Chapter 64: Captain Onboard
Fox's nerves crackled. His fingers tapped against his knee. His left leg jostled. His ears turned and pricked at every slight sound that made its way through the rocket's hull. This waiting agonised him. How he wanted to fast-forward time to the point when these final obstacles were already far behind him.
At his side, Krystal buzzed with her own excitement. Yet, she also felt nervous. Beyond their little shuttle was uncharted territory. Not even sharing Fox's mind and expectations expunged Krystal's worries. Was she ready for this? Would she be accepted? What if it was too much?
Fox pulled Krystal's hand into his. With one gentle squeeze and a single glance into her husband's eyes, Krystal's heart steadied. Together, they observed the minds of the crew in the ship next to theirs. Their focus was sharp as they guided the bridge from the Great Fox's airlock to the rocket's.
As the cautious minutes ticked by, it became hard for Fox to ignore Andross and Thene. Both sat on edge, bristling with apprehension. If Andross had some scheme to save his hide, he made no move to act on it yet. Krystal still could not see through Thene's mental protections; not that she dared try hard enough to risk provoking them. What she could tell, at least, was that Andross and Thene were both currently devoid of malice. Violence would not be their opening move. For the time being, that was.
Fox's thoughts returned to his own worries. What would it be like to see everyone again? It'd been so long. What should he say first? Should he have something ready to go off the bat? Or was it better to let things play out and respond naturally? Even that simple dilemma made Fox want to shiver out of his skin.
"Fox?" Krystal snapped him out of it. She stared out towards the wall. "Were there supposed to be this many people in your old crew?"
Curious, Fox counted the number of minds that Krystal sensed. In addition to Falco and everyone else who towed them here, there should have still been Vixy and Peppy onboard the Great Fox. That made seven members within the current Star Fox. Fox assumed they were all waiting beyond the Great Fox's airlock. However, there were at least another 30 minds within Krystal's range. Fox's brow raised. If Thene could sense them too, it was no wonder that Andross felt on edge.
"Looks like there's a bigger welcoming party waiting than we expected," Fox supposed. Krystal agreed. They briefly debated whether they would continue to honour Andross's plea deal. What happened next could decide that.
Though Fox became mindful of where he kept his blaster holstered, his thoughts could not stay on either it or Andross. One mind that Krystal sensed stuck out to him amongst the rest. Fox couldn't explain how he knew, but he recognised his mother's mind instantly. It just felt like her.
Krystal let him reach out. She established a connection. Towards a heart-strained and bewildered essence, Fox smiled and pressed his own soul against it.
"Hi, Mom."
Shock. Relief. Love. Joy. All those emotions and more washed across the void of space and bathed Fox in tender warmth.
"Fox…" Vixy wept anew.
They shared no further words. Only feelings of love and gratitude towards whatever higher powers made this moment possible. Vixy's impatience for the bridge between them to pressurise added to Fox's own. He could tell Vixy came close to shouting for the people on her end to hurry things up. Fox could only grin through tears.
At long last, something knocked on the shuttle's hatch. A person's hand. The bridge was ready. Fox quickly put on a space helmet as a precaution. He then fitted Krystal's over her head before releasing himself from his seatbelt. The rocket hadn't come with an artificial gravity system, so Fox floated inside the cockpit. Grabbing hold of his chair, he turned towards the rear cabin and pulled himself through.
A tiny airlock sat behind the cockpit, only wide enough for one person at a time. All the safety systems were dead, though Fox reasoned that the external pressure was fine enough for him to venture out. If not, his flight suit and helmet would protect him anyway. Throwing further caution into the wind, Fox released the hatch. Its seal broke with a dry, suckling hiss, but only briefly. Assured that he wasn't going to be sucked out in a vacuum, Fox vaulted himself through the cold, grey, steel bridge.
His heart hammered inside his chest as he approached the opposite airlock. He wanted to run straight through, but Fox caught the handrail along the bridge's side. He held tight against his own momentum and came to a stop. Fox then looked behind him. Krystal emerged from the shuttle's door. They'd come this far together. They should take this final step at each other's side. Thus, Fox waited for her.
Childlike wonder filled every cell in Krystal's body. Fox saw her grinning through her helmet's visor. She could scarcely comprehend this incredible feeling of being weightless. Krystal waved her arms like a graceful bird, laughing freely. Fox extended his hand as she drew near. She took it and pulled herself firmly into his chest. Her leftover momentum carried them into the airlock. Its doors soon closed behind them.
