A/N: No song this time. I wasn't really inspired and didn't want to force it. I'll be sure to make something epic for the final battle.

Chapter 13: Malocchio

Miyu was prepared to die. She wouldn't even feel the exact moment she hit the water. And, if her last dreams were anything to go by, she would be thrown back into the fading memories of her childhood. She expected to see the same forest glen, the carpet of yellow leaves, and the hill on which she shared so many picnics with her sister. But what was left that Bayoon hadn't already taken from her? Her sister was gone. The only thing she would find in her past was a vacant hill surrounded by barren trees. An unmarked grave.

But something was different. Her reality was now dark. It was thick, and hard to move around in. And cold—deathly cold, seeping into every pore of her skin. Bubbles trailed off her fur and escaped her mouth when she tried breathing. She could feel the pressure of fathoms of water pressing down on her, threatening to crush her in a pitch black coffin.

Then a small light blinked on in front of her, no bigger than her palm. It was a small yellow eye, floating lazily in the flooded void. Its black pupil turned to stare at her, and Miyu stared back. It was harmless—cute even—as it studied her.

Then another opened, on her left this time. And another, and another. More and more eyes blinked open at an exponential rate until they formed a crescent wall bent away from her. They lit the sunken room she was in until she could make out decaying, algae-covered towers, columns, and ruins surrounding them.

Once they had all revealed themselves the wall of eyes began shifting towards her. As they drew nearer the eyes separated into two partitions—a top crescent and a bottom crescent. The top half rose up and away from Miyu, revealing a dark, empty cavern between the two jaw shapes. It was massive—large enough to swallow Lagrange Rock whole, it felt like.

Then, within the newly formed space, two lids lazily blinked open. They revealed a massive, fluorescent-yellow eye the size of a house. It was so large in comparison to Miyu that she could make out every minuscule detail inside its translucent lens, from the multitude of different color pigments to every ridge, crevice, and cave created by the folded muscles in its iris. Just as each of the thousands of smaller eyes had done, the large globe rotated to look at Miyu, blinking open and closed several times. Even just the movements of its lids were enough to disturb the water and create small currents.

Miyu felt the icy fingers of fear clutching her heart. The more she stared at the amber-glowing eye, the more she felt hypnotized by it—like a snake charming its prey. The eye loomed closer and closer until it filled up the entirety of her world. Miyu wanted to move, but she was paralyzed; her movements constricted and sluggish, as if in a nightmare.

Realization dawned on her. This was the monster Vixy had described to her. The ancient sea god alien to the Lylat System, which came to enslave its inhabitants.

Bacon, Miyu thought to herself. Or was it Bacoon?

In a flash the eye rushed towards her, and Miyu felt herself speeding into the pit of its black iris. The water she was submerged in fell away, splashing into the void behind her. Her movement was no longer constricted, and she could breathe in what smelled like stale air. Behind her lay darkness and frothing waves. Ahead lay a bright light, illuminating the shining edges of a tunnel.

Before her stood three figures—they were short and squat, but dressed in graceful ceremonial robes that bellied the rest of their appearance. Each of their leathery hides was a different color: topaz, white, and a cool, dark hue that Miyu couldn't identify. Their eyes were milky and frosted over, as if blind. They spoke to Miyu in an ancient dialect of which Miyu didn't recognize a word, but somehow she understood their meaning. They talked in unison, creating a harmony with their voices.

"You have come far, Daughter of the Moon. Your persistent efforts are about to bear fruit. The Enslaver has awoken. If you do not stop him, he will move on with his ritual and transform Bayoon into a vessel with which to traverse Lylat. Planet after planet, our System will fall to his control, until no one can stand against him. This is not merely our problem. He is a threat to Aquans and off-worlders alike.

"Years ago when our people were enslaved we managed to create in secret powerful tools with which to thwart the Sea God." The lead Aquan stepped forward and lay a slimy hand on Miyu's necklace.

"You carry one now, Moon Daughter. With it, you must finish what we started centuries and centuries ago. When the Sea God ascended from Aquas to Bayoon, we struck. We managed to blind him, separating him from his empire and interrupting his plan. To preserve himself and wait for the recovery of life on Aquas, Bacoon descended into a deep slumber.

"But now, off-worlders have invaded Bayoon and prodded into the ancient legends. Foreigners wish to use the Sea God to further their own power. They do not know Bacoon is a jealous god and tolerates being second to none. Now only another off-worlder such as yourself may blind the Sea God and rid the Lylat of him forever.

"Be warned, for he senses who you are. He knows the threat you pose to his rule. Even now he has planted the seeds of his control inside of you. Slowly, you will lose control. You must not lose sight of what is real and what is vision. Take what you can from dreams, but never mistake them for reality."

