Chapter 36: Racing the Storm
Since Star Fox's founding, the Great Fox served as more than just their carrier across the cosmos. It represented the team's soul. Each section of the ship housed a defining aspect of it. The bridge was their view of the path ahead. The engines were the fiery pride that drove them into battle. The cannons were the fists that struck against the scourge of the galaxy.
And the war room was where the minds of warriors came together. Within it, a projector sat in the centre of an elongated conference table. Monitors hung along the walls displaying various charts and maps. It was a space where the team discussed tactics for tougher, more complicated missions. Ever since Falco took command more than two years ago, the war room had only been used a few times.
He looked around the room. Peppy, Vixy, and Lucy had just arrived from the gala. They barely had time to change out of their formal wear before Falco called everyone together. Across the table, Slippy and Katt wore gaunt expressions. They experienced the Fortunian storm during their earlier flight over the Mudura Mountain Range. They knew the kind of danger that they would be diving back into. The kind of danger that Dash currently faced on his lonesome.
A call rang from the comms system. Falco tapped the receiver. The display on the projector flashed blue to show a bulldog's face. "Thanks for calling in, Bill," Falco greeted.
"Our team is on route to Fortuna right now," Bill answered, straight to business. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
"Appreciated." Falco swept his gaze across the room. "Alright. Here's the situation: Dash has been working undercover in the Androssian Empire for the past year. His cover's been blown, and now he's hiding out in one of the Empire's outposts. He's safe for now, but he's hurt badly and stuck on the planet's surface. Our goal is to rescue Dash before the Androssians get to him first."
"I've still got questions about that whole undercover business, but I'll save them until after this is all over," Bill frowned.
"Sorry, bud. I'll tell you the lot of it later," Falco said. "We do have a few things going for us. The first is that Dash managed to knock out the Empire's power before he escaped. That means they don't have radar, and their comms are probably limited. The second thing is that the storm seems to be keeping Oikonny's men from searching for him. Problem is that it's a Category 4 cyclone, so the little shack that Dash is hiding in isn't going to hold up if it gets hit."
He looked to Vixy for her expertise on the matter. "I've tracked the cyclone's path with all the data that we've got," she said. "It'll pass close to Dash's current position in about 90 minutes."
"Which means we don't have any time to waste," Falco concluded. "The windspeeds are going to make it impossible to land safely in all that jungle. Slippy, have you thought of any ways to get around that?"
Slippy nodded. "There's a quarry about 50 kilometres from where Dash is. It's fairly shielded from the storm and has enough open space for us to land our ships. I reckon if we punch the gas, our Landmaster could make it to the outpost from there and back just in time."
Falco nodded at the idea. The Landmaster tank was their sole ground assault vehicle and had a top speed of 200 kph. In terms of time, that would give them a little bit of wiggle room if they hurried. "Can we get it down to the surface in those conditions?"
"It won't be easy, but I think we can. Whoever drives needs to be careful and avoid using the boosters unless absolutely necessary. If the wind gets underneath the Landmaster, it could flip the whole thing over. Getting it back onto its treads in that weather would be a pain."
"So, it would be better to send our best driver down," Peppy rubbed his chin.
"I'll do it," Falco volunteered. "However, if I'm focused on saving Dash in that storm, that means we'll be down a pilot if a fight breaks out. I wouldn't normally be worried about the pirates who Oikonny cobbled together, but things are going to be hard enough without them attacking us."
"At Dash's last count, the Empire's home base has at least 300 starfighters," Katt added. Not the worst odds that Star Fox has ever faced. Still wasn't favourable though.
Lucy raised her hand. "I can help. My Sky Bunny isn't built like your Arwings, but it can still fight in those winds if it needs to."
Predictably, Peppy turned a glare towards her. "You will not! I still say it's far too dangerous!"
"And I still say that I can handle myself!" Lucy snapped back. "This isn't the first time I've flown through a storm, Papa! I know what to do if I get into trouble!"
Falco felt that this could have gone back and forth all night before Katt intervened. "Peppy, I get where you're both coming from. Normally, I'd agree that Lucy should stay out of this, but that's only because none of us should be going out to fight rebels in a Cat-4 tornado."
"Cyclone," Slippy corrected.
"Don't care." Katt returned her gaze to Peppy. "The trouble is that Dash can't wait for the storm to pass; and neither will Oikonny. Guys like him will throw everything they have at someone who's bruised their ego. I've seen the type before."
"All the more reason for Lucy to stay behind!" Peppy argued.
"The fact remains that we are going to be severely outnumbered if Oikonny sends his goons out in force. I don't want to put anyone in more danger than we need to. But having an extra fighter on our side could make a huge difference while we're waiting for Bill's team to arrive."
