Chapter 5: A New Arrival
Fox awoke early the next morning, his mind still pounding with the questions that he was faced with, and he could find no answers. He opened his eyes to see Krystal sleeping peacefully at his side. Fox rose without disturbing her and walked out onto the patio that was located outside the room. He opened the screen door and then the large glass door and a wave of cool air brushed past his body. He quietly closed the door behind him and sat on one of the cushioned chairs on the open-air veranda. Fox's mind began to wonder as he scanned his hometown of Corneria from the balcony. His thoughts were scattered, he had so much to think about, after he heard the words of the scroll...he didn't know what to think...
That scroll, the message...energy of life...Krystal...all of time...Hero of Life...? What does all this mean...Is this real...or is it a false prophesy...how can you trust anything...Krystal...that scroll...is it real...an illusion...what is all this...Father? What is it...where are you...I can't see you...you...I...Pepper's mission...mass mind control...who is responsible...Great Fox...are we leaving soon, will I ever get there...Falco...where have you...are you coming? The past is gone...now is all there is...can you forget the past...will it haunt me forever...will the future get brighter...as the memories fade...are memories eternal...do they ever die away...The scroll...Krystal and...all of time...does that mean...
Fox tried to stop the incessant thoughts from going through his head. He gazed upon his home planet. It seemed so long ago that he had left after defeating Andross, and as he looked upon the beautiful city, he was reminded of Krystal, who was inside...If it wasn't for her, he would still be floating in an endless space, searching for something he would probably never find. Krystal gave him the inspiration he needed to continue forward, to come to realize his...their...ultimate destiny...to save the universe. Fox was able to control his thoughts and clear his mind as the sun rose from behind the towering buildings of his home planet, Corneria.
Fox heard the door open from behind him; he turned to see the drowsy face of Krystal, who had just woken up. She sat down at a chair across from Fox and looked out onto the horizon, noticing the many colors of the Cornerian sunset. There was a moment of awe-struck silence between them, the colors of the clouds and sky being set off by the bright orange glow of the sun. Krystal looked over at Fox and asked, "I wish I could've grown up here...seeing this same sunrise everyday must never get old. Corneria reminds me so much of Cerinia." Fox hesitated and replied, "Ya, I'd have to say I was pretty lucky to grow up in Corneria, but I always wondered what it was like on other planets...how different life was for each individual planet. My Father always told me these stories about how each planet had it's own way of life. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up, and somehow I did. I was able to join my Father's old team and take his place as the Great Fox's leader. It was a dream come true, I could see any planet I wanted...but it soon lost its appeal to me. After my defeat of Andross, we had this eight year lay-off, and I almost completely gave up my dream...Then one day...during our lay-off...I felt a weird energy inside me...I can't really describe it...but it was there...I thought it was my Father...calling me to find him...but after hearing you talk about the scrolls...you said something about...the energy of life...could that be what I was feeling?" Krystal replied, "Yes, that could be it...but there is no way to tell for sure...the energy of life acts in the same manner as regular emotion and it is very hard to distinguish between the two. After all, the energy of life does come naturally to..." Krystal suddenly cut herself off and didn't finish her sentence. Fox asked, "What? Naturally to what?" Krystal looked down and answered, "I'm sorry Fox, but I cannot reveal this to you yet, it is something you must find out for yourself..." Fox rolled his eyes and sarcastically replied with a smile, "Man, destiny sucks." They laughed together and witnessed the sun slowly rise above the tallest buildings and the colors in the sky gradually beginning to fade.
Fox and Krystal headed back into the room and began to get ready for the day ahead. Fox looked over to a clock on the wall and saw that it was 06:30, so they still had plenty of time to get to the tailor and then to Pepper's meeting. Fox went into the kitchen area and pulled some food out of the refrigerator, which was filled with about every type of food Fox could possibly want. He gathered his ingredients and started cooking a light breakfast as Krystal went to get ready for the day ahead. Fox had never been a good cook, but he thought he could probably figure out how to thaw out some food and maybe make it look halfway decent.
As he was busy cooking, Krystal came up from behind him and saw what he was doing. Fox was trying to get everything perfect, but he tried to cook too many things at once. Krystal inquired, "Is the food supposed to look black like that?" Fox let out a weak laugh and replied, "Uh...Ya, It gives it this...really nice texture and a more...interesting flavor..." Krystal smiled, not knowing any better, and sat at the table in the kitchen. Fox managed to get most of the food on a plate and he brought it over to the table and set it down. They both ate the over-cooked breakfast and neither of them seemed to mind.
After eating, they left their room and went back down to the lobby and out into the streets of Corneria. They had to get back to the Cornerian Army Base so Krystal could get her uniform. It was only a short walk away, so they slowly ambled down the sidewalk, looking into every store they passed along the way. They could see things that they didn't notice when they walked to the hotel last night. They could see countless vehicles gliding across the street and far into the distance, the various types of animals that strolled back and forth on the sidewalks, and the many different types of trees and flowers that were scattered among the towering buildings.
