I do not own Storm Hawks.

-----

Cyclonis stood very still, her eyes resting on the sky overhead. It was gloomy and foreboding with many clouds swirling into the cyclone that lay in the middle of the sky. Despite the blackish clouds, there was no rain. The only real sign of weather was a warm breeze.

Cyclonis' hood was down, revealing her soft, purple hair. It blew ever so slightly with the wind. Still, she stared, not really thinking, not really feeling anything other than the cold metal bar that she gripped in her hands.

That bar was the only thing keeping her from jumping off the balcony. It wasn't so much she wanted to jump off, she just wanted a thrill. No, what she really wanted was to feel adrenaline pumping through her veins; to feel alive…, or maybe she didn't know what she wanted.

I want more than anything to destroy the Storm Hawks, she thought. But the words felt slightly empty. It was as if she was promising something that she knew would never happen. It will. It will happen. The hollow words echoed in her head, almost maddeningly loud.

"Master Cyclonis," a soft voice said from behind her. She whipped around, her hands clenched into fists.

The Dark Ace stood there, not so much as flinching at her sudden movement. His crimson eyes practically glowed in the shadows, giving him a demonic air. If Cyclonis hadn't known better, she might have thought he was actually a demon, sent from below to drag her down into the deepest depths of hell. He gave a low bow, his expression solemn. He obviously had yet to forgive her from that morning.

"I have recruited two Talons. Do you wish to meet them?" his voice was dull, almost disturbingly so. She had deprived him of the victory he so desired. Cyclonis stood there, mouth closed in a firm line, debating whether she should care or not. She did care somewhat but wouldn't let that get in the way. The battle had yet to even start.

"Just tell me their names and nothing else."

"Their names are Despen and Chris."

"… can I trust them?" This was the most important question. Cyclonis said it slowly, feeling the word trust ease its way out of her mouth. It was an unfamiliar word, which bothered her. She felt her tongue go numb with the word, an after affect of saying something you had yet to utter in an incredibly long time.

"Yes, Master," the answer was immediately given. If anyone were to be trusted, it was the Dark Ace. He was by her side for a reason, you know. Cyclonis need not ask frivolous questions such as, "are you sure," or "is there any reason not to trust them." This straight answer was all she needed to trust her life with these unknown soldiers.

"Very well, Dark Ace," she glanced at him sideways, "are you all right?"

Ace was taken aback by this question, for he visibly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He scanned the horizon, trying to tell if it was still night. In all his years at Cyclonia, that's the one thing that always stumped him, that, and the mood swings of his Master.

"I'm fine," he lied. "We should get going…"

"Is it morning already?" She asked, staring back up at the sky. Indeed, there was the tiniest sliver of sun on their sky's horizon. "Hm…, yes. Let us make our leave." She walked briskly to the door, a very surprising thing, for she had yet to sleep in the last two days.

Dark Ace followed, obedient and silent.

-

Three men stood in front of their vehicles, waiting, and each one very different from the other. One, a large, burly older man, picked his nose, completely unaware of the other two around him. He flicked his finger and looked around.

"So…," he began, not much of the conversationalist. "As you know, I'm General Snipe," he fought to think of something else to say.

"General Snipe, I believe it is best that we remain silent until Master Cyclonis arrives," another man, much shorter than the others said, his face wiped clean of any emotion. His hair was a deep maroon, and he stood at a very short 5'4". His helmet was nowhere to be seen.

"General Snipe?" The other scoffed, a young man with dark hair and inky black eyes. He wasn't as tall as Snipe, nor was he as short as the other man. "I've heard many good things about your sister, Ravess but little about you. Actually, I heard you're quite the idiot of the family."

Snipe's hand tightened around his mace, and he swung it back, preparing to smash it into the man's face. Suddenly, he felt the mace's weight leave his hand. He turned around, startled, only to see it hovering a mere inches from his face. It swung forward, hitting him square in the head and knocking him unconscious.

Cyclonis stood behind the mace, which radiated a bright red energy. Her palm was out, and the thing hung in the air for a few moments, before she clenched her hand into a fist, releasing the energy that held the mace in place. It fell to the ground with a loud clangor.

"We don't need him," she stated angrily, scowling at Snipe's unconscious form. "We leave him where he lays. I suggest you all mount your Switchblades. We're leaving."

-----------

Sorry if anyone had to wait too long. I'm just terrified of dissapointing any of you.