Chapter 1: Welcome to ACF

He put a paw above his brow to block the rays of sunlight, blinding him from his view of the grand collection of structures rising up before him. They were rather intimidating what with the central building being the tallest one of the planet and quite possibly the entire system. And why wouldn't it be? It did contain the living quarters and base of operations for the figure responsible for the protection and well being of all lives dwelling within the system. But that building was off limits to students as far as the canine could attest.

This was the Academy for the Cornerian Forces, responsible for training the willing participants to become members of the Cornerian Army. This army was a division of the United Lylatian Forces consisting of beings from each planet within the Lylat System, with Corneria at its head.

Here, students aged seventeen and above go through a set of three different levels of education each lasting about a year. In the first stage, students are required to take all of the courses that the academy has to offer. These are mainly composed of basic lessons relatively close to normal schooling involving classrooms and various examinations.

The second stage goes a little more in depth as to what these future soldiers will expect to experience after their three years. It contains still some classroom elements but also more alternate methods like simulations and re-enacting specific scenarios, all while not going too extreme.

The third and final year is mostly preparation for the following lives of the students. This consists mostly of simulated and staged situations testing both the skill and knowledge of the trainees. There is written portions of this course, but is mainly focused on getting trainees recognized with their future surroundings.

After the first year, students are allowed to choose which aspect of the military they wish to pursue based on their experiences from their first year. There are three separate departments for them to choose from: aerial, infantry and naval studies, and research and technologies. While choosing one department, it is also allowed to choose specific areas of other departments that may peak some of the students interests.

However, the canine already knew all of this. Regardless of the fact that he was prepared and no doubt in the right mindset for this, he still couldn't help but feel a slight sense of apprehension. He removed his paw from the tops of his eyes and kept a tighter grip on his duffel bag as he continued his trek towards what would be his future for the next three years.

He was a cross between a Sheppard and a Husky, the wolf-like features of both were apparent and the brown coat of the Sheppard had dominated his entire body. The only Husky qualities about him were the one patch of black fur on his left arm running from his elbow to his fingertips and his eyes, one being an almost white blue and the other being a rusty gold.

He had visited the campus site before and had already spent a great deal getting to know his way around most areas of it. So, he had little to no trouble finding his way to the registration office in the main lobby of the academy.

As he approached the large metal desk he caught the attention of the avian receptionist seated behind it. She wore a friendly smile upon her face and politely asked, "Hello and welcome to ACF, may I help you with something?"

"Hello," the canine greeted her in response. "I'm here for recruitment, I already completed pre-registration so I'm sure that I'm somewhere in the files."

"One moment," the receptionist said. She quickly turned away from the canine to face the computer screen beside her. She accessed a certain file which brought up a long list of what seemed to be names. "Last name?" she asked him.

"Sullivan," he replied.

With that, the avian scrolled through the list stopping at the section of names marked with the surname "Sullivan". A few moments later she turned back to him with a slightly odd look on her face. "Dodger?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's me," the canine replied, noticing the odd look. Of course it's not every day that you meet a person with that kind of a name.

"Alright, you're on the list so you're already set." She then handed him a slim metal card and even slimmer, though larger, piece of technology.

It had a metallic appearance with nothing on it except a screen covering almost the whole front side and the ACF logo printed on the back. "That card is the key to your room which you'll be sharing with two others, and that device is your own PIC (Personal Information Codex). Your schedule is already saved on it and will be accessible when you pass your entrance examination. It will also keep you updated with all activities and other goings on at the academy each year. You can also use it for class work for completing it and handing it in."

"Jeez, it's like she's delivered this speech a hundred times," Dodger thought to himself. But since he was the polite type all that came out of his mouth was a generous, "Thank you" and he set of to the dormitories to find his room and possibly his roommates as well.

Once again, Dodger was left to roam the large expanse of the campus. He took the time to glance up at the imposing buildings surrounding him their peaks just touching the sky, or so it seemed. Even with his previous visits, Dodger was still blown away by the massive size of the academy and how long it might take him to establish a route for himself once classes had commenced.

Focusing back on the path ahead of him, he peered up at the building closest to him. It was littered with windows all along its sides each with a balcony hanging out over the ground below. Not nearly as high as the central structure, this building still raised high above the other ones in the city. It also had another building beside it containing all the same features. Seeing some people on some of the balconies of them, Dodger assumed that these were the dormitories, one for boys and the other for girls.

