Chapter 1: The Son's grievance
Fox McCloud sat at his desk terminal, punching away at the keys more vigorously that usual. He was like this because today he and his other peers were taking the end of fall tests, the first big tests of the entire year. He like all other students, sat hunched over monitors in their gray everyday uniforms, somewhat similar to a standard flight suit, minus all the fancy features. Just a zip up jacket with a t-shirt underneath, pants, and black boots.
All the students also furrowed their brows in frustration, as these tests were not one bit easy. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Fox was a 4th year at the Academy. This was to be his final year. Then he would be 18 after the end of the year and be able to choose what to do with his life. When you turned 14, you had two options. You could go to a normal school and go about things in a civilian manner, or you could sign up to be in the Academy and get your schooling and be taught how to fight in a field of your choice. Fox himself chose to go to the Academy and to learn to be a pilot just like his father.
The rooms were nothing more that a gathering of work stations, with a teacher's desk and monitor board up front. Fox and the other 4th years were particularly frustrated because their tests were always the hardest. Fox himself was on the very last problem, brow much more furrowed in frustration than five minutes ago. The question was what was the G Diffuser named for. Some might think it stupid, but a pilot had to know their equipment. Fox thought, and thought, and then the answer hit him.
*G diffuser engines are named based on the concept of working against gravity, why do I always forget that?*
Fox typed in his answer, looked over the test quickly, and pressed the send key. He quietly breathed a sigh of content. He was so exhausted because of all the studying and from sitting down for a couple hours. He also noticed he was the first one to be finished, as the teacher was asleep up until his test was sent to the teachers terminal.
He was very tempted to stretch and have a smug grin on his face, but he knew very well that wasn't acceptable. So he just sat and daydreamed. He also thought about things, like he recalled his dad was scheduled to be back tomorrow, and that it was also a day off that day because of the testing. Then another week, and he was off for Christmas, spending time at home with his father. Basically, Fox was feeling most content with things, knowing he could be lazy for a few weeks one week from now.
Out of the blue he noticed something at the front of the room. His teacher, Seargent Stripeton was receiving a communications on his terminal. He also notice he was awful wide eyed while he listened. Seargent Stripeton was an orange haired cat person with green eyes who had stripes that were a darker shade of orange. He was a little strict, but he was still a fairly good teacher.
Fox himself couldn't help but hear what Stripeton was whispering into the terminal. He was so bored he attempted to make out what was being said. He only heard a few phrases. "Sir, who do you need to see?" "Oh my…" "I see…" This was all Fox could make out from what was whispered. He began to wonder what the whole conversation was about. Just as he wondered that, Stripeton got up and walked quickly down the aisle to Fox, coming to his side and was face to face with him.
"Mr. McCloud, are you finished with your test?" whispered Stripeton
For a moment, Fox thought he was being scolded for listening in or something, but then, he thought he noticed some sense of urgency in Stripeton's voice.
"Yes sir, I am finished."
"Would you please follow me?"
Fox just did what he was told to do and followed Stripeton out of the room. Once they were outside, Stripeton closed the door and heaved a sigh. There was no one in the hallway at the moment, so they just talked freely.
"Fox, the General wishes to see you in his office."
At this comment, Fox went completely wide-eyed. His teacher was obviously referring to the one person in charge of the entire Cornerian army and headmaster of the Academy, General Pepper. He wondered why he would want to see someone as low as Fox, a mere cadet at the Academy.
"Sir, why does he wish to see me?"
"I do not know. You aren't in trouble or anything, but he said it was of utmost importance that you come to his office ASAP. That's all I was told. If it's that important, then you best get down there. Don't bother coming back. Class is to end after everyone finished the test, so consider yourself dismissed from class. Oh, and there will be no homework."
"Yes sir."
After giving a brief salute to Stripton, Fox began to walk as fast as he could out of the gray colored classroom complex, and begin the walk across the Academy grounds to get to the General's office. The Academy grounds were beautiful, with statues of various famous figures, bright flowers, green grass, and the occasional fountain flowing with crystal clear water. The clean pathways led every which way to the various facilities in the Academy area.
