Part 10
Jack was working the in the aft hangar when he heard the tram grind to a halt. He looked up to see Krystal stomping toward her ship carrying a small duffel bag. She jumped into the cockpit and began preparing her ship. She glanced up from the controls and looked at him, then went back to work.
"So much for relaxing for the next few days." he thought as he walked toward Krystal. "Where you going Blue?" She ignored him and continued to peck away at the controls. Jack walked under Krystal's ship and pried open a small panel on its underside directly below the pilot's seat. He pulled the lever inside and powered down the systems. Krystal pounded the console as the lights flickered off.
"What do you think you're doing?" Krystal snapped.
"I asked you a question." He yelled back. "And I expect an answer. Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving. You've got your team, you don't need me anymore."
"I don't remember telling you that."
"Whatever you did to my ship, fix it and open the doors."
"No." Jack stepped back from Krystal's ship, turned and walked toward the workbench where he had been working. Krystal jumped down from her ship and stormed across the hangar, grabbing Jack's arm.
"Fix my ship." She said through clenched jaws. "And open the doors." Jack pulled his arm from Krystal's grip, her nails cut deep into his skin leaving small bleeding scratches. He looked at his arm, then back to Krystal.
"Tell me what's got you so upset, and I'll consider it."
"Fix my ship, and open the doors or I'll go through you and do it myself, I swear I will."
"Don't threaten me. That's not a fight you want to start and you know it." Jack said mockingly. "Talk to me, I've done alot for you, and asked for nothing in return. If you're leaving, at least let me know why."
"It's Fox." Krystal said under her breath. "Now fix my ship..."
"And open the doors. I know by now." Jack interrupted her. "What's he done?"
"He's been seeing some girl named Fara on Corneria. He should have told me when we met on the Great Fox."
"That's it? You're ready to run off over that?"
"Maybe things like that don't matter to you." She said as she started to weep. "But they matter to me. Fox was all I had."
"You ran off and joined his rivals, took one of them as your partner, rampaged across Lylat and beyond, then vanished. Some girl takes pity on a burned out pilot you left behind after screwing with his head and you're upset about it? I expected better from you." Jack walked over to a control panel on the wall. He entered a code on the keypad and the hangar doors slowly opened, revealing the black empty void of space. He then turned and approached Krystal's ship, climbed beneath it and reconnected the systems.
"I've done as you asked, you're free to leave." He said. "I want you to see something first before you go." He handed Krystal a small data pad with a list of names and pictures.
"These are pilots for the Cornerian Defense Force." She said, scrolling through the list.
"The operation I'm running has been in the planning stages for a couple of years now. The Cornerians were all for it, I had my pick of the best and brightest Corneria had to offer me. I took your recommendation instead. Because I respected you." Jack rubbed his arm, streaking the blood from the scratches.
"Well, you got what you were after, you have a squadron." She said, "I'm sorry about the scratches."
"It's alright, nothing that won't heal in a few days." Jack looked at her, "I'd be one short without you."
"So take Fara, she's on this list." Krystal pointed to the data pad. "She's not the most decorated pilot on it, but she is on here."
"Where do you plan on going from here?"
"I don't know, there's very few places I can go to be honest. Wolf's going to hunt me wherever I go." Krystal shook her head. "Maybe I'll head back to Corneria and see if the CDF will take me."
"That beats what you were doing before." Jack said, "Could you do me a favor when you go back there?"
"Of course, what do you need?"
"Take Miri back to Corneria with you. So she can be with her family."
"How did you know about that?" Krystal was shocked. "She didn't come out and tell you did she?"
"Of course not, Katt told me. She had overheard your conversation with Miri the other night while roaming the ship looking for something to eat."
"I imagine you're upset with her."
"I'm livid. But she made her choice and I did what I would have done regardless. The guilt is on her, not me. Worse yet is she threatened to blackmail you. I can't have that kind of thing going on my ship."
"I don't see how you just shrug it off."
