Fox sighed, shoulder deep in his arwing's engine. He knew arwing engines like the back of his hand, and damned if he knew what was wrong, let alone something large enough to stall out his plane.
He sighed again, extracting his arms and rubbing at oil, wiping his hands on a towel the coyote had provided.
He glanced at his host, who was motionlessly crouched on the nearest corner of the base, watching him. Seeing he was noticed, he stood and leapt, opening his arms. His wings opened, and he glided down, landing in front of Fox.
"Nothing's wrong with your plane." He sighed, folding his wings. "Eden doesn't like technology."
"Well, then, how am I supposed to go home?" He demanded, slamming the engine hatch shut, eyes flashing.
"Come inside the base. It's about to rain."
Fox followed the coyote, picking up the communications setup, not wanting to ruin it in the rain. As they stepped inside the base, rain started pouring with a thunderclap as if someone had opened the heavens.
"What is your name exactly?" The coyote asked, leading him through the base.
"Fox McCloud. I'm a mercenary."
"Ahhh... I know who you are now." The coyote turned into a room. "Not that your hero status will prevent Eden from taking you."
Fox stopped at the doorway. It was a large room, attached to a terrarium. Some of the glass was removed from the large windows, so the humid smell of rain rushed in around him. He got the odd impression of steel, glass, and nature combined, and he saw a pair of beds against one wall. They seemed little used; but two hammocks hung from the trees in the terrarium, swaying in the wind.
"So who are you exactly?" Fox inquired.
"My name is Scott Zironem. I'm a botanist." The coyote hopped up and perched on a counter, tail switching. "The other remaining team member is Alena Starcaster. She's a biochemist."
"What happened to the other 28?" Fox hefted the communications setup onto the counter absently.
"Many things." Said Scott evasivly. "You'll learn soon enough... ah, there's Alena now."
The flutter of wings in wind reached Fox's ears, and he saw a slight form drift through the open windows, rainbow wings closing. She was felinic, fur multicolored, carrying a bundle by the tied-together corners. Butterfly wings beat slightly on her back; she was apparently surprised to see Fox.
She glanced at her comrade. "Scott?"
"This is Fox McCloud. He came to investigate. He didn't leave in time."
Alena gave Fox a sharp look. "Welcome to Eden. You're stuck here for Eternity." She stepped forward and opened the bundle on the remaining clear spot on the counter, revealing an array of fruits and greens.
Fox blinked once, information reaching his subconsious. These two were saying he could never leave, and no one else should attempt touchdown... "Wait just a goddamn minute here!" He shouted.
"He's a bright one. That didn't take long." Alena said, biting into a fruit. "And don't eat these. It'll just speed the process up."
"I can't stay here!"
"You don't have a choice. Your plane is dead. If anyone else touches down, they'll get stuck here too." Scott helped himself to the fruit.
"I'm engaged!" Fox moaned, passing a hand down his face. "And my fiance is pregnant..."
"This is my fault, I'm afraid. I'm the one who sent the signal." Alena said sadly. "Listen, Eden may yet reject you and release you. We'll know in a week or so."
"A week?!"
"That's how long it took us. You can sleep in the base." Scott sighed and bowed his head. "We're sorry. I know we seem a bit bitter, but you gotta understand we lost our lives, our friends, everything we had. And we can't stop what may happen to you. We're sorry."
Fox, feeling sick, staggered over and sat down roughly on one of the beds, passing his hands over his face, trembling. He reached a hand up, touching his radio. "Guys? Can you hear me? Fara? Falco?"
He only heard silence as he lowered his hand, ducking his head. He felt a single tear trace down his face, and he brushed it away.

"We've lost all contact with him." Peppy stated, leaning back on the bridge chair.
Fara paced the length of the bridge, hugging herself. "And that was eight hours ago."
"So now what do we do?" Falco wanted to know. "He said not to attempt touchdown, though god only knows why."
" 'God had nothing to do with this.' " Fara slowly quoted, shaking her head. "Guys I'd like to know what in hell is going on. I think we've run across something truly Twilight Zone, know what I mean?"
"Something unexplainable." Slippy nodded. "But what if that guy is right, and Fox can never leave?"
"Let's not even discuss that option, if anything for Fara's sake." Said Katt, shaking her head hard enough to make her ears flap.
"Agreed." Fara said, voice strained. "He's probably trying to contact us. Let's give him a while, and if he doesn't get through to us... we'll go see what's going on."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Once the storm system clears, I'll launch our satellite and take a closer look at the base." Said ROB. "I don't want to loose Fox either."
"None of us do." Said Peppy heavily.
Silence descended on the bridge, or as silent as it got. The ship still hummed around them as the Great Fox hung in orbit, the only ship in the area.