Cyclonia...

Aerrow frowned, his knees drawn up as he leant against the wall, as Dark Ace finished speaking.
They were silent for a few moments, until Dark Ace spoke up.
"And before you ask, no, I don't understand it either."
Aerrow looked as if he was about to speak, but stopped, clearly trying to figure all of it out.
So... Dark Ace hadn't killed him because, A, he enjoyed a challenge, B, He still had some lingering sense of honour and affection for the name Storm Hawks and C, he just didn't want to for some unknown reason. Right... Okay.
No, it wasn't okay. Why was Cyclonis' right hand man, the man responsible for the destruction and fear that that had run rampant through the Atmos, risking so much?
He just... he couldn't understand it. Neither, apparently, could Dark Ace himself.
Aerrow, finding the need to say something to break the silence, finally spoke up.
"Well... This is messed up..."
Dark Ace laughed. Because, really, that just summed up everything perfectly...

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.
Aerrow's eyes flickered to it, then to Dark Ace, but it was more out of interest of what he was going to do that anxiety.
"Stay there..."
"Like I'm in a state to go anywhere..."
"Damned well-reasoned arguments... What?" This was as he opened the door, leaning on the half open door to block the room from the Talon's sight, and Aerrow found himself amused as he saw the Talon almost fall over as he jumped backwards.
"M-Master Cyclonis would like to speak with you..."
"The usual 'Fetch Dark Ace' meaning you have no idea why?"
"I-err... No. No, she didn't say why she-"
"Yes, I get that. Now get your ass moving and tell her I will be there in a moment."
"Y-yes sir..."
The Talon literally legged it, and Aerrow couldn't hide a snort.
"Wow... Now I see why defeating those guys is so easy..."
"Just shut up and stay put."
Aerrow mimed zipping his lip, and lounged back, arms behind his head, gesturing for him to leave with little shooing motions.
Funnily, in his opinion, he didn't find it irritating so much as amusing.
Now to go and explain to Cyclonis why Aerrow wasn't in the dungeons... Hmm. Easier said than done.

As soon as Dark Ace left, Aerrow let out a sigh, then clutched at his side. Since Cyclonis had tried a... let's just say new crystal array on him, it had been throbbing and sending pain right through his body. Then there was his head. And his arms... and his chest... and virtually everything. It all hurt like hell.
Feeling a sudden urge to move, Aerrow got to his feet, albeit slowly and painfully, and immediately had lean against the wall to avoid falling over. It took a few tries, but his head eventually cleared enough for him to be able to stand on his own, and he took a few steps to the window, staring out.
Wow... Cyclonia looked... Cyclonia...ey. Red, full of metal, full of noise, smoke and fumes and just... Cyclonia-ey. No other word for it really.
He stood there for a while, taking in the sight and wondering how it was possible for people to live like it, then started to feel dizzy. The chairs were closer than the bed, and he reached one just in time to collapse into it.
Ah well, at least he had been able to stand up...
Then he realised that he could easily try to make a run for it.
But he didn't.
For three main reasons.
One, he really was in no fit state to run anywhere. The burst of adrenaline when he had gotten his team out had faded, leaving him with nothing but more pain and cuts and bruises and god knows what, and there was next to no chance of him getting out of there.
Two, if he did leave, Dark Ace would likely suffer for it. He wasn't sure why he cared, but he did. Maybe because he was risking so much to help him-though he was still confused as to why, the reasons didn't seem clear enough to him-, or maybe because he owed him a debt. Either way, he didn't want to put him at risk.
And three, he was just so damned tired. He honestly could not be bothered to even attempt it. He knew Starling would have looked after his team- she had promised him that much after he had talked to her once about what would happen to them if something happened to him- meaning he had no pressing reason to.
Which is why he simply drew his legs up and let himself nod off.