The three Aquans parted—the blue one stepping to the left, the other pair to the right. Miyu felt herself accelerate forward until the walls of the tunnel flashed by. She flew toward the bright light at the end, now able to make out branches and leaves blowing on the other side. She could even hear their rustling, accompanied by whistling wind and wild bird calls. Then, in a brilliant flash—

)✹◯

Blood and pus sprayed from Miyu's right eye. She woke up screaming and clutching at her face, eyes clenched shut to minimize the pain.

"Fuh… Aaaah!"

What had happened? The necklace was supposed to heal her! Did she miraculously survive the fall?

In a few seconds she recognized her familiar surroundings. Sure enough she was back in her cockpit as usual. It had become status quo on Bayoon. So why wasn't she healed?

Then she heard metal clanks on the top of her interceptor. Moving shadows blocked out the sun. The screech of nails upon chalkboard as some device was set against glass.

Clenching her teeth, Miyu raised her head and pried her good eye open, still covering her right eye with bloodied paws. The sunlight jabbed like a dagger into her sensitive pupil. She was utterly confused by what she saw: Borro the pangolin, leader of the local pirates, and several of his henchman had climbed onto her fighter. They had planted some sort of large tool on her ship's canopy, but it was difficult to make out through the red and white ocular matter sprayed against the inside of the glass. It looked like a box with grav grips on each side, thus affixing it to her windshield. A metal spike lay nestled inside the cube, the point of which had already scraped up the glass. Protruding from the opposite side was a sort of rod with a flat circular platform at the end, almost like the high striker game she saw at the carnival. And from the way Borro carried a ridiculously-sized mallet in his hands, that was exactly the way they intended to use it.

"What the—"

Flexing his arms, Borro lifted the hammer over his shoulders before bringing it crashing down on the target piece. The spike shot forward, striking the glass. To Miyu's horror a giant spiderweb of cracks appeared in the canopy, centering around where the spike had struck. While Borro readied for another go the two other pirates twisted a pair of levers on either side of the box, raising the target rod back up.

They were trying to break into her ship!

Where was Fay? Why were they already surrounded by pirates? Didn't Andross know he couldn't stage an early strike like this without accidentally killing her?

Borro swung the hammer down a second time, and the spike actually penetrated her canopy a few inches. A sprinkle of glass shards rained down into her cockpit, driving home the urgency of the situation. To make matters worse, that goddamn song continued to merrily sing over the radio, each line punctuated by her enemies' veritable piledriver.

"…sorry Miss Moon
I have to run away
Daylight's coming soon
So I can't stay,"

Faster than Miyu could react Borro swung the hammer a third time, and the spike burst into her cockpit. Now that it reached halfway between the glass and where Miyu sat, she realized it was dangerously aimed at her torso, threatening to gore her stomach if it continued.

"'Cause you're the only
Jewel I see
Dancing 'round the clouds
It's only you and me,"

Miyu set to work unfastening her harness, but her hands were slippery from the fluids seeping out from her wounded eye. She couldn't firmly grasp the straps without her paws slipping.

Borro struck the device a fourth time, and the spike descended until it pressed in against Miyu's stomach—in fact, she had to suck in her gut to avoid any discomfort. She was firing on all cylinders now, having engaged full-on panic mode. She tried reaching for the lever to pop her canopy open—or even the emergency ejector, both of which would have sent the pirates flying—but the spiked end of the tool kept her pinned in her seat.

"Yeah you're the only jewel I see
Spinning 'round the clouds
It's where I wanna be,"

This was the end; one more blow would widen the gaping hole in her canopy, allowing the pirates inside while at the same time skewering Miyu to her seat. The pirates could easily impale her and steal the necklace while she bled out—she'd heard of horrific tortures where victims survived such impalings. Maybe it would be best to kill herself now and reset before they could take the necklace.

As Borro reared the hammer above his head for the final blow, Miyu drew her blaster and placed it to her temple. She closed her eye and tightened her finger on the trigger, feeling the harsh, icy muzzle press against her skill. A faint voice whispered in the back of her mind, and at the last second she checked to make sure the necklace was still around her throat.

But it wasn't.

Eye widening in terror, Miyu patted herself down, but only confirmed it wasn't on her person anymore. No! Where is it?! I swear I put it on! It's how I survived! Fuck, why?!

"'Cause you're the only jewel I see,
Jewel I see."

Borro swung the hammer down, but at the same time a red bolt of energy struck his head from behind, blowing the rear half of his skull off. His final swing only glanced off the target, saving Miyu from being skewered, but the spike still extended further and pressed into her gut, albeit without breaking the skin. While Miyu coughed from the pressure, the two pirates on either side of Borro's toppling corpse looked over their shoulders. They drew their own weapons and returned fire at some unseen target. Another blast knocked one of the pirates from her ship, and the remaining one dove off of his own accord. Several more volleys spat back and forth before all was quiet.

Then a group of new shadows climbed onto Miyu's fighter. The lynx recognized them immediately.

