Chapter 10
Everyone on the bridge of the TCS Excalibur looked at the glowing blue planet in awe. Corneria, the central planet of the Cornerian Federation, and the home world of the Star Fox team, or all but one member. There, orbiting this Earth like world, was the modern marvel of Cornerian technology, the Orbital Gate. More than just a means of sending ships to other areas of the Lylat System and beyond, the Orbital Gate also served as a starbase. The Valkyrie broke off, and moved towards a nearby station.
"Sir, receiving incoming transmission from the station."
"Patch it through," Captain O'Neill ordered.
A holoprojector at the rear of the bridge came to life, displaying a humanoid hound dog in a red uniform.
"This is General Pepper of the Cornerian Defense Force."
"I am Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn of the Terran Confederation," Tolwyn said, stepping forward.
"I have heard of the Confederation through Fox and his team," the Cornerian General said, "Welcome to the Lylat System."
"Thank you General. We have a situation though, one that may be easier to explain in person," Tolwyn said.
General Pepper nodded, "Very well. We'll transmit our docking procedures to you. I look forward to meeting you in person Admiral. Pepper out." The hologram fizzled out. Chris, who had stayed out of the way, had a big smile on his face. Captain O'Neill noticed, and asked him about it.
"First time meeting the boss man himself," he replied, "That is, if I could tag along?"
"You know more about the Cornerians than anyone on the ship," O'Neill said, "With any luck, things will go smoothly."
"Besides, I would have insisted on him coming," Tolwyn said.
"Of course, sir," O'Neill said.
After a short discussion with the Admiral, Chris left the bridge, eager to talk with his friends.
---
"You told him? And he didn't feint?"
"Yea. He actually laughed because it was the only thing that scared him," Katt replied, leaning back in her chair. Krystal's eyes were wide. Outside the viewports was a beautiful view of Corneria, as well as the Orbital Gate. The pilots lounge was actually quiet for a few minutes when they arrived. Fox was learning a new card game from the Terran pilots, poker. And from the sound of things, he had beginner's luck on his side. Falco and Slippy were hounding the simulator, trying to out score each other, while Foxie just stood there, looking out at Corneria. Krystal sighed. The only problem that remained was getting her home. Chris had some crazy idea forming in his head about getting her back to her own universe. He hadn't told anybody yet, but she knew. Just one advantage of being a telepath.
Sean and William were bouncing ideas off each other about the problem as well, although none of their ideas would have worked at all. Reanna was losing credits to Fox, considering the fact that she was the one to start the poker game.
"This is crap! We're losing to a merc!" one pilot complained.
"Gotta admit, he's good for a beginner," Reanna said.
"Hey, don't complain," Fox said in his defense, "It was your idea."
Fox won another hand, along with twenty credits. Thankfully, he decided to quit while he was a head. Krystal walked over to the table, and put a hand on Reanna's shoulder and said that it wouldn't be long before Fox was relieving Cornerian pilots of their credits. Reanna laughed, agreeing with the sapphire vixen. At least Fox wouldn't be fleecing any of the Excalibur's pilots anymore. She doubted that many of the pilots could handle losing to a merc, if the last five hands were any indication.
The door opened, and Chris entered Pilot's Country. He had a smile on his face as he approached Fox.
"Hey Fox. We've set up a meeting between Admiral Tolwyn and General Pepper."
"Great," Fox said, "But what about Foxie? She doesn't belong here."
"I've been thinking about that," Chris replied, pulling up a chair.
"That's never a good sign," Reanna quipped.
Chris shook his head, than proceeded to explain his idea. If they could salvage Foxie's Arwing on Mar Sara, they might be able to access the sensor logs, then use the data to recreate the rift that brought her here using the Orbital Gate. With any luck, it should send her back to her own universe. Fox listened, not sure what to think. Krystal listened as well. She thought that, after they get the sensor data, the only one that might be able to pull it off was Beltino Toad.
"Do you really think it'll work?"
Chris jumped. Foxie smiled, shaking her head. She had heard the whole thing, but hadn't said anything until that moment. Foxie was anxious to get back home.
"It's just an idea, but I'll run it by General Pepper and Beltino Toad. From what I've heard, Beltino is quite the scientist. If anybody can pull this off, it's him."
"I doubt I'd be able to take my Arwing back, considering that it's trashed," Foxie mused.
"Already solved that problem," Chris replied, "You can take my Arwing. That is, if it's alright with Fox."
"I don't think that you'll be using it any time soon," Fox said.
