Chapter Seventeen: "Split"
Two days had passed quickly, in which every able hand aboard Whitewater was put to work preparing the bulk of the Katinan fleet. Bill kept himself particularly busy, trying his utmost to stay on task, but each hour demanded more of his willpower until at last he settled to mulling over things he would do well to shut out. Leon Powalski had been on the train, not Reivin, so naturally Bill figured the crafty evil assassin was up to wicked designs of his own. But what? His main concern was keeping his growing suspicions from Celestra's attention, so late the same night he turned to Captain Anilora, his other trusted confidante.
Pausing with his fist poised to knock at the door to the captain's quarters, Bill heard a muffled voice talking just on the other side. As quietly as possible the male assassin leaned forward and pressed his ear against the surface, listening intently. The voice droned on for several more seconds before it dawned on Bill that he knew the voice well; it belonged to Reivin Frost.
And he was in Bill's beloved captain's room!
Unholstering two laser pistols from his belt the assassin kicked the door open, leaning around the doorframe and seeking a decent shot. Captain Anilora was hunched over his desk, sitting in its accompanying chair with his head in his hands; the G-Diffuser screen was replaying a message from Reivin Frost. As soon as Bill burst in Anilora sat upright and flicked the system off; the Katinan assassin lowered his weapons.
"Cap'n? What's goin' on?"
Anilora looked dreadful. He was standing barefoot beside his rapidly vacated chair in a flight uniform closely akin to Celestra's, but the fabric was wrinkled carelessly and made him look disheveled. His hair was rumpled from constantly running his hands throuhg it; his normally wise, brilliant eyes were dull and bloodshot. By the look of his immaculately made bed he hadn't slept in many days, and it was starting to show in the young man's face. Surveying Bill for a few moments longer he motioned for him to close the door behind him; shakily he sat back into his chair.
Bill tucked his guns away. "What was that on the screen?"
"I would prefer not to trouble you with my affairs, Bill."
"Ya mean ya don't trust me?"
The captain winced, pained by the question. "Of course I trust you." Running a hand over his face and heaving a sigh he booted up his G-Diffuser again. "But I don't wish to be seen this way. The men need to see their captain steadfast and fearless in the days to come, not indecisive and afraid. Not like . . . this."
Approaching the desk Bill placed a reassuring hand upon the captain's shoulder. "It's not a weakness if you've got a good reason, and ya always do."
"I'll let you decide that," Anilora admitted, and then the low, monotonous voice of Reivin Frost began to speak.
"My most sincere greetings, Captain, and may I also extend my congratulations in regards to your ingenius plots to reclaim Macbeth. Yours as a plan even I did not foresee, and for tht you have my utmost respect. But I fear that is where my praise ends, for now I shall opt for a more demanding demeanor.
"Thus far your fleet has met little difficulty in penetrating the outermost rim of Andross's domain, but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. I have little doubt that you will persuade Aronius to pursue the primary satellite Bolse, because by now you have realized that your strategy is the only hope you have to win out over the defenses about Area 6. I can assure you of those speculations; Corneria has little hope to defeat me. Very few people in this galaxy can match my intellect, and you, dear captain, are one of them.
"But what is my point? Now that I know you could possibly serve as my equal, I have fixed it specifically so that your fleet will clash will three lines of hard defense--led by me, of course. Consider it a gift from my Lord, who also sees the brilliance behind every decision that you make and presumes you to be an admirable adversary. However, most importantly, it is the course that I demand of you in exchange for Celestra's life.
"Obviously you can't see him, but a trusted colleague of mine has by now successfully infiltrated your flagship. You need not be alarmed for your safety or the well-being of anyone else in your fleet; my colleague carries specific orders on these issues. His only task is to keep Celestra in his sights at all times--but he will only harm her on my command, you see? I place little faith in riddles, so let me spell it out plainly for you--an ally very near to Andross's inner circle has recently discovered the depth of your personal feelings concerning our favorite female assassin, and if these claims are true, well, why would I hesitate to use them against you? Fear not, though; all you need to do is return this transmission with your word that you will accept my challenge; upon receiving it I will order my colleague to depart.
"Or you can refuse and put the woman's life at high risk; you see, now that you have crossed over the figurative boundary leading into Venomian territory my Lord fears vengeful Celestra Marquette above all else, as I am sure you know, and for this he must soon be rid of her lest his intricate plans to conquer Lylat be laid to waste. We simply cannot allow her to run about as she wishes any longer, but I am modestly risking my employment for a bit of sport. If you accept my offer and come to Area 6, I will graciously let her survive for a bit longer. Deny me, though, and her fate will be beyond even me--her life now lies with Lord Andross, and he shows no mercy, not even for sport.
"So answer quickly, Captain, or allow an assassin to watch you beloved from the shadows. Reivin Frost, over and out."
The modest G-Diffuser screen darkened then, leaving the two Katinans in semi-blackness. Perfectly stunned, Bill glanced down at his close friend.
"How could they possibly know?" Bill asked breathlessly, sitting heavily on the floor at Anilora's feet.
Anilora hunched over, bringing his face closer to Bill's and lowering his voice for fear they were being kept under close surveillance. "I haven't the slightest idea, I'm afraid, but it would seem that for all my constant struggles to mask my personal emotions throughout the war someone has discovered the truth." His gaze left Bill's, settling instead upon the carpet.
"Ya mean--" Bill swallowed hard and began again. "Ya mean that after four years' worth of barely seein' each other you're still--in love with her?"
The captain looked back up, violet eyes glimmering strangely at those words. For a few seconds he seemed removed from the present as he remembered events past, namely the period of time four years previous in which he had aspired to become the captain of Katina. From assassination attempts to scandals and the populations' disfavor, he had emerged the victor, and he largely thanked Celestra for winning his battles and for coaching him through the finer points in politics. Now he had achieved all he had ever hoped to achieve, and none of it would have been possible if Celestra hadn't been there, helping to lead him through to this point.
"Yes," Anilora murmured, sitting up straighter and feeling the weight lessen from his body for a split second. "I am." With that said all his cares settled upon him again. "For that my decision is already made. Reivin Frost has extended an order of combat to me; with a mysterious killer haunting Celestra's steps I have no choice but to accept. Only then will her safety be ensured--for a time, at least."
"What if it's a bluff?" Bill countered, not caring for the situation at all. "You'd be walkin' into a trap, and there could be no real threat on this ship!"
"Regardless, I will risk no further harm to someone I deeply care for," the Katinan captain said sternly, and he rose and crossed to the door, extending no further explanation for his behavior. Heaving a frustrated sigh Bill leapt up and followed.
Quietly the pair swept down a few side corridors, at last coming to Celestra's living quarters and entering without announcing themselves. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, clad in grey sweatpants and a matching halter, carefully re-wrapping her injured arm. Slightly alarmed she whirled and snatched up a knife from beneath a pillow; Anilora held up his hands, and she replaced it.
"I would prefer it if you slept in my room tonight," said Anilora seriously.
More than a few snide remarks flashed through Celestra's mind at that statement, but all of them died on her tongue at the expression upon his face. Clearly Captain Anilora was distruaght, nearly frantic with worry; something was very wrong, she understood, and it would be wise for her to obey. Nodding she rose and followed her two friends back to the captain's room, where Bill shut and locked the door.
"What's going on, you two?" Celestra questioned, folding her arms across her chest with a slight frown.
"All will be explained in greater detail tomorrow," Anilora muttered. Bill shot a sidelong glance at his friend and recognized the deep embarrassment hiding behind the concern, and decided not to press the issue any further. "For now just understand that something is amiss upon my ship, and I am taking the necessary steps to rectify any forthcoming . . . accidents." Seemingly unconvinced the female assassin cocked an eyebrow; Anilora, exasperated at her lack of trust, threw up his hands and turned to the window. Celestra shot Bill a questioning, alarmed glance, and in response he only shook his head once and looked away.
An hour later Celestra was sleeping lightly in the Katinan captain's bed, a crease in her brow as she dreamed evil dreams; Bill was snoring in a sleeping bag on the floor, and Anilora was sitting, exhausted, in one corner, watching the pair of them protectively with his proton rifle laid across his lap.
Everyone was in a bustle the following morning, the day that had been unofficially christened 'meeting day'. Many familiar faces were expected to grace Whitewater with their presence, as all of the goodly forces in Lylat were anticipating the critical split in the ranks. Little sleep had come to Captain Anilora the night before, and although he felt slightly more alert and active because of it he inwardly berated himself; the three of them had been sound asleep, completely unguarded for at least two hours. What if Reivin's colleague had chosen that moment to strike?
Celestra didn't know precisely what to make of Bill and Anilora hovering over her at every moment, but she knew better than to question the captain before he explained himself. The man always had probable reason to do many of the things he did, so she kept to her faith that this time was no different.
