Author's note:

I'll admit I was a little bit slow updating the story this week. Deltarune Chapter 2 just dropped and I finished my first playthrough over the weekend. Might publish another one-shot about it later.

Chapter 37: Aftermath

"I've got to hand it to you, Falco. Star Fox still knows how to cheat death like it's going out of style."

"Heh. Thanks, Bill. It got a little hairy a few times there, but I'm glad that everyone made it out alright. And thanks for lending us the field medic. ROB's not great at pulling bullets out of bones."

"Yeah, I'd hate to be Dash right now. But Amanda's great. She'll have him patched up nicely in no time. I've asked her to accompany Dash all the way to the hospital, so don't worry about bringing her back to us."

"All good," Falco nodded. "So, how's it looking down on the surface?"

"I've seen plenty of battlefields after the action, but there's something about a disaster site that hits different. Nature is a cruel mistress when she feels like it." Bill shook his head. "Oikonny's flagship is totalled. Ground teams found a few bodies, but his wasn't among them. We reckon that Oikonny survived and made a run for it."

Falco grumbled. "Damn. Wish we paid more attention to radar on our way out. We might have known if he flew off in an escape pod or something."

"Not much we can do about him now. I've asked HQ to put a warning out to other planets. They might catch Oikonny if he tries to land somewhere. In the meantime, we're storming the ape's base. There are still a few soldiers putting up a fight, but it shouldn't take us too long to clear them out. I've ordered our guys to go easy on the non-combatants like you asked."

"Dash will be grateful," Falco said. "He was pretty insistent that not everyone who worked for Oikonny was a bad guy."

"I wish it were up to me to take him at his word. Best I can do is make sure they're at least comfortable until the brass figures out what to do with them." Bill turned away from the camera as though listening to someone out of sight. "Anyway, I better get going. Fay and Miyu are eager to get the operation started."

"Good luck with that, Bill. See you later."

"Seeya."

Bill's hologram flickered out of existence. Falco rubbed his tired eyes as he turned away from the projector. "ROB, what's our ETA to Corneria?"

"We will reach our destination in 42 minutes."

Barely enough time for a power nap. Falco mumbled irritably to himself. "I'm heading down to the med bay. Give me a shout if there are any problems."

Hall lights shone brightly along Falco's route. The Great Fox ran on its own day-night cycle. Normally, the ship went dark during sleeping hours to conserve energy. Falco overrode the automated schedule since nobody was likely to hit the sack soon. They all wanted to see Dash off in safe hands. That being said, Falco would still kill for the chance to lie down for a solid eight hours.

A yowl of pain reached his ears. Falco made no hurry as he approached the med bay. A stream of swift, suffering breaths drew him to Dash, who clutched Katt's hand as a pink frog in tactical gear tended to his injury. Falco sniffed the air and frowned in displeasure. The room stank of blood and disinfectant. It rose a few memories from the 'forget about it' vault.

"There we go. Almost done," the frog assured. Next to her, a tray cradled wads of soiled gauze and tissues. Bloody bone fragments and a small bullet sat atop the pile.

"How are you doing, Dash?" Falco asked.

Dash tore the bit from between his teeth. "How about I shoot you in the leg and ask how you feel afterwards?!"

Falco whistled. "Sorry I said anything."

"Calm down, Dash," Katt scolded. "He's asking because he cares."

Dash frowned in shame, glancing away from her. His body then jerked violently as the medic pulled the last wrap of a thick bandage tightly around his wound. "That should do it for now," she said, wiping her temple.

"Thanks again for doing this, Doc," Falco said as Dash moaned atop his pillow. "Sorry for calling you out so late just to drag you from your squad."

The medic smiled to him. She was pretty for an amphibian, with bright, blue eyes. "Oh, please. 'Amanda' is just fine. And I'm more than happy to help. It's all part of my job."

"Well, Amanda, we're still pretty grateful." Falco glanced back to the bed. "Since Dash doesn't want to talk about it, how's the leg?'