They arrived at the Cornerian Army Base some time latter and entered the gigantic structure. They walked up to the receptionist desk to be greeted by the same employee as the day before. "Hello Fox, did you have a good night at the hotel?" Fox replied, "Ya, it was pretty nice, the food wasn't very good though..." Fox said looking at Krystal, who was quietly giggling to herself. The receptionist continued, "Well, at any rate, you're here to get her a uniform, right? You'll need to go directly across the hall and to the right and you'll see our tailor's little shop in the corner." Fox thanked the receptionist and walked with Krystal to the tailor's small shop, which seemed to be hidden behind the bigger shops in the building.
They entered the modest store and a large hedgehog approached them and said, "Greetings and welcome to my tailor shop, what can I do for you." Krystal answered, "I'm here to get a team uniform, I just joined the Star Fox team and General Pepper told me that..." The hedgehog cut her off, "Yes, yes. The new member of Star Fox, we'll just need to take a few measurements and then we can have the new uniform ready in a few minutes." The hedgehog went behind his counter and retrieved a roll of measuring tape. He measured about every possible angle of Krystal, who was feeling somewhat awkward about the whole process; she had never been fitted for cloths before. The hedgehog finished and put the tape away. He came back with a large folder and said, "You'll need to pick out one of these designs for me to make." Krystal flipped through the pages, searching for the perfect uniform. After a while of flipping back and forth between three or four of her favorites, she chose one and showed the hedgehog tailor. The tailor said, "All right, I'll have this done as fast as possible. Just wait here for one moment." The hedgehog went though a door behind his desk and began working on the uniform.
Krystal was still flipping back and forth through the pages of the folder, doubting her decision of uniform. "I don't know...this one looked so nice...but this one looked nice too...hmmm. Fox, do you think I should've picked this one, or..." Fox stopped her short and replied, "I'm sure whatever you picked will look fine, it's not really that big of a deal." Krystal looked up from the pictures and responded, "Maybe not for you, but this is something totally new for me." Fox snickered and replied, "Heh, when I first joined the team, I didn't even get to see my uniform until I was onboard the Great Fox, they just remade the same uniform my Father wore, so they were pretty much hand-me-downs."
The hedgehog walked out from the door with the separate pieces of the uniform draped over his shoulder. "Ok, I got it done, just go back the entrance and turn left and you can try it on behind that curtain." Krystal took the new uniform and looked at it for a little while, feeling the brand new material in her hands. She then went back behind the curtain and tried on her new apparel.
Meanwhile, the hedgehog started a conversation with Fox, "I didn't know Star Fox accepted new members like this, you're pretty famous in Corneria ya know...Why did you let this one join?" Fox blushed slightly and vaguely replied, trying to hide the real, but all to obvious truth, "Well, I guess she scored perfectly on the space simulation and she seemed to have a good flying record and there was..." The hedgehog stopped him mid speech and smirked, "Ya, well, whatever the reason, she seems to have chosen a very familiar uniform...I remember making this exact uniform for..."
Before the hedgehog could finish, Fox heard the curtain behind him being pulled back and he looked back to see Krystal, wearing her new uniform. She was wearing a light gray vest that looked similar to Fox's and a light blue tee shirt underneath that seemed to perfectly compliment her fur color. She wore a pair of dark blue shorts that were supported by two silver chain belts around her waist. It also included a pair of elegantly designed boots. They were a soft sapphire color and stopped just below her knees. She was still wearing the same red gem on her head and the green gem around her neck.
Fox could only stand and admire Krystal in her new uniform. It seemed to be a perfect match for her, but Fox noticed something...unsettling about it...Haven't I seen that same uniform somewhere before? It seems like...a long time ago...I used to see that uniform a lot...but where? I don't really...remember...but I know I've seen it...somewhere...
Fox's thoughts were disturbed by the sound of Krystal's voice, "So Fox, do you think this was the right one for me to choose? What do you think of it?" Fox broke his gaze and scanned over Krystal's uniform one more time. He replied, "I think it looks great on you, but it's missing something..." Fox pulled out an official Star Fox pin from his pocket and gave it to Krystal. She accepted it with a smile and fastened it to her vest. The platinum Star Fox symbol filled Fox with pride every time he saw it. It reminded him of his Father and Corneria and all the great adventures with his team. And now, seeing it on Krystal filled him with a new pride...a hope of a new beginning, of a new destiny, and it was Krystal that made him realize it all. They thanked the tailor for his service and walked back through the main hall and headed for the elevator.
Before they got to the elevator, they passed a large briefing room that was filled with many different species of animals from all over the Lylat system. Fox slowed his pace and began listening to the chief officer who was instructing the crowd. "Before we leave, I have to again inform you on exactly how dangerous this mission is, and don't think years of mission experience is going to help you this time. We are sending one of our best mercenary teams to clear a path on the planet Kymach, which is the closest of the infected planets. After they set up the short range M.C.D. System on the planet, a group of you will land on the planet and establish a more powerful wave signal that will free the entire planet and prevent this from happening again." A familiar voice rose from the crowd, "And what if our mercenary friends fail to make it?" The chief officer replied, "If that happens, we'll most likely have..." The voices became unperceivable as he walked into the elevator with Krystal and the doors sealed shut.
