A/N: I won't say a thing, I currently posses no morale enough to apologize for the wait. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimers: all of the characters depicted in this story are owned by Nintendo, except for some OC's that belong to me.
Chapter 7
The dinner, the party, the attack and the plan. (Part 2)
Falco was in the kitchen eating a bowl of bird food (yes, bird food) and some eggs (yes, he's cannibalistic and eats eggs) , he was having a mental fight because a part of him as happy of the quietness and not having a green toad around, and the other part of his mind actually missed his friend. It was Friday, the day Peppy was going was going to have his award ceremony and everything, in a few hours him, Fox and Krystal were supposed to go looking for Lucy at the spaceport, then the avian looked up to see Fox enter the kitchen although this time he was dressed just in case.
"Speak of the devil I guess…" he muttered for only himself to hear. Fox grabbed something from the fridge and sat across Falco neither of them talked, when they were done both went to their respective bedrooms, this sure was an awkward morning.
A few hours later…
Civilian Ship Oredia
He looked outside the window and there was in all its magnificence the garden planet Corneria, he was deep in thought, thinking about what he was ordered to do, he didn't know if it was the best or if he even wanted to but he had to do what was ordered because he was a simple bounty hunter.
"Are we already there?" the female voice of the animal next to him asked, he was angry, she brought him out of his thoughts that rabbit sitting next to him, but he didn't give her a piece of his mind, he just nodded but never stopped looking the window.
"Thanks" Lucy told him, she felt very awkward and a bit scared; the animal sitting with her never talked always looked outside the window and was completely covered in black robes 'Thank God it's only minutes for arrival' she thought. Through the speakers the captain announced they had entered Corneria's atmosphere. Minutes later they arrived everyone grabbed their luggage and left once outside Lucy began searching for any familiar faces and there it was Fox to his sides were an avian whose name she didn't remember and a vixen she haven't seen before, sadly her father was nowhere to be found, she quickly put that thought aside and ran towards the vulpine when she got to where he was she gave him a friendly hug which he returned, after seconds they brought apart.
"Lucy, how have you been?" Fox asked.
"Very well Fox, I started teaching astrophysics in Fichina not too long ago" she said while she moved a string of hair from her face.
"Oh yeah, your father told me about that" Lucy turned to look at the vulpine's companions. He noticed this.
"Oh right, this is Falco you must remember him from the academy…" the avian muttered a little 'Yo' to her "… and this is Krystal, I saved her on a mission a year ago and then she joined the team" she also said hello.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Now tell me Fox, where is my father, I mean couldn't he spare some time to see me?" she was sad and upset.
"He told us that he tried everything he could but the, what was the word he used?" Krystal was saying and asked the boys.
"I think he called them bastards without a family" Falco grinned when saying it.
"Yeah right, but don't worry, you'll get to see him soon." Krystal reassured the
Eventually they left in the Hover 2.0, after minutes they arrived in the Civil Section of headquarters, again, in less than five days, inside the shopping mall area; yeah those headquarters are freaking huge like a small city; there was a store with clothes for parties and inside was Peppy surrounded by dressmakers taking his measures while others had already begun making his suit.
The team headed inside and father and daughter were finally reunited with a big hug.
"Hello Lucy, sorry I couldn't be in the spaceport but with all this party and things which they are preparing the same day of the event, there was no way for me to escape" Peppy explained.
"Don't worry, I'm just glad my papa is becoming the great general of Corneria, I bet mama would be proud of you" Lucy said holding one tear trying to come out.
"Yeah Vivian would be proud" Peppy held back a tear too, and put his glasses back to their position because they moved a bit. For the sake of safe conversation Lucy changed the subject.
"Come to think of it…" she turned to see Star Fox "… Where's Slippy? I wanted to say hi to him as well. Fox was the one to answer.
"Well Slippy went on a vacation trip to Aquas and didn't say when he was returning"
"Well, then I suppose it will have to wait" she went towards Krystal and made a signal with her head, both started to leave. The guys looked at her weird.
"Where are you going?" Fox asked.
"We are going to get ready for the ceremony Fox, or do you expect us to go like this?" Lucy answered matter-of-factly almost like if Fox made the most stupid question ever.
"Yes and we also need some treatment for our fur and hair, I already called Katt; and after many tries I was able to convince her to come with us, so see you later" Krystal said this time and both waved goodbye, and they took the Hover 2.0, man everyone likes that car.
"What do we do now?" Falco asked.
"I suppose we should find something to wear at the ceremony or… something, I mean they are right, we can't show up like this" Fox said.
"Why can't we?" Falco retorted annoyed.
"Listen you two I've been here all morning so if I had to stand this hell, you also must have some, so go shopping unless you want to make a bad impression in front of everyone and especially in front of you know who" Peppy said to them with a serious look on his face.
"Whatever do you mean Peppy?" both guys asked at the same time and then glared at each other.
"Oh come on, Falco I know you took Katt out on a date yesterday therefore you will try and do another move with her today, and what can't I say about you and Krystal, Fox" Peppy had to admit kids were slow these nowadays.
Although neither of them would admit it out loud those were exactly their plans for the night, so both left annoyed and went to find something that made look better leaving a grinning Peppy behind.
More hours later…
Military Area of Headquarters
Many animals had already gathered in the huge atrium with capacity for almost 2000 of them, of course Star Fox had first row in the event and they were doing their best to not attract any unnecessary attention so they remained on their seats until the whole thing began.
On the stage the others generals were proudly standing, Peppy came after them on the usual general clothes and he stood next to the stand and the mic, lastly arrived the president and a little mouse with the medals in a pillow.
