Author's Notes: Okay, so, it's been over 8 years since my last update. Uh, sorry about that, gang. If there's anyone left reading this series, shoot, be sure to let me know! LOL
I'm calling this chapter "Sit-Rep" because I'm going to use the character interactions to remind people what's happening at this moment in the story. But, it's been EIGHT. YEARS. So, if you decide the story is too long to re-read from the start, I understand.
Just the same, it was fun to get back into the Star Fox stuff again.
I'm finished my original series' drafts. I need to fill my head up with something else, so that when I go back and line-edit my original content, it will be nice and fresh again.
Just remember, the book before this one, Reflections of a New Generation, is part of the same timeline and explains how things got to this point.
Now that the original Star Fox members are back from being lost in space, it really is fun to write them coming to terms with everything that's happening up to this point.
Also, because Chapter 28 introduced a new alien enemy with a strange and quirky method of communicating, and since I've LONG forgotten whatever I'd intended for them, I'm still working out my plans for using them. Lol
I'll be sure to have LOTS more of the original Star Fox crew going forward, since this IS a Star Fox Fan Fic after all. The kids, like Marcus, still have a central role, but now it will be more, shall we say, EQUAL parts for each team. After all, in case you forgot, they're in a competition to see who will keep the name.
Okay, that's all for now!
Chapter -29-
Sit-Rep
GreatFox Dreadnaught Cruiser…
Marcus McCloud stopped in front of the alien fighter sitting on the flight deck. Its sleek onyx armor plating was reflective at certain angles of the light, but matte and plain at other angles. The body was comprised of scythe-like hook shapes, as if the simplistic ovular fuselage had wings and a tri-row mohawk designed for slicing through enemy ships.
Marcus moved to a position where he could see his reflection in the hull plating.
Silence.
He stared at his reflection, which faded away beyond his shoulders. He could see his greyish-blue fur, and the summer-coat markings of his birthmark around one of his eyes was completely faded away.
Fara Phoenix approached him from behind. In the reflection, her large fennec ears bowed and curved upon approach. Her image faded away as she took a spot at his side, until her reflection was just a blur adjacent to his shoulder. "Hey."
"Hey," he replied with a soft sigh. "I proposed to you, everything was great, and we have a baby on the way … then this crazy lady, Anežka Vacek swears to doom the entire Lylat System."
"Mm, another day at the office, Marcus."
"Yeah, but … now we have a new race of undocumented aliens threatening to do the same. Destruction of Lylat. Why is it always the destruction of Lylat for us? Why not something easier, like, just … disappointing a client, or even just one planet in danger?"
"What's eating away at you," asked Fara.
"I feel like we're going to be bringing a baby into a really messed up time, you know?"
Fara sighed with a nod. "Yeah. But I'm in the first trimester. I'm wearing my man's ring. I've got future-mother-in-law support…"
Marcus chuckled with a soft sigh. "Well, yeah. Mom is delighted you and I became an item. Not just because the two of you had a joining of the minds, where you shared things … I mean, yeah, she sees how much you love me and that's important to her, but … I'm sure it also puts her at ease that you and dad won't become a thing again. She doesn't want to lose her husband to a sexy young vixen."
Fara scoffed. "Y'know, for a man who is telepathic, you sure don't know your mother as a woman."
"Meaning?"
"She wants to see her baby happy, and that is what really matters to her. She adores you. I got to see things from her, when we 'shared,' y'know… Anyhow, yes, once she saw my feelings for you were genuine, it really made her like me. Don't get me wrong, having her blessing is wonderful, but I still have to wrap my poor brain around the fact that she automatically knows when you and I have sex. She knows what sort of pillow talk we're using. She knows how I do that trick with my tongue. It's really weird to know I have virtually no secrets. But I keep telling myself that telepaths don't judge quite the same way as the average person, because they're so used to knowing everyone's thoughts and motivations … and, like, it's second nature to them."
Marcus nodded. "Exactly. I wish I was as good as her, but I got my paternal grandmother's giant emotional heart, instead, or so I'm told. Thanks, Grandma Vixy. Anyway, I can't sense things when I get emotional, and that really sucks."
Fara offered a wry grin. "Are you reminding me, or are you telling the Locust ship, here? Remember, I was there when we agreed to share our life memories with one another."
"You're right. I'm just wrapping my head around it all. It's frustrating to me when I can't use my ability."
"I take it Krystal knows we exchanged memories?"
"She does. To be honest, mom was actually worried that you and I would grow apart for a while … maybe even need space."
"Why would she come to that conclusion?"
"I mean, you know, it can be hard to learn the darkest secrets of one's mate. To learn about their previous relationships, and all of that. For example, I know that you learned from my mom's memories what it was like to have been hurt by, married to, and mated with … my father. But you also now know what it's like to kiss Panther, Bill, and change my diapers. I'm sure it couldn't be easy."
Fara reached over and patted his face with her paw. "I feel like everything I have experienced in the past few months has made us closer. We understand each other's motivations, now."
"Yeah, I feel like we really bonded, too."
"Same," said Fara. "I also learned that you don't use any of the same pet names on me that you used on Violet Lombardi, which I appreciate. In fact, you didn't have any pet names with her. I got to see just how shaky your relationship was with Violet. I got to see how awkward things were with Katt, and how you risked your life by going to ground zero the day Corneria's Cap City was nuked. And Jane Flowers death. But, mostly, I feel bad you never got to know what love is supposed to be like in a relationship until now."
"Don't feel bad, Fara. Violet and I … well, I guess we were a stepping-stone relationship. I wasn't meant to last forever with her."
Fara's smile returned. "At least I get to make sure you will finally experience a proper relationship. Still, I stand by what I said – it's really nice to have experienced your memories of Violet, because I get to appreciate how you're more romantically available with me."
"To be honest, I understand where you're coming from with the Violet thing. I mean, I was relieved to learn that you and my father had a very different relationship from what you and I have. And, now, I feel like I've learned some pretty amazing techniques about fighting after joining with you."
Fara grinned in a wry manner. "Just remember, you still lack experience and muscle memory to perform those maneuvers. Anyhow, let's get back to business."
"Yeah, let's…" Marcus rubbed his chin. "I feel like I've been standing here and staring at this fighter for, like, eight years or something."
