Saturday came quickly. Fox and Krystal had returned from Fichina the day before just in time for Krystal to find her packages waiting for her. Judging from Krystal's reaction, Fox had little desire to find out what was in the boxes.
The pair sat and waited in the recreation room. Fox was drawing plans for possible improvements to the Arwing, hoping to possibly send them to Slippy later for possible development. Krystal was reading one of her new books, dressed in her loin cloth and black boots. Fara was reading a book on Arwing combat cowritten by James and Peppy.
"Are you sure you don't want to check out my new books?" Krystal asked.
"I'm sure." Fox assured her, having sensed her reaction to the book for the past few hours, "I'm definitely sure."
Moments later, Fox got an automated message on her communicator.
"Looks like Lucy's here." she announced as the trio headed for the docking bay to greet the new arrival.
"Hi guys." the bunny greeted with a smile.
"Glad you could make it." Krystal responded.
"Lucy, this is Fara Phoenix." Fox said, introducing the fennec and bunny to each other, "Fara, this is Lucy Hare."
"You're Fara Phoenix?" Lucy said in shock, "The famed 'Desert Vixen'?"
"Please don't call me that." Fara pleaded.
"How many celebrities do you have on this ship?" Lucy asked Fox as the four of them headed for the recreation room.
"Can I get you anything?" Fox offered Lucy, "A drink? Snack?"
"I'm fine." Lucy insisted, "I'm just surprised how much more spacious this ship is compared to a standard Cornerian ship."
"My dad had it custom built." Fox explained, "The whole ship was built to maximize crew readiness, combat effectiveness, and crew comfort. It cost quite a few credits, but the loan was paid off after a few big missions."
"Yeah, the military isn't big on comfort." Lucy told Fox, "Our mattresses were just cheap filler encased in a cheap fabric and were taken away from us after budget cuts to be used elsewhere."
"That's one of the reasons Falco and I left the military." Fox told her, "The seats on the military vehicles were planks of wood recycled from a demolished building and the vehicles had to be pushed to start. When we were offered positions on my dad's team, we took them."
"That's why half the military wants to quit as soon as they can. The other half either have connections, could find something to act as a decent mattress, or just don't care."
The four all sat down in the recreation room. Krystal sat down next to Fox and cuddled as she continued to read her book. Fox did her best to ignore Krystal's mental imagery.
"So, other than your mattress problem, how are things in the military?" Fox asked Lucy.
"Basic training is almost complete." Lucy explained, "Proposed budget cuts mean possible cuts to personnel."
"We could use another pilot." Fox offered, "Especially when we have a small team on a ground mission."
"I'll keep that in mind." Lucy assured Fox, "So, how are things on the Great Fox?"
"We're getting small missions here and there." Fox answered, "They're nothing major, but their good to keep us from getting rusty."
"What about you, Krystal?" Lucy asked, "Anything interesting happen? Any plans?"
"Fox says I'm learning fast with my training." Krystal answered, "She says my training might be complete faster than expected. I plan on learning more about Lylatian culture before we return to my people."
"We?" Fara asked, perplexed.
"Fox and I." Krystal explained, "At least for a short period before we decide on more concrete future plans."
"What about you, Fara?" Lucy asked.
"I'm getting trained by Falco." the fennec explained, "At least when he doesn't have to deal with that Katt Monroe woman and her merry band of psycopaths."
"So, how long have you guys known each other?"
"I met them a few weeks ago." Fara explained.
"Fox and I met each other about a month or two before we left Cerinia." Krystal answered, "It's hard to determine given the differences between the standard day here and a complete day-night cycle on Cerinia."
"I don't think they've managed to spend a day apart." Fara added, "The longest I've seen them apart was when we went shopping and bought Krystal some clothes."
"Fox liked me in heels." Krystal told Lucy, "And I learned I liked her in heels."
"So, are you two really as close as Falco implied?" Lucy asked.
"We are." Krystal answered, sensing what Lucy meant.
"You seeing someone?" Lucy asked Fara.
"No." Fara answered, "Why? You interested? I'm not saying 'never', but I'm more into guys. Not that we couldn't make it work."
"I'm just trying to get to know you guys better." Lucy explained, "Not that I wouldn't be flattered if you expressed interest. I'm just not good at making friends or conversations or... you get the idea."
"I hope you find someone." Krystal told Fara.
"Thanks?" Fara responded, unsure of how she should have responded.
"Watch any good movies lately?" Lucy asked the group.
"Fox and I watched a great movie." Krystal told her, "It was about these two warrior women who formed a friendship in battle. As they fought in battle after battle, their friendship grew until they were every close."
"That's one way to put it." Fox commented, "I wished you didn't insist on watching the far less subtle 'reenvisioning'."
"But we shared so much in common with those characters." Krystal responded, "Especially when the eagle and the fox, armed only with branches they found and sharpened with rocks, had to fight off that group of warriors led by that warlord."
"I know that movie." Lucy admitted, "I really, really wish I didn't. I wish I could erase that 'reenvisioning' from my mind too, but I, unfortunately, know that movie. I wish I had the will power to look away. It was like a well-written, well-acted train wreck."
"Let's change the subject." Fox pleaded, "I'm getting flashbacks."
"Read any good books?" Lucy asked.
"I read a great book." Krystal told her, "It's like the movie, except the friends are guys and they are even closer."
"They aren't 'close friends'." Fox warned Lucy.
"The book goes even deeper into their friendship." Krystal continued.
"Do not read that book." Fox warned again, "It's even less safe for work than the 'reenvisioning'.
"Guys, you say?" Lucy asked Krystal, "And how much 'deeper' does it go?"
"Let's just say 'deeper' accidentally doubled as a pun." Krystal replied with a wink.
"What's the title?" Fara asked eagerly.
"The Island Villages' Tales." Krystal answered enthusiastically.
"Let's start a book club." Lucy suggested.
"We can all meet once a week to discuss the latest book we've read." Fara told her.
"Leave me out of it." Fox told them.
"So, we agree to start a book club." Lucy told the group, "The first book we read is The Island Villages' Tales. How does every Saturday sound?"
"Sounds great." Krystal told her, "You bring your copies and we'll discuss it. And Fox is going to be there because she needs a bigger group of friends."
"Please don't drag me into this." Fox pleaded.
"So, next meeting next Saturday?" Lucy asked.
"Yes." Krystal answered, "Call ahead so we know what time to expect you."
The four sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes.
"That's a nice shirt you have on, Lucy." Krystal observed, "It has a guy with an oversized battle ax."
"It's just something I had in my closet." Lucy told her, "I got it at a concert a few years ago. That's an interesting outfit you're wearing yourself."
"It's a traditional loincloth." Krystal explained, "Everyone wears a loincloth in my village on Cerinia. I just need a pair of boots that match. Something that will really drive Fox wild."
"You drive me wild enough." Fox assured her.
"Not wild enough." Krystal countered, "I want each moment to be a moment you'll never forget."
"How sweet." Lucy said.
"Almost sickeningly sweet." Fara added, "But in a good way."
"That could be us." Lucy suggested jokingly.
"I'm glad it's not." Fara told her
"I should probably get going." Lucy told the group, "I'll see you next Saturday."
"See you then." Krystal replied, "Be sure to read the book."
"I will." Lucy said as she left.
"She was nice." Fara told Fox and Krystal.
"Next time, I pick the book." Fox told the others, causing them to laugh.