Chapter 3: Veteran's Help

Mike check out the world map outside the flight school. He looks worried. How the boy be able to make it across a lot of ocean ad deal with a whole lot of dangers?
"Oh man." Mike mumbles a bit as Cameron and Gwen watches from nearby.
"Hey, Mike, stop worrying. You will do fine." Cameron assures Mike with a smile...though part of him is worried about the dangers that his friend is facing as well.
"Bad idea, kid," A familiar voice spoke up. The trio turns to see Peppy looking concerned and concerned as he came into the house. "You will end up a smoking hole on the side of a mountain with your plane parts scattered all over 5 countries."
"And what gave you that idea?" Mike asks Peppy who glances at the plane figures on his self. The boy collects them. Racing is kinda Mike's life.
"You will end up going against the best racers all over the world. And trust me; some of them won't even finish at all."
"What?" Gwen asks Peppy in surprise.
Peppy nods as he continues speaking to Mike as if a teacher reprimanding a student for a lot of mistakes, "You see, you're sloppy on your rolls, wide on your turns, and slow on your straightaways."
"So wait, have you been watching me?" Mike asks Peppy in shock. He wasn't aware that this hare was watching his performance all this time!
"Right us, watching you make a fool right out of yourself."
"Peppy, I know you and some people don't think that Mike has a chance but please, teach him." Gwen insists as she points to the sign. "It say 'Can teach anyone to fly, guaranteed'. You taught that Fuzzy Lumpkins character how to fly."
"Yes, that's true...but I was lucky that time." Peppy explains to Gwen seriously, recalling that time. "And as they say, don't press your luck."
"Gotta agree with Peppy, guys," Rob 64 said as he came up, looking concerned. "Fuzzy is one thing. This is another."
"Come on, give Mike a chance!" Cameron insists to Peppy. How will the hare know that the boy won't do it unless h tries?
Peppy sighs in irritation, shaking his head as he explains, "Kid, you need t be tighter getting in and out of your knife-edge.”
“Yeah.”
“Any extra control input could cost ya speed and seconds.”
“So wait, you think I’m overcorrecting, right?” Mike asks Peppy, pondering what the hare is saying.
Peppy nods as he adds, “That’s correct. A common rookie mistake,” It was at this time that the gang realize what’s going on and what the hare is going.
“Hang on. Are you giving me pointers?”
“What? No, actually not! I am telling you to forget all this racing nonsense! Your plane isn’t built for it and you aren’t the right person! You are a crop duster!”
“Oh, what? You think I don’t know that? Huh? You think I don’t KNOW THAT?! I’m the one who has flew back and forth across the same fields day after day, every months and for a lot of years! I have flown a lot of miles and…haven’t been anywhere.” Mike said sighing as he glances back to the globe map before looking back to Peppy who looks surprised. “Not like you though. You were built to fight and look what you did.”
“He’s right; you’re one big hero like your pals the Star Fox.” Gwen said to Peppy, much to his surprise and amazement.
“Yeah, some people think that a rookie like Mike won’t make it…and I betcha deep down, they said the same thing about you.” Cameron comments, making Peppy looks surprised and touched.
“I’m trying to prove that maybe, just maybe, without a doubt, that I can do more than what my plane and I were built and born for.” Mike explains, but he sighs, looking down. “But then again, why bother? Better forget it. You won’t understand. You and mostly everyone else don’t.”
Peppy pauses to do some thinking then he looks seriously as he spoke, “0500, tomorrow. Try not to be late.”
“Wait, what?” Gwen ask a bit surprised, wondering what Peppy is talking about.
“It means 5:00 AM in military talk.” Rob 64 explains to the trio. Mike and his friends look surprised and eager as they smile. Could this mean what they think it means?
“Are you…going to teach Mike after all?”
“Correct. And Cameron; don’t forget your navigator manual.” Peppy points out to Cameron sternly. “You’ll need it.”
“Yes, sir,” Cameron exclaims, saluting Peppy; It’s official: the hare is now teaching Mike, time for some training for the rally!

