Thank you for all the positive reviews, really makes me want to keep going with this (which I am and will be!) I apologise for the less frequent updates. These chapters take far longer as I literally have to watch the episodes which takes half an hour in itself, not to mention quoting it word for word to keep the continuity! In other news, I've been doing some Cyclonis/Dark Ace fan art lately yaay! Anyhow! Enjoy! Bit more creative freedom with this chapter as it was a Ravess/Snipe based episode.
xxxxxxxxxx
Cyclonis stood at her crystal machine, clicking at the buttons. Cyclonis had summoned Ravess and Snipe to her. She did not turn to face the duo as they entered.
"Master Cyclonis" Ravess spoke.
"I have a task for the two of you, I need to to switch off the clock of Terra Glockenchime, this will turn off the Time Pulse. Navigation around Atmos will become useless, except for us..." Cyclonis' voice echoed through the room.
"Of course Master" Ravess smirked, she thought it to be of the highest honour to be given a job of higher importance to what the Dark Ace had been receiving lately.
"Come along brother, prepare yourself for Glockenchime". Ravess said to Snipe as the duo exited, bowing before they left.
Cyclonis was a little apprehensive about sending out the siblings, Snipe especially seemed to be clumsy and often useless. Ravess was always stubborn and Cyclonis felt like she seemed to think she knew better. Alas, she gave the duo the benefit of the doubt this time, Dark Ace had failed her too much lately and she needed to make sure he was ready for her to trust him on bigger tasks.
News spread fast around Cyclonia, Ravess was one to brag, before her and Snipe had embarked on their journey to Glockenchime she had bragged to just about any Talon on Cyclonia, Snipe too had a big ego and assisted in getting word out about their newly assigned mission.
Dark Ace was a little annoyed, he had just returned from a recon mission around Terra Neon, a useless recon mission. He felt like he was being punished for sure, he wanted to do more, he was sick of training, sick of aimlessly flying around and sending stupid reports to his Master, he wanted to make her proud of him again.
Dark Ace stormed passed a few gossiping Talons, he just managed to catch a glimpse of their conversation, one talking about being attracted to Ravess and the other asking about lunch. Pathetic.
He walked to Cyclonis' lab. There was his Master, stood at her machinery like usual.
"Is there a reason for your interruption Dark Ace, I thought I made it clear what you were to do this week." She spoke without turning to him
"Master, why is it you send those two imbeciles out on a substantial mission, surely I-"
He was cut off. "No, you are being punished Dark Ace, I expect there will be use for you soon anyway, for now, I want you in training, build up your strength for the next time you may encounter... Difficulties."
"But Master!" His voiced raised a little more.
"Do not question me Dark Ace, or I will make sure the next thing I need done goes to Ravess again!" She hissed.
Dark Ace let out a small sigh. "Understood Master..." He said before bowing and exiting her lab, he felt angered, angered he had let her down one time too many, he punched at the wall. It hurt his fist but he didn't seem to care. He head to the gym to train as his master had requested.
Many hours passed since Cyclonis' conversation with Dark Ace. The air was hot in Cyclonia, one of the hottest days they'd seen for a while. A Talon rushed into her lab, jogging and bowing as he approached her, she sensed him enter.
"Speak". Cyclonis' words echoed through the room.
She stood at her machine, hadn't moved most of the day, placing crystals into the machine with the mechanical arms.
"Ravess reports a success Master, we await your command" The Talon said, bowing again.
"Star with deploying all squadrons, any merchant ships they find, they be picked clean." Her spoke softly, the sounds of mechanical arms moving as she worked her machine.
The Talon bowed one final time before exiting to report to the squadron of Cyclonians.
This should help remind our resistors who really holds the power in Atmos. Cyclonis though to herself, smirking.
Dark Ace heard the Talons exiting Cyclonia, he was becoming more and more frustrated with being shoved to the bottom of the pile. He didn't like to question his Master though, he saw what she did to others when they were punished, he thought himself lucky to be let off so lightly every time. He sighed deeply, returning to his quarters until he was needed.
Cyclonis' radioed Ravess on Glockenchime.
"Ravess, I am concerned the Storm Hawks will interfere with my plan, they are smarter than we give them credit for... I don't want them near that Tme Pulse, you see to it that they don't..." Cyclonis spoke down her radio to Ravess.
"Master Cyclonis I assure you the Time Pulse is secure, even if the Storm Hawks could travel here this tower cannot be taken" Ravess responded, her voice a little crackly on the other end of the radio.