"Katt's right, Peppy," Falco added. "Arguing about it doesn't matter. Someone's life is going to be more at risk either way. So, I'm choosing the option that gives us the better odds of bringing everyone back home safely. Lucy is joining the mission."
In all their years together, nothing Falco had ever said or done pissed Peppy off so vehemently. "You do not get to make that call, Falco!"
"Don't I? If I recall, I'm the captain of both this ship and this team. That makes my say final."
"She's my daughter!"
"She's a grownup who can make her own decisions."
"Foolish decisions that will get her killed!"
"Enough, Peppy!" Vixy shouted furiously. Silence struck like a hammer. Everyone turned to her. Squaring her shoulders, she stepped closer to Peppy. "I understand how you feel. I understand why you feel this way. I have felt just as you do once before. And that is why I am telling you right here, right now, to let Lucy do what she believes is right."
"Vixy…" Peppy started, but she did not let him finish.
"For a long time, I tried my damned best to keep Fox away from the battlefield. Do you remember what that got me? Three years of my son cutting me out from his life! Then more years of Fox and me trying to fix what I was too stubborn to compromise on in the first place. Is that what needs to happen between you and Lucy for you to finally start treating her like an adult?"
"Lucy is not Fox!"
"How so? Why is it that you enabled my child to fight in a war when he was 17, yet you refuse to let your own take part in a rescue mission when she's 28?" Vixy did not give time for Peppy to answer. "Is it because Fox took after his father, the great Star Fox pilot, James McCloud? If so, then you're right. Lucy is not like Fox. Because she takes after you, another great Star Fox pilot."
Gently, Vixy held Peppy by his shoulders. "And I'm telling you right now, Peppy, that Lucy is far more prepared for what you're about to face than Fox was when you both flew off into battle 10 years ago. She's as ready now as she will ever be. So, for both your sakes, please stop holding her back."
Everyone else hung back and watched in silence. Peppy tried multiple times to respond. Yet his shoulders sank. His head bowed. His next words passed in a hollow sigh. "Alright… I give up."
Lucy brightened in an instant. She threw herself at her father, startling Peppy with her embrace. "Thank you, Papa!"
Caught in an uncertain pause, Peppy pulled Lucy into his arms proper. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." She squeezed him tighter. "Just promise me that you'll be careful. And stay close to me."
"I promise."
The rest of the room smiled upon them. A warm glow permeated until Bill coughed through the channel. "Um, guys? I think we were on a timer or something?"
"Right! Sorry, Bill." Falco returned to business. "We'll head out and grab Dash straight away. We'll then hold off Oikonny's goons until your team arrives to back us up."
"Sounds like a plan." Bill nodded. "And just to let you know: The General gave us some additional orders. Since Dash won't be spying on the Androssians anymore, this will be a good time for us to take them down once and for all. The Army is sending more troops after us to help with the assault."
Damn, that would have felt fantastic. "Love to join you, but our priority will be getting Dash to a hospital."
"Understood. I'll leave a medic with you guys once you've got him."
"That'd be great, Bill. We'll see you soon." Falco ended the call, shutting down the projection in a shower of blue sparks. "Alright! We've flapped our yaps enough! Vixy, head to the bridge and keep us updated on the storm's movements. And if the Androssians come our way, let us know. Everyone else, get ready to deploy your ships. I want us all planet-side five minutes ago."
"Aye-aye, Captain," Slippy grinned. He sped out of the room first. Lucy followed closely behind. Peppy, watching her race away, faltered with worry etched throughout his frame. Vixy laid her palm behind his shoulder. He snapped his gaze to her as she nudged him forward with a smile.
Falco turned to face Katt. "We'll get Dash back safely. I promise."
"I know we will," Katt smiled. She quickly leaned towards him, kissing Falco briefly alongside the beak. "For good luck."
His heart accelerated in a way that he once thought only a starfighter could do. "Show those bastards you've got claws, kitty."
As they ran together towards the hangar, Falco's sight sharpened to a fine point. He had the goal in his sights and his talons primed to snatch it. Nothing else mattered except the mission. It was time to bring their little dork home.
It was dark. It was loud. The entire shack creaked from the force of the wind pummelling into it. Raindrops peppered the metal walls and roof like bullets from a gatling gun. Each one sent a tremor throughout the building. It was as though any single one could punch mercilessly through steel. Dash had already been shot once that night. His imagination didn't have to work hard to craft such terror.
Lightning flashed outside. It lit up the shack's interior for a split second. Darkness returned. Dash counted the seconds until thunder boomed like a bomb going off. Again, not much left for his brain to do except pick things out from his memory.
