Author's note:

Hey. You guys want me to toy with your feelings again?

No? Well, too bad.

Chapter 49: Long Distance

Fox hunched over the little box. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting the lights, wires, and buttons all over. Every few seconds, he checked the illustrations in Slippy's manual, making sure that he was setting up the radio correctly. If he couldn't figure it out, the last thing that Fox wanted was to ask Andross for help. He'd rather fight an ordus barehanded than do that.

After Slippy tracked down the supplies that he and the team sent earlier, it took Fox a couple of days to cobble enough people together to retrieve both capsules. It was a blessed surprise to find the contents all still there. Nobody seemed to have stumbled on the goods before them, most likely because the epidemic kept most people from exploring. In any case, Fox was glad he didn't need to inconvenience his team by sending down yet another package.

Since both capsules contained the same equipment, Fox gave one set to Andross and took the other home. Slippy certainly packed everything that they both needed. Each radio came with a solar panel for power, which Fox installed on his roof. He also received just enough wiring to set the radio up in the living room. Fox contemplated drilling a few holes into his second floor and walls, however that was a task for later. For now, he just needed to get the dang thing to work.

When it seemed like all the lights were shining where they were supposed to, Fox set the radio down and took his seat. He swallowed to wet his throat. The moment of truth hung over him like the arethanite dust in Cerinia's sky. Fox picked up the microphone and inhaled a shivering breath. He flipped the switch to turn the receiver on. Static crackled from the speaker. As good a sign as any that things were normal.

'Here we go…'

"This is Fox McCloud calling the Great Fox. Can you hear me?"

Nervous moments wound Fox's heart up like a string. An itch burned for him to call again until he heard a voice. "Fox?" His spirits lifted as he recognised their sound. "Fox, are you there?"

"Mom?"

A sigh rumbled through the channel. "Oh, sweetheart… I'm so glad to hear from you."

"I'm glad to hear you too." A big smile pulled Fox's lips. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. There's a reason I always left the tech stuff to Slippy."

"Oh, don't worry about that, darling. What matters now is that I can hear your voice again now."

He wanted the happy feelings to last. Alas, a tidal wave of guilt crashed down on Fox and washed them out to sea. "Mom…" He fought back a sob. "Damn it, Mom… I am so sorry for making you worry this whole time."

He heard Vixy struggle for her composure as well. "It's okay, Fox. It… It was hard… But your friends helped me stay hopeful. They never gave up on you, you know."

Fox wiped a tear from his eye. "Glad to hear it," he chuckled. "So, you're living on the Great Fox now, are you?"

"Yes," Vixy laughed. "Mind you, I don't get involved much in the day-to-day business. But I've been working with Slippy to try and find a way to rescue you."

"I suppose you've had some success, since you found me."

"To an extent. It's really Dash who made it all possible. He's the one we have to thank."

Fox thought he heard that name before. He knotted his brows together until he remembered the other night. "Dash? That guy who told Andross he was his grandson?"

"Yes," Vixy answered. The spark left her tone. "It's true, by the way. Dash and Andross… They share blood."

Fox ran a hand over his face, trying to process that. "I'm surprised you guys let someone tied to Andross onto the ship."

"Believe me, I wasn't thrilled when Peppy invited him to join Star Fox. But… over time… Dash proved himself. He's a kind boy who was willing to put his life in danger to help us. I trust him."

A smile returned to Fox. "I reckon I want to meet this Dash now."

"I'm sure there'll be time for that." Vixy sighed before her tone shifted once more. "But Andross, on the other hand… Fox, I cannot believe that man is down there with you. And you're somehow working with him?!"

It was clear as a bell. The anguish in his mother's voice. Shame opened a black pool inside Fox's chest. "I know," he began softly. "I know what it sounds like. But believe me, when I first found out that Andross was here in Kezamat, I shoved my blaster right in his face." Fox scoffed. "The smug bastard didn't even flinch."

