Faith was petrified to accept that this was happening.
For three Lylatian solar cycles, she had been praying for a scenario like this to happen: getting lifted away to freedom while Rankous and his fellow devils finally received what was coming to them, but such a thing never happened. And moments ago, hope of rescue seemed finally dead now that she had been carted off to this system far away from her home, arriving on Kew, where she was in the midst of a transaction of being sold off to another crime lord. Any chance of returning to her old life was certainly gone forever; forced to resign to her diminishing fate and pine for death to end it all.
Then, out of nowhere, when all seemed lost, her endless prayers had finally been answered at the very last moment. This was too good to be true, but all the signs were all around her as she resided within the cosy cockpit of a strange starfighter. That blue vixen, Krystal, was upfront piloting the spacecraft while Faith resided in the rear in a rather confined, but cosy passenger area comprised of three seats.
She was in the process of being taken to the pilot's mothership which was docked in a spaceport pier ninety miles or so from the mountains they found her in. The other fox, the one who had orange fur and a white mohawk, remained behind temporarily for his ride, which contained stasis capsules for Rankous and a few other associates of note.
It was quite dark in this vessel, but it wasn't a scary kind of dark like she had been accustomed to. It was a comfy kind of dark, with only the small lights emanating from the vixen's console and a few strips of green lighting that only barely lit the passenger area. It felt safe in here, and Faith felt safe with the pilot. This brief trip in the "Cloud Runner", while lasting only a few minutes, was easily the best few minutes Faith had experienced in years.
"Are you still strapped in good back there?" Krystal asked her, turning her head to the back. Her question startled Faith somewhat, for she had been caught up in her overall disbelief. Faith got the notion that her question was more of a rhetorical one to maybe initiate dialogue because. She had been conditioned to remain silent when in transit to someplace; answering someone who expressed concern for her was, regrettably, something she wasn't all that used to anymore.
"Oh… Yes. Yes, ma'am," Faith answered humbly, her voice still soft and barely audible. That seemed okay though because the ambient sounds of the Cloud Runner were dull and surprisingly quiet. The work of G-Diffusers, no doubt.
"Good," Krystal said with a closed smile before looking ahead again, her white face illuminated by the green glow of her console. "Please forgive the confined space. Arwing types are not typically made with carrying passengers in mind. I'm always pushing the concept to work with my model. We will be at our ship in a few moments."
An Arwing? This ship looked like no Arwing Faith had ever seen in pictures, but then again, she had been out of the loop for a painfully long while. Perhaps Space Dynamics had already begun making radically different variants within only a few years.
"Okay," Faith said, crossing her legs and pulling in the coat Krystal had given her tighter around herself. "I… Thank you, ma'am. I wish… I… I don't know what to say…"
"I require no thanks," Krystal insisted. Her easy voice carried a gentle richness that Faith found soothing. Perhaps this was deliberate on Krystal's part to make her passenger feel more comfortable, or perhaps this was her natural way of speaking. Either way, it was pleasant on Faith's ears. "All that you should be concerned about at the moment is getting aboard our ship and finding a good room to stay in. We have plenty to choose from."
Again, it was so hard for Faith to actually accept that this was happening. The whiplash was too much to the point where it almost felt incapacitating. Amidst all the denial, Faith, above all else, felt ashamed that she wasn't bouncing around with beaming delight over being rescued, something that she worried Krystal had been expecting of her at some point―especially now that Faith was alone with her.
"Be at ease, Faith," Krystal said suddenly. "You have narrowly escaped a despairing situation. If silence is what is needed right now, then that is what you will have."
Faith was somewhat startled by what she just said, almost like she read her thoughts. Faith worried that she might have been whining again, alluding to discontent with her present circumstances that offended her kind host, but no malice or danger was coming from this strange blue vixen that Faith could sense. Rather than comment on such an oddly perceptive understanding, Faith instead remained silent like Krystal offered until they made it to the mothership. Though, secretly, Faith wished that this brief trek over these mountains lasted forever if it meant she could feel as safe as she was with this vixen forever.
Krystal's mothership, endearingly called the Great Fox II, was docked in a small spaceport city with many lanes of spaceships of all shapes and sizes coming and going.
