Part Seven:Piper and Aerrow. In a cave. Together...

The Talons stood in front of a large cavern in the cliff side, their vehicles parked off to the side. Their commander held up the crystal scope which pinged.

"This is it." he said and he proceeded inward followed by the others.

Aerrow and Piper watched quietly from behind some dense bushes. Aerrow's skimmer was parked a little father back.

Aerrow was looking at the cave when he realized something seemed very familiar about it.

"That's where I found the Iris crystal," whispered Aerrow looking at the opening. "The cave's full of them. But what would the Cyclonians want with Iris crystals?"

Piper shrugged and stood up. She spoke as she walked toward the cave. "Maybe they want to use them as poison." She said looking into the mouth of cave. Aerrow walked up beside her.

"That," he said, " Or they're making a really big chandelier."

Piper smiled then looked back into the cave. "Let's find out."

"Won't they see us?" asked Aerrow. It didn't seem wise to him to simple walk up behind the talons.

Piper tapped the pouch at her hip. "Cloaking crystal, remember ?" she said. "We just have to be quiet."

"But..uh..I can see you." he said. He could also see himself. But weren't they suppose to invisible?

Piper rolled her eyes. "Of course you can. Remember when Cyclonis used a cloaking crystal of a fleet of Talons? Well they had to be able to see the rest of their team or else they would have run into each other. Although," she admitted smiling, "they pretty much do that anyways."

"Oh." Aerrow responded dumbly. "that makes sense."

Then, carefully, making each step as quiet and as light as a falling feather, they made their way into the darkened cave.

But the cave was not entirely dark. There was a small unsteady blue light up ahead moving away from them (no doubt the Talon's torch light). The Cyclonian's voices were hushed whispers.

"Not much farther," whispered Aerrow.

"Not much farther to what?" asked Piper. Aerrow didn't answer- just smiled from what she could see in the dim light.

But the light was getting brighter. Not the torch light. Another one.

The cave tunnel opened up into a large vast dome. They heard the Cyclonians gasp up ahead, their bodies becoming silhouettes in a far brighter light. Piper froze. What did they see? Was there danger?

Then one of them spoke.

"It's really…er..pretty."

For a second the Cyclonians stood there gazing at something Piper and Aerrow could not see. They waited close behind.

"Alright, alright," said one of the Cyclonians, probably the leader. "Quit your ogling, and get to work."

The Talons grumbled and slowly trudged forward disappearing around the edges of the cave wall. Aerrow motioned her to move forward. Carefully, she and Aerrow walked toward the opening. There was a bright flash when they passed over the threshold and they had to shut their eyes. Stepping a couple more steps , the light dimmed and they blinked open their eyes. Piper gasped, but the Cyclonians didn't seem to notice. They had already spread themselves around the edges of the cavern.

The cavern. It glittered.

It was more crystal than rock. Large shards, stalagmites and stalactites all made of luminescent Iris crystal, were rising from the black stone in every direction .

Large chunks of the ceiling were crystal as well. Sunlight from the topside soared through the crystals in the ceiling. The sunlight was split by the stones, twisted and divided into rainbow coloured daggers of light. Then, those daggers of light shot into Iris crystals on the walls and floors and was further split and twisted, till the whole room shone with colourful light.

Pretty, one of the Cyclonians had said. Pretty was an understatement.

"It's beautiful," whispered Piper breathlessly.

Aerrow smiled. "Yeah," he agreed quietly.

The moment was interrupted by a loud clang off to the side of the cavern. One of the Cyclonians had hit a large chunk of crystal off the wall using a large crystal charged hammer. It clattered to the ground.

"Careful!" shouted the leader. "Don't use that." he pointed to the hammer. "Use a regular one." The leader picked up a plain hammer and threw it underhand at the Talon.

The Cyclonian jumped as the hammer flew at him and he narrowly dodged it. It whacked into a crystal mound behind him. Aerrow recognized the Cyclonian. He had greenish hair and a distinct green moustache.

