The Lylat Wars- Combat Evolved

Chapter 5

Dyer's Eve

"My God Fox, what'd you do to yourself kid?" Peppy asked loudly, loading Fox's profusely bleeding body onto the heavy metal medical table of the Great Fox.

Peppy's heart raced as he began to quickly run through the standard procedures. First he cauterized the surface wound to stop bleeding. Although in this case, that didn't stop much, the cut was much deeper than Peppy had originally anticipated. The cauterization tore open, more blood spilled out. It stained the sheets on the table a dark red.

"Oh God, don't die on me, Fox."

Fox's eyes opened for a brief moment, pain seared through his head as he snapped them shut.

"I'm in the Great Fox? How?"

"ROB, get me the anti-septic syringe."

ROB quickly passed it along to him.

Peppy quickly used the instrument, plunging it into Fox's arm. The anti-septic momentarily took affect, but its effects weren't nearly enough. Fox's arms were still bleeding from the wrist to the crook of his arms. His fur was drenched and sticky with blood and viscous fluid.

Peppy had to act quickly, every hear beat brought Fox closer to death. His vitals were steadily fading; Fox's death was almost a certainty at this point.

"ROB, give me a plunger and a scalpel."

ROB handed Peppy a plunger and scalpel. Peppy plunged the excess fur from the site of Fox's wounds, and begin cutting long swaths of fur from his arms.

"ROB, we're going in close, ready the micro-laser."

"Yes sir." ROB's emotionless response almost shocked Peppy. ROB quickly pressed a few buttons on a large machine several feet away. It buzzed and hummed to life as he rolled it over towards Peppy. The machine was a stand mounted surgical laser. Previously such things had only been used to fix poor eyesight, but Peppy had fitted one with a laser powerful enough to assist in some major surgeries.

Peppy brought the device to bear on Fox and began to use it. Moments later the lights on the Great Fox dimmed, the power surged and the laser quit.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

"ROB, stop his heart, put him on life support. I'm not letting Fox die this way! I'm gonna sew this fucker up if I have to!"

"Master Fox may die, Peppy." replied ROB dryly. The lack of concern now marked in his voice more so than ever.

"I said do it, now do it!" Peppy commanded.

Fox let out a gasp, before speaking a barely audible, "Peppy…no." before his heart stopped beating, the oxygen mask he'd been wearing came to life. Even without a heartbeat Fox could still survive from the manual pumping of his lungs, and therefore blood through his system. But make no mistake about it, for all intents and purposes Fox was dead.

With surgical precision Peppy hadn't known he had he quickly began sewing up Fox's wounds. The stitches were sloppy, but he could go back over them as he had to, he had time now.

Within a couple of minutes Peppy was finished. As he stalked away from the table he ripped off his gown and whipped it at ROB.

"What the hell were you thinking!" Shouted Peppy.

"The risks involved in saving Fox far outweighed our chances of him living." Replied ROB coldly.

"There was once a time when you'd do anything in your power to help Fox, Rob. What's happened to you?"

ROB simply walked away, ignoring Peppy's question.

"How human of you…" Peppy grumbled.

Meanwhile in the surgery room Fox's eyes shot open. He was alive.

"No…"

"Fox you're up." Peppy walked silently into the room. "How do you feel?"

Fox sat momentarily, silently thinking. Shaking his head no he asked simply, "Why?"

"Because Fox, I couldn't let you die down there."

"But you killed me up here, didn't you?" Replied Fox harshly. Sweat dripped from his brow.

Peppy looked down at the bloodstained metal floors. He hadn't realized Fox was conscious during the operation.

"How was it?"

Fox sighed heavily, sitting up he grabbed Peppy by the collar brining him snout to nose, "BEAUTIFUL…" Fox replied breathlessly, his face contorted into an expression of nearly explosive hatred. "You're lucky I don't kill you right now."

"Try it." Peppy pressed his blaster into Fox's rotund stomach.

Fox quickly ceded, letting go of Peppy's collar.

"Get some rest kid, then suit up, we're heading to Corneria in a few hours."

Fox lay back in bed, tears flowing from his eyes. Peppy shook his head as he walked away. His job was done.