Slowly, the airlock's artificial gravity increased to match the rest of the Great Fox's. Fox and Krystal both stumbled as their feet met the floor. His space legs had left him, Fox reflected somewhat sadly. Yet that didn't matter too much. Green lights showed that the air was safe for them to remove their helmets. Fox tore his off and inhaled deeply. Recycled air washed over his tongue and into his lungs. Krystal didn't like the taste much, though for Fox, it gave him comfort.
He was home.
The second set of doors began to open. Fox blinked at the sight that emerged. He first noticed more than a dozen men and women in Cornerian Army tactical gear, standing in straight lines on either side of him. They stood erect with weapons drawn at their hips. Their presence surprised Fox, though admittedly not by much.
"Captain on deck!" someone declared. "Atten-tion!" A dozen boots stamped the floor, and a dozen hands lifted to brows in salute. Many faces beamed brightly despite protocol. Who would blame them though?
Fox quickly looked down the aisle. There, beyond the soldiers, dearer faces waited for him. A short fennec vixen stepped forward. Fox nearly cracked upon meeting her tear-stricken face. She walked slowly. So did he. Then a little faster. Faster still. At the final leg, Vixy suddenly charged into Fox, binding her arms tightly around him. She cried. Fox cried just as hard. He didn't give a damn about who saw them.
"Welcome home," Vixy whispered, gently rocking Fox. She reached up and kissed his cheek several times. "Welcome home, my son."
Fox pulled her tighter into his chest. "I missed you, Mom," he sobbed.
Maybe it was selfish to want to stay like this a few minutes more. Alas, their reunion did not stay private for long. Fox dried his eyes just in time to watch Slippy grab hold of his left side. The little guy buried his face into Fox's flight suit, hugging him tightly. Lucy seized Fox's right and started crying too. Fox pulled them both in. His tears and smile grew.
More bodies joined the pile. Looking up again, Fox met Peppy smiling tearfully at him from Lucy's side. From the other direction, Katt reached over Slippy and wrapped her arms around Fox's shoulders. She gave Fox a friendly smirk, visibly trying not to break down as badly as everyone else. Fox returned the expression with one to match.
Behind the rest, Fox found Falco standing back. Their eyes met. Falco kept his thoughts quiet, but Fox could still see guilt and sorrow within the background. After a moment, Falco faltered, looking away. When he looked back, he found Fox still smiling to him. Shaking his head, Falco marched forward. He wrapped his arms around the group and leaned in close.
Fox closed his eyes. Fresh tears shed from them. Pressed in from all sides, he could feel their warmth. He could hear their voices. Smell their scents. Sense their strongest emotions. It became too much. He began to sob freely. Hard and ugly. The weight of the last 4-5 years apart from them crashed and fell from his shoulders. The pain. The loss. The loneliness. It bled from Fox until he cried out every last drop from his heart. Then at last, it ran empty. Fox then breathed in a deep, calming breath.
"Thanks for saving me, guys," he said. "You're the best."
"Don't you ever scare us like that again," Katt chuckled, ever trying to lighten the mood. Fox couldn't help laughing as well.
"I'll try not to."
No one really wanted to, but they broke away from Fox, leaving him with only Vixy remaining in his arms. When she finally pulled away, they both looked to Krystal, who had stood respectfully from afar. She smiled at them, and Fox beckoned her over. Taking her hand, Fox turned to his friends and smiled with joy.
"Guys, I'd like for you to finally meet my wife, Krystal, face-to-face."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Krystal greeted.
Vixy stepped forward and embraced Krystal. "Thank you for being there for Fox all these years, Krystal. It's meant so much to me."
Krystal returned the hug just as warmly. "There's no need to thank me. I know how precious Fox is to you. It makes me happy seeing you all together with him after so long." She tightened her hold. "And it makes me happy to finally meet my mate-mother."
Fox noticed the weird looks that the others gave Krystal. Slight hiccup in translation. "She means 'mother-in-law,'" he said quietly.
"Ah…" A few heads bobbed in realisation.
Their attention turned away from the vixens as soldiers began to move. Under barked orders, they surrounded the airlock and raised their guns. The airlock's doors slowly slid open. Andross stepped into the room, encased in a barrier that Thene projected. He swept a gaze across the deadly wall of weapons, sniffing derisively.
"So, this is how Corneria keeps their word," Andross grumbled. "As though I could have expected anything more."
