Just Like Me
A/N Still don't own Storm Hawks. Yep, this story has a bit of a dark tone to it. They can't be happy-go-lucky all the time, can they?
It had been an accident. They were fighting down, close to the wastelands. He didn't mean to push the guy down into the lava.
Aerrow stared down in horror as the last of the Cyclonian disappeared into the lava. His death screams still lingered in the air, echoing through Aerrow's mind. So numb with shock was he that he didn't notice the Dark Ace fly up behind him.
"Ah, Aerrow. Enjoying the thrill of the kill, I see," Dark Ace taunted. He didn't draw his blade, content with just grinning at him.
"No," Aerrow hissed. "I... I'd never kill anyone! I'm not like you!"
"You know that's not true," the dark-haired man hissed. "Tell me Aerrow, what did you think happened when you send my Talons spiraling away towards the wastelands with their parachutes? Did you think we'd just go merrily down and pick them up?"
Aerrow just stared at him, saying nothing.
"No. Anyone who gets shot down by a child deserves what they got. We leave them there Aerrow. We leave them to die. Even if we wanted to save them, it's too dangerous to get a carrier down here." As if to emphasize his words, a blast of lava shot up behind him, bathing him in a red light. "Every pilot you've defeated, you've sent to his death! Just like me..."
"No! Y-you're lying!"
"Why would I bother lying?" Dark Ace hissed. "The truth is much more painful. You're just like me, Aerrow. Just like me."
"No!" Aerrow screeched. The Talon's death screams echoed through his head; flashes of the man's life ending in the lake of lava flitted through his mind.
Just like me...
Aerrow turned and fled, the Dark Ace's laughter following him. He landed his skimmer and slid off. His friends found him there, curled up on a ball in a pool of his own tears and vomit.
"Aerrow, what's wrong?" Piper asked.
He took several shuddering breaths before answering. "I'm... I'm just like him."