Wow! I'm still alive. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue this story or not because I don't have a certain idea of where to go with the story.

But, I am continuing for now.

Don't forget to check out "The Past Story" by myself too! It's probably my best story.

"Sir, I must insist."

"Absolutely not Captain Grey," General Pepper said from sitting behind his oak shiny desk. After Bill got the message from Fox, he ran straight to his commanding officer, General Pepper. After several hours of long debate on starting a rescue mission, Bill's hope in Pepper was starting to fade. His one true friend was going to be stuck where ever he was forever.

"Sir, with all due respect," Bill stated, starting to stand from his seated position in front of the general. "This is the biggest bullshit I've ever heard!"

"Excuse me! I will not tolerate being talked to this way!" Pepper exclaimed, standing up, trying to get a more intimidating position. "Now you listen to me-"

"No! You listen to me!" Bill yelled, standing up as well. He might have not been as tall as Pepper, but he put on a good hard face. "Fox saved Corneria from hell during the war! Hell, he basically won us the war! And now you have the balls to stand by and watch him die!"

"How dare you accuse me of not caring!" Pepper yelled back a little too hostile. "I've known Fox ever since he was born! Now, the decision is not entirely mine. To make a rescue mission is a major ordeal. Also, Star Fox being a mercenary, doesn't make the requirements."

"How about being a friend?" Bill yelled at the last statement. If he wasn't required to drop his gun off at the secretary, he would have pistol whipped Pepper by now. "Is being a friend in those stupid requirements too?"

"Grey, as your commanding officer, I require the respect that I deserve," Pepper solemnly replied, taking his place back in the seat. He half hoped that Bill would follow suit and sit as well. However, to his dismay, Bill remained standing, in an aggressive position.

"Listen General," Bill said, taking the anger a little out of his voice. "I have my men ready. We're ready to go to the Krakic System and search for Fox. I think he may be in the-"

"Absolutely not! I have already given the answer. Fox is not part of our military. He is not part of our government," Pepper said, the hostile edge returning in his voice once again. "Thus, our emergency rescue mission requirements do not apply to him. Don't you understand me?"

Bill slowly nodded his head in understanding as he turned towards the door. "Yeah. Yeah I understand perfectly. You want me to give up on a great guy that never gave up on us," Bill replied reaching the door. "If you'll excuse me, I've got a friend to save."

"Captain! You'll loose your commanding position!" Pepper said, standing as he yelled.

"Fine. Court marshal me when I get back," Bill said as he gave a quick glance over his shoulder before finally walking through the open door in front of him. "I've got a friend to save now."

"So, this is what you call taking care of my arwing?" Fox replied, stepping up to his arwing. All around the ship was electronic equipment; computers, radars, readers, even power tools. After the scientists got the ship open and going once, they hadn't known how to keep it on, so it shut down. Since then, they weren't able to turn it back on.

"Well, we've done the best we can," The President replied, stepping toward Fox, who he watched in admiration. "Can you fly it?"

At this, Fox's ears perked up. Were they actually that stupid to let him take his ship out? For all they knew he could simply drop a bomb and kill their whole planet. Honestly thinking, however, Fox simply wanted to just fly away and get back to the Lylat System. He was in need of a long, long, long, vacation. "Of course I can fly it. Would you like me too?"

At this, the President looked like he was deep in thought. At the turn of the conversation, the scientists were listen intently, clipboards at the ready.

"Yes. Yes I would," the President simply answered. "Under one condition. We will have jet planes flying in the sky with you. They will record all your movements. If anything you do seems suspicious, they will not hesitate to shoot you down. If you manage to get away from them, then we will detonate the explosive we will be attaching to your ship. If a miracle happens and that fails to go off, then we will simply follow you with the homing beacon we also have attached. Mr. McCloud, any thoughts of escaping are, I hope, out of your mind."

I've been in worse position, Fox thought. I wonder what dad would do.

"Sounds good," Fox replied. "However, I have my own conditions you must follow. When I go back to that wonderful home I have back at the lab, I don't expect to be shoved back into the little cubical I've made home. I expect something nicer. I may not be human, but I am humane. I expect a normal living facility."

At this, Sheryl was stunned. She had not heard Fox take so much charge before. However, she hadn't seen him do his leader duty for Star Fox.

"Also, I expect to see my friends soon," Fox finished up. He knew he was pushing it with the first request. But the second request was a definite stretch.

Looking at the presidents face, you wouldn't guess he was even listening. His head was down and he was deep in thought. After a few seconds more, his prominent head popped up with a look of approval.

"Deal," The President said. "But here are my conditions for the meeting, Mr. McCloud. I say when, I say where, and I say how. If you don't like it, then you just won't meet them. There are no negotiations."

With a look of defeat, knowing that playing "Let's Make a Deal" was over, Fox simply nodded.

"Excellent," the President said, turning towards a young man with blonde hair and glasses. "Brian, will you please get the ship set up for flight. I think Mr. McCloud would appreciate a proper prep."

With a genuine smile from both Fox and the President, the young scientist started yelling out orders to other white lab-coated clad scientist. While they were retrieving the electronics from around the ship, Fox walked over to a table where they had nicely set all his personal belongings. Upon the table was his flight jacket, his boots, journal, and-

Picking up the framed picture of Fox and his late father, he couldn't help but think back to some of the things that he had said:

"Even if something you know is wrong," James said, saying to his young son on his first day of being at his academy. "Trust what you say on the inside. Trust your instincts. Most of the time, you'll find they're right."

At the time, Fox had no idea what that meant. At the time, Fox hadn't even cared what it meant. Now, however, in his moment of desperation, he clung on to ever word his father had told him. Every word that seemed like it could help him get out of the situation.

"Fox, you need to learn when to leave people," James said. "If ever you get in a bad situation, and it's between you and your team, you need to worry about what's best for the team. As a leader, you need to learn to put the teams best interest first. Even if that means you staying behind."

"Would you do that, dad?" the young fox asked.

At this, the father had to stop and think. He had to think of leaving his son, leaving his house, his home. "I don't know," he answered. "I honestly don't. I guess it all depends on the moment. When the moment comes, then I'll know."

"Well, the moment came," Fox whispered to himself, holding the picture an arms length away. "And you did the right thing."

"Fox," Sheryl called. "Your arwing is ready for you."

"Ok," Fox replied. "I'll be right there."

Time to shine, Fox thought before dropping the picture down and turning around to face his next challenge - escaping.