They soon arrived at the top of the Base and walked down the long, wide corridors of the building. Fox's mind wasn't on the upcoming meeting though, his thoughts were again clouded with everything that he had been forced to absorb over the last period of 54 hours. It seemed like everything was coming at him all at once, and it seemed almost too much for him. Krystal saw that Fox was looking disheartened so she stopped him and asked, "What's wrong Fox, were about to leave on a new adventure...why do you look so sad?" Fox looked up, trying to hide his thoughts, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about some stuff and..." Fox trailed off, feeling more uneasy as he spoke. He looked into Krystal's caring eyes and found a strange sense of comfort come over him. Krystal seemed to have read Fox's thoughts through his eyes and said, "Maybe it is time...to show you the power."
Krystal took both of Fox's hands in hers and closed her eyes. Fox noticed a soft light beginning to emanate around her body. It slowly began to grow stronger, suddenly; he felt the energy filling his body. He could hear a voice, a supple voice, in his mind, it was Krystal, "Fox, this is the Energy of Life, it is something every Cerinian knows from birth, as you grow in age and knowledge, the stronger this power becomes. You too have this power, yet you cannot awaken it. You have lost contact with your real self, and you must find it, it is not far off, nor is it within arms length. You must continue searching for answers, so that you can grow in the power, then, and only then, will you have the power to save the universe."
Krystal released Fox's hands and the light surrounding her faded. Fox didn't know what to say. He was in awe of this power he had just been exposed to. Krystal smiled and said, "Fox, you do not yet understand, and neither do I. All I know is that I have been sent to help you realize your..." Fox held his hand in the air and signaled for Krystal to stop. "Let's just get to Pepper's meeting, I've had to much to think about lately...I really need to sort things out before I hear any more, and I'm sure Pepper's meeting won't help with that..." Krystal reassuringly smiled at Fox and together, they walked back into Pepper's office.
They entered to see Peppy and Slippy already sitting in the office waiting for them to arrive. Peppy said, "Well Fox, looks like you made it on time, Pepper told us he was gonna be a little late, and we've been waiting here for almost 20 minutes, I wonder what he's doing." Fox and Krystal took a seat and Fox replied, "So where were you last night, did you ever get to a hotel?" Slippy looked away, trying to look like he wasn't listening while Peppy responded, "You'll never believe it, but Slippy somehow managed to screw up the directions to our hotel. I didn't want to walk and Slippy said he knew where the hotel was. So we found a hovertaxi and Slippy gave the driver the directions, but we ended up at..."
Peppy was cut short by the sound of the office door opening. The outline of the figure was visible thought the stain glass on the top of the door. The figure did not look anything like the General. The shadow walked past the obstruction of the door and entered the room. "So, you guys ready to...hey...what's everyone lookin' at?" It was Katt Monroe, the one that Falco had left to find...and somehow...she was standing right in front of Fox. The whole team could only stare in surprise. Katt looked around the room confused, "What's the problem? What are you starin' at!?" Peppy whispered to Fox. "Can you believe it Fox? Falco would've never had to leave." Fox turned in his chair and gave Peppy a confused look, "How did you know Falco left? I never told anyone..." "The surveillance tapes on the Great Fox are always running Fox, and don't you think I would notice when one of our Arwings were missing?" Peppy replied plainly. "Don't whisper in front of me Foxboy...what's the problem?" Katt said while grabbing Fox by the collar of his vest. "Uh...Katt, nothing's wrong, we're just surprised to see you here...we didn't expect to..." Katt cut him off. "What, you didn't expect me, well surprise! I'm joining the team Foxboy, and if that's gonna be a problem, you'll have to take it up with the General. Seems like your gonna need all the help you can get on this mission and...Hey, where's Falco, he didn't leave again did he?" Fox released himself from Katt's grasp and replied mockingly, "Ya, I'm afraid you just missed him, so I guess you want to leave now?" "No, not really, I didn't sign up for this just to be with Falco you know, I've got much better things to do in my spare time, besides, things were getting boring around here."
At that moment General Pepper walked into his office and sat down behind his large desk. "Well I see you've meet the new member of the Star Fox team. You knew Katt from the past and she didn't want to be part of the Special Operatives team, upon her request and a thorough check on her flying records, we allowed her to join the Star Fox team in the mission." Fox asked impatiently, "So she's just a temporary member until we complete this operation?" Pepper replied, "Yes, after this mission is complete, you have the authority to tell her otherwise." Pepper continued, "Star Fox, the first infected planet that you must take back is the desert planet Kymach. It's the closet planet to Corneria, and there are many different docking colonies along the way if you get into trouble, but as you venture farther into the Lylat System, you will find less and less of these conveniences. Don't try anything foolish Fox; I can't afford to lose my best team, as I said before most of the teams have split up and flying solo...as Falco has. You must not fail; the Lylat System is depending on you Star Fox. I'll keep you updated with regular visual contact every two days. I wish you luck, leave as soon as possible, as we speak, the enemy is slowly gaining control of more planets."