"There's a price to pay for doing the right thing, I can't say it's a bargain. I try to remember there's more good people out there than bad and that keeps me going most days. I'm more upset Miri didn't tell me the truth to begin with, this could have ended sooner for all involved. By taking her back to Corneria, I can make two lives better, and that to me is worth it. Her husband didn't do anything wrong, he's probably still upset she disappeared. It's shameful she put him through all that stress and made him wait so long for her to come back."
"I'll take her back." Krystal turned toward her ship then back to Jack and smiled as she spoke. "I wish I could stay here with you. You've got a unique way of looking at the world."
"I'm your friend and your ally." Jack said as he looked her in the eyes. "And I've got your back whenever you need me."
"Why?"
"That's just the way I am. There's nothing stopping you from coming back this way if you decide you want to continue working for me. You have the locater, and you have a home here."
"I want to come back." Krystal said, shaking her head. "But I don't think I can handle seeing Fox and Fara together. Fox made me feel complete, he helped me deal with the destruction of Cerinia. He was there when I felt so alone. I don't want to be alone anymore."
"Maybe you'll see he's happy." Jack put his hand on Krystal's shoulder. "And that will make it easier to let go. We're all here for you, Blue. No one on this ship wants you to go anywhere. If you're alone now, it's because you chose to be."
"I will think about it." Krystal said, "Thank you for talking to me."
"You want to go get Miri or should I?"
"Maybe you should, I will have a hard time convincing her it wasn't me that told you."
"Right." Jack walked over to the tram, leaving Krystal waiting in the hangar, she sat down on a nearby container and looked out the open hangar doors into space. She began thinking about the surviving Cerinians, what were they like now? Did they lose their telepathy aswell? Did they even have it to begin with? If she was going out on her own, their colony would be the one place where she would be welcome. Until recently, she thought she was the last of her people, that wasn't true anymore. Her thoughts were interrupted by the tram doors opening and Jack stepping out with Miri alongside. Miri saw Krystal and darted across the hangar toward her.
"You lying little piece of trash!" Miri screamed. "I told you to keep your filthy mouth shut!" She lunged at Krystal and knocked her to the ground, pinning her to the floor. Krystal struggled to get free but Miri overpowered her and clamped her hands tightly around Krystal's neck. She continued to scream at Krystal as Jack rushed over and pulled Miri away.
"I already told you, she didn't tell me anything."
"Then who did?" Miri yelled as she struggled with Jack. "I think I deserve to know."
"It was Katt, she overheard your conversation with Krystal the other night and told me everything." Jack told her. Krystal had sat upright on the floor, rubbing her neck and head. She walked over to her ship and unfolded a small seat behind the pilot's seat. Jack continued to talk.
"I'm taking you back to Corneria, this is what you wanted isn't it?"
"Yes, but I wanted to do it my way. I didn't want to go like this."
"Well you're going." Jack said. "You've overstayed your welcome."
"Look, I know what I did was wrong." Miri told Jack. "But you have to understand my situation."
"I understand you manipulated me. You used my sympathy for personal gain and it backfired on you, so you tried it again and this time you got caught. You're no better than the scum that held you captive. In fact, you're lower, at least they are straightforward with their intentions."
"That's cold Jack." Miri said looking at the floor. "You don't have any idea what those animals did to me."
"At this point, I don't really care." Jack walked toward the tram. "I got you out, cleaned you up, and gave you anything you wanted, if that was a ticket back to Corneria then I'd have done that too. This is the last thing I'm doing for you. Well, Krytsal is doing it, unless she's changed her mind."
"No." Krystal said. "I will take Miri back to Corneria with me. I told you I would."
"Thank you Krystal. I appreciate it."
"Wait." Miri interrupted. "How will I find Rodney? Where would I even start looking."
"I took care of that overnight." Jack said. "I had the shipnet run a trace on him. He's living in a small flat on the northern side of Corneria City. 8000 block, unit 17."