The path Fox took led him to a place students rarely visited, the Administration Building. It was not the biggest building, but because of its purposes as Academy administration housing, it was still fairly well sized. Fox proceeded up the large steps leading up to the glass doors of the building still bewildered as to why the General wishes to speak with him.
As he walked to the glass door, he saw right in the middle of the lobby General Pepper, pacing about the area, his boots clicking on the marble floor. Pepper looked up, and quickly walked over to Fox. Fox was very quick to give his best salute, knowing that Pepper was the highest authority in the entire military. Pepper just returned the salute, and gave Fox a firm handshake.
"It's an honor to meet you sir."
"Yes, indeed. You're probably wondering why you're here right?"
"Why yes sir, I am very curious about that."
"Hmm…well, I'd tell you, but I am in no position to do so." he said with a certain grim sounding air in his voice
"What's this about sir?"
"Just follow me to my office. There is a friend of yours their. I kind of wish we could've met under different circumstances."
Fox just wondered who this person could possibly be, and why Pepper talked about circumstances, what was it all about? He didn't understand one bit of the whole situation.
He followed Pepper up to an elevator, which lead them to a higher part of the building, where all the top brass' offices were. Then they walked through one last door that was a little ways down the well-guarded hall. It was a typical office for high brass, lots of space, many decorations, big windows, and also a good-sized work terminal, all a shade of gray. There was a set of chairs, and in one of those chairs was someone Fox knew. It was Peppy, but not with his usual wise looking face, but a face of extreme grimness and concern. Peppy got up slowly out of his chair and walked over to Fox who was still confused about everything. Fox was curious as to what Peppy would have to say to Fox that was so important, but he still was ready to listen.
"Peppy? What are you doing here?"
"Well, I have some bad news…." he said in that same air Pepper had earlier
It was then that Fox thought of something important. If it had to do with anything besides Star Fox, someone else would've told it, and there was never anything that was bad news in Star Fox except the sticky situations his father tells him about, and now the thought of his father came to him knowing that usually if anyone did visit him it was him.
"Where's dad?"
"Fox, I …"
There was a long silence as Peppy seemed to try to find his words, and Fox didn't like it one bit. He knew something was wrong, and he wondered if his father was involved. He began to fear something had gone wrong, that perhaps his father was hurt. Looks of great worry began to spread over his face, and insides felt heavy.
"Peppy, did something…"
"Fox, I really hate to be telling you this, but…your father…your father was…killed."
The instance the last word was spoken, it felt to Fox as if someone rammed a fully loaded assault tank into his stomach, and his jaw half dropped. His worst thoughts, ones pushed into the recesses of his mind over the years, came true and hit him hard. He was being told his father was dead, the one thing he never, ever wanted to hear as long as he walked Corneria. His mind and heart just simply wouldn't take a bit of it, nor think about it, and a sinking, pit-like feeling had struck him within.
"There…must be some kind of mistake. Maybe he was just shot down or he escaped or-"
"I'm sorry Fox, I went over those also. I saw his ship get blown to oblivion in front of my own eyes. Nothing happened after that. I'm …so sorry."
Fox was having a hard time swallowing it all. In fact, he couldn't take it at all. He just stood there completely shocked and almost frozen. Then, he wanted to get away, away from the horrible thing he just heard.
"Will you excuse me please?"
Before anyone could say a word, Fox ran straight out of the office to the elevator.
"Fox! Please, come back!" shouted Pepper in an attempt to stop Fox. Pepper began to run towards Fox, but Peppy grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him.
"Sir, let me handle him."
All Pepper could do was slowly nod in approval. After that, Peppy set off after Fox just fast enough to shadow him
*****
Fox was running through the campus as fast as he could towards his dorm. He was one of the fastest runners in the school, so everything just seemed to rush by as he kept juggling the information over and over again. At the moment, it was all he could think about.
*No, no way dad could be dead. He had to escape somehow! Maybe it was just a small explosion and Peppy didn't see it, or maybe his ejection wasn't detected or……no.*
Fox's heart finally had to accept the thoughts from the back of his mind. His mind knew very well what Peppy said. He saw the ship right in front of him explode into nothing. There was no escape. When Fox realized this, he began crying, and felt hot tears forming within his eyes. He was able to hold back most of his tears, but some still dribbled down his face. He was somehow a little glad someone wasn't around to see him; he didn't feel like talking to anyone about anything. He finally arrived at his place of residence, Dorm Block B.