"You!" the commander suddenly shouted pointing at Aerrow. Aerrow jumped, afraid he'd been spotted. Then he remembered that he was invisible. The leader was speaking to a Talon across the other side of the room. He was looking through Aerrow not at him. Aerrow and Piper turned around to look at the other Talon who saluted (not at them but at the commander on the other side of them).

"Call headquarters," he said. "tell them we've found the mother load."

Aerrow looked at Piper.

"We can't let them bring in back up," he whispered.

Piper nodded, and put her hand into her bag, reaching for the cloaking crystal…

*************

"Cyclonians." said Stork staring at Aerrow's note. The rest of the Storm Hawks, minus Radarr, had returned to the Condor and were now at the bridge inspecting Aerrow's impromptu note.

Stork sighed tiredly.

Guys,

We spotted some Cyclonians headed southeast towards those terras we passed yesterday. We've gone after them on recon. Catch up quietly if you can.

Aerrow out.

"Guess we gotta go after them." said Junko looking over Stork's shoulder.

"Oh come on," said Finn exasperatedly waving his hand dismissively.

Stork and Junko looked questioningly at him.

Finn put his hands on his sides and scoffed. "You guys don't really believe that do you?"

Their eyebrows raised.

"Umm…Why would Aerrow lie about going after some Cyclonians ?" asked Junko innocently.

Finn rolled his eyes. "Cyclonians, yeah right!"

Stork frowned breathing out heavily. "Well then Finn," he said irritably, "What do you think they're doing?" Not that he really wanted to know.

Finn smiled slyly. "They're on a date of course."

Stork's shook his head slowly and frowned.

It so figures …

Junko looked from Stork to Finn.

"But the note said to go after them." said Junko.

Finn stuttered. "Umm well, that's just a er, um, -yeah well it's not like they need our help!" He said. "I mean lets face it. What's a couple of Cyclonians versus Piper and Aerrow right?"

Stork crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

"Besides," said Finn. "We've got to get ready for the dance!" he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sure they'll understand." he said coolly.

"GAhh!" yelled Stork flinging his arms into the air. He gave Finn the death stare from under his long flop of black hair and growled. "That's it!" he yelled and stamped his foot. " I've had enough of this!" He stalked up toward Finn glaring. "I have been patiently waiting for this stupidity to end but nooooo - you just go on and on! When will you get it? They are not dat-squish- huh?"

Stork and Finn simultaneously looked down at the floor. There, under Stork's right foot was a large piece of mashed chocolate that oozed over his toes.

Slimy, runny, hive-causing chocolate.

"Gahha!" he yelled pulling up his foot with such force that he flew onto his back and landed loudly on the floor. "Get it off!" He yelled. He shook his foot vigorously. "Get. It. OFF!" Bits of gooey chocolate splattered all over.

All over Finn.

"Ah! My hair!" He tried to shelter his head.

All over Junko. He took his finger and wiped a bit off his face then put his finger in his mouth. "Hmmm," he said licking his lips. "Milk chocolate."

Stork crawled over to a wall and unlocked a hatch labelled, 'Emergency First Aid'. Quickly he snatched out a small towel and started to whip the mushy chocolate off of his foot. All the while Finn was complaining about his hair and how he was going to have to have to wash his hair again and again. Stork started spraying himself with an aerosol can from the first aid kit. He stood up.

"I blame this all on you, you know that." Stork yelled irritably at Finn, pointing his finger in Finn's face.

"Good. I deserve credit for getting Piper and Aerrow together." Finn said smiling proudly. Stork sneered.

" I wasn't talking about that. And Piper and Aerrow are not together." Stork replied.

" Yes, they are. They're off on their date, and if you knew better, you would know not to go after them." Finn said as if he knew everything.

"They are not on a date! They are after Cyclonians! And if you knew better you would know we should go after them and help." Stork shot back.

"I think Stork's right Finn. If there are Cyclonians we should go and help." Junko said, still licking off chocolate from his hand.

"Junko! You can't seriously be taking his side. And what about Radarr! We can't just leave him out on a whole terra alone. He could get lost ,or, whatever. What would Aerrow say if we showed up with no Radarr?" Finn said trying to use logic.