'Wow. Doctor Hudgens is not going to like what this does for my PTSD,' Dash thought to himself. Dissociating from the situation undoubtedly wouldn't help in the long run either, but it was keeping his sanity taped together for now.
Dash felt the strain in his ears. Through the near-deafening noise, he kept vigilant for the sound of vehicles. He turned all the lights off, as well as the heating. That way if soldiers from the Empire came around, they'd think that the outpost was empty. Hopefully, they wouldn't notice the faint glare from Dash's laptop. He dimmed the screen so much that it hurt his eyes to read from it.
Ever since he stumbled back inside after contacting his team, Dash spent his entire time going through the data that he stole. It was all he could physically do right now. These files were the reason his life was on the line. He might as well learn what they contained. Sadly, the searing pain in Dash's leg and his constant terror made it extraordinarily difficult to concentrate.
Dash was surprised by how much data his hard drive managed to pull before he fled with it. There were at least a hundred files inside. Dash started by resuming his study into Oikonny's 'Flagship Emperor' project. What he pieced together chilled his blood.
As the flagship in the name indicated, the purpose of the project was to build a new type of dreadnaught-class warship. Its most notable feature was a secondary 'battle mode.' From what Dash could see form diagrams, the ship resembled a face with two disjointed hands. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Alarmingly, the flagship had a powerful combat AI installed into its weapons systems. The same artificial intelligence produced by the Cornerian Army, which Dash helped steal from pirates on Katina last year.
Even worse, the flagship came equipped with a self-repair system that Dr Andross originally designed. The schematics were fine-tuned at the research facility that Star Fox and the Army raided on MacBeth! Of all the data that Slippy managed to grab that day, that particular piece of information wasn't part of it! Dash realised that because he destroyed the Empire's research records, Star Fox and Corneria both had no idea that Oikonny was developing this kind of technology!
The weapon specifications alone were worrying enough. But if the ship could learn as it fought and repair any damage sustained during battle, it would quickly pose a problem for any opposing military. Dash clasped his mouth. He realised that if the Empire succeeded in producing more of these warships, they could become powerful enough to wage another Lylat War!
This was terrible! It was inconceivable! Dash double-checked his findings to be certain. The results remained the same. But then he found progress reports. Recent ones. According to the latest, the first 'Mecha Emperor' was almost complete!
Dash brought up his wrist comm but stopped himself from calling Star Fox. By now, the Androssians would probably have their communication systems back online. They'd be limited to basic radios, but it could be enough for them to trace Dash's location if he sent out a signal. Their Invaders would be able to reach him sooner than an Arwing could. Oikonny's men wouldn't have to worry about landing in the storm. They'd just have to blow up the outpost with Dash inside it.
As much as he wanted to warn Falco and the others, Dash lowered his wrist comm and stared out the window. He needed to stay hidden for now. Just until his friends arrived to save him. Until then, he needed to bide his time.
The Landmaster was a one-of-a-kind machine. Originally built as an exploration vehicle by Space Dynamics, Slippy converted it into a beast of a tank some months after Star Fox joined the fight against Andross. It was their go-to vehicle when a mission required someone on the ground. The Landmaster was also ideal when the Arwings would have struggled in severe weather conditions, like what Falco found himself driving through right now.
The storm was nastier up close than the reports described. Thick trees hundreds of years old buckled against the wind. Their branches became whipping tendrils that broke off at any given moment. The rain fell so heavily that Falco could barely see through the windshield, even with the wipers on at full speed. He knew he was a lunatic for driving out in this mess. Being inside a heavily armoured tank didn't make him feel much safer.
God only knew how Dash was faring right now. He didn't respond to any of Vixy's attempts to check on him. Either Dash was staying silent to hide from the Empire, or they had already caught him. Falco prayed that it was the former. He wouldn't find out for sure until he checked out that outpost. Falco glanced at the map on his dashboard. With all things considered, he was making good progress.
Something appeared in Falco's headlamps. He hit the brakes, and the Landmaster slammed lightly into a dark shape on the road. Swearing, Falco reversed a little to find out what he hit. A large tree had toppled over. There was no way that Falco could move it by hand and no time to find a path around. So, he took control of the Landmaster's mounted cannon. A deadly laser blast decimated the trunk into a shower of glowing-red chunks. Several more shots created a hole large enough for the tank to slip through.
That minor setback made Falco glance at the clock more frequently. Although the Landmaster could drive as fast as a sportscar, he kept his speed below half its maximum. Visibility and road conditions were horrendous. The last thing that Falco needed was to plough into every tree and rock on his way through. Slow and steady wins the race, Peppy would say.
