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Fox docked his Arwing in the launch bay, hull smoking and pitted from incoming fire. It had been a hard fought mission that needed every ounce of might Star Fox could bring to bear, which included bringing on some old members that hadn’t flown with the team in quite some time.
Magnetic clamps started engaging in the Great Fox’s launch bay. They were taking a little longer than normal, probably because there was so much material missing from the hull.
If Slippy thought Fox’s Arwing was beat up, he couldn’t wait to see what the toad thought of Fay’s less robust Interceptor-Class Arwing. The Interceptor sacrificed shield strength for vastly improved flight and weapons performance. As a result, it worked best in short and quick fights, where this mission was a drawn out test of endurance. It was truly a testament to her skill that Fay was able to keep the Arwing moving, although it was shuddering constantly and the cockpit was filling with smoke.
Fox climbed out of the ship onto the Great Fox’s walkways, running over to Fay’s Arwing to help her out of what was sure to be some expensive repairs. Hopefully, Pepper hadn’t skimped out on the contract.
Fay was an energetic white spaniel, often the life of the party. It had been a few years since the two females had left the team, but Fox remembered the bar they’d celebrated at in the wake of Andross’ defeat. Miyu drank Falco under the table and Fay… Well she was just radiant. The bar seemed to center on her for a few moments, and her blue eyes reminded him of the sky. She never seemed fettered by the weight of the Star Fox team, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t envious.
Fox shook his head before he focused on the wrong memories. Some things from that party are best left forgotten.
“You alright in there Fay? You’re looking a little smoked out!”
The communicator on his ear crackled to life and transmitted static for a second before a faint reply sounded.
“You might want to step back, Fox—”
Coughs filled the comm channel, his heart dropped into his steel boots. How long had she been breathing that smoke?
“I’m going to have to blow the emergency cockpit charges. I’ve lost all my hydraulic pressure.”
He took a few steps back. With the kind of damage the Arwing had taken, there was no telling what shrapnel the emergency charges could send flying.
“Not like you to crack under like that. Let’s get you out of there and down to the infirmary.”
Fox watched as the bottom of the cockpit bulged under the weight of the emergency charges and the canopy hinged up, revealing a battered Fay. She looked a little light headed, but other than that they probably looked pretty similar. Her bow was ruffled, red bandana pulled to her face. She was drenched in sweat, and her fur was matted and sooty.
“Very funny, flyboy.”
Fay coughed again, then stumbled out of the cockpit into Fox. He wrapped an arm around her to keep her stable and she wrapped hers around him in turn. She was slightly taller than him, enough so that she was almost whispering in his ear.
“Thanks. Helluva way to spend Valentines, but I think I can make an exception for you, Fox.”
She winked at him as they walked down the hall together. He sputtered for a second, replying,
“Wait, today is...”
“You didn’t know? When you called Miyu and I, she said that she couldn’t make it because she was with a date on Katina, and that she thought you could handle it. I just so happened to be in the neighborhood at the time, and I told you then that it was kind of a weird way to ask for a date.”
She shuffled as they moved down the hall, seemingly rubbing at something under her flight jacket. She must have been sore from the jostling, Fox knew he was. He facepalmed as they got to a junction. Fay’s delivery had been deadpan and her face completely serious. How could he have forgotten?
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner, Fay? I feel bad for roping you into this on Valentine’s of all da—”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up, Fox. I didn’t say it was a bad date.”
His thoughts crashed to a halt as a heart shaped box was pressed into his free hand.
“Sorry they’re a little melted, my climate control fried halfway through. I wanted to spend Valentine's Day with you, Fox. You sure know how to show a girl a good time. Haven’t had a workout like that since Andross.”
“You really mean that?”
Fay grabbed his bandanna and smashed her mouth into his before starting to go limp in his arms. He put his other arm around her back to support her
“Shut up and carry me, flyboy. I don’t think I can stay awake for too much longer—”
“What the hell was that?! You don’t have the energy to waste—”
Her grip fell from his bandanna and she started to slump backwards into his other arm.
“And you don’t look much better…”
With that, Fay passed out in Fox’s arms. She seemed okay despite the smoke inhalation, hadn’t shown any major symptoms. He scooped the sooty dog into a bridal carry and kept walking towards the infirmary. All his ears picked up were the shallow breaths of sleep, but it was still better to err on the side of caution.