"It's been three weeks now Falco, I think it's fair to say something went wrong." Peppy stated calmly leaning back in his chair. He and Falco rested within the main piloting room of the Great Fox, Krystal waiting just outside the entrance doors. Among them were several new members of the Star Fox team, all of them green to the trade and none of them entirely promising employees. Falco, resting in a commanding chair next to Peppy, shook his head in confusion.

"I just don't understand it. This isn't his first road show… very unlike him."

"Unlike him or not Falco, we need to do something. Krystal is panicking, Slippy has been venting about some renegade mission to which I can only hope is just talk, and you… well… you seem to be handling it in your own way. But either way, this team's loss of a leader is taxing, and nothing's worse than a crew losing their ability to think clearly." Peppy stopped for a moment, looking to the new members at their post, "You can all leave, please." He said with a loud, raspy voice. The member's eyes popped up nervously from their computer screens, and they soon followed Peppy's wishes. As they left, Falco shook his head.

"Why Fox hired those idiots I'll never know."

"What are we going to do?" Peppy asked.

"What do you mean? About the newcomers?" Falco replied, looking back to Peppy.

"No! For God's sake, what are we going to do about Fox?"

Falco leaned forward in his chair, "You're usually the one with the plan Pep."

Peppy smiled through his glasses, "I'm getting old Falco, too old to be thinking of new schemes and witty solutions. No… I can maybe track Fox down, but from there you will have to be the one with the plan."

"And if he is in trouble, save him." Falco added, "Which seems to be my primary job description."

Peppy let out a quite laugh, "I thought it was the other way around?"

"Of course he'd want you to think that." Falco retorted, shooting up from his seat. He walked over to the holographic computer in the middle of the piloting room, and turned it on. "Do we know where the good leader's last suit transmission was?" He asked, punching in several commands on the keyboard.

"I got as far as that. It seems the last transmission came from a hive city several light years from our position. The suit rendered critical damage, and then ceased transmission." Peppy said. Falco continued to punch numbers into the computer, before bringing up the city sector where Fox's transmission came from.

"Well, critical damage doesn't necessarily mean death…" Falco said, looking at the area.

"No, it doesn't, and judging by Fox's track record there's little doubt he's still up and running." Peppy stood from his seat and walked to the computer. He pushed Falco out of the way and brought up another area of the hive city, "Of course, what also tipped me off to this fact was Fox managing to turn on his emergency signal, which has been activated for several days now…"

Falco laughed, "Well, I'm surprised he had the decency to give us that much. So he's still on planet then?"

Peppy nodded, "He is."

"So we should be telling Krystal, right? She should know he's ok?"

Peppy shook his head, turning his back to the floating screens of the computer, "No, that wouldn't be a good idea. She is just as impulsive as Fox. She'll go after him herself, and we could have a whole other problem on our hands."

Falco continued to look at the screens, moving his fingers across them as he slowly developed a mission plan, "You don't think she has the ability to handle this herself?"

"Of course she does. She's a better shot than you on the ground. My fear is she will not be able to remain objective. She could end up endangering herself and Fox" Peppy looked to the exiting door of the piloting room, there Krystal still remained, waiting to hear the verdict of Fox's whereabouts.

Falco peaked over his shoulder at Krystal, then let out a grunt as he turned back to the computers, "So… I suppose that means I'm going?"

"Do you think you can?" Peppy replied, turning back to Falco, "I know it's your habit to act as if these things don't bother you, but you and I know that's not entirely true."

"I can handle it." Falco said, retrieving satellite pictures of the hive city, "I'm also fairly certain this is where I'm going to get him back. Several miles from where the last transmission was."

Peppy looked to the screen, taking carful view of the hive city's ruined landscape, "Well, it's a start…" As the two looked on, the door entering into the piloting room opened, and Krystal came rushing through it.

"Have you two figured it out?" She said, rushing to the computer screen, "Is this his emergency signal? Is he alright?"

Falco looked to Peppy, giving him an assuring nod before the two looked to Krystal, "We don't know." Peppy said.

Krystal drew her eyes to Falco, "Is he telling the truth?" Falco cleared his throat and nodded slowly. Krystal eyes became a glare, "Is he telling the truth Falco?"

Falco looked to her, "We know he's alive."

Krystal nodded slowly and looked to Peppy, "Care to tell me why you thought I shouldn't know this?"

Peppy reached to put an arm on her shoulder, but Krystal pushed it away, "Krystal, you know why. It's protocol… that's all it is. You're emotionally attached to…"

"I know what I am Peppy! But I know I'm at least entitled to know what's happened to him." Krystal looked to the screens, "Is that where he is?"

"You can't go Krystal." Falco said, stepping between her and the computer, "You know it's against better judgment to send you out there. You know this job requires objectivity."

"So you'll be going alone then?" Krystal asked. Falco nodded, "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"Not much else choice Krystal." Falco replied, downloading the information from the main computer onto his combat suit. Several computer lights ignited on Falco's black and green armored plates as the data transferred.

"I can go with you Falco." She said, nearly pleading, "Please let me go with you." Falco stared at her for a moment, and Peppy made no effort to interfere. He simply walked back over to his piloting chair, and sat down with a tired weight. Krystal persisted, "I may not be objective Falco, but I know you're not entirely either. Fox is someone we care about, so let's work to get him back."

Falco sighed and gave a slow nod, "I guess I could always use a good shooting hand…"

Krystal's eyes brightened, "Is that a yes?"

"I suppose." Falco replied. She embraced him quickly, and he just as quickly broke away with discomfort. "Don't get all emotional on me."

Krystal nodded and peeked over to the computer, "So when do we leave?"