The Broken Heart Smile
Falco
Because of what happened,Krystal had all her things moved over to Panther's place .I ,for one ,was pissed about it because of the fact he was a know womanizer and always molesting Wolf .
"You need anything,my love?",Panther said to Krystal .I literally rolled my eyes at this,Slippy just bit his lip,trying not to laugh .
"I'm alright,I've got it",Krystal said .She looked at the kitchen and to my surprise, the fridge opened and a bottle of water floated with a faint touch of blue,over to her .She reached up and grabbed the bottle and the blue vanished .
"That was very good ,sister-Krystal",a soft voice said .A pretty,shapely woman with a cheerful face,and tentacles on her head that came up and formed together .
"Oh,shit,an Asari? And since when did you have biotics?!",I said .I don't know a damn thing about Cerinians to be honest and I ain't been outta the Lylat system since before Cerinia was dust .
I went back to that Asari girl,who seemed too curious about everything,from the way she was looking at all of us .She was tinted blue,with blue eyes,and dressed in a black and white suit that still showed that perfect figure .
'Katt would kick my ass',I thought to myself .Asari are known to be gorgeous,but man,this one was ,damn! She was a descent shade of blue too,my bias,I find I always thought light blue and mid-purple ones were the prettiest,but that's my bias .
She giggled at that (she has a nice laughs) and faced me .
"Oh,my apologies,Mr .Lombardi .I am Dr .Liara T'soni and I must say,I've never seen a Cornerian like you before",she said .
"Actually,I'm Zoness born",I said .
"Oh,I'm sorry,I haven't been here in so long . . .your colors are stunning and your eyes look amazing .But ,what type of avian are you? Your beak is like a falcons,but I can' place your color . . .a parrot ?",she said .
And that's when it came,the laughing .I facepalmed and waited for Panther,Krystal,and Slippy to calm down .Liara,looked confused and I was glaring at them,hoping they'd stop .And of course,it didn't work .
"He's half pheasant",Slippy said,and him and Krystal were still laughing .
"I consider myself a falcon",I said .
"Ah,well,the sharp features,you certainly look like one .Anyway ,I came recently in response to Krystal's distress signal .When she was . . ."
"When I was abducted,my powers unlocked .That's why I came out unharmed",Krystal said .I never knew the details of that ,but I won't press it if she didn't want to .
"Really? So ,uh,how much power are we speakin' here?",I asked,watching cautiously as random stuff started floating around the room .
"We are only just breaking the surface of her abilities .Her Cerinian roots allows for biotics to be extremely advanced .I can sense that she is very powerful",Liara said .
"Dr .T'soni also said that when Cerenia was destroyed most of them were rescued by random ships,and even by Quarian Flotilla ! As it turns out,most of Cerinia had evacuated in time .I'm really not the last of my kind",Krystal said hapilly .The cap automatically untwisted from the water and she took a drink .I've seen biotics before ,but the way she uses it so easily,so smoothly .The water itself was now spinning around like a transparent ring and she was laughing like a kid and her eyes have a look I haven't seen in forever .Pure happiness,if I've ever seen it ,looks like this .
Kruystal finally poked out her lips and sucked the water into her mouth .She giggled and we all joined in and she fell back in her seat,bare feet in the air before they hit the pillows .
"Hey,I'm happy for ya",I said .And I really was
"Yeah,I suppose"Krystal said .Her smile was dying down and she shifted in her seat .She frowned,looking away a moment,and I wonder what she's thinking
"My parents are on Ilium .I want to take a trip there,Dr .T'soni agreed to take me",she said .Panther looked at her and she looked back .
"Take us",she added,and Panther smiled .
"You better take good care of her,or else",I said ,pointing at him .
"Yeah,you'll regret it if you don't",Slippy added .
"My,such hostility! I'll take care of our blue fox mistress,that much I guarantee",he said .Krystal giggled again,Liara smiled and Slippy looked skeptical .
