Chapter 2: Progression with Change

Skye docked the ship into the large base of the headquarters, a colossal complex of steel and metal. He wagged his tail contently behind him as he fiddled with the controls and stared mindlessly over at the nearby clock.

"Ah… this is the life. Somewhat. Even in this fine day and age, this job never tires me… ah. And it's 1:30 AM, Earth time. I want to go to Earth some day…"

The darkness of space was soothing… Skye's red fox fur shone in the light from the ceiling in the dingy room and the same light reflected from his sunglasses, black as space as he resumed rambling to himself.

"Pity… pity that the Great Fox was destroyed. I liked that thing. I was hoping to commandeer it one day… but alas. I'm stuck with this piece of junk. The 'Great Fox', we still call it… but it's all just junk. Refuse. Garbage. Scrap metal."

He continued to talk to himself for hours until the rest of the team awoke and managed to pull themselves together to relocate to the base.

"My legs… are the beds always that uncomfortable, Fox?"

"Unfortunately… yes." Fox replied to Fara, stretching out his arms and cracking his back loudly. "But… you get used to it after a while… a very long while, but still... agh… what a night…"

Skye walked in and sat in his personally labeled chair at the end of the large table in the grand conference hall of the HQ, sipping periodically at his lukewarm cup of coffee and eagerly awaiting his first major mission since when he first joined. His team… his team… something about that made it all seem worthwhile, the waiting and all. It was needless to say that he was awaiting something to do, and the pay to go with it. However, there was no major work to do, and not nearly enough money to afford a newer and full-sized version of the Great Fox. The various team members, including Falco, Peppy, and Slippy who had remained at the HQ greeted the rest of the team, and everyone headed back to their more comfortable rooms, sans Skye and Krystal.

"Skye. I have business to attend to… may I leave?" Krystal started worriedly at the half-awake fox and tapped her foot impatiently, occasionally staring toward the door to the hangar.

"Why not? We haven't had anything else to do, minus those stupid chores we've been doing all day. If I may ask, what are you doing?" He gave a quizzical stare into her eyes.

"It's… personal business. But thank you." She bolted out of the door and jumped into her arwing, overlooking her standard systems check and flying off to the Sauria airspace, clearly in a hurry.

"Youngsters these days… always in a hurry."

Fox sat back on his bed with a satisfied groan.

"Ah… home sweet… home of sorts."

It was a long day, full of pointless activities. Whether it was transporting some sort of machine from the orbital gate or anything else, it was… boring! The Star Fox team is a group of mercenaries, not… merchants. He gave a small sigh and closed his eyes. So much on my mind, he thought. And so much left to do… all of it pointless. Everything was falling apart around him. He couldn't keep his mind on Krystal, and the money… there was none. It was just like a few years ago, right before he met her. The arwings were falling into disrepair, as was the Great Fox. Today's odd jobs netted some money, but…

A gentle knock was heard at the door, followed with Fox slowly opening it a few inches to view who it was.

"Fara? What do you need?"

He opened the door fully and let her in, starting to blush for no apparent reason and hiding his face in reaction. He sat back down and acted relaxed, though he was quite tense.

"Um… which way's my room?" She questioned, sheepishly. "I still don't know my way around here, so… can you… you know… help me out?"

He gave a quick nod and pointed down the hall.

"To the left… at the end. I think it's… um… room 208."

She gave a small grin and peered around the corner.

"Hmm… still can't read maps. You know how I was back in those days, Fox… and I haven't changed. Thanks for the help, as always. You're always willing to help me in my time of need…"

She gave Fox an inconspicuous wink and hurried off to her room.

"… O-oh… she's flirting with me…" He sighed exasperatedly and buried his face in his pillow, drifting off into much needed sleep.

"Fox? What are you doing?"

"It's the only way… don't worry. It's nothing."

"But… we should just wait. We've done all we could. Let's just let this take care of itself."

"No… I have to be able to help… somehow… I'm gonna do it. It's just routine. No need to worry about it. It's just another little mission…"

"Fox… wait! Wait!"

Fox awoke suddenly.

"Again with this… one wrong mistake and it costs me everything… my job, my reputation… and now my sanity. There's only so much I can take of this…"

"But… you still have me."

Fox turned his head in shock to the side to see Fara, lying next to him in bed.

"F-Fara! How- wh- what are you doing in here? How?"

"Shh… no need to wake anyone. I stole the card to your room earlier. Crafty, aren't I…?"

"But… you can't be in here without my consent…"

Fara scoffed at this and wrapped her arm around Fox's shoulder.

"You know… you loved me once. Before you met that witch of a fox, Krystal."

"Hey! I-I… now I'm with her… and I'm not going to tolerate you saying-"

"Quiet." She quickly silenced Fox, almost with a snapping tone of voice. "I'm just the messenger, Fox… well, the messenger and the topic. Look deep inside yourself and see that she means nothing to you. Trust me on this one… you're far better off with me."

Fox sprung to his feet in shock and recoiled to the wall.

"What's… wrong with you, Fara?" He was clearly blushing heavily and trembling as well.

"I'm just doing what's best for you… and for myself."

She grinned and pinned him to the wall, kissing him hard and near violently. Fox hesitated for a few seconds and eventually gathered the strength to throw her off, reluctantly.

"Fara… I… I just can't… I want you back, but Krystal-"

"Aha!" She interrupted, placing a fine-clawed finger to his lips. "You admit it now…"

Fox started to sweat visibly and started to stammer.

"I-I… o-of course… I mean… I… but that was a long time ago! I can't possibly know whether I still do or not…"

"Then… we shall see…"

The dominant vixen trapped him against the wall a second time and put her lips to his. This time, however, Fox did not intervene… and instead closed his eyes and enjoyed.

As if fate itself was against the two, it was at that exact moment that Krystal slid her card into the door and silently opened it, frozen in shock at what she was witnessing. Amidst the dark silence, Krystal barely managed to mutter a single word, her face clouded with her hot tears.

"F-Fox…"