Disclaimer: I do not own Storm Hawks or any of its characters. I do, however, own my own character and plots.

Chapter 21

Repton reckoned he knew what emotions were rushing in Luchas then. Confusion, and a deep fear. He himself was confused as to why Nakoto was acting so friendly toward the Cyclonian, so it had to be some kind of trick. Maybe she wanted to get him intoxicated and make him slip up, expose him for more than what she saw of him. Or perhaps she was just so drunk out of her mind that she forgot that Luchas was a Cyclonian. Did she even know that she tried to kill him once before?

"What are you waiting for?" Nakoto called. "I'm not going to bite you."

Luchas didn't move for a moment until he forced his feet forward. He cautiously made it to the space he was meant to sit, and he slowly sat down to her right. Nakoto turned away for a moment, but when she turned back, she had a full glass in her hand. She offered it to Luchas, and he hesitantly took it. She turned to her own drink and took a swig.

The doctor couldn't help but look down at the sleeping form of Rio, who started snoring. He asked, "Will he be alright?"

"I'm sure he will be for now. He just... needed to drown his sorrows," Nakoto leaned forward a little to look at Rio. Her brows rose with her sigh. "I took a risk and went to see what kind of drunk he was. Luckily, he was the happy-go-lucky, forgetful kind. He needed a little time like this. I don't know whether he'll hate or thank me, but I guess I'll just find out tomorrow."

"I see," Luchas said. It seemed that Nakoto was able to hold up some conversation without slurring her words. Luchas looked down at his drink. "I... I'm truly sorry."

"For what?"

"I couldn't save him."

Nakoto bent down and picked up a stick from her side. She used it to push some timber back into the core of the fire. She exhaled bluntly.

"You tried, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"The reason he passed was because his heart couldn't make it. But, in the end, there was no trace of the disease left in his body. You succeeded with what you did."

Luchas bowed his head. "But it did nothing to save him."

"That part's inevitable... It happens."

The Raptoress brought her head up and looked at the sky, then took another mouthful of her drink. Luchas hadn't touched his, not trusting himself in this situation. Nakoto brought her glass down and considered the fire some more. A silence Luchas couldn't take swept in, and he had to break it. Things just didn't add up.

"Why are you letting me sit with you here?" he asked desperately. Nakoto blinked, then rose a brow at Luchas. She responded as if it were the easiest question in the world.

"Why not?"

"Well I... I'm a..."

Nakoto shook a clawed finger. "Yes. But you see, it's not every day that I get to speak with one of my former captors."

Had the alcohol truly muddled her mind?

"You make it sound like we're old friends," Luchas responded in puzzlement. The Raptoress shrugged.

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, as that saying goes. You could take it that way. And besides, how am I supposed to know I can trust you if I don't talk to you?"

The embers floated up from the core like fireflies, drifting into nothing. The warmth of the fire must have been very comfortable, but Repton wasn't sure if Luchas felt anything like that. In spite of her reasoning, Nakoto said nothing for a while. This left the two of them just staring at the fire, listening to its crackles and Rio's snoring. She finally spoke up again, as if she had been having a deep consideration during her silence.

"I had a sudden realization, you know," she continued. "About Oasium."

Luchas stayed silent. Maybe this was truly why she invited him there. He must have expected her to blow up with anger, and use him to vent it all out. After all, he was the one who helped cause it. Again, Nakoto spoke up.

"I've been running away from what happened, and I shun it whenever it comes up. I realized that, maybe, the only way I can accept it is by talking about it. But talking about it to people who weren't there didn't cut it. You were there, so maybe you can help me out."

She looked over to him, and Repton could see her eyes. They were slightly foggy from the drinks she consumed, but they still held some focus. The emotion behind them was solemn and dreary, as if she didn't want to talk about this at all. It must have taken her a lot of resolve.

Luchas hesitated. "The others... they know about Oasium, don't they?"

"They know as much as I've told them. Not the whole truth, and I don't talk about it much. Only a couple know everything."

"What part do you omit?"

Nakoto turned her gaze to the fire and brought her glass to her lips. "My story."

It took a moment for the doctor to respond. "What... do you mean?"

