Chapter 3- On a Serpent's Wings

The breeze whistled as it blew over the hole in the ceiling, the moonlight bathing the chamber in a pale glow. Falcon looked over his shoulder, and held his breath. Nothing but the echoes of keystrokes gently pattering filled the room. He turned back to the monitor in front of him. "How's it going, Terry?"

"I've been at this for far too long," said Terry, his eyes locked on the screen as his fingertips pelted the keyboard in a flurry, "Shadow really took his security seriously."

Falcon looked over his shoulder again. "Ten more minutes, and then we bail. The Federation sentries won't leave this part of the BSL unpatrolled for much longer."

"If it's any comfort," said Terry, "the first part of Dewey's code has proven to be a useful cipher. A decryption job like this could have taken me hours to get this far." Then, looking at Falcon, he said, "I hope you understand what will happen if we're discovered here."

"I don't intend on finding out for sure."

Terry turned back to the monitor. "Though I must say, instead of the Federation, I was expecting to find another Falcon here."

"He must have abandoned the place once he ambushed Flyer. Whatever he's planning, it has to be stopped."

The terminal beeped once quietly. "I think I've got the second code," said Terry. "Lets put this in, and hope it works." Terry punched in a few more keys. "Another stunning victory for Digi-Boy!"

Falcon studied the screen. "Can you tell what Flyer was sent after?" He asked.

Terry paused. "It looks like she was sent to get whatever was in that lockup," he said, pointing to the open chamber beside them. "Probably a memory stick. What was on the stick, though, I can't tell."

As soon as Terry pressed the last key, a loud, piercing beep rang out from the terminal. "What was that?" Asked Falcon, gritting his teeth as the ringing in his ears faded.

"I don't know, but I'd say our cover's blown!"

"Time to move."

"Just a moment- got it! Okay, let's get out of here!"

Falcon and Terry dashed towards the exit, slipping through the doors just as the doors behind them opened. "They're onto us already," said Falcon, "these guys know how to move!"

As Falcon and Terry ran down the hallway, Terry suddenly stopped. "Falcon! In here!" He said, opening the set of doors beside him.

Inside, Falcon saw a wide open hangar bay, with a lone Blood Hawk sitting in the middle. "You scouted the BSL blueprints?" Falcon asked as they headed to the Blood Hawk.

"And decrypted the ignition sequence! Congratulate me later, let's just go!"

Falcon and Terry hopped into the cockpit of the Blood Hawk, and Terry closed the windscreen. "Hang on," said Falcon as the G-diffusers began to scream, "This wasn't built for two!"

The Blood Hawk bolted out of the hangar and down the long driveway out of the laboratories. Falcon glanced in the rear-view monitor, and saw several grey Federation landcrafts pull up behind him. Terry grabbed the back of Falcon's seat as hard as he could, watching a handful of White Cat shaped machines zoom past. One machine sharply banked into the hull of the Blood Hawk, ramming it towards the guardrail. Falcon swerved left and right as he stabilized the machine, watching more Federation crafts close in on him. Another machine soared past him, and slammed on its brakes, spinning wildly as it nicked the nose of the Blood Hawk, with Falcon veering out of the way. "Can't you hit them back?" Terry asked, "I've calculated at least three times you could have countered them!"

"We're in enough trouble as it is!" Said Falcon, weaving left. "Attacking the Federation is the last thing we want to do!"

Another impact from the right sent the tail of the Blood Hawk spinning to the side, the machine losing its traction on the road. "Then we can at least scare them," said Terry, punching in commands in his travel console.

Suddenly, two massive blast doors ahead of them began to converge. "What are you doing?"

"Flatline the engine if you have to!" Said Terry, "Boost like you've never boosted before!"

Falcon mashed the boost buttons on the control sticks. The Blood Hawk roared again and again as it rattled with every boost. Just as Falcon pulled ahead of the pack, the blast doors squeezed closed, slamming shut with a booming thud, trapping their hunters behind it. Within moments, the Blood Hawk came speeding out into the roadway outside, and vanished into the night.

The G-diffusers of the Blue Falcon came down to a quiet rumble as it glided to a gentle stop, and the windscreen of the Blue Falcon popped open. Terry hopped out from the back seat, and stretched out his back. "Well, wasn't that exciting?" He muttered.

The Blue Falcon's headlights pierced the darkness of the night, illuminating the front steps of the Little Einstein Academy. "Thanks for your help, again," said Falcon. "Next time I need it, it'll be legal. I promise."

"Make sure it stays that way," said Terry. "Oh, before I go, here, you might want this," he said, picking a thumb drive out of his pocket, and handing it to Falcon. "It's a copy of both codes."

"Kid, you're making me reconsider my whole solo policy."

The bright lights of his secret garage were a welcome sight for Falcon, setting the Blue Falcon down on the maintenance pad. The Blue Falcon's engines came to a hush as he flicked the engines off, and popped the canopy open. Falcon silently chuckled to himself as he hopped out of the cockpit, basking in his guilty pleasure of slipping away from the Federation for a moment. One moment was all the time he had.

"Been out for a midnight drive tonight?"

Falcon turned around to the entrance bay of his hideout, and saw Jody leaning up against the wall by the doors. "You know me," said Falcon, "I don't sleep."

Jody shook her head. "I'm not sure I knew you as well as I thought."

"What do you mean?"

Jody pushed herself off from against the wall. "There was a minor incident at the BSL a few hours ago. What would you know about it?"

"It's the first I've heard of it," said Falcon with a shrug. "What kind of incident?"

"Someone stole a Blood Hawk from the hangar. That's a little too much security to go through for a souvenir- especially if it means interfering with a Federation investigation."

"Did anyone get a look at whoever did this?"

Jody frowned. Falcon could tell she was getting annoyed. "No," said Jody at length, "but we'll find him. We always do."

The two stared awkwardly at each other.

"It certainly would be better for both parties if our man gave himself up," Jody said, finally breaking the silence.

"Unlikely," said Falcon. Jody gave her eyes a slight, subtle roll. "I'd like to help, but I've got a problem of my own to take care of. And I've got a hunch that you can help me out."

"I've already told you, Falcon, I can't say any more-"

"Pico."

Jody came to a complete stop. "Pico?" She asked. Falcon nodded. "What are you doing with that old psychopath?"

"I don't want to have anything to do with him any more than you do, Jody, believe me," Said Falcon. "Last night he tried to have me killed."

Jody gasped. "Are you serious? Why?"

"I don't know. Pico's ruthless, but he's not insane. Someone's put him up to it."

"Pico already charges small fortunes for his hits," said Jody, "whoever's hired him to take you out must be absolutely loaded. More than Don Genie!"

"Or someone with leverage."

"Leverage? On Pico?" Jody shivered. "What are you getting yourself into, Falcon?"

"I don't know, but I need to find out fast. I need to know where to find his newest hideout."

Jody shook her head. "You know I can't share Federation intel with you."

"The Federation can't touch Pico, so I'll have to deal with him myself if I want to avoid ending up like Dewey. I need your help, Jody."

Jody bit her lip, and then muttered, "You can get me into so much trouble... Fine. Devil's Forest, coordinates 228724, sector Gamma."

"Thanks, Jody, I-"

"Just be careful, Falcon. I've already told you way too much. I can't help you any further."

Jody turned around and headed for the exit. Falcon moved over to his chair, and sunk deep within it.