Act 1

Chapter 6

"Medics and Martial Arts"

~::::~

"Ugh, c'mon Fay, hold the bag tighter!" Miyu Lynx complained, flipping her hair back as she assumed her fighting stance. Wearing a red and black martial arts uniform, Miyu threw another kick, the pads of her feet striking the bag with enough force to both leave a bare paw imprint on the bag and sending her sparring assistant flying backward through the Great Fox's dojo.

Fay Spaniel vocalized a sudden shriek as she was sent soaring through the air, landing on her rear before she pushed the heavy bag off her tiny body with a wheeze. "Ugh, dammit Miyu," Fay complained with her posh accent, rubbing her rear as she stood up and let her socks sink into the bright blue mat of the sparring room. "You don't have to beat this bag, or me for that matter, like we owe you money." She adjusted her sweatpants and t-shirt with a huff, before lifting the bag back up and holding it tight.

"Well, I'm not just gonna give it love taps. How am I supposed to know how strong my strikes are if I don't go all out? Speaking of which," Miyu unleashed a combat yell and punched the bag with all of her might, the resounding boom echoing throughout the room as Fay struggled to stay vertical and support the bag at the same time. Somehow, she managed to stay upright and got the bag stable again. "That," Miyu finished with a smile.

Fay groaned as she reset the bag once more. Miyu scoffed at her friend's misery and leaned against the bag in a relaxed pose. "Y'know, if you don't like holding the bag, I could always teach you to hit the bag," she offered. Fay waved her hand in a dismissive motion before leaning on the bag next to Miyu.

"No thanks. I'm not really a fighter after all. I prefer to heal rather than hurt," she defended. Miyu rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Look, Fay. You know that Lylat isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Sooner or later you're gonna need to defend yourself on the ground and I won't be there. I mean, what if someone tries to kidnap you?" Miyu asked with genuine concern in her voice.

"No one's going kidnap me," Fay mumbled under her breath.

"Yes, they will. Hey, I wanna kidnap you right now just cause you're so damn cute," Miyu replied with a grin, causing Fay to blush. "So come on girl, get those paws up!" Miyu commanded while getting into a fighting stance. Fay hesitated, scratching the back of her neck bashfully.

"N-no thanks. I don't really think I could ever purposefully hit you…"

"Well then pretend I'm some big ugly bastard trying to have his way with you! Now gimme your best shot!" With that, Miyu threw a jab at her friend and smiled when Fay ducked the punch. The smile faded when she realized that Fay hadn't ducked the punch to deliver a counterattack, but instead hooked onto her left leg and hugged it with the might of a hydraulic press. Miyu stood in place for a second before letting out an audible sigh.

"Fay?" She asked, looking down at the white blob encompassing her leg. "What are you doing?"

The blob shifted a bit before responding. "Immobilizing you so that you can't hit me or peel me off, and I don't have to hit you. It's a win-win!" Came Fay's muffled response. Miyu's face looked like she just heard someone try to convince her that Corneria was flat or that the Lylat Wars were an inside job.

"Fay, come on. This is ridiculous, get off my leg," Miyu ordered.

"Nope! This is my unbeatable strategy!" Fay exclaimed, complementing her words with an evil laugh. Not even uttering a word, Miyu wrapped her arms around the punching bag for support and lifted her free foot up, before placing it on the red bow Fay always wore on the top of her head.

"Fay, I'm serious. Don't make me crowbar you off of me," Miyu gently asked.

"Do your worst!" Fay challenged.

Miyu let out a pitiful sigh and began pushing with a small amount of force. Slowly but surely, the spaniel began to peel off of Miyu's trapped leg. As soon as Fay's body became more visible, Miyu ran her foot down the spaniel and made it to her chest, pushing with all of her might and sending the lightweight canine soaring to the ground. Fay groaned as she rolled over onto her hands and knees. Miyu chuckled as she hoisted her friend back to her feet before patting her on the back.

"You know, that has got to be one of the dumbest things you've ever done," Miyu chastised with a smile. Fay rolled her eyes as she got vertical, before flipping her hair out of her face.

"I prefer the term 'calculated risk,' Miyu."

