Research

17 ALW

Sienna polished off the last of her danish, picking up some crumbs from the plate with her fingers, and eagerly licking them off. She knew she should choose healthier breakfast alternatives to lose a few pounds, but the pastries were too irresistible.

After putting her tray back on the designated return rack, she exited the canteen and made her way through the research station, ready for the day's work. The path was familiar by now; past heavy steel doors, through soulless corridors of plain white walls and concrete floors, illuminated by stark light. She had been here for weeks and had no idea whether it was actually day or night on the surface, whichever planet she was on. Judging from the warmth and the ever blasting ventilation systems, she assumed she was deep underground.

She stopped at a security door and sighed deeply. While life had settled into a routine around the long hours, the work itself was nothing but. Throughout her career in the army medical corps, first as a nurse and later as a graduated doctor, she had seen many terrible things. She had handled patients with the Aparoid infection and whatnot, but her current assignment made her very uneasy. The offer had come outside of official channels and had been very sparse on details, yet accompanied by the longest and strictest non-disclosure agreement she had ever seen. However, the remuneration had been too enticing, the prospect of paying off the entire mortgage on her Corneria City apartment, but in hindsight she doubted that she had made the right decision.

After tying up her long and wavy black hair in a ponytail, she fished up a keycard from a pocket in her lab coat and went through the usual procedure: card swipe, paw print and retina scan. A stone-faced guard gave her a nod as the door opened and let her through. A few more steps, and she was in the lab proper. One of her coworkers was already there.

"Good morning," she said to the terrier with the greying fur. Names were hardly used, for reasons.

"What's so bloody good about it?" he replied in jest, smiling as he looked up at her. Being a six foot tall mountain dog, Sienna was larger than most on the station.

She walked over to her desk, unlocked a drawer with her fingerprint, and took out a rugged tablet computer, its lock screen showing the SIRIUS insignia. Using facial recognition and a pin code to log on, she opened the mailbox for 'Operation Second Sight' and read the message detailing how to administer the drug to be tested today. What compounds it actually contained, or whether it was a placebo, she was not privy to. The mail ended with 'subject three'. She sighed. He was a tough nut to crack.

She moved over to a row of lockboxes along a wall, opened one with another fingerprint scan, and retrieved a small metal case. Opening it, she inspected each syringe and vial, cross-checking against the message. To push her qualms away, she told herself that it was important work. They had to find a countermeasure against the Cerinians' psionic abilities, in case they returned with reinforcements.

With the case in one hand and the tablet in the other, she walked through the laboratory's backdoor and along a short corridor to the research room, or interrogation room as she preferred to think about it. A one-way window in the door confirmed that the subject, a male fox, was sitting on one of two chairs by a small table, a thousand-yard stare in his eyes. His azure blue pelt shifted to a shade of grey on his foot paws and underarms, his wrists shackled to the armrests. There were no card scanners or keypads here, so she looked up at the security camera, until a light on the lock turned green and the remote controlled door let her inside.

"Good morning, Ryuga," she said and placed her case on the desk.

The Cerinian didn't acknowledge her, continuing to stare straight ahead as she prepared the injection. There was something defiant in his eyes, even though his blue tail hung limp, its grey tip resting on the floor. His face looked drawn, older than the thirty years old or so that he allegedly was, yet he held a stoic expression. She watched his cuffed hands closely as she administered the drug into his left upper arm. He didn't move a muscle. A shiver ran down her spine, but again she tried her best to shrug the feeling off, as she sat down opposite him and set up her tablet, while waiting for the drugs to take effect.

"Today's test is simple," she said and put her reading glasses on her muzzle. "You know the drill by now. I will watch a series of images on my screen, and you need to tell me what they are." As strange as it seemed, letting a telepath into her mind wasn't the worst part of the job. "Every correct answer will be rewarded..." Because how did you make a telepath answer truthfully? She steeled herself. "...with additional rations for you and your friends."