"That's funny, I feel like I was waiting up on the bridge for about 'eight years,'" she said with a chuckle. "That's why I decided to come down here and check on you."
"Those locust bug things are going to want an answer on whether or not I'm going to return their fighter without scanning the memory banks for information. What should I do, Fara?"
"When I need to come up with a decision, I like to go over all the facts one-at-a-time. You know how we women are supposedly infamous for over-thinking situations. We hyper-scrutinize every detail, even the ones not relevant to the situation."
"So, basically, you want me to give myself a sit-rep, so I can analyze the playing field and the players, including all the events that led up to how we got here, just so I can make my decision?"
"I know, honey, you don't have time to do that. But what if you give yourself the condensed version?"
Marcus nodded. "All right, well…" He licked his lips in thought.
Fara remained quiet while standing at his side. She looked down and admired her new engagement ring. She studied the design of the precious stone, which came from Cerinia. "Go on, I'm listening."
Marcus cleared his throat. "All right. So, we're in a contest with my father's team – first to beat Anezka Vacek, the hybrid breed survivor of the Krazoa race. Whoever liberates Venom first gets to keep the Star Fox brand name, the ships, everything. If we win, dad's team retires. If they win, then my team becomes junior officers for our parents."
"Mm-hmm," she said softly. "Go on."
"And, now, these locust creatures are looking to destroy Anezka. That puts us on the same side as them … except, well, they want this fighter-sized ship back before we can study it. They even threatened to eat our brains, heh."
Fara chuckled. "You think that was a … pardon the pun … mindless threat or a possibility?"
Marcus' slight grin faded. "I sense it was a threat. They apparently like mammalian brains. They see it as a delicacy. It's, uh, buttery tasting to them. It's also very sweet."
"Sweet? Really?"
Marcus nodded. "Well, the brain creates fructose naturally. Our society has a love-affair with synthesized sweeteners like high fructose syrups. So, I imagine our brains must taste sweeter than non-sentient mammals. If they dine on even one Lylat mammal, they'll develop a taste for us and hunt us like cattle. I'm not interested in becoming food for those bugs."
Fara cringed, then grimaced, then cringed again. "I never forget an enemy, even historical ones. I'm well-read. And, so we're clear, I recognize them. Your parents will, too."
Marcus turned to face her, sensing her meaning. "Wait, you're suggesting they're related to the bug race that was transformed by the Aparoids? As in … those are the same bug creatures used by the Aparoids as fodder fighters?"
"I believe so, Marcus. If you ask me, those are the surviving members of their warrior race. The ones that weren't transformed by the Aparoids. It was likely the civilian members of their race that were turned … robotized, I guess, might be a better term. No, I take that back. Roboticized."
"Adding an extra syllable really makes it sound darker. But, yeah. I know what you mean. Corneria's official term for it was 'AR Treatment.' Alien Robotomy Treatment."
"Now that sounds darker. Anything that rhymes with lobotomy sounds dark." Fara sighed softly and placed a paw over her washboard tummy, subconsciously concerned for her unborn child. "And, one day, according to your meeting with your oracle, one of your children is going to voluntarily sacrifice their life to save their siblings … in an action that results in the complete and total destruction of these locust enemies."
"Apparently," said Marcus with a frown. "They'll be an adult with a family at the time. They'll leave a kid behind, ruining my grandchild's childhood. And that is … well, I'll be honest, it's terrifying to me."
She rubbed her flat stomach again with a crestfallen expression tugging at the corners of her muzzle.
"I mean, there's a two-thirds chance that it could be one of the babies I have with you, Fara. That's … how do we send our child into the possibility of that situation?"
Fara sighed. She considered an emotional response and then she considered the bigger picture. After a moment to set aside her natural instinctual response, she took another deep breath, and calmly said, "There is no greater or nobler being than he or she that volunteers their life to save billions throughout Lylat. If it happens to be one of our children, that just means we've raised them to selflessly save the galaxy."
"But why can't it be me?" Marcus quipped.
"You're right, I'd rather it be me. I would even offer to sacrifice myself to save Jaye."
"You'd give your life to save my son with Violet?"
Fara nodded. "Without a second thought. Just … not while I'm pregnant. But, once our kids are all grown and have learned everything that I can teach them, if a situation arises where I would have to give my life to save any child, especially one of yours, I would. I would do it without a second thought. I'm already risking my fur for Lylat, after all."
"That's really noble."
"You're risking your fur for Lylat, too, Marcus. Every time you step into the cockpit. It would be my honor to save Lylat with my life. But, it would be even more of an honor to save one of your children, even if it isn't one I'll have birthed. It could be the hormones talking, but … I don't think it is. And, who knows, honey…"
Marcus' frown broadened.
Fara continued. "…It's possible that you or I might take the place of your child's sacrifice. Or even Violet. The fact that we learned about the future means we can change events. We just have to be careful not to change too much, else things will happen wrong. Billions could die. Fate is apparently demanding a sacrifice to save the galaxy and your other two children. If one of mine die, I will be heartbroken, but not undone. Because it would be one of my children that saved Lylat. But … if Violet's son gives his life to save my children … well, then Violet will have lost her only baby. That would be unfathomable. I…" Fara trailed off, sighed in a dejected way, and said, "Maybe she will have more with Asper. They're a really nice couple."
"Seems kind of wild … or even weird, I guess. I mean, y'know, if you think about those two…"
Fara tilted her head. Her two large fennec ears perked. "In what way?"
"My son will be raised by a Lombardi and a half-breed Venom lizard. Flying will be natural to him, being part avian, but, also, he'll be raised by someone of the reptile race, which several generations of McCloud men have fought in wars."
"Marcus, that will just mean Jaye will be especially tolerant of Venom's reptiles. Too many Cornerians are racist against them, and it makes peace between our worlds very difficult. But Jaye will never see them in that light. He will see them as he sees Asper, a strong stepfather figure who cares about opening doors for women and providing for a family."
Marcus stared at the sleek onyx fighter and rubbed his face. "That sounds nice, but … you were right, earlier. I think we should stop reminiscing and start focusing."
She grinned. "I was just thinking that in my head."
"All right, so…"
"Think like a leader. Think like a politician, too."
"You mean … where I said, earlier, that we are both on the same team against Anezka?"
Fara nodded. "The Oracle told you that they would be your arch-nemesis later, and they will take one of your children to the gra…" She trailed off, unable to even finish saying the word. "God. These extra hormones make it impossible to even talk about it. All right, my point is, they are not your enemy yet. Anezka Vacek seeks to destroy our home galaxy where we want to raise a family. So, as a leader, you need to find common ground with the Locust."
"I want to know what's on that ship," Marcus said, staring at the alien fighter. "Panther rammed it out of the sky for us. Seems like a waste to hand it over without first cloning its memory banks."
"He … also made it sound like it was alive."
"The fighter, yeah. The opposite side of this thing is blasted open and looks like a festering wound. Surprised it doesn't smell."
Fara rubbed her chin. "Well, that changes things. A lot. I mean, think about it, honey. That's why they want their fighter back."
Marcus' eyes widened. "Oh, shit, you're right. This isn't just a ship to them. It's one of their dead. They want to honor their dead." Marcus brought a paw to his forehead and groaned. "Good goddess Lylat, this thing is one of their dead. They want to mourn him or her."
Fara nodded. "But you want information from its memory banks or, possibly, from its brain."
Marcus reached up and rubbed at his temples. "Okay. So, basically, I need to convince those creatures that by having them share intel with us, it would be a valuable part of our new alliance together, however temporary it lasts."
Fara reached down and slid a paw into the back pocket of his flight suit, firmly cupping his rump. She rested her head on his shoulder and her other paw on his chest. "Mm-hmm."
"Jeeze, Fara, whoever came up with that saying, 'behind every successful man is the woman who got him there' was right on the money. You're running this show through me."
"You're giving me too much credit. You're the one making the decisions. I'm just here as an advisor."
"Oh, stop. You don't have to stroke my masculine ego. It's not as fragile as Panther's, or even my father's ego."
"I can agree with that."
Marcus shrugged his shoulders somewhat. "Maybe it's because I have a unique understanding of a woman's perspective due to my telepathy. And you're right about what you said earlier – we should do whatever it takes to, ultimately, protect the families of Lylat."
"Well, I mean, yeah … those are my thoughts as an expecting woman. It's … actually been really weird for me."
"In what way?"
Fara looked away with an awkward expression. "It's embarrassing. I, uh … I sit up at night, like, you know, on my communicator … just looking at the subspace internet…" She cleared her throat, and, in a softer voice, said, "…browsing baby-related things."
"I don't judge you for that."
"Yeah, well, it's really changed my perspective as a trained fighter. I've already told General Grey that I'm handing off CQC training to Asper. I can't sustain an attack to the gut without risking the safety of our child. In fact, I don't even know if I want to keep training people to do what I was trained to do."
"Fara, you were trained to survive suicide missions. Keep doing that."
"At what cost? My training includes learning how to kill any-or-every enemy that gets in my way in order to survive. How do I reconcile with that? Those people are someone's sons and daughters."
"You're teaching agents and soldiers how to come home to their families."
Fara bit her lower lip with a soft smile. Her eyes abruptly welled up with tears, despite not wanting to cry right now. "When you put it that way…" She wiped at her eyes. "Damn hormones."
Marcus turned his head and kissed the side of her face. "We're going to get through this."
She chuckled through choked sobs. "What, the pregnancy or saving Lylat?"
"Both. We're going to have an amazing baby, then we'll help to heal Lylat. Maybe you won't have to worry about soldiers being sent on suicide missions anymore. At least not for much longer."
"We can only hope. Then again, the oracle did tell you that one of your children are going to sacrifice themselves so that their two siblings survive. Not to mention the rest of Lylat. So … does my training not work in the future? Only the goddess Lylat really knows for sure."
A loud chirp came over Marcus' communicator. He reached into his pocket, withdrew the device, and thumbed the screen-cover open. "Hey, Crimson, what's up?"
"Dude," said Crimson over the screen. "Those things are waiting for their fighter. What's the deal? They're getting impatient. They've just surrounded the cruiser. You need to do something, Mac."
"All right, Red. Relax. Hey, have you reached out to your father?"
"What? No. My sister just went home to help him out. He's obviously busy with crap. What did you want me to ask him, anyhow?"
"I just mean, y'know, we're going to need all hands-on deck with these bugs, soon. You should warn Wolf O'Donnell's team about the Locusts. If Panther tells your father they're enemies, they'll start opening fire on them. But, right now, they're our only hope of taking down Anezka Vacek, and we'll need their help with putting her back in the vault beneath the Saurian surface. She needs to go back into stasis. We could use your old man's help on that."
"Oh, well, yeah. I'll let him know not to attack the Locust fighters in the system unless fired upon first. But, uh, he won't help us with Anezka. He'd help your father, first. They have history. The whole, 'Only -I- get to tan your hide, Fox McCloud' nonsense they have between them."
Marcus chuckled. "You sounded just like your father, there. That was a pretty good impression."
"Mac, you really need to make a decision on what to do with that fighter. We're up here sweating bullets. They're getting a little closer to Great Fox every few minutes. You're wasting time."
"All right. Patch the previous communication channel through to my personal communicator, Red. I'll talk to them. I have a plan, now."
"Good Lylat, I sure as hell hope so." Crimson's image disappeared from the communicator screen.
A moment later, Marcus' communicator chirped again.
He answered the comms unit, and it was patched through to the faceless bug-creature.
Fara peered over his shoulder.
Marcus put the device on speaker-phone mode. He cleared his throat and tried to remember their speaking style, so he could reply to them in the way they preferred to speak. "I, uh, greet you, again, and wish to comply to your request. I also crave to fathom your tellings and reasons for rage of the Nemesis. Drill me on your tellings, so I might heed you in the soonafter."
The Locust member clicked several times with a staccato sounding chirp, then it spoke. "It is seen by your wide glimpses, and you are considered of your verbiage…"
Marcus turned to Fara and, in a soft tone, said, "They're saying that he looked into my eyes and finds my words to be honest … in other words, he believes me, y'know, when I said I'll help them."
"…And we feel prudent, it is, to combine quests to nullify the hungry destruction of the Nemesis. We crave to fathom and feast upon her savory top, else we dive into the void in an attempt to know the taste."
Fara turned to Marcus and said, "I think I'm starting to understand it. They're happy to fight together, so long as they get to eat her brain … or die trying."
Marcus nodded firmly. "Exactly." He shifted his gaze back to the communicator and said, "It would prove sharper to avoid devouring the black vitae of the Nemesis. Uh, god, this is a pain. Look, my plan is to put her into stasis until long, long after-the-now. The Krazoa could not destroy her, so they contained her. Do you follow?"
"Your syntax and grammar are fathomed by our sharp and keen tops. But, understand this boy of Lylat … she flamed our plantings in the distant before. Her hunger for destruction is savory to her. She is sturdy, and her rages would nullify you with flame in ways you cannot fathom."
"Yeah," said Marcus with a frown. "That was a long time ago, and…"
"My tellings are not ancient of history. The one before me glimpsed that very sphere. The one before me drilled me of tellings before achieving the gloried way-after."
Fara frowned and shook her head. She cut her gaze to Marcus.
In a softer tone, he said, "His father personally visited Sauria to fight Anezka. And then his father left him a letter, or possibly a video log, to explain why he gave his life fighting her … then he sacrificed himself fighting against her. The Locust guy believes his father went to a heaven designed for warriors, which is what he calls the 'gloried way-after.' After life, basically."
Fara nodded. "I wasn't sure who he meant by the 'one before me,' bit. It could have been his mentor, too."
"Nah, I sense he means his father. For the most part, he's an open book for my telepathy." Marcus cut his gaze back to the Locust creature on the screen. "Forgive me. I'm consorting with my mate and combat advisor, so that we're all on the same page. I know I tried talking your way, earlier, but it's easier for me to explain myself in my normal way of speaking. Are you sure you follow me well enough?"
"Your tellings are easily fathomed."
"Just making sure. I sense you don't have very high opinions of my species."
"Your savory tops are sweet but lacking in the sharp or the keen."
"I get it, you don't take us seriously. But you will once you see us in action. Maybe it would help us understand your side of things if you explain what you've been through in your past dealings with Anezka Vacek."
"Know that our daughter's daughters were nullified by the Nemesis. And, of greater insult, our father's fathers and the sons of our sons underwent transformations worse than nullification to the sibling of the Nemesis."
Marcus grimaced. "Yeah, the Aparoid queen. At least … that's what she called herself. I recently learned from my mother that the Aparoid Queen was originally a Krazoan. She went crazy and started transforming living creatures into hybrid machines subservient to her whim. My mate, Fara, recognized your race when we saw you, earlier. My father fought the Locust-like-Aparoids. I am sorry to say that he destroyed the Locust machines in combat, and, ultimately, all Aparoids. This was achieved by infecting the queen with a virus that caused all of her transformed creations to self-destruct. I'm really sorry for your loss."
"Your tellings are joyous to fathom. The one before you must have been sharp and sturdy to nullify the transformer of races. The nullifier of our daughters' daughters and our fathers' fathers."
"Yeah, my father destroyed her entire planet. The virus destroyed her race. I am sorry for the loss of your people who were transformed."
"The clash did truly send her sphere into the glorious void of the way-after? The one before you must have, indeed, been sharp and sturdy. Do not mourn the transformed. Undoubtedly soon after, freedom of their tops was glimpsed, and the gloried way-after would surely be achieved. The one before you brought freedom and release to our daughters' daughters, sons' sons, and fathers' fathers."
Fara cleared her throat and said, "Just to be clear, the Aparoids transformed your parents and your children? So, the surviving members of your race are old enough to remember the war against Anezka Vacek and the Aparoid Queen?"
The Locust clicked and croaked in a slow fashion, pushing out a single word. "Correct."
Fara added, "And, you, yourself, has personally seen Sauria all those thousands of years ago?"
"What is this … temporal frame – years?"
Marcus cut back into the conversation. "One year is the same as one planetary revolution around Lylat."
"Ah, the drilling of your tellings are fathomed. The temporal achievements of, personally, myself, are thirty-four hundred annuals."
Marcus and Fara exchanged glances.
"The tellings of your wide glimpses confound and confuse."
Marcus cleared his throat. "Only twenty-percent of our population even survive a century."
The Locust creature turned to speak to others of his kind in the background. Several crowded around the speaker, all curious to see the Lylat-born mammal aliens.
Marcus frowned. "How many, uh, annuals … does it take for a member of your race to become an adult?"
"Five hundred." A pause, then he added, "In revolutions of the sphere known as Sauria."
Marcus cut his gaze to Fara.
She did a quick bit of mental math and said, "Approximately four-hundred-twenty-years-old in Cornerian years before their children reach adult maturity."
Marcus chuckled inwardly and said, "For my race, the brain stops growing at around twenty-five-years-old."
"These tellings bring disbelief. Your lack of drillings in wisdom, experience, and the ways and tellings of your fathers' fathers is … it cannot be fathomed. Children baring children baring children. Such tellings fathom our prior assessment – your tops lack in the keen or the sharp. Your tellings of the sturdy one who came before is questioned and unfathomed."
"Listen, my father destroyed the Aparoids. He survived it. I propose an exchange of information. I will provide you with knowledge of my race's recorded achievements in exchange for what your fighter learned before achieving the glory of the afterlife. I will return your fighter if you promise to share what it learned."
"You crave to fathom the cementation of a détente?"
"Yes. We'll have an alliance. We'll work together to defeat Anezka the Krazoan. She's killed members of her own race. She was locked up as a criminal and forgotten because she cannot be easily killed."
"Drill us that we might fathom the Nemesis who nullified our fathers' fathers, daughters' daughters, and sons' sons."
"Well … her sibling became the Aparoid queen, so who knows what Anezka is capable of. But we have to stop her before she becomes as powerful as her sibling did. She absolutely hates the Krazoan race, the mammal race, and anyone else that stands in her way. And, by sharing information, we increase our chances of success overall."
"So long as the craving for our ship is met in the soonafter, we shall comply to your request for the tellings of our ship. Your savory tops shall be replied with the drillings of our ship's glimpses of Lylat until achieving its gloried way-after in the trunks of the sphere."