"Falco," Katt called, "how's it going down there?"
"I can see why Corneria isn't in a rush to colonise this planet," he grumbled. "How are you guys coping?"
"We're fine for now. I'd rather we stay out of the air, but we'll be ready if Oikonny tries anything stupid."
"This is Andrew Oikonny we're talking about. That's pretty much a given."
Alas, Katt didn't laugh alongside him. "Please be careful. I don't want to lose you too."
Falco navigated around a bundle of rocks that had washed onto the road. "I'll be okay, babe," he answered softly. "Don't you worry. I'll be back with Dash before you know it."
"I sure hope so." Falco froze. That was not Katt. "I like getting wet as much as the next frog, but even this is a bit much for me."
"And I'm getting too old for this sort of thing. The sooner we save Dash and go home, the better."
Falco's stomach sank. He realised that the whole team just heard him use the soft-boyfriend-voice. "Katt!" he screamed. "I thought this was a private channel!"
"What gave you that idea? And what's the big deal about it anyway?" Katt asked.
"I reckon he's embarrassed about talking to his girlfriend while everyone's listening," Slippy snickered.
"It is somewhat unprofessional during a mission, I must say" Peppy remarked, doubtlessly grinning like an asshole.
"I think it's lovely how Falco reassures Katt," Lucy put in. "He's very sweet."
Falco couldn't take another second of this. "Can't talk! Driving!" Swiftly, he silenced the call, but not before he heard laughing from the other end. Falco almost slammed his forehead into the dashboard. He wondered whether he should just get out of the tank now and let nature do its worst to him. 'Save Dash first,' he told himself. 'Contemplate dying later.'
It took a few more minutes to reach the outpost. If Falco hadn't known the coordinates, he could have easily missed it. Not a single light was on inside. Falco's worry grew. He parked the Landmaster as close as he could to the stairs. The cockpit began flooding the second that Falco raised the canopy.
The storm was even worse outside. A relentless gale almost flattened Falco before he planted both feet onto the ground. It pushed him where he stood. Falco clung to the Landmaster's side for dear life. He could barely gain any traction from the mud.
A primal fear rose in Falco's chest. It compelled him to save himself, for he would surely die if he left the tank's safety. Stubborn pride told that fear to shove it. He faced mortal peril many times before and always came out on top. It was just a little more up close and personal this time.
Crouching low to minimise his surface area, Falco eyed the stairs along the side of the shack. He swallowed his own heart and lunged from the Landmaster. The wind tore at him. It made to hurl him to oblivion. But Falco's fingers caught the handrail. He looped his arms around to secure his hold. It was all over in less than a second, yet Falco needed time to catch his breath. He looked up to the shack and inhaled deeply.
"Dash!" he cried over the gale. "Dash! Are you in there?!"
"Falco?!" The voice was barely audible, but it was Dash's. "Falco, I'm up here!"
Thank God! "Stay there! I'm coming up!"
Hauling himself around the rail, Falco began to climb. He ascended with the wind's direction, making movement easier. At the top, Falco crossed a slippery walkway to the door. He slammed against it with a fist. It was too dark inside to see through the window. "Hey, Dash! Are you alright in there?"
"Give me a moment!" For several moments, Falco heard pained grunts and something grinding like furniture against the floor. He guessed that Dash was clearing away whatever barricade he set up against his scorned Empire buddies.
Falco considered breaking a window just before the door opened. Dash stared at him with wide, fretful eyes. Falco stared back. The kid looked like hell. Dirty, soaked to the bone, and holding himself up on the crappiest DIY crutch that Falco ever saw. The wooden poles shifted in their duct tape bindings. Dash toppled forwards. Falco quickly caught him.
He felt Dash's arms wrap tightly around him. They didn't let go. Realising that they were long past the point of reflex, Falco tightened his hold around Dash as well. "You're okay now, kid. You're okay. You did great," he said softly, rubbing Dash's back. "Let's get you the hell out of here."
Dash pulled away at last. Tears wet his distraught face. Realisation flashed within them. "Wait a second. My laptop…" It laid open on the table in the middle of the room. Falco packed it into Dash's bag for him and slung it over his own shoulder. He then slipped Dash's arm over his other.
"I've got the Landmaster parked right next to the stairs," Falco explained. "We're going to lift you into the gunner's seat and meet up with the rest of the team. How's your leg?"
Dash hissed. "Bad. I can't put any weight on it."
As Falco expected. "Bullet or laser round?"
"Bullet. It's still in there. I couldn't remember whether it was safer to leave it in or take it out."
"That's okay. We've got Bill bringing some friends this way soon. One of them is a medic who'll take a look at you. But right now, we need to get to where Oikonny's lot won't catch us."