Captain Anilora was the first to seat himself at the rosewood table in the council room, so he was there to greet General Pepper when the tall, stocky Cornerian leader entered. The latter sized up the former for what seemed like years, frowning down at him judgingly, and at last he extended a hand in acceptance. Relieved, Anilora quickly shook his superiors' hand and even pulled the man into a brief embrace, so great was his elation at avoiding a stern lecture or unemployment. Then the pair sat across from one another, and Pepper smiling disarmingly.
"Very well done," he congratulated softly, and Anilora beamed at the praise. Then Pepper leaned forward, pressing his fingertips together as he surveyed the other man over his hands. "And so you are correct again, Gilraen Anilora. Ever do your claims seem more farfetched, but this day you have proven me to be a delusional old fool. Macbeth is ours, an important step to winning this war--and now I ask your forgiveness."
For a fleeting moment Anilora considered denying any such thing, but that moment was quickly gone from his thoughts. "Of course, General. Often you and I disagree, but perhaps it can only be expected from the leaders of the two largest governments in Lylat. You were only doing what you thought right; as was I."
"I appreciate your understanding." Pepper relaxed in his chair then, gazing out one window at the majestic view of space always at their disposal. "When are the others joining us?"
"I was assured the envoys were running on-schedule," Anilora told him. "And our hired friends will undoubtedly be filtering in soon."
Sure enough, not thirty seconds later the door opened and the four Star Fox mercenaries filed inside. Fox swept into a deep bow; Peppy hit one knee, and Falco and Slippy saluted their employer. When the formalities were through Peppy heartily shook the general's hand while the other took seats. A quarter of an hour after that Katt Monroe and Keil Ford walked in, greeting everyone enthusiastically; Katt took a seat beside Falco, who failed again to conceal a blush. Then came the three arctic foxes Erik and William Nioxin and Sensenic Morray, bringing with them the news that the Fortunan-Aquan alliance was still skirting through Venomian territory unnoticed. Last of all came Bill and Celestra, and Anilora couldn't help but grin at the garment added to her normal black flight attire--a floor-length amber cloak embroidered with the Katinan Flight Academy symbol in rich bronze. General Pepper scowled at the insignia and its bearer, knowing the real reason behind its usage; as the assassin took her seat beside Captain Anilora near the table's head and removed the cloak Anilora nearly laughed aloud, for the emblem was also stitched in silver on the breast and back of her vest.
Bill winked across the table at his captain, who smiled back broadly and took his seat.
"I believe we are all accounted for," Pepper began, glancing at each person in turn before at last sitting down himself. "Now that we have cleared the boundary separating our lands from those belonging to Andross, we have many issues to discuss.
"I consider myself a decent, honest man, one who understands when he has done wrong and does his utmost to regain trust from those he wrongly doubted. Let all of you be aware that I have made amends with Captain Anilora, and that it was he and not I who successfully ushered Macbeth back under our control. He is to be commended for these efforts." Anilora tilted his head in thanks; the others nodded their approval. Pepper had to clear his throat several times before continuing. "However, I recognize also that I have an assassin deserving such an apology. Celestra--" Here the female assassin glanced up, facial expression making it quite clear that she had not been listening prior to hearing her name, "Forgive an old fool for erring in such a critical time. Your re-employment is open, if you are gracious enough to return."
Celestra gave the slightest half-glance to Anilora; the captain, studying his fingernails with great interest, issued the smallest nod in accord. She looked up at her superior, eyes dancing with mischief. "I shall, of course, require a small courtest fee--"
"Name your price," the general insisted.
"--of ten percent and no less," Celestra finished. "And I will continue to fly under the Katinan flag and colors, if you please."
"Done," the general conceded, jotting a few things down on a notepad in front of him. "And speaking of flying, the Fortunan Arspace Division requires a registration name for your Arwing--it's protocol, you know."
"Of course. Bringer of Chaos will do, I think."
Pepper nodded again and wrote this down as well. "Now, to business. We have reached the parting of the ways, and it is time to discuss the finer points of this action. Captain Anilora has pushed most insistently in the direction of Area 6 Defense Station, and today I should like to know precisely why."
Assuming that her old friend was prepared to unveil some grand scheme, Celestra looked over at Anilora. She even performed a double-take when she further studied him: he was blushing a deep crimson and seemed positively sick with worry and embarrassment. Bill nodded grimly at a cyborg at the controls of the G-Diffuser; more than a few people gasped when the smug face of Reivin Frost materialized upon it.
Through the entire message Celestra's eyes never left the Katinan captain's face. He settled for staring resolutely ahead, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the screen, but the red flame of blush never left his neck and cheeks. More than once someone would steal a glance in their direction, but when Celestra fixed a defiant stare upon the offender they would just as quickly look elsewhere. Long had the female assassin suspected Anilora of harboring such feelings, but never had it been brought so bluntly to her attention; in addition, she would have preferred the room be empty save the pair of them, and above all else she hated hearing the revelation spat emotionlessly from her adversary's mouth.
Gradually a loud silence pressed in upon everyone's ears, and Anilora had no choice but to explain. "I cannot refute logic any more than I can deny what I feel. An ultimatum has been thrust in front of me, and I seem left with little rational though regarding refusal. I will not be challenged and humiliated without a fight, so I will accept and depart, and Reivin Frost and all the other followers of Andross who would presume to belittle me be damned. You all know what I am admitting, but may I remind you that we are here on account of war. Let my private affairs remain such, and let me deal with them as I see fit."
Suddenly all the tension eased out of the room; General Pepper shifted in his chair, scooting closer to the table. "What do you require of me?"
Anilora looked up, taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"
"Often I forget that, while I am indeed in charge of this operation, many of my followers understand certain matters far better than I." The general smiled softly at the young captain, placating him without words. "And I am prepared to place trust and faith in you when you lead your fleet after Frost."
"You . . . you're letting me go?" Anilora asked cautiously, surprised at being so understood for a change. "No conditions, no questions asked?"
Pepper held up a finger. "Just the one I have already asked--what do you require of me?"
Considering the question and everything he could possibly need to advance Anilora sat back, weighing his options carefully as he always did. The Katinans were a worthy group, a strong and hardy people who stood almost stubbornly for their beliefs, but the need for more men and even more spacecraft demanded the captain's attention. Wondering just how far the general would go to keep the peace Anilora said, "I shall require the Fortunan-Aquan alliance to follow me, and in return I will give you the Zonessian envoy."
Clearly General Pepper had been expecting everything but that, but he was saved the confusion of answering when quiet Sensenic Morray lightly cleared his throat and rose tentatively to his feet. "In the captain's defense, sir, it would be in our best interest to do so. These many weeks my people have tirelessly prepared for said road, and we will be foreigh and ill at ease in a region we have not studied." Morray reached up to scratch behind one of his snow-white fox ears as he continued. "We Fortunans place great emphasis on studying the enemy, and as one of the top technicians working for Division Four of Arspace upon Fortuna I can wholeheartedly assure you that we will back the captain with unwavering support."
"I concur," said Erik Nioxin, clasping his paws on the table in front of him. "By now I feel I know Area 6 as thoroughly as any Venomian."
Despite the seriousness of the situation the room echoed with more than a few hearty chuckles. Morray sat down again, and Anilora smiled appreciatively at the man in thanks.
"I was counting on the three of you to override the satellite's technological defenses for me," Pepper told the Fortunans. "We're going to need a few bang-up hackers to bring Andross's best satellite down."
"Am I dead weight now, General?" piped up Keil Ford, and Katt slapped him playfully on the arm. "Katt and I work at Arspace too, you know. We can handle your satellite, I promise you that."
Pepper stared at the coyote, at a loss for words regarding this outburst. Bill, who had been fighting laughter since viewing Celestra's chosen attire, lightened the situation by ducking his head under the table as he lost the battle.
"Forgive the eccentricity of my superior, sir," Katt purred, a small smile curling up her lips. "However, he is quite correct--I'm confident in my computer skills, and if Keil here is my higher power at Arspace . . ." She let the statement hang unfinished, but everyone understood what she was insinuating.
"And I suppose there's always Slippy here," Keil joked with a sigh of melancholy. The youngest mercenary shot him a glare and the pair laughed at their wit. "Ain't you the kid that hacked Corneria's Metgiacon to kick off the war? That takes some serious talent, General, not to mention guts and stupidity."
Slippy's grin widened. "Yeah, that was me, Keil. And thanks for the compliment."
"Why, anytime," Keil acknowledged, and with that he sat back comfortably in his chair as though he had never been a part of the conversation.
William Nioxin leaned forward then. "Clearly Keil is confident in the skills of the Zonessians, and my heart tells me you have nothing to fear in this exchange. My kin and I are already suited for the larger battle; is it not wise to give the captain your blessings and be on with things?"
General Pepper had been mulling it all over during Keil and Slippy's banter, and he had his mind made up by the time William had finished addressing him. "It seems beneficial to both sides. Very well, Gilraen; I give you the Fortunan-Aquan alliance. Sensenic, when we have finished here I suggest you lay a few plans with the heads of the Katinan fleet."
