Chapter 16: The Mission Ahead
Life aboard The Great Fox carried on as usual, a blend of routine tasks and quiet camaraderie. The hum of the ship's engines provided a steady backdrop as the crew went about their work. In the hangar, Slippy was elbow-deep in the mechanics of Samus's ship, his hands slick with fluids as he tinkered with a stubborn manifold.
"I rebuilt the whole ship for her, and this is what I get," he muttered under his breath, giving a metal pipe a few taps. "Gunked-up intake, no clean filters... does she even know how to take care of this thing?"
As he twisted a wrench, a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He glanced at the engine's shiny surface, catching his own reflection. "Guess I don't mind, though," he said quietly, almost as if confessing a secret to himself. There was a comfort in the familiar work, a satisfaction that made the grumbling worthwhile.
In another part of the ship, Falco leaned back against the wall of the flight simulator room, arms crossed, watching Krystal deftly maneuver the virtual Arwing through a maze of obstacles. He raised an eyebrow as she dodged a series of meteors, weaving through them with precision.
"Not bad," he said, his tone playful, though there was an undercurrent of respect. "You're catching on fast."
Krystal grinned, her hands steady on the controls. "Maybe I'm just a natural," she replied, guiding the ship smoothly through another sharp turn. "Think you could keep up?"
Falco smirked. "Keep up? I'm still waiting for you to make it challenging." He watched her pull off a perfect barrel roll, and though he kept his tone light, he couldn't help but be impressed. It wasn't often he found someone who could match his skill in the simulator.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Fox and Samus stood side by side, gazing out at the vastness of space. Samus, her armor deactivated, leaned against the console, her posture relaxed yet attentive. The two of them shared a quiet bond, a connection formed through countless missions and battles, a camaraderie that felt more like brothers-in-arms than just allies.
"You ever think about taking it easy?" Fox asked, a hint of teasing in his voice. "I mean, actually taking a break for once?"
"Not a chance," Samus replied, a faint smile crossing her lips. "Someone's got to keep the rest of the galaxy in check. Might as well be me."
Fox chuckled, shaking his head. "Spoken like someone who's got no idea how to take a vacation."
Before Samus could respond, the communicator on the console blinked to life, its lights flashing. Fox glanced at it, recognizing the familiar coordinates. "Incoming call from Peach's Castle." He glanced at Samus, noticing the way her posture subtly tensed. Instantly, she took a step back, moving out of the screen's view.
"Still not ready to talk to her?" Fox asked, his voice softer, more understanding.
"It's... complicated," Samus said, her eyes avoiding his. The weight of unspoken words lingered in the air.
Fox rolled his eyes, though there was a gentle smile on his face. "Yeah, well, we're going to talk about that later," he said, turning back to the console before Samus could protest. He hit a button, and the screen flickered to life, displaying the faces of Princess Peach, Dr. Light, Sonic, and a young man Fox didn't recognize.
"Fox," Peach began, her voice carrying a mix of relief and urgency. "I'm glad I could reach you."
"Peach, Dr. Light, Sonic," Fox acknowledged, nodding to each of them. But his eyebrows raised when he saw Sonic. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon, blue hedgehog."
Sonic gave a small, tired smile. "Trust me, it's not a social call."
From the shadows just out of view, Samus's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Peach. Hearing her voice, after everything, made her pulse quicken, but she forced herself to stay still, listening. The years of their friendship, and all that had been left unspoken since the war, hung heavy in the air.
Peach continued, "Fox, we've learned that Dr. Robotnik has returned, and he's managed to get his hands on the Master Emerald. Dr. Light and Sonic can explain further."
Dr. Light nodded, adjusting his glasses. "The Master Emerald is a powerful artifact that controls the energy of the Chaos Emeralds, which are scattered across multiple worlds. Robotnik has the Master Emerald, but the Chaos Emeralds are still out there. If he manages to collect them all, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"We've got one of them here," Sonic added, "but there are six more. If I know Robotnik, he's going to be hunting them down."
Fox's expression grew serious. "So, you need us to track down these emeralds?"
"Not yet," Peach said. "We've been trying to contact the Comet Observatory, but we haven't been able to reach them. We believe they were last seen not too far from the Lylat system, and we're worried something may have happened. We need you to find them and make sure they're safe."
Fox nodded, but his gaze lingered on the young man next to Sonic. "And, uh... who's the guy with the spiky hair and the big key?"
"Oh, right!" Peach said, managing a small smile. "This is Sora, a new friend who's helping us. He arrived here under... difficult circumstances, but he's on our side."
Sora gave a quick, confident nod, raising his Keyblade and resting it on his shoulder with a practiced ease. "I'm here to help however I can," he said, his voice steady with determination.
Peach briefly explained Sora's arrival and how Robotnik had threatened his world. Fox nodded. "Well, anyone who's fighting Robotnik is a friend of mine. We'll find the Comet Observatory."
"Thank you, Fox," Peach said. Sonic leaned forward, his voice filled with urgency. "Please, hurry. Robotnik's got Tails."
At those words, Samus's eyes widened, and she instinctively stepped into view of the screen. Hearing that Tails was in danger made Samus's chest tighten. Memories of his bright eyes and boundless questions surfaced—a reminder of the friend she'd come to see as like a family member, a rare position for someone to be in her life. The thought of him in Robotnik's clutches was a personal blow, spurring her forward before she even realized it. "Wait, what?" she said, her voice sharp and filled with concern. "Robotnik has Tails? How did this happen? Where was he last seen?"
The sudden appearance of Samus caused a brief, awkward silence. Dr. Light, Sonic, and Fox exchanged glances, feeling the tension, while Peach's expression softened, as if seeing a ghost. She hadn't expected to see Samus, and the sight stirred a wave of emotions she wasn't prepared for. For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.
Peach was the first to break the silence, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Hello, Samus."
Samus hesitated, her breath catching. "Hi," she managed to say, the word heavy with everything she hadn't said before. There was a pause, just long enough for the emotions between them to be palpable—regret, relief, and the weight of what remained unsaid. But Samus quickly forced herself to refocus, her expression hardening as she faced the screen. "We'll find the Comet Observatory," she said firmly. "And we'll follow up as soon as we can."
Peach nodded, her eyes lingering on Samus a moment longer. "Thank you."
With that, the transmission ended, and the screen went dark. The bridge was silent for a few moments, the gentle hum of the ship's systems filling the space. Samus turned on her heel, heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" Fox asked, his tone light, though concern laced his words.
"To my quarters," Samus said shortly, not stopping.
Fox took a step forward, his brow furrowing. "No, we need to talk about what just happened."
Samus glanced back at him, her eyes steely. "No, we don't," she said, her voice firm. She turned and walked out, leaving Fox standing there.
Fox watched her go, shaking his head with a sigh. "Way more alike than they care to admit," he muttered to himself, thinking of both Samus and Peach. Stubborn, strong, and fiercely independent—yet so vulnerable in ways they never let anyone see. As he turned back to the console, he couldn't help but hope that this mission might give them both a chance to find some peace.