Author's note:

Alright, Fox and Krystal fans. Here's the scene you've been waiting for: the Border Security reference, Star Fox style.

Chapter 3: First Contact

This was not how Peppy wanted this mission to go. It should have been a simple recon assignment. A touch dishonest with the secrecy, granted, but simple, nonetheless. They never should have taken the job. Now Fox was missing. They had almost lost Falco, too. The rest of them barely got out of that dogfight alive.

Fox's garbled last message haunted Peppy. That boy had flown into the firing line to save his cotton tail. He then paid for it, possibly with his life. The guilt chilled Peppy more than the spartan interrogation room he sat alone in.

Falco's prediction had been on the money. After the NSF arrived to subdue the Venomians, Star Fox had been asked why they and Lylatian insurgents were fighting in a restricted zone. The Great Fox and the other, disabled dreadnaught were both towed all the way to Novellon. NSF officers stood armed in the Great Fox's bridge alongside its crew throughout the journey. They didn't outright say it, but Peppy knew that he and the rest of Star Fox were under arrest. The team's hands were already tied without the need for cuffs.

The lock outside the room beeped. A rooster in uniform entered with a folder under his wing. He sat across from Peppy and tapped a few buttons on the recording device beside them. "This is Sergeant Sylvester Anders interviewing Mr Peppy Hare of the Great Fox crew." Anders stated the time and date before locking eyes with Peppy. "Do you understand Novellonian, Mr Hare?"

"My translator is working fine, thank you." Peppy tapped the gadget plugged into his ear canal.

"Good." Anders opened the folder. He flipped through the first few pages. "Mr Hare, I understand that you and your crew had travelled to the Balven System for a protection contract with the merchant vessel, Hawkhurst. Is that correct?"

Peppy fought the urge to clear his throat. "Yes. That is correct."

"Yet while the Hawkhurst was docked at your destination on Eulethra, your crew left the planet for a period of two hours. Can you please explain why?"

"As we told the local authorities, we were having problems with our carrier's G-Diffuser systems on the way to the planet. We took a test flight to rectify them before we returned to Corneria."

"And this test flight led you into a region of space that is restricted from public entry, where you engaged with another vessel in armed combat? The records from your navigation systems show that you flew directly towards the planet Purgatory before the battle commenced."

"Yes, well… We are new to the system. We weren't exactly sure where we were going at the time. We just plugged in the coordinates to the nearest planet and went with it." Peppy explained. "When we came across the other ship and identified it as a Venomian dreadnaught, our two sides came to blows."

"You made no attempt to communicate with them first?"

"You have to understand this: Corneria and Venom were at war eight years ago. There are still hostilities between our worlds. My crew was responsible for defeating the Venomians' leader, Andross, at the end of the war. When we saw them in this system, we knew to expect violence."

Anders examined another document from the folders. "During the battle, one of your starfighters fell into Purgatory's atmosphere."

Peppy hung his head. Tears burned in his eyes. "Yes… Our… Our captain, Fox McCloud." He took a deep breath. "One of our other pilots, Falco, tried to rescue him but… but he didn't make it in time."

Anders sat back in his chair. A look of sympathy gleamed in his gaze. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Pardon me for asking, but is there any chance we can save him? Please… Fox is more than just our captain to us. He's family."

As the seconds ticked by, Peppy's hopes faltered that little bit more. "Again, I'm sorry," Anders sighed. "No one in recorded history has ever flown through Purgatory's dust layer and made it out again. The particles emit a mysterious energy that interferes with electrical equipment. As far as I'm aware, it's not possible to mount a rescue on that planet." Then, cruelly, he added, "That's the reason why Purgatory is clearly marked as off-limits on all Balvenish star maps; including the one that your ship was using to navigate."

The news that Fox couldn't be rescued knocked Peppy down. Anders's accusation kicked him while he was there. Flipping through the folder again, Anders pulled out a stack of stapled papers and showed them to Peppy. The Cornerian Army's emblem stood prominent on the cover page.

"We found this while examining your captain's terminal. Although it doesn't say as such, the contents imply that your crew were hired by the Cornerian military to track down that Venomian ship you encountered. This goes against the story that you just told me."

Peppy could not speak. All he could do was stare numbly at the mission briefing. "We have also spoken with your two crewmates. The frog didn't take long to tell us the true story."

Peppy's heart sank like a stone. "Please, go easy on those boys," he begged. "They've suffered enough today as it is. I'm their senior. I take full responsibility for everything that's happened."

"I wish it were as simple as that," Anders said flatly. "The fact that you were contracted by a foreign military power to enter Balven space, for reasons contrary to your visa conditions, creates a lot of complicated problems."

Peppy nodded grimly in understanding. "So, what happens to us?"