"Awright, let's get this bloody siege weapon off the poor gal!" said wilderness reality TV star Stephen Gills, who she hadn't seen since her first day in Badwash. As the muscular bear rolled up his sleeves he was joined by another figure: a green parrot she knew as Simon. For once he set aside his field camera to help Stephen, using his wings to deactivate the grav grips and hoist the spike from her cockpit. With the pressure released from her stomach Miyu was free to move around and breathe deeply. Still clutching her eye to ease the searing pain, she popped her canopy and stood.

Her left eye was teared up and blurry, so she had trouble keeping her balance. The extreme pain also made her lightheaded, so she nearly slipped when she set foot onto the nose of her interceptor.

"Blood hell Miyu, you look like piss!"

Stephen's soft, powerful arms scooped her up to carry her princess-style.

"Screw off! I'll be fine!"

"Listen here Jane, you're in a bloody awful condition to be movin' around. Best let me carry ya." And he winked down at her.

Giving up on that front, Miyu scanned the wharf with her one good eye, but everything was made blurry by the tears. She saw the busted canopy of her ship, Fay's interceptor covered in several new bullet holes, and a swarm of forest rangers milling about on the pier. But within the crowd she couldn't locate one particular red bow and downy white coat.

"Where's Fay?!" Miyu asked urgently.

"Easy now, we'll get you fixed up right quick as a flash. Just hold on till we get you to the hospital, 'kay?"

"Is Fay alright?!" she persisted. But mere seconds later she succumbed to the immense pain and dizziness. Black oil seeped across her vision like a curtain closing, shutting out the world.

)✹◯

When Miyu came back, she was only half there.

Everything in the hospital room was painted picket-fence white, the daylight outside casting cool blue shadows into the room. The waving curtains glowed with golden light, and between their partitions Miyu could see equally white sails lazily swaying in the breeze—a forest of pearly masts, some crowned with cherry red flags. It had all the earmarks of a perfect, lazy morning.

Except for the layer of darkness covering everything.

It was always half there and half not, as if she were looking through a retro pair of 3D glasses. While she could see through her left eye, her brain kept trying to create a 3D image using the null response from her right. She could no longer see depth, and her field of vision was halved and pushed off-center. In fact, everywhere she looked seemed unbalanced.

As her left eye slowly adjusted to the light, she felt a variety of sensations. The first was a soreness—both in her missing eye and in her thigh for some reason. She hadn't recalled wounding it. But at least the excruciating pain had dissipated.

A splotch of white shifted next to her bed, and Miyu focused on it. She could tell from the unmistakable bow who was sitting at her bedside.

"You okay, Fay?"

The spaniel rolled her eyes. "Will you ever learn to care about yourself?"

"But I do care about myself," Miyu grinned sheepishly. "More than you realize. After all, what I want most is for you to be fine. You're contagious when you're happy. I'm hopping to catch some of that second-hand."

"Well, if you insist. I'm a bit frightened and confused, but at the same time I feel relaxed. You're safe here. We both are."

Miyu released a pent-up sigh, slowly sinking back down in bed. "Good…" She closed her eye and let the cool sea breeze feather her cheek.

"Fay… what did they do with my eye?"

The canine tensed. "Oh, they took care of you. You're going to be fine! You look fine, too."

"Can I have a mirror?"

Fay's eyes narrowed. "Just trust me on this, you look really cool!"

"Mirror, Fay."

Caught between keeping her in the dark and pampering a wounded friend, Fay gave in and passed over the hand mirror. Miyu raised it to her face, staring at herself in the reflection. All the blood and… other fluids had been washed from her fur. But what she focused on was the black eyepatch covering her right eye socket. A crust hiding a hollow core within.

"Ah."

"Ah? That's it?"

"Yeah."

"I'm just happy you're alive," Fay whispered. "I don't care how banged up you come out of that as long as my friend's okay. And really, I think you look cool! Badass! The patch does suit you. A-and I bet my uncle could get you one of those cybernetic eyes if you wanted. I'd just have to butter him up first."

Miyu studied herself in the mirror more. In a way, Fay was right. She did like how the patch made her look more ferocious—almost like the other pirates hiding in Bayoon, minus the strap circling their heads. But at the same time, she didn't feel comfortable knowing people would always be uneasy around her. What must Fay feel looking at her? Was she scared? Unnerved? How could she ever make her see her soft side when she looked like this?

"You're right," she lied, letting the mirror drop to the bed. "I do look fucking badass. But why does my leg hurt?"

"Oh, that." Fay rubbed her paws anxiously. "The details made me squeamish when they first explained it to me, but when they… removed your eye, they had to take tissue and muscle from somewhere else to cover up the back of your socket. I'm sorry, I get sick just talking about it."

"Never change, Fay," Miyu smiled at her.

Fay shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "So, maybe you can explain something to me. Why were those pirates lying in wait for us?"

"It's a long story," Miyu sighed. "You see Fay, I've lived this day before. This will be my fifth time landing in Badwash. Each time I end up dying to the pirates, and each time the day restarts and I wake back up when we land."

