Terra Okradana did exist, and no one was more excited than Piper or Stork. Except Aerrow. He watched as the terra grew closer and closer. Who was this "R" girl? And why did the Dark Ace seem so determined to keep her away from the Storm Hawks. He realized now that he had forgotten to ask what Ace's relationship was with her. Did they know each other? She seemed not to recognize him, but, Aerrow could understand that she might've not gotten a good look at him with all the action going on then. But, what should matter to Aerrow now was getting his skimmer back from her.
Piper broke his thoughts when she shouted, "There it is! I can't believe it! It is real!"
"If you can't believe it, why are you still looking at it?" Finn joked. She snarled at him and he backed off. Stork's hands began to shake on the controls. The excitement, the very thought of getting the Condor completely redone to the point of temporary invincibility was enough to make his head explode. He was surprised it hadn't yet. Junko tapped his fingers together and added, "I hope they have fried korka fish!"
The Condor moved in to a near landing strip and landed beautifully with the signaling of one of the air traffic controllers. All six Storm Hawks were greeted with great admiration after they were learned to be a Sky Knight and his squadron. According to the patrol officer of the landing strip, the old Storm Hawks were always welcomed to Okradana and were often showered with gifts and grand meals as thanks for protecting their terra and keeping it's location at a hush-hush level. Junko jumped up and down at the thought of being fed a grand meal as the one the man explained.
"Ah, yes," said the orange-haired patrolman, "The Storm Hawks did us many-a-great things! We really appreciated them. But, you have yet to prove yourselves if you wish to get that same kind of honor and treatment."
"Don't worry, sir. We won't tell anyone where your terra is. I just need to get my skimmer back." Aerrow agreed. "I'm going to go and look for this body shop. You guys do whatever you want."
"BUT!" Stork jumped in, "We would like to get our precious ship, you know, updated." He twittered his fingers together and his left eye began to twitch.
"AND!" Piper added, "I… I mean we would like to get a look around and study the crystals in those towers over there." She pointed to the three towers at the center of the terra. The man stared at them himself in wonderment. "How did you know there were crystals in there?" he asked.
"Well, it's easy. You see, some crystals give off a signal when they are put into a generator that uses their ability to change or improve the environment they're in." She pulled out a detector with a dial and a meter. "I picked it up with this, and I'm curious to know what crystals are being used in there. For some reason, I can't detect what they are."
"Those crystals are why we can live here in Okradana. You see, our terra is so far up in the sky, that it is hard to breathe. With the help of those crystals, it makes it easier for us--" his voiced trailed off as he and Piper walked on toward the towers. Finn and Junko made for the nearest food court they could find. Finn was also curious to see what kind of gorgeous women he could find in a terra that is nearly impossible to find. Stork had been hooked up with a few mechanics and technician specialists to help with the Condor.
Aerrow stood staring up at a what appeared to be a rounded floating hanger bed with skimmers and ships heading in and out, while others rested on the side of the building. Long, heavy chains kept the floating body shop connected to the terra. When he and Radarr moved in closer, he saw that it wasn't floating, but simply being held up by a large pipe connected to the cliff side wall behind it.
He pulled out the card from his back pocket and noted that this was the correct address. "Well, Radarr, let's go find this 'R' person and get our skimmer back." Radarr nodded in agreement and they made their way up to the mechanic's shop above.
Inside, men wondered back and forth in their tan and brown gear, shouting out orders or occupying themselves with ripping out wires and rusted motors or putting a wrench to good use. Gushes of air echoed throughout the shop and sounds of welding could be heard in the back. It was much bigger inside than it appeared to be. Both of the Storm Hawks couldn't help but gawk in wonder. It was truly amazing. While some skimmers rested in pieces, others were displayed in gleaming beauty. Looking at them, Aerrow remembered why he had sought out the shop in the first place: To find his own skimmer.
By the time he turned to begin looking for R, he and Radaar were approached by a grey-haired man with tawny eyes and a thick, grey mustache. "Can I help you two out with something?" Aerrow answered yes and handed over the card the pink-haired girl had given Radaar. "We're looking for… um… this 'R' person? Is she here?" The man took the card and smiled. "Ah. Yes. This way, please." He motioned with his gloved hand for them to follow.
They stopped before a large engine for a ship that was most likely grander than the Condor, Aerrow thought. The man held his hand up to his mouth and shouted so that he could be heard over the welding. "YO! Rei!! You got customers!! Take care of it!" He pointed up at her with his thumb and told the red-headed boy, "She'll assist you with whatever you need."