"I will," Morray assured the general.
"So am I helpin' to lead the frontal squad when this all goes down, or am I just sort of free-lancin' it?" Bill asked Anilora.
The captain grinned at his close friend across the table. "I have told my colleagues that you will lead the first line, but you often cook up your own tactics after the first five minutes."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Celestra asked him pointedly.
"I don't believe so," Anilora answered. "Why? What have I forgotten?"
The assassin stared hard at him. Anilora nearly slapped himself in the face.
"Yes, of course! Well, you see, as you are the object of my concern in this particular battle, I strongly insist against your going--"
"You're not leaving me behind, Gilraen!" Celestra snarled in warning.
"--But I also understand the futility in doing so," the Katinan captain finished. "It's not up to me to decide your course from this point forward, but the generals'."
"Ah, well," Pepper sighed, laughing now at Celestra's earlier demands and the reason for stating them. "One of Marquette's requirements to return to my order ws to continue flying under Katinan flag and color; I do believe you're stuck with her, my friend."
Anilora seemed almost angry as he turned to Celestra, who was grinning smugly and inwardly congratulating her genius. "Do you not understand? Your life or death hang in the balance upon my ship; out there, in the face of your nemesis, there is little anyone can do to protect you."
Coldly Celestra said, "Let my private affairs remain such, and let me deal with them as I see fit."
Violet eyes blazing, Anilora slumped back into his chair. Fox at last attempted to speak. "I assume you still require our services, sir?"
"Without a doubt, McCloud. Bolse is heavily guarded; even if Keil, Katt, and Slippy successfully bring down the satellite's internal defenses, Venomian numbers are high in that area. It's going to take every able pilot we can muster to destroy it." Here Pepper turned to Peppy, who had remained quiet throughout the duration of the meeting. "I understand this will be difficult for you, my old friend, but once we clear Venomian airspace we'll by relying heavily on your past experiences to guide us through."
Peppy nodded, face downcast. "That's no problem; I don't think I could forget the way if I wanted to."
"Alright." Pepper rose briskly, stretching. "I expect we will have a few additional meetings before the advance, but this takes care of the finer points. Are there any questions?" Seeing none forthcoming the general nodded; the others vacated their seats and prepared to file out.
Bill and Celestra were the last pair to exit. A pair of guards were standing at either side of the door, but no one paid them much mind as they passed. The soldier on the right of the door waited until the female assassin had turned her back on him, then he silently whisked a dagger out of the folds of his clothing.
Anilora saw the glint just out of the corner of his eye and whirled about, but by the time he did it was too late. The guard had grabbed Celestra from behind, one hand clutching her newly-healed wrist none-too-gently, the other holding the dagger to the flesh of her exposed neck. The captain recognized the soldier as a young private first-class; his name was Seersus. He could only be Reivin Frost's colleague.
"Don't move another muscle, Captain," Seersus bade Anilora calmly, eyes flickering back and forth between each member of the group warily. "And you can put that away, I think." Bill had soundlessly slipped one laser pistol from his belt; slowly and unthreateningly he re-holstered it, red-brown eyes dancing with fury.
"You do realize how dreadfully outnumbered you are," Celestra pointed out sarcastically, not impressed with this would-be assassin in the least.
"Bit mouthy for a hostage, aren't you?" Seersus snarled, bringing the blade closer to her throat. "My superior grows tired of your continued silence, Captain. I shall require an answer now, if you please."
Anilora took one tentative step forward, hands out unthreateningly; Seersus twisted Celestra's wrist brutally in answer. The assassin squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth together in a low growl against the pain, but refused to cry out; Anilora froze, eyes upon the blade hovering millimeters from her throat. "I have made my choice, and was preparing to return Reivin's transmission immediately. Step away, Seersus; your superior will be getting his response shortly."
"Don't give me orders, Captain," the soldier spat, eyes narrowing coldly. "You're in no position to do anything of the sort. You'll speak to him now, and with me present. I heard the bulk of your little meeting just now, and Lord Andross will be greatly interested in hearing it for himself."
Something soft and furry brushed Bill's thigh; without moving his head he glanced down to see Katt's tail working to get his attention. One hand was behind her back, groping slowly, large blue eyes never leaving the current situation as she slipped the hand beneath her vest and produced a small, hidden laser pistol. Seersus was so focused on Anilora that he never noticed the action; Bill pressed his foot down carefully upon Keil's toes and smoothly drew out the gun he had just been forced to put away. The Zonessian nodded and took up the passage, but Bill didn't see how far it got or who was informed as he turned his attention back to the hostilities.
"Of course." Now Anilora did approach, slowly, his hands still held up in a disarming gesture. "If you'll just follow me back into the council room, there's a G-Diffuser inside that we can use."
Seersus nodded and made to follow the Katinan captain, dragging Celestra along in front of him; she snarled in defiance and fought roughly to free herself, but the soldier's grip on her wrist was so strong that he ever-so-slightly increased the pressure upon it until the fragile bone snapped again. In response to the fresh wave of agony the assassin reared her elbow back, catching her captor in the stomach and knocking the wind out of him as she fell away; Anilora took two quick steps in her direction and caught her in his arms. Katt whipped the pistol into plain view and fired once, blasting Seersus in the hand clutching the knife and causing it to fly away. In unison Bill, Keil, Falco, and Erik all brandished various laser guns and fired at the Venomian's chest and forehead, killing him quickly.
"Are you alright?" Anilora pressed, gently tilting Celestra's chin up to inspect her throat for any puncture wounds; thankfully there were none. "I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention--"
"Give it a rest, Gilraen," Celestra interjected, cradling her wrist carefully and glaring down at the dead Venomian. "He's only just broken my wrist again, the miserable--" Here she lashed out and kicked the body fiercely in the side. In the ten seconds the pair had spent in conversation the Fortunans, Keil, Fox, Slippy, and Peppy had already split off down every hall leading to their position; Bill, Katt, and Falco were circling warily, weapons at the ready.
"Falco," called Anilora, summoning the avian to him. "Please take Celestra to the hospital wing and get the cyborgs working on her wrist at once, won't you? I must return Reivin's transmission right away."
"Gotcha," Falco affirmed, leading the assassin away, gun still out for protection, Bill flanking the pair from behind. Captain Anilora watched them go, then turned back to the council room, hating himself more with every step.
Bill was standing guard outside Anilora's door when Celestra wandered up later that evening, her arm wrapped securely again. To set his mind at ease she lifted this arm and waved at him until he rolled his eyes and hugged her. "Ya can't possibly be human. I can't even count your close calls anymore."
She laughed at him, ignoring the slight discomfort in her arm as she returned the embrace. "Is he asleep?" she murmured, indicating the door to Anilora's living quarters.
"Probably not." Bill sighed heavily and released her. "I've kept part o' the watch for a few weeks now--the guy's got too much to think about. He knows we're here, he just can't relax."
Celestra placed her uninjured hand on his shoulder, guiding him away from the door. "Why don't you go and get some rest yourself; I'll stay with him."
The male assassin nodded, respecting her privacy, and disappeared off down the dim hallway. Knocking softly Celestra slipped inside, closing the door slowly and quietly behind her. Anilora was laying flat on his back on the bed, hands folded over his chest; he was still clad in his day clothes and was gazing at the ceiling, wide awake.
Celestra stepped over to his bedside, boots perfectly silent as she unfastened the amber cloak and draped it comfortably over him. The Katinan captain blinked a few times, realized he had company, and turned his head to look at her as she sat on the edge of the mattress. Many long moments of silence passed between the pair, until at last he turned back to study the ceiling again.
"Do you think differently of me?" he asked suddenly, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Carefully Celestra smoothed out the cloak over him, making certain he wasn't cold. "Your time should be spent resting in preparation for the road ahead, not questioning your feelings and motives. Reivin Frost is counting on your doubts to cloud your judgment in the future, you know."
"Doubts that have long been on my mind," Anilora pressed. "This is far from recent."
She sighed, feeling slightly out of place. This was a scenario she had never played through before, not even with her current lover; Falco assumed things were fantastic between the pair of them and tried not to place a great deal of emphasis on the details, so obviously they had never sat down and chatted through the hows and whys of their relationship. This was a quality she deeply admired in Anilora--very rarely did he make any decisions based solely around his needs, preferring instead to hear the opinions of others involved. Seeing the desire for an answer evident in his eyes Celestra said, "I suppose on varying levels, I do."
Anilora looked back to her. "Could you elaborate?"
"I can't pretend that I was blind to the possibility that this would develop, but the manner in which it has continues to frustrate me." Celestra set to fiddling with her zipper vest then. "It always feels like we care about each other in different ways at different times; there are many degrees of passion, and for some reason you and I are never on the same page. We already have the perfect example of that--you feel something for me, but I'm involved with Falco--"
"--Do you wish I were more like him?" Anilora questioned sadly, but the assassin only laughed.