Krystal could read Foxie clearly on that matter. Cornerian technology in her universe was slightly less advanced. Having her return from who knows where with an advanced Arwing would raise a lot of questions. On the other hand, it could give her Corneria a technological edge in their war against the Zentradi. Chris continued to talk with Both Foxes when Reanna asked if she could talk with her.
"What do you want to talk about?" Krystal asked after following the Terran to a less crowded part of the lounge.
"It's Chris," she said, "I don't know if he's…"
"He noticed during the battle," Krystal answered, "He was thinking about you when he told me to take his Rapier, before it blew up."
"Do you think…"
"I'll give you the same advice I gave Katt," Krystal said, "Look him in the eye, tell him how you feel, and hope he doesn't feint from shock."
Reanna couldn't help but smile.
---
Two hours after the TCS Excalibur arrived at the Corneria Orbital Gate, the Terran shuttle Excalibur Alpha set down in the large hanger. General Pepper stood near the shuttle, eager to meet a Confed Admiral. Four Arwings and a fighter identified as the Cat's Paw 2 followed the shuttle through the airlock.
The hatch opened, and Admiral Tolwyn stepped out onto the deck. The Terran was a little taller than Fox, but stood with an air of command about him. General Pepper approached, and saluted.
"Admiral Tolwyn, welcome to the Corneria Orbital Gate," he said.
Tolwyn returned the gesture, then extended his hand. General Pepper accepted the Admiral's offer.
"Thank you General. I am honored," Admiral Tolwyn said.
The Star Fox team joined the group, along with the other passengers from the shuttle. Admiral Tolwyn introduced Captain Sasha O'Neill and Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Johnson.
"You're the Terran that Star Fox picked up on Fortuna," General Pepper noted.
"Yes sir," Chris answered.
General Pepper then noticed the Cornerian that came off the shuttle, and thought for a moment that Fox had a twin sister that he hadn't heard about. The General was good friends with Fox's father, James McCloud, and remembered that he and his wife only had one kid. But the resemblance was remarkable. The woman looked just like Fox, right down to her green eyes, and her attitude.
"General Pepper, allow me to introduce Fox McCloud. No, she's not Fox's twin. She's from an alternate universe, and wants to go home," Chris said.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" General Pepper asked.
"With some luck, and Beltino's help," Chris said with a smile. He then said that he would explain his idea with everyone present, so he wouldn't have to repeat himself. General Pepper nodded, and led the way to Beltino's lab.
---
The lab facilities on the Orbital Gate were the best in the entire Lylat System, and Beltino's lab was no exception. Beltino himself was going over the data from the latest scan of the object in the center of the lab when General Pepper arrived. The Star Fox team, Foxie, and Chris saw the object, and their jaws hit the deck.
"Isn't that…" Chris started to say.
"My Arwing?" Foxie finished.
Sure enough, the object in question was indeed the remains of Foxie's Arwing. Beltino noticed the guests, and motioned for them to come closer.
"Fox, good timing," he said, confusing Foxie for Fox, "This is very interesting."
"Um…" Fox started to say, but was cut off by Beltino.
"ROB sent a message about a downed fighter on Mar Sara, and we discovered the wreckage of a Mk. Three Arwing. However, that is not what is interesting about it. Although it was built with the same materials, the Arwing's quantum signature is different. The only explanation for this is that the Arwing originated in an alternate reality. I haven't been able to figure out how it got here though… You look a little different Fox."
"That's because I'm over here," Fox said, getting Beltino's attention. Fox was standing a few feet away. Beltino looked at Fox, then Foxie. Confusion clearly shown on the scientist's face. Chris stepped forward.
"Beltino Toad, allow me to introduce Fox McCloud. The Arwing's owner," he said.
Beltino blinked. He was excited when he discovered the Arwing's different quantum signature, but had no idea how to explain his theory about it coming from an alternate reality. Now, he was face to face with someone from an alternate reality.
"You said that this Arwing came from another universe, right?" Krystal asked, trying to get Beltino's attention. She already knew the answer, but had to get Beltino talking again.
"Yes. Yes I did," Beltino replied, "An alternate reality can be identical to our own, but with different decisions made at critical points."
"Like Krystal joining Star Fox?" Fox asked.
"Or me crash-landing on Fortuna?" Chris asked.
"Yes," Beltino answered, "But the fact that this version of Fox is female…"
"Call me Foxie. Everybody else is," Foxie said.
"Very well. Like I was saying, since Foxie is female, I would have to say that alternate realities are also affected by events that are not able to be controlled."
"So, in some other universe, we could be having this same discussion, but reversed?" Falco asked, not sure what he said himself.