Fay blinked. "Come again?"

"You don't have memories of it. Everyone's memories reset. In fact, the entire universe resets except for me, and this evil scientist dude, who's on a floating rock between Bayoon and Aquas, and he's using a giant extrasolar clam to mind-control the Aquans through magnetic yellow food coloring to one day take over the entire Lylat—"

Miyu tried to keep a straight face while saying it, but towards the end she kept sniffling until she burst out laughing along with Fay. The two kept laughing until tears leapt to their eyes, and they slowly caught their breaths.

"Oh my god Miyu, that's so ridiculous! Did you dream that while you were sedated?"

Drying her eyes with the hospital blanket, Miyu shook her head. "Nope. It's all horrifyingly real. But I knew you would doubt me, so I had you tell me a secret that only you and nobody else knows. A couple tries ago, you told me to say, "Hey there princess, need a hand?""

Fay had a skeptical expression on her face, her cheeks puffed slightly and her lips puckered as she frowned at Miyu, but upon hearing the phrase that doubtful expression melted. "Okay, that's a little creepy. How'd you know those words mean so much to me?"

"Because James McCloud said them when he rescued you. It's what inspired you to become a mercenary and hook up with me. Right?"

Fay's eyes widened. "Exactly right." She shivered involuntarily.

"Still, something's different this time. Normally whenever I'm killed my wounds are healed. Eaten by a monster? Bite marks gone. Gutted in a sacrificial ceremony? Intestines replaced. Crater into Aquas? No bones broken. But for some reason my eye hasn't healed. Cira stabbed it with the ceremonial knife, so maybe…" Miyu slowly realized the problem. Chasme had explained to her the dagger's function; the shrine maidens had crafted it to counteract the immortality granted by the necklaces. Any wound it inflicted was permanent. Miyu was lucky Cira hadn't killed her that time. But that meant even if she died and reset again, her eye would still be damaged. No matter what she did, she wasn't getting her eye back. The thought of it made her heart sink.

"There's just one more thing," Miyu pressed on. "Why did Stephen and Simon and the rangers all show up to save us? They should've been eating breakfast somewhere. And where's my necklace?!"

"Sorry, I have it," said a deep but gentle voice from the doorway. Miyu looked up to see the broad form of Simon the kakapo, Stephen's cameraman. He was dangling Miyu's necklace from his wing, and entered along with Stephen and a walrus who Miyu vaguely remembered as Officer Mackerel. He wore the same khaki uniform as the other forest rangers, but a set of bars on his shoulders distinguished him as their superior.

"Si!" Miyu exclaimed. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

The parrot sheepishly stepped forward and handed Miyu the necklace, as if ashamed to have kept it. He continued talking in his usual utilitarian manner. "You found me filming Stephen eating breakfast. You stumbled in bleeding and full of bullets. Mentioned a giant clam called "Bacon". You predicted we're filming Bayoon Bushcraft: Season 2. Very confidential. Then you say to come save you at docks. Said it was the only way you wouldn't lose "her" each time. Then you put necklace on me and shoot me." Simon shrugged. "Wasn't pleased at first, but then I saw you spoke the truth."

Of course Miyu would trust Simon over Stephen: he was much more resourceful and nowhere near as hammy. Simon had been much more of a help while forging through the wilderness during her first day in Badwash.

Stephen threw a beefy arm around the parrot's shoulder. "I hadn't the foggiest notion what Simon was yubbin' on about, but I knew I could trust me mate. So we rounded up the rangers and rushed to the docks. Sure as rain, we saw your two tinnies under attack from pirates, so we taught those wankers a lesson! Saved your gal friend just in time, too. Couldn't for the life of us figure out what pureed your eye like that…"

Simon elbowed him and cast a dirty look his way.

It was starting to make sense to Miyu. "Andross must've sent the pirates to attack as soon as possible and steal the necklace. I guess I fended them off but lost Fay last time. Since there was no way I could save both of us by myself, I had to get your help. So I gave you the necklace and killed—er, reset you, but of course I wouldn't remember any of it. Oh."

Officer Mackerel, who had silently been judging them the entire time, crossed his flippers. "Now, if you don't mind young lady, it's your turn to extricate what has perspired here."

"Yeah, what's this about a giant clam named Bacon?" Fay piped in.

Miyu wrinkled her nose. "He's called Bacoon, ya doofas. That's also a long story, but I'll try to lay it out for you."

Fay, Simon, Stephen, and Officer Mackerel all gathered around Miyu's bed to listen. She did her best to explain the situation without confusing them or stoking their disbelief too much. She went over everything: Andross' research into Bacoon, his hibernation in the satellite's heart, how he controlled the population through the yellow chemical, and the pirate takeover of Mulaboo Marsh, Lagrange Rock, and the research station at the top of the mountain.

Miyu concluded with, "We need a plan to defeat them all: Bacoon, Andross, and the pirates."

"And I presuppose you have one?" Mackerel asked incredulously.