"Of course not." She continued to smooth the cloak over the reclining man, using the repetitive action as a calming influence. "In all my life I could never ask for a more supportive, honorable, honest, or caring man. You're always behind me, no matter how far apart we are; there is no end to your courage, and you have always given me the answers to my more extensive and complicated questions, even if they weren't the answers I was hoping to hear. And I admire all of that about you, and wouldn't change a thing even if given the opportunity."
A ghost of the twenty-three-year-old man's charming smile surfaced at those words. "Thank you."
Celestra returned it briefly, then sighed and said, "I hadn't wished to hear how you feel from the lips of my greatest enemy, nor did I want any of those people present when I did."
"Do you love me?" he asked her suddenly, and although she hid it well Anilora knew he caught her very off-guard.
"I beg your pardon?"
Anilora was looking at her curiously, intensity smoldering in his violet eyes. "Celestra Marquette, I believe you heard me. But out of respect for you I say again--do you love me? For with every beat of my heart and every breath in my lungs I have long devoted myself to you."
The assassin's breath caught in her throat at these words; Anilora sat up and cast the cloak from his body, face mere inches from hers. He was so close she could feel his soft breath against her cheeks, could catch his scent--he smelled faintly of lavender and a million other things she could never in years attempt to place names on. How she cared for him! It was the most difficult thing she had ever done when she ripped her eyes away from his.
"No," she murmured, and a wave of nausea welled up in her stomach at the blatant lie. "I don't. I . . . can't."
Captain Anilora fell hard for Celestra's lie, though, and she found some measure of comfort in that. He didn't understand that they couldn't confess, they couldn't give in, not now when they were so near to achieving the freedom of Lylat. She understood better than anyone that one flaw or imperfection in their plans would spell doom for everyone. She knew above all others that any spark of love they admitted to share between them would eventually destroy them.
Saddened, Anilora glanced away. "Yes. I thought as much."
Heart throbbing in anguish Celestra rose, again covering the Katinan captain with her cloak. "Sleep," she told him firmly, and without another word she slipped out of the room. Again Anilora found no rest, and Celestra sat on the floor outside his bedroom door, head in her hands as she quietly accepted the inner torment to which she had just condemned herself.
Early the next morning every hand upon Whitewater not bound for Area 6 Defense Station gathered their things and relocated to a Cornerian or Zonessian cruiser. In the time she had spent awake the night previous Celestra had come to a few important conclusions. The first was that, while she refused to admit it aloud to anyone, she truly did love Anilora, but while the war was still raging in northern Lylat she had to sublimate those feelings, lest they be used against her. The second was that, at the end of her long and perilous road, she would have to face Reivin Frost alone.
"Reivin didn't threaten my life to lure Gilraen into his path," Celestra quietly explained to Bill as they set about packing up their things to move into rooms nearer to the captain's. "He threatened my life to lure me in."
Bill's eyes showed that he didn't understand. "Why would he do that? It doesn't make any sense."
"Look at it from my point of view, then. Reivin doesn't just want the finale, he wants an uninterrupted one-on-one showdown. If he goes to Gilraen claiming he's got killers haunting my steps and will act through them to get Gilraen to meet him in combat, of course Gilraen will comply out of concern for me. But what Reivin knew that Gilraen didn't was that when I found out, I'd come along."
Bill gaped at her, seeing the simple ironic logic behind Reivin's plot. "Oh, you're right . . . have ya told Gilraen?"
"Of course I haven't!" Celestra snapped back, stopping long enough in folding a pile of strewn clothes to glare at him. "He's got enough to worry about, what with leading the advance into where the fighting will be most intense--he thinks the heat is off me now, and that makes him a bit more comfortable at least. We don't need him any more stressed than he already is."
It was quite plain by the look on Bill's face that he didn't approve of this idea. "Ya know he'd wanna know, Celest--why do ya have to make him worry about you now, of all times?"
The expression on Celestra's face quickly melted into one of fury. "What he doesn't know won't make him worry!" Bill quailed under the tone and sat down submissively; the female assassin sat beside him and threw her arms around him in reassurance. "He's going to be a hero, Bill, and he can't do it with his eyes on me. When the battle comes I'll be behind you guys one hundred percent, but when I get the opportunity to leave, I will. Reivin and I are both growing tired of this game, and now I foresee its end. Before the war is over . . . one of us will die."
Word of mass Venomian movement reached General Pepper only two days later, and he and Captain Anilora quickly decided the time had come to act. The larger opposing threat was rumored to be led from the west face of Venom to Area 6 by Reivin Frost; the smaller came off the east face and filtered like a plague into Bolse, the primary Venomian satellite, fronted by the four mercenaries of Star Wolf. Hearing that Leon Powalski had survived his fall from the Forever Train deeply angered Celestra, and in a fuming rage she demanded Falco finish the job.
"If those four walk away from this war alive, Falco Lombardi, I'll have your head," she warned him, and he found that he believed her.
Everywhere signs of the split could be seen. Word went out to the Katinans and the members of the Fortunan-Aquan alliance that Anilora had named Celestra and Bill as his primary lieutenants for the inevitable battle, and the Nioxin brothers had unanimously be chosen as chief technicians and computer correspondents. The assassins found that they had company of late, another hired killer by the name of Micah who worked as Pepper's chief assassin on the planet Aquas. Unlike the Macbethian and the Katinan, however, Micah seemed possessed of a passion for his work that bordered on violet bloodlust, earning him the nickname "the Leon Powalski for the good guys."
The Star Fox mercenaries settled back into their own cruiser, joined by Keil Ford and, to everyone's dismay, Katt Monroe. A tight friendship had been forged between Keil and Slippy, the designated computer hackers who would bring down Bolse Defense Outpost's superb defense systems; they shared a love for all things technological and were rarely seen outside the technician's bay in the days before Pepper's fleet's departure. The other three mercenaries worked with the spacecraft repairs crew, skirting back and forth from cruiser to cruiser and frantically setting about checking each and every Arwing, transport, and large ship. Falco especially was working with unrivaled fervor, losing sleep as he toiled at the uncountable repairs. As Fox and Peppy watched from afar they quickly discerned that the avian was trying purposely to keep his mind in the present.
Together they could easily guess what it was that Falco was struggling to forget.
The day of the split arrived in one breathless rush after one final war council with the representatives from the five allied planets. This took place upon Whitewater, and afterward a grand congregation swelled in the docking bay to see off the brave Cornerians and Zonessians. An uproar of applause burst out when the Star Fox team entered the hall; the appreciative peoples had even formed an aisle in their ranks, leading to the mercenaries' Arwings. At the end of the parting stood a group of familiar faces: Gilraen Anilora, Bill Grey, Celestra Marquette, Sensenic Morray, Erik and William Nioxin, and Micah, the assassin from Aquas. Fox and Bill fell into a heartfelt farewell hug; Slippy shook hands with the Nioxin brothers as Sensenic Morray slapped him jovially on the shoulder, and Peppy graciously thanked Anilora for all his endless aid and hospitality.
Celestra spent many moments surveying Falco with a practiced eye and knew better than any the source of his inner unease. He had been dreading this farewell since the day Pepper had offhandedly informed them of it. She didn't blame him for a minute--after all, she had been living upon their cruiser for months now and had grown more fond of the avian's company than she would ever be comfortable admitting. They shared a passion between them that none of the others could understand, one of adventure, the fight, the adrenalive rush, but most importantly of one another.
The assassin came forward then and wrapped her arms possessively about his waist, burying her face in his flight jacket and stroking his back in such a way that incited curious whispers from the crowd. Falco blew a sigh and hugged her just as needingly back, balancing his chin on the top of her head and cooing calmingly as he so often did. Then Celestra pulled gently back and stared deep into Falco's eyes.
"Take care of yourself out there," she told him gently. "You know I can't be around to babysit you every moment of every day."
The simple sarcasm within her caring tone pulled a momentary chuckle from the avian, who settled his hands upon Celestra's shoulders firmly. "Yeah, I know, and the same goes for you. I would tell you to be careful out there but there's no sense in that, 'cause I already know you won't be." Celestra stood on tiptoe to kiss Falco tenderly, an assurance that she would at the very least remember his words.
"Don't forget to kill Powalski or I'll never forgive you when this is over," she joked, but her eyes were still edged with sadness.
Falco laughed again, a forced sound now. "And I'll be disappointed if you don't come home with Frost's head in a hat box." They hugged briefly one last time, then Fox's hand clasped Falco's shoulder and pulled him away toward the Arwings.
As MeteoRiot fired its engines Falco glanced sadly down at Celestra one last time, who was leaning against Bill. She raised one hand in a wave, forcing another strong smile that she knew he needed to see; satisfied somewhat, Falco half-heartedly departed with his teammates.
