Chapter -51-
Krazoa Mens Rea

Papetoon…

The GreatFox Destroyer set down on the dusty surface of Papetoon just a few miles from where the original StarFox members spent their late teens. From the bridge viewscreen, Fox could see the old canyon of the merchant shipping lanes…

He sighed with remembrance.

Krystal placed a paw against his lower back, then slid it down into the back pocket of his uniform pants. "Wotcha, love. Are you thinking about what life was like before your posh ship, your wife, and all your hard-earned successes?"

Fox chuckled. "Just remembering simpler times. But also remembering my roots … living without internet, the water being turned off for the first week of each month, and the occasional brownouts … and who could forget when the communications cartel had us excommunicated?"

Krystal shook her head with a soft chuckle. "So things weren't very tickety-boo; big deal. You picked yourself up by your bootstraps, worked a treat on Andross' empire, and went from skint to sorted, perfectly posh as you like. I know you've been through the wringer. I know you had struggles. But you shed your hard lines, love. Then you found family life with me, and you've had a jammy run of things ever since."

"I think I understood most of what you said, based on how you said it, but … your dialect is getting thicker, and I have no idea what half those phrases even meant."

Krystal gave his rump a squeeze then removed her paw from his pocket. "Sorry. We just spent that time at home and … out it came. After a kip, I'll be right as rain."

"Okay, what was a kip again? Rest or something?"

"Good on you for remembering some of my words, Fox. Come to think of it, it's been a while since our last shuteye. What if we take a little break and get started after a short rest?"

Fox shrugged. "I mean, I could snooze, but I'm not exhausted or anything. I've gone thirty-six hours without sleep lots of times. I just chew gum to stay awake. Are you sure you want to stop now?"

"You go hard, love. No doubt about it. But we should manage our expectations and our bodies. We could handle this nonsense in the morning. These things have been hidden for bloody yonks … they're not going anywhere between now and tomorrow."

"All right, Krystal. I'll send word to Falco and Katt to crash and snooze in the old bunker. We'll set down by the old tree and use the quarters here, on the new Great Fox. Everyone gets privacy, all right?"

"Good, that way we can run around our new quarters full-on starkers."

Fox eyed her. "Naked, right?"

"Too right," she replied with a grin. "You put us down; I'll go rip the plastic off the mattress on the new bed."

"I'll reach out to Falco and Katt, and land the ship." Fox met her purple glowing gaze, they shared a kiss, then he walked to the controls.

Krystal returned the kiss then headed to the back of the bridge. She stopped at the doors, glanced over her shoulder at him, winked with an alluring smile, and said, "If you fancy a bit of personal time together before we sleep … well … you might want to meet me in the bedroom as quick as ya like." She stepped through the doors, which slid shut behind her.

Fox's grin broadened. "Good grief, she's wound up suddenly." He sat down at the helm and began piloting the small destroyer while sending a message to Katt and Falco, and, at the same time, he sent a message to Papetoon's local airspace and aviation control group about landing.

X

X

Miracle, Lylat…

Slippy watched his wife. She was caring. She was gentle. She was sweet. She was the epitome of mothering.

Amanda set up the stasis tubes and her time as a field nurse, years ago when she did four years in the AirGuard, really showed in the way that she set up an area, prepared an area, and made sure the area was clean.

He watched the way she did things and he smiled. "You're really graceful, you know that?"

Amanda scoffed. "Psht. Me? Yeah right. You've seen me plod through a toddler's room, hopping on one food after screaming bloody murder about having stepped on a Lego. You've seen me be a lot of things … but graceful?" She shook her head. "Thanks for being sweet, though."

"You are graceful, especially when you're motivated to make someone else comfortable."

"Oh, is that right?"

Slippy replied with a soft smile. "You did the same for our tadpoles, now that I think about it, but, uh … yes, that's right." He cut his gaze to the two tubes, watching as they filled with tiny bubbles, which soon filtered back out of the liquid within. His gaze shifted to bundles of wires and fiber optic cables and an adjacent computer console.

"I guess I never really saw myself that way. Thanks, hon."