The sound of footsteps outside of the dojo perked up Miyu's ears, her eyes going wide as she walked over to the door. Silently opening the hydraulic door, Miyu poked her head out into the hallway. Her eyes landed on Fox, Krystal, and some sort of shaven ape all walking in unison. A sadistic smile passed her lips as she let a sharp whistle loose. The three heads turned to face her, Fox and Krystal wearing exasperated glances while the new person raised an eyebrow.

Miyu took her time approaching the trio, giving Fox and Krystal quick glances before focusing her attention on the new element in the halls. His pale skin and thin frame made her conceal a soft chuckle beneath the surface of her chest as she gripped her black belt. "So, this is the newbie, huh? What's your name, newbie?"

"It's… name's TJ."

"TJ, huh? You don't look like much…"

Fox noticed the offended glare cross TJ's face, putting his arm between the two to prevent any outbursts. "Alright, cut it out Miyu. Not right now."

Miyu scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh calm down, I'm just teasing him. He seems like a somewhat decent kid."

With a sigh, Fox turned to face TJ. "Meet Miyu Lynx. She's another member of the team, and our martial arts expert."

The cocky smile on Miyu's lips grew wider as she tapped Fox's black-button nose with the tip of her taped index finger. "You know it, twenty-five years and you still can't get a plus-win ratio over me, Foxie."

Fox grumbled, rolling his eyes as Miyu tightened her black belt. Her eyes quickly went back to TJ, the devious smirk on her lips piercing through TJ's soul. "So, what about you? Are you a scrapper or a runner?"

TJ swallowed. "I uh… I got into a few fights at school. Nothin' big though, just some bruises an' stuff like that."

Miyu scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "So you spend more time in the cockpit over a dojo, hm?"

"I… I don't know how to fly neither."

Miyu raised abrow, closing one of her hands into a fist as she placed it under TJ's chin, tilting his head back. "So you can't fight, and you can't fly. What can you do?"

A soft smile split through TJ's mouth as he chuckled. "I'm the best damn driver you've ever seen. Rain, sleet, or shine, I'm untouchable behind a wheel."

Miyu nodded, letting TJ's ego fill the room before she grabbed his shirt by the collar and suddenly put him in a deep headlock. TJ tried to rip himself out of the hold, but the grip Miyu had on her own gi top meant that escaping was near impossible. Miyu took the opportunity to form her free hand into another fist and rub her knuckles on top of TJ's head, ruffling his unkempt hair. "Aw Foxie, he's adorable! I'm gonna have so much fun with him!" Miyu's laughter drowned out the sounds of pain pouring out from TJ as he tried to wrench himself free. After a few seconds of prying at Miyu's arm, she finally let him go. The momentum of the sudden release sent him stumbling backward into the wall, banging his head on the hard metal.

TJ sunk to the floor, holding his head with his teeth gritted in pain. Miyu held a hand over her mouth, biting her lip in a bid not to laugh. The canine beside her did not find it amusing, a quick pinching of Miyu's ears ceasing her laughter. With Miyu dealt with, the canine made her way to TJ's side, crouching down to his level as soon as she was beside him. "Are you okay?"

TJ scoffed, staring in Miyu's direction as he got up of his own volition. "I'm fine."

The canine sighed with a smile, standing up alongside him. "That's good to hear. My name is Fay, Fay Spaniel. It is a pleasure to meet you." Sticking out her hand with a friendly smile, TJ shook it, rubbing his head in the process. Before TJ could thank her, her eyes widened with a curious sparkle. "Since you are one of a kind here in Lylat, would you be okay with me running a few medical tests on you? Just to get a medical record on file, of course."

TJ raised his eyebrow, recoiling slightly with his shoulders at first before running it over a few times in his mind. "Is it free?"

Fay giggled. "Yes, it's free. So I take that as a yes?"

"Yeah, sure. Lead the way. Anythin' to get Street Fighter here away from me," TJ spat with extra venom coating his last words. Despite his narrowed eyes and tone, Miyu seemed less than intimidated, the lynx putting on a faux pout instead.