He got into the foyer and headed straight to the elevator, still holding back his tears. He arrived at the 4th floor, and ran down the gray, tiled hallway to his room that was not that far from the elevator, Dorm #407.
He punched in his key code and unlocked the sliding door. After that he promptly barged right in and pressed the close button to close the door. His dorm wasn't very much. He was one of the lucky few that got his own dorm. It just had the standard issue bed, desk, table, gray coat of paint, and a set of chairs. Fox ended up adding a computer, shelves of books, a TV, a game system, his models, and whatever other personal possessions he had.
Once the door was closed, he fell back against the adjoining wall with great force, and slipped down slowly into a curled up position. His breathing was very heavy, and he was sweating all over. His throat and his eyes burned, and his mouth was dry. There was also some kind of empty tingly feeling inside of him.
Finally he could no longer hold back his tears. He had a couple gasps escape his throat before he completely broke down and began to sob and whimper, and placed his face into his hands. For the next few minutes, all he did was cry into his hands. He couldn't hold anything back, he simply couldn't. The entire world, which was laid before him just a while ago, had been completely shattered into nothing in one swift blow. It was something that hit him too hard, too fast, in a way he could never handle.
Hot tears filled his hands and covered his face, and hard, choked sobs came out of his throat, every one making his throat dryer and sorer. He could not stop, and let it all out for a while, before there was a sound from the door, knocking. Fox just ignored it. The knocking kept persisting, and finally a voice came from the door.
"Hey Fox, you in there?"
Fox recognized that voice instantly. He knew who it was. He slowly lifted his head, trying his best not to cry anymore.
"P-Peppy? T-that you?" stuttered out Fox.
"Yeah, it's me…can I come in?"
"It's…unlocked."
Peppy let himself into the dormitory. He promptly closed the door. He at first didn't see Fox, but then he saw him sitting against the wall crying. Fox took his tearstained face out of his hands for one moment to look at his guest, and then buried his face yet again to continue crying.
"Hey Fox, how about you sit somewhere more comfortable so that we can talk?"
Fox just continued to sit there, but now he wrapped his arms around his legs to bring them close, turning himself into a curled ball as he continued to sob into his knees. Peppy just sighed and pulled him up by the shoulders, slowly getting him up and leading him to one of the chairs by the table. Then he sat himself down. There were no words between them for another few minutes. Peppy didn't know what to say, and Fox sat there, tears still quickly flowing onto his face. Peppy then decided on what to say to initiate the conversation a little.
"Fox…I'm real sorry about what happened. I know that it's probably a tad hard to take. I just wish I could've done something, but-"
"Then why the fuckin hell didn't you do anything?!" exploded Fox into Peppy's face.
There was yet more silence, except this time it was from shock. Peppy was shocked at Fox's sudden outburst; Fox was shocked that he said such a thing to one of his old colleagues.
"I'm…sorry Peppy. I didn't …mean to…"
"Hey, it's okay. I…kinda know how people react to this kinda thing. Anyways….what happened was some enemy fighters swarmed us. When we both got into trouble, we found out Pigma was a spy for Andross. Apparently, Andross started his own army. So we were betrayed and we tried to pull off an attack. Then out of nowhere this huge ship popped out of nowhere and used a tractor beam on your dad.
"While that was going on, the ship charged up a laser cannon, and …well…"
More silence came before Fox started sobbing again, however his cries were louder, and his tears more profuse. Peppy put his arm around Fox's shoulder to try and get him to calm down.
"Hey, things will work out. If you need to, go ahead and cry as much as you have to."
Fox looked up slowly from his hand to speak. His lower jaw was quivering, and his blue-green eyes had this look that Peppy didn't like. Besides the tears, there was this deep dark look, a look Peppy has seen over the years in dozens of people who's loved ones were killed, a look of sadness, despair, anger, confusion, grievance, and much fear.
"I…I just don't know what to do Peppy. I just don't know at all. Where do I go from here?" sobbed Fox.
"I have no idea either. I'd say just try to move on somehow. It might take awhile but we all move on eventually."