Amanda sighed softly as she looked upon her work. "It was tricky to get the bullet out without making the damage worse. The surrounding bone is shattered and will need surgery to heal properly. I've done everything I can to close the wound and ease Dash's pain."

"You caused so much of it," Dash slurred pitifully.

"Ah, you'll be okay, kid. You've survived worse," Falco chuckled. Katt frowned at him before returning her attention to Dash. She patted his hand with deep sympathy in her gaze.

"It might take another few minutes for the painkillers to kick in." Amanda then stood and moved her chair to the opposite side of the room, where Slippy sat quietly with a rag between his eyes. "Sorry to keep you waiting so long. Let me take a look at that."

She took hold of Slippy's hand and lowered it from his forehead. Falco's brow raised, for the guy's cheeks blushed as red as the gash she uncovered. Amanda dabbed the blood away with an alcohol wipe. "So, tell me more about how this happened."

Slippy winced from the sting. "Well… We were… fighting Oikonny's giant robot, and our teammates hit him with a couple of smart bombs." His eyes darted to the far corners of the room. "I was too close and got caught in the blast. Smacked my head on the yoke when my ship lurched."

"Goodness! Does it hurt badly? Any dizziness or blurred vision?"

"Nah. None of that. Smarts a bit though." Slippy shrugged. "Just my luck, is all. I'm always getting myself into trouble like that."

"Hey, come now, Slippy," Falco interjected lightly. "We couldn't have taken out Oikonny's arms if you hadn't exposed their weak spots for us. You were the real MVP out there."

Slippy gave him a strange look. "What are you talking about? Are you sure you didn't hit your head too?"

Falco threw his hands up. "I'm telling the truth! Katt, Dash, you saw it too, right? Slippy ran circles around Oikonny's face until the dumbass made himself vulnerable! He put his life on the line to give us the chance to win the fight!"

Dash rolled his head the other way. "Uuuugh… Sure… Whatever…"

Katt, on the other hand, was more inclined to play ball. "Oh, of course!" she smiled. "He was up there dodging Oikonny's attacks in hurricane-strength winds like it was nothing. It was amazing to watch."

"Really?" Amanda brightened. "That was so brave of you!"

Slippy's blush returned stronger than before. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Uh… I… Uh… It was nothing, really. Just doing my part."

"Aw, come on, Slip! You did way more than that!" Falco waved his arms. "Did I mention that he was the one who came up with our attack plan? Slippy took one look at the blueprints that Dash stole and found out where to make Oikonny hurt the most. And he did all that in the heat of the battle."

"What would we do without you?" Katt grinned. It became harder to tell whose face was the brightest shade of pink. Slippy quickly closed the gap for first place.

"Incredible," Amanda smiled. "You must be an amazing pilot then."

"Well, no… I mean-mean thanks! But I-I…" Slippy stammered. He swallowed. "I'm not as great as the others… but I do my best, I guess. I mostly just maintain the Arwings and keep our tech in working order…"

"Oh? So, you're a mechanic as well?"

"Sure, he is," Falco exclaimed. "He's always upgrading our starfighters with something neat to give us an edge. Not only that, Slippy's also the one who built the satellite we used to find our missing friend, Fox."

Slippy shifted uncomfortably. "Come on, Falco. It's not like I invented the cables we needed to see into Purgatory."

"Yeah, but you made everything else."

"From scrap parts," Katt added.

Falco puffed his chest. "I tell you what, Amanda. If we didn't have Slippy, our team would have fallen apart years ago. He's the nuts and bolts that hold us together."

"Oh my," Amanda responded. Slippy said not a thing in contrary as she adhered a large bandage to his forehead. "Did you maybe build your team's tank as well? I've been around a few during my service, but I don't recognise that model."

Her question pressed the right button to switch Slippy into gearhead mode. "Oh, that's because I customised it from something else. You see, Space Dynamics hired us for a rescue mission on Katina back during the Lylat Wars. It was the middle of sandstorm season, so our starfighters couldn't help us find the missing research team. So, what I did was take one of SD's exploration vehicles and jerry-rigged my Arwing's lasers onto it. That came in handy when Fox ran into a bunch of bandits along the way. After we saved the researchers, Space Dynamics let us keep the explorer as a reward. I converted it into a proper tank a couple of weeks later."