Dark Ace entered the throne room to find Master Cyclonis pacing.
She never paced.
This was so very much on the not good scale...
"Master Cyclonis... You called for me?"
"Yes Dark Ace, for several reasons. One, Ravess and Snipe have been taken down and captured by the Storm Hawks. They are, as we speak, in a prison on Atmosia. To be honest, I cannot be bothered to send out a retrieval party. But if you should get any spare time...?"
"Of course."
"But only if you should. Do not put yourself out for their sake. They have failed once too many times for my liking,"
Dark Ace silently knew that they were probably better off in the prison than suffering Cyclonis's anger, but held his tongue.
"Very Well Master. You said there were several reasons...?"
"Yes. The Sky-Knight? I don't see him in the dungeons Dark Ace..."
Now for the biggest act he had ever pulled with Cyclonis.
"Oh, you have no need to worry, Master Cyclonis. You know I have places of my own. Places that have come in handy before for such... endeavours. I felt it would work better than the usual approach."
"You know I trust you Dark Ace, enough to let you have these places without my awareness of their location... But with regards to Aerrow... I feel it best if you prove to me one little thing?"
"And what would that be Master?"
"Several guards tell me you were carrying him through Cyclonia."
"I do not want the men to find out the places I have kept Master. In the event of any emergency, I feel it would be best to have somewhere that only I know of, so that no attempts could be made to capture you."
"Of course. It is not that, it is that you were heading up to your quarters."
"You-You think he's in my quarters...?"
Dark Ace let a sliver of disbelief into his voice, and was pleasantly surprised when it came out as respectfully veiled disbelief. Hmm, He was actually enjoying this. At her next words, however, not so much.
"Then there will be no harm in checking."
"Master... It was my belief that you trusted my actions with-"
"Oh, I do. This is just to be able to materially refute the rumours amongst the Talons."
Rumours... right. This was just her being her usual paranoid self. But this time, there was reason for it. Dark Ace decided to bluff it. What did he have to lose? Aside from everything...
"Of course, Master."
As he led the way out, his mind was working feverishly. Why he was working so hard to protect the sky knight, he had no idea. But the why didn't seem to matter as much now as to the how.
He feared it would have to rest on the kid's shoulders now.
He kept up a 'shielded pained' expression throughout the walk, and eventually, as they turned the corner, Cyclonis spoke.
"Now, Dark Ace, there is no need for the anger. You must know that I have your complete trust."
Dark Ace replied, hopefully loud enough to be heard by Aerrow... If he wasn't unconscious... or whatever.
"Of course, Master Cyclonis. And I assure you, he is not in my quarters."

Aerrow was not unconscious... and he definitely heard... but every part of him was aching.
Useless bloody Talons. The crap he went through because of them...
Adrenaline rushed in, and he scanned the room, noticing a tiny niche behind the vents in the corner. With a leap, he was over and noticed a panel above it.
Within seconds, he was ignoring the pain, and pushed himself, feet first, through the ceiling, shoving the panel aside. Once he was in the gap between the ceiling and the floor above, he swiftly replaced the panel and took a deep breath as it slotted into place just as the door opened.

Dark Ace, now seriously wondering just how the hell Aerrow, in his state, would be able to hide so swiftly, opened the door, and kept his face neutral as shock and disbelief coursed through him. He schooled his expression to one of mock 'veiled 'happy now'' as he turned back to Cyclonis.
"As you can see, Master Cyclonis, he is not here."
"I see, Dark Ace. But I cannot always trust my eyes. Crystals however, those I trust."
She grabbed a crystal from her belt and slotted it into the staff.
"This will increase the pain from the crystal induced wounds. It only lasts for a few moments, but even Aerrow could not avoid making some sort of reaction to the pain."
She activated the crystal, and Dark Ace had to avoid a flinch. He knew just what that crystal could do. He'd seen it enough.

Aerrow did react, but not in the way most people would expect.
He had heard every word, and seen most of it through a small slot between the panels, and immediately grabbed his sleeve and prepared to bite down on it.
Which he did so as soon as the crystal took effect.
And Atmos, it hurt. Possibly more than anything she had done before.
But he kept silent, silently letting the pain explode inside his head, but not through his mouth.
Then, a few agonising moments later, it stopped, and he quickly schooled his breathing, making it shallow and quiet, and peering down through the gaps.
Cyclonis looked faintly surprised, and was looking at Dark Ace who had an expression of distaste on his face, with a look that was almost apologetic. Almost.
"My apologies Dark Ace, but as you well know, we have to be secure about these things. I will leave you to your work."
With that she swept out, and Aerrow waited until Dark Ace loosened, indicating she was gone, and kicked the panel away, letting himself fall through.
But, his planned landing in a crouch just wasn't going to happen, and he landed in a heap, on his knees, clutching his side and gasping as echoes of the pain still coursed through him.
Aerrow gave a small grin as Dark Ace stared at him.
"Well that... was not the most... pleasant experience..."

