X-X-X-X

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X-X-X-X

Chapter 1

Echoes

Krystal strode along the halls of Great Fox, her eyes trailing over the various walls, light fixtures, the old break room. The entry into hangar had been a moment of nostalgia for her, of missions flown together, not for profit, or for personal gain. Their fight had been for the good of the system. The protection of the innocent and those who could not defend themselves. Krystal's boots tapped lightly on the deck plating as she wandered. Echoes of past conversations lingered within the air. Laughter, joy, comradery, with not an inkling of suspicion or anger. There was warmth in those halls, and it wasn't entirely the ship's heating.

She felt love and happiness, but there came a sudden onset of grief as her pink-gloved paw came to rest over her heart. Pangs of guilt wracked her and before they could dig in, Krystal crushed them and pushed them into the back of her mind. She was not the lost little vixen Fox had found on Sauria a lifetime ago. She knew better now, better than to trust people with her heart, to show love and affection so unconditionally; even if her current choice in mates was questionable at best.

At least Panther has no qualms about showing his affections or telling me he loves me. Even if it is more lust than actual love, better than nothing… I suppose.

As she went further in, the emotions turned from sweet to bitter. The psionic echoes bounced off the wall; she could hear the argument all over again, Fox told her he was scared, terrified of losing her, that he wanted her off the team. How he would support her in anything she chose and gladly keep their relationship going even if it was a long distance one. Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes, the reflections of those raw emotions, shouting, crying, the pain and anguish they both experienced doubled down on her. She had to rest her weight upon the nearby wall, lest she collapsed from the power of those emotions bearing down upon her.

It all became too much as she snarled out in anger, silencing her heart for a time. Krystal stood upright as she made her way towards Foxs' quarters. It was the only logical place to start. A slip of her keycard unlocked the room and allowed Krystal to step inside. What greeted her was not at all what she expected. Her eyes trailed over the cabin, dust lined the various furnishings and floor, she could see paw tracks where Fox had walked. Fox was meticulous about being neat. Before her very eyes his quarters were in shambles.

Wow… he really let himself go.

One track of boot prints in particular lay before his desk. It was a place where he would often crunch numbers for their pay, logistics and other materials needed to run and maintain the group. It looked as though he had paced for hours in front of it. Her empathy pinged as something glowed within the dim lights of the cabin, something had a powerful emotional aura. As she took a closer look, the entire desk was glowing with a myriad of emotions.

Sorrow, Anger, Regrets, Pain. Loss.

Krystal decided to move in that direction and start there, with Fox MIA, which was within a hair's breadth of being declared dead, she had been entrusted in the vulpines will to take care of his belongings. Even given the deed to Great Fox as per Foxs' orders should he ever go missing. That had chaffed the old gang to no end and put a big ol' smile on Wolf's face. The memory made her frown, never had she imagined that she would be on the opposite side of righteousness.

A pile of papers and other various articles were scattered about. Newspaper clippings lay strewn across the wood, some detailing Star Wolfs ascension to hero status, Star Foxs' waning influence in the system, what caught her eye the most were the articles of her. Her face had been circled in numerous papers again and again with notes written. Her psionics lets her hear his voice as if he was speaking directly to her.

How could I be so stupid?

I didn't deserve to be near her.

I should have told her how I felt.

How much I loved her.

She's better off with them; I only hurt her.

I just hope she's happy.

That last one caught her off guard, the emotions she gathered from the clippings weren't directed at her as she expected. They were focused towards himself, save for that last one.

He beat himself up for his decision.

So many regrets were plastered in the voices, but so to was anger and even some modicum of joy that she was alright.

Even when I hurt him, he still cared that I was okay and happy.

She shook her head to silence that train of thought. Krystal had taken her revenge on Fox and was satisfied, wherever the coward had run off to, he was nowhere in Lylat.

Just like him really, to run from his problems rather than face the consequences of his actions.

She paused the moment that thought came to her mind; no, that's precisely the opposite of what Fox would do. I remember how he begged for me to come back on an open channel, in front of everyone. How I snubbed him, the pain on his face, he looked… broken.

She gave a little frown as she sat in the dusty chair. Her uniform that she wore flying for Star Wolf, the mockery she made of it to piss off Fox, yellow scarf and all. At the time, she had taken the greatest pleasure in his pain. The sense of schadenfreude had been sublime, appeasing her ego and pride. That she had found a way to get back at him so viciously. However, with her at the epicenter of her actions, she saw the consequences. Cracks began to form, had it been worth it? She found herself wondering, what might have been had she given Fox a second chance.

All these thoughts and more began to permeate her mind. Her manicured claw tips tapped on the wooden chair, ears splayed back, and tail thrashed about angrily.

Of course, it was worth it! All of it! That bastard took my only home from me after Cerinia was destroyed! I wanted to give him my heart, my everything, and he wouldn't make the step to take us to the next level. He deserved what he got!

Krystals memories began to plague her as she recalled how many times they had come close to bliss. She had managed to get him to open up and hold her. Many a night they lay cuddled together. The kissing, the nuzzling. She took a deep breath as the images flew by and the emotions that came with them; how happy she felt, how warm his lips against hers were. What saddened her the most was he never took the leap. Instead, she was left waiting for him. Krystal didn't want to force his hand for him to admit his feelings. Sure, he had done so physically and as often as he could. Saying them was another matter. Krystal had wanted him to open up the emotions they both knew to be there. The desire she had in her heart to take their relationship to the next level was all-encompassing. The cerulean vixen knew he was afraid, not of her, but what could happen to her. Him being a big name in Lylat, already on the team had made her a target, but the two of them becoming an item. She might as well have put a neon sign on her head for assassination.