"Just pointing out what I see." Slippy rubbed his eyes with a tired sigh. "This is going to take a while. Maybe we should…"

"Stay right here," Amanda interrupted. "Slippy, this is going to take two days. It's a very complex process, growing an adult body rapidly, like this. The bioorganic printers are designed to make organs and tissue for grafting, but they've never been used to make a complete body, before. I hope Farrah's modification to the software works the way it's supposed to. There's a lot that will be going on, here. These chambers are going to receive the genetic material to print the tissue and skeleton and whatever else, while constaintly scanning the DNA sample for a blueprint on what to make. It's a large arm that goes up and down, back and forth, inside the chamber, which will apparently start in…" She paused to glance at her wristwatch, then added, "…about half-an-hour from now. Anyway, yeah. It's good to be prepared. And I can't really leave."

Slippy nodded in understanding. "And then it's up to me to make sure their new positronic brains are hooked up the right way. I mean, with any luck, the device will make everything hooked up correctly, but it will be up to me to inspect everything before the brains are activated and take control of the body."

"Exactly," said Amanda. "But it's my job to monitor the development of each body's creation, to make sure there are no issues with the biological creation stage. Farrah knows that my hobby is in this field. I was working on my medical…" she trailed off and shook her head with a chuckle. "Sorry. I'm talking to my husband. You know my life story by now. Okay. Your job is to keep me awake, then take a nap so I can keep you awake when you do the quality-assurance on the electronic interface with the nervous system. Lot of fiber optic connections to check when it's time."

"Yeah. It's funny that I've always been the team's mechanic, but I'm an engineer with several degrees."

"Yeah. It's not funny, actually. You're so much more than they asked of you." Amanda cupped his face and kissed his forehead. "And you're my everything, on top of everything you've already achieved."

"D'aww." As an afterthought, he said, "It's not rocket science, it's blowing up bad guys. It's making Lylat a safer place. I think I told you that I left for a while and worked in the R&D sector for the Cornerian military, but … I wasn't happy. I mean, I loved the job, don't get me wrong, but I liked being a celebrity a lot more at that age."

"I just … never liked how Falco treated you like you were an idiot. That's why I never had any problem smacking the 'alpha male privilege' right off his smug face. Do you remember how he looked the first time I walked up and decked him?"

Slippy laughed. "I'll never forget Krystal laughing so hard she fell off her chair, followed by Falco storming out of the rec-room with a bruised ego and a bruised face."

"No, honey, the first time was on the bridge. The rec-room was the second time I put him on his tail-feathers with one punch. The third time, I challenged him to a spar in the boxing ring, and he turned me down. Said he wouldn't hit a woman unless she had scales and an Imperial uniform."

"Oh! Right! The boxing ring incident! That's the time you tossed head gear and gloves at him, and he made excuses while you laced up your gloves. Then he started running his mouth about how he should have the right to say what he wants, and you hit him. He tried to block it, you nailed him in the gut, then he reached for your wrist, and never saw the uppercut coming from your other fist. It lifted him off his feet, and he landed flat on his back. God. I watched the CC footage of that about twenty times in a row. It was awesome."

Amanda grinned. "I learned how to fight because I was the oldest sister of four brothers. And even after helping to clean up the Anglars, Falco didn't take the time to learn anything about me, so when he ran his mouth, I closed it for him. And you know what they say – third time's the charm. So, it took me putting him on his ass three times before he stopped treating you badly." A pause, then, "I hope I never emasculated you by fighting your fights for you…"

Slippy laughed. "They don't know amphiboids. The women are the taller, leaner, meaner ones. But just because I grew up around mammals doesn't mean I need someone else to fight for me – I fight my own fights. They know my value on team Star Fox. Especially when they're fighting a boss and need me to analyze it to know what attacks do damage. Then I'm suddenly irreplicable."

She kissed his forehead. "You're adorable, too."

"Only to you."

"No, you're adorable. Period. You're Lylat's most famous amphiboid."

"My uncle, Grippy, is the richest and my dad was a popular scientist and, later, a politician. They're both way more…"

Amanda cupped either side of Slippy's face, quieting him. "Shh. How many times did StarFox save Lylat? Four times from Andross, once from Andrew, not to mention the Aparoids and the Anglars. I married a legend."

"Four times from Andross?"