"I usually tell people that I was hatched after Oasium dived under the clouds," she said. She had finished her drink, so she fished down for the bottle to refill it again. "The events of the Oasium Project is a story in itself. My life in it was just a subplot."

"You ...you don't tell anyone else of how much you... ?" Luchas shook his head. Repton didn't know if it was just acting, but the doctor's voice sounded horrified. "Why don't you tell them everything?"

Nakoto turned her eyes back to him and stared for a good moment. They were asking him why he couldn't see the obvious. "What difference would it make?" she demanded. "What happened on my part only affected me, and so it's only my problem. Telling other people would only draw attention to myself and have them shower me with pity. Do I look like I want pity?"

That was why she lied to Repton. Such simple, innocent reasoning, and it wasn't meant to trick him. Repton strode away from the Eye and went to Cyclonis' desk. He picked up the Deconstruction file and made his way back.

"No, but doesn't it hurt you that so little even acknowledge what happened to you?" Luchas' knuckles went white as he clutched his untouched glass. "No other Terra has ever heard of Oasium. Cyclonia covered everything up. There has to be someone who..."

Nakoto let out a humourless chuckle. "It doesn't matter."

"I disagree."

This chuckle turned somewhat into a scoff. "Would you have disagreed twenty-one years ago?"

That shut Luchas up. Repton sat down with the file, and with a momentary pause beforehand, he opened it up to the first contents. As he saw before, it was the introduction, with the work-in-progress medical clinic. He slipped the picture back in place under the paper clip.

"...Did you enjoy your occupation?"

"Pardon?"

There was an overview of what this part of the project was all about. The doctors were assigned to Beta, who was caught when she came back to her burnt village. She was transported back to Cyclonia and used as a live specimen and separated from the egg of Farida. Even this Phase had two parts. The first; they used her as a variable in many of their experiments, to see what certain crystals were like and what they could be used for. The second phase; break down and reconstruct Nakoto's crystal makeup.

"Your job, in Cyclonia. Did you enjoy it when you were assigned to me?"

The first objective was done through injecting different crystal solutions into her bloodstream. Repton looked through all the health charts that followed, displaying the different conditions of Nakoto's body. Sometimes the numbers spiked, and he learned it was because of certain crystal intake.

"I don't think I'd describe it as enjoyment. I just collected the data."

The problem with these experiments was that they were injecting poison into her. Sometimes crystals could morph together and become a new crystal, but not with Nakoto. Living crystals couldn't merge with an alien agent that entered so quickly and directly. Her body would start reacting violently each time, trying but miserably failing in expelling the intruder. Nakoto's behaviours were noted after each trial— sometimes she would scream endlessly, writhe, and even commit self-mutilation. Each trial involved bloodloss and near-death experiences. In order to save her, they would use... Repton couldn't make sense of the long scientific word, but it was often referred to as the Cure. A personal substance made for Nakoto that also carried out the second objective of Deconstruction...

"You were the one who got in my way, weren't you?"

Repton looked up. Nakoto had put down her glass and stood up, circling around the fire. She seized some firewood with her tail and inserted it into the flames. The embers rose up in a swarm afterwards. She didn't look at him.

So she knew about Luchas. The man was shocked.

"How did—?" Nakoto raised her Dragon's Claw, spread her fingers wide, then traced the front of her body downward, starting from her collarbone and reaching to her lower abdomen. She was still looking at the timber she fixed into the flames, her tail swaying from side to side.

"I noticed the scars from before. I did that to you, and I'm surprised you survived. A miracle, wouldn't you say?"

Luchas nodded hesitantly.

What Nakoto said next had both him and Repton dumbstruck.

"I'm sorry."

Luchas slowly put his glass down on the dirt ground, then stood up. "You're... sorry?"

Nakoto scratched the back of her neck, looking up at the sky. "That's what I said."

"But... but I..."

"...I was just a kid in a lot of pain," she said. She turned her back on the Cyclonian and sighed, putting her hands on her hips as she kicked the dust. "The pain made me delirious, and for once, I wanted to be the one who caused it to someone else. You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and I lashed out. I regret that."

