This is sort of a prequel to "Dark Storm Rising." It will explain some things that'll be coming up later on in "Dark Storm." I've taken some liberties with on particular character since he's only appeared in one episode and who knows if hell make a return. Because of this, I have a bit of leeway with him. He won't appear until the next chapter, but he is mentioned at the end of this one.
-xxx-
Black Bayou Burning
Chapter One: Welcome To Barataria
Stork sighed. Moments later, he sighed again. The first sigh was over Finn and Junko's usual—and very annoying—antics. The second sigh was over Piper; and a crystal; and a terra; and a plan; a plan to go to this terra to find this crystal. Sure it was a lot to sigh over, but it was a long and heavy sigh. It was a Stork sigh. And he had good reason to let out his very heavy sigh. At least, in his mind he did. However, both Piper and Aerrow would assure him that there was nothing to worry about.
Yeah, right. Little do they know.
Piper laid the map out. It was a map of a single terra that hadn't been updated in decades. Not that it needed to be. There wasn't much to update. The terra had changed little since that particular map had first been drafted. And that was probably just as well with the people that lived there. The terra did not get many visitors; even the Cyclonians avoided the place. And so it remained free. It did have a Sky Knight, though it didn't really need one. Most people would avoid it entirely and those that did venture onto the terra would not step foot outside of the towns—Cyclonians included.
A loud screech tore Piper and Aerrow from the map. Stork, however, did not feel it necessary to remove his eyes from the proverbial "road."
"Sorry, Radarr," Finn said, looking up at the blue creature hanging from a light fixture.
"What did you do?" asked Aerrow.
"Stepped on his tail," the blond replied, diving onto Junko and knocking him over. Radarr let go of the light, landing on Finn's head.
"Would you two knock it off," Piper scolded. "We need to work out a plan. This isn't a terra you just go running around on."
Finn stared at the map. "Where exactly are we going?" he asked, as if the name of the terra were not on the map.
"Terra Barataria," Piper replied.
"Terra Barataria? What the heck do we need that's on Terra Barataria?"
Piper stared at him. "Haven't you been listening?"
"No," Finn replied, nodding his head "yes."
The lone female let out an exasperated sigh. "We're looking for a crystal."
"Of course, we are," Finn said, beginning his retort before the navigator finished. She glared. "Let me guess, it's a special crystal," he continued, making air quotes as he said "special."
"Well, yeah," Aerrow said, answering for Piper.
"And…Master Cyclonis also wants this crystal, so we have to find it before she does." Finn took a deep breath. "And how do we know Cyclonis wants this crystal? because…Piper heard about it in someway, somewhere, at some point in time."
"Are you finished?" Piper said, slightly annoyed.
"Not, yet," said Finn. "And why does Cyclonis want this crystal…? Because it's 'special'," he finished, once again putting air quotes around special.
"I thought you weren't listening," said Junko.
Finn patted the Wallop on the arm. "Oh, Junko, Junko, Junko….This is the way it always goes."
Piper stared at them for a moment, then turned back to the map. Before she could speak Aerrow asked,
"What exactly does this crystal do?"
"Actually, I really don't know," the crystal specialist replied, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, that's helpful," Finn said. Piper elbowed him in the stomach. "Maybe I should stop standing next to Piper."
Aerrow smirked. "That'd probably be a good idea."
"Of course, he'll probably forget all about it and stand next to Piper again, say something inane again and be elbowed in the stomach—again."
They all looked at Stork, who still had his eyes on the particular path they were on—more or less, making various faces, which was ludicrous really. They were used to Stork's nonchalant remarks, but if they didn't give him weird looks he'd probably think there was something direly wrong with them…mind worms or something.
"Well, whatever this crystal does it must be pretty powerful if Cyclonis is after it," Aerrow said, getting back to the business at hand.
"It must be pretty powerful since no sane person will step foot on that terra," added Finn. "Not even Cyclonians go there….Can't we just go to Tro—"
"No, Finn!" Piper yelled.
"Nobody here's sane," said Stork. "Why do you think we're going?"
He had a point.
"How exactly are we going to find this crystal?" asked Junko.
"Yeah," said Finn. "What are we gonna do? Search every bayou."
"Well, those guys did say it was somewhere in the bayous." Piper grimaced. "Somewhere."
"Look, we'll figure it out when we get there," Aerrow said, nonchalantly.
"Well, you'd better hurry up," said Stork. "We're there."
"We can land in Port Allen," said Piper.
"Why do I get the feeling something horrible is going to happen while we're here," said Stork to no one in particular.
"'Cause that's usually the case," Finn retorted. "I'm surprised you're not used to it yet."
As the Condor descended onto an empty launch pad, Stork noticed his squad mates were still standing on the bridge.
"Uh, shouldn't you be heading to the hangar?"
"You're comin' with us," Aerrow said, slyly.
"Uh, no. I'm not."
"Uh, yes. You are," retorted Finn.
Stork completed the descent and then turned to his squad mates. They were all smiling. Smiling those smiles he hated so much. The ones that said, "you're coming whether you want to or not."
"Come on, Stork," Aerrow coaxed, much in the same way one would coax a dog out from its hiding place.
The Merb narrowed his eyes and then gave a defeated sigh. He wasn't going to win; he seldom did.
"Hey, maybe you'll meet some Merbs here," said Finn, obviously being facetious.
Stork ignored the facetiousness of the blond's remark and said, "Only if they have a death wish."
Finn grinned. "As in meeting you or being on Barataria?"
Stork gave him a flat look. "Both."
-xxx-
"Port Allen is Barataria's largest city. It's surrounded on all sides by the rest of the terra's towns with small bayous in between them; the towns are connected by bridges overlaying the bayous. While the majority of the population live in these towns, which lay north and west of the largest bayou, Black Bayou, there are many who live out in bayou country," Piper read to herself.
"It says the Black Bayou covers most of the south and the LeChene Bayou covers half the east," Piper said, reading from various pamphlets in the main office of the launchport. (They had to register the Condor in order to keep it being taken by anyone other than them.)
"Doesn't leave a whole lotta room for the towns," said Finn. "Especially with all those other bayous."
"The towns are built around the smaller bayous and a lot of the people live out in the Black and LeChene bayous," she said, reiterating part of what she had read to herself.
"What's all that at the bottom?" asked Aerrow, pointing to the bottom of the left page.
Piper read, "The bayous of Barataria, especially the Black and LeChene, should never be explored with out an experienced guide."
"Of course," Stork said to himself.
"So, where do we find a guide?" queried Junko.
They all looked at Aerrow. "We ask."
Piper put the pamphlets down and the group headed over to the information desk. Before they reached the desk, they were approached by a boy around their age.
"You lookin' fo' a guide?" he asked.
"Yeah," Aerrow answered. "How'd you know?"
"People dat bin here befo' don't go ovah to de info'mation desk," he said with a smile. "Dey jus' go where dey need ta go."
"So where can we find a guide?" asked Finn.
"Yo' best is ta head out ta Montillon," the teen replied. "Mos' people roun' here won't take no kids inta de bayous."
"How'd you know we wanted to go into the bayous?" queried Piper, curious as to how this kid knew so much.
"Uh, I ovaheard yo' convasation," he replied, looking a little guilty.
"Where is Montillon?" asked Aerrow, trying to move the conversation along.
"Down at de nort'east end of Black Bayou. I can take ya out der. I'm headin' dat way m'self."
"Great," said Aerrow. "Let's go."
Stork sighed as they followed the boy; whose name they learned was Leo, out to the launch pad. "And here we go," he said to himself.
They followed Leo to a small carrier. He had told them there was little point in taking their sky-rides. If they did manage to find a guide they wouldn't be able to take their rides out into the bayous, lest they get stuck. The only way to get through the bayous was on foot. And that wasn't necessarily any better.
-xxx-
The carrier was situated on the outskirts of Montillon. Hitting the first street, Leo pointed them in the direction of a small inn. "Don' worry. Dey prob'ly be askin' you," he said when Finn, for some reason, questioned him about asking for a guide through the bayous. "Trus' me. Dey gonna know when dey see you."
They parted ways, the Storm Hawks heading for the inn and Leo heading for, well…wherever. One thing Aerrow couldn't figure out was why Leo never bothered to ask why they wanted to go into the bayous.
"Maybe he just didn't care," Finn suggested.
"Maybe. It just seems kinda weird."
"It may be weird," said Stork, "but wouldn't you rather have him not pry?" He laughed nervously. "No telling what he might do. Besides, I don't trust that kid. There's something not right about him."
The rest of the group rolled their collective eyes. But Aerrow was wary of Leo as well. Not entirely sure why he was wary, he did feel that there was something a little off about the kid. However, he didn't want to worry his squad; so he kept it to himself and brushed it off.
"Come on, guys," said Aerrow, walking up to the inn's entrance. "There's only one way were gonna find a guide." Why do I get the feeling this is gonna be a very long day?
-xxx-
Finn strode lazily out the door with the rest of the Storm Hawks following. It was the fifth place they'd been to and no one would take them through the bayous. "Sorry, don't take kids."; "Sky Knight or not, don't take kids." No matter what they said, all they got in return was, "don't take kids."
"Man, this tanks," the sharpshooter said, kicking a stray piece of asphalt. "What's the big deal?"
"We have to keep trying, guys," Aerrow said. "We'll find someone to take us out there."
"You don't sound very optimistic, dude."
"They didn't even bother to ask us why we wanted to go out there," said Piper, sitting down on the curb.
Stork hadn't said much since they began their search and Junko was more interested in the Baratarian cuisine. Finn, Junko and Stork took a seat on the curb with Piper while Aerrow remained standing—and soon began pacing.
Looking down the street, he suddenly stopped when he saw someone he thought looked familiar. "It can't be."
"What can't be?" asked Piper.
"Come on, guys." Aerrow gestured for them to follow.
Stork rolled his eyes as they stood up to follow their Sky Knight. They had no clue as to what he was up to and Stork made it a point to say it was probably counterproductive to what they were supposed to be doing and that it would probably lead to something horrible. Everyone ignored him.
"What are we doing?" asked Junko, feeling the need to whisper.
"We're following him," answered Aerrow, pointing to a man, probably in his early twenties, walking down a connecting street.
"And why are we following him?" asked Piper.
"I think I know him."
Stork had to throw in his two cents. "Isn't this considered stalking?"
"Uh…." Aerrow really didn't have an answer for that. At least, not one that would counter the Merb's point.
"Oo, let's go in here!" Junko suddenly yelled, making everyone jump.
"Junko!" everyone countered, except for Stork, who really didn't care—to say anything, that is.
And Junko didn't seem to care that the green Merb had climbed onto his back when he yelled.
Aerrow looked back down the street. The man they had been following was gone. "Great," said Aerrow, "we lost him."
"Come on, guys. Let's go in here," the Wallop said, reiterating his previous statement.
"Why?" asked Finn.
"Well, we're supposed to be looking for a guide, right?" "Right," said Finn, nodding. How is it Junko's the one to stay on track?
"There's a whole bunch of people in there and I think I see Starling."
"Starling?" Is she looking for the crystal? Aerrow stepped up to the door of the …MacTavish Inn. Of course, it's an inn. What else would it be? He looked back at his squad. "You comin'?"
-xxx-
He stood in the shadows watching and listening (sort of) as Cyclonis spoke to the man in the tan duster. Dark Ace had never seen the man before and he was already finding the man to be rather disagreeable. He wasn't positive if the man was even Cyclonian; not native, anyway. Even though he spoke with the drawl of the terra's south, with the accent it was more likely he was from Barataria, or its neighboring terra of Odessa. But then again, what did he know. It's not like he ever paid attention to where people were from—or cared, for that matter. All Dark Ace knew for certain was that this man, who called himself Jaygen, was encroaching on his territory. This did not sit well with the Talon leader.
What exactly had possessed Cyclonis to send this pathetic beast to search the bayous of Barataria for this so-called Seeker Crystal?
Dark Ace had little knowledge about crystals, the basics, primarily. He would have far more knowledge of crystals if he'd ever bother to learn. However, judging from the little he did know, he could say with utmost confidence that if Master Cyclonis was so fervent about finding this crystal as she had been about others, it had to be powerful.
What exactly is this Seeker Crystal anyway?
"The Seeker Crystal has one very special power," Cyclonis began, as if reading Dark Ace's mind. He wouldn't be surprised if she could—creeped out—but not surprised. (Although he believed that all women could read minds, considering all the times he had been whapped by Ravess when he hadn't uttered a word. Thought it….) "And do you know what that is?"
Jaygen grinned and said, "Legend says that crystal can lead you to the Ethereal Stone."
The Ethereal Stone, Dark Ace thought. You have got to be kidding.
The Ethereal Stone was a crystal of legend. Old stories say that the Ethereal Stone holds unfathomable power, far more power than the Aurora Stone. It is said that whosoever bears this crystal can control, destroy or save, the whole of Atmos at his very will. But stories can be corrupted over many years of telling. They can be heard wrong, misinterpreted. Because of this, most people don't believe it exists and Dark Ace stood among those people.
