Chapter 10: Sick Happy
Fox did not even allow his engines of his Arwing to shut down completely as he opened his canopy and jumped out of his cockpit. His feet touched the floor of a metallic surface of the large hanger, it was a mass of destroyed and wrecked ships strewn all over.

"Fara!" Fox called out her name, hoping with all his heart for a response to his calls. The Orange vulpine noticed a small sign, covered in dust on a door. He walked over to it and rubbed off the dust with his paw, it read, "TO CREW QUARTERS".

Fox automatically kicked the door opened, to be welcomed by the sight a long corridor, with numerous doors on each side. Fox, weary of his predicament, withdrew his blaster from his side.

"Fara!" Fox again called his sweetheart's name, this time however not as much emotion filled his voice, knowing full well that he could be walking into a trap. As he kicked open each door one at a time, he was spookily surprised of the cleanness of the quarters. Unlike the devastation to the hanger, the crews quarters were immaculately maintained, pictures and other person items were neatly set out on the dressing table, while the bed looked like it had never been slept in. The confusing scenario began to spook Fox and his heart rate went up a beat. He quickly tried to lose his fear, knowing he had to be strong and fine his baby, Fara.

He continued going down the corridor, finding each room, almost the same in it's cleanness. Finnally, he reached a metallic spiral staircase, another plaque on the wall stated it's direction, "TO THE CONTROL ROOM". Fox quickly ran up the staircase, his worry growing more and more, with every passing minute of him unable to find Fara. As he reached the control room, he was greeted by an array of flickering lights, food stuffs and empty soda bottles littered the floor. The fact that the fortress seemed be alive, but without people, again began to frighten Fox. He attempted to joke to himself to ease his fear,

"What is this, the Marie Celeste?" Fox stated, knowing full well however it was a feeble joke and completely the wrong time. As he looked round, he noticed a series of doors around him, however, on of the doors had a symbol engraved in the door. He went to the door to take a close look, to his horror, it was the etched symbol of Starwolf. It's red eyes, flickering in the lights, almost intimidating the orange vulpine. Below was a small sign, he read it and gulped, "TO THE BRIG AND INTERIGATION ROOM".

For the first time, Fox thought he wouldn't find Fara, not in here. It was tearing him up to think what Starwolf had done to her. Without further waiting, Fox took hold of the handle of the door, pulled it down and opened it.

What greeted him was a blackened floor, unlike the rest of the place, the floor here was carpeted. The fact that place felt like it had a warm atmosphere, was quite disturbing and sick from Fox's point of view.

"Fara!!" Fox called again, for the first time, hoping not to hear a reply.

Meanwhile, Fara, weak from torture, hung lifeless from her chains. She wished only to die now. Her energy and hope had all but disappeared. In her half conscious brain, she heard someone call her name. At first she thought it was her mind playing games with her, trying to conger up the last of her hope for her freedom. But the voice got louder, her name was being called more and more. She had heard that voice before, it was'nt the snarling voice of Wolf and it was'nt the small and evil voice of Leon, this voice was a warmer and by the sounds, more desperate person. It suddenly hit her where she had heard the voice from before,

"uhh.. Fox? Fox! FOX!!" She let out a tortured scream.

Fox heard a reply, "FARA!!" Fox called, now excited of the chance of him finding her alive. He rushed to the second door along and kicked down the door. A sight that tore his heart out and made him weep, both with joy and pity welcomed him. He saw his once beautiful baby, battered, bruised and blood stained. Her once beautiful hair was now a mattered mop and her eyes were lacklustre.

"Oh Fara!" Fox cried running over to her embracing her. "Oh Fara, I thought I'd lost you forever!" he cried on her. Fara, even though she was only half- conscious, couldn't help but shed tears that ran down her furry cheeks and onto Fox's fluffy head. He relased his grasp from her and withdrew his blaster and blew off her chains. She fell straight into his arms and back into his heart. They looked at each other and gave each other the biggest loving hug possible while they cried. They were so clase, it seemed that even their tears seemed to intertwine down to the floor.

Fox ended their embrace by uttering those three little words that was the reason for this entire escapade, "I love you!"

Fox put Fara's arm over his shoulder and helped her out of the small room and hobble out. As the two lovers got outside the door, they were greeted by a figure at the threshold at the door back to the control room. The small figure walked forward into the light, a small ape, with a blaster pointing straight at them.

