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Chapter 29: A Stint of Normality

“So… the kid tries to stick you up, fails, so you decide to take him back to the ship?" Fox inquired with a hint of mirth as he turns to the frowning spartan standing next to him near the back of the common room, the two males watching as Krystal held the fitfully sleeping form of the small wolf pup. The vulpine nursed a mug of coffee, a poor attempt at staving off his pounding headache, what was a reminder why he usually did not drink all too much.

It had been an hour since they returned to the Great Fox, and after unloading an unconscious lynx in her quarters, Six took both Krystal and the wolf child to the common room while he contacted Fox about this new development. Thankfully the vulpine had only just entered his cab when Six called, so he had only been a few minutes behind them. Though, he had brought Fara with him, the vixen sitting across from Krystal, a soft smile playing on her expression as she watched the other female coddle the slumbering pup.

“That is an accurate summarization." Six agreed reluctantly. He would have preferred dropping the child of at the closest orphanage, but feared what Krystal might say to him had he suggested such a course of action. He considered his idea to be both logical and pragmatic, but was well aware that a far more emotional force drove his love interest. He would have also suggested that they locate the child's parents, but it was clear to him that there was simply no one to be found. He had seen more than his fair share of street orphans in his career, dirtied youths that roamed the thoroughfares of the continent spanning municipalities spread across human sovereign territory. The teens amongst them were often armed and dangerous, almost feral. Even the younger adolescents on occasion were wild and untamed.

The spartan was concerned about Krystal's plans for the boy. She had a fondness for collecting and attempting to repair broken things, and he had a bad feeling that the pup would be one of them.

“She wants to keep him here, at least for the night." Another concern of his, the child after all had not hours ago threatened their lives, albeit he was hardly a threat in the first place, Still, if there was even a minor chance that he might act hostilely, it was not a risk Six wanted to take. Nevertheless, as he was growing accustomed to, Krystal had made an executive decision, with an impressive staunchness he might add. Thus he found himself not only condoning the child's stay, but acting as a representative on his behalf. He would have chuckled at the irony, if not for the seriousness of the debacle.

“Does she…" Fox mused with a strange air about him, partially amused, and yet at the same time concerned.

Six did not know what Fox was thinking in that moment, yet he realized with a frown, having developed an intensive dossier on the vulpine, that he already knew what his answer would be.

“Alright, he can stay for tonight. However if she wants him to stay any longer she has to talk to me personally, one-on-one."

“Agreed." Six dipped his head in acknowledgment. He was actually glad for that, as he hoped Fox might possess the steel to deal with her that he himself did not contain. The spartan found it nigh impossible to disagree with her passionate beliefs. After all it was those very ardent philosophies that had arguably changed him for the better.

A moment of silence passed between them before Fox seemed to grow more serious. “I have some news myself. Pepper called me just before you did. It's serious."

“What has gone wrong now?" Six inquired, a frown curling his lips as both Krystal and now Fara it seemed were entranced by the sleeping child. It would seem as if the chances for him leaving on the morrow were growing slimmer by the second.

“The garrison on Katina went silent four hours ago. And as of forty minutes from this moment, we've lost contact with the entire planet, no transmissions, ships, or news of any kind. All activity to and from that sector is dead."

Six could see it in the shine of Fox's eyes.

The vulpine was afraid.

And perhaps somewhere deep down.

He was too.

“What does he need from us?"

The glint in Fox's eye sparkled acutely.

“Not us… you. The General is assembling an investigative task force to determine the cause for the blackout, a cruiser with a small special ops unit. This is something Starfox is not equipped to handle. On the other hand I, you, and the General know you are. I won't force you to go. Bu-"

“When do I leave?" The spartan inquired, cutting him off_. _This was it, Six could feel that same sense of foreboding in his gut that struck him on his first day on Reach. The storm was no longer approaching.

It was here.

Then again he could be wrong, but the spartan could not remember the last time his instincts failed him in any serious capacity.

“It'll take a day or two for the cruiser to reroute from Zoness and berth at the orbital space-dock. So you have until then." The vulpine frowned. “Are you sure you want to do this. I can't tell you how long you'll be gone." There was an unspoken addition that lingered after that statement. If it was what they feared, there was no guarantee he would come back.

“Someone has to Fox, and I don't see any other supersoldiers lining up for the task." He knew the risks, always did. There was no one else that could do this other than him, and even he was not certain that he could succeed if the worst came to pass. He was just one spartan, third generation at that, a cheap knockoff.

Suddenly his concerns about the child seemed self-indulgent. There were greater threats out there than that of one adolescent.

“Something tells me Krystal is not exactly going to be excited about this." Fox voiced with a smug chuckle.

Six winced as he realized this fact as well. That conversation would not be a pleasant one.

“No, she will not."

Mumbling a somewhat insincere farewell, Six shifted himself out from the shadow of the far wall and stepped towards the center of the common room, a stern grimace on his scared visage as he dreaded the conversation to come. When he was close enough, Krystal removed her attention from the slumbering wolf pup and looked up to him with a positively radiant smile, a smile that he regretfully tarnished with a worried frown as she noticed his serious glare. Already, that child was making her happier than he ever had, he knew not the juvenile's ability to garner so much affection from her with little positive return, but in that moment it was no concern of his.

“What's wrong?' She asked with a soft tone and a clear and present hesitation in her words, and he hated the fact that he created this timidness in her. But unlike usual, he could not entirely conceal his otherwise irritable demeanor.

“I have… bad news." He admitted with a sigh.

At his words the vixen wrapped her paws tightly around the sleeping wolf child with a worrying possessiveness. “Did Fox say no?"

“He agreed that he could stay, but that is not what I am talking about." Six went silent, not entirely confident on how to articulate his next words.

“What, what is it, Six?" Her concern only grew more obvious and painful as his muteness dragged on. Her tail fluttered indecisively at her side and the paws the vixen had wrapped around the child trembled.

