Behind The Mask
Chapter one
Aerrow walked down the hall of the Condor as quietly as he could hoping no one would notice him as he made his way to his room. But of course someone had to notice him. Aerrow recognized the voices coming up behind him belonged to Finn and Junko. Sure they were his friends just like the rest of the Storm Hawks. But right now after fighting the Dark Ace again, answering three different distress signals, helping Finn fix his skimmer (when he said helping he meant doing all the work while Finn watched and made annoying comments) and stopping an argument between Finn and Piper he was tired and didn't want to talk to anybody.
"Hey Aerrow!" Finn called. The young Sky Knight rolled his eyes thinking oh no… before turning to face his friends with another fake smile on his face. "Hi Finn, Junko. What do you need?" Finn smiled which was never a good sign. "Oh nothing. We were just wondering if you'd help us pull the ultimate prank of Piper! You know for a little revenge for her wrecking my CDs!" for a minute Aerrow just stared at him. He but his hands up in surrender. "Okay just wait. You want me to help you prank Piper after I just finished settling the argument between you to?" both Finn and Junko nodded enthusiastically. Aerrow shook his head at the ground. "Uh sorry but no." he said and before they could protest he added "guys its late. We should all just try to sleep before something else chaotic happens."
"You mean like it will tomorrow." Finn asked. Aerrow wanted to ignore him and go to his room but he was supposed to be the leader here. He turned back to the sharpshooter with the happy, optimistic expression he always used even though he hardly ever felt it. "Exactly. Good night." Without another word he turned the corner and hurried into his room.
As soon as the door closed he let the smile and positive look dissolve into a much more real sad and tired one. He glanced in his mirror and saw himself for what he really was. Just a sad tired boy. His messy red hair was in even more disarray than normal, his normally bright green eyes had lost their spark, he was pale and dark shadows danced under his eyes. He sat on his bed and let his head rest against the cool mettle of the wall. Radarr chattered in concern. "I'm fine Radarr." Aerrow reassured him. "Just tired." Radarr wasn't convinced. They had practically raised each other. Radarr could tell when Aerrow was holding something back. But he didn't press it. He could tell that Aerrow really was tired and rightfully so. When Aerrow eventually fell into a light and fitful sleep Radarr stayed awake by his side.
In was only two hours before Aerrow awoke to the sound of Stork screaming. Without a moment's hesitation the fourteen year old grabbed the twin energy blades he used as weapons and ran to the bridge. Radarr hurried out after him. As soon as he got to the bridge Aerrow could tell why the merb had been screaming. Ravess and her annoying violin players could be seen speeding towards them. "Stork look out!" Aerrow cried as Ravess fired one of her crystal tipped arrows at the glass. The merb didn't react fast enough. Aerrow dove at his feet knocking the pilot to the ground just as the window smashed. Aerrow helped Stork to his feet. "You okay?" he asked. Stork nodded and brushed himself off before returning to the controls. "We're doomed!"
Aerrow not wanting to wake his crew took to his skimmer with Radarr. They could do this with Stork flying the Condor they'd be fine. When Ravess saw they were alone she laughed. Notching three arrows at a time she aimed and fired. Luckily Aerrow saw them coming and spiraled out of the way. It was pelting with rain and he could hardly see two inches in front of him. Thunder and lightning boomed and harsh cold winds ripped around them. They couldn't stay out for long but then again neither could Ravess. "Okay Radarr." He said to his co-pilot. "All we need to do is out last her." The blue sky monkey nodded the affirmative.
Ravess fired arrow after arrow at them. One hit the wing of Aerrow's skimmer and for a scary minute they spiraled out of control before righting themselves and flying back up to meet her. Aerrow fired blue charges at her but she avoided them. Feeling her victory growing near Ravess began to close in for the kill before a loud bang was heard from the Condor. Junko or Finn, Aerrow didn't know who right now had managed to shoot Ravess out of the sky.
Aerrow and Radarr landed back on the Condor. The other Storm Hawks crowded around them. "Are you okay?" Piper asked looking at her rain soaked friend. "We heard the commotion and it looked like you could use some help." Aerrow summoned the little strength he had left and smiled. Another fake one. "I'm fine. Thanks for the help." Junko gave him the thumbs up, Finn was still asleep and Stork was busy flying the ship. Aerrow shivered and Piper put her arm around his shoulders. "You should probably get dried off before you get sick." She warned. "It's like midnight to so we should all get back to bed. We can do the repairs in the morning." Out of concern for their Sky Knight Junko, Piper and Radarr guided Aerrow back to his room. "Thanks guys." He said with a weak smile. "Good night."
Once he was back in bed and was asleep again Radarr still stayed by his side. He pulled the blanket higher around the boy's shoulders. In a way Radarr felt privileged. He was the only one who ever saw Aerrow like this. Everyone had high expectations of him. Aerrow was the son of the leader of the original Storm Hawks, Aerrow was the leader of the new Storm Hawks, Aerrow was a Sky Knight, Aerrow would end the war, Aerrow would always save the day. But the truth was Aerrow was all those things and he would do those things but he was still a kid. And he needed his friends to realize it.