"That's amazing you were able to track him like that, thank you. Before I go, I was wondering if you could do me one more favor?" Miri asked.
"What?" Jack replied.
"Well... Rodney. My husband, has been without my income for so long and I'm sure his finances are stretched pretty thin. I was wondering if you could send me back with some extra credits so we could get our family off to a good start."
"I don't believe what I'm hearing." Jack looked at Miri in disbelief. "You're asking me for money? Now?"
"It doesn't have to be alot, just 50 thousand so we can get a nice place on the outskirts of Corneria City."
"Get the hell off my ship. You disgust me." Jack picked Miri up and dropped her into the seat in Krystal's ship, then began walking back toward the tram. He stopped and turned around to see Krystal right behind him.
"Well I guess this is goodbye. Be safe Blue. Whatever you decide to do, be safe." Jack stepped back and saluted Krystal. "Ah the hell with it." He walked over to Krystal and hugged her tightly before stepping back and smiling. Krystal looked at Jack in shock.
"Was that for me?" Krystal asked before turning to Miri who was sulking in the cockpit of Krystal's ship. "Or her?"
"That was for me." He said, "Be safe Krystal." Krystal walked over to her ship and looked back at Miri who glanced up with a cold stare before turning her head and staring at the floor without saying a word. As she closed the canopy and lifted off, Krystal looked back into the hangar one last time. It was empty, Jack had gone back into the ship, he didn't stay to watch he leave. Back inside the ship, Fox and the others had heard the commotion when Jack took MIri out to the hangar.
"What was all that about?" Fox asked.
"Just something that needed to be done. It's taken care of, no need to worry." Jack said, his voice was calm trying to hide his emotions. "We've lost two, and I'm going to need those positions filled."
"What do you mean?" Katt asked. " Where did Krystal go? What happened to Miri?"
"Miri wanted to go back to Corneria, as you already know. I helped her get back." Jack looked at the floor, then back to Katt. "Krystal has decided to... seek other opportunities."
"What?" Fox said. "She's gone?"
"Yes."
"I should have tried to stop her." Fox said as he paced around the room. "I knew she was upset. I didn't think she'd leave. She's not going back to Star Wolf is she?"
"I have no idea what she's doing. This is how it happened, you can't really change it now." Jack walked over to Fox and handed him the data pad he had shown Krystal. "Since it's your team, I need you to fill in the gaps. This is a list of the Cornerian pilots recommended to me by the Cornerian Ambassador. Pick two please and we will go and get them. I'd recommend picking people you know and trust. I can help them be better pilots, but I cannot help them be trustworthy."
"I don't want to do this." Fox handed the data pad back to Jack, who refused to take it from his hand. "I don't want to replace Krystal."
"Well, I'm not much of a pilot, and my job is to keep things going here on the ship. So I can't fill in. I understand you're upset about what happened, but we still have work to do and it's not going to be any easier shorthanded."
"There's one person I know that I can trust, he's not on this list though." Fox said. "He's retired, but I think I can talk him into flying again."
"No Fox. Just no. Not him." Falco said shaking his head. "We don't need a mechanic and he's not even close to being a pilot."
"But we can trust him. We just have to find him." Fox looked at Jack, "Former Star Fox squadron member Slippy Toad was our mechanic and a pilot himself. He flew with us on every mission."
"You mean flew into something every mission." Falco said.
"That too." Fox said laughing. "He'd do anything to help out though. I can't think of anyone else right now."
"How about pilot number 54657?" Jack said as he pointed to the data pad still in Fox's hand. "She's the most decorated of the female pilots and it looks like she has seen some combat in the past. Received a commendation for heroics during the first Lylat war and the Aparoid invasion, she might be..."
"No." Fox interrupted. "Pick someone else, anyone else."
"I wanted you to pick." Jack said. "If I'm picking, she's it. I'll contact the Cornerian Ambassador and get her location, you will go to her and escort her back. While you're in Lylat, get Slippy aswell.
