Chapter 14: Wake

"Ghost" - Hollywood Undead

"What

are you

waiting for, Fox?"

the maternal voice asked him.

Fox curled into a ball, tightly clasping his legs

to his chest and clenching his eyes shut. "What do you

mean?" Fox shot back. "This is the end; there's now way out for me.

I can't move, I can't see, I'm lost...there's no way out." The voice went on,

encouraging him to action. "That's not like you, Fox. Where's your spirit? Where's your life?

Since when have you ever given up? You've made it this far; it will only take a little more." Fox shifted in his

underground tomb, and he discovered his limbs were charged with renewed energy. His joints ached and groaned,

and he felt a new desire take hold of him: the desire to break free – the desire for escape. "Tell me, Fox... is this really the end?"

"No... it's not. I... I can see that now. It is only if I let it be." "Then break out Fox, and be reborn." The vulpine stretched his arms and legs,

pushing against the confining egg of rock with all his might. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "I will escape this..." His heels dug into the stone beneath his feet,

crushing it into gravel and giving him leverage. "I will hold on to life..." His back pressed against the ceiling, and his claws dug into the stone, now crumbling like soft earth

against his pressure. "And I will see the sun again!" With one final push, he broke through the womb of the earth and into the open air, light streaming all around him, and darkness fading away...

Brilliant flashes of black and white.

A hand grabbed his, then another.

Water streamed away, and wind blew past.

Quickly but gently, he was laid on the dry ground to face the sky. Two palms pressed against his stomach, shoving down forcefully... once... twice... three times, until his back arched and he spat up creek water. The liquid soon cleared from his eyes, and a canopy of green leaves and branches filled his vision, through the gaps of which he could see the blue sky, and at the center of that...

The sun.

The light was so blinding and painful that he wanted to shut his eyes, but he willed them to stay open and take in every bit of it they could. But before long, a shadow passed between him and the sun, a familiar shadow with two long ears.

"Fox! Are you okay!? Please Fox, say something, anything! I can't lose you now!"

Peppy was crying over his limp body, his tears beginning to fall upon his already soaked clothes.

"Not after this... I can't lose you too!"

"Uncle, Peppy?" Fox coughed, retching up more water.

Suddenly throwing his arms around the young tod, Peppy lifted Fox up and held him against his chest, rocking him back and forth. Hurriedly, the old hare began spilling forth words one after the other; "Oh, Fox! You're okay! I was so sure I lost you... and after losing James, I-I felt so guilty! None of this turned out the way I wanted it too, it's worse than I dreaded! I could hardly bear telling you what happened – telling you the truth. It broke my heart telling you about your dad, Fox; to see that sinking look on your face as you realized why I'd come. And then when you ran away, I just... I didn't know how to react. I'm sorry I ever let you go, Fox. I should have given you some time to cope with it, but I had to go and suggest right away – "

"It's alright, uncle Peppy!" Fox stopped him, grabbing onto his arms. "It's alright! Just don't blame yourself for this. I need you now... I need you to take care of me."

Peppy halted, and the tears stopped flowing from his eyes. "You... you what? B-but just a few minutes ago you said you never wanted my help, that you never wanted me to – "

"I'm sorry, Peppy. I didn't mean those things... I shouldn't have said them. Please believe me! I'm sorry for what I said, I was just so surprised that..."

Fox trailed off, and a rush of memories began pouring into his mind like a dam had just released a flood. His entire life spilled to the forefront of his mind, then arranged itself from the first thing he remembered after birth to the moment he stumbled into the creek bed in his neighborhood forest. And at last, the final piece fell into place.

Fox choked. "He's... he's dead..."

Up to that moment, he had been thinking and talking on autopilot, trying to comfort his friend. But now his past finally caught up to him, and all of his time spent in Infranimus was pushed idly to the side.

At this point, his teeth began to chatter, and a slight shiver overtook his body.

Frowning worriedly at Fox, Peppy lifted the soaking wet vulpine in his arms and stood up.

"Come on, Fox; let's get you home. There's... there's some more I have to tell you. Your father was a brave man, Fox. A real brave man... and a leader."

"I know," Fox sobbed, crying into Peppy's shoulder. "I want to be like him... I want to grow up to be just like him..."

Suddenly gripping Peppy's arms, he asked, "Can you teach me?"

The hare looked at Fox with a confused expression. "T-teach you? Teach you what?"

"To be just like him... to fly a ship, to lead a team... to fight Andross... to be a mer... mercenary, and save people..." Fox looked up and met Peppy's eyes. "Will you teach me, Peppy?"

The old rabbit sighed, speechless at the sight of Fox's earnest, tear-filled eyes.

"Of course, Fox. How can I say no?"

...

Fox stepped out of the shadow of the aircraft silo and into the sun.

