000
Falco jerked out of his troubled sleep as the battle from earlier slipped into his dreams, causing him to relive the worst loss of his career once more. He rubbed his eyes and uncrossed his legs, looking down in the hanger below to see Peppy and Slippy still hard at work on repairing the other Arwings. For all they knew Fox and Krystal could be dead. None of them had any idea what Panther had wanted Krystal for, though the blue falcon had his ideas and could only assume Fox had been thinking of the same thing when he had blasted off towards Sargasso.
So Krystal is probably alive, maybe not in the best of places or situation, but alive. That counts for something right?
He shook his head, knowing it wasn't enough to reassure his worries. Regretfully he imagined what could've happened, seeing a rage driven vulpine in a beaten up Arwing making a suicide run at a ship that not even a whole team of fighters could take down without losing a few good pilots. Much less one with a broken arm.
Nothing is written in stone, Fox is an incredible pilot. If anyone in the universe could sneak an Arwing aboard a space station it would be him. Especially since he was doing it for Krystal.
The falcon stood up and stretched his legs and wings, grimacing at the pain that spiked in his shoulder from the battle but doing his best to ignore it. If McCloud could pilot an Arwing with a broken arm then he should at least be able to stand a little bruise. He turned and headed towards the door of the command post, eager to lend a hand if he could. But just as he reached the exit he heard the familiar perimeter warning go off, instantly stopping him in his tracks.
He jogged back over to the computer and pulled up the radar, thankfully seeing the blue flashing light that indicated an Arwing only a few miles from their ship.
"That's gotta be McCloud,"
Without hesitating he flipped on the PA system and shouted out to the two pilots below him. "Yo Slipp, Peppy, clear the area we got an Arwing coming in for a landing!"
Falco couldn't help but grin as he watched Peppy slide himself out from under an Arwing, a big smile on his face as he pulled Peppy behind him and up the stairs to the control room.
"Is it Fox? Is Krystal with him?" he asked, bursting through the door with an out of breath Peppy behind him.
"I don't know," he replied, reaching forward and opening the hanger doors, "It could be both, or," he added, casting a serious look over at the two, "It could be neither."
The two returned the nod, knowing that Panther had managed to sneak one problem on board and wouldn't hesitate to do it once more.
The three waited for a few more seconds until the Arwing finally came into view, still disclosing the identity of its pilot because of the tinted canopy. As soon as it was past the hanger doors Peppy sealed off the area and the three wasted no time making their way down the stairs and up to the Arwing where Falco, blaster drawn, jumped up on the wing and squinted through the dark cover to identify the pilot. However, as soon as he leaned forward to get a better look the canopy flew open, causing him to jump back to avoid being smacked in the face.
"Who is it Falco," Peppy asked, resting his paw on his own blaster but praying he didn't have to use it.
The bird brought his wing up to his forehead and let out a sigh, holstering his blaster while doing so. The sight before him was both relieving and sappy as the mental image of Krystal, sitting in Fox's lap with her arms around his neck, kissing the vulpine was stapled into his brain forever.
After a few more seconds he finally decided to let his presence be known, clearing his throat and causing both the foxes to instantly jump in surprise.
"Falco what the fuck are you doing up there!" Fox yelled in embarrassment, his face glowing.
The falcon let a laugh escape his throat as he watched both foxes turn red with embarrassment, "The better question is," he replied with a grin, "What are you two doing down there?"
The two exchanged a nervous glance, neither of them able to hold back the grin that came when they looked into the others face. Krystal leaned forward and touched her muzzle against Fox's, assuring him that what they had was not meant to be kept a secret from anyone. The vulpine wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight, basking in her amazing scent and cherishing the feeling of her body against his own.
"Well?" Falco asked, raising an eyebrow at the gesture.
The vulpine leaned forward and gave Krystal a quick kiss before looking back up at his friend. "We're living forever," he replied with a smirk.
(Switch POV...10 minutes later in lounge)
"And they just let you take off? Just like that?"
"Well, sort of." the vulpine replied to Peppy. "Sneaking back to the ship was a piece of cake. For its size Sargasso is extremely understaffed and we only met one guard, if you could even call him that."
"Seriously?" Falco asked, imagining the huge ship with no one inside of it. "If that's the case I'm tempted to attack it right now. Just get StarWolf out of the picture for good."
Fox shook his head, "I'm sure most of the crew was in bed. Remember, Sargasso is one of Andross' farthest allies, they are the closest to Corneria that he can reach without risk of being attacked. I'm sure there are more than enough on board to put up a good fight."
