Felt nice, when Peppy got to see his Arwing all fixed up again, looking spiffy. Even better when he got to sit in the cockpit, ran his hands over the now gleaming instrument panel and fly her once again.

Felt good to be flying in formation too, the three of them back together again. Jim in the lead in the middle, Peppy to his right, and Pigma to his left.

Made Peppy feel a little bit better about this mission.

Flying straight towards Lylat.

Straight towards the sun.

Everything was quiet. Too quiet. Didn't run into anybody. Not even space pirates like the last mission.

Pepper said there were some off readings coming from Venom, but they weren't detecting anything from orbit.

Landed where'd they'd planned on landing. Another old army building, not in use. Was desolate, like Eremi, but there was no wind here. Only heat.

Went inside, got to getting something to eat, then they'd figure out what their next move was, except they never got there. Wasn't really sure why, at first, was just standing look-out, when he felt a prick in his leg, and when he looked down, saw a needle sticking out.

Pulled it out, turned around, and saw Pigma standing there with a gun. Couldn't really believe it. Wanted there to be some reasonable explanation for this.

Started getting too woozy to think about it, before his eyes fluttered closed and he fell into a heap on the floor.

James was groggy, but raised his head. Tried shaking his head to clear it, but that only made it worse. Tried to open his eyelids, they felt heavy. Then tried to remember what had happened, but heard a voice instead.

"Wakey, wakey, Jimmy. Don't have a lot of time here."

The threat latent in that voice brought him to attention. Jogged his memory too. He'd been at the back of his Arwing, pulling out emergency rations from his rucksack.

Pigma had walked up behind him, slung an arm around his shoulders.

By the time he felt the heaviness of the gun against his side and the prick of the needle, it was too late.

Took a moment to figure out where he was now. Found himself leaning against a wall. Arms tied behind his back. Opened his eyes and saw Pigma standing, a gun pointed at him, but a real one this time.

They were in the hangar. Their three Arwings side by side. Pigma had also erected some sort of energy barrier around the two of them. Wasn't sure why, until he spotted Pep slumped down on the other side of it, unrestrained.

"Pigma, what is this?" Already had a pretty good idea, but was worth an ask.

"Well, it's a trap, Jimmy." Pigma answered matter of factly.

James sighed, then followed with, "...How much did he pay you?"

Pigma smiled, then shrugged his shoulders in defeat.

"You know me so well. It was a lot. Who knew, but Andross has got a real bad grudge against you. Guess you stole his girl way back when. In fact, he's the one who bombed your car, and so tragically, ended up killing the girl of his own dreams."

"...He's the one killed Vixie?" James ground out through clenched teeth, flashing back to that day.

"Yep." Pigma confirmed. "Andross killed her. Mystery solved. What a fucking nut-job. For a scientist, wasn't the most foul-proof plan. Guess that's why they called him a mad scientist. And love turns even the most brilliant of us into idiots. Why I've avoided it like the plague myself."

This was so damn hard. Was so fucking familiar talking with Pigma, could almost forget the circumstances they were in. Couldn't though. Could also tell try as he might, even Pigma couldn't look him in the eye. Even with his sunglasses on.

"Why am I over here and Pep's over there?" James changed subjects.

"That's actually some good news for you: like I said, Andross has got a real fucked up obsession with you, but he doesn't care about Peppy."

"...You'll let Pep go?" James questioned, confused, wondering if he'd interpreted that correctly, or if it was only the hope, that Pigma hadn't completely turned on them.

"Yeah." Pigma confirmed once again. "I'll just say there was a little struggle, the rabbit got away from me. Everybody knows they can run surprisingly fast. As long as Peppy can manage some decent flying, he's got a good shot of getting out of here."

Waited a moment, to make sure Pigma wasn't making some sort of terrible joke, but he didn't take it back. It landed. Believed him, despite everything. Still, James couldn't help but ask.

"Is love making you do something stupid too, Pigma?"

Pigma scoffed. "Maybe. It's fucking contagious, is what it is."

"You don't have to do this. We can still think of something." James tried, but Pigma only dropped his chin, shook his head. It was a heavy, solid gesture, and James knew there would be no further use in trying. Knew it further after he heard Pigma's reply.

"Nah. Too late for that. They'll be here soon."

Could have asked who 'they' were, but it wasn't really important. Time was slowing down. Slowed down further when they both saw motion in the distance, saw Pep trying to stir, to wake up. Watched silently as he got his hands underneath him, was able to push himself up into seated. Zeroed in on his eyes, as the confusion and fog quickly turned to alarm, as Pep took in the scene.

"Welcome to the party, Peppy." Pigma greeted him. "Like I told Jimmy, we don't have a lot of time, so I'll sum it up for you. Yes, I've betrayed you and Jimmy for a helluva lot of money. Yes, I know I'm going to hell, but I've always known that. Andross only cares about Jimmy, so you get on out of here while you've still got time."

Pep looked like he'd been slapped.

"Leave Jim?"

"Yeah, so go ahead you two. Say your final goodbye. Unless of course you want to join him, Peppy. Guess it's up to you."

"Do what he says, Pep." James said, as steady as he could. Was the leader of this group, despite appearances at the moment.

"I can't leave you here." Pep argued.

"You can, you will, and you're going to." Needed him to go, and needed him to go now. Only thing that made this bearable was if Pep got out of here. Pigma's one saving grace to him. Instead, Pep got up on his feet, stumbled a bit but did it, then turned his attention to the one holding the gun.

"Pigma, please, what is this, don't do this."

"What can I say? Real friends shoot each other in the front. Time's ticking, Peppy. You should really go."

"Go Pep." James repeated.

"No Jim."

"Only way."

"What about Fox."

"Look after him for me."

"Yeah, poor unlucky brat. Having Andross kill both his parents." Pigma added, and Pep took a step back in horror. At least it was a step in the right direction. Had to get him to his Arwing. Had to get him to leave.

"Pigma's made up his mind, Pep, but he's letting you go. You need to go, and you need to go now. I'll always love you. Doesn't end here."

Had a strange ally in Pigma in achieving his goal, who joined in after him.

"It's true, Peppy. So, put those legs of yours to use: run faster than you've ever run before, hop into your Arwing, and skedaddle. Otherwise, you're just going to get shot when Andross' troops show up. Even now you're cutting it close. They're right on us. Choice is yours."

"Please Pep. Go." James pleaded, and he saw the pain in Pep's eyes, only to then see them harden into something like resolve.

"I love you too Jim. See you around."

"See you around."

"I'll look after Fox."

"Thank you."

They watched him run to his Arwing, heard the engine explode into life, take off. Gave a silent prayer for God-speed.

"He made the smart choice." Pigma nodded in approval, and James had a serene feeling wash over him. That everything would be alright. Even looked at Pigma in a softer light. Decided to tell him.

"You know, the way I see this, this is you getting us out of one last mess."

Pigma smiled, but it did something terrible to his face, strained it to the point of breaking, before he replied. "That's sure a nice way of painting it."

"So, you're gonna hand me over to him." James stated.

"No. Adios, Jimmy."

Pigma's aim was true. Jimmy slumped right back. Wouldn't have felt a thing.

"Yeah, Jimmy, I'm a real nice guy. The award was higher if I took you alive, but it wasn't necessary. One last kindness for ya."