Krystal must have had some kind of pre-emptive aerial clearance from the authorities before arriving because she dipped the Cloud Runner down towards the tarmac―which could have been large enough to house a whole city itself―and gingerly began to drift their way towards what looked to Faith to be an old Cornerian assault carrier, but even in the dark of night, signs of an extensive overhaul were apparent.
Its typical dull grey haul with red striping was now bright white with a type of plating that Faith wasn't familiar with. Its bridge was situated at the rear of the vessel, bristling with radial antennae, and along the sides of the haul, and even atop the devoted topside deck, a large crimson logo of a winged primal fox could be seen boldly brazened along the haul. It was instantly recognizable to Faith.
She, again, could not believe what she saw down below. That logo was something of particular grandness throughout the Lylat System; a logo that belonged to a renowned team of mercenaries that singlehandedly brought down the mad Andross and his Venom military, subsequently ending the Lylat wars. Not only had she been rescued from Rankous, but her rescuers were none other than team Star Fox. That red fox in the mountains… Surely it couldn't be who Faith thought he was?
Faith leaned forward to get a better view through the triangular canopy window as Krystal led them through the port-side hanger, and saw guiding lights flashing to life before the hanger itself began to illuminate softly, revealing a wide-open hanger bay devoid of any clutter, providing plentiful space for the Cloud Runner's landing. The Arwing touched down with hardly a jitter, but a sudden mechanical droning sound coursing throughout the cockpit had made Faith's ears flick. It was seconds after did she realised that the downwardly-angled wings of the Cloud Runner were beginning to fold inward towards the haul with their tops collapsing into the wings themselves.
"Welcome back, Krystal," a new, slightly staticky voice suddenly appeared through the pilot's commlink, which was loud enough for Faith to overhear. It was a slightly posh and proper voice, and on its own was way comforting to listen to. "You will be pleased to hear that Fox will be arriving shortly with the bounty in tow."
"Hello again, ROB, and thank you for letting me know," Krystal replied gladly, beginning to unfasten her seatbelt.
"Were the high-altitude temperatures as cold as I have calculated? Do you require warm soup prepared?"
"You are so kind to offer, ROB, but I am fine," Krystal gazed back at her passenger as she reached for the switch that would release the damping locks on the canopy. "But I did return with someone. She will require catering."
"To whom do you bring aboard?" ROB inquired.
"A guest," Krystal informed, switching the pressurized airlock seal to be released as the reinforced glass canopy began to rise. "Would you be so kind as to come down and show her to the available rooms on our deck? She will be returning with us to Corneria."
"Very good, Madam," ROB complied. "I will be down momentarily."
With that initiative in play, Krystal began to climb out of her seat, though kept her headset over her head. She stepped onto the steep stepladder that deployed out from the floor next to where she parked her ship, but not before pre-emptively slipping a switch beneath her seat that commanded it to fold down forward, allowing space for Faith to exit. Faith must have been lost in watching her because Krystal reached her hand out after a lengthy moment of inaction on Faith's part.
"Here, let me help you down. The steps are rather steep," she offered.
Faith blinked a couple of times before realising that Krystal offered her hand. She cautiously took it and stood up, noticing the silver ring around her finger, and emerging to a full stand once she crouched her way up to the front of the cockpit and out by the highest step of the ladder. She couldn't help but look around in amazement at her new, though somewhat familiar-looking environment. She had been inside carriers like this before―unfinished ones anyway―so she ironically kind of felt at home here in a strange way. She thought she would never feel such a feeling ever again.
Krystal helpfully led her down the steps when Faith had enough gawking. Her bare paws touched the cold hanger floor, making her shiver just a tad, though it was nothing uncomfortable. She hugged herself with her sleeved arms as she looked around some more.
"Welcome aboard the Great Fox II, Faith," Krystal smiled, raising her hand like she was a tour guide.
"Amazing," Faith said after saying nothing for a while. "You're…with Star Fox?"
"Indeed," Krystal smiled again. "Have you heard of us?"
"Heard…?" Faith winced slightly. "You're heroes. Everyone at my school could never stop talking about you guys. But…I don't remember ever seeing you amongst the other members."
"You're correct; I'm a more recent addition," Krystal replied. Her friendly smile then dimmed somewhat. "Do you have any knowledge of the Aparoid assault?"