"I…I feel afraid all of a sudden. So…afraid, and alone…I'm the only family I got now. Who will I turn to now? First mom is gone, now dad…I've got no one else."
Peppy remembered these things very well. Fox had no relatives. The few he had are all dead, either because of age or natural causes, or from military work. He remembered how James and Fox were affected when Fox's mother died. Peppy was with them at the time to offer support. She died from some kind of cancer that was found too late to have anything done. James was never the same after that. And Fox was just 6 years old at the time, and no one could quite protect him from the horror of it.
Now Fox was alone with the death of his father. There was no one right next to him who could give him a hug and say everything would work out for the best. He remembered when Fox was crying when he first got the news from his father. His father had to kneel down and give him a hug and reassurance. They both cried then. It was a real sad moment for all. After a couple months, things went back to a more pleasant atmosphere.
James was able to overcome it after a little while, he was experienced with losing people he knew from serving in the Cornerian military. As with Fox, he was so young it wasn't too hard for James to cheer him up. The two got used to the new set up and life proceeded on as usual. But now, Fox's life took a major turn that he wasn't quite ready for.
"Fox, I'm sure that me and your friends will be willing to help you out. That's what friends are for."
"…You're right, I guess." Fox said quietly.
Then all of a sudden, Fox started to shiver a lot, wrapping his arms around himself as he shook. Peppy couldn't help but wonder about this
"Why are you shivering like that? Are you cold?"
"Very. So…so cold."
Peppy looked over at the thermostat by the door. It flashed 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Peppy knew what was going on. Very many people start to feel like that after some kind of trauma. For Fox, hearing of his father's death was quite traumatic. A loud beeping that was coming from his watch interrupted Peppy's line of thought. He looked down at it, and it read 5:30.
"Ah geez, I'm sorry but I gotta go now. I have to talk to the General again."
Peppy got up to go, but Fox just sat there still shivering a little bit, trying to make sense out of everything. Peppy was growing more worried by the minute. He was concerned that all this might consume Fox's life. Then he remembered something he had to tell Fox.
"Just to tell you, one of your Father's orders was to look after you so I'll be stopping by every now and then to check up on you."
"Sure, whatever…"
"Ok…I guess I'll see you later then."
Peppy let himself out the door, looking back over his shoulder at the saddened form of Fox before he walked out of the room, door closing behind him. Now Fox was alone. He sat and digested everything, still recovering from the shock, his head still spinning from the blow. It felt as if someone had taken his spirit and shattered it to bits, bits so small they couldn't be put back together. His body continued to tremor, tears still ran down his face, and sobs left his throat. Eventually, as he failed to recover, he felt with resounding force, something within him and his mind snap.
"Aaaaahhhhhhg!"
Fox screamed at the top of his lungs in complete and utter fiery rage. He knocked over his chair to the floor and charged to the nearest wall. He started repeatedly bringing his fist crashing into a wall with punches of greatly increasing, unimaginable strength, fueled by his fury, which was also expressed as he cursed with each blow.
"Goddamn fucking piece of…!"
He pounded away at the wall continually with no stopping, tears running down his face and curses coming out of his mouth, cursing nothing. This kept on and on. He began to forget everything except the fact his father was dead, gone forever, his remaining family gone with him, and that he now felt completely alone in the vast universe, completely isolated. Now time was irrelevant. He forgot about it completely, and even forgot the pain his fists were feeling, the parch ness in his throat and the blood that throbbed through his body. He was going at the wall for hours. It began at 5:35, and went on up to 9. All evening people passing by heard something from the room, but couldn't make it out because of the sound proof walls.
Finally, at about 9:15, he began to weaken. His punches became very light, as did his sobs and curses. Finally, he just about collapsed from sheer exhaustion from all of the effort and gave up with one last pound to the wall to the wall, before he slowly slid down the wall into a half crumpled heap. He was breathing hard with great exhaustion, not even noticing the few scrapes he had on his fists from hitting a corner, nor the bruises. He would've slept right there, but instead he crawled through the now dark room to his bed, using what little strength he had to lift himself up onto it, and fell face first into the pillow. He started sobbing into the pillow.
"Why dad…why did…you die?" he sobbed.
Fox kept crying up into the late night, and fell asleep still crying unconsciously.