Dash gripped Falco's shoulder roughly. "Oikonny! Falco, he's been working on something…"
"Tell me once we're on the road," Falco interrupted. "We need to get moving now."
Slowly, Dash nodded. "Right… Run first… Talk later."
"No saying the 'r' word," Falco joked. "This whole thing is a tactical withdrawal, got it?"
A small smile crossed Dash's face. "Right. Tactical withdrawal."
There was no way that Dash could stagger down the steps in a strong headwind, so Falco helped him slide down each one on his backside. It was slow going, and the rain chilled them both to the bone. Falco fought against his body shivering. It was just like physical training back at the Academy. Only this time, his drill sergeant ran an industrial fan in their faces while blasting them with his favourite fire hose.
'I should meet up with that old bulldog someday,' Falco mused. 'I'd really love to punch him in the snout right now.'
Metal groaned over their heads. Falco and Dash stopped. They looked up and saw the roof begin to warp. Brackets snapped under the strain. Panels peeled in the wind. Falco threw himself over Dash as the entire roof shrieked and gave way. It flew off over the building's side, crashing loudly onto the ground below.
"Oh shit! Oh fuck!" Dash panicked. He peeked between his arms over his head and saw the shack's walls caving in on themselves. "Oh-shit-oh-fuck! Falco, what do we do?!"
"Calm down!" Falco barked. "We're going to be okay! Just keep moving! We're already halfway!"
He was still shaken, but Dash followed Falco the rest of the way down the stairs. Getting him into the Landmaster on that wounded leg was going to be a challenge though. There was no time for a clever fix, so Falco popped open the hatch next to the tank's cannon and carried Dash on his back. Their combined weight made it a little easier to cross the storm's fury.
Using all his strength, Falco heaved Dash through the opening. Dash cried out as he agitated his leg, but it was a small price to pay for survival. Falco then shimmied to the driver's seat and crawled inside as quickly as he could. As the hatches closed over both their heads, a deep sigh escaped Falco. He was glad that was over.
"How're you going back there, Dash?" he called.
"Still alive. Somehow…"
"Let's keep it that way, shall we?" Falco switched on the radio. "This is Falco calling in. I've got Dash. I repeat: I've got Dash with me and we're heading back now."
Loud cheers nearly burned out the speakers. "Thank God!" Katt cried. "Are you both okay?!"
"We're wet, dirty, and Dash is bleeding all over the upholstery. But we're good," Falco chuckled.
"I'm okay, Katt," Dash reassured her. "Falco saved me just in the nick of time."
Falco could hear the tears in Katt's lengthy exhale. "I'm so relieved…"
"We'll all be back together soon," Falco soothed. "Hey, Vixy! Can you read me? What's the status on that cyclone?"
"I read you, Falco. You have about 25 minutes to get out before it hits."
Falco laughed. "Twenty-five? That's plenty."
Peppy's disapproving grumble slipped through the radio. "I admire the optimism, Falco. But I strongly suggest that you put the pedal to the metal this instant."
Yeah… He had a point. Falco steered the Landmaster away from the outpost. "Okay, Old Timer. We're on our way." A spray of murky water shot up as they drove out onto the flooding road. If they ran with the current back to the rendezvous point, it would be smooth going from here on. "Hang on, Dash. Just have to get through this and we're golden."
Too bad that Dash's next words brought trouble. "Falco…? I think we've got company! Behind us!"
Falco switched the Landmaster into all-range mode. The compartment that Dash sat in lifted from the lower body, allowing Falco to turn the cannon towards the rear. Through the camera mounted above the barrel, he could see the headlights of several jeeps on their tail. Machine guns flashed in their direction. They pinged against the Landmaster's shields, raising alarms inside the cockpit.
"Damn it," Falco grumbled. Those discount Venomians weren't making this easy for them. "Hostiles engaged! Land-based armoured vehicles on our six! Mounted weapons firing on us!"
"Acknowledged, Falco," Peppy replied. "We're heading over to provide air support."
"Make sure you guys don't get blown away," Falco said. "Dash! I'm going to need you to take those bastards out for me."
"Got it." An onscreen notice told Falco that the cannon's targeting system switched to manual control. It fired into the enemy line. One of the jeeps blew up into a flaming heap. The blast knocked two others off-course, brushing one to the right and forcing the other onto a hidden slope, causing the truck to flip onto its side. The one that survived didn't last long as Dash delivered another shot straight to its engine.
"Woo!" Falco crowed. "Nice shooting, kid!"
"You know what? After putting up with these jerks for the past year, that felt really good!"
"Keep it coming then. We're not out of the woods yet."
