Author's Note: Well here it is. I would have gotten this up days ago but I've been sick and I felt like I'd puke if I tryed to even look at the computer screen xp. And after I got better my sister got sick so I was helping to take care of her for a few days too. (being sick is gross!) And I just want to thank everyone who reviewed for the first chapter, you guys are really awsome and I really appreciate what you said =) LET THE STORY CONTINUE!!!!


"I can hear their voices now. They seem so close. Will they be able to break this hold on me? I feel so weak, like I'm just a shell of what I used to be. Am I even alive anymore, or am I simply a restless spirit, aimlessly walking the same path over and over. Let the pain stop, all I want is for it all to end. Please help me."


Aerrow had never been one to make assumptions right off the bat but something about this place wasn't right. He quickly circled around once more before bringing his skimmer down for a landing. He drove up towards the docks and parked protectively in front of the Condor. Piper stepped out of the ship mere moments later and gave Aerrow a small smile before noticing the apprehensive expression on his usually uplifting face. She took one glance around and understood immediately what was worrying him. The smile on her face was replaced with the same look of anxiety as Aerrow. She took a few steps forward and stood beside him as he continued to look out into the distance.

Finn drove up on his skimmer and parked up just behind Aerrow. Stork and Junko had also joined them as well. Junko's legs had begun shaking with fright as soon as he stepped onto the docks. Stork had peaked around the corner of the Condor's threshold and gave a weak sigh and said with a tremendous amount of certainty in his voice "We're all going to die."

Just then the figure that Finn and Aerrow had spotted from their skimmers became visible once again as it continued to stride closer and closer towards the Storm Hawks. Aerrow slid off his ride and stood in front of Piper, he knew that she was more than capable of protecting herself but, after all the near misses that she's had with Cyclonis over the years, he didn't want to take any chances. He hated worrying about her, whenever he thought there was a slight chance of her being in danger; he developed a painful knot in his stomach that wouldn't disappear until she was safely standing next to him, and would flash him a smile that could heal all his wounds.

After a quick moment of thought, Aerrow decided that they should make a good first impression. The Terra may turn out to be completely normal, and if so, they were going to need as much help as possible if they wanted to see the Condor flying again anytime soon. None the less, Aerrow's hand moved slightly closer towards his energy blades as he said "Um hello, our carrier's in need of a few repairs could you help us?"

The stranger's pace slowed as he approached and the teenagers could now make out his appearance, he seemed to be a young man in his mid twenties. His long chocolate brown hair was tied back in a loose ponytail that reached the middle of his back. The greenish gold shade of his eyes reminded Aerrow a great deal of Carver, which didn't thrill him a great deal for nearly all the memories he and his team had of Carver weren't very pleasant ones. The man was also a little on the tall side and seemed to be in very good physical shape.

The man took only a few steps more and then said "Repairs you say? I would be happy to help you young travelers. Let me be the first to welcome you all to Terra Marks. The man flashed them a friendly smile, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

The group let out a conjoined sigh of relief for the man seemed friendly enough. Aerrow let the hand that had been inching towards his energy blades fall back down and rest by his side. He left his place in front of Piper and walked forward to shake the man's hand.

As Aerrow approached, the man caught sight of his uniform; he glanced quickly at the rest of the team before his gaze became locked upon the Condor. "You're not the Storm Hawks are you?" He asked. Eyes fixed upon the symbol painted on the side of the Condor.

Aerrow stood before the man returning his smile with one of his own and held out his hand "At your service." He said. "My name is Aerrow this is Finn, Junko, Piper and Stork." Aerrow acknowledged each crew member in turn; each giving a small nod or a wave in greetings. The man looked positively delighted.

"It's an honor to have such well known protectors of the Atmos grace our humble Terra. My name is Croft. I am owner of that diner there." He pointed across the way "And the inn behind that. We also have some mechanics that I'm sure would be more than happy to repair your ship for you. In the meantime, would you all care for something to eat?" He motioned once more towards the diner.

It hadn't occurred to the Storm Hawks until just then how hungry they all were. It was now well past 8:00 in the morning and hardly anyone had gotten any sleep, if any at all, and jut to add insult to injury, for the past hour they had all had the pleasure of doing sprints around the engine room trying to keep the Condor airborne.

"I could go for some food." Finn said taking a few steps forward, a hand on his stomach in an attempt to stifle the angry growling it was generating.

"Great." Croft said "After you eat we can get you set up with a room at the inn, there's a large storm system that's heading our way so you probably shouldn't linger too long after your meal." With that Croft turned and began walking towards his diner

The Storm Haws followed, walking past some of the residential areas as they went. "If you don't mind my asking…" Aerrow said, quickening his pace slightly so as to catch up to Croft "Where is everybody? We haven't come across anyone else living here except for you."

Croft continued trudging towards the diner but slightly glanced back at Aerrow who was now only steps behind him. "Terra Marks has never been a popular destination to begin with, it's a refueling station and hardly anything more. There are few who actually take up residence here, we are also very famous for the violent weather that comes through on a regular basis. At the moment a particularly nasty looking system is moving in from the North, I would assume that at present, most residences are taking shelter."