"If I understand what you're trying to say, then yes, it's possible."
Beltino continued with his technobabble, and everyone, except Slippy, zoned out. Both McClouds had the same lost and confused look on their faces, Falco was looking at his wrist comp, Admiral Tolwyn started talking with General Pepper, and Captain O'Neill examined the wreckage. Even Krystal's eyes glazed over. Chris couldn't take it anymore.
"AAHHHH! Alright! We get it!" he exclaimed.
Everyone turned to face the exasperated human. Beltino realized that he must have been talking as if they were scientists as well, instead of military. Chris took a deep breath, grateful that Beltino wasn't speaking in a language that only scientists could understand. He then decided to tell Beltino his plan. Beltino listened intently as he described his plan to use the Orbital Gate to recreate the rift that brought Foxie into their universe. Fox was impressed, despite the fact that he had no idea what Chris was talking about.
"If the sensor logs are intact, it may just be possible to reconfigure the gate's energy matrix to replicate that of the original rift. But that's not the problem," Beltino finally said.
"Then what's the problem?" Foxie asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Even if we can recreate the rift, there is an infinite number of realities that it could connect to. There is no guarantee that you would return to your home universe," Beltino explained.
"And I doubt that all realities are as friendly as this one," Slippy added.
"But there is a chance," Foxie said.
"Well… yes," Beltino said finally.
"Then I'll take that chance," Foxie told him, then turned to face General Pepper. "That is, if you will allow it, sir."
"I can't ignore this. Beltino, do whatever you have to," General Pepper said.
"Yes sir!" Beltino said with a smile, "Slippy, I could use your help."
"You got it Dad."
---
After about a week of hard work, Beltino reported that they were ready. The Excalibur's deck crews rigged a pair of IR Missiles and a pair of Heat Seeker missiles to Foxie's new Arwing. Foxie ran a hand across the Mk. Five's fuselage. She never thought about it before, since she was in the middle of a battle, but this Arwing was sleeker than her old one. If she didn't have to use those missiles as soon as she arrived, then her Corneria would get two new weapons. That is, if she was lucky enough to get back to her universe. So much had happened over the last month that she wasn't even sure if one more fighter would help in the war, if it was still going at all.
Stop thinking like that Fox. She thought. Corneria was no where near losing before I left.
"Hey Foxie, you ready?"
Foxie turned, and saw Chris standing a few feet away. Instead of the flight suit that he usually wore, he was in a blue Confed uniform. He looked a little uncomfortable, which brought a smile to her face.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, "Then again, is anyone ever ready to jump realities?"
"Good point," he said, "So, you like the new Arwing?"
"It's faster than my old one. I like it, thanks."
Chris extended a hand, and Foxie accepted. It was not just a simple handshake between two pilots, it was a gesture of friendship. Foxie doubted that she would meet anyone like him in her universe, but at least she would remember.
"I guess it's time," she finally said.
"Yea," Chris replied, "Good luck."
"Thanks, you too."
---
Everyone gathered in the control room on the Orbital Gate. Chris was the last one to arrive. Fox looked out at the stars. There was Foxie's Arwing, holding station a few meters away. Fox smiled, thinking that she was going to make a dramatic exit. Admiral Tolwyn stood next to General Pepper, while the pilots gathered around the viewport. Captain O'Neill put her hands behind her back. Beltino turned to face the flag officers.
"We're all set here," he said.
General Pepper just nodded, and Beltino turned back to the console. The rest of the staff were ready as well.
"Activating Gate sequence!"
Energy began to flow between various sections of the station's exterior as it prepared to tear a hole in space. Everyone was tense. Three matrix generators detached from the station, and took up position a kilometer away. Beams of energy linked them as they powered up.
"Matrix generators on line."
An energy field began to form inside the ring. Instead of the usual green, it cast a violet glow. In the cockpit of the Arwing, Foxie tightened her grip on the controls.
"Gate sequence complete! We have a lock!"
The violet portal loomed ahead of her like the mouth of some large, ancient space monster eager to consume anything foolish to come close. And she was going to fly straight down its throat. The last time she saw something like this was when she was pulled into this reality.
"This is Fox McCloud, all set here," she called out over the comm.
Fox's voice replied a moment later, "Good luck, Foxie."
Still sounded weird. The rest of his team wished her luck, as well as the Terran pilots. William, Sean, and Reanna told her to kick Zentradi butt when she got home.
"Give 'em hell, Foxie," Chris said.
Foxie smiled, then hit the throttle. The Arwing shot forward, and into the rift.