"I've got some ideas. I have a sort of sleeper-agent in Andross's ranks. She'll help us get into Bayoon's core and defeat the monster once we get inside. But we'll need an army to do it. The pirates are there as well."

"We can call in the Aquan Provisionals, perhaps the CDF." Stephen scratched his head. "But they aren't likely to believe us."

"I think we have someone who they'll believe." Miyu winked knowingly at Fay. "But they might not get here in time. We need to move now, in the meantime. Are there any space-worthy ships in the Badwash area?"

"Some of Badwash's finest veterinarians are excellent fighter pilots," Mackerel stroked his chin. "Many of them still have ships. They may be past their prime, but I'd trust them to fight by my side through fickle and fin."

Miyu cringed a little. "Good. I can help recruit them. You should have your rangers round up what's left of the pirates in Mulaboo Marsh. They're hiding out at Creeper's Rock. And prohibit everyone at the carnival from eating anything with yellow food coloring! For some people it's already too late, but as long as we defeat Bacoon by eclipse they'll be alright."

"Hmm. Don't like taking orders from an off-worlder, but in the name of insurgency I will comply." The walrus saluted before about-facing and exiting the room.

Fay looked at Miyu and mouthed, Insurgency?

"I think he meant 'urgency.'" Then, turning to Stephen, "What happened to the Sveno and the Meduza?"

"Let's just say your ship underwent surgery the same time you did. Si told me you'd want to get right back in the cockpit and take the piss out of that monster. An' you only with one eye!"

"You mean you're repairing my ship?"

"Right on. Just hafta replace the canopy. It'll be done within the hour, and you can pick it up in the shipyard at the west end of the wharf. Wish I could come wit ya to give it to that big ol' clam thing, but I ain't never learned ta fly. Naw, I'll stick to the ground any day. Where I can wrestle boa constrictors!"

Fay got a dreamy look on her face while Miyu just shook her head. "We better get going. Bayoon's not gonna save itself!"

"Ah, good point. D'ya need any help finding those vets? Need me to carry you somewhere? You're probably a little out of it."

Miyu blushed inwardly as she remembered Stephen carrying her in his big, fuzzy arms. "No thanks, I think Fay can help me. But can I borrow your jeep?"

"Sure thing, mate." Stephen scooped the keys out of his pocket and tossed them into Miyu's waiting hands. Without depth perception, Miyu awkwardly missed. "But how did you know I had a je—ohhh, right." He tapped his head. "Well, we'll be seeing ya. Good luck!"

"Thank's so much you two!" Miyu called before they disappeared out the door. When they were gone she shook her head. "You know, I didn't understand until now just what everyone else feels like. You know, having someone tell you you don't remember a day happening but proving to you again and again it did. It's so hard to believe I managed to contact Stephen and Si before dying, and sent them back to save us. But here we are. The tables really turned, haven't they? Now I don't blame you for all the times in the past when you doubted everything I said."

"Aww, I should never doubt anything you say!"

Miyu swung her legs over the side of the bed and only then became conscious that she was wearing but a hospital gown over her undergarments. Fay quickly handed Miyu her clothes and helped her dress before supporting her down the steps to the first floor of the hospital. The nurses had a hard time releasing them, but Miyu's blaster was able to talk them into it.

Once outside they were hit with the full force of the sea breeze. The cool air cycling in from Bayoon's great lake did wonders to counteract the muggy climate descending from Aquas. The gentle gusts of wind cooled Miyu off and helped her relax. Right now they stood in the shade of the hospital's porch that jutted out above said lake. Miyu let go of Fay and leaned on the railing for support, gazing out over the pristine sailboats that drifted back and forth in place. The wood beneath her arms was weathered and soft, the original gray boards showing through the white paint.

"I need this, Fay," Miyu explained. "I need a moment to catch my breath. It's so peaceful here, with you. Gives me time to recover. Before… giving it another go for the hundredth time. I'm just afraid that I'll fail and have to start again. But at the same time, I feel this confidence. I know what I have to do, and half of my fear was coming from the unknown. Nothing made sense until I met Vixy and learned everything from her. That fear of the unknown is just… gone. All that's left to do is act. I still don't know what to expect once we get inside of Bayoon, but I have a feeling, whatever it is, we'll get through it."

"Yeah, I know that feeling." Fay's sigh was unbearably cute.

Miyu frowned. "Wait, you do?"

Fay pushed her aside. "No silly, I have no idea what you're talking about! But I believe you."

The lynx returned to staring out over the harbor. When she first stepped outside with Fay, everything was initially too bright. But over time her eye adjusted to the sunlight and her vision cleared, allowing her to study the docks more thoroughly. She loved the way light from the shifting waters reflected on the underside of the boardwalk, dancing like miniature northern lights. Strange. There seemed to be a glass orb warping the light on the underside of one of the docks, but she could only tell that from the slightly darker and strangely-bent pattern in the reflected light.