At first he was blinded by the difference in light, so he threw up his arm to shield his eyes. It was times like this that made him understand why his father wore sunglasses.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, he was greeted with the majestic sight of the Great Fox. Its white-washed hull glowed brilliantly against the bright blue sky like a pearl in a tropical sea. What a surprise it had been when Peppy revealed the ship for his sixteenth birthday not much more than a year ago. His jaw had dropped open then, and even after familiarizing himself with it over the year, he still was awestruck every time he laid eyes on the graceful dreadnaught.

Shouldering his flight satchel and adjusting his father's red scarf around his neck, Fox walked across the airfield runway until he came to the Great Fox's loading dock. He placed a hand on the raised floor, but before he pulled himself up he took a moment to stroke the hardy metallic surface.

Thanks dad... I don't know how I'll ever repay you.

After finding a better grip on the raised deck, Fox hoisted himself up and entered the docking bay where four identical blue-and-white ships greeted him: the arwings, newly manufactured with the blessing of Slippy's father.

Fox never thought he'd get this far.

His face soon curled in a miffed frown as the sound of snarky laughter reached his ears, thus ruining his good mood.

Stepping around the nose of left-most arwing, Fox came upon a tall, blue-feathered falcon standing over a much smaller and fatter amphibian. Slippy was laying flat on his back atop a mechanic's creeper, helplessly shoved under the arwing's hull. The avian had his foot firmly planted on the edge of the roller, preventing Slippy from sliding back out.

Shaking with laughter, the falcon teased, "You? Really? Fly one of these bad-boys? You get airsick just looking out a ground-level window. I bet you don't even have your learner's permit, do you? Besides, a few minutes in the sky with some real bogeys, and you'll be pissing your pants!"

"Shut it, Lombardi," Fox ordered.

"Oh, hey McCloud! Get this; this little runt thinks he's gonna fly with us!"

"He is," Fox stated, proudly. "Now let him up, Falco."

Falco's eyes bulged as he looked back and forth between Fox and Slippy.

"What? You've got to be kidding – "

When the avian made no effort to let Slippy up, Fox rudely shoved him off and helped the amphibian slip out from under the arwing.

"Of course he is. Why do you think we have four arwings?"

"But we need one for a spare!" Falco countered.

"Then he'll use the spare."

As Slippy stood up, Fox helped him dust off his flight jacket. Then, he turned to Falco and fixed him with a disappointed glare.

"Come on, Lombardi; lay off Slippy already. It's not cool."

"Aw, I was just teasing the little guy – "

"Yeah, well it's not funny. I find it pathetic you have to put Slip down just to make yourself feel like an adequate pilot. Anyone who has to do that to build confidence deserves no place on my team... got it?"

The falcon opened his beak to retort, but then closed it awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. Storming away he mumbled, "Alright, whatever."

When Falco had disappeared deeper into the Great Fox, Fox turned back to Slippy.

"Hey, sorry about Falco. I know he's a new addition to the team, and he might take some getting use to... but he doesn't mean anything by his comments. It's just the way he is. Some people are just born assholes; they can't help it."

"Well... thanks for stepping in, Fox. But I can take care of myself. Don't worry about it."

Fox patted his back. "That's the spirit, Slip. But hey, I'll always be there for you; you may have to get used to that as well."

Fox left Slippy to his work as he made his way towards the bridge of the Great Fox. When he entered the flight deck, he found Peppy hard at work plotting their course on the main computer.

Sitting down in the chair next to him, Fox tapped his shoulder and said, "Gimme their last location, Peppy."

The elderly hare leaned forward and squinted at the data on the screen.

"The hijacked transport was last seen leaving Papetoon towards the Meteo belt. According to the ship's calculations, the pirates should've just passed the halfway point."

"Then we'll head 'em off," Fox stated with determination.

Peppy rotated his chair towards the young pilot and placed a cautious hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure about this, Fox? We've never taken on a group this big before."

Fox patted the rabbit's back to reassure him. "Of course we can do this. Besides, Peppy; Fara's on that ship. You wouldn't want me to let her down, would you?"

"Well, you know I'd rather let the CDF handle this one. I've said that from the get go. But if you're this confident, Fox... just know that I'm right behind you."

"I know you are, Pepp..."

After completing the preflight checklist, Fox rested his hands on the main throttle, but paused suddenly, his head sinking down. Looking awkwardly at Peppy, he stumbled.

"Hey, uh, before we take off... I just wanted you to know... I couldn't have gotten here without you. Star Fox wouldn't even be here anymore if it wasn't for your guidance."

Peppy blushed and smiled back. "Well, shucks, Fox... you give me too much credit. You're the one who got Slippy and that Lombardi fellow to join the team; you're the real glue here, not me. I may have helped along the way – I've at least got the experience – but it was you who persevered and fought for this to happen. I was sure Star Fox was gone for good, until you told me you wanted to... to follow your..."