Vixy didn't reply, but Fox heard the grievous shudder that wracked her. "I wanted to kill him. I wanted to. So badly. Right there. But Andross told me that he was my only chance of getting home. I didn't want to believe him… But like I said before, my options at the time weren't great. I didn't know what happened to Peppy or the others after I crashed, and I had no way of knowing if you guys could rescue me on your own. It really did feel like Andross was the only one who could actually help me."

"That… must have been horrible," Vixy tremored.

"I tried to bear it the best I could." Fox sat back, feeling himself return to those days. "After we agreed to work together, Andross gave me something. A phrasebook that he wrote during his time here. It… It made it easier for me to learn the local language. Not being able to talk to anyone properly was… stressful."

When Fox looked back, he compared those first few months to when their family moved to Corneria. The transition had been simpler as a child, in fact. His father already knew Cornerian, and he taught Fox and Vixy as much as he could before Fox started school there. The process didn't feel so daunting when he wasn't alone. Honestly, Fox reckoned it would have taken him much longer to learn Cerinian without Andross's charity.

"I don't know how you've done it, Fox," Vixy resumed, seething beneath the surface. "To be around that… that monster… this whole time… and…" She choked up before she could finish.

Fox hung his head. "It was a challenge. I had to swallow a lot of anger just so I wouldn't punch him in the face every time we met. But the hardest part was watching everyone else act so calmly around him. The thing with Cerinians is that they can read minds. They knew what Andross did and what he was capable of; but they let him walk free because he couldn't do jack without them finding out his plans first. He was helpless without them as well. So, Andross played nice and did things to actually improve the Cerinians' lives, like giving them indoor plumbing, better tools, and modern medicine."

He didn't want to talk about Andross like this. Yet Fox found himself unable to stop. "He also saved my life one time. We were looking for traces of arethanite on the surface; the pink dust surrounding Cerinia. Andross and I climbed down this cliff into a valley, but the path broke underneath me. Andross caught me just before I fell." Fox paused to sigh. "I know he had his own reasons for doing it. But even so, I wouldn't still be here if not for him."

"Oh, good lord…" Fox could envision his mother burying her head into her hands. Which did she find worse: him admitting to almost dying or that Andross saved him? Fox didn't want to know.

"Then a few months ago, an epidemic hit Kezamat. It was horrible, Mom. Hundreds of people died, and nothing Krystal or the other lythans could do helped much. The situation got so bad that I had to leave the city just so the disease wouldn't kill me. It made me feel like a coward."

Fox composed himself. "I helped the locals by hunting and foraging what they needed, though there wasn't much more that I could do. Overall, I felt pretty useless."

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Fox."

"But Andross… He knew how to fight the nuhmryg. He studied it, figured out how it worked. He found its source and wiped it out. Then he created a cure. He saved thousands of lives. And he saved Krystal's too." Fox rubbed his thumb against his eyes. He pulled himself from thinking about that too deeply.

"The girl you're with?" Vixy asked.

"Yeah." Fox's voice trembled. "Krystal ran herself ragged before she got sick. The lythans did everything they could do to keep her alive, but I couldn't even sit at her bedside while she was suffering." He couldn't stop the blasphemous words from leaving his mouth. "I owe Andross everything for saving Krystal in time. Without her… I wouldn't…"

He wouldn't have known what he would have done without her love and support.

They were silent as Fox tried to get his bearings again. Eventually, Vixy spoke. "When we finally get you back… and if Andross comes with you…" she said carefully, "what will you do?"

What will he do? It was a question that should have had a simple answer. Yet Fox considered his carefully before uttering it. "I want Andross to face justice for all the pain he caused. But that's all I want when it comes to him."

"What do you mean?"

"Once we've given Andross his head start, I'll help hunt him down to arrest him. But… I don't think I can kill him again. I don't have it in me anymore." When Vixy's silence became hard to bear, Fox elaborated. "I haven't forgiven him for killing Dad. Don't get me wrong. But after watching him save so many lives, especially mine and Krystal's… I don't think I can shoot Andross with a clear conscience. I'm sorry if that disappoints you, Mom, but that's just how I feel now."