Taking out the trucks brought them some relief. However, one of them must have alerted their friends about the Landmaster's location. Dash soon warned Falco of incoming starfighters. They shook through the air like they could spin out of control any moment. Yet that didn't stop the bogeys from raining lasers down below.
Dash shot back with careful aim. Not long after he took down one, more fighters arrived to replace them. At this rate, the entire enemy fleet would gather within minutes. The situation stank, but Falco couldn't do much about it. He needed to concentrate fully on driving right now. Giving Dash command of the cannon certainly made Falco's job a lot simpler.
A swarm of five ships spread themselves around the Landmaster. Lasers struck its armour. They shook the entire vehicle. As Falco fought to keep her steady, four of the ships suddenly exploded. Dash quickly took the remainder out. Four new starfighters flew overhead from the opposite direction. They opened fire upon the Androssians.
"Made it just in time," Slippy whooped.
The sound of his voice over the radio was music to Falco's ears. "It's about time you guys joined the party."
"A simple 'thank you' would be appreciated," Katt growled as she chased a couple of Invaders. "Do you know how hard it is to fly up here right now? It's like riding a shopping trolley!"
With all units working together, they kept reasonably on top of the incoming waves. However, Star Fox was soon reminded that the Androssian Empire was not their biggest concern. "Holy shit!" Lucy cried out. "I think I just saw the cyclone! Back when that lightning flashed!"
"Watch your language, young lady!" Peppy scolded. Another bolt lit up the night sky. "Good Lord! What was that I saw just now?!"
"Probably the cyclone," Slippy replied.
"I'm looking directly south! And that did not look like a twister!"
"South?!" Dash exclaimed. "Guys, I meant to tell you! Oikonny's been building…"
"Star Fox!"
That voice carried over all channels. Falco diverted his attention to the radio. Contempt welled within him. "Hey, now. If it isn't little Andy. Long time, no see, you limp-dicked loser. How've you been?"
"I'll make you all suffer for making a fool out of me!" Oikonny roared.
"You were kind of already one before we started spying on you. There wasn't much left for us to do."
It was fun to imagine Oikonny's teeth grinding. "I'll make you the first one to die, bird! Rest assured though, your demise won't be nearly as painful as what I have planned for that blood-traitor, Bowman."
"Aww. Are you and Dash not playing nice? Maybe you should go home and have a good, long nap." Falco then noticed something coming up on his radar from behind. Something big.
"Make all the jokes you want," Oikonny seethed. "They will not save you from my latest weapon. Behold the Mecha Emperor!"
Lights suddenly came to life, revealing a slender dreadnaught. It towered over the jungle. "What the heck?" Falco exclaimed.
"Falco!" Vixy called. "You guys need to hurry! That cyclone will hit in less than 15 minutes!"
"We're trying, Doc. But there's been a bit of a development down here."
Oikonny's flagship bellowed with his laughter over its loudspeakers. "All enemies of Uncle Andross will fall beneath my power! Captain Argus, engage battle mode!"
"Watch out, everyone," Peppy warned.
The Mecha Emperor's four cross-shaped wings collapsed into two. Each side folded into a pair of fists, which then split from the main hull on their own thrusters. The rest of the ship began to change shape. It transformed into an ape's face. Oikonny's face!
"Now you will witness the might of Lylat's new emperor! Me!" he cackled.
Falco stared at the ship's new shape with a deep frown. "That doesn't look good."
"Don't worry, Falco. We can handle this," Peppy assured him.
"No. What I mean is that design does not look good. It's hideous, actually!"
"Did he seriously model it after himself?" Slippy asked, astounded.
"That is so tacky," Katt remarked in disgust.
"And doesn't it also look like how Fox described Andross when they fought?" Falco then asked. "Like, is everything in Oikonny's army just a bootleg version of what his uncle had?"
"I know I'm new to all this, but I kind of expected something more, to be honest," Lucy added.
"Silence!" Oikonny screamed. "How dare you mock your destroyer!"
"Our destroyer?" Falco raised a brow. "Dude, your new toy looks like you tried to sculpt yourself out of clay for the first time."
"He actually does have a bust of Andross that he made in his office," Dash pointed out. "So, that's probably what happened." Their teammates laughed all at once.
Oikonny shrieked bloody murder. "Stop laughing at me and DIE!"
The right fist flew towards the Landmaster. Falco hit the boosters, sending up a spray of floodwater that washed over the tank. Giant, metal knuckles smashed into the ground. Somehow, Falco and Dash escaped with little more than a wave crashing into their rear. The fist lifted to return to Oikonny's side. Storm winds rattled it on a wonky course. There was little chance that either side could fight without getting blown away at this rate.
