Author's note:

We've made it to the halfway point. At least until I have to split another chapter in two for length.

Chapter 34: New Hope

"Fox McCloud Going Native

"What was a fight for survival has revealed itself to be a much cosier experience for the Lylat System's favourite vulpine war hero.

"Captain Fox James McCloud (28) of the Star Fox mercenary squadron was shot down on 10 June 2232 [Cornerian Calendar Year] by followers of the late Emperor of Venom and former Chief Scientist of Corneria, Dr Simon Andross. McCloud's starfighter was last seen hurtling towards Purgatory, the fifth planet in the Balven Solar System. Due to the unique radiation emitted from Purgatory's outer atmosphere, rescue ships were unable to conduct search missions without danger of catastrophic electrical failure. McCloud's fate since then has remained unknown and he was declared missing in action on 13 July 2232 [CCY]."

[Related story: Cpt Fox McCloud Missing in Action]

"However, a breakthrough was made on 3 March 2234 [CCY] when the remaining Star Fox crew acquired photographic evidence that Cpt McCloud is alive and in good health. Not only that, it also appears that he is treating his previous two years on Purgatory as an extended vacation."

[Image caption: Cpt Fox McCloud (28) found alive on Purgatory alongside a native vixen.]

"The satellite image depicts McCloud enjoying the planet's astoundingly lush scenery just outside a settlement belonging to Purgatory's newly discovered native inhabitants. One of the species' females can be seen relaxing in McCloud's tender embrace as they doze together in the sunlight. Given McCloud's long history as a charming womaniser, there is little room to doubt that the pair are romantically involved.

"Dressed in similar colours of the local fashion style, it also appears that McCloud has adapted well to his new environment. Whether he has accepted his stay on Purgatory as permanent or not, it can only be speculated. Though it is clear that McCloud has few, if any, qualms about partaking in the fruits of this mysterious world."

Falco shook his head in disgust. "Can you believe this shit?!" He waved his phone over the couch's back, showing the tabloid article displayed onscreen. "Fox has been missing for over two years! And now that we've found him, all these news rags seem to care about is the thing he's got going on with his new girlfriend!"

"Jealous of the attention, Falco?" Slippy replied, sitting at the rec room's table. His grin mirrored Katt's beside him.

"I could tart-up in public if you want to cause a scandal," she offered.

They snickered together. Falco frowned as he turned away. "You're both hilarious," he grumbled. He looked at his phone again. "Jeez, you'd think they'd be a little more sympathetic about this. I mean, Fox has been marooned all this time without any contact from the outside world. Do they really need to pick apart his love life right now?"

"What can I say? He's a strong, handsome celebrity hero, and they're a bunch of vultures," Katt sighed. "Telling them not to gossip about Fox and his blue girl is like telling a fish not to swim. Hell, did you read the trash that circulated about you and me after we got together?" Falco had and he preferred not to think about that.

"I am now suddenly very happy I've always been single," Slippy remarked.

Falco threw his phone to the cushion beside him. "Yeah, well, the tabloids only talk about you because Fox, Katt, and I always make the Top 10 Hottest Mercs list. You're famous through association."

"Hey, I'm fine with that. It means I still get the royalties but no paparazzi stalking me all the time." Falco's response to that was a one-finger salute.

"Don't worry about the gossip," Katt told him. "What really matters is that people know that Fox is okay. We've got donations coming in like crazy now. I've pretty much spent all my free time lately helping Lucy with admin work for the Foundation."

"And we're going to get even more donations through Fara's gala tonight," Slippy added. "That extra dough's going to help us build more satellites for the Balvenish."

That particular business was a secondary project that they were working on. The global governments in the Balven System, especially Novellon, were still steamed at Corneria for the whole visa-fraud-to-hunt-down-Andross fiasco. However, the P-POS presented the first-ever opportunity for the local powers to study Purgatory's inner workings. That gave Star Fox leverage to get all past transgressions forgiven. They could compel the Balvenish planets to let Cornerian forces into their space so they could help with Fox's rescue. That would then save Star Fox from doing all the leg work by themselves.

