Thanks for the reviews guys and I know I haven't updated in a while but I'll make it up =]
Here's Chapter 11...
Enjoy...
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Aerrow's P.O.V
It's been a few days since Piper went missing but we haven't made it to Cyclonian territory, I said to the others that we'd leave immediately to find her but something at the back of my mind told me to wait a couple of days. I tried to ignore it but it got too difficult to ignore so I told Stork we'd wait for about 3 days and if nothing turns up then we'd go with the original plan.
"Dude, what's the point, it's been two days and we've got nothing so far" Finn complained.
"We'll get something to go on soon" I stated dryly, I hadn't slept peacefully in the past day, whenever I did doze off it was only to awake an half hour later.
"All this time we're wasting could be critical, suppose she's hurt or worst yet, d..."
"Don't you dare say that, Piper's okay and we'll get her back!" I yelled at him.
"Guys just calm down, now is not the time to be at each other's throat, we need to stay focused." Junko calmed.
"Fine" I muttered walking off to my room. "They think I don't know what I'm doing"
"Do you?" Turning around quickly I looked for the voice that replied, either I was dreaming or I just heard Piper's questioning voice.
Piper's P.O.V
50 hours on Cylconia and I already had everything I had on the Condor and more. "They must be worried sick" I mutter putting down a new pair of crystal goggles on a book titled 'Crystals' I missed Aerrow so much that at times I wanted to go up to Cyclonis and tell her go to the 'burning pits of hell' but I couldn't knowing she's got control over me.
I moved from my desk and sat in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection, I was wearing an exact copy of my Storm Hawks uniform only thing it had the Cyclonian emblem and it was dark blue and red. I was already tainted with their name so what was the point of putting the others in danger?
An idea suddenly struck me, there was no doubt that soon they'd be coming to rescue me and walk to their 'doom' as Stork kindly puts it. Standing swiftly to my feet I made my way to my new cupboard of crystals and took out a Message Crystal, it was the only way and I'd made up my mind.
Recording a message to The Storm Hawks, my voice was quivering but I knew it was the right thing. 'They wouldn't be angry with me, would they?' I thought to myself, I walked to the door and went in search of a talon.
"Yes Mistress?" I was like someone important all of a sudden and they spoke to me with respect but now it was to see how far their loyalty went to their superior.
"I'd like you to take this to The Storm Hawks" I stated confidently.
"Why may I ask?"
"It's a message from Master Cyclonis" I replied.
"Will do" He said taking the crystal from my hand heading to the hangar.
Only time would tell.
Aerrow's P.O.V
Laying in bed for the past 4 hours anyone would say I was mad but right now I'd gladly welcome mad. I couldn't sleep, I just kept having images of Piper in a dark dungeon emotionally bruised and physically scarred. Sighing I sat up and went into the bathroom to sprinkle some water on my exhausted face when suddenly the alarm went off.
Arriving at the bridge in record time I asked the gadget specialist what was the matter.
"There's an oncoming vehicle and transmission" Stork announced. "Should we accept?"
"Yeah, just do it" I exclaimed impatiently, 'This could be the break through we need' I thought to myself as Stork accepted transmission.
"Message for the Storm Hawks" A foreign voice called.
"Go on" I probed.
"Message crystal" He repeated.
"I'm coming" I stated.
"Are you crazy, you don't even know who this person is and you're going out to meet him?" Finn asked completely bewildered.
"Whatever" I muttered walking out to the hangar but by the time I had mounted my bike the stranger threw an object in and sped off into the distance. Detaching myself from the seat of my skimmer I approached the crystal cautiously, gingerly touching it.
Being sure it was safe I gathered it in my hand and went back inside.
"Who delivered it?" Junko asked.
"I don't know but we should to listen to it." Setting it down on the briefing table, I activated it while everyone gathered around. What I heard next made my heart jump from my chest, it was Piper.
"Hey guys, I've got a few important things to tell you, I just hope after it all you'll understand" She took a loud breath before continuing. "I'm fine but if you are planning on coming to Cyclonia, where I am, you can forget it. I don't want to be r...rescued, and I'm joining Cyclonis, they understand me more than you can ever do, it would be better if you forgot about me and moved on. Aerrow, I realised that we're too different people and I could never like someone like you, we're just two different sides of a book page." And with that the message ended.
"Dude" Finn whispered his blue eyes swimming. "S...he she left us?"
"Aerrow?" Junko called my name but I was barely registering anything, I was transfixed by the crystal. "Aerrow?"
"What?" I finally answered.
"What do we do?" Junko asked.
"Didn't you hear? She said to leave her and forget about her. Do I have to spell it out for you!" I yelled at him.
"Calm d...down will you? It's not his fault, so don't take it out on him" Finn retorted.
"Whatever"
"Don't whatever me" He snarled. "Isn't that the answer you wanted, not so happy was it?"
"Just shut up!" I ordered him.
"Angry you lost your girlfriend? Well flashback, we lost a valuable member of our team!"