"Fine. You stay here and Junko and I can go after them." Stork replied, sure he had won the argument. Finn looked at the Junko and Stork thinking desperately of something to say.

"But… but." Finn stuttered. "What about Junko's date!? He'll be late. I mean, what would Cardinal say?" Finn spat.

"Well." Junko mumbled, seeing the truth in Finns words. " He's got a point Stork. If I went, I wouldn't make it back in time for my date." Junko said somewhat downcast about abandoning his friends.

"Well then, you can stay. I'll go." Stork said turning around.

Finn chuckled. Stork looked over his shoulder.

" What's so funny?" Stork asked irritably.

" You think you'd actually be any help." Finn said rudely. Stork was taken aback, and reminded himself that Finn was just playing with his head so he'd stay.

"C'mon Stork," Finn coaxed. " You'd probably just hold them back. With what the binding and all, you would probably just get in the way. I mean, you'll end up getting captured." Stork paled at the thought of being captured. Finn continued. " And think about how dangerous it is to go alone." Finn pretended to gasp, like he'd suddenly realized something. "What if there's an ambush? All those terras we passed," he shook his head, " who knows what lives on them. The creatures. The disease." Stork's face went sickly pale. He gulped at the thought of being attacked. He thought of the perils of searching uninhabited terras by himself. All the diseases such terras held. He shivered.

"So really Stork," Finn concluded, "the odds of survival are minimal."

He's right. Stork thought. Traveling alone. I might not even make it to Piper and Aerrow. NO! No! It's a trick. Finn's messing with my head. He just wants - but the disease. Uh. Well…Piper and Aerrow do have the binding. I guess they don't need any back up. So I guess it wouldn't hurt anyone if I just stayed on the Condor.

Finn smiled slyly as he noticed Stork seemed to be mulling things over.

"Well?" Finn asked questionably.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt anyone if I stayed here. They are pretty powerful," Stork started, still trying to convince himself. Finn's face broke out into a grin.

"No!" Stork yelled, remembering that Finn was just playing with his head. " They're our friends Finn. We can't abandon them. For all we know something terrible might have happened to them."

"I guess Cardinal wouldn't mind if I was late, if I told her what happened." Junko said, knowing Stork was right.

"What!? Oh C'mon." Finn yelled. He almost had them right where he wanted! " You guys can't possi -STATIC-" Finn started but was cut off by the buzz of the Condor's radio.

" Come in. Aerrow here. Are you guys there?" The radio buzzed.

"Aerrow!" Stork said shocked. Talk about timing. " Are you and Piper all right?"

"Yeah were fine. Did you get our note?" Aerrow asked.

"Sure did." said Finn. "Are you two lovebirds having fun?" he asked obnoxiously.

"What?! Finn! This is serious." This time it was Piper's voice.

"Heh. I know." Finn said slyly. Aerrow was about to say something but Junko interrupted.

"Do you guys need back up?"

"Uh. No. It's okay. We've already got it under control."

" Okay. Have fun." Finn said playfully.

" What do you mean have-" Aerrow started, but Finn turned off the radio. He turned to face Stork and Junko.

" Told you so." Finn said mockingly. "Now you won't miss out on the dance tonight."

Stork grimaced.

"I mean, you of all people should have a front row seat to see me winning our little bet." Finn said proudly.

" You mean a front row seat to you losing our bet." Stork corrected.

" Oh Stork." Finn said as if he were speaking to a child. " I'll have a date within the hour."

Stork rolled his eyes.

"Yo Junko. What time is it?" Finn shouted over to Junko.

"Uhh. Six." Junko said after glancing at the clock.

"SIX!?" Finn said shocked. "That's barely enough time to do my nails-"

Stork and Junko raised an eyebrow.

"Er, hair! I meant to say hair!"


A/N:

Sorry I didn't post last week. I got stuck at the chocolate flying everywhere part. Luckily, my ever so helpful editor, StormyReader21, decided to help and she wrote on from there and then I edited bits. And I must admit, I am quite impressed by Finn's manipulation speech that she typed up. Figures my sis would be so good at manipulation...perhaps I should let her write some lines for Cyclonis hmmm? Hoped you liked! Comments are always appreaciated!