"But first,this has to be dealt with .Leon said that he will be coming by,that he needed me for something important .In the mean time,this thing with Fox . . ."
"Dr .T'soni,would you mind if we talked in private?"Slippy said more than asked .
"Well,of course .Do what you like .I'll be in your study if you don't mind .You have a very impressive collection of Cerenian wares",she said .
"Be my guest",Krystal said .I couldn't help it, threw a glance at Liara as she left the room .
"Panther?",Slippy said .Panther frowned,but Krystal looked at him and he gave in easily like he always does with her .
"I will go pick up something for lunch then",he said and grabbed his coat before heading out the door .
Slippy and Krystal looked at me expectantly .I hadn't told them everything,just that it had to do with why Fox was being questioned by not just the police as expected,but the Cornerian Military Investigation Unit,and why Bill's been hangin' around so much .
I was tryna find a way to say this,let them know somethin' before I showed the video .But how do you say 'hey guess what? our best bud here might be a homicidal maniac!' .Worse ,sayin' it to his childhood friend who probably knows him better than I do,and his ex-girlfriend who's still jumpy when he comes around,but won't tell us why .Slippy might not believe me,and Krystal might run off for good .
"Do you guys remember that whole mess on Titania a few years ago? The one with that burnt out lab?",I said .
"Yeah,what about it? I don't see what this has to-",Krystal cut Slippy off mid-sentence .
"Fox was on Titania at the time,wasn't he?",Krystal said,her eyes worried .I don't know if she's read my mind or not .Leon taught me a trick to avoid it . . .so far,my ears didn't tingle,her eyes didn't narrow,but what f she's strong enough to override it?
"Yeah,he was .Worse,he was in contact with some anti-Venom vigilantes ,the same guys who were goin' around,burning down those abandoned labs",I said and both of them were already looking low .
"Those people are being charged with terrorism .They'd be in jail for years! How did Fox get tangled in a mess like that?",Krystal said .
And I really,really wish it were that simple .
"I for one,know all those labs weren't all abandoned",Slippy said .
"Well,shit,you guys just know everything,don'tcha?",I said .
"Not everything .Just that my dad was part of the team of scientists but had to go back to Corneria to unveil the newest model of the Blue Marine the day before .He said when he got back,somebody jammed his communications channel,and radar so that he couldn't even find the lab .When he got there . . .everything and everyone was gone,there was only fire",Slippy said .
My God,old man Beltino was almost there for it,almost there for the massacre!Would Fox have killed him if he was? Is he that deranged . . . .but if he said his signals were jammed,maybe Fox knew,maybe he did it on purpose to spare him .Maybe Fox isn't too far gone . .
But I saw the video ,and-
"You okay ,Falco?",Krystal asked .
Shit! I slipped up in front of her! I have to tell them now,there's no backing out .
"Yeah man,you like ,literally spaced out for a moment",Slippy said .
I sighed,leaned forward,dropped my face in my hands,as if that was somehow gonna make this all better .
"I need to show you something .But you have to promise to never,ever tell a soul,you hear me?",I said harsher than I meant to .
I got up and locked the front door,I shut the blinds .And then after that,I went to the study .
I peeked in and ironically,Liara was asleep .From what I hear,using biotics makes you tired,so it would make since .I remember hanging out with a biotic from Earth a back in my teen years and he had a tendency to sleep in my feathers .We were on a ship headed toward a space station called The Citadel because we got into some shit on Omega (it's Omega,that's kinda what happens there) .
A biotic kid named Alen (won't give me his real name,smart) saved my ass and kinda forced me to give him a ride .Never seen him before and he was clearly runnin' from somethin' but fuck it,I said yeah .I always had a heart for stowaways,unless they were drug addicts .They tend to steal dumb shit sometimes and could potentially fuck up your ship .
I brought myslef back from my thoughts,,keyed in the code and locked the door .When Liara was ready to get up,she would probably hack it anyway .
I took my time walking back to them,took my time setting up Slippy's laptop,and took my time putting the video on .Why?
I was pulled between two things .