He just had to.
Two days had passed quickly, in which every able hand aboard Whitewater was put to work preparing the bulk of the Katinan fleet. Bill kept himself particularly busy, trying his utmost to stay on task, but each hour demanded more of his willpower until at last he settled to mulling over things he would do well to shut out. Leon Powalski had been on the train, not Reivin, so naturally Bill figured the crafty evil assassin was up to wicked designs of his own. But what? His main concern was keeping his growing suspicions from Celestra's attention, so late the same night he turned to Captain Anilora, his other trusted confidante.
Pausing with his fist poised to knock at the door to the captain's quarters, Bill heard a muffled voice talking just on the other side. As quietly as possible the male assassin leaned forward and pressed his ear against the surface, listening intently. The voice droned on for several more seconds before it dawned on Bill that he knew the voice well; it belonged to Reivin Frost.
And he was in Bill's beloved captain's room!
Unholstering two laser pistols from his belt the assassin kicked the door open, leaning around the doorframe and seeking a decent shot. Captain Anilora was hunched over his desk, sitting in its accompanying chair with his head in his hands; the G-Diffuser screen was replaying a message from Reivin Frost. As soon as Bill burst in Anilora sat upright and flicked the system off; the Katinan assassin lowered his weapons.
"Cap'n? What's goin' on?"
Anilora looked dreadful. He was standing barefoot beside his rapidly vacated chair in a flight uniform closely akin to Celestra's, but the fabric was wrinkled carelessly and made him look disheveled. His hair was rumpled from constantly running his hands throuhg it; his normally wise, brilliant eyes were dull and bloodshot. By the look of his immaculately made bed he hadn't slept in many days, and it was starting to show in the young man's face. Surveying Bill for a few moments longer he motioned for him to close the door behind him; shakily he sat back into his chair.
Bill tucked his guns away. "What was that on the screen?"
"I would prefer not to trouble you with my affairs, Bill."
"Ya mean ya don't trust me?"
The captain winced, pained by the question. "Of course I trust you." Running a hand over his face and heaving a sigh he booted up his G-Diffuser again. "But I don't wish to be seen this way. The men need to see their captain steadfast and fearless in the days to come, not indecisive and afraid. Not like . . . this."
Approaching the desk Bill placed a reassuring hand upon the captain's shoulder. "It's not a weakness if you've got a good reason, and ya always do."
"I'll let you decide that," Anilora admitted, and then the low, monotonous voice of Reivin Frost began to speak.
"My most sincere greetings, Captain, and may I also extend my congratulations in regards to your ingenius plots to reclaim Macbeth. Yours as a plan even I did not foresee, and for tht you have my utmost respect. But I fear that is where my praise ends, for now I shall opt for a more demanding demeanor.
"Thus far your fleet has met little difficulty in penetrating the outermost rim of Andross's domain, but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. I have little doubt that you will persuade Aronius to pursue the primary satellite Bolse, because by now you have realized that your strategy is the only hope you have to win out over the defenses about Area 6. I can assure you of those speculations; Corneria has little hope to defeat me. Very few people in this galaxy can match my intellect, and you, dear captain, are one of them.
"But what is my point? Now that I know you could possibly serve as my equal, I have fixed it specifically so that your fleet will clash will three lines of hard defense--led by me, of course. Consider it a gift from my Lord, who also sees the brilliance behind every decision that you make and presumes you to be an admirable adversary. However, most importantly, it is the course that I demand of you in exchange for Celestra's life.
"Obviously you can't see him, but a trusted colleague of mine has by now successfully infiltrated your flagship. You need not be alarmed for your safety or the well-being of anyone else in your fleet; my colleague carries specific orders on these issues. His only task is to keep Celestra in his sights at all times--but he will only harm her on my command, you see? I place little faith in riddles, so let me spell it out plainly for you--an ally very near to Andross's inner circle has recently discovered the depth of your personal feelings concerning our favorite female assassin, and if these claims are true, well, why would I hesitate to use them against you? Fear not, though; all you need to do is return this transmission with your word that you will accept my challenge; upon receiving it I will order my colleague to depart.
"Or you can refuse and put the woman's life at high risk; you see, now that you have crossed over the figurative boundary leading into Venomian territory my Lord fears vengeful Celestra Marquette above all else, as I am sure you know, and for this he must soon be rid of her lest his intricate plans to conquer Lylat be laid to waste. We simply cannot allow her to run about as she wishes any longer, but I am modestly risking my employment for a bit of sport. If you accept my offer and come to Area 6, I will graciously let her survive for a bit longer. Deny me, though, and her fate will be beyond even me--her life now lies with Lord Andross, and he shows no mercy, not even for sport.
"So answer quickly, Captain, or allow an assassin to watch you beloved from the shadows. Reivin Frost, over and out."
The modest G-Diffuser screen darkened then, leaving the two Katinans in semi-blackness. Perfectly stunned, Bill glanced down at his close friend.
"How could they possibly know?" Bill asked breathlessly, sitting heavily on the floor at Anilora's feet.
Anilora hunched over, bringing his face closer to Bill's and lowering his voice for fear they were being kept under close surveillance. "I haven't the slightest idea, I'm afraid, but it would seem that for all my constant struggles to mask my personal emotions throughout the war someone has discovered the truth." His gaze left Bill's, settling instead upon the carpet.
"Ya mean--" Bill swallowed hard and began again. "Ya mean that after four years' worth of barely seein' each other you're still--in love with her?"
The captain looked back up, violet eyes glimmering strangely at those words. For a few seconds he seemed removed from the present as he remembered events past, namely the period of time four years previous in which he had aspired to become the captain of Katina. From assassination attempts to scandals and the populations' disfavor, he had emerged the victor, and he largely thanked Celestra for winning his battles and for coaching him through the finer points in politics. Now he had achieved all he had ever hoped to achieve, and none of it would have been possible if Celestra hadn't been there, helping to lead him through to this point.
"Yes," Anilora murmured, sitting up straighter and feeling the weight lessen from his body for a split second. "I am." With that said all his cares settled upon him again. "For that my decision is already made. Reivin Frost has extended an order of combat to me; with a mysterious killer haunting Celestra's steps I have no choice but to accept. Only then will her safety be ensured--for a time, at least."
"What if it's a bluff?" Bill countered, not caring for the situation at all. "You'd be walkin' into a trap, and there could be no real threat on this ship!"
"Regardless, I will risk no further harm to someone I deeply care for," the Katinan captain said sternly, and he rose and crossed to the door, extending no further explanation for his behavior. Heaving a frustrated sigh Bill leapt up and followed.
Quietly the pair swept down a few side corridors, at last coming to Celestra's living quarters and entering without announcing themselves. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, clad in grey sweatpants and a matching halter, carefully re-wrapping her injured arm. Slightly alarmed she whirled and snatched up a knife from beneath a pillow; Anilora held up his hands, and she replaced it.
"I would prefer it if you slept in my room tonight," said Anilora seriously.
More than a few snide remarks flashed through Celestra's mind at that statement, but all of them died on her tongue at the expression upon his face. Clearly Captain Anilora was distruaght, nearly frantic with worry; something was very wrong, she understood, and it would be wise for her to obey. Nodding she rose and followed her two friends back to the captain's room, where Bill shut and locked the door.
"What's going on, you two?" Celestra questioned, folding her arms across her chest with a slight frown.
"All will be explained in greater detail tomorrow," Anilora muttered. Bill shot a sidelong glance at his friend and recognized the deep embarrassment hiding behind the concern, and decided not to press the issue any further. "For now just understand that something is amiss upon my ship, and I am taking the necessary steps to rectify any forthcoming . . . accidents." Seemingly unconvinced the female assassin cocked an eyebrow; Anilora, exasperated at her lack of trust, threw up his hands and turned to the window. Celestra shot Bill a questioning, alarmed glance, and in response he only shook his head once and looked away.
An hour later Celestra was sleeping lightly in the Katinan captain's bed, a crease in her brow as she dreamed evil dreams; Bill was snoring in a sleeping bag on the floor, and Anilora was sitting, exhausted, in one corner, watching the pair of them protectively with his proton rifle laid across his lap.
Everyone was in a bustle the following morning, the day that had been unofficially christened 'meeting day'. Many familiar faces were expected to grace Whitewater with their presence, as all of the goodly forces in Lylat were anticipating the critical split in the ranks. Little sleep had come to Captain Anilora the night before, and although he felt slightly more alert and active because of it he inwardly berated himself; the three of them had been sound asleep, completely unguarded for at least two hours. What if Reivin's colleague had chosen that moment to strike?
Celestra didn't know precisely what to make of Bill and Anilora hovering over her at every moment, but she knew better than to question the captain before he explained himself. The man always had probable reason to do many of the things he did, so she kept to her faith that this time was no different.