"Jack, I'd really prefer someone else." Fox told him. "Fara isn't ready for all this."
"You'll get her ready, I have complete confidence in you. Krystal was the one who suggested it believe it or not. Does she have the skills to do the job?"
"Yes." Fox said. "Without a doubt she does."
"And I bet you know right where she is?"
"Yes, I do." Fox said reluctantly.
"Then I'll jump you into Lylat right away." Jack walked to the elevator leading up to the bridge, he turned around and spoke as the doors shut. "I'll open the portal as soon as you're undocked, we need to get to Io station and pick up the Interstellar Iridium people soon, so let's do this quickly."
"Falco." Fox said as he turned to his friend. "I'm going to get Fara, I need you to try and track down Slippy. If he doesn't seem interested, just let him stay where he is."
"Right." Falco nodded.
"Katt, I need you to stay here and see if you can't get some information from Jack about what happened to Krystal and Miri. I don't think he's the type to harm either of them, but I want to make sure."
"Ok, I'll go up and see Jack." Katt said as she walked toward the elevator. Fox and Falco made their way to the Airwings docked in the Prospect's rear hangar. They launched into space and orbited the ship as the jump portal opened into Lylat. Fox went through first followed by Falco, the portal dropped them into Lylat not too far from Corneria, Fox plotted a course for the planet while Falco turned toward Aquas and Slippy's last known location.
As Fox approached Corneria City he could still see the scars of the Anglar war, buildings with shattered windows and scorched facades dotted the city's skyline, contrasting with the polished and gleaming new construction. The rebuilding was going so slowly, Fox wondered if what Jack had told him about the human building materials was true. He'd have to ask when he returned with Fara.
When she wasn't on duty with the Cornerian Defense Force, Fara lived in a small suburb just off the main road into Corneria City, Fox was hoping she wasn't home. He set down in a clearing a few blocks from her home. As he walked along the road worried thoughts raced through his head. What would her reaction be? Will she want to go? What about her duties to the CDF? He approached the door and raised his hand to knock, there was the click of a lock and the door creaked open slowly.
"Fox?" A timid voice came from behind the door. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here looking for you." He told her. "Can I come in?"
"I don't think that's a good idea." Fara responded. "Are you in some kind of trouble with the CDF?"
"Not that I know of." He said. "Why?"
"Your name is all over the news. There was some kind of incident with a cargo ship and you shooting down a scout squadron."
"No." Fox shook his head. "It didn't happen that way. Fara, you have to believe me, I didn't shoot down anyone. Those ships were drones, they didn't have pilots. The real pilots were rescued a few days ago. Please tell me they mentioned that on the news. I came here because I know someone interested in hiring you."
"You want me to do mercenary work? No thanks, I like being loyal to Corneria and not whoever signs my paycheck."
"It isn't like that, these are jobs out beyond the reach of the CDF, people who hide where the CDF doesn't look or can't go. We're provided with ships, a place to stay, and steady work. I wouldn't be working for them if they weren't helping Corneria."
"They said the pilots were recovered, they didn't say where or how." Fara opened the door and stepped outside. "I doubt the CDF would let you land here if they thought you'd shot down those ships. I haven't flown with them in over a month, I have no idea what's going on out there."
"Wait until you see." Fox smiled and took her hand. "Come with me, I promise you won't be disappointed." Fara reluctantly got her ship and followed Fox out to the place where Jack had opened the portal. Fox signaled for Jack and in a few moments, another portal was opened into Lylat. Fox approached it and began his run through.
"Just follow me, keep away from the edges and keep your thrusters at full."
"Fox, what is this?" Fara asked before turning away from the portal. "Where does it go?"
"It's alright, just trust me." Fox told her. "This is how I got into Lylat. I can't really explain how it works, but it's safe if you don't go near the edges. It goes out to a system not far from Lylat where we're fighting the remnants of Andross' army and some former Anglar pilots that are trying to rebuild their forces."
"Really? In another system?" Fara thought for a moment. "Alright, let's go."