It was the next morning as the rooster is heard crowing. The training has truly begin. Mike’s plane zooms through the fields while Owen, Vinny and the Mole watches as Rob 64 shines Peppy’s binoculars. This oughta be interesting.
“Rob 64, binoculars.” Peppy said to the robot who nods and gives it to the hare who uses the binoculars to look at the plane to assist Mike in his training.
“Wow, those must be some mighty clean optics there.” Owen said, impressed at how Rob 64 clean the binocular, “Whatcha use? Some kind of shammy>:
“Actually no, it’s a special microfiber cloth.” Rob 64 explains to Owen with a nod.
“Ah…microfiber…mind putting that in deal?” Vinny ask Rob 64 while motioning to the Mole. “Mole here can’t handle it, you know?”
“In other words, lint-free and scratch-free, I will get you guys some.” Rob 64 said to Owen with a smile. In the plane, Gwen and Cameron are preparing to assist Mike who saw a small light, spotting the group near the flight school. “Heck, I got an ex-Navy buddy who could sell them to me wholesale! I helped him set up his web…”
“Okay, knock it off.” Peppy snaps to the others sternly. He needs concentration and focus with the task at hand. As the others stood in attention, Rob 64 spots the cloth in air before snatching it, the hare continues, “We got a lot of work to do here so no dawdling!”
“I will make sure to hook you up, Owen.”
“Hey, thanks.” Owen said, smiling at Rob 64’s offer.
Peppy chose to ignore the comment as he took the radio, looking at the plane as he speaks to Mike’s group in it, “Now don’t forget, Mike. It isn’t how fast you fly, it’s how you fly fast.”
“Roger that.” Mike said, nodding in understanding.
“Show me what you got, kid.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Mike.” Cameron said in concern, hoping that Mike knows the risks of taking Peppy’s training.
“Yeah…my thoughts as well,” Mike said to himself in concern. Cameron cling the map, doing his best to help Mike out as the new navigator. As the boy flies his place, he exclaims eagerly, “Hey, watch this, oh yeah!”
As the plane swerves, Peppy’s voice came from the radio once more, “Great, so you can go up and down. So what else you got? Show me your turns.”
“Here we go!” Gwen exclaims as the plane turns a bit. Needless to say, Peppy isn’t a bit impressed by that display.
“You call that good? That stunk! Knife-edge those elm trees,” Peppy orders Mike sternly. This is making the boy a bit nervous as he twirls his plane a bit then passes the trees though barely. “Come on, keep your nose up!”
The others below are also using binoculars to view the action in the sky. Rob 64 spoke to Peppy, saying, “Hey, Peppy.” The hare saw the robot pointing upward to the sky, finding something that Peppy can use in the training.
“Okay, you want speed, right?” Peppy ask Mike through the radio.
“Yeah, I do.” Mike’s voice said in determination.
“Serious, bolt rattling speed?”
The ones in the plane grin eagerly as they call out in determination, “Yeah!” Mike and his friends definitely need some speed!
“All right, look up.” Peppy instructs Mike, causing him and his pals to look at the sky. “See those clouds? That’s highway in the sky, kid. Tails winds like nothing you’ve ever flown.”
Hearing that made Mike concerned and worried as if…that was a bad idea; Gwen and Cameron notes this and looks worried as they both know of a secret that their friend doesn’t want anyone to know ever.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? Power up, firewall thrust,” Peppy instructs Mike, not sure why the boy is hesitating. The pilot gulps as he moves his plane upward, “Max torque, max torque!” The plane keeps on going upward, “All right, looking good!”
On the ground, the others watch Mike’s progress through the binoculars; he’s doing good so far. Peppy continues his instructions, “Hold V-7, Mike. Max rate…now.” The boy begins to look down a bit. “Your nose is too high, keep it down!”
Mike gasps in terror as he saw himself, Gwen and Cameron too high in the sky! What is he thinking?! The boy is going to get everyone in this plane killed!
“You’re going to stall, Mike.” Peppy warns Mike in precaution. “Ease off the pitch, nose down.”
Finally Mike then screams in a panic then groans as he faints a bit. As a result, the pilot begins losing control of his plane, causing it to go down like mad.
“No, Mike!” Cameron cries out in terror at Mike’s fainting. He and Gwen were scared that this would happen! His fear is coming back to haunt back!
Gwen speaks into the radio in alarm, “Mayday, mayday! We’re going down!”
“What are you doing?!” Peppy ask in shock as he and the ones on the ground watch Mike’s plane going downward like mad.
“Mike fainted, we’re in big trouble!”
Mike finally opens his eyes and yelps, realizing that the plane is going to crash. Frantically, the contestant grabs the wheel and lands the plane safely in time. The trio pants a bit, that was a close one.
