Kate was wondering where everyone had gotten to. On board the Condor it was quiet, silent even.
The ship had landed at Terra Tropica, the guys wanting a much needed break from constantly fighting Talons, saving the Atmos, and most recently, escaping from the Murk Raiders.
The hot tropical weather was welcome to most, but Kate didn't care for it, she preferred the slightly colder climates, similar to those on Atmosia and Terra Gale.
They probably decided to hit the beach without me she thought glumly, sat alone in her room. They had said they just needed to gather some more crystals for the engine, though why Stork had accompanied them instead of staying with the Condor as usual was a mystery to her.
Suddenly the alarms whooped twice, making her rush to the Bridge to see what was happening. As she rounded the corner and entered the main body of the ship, she could have sworn she had left the lights on, and was just fumbling for that darn switch that was just out of her reach when-
'SURPRISE!' And everything was lit up to show a grinning Aerrow, Piper, Finn, Junko, Stork and Radarr all wearing party hats, with silly string falling everywhere.
'Happy Birthday!' They all shouted in unison.
'B-but but I thought you were out looking for crystals?' Kate asked in disbelief, stumbling a little at the beginning of the sentence because she was sure they'd forgotten it was her birthday.
Looking around the room she could see a banner hanging from the ceiling, which was definitely in Finn's writing. A table had been set up to the right, with all manner of party-food, and in the middle a huge chocolate cake with Happy 1st Birthday On The Condor written in blue icing on the top.
'As if' Began Finn, 'that was just an excuse to get the stuff ready for an awesome party.'
'Yeah and it was Aerrow's idea' Added the Wallop.
She looked to Aerrow who had a sheepish smile on his face.
'But the alarms to get you here were all Piper' He said.
Kate looked at them all. 'Thank you' She said. 'I can't believe you would go to all this trouble for me-' Kate began, starting to tear up, almost overwhelmed with emotion.
'Well you deserve it' Piper chimed in. 'You've been with us for almost a year now and even though you may not have been fighting side-by-side with us yet, you've stayed on the ship with Stork and saved us all countless times either by steering the Condor or shooting the cannons. Anyway you're our best friend, you're family' She finished, everybody nodding enthusiastically behind her, and came in for a big hug.
Kate then proceeded to hug everyone in turn. Frist Radarr who chirruped happily, then Stork who awkwardly patted her on the back, Junko, who enveloped her in the biggest bear hug that she had to remind him of her need to breathe. Next came Finn who quickly grabbed Kate by the waist, picked her up and spun her round, making her giggle whilst he harmlessly flirted as per usual. By the time he set her down there was just Aerrow left.
Everyone else had suddenly found something else to occupy themselves with, be it eating the party food, inspecting the engine crystals or just chatting quietly. Kate was glad of their attempt at privacy for the two of them, even if it was executed slightly awkwardly.
Aerrow and Kate had been becoming steadily closer to each other, especially over the past couple of weeks. Everyone had noticed this yet not commented, just feeling glad for the two of them. Even Radarr who had always become increasingly jealous whenever Aerrow had become close to any girl, didn't try to upset the two of them, content that Kate could quite possibly be the 'one' for him'
As Aerrow opened his arms she had to restrain herself from flying straight into his warm embrace. As Kate leaned her head in his firm chest, she sighed, feeling his muscles flexing as his toned arms snaked around her back. She only came up to just past his chin, around 5ft6, whereas he was a good 6ft. Aerrow buried his face in her strawberry scented hair, his sharp red spikes clashing with her sleek brunette locks.
'Happy B-Day' He whispered, and slightly tightened his grip on her for all of a second. He smiled to himself, content to just stay here with her forever, not wanting to try to decipher all the mixed up feelings about her, just knowing he was always happiest whenever Kate was around. He had so many confused feelings he didn't know which way was up.
Aerrow leaned his head back slightly to look down at Kate, then rested his forehead against hers.
Looking into his leaf-green eyes she was glad that the Sky Knight was there for her, she knew that if anything were to ever happen to her, he wouldn't stop till he got her back, and the thought made her smile.
Aerrow's eyes strayed down to her lips. Such a beautiful smile he mused, then wondered where the hell that thought had crept up from. Still, it didn't stop him from slowly tilting his lips towards hers, Kate's mouth parting slightly at his sudden movement.