"Miyu? W-what are you doing?"

The feline had slowly drawn her blaster and taken aim. She fired, and a shower of orange sparks erupted from the air where the sphere should have been. Smoke began to trail from the area, and an orb-shaped drone flashed in and out of sight. Miyu tracked it with her blaster, firing upon it as it tried to float away. Her last shot struck the drone full-on, and it fell to the wooden dock, splitting open. The eyeball-like surveillance drone lay smoking in a smoldering heap.

Miyu holstered her blaster. "Now that we're not on some sick pirate reality show, there's something I've been waiting to do all morning."

"How in the world did you know that was—"

But Miyu caught Fay in her arms and kissed her.

She continued to hold the embrace for several seconds, enjoying the freedom and release it brought, but then she noticed something. Fay wasn't returning the gesture. She held onto Miyu with her arms to keep from falling, but she never kissed or hugged back.

Miyu pulled away, searching Fay's eyes. There wasn't any sign of love or longing or contentment in them. No recognition. Only surprise and shock and confusion. The girl couldn't move. She didn't know how to react.

The lynx's heart sank. Why did only scars carry over from each life? Somehow losing Fay was worse than losing her eye. Of all the misfortunes that happened to her that day, this pained her the most. Fay didn't love her; not the way she wanted. They had returned to just being teammates and friends. It looked like the heavens would only perfectly align once for her.

She let go of Fay and looked down between her feet, ashamed. She turned her back and slunk down the porch.

"Call your uncle," she instructed. "Mention Andross and Vixy. He'll have to come."

"Miyu?! What's the ma—"

"Call him!"

She could barely hold back the tears. She stopped far enough away from Fay so that she was out of earshot, and sniffed a bit. She closed her eyes and let the tune of the song come back to her.

'Cause you're the only jewel I see…

1232-1653.

When she remembered the number she dialed it into her comm unit and raised her wrist to her mouth. She stared at the reflection of the Pillar in the lake, as if she could catch a glimpse of Lagrange Rock in its waves.

"Um, who is this please?"

"No one you know, but you can call me Miyu."

"Hello Miyu, I guess? I'm—"

"Vixy Reinard, I know. You're probably wondering how I got your number."

There was silence on the other end.

"Yes. This is a secure line, but I don't care how you got access to it. I'm being held prisoner, and I desperately need your help!"

"Actually," Miyu grinned, "I need yours."

)✹◯

The drive to the docks at Mulaboo Marsh was an awkward one. Miyu took the wheel and drove from memory, while Fay sat in the passenger seat. They were mostly silent all the way there, with neither girl daring to speak after what happened earlier. Miyu couldn't believe she had messed things up with Fay so soon, but perhaps the spaniel would chalk it up to her harrowing day.

When they arrived at the wharf they found the rangers had already departed to hunt down the pirates—this time more prepared and with larger forces. Some families and their cars still occupied the parking lot, but the only sizeable group was the army of Aquans preparing to leave on a fishing expedition. Frogs, toads, salamanders, and a few other species made up their ranks. The closer Miyu walked towards them the more features she was able to see. Now it struck home just how old and decrepit they were. But they were the only ones who knew how to fly and possessed ships, so they'd have to do.

Fay waited several steps behind Miyu, not knowing what she had in mind and reluctant to get involved. She rubbed her paws together and shrank back. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Miyu, on the other hand, confidently strolled up to the veterans and planted her feet on the wooden deck. She cleared her throat.

"Ahem!"

Slowly, the Aquans realized they had a visitor, and put aside whatever they were doing to turn and look.

"Is this all your life has become?" she called in a voice loud enough for all to hear. "Fishing? Fishing? You used to do so much more, didn't you?"

Amos Fletcher, the red-skinned goliath frog, studied her suspiciously. "Youse been out in the sun too long?"

"What if I told you you could relive your glory days? Take to the skies once again? Well I'm telling you now. Bayoon needs your help. Pirates have infested your god-given land once again. They've come to pillage your crops and run off with your women folk. They've come to skin your children alive!" Miyu felt corny for uttering those phrases, but it seemed like the best way to reach them.

"Pirates now?" Amos scratched the stubble on his neck. "Yes'm, I remember them. Boy we gave 'em a sound whoopin'! We beat 'em so hard they weren't able to sit in their little cockpits for weeks. Had ta stand up while flyin', heh heh."

"Hol' up now, Amerss," Roy, the green-speckled Pac-Man frog began. "Why should we lift a fanger to help this here fe-line off-worlder battle some pirates? I remember fightin' at the Battle o' Gambogee Hill, and my father Diomedes Witherspoon fought and bled at the Skirmish of Saffron Sound, and I knows you can't trust those slit-eyed cats far'er than you kin throw 'em."

Miyu slapped a paw over her face. Oh fuck, not again. The temptation to shoot herself in the head was stronger than it ever was before.

