Chapter VII
Recuperation

The Hot Rodders and Falco Lombardi watched the facility crumble in front of them. Slippy was running away from the doomed facility and met up with the team. Felix asked the question everyone was thinking, "So…where's Fox?"

Slippy, exhausted from the run and tears in his eyes, cried, "He stayed behind and killed Andross."

"Wh-huh?" Falco was dumbfounded, "Andross?!"

"Yeah," Katt said, "turns out that Shears was trying to revive Andross."

Felix continued, "Well, that base is falling to pieces and there's no sign of the maniac yet, so I'd say that Fox did the job alright."

"Yeah, but he's still in there!" Katt said.

"Wait!" Bowser exclaimed and pointed at the demolished facility. "Look there!" In the sky above the broken building was a speck in the sky; the Landmaster Tank had its hover-jets engaged as it ascended from the rubble. The jest cut off and the tank fell to the ground with a crash. The machine was in terrible shape: the main cannon had broken in half, three wheels were missing and the glass visor had shattered. Fox climbed out from the hole where the visor had been, he was just as battered and bruised as the tank itself was.

Katt ran out and threw her arms around Fox shouting in the process, "You did it!" She backed up as the rest of the team approached the wrecked tank and gathered all around Fox, congratulating him in celebration. But had another plan on his mind. He pushed his way through the crowd and towards Falco, who was prepping his Arwing for takeoff.

"Hey Fox," he said without even turning his head.

"Hey Falco."

"Looks like you were able to get shit done without me for once."

"Yeah, looks that way."

Falco turned around, "So…I hope you won't mind if I go it alone for a while…"

Fox pleaded with his friend, "Look, Falco about that dog fight--"

"Fox, it's not about the fight; I know what you were trying to do, and you know me. I just wanna do things my own way for a little bit; get a little excitement back in my life."

Fox hesitantly grinned, "Alright, bud."

Falco walked up to his friend and threw his hand out, "I'm sure we'll meet again, Fox."

Fox met his hand, "Yeah, I know we will."

Falco turned around and started for his Arwing, but he stopped before climbing in, "Oh, and one more thing," Falco said, spinning around once more, "Katt!" Katt raised her head and stared at her oldest friend, "Girl...you need to get outta the business…before something bad happens to ya." He climbed into the ship, powered it on, and looked out one last time, "Until next time, Foxie. See ya 'round!" His visor closed, the landing gear retracted, and the Arwing boosted out into the sky.

Katt and Felix walked up next to Fox and watched the sky alongside him, "I guess Falco's never gonna change, huh?" Felix commented.

Fox solemnly replied, "Yeah…looks like it; he's gonna fly around the system until the day he dies I bet."

Fox and Katt watched as Falco's Arwing disappeared on the Titanian horizon. Katt stepped forward with a tear forming in her eye. "Falco..." she said in a soft, quiet voice. Felix stepped up and put his arm around her and pulled her in close and looked out into the distance with her. She tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder.

"…Thank you."