"Well?" Fara asked as she showed off her outfit to the others in the recreation room, "What do you think?"
"You look great." Krystal told her. Fara was wearing a long pink dress with matching gloves and heels.
"Thanks."
"I think my mom has a dress like that." Fox told Fara.
"It was fairly popular." Fara explained, "Especially among fennecs."
"I can see why." Krystal told Fara.
"What does everyone want for dinner?" Fox asked the group, "I can have a fully cooked dinner delivered here tonight."
"I'm not familiar with what your people would eat at a fancy dinner." Krystal told her.
"You know I'll eat anything." Falco said.
"Why don't we go out to eat?" Fara asked, "I can order a dinner reservation for tonight."
"Absolutely not." Falco protested, "I don't have anything formal to wear."
"You're already wearing formal." Fara pointed out, "And it would further Krystal's education."
"I'm not going out in public in a dress." Falco told her.
"I would like to experience this part of Lylatian culture." Krystal told the group.
"You guys can go without me." Falco told Fara.
"He did disobey orders with that camera." Fara told Fox.
"Fox, you know this is too far." Falco told Fox.
"Slap on a wig and nobody will recognize you." Fara told Falco, "Think of it as espionage training. Besides, I already made reservations and I'm not letting a four-person reservation go to waste."
"You didn't." Falco told her.
"I did." Fara told Falco, "I'll let you borrow a wig. Nobody knows Krystal and I are team members, so you'll have plausible deniability if anyone thinks you're actually you."
"I'm still upset about the pictures." Fox told the group, "Fara, would you mind 'training' Falco so that he doesn't blow his 'cover'?"
"Can do."
"Don't screw this up." Fox warned Falco, "Not for our sake, but for yours. I don't want anyone outside of us four even suspecting you're Falco."
Sensing defeat, Falco struggled to walk in his heels as he followed Fara to her room. He had hours to learn how to be a convincing lady.
Fox sat down on the couch and thought for a moment. Star Fox has traditionally stuck with a more direct approach to fighting the enemy. Could they engage in espionage? Could they infiltrate the enemy, gather intelligence, and sabotage them from the inside? Probably, but it would be risky. It would be better to leave espionage to the professionals.
Fox then thought about Krystal's tour of the system. So far, she got to go shopping, visit two worlds, dress in Cornerian clothing, and is going to experience fine dining. Perhaps a trip to Fichina? Had Krystal ever seen snow before? Fox had no idea if her village on Cerinia was permanently warm and tropical or if it had the four seasons Fox was used to. There was also her training. She needed her to complete her Arwing training, or at least enough of it to properly fly under realistic conditions.
Lost in thought, Fox almost didn't notice Krystal sit down next to her. She felt Krystal's arms wrap around her.
"I was just thinking about your tour of the Lylat System." Fox told Krystal, "There's still so much you've yet to see."
"Right now, all I want to see is my favorite vixen."
Fox smiled at the comment, her thoughts immediately turning to the future after Krystal's tour and training are finished. Would their relationship continue or would they have to go their separate ways? Would Krystal return to Cerinia while Fox continued defending the Lylat System? Or would they continue to stay together? Did she want to learn about Lylatian courtship because it was an aspect of the people she wanted to learn about or was it because she wanted to show how serious she was about their relationship?
If they married, how would they do it? Fox wasn't opposed to simply going to a courthouse, but would Krystal want a more traditional ceremony? Would it be according to Cerinian or Cornerian tradition? Perhaps a hybrid?
"Thinking about us?" Krystal asked. While she could sense the general idea of Fox's thoughts, she didn't sense the specifics.
"Just thinking about what happens after you complete your tour and training." Fox explained, "There are so many things to take into account."
"Whatever happens, we'll make it work." Krystal told her, "I know we love each other enough to work something out."
"Do you think Falco could lead a team?" Fox asked, "I mean, he's one of the best pilots in the entire system, but does he have what it takes to lead?"
"Thinking of leaving the team in the hands of Falco?" Krystal asked Fox.
"It is a possibility. I could retire, die, or get too sick or injured to lead the team. It's always important to have a back-up plan for when the unforeseen happens."
"He can learn." Krystal assured Fox, "If he doesn't have good leadership skills now, he'll develop them eventually."
"I hope you're right."
A few hours later, the team boarded a vehical Fara had rented and flew to the restaurant Fara had booked. After a few moments, they were seated at their table.
"I'm a little nervous." Krystal told the group, "I hope I don't embarrass you. I'm still a little unfamiliar with Lylatian eating customs."
"You're nervous?" Falco asked in disbelief, "You don't have to worry about somebody recognizing you."
