoping that he could get it before one of his peers did. Just then, he heard a ringing in his mind, which was caused by a new development in communications, a telepathic communicator, or T-com, which allowed for the user of the T-com to think his messages to others, whether they have a T-com themselves or a regular communicator, and was ideal for stealth missions. He closed his eyes and answered the call

[T-com Link: General Peppy Hare calling Drexel McCloud]

Peppy: I found out how to assign you the mission, Drexel.

Drexel: Great, I'm ready to take it

Peppy: Now, remember, no-one else is to know of this. You know that the public reviles Krystal, and if they find out you're looking for her for reasons other than killing or capturing her to stand trial for treason, they will lobby for me to kick you out of the Freelancers, at best, and if the voices are loud enough, I will have to do it. You sure you want to take that risk?

Drexel: …Uncle Peppy…even if it means being exiled from the system and everyone here I know…I will find Krystal, and I will show her that not everybody hates her.

Peppy: …I said this to Fox before, and I'll say it to you…You're becoming more like your father. And done, your new assignment is to find…*his voice chokes a bit as he reads the mission aloud* "Public Enemy No. 1, Krystal of Cerinia"…and this is a Priority F mission, meaning the mission must come first. Bill, Katt, Amanda, Lucy, Falco, and Slippy all wanted me to tell you they say good luck, and they hope that they can soon see Krystal again too.

Drexel: What about Fox?

Peppy: Yes, he wants you to succeed too. He wants to apologize for the way he treated her. We may be a minority, but we're still behind you 100%. Peppy out.

[End T-com Link]

Drexel got up from his chair and walked to a panel of buttons on the wall. He pressed the "To Cockpit" button, and was immediately teleported into the cockpit of the Earth Walker, and began the launch sequence. "Earth Walker to Freelancer HQ, I'm preparing for departure on a mission, Priority F," Drexel informed. "Roger that, Earth Walker, opening hangar doors," said the Arwing controller, and soon the doors began to open, allowing the Earth Walker to fly out into the Cornerian sky, and soon, into the vastness of space in pursuit of the blue vixen that was his long-time friend. "I'm coming, Krystal…" he vowed, "I will be there for you, even if I'm exiled from the Lylat System, I am not going to let you be alone anymore…"