Author Notes: Took my quite a bit of editing to get this right after working with Jasalazul and Basil once more ). But I think you'll find things much smoother to read, even if our heroes' situations aren't smooth at all. This was actually one of the harder chapters to write, had to keep paradoxes in check. The puzzle, you'll know it when you get to it, is solvable - but not as easy as it looks. Think I'm done rambling, enjoy!
His heart rattled against his ribs like an engine would before it gave out. Fox's face was void of understanding as he frantically turned his collar upward. "Here, so Falco thinks we were out here doing something other than talking about him." He just couldn't bring himself to believe what he had heard.
"Who says we have to pretend?" Krystal pulled him to her lips, kissed, and then started biting them playfully, trying to calm Fox. She looked into his eyes. Fox was still stunned from the statement. "He's going to be attacked in the alley - trust me, Fox. We can just leave him behind…leave him to destroy himself."
Fox's absent glare didn't change; he shook his head and then stroked his brow, casting his gaze downward. "I can't do that to Falco. I don't think I could live with myself – I'm sure we can just work something out."
She wrapped herself around him in an embrace. "Fox, honey, this doesn't end well for him – there's nothing that can come out of this. Once we make a run for the Great Fox, he'll be light-years behind us…you won't even have to look him in the eyes again. The Falco you once knew is gone; you're all I've got left! I can't risk losing you too."
How can she be saying this? What really happened when Falco ventured off alone? He mentioned private mercenary groups, but what if he's into something darker? There was a long period absent of communication between us. What if he became a killer! Could I really call an assassin my friend? There's got to be something I can do for him, but what if Krystal's right – would Falco really kill me? I'm losing my best friend, and he's still living and breathing!
She pulled back, her arms still around his shoulders, crying as well. "Please, do it for me?" Krystal's fingers ran through Fox's mane, caressing his head.
Fox frowned behind glassy eyes. "Krystal, what you're asking me to do is completely against my nature. If what you say is true," his voice reached a peak note, "then Falco's already dead." Tears rolled off his cheek.
She nodded and embraced him once again, being sure to dry his tears. Krystal helped him collect himself, drawing breaths together. They stepped back into the tavern.
Fox was confronted with an alien emotion: he now had to avoid his 'killer's eyes.'
--
Fox had readable confusion on his face, his hand itching for his blaster. He saw the enormous thug in the alley; it would not be hard to hit him from here. One shot could keep Falco from getting hurt, just like Falco'd picked bogies off his tail times before.
Krystal reached for his arm, trying to detour his path. "Fox, remember what I said."
In his indecision, Fox's mind pulled his body between the two alleys. "You going to be okay, Falco?" Falco turned around at his calling. His eyes screamed for help.
But she was already pulling him aside. "Let's move, Fox! The assassin could already be on our ship!" She made her point; giving in, he allowed her to tug him away from Falco's fate.
They moved through the darker alleys until they were able to see it in the moonlight: their escape. They drew closer to the Great Fox and Fox's chest began to ache, his insides trying to digest his thoughts – and they disagreed with him. He just left Falco to die at the hands of some thug. Guilt found itself present and heavy in his thoughts. He was certain Falco could've handled the situation if only he'd been at his side.
He prayed that Krystal's omens did not spell death for his old friend. A shot sounded through the darkness behind him.
Fox stopped, pretending to catch his breath.
"Let's go, Fox – we're almost there."
With a gulp he looked back o one last time, just hoping to see his friend alive and well. Krystal approached the loading dock of their mothership and called the lift. The doors began to hum as they strained to open, the ramp extending to the dock.
Fox marched his way forward. "You should have told me earlier. I believe in free-will, Krystal. No future is set it stone."
"What about when the spirits told me that we were destined to be together? What about that, Fox?"
He extended his palm and pressed it lightly to her face, brushing her cheek. Krystal's slender fingers wrapped around Fox's. She pressed her face closer into his hand with a soft kiss. In the ancient tongue of her people, Krystal whispered:
Jece giaohe gio ijkot jou vocaq.
Xo lajke gio fohoqsu.
O ijkot omfizop u cej gio ipe umu.
She reached for one more kiss against his palm clenching her eyes to push back the tears and smiled – but he let his hand drop to his side. The smile that she stretched across her face melted away.
He turned and stepped into the vessel.
Krystal stared into the absence in the distant Cornerian night, then at the absence beside her; silence and the enormous moon were her only company. She bit her lip and followed Fox inside. The wailing of police sirens filled the distance.