"And nobody will recognize you if you remember your training." Fara told Falco, "Tonight, you are a lady. Turn back into your normal loudmouth self and the entire system will immediately recognize you."
"You better be right." Falco warned Fara, "If you're wrong, let's just say I won't be the only one hunted down by certain associates of Katt."
A few minutes later, the waiter comes and they all order their drinks.
"So, how do you think your mom's going to take the news?" Falco asked Fox.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Fox answered, "It's not like I don't already have enough on my plate at the moment."
Falco nodded.
"How do you think Katt would react to your new outfit?" Fox asked Falco.
"Who knows?" Falco replied, "She can be hard to predict. She may love it or she may try to claw my face off. Maybe both."
"It would be best to not find out." Fara added.
"Katt's the last person we need." Fox said.
"We need to do this more often." Fara told everyone, "Just four gals hanging out. Falcy needs a better fitting outfit, though."
"Falcy?" Falco asked, "Are we doing nicknames now or are you trying to give me an alias that all but reveals who I really am?"
"Nickname." Fara answered, "What alias would you give yourself, though?"
"This is stupid." Falco complained.
"You never know when you'd need an alias." Fox pointed out, "Especially in the event you need to return to Corneria and might risk running into Katt's friends."
"Fine." Falco told her, "Veronica is the first name that comes to mind."
A few moments later, the waiter returned with their drinks. They quickly ordered and then returned to their conversation.
"There's a second scenario of when you might need an alias." Fox explained to Falco, "You want to gather some intelligence, but you have to get close. Falco wouldn't be allowed to get close, but Veronica might. You sneak in, acting like you actually belong there to avoid suspicion, and plant a recording device or two when they aren't looking. You eventually leave, but not too soon lest they become suspicious of you."
"You've really thought that one out." Fara told Fox.
"It's been on my mind for awhile." Fox admitted, "Ever since Fara brought up espionage. Falco could pass himself off as Veronica."
"He does look good in a dress." Fara added.
"We all do." Fox pointed out.
"Can we please change the subject?" Falco asked.
"I think we are upsetting Veronica." Fara told Fox, "Let's change the subject."
"Fine." Fox said, "Anyone else have a topic to discuss?"
"I'd like to talk about the Krazoa." Krystal suggested, "I always knew they had power, but enough to justify spending manpower and resources on the invasion of planets?"
"What are Krazoa?" Falco asked, "Not everyone here is familiar with Cerinian stuff."
"They are blue glowy beings of energy." Krystal explained, "They've been confirmed to have a significant presense on two planets in two different systems. They could have been why Andross colonized Cerinia. Originally, we thought they were trying to gain resources and slave labor far from their main foes."
"So, you now believe the Andronians invaded your planet for these glowy things?" Falco asked.
"I wouldn't have suspected you'd be interested in the Krazoa." Fox told Falco, "I would have thought you'd say they were stupid and call it a day."
"It beats talking about 'Veronica'." Falco pointed out.
The waiter soon came back with their food.
"How am I doing?" Krystal asked as she awkwardly cut her steak with her knife and fork.
"You're doing alright." Fara told her, "How do your people eat their food?"
"We eat with our hands." Krystal answered honestly, "We never really saw a need to develop eating utensils. We also didn't see a need for 'formal' attire outside of very specific ceremonies."
Fara nodded.
"Not that I mind your concept of 'formal' eating." Krystal continued, "It's just a little out of my comfort zone."
"Is this something you'd want to do again?" Fara asked.
"Maybe. It would help me learn your customs better."
Falco looked out the window and almost panicked.
"What is it?" Fox asked.
"Katt." Falco answered, "What is she doing here?"
"Who knows." Fox replied, "Let's just finish our meals and not draw any attention to ourselves."
The four finished their meals in silence. Fara then paid for the meal and Fox paid the tip. They had just barely made it out of the restaurant when Katt approached the four.
"Falco?" she asked, "Is that really you... in that?"
Falco held back a curse and tried his best to pretend he didn't know her.
"And with Fara?" Katt added, "And two other vixens?"
Falco resisted the urge to flee, knowing his heels would only slow him down significantly.
"If this is what you're into, I could have gotten you heels that fit." Katt continued.
"This doesn't leave this group." Falco told the feline.
"Obviously." Katt told him, "Why don't you pay me a visit sometime. We can work on your wardrobe and maybe get some fun time afterward. Anyway, have fun with your vixens."
"See ya." Falco told Katt.
"Bye." the others told her.
The four boarded their rental vehicle and returned to the Great Fox. Falco just hoped Katt would stay quiet about that night.