Chapter 3

James and Peppy sped off towards the base, and the whole time they talked about what could the general want with StarFox during this time of peace. James had a few ideas but the thought of them just made him shudder.

Peppy snorted as he laughed at his own joke. "Hell, he might just want us to clean his toilets!" Peppy continued laughing, but James wasn't feeling it. The whole idea of cleaning public bathrooms creeps him out, he ended up shuddering noticeably. Peppy then slapped him on the shoulder, "I'm sure whatever it is, its something that will pertain to, well to our special skill set."

"I don't like the idea of cleaning up after someone else. You know how most of these military types are, some of them can't aim." James said with another shudder, then he shared a laugh with Peppy.

By time they finished laughing and calmed down they reached the main gate. The guard looked at them with judgmental eyes that he was trained to use. The twosome pulled up to the gate and waited for the guard. He slowly walked over, placing his right hand on the butt of his sidearm.

In a deep voice he spoke, "Identification please." James and Peppy both flashed their StarFox badges. The guard saluted them and motioned for the gate to be opened. Shortly after Peppy parked the car, the twosome met up with the third member of the StarFox team. He was a pink pig, maybe in his late twenties.

"Hey guys! Wonder whats going on?" The pig greeted.

"Ah, Pigma long time no see. Hows things?" James returned the formal greeting with a handshake. Pigma just shrugged, a typical response when things are pretty much the same everyday. James sighed, "Ya, same here. Well lets get going, its best not to keep the general waiting any longer then we already have."

They made their way through the base to the near top where the general's office was located. They past several scrambling critters and creatures of all shapes and sizes. The main assortment was mainly located around the Research and Development department. The team paid them little mind, they were expected by the general, regardless of their status of being StarFox, it wasn't wise to make him wait any longer then whats needed.

While they walked Pigma started some small talk to make the long walk seem shorter. "I heard about the test you set up for Fox, how did he do?"

"Going by the set training regiment at the Academy, he's about half way finished give or take." James answered.

Peppy smiled. "He's beyond that, give him some credit James." Peppy threw in, then to Pigma he added. "James got Herald to help test Fox's ability to think and disarm his opponent when he has no weapon of his own."

"Herald, Herald...wait the hawk with the trick elbows? Really!? How did he fair?"

James jumped in, "He said it hurt." Then he smiled.

"Wow, now I know that's something." Pigma smiled, "Well we are almost there." And almost in unison the three sighed. They walked a few more yards before they where met with the sight of the big double doors that led into the general's office. Just outside his office there is a little waiting area and 99.9% of the time its empty but today there was a loan figure sitting in a seat closest to the doors. James usually tries to make a note of anything out of the ordinary. And this was one of those times. James took a quick look at him and seen that he was a male tiger about in his late teens or early twenties. But the one thing that really jumped out at James was the nasty looking scar going from about midway of his forehead over his right eye and going through his eye and ending about where his cheek bone would be at. But there was something about the tiger that seemed a bit off. The tiger glanced over in James' general direction, almost like he knew that James was watching him. But the tiger's expression wasn't in the 'now' it was elsewhere.

Then the tiger looked up into James' eyes then nodded. James felt a slight chill run up his spine, the tiger's look had a story in of itself. James returned the nod with a slight smile, then the StarFox team entered General Pepper's office.

"About time you showed up StarFox!" General Pepper complained. Then he turned away from the window he was looking out. The old hound dog sighed then smiled slightly, "I'm glad you're here. We have a very big problem. As you know, several years ago I banished Andross to the distant planet Venom for his dangerous experiments. But our long range scanners are showing unusual activity on the surface. From the scans we can only assume the worse. We think he is amassing an invasion force. But that's the only thing we can do at this point is just guess and make decisions based on those assumptions. I want you to go and scout this thing out, and if Andross really is gathering an invasion force then I want you to cause as much mayhem as you can. As it stands I know its a suicide mission, but I know just how much you enjoy suicide missions." The general said as he looked directly at James. James couldn't help but grin.

"Sure thing, Pepper. But there is only one gigantic issue in the way. Our star fighters can't make that trip under their own power. We'll be glad to undertake this suicide mission, but as it stands, we just can't get there and back. Unless you're prepared to let us barrow your capital ship." James explained. He threw in that last bit knowing that General Pepper wouldn't ever let them have his personal ship.

"You think your funny."

"I like to think so." James quipped. "All jokes aside, unless you can provide a way there and back for us; this mission is a bust and I'm not going to send myself or my team on a one way trip to our death."

"Well I knew you would say power is an issue, but I have a solution to part of the problem. I got the R&D boys working on extending the fuel cells currently install in your fighters. Although it will not be enough to get you back, if you use your power to get there and cause as much damage as you can. I also have the R&D boys looking into a rail-gun like launcher to launch your ships at such a high velocity you really wouldn't need to use any power getting there other then life support and the other essential functions. But from what they already explained to me, that it will take sometime to configure the electromagnets so they wont cause any unwanted interference. I had them working on a rail-gun for about two weeks even before this information came across my desk. So the main structure is almost complete its just the configuration of the electromagnets that are going to take up the remainder of the time. Now if this works, would you still be willing to go through with this?" The old hound dog explained. James looked to Peppy then to Pigma and in unison the three nodded in agreement.