I could always let Krystal and Slippy,have . . .no Slippy .Krystal knew Fox McCloud was a needed help personally .
But then,if I showed them,how would they react?
It's too late now,they're both over the screen with headphones and I myself decided to get out of there because I can't bare to watch it again .I can't bare to see the Fox I knew,turn into a monster . I was tempted to go snooping for some alcohol,but now was not the time for that .I just grabbed some orange juice,leaned against the fridge and waited,my eyes on the floor .I heard the laptop slam down .
Here comes the storm .
"Fox is not a killer!",Slippy said,but Krystal shushed him .
"I have to get Liara,wait",she said .
And sure enough,Liara was now leaving the study,stretching her arms .
Liara didn't mind in the least going back to her ship,because she said Cornerian furniture is uncomfortable (no feathers and fur,I heard Leon complain about the same thing .At fist I though he lounged on Wolf all the time to be creepy,turns out I was wrong) .And she also had to record Krystal's power output ,or something like that .
Krystal texted Panther,sending him basically on a dick mission ,just to keep him away .And here we are now,sitting in a dark room,nobody knowing what to say,how to feel .I felt the weight of everything on me now,the weight of all those years of us together and letting Fox crash and burn .I thought for a while,it was my responsibility to save face for him,but look what it's gotten him?
"Bill told me to keep an eye on him . . .you know,to make sure . . .",I said .
Again,no answer from either,but Slippy looked the most petrified .
"My dad was there . . .he was on his way to Titania .He just missed it . .Fox wouldn't do this ",he said .
"Then who do you think did it,huh?!",I snapped ,surprising myself .
"I-I don't know! But Fox isn't like this" .Slippy said uneasy .
Even he isn't sure .
"We don't know that",Krystal finally said .
" We can't even tell who's there! They're in disguise with voice scramblers and all",Slippy said .And I know he's tryin' hard to convince himself .
"There is a possibility he did it",Krystal pressed on .
"You can't prove that",Slippy shouted .
"No . . .not in the court of law,we can't no solid evidence .But Bill said,Fox don't got no alibi neither .No real reason to think he innocent .If he's got any political enemies,they'll skin him alive,whether he did it or not .They'll pin something on him ,make an example .He's pretty damn high on the suspect list,in the top ten",I said .
"W-who are the others?",Slippy asked .
"Three of the ten dead,two more missing .One is in a coma and she ain't come out of it yet",I said .
"Who is she? If we can find her,Krystal can probe her mind and prove he's innocent,can't she?",Slippy was pleading .
"No,doesn't hold up in Cornerian law,only holds up in Krazoa planets like Thessia,Sauria and Ilium .Does no good",Krystal said .
"So all we have to do is find the killers",Slippy said,and he's looking desperate now .I don't know how much of this is Slippy's denial and how much of it is pure ignorance .But he's the only one tryna fight for him right now .
As we stand,Krystal's sure he did it,Slippy's sure he didn't and I don't know what to think .Bill said to me this 'My heart says he's innocent . . . .but my mind tells me not to play favorites .In my experience,listening to your heart alone always goes up in smoke ' .
"Slippy,listen to me .I know Fox is your best friend and all and-"
"He's your friend too,Falco",he said in that cold tone he almost never uses .I sighed and shook my head .
"Yeah,but . . ."
"So all this crap you use to always say about loyalty,it's a lie right?Just a front?",Slippy demanded .
"Damnit ,Slippy! This makes the difference between letting a madman roam the streets,and doing the world some 's sick in the mind,don't you wanna save him ?",Krystal shouted at Slippy .She was now looming over him .
"It's not just any madman,it's Fox .We knew him",Slippy said .
"No,we just saw the sides he wanted us to see",Krystal said,
"What did he ever do to you?! The way you were all over Panther,you're still bitter over him breaking up with you? I thought you were better than that!",Slippy said .