But before his lips could reach their destination the alarms blasted all thought from their minds and instead his gentle grasp became a protective hold, his chin now resting on the top of her head.
'What is it?' The Sky Knight asked. All Business now.
'Oh Gods' Piper muttered to herself looking out of the glass windows.
'Cyclonians!' Stork announced. 'Talons, coming in fast' Also muttering a casual 'We're doomed.' Left eye twitching slightly.
'Stork take us up, we've got to meet them head on. Everybody to your rides, Kate stay here.' Aerrow said, still reluctant to actually let her go yet.
'No, this time I'm going with you' Kate stated defiantly, pushing herself out of Aerrow's embrace.
'It's too dangerous.' Replied Aerrow.
'I'm not asking for your permission' Her face drawing into a frown. 'I've been training for months with you for this exact situation, a clear sky, plenty of room to manoeuvre. You've seen how good I am when flying and fighting you, and you're the best fighter I know.'
'She's got a point' Cut in Finn, ignoring the sharp glare from Aerrow. 'Besides, we'll all be there to look out for her.'
Aerrow was silent for a moment, knowing that unfortunately his team was right. Everybody was watching him – the only sounds were the alarm sirens and Stork's worried, 'They're almost here.'
Aerrow finally turned back to look at Kate's defiant expression and knew she had a fair argument. Plus they were all around the same age now (14).
'Fine' He eventually answered. 'But at the second you feel you can't do this, or, Gods forbid, The Dark Ace appears, you come straight back to the Condor. Got it?' He all but demanded.
'I promise.' Kate lied smoothly, she could handle this, and anyway, The Dark Ace wasn't there. There was no sign of him through the Condor's windows, just a bunch of Talons.
She was finally happy to actually be able to get some action going. Great as Stork was, he could be quite depressing at times. All that would happen on the Condor whilst everyone was fighting was a muttered, 'We're all going to die.' From Stork, steering the ship, which was hardly what anyone wanted to hear.
You see, Aerrow and Kate were the closest of friends, but when they had a 'difference of opinion', neither side would back down, their personalities clashing.
'Then let's go kick some Cyclonian ass!' Junko whooped, bringing a smile to everyone's face as they dashed to their Skimmers.
'Basically just knock them off of their rides. It's actually really fun.' Finn half-whispered. Aerrow's face still contorted with worry.
The hatch opened and they revved their engines, shooting out, speeding up, and then snapping their Skimmer's wings open.
At first it was easy. The lead Talon followed Junko, only to be shot down by Finn. The second and third heading for Aerrow, whilst the others aimed for the girls. They were soon separated, all fighting their own battles.
The Dark Ace observed this from his high vantage point in the clouds. He was hidden - they couldn't see him, yet he could see them.
Master Cyclonis' orders were very clear: capture the brunette alive and take her to Cyclonia. He was informed that she should be located inside the ship, which would have been easy to infiltrate, but he could clearly see her flying around, dispatching his Talons.
No matter, he thought with a smirk, angling his ride downwards. Time to collect my prize.
The next Talon to come hurtling at Kate was much bigger than the last. He had a dirty brown moustache with a long scar down the right side of his face.
'We got a pretty young'un here, eh?' he said, laughing. Kate wondered who he was talking to, and turned her head to see another Talon speeding towards her from behind.
'You bet. We could have some fun with her in Cyclonia.' He said nastily.
Well they're in for a nasty surprise, Kate thought slyly. She kept flying towards the Talon in front of her, the other one still gaining on her from behind. At the last second she heaved her arms up, taking her skimmer into the heavens. Her reaction was too fast for the two Talons, who immediately crashed head on into each other.
As she turned forwards in her seat she looked up to meet an awesome sight.
The Dark Ace was hurtling straight down towards her, sat up in his seat. A huge grin plastered on his face, his red weapon ablaze, held high in the air.
'Oh shit' she muttered before quickly swerving off to the left.
She looked back to see him right on her tail, and put on a burst of speed.
'Uhh, Finn?' questioned Junko, 'Where's Kate?' he asked just after they had shot down their latest Talon.
Aerrow heard them and stopped to look around too. What he saw soon made him catch his breath.