"My apologies, Andross." Fox turned to the speaker just as General Pepper appeared amidst the crowd. "Information about you being alive on Cerinia somehow leaked to the public. The people expect us to bring you in for your crimes. I don't have any choice but to follow their wishes."
"General…" Fox gaped.
"Pepper," Andross sneered.
The old hound gave Fox a sad smile. "I'm sorry for interfering with your reunion, Fox. It's good to finally see you again."
"We had a deal, Cornelius," Andross growled.
Pepper's expression hardened. "I know. As I've said: I am sorry. I do mean that. The decision was taken out of my hands."
"Coward!" Andross accused. "It's the same as before. You betrayed me on orders then, and you're doing the same thing now."
"Please don't make this harder than it needs to be," Pepper sighed tiredly. "We're aware of the good that you've done on Cerinia over the years. Turn yourself over quietly, and we can work out a lighter sentence for you than exile."
"You've broken your word once already. Why should I believe you now?!" Furious, Andross reached into his suit pocket. Pepper whispered something into his high collar. His soldiers charged their weapons to shoot.
"Hands in the air!" one shouted. "Get on your knees."
Thene snarled and increased the barrier's size. "Make one more move, and I'll sear the flesh from your bones!" Her staff flared in her hands.
Fox swore. This was bad. Krystal was still exhausted from protecting the rocket earlier. Thene would most surely have even less strength left for a fight. Her barrier might only hold against one or two shots maximum. However, that could give Andross enough time to play whatever trump card he currently had in his hand. If things turned bloody now… Fox glanced with fear at his mother beside him. Krystal placed herself in front of Vixy and gripped her own staff tightly.
"Andross…" Fox started. "General, hold on!"
"Dad?!"
Startled, Andross turned his head. Beside another pair of soldiers, two monkeys appeared in the room. One, a woman in her late forties. The other, a much younger male. Both shocked at the scene before them. Fox recognised Dash Bowman from the team's photos. Which meant that the other one was probably…
"Ashley…" Andross gaped, truly rattled. "Is that… Is that really you?" Ashley Bowman clutched a fist over her heart.
Andross's face twisted into a snarl towards Pepper. "You son of a bitch…"
"Andross, please think about this carefully." Pepper never broke eye contact as he made several steps towards the Bowmans' direction. "Tell your assistant to stand down and turn yourself over to us. You'll receive a fair trial; no exile or death penalty; and full visiting rights for your daughter's family. It's not perfect, but you can at least start to rebuild what you lost with her."
"From prison, you mean," Andross glared. "I assume I'm facing a life sentence then?"
"That will be up to the courts to decide," Pepper said gently. Andross's hand did not move from his pocket. "Please, Simon. Don't choose rage this time. There's been too much death and violence already."
Tension ruled over the silence that followed. Andross's whole body shook. Flames of wrath blazed in his aura. His glare shifted intermittently from Pepper to the soldiers. When it flickered to Andross's daughter and grandson, then to Thene, Fox saw the fear rooted beneath all his hatred. The people who Andross loved – the last remaining family that he had in the universe – were being used as a deterrent for the Cornerian Army to trap him. Any skirmish here would put them all in harm's way. Of course, the man was livid! How could he stand there and not feel desperate?
Surprise filled Fox when Andross looked to him of all people. Were his eyes… pleading? It then astounded Fox as he realised that in trying to devise a way to diffuse this situation, he was seeing it more from Andross's perspective than Pepper's. He saw the tactics that Pepper employed for this snare for what they were. Underhanded. Conniving. Ignoble. He knew the truth about Andross's exile to Venom. He could perceive every emotion currently burning in the room. Suspicion versus terror. Fox looked inward. Not one thing about this mess sat right with him.
"What are you going to do?" Krystal asked him worriedly. An excellent question.
Fox turned to Pepper. "General. Don't you think this is going too far? I mean, what reason did you have for bringing Andross's family into this if you were just going to arrest him in front of them?! This is messed up! I thought you were better than this!"
Pepper gave him another saddened look. "I understand your point, Fox. I do. But whatever your feelings towards him are now, Andross is still guilty of countless atrocities and remains a danger to us. Rumours leaked about the deal we made, and we've barely been able to keep the public from rioting in the streets. If we don't bring Andross in immediately, there'll be chaos. Right now, I'm trying to do the best I can for all parties. That includes Andross."
Gritting his teeth, Fox turned to his friends. Falco and Peppy's faces were hard and sharp. They would not look Fox in the eye. The others watched on, uncertain and unwilling. Vixy's expression was too harsh for Fox to bother seeking her counsel. He then looked to the Bowmans. Dash watched the proceedings anxiously. His mother wore pure terror from head to toe. Fox knew he had to do something to resolve this calmly. But what more could he do?