"Had you initiated that battle above Purgatory, we would have grounds to press charges, potentially leading to prison time. However, we know from your carrier's video records that the Venomians shot first. Normally, we'd count that as self-defence; but your crew came to our system prepared for conflict with them. The Novellonian and Cornerian Governments will need to talk this out to determine what should be done about the situation. Once that decision is actioned, your crew will be deported back to the Lylat System and subject to an exclusion period against re-entry."

A cold sweat broke across Peppy's grey fur. Anything could come about from officials bantering about the actions of a small mercenary squadron. Peppy prayed that Pepper would be able to negotiate terms that wouldn't put him, Falco, and Slippy behind bars. As a friend, Pepper would certainly do all he could to help. As Corneria's General, however, his options might be limited. Peppy began thinking of his daughter, Lucy. God, he hoped that she wouldn't end up losing him like she had her mother.

"What about the Venomians?" Peppy finally asked.

Anders's stare became as sharp as his beak. "Since they have entered the Balven System illegally, the Novellonian Government will prosecute them for the crimes they have committed here. If there are any charges that Corneria wishes to extradite them for, they can do so through the proper channels."

"And Fox? I know that you said it's impossible, but we can't just leave him! What if he's still alive?!"

Anders became silent again for a brief time. "If he did survive the crash, then that's the best you can hope for, unfortunately. We know nothing about Purgatory's surface. If it helps, it might be possible that the planet is habitable. But I don't want to give you false hope for a rescue attempt. You'll just end up dooming more people to that place."

He gathered his papers into a neat stack and closed the folder. "Until a decision is reached on how to proceed with your case, your crew will be transported to the Novellonian Lunar Detention Centre. There, you will be given access to an attorney to represent you." Anders soon ended the interview. "Once again, I'm sorry about what has happened to your captain." He then left Peppy alone.

Those last words brought Fox fresh into Peppy's thoughts. First, he had lost the tod's father, James, when their former teammate, Pigma Dengar, sold them out during the Lylat Wars. Now Peppy had lost Fox, too; and he had been powerless to stop it. Eyes swimming with tears, Peppy buried his face into his hands. Painful sobs shook his body even as two officers arrived to escort him away.

Fox awoke to the blurry sight of a wooden ceiling above his aching head. Pain covered his upper body. Fox gasped sharply. The slightest movement caused the agony to spike to unbearable levels. He took deep breaths. All that did was make his chest hurt.

'Broken ribs,' he remembered. That's right… There was that bear. It stood right on top of him. It crunched down on Fox's arm, throwing him around. Then he blacked out. 'At least I'm not dead… The winning streak is still going… yaaaaay…'

Fox twitched his left hand. His arm hurt like hell, but his fingers were still attached. With his right hand, Fox felt thick bandages and something long and firm bound to the other arm. More bandages covered his bare chest. Someone had saved him.

He turned his attention to his surroundings. With the limited view that he had, Fox could see a large room with several low-standing beds. He was lying in one of them. It wasn't a modern hospital as far as he could tell. There was no medical equipment. Everything looked to be made from wood.

Movement pulled Fox's gaze to the room's one doorway. A fox walked in and approached him. Surprise overtook Fox. The minimal clothing that she wore over her chest and waist startled him, sure. Her loincloth and jade necklace gave the woman an island native appeal. But what fascinated him most was that the colour of her pelt was blue!

Fox got a closer look as the vixen placed a clay jug and wooden cup onto the side table. White tattoos decorated her upper arms and thighs. Did she dye her fur that way? It looked so natural. The woman sat down on a cushion beside his bed. Fox focused on her face, which was covered entirely with cloud-white fur. She appeared to be about a similar age to him and wore a smile on her gentle muzzle. Braids of lapis hair hung over her beaded tiara. Her eyes were yet another, softer shade of blue. They gazed upon Fox kindly, drawing him in.

'She's gorgeous…'

"Yin ma su matan no ral ka jorn," she spoke. "Hou ku ral deen?"

Fox stared at her blankly. He slowly shook his head. "I don't understand you."

The vixen blinked. Her expression became uncertain. "Caita. Yin zu dator ral." Fox guessed that was roughly the same as what he had just said. She frowned as though in thought.

"Yin jei: hou ku ral deen?"

Fox jolted. The action caused his chest to hurt for an instant. It faded after a few moments, though the shock from before lingered with him. He stared at the woman. Her lips had not moved that last time she had spoken. It felt as though her voice had instead come from inside his head! "What the hell was that?"

"Hou ku ral deen?" she said again. Fox shook his head once more.

"I'm sorry! I still don't know what you're saying. My arm and chest hurt if that's what you're talking about." He winced. "My head hurts like hell, too."