~::::~

The scent of a doctor's office filled TJ's nose as he sat on one of the medical beds lining the room. The smells of sterile rubber gloves and rubbing alcohol burned his nostrils as he sat as straight as possible. Fay emerged from behind a small door adjacent to the bed, wearing a lab coat over her training gear and closed-toe shoes over her feet. Nitrile gloves covered her hands as she snapped a surgical mask over her muzzle. Quickly walking over to a counter, Fay grabbed a tablet and held it between her hands, turning around to smile at TJ. "If you could please stand up and hold your arms out to your full wingspan, TJ."

Complying, TJ did as he was asked. Fay quickly walked all around him, the tablet aimed at him as she did. "So uh… what're you doin'?"

"The tablet gives me a general x-ray diagram of your body to work with without having you strip down. It's much more efficient and less embarrassing for the patient."

TJ thought her words over in his mind for a few seconds before his face grew bright red. "Wait, so you can see me-"

"Naked? Yes, I can." Fay paused for a second, looking up at TJ before huffing with a hidden smile. "I am a doctor, TJ. I take my work, especially patient confidentiality, very seriously. There is nothing to be ashamed about with your natural body, especially with me." With the scan complete, Fay quickly tapped away at her tablet some more, before her targeting scouter popped out over her right eye. "Okay TJ, you can take a seat, and I'll ask you a few questions."

As soon as TJ sat down, Fay began her line of questioning. "First question, what is your species?"

"Human."

"Okay… second question, how old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Oh... Third question. Do you have any allergies?"

"Uh, pollen, I think. Other than that, no."

"Any medical complications in the past?"

"None off the top of my head."

"How about genetic illnesses?"

"Nope." TJ paused for a second, Fay taking notice as she raised a brow. "Actually, there might be somethin'."

"What are the symptoms?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it a symptom, but it's this really weird thing that happens to me whenever I drive. Whenever I focus real hard, the whole world seems to… I don't know, slow down? And everythin' looks like someone put some purple-tinted glass over my eyes. I feel like I react faster to a lot of things, like I know what'll happen a split-second before it does."

Fay squinted for a second before her eyes popped open in realization. "Ah, I see. It appears that you have a rare condition known as the 'Zen Optical Neurological Effect.'"

"Zen-opti-what?"

"Most medical professionals shorten it to the 'Zone Condition.' It is an extremely rare medical phenomenon more commonly seen among soldiers where your adrenal glands go into overdrive during high-stress situations. However, controlling it is a unique element in its own right. Tell me, what did you do back home?"

TJ's eyes shot open, a sly grin spreading across his lips. "I'm my city's best street racer."

Fay's eyes instantly squinted at TJ. "A street racer? So, you would endanger the lives of innocents for fun?"

TJ scoffed, waving his arms in a dismissive manner. "Naw, come on! You're talkin' like I'm some kinda serial killer! I only race at night, trust me, the last thin' I wanna run into is a road snail."

"Why not simply go to a racetrack?"

"Oh I did, but usually that was done after-hours, if you catch my drift. Too many rules, I'm not gonna have my dub stripped from me 'cause some freakin' book said I cut the corner on turn seven a lil' too close, y'know?"

Fay rolled her eyes, returning to her medical notes. "I will just come out and say that I do not condone or approve of the actions you undertook, and would advise against any similar activities in the future. Now, back to the topic at hand…" Reaching into a drawer, Fay pulled out a small syringe with a few tall glass vials, removing the needle from the plastic casing that sealed it away. She inserted the needle into the syringe with a trained hand, before turning back towards TJ. "I just need to take some blood from you."

The blood drained from TJ's face as he saw the sharp needle glare off the light from the fixture above him. Almost instantly, he recoiled as Fay approached. "H-hey, come on, isn't there some kinda high-tech device you can use other than that?"

"Are you afraid of needles?"

"No!" TJ suddenly shot up in his slumped seating position, before sliding back down into a hunch. "I mean, kinda…"

A curt giggle slipped out of Fay's muzzle, placing a gloved hand on TJ's arm as she did so. "Trust me, there is nothing to worry about. All you will feel is a quick prick, nothing more." As Fay placed the needle down on a sterile tray, she went to grab a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a few small cotton balls before sitting in front of TJ. Looking up at her nervous patient again, Fay smiled. "Tell me, what color are my eyes?"