Amanda laughed softly. "By my count. He attacked, StarFox answered the call. You came back to finish the job. Then Astropolis made three. Then he was behind Sauria comping apart, which would have had serious consequences if the planet was allowed to burst and separate. Entire chunks of rock would have fallen into the gravimetric pull of whatever planets were nearby, and decimated the population of any-and-every planet to receive a chunk of Sauria. Any piece would have potentially ended all sentient life on any receiving planet. You saved potentially billions if not trillions of people. And don't even get me started on the Aparoids, who wanted to create an entire system full of drones to use in a war against the Locusts. No, honey, people don't hardly remember Grippy or Beltino's name. People refer to those men as 'The family members of Slippy Toad from StarFox.' And that's a fact, honey. You're just too humble."

"Aww. But I couldn't have done it alone without my team; on the other hand, they could have pulled it off without me."

"No. They could not. Without you to analyze capital ships and bioweapon creatures, they would not have succeeded in any of their campaigns."

"Okay, so … aside from being a famous mercenary, and aside from saving the Lylat system, what do you think of me as a husband?"

Amanda patted his cheeks then gently thumbed the seam of his lips. "I think I'm a lucky woman. No man alive can hold a woman during amplexus the way you hold me."

Slippy suddenly felt bashful. "Aww, gee. You bring it out of me."

Amanda grinned. "Good answer."

X

X

Meanwhile,
Titania…

Fara Phoenix panned her flashlight from left to right around an ancient shrine. "You sure you wouldn't rather just have a girls' night out to reconnect?"

Kelly Phoenix, daughter of Bosworth and adopted daughter of Zerda Phoenix, pointed her own flashlight up at the ceiling of the ancient shrine. "And miss this? Heck no. It's about time I get to see some excitement."

Fara scoffed. "And if we both wound up trapped from a cave-in, who would run Phoenix Enterprises? The board of directors."

Kelly mimicked Fara's scoff with a roll of her eyes. "Half of them would avoid Phoenix Enterprises, because they'd be afraid that I'd haunt them. The board is nothing for either of us to fear."

Fara shrugged. "Doesn't mean I want them to run daddy's company. I'm not afraid of them; I'm afraid of them messing up all of his hard work by ruining things. Anyway. You wanted to come, so I couldn't say no to you."

Kelly grinned at her stepsister. "Thanks for letting me tag along." As an afterthought, she said, "So, how well do you trust this … uh … passenger of yours?"

Fara held her paws outward as she spoke to emphasize her explanation. "He was once highly respected, but he took a stance on a divisive issue. After that, he was never allowed to advance in his society due to being considered a rogue. His thoughts on trying to become less dependent on spirit creatures worshipped by the Krazoa … that was the start of his downfall. His rejection of the spirit creatures was considered taboo in the Krazoan circles."

"Does your passenger, uh … he … does he trust the Krazoa spirits?"

Fara's ears lowered a bit. "He doesn't trust his own kind anymore. That aspect is a little worrisome, I suppose. He believes the rest of the Krazoa will aggressively latch onto the first opportunity presented to them to actively engage in genocide against the Locust. A kill-or-be-killed mentality. He was a warrior … one of only a select few Krazoan fighters. They were a peaceful race, overall, but they did have fighters who studied the art of combat in all its aspects – from the science of warfare to the artistry of closed quarters combat. I thought I knew a lot about fighting and how to use fighting to maintain peace, but … I didn't know crap until he came along."

"Back to the bit about the locusts. How worried should I be, Fara?"

"Well, mine … my passenger … he believes the remaining spirits will fight to the very end to destroy the Locusts once and for all. Which, of course, would be beneficial to the galaxy, but he believes there must be an independent party involved to put the Locust leadership on trial … to hold them accountable, and to pass sentencing upon them. He believes that separates Krazoan from Locust-kind. I agree. That is why I went through a court of law to help John Pepper become fleet general all those years ago. Because I believe in juries and judges, so long as they're not paid off…"

"…But?" Kelly pointed her light at the ceiling to help illuminate her face a bit.

"But the other Krazoa spirits, while peaceful, blame the Locusts for their ultimate demise. It's complicated."

"Sounds complicated."

Fara sighed. She continued deeper into the ancient shrine alongside her stepsister. "He believes the other Krazoa cannot be trusted, because they worshipped some ancient rare spirit-form energy…"

"So you mentioned. Do they have a name?"

Fara nodded. "The Quan Ata Lachu. And the ancient Krazoa worshipped these creatures. So much so that the ancient Krazoa eventually emulated the creatures to preserve themselves. And the surviving energy of those Quan Ata Lachu and the Krazoa Spirits? Yeah, they want revenge against the Locusts from over a million years ago."