"Oikonny!" Falco growled. "Listen, seriously! Back off! This is not the time for either of us to be duking it out! If you don't get out of this storm right now, you're going to get yourself and your men killed!"
"No more lies! All enemies of Uncle Andross must pay!"
Oikonny swung again, this time at the Arwings. Fortunately, the wind knocked him off-balance, and his robot arm missed the ships completely. Peppy and Lucy opened fire on him. Meanwhile, Katt and Dash took out another few enemy starfighters. The flames that consumed the falling ships burned hotly even under the heavy rain.
"That Star Fox bastard's right," one of the pilots said over the open channels. "This shit's not worth the pay. You're on your own with this, Oikonny." The speaker became the first to turn away from the battlefield. A few others followed close behind. The Mecha Emperor's head stared after them.
"Cowards! Get back here this instant! Your general commands it! Your emperor!" One by one, more of Oikonny's men abandoned his side, disappearing into the night. He shook a giant fist. "Traitors! I will see you all executed myself!"
"Well, that takes care of one problem," Falco told his team privately. "We need to take that hunk of junk down quickly if we want to get out of this. Any ideas?"
"That armour is as tough as nails," Peppy said. "We're barely putting dents into it."
"The Empire built that ship with a self-repair system that my grandfather made. Any damage we do will fix itself if we just chip away at it," Dash cautioned. "It's also running on the combat AI that I helped steal a while back, so be careful about how you approach that thing."
That sounded bothersome. "Good thing we're trying to avoid a drawn-out fight," Falco muttered. "Did you grab any schematics before you ran?"
"I sure did."
"Patch the data over to me, Dash," Slippy said. "I'll scan it for weak points."
Katt, Peppy, and Lucy distracted Oikonny while that happened. All the while, Falco grew more anxious. The clock was ticking, and the weather was reaching its worst. He could feel the storm's fury in his bones. They could not waste a single second anymore.
Soon, Dash began shooting again. That told Falco that Slippy had the data. Once he analysed it, they would have a plan of attack. It wouldn't be long now.
"I've got it!" Slippy declared. "Just like Andross's bioweapon form, the Mecha Emperor has energy projectors on both palms for long range attacks. If we damage them, their power will destabilise and explode all throughout the arms. Even the self-repair system would be destroyed."
"Which would just leave the main body," Peppy added.
A fire bloomed in Falco's chest. "And I've got an idea on how to finish it off. Everyone, concentrate fire on the palms first."
"That's going to be hard if Oikonny's keeping his hands closed," Katt pointed out.
"Then we'll make him open them. Hey, Sliippy? Think you can get that ape to try and grab you?"
"Huh?! Why me?"
"Because for some weird reason, Oikonny always hated your guts personally," Falco explained. "I mean, think back to when he was in Star Wolf. Between Fox and Wolf; me and Leon; and Peppy and Pigma, you and Oikonny were pretty much rivals by default. So, make him mad and want to grab you."
Understandably, Slippy groaned. "This stupid plan had better work."
Falco then ordered Dash to pelt Oikonny with laser fire, and for everyone else to get into position. Under the bombardment's cover, Slippy's Arwing drifted in front of the Mecha Emperor.
"Hey, Andrew! You couldn't hit the broad side of an asteroid with that thing! I bet you can't even grab me if I fly right here in front of your hand!"
"You stupid frog!" Oikonny yelled. "Argus, give me the controls!"
There was a scuffle from inside the Mecha Emperor for a few moments. Five metallic fingers then opened, revealing a glowing, blue core inside the giant palm. It reached for Slippy, who spun away to cruise in front of the other hand.
"Ha-ha! Knew you couldn't do it. No wonder Wolf kicked you out of his team. You s-u-c-k: suck!"
"I'LL SHOW YOU!"
The second hand opened. Slippy dodged it as well, falling purposefully in range of the first. He then flitted between them as Oikonny tried to snatch him out of the air like a fly. The dumb ape became set on crushing Slippy in his mitts.
"Now!" Falco ordered.
Together, Peppy and Lucy launched a smart bomb each. Slippy nosedived out of the way. Twin blasts detonated into the Mecha Emperor's hands, destroying their projectors. A chain reaction spread through the arms. Armour cracked from within, giving the energy a path to break out more violently. The arms exploded. Their flaming pieces crashed to the ground below. Oikonny screeched.
"Damn you! You think you've beaten me?! I'll show you!"
"We're all going to die with you flying!" someone snarled from inside the enemy bridge. "Give me the controls!"
"Stay out of this, Argus! Know your place!"
