Chapter 4.

Fox speedwalked through one desolate hall after another, his every step in rhythm with his heartbeat. Everywhere he looked outside, hundreds of vehicles, minus their owners, packed the parking lots.

The way I figure it, there are about two people for every car out there. Oh, wait a minute. Most of 'em have to be bringing their families, so that's about four people per car!

A pair of heavy metal doors flew open at the command of Fox's sinewy arms. He entered a corridor lined with circuit breakers and white brick. Spotty phrases and words from his speech hovered inside his mind, unable to contain themselves and form complete thoughts. As Fox came closer to a second pair of doors, a few voices entering the area gave way to a whole crowd. The moment he barreled through the doors, he froze in his tracks.

Oh, great!

Paying no attention to the limousines parked along the side of the complex, Fox gawked at the throng of clamoring TV reporters and cameramen. With ease and stillness, James McCloud and the muscular mercenaries standing on both sides of him answered the paparazzi's frantic questions. As Fox looked on in silence, his headlight eyes and agape mouth gave way to twinkling eyes and a small smile.

That's my dad, all right. Always calm and collected.

"Mr. McCloud!" hollered a reporter, waving an arm in the air.

In response, James nodded and motioned to the eager canine.

"Mr. McCloud, your return to Corneria after two years' duty is indeed a long time coming. Now, we have heard reports of something else prompting your attention. What can you tell us about that, Sir?

"Well, in all respects, that is hardly worthy of major attention," he spoke, his voice deep and composed and his eyes twinkling through his sunglasses. "The only matter concerning me, as if it even should in light of what my team and I have seen on Zoness, is to maintain this great campus and settle into--peace and--and--quiet--"

James's hazel eyes strayed off toward a set of double doors, and his voice faded into growing silence. After a pause, the rest of the Star Fox team followed suit, the reporters catching on and staring at the robed figure at the end of the lot.

James piped, "I'll have time for more questions later tonight. Excuse me."

In a heartbeat, the paparazzi broke into another clamor.

"I told you, I will be happy to answer more questions later!" James shouted over the noise. "Turn the cameras off and head toward the conference room with the rest of the team. Thank you."

Right before Fox's tearing eyes, James walked from the podium and, unknown to the media, flashed a broad smile. Without a second thought, Fox leapt from the sidewalk and rushed into his father's arms.

"Son," sighed James, pulling his son close. "It's so great to see you again."

"You're home, Dad," wept Fox, hiding his contorted face in his father's massive shoulder. "You're home."

"I am, Fox," sighed James, a single tear rolling down his nose. "I'm home."

"Dad, I'm--" Fox tried to continue amid choking sobs. "I'm sorry I'm acting like this!"

"Shh-h-h. Don't be sorry," whispered James. "And you thought you wouldn't cry."

Fox pulled himself away from James and stared into his eyes. "Dad, you--you're crying, too?"

With a few nods of his head, James bit his lip and sniffled. "Son, during that mission, that combat, there were so many times I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Dad," Fox whimpered, his hands trembling.

"But, now," continued James, "I get to come home and watch you graduate from college! I mean, look at you! Red valedictory robe and hat and everything! I know how hard you worked to get this honor, and your grades prove it! Do you know how proud I am of you? Do you know how proud your mother would be?"

With a cold glance, Fox urged, "Dad, please don't bring up Mom. Not today."

James took a step backward and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry." He wiped a stray tear from his cheek and added, "Did you know the whole family's parked out front?"

"Yeah. They're all here. My brother, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Teresa, Uncle Louis--all of them! They saw me earlier, and they were all jumping and crying and--it was almost a little scary. I can't believe they all made it!"

"I can't, either, but they're here, and when I talked with them when I pulled in, they were jumping and crying and--oh, man! You should have seen it! And your friends had to be stoked when they heard you won the award."

"Yeah. So stoked that they--let's just say they downed a pair of two-liter Mountain Dew bottles by themselves, and they were buzzed on sugar and caffeine all night."

"Oh, great," replied James with a chuckle. "But, besides that, Principal Hare knew you were going to be elected valedictorian. In fact, when General Pepper heard about it, he told me, 'Jim, you must introduce me to your son the minute he's finished with his valedictory speech!' "

"Wait. General Pepper? General John Pepper? The man who rebuilt the Academy after that fire?"

"And the man who led the 1974 Battle of Cerinia against Andross and who leads the Cornerian Defense Forces--and who wants to meet you, Fox McCloud, in person."

His mouth agape, Fox took a step backward, and his tail slumped over. "I--I--I don't know what I did to deserve this," he droned, a huge smile spreading across his face.

With a breath, James said, "Son, why don't you? Fox--I can't tell you enough--I am so proud of you! You have your life totally under control, and look at all you have laid ahead of you! General Pepper is bound and determined to make you a member of Star Fox--and that's been your dream job! When I've been away, you have singlehandedly led your life and kept it on the right track. You're even helping Krystal, who's never known her parents, to stay strong and focused in her life! Any parent would wish you were their son!--Fox, what's wrong? You look a little pale."