Deciding that saying something was better than standing around like a fool, he relented on being as direct as possible. “Something has… come up and Pepper has need of me. In a few days I'll be… leaving. And I am not sure when I'll be coming back."

This appeared to tip the female fox over the edge, her eyes wide and panicked as she released one of her grips on the child and reached out for him. “What… you're leaving? I d-don't understand."

Six could feel her distress in the strength of her grasp, her paw clenched tight and needful around his hand. The sight tore at his insides more powerfully than a sangheili energy blade, and the spartan felt a sharp and painful tug in his chest. This was harder than he thought it would be. But he took solace and strength from the warmth of her touch. It reminded him why he had to leave. He needed to protect her, and this was the best way he knew how.

“Krystal… I have to do this."

“No!" The vixen shouted in denial, shaking her muzzle profusely as if her resolve alone could prevent this, the wolf pup in her arms murmured softly in his sleep, disturbed by the loud noises of the vixen's distress and the trickle of liquid pattering down on him. “You don't have to do anything, not anymore. You don't have to leave me!"

Six smiled sadly, leaning down to embrace her with a soft chuckle, his voice low and placating in its sincerity. “Do not be foolish little vixen. I will never leave you. So long as I am here..." He placed the palm of his hand on the cleft between her breasts, above her heart. “I can never truly be gone."

“You left me once already." She whined quietly, her muzzle seeking comfort in the crook of his neck as she placed a paw on his hand on her chest. “I can't lose you again. I won't. Let me go with you."

“You know why you cannot." Six had no need to tell her why. Perhaps, if she was not disabled, he might have deliberated on whether nor not he could take her with him, but with her lingering injury he could not in good conscious even consider allowing her to follow him. “I promise I will come back, it should only be for a few days." He felt as if was stretching the truth, but he did hope that it would only be that long, that this was just some false alarm, however much he doubted that.

“Come…" Six reached down and gently took the young lupine from his place in her lap, carefully resting the small adolescent in the crook of his arm as he used his other to transfer Krystal from the couch to her chair. “We can talk more in our room." He suggested with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. He had never really been good at those. Thankfully, it appeared to work as the distraught vixen calmed somewhat, her tears drying as she clutched his free arm in a deathly grip.

Before he departed, Six cast one more look at Fox, the vulpine offering him an encouraging grin of his own as he moved to sit next to Fara, though Six noted it lacked his usual vigor and grit. The spartan ducked his head in a terse farewell to them both as he left the room, a sharp and painful grapple clutching his heart.

*****

It was a monumentally challenging undertaking, but Six was able to finally talk down Krystal's fears, what he had hoped to be a short and quick conversation extending to several hours until she at last fell asleep against his chest. He sighed in resignation as he placed both her and the still sleeping wolf child onto the bed, where he could keep an eye on them both, the kid especially. He did not know what Silver's role would turn out to be, whether the pup would be gone by the time he returned or turn out to be a more permanent facet of Starfox. He did respect the kid's resolve, a few months of tutoring under an experienced instructor and he might make something of himself. But that was neither, what was important or a worthy concern of his time. Taking his focus away from the bed, Six shifted his attention onto something that might occupy him.

The spartan already knew that sleep would not be finding him that night, and busied himself with taking apart his rifle to run a careful eye over its inner mechanics. He was not sure if he would be needing it when he left. He hoped he would not, but intuition born of a thousand blood-soaked battlefields told him otherwise. One way or another his rifle would roar its fearsome battle cries.

He did not like that he would be leaving Krystal, or anyone. What he once would have counted as a blessing only saddened him as he realized that he would be separating from his new family for the first time since he came to care for them. He worried, more for them than himself. He feared what might happen when he was unable to watch over them. He had fleetingly considered turning down Pepper's request, but denied such an action as foolish and selfish as well.

Besides, if this turned out to be what he thought it was, he'd be happier to know that Krystal, Miyu, and all of his friends were nowhere nearby.

A quiet pop of metal filled the silence around him as Six extracted the weapon's power cell, studying the energy pack with a technician's critical gaze, his free hand dropping to the desk and resting by his blaster.

The kid was awake.

The spartan heard the telltale shift in his breathing pattern indicating that the small child had awoken from his unexpected slumber. Because of Krystal, he was willing to offer the adolescent the curtesy of not ending his life for threatening one of his lovers, but that did not infer that he would hesitate if the moment came.

He watched from the glowing reflection within the power cell as the child bolted upright, appearing both dazed and confused as his eyes darted about the close confines of the living quarters. Six was curious how he might react, would he once again leap for his criminal nature, something the spartan would not suggest, or would he do something else unanticipated.

The young wolf pup's panicked inhalations eventually settled as he remained sitting upright on the bed. As soon as he had shaken off his anxieties, the pup glanced about himself, patting down his unkempt apparel and combing a ragged paw through his dirty and disheveled fur.

If the kid hoped to stay any longer he better be prepared for a shower.

Seemingly satisfied to uncover that he was still wholly intact, the fledgling lupine focused more on his surrounding environment, where his eyes roved to the slumbering form of Krystal beside him, the vixen having curled up tightly in her sleep. He froze for a moment, before a faint, almost unreadable smile pulled at his features.

The sight was a small abatement for the spartan's reservations about the child, as he appeared a degree less volatile in that moment.

Turning away from the sleeping fox, the kid scanned the room itself now, his gaze wandering the possessions of both the spartan and the vixen, when his eyes stopped on the shotgun Six left at the bedside.

The spartan clutched his handgun tight.

Krystal could yell and scream at him all she wanted, but if the adolescent made a move for the weapon, Six would end him.

Thankfully, both for the spartan's peace of mind and the wolf's health, his eyes roamed past the weapon till they landed upon the spartan himself, who had yet to make it obvious that he noticed the pup's awakening.

