-Corneria City, Air Force Base-
Slippy was docking the GreatFox, James was sitting Fox's seat. Falco was sitting in his seat with Charlie standing behind him. Emerald was sitting in the seat that Krystal once sat in. And Jessie was standing behind James. Falco smirked at James.
" You better get out of Fox's seat before he get's you." Falco said.
" Dad's in the medical bay, he won't get me." James said.
" Wanna bet." said a familiar voice. James turned to see Fox standing next to Jessie.
" Hi dad." James said with a nervous smile.
" Is my seat comfortable?" Fox asked as he leaned towards James.
" Yeah." James said, leaning back.
" Do you like my seat?" Fox asked as leaned on the seat.
" Well, kind of." James said.
" Just kind of huh?" Fox said roughing up James' hair. " Well, whatever."
" We're docked." Slippy said as the GreatFox came to a stop. " Some one just ran aboard. It looked like Katt."
" What!" Falco said as he jumped up.
Falco turned to the door and ran. Fox laughed as Charlie soon followed. It was only a few seconds later that they came back in.
" Lock the doors!" Falco shouted as Charlie hid behind a console. Then the doors opened as Katt walked in.
" Falco!" Katt shouted as Falco ran behind Fox.
" Now Katt, don't be rash." Falco said from behind Fox. Katt's eye's widened as she saw Fox.
" I thought you said he only had a few scratches." Katt said as she walked up to Fox.
" Well, he does." Falco said.
" A broken arm doesn't count as a scratch!" Katt shouted at Falco.
" Go easy on him Katt." Fox said with a soft smile. Just then Katt noticed James' hair, it was still green.
" James, what happened to your hair?" Katt asked as a smile creeped onto her face.
" Charlie happened to it." James said as if it was nothing unusual.
" It actually works for you sugar." Katt said.
" Yeah, that's what I told him." Jessie said as she wrapped her arms around him.
" Oh, and who are you sugar?" Katt asked, just noticing Jessie.
" Oh, my name is Jessie Dowels. General Pepper asked me to help with the investigation of the claim that he received." Jessie said.
" Ok, now Falco, if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I'll pluck your feathers. All of them." Katt said with a devious smile.
" Sure, what ever." Falco said taking his usual stance, still standing behind Fox.
" Uh, huh. General Pepper wants to see all of you now." Katt said as she turned to leave.
" Let's not keep the General waiting." Fox said.
Everyone was soon on their way to see General Pepper. Katt watched Fox, knowing Krystal wouldn't be happy once she saw him. Katt's attention wandered along the rest of the team. Falco still walked on the other side of Fox, with Charlie behind him. Slippy was walking behind Fox, most likely watching him since he was hurt. Emerald was walking between her and Fox. Then she caught a glimpse of James and Jessie, they were holding hands. Katt grinned as she saw that. She had a feeling that wouldn't be the last time they saw Jessie. They soon reached Gerneral Pepper's office, where Krystal was waiting to see Fox and the others. As they entered Krystal froze as she saw Fox.
" Fox! Are you ok?" Krystal asked as she carefully wrapped her arms around him.
" I'm fine Krystal. I just need to take it easy, that's all." Fox said as she led him to a seat. General Pepper seemed surprised to see Fox in the condition he was in.
" My word Fox. How did you get in that shape?" General Pepper asked.
" It was just an accident General. These things do tend to happen every now and then." Fox said.
" Yes, well. First I must handle a small bit of side business." General Pepper said. " Jessie."
" Yes General Pepper sir." Jessie said.
" Your assistance is no longer required. I have arranged for a ship to return you to Macbeth." General Pepper said as he motioned towards the door. "Sorry that I can't see you off, but I must speak with Fox and the others."
" But, sir, I was hoping that I could help with the dilemma at hand." Jessie said quickly.
" There is nothing you can do Ms. Dowels. Now, be on your way." General Pepper said.
" But sir..." Jessie began.
" Ms. Dowels! This does not concern you! Now be on your way before I have you court-martialed!" General Pepper said, slightly raising his voice to her.
" General, this may not be my place to speak, but you have no idea how wrong you are." Katt said with a sly smile.