It kept getting worse waiting for Vixy to respond. Fox imagined her next words. Each possibility pummelled into his core. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't said anything about it at all.

"That isn't easy for me to hear, Fox," Vixy finally said. "But… I think I understand just a little bit. I still want Andross to pay in the worst ways possible for what he did… but I'll respect it if you feel differently."

"Thank you, Mom," Fox sighed sadly. "After that though, I just want to rest. No more Star Fox. No more being a mercenary. I'm done with all that. I'll try and find a nice place to settle down with Krystal. Somewhere I can show her everything that the Lylat System has to offer."

"You must be quite fond of Krystal then." Vixy's good spirits returned steadily.

Fox smiled. "Yeah. We're close. About as close as you and Dad were, I'd say."

"D'aww." He could practically see the buttery look warming his mother's face. "Tell me about her."

"Krystal? Ah, jeez… Where do I even begin?" Fox scrambled to put his thoughts into some sort of order. "She's smart; kind; brave. She works hard. Always knows how I'm feeling. I guess that last one's easy, given she can read my mind."

"You mentioned something like that a moment ago. What do you mean by that exactly? Reading your mind?"

"Oh!" Crap, this was going to become weird. "It's… exactly like I said. Krystal can read minds. Most Cerinians can. They have all these psychic powers like telepathy and telekinesis. And they can use magic too."

"I'm sorry," Vixy exclaimed. "What?!"

"I know. I know. It sounds like make-believe, but I swear it's all real. I see it everywhere down here. Cerinia's even got spirits that fly around, made of water, ice, and fire and stuff. I remember almost drinking one a while back."

Vixy made baffled sounds lacking any coherency for several seconds. "Magic…? Fox, that's… God! And I thought everything you told me about Andross was mad."

"Hey!" Fox yelped, hurt. "Mom, come on! Why would I lie about any of this?"

"Ugh! I'm sorry, Fox. I believe you. I do. But… This is becoming way too much for me to take in."

Fox leaned back in his chair. "Yeah… This planet is nuts. You could probably tell me that unicorns live here, and it wouldn't surprise me."

"Do they?"

"I wish! We have psychic octopi though. They jump out of rivers and strangle you while they break your mind. Then they eat it."

"Oh, dear God."

"They taste pretty good though. Rare delicacy. Caught one on my hiking trip with Andross after it grabbed him. I paid back my debt in full that way too."

"I don't think I want to hear about this anymore," Vixy groaned.

"Sorry, Mom. Getting back to Krystal…" Fox retraced their conversation to where he left off. "Honestly, she's incredible. Krystal's an expert when it comes to both her magic and healing; and she's a skilled fighter to boot. Better than I ever was at hand-to-hand."

Vixy laughed. "My, she sounds like an impressive woman."

"She sure is." Unfortunately, Fox's thoughts took a less-than-happy turn. "She saved my life too, actually. When I first landed on Cerinia… I got into trouble with the local fauna. Krystal rescued me and patched me up. She then brought me home and gave me a place to stay while I recovered. Her family helped me learn Cerinian and stand on my own two feet again. I don't know many people who would have gone through the same trouble as Krystal for a complete stranger like me."

When he didn't hear an answer, Fox grew worried. "Mom? Are you still there?"

"Yes… sweetie. I am…" Vixy said softly. "It's just… Oh, goodness gracious. You've had a rough time these last few years. Haven't you, Fox?"

Fox nodded. "It wasn't easy. But I had Krystal with me every step of the way. Whenever things got too much for me, she was always there to help me through it."

"I'd like to meet her in person then."

"You'll love her," Fox smiled. The short, gentle laughter that he and Vixy shared brought them closer over the distance.

"So," she went on. Fox could hear her grin. "Should I be expecting grandchildren when I see you next?"

A strong blush cramped every one of Fox's facial muscles. "Krystal and I are… holding off on kids for now. We want to keep the escape plan as simple as possible."

"I see. No, that's very sensible of you both."