******
Fox McCloud sat at his desk terminal, punching away at the keys more vigorously that usual. He was like this because today he and his other peers were taking the end of fall tests, the first big tests of the entire year. He like all other students, sat hunched over monitors in their gray everyday uniforms, somewhat similar to a standard flight suit, minus all the fancy features. Just a zip up jacket with a t-shirt underneath, pants, and black boots.
All the students also furrowed their brows in frustration, as these tests were not one bit easy. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Fox was a 4th year at the Academy. This was to be his final year. Then he would be 18 after the end of the year and be able to choose what to do with his life. When you turned 14, you had two options. You could go to a normal school and go about things in a civilian manner, or you could sign up to be in the Academy and get your schooling and be taught how to fight in a field of your choice. Fox himself chose to go to the Academy and to learn to be a pilot just like his father.
The rooms were nothing more that a gathering of work stations, with a teacher's desk and monitor board up front. Fox and the other 4th years were particularly frustrated because their tests were always the hardest. Fox himself was on the very last problem, brow much more furrowed in frustration than five minutes ago. The question was what was the G Diffuser named for. Some might think it stupid, but a pilot had to know their equipment. Fox thought, and thought, and then the answer hit him.
*G diffuser engines are named based on the concept of working against gravity, why do I always forget that?*
Fox typed in his answer, looked over the test quickly, and pressed the send key. He quietly breathed a sigh of content. He was so exhausted because of all the studying and from sitting down for a couple hours. He also noticed he was the first one to be finished, as the teacher was asleep up until his test was sent to the teachers terminal.
He was very tempted to stretch and have a smug grin on his face, but he knew very well that wasn't acceptable. So he just sat and daydreamed. He also thought about things, like he recalled his dad was scheduled to be back tomorrow, and that it was also a day off that day because of the testing. Then another week, and he was off for Christmas, spending time at home with his father. Basically, Fox was feeling most content with things, knowing he could be lazy for a few weeks one week from now.
Out of the blue he noticed something at the front of the room. His teacher, Seargent Stripeton was receiving a communications on his terminal. He also notice he was awful wide eyed while he listened. Seargent Stripeton was an orange haired cat person with green eyes who had stripes that were a darker shade of orange. He was a little strict, but he was still a fairly good teacher.
Fox himself couldn't help but hear what Stripeton was whispering into the terminal. He was so bored he attempted to make out what was being said. He only heard a few phrases. "Sir, who do you need to see?" "Oh my…" "I see…" This was all Fox could make out from what was whispered. He began to wonder what the whole conversation was about. Just as he wondered that, Stripeton got up and walked quickly down the aisle to Fox, coming to his side and was face to face with him.
"Mr. McCloud, are you finished with your test?" whispered Stripeton
For a moment, Fox thought he was being scolded for listening in or something, but then, he thought he noticed some sense of urgency in Stripeton's voice.
"Yes sir, I am finished."
"Would you please follow me?"
Fox just did what he was told to do and followed Stripeton out of the room. Once they were outside, Stripeton closed the door and heaved a sigh. There was no one in the hallway at the moment, so they just talked freely.
"Fox, the General wishes to see you in his office."
At this comment, Fox went completely wide-eyed. His teacher was obviously referring to the one person in charge of the entire Cornerian army and headmaster of the Academy, General Pepper. He wondered why he would want to see someone as low as Fox, a mere cadet at the Academy.
"Sir, why does he wish to see me?"
"I do not know. You aren't in trouble or anything, but he said it was of utmost importance that you come to his office ASAP. That's all I was told. If it's that important, then you best get down there. Don't bother coming back. Class is to end after everyone finished the test, so consider yourself dismissed from class. Oh, and there will be no homework."
"Yes sir."
After giving a brief salute to Stripton, Fox began to walk as fast as he could out of the gray colored classroom complex, and begin the walk across the Academy grounds to get to the General's office. The Academy grounds were beautiful, with statues of various famous figures, bright flowers, green grass, and the occasional fountain flowing with crystal clear water. The clean pathways led every which way to the various facilities in the Academy area.