Peppy spun his swivel chair away so Fox couldn't see him cry, but even the vulpine noticed him wiping a tear away with his wrist.

"Well shoot, now I've went and got all emotional on you..."

"That's okay, old-timer. What say we take off now?"

"That's fine by me."

Fox turned away from Peppy and stared out the Great Fox's front canopy, scanning the empty cement runway, bright blue sky, and light-soaked clouds.

Activating the ship's comm systems with his left hand, Fox said, "This is it; we're taking off, boys. Better strap in."

He left the comm open, during which a few seconds of static filled the system, until Falco's voice came through.

"Hey Foxie, you just worry about your own hide. I can take care of myself."

Muting the comms and smiling, Fox commented, "That Lombardi's great, isn't he?"

Peppy crossed his arms. "He's got no respect for his elders, and he's too hot-headed... but he's an ace pilot, I'll give him that."

"He'll learn. Or maybe he won't... I guess he's more fun this way."

Fox pressed the thrusters forward to their maximum extent, and the Great Fox's engines roared to life, causing the whole ship to shake. Once they had started, they settled back down to a soft hum and stopped vibrating terribly.

"Wow... listen to that; smooth as a kitten's purr. Dad sure knew how to pick 'em."

"He sure did," Peppy echoed, nodding.

Gradually releasing the brakes, Fox allowed the Great Fox to begin inching forward, only at a crawl at first, but then faster and faster, rapidly picking up speed. His eyes were focused on the long runway and the brilliant sky above, but they soon caught a small shape moving alongside the cement road.

Turning to look at the shape, Fox was surprised when he found it was a young kit running through the grass field along the airstrip. The small, furry creature struggled to keep pace as the Great Fox picked up speed, every so often lifting into the air for a few seconds before settling back down again. The child seemed to be chasing after the dreadnaught, barely keeping pace as he ran engulfed by the leviathan's shadow which surfed across the grass like a ghost.

The sight struck something deep inside Fox, and he opened his mouth as if it speak. Of course he knew it was pointless, so he slowly closed his jaw again.

Good luck, kid...

A half hour later saw the Great Fox escaping Corneria's atmosphere and gravitational pull. Once the dreadnaught settled into a smooth cruising speed and the autopilot took over, Peppy removed his headset. He stood up and stretched, his aged back snapping and cracking as he did so.

"Oooh... alright, Fox; I'll be going to the rec room for a warm mug of tea. It always helps me reign in my nerves before missions. Wanna come along?"

"No thanks, Pepp. I think I'll catch some shut eye. I couldn't sleep last night."

"Okay, Fox. I'll be sure to wake you before we intercept the pirates. It'll be several hours, so you have plenty of time for a nap. See you in a few."

"You too, Peppy."

As the hare left the room, Fox rubbed his aching eyes. Leaning back in his chair, he lifted his boots onto the dashboard and crossed his arms behind his back. He stared out at the stars for a few minutes before his sore eyes began to list shut.

The last thing he saw before he fell asleep was stars.

The young child tightly gripped the stronger hand in his.

Timidly, the kit poked his head out from behind the fluttering curtain of black, the enveloping cloth that kept him safe like a large blanket.

The fluttering of wings, a gust of feathers carried on the rising wind, rushing around him like a small storm.

From his safe refuge, the vulpine looked out across the phantom world. As far as his eye could see, the gray dirt plain stretched in every direction, its smooth surface nearly perfect except for a few displaced stones and grains of dust.

Directly ahead of the fox and his ebenezer glowed the setting sun, its bottom arc just dipping below the horizon. The glowing halo bathed the empty plateau in fleeting light, causing even the slightest of protrusions to cast lengthy shadows across its surface. The silver sky was brightest around the pale sun, then gradually darkened until the darkness of night crept upon the opposite horizon, behind the pair of wanderers.

The hand that gripped his gave him a tight squeeze. "It is time."

The kit hesitated, his hand lingering.

"If I let go... will you promise me something?"

"What is it?" the black monolith asked.

The fox sank his head back in the figure's billowing cloak, feeling safe and protected once again.

"If I let go... can I stay by your side?"

"Of course, little one. Stay close behind, and follow me."

The child reluctantly let go of the ghost's hand, his fingers slowly slipping away. He stepped behind the looming figure, covering himself in the protective darkness. He felt warmth, a presence; he wasn't alone. He would never be alone.

The figure turned his hooded head towards the kit, affirming the younger one's presence. Then, he tossed the folds of his cloak over his shoulder just as a haunting wind picked up to catch the garment like a billowing flag, causing it to wave and snap in the breeze. The sun glowed on the horizon, with thousands of miles of gray plains between them.

In a gentle voice, he added, "Stay by me, child... and never leave...

"My shadow..."

The End