Still, there was the primary goal to keep in mind. "How's it going with upgrading the one we currently have?" Falco asked.

"I kind of regret not installing a radio transmitter the first time," Slippy answered. "I pretty much have to rebuild the sinker to accommodate the extra hardware. Once we get the parts I need, it shouldn't take too long to put it all together."

Falco frowned. "Kind of regret? That's an odd way to describe forgetting a crucial piece of tech we need to talk to our long-lost friend with."

"Aw, come on, Falco. We know that Fox is happy and dandy where he is, so we don't need to worry too much. If we got to wait a week or two for shipping, he'd understand."

Falco left the matter alone with a shrug. "So… The gala… Neither of you wanted to go to that?"

"It wouldn't have been right if we did, would it?" Slippy replied. "I mean, Dash is gonna try and break into Oikonny's secret hangar tonight. If something goes wrong, we should be here ready to help him out."

"What Slippy said." Katt added. "Besides, fancy balls are not my scene. I hate wearing dresses and heels. Like really hate them. So much that if I get married, I swear I'll be wearing a tux for the ceremony. Nobody is ever going to talk me out of it."

Falco felt a smart-alecky remark bubbling along the lines that he, as her current partner, had some degree of say on whether she would marry at all. But in the interest of not having his head smacked and being denied sex until the end of time, he kept his beak shut. Falco turned his gaze to Fortuna floating outside the ship's window.

"Fair enough. So, what do you guys want to do while we wait?" he asked.

"They just released Black Hole Commando on Starstream," Katt replied. "What do you say? Action movies and nachos for dinner?"

Falco raised a thumb's up. "Love you, babe."

"If you guys are gonna spend the whole movie dry-humping again, I'm gonna hang out in my room instead," Slippy said. He got up and made his way to the lift.

"You'll be missing out on two great shows, Slippy," Falco taunted. "Want us to bring dinner over to you?"

"Nah, I can make my own. You know how I like my nachos with bugs in them. Thanks anyway."

Falco grabbed the TV remote and opened the streaming app. "Suit yourself, bud. Let me know if something comes up with Dash."

Hopefully, everything would go according to plan and Dash could swipe the Androssians' secrets quietly. If it didn't, then Falco hoped that disaster wouldn't strike until after the movie. He'd been waiting for Black Hole Commando to come out ever since the producers announced that they'd be skipping the box office with this instalment. If Falco had to pause midway because Dash needed his ass saved, he was going to put that monkey on kitchen duty for a week to make up for it.

Live jazz played over the hum of the crowd. The sharp, rhythmic howls of brass tapped toes on wooden floors and slapped hands against thighs. Over a hundred bodies filled the ballroom, garbed in sleek suits and striking gowns. Countless overhead lights shone through crystalline ice sculptures, causing them to sparkle like the priceless stones adorning fingers, necks, and ears. Waiters in dark vests slipped through the crowd like ghosts, extending trays to their esteemed guests. Champaign glasses vanished within seconds of being refilled. It was every partygoer for themselves.

Peppy snatched up a small pastry with a name that he couldn't hope to pronounce. He chewed on its subtle flavour as he looked around. Everything about this gala was ritzier than he felt accustomed to. It didn't matter how many similar events he'd attended in the past. These people around him lived in a completely different universe to him, one of unfathomable wealth and prestige. The mere way that they spoke and dressed continuously reminded Peppy of that fact.

Two comforts were all that kept him from leaving early. One of them stood at his side. Vixy wore a simple dress that accentuated her slim figure. She conversed with a middle-aged badger who boasted more rings than a racoon's tail. Peppy held Vixy's hand as she suffered through the other woman's pitiful sympathies.