The path Fox took led him to a place students rarely visited, the Administration Building. It was not the biggest building, but because of its purposes as Academy administration housing, it was still fairly well sized. Fox proceeded up the large steps leading up to the glass doors of the building still bewildered as to why the General wishes to speak with him.
As he walked to the glass door, he saw right in the middle of the lobby General Pepper, pacing about the area, his boots clicking on the marble floor. Pepper looked up, and quickly walked over to Fox. Fox was very quick to give his best salute, knowing that Pepper was the highest authority in the entire military. Pepper just returned the salute, and gave Fox a firm handshake.
"It's an honor to meet you sir."
"Yes, indeed. You're probably wondering why you're here right?"
"Why yes sir, I am very curious about that."
"Hmm…well, I'd tell you, but I am in no position to do so." he said with a certain grim sounding air in his voice
"What's this about sir?"
"Just follow me to my office. There is a friend of yours their. I kind of wish we could've met under different circumstances."
Fox just wondered who this person could possibly be, and why Pepper talked about circumstances, what was it all about? He didn't understand one bit of the whole situation.
He followed Pepper up to an elevator, which lead them to a higher part of the building, where all the top brass' offices were. Then they walked through one last door that was a little ways down the well-guarded hall. It was a typical office for high brass, lots of space, many decorations, big windows, and also a good-sized work terminal, all a shade of gray. There was a set of chairs, and in one of those chairs was someone Fox knew. It was Peppy, but not with his usual wise looking face, but a face of extreme grimness and concern. Peppy got up slowly out of his chair and walked over to Fox who was still confused about everything. Fox was curious as to what Peppy would have to say to Fox that was so important, but he still was ready to listen.
"Peppy? What are you doing here?"
"Well, I have some bad news…." he said in that same air Pepper had earlier
It was then that Fox thought of something important. If it had to do with anything besides Star Fox, someone else would've told it, and there was never anything that was bad news in Star Fox except the sticky situations his father tells him about, and now the thought of his father came to him knowing that usually if anyone did visit him it was him.
"Where's dad?"
"Fox, I …"
There was a long silence as Peppy seemed to try to find his words, and Fox didn't like it one bit. He knew something was wrong, and he wondered if his father was involved. He began to fear something had gone wrong, that perhaps his father was hurt. Looks of great worry began to spread over his face, and insides felt heavy.
"Peppy, did something…"
"Fox, I really hate to be telling you this, but…your father…your father was…killed."
The instance the last word was spoken, it felt to Fox as if someone rammed a fully loaded assault tank into his stomach, and his jaw half dropped. His worst thoughts, ones pushed into the recesses of his mind over the years, came true and hit him hard. He was being told his father was dead, the one thing he never, ever wanted to hear as long as he walked Corneria. His mind and heart just simply wouldn't take a bit of it, nor think about it, and a sinking, pit-like feeling had struck him within.
"There…must be some kind of mistake. Maybe he was just shot down or he escaped or-"
"I'm sorry Fox, I went over those also. I saw his ship get blown to oblivion in front of my own eyes. Nothing happened after that. I'm …so sorry."
Fox was having a hard time swallowing it all. In fact, he couldn't take it at all. He just stood there completely shocked and almost frozen. Then, he wanted to get away, away from the horrible thing he just heard.
"Will you excuse me please?"
Before anyone could say a word, Fox ran straight out of the office to the elevator.
"Fox! Please, come back!" shouted Pepper in an attempt to stop Fox. Pepper began to run towards Fox, but Peppy grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him.
"Sir, let me handle him."
All Pepper could do was slowly nod in approval. After that, Peppy set off after Fox just fast enough to shadow him
*****
Fox was running through the campus as fast as he could towards his dorm. He was one of the fastest runners in the school, so everything just seemed to rush by as he kept juggling the information over and over again. At the moment, it was all he could think about.
*No, no way dad could be dead. He had to escape somehow! Maybe it was just a small explosion and Peppy didn't see it, or maybe his ejection wasn't detected or……no.*
Fox's heart finally had to accept the thoughts from the back of his mind. His mind knew very well what Peppy said. He saw the ship right in front of him explode into nothing. There was no escape. When Fox realized this, he began crying, and felt hot tears forming within his eyes. He was able to hold back most of his tears, but some still dribbled down his face. He was somehow a little glad someone wasn't around to see him; he didn't feel like talking to anyone about anything. He finally arrived at his place of residence, Dorm Block B.