The pink salamander lifted a webbed claw. "Wait just a trout-fishin' minute Roy. You can't ignore that I fought at Gambogee too. And my pop Euripides Calhoun fought by the side of Master Gunnery Sergeant Dengue at the Carnage of Canary Canyon, and neither of us could find anyun more loyal 'an the felines. Why they'd bleed out over the grass before they'd let you take a bullet."

Just as the pufferfish-like rain frog at the back of the group was drawing in a breath, Miyu interjected. "You're not listening to me! We don't have time for this. We need to act now."

"I think you need to learn some respect for your elders, chile!"

"Yeah, shouldn't you be in school where ya get taught some manners?"

Amos crossed his arms and chewed on a sprig of hay. "If you ask me, you 'n that Corneria bitch are up to no good. Trying to ster up mischief and destract us from fishin'. Yer kind don't even belong on Bay-yoon."

At this point Miyu started tearing up in her left eye. She looked down at the ground to hide it at first, but she couldn't stand it. She had enough of these goddamn frogs. They were old and stubborn and bigoted and blind and judgmental and every other word she could think of. She hated to admit it, but she needed their help. They were the only capable allies she had.

Miyu's head snapped back up, and she stared them down with a tear-stained eye. "Don't you see I'm trying to help?!" she cried. "I came here to get a worthless set of jewelry for a paycheck, but now I'm staying to save your people, your friends and families, from certain death. And all you care about is living your peaceful lives and keeping to yourselves and goddamn fishing! You have no idea how hard I've tried to save you all, repeatedly, and this is the thanks I get? If I had any sense, I would get in my ship and leave you selfish geezers here to rot and die!"

She sniffed and wiped her nose, using the moment to compose herself.

"But I'm not going to. I'm going to stay. I'm going to keep risking my life over and over again if I have to until every last person here is saved. No matter how stubborn you people are, no matter how xenophobic and stuck up and prudish, you're still people. I've seen your good side too; others have shown me how kind and welcoming you can be. You may hate my guts because I'm from another planet and I'm a different species, and I 100% hate yours too, but that doesn't mean I just let you all die. I just wish you would stop being wrinkled dicks about it and help me save Badwash, but for some silly reason you're just making this more difficult!"

Finally she could speak no more and collapsed into tears, choking on the rock-like constriction in her throat. The Aquans just stared on in awkward silence, rather ashamed.

Then Miyu heard gravel crunching beside her, followed by Fay's shouting voice.

"Who do you all think you are?! Where do you get off ignoring her legacy? The Miyu Tsukikage?" She balled her fists on her hips and glared at them in turn. "I'll have you know she was a soldier in the Katinese Provisional forces that volunteered to save your home from the pirates, only all she's gotten as thanks are dirty looks and racial epithets and xenophobia! Did anyone trust her? No. Did she get a medal for losing her eye at the Battle of Gambogee Hill? No. She was forgotten and ignored like the rest of the Katinese. And her father Hideaki Tsukikage fought at the Battle of Aspen Wood, and his father Makoto Tsukikage fought at the Battle of Golden Glen! Were any of them remembered or given the honor they deserved? You guessed it. Not one iota! Frankly, I'm ashamed of you all."

During her barrage, Miyu quit crying and looked up at Fay, taken aback.

The camo-wearing toad stepped in. "You look a bit young to have fought at Gambogee with the rest of us. Can't be ol'er 'an 18 er 19."

The pink salamander elbowed him. "Now Judas, remember the Katinese are good at concealing their age. She's probably at least seventy under all that makeup and fur dye. You committed one o' them newfangled micro 'ggressions the lady at the vegetarian cafe keeps warning' us 'bout."

Judas nodded. "Oh garsh, how clumsy of me! So sorry to assume, ma'am."

Miyu opened her mouth to rip into the duo, but since it ultimately worked in her favor she let it slide.

Amos pushed through the ranks of other frogs until he stood directly in front of Miyu. He looked to be tearing up as well. He extended his webbed hand and gave Miyu a firm shake. "I'm a sorry to have doubted you, little miss Tsukikage! It jerks on my heart strings knowin' you din' get the recognition us other-un's got. But we'll fix that, won't we boys?" He turned to face the rest of the Aquans. "Ah say we fire up our ships again and fly once more! The skahs will once again know the true meaning of righteous fury. We, the Badwash Brigade will fly again! Now who's with me?!"

As one, the Aquans bellowed and croaked their affirmation. Miyu couldn't help but smile and shed a tear at the sight.

Amos turned to looked back at Miyu. "Alrighty miss. Where do ya need us?"

Miyu finally managed to swallow the rock in her throat. "Go home and prep your ships. Fly them to the fields east of Badwash Harbor, and we'll meet you there with some others. You guys… you guys make me proud!"

Amos grinned and tipped his hat in respect, then rushed off with the others to drive back home.

Miyu and Fay started walking back to Stephen's jeep. The lynx noticed a bounce in the spaniel's step, and a cheerful hum coming from her nose. She felt warm inside. That meant Fay had forgiven her for her rash actions earlier that morning.