The five of them walked out of the office and went into the seating area that Fox and Krystal had stopped the night before. There was an awkward silence between them. So many changes had come about in the Star Fox team. Krystal joined the team, which caused Falco to leave, and now, Katt was joining too. Katt grew impatient and broke the silence, "So when are we leaving Foxboy, the universe isn't gonna save itself." Fox responded, "We can leave whenever I say so, I'm the leader, and don't think just 'cause your new means you'll get any special treatment." Katt retorted, "Heh, I'm so sorry I want to help you with this mission, I was only doing you a favor." Fox thought to himself, Man, she's even worse than Falco, How can Falco even put up with her, heh, probably because they're so alike. I can't believe he left 2 days before, he would've found her sitting right here, at this moment, but now he's gone, searching for something he may never find. He'll probably never think of looking back where he left from. I guess I could try to contact his Arwing and tell him to come back...if he'd even believe me...
"...new to the team too? Does he treat you the same way?" Katt had started talking with Krystal. Katt had never seen Krystal, or even a blue fox, before. "Actually, we get along quite well. We...very much enjoy each others company." Krystal said, looking over at Fox with a smile. Katt smirked at Fox and walked over to him. She came up next to the chair he was sitting in and whispered, "So...you have any...particular reason you let her join...Is it maybe because you like her or something?" Fox hesitated to answer. "Well, isn't that cute...little Fox is so big." Fox blushed and replied, "I think Falco said the same thing...why is it such a big deal to everyone anyway?" Katt stood up and replied, "To me? You just don't seem like the type who would have a girlfriend, you've got everything else you could possibly want outta life, and the crew is just worried because they see it as more of a hassle. If your spending too much time with her, that means the team starts to feel left out. Soon, your gonna have to choose, and your crew doesn't want you to make the wrong decision. Believe me, I've seen it all before." Fox was surprised by her knowledge of the subject and began to wonder what she must've gone through to realize all this.
The intercom system in the building broke the ensuing silence. "Would team Star Fox please report back to Great Fox. The ship has been refueled and re- supplied; you have also obtained the short-range M.C.D. systems and you will receive your personal M.C.D. systems when you arrive back at the Corneria Docking Station. Repeat, will team Star Fox..." Fox looked around the room at each team member, "Are we all ready?" The team nodded simultaneously and left the seating area. They entered the elevator and quickly descended to the main floor of the Cornerian Army Base. They walked through the main hall and received a hero's farewell from the employees of the Base. They walked through a line of saluting soldiers and waved goodbye at the cheering crowd as they exited the building. They found two hovertaxi's waiting outside at the curb. They got in and made their back way to the Corneria Docking Station.
When they arrived outside the Docking Station, there was a massive crowd of animals waiting for the hero, Fox McCloud, and his team. The crowd began to cheer wildly as they exited their hovertaxi's and made their way to the Great Fox. Most of the team was used to this kind of treatment, but Krystal seemed to be nervous about all these people looking at them. She ran up behind Fox and took his hand, seeking the comfort of his presence. The crowd saw this and responded with whooping and few whistles. Fox tried to look professional, but he was blushing hard underneath his fur. They arrived inside the Corneria Docking Station and were finally free of the crowds of animals. One of the Cornerian Army Base employee's gave the team 5 Personal M.C.D. systems and then bode them farewell. The team walked up the gangway to their ship and were back aboard the Great Fox.
The crew went up to the bridge to prepare for departure, but Krystal held Fox back from joining them and stated, "I didn't know you were that famous Fox. Do they always do that to you?" Fox replied with a smirk, "Ya, I guess I am pretty famous in Corneria." Krystal asked, "You must get a lot of special attention like that when your in Corneria, don't you?" Fox answered with a smile, "I guess I do, they always give me a bunch of free stuff, like that hotel room, but hey, I'm not complaining." Krystal's tone became more serious when she asked, "And you're willing to give all that up because of me?" "Krystal, I told you before, my reputation is nothing to me anymore, I will do whatever it takes to save Cerinia..." Fox was stopped by Krystal, who now had both arms around his neck. "I'm surprised at how easily you can accept this new destiny, how can you even know I'm telling the truth?" Fox placed his arms around her lower back and gently replied, "I feel the energy telling me...I don't understand it...but I feel it, and it is growing stronger now, with you in my arms." They stared into each other's eyes, feeling each other's energy filling their bodies. Krystal slowly moved her face towards Fox, who also began to move closer. They closed their eyes as their muzzles met. A brilliant blue light engulfed them as their lips touched. The blue glow was surrounding them, fueling them with new energy. They kept receiving more and more energy as they continued to kiss. It was an entirely new feeling for them, and they lost themselves in the moment.
The light faded a while later as Fox drew back his muzzle from Krystal. "Krystal...I can't tell you how...WHAT!?" Fox looked past Krystal face to see that the Great Fox was now covered in a thick fog. Krystal asked startled, "What is it Fox, what happened?" They both looked to see the Great Fox totally shrouded in a thick mist. Nothing moved, there was no sound; it was as if time had stopped. The ship became blurry and suddenly disappeared all together; For a moment, Fox and Krystal seemed to be floating in the middle of space. Abruptly after, the ship reappeared and they were back inside the safety of its hull, in the same hallway...but it seemed different. The walls had become clean and rust free, the floors and ceiling shed their signs of age. Then, sound reappeared in their ears, but it was different, and the mysterious fog was still lingering in the halls. Krystal held tight to Fox's arm, "What is this Fox, where are we?" Fox hesitated, not believing what he was seeing. He responded with uneasiness, "Krystal...this is the Great Fox, but...what happened..."