He got into the foyer and headed straight to the elevator, still holding back his tears. He arrived at the 4th floor, and ran down the gray, tiled hallway to his room that was not that far from the elevator, Dorm #407.
He punched in his key code and unlocked the sliding door. After that he promptly barged right in and pressed the close button to close the door. His dorm wasn't very much. He was one of the lucky few that got his own dorm. It just had the standard issue bed, desk, table, gray coat of paint, and a set of chairs. Fox ended up adding a computer, shelves of books, a TV, a game system, his models, and whatever other personal possessions he had.
Once the door was closed, he fell back against the adjoining wall with great force, and slipped down slowly into a curled up position. His breathing was very heavy, and he was sweating all over. His throat and his eyes burned, and his mouth was dry. There was also some kind of empty tingly feeling inside of him.
Finally he could no longer hold back his tears. He had a couple gasps escape his throat before he completely broke down and began to sob and whimper, and placed his face into his hands. For the next few minutes, all he did was cry into his hands. He couldn't hold anything back, he simply couldn't. The entire world, which was laid before him just a while ago, had been completely shattered into nothing in one swift blow. It was something that hit him too hard, too fast, in a way he could never handle.
Hot tears filled his hands and covered his face, and hard, choked sobs came out of his throat, every one making his throat dryer and sorer. He could not stop, and let it all out for a while, before there was a sound from the door, knocking. Fox just ignored it. The knocking kept persisting, and finally a voice came from the door.
"Hey Fox, you in there?"
Fox recognized that voice instantly. He knew who it was. He slowly lifted his head, trying his best not to cry anymore.
"P-Peppy? T-that you?" stuttered out Fox.
"Yeah, it's me…can I come in?"
"It's…unlocked."
Peppy let himself into the dormitory. He promptly closed the door. He at first didn't see Fox, but then he saw him sitting against the wall crying. Fox took his tearstained face out of his hands for one moment to look at his guest, and then buried his face yet again to continue crying.
"Hey Fox, how about you sit somewhere more comfortable so that we can talk?"
Fox just continued to sit there, but now he wrapped his arms around his legs to bring them close, turning himself into a curled ball as he continued to sob into his knees. Peppy just sighed and pulled him up by the shoulders, slowly getting him up and leading him to one of the chairs by the table. Then he sat himself down. There were no words between them for another few minutes. Peppy didn't know what to say, and Fox sat there, tears still quickly flowing onto his face. Peppy then decided on what to say to initiate the conversation a little.
"Fox…I'm real sorry about what happened. I know that it's probably a tad hard to take. I just wish I could've done something, but-"
"Then why the fuckin hell didn't you do anything?!" exploded Fox into Peppy's face.
There was yet more silence, except this time it was from shock. Peppy was shocked at Fox's sudden outburst; Fox was shocked that he said such a thing to one of his old colleagues.
"I'm…sorry Peppy. I didn't …mean to…"
"Hey, it's okay. I…kinda know how people react to this kinda thing. Anyways….what happened was some enemy fighters swarmed us. When we both got into trouble, we found out Pigma was a spy for Andross. Apparently, Andross started his own army. So we were betrayed and we tried to pull off an attack. Then out of nowhere this huge ship popped out of nowhere and used a tractor beam on your dad.
"While that was going on, the ship charged up a laser cannon, and …well…"
More silence came before Fox started sobbing again, however his cries were louder, and his tears more profuse. Peppy put his arm around Fox's shoulder to try and get him to calm down.
"Hey, things will work out. If you need to, go ahead and cry as much as you have to."
Fox looked up slowly from his hand to speak. His lower jaw was quivering, and his blue-green eyes had this look that Peppy didn't like. Besides the tears, there was this deep dark look, a look Peppy has seen over the years in dozens of people who's loved ones were killed, a look of sadness, despair, anger, confusion, grievance, and much fear.
"I…I just don't know what to do Peppy. I just don't know at all. Where do I go from here?" sobbed Fox.
"I have no idea either. I'd say just try to move on somehow. It might take awhile but we all move on eventually."
