After several contests, some rematches against Finn and a nail-biting finish with Stork, Piper beat out everybody on the deck including Raddar. Piper blew the end of the crossbow for dramatics and turned to Finn who was sitting on the floor, sweat slowly dripping down his face.
"Had enough?" Piper asked leaning down to Finn's level. Finn raised his hand and put it in her face. Mumbled words came out of Piper's mouth and she sat down, a huff stuck on her face.
"I'm done with Miss I-can-do-everything-better-than-Finn." A shrill mocking voice erupted from Finn. "I want to do something fun now." He whined pulling on Aerrow's shirt. Aerrow plucked him off his shirt and turned toward the rest of the crew.
"So..." Aerrow started rubbing the back of his head. "Where to?" Junko jumped up at once; naming off places so rapidly that no one could understand him. "Junko, settle down! Now, we'll go around the room and everyone will name off a place where they want to go. Piper, you start." Piper looked at him shocked.
"Why do I have to go first?" She asked putting her hands on her hips. Aerrow looked at her with big eyes.
"You know the rules. Ladies first." She rolled her eyes and thought for a minute.
"Um… I don't know. Terra Neon?" Aerrow turned to Stork.
"I'll go wherever Piper's going." Stork said in his usual neutral undertone yet something more was underneath it. Aerrow gave Stork a fleeting look and turned to both Junko and Finn.
"I want to go on ALL the rides." Junko said excitedly.
"I'm not going anywhere without Junko so Terra Neon, here we come." Finn exclaimed. Realization ran over Finn and he pulled Junko down to his level. A flurry of whispers swam around their heads and Junko's face lit up. He nodded once and they both ran out of the room, leaving Stork confused.
"Where are those guys going?" Piper shrugged her shoulders a smirk playing on her face.
"It's down to you, pal," Aerrow said as Raddar brought his head out of the bowl. "What do you say about going to Terra Neon?" Raddar nodded his head and pulled a huge punch bowl across the table. Aerrow turned to Piper and Stork. "Well, that's settled. Off to Terra Neon, I guess."
"Yeah," Piper said a huge smile breaking across her face. "This is going to be so much fun. I'll direct the Condor in that direction, if it's ok with you, Stork?" Stork nodded and Piper rushed out of the room. Aerrow glared at the back of Stork's head as he watched Piper leave. When Stork turned, Aerrow was shocked. Stork had a wide grin on his face.
"Something's not right."Aerrow thought. "Stork never smiles. I must have something in my eyes." Aerrow shook his head and rubbed his eyes.
"Are you ok?" Aerrow opened his eyes to find Stork looking at him with concern.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Aerrow exclaimed waving off Stork's hand.
"Well, I should probably go see how Piper's doing." Stork turned around and took a step forward before Aerrow felt a ripping rage consume him. He gasped for breath but it seemed like little oxygen actually made it in his lungs. The rage acted up and he screamed.
"NO!" Stork turned around.
"Excuse me?"
"I need to know one thing," Aerrow exclaimed clutching his chest so that the ripping subsided a bit. Stork was silent and Aerrow looked up. He was waiting for Aerrow to say something. "What's with you and Piper?" Stork lost all colour in his face.
"There's nothing with us." Stork said a nervous edge to his voice. Aerrow's emerald eyes turned into slits and he glared into Stork's dark ones. Something was lying beneath the usual paranoia and Aerrow was determined to find out what.
"Do you... love her?" Stork stood in shock, looking at Aerrow with a ridiculous glare. Aerrow gave him a half-hearted smile but Stork never returned it. He glared at Aerrow and Aerrow shivered.
"That's my business and nobody else's," Stork said, the darkness coming off his voice like syrup. Aerrow shivered. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be busy navigating the Condor toward Happy-Fun-Sunshine-land." Stork turned toward the door on the deck and took another step.
"Stop!" Stork obeyed but didn't attempt to turn around. " Are you mad at me?" Stork laughed flatly.
"No, Aerrow, not at all." Stork exclaimed his voice too sweet to be truthful.
"Ok, that was a stupid question but i don't want you to stay mad at me." Stork's shoulders fell an inch and he turned around, his face soften by defeat.
"I'm not mad at you but you just triggered something in me and i didn't mean most of the words I said." Aerrow looked at him with a perplexed look on his face.
"Most?!"
"Most!" Stork grinned. "To answer your question, you can figure it out by yourself but please don't tell anyone." Aerrow nodded and Stork smiled wider. He turned on the ball of his left foot and walked toward the deck door. It whoosed open and Stork disappeared. Silence hit Aerrow and the ripping subsided to a low growl in his chest.
"I think we're in for a little ride tonight."