Kelly stole a glance at Fara. "And your, uh, passenger does NOT want revenge?"

"He doesn't trust the creatures that were worshipped by his brethren. So, he was labeled a rogue outcast."

"Oh. But does he want revenge?"

"He wants them to stand trial on a galactic level. He wants charges brought up against them. If, and only if … a tribunal of sorts … finds the Locusts guilty of committing genocide of entire races and star systems … then, and only then … would he stand behind the decision to wipe out the Locusts. He wants to stand on protocol before feeling comfortable with sentencing an entire sentient race to their demise."

"Well, I find that reasonable. It's a heavy burden … an enormous decision. What other alternative exists to handle these Locusts?"

"Andross has a plan."

"There's a phrase I never intended to hear you use."

Fara continued to gesture with her paws while making her explanation. "Good goddess, I know, right? So, Andross wants to use a chain of gravity bombs that will become the event horizon for a brief wormhole that will eject everything at the epicenter into a universe where nothing exists. Either life never began there, yet, or it already ended, there. There are less than a dozen known stars in existence, there. There are no waves … no radio waves – nothing. It's a dead universe."

"So … prison?"

"It's temporary. Andross estimated that they will manage to find a way back within a few decades. It buys us time to prepare for their return. By then, Marcus' son … my son … is supposed to lead a battle against them and end their race."

"And you know that … how?"

"Even more complicated," Fara replied.

"Of course it is. I'm your sister. I'm not here to judge you."

"Apparently the same prophet that predicted Krystal's legacy to leave Cerinia and come to Lylat … also predicted Kystal's grandchildren and greatgrandchildren would have some sort of very important destiny."

"Oh. An alien prophet. You could be rich off this sci-fi novel, Fara. The fact it may happen would make the book a best seller many times over."

Fara chuckled. She pointed the light around the room, sighed softly, and said, "My … uh … he wants to show you."

"Show me?"

Fara nodded. "He wants to show you personally. You're one of the most influential businesspersons in Lylat. He feels it's important to show you, if you're willing to let him."

"Show me … how?"

"Brief possession. Then he returns to me. He showed Marcus, too. Set him on a path of understanding. He's been very focused ever since."

Kelly held a hand outward to Fara. "Do it."

"You're sure?"

"Oh, Fara, I'm looking forward to this."

"Okay. Thanks for trusting me."

"Honey, I think you're batshit crazy. You didn't even consult me when buying Space Dynamics. You simply used your majority vote to outvote the board of directors. Ballsy. Dangerous. You have no political capital, so to speak, to call in favors with those people on anything. Then? You dumped an enormous amount of money into creating the galaxy's first known sentient artificial intelligence. Not even sure you did it – the science magazine that did the interview suggests you had a coding breakthrough that you gave to the lead programmers, and they took that code and ran with it. But you don't have any degrees in programming code, so I figured it was a fluff piece. But now I'm finding out you were possessed by an ancient alien life force, so okay … and here you are telling me that a prophecy is in place to put your child on the battlefield against a race of bugs no one has ever seen before, except that they resemble the Aparoid infantry. Fara, how is your child supposed to defeat the Locusts when you miscarried? I just … I need to understand. Because if this is the grief talking, and you've brought me down here on an adventure, I have to look at it as a call for attention, challenge your ability to lead Space Dynamics as a business, and try to get you in front of a therapist. If you'll even go to one – you stopped going to the one I paid for you to see after you woke up from stasis over six years ago."

Fara turned to Kelly and hugged her. "Thank you for worrying about me. It's really heartwarming to know you care about my emotional and mental health. But Phoenix Enterprises and Space Dynamics will be the last thing on your mind in a few minutes."

"All right. Thanks for not being insulted. I just … I'd been bottling these feelings for a while. I didn't mean to let it all out at once. But … you know … I'm trying to run a very big business that was supposed to be your burden, and I just want Zerda's legacy to do well. So, yes, if being blunt and telling you I need to see some fancy spirit creature show up and mansplain to me what's in store for Lylat … for once, I'm happy to tell that man, 'bring it on.' I'm ready whenever you are … whenever he is."

Fara took a few steps back, held her arms out, dropped to her knees with a grunt, and closed her eyes. Her ears dropped.