"Truly, darling. You're an inspiration to all mothers in the galaxy," the badger said. "It must have taken so much strength to keep on hoping for as long as you have. Why, if my child befell the same fate as yours, I would have been too distraught to go on."

"Thank you," Vixy smiled through gritted teeth. "It helped having friends to support me while we searched for Fox."

"Of course! How lovely!" the badger tittered. "And more kudos to you for raising such a brave and self-sufficient boy. Nothing like my daughter. Don't get me wrong, I do love my Natalie. But she can be such a ditz that I sometimes worry how she'll ever get by on her own. I would love to introduce her to your son one day. Although, I realise that he may well be off the market right now."

As the woman laughed, Vixy chuckled uncomfortably. She turned to Peppy. Her right ear twitched twice. It gave the secret signal: 'Get me the hell out of here!' Peppy twitched his ear once to confirm that he understood her. He looked about the room and spotted a pair of long, grey ears.

"Oh! Look, Vixy! I believe I see Lucy over there. Why don't we go say hello?"

Vixy beamed. "I would love to." She regarded their present company. "Thank you for your time. Please enjoy the rest of your evening."

The badger blinked almost hard enough for the rhinestone spectacles to slip off her nose. "Oh? Uh… Yes! You're welcome. Tootle-loo, I suppose…"

Vixy pulled Peppy away before another word could be exchanged. "Oh, my god!" she hissed quietly after walking some distance. "Some people!"

"It's just for one night," Peppy sighed, equally exasperated. Nonetheless, he agreed. Several of these folks could stand to learn some tact.

Within moments, they reached the second reason why Peppy chose to put up with this nonsense. Lucy's forest-green dress was a keepsake from her mother. It suited her beautifully. Movement led Peppy to notice the person whom Lucy spoke with. Their host for tonight, Fara Phoenix, watched them approach, causing Lucy to stop and turn as well.

"Hello, ladies." Peppy smiled his brightest since they walked through the front door.

"Papa!" Lucy stepped forward to hug him.

"Sorry we're a little late. Traffic was horrible."

Vixy greeted Fara with a fond embrace. "Hello, dear. Thank you for inviting us."

"Oh, please. You're practically the guests of honour," Fara smiled. "It's good to see you, Vixy."

Watching them, Peppy wished that he were better at telling fennecs apart. In his eyes, the pair could have well been mother and daughter for all the resemblance they shared. Fara glanced around before her gaze settled upon Peppy. "Are the others not here yet?"

"They're all away on a mission, unfortunately," he apologised. "Vixy didn't want to come alone, so Falco will have to make do without me for the night."

"That's alright," Fara waved her hand. She then lowered her voice. "To be honest, if I wasn't trying to bring in donors for the Foundation, I wouldn't be here either." All four of them snickered.

"Thank you for helping us this whole time," Vixy said. "And I'm sorry about how the media is covering Fox's life on Purgatory. I hope that the gossip they're spreading hasn't upset you."

They each knew that she referred to the native girl discovered in Fox's company. Yet Fara smiled. "It's quite alright, Vixy. It's just another reason for the tabloids to pester my daily life. 'How does it feel to learn that your missing ex-boyfriend was found in another woman's arms?' they ask. Like there aren't more important things that they could be interested in."

Shaking her head in disdain, Fara sighed. "I'm just glad that Fox is safe and not all by himself on that planet. That's all that matters to me."

"It's been a huge relief to us all," Peppy nodded. He looked to Lucy. "How are you enjoying the party so far?"

Lucy gave a weary smile that Peppy felt. "I've had a chance to speak with potential donors tonight. Some of them mentioned having companies on MacBeth when Venom invaded. They thanked Star Fox for saving their businesses, so they're considering whether they'll contribute to the Foundation."

"Mind you, they look at me when they make those offers," Fara scoffed. "A lot of these people are really only here because they want to win favour with my father's company. If they help me, that will impress Daddy. That's the game they're playing."

"Is your father here tonight?" Vixy asked.

