"Fredd" - I ended it like that so you would read this chapter!
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Chapter 2: Stranger On the Skimmer
Finn couldn't help but do it. He had tried holding it back, but it didn't work. He felt it coming and the only thing he could do was let it go. Trying to conceal the large yawn, the blonde held up his hand as his other arm stretched out to side. Immediately, Junko let out a yawn to rival that of the sharpshooters. Radarr was next to fall under its spell, then Aerrow, Piper, and lastly Stork. "I'm going back to bed." Finn announced as he slouched tiredly and marched out of the bridge. "Me too," Junko said as well, being just as tired as his friend.
As the two boys left the bridge, Piper rubbed her face with one of her hands. She pulled away one of her fingers to take one last look at her charts (now sprawled across the table from the sudden rush just a few minutes ago) before she stood up. "I think I'm gonna get some more sleep too. You two okay by yourselves?" Piper asked, not wanting to leave if they needed her still. "We'll be fine. We'll wake you if we need you," Aerrow said, allowing the navigator to leave in peace and look forward to sweet dreams.
For about forty-five minutes, Aerrow stood with Stork, watching as the golden clouds went by the Condor. The sun was still early in its rising, causing the world around the two Storm Hawks to hold the slightest gold coloring. For the first time in the hour after they had broken from the storm, Stork allowed a small smile to make its way onto his green lips. His fingers loosened ever so slightly, keeping the controls steady but a bit loose.
Then the merb's dark eyes looked over to his leader, who was swaying just a bit as he stood there near the pilot. "I'll be fine on my own," Stork said, his 'could be' menacing voice speaking with concern. The red head seemed to be drifting off when his eyes seemed to snap back to reality. Looking at the pilot a bit confused, his mind quickly registered what the green being had said. "Are you sure?" Aerrow asked.
Nodding his head, Stork turned back to the skies, his eyes glancing at the clouds below him. Even though the light of the sun had found its way onto them, the storm still raged below. Not as ferocious as when they were in it, but still strong.
Aerrow nodded as well before turning around. Before he left the bridge, the teen gave one more look to his team mate. When Stork did not turn back around or seem as if he would change his mind, Aerrow headed into the living quarters of the ship, where rest would find him.
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Stork stood there, happy for the peace and quiet. Rarely did one get moments like this. He was on the Condor a lot, but he was usually only left alone if the others were out in a battle. So either way, the ship was rocking with action and noise. Letting out a small sigh of content, Stork relaxed a bit more at the wheel. The others would be up in a little while, it already nearing mid morning. Locking the controls in place, Stork moved away from the wheel. He would take the time to work on some of his latest gadgets.
While the merb pilot was working on some sort of rash detecting device, there was a sudden static coming from one of the radios they used to stay in contact during missions. Confused at first, Stork stopped his work and stared at one of the radios. When the static continued, the lanky being stood from his spot at the table and walked over to the device. Picking up the device, the merb made sure that it was off. When he saw that it wasn't, Stork sighed. He thought something was going to happen.
About to turn the thing off, Stork suddenly heard a muffled and broken voice. There were no real words, just sounds, but it definitely belonged to someone. Holding down the button on the earpiece, "This is the carrier ship 'Condor', over." Stork's voice had been a bit shaky, but he didn't think the other person would mind. Again, the static seemed to fill the room, when the reply came, loud and clear. "Mayday, mayday!!"
Stork immediately flipped on a switch that was close by. Two red lights over either door to the bridge, began to flash, as an alarm ran through the rest of the ship. In a matter of seconds, Aerrow was on the bridge with Stork. He hadn't been able to get any sleep. "What's the matter?" he asked automatically. Stork showed him the radio and the voice came again. This time even more urgent. Aerrow took the radio and put on the headset. "This is Aerrow, leader of the sky knight squadron Storm Hawks. What is your emergency?!"
There was once again static, then the man's voice came back. By this time, the other Storm Hawks were in the bridge. "I'm being pursued by Cyclonians. My skim- ugh… My skimmer isn't going to last much longer." Aerrow pointed to the others, indicating that they should head to their skimmers. Junko and Finn went running for the hanger, while Piper began to organize her maps. "What are your coordinates?" Aerrow asked, but this time the answer was immediate, as Stork turned back from the wheel. "Right in front of us."
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Aerrow and Piper stared in disbelief as a black skimmer, lined with silver and possessing the standard four wings, hit the deck then bounced back into the air before it could crash into the glass on the bridge. Behind it came four Tallons, them too barely missing the bridge. Then came their carrier, its horn blaring loud as it skimmed the top of the Condor, causing the carrier to shake a bit.