"Thanks." Now that he thought about it, Fox could see a house filled with little kits. Some resemblance to Krystal. Some resemblance to him. All bright and happy. Something to look forward to in a few years' time. "But enough about me. How's being the lead expert on Cerinia going for you?"

Vixy laughed. "Oh, it's nothing so dramatic. I'm sure you know far more than I do. I suppose it's been invigorating and tiring all at once. We get emails asking for any new discoveries every few days. I'm sure it'll get worse now that we can communicate with you. Although… people might call me loony if I tell them what you've just told me. Magic and psychics? Goodness, I'll be hard-pressed to prove it."

"If you want living proof, I'm sure Krystal will be happy to oblige." A tiny corner of Fox's mind only hoped that nobody tried to carve out Krystal's brain for study in a hurry. "I've been working on a journal for you. I'm trying to put down everything I've seen here into it."

"Oh, thank you, Fox. That's sweet of you. I can't wait to read it."

"So, how's everyone else?"

"They're well. There have been a lot of changes to Star Fox over the last few years. Falco took over as captain; and in addition to Dash, we also recruited Katt and Lucy into the team."

"Lucy?!" Fox exclaimed. "So, Peppy finally let her join?"

"There was some drama beforehand, but yes. We needed an extra pilot to rescue Dash on a mission gone wrong, and Lucy rose to the challenge. Peppy is now working his way into retirement, so he's spent the last couple of months training her to replace him."

It sounded beyond belief, yet Fox felt happy for Lucy. "Good for her. How's she doing as a pilot?"

"She's a chip off the old block. Peppy has never been prouder."

"I always told him she had potential," Fox grinned. "And what about Slippy and Falco?"

"I'm sure they'll want to talk to you next, so I'll let them tell you the details. Slippy has been a huge help in trying to find you. He's always been a bright boy. And I've heard that he recently found a nice girl too."

"Seriously? Huh. I'll have to ask him about that."

"Falco though…" Vixy sighed. "I won't sugar-coat it, Fox. When you went missing, it hit Falco the hardest. He tried to put on a brave face, but we could tell that he wasn't coping well. Katt did a wonderful job of helping him though. Now when they're together, all I see is love between them."

'Knew it,' Fox thought with a smug grin. "I sure missed a lot then."

He heard another voice through the radio. It was too faint for Fox to make out. "I'm sorry, Fox," Vixy said sadly. "Peppy and Falco need the comm system to talk to Andross. I have to go now."

Fox hid his disappointment. "That's okay, Mom. We'll talk again soon. And maybe next time Krystal can be here too. I've been teaching her Papetoonish for a while now."

"I'd like that. Take care of yourself, Fox. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom."

Soon, the radio went quiet. Vixy was gone, and Fox was by himself again. He expelled a sullen breath from deep within his chest, wishing that he could talk to his mother in person. Patience, Fox told himself. He needed to be patient. As soon as they all finished the rocket together, Fox could see her and everyone else back aboard the Great Fox. It was all he could do right now.

Grief for his family paved the way for more grief. That of time lost with them and everything that Fox missed in his absence. Falco and Slippy, both now dating; Peppy retiring; Lucy fulfilling her dream; Star Fox changing and growing; not to mention the recent development in his mother's career. They never stopped looking for him… but their lives went on without him.

Fox looked around. His gaze traced his house, its painted walls, and the furnishings that belonged to him. He thought of his time here, living and loving life with Krystal. Fox closed his eyes and let the memories roll through. 'I guess my life went on as well,' he considered.

It made him curious. What would happen when his life and that of his family converged again? What would be different? How much would be the same? How would his own plans intertwine with theirs? Fox pictured himself spending time with his mother on Papetoon; or having a beer with Peppy under the Cornerian sunset. Meeting with his friends whenever Star Fox docked nearby. Taking advantage of the Great Fox to travel with Krystal whenever the mood struck them.

Perhaps he was being a little too idealistic. However, these thoughts brought a smile to Fox, as well as hope. Any day now, he would get to see his mother and team once more. Then he would have the chance to live out those fantasies.

Within the universe, there existed a myriad of things, seldom thought of, that weren't technically wrong but made you feel like a bad person for doing them. That was the narrow line that Falco walked on when he cut Vixy's talk with Fox short. Remorse gurgled inside him as Vixy hung up the radio. She sighed, laying her head into her hands.

"We're sorry, Vixy," Peppy said softly, touching her shoulder.

Vixy straightened. However, she did not look at him. "It's alright, Peppy. Given where Fox is, I should count myself lucky to even get a few minutes with him. It's enough for now."

"As soon as we're done here, we'll let you back on," Falco offered. A small nod was the most he'd get from Vixy.

"Alert. General Pepper is approaching the bridge," ROB announced from the helm.

"Thanks, ROB." Falco then looked to Peppy. "Guess it's time."

Vixy rose from her seat. "I'll be down in my room."

"I'll call you soon," Peppy promised. She smiled sweetly to him.

The door hissed open upon Pepper's arrival. Dressed in a crisp, button-up shirt, the old general looked far more casual than Falco ever saw him as. He supposed the outfit was the most formal one that Pepper packed. Originally, Pepper rushed to the Balven System simply because Slippy received the initial signals coming from Purga… Cerinia. None of them knew at the time what to expect. Yet Pepper insisted on making the journey. Organising an official visit would have taken too long, so he made his trip a personal one instead. All Pepper intended to do was speak with Fox and apologise for the situation that he led him into. Nobody could ever have expected Andross to butt into those plans like this though.

Pepper and Vixy each stopped as they crossed paths. "Doctor Reinard," he bowed his head. "Good day to you. I'm pleased to see you in good health."

"Thank you, General," Vixy replied respectfully. "I hope that your flight here was not too inconvenient."

"Not at all. I was overdue to take some time off anyway. As for the journey itself, I had worse experiences back when I was a private. I won't complain about inconvenience," Pepper smiled. "I hope that Fox is well on the surface?"

"Yes. I was just speaking with him."

Vixy's tone became crisp in a way that triggered Falco's survival instincts. If Pepper noticed, he hid the fact from his expression. "I'm glad. I look forward to talking to him soon, myself."

An uncomfortable pause rose between the pair. Falco resisted the urge to tug at his feathers watching them. "I will leave you to it," Vixy finally said. She then left the room without another word.

"Hmm…" Pepper stared after her. "I suspect that she still blames me for Fox's accident."

"She'll be fine. Recent events have just taken a toll," Peppy assured.

Falco nodded in support, though ultimately kept quiet. He wouldn't want to wager money on the matter. Perhaps they should move along. "Are you both ready for this?"

Both men straightened. The looks in their eyes became all business. "Yes," Pepper answered. "Let us proceed."

"Alright. ROB, patch us through to Cerinia Line 2," Falco ordered.

"Acknowledged. Please standby."

As a dial tone rang, Falco tensed all over. Never in his life did he expect to initiate a call with Andross of all people. The universe was funny sometimes. Right now, Falco wished it'd come up with better material. Finally, the dull beeping stopped. Static crackled in its absence.

"This is Doctor Andross speaking."

If the devil had a voice, this was how he would sound. "This is Captain Lombardi of Star Fox," Falco replied stiffly. "With me are Vice-Captain Hare, and General Pepper of the Cornerian Army."

Andross gave a gruff huff. "Cornelius. It's been a long time, hasn't it, old friend?"

Pepper's wrinkles deepened with his frown. "Hello, Simon. Yes, it has been."

"Tell me. How is life as the Government's lapdog still treating you? I imagine that the years are now taking their toll."

"Quit the small talk, Doc," Falco cut in before Pepper could respond. "Consider yourself lucky that we're even having this conversation. So, fall in line or we'll turn around and head on home."

"Consider yourselves lucky I invented the technology that allows us to have this conversation at all. But by all means, if you do not wish to talk, then return home at your leisure. I'm sure that your friend, Fox, will understand."