"Hey, Fay?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for that. It was sure corny, but you understood what means the most to them, and I admire how you got inside their heads like that. You know, that was pretty smart of you."

Fay placed a paw over her mouth and giggled, the red bow on her head bobbing up and down. "Well, I must admit I was surprised when it worked."

When they got in the jeep and drove back onto the dirt road in the direction of town, Fay asked, "What's next from here? Pick up your ship?"

"They should have the glass replaced now. But there's one more item I need to pick up before we rendezvous with the Geezer Brigade."

"Oh? And what's that?"

Miyu licked her lips. "Ice cream."

)✹◯

Vixy stepped out of the corridor and into Lagrange Rock's hangar bay. The wide open gate provided a scenic view: the twin horizons of both Aquas and Bayoon, and a mass of clouds between them. She walked past a yellow 'wet floor' stand, where a pirate on cleanup duty was mopping the steel floor. He whistled as she passed, and for once Vixy was thankful she wasn't blessed with the Gift as other Cerinians were, or she'd run the risk of peering into his thoughts.

Behind the unwilling janitor rested Black Mamba's interceptor: a graceful Katinese ship called the Evryali, painted black with purple and gold accents much like the outfits the girl wore. She was the bounty hunter Andross had hired to steal the Aquan artifacts. As soon as the feline landed in the hangar and dismounted her ship, her throat had erupted in a spray of blood—as if a phantom knife had sliced it open right before their eyes. The doctors rushed her to the med bay on Gladys' ship, which was located inside Bayoon and was now Vixy's current destination. The pirate on cleanup detail was mopping up the bloody mess she left behind right now.

As far as Vixy had heard, the wound sliced through the pantheress' jugular and even her vocal folds—odds were the girl would never be able to speak again. She had nearly bled out right then and there on the cold hangar floor, Gladys' pirates merely standing and watching, slack-jawed. They were always a suspicious bunch.

But that was only the first of the strange happenings that day. The second was when Andross started ranting about having come back to life or reliving the same day again. It was all nonsense. No, it was worse than nonsense. That megalomaniac had finally snapped. Vixy always thought there was something off about the scientist, no matter how charming he was. But ever since he went as far as kidnapping and imprisoning her, she knew he had come unhinged.

Without explaining a word to Gladys Andross ordered the pirates hiding in the marshes to steal some necklace from a lynx who he had no right knowing was there. When the pirates failed to report back and, as Andross put it, 'the day didn't reset', he became afraid. Vixy had never seen him that way. He called off the invasion. He locked himself in the laboratories by himself, rushing through experiment after experiment. But that was good for Vixy. She had her own mission.

The third strange event of that day was the same lynx who Andross tried to have assassinated calling her. She concisely explained what was going on in Badwash even better than Vixy could have, so she listened. This 'Miyu' girl needed her to stow aboard Gladys' flagship and open the warp rings for her when she and her army arrived. Once they were inside she would take control of the cruiser and help Miyu destroy Bacoon.

Moving on from the bounty hunter's interceptor, she located the least-revolting of the pirates and confronted him. The badger in the red sports hat was buried head-and-shoulders deep into the innards of his craft, tinkering away.

Vixy stopped behind him and crossed her arms. She cleared her throat.

Hearing her, the badger slowly extricated his head from the hood of his ship, probably because he had struck it so many times previously. He looked up at Vixy with a curious expression, thankfully not because of her fur color. She hadn't washed it off that day, so it remained orange.

"Eh? You want something vixen?"

"Take me to Gladys' flagship immediately," she began, summoning as much authority to her voice as she could muster. "I have an urgent message from the Doctor."

The badger rolled his eyes and muttered something about having to leave his ion carburetor in disrepair. But he dropped his wrench into a toolkit on the floor. "Fine. Get in. But only because it's that batshit ape."

Vixy climbed into his fighter's backseat, and the pirate got in shortly after. The control room radioed his request for warp ring activation to the base inside Bayoon, where the ring system was operated. The badger closed the canopy and took off, passing through the atmospheric forcefield.

Now outside the hangar Vixy craned her head above the badger's large shoulders to see the massive wall of clouds looming in front of them. He had the ship angled downwards to Bayoon, and with each passing second they began to speed up. A series of pulsing blue rings spun in front of them, shaped like needle points on a compass, only pointed inwards. Before phasing through Bayoon's crust to get to the hollow core, they would have to pass through each successive ring in a row.

Vixy slumped back in her seat and let out a long, methodical breath. She closed her eyes to think. You can do this Vixy. Your husband does it all the time. How hard can fighting the bad guys possibly be?

Paws clasped and mind cleared, she prayed to the old Cerinian gods for guidance and good fortune.

Give me the strength to help these innocent people.

The ship lurched as it sped through the first ring, rocketing forwards slightly. They had begun entry into the satellite's dark heart.

Where he slept.