Slippy and Peppy nodded in agreement, a small nod being the only response from Falco.
"So you didn't kill Panther?" Peppy asked, an almost hopeful look in his eyes.
The vulpine remembered the image of Panther's unconscious body laying on the floor, causing a sense of satisfaction to run through his body as he flexed his knuckles. "No." he responded, admiring the cat's dried blood on his fist, "But he sure as hell deserved it after what he did."
"So he...did he...you know...
"Rape her? No. At least she insists on telling me that. But I have no way of knowing what really happened before I got to her so technically she's the only one who knows the truth."
"Well all that matters is that we're back here safe." Peppy said, trying to keep the conversation from getting too deep. "And I meant to tell you all," he continued, pushing his glasses back up, "I received a request from General Pepper last night. It appears our services are needed by the military once more."
"Well its about time." Falco retorted, standing up twisting his body in a stretch, "I don't know about you guys, but this week off has been nothing but work. I'll be glad when we're back on duty so I take it easy like the rest of the Cornerian army."
He managed to rise a chuckle out of the other pilots before making his way down the hall towards their rooms. "I'm gonna turn in, it's been a helluva day."
"Night man,"
"Sleep tight!"
"Yeah see ya in the a.m."
"Ya know, I think I'll turn in as well." Slippy added, "Now that you and Krystal are back I can take my time on repairing the Arwings."
The green toad stood up from the coach and, after giving the other two a short wave, followed in Falco's steps down the hallway. The vulpine returned the wave and turned back towards Peppy, grateful for the short moment alone with his mentor.
"So..." the hare started, his gaze falling down to the vulpine's blood covered hand. "How long do think we have before StarWolf pays us a visit?"
"They wont." he replied, leaning back in his seat and letting out a sigh.
The veteran pilot couldn't help but chuckle at the vulpine's confidence, "Oh they wont will they? After you snuck aboard their ship, paralyzed one of their elite pilots, beat another one near death, and left the place with blood on your hands you don't think they'll try to strike back?"
"No." Fox responded, the memory of Wolf's opinion about Krystal still fresh in his mind, "They won't."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean this entire thing wasn't StarWolf's doing. Sure they played a part in it, but this wasn't Wolf's idea. It was Panther's."
Peppy rubbed his chin, obvious confusion still masking his face.
"Sure I went a little far when I shot Pigma, that may issue a rebuttal from Wolf. But I know him well enough to guess that it wont be right off. Panther however," he added, more serious and concerned now. "Unless I have him pegged completely wrong, he'll find a way to try and get back at me."
Now it was Peppy's turn to let out a sigh as he pushed his glasses back up on his nose and uncrossed his legs. "Fox," he muttered, leaning forward, "I know how you feel about Krystal. I know there is no one else in the galaxy you would rather spend time with, but you have to remember who we are, what line of work we are in."
The vulpine met the hare's eyes, catching the concern in them that was backed with years upon years of experience and wisdom. Far too many times had the veteran seen the tears in the eyes of a dead soldier's mate. Of course as the years passed the image did less and less to him, but now, just trying to picture how Fox or Krystal would take the news of the others death, it was something he knew no one could ever fix. They were in the middle of the biggest war in history, being told to 'go there' and 'clear it out' as if they were as expendable as rubber bands, and as cheap too. It only made sense that one of them would get in over their head and get themselves shot down.
"You are in no condition to fly, not for another 2 or 3 weeks." he continued, "And after what just happened, after everything you just told me, I fear that...well...i fear that maybe...
"What Peppy?"
The hare shook his head and raised his paw to the vulpine, "Nothing. It makes no difference. What's done is done and we can only move forward from it."
But his mentor had struck more than enough curiosity into the vulpine and even though he said it made no difference, it was something he needed to know.
"What are we moving forward from?" he asked, an idea of what the hare was getting at on the edge of his thoughts, "Me rescuing Krystal from Sargasso?"
Once again Peppy shook his head, "It's nothing. You did what you thought was right, regardless of how impossible the task seemed. That just proves how great of a pilot you...
"I did what I knew was right Peppy." he replied, "I knew how difficult it was going to be."
Another sigh fell from the hare's lips and Fox continued, "What are you saying?" he asked once again, slightly annoyed as he couldn't get the hare to meet his gaze.
What's he getting at? It's like he didn't want me to save Krystal from Panther.
"I just think that...I think maybe it would've...it would've been better if...
"Spit it out Peppy!" Fox almost yelled, practically guessing the hare's next few words.
"You had left Krystal with Panther!"
