Disclaimer: I do not own Storm Hawks.

Here is the long awaited update. I am truly sorry that I haven't updated in more than a couple of months. I've been incredibly busy, and writer's block does not help a single bit. Oh, I want to thank all my reviewers for their encouraging reviews. They do help with my motivation (hint, hint).

I didn't get my regular and awesome editor to edit this, so I might have some grammar errors and stuff- be warned (I did check it myself, but that doesn't always work). Well, here is chapter 4:


Beginnings of a Journey

The nine year old cocked her head; she had to admit that she was curious but at the same time apprehensive. The woman before her was the infamous Starling of the Interceptors. She recalled the many different history lessons she had received that told the Cyclonian version of the events associated with the squadron. Can I trust her? her mind wondered. She eyed the woman's appearance suspiciously and took in the twin num-chucks.

"My name is Tessa," she greeted coldly to the woman's mysterious introduction. She held out her hand in a show of manners and refrained from grimacing when the Interceptor's cool hand enclosed her small one. After the formalities were done they were silent. The awkward quiet was interrupted when the man from earlier placed her ordered sandwich and wanted beverage in front of the blue-eyed girl.

The woman waited for the man to leave before she spoke. "That's a mighty fine weapon you got there, where did you get it from?" she questioned. Tessa tensed visibly and her hand stopped midway to her sandwich. She should have known the woman would be that perceptive. Recovering she reached for the turkey sandwich and bit into it.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked, mouth full with the chewed up food. She tried to keep the wariness out of her voice.

"A child should not be carrying such a tool around," Starling replied. A loud crash from the kitchen of the restaurant caused the already jumpy girl to flinch. "Are you alright? Is something wrong?"

Tessa stared at the woman. "Why would you care? Why would anyone care?" she returned. She'd had enough; she couldn't handle all the anxiety. Without much control over her emotions she burst into tears. Automatically she drew her knees up and wrapped her thin arms around her legs. The fetal position caused her breathing to relax slightly and the danger she had felt seemed to slowly edge away.

Starling watched the girl with surprise, one minute she was cool and indifferent and the next she was sensitive and broken. Motherly instinct overrode her senses and she got up and sat next to the shaking girl. Carefully and cautiously she wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders and encircled her in a hug. She could feel the wet tears soak her shirt.

The tension in the body seemed to ease and a sigh escaped the girl's lips. And then all of a sudden the girl pushed away and glared at her with the most heart-stopping look. "You are not my mother, do not do that," the girl demanded. Starling studied Tessa's eyes; they were filled with unimaginable grief and intangible fury.

Tessa glared at the woman; she could not believe what she had just thought. She would not acknowledge the fact that she had believed that this woman was her mother for a brief moment. When those warm arms had encircled her in a caring way, her mind had drifted to her mother- from the comforting hugs, to the reassuring squeezes. Shakily she reached for the glass of water and took a sip. She had to clear her mind of her mother, if she dwelled on the fact that her mother was no longer coming back she would surely never find her father. And she could not allow that to happen. She would, no matter what, fulfill her mother's last wish.

She glanced back at the startled woman. "I am sorry," she apologized. "I did not mean to be so rude."

"I understand, I did not mean to replace your mother," Starling said. To the girl's ears the Interceptor sounded sincere. "If you do not mind me asking, what happened?"

Tessa willed the unwanted tears back. "S-she was killed," she muttered. The sentence she had just spoken sent a stab to her heart, denial could not be used anymore.

A mumbled 'oh' was heard. "I am terribly sorry for your loss," the woman said squeezing the girl's shoulder comfortingly. "Do you have any other family members to take care of you?"

At first she wanted to shake her head, but then she remembered that her mother had said she had a father. "I have a father, but I don't know where he is," she hiccupped.

Starling watched the girl carefully. She felt her heart go out to the girl. She knew what it was like to lose something so precious, but she knew Tessa did not need to hear it, let alone, want to hear it. Right then and there she decided that she would help this girl find her father.

