CHAPTER

"Ulterior Motive"

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Andross's hand came to his chin, gently stroking that peppered white beard. His eyes still held that initial disbelief but it was apparent that he was warming up to the idea being fed to him. Gazing intently upon the computer screen before him, Andross didn't know whether to make heads or tails of this situation just yet. It was, however, very believable.

"And how do I know that you're not some sort of trick or guise," The Emperor groused. "Tell me your story again, I wish to verify its authenticity."

There was a light sigh on the screen. There, upon Andross' personal monitor, at the desk of his quarters, was the visage of none-other than Vixy Reynard... Or rather, Vixy McCloud. Andross had known her since before her marriage to James and always referred to her by her maiden name.

"I was never cloned, that's ridiculous. You know I was never one for that sort of thing. As I said before, James saw me get into the car... and saw it blow up. They never found dental records or a body and assumed the bomb was that hot... was it?" Her soft alluring voice still held true even as she seems business like, in nature.

"Well... No I... I don't know. I don't' remember what kind of bomb I made," Andross admitted with a frown.

It blew up before I got into the car," She told him. "The driver side door was opposite to the house because the car was on the street corner. It erupted when I opened the door. I wound up on my back half a city block away, in the bushes. When I came to, I had complete amnesia. By the time my memories returned to the point where I have them now, James was dead, Fox was on Papetoon and I had already started over." Vixy shook her head slowly, glancing down at what appeared to be her paws.

The Emperor leaned forward, looking her over in the sharpest detail. He couldn't figure out why she would come before him wearing that red gown that she wore at her Senior Prom when she met James that first time. He could remember her sitting in the corner with no date. The young Andross Oikonni fidgeting with his bow tie, trying to work up the nerve to ask her to dance. Out of nowhere, one of the athletic kids, James McCloud walked up to her, bowed and asked her for the honor to dance... and she never looked back. He almost felt that same rage as the memory ended, and the detailed thought passed through his mind.

Vixy leaned her head down for a moment, slightly off the monitor's view. It appeared as though she was listening to something or had her attention elsewhere before she shifted her weight before the camera once more.

"Sorry... had an itch... Listen," She said, "I want you to know that I looked back over my shoulder 20 years ago. I just thought you didn't ask me because you had too much pride in your intelligence society.. to be seen with a girly face... and I suppose for the first time, I felt like an outcast. It's not every day miss popular is denied I guess," Vixy said, rubbing the back side of her head with her paw. It was such a cute move. Andross almost scorned Fox with his heart, for having taken such a gesture from his mother.

After all, it was the way Andross remembered Vixy.. with her paw behind her head, looking innocent and beautiful, in that gown at the prom... and yet... just as he finished the memory, she brought it up. It was as if they were on the same wavelength or something, which made him offer a genuine smile.

"Perhaps there is still time for a future for us Andorufu," She said with a smile. It caused Andross's breath to catch. Only Vixy called him that. And only once, one time he asked her to sign his year book a month after prom and she called him..Andorufu, and while it wasn't correct, he signed hers in return, putting that name in it.

"I'll contact you soon. My faction needs your aid," She said, holding a soft smile. He nodded in silence, his eyes still wide. The view screen went dim and the Emperor collapsed into his chair, shaking his head, not sure how to release the strange emotions he felt.

Iliria snapped Vixy Reynard's high school year book shut and smiled to the vixen wearing the red translucent gown that had once belonged to Fox's mother. She was visually exhausted from having used all her power to read Andross's thoughts from such a lengthy distance across Lylat. She had been meditating the entire time, trying to coach Fara in what to say by judging Andross's thoughts.

Watching with praise as the vixen pulled the COM link over her ear, snapping it into place about her eye, Iliria wearily approached her, joy causing her heart to nearly burst.

"Excellent job, Fara," the Iririan said with a brilliant smile. "Between stealing the gown and year book from McCloud's old Papetoon home storage.. and your brilliant performance, I do believe he bought it."

Fara nodded, reaching to unfasten the gown, slipping out of it. She draped the garment carefully over her arm in a reverent manner, knowing the gown will be needed later. She looked around for her normal garment.. but couldn't remember what it looked like. After a moment Iliria placed a folded black uniform on the table and stepped back. Fara looked at it curiously.

"It's yours, dear," Iliria explained.

"It.. is? Sorry, of course it is," Fara gave a smile, quickly getting dressed. "When will I be allowed to see my boyfriend again?" Fara asked, keeping her inquiry in a soft tone.

"Boyfriend? Why Fara, you don't have a boyfriend, you're single," Iliria said with a firm nod.

"Boyfriend? I... don't .. have a boyfriend," Fara repeatedly softly, "After all, I'm single," She continued, nodding firmly.

