A/N; I have waited soo long finally write&post this chap. Of course, it ended up being kinda long cuz of all the formalities I had to put in, and it also kinda jumps around from first person (finn) to the third but that's not too hard to figure out. Don't worry if you're confused by it- explanations come later. I hope you guys get the exodus hint;) otherwise go back and re-watch "Number One Fan".

Chapter: 11 Shame on Me

"We'll never surrender." Aerrow announced.

"No," she mused. " Of course you won't. You don't have the brains for that. Besides," she added. "what fun would that be?"

Then she threw her arms into the air and her crystal staff shined brighter and erupted in a flash of light, blinding us all.

When we opened our eyes she was gone.

Radarr was gone.

Piper was gone.

And everything else was about to go too.

****

We stood there for a moment looking at the empty space where Cyclonis had disappeared, slowly absorbing what had just happened.

"I can't believe it..." I managed, breaking the stunned silence.

We had been fooled. Tricked. We hadn't been able to tell one of our closest friends from one of our worst enemies.

Some friends you really are…

Guilty as charged.

"We have to go back to the Farside," said Junko holding up a curled fist looking very upset. "Piper's still there!"

"Then lets go," I said, eagerly slinging my crossbow on my back.

"Problem," said Stork raising a finger, " Without Piper we can't get the Condor through the doorway."

"Then we walk." I insisted. We didn't have time to waste. Maybe if she'd known how really pathetic you are, she would have joined me when she had the chance. Perhaps then…

"We should radio Atmosia-" said Aerrow. "We need to warn them about Cyclonis. And tell them we have to open the door."

Perhaps then…

Stork quickly moved the controls and turned on the radio, making adjustments. It buzzed with static.

"Come in Terra Atmosia," said Stork into the microphone. "SkyKnight Council? Do you read?"

****

" It's the Storm Hawks," said the uniformed guard, handing over a small walkie-talkie.

The Skyknight took it and held it up to her ear.

"This is Skyknight Starling speaking," She said. "What is it?"

"We have a problem." Aerrow's voice responded. " We have to go back to the Farside."

"I'm afraid you're a little late," Said Starling. She turned around to look down the underground hallway. Uniformed guards were searching the place high and low. Through the bashed open door at the end she could see a surprisingly undamaged and clear chamber.

"The doorway is gone."

***

Well of course it was, I thought later on. Hadn't 'Piper' been the one mainly responsible for building the defences for the doorway? But Piper had been Cyclonis. So Cyclonis (or more likely her goons) had easily been able to bypass the defences.

I didn't even know Cyclonis still had minions around. I thought having your terra fall into the Wastelands would shake up the regime a little. Starling explained it all later. During that week or so we'd been in the Farside, Cyclonia had been thoroughly searched. Nothing had been found. Books, crystals, weapons, food, people were all not there. Somehow, they'd all managed just to disspappear. One massive exodus, she said.

Exodus? That sounded familiar.

But somebody was still around. Cyclonis must have been communicating with them. And apparently her forces were strong. Strong enough.

My empire is already rising from the ashes…

***

"So what should we do now?" asked Junko after all the details had been given. We all looked at Aerrow.

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then pressed the radio button again. "Starling, try to find the doorway as fast as possible. We won't be able to help. We have to find another way back to the Farside."

"But why?" her accented voice asked over the coms.

"We were tricked." Aerrow responded. "Piper was really Cyclonis. She disguised herself. The real Piper still back on the other side."

There was a stunned silence.

"….Piper…-was Cyclonis?"

"Yes."

More silence. Then, "You should go to the Terradon scientists. They can fix up the Condor to get it to fly over the barrier cliffs."

"Good idea," said Aerrow. "We'll radio you later."

"I'll inform the rest of the Skyknights of the situation." She said, then added, thoughtfully with real concern in her voice. "Take care Storm Hawks. Find Piper. And be careful."

"Storm Hawks out." was all Aerrow said. He switched off the radio. "You heard her," he said to Stork. "Terra Bogaton."

***

The ship could not fly fast enough and I was tense as ever. Radarr and Piper. Radarr and Piper. I drummed my fingers nervously on the table on the bridge.

Junko sat across from me looking nervous and worried. "You don't really think...that Cyclonis was telling the truth? I mean, about Piper."

Perhaps…

"No way." I said trying to sound confident. "Cyclonis could never beat Piper. I mean- she's Piper right? I'm sure sh-she's fine." My fingers drummed quicker. "Can't this thing go any faster?" I said irritably.

"I've already got it on maximum," said Stork. "She's at her fastest."

She was soo not at her fastest. I'd seen the Condor go faster than this. Mind you ya ended up having to peel yourself from the wall later on but she could go faster.

I sighed irritably. Too annoyed and down to sit with others I silently left.

****

The Condor soared on, speeding through the sky racing the sun. An hour or so passed. Terra Bogaton grew no closer. In reality, they were moving farther and farther away,

"That's strange," muttered Stork peering through the glass. "We should have reached Terra Bogaton by now. In fact," added, peering suspiciously at the controls, "none of these readings seem quite right." he tapped at time pulse apparatus. "Could you check the wiring Junko?"