"So this is what it's come to?" His gaze shifted in an instant, locking on to hers. In any other circumstance, she would have drowned in those vivid blue eyes, but this time, she flinched.

"A hundred kilojoules for every correct answer." Her voice trembled ever so slightly as she spoke. It didn't help that the first time she had laid her eyes on him, she had simply found him drop-dead gorgeous. It was his physique as much as his exotic pelt, slender yet toned, but the muscle definition had faded over the past several weeks.

"How low can you sink?" Those beautiful blue eyes didn't even blink, still staring down hers, judging her. "Why are you starving us?"

But I understand. I have no ill feelings towards you or Corneria.

Her mouth was agape while her brain reset. While it definitely had been his voice, his last words had sounded different, somewhat distant, and his mouth had not moved. Obviously, the Cerinians could read minds, but could they really communicate telepathically with another race?

Only with someone who has an open mind, his voice replied. But do keep talking. Act as if you can't receive me.

"Do I need to remind you that your people were willing to destroy a whole planet?" She distracted herself by checking her watch, to see if the administered substances would have had enough time to take effect.

"Do I need to remind you that Kabura, Mitsuru and I..." He had to use names, didn't he, make it personal? "...helped stop Kamuy. We are not the enemy." His mind-voice continued, Your intentions are pure, protecting your people, but you are being deceived by your leaders, just like I was deceived by Kamuy.

"Pardon me for not taking your word for it, knowing how you used your mind craft to manipulate our people." For some reason, she suddenly felt remorse, but didn't know if it was his or her own, or maybe both.

"I was there," he growled, yet his inner voice was soft. Kamuy crushed my ideals, but I learned from it and changed my ways, fighting alongside Kayuq. Sienna recalled the name from news reports about a vixen who had turned on her delusional leader, and helped end the Cerinian Crisis. But we couldn't have done it without Krystal and Fox McCloud. I owe a debt of gratitude to them.

"Let's just get on with the test." She launched a program on her tablet, showing random images. "What have we got here? This shouldn't be too hard for a mindreader like you."

Ryuga leaned back in his chair and turned his head sideways, looking bored if anything. "A green triangle." Krystal wanted to meet her kin.

Sienna had heard the story, of course, how Krystal thought she was the only survivor from Cerinia.

"Very well." She smiled at him, trying to sound sarcastic to keep the façade up. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"The screen is reflecting in your glasses," he said with a smirk. She fumbled with her specs, quickly putting them in the lab coat's chest pocket. I can see your eyes better now, he added. They are beautiful. She felt the heat rising to her cheeks, hoping that she didn't act weird for whomever was watching them. They'll just think I embarrassed you.

"Next image," she huffed, tapping the monitor and squinting to see better.

"Two blue circles." Ryuga stared at her, a defiant look on his face. I was there. I could sense her desperation. She doesn't want to be alone.

"Correct again." Sienna noticed that so far, the drugs seemed to have no effect, but somehow, that felt less important to her now.

"It doesn't have to be this way," he said before she could ask the next question. "We can cooperate peacefully, if you stop treating us like war criminals." You know it's true, because you are pure of heart.

"You should be grateful you're alive, the way you treated Corneria. We didn't have to rescue your capsule," she said with a fake growl. "Now, in which corner of this image is the square?"

"Are you so foolish you think you can trick me?" he sneered, while sending gentle thoughts over the mind link. "They're all rectangles." You can reach out to Fox McCloud. He won't allow this and the people will listen to him. He's their hero.

Sienna wished she could. Fox is a hero to me as well, she thought, but I'm as much a prisoner as you are, Ryuga. She had no contact with the outside world and knew she was under surveillance. She couldn't just break out with the Cerinian.

I know. His mind-voice was calm yet confident. It will take time and planning, but it can be done.