The woman lowered her gaze sadly. Fox hated having made her feel down. He tried to make sense of what had just happened. Somehow, she had spoken directly into his thoughts. It definitely wasn't the product of a concussion. Was she a telepath; someone who could read minds?

'Wait… Did she hear me think she was gorgeous a moment ago?' Fox freaked. 'Shit! Did she just hear me think that now?! Is she still listening? Fuck! Stop it, Fox! Stop checking her out! Stop staring into her eyes! Just stop everything!' In his panic, Fox aggravated the wound on his arm. Pain set everything back to a blank slate. 'Yep. Okay. That's good. The pain is good. Safe to think about. Focus on that.'

"Ka ral dabyet?!" the vixen said in alarm, reaching out to Fox as he clutched his arm.

"I'm fine… Just fine…" Fox groaned, assuming that she was asking if he was alright.

She handed him the cup, which was filled with something green. Fox accepted it from her and held the liquid to his nose. It smelt bitter. Medicine, he guessed. If it made all this pain go away, Fox was willing to drink it. Alas, it tasted as horrid as expected. He spluttered after draining the cup, thrusting it back into the vixen's hands before he could drop it. She refilled the cup with the jug. This time with water. Fox used it to wash the aftertaste away.

"Thank you," he told her.

The woman stared at him thoughtfully again. Her expression reminded Fox of her strange powers. So, apparently, she could talk into his mind. It was a pity that they still couldn't understand each other's language. Fox poked inside his ear to where his translator should be. It must have fallen out at some point. He huffed in annoyance but decided that it didn't matter all that much. There was a good chance that the translator, even if it were still working, wouldn't have any data on her people's dialect. It looked like they'd have to find another way to communicate.

He could hardly ask her where he was. Fat chance he'd know if he'd get a useful answer. Instead, Fox pointed to his bandages. "What happened to me?"

Since she could still read his mind, Fox wondered if the vixen could perceive more than just the words in his head. He focused his thoughts on memories and feelings; on images that he could recall before he lost consciousness in the forest. Her eyes brightened. She then closed them. Fox's thoughts distorted. It felt like looking at his computer monitor when Slippy once accessed it remotely to help fix an issue.

The woman took control over what Fox saw in his mind's eye. He saw the bear attack from an outside view. A chill washed over Fox at the sight of it mauling him all over again. The vixen threw flames at the bear with her staff like it was a magic wand. Valiantly, she stood over Fox and threatened the bear with her powers until it took off. The woman then turned to Fox in his broken, bleeding state. She patched up his wounds and watched over him until more foxes dressed in similar tribal wear arrived to carry Fox on a stretcher.

"You saved me?" he asked, pointing between her and himself. She nodded, smiling. "Thank you. I'd have been a goner if you hadn't shown up."

The vixen looked confused. Perhaps Fox had said too much at once. He should have just stopped with thanking her. He stared at the woman again. Having seen all that she had done for him through her eyes, Fox became awestruck. To take on something as nasty as that beast to save a stranger was nothing short of heroic. He learned something new and incredible about this person with every passing minute.

"Thank you," he said again, concentrating on how grateful he felt. It lifted his spirits to watch her smile again.

Fox's stomach growled. He was starving. How long had he been out of it? The woman left the room briefly, returning with a bowl of stew. Its scent perked Fox's ears and made him yearn. She helped Fox to sit up. The medicine must be doing its work since he couldn't feel the pain from his ribs as badly. She placed the bowl upon his lap. Its warmth bled into him. Fox brought a spoonful of soft meat and broth to his mouth. It tasted wonderful.

He thanked the vixen again as he handed her the empty bowl. Fox's thoughts soon turned to his team. Peppy and Slippy were probably worried sick over him by now. Falco might be keeping a stiff upper beak about the whole thing, but he would probably end up pacing holes into the Great Fox's floors. Fox tried asking the vixen about them, recalling the dogfight with the Venomians and how he crashed onto the planet. She expressed moments of astonishment and confusion. It didn't seem like she knew anything, though. She became dejected when she sensed his hopes fall.

"Sorry," he sighed. "I'm probably not making any sense to you at all." By the looks of the room and how she fought that bear, Fox began to guess that her culture wasn't technologically advanced.

For a while, the two of them simply sat there feeling sorry for themselves. The vixen eventually looked up to Fox and pointed towards herself. "Krystal."

Was she telling him her name? Fox pointed to her. "Krystal?" She nodded. He smiled and gestured to his own chest. "Fox."

"Fox," Krystal repeated.

Fox's smile widened. There they go; understanding each other a little better one step at a time. "Thank you, Krystal. For saving my life."

