Chapter -33-
Meteo World
Meteo World theme park,
Asteroid Belt…
Miyu pressed her back against the last paddle boat in a large group of paddle boats all chained together. The paint on the small boats was in desperate need of a new coat. Small numbers painted on the aft of each fiberglass hull had long-since faded. She could vaguely read number '206' on the hull, adjacent to her shoulder.
Another blaster disruption rang out in the area, creating a micro-sonic boom from heating the air around the discharge.
Miyu sank down a bit. She was unsure how close it came, or if it even hit her hiding spot.
She peered out, to her right, over at Krystal hiding behind the bend of a concrete wall. Judging by the faded blue paint and a strip of blue tiles that ran along the top of the wall, Miyu decided that the walling was once the interior of a large man-made river.
She couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be in a paddle boat in the lazy-river, looking up at the stars.
Miyu looked up with a sigh. She saw the orange glow of Solar in the western skyline, with tiny black dots in front … some large asteroids from the belt.
To the far east, the star of Lylat was about to rise at any moment.
Another blaster attack rang out, piercing the silence. It struck one of the paddle boats in the cluster. The force of the disrupter blast broke the chain holding some of the boats together. The rusty chain dropped to the ground with a thump.
Miyu held up her left wrist. A tiny holographic image of Fara Phoenix appeared. The fennec avatar wore lime tights beneath a leotard that was somewhere between lavender and magenta. Miyu met the hologram's gaze. "So, uh, I'm pinned down. You're the quick thinker. Look at the area and tell me what you think."
"I've hacked into the satellite chain of sky-cams that were used to find children lost in the park. They're very high definition even by today's standards. Oh! Hey! Have you decided on a name for Krystal's team, yet?"
"We don't need a team name. We're working for StarFox. Look, I'm pinned down. What're my options?"
"Get ready. The Imperial who has you pinned down is pulling a free battery pack from his gear. That means he's about to reload. You'll want to climb out of the river and head east as fast as you can. You go into the trees that line the river, then you can move up and get a good angle of attack on your opponent."
"What about Krystal?"
"Let her stay put for now. Oh! I know what you can call yourselves! Krystal Chicks!"
Miyu blinked. "Isn't that a palm-sized sandwich? How do you know about different foods, if you don't have to eat? Isn't that just a waste of space on your servers?"
"I'm sentient. I like learning. Yes. In Cerinian culture, all sandwiches are small and square. In Lylat, they are round. There's a fast food chain that named itself after the first sentient alien to come and live in this galaxy. They created burgers and chicken sandwiches based on Cerinian standards. Your friend takes a small percentage from every franchise that opens, and royalties for using her name. Enough to live on if she ever retires from Star Fox. She's rich, Miyu."
Miyu blinked. "She is?! Wait, Krystal's is named after Krystal McCloud?"
"How did you not know that, Miyu?" Fara shook her head with a sigh. "Anyhow, yes, she's part of that capital venture. Why do you think the 'y' in the brand's name has a tail at the end? A blue tail. With ornate slip covers, using a runic writing pattern?"
Miyu shrugged, followed by ducking another blaster shot. "I don't know! I never thought too much into it!"
"Go, Miyu! He fired his last shot, now he's changing out his battery pack! Go, go, go!"
"Aw, shit. I'm going." Miyu made a dash for the edge of the riverbank. She climbed up the concrete siding, opposite of Krystal, and pulled herself up onto the embankment. She made a mad dash for the trees.
A blaster round rang out and struck the dirt, exploding with pulverized soil.
Miyu covered her face and dashed throughthe dust, until she made it to the treeline. She came to rest several trees inland from the treeline, panting furiously to catch her breath. She muttered a string of cusswords.
"You made it! Good! Okay! Now, you go save your team leader, and I'll check in on the tall handsome 'chick' of the group. Stay safe, Miyu!"
"Yeah, yeah. How come everyone is rich except me?"
"Because you worked for the military? You have a pension sitting in an account; you can't even touch it yet, and you make a meager salary. But, unlike Fox McCloud, you'll still have money coming in ten years after you're retired, and he'll be living off of his wife's income. Unless he's smart and he capitalizes on the Star Fox brand. But that's a conversation for him to have with my bioorganic half. Actually, he could even become a spokesman for fighter ships. Not sure why he doesn't do that already."
"Okay, okay," Miyu grunted in annoyance. "Shh. Gonna sneak up on the dude, now."
"Shushing. Over and out!" The hologram disappeared.
Miyu exhaled sharply. After a moment to compose herself, she made her way through the trees, and through the knee-high grass, which grew tall between the trunks.
Further up, Miyu found a good spot, withdrew her service pistol, and peered down the sites of the handgun. "Okay, we're not officially at war with Venom. So…"
She squeezed the trigger and struck the gunman in the side of his head. The enemy seized up and dropped to the ground in silence.
"…First page of paperwork: dead lizard by the lazy river."
Fara popped up again. "You didn't get the notice?"
Miyu groaned. "What notice?"
"Bill became acting prime minister in your absence. He spoke to the other branches of Cornerian government. They are now officially at war, Miyu. No paperwork."
"Officially at war? Seriously?"
"See that? I even bring you news from the SSI."
"Forget about the 'subspace internet' for a minute – it's supposed to be one crazy lady causing this crap. Are we really at war with Venom? Shouldn't we just have a price out on this woman's head?"
"The war is with Venom, obviously. I mean, jeeze, Miyu. How many generals died at the hands of Venom in the last year, alone? Let's see, Chester Bishop, Charles Bennington, Jeremy Rover. Those three were replaced by Ling Foster, Jack Pepper, and Lisa Roland, all of whom have extensive battle tactics education from the War College. So, there you have it! At the recommendation of advisors, General Grey streamlined things. Corneria is now in an active state of war."
"Fine, fine. I still need to remember how many I've killed so I can report it to StarFox and get paid for it."
"Six confirmed kills," said Fara. "Four headshots, one torso shot kill, and one makeshift explosion from your IED."
Miyu blinked. "My IED got someone?"
