Lightning Strike stood stalk still in shock, something that Aerrow mirrored. Aerrow had always knew that Lightning Strike was his father but had never told the other Storm Hawks, he had even feigned surprise when the Guardians had told him. And even though he knew this Aerrow had never seen him as his father, after all how can a man who was never there be considered a father. Bam walked out of the mine behind Lighting Strike, her long black hair freed from the ponytail and a smile on her face. She looked between Aerrow and Lighting Strike curiously.
"Hm...I can see the resemblance."
Lighting Strike looked at the girl next to him.
"Why did you attack them?"
He asked and Aerrow had to give Bam credit, she did not falter under Lighting Strikes gaze.
"Because I figured they would have something I want."
"The Forever Crystal."
"Yeah, I get that...I can fix everything."
"It's a myth Bam."
"So's your supposed 'other side.' but you guys insist on trying to get back." Before Lighting Strike could responded Bam walked back into the cave with a wave. "If you don't want the guards to find your kid you may wanna get them inside soon."
The Storm Hawks saw Lighting Strikes jaw clench slightly as he turned to them.
"She's right. We can talk inside."
The man stood to the side and ushered the group of teens inside the old mine. They were surprised to see it had been turned into a living space, and a nice one at that. Riles Mela and Gasfauld were sitting on the ground talking to a a woman with long black hair that was braided down over her shoulder, pointed ears, and golden eyes and lips. The woman was busy carving up a boar but she laughed along with the men, Bam was sitting next to her smiling slightly but never laughing with the group.
"You guys are...the original Storm Hawks...?"
Piper said breathlessly, looking from Lightning Strike to the group of people sitting around the fire. Lighting Strikes mouth twitched, the corners raising ever so slightly.
"Yes. That's Riles, my second. Mela, our sharpshooter. Gasfauld, out crystal expert, and Capault our pilot and engineer."
"This is Finn, my wing-man and our sharpshooter. Piper, our crystal expert. Junko, our engineer and heavy ballistics. Stork, our pilot. And this is Radarr, my co-pilot."
Lighting Strike nodded to each of them and scratched Radarr under the chin as the woman stood and walked over to the younger Storm Hawks, she looked them over going from one person to the next.
"These are our replacements? Jeez, I bet they don't even know how to fly the Condor right."
Stork bristled at the comment.
"You think I don't know how to fly my ship?"
"Your ship! HA! You think that the Condor belongs to you? Listen here little Merb, I was flying that ship before you were even born."
"Well I've been taking care of her for years! I flew her out of the Dark Gorge and into battle against the Cyclonians and-"
"Alright alright, spare me the war stories kid. She's still my ship."
"Oh yeah!"
"Yeah."
Capault and Stork were about two inches from each others face when Lighting Strike and Aerrow separated them.
"Calm down Stork."
"Capault the Condor is theirs now." Both pilots glares at each other but backed down. Lighting Strike and Aerrow sighed. "I see you have the same problems I had."
"Y-Yeah...But, we've gotten through them all."
The two Sky Knights watched as the two groups slowly intermingled, the teens each going to the person they had replaced. Aerrow watched Piper carefully as she talked to Gasfauld smiling slightly as Piper became more animated.
"You got a good team Aerrow..." Aerrow shifted awkwardly at the compliment, he was aware that Lighting Strike was just as uncomfortable. "Is your mother alright?"
Aerrow looked down at the mention of the only parent he had ever knew.
"She died when I was ten in a Cyclonian raid."
"Oh...I had hoped that by leaving the Cyclonians would leave you and your mother alone...I guess that didn't really work out the way I planned."
"No. It didn't."
Aerrow felt an uncharacteristic anger fill him, this man had left him and his mother when Aerrow was barely a few weeks old to 'protect the Atmos.' From where Aerrow stood, it was as if Lightning Strike had put Atmos over his family. Lightning Strike seemed to know what Aerrow was thinking because he placed his hand on Aerrows shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"Aerrow. I didn't want to leave you and your mother. That was the hardest decision I ever had to make."
"But you still made it."
The older Sky Knight sighed.
"I was trying to protect you. When you were born Aerrow...I realized that the world we lived in, it wasn't safe for you. I left to defeat Cyclonic so that you might have a safe future."
"Well my life had been anything but safe. I've been fighting Cyclonians for as long as I can remember."
"Yes, that was my fault...I put my trust in the wrong man."
"The Dark Ace."
Riles laughed.
"So is that what the pipsqueak is calling himself."
"Not anymore he's not." Aerrow looked down, still unable to come to terms with the fact that he saw the Dark Ace die for more power. "He died."
The original Storm Hawks when silent, he may have betrayed them but the Dark Ace had been their friend and the news of his death hit them hard.
"How?"
Capault asked.
"Cyclonis could do this thing called 'Binding' and-"
Bam interrupted him.
"Did you say Binding?"
"Yeah."
"Did Cyclonis use crystals to enhance this...'Dark Ace's' ability's?"
"Yeah. How did-"
"Can any of you use that power?"
Bam was standing now, excitement shining through her eyes.
"Piper can but..."
Bam turned to Piper.
"Show me."
"What? Why?"
Piper looked to Aerrow and then back at Bam.
"Just show me."
Piper looked back to Aerrow and he nodded so Piper took out a crystal and took a deep breath, pointing the small green crystal at Aerrow.
"Titans might!"
Aerrow is feels strength coarse through him and he easily picks up a bolder and puts it back down before Piper stops the flow of power.
"No way..."
The original Storm Hawks look at Bam in confusion.
"What's up Bam?"
"That's...Piper, that was magic."