--
"Fox, what is it?" The elder rabbit found himself being ignored.
Fox found his position at the console with a stern kick. He sighed, trying to suppress his anger by digging his grip into the switch board. "Rob…" His breathing shot the air in and out of his lungs. "Give me a diagnostic of all life-forms present on the ship." The display screens buzzed as the computer processing occurred.
Krystal tentatively stepped into the bridge with her explanation. "Peppy, there've been a number of assassinations happening to mercenary groups lately, but I don't think we honestly have to worry–"
"Sounds like he'd only be able to do it if he was stowing away." He turned to face her, " Krystal, would you watch the bridge?"
Her gaze was fixed on anything but his eyes, hovering over spots on the ground before hinding Peppy's in a request for understanding.
"…I'm going to check on Slippy." Fox thrust his body forward and tore away from the bridge, dealing a blow to the wall as he passed through the doors. He hissed in pain as the burn traveled up his arm. Delving his other arm into his satchel, he pulled out his com-link. With a stare, he turned to Falco's channel and slid to sit against the wall. The quiet hissing frightened him; he didn't want to know if his old friend was alive nor not. With it pressed against his forehead, Fox closed his eyes. "Good bye, friend."
"Fox?"
"Oh, hey, Slippy." Fox looked at his com-link. "I was just about to call you."
"What's going on? How was Falco's…are you crying?"
With a cough, he climbed to his feet. "No. Slippy, there's a chance that a stowaway assassin might have us as potential targets. He could be on his way to the ship or be on it right now."
Despite the calm delivery, the mechanic dropped his wrench. "What?! Fox, we've got to get the Great Fox off Corneria! Why are we even still here?"
Because Falco's not on it.
"You're right." He switched channels on the small radio. "Peppy, Slippy's fine. We're ready for launch." There was no reply. "Peppy?"
He finally got a response: "Fox, computer shows no foreign life-forms…but, I also took the liberty of searching through the security room to check the archives…and it seems the data is missing."
Slippy started making his way down the corridor. "Missing?" He stopped.
Fox felt the impact of the statement as well. He rubbed his temples. "Okay, engage the autopilot once we reach orbit, then we can call it a night. We'll sleep in shifts. I'll go ahead and take first watch, followed by Krystal, then Slippy." Peppy had grown too experienced to be a candidate for keeping watch.
Krystal's voice answered back. "All right, Fox. I'll try to get some sleep."
He recalled the words of the police-dog: 'I swear the man's a ghost.' Did this mean that the computer could not detect the threat? His hand at his blaster, he followed Slippy to the dormitories.
"I'll be glad when this is all over, Fox – have a good night. Oh! Hey, I saw that Peppy picked up some good coffee earlier – don't hesitate to make a batch." He paused in thought and opened the sliding door to his room. Looking at his leader, he tilted his head. "Feel better, Fox. I'm not sure what's eatin' you, but I can tell when you're not feeling well." He gave an earnest smile and disappeared into the darkness of his quarters.
Beside Slippy's room was Falco's. He felt the guilt rush over him once again. He braced himself for the launch, keeping his eyes on those doors. Fox knew he had access to Falco's room - it wouldn't be hard to find out if everything was true or not.
A shift in motion from the large craft told him that they should be well above Corneria now. Autopilot would be engaged and Krystal and Peppy would be on their way down. He'd have to find a more opportune time to make his investigation. Stepping away from the dormitories, he followed a route that would prevent him from having to encounter those two on their way down.
Fox made his way to the quiet of the bridge.
No solace was found in the silence as the ship drifted across the stars. Corneria glowed sadly through the windows of the Great Fox, its captain resting his chin against the very console he had assaulted with his grip. The anger had left him; he really had no one worth blaming. The squadron which had new and returning members felt empty now. It felt still, soundless. Fox finished tapping at the keys.
The silence even engulfed the sudden notice from the terminal: 'Incoming craft.' Fox didn't notice until it chimed once more: 'Incoming craft: assuming docking procedure - Bay F."
"Bay F!" He scrambled out of his seat, finding reserve energy to spur his sprint to the hangar. That's Falco's bay - he's alive! I've got to ask him if it's true. He deserves that. Fox swerved as he reached the fork in the hall. We can put all this behind us - there's no possible way that he'd be the killer. Falco, you old bird, you certainly are a diehard! Hesitant, Fox stopped feet from the steel doors which lead to the bay.