They kept up their charade for the remainder of the test. His presence was soothing in her mind, making her feel good about their little game, deceiving the authorities. Somehow, time flew by and all too soon she had to pack up and leave the wonderful fox.

"Thank you for your cooperation." She had to focus on preventing her tail from wagging as she headed for the door. "The extra meals will be delivered to your quarters shortly. Please enjoy."

"It certainly looked like you enjoyed yours," he spat after her.

"Fat shaming now, are you?" She whirled around and glared at him, feeling honestly upset, the remark tainting the happy feelings in her mind.

I am sorry, that was low. There were no more words over the mind link, just an image of herself, smiling as Ryuga's hand touched her face.

"I'll gladly come back tomorrow and do more work on you, foul creature." She stormed out of the room without looking back, hearing the remote controlled door slamming shut behind her. But what could Ryuga possibly see in a big girl like her.

Beaty, courage and strength. What courage and strength? she thought. You're a medic. I have seen your memories, the things you have seen, how far you are prepared to go to help people. That is true strength.

Her head was spinning, trying to figure out how to escape the research centre, but she couldn't concentrate because of the warm and fuzzy feelings.

"You look lost?" The grey-furred terrier looked at her with a crooked smile on his muzzle.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she realised she was back in the lab, standing frozen on the spot, probably looking silly. "He called me fat!"

"Oh, yeah," said the terrier and nodded knowingly. "They get in your head to know how to push buttons, them telepaths."

We shared a planet with our enemies the Wolven, larger and stronger than us. Ryuga was still in her head. Of course we had to rely on our minds.

He left her with one last thought, which etched itself in her mind; An image of herself, completely naked and covered only by an azure fox embracing her.

Krystal took another swig of water and glanced up at the afternoon sun beating down at them from over the mesas. Even though Papetoon was one of the system's outer planets, Lylat still had a decent kick in her rays.

"You're not bothered by the heat?" Fangio, her guide, looked up at her from under a wide-brimmed hat, an intrigued smile plastered on his fennec muzzle. "Most Cornerian visitors struggle with adjusting to the differences in seasons."

"I guess Cerinians don't grow a thick winter pelt." She shrugged and put the cap back on her canteen. "I'm not sure I could stand moulting twice a year anyway."

"I hear you," said Fangio and chuckled. His short legs pedalled along relentlessly as they walked the well-trodden path by the creek, lined with low and gnarly bushes.

"I'm surprised there's so much water here." Krystal looked around at the arid landscape around them, where the prairie met the desert. The mesas stood two hundred metres tall on either side of the valley.

"The nearby mountains are high enough so that snow falls in winter." The fennec pointed further up ahead. "In the warmer seasons, it melts and forms streams like this one."

The pair reached a pond, where a group of people stood barefoot in the shallow waters.

"This is what brought settlers to Tabletop Canyon." Smiling widely, Fangio waved a hand towards the tourists, who scooped up water and small amounts of the creek bed and swirled it around in their tin pans. Someone yelped and pointed to their pan, drawing excited chatter from their neighbours. "Gold! But even prospectors need substance, so some started farming and keeping cattle. At the peak of the nineteenth century gold rush, hundreds of people lived here permanently."

Krystal grasped the gold chain around her neck and pulled Vixy's amulet out of her tank top. As pretty as gold was, it was not why she was here.

"Ooh, that's nice," said Fangio, his eyes drawn to the pendant. "That jade looks like it might be from the Great Saline Lakes. Have you been to Port Halite?"

"Yeah, I have," Krystal sighed and thought about the seaside town, walking along the fishing harbour in the hot salty breeze. She had found an old lady in a store selling similar pieces and had spent hours there, looking at the merchandise and discussing where the symbols might come from. During the family's stay on Papetoon, she had visited more libraries and museums than she could keep count of, but it was all to no avail. While she had seen things resembling her tattoos, nothing had mentioned Cerinia or a place like it.

Realising how negative she had sounded, she said, "It was a fascinating place. I like this planet a lot. I just wish I knew what this meant."