Without warning, Fox's smile collapsed. His eyes darted back and forth, and his hands continued to tremble. His ears heard overflowing love and pride, but his mind pictured the night he and Krystal spent. In a flash, it forced his stomach to rise in his throat.

"Wait until you're married, son. It is the only way."

"I guarantee you, if you sleep with someone you're not married to, you don't know what you're letting yourself in for. Save yourself the trouble, because let me tell you--there is, and it is more devastating than we think."

"Dad, what happens?" asked sixteen-year-old Fox. James replied, "At worst? Death. At best? Heartache, guilt, emptiness, loss--and the list goes on."

"Nothing's wrong," replied Fox, breaking from his trance. "I'm just--just nervous."

"About what?"

"Uh--giving that speech." With a sheepish chuckle, Fox added, "I can't believe it's almost 7:00."

"Yeah. You'd better get on inside and do a last rehearsal." James beamed a warm smile and said, "Go get 'em, Fox. I can't wait to hear it."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks," stuttered Fox, whirling around. He sped back into the building, his heart pounding and his pulse beating in his ears.

"Fox, I am so proud of you! Any parent would wish you were their son!"

The sound of Fox's shallow breaths bounced off the plate-glass windows, the sweat upon his forehead shimmering in the soft overhead lights. His sandy fur tingled from the heat, and the white brick walls surrounding him looked as if they stood a hundred yards away. Every bulb shone on him like a spotlight tracking him and illuminating his every move.

"My uncle got involved in this kind of stuff. He slept with someone who wasn't his wife; this is his fifth marriage, and now, it's falling apart. Then, my friend--my friend of five years, this totally cool auto mechanic--he went too far with his girlfriend, and now, she has to put off going to college because she's pregnant with twins. She and my friend are a mess!"

Fox barreled into the confines of the men's room and fell upon the row of marble sinks. He buried his head in his hands, not daring to confront the mirror above him. Without making a sound, he mouthed the words of his speech. Every blurted sentence became fragmented and repeated, and words intermingled with other words.

"Da-a-ah!" he cried, lifting his head to look in the mirror. "Come on, Fox! Focus! 'I'm grateful for this--' Agh! No! That doesn't start with those words!"

Fox mouthed a curse and uncovered his wristwatch. 6:53.

"Okay. I've got a few minutes before the ceremony starts. How do I--? That's it. Smile, nod--wow. I do have a good smile. Now, I started with--what was that icebreaker Slippy suggested? Oh, yeah, yeah. I just make it up on the spur of the moment. Then, I go on to--yeah, that's it.

" 'When I first stepped into the college, my eyes were the size of dinner plates. I had no friends here to coach me through the halls, my dad was away from Corneria, and I was so scared, I thought the first thing I'd study was a refresher course on throwing up.' " With a half-hearted chuckle, Fox added, "This is getting good. What time is it?"

He stole another glance at his wristwatch.

6:53.

"Damn it! What's happening? The batteries aren't dead in this thing! If they were, this would be in the trash!"

Stay calm, Fox. Nothing's happening. Just keep rehearsing.

"How should I word that last paragraph? Maybe I'd better change it. 'I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am that you all elected me valedictorian. It's a huge honor for me, and there's no way I can take all the credit for it. I want to thank'--oh, yeah. Gotta motion to them. 'I want to thank Falco, Slippy, Bill, Dash, and Katt, the best friends I could ever have. Krystal, I couldn't imagine a better girlfriend than you'--scrap that. I'll work with the original. 'Finally, I want to give special thanks to someone. He's the superintendent of the Academy, the founder of Team Star Fox, and my father--James McCloud.' "

"Why are you trying to act as if I don't know the truth?"

On cue, Fox looked up from his reflection and peered into the corner of the mirror, his forehead furrowed and his mouth hanging open. His widening eyes beheld a muscular vulpine folding his arms across his chest.

"How could you and Krystal sleep together that night, Fox? And to think that you tried so hard to keep that from me! Had you forgotten all the times I warned you?"

Fox geared up to argue, but a mere few words spilt from his lips.

"What the hell?"

"I am ashamed of you, Fox. I am ashamed to even think you would do this! God doesn't look too kindly on people like you!"

"No. I'm not going to take this."

"You slept with her, you swore, you disobeyed me when you knew you were doing wrong! You are condemned, Fox!"

"ENOUGH!"

The roar in Fox's voice fled to every corner of the room and dissolved into thin air. The overhead fluorescent lights persisted in casting shadows across his furrowed face. As he stared into the mirror, his fists unclenched, and his teeth hid behind his thin lips. The reflection belonged to him.

"I'm not condemned," he uttered. "I have done nothing wrong. I just--have to get on with my speech--then, I'll be fine."

He stole another glance at his wristwatch.

6:53.

"Damn it!" he cried, hammering a fist upon the counter. "Never mind. 'Dang it!' There! Are you happy?"

In a fatal second, the display went blank.

"I give up," enunciated Fox, unclamping the watch. With an exasperated huff, he hurled the watch into the garbage can and marched out of the room, but not before remembering to slide his feet into his shoes.