Faith was left a little confused by her question. "What's…that?"
Krystal then frowned sadly, that lovely glow on her white muzzle now gone. "It seems you have missed quite a lot, dear," she said with lowered ears. "We'll have plenty of time to get you up to speed once we cast off."
Leaving the hangar bay, Krystal led Faith into a corridor with glossy polished floors and white walls.
Exposed wiring along the walls and pipework spanned the length of the long hallway, one of the telltale signs that this was a former military vessel. They were not alone here as Faith quickly discovered, for a navigational android was stiff, though surprisingly robustly, approaching them down the right end of the hall. Its frames and panels were chromed out and shiny, A single red visor served as its main optical sensor, and its featureless face could easily have been used as a mirror.
The robot ratcheted its spindly arm up in greeting. "Hello again, Krystal," ROB greeted, his simulated voice was oddly lifelike for the model of robot he was. "Would this be the guest you have permitted access to our vessel?"
"Indeed, she is," Krystal confirmed, turning a bit to better introduce her guest. "This is Faith. We found her as a prisoner at the extraction site."
A little timid in the presence of the chromed android, Faith raised her hand in a little friendly wave. "Hello, ROB," she greeted. Even though robots were unfeeling machines, Faith always made an effort to be kind to them.
"Welcome aboard, Madam Faith," ROB replied cordially. "I have been instructed to lead you to a room."
"I will leave you both to that," Krystal said before turning to her guest. "Forgive me for not personally showing you myself; I must return outside to meet with the port authorities. Fox is due to arrive at any moment and I will need to be there to help with the transfer―as well as translating."
Faith didn't see an issue with that; she knew nothing about Kew or how harsh their constabulary was―let alone what global language was spoken. Besides, the sooner they set off the better. Maybe then Faith would finally accept that she wasn't dreaming all of this.
"Oh, absolutely," Faith nodded in acceptance. "Do what you need to do."
Krystal smiled thankfully. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she assured before turning to ROB. "Thank you."
"Always, Madam."
Krystal jogged off in the other direction down the hall, where Faith got the best look, she had yet of the vixen's tail. It was quite long and had three gold bands wrapped down the length of it, suggesting that the plumage was much fuller than it looked. Even still, it was enough to make Faith a little envious.
Krystal vanished seconds after, leaving Faith alone with ROB. "Come along, Madam; I will help you to get situated."
The low ambient hum of the Great Fox II was all-encompassing; already primmed to take off at a moment's notice.
ROB walked rather fast for a navigational android, and his linear motions were perhaps one of the most advanced and fluid that Faith had ever seen. Star Fox really must have had great affection for their navigator to invest in him this much. She would have too if she had the credits because this navigator was rather charming.
"You guys have quite the stellar ship, ROB," Faith said, looking around at everything as they walked. "I have never seen a Brigitte Class look this posh."
"I am grateful you think so, Madam," ROB thanked. "Master Fox and Madam Krystal invested an extensive amount into renovating this ship from the stripped state they had purchased it in for a bargain price. Much has been commissioned to make it closer resemble the aesthetics of the first Great Fox."
"What happened to it?" Faith wondered.
"It was destroyed during the siege of the Aparoid home world," ROB answered. "I was aboard when it happened alongside the soon-to-be General Hare; it was a deliberate act on his part to give the other members of Star Fox the window they needed to kill the Aparoid queen."
Faith thought over all that was revealed to her. Much of what was going on in the universe was kept hidden from her while under Rankous's horrible thumb. She completely missed this crisis, and she had an eery feeling that she might have missed much more in addition to that.
"What were the Aparoids, exactly?" Faith asked.
"A race of cybernetic insectoids capable of assimilating biological lifeforms in addition to machinery," ROB informed.
A disturbing method of attack indeed, and that's what made Faith begin to worry. She started to think about her family again, and what may have happened to them during this time. Beginning to feel a fear she had not had before, Faith followed up with, "How badly was Corneria affected by this assault?" she asked nervously.
"Corneria City was their first and primary target," ROB elaborated. "Casualties and collateral damage there were numerous, though much of the planet remained mostly unscathed."
"What about Fort Retriever?" Faith asked a little desperately. "Was it attacked?"