Only one thought struck him. Fox couldn't tell if it originated from himself or Krystal. That didn't matter. It was better than nothing. Stepping forward, Fox looked straight at Andross and lifted his hands.
"Andross, whatever you had planned to get out of this, you need to back down." Fox spoke in Cerinian. People turned to him in clear confusion. They couldn't understand, but they did not need to. "I'm willing to bet you can escape whenever you want to. But not now. Not here." Fox directed his gaze to the Bowmans.
Andross looked at them again too. His deep, seething breaths slowly steadied. However, his glare did not relax. "You expect me to believe that bastard? After everything that he's done to me?!"
"Fox, what the hell are you doing?" Falco demanded. "What's he saying?"
"Let me handle this," Fox threw over his shoulder in Papetoonish. He offered no room for anyone to challenge him. "Look, Andross. I get that you don't trust Pepper. Hell, I'm not happy about him pulling this shit either. But he's at least offering you a chance to live. If you don't want to take it for yourself, then at least take it for the people who want you to survive. You can always figure something out later. But not if you die here fighting."
Andross's sneer deepened. "And you can guarantee that he doesn't have more plots and lies for me?"
Fox shook his head. "No. I can't. But you trust her, don't you?" He pointed towards Thene, drawing interest from her. "She can tell you more than I can."
For a moment, Andross became thoughtful. He turned to Thene. "Can you tell if Pepper plans to deceive us?"
She looked him square in the eye. "Easily."
Andross proceeded to weigh his options. Many seconds passed. "Very well. If Thene can be satisfied that there'll be no more treachery, I'll agree to their demands."
"Let me warn him first," Fox suggested. Barging into the general's mind without invitation was a sure way to ignite this tinderbox of a standoff. Fox turned to Pepper. "Andross will stand down if you let Thene read your mind first. They want to be sure you're being honest with them."
"Um… Fox? Are you sure that's a good idea?" Slippy interjected. "Doesn't Pepper know all kinds of state secrets? Like missile codes and stuff?" A murmur of protests then rose among the soldiers.
"That's a fair concern," Andross remarked. "But do you really think anything like that is useful to me right now?"
"Point taken."
Pepper hummed. Eyes fell upon him. Breaths held. "Very well, Andross. I'll allow your assistant to read my mind."
Slowly, Andross relaxed. He remained cautious though. "Thene," he prompted. She focused on Pepper. The slightest twitch from him told that he was experiencing his first telepathic link with someone. No one spoke. No one moved. Fox could taste everyone's suspense as Pepper abided Thene's deepening incursion into his memories. He doubted she was being gentle about it.
Minutes passed until Thene eased her stance and Pepper gasped softly in relief. "He's telling the truth," she declared. "He fully intends to persuade the court to spare your life."
"And does he suspect anyone with more authority will try to convince them otherwise?" Andross enquired.
"No one he doesn't believe he can deal with."
Andross nodded. A deep sigh escaped him. "Very well. Thene, lay down your spell and weapon." He finally removed his hand from his pocket. Empty, it opened wide as Andross raised his arms into the air. Thene continued to scowl, though she did at least drop her barrier.
The soldiers moved in immediately. They cuffed Andross's hands behind his back, and two men grabbed hold of him by the shoulders. Thene's arms were left unbound. However, one person attempted to confiscate her staff. She snarled and held firm. Two more soldiers pointed their guns back on her, but a quick word from Andross compelled her to let the staff go. Begrudgingly, she complied. Krystal felt for her as Thene kept her glare upon her staff sitting in someone else's grip.
The men ushered Andross across the room. He twisted his head towards his daughter as they passed. Though tears ran down Ashley's face, she felt more relief than anguish. Dash tracked his grandfather's pace with solemn wonder. Everyone was so focused on Andross and whatever secret abilities Thene might have up her sleeve, no one noticed who else walked behind Fox into their path. Not until Fox detected a sudden rise of black, broiling fury. His eyes widened.
"Mom! No!"
A brown fist flew. Andross's head snapped back. He collapsed into his escorts' swift arms. Thene screamed profanities as they returned Andross to his feet. The other soldiers shouted for order and placed themselves between the two sides. Andross moaned, shaking his head, and spat a thick glob of blood from his mouth. He then met the face of the short, seething vixen who'd struck him.
