Act 1

Chapter 10

"Trouble On The Homefront"

~::::~

Fox awoke to a robotic beep, irritating his tired mind as he reached over to the side of his bed and began slapping his paw on anything that was a solid surface. The beeping continued, only increasing the rage of the sleepy vulpine as he growled before slamming his paw down on the nightstand and releasing a satisfied sigh once of infernal beeping ceased. Looking over to the right side of the bed, it was empty but made, proving that Krystal was up and getting ready. A shame. He always admired her morning stretches. After a few minutes of laying in bed to gather his thoughts, he was suddenly jolted awake by the hell-spawn alarm clock beeping once more. His now awake mind allowed him to shut off the alarm in a quick manner before the third volley of beeps could go off. He was able to tell that it was seven in the morning, and he needed to get ready for the ceremony. How Peppy was already at the Congressional Hall this early in the morning was nothing short of a miracle.

Deciding that now would be the best time to get up, he threw the sheets off his body and looked down at his white t-shirt and black sweatpants. Part of him wanted to attend the ceremony in just this, but then he remembered that the media would be there, and the last thing he needed in the papers was himself looking beyond tired wearing his bed attire with the headline 'Fox McCloud Slums It At Speech'. He quickly sat up and tossed his legs over the side of the bed, before stretching his arms to as wide as they could go and opening his maw for a jaw-shattering yawn. Once his mouth was closed again, he stepped off his bed, letting his thick, fuzzy carpet squeeze through his toes as he began to adjust to being awake.

The door to his bathroom suddenly slid open to reveal Krystal with a white towel wrapped around her torso, and damp hair drooping over her eyes. "So, how many times did you hit the snooze button before you finally woke up?" She asked with a subtle grin.

Fox chuckled as he looked back at the damned clock, an item he would forever curse for ruining his dreams. "Only twice, Krys. I've gotten good at shutting the thing up," the tan vulpine bragged, eliciting a small chuckle from his blue counterpart. Without saying another word, Krystal dropped her towel, exposing her bare body to her husband as she rummaged through her drawer for some underwear. She was not trying to be flirty, especially not this early in the morning, but she felt his mind begin to race and saw his fur turn a slight shade of rose.

She let out another chuckle as she turned to her blushing husband, who looked like a little pup that just saw his first adult magazine. "Fox, we are married. It is not taboo to see me like this," she reassured as she bent over to pick up the towel and hang it over a chair by the desk in the corner of the room.

"I-I know, it's just that you're...well...I'm just lucky that I met you," He admitted with a loving smile.

Krystal scoffed as she began looking through her closet to find a flight suit and jacket that would go with her eyes for the day. "And I am lucky that I met you. Because if I did not, my life force would have been drained and my body would have been dumped down that shaft as a lifeless husk."

To others, that would have seemed cruel to say or even inappropriate, but Fox knew that she was just having a little bit of fun. "You're lucky I needed the money that day, or else I wouldn't have gone down there at all," he jabbed back with a smirk. Krystal stopped searching for her outfit and looked back at the vulpine, who had closed his eyes, got up on his tip-toes, clasped his paws behind his back, and had a wide smile going across his muzzle. Krystal rolled her eyes and walked up to the smirking Fox, who looked like he couldn't be prouder of himself. She always loved that cute smirk he had. No matter how cocky he got, once his lips went into that shape, it made him look like such a dork.

"So I was just a paycheck?" She asked with a quirked brow. Fox dropped his smirk and wore a face of quizzical thought, before nodding his head.

"I am a mercenary after all," he responded.

"My mercenary," Krystal corrected.

Fox chuckled before the two embraced each other in a hug, letting the world pass them by. From Fox's position, he was able to drink in the sights and smells of the blue vulpine. He let the scent of honey and cinnamon waft through his nose, a scent he loved.

I know you like this brand of shampoo, Fox. It's the only reason I use it.

Krystal's voice spoke in a soft and gentile tone over their mental bond. Fox let out a subdued chuckle as he buried his head in her neck.

You got that right.

Her fur was softer than a fluffed pillow and smelt like heaven, making the vulpine drowsy as his eyes began to flutter closed. He was in danger of falling asleep on his feet before he leaned too far in on his toes and fell forward onto the bed, with Krystal letting out a yip as they crashed onto the soft bedding. The two quickly realized their position side by side on the bed and began to chuckle before hugging once more.

"Love you, Krystal," Fox whispered into her ear.

"I love you as well, Fox," Krystal replied.

The two vulpines remained in their position for a good while, soft notes of satisfaction rumbling from their throats over the silent air of the quarters. They both knew that the good times could not last forever, Fox taking the initiative as he stood up, much to the displeasure of Krystal. "Five more minutes?" She whined like a child asking their parent if they could stay up late.

Fox shook his head. "Do you want me smelling like I just woke up all day?"

Krystal genuinely pondered the question, pursing her lips and scratching her chin. "I mean… I would not mind it."

Fox scoffed as he instantly stood up, Krystal's response being a firm smack on his rear with a cheeky grin. The impact made Fox's tail stand straight on edge as he whipped his head around at light speed, prompting Krystal to give him a wink back. He could feel his heart begin to flutter in his chest as Krystal picked up a book and began to read, giving him a teasing grin over the top of the pages. Every fiber of his being ordered him to jump back into bed with the vixen, but his discipline won out as he walked into the bathroom.

Closing the door behind him, Fox quickly disrobed and stepped into his shower. Fox loved his long, lengthy, and warm showers. They gave him plenty of time to think. Whenever stress started to pile up, a warm shower was not far behind. The water soaking into his fur and heating his body up was a form of meditation for him. The next twenty minutes saw Fox silently contemplate his life, his future, and the day at hand. With the soap and shampoo pooling at his feet before washing away down the drain, Fox turned the water off and dried his sopping wet pelt.