The vulpine snorted in disbelief, standing up as he tried to think of a reply.
"Before I go and say something I may regret, please, explain your reasoning!"
"Fox you know I only want whats best for all of you...
"Getting raped is what's best for us?"
"...and you know as well as I do we are in the middle of the biggest war in Lylat's history..."
"Still no explanation for leaving Krystal with Panther."
"Will you let me finish?" he snapped angrily, causing the vulpine to stop pacing back and forth before he continued, "I know that she means a lot to you. But ever since she has joined the team your piloting skills have declined. You aren't as focused, you don't make the right moves when they are needed to be made. I was waiting to tell you this until tomorrow but I might as well tell you now,"
"What?" Fox replied dryly.
"Pepper wants us to lead a fleet of Pleiades Cruisers directly into sector Z exactly 2 weeks from now."
The anger in the vulpine's face slowly faded, replaced with surprise and intense thought. Sector Z was one the most heavily fortified strongholds that Andross had under his command. Even with Pleiades Cruisers and their massive firepower it would be a battle that would cost more lives than it was worth.
"Sector Z...the same sector where we were ambushed by the Venomian Army right?"
"So you understand how dangerous this mission will be?" Peppy asked hopefully. "I'd even go as far as to say that it would be easier to take over Fortuna."
It cant be that big of a battle.
"Well," Fox replied, trying to sound unshaken, "I guess we'll just have to prepare ourselves."
"I know you'll insist on going on this mission," Peppy replied confidently, "But I also know that in order to survive it you will need every ounce of your piloting skills, meaning no distractions."
The vulpine looked back up at the hare, expecting to receive one of those 'you better listen to me' looks. Instead he received a look that seemed to say 'please, I just want what's best for you'.
"Krystal is part of the team, and," he added softer, "Even more to me. I will not force her to leave just because you think she will affect my piloting."
"I'm just asking you, please, have her stay behind for this one. I cant have you worrying over her every second of the battle, especially considering how congested it will be out there once all hell breaks loose."
Finally it seemed Peppy had said something that the vulpine was willing to listen to. In fact, he was pretty keen of the idea. He had absolutely no doubt in his ability to enter the battle, fight his fights, and come out unscathed. But as much as he hated to admit it, Peppy was right. In a battle as epic as the upcoming one just the thought of Krystal falling out of his sight made him want to run to her room and hold her in his arms.
Is this how I'll feel every time we go on a mission from now on? I mean, I love her with everything I have, I cant risk losing her now. Not after how far I've come.
"I don't agree with anything else you said Peppy," he replied, "But as my teacher I know you only want what's best. So I'll comply with the last bit."
The hare let out a breath he had been holding, relief running through his old body. He looked up at Fox, a smile sliding across the vulpine's lips before the two stepped forward and wrapped their arms around each other.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you Pepp. It's just, with Krystal I've never...
"I know son, I know." he replied, "I was just like you once, I know how you feel. Just promise me you'll be careful when all this goes down. Because you getting killed wouldn't just hurt her."
The two pulled apart and Fox nodded, holding back a yawn as he watched one escape Peppy.
"Well..." he started, pulling off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, "I believe I'll get some shut eye. We haven't got much on the docket for tomorrow except repairing those Arwing's so I should get my rest."
"G'night Peppy,"
"Good night son."
If the hare hadn't mean to call Fox his son he didn't let on, and to be honest it was a title that the vulpine was more than grateful to take. After all, Peppy was the closest thing to a father he had.
Fox looked over at the tv and checked the clock; 9:45pm. So much had happened in the last 24 hours that it seemed like he was living in a dream. But as everything sank in he realized that it had been far too long since he had held his mate in his arms. After everyone had been reacquainted and settled in somewhat the vixen had told him she felt like she needed a shower, to get Panther's stench off of her he guessed, and she gave him one last kiss before leaving the lounge and making her way down the hall.
With the image of his vixen in the shower still hot on his mind he too made his way down the hall, seeing Peppy's door close at the last second before reaching his own.
I guess I can clean up a bit as well. As much as I love seeing Panther's blood on my knuckles I guess its somewhat of a mood killer with Krystal.
He laughed to himself and entered his room, wasting no time stripping out of his clothes and stepping under the hot water. As the soothing liquid hit his face he did his best to imagine what all would go down in the next few weeks. There was so much to worry about, yet he felt nothing but calmness as he envisioned Krystal in his arms. As long as he had her by his side nothing that Andross or Panther threw at them would be enough to tear them apart.
Or so he thought.
000