Did he really deserve that treatment? What I did to him? His fears weren't unfounded.

Her mind began to rebel, her Cerinian upbringing rearing its head.

Honor, Compassion, Love, Mercy, Understanding. Those are the tenants of a Cerinian Warrior.

Her mother's voice intoned within her mind; eyes clenched shut in response as she growled, who she had become was doing everything to deny it. That it was all lies and useless, her people were dead. Her heart, however, would not be denied. Her mind was tugged towards a drawer on the right, anger and sorrow oozed out of it like oil. A wince of her features as she pulled the drawer open and what lay within was a stack of papers. It was the header that caught her eye the most: Corneria City Veterans Hospital.

Krystal's mouth went dry, she never heard of Fox being admitted to a hospital. The cobalt vixen took the papers, laying them out page by page while her eyes scanned over every piece of text.

Patient Name: Fox McCloud

Reasons for Admission: Lacerations of the sternum, fragmentation wounds from glass and metal upon impact event. Second Degree burns from energy blasts. Several broken ribs, punctured lung, severe internal hemorrhaging.

Status Upon Admission: Critical

Next of Kin: Peppy Hare

Emergency Contacts: Krystal, Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, Slippy and Beltino Toad.

In the nearly illegible doctor's script beneath it read: Do not contact Krystal.

The pages went on; various procedures were detailed. They had not used cybernetics or false replacements, deeming them unnecessary. Krystal's eyes trailed further down until they came to rest on a section of doctor's notes. What lay within, were several personal observations during the three days of operation. Krystal could feel the desperation emanating off of them, haggard emotions of fatigue and some sense of accomplishment that the doctor had performed a miracle.

Doctor Phillis Menderley

Notes: How McCloud is alive after all this, is nothing short of divine intervention, a lesser specimen would have died within the first minutes of receiving these wounds. If not from the blood loss, then the shock of it should have killed him outright. He even regained consciousness a time or two. The first words passed his lips were, "Where is Krystal? Is she okay?"

Krystal's stomach lurched at that, the fact that even in his dying moments, Foxs' thoughts were of her, and hoped that she was safe.

Day 3: Three days of this, constant plasma infusions, we've been going through blood bags and painkillers like crazy just trying to keep him stable. I have slept maybe all of about ten hours. However, it seems whatever divine being that watches over him, blessed us, as of 0340 this morning, we got him out of the danger zone. We plugged the lung and had to make sure his sternum didn't give out during one of his pain induced spasms. It was a nightmare. We had to restrain him which caused further pain due to his burns. Thankfully those will heal fully. His scarring will be minimal if nonexistent. Medical tech has undoubtedly come a long way since my days in the service. With his bones set and everything ready, all that remains is rest and time to heal.

I would like to make note, during the procedure for mending his chest cavity that I think I have encountered one of the most heart-wrenching moments in my life. I will never forget it. Fox called out for Krystal, saying he was sorry, crying, begging for forgiveness. He pleaded with her not to leave. The poor bastard must have thought she was there in his delirious state. It's sad really because I know heartbreak when I see it, and he has all the hallmarks. Gods know I've seen enough of it during my career. I might recommend some mental evaluations, kid's been through a lot in his life. Only so much you can take before the mind gives out.

Krystal couldn't tear her eyes away, reading on as she felt her heart spiral and clench in the worst ways.

The worst of it is I haven't the heart to tell him when he wakes up; that it was her that led Star Wolf against him. That she led him into that trap, after all he did for that girl? She turns around and throws him to the enemy, it's disgraceful. The only reason I know it was a trap is because I overheard some of the military brass talking about it in the hallway. The higher-ups haven't gotten any smarter since I was in.

I know you will read these notes Fox, I'm so sorry. You don't deserve what you got, especially after everything you have done for Lylat. All I can do is keep you alive and hope that things work out for you in the end. Godspeed.

Krystal dropped the final paper as her head hung low and chest heaved. Tiny wet droplets rained down upon the paper as she sniffled.

You nearly took his life! All because of your thirst for revenge!

Her eyes rose up to gaze upon the papers, she spoke aloud, though only she could hear it. Her voice was a far cry from the surefire confident warrior she was for Star Wolf, and once had been for Fox. She sounded more like a child now, terrified of her actions and was realizing just how far reaching the consequences were.

"I told him he was as bad as Andross… I even tried to justify that monster's actions… All to harm him. Gods above, I nearly succeeded in spite, where Andross had failed with his blind hatred."

Krystal lay back in the chair, heart, and mind careening with grief at who she had become. She knew her parents would disown her for her actions, for the shame she brought on her people. The last of her kind and she made a mockery of all they stood for. All because she had been spurned.

Her mind demanding she repents for her sins. The sin of hurting the most kind and gentle fox she ever knew. The most loyal fox in all of Lylat, whose greatest crime of all?

Loving her.

Tears began to flow more freely as she choked back a sob that threatened to tear forth only to be followed by her fist slamming into the wood, shaking it as the noise echoed off the walls, that same terrified voice barely above of a whisper. "I threw it all back in your face…"

A small pool of tears formed around her head where it lay as her control gave out. For several minutes her body heaved and was wracked with intense sobs. Her voice became hoarse, sounding more like a pathetic croak than the sound of a hardened mercenary such as herself. "Please, come back Fox, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for hurting you!" She cried into the dim lights of the ship she once called home, the ship that held her family, the ones that loved her and took her in. Gave her purpose and a second chance, the family she turned her back on and destroyed everything she held dear. Her voice carried down the empty halls, all that answered her, was silence.

She understood how Fox had felt before he vanished, what it meant to be truely, utterly, alone.