If the child was stunned at noticing Krystal, he was all but petrified when he took in the imposing sight of Six himself. Even out of armor and seated before the desk, he still ranged far above the smaller juvenile in height and muscle mass. Fear was etched deeply on the little one's muzzle and he instinctively hunched over, cowering upon the bed.

At that Six finally let loose a dry chuckle as he used a boot to kick out a small stool that sat underneath the desk. Opening a drawer, he stowed the pistol away and gestured towards the seat he had revealed.

“Come… sit." Though devoid of any comprehensible anger or malice, the irrefutable tone of authority in his voice was not to be denied, and with great hesitation, the child kicked his small feet off the bed and tentatively rose to his full and lesser height before making his way towards the spartan. He paused for a few lingering moments before finally setting himself down on the stool, his head only reaching the human supersoldier's elbow.

Six did not immediately react to the child's presence, instead taking the time to reassemble his rifle and gather his thoughts before proceeding. In the few minutes it took for him to partly put the weapon together, the child beside him underwent a rapid and curious array of expressions.

Fear was predominant amongst them, though it did not last long before his youthful keenness proved its ability to surmount any obstacle as he watched the spartan's work with rapt interest.

Though Six did not intend it, a slight smile found its way on his scarred features. Initially it was the young one's eyes, so bright and inquisitive; much like his had once been that garnered such a reaction. In that moment the pup reminded him of himself back during his first handful of weapon drills back on Onyx. That is if he had been a bipedal wolf child at the time.

The thought alone nearly brought another chuckle from him, but the spartan easily contained the notion.

Curious, he made to pretend that he had fumbled an errant rivet used to latch the stock closed, the minute bolt hit the desk with a light ping and rolled across the smooth surface till it spiraled to a stop at the spot in front of the kid.

He paused, watching interestedly as the lupine's eyes that so fascinatingly harmonized with his name, stared intently at the wayward fastener. With a wary and fearful slowness, the young wolf removed a paw from its hiding placed underneath the desk and wrapped the appendage around the bolt. His eyes turned away from his prize, before the little kid wordlessly offered it out to him.

His small smile growing slightly, Six accepted the gift. However, his smile soon became strained as his hand wrapped around the child's paw. There was little flesh between his fur and his bones, of which Six could feel the insignificant but disconcerting misalignment of his stubby fingers.

They had been broken, and they had not healed properly.

His crimson scrutiny deepened and his otherwise suspicious nature softened as he peered into the young lupine's silvery eyes. What exactly had happened to this unfortunate child? He was malnourished, and he had clearly been beaten, what kind of person could beat a child needlessly? Six decided they were of the sort that would not live long under his gaze.

The spartan could not mend past injuries, but he could resolve more manageable concerns. Releasing the frailty of the youthful wolf's paw, he swiftly reassembled his rifle in its entirety and placed it gently upon the desk's surface before looking to the little wolf with an unusually warm grin.

“Come on. Let's find you something to eat."

Though remaining silent, Silver acknowledged his suggestion with what was perhaps a decidedly eager nod of his muzzle before extending out his paw once more. It was clear that he wished Six to hold, or possibly carry him. The spartan would have denied him, but something inside him stopped that inclination of repudiation, and instead urged him to accept the request of one so young and vulnerable.

The spartan's grin became uncertain as he clasped his hand around the young wolf's paw, though the soft smile from the child assured him that he was right to do so. Six felt something new as he held the child's paw and exited his quarters with the kid in tow; a different desire to protect that was not of the same reasons he had for Krystal or Miyu. He could feel the strength in the pup's grasp on him, as if he were afraid to let go.

For whatever reason the child felt safer with him, and the concept made Six feel… happy.

*****

Silver did not remember much of the events that had brought him into his strange newfound luck, most days tended to blend together for him. However the one that made it all change had started off much like usual, wake up in the alley he had called home for the last two years, beg for enough credits to hopefully get breakfast that was not earned scrounging through the trash, and try to find anything useful he could fix up and pawn for more credits.

But he could determine what was the spur had been that brought him to where he was now. The blaster, the one he had found in a trashcan a few miles from his hideout. It was perhaps his greatest find ever, and he had at first thought to trade it in for a substantial amount of credits, enough to keep him fed for at least a few weeks if he stretched it smart. Then he had considered a different idea, one that was perhaps not the brightest in hindsight.

Why sell it for a small influx of money, when he could simply use it for a more permanent source of income. If he could remember his parents at all they might have instilled in him some moral values that would have brought abhorrence to even contemplate turning to crime. But the lack of memory and an empty gut was all the motivation he needed. Even then it had taken time to gather the courage. He had learned early on that he was not the strongest, nor the smartest street kid around, and he did possess the memories of broken bones and torn flesh to remind him.

He did practice a little, mostly on tin cans and the occasional pest that shared the alley with him. Silver learned in those few sessions that he was not a very good shot, but that hardly mattered as he didn't really plan to shoot anyone, he wasn't that tough. But he did hope that weapon would be enough of a threat where he could at least get a married couple to surrender their wallets, or perhaps an old lady their purse.

At this moment he could not tell if it was bad or good luck that saw to it that his first hold up would end so sourly for him. When he saw the female in the wheelchair, he had thought it the perfect chance to get some money for food. So eager to silence the ache in his belly, he had not really noticed how menacing her friend was. He had quickly come to realize however when he had jumped out of the alley, already stuttering and hesitant.

He really just was a stupid pup like the other kids were so willing to call him. He had crumpled like a wet sheet at the first sign of resistance, not at all like the terror he thought he would be. It was the female that really was responsible for his failure, more than the towering figure of her friend, her voice, so soft and understanding, just the touch of motherly concern that he had been missing for his entire life. She did not see a young thug, she saw a kid in need of help. When she had asked for his name, he had already known that he couldn't go through with his plan, could not rob someone who even seemed like they genuinely cared about him, however irrational that sounded.