"Vixy. It is good to see you again."
"You deserve that and far worse for what you did to my James, you bastard!" Vixy snarled, her bloodied fist still raised in front of him. Fox quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and wrestled her away.
"Take him to the holding cell and tend to his wound there," Pepper ordered. The soldiers wasted no further time leading Andross and Thene out. Pepper turned his attention to the Bowmans. "I'm deeply sorry that you had to witness all that. You may go with them if you wish."
Ashley's head barely nodded. "Thank you, General."
Her son, however, stared off towards his teammates. He seemed awkward and nervous as he approached Fox. "Um… Mister McCloud… I mean, Captain… Um… Hi…"
Fox held out his hand. "Dash Bowman, I presume?" He smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hear that I owe you a lot of thanks for making my rescue possible."
Growing a small smile of his own, Dash accepted the handshake. "It was the least I could do." His anxious expression returned. "Um… So, about my grandfather… and why your mom punched him just now… I just wanted to say sorry about all that. I know it doesn't make up for what Grandfather did to your family, but…"
Dash trailed off. Fox nodded though. He understood how hard carrying the weight of his forebearers' deeds was, and how difficult discussing them could be. "You've got nothing to apologise for. I'm grateful for what you've done for us all on your own."
Dash glanced at his mother, whose eyes continued to dart to where the soldiers left a moment earlier. "Um… I think we'll just… leave you to it. Okay? Mom and I are just going to… You know."
"It's alright, Dash. Take all the time you need," Peppy nodded. "Call if there's any trouble." With a weak but genuine smile, Dash took his mother's hand and walked away. Pepper excused himself as well, promising to stop by for the party once he'd finished with all his official concerns.
When they were out of earshot, Fox vented a terrible sigh. "I really wish you hadn't done that, Mom. Things were already tense enough without you slugging Andross."
"I know," Vixy said simply, nursing her knuckles. Krystal inspected them. The blood in her fur wasn't hers. "It's just… When he came near us… all I wanted to do in that moment was…"
"That was the greatest thing I've ever seen though!" Falco cackled. "Fox, your mom is awesome!"
"Thank you, Falco," Vixy grumbled. She then seized Fox's waist and dragged him into her embrace again. She buried her face into his chest. "I'm so glad to finally have you back, Fox."
"Me too." Fox held her close. He kissed Vixy's brow. "I promise I'll never make you worry about me again."
They held each other for a long time. It prompted another round of hugs with everyone individually. Fox put his heart into every embrace, filling them with gratitude, love, and joy. In the end, Vixy took his hand and smiled sweetly to Fox.
"Come. Everyone else is waiting for you in the breakroom."
Fox blinked in surprise. "This wasn't everyone? Who else is here?"
"You'll find out in a moment," Katt teased.
It became like walking through a dream as Fox followed his friends' lead through the ship's hall. Every panel and bolt in the Great Fox felt like it was greeting him home; all of it exactly how Fox left it. His nostalgia mixed bizarrely with Krystal's unfamiliar wonder as she took in the steel walls and bright lights with fresh eyes. It became like Fox was seeing the Great Fox for the first time again, reminding him of those days long ago when he brought the old girl out of retirement.
A grin cracked across Fox's face when they rode the elevator up. Krystal gasped audibly as the floor shifted under their feet. She gripped Fox's shoulder to keep from falling over. Vixy, Peppy, and Falco, all riding with them, giggled and snickered watching, causing Krystal to frown and huff after she let Fox go. He nuzzled her to lift her mood back up.
The elevator stopped. Its doors opened. Beyond them, a golden figure stood to greet them with a blinking, red visor. "Welcome home, Fox," they greeted simply.
"ROB!" Fox exclaimed. He laughed and hugged the old robot. ROB's arms enveloped Fox in a passing facsimile of the gesture. "How are you, buddy?"
"Current battery level is 73 percent, with an estimate of 5 hours and 30 minutes until charging is required. Current CPU usage averages at 83.2 percent."
Fox let him go and shook his head with a grin. "You haven't changed a bit. Krystal, this is ROB, the ship's automated navigator. ROB, this is my wife, Krystal."
ROB bent at the waist in an apparent bow. "Hello, Krystal. Welcome aboard the Great Fox."
Krystal stared at him without a word. She scanned for ROB's mind and felt nothing, as though he weren't even there. It shocked and unnerved her, causing Krystal to seize Fox's hand. Fox supressed a sudden desire to laugh.