Fox awoke early the next morning, his mind still pounding with the questions that he was faced with, and he could find no answers. He opened his eyes to see Krystal sleeping peacefully at his side. Fox rose without disturbing her and walked out onto the patio that was located outside the room. He opened the screen door and then the large glass door and a wave of cool air brushed past his body. He quietly closed the door behind him and sat on one of the cushioned chairs on the open-air veranda. Fox's mind began to wonder as he scanned his hometown of Corneria from the balcony. His thoughts were scattered, he had so much to think about, after he heard the words of the scroll...he didn't know what to think...
That scroll, the message...energy of life...Krystal...all of time...Hero of Life...? What does all this mean...Is this real...or is it a false prophesy...how can you trust anything...Krystal...that scroll...is it real...an illusion...what is all this...Father? What is it...where are you...I can't see you...you...I...Pepper's mission...mass mind control...who is responsible...Great Fox...are we leaving soon, will I ever get there...Falco...where have you...are you coming? The past is gone...now is all there is...can you forget the past...will it haunt me forever...will the future get brighter...as the memories fade...are memories eternal...do they ever die away...The scroll...Krystal and...all of time...does that mean...
Fox tried to stop the incessant thoughts from going through his head. He gazed upon his home planet. It seemed so long ago that he had left after defeating Andross, and as he looked upon the beautiful city, he was reminded of Krystal, who was inside...If it wasn't for her, he would still be floating in an endless space, searching for something he would probably never find. Krystal gave him the inspiration he needed to continue forward, to come to realize his...their...ultimate destiny...to save the universe. Fox was able to control his thoughts and clear his mind as the sun rose from behind the towering buildings of his home planet, Corneria.
Fox heard the door open from behind him; he turned to see the drowsy face of Krystal, who had just woken up. She sat down at a chair across from Fox and looked out onto the horizon, noticing the many colors of the Cornerian sunset. There was a moment of awe-struck silence between them, the colors of the clouds and sky being set off by the bright orange glow of the sun. Krystal looked over at Fox and asked, "I wish I could've grown up here...seeing this same sunrise everyday must never get old. Corneria reminds me so much of Cerinia." Fox hesitated and replied, "Ya, I'd have to say I was pretty lucky to grow up in Corneria, but I always wondered what it was like on other planets...how different life was for each individual planet. My Father always told me these stories about how each planet had it's own way of life. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up, and somehow I did. I was able to join my Father's old team and take his place as the Great Fox's leader. It was a dream come true, I could see any planet I wanted...but it soon lost its appeal to me. After my defeat of Andross, we had this eight year lay-off, and I almost completely gave up my dream...Then one day...during our lay-off...I felt a weird energy inside me...I can't really describe it...but it was there...I thought it was my Father...calling me to find him...but after hearing you talk about the scrolls...you said something about...the energy of life...could that be what I was feeling?" Krystal replied, "Yes, that could be it...but there is no way to tell for sure...the energy of life acts in the same manner as regular emotion and it is very hard to distinguish between the two. After all, the energy of life does come naturally to..." Krystal suddenly cut herself off and didn't finish her sentence. Fox asked, "What? Naturally to what?" Krystal looked down and answered, "I'm sorry Fox, but I cannot reveal this to you yet, it is something you must find out for yourself..." Fox rolled his eyes and sarcastically replied with a smile, "Man, destiny sucks." They laughed together and witnessed the sun slowly rise above the tallest buildings and the colors in the sky gradually beginning to fade.
Fox and Krystal headed back into the room and began to get ready for the day ahead. Fox looked over to a clock on the wall and saw that it was 06:30, so they still had plenty of time to get to the tailor and then to Pepper's meeting. Fox went into the kitchen area and pulled some food out of the refrigerator, which was filled with about every type of food Fox could possibly want. He gathered his ingredients and started cooking a light breakfast as Krystal went to get ready for the day ahead. Fox had never been a good cook, but he thought he could probably figure out how to thaw out some food and maybe make it look halfway decent.
As he was busy cooking, Krystal came up from behind him and saw what he was doing. Fox was trying to get everything perfect, but he tried to cook too many things at once. Krystal inquired, "Is the food supposed to look black like that?" Fox let out a weak laugh and replied, "Uh...Ya, It gives it this...really nice texture and a more...interesting flavor..." Krystal smiled, not knowing any better, and sat at the table in the kitchen. Fox managed to get most of the food on a plate and he brought it over to the table and set it down. They both ate the over-cooked breakfast and neither of them seemed to mind.
After eating, they left their room and went back down to the lobby and out into the streets of Corneria. They had to get back to the Cornerian Army Base so Krystal could get her uniform. It was only a short walk away, so they slowly ambled down the sidewalk, looking into every store they passed along the way. They could see things that they didn't notice when they walked to the hotel last night. They could see countless vehicles gliding across the street and far into the distance, the various types of animals that strolled back and forth on the sidewalks, and the many different types of trees and flowers that were scattered among the towering buildings.