"Okay. Thanks." He felt his heart race when he turned around to see Rei sit up and pull back her face mask. There were those grey eyes again, now full of warmth and welcome. Her smile was simple and sweet. She wore the same outfit as the rest of the mechanics there, except her jacket had short sleeves and was opened to reveal a simple white top cut off at the upper abdominal. And that long, pink hair still fascinated him. How was it anyone could stand to have that much hair? He wondered. Still, it made her stand out. (Not that she already stood out, being the only female working in the shop.)
"Hey! It's you! I was beginning to wonder if you would ever show up." She giggled, "I forgot to give you proper directions, too. Sorry!"
"Don't worry about it! Now, about my skimmer."
Rei leaped up and swung down on a loose rope. Aerrow shook his head and chuckled when she landed in front of him. Pushing back her bangs, she smiled and explained as they walked, "I have your skimmer in the back. I wanted to thank you for saving my life back there. I was a little rude and under a bit of a panic."
Aerrow replied, "It's okay. I understand. You were under attack by the Cyclonians after all. It's hard not to be under a panic like that when they come up all of a sudden. You didn't get hurt or anything did you?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine. Thanks to you." She turned to him when they stopped at a metal door. "That guy would've fried me if you didn't come along and save me. And, like I said, I wanted to thank you for that. So…" She pressed the button to open the door. Inside, Aerrow's skimmer gleamed and shone like it had just been built. The paint was new and brighter than what it's previous face held. All the scratches and dents had been removed and much of the vehicle had been resurfaced and left it looking smoother and cleaner than before. The wind shield had been replaced along with the cushioning of both Aerrow's and Radarr's seats. It was beyond beautiful.
"Thank you." she finished as Aerrow moved in to gawk at his newly refurnished skimmer.
"Wow! Rei. You… You…" Aerrow knelt and ran a finger over the new tires. Radarr circled it slowly, trying to take it in. He was just as lost in it as it's rider was. "Is this really mine? I mean… it looks like my skimmer. Just--"
"--Better?" Rei giggled.
Piper and the patrolman, whose name, she learned, was Mavrikk, toured through the sky towers of Okradana. Here is where Piper discovered that the crystals being used in each tower was a rare rock known as the Platinum Oxystone. She spent her time with Mavrikk learning the history of the crystals and how Okradana came to be.
Stork watched closely over the work being maintained on the Condor with pleasure. Occasionally, he'd make an odd suggestion here and there and requesting installations some of the mechanics would have never thought to dream up.
Finn and Junko rummaged every restaurant they could come across, filling themselves full. And Finn wasted no time when the opportunity to meet a new girl came up.
"Man, Okradana ROCKS!! Awsome food, hot babes! It doesn't get any better than this!!" Finn stared dreamily at a group of women who hung around a fountain while Junko ripped the skin off of a bird leg and chewed hungrily away at it. "And, you know what the best part is?"
"Wha?" Junko asked, his mouth full of food.
"Since this place is kept pretty much kept a secret, and we now know how to get here without having to have the Cyclonians bother us, we have a new vacation getaway! Yup! Not a single… Cyclonian… could… ever know… their way… here?" Finn's and Junko's eyes bugged open when they watched the Dark Ace fly over head with a look of extreme irritation in his eyes. The left wings of his skimmer rattled terribly, where Finn had shot him down earlier. He looked angry. Very angry. Junko looked at Finn, Finn back at Junko, and they both let out a curdling scream. The citizens of Okradana watched and baffled when the two Storm Hawks went running down the street screaming after Piper, Stork, and Aerrow.
Back at the shop, Aerrow and Rei laughed and sat side by side while Radarr pretended to be a sky knight on Aerrow's newly furnished ride. Rei brushed her pink hair from her eyes and trailed a finger over the Storm Hawk symbol on the folded wing. "So, you're a sky knight?"
"Yup," Aerrow answered and reminded his new friend, "Of the Storm Hawks." He smiled and leaned in closer to Rei after he noticed a hint of discomfort in her eyes. She brushed her hand up and down of her arm and sighed.
"I always wanted to be a sky knight." Rei folded her hands over her knees and leaned back.
"What's keeping you?" Aerrow asked curiously, lowering a brow and examining her even further. She shrugged and stood. Stretching, she moved to a rusty tool box and played with random tools she had stored away in there.