Realizing that he was getting closer to them, Dodger took out his key card and examined the room number engraved onto it. "211A," he read aloud. Putting it away he finally entered the designated building and, brimming with curiosity, looked around.

There were two elevators at the back wall of the main room with a set of stairs beside each. To the left of the entrance was a small office, probably used for key card replacements or serving as a simple information desk. Near the centre of the room there were various couches in chairs in which some of the students were already gladly using. Other than that, the room seemed quite basic for an apartment complex, putting aside the fact that almost every wall had "ACF" tattooed on it in large and very noticeable font.

"Wow, you'd think the staff would think the students would keep forgetting where they are," Dodger thought to himself. "I know this isn't a gifted school but it's not kindergarten either."

Dodger dragged his feet to one of the elevators not filled to the brim with occupants and hit the "A" floor. The doors closed with a light ring and the elevator rising up was felt. As the elevator was approaching his designated floor, the canine gazed out through the transparent walls of the elevator and down at the campus below.

Though the elevator was moving quickly, there was still enough time for Dodger to think back to how he got to where he was now.

"Mom," Dodger shouted up the stairs. "Dad I'm heading out now!"

He didn't want to leave without saying goodbye first. Pre-registration was finished and all the paperwork had been completed, much to his parents' relief. They had already discussed and talked over everything and the hostility and tension was beginning to fade. The Sullivans had toured the academy and got familiar with its atmosphere and overall functionality as a school. With long meetings with the principal and higher level staff Dodger's parents had finally caved in and agreed to let him enroll.

His mother was the most hard to convince because she was the stubborn one of the three and was the key source to where Dodger had inherited his ability to never abandon a certain subject that he was focused on. It was her indecision that kept her at home and without a job as she was constantly changing her mind on things. However, nothing could change her mind on this. Even though the past wars of the Lylat System had ended with Dodger's childhood, she still was reluctant to let him be a part of something that could potentially keep them separated-permanently.

His father was another concern entirely. He wasn't one for war and especially was against the notion of becoming one in the ranks of his planet's military. He was the one who was indoors and left things unrelated to him alone. He was a science professor at Coneria's most prestigious university and always badgered Dodger to take an interest in the sciences, he was always joking of course. When the news of dodger wanting to join the military, it put him through major stress, as it would any other parent, but there was something in the Sullivan family that helped make it worse.

His father, Dodger's grandfather, was one of the soldiers serving the Cornerian army during the time of the Aparoid invasion. He was a member of one of the flight squadron's that had assisted the legendary Star Fox team when they had attempted to go through the Orbital Gate leading to the Aparoid's home world. Unfortunately, he had been shot down trying to save one of his teammates, another soldier who went down in the line of duty. Dodger wasn't even born yet. They had pictures, but Dodger still dreamt of what it would be like to meet him in person.

A tall and lean German Sheppard came swiftly down the stairs with a smaller Siberian Husky trailing in his wake. "We're comin', we're comin' there's no need to just ditch us at the doorstep," the Sheppard responded.

"I wasn't going to leave without saying goodbye to you guys," Dodger retorted.

"Well you sure sounded like you were ready to leave in a matter of seconds," his father replied smiling back at him.

"Well I am ready to go in seconds," Dodger said and smiled.

"If you so much as left without any goodbyes, I would have followed you right to the academy and given you the biggest damn hug you've ever gotten from me right in front of everyone," the Husky threatened.

Dodger chuckled and said, "Mom, why else would I have given the warning that I was leaving?"

The Husky sighed. "I know it's just..." she began to choke up. "It'll be so long before I see you again and what you're going into..."

"Elizabeth," his father said. "We've had this discussion already; you know there isn't anything that can change his mind."

Dodger put his bag on the ground and placed a hand on his mother's shoulder. "The academy isn't that far from home," he said. "I can still visit when I'm not busy with classes, and did you forget about the holidays? I'll still be here for a while Mom."

Small tears were beginning to form in the corners of his mother's eyes. "You already know it but i still can't help but say it," she said. "I love you, I always will and I'll never stop not even whe-"

"Mom, please stop," Dodger knew where she would go with this and before he could cause her any more sorrow he tried to turn the conversation to a lighter tone. "All the sappiness is going to get me going."

Elizabeth smiled at this and had begun to laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry but you've known me for seventeen years now, you should've learned to expect this from me."

"Yeah," Dodger chuckled. "I promise that I will visit though, you can hold me to that."