What had happened next was admittedly embarrassing on his part. He remembered a lot of crying, and sobbing, and apologies, which was one of the unequivocally voluminous remembrances he could really do without. However one he did wish to keep was the feeling of being held. She had picked him up, carried him in her lap as she murmured soothing words in his ears. Her fur had been the softest thing he had ever laid his head upon, no overstuffed trash bag could ever hope to compare to the wondrous softness of her pelt.

It came as no surprise to him upon waking up afterwards that he had fallen asleep then and there, eased into slumber by gentle words and an even gentler touch, the like of which he had never before experienced.

At first upon waking up he had been afraid, the environment around him was unfamiliar, but the warm softness of the bed underneath him had proved to be more than worth his anxieties. A real bed! He had been struck numb by the realization. He could not remember the last time he had slept in a true bed, not the dingy mattresses he found on occasion. That alone was cause for celebration if not for his current predicament. At first he had looked around to see if he could find a way to escape where ever it was they kept him, though he did notice the same female had been in the bed with him, and he felt some hesitation about fleeing.

There was even a weapon he could have taken with him, what looked far superior to his banged up blaster pistol. But he disregarded it, what was a child do with something like that anyway? He had decided at the time to at least find a door or something, when he saw him… the male from before.

All thought of escape was discounted upon seeing that massive individual. Never in his life had Silver seen someone so big. It was not the largeness of an overweight person, but the bulk of a warrior, like the barbarians in the fantasy comics he collected. And when he had spoken, it was a voice like a rumbling earthquake, low and tremendous in its reverberation.

He was honestly surprised he had enough presence of mind to heed the giant's command. Though, he might have been driven in no small part by curiosity. This male was so utterly different then the female he had accompanied, where she was gentle and small, he was fierce and mighty, no sense of compassion or understanding had he carried. If anything, Silver was near certain the towering male had been ready to kill him at a moment's notice.

What was perhaps more curious to the pup, was his appearance. He was unique in that Silver had never seen someone like him before, his fur was well-nigh nonexistent and he was far taller than anyone he had ever laid eyes on.

What incited fear in Silver, was the grimness the male carried about himself. There was a silent intensity in his bearing that was overwhelming in its power, a veritably pungent aura of incontestable malice.

When performed in concert with his monumental stature and outlandish features, it was little wonder that this strange male was a captivating subject of thought for the child. Silver was fascinated by him, and had continued to carry that curiosity as he took a seat on the stool offered to him, more inquisitive than afraid in that moment.

The wolf pup decided that he rather liked the male's unambiguously stoic attitude in the minutes he sat watching him work in silence. He carried an intrinsic confidence and deft experience that the young wolf envied, strength of both character and body that he himself wanted. This was the kind of male that was not preyed upon by the strong, for he was stronger.

So when a stray part of his weapon found itself stopping before the pup, the child could not help but try and offer some sort of assistance to the powerful figure. He had trembled, his outstretched paw shivering as he held out the small piece, even an attempted closeness of contact enough to shake him. After all, it had been the stronger boys on the street that had so enjoyed tormenting him. The wolf pup both craved and feared power.

Yet the furless appendage that touched him was wholly bereft of the conventionally cruel and crushing weight, instead it was kindhearted, with no sense of repugnance or cruelty. What was more, the male smiled, something that while perhaps not without its roughness, was not devoid of warmth and compassion.

This baffled the child.

Silver did not understand why both the female fox and this strange male bothered to treat him with such underserved kindness. He had attempted to extort them, yet they instead took him in and offered him a place to rest, however temporary it was to be. He could perhaps understand why the female might, that gender was typically associated with acts of unexplained compassion. The male had no such distinctive nature yet there he had been offering him both comfort and food.

Despite that he felt he was underserving, Silver did not argue against such good luck, the pain in his stomach reminding him he had not eaten in several days. He knew not how long these people's good graces would last, but he came to the decision to take advantage of their hospitality for as long as it was offered.

However he had not consciously reached out for the male's hand, but there he had found his paw gripped in the male's strong but gentle grasp. Perhaps it was the sense of safety it provided that prompted his body to act without direction. There was no strong male figure in his life, or a figure of any sort, regardless of gender.

Whatever the reason he might have had, Silver did not regret what he did. It had been a long time since he felt safe.

As the male lead him outside the room, the wolf pup was quick to study his environment in the hopes of memorizing any details he could use later, if he did have to make his escape. Unfortunately such a choice appeared difficult if not impossible as he realized the extent of his predicament, seeing halls of steel corridors that stretched onwards and branched off in many directions. He was aboard a ship, and with his unfamiliarity when concerned with space fairing vessels, any rapid exit strategy looked more and more unlikely as the seconds tolled by. There was no telling how large it was or how many individuals were onboard. And he doubted anyone would offer such information to a child freely, especially not one that had attempted to waylay members of their crew.

With little chance of departure should his bad luck resurface, Silver felt some reasonable amounts of trepidation as he followed the large male to what he hoped was a place of eating, as his stomach was now in outcry at the mere thought of food. He hoped and prayed that their benevolence and generosity might linger a little while longer.

As it seemed it would, the sign for the ship's dining room hanging above the door he was being led too. Once inside Silver wondered what a ship's mess would look like. He had never seen the likes of any room for food besides the few establishments that catered to a filthy child like himself, which was to say that there quality was perhaps not all too impressive.

However from his inquiring gaze, he did learn a few things about this ship. The staggered and organized rows of silvery tables and benches led him to believe it was some sort of military vessel, as any other kind would have a more homely arrangement, or at least he would assume so. The male as well helped him form this theory, as his appearance could only be that of a military figure. Though his uniform was not of CDF design, Silver would not deny its purpose.

Following the soldier with eager anticipation as his hope of getting a meal swelled, Silver felt much of his unease fade away merely at the prospect of food, real food at that, not the second rate goods he would usually find. His tongue swiped across his muzzle subconsciously, clearing away the saliva that threatened to leak from his jaws, the action eliciting a small smile from the male in front of him as he stopped by a strange row of machines that were recessed into the far wall beside a pair of double doors.