"May I?" he asked. She removed the necklace and passed it to Fangio, who examined it, turning it over in his hand while scratching his chin. "There is a theory that the swirl represents Lylat Prime and the arrow the habitable planets: Corneria, Zoness, Fortuna, Katina, Aquas and Papetoon."

It made some sense to Krystal, considering how dry, cold or toxic Macbeth, Fichina, Titania and Venom were, so could it be that the Cerinian system had four planets? But what about Sauria? Didn't the early Lylat space explorers know about the dinosaur planet, because it was on the same orbit as Corneria, always hidden behind Lylat Prime? Could the four arrows on her thigh tattoos reference the fourth orbit of the Lylat system, shared by Corneria and Sauria, and a link to Cerinia? Or was she just looking for clues that simply were not there?

Fangio handed the necklace back and she slipped it over her head. "You had something special to show?"

"Come with me!" He winked and beckoned her to follow.

They continued deeper into the valley. Fangio's tail, sticking out of his khaki shorts, wagged with each step. Soon they reached a sheer cliff face, where the top of the mesa overhung the canyon floor. Multiple stories of dwellings, constructed out of stone and mud, and with corrugated tin roofs, had been built right up against the rock wall.

Fangio stood with his hands on his hips, a beaming smile on his face as he looked up at the buildings. "This is where the early settlers lived."

Krystal could see why. It was cooler and much more comfortable in the shade, and with the stream trickling right past, there was access to fresh water.

"The Papetoon Ministry of Culture makes a point of keeping Tabletop Canyon alive, so a few people live here all year round, keeping it just the way it was," said Fangio and shimmied up a wooden ladder. Once he reached the top, he motioned for her to follow. She climbed up slowly, each rung wobbling under her boots.

Once inside, she waited a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, a contrast to the relentless brightness outside. It seemed to be a living room, an oil lamp burning on a wooden table, the flames reflecting off an old six-shooter and a shotgun hanging on a wall. Maybe they had been used to keep predators away, maybe bandits, or both. Another wall was covered with art, bright colours painted directly onto the mud.

She followed Fangio through another cramped doorway-apparently designed for fennecs' diminutive stature-into a kitchen with a cast iron stove, fired by whatever wood could be collected in the valley. There was a woven rug on the floor, corrugated jars, and ceramic bowls and plates on a table, their geometric patterns similar, yet not identical to Krystal's tattoos. Fangio kept chatting as they passed through room after room, climbing more stairs and ladders. There was a bedroom with four bunks and a black-and-white photograph hung in a simple frame. It depicted a family of fennecs wearing trousers, shirts and wide-brimmed hats, their faces and postures stiff from trying not to move while the photographic plate exposed.

Krystal lost track of time as she studied every artefact with intent, hoping to find something familiar, anything that could trigger her memories.

"Anything that reminds you of Cerinia?" Fangio waited for her at the base of the village, as she stepped off the last ladder.

"No, I'm afraid not." She felt deflated as they started their trek back. Her feet ached. "I'm sorry."

Fangio smirked as he glanced sideways at her. "Was there nothing that stood out?"

Krystal racked her brain. "I guess it is a bit more... archaic... than I expected of interplanetary colonisers. Where's the electricity?" Fangio had shown her the remains of the old telegraph line leading to the village, but where were the generators and solar panels? Maybe the early settlers had taken everything of value with them when they left?

"Ah, that's an interesting point." If possible, the fennec's smile grew even wider. "I haven't told you the best part yet. The buildings have been dated to the second half of the nineteenth Century... OC!"

"As in the Original Calendar?" She had come across the term during her studies. "Didn't that precede the BLW epoch?"

"Yes, we're so focussed on before and after the Lylat Wars." Fangio's large hat wobbled as he shook his head. "But there was an earlier epoch."

"Why are there so few records from that time?" It was something that had bugged Krystal in her searches.