Captain Anilora was the first to seat himself at the rosewood table in the council room, so he was there to greet General Pepper when the tall, stocky Cornerian leader entered. The latter sized up the former for what seemed like years, frowning down at him judgingly, and at last he extended a hand in acceptance. Relieved, Anilora quickly shook his superiors' hand and even pulled the man into a brief embrace, so great was his elation at avoiding a stern lecture or unemployment. Then the pair sat across from one another, and Pepper smiling disarmingly.
"Very well done," he congratulated softly, and Anilora beamed at the praise. Then Pepper leaned forward, pressing his fingertips together as he surveyed the other man over his hands. "And so you are correct again, Gilraen Anilora. Ever do your claims seem more farfetched, but this day you have proven me to be a delusional old fool. Macbeth is ours, an important step to winning this war--and now I ask your forgiveness."
For a fleeting moment Anilora considered denying any such thing, but that moment was quickly gone from his thoughts. "Of course, General. Often you and I disagree, but perhaps it can only be expected from the leaders of the two largest governments in Lylat. You were only doing what you thought right; as was I."
"I appreciate your understanding." Pepper relaxed in his chair then, gazing out one window at the majestic view of space always at their disposal. "When are the others joining us?"
"I was assured the envoys were running on-schedule," Anilora told him. "And our hired friends will undoubtedly be filtering in soon."
Sure enough, not thirty seconds later the door opened and the four Star Fox mercenaries filed inside. Fox swept into a deep bow; Peppy hit one knee, and Falco and Slippy saluted their employer. When the formalities were through Peppy heartily shook the general's hand while the other took seats. A quarter of an hour after that Katt Monroe and Keil Ford walked in, greeting everyone enthusiastically; Katt took a seat beside Falco, who failed again to conceal a blush. Then came the three arctic foxes Erik and William Nioxin and Sensenic Morray, bringing with them the news that the Fortunan-Aquan alliance was still skirting through Venomian territory unnoticed. Last of all came Bill and Celestra, and Anilora couldn't help but grin at the garment added to her normal black flight attire--a floor-length amber cloak embroidered with the Katinan Flight Academy symbol in rich bronze. General Pepper scowled at the insignia and its bearer, knowing the real reason behind its usage; as the assassin took her seat beside Captain Anilora near the table's head and removed the cloak Anilora nearly laughed aloud, for the emblem was also stitched in silver on the breast and back of her vest.
Bill winked across the table at his captain, who smiled back broadly and took his seat.
"I believe we are all accounted for," Pepper began, glancing at each person in turn before at last sitting down himself. "Now that we have cleared the boundary separating our lands from those belonging to Andross, we have many issues to discuss.
"I consider myself a decent, honest man, one who understands when he has done wrong and does his utmost to regain trust from those he wrongly doubted. Let all of you be aware that I have made amends with Captain Anilora, and that it was he and not I who successfully ushered Macbeth back under our control. He is to be commended for these efforts." Anilora tilted his head in thanks; the others nodded their approval. Pepper had to clear his throat several times before continuing. "However, I recognize also that I have an assassin deserving such an apology. Celestra--" Here the female assassin glanced up, facial expression making it quite clear that she had not been listening prior to hearing her name, "Forgive an old fool for erring in such a critical time. Your re-employment is open, if you are gracious enough to return."
Celestra gave the slightest half-glance to Anilora; the captain, studying his fingernails with great interest, issued the smallest nod in accord. She looked up at her superior, eyes dancing with mischief. "I shall, of course, require a small courtest fee--"
"Name your price," the general insisted.
"--of ten percent and no less," Celestra finished. "And I will continue to fly under the Katinan flag and colors, if you please."
"Done," the general conceded, jotting a few things down on a notepad in front of him. "And speaking of flying, the Fortunan Arspace Division requires a registration name for your Arwing--it's protocol, you know."
"Of course. Bringer of Chaos will do, I think."
Pepper nodded again and wrote this down as well. "Now, to business. We have reached the parting of the ways, and it is time to discuss the finer points of this action. Captain Anilora has pushed most insistently in the direction of Area 6 Defense Station, and today I should like to know precisely why."
Assuming that her old friend was prepared to unveil some grand scheme, Celestra looked over at Anilora. She even performed a double-take when she further studied him: he was blushing a deep crimson and seemed positively sick with worry and embarrassment. Bill nodded grimly at a cyborg at the controls of the G-Diffuser; more than a few people gasped when the smug face of Reivin Frost materialized upon it.
Through the entire message Celestra's eyes never left the Katinan captain's face. He settled for staring resolutely ahead, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the screen, but the red flame of blush never left his neck and cheeks. More than once someone would steal a glance in their direction, but when Celestra fixed a defiant stare upon the offender they would just as quickly look elsewhere. Long had the female assassin suspected Anilora of harboring such feelings, but never had it been brought so bluntly to her attention; in addition, she would have preferred the room be empty save the pair of them, and above all else she hated hearing the revelation spat emotionlessly from her adversary's mouth.
Gradually a loud silence pressed in upon everyone's ears, and Anilora had no choice but to explain. "I cannot refute logic any more than I can deny what I feel. An ultimatum has been thrust in front of me, and I seem left with little rational though regarding refusal. I will not be challenged and humiliated without a fight, so I will accept and depart, and Reivin Frost and all the other followers of Andross who would presume to belittle me be damned. You all know what I am admitting, but may I remind you that we are here on account of war. Let my private affairs remain such, and let me deal with them as I see fit."
Suddenly all the tension eased out of the room; General Pepper shifted in his chair, scooting closer to the table. "What do you require of me?"
Anilora looked up, taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"
"Often I forget that, while I am indeed in charge of this operation, many of my followers understand certain matters far better than I." The general smiled softly at the young captain, placating him without words. "And I am prepared to place trust and faith in you when you lead your fleet after Frost."
"You . . . you're letting me go?" Anilora asked cautiously, surprised at being so understood for a change. "No conditions, no questions asked?"
Pepper held up a finger. "Just the one I have already asked--what do you require of me?"
Considering the question and everything he could possibly need to advance Anilora sat back, weighing his options carefully as he always did. The Katinans were a worthy group, a strong and hardy people who stood almost stubbornly for their beliefs, but the need for more men and even more spacecraft demanded the captain's attention. Wondering just how far the general would go to keep the peace Anilora said, "I shall require the Fortunan-Aquan alliance to follow me, and in return I will give you the Zonessian envoy."
Clearly General Pepper had been expecting everything but that, but he was saved the confusion of answering when quiet Sensenic Morray lightly cleared his throat and rose tentatively to his feet. "In the captain's defense, sir, it would be in our best interest to do so. These many weeks my people have tirelessly prepared for said road, and we will be foreigh and ill at ease in a region we have not studied." Morray reached up to scratch behind one of his snow-white fox ears as he continued. "We Fortunans place great emphasis on studying the enemy, and as one of the top technicians working for Division Four of Arspace upon Fortuna I can wholeheartedly assure you that we will back the captain with unwavering support."
"I concur," said Erik Nioxin, clasping his paws on the table in front of him. "By now I feel I know Area 6 as thoroughly as any Venomian."
Despite the seriousness of the situation the room echoed with more than a few hearty chuckles. Morray sat down again, and Anilora smiled appreciatively at the man in thanks.
"I was counting on the three of you to override the satellite's technological defenses for me," Pepper told the Fortunans. "We're going to need a few bang-up hackers to bring Andross's best satellite down."
"Am I dead weight now, General?" piped up Keil Ford, and Katt slapped him playfully on the arm. "Katt and I work at Arspace too, you know. We can handle your satellite, I promise you that."
Pepper stared at the coyote, at a loss for words regarding this outburst. Bill, who had been fighting laughter since viewing Celestra's chosen attire, lightened the situation by ducking his head under the table as he lost the battle.
"Forgive the eccentricity of my superior, sir," Katt purred, a small smile curling up her lips. "However, he is quite correct--I'm confident in my computer skills, and if Keil here is my higher power at Arspace . . ." She let the statement hang unfinished, but everyone understood what she was insinuating.
"And I suppose there's always Slippy here," Keil joked with a sigh of melancholy. The youngest mercenary shot him a glare and the pair laughed at their wit. "Ain't you the kid that hacked Corneria's Metgiacon to kick off the war? That takes some serious talent, General, not to mention guts and stupidity."
Slippy's grin widened. "Yeah, that was me, Keil. And thanks for the compliment."
"Why, anytime," Keil acknowledged, and with that he sat back comfortably in his chair as though he had never been a part of the conversation.
William Nioxin leaned forward then. "Clearly Keil is confident in the skills of the Zonessians, and my heart tells me you have nothing to fear in this exchange. My kin and I are already suited for the larger battle; is it not wise to give the captain your blessings and be on with things?"
General Pepper had been mulling it all over during Keil and Slippy's banter, and he had his mind made up by the time William had finished addressing him. "It seems beneficial to both sides. Very well, Gilraen; I give you the Fortunan-Aquan alliance. Sensenic, when we have finished here I suggest you lay a few plans with the heads of the Katinan fleet."