Silver watched in silent excitement as the large male indicted the machines with a wave of his furless paw. His voice rose once more, its deep reverb informing the pup of the astounding nature of such devices.

They created food, at the push of a button!

The wolf child did not believe such a thing until he watched in abject wonder as the male retrieved a serving tray packed with mashed tubers and a salivating cut of meat, gesturing for him to follow his lead.

Silver wasted little to no time in stepping up to one of the machines and hastily depressing an image of a food product with no care as to what it was as long as it was food. He giggled in suitable excitement as compartment on the machine opened some seconds later, a tray of steamed vegetables and a bowl of some strange green substance rolled out on the extended ramp. Hardly a moment passed before he snatched the platter and readied to hastily gorge himself on his newfound bounty. Yet a disapproving stare from the male beside him brought some sense of table manners to the child who grinned weakly in apology as he followed the towering individual to one of the nearby tables.

With an impressive exertion of will, the pup managed to wait until they were both seated before tearing into his meal with feral abandon. Despite how quickly he scarfed it down, he could already tell it was the best thing he had ever eaten, the vegetables tasted fresh and vibrant, unlike the near spoiled fair he usually found And the green stuff in the bowl was kind of like a sauce that covered a portion of rice and meat in a tangy, somewhat spicy blend.

Even as he devoured his meal, he felt his eyes water as tears cascaded down his muzzle. He had never been treated so kindly in all his life. The dizzying combination of compassionate treatment and good food was almost more than his mind could take. He knew not who these people were that took him in, but he would never forget this day for as long as he lived. Yet in spite of his joy, he felt fear, fear that this would all end soon enough. Certainly they were nice to him, perhaps even more than nice, but they would not want a scrappy orphan like him to stick around. Then it would be back to the streets, or crammed into an orphanage to wait out his days till he was old enough for them to let him go back into the world.

Something landed on his shoulder, a weight that was heavy yet gentle, and Silver recognized the male's touch as the soldier looked to him with a smile that was a fair few degrees warmer than any he had yet to offer. It was a look that seemed to promise him that he need not return to such a dour existence. Or at least that's what he so desperately wished it hoped to convey.

In any case, Silver absolved to enjoy his luck while it lasted.

*****

Six looked down to the wolf child, whose eyes were brimming with tears as he voraciously gorged himself on a dinner that was in all likelihood the first real meal he had consumed in a long time. As the spartan took in the state of the adolescent's apparel and current disposition, he felt pity. But more importantly he could see himself in the child's eyes. He had been much like Silver in his days before the Office of Naval Intelligence found him, no friends, no family, nothing to keep him together but his own determination to survive.

He admired this child, which had lived longer like that than even himself. Yet he saw a frailty in the kid that must have been beaten into him through hardship and strife. There were scars that ran deeper than of the flesh, and it all reminded Six of his own struggles a little too keenly.

Whatever it was that had befallen the child, Six was merely glad to give him what comfort and aid he could before he departed. Sighing quietly and wondering at a world that could do this to children, Six focused on his own meal as he popped the case on his TACPAD in a decision to spend some time updating his notes on the peculiarities of the Lylat System. After all, this was a strange place and though no one would ever read his transcriptions, it was enough to simply pass the time.

Before he was able to take the fourth bite of his meal, Six felt something warm and furry nudge his elbow, glancing up from his holographic interface, the spartan looked to the pup sitting in front of him.

The child, or Silver he now supposed since he was all but certain that the kid would not be leaving anytime soon, looked to him expectantly his eyes wide and pleading as he pushed his tray forward in silent pleading.

Six rolled his eyes, though he did not dispel the smile that was brought to his face as he nodded and flicked his head in the direction of the AMD's that rested at the back of the room. Almost before he finished indicating his acceptance the pup was gone, his tail whipping an excited pattern as he bolted towards one of the machines.

Perhaps the child was not all that much like him after all. If so, that was a good thing.

As Silver busied himself taking a somewhat more patient and observant go at the machines, Six heard the commissary's doors open and watched as a groggy feline slipped inside as she clutched her head and grumbled to herself. Six's smile widened as he watched in amusement as the hungover lynx stumbled her way towards him.

She deserved this, after all he had warned her on not downing enough fluids before she passed out. He had enough medical training to now she would be heavily dehydrated upon waking. Still he did feel bad for her, and was quick to grab a cup of water before she was even halfway on her approach to the table.

As bleary as she was Miyu hardly took her eyes off the ground as she slumped into what he supposed he could call a seated posture beside him, a loud groan eking out of her mouth as she leaned into him weightily and reached for the cup sitting in front of her. No time was wasted as she chugged the drink, water soaking into the fur around her maw as she thirstily attacked the beverage. She did not relent until the inside of the cup was dry, slamming the machined plastic onto the table with a semi-content sigh.

“Ahhhh… that really hit the spot, thanks Six." She peered up to him through squinted eyes, her soaked muzzle splitting into an appreciative grin. However her squinting narrowed as she looked past him towards the other side of the commissary, her smile slowly shifting into confusion.

“So… is that a kid or am I still wasted?"

“No, that is indeed a child. We… found him or our way back, this would be while you were intoxicated." He added with a low chuckle.

The resulting furred fist crashing into his shoulder was perhaps undeserved, but he ignored what had hardly hurt at all. Instead he spent a few minutes quickly updating her on the exact origin of the child while he was still busy trying to decide what to eat next from the vast selection provided by the machines.

“Well that's certainly interesting, you guys get into all kinds of hijinks while I'm knocked out, don't you?"

Six decided that a shrug was suitable enough a response as he watched the child return, several trays stacked precariously in his paws as it seemed he decided to sample a few dishes at once. He must have truly been underfed were he used to live, so it was good now that he had the chance to account for some missed meals.