"Oh, but Andross thinks you're Vixy Reynard, isn't that a hoot?" The hare's lips went from a grin to a smirk, thinking about all the wonderful things that could come from this. Fara nodded in agreement, buttoning the last lapel button and stopping in front of a small mirror on the wall. She checked her appearance to make sure that it was completely perfect, to make sure that every crease and fold and brass button was in the right place and centered correctly, turning back to her mistress.

"Ready," Fara said, not exactly sure what she was ready for, other than having finished dressing.

"Why... my dear, why are you so nervous?" Iliria's words caused Fara to blink in confusion.

"Nervous?"

"Yes, dear," Iliria nodded, "You're simply shaking. I can see it in your eyes. Why would you be so nervous about Andross? As I told you, he's just a friend of mine, you have nothing to worry about. Don't be nervous, he DID want to ask you to dance, after all. He just thought you didn't like him!"

"That's silly!" Fara exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm being so nervous..." She shook her head for a moment, fidgeting, making sure her posture and composure were perfect. "I should know better than to be nervous, after all, he DID want to dance with me, I have him like putty in my paw," Fara said with a feminine giggle.

"That's right, girl. You sure do! I'm sure he'll be at your feminine whiles and lady-like whim in no time," Iliria giggled in reply.

"Mistress?"

"Yes?"

"I... don't... remember my prom." Fara looked down, hoping this wouldn't mean a punishment.. but to her surprise and to her delight, Iliria just laughed softly.

"What's the first thing you remember?"

Fara thought for a moment. Her paw went back behind her head, something that she'd gotten from Fox, from being around him so often as of late. Her subconscious still had it as an acquired maneuver, a gesture of thinking or being put on the spot.

"I think... I was on daddy's ship.. and Lizards took it over. I fought them off... Took down about 5, myself. But as I put the kung-fu on one, so to speak, another put a gun against my back..."

"Then what happened?" Iliria asked, somewhat amused.

"Someone came to my rescue... But I can't remember who," She said.

"Do you remember the time that Andross wanted to dance with you at the Prom?" Iliria prodded.

"Oh yeah... Duh," Fara looked embarrassed.

Iliria picked up a small locket that Fara had originally worn when they captured her. Flipping it open, she showed the pilot a picture of a male vulpine and quirked a brow. "Is this who you saw on that ship?"

"Yes! As a matter of fact, that's the very same one who rescued me, what's his name?" Fara jumped up, capturing the locket for a moment. Her eyes were glued to the man's picture now.

"That's Fox McCloud. I think Andross didn't trust him because he's your son. He's the son of Vixy and James, but remember, Andross did want to dance with you at prom, you owe him a little of your attention, if just for a little while," Iliria explained.

"My son? By the Goddess, how old am I?" Fara gasped.

"Well, you look good for 42," The Iririan giggled in delight. She was truly amused by this situation. Fara quickly went back to the small mirror looking into it for a moment, then smiling. "Damn, you're right, I do," She agreed.

Fox McCloud found that he could not sleep. Fara being pregnant could go beyond complicating things. His heart was racing. First of all, he had to rescue her NOW. That way they could plan their wedding before she was due. But that was him being selfish. He just wanted her home and safe and that he held to be true.

Fox's paws were drawn tightly into fists but he had nothing to punch. His heart, on the other hand, felt as though it had taken powerfully devastating blow after blow. He wasn't sure if he could take much more, his stomach turned sharply and...

The pilot doubled over. Dropping to his knees, he felt his clinched eyes pry open just enough to see that he was leaning over a wastebasket, coughing over the taste of the vomit that found its way into his trash pail. His head throbbed and his body ached. It was a sobering smell that assaulted his senses. He was partially glad he had found his way to the pail, though.

"McCloud!" Weakly, Fox glanced up towards the shouted word, rubbing his muzzle with the backside of his paw. An angry Falco stood behind him, arms folded, eyes narrowed. Fox leaned to his left, the side of the bed mattress holding him up.

"You're a mess, pilot," Falco scorned. "You're a man now. With a woman and a child on the way. Are you acting like a man? ARE you acting like a man?" Falco roughly pushed his hand underneath McCloud's right arm, hoisting him up onto his feet.

"Do you hear me? ARE you listening to me?" Falco jabbed Fox in his jaw, causing the vulpine's head to snap back. His eyes opened wide and he stared at Falco in horror. Did this jerk just hit him? In the face?

"Hello? Corneria to Fox, TUNE IN, please. We're NOT receiving your answer," Falco shouted, using his left hook, crossing across Fox's nose, causing his head to snap back again. Fox instinctively drew his fists up, blocking the next jab Falco made, then putting a left followed by a right into Falco's beak, with another right into the avian's gut, then an uppercut underneath Falco's jaw, knocking him back, but not hard enough to put him on the floor.