"I'm not cut out to be a hero." Though he could no longer see her face, he knew she must've been thinking. Her gray eyes lowered and the tinkling sounds of her tools stopped.
He stood now as well and moved closer to her. Radarr watched them both, "You never know until you try."
Rei turned and smiled. "You think?" She flexed. With the way she wore her gloves and the length of her sleeves, Aerrow could see that she could be everything a sky knight was said to be: Brave, loyal, friendly, pure, and full of honor. But, again she sighed, "I dunno. I mean, I told you some of what I've been through growing up. Would… whoever knights you overlook it the same way you do?"
Aerrow pressed a finger to his lips. "Good question." Then he perked up, "But, you could join a squadron! You can join us!"
"But I--"
Aerrow cut her off before she could further protest, "Rei, I've seen you fly. You're brilliant! And we could really use this," he waved over at the work that was done to his vehicle, "This kind of mechanic work would be very much appreciated. Especially by Stork. At least, maybe with you onboard, he wouldn't have another breakdown." Radarr nodded in agreement. "C'mon, Rei. We could really use your help."
"Aerrow…" she started, but was cut off once again when one of her co-workers came in through the door. It was the same man who helped Aerrow earlier that afternoon.
"Rei. You got a customer. It's him." He winked and pointed behind himself with his thumb. "Asked for you, so you better get out there and help him. His ride looks pretty busted."
She straightened, "Really? Hey, Aerrow! Remember the friend I was telling you about? The one who helped me when I was just a kid and then again when I came to live here?"
"Yeah."
"You want to meet him?"
"Sure!"
The man smiled and left the room. Rei, Aerrow, and Radarr followed. She spoke as they walked, "I haven't seen him in a while now. I was beginning to wonder if he'd ever come back."
In the main garage, Rei and the two Storm Hawks moved to a man with dark hair. Aerrow stopped and Radarr's jaw nearly fell to the ground. Rei ran up to the man and gave him such a hug, that it was beyond shocking for them to see the Dark Ace embrace her back with as much compassion as she showed toward him.
"Ace! Where've you been?! It's been so long now. And what's this new outfit? Looks nice on you, but," she tapped a painted blue nail to her lip. "I think you could do better with the colors."
"Like you have room to talk," Ace pulled at the collar of her shirt, "in these rags. They don't flatter you at all." She noticed his voice was different. Darker. And his eyes seemed almost sinister as he rested them on her face. It made her nervous, so she turned her attention to his damaged skimmer. It was something new as well. Or, maybe, just something she hadn't seen yet. He was always so secretive. She knelt down and examined the damage.
"Aw. I can fix this in no time."
"I knew you would."
She stood and felt a jerk on her arm. Suddenly, she was behind Aerrow and a growling Radarr. Aerrow held out one of his energy blades to the Dark Ace's face. Rei's eyes popped when the red-haired boy shouted at her friend, "Stay away from her!"
Rei pulled at his arm. "Aerrow! What's the matter with you?! He's--"
"--The one who tried to kill you!"
"What?!" She leaned forward to look at Aerrow's face. All who were in earshot stopped what they were doing and turned to watch.
"Rei, listen to me. He's one of them. The Cyclonians! Even worse. He's one of their leaders. The worst one of them all. The Dark Ace."
"Huh?" Her voice was low and almost silent. "Dark Ace?" Her eyes shifted from Aerrow to Ace, who stared back at them with strong distaste. How could that be true? Ace was her friend, her mentor. She owed her very life to him. More than just her life. And the man Aerrow had told her about in earlier conversations was nothing more than a monster, Rei thought.
Either out of denial or false hope, she pushed Aerrow aside and approached him. "That's not true is it? You wouldn't stoop so low as to be one of them." Then her eyes fell to the crest he wore on his chest. Rei had never seen a Cyclonian up close nor did she ever really encounter one. Okradana was so foreign to the world below, they never had to worry about such a threat before. It hit her hard when the very faint memory of him in a blue uniform that bared the same symbol Aerrow wore on his back flashed through her mind. Then the sky knight's words replayed in her mind as she stared at that picture in her head.
"They were betrayed by a man who calls himself the Dark Ace. If there were any Cyclonian to fear, it would be him. But, I plan to stop him, so you've got nothing to worry about!"
The pictured burned away and his new face stood smiling in front of her. The Dark Ace stood smiling at her.
To be continued…