"Lylat was going through a transition at that time. Physical and optical media were falling out of fashion. Excited by new technology, Cornerians digitised historical records and destroyed or forgot about the originals." Both pitch and volume increased as Fangio spoke. "But they did not pay enough attention to protecting the information, and when the stellar storm of 2006 OC hit, most was wiped out."

"What about redundant storage and EMP protection?" Krystal frowned at what seemed like crucial omissions.

"I guess they never expected Lylat Prime to throw such a massive flare." He shrugged and exhaled heavily. "Only some data, military records and the like, was saved. Communication networks, satellite navigation, and other technology were destroyed as well, throwing Lylat back into the dark ages. It took a decade to recover, and in 2016 OC, a new Cornerian federation was formed. It was commemorated with a new calendar, starting at zero NES: New Epoch Standard. It was used until 1993 NES, when the Lylat Wars broke out."

"Thanks for the history lesson," said Krystal. "It's very interesting, but how is it important?"

"What we know is that Cornerians were space-faring at that time, but with basic chemical propulsion systems, simple rockets, not spaceships like today." Fangio pointed to the clear skies above as he spoke. "Could they really have populated other planets on their own? Remember that Table Top Valley was settled, seemingly with primitive technology, more than a hundred years before the stellar storm." He locked onto Krystal's gaze, a wry smile on his muzzle. "Did they have help?"

"I..." A shiver ran up Krystal's spine, raising the hairs on her neck. She recalled her time in the Quango System, several lightyears away and with no records of previous trade with Lylat, yet inhabited by mostly the same species. "I think they might have."

"I'm glad someone shares that opinion." The smile threatened to split his face in half. "It's widely accepted that Cornerians settled Lylat, although the sentient reptiles were on Venom long before us. It's all based on assumptions. As an archaeologist, a scientist, I'm looking to see if there's more to the truth." He stopped and took Krystal's hand, tail spinning behind him at a speed only fennecs could achieve. "Don't lose heart. I won't stop until every stone has been overturned."

The buzzing of Krystal's wrist communicator interrupted them. 'Where RU? Its getting late?' read the message from Fox. She looked up at the Lylat sun hanging low over the horizon, the heat already starting to give way for the cold and clear Papetoon nights.

'I'm fine. Leaving soon,' she replied. Her feet were killing her, and the boots had given her blisters, making her wish she had worn her comfortable sandals instead.

'When will you be home?' Fox's message was quickly followed by, 'I'm just worried, that's all.'

Punching her communicator harder than needed, she dismissed the message and called Fox, but it went straight to his message box. Annoyed, she tried again, only for him to answer and put her on silent. Finally, his face appeared on the hologram, a finger over his muzzle.

"Don't tell me what to do," she said, trying not to raise her voice over a whisper.

"I understand," he replied, barely audible. "But you know what I'm like."

"Where's Marcus?"

The holographic image changed, zooming on the kit curled up on the bed, fast asleep while hugging Fox's bushy tail. Krystal's heart melted and her anger with it.

"He's been trying to keep up with the Marten family's kids all day and crashed early," said Fox. "He probably won't sleep through the night, but hey, we're on holiday."

"I'm back at the town." Krystal looked up at the few buildings-a saloon, a hotel, and the old telegraph station-which served as drop-off and pick-up point for tourists. "I've got an hour's ride back to the resort."

"I'll order some dinner. Love you!"

She signed off and bid farewell to Fangio as well. The fennec fox headed over to the telegraph station, converted into a museum and souvenir shop. She straddled her rented dirt bike, which was parked in front of the saloon. Happy voices emerged from within, where tired tourists quenched their thirst and stilled their hunger.

She pulled out the jade medallion again, the stone shimmering in the light, taking on a peculiar hue like fire on green. Maybe she had been silly, maybe it was futile to put her hopes in such a little thing. If only there had been more time with Kayuq, if only she could remember, then she could find her home, find peace. Her ears flattened, and the corners of her eyes moistened, but perhaps it was just the desert sand blowing in her face? After all, home was wherever her own family was.