Falco lunged at Fox, head butting him in the face, both tumbling to the floor, collapsing. Fox was panting now, his paws still balled into fists.. but.. the moment had passed and he felt his adrenaline slipping away. He was quite sober now. He glanced over at the panting falcon on the floor, gazing upwards at the wing commander, half draped over the bed, starting to snicker.

Fox couldn't help but start to laugh softly, "A head butt? That's not clean fighting," He chuckled.

"You're just mad 'cause I kicked your ass," Falco said with a smirk, chuckles growing into a chortle, now.

"I had you RIGHT where I wanted you," McCloud laughed softly.

"Yeah, in the Lylat system! You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, what makes you think you can hit the dancing butterfly?" Falco said proudly. Both broke into laughter. It lasted for a moment, before Fox leaned back, sighing softly, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"I don't know what the hell I'd do without you to help me keep my cool," Fox said with a sigh of relief. Falco grinned, immediately replying to his commanding officer's words, "You'd get locked up, and you wouldn't fly into the black hole and fly that first mission against Andross. Oh, and you'd never get Fara back. Now... Let's go and figure out how to help her," Falco said with a firm nod, trying to push the pain in his jaw to the side.

"Nice uppercut, asshole," Falco groused.

Fox smiled, standing up fully, helping his friend to his taloned feet. Falco stood up, and brushed himself off quickly. With a grin, he patted Fox on his tender nose with a finger. Fox winced, flinching slightly.

"Aw... does it smarts, Foxie?"

"Shut up," McCloud grumbled and patted him on the shoulder, heading out of the room and up to the bridge. He had renewed strength and knew exactly what he was gonna do to get Fara back. He knew he was resolved now. More importantly, Fox knew that he had his team behind him, and just like the friends they were a year ago, when he was in trouble with Iliria, he and the team would be there for Fara.

General Pepper shook his head in thought. The green lolly was pulled from his maw, his eyes perusing the sugary candy for a moment before pushing it back into his mouth. His eyes moved back to the view screen and he smiled slightly.

"I don't know... We owe you a favor, but this would be it," He told Fox's team, over the communicator.

"Oh?" Fox's voice buzzed over the speaker. "Is that a fact? I guess you forgot that if you don't send someone, your liberalist government will not be happy, oh and the liberalist media will eat you alive," McCloud said, keeping his tone serious and professional.

"And you suggest S&R?" Pepper said, folding his arms.

"I suggest the StarFox S&R," Fox explained.

"What makes you think you can rescue her? They failed to get you out, and you failed to escape last year," Pepper reminded them.

"Because the circumstances are different," Fox said. "First of all, she doesn't have Andross' army behind her. She doesn't have a trained militia behind her. Second of all, I was trying to escape by throwing a spoon against laser bars. Thirdly, the team didn't have their leader. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes, of course, the MOST important reason why this will work," Fox continued.

"Yes?" General Pepper leaned in towards the view screen, listening to the pilot's plan.

"Andross took my parents. I beat his ass down and sent him and that stupid android pig running for cover. He took all I had sacred and I punished him for it. Now all I have to call sacred is Fara. Iliria's punishment is coming to her and it will be ME that deals it to her," Fox said, his eyes narrow and his complexion serious in tone and nature.

"But... Fox, Fara is... she's..."

"She's pregnant."

Pepper's eyes went wide as he stared at Fox in disbelief. "I didn't realize your relationship was so intense and personal," he finally said.

"It wasn't anyone's business. Now. Are you sending me or not?" Fox demanded.

"I don't know Fox, a mission concerning a personal bias can complicate things. It's not wise to send in someone that's," Pepper suddenly found himself cut off by a growl. Were Fox not such a close friend, through his father, the General would have quickly scolded the vulpine for such an interruption.

"She's my responsibility and I'm the best you got. At least this way you can tell the media that your absolute best team is out on Search and Rescue," Fox said, trying to retain his cool.

"Fine," Pepper sighed. Throwing the empty sucker stick into the trash, he turned back to Fox with a shake of his head. "You're going to be the death of me one day, Junior. Go get your girl back. But you realize now that you've taken her off my flight roster for 9 months," Pepper reminded, keeping a sullen look.

"And if we don't act now, she'll NEVER be back on it. Just give me the green light and I won't have to get in your way to get her back," Fox warned.

"Fine, fine, fine. You have it. Just go. Take what you need from the base, you know the routine," Pepper said, shaking his head one last time.

Fox turned to the group and smirked. "Let's get a plan together. I want to use stealth and hit hard when we're onboard her ship," McCloud said.

It was determined that Falco would fly a recon mission, scout ahead and Fox and Peppy would break into the base. Meanwhile Slippy would be the distraction arwing and Rob would autopilot the GreatFox. But no matter what happened, good or bad, Fox knew that he couldn't give up after one, two, or even three failed attempts. He knew that he would try until he died. And as far as Fara dying? That wasn't part of the equation and it never would be. Ever.