Chapter 17: The Ape Emperor
Using careful precision, Thene poured the vegetable oil into a measuring flask. She watched its golden surface elevate to the desired volume. Satisfied, she mixed the oil with soap, which she likewise portioned meticulously, into a glass jar and sealed it. For the final touch, Thene brought the head of her staff in close. Its crystal shone as she harnessed the natural mana that permeated the oil. At her will, it churned throughout the jar, mixing the solution's components together. Thene maintained her control for another 10 seconds. The liquid sloshed on its own momentum until it settled completely.
Thene raised the jar to eye level. The insecticide appeared to have mixed thoroughly. With it, she would eradicate the beetles that wormed their way into the laboratory's greenhouse. The poqua stalks could then grow undisturbed. If she and Dr Andross could improve the plants' yield before the next harvest, Kezamat's citizens could enjoy more of a desired but otherwise scarce crop. The city would become indebted to them, granting another favour for Andross to call upon at his leisure. Once they overcame their current roadblock, she and Andross would soon need all the support they could garner.
Setting the insecticide down, Thene glanced across the room. Dr Andross hunched over his worktable. His head laid in his hands. Fingers dug through his silver hair like claws. Thene did not need to scratch deep to sense his frustration.
They had squeezed all the knowledge they could from the meagre amount of sky dust collected on Fox McCloud's ship. There was so much more that they could learn, yet the quantity was insufficient for thorough testing. Alas, they could not find any more. For six months, Thene and Andross searched high and low for new sources around Kezamat. They used light bulbs and hand generators to scour the ground like metal detectors. Not even sites with strong magical power offered even a hint of dust.
Thene approached the worktable and stood behind Andross. "You are stressed."
"Perhaps I am," he grumbled. "That dust is the one thing standing between us and advanced civilisation. It is a solid substance in Cerinia's outer atmosphere. It cannot be possible that there aren't traces here on the surface!" He growled into his palms. "But where do we find them?"
Thene placed a hand over each of Andross's shoulders, kneading gently. "We will figure it out eventually." She transmitted tranquil, reassuring thoughts to him. "A clue will reveal itself to us. It is only a matter of time."
After a minute, Andross leaned back and sighed. The tension within him melted under Thene's ministrations. Smiling, she cleared away the irksome emotions that bedevilled his mind. Serenity filled Thene. She used it to soothe her teacher further. "Yes," she cooed. "That's it. Let your thoughts rest in this moment."
Her hands roamed slowly down Andross's chest until Thene draped over his shoulders. Nuzzling her cheek against him, she overlaid her consciousness with his. A grin of mirth pulled her lips. Even in this calm state, when she told him to rest, Andross's thoughts continued to churn ideas the same as ever.
A magnificent mind resided within his cranium. Thene strolled through it. Concepts and memories surrounded her like books in a library. The fingers of her psyche brushed along their spines. Her inner vision glistened at the wonderous montage born from Andross's meditation. The gem merchants. The Lythan Jad. Chief Gylis, himself. The seasoned travellers who ventured through Kezamat for a bowl of hot stew and a warm bed. Thene and Andross had approached each of them for any information related to their cause.
'There has to be something I haven't considered yet,' Andross mulled to himself. Doubtlessly aware of Thene's presence, he ignored her intrusion completely.
She did not mind his indifference. Wading through his fountain of knowledge unobstructed was her favourite pastime. Thene revelled in the unfathomable expanse before her. The secrets of the mortal plane were revealed over a life dedicated to understanding the universe. In that time, Dr Andross had mastered powers that most people could only dream of. He had created new forms of life; laid waste to entire cities; shaped planets to his will; built bridges that crossed lightyears in an instant; and even cheated death itself.
Thene basked in the mind of a god. What other being could possibly demonstrate such knowledge? Bah to the temple priests and the fantasies they worshipped. Their deities were nothing compared to this one in Thene's arms, who she could see, hear, touch, smell, and speak with his thoughts. He was the only being she deemed worthy to be her patron. Only he she would follow until her final days.
Feeling inspired by the irony of it, Thene sailed to the region of Andross's mind that housed his studies of ancient cultures. A smirk grew across her muzzle as she flicked the pages to the roles that religion played in peoples' early understanding of their worlds. It amused Thene that something as ordinary as the rain was revered as some god's blessing. How foolish it was to believe that tributes and prayers had any influence over weather patterns. And yet, delight could be found in sifting through the myths for the nuggets of truth that birthed them. Every legend could be traced back to some natural phenomenon. Some event that primitive cultures had observed but could not yet comprehend.