"For someone so smart,how can you be so stupid?!",Krystal shouted,and grabbed his collar .I can here it in her voice,she's on the verge of tears .I got up and wrapped my arms around her,sat her back down .I saw a few drops fall before they died down .She sat now,hunched over,her bottle of water between her thighs,the same way she looks when she's drinking .She sniffled once before slowly looking up .
If you've ever seen a pretty girl with the look of silent rage,the still faced kind that only women seem to get,you know that it's a frightening thing .She got that look on her face .
"He didn't tell you?",she said,her voice calm,passive aggressive and Slippy's looking confused .
"He didn't tell you what he did to me?",she said .She chuckled and it wasn't funny .Her lips got that dark twisted up smirk that she never had before getting with Fox .That look that again,only women do this,when they're bitter but for good reason .Usually because a man they gave so much to has stepped on her back and kicked her on the ground .
I always called it 'The Broken Heart Smile' .
"I bet he said it was a mutual break up,didn't he? Didn't tell anyone he'd lock me in closets and 'discipline' me like I was his child .Ran us into debt and got angry at me when I didn't know what was going on .And then he'd cry on me and want me ,say he was sorry,wanted me to be his mommy",she said .Slippy was frowning up even more and Krystal got that far away look,remembering .
"He's hit me on more than one occasion,even strangled me,though I don't think he did that on purpose .I was sick of it one night,so I ran naked through the streets to get away from him .I know better now,but back then,I thought he was going to kill me",she said .
"See,Fox McCloud,the hero of Lylat was a valiant ,noble man,one willing to protect . . . .least I thought until the Aparoids .He just had an over-inflated ego and was trying to live up to the name of a dead man .That shows what kind of friend he is,don't tell you jack shit about his life,does he?",she said .
"Look,we just grew apart because I'm a father now,but I know Fox as well as anybody",he said .Krystal brought one of her hands up to lean on the side of her face,and I have the distinct feeling that there should be a cigarette there,but I know she quit some time ago .
Smoking,was a habit she picked up from Fox too .He always bitched about her stealing his cigarettes .
"Then . That means,you know",she said,twisting her fingers in her hair .
"That means you know that when he get's angry,he lose's himsef .You know that he's a grown man ,who at times acts like a child .You know that he's possessive and he's got abandonment issues .You know that the Lylat wars is the thing that fucked up his mind more than anything .That he puts on that charming smile of his,while the world's burning behind him . . .will say 'I'm okay,everything will be fine',in the middle of Armageddon .You know Fox McCloud is a whirlwind typhoon with a gun in each hand,and doesn't know where to aim",Krystal said .
She worded it perfectly,beautifully,perfectly,got him down to a T .
Krystal sat back now,still eying Slippy before she drank her water .
"Now,somebody ,pray tell,why a man like that, of all people the leader of Star Fox?",she asked,he face going back impassive as she leaned back into her seat .Slippy was about to say something stupid,so I cut him off .
"He owned the mother ship .Daddy dearest left it in the will,along with a shit load of debt .Guess he just decided that Fox should follow in his footsteps",I said .
"Cruel man,didn't really give him a choice ,did he?",Krystal said and shockingly,she doesn't sound hateful,but genuinely sorry .She frowned,leaning back in her seat .
"My life was chosen for me too,back on Cerinia .And even though I know my parents are alive,it's the one thing that stopped me from taking off and ditching everyone else .I love you guys and all,but even I know the pain of losing everyone,and believe it or not,I know how he feels .I suppose we thought,'we can be lonely together' but that didn't work",Krystal said .And her face looks soft again .Slippy though,was lookin' more stressed by the minute and was currently gripping the couch arm .
"Fox said he always wanted to fly",Slippy said quietly .And for a while,everyone was quiet .
"I know .He loved it until the war came,Slippy .After that,he hated it for a while .Done saw him get behind the controls,his hands shaking and all .First mission after the war,remember that one with the space pirates and the blue prints and stuff on Kew? He got in that ship and cried .He told me that he was afraid of fighting .Told me not to tell anyone,but I have to now",I said .
And with each passing moment,I could see Slippy's guilt eating him alive .