She was flying fast, her hair whipping around wildly. The Dark Ace practically on top of her, firing blasts from his monstrous weapon.
Piper flew past, shooting at him, but The Dark Ace didn't even notice, his teeth gritted in determination as he imitated each of her aerial manoeuvres, steadily getting closer.
Quickly he spotted his chance and took it, leaping onto her skimmer whilst she was busy avoiding the other Talons whizzing by her.
Kate immediately noticed the difference in weight on her skimmer, and turned her head to look back, only to meet a pair of bright crimson eyes and a maniacal grin. Hitting the auto-pilot button on her ride, she hastily jumped up, her sapphire blade clashing with his fiery red one, only just missing her shoulder by a hairs breadth.
'Since when did you become a Storm Hawk little girl?' Dark Ace leered. Ducking as her dark blue energy blade passed overhead.
'Since when did you like getting your ass handed to you?' She replied, dodging his kick to her left knee and clipping him on his jaw with her hand.
His head snapped to the side and he spat out blood. 'You'll pay for that.' He declared venomously.
But before he could attack again Aerrow had swooped in and landed on Kate's skimmer too, knocking in to the dark haired man, causing them both to go tumbling off the edge and landing rather ungracefully onto the Cylonian Commander's ride below.
'Aerrow, so nice of you to drop by.' Dark Ace sneered, jumping back to his feet, with Aerrow following suit.
'What do you want this time Dark Ace?' Aerrow demanded, snapping out his twin energy blades and relaxing into a basic fighting stance.
'Certainly not you Sky Boy.' He announced half-heartedly, too busy blocking the teenager's flurry of well-aimed blows.
'As a matter of fact' he started, 'I'm here for that new kid you call a Storm Hawk' he said, glancing below them.
'Kate' the red head whispered, his eyes widening slightly with his sudden realisation.
'Oh, so the child has a name.' Dark Ace replied patronizingly. 'Well I'm sorry to burst your little bubble Aerrow, but quite frankly this is taking too long.' And with that his fist darted out, breaking Aerrow's nose and distracting him. In a flash he has sliced the back left half of his switchblade's engine, making it spiral madly out of control. 'Bye-bye Aerrow' he called as he promptly dived backwards off of the falling machine and straight on to the other talons' beneath.
As soon as The Dark Ace landed, he swiftly knocked the Talon into the wastelands, angry at himself for not dodging Aerrow's attack earlier. He soon managed to spot Kate again, and set off after her.
Meanwhile Kate had been convinced by Finn and Piper to head back to the Condor. She had realised why The Dark Ace was so feared in all of Atmos – he was an excellent fighter and completely unpredictable as well as a few other things. She didn't want to even think about why he had immediately come after her instead of Aerrow as usual. It wasn't that she wanted to leave all the danger to her friends – far from it; she was just unnerved about it all.
Piper, Finn and Junko had just landed back on the Condor and Kate was just about to follow suit when a red energy blast sailed not even an inch over her head. She swerved down and to the left, away from the Condor and her shouting friends, in the direction of Terra Tropica.
Looking back she saw that The Dark Ace was yet again following her and wondered for a moment where the hell Aerrow was. But the thought quickly flew from her mind as she was too busy dodging the second blast fired at her.
This time, no mercy The Dark Ace thought and shot an energy blast so big at the skimmer in front of him that it immediately took out both the wings on the machine's right side, and left a nasty gash down the side of Kate's arm.
Kate shrieked as she lost control of her ride, clutching on to her bleeding arm. The ground below was spinning closer and closer and before she even had a chance to think about pulling her parachute she had crashed straight into the hard lumpy ground of the terra below.
Kate's first thought was of why she didn't hurt more. As she crawled out from the wreck she realized that the impact had made the skimmer curve in to a loose ball surrounding her seat effectively protecting her from the worst of it.
She felt something warm dripping down from her hairline and reached up with her uninjured arm to see what it was. When she pulled her hand back, it came back red.
Blood, she thought dizzily. I'm bleeding. But for some reason it didn't shock her as much as it should have. Her head felt fuzzy.
The last thing she remembered was looking up to see a red skimmer flying towards her, a large masculine hand reaching out towards her and a faint hoarse voice screaming 'Nooo!' before falling into the soft darkness of unconsciousness.