Wonder sparkled in Amanda's eyes. "That's amazing."

"I could show you the Landmaster up close, if you'd like," Slippy offered. Startling, he then glanced the other way. "Uh… That's… if you're interested in that sort of thing though…"

"I'd love to," Amanda beamed. She turned to Falco. "Oh! But first: is there anyone else whose injuries I should look at?"

Falco examined himself. "I'm fit as a fiddle. Don't think Peppy or Lucy got hurt at all. Katt, you?"

Katt shrugged. "Nothing a good, long sleep won't fix."

"We should be fine then," Falco answered Amanda. Eagerly, she looked back to Slippy. He smiled and fidgeted.

"O-okay! Let's go then."

Once the two frogs left the room, Falco turned to the others with a gleam in his eye. "Who else thinks Slippy will finally get laid after that? I'm betting $100."

"Do frogs even reproduce like we do?" Dash replied groggily. "I don't remember…"

Falco waved his hands. "Meh. Doesn't matter. As long as he gets himself a girlfriend, it still counts."

"Aren't you a good friend," Katt snickered. Falco nodded proudly to himself. Yes. He was a good friend.

He eyed Dash and the troubled look on his face. "How are you feeling now?"

"I think the meds are starting to work. It still hurts like hell. Really not looking forward to being banged up for a few months again."

"If it makes you feel any better, you don't have to take any stupid risks around your crazy cousin anymore," Katt consoled.

Dash sneered. "First cousin once removed. And I'll be glad to be as far removed from Oikonny as bloody possible."

"Did we get him?" Katt asked Falco, who shook his head.

"Slipped away before Bill's team arrived. But we'll have people keeping an eye out for him." The others expressed their disappointment. However, they rested easier with the knowledge that Oikonny's Androssian Empire was now in shambles.

Falco soon caught Katt staring at him. She nudged her head towards Dash. He guessed at her meaning. Falco retrieved the empty seat and set it next to the bed. "Hey, Dash? Listen… You did a great job on Fortuna. And… we're glad to have you back."

Dash hung his head forlornly. "Sorry about making you guys risk your lives to save me."

Katt placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. "You'd have done the same for us."

"Katt's right," Falco nodded. Now it was his turn to stare at his feet. "I'm sorry for making you risk your neck like that. It was my call to make you go back to Fortuna after Oikonny got suspicious. I should have been better prepared for things to go south. If I had, you probably wouldn't be in the shape you're in now."

"None of it would have happened if I had just been more cautious," Dash objected.

"Enough, both of you," Katt intervened. "We'll be here all night if we keep trying to blame ourselves. What matters most is that the two of you worked together to make sure everyone got home alive. Let's focus on that instead of who's at fault for what."

Falco shook his head and chuckled. "She's right again."

"Of course, I am. I'm always right."

Falco nodded slightly. "You really pulled through with that mission, Dash. You've come a long way since you first joined us."

A small smile formed on Dash's face. "Thank you."

Alas, Falco sighed. "Looking back though, I used to treat you like shit. I'm sorry about that. I should have been a better leader than I was back then."

Unsettled, Dash twiddled his thumbs. "You didn't make it easy for me. But… you being tough on me was what pushed me to prove myself. We wouldn't have found a way to locate Fox if I didn't decide to infiltrate the Empire."

"Yeah. You're right, there," Falco sighed. "We did the right thing by hiring you." Dash's smile returned. Glancing across the bed, Falco saw Katt smiling at him too. She soon stood up.

"Will you be alright on your own for a bit?" she asked Dash. "I want to talk to Falco in private." Dash gestured for them to do as they pleased. "Thanks. Call if you need anything."

Falco followed Katt out all the way to her stateroom. "What's up?" he asked.

She surprised him with a firm embrace. "Thank you for saving Dash," she said, nuzzling into his chest. "And thank you for apologising to him."

Wrapping his arms around her, Falco rested his beak between Katt's ears. "It's the least I could do for the kid."