" What do you mean Katt?" General Pepper asked, curious.
" Well, I saw James holding Jessie's hand while we walked down here, And they didn't let go untill you addressed her. Now it doesn't take a genius to figure out that they have feelings for each other. So, in a way it does concern her." Katt said as she glanced at the two.
" Well, be that as it may. A small fling between the two is nothing in the eye's of the Sabers. It is unknown to them so there is no reason for her to stay." General Pepper said, then an unusually cold stare came upon his face. " Besides, she would only drag him down. Wouldn't you Ms. O'Donnel?"
Everyone had a shocked look on their face. Fox and Falco were shocked that the general knew, and that he would blurt it out like that. The others were shocked by what had been said.
" What do you mean General Pepper?" Emerald asked as she looked over at Jessie.
" I have kept it quiet for a long time. But it shouldn't be kept from you any longer. Jessie is non other then the daughter of Wolf O'Donnel. I had hoped that she wouldn't hold a grudge against Fox, but I can see I was wrong. She was the one who caused the 'accident', wasn't she?" General Pepper said as he looked at Fox.
" It was an accident!" Fox said as he stood to his feet. " And I knew she that is Wolf's daughter. But I have something to ask you. Did the fact that you knew who her father was effect the way she was treated?"
" That doesn't matter, now does it?" General Pepper said.
" So, you're Wolf's daughter. I don't see what difference it makes." Emerald said as she looked over Jessie.
" I don't care who her father is, I still love her." James said as he wrapped his arms around Jessie.
" James, it would be safer for her if that never got out." General Pepper said.
" Even if it didn't, I doubt the Saber's woulnd't find out. They found out all kinds of secrets before, what stops them from finding this out now. Just let her stay, it would be best all around. It would keep James out of trouble." Katt said as she sat down in an empty chair.
" I stand with my decision." General Pepper said. " Jessie, you must go now."
Jessie shook her head as she buried face into James chest. This wasn't fair, it wasn't fair at all. Jessie couldn't help but wonder if he was just doing this because of her father. She didn't want to go now that she found some one who cares for her.
" Jessie, I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice." General Pepper said as he picked up the phone and dialed a number. " Lieutenant, send in two guards to 'escourt' Ms. Dowels to her ship please."
" General, why! Why are doing this!" James asked.
" She has to return to her work on Macbeth." General Pepper said.
" But General, if my memory is correct, there's only the one base on Macbeth that monitors it. And it's run by machines much like our R.O.B. and the climate control center on Fichina, right? So there is no need for her to be there because the base is monitored by the computer from here." Falco said as he leaned on the desk, giving General Pepper a cold look. " So in reality, you just want her to suffer. And all this could have been avoided if you never treated her like that. Right? She was purposely deprived of social contact, wasn't she?"
" I have no idea of what you're talking about!" General Pepper said.
" I know what it's like to be treated like that. I know what you're doing to her. I suggest you stop before some thing happens." Falco said, still glaring at General Pepper. Just then the two guards entered.
" Jessie, it's time for you to be on your way." General Pepper said motioning towards the guards.
One of the guards gently grabbed her upper arm and pulled her from James. Jessie went left quietly, but she was obviously upset. Falco turned his back on General Pepper and leaned on the wall. He wasn't happy with General Peppers decision. As well as everyone else.
" Well, what did you want to talk about, I'd like to get out of this office as soon as possible." Fox said, a slight growl in his throat.
" Right, well. After recieving news of the Saber's I sent a team out to where they were rumored to be. They are there, but it would be dangerous to send troops to take them out. They have gotten stronger. And you are obviously in no condition to take them out." General Pepper said.
" I think we can take care of this. Fox can just sit this one out." Falco said without turning around. " You just have to look after our friends and family while we take care of this."
" Hey, I'm going to help." Katt said quickly.
" I know. I meant Charlie, James, Emerald, and Ray." Falco said.
" Ok, and I should call my parents, the Sabers might go after them." Katt said.
" Alright, you do as you please. If you think you can stop the Sabers then go ahead. But be careful." General Pepper said.