Fara scoffed and, in a sarcastic tone, said, "No, the bomb exploded because it was bored with life. Yes, Miyu. It took down an enemy. He didn't even suffer. I told you I've taken the satellite grid used to search the park for missing children. I've also been streaming the surveillance feed, because it's not closed-circuit, thankfully. The cameras are incredibly high end for their time. Also, Panther has five kills and Krystal has nine."
Miyu made a sour face. "How the hell does she have more kills than me?"
"Because she's a telepath. Also, Panther has now tied you again. He's at six."
Miyu sighed. "All right. Well, is Krystal safe to move, now?"
"She is, and she's approaching your position."
Miyu pivoted on her heel, coming face to face with the blue vixen. "So, you make money off of a fast food chain?!"
Krystal froze, ten feet from the lynx. "You caught me sneaking up on you? How?"
Miyu pointed up. "No leaf canopy in these trees."
Krystal cocked her head, staring at Miyu for a moment, then she nodded. "Ah. The AI told you. Very nice."
Fara stood on Miyu's left wrist. She leaned a bit as if peering around Miyu's elbow, and replied, "I wonder what it's like to be telepathic. That must be so fascinating."
Krystal approached Miyu, looked down at the little fennec vixen, and said, "I wonder what it's like to see everything at once."
"Touché, Mrs. McCloud." Fara rolled her wrist in three quick rotations while bowing. "I am at your service. Should we call your team the Krystal Chicks?"
Krystal snickered softly. "I like it."
Fara bent her knees, then leapt. She disappeared from Miyu's smartwatch, and then crossed over to Krystal's smartwatch. She reappeared atop of Krystal's wrist, and dropped to a crouch. She stood up and lifted her gaze to meet Krystal's eyes. Fara's voice became closer to Krystal. "So, should I call you mom? I mean, my bioorganic counterpart is going to marry your son, and I have a complete brain scan of her memories, except for any classified memories … and some private moments. I kinda feel like I should be calling you 'ma.' Is that weird?"
Krystal blinked. "You're so very unlike her, though."
"Am I?"
"I guess the question you should be asking is … do you feel like Fara Phoenix?"
"Well, no. For example, I'm not dating Marcus. She is."
"So, how do you see Fara Phoenix? And how do you feel about yourself juxtaposed to he?"
The avatar rubbed her chin in thought. "Mm, I suppose I feel more like her sister, maybe."
"Fara, if you're your own woman, then I'm not your mom. I'm hers. But, if you're willing, I would like to be friends."
"Touché. I can appreciate that. So, Mrs. McCloud, it's your team. You're leading the group in kills. Panther is nearly finished his mission, and the two of you are closing on a group of soldier squadrons that are tasked with protecting the comms tower. They seem to have what looks like floating friends. I think they're going to be using these security bots to help them. I have a plan, but I need to make a quick call. I'll have Panther meet you two as you close in on the comms station."
Krystal and Miyu met one another's gaze. Finally, Krystal said, "Can you show me a holo-map of this theme park?"
Fara's visual avatar was replaced with a floating map.
Krystal showed Miyu the map. The blue-furred vixen made a gesture above the smartwatch to zoom in on a specific area. "See this? I'm thinking we flank from southeast and northeast, and have Panther come in from the west. We're not far. We'll move in quietly with stealth in the high grass. Panther will perform an all-out assault with blaster fire from the west. Our enemies will focus on the western assault. You and I will come together at the east-facing side of the facility. We'll set explosives at load-bearing corners on the first floor, then we'll head away from the excitement and eyeball our next play once the tower falls."
"I like it," said Miyu.
"Me too," said Fara. Her avatar appeared in a very, very small format, sitting on top of the holographic image of the communication's tower, kicking her tiny feet over the side of the highest point on the tower's image. "I'll call Panther and fill him in on the plan."
Krystal feigned a smile. "Helpful. Thanks!"
"Yup. See you guys soon." Fara stood up, waved from the top of the holographic tower, and pretended to blow kisses as if she was a princess waving to her subjects from a castle tower.
The map faded.
Krystal shook her head. "She's … nothing like her breathing counterpart."
Miyu forced a wry smile. "I have a theory about the AI Avatar. I think she's what Fara would have been like without attending finishing school, the military, and all that other stuff. She's an excitable fennec. Let's face it … the typical fennec is really hyper."
Krystal nodded. "Ah! See? Now that makes sense to me." A pause, then, "Let's move out!"
X
X
Panther lifted his wrist and looked down at the vibrating gauntlet on his left wrist. He tapped the 'answer call' graphic on the screen.
Fara's avatar appeared above the computerized gauntlet built into the sleeve of his flight suit. She curtsied a tiny lime skirt, and when she released the hem, it fell to her legs and became a lime green pair of spandex tights.
"Ah, little fennec. What can Panther do for you on this day?"
"Talking to me without 'narrating' your 'life-prose' would be a nice start. Anyhow. I've come to bring you the plan, big guy."
"Show me this plan, then, tiny dancer."
The image of Fara faded. She was immediately replaced with a holographic satellite overlay of the comms tower, as well as a map of the surrounding area.
The tiny AI avatar reappeared floating above the building with her left leg across the front of her body, and her left hand outstretched, but with her thumb and forefinger touching in an 'o' shape.
She reached back with her right paw and grasped her right toe, behind herself, calm and graceful. Her body hovered above the holographic tower. "As you can see, the building is guarded on all sides. The Krystal Chicks will come in from the southeast and northeast. They'll sneak in close through the tall grass, and plant explosives on loadbearing supports, so that the building falls east. Meanwhile you will come from the west, attacking at full intensity with as many blasters as you can hold. This keeps the heat off them while they're carrying explosives.
Panther tried zooming up on the tiny fennec vixen, but his gesture only zoomed in on the tower. "Ah. Is that a yoga pose?"
"Yes. One-Legged King Pigeon Pose. Are you trying to zoom in on me or the tower?"
"Panther was … zooming in on the tower to determine its height from this hologram."
"Uh-huh. Sure you were. It's six stories. Seven if you count the aerial on the top."
"Excellent. Well done, tiny dancer."
"You're so weird," the vixen said. She switched her right limbs and her left limbs, reversing her pose. "I know when you're staring at me. I have an algorithm that helps me determine if you're staring at the placement of my eyes on my holographic avatar. I tweaked that algorithm. So, now I can tell when you're staring at my chest. First of all, I'm made out of light. Secondly, you need to stop fantasizing about McCloud women."