Andross stirred as his mind latched onto those thoughts. He broke away from Thene's embrace, sitting straight and rubbing his chin. Thene watched him map the concepts to their current pursuit. A bright light sparked within him. Andross turned to her as a bold grin broke across his face.
"Thene," he said, "once again, you have aided me in the most unexpected of ways."
She smiled sweetly to him. "It is a talent of mine, Doctor."
"Indeed." Andross turned back to the worktable and began scribbling across a fresh sheet of parchment. "We have been searching for the dust from the wrong perspective. The earth and sky are revered by your people as divine entities. Instead of seeking the dust with science, we should be tracing it through the myths that surround it."
"And so, we should consult with the temple priests?" Thene deduced.
"Them and others, depending on what leads we can obtain." Andross set his charcoal pencil aside and lifted the mind map he had drawn. Still tethered to his thoughts, the chaos strewn atop the page was as clear to Thene as the finest artwork.
"Prepare for an expedition," he told her. "We may need to traverse the continent to find the answers we seek."
"And what of the poqua stalk experiments?" Thene asked. "We won't be able to raise the plants while away from the city. Abandoning them now would set that project back by half a year."
"We will call on McCloud to tend to them," Andross shrugged dismissively. "I doubt it's beyond his abilities to keep a few plants alive for a month or two."
Thene frowned dubiously. "Would he help us willingly though?"
"We can convince him to." Andross turned a dark glare of his own to her. "If he wants to return home as soon as possible, it is in his best interest to cooperate and not waste our time."
Thene nodded. "I will summon him shortly, then." Turning away, she made her way back to her workstation and collected the insecticide. Once the poqua plants were treated, she would then tend to the bother of wrangling McCloud's stubborn will.
As she worked, Thene looked forward to the journey ahead. She could end up walking the empty roads alone with Dr Andross for weeks without disruption. There would be plenty of opportunities for them to share warmth on cold, windy nights and huddle under shelter from heavy rains. Perhaps she could stage a few such opportunities in advance. Anything that would allow her to get as close as possible to the extraordinary man to whom she devoted her mind, body, and soul. Thene's tail swished at the prospect. Just the thought of it set her heart aflutter.
"To our next story: a Corbal City man on Zoness has been charged with multiple counts of fraud. Gerald Billson, a 30-year-old IT technician, defrauded more than $250,000 worth of donations through various crowdfunding websites. His victims were falsely led to believe that the money would be directed to the Bring Home Fox McCloud Foundation.
Police were notified about Billson's scam through an anonymous tip from a concerned member of the public. Forensic investigation into Billson's online activity uncovered links between him and the fraud accounts, as well as illegal off-world bank accounts containing the stolen funds.
When reached out for comment, Head of the Fox McCloud Foundation, Lucy Hare, had this to say:"
"The eight months since Fox went missing have been difficult for all of us. So far, we've been grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts to rescue him. What this person has done, however, has hurt Fox's friends and family in the worst way I can imagine. We are disgusted. We are upset. And we are angry.
I want to thank the Corbal City Police Department for catching this horrible man, as well as the people who stepped forward to warn us about his actions. If there's one thing to take away from this, it's that we should all be careful when donating to causes online through third parties. For people who wish to continue helping us rescue Fox, I ask that you please donate directly to the Foundation through our website."
"Billson is scheduled to appear before the Corbal City Magistrate in September, this Zonessian calendar year."
The radio broadcast switched to a series of advertisements. Dash glanced at the navigator on his fighter's console. Planet Fortuna was fast approaching. His throat tightened. His fingers squeezed around the controls. Dash swallowed but it stuck halfway down. He let out the breath pent inside his chest. 'Get it together,' he ordered himself.
The Monkey Arrow dipped through Fortuna's ozone layer. Lush, untamed jungle sprawled across the continent below as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful. If not for the harsh tropical storms and gigantic insects that lived on the planet, Fortuna could have been colonised to closely resemble Corneria.
Dash's appreciation of the scenery became cut short. His scanners alerted him to approaching starfighters. They burst through the cloud cover behind Dash. Three in total. Invader Class Vs. Venomian made. The fighters flew after Dash in a V-formation. Dash's nerves buzzed throughout his body. He reached forward to his console and pressed a single button. It hailed the other fighters.