Falco clicked his beak as his temper flared. "You've got a lot of nerve for someone…"

"Falco!" Pepper warned, grasping his shoulder to stop him. "Please leave this to me." Begrudgingly, Falco swallowed his indignation and stepped back. Pepper took position at front and centre. "I've received your demands, Andross. I must say that they're a tall order to make."

"Nonetheless, they're not negotiable. Unless my safety is guaranteed, I cannot offer the same for McCloud's post-launch."

"The Cornerian Government won't sign off on a chance for you to get away. You're a wanted man, Andross," Pepper replied.

"Their approval is not my concern. I only need you and the Eulethran authorities to leave me alone for the 30-day period."

Falco's crest rose. "And what's stopping us from taking you down as soon as we get Fox back?"

He didn't like how Andross laughed. "That is a risk I will accept."

Falco exchanged a look with Peppy and Pepper. They both appeared to share the same thought. If they considered playing dirty, then Andross would definitely be prepared for that. Genius, madness, and desperation made for a dangerous mix. Falco muted the call. "What should we do?"

"We can't stop Andross from planting a bomb on the rocket or something similar," Peppy grumbled. "I hate to say it; but with Fox's fate in his hands, Andross has the most bargaining power right now."

"I agree. If we act against him too quickly, we could lose more lives than we'd save," Pepper frowned. "We may have to wait until after we let Andross go to deal with him properly."

None of them liked the sound of that idea. This was why Falco hated hostage situations. Things always became far too complicated with negotiations that left the good guys with only poor options. He did not have the training or experience to deal with it all. Grumbling to himself, Falco unmuted the mic. He gestured for Pepper to resume.

"Alright, Andross. I'll see what we can do."

"Good. And while you're at it, there's more. I don't want a fleet of Cornerian dreadnaughts waiting outside of orbit for me. Star Fox's warship can be present to retrieve our shuttle, but not one more vessel is to be within half a lightyear of Cerinia. Got it?"

That ape's tone started to grind on Falco's last nerve. However, fulfilling this demand wouldn't be a problem. You don't need a sledgehammer to squash a single ant. One ship would be enough. "Anything else?" he asked.

"I also want a starship with at least three seats to take me to planet Eulethra," Andross responded.

"Let me guess. At least one of those seats is for a hostage?" Peppy crossed his arms.

"I need to be sure that you won't blow me into space dust whilst I'm enroute. Fox McCloud would be my preference. He is a skilled enough pilot to make the journey. And frankly, he's the least likely of you to shoot me in the back."

"You had his old man killed, ass-wipe," Falco seethed. "That's a pretty bold assumption to think Fox won't return the favour."

"I beg to differ. You talk of assumptions, but have you spoken with your friend at any great length in the last few years? I have. So, I'd say I have a better understanding of his current mindset than you do. And my understanding is that McCloud's sense of honour is stronger than any loathing that he still harbours for me."

Fury surged throughout Falco, but he held it in. Somehow. He saw Peppy struggle with the same in the corner of his eye. Falco couldn't wait for the moment he could line a sniper's barrel to Andross's centre of mass. "Is that all?"

"For now, it is," Andross answered. "Now, onto the rescue plan itself. We are going to need to coordinate our efforts to build the rocket successfully. We can make the fuselage and fuel on our own here, but it would be faster for you to build the engine and life support systems for us. Since your satellite is capable of optic surveillance, I will save time by laying out blueprints with our design specifications. What is important, however, is that the rocket is capable of transporting four adult sapiens inside."

"Four?" Peppy raised a brow. "Who exactly is going to be on that ship?"

"Myself and my assistant, Thene; as well as McCloud and his mate. Our partners have each expressed their interest in accompanying us. I hope that is not a problem for you?"

"This assistant of yours," Pepper inquired. "Is she native to the planet or another unfortunate castaway?"

"Thene is Cerinian, yes."

Falco frowned. His guts churned from nerves. He tried not to eavesdrop too much on Vixy's call earlier, though Falco overheard Fox talk about Cerinia's natives having special powers. Who knew what Andross could do with something like that?

"Very well," Pepper said. "When can you provide the schematics?"

"That depends. How powerful is your camera?"