They arrived at the Cornerian Army Base some time latter and entered the gigantic structure. They walked up to the receptionist desk to be greeted by the same employee as the day before. "Hello Fox, did you have a good night at the hotel?" Fox replied, "Ya, it was pretty nice, the food wasn't very good though..." Fox said looking at Krystal, who was quietly giggling to herself. The receptionist continued, "Well, at any rate, you're here to get her a uniform, right? You'll need to go directly across the hall and to the right and you'll see our tailor's little shop in the corner." Fox thanked the receptionist and walked with Krystal to the tailor's small shop, which seemed to be hidden behind the bigger shops in the building.
They entered the modest store and a large hedgehog approached them and said, "Greetings and welcome to my tailor shop, what can I do for you." Krystal answered, "I'm here to get a team uniform, I just joined the Star Fox team and General Pepper told me that..." The hedgehog cut her off, "Yes, yes. The new member of Star Fox, we'll just need to take a few measurements and then we can have the new uniform ready in a few minutes." The hedgehog went behind his counter and retrieved a roll of measuring tape. He measured about every possible angle of Krystal, who was feeling somewhat awkward about the whole process; she had never been fitted for cloths before. The hedgehog finished and put the tape away. He came back with a large folder and said, "You'll need to pick out one of these designs for me to make." Krystal flipped through the pages, searching for the perfect uniform. After a while of flipping back and forth between three or four of her favorites, she chose one and showed the hedgehog tailor. The tailor said, "All right, I'll have this done as fast as possible. Just wait here for one moment." The hedgehog went though a door behind his desk and began working on the uniform.
Krystal was still flipping back and forth through the pages of the folder, doubting her decision of uniform. "I don't know...this one looked so nice...but this one looked nice too...hmmm. Fox, do you think I should've picked this one, or..." Fox stopped her short and replied, "I'm sure whatever you picked will look fine, it's not really that big of a deal." Krystal looked up from the pictures and responded, "Maybe not for you, but this is something totally new for me." Fox snickered and replied, "Heh, when I first joined the team, I didn't even get to see my uniform until I was onboard the Great Fox, they just remade the same uniform my Father wore, so they were pretty much hand-me-downs."
The hedgehog walked out from the door with the separate pieces of the uniform draped over his shoulder. "Ok, I got it done, just go back the entrance and turn left and you can try it on behind that curtain." Krystal took the new uniform and looked at it for a little while, feeling the brand new material in her hands. She then went back behind the curtain and tried on her new apparel.
Meanwhile, the hedgehog started a conversation with Fox, "I didn't know Star Fox accepted new members like this, you're pretty famous in Corneria ya know...Why did you let this one join?" Fox blushed slightly and vaguely replied, trying to hide the real, but all to obvious truth, "Well, I guess she scored perfectly on the space simulation and she seemed to have a good flying record and there was..." The hedgehog stopped him mid speech and smirked, "Ya, well, whatever the reason, she seems to have chosen a very familiar uniform...I remember making this exact uniform for..."
Before the hedgehog could finish, Fox heard the curtain behind him being pulled back and he looked back to see Krystal, wearing her new uniform. She was wearing a light gray vest that looked similar to Fox's and a light blue tee shirt underneath that seemed to perfectly compliment her fur color. She wore a pair of dark blue shorts that were supported by two silver chain belts around her waist. It also included a pair of elegantly designed boots. They were a soft sapphire color and stopped just below her knees. She was still wearing the same red gem on her head and the green gem around her neck.
Fox could only stand and admire Krystal in her new uniform. It seemed to be a perfect match for her, but Fox noticed something...unsettling about it...Haven't I seen that same uniform somewhere before? It seems like...a long time ago...I used to see that uniform a lot...but where? I don't really...remember...but I know I've seen it...somewhere...
Fox's thoughts were disturbed by the sound of Krystal's voice, "So Fox, do you think this was the right one for me to choose? What do you think of it?" Fox broke his gaze and scanned over Krystal's uniform one more time. He replied, "I think it looks great on you, but it's missing something..." Fox pulled out an official Star Fox pin from his pocket and gave it to Krystal. She accepted it with a smile and fastened it to her vest. The platinum Star Fox symbol filled Fox with pride every time he saw it. It reminded him of his Father and Corneria and all the great adventures with his team. And now, seeing it on Krystal filled him with a new pride...a hope of a new beginning, of a new destiny, and it was Krystal that made him realize it all. They thanked the tailor for his service and walked back through the main hall and headed for the elevator.
Before they got to the elevator, they passed a large briefing room that was filled with many different species of animals from all over the Lylat system. Fox slowed his pace and began listening to the chief officer who was instructing the crowd. "Before we leave, I have to again inform you on exactly how dangerous this mission is, and don't think years of mission experience is going to help you this time. We are sending one of our best mercenary teams to clear a path on the planet Kymach, which is the closest of the infected planets. After they set up the short range M.C.D. System on the planet, a group of you will land on the planet and establish a more powerful wave signal that will free the entire planet and prevent this from happening again." A familiar voice rose from the crowd, "And what if our mercenary friends fail to make it?" The chief officer replied, "If that happens, we'll most likely have..." The voices became unperceivable as he walked into the elevator with Krystal and the doors sealed shut.