Cyclonis heard a crashing sound in the background.
"What was that sound?" Cyclonis asked.
"Uh nothing, uh merely my dear brother Snipe" Ravess replied.
Cyclonis wasn't overly convinced, judging by Ravess' tone.
"That wasn't me, must have been a-" Snipe added but was cut off, by a light clunking sound. Cyclonis raised an eyebrow.
"Must be bad connection, can't hear." Ravess hung up.
Cyclonis frowned, slamming her radio down. She had entrusted Ravess with this task, she had to believe in the siblings, hoping they wouldn't fail her, but she didn't hold her breath, she had been surveying the Storm Hawks for some time, she saw something in one of them... She had her next plan set up, in case of Ravess and Snipes potential failure.
Several more hours passed, Cyclonis heard back a report from one of her Talons who returned injured from Glockenchime of Ravess and Snipes failure at the hands of the Storm Hawks, she was expecting them to return soon. She had prepared herself a red crystal, clutching at it tightly. She was angered, her instinct was right to have set up a backup plan.
Ravess and Snipe entered, their heads hung low. She turned to face the two, red crystal in her hand.
"Failure has consequences, terrible consequences" She spoke softly but with a tone of anger in her voice.
The duo looked worried, slowly bowing down to her, admitting their defeat, knowing they had failed.
Cyclonis held up the glowing red crystal, closing her eyes, focusing on it. The crystal elevated the duo upon to the air on Master Cyclonis' will, a red arm-like energy holding the two in the Ravess and Snipe both yelled out as they were lifted up.
She stopped, hearing the duo fall hard to the ground, their bodies surely ached from the fall.
Good, the pain will teach you not to fail me again...
"Am I clear?" She said, lowering her crystal and opening her eyes slowly.
"Yes Master Cyclonis.." Ravess said, still laying on the ground.
"These Storm Hawks are becoming a problem." Cyclonis said sounding a little concerned.
"Give us another chance." Ravess said as her and Snipe pulled themselves up from the ground.
"No" Cyclonis said turning away from them.
"The Dark Ace will deal with them later. For now they merit closer observation, one of them in particular. I see promise here, great promise..." Cyclonis said narrowing her eyes.
"Now get out of my sight the pair of you". Cyclonis continued.
Ravess and Snipe bowing with difficulty before exiting.
Cyclonis heard the pair arguing outside of the door as they had left.
She placed the red crystal down on a desk nearby, letting out a soft sigh.
Looks like they weren't to be relied on after all, forgive me Dark Ace... Perhaps you would have done better...
Cyclonis returned to crystal machine, pressing at the buttons once again.
Dark Ace spotted the siblings arguing in the hallway, pushing and shoving each other.
"This is all your fault! Now she won't ever take me seriously you idiot!" Ravess pushed at Snipe hard.
"Oh yeah? Whos idea was it to tie up the old dude, I wanted to smash him into the wastelands!" Snipe responded.
Dark Ace walked towards the two. "I suggest you take your conversation away from Master Cyclonis' door, before she demotes the both of you."
"Dark Ace! Of course! I do apologise, it's more my idiot brothers fault!" Ravess smiled at him
"Who are you calling an idiot!" Snipe growled.
"Get your ass out of here Snipe!" Ravess hissed.
"Why don't you both, get your asses out of here" Dark Ace rolled his eyes.
Dark Ace walked towards the doors of Cyclonis' lab, the doors opened as he walked nearer.
"Master... Forgive me if I am interrupting you, I heard of the failure on Glockenchime..." He bowed as he spoke to her.
"Not at all Dark Ace, in fact, I wished to speak with you anyhow. The mine we found a few days ago, I will personally see it myself that the work runs smoothly, in my absence, I wish for you to be in command, make sure everything doesn't fall apart... Can I trust you with this?" She looked to him, a slight tone of concern in her voice.
Dark Ace was truly honoured by this, only a few hours ago he was enduring of tasks and now she had truly given him the highest honour.
"Of course Master, I highly appreciate your faith in me". He bowed in front of her.
"Good, don't make me regret my decision Dark Ace". She gave a half smile before returning to her work.
"Let's just say, I have a little surprise for the Storm Hawks..." she smirked to herself.
A very, personal surprise...
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Here we go! Reviews are always welcome, and helloooo new followers of the story! Hope you're enjoying it! Next chapter I'm sure will be a huuuuge one, perhaps even a 2 parter as it's a massively significant Cyclonis episode! Apologies if this chapter feels a bit short lived too!