Marcus nodded firmly with a slight smile. "All right. So, you'll give us all the information recorded by your ship … from the time it entered Lylat until the time it came to rest in the forest of Sauria. In return, I will send history archives of our race's achievements against galactic aggressors, so that you can better understand what we've been through. Then, just maybe, you'll stop doubting our willpower and motivation. We'll provide a device we call a laptop so that you can view the information. It's up to you to brows the information on the device … or find a way to network with the device so that you can convert the file format to work on your computers. I'll get you in touch with someone who could help you guys make that happen."
"Unnecessary. Our device of learned archival utilizes trinary language. Your devices of similar usage in archival learnings is understood as binary. Our synthesized intellectual being gapped the divide in computing language in the soon-after researchings of your technology."
Fara whispered to Marcus. "It sounds like they're slowly but surely adapting to our syntax and vernacular. Little by little. They're learning pretty fast, at that. After just a few minutes of conversation."
Marcus nodded in agreement. He kept his gaze on the communicator screen and the lens above it. "So, you're saying that you have artificial intelligence at your disposal, and it's already figured out how to communicate with our tech? What did you guys study upon arriving in Lylat?"
"Satellites in orbit of Lylat spheres. The temporal calculations of its chronometer is drilled to us in tellings of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months."
Marcus grinned a bit. In a soft voice, he said, "You're right, Fara, they're steadily adapting to our speaking style." He cleared his throat and spoke louder to the communicator. "All right, so we're clear … there are sixty seconds in a minute. Sixty minutes in an hour. Twenty-four hours in a day. Seven days in a week, roughly four weeks in a month. Twelve months in a year. Ten years in a decade. Ten decades in a century. Ten centuries in a millennium. Back to the year-thing, there are fifty-two weeks in a year, and some months are shorter or longer by a day or so, in order to make the twelve months coincide with the year, in order to make the year correlate to a planetary revolution. I'm going by Corneria time, the fourth planet from Lylat's star. There are three hundred sixty-five days in a year for Corneria. If you have any questions about us, just ask."
"And if you require the drillings of our kind, we will provide such tellings to you."
"Should we meet in person? Does your kind breathe oxygen?"
"We are required only ten percentage of oxygen to breathe, and we draw each breath once in every…" He trailed off to make a quick calculation, then said, "…approximately ten of your minutes during states of a day's cessation." Another pause, then, "During … a state of … rest."
"All right. Then, let's meet. We'll come up with a plan of attack for Anezka Vacek that won't involve wiping out Venom."
"You would spare the creatures of opposition?"
"We seek peace with them. We've worked with scientists like Garrick, and, recently, one of my pilots met with a group of lizards that want nothing more than for Venom to be under reptile control. I can respect that. I want to help them."
"We wish to fathom your logic to provide aid to inferior beings."
Marcus frowned. "So they can provide for their families and become a contributing member of Lylat's interstellar neighborhood. Imports, exports, tourism … they will be able to be a functioning part of Lylat. In doing so, they will further contribute to Lylat, strengthening our ties as an interstellar community."
"Weak. Survival of the sturdiest is…" The creature trailed off, then said, "Ours is not to fathom your intentions. Ours is not to speak for the creatures of Lylat. Our desire is the nullification of the Nemesis you call Anezka Vacek."
"We'll find a way to trade information digitally. We'll send you archived historical information. You can figure out how the file works, translate them, and then use your computer system to put the information we requested into a similar file format. You send that back to us once you've compiled it."
"We cannot fathom your trustings in a species with whom you have no rapport built. You yield our belongings, information to drill us in the tellings of your kind and hope for repayment in kind. This transaction is unwise on your part."
"We call it honor and integrity," said Marcus. "We will trust but verify until you give us a reason not to trust. If you don't provide the information we asked, we won't honor an alliance. The Star Fox team defeated the Aparoid race and their homeworld. So that we're clear, here, that's the race that captured and transformed members of your race. The way I see it, Lylat beat the race that beat your race. At the risk of sounding egotistical and overconfident, I would happily continue with or without your aid. But we would prefer to work together. It reduces potential loss of life for both sides."
"Loss of life in a clash sends us to the gloried way-after. It … separates … the weak … from … the strong, thereby allowing … the strong … to survive those who came before."
"Look, if you can't see the logic in teaming up…"
"We fathom the logic in an alliance, but if we glimpse deception, you will suffer our rages."
Marcus feigned a grin. "I heard you earlier. You'll nullify us and feast on our savory tops."
"Let us hope you fight as well as you recite."
"Did you mean to rhyme?"
"What is this … rhyming?"
"When you speak in verse so words that sound alike follow one another with purpose. Like what you just said."
"Unintentional. Our native language is a series of clicks and grunts. We are utilizing the saurus of your kind, as glimpsed within your subspace internet."
"The…" Marcus eyed the screen. "…Saurus? Don't know that dinosaur."
Fara deadpanned. "Thesaurus, love."
"Oh, right. Derp."
"What is this … derp?"
Marcus grinned impishly. "It's a colloquialism … something I say when I realize that I misunderstood something simple."
"Ah. The sphere you call Sauria will be an adequate location to set upon you our glimpses. To … see you … in person."
"We call it a face-to-face. We'll see you there. I'll tractor the fighter to the nearest one of your ships, leave it with your pilot, and meet your crew member on Sauria."
"You will be meeting myself. I have, nearly, a handle on your language. We have the buildings of rapport, yourself and myself. Do you find this agreeable to comply?"
"Yeah. Fara and I will meet you on Sauria. We'll follow whichever one of your ships head into the atmosphere. Let's set down near the forest where your ship was found. It's relatively low in population."
"I fathom … I … I understand." A pause, then, "Understood."
"Outstanding. See you soon. StarFox … out." Marcus closed the channel and put his communicator back into his pocket. He turned to Fara. "All right. I can go by myself if you want, but you asked me not to give you special treatment due to being pregnant. However, I hear that growing a life is supposed to be exhausting, so…"
Fara placed her paws on his cheeks and brushed her lips over his. "Shh." She eased back and smiled at him, meeting his gaze. "I need to be there to protect my man – the father of my son. My baby is going to have a daddy to help raise him."
Marcus grinned at her. He felt a vibration on his wrist, glanced at his watch, then withdrew his communicator. "Ted! What's up!"
"I got ROB running with the parts your mom brought over. I should've had my dad help fix him the right way, because he's acting up again. I really think we should send him back to your dad with the parts."
Marcus frowned. "All right. Fara's new acquisition of an artificial intelligence project, through Space Dynamics, might be the answer to running our ship for now."