"You regret..." Luchas shook his head in disbelief. "Why? Why would you regret? You had every reason to attack a Cyclonian— "

"Revenge only spreads more hatred, Luchas. Not only that, but I can't kill anyone. I don't want people to experience the things I had, or the pain I felt, even if it's just a fraction, even if they deserve it." Her back straightened and she laughed out loud, self-ridiculing. "I guess that's how you can explain this complex I've developed."

"What complex?"

"Where I'm more concerned with the health of others over my own."

Repton, upon hearing this, remembered how Nakoto ripped her shoulder open in the Wastelands in order to lure the Vulca-Bats away. She could've died of bloodloss, provided the creatures didn't catch her first. She put that risk upon her body, just for the opportunity to let Repton and Leugey escape safely. Repton had no doubt that she would easily sacrifice herself for others, whether they were friends or strangers. It was stupid of her to do it for a stranger like him, for someone who meant her harm, but she did it regardless. She would continue doing it too, which made this whole business harder.

Nakoto said nothing after that, and neither did Luchas. Finally, he puckered up the courage and walked around the fire. He reached her side, and he reached out to her arm dubiously.

"That's not a complex," he started. "That's... a very admirable trait."

Nakoto chuckled and turned her eyes to him. "Well... thank you."

"No... thank you. You're being too kind to me."

The Raptoress chuckle became a little stronger. She raised her right hand and laid it upon Luchas shoulder. He didn't flinch this time, and she gave him a toothy grin. "Well, I find the idea of us fearing each other ridiculous, don't you? But enough about that. We can talk more about Oasium later... do you know your constellations?"

"The constellations?" A rather random question. "Oh, yes. I know a little."

"Looking at the sky reminded me of someone. As much as I love the stars, I don't quite understand their mapping." Nakoto looked up and around. "Where is Draco?"

Repton closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling through his nose.

"Oh, let's see... it would be... over there!" The Raptor opened them again and saw Luchas' arm point to the heavens, in the opposite direction they had been facing. Nakoto had to walk around the fire, since the smoke of it drifted in her view. She pointed upwards and looked back at Luchas for approval.

"That one?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Nakoto looked back up, her hand falling to her side. She whistled. "Fine piece of work, isn't he?"

The Rogue had a feeling she was implying something, but he wasn't sure.

"I met someone once, and he told me something," Nakoto started. "He told me that people with evil hearts had no chance of turning, with no possibility of returning to the innocence they possessed at birth. But I disagree. There's always a chance to be good again."

She turned around and smiled greatly at Luchas.

"So, show me I'm right! You've come to save lives? That's good enough for me. Show me I can put faith in you, just as I'm putting faith in him."

My memory's a little hazy, but I think things went rather well.

I don't remember everything that we talked about. That was bad, since he might've spilt some secret and I wouldn't have known it. Although I doubted he did, since he didn't even finish his first glass of the drink. He was still wary of me, I think, even though I welcomed him. Speaking of which, I didn't mean to come out so friendly, but I was so tipsy I couldn't help it. Additionally, I needed some time to let myself loose, and having a Cyclonian in my company wasn't going to stop me.

"So Cyclonis is looking for you?" I remembered Luchas asking me near the end of the night. I let my head roll on my shoulders as I considered his question.

"How did you know?"

"You said so before, when you were... interrogating me."

"Ah~ Yes. Yes, she is. I let myself slip up. I guess you don't know anything about that, then?"

Luchas shook his head. "I don't involve myself with her dealings anymore."

"Really? Considering your skill, I'd think she'd want you doing some bio-engineering or something... creating monsters for her armies."

"She proposed a position for me, but I declined."

I frowned. "Cyclonis never takes no for an answer."

"That's right, and you see, that's why I'm here." He gestured to himself. "I refused, and I had to escape her punishment. In a way, the whole business had me exiled."

"What about your family?" He seemed surprised by that question. I tilted my face in returning question. "That'd be the first thing on my mind if I was in your position. Aren't you worried? Don't you miss them?"

"Of course I do! I always think of them. They're somewhere... safe..."

As he said that, he seemed very unsure of himself. I looked at him for a good few moments, then put my empty glass down.

"I'm sure they are. A wife and daughter, right?"

"Just my daughter. My wife passed away while giving birