Chapter Ten: Fury of the Storm
There was a blinding flash of lighting, accompanied by an earthshaking crash of thunder. As the light fades a faint female outline can be seen standing on a small hill. Blue trim just bright enough to be a seen fraction of a second longer than the dominate purple. She stood there, face upward and arms to the side as if enjoying the rain pouring down her face. In a sense she was. The water was helping to ensure that the electricity in the air was spreading to each and every nanite on the surface of her skin. It was almost like taking energy bath. Soon the bath will become a feast. True the nanites in on her skin were being feed and in turn feeding her, but it was too slow for what she needed if she was to be ready to face a foe specifically designed and made for head on combat.
Where she was made to repair and empower with combat being considered a secondary function. So far she has done well. The combination of her human born intellect and the programmed in combat skills have proven effective against another fighter, but one made more for stealth and attacking from behind. Her one other previous opponent has been designed more for seeking out possible adversaries that might set up bases or hide in less than hospitable environments and only to fight if she, herself was discovered.
The figure shook her head slightly as she considered that there was yet another 'sister' after this one to consider. Will she prove friend or foe?
"I miss the days of being an only child, "Stormlark said out loud as her wing bands unfolded and the energy feathers started to form. Crossing some fingers, she then flew upward into the electrified clouds above.
(Scene Change)
A small squadron of Mi-8 Soviet helicopters flew low over the burning forest. On one rode one that did not fit with the other soldiers. Although he wore the same uniform, it was a slightly better fit and had a few more decorations.
The pilot glanced over nervously at General Tarasov, then a warning alarm rang out and some lights starting flashing. The pilot quickly forced the helicopter to the right just narrowly avoiding the incoming missile that hit one of the other helicopters instead. The damaged Mi-8 exploded into a ball of flame and a crackling laugh rang through their headphones.
"Now, General, I can't let you take away my fun so soon, "a woman's voice said in Russian through their headphones as another missile took down a second helicopter.
"Sophia! I command you turn off the robot now!" the General ordered in Russian.
"So now I'm Sophia again, Stepan? Last night I was a lowly doctor assistant you called Petrova, "the woman responded, "It's of no matter. Following my older sister's example…Sophia Petrova is dead. Now there is only the FireHawk!" A large blast of flame rose up from the burning forest fire below and nearly engulfed the helicopter.
The General growled a retreat to save what was left of the squadron. As the helicopters turned, he considered his options. There was no way he could ask for assistance without saving face. This was HIS project!
"Sir, "the pilot said, "There seems to be someone trying to contact us on another frequency."
"Change the frequency to match, "the General ordered and then once the pilot made the adjustment, "Report."
Stormlark's voice came through, speaking Russian with an American accent, "I have a proposition for you."
"Who are you and what could you possibly offer me?" replied the General.
"I'll take care of my younger sister,"Stormlark said the last sarcastically, "And even return what is left of her for your research. In return I want open skies to Alaska."
Now knowing who was speaking, he considered his options. If Stormlark won, he would save face and still be able to continue his research. If nothing else, the FireHawk's ability to chase off a squadron of military helicopters was proof of its effectiveness. The current problem being caused by leaving it in the wrong hands for too long. He even saw allowing Stormlark to return to the States would be a step in getting back into the good graces of the other contributors of Project Elements.
If the Stormlark lost, she would have no doubt at least weakened the FireHawk to the point normal military can take her down with minimum causalities. He could then blame the whole mess on Petrova, saying she forged the orders to acquire the Stormlark to begin with. He would still have the FireHawk's remains and a chance to collect some of those nanites before handing over Stormlark's remains to Pendrake Industries.
It was a Win-Win situation for him. The General smiled and said, "I agree to your terms."
"In that case, "Stormlark said, "I would suggest you get everyone out of the area…for their own safety."
(Scene Change)
FireHawk walk through the burning forest, barely noting the falling rain that tried valiantly to douse the flames. A burning tree fell and crashed to the ground in front of her. The war-bot moved to kick it out of the way when a flash of lighting struck followed by an energy charged purple fist.
The hit threw FireHawk back to land backwards into the ground creating a long groove in the dirt and soot. Not giving her a chance to recover, Stormlark quickly flew over and grabbed her to take off high up into the stormy sky.
"FireHawk shook the stunned confusion the punch caused off and raised her arm to aim her flameblower to Stormlark's face. "Oh, no you don't, "Stormlark said as she turned in mid-air and threw FireHawk to the distant ground, "You may be a tank on the ground lets see how well you…"
A rocket nozzle opened up on FireHawk's backpack and lit, saving her from the fall. She then flew off a distance at high speed and turned.
"Oh come on!" exclaimed Stormlark just before flying upward into the storm clouds.
FireHawk's rocket being faster, if less agile than Stormlark's energy wings, the fiery robot quickly closed the distance between the two. Stormlark dived straight down, barely dodging the attack.
Once again FireHawk started to make a large arc in order to turn but this time fired a pair of missiles that headed straight to Stormlark.