"Unidentified spacecraft," one of their pilots answered. "You are flying within a restricted military zone. Turn your ship around and vacate the area immediately."
Oh, this zone was certainly occupied by someone's military. "Who am I speaking with?" Dash asked evenly.
"That is classified information and none of your concern! Now ascend your ship or we will open fire."
"Well, whoever you are, I request permission to land."
There was a pause in the call. Dash had a funny feeling that the pilots might be laughing. "And who the hell do you think you are to ask that?"
"Dash Bowman, grandson of the great Doctor Simon Andross." Dash threw in as much confidence and disdain in his tone as he could. It helped to imagine how Falco would handle this situation. "And I am requesting permission to land at your base and speak with my first-cousin, Andrew Oikonny."
The second pause gave Dash some small hope. Not being blasted out of the sky then and there was also comforting. After a few minutes, the Venomian pilot responded at last. "We apologise for the confusion, Mister Bowman. Permission to land has been granted. General Oikonny will meet you shortly upon arrival. Please follow us to the airfield."
"Thank you, soldier. I appreciate it."
After the war, Corneria hounded the remnants of Andross's empire relentlessly. Intense surveillance over Venom made it virtually impossible for his followers to rebuild their strength there. The solution they came up with was to abandon Venom. They established a new home base on Fortuna; built from the ground-up right under Corneria's nose. It was how the Androssians, as they now went by, eluded discovery for the past nine years.
The base was concealed in the shadow of a mountain range. Several large, conjoined buildings stood within a cleared patch of forest. Dash's escorts descended towards the airstrip. Steeling his nerves, Dash landed alongside them. He clung to a semblance of calm that felt fragile. Armed soldiers surrounded him the second that Dash stepped out of his ship.
He was frisked and found to be unarmed. The soldiers then marched Dash at gunpoint across the field. The further they got from the Monkey Arrow, the more anxious he started to feel. More soldiers emerged from the base. Among them, clad in an officer's coat, walked Andrew Oikonny: Dash's first cousin once removed. When his group reached Dash, Oikonny turned his nose to gaze down upon him.
"Dash Bowman," he drawled. "Son of Ashley. Andross's own blood." Oikonny puffed out his chest. "Our first meeting has been long overdue, little cousin."
"Indeed, it has," Dash replied. He kept his expression firm.
Years ago, the Cornerian Army learned that Oikonny had separated from his previous squadron, the outlaw mercenary team, Star Wolf. Rumours claimed that their leader, Wolf O'Donnell, kicked Oikonny off the team. His reasons why were unknown. After that, Oikonny rallied what remained of Andross's supporters and effectively took his uncle's place as their army's new leader.
"Tell me, cousin. How did you manage to find our glorious stronghold?" Oikonny asked.
"One of Grandfather's faithful followers guided me: Gibbon O'Sullivan."
Oikonny pondered the name briefly. "Ah, yes. O'Sullivan and his crew were captured in the Balven System last year."
"The last time I was there, I paid O'Sullivan a visit in prison," Dash elaborated. "He recognised my bloodline and potential. He told me how to find you."
In actuality, Dash and O'Sullivan had never met. The Cornerian Army finally received his dreadnaught's data records from the Novellonians after months of waiting. As soon as the NSF retrieved the evidence needed for their own investigations, they passed the decrypted information to Corneria. The army then traced the ship's flight records until they pointed to a base not previously known to them. Unless Oikonny travelled to Novellon and spoke to O'Sullivan inside a maximum-security prison, he'd never know that.
Oikonny's hands unclasped from behind his back. They crossed over his chest as suspicion narrowed his gaze. "And why would he tell you that? Why is it that you've come here? I've heard that you now fly as a pilot for those wretched fools in Star Fox!"
Dash resisted the flinch that struck him. "Corneria hails Star Fox as heroes. But I've seen what they truly are. Their new leader is a prick who thinks he's better than everyone. The rest of the team consists of an old fart, a useless frog, and a floozy who rides Lombardi's lap better than she does a starfighter. Without Fox McCloud, Star Fox is nothing but a joke!"
'Sorry, Katt… Peppy and Slippy, too...'
Dash laced his next words with anger. "Even though I'm their teammate, all they do is look down on me. They laugh at me; mock me; and keep me on the sidelines while they take a bigger cut of every pay. I've realised too late that I joined the wrong side. It's high time that I accepted my heritage and followed in Grandfather's footsteps!"
