Chapter 11: Aboard The Great Fox

The Great Fox loomed ahead, its massive frame casting a shadow across the hangar bay as Samus's ship was gently towed in, engines sputtering and damaged. Inside, Krystal glanced around, taking in the sleek design and the four Arwings lined up in the bay. Three of them were well taken care of, polished and pristine. The fourth, however, was in pieces—an older model that looked as though it hadn't flown in a while.

As the docking ramp lowered, Samus and Krystal stepped out to see Fox McCloud, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi waiting for them. Fox's ears perked up, and he greeted Samus with a casual wave. "Looks like I showed up just in time, huh?"

Falco smirked. "And here I thought you were supposed to be the best. Looked like you had a bit of trouble out there."

Samus rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Nice to see you too, Falco. Thanks for the save."

Slippy, meanwhile, was already circling around her ship, his eyes widening at the damage. He poked and prodded at the scorched hull, letting out a series of frustrated grunts. Every now and then, he'd shoot a disapproving look at Samus's back, which she could feel even without turning around.

Samus shrugged, keeping her tone nonchalant. "This is hardly the worst you've seen, right?" she teased, though the familiarity brought her a flicker of comfort—a reminder of battles fought with this team by her side.

"Who's your friend?" Fox asked, nodding towards Krystal, who stood quietly beside Samus. Krystal's gaze drifted briefly toward the hangar exit, a reflexive assessment that gave way to a sense of ease, as if she could actually trust these new allies.

Samus gestured to Krystal. "This is Krystal. She's the reason I'm here. There's a bounty on her, but when I got to the rendezvous point, Star Wolf showed up, said they were paid to destroy any ship carrying her."

The expressions on the team's faces darkened. Falco crossed his arms, his usual cockiness giving way to a more serious demeanor. "Star Wolf, huh? So, what's the deal? Why the bounty?"

Samus shook her head. "That's just it—I don't know. And she doesn't seem to know either. It doesn't feel right."

Krystal glanced at the team, her calm exterior hiding the uncertainty she felt. "I don't know who's after me, or why. But they don't seem to care if I'm dead, so it has to be serious." A thought tugged at her, unsettling. In this universe, the past had a way of catching up.

Fox nodded, processing the information. "If they're willing to send Star Wolf after you, it's more than just a regular bounty. We'll need to be careful."

Slippy poked his head out from behind Samus's ship, his face a mask of exaggerated disbelief. "Samus, what did you do to this thing? I'm going to need a few days to fix all of this!" He muttered under his breath, then grumbled, "It's worse than the old Arwing we loaned to you during the war! Fox was wrong earlier. You don't owe us one—you owe us two."

Samus shrugged again. "Fine, put it on my tab."

Falco's eyes flicked over to Krystal. "So, what's the plan? Can't exactly keep her tied up on The Great Fox forever."

"I don't think it's safe for her to be out on her own," Samus said, glancing at Fox. "We'll have to arrange for her to stay on the ship for now. At least until we figure out who's after her and why."

Fox nodded in agreement. "We stick our necks out for each other. That's how we've always worked. We'll set up quarters for you, Krystal. It's not much, but it's safe."

Krystal hesitated, then asked, "Do you have… real food here?"

The question caught Fox and Falco off guard, and they both burst out laughing. Falco clapped a hand on Krystal's shoulder. "Oh, I like her already. Come on, I'll show you to the galley. And trust me, it's a lot better than whatever Samus feeds her prisoners."

As Falco led Krystal away, Fox's expression turned more serious. He waited until they were out of earshot before turning back to Samus. "You realize keeping her here puts us in danger, right? If Star Wolf came after you once, they'll do it again. But if she becomes a liability, we have to reassess."

"I know," Samus replied, her eyes narrowing as she thought back to the ambush. "But something about this doesn't add up. I don't think she's telling us everything... but I also don't think she's a threat. She gave herself up to me too easily, like she wanted me to be the one to catch her."

Fox crossed his arms, his gaze thoughtful. "Well, we've faced worse. And if you're willing to vouch for her, that's good enough for me."

Samus nodded, glancing over at Slippy, who was still inspecting the damage. "Just make sure my ship's ready as soon as possible, Slippy."

Slippy grumbled, not looking up. "Yeah, yeah. Couple of days, and don't you forget—you owe us two favors now."

Samus smirked. "Fine. Just get it done."

As the Great Fox crew went about their business, Krystal found herself in an unexpected situation, surrounded by a team she barely knew. Yet, despite the unfamiliar surroundings, a surprising sense of calm settled over her. There was something about Fox, Falco, and the others that made her feel… safe, as if she could trust them. She pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the questions that still lingered. Who was after her, and why had they sent mercenaries like Star Wolf? She had no idea, but she was starting to realize she wouldn't be able to face this alone.