"I…I feel afraid all of a sudden. So…afraid, and alone…I'm the only family I got now. Who will I turn to now? First mom is gone, now dad…I've got no one else."
Peppy remembered these things very well. Fox had no relatives. The few he had are all dead, either because of age or natural causes, or from military work. He remembered how James and Fox were affected when Fox's mother died. Peppy was with them at the time to offer support. She died from some kind of cancer that was found too late to have anything done. James was never the same after that. And Fox was just 6 years old at the time, and no one could quite protect him from the horror of it.
Now Fox was alone with the death of his father. There was no one right next to him who could give him a hug and say everything would work out for the best. He remembered when Fox was crying when he first got the news from his father. His father had to kneel down and give him a hug and reassurance. They both cried then. It was a real sad moment for all. After a couple months, things went back to a more pleasant atmosphere.
James was able to overcome it after a little while, he was experienced with losing people he knew from serving in the Cornerian military. As with Fox, he was so young it wasn't too hard for James to cheer him up. The two got used to the new set up and life proceeded on as usual. But now, Fox's life took a major turn that he wasn't quite ready for.
"Fox, I'm sure that me and your friends will be willing to help you out. That's what friends are for."
"…You're right, I guess." Fox said quietly.
Then all of a sudden, Fox started to shiver a lot, wrapping his arms around himself as he shook. Peppy couldn't help but wonder about this
"Why are you shivering like that? Are you cold?"
"Very. So…so cold."
Peppy looked over at the thermostat by the door. It flashed 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Peppy knew what was going on. Very many people start to feel like that after some kind of trauma. For Fox, hearing of his father's death was quite traumatic. A loud beeping that was coming from his watch interrupted Peppy's line of thought. He looked down at it, and it read 5:30.
"Ah geez, I'm sorry but I gotta go now. I have to talk to the General again."
Peppy got up to go, but Fox just sat there still shivering a little bit, trying to make sense out of everything. Peppy was growing more worried by the minute. He was concerned that all this might consume Fox's life. Then he remembered something he had to tell Fox.
"Just to tell you, one of your Father's orders was to look after you so I'll be stopping by every now and then to check up on you."
"Sure, whatever…"
"Ok…I guess I'll see you later then."
Peppy let himself out the door, looking back over his shoulder at the saddened form of Fox before he walked out of the room, door closing behind him. Now Fox was alone. He sat and digested everything, still recovering from the shock, his head still spinning from the blow. It felt as if someone had taken his spirit and shattered it to bits, bits so small they couldn't be put back together. His body continued to tremor, tears still ran down his face, and sobs left his throat. Eventually, as he failed to recover, he felt with resounding force, something within him and his mind snap.
"Aaaaahhhhhhg!"
Fox screamed at the top of his lungs in complete and utter fiery rage. He knocked over his chair to the floor and charged to the nearest wall. He started repeatedly bringing his fist crashing into a wall with punches of greatly increasing, unimaginable strength, fueled by his fury, which was also expressed as he cursed with each blow.
"Goddamn fucking piece of…!"
He pounded away at the wall continually with no stopping, tears running down his face and curses coming out of his mouth, cursing nothing. This kept on and on. He began to forget everything except the fact his father was dead, gone forever, his remaining family gone with him, and that he now felt completely alone in the vast universe, completely isolated. Now time was irrelevant. He forgot about it completely, and even forgot the pain his fists were feeling, the parch ness in his throat and the blood that throbbed through his body. He was going at the wall for hours. It began at 5:35, and went on up to 9. All evening people passing by heard something from the room, but couldn't make it out because of the sound proof walls.
Finally, at about 9:15, he began to weaken. His punches became very light, as did his sobs and curses. Finally, he just about collapsed from sheer exhaustion from all of the effort and gave up with one last pound to the wall to the wall, before he slowly slid down the wall into a half crumpled heap. He was breathing hard with great exhaustion, not even noticing the few scrapes he had on his fists from hitting a corner, nor the bruises. He would've slept right there, but instead he crawled through the now dark room to his bed, using what little strength he had to lift himself up onto it, and fell face first into the pillow. He started sobbing into the pillow.
"Why dad…why did…you die?" he sobbed.
Fox kept crying up into the late night, and fell asleep still crying unconsciously.
******