Taking a deep breath, she put the pendant back inside her top and checked the vehicle's power cell, which had ample charge. While not as fast as a hoverbike, its fat wheels gave the bike good traction over the dirt and sand, and it was quite fun to ride. She put on her helmet, making sure not to squash her ears, and set off across the plains. As she picked up speed, a bizarre thought entered her mind. How would Fox react if she rolled up on a bike, wearing her leather Kursed outfit? Her husband had his little kinks, and she had a feeling he'd like it.

I'm a poor lonesome cowboy, and a long way from home, or however that old Papetoon song goes, she thought and twisted the throttle, speeding towards the sunset with her tail trailing behind her.

A soft tune filled the darkness, deft fingers working the piano keys, slowly building towards a crescendo.

Sienna's large hand slammed down on the snooze button. She opened one eye to check the time, before rolling over. The past few nights had been restless in anticipation of what was ahead. When sleep had come, her dreams had been filled with him, her azure lover, and the things they would do when they finally got to be together.

Her hand made its way down past her navel and towards her groin, as she toyed with the idea of pleasing herself. It wouldn't be the first time. While she couldn't hear his mind-voice clearly from her room, she knew he sometimes joined her thoughts and dreams. She stopped. Even though she knew he wouldn't care-quite the opposite, he would feed off her emotions-she wanted to save herself... for him!

Sitting up on the side of the bed, she yawned and stretched. She was so tired, but she must push on. While washing and dressing, she went over the information she had gathered over the past weeks. Using her limited credentials, she had researched, trying to find out as much as she could about the station and the programme, but piece by piece to not raise suspicion. Sharing it with Ryuga, they had worked out a plan, but they still had to wait for the right moment. With only three days left on her sojourn at the station, time was running out. Each researcher's stay was limited, for the very reason that they wouldn't build close relationships with the subjects.

Her mouth watered as she eyed off the sweet pastries in the canteen, but she settled for some yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, even though the produce didn't taste all too fresh. She knew it was vain trying to lose weight for him, since he didn't mind her curves, but she still wanted to look her best.

The lab work had become routine for her, and she prepared the day's research without paying it much mind, her thoughts preoccupied by the escape plan instead, going over it again, looking for flaws.

"Hey, you're up early, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed," said the old terrier as he walked into the room, looking a bit worse for wear himself. "Only a few days left, eh? Dogs, I can't wait to get out of this place."

"Yeah, me neither," Sienna replied, hoping that today would finally be the day.

Checking her emails, she found the usual set of tests, trying to find a concoction that eliminated the telepaths' powers. She knew they were getting close, because the prisoners-she couldn't think of them as anything else-sometimes failed the tests.

"Good morning, Ryuga," she said, as always, when entering the room.

"You again?" He glared at her, looking dejected, but his mind said something else. You're a joy for tired eyes.

She studied him closely, while she attached sensors to his temple, chest and fingers. The failed tests meant even less food for the poor Cerinians, and she was appalled by how much weight the fox had lost. Claiming that the physical health of the subjects was imperative for getting accurate mental test results, she had requested and been granted access to their medical records, as well as equipment to monitor their vital signs during the tests.

Today's substance seemed to have a taint to it, as she checked the vial before administering the drug. Ryuga squirmed as she emptied the syringe into his arm. That stung more than usual.

Her heart beat faster. Could today be the day? Have patience my dear, he said, but they were running out of time.

She took some notes and studied his reaction to the injection, while checking her watch, waiting the stipulated ten minutes for the drug to take effect. He glared at her, but his eyes struggled to keep their focus.

"Commencing test 152A," she said, careful to speak clearly into the microphone placed on the table. "Ryuga, I will watch a series of images on my screen, and I want you to tell me what they are."

