Author Note: Well everyone, I promised I'd update in January and the promise is kept. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Carry on.

Chapter 3

"No one manages to outfox the mighty Panther and lives! You'll rue the day you ever crossed paths with Star Wolf!", Panther roared. As he began charging at me, I started running for my life. Call me a coward if you like, but there was no way I'd survive a hand-to-hand fight like this. My only chance was to evade his merciless barrage of clawed swipes while I stunned him with my blaster. As I was catching my breath after running for about 50 seconds, Panther saw my condition as an opening and tried attacking again. I revealed my blaster and took careful aim. If I tried shooting where he was, I'd be wasting my chances of winning. I made it look like I was aiming for him, when I was actually shooting at where he was going to be. Most of my shots missed and I was becoming more exhausted by the minute. Suddenly, I got a great idea. I made my way over to the transportation ship and asked the pilot for a Grenade. He seemed confused as to why I'd use such a powerful weapon, but I told him he could deduct the cost of it from my payment. He gave it to me without another word and I started calculating inside my head.

"Let's see. I've got a Grenade that appears to explode in five seconds, like a Hand Grenade back on Earth. Panther's Wolfen is about 3 meters away from me. If I throw the bomb at around 2 seconds at a 45 degree angle like a fastball, it should land directly on his seat and completely destroy its main functions. Ok, it's payback time!", I thought to myself. Without another second to waste, I went through with my plan and it worked perfectly. The look on Panther's face when the explosion took place was very hilarious and I could still hear his enraged roar over my covered ears. I looked to Slippy to lend me a hand, but he was still in the cargo hold of the ship, taking inventory with his PDA. After about three minutes of trying to run to my ship, I fell to my knees in failure and waited for Panther to strike, but I wasn't harmed.

"Quick, husky unit, surround Panther and aid that pilot. He's with Star Fox!", I heard a male's voice order. I didn't quite recognize the voice, but there was only one person I knew of who gave orders at this place.

"Bill Grey...", I panted. As I tried to stand up, two pairs of arms wrapped around mine as my legs were about to give out.

"Easy there, buddy. It looks like you need some time to catch your breath. Bulldog unit, take him to the infirmary and give him some oxygen. Slippy and me will handle the rest.", he ordered. They nodded and started walking me towards the nearest base.

"Thanks, Bill. We appreciate you helping out Michael like that.", Fox said as he opened a channel to his childhood friend.

"Not a problem, partner. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. We'll let you know how he is when he recovers. Just give us about thirty minutes, ok?"

"Ok. We'll take care of things here, while you restrain Panther. We're counting on you, buddy.", Krystal said. "And Michael. You did a spectacular job, despite your weakness."

"Thank you.", I thought back.

"Before you leave, Panther must know, who are you and why do you prove to be most disappointing yet interesting prey?", he asked while I tried not to show the Star Fox symbol on my uniform.

"I'm never giving you my name but know this: if you ever try messing with my friends again, I'll make you regret it. The same goes for your annoying friend, Leon and pathetic leader, Wolf O'Donnell.", I replied in Snake's voice from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I wasn't even staring at Panther, but I had a feeling he was just standing there, mouth wide open, puzzled as to how I knew about his other partners. I didn't quite like hospitals all that much because seeing myself in a hospital bed alongside many other kinds of patients brought back memories... painful memories.

Thirty minutes later...

"Ok, Michael. Your new flight suit's ready. Do you want to wear it?", Slippy asked as he held said suit in his hands.

"Sure, but is there a bathroom or something I can change in? I'm not too comfortable with people catching glimpses of my body and I want to feel decent.", I replied while looking at the doctor.

"Of course. Just go to the hallway and it's through the fifth door on your left, across from the cafeteria.", the male cheetah told me. I made my way over there while holding my unfolded jeans behind me, so nobody would see my exposed underwear through the opened back of my temporary gown. My improved clothes were back on in a minute and I gave the gown back to the doctor.

"Ok, let's see if this works. Where can I find the exit, doctor?", I asked.

"You're on the second floor. Just take the elevator near the end of the hall and it's on your immediate right. I'm sure you'll find it without any problems.", the doctor answered.

"So, how much do I owe you for the room?", I asked.

"There's no need for payment. Everyone who fights to protect our galaxy receives substantial payment, regardless of effort and since you helped us without delay, we won't charge you even a single dollar.", he said with a thankful smile.