The wolf pup slowed in his approach as he noticed another individual at the table who was not anyone he had yet to meet. Yet his desire to eat soon outweighed his nerves and he hastily slipped back into place, though he did seem to possess some manners as he timidly introduced himself to Miyu.

“H-hello… my name's S-silver."

The feline studied the small lupine, a small and warm curl pulling at her muzzle as she reached out to ruffle the wolf's unruly man. “Hey there squirt, name's Miyu, rhymes with pee-ew." She replied with a lighthearted giggled as she mimed pinching her nose and waiving at a nonexistent breeze of foul air.

At first the child seemed hesitant, but that passed quickly as he snickered along with the feline.

Six watched this display with an indistinct smile of his own. However bad he was with children, at least he had Krystal and Miyu to pick up the pieces. From there he watched as the two soon engaged in conversation, the spartan acquiescing to the strong realization that Miyu was far more versed in this form of interaction than he would ever be.

Instead he contented himself with concluding his report on the findings of energy diffusion upon titanium battleplate as he finished off the remnants of his dinner. It was still unusual to continuously eat food that did not taste of bland rations, and was one of the other benefits of his life that he did in fact enjoy.

As he tidied up his closing passage on the various changes in the reaction of titanium when introduced to fluctuating power settings of blaster weapons, he placed his fork on his empty plate and focused back on his two companions.

By this time the wolf child was utterly at ease with Miyu, seeming far more comfortable than he had been with the spartan himself, and was apparently telling her a story of his past that was supposed to come off as amusing, but merely was sad given its context. The feline of course laughed along to its conclusion, but he could see the sadness in her eyes that some kid so vibrant and cheerful could have been living such a miserable existence.

He considered that it was unfortunate that she would learn something else upsetting as her flagged her attention with a soft grunt. “Fox has a mission for me, something from Pepper that doesn't include the rest of Starfox. As I'll be leaving in a few days I was hoping you could look after Kry-"

“Nope, don't even think about it Six." The feline retorted with a speedy denial that honestly surprised him.

“Whatever it is, I'm coming too. You damn well know that she doesn't need me to look after her. She's more than capable, not to mention the rest of the team will be with her. You on the other hand, won't take five fuc…" She paused her tirade as she briefly looked to the bewildered wolf child, “freaking steps without landing yourself into trouble."

“You don't even know what the mission is." He retorted, a sense of suspicion rising in him, as she seemed almost ready for his announcement. The thought of a telepathic vixen brought a somewhat whimsical frown to his visage. Of course she would find some way to influence his life. He felt that he should be mad, yet he felt content instead that she and Miyu cared so much.

“Doesn't matter what the mission is, Six. We go together, we're partners remember." She reminded him her voice softening as she grabbed his hand and squeezed tight.

Unable to oppose such a well-intentioned reprisal, the spartan sighed in resignation. “Very well... we'll both go… partner." Closing his TACPAD, Six stood up from the table and set himself on returning to the armory. If she was to come as well, then he would have to push ahead the deadline for his side project, or at least the one intended for her. However he could not help but one up her tricky ways. “Partners as we are, I'll leave Silver to you now." As he informed her of her new duties as guardian, he was already heading towards the door, a smile lingering in his expression as he heard the excited babbling of the child, and a far more subdued, near unnoticeable sigh.

*****

It was a small quite affair, his and Miyu's send off. The team, plus one, had gathered at the loading ramp to see them off. As of the day before, the cruiser that would be taking them and the special ops unit to Katina had arrived at the dock and was being resupplied. All that was left would have them meeting the General himself at the nearby military base where they would be updated on any possible changes to the mission before they departed for orbit.

Six could tell that while Krystal was still troubled that he would be leaving, she was relieved that he had at least allowed Miyu to tag along. For someone she had been lead to believe that he could not take care of himself, still, he was grateful for her concern. In any case he had ensured that he would be prepared, the tangible weight of two large weapons mag-locked to his spine a constant reminder that he was as prepared as he could possibly be for any unexpected contingency.

Nevertheless… he could not shake the sense of apprehension as he boarded the transport that would take them to Fort Abraham. What if something happened while he was gone? What if he was not there when Krystal needed him? He had these concerns and many more as he buckled into the dropship. Yet he stowed such questions as they were of no use and impractical at heart. Fox had promised he would take care of her, and he did not now the vulpine to lie. She was safe, it was Miyu that he should worry about.

The spartan looked to his left at the feline strapped into her seat, the lynx bouncing animatedly in her seat as her curious paws sporadically roamed across her new armor, something that Six had molded just for her. Originally he had been making one for each of the members of Starfox, but had pooled his resources and efforts instead to finish one suit before he would have to leave.

Truly it was not all that special, nothing like his MJOLNIR. It was just a fairly identical variation on the ODST's battle dress uniform, if somewhat altered, interwoven sheets of titanium reinforced with a lining of ballistic plate and kevlar and created with a cornerian's body format in mind. It would still be only moderately effective against plasma weapons, but would outperform most if not all CDF designed armor systems. It was his way of trying to protect her when he himself could not.

As he had hoped, her reception of the armor was positive… perhaps more that he had expected. It had been difficult to not fall over when tackled with a fully armed and armored feline on a direct intercept course. Even as they had both left the armory she had been chatting away at all the things she was going to add to it when they got back. For now it was just the stark, uniform black reserved for helljumper battalions.

Six left Miyu to her own devices and last minute examination of her suit as he scrutinized the rest of the empty troop compartment. The transport was small for what the spartan was used to, designed to accommodate perhaps ten fully armored soldiers and whatever excess supplies they brought with them. However, with just the two of them and their gear, it was fairly spacious, which was to say that for once he did not have to bump shoulders with anyone.

Lifting his forearm, he took a moment to study his TACPAD, the device's telemetry software indicating that they were not that far from the military installation and that it had been a smart idea to connect with the cornerian navigational grid.

Imparted with the knowledge that they were close to their destination, Six readied to unbuckle his harness and made sure that his weapons were still firmly secured to his armor's magnetic coils sequestered within the heavy plate as he performed another weapon's check.

