Piper walked in through to the hanger, her arm over Junko and Finn's shoulders, limping lopsided as Junko was slightly taller than Finn.
Stork grabbed a blanket and swung it around Piper's body, she clasped it with both hands as Finn And Junko sat her down gently.
They sat around the large table, apart from Stork who carried on piloting the ship.
As they drifted further away from Cyclonia, the sound of faint claps of thunder could still be just about heard under the sound of rain hitting the top of the Condor.
Radar brought over a mug of hot chocolate for Piper but he couldn't help spill some, poor thing was still in shock from the disappearance of Aerrow. And Piper went to rescue him and he still hasn't come back, they all feared the worst.
Piper wrapped her hands around the mug, slowly brought it to her mouth and took a small sip, her hands shacking all the time.
"Piper….?" Finn placed his hand on Piper's shoulder.
Piper put her mug down and looked at Finn.
"He hel…helped me esc…escape". Piper's voice was quiet and shaky. "I told him I love him, and he…he said the…same ba…back". "He was about to leave…wi…with me, but…Dar…Dark Ace…." "Aerrow told me to run, but I couldn't leave him, I froze, Finn I'm such a coward!"
A tear rolled down Piper's cheek and she dipped her head down. Finn lifted her chin and whipped away the tears.
"Hey, Hey come on Piper, there was nothing you could have done". Finn hugged her and rubbed her arm. "He told you to run because, he was most likely trying to protect you".
"Yes, but now I fear they might kill Aerrow, he was going to kill me and Cyclonis said if he didn't then they would kill him!" "Now Aerrow's going to die because of me!" Piper grasped her head in her hand as more tears poured down her face.
Finn, Junko, Radar and Stork all paused in horror.
"Wait, Aerrow was actually going to kill you?" Junko asked.
"Well, not that he knew he was doing it, Cyclonis used a controlling crystal on him but, it was my words 'I love you' that woke him up and as we tried to escape Dark Ace blasted him from behind!" Piper yet again dipped her head feeling rather guilty.
"And your sure they said they would kill Aerrow?"
"Well I heard a lot of screams as I was climbing down the tower, so I wasn't sure what they were doing to him, and I also heard someone say, we need a good hostage". "Oh that should be me too!" "I'm never going to forgive myself!"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Stork shouted out suddenly stopping the Condor and turning around clenching his fists.
"I have had it with all this complaining!" "Its time to do something about this ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
Radar, Finn, Junko and Piper all shot their head's up wide eyed and a bit confused with the words Stork was coming out with.
"Piper, are you defintly sure that is what they said?"
"Yes Stork I'm sure, but we need a-"
"We need to make a plan and we need to make one now".
No-one was quite sure what had gotten into Stork, and why he was acting so brave all of a sudden,
but everyone got up and tried their hardest to come up with a plan to rescue Aerrow, not that it would be easy if Piper couldn't do it, they didn't have much hope, but they where not about to give up hope yet.
Two hours had past, and still no-one had come up with a suitable plan. Piper had been up in her study, crying and getting very stressed. Finn and Junko where also in there rooms, but had to attend to Piper's cries.
After about the 10th time Piper started shouting out, "AERROW IS NEVER COMMING BACK!" Finn and Junko met up in the corridor.
Finn rubbed his swollen eyes and aching head in his hands, "Ugh, any luck with a plan yet Junko?" Finn stuttered.
Junko repeated Finn's actions and replied, "No not yet, but I'm starting to get worried about Piper". "Poor thing she's been up all night, and the things she's seen Aerrow go through..., she must be terrified".
"Yea, your right, I feel real bad for her". "But what can we do?" Finn slumped himself back onto the wall, put his hand on his cheek and thought hard.
"Well the only thing we can do is hope we can come up with a good enough plan to save Aerrow, not just for Aerrow's sake but for Piper's sake too".
Finn and Junko both agreed then ran down to the hanger to meet Stork, who was also still thinking of a good enough plan.
