Hey everyone...who is actually reading this! Had a bit of writers block on the others, so me, WTDMTN, and Hakkyou worked this little gift out for all you good peoples. A few things though. If any of you are fans of the Q&A War, then you'll love this. Metal, the person you know as the Guitar Guy off of Q&A Madness, has made his own Q&A, known as Super Q&A Metalheads Approved. Also, look out for a fic by StarlightDragon1636. He is knew to the site, but has a pretty good idea of a fic in the wings. So, without further adieu, here it is! Enjoy! Another slow chapter, but a bit more will be put in soon.

Chapter 2

Catching Up With Him

The shot hit its target: a rogue drug lord looking for his pay. He went ballistic when a connection he made with a local gang didn't keep their part of a bargain. This sort of thing was seen often in the slums of Corneria, but, unlucky for Fox, it did not mean that local police force could apprehend people like this. No, it was up to the hero of Lylat, having arrived hours earlier. He had appeared ready and willing, but that was only to hide the inner deprivation of rest.

Fox leaned back on the ledge he stationed himself at. He wanted a quick and simple job done, and that's exactly how what it was. A quick and simple job done. But no matter how he looked at it, simple was far from a suitable word. It was very much of an understatement.

As he leaned back on the ledge, closed his eyes and took in calm, slow breaths, he looked back on how much work that had gone through for them. As if saving Lylat numerous times wasn't enough, the team was backed up in more work than they had ever been, and it really weighed down on their shoulders. Never had he felt so stressed.

The team was rarely on the Great Fox; it would usually be that they return from a task a little less than well done, given the consecutive nature of the missions, and were sent off to another one. Peppy, of course, remained behind to fill out forms for whatever hell bent consent it was made out. In old age, that was what he believed he was good for, and only that. While others would disagree, he stayed firm with his decision, and insisted that they were better off without an 'old spirit of a war ravaged hare' dragging them down.

The others were stressed as well. They hid it to the best of their ability, but all in all, the work only left them with a thin line of good will and composure. Even Falco, the high-and-mighty freebird that all of Lylat saw as a daring maniac of a hero, was broken down on his will, beaten with all that he ravaged against, and scarred with both physical and mental injuries. As it was, the calm and cool avian that the team cherished, as both friend and comrade in arms, became a repetitive mass and would not take any pride or express any excitement or thrill of taking on a difficult undertaking and completing it.

Slippy, who would ordinarily driven with his passion of maintenance and mechanical work, was over his head in repairs and upgrades. New issues would only be dealt with new equipment, and that left the toad with little to no time of rest or to explore what he thought would push the team further to keeping up with all the work. To his displeasure, the General was demanding that the team use the implements that would be constructed by Slippy from blueprints and the parts provided. He said it was also a test of which would determine if the Cornerian Army was onto new weaponry. So, Slippy sat in the mechanic's lab, the room provided for any large inventions to be stored while still under construction. Little sleep and eating combined would be enough to break him, but the pile of work would soon drive him insane if not make him collapse from exhaustion.

And then there was Krystal, the women behind the man and, moreover, the love of Lylat's hero. Her soft approach to situations and charm were worn down with mostly negotiations and treaties. Peppy, behind her back, gave her these missions in hopes that it would keep her out of harms way. It was not a belief that women were weak, but more the thought that Fox would not forgive the hare for letting her take up such a duty and return almost dead by chance. For once, feeling a little battle deprived did not bother her. For once, she was more intuitive of her fatigue after a long stream of work. Hopes of her time with Fox, alone and uninterrupted, would keep her spirits a least a tad high, but the most time that the two weren't away from the Great Fox was little, and it wasn't valuable enough on account of fatigue and thin lines of patience.

And that was another thing; the team had never been so emotionally apart, ever. Arguments would break out between the time of which two or more people were present on the Great Fox. And it broke Fox's heart, now looking back, to remember the angry fueled dispute between him and Krystal about something trivial, something that he couldn't quite remember. It was no lover's quarrel, either. It left Krystal storming off in a huff and Fox fuming in the command deck. He managed to take his anger out on the chair he once sat in; the one that would stack onto the many payments needing to made for modifications and maintenance.

Not wanting to brood over his grief, Fox got up and made his way down the stairs. He was stationed on top of a business building. It was involved with something concerning insurance for those who paid into it throughout years of labor. Upon reaching the bottom floor and walking out, the media quickly stormed him with the usually barrage of irritating inquiries.

"Mr. McCloud!" Shouted an anchorwoman from a local news show. "Is it true that your team has been overrun with work for the past six weeks?"

Though the crowd kept pressing him with questions, this one stood out. He walked over to answer.

"Yes," he answered, "we are. In fact, it's starting to affect our work efficiency."

"Interesting. And does the team plan to continue, even after a long stream of missions?"

"Yes. If we weren't we would've quit out after the first week!" He walked away from the news crew and went to locate his Arwing, set in a nearby military hanger and away from any fans wanting to observe it up close. After reaching it, he climbed into the cockpit and started it up. The G-Diffusers came to life and caused the ship to hover several feet above the ground. After adjusting a few settings, Fox brought the ship up and flew it up toward the outside atmosphere.

The questions form the media still went through his mind. "Interesting. And does the team plan to continue, even after a long stream of missions?" Though he answered in a way he thought was true, Fox couldn't help but wonder if what he said would be what would happen. With energy being lost at a fast pace, it would surprise him if one of the team just up and stopped.

He broke through the outer layer of the atmosphere. He adjusted the G-Diffusers again. With the Great Fox in sight, he questioned how long he would have before another job would come up, requiring his immediate attention. He landed the Arwing in the hanger and jumped out of the cockpit. He made his way to the command bridge.

"Better check now, and see if I even have any time to relax."

I know it was kinda quick, but we're setting up the plot. But it's pretty obvious what Fox is in dire need of, huh? Before we finish this off, let's go to the reviews!

ShadowFox0324:

I am not a good reader...wait what? Damn it. Curse you and your ...some big wordi can't think of right now. ANyway this is very mysterious. I can't get the plot yet but I can not wait for more

Ah yes. our mysterious illusionist author powers are working! We have captivated you, yet made you draw a blank as to what will happen. I love it when that happens. Thanks for reading and ACTUALLY reviewing.

SchmEthan:

*pants heavily* wants cookie?
This story are really starting well, keep it ups!
(btw, i like the part were the Terrence changes the spelling of his name halfway through, nice touch. lols.)

I WANT A COOKIE!! GIMME GIMME GIMME!! ...Nevermind, there are some fresh baked ones in the kitchen. Thanks for the encouragement, and of course the support. And I'm...pretty sure I went back and fixed that. I think...Can't remember. that was a fluke, thanks for noticing it! Lol!

There you are...The two real reviews. Hakkyou reviewed, but that was for the whole email deal he got through a few weeks ago. Anyway, a short word from WTDMTN!

Yo! How are my favorite readers doing? I'll be working on Chapter 3 along with Shad and Hakkyou. Dont you frett! It will still be under Shadow's account. You don't need to search for my account (However, I wish you would...) Well, Enjoy the chapter/Press that lirrle green review button down there.

Don't make me call out my Garchomp...

That's a good little reader.

Yeah, and don't make me pull out my Zanpakuto! REVIEW! DO IT DO IT DO IT! You know you want to! Oh, and Hakkyou couldn't be here to say anything, 'cause he's in the Dominican Republic. Lucky little... Don't stop being prodigious, everyone!