The Lylat Wars- Combat Evolved

Chapter 6

...Yet The Memory Remains

As Fox lay in bed, still sobbing, however not as uncontrollably so as before he could vaguely hear Peppy engaged in a conversation.

"Yeah, Pepper, Fox is in bad shape. But we need all the help we can get."

"Pepper? What?"

A pause, Peppy was silent as the equipment that seemed to surround Fox at every turn simply buzzed and hummed quietly. The calm dim of the room belied its former conflict. Fox and Peppy had never been adversarial towards each other before. Fox conceded, rather fairly in his mind, that he'd been wrong to lash out earlier.

"But that was too much..."

Fox shuddered at the thought, the haunting image of Peppy, gaunt and gray bringing to bear his own sidearm on him.

"He would've done it too..."

Truly, Fox felt, Peppy had no love for him anymore. The two had always shared some level of kinship. They weren't but mentor and student. However, Fox learned much from Peppy's teachings. Nor were they but simple friends. Peppy was a mirror into Fox's past. Peppy was one of the few living beings who had known Fox's father. For this reason Fox harbored a secret admiration for Peppy.

"Its just like losing my father all over again."

Fox sighed heavily as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, attempting to sit up for the first time. Dazed and woozy, Fox resented the fact that his condition was unfavorably familiar.

He stood collecting his equilibrium as best he could and lurched towards the exit. Peering down at the metal grating Fox saw the unfortunate part of himself that he feared the most- manifested in drying red stains; his own self-loathing. If it could be said that anyone hated Fox McCloud, Fox hated himself even more.

As Fox rounded the bend his head began throbbing like it had never throbbed before.

"ROB, lights at twenty percent."

Fox waited for a moment, but nothing happened.

Momentarily, Fox could hear more vague talking; "Yes Pepper. But remember Fox is a masterclass soldier and a pilot."

"He's too much of a liability. He's not stable."

"That voice..."

"I'm not disagreeing with you, Pepper. No way. I'm saying we could use that to our advantage."

Fox rounded another corner, coming closer to the conversation.

The words idly continued as Fox stalked towards the source of them. For the first time, almost in forever, Fox was feeling lost in the hallways of his own ship. The white walls, sparkling cleanly and brightly, as well as the bright halogen lights gave the whole ship an almost uniform feel. Every hallway and walkway looked like any other.

"I'm saying we can use it. Listen Pepper, Fox is pissed, he's just lost his best friend. He's more motivated than any of us to kill those things."

Finally Fox stumbled blindly into the communications room.

Peppy turned, in wide-eyed shock; "How much did you hear?"

Fox replied matter-of-factly, "All of it, actually."

On the view screen Pepper grimaced severely. His eyes told the whole story, betraying any attempt to disguise his thoughts. "Fox, you're in. But you better not fuck this one up."

Peppy, awestruck, simply stuttered something to the effect of, "its good to have you back kid."

Staring coldly at both men Fox laid down one final ultimatum; "I will go into battle with you. But, and this goes for both of you, if I die let me stay dead. Don't pull me back from such beauty ever again. Understand, Peppy?"

"Fox..." Peppy began,

Fox flashed a paw to silence Peppy, "understand?"

"Sure thing kid. But I'm not eager to see you go."

"Neither am I, Fox." Replied Pepper..