His shower all done and fur drier than the sands of Papetoon, Fox walked out to notice that Krystal was missing, and in her place was a set of perfectly set out tuxedo and a piece of paper. Picking the sheet up, Fox narrowed his eyes as he read the words written on it. "Hey, Fox. I went down to the hangar to wait with the others, but I laid out your clothes for you. Love, Krystal." A warm smile enveloped Fox's lips as he began to put on his formal black tuxedo and bowtie. As he tightened his tie, he looked down at the final piece of his ensemble. A concealed torso holster with his blaster being held by it. Grabbing the kit, Fox slipped the holster on and did a few practice reaches for his blaster before making his way down to the hangar.

As the vulpine walked down towards the hangar, he could already hear other voices filling the bay. Opening the large blast door, he noticed Slippy in his own tux standing in front of TJ's Viper while the street racer in question was leaning out the driver's side window. Krystal was standing at a polite distance with her arms behind her back. "Now check this out!" TJ exclaimed before he pressed a button on the touchscreen.

Before Fox's eyes, the color of the sports car changed from red to blue, before it shifted into a complex design and back to red again. "S'not just the paint that can do that, check it!" With another press on his touchscreen, the spoiler on the back began to expand while the car itself lowered to the ground. Various panels around the car began to contort and fit the new mold, giving the car a wider stance. Panels on the hood, roof, and wheel wells began to flap up, before TJ pressed another button, this time letting the spoiler sink into the car as the vehicle itself began to slowly stretch out. "Yeah, ain't that some crazy active aero?! And Slippy here did all that shit in a night! Man, I gotta check out the street scene here, get my feet wet and everythin'! Then I can…"

TJ stopped himself when he saw Fox walking up to him with an eyebrow quirked. "I hope you don't plan on street racing in that thing, TJ," the vulpine warned with a subtle smile, prompting TJ to scoff as he leaned back in the bucket seat.

"Take 'er easy, Fox. I'll be fine, it ain't my first race, and it won't be my last."

Fox narrowed his eyes, folding his arms with a wide stance. "I don't want you endangering the public. If you hurt someone or get into an accident, I can't help you," Fox cautioned, causing TJ to huff as he crossed his arms and instinctively pulled on his hoodie.

"Hey, I've never been in a single wreck in my entire career. Might'a caused a few, but everyone walked away from those mostly fine," TJ replied with a cocked grin. Fox sighed before looking towards Krystal with raised eyebrows. It was a look of desperation and much-needed assistance.

The blue fox chuckled before looking at the street racer, who looked raring to go. "The Lylat System is full of planets with endless race tracks, why not go to one of those?"

It wasn't good enough, as TJ huffed again before patting his steering wheel. "Yeah, but she needs a real challenge. I mean, what? You memorize a track and go around it over and over and over and over again. Big deal! Too many rules, too many regulations! Now when you gotta dodge traffic while keepin' your lead on bumpy roads and makin' sure that the five-oh don't get wise to you all at night? Now that's skill!"

Fox sighed, pinching the bridge of his muzzle as he shook his head. Before he had the chance to reply, Krystal interrupted. "TJ, why don't you explore Corneria City for a bit today? I am certain you will find many interesting places."

TJ raised a brow, before resting his elbow on the door frame. "What kinda places?"

It was Slippy's turn to barge into the conversation, his eyes lighting up with glee. "Oh, try the Outlet! It's this massive outdoor mall in the middle of the city, and it's got everything you need! Clothes, food, etcetera!"

TJ's interest peaked before he looked down at himself, realizing that he had been wearing the same clothes for over a week now, and it was starting to get to him. "Yeah… I could go for somethin' to eat… Shit, I could use some new threads too, now that you mention it. Know a good place to get that stuff?"

"Yeah, there's a ton of shops that sell kid's clothes," Falco suddenly stated, practically materializing out of thin air in his own loose-fitting tuxedo as he walked by the driver's side window. He did not turn around to notice the middle finger from TJ as he walked up to Fox and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Bill says he's on his way. Got a limo for all of us and everythin'."

Fox replied with a nod, taking in the sights of the city before the silence was broken up by Falco. "You sure it's a smart idea leavin' Wolf and his goons onboard? By themselves?"

"ROB's onboard, he'll keep an eye on them. You know, make sure they don't get into the armory or take off."

"What, you don't think that Leon can tamper with him? They can take the whole ship, Fox."

"Falco, you're being paranoid."

"I'm bein' smart, Fox."

"So you've considered that they're on a military base surrounded by the CDF."

Falco paused for a second, looking down at Fox with narrowed eyes. "They've tried crazier things before. Wouldn't surprise me if they tried."

Falco's logic followed for Fox. Star Wolf were never ones to shy away from a calculated risk. Even then, Fox simply crossed his arms. "I promise, they won't try anything. If they do, the CDF is going to hunt them down to the edge of Lylat and beyond. They're not going anywhere."

Falco sighed, rolling his eyes as he looked back at the team. Fay and Miyu had just entered the hangar, with the former dressed in an expensive cocktail dress and heels with a purse over her shoulder while the latter chose a standard suit and tie. "For our sakes, you better be right."

"I always am."

Falco shot his head back to Fox, who was wearing a typical vulpine smirk. With a scoff, Falco gave his leader a gentle shove. "Yeah, who you tryin' to bullshit?"

"A bullshitter," Fox replied, giving his wingman a friendly shove in response.

Before Falco could reply, Miyu suddenly stepped between the two, throwing her arms around their shoulders and audibly sniffing the air. "Mmm, I can almost smell the testosterone in the air here."

Falco let a whistle escape his beak as his keen vision zoomed in on Miyu's right eye, noticing the bruised flesh that had been covered up with a fair amount of makeup. "Wow, that's a nice shiner there. Who gave you that one?"