"No. But he's been more supportive of what we're doing ever since you proved that Fox is alive."

"Do you mean that he wasn't supportive before?" Peppy tried to keep the frown from his face.

Fara's head bowed a sullen margin. "It was more that he tried to support me in other ways. He saw the work I was doing for the Foundation as just me trying to cope with grief. I think he figured that I'd give up once I accepted that Fox was gone."

Contempt bubbled within Peppy, and he saw Vixy bite back a hurt scowl. Lucy placed her palm on Fara's arm, stroking it. "But he was wrong. And he realised that."

Fara gave a small nod. "I suppose that's what matters now. These days, Dad is our largest benefactor." That smoothed the wrinkles out of several frowns.

"Whatever else people think," Vixy said, "I'm grateful for everything that you and Lucy have done together. You should both be proud of yourselves."

"Thank you," Fara smiled.

A waiter then approached them, offering a tray of glasses. "More champaign?"

"Ah! Perfect timing!" Peppy cheered. He took one and raised it. "A toast to us, and Fox as well. Let's keep working hard to bring him home soon."

The ladies each mirrored him. "Just another of many I'll share tonight, but this one will be with the best company," Fara joked. "To Fox's health."

"And his safety," Vixy added.

Lucy joined her glass alongside the others. "And his happiness."

They drank to all those wishes. Praying for the best made the champaign taste sweeter. Frankly, it needed a few prayers to make it palatable. The stuff was horrid in Peppy's view. He was more of a spirits man.

The time they had left with Fara and Lucy became short-lived as a sharply dressed stranger intruded for the former's attention. Peppy and Vixy backed away from the business talk and wandered aimlessly around the ballroom. No one else spoke with them, and Peppy didn't care for anyone to choose to. This really wasn't his kind of event. Vixy's rigid stance communicated that it wasn't hers either. They were two creatures dumped in a jungle that they didn't belong in.

If Peppy were to be honest, he'd much rather be out on the Great Fox with the rest of his team. Getting shot at by Androssian starfighters sounded a lot more appealing than staying here.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Be calm. Be steady. Picture the goal and push everything else out of mind. This was the time to act, not worry. He could do this. He could do this.

That was what Dash tried to tell himself.

He checked his watch. It was the middle of the night. The guards were due to rotate soon. Dash had to move before then. He spent hours preparing for this moment. He reviewed the guard schedules. He mapped out the hallways and security cameras. He made sure that everything he needed was packed into his backpack. Dash ran checks once, twice, and thrice. There was nothing more he could do.

Dash couldn't fool himself. He was terrified about what he was about to attempt. In all the time he had spent lurking within the Androssian Empire, this would become the most brazen thing he'd ever done. If he were seen even once, there'd be no excuse that could save his cover. He'd be forced to flee Fortuna, assuming that he wasn't killed before he got the chance.

Honestly, Dash looked forward to leaving this place behind. He'd long since had enough of Oikonny's ego and fanaticism. He was tired of chumming up to cutthroats and bruisers. And he was sick of pretending to hate the people who he cared about. One way or the other, Dash was giving up this double life tonight. He would learn what his first cousin's secret project was, then he would be gone. Star Fox would make a way to communicate with Fox McCloud, and they would try to rescue him through their own means. That future of inner peace quelled Dash's nerves.

He checked his watch. It was almost time to go. Might as well get started, he figured. Dash took one last look around the bedroom. It wasn't much, and it was smack in the middle of an insurgent stronghold, but it had been his for a long while now. Dash sighed upon seeing his footlocker full of clothes and the knick-knacks atop his desk. Though their only value was to make the Androssians think he felt at home, it saddened him to leave it all behind like this. Nothing could be done about that. Dash had to travel light.

"Thanks for everything, I guess," he said to no one in particular. After checking that the hall outside was clear, Dash slipped through the door like a shadow.