"It's okay. He won't hurt you." Krystal slowly relaxed. "ROB, I want Krystal to have the same access to the ship as I do. Make sure you help her with anything she needs."
"Acknowledged," ROB replied. His visor flashed. "Updating crew registry. ID code: SF011. Name: Krystal McCloud. Access: Level 1. Please confirm information."
"Confirmed."
"Full access to the ship? Are you sure that's a good idea, Fox?" Falco frowned in concern. The lift doors opened behind him to allow the rest of the team onto the floor.
"It'll be fine," Fox shrugged. "Krystal's not going to get into any trouble without me knowing, so there's nothing to worry about."
The weight of the trust he held in her moved Krystal's heart. "Thank you, Fox."
"Come on, you lot. Everyone else is waiting," Vixy interjected. She took Fox's spare hand, leading him through the next hall. Fox's stomach twisted. His tail curled. He bit his lip in nervous anticipation until Krystal squeezed his hand reassuringly. Thanks to her, Fox made it to the door to the breakroom without grinding to a premature halt. Vixy turned to face him. She smiled.
"Ready?"
Fox smiled. "Ready." Vixy allowed him to step through first.
The room inside was decorated with streamers and flags. A large banner with the message 'Welcome home, Fox' in bold, red characters hung across the ceiling. Loud pops startled both Fox and Krystal, drawing their eyes to where confetti pattered over the floor. A crowd of dear friends gathered and cheered together, all beaming with excitement.
"Fox!" Fay cried first, throwing her party popper aside and trapping Fox in a crushing and fluffy hug. "We're so glad you're okay!"
Fox pattered her back, smiling while she coated his shoulder with tears. "I'd say you must've missed me the most, Fay," he joked. "I'm glad to see you too."
Two more sets of arms enveloped them. "Welcome back, man," Bill grinned at Fox's left. Miyu clung to his right side.
"And in one piece," she agreed.
Fox squeezed all three of them at once. "It's great to be back."
Bill and the girls then stepped away. A stunning fennec woman in a simple, magenta dress filled their place, causing Fox's jaw to drop a little. "Fara…"
Fara smirked. "Hey, Foxy. Long time, no see."
She hugged him as dearly as the others. Fox, though still surprised, laid his arms around her waist. "Yeah… Right back at ya…" Gradually, his embrace tightened. "I've heard how you supported the team while I was gone. Thanks for that."
"It was my pleasure. What are friends for, right?" Fara then released Fox and turned to her left. "And you must be Krystal. It's wonderful to meet you."
Krystal accepted her hand and shook it with a gentle smile. "It's wonderful to meet you too, Fara. Fox has told me a lot about you."
Fara's brow raised. "Really?"
Fox gave an awkward shrug. "Not that much, honestly. I shared most of it with Krystal when we joined our minds."
After a few seconds, Fara popped her eyes back into her head. "Well… I suppose I should be flattered. In any case, thank you so much for keeping Fox out of trouble, Krystal."
"He didn't make it easy," Krystal smirked.
"Hey!"
"I'm only teasing, Foxy."
Fox's ears burned red. "Please don't use that nickname in front of everyone." Alas, Krystal's devilish mirth and smile only grew.
"Oh, no. I'm definitely using it." Fox groaned in embarrassment. "It sounds adorable." Noooooo…
A pair of hands suddenly seized Fox's and shook it. "Oh, good graces, Fox." Fox tore his focus away from Krystal and Fara, who began to chat and conspire together. Beltino Toad beamed brightly from ear to ear. "It's so good to have you back among us, dear boy."
Fox gave a genuine smile. "Thanks, Beltino. I appreciate your help with making the rocket parts on your end."
"Oh, think nothing of it. What kind of man would I be if I didn't help one of Slippy's dearest friends in their time of need?" Beltino's head soon turned to a younger frog, standing nearby in a yellow dress as bright as her pink complexion. "Fox, this is Amanda, Slippy's partner. I'm not sure if you've been acquainted yet."
"We haven't." Fox offered his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Amanda. Slippy's always talking about you."
Amanda's touch felt cool but smoother than silk. "It's lovely to meet you too, Fox. Slippy has told me so many wonderful things about your adventures together."
"I hope he hasn't been exaggerating too much," Fox laughed.
"Hey! Come on, Fox. I'm not like Falco," Slippy protested as he approached, carrying two plates from the nearby banquet. They held a variety of sweets, crackers, cheese, and roasted roaches. All tantalising to Fox's stomach. Slippy passed one of the plates to Amanda. She accepted it gratefully.