Stormlark dodge left and then right like a humming bird, avoiding the missiles. The missiles then turned, their trails crossing, to continue following their target their target. Stormlark raced straight towards FireHawk and just before reaching her, shot upwards. The missiles passed below, locked on to a new target.
Stormlark called out, "Not very smart using heat seekers, FireHawk."
FireHawk realizing her error, tried to roll out of the way but the missile's easily followed her heat trail and slammed into her. A ball of flame lit up the dark clouds…from which a slightly singed FireHawk raced out and slammed fists first into Stormlarks midsection.
Stormlark's wings flickered and she fell as her nanites concentrated on repairing the damage. FireHawk flew upward to turn and followed hoping to finish off her opponent before the repairs were completed.
The purple robot's wings lit up brightly as Stormlark pulled out and extended her staff. She held the staff like a baseball bat and when FireHawk got close enough cracked across her face, causing FireHawk to suddenly start spinning out of control as Stormlark dropped the remains of her now shattered staff.
Once again, Stormlark raced to follow. As if the weather cheered her on, the lighting suddenly starting flashing all around her as sparks from the large amounts of free energy started to flash across her skin, she neared her foe for the final blow…only to be met by FireHawk's foot in her face.
FireHawk had regained control just in time to be able to use a control spin to forcibly kick Stormlark.
Stormlark started to fall and this time it was FireHawk turn to chase, only this time to catch Stormlark in mid-air and to smash her into the hill Stormlark previously stood on.
FireHawk flew a short distance and landed. She watched Stormlark shake off the damage and stand as the damage started to repair itself before here eyes.
"Magnificent, "FireHawk said as she slowly walked towards Stormlark, "The nanites you help create are a work of genius. I MUST have them!"
"Then come and get them, "said Stormlark as she sprinted forward and tackled FireHawk.
FireHawk punched Stormlark hard in the face forcibly knocking her away. FireHawk then stood up and punched again knocking Stormlark to the ground. The dark red robot then kicked the purple one in the torso, causing it to cave in.
"Farewell, Stormlark, "said FireHawk as she raised her foot above Stormlark's head, "I guess I'm just going have to figure out the nanites from what is left on your remains."
FireHawk froze in place, unable to move. "What!?" the robot said as she fell to the side.
Stormlark stood up painfully and said through a now broken voice modulator, "You…wanted…zzzt…nanitesssss….I gave you some. They…do, do, do…what I, I, I, I…want them to do."
"No, "FireHawk whispered as her eyes flickered, but then they once again flared up, "You shall not leave here alive!"
Stormlark's sensors picked us a strong energy spike around FireHawk's core. "Don't do, do, do….this, "said Stormlark as her voice modulator started to repair, "You don't want to do this FireHawk!"
FireHawk laughed as her eyes dimmed and then went silent. Knowing there was no way she was going to out race the explosion in her half repaired state even with the nanites working as well as they are, she knelt down by the prone robot and sent even more nanites into FireHawk to help remove some of the armor to see if there was a way to stop the self-destruct mechanism.
General Tarasov voice sudden came through Stormlark's communicator. Speaking in English he said, "We show that FireHawk's self-destruct system has been activated. Is she contained?"
"If being paralyzed but about ready to blow up in a nuclear explosion is your definition of 'contained' then yes she is, "said Stormlark as she continued to work, "You wouldn't happen to know who to turn off the self-destruct mechanism by any chance?"
"Of course, I do, "said General, "but that information was not part of our agreement."
"Helloooo, "said Stormlark as she finally got the chest piece off of FireHawk, "She's gonna blow up and take a nice size chunk of the Soviet Union with her."
"Empty wasteland, "said the General dismissively, "The whole area has been deserted for years. That is why we chose the location for the research facility…just in case there was an accident."
"What do you want?"said Stormlark as she continued to work as the storm died off.
"Just a small item of interest, "said the General, "The secret of your nano-technology."
"Forget it, "said Stormlark as she continued to work.
"Then good luck, "said the General, "Just call me if you change your mind."
Stormlark finally found the mechanism, but noticed there was no way obvious way to safely deactivate or remove it without a risk of a pre-mature explosion. She sent her nanites in deeper as she ran a cable from her wrist and attached it to FireHawk's in the hopes of accessing some recorded information on how to stop the process.
So engrossed in her work, she failed to notice the sound of incoming jets but the sudden explosion behind her changed that.
"What do you know, "said Megatron hovering in mid-air as Thundercracker and Skywarp landed on either side of the females, "Two birds with one stone."
Stormlark pulled back the cable and secretly opened her communicator as she stood up. She could only hope that the General would hear that the Decepticons were here and call the Autobots. The nanites no longer working on accessing FireHawks systems, concentrated fully on repairing Stormlark as she planned on how to get out of this mess.
The End…
Next Time on Flight of the Stormlark…
Megatron grabbed Stormlark by the chin to force her to look directly into his red, glowing eyes, "Now what to do with you?"