(If Tom Cruise can have a sex scene in every PG-13 rated movie, without getting into the whole nudity / detail of the situation, then so can I. Here we see our "pure of heart" Krystal being overly nice to Fara but the two of them learn what it's like to share a man, in so many ways. Please read and review to your heart's content. Duely noted, on my first review, I've made sure that Lotus WordPro snags the spelling errors. Thanks for reading, enjoy the story, it's about to pick up in pace as I get further into it. I have a lot of plans for this! Thanks to Chris who prefers to see a story like this written, due to his preference in Fox being with Fara, you're a good friend!)

Chapter 3: StarFox ...Armada?

Slippy paced the floor. Rob64 was standing against the back wall of the office, and Beltino Toad was on the big screen monitor on the wall. Fara was standing in the middle of the room, a few pages of paper under her left arm and an Arwing model in her right paw. A hologram was running through the middle of the room, while Fara held the Model in the center of the 3-dimensional video stream.

Krystal and Fox Junior stepped into the room, causing Beltino to glance up with surprise. "Well now, Fox! I see what you mean!" Fara took the model from out of the holographic video stream and set it on the table for a moment.

"Yeah," Mac said, glancing back to his other self. "Hey, M.J., how's it going? See the rest of the ship?"

"MJ? That's a new one," Fox Junior said, giving the letters some thought. It only took a moment to realize that Mac was referring to him as McCloud Junior, or MJ for short. He cracked a slight grin and approached the rest of the group, coming to stand near the desk a few feet away from Fara, looking around the room. "I wouldn't think we'd get very far without a Team of Scientists, but it seems like you guys are sitting here giving it 100. That's good to see," He said with a hopeful smile.

"Yes sir, Captain, Sir," Fox said to his foreign-self. Falco ran his fingers back through the feathers propped up over his brow by the headband and grinned at his leader for giving his other half a bit of grief about being a military man.

"Part of me really wants to know one thing," Beltino said, rubbing his chin. "I want to know if there's a reason you guys came to town," he added in reference to Fox Junior and Fara. He knew it wasn't their decision, but figuring something out might have helped him to decide if there was some sort of otherworldly force behind all of this. He gave a thoughtful smile, looking at the couple from his spot on the view screen "So you guys are engaged?" He said, deciding to change the subject.

"Yeah," Junior said.

But Phoenix had to jump on the subject, it was her favorite topic, after all. "Absolutely! We were set to have our marriage in about 13 months, just saving up for it. I mean, my father offered to help but we want to be able to know we can do it ourselves first. It's a goal that we're achieving together. I'm just glad we're here together, new world or not," Fara said, moving away from the holographic gravity funnel stream. She placed the Model on the table and sat down in a chair in front of the desk, next to her fiancé.

"Well, you guys may be stuck here forever," Fox told his guests, "But the good news is, you're not dead, you're welcome as part of a family and finally, I think you should take an afternoon to visit Mister Phoenix on Corneria. Fara, do you think that would be appropriate?"

"Meet myself here?" She asked. Her head tilted and it became obvious to the rest of the group that no one had explained to her that Fara's doppelganger was dead, here. It was Fox Junior that decided to break the news, although he had a difficult time believing it himself.

He paused and finally broke down to just be up front with her about it. "This Fox, here, was in the brig when Corneria was suffering the earliest attacks. I never ... He never went to Papetoon here, and well," he trailed off for a moment.

"Papetoon?" Fox and Falco asked of the foreign McCloud.

"It seems you call it Katina here," Fox explained, before turning back to Fara. "Anyhow, that Ion Cannon that shot your Arwing down, your anti- gravity sail must not have been enough. The Robot guy over there knows of your obituary. So maybe we could see your father on this side, just ... I guess it would be the most courteous thing we could offer to do for his loss," MJ explained.

"My Heaven," Fara said softly. "We need to find him right away. If he's just like Daddy is on our side, he's probably an emotional wreck, when is my death, here?" To everyone's surprise, not only did she take it well, she was more concerned for how father Phoenix must have been feeling.

Rob64 answered her question quickly. "It will have been 9 years ago, in 38 Cornerian Revolutions."

"Goodness," Fara muttered. "Can we visit him in person?"

The indigenous McCloud nodded in permission. "Yeah, just to avoid confusion, I'll send Slippy with you. While you're on Corneria, you can pick up Beltino and bring him here. We'll need his help," Fox explained, looking to Fara and his Junior version.

Junior smiled at the length these people were going through to help them. "Slippy, I need you to meet me downstairs, when we're ready to go. I'll be back, I think Fara and I need to shower before we meet her parents again for the first time. Where could we go?"

Mac handed the two a pass card and said, "That'll get you into the guest quarters. You guys can share a room, I don't have many guest rooms and I'll need one for Beltino. You guys do share a room right?"

Fara shook her head, "No we're given military quarters. We'll get our own place on base when we get married," She explained.

"Are you against sharing a room now?" Mac asked.

"No. We understand it's going to get cramped," She said with a soft smile. With that, she turned to her Fiancé and took his paw. "All right, let's go get ready. I look forward to bringing a little joy to my father's life again."

"All right, we'll get things set up for when you're ready," Fox said. With that, Fara and Fox Junior left the room to get things ready in their quarters. Mac then turned back to Falco and Slippy, leaving Beltino to twiddle his thumbs on the main screen.

"I trust them, I really do," Fox said before pausing to think of how to tactfully word his next statement. "But.... We can never be too sure. I don't want Slippy to be in any sort of danger so I'm sending a surprise receiving party that they won't detect. If I sent anyone from here, they'd be less likely to try something funny if that was their actual intentions. So I'm going to call Katt Monroe."

"Aww MAN! What the hell, Fox??" Falco groaned. "No offense, she's a cool chick or whatever, but really man! Katt?? All she does is try to hump me, that girl needs to hop up off my nuts, dude," The avian grumbled.

"Dude, you used to date her, she's in love with you. How're you gonna keep a girl waiting for a decade?" Fox shot back with a smirk.

"Keep her waiting? I don't want her to wait, she's my Ex girlfriend. She needs to move on and find a nice feline man. We're just not compatible beyond friendship personality. Trust me Fox," Falco warned, "I loved the sex. I was crazy about her, but it just wasn't right."

Krystal shook her head, adding, "I think it was and you're just not seeing the bigger picture. Remember, mates should have some opposite features. These qualities make the relationship deeper. I don't mean simple differences like, she's got girl parts and you got boy parts. I mean real differences. But accepting these differences and accentuating your similarities will help mates to have a healthy relationship and provide stability and longevity." Krystal tilted her head with a slight smile.

"Thank you Doctor Krystal. You should get yourself a side-job on Love-Line radio," Falco said with a snicker.

"The point is, Falco, you should give your relationship one more try. If it isn't meant to be, then even she'll see it the second time around," Krystal whispered into his ear, patting his cheek.

"Maybe," Falco replied softly, looking down at the ground. "All right, Fox. Go ahead and call her....Tiger. Anyways, I'm going to go call her. Where do you want her to intercept the group?"

"Just have her shadow them from around Sol, all the way to Corneria. Then break radio silence when they're between Meteo and Corneria," Fox replied, turning to Krystal and drawing her onto his lap.

"Right," Lombardi said, turning to head to the door. He paused, turning to Slippy and pointed a feathery finger at the frog. "Stay sharp, bud."

"I will, Falco," Slippy said with an appreciative grin. The Avian stepped out of the office, heading to the bridge to contact Katt, leaving Slippy, Fox, Krystal and Slippy's father on the main view screen.

"This is the strangest thing I've ever seen," Slippy said, after a few moments, to break the silence. "They say everyone has a twin out there somewhere, but this is a little crazy, even for some of the things we've encountered so far. I really wouldn't put it passed Andross to try and do that whole cloning thing. I mean, he's never pulled that card but after talking to Fara down in engineering, it sounds like his other half from their universe.... has tried it. On himself, when he was killed by Fox. The whole thing is just... creepy," Slippy continued with a sigh.

"Well, I suppose anything is possible," Krystal reminded him. "Keep an open mind, I don't see any hostility in their eyes. They speak with open hearts and bruised souls. I think they've been through a lot. If Andross was still alive after Dinosaur Planet and pulling a stunt like this, he'd have cloned Fox correctly and wouldn't have given him a clone of a woman who's been dead for nearly 10 years."

"True," Slippy nodded.

"All right, it's settled then," Fox announced, wrapping his arms around Krystal's waist. "They're innocent until proven guilty. So let's treat 'em like family."

"When they return, I want to see you spar the other Fox," Krystal said, changing the subject with a giggle. "See which set of life experiences has made which one of you the stronger fighter or better pilot. Call it.... a science experiment. Just curious, really," She explained, wiggling back onto Fox's lap.

Fox nodded in agreement, nuzzling into Krystal's back, against the nape of her neck. "Well, okay. I don't see a problem in that. Maybe we can put them to work, too. We just need a job. Something to get paid. We could wrap up multiple jobs with two Fox McClouds. Pepper would be shocked as hell and whoever we fight would be surprised to get hit by StarFox on multiple fronts, heh."

Meanwhile, Fox Junior was in the shower. He'd come to like the amenities of the GreatFox, as the ship was obviously designed with most of his favorite features in mind. It was strange. The soap dispenser was right where he felt it should be. The layout was unusually user friendly to him and the shower settings were an easy computerized touch screen built into the wall, lined with shower tiles.

Fara pushed the curtains back, stepping into the shower with him, reaching for the soap and pulling it into her palms. "Turn around, my dear Mister McCloud," she told him, with a soft, tender smile. Fox did so, putting his back to her so that she could lather the soap up and work the soapy caress into his shoulder muscles and down over his back.

The sandy fennec worked her fingertips up his neck, scritching behind his ears to work the soapy film into his fur. Fox churred softly in the back of his throat at the sensual touch of his mate. Something so sweet and so intimate together. A non sexual shower, just their love and touch in a passionate way. It was true, the couple had already decided to make love the night of Fox's proposal, but saved such passionate endeavors for special occasions, until they would be married.

But nearly dying and surviving the impossible in one another's arms was special. Fox turned about, facing her. The hot water came from both ends of the shower, which he definitely liked. The water cascaded over his back, rinsing the soap from his fur, as he embraced her under the simulated waterfall, placing his lips to her own.

Her arms wrapped about his body, furry digits sliding up the backside of his head, drawing his head close, so their mouths came together in a loving kiss. She was so beautiful and they were so in love, madly adoring the other. Words could not describe how happy each of them was that they had survived death together. But actions such as this, they were far better suited to such tasks.

After the shower, filled with tender touch and soapy sensual caressing, Fox took his mate to the bed, carrying her through the living room in his arms. While in the shower, Krystal or Rob64 must have visited their room, because they had folded clothes laid out, flowers in a nearby vase and rose petals strewn about the floor and bed. A few candles flickered from their perch on the night stand adjacent to either side of the bed. Little did they know, the telepathic Krystal could sense the emotions coming from the bathing room and thought the addition of flower petals was necessary on their behalf.

Neither Fox nor Fara could argue with such a thoughtful arrangement, as the vulpine eased his fennec vixen onto the bed sheets. Her arms raised up to meet his body as he lowered his weight upon her, his lips parting, colliding with her own. Their soft tiers meshed together in an intense kiss of love, and the two soulmates joined themselves as Man and Wife at heart.

The incredible bliss of their love making brought each of them to a united orgasmic bliss which transcended a double climax, moving swiftly into a third release of pleasure that only Fox Junior could bring her. Those thoughts of Krystal knowing Fox McCloud where only she should have that privilege were erased for now, leaving her in a state of blissful post ecstasy.

The glowing lovers took their time to explore one another, as if learning their mate all over again for the first time, since the life-altering brush with death. They took their time to appreciate one another's existence and one another's love and one another's simple, tender touch. It was as if they couldn't get enough of the other, clinging to their mate the way a sailor clings to driftwood in the middle of the infinite sea.

After a short conversation following their session of love making, the couple got dressed and readied themselves to meet Fara's father, here in a world where the man had lost his daughter.

Out in the hallway, they headed for the Flight Deck, where Slippy was waiting for them. Three Arwings were waiting and ready on the hanger line. Fara and Fox slipped into the comfortable Arwings, which were outfitted with brand new seating and flashy new dash consoles. The ignitions each fired and they waited for Slippy to give the green light, firing up his own fighter.

"Ya know, these things were nearly falling apart up until the paycheck from Dinosaur Planet's mission. When a planet is about to explode and cause chaos for the rest of the system, Corneria takes it pretty seriously. These new things are flashy as can be," The frog said with a giddy grin.

"Sounds good, let's try'em out," Fox Junior said, easing up on the throttle to let the thrust build up. Slippy pulled out first, followed by Fara and Fox Junior to bring up the rear. They thundered out of the bay like a shotgun blast, heading into hyper-space towards Corneria. It wouldn't be a very long flight at this speed and the double-G-Diffuser, or DGD as Slippy was starting to call it, made the flight feel like more of a video game, sitting in a recliner with a flight yolk in their lap, than sitting in a compact subwarp fighter craft traveling 3/8ths the speed of light with massive gravitational force as resistance.

Fara swooned at the feel and layout of the ship, saying, "We absolutely need ships like this, Fox. This is the best thing I've ever ...felt!"

"Is it better than Ice cream? Or Spring time, or maybe sex for that matter?" Slippy joshed. Pulling his joke from a line in a movie about a bunch of singing Templar priestesses, from some comedy he saw on television once.

"No. Sex isn't a feeling, it's an experience," she retorted.

"Oh? How would you compare Sex to the freedom of a starfighter?" Slippy chuckled.

"A woman never tells her secrets," Fara said with a smirk.

"At least not to men," Fox added with a grin. He was really impressed by the holographic view display that materialized at the top of the cockpit, above his head. It had the entire team's image and the audio of their voices was clear and distinctive as if they were sitting there with him. It was fantastic. The craft was more responsive, more agile, and despite it's nimble ability and the sheer power of it's engines, the shield output was three times the output that one of their military Arwings could handle.

Corneria grew large before them and Slippy's voice came back over the radio. "All right, let's slow it down here, the rest of the way in should be a little more relaxed. So what do you guys plan to say to Mister Phoenix? You think he'll go into denial or jump up and down, maybe?" inquired the short, high pitched tone of Slippy Toad.

"Good question. I'm nervous but optimistic that I might be able to bring a little joy back into his life, even if it's just a little," She replied, forming up behind Fox and Slippy in a reverse triangle. To her surprise, a proximity alert sounded in the cockpit, causing her to glance down at her sensor readout.

A pink and white trimmed ship slipped effortlessly into the front of the formation, making it a completed diamond. Before Fox or Fara could really react in surprise to the non-hostile manuver, Katt Monroe's feline face came up on the holographic comm-bar.

"Well hello again, Tiger," She said to Fox, followed by, "And Slippy. It's been a long time, little lovie. I heard you took a break from the cockpit, I'm glad to see you're flying again, babe."

She didn't have anything to say to Fara, however, because she didn't recognize the woman.

"That Tiger is mine, dear," Fara said with a sly look.

"My goodness, did Fox and Krystal break up? Everyone knows Fox is dating the mysterious blue vixen, dear," Katt replied.

Fara frowned, biting her tongue so as not to be rude. "Maybe you don't understand the situation, dear, but in any case, how can we assist you, miss....?"

"...Monroe. Katt Monroe. I'm here to hang out with Slippy and when you guys head back, I'm going to go visit my Falco. Since we women are apparently owning our men, today," Katt exclaimed with boisterous glee. Her overactive zeal was rubbing Fara the wrong way, on this first meeting and Fox Junior was simply curious, confused and surprised by the ...cat fighting, so to speak.

"Well, Hiya Katt!" Slippy said, cutting through the tension as best he could. "It's nice flying with you again. You can hang out with me, while these two go do their thing on Corneria. After their business is done, we'll all fly back to GreatFox together. I'm sure Falco looks forward to seeing you again!"

"Really? You think he does?" She asked in a playful tone, as if asking to be sure, even though she knew she was too perfect not to miss, let alone love. She was filled with confidence and charisma, knowing she was one of the best freelance female pilots around.

She dated Bill Gray, a Husky from Katina two years ago, who also knew Fox and his team, but it was really just a few friendship dates and a kiss after dinner that didn't lead anywhere. Everyone knew Katt's eyes were for Falco, no matter how much he was annoyed to get shown up by her skills as a pilot and as a woman.

The four began their descent on Corneria, gaining permission to land at a nearby Air Force base at the far end of the Capital City. Fara had butterflies in her stomach and wanted to get business moving into the fast lane. The anticipation was eating her alive and she wanted to just see her father, already.

Once they landed, Slippy and Katt decided to head into town, leaving Fox with a communicator. Fox and Fara were left at the mass transit station with a few dollars and an address for Phoenix Industries and Magnate Manor. The ride felt longer than 25 minutes, but when it was finally over, they still had ten minutes to walk.

Just like in Fox and Fara's dimension, his Manor was on a small hill just outside of Baytown sector. She approached the gates and punched in the access code. A shiver ran down her spine when the code actually worked and the gates began to slide open. She glanced down over herself, at the jumpers and leotard, green and purple of all colors. She'd been on a fighter mission without any spare clothes and here they were in town with not enough money to buy anything. She turned to Fox and frowned.

"You don't think our credit cards will work here," She grinned then paused to take a deep breath and the two descended up the path to the stairs leading to the front door. At the top she pounded on the door firmly before ringing the doorbell. It was the way she'd always knocked or rang a buzzer, maybe her other half had the same quirk.

After a moment of infinity, the butler opened the door, someone she'd not seen before. "May I help you, Madame?"

"Yes, I'm here to see Peter Jacob Phoenix," She said.

"Do you have an appointment?" The man asked, glancing down at his log book for any appointments he may have missed.

"I am family and an emergency such as this doesn't require one. Please take me to him."

"Who may I tell him is here? He doesn't have any living family, young lady," The butler said.

"Tell him Fara is here. I'm sure you can see the similarities by looking at my face. If that's not enough for you, he'll know me when he sees me," She replied, sweating in nervous bullets.

"And your male friend here? He is?"

"My Fiancé, Fox McCloud Junior," She replied to his emotionless inquiry.

"Master Phoenix has family going by the name of his deceased daughter, dating a Mercenary with a reputation for causing us Cornerians to pay more taxes for everything he blows up? Outstanding! I'll tell him right away. Then again, if my employer has a heart attack from this absolutely outlandish trickery, I'm out of a job, so perhaps you'll understand if I don't tell him at all, close the door and hope you climb over the gate the way you came in?"

"The gate code is mom's birthday written in stardate format," Fara said, her eyes narrowing.

"Oh now you ARE his deceased daughter, I thought you were simply family?"

"A daughter constitutes as family," Fara said.

"Did you know he has his daughter's ashes in an urn above his mantle? Have some respect for the dead, young lady, and go home," The butler snapped.

"Sorry pal," Fox said, "But you're holding up an important reunion." With that, Fox took his balled up fist, drawing it back and quickly snapping it forward, meeting the butler's jaw. No one was about to insult his woman. Besides, he could always blame it on the Mercenary Fox, not that he was that kind of person, but let the gentleman draw his own conclusions in the matter. Fara, on the other hand, looked shocked.

"My word, Fox! My father is going to hate us!"

"He'd hate his butler more if the guy turned Billionaire PJ Phoenix's daughter away at the door," Fox grunted. "Sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I just didn't want you to ... I mean. You looked like you were about to burst into tears out of frustration. I hate to see you cry," Fox admitted, with a frown.

"We've got to make it up to my Father for this. C'mon," She said, leading him into the mansion. The layout was identical. It was eerie in every sense of the word, walking through a home she knew in a world in which she did not belong. She knew he'd be in his study, talking with some corporate big wig about how to run the company or playing chess with one of the men his age, he'd grown up with, over the Solar-wide subnet.

The door opened with a nudge of her palm, seeing a man she'd only spoken to in her own world two days ago. But here, she knew this man had not seen her in close to a decade. She drew her breath in slowly and said the word with a soft, kind promise of help and daughterly love. "Daddy?"

Peter Jacob Phoenix lifted his eyes. But what he saw before him had him in disbelief. He recognized Fox McCloud before he recognized the girl, sadly. It was a moment of fierce confusion. He'd hired Fox McCloud's group on the slowest and most boring of missions, escorting a ship or two from one planet to another, when Fox's group was absolutely desperate for money. It only happened a few times over the last few years, before the guy had gotten the Dinosaur Planet crisis restored and had too much money for petty jobs any more.

"Fara?" His eyes settled on her, but he also had her ashes in an urn. For a brief moment, memories of standing in the morgue, identifying her badly bruised, broken body ran through his mind. "I'm, I'm sorry. Mr. McCloud and your lady friend. What can I do for you?"

Fara shook her head. "No, daddy. It's me. It's Fara. I'm here and I'll prove it as best as I can try. It's a long story but if you'll let me explain, we could use your help and I'll do everything in my power to bring you some measure of happiness, Father." It was true, she needed his funding to get them back to their side of the galaxy, but the most important thing right now was giving him something her doppelganger could not.... a reunion.

"F...fara? You're ... back? But how?" It was a question she would need to take her time in answering.

-- --

Fox and Krystal both looked away from the holographic image of "Theory 121.jpg" with disgust, each throwing a nearly hopeless sigh to the wind. Fox still had Krystal's birthday present on his mind but didn't know what to get. But putting his focus on this mess was going to run his time into the ground.

"Look, I need a break from this. I think I'm going to head out and clear my mind," he finally said.

"Want some company?" Krystal asked.

"I'd love some company from you, but there's something I need to take care of on my own, but I'll be back," He promised, running his fingers through her hair with a grin. He then turned to Falco and frowned, saying, "Look, I'm going to visit Kit. Maybe he can help keep things smooth while we put our brains on this temporary opening or whatever the hell it's called. Make sure the ship is still in one piece, when I get back and don't wake Peppy. I need him well rested from his nap, because he might be helping to map their course back through the void, later."

"Sure thing, Mac," Falco said, folding his arms.

"Hey, bite my ass, pal. I'm not getting paid to hear your one liners," Fox said, cracking a thin grin.

"Yeah, and you're not paying me to save your ass right now, so don't get yourself into

trouble," Falco replied.

Fox kissed his girlfriend good-bye, bidding her farewell before heading to Katina. Sure, he wanted to visit Kit, but really, he wanted to find something for Krystal. Maybe his nephew could help him out with some ideas.

It was a half an hour trip to Katina then took another half an hour to track down Kit Karamak McCloud and his woman, Snowy. At the door of the on-base townhouse, Snowy opened the door grinned in surprise to see Fox there, unannounced.

"Hey Diane, how are you?" McCloud asked.

"Very good, what an unexpected surprise visit," She said, motioning for Fox to come

inside.

"Yeah, I think I need Kit's help with Krystal and I thought, since I was in the area, I'd stop by," Fox explained. It didn't come out quite the way he had hoped but it would have to do. Snowy shut the door behind Fox, taking his jacket and resting it over a living room chair. She motioned for Fox to make himself comfortable and he, in turn, moved to the sofa, settling down onto it.

"Kit's actually at the airport. He was taking Lee over there, so Lee didn't need to leave his car on their lot, which.. can be kinda expensive," She explained. "He'll be back in an hour, can I get you anything?"

"Oh, no thanks, I'm fine. I'm shopping for a birthday gift for Krystal and don't know what I should get for her," The pilot explained with a slight frown. There was no use telling her about Fox Junior and Fara and how crazy everything was, just yet.... he needed a break from that topic, anyhow. It would be explained in due time, to be sure.

"Aren't you guys in love?" Snowy said, sitting on the sofa, besides Fox.

"Insanely in love."

Snowy giggled to herself, loving the whole cute side of the situation. "Why don't you propose for her birthday?"

"Holy... cow. That's perfect! I should go and get her a ring. But you know she's telepathic, what if she knows, then it won't be a surprise?" Fox said with a frown.

"Once you buy it, put the box aside in your room, where it'll remind you the day of her birthday. Then, between now and that day, completely forget about it. Make it the absolute last thing on your mind," Snowy suggested, patting the back side of Fox's paw with her palm.

"Easier said than done," Fox grunted.

"Oh it's probably very hard, but it's worth a shot," She said with a grin. "Do you need help picking out a ring?"

"Having a lady around might help make the situation a little more easy," Fox admitted. "How long is Kit gone?"

"An hour, maybe two at the most," She replied, folding her paws over her tummy, leaning back into the sofa.

"Well, I guess if we're going to go together, we'd better get started," Fox said. Snowy's grin broadened and she nodded quietly, going for her purse. This could definitely be fun! She'd not been in town for a while, and to mill around town with her future uncle in law could easily make the day much more enjoyable.

"You know, if I give her the box with the ring in it and tell her not to open it until her birthday, it'd be much easier to put it in the back of my mind and know I won't forget about it," Fox concluded.

"Smart!" Snowy replied, grabbing her house keys. The two of them made it to the door, and Fox waited for her to lock up. Then they headed down to the street corner where Snowy's car was parked. It wasn't anything exciting, on a military salary but the compact was enough room for the two of them, comfortably.

Snowy eased out into the lane, heading for the main gates at the front of the base. The ride into town was fairly short, since Snowy knew the shortcuts around the area. She knew just the jewelry store to go to, as well. Fox had never been to it, but any woman born in the Lylat system knew of Nouveau Diamond Gallery.

The large letters, NDG were on the side of the building, proudly and easy for everyone in the area to see. Fox had only heard of this place once or twice but he didn't know anything about it. He leaned forward, looking up through the windshield at the massive sign with raised brows.

"So this is a jewelry store?"

"No," Snowy chuckled, "It's Thee diamond store. Biggest on Katina. And they have one on Corneria, as well. Every diamond is a "C" coloration or better. And the clarity is perfect for each diamond. No one knows where their mine is, or if they buy the perfect specimens off of their competitors to sell, themselves. No woman knows, but every woman wants a diamond from NDG," She explained.

"I see. That's a good place to start then, because lord knows, Krystal is the jewelry queen," Fox remarked, referring to her tiara and her other ritualistic looking tribal jewels. Snowy grinned, knowing what Fox meant. She lead him from the car towards the building, taking his paw and leading him through the aisles, to the engagement section.

"Now how do you know what size she wears?" Snowy asked.

"She always puts a key ring on her ring finger, when I toss her my keys. It's a perfect fit, I have my keys on me, we'll get something of equal size," Fox explained.

Snowy grinned. "Smart man."

"Well, I try, I guess," Fox said with a slightly embarrassed grin. She playfully reached up to give him a squeeze on his cheek, causing him to blush and roll his eyes, trying to focus his attention on some of pieces on display.

"Can I help you?" A clerk asked, approaching the pair.

"Yeah," Snowy said, "My Uncle here is looking for the perfect ring for my future aunt," She said with a sly grin.

"Awfully confident aren't you?" Fox chided her playfully.

"We haven't set a date yet, but give it some time," Snowy said, sticking her tongue out and laying her ears flat, her expression then melting into a coy grin.

Fox Junior and Fara sat side by side on the expensive leather sofa, paws embraced, across from the reading chair which Mister Phoenix was now sitting in. They were awaiting the results of a DNA paternity test, which Fara offered participation, freely.

On occasion, her eyes flitted to the Urn of Fara Phoenix sitting on the mantle, atop of the fireplace. The thought made her queasy and simultaneously, it made Fox uneasy. His fiancé was dead in some form, up on that ledge and her remains were inside of it. He wasn't sure whether he should mourn the dead Fara's remains out of respect, or mourn for his twin, who never got the chance to save her life and start a relationship

Fox had heard that in this dimension, Fox was given two choices on Corneria. One was to head through the waterfall and go out to the beach and dispatch the attack Mini-Carrier, as he had done, the other was to head north, to the outer edge of the City and stop the giant Walker-Robot from marching in and stomping all over the buildings of the northern residential areas. The Fox indigenous to this world took out the Walker Robot first. But according to Rob64, the archive-retaining robot on GreatFox, his other half was in the brig, when Fara was killed by that thing. Then 6 months later, Corneria hired StarFox squadron to take down the menace, either way... Fara was killed by the troop transport's ion cannon, and they never began their lives together. Sad.

The nurse returned with a print out, placing the sheet into the waiting paws of Peter Phoenix. Fara didn't even look nervous. Fox, on the other hand, was curious and nervous at the same time, because he wasn't sure exactly how identical these parallel universes really were. What if there was that much of a difference? But they did look the same and that had to mean something.

"The results...." Peter bit his lower lip, holding back tears, "Are positive. Fara... I can't... I can't believe..." He stood up, Fara standing as well. The two embraced tightly and she couldn't help but cry at how happy she had made him feel. "To know that you're alive and well... at least somewhere under the eye of the Goddess... it brings me so much joy. I'm so glad you've survived the trip over here. I don't know what to say! I thought I'd lost you forever," He sobbed against his daughter's shoulder.

While it was true, she was born in another dimension, or some sort of parallel continuity of some sort, the important thing was, he got to see his little girl again, and she lived to see life and while it was Fox McCloud she was engaged to, it was a different Fox McCloud... a military man, which made him insanely proud.

"I will help you guys get home in any way possible. I'll invest in the top scientists, if I have to, I'll do what it takes, because I don't want my other half to feel the way I felt when I thought you were dead," He explained.

"Oh daddy," she said, giving one final squeeze before relinquishing the hug. The two drew back, but took one another's hands, him looking into her eyes, just to remember her being so beautiful. She'd aged quite well in the last decade, that was for sure. Her calling him daddy again, after all this time, melted his heart. He had to bottle the joy to savor for later, lest he break down into tears of happiness again.

Fox approached the two with a brilliant smile. He could hardly believe Peter Phoenix was going to help them out using his wealth. "I absolutely appreciate the gesture, Sir."

"You two are engaged," Father Phoenix said. "Betrothed, to one another, for goodness sake Fox... call me dad."

"Yes sir! It would be an honor... dad," Fox replied, smiling brightly at the acceptance. He was accepted as Fara's mate and as a son-in-law to be, by Peter Phoenix on both sides. Infact, it was PJ Phoenix Fox went to, after buying Fara's ring, but before presenting it to her. He had shown Mister Phoenix the ring, getting hugged and at the same time, filled with confidence, before proposing. This, of course, happened in Fox Junior's reality, where Peter Phoenix had been overly friendly with Fox McCloud since he'd rescued Fara the first time, right on one of the Phoenix Transportation shuttles, upon leaving Papetoon.

Peter slipped his right paw from Fara's left then reached to shake Fox's own paw, firmly and in a fatherly fashion. This Fox McCloud was a well decorated Cornerian Military Pilot, with a healthy rank and seemed to have things going for him, where the Fox McCloud from this universe was a mercenary half-pirate who worked on occasional Government contracts, dangerously raiding people who were considered enemies of Corneria. This Fox McCloud was no Han Solo. He was an obviously well-respected young man with manners and upper class officer training.

"So," Peter said, clearing his throat before continuing, "You've met your... other self... here, and what not. So my boy, I've got to know... What do you think of him? Just between us, where do you see the differences and similarities?"

"Well sir, he's a very raw, brazen, impulsive young man. He's more rash than I am, ready to run in with his blaster before finding another way to save everyone, first. I think he does it for the money more than he does it for the good of our kind. But he's quite a hero in many ways. So I respect him all the same. We've both suffered the same loses, but have simply handled things differently. Perhaps we'll learn things from one another and benefit in some positive way," Fox explained.

"What do you expect to learn from your twin, here?" The elder Phoenix asked.

Fox Junior tilted his head and said."More about myself. I see the way he reacts to things under pressure, tension or just stress in general. Being part of one another, I can learn to better myself by seeing the way my 'twin' handles things. Also, maybe he can help me learn how to put the death of my family in the past. He appears to be over it, far better than I, at least."

"You love my daughter, don't you?"

"I've put myself into a position to die for her many times. But only to shield her from danger," Fox told him.

Peter smiled and hugged them both closely together. "You're free to stay in my home as a guest of honor until we get you home," the gentlemanly figure offered, stepping back to look at them, side by side. Fox's paw slipped into Fara's and they grinned eagerly at their new ally.

"Actually father," Fara said, reaching to touch his face with her free paw. "I think we'll be bouncing back and forth between here and the GreatFox cruiser. They're actively working on a plan to return us to our home and I'd like to be present in helping them. Also, we owe our lives to them."

"Completely understood. But please, at least visit me before you return. I'd like to remember you as a happy woman going on a trip with her fiancé, where I can wish you well and give you one last hug and kiss," Peter said, trying not to all-out-plead her.

Fara smiled brightly, "Of course, Daddy. I love you. We've got to be returning now, because we're the ride for a friend and his father back to GreatFox, so that we can get things together, but I'll be visiting you again, soon!"

Peter smiled at her words, adding, "Bring Fox. He's my son in law, in my eyes. I wish you both a safe trip back to GreatFox, kids." The three of them embraced once more before quickly apologizing one last time about his butler. With that out of the way, Fox Junior and Fara Phoenix departed to meet up with Slippy and Beltino. From there, the quartet headed for home, so to speak.

Fox Junior and his mate walked, paw in paw, up into the hallway connecting them from the flight deck. Fox broke the moment of silence with his soft, reassuring voice, saying, "It was a bit awkward for me to see you in an urn, besides your mother. I know your father kept your mother in an urn on the mantle, too. But seeing you up there, next to her... it really bothered me."

Fara nodded in her reply, quietly adding, "It makes me realize I'm not immortal. If you're not there to save me, that's how I'll end up," She admitted, more to herself than to him. "But at the same time, if I'm not there to watch your 6, you could be the one in an urn, and it helps me realize that our chances of raising a family and retiring at an old age are much higher, when we're together."

Fox grinned. He was glad for the fact that she was taking everything in an optimistic light. The couple continued up the ramp, towards the main body of GreatFox, several yards ahead of Slippy and his father, who were carrying their own conversation.

"And that's what the theory is. It'd be like being able to meet your son you've never met, and me meeting my brother, but the best I can do is let them see us, by sending Fox Junior and Fara back with a holo-vid and messages of us, or something. I think it's neat," Slippy explained.

Beltino chimed in his usually spirited tone of reply. "Quite neat, really! It sounds like there's some science in this that could get either one of us published if we can write a paper on the data, surrounding this. It's a breakthrough, to say the least!" The elder Toad added, cheerfully. The amphibious pair headed for the Captain's office, while Junior and Fara headed towards the Rec room to see what was edible on the ship.

-

Krystal stepped into the Recreation room from the opposite entrance, smiling pleasantly to Junior and his girl. The Sandy fennec tried not to scowl at her, simply looking the other direction. It didn't take Krystal's telepathic abilities to see that Fara was bothered by the azure vixen and the young Krystal tried to remain empathetic, but cautious.

Fox also noticed his mate's reaction and stepped back, folding his arms. "What's going on with you two? What's happening here?" the Junior Fox asked, naively.

"To be blunt," Fara admitted with a sigh, "It's rather awkward, knowing she knows you the way I do." She folded her arms, stealing a glance at her competition, out of the corner of her eye, facing off to the side. "Infact." She paused then added, "It's unfair she knows someone that only I should know in a certain way," she continued, in reference to intimacy. Fox still didn't have a clue.

"Fara, we're completely opposite. He's a rogue leader, I'm an officer," Fox tried comforting her, but it was little help.

"You're still both pilots, with a similar childhood and raged the same war against Andross, you have other similarities that I only want reserved to me. No one should know you the way I know you," explained the fennec, looking a touch frumpy.

"I still don't," Fox took a deep breath, "Don't.... get it. I don't get it at all, in fact. Fara, if we're different personalities, then even if we have the same mission or fate, we're different people so you know a different Fox's personality."

Krystal shook her head, easily able to read Fara and sighed softly, deciding to explain things. "Fox, she means intimately, she knows what your kiss, the caress of your palm and the depth of your foxhood feels like inside of her body. No other woman should be allowed to know what it feels like to have her legs wrapped around Fox McCloud, or have Fox McCloud buried inside of her heat. She finds it uncomfortable to know that in another world, Fox was able to find complete love with someone other than Fara Phoenix. Had she come here and saw this Fox with another form of herself, she'd be able to live with that, but not another woman."

Fara looked shocked. Not knowing Krystal was a telepath, she could only assume that Krystal was simply empathetic and not empathic. It was probably a woman thing, Fox guessed, looking flustered, nervously exchanging glances between the two females.

"Well, I guess we have to see if the other Fox was circumcised or not," he said, trying to make light of a joke, because the situation itself, was uncomfortable, in general. Fara groaned, burying her face in her paws, shaking her head slightly.

"Well, if he was, it would be different, right?" Fox asked.

"But it wouldn't make things any easier," said Krystal. "And yes, he is."

"How so?" Junior asked, looking frustrated and trying to downplay Krystal's added statement. Well, the girl definitely told it like it is. She was blunt and honest to the core. Couldn't disrespect that, for sure.

Krystal shook her head and added, "Because in another time, in another place, Fox McCloud is compatible with another woman. How would it make you feel to know that if you went into a Coma, Fara could find another mate with ease, because there was someone else out there, with blue fur, she got along with, perfectly...?"

Fox gave it some thought before answering. "I guess that would be weird, but Fara is dead here. That made me feel even worse, not because she was or wasn't happy with someone else, but because I couldn't save her, in this universe. That made me realize no one is immortal. I'd rather have her alive and happy, even if it's not with me, than for her to be dead. But this particular Fara, here, is my Fara. She's not a dead vixen, she's a living, breathing, complex, diverse, and incredibly beautiful woman," He said, placing his arms around her. It melted through her defenses but she still wouldn't look at Krystal.

Krystal took a moment to scan Fox, before smiling weakly. "Fox, this Fox... Your Fox, loves you completely, Fara. He had no feelings for me, and that... in itself, is a relief, to me. My Fox... James' son, is too much of a rogue for your heart to open up to him. I know you find it difficult to accept Fox in another world, loving another woman, but I assure you, your Fox is unique. As are you, and your relationship. And that makes it special, more so than anything else."

Fara sighed. "Perhaps." She just really wasn't ready to entertain all of this, at the moment. "But I need time to accept this....it's really rather difficult, and you being here isn't helping right now," Fara snapped.

"Before I go," Krystal said softly, "Answer me this riddle: I have a mouth but to not eat, I have a bed but do not sleep. I run but do not walk, I have a lip but never talk. What am I?"

Fara thought about it for a moment, tapping her lip with a purple, lacquered nail, before answering, "A river? What does a river have to do with anything?"

Krystal closed her eyes, walking to the door, looking over her shoulder, first to Fox Junior, then to Fara Phoenix. She glanced off into space for a moment, before looking back to Fara, replying, "You're crying a river, right now. For us to work together and help you get back home, I need you to build a bridge and get over it." With that, she departed from the rec room, leaving Fara in shock and absolute awe of just getting cleverly told to 'take a hike or grow up', in a fancy, intelligent sounding way by a mere teenager.

"That..... bitch!" Fara balled her right paw into a fist, narrowing her gaze. She wasn't going to let the blue furred little wench outsmart her. She began to charge out of the Rec Room to show her who was worthy of Fox's love when Junior reached out and suddenly snatched her body, turning her to face him and kissed her deeply.

A moment passed before Fox relinquished the intimate kiss, but it wasn't enough. "You may have let her get away for now, but when I see her," Fara said with a sigh.

"Fara, she was trying to tell you that we're happy together. Her Fox isn't me. She doesn't even want me. I don't want her. Her Fox doesn't want you, and hopefully, you don't want him."

Fara smirked, adding, "Maybe I want you both all to myself. No, but seriously, that Fox is too much of a rebellious, greedy brat for me," She said adjusting a wrinkle in her flight suit, over her taught tummy.

"Then please, can't you guys get along, the way Fox and I get along?" Junior said, speaking of Mac, the indigenous McCloud of the system. Fara nodded without a word and the two hugged softly. Perhaps Fox could see to it that this would work afterall.

Fara headed back upstairs, walking across the lounge, to explore the ship, but when she got there, the Telepathic Krystal was waiting for her. Her arms folded, her stance tall, waiting to see if Fara was coming to start a fight or hold herself back. Krystal knew what she wanted to do, but didn't know how the woman's self control would cause the situation to happen.

"You," Fara said, narrowing her gaze, once more.

"I do not mean to speak down on you infront of your mate. I wish no fight, I simply was hoping we could be friends," Krystal said.

"We'll see," Fara said. She wanted to be the girl's friend, but they just didn't seem compatible at first. They'd only just met and everything was on the wrong foot. She was in an awkward mood because of the situation and the stress was only starting to actually get to her. Krystal, on the other hand, acted as though she was too happy about everything and Fara simply didn't trust the little blue ..thing. She wasn't even drinking age yet. How could ANY Fox McCloud be attracted to a child? Before anyone could say anything further, Peppy Hare stepped into the room, holding a coffee mug.

His gaze panned back and forth between the two women and he could immediately feel the tension in the room. He wasn't telepathic like Krystal but it only took a matter of emotional perception to see there was some sort of problem. "Ladies?"

Krystal cracked a light smile. "Good evening, Peppy. What brings you by?"

"Just milling about," He said. "Good evening, Fara. Is there a problem here, girls?"

"Good evening, Sir. No, I'm the problem, but I think I'm mature enough to put it to rest, so really, everything is fine," Fara said, trying to be a lady about everything.

"Girls," Peppy said, motioning to the two lounge chairs, then sitting across from them on a sofa. Fara and Krystal nodded, exchanged glances, then settled into the chairs as directed, listening to him continue. "I may be an old man. I may not be a pilot anymore, and I may only be here because I have no other family, but I'm pretty sure I've done the math, enough to know you're probably both feeling awkward about one another," He started.

"Well, Peppy, it's just..." Krystal began to show a measure of being defensive, but quieted at the raising of Peppy's hand, in a gesture to let him finish first.

"It's an awkward situation, and while Krystal can see into her mate's mind and Fara can

see into her mate's heart, you both see into the soul of your man. You both know this feels right, and I respect that," He explained, taking a sip from his coffee cup. "Now, ladies.... With all due respect, from what I see in these two Fox McCloud's is something of a surprise. Because they're not the same man, even if they're from an alternative version of the same universe."

"How do you mean?" Fara asked, leaning forward... curious. Unlike the Peppy from her world, he was a lone man, with no family. He had no wife, and the military didn't keep him young because he lived a more relaxed life, with a private group for hire.

"I've looked at information on Fox Junior's personal data pad, from his.. "PDA". Your system has many of the same planets, but many differences. I've not found Aquies or Zoness and Fortuna there, is inhabited by a species of....massive insects and animals. I've never heard of a being known as a Monarch Dodora. Your sector-Y is home to millions of space-fairing animals, like whales and mana-rays and some sort of intergalactic jelly fish beings... It's incredible," Peppy said.

"You don't have all that here?" Fara asked, looking rather surprised.

"Did you see them when we sent you to find Slippy's father and meet your family on this side of the universe?" Peppy asked.

"Well, no... but we put in autopilot and didn't think nothing of it. Infact, I opted to take a paternity test and the results were positive," Fara added.

"That's fantastically interesting. Slippy and his father would be delighted to know that detail, make sure you mention it to them," Peppy said before continuing with his point in the matter. "Anyhow, girls. The way I see it, our systems have both Fate and Freewill, in certain aspects. The thing is, the things that Fate has caused differently, has inspired some decisions of freewill to come to play differently."

"How do you mean?" Fara asked, folding her legs up underneath of her, sitting there on the lounge chair.

"Well, we have no control over things like how different your Lylat is from our Lylat. We have more planets, nebulas in the shape of X, Y and Z, where yours is only Y, and that nebula is full of space-creatures that resemble sea creatures...where we have two planets are are full of sea creatures. You have a sector X and Z but they're nothing but floating construction pillars and support beams of an unfinished Venom Base that was never cleaned up.

"After looking at the regular system information that's pre-programed into Fox Junior's PDA, probably meant as a reference for school kids who own the same model...making it common knowledge on your side, I've discovered that your MacBeth was ...is... a hollow planet of tunnels, and made of churned up clay and pockmarks.... Ours is a dusty blue ball covered with train tracks and old factories that aren't in use any longer. That's Fate. It's history we cannot change, making it fact and fate. But our decisions are Freewill, are you with me so far?"

Krystal nodded, as well as Fara. Peppy smiled, taking another sip of his coffee and chuckled a moment before continuing. "Now I'm not a scientist, this is just the ranting of an old man, but the way I see it... Fara died in this world, that's fate. Fox decided to date a woman he only met year-before-last, here. That was Freewill but he never met Fara Phoenix at 18, either. Does that make any sense?"

Fara frowned, leaning forward over her folded legs, sitting cutely in the chair. "Can you give me a better example of something Fox and Fox decided on differently, that has nothing to do with us?"

"Hm," Peppy pondered to himself then grinned broadly. "Your Fox decided to join the Military's elite attack program, as a pilot, as a Wing Commander of his very tightly knit squadron. He chose three other pilots to fly with based on whatever merits he based his decision on, then fatefully flew against, and crushed... Andross Oikonni."

"Right, I'm with you so far," Fara replied.

The aging map maker grinned, continuing, "And here, Fox refused to join the Military. Pepper offered, Fox refused. He didn't chose team mates, but he chose his family and friends baised on the same merits, winding up with the same team. Our Fox flew against Andross twice, so far, and crushed him both times. But he refuses the military life, where your Fox embraces it. They both exercised their right of Freewill, despite the measure of Fate with which each McCloud was involved. They both have the same, or at least a similar destiny as far as the protector of Lylat, but their destiny differs, concerning a few things. It's happened before, whoever the parents were of James McCloud, for example."

Krystal could read minds but since Peppy was speaking from his heart and imagination, she was beginning to lose where he was coming from, here. This time she was the one that wanted clarification, asking him to go into detail on the matter.

"All right, this is the last I'll say on the matter," Peppy said with a smug expression. "Then it's up to you two to figure out things, so you can put your differences....or rather, your unfair similarities in the past and become friends."

"Fair enough," Fara said.

"All right, good. James must have had something different about his life than Fox Senior. He was the same father, the same pilot and the same man with the same fate, regardless of dying different ways. But James may have had a different mother or grandmother, giving him a strip of white headfur which Fox inherited. It may have been his mother, because most of the time, the vixen is given the honor of naming the first born, and James was named James, and Fox Senior, who has no white headfur strip, between his ears, was named Fox, leaving him to name his son after himself, making Fara's mate..Fox Junior. James on the other hand, named Krystal's Fox.... the Fox from this universe, after his great, great, great Grandfather, Fox Tyberious McCloud, which is 4 generations ago.