She had a wonderful smile. Krystal projected more visions into Fox's mind: of him resting while she stood in another room of the building. He nodded to show that he understood where to find her if he needed anything. At last, Krystal got up and walked away. Fox couldn't help but watch the way in which her hips rocked with each step. Her tail, with its lush fur bound in three golden bracelets, swayed in a gentle, graceful manner that mesmerised Fox.

All alone again, Fox settled back into the bed and stared up at the ceiling. 'Okay, Fox. Let's run through everything we've learned. You are stranded on an alien world with no one able to rescue you from the outside. You're in bad shape, but you've found friends… even though you can't really communicate with them well yet. You seem to be safe and have access to food, water, and shelter. Now… what are you going to do?'

Krystal walked out of the ward feeling her mind weighed with many thoughts. This man, Fox, was unlike anyone she had ever met. Even with her telepathy, she could not decipher his strange tongue when she asked how he was feeling. All that she could understand were his emotions and the visions that he imagined. Fox learned quickly to use both in order to communicate with her.

The latest memories that she glimpsed from him baffled Krystal. Fox was sitting in a tight metal space surrounded by a black ocean. Strange birds like the one Krystal had seen earlier swam through the darkness, spitting green lights like venom. Fox had felt something powerful strike him from behind. Panic filled him as he approached an immense, pink globe and passed into it.

His memories then showed Cerinia's landscape as though he stood higher than the tallest mountains. Fox fled his metal space and floated gently through the sky! On his way down, he watched the metal bird he had been inside fall into the forest. That must have been what Krystal had seen before she found him. Had he come from the world above Arethan? What kind of fox did that make him?

Fox's thoughts eventually lingered on three people who looked unlike anyone Krystal had ever met. An older, grey mammal with long, slender ears. A blue birdman with red feathers around his sharp gaze. And a squat, green amphibian with smooth skin and bulbous eyes. Whoever they were, Fox thought of them dearly. He felt worried; lost; alone without them. Krystal wished that she could understand Fox better. Maybe then she could help him more.

Krystal walked across the shrine floor to where her parents conversed. Her mother, Nomar, looked over to Krystal. "How is he?"

"He's awake and in pain," she replied. "Both physical and emotional. I think he's lost, but I cannot understand a word that he says. His thoughts are… difficult for me to make sense of. I don't think he's a child of Cerinia."

"A foreigner from the heavens?" her father, Thalse, supposed. Krystal nodded.

"I did learn his name: Fox. He's eating and drinking, so that's reassuring." She turned to her mother. "How long do you think he'll take to recover?"

Nomar frowned. "I've done my best to set his bones back into place. His ribs will mend in a month, but that arm will take longer."

"He's lucky that you fended off that ordus just in time," Thalse said. Concern marked his silver face. "Is there something else, Krystal?"

She hung her head. "It doesn't feel like enough." Her fist curled by her side. "Fox is hurting deep inside. He's been separated from people who he cares about. He wants to be with them again but doesn't know how to go back to where he came. I want to help him."

A proud smile spread across her father's lips. "You have a kind soul, Krystal. I'm sure that there must be a way that you can."

"This man, Fox," Nomar spoke up. "His situation reminds me of the other foreigner who arrived here all those years ago."

"You might be on to something," Thalse nodded, crossing his arms. "I will speak with him and see if he is willing to meet. Perhaps he and Fox can help each other."

Krystal's heart soared with joy. "You can?" She threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Papa."

Thalse returned the hug. His thick, muscled arms, tattooed with dark marks from shoulders to wrists, held her with nothing but gentle love. "I will do my best. It may take some time, though. The Doctor is a busy man, but I'm sure that he will be interested in meeting Fox."

That would be enough for Krystal. She grinned broadly. If this Doctor was as brilliantly knowledgeable as people say, he might be able to help Fox get home. Yet, Fox intrigued her so immensely. She sensed that there was much more to him than she currently understood. Once he felt better, Krystal wished to learn more about the world where Fox came from before he returned to it. She could not shake the feeling that there was something wondrous above the heavens that she knew nothing about. Fox's mind was probably full of countless new things that she hoped he might share with her.

Those hopes made Krystal excited.

End note:

I've seen a lot of fics demonstrate Krystal learning Cornerian using her telepathy, or in one case teaching Fox Cerinian using the reverse method. Here, I decided to not do either and left a language barrier between them. This decision was inspired from having a German manager who once told me that whenever they count, they always count in German. It made me wonder how much I would be able to understand of the thoughts of someone who could only speak a different language to mine. How much could be communicated with memories and emotions? How much of our thoughts are constructed from the words we learned to speak? It's a surreal concept to think about, and made for a fun first challenge to throw Fox now that he's on Krystal's planet.