"Well I guess that's that. Looks like you can count on us." James said. General Pepper smiled, he knew that deep down they were going to take this assignment. He knew James like the thrill of using a new piece of technology, more so when its still riddled with uncertainty. James explained it once to him, it had something to do with making him fight harder and makes him feel just that much more alive and alert; savoring each moment like its his last.

"Did you need anything else, General?" James asked. Pepper nodded, then motioned for Peppy and Pigma to leave the room. They nodded and turned to leave, Jame spoke up. "Wait for me in the car, Peppy. Pigma, we'll get a drink or something later." Each nodded then left the room and went their own way. "So what else did you need from me, Pepper?"

General Pepper sighed, "You know I hate it when you don't address me properly. But anyway, I'm sure you noticed the tiger in my waiting area on your way in. Right?" James nodded. Then the general pressed a button on his desk and called for the young tiger to come in. After a few moments the door opened and the same tiger with the scar down through his right eye walked in. He looked at James and nodded again but this time in a respectful way. "OK you two, take a seat. Now, I understand that you had some sort of request to ask of us, err...what was your name again son, I'm sorry my mind isn't what it used to be when it comes to new faces and all."

The tiger sat down like he was told, "It's OK, I figure its hard to keep track of random creatures that come into your office with outrageous requests." He snickered at his own situation, "The name's Jack, just Jack. I dropped my last name, and I'd like to keep it that way. I know your going to ask why, so I'm telling you; its personal reasons and I don't feel like going into them."

"OK, OK. You can keep your reasons to yourself. Your past is your past. But what's this request you wanted to ask?" James asked, trying to read this mysterious tiger youth that was sitting next to him. Jack returned the reading look he was getting from James with an icy look of his own.

"I know you're trying to get a read on me and I'm telling you that you won't get any more information on me then what I'll give you. But that's something for another time, perhaps. Back to my original thing, my people are in very serious danger and I was told a very long time ago by my elders that, well it's a very long and boring story to tell someone whom I just met. But one thing is for certain is that my people are in genuine danger. Now don't get me wrong, we have warriors of our own, but our technology is, well lacking in several departments. The only thing we do have is a very slim number of our most elite warriors who know how to make advanced melee weapons. But that's about it in the department of self defense department." Jack explained. He paused long enough to take a breath, rub the top of his scar and to give General Pepper and James time to process the information.

Pepper looked at James then back to Jack. "Oh dear me, I completely forgot to introduce you two. Jack meet James McCloud." General Pepper said after remembering his mistake.

"Charmed, I'm sure." James said as he waved slightly.

"Indeed." Jack returned, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to seem so defensive, its just that I'm getting this feeling that my home is needing me to return. I...I can't explain it, but its like I'm being called back."

James looked at Jack, not like he was trying to get into his head or trying to read his personality. James seen something in Jack that was way out of the ordinary. But James just couldn't put his finger on it. "OK, I have to ask the obvious question. Why did your elders send you for help? Why not call for help on your home world?"

Jack looked away, he was keeping a big part of the reason hidden from James and Pepper. The tiger looked up at the ceiling for a moment, he sighed after a long while. "I know I'm not giving you much information to go on and I know its a long stretch for me to ask that you just trust the information I have already given you. But there are some things about me that if I told you, well first off you'll laugh at me. Then you'll cross examine what I have bin telling you, then you'll realize that I was telling you the truth. But by that point I know my people would have met with the fate that I spent most of my life training to help prevent. Now I going to have to jump the gun and just assume your cooperation. We are a very technologically lacking people. Think campers in the woods but on a permanent stay. So please," Jack stood up then dropped to his knees and bowed down. "I'm begging you. Will you please help me because I don't feel that I can do this all on my own. You have the look of a seasoned warrior."

James sighed, he didn't like it when anyone begged and pleaded with him like that. "Fine kid, but this whole thing stinks of some sort of trap. Now if I'm walking face first into this thing and I so much as smell a trap or a set up, you will find out why I'm the go to guy of Corneria. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clearer then you'll ever know." Jack retorted, "So when can we leave for my home?"

"Pushy, but I can understand since its everything that has any meaning in your life that hangs on this. But, unfortunately, the general here already gave me and the team a job. After we'll help you." James stated, he could see where this young tiger was coming from, James would do anything to help Fox. Even if it meant his death, James would do it without a seconds hesitation. He could see the determination and the longing to return home in Jack's eyes, oddly enough Jack's scarred eye gave more insight to his mind then any expression.

"I understand, but forgive me if I don't hang around." Jack suddenly jumped to his feet, looking around the room wildly. Like he heard his name somewhere. "I-i got to go, I fear I'm terribly late in my request. I hope this felling is wrong." Jack then turned and left the room.

James got up quickly and chased after the tiger, "How will I find you if you leave?"

"Don't worry, I'll find you." Jack instructed, then he seemed to just fade away.