"Look,I'm standing by Fox .We're his friends and look at us plotting against him",Slippy said .
"We are not plotting against him,Slippy",I said,but Slippy still looks helpless .
"Then why all this? We could just get rid of it . . . .",Slippy said .
"Slippy,now we know we can't do that",I said,and I just feel horrible for the poor guy .He sighed and sat back,looking like somebody's dad now .
"I knew it . . .I should've never left the team .It's my fault,I let him down,I let everybody down,I'm always letting people down",Slippy said .He got that blank look that I remember after failed missions .Missions that failed because of something he did .It's the reason why during the Saurian incident,that he spent most of the time on the Great Fox .
"No you didn't,how could you have known?",I said .Slippy's hands were on his face and he was sinking into the couch .I leaned in toward him,tried to calm him down .
"I was suppose to know this . I'm suppose be there for him,and I just left him alone because I was too weak and pathetic to stop him from doing anything that could be bad for him .What are we gonna do now?",Slippy said .And he was shrinking into himself,turning into that scared kid he was back in the day .
"Listen,Fox wanted to know what Vic Reinard's next job was,but since he was hospitalized,I hadn't told him .Besides,he was too busy,huggin' up on Wolf",I said .
"And how long will that last? I have a feeling Fox clings to him because he thinks it's all he has left",she said ,sadly .
"Then we need to show him that we're here,for him",Slippy said hopefully .
That's what he needs more than anything,for us to aim his guns in the right direction .I get the whole 'kill the clones' thing .I'm just scared he'll hurt someone else along the way .
Again .
"I say you just tell him the truth,he might admit to it .Slippy,what do you think?",Krystal said .
"You outta your gotdamned mind? He'll just get paranoid and think we're after him",I said .
"We're doin' this for Fox's own good,right? As much as I want to tell him everything,I think we should hold out until we can confirm it was him,Slippy said .Krystal sighed .
"Which it might be",Krystal said .
"Or ,maybe a clone .It can always be a clone",Slippy said .
"I'd believe you if it wasn't for the fact that those clones were gunnin' for us this entire time,with a vendetta against Fox .I mean,motive,no solid alibi ,not to mention the guy walks and acts like Fox .You know it's true,the way he smoked his cigarette,the way he loaded his gun . . ."
"Okay,okay,so what if he did do it,I don't know .There had to be a reason,right? I mean,those tank monsters were kinda creepy,not to mention somebody said something about bioweapons",Slippy said .
"Yes,that's true,but whatever the reason,he helped murder over a hundred people and hid the corpses,Slippy .There's something fishy going on here .I say we need to take a trip to Titania on our own,without Fox's nose in it",Krystal said .
"And do that how? We can't do anything with the Cornerian Defense Force swarming the place",Slippy said .
"We can't,not all of us .Someone has to stay behind ",Krystal said .
"Fine,what's the plan?",I asked .I admit,I spent this whole time unsure,panicking about the situation .
"On my end,I can try to get my hands on anything surveillance related from Titania,see if I can get something to get Fox off the hook",Slippy said .
"I think the best thing I can do is come up with our own contract ,a fake one ",Krystal said .
"Or ,a copy of a real one .I need to go hang out at Sargasso lounge a bit",I said .
"Alright .Just hope our cover isn't blown .I still think you should stay behind the scenes ,Slippy .He needs somebody to trust,and I think it has to be you",she said .
I don't know if Krystal realizes the weight she just placed on Slippy's shoulders just now,what she did to him .
She made Slippy his keeper .
It was about an hour later that Panther showed up and with him that creepy lizard with a fear fetish .Panther practically dropped a bag of groceries on the coffee table,and I can tell by how quiet the are,they were talking .
"I know how to put a stop to this madness .Take the clone's biggest weapon from him",Leon finally said,looking straight ahead as he went to the kitchen .Panther locked the doors and I heard the kitchen sink,dishes,before Leon was leaning in the doorway .
"How's that?",I said .