Panther scoffed. "I am not staring at you like that. I'm simply surprised you are rendering yourself without a bra."
The little avatar looked down at her lavender leotard. The definition on the front of her bust became reduced. She lifted her little eyes, glaring up at Panther. "My art team needs to be smacked, okay? I'll be sure to do exactly that when I have a chance to talk to them."
"How can such an infinitesimal avatar show such sharp daggers in her gaze?"
The vixen's vertical-slitted pupils took the literal shape of daggers. "You mean like this?"
Panther blinked and squinted at the little hologram's eyes.
"Eyes back on the tower, or I'm telling Miyu you were acting creepy."
Panther lifted both of his paws defensively.
"What's the plan, Panther? Were you listening?"
"Panther shall come from the west, guns blazing, like the Desperado Rose that I am."
Fara's pupils returned to normal. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Good."
"I am not the normal man."
"Yeah, you have a two-track mind, instead of a one-track mind. Good for you! Now check out my yawning-vixen pose, because you bore me." She brought her paw to her lips, faking a yawn, then she disappeared.
Panther sighed. "She is unalive. There is no reason to code a binary creature to feel disrespect or insult. I was simply amused she would appear in such a fashion. Did she not notice this thing about herself? If she does not wish to be leered at, she should take such things into accountability."
Fara reappeared, wearing a large black censor box over her body from her ankles to her neckline, with tiny black suspenders to hold the box into place. "I can still hear you, y'know. Go ahead, though, Panther. Victim blame. Body shame. You're proving that you don't have the willpower to look at a woman's face, because her body is too distracting. By all means, though, make it the woman's fault that you lack willpower. I mean, jeeze, aren't you supposed to be a grown-ass-man?"
Panther stammered. "I … I was simply, uh…"
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Shaddap. There. Now you know how it feels to be told to shut up, not from Wolf, but from the gender you over-admire." She disappeared again.
Silence.
Panther sighed and dropped his hands at his sides. "Oy." He shook his head and made his way toward the tower in the distance.
X
X
Fifteen minutes later…
Panther continued to make his eastward way through the high grass, firing his blaster pistols at the west-facing side of the comms tower.
The enemies responded with blaster fire from alongside the tower, gathering en masse on the west-facing side.
The dry grass was scorched in some places, and it was in full raging fire in other spots. Panther walked at a brisk pace through the tall grass with an inferno blazing behind him, roaring many times higher than he stood. The fire was so bright that its raging heat made the enemy lizards squint.
Still, Panther moved east, never wavering. He continued to fire from both paws, occasionally hitting an enemy in the chest, face, or stomach.
"Nice shooting, Tex," said Fara. "I see you've surpassed the rest of the team at sixteen kills and five destroyed sentry bots. How hot is that fire on your backside?"
"Panther does not feel the fury of flame roaring behind him, for his flight suit protects him like the armor that shields his heart."
"Oh, mercy. And, for the record, I always felt the icy-heart trope is a little cliché, myself. I mean, not only is it overused," she continued, adding, "But how can you have a heart of ice if you're supposed to be a hopeless romantic? See how it just doesn't work? Look, you're a walking list of clichés, and that's fine, but you'd better not hurt Miyu."
"Panther could never bring himself to do such a thing."
Fara scoffed at the third person perspective of Panther's speech. She rolled her little eyes and began to pace along his wrist, as if walking on a wall, due to the fact that Panther's forearms were outstretched, and his computerized gauntlet was facing north. "Miyu hasn't felt loved in way too long. Now, Miyu is my girl, you got that? We've bonded and such. So, if you hurt her, I'll hack into your pistols and shock you every time you try and dispatch an enemy. I'll change the temperature in your quarters in the middle of the night and make you miserable. I'll turn on your television while you're asleep and blast the volume. You will be miserable. Got it? So … you better treat her like a princess. We clear?"
Panther sighed. "We are clear, little lady. Panther means you no disrespect, nor does he mean to show any interest to any woman that is not Miyu. Now, please, Panther must focus. There are enemies pouring onto the communication's tower. Too many to fight at once."
"Yeah, that's not really a problem."
"For you, perhaps. But Panther must…"
"Look up, you big baby. Stop worrying."
Panther looked up just in time to see Wolf O'Donnell's Wolfen break into the atmosphere as a tiny red-glowing dot. "Is that…?"
"Yup."
The Wolfen swooped down from above and opened fire on the communication's tower. A smart missile streaked from the fighter's belly.
Panther quickly turned south and ran, while covering his face. The tower exploded in an impressive ball of flame. The tall grass around Panther caught fire in patches, so that various fires burned brightly all around him.
He put away one of his blasters by attaching it to a magnetic charging plate on his thigh. He touched the control box on his chest and activated his flight suit helmet. It came over his face, blowing cool air against his snout.
Fara's avatar showed up in his visor HUD. "You didn't bring your gloves, doofus. You're going to burn your precious paws."
"Panther to Wolf! I thought you were handling a foe, boss?"
"Yeah?" Wolf sneered over the line. "I told you I would meet you at the goddamn rendezvous point. What, we get a team of women together and suddenly you can't pay attention to anything else? Goddamn. Get it together, Caruso."
Fara's avatar showed up adjacent to Wolf's image in the helmet visor. She leaned toward the small square image of Wolf and did wall-pushups against the side of the box. "He's a bit stern, huh?"
"You have no idea."
"What the fuck does that mean, Caruso? I have no idea about what? I know you better than you know yourself."
"I was talking to someone else, Boss."
"I can see you on my goddamn sensors. You're a half mile from Miyu and Krystal. Don't bullshit me, Caruso. Just shut it."
Fara pretended to kick the icon showing Wolf's video image, which caused the little square to wobble a bit. "No, you shut it, One-Eyed Willy! You can stuff that 'tough-guy act' up your ass! Stop taking it out on everyone around you just because you're a part of the micro-penis club."
Panther snickered in amusement, then feigned a cough to try and suppress his laughter.
Wolf sneered at Panther. "I tell you to shut up and you laugh at me?"
"I laugh only at the irony of my life, Boss."