Not knowing what level of opposition to expect, he had decided on a heavy combat load to err on the side of caution. The dual bandoliers on his breastplate were packed with shells for his shotgun, the rest of his standard munitions and a few dozen slugs that Slippy had designed that were color marked a dark blue. He had yet to test this new type of ammunition, but Slippy assured him they would function as directed.

The ammo pouches scattered about his MJOLNIR were crammed with as many rifle magazines as he could safely carry and his right thigh plate's mag slot was occupied by the handgun Miyu had gifted him. The magnetic connection on his opposite side carried a large, cylindrical cartridge that was a secondary reload for his heavy weapon.

Burdened by such an abnormally substantial array of armaments was unusual for the spartan, as was more used to a lighter, more versatile equipment loadout, more often than not scrounging weapons and ammo as he moved about the field. But considering the uncertain nature of this assignment he wanted to be ready for any feasible eventuality.

“Hey Six, I think the ship's landed."

Reinserting a slug he had been examining for defects back into its slot on a bandolier, Six recognized Miyu's observation with a nod of his head and pressed the button at the center of the coupling that secured him to his seat. With the release activated the straps popped open, allowing them to move about the interior as they ramp began its descent.

Sparring little time the pair of mercenaries disembarked from the shuttle where a bird in CDF green awaited them. The avian indicated that they were to follow her and the duo was quick to do so. As they traveled deeper into the internals of Fort Abraham, Six compared this stopover with his first and it did seem as if the cornerian army, or rather the General had taken his warnings and advice to heart.

The spartan discerned a visible increase in the quantity of personnel and vehicles that were nearly double that of his last visit. The open fields scattered about the fortress that had been silent were now livened by the echoing howl of drill sergeants and the familiar synchronized shouts of PT drills. In his opinion it was about time this place started to look like an actual military base.

Passing a motor pool where he could see several technicians inspecting the inner mechanics of a tank, they arrived at the doors to the large building situated at the heart of the compound, the exterior of the structure bristling with anti-armor and aircraft batteries that appeared recently installed and Six wondered how much force the UNSC would need to take the installation.

Leaving his thoughts of conquest at the door, he and Miyu followed the military aid through a series of winding corridors and then an elevator, followed by another set of hallways before they finally stopped at another set of doors where the attaché left them before disappearing down a passageway.

Looking to Miyu, who merely shrugged at him, Six placed a gauntlet on the door and pushed it open, revealing a commodious area with a large wooden table at the center that was ringed with chairs, a briefing room in all appearance.

Inside, they were quick to notice that the General was already there, the old canine sitting at the far end at the head, and was deep in discussion with the only other occupant of the chamber besides them. For a moment Six was taken back at seeing this individual, surprised at what he saw. In all his days amongst the cornerian people, he had yet to find anyone that was in any way close to his stature, yet the enormous female currently conversing with Pepper was perhaps his equal in stature outside of his MJOLNIR, if not a few centimeters shorter.

Then a memory hit him, back on Zoness there had been that one female. And the pieces clicked together. This woman was the same he had seen before, though now he was able to see her face. A short, blunt feline muzzle and starkly snowy fur lined in black. Though he had never seen one in person, he was certain that she was of a species that had once inhabited the artic regions of Earth some centuries ago.

He might have taken a few more moments to garner a more detailed study if not for Pepper who turned to greet them with a friendly wave of his paw and gestured for them to approach. “Six, it's good that you've finally arrived. And it looks like Fox decided to offer another member of his crew. I'm sure this venture could make use of your skills Miss Lynx. Please come sit, there's much to discuss."

Knowing that the General was not one to stand on tradition, Six forestalled his instinctive need to salute a superior officer and instead complied with the aged canine's request, taking a seat across from the large female tiger where Miyu joined him.

“A bit of introductions first," Pepper inclined his muzzle towards the gigantic feline. “Commander Nadia Ivanova, this is Spartan B312, otherwise known as Noble Six, and as I'm sure you recognize Miss Lynx from Starfox."

Though the tiger's gaze had yet to divert its focus on the spartan since he entered, the feline did lean over the table and offer her paw in greetings. “It is an honor to finally meet you in person." Her voice was deep for a female, and thick with an accent he could not quite pin, though it did sound somewhat Slavic in origin.

Barring any trace of hesitation, Six was swift to accept her offered limb, noticing the not unimpressive strength to her grip as he matched her stare, the feline's piercing blue eyes openly examining him in turn. Her eyes were truly like a beast's, expressive and yet feral. Even out of her armor, her paw was nearly equal in size to that of his hand, and Six wondered how well she fought in a melee. No doubt she was a terror on the field.

“Likewise Ma'am." He responded to her greetings as they disengaged from each other's probing.

While the massive tiger gripped Miyu's paw in welcome, Six turned to address Pepper, smiling at the lynx's wince of discomfort.

“Are there any updates on the situation?"

“I'm afraid not_,_ communication is still down and the probe we sent to Katina has yet to report in. As of this moment, we can officially conclude that this was no accident. Some unknown force has deliberately isolated the planet. Before you arrived, Miss Ivanova and I were discussing what we might be facing. And yes, she had been fully briefed on possible aparoid involvement."

That was good, he would have suggested that himself if she had not already been made aware. It would have been foolish to leave out what could be a critical detail.

“Standard Covenant invasion tactics are similar to what we have been noticing thus far. Full comms blackout from the targeted planet was usually initiated hours before their advent. If the OPFOR is following a similar plan, than we must admit to the possibility that Katina has already succumbed to enemy forces."

Pepper sighed heavily, a paw massaging the bridge of his snout. “Katina was one of our most heavily defended worlds, to think that it could fall in a few days…"

“It is possible that it still holds and the forces planetside are simply unable to bypass the planetary jamming, or that there is no opposing force at all, though I highly doubt that."