"Don't worry, I will," she replied.

At this time, Dodger noticed that his father had remained silent for the whole conversation with a grave look etched in his features. He then opened the front door and signaled Dodger to step out onto the porch. Dodger turned back towards Elizabeth and she nodded at him.

He stepped outside and saw his father standing there looking out into the distance that grave look still on his face. Dodger closed the door behind him and put himself beside his father.

"Dodger," he said, still looking in the same direction.

"Anthony," Dodger replied, slightly mockingly by using his father's first name.

"So are you sure you're not looking to follow the sciences at all?" he asked, a grin slowing creeping across his face.

"Oh, don't you even," Dodger shot back before they both burst out into a fit of laughter.

When their fit of hysteria subsided, Dodger's father regained that grave look again, although this time it seemed to have been brightened slightly. "Well, if this is what you really want then I know that there's no possible way to change your mind."

"Dad I-"

"No Dodge, don't say anything. I know you've heard us whine and moan about this for some time and both you and I have our reasons to why you should and shouldn't go. I realize that it's time for you to grow up and choose your own path in life and I'm proud that you've managed to discover yours so soon and so independently, just like he did."

Dodger's ears perked up when Anthony's last words were said. He knew immediately he was talking about his grandfather and how odd it must seem to him that the roles had been reversed. The son was the one leaving the father this time to go to serve their system and protect all of its inhabitants.

"I wanted to give this to you," Anthony said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a decorative war pin that Dodger recognized all too well.

It was of an older design. It still bore the symbol of the Cornerian Forces enclosed in a circle with two large white feathery wings stretching out from either side showing that this was a pin for the soldiers that fought in the skies.

"Granddad's old war pin?" Dodger seemed confused. Why did he receive this? He hadn't even officially gotten into the academy yet.

"For decoration," his father answered. "Think of it as motivation for the exam and a nice trinket to put on display in your room."

"Did you just say trinket?" Dodger laughed.

"I suppose I did, you know how I am with old fashioned words."

Returning his focus, Dodger smiled at his present. "Thanks Dad, this means a lot to me, you really don't know how much it does."

"Oh I have a fair clue," he said, returning the smile. With that said they both stayed quiet for what seemed to be minutes until his father led him back inside.

Picking up his duffel bag and slinging it across his shoulder, Dodger surveyed his house one last time. "It's going to be different," he said, "not waking up each morning to see this."

"Yes and just because you're not under our roof anymore that doesn't mean you can just do whatever," his mother said. "That school has lots of rules that you need to follow or else you're back on this doorstep."

Dodger just wore a bid toothy grin on his face long enough for his mother to succumb to its curse as she started to wear her own smile on her face as well. He and his mother embraced each other in one of their signature death hugs while Anthony just stood beside them chuckling.

"I'll miss you guys so much," he said. "And a day won't go by that I won't think of you even if it's for a few seconds."

Dodger and his mother detached and he turned to his father giving him a firm but gentle handshake. "Good luck out there kiddo," Anthony said.

Dodger grimaced. "Didn't we discuss this Dad? You're not supposed to call me that, but- thanks."

Giving his father's hand one last good shake he let go and headed put the door towards his car. He threw his supplies into the back, climbed into the front seat, and started the engine. The thruster's on the bottom of the car roared to life as it rose slightly off the ground blue flames licking the pavement below. The HUD display on the dashboard in front of Dodger lit up signifying that everything was a go. Satisfied with the set up, Dodger leaned out the window and gave-what he hoped to be- his final goodbyes.

"I'll be seeing you around," he cried out his window waving to him. "Try not to visit me too often and ruin my already deteriorating reputation okay?"

"Just for that you can count on us waiting outside your dorm everyday!" his mother joked in response.

Anthony stood there just wearing his signature smile but Dodger could see through that and make out the firm lines of concern etched into his face. Nevertheless his father still waved from the porch without speaking.

Dodger then put the window back up and shifted the car into reverse. Once on the road he sped off out of their street and neighbourhood and eventually merging with the main traffic of the city. It took all of Dodger's strength not to take one final glance at his home, the home that he may be leaving forever.

The sound of the elevator reaching its destination was what snapped Dodger out of his daze. The two metal doors slid open and Dodger made his way down the wide hallways eyeing each door hoping it would match up with his card.

It took him a few doors but he eventually found it. "211A," he said. He slid his card through the slot and with a beep of approval, he entered his new home.