Before Miyu could respond, Fox jumped in. "She had a sparring match with Taryn yesterday. Did you two get carried away again?"

Like she had been accused of stealing cookies, the lynx nodded with a guilty smirk. "Yeah, we both kinda got lost in the moment… I gotta go back there soon and pay him back for this."

As the thoughts of revenge crossed her mind, the team noticed a limo pull up to the gates, before it was let through. As it drove toward the Great Fox, the team began to walk down the ramp to meet the driver. However, a feline in a two-piece suit was behind the wheel, a fact the team noticed as the limo crawled to a stop. The rear door opened to reveal Bill, standing proud in his typical green combat armor with a standard-issue battle rifle slung over his shoulder. "Someone call for V.I.P. limo service?"

Fox chuckled, walking up to Bill and grabbing his waiting hand to pull him into a handshake hug. "Thanks for the lift, Bill."

Bill reciprocated the gesture, patting Fox on the back with a final shake of his hand. "Don't mention it! Last thing I'd want you guys to do is find parking near the Congress."

A snort passed Fox's nose as he crossed his arms and raised his brow. "What, saving the system three times over doesn't give us exclusive parking?"

Bill shook his head with a joyous smirk. "Not to the suits, it doesn't! They'd argue that being a senator is way more stressful than dodging enemy fire!"

That got another laugh out of Fox as the team piled into the limo, with Krystal stopping just beside him. Without wasting a second, Fox pushed the door open wider for Krystal, extending his hand at the same time. A soft smile stretched across her face, as she put one hand over her heart while the other took Fox's hand. "My, what a gentleman you are."

"Just being polite, Krys," Fox replied, a small blush flushing his cheeks.

Almost instantly, Bill began to heckle the duo, holding his hands over his heart with a mocking smile. "Aw, that's adorable! Would you be so kind as to help your best buddy in the whole wide system into the limo as well? This armor is heavier than it looks."

Fox said nothing, instead stepping in front of Bill to take his seat next to Krystal. Looking back at his friend, Fox let the vulpine smirk cross his lips again. "Nah, you're a big strong boy. You can do it yourself."

Bill snorted in response, squeezing himself into the limo before shutting the door. Leaning forward in his seat, Bill gave the driver the signal to pull away from the ramp before falling back with a puff. The limo was able to comfortably fit the seven passengers, even when accounting for the mini-fridge stocked with beverages and the plush red carpet on the floor.

Just as the limo began to drive away from the Great Fox, the sound of an engine roaring vibrated the interior. Fox turned around in his seat and peered out the tinted window to notice TJ in his Viper, peeling ahead of the limo before it could even face the right direction. Shuffling through the cabin of the limo, Fox furrowed his brow as he noticed TJ approach the gates to the base through the front windshield. The brake lights came on a few seconds later, followed by the sounds of chirping tires and a small cloud of smoke.

Before Fox could ask Bill to tell the guards at the gate to keep it shut, TJ was gone. With an annoyed flick of his ear and a sigh, Fox fell into his seat. Bill noticed his friend's disappointment and threw his arm around his shoulder. "Aw, don't worry, Fox," Bill said with an air of optimism in his voice. "He'll be fine. Worst comes to worst, he'll spend the night in a drunk tank!"

"I'd rather not fish him out of there," Fox replied, an annoyed inflection coating his voice. Closing his eyes, Fox took a deep breath, centering his mind with his body before he opened his eyes again and faced Bill. "Let's just enjoy ourselves at the ceremony."

~::::~

Wolf huffed as he watched the limo and the Viper pull away, the window of the recreation room on the Great Fox giving him an ample view. "It's like being stuck behind bars, again…" he grumbled out loud.

"True," came Panther's voice from behind him. "But to be fair, it is a pretty fancy cell." Turning around, Wolf noticed that Panther had finally finished racking the billiard balls, holding two cues before tossing one to Wolf. The lupine caught the wooden stick in his dominant hand, walking over to the billiard table as Panther removed the triangle rack.

Wolf ran his eye over every furnishing in the room. From the TV displaying a news broadcast of the hearing that Fox went to attend to the plush couch that Leon was relaxing on. The soft lighting in the room usually had a comforting effect on the occupants, but not on Wolf. A snarl worked its way onto his face, even as he stood on the plush carpeting. "A cell is still a cell. I mean, we got our Wolfens back, we should be out there doing something! Not sitting around like a bunch of kids in detention! I can't even get a smoke here without the good doc finding out and takin' 'em when I'm not looking! I'm going crazy!"

Wolf's complaints failed to break through to his wingmen, Leon especially as he flipped another page of a paperback novel he pulled off the nearby bookshelf. With one leg crossed over his knee, the chameleon pressed his back against the sofa as his eyes remained locked on the book. "While I would normally agree, I have to disagree this time. I am in no rush to be pursued by bounty hunters again."

Panther echoed Leon's sentiment as he chalked up his pool cue. "Exactly! Look Boss, let's just treat this like an extended vacation. Our bounties are cleared! We can put our feet up and relax for once! Tranquilo, you know?"

"It's kinda hard to feel 'tranquilo' when we're at the mercy of the pup's crew," Wolf complained, leaning on the billiard table. "And what about our credits? They're all tied up in accounts we can't access without tripping every red flag in the system! We got no money, no escape, nothing!"

Leon fixated one eye on his book while moving the other to Panther, who wore a concerned expression. Sucking in air through his razor-sharp teeth, Panther faced his irate leader as he tucked his tail between his legs. "Boss, don't tell me you forgot to transfer your credits to the Zonessian accounts a few weeks ago."

"The what?"

Leon put his other eye back on his book, an extremely subtle smile crossing his face as he did so. "He forgot, Panther."

"What did I forget?!"