" There is but one man in this galaxy who knows everything about this little horror story .Knows about Andross's research,the location of the labs,any and everything that happened .And now,I know where he lies his head",Leon said before finishing his glass .
"And who would that be?",I asked,standing .
"Andrew Oikonny",he said .
And it all makes sense .Of course he would know,he would know everything,wouldn't he?
Was here,at the beginning of all of it,before this nightmare began .
"He's being watched by Dash Bowman and his people .Taking refuge on Katina",Leon said .
"Dumbass!Isn't that where we found him during the Aparoid run?",Slippy asked .
"Let me let you in on a little secret .Andross was so smart he was dumb .And ,Andrew so dumb,he's smart .We'd never think he'd stay in the same place,now would we? ",Leon said .
He's got a point .as much as I hate to admit .
"What good is it gonna do if we know he won't talk?",Slippy said .Leon let out that sadistic chuckle of his,finished his glass and predictably fished a switch blade from his pockets .
"Oh,we'll just have to make him,won't we?",Leon said,running the blade across his claws .
"And you,dear Krystal,you'll use that beautiful mind of yours to help",Leon said,invading her personal space,earning a glare from Leon .
And that wasn't a request,a demand .Krystal was pretty much backed into a corner and had no choice but to say yes .
"Wish me luck",Wolf said,as he finished signing the paper work needed before he could be operated on to receive his new eye .
"Don't have to,I know you'll be fine,babe",Fox said,kissing his forehead .Wolf smiled,but it never reached his eye .Just before the nurses came for Wolf,Fox took his hand .
"I love you,Wolf",Fox said and kissed his hand .
"You're not mad?",Wolf asked .
"Why should I be?",Fox said .
"The whole thing with James and-"
"It's in the past",Fox said,but Wolf didn't believe him .He released his hand before he was carted away,out of the room and Fox was left sitting on the bed alone .As the bed was taken away,Fox heard a ,clanking sound .A ring rolled up to his foot,brushed against his big toe .Curiously,Fox reached down and grabbed the silver metal from the ground .It was engraved with with patters around it and inside of it words .
'From James ,with Love',it said .
He looked at it,stared,wondered what Wolf felt about it,having kept it so long .
"How the hell can I compete with him?",Fox thought dejectedly .Sighing,he tossed the ring somewhere where he couldn't see it,turning his back to the door .
Go on,ask him how James died! He was right there,holding the gun,pulling the trigger!
The words burned Fox's mind and for a moment,he wondered .
'No,no! I won't let him ruin this for us! Wolf didn't kill my father ,it was Pigma!Everyone knows it was him,he even admitted it! ',Fox thought .
Just then,his door opened startling him from his thoughts .
"Your lunch is here ,Mr .McCloud",the cheerful rabbit said .He wheeled in a cart,took the food off of the tray and sat it on his table .
"Thanks,this looks great",he said,and he was serious too .No health problems meant he could essentially eat whatever he wanted and he ordered a steak and mushrooms with potatoes and broccoli,his (and his dad's) favorite meal .
"Hey um,sir?",the nurse said unsure .
"Yeah?",Fox said .
"Are you Fox McCloud as in The Fox McCLoud ,hero of Lylat?",he said .Fox flasehd his distinctive grin and the rabbit knew .
"Wow,it's you!",he said .
"Yeah,but don't tell the world now",Fox said .
"Wow .Can I get your autograph?",he asked .
"Hey,I'm not a celebrity",Fox said,humbly .
"In the military,you are man! They even got you on recruit posters,see? My brother's in the air force",the rabbit explained .
As the rabbit left,he kicked the ring and it rolled across the floor to the hallway,bumping someone's boot .The red fox with white arms stared down curiously,before he knelt down and picked it up .
Slowly,he inched his way into Fox's room,watching him with his back turned .When Fox looked his way,he hid .
He couldn't bring himself to face his son,not now
.Squeezing the ring in the palm of his hand,the fox pocketed the ring,still holding it and walked away .
:)