No lights shone around the dormitories this late at night. The base ran on old generators that couldn't cope with around-the-clock use, so the Androssians shut off everything non-critical between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. That meant the halls were pitch-black. Dash lowered a pair of night-vision goggles over his eyes. Darkness became a world of fuzzy, green shapes.

Even though he studied the guards' habits through hacking the CCTV system, Dash proceeded slowly and carefully. Oikonny's suspicions about there being a spy led him to tighten security. That meant more patrols inside the base than usual. Fortunately, most of the soldiers didn't share their general's concerns. After months of Dash keeping his nose clean, they eventually grew complacent. Of course, that didn't mean the soldiers stopped doing their jobs. Dash still had to be careful.

A beam of torchlight made Dash freeze. He backtracked the other way and hid behind a corner. Cautiously, Dash dared to peek. A weasel stepped out into the intersection. Dash recognised Briggs from that mission they did on Katina. The scrawny crook scratched his backside and yawned. Usually, he patrolled the same route every night. He was a little late tonight, it seemed. Thankfully, Briggs wandered in the opposite direction to Dash. Once his footsteps faded from hearing, Dash began to move again.

His first stop that night was to the electrical room. There, Dash flipped several switches by torchlight. He took care with what he touched. Power only needed to flow where he needed it to. None of it went into the lights or noisy air conditioning. Dash was tempted to switch off a few security systems for good measure, but he couldn't risk triggering a failsafe alarm.

The next leg of Dash's journey almost ended in two encounters with guards. He somehow avoided both and drew near to his destination. Spying around a corner, Dash gazed upon the solid steel door to Oikonny's top secret hangar. Dash grinned at his good luck. Only one guard defended the door. An orangutan. And he was fast asleep! Oikonny certainly got what he paid for.

Earlier, Dash struggled on what he would do to take out the guards when he reached this point. But with this golden window of opportunity, he need not have worried. Dash unzipped his pack and pulled out all he needed to ensure the big ape stayed firmly in dreamland: a tiny bottle of good, old-fashioned chloroform. Just like the Cornerian spy agencies used to use back in the day.

Creeping softly, Dash approached the guard. The guy's breath stank of tobacco. His assault rifle laid clutched in his arms like a teddy bear. Dash grabbed hold of the barrel and shoved a soaked rag into the orangutan's face. The ape's eyes shot wide open. He made to swing his gun, but Dash held it back. They struggled for a moment until the chloroform kicked in. The guard slipped back into sleep. This time for a good, few hours. Dash figured the guy wouldn't mind if he borrowed his weapon.

Once he slung it over his shoulder, Dash turned to the panel beside the hangar's door. It was a typical RFID scanner, like what the armoury was secured with onboard the Great Fox. This one was configured to only grant a small cohort access. Fortunately, Dash had his key ready. It was a copy of Oikonny's that he made when the idiot left it unattended on his office desk. The scanner read Dash's forged tag and flashed green. The door hissed open. Dash hurried inside.

He waited until the door sealed behind him before lifting his goggles and turning on the lights. Huge, overhanging lamps burst into life row after row. Dash walked towards the nearest railing. Awe washed over him. He stood on the second level overlooking a vast space littered with more grease stains and mechanical equipment than a Space Dynamics assembly plant. Dash's attention fixated upon a large screen of tarpaulin surrounding something the size of a dreadnaught carrier. As much as he wanted to pull the curtain back and see what was behind it, there was a more effective means for Dash to find out what was going on in here.

He spotted workstations across the walkway from him. Dash tapped on one keyboard and found that the computer was still on. It wasn't even locked with a password! Dash felt as disappointed in the Androssian workers as he was pleased with his own luck. He plugged a portable hard drive into the computer. It automatically began copying data.

While he waited, Dash opened one of the apps pinned to the computer's taskbar. He then clicked on the most recently used file. It brought up the blueprints of what looked like a large spaceship; no doubt the one covered on the hangar floor. Scrolling down, Dash saw a second page illustrating a machine that looked like a head and two hands. Strange… Dash opened more files. He discovered a report labelled 'Project: Flagship Emperor.'