"Those accounts," Panther began, pausing for a few seconds as he tried to gently word his response. "They're tax haven accounts. Leon and I moved ours after we got our cuts from the ruby heist back on Fortuna. We have full access to them."

A cloud of rage began to form over Wolf's head, the silence of the room filled by Wolf's angered inhales and exhales through his nose. "Oh wow," Leon deadpanned as he flipped another page in his book. "I can actually hear his blood pressure rising."

Before Wolf had the chance to snap the pool cue over his knee, Panther slid one of the pool chalks across the green canvas. "Why don't we forget about all of that for now and play a few rounds, huh? We can sort it out later."

Taking a deep breath, Wolf grabbed the pool chalk and gently began to twist it over the tip of the cue. "Fine, beats sitting around waiting for the pup to get back…" With a final twist, Wolf placed the chalk down on the edge of the table, before noticing that Panther was lining up a shot. With a smirk, Wolf slapped his stick down atop Panther's preventing him from shooting with a wooden clack. Clicking his tongue three times, Wolf wagged his index finger with a smile. "The squad leader goes first, big cat."

Panther narrowed his eyes at Wolf before sighing and stepping away from the pool table. "Go ahead, Boss…"

With a toothy smirk, Wolf took his place. Bending over the table, Wolf lined up the tip of the cue on the back of the cue ball through his finger. Pulling back and forth twice, Wolf struck the ball with a resounding clack. The sound was amplified when the white ball collided with a series of multi-colored balls in the center. As if a grenade exploded in the middle of them, the balls scattered around the table, with a handful of them sinking into nearby corner pockets. "Yeah, not a bad shot from a guy with one eye, huh?"

Panther sighed, watching as the table began to free up from Wolf's break shot. "Good shot, Boss…" Panther droned in a half-hearted applause. As Wolf lined up for another shot, Panther began to remember why he stopped playing billiards with Wolf.

~::::~

The limo crawled to a stop in front of the large steps into the congress, where the team looked up at the large, white building. It was shaped in a dome-like structure with plenty of golden rods that touched the sky. The foreboding structure cast a dark shadow on the limo as the team piled out. Surrounding the steps to the Congress were scores of politicians and press, each one with their own agenda. Bill walked beside Fox as soon as he got out of the vehicle and bumped his fist before pulling his rifle off of his back. "Alright, dudes. Peppy and Pepper are in the Premiere's office. I've gotta group up with my squads, make sure everything's all chill, and start our rounds. Enjoy a day of boring bureaucracy," he said before walking off with his rifle in hand and smoked-out visor covering his eyes.

As soon as Star Fox was clearly in the open, each news crew made a mad dash towards the mercenaries. Microphones and cameras attacked the team like a gang of pirates opening fire, with questions coming at them from all angles. Rumors of Star Wolf's deaths, tabloid drama, and their latest missions were all asked in unison, creating a cacophony of noise equivalent to a buzzing den of insects.

The team continued their brisk walk into the Congress, where some suited individuals called them heroes and shook their hands while others gave them sideways glances and called them paycheck hunters. It mattered little to the team members, who were able to brush off rude comments and quickly shake hands like professionals. As soon as Star Fox entered the building, they were greeted with the sights and sounds of a political den.

White marble made up the composition of nearly every inch of the building, save for the floor, which had been shrouded in red carpeting. Flags from planets around the Lylat System had been hung from the rafters, with Fox and Krystal sharing a knowing glance at the most recent flag belonging to Sauria. While Fay and Miyu were busy dealing with questions that made Miyu want to give a few of the press some shiny black eyes, Slippy curled his lips into his mouth and gave Falco a quick nudge to the side.

"Whattya want, Slip?"

"Look, it's Donahue."

Following Slippy's gaze, Falco had to suppress a laugh as he noticed a grumpy grey-furred canine in a typical senator's suit walk by. Giving Slippy a nudge back, the mechanic watched as Falco raised a fist to his chest, before using his other hand to rotate an invisible crank. The canine stopped walking for a second, cocking his brow at the gesture. As the "crank" was rotated, Falco extended the middle digit on his fist in the canine's direction, causing his face to ignite in a shade of lava-red instantly. As he stormed off, Falco and Slippy had to hide their chuckles into their lapels, giving each other a subtle high-five as they turned back to the crowd of reporters and senators.

As Fox gave another round of handshakes, his sideways glance caught a brown-furred canine in a green military uniform that looked eerily similar to a foe he faced in days past. Next to the figure was a tall buck with long flowing jet-black hair, dressed in a seemingly expensive grey suit. As soon as he turned to face the figures, they walked away. His stomach dropped as he opened his mental link to Krystal. Krys, I need you to run a telepathic scan within fifty meters of this room right now. Look for any thought patterns belonging to someone named Benjamin Shears. He ordered as he kept his friendly demeanor in place and resumed shaking hands. After a minute, he got his answer.

Nothing. Fox, Shears has been dead for years. You told me that he was crushed to death under a re-incarnated Andross. Well, the first re-incarnated Andross, Krystal reminded.

Fox nodded, taking a subtle breath in the process. I swear I saw someone just like him walk down the hall to the main chamber. Are you sure you didn't pick up anything?

One hundred percent. There was a slight pause, Fox moving his eyes ever so slowly to notice Krystal giving him a concerned stare. Are you okay, Fox?

Subtly, Fox nodded. A bit. Must just be my nerves.

The next thing Fox felt, Krystal wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, commencing a bombardment of camera flashes that would certainly make it into newspapers system-wide. Do you feel better now? She asked as a warm smile spread across Fox's lips.

One hundred percent.