TJ paused for a second, staring deep into Fay's eyes. "They… they're blue."

"Yes, very blue. I get them from my mother. You know, they say blue eyes are the hallmark of intelligence and compassion. Tell me, what do you think they mean?"

"I uh… I don't know."

"Oh come on, surely you have an answer? What do you see?"

"I… I guess I see can myself in your eyes. They're like a mirror or somethin'…"

Fay nodded. "Yes, and your eyes are quite brown. But they're a lot less bright than mine."

TJ sighed, breathing out his nose. "Look, enough about the eye stuff. Let's just get this over with." Looking at the ground, TJ waited to feel a prick, only for the sound of clinking glass to fill his ears. His eyes moving back up, he noticed that Fay held three vials filled with his blood, causing a look of confusion to pass his face as he looked down at his arm. A band-aid covered the injection site. "When did you…?"

"I drew your blood when you looked into my eyes. It is a typical trick that pediatricians use with children."

TJ grumbled as Fay stood up, placing the vials in a centrifuge. After a few seconds, the device beeped before it stopped, prompting Fay to pull the vials out. Information flashed across her scouter, a smile coming to her lips as she nodded. "Well, I can diagnose you with a clean bill of health! Your anatomy, minus the obvious differences, shares multiple similarities with those here in Lylat, so any treatments should be easily applicable to you."

TJ nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets as he stood up. "Is there anythin' else you need from me, doc?"

Fay shook her head, removing her medical gear in a deliberate manner. "No, nothing at the moment. But I would recommend rest and relaxation, considering the day you have had. That especially means staying away from Miyu."

"An' how do I do that?"

"Just hope you don't run into her."

"Well, that'll be hard to do." The new voice made both Fay and TJ jump, their heads turning to lock eyes with Miyu as a devious smirk crossed her lips. Still dressed in her martial arts uniform, Miyu walked up to TJ with a wide grin, her short tail flicking the air behind her. "So, not just a driver, but a street racer, huh? Gotta say, that's a new one. Foxie tells me you did a good job on the ground, so it looks like I might be getting a new buddy to tag along with Fay and I whenever things get close-quarters."

Throwing her arm around TJ's shoulder, Miyu took a seat next to him, pulling him in close. "Y'know, you remind me of the time we had to deal with a street racer type a while back. Guy thought he was hot stuff, bragged about owning everything under Lylat, even his own F-Zero machine! Turns out that the fastest thing he owned was actually his mouth," Miyu's fangs flashed out of her lips for an instant as she rolled her neck around. "I caught him on my bike and dragged him through his windshield after he wiped out in an alleyway. Man, did he change his tune after that!"

Fay huffed as she rolled her eyes, removing Miyu's arm from around TJ's neck as she approached the two. "Yes, most people will listen to the psychopath who chased them on a bike and began to beat them up after suffering through a car crash."

Miyu chuckled, waving her hands in the air as she took a step back and resumed eying TJ up. "So tell me, do you ride?"

TJ let the question run through his mind, before he shrugged. "Kinda. Last bike I rode was for a job, but I was pretty damn good at it."

Miyu nodded, crossing her arms as her tail began to flick behind her once more. "Hmm, well let me know when you get a bike. I wouldn't mind putting those skills to the test."

"Absolutely not!" Fay's sudden outburst caused TJ to recoil while Miyu's ears flattened against her skull. "I just told him to not street race, do not encourage this kind of behavior! Do you know how dangerous that is, not only to yourself but to those around you?!"

For a split-second, it appeared as if Fay's words struck a chord with Miyu. The wide stare and flat ears on her face made Fay lighten up for just a second, before Miyu's ears rose back up as a snaggletoothed smile broke free. "You are so cute when you're mad, you know that?"

Fay was about to explode, her lips pursing together as her hands balled into fists at her side. Steam practically poured from her ears before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "If you two must race, then why don't you take him to the simulators, Miyu? Isn't there some kind of racing program on them?"

Miyu's eyes lit up, quickly scooping Fay up in a hug despite how many times Fay yelled 'contamination' in her ears. "That's a great idea, fluffball! Thanks for the tip!"