Kelly tilted her head. "Okay, okay, I've never seen something so dramatic. Look, when we get back to the capital, I'm going to make some call to…" She stopped mid-sentence.

A glowing light emerged from Fara's chest. An enormous face with tendrils stretched out behind it.

Kelly's voice dropped to a whisper. "…to … to … holy shit."

The spirit turned about one hundred eighty degrees, and its tendrils of pure energy and light came about and latched onto Kelly's body. It backed up into her torso, and her eyes took on a brilliant purple glow.

Fara dropped back onto her rump, panting softly. "See? Just because I'm a fox doesn't mean I'm crazy like a fox. Now, you take a minute to process all the stuff you're about to learn. Sorry if you see some stuff you didn't want to see, like my death, my relationship, or my … most recent emotional … trauma. I wouldn't wish the feelings from that last part on anyone, but … yeah."

Kelly crumbled to her knees with wide eyes.

Fara got to her feet and hurried over to her sister. "Okay, shoot, I'm here, honey. Just breathe. In through the nose, slow, and out through the mouth."

Kelly leaned back against Fara and took comfort in being held. She whispered softly. "I am … so sorry I doubted you."

Fara held her stepsister from behind while they sat on the granite floor together. "Shh, it's okay. Just focus on your breathing. I've got you. I'm just glad I've got someone who will understand me, now. Someone I can confide in. I pushed Marcus away recently, and I've never felt more alone … until right now."

Kelly whispered, "Considering there is so much in this universe I didn't know … the fact this Krazoa spirit considers me relevant is mind boggling and equally humbling. And … he truly believes you are the one that can give him purpose again. He feels … safe with you, Fara. I … will never doubt you again."

Fara didn't say anything, she just held her sister, while they sat on the cold hard floor together.

X

X

The GreatFox Destroyer…

Panther Caruso clasped Krystal's paw in both of his own, met her gaze, and said, "…And that is why I offer you my most sincere and deepest apology."

Krystal, stunned, offered a simple nod of reply. "I … I accept your apology."

Panther smiled, released her paw, and turned to Fox McCloud. "Fox. I treated you with immense disrespect out of jealousy. I treated your son with disrespect last year because I loathed the fact he was half of you. But, I see now that the two of you were fated to be together, and … that's no excuse for how I treated the three of you. I am a changed man."

Fox blinked. He saw the purple glow in Panther's eyes. "Is the Krazoa spirit making you say this?"

"I have been shown humility. We'll be working closely together to stop the Locust threat from doing to Lylat what they did to Krystal's home world. But now that I understand what it is like for a lady to deal with someone who has behaved as I have … the anxiety-inducing feelings I have inflicted upon many women in my past … it is unfair to them, and I truly felt the need to apologize and make amends with many people in my past."

Fox opened his muzzle to reply, but an incoming communication flashed up on the main viewscreen. He cleared his throat and said, "Answer call."

Andross filled the viewer. His eyes glowed in a truly eerie manner, red and purple mixed together in a way Fox had never seen before.

"Andross," Fox murmured.

"McCloud," Andross bellowed. A slight grin tugged at the corners of the ape's face, then he added, "Just the man I wanted to see."

"Working together is weird enough. Stop enjoying it."

"McCloud, we're going to save Lylat together. I have a new plan, and…" Andross' gaze cut to Panther and Krystal in the background. "I'll need everyone's help to bring it to fruition."

Fox crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm listening. We're all listening."

"Good. I'm having second thoughts about sending the Locusts to another universe. I previously thought it was the only way because destroying them was beyond ability. But now? Now I'm thinking clearer than ever before. And now I think it's possible that we band together, change the prophecy, and end the legacy these creatures have left in their wake … before they destroy Lylat."

Fox glanced at Krystal, Panther, and Miyu at the back of the bridge. He turned back to Andross and said, "I'm listening…"

X

X

Author's Note: I need to take a small break from this. It'll clear my head on the direction I wish to take with it. I won't be gone for 11 years or whatever. Not again. Not this time. In fact, I'm only going to add some chapters to my Links Of Time fanfic. :3

I couldn't even sit down to re-read this chapter to edit it. It just sat on my laptop. I was so burnt out, lol.

I'll post it and wait to see if anyone leaves me feedback on their thoughts for what direction to go, so I can get some fresh ideas, and in the meantime, post some updates for Links of Time, my Legend Of Zelda fanfic.

See you soon!