Finally escaping the press, the team reached a large door surrounded by numerous guards armed to the teeth. The canines were clad in the typical blue armor of the CDF, with heavy blasters in their hands. One of the guards looked at the team and nodded, unlocking the door to the Premiere's office and standing aside. Taking point, Fox pushed open the large door to reveal Pepper wearing his red military uniform with his red cap and Peppy with an elegant white and blue three-piece suit sitting at a table drinking coffee. Behind a lacquered wooden desk in the room was an aged malamute, dressed in a black suit with a blue tie running down his chest.

"Ah, Fox McCloud," Pepper began, standing up and walking over to the vulpine with a smile on his lips.

"General," Fox replied with a similar smile, extending his hand out for a shake.

Pepper took the gesture with enthusiasm before breaking off and clasping his hands behind his back. "I trust Mr. O'Donnell and his wingmen are not being too much trouble?"

Fox shook his head. "None at all, sir. They've been behaving themselves."

"Well, I hope that pattern continues, for their sakes." Pepper's gaze shifted to Fay, who was unable to hide her own smile. "I will admit, I do not feel too comfortable having Lylat's former most wanted mercenaries sleeping on the same ship as my niece."

Fay scoffed, rolling her eyes as she folded her arms. "Don't worry about me, Uncle. Wolf won't try anything."

Pepper defensively put his hands by his head with a gentle smile, before stepping closer to the spaniel and and pulling her into a hug. "It is just the old instincts acting up again, Faith. You know how protective I am."

"Well…" The malamute behind the desk said, steepling his hands at the same time. "You have had quite an interesting week, Mr. McCloud. General Pepper tells me that not only have you taken Star Wolf into your custody as a means to reform them, but you have also discovered alien life outside of the system?"

"I wouldn't use the term 'discovered', sir," Fox began, standing ramrod straight in the canine's presence. "It was an accident, and we have Slippy's father working on finding his homeworld. At this rate, we should be ready to make first contact within the next few weeks."

The malamute nodded, standing up from his desk as he eyed Fox up and down. "You always manage to supersede my expectations, Mr. McCloud."

"Just doing what you pay me to do, sir."

A scoff came from the throat of the canine as he faced Peppy, a smile slowly spreading across his tired face. "He's quite humble, isn't he, Mr. Hare?"

Peppy nodded with pride beaming from his wrinkled face. "Jim raised him right, sir."

"That he did."

A trio of Cornerian soldiers with automatic weapons suddenly entered the room, scanning for threats and lining up militarily. "Premiere Canis, the Congress is ready for your speech," the lead guard, a built rottweiler, announced as he motioned with his shotgun for a clear path. The old dog nodded, before turning to the mercenaries.

"You all may take your seats in the hall. Afterward, I intend to treat you all to a fine lunch in celebration of Mr. Hare's promotion," Premiere Canis announced before following his guards with Peppy and Pepper right behind him.

"Well, you all heard the boss. Let's move," Fox ordered, quickly following the guards out of the office.

~::::~

A single parking space remained in front of a small diner in the heart of downtown Corneria City. The space was empty for roughly ten seconds before a red Dodge Viper took the spot. The Viper was put in park before the driver opened the door and stepped out of it, the cleanliness of Corneria City striking him once again. There was barely any dirt, grime, or crumbling infrastructure. Taking notice of himself, TJ smirked as he took inventory of his new attire.

Stopping at that clothing store on the way turned out to be a gold mine, allowing TJ to purchase a brown leather jacket, a white t-shirt, new black leather driving gloves, and a pair of durable blue jeans. Looking down at his feet, TJ rotated his ankles to admire his new all-white low-top sneakers, fresh out of the box. Walking up the small ramp to the diner after locking up the Viper, TJ paused for a second before pushing the glass door to the building open.

With the dinging of a bell, TJ's eyes went wide at the sights. Slowly, heads began to turn towards TJ, each one belonging to a various anthropomorphic animal. Dogs, cats, and a multitude of other animals that filled the booths each cast their gazes upon the bewildered human as he looked around the diner. Slowly, TJ walked towards the bar at the center of the establishment, taking a seat in a free chair between a fox in a hockey rinksuit eating an ungodly amount of what appeared chicken nuggets and a German Shepherd with some sort of brown fox-cat hybrid sitting next to him. Both were dressed in blue CDF-marked uniforms. Taking his seat, TJ slowly began drumming his fingers on the countertop as he waited, taking in the sights.

One particular duo that caught his attention was a coati in one of the booths picking up a bowl of soup and lifting it to his lips. Dressed in a denim jacket and jeans, his action drew the ire of his friend sitting across from him, a pine marten in a basic t-shirt and shorts. Leaning in, TJ was able to overhear their conversation. "What are you doing?"

The pine marten's question got the coati to pause and put the soup bowl down, brushing his long hair out of his face way. "Having some soup. Why?"

"Like that?"

"What's wrong with how I enjoy my soup?"

"You use a spoon, you don't just slurp it up like it's water from a lake."

"You don't need a spoon for soup. There's nothing wrong with drinking it from the bowl."

A polite cough pulled TJ back to reality, as he now noticed that a kangaroo waiter wearing a name tag that said "Bruce" was standing behind the bar with a wide smile and a small notepad and a pencil in his hand. "Good afternoon, mate! What can I get for you today?"

TJ quickly snapped to attention, his eyes now fixated on the waiter. Without looking down at the menu, TJ spoke. "Yeah, lemme get some cherry Faygo and a Reuben."

The waiter paused, his pencil hovering over the notepad before he looked back at the human. "I… I'm sorry, what is it that you wanted?"

TJ curled his lips as he raised his brows in a worried expression. "A Reuben and a cherry Faygo… please?"

The waiter wore the same face as TJ did, the stare-down ending as he looked down at his notepad once more. "Do you mean a cherry soda?"

"Yeah," TJ replied, smiling as he put the awkward moment behind him. "Just that and a Reuben."

