Okay everyone, here's chapter nine for you all, I hope you enjoy, and this chapter starts out in Aerrow's Point of View.

I do not own the Storm Hawks, they are the property of Nerd Corps.

Chapter 9

Déjà Vu Much?

Having met up with Junko and Radarr, we headed into the woods and walked for a good while before we came to the clearing where the Dark Ace had ditched our rides when he had captured us earlier on in the day, but it was almost dusk now.

Unlike earlier, the Condor had landed to the side of the clearing, our skimmers were gone, the only trace of them having being there at all were tire tracks heading towards the Condor where Finn and Stork were no doubt inside waiting for us.

Emerging from the bushes that bordered the clearing, I couldn't get the memory of what happened when I met up with Junko and Radarr out of my head. I didn't like being the only person who they could ask about what happened to Piper.

Looking down at my best friend who I still held in my arms, I frowned slightly as I remembered how concerned and worried I had made Junko and Radarr when I showed up with an injured and unconscious Piper.

Flashback

Running around another corner of the many walls of the Cyclonian outpost, I came to a sliding stop, narrowly escaping a collision with Junko's hulking frame.

Turning around to face me, I saw Junko's face light up with surprise and happiness before he saw the injured Piper in my arms. With his bottom lip trembling, Junko asked, "Is she, is she-"

"She's alive Junko." I replied quickly before I noticed that Radarr was sitting upon Junko's shoulders, both still looking worried despite my words. Sighing I added, "She's just really badly hurt, we need to get her somewhere safe." Looking up at my two friends, I asked, "Were you able to make contact with the Condor?"

With both Junko and Radarr nodding their heads yes in reply, Junko told me, "Yeah, we found a radio inside. Stork and Finn are waiting for us on the Condor in a clearing not far from here where the Dark Ace made us land, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember." I replied, my voice having an underlying anger towards the Dark Ace in it.

Looking at me worriedly, Junko asked, "You're not hurt too, are you Aerrow?"

Having to smile a little at my friend's concern for me, I replied reassuringly, "I'm just fine Junko, don't worry about me."

The only thing you should be worrying about is Piper... and that the Dark Ace knows her secret to some extent or the other now and you, one of her friends, don't....

Sighing as I tried to ignore my thoughts, I said, "Lead the way Junko, we've all had a long day and I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get back to the Condor."

With a nod in reply, Junko began to lead the way with me following him with Piper still in my arms.

Junko had asked several times on the trek back to the Condor if I wanted him to carry Piper for a bit, but I had always refused, telling him I could handle it, or there was no sense in him getting his uniform bloody too, and the list of excuses I had made went on and on.

I know it would've been much easier a trip for all of us if I had let Junko carry Piper, it's just I felt responsible for what happened to her. Sure, it was the Dark Ace who had injured her and everything, but I still had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach knowing that she had only fought the Dark Ace to give myself and the others time to escape.

So, I decided to tough it out for Piper's sake - besides it wasn't like she was extremely heavy or anything.

Having finally reached the clearing where the Condor and the rest of our team was waiting for us, I was relieved, yet I still felt apprehension as to what the reactions from Finn and Stork would be when they saw the state that Piper was in.

As Junko came and stood beside where I was standing at the edge of the clearing, he said, "Aerrow, you okay?"

I shook my head, trying to focus myself on what I should be doing instead of daydreaming as I replied, "Yeah, I'm fine Junko." Looking up to see that Radarr was still atop Junko's shoulders, I gave him a slight nod of my head before he jumped onto my back for the first time since we were captured.

Seeing that the sun was dipping low in the sky, I hesitantly began to walk towards the Condor as I said, "Let's go home guys."

Finn's POV

Sitting on the bridge of the Condor, I began to drum my fingers on the table once more. Stork had long ago gone and gotten earplugs to try and ignore the 'annoying' sound I was making.

Was it really my fault that I was anxious for the others to get back? I mean, they were in a Cyclonian Outpost for goodness sakes!

We had received a transmission from Junko about three hours ago saying that they were out of their cells and that that Aerrow and Piper were running a distraction while he and Radarr found a way to contact us here on the ship.

Like I said before, that was three hours ago, any number of things could have happened to them by now!

Junko and Radarr could've been captured again, the Dark Ace could've hurt Aerrow and Piper, or worse he could've, he could've –

I shook my head in an attempts to get the Stork like thought out of my head, but it turned out it only helped my thoughts from earlier on in the day come back to haunt me.

'What have you done now Finn? Piper's going to kill herself trying to break into that outpost.'

"No way, she's a Storm Hawk just like the rest of us, she'll be okay... right?" I mumbled out loud, fighting with the thoughts circling around inside my head. As soon as I realized I had been talking to myself, I felt kind of embarrassed, yet thankful Stork was wearing earplugs and hadn't heard what I said.

Letting a large sigh escape my mouth, I got up from the table and began to pace back and forth, back and forth until Stork yelled, "Finn, you're going to wear a hole through the floor!"