"I will," Morray assured the general.
"So am I helpin' to lead the frontal squad when this all goes down, or am I just sort of free-lancin' it?" Bill asked Anilora.
The captain grinned at his close friend across the table. "I have told my colleagues that you will lead the first line, but you often cook up your own tactics after the first five minutes."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Celestra asked him pointedly.
"I don't believe so," Anilora answered. "Why? What have I forgotten?"
The assassin stared hard at him. Anilora nearly slapped himself in the face.
"Yes, of course! Well, you see, as you are the object of my concern in this particular battle, I strongly insist against your going--"
"You're not leaving me behind, Gilraen!" Celestra snarled in warning.
"--But I also understand the futility in doing so," the Katinan captain finished. "It's not up to me to decide your course from this point forward, but the generals'."
"Ah, well," Pepper sighed, laughing now at Celestra's earlier demands and the reason for stating them. "One of Marquette's requirements to return to my order ws to continue flying under Katinan flag and color; I do believe you're stuck with her, my friend."
Anilora seemed almost angry as he turned to Celestra, who was grinning smugly and inwardly congratulating her genius. "Do you not understand? Your life or death hang in the balance upon my ship; out there, in the face of your nemesis, there is little anyone can do to protect you."
Coldly Celestra said, "Let my private affairs remain such, and let me deal with them as I see fit."
Violet eyes blazing, Anilora slumped back into his chair. Fox at last attempted to speak. "I assume you still require our services, sir?"
"Without a doubt, McCloud. Bolse is heavily guarded; even if Keil, Katt, and Slippy successfully bring down the satellite's internal defenses, Venomian numbers are high in that area. It's going to take every able pilot we can muster to destroy it." Here Pepper turned to Peppy, who had remained quiet throughout the duration of the meeting. "I understand this will be difficult for you, my old friend, but once we clear Venomian airspace we'll by relying heavily on your past experiences to guide us through."
Peppy nodded, face downcast. "That's no problem; I don't think I could forget the way if I wanted to."
"Alright." Pepper rose briskly, stretching. "I expect we will have a few additional meetings before the advance, but this takes care of the finer points. Are there any questions?" Seeing none forthcoming the general nodded; the others vacated their seats and prepared to file out.
Bill and Celestra were the last pair to exit. A pair of guards were standing at either side of the door, but no one paid them much mind as they passed. The soldier on the right of the door waited until the female assassin had turned her back on him, then he silently whisked a dagger out of the folds of his clothing.
Anilora saw the glint just out of the corner of his eye and whirled about, but by the time he did it was too late. The guard had grabbed Celestra from behind, one hand clutching her newly-healed wrist none-too-gently, the other holding the dagger to the flesh of her exposed neck. The captain recognized the soldier as a young private first-class; his name was Seersus. He could only be Reivin Frost's colleague.
"Don't move another muscle, Captain," Seersus bade Anilora calmly, eyes flickering back and forth between each member of the group warily. "And you can put that away, I think." Bill had soundlessly slipped one laser pistol from his belt; slowly and unthreateningly he re-holstered it, red-brown eyes dancing with fury.
"You do realize how dreadfully outnumbered you are," Celestra pointed out sarcastically, not impressed with this would-be assassin in the least.
"Bit mouthy for a hostage, aren't you?" Seersus snarled, bringing the blade closer to her throat. "My superior grows tired of your continued silence, Captain. I shall require an answer now, if you please."
Anilora took one tentative step forward, hands out unthreateningly; Seersus twisted Celestra's wrist brutally in answer. The assassin squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth together in a low growl against the pain, but refused to cry out; Anilora froze, eyes upon the blade hovering millimeters from her throat. "I have made my choice, and was preparing to return Reivin's transmission immediately. Step away, Seersus; your superior will be getting his response shortly."
"Don't give me orders, Captain," the soldier spat, eyes narrowing coldly. "You're in no position to do anything of the sort. You'll speak to him now, and with me present. I heard the bulk of your little meeting just now, and Lord Andross will be greatly interested in hearing it for himself."
Something soft and furry brushed Bill's thigh; without moving his head he glanced down to see Katt's tail working to get his attention. One hand was behind her back, groping slowly, large blue eyes never leaving the current situation as she slipped the hand beneath her vest and produced a small, hidden laser pistol. Seersus was so focused on Anilora that he never noticed the action; Bill pressed his foot down carefully upon Keil's toes and smoothly drew out the gun he had just been forced to put away. The Zonessian nodded and took up the passage, but Bill didn't see how far it got or who was informed as he turned his attention back to the hostilities.
"Of course." Now Anilora did approach, slowly, his hands still held up in a disarming gesture. "If you'll just follow me back into the council room, there's a G-Diffuser inside that we can use."
Seersus nodded and made to follow the Katinan captain, dragging Celestra along in front of him; she snarled in defiance and fought roughly to free herself, but the soldier's grip on her wrist was so strong that he ever-so-slightly increased the pressure upon it until the fragile bone snapped again. In response to the fresh wave of agony the assassin reared her elbow back, catching her captor in the stomach and knocking the wind out of him as she fell away; Anilora took two quick steps in her direction and caught her in his arms. Katt whipped the pistol into plain view and fired once, blasting Seersus in the hand clutching the knife and causing it to fly away. In unison Bill, Keil, Falco, and Erik all brandished various laser guns and fired at the Venomian's chest and forehead, killing him quickly.
"Are you alright?" Anilora pressed, gently tilting Celestra's chin up to inspect her throat for any puncture wounds; thankfully there were none. "I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention--"
"Give it a rest, Gilraen," Celestra interjected, cradling her wrist carefully and glaring down at the dead Venomian. "He's only just broken my wrist again, the miserable--" Here she lashed out and kicked the body fiercely in the side. In the ten seconds the pair had spent in conversation the Fortunans, Keil, Fox, Slippy, and Peppy had already split off down every hall leading to their position; Bill, Katt, and Falco were circling warily, weapons at the ready.
"Falco," called Anilora, summoning the avian to him. "Please take Celestra to the hospital wing and get the cyborgs working on her wrist at once, won't you? I must return Reivin's transmission right away."
"Gotcha," Falco affirmed, leading the assassin away, gun still out for protection, Bill flanking the pair from behind. Captain Anilora watched them go, then turned back to the council room, hating himself more with every step.
Bill was standing guard outside Anilora's door when Celestra wandered up later that evening, her arm wrapped securely again. To set his mind at ease she lifted this arm and waved at him until he rolled his eyes and hugged her. "Ya can't possibly be human. I can't even count your close calls anymore."
She laughed at him, ignoring the slight discomfort in her arm as she returned the embrace. "Is he asleep?" she murmured, indicating the door to Anilora's living quarters.
"Probably not." Bill sighed heavily and released her. "I've kept part o' the watch for a few weeks now--the guy's got too much to think about. He knows we're here, he just can't relax."
Celestra placed her uninjured hand on his shoulder, guiding him away from the door. "Why don't you go and get some rest yourself; I'll stay with him."
The male assassin nodded, respecting her privacy, and disappeared off down the dim hallway. Knocking softly Celestra slipped inside, closing the door slowly and quietly behind her. Anilora was laying flat on his back on the bed, hands folded over his chest; he was still clad in his day clothes and was gazing at the ceiling, wide awake.
Celestra stepped over to his bedside, boots perfectly silent as she unfastened the amber cloak and draped it comfortably over him. The Katinan captain blinked a few times, realized he had company, and turned his head to look at her as she sat on the edge of the mattress. Many long moments of silence passed between the pair, until at last he turned back to study the ceiling again.
"Do you think differently of me?" he asked suddenly, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Carefully Celestra smoothed out the cloak over him, making certain he wasn't cold. "Your time should be spent resting in preparation for the road ahead, not questioning your feelings and motives. Reivin Frost is counting on your doubts to cloud your judgment in the future, you know."
"Doubts that have long been on my mind," Anilora pressed. "This is far from recent."
She sighed, feeling slightly out of place. This was a scenario she had never played through before, not even with her current lover; Falco assumed things were fantastic between the pair of them and tried not to place a great deal of emphasis on the details, so obviously they had never sat down and chatted through the hows and whys of their relationship. This was a quality she deeply admired in Anilora--very rarely did he make any decisions based solely around his needs, preferring instead to hear the opinions of others involved. Seeing the desire for an answer evident in his eyes Celestra said, "I suppose on varying levels, I do."
Anilora looked back to her. "Could you elaborate?"
"I can't pretend that I was blind to the possibility that this would develop, but the manner in which it has continues to frustrate me." Celestra set to fiddling with her zipper vest then. "It always feels like we care about each other in different ways at different times; there are many degrees of passion, and for some reason you and I are never on the same page. We already have the perfect example of that--you feel something for me, but I'm involved with Falco--"
"--Do you wish I were more like him?" Anilora questioned sadly, but the assassin only laughed.
