Months had passed with not much else going on. Krystal had officially become a member of Star Fox, per Fox's request of course. She and I had actually gotten quite close. We found it quite entertaining to pick on Fox behind his back and to his face. She was pretty obvious with her feelings toward him and, honestly, they were perfect for each other.

Conna had received a letter stating that she had gotten approved for early acceptance at the Academy for Medical Corp. I couldn't have been prouder of her. She had worked extremely hard for this chance.

Shortly after she had given the good news to Falco, they had gotten a call from General Pepper for another mission. Andrew Oikonny, Andross's nephew, was leading a fleet of Andross followers. Star Fox was called in to clean up the mess. It wasn't long after they had left that I had gotten a page from both Channery and Darcy. No doubt an order from the General himself. Channery had also called Hara as soon as I had received the page. The look on her face concerned me.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

She hung up with Channery and stared at me, fear in her eyes.

"Clint said to grab Conna and get to one of the bunkers," she said. "He said that General Pepper is about to issue a capitol-wide evacuation. He wanted to make sure that Conna and I got there safely."

Conna came into the room. "Hara? What's going on? Why do you sound so panicked?" She turned to me. "Mom?"

I shook my head. "I'll explain on the way. Get your shoes on and get ready to go."

She got ready without question. Hara turned to me.

"Skye…"

"Everything will be fine," I assured her. "I'm sure it's just a precaution."

Conna was ready to go within minutes. I took the girls to the nearest bunker and waited until they were checked in. As soon as they were behind the doors, I headed straight to base. Darcy met me as I walked through the door.

"What is going on?" I asked. "Channery called Hara and threw her into a panic."

Right then, Channery called us to order.

"I guess we're about to find out," my partner sighed.

Channery briefed us on an invasion. Creatures called Aparoids were descending upon Corneria City as we spoke. Most of the team would go to help evacuate the civilians to the bunkers while a small team would be off to help the General. As soon as everyone had gone to their posts, Channery approached me and Darcy.

"No doubt the General has called Star Fox for back-up. They're going to need you out there. We've lost all use of radar."

"Jammers?" Darcy asked. "How is that possible?"

"It doesn't matter how. What matters is that they are destroyed."

"Understood," I said. "We'll be your eyes."

Channery gave us a nod. "Eric, you'll guard her back while she takes them down. Go to the highest rooftop with most of the city in view. Don't stay in one spot for too long. Is that clear?"

I swallowed hard and exchanged glances with my partner. We both nodded to our Captain then went to take our leave but Channery stopped us.

"And Skye," he called. I turned to him. "Don't miss."

I smirked. "You got it, Boss."

Darcy and I got our weapons then stepped out into absolute chaos. Most of the buildings were already torn apart and smoking, electrical lines brought down… The city was a complete disaster… I shook my head.

"This is…? No…"

The aparoids were everywhere. My heart immediately dropped to my stomach. Hara and Conna were the first people to pop into my mind. All I wanted at that point was to run to them to make sure that they were okay. A reassuring hand on my shoulder brought me back.

"We have a job to do, Skye. Let's make it count."

I nodded then we took off to get a good look at where would be our best vantage point. We took to a semi-tall building close to the center of the city. It didn't have sights on all of the jammers but at least on most of them. I set my rifle up on the roof on the ledge, Darcy kept a watch, making sure none of the aparoids came to stop us.

"We bide time until Star Fox gets here," I told him. "We take as many as we can in the meantime. No taking risks."

"Understood."

"Eric…" I murmured.

He matched my gaze.

"Thank you for being here with me, Eric. I'm glad it's you at my back."

He gave me a nod then stepped away so I could focus.

I aimed for the first jammer and took my shot, taking it down with ease. I took three more down before we finally got the aparoids' attention. Eric kept some off of us.

"I think it's time to move," he said as he helped me pack my rifle.

"Agreed."

Just as we were headed down, I caught a glimpse of a figure weaving through the streets. I tapped into my com and tried to match the frequency that the Great Fox used.

"Gods, please tell me that small ant is you, Fox…"

The figure immediately stopped and looked up and around. "Skye? Where the hell…?"

"Don't worry about that now. Keep moving, don't let them see you. Darcy and I will have your back. I've already dismantled a few of the jammers, you get the rest."

"Roger that."

The little figure dashed away. I glanced over to Darcy.

"Well, now we have Fox to worry about…" I sighed. "We have to get to him while he does work. Star Fox is blind without the use of radar. We have to get those arwings in the air if we're going to win this."

"Looks like I have two people to cover then," Darcy smirked. "On to the next point."

He and I took off toward the next building and I took down some more jammers while Fox was taking care of the jammers on his side. Darcy was vigilant and made sure that neither of us were taken by surprise. For the most part…

"Great job you two!" Peppy's voice echoed over the com. "Radar is back online. Thanks for the help, Skye."

"Anytime, old man. Darcy and I have to get back to Channery and the others."

"Understood. Fox, I've sent you an arwing."

"Headed there now," Fox replied. "Be careful getting back, Skye. We lost transmission with the General during briefing. I hope nothing has happened to him."

Darcy and I exchanged worried glances. I swallowed hard. "If something has happened to the General then… The team…"

"Get to your arwing, Fox," Darcy told him. "We'll check on the General."

We took off back to base only to be headed off and surrounded by aparoids. I looked to where Fox's arwing was and watched as it was blown to bits and Fox was surrounded too.

"No!" I cried out.

"There's too many!" Darcy shouted as he kept shooting at the creatures.

Just then, extra voices came on the com.

"You're a pitiful sight, pup," said a familiar voice.

A wolfen went zipping through the air toward Fox, taking down the aparoids that surrounded my brother then caught Fox on his wing. I didn't have to time to be relieved for Fox's save since Darcy and I were about to be torn to pieces. Just before it got too sticky, lasers shot down the aparoids all around us. An arwing touched down beside us. The cockpit glass slid back to reveal Falco.

"Need a lift?"

I let out a sigh of relief. "Your timing is impeccable!" I wasted no time hopping onto his wing. I turned back to my partner, who, hadn't moved from his spot. "Darcy, hop on!"

He shook his head then got on the wing with me. "You people are nuts."

Falco got us in the air. Fox was taking down aparoids from Wolf's wing while Darcy and I double-teamed from Falco's.

"Good to see that you're still around, Kell," Wolf said over the com.

I chuckled. "Like these things could stop me. You should know better than that, Wolf."

There were a few disgusted noises and a few chuckles through the com. I ignored it and got to work.

Within minutes, the aparoids began to retreat. For a moment, I thought that we had beaten them back. That is, until ROB came through the com.

"Unknown vessel approaching at high speed."

Darcy and I glanced around to try and get eyes on whatever was heading toward us.

"Another enemy?" Fox asked.

"Hold it…" Peppy echoed. "That silhouette… Is that the General's flagship?!"

I finally got a good look at the ship and, just as Peppy had said, it was definitely the General's ship. My stomach lurched as fear and worry washed over me. Darcy had the same look of horror on his face.

The ship went speeding toward Fox and Wolf's wolfen.

"Is that you, Fox?" the General rasped over the com. "Too late… The aparoids…"

I shook my head in denial. "NO!" I rammed my fist into the glass of Falco's cockpit. "Falco, take us down! Channery and the others! If the General is here, something has happened to them."

Falco didn't argue. He took us to the base without question while Fox tried to subdue the aparoid-controlled General. Darcy and I wasted no time hopping off the wing and heading inside.

"Skye, wait!" Falco called from behind us.

I turned sharply to find him pulling out a blaster from a side panel. He ran to my side and took my rifle from me, taking the strap and slinging it onto his back.

"What do you think you're doing?" I demanded. "You're wasting time! My team-"

"Fox needs you in the air," he interrupted me. "Darcy and I can check on everyone. Leave this to us."

"You can't be serious!" I argued. "Now is not the time to-"

I was stopped by a gentle hand on my shoulder. I groaned.

"Not you too, Darcy…"

"He's got a point and you know it, Skye. Falco and I have got this. You help Fox with the General. We'll keep you posted on Channery."

I shifted gazes between them then let out a sigh.

"Fine. You two be careful."

They both gave me a nod then dashed inside. I hopped into the cockpit of Falco's arwing and took to the sky.