" Is that all you have to say?" Fox asked.
" Pretty much. I have taken liberty of getting some rooms set up for you until this is over." General Pepper said. Suddenly Bill came bursting in.
" Fox!" Bill said as he stepped into the room. " How are ya pal?"
" I've been better Bill. What are you doing here? Aren't you stationed on Katina?" Fox asked.
" Well normaly yes, but due to certain cicumstances I was brought to Corneria. I just heard that you were banged up some. I had to see if it was true. You hardly ever get hurt so I really didn't believe it at first." Bill said as he looked over Fox. " Man, you were banged up good weren't ya?"
" It was bound to happen one day." Fox said, shrugging.
" Bill, why don't you show them to their rooms for now." General Pepper said.
" Sure thing General. Come on guys." Bill said. They all walked out after Bill.
" I'm glad to be out of there." Falco said more to himself then any one else.
" You didn't like the Generals office Falco? Can't say I blame ya, I hate staying in an office any longer then I have to." Bill said then turned to James, Emerald and Charlie. " Hey, you three just graduated a few weeks ago right? Well Congradualtions!"
" Who cares." James said watching his feet.
" Hey, why so glum James?" Bill asked.
" It's all the Generals fault. I can't believe him." Falco said.
" What happened? I'm afraid I'm out of the loop here." Bill said, wondering what General Pepper could have done.
" Have you heard of some one by the name of Jessie Dowels?" Fox asked, confusing Bill.
" Yes, I met her when she went through a check point on Katina. She was pretty uptight. Like she was mad that she had to be held for a day on Katina. I didn't understand that though, because the General had asked her to come to Corneria. A little wierd that he asked for her to be held for a day when he said it was urgent that she get to Corneria as soon as possible." Bill said. " I only saw her for about five minutes though. Why did ya ask?"
" Well she was the one who helped with the search of Macbeth. James and her had become 'close'. General Pepper had decided to send her back to Macbeth, after she came back here with us." Fox said.
" But she wanted to stay with James right?" Bill said, beginning to understand.
" Yes, but the General decided she would be better off on Macbeth." Fox said.
" But, Macbeth's base is run by machines. The only reason to go there is if there's a malfunction. Truth be told, no one should be there alone." Bill said.
" Yeah, try telling Pepper that. But she's probably already on her way there now." Falco said. " It's about time he retires."
" Ok. Now why would the General treat her like that?" Bill said to himself.
" Let's not go into that." Fox said.
" It's not fair, no matter what the reason." Krystal said, knowing the truth.
" Well, here's the rooms." Bill said as they rounded the corner.
" Alright, we'll take a few day's to prepear for the Sabers." Katt said.
" Yeah that sounds good." Krystal said. " Bill wasn't Ray with you?"
" Yeah, I left him in that room down the hall. He was taking a nap when I left the room." Bill said as he headed for the door.
They all followed him into the room. It was a basic room with a few beds and a table in the corner. Ray was laying on a bed, sleeping away. Fox smilled and sat on the bed next to Ray. Ray shifted but didn't wake up. Fox gently ran his hand over Ray's back. He looked over to the others who were looking at Fox.
" Well, the other three rooms on this side of the hall are bedrooms, theres one bathroom for each room. The rooms across the hall are like liesure rooms. So you guy's don't go nuts from boredom." Bill said. " I'm going to go get something to eat. Any one want to join me?"
" I'll pass." James said as he laid down on a different bed.
" I'm starved." Falco said.
" I'm in." Emerald and Charlie said together.
" Food sounds good." Katt said.
" Yes, are you coming Fox?" Krystal asked. Fox looked at James for a moment.
" I think I'll pass." Fox said.
" I'll be fine dad. You go, besides, I already had something to eat with Jessie before we docked." James said. " I'll watch Ray."
" Are you sure?" Fox asked.
" Yeah, go on." James said.
" Ok." Fox said as he stood up, and they left.
James watched his little brother sleep out of the corner of his eye. Hoping it would remain peaceful for them while they prepeared for the attack on the Sabers. He also hoped Jessie would be safe and that there was a way to get her back with them.
