A/N: I believe I said in my last authors note that I was ready to wrap up this story, and so after a marathon or writing I have actually completed it. This chapter is the first of the last three I believe, all of which are complete. Expect daily updates! YAY! Anyways, leave a review, I love hearing from you guys!

All foxes are sly, it's just who we are.

-Fox McCloud

CHAPTER NINE

REUNITED

When Fox came to he found himself in some sort of cell, he wasn't sure what kind, it was very different from any holding cell he had ever been in. The walls were all blue, and everything around him seemed to flow and meld together, hardly the sharp angles and grey tone metal he was used to in a starship. Looking around he saw that Krystal, Falco, and Mira were all in holding cells of their own, all of them appeared still unconscious. No, he felt something, "Fox my love, I contacted Fiora, she said they're going to leave the nebula and call Whitefur for reinforcements."

Fox smiled, "Your telepathy really does come in handy. And it looks like my plan worked."

"Plan?"

"Yeah, get captured and brought here, it was the only way I could think of that we could actually get near the Stone, or even in the same place without being shot down."

"I see, very sly. The other ocelot is dead, I felt it. Mira is fine though."

"Good."

"Somebody is coming."

Fox felt the mental link terminate and a moment later the doors to the holding area opened. In walked two females, one a she-wolf, the other a vixen. Fox's eyes widened, Salika. The she-wolf walked up to him and said, "Fox McCloud, leader of the invincible Star Fox team, a pleasure to meet you, I am admiral Alyona. Perhaps one day soon your Empress Alyona."
Fox quirked an eyebrow, "I doubt that."

Alyona smiled, "Of course you do. You have no idea what I have at my disposal now. This ship, Andross Reborn is the greatest piece of a bio engineering ever created. It contains the very essence of Andross, our great Emperor, and it has the power to destroy anything you or the Cornerians could possibly think to throw at it."
Fox crossed his arms, "I see. So long as you have the Stone of Ocelot then you're invincible."
Alyona nodded, "Quite so."
"Good." Said Fox, "You'll be as overconfident as Oikonny. He fell because of his hubris, and so did Andross."
Alyona regarded him for a moment and then said, "It's only hubris if I lose."

Fox nodded, "Like I said. Hubris."

Alyona seemed to regard him for a moment and then said, "How many ships are with you?"

Fox smiled, "Thousands, tens of thousands. The whole fleet and the fleet of every system within sixty light years is surrounding the nebula."

"I think you're lying." Replied Alyona.

Fox smiled even more and wagged his tail a bit, "Maybe, but you never know."

Alyona sighed, "It doesn't matter. I have more important things to attend to." She turned to leave.

Salika said, "Madam, may I stay a moment, I have a few things I want to find out from him."

Alyona nodded, "Of course my dear. Question him all you like, you may have better luck with him than me. And have fun with him if you so desire, I'm not the jealous type."

Fox met Krystal eyes across the room and saw the hint of amusement in them. As soon as the she-wolf had left Salika turned to Fox and deactivated the force field around his cell, walked in, and reactivated it. Fox looked at her, "Salika."

"Fox. How have you been?"
Fox raised an eyebrow, "As well as can be expected, considering I'm in a jail cell on a ship that contains the consciousness a man who killed my father and I killed twice. How about you?"
Salika looked at the floor, "I'm sorry."
"What?"

"I said I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything that happened between us. I'm sorry I had to betray you."
Fox was silent for a moment, "You didn't have to."
Salika looked at him, "Yes, yes I did. Because if I didn't I would have lost my brother. If I don't do as I'm told I will still lose my brother. He's all I have. Fox, is there anything you wouldn't do for your family?"
Fox looked at her, he could see the pain in her eyes, something that was very unlike the confidence he had always remembered her having. "No, I suppose there isn't. But Salika, I can help, we can help you."

"How?"

"Let us out, help us to stop Alyona, we can protect you and your brother from her. We can break whatever hold she has over you." Fox made sure to infuse in his words as much confidence as he could, even if it was more than he felt.

Salika sighed, "Maybe. It's just...I've been a prisoner so long, I don't know what else there is."

Fox took her hand, she blushed a bit, "I promise you we can help you. I can forgive you for betraying me, and I want to help you. You always meant a lot to me."

Salika looked up at him, her eyes misty, "You meant a lot to me too." They were silent for a few moments as they looked into each other's eyes. Fox remembered those nights long ago when they would do this, and though he didn't feel quite the same way, he certainly cared quite a bit more than he thought he would. Then Salika said, "I should go."

She turned and left the cell and Fox said, "Salika, I promised. And I keep my word."
Salika nodded, "I know you do Fox." Then she left the cell bay.

Fox felt Krystal's telepathy nudge him, "Are you all right Fox?"

"Yeah, I just hope she will be."

Salika walked out of the cell bay and made for her quarters. What was she thinking? She couldn't betray Alyona, Felix would die. But she trusted Fox, even after all these years she still trusted him. If Fox had said he would protect him she had to believe him, she couldn't help but believe him.

The trip to her quarters was a blur, filled with thoughts and counter thoughts. She knew she was warring with herself over this. She had spent years under Alyona, doing what she was told, all so she could keep Felix alive one more day. The doors to her quarters closed behind her and she let out a scream, she didn't have a choice anymore, she never had a choice. But this time, she didn't mind, she knew what she had to do. She knew what she wanted to do.