“Mike, are you crazy?! You almost got us killed!” Cameron scolds a bit, holding his hand to his heart in a panic. “Now you know why we told you to conquer that fear of yours!”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Mike said, panting in regret and worry.
Of course, Mike was interrupted as Peppy came up, frowning in disappointment as he demands, “What just happened up there?! I want answers.”
“Errr, I was…low on fuel?”
“Kid, do I look like I came out of the burrow yesterday?”
“More like Planet Corneria.” Gwen comments to Peppy dryly, causing him to look at her in annoyance. “What?!”
“Hmph!” Peppy scoffs a bit at this. Mike better have a good reason for almost getting himself and his crew killed with that stunt.
“Look, no, it’s…it’s a long story.” Mike said in sadness, rubbing the back of his head. How will he explain his problem to the toughest hare in the navy.
“Oh, I got time.”
“Hoo boy,” Cameron and Gwen said at once and in concern. Mike is going to have one heck of a time explaining his biggest fear to a brave hare like Peppy.
“Well, just so you know…I feel like having some problems with my aerial compressor…so…” Mike said, making up some sort of excuse instead of telling right out.
Peppy however shakes his head, saying sternly, “In Star Fox, we have a lot of sayings. One of them is this ‘Volo Pro Veritas’.”
“What?” Cameron ask a bit puzzled.
“It means ‘I fly for truth’ and Mike, you don’t.”
“Wait, are you calling Mike a liar?” Gwen asks Peppy in concern. Of course, she and Cameron knew that this is true. Their friend isn’t being honest with the hare as to why he freaked out like that.
Peppy sighs as he explains, “Your friend is hiding something and unless he faces it, Mike is never going to make it out there.”
“What,” Mike ask Peppy in shock and alarm. The hare is sounding like he is quitting the training until the boy comes clean with his fear.
“Rob, take me back to the hangar. We’re done here forever.”
Rob 64 nods as he begins to escort Peppy back to the hangar. Mike looks stunned, trying to speak. He got to tell Peppy the truth or the pilot may as well give up on his dreams.
Make has difficulties at first but finally what he said to Peppy making him and Rob 64 stopped in their tracks, “Okay! I’m afraid of heights.”
The others leaving stopped, looking surprised and disbelief; Owen spoke up, “Wait, what? You’re afraid of heights?”
“I…I’m a crop duster after all. I’ve never flown over a thousand feet.”
“It’s true. Mike has a trouble involving heights for a long time.” Cameron explains to Peppy and the others with a sigh. “Gwen and I were trying our best to help him with that fear.”
“Right but so far, Mike is still Chicken Little. No offense.” Gwen said to Mike, causing him to shake his head, saying ‘no offense taken’.
“So what, you’re kidding?” Peppy ask Mike in disbelief. “You are scared of heights and yet you want to race around the world?”
“Yeah, that pretty much sums it all up.”
Rob 64 looks concerned then he speaks to Peppy about a subject, “Say, Peppy; during the attack of Venom Harbor, why, even some best of the pilots had trouble at high altitudes; Right?”
“That’s true, but they didn’t have to fly over the Himalayas, did they?” Peppy reminds Rob 64 of that fact.
“I will still be low to the ground…just not so high up.” Mike admits to Peppy in concern. The boy can still be in the air as long as he’s close to the ground.
“Plus, after the war, those pilots went on to be big time racers.” Rob 64 said with a smile. The robot has fond memories of those pilots making it to the big time.
“Really; is that true?” The Mole ask Rob 64 in amazement.
“You betcha, just like in the Cleveland race of 1946!”
“Wow, seriously? For real,” Owen ask Rob 64 eagerly. It must be cool for wartime pilots to become flying racers later on in light!
“Oh, get better.” Rob 64 said with a smile, getting ready for the next part. “In 1948, the P-38 Sky Ranger averaged 337 miles per hour.”
“Wait 337?”
“Okay, it’s actually 337.4, but still, that is good enough to make it to the record books.”
“Why would you do that?” Owen asks Rob 64, bewildered by the lack of a decimal point in the actual speed.
Rob 64 shrugs as he explains, “Folks nowadays don’t have any respect for decimal points.”
"Whoa, tell me about it."
"Yeah, couldn't they just round it up?"
"Seriously, he..." Owen begins to say. However two certain people cuts him and Rob 64, not wanting to hear anymore.
“Okay, okay, enough, boys!” Peppy snaps to the two boys in annoyance. Now is not the time for that, now the time’s to help Mike.
“Right, we’re going off focus here.” Gwen said in agreement.
“Okay, Mike, so you’re a flat hatter, right. We’ll work on that. But for now, time to see if we can turn low and skippy into low and fast.”
Mike smiles, saluting his mentor in determination while saying, “Yes, sir!”

A while later, Peppy and Rob 64 shows a training plan to Mike and his crew. If they want to be ready in time for the big rally, they must be prepared and able to deal with the problems waiting for them.
“It will go like this.” Peppy said as he shows the paper that has the first lesson marked ‘Lesson 1: Shadow Sprints’. As he continues speaking, the scene shows a flag being placed up along with the results of the actual scene. “Now that flag marks the startling line. Across the cornfield, 3 silos are waiting for you. You must slalom those with a radial-6 pass.”
“Wait, ‘a radial’ what pass?” Cameron ask Peppy, not sure what the hare is referring to.
“And once you get to those trees, go to your optimal rate of climb to about 500 feet. Roll inverted and extend, trading altitude for air speed and dive right towards that finish line.”
The trio looks at each other in confusion before Mike spoke up, “Okay, yeah, I think I got that.”
“Right, you make sure to string that all together, you might be able to beat him.” Peppy said with a nod of satisfaction.
“So wait, who are we racing? Scott?” Gwen asks Peppy curiously. “I mean, he’s probably a cheat like that creep Dick Dastardly of the car racing thing with what he installed illegal and smashes other planes. Plus, Scott is a bad influence on Courtney!”
“Oh relax. Scott is the least of your problems with the pilot I got in mind.”

A while later, Peppy and his group are in a balcony to give out the test to Mike. The hare glances at a plane that is flying high in the sky.
“Well, there he is.” Peppy said, speaking through a radio. “That plane is a twin commuter pushing about 1500 horsepower, comes through here every day.”
As the ones in the balcony glances at Mike and his crew in his plane, the pilot respond back through the radio, “Wow. He’s pretty high up; how will we catch him?”
“Oh, you won’t be racing him, you’re racing his shadow.” Peppy said. Sure enough, there is a shadow of the big plane going ahead of Mike’s plane. “You must beat it to the water tower.”
“Right, come on.” Gwen said as Mike turns his plane on then zooms off in hopes to beat the shadow.
“Right, let’s do this. Thread the silos!” Peppy calls out to Mike who tries to make his plane go faster in hopes to catch up to the shadow. He doesn’t want to lose this. “Tighter! Lean into your turns some more.”
Unfortunately, no matter how much Mike tries, the shadow kept on going onward, leaving the plane behind. Peppy frowns, shaking his head while saying, “Wow, his turns are awesome.”
“Tell me about it.” Rob 64 remarks with a shrug.
“Come on, Mike, go faster.” Peppy instructs Mike sternly. The boy’s plane continues zooming a bit, going by the cows that didn’t see him. “You’re falling behind! Begin your climb and try to catch him in the dive!”
Mike nods as he turns his plane high. Peppy continues, "All right; start your dive now..." Unfortunately, the hare frown as the shadow came to the finish line list, and just before boy would do anything. "On second thought, never mind. He just beaten ya." Mike screams and pounds his head on the dashboard in frustration. Great!

Audrey and the rest of the crew came into the school to assist Mike in figuring out how to help him speed faster.
“Okay, we can increase or decrease the drag.” Audrey comment, pointing to certain parts in the planet as she prepares to tear a part of it out. Needless to say, that causes Mike to freak out.
“Wait, no way! I am not losing my plane parts!” Mike exclaims to his friend frantically. “I definitely need to increase power!”
“All right, let’s pimp this baby up!” Joshua laughs eagerly as he and the mechanic crew got to work. They work on using lasers to make some changes while putting a battery into the plane itself.
As Audrey begins screwing in the torque, she adds, “More torque means more speed.”
This causes the speed to increase a bit. Hopefully that would work.

A while later, the big plane is seen crossing the lines once more as the miles showed 215; The others look at the marker while Peppy stares on, unimpressed.
“Very lousy.” Peppy said, shaking his head a bit while frowning. Mike will have to do better than that!

Mike kept on working on having his plane do a G-turn. He got to get this right in hopes to be fully prepared…and maybe one day conquer his nasty fear of fears once and for all.
“Come on, work on that radial-G turn!” Peppy instructs Mike through the radio, causing the boy to do his best to do what he said, “One more time. Now again!”

In the train, Mike’s crew look at the shadow of the big plane passing by as the leader prepares to do his best to catch up to it.
“Come on, push it, Mike!” Peppy instructs Mike in determination. As the shadow begins passing, the plane quickly zooms past the finish line. “Right, better!”

As the gang looks at the plans for what to do next in the training, Peppy continues, “Do not forget, altitude for airspeed. Gravity is your ally. The laws of physics govern speed. Remember that.”

Audrey and her crew fires up the torque, increasing the numbers; This is perfect, this should be enough to get Mike’s dust cropper plane a moving and a speeding in no time.