Fara eyed him. "It's in the testing stages, hon."
"Still, I want ROB back with Slippy. For now. I don't want him breaking down."
"I'll get him on a shuttle right away and send him to dad's team in an hour."
"Thanks! Marcus … out."
Fara shook her head. "You really want our ship piloted over the subspace internet by an AI server farm?"
"Maybe we can run a light version directly on the ship?"
Fara rubbed her chin. "Let's see how the prototype fighter handles this AI copilot, first."
"All right. Let's inform the crew and roll out. I wonder how Dad is making out with capturing Venom's latest top General."
X
X
Great Fox Carrier…
Fox McCloud gave a soft pat on the face of a reptile with broad shoulders and an athletic body. The Venom lizard's coloration was brown and green mixed together in various patterns from his brows, over the top of his head, and down his neck.
The General narrowed his gaze. "You bind me to a chair and pat my face like a child?"
"Hey, it wasn't easy to take you prisoner. I was impressed. But you're up against a telepath, an old school team of experts, and some friends of mine. You really didn't stand a chance, General."
"Hired guns. That's all you are. There's nothing impressive about rogues who work for the highest bidder."
"Oh, come on, General. By now, well, you should know we don't operate like that." Fox looked around the massive flight deck of the carrier.
Wolfen fighters sat at the far end of the deck.
Fox turned back to the metal folding chair to which the General was tied.
"Expecting someone, McCloud?"
"You know, for a Venom old schooler like yourself, you speak surprisingly fluent CS."
"Cornerian Standard was spoken to simian leadership, during the Lylat Wars, to ensure their orders were carried out properly. Yes, I am fluent."
A klaxon warning chirped, signaling that a ship was going to enter the carrier flight deck.
A sleek ship with an effeminate paint job sparkled in the deck lighting and ceiling lights. The ship changed color as it moved closer, due to the lighting angles.
Fox glanced at his smartwatch then glanced back at the General. "Looks like she is right on time."
"Miyu Lynx, I presume."
Fox chuckled. "No, General. You presume wrong. Not a bad guess, though. I've been thinking about contacting Miyu. I could use all the pilots I can get."
The ship settled on landing tracks several meters away, followed by a hiss of steam from the landing gear. The running lights went dark, and a plume of steam came from the engine boosters. Coolant water dripped from the bottom of the boosters until the steam dissipated.
The cockpit lifted and a lithe, athletic, grey-furred pilot stood up. Her head-fur was dyed pink and matched her nails. She put a pink-booted foot up on the edge of the cockpit, stepped forward, and performed a loose somersault. She landed on the flight deck in a crouch, then stood up casually.
Fox grinned back at the pilot. "Hey, Katt. Long time no see."
"How've you been, Tiger?"
The General groaned. "That is neither his name nor is it his species, female."
Monroe-Lombardi approached the Venom lizard with a smirk. "You're the highest ranking General of the Venom army, yet you don't know who I am?"
"Should I, feline?"
"Oh, Tiger, that's a shame. Your predecessor hated my guts." She hooked a pink-clawed thumb over her shoulder, gesturing to her ship. "Don't you recognize the Cat's Paw III?"
The General squinted at the flashy sparkle-painted ship. "That's … a stealth Venom prototype based on an unreleased Interceptor-class ship built by Doctor Andross Bowman."
Katt feigned a fake gasp. "You used the doc's first and last name? Well then!" She gave the General a pat on the face with a caressing touch, followed by a firm cheek pinch. "I'm Katherine Monroe-Lombardi, but you can call me Katt, honey."
Fox smirked at the General.
The General glowered in return. "What is it with you mammals and wanting to touch my face?"
"Katt!" The voice belonged to Falco. He crossed the flight deck and approached the group. He wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her on the lips for a solid three seconds. He drew his head back and put his winged hands on her shoulders, taking a step back. "Holy shit, girl! You look hot in that cat suit!"
"Oh, do I, now, Tiger…?" She threw her arms around his neck and grinned up at him. "Quick sit-rep: Violet and Jaye are safe. I have been in grandma mode every single day for … well, since the damn nuke, really. I never thought I'd be so damn excited to fly again."
"How'd Violet take you wanting to get back into space?"
"You kidding, Tiger? She was as excited as I am. She wants to see her parents flying together. She thinks it'll make us get closer together. She isn't wrong."
"Yeah, yeah. You girls and your mushy stuff. That's all right, though. Just glad she ain't jealous."
"Yeah, no, she's still got the mommy hormones. She's clouded up with 'em, playing with the baby every moment the little stinker is awake. Asper came home recently, so those two are hyper focused on playing house."
Falco chuckled. "They'll grow back out of it soon enough."
"Oh, let them enjoy it for a while." She stepped back from her husband and gave Fox a pat on the cheek with her palm. "So, I hear you're in some sort of childish competition against the kids?"
Fox grinned. "Yeah." He glanced at the General, adding, "See? She does it to me, too."
The General rolled his eyes and glanced away from the group.
Katt guided Fox's face back, so that she met his gaze again. "And your ex-fiancée is leading your son around?"
Fox's grin quickly disappeared. "That's … a weird subject for me. She's happy, though. And she's his age. Cryo-stasis for a long time. So … they're in competition to take the team name. If we lose, we're retiring."
Katt cut her gaze to Falco and eyed him suspiciously. "So, you want me to help you dodge retirement?" She put her paws on her hips and moved closer to Falco. "I should go help Marcus' team win."
Falco laughed. "Jeeze Laweeze, girl. We're going to make them our junior officers for a year, teach them some humility, then turn the crap over to them. They win either way. But if they lose, we make'em do all the bitch work for an entire year before we give'em the keys to the carrier."
"Ah. I see." A smile returned to Katt's muzzle. "So, this is about whether you retire after losing, or if you retire a year after winning … is that it?"
"Yeah, Katt. That's it. You can even join the team for a year and help us boss them around, it'll be great."
"Eh, we'll see." She glanced at Fox. "What's the point of staying in this for one more year?"
Fox shrugged. "If we teach our kids how we kept ourselves alive for an entire year, they'll be prepared to take the name. Just have to humble them, you know?"
Falco grinned at his wife. "Yeah, what he said. Shame that Violet won't be on their team. I'd love to boss around our daughter."
