NH3: I actually did this chapter for notfromearth7, as he reviewed and that makes me glad. He gets marshmallows, crackers, jelly beans, PS3's…

SAQ: You never give me that stuff.

NH3: Yeah, but we need to roast you for the marshmallows.

SAQ: You're not the boss of me!

NH3: Then why are your clothes on fire?

(SAQ is standing in the campfire)

SAQ: OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

NH3: Next chapter!

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Mission Five: Corneria. Chapter Twenty-One: To Alderon. Start.

Nico woke up from his unconsciousness. He was definitely in the infirmary. Nico tried to sit up in bed, but no sooner then he bent forward his lungs shot him excruciating pain. Nico fell back in bed. Using his ability, he tried to remember what everyone thought during his slumber. However, he found he couldn't. This had never happened before; he could always remember what happened after unconsciousness. Nico had no clear explanation.

The door swished open. Nico saw Krystal and he half expected her to hug him. But that wouldn't happen, Nico lungs wouldn't allow it.

"Are you alright?"

"My chest hurts," Nico admitted with a smile.

"Yeah, the doctors said that would happen," Krystal said. She still stood near, as if Nico was worth protecting to the end.

"What happened?" Nico asked.

"Falco got you out in the nick of time. One more second, one more breath, one more anything, and you would have died instantly and we would have lost hope.

"Died…instantly?" Nico had a talent of pulling true meanings from words like that. "Krystal, I died on the way to Great Fox, didn't I?"

"You died right in my lap. We used pulse blasts, but you didn't awaken until the fourth time," Krystal responded, now with a look of remembering.

"I didn't awaken until the fourth time? Shouldn't you only do three tries?" Nico asked.

"Yes, but Fox was so sure you would come back that we did it a fourth time," Krystal said. But Nico knew why he did. He couldn't bear to see Krystal so sad, so Fox was willing to break medical restrictions on one last hope.

"He really does love you," Nico said. "Do you love him the same way?" Krystal hesitated to give an answer, but finally did.

"Yes,"

Nico smiled. They had grown closer, even without a further date. Nico wouldn't be surprised if Fox proposed to Krystal at Alderon.

Or whatever has taken the place of it, Nico thought. Then he decided the people couldn't propose there after its destruction. That would be terrible.

"What happened next?" Nico asked.

"You had to have surgery. Peppy and I helped the doctors with it, but it was disgusting," Krystal said, shutting her eyes at the thought.

"Why?" Nico asked. He didn't think she was fearful of blood.

"You had swallowed so much muck. When we opened the lungs up, the doctor had to use a vacuum to get it out. And whatever got stuck we had to scrape off," Krystal said, exasperating way too much. But Nico also thought that was gross. It also explained his lung pains. Nico realized something he had to ask.

"Krystal, how long have I been here?" Nico asked.

"Today is the scheduled date for the fleet to head to Alderon," Krystal said. "If you can walk, I'll come back and get you so you can give the coordinates and stuff."

"Okay," Nico said. Krystal left the room, leaving Nico with his thoughts.

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An hour passed by far quicker then Nico usually thought it did. Maybe he listened for too long to the radio chatter, or he might have slept for a little bit. Either way, Nico found himself being wheeled by Slippy to the bridge. They arrived to see that everyone else was working their hardest in the preparations. Nico could see the determination in everyone's faces to get him home and help him repeal the siege. But Nico's telepathy could sense that everyone wanted to go defeat Andross once and for all. Nico had read files about the daring exploits of the Star Fox team. And every time, Andross came back. Nico wondered if this would be the last time.

"Nico, could you come over here?" Fox said. Nico wheeled himself over there.

"What is it?" Nico asked.

"There is this weird key lock on the portal," Fox responded.

"Oh, that would be the security program in the time splinter calculations. You need the key," Nico said.

"Do you have it?" Fox said.

"Yeah," Nico said as he pulled out a computer chip. He put it in a slot that was an upload center. Fox did a fleet-wide broadcast.

"Attention all star ships. In order to enter the portal, you have to download the codes. We are encrypting and sending right now," Fox pressed a button and the codes were sent. Nico took it out and put it in the mainframe slot, so the ship would send a signal as it got closer to the portal. All the ships started heading toward the portal. At that moment, all hell decided to break loose.

A ship shot at two others, which wounded them seriously. Then behind it, another Venom fleet de-cloaked and started to attack.

"Fox, we have to go NOW!" Nico cried out.

"But the fleet is in danger!" he responded.

"Don't worry Fox, it's all right," the hologram said.

"General Pepper?!?!" the team yelled.

"Yes, now Fox, we need you to go ahead of us. We'll hold them off," Pepper said.

"But we need reinforcements!" Fox said.

"That's why the two best ships in the fleet are going with you," Pepper responded.

"You don't mean…"

"Yes, Fox, the Renaissance and the Future's Hope are going with you," Pepper said. "Just in case this is good-bye, it's been a pleasure to work with you, Star Fox Team." He saluted and everyone on the bridge saluted too. Suddenly, the ship around Pepper started to shake and they lost contact. Twenty seconds later by the mission clock, the shockwave of a dead ship rumbled through Great Fox.

"Pepper," Fox said quietly. He saw everybody with tears on their face and felt them on his too.

"Everyone, we're going to follow the General's orders," Fox said. "Slippy, full speed to the portal!

"Aye-aye Fox," Slippy said through sobs. The ship, flanked by two others, sped toward the portal and went through the rings. They were on their way to Alderon.

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NH3: Pretty shocking that the General is dead, huh?

SAQ: Can I have crackers?

NH3: HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN SOMEONE HAS JUST DIED?!?!