"Guys would you please stop yelling at each other, Piper wouldn't be happy" Junko coaxed.
"Don't mention her name in this Condor anymore" Finn and I yelled in unison.
"Think logically, suppose she's being blackmailed by Cyclonis?" Stork questioned.
"No Piper never went that low, no matter how hard things were" I hissed. "I'm going to reply to her damn message and she'll see who needs who"
Piper's P.O.V
45 minutes and counting, the talon hadn't returned yet. Then came a knocking on my door 'About time'
"I've delivered the message crystal to the Storm Hawks, Mistress" He replied.
"Good, thank you very much" I said graciously closing the door while sighing. Well that was it, it's done.
There was another knock on my door seconds later.
"Hello?" I answered the door.
"Piper, the Master would like to see you" The Dark Ace ordered.
"Yeah" I swallowed shortly.
"Why so tense, did you do something you weren't suppose to do?" He asked smirking.
"No why do you ask" I returned.
"No reason" He stated as we approached the high arched door frame.
"Go on" He urged when I stopped.
"Hmph"
"I know you don't like me but you better get used to me being here" He smiled.
I entered the room cautiously and knelt in front of Cyclonis' throne.
"Piper" Cyclonis called.
"Yeah?" I answered shortly.
"You will answer me 'yes master' and not like you speak to your stupid Storm Hawk team-mates, so let's hear that again?" She demanded. "Wait, I made a mistake by saying team-mates, I meant ex team-mates."
"Y...yes Master" I scowled.
"Next time we meet we'll do a lesson on respecting your superior but for now I need to know why you sent a message crystal to those pathetic excuses that call themselves a squadron?" She smiled.
"They're not pathetic excuses" I muttered quietly to myself.
"Aren't they? Piper, I have ears everywhere and that disobedient streak you have will simply have to go" Cyclonis stated menacingly placing a crystal in her staff before activating it. A dark purple beam of light shot out and found it's way to my chest and suddenly I felt cold and could hardly breathe. Shortly after she deactivated it and eyed my shaking form struggle for breath.
"Are you okay Piper, did I hurt you too much?"
"No" I hoarsely replied.
"Good, now we've beaten around the bush far too long, tell me why you sent the crystal?"
"To tell t...them not to come look for me a..anymore and I...I'm never c..oming back to their t...team" I whispered.
"You're a very smart girl, but how do I know it's the truth you're telling me?" Cyclonis paused. "Maybe a visit to them w..."
"No! I am telling the truth, I swear!" I yelled looking up at her. The last thing I wanted was for her to hurt them, I'm holding my end of the bargain.
"See Piper, you fit in so well with us, here you can truly treasure your unique gifts, you're dismissed but think about disobeying me or disrespecting me, you can guarantee you'll get a higher dose of what you just recieved" She threatened seriously.
Slowly but uncomfortably, I weakly walked out of the room to where Dark Ace was stood waiting.
"Punishment?" He scolded.
"Sir" A talon called carrying something in his hand. "A Storm Hawk delivered this and said to pass it on to the Mistress"
"Give it here" Dark Ace stated. "A message. I wonder who it's from?" He was taunting me.
"Please give it to me" I whispered looking at it while my heartbeat sped up more.
"Why should I?"
"Please, just give it to me!" I begged, "It might be important"
"Take it, don't beg, we Cyclonians don't ever beg" He sneered before dropping it in my hands and walking away.
Hurriedly I walked to my room and sat on the bed activating the crystal. "It's fine Piper, we don't need you and I know it may sound immature but we'll find someone who's much more trustworthy and loyal to the team. The entire team also feels it was a good decision to make, especially Finn. Us never happened and I'm glad it won't continue" That was the end of the message.
"What?" I whimpered shocked at the reply and the amount of anger in his voice. 'This wasn't suppose to happen' I know I didn't make it easy but they're replacing me. I threw myself backwards onto the bed and slowly began to sob. Aerrow's words kept circulating in my mind 'we don't need you' 'Us never happened' 'I'm glad'
It was all too much and I got up and started to pace the floor, 'It's my fault, my stupid fault' I yelled in my head, I'd put myself in this position and that's where I'm going to stay. 'I'm all alone' Pushing book by book, crystal by crystal I cleared my desk onto the floor and sat in the chair sobbing, wishing Aerrow's arms were around me at this moment in time but I was dealt the wrong hand.
Aerrow's P.O.V
The air was calmly cooling my heated face, I was on my way back to the Condor, it'd just left the reply to Piper's message in the hands on a talon, I was sure she'd get the message. She'd done it to herself and now she deserve everything that was going to come to her.
I felt something warm trickling down my cheeks and quickly wiped them away, "I'm not going to cry for you Piper, ever" I said to the air. "We're going to move on like we did before and forget you, get another crystal specialist, not better than you because perfection comes with a price and we had to learn that the hard way!"
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Hope you enjoyed it and please R&R
I think this is the longest chapter so far in entire story, I just couldn't stop writing. =]
Thank you...=]