Katt laughed. "No, she's done flying for a while. At least for the foreseeable future."
"Eh, she'll fly again one day, soon."
"For now, though, she's not even remotely into the idea of getting back in a cockpit unless it's in self-defense. She flew with Marcus and Fara for a while, and she feels like she's over it until further notice. Shame, too, because she's a great pilot. But … that's how the new-mommy hormones work for some girls, I guess. Like you said, Falco, she'll fly again one day, even if it's just for hobby."
Fox frowned. "Sorry if my kid pushed your kid away from flying."
Falco rolled his eyes. "You kiddin' Fox? Space is the very last place I want my daughter, right now. She can fly after we save Lylat. Look, that Anezka chick has Venom eating out of her palm, and now those alien ships came into the system, and the only thing we know about them is that Panther had to ram one out of the sky just to put it down."
"Yeah," said Fox, rubbing his chin. "If his big ole blaster cannon didn't work, then not much else will. We'll have to ram them the way we did with the Anglars' sector bosses." Fox paused, shrugged with a frown, and asked, "Is it me or does Panther seem extra smug lately?"
"Yeah," said Falco, rubbing at the bottom of his beak in thought. "You're right … it does seem like he's acting like a smartass around you. Not sure why. He didn't get the girl, twice over, and he couldn't even shoot down an alien fighter over Sauria. Not sure why he's being a turd-biscuit lately."
Fox chuckled and shook his head. "He knows Fara is pregnant."
Katt froze and exclaimed, "Wait, what? Already?"
Falco lifted a winged hand, gesturing for Katt to relax. He looked back to Fox. "The kid is virile, I'll give'em that."
Fox chuckled. "Big word usage, Falco."
"I know every synonym for manliness, Foxie. So, go on. Fara's knocked up. What about it?"
Fox shrugged. "Panther overheard it. The dummy doesn't realize that Krystal already told me, like a month ago, so that I'd be prepared for it. So, Panther thinks he's got something over me, because he thinks he knows something about my son that I don't know. Let him go on thinking that. I just wanted to see if you also noticed his behavior."
Falco shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "Yeah. I noticed him acting like a punk-ass, with that stupid smug grin of his."
Katt smirked. "You're just mad that Panther flirted with me that one time five years ago."
Falco huffed with indignation. "He's a piece of crap."
Katt laughed. "Wow, Falco, tell me how you really feel about Panther Caruso."
Falco scoffed. He turned back to Fox, and sad, "Caruso acts like he's hot shit, but that's because he thinks he's got a big dick. You'd think he'd be humbled by now, since Krystal came back to the foxiest fox in Lylat. So, there it is. That's proof my homeboy … Fox McCloud … has got the magic."
Fox deadpanned.
Katt broke into hysterics. "Falco, I hope you realize that you're the only one keeping the bromance alive, babe. Fox is over you and happily married."
Falco scoffed. "Don't make it weird, toots." He pronounced the word 'tuits.'
Katt smirked.
Fox face-palmed and turned to the General. "This is so embarrassing. We usually don't act like this in front of the enemy."
"Your ego is insufferable," said the General. He met Fox's gaze, and added, "Anezka Vacek is going to destroy the lot of you."
Fox chuckled. "After she's put back in her deep, dark, distant hole in the heart of Sauria, we're going to help Venom break the cycle of BS leaders, so they can run their own world."
"Your overconfidence will be your undoing."
Fox ignored the General, adding, "It'll be up to the new administration to decide what to do with the old administration, though. So, if you wind up in jail, well, it'll be your people who put you there."
The General glared at McCloud but didn't say anything. After a moment of silence, he finally asked, "So, you're going to release me when this is over?"
"I'm going to turn you over to the Venom authorities."
Katt approached the General. She pointed to a tattoo on his scaly hand. "You're married."
"I am."
"So, you'll get to see your wife and family." Then, as an afterthought, she added, "Or husband. I don't judge."
The General glared at her. "How dare you suggest I'm a homosexual deviant."
Katt scoffed. "Oh, jeeze, you're a goddamn homophobe? Grow up. That crap is so childish."
"Homosexuality is disgusting," said the General.
Fox sighed. "All right, let's not bicker over something off topic. Get a life, General. For now, I'm giving you my promise that I'm going to return you to Venom. If you behave, I won't turn you over to the authorities – I'll simply drop you off at home."
"And what guarantee do I have that you'll follow through?"
Fox furrowed his brows. "Honor and integrity, General. I said I was going to do it, so I'll do it."
"You're not going to get anything out of me, McCloud."
Fox chuckled with a shake of his head. "Too late for that. My wife, the lovely lady who tied you up, got everything she needed from you. I told you we have a telepath. I wasn't kidding."
"That's not a thing," the General quipped.
Fox shook his head. "If you say so. Boy, Venom really needs to update the dossier on my team. Anyhow, I was waiting out here for Katt to land. Now she's here. So, it's time to take you to the brig and get you a meal. I'll have Slippy synthesize something for you from the conjuration plate. I'm sure we have some sort of Venom cuisine listed in the system. Slippy will be able to find it or add it to the system. We're not dicks, here, General."
"You must know the Venom Imperial Code…"
"Nope, and I don't care, either."
The General glared at McCloud. "It means that the full force of the Venom military will destroy your ship, so that I can die in battle."
Fox laughed. "Venom prisoners are said to 'die honorably in battle' if they're killed in the enemy's brig? Seriously? That's kind of cheating, don't you think? If you're not doing the fighting, you shouldn't get the honor."
"It means I die loyal to Venom all the same. They're coming for your ship, McCloud, and you're standing here talking about serving me Venom cuisine."
"Yup. We fight by the standards of the Titanian Convention. The oldest laws in Lylat about how to treat a prisoner … they've been in use for nearly six thousand years."
"Titania. Isn't that where your ex-fiancée's race is from? Let me ask you something, vulpine: How does it feel to know that your child is now the one having his way with your ex-fiancée? Does it not disgust you to know that one of your women now lies beneath your child? Personally, I find it disturbing."
Katt abruptly backhanded the General. "Hey, asshole. Give it a rest. I've met Fara. She could do your job twice as effectively as you."