Junko nodded, and kneeled on the ground, his larges fingers felt around the edges of a slightly raised panel.

"That's probably unnecessary," stated Aerrow watching him.

The panel ripped off, and Junko looked down into the square hole. He reached searching for something. He pulled out three crystals.

The ships' systems went hay-wire. All the data and readings switched immediately. Dialled up, dialled down, reversed, beeped, blinked, blacked out, lit up, and changed. Stork jumped back from the controls alarmed by their random spasm.

"These weren't supposed to in there." said Junko holding up the crystals.

"Were completely off course!" yelled Stork looking at the new readings. "All of the data was incorrect. Were miles away from Terra Bogaton."

"Looks like Cyclonis had one last trick up her sleeve," Aerrow remarked.

Stork grimaced and taking the helm in both hands, turned the ship around, hoping to get it back on course. So much time had been wasted.

***

I felt the ship jog and turn around. Tiredly, I dragged myself up. The nap had helped a little, but now that I was awake the whole seriousness of the situation bore down on me again. Hadn't we reached Bogaton yet? I glanced out the window and just saw clouds. The longer we took to Bogaton the longer it would take to build a ship to go over the Barrier Cliffs, and the longer it took to build a ship to get over the Barrier Cliffs the longer it would take to get to the Farside, and the longer it took to get to the Farside the more of a chance something bad would happen to Piper.

So what was taking so long?

Lazily, I strapped my cross bow onto my back and set off to the helm.

When I stepped in, the guys' backs were to me, as they were staring intently through the front windows. Junko stood at Stork's right, the two closest to the windows. Aerrow stood couple feet behind them, to the slight left.

We were going pretty fast, the engine rumbled loudly, like Junko's stomach when he hadn't eaten for a while. I walked in. Over the noise I could barely hear them.

"Engines in hyper mode- we gotta a lot of time to make up for." said Stork.

"Don't worry Piper," said Junko concernedly. "Were coming for you."

There was a very quiet snort.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do you that."

And then I watched in cold horror as Aerrow's hand reached behind his back, slowly towards one of his blades.

"No!"

I launched myself full force at him. Aerrow turned and we collided rolling on the floor . A sharp kick to my chest and I went flying back. He stood up.

"What's wrong with you Finn?" he shouted. The others turned around, confused.

"Don't act like you don't know." I said whipping out my cross, which loaded automatically. "You're an impostor!"

"Finn that's ridiculous," he said. "We already established this. Right guys?" he looked over at Stork and Junko.

"I don't believe you." I whispered harshly. "I know what I heard!" Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.

"Stork," said Aerrow calmly, gesturing, "Show him."

Stork looked around hesitantly, then brought out the Blocking crystal, stepping forward he held it out in front of Aerrow.

I watched angrily as nothing happened. But I knew what I heard.

"See?" said Aerrow, "It's really me."

"It's really Aerrow, Finn" said Junko looking at me, his face asking me to put away my bow.

"Blocking crystal says it all." added Stork.

"Exactly." said Aerrow. His tone turned dark. "Blocking crystal says it all."

I hesitated for a moment. A moment was all he needed.

Suddenly Aerrow grabbed Stork by the shoulders and threw him into me knocking us to the ground. Aerrow jumped and landed behind Junko blasting him across the room with his blades. Fast as lighting, he turned to the panel and blades a glowing, dug them into the board, ripping the wiring with a horrible metallic screech as the Condor's controls were torn and melted apart. Fire and smoke sizzled. The Condor began to lurch violently.

"No!" yelled Stork.

We gained our footing. 'Aerrow' turned to us with a triumphant smirk.

"Ride's over." he grinned. What's it called again? Schizophrenia?

Junko got himself onto his knees and twisted around, looking upset. "But...why?"

The red head snorted. " Because you've been a thorn in my side for too long." and then he whirled his blades building up energy and blasted Junko unconscious.

"Junko!" I yelled and nearly got blasted myself. I jumped behind the table as blue erupted about me. I saw Stork dive for cover behind a outcropping at the side.

I looked above the table and fired at 'Aerrow', but he was too quick and dodged every bolt and suddenly, before I knew it, he was in front of me. I stumbled back, but he grabbed me and whipped me with force my friend did definitely not have. My back slammed against the wall, my cross slipped from my grip. I hit the floor hard.

I opened my eyes but everything was kinda blurry. Slowly my eyes focused in on the red-head-

Who was ripping the sofa-chairs around the table from the floor.

Crack! The sofa came loose. He wielded it over his head.

"What the-?" I managed before BANG!

My insides were crushed beneath the heavy weight of the sofa- not quite entirely, but enough to pin me to the wall and floor. Blinking hard, my vision blurred again, I looked up the towering red-headed look a like. He held on blade quite close to my face.

I could barely breathe, but I had to know. I coughed the dust from my throat.

"Aerrow never came back from that fight, did he?" I asked weakly.

He didn't need me to explain. "No," he said simply. "He didn't." and he raised his blade up to bear the final strike.