Chapter 3

On board

Fox awoke with a stretch. For the first time since the team banded together, Fox had slept well. His apparent payday had fueled his dreams, among other "guy-like" things . He was awoken rather rudely by Falco barging in the room, causing Fox to become fully aware of the fact that the radio was on full blast, "In other news a local biker gang was arrested for questioning for supposedly stealing secret military aircraft. The Protowing Walkers, or PWs as they're called, were part of a secret defense program but the idea was canned because of flaws in the design." The female news reporter was saying.

"I got em from my cousin I'm tellin' ya." One of the bikers was saying

"Hey, watch the hair." Another was saying

"Hmph." Was all that was heard from the third

Suddenly, the radio cut away, and the phone rang. Peppy, who had been trying to reawake Slippy from a shocked trance, picked it up, "Hello?" Peppy asked

"Step outside now. All four of you are under arrest!" the voice barked

Fox's ears perked, "Damn it! I thought saving those airmen's lives would be enough!"

"We walk a strange moral path Fox, you know that."

"You should also know morality's a freaking joke to Lylat's finest." Falco said rising up and coming out with his paws up as the others did the same.

Fox's eyes widened. Nearly a dozen soldiers had invaded the perimeter, six of them holding out guns, the other six examining the PWs, most of them trying to climb into Slippy's. Fox could see General Henry, an evil grin set across his face, "Don't worry McCloud, we aren't going to bite, unless you do." Henry growled

"We have no intention of doing that sir. We had no idea the PWs were stolen, we won them in a poker game!" Peppy explained in an almost pleading voice.

In response to the older man's begging, Henry let out a booming, hardy laugh, "If I had a nickle I heard that everytime from high-grade scumbags like you I'd be richer than Richard Phoenix himself."

Now there's a name I didn't want to hear again Fox thought as the rest of the team shot him concerned looks, as they too were familiar with that name, and more importantly, what it meant to Fox.

General Henry knew he'd struck a nerve within the four mercenaries somehow, and decided to roll with it, "Now, as much as I'd like to arrest you slapnuts right here and now for stealing, Pepper apparently sees potential in ya, and wants you to work for us."

"What about Steven Wisp's report?" Peppy asked

"I saw it, and I discharged him, and his ward Grey. Didn't mean to muck up your little plea bargain." Henry said with a mischevious grin on his face.

"You really think we're gonna help you guys out after you ruin our friends' lives? Man, you're dumber than I thought!" Falco shouted.

"Shut up before I skin you alive merc." Henry yelled putting extra hate on the word merc.

"M-my dad…" Slippy quivered

Henry let forth a huge, booming laugh, "Beltino Toad pro-created? HAHAHAHA! I should've known it from the start, you have his bug ass eyes.. Only he could breed a useless hoodlum like you, who could only function around other hoodlums with useless fathers."

Falco and Fox looked at each other and nodded, ready to double-team General Henry. However, one glare from Peppy de-railed that train of thought I'll get him later, regardless of what the old man thinks Falco snarled inwardly

Meanwhile, one of the soldiers jogged up to Henry holding something in his hand, "Hey, check this out sir!" he yelled eagerly snapping a salute

Henry took the black microchip from him and looked up at his underling, "Where did you get this…?"

Slippy cleared his throat, "From my ship General. It's forcefield analyzer sir. It can allow you to see how much shield energy is left in a flagship." Slippy said, smirking confidently, "Got the design from my dear old dad. Not your average hoodlum could build something like that."

Henry blinked and grabbed a radio, "They're cooperating. Bring it around." the bull ordered, although he seemed to do so begrudgingly

With that, a vehicle that looked like a black armored van on treads came from around the rental home, "How could we not have noticed that before?" Falco muttered before Henry motioned the team in.

As if on cue, Henry stepped into the driver's seat, Fox's team sitting in the back. The dozen soldiers formed up in front of the vehicle in two even lines, "MARCH!" Henry yelled as the troop started to move.

A few moments passed, and Fox decided to speak up, "I'm Fox McCloud, leader of the Star Fox Team."

"How do you do?" Henry greeted in an extremely rude manner.

"What exactly do you need us for General?" Peppy asked

"It's simple. We're attempting an all out onslaught on Venom and the planets Andross has claimed. We want you guys ahead of us, to make our job a little easier."

"You want us to cripple Andross' infrastructure?" Peppy asked

"No old man. All you really are are people who foolishly plunged headlong into the battlefield for the money with stolen ships, or so the news will say."

"Speaking of stolen, shouldn't we have brought the Protowings along?" seethed Fox

Henry let out a booming laugh, nearly hitting his head on the steering console in the process, "Y-you really think those pieces of crap are the best we have? In fact, we've got few brand new jets we've been saving just for you."

"If you're so intent about planting a story about us, why don't we just take the Walkers to die?" Falco shouted

"Because those ships were linked to your smuggler friends, and they have been apprehended, along with the ships in question."

"Not that I don't trust you or anything General, but has this been cleared with the Council?" Fox asked the general in a leaderly tone

Henry scoffed, "The part that I've explained to you has. As luck would have it, that's also the part I actually agreed to. General Pepper has his own plans for you."

"But…"

"The Council don't know shit kid. They're too busy in their own little bubble in The Chambers to care about the problems of the working man. But, as much as I hate the Council's plan, I also hate Pepper's, so it's a choice of two evils. You're gonna take orders from me an' Pepper, an' enjoy it You got that maggots?"

Everyone agreed, except for Falco.

"Call me a maggot again and I'm done."

"Oh, like we need a punk like you?" Henry yelled, "And if you do decide to walk on me, I could arrest everyone on the mercenary business alone. Those three would have it easy. You on the other hand have enough federal charges on your record to justify you being put on a Meteo labor camp until you died."

"Federal?" Fox, Peppy, and Slippy all gasped at the same time.

There was no doubt that Falco Lombardi had a regretable past, the three knew that. Falco himself had referenced that he had lead a gang, but had kept the details secret. No one had ever assumed it was anything as serious as the Katinian General was saying.

"For the sake of keeping my past in the past, I'll stay" mumbled a defeated Falco

No one said anything for the rest of the ride.

For about the next half hour, no conversation was made. Suddenly, the vehicle came to a halt. All four men awoke with a start. They soon realized they were at a Spaceport! The port itself however, looked old an abandoned with a "Do Not Enter, Condemned" sign at the front door

"Just go through the gate on your left and the shuttle will take you to Corneria. The, guards at the doors will take you to Pepper's office."

The team eagerly hopped out. As Fox stepped through the gate, he sighed. Something told him that this was the job that would put him in the place he wanted to be…