Junko and Finn tried pushing though the door to the hanger-bay, but instead both fell to the floor in a heap, Junko on top on Finn.
"Junko...ge...get off of...ME!" Finn managed to say, gasping for breath.
"Oh sorry Finn". Junko got up and picked Finn up, who chocked for breath then gave Junko an evil scowl.
Stork stood in front of them with a confused look on his face. His hair in stress curls and all spiked out, his green eyes where red, puffy and had bags underneath them. Over by the wast-bin, there where piles of screwed up paper in the bin and all over the floor.
"Wow Stork, you've been busy haven't you!" Finn sarcastically joked only to be elbowed in the chest by Junko.
"Oh man you wont believe how hard I've been trying to come up with a silly little plan to rescue a silly little someone!" Stork had not realised what he said until a few moments later. He clenched his fists then paused and gave a saddened look at Junko and Finn, then a small tug on his trouser leg. Stork looked down, Radar was stood at his feet. As Stork stared at the fury creature he saw tiny little tears in his eyes. Stork's eyes also watered.
Junko slowly walked over to Radar and picked him up then placed him on his shoulder. Radar buried his head in Junko's neck, and Finn petted him comfortingly.
Stork sighed, "Radar I'm sorry". Stork dipped his head, followed by everyone else.
Just then a rattling noise was herd near the doorway. Everyone's heads shot up and looked towards the direction of the noise.
There stood in the doorway, with a big gleaming smile on her face was Piper. She skipped in humming a joyful tune.
"What are you so happy about?" Finn asked.
"Well it just so happens FINN, I've managed to come up with the most perfect plan EVER!" Piper clapped her hands together and smiled so much it made her jaw ache.
"Well then lets hear it!" Finn's eyes opened wide, and everyone gathered around Piper and listened to the plan that would get back their leader.
Cyclonia, 2:30am
Aerrow slowly woke up, he fluttered open his eyes and gasped painfully. He looked down and once again saw his arms and legs where chained to the cold wet wall.
"Well well, look who's finally woken up".Dark Ace walked over to a half defeated Aerrow. Fresh cuts and massive scares were scattered all over his body.
Two Talons stood either side of Ace, their staffs at the ready encase Aerrow decided to get cokey, which was highly unlikely as he could hardly breath.
Some light from the moon managed to get through the cracks in the cell walls, and shine down on Aerrow, making him squint. Dark Ace moved into the the light and a shadow of Ace cast over Aerrow.
Aerrow lifted his head very slowly, he glared at Ace then lowered his head. For once in his life Aerrow was being submissive towards Dark Ace, he was giving up all hope, and to make matters worse he didn't even know if Piper got away from Cyclonia in time before the Cyclonians got to her so as far as he was concerned, she was dead.
"Oh dear Aerrow, you've been a naughty boy". Ace mocked Aerrow and the Talons around him laughed histericly.
"I told you what would happen if you refused anything, didn't I". Ace placed his hands on his wast and he tapped his foot impationtly.
Aerrow responded with a low grunt, followed with a sigh as he turned his head in the opposite direction to Ace.
"WELL DIDN'T I?!" Ace shouted, he couldn't see Aerrow being submissive, but could just see him refusing more.
Ace best down and grabbed a piece of Aerrow's torn shirt, shook him violently and forcefully jerked Aerrow forward slightly so they met face to face, literally so their noses where touching.
Aerrow shivered and flinched, every time Ace breathed out, every time he moved ever so slightly, even when he blinked.
Ace gritted his teeth and when emphasising on certain words, shook Aerrow back and forth.
"Listen Aerrow, we're going to go fishing!" Ace spat though his teeth.
Aerrow gave Dark Ace a really confused look and thought, 'What does he mean FISHING?'
Aerrow wriggled for a bit, only to have a Cyclonian stick a staff into the side of his neck.