"Andrew!" Fox shouted.

"Well done McCloud!? Aww, what have we here? A reunion, how sweet!? But I'm afraid it's going to have to be cut short." Andrew stated, "You see, I always get the last laugh, and since you killed the rest of my team, I think I owe a debt that has to be paid. So.. Goodbye Fox McCloud!" Andrew aims his blaster straight at Fox's head. Suddenly, a laser shot is heard, Andrew's eyes widen, and the ape collapses forward to the ground. Fox looks up to see a small green amphibian standing behind the dead ape.

"Slippy?" Fox called, unbelieving in what he said.

"Well, you did'nt think they could get rid of me that easily did you?" Slippy squeaked in his usual high pitch, girlie voice.

"Slippy!" Fox screamed, rejoiced and came over to him, with Fara now in his arms. The amphibian was a little scared and quite dirty, but his large bulging eyes shined a bright as the stars.

"Is she ok?" Slippy, forgetting about himself and focusing in Fox's vixen laying in his arms.

"Yeah, but we need to get back now! I don't know how bad she is!" Fox said, franticly, kissing her forehead.

Fara spoke quietly and weakly, "I'll be fine Fox, just take me home baby!" , she gave him a small smile to ease his nerves, even though she know it wouldn't.

Fox replied, equally quietly, "Ok, babe. We're going home now!" He kissed her again, him finding unable not to give her enough affection, he had missed her so much.

"We should be able to all fit in my Arwing, it might be a bit tight though." Fox stated obvious egar to get off this awful planet and back to the green, peaceful planet of Corneria.

"That's Fine Fox!" Slippy gave Fox a reassuring smile, nothing could and ever will dampen his spirits.

The three of them reached back to the hanger. Slippy got in behind Fox's seat, while Fox placed Fara on his lap. Fox gave Fara another kiss before closing the canopy on his cockpit. Fox started up the engines to a roar of noise generated by them. He slowly turned his fighter around and flew out of the hanger.

"Fox, this is Peppy. Did you find Fara? ...Fox, come in please!"

"Hello old timer. Yeah I've got my baby with me, as well as a certain green amphibian." Fox said, while looking back and giving a Slippy a smile. The first true and long smile Fox had, had for a long time.

"Slippy! Your alive!" Falco shouted over the comm, "It's good to see ya buddy. It's good to see you too Fox."

"Thanks Falco." Fox welcomed the support and comment. "But lets get out of here, I don't know how bad Fara is. We need to get her to a hospital!"

"Ok Fox, lets go home!" Bill answered over the comm.

"Well lets go then!" Katt added, overjoyed and anxious to see Fox had Fara back together.

The Five ships made off out of the Titanian atmosphere and back home towards Corneria. As they left, Fox uttered some words, farewell Starwolf, rest in peace.

Fara awoke to see a small fan circling above her on a white ceiling.

"Ah.. good, your awake." A voice said

Fara paniced. Remembering where she herd those words before.

Nooooooo...!!!! She screamed.

"Whoa baby, calm down, calm down." the voice said

Fara turned her head to see a orange vulpine siting next to her bed.

"It's me babe, Fox." Fox explained, kissing her on the lips.

Fara automatically calmed down and purred at the affection.

"You like that?" Fox giggled in a clam and pleasant voice.

"Yes" was her reply. As fara came round more she noticed she was in a hospital, she also noticed that a a grey hare, a blue Avian falcon, a grey husky and a pink cat were also standing in the distance looking at her. They all greeted her with smiles

"Welcome home Fara." Fox whispered.

"Where's Slippy?" She asked, suddenly remembering his absence in the crowd.

Fox pointed behind him, she looked to see a snoring frog in the bed next to her. Fara laughed before kissing Fox again, to the sound of a cheer from the others.

Fara broke off the kiss and whispered into Fox's ear, "I love you Fox McCloud, and I always will!"

THE END
A last note: This story shows the anguish, mental and emotional torture Fox had to put up with when Fara disappeared from his life. I pray to God no one has to lose a love one and suffer such torment like in the story. If there is no tomorrow, love that person the most you can and give them your heart for today. You will regret it your whole life when they are gone not being able to show them how much you cared.