"Ok team, our mission's done here. Let's head back to the Great Fox and prepare for tomorrow.", Fox said as he received our payment from the doctor.

"I got to hand it to you, Michael. That was some genius thinking, blowing up the inside of that weirdo's Wolfen like that. I can still hear the ringing in my ears.", Slippy said as he patted my back.

"Thanks, but I might need some work on my throwing arm. It know it looked easy, but I still feel some soreness in it.", I said as I moved it around in a windmill motion, trying to pop it.

"I sense your pain, but you're acting like it's nothing. Why is that?", Krystal asked as we took the elevator.

"It's a technique called mind over matter. Whenever we experience any kind of pain, whether it's intense or not, we need to avoid thinking about it immediately. Eventually, it's like nothing happened and healing is much quicker. But if you ignore this important life lesson, the pain will continue to be severe until you stop thinking about it altogether.", I answered.

Fox nodded, knowing all about what I was explaining as he remembered using it many times throughout his entire life. Once we were outside, I noticed some trees around the building and decided to see if my new suit worked. I stood directly in front of one and took two deep breaths, one through my nose and the other through my mouth. I felt the fresh oxygen enter my lungs and smiled. Slippy's modifications were a successful achievement. "Thanks, Slippy. If there's anything I can do to repay you, just ask.", I said as I walked back to the team.

"Tell me more about your own kinds' accomplishments and you've got a deal!", he answered. We shook hands and the deal was made. As we made our way to the Great Fox, I gave one last look at Wolf and his hangers-on and gave them the 'I'm watching you' look with my right hand. Anyone who was there when I did that wasn't stupid to know that they didn't take that very well and glared at me as if to get revenge the next time we met, but they seemed puzzled about my glasses, since the light coming from Solar was enough like my planet's sunlight to make my glasses turn dark and I looked like I was blind.

"What was that, Michael? I've seen people taunting with their lips, but with their hands. That's just weird.", Falco said.

"It's just lingo. Aren't you familiar with that kind of thing?", I asked.

"Usually, but nothing like that.", he said.

"Well, if you must know, lingo is a word for language and it comes in many different forms. Like Krystal's Dinosaur Language or my English, which you call Lylatian.", I explained.

"Your kind knows Dinosaur Language?", Krystal asked in a surprised tone.

"Of course we do. I happen to understand that language, too, but I can't quite speak it very well since I take my time sounding out whatever I say.", I replied.

"That's amazing. Other than the inhabitants of Sauria, I don't know of anyone else who can speak that language like Krystal can.", Fox said.

"You'd be amazed at who could, Fox. I just happen to know some good friends who can.", I answered.

Back on the Great Fox... My first mission was so awesome, yet exhausting as well. I was so tired from all that running away from Panther, that I wanted to go straight to my room and sleep the rest of the day without any dinner, but at the same time, I was so excited, I just couldn't find the strength to even fall asleep. Just one of the many perks the team must go through each day, I guess. I just had to do something to keep this memory inside of my mind forever, but I couldn't figure out what. After five whole minutes of staring at the ceiling while lying on my back, an idea came to me. I'd draw a picture of that mission. It was perfect. The mission was all I could think about and I had each and every single detail burned into my mind, right down to the last word. Taking out a large sheet of drawing paper, along with some other artist utensils, I thought back to the mission and started drawing from scratch. What would usually take me about a week was finished in about 2 hours. I drew a picture of me and Panther charging at each other on Katina's surface, while faint, ghostly images of Star Fox and Star Wolf's faces were glaring at each others' rivals above their ships and the pilot transporting the supplies had his face looking down at us, as if he was praying for me and my friends' safety and well-being. I had every image drawn vividly, yet slightly erased on some angles and for the finishing touch, I wrote my name and today's date in the lower-right corner of my masterpiece. I just couldn't wait to show it to my friends and listen to what they'd think of it. As it turned out, I found them relaxing in the lounge and kept my picture behind my back, so no one but Krystal would know what I was about to show them.

"Hey, Michael. Why did you go to your room all of a sudden? You nearly missed dinner.", Peppy said.

"Sorry, but my first mission made me have a bunch of emotions inside and I needed some time to commemorate the occasion.", I said.

"What's that thing you've got behind you?", Fox asked.

