Hello everyone! Yes, I'm back with my second story. This one is a fast and fun adventure. Short, quick chapters (10 in all). The story is complete, but as always I will update one at a time, and as always will update quickly, weather permitting and fates smiling.

First of all - legalese: I do not own the Storm Hawks, Nerdcorp does.

Second - a minor SPOILER alert for those of you who do not have access to YTV or Youtube (Or various similar sites). This story does contain small references to the newest episodes. You've been warned.

Third - if you are at all interested I have a small puzzle in this story that has absolutely no reference to the Storm Hawks, but does point to one of my favorite movies. The first one to guess gets - well, nothing really except a hearty huzzah, cyber applause, and my amazement that someone would actually take the time to figure it out. If there are any takers and no winner by the next to the last chaper, I'll give a hint.

Oh - one more thing (yeah, yeah, I know - shut up already), reviews, though not necessary, are always welcome, good bad or indifferent. Means you cared.

And now - on with the show. Enjoy the ride!

Chapter 1

Aerrow paced back and forth - three steps up, turn, three steps back. Over and over. His hands were clenched into fists, the nails biting into the flesh.

His narrowed gaze would flick from one irritating object to the other - first the radio: stubbornly silent. Then to the clock - 20 minutes past when the calls should have come in. And finally to the last object. That infernal, irritating, maddening piece of crap that had started this whole mess in the first place.

It sat innocently enough on the round command table, still wrapped in its carrying case. About 10 inches square. Nondescript, just a brown box. But what it contained was anything but innocuous.

He could feel his co-pilot's concerned eyes watching him. Aerrow stopped his pacing long enough to exchange looks of worry and frustration, and then picked up his obsessive movements. Back and forth, 3 steps up and 3 steps back.

"Why haven't they called? They said they'd call and they haven't and it's long past the time they said they would." Aerrow muttered, more to himself than seeking answers from his mute friend. "I should know better. Why did I let this whole thing fall apart?"

Once more his green eyes sought the cause of his troubles. Abandoning his pacing he strode up to the table and slammed his hands down on either side of the box. Brow furrowed he glared at it. By all rights, it should have immediately burst into flames. But it just sat there, mocking him. He felt a light paw rest on his shoulder, offering comfort.

Aerrow heaved a deep sigh and sank back onto the curved couch. Catching Radarr's eye he gave the smallest of smiles.

"I know buddy, I know. They'll be fine; they're my team, best in the Atmos."

This still didn't relieve the hollow feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. Right now all he wanted to do was pick up that nauseating box in front of him and toss it as far as he could. Shoot it over and over with the energy cannons until even the dust was dust. But as much as that would be so very satisfying, he knew he couldn't. Not yet, anyway.

He fixed on the other problem. The radio still hadn't crackled to life. He jerked upright and stalked over to it, checked the wires for the hundredth time. Everything as they should be. Just for the heck of it, he picked it up and gave it a shake.

Realizing that he was beginning to work himself into a state, he held himself still, drawing on his training and reserves of inner strength. One didn't become a Sky Knight at fourteen by being unable to handle adversity.

As he wrestled himself into an easier state of mind, he reflected upon the events leading up to this moment...

…

"Aerrow, come quick!" the cry resounded down the hallway, the words urgent, demanding instant action.

Dropping the wrench he'd been using to tighten a bolt, Aerrow rapidly rose to his feet and sprinted down the hall. Bursting into Piper's lab he beheld the tawny eyed specialist smiling with barely concealed satisfaction.

"Look!" She declared, thrusting something into his face.

Aerrow had to step back in order to see what she held. As far as he could tell, it was an ordinary, average, see them every day crystal. He glanced up at the girl, his mind trying to recall if she had been working on anything special. But then, she was always working on something.

"Umm, nice Piper, very nice. Er, what does it do?"

She sighed, giving him a look of disappointment. "Aerrow, you know I've been trying to combine the properties of a Solaris crystal with a fuel crystal. If successful, we would have ever-charging crystal power, we wouldn't have to continually buy new ones or recharge old ones. Think of the time and money it will save!" She looked at the softly glowing, reddish-orange stone in her hand. "And I think I've finally done it!"

"Oh." Aerrow responded. Then he thought about it a little more. "Oh! Wow, that would be a good thing. Brilliant, Piper, good job!"

"Yes, now all I have to do is figure out a way to manufacture these easily, and we've got it made. Here take a look." Piper turned and pulled out a scroll. Quickly unrolling it she pointed towards a terra. "There is a crystal factory here, it's not far away, and we could be there by tomorrow. If I can just use some of the facility, I'm sure I can figure out a way to combine the two quickly and cheaply."

Aerrow nodded. "Very well, tell Stork the coordinates and we'll see what can be done."

Piper grinned at him and darted out the door.

If Aerrow had any clue at that time, he'd have told her no. Better yet, he would have destroyed the infernal crystal right there and then…