A New War : A New Beginning



	"No,father! No!!!!"Fox McCloud jolted awake,in a cold sweat,and very 
shaken.At first he looked about in disorientation,then he remembered he 
was in his room,in his bed,aboard Great Fox.
	"It was only a dream,"He breathed deeply,wiped his brow,and looked at 
his alarm.0400 hours.He shook his head,he hadn't been getting enough 
sleep,mostly because of the nightmares he had been having.Horrible 
nightmares of his father's,James McCloud's,death.
	"There's no way I'm going to be able to sleep anymore,might as well get 
up,''The Starfox leader climbed from his bed,and into his uniform.After 
pulling on his boots he ran a brush through his fur a couple of 
times.Lately,he wasn't really caring how he looked.
	Putting on his com-link,Fox headed for Great Fox's kitchen.
	After making sure he hadn't woke any of the other team members up,he 
made some coffee,pouring himself a cup.He then went and sat down at the 
table,looking out the large window at Corneria,him and his team's home 
planet,from space.
	"Well,at least the war wasn't for nothing,we saved the Lylat System,''He 
muttered to himself,taking a sip from his coffee.The coffee was 
tasteless,like everything else,dull and meaningless,not to say boring.
	It had only been a year since the defeat of Andross on Venom.Besides 
becoming the heroes of the war and recieving some medals,the team had 
raked in enough cash to pay off the mortgage on the Great Fox mothership.