They soon arrived at the top of the Base and walked down the long, wide corridors of the building. Fox's mind wasn't on the upcoming meeting though, his thoughts were again clouded with everything that he had been forced to absorb over the last period of 54 hours. It seemed like everything was coming at him all at once, and it seemed almost too much for him. Krystal saw that Fox was looking disheartened so she stopped him and asked, "What's wrong Fox, were about to leave on a new adventure...why do you look so sad?" Fox looked up, trying to hide his thoughts, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about some stuff and..." Fox trailed off, feeling more uneasy as he spoke. He looked into Krystal's caring eyes and found a strange sense of comfort come over him. Krystal seemed to have read Fox's thoughts through his eyes and said, "Maybe it is time...to show you the power."
Krystal took both of Fox's hands in hers and closed her eyes. Fox noticed a soft light beginning to emanate around her body. It slowly began to grow stronger, suddenly; he felt the energy filling his body. He could hear a voice, a supple voice, in his mind, it was Krystal, "Fox, this is the Energy of Life, it is something every Cerinian knows from birth, as you grow in age and knowledge, the stronger this power becomes. You too have this power, yet you cannot awaken it. You have lost contact with your real self, and you must find it, it is not far off, nor is it within arms length. You must continue searching for answers, so that you can grow in the power, then, and only then, will you have the power to save the universe."
Krystal released Fox's hands and the light surrounding her faded. Fox didn't know what to say. He was in awe of this power he had just been exposed to. Krystal smiled and said, "Fox, you do not yet understand, and neither do I. All I know is that I have been sent to help you realize your..." Fox held his hand in the air and signaled for Krystal to stop. "Let's just get to Pepper's meeting, I've had to much to think about lately...I really need to sort things out before I hear any more, and I'm sure Pepper's meeting won't help with that..." Krystal reassuringly smiled at Fox and together, they walked back into Pepper's office.
They entered to see Peppy and Slippy already sitting in the office waiting for them to arrive. Peppy said, "Well Fox, looks like you made it on time, Pepper told us he was gonna be a little late, and we've been waiting here for almost 20 minutes, I wonder what he's doing." Fox and Krystal took a seat and Fox replied, "So where were you last night, did you ever get to a hotel?" Slippy looked away, trying to look like he wasn't listening while Peppy responded, "You'll never believe it, but Slippy somehow managed to screw up the directions to our hotel. I didn't want to walk and Slippy said he knew where the hotel was. So we found a hovertaxi and Slippy gave the driver the directions, but we ended up at..."
Peppy was cut short by the sound of the office door opening. The outline of the figure was visible thought the stain glass on the top of the door. The figure did not look anything like the General. The shadow walked past the obstruction of the door and entered the room. "So, you guys ready to...hey...what's everyone lookin' at?" It was Katt Monroe, the one that Falco had left to find...and somehow...she was standing right in front of Fox. The whole team could only stare in surprise. Katt looked around the room confused, "What's the problem? What are you starin' at!?" Peppy whispered to Fox. "Can you believe it Fox? Falco would've never had to leave." Fox turned in his chair and gave Peppy a confused look, "How did you know Falco left? I never told anyone..." "The surveillance tapes on the Great Fox are always running Fox, and don't you think I would notice when one of our Arwings were missing?" Peppy replied plainly. "Don't whisper in front of me Foxboy...what's the problem?" Katt said while grabbing Fox by the collar of his vest. "Uh...Katt, nothing's wrong, we're just surprised to see you here...we didn't expect to..." Katt cut him off. "What, you didn't expect me, well surprise! I'm joining the team Foxboy, and if that's gonna be a problem, you'll have to take it up with the General. Seems like your gonna need all the help you can get on this mission and...Hey, where's Falco, he didn't leave again did he?" Fox released himself from Katt's grasp and replied mockingly, "Ya, I'm afraid you just missed him, so I guess you want to leave now?" "No, not really, I didn't sign up for this just to be with Falco you know, I've got much better things to do in my spare time, besides, things were getting boring around here."
At that moment General Pepper walked into his office and sat down behind his large desk. "Well I see you've meet the new member of the Star Fox team. You knew Katt from the past and she didn't want to be part of the Special Operatives team, upon her request and a thorough check on her flying records, we allowed her to join the Star Fox team in the mission." Fox asked impatiently, "So she's just a temporary member until we complete this operation?" Pepper replied, "Yes, after this mission is complete, you have the authority to tell her otherwise." Pepper continued, "Star Fox, the first infected planet that you must take back is the desert planet Kymach. It's the closet planet to Corneria, and there are many different docking colonies along the way if you get into trouble, but as you venture farther into the Lylat System, you will find less and less of these conveniences. Don't try anything foolish Fox; I can't afford to lose my best team, as I said before most of the teams have split up and flying solo...as Falco has. You must not fail; the Lylat System is depending on you Star Fox. I'll keep you updated with regular visual contact every two days. I wish you luck, leave as soon as possible, as we speak, the enemy is slowly gaining control of more planets."
