I do not own Star Fox or any of the characters.
Biggest Fan
Fox stirred, opening his eyes and staring out the window at a hospital. He blinked. That definitely wasn't anywhere he remembered being around the hotel. He looked around and his stomach dropped. A suburb. A small town where people actually still had lawns and where the buildings were wood rather than stone or steel. And Fox knew this particularly suburb well. The hospital was directly on the border, suburb to one side and city on the other. Fox turned to look at the driver, who looked in the rearview mirror.
"Please don't be mad," the driver said.
"You're kidnapping us?" Fox asked, Krystal's eyes opening at the sound of his voice.
"Oh my God, no!" the driver gasped, sounding appalled. "I would never do something like that. No, it's my sister. She's terminally ill, and she doesn't have long left. But, she made me swear that, before she...before it's over, she wanted to be able to meet you. And get your autograph."
"I see," Fox nodded. "Okay. What's her name?"
"Susan," the driver said. "They'll know who you mean."
Fox nodded and he and Krystal stepped out of the cab, walking inside. All eyes were on them instantly, but Fox ignored them, walking to to receptionist's desk.
"How may I help you?" she asked, clearly recognizing him but not reacting.
"I'm here to see Susan," Fox said.
"I thought so," the receptionist nodded. "Down the hall on your left. Room one eighteen."
Fox nodded and followed her directions, opening the door and stopping, seeing a frail, sickly white cat lying in the bed, numerous tubes stuck into her arms and a heart rate monitor and regulator system attached to her. She had a breathing mask on that fogged with every breath, and she was staring at them with dull, barely aware eyes. Fox walked over, feeling like he might cry. The girl was young. Maybe thirteen at best. He sat beside her, taking her hand.
"Hello Susan," Fox smiled. "Do you know who I am?"
"Star...Fox..." the girl croaked, speaking seeming to take almost all her strength.
"That's right," Fox smiled. "I'm Fox. This is Krystal. I'm sorry the others aren't here."
The girl managed a weak smile, her eyes falling to a book beside the bed. Fox picked it up, opening it and smiling. It was a scrapbook of different pictures and news articles with little diary-like entries.
"Star Fox stopped a bombing today. The leader's so cool!" one read.
"Today I got to watch out the window as Star Fox fought of a bunch of bad guys. I bet they'll win the war in a couple of days. They're so awesome!" another read.
"I wish I could meet them," the most recent one read, this one longer and with individual pictures of the members, including Katt and Krystal. "Even if it's only one of them, that would be enough. The doctor says I'm not going to get better, but what does he know? I'll be fine soon. And then I can go and see all of my friends again. They must have been really busy. I haven't seen any of them since I came here. Only my brother has visited. He says that they all miss me, though."
Fox stared at it before pulling out a pen and signing below his picture. Krystal did the same and Fox turned back to the girl, smiling and showing her. "There. Now you have two of them. Your friends will all be so jealous, huh?"
Susan smiled happily.
"You have to get better before that though," Fox smiled. "That way you can come hang out on the Great Fox with us and get everyone else's signature."
Susan smiled even wider, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Pro...mise?"
"I promise," Fox lied, smiling.
Susan's smile widened before shrinking slightly as her eyes slid closed and the heart rate monitor flatlined. Fox sat back, the book sitting in his lap as doctors and nurses came in, disconnecting her. After a few more minutes, Fox and Krystal walked back out to the waiting room, finding the cab's driver sitting there, eyes wide with shock and grief.
"I'm sorry," Fox said.
"Was she in pain?" the driver asked.
"No," Fox said. "She wasn't in any pain."
The driver nodded, swallowing hard and wiping his eyes, standing. "There's another car on the way to pick you two up. I...I'm going to say goodbye. Even though it's too late."
Fox nodded and the driver walked past them just as the other cab arrived. Fox sighed as they stepped outside, looking down and staring at the book still held in his hands. "Oops. I should probably take this back."
"Yeah," Krystal said. "You should."
"It's Fox McCloud!"
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