"Follow them!" Aerrow shouted to Stork as the red head turned around and ran as fast as he could to the hanger. Pulling hard on the controls, the merb began to turn the carrier around. Piper held onto her table as she analyzed the charts in record speed. "We're above some old, mountainous teras. We'll have to be careful if we go lo-" as if to prove her point, the Condor swerved to the right as it head after the Cyclonians, going below the clouds. A mountain, like the night before, had made itself known. Luckily, Stork was one of the best pilots and easily dodged the natural formation.
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The three skimmers raced out of the hanger and took to the skies. There were only four Tallons racing after the black rider (who wore a helmet with tinted glass). Although, the riders dark clothes allowed the Storm Hawks to see him better. "I need to reach him!" Aerrow called to Finn and Junko, who were already picking out their targets. They nodded and sped ahead, distracting at least three of the Tallons.
As his friends pulled away from the mysterious rider, Aerrow headed in. Coming up on the only Tallon left pursuing the man, Aerrow easily got rid of the pest. Pulling out one of his lightning blades, Aerrow simply sliced the weapon through the Cyclonian's engine. With a sudden cry of surprise and an exasperated look on his face, the evil Tallon fell towards the ground, allowing the sky knight to surge forward.
Moving next to the mysterious rider that they had been called to help, Aerrow took the time to check him out fully. He wore a black leather suit, and silver falcon wings were painted on the sides of his motor-bike like helmet. As black gloves gripped tightly to the handles of his skimmer, it was obvious that the man was fighting to keep the vehicle up.
"I'm Aerrow, of the Storm Hawks. Our ship, the Condor, is right behind us," at this, the man turned his head back, then pulled hard on his controls (much like Stork had done) and turned to face the Condor. Aerrow did a simple turn around and began to lead the rider back to the Condor. Meanwhile, the Cyclonian carrier ship had just begun to fire at the Storm Hawks, and Junko and Finn were finishing up with their opponents. Aerrow simply gave them a look, as he and the other rider dodged the attacks from the carrier, which told the two Storm Hawks to head back to the ship.
Finn pulled up suddenly as one of the shots nearly scraped the bottom of his skimmer. At this, the two friends quickly headed towards the Condor.
As Aerrow and the dark stranger on the skimmer rode side by side, Radarr jumped from Aerrow's skimmer to the stranger's. He began to make small repairs, just enough to get the man back to the Condor. Not seeming to mind, the man allowed the little mission specialist to work away on his skimmer. When Radarr jumped back onto Aerrow's skimmer, the man gave him a simply nod of thanks.
Just as the mysterious rider had acknowledged Radarr's help, one of the blasts from the Cyclonian carrier came down in front of them. In return, the Condor fired off several shots as it came close to the rear of the enemy ship. Suddenly, the dark rider, pulled away from Aerrow. When the red head looked over he was impressed. The man was riding on the wall of the carrier, his wheels actually touching the hull. Pulling behind him, Aerrow realized just how safe it was. The enemy ship couldn't fire upon them, but they still had to watch for the blasts coming from the Condor.
As if to prove this point, a large shot came from the Storm Hawks' carrier and blew away some metal right in their path. As if nothing happened, the rider pulled his skimmer back into the air. Aerrow did the same, but instead of heading away like the man did, he flew towards the hanger. Once the rider saw this, he pulled in behind the young rider.
Finn and Junko were just getting off their skimmers when Aerrow and the rider came into the hanger. Almost crashing into the other two, the rider shifted his weight on his skimmer, causing the machine to come skidding to a stop, not more than two feet from Junko. Sitting on the skimmer up right, the rider watched as the three other riders dismounted. Under the glass he smiled.
Walking over to the man, as he bent down his head to take the helmet off, Aerrow asked, "Are you okay?" Pulling his head from the helmet, the young man flipped up his head so his hair gently moved. It was black and glossy, cut short with bangs and spikes that folded backwards. Deep, charcoal eyes looked upon the younger teens around him. Setting his helmet, the young man (not more than 19 or so) spoke. "I'm fine. My names Draven Halls by the way. I'm sure you've heard a lot about me."
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A/N: Who is this Draven Halls? Why should the Storm Hawks have heard of him? Find out in the next chapter! Thank-you everyone for reviewing. I reply to all reviews, questions, comments… whatever. Just please REVIEW.
P.S. Draven means "hunter"