"You have to repeat that every time?" he spat, keeping to their charade. "Just think. Spare me the words." Your voice is like the sweetest music.

"Very well, first image. What's this?"

"Two red circles." He feigned boredom. She moved on to the next picture. "A purple..." His brows furrowed. "Slanting four-sided thing."

"That's close enough, a rhombus." It seemed to her like he had read her mind correctly, but forgotten the Cornerian word, she noted with concern. He had not done that before.

This drug is strong, he thought to her as she moved on. I feel dizzy. "Three wavy lines."

"There are four," she corrected, and he looked at her, puzzled. On one hand, they had waited for a chance like this, but on the other, every failed question meant less sustenance for the foreign foxes.

Don't be afraid, you know what I'm about to do. His body slumped and his eyes rolled back. Seeing the whites still freaked Sienna out. Remember, when it's time, hold my head.

"Subject passed out after seventeen minutes." Sienna checked her watch and then the vital signs readout on her display. She rose and put a finger to the fox's neck, more for show than anything else.

"Is everything alright?" The guard's voice emanated from the room's loud speakers.

"He passed out quite suddenly," Sienna replied. "Heart rate is dropping to fifty beats per minute... now forty."

"I'll call for assistance," the guard continued.

"Hang on, something's not right." She held up a hand for the concealed cameras. "His neural oscillations are decreasing rapidly."

"Is he unconscious or just asleep?"

"No, no, no, it's worse than that." Sienna felt fear grasping her heart as she checked the tablet. She had never seen such EEG readings before. "Dammit, there are neither alpha nor theta waves, and even the delta waves are falling below normal levels."

"Maybe he needs adrenaline?"

"His breathing and pulse are slow but steady, holding at thirty bpm." She checked with a finger against his throat again and opened his eyelids, blank eyes not moving. "We need to get him to the infirmary on the surface."

"I'm not authorised..."

"I'm the doctor here," she barked with a volume that surprised herself. She snarled and stared at a corner in the ceiling, where only a small dark dot betrayed the location of a camera. "He needs an MRI, now! His brain is dying. We can't afford to lose a subject."

It took mere seconds for the guard to enter the room, quickly undoing the shackles tying the Ryuga to the chair. A medic arrived within a minute with a stretcher. After hoisting the fox's limp body onto it, cords still attached to his body, they set off through the corridors. With the guard leading the way and unlocking the doors, Sienna urged them along, until they reached an elevator.

"I'll call for personnel to meet you at the surface," said the guard, when they realised that the elevator wouldn't fit them all.

"I can push him myself. He's only light." Sienna squeezed in next to the stretcher, her generous behind leaving no room for the others. "Just make sure the infirmary has the MRI ready."

"I have some bad news." The guard held the elevator doors open for a moment. "It's a short flight to the hospital."

"What?" shouted Sienna with feigned shock. She had figured out as much and their daring escape relied on it.

"Head to shuttle bay two," the guard barked as the doors closed.

The elevator set off with a jerk, and Sienna lost her balance, slumping against the wall. Pulling herself up, she leaned down over the Cerinian, putting an ear to his muzzle, pretending to listen to his breathing. This was the moment she dreaded the most, even though he had explained it in detail. Ryuga's master had taught him how to put himself in a deep trance, something a Cerinian could use to hide their presence from others telepaths, but he needed help to wake up again. Think of me, he had said. Making sure their heads touched, she thought of his azure pelt, his alert eyes, their conversations, his wit when he mocked her.

Sparing a glance at the tablet, it showed what she feared: a slow heart rhythm and a flat EEG. She thought of their mental conversations, planning the escape. She thought of the visions they had shared, even the naughty ones. She thought of the future, the things they wanted to do together. Her fingers clenched the fabric of his plain shirt. The elevator slowed down, reaching its destination. Losing her blue wonder was not an option. She had already fallen too hard. Please, wake up! But how?