To conclude, Dash bowed his head. "Please, Cousin Andrew. Please let me help your cause. Give me a chance to prove I can be useful to you; so that I may serve Andross's will."
Dash tensed as he waited for a response. The intel reports told that Oikonny was a braggart and fiercely loyal to Andross. Show him a little reverence and pledge to the family name, and his walls would crumble. Dash's intention was also to play on his cousin's sympathies. Being dismissed as Star Wolf's worst pilot during the Lylat Wars, Oikonny understood the torment of his teammates' mockery well.
"Your plight touches me deeply," he replied. "Yet I must ask: What do you have to offer us?"
Dash lifted his head. "My talents and my loyalty. As well as this." A dozen guns centred on him as Dash reached into his pocket. His hand froze until Oikonny gestured for him to proceed. Moving slowly so not to excite itchy trigger fingers, Dash retrieved a flash drive to present. "On this drive are the schematics for all of Star Fox's starfighters, as well as their carrier."
Oikonny's face lit up in astonishment. "Is… Is that for real?"
"For real," Dash promised. "And I can offer more if you accept my humble request. With me inside Star Fox, every bit of knowledge about them will be at your fingertips."
At Oikonny's order, one of the soldiers took the flash drive from Dash and handed it to his liege. Oikonny cradled the thumb stick as though it were made of gold. Slipping it into his coat pocket, he cleared his throat and straightened. His earlier haughtiness returned.
"You have done your family a grand service. I accept your pledge and hereby welcome you to the Androssian Empire." Oikonny then waved his hand. The guards lowered their weapons. Stepping forward, Oikonny clasped Dash's shoulders and smiled. "Come. Let us speak further on this inside."
A genuine grin flashed across Dash's face. The scariest part was now behind him. He followed Oikonny and his entourage into the base. "Tell me, Dash: Do you know if Corneria is aware of our presence here on Fortuna?"
"They don't. The Novellonians are holding onto the records from O'Sullivan's ship in the Balven System. So far, I haven't heard that they've shared the data with Corneria yet."
Oikonny chuckled, clearly pleased. "Finally, bureaucracy works in someone's favour. Ours in this case."
"It helps that Novellon doesn't trust Corneria after what Star Fox did in their system last year. General Pepper really pissed them off, so I don't see them rushing to give him anything he wants."
"Fate is certainly smiling upon us," Oikonny nodded.
They walked through white-painted halls built more for service than to look pretty. Pipes and electrical wiring hung exposed along the ceiling. Boot prints trailed mud from the forest across the floor. Dash spied several posters promoting mantras to the passing soldiers. 'All for the glory of a new Lylat. All hail Andross.'
"Speaking of that incident," he said. "While I was with Star Fox, I discovered why they were out in the Balven System in the first place. They weren't just there to find Venomian soldiers. They were specifically looking for Andross." He paused to gauge Oikonny's reaction. His cousin remained stoic. "At first, I couldn't believe it. But is it true? Is Grandfather still alive?"
"It is. Uncle Andross's resurrection technology brought him back to us, but for only a short time." Oikonny sighed sadly. "We lost contact with him after he left for the Balven System. To learn what became of Uncle Andross, we sent soldiers to find him. We tracked his last movements to the planet Purgatory. The trail went cold at that point."
"Do you think he might have crashed on Purgatory, like McCloud did?" Dash asked.
"It's possible. Unfortunately, since the only copy of Uncle's mind was stolen by the Cornerians, that is the best scenario we can realistically hope for. If Uncle Andross is indeed trapped on Purgatory, it is our duty to rescue him."
"Do you know how to fly a ship through the planet's atmosphere?"
"No," Oikonny almost snarled. "The local authorities have stepped up their patrols in the system since O'Sullivan's crew was discovered. It's become extraordinarily difficult for us to even study Purgatory."
"Then it's a good thing I've come to help you," Dash smirked. "Star Fox can travel freely to Balven so they can rescue McCloud. If we wait for them to find a way to succeed, we can swoop in and save Grandfather instead."
Oikonny's teeth shone in a malevolent grin. "As well as destroy Star Fox and doom Fox McCloud to exile in one move. What a marvellous idea."
"If it is alright with you, General," Dash added, "I would like to continue flying with Star Fox as your spy. I want to see Lombardi's face when he learns in his last moments that I've played him for a fool."