"He was born into poverty, led a small rebellion against a small, Totalitarian governing faction on Corneria's southwestern hemisphere and moved to Corneria's Capitol City and became a philosophy teacher," Peppy concluded. "Any way that you look at it, James still had the same fate as Fox Senior, and their son still had the same Fate against Andross, regardless of their differences, regardless of your differences and Fox McCloud and Fox McCloud Junior's differences. With Lylat being completely different in this universe than your home, Fara, I can say with confidence, that you're both in love with a Unique individual with the same destiny for triumph over evil."

"Manifest Destiny, Clandestine, just plain old Fate," Fara said with a sigh, "It's still difficult to swallow that Fox could possibly be happy with someone other than me. That's all. There's no problem with Krystal, the problem is with me."

"Don't be silly," Peppy said, gazing at the sandy fennec over the rim of his coffee mug.

"The spectrum of your relationship is in a different scope of reality. The parameters of your love is on a different plain." The group glanced up to the words, spoken by Beltino, in the doorway. He reached to adjust his loosely knotted tie and smiled. "Fara is in love with the Do-Gooder Military pilot, well decorated, with manners and a kind, religious and compassionate heart. Krystal, on the other paw, is in love with a Rogue with morals, who needs a retainer fee before taking a mission, but occasionally diverting for a moment, to make sure no one in his wake is left suffering. He's a slob on occasion, with regards to respected elders, as opposed to just respected out ranking people. Our Fox rolls his eyes everytime General Pepper makes a joke or every time the general tries to be friendly, while reminding Fox little obvious things, like why some missions don't require a blaster."

Krystal leaned back in the seat, folding her arms lightly, while drawing her left foot up, across her right thigh. "So you're saying two different universes by the same name, have created two different men by the same name, who have two different sets of morals, principals and personalities, as well as different sets of flaws, merits and life experiences. Correct?"

"It's as if you took the words right out of my mouth," Beltino said, of the telepathic vixen.

"I don't mean to," Krystal replied with a chuckle. She then turned to Fara, and felt the fennec's heart grow less cold. It pleased her, to be sure. She wanted to be friends with Fara and maybe Fara just didn't understand what Krystal knew about each Fox, because Krystal was able to look into their minds, where Fara couldn't. Also, Fara didn't have much time around the indigenous Fox McCloud, from this universe, to make her own assessments. Thinking about her Fox, Krystal began to wonder where he could be. She realized right away that Peppy, nor Beltino knew of his whereabouts, nor did Fara.

"Who would know where Mac went?" she finally asked.

"I suppose you could always contact his communicator," Beltino replied, approaching Peppy and folding his arms. "Long time no see, my friend. How've you fared? You know, you're going to grow ovaries, surrounding yourself in all this female drama, mixed with all those soaps you watch, anymore."

Peppy chuckled, shaking his head and taking another sip of coffee. "Either way, thank you for coming to my rescue and explaining things better. It's hard to convince a woman that her lover's identical twin can be happy with someone else, radically different, because she begins to question herself."

Fara nodded to Peppy's words, adding on her own explanation. "There might be a Krystal in my universe and Fox might one day meet her, and what if both Fox's are fated to be mated to Krystal? It bothers me, that's all. The 'what if's' are dangerous to a woman's head."

"Fox has already made his life choice. He proposed to you didn't he?" Peppy asked. "Not to mention, when he met Krystal, here, he put a knife to her throat, as opposed to falling head over heals in love or anything."

"He WHAT??" Fara looked shocked.

"Well," Krystal said with a giggle, "he didn't know where he was. I was the first hostage he could take, while trying to navigate the ship, look for you, and escape. When I surprised him by anticipating his moves and flipped him, his first thought was, "eh, she's cute but she's not Fara. Nah, she's defiantly not my type. Where's my Fara?"

"How do you know his first thought?" Fara said, narrowing her eyes. Was this woman telepathic? Her own Peppy, from her side, was telepathic, but he wasn't able to read thoughts down to the very detail, not like this. Krystal nodded in reply to Fara's inquiry, causing Fara to suddenly distrust Krystal even more. She didn't like when someone she didn't know or trust, just yet, to be able to read her thoughts in stark detail. But Krystal could only read someone who wasn't guarded. Fox was running on instincts, thinking out loud in his mind, running the very words of his questions to himself, through his head, unsure of his simple intentions at the time. This was the reason Krystal was able to read him so well.

"I'm sorry if it makes you feel uncomfortable. But please know, Fox's thoughts were on finding you. He's.... well.... obsessed with you in a very good way. He wasn't interested in me or anyone... or anything else. You have no worries." Krystal smiled reassuringly. It wasn't working so very great, at the moment. She could sense Fara's distrust and turned to the window with a sigh. Now all eyes were on the blue vixen at the generous window, facing out the starboard side of GreatFox.

Suddenly, the inky void ruptured and a flutter of colors, along with a miasma of powdery light flashed brightly, stunning all four of them. The living room was cast into a fantastic glow, causing Krystal to stumble back from the window. Beltino quickly approached the glass, peering out into the depths of space, looking for the source of the flash or disturbance.

The intercom came to life and Slippy's voice was heard, summoning everyone to the bridge. The group rubbed their eyes, making their way out into the hallway then quickly jogging down the hallway, their argument forgotten. Krystal could sense strange confusion and fear, but it wasn't emanating from anyone on GreatFox.

They arrived on the bridge, quickly surrounding Slippy, who stood in the center. He raised a webbed hand, pointing at the view screen, saying, "Something else came through; I've got three distinct bio-signs on the main sensors."

"Fox isn't here," Falco said, looking to the four new arrivals to the bridge. "Junior and I think we should bring it in on tractor beam. Krystal can do her thing when we pull it in on the flight bay, and we'll see what we got for Christmas."

"All right, I'm pretty sure we're all currious. Anyone here opposed to grabbing the little box of people onboard?" Slippy asked, looking around. Everyone seemed currious and no one seemed against the idea. "All right, Rob, reel it in, we'll all be downstairs in receiving." With that, the group of 7 headed for the flight deck.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Krystal knelt over the box, closing her eyes. She took a moment to filter out Fox Junior and Fara. She took a moment to filter out Toad and his father, as well as Falco and Peppy and opened up her mind to the beings on the other side of the metallic barrier between her and whoever was inside. She could see gunfire in her mind. She could see footfalls and hear shouting that drowned the clicks of metallic heels into the depths of inaudible.

Her jaw dropped open in surprise, astonishment written across her brow. "My Goddess. It's.... Oh my goodness, open it quickly! They need medical attention!" She was too shocked to say anything more.

"Who is it?" Fara demanded, reaching for the cargo container's release lock. The very top end of the container fell open, by it's hinges, displaying only the weary, tired visages of the poor souls locked inside. The entire group went slack in their jaws, everyone gawking in disbelief. Was it even possible? There was only a measure of complete shock.

"This...." Beltino mused in a whispered breath, "Is impossible."

Chapter 4: War Stories and Double Takes.