Chapter 3
Falco's heart stopped as he saw the explosion. He watched, and prayed to see Fox fly off. But it never happened. He couldn't believe that just happened.
" FOX! Fox come in! Fox, Fox! Fox." Falco yelled out, then he put his face in his hands.
He couldn't believe it. Fox was gone, his best friend, the one he considered to be a brother was gone. Falco sobbed into his hands.
" Falco, what are we going to do?" Krystal asked as tears streamed down her face.
" Everyone return to the GreatFox." Falco said in a low and defeated voice.
As their Arwings were secured in the launching bay Falco looked over at the empty spot where Fox should be, Falco climbed out and walked over to Krystal. She was sobbing into her hands. Falco carefully helped Krystal out of her Arwing. Slippy walked over to join his two freinds. Falco put an arm around Krystal and walked her out. He took Krystal to her room and helped her over to her bed. She was crying hard. Falco gave her some time alone. Slippy followed Falco as he headed for the bridge. When they reach the brigde Falco just stood in the doorway.
" Slippy, return us to the space station." Falco said in a low voice.
" The pirates are retreating." R.O.B. announced.
Falco didn't care, he went to his room and sat on his bed. He looked at a picture of him and Fox form their academy day's. Fox had his arm around Falco's shoulder, while he stood in his normal stance, arms folded. Falco fell to his side in the bed and curled up, hugging the picture. He never knew it would hurt so bad to lose Fox. Just earlier that morning he had been planning a prank to pull on Fox he even got Krystal in on it. Now Fox wasn't even there. He began to sob again, unable to stop it. Falco began to pound his mattress. He started screaming out in anger and sorrow. He was stricken with such anguish. He started cursing himself for just sitting back and letting it happen. He could have stopped it, he could have but he didn't. Falco hated himself, he hated everything about himself.
Falco slid off his bed then switched to pounding his knees. He wished he were the one who died. Falco kept that up until Slippy came in to inform him they had docked. Slippy was shocked to see Falco beating on himself. Falco laid on the floor motionless. He made no effort to move. Slippy left Falco to do as he wished, not wanting to be Falco's new target. Falco laid there a while, but he got up because he would have to see Commander Suaren to discuss payment. Falco really didn't care much for the money at the moment, but it had to be collected by someone. Falco wasn''t about to make Krystal do it, and Slippy just wasn't the person he wanted to send in this state. Falco dragged himself to his bathroom to clean himself up a bit.
Falco left the GreatFox. He asked a near by guard where Commander Suaren was. The guard took Falco to the commander. Falco entered to see the reptile in high spirits.
" How can I help you?" Commander Suaren asked, not recognizing him.
" I am Falco Lambardi, of the StarFox team. I'm here to collect payment for our services." Falco said.
" Where's Mr. McCloud?" Commander Suaren asked, as if he thought Fox was just relaxing.
" He's dead." Falco said in a low voice and Commander Suaen's smile had faded, he didn't expect that answer.
" I'm so sorry. I won't make you go into details." Commander Suaren said as he reached over to a safe.
He pulled out a very large amount of credits and put them in a suitcase for Falco. He allowed Falco to count them. Falco counted out to two hundred thousand credits. He took them and turned to leave.
" Mr. Lombardi, you have my deepest condolences." Commander Suaren said in a soft voice.
Falco nodded then returned to the GreatFox. He put the credits away and went to check on Krystal. She was curled up, sobbing in her sleep. Falco covered her with a blanket and stroked her back for a few minutes.
" I'm sorry Krystal. I failed to protect him." Falco said in a soft voice.
He got up and left her, he returned to his room where he fell back against the door and slid down to the floor. He wrapped his wings around his knees and began to sob. He was a failure, becuase of him a great man was dead. Falco wished Fox was there, by his side. But he wasn't and never would be again.