As soon as Fay's feet touched the ground, Miyu was already standing outside of the doorframe, motioning for TJ to follow her. Deciding it would be better to walk there of his own volition rather than be carried, TJ followed Miyu out of the infirmary, ready to race.

~::::~

"I can not believe that Miyu did not hound us further about training."

"Yeah, me neither. Let's just hope she forgets about Fichina, I don't have it in me to spar with her right now…"

Fox and Krystal quickly shut the door to their quarters behind them, both of them letting out heavy sighs. It was a thankful sight to see their room again, the neat and orderly environment welcoming them with open arms. A queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room, pressed up against the wall as a television lay at the foot of the bed. Various photos and memorabilia filled the room, from ancient artifacts gifted to them on Sauria to the various medals and awards Fox had earned. Slipping off their boots by the door, the two vulpines quickly fell upon their bed, Krystal laying down with grace and elegance while Fox opted to simply face-plant into his pillow and moan. "I don't remember the last time I was off my feet today…"

Krystal gently pat his back with a chuckle, feeling pity for her mate. "I would say we earned a bit of rest. Peppy's ceremony is next week, and I doubt that any more jobs will arise between now and then."

Fox weakly put his fist up in a salute before letting his arm go limp and fall next to him. "I wouldn't mind just hibernating until then. Let Falco run the team."

A snort from Krystal pierced the air as she put her hand up to her muzzle. "Gods, no. We would have to build a third Great Fox if he ever got his way. It would probably be renamed to the Great Falco or something along those lines."

"You really think he'd do that?"

"Absolutely."

With a groan, Fox rolled over from his back, turning to face Krystal with a warm smile on his muzzle. "Well, I guess that means I can't hand over the keys just yet, huh?"

Krystal's response came with a quick kiss to his cheek, causing blood to rush to the todd's cheeks as she shook her head. "Not just yet."

With nothing else to say, Fox simply pulled his wife close and embraced her. Her scent swirled in his brain, comfort and joy exploding in his synapses as he savored the moment. Before long, Fox burrowed his nose into Krystal's neck, giving her a few gentle licks to straighten out some of her fur. With the grooming done, Krystal reached over to her nightstand and grabbed the remote. The mindless spew of brain-dulling television helped ease the minds of the vulpines, both wanting nothing more than to simply tune out the rest of today.

Despite the flashing lights and noises of the television, Krystal's telepathy picked up a struggle inside Fox's mind. She refused to pry deeper, reading only the surface emotion for the time being. Doubt, worry, and confusion all bounced Fox's brain around his skull like a kickball, his narrow eyes and subtle sighs giving away his feelings. Turning to her mate, Krystal gently placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as she did so. "Why are you concerned, love?"

As if he was holding in a breath, Fox deeply exhaled. Closing his eyes for a moment, Fox filled his lungs with more air before continuing. "It's what TJ said to me back on Papetoon. I don't know, I'm mixed on the whole thing."

"How so?"

Words evaded Fox for a few seconds, his mouth hanging open without sound as he forged his response. "I've got no problems with helping him out, I get where he's coming from. He lost everything he ever knew in the blink of an eye. The only thing he's got that ties him back home is that car of his. But do I really want to put him on the front lines with us? He's not a trained pilot, and I doubt he's ever seen real combat. Does he even know what he's getting into?"

Krystal mulled her response over in her head before a gentle smile tugged the sides of her mouth. "I would say he needs a firm but fair conversation about this. For now, let him adjust to life in Lylat. If he really wants to turn his life around and understands the danger of this job, training, and encouragement would be best for him, provided that he actually listens."

"You think he won't?"

Krystal chuckled. "He is very eager, I will give him that. But I can tell that he might have a hard time being told what to do."

"Keep him on a short leash, then?"

"In a sense. As long as we're in orbit, I would say we can keep track of him easily. Unless he tries to learn how to pilot an Arwing by himself…"

The absurdity of the idea made Fox laugh out loud for a second before he fell back into his pillow with a sigh. The TV was all background noise now as his eyes refocused onto Krystal's. Lost in their gaze, the two quickly embraced, muzzles dancing in sync as they narrated their love without words.