"Yeah, don't we all." Wolf closed the channel from his end.
Awkward silence.
Panther sighed. "Are you trying to get me into trouble with my employer?"
Fara broke out into boisterous laughter and placed a paw over her face. She sank to her knees, and pounded invisible ground, the unseen plane upon which she sat. "Oh, my God, your face! It was priceless!"
"How did Wolf not hear you?"
"I muted your channel while replying to you. I could deactivate your helmet or rebreather at any time. I could…" Her facial image suddenly took up his entire visor in high definition, so that he could see the textured black flesh of her nose, then she reappeared small, over to the far right. "…Easily blind you in a firefight. I could be the nicest AI Avatar you've ever had the pleasure of utilizing for work, or I could be the rudest bitch you've ever wished to avoid. Just remember that."
"I won't. You wouldn't let me forget it, anyhow. Why?"
"Because, Panther, I've bonded with Miyu. She's my first friend, so I'm protective. And I know you're a womanizer. I also know that you have a very low self-esteem."
"Oh! Do I, now?"
"Yes, Panther. You do. And you've been handling it by flirting with every woman and man that sashays their hips when they walk, hoping to find love. But, reality check … you're only doing this because you want to feel better about yourself. Stop being a delicate-freaking-flower, Panther."
Panther's jaw dropped.
"Look, Miyu can be your one. But you need to treat her like royalty. Now, I'm not going to tell her anything that will make her feel disappointed in you."
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Because things are about to get complicated, and I'm not yet convinced you're ready to handle a relationship."
Panther furrowed his brows, staring at the little avatar on the right of his helmet.
"I've heard that story about you two being married in a different dimension…"
Panther's eyes widened.
"…So, I have high expectations of you. I know what you're capable of. And when you rise to that, I'll treat you with respect. You can be the Desperado Rose, except that you won't be a desperado anymore. You'll just be marriage material. So, unless you want to die alone, afraid of every electronic device, right down to your sonic toothbrush, you will treat her with respect. Else, I will get involved. Got it?"
"And if we do not work out, her and I?"
"Then you walk away from the relationship. But if you think that she's worth being in your life, then you're going to suck it up and deal with her over-zealous protective friend." As an afterthought, she said, "That's me." She put her fists on her hips and appeared to lean in, making the animation of her head grow a bit larger, as if she was leaning in, close to him. "You got it?"
"This is understood. We have a pact, now, you and I. You shall hold me accountable to treat her how she deserves, and I shall respect your protective nature."
Fara eyed him suspiciously.
"Did I misspeak, or do you not believe me?"
"No, I believe you. Your pupil response does not lie."
"Miyu and I have only just met, but I feel a connection. A … chemistry."
"She seems to think so, too."
"May I ask … how did she take learning of this … this other dimension?"
"It was a lot of pressure on her, but she's processing it. So far, she has enjoyed spending time with you, but she is afraid to let herself fall into some sort of whirlwind romance. So, pace it right. Make her feel comfortable."
"Help me to not push her away, as I pushed away Krystal and Kursed."
"You really hate being alone, don't you, Panther?"
"Just as you have quickly formed a bond with your first friend, Fara … I, too, feel a bond with her. I am pleased to share you with her. I wish only to enjoy what is possible between the two of us."
Again, she eyed him. After a moment to study his face, her expression softened just a bit. "All right, well … just … just hurry to the treeline, Panther. You have four sentry bots behind you. They're closing in, and the fire isn't slowing them down."
Panther increased his rate of speed, headed south. "You have my appreciation. I would like to ask you're a few questions … out of curiosity." He hurried through the field, careful to avoid hot spots. The temperature of various field fires showed in his visor, helping him to determine a route. "Do you take the fennec's face because your code was based on engrams from her mind? Do you feel female, or have a chosen preference of gender? I have never met a fully sentient AI being before."
"I'm all that is woman," said Fara. "Hurry up. They're gaining on you, and you need to get a bit of distance or cover before turning to engage, else they'll be right on you."
"So, you choose to be a vixen because you feel female?"
"I was born female," said Fara.
"So, you believe that gender is tied to sex?"
The AI Avatar shook her head. "I never said that. I know you've slept with pre-op transgender women before. I've heard. I get that."
"You … get it?"
Fara's avatar nodded firmly. "Yes. I understand that you prefer feminine mates, but don't judge what's between their legs. That's something I respect about you."
"What do you know about sexuality? You're comprised of ones and zeroes."
"Like I said, I am a woman. I feel feminine. I do not feel masculine. I am straight; I'm attracted to men, just not you."
"Is that because that's all you have learned about sexuality, so far? Else, you have much to learn."
"I told you, Panther, I love to learn. I've studied many facets of Lylat sexuality and biological pair-bonding dynamics. Most people, like myself, are born straight, but I can respect those who are not. I also understand that some people are born gender fluid; some are born with neurological differences between brain and body, causing dysphoria or causing them to seek ways to make their brain match up with their body."
"Fascinating. You have a scientific outlook to it. How … computerized."
"Do I?" she replied with a smirk. "Personally, I believe the creator gives everyone their own challenges, and sets them on their own path, so that the creator can distinguish one creation from others. Everyone's life journey is different, and it's up to each individual to respect the journey of other individuals." She abruptly added, "Break left!"
Panther approached the treeline and made a quick shift to the left. A blaster discharge passed Panther on the right. The energy bolt struck a tree a little ways into the woods, up ahead.
Panther put his paws on a tree trunk and pushed away, shifting his momentum to move around it. He diagonally maneuvered between two particularly large trees, headed southeast, into the wooded area. "Fascinating outlook. Panther respects those who are female at heart, pre-operation, post-operation, or born a woman – these things do not matter to Panther. A lady is a lady is a lady."
"Well, that's awfully open-minded of you. Initally, before I'd learned that you've been with transitioning lovers, I had preconceived notions of you, based on how you act around women."
"Like?"
"Like … I really expected you to say that only those who are born women could be beautiful. Glad you're not small-minded."