"I could help you find your father," she told her. Wide blue eyes looked at her, they were shining with hope.

"Really? You can help me find him?" Tessa inquired. Starling nodded. Tessa's heart leapt for joy at the prospect that she would have help on this journey her mother had presented for her.

"Yes, I can," the purple haired woman reassured her. "But first, do you have any clues as to where he might be?" Tessa furrowed her brow in concentration. Did she have any clues that would help them locate her father? A little light bulb went off in her head.

"The Storm Hawks," she supplied.


Aerrow leaned down on his knee and kissed the foreheads of his two little angels and wished them a night with sweet dreams. He released them of the hug he had them wrapped in and they hurriedly flopped into their beds. He smiled; then he turned around and headed out the door, leaving Piper behind to tuck the twins in. The redhead walked towards the bridge pondering over what Finn had revealed to them all. The simple fact that the evil Master Cyclonis wrote a letter to one of his squad mates was mind blowing. But the rest was obviously overwhelming- Rin was dead, Dark Ace was hunted by both the Cyclonians and the Atmos, and Finn's nine year old daughter was out there all alone.

He shuddered when he remembered the threat meant distinctly for him. He grit his teeth. He couldn't believe that someone would involve two six year olds into this old conflict between Cyclonia and the rest of the Atmos. But he had to consider the fact that Master Cyclonis was clearly insane or plainly didn't have a conscience. He shook his head. He would not allow this to get to him. He just had to do his best to make sure that he protected his family at all costs and searched for Finn's lost daughter.

He was sure Finn would do the same if one of his children were missing. He made his way onto the bridge and spotted Tamar playing cards with Silver and Junko, and good old, paranoid Stork was at the control sticks. He walked over to Stork.

"How long do you think it's going to take?" he questioned.

"At the speed we're going it'll probably take about one hour," Stork responded in his monotonous voice. His eye was twitching. "Why do I allow myself to be dragged into such things as this?"

Aerrow rolled his eyes and sauntered out of the bridge towards Finn's room. He wanted to make sure the blonde sharpshooter was doing fine. He sighed and knocked on Finn's closed door.

"Finn, it's me," he said through the door and in between his knocks. "Open up!" The door flew open just as he said that.

"Yes, Aerrow?" the blonde responded stepping to the side to allow the Sky Knight into his room. He entered and sat down on the rumpled, unmade bed. Finn quietly sat down next to him.

"I wanted to thank you for telling us," he began. "I heard from Tamar that you were reluctant at first, but I am glad you told us. I mean, now we can help you in your search."

"Yeah, but now you guys are in danger," Finn said. "I mean, c'mon, she isn't guaranteeing any of your guys' safety. And isn't it a little bit fishy that she is guaranteeing mine?"

Aerrow eyed him for a second. "Yeah, you're right," he replied. "It is a little fishy. What do you make out of it?" It was suspicious, but reasonable when dealing with a mutual interest.

"What if she is guaranteeing my life because her heir is my daughter? So, she knows I am the father?" Finn explained. "Oh, that's really bad."

"Why is that bad?" Aerrow inquired. Sometimes Finn's mind was a mystery.

"Because when she catches up with me it's going to be like a double revenge type thingy," Finn wailed. Aerrow raised his eyebrow in amusement. But to some extent it did make sense; Master Cyclonis had one messed up mind.


The Dark Ace examined the crashed shuttle. With one purpose set in mind he entered the machine and searched for his double bladed sword. He snarled in disgust at the thought of the half-breed's filthy hands on his weapon. He had used that sword for most of his life- it was like an extra limb to him. He felt lost without it. He turned around and marched out of the contraption.

He laid a hand on his newly acquired sword that he had stolen from the storage room and shuffled through the sand to his Talon switchblade elite. He seated himself on the bike and turned on the engine. Calmly he added a crystal into the machine fuel tank and zoomed off into the direction of the nearest city on the desert terra. He would find that brat and kill her if it was the last thing he did.


There you go, another chapter done. Please review!