"Hey, Fox! You got a minute?" Falco interrupted. He stopped in front of Fox and gestured to a penguin standing rigid at his side. "This is Isaac, an old buddy of mine. Thought I'd introduce you guys."
Isaac swallowed hard before extending a taut flipper to Fox. "Big fan. Hi. I'm Isaac. You're Fox. So cool. Meeting you. I mean…!" His feathers ruffled as his stammering worsened.
Falco cackled. "Real smooth, man." He elbowed the poor guy in good nature. "I owed Isaac a favour for this thing he helped me out with a while back. Figured I'd let him tag along if you didn't mind, Fox."
Fox smiled. "Not at all. It's nice to meet you, Isaac. Any friend of Falco's is a friend of mine." He glanced at Falco and decided to add a caveat. "Within reason though."
"The hell is that supposed to mean?!"
Another loud pop cut through all conversations as Peppy uncorked a bottle of champaign. White foam erupted from its neck. He proceeded to fill thin glasses for Lucy to hand out. Krystal sniffed her drink curiously. It smelled nothing like the sweet, fizzy soda that Fox once let her sample when the first care package dropped.
"If I may have everyone's attention," Peppy called. He raised a glass of his own.
"Five long years ago, in this very sector, we were tragically separated from Fox whilst fighting the Androssian Empire," he began sombrely. "At first, we couldn't be certain that Fox survived his descent. Nor could we fly to Cerinia's surface to rescue him straight away. I don't feel that I need to go in depth about how those early times affected us all." Many sullen expressions bobbed. Fox felt the anguish stir from the scarred recesses in his heart.
"But!" Peppy said firmly. "We all persevered. We searched for ways to bring Fox home. And we finally succeeded!" He held his arm out to Fox. "By working together, we defied the odds, and Fox is back with us, where he belongs. I can't think of any better reason to celebrate than this." Fox smiled as people around him cheered.
Falco patted him from behind. "Got anything you want to say, Fox?"
Shyness deterred Fox at first. However, gentle urging from other friends compelled Fox to take Peppy's place on the floor. He cleared his throat, feeling it tighten. He scanned across the screen of grinning faces waiting for him to speak. He came to rest his attention upon Krystal's tender gaze. She smiled and sent him waves of encouragement. Fox swallowed his nerves and took a deep breath.
"Um… Hey, everyone." His throat caught. Fox coughed for a moment. "Oh, wow…" Another breath. "It's just… I can't believe this is all happening. There… was a long time when I didn't think I'd ever get to stand here like this."
Fox couldn't bring himself to look anyone in the eye. However, Krystal felt their sympathy and made sure Fox did too. It helped him keep going. "I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me get back to you all. I'm grateful that you guys kept believing enough to find me and worked so hard to rescue me. I'll… I'll never forget this."
Tears burned in Fox's eyes. He wiped them quickly. His then gaze returned to Krystal. "But there's someone who I want to thank more than anyone. Someone who I'd like you all to meet properly."
Without him asking, Krystal moved to his side and met Fox's hand with hers. "From day one, since I landed on Cerinia, Krystal has always been there for me. She saved my life more than once, and her emotional support has gotten me through some of the darkest times in my life. Because of Krystal, my time on Cerinia felt less like a prison sentence and more like an adventure; and I'm not sure whether I'd have made it out of orbit without her help either."
Fox turned to her. "What I'm trying to say is: Krystal, I'm grateful for every single day you've given me. I'm beyond grateful for your love and support these past few years, and I'm overjoyed to call you my wife and ehn mate. I want to spend every remaining day of my life repaying your love with mine. So, thank you for helping me find my way home."
Krystal dried the tears from her eyes. "Fox, your path will always be mine. That is the promise we made to each other through our ehn; our eternal bond. I'm thankful to every man, woman, and god who helped us through our journey together. And it makes me happy to see you reunited with the people you love. I'm looking forward to what the future holds for us, because I want to experience every single moment with you at my side."
Fox pulled her into his arms. Krystal held him tightly. Many of the women gushed over the display, as did a couple of the men. When they parted, Peppy raised his glass.
"To Fox and Krystal!"
"To Fox and Krystal!" Everyone else chorused.
After drinking from their toast, Fox looked around the room and felt his heart swell. Being around his friends and family after so long… He struggled to contain his feelings. Krystal understood better than anyone else and hugged him once again. Fox buried his face into her soft fur, basking in her happiness for him. This was everything he ever wanted. And now, he only had a bright future ahead of them.