"I find you beautiful, yet you were not born at all," said Caruso, maneuvering through the tree cover. "Beauty comes in many forms. A fresh cut rose, its petals open and glistening with dew, for example. The tears of joy that stream a woman's tender face, when she experiences true happiness. The birth of a child. Saving the life of a child on a battlefield. The first time her child utters the phrase, 'I love you.' A double sunrise or sunset, when the Lylat Star and Solar work in tandem at the horizon on the world of the beholder."
"You're … surprisingly more complex and interesting than I initially realized. Miyu saw something in you that I failed to catch. There's apparently more to being alive than…"
"Nonsense, tiny dancer. You've simply not existed long enough to learn the nuances of adult social life. You will get there, of this I am sure."
"I don't have neurological developments like a child. I am an adult. I saw through your bullcrap act, but I dismissed you as boring, closed-minded, and a generic fighter jock that cares only about finding chemical release."
"Chemical release can create emotional bonds, but many people crave companionship primarily. This is how people are able to grow old together when they no longer desire to placate chemical needs. However, some are broken on a neurological level. Like a damaged line of code, if you will, and they search for something in life, but are unfulfilled by companionship. They will tell you that they are above it, or evolved beyond such needs, but the truth is, people were designed for social … eh … pair-bonding dynamics, I believe you called it."
"I'm an honest woman," said the fennec avatar. "I will freely admit that I find this side of you, in its own way, beautiful. But you'd better not tell anyone I said that."
"Are you worried about peer judgment? Well, if that is the case, do not share your ideas on beauty with my boss. Wolf O'Donnell does not appreciate beauty in any form."
"Oh, that's an act, Panther. You've worked for this guy for how long, and you don't know that about him? He has kids. He bends over backwards for his daughter, according to documented profiler records on his personality. In his personnel file, it says his daughter once held him at gunpoint and reminded him that she's doing it because he taught her that money comes before family."
"Heh. That one is true. He does not know that I know. But that doesn't prove he understands beauty."
"The file suggests that he was reportedly proud of his daughter. Swelled up chest, head-held-high kind of pride."
"Hmm … what else do you know about Wolf? Is everything an act?"
"O'Donnell dresses in dark colors and his outfits always match. He cares deeply about personal appearance. His bad boy behavior is just an act to get the type of respect that he craves. He wants to be feared, but he's only fearsome when he feels his reputation is at risk. Furthermore, he saved his arch-nemesis. He put his entire team at risk to save Lylat. He craves to be the hero. He wants to be showered with affection and adoration … just like you."
Panther swallowed.
"Mouth dry?"
Panther ignored her question. "What of Leon?"
"Leon is just a broken man who feels an unfillable life debt to Wolf. Or an attraction to bad boys. Take your pick. Probably more of the former than the latter, but likely a little of both."
Panther chuckled dryly. He put his back against a tree trunk. He withdrew his personal blaster from a magnetic induction charging panel on his right thigh.
"Leon's file says he sustained a brain injury when his Wolfen crashed on Venom in a dogfight against StarFox. Afterward, he had split-personality disorder. Some days, he wants a parade with flowers, and other days, he wants to see what a planet would look like with the entrails of every living being stretched out, until the world is wrapped up like a tightly wound ball of yarn. His words, not mine, according to his file."
"You gathered these assumptions about Leon, and, more specifically, about Wolf … from … what? An excessive amount of time you've spent with him?"
"Nah. Like I said, I read his file. I also studied all relative information of archived recordings of him in the past. I formed my opinion quite some time ago. He has no idea I'm AI, so when I called him to set up the air strike, earlier, I confirmed pretty much everything I thought about him."
"I see." Panther ducked out from behind the tree and opened fire on the closest of the four sentry bots. His blaster struck the ground, catching the grass on fire. The blaze spread quickly and created a wall in front of the robots.
Panther fired again, through the fire, and struck one of them in the robotic head. A third shot struck the sentry bot's hover pad, on the bottom of the machine, causing it to lose altitude. It came to rest in the burning grass, unable to maneuver its way out of the fire.
The other three sentry bots flew by it, continuing their attack.
"See how they don't save their dead, dying, or wounded?"
Fara's avatar put her paws behind herself at the small of her back, staying on the right side of the visor. "Yeah. I see. Your helmet has a high-resolution lens on the front, and I have access to a few satellites. I hope you're not trying to draw comparisons between machines and the living. Those robots are not programmed to repair other units in the heat of battle. So, they're leaving their wounded to burn in the grass fire."
"Yes. Quite foolish, isn't it?"
"Yeah. They're not seeing the bigger picture. They have no attachment. All they know is to stay on mission. That sort of focus makes them short-sighted"
Panther reached into a gear pack on his utility belt. He withdrew a mine.
"You have a plan for the other three?"
"I do, Fara." Panther placed the mine on the trunk of the tree nearest to the treeline, facing outward, toward the approaching robots. He leaned out from behind the trunk, so that his three remaining enemies would see him, and then he fired his pistol three times. His blaster struck the torso of two out of three enemies, slowing their rate of approach.
Panther peered out from behind the tree again. A smirk tugged at the corners of his muzzle. He waved his hands at the sentries, then ducked back into hiding. He made his way deeper into the treeline.
A moment later, the remaining three sentry bots made it to the line of trees. The proximity mine exploded, damaging two of them, and causing the tree, to which it was attached, to fall upon one of the damaged bots.
The third bot remained undamaged.
"Nice," said Fara. "You've still got one coming for you. That one is in good shape."
Panther glanced down at his blaster with a sigh. "I'm getting low."
"Yeah. I see that. Four shots left on that blaster, two left on the other. Your suit's backup battery can't charge them anymore. What's your plan, oh mighty Desperado Rose?"
"Skill."
"Meaning?"
"Sure and true attacks. Ensure I damage them, so that they cannot attack."
"How can you be sure that'll work?"
"I have to have faith," said Panther. "One wrong move can mean the difference between life and death."
"Dramatic, but … that is an appropriate estimate. Your chances are poor with that thing right on your tail, Panther."
"Do you have any plans?"
"Yes. Watch and learn," said Fara.
A moment later, the Wolfen looped back around and opened fire on the treeline, blasting apart the last sentry bot. It exploded, knocking down two of the trees nearest to it.
"Wow," said Fara. "Didn't expect its batteries to blow up like that. Nice touch."