A while later, Peppy kept his binoculars right onto Mike’s plane, speaking in the wise mentor voice, “Okay, Mike. Give this run all you’ve got.” The trio in their plane heads off, going through the course as images played in Mike’s head. “Use your radial-G, allow gravity to work with you.”
Mike’s plane zooms through the radial G in speed. Proudly, Peppy adds, “Okay, looking good. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Firewall throttle, go, go, go!”
The trio kept on zooming through the course in determination. Nothing is going to stop them. Owen cheers on his pals from the balcony, “Yeah, all right, guys!” The plane zooms by the cows, startling them enough to moo loudly before tipping over.
“Now begin your climb!” Peppy orders Mike with a nod. Now to see if all that training has paid off. The trio begins going high with their plan. “All right, altitude for airspeed. Catch him in the dive, do so…NOW!”
Soon the plane twirls and dives off, zooming off above the ground. Sure enough, Mike, Gwen and Cameron pass by the shadow and cross the finish line, the marker showing the number 317. They did it!
“All right, ballistic,” Owen laughs madly. His friends has done it.
“Whoo-hoo-hoo,” Rob 64 cheers on wildly for the trio’s success.
“Oh yeah, yeah,” Vinny cheers as he and the Mole high-five one another.
“Yeah, good work, boys!” Joshua cheers on his friends from the balcony. He knew that Mike, Cameron and Gwen would be able to do it.
“Yeah, all right,” Mike and Cameron cheers on wildly in the plane with Gwen eagerly laughing. All that training has indeed paid odd!
“Oh right, those guys and girl kicked some major air out there!” Rob 64 exclaims with a smile, proud of the success.
“Morodirno…whatever that means!” Owen exclaims, cheering some more.
Peppy smiles a bit, saying, “They’re ready.” His trainees have completed their training. The Wings around the Globe Rally awaits them.

Audrey, Rob 64 and Mike’s supporters got to work on repainting Mike’s plane for the big race. The boy looks amazed as there is a symbol of a red fox with wings on it.
“Wow! Gwen and Cameron exclaims in amazement at the symbol.
“Wow, that’s so cool.” Owen remarks, impressed with the symbol.
“The Star Fox logo, your squadron insignia,” Mike said to Peppy in amazement. It’s an honor for anyone to get that symbol on their planes, even though not part of the team!
Peppy gave a smile to Mike, saying, “You and your friends earned it, Mike.”
“Yeah, it fits you.” Joshua said to Mike with a smile on his face.
"Right, totally fits ya." Owen said, trying his best to hold in his tears but to no prevail.
"Yeah, fitting ya," The Mole said, trying not to cry...but he gave up and grabs Vinny's shirt, sobbing into it, much to his pal's annoyance.
"Listen, my friends. When the race starts and all those planes take off, well, that will stir up a bunch of swirlies, just like the original Star Fox run into at the Battle of Airway." Peppy said, giving out one big final piece of advice for Mike.
"Yeah, roger that." Cameron said with a nod, saluting the coach.
"Right, I just wish you were coming with us though." Mike said with a sigh. It's a shame that Peppy cannot come with him, Gwen and Cameron for this big day.
Peppy just smiles, saying, "Just radio back once you get to the check points. I will be you wingman from here."
"Volo Pro Veirtas, right?" Gwen asks Peppy with a grin.
"Right. Volo Pro Veritas."
"I can only hope Cameron can handle the job of being my navigator." Mike remarked, concerned that Cameron may not be able to handle the responsibility of being the navigator.
"Mike, just leave the navigation to me, buddy." Cameron said to Mike with a smile. "I can handle it."
"Just made sure that we are needed for in case we are needed,” Gwen said to Mike. As long as his radio is long, she and Cameron are on standby in case of any trouble.
“Kick some tail, buddy!” Owen exclaims as Mike, Gwen and Cameron are preparing to take their leave for the Wings Around the Globe Rally.
“Right, we’re all proud of ya.” Audrey chuckles, slugging Mike a bit in the shoulder, making him wince. She punches him lightly two times. “That’s two for that.”
“Whoo-hoo, Dustmeister,” Rob 64 cheers on for Mike eagerly. Time for that boy to show those other champions what he’s got!

Author’s note
Mike’s training is now complete but will he be ready for the rally? In the next chapter, the boy and his pals arrived at the airport where they begin their rally, though everyone there is not welcoming. They did befriend the Cloudsdale pilot Soarin’ and meet romantic interests in a pilot named Zoey and her friend Trent. Read, review and suggest!