"Accessing regional records…" ROB said, making a series of whirring sounds inside his head like a terminal booting up. And in just several seconds, ROB produced a quick answer. "Unable to find documentation of any Aparoid activity in the area, much less any casualties."
"Oh, thank goodness…" Faith sighed with tremendous relief. ROB's head smoothly turned to her on his neck's ball joint.
"Does this location hold significance to you?" he inquired.
"It's my home," Faith answered. "My family lives there."
"I am relieved to know this, Madam," ROB said. "I am positive that they will be pleased to see you again after your long absence."
Faith wasn't sure if ROB truly possessed the capacity to understand just how horrible this 'absence' was, but his words comforted her regardless. It was nice to be treated kindly again, even if it was by a robot. It almost made her want to cry again.
"I can't wait to see them again," Faith said, holding back her tears as a fragile smile etched itself on her muzzle. "Thank you, ROB."
"Of course, Madam."
After climbing up a short flight of stairs two decks up, ROB led Faith straight to the officer's quarters, which was stated to Faith by the plaque on the wall next to the hallway entrance. Faith was a little surprised as they entered the hallway, flanked by two rows of grander-looking doors on either side. "Wait…I can have a room up here?" she wondered, surprised by the idea of getting bestowed such a generous suite (for an old navy ship anyway).
"Of course, Madam," ROB confirmed. "Fox and Krystal were the only two personnel on this voyage aside from myself―though the argument can be made that I am an extended feature of the ship itself. There are plenty of rooms on this deck available for claiming unless you would prefer a room in general quarters?"
"Oh, no, no. Let's try an officer's suite," Faith insisted quickly.
"Very good, Madam."
ROB led Faith to one of the first doors they happened upon to the left. His thin mechanical finger punched a code on the keypad next to it before the door slid up into the ceiling, revealing quite a spacious interior. Having the way gestured to her by ROB, Faith cautiously stepped inside and observed all that was presented before her.
It was a large room―twice the size of her old room back home―with a glossy grey floor, white metal walls remote lighting and air conditioning units fixed on the ceiling amongst channel ways of exposed wiring. There was a writing desk, complete with paper, utensils, and a stationary terminal, adjacent to the large queen-sized bed, which was adorned with simple but cosy white sheets. There was a large digital solar clock, in the upper corner near the doorway, currently set to the Cornerian orbital cycle around the Lylat sun, and there was even a door to a private bathroom on the other end of the room, right next to a long narrow port window with rounded ends that spanned the length of the room, allowing her a view of the lights of the city outside.
Faith looked around extensively as she walked inside, almost like she was walking through a governor's extravagant summer home. To her, and what she had been forced to get accustomed to, this may as well have been a governor's master bedroom. Her disbelief was unending; Faith wondered if she would ever fully believe that all of this was still truly happening around her.
"This is all for me?" she wondered, turning to ROB for affirmation.
"Quite so," ROB confirmed. "Now, while you are situating yourself, I will bring you a selection of clothing that has been donated courtesy of Fay Spaniel."
While perked by the idea of getting real clothes, Faith tried recalling the name that was mentioned. "Who's Fay Spaniel?"
"A former member of Star Fox," ROB answered. "She has left a selection of her wardrobe aboard this ship should any women coming aboard need them."
"Oh. That was awfully nice of her."
"Yes. She was always so sprightly," ROB concurred. "In addition to this, would you care for refreshments? I have conducted a passive analysis of your vital functions and have detected substantial amounts of fatigue, sleep deprivation, famish, and copious amounts of stress―well above tolerable levels for most sapient lifeforms. Do you have any requests? The galley is stocked with more than enough for three personnel."
Faith blinked a couple of times, already feeling hungry. Hungry for something real, and for something she longed to have for years. "Do you…have any grilled cheese sandwiches?"
"Excellent request, Madam," ROB said, his red visor flashing softly. "Anything else?"
"Maybe…a root beer float as well? With sprinkles?"
"Perfect," ROB said. "Anything else?"
Faith thought for a greedy moment, though she remained mindful enough not to overstate herself. "No. I believe that's enough."
"I have activated a stove and skillet as we speak," ROB said. "I will return with your requests once they have been prepared, and will dispatch a utility drone to bring you a trunk of fitting garments."