OK, well heres chapter 2 of my amazing cough cough fic. I fall to my knees and beg for my life in front of any major Aerrow fans who wish to kill me after reading this...

anyways...enjoy...

The Gravest Peril

Chapter 2 – Losing the fight

"Hey guys, anyone else noticed the absence of Aerrow and Piper?" Finn asked, as he lounged on the bridge.

"Come to think of it…yeh…" Junko replied. Radarr chirped in agreement.

"Maybe the mind worms killed them both last night…" Stork mused.

Finn cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Or maybe," he said. "Maybe they're just a little…tired…"

All faces turned to the door as a scruffy looking Aerrow wandered in.

"Morning sleepyhead" Finn said, suppressing a laugh. Aerrow ignored him, heading for the kitchen to find some breakfast. Finn, Junko and Radarr watched in silence as Aerrow returned with a bowl of cereal and sat down to eat it.

"What?" Aerrow said after a while, wondering why they were all staring at him.

"Oh nothing" Finn replied, failing at hiding a grin. "Just wondering why you slept so late…"

Aerrow stared at him for a minute before resuming cereal consumption in silence. Aware that he was still being watched…

A short while later, a very chirpy, bouncy Piper came onto the bridge.

"Morning Pi—" Aerrow didn't finish his sentence before Piper glomped him, completely winding him.

"Morning Aerrow!" she beamed. Aerrow brought his arms up around Piper to hug her back once his breath returned. A small smile played across his face.

Finn, Junko and Radarr stood mouths open, gawping at the open display of affection from both Piper and Aerrow. Stork cringed.

"In case you hadn't noticed," Stork said. "This is a communal area. It would be much appreciated if you kept your…intimacies…private…"

Piper finally let go of Aerrow, and grinned at Stork.

"Maybe you're just jealous." She said.

"Uh…I have to go…fix my skimmer" Finn said.

"Me too!" added Junko, both fishing for an excuse to leave, Radarr following behind them.

Stork sighed, opting to make mo further comment on the subject.

"Uh guys…."Storks voice came over the intercom. "There are Cyclonians. Lots of them."

"Aw man" commented Finn, shoulders sinking. "Why do they always come at times like this? I just made the world's most awesome sandwich..."

"Mine was better" Junko said.

"Like hell yours was better!" Finn countered.

"It was!" Junko replied

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Hey guys!" shouted Aerrow. Finn and Junko turned to look at him, both losing their balance as the condor got hit. "Cyclonians are attacking us. Your sandwich argument is gonna have to wait…"

"Sorry Aerrow" Junko replied humbly.

They raced to their skimmers, Piper close behind.

"You guys go ahead" Aerrow said. "I've forgotten my energy blades!"

Finn and Junko looked at each other. Forgotten his energy blades? Piper really got to him…

They raced out of the hangar to cause some mayhem among the talons.

Aerrow had collected his energy blades from his room, and had been on his way to the hangar when a slight movement had caught his eye. He had followed, and was now advancing down the corridor, blades drawn.

A movement to the right caught his eye. He turned, and found himself staring into the face of Cyclonis' right hand man.

"Dark Ace" he said, scowling. Dark Ace grinned evilly before suddenly striking. Aerrow parried, but not soon enough. Dark Aces blade cut deeply across his chest, and he cried out. He fell to his knees, dropping his blades on the floor.

"It seems your skills are not as good here on your home turf Aerrow" Dark Ace commented, a malicious grin on his face. He struck again, leaving another deep cut down the right side of his face.

"Something to remember me by. If you survive…" Aerrow couldn't fight back. Dark Ace's first blow had taken the fight out of him. He could barely sit up. He could only look on in shock as Dark Ace pushed his shoulder, causing him to lose the precarious balance he had on his knees, falling awkwardly on his right arm.

"You cannot always win Aerrow. Today, you may well die, and I will be triumphant!" He laughed evilly. "Goodbye…sky knight…"

Aerrow could only watch as Dark Ace calmly walked away. The fight had been short. Why hadn't he reacted fast enough? He felt himself getting weaker, could see the red pool forming around him, and his blades still glowing, just out of reach. And there was pain, so much pain…and he felt himself slipping away into dark nothingness…