His grin widened even further before Oikonny replaced it with a serious frown. "Will you be able to avoid being found out?"
Dash scoffed. "It'll be easy. Unless we're working on a contract, they don't care what I do or where I go. Lombardi and Monroe disappeared together a few weeks ago. Nobody asked any questions when they finally came back. I could serve you here at this base between missions and Star Fox would be none the wiser. I can't wait to teach them for ignoring me all the time."
Once again, he appealed to his cousin's thirst for recognition. Oikonny rubbed his chin for a moment. "Very well. I will permit you to continue working with Star Fox under the guise as their ally. And if you can slip away unnoticed, there are tasks that we are always looking for able bodies to carry out."
"I look forward to it," Dash replied dutifully.
After another few minutes, they stopped at an unremarkable door with a number painted on it. "This will be your quarters while you are here," Oikonny explained. "I will make arrangements to grant you basic access rights throughout the facility."
Dash bowed. "Thank you, General."
"The data that you've provided us will serve us well." Oikonny's hand patted the coat pocket housing Dash's flash drive. "I look forward to seeing what else you can contribute to the Empire. But know this: In order to gain my full trust, you will need to continue demonstrating your loyalty to our cause."
"Yes, sir."
"Splendid. I will leave you now to settle in. Should you need anything, this man here will be stationed outside your door." Oikonny gestured to a stocky chameleon who looked less than thrilled about his new assignment. Dash avoided the soldier's swivelling eyes and tried to be enthused.
"Thank you, sir." Satisfied, Oikonny left with his original six guards and dismissed the rest. Only the chameleon remained by Dash's side. At last, he looked to the lizard and offered a tight smile. "It's a pleasure to be working with you."
The chameleon grunted forcefully. His clear irritation gave Dash his cue to retire before he got his teeth knocked in. "Okay, then… I'll just be in here. See you later."
Closing the door behind him, Dash released the tensest breath he'd ever held in his life. The room was similar to the one he'd lived in during his Academy days. Spartan, consisting of only a bed, footlocker, and a small table and chair. "Well… Here we are," he mumbled to himself. "Home sweet home."
Dash lowered himself onto the bed's thin mattress. He hung his head into his hands, taking time to finally process where he was and what he was doing there. He expected soldiers to burst through the door at any second with guns blazing. After 15 minutes of undisturbed silence, Dash began to relax.
He swept through the room, peeking into every nook and cranny he could find. Nothing suspicious was hidden under the bedframe. The footlocker was empty for the time being. Dash quietly moved the chair underneath the room's single light. There were countless bugs inside the cover, though none were the kind that he was worried about.
The room revealed to be as clean as Dash needed it to be. Still, he was wary of the guard outside his door. Dash stood as far away from it as he could and switched on his wrist comm. He carefully established an encrypted connection. The call went through but no one answered on the other side. Not to begin with, at least.
"This is Dash," he whispered. "I'm in."
"Good work," Peppy answered in kind. "Does anyone suspect you?"
"Oikonny doesn't trust me quite yet, but I think I'll be alright. I've at least convinced him that I can spy on the team for him."
Giving Oikonny the blueprints to their ships had been a calculated risk. If he believed that keeping Star Fox alive would help rescue Andross, the team would be safe until they could upgrade their arsenal. Space Dynamics recently offered Star Fox a deal to test their next Arwing model in the field. If all went well, the schematics that Dash 'stole' would become obsolete within a few months.
"Just be careful down there," Peppy cautioned. "Keep your head down while Oikonny's men get used to you. Wait until you've made some friends before you start snooping around."
Dash rolled his eyes; something he certainly wouldn't do if Peppy was standing right in front of him. "I know. We've gone over all of this already."
"Just making sure, Dash. Now, it'll be best that we keep communication to a minimum. Don't contact us unless you find something important or if you feel like you're in danger."
Peppy's last words tightened Dash's throat. "Understood, sir."
"Stay safe, Dash. Don't take any unnecessary risks."
"I'll be careful, Peppy. Dash out."
Hanging up, Dash felt all alone again. He glanced around the barren room and swallowed, sensing enemies behind every wall. Dash looked to the bed and thought of lying down. If anyone wondered why he had spent so long in here, he could claim to be resting after a long flight. Dash kicked off his boots and slid underneath the thin blankets. The pillow crackled under his head. His thoughts raced too loudly for him to actually sleep. Yet for the pretence, Dash closed his eyes and listened to the hum of machinery throughout the base.