"So, it's agreed. Our new Master Scientist will fill our current vacancy on the council."
"Here," several voices rose. None opposed.
"Very well," Chief Gylis nodded. "Next item on our agenda is…"
Forn grumbled softly to himself, only half-listening to the discussion. He had his doubts about the most recent decision but chose not to speak of them. This Master Scientist bore their title with next to no true merit, and their appointment to the council might not offer much in value. Some had suggested that Andross take the position at least a year before his departure. Alas, that idea hadn't aligned with the man's plans and priorities.
After the nuhmryg epidemic and Aparoid invasion, many Cerinians discovered an interest in studying science. Despite this, Andross had declined to take any more students beyond Thene Avrenim. Those he turned away ended up forming their own guild of sorts to harness their newfound curiosity without him. Whether or not their 'research' into the world's hidden workings would result in anything close to Andross's accomplishments, it was still too early to ascertain. Still, the council had voted in favour of the guild's master to join their membership. Forn would decide whether his reservations were deserved based on their contributions to come.
He cast his gaze to the empty seats across the room. Lady McCloud's absence was already felt keenly. She had brought much-needed youthful enthusiasm to the council's discussions, as well as a bright mind open to ideas that broke away from traditional thinking. Now, the chamber felt colder without her.
Also missing were Lady McCloud's kin, Nomar and Randorn. Both were excused to mourn her departure with the rest of their family. Forn, himself, had dismissed Thalse for the day for the same reason. He'd never made time to raise a family of his own, though Forn would still not wish for any parent to say their final farewells to their child. He silently prayed that time would heal their hearts sooner rather than later.
Perhaps more personally, Forn mourned the loss of Fox McCloud already. He had been a fine soldier. His foreign past delivered a treasure trove of fresh ideas for the city guard, including new tactics and ways to organise their activities. Forn had once hoped that Fox might one day replace him as captain. Sadly, it was never to be. He could only wish the best for the young tod now.
The council opened for another vote. Forn scrambled to scrape hints of what the conversation had been before anyone called for his opinion. The merchant guild's master was dissatisfied about… something. Forn grumbled softly. That could be about any number of issues.
Suddenly, the chamber doors flew open. "Chief Gylis!" A palace guard rushed in.
"What is the meaning of this?" Gylis looked up with a frown.
"Apologies!" the guard bowed. "Sir, Aparoids are approaching the city!"
The council buzzed and fretted. Horror filled Forn. He shot to his feet the same time as Gylis. "Has the city guard mobilised to intercept?" Gylis asked.
"I'm unaware, sir. But a swarm of Aparoids were seen flying in from the east. If we could see them, surely the garrison has too."
Gyiis turned his hardened gaze to Forn. "Captain?"
Closing his eyes, Forn directed his telepathy towards the barracks. A lieutenant stood on duty, ready to receive Forn's orders. "It's done."
Forn questioned whether to contact Thalse as well. No, he decided. The man just lost his daughter. He did not need to lead any charges into battle. Kezamat was better prepared this time than when the Aparoids first attacked.
More guards arrived to escort the chief and councillors to safety. Forn, however, hurried for the nearest balcony. Spellcasters stood armed with arethanite staffs. They pointed their weapons towards the screen of dark shapes approaching along the skyline.
Forn's heart hardened inside his throat as he counted roughly 500 Aparoids this time. And there could very well be more. He sent out orders after orders to his subordinates to amass their forces in time. Horns blew across the city, warning civilians to evacuate quickly. All the while, the Aparoids flew closer. It became possible to make out their luminous markings.
"Captain Forn," the palace guards' commander called. "One of the Aparoids is heading straight to us."
"Hold steady!" Forn bellowed. "Ready spells and cast on will once the enemy is within range. Don't let a single one of those devils get close to this place."
The guards roared bravely, coaxing a smile onto Forn's face. Lacking any aptitude for magic himself, he stood back to let the men and women fight unobstructed. They stood tall, strong. Despite having every reason to buckle in fear, not one person budged from their post. They were all fine soldiers.
Forn kept his eye on the approaching Aparoid. It grew larger over the span of a minute. Then it stopped its advance. Forn frowned. The rest of the swarm continued to move in, so what was different with that one?
A glint of red flashed from the Aparoid's abdomen. An ominous chill surged through Forn's blood. "Take cover!" he cried. But as spellcasters ducked their heads and conjured barriers, a cruel, red light washed over the balcony.
Then Raedet Forn felt nothing more.