The General maintained head placement, not budging an inch from Katt's slap. A wry grin tugged at the corners of his lips, until a toothy smile formed. "I never said she wasn't a competent pilot and soldier. I understand she's quite the fighter. Venom would greatly benefit from learning the ways of her fighting tactics, especially those regarding close quarters combat. But…" The General shifted his steely yellow gaze back to the team leader. "Fox McCloud, does it not disturb you to know that the first love of your life calls out the name of another McCloud? It must make you wonder … is she settling for second best? Or does the child pilot exceed you in every way?"
Fox took a deep breath, put his paws on the General's shoulders, and leaned in close, almost nose to nose. "Listen, old man … we dated twenty-five years ago. It was brief. And then she was put into cryogenic stasis for a couple of decades. That was a long time ago. Now, I'm married and I'm happy. Fara woke up six years ago, and thought I was dead. The fact she found something with Marcus is not my business. I'm just glad they're happy."
The General met Fox's gaze, still nearly nose to nose. "Well, you're one of the few men in Lylat who knows what sex is like with his daughter-in-law. Disturbing, indeed."
Fox considered spitting in the man's face, but he shook his head instead. "Falco, would you see that our guest has first class accommodations?"
Falco rolled his eyes. "Yeah. You want me to beat his ass for you?"
"I am not just speaking of the fennec," said the General. "After all, I understand that Empress Kursed wished the seed of your pup. Not you … your pup. It seems all your old flames wish to be in the bed of your neophyte offspring."
Fox ignored the General and said, "I'm capable of throwing my own punches, Falco. He's just being childish."
The General smirked at Fox. "Does it bother your son, I wonder, to know his father left his spunk between her legs, and now he ruts the very fennec vixen, where his father had once been?"
Katt took one side of the metal chair and gestured for her husband to grab the other side. "C'mon, Tiger, let's get this old shitbird out of here. He's disgusting to the point of annoyance."
The General was lifted up at the front and back of his chair. He called out to Fox, "I cannot understand how you mammals share your women. I understand that Panther Caruso of Star Wolf has also been with your wife, according to our personnel file on Star Fox. Yet you took her back, even though she was tarnished and sullied by the big feline. Unless, of course, you're into cuckoldom. Two men, seeding and breeding the same cum dumpster, and dipping their manhood in one another's spunk, is as vile as homosexuality in my opinion."
Fox closed his right fist, pivoted on his heel, and put his full body weight into the follow-through. His fist snapped the General's head to the left, hard and fast, leaving the General dazed. It sent the entire chair to the floor, and it caused Falco and Katt to stumble.
Fox shook his paw to lessen the sting. "That's for disrespecting my wife; the mother of my child. You had it coming, General. Let's not make a habit of this."
The General opened and closed his mouth several times, still dazed from the intensity of Fox's strike. "I … do you … always hit a man who cannot … defend … himself?" He lay face down on the flight deck, with his rump in the air due to the chair being tied to his body.
Fox chuckled. "You wanna box later? We'll talk about arranging a match, General. But … for insulting my wife, you're damn right I hit you. That's just man-code, pal. It doesn't matter if your name is Scales or … whatever your name is. I'll knock your block off, General. Just like I did to Scales, and he was three times your size."
Falco and Katt worked together to pick the chair back up, along with the man tied to it. They carried the General across the flight deck.
Fox waved to the trio as they left the area. He shook his paw again, which still stung. A sigh passed his lips. "I really need to get over this situation with Marcus and Fara. Not to mention Panther and Krystal. Else I'm going to accidentally insult all four of them in one way or another." He walked toward a lift on the far wall. He stopped to stare at Panther's damaged Wolfen. He thought about spitting on it but decided not to.
Fox's smartwatch chirped. He glanced at it, then looked up, expectantly.
A transport shuttle entered the flight deck and landed adjacent to the Cat's Paw III. The side panel became a ramp, and ROB made his way down to the deck. "Honey, I'm home!"
"Welcome back, ROB. I got your message. I wish Ted would've said something earlier, when Krystal and Slippy were on your ship. Go see Slippy. He'll replace that part you need."
ROB approached Fox and held a mechanical hand forward. The two fist-bumped. "Did you really think something was wrong with me? I wanted my spare parts. I helped them out for a bit, and now I am home with Lucy and my family."
Fox's expression brightened. "Wait, you faked a malfunction to come home?"
"I didn't want to offend Marcus by telling him that I feel loyalty to this Star Fox team, regarding your competition. It is the battle of the ages, is it not? I am 'O.G.' StarFox until the name is passed down to him. Is that all right?"
Fox beamed. "ROB, you always have a home here. Thanks for helping my mood. I've been dealing with Venom's General. Star Wolf arrived to pick up Panther, and now they're going to stay. And, on top of everything else, the Venom General seems to know more about my son's relationship with Fara than I do."
"Oh. That … is … really, really awkward. I hope you punched out his headlights."
Fox chuckled. "You know me too well. Welcome home, ROB."
"Thanks. Where is Lucy?"
"In the astrophysics lab. Panther is with her. He's telling her what happened between himself and Vivian, setting the record straight, and making sure she knows he has done nothing to tarnish her daughter."
ROB nodded firmly. "Ah. Well, that is a good thing, because an astrophysicist could throw a Nova bomb into one wormhole, and then hit him with it next week from another wormhole."
"To be honest, I'd really enjoy seeing that. Anyway, go save her from Panther, ROB. Else he's going to talk her ear-stalk off." Fox stepped onto the lift and said, "Bridge." The platform whisked him upward in silence.
ROB sighed and looked around the flight deck. He spotted Wolfens at the far end and sighed again. "I swear. Those guys. We're all doomed."
The robot feigned another digital sigh. In a slightly melodramatic tone, he added, "Time to go save Lucy from Panther-hecking-Caruso. Lucy always makes me feel better. The least I can do is help save her from a headache." ROB headed for the elevator. He paused, looked back at the Wolfens with yet another sigh, and called for the lift.
ROB muttered in a sour tone. "Why would Fox let them stay? It makes no sense. Ugh." He pushed the call button again. "Hurry up, you hecking piece of heck. I have to save my hecking girl."
The lift doors opened.
"Finally." He stepped on, turned around at the waist, first, then pivoted his lower half to match his upper body. "Astrophysics lab! On the double!"
The doors slid shut with a thump.