What if Krystal was right?
'I'm suggesting that he might be the Quadrant Killer!'
Would he shoot me as soon as I walk through those doors?
'…the Falco you once knew is gone…'
'I can't do that to Falco, I don't think I could live with myself.' But I did. Would Falco hate me for my decision? Would he kill me for my decision? No.
Fox threw the doors aside.
I'll make my own future.
Staring at the docked fighter, he stepped into Bay-F.
And saw the colors of the Wolfen that was docked there, along with its pilot.
--
"You idiot! Why are you here?!" Wolf marched toward him, rolling up his sleeves. "Could you make this any easier?"
Fox drew his blaster. "Toss yours to the ground!"
Wolf grabbed fox by the shoulders and pushed him into the wall. "You stupid, fool! You shouldn't be here! You should be half-way to Aquas, anywhere but here …you've made it so easy to just snuff you all right now."
Fox found himself fatigued; he didn't have the strength to put up a defense – the blaster fell to the ground. Wolf pressed his own blaster to Fox's chin, pressing it deeply into his skin. Fox saw his own fear in his reflection of Wolf's cybernetic-eye. Wolf released him and tore away.
"I thought you were smarter than this, Fox. You've let your emotions get the best of you. You can sit here paranoid, waiting to die…" Wolf pushed a claw to his temple, "…or you can think!" He was pacing.
Fox clenched his fist and drove the blaster into its holster. "Are you trying to warn me…or kill me! Because these damned head games are pissing me off!"
"That's better." Wolf turned towards him.
"It's standard procedure to orbit in the event of a threat. Why do you think…the killer…would find it so easy to kill us."
"Because, God damn it, I'm a predator! I know how he thinks. And having all of you up here like this – it's just what Falco needs for an easy kill."
"Falco?"
"Yes." Wolf stepped closer; Fox backed away.
"He registered, Fox."
"What does that mean?"
"You know my line of work. I noticed Falco's name on the list of registered bounty hunters."
Fox found he couldn't swallow. "How long has he been on that list?"
"A week. I couldn't help notice his name showing up after yours showed up as well; but on the list of targets."
"Don't tell me you came all this way to collect that bounty before he does."
Wolf crossed his arms. "You're coming with me. I'll take you a planet far on the outer rim of the galaxy. Nobody will ever find you there."
"What about the others?"
"You are the biggest threat to them now. Leave them and they'll live...likely. You don't really think I'm here to kill you? Do you, Fox?"
"I don't know what to think any more. You're telling me my best friend has gone rogue, and you're the second person to reveal this to me…I hardly know either of you." Fox let himself pace the hangar. "I just don't know what to do."
"You really don't have a choice in the matter."
"Wolf. Would you just shut up and let me think?!" Fox barked. A blow collided with his chin.
"How dare you. You arrogant dolt! Let me remind you my tail has been chased up and down this galaxy for years! Half the shit I've been through has landed a bounty on my head as big as yours. You're coming with me, against your will if I have to!" He took a heaving breath. "I'll be in the can. I think I can remember the way. When I come out, let's hope you come to your senses. Just try not to get killed in the few seconds I'm out."
Fox scoffed, listening to the doors close behind Wolf. He bolted for the Wolfen, opening its canopy and searching inside.
There's got to be some clue… something, anything! If he knew Falco had registered, would he know if he was still alive? If Falco wasn't a threat anymore, would Wolf be here now with his warning. What if Wolf was the assassin and –
Thump. The sudden pain against his skull threw Fox from the Wolfen, landing hard against the hangar floor. The taste of blood present in his mouth when he growled in pain. Fox tried to focus his vision, but it was growing fuzzy. He rolled onto his back, his head against the warm, thickening puddle of blood. The shadow loomed over him. Fox strained to clear his eyes to see who or what had struck him. Whatever it was, it was breathing heavily. A cold drop struck Fox's face. A tear?
Fox's vision focused, revealing the figure. "…you?!" He clenched his eyes as the final blow was dealt. Darkness engulfed him.
--
Wolf collapsed to his knees. His hands hovered over the body, rapidly inching closer before pulling them away. Climbing to his feet, he ran and struck the alarm. Its loud wail traveled through the Great Fox. Wolf howled. Blood dripped over a small bronze statuette, beside Fox's body. It dripped over the name of Falco Lombardi - with a text thanking him for his service.