He scoffed at the idea when Cyclonis first brought it up, which may be a reason why she didn't select him to search for the Seeker Crystal. If it was, it didn't mean much. For whatever her reasons were, they would never leave her lips. Simply put: if she didn't want him to know, he wouldn't know. For the most part, it made no-never-mind to him. Let some insignificant heavy trudge through the treachery-laden swamps if they're so gung-ho about it. The Dark Ace he may be, but he had no desire to possibly become lunch for some swamp beast, or bayou beast, or whatever they called it.
Even so, her choosing a non-Talon for the job seriously ruffled this Talon's feathers.
"What's wrong Dark Ace?" she asked, coolly, after the man had left. "You don't approve of my choice?"
Dark Ace stepped out of the shadows into her line of sight, stone-faced.
"No. I don't," he replied, a remark that would have anyone else facing her wrath.
"Sounds like somebody's feathers are ruffled." He didn't reply, but simply remained stone-faced. "Don't worry," she continued,. "You'll be following him."
Maybe she did trust this Jaygen less than he did.
"He may be able to find the crystal, but you Dark Ace…." She pointed to him. "Will bring it to me."
He was unsure of what Cyclonis was implying when she made the remark, but it didn't matter.
-xxx-
The Storm Hawks watched in amusement as Starling argued with a man, probably in his late twenties, sitting at a table at the far end of the bar. She wanted him to take her into the bayous and he was refusing. They seemed to be evenly matched in their arguing and Aerrow wasn't sure if there was going to be a winner. Starling's back was turned to them and she was too busy arguing to notice that anyone had entered the inn. When she moved to the left, Aerrow noticed the insignia on the man's shoulder plate.
A Sky Knight? Or at least a member of a squadron.
Aerrow walked up next to Starling. He stopped, not saying a word, and watched. He would probably get whacked, but he was a fourteen year old boy and he couldn't help it. He smiled broadly as he listened to their back and forth banter.
"You know, you coulda jus' argued that Repton to det," the presumed Sky Knight said.
Starling glared.
Apparently the conversation, or argument, had gone beyond the bayous.
"Maybe you should intervene," suggested Piper.
"No way. I'm enjoying this," said Finn, grinning.
Piper elbowed him.
"Hey, Starling," Aerrow nearly shouted.
Startled, Starling swung her arm around, smacking Aerrow in the face. "Aerrow! I'm so sorry," she apologized, emphatically.
"Obviously, you two know each othah, so I'm gonna go," the Sky Knight said, making a quick exit.
"Where do you think you're going?" she yelled after him. It was in vain, however. The man was gone in seconds. Starling sighed.
"No luck, huh," Aerrow said.
"No," she replied. "Apparently, you haven't had any luck, either."
She didn't have to ask why they were there. It was a given. They, too, were after the crystal.
"I can't understand why no one will act as a guide," said Starling, a little miffed.
Aerrow shrugged. "You got me."
"All they say to us is, 'I don' take kids out der'," said Finn, in his best Cajun accent. "And that's the only reason they give us."
"But that doesn't explain why Starling's being refused," said Piper.
"Dey refuse 'cuz dey scared to go out der," said a voice, seeming to come out of nowhere. "Dey know what you lookin' fo'." An old, dark-skinned man was now standing next to Starling. "Dat boy dat jus' lef', he ain' gonna help. He got too much to do. No good askin' a Wild Card."
"A Wild Card?" Aerrow said, wide-eyed. "You mean that was…?"
"Dat's right. Dat be Remy. Sky Knight o' Barataria." He paused, grinning. "Howevah, I do know someone dat will help."
"Really?" said Starling, a little skeptical. "Who?"
The old man laughed. "You jus' take yo'selves down to Black Bayou Tave'n and ask fo' Hamish. Jus' tell de boy Emile sen' ya. He help you."
Aerrow and Starling looked at each other. What did they have to lose?
When they exited the inn, a dark-skinned woman wearing a handkerchief covering her head came over to the man and whacked him on the back of the head.
"Emile Duchesne!"
"Now what you wan', Woman?"
"Why cain't you leave dat po' child alone? He got enough problems wit' out you sendin' someone to bot'er him 'bout dem bayous."
"Dat boy need to move on," said Emile. "He ain' no Talon no mo'. Dat ain' all he ain' no mo', eit'er."
-xxx-
So, there's chapter one. I've patterned Barataria after Louisiana ('cause Louisiana is AWESOMW!). It also makes finding the crystal more interesting with all the bayous.
I won't be posting anything else until the end of the week. I won't have access to my computer until Wednesday. That's all I can think of to say. Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are appreciated.