	After all that had happened,the team was happy overall to be able to 
relax and enjoy some peace.
	For Fox,it was very different.He kept having flashbacks.His 
kit-hood,happier times,his parents alive and well.Then,his mother's 
death,his father,who was supposed to be dead,coming back to save him from 
Andross's clutches in the final battle.Fox still hadn't worked up enough 
courage to tell the team about it,his father's appearing to him at the 
end to save him.They'd probably think he was crazy.It made him feel all 
the more alone,and trapped inside himself.
	But I'm not alone,he shook his head,trying to gather his thoughts as 
much as trying to clear them.I'm not alone.Falco,Peppy,and Slippy are 
here with me.I've got my best pal Bill.And Fara-
	"Mornin',Fox,"A gruffy old voice interrupted his tangled thoughts.
	Fox swiveled in his chair to see Peppy Hare,the oldest member of the 
team,and his father's best friend,when he had been alive.
	Fox felt his stomach tighten.He had again admitted to himself that his 
father was dead,something he had refused to do long after James' 
passing.He still couldn't grasp that he was really gone.
	Peppy saw the young fox cringe inwardly at himself,by what he saw in his 
eyes.The veteran pilot poured himself  a cup of coffee,and pulled up a 
chair beside him.He had watched Fox grow up,and sensed something was 
weighing heavily on the youth's mind.
He chose his words carefully,he didn't want to force Fox into anything he 
didn't want to say.''Up pretty early,Fox.You look exhausted.''
	Fox merely nodded,a sign to Peppy that he wanted to change the 
subject.''I'm fine,just a little restless.''
	Restless,Fox you look terrible.Peppy saw the dark rings under the young 
pilot's eyes,the dulling in his fur,and how gaunt he looked.But it was 
his eyes that bothered him the most.They were lackluster,painful.It tore 
at Peppy's heart.What's wrong m'boy,why don't you tell me?I don't 
understand.
	He thought about trying to read Fox's thoughts,but decided against 
it.Like his father James,Fox would sense someone would be messing with 
his mind,a rather unpleasant feeling,and Peppy didn't want to upset him 
anymore than he was.The old hare decided to save his mind-reading talent 
for another time.''Are we heading down to Corneria today,lad?''
	"I guess so old friend,there's nothing else to do,''He set his cup down 
on the table rather roughly.
	Peppy flicked his ears at the harsh movement,and looked back up at the 
young pilot.He tentatively tried again.''Something bothering you 
m'boy,anything on your mind?"
	Fox shook his head,forcing a weak smile.''No Pep,just a little touchy 
from no sleep.I'm okay.''
	He turned away from Peppy to look out the window,feeling the threat of 
breaking down on him.He fought it back,there was no way he was going to 
cry like a kit in front of Peppy.He suddenly wished he could.
	Peppy felt Fox's emotions,and they nearly bowled him over.You need to 
cry Fox,you can't keep those emotions locked in.They have to come 
out,don't let them build up,son.
	Fox didn't hear his thoughts,and somehow managed to regain some 
self-control,just enough,though.
	Peppy skimmed over the emotions he felt from Fox.Besides that ,he could 
see the young fox's agitation,the depression.He had become snappy and 
unpredictable,going off about things of little importance.
	The hare was about to say something when a groggy Slippy and a drowsy 
but cocky Falco padded into the kitchen.
	"Hi,guys,what's up?"Slippy yawned,reaching into the kitchen cupboard for 
some cereal.
	"Just the usual,Slip,"Fox finally found something he could smile a 
little about.Despite the boredom,his team was always trying to be 
optimistic,even if it was difficult to at times.
	''Yeah,just the usual,sit on our tails and do nothing,"Falco loved to 
gripe,which was what he usually did.Most of it though,was in good,rough 
humor.The falcon poured himself some coffee and plunked heavily into his 
chair.
	Slippy,not a coffee fan,brought his cereal to the table,grabbing the 
remaining seat.''Well,well,well,aren't we in a good mood.''
	''For Falco,this is his good mood,"Fox put in some effort to tease.
	Peppy smiled,hiding it as he took a sip from his cup.
	"Don't start with me Slip,Fox,or I'll throw you out the window into 
space,''Falco glared at them warnfully.
	"Let's see you try it bird-brain!"Slippy pulled back his spoon,filled 
with cereal and milk with a finger,and let it fly,splattering Falco in 
the face.''Take that!"
	"Why you little-''Falco bolted from his chair,grabbing his teammate and 
wrestling him to the floor.
	"Ouch!Falco you bully"Slippy cried helplessly.
	Fox and Peppy burst into laughter.
	"Oh,you think it's funny Fox!"Falco lunged for him.
	Fox couldn't counter the weight that Falco put on him.The chair toppled 
over backwards."Falco!Watch it!"
	"Banzai!!!"Slippy yelled,jumping onto his two teammates.
	Peppy,tears roling down his face,roared with laughter at the three young 
pilots piled on the floor.
	"Good grief!"Fox shoved Falco off of him and retrieved his com-link from 
the floor,since it had been knocked off during the scuffle.He put it back 
on as snug as possible.He glanced back at Peppy,who,with a red face,was 
trying his best not to crack up.
	"What do you think is so funny?"
	"Oh nothing,m'boy,just nice to see you kids have fun,''He 
sighed,chuckling,wiping the tears from his eyes.
	"Who you callin' kids?''Falco and Slippy said in unison.They advanced on 
the old hare.
	"Hey now!Leave me alone,I'm an old 'un!!!"The hare made a mad dash for 
the bathroom,locking the door.
	"Peppy,you coward!"Slippy hit the door with his fist,and heard a stream 
of laughter on the other side.
	"Sorry Slip,you're not picking on me today!''
	"You can't stay in there for forever,Peppy!''Falco taunted him.
	"Wanna bet?Iv'e got something you don't,something that comes only with 
age.''
	"What's that?"
	"I know how to wait,"A snicker followed the old hare's favorite saying.
	"Okay,okay okay!Truce Peppy,"Slippy returned to the table,and started to 
clean up the mess made from the rough housing.
	Falco,his patience run out,headed for the docking bay.Peppy soon 
appeared,grabbing his coffee and sitting back down.
	Fox finished his own cup and after setting it in the sink,started after 
Falco.
	That's when it happened.The alarm went off.Rob-64 came over the 
intercom."Priority one!Message from General Pepper!Priority one!Report to 
the bridge immediatly!''
	"Peppy,Falco,Slip,come'on!!"Fox dashed down one of the corridors,his 
team right behind him.
	Whe they reached the bridge Fox called on Rob."Put the message 
through,Rob.''
	The monitor screen came on.A symbol of the Cornerian Army flashed,then 
came the clear image of General Pepper.
	"General,what's going on?"
	"No time to explain Fox,come to the base immediatly!"
	"Sir,why?"
	"Reports have indicated to me that Andross-fuzzz-is-bzzzzzzzzzz-,"The 
screen went static.
	"Slippy,what's happening?"
	"I don't know Fox,interference?"
	"Interference from what?"Falco leaned over Slippy's shoulder as he began 
to work on the  main computer.
	The static suddenly cleared,revealing a face Fox had prayed he would 
never have to see again.
	ANDROSS.
	"You thought you were rid of me McCloud?You thought you defeated me?"
	Fox stared numbly at the screen,grasping the railing so hard his 
knuckles turned white.
	Andross laughed."Wrong Starfox,you can never be rid of me.If I cannot 
have the Lylat System...I WILL DESTROY IT!!!!!!!!!!"
	The screen went back to static.
	The bridge was silent,the Starfox team staring at their leader.
	"Put a message back to the General if you can Slip,"Fox's voice was 
hoarse,barely above a whisper."Tell him we're on our way."
	"Fox...."Peppy didn't know what to say.
	"But Andross can't be alive!"Falco slammed a feathery fist down on the 
control panel."Fox killed him!"
	"Apparently......I didn't,"Fox staggered from the bridge.
	"Fox,wait!"Peppy took a step after him.
	He couldn't.He felt like he was going to be sick.He didn't realize he 
was running down the many corridors,to the docking bay.He didn't hear his 
friends calling him,begging him to stop.Andross's voice rang in his ears.

	Failure!You failed,Fox McCloud!Failed your friends,your General,your 
loved ones!
	"Nooooooo!"Fox screamed Andross's voice whispered at him,jeered at 
him.His legs pumped harder.He slammed against the doors to the docking 
bay before flinging them open.
	You failed McCloud!You've failed everyone!A 
failure.......failure......FAILURE!
	Fox stumbled against his fighter.He whirled on it in blind pain and 
rage.He struck the hull with his fists,but the arwing's skin was 
stong,and didn't render under his blows.Soon his gloves were bloody as he 
gashed his knuckles on the alloyed metal.
	"WHY CAN'T YOU STAY DEAD ANDROSS!!!"Fox screamed."WHY CAN'T YOU DIE AND 
STAY THAT WAY!!!!!!!!"
	Failure!You failed!You failed your father!
	"No......."Fox began to sob,sliding to the cold floor."I couldn't have 
failed........dear God,I didn't fail.........''
	He went to his knees,bowling over.Sobs wracked his 
body."I......I...failed."
	Distantly,Andross's crazed laugh seemed to touch all the corners of 
Lylat as the Starfox leader finally collapsed.

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