Before either of them could take it to the next step, Fox's phone suddenly buzzed in his pants, killing the mood. Fishing his phone from his pocket, Fox raised a brow as he recognized the caller. Sliding his finger across the screen, Fox put the phone up to his ear. "Katt? What's up?"

"Hey, you guys are still surface-side on Papetoon, right?"

"Yeah, we were gonna spend the night before returning to Corneria. Why?"

"I just flew over a burning building on my way back to you, y'know, since you owe me for that job, and I noticed three Wolfens parked outside of it."

Fox sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great. I knew we should've fought Wolf today when we had the chance. What did he burn down?"

Katt's line was quiet for a few seconds before she spoke up. "The Wolfens were on fire as well."

Fox instantly shot up in bed, confusing Krystal before she entered his mind to get the full picture. She silenced her surprise as Fox raised a brow, swinging his feet off the bed as he began to pace the room. "Is he dead?"

"Uh… no clue, I can't see any bodies from up here. The Wolfens are burned to a-" An explosion suddenly came through the phone, Katt screaming as the call poured static into Fox's ear for a few seconds.

"Katt! Are you okay?!"

"Holy shit! Yeah, yeah I'm fine, but one of the Wolfens just blew! Explosion just took them all out, and it tore a massive chunk out of the building."

Fox took a deep breath, nodding to Krystal and tapping his forehead as he slipped his boots back on. "Katt, I need you to land and do some recon. If Wolf's team is in there, we gotta get them out."

"Whoa, what? Help out Wolf? Are you forgetting how many times he's tried to kill you in the past?"

"And what about the times he's helped us? Plus, if someone just tried to take out Star Wolf, they have to be dangerous to gun for Wolf's crown. We need to know who did this and if they're a threat. How far out are you?"

"Five minutes if you punch it."

"Got it, I'll be there with Fay in a bit." Hanging up the call, Fox instantly dialed Fay's number as he left the bedroom and sprinted through the halls. The line rang for a few seconds before Fay picked up, a quizzical tone in her voice.

"Hello?"

"Fay, get down to the hanger ASAP and follow me out to Katt's location, this is an emergency."

"Is Katt okay?!"

"She's fine, but she's found something that needs you."

"Understood, I'll call Slippy and have him start up the Lifeline!"

Fay disconnected, leaving Fox alone as he ran down the hall. His sprint took him past the rec room, where he swore he saw Miyu and TJ in the simulators. For what purpose, he was not sure, but now was not the time to ask questions.

Taking the service stairs instead of the elevator, Fox leaped down the flights as he felt a familiar tickle in his skull. What do you think is happening, Fox?

Krystal's voice in his head made Fox shake his head as he kept his mouth shut while his mind spoke. No clue. Wolf getting burned out of a building is cause enough to make me uneasy. We have to find out what's going on.

And what if this is all a ploy?

The question got Fox to pause for a second, slowing his sprint to a jog before he returned to his previous pace. No way. Wolf would never blow up his own Wolfen just to lure me out. I've got a bad feeling about this.

Fox's mind went silent before Krystal's voice echoed in his brain once more. If they are alive, bring them back here. I will enter their minds and piece together what happened to them. Good luck, and be safe.

You know me.

Fox entered the hangar a minute later, Fay already climbing into her ship, the Lifeline, as Slippy finished the pre-flight checks. Slippy raised a brow as Fox ran past him, nearly knocking the mechanic off his feet as he sprinted to his Arwing. "Fox! What's going on?!"

"Wolf's in trouble," Fox grunted, quickly climbing into his ship and powering it on. "Prep the med-bay with ROB and get three beds ready! If they're still alive, we need to know what happened!" Slippy was too stunned to respond, allowing Fox time to close his canopy before taking off from the hanger bay, with Fay following close behind.

As the duo screamed through the night sky, Fox wondered who was capable of taking down Star Wolf. He remembered Wolf telling him that they had a meeting to attend, could this be related? The thoughts gnawed at him for the short flight to the building before Fox saw it. A small roadside bar by the looks of it, up in flames. Three torched Wolfens remained marked and scarred just outside of the bar, with a small trail of fire leading from them to the building. Fox swallowed as he landed. For once in a long while, he felt worried for his rival.