"Wha...what do yo...you mean?" Aerrow stuttered out, completely out of breath. He turned his eyes to look at the staff and could see it glowing a reddish crimson colour. Aerrow then turned back to Ace as he spoke, who still gave him little jerks as he emphasised on words.
"What I mean is, we're going to reel in some live one's, your friends Aerrow." "And guess what the bait is?" Ace smiled evilly and waited for Aerrow's reaction.
"WHAT!" Aerrow spat back at Ace, but his attitude had cost his yet another fierce prod to his neck, and he gritted his teeth in anger as he looked down at the staff and then back at Dark Ace.
"The bait...is YOU AERROW, ha ha ha!" Ace laughed joined by the Talons. "Your going to be our hostage Aerrow, when your stupid friends see you suffering the come to your rescue and they'll play right into our hand".
"MY FREINDS ARNT STUPID, THERE ARE THE SMARTEST, BRAVEST CREW IN THE WHOLE OF ATMOS, AND THEY CAN EASILY OUTWIT YOU, AHH!" Aerrow managed to some how perk up and scream Ace down, but it didn't work much as he wasn't blasted but hit over the head, but this wasn't enough to knock him out, yet.
Aerrow shook his head, Ace was still holing on to his ripped clothing so he was still getting shook every now and then. Aerrow then gave Ace the most furious look ever.
"AH, HA there is more Aerrow".
"OH WHAT MORE!"
"Well first change your tone or my Talon here will give you a hit to actually moan about, SECOND when I have all of your pesky little friends, do you know what will happen...?"
"What...?" Aerrow waited anxiously, what could be worse than what has already happened, apart form watching his friends suffer nothing worse would happen.
"Well your friends will have front row seats,... to your extermination!" Ace smiled gruesomely as Aerrow's eye's opened as fast as a bullet from a gun, his whole body when numb and he passed out. Ace realised his grip on Aerrow and the boy fell limp against the wall.
Dark Ace smiled, "I think I got my point across". Ace chuckled, "Okay I want this boy bound, gagged and polish up your weapons, this is going to be one heck of a busy night.
Dark Ace smirked, turned and paced out the cell with a gleaming smile. The moon light slowly passed back onto an unconscious Aerrow, one of the Talons unlocked Aerrow's shackles and dragged his onto the floor while the other grabbed some rope and a smelly old tie to gag the boy. Then when so tightly bound his hands went purple and his mouth gagged the Talons dragged Aerrow out of the cell and away, and all that was left for the last time was empty shackles and a blood stained floor with the moonlight was shining down on a helpless sole.
On-board The Condor
"Okay we all know the Cyclonians are taking Aerrow hostage so Dark Ace will probably be holding Aerrow, so if me and Finn, handle the Dark Ace, Junko and Stork will you take care of the Talons and be ready to grab Aerrow, and Radar you go with them". "Then when we have Aerrow safely back with us, Dark Ace will also most probably have the Energy Crystal so if one of us distracts Dark Ace then maybe we can grab the Crystal and blast these bozos back where they came from!" Piper stood very chuffed with herself and she smiled as she knew this just had to work.
"And...how do you know this is going to work?" Finn questioned, but not to be answered but jut frowned upon. "Okay JOKE gosh!"
"But what we need to remember is that Aerrow isn't being held hostage for no reason, this is played as a trap, so what ever you do, please be careful...Finn"
"HEY, I'll be just fine thank you very MUCH!" Finn crossed his arms and stamped his foot.
"JOKE, hahaha, okay guys let do this!" "FOR AERROW!" Piper cheered.
"FOR AERROW!" everyone cheered back and Finn and Piper ran down to their vehicles.
Piper took a look at everybody and nodded her head, she jumped on her heli-scooter and stared out into the night sky, the rain blowing back into her face. She looked up at the stars they formed the shape of Aerrow's eye's, and one of them twinkled as if it winked at her, Piper smiled, revved her engine and the two of then flew off, followed by Stork In the Condor.