Katt squeezed his middle. "You were a great captain today. You led us through a really tough spot; even though you had me brush up against a god-damned cyclone." Her tail smacked Falco's leg.

"Wouldn't have done it if I didn't think you could pull it off. You were awesome out there, Katt. Couldn't have asked for anyone better."

Katt snickered. "Not even Fox?"

"Not even Fox," Falco chuckled. "Come to think of it, the guy's probably gone rusty after all this time. I bet he'd now be useless in a dogfight."

They laughed together a moment longer. Katt reached up to kiss Falco's beak. "If I hadn't gone the last 20 hours without sleep, I'd give you the best ever hero's reward until neither of us can walk straight," she smirked. "But I am so exhausted, I could pass out on the floor any second."

So, why bother telling him? Falco suppressed a sigh as his pants tightened. "You should go to bed then," he said softly, stroking Katt's back. She shook her head.

"Not yet. Once Dash is on his way to the hospital, then I'll crash. But I will make time for that reward once things settle down."

"Don't worry about that right now." Falco checked his watch. "It's going to be another 20 minutes before we land. What do you want to do in the meantime?"

He felt Katt lean heavily into him. Falco guided her to sit onto the bed. Not once did she let him go. "Could we just cuddle for a while?" she asked.

His heart floating, Falco sat next to Katt. She flung her legs over his lap and found a comfortable spot to nestle her head against his shoulder. Falco held her in both arms. Gently, he preened Katt's fur. She began to purr. Falco did everything he could think of in that moment to reward her for a job well done. She deserved nothing less than the best care he had to offer.

"I love you, bluebird," Katt whispered.

Falco closed his eyes and pressed the tip of his beak upon her forehead. "I love you too, kitty."

Lucy held the flight suit aloft by the shoulders. Carefully, she folded it once then twice. She held it against her chest, letting the night's events roll over in her mind. They had been exhilarating. Frightening. Incredible beyond adequate description. Her heart still pounded. The rush through her bloodstream now left Lucy shaken on her feet. She could feel herself back in Falco's Arwing. Its power cleaved through the raging storm and made Lucy feel like she could fly as free and fiercely as an eagle.

Once she roosted into the present again, Lucy set the flight suit down next to her ball dress. She needed to thank Katt again for lending her a spare. For her first flight into battle, tonight had not been what Lucy ever imagined. She could scarcely believe that it actually happened. There was no way in the universe that she would ever forget this experience.

Dressed in a borrowed set of pyjamas, Lucy sat down onto the bed. She looked around the guest room. Her mind filled its blank features with marks from her bedroom back home, turning this space into her own. Lucy soon reined her thoughts in. Flying one mission with her father's team had her dreaming this as her new life already. She was getting too far ahead of herself. It was silly of her.

A knock at the door interrupted Lucy. She rose to answer and found her father standing outside. He smiled briefly but frowned as his eyes drifted to one side. "Hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Of course not." Lucy stepped back. "Would you like to come in?"

"Thank you."

Just as she did, Peppy glanced around the room. His gaze settled upon the folded flight suit. A subtle but deep sigh fled his lips. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, I guess. Though I can't stop thinking about everything that just happened. It's like I'm still stuck in the moment."

Peppy nodded. "You're first time in battle rattles you. The memories imprint themselves until you can feel them in your veins. It fades as time passes, but the experience never really leaves you." He turned to Lucy. "I'm glad that you weren't hurt."

"And I'm glad that no one else got hurt either," Lucy smiled. Her expression faltered for a moment. "Well… except for Dash, that is…"

Peppy chuckled. "I wouldn't be too worried. From the way I heard him crying out earlier, he's still got plenty of life left in him. He's going to have a rough recovery to look forward to, but Dash will be alright."

Lucy sighed. "That's good."

Silence hung uneasily between them. Gloom washed over Peppy. "May we talk for a moment?"

A daughter learns to recognise when their father has something grave to say. Lucy became all too familiar with those signs over the last few years. She gave no verbal answer, instead gesturing to a place on the bed. Peppy sat beside her. He stared distantly at the opposite wall for a long time.

"You did well today."

Hearing those words should have brought Lucy joy. Alas, the sorrow in the breath that carried them sapped it away, overfilling her with worry. Peppy looked down at his hands. They wrung restlessly.

"For so long, the thought of you fighting pirates and killers in a starfighter terrified me. I was constantly afraid that you wouldn't be ready. That I would lose you just as easily as we lost your mother."

She knew. For as long as Lucy dreamed of becoming a pilot, she knew why her father felt and acted the way that he had. She knew exactly what that fear felt like. Because, to some degree, Lucy had always felt that exact same fear whenever he flew out on a mission. She knew what it was like to worry whether someone she loved would come home after the battle. She knew the agony that seized one's heart when they did not.

Peppy sighed. "But down on Fortuna… You were fine. You were up against enemy soldiers, terrible storms, and an honest-to-God superweapon. And you were fine. You followed orders. You did your part. And you came back unharmed. You were fine." He bowed his head. "All this time… I was worried over nothing."

As hard as she tried, Lucy could not think of a way to respond. This was everything she ever wanted, yet never wanted at the same time. She took hold of Peppy's arm, feeding his palm into her fingers. A simple squeeze was all it took to relay what Lucy needed to.

"You've grown so strong and capable without my knowing," Peppy continued. "No… That's not true. I knew that you trained as hard as you possibly could at the Academy. I simply refused to see it. I always thought of you as my precious, little girl who I needed to protect. I closed my eyes to the brave woman you've grown up into."

"I became strong because I wanted to be like you," Lucy said, her voice as soft as her smile. "You've always fought to protect people, Papa. It's what makes you a hero. My hero. That's why I was so happy to finally fight alongside you today. So, thank you. For finally giving me the chance."

Peppy sniffed deeply. His arms pulled Lucy into his chest. A tear ran down his cheek and soaked her fur. "I'm so sorry for being such a fool."

Lucy hugged him with all her warmth. "You only did it because you cared."

"Your mother used to say that I care too much sometimes," he chuckled sadly.

"And Mama told me that's what she loved most about you."

Peppy's embrace tightened. "She would be so proud of you, Lucy. And so am I. No matter how much I worry, I will always be proud of you. Never forget that, sweetheart."

Joyful tears ran down Lucy's face. "I won't, Papa. Thank you."

Time stood still for God knew how long. Lucy did not care. She was simply happy to sit like this with her father. Neither of them moved until ROB's voice crackled over the PA. "Attention, crew members and passengers. We are approaching Corneria's orbit. Please prepare for atmospheric entry."

"Sounds like we'll be home soon," Lucy said. She pulled away from Peppy. He nodded simply.

"You know, Lucy. It's pained me that I've never been home much for you since I started working as a mercenary again. Not that long ago, Vixy suggested something to me. That I should consider retiring soon."

That surprised Lucy. "What would you do then?"

Peppy chuckled. "Honestly, I have no idea. But it got me thinking. If I do retire, someone will need to fill my place here with Star Fox." He paused in contemplation. "After watching you tonight, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hand it over to you."

Her heart soared. "Really?!"

His expression turned stern. "Mind you, I don't plan on simply walking out and dusting my hands. What I'm open to is a probationary period. We could bring you on and trial you on a few missions. Easier ones than what we just dealt with. I'll still hang around to show you the ropes. And you will be listening to every word I say the whole time. Got it?"

Lucy tackled him into another hug, startling Peppy. "I'd love that. Thank you, Papa."

Slowly, gently, his arms came to rest around her back. "You're welcome, Lucy. Now that I've seen you in action, I want to see what else you can do. I'll make you the best-damned pilot this galaxy has ever seen. I promise you."

That was all she ever wanted and more. "I love you, Papa."

"I love you too, Lucy."

With everyone else gone their separate ways, it became quiet. Only sounds kept Dash company, like the hum of the Great Fox's engines, the buzz of old light fixtures, and the steady beep of the heart monitor hooked up to him. It was the ideal environment for his exhausted body to return to sleep. Unfortunately, the new pain caused by Amanda removing the bullet made it impossible for Dash to nod off. The medication she gave wasn't strong enough to knock him out. He also had to stay awake until he could get checked out at the hospital. That sucked.

Resting his eyes, Dash heard the med bay's door open. He expected Katt or maybe Amanda having returned. Yet when he looked, Dr Reinard stood at the entrance instead. Her hand clutched the front of her shirt. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

"It's okay. Couldn't sleep anyway," Dash murmured. He sat up to pay her proper attention. Although the meds couldn't knock him out, they did make Dash's head heavy.

"How are you feeling?" Reinard took the seat that Falco had used a few minutes ago.

"I've been better. My leg still aches even with painkillers. Honestly, though, I'm just glad to be alive." Dash studied her expression for a moment. It felt wrong to be the subject of her concern. "I'm sorry you missed the gala because of me."

Reinard snorted. "I should be thanking you. It was horrible there. I couldn't count the number of people I wanted to slap after some of the things they said."

Dash allowed himself a single chuckle. "And here I thought I had a bad night." The mire of remorse sucked him back down again. "You didn't have to come all this way just for me."

"I wanted to," she replied softly.

"Why?"

"Because you're my teammate."

"Even though I'm Andross's grandson?"

Dr Reinard said nothing. Her gaze dropped sorrowfully. It was too late for regret though. Dash had already opened that cursed box, the one he vowed never to touch since he joined Star Fox nearly three years ago. "He hurt so many people during the war. But he hurt you and your family over and over, even when he should have been long dead. I understand that all I am is a bad reminder to you." That was all he had ever been to anyone before he met the team.

Dr Reinard sighed; a long and trembling sound that seemed on the verge of tears. She clasped her hands to her chest. "I am guilty of harbouring those feelings towards you, and I am sorry for that. You never shared any responsibility for what Andross did to either James or my son. Yet I could never shake away the pain that I felt just from remembering. You did not deserve any ill will from me, and I am sorry for ever making you feel that you should."

"I wouldn't have blamed you." Dash gripped the bedsheets in clawed fingers. "If you look at Oikonny, evil just seems to run in the family."

"But not you." He and she lifted their gazes to each other. They locked in place. "You put yourself in terrible danger because you wanted to help rescue Fox. And it's through the fruits of your efforts that we finally found him. It's because of you that I finally know that my son is alive and well. You gave me hope, Dash, and I'm forever thankful for that."

Something wet rolled down Dash's cheek. He wiped it away with his wrist to discover they were tears. "All this time, I just wanted to make up for the terrible things that my grandfather did."

"You don't need to. As I said, you are not responsible for his crimes. You are your own person, Dash. The only actions that you must answer to are your own. Blood relation does not decide whether you should be praised or punished."

Dash's emotions overwhelmed him. His tears fell more freely. Few others had offered similar words throughout his life. His parents, his psychiatrist, as well as various counsellors he spoke to during his school years. But it was only when Dr Reinard said them – someone who was still suffering from his grandfather's sins – that those words finally meant what they should have to Dash.

Head in his hands, he did not see Dr Reinard move to sit on the bed beside him. She pulled him into her arms and cradled his head against her chest. Gentle fingers combed through Dash's hair.

"I am grateful for everything that you have done for my son and me," she whispered. "If tonight has proven anything, it's that you deserve to be here with Star Fox."

Dash's chest heaved too much to speak. He held Dr Reinard tighter. Her pelt was thin but soft. She smelled warm beneath the remnants of perfume. Her touch made him feel safe, like it was okay to finally offload the burdens amassed onto his back.

"All crew members, prepare for landing," ROB announced. So, that shaking over the last few minutes wasn't just Dash.

"We'll be there soon," Dr Reinard said. "Would you like me to stay until the paramedics arrive?"

Dash thought about it. He was probably pushing whatever new freedom the pair of them had just found in their relationship, but he wasn't ready to let go just yet. After the worst night of his life, Dash wasn't ready to end this moment of safety and peace. He wanted this to last just a little bit longer.

"Yes please," he murmured.

That was the last either of them said to each other for the rest of that night.