"We can ID a person if they look straight up," Peppy answered.

Andross hummed in thought. "In the interest of accuracy, I'll make the blueprints as large as I can. I should be able to complete them in 10 Cerinian days."

If nothing else, they could sightsee around the Balven System in that time. "Fine," Falco shrugged. "We'll check in later then. Is there anything else you need before we wrap this up?"

"There is one thing," Andross replied. "If you don't mind, I would like to speak with General Pepper in private."

That was a shady as hell request if Falco ever heard one. He shot a questioning look to Pepper. The old hound frowned deeply for a moment. "Very well. Falco, Peppy, could you please give me the room? And turn off any recording equipment if there is any."

"Corneil, are you sure about this?" Peppy asked. Falco agreed with his concern.

Pepper met his gaze squarely. "No. I'm not. But it will be fine. Now please, both of you."

Falco couldn't see much else for it. Nodding to Peppy, he walked out from the bridge and ordered ROB to follow them. He didn't like this one bit. However, defying Andross wasn't going to help Fox much. So, he played along for now.

When the doors hissed shut, Pepper scowled at the radio. "Alright, Andross. What is it that you want to talk about?"

"I simply want your word that there'll be no tricks once McCloud and I escape Cerinia's atmosphere."

"That all depends on what your plans are afterwards."

"Self-preservation will be my primary concern, Cornelius. I'll only have 30 days before you send your dogs after me. I could hardly afford to squander my head start with petty schemes," Andross drawled.

"Thirty days is a lot of time," Pepper countered. "Enough for you to cause any manner of havoc."

"It hurts that you do not trust me, old friend. Our deal is simple and fair to both parties. If anyone is more likely to betray it, it would be you."

Pepper clenched his teeth. "What are you implying?" he growled.

"I merely draw upon past experience. I was once an innocent man who found himself trapped in a situation just as dire as this. Yet when I needed you to defend my name, you sided with the people who blamed me for the Catalyst. You betrayed my trust, Cornelius. Now think about everything that followed after you made that choice."

"Do not try to blame your actions or the Lylat Wars on me!" Pepper erupted. "What I did was disgraceful, I'll admit! But if sacrificing one man and my soul meant averting a system-wide uprising, then I had little choice on the matter! What you did after surviving Venom was on you alone."

"Calm yourself, General," Andross said in a gentle manner that made Pepper fume more. "All I'm saying is to look at history and decide whether you want to learn from it. You betrayed my trust, and it resulted in 10 years of war with millions of casualties. Do so again, and worse will follow."

Claws dug into Pepper's palms at his sides. Multiple emotions battled inside of him, urging to protest on one side and silencing him on the other.

"You should consider taking a page out of Fox McCloud's book," Andross went on. "He makes for a good soldier; but above that, he's a good man. He will stand by his values over any orders given to him. Especially those from people who have never risked anything in their lives before. Think on that."

Then like that, static swallowed the signal. Andross was gone, leaving Pepper stewing in his words. They struck deep. Truth tempered their point, allowing them to pierce through the stalwart rationales that guarded the guilt festering in Pepper's core. He still remembered, clear as day, the horrors of the Catalyst; the unfathomable destruction and casualties; the secret, panicked talks about what story to tell the public; and, worst of all, the moment that Pepper stood at Andross's trial. It took everything that Pepper had not to look him in the eye. Otherwise, he would have seen the hope that died in them, the shock that swept it away, and the anger that ignited towards the one person who could have shone light upon Andross's innocence. Those memories, buried after many years, rose to Pepper's surface, bringing along all the emotions tied with them.

Any countermeasures that Pepper had in mind fell to the wayside. He lost the will to sustain them. Andross was right. Pepper chose to preserve order among the people over doing the right thing for a friend, and more suffering resulted from that choice. The needs of the many outweighed the few, but Pepper knew that did not absolve his sins. He carried so many on his back already. And so long as he led Corneria's military, Pepper would amass more to come. However, he could choose which of those sins he would bear going forward.

Perhaps he owed it to Andross to do the right thing this time.