"Of course not." She continued to smooth the cloak over the reclining man, using the repetitive action as a calming influence. "In all my life I could never ask for a more supportive, honorable, honest, or caring man. You're always behind me, no matter how far apart we are; there is no end to your courage, and you have always given me the answers to my more extensive and complicated questions, even if they weren't the answers I was hoping to hear. And I admire all of that about you, and wouldn't change a thing even if given the opportunity."
A ghost of the twenty-three-year-old man's charming smile surfaced at those words. "Thank you."
Celestra returned it briefly, then sighed and said, "I hadn't wished to hear how you feel from the lips of my greatest enemy, nor did I want any of those people present when I did."
"Do you love me?" he asked her suddenly, and although she hid it well Anilora knew he caught her very off-guard.
"I beg your pardon?"
Anilora was looking at her curiously, intensity smoldering in his violet eyes. "Celestra Marquette, I believe you heard me. But out of respect for you I say again--do you love me? For with every beat of my heart and every breath in my lungs I have long devoted myself to you."
The assassin's breath caught in her throat at these words; Anilora sat up and cast the cloak from his body, face mere inches from hers. He was so close she could feel his soft breath against her cheeks, could catch his scent--he smelled faintly of lavender and a million other things she could never in years attempt to place names on. How she cared for him! It was the most difficult thing she had ever done when she ripped her eyes away from his.
"No," she murmured, and a wave of nausea welled up in her stomach at the blatant lie. "I don't. I . . . can't."
Captain Anilora fell hard for Celestra's lie, though, and she found some measure of comfort in that. He didn't understand that they couldn't confess, they couldn't give in, not now when they were so near to achieving the freedom of Lylat. She understood better than anyone that one flaw or imperfection in their plans would spell doom for everyone. She knew above all others that any spark of love they admitted to share between them would eventually destroy them.
Saddened, Anilora glanced away. "Yes. I thought as much."
Heart throbbing in anguish Celestra rose, again covering the Katinan captain with her cloak. "Sleep," she told him firmly, and without another word she slipped out of the room. Again Anilora found no rest, and Celestra sat on the floor outside his bedroom door, head in her hands as she quietly accepted the inner torment to which she had just condemned herself.
Early the next morning every hand upon Whitewater not bound for Area 6 Defense Station gathered their things and relocated to a Cornerian or Zonessian cruiser. In the time she had spent awake the night previous Celestra had come to a few important conclusions. The first was that, while she refused to admit it aloud to anyone, she truly did love Anilora, but while the war was still raging in northern Lylat she had to sublimate those feelings, lest they be used against her. The second was that, at the end of her long and perilous road, she would have to face Reivin Frost alone.
"Reivin didn't threaten my life to lure Gilraen into his path," Celestra quietly explained to Bill as they set about packing up their things to move into rooms nearer to the captain's. "He threatened my life to lure me in."
Bill's eyes showed that he didn't understand. "Why would he do that? It doesn't make any sense."
"Look at it from my point of view, then. Reivin doesn't just want the finale, he wants an uninterrupted one-on-one showdown. If he goes to Gilraen claiming he's got killers haunting my steps and will act through them to get Gilraen to meet him in combat, of course Gilraen will comply out of concern for me. But what Reivin knew that Gilraen didn't was that when I found out, I'd come along."
Bill gaped at her, seeing the simple ironic logic behind Reivin's plot. "Oh, you're right . . . have ya told Gilraen?"
"Of course I haven't!" Celestra snapped back, stopping long enough in folding a pile of strewn clothes to glare at him. "He's got enough to worry about, what with leading the advance into where the fighting will be most intense--he thinks the heat is off me now, and that makes him a bit more comfortable at least. We don't need him any more stressed than he already is."
It was quite plain by the look on Bill's face that he didn't approve of this idea. "Ya know he'd wanna know, Celest--why do ya have to make him worry about you now, of all times?"
The expression on Celestra's face quickly melted into one of fury. "What he doesn't know won't make him worry!" Bill quailed under the tone and sat down submissively; the female assassin sat beside him and threw her arms around him in reassurance. "He's going to be a hero, Bill, and he can't do it with his eyes on me. When the battle comes I'll be behind you guys one hundred percent, but when I get the opportunity to leave, I will. Reivin and I are both growing tired of this game, and now I foresee its end. Before the war is over . . . one of us will die."
Word of mass Venomian movement reached General Pepper only two days later, and he and Captain Anilora quickly decided the time had come to act. The larger opposing threat was rumored to be led from the west face of Venom to Area 6 by Reivin Frost; the smaller came off the east face and filtered like a plague into Bolse, the primary Venomian satellite, fronted by the four mercenaries of Star Wolf. Hearing that Leon Powalski had survived his fall from the Forever Train deeply angered Celestra, and in a fuming rage she demanded Falco finish the job.
"If those four walk away from this war alive, Falco Lombardi, I'll have your head," she warned him, and he found that he believed her.
Everywhere signs of the split could be seen. Word went out to the Katinans and the members of the Fortunan-Aquan alliance that Anilora had named Celestra and Bill as his primary lieutenants for the inevitable battle, and the Nioxin brothers had unanimously be chosen as chief technicians and computer correspondents. The assassins found that they had company of late, another hired killer by the name of Micah who worked as Pepper's chief assassin on the planet Aquas. Unlike the Macbethian and the Katinan, however, Micah seemed possessed of a passion for his work that bordered on violet bloodlust, earning him the nickname "the Leon Powalski for the good guys."
The Star Fox mercenaries settled back into their own cruiser, joined by Keil Ford and, to everyone's dismay, Katt Monroe. A tight friendship had been forged between Keil and Slippy, the designated computer hackers who would bring down Bolse Defense Outpost's superb defense systems; they shared a love for all things technological and were rarely seen outside the technician's bay in the days before Pepper's fleet's departure. The other three mercenaries worked with the spacecraft repairs crew, skirting back and forth from cruiser to cruiser and frantically setting about checking each and every Arwing, transport, and large ship. Falco especially was working with unrivaled fervor, losing sleep as he toiled at the uncountable repairs. As Fox and Peppy watched from afar they quickly discerned that the avian was trying purposely to keep his mind in the present.
Together they could easily guess what it was that Falco was struggling to forget.
The day of the split arrived in one breathless rush after one final war council with the representatives from the five allied planets. This took place upon Whitewater, and afterward a grand congregation swelled in the docking bay to see off the brave Cornerians and Zonessians. An uproar of applause burst out when the Star Fox team entered the hall; the appreciative peoples had even formed an aisle in their ranks, leading to the mercenaries' Arwings. At the end of the parting stood a group of familiar faces: Gilraen Anilora, Bill Grey, Celestra Marquette, Sensenic Morray, Erik and William Nioxin, and Micah, the assassin from Aquas. Fox and Bill fell into a heartfelt farewell hug; Slippy shook hands with the Nioxin brothers as Sensenic Morray slapped him jovially on the shoulder, and Peppy graciously thanked Anilora for all his endless aid and hospitality.
Celestra spent many moments surveying Falco with a practiced eye and knew better than any the source of his inner unease. He had been dreading this farewell since the day Pepper had offhandedly informed them of it. She didn't blame him for a minute--after all, she had been living upon their cruiser for months now and had grown more fond of the avian's company than she would ever be comfortable admitting. They shared a passion between them that none of the others could understand, one of adventure, the fight, the adrenalive rush, but most importantly of one another.
The assassin came forward then and wrapped her arms possessively about his waist, burying her face in his flight jacket and stroking his back in such a way that incited curious whispers from the crowd. Falco blew a sigh and hugged her just as needingly back, balancing his chin on the top of her head and cooing calmingly as he so often did. Then Celestra pulled gently back and stared deep into Falco's eyes.
"Take care of yourself out there," she told him gently. "You know I can't be around to babysit you every moment of every day."
The simple sarcasm within her caring tone pulled a momentary chuckle from the avian, who settled his hands upon Celestra's shoulders firmly. "Yeah, I know, and the same goes for you. I would tell you to be careful out there but there's no sense in that, 'cause I already know you won't be." Celestra stood on tiptoe to kiss Falco tenderly, an assurance that she would at the very least remember his words.
"Don't forget to kill Powalski or I'll never forgive you when this is over," she joked, but her eyes were still edged with sadness.
Falco laughed again, a forced sound now. "And I'll be disappointed if you don't come home with Frost's head in a hat box." They hugged briefly one last time, then Fox's hand clasped Falco's shoulder and pulled him away toward the Arwings.
As MeteoRiot fired its engines Falco glanced sadly down at Celestra one last time, who was leaning against Bill. She raised one hand in a wave, forcing another strong smile that she knew he needed to see; satisfied somewhat, Falco half-heartedly departed with his teammates.
He just had to.