“I agree with the spartan." Nadia interjected with a nod in his direction. “A world does not arbitrarily go silent; something else is responsible for this. Whether or not Katina is still in CDF control is what we must determine."

“What was the local fleet's strength?" Miyu inquired.

“Most of the flotilla is still recuperating and scattered about the system so Katina only had a moderate garrison, less than a handful of cruisers and a fleet carrier." Pepper answered as a small holo display lit up at the center of the table with a diagram of the ships in question.

“Then we can extrapolate that any CDF fleet assets in the sector have either fled or been destroyed." Any form of assault on a planetary scale, regardless what manner of aggressor they were to be, was almost always spearheaded by an overwhelming force in comparison to the defenders. So it was prudent to assume that any manner of orbital CDF defensive power was either negated or entirely eliminated.

“I feel I should agree with you, Spartan. But I cannot in good conscience write off those brave soldiers." Pepper declared with a firm shake of his head. “They might still be fighting."

Six could not withhold the sense of irritation that formed in his thoughts at the aged canine's optimism.

“That is a possibility, but it is not wise to hold on to false hope. Do not discount my years of experience, General. I have an extensive knowledge of fighting an enemy that is in nearly every way superior. If this war is to even be a fraction of what I believe it might become, if we are right in assuming the callous and overwhelming nature of our foes, a leader cannot be allowed to formulate such fanciful delusions of naivety." It did not sit well with Six to speak so bluntly with someone that was in fact far above him in the chain of command, neither did it appear so for all those present as well, but if the General was to continue his sympathetic and passionate perspective about the welfare of his soldiers, than this war was already as good as lost.

And the spartan was not willing to accept defeat so easily. These cornerians had waged war with a moral righteousness, which while commendable, would not see them survive the likes of the Covenant or an equally cruel and powerful enemy. They would need to be hardened, molded and cast in a determination to survive that was as solid and immutable as steel.

Still he found his tone growing softer. Six did not want to crush that which made them so unique when equated to humanity. There was an innate virtuous candor that he had come to respect and did not want to smother. “Do not mistake my words as harsh or uncaring, Pepper. But to become too attached to those you send to fight and die is not healthy for you or for them. It is a soldier's lot in life to offer his life in service for his nation, but it is a leader's to offer guidance and wisdom. Such is the ways of war, as they always have been and always will be."

There was a moment of muteness in the room as Pepper's wizened visage hardened at the undeniable truth in the spartan's words. It was not the hardness of anger, but of realization, and the old canine nodded with a momentous weight to his movements.

“You… are right spartan. Perhaps these years of sporadic conflict have dulled my understanding of the larger picture. But I expect you will understand if I do not completely disregard the foundations of my career. Call it foolish, but I will never, not worry for the lives of my subordinates. However I will not be so blinded as to not make difficulty decision should they become necessary. I hope that will be enough for you to."

“It will have to be." The spartan decided, as he was not intent on wasting his time attempting to alter the General's core values.

With that topic discussed and shelved, the rest of the meeting passed fairly swiftly. Intel was limited to what they already knew and what they could safely speculate. As such there was not much else to deliberate upon. An hour into the conference and it was concluded. Six was to take operational control of the mission, with Nadia acting as his co-commander.

Preparations had been made to depart for Katina in a few hours' time. Nadia's squad had by the dialogue's conclusion, boarded the cruiser that was to take them to their destination. All that was left was to take a transport up to orbit, and not willing to prolong the assignment, Six and Miyu dismissed themselves from the General's presence and made for the airfield. However, before they had traveled too far down the building's corridor, the large presence of Miss Ivanova caught up to them.

The towering stripped feline easily fell into step with the determined spartan's pace, following him and his companion as they made their way. For a few moments there was silence between the three. But that was soon rectified when Miyu thought to strike up conversation with the other female who she would in all possibility be spending quite a bit of time with.

“So…" the lynx started off uncertainly, hoping to uncover the make and measure of the markedly larger and more exotic feline. “Haven't seen all that many tigers in the CDF."

Nodding sternly, the other cat focused her primal gaze upon the lynx. “Yes… most of our people prefer to remain of Fichina, but on occasion we do travel off world for our own reasons. As one might expect given our… attributes, most tend to gravitate towards the military." At that her eyes roved towards the armored visage of the spartan spearheading the group. “When first I laid my eyes upon you Noble Six, I had thought you one of my species, but now Pepper has seen fit to include me in the secret and true nature of your existence."

The spartan at first offered nothing but a polite not, but realizing that his usual habit of remaining aloof from those he did not normally associate with, would not be viable in the coming days, at least towards the one who was to be his co-commander. “Good…" He decided that should be of sufficient quality for a response.

Miyu chuckled; nudging the spartan's side with an elbow as she looked to the larger cat apologetically. “Sorry about that, he's not all that talkative to strangers. Give him some time, and I'm sure he'll warm up to ya."

Surprisingly, the tiger shook her muzzle. “It is perfectly alright Miyu. The males of my species often act in such a way, and are mostly introverted by nature. Truly it in actuality is quite a pleasant reminder of my home. I shall respect your desire for solitude, Noble Spartan." She acquiesced with a deferential lowering of her enormous head in his direction.

“…Thank you…" The human warrior replied after a few moments, though his tone was significantly warmer than last.

“Of course." Nadia answered before shifting her efforts at conversation to the far more sociable lynx.

Six let the two talk in peace as he shifted his thoughts inward, pondering at the possible stakes of this assignment. For him, there was more riding on this than the siege of Reach. In those days, if he failed, it would simply mean that he would die. If he failed now, everyone he had ever come to care for would die as well. And that was something he did not ever wish to occur. As long as he possessed blood in his body and strength in his muscles he would fight to the bitter end to protect them.

His instincts were what kept him alive where others had failed. And he had come to rely upon them and nothing else in his ceaseless battles against the Covenant and Insurrection. Yet for the first time since the day he picked up a rifle, he prayed that his instincts were wrong.