The waiter nodded slowly, writing down the order. "Be back in a tick," he stated before walking through a pair of double doors behind him and into the kitchen.

Swiveling towards the TV, TJ saw a dog in a suit on stage, waving to the crowd with a wide smile. TJ had no idea what he was talking about, still new to the various planets and historical moments of Corneria. He was able to pick up the Lylat War and the Aparoid invasion however, but it was almost impossible to miss out on those events. Through the view of the TV and the multiple camera angles it took, TJ was able to spot the members of Star Fox sitting in their own row away from the general public.

A scoff came from the German Shepherd sitting next to TJ, who put his drink down as a slight snarl crossed his muzzle. "Still can't believe this shit, Mira. After everything that happened during the Lylat War, Pepper gives Star Wolf full pardons. It's like a bad joke…"

The hybrid next to the canine gave a soft smile, putting her hand on his shoulder. "They did have Star Fox vouching for them, Will. Kinda hard to say no to Fox McCloud."

A snort came from the canine. "He's either got a silver tongue or some serious dirt on Pepper. I just hope the old man knows what he's doing."

"I'm sure he does. This must be a pretty special meeting though, why else would Star Fox be there?"

"That's cause Peppy's gonna be promoted to his right-hand man or somethin' like that."

Both Will and Mira turned to face TJ, who wore a smug know-it-all smirk. "Peppy? Peppy Hare as his Advisor? How do you know this?"

The smug smirk grew even wider at Will's question, TJ putting both hands behind his head as he leaned back. "Talked to 'em m'self."

Will shook his head with a smile as his companion poorly hid a snicker. "Sure you did. You of all people talked to the General of the Cornerian Defense Force."

TJ shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a popular guy."

"That or an unconvincing liar."

TJ licked his teeth, letting his smile split his lips fully. "Alright, how 'bout this? A hundred bucks, dollars, credits, whatever you call 'em says that Peppy's gettin' promoted here."

The canine paused for a second before chuckling, reaching into his pants pocket, and pulling out a single silver coin. "Alright kid, you're on."

The sound of the double doors opening alerted TJ, causing him to turn from the canine and face forward. He was almost thrown from his chair as a massive black bull was in front of him, wearing a hat over his horns and a dirty apron over his uniform. In his gargantuan hand was a large glass filled to the brim with a red bubbly liquid, which he promptly put down on the counter in front of TJ. "You asked to see me?"

As it was becoming a theme, TJ was yet again confused, racking his brain for an answer. "I… no I didn't."

The bull's face remained stoic as he crossed his arms. "Yes you did. You asked for me by name, sir."

Quickly darting his eyes in the direction of the bull's chest, TJ's eyes popped slightly when he saw the name tag.

Reuben.

Instantly, TJ put his hands up, chuckling slightly. "Oh shi… haha, nah man, sorry 'bout the mix-up. I asked for a Reuben."

The bull cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, I'm Reuben."

TJ sighed. "No, a Reuben sandwich."

"Is that a threat?"

"What? No, no no no. I'm not threatenin' you. It's a type of sandwich. S'got meat and cheese on toasted bread?" Reuben slowly nodded, before gently pushing the glass towards TJ. "Thanks for the pop, though."

Just as Reuben began to walk back into the kitchen, he turned on his heels with a confused expression. "You mean the soda?"

"It's called pop where I'm from."

"You got a lot of weird names for food, sir."

Before TJ had a chance to respond, Reuben had already disappeared.

TJ shrugged and grabbed the glass, taking a sip before his eyes shot wide open. The flavor of the soda coated his taste buds with a smooth yet crisp texture. It was unlike anything he had tasted back on Earth, familiar and foreign at the same time. He was unable to stop himself from chugging the drink like he was about to die of thirst, gasping in satisfaction when he put the glass down on the counter, now only a quarter full.

Turning back towards Will and Mira, they both gave TJ strange looks, only for the street racer to sheepishly smile in return. Fitting in was going to be a lot more difficult than he first thought.

~::::~

Premiere Canis remembered the first time he had to give a speech in front of the Cornerian Congress. War had just been declared on Venom, martial powers had been given to the military, and he had to tell the planet that his first act as Premiere was to enter battle. The thought of betraying his campaign promise of a peaceful and progressive Corneria had been dashed as soon as James McCloud was pronounced K.I.A and Peppy Hare had returned to tell the tale. It was the hardest speech he had to give.

It was in stark contrast to the festivities today. General Pepper, his long-time friend and confidant, stood to his right with joy Looking out over the sea of government officials, planetary dignitaries, and the Star Fox team, Premiere Canis took a deep breath. "Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to extend my gratitude towards you all. Each and every one of you in this room have made your people proud. From the tundras of Fichina to the jungles of Fortuna, the Lylat System would only be able to dream of the unity we have achieved here today. It has been ten long years since the horrific Lylat Wars ended, and in that time, we have been able to rebuild. The seas of Zoness have been cleaned, Katina's scars have healed, and Venom is now becoming a hospitable planet."

Cheers filled the hall, Premiere Canis taking the moment to bask in the glow of applause. Eventually, he stepped up to the podium again. "Just over a year ago, we were attacked by a hive mind of insects known as the Aparoids. The losses we suffered opened fresh wounds on top of old scars and assaulted every planet in Lylat. But we Lylatians are a hardy people. We do not know the meaning of words like surrender or fear. We would not submit to the hive, and once more we fought strong and stood tall!"

Taking another pause, Premiere Canis allowed his ego to be stroked by those in the chamber as he gripped the side of the podium. The claps and cheers subsided soon after, allowing him to speak once more. "I see many faces in this chamber who bore witness to these horrors. I know of many more who could not be with us today. Men and women who committed the ultimate sacrifice. For every day we live, we honor their memory." A hush fell over the chamber, with many present bowing their heads in respect. "It is tough to continue when hope seems lost. It is a pain that is nearly impossible to bear. But when we wake up every morning, we know they are always beside us. We never give up, and we trust our instincts."

