It was too early to be up, but at this point Fox had given up on getting back to sleep. That's what happened when you spent your life fighting giant floating brains and dinosaurs ten times your size, he supposed.

He made himself a cup of coffee in the kitchen, wondering where he should start his day. He'd have hours yet before anyone else woke up. Or he should have.

He heard the doors slide open, then wheels roll across the floor.

Wait, wheels?

Turning, Fox found Dad sitting in his wheelchair. Looking just as surprised to see Fox as Fox was to see him.

After so many months it still caught Fox off guard sometimes when he randomly ran into Dad. Even more so when he was reminded of something he'd nearly forgotten. Like Dad using his wheelchair when he was too sore or tired for his prosthetics.

"What are you doing up so late, son?" Dad was the first to speak.

"More like getting up so early," Fox corrected wryly. "I gave up on getting back to sleep. What about you? You look like you haven't slept at all."

Dad sighed running a hand over his eyes. "I don't know if I slept at all." He gave Fox a wry look, "Crash a few starfighters as badly as I have and your body will keep reminding you for the rest of your life."

"What about your painkillers?" Fox asked.

"Took the edge off, but not much more than that," he sighed. "I need a new prescription."

Which he'd have to go to the doctor for. Which he'd put off for as long as he could get away with.

Fox supposed there were some things that would never change.

"At this point," Dad continued, "I think I'll follow your example and get a cup of coffee. Then... figure out how I'm starting the day."

Fox took a sip of his coffee, considering something. "You know, we never did watch that dinosaur movie you promised to take me to the debut of."

"No, we never did get to do that," Dad murmured as he filled a mug with coffee.

"I still haven't watched it... but I'm sure it's streaming somewhere," Fox suggested.

The melancholy of all they had missed in the years Dad had been gone faded as he grinned, "Sounds like a plan."

To Fox McCloud of Star Fox 2026,

Finally made it to launch day, huh? Don't let anyone put you down for being in a remake. That remake might just launch the franchise back into the spotlight and lead to new games! Very important.

I know, I know, you know what you're doing, you don't need any advice. Still, I'd like to grant some words of wisdom anyway. (Oh wow, Peppy's really rubbing off on me, huh?)

Don't look yourself up on the internet. Trust me. Just don't.

All the best,

Vivian heard a knock at the door. Huh. That was odd. Only Beltino had yet to show up and he knew by now to just let himself in. It was Sunday, after all, family dinner day, and the door was always open for family.

She glanced out the patio doors where James and Peppy were wrestling with the children under Vixy's watchful eye. Neither of them seemed like they were waiting for anyone spesific.

Hmm...

Drying her just washed hands - and lamenting that she'd have to wash them once again when she came back to cooking - she left the kitchen.

A peek out the front door's window showed her a canine standing somewhat nervously on her doorstep. Him? Nervous? She never thought she'd see the day!

"George!" She greeted as she opened the door, delighted to see he had finally taken Peppy and James up on their invitation.

"Hello Vivian," he said, "I hope I'm not intruding..."

"Oh nonsense." She motioned for him to come inside, stepping out of his way. "How many years now have Peppy and Jim been telling you there's a spot at the table for you?"

"Too many to count," he answered as he stepped inside.

"They're in the back with Vixy and the kids," Vivian said as she led him into the kitchen. She motioned to the patio door which gave a clear view of Jim lying face down on the ground with Lucy and Slippy sitting on his back. He seemed to be calling Peppy for help, only to be ignored as he chased Fox down.

George barked a laugh at the sight. Then he glanced at the chopped vegetables waiting to be tossed in a pan. "I'm amazed they aren't helping you."

She pursed her lips. "Jim isn't allowed to help in my kitchen."

That earned another laugh. "There must be quite a story behind that."

"There is," she said, "Remind me to tell you it during dinner." That way she'd get to see Jim's reaction to hearing it recounted.

Honestly the stirfry didn't really require multiple hands in the kitchen anyway. It was the same reason she'd sent Peppy outside. As much as she loved her husband, he could get in the way sometimes.

George - as much as she appreciated the fact he'd finally joined them - would also only get in the way. "Go on and get out there," she said, nudging him towards the door. "They'll be absolutely delighted to see you."

"Are you sure you don't want help?" he asked.

"I'm sure," she replied as she made her way to the sink.

"Alright, if you insist." It still amazed her how Corneria's steadfast General could sound so uncertain and nervous. She supposed that's what happened when you took someone out of their element. He stepped through the patio doors, and a moment later Vivian heard a chorus of cheers.

Colors previously unknown shifted around him. Ships lost forever floated in the void. Desslar didn't know how he'd gotten here. One minute he'd been patrolling Meteor, the next he'd been trying to escape Jackal Pirates. He'd hit a strange ring in the asteroid field, and it had given his ship a speed boost. Thinking he'd get away from the pirates with the increase in speed he'd continued to hit the rings as they had appeared.

Now, he was somewhere else entirely. He kept flying forward, not sure what else to do. There was an exit to this place, right? He'd be able to get out of here and go home, right?

Right?!

He avoided asteroids and other obstacles as he kept going forward. There was a bright spot up ahead. The light at the end of the tunnel?

That's exactly what it proved to be as he was suddenly slammed back in his seat. He felt a terrible pressure on his chest, then it suddenly released and he was greeted by the sight of the stars.

And Katina far too close for comfort.

He yelped, pulling up. It was too late. The planet's gravitational field had already grabbed him. The flames of reentry lit up his cockpit. Desslar grimaced as he struggled to regain control of his ship.

Not knowing what else to do, he sent out a distress call. He was going down on Katina.

...

"...lar. Desslar!" He woke to the sound of a vagely familiar voice. Opening his eyes he found himself in a grand messa. In front of him, just barely blocking out the harsh sunlight, was the silhouette of a fox. "There you are, Dess."

"James," he croaked. "What happened?"

"You tell me," James helped him climb out of his ship. It was a little roughed up from the landing, but not too worse for wear. "Pepper said you went missing in Meteo. Next thing we knew we were getting a distress call that you were going down on Katina."

Now he remembered. The swirling colors. The dead ships. "Oh... right..."

"What happened Dess?" James asked.

"I found something... I need to tell the General." Desslar said.

"You can use our comms system aboard the Great Fox," James offered. Then, he frowned, "What's wrong, Dess? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

"Not a ghost, but not something I'm eager to see again either," Desslar answered. "I think I need to get a new job."

James cringed, "That bad?"

Katt shrugged out of her jacket, tossing it over a chair as she passed. Mouser grumbled at her but she ignored it as she made for the kitchenette in the corner of their hideout's main room. She just had time to pull a can from the fridge, open it, and take a swig before a shadow leaned over the counter to her right.

She glanced at Kool, "What?"

"Off flying alone again?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Gotta keep an eye on things," she shrugged. She sat on a stool, "Besides, you'll never guess who I saw today."

"Oh?" Kool raised a brow. "Let me guess, Corneria's finest finally showing up?"

"Nope," she answered, popping the 'P'. "Lombirdie."

"Falco, really?" Kool's arms dropped to his sides as he stared at her in disbelief. "I thought he said he was never coming back!"

"His new team - Star Fox - came by to deal with that submarine that's been making such a racket," Katt answered. "Just a pit stop on their way to the real target if I had to bet... there should be a dreadnought class carrier that just left orbit. Can you get me a bead on it's location?"

Shoving off the counter, Kool made his way to the scanner system they had liberated from a Venomain battleship some time ago. "Looks like it's heading for Macbeth."

"Cool." Katt took another swig of her drink then set it on the counter. She gained her feet and grabbed her jacket on the way out.

"Where are you going?" Kool asked.

"To see the fireworks show," Katt answered. If Star Fox was going for the Venomian's main supply base, then it was surely going to be a good time.

"Shouldn't we go with you?" Kool asked, following her.

"I want you guys to stay put. Someone's gotta be here to answer the door if the Venomians come knocking again."

Kool sighed, ruffling his bleached bangs. "Alright. Stay safe out there."

Slippy nodded to himself as he reconnected the wires. "Alright, ROB, run a diagnostic."

If he was right, he'd just increased their scanner's range by at least 35%. Not ideal, but the best he could do with what he could scrounge from the spare parts in the hangar.

Silence answered him. "ROB?"

"I am sorry, Slippy, I cannot complete your request," ROB 64 robotic voice answered.

"Why not?" Slippy asked. He didn't need to repair ROB again, did he? Sure, ROB was an older unit but the amount of repairs he required was starting to get ridiculous. At this point he may as well construct an entirely new body for him!

"Quiet hours has been put in place. No work is to be done for the next twelve hours," ROB 64 informed him.

"No work for twelve hours?" Slippy repeated. "Who- What-"

What kind of malfunction was that?!

He scrambled out from under the console, grunting when he bumped his head in his haste. "How are you going to stop doing any work for twelve hours?"

"He isn't," another voice chimed in. "You are."

Slippy froze, then slowly turned. Peppy was fixing him with that glare. One that said he was in trouble. "Heh... Peppy! What are you doing up so late?"

"So ya do know it's three in th' mornin'," Peppy crossed his arms over his chest. "You've been workin' yourself too hard Slippy. Figured someone ought t' make you stop."

Slippy grimaced. "But we need our scanners to be as great as they can be to catch Andross whenever he resurfaces! And the arwings need upgrading, and-"

"And yer eager t' get to work, I know," Peppy sighed. "Yer a lot like your father. Still ya need to take care of yourself, Slippy. Who's going to upgrade our sensors or our arwings if you make yourself sick from over working?"

Slippy looked away. "I'm not gonna get sick."

"Exactly. 'Cause yer gonna rest." Peppy said.

"But there's no time to rest!" Slippy protested. "We don't know when Andross will resurface and we have to get him this time! I can't let the team down again!"

"Let us down?" Peppy raised a brow. "Now where did ya get an idea like that?"

"Andross got away because Star Fox had to divert to Titania because I crashed," Slippy said. "It's my fault he got away!"

"S' not your fault, Slippy," Peppy said. "Andross had t' know we were coming for him. He's cunning and resourceful. Fer all we know he left Venom as soon as he realized we were making our way across the system."

"Or he got away while we were on Titania," Slippy said. "I have to make sure our stuff is in tip-top shape. We have to catch him next time."

"And we will," Peppy assured him. "But we can't do that if we're down one man."

Slippy glared at him. "I'm fine, Peppy."

"Oh really?" A thumb trailed just under one of his eyes. "I suppose those dark bags are just fer show then?"

Slippy glared at the floor. The fact he didn't have any fur to hide the dark bags under his eyes was totally unfair.

He felt a pair of hands land on his shoulders. "Slippy, ya don't need to push yerself so hard. Ya do more than enough for the team, and we would be lost without you." Peppy stooped to meet his lowered gaze. There was nothing but sincerity in his eyes. "We could have bypassed Titania. We could have gone straight fer Venom. Stars know that's what Pepper wanted us to do. But we didn't. Because you're too valuable t' lose. An' that's not because of yer skills, or the equipment you've prepared... it's because we care about you."

Slippy's vision blurred, and the next blink sent hot tears trailing down his face.