Emperor…? Like Emperor Andross? Or did it mean something else? Whatever it was, worry gnawed in Dash's gut. 'Andrew… What are you planning?'

"Look what we have here."

Dash spun on his heel. His heart leaped into his throat, and he stared into the barrel of Oikonny's pistol. Six soldiers funnelled into the hangar behind him, each cocking their weapons. 'Shit!' Dash's breath caught.

"It was always going to be a matter of time until the traitor revealed themself," Oikonny spoke. "However, I had hoped that they would not be you." The scowl on his face softened. "Dash… It hurts me that you would betray your family like this."

Through his icy fear, Dash pulled his lips into a smirk. "That depends on who in the family you're talking about, Andrew. Most of them aren't on Corneria's wanted list. So, I'd say I'm still loyal to them."

The dark look returned to Oikonny. "I thought of you as a kindred spirit. Someone who knew what it meant to be ridiculed but persevered for the sake of Uncle Andross's dreams! Your grandfather's! I thought that you believed in what he was trying to achieve too!"

Dash braced. "Grandfather did a lot of great things in his life. I still respect some of them. But not this. Not what you're doing here."

"So, how long?" Oikonny snarled. "Were you spying on us from the very start?! Were all those stories about taking revenge on Star Fox just a pack of lies?!"

"Well, not all of them. I'll admit that things are better with them now than they used to be."

Oikonny's lips pulled back further. "I was a fool to ever trust you. But I will now correct that mistake. Any last words before I end your life, cousin?"

In that moment, Dash became acutely aware of his own pulse. Every muscle fibre became tight. His nerves surged with electricity. He took a breath. "Yeah. I do… Even if I die in the next few seconds, there's something that I'll always be proud of." Dash raised his left hand to his goggles and shouted.

"I'm a Star Fox pilot!"

"Kill him!" Oikonny roared.

Oikonny should not have wasted that first second to pull the trigger himself. It gave Dash all the time he needed. At the sound of his panic phrase, Dash's wrist comm sent a command to the worm he installed into the Empire's computer network. As Dash dropped to the floor, the lights went out. The base's electrical system went dead all at once.

Gunfire flashed over Dash's head. He slipped his night-vision goggles over his eyes and aimed his new rifle. An automatic stream of bullets flared from the barrel. Dash swept it across the soldiers, mowing them all down in a spray of green-tinted fluid. However, Oikonny tripped after the room went dark. The fall spared his life, and spared Dash's as the pistol flew from Oikonny's grip.

Pushing himself up, Dash ripped the hard drive from the terminal and shoved it into his jacket. He halted his escape to watch Oikonny grope through the dark. Oikonny rolled his body at the sound of Dash passing, failing to grab his leg. Dash kicked Oikonny hard in the groin. The sod wheezed in horrible pain, curling up like a dying cockroach. It probably would have served Dash better to just knock him out, but this felt way more satisfying.

Racing down the stairs, Dash jumped into one of the electric carts parked on the lower level. He restored the grid just long enough to open the hangar's main door. Dash heard voices shouting, but they were distant. Likely more shocked by the blackout than Dash's cover being blown. He started the engine and drove onto the dreadnaught-sized runway beyond it.

As Dash drove with his head bent low, hoping to avoid incoming shots, he felt heavy beads of rain smack him. He glanced at the sky in dismay. A storm was coming. A massive one. The tropical kind that tore fully grown trees from their roots and washed the landscape 100 kilometres downstream. Dash had planned to fly out with the stolen data before it hit, using the weather to cover his escape. Now he was fleeing in a teeny, little cart into the Fortunian jungle with a small army of angry and heavily armed insurgents on his tail. There was no way in hell that Dash could get to the Monkey Arrow with the way things were.

As Falco would have phrased it, Dash was neck-deep in shit.