"You know what? To hell with this! You don't seem to need me, and I sure as hell don't need you. I'm out! Have a nice life!"
A gunshot soon cracked over the radio. Falco's heart skipped a beat. "No one walks away from me and lives to tell about it," Oikonny sneered. The Mecha Emperor straightened its flight path.
"Did he just…?" Dash's voice shook.
"Don't think about that now," Falco told him. He noticed Slippy's Arwing ahead of the Landmaster. It shook at low altitude. "Slippy, how are you doing?"
"Ugh… Couldn't get out of the blast zone as fast as I thought I could. My shields are out, and I bumped my head a little."
"Fall back to the Great Fox. Peppy, Lucy, you guys too. Leave the rest to us. Katt, are you ready for the finale?"
"Way ahead of you. Or should I say: right behind Oikonny's shiny, metal backside."
"Awesome. Vixy, what's the ETA on that cyclone?"
"IT'S RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU!" Vixy shrieked. "GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"
Falco laughed. "Perfect. Katt and Dash, light up his afterburners!"
Rapid laser fire peppered the Mecha Emperor from both sides. No matter which way Oikonny turned, its rear became exposed to an onslaught. Katt launched a smart bomb straight into the machine's primary afterburner and decimated it. The Mecha Emperor's speed dropped drastically.
"Ha! You think that'll be enough to stop me?" Oikonny boasted. "My flagship can repair itself from whatever meagre damage you do to it."
Falco chuckled. "I'll bet. But can it fix itself fast enough to get out of that cyclone's way?"
"Huh?"
At that precise moment, the Mecha Emperor began to shake. It veered to one side on its own, spinning around itself as it became caught inside the hazy vortex. Bits and pieces broke off in the heart of the storm. The ship could no longer maintain its altitude. Falco heard Oikonny's scream as it crashed into the dense jungle foliage.
"Uncle Andross!" Oikonny wailed. Then there was no more from him.
"We did it!" Dash whooped.
Falco wanted to celebrate too, but he was busy fighting to keep the Landmaster from washing away. He deployed emergency tethers into whatever he could bury them into and redirected the engine's power to maximising their shield strength. Water, earth, and whatever else smashed into the Landmaster's armour. The tank shook violently as the storm threatened to throw it across the mountain range.
'Come on, baby,' Falco urged. 'Hold on for me.'
After minutes that felt like hours, the Landmaster planted all wheels back onto the ground. The worst of the storm had now passed. "Falco! Peppy's voice cried out. "Falco! Are you alright?"
"Dash… You good?" Falco panted. A haunting moan signalled that he was at least responsive. "Yeah, Pep. We're fine. Katt, what about you?"
There was no immediate reply. Falco grew worried before the radio crackled. "That… was fucking scary…" Katt wheezed. "Don't you ever ask me to fly through a storm like that again."
"Knew you could handle it, Katt. Great job."
Under his mirth, Falco felt his immense relief crash down on him. His gamble had paid off. Crippling Oikonny's movements would have put at least one of their teammates into the cyclone's path as well. Only an ace pilot could hope to brush next to one and boost their way out of its pull. Fortunately, an ace was exactly what Katt was.
"Doesn't seem like Oikonny's flagship is getting back up. And I don't see any reinforcements coming in," Peppy reported. "You lot better bunker down somewhere safe until we come back to fetch you."
"Copy that, Peppy. We'll meet you back at the drop off point once the storm clears," Falco replied. "And if you see Bill's team, tell him that they missed one hell of a show."
After Falco ended the call, he checked their location on the map. He hadn't noticed that they were almost back at the quarry where he started from. Oikonny had chased them almost the whole way there. That sure made the rest of this trip a lot easier.
From the gunner's seat, Dash moaned a second time. "If this is how spy missions always end, then I never want to be a part of one ever again."
He sounded exhausted. It made Falco realise that he was too. How late was it now? Falco checked the clock. Scratch that. How early was it? This rescue had turned into an all-nighter, and Falco felt like crap because of it. He could only imagine how Dash was feeling.
"Don't worry, kid. It's all over now. Just get some rest until we can finally say goodbye to this planet."
Dash yawned. "That sounds… great…"
The sound of gentle, steady breaths told Falco that Dash was already out like a light. To make the kid's ride as gentle as possible, Falco drove the Landmaster as steadily as he could. The road was rising out from the flood and getting rockier. They would be at the quarry within a few minutes. Then once they found shelter under sturdy peaks and high cliffs, Falco planned to get some shut eye as well. A little bit of rest did, indeed, sound great right about now.
End note:
Phew-wee! Glad to finally have that lot of business closed. These last three chapters took a lot of effort to write, and I feel like it was worth it. Hope that you agree.