Dark Ace waited until he knew she had left, then let himself relax. Just where the hell was the kid?
He got his answer as something gave a small crash in the corner and he spun just as a panel fell from the ceiling. Aerrow dropped after it, but wasn't able to land properly, ending up in a heap on the floor. For a moment, Dark Ace could do nothing but stare, then Aerrow spoke up, between gasps.
"Well that... was not the most... pleasant experience..."
Then he tried to get to his feet, but failed, falling in on himself, and Dark Ace swiftly head over, helping him to his feet, before making a quick decision that he probably, in hindsight, should have made before. As he head over to a panel on the wall, virtually carrying the young sky knight, he shook his head.
"There really is something different about you, kid..."
"Good thing or... bad...?"
"I'll go with good on this occasion."
"Yay... Sorry for the... lack of... appropriate enthusiasm..."
"Sarcasm again?"
"Oh, it was called for... this was the... very definition of... stupid..."
"I won't disagree with you there..."
Dark Ace turned as a panel in the wall slid away, after he had typed in the security code, and started helping Aerrow down the stairs, leaving the door to slide shut behind them.

Aerrow was only partly aware of what was going on round him. Most of his attention was focused on keeping conscious. He did, however, realise that they were going down stairs...
"Secret passage huh...?"
"One of many."
"Secrets or passages?"
"... Both."
"Ah... Fair enough..."
They had just reached the bottom of the stairs when Aerrow's side spasmed, and he folded in on himself. He would have fallen to the floor if Dark Ace been holding him up.
"Come on, Kid. Not far now..."
"I still... don't get... why you're helping..."
"Right now? It's more about how than why..."
"You know that... this is comp-... completely messed up..."
"Yeah, I know. Here we go."
Dark Ace entered another room, with another pass code, and Aerrow frowned as he took in the series of symbols and numbers.
One... Eight... Slash...One... Zero...
Very definition of coincidence... Considering that that was his birthday and all...
He swept it aside as they entered the room, and Aerrow blinked.
"Wow..."

A stock of different crystals and various weapons, first aid kits, ration packs, spare outfits and god knows what else. This had to be...
"A panic room?"
"Seemed appropriate. I made it as soon as I came to Cyclonia. Comes in handy if I need to sneak out or go covert."
"Huh... Talk about preparing for everything..."
Dark Ace helped Aerrow over to one of the beds at the back, and he winced as he sat down, his side twinging again. He blinked as a first aid kit landed next to him, and Dark Ace head back out the door.
"I'd better go leave a trail for the other's to follow, then double back."
"You sound like you've... done that a lot..."
"More times than you can guess."
Aerrow, as the door slid shut again, decided that he wasn't going to think upon the fact that he was being helped by his arch enemy, and unwrapped the first aid kit.
Then he sighed. This was going to take a while...
Eventually, half an hour later, he had bandaged his side, cleaned and bandaged his other various cuts and scrapes, and had wrapped his left wrist, which had gotten considerably weaker to the point where Aerrow was afraid he would break it again, in a tight bandage.
Then, tugging his top back on despite the various tears -he was surprised that it wasn't more damaged to be honest- he threw everything back in the kit and let himself fall back.
He really shouldn't sleep... he had done enough of that... but he was so tired...
Before he could stop himself, he was slipping off and found he didn't want to fight it.

Cyclonis watched on the monitors as Dark Ace cautiously slipped down a small passage, then swiftly vanished through a door.
He thought he had his own secrets... Nobody had secrets from her. Nobody. And now she knew where he was keeping Aerrow. Not that she would interfere. He might actually get information... though she doubted it.
With a small smile, she head back to her crystal web and began developing it, secure in the knowledge that Dark Ace would never discover what she and her mother had kept from him about his pesky little arch enemy.

Dark Ace, watching her actions through his own web of monitors, again activated by a password, grinned. He had let her 'discover' a few useless little passages that ran through Cyclonia some time ago, and knew she thought she knew of them all. He didn't feel guilty about the deception. Everyone was entitled to have secrets after all...
When he was sure she had lost interest, though she did have that look on her face which said she had something up her sleeve, he powered down the monitors and leapt up through the vents, deftly clambering through the web of them until he dropped into his rooms again.
Honestly, the amount of times he had done that and no-one had figured it out...
A few minutes later and he was typing in the code to the emergency room, heading in to find Aerrow, clearly having fixed himself up-to a degree-, asleep.
He decided to just leave him. And head over to the small interface to continue working on another little pet project of his.
He had, sometime ago and quite by accident, come over some section of the previous Master Cyclonis' files... And it had caught his interest that he couldn't hack them. He had thought she had trusted him, but apparently not. So he had spent all the free time he cold trying to get around the systems programming. He was finally getting close, and now that he would have a few uninterrupted hours..
A couple of hours later, and he gave a grin as he broke through the last file shield.
Now let's see what she had been hiding from him...
He trawled through countless pieces or information on him, hmm, apparently she had kept a log of his entire life... No doubt her daughter likewise had access to this information...
He trawled through various files for a few hours, wondering what was so important that it had had to be encrypted to such a level that it took the previous Storm Hawks' head hacker to spend countless hours hacking through it.
Then he came across a series of small files that caught his interest.
Mem-Mod...
"Mem-Mod? What the... Memory modification...?"
Dark Ace scrolled through the file, getting increasingly shocked, until he came across a recorded entry. He clicked on it, and the sound of Master Cyclonis'- the previous that it- voice came through.