The five of them walked out of the office and went into the seating area that Fox and Krystal had stopped the night before. There was an awkward silence between them. So many changes had come about in the Star Fox team. Krystal joined the team, which caused Falco to leave, and now, Katt was joining too. Katt grew impatient and broke the silence, "So when are we leaving Foxboy, the universe isn't gonna save itself." Fox responded, "We can leave whenever I say so, I'm the leader, and don't think just 'cause your new means you'll get any special treatment." Katt retorted, "Heh, I'm so sorry I want to help you with this mission, I was only doing you a favor." Fox thought to himself, Man, she's even worse than Falco, How can Falco even put up with her, heh, probably because they're so alike. I can't believe he left 2 days before, he would've found her sitting right here, at this moment, but now he's gone, searching for something he may never find. He'll probably never think of looking back where he left from. I guess I could try to contact his Arwing and tell him to come back...if he'd even believe me...
"...new to the team too? Does he treat you the same way?" Katt had started talking with Krystal. Katt had never seen Krystal, or even a blue fox, before. "Actually, we get along quite well. We...very much enjoy each others company." Krystal said, looking over at Fox with a smile. Katt smirked at Fox and walked over to him. She came up next to the chair he was sitting in and whispered, "So...you have any...particular reason you let her join...Is it maybe because you like her or something?" Fox hesitated to answer. "Well, isn't that cute...little Fox is so big." Fox blushed and replied, "I think Falco said the same thing...why is it such a big deal to everyone anyway?" Katt stood up and replied, "To me? You just don't seem like the type who would have a girlfriend, you've got everything else you could possibly want outta life, and the crew is just worried because they see it as more of a hassle. If your spending too much time with her, that means the team starts to feel left out. Soon, your gonna have to choose, and your crew doesn't want you to make the wrong decision. Believe me, I've seen it all before." Fox was surprised by her knowledge of the subject and began to wonder what she must've gone through to realize all this.
The intercom system in the building broke the ensuing silence. "Would team Star Fox please report back to Great Fox. The ship has been refueled and re- supplied; you have also obtained the short-range M.C.D. systems and you will receive your personal M.C.D. systems when you arrive back at the Corneria Docking Station. Repeat, will team Star Fox..." Fox looked around the room at each team member, "Are we all ready?" The team nodded simultaneously and left the seating area. They entered the elevator and quickly descended to the main floor of the Cornerian Army Base. They walked through the main hall and received a hero's farewell from the employees of the Base. They walked through a line of saluting soldiers and waved goodbye at the cheering crowd as they exited the building. They found two hovertaxi's waiting outside at the curb. They got in and made their back way to the Corneria Docking Station.
When they arrived outside the Docking Station, there was a massive crowd of animals waiting for the hero, Fox McCloud, and his team. The crowd began to cheer wildly as they exited their hovertaxi's and made their way to the Great Fox. Most of the team was used to this kind of treatment, but Krystal seemed to be nervous about all these people looking at them. She ran up behind Fox and took his hand, seeking the comfort of his presence. The crowd saw this and responded with whooping and few whistles. Fox tried to look professional, but he was blushing hard underneath his fur. They arrived inside the Corneria Docking Station and were finally free of the crowds of animals. One of the Cornerian Army Base employee's gave the team 5 Personal M.C.D. systems and then bode them farewell. The team walked up the gangway to their ship and were back aboard the Great Fox.
The crew went up to the bridge to prepare for departure, but Krystal held Fox back from joining them and stated, "I didn't know you were that famous Fox. Do they always do that to you?" Fox replied with a smirk, "Ya, I guess I am pretty famous in Corneria." Krystal asked, "You must get a lot of special attention like that when your in Corneria, don't you?" Fox answered with a smile, "I guess I do, they always give me a bunch of free stuff, like that hotel room, but hey, I'm not complaining." Krystal's tone became more serious when she asked, "And you're willing to give all that up because of me?" "Krystal, I told you before, my reputation is nothing to me anymore, I will do whatever it takes to save Cerinia..." Fox was stopped by Krystal, who now had both arms around his neck. "I'm surprised at how easily you can accept this new destiny, how can you even know I'm telling the truth?" Fox placed his arms around her lower back and gently replied, "I feel the energy telling me...I don't understand it...but I feel it, and it is growing stronger now, with you in my arms." They stared into each other's eyes, feeling each other's energy filling their bodies. Krystal slowly moved her face towards Fox, who also began to move closer. They closed their eyes as their muzzles met. A brilliant blue light engulfed them as their lips touched. The blue glow was surrounding them, fueling them with new energy. They kept receiving more and more energy as they continued to kiss. It was an entirely new feeling for them, and they lost themselves in the moment.
The light faded a while later as Fox drew back his muzzle from Krystal. "Krystal...I can't tell you how...WHAT!?" Fox looked past Krystal face to see that the Great Fox was now covered in a thick fog. Krystal asked startled, "What is it Fox, what happened?" They both looked to see the Great Fox totally shrouded in a thick mist. Nothing moved, there was no sound; it was as if time had stopped. The ship became blurry and suddenly disappeared all together; For a moment, Fox and Krystal seemed to be floating in the middle of space. Abruptly after, the ship reappeared and they were back inside the safety of its hull, in the same hallway...but it seemed different. The walls had become clean and rust free, the floors and ceiling shed their signs of age. Then, sound reappeared in their ears, but it was different, and the mysterious fog was still lingering in the halls. Krystal held tight to Fox's arm, "What is this Fox, where are we?" Fox hesitated, not believing what he was seeing. He responded with uneasiness, "Krystal...this is the Great Fox, but...what happened..."