This chapter is pretty special to me as I poured quite a bit of my heart into it.
Chapter 9: One Moment in Time
Aerrow, Radarr, Finn and Junko lay on their backs, gazing at the night sky.
"Cod fillets naturale… cod fillets boiled…" Junko sighed dreamily, "cod fillets lightly grilled basted in butter, ahhh… or cold with mayonnaise-"
"Can't you think of anything except food?" Finn asked.
"It's how I get to sleep on a night." Junko explained.
Piper walked past them and went to her heli-scooter. Aerrow sat up.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Oh, just out for a little ride," Piper replied smiling, but Aerrow was not fooled and frowned suspiciously. Piper sighed and answered angrily, "OK, Aerrow, you know where I'm going, and you can't stop me!"
Aerrow got to his feet, "He isn't coming back, Piper, he said so today!"
"Well he won't be coming back with what you did to him today!" Piper replied, "Stork wasn't the one scratching for a fight, you were! And you just couldn't help taking it out on him either!"
"He deserved it…" Aerrow muttered to the ground.
Piper slapped him, right on a deep scratch on his cheek, which sent him reeling back in pain, "Sort yourself out, Aerrow." She muttered, turning back to her heli-scooter and mounting it.
Aerrow watched as Piper flew away, in the direction of Terra Atmosia, "Man, is everyone on my team a traitor?" he grumbled.
Piper arrived at the ruined Terra Atmosia and, sure enough, the Condor was hovering beside the many warships with its hatch open, much to her surprise. As she flew up to the hatch, she heard the Cyclonians celebrating their victory down below in the devastation. She hid her heli-scooter near the runway and made her way to the bridge. The Condor was quiet and desolate of the Talons.
As Piper walked onto the bridge, she found Stork, sitting by the window, looking out sorrowfully at the dark. It saddened her to see him so miserable. She silently stepped out and whispered his name through the quietude. Stork's ears immediately pricked up and he turned his head towards her. His bruised eyes widened in astonishment and he smiled faintly. Piper smiled back gladly. He stood up and walked up to her, biting his trembling lip. Facing her, he bent his head in shame and a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Hey, come here." Piper beckoned, with outstretched arms.
They both embraced and Stork wept openly on her shoulder, while she rubbed his back comfortingly. Despite his tears, Stork felt glad to see a friendly face during this terrible time.
"I had to come see you," Piper told him later that evening, "just to make sure that Aerrow hadn't done you any real harm. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, terribly, more than anything," Stork replied sincerely, then suddenly groaned, "I don't want to do this anymore, Piper. I don't want to keep hurting you and the boys. I never wanted to join the Cyclonians, but I did it because I was afraid, for my own well-being, but it doesn't matter anymore. Just so as I can be with you all, my life wouldn't mean anything to me."
Piper put a hand on his shoulder, "If you truly feel that way, you can still come back."
Tears spilled down Stork's face, "Aerrow doesn't want me back, not after all I've done. And how could I come back? I can never pretend that this didn't happen."
Piper laid her head against his back, "I know. I'll never forget this, but without you, we aren't a team, we've completely fallen apart. With each of Aerrow's crazy plans, I still expect to hear your voice, explaining how we're all going to fail," a small smile grew on her face as she spoke, but now it faded, "It's just not the same without you."
"Would you take me back?" Stork asked.
"Of course I would," Piper replied, her voice cracking, "whatever you decide to do, whoever you decide to choose, I'll accept your choice, and the boys will come to accept it too."
She spoke as if Stork had already chosen to keep on the Cyclonians' side. Ever since arriving on the Condor that night, she had prepared herself for the worst. She didn't want to rely on false hope.
Piper wrapped her arms around Stork, placing her hands on his stomach. Stork laid his own hands on Pipers, and closed his eyes.
They both stood in this stance for a short time, silently enjoying each other's company. It was a happy moment and a sad moment too, one moment in which they were both together, but alone from the world. They could have stood like this for the entire night if they had so wished to, but outside, it was growing quiet.
Piper gripped Stork's hand firmly and rubbed his shoulder with the other, "I have to go." She said sadly.
Stork drew in a shuddering breath, "What do I do, Piper?" he sighed despairingly.
Piper let go of his hand and he turned to face her, "Whoever. Side you choose to be on, we'll be at Terra Bogaton."
"You could be condemning yourself, telling me this." Stork told her.
"I know…" she muttered, then embraced him tightly, almost as if it were her last night with him. Her voice cracked with tears, "Goodbye, Stork… I love you…" she whispered.
Piper slowly parted from him, and walked across the bridge and to the runway.
Tears fell from Stork's eyes profusely, "I'm sorry…" he moaned, though Piper had already disappeared from the bridge, "Please, don't leave me…"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Piper as she flew away into the dark. He stumbled to the window and put his hand against the glass.
"Take me with you," He wept quietly, "please, take me with you…"
Overcome with sadness, he fell to his knees, dragging his hand down the glass. There, his arched shoulders shook as he sobbed openly, lost, afraid and lonely.
"I've told you once already!" Repton exploded, "I want nothing more to do with the Cyclonians!"
Instead of returning straight back to Terra Gale, Piper had made one more trip to Bogaton. Repton, Spitz and Leugey had, just some moments ago, buried their brother Hoerk.
"I will not help you any longer if it means endangering the lives of my remaining brothers!" He yelled at her.
"I'm not asking you to help us!" Piper shouted back, "I'm giving you the chance to avenge your brother!"
Repton was stunned, by both her bravery and her proposition. He hissed, "Alright, I'm listening..."
Please R&R.