"It is of great pleasure to see you all gathered here today my friends, today is a day of celebration. Just a few days ago the Cornerian Fleet launched an invasion towards the Aparoid Homeworld and destroyed those bugs for good, sadly we lost many good soldiers on the war but they knew the risks and knew they wouldn't die in vain as long as the battle was won. One of those fellow soldiers is General Pepper who has succumbed to a terrible illness thus left unable to fulfill his duties as General; but my beloved Corneria can't remain without a good leadership on this dark days so as fast as I could I searched for an animal with the experience, the bravery and the willpower to carry such great responsibility and Corneria, that man is standing right next to me, so Peppy Hare, senior member of the Star Fox team I present to you with the medals of honor, compassion and heroism the symbols of anyone worthy of leading Corneria's army with wisdom in times of peace and without doubts or regret in the battle…" the president left the stand then grabbed each medal and put them on Peppy's coat when he was done, he went back to the stand "… My friends of Corneria, I have the honor of presenting to you Grand General Peppy Hare, General of the Cornerian Army" before he could finish talking the atrium was filled with clapping and cheering from the crowd, Peppy cursed a bit because some tears of happiness were coming down his eyes, the same thing happened with the members of Star Fox. Peppy eventually climbed the stand to say his speech, after minutes the room was dead silent.
"Well, first I'd like to say, thank you Mr. President and thank you my fellow general friends, thank you for choosing me for this…" he sighed and looked up "… so many years ago when my friend James McCloud, may he rest in peace, and I formed the team Star Fox, I must admit that I never imagined that I would become the general of Corneria. But I guess fate knows how to surprise us…" he chuckled a bit and everyone followed for some reason "… and it's exactly for that reason that we can't stop being vigilant, but I assure you all that no matter whatever fate throws at us we will respond to it the best way we can and triumph, because that's how we are, and just like my friend once said, we must never give up no matter what happens, over the years this has also become my own belief so I promise that for the Lylat System, for the people, for my friends and my daughter, I will never ever give up on you no matter whatever fate wants to throw at me!" the atrium was filled with clapping when Peppy realized he was carried away in his thoughts during that speech but everything was in the past now, finally he came down and the other said a few things to Peppy, surprisingly none of the Star Fox members was asked to say something perhaps it was because the president didn't want this to extend too much; then in an hour and a half the event was over and a selected group of 100 went to a party hall with tables and chairs dressed beautifully and food, a lot of food, everyone sat to enjoy the party and others went to congratulate the general or to simply talk a bit, even Pepper was there in a wheelchair.
In the generals table, Seiger sat arms crossed and was scanning the room with a stern look.
"What's the matter Seiger, it looks like you are expecting someone, maybe a date?" one of the generals, a grizzly bear, asked Seiger, the tiger laughed a bit at the comment but didn't answer even though he was young, 34 to be exact, he had no time for dates after all he had far more bigger plans, then he turned towards the door and saw exactly what he wanted.
The german shepherd approached the table reserved for Star Fox.
"Fox, do you have a moment to talk?" the vulpine turned around.
"Oh! Captain Jameson it is great to see you" Fox stood and shook his paw, they both walked away from the table and towards a balcony outside.
Inside the same hooded figure Lucy had met walked inside surprisingly he was unnoticed, some waiters offered him some drinks but he ignored them, other people looked at him in a weird manner, this guy caught the eye of one of security who immediately called the captain who was no other than Bill Grey himself, this didn't look the hooded was heading directly towards Peppy.
Peppy noticed the figure coming towards him and went to salute him or her, but just in time Bill stepped in the middle, on the back Seiger scowled.
"So buddy listen, I don't know if you usually do this but coming like this into a party isn't well seen by people and also since this is a private party I would to see your invitation again" Bill said, the hooded looked to him it had strange yellow eyes.
"And who are you?" he asked in a scary voice.
"Bill Grey, Captain of Security and I order you to hand me your invitation" the eyes of the hooded animals widened he remembered that name.
24 hours earlier…
"Your main target is this rabbit, Peppy Hare is his name, tomorrow he will be named Grand General of the Cornerian Army and we don't need someone like him on that job or in any job. Kill him and the one million credits will be yours, also if you happen to see anyone on this list kill him as well it will increase your reward in one thousands credits each, also if you kill Fox McCloud you will get two millions. Understood?" the bounty hunter nodded, although he didn't see the face of the one hiring him, there was no way he could say no to such a reward and he felt that if he didn't get the job done it could cost him his life after all only the dark voice was scary enough.
"Yes, I will get the job done"
"Good" and the transmission was cut.
Present day…
The bounty hunter didn't care anymore if he got millions or not after all his cover was busted and he would be dead either way, so he grabbed his pistol and fired a blaster shot directly at Bill's stomach then another at his chest, the dog fell to the ground bleeding and since most of the ones inside were military they all surrounded the bounty hunter, just when they thought they got him Jameson saw something coming their way.
"What the bloody hell is that?" then his eyes widened and the missile impacted directly with the party hall destroying most of it…
A/N: There you go, another chapter the next one will have more action than any other so prepare, now I want to apologize for the long wait, I also wanted to wish you all merry Christmas and a very happy new year 2012, well that is if I don't see you before this year ends xD, goodbye for now and best of luck everyone.
P.S: by the way on this chapter there was supposed to be a scene with the girls but since I'm a guy who doesn't think like a girl then maybe I could end up doing something stupid there so I erased that part… well now seriously. Bye!