In the pew closest to the stage, Fox's chest tightened. Looking to his left, Peppy gave him a knowing nod. The vulpine felt a gentle pressure squeeze his right hand, causing him to turn his head in that direction. Krystal held his hand and smiled, passing the infectious emotion to Fox as a single tear slid out of his eye.

Premiere Canis adjusted his tie before continuing his speech. "A great man said that to me once. James McCloud. A name many of you know, and hold with dear reverence. It is something he told his son as well, the hero of Lylat, Fox McCloud. Mr. McCloud, please, stand for the Congress." Obeying the Premiere, Fox stood and faced the chamber of politicians and media to thunderous applause. After what felt like hours of cheers from his peers, Fox sat back down, quieting the rest of the chamber once more as Premiere Canis continued. "I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that we owe Mr. McCloud and his mercenary group Star Fox our lives three times over now. They have shown us what it truly means to be a Lylatian. To be brave, to be loyal, and to be compassionate."

As cheers rang out once more, Premiere Canis looked back at General Pepper with a nod of his head before stepping back up to the podium. "I would now like to invite the general of the Cornerian Defense Force, General Cornelius Pepper, to speak to you all." Stepping away from the microphone, Premiere Canis and General Pepper switched places. The bloodhound cleared his throat as he clasped his hands behind his back. Facing the crowd, General Pepper began to speak.

"Thank you all for coming today. For over forty long years, I have served this system with pride and honor. I have been there to ensure a future for Lylatians of all kinds, with the strength of the Cornerian Military. During my service, I encountered two fine young men. I remember first encountering them, back when I was a Sergeant stationed on Fortuna. I was told by my commanding officer that we had enlisted the service of two mercenaries who would guide our troops through a dangerous jungle. When I first laid eyes on them, well, I thought some things that I would not dare to repeat here."

Soft laughter filled the air as a smile worked across the old dog's lips. Looking at Peppy, the hare shook his head with a smirk. Pepper took a deep breath, letting silence wash over the chamber before continuing. "But my initial assessment was wrong. These two men set a golden example for our troops. They fought with honor and bravery, throwing themselves into the fire for the sake of the mission and the safety of the men. In the end, all heads were accounted for, and the mission was a resounding success."

Applause echoed through the atrium as Pepper waited for it to die down before continuing. "One of these men is here with us today, someone who is deserving of the honor. He was contracted to serve under my watch along with the legendary James McCloud and has proven to be a willing mentor and voice of reason within Star Fox. He was there during the first invasion of Corneria, fighting on the front lines. His wisdom and resolution saved the planet of Sauria. He was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and pave the way for the defeat of the Aparoid Queen. On this day, it is my honor and pleasure to announce Timothy 'Peppy' Hare as my advisor!" The announcement sent shockwaves through the chamber as the applause reached a breaking point. Thousands of clapping hands accompanied Peppy as he stood up and began to approach the stage.

As Pepper joined in with the applause for his friend, his ears suddenly picked up a low beeping sound. Curiosity took over as he looked around the chamber to find the beeping before he shifted his gaze under the podium. His eyes went wide in horror as he noticed what it was. A crude explosive device, with the beeping rapidly picking up in tandem with a flashing red light. Before he could say anything, the beeping hit a flat tone, and the light went fully solid. His body acted on pure instinct, diving toward Peppy and tackling him to the carpeted ground.

~::::~

The words "FEED LOST" appeared on the screen, prompting Leon to raise a brow. The reporters shared the same expressions as the TV cut to them, unable to make heads or tails of what happened. As they tried to shift the conversation awkwardly, Leon looked toward his wingmen with a suspicious glare. "Hm, did anyone else see what just happened?"

Leon's question was punctuated by Wolf striking one of the colored balls on the billiard table. An annoyed sigh rumbled from the lupine's lips as he missed his shot. Turning to face his wingman, Wolf shook his head. "Nah, I missed it. Why, something big happen?"

"I don't know, these reporters just cut away from the broadcast. Hm."

Wolf cracked a wide smile as he nudged Panther's shoulder. "Damn, think there might've been a wardrobe malfunction, Caruso?"

"No idea, Boss…" Panther mumbled as he lined up his shot. At that moment, sirens began to blare on the base, causing Panther to miss and Wolf to rush to the window. Staring out of the glass pane, Wolf saw that the entire base was mobilizing for something. Trucks were loaded up with troops until they were packed and led out onto the highway. Each soldier was fully kitted out for an assault, throwing their rifles onto troop transports and shipping out. "Whoa, someone really kicked the hornet's nest. What's got the soldier boys freaking out?"

Panther and Leon gave empty stares as they approached the window. The trio took notice of the multiple gyro-copters taking off with haste, only increasing their curiosity. "No way this is a training exercise, it's too noisy. Think Fox's bot knows what's going on?" Wolf's open-ended question was met with silence for the first few seconds before Leon nodded.

"ROB should have connections to all major military frequencies. We could try asking," the lizard responded.

With a smirk, Wolf walked backward with his arms spread out. "Finally, something to do around here," he exclaimed as he turned around, shoving his hands in his pockets and exiting the rec room in the process. Panther and Leon followed close behind, eager to see what all the commotion was about.

After a few minutes of wandering, the trio stopped in front of the command bridge. The sirens were muffled behind the thick steel of the Great Fox but were still blaring loud enough to become annoying at this point. Placing his palm on the scanner to the bridge, Wolf snarled when another alarm beeped, this time belonging to the scanner. A second later, ROB's voice crackled through the intercom. "Wolf O'Donnell, you and your team are forbidden to enter the bridge of the Great Fox under direct orders from Captain Fox McCloud and General Pepper. If you continue to attempt entry, I will be forced to activate onboard security systems and incapacitate you."

