Star Fox 1
Star Fox
And the white wolf
By David Carter
CH.1: R&R
Space had endless possibilities for the common explorer, the scientists themselves still had to name the ones stretched across the galaxy. The stars opened up and the huge nose of a starship came through. Painted on the side was the title "Great Fox" and to represent the name a red fox was painted alongside it. Inside the cockpit sat an old hare with spectacles reading a star map. He was still Peppy Hare, once a pilot under James McCloud and his son's command, then a few months ago a map analyst. Their last adventure was to the planet called Dinosaur Planet. The maps Fox collected (or rather bought from the Thorntail Hollow shop keeper) seemed to be in a very old condition, probably dating back to when the Lylat system was still at war. Rubbing his temple he wondered how he still kept up with the younger generation. He then brought up a map.
"Hmm, it appears everything's ok back there," Peppy said as the latest report came in from the Queen Earth walker. Before they had left he had personally delivered a communications box, with the help of Slippy, so they could keep in contact. The doors whooshed open and a small young green toad walked onto the bridge. He wore mechanic green and his huge eyes always were looking for some problem he had to refit. "Hello Slippy."
"Hey Peppy, why are you so glum?" Peppy turned to face they youthful toad just as he flipped over the rail…and onto his face. Peppy leaned in his chair and put his arms behind his head as the toad picked himself up and pulled up a chair. "I bet you still haven't decided what to do with your money yet huh?"
"As you mention it, no I haven't. I was a pilot once, and in that line, there was no vessel I came against, that wouldn't be in flames within 2 minutes. I served with Pepper when he was still flying and together we were like bombs that never died. He was promoted, I turned down the promotions feeling like any higher position would ruin my immortality. When I heard young James McCloud wanted pilots wanted pilots I was there. It had changed my life and while under his son's command years later I thought this would be my final mission. But it wasn't.
"Now here we are again, we've saved the Lylat system, we have a huge amount of money, and we're basically drifting until Pepper sends for us again. Now to let you know ahead of time Slippy, I plan on retiring from this whole gig. And the way I'll spend my money is slow, invest in some property and maybe then I can finally put all this space traveling behind me."
"But Peppy-." Slippy held his whiney protest as the veteran gave him a stern look. While Peppy checked his maps Slippy had to preoccupy himself by fixing the communications console. The controls were complex, but that didn't stop Slippy who had a high knowledge of machinery and math. If Peppy retired then they'd only have Fox as pilot, well Peppy didn't fly, so that still left Fox. "Well, I guess I could always fly again," Slippy thought aloud as he pried open the protective cover of the comm. console. The wires were crisscrossed in several irregular patterns and the many colors were just too much a reminder of Christmas. Being on a ship like Great Fox took one's mind away from holidays, especially with the constant need to save the Lylat system. In a way it was much like a baby. Every disturbance had to be checked out and any threatening form had to be blown up. "I think of it more as a troubled baby," Slippy said. Peppy had seemed to come across a familiar planet because he leaned forward and a familiar glint was in his eyes. What has caught his interest now?
"Do you remember the last time we were at Venom?" Peppy motioned for Slippy to stand beside him. The familiar green planet hovered before them; but the life sign readings were rising. "After Andross's defeat the lizard servants fled to separate parts of the galaxy, and the planet was once again made part of Lylat space. The Cornerian army went there to take readings on the temple where Fox fought Andross, they haven't reported in for 2 months. Think we should check it out?"
"I don't know," Slippy said, "could be another trap just waiting to ensnare us and make an ultimatum. Besides we need R&R ever since we got this close to being destroyed by Andross's return. And since you dropped this bombshell of retirement on us I got to once again fly an Arwing and we're short one pilot." The doors whooshed open again and in came a tall feathered falcon wearing a green jacket and flight pants and buttoned up shirt. Falco Lombardi was the ace pilot of the team and had recently returned from a long absence. Falco had served as Fox's wingman during the Venom campaign and the two friends were at constant war with one another. Falco looked over his shoulder then stormed down the stairs looking ticked off.
"Ever since that vixen Krystal came aboard Fox has been following her around and showing her the ship. Besides that I hear she's staying aboard, won't this ruin our dude like atmosphere?" Slippy and Peppy both noted jealousy in Falco's voice, but then again neither of them had ever seen Fox in love. "Hey Slipster, those Arwings look pretty dull now."
"Well maybe it's your fault for doing all those daredevil maneuvers and scratching them up! If anyone needs me I'll be taking apart the Arwings, again, and have to start over from scratch…sheesh!" Falco stood to the side as the toad stormed off and gave Peppy an "it wasn't my fault" gesture with his hands. Walking over to Peppy, Falco caught a quick glance of the green planet from their last battle together.
"Gee, that sure brings back good memories," Falco said sarcastically. As he stared at the old hare he could see he was struggling with a lot. It was there on that planet that Pigma Dengar betrayed them and led to the loss of Fox's dad James. Pigma, Leon, Andrew, and Star Wolf met their end on the snowy surface of Fortuna base and Falco could not quite put his finger on it, but he could've sworn on that day he saw footprints in the snow. "So what's up Peppy?"
"Nothing …I guess," Peppy said with a shrug. Venom was once Coneria's finest weapon facility, until Andross turned it into a ruin filled with mad scientist gizmos and traps. If we could investigate the disappearances, we might be able to save Venom, Peppy thought hopefully. But so far the chances of reaching Venom in time were around 6 hours. "Falco how would you like to go back to Venom?"
"Peppy we barely survived that battle, why remind yourself of those days? The past is behind us, try to think of the planets we haven't seen…like Carain. Now if you excuse I have a little toad to pester." Peppy had two opinions already, the third and forth were busy, it seemed he was the only one in favor of going back to Venom. Turning off the map viewer he got off the chair and stretched. Walking up to the steps he saw them double, shaking his furred they shrunk back to 7. Retirement seemed like a good idea.
"We've been through a lot Great Fox," Peppy said as his hands trailed on the wall, "but promise me you'll keep strong…after I'm gone. In these trying times the going is tougher then Andross's lizard battalion, but the pilots who fly your children protect you. Retirement will give me time to think of…" Peppy stopped in the hallway and his mind went blank. His career in the service had been his life, had he a home still go to? A month after the Dinosaur Planet adventure he found out his wife had died. The only son he had was in the Cornerian army and he was posted in the far reaches of the Lylat system; it never got rid of war and was in full conflict. "I will miss it all," he said with regret. He felt weariness kick in and he hurried to his cabin. Wasn't it yesterday he was only tired?
"Now I'm weak and hanging around with dangerous tykes finding out how to fly. Back home when I was a young hare I had 3 sisters, 2 live today, the other died due to a sickness still unknown. My mom was a chef and my father was a squadron leader in the Cornerian army." Peppy took a breather from reminiscing by sitting on his bed and kicking off his shoes. "I met my true love in 6th grade when I won the ceramic prize; she was quite beautiful with rosy brown hair and white fur all over her light brown body. We had dated 8 years before in our second year of college, we got engaged. After completing 4 years of college I began my career in the Cornerian army. Jasmine was my wife's name and my son's is Patrick. The two sisters alive are Betty and Susan, they work on Tulsa somewhere. Sleep is becoming for one my age…" Peppy turned off the tape recorder and snored peacefully to sleep.