"Log input number 24. This is most likely going to be my final log entry. The memory modification and subsequent hypnosis has worked better than I ever could have predicted, Not only does Ace not know his own thoughts with regards to Cyclonia, but he has also forgotten that he found out Strike is his father. This will make turning him even easier, as I have no doubt that, though he may not have fought so hard before, the birth of his younger brother, Aerrow, might have propelled him to. I have never seen him care for anyone quite so much before... It's almost too bad that I've had to wipe that too along with any memories of his 'family' After all, he was never raised as such... But getting off topic. I'm sure that within the next few days I will be able to initiate the final phase. All that I need to do is ensure that there is nothing to retrigger the memories... That will mean getting rid of both Strike and the rest of the Storm Hawks squadron. Oh yes, and Ace's younger brother. I've no doubt that I will not have to bother with Teyla. Ravess has hated her for quite some time, so no doubt she will be perfectly capable of dealing with the damned woman. So, for the sake of continuity, log input 24, prior to initiating phase Dark Ace, out."
Dark Ace blinked, then blinked again. Then got to his feet and ran from the room to the crystal stores. He needed a memory enhancer, a harmonized velocity crystal to speed up brainwave activity and an anchor... possibly a harmonised leecher... Then needed a hefty dose of luck to fuse them...
He was going to get those memories back... because there could be no way that Strike was his father... Or Aerrow his brother...

Aerrow woke to find the room empty. At first, he thought he hadn't been asleep for that long, but then he noticed a light from a monitor on the far side of the room.
Curiosity kicked in, and he got to his feet, slowly making his way across the room and activating the screen.
Replay recording, Y/N
He clicked Y, and blinked at the sound of a voice he had only before heard in tapes. As he listened to the voice of the previous Master Cyclonis, his normally quick brain was slow to keep up, meaning it was only after the recording had finished that he fully grasped the implications of it.
No way... No way in hell was Dark Ace his brother... He couldn't be...
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening and Dark Ace, holding a variety of crystals walked in, stopping as he realised that Aerrow must have heard the message. The red head spoke up, barely keeping his voice in check.
"Is it true?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
Aerrow sat, cautiously watching as Dark Ace set up a crystal array, tuning the crystals in a way that showed he had been taught by a master of the craft.
Before long, he had a memory enhancer tuned with a velocity crystal to speed up the brain activity, and a leecher ready to activate in case there were complications. He hooked himself up to the array, strapping the leather band around his wrist, and took a breath before activating the enhancer.
Immediately, he was swept from the room and into a completely different scene...

Dark Ace was just Ace... Just Ace looking over a small scrap of paper that changed everything. His father was not his father. His father was Strike... But how could that...
Away again into another scene,
He was shouting at Strike, demanding to know the truth... It was all true... He was his father...
Yet another scene
Clearly at least a year later, and he was stood staring from the balcony outside the bridge on the Condor- other memories slotted into place. Only the Storm Hawks and Strike's wife, Teyla, knew that he was Strike's son, none of the others had been told... Ace having joined the Storm Hawks after breaking records in the Sky knight academy despite never completing his training... Having been on missions and outings with the team... being friends with everyone...
Then another scene, clearly even later than that.
They were all in a room, laughing and joking around as Ace played with a small baby with a shock of red hair...
Several more scenes, all in rapid succession over the course of a couple of years as the baby grew up...
Play fighting when the baby was about a year old, with Strike saying that he was a natural sky knight... the baby being a bit older and looking bewildered as he tried to take in everything that Strike was telling him before Ace told the older man to lay off for a bit and getting a slap for his trouble... Aerrow, for who else could it have been, as a toddler just before the start of the final campaign, choosing to give him a hug instead of Strike, and earning him the cold-shoulder throughout the following battles...
Then a dark green crystal, shot through with streaks of pink, seeming to make everything fade away...
Dark Ace gasped as he ripped the crystals from him and threw them at the other side of the room, gripping the side of the table as he took it all in.
Aerrow, having caught echoes from the crystals, had seen flickers of the scenes when he was a child, and his own memories were now surfacing, though they were faint and in flickers.
It was true. He and Dark Ace were brothers... But now where did that leave them?

It was silent for a few minutes until Aerrow spoke, voice faint and, for the first time, a little lost.
"So... What now?"


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