While Panther's eyes went wide, Leon's stoicism was met with Wolf rolling his eye as he looked up at a nearby security camera. Raising his middle finger to the lens, Wolf opened his mouth. "We're not looking to jack this bucket of bolts, you tin can. This whole base is getting turned upside down if your sensors couldn't figure that out by now, and we wanna know why."

Silence buzzed from the intercom like an ever-present fly until ROB's robotic tone came to life once more. "What do you wish to know?"

Wolf huffed in annoyance. "Why everyone in this place is gearing up like it's the Lylat Wars all over again?"

ROB went silent once more, causing Wolf to impatiently tap his foot. Just as Wolf was about to walk away, ROB's voice had returned. "Communications are saying that the Cornerian Congressional Hall is under attack by unknown assailants. Multiple explosive devices have been detonated on the grounds, and reports of gunfire being exchanged are coming in now."

The mood shifted in the hallway to the point that Wolf had practically been given whiplash. "What about Fox and his crew?"

"I am unable to confirm Captain McCloud's status nor the status of the rest of the team at this time."

Wolf narrowed his eye at the door before turning back to his wingmen. Without a second thought, Wolf opened his mouth. "We gotta get down there, ASAP."

While Leon only raised a brow, Panther looked as if Wolf had just ordered him to chop off his own hand. "Boss, are you insane?! You heard what that robot said, that place could be a crater by now!"

"Miyu's there as well, Caruso."

"Well, why are we still standing around?! We have to save her- I mean Star Fox!"

Leon grabbed Panther's arm as he began to break out in a mad sprint to the hangar, preventing him from leaving. "While Panther has his juvenile reasons, there is still the issue of us getting there. Any CDF soldiers that spot us will be eager to shoot us and claim we are a part of this assault, and that is if we can even get off of this ship. Remember, we can not leave unless directly supervised by Fox himself, and I doubt that ROB will let us go."

Wolf snorted, taking the lizard up on his challenge as he faced the security camera once more. "We've gotta get down there, ROB. We need you to green-light us for takeoff."

"Negative. Under direct orders from Captain Fox McCloud and General Pepper, you are not to leave the Great Fox without their permission."

Wolf scowled at the camera lens, extending his arms out to his full wingspan. "Well, I think this constitutes an emergency! Look, what's more important? Fox's orders, or making sure that Fox is still alive?" The lack of response made Wolf smirk as he pressed further. "Fox ain't gonna give any more directives if he's dead, you know. The logical choice would be to send your only available squad at the moment out to go to save his ass, and from what I can see, Star Wolf is your only choice. We'll get there before those army trucks hit the city limits."

"How do I know you are not lying to me?"

Wolf said nothing, opting to stare directly at the camera as still and stiff as a wooden board. The silence lasted for an agonizing few seconds, the beeping of machinery and muted sirens filling the still air. Finally, the trio had their answer. "You have been cleared under restrictive supervision to fly directly to the Cornerian Congressional Hall. Any deviation from this flight path will be seen as hostile intent, and you will be marked as such."

Before Wolf could thank the robot, Panther had already taken off down the hall in a mad sprint, screaming something along the lines of 'saving his one true love from the jaws of death' before disappearing around a corner. With a smile, Wolf looked back up at the camera and nodded. "Thanks, ROB. We'll have the pup back here before sunset."

~::::~

Just as TJ was about to grab the silver coin as the victor of the bet, a pop came from the TV's speakers before the screen was replaced with an error message. Bruce grumbled as he grabbed the remote, whispering swears at the device as he changed the channel. To his surprise, he was able to instantly catch a sports broadcast. Cycling back to the news channel, the feed was still empty, causing the kangaroo to shrug. "Oh well. Bloody cameras must've gone out…"

TJ shrugged and picked up the coin with a cocky smirk. Before TJ could voice an 'I told you so', Will's radio on his hip roared to life. "Ten-eighty at the Congress, ten-eighty at the Congress! Multiple active shooters on the scene! We can't tell who's who, anyone nearby needs to get down here, now!"

In a flash, Will and Mira sprang to their feet, the duo leaving everything on the bar as they ran out of the diner. In her haste, Mira dropped a screwdriver that was hanging out of her back pocket, refusing to stop even as the metallic end clanged against the floor. TJ picked up the screwdriver, about to shout after the hybrid only for her to already be in a military vehicle with Will, speeding towards the congress.

Turning back toward the TV, TJ narrowed his eyes at the empty broadcast. The call that Will and Mira got was enough to sound alarm bells in his mind as he remembered where most of the team was at the moment. As the danger began to sink in, his eyes were drawn to the Viper. His mother's voice began to echo in his mind as his fist closed around the keys in his pocket. You can live a life that will make people happy, helping them. A life you'll be truly proud to live… Star Fox was his meal ticket home anyway, and he would need someone to sign those pardons once he was back on Earth anyway.

Taking a deep breath, TJ ran to the Viper before his brain could tell him how dumb his heart was at the moment. Flinging the door open, he let his body sink into the bucket seat before a dull thud vibrated in his ears. TJ froze for a second, trying to piece together what that sound was before another dull thud echoed through the air. Emergency vehicle sirens suddenly began to blare through the air, shattering the peace as civilians began to pile out of buildings in a wave of confusion.

There was no time to waste as TJ turned the key, letting the Viper rev to life before slamming the shifter into reverse and squealing out of the parking space. With the road ahead of him, TJ took a deep breath before nodding, slamming his foot on the gas, and taking off in a plume of tire smoke.

A/N: Apologies for the wait, re-wrote this chapter from near-scratch at least five times over haha. Thanks for the continued support!