Chapter 17: Lost Among the Stars

The Great Fox glided silently through the vast emptiness of space, its engines humming softly as it approached the last known location of the Comet Observatory. On the bridge, the crew was focused, each at their station. Fox sat in the captain's chair, eyes scanning the screens. Slippy hunched over the sensor controls, flipping through different scans and muttering to himself. Falco leaned against a console, watching the displays with a mix of boredom and concern. Off to the side, Krystal stood near a viewport, staring out at the endless stretch of stars.

"We're approaching the coordinates," Slippy said, his voice tight with concentration. "Still no sign of anything on the scanners. I'm trying everything, but I'm not getting a single blip."

Fox's eyes narrowed. "Keep at it, Slippy. The Comet Observatory can hide from most sensors. We need to be thorough."

Krystal, feeling a bit out of place, stepped forward. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She felt a subtle pulse in her mind, like a distant heartbeat urging her to pay attention.

Fox glanced at her, then back at the screens. "Watch the stars. The Comet Observatory might be hidden from our sensors, but it's a big structure. If you spot anything, let us know."

Krystal nodded, though she couldn't help but feel sidelined. She turned back to the viewport, her eyes scanning the distant pinpricks of light, searching for anything unusual.

The minutes ticked by, and the tension on the bridge grew. Slippy continued to cycle through different scans, his frustration starting to show. "I'm not getting anything, Fox. Not even a trail. It's like the whole place just... vanished."

"Maybe it did," Falco said, pushing himself off the console. "Or maybe we're looking in the wrong spot. Let me take an Arwing out, see if I can get a closer look."

Fox considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Go ahead, Falco. Keep your comms open."

Within minutes, Falco was suited up and launching out of the Great Fox's hangar. The rest of the crew watched as his Arwing streaked away, disappearing into the vast blackness of space.

Hours passed. Falco scouted the area, scanning every asteroid field and debris cluster, but found nothing. Back on the Great Fox, Slippy continued to adjust the scanners, occasionally glancing at Samus for recommendations on different scan frequencies.

"Try a pulse scan, short bursts," Samus suggested, her tone calm but firm. "It might catch something hiding in a dead zone."

Fox leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "If we don't find anything soon, we'll have to check another sector. We're wasting time."

As they talked, Krystal stood silently by the viewport, staring out at the stars. There was a tightness in her chest, a feeling she couldn't quite explain. It was as if something was pulling at the edges of her mind, urging her to listen. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the chatter on the bridge, focusing instead on that strange, faint sensation. It grew stronger, like a soft, rhythmic whisper just out of reach, pulling at the edges of her mind and urging her forward.

She opened her eyes, her heart pounding. "There," she said, pointing to a seemingly empty patch of space. "We need to check those coordinates."

Fox turned to look where she was pointing, frowning. "There's nothing there, Krystal."

"Please, just trust me," Krystal insisted, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "I want to help. I... I feel like it's important."

Fox hesitated, glancing at Samus, who gave a small nod as if to say it was worth a try. "Alright," Fox said. "Send the coordinates to Falco. But if we don't find anything, we're calling it a day."

Krystal's fingers moved quickly over the controls, sending the coordinates to Falco's Arwing. "Got it. I'm heading there now," Falco's voice crackled over the comms. A few tense minutes passed, and then his voice came through again, sharper, more urgent. "Fox, I found something. You'd better get over here, fast."

Fox straightened in his seat. "What is it?"

"I don't know how to explain it," Falco said. "Just get over here. You'll see."

The Great Fox adjusted its heading, moving toward the coordinates Krystal had pointed out. As they approached, the crew squinted at the viewport, trying to see what Falco had found. For a moment, it looked like nothing but empty space. But then, as they got closer, it became clear.

There, drifting aimlessly through the void, was the Comet Observatory. Its once-bright spires and elegant structures were dark and battered, parts of it scarred and twisted. It floated silently, like a ghost ship, devoid of the bright, cheerful Lumas that usually flitted around it. The Observatory, once a symbol of peace and beauty, now looked lifeless and broken.

As they drew closer, Samus's eyes narrowed, scanning the darkened spires. "What could have done this?" she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "The damage is... extensive. It would take a lot of power to hit the Observatory this hard. Whatever caused this... it's dangerous."

Fox nodded grimly. "Slippy, bring us in close. We'll dock and check it out."

The Great Fox maneuvered into position, its docking port lining up with the Observatory's main entrance. As the ship locked in, Fox, Samus, and Krystal gathered at the exit. Krystal's eyes were wide, a mix of concern and determination in them. "I'm coming with you," she said.

Fox looked at her, considering, then nodded. "Alright. Slippy, you're in charge of the Great Fox while we're gone. Keep an eye on the sensors, and if anything shows up, you let us know immediately."

With that, Fox, Samus, and Krystal stepped onto the Comet Observatory. The air inside was cold, stale, and silent. They walked through the darkened halls, their footsteps echoing off the metal walls. It was as if the entire place had been abandoned, left to drift in the endless void. Occasionally, a light would flicker on, sputtering weakly before going dark again, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls.

Falco was waiting for them near the landing pad, his Arwing parked nearby. "Never thought I'd see this place looking like a ghost ship," Falco muttered, the usual edge in his voice softened with unease.

"Let's spread out," Fox said. "Samus, use your HUD to scan for any signs of life."

Samus activated her helmet's scanning system, the visor lighting up with information. She swept her gaze over the area, but the readings were erratic, distorted by the debris that cluttered the Observatory. "I'm picking up faint energy signatures, but it's hard to get a lock. There's too much interference."

As they moved deeper into the Observatory, Krystal's pace quickened. She looked around, her eyes darting as if searching for something. Then, without warning, she stopped, her head tilting slightly as if she was listening again. Suddenly, she broke into a run. "This way, we must hurry!" she called over her shoulder, her voice urgent.

"Krystal, wait!" Fox shouted, but she was already racing down a corridor. The others had no choice but to follow.

They ran through the dim, winding halls, following Krystal until they reached the Observatory's core. Samus scanned the area, her HUD struggling to make sense of the energy fluctuations. "Krystal, what are you doing? My scans don't show anything here."

"They're wrong," Krystal said, her voice steady and insistent. She led them to the main power room, pushing through the heavy door. The room was dark, the machinery silent, but in the center of it all was a sight that made them all stop in their tracks.

There, slumped against a console, was Daisy. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were dirty and torn, parts of them hastily wrapped into makeshift bandages. She looked up as they entered, her eyes hollow with exhaustion and desperation. Next to her, lying on a makeshift bed of pillows, was Rosalina. Her face was pale, and she was barely conscious, her breathing shallow and weak.

Daisy's voice was rough, as if she hadn't spoken in days. "Please..." she said, her eyes locking onto Fox. "You need to hurry... Rosalina is dying."

For a moment, no one spoke. The sight of the two princesses, so beaten and broken, was almost too much to take in. Samus stepped forward, her mind already calculating what they needed to do. "We'll get her help," she said, her tone resolute, but the urgency clear. "We're not leaving anyone behind."

Fox turned to Krystal, a mix of awe and gratitude in his eyes. "How did you know?" A subtle sense of respect flickered between them, as if acknowledging a trust they hadn't yet put into words.

Krystal's gaze remained fixed on Rosalina, her voice barely a whisper. "I can hear things, sense thing that other can't." Krystal looked Fox, afraid to trust anyone with her truth, but knowing it had to be told. "I'll explain when we are back on the ship".

Fox nodded, "I think that's a smart decision."