"Well, since I never wanted to forget this day, I made a picture. Ta-da! What do you all think?", I said as I showed them my drawing and placed it on the table.

To say that they were amazed was a major understatement. Neither of them could take their eyes off such perfect detail for even a millisecond.

"Wow. I've never seen such wonderful art like this in a day. Where did you learn to draw like this, Michael?", Krystal asked as she ran her finger across the picture, as if it was calling to her.

"I didn't take 5 years of art class for nothing. I'm glad you all like it.", I said with a smile.

"And you're just giving this to us? Are you sure you don't want anything in return?", Fox asked.

"All I want is that you share it with all of your friends and each of you treasure it forever."

"We will. I'm sure Bill and the others would love to see it in the morning. Thanks, Michael!", Slippy said.

"No problem. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to make some dinner and take a shower. All that running sure worked up a sweat and appetite.", I said as I headed down the corridor and into the elevator that led to the kitchen. I was hungry enough for about 3 servings of almost any kind of food and the growling in my stomach backed me up on that. After about an hour of cooking, my stomach was full of delicious food like lightly salted fries smothered with mild nacho cheese sauce, a bowl of bread pudding and 2 crispy chicken legs. Usually, overeating like that gave me an upset stomach and hiccups but since I was starved, I couldn't have felt any better. Then after my shower, I was dressed up in a pair of blue jeans and a green Legend of Zelda T-shirt my brother Edwin got me for Christmas last year.

As I was lying on my bed and listening to Indestructible by Disturbed, I was wondering about the appearances of both Star Fox and Star Wolf. Each of them looked like they did in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but when Panther shot at me, his laser was configured like the Zapper in Star Fox Command. Could I possibly be somewhere in-between those games? I obviously was if Fox and his friends were still together and Star Wolf's ships were made like that. It also looked like the Anglar War hadn't started yet, so I supposed I could show them the many outcomes of Star Fox Command, if they were ready to see what would happen to their galaxy. As I was thinking about the endings to Star Fox Command, I heard my door slide open and once again, there was Krystal walking up to me sensing something going on in my mind.

"I felt your concern for me and my friends, Michael. Do you want to talk about it?", she asked.

"Nothing really gets by you when it come to thought patterns, does it?", I asked back.

"Not really. It may be an annoying power to others, since nothing in their minds gets by me. But I've had quite a fondness of it, since I learned from my parents about having this power since birth."

"Well, if you must know, I was looking at all the possible futures involving you and the team. Usually, whenever sharing something as important as someone's future, this particular information is forbidden, because if others learn of it, he or she will go to the greatest of lengths to stop or alter it. However, since you're the trustworthy type, I see no harm in showing you some futures, just as long as you keep them a secret."

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul.", Krystal promised.

"Ok, then. Pick a future and you'll see what and who it affects.", I said as I showed Krystal the Gallery section of Single Player mode in Star Fox Command. As I expected, she picked endings 2, 4 and 9 and she paid as much attention as she could while reading about said futures. The image of seeing her child, Marcus was enough to bring her to tears. It was like she wanted to run right into Fox's arms and marry him right then and there. But she suppressed her happiness and continued seeing the other two endings she picked. Seeing herself as her alter-ego, Kursed made her feel guilty, since it was revealed that Fox wouldn't recognize her if she took that path. And her pain was much worse when she learned it was her idea that ultimately led to Star Wolf's fame and both her and Fox's misery.

"I'm sorry you had to see those two horrible endings, but at least you know what to do in order to stop them from ever happening.", I said as I put a hand on her shoulder in hopes of comforting her.

"Don't worry, Michael. When the time is right, I'll know what to do and when. I promise.", She said as she gave me a short hug in thanks.

Glancing at my clock, I noticed the time was around 9:30. And I was already feeling sleepy. "Wow. It's that late already? I hadn't even noticed.", I said with a yawn.

"You'll need your energy for tomorrow, Michael. If you aren't able to help us, I'll see if I can convince Fox to start your training with ROB until we come back.", Krystal said as she gave me a peck on the cheek and left. Smiling at the thought of possibly having someone like her love me was wonderful. Even though her one true soul mate was Fox, Krystal used her thoughts to tell me that maybe there was a woman like her just waiting for me to find her. I just had to have patience, belief in myself and initiative when the time came. With those final thoughts, I lay my head on the memory foam pillow and fell asleep.