The elevator doors opened. A faint gasp reached her ear, sending shivers down her spine. I hear you. Her lips brushed past his, and like an electric shock, it triggered her into action. Another guard waited outside the elevator, but she pushed right past him.

"Show me the way to shuttle bay two," she barked.

"Yes, ma-am!" The shepherd hurried ahead, swiping a card and using his paw print to open a set of sliding doors.

Sienna pushed the stretcher through, only to come to a halt in front of another set of doors. The first pair of doors closed and locked behind her with a solid thud. She looked at the waiting shuttle, their path to freedom, clearly visible through the blaster proof glass barrier in front of her. Once aboard, with the help of Ryuga's psionic abilities, they could overpower the pilot and head into space. They didn't even have to make it all the say to Corneria. As long as they could get a message off to Star Fox, it would force the hand of SIRIUS not to kill an invaluable asset, but to negotiate a solution acceptable to both parties. The Cerinians were willing to help, but in exchange for freedom.

Realising that the second pair of doors had not opened, Sienna panicked.

"Open up already," she shouted and looked back at the guard.

"It just won't." He worked the keypad frantically on the other side. "It's not accepting my codes."

A monitor flickered to life on a wall. Sienna froze when two heads appeared on the screen: a poodle she had met once before, and a black feline with a very familiar face.

"Tsk, tsk, you've been a very naughty girl, Miss Sienna Bergman," said Panther Caroso.

"I'm actually impressed," added Jackson Peters. "We always suspected the Cerinians would get up to something, but you've been very discreet with your research. Our security missed it completely. I was quite curious how you and your telepathic... friend would pull off your little stunt."

"Unfortunately," Panther moved closer to the camera, smirking with a fang showing. "You talk in your sleep."

Realising she had been watched every second, even in her private moments of telepathic intimacy with Ryuga, Sienna went cold. She wondered if SIRIUS had let them nearly escape, just to study and demoralise the Cerinians further.

"Of course, we cannot afford anymore psionic shenanigans," said Jackson as a hissing noise increased from vents in the room. "So good night, for now."

A peculiar scent filled Sienna's nose. Tears rolled down the thick fur on her face, knowing that this was the end of her career, their daring escape, and most importantly, their precious time together. She had failed.

"No, you were great," said Ryuga with a whisper, stirring on the stretcher. His eyes opened for a moment, looking at her. "You did the best..."

Sienna met his gaze, but his face grew blurry as the gas began to take effect, and his voice trailed off. The room seemed to move around her, and she fell to the floor with a heavy thump, soon snoring loudly.

Krystal woke up with a start and sat up straight on the bed. The visions had been vivid but that cry had been muffled and far off. She concentrated, feeling that it was still there, but the voice faded away.

"Mmm… wassup?" Fox stirred beside her in the darkness.

"I had a dream."

The covers rustled as Fox spun around. "Was it another memory?" His eyes, instantly wide open, reflected in the faint moonlight as he looked at her.

"Just a wacky dream." She laid back down, her head flopping onto the soft pillow. "We were fighting Aparoids on Papetoon, but on horseback and with kinetic pistols." Fox giggled. "Yeah, silly, right?" she continued. "Suddenly Panther showed up, infected by the Aparoid virus. He wanted to experiment on me to figure out how my telepathy works. Then there was... a cry for help."

"Like the distress signal you sensed from Sauria during the invasion?"

She nodded. "Maybe it was Marcus." She reached out with her built-in baby monitor, touching the boy's mind. "He's dreaming about swimming in the pool."

"Maybe he had a little nightmare before?" said Fox.

"Perhaps..." Krystal looked sideways at her husband. "Roll over!"

"What? Why?"

"Cos I want to be the big spoon, you goof."

Fox obeyed and she snuggled close, wrapping an arm around his broad chest and nuzzling his neck. She made little whining noises as she soaked up the warmth from his body and the content and love from his mind.