Aerrow glanced up at the sky; he could barely spot the dark storm clouds approaching from over the horizon. The rest of the sky laid still and silent, the colors of the morning still clinging to life, but slowly becoming more and more intertwined with the solid blue of day. The calm before the storm no doubt, and judging by the level of calm that Aerrow could see, it was going to be one hell of a storm.

Croft walked forward and held open the door of the diner, allowing the Storm Hawks passage inside. Piper walked past him and into the restaurant, giving him a small nod of thanks but as she did she noticed a small dark blue crystal that hung from a silver chain around his neck. It was shaped much like the one that she wore and there was a faint glow that seemed to be radiating off of it.

"That's an interesting crystal." Piper said, looking at Croft. "It's a very unique color I don't think I've ever come across anything like it before. Do you know what it's called?" A look of fascination was now painted clear as day across Piper's face.

Croft glanced down at the crystal that hung from his neck. "Yes, a very dear friend of mine presented it to me as a gift many years ago. I don't really know myself the actual name of the thing; she just knew it was my favorite color, which is why she gave it to me. Are you very interested in the study of crystals Piper?" Croft glanced at her, curious to hear her answer.

"She's a very talented crystal specialist." Aerrow said as he approached the two, he couldn't help but sing her praises a little. "I would think she knows more about them than a lot of the members on the sky knight council." He continued, very confident in his response.

Croft laughed at the buoyancy Aerrow showed when he spoke about his teammate. Piper blushed slightly at Aerrow's adulation, but was thankful for it none the less. After the moment subsided, Croft reminded them of the storm and suggested they hurry and eat.

He led them all to a table and together, they gave their orders to a waiter, and moments later had their food delivered to them. As they sat, happily eating and discussing assorted topics Finn looked up, and what he saw transfixed him immediately. A young girl stood two tables away, picking up sullied plates and putting them into a large plastic tub she carried under her arm.

She looked to be about Finn's age, but, there was something off about her. She was thin, bone thin, and pale as the moon. Her hair so blond it could be easily mistaken for white, the tips of which were a shade of dark russet, and was pulled back in a high ponytail that flowed gracefully down her back. Her eyes; a shade of dark blue seemed deeper than the largest of oceans. But she looked so fragile it seemed as though she might shatter into a thousand pieces at the slightest touch.

Finn was captivated; this girl was like nothing he'd ever seen before. He was never exactly shy either, and had in fact, been labeled as the "Casanova" of his team on more than one occasion. There had been few girls who had ever actually been able to catch Finn's full attention. Dove had been one of them, when they had rescued her from Cyclonia all those years ago he had wanted desperately to be her one and only defender, she'd been a genuine person not like those fake type of girls that he often chased after, pursuing them was a mere hobby that was given birth from the boredom being stuck on the Condor so long can create.

It wasn't meant to be of course. Finn had been looking forward to seeing Dove again and he had been determined to tell her how he felt during their next trip to Terra Gale and hoped desperately that the feeling would be mutual. Instead, he and the rest of the team had the surprise of not only seeing Dove and Wren but also a young man who they learned was Dove's fiancé; she had met him while on a supply trip to Terra Rex. They were set to be married in two months; they had invited every member of the Storm Hawks squadron of course.

Finn had been left alone and brokenhearted, he wasn't always the confident, excitable guy that he was often recognized as. He had truly put himself in a new position for her and he'd fallen in love for the first time in his life, and before he even had a chance, it was gone. Finn had stayed locked in his cabin for three days, just staring at the photograph that Wren had given to the team as identification when the Dark Ace had kidnapped Dove and taken her to Cyclonia, and comparing it with the photo he had taken during their visit. Dove had a hand on Wren's shoulder both were smiling brilliantly and Dove's betrothed, Dent had an arm slung across her delicate shoulders.

In time, the wound closed and was simply replaced with a scar upon Finn's heart. He felt that in time, he could even begin to feel happy for Dove and Dent, her life is her life, and he just wasn't quick enough to cement his own place in it.

All of a sudden a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass brought Finn out of his daze. The girl, who had been his cause of his momentary loss of reality, was standing rigid above the shattered remains of a glass that she had been attempting to clear from a table. She looked as though she had seen the reincarnation of a loved one long since departed, an expression of great astonishment and pure fright. The girl gingerly set the tub with the remainder of the dishes down upon the table and sprinted out of the dining room and through a door behind the counter.

"Who was that?" Finn asked, not even bothering to look at Croft, but instead keep his eyes fixed upon the door though which this mysterious person had made her hasty exit.

Croft folded his hands and placed them under his chin, the expression on his face was unreadable to all at the table. "That was Silence, she's my little sister."


Author- So what do you guys think? Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! And if I don't get sick again I'll get the next chapter up real soon. Luv you all lots!!