Turning to look at Stork, I saw that he was by the controls, sitting in a chair, reading a book - or at least trying to read it that is. Stork gave me an icy glare before he started to read his book again.

How can he be reading at a time like this when our friends are in danger! We haven't heard from them in awhile, we might never see them again! What will Stork be reading then? Their wills, that's what!

Shaking my head, I realized I was thinking doom oriented thoughts again.

I bet Stork would be proud...

Sighing once again, I quit my pacing and instead walked over to the windows for what must have been the hundredth time in the past few hours. Scanning the ground below the ship anxiously, I gave a whoop of joy when I saw two figures approaching the Condor - one with what I guessed was Radarr on their shoulder.

Running to the hangar bay to let down the ramp, I couldn't help but wonder why one of the two figures had both of their hands dangling to one side of them, and why there were only two outlines of people walking towards the Condor in the soon to be darkness when there should have been three.

Aerrow's POV

Nearing the ship, I was beginning to wonder how we'd be able to get on, but suddenly the hangar lights turned on, and moments later the ramp began to lower itself towards the ground.

Grinning at Junko and Radarr, I tried to pick up the pace a little. It would be good to be home again, and to have Piper's wounds properly looked after.

As soon as the ramp had touched down, Junko raced ahead, and soon I was able to see someone else besides Junko at the top of the ramp.

I wonder if it's Finn or Stork...

Pushing my thoughts aside, I paused at the bottom of the ramp to look down at Piper to check once again that she was really alive. Seeing that the rise and fall of her chest was still fairly regular, I began to make my way cautiously up to the Condor and to the people waiting for me, and the girl I held in my arms.

Finn's POV

Moments after the ramp had been fully extended I heard footfalls on the metallic material, causing me to race over to the edge of the deck only to be tackled by Junko in a tight bear hug.

Feeling a stop in my lungs, I managed to squeak, "Junko, I can't – breathe!"

Laughing nervously, Junko set me back down on the deck and patted me lightly on the back. "Sorry Finn," Junko began. "I'm just so happy to see you guys and the Condor, if it hadn't been for Piper, we might not have made it back here."

I nodded before I tried to peer around Junko as I heard lighter, much slower foot steps ascending the ramp. As the footsteps steadily got closer and closer to the top, I asked Junko, "How come you guys are only coming up one at a time?"

My large friend's face suddenly fell solemn as he mumbled, "Trust me, this is the last group of people coming up..."

"What do you mean?" I asked Junko as I hesitantly side stepped him, unsure as to if I wanted to know who hadn't made it back.

"Don't worry Finn, we're all okay, it's just..." Trailing off, Junko motioned towards the ramp and said, "You'll see what I mean, it's just kind of hard to explain since I don't really know what happened."

"Wait, something happened? What do you mean something happened?" I exclaimed as

I looked at my friend. Junko just shrugged in response before he mumbled, "Aerrow hasn't really said much since we left the outpost... I don't really know how to explain it to you."

I looked at Junko with confusion for another moment before I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. That's when I realized that I had turned my back towards the ramp and that the footsteps had stopped.

I felt myself absentmindedly swallow in apprehension of what I might come face to face with before I slowly turned around. What I saw struck fear into my heart as I took in the scene before me.

Aerrow was standing in front of me, not looking like himself at all. His eyes had lost their usual mischievous glint, and he wasn't grinning like he normally would after beating all odds and ending up home safe and sound on the Condor after a mission. Radarr's face mirrored that of Aerrow's.

My eyes shifting from their faces, I noticed that my friend's uniform was covered in dirt, and mingled with the dirt was... blood? That's when I saw what he was holding in his arms.

Looking into Aerrow's eyes, I asked, "Is she, is she -"

But before I could say anything else, Aerrow quickly interrupted me saying in a quiet, tired voice, "She's alive Finn. Barely, but she's alive."

I nodded solemnly as Aerrow walked past Junko and I into the Condor, more than likely headed for the infirmary. But when Aerrow walked past, I saw something I didn't want to see – the blood on his uniform wasn't his, it was Piper's, and worst of all, thanks to the floodlights outside the hangar, I could see that a streak on each of his cheeks was clean, while the rest of his face was dirty. It could only mean that Aerrow had been crying sometime since the last time I'd seen him.

Oh man! This is so déjà vu like from last time Aerrow brought Piper back to the Condor unconscious, except this time, she's hurt – badly, and this time, this time Aerrow is, er, wascrying! Aerrow never cries! What exactly happened here?

Glancing at Junko worriedly, we both trailed after Aerrow slowly, still trying to piece together in our minds how Piper could've injured herself so badly.

Hmmm.... what shall happen next? Chapter ten is being proofread, and chapter eleven is being typed!

By the way, if you haven't already checked out my important announcement on my profile, please make sure to do so, alright?

Crimson Fox4