Peppy leaned back in his chair, away from the communicator. He combed his fingers between his ears. A worried sigh passed his lips. He spun his chair around to face Falco, who sat across the bridge staring dully through the window. "Do you think he'll be okay down there?" Peppy asked.
"Who knows?" Falco murmured after a pause.
"I'm worried that we're making a huge mistake," Peppy admitted. "If something goes wrong, Dash's life will be at risk."
"But if it goes right, we might find something of Andross's that can help us." Even as he offered the more optimistic prospect, Falco's tone was anything but that.
Peppy shook his head. "I just hope Dash will take care of himself."
"There is one thing going for us though. Oikonny might have an army now, but he's still an idiot. I'm not too worried."
Silence permeated the space between them. Nagging thoughts continued to torture Peppy. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
Falco leaned forward, bowing his head over clasped hands. "I don't know what the right thing to do is anymore. All I know is that we're running out of ideas. We need to try something new."
"I just don't want to sacrifice Dash so that we can save Fox."
The longer that Falco went without answering, the more aware Peppy became of his recent behaviour over the last few weeks. Ever since he and Katt returned from their 'uneventful' trip to Zoness, Falco became more morose than Peppy could recall ever seeing him. The parent inside of Peppy grew concerned.
"Falco." He roused the young bird's attention. "Is everything okay? You've been a bit off lately."
"I'm fine," Falco said quietly.
Over the years, Peppy learned the quirks of the three boys whom he took under his wing, as well as the tricks around them. Fox needed a stern and supportive guide to show him the way forward, which he'd then race down like a bullet from a gun. Slippy responded best to soft words and warm encouragement. Peppy helped him grow slowly and steadily. Falco, however, was a lone soul. He fought back against authority and pushed away attempts to get close to him even harder. Sometimes, the only way to see into Falco's mind was to wait for him to speak it on his own volition. Peppy merely needed to light the beacon for Falco to follow when he was ready to seek help.
After a few minutes, Falco sighed. "Why did you put me in charge, Peppy?"
So, this was what plagued his thoughts? "I've told you before. It's what Fox would have wanted."
"Except that doesn't mean he'd be right," Falco huffed. "I'm not cut out for this. Every time I think I've got a handle on being captain, I do something that everyone thinks is wrong. All I do is make bad decisions that no one agrees with."
"I wouldn't go that far," Peppy interjected. "I'll admit, there are times when you do let your temper get ahead of you. Recent events included. But your heart's often in the right place. Nobody expects you to be perfect all the time. All I'd ask is that you think a little more before you act."
Falco was quiet for a moment before sighing again. "I don't know what I'm doing though. Between saving Fox; leading missions; sending Dash out to spy on Oikonny… I've got no idea what the right thing to do is."
Peppy leaned back and exhaled. His ears dropped over his eyes. "To tell you the truth: Neither do I," he confessed. "I don't think any of us has the right answer. The best I'm able to do is take things one step at a time and rely on people I trust to help me along the way."
Falco rubbed at his face. Peppy's heart felt for him. "For what it's worth, I haven't regretted my decision to appoint you as squad leader. There are things you could stand to do differently, but I can see that you're doing the best that you know how to." Falco's beak turned a margin towards Peppy. "Fox would say that you're doing a fine job."
At last, Peppy thought he saw something brighten in Falco's eye. "Thanks, Pep," he said. He stood and walked towards the exit with his hands in his pockets. "I'm going to take my Arwing for a spin. I need to get out for a bit."
"Just don't stray too far," Peppy warned, ever anxious of what might happen if one of the team flew out on their own. Falco acknowledged him with a wave and left without another word.
Alone on the bridge, Peppy stared out into the stars. He felt the nerves that constantly crackled inside him, always directing his thoughts to the others aboard the Great Fox. Growing close to the people who you fought alongside was a double-edged sword. Trust and cooperation were essential on the battlefield, yet the fear and pain of losing a teammate was always there. These days, even letting Falco blow off steam on a joyride made Peppy feel like a mother duck. He would spend every day anxiously watching the youngsters swim further and further away from him. It made the worry harder for Peppy to shake, even though he knew Falco would be fine.
Perhaps he was simply getting too old and sentimental for this line of work.