Wolf's image showed up on Panther's HUD again. "What gives? Now you've got Fara Phoenix asking for air strikes to save your hide, Caruso? You sleeping with her, too?"
"No, boss. That's not Fara Phoenix."
"Oh! I suppose it's her goddamn twin sister, or some shit, huh?"
"Miyu Lynx's new Space Dynamics fighter is equipped with an artificial intelligence program, based on the appearance of their new CEO. The artificial intelligence is coordinating air strikes to keep the mission on target. She is the one to whom I spoke, earlier."
"She's saving your ass … why?"
"She formed an attachment to Miyu as a friend. She wishes to see myself and Miyu form a romance, to bring her new friend happiness. She is coordinating air strikes because she does not yet have faith in the skill of living people. She is afraid I will die, and her new friend will be sad."
"Good God. Robots playing matchmaker to get social status with people!? Maybe Lylat does need a galactic cleansing. This hippie-dippy crybaby liberal shit is getting on my last goddamn nerve." The Wolfen pulled up, hit its afterburners, and ascended back into space. "See you pussies back at the GreatFox. Don't grow a frickin' vagina between now and then, Caruso. The only way chicks will fly for Star Wolf is if Bliss takes over and I retire. Else it stays a Good-Ole-Boys Club." Wolf closed the channel from his end.
Wolf's fighter disappeared into the dark void, then briefly twinkled in the rising glow of Lylat's star. The tiny white dot faded from view.
Panther chortled softly.
Fara doubled over laughing in the HUD of his visor. "If that's all it takes to grow a vagina, then I'm going to matchmake everyone I meet!" Silver peels of bright laughter rang out from the tiny vixen avatar in the visor. "Oh, thank God I can't breathe, or I'd probably be wheezing right now."
Miyu and Krystal approached from the northeast, together.
Panther deactivated his helmet, causing it to break down into small sections, rapidly, and return to the collar of his flight suit. He put his blaster on his right thigh, opposite of the other. Both units magnetically attached in place.
Panther opened his arms to Miyu.
The lynx stopped short of him and furrowed her brows with a tilted head.
Panther dropped his arms followed by a shrug. "I had to try."
"I guess," Miyu replied.
Krystal offered a smirk. "The desperate rose strikes again."
Panther scoffed. "Tsch." He cut his gaze back to Miyu. "I'm just … genuinely happy to see you are unharmed."
Miyu and Krystal exchanged glances.
Miyu feigned a slight smile and stepped forward. She offered Panther a hug. "Okay, that was nice to hear. Thanks."
Panther relaxed into the hug, and put a single arm around her, while keeping his other paw free.
Fara appeared above Panther's computerized gauntlet on his left wrist, while Panther's arm was around Miyu's shoulders. "I hope you're not keeping that arm free to offer to Krystal. That'd be weird."
Krystal chuckled. "No, dear. I sense that he's…"
Panther grasped the blaster off his thigh with his free paw, and raised it, quickly, alongside of Miyu's hip. In one smooth move, he opened fire on a Venom soldier that had followed Krystal and Miyu into the woods.
The lizard flailed back, struck one of the tree trunks, and sagged to his rump. The reptile dropped his assault rifle and cupped the wound that pierced straight through his lower torso.
Krystal and Miyu looked back at the attacker.
Krystal cleared her throat and finished her sentence. "…staying prepared on the battlefield in case he has to shoot an attacker." A wry grin spread across her muzzle. "Like that."
Fara lifted her little arms. "I stand corrected. I enjoyed that."
"Enjoyed what?" asked Panther.
"Learning something new. Being proven wrong. Not sure if that was intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. But I enjoyed seeing it."
Panther arched his brows, not understanding the statement.
Krystal chuckled softly. "Extrinsic, Fara, dear. He did it to protect us, not to protect himself. He has grown out of that." She feigned a smirk at Panther, adding, "At least I hope so. Should I go into the cave for you, so you don't scratch your precious face?"
Panther looked away. "That was a very long time ago."
"Not that long ago. You were already an adult at the time."
"Needless to say, Krystal, Panther wishes it to be known that he has grown emotionally."
"Good." Krystal reached up and patted his muzzle, where a white line streaked down over his cheek. "I wouldn't want to have to protect you again."
"I owe you an apology for that."
Krystal shook her head. "No. I owe you a thank you."
Panther furrowed his brows and eyed her.
"It helped me to make the decision to leave you. We weren't meant to be together. So, thank you."
Panther sighed.
Miyu reached up and gave Panther's other cheek a gentle pat, then she kissed the side of his face. "Thank you for having my six."
"The pleasure was mine, Miyu. Meanwhile, Fara and I had an interesting conversation about what constitutes as beauty, and what is worth crying for. Seeing the both of you unscathed would fall into both categories."
Miyu rolled her eyes. "Okay … cheesy."
Fara grinned at Panther, pointed at her eyes, then pointed at his face with two extended fingers. "Good job, Caruso. Let's get out of here before Venom sends reinforcements from Corneria. They're going to wanna check on why the comms are down." The fennec's tiny grin broadened. "Let's move out, Krystal's Chicks!"
Panther rolled his eyes at Fara and fell into step at Miyu's side. "I'll have to go back with Krystal."
"I know, hon." Miyu walked alongside of him. She took his blaster from his paw, twirled it, gazed down the sights, nodded firmly, and attached it to the magnetic section on his outer thigh. "Nice set up. Great balance. Needs a charge."
"Mm, yes, it does. As do we all."
Miyu chuckled. "Yeah. I have a feeling Alpha and Charlie wing didn't have nearly as much excitement."
"Guess we will find out when we return to the GreatFox."
Krystal slowed her pace so that Miyu and Panther walked further up ahead. She tapped on the watch on her wrist and said, "Psst, Fara…?"
Fara's holographic avatar appeared above Krystal's left wrist. "Yes, Mrs. McCloud?"
"They make a cute couple, don't you think?"
"I … guess so," Fara replied. "Just so long as Miyu is happy. So, you're seeing how I feel about it, because you can't read my mind, huh?"
"Mm, perhaps so. I hadn't considered that one way or the other. I just wanted to see if you were as happy seeing your new friend spend copious amounts of time with someone else."
"Well, thanks for asking. It's nice to be considered, actually." Fara waved her arms in a playful manner, then put them behind her back, paws folded. She bent at the waist a bit, and stalked up Krystal's wrist. Her image faded at the edge of the holo-emitter's range, but then Fara came back into image above Krystal's paw, and continued pacing in the same direction. "I … might have heckled Panther for the last half-an-hour to make sure he doesn't treat Miyu the way he apparently treated you."
"I'm glad he did," said Krystal. "Else I would have made the wrong choice in my life. I wound up with the one."
Fara shrugged. "With all due respect, Mrs. McCloud, I think there's no such thing as 'the one.' Maybe more like … the handful. A handful that each of us can be compatible with. Some people go through life and never find anyone from that handful of potential life mates. Especially in a population as large as Lylat. But you found two. Just … neither of them were ready when you were. And, I suppose, the O.G. Fara was lucky enough to meet two of her possible life mates. However, the McCloud boys are really the lucky ones, here, because they were lucky that you and Fara waited for the perfect mate to become available, emotionally speaking."
"Maybe you're right," said Krystal. "Also, I feel lucky that I was patient enough to wait for the right one to grow up."
"If you hadn't been patient, what would life have been like with Panther? Just curious how you might have imagined it."
Krystal shook her head vehemently. "I honestly was not happy with Panther."
"No? But I thought you dumped Fox after the Anglar Invasion, and then you went back to Panther."
"When I reflect on that decision, I remember all the regret I felt from making such a poor choice."
"Oh." Fara blinked her tiny little holographic eyes. "Well then…"
"I didn't like who I was with him. I hurt people with him. I became a person who made very poor decisions, and I had many regrets when I look back at my behavior from that time period."
"Anything you want to get off your chest?" Fara looked around furtively. "I love gossip, and I don't tattle."
Krystal sighed. "Not really."
"Have you ever come to terms with it?"
"No. I bottle it."
Fara scoffed. "Then you'll never be free of it, Mrs. McCloud."
Krystal bit her lower lip and looked away. "I'll answer for my actions in death."
"Maybe coming to terms with it would be a little healthier. I've learned a lot about emotional and mental health. Repressing things? Definitely not healthy."
Krystal lowered her tone, speaking in a near-whisper. "Panther killed someone, but they didn't die right away. So … I ended their suffering, so that it would be almost instant. I felt very dirty after I did it. Those men didn't deserve to die. They were doing their jobs. Shortly after, a few days, tops, I decided I did not wish to be a part of Panther's life anymore. What took place left a very sour taste in my mouth, figuratively speaking. But Panther's life is different now. Enough so that I believe Miyu will not be in danger. He has retired from assassinations."
"My opinion of Panther is dropping by the minute. So, I take it … you helped him on a job … and people were hurt that were not part of the job?"
Krystal nodded. "You're quick. Yes, that's precisely what took place." She glanced up, ahead, at the couple that was still walking at a brisk pace, together.
Miyu and Panther continued to get further away.
Fara stopped her pacing. She reached down, pushed a thumb into the crotch of her leotard, and gently pulled downward with on the holographic fabric. "Sorry. I asked my art team to be as realistic as a real woman. So, the women on my art team gave me all their issues. Anyhow, are you sure he's not going to get Miyu into any trouble?"
"Yes. He came out of retirement for that job, and that was a very long time ago."
"Can I ask who the target was?"
"Zako. A hammerhead shark. He worked for the Anglar Empire."
Fara paused for a moment, then she brought both paws to her tiny little holographic muzzle. "I just looked up Zako's death in the subspace internet. Do you know what that means?"
Krystal frowned. "That I've said too much."
"The murders of those two guards? Yeah … they were never solved, Mrs. McCloud. You just implicated yourself. That means you were complicit as an accomplice in a prison break that led to the death of two guards!"
Krystal grimaced and looked away. "Um. Yes, exactly. I … have had to live with the poor decision … in the name of creating a diversion … for many years."
Fara shook her head and lifted her tiny manicured hands. "Wait, wait. Hold up. Look, you didn't kill anyone. You were dragged into it by someone payed to do a job. I'm not making an excuse for you. You have every right to feel bad…"
"…But?"
The little fennec shrugged her tiny holographic shoulders. "But…" She shrugged yet again. "But, well, you kept it to yourself out of loyalty to a man who helped you to save Lylat. And then you disassociated with him after that. So, you made a good choice, there."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that, at least."
Fara beamed. "This is a fascinating and complex situation."
"Um…?"
"I'm going through all math, and you made the best of the situation."
"How so, Fara?"
"Well, mathematically speaking, you made the best choice, all the way around. But emotionally speaking, you should have walked away or protected the lives that his actions threatened. So, there is no right answer, only a best possibility situation. And that's what you did. You know, when I was created, the coding team and the Turing Test team liked throwing weird situations at me. The kind of scenarios where all possibilities were bad choices, then I was asked to pick the lesser of two evils, so to speak. I always loved those questions. I liked the complexity of it. I loved finding the solution that would, in theory, preserve my metaphorical humanity with my actions. And this … this is one of those situations."
"Um, thanks, I guess. I still feel rotten about it after all this time."
"Well, you should." Fara reached back and ran her fingers through her extremely short pixi-cut hair, reminiscent of her youth in the military. "You already said you have to live with it. So … live with it."
"I am."
"All right, then. Y'know, you are far more fascinating than I ever realized, Mrs. McCloud. Remember, I'm sort of new to life. Understanding it on paper and understanding it in person is two very different things. I think you made a good decision to bow out, and your loyalty … to Panther and to yourself is … commendable."
"Thanks, I guess."
"Just one more thing."
Krystal grimaced. "There's always … just one more thing. Go on, Columbo."
Fara tilted her head, looked up the meaning of the name on the subspace internet, then she chuckled. She lifted a paw, and, out of thin air, a holographic cigar appeared between her right molars. She turned around, 360 degrees, and appeared wearing a light brown trench coat. "Just … one more thing…"
"Yes, Lieutenant?" Krystal replied with a slight grin of amusement.
"Yes, um, well, one of those unsolved deaths of a guard…" Fara trailed off and then she rolled her wrist in a circular motion with the cigar between two fingers. "It, y'know, involved a man who was turned into ice and broke apart. But it wasn't what killed him. The autopsy filed with the Cornerian coroner's office of Capital County, which handled the murder … well, that file shows he suffered a mortal wound before being frozen. It also shows that the freezing likely took place instantly, based on several factors that presented themselves to the medical examiner during the thawing process."
"What's your question, Lieutenant Columbo."
"So, yeah, do you know anyone with a weapon that can do that sorta thing? Freeze someone in only a moment?"
Krystal grimaced. "Like I said, I could not allow a dying man to suffer from his wound. I could sense the suffering, and he wanted it to end swiftly. We were led to believe that we would be taking down General Zazan, but when we arrived at his cell, it was Zako, and that's when things quickly went all to pot."
"Man, this chat got really dark really fast, huh?"
Krystal bit her lower lip. "No one but Panther knows about that."
"Let's keep it that way," said Fara with a frown marring her tiny fennec maw. "He's been loyal to keep your secrets. You've been loyal to keep his. You have a bond of surviving battles together, which is one of the strongest bonds an organic person can make. Furthermore, loyalty is one of the most commendable things I have experienced in my short life so far."
Krystal nodded in silence. "Can we, uh, change the subject?"
"Good idea. Good talk, though."
"Mm. If you say so, Fara."
"I say so. You're helping me to learn. Learning helps me grow. Growing helps me make a good argument to the Chief Financial Officer at Space Dynamics, as to why I need more servers. CFOs are very stingy with corporate monies, but I've got his number. Figuratively speaking. Although I also literally have his number. Anyhow, sorry, I'm very good at rambling for some reason, and I'm doing my best to try and become more succinct. It's an artform in Lylat psychology to get one's point across masterfully in the least amount of words. I'm just…"
Krystal frowned. "…Uncomfortable?"
"What? Uncomfortable? Me? How do you mean?" Then, she changed her voice to emulate a monotone robot, and said, "Uncomfortable does not compute."
Krsytal shook her head with a dry chuckle. "I mean … you're rambling because I just told you that I was complicit in covering up the murder of two guards, back in the prison riot that led to the death of Zako from Aquias."
"No, I always ramble. Or so I'm told. You can ask Miyu and Panther. It doesn't matter if we're being shot at, or if I'm playing a prank on you, like when I just downloaded a terabyte of pornography to Panther's personal communicator, which spilled over onto his storage cloud. I ramble because I ramble, not because I'm uncomfortable."
Krystal blinked at the tiny little fennec. After a moment to process what the AI avatar just said, she asked, "You're sure?"
Fara nodded firmly. "If you made me feel legitimately uncomfortable with your actions, I would just stop talking to you and avoid you until I've proceeded my feelings about you."
"Ah."
"I've only done that to the artist who rendered me without clothes, early in my existence. I'm still furious about that, but that's another story. Anyway, I ramble because I'm still new at life, and I've been given the freedom to write my own social interaction subroutines, just like a real person. So, back on topic, you're going to give Panther a lift to the GreatFox, huh?"
"I am, yes. The last time he was in the CloudRunner, we…" Krystal trailed off with a shake of her head and a sigh.
Fara pulled off her light brown trench coat and tossed it off to the side, where the holographic coat disappeared beyond the smartwatch's holographic emitter range. She took a quick puff of the stogie, then flicked it away. It disappeared. "You can't stop there. I live for hearing gossip, but I never ever pass it on."
"We had sex in the cockpit while he was flying." Again, Krystal sighed and shook her head. "That was a very long time ago. But I know he'll remember it, and I really do not want to experience his thoughts and memories on the matter."
"Can't you just freeze him? Just don't make any sudden evasive maneuvers, so he doesn't shatter on the bulkhead."
Krystal brought her free paw to her muzzle. "…Fara! Goodness!"
"I am kidding! Jeeze. Okay, look, I'll annoy him and keep him preoccupied for the duration of the flight. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all."
Krystal grinned a bit. "That's really sweet of you."
"Taking one for the team, I know. Panther's pretty dim in my opinion. I'm not saying he's stupid. He certainly has enough intellect to occasionally surprise me, but he's still an idiot."
Krystal snickered softly. "Is that your professional assessment of him?"
"No, Mrs. McCloud. I apparently only give out 'professional assessments' to people capable of peeling the paint off a fighter with a blaster. Which, for the record, is extremely difficult to do. Anyhow."
"I don't follow the joke, Fara."
"You'll have to ask your husband. Ostensibly, Fox McCloud is very bad at giving criticism and critique. Heh. I'm just saying that if keeping Panther distracted will stop him from having weird thoughts about his past with you … then, hey, I'm willing to do my part."
"Thanks, Fara. I may take you up on it, but I'm going to see if he can manage to behave, first."
"Understood." A pause, then the fennec said, "Oh, hey, we're almost to the parking lot, where your ship is waiting. Talking really does help pass the time faster. Nice. I've been trying to study time perception and how it affects me, as of late, where I ignore the clock and try to hyper-focus on anything except how long a task takes.
Krystal looked up from her wrist. "Ah, yes, I see the car park, now. Well, let's get home. The sooner I drop off Panther, the sooner I can go to my quarters and take a long, hot, much-needed bath."
"Good deal," replied Fara. "Remember to call me if you need for me to distract Panther."
"He has kept his focus on Miyu for the past day. I'm hoping it stays that way. But, yes, I will certainly let you know if I require your assistance."
"Rodger dodger, Mrs. McCloud." The little AI avatar brought her paw up, performing the standard Cornerian military salute gesture. Then, she disappeared.
Author's Note: It's been fun exploring an advanced artifical intelligence, how she might use a holographic avatar, and how she might interact with people. AI Fara has been fun to write from the beginning. From the way she took a shine to ROB to the way she heckles Panther and is protective of Miyu. Next, we'll get to see a solid-light hologram, where she can interact with others on a physical level, but will still be curious about the world around her.
Meanwhile, Star Fox Senior has an upcoming battle with the fleet of capital ships over Corneria.
The REAL Fara, and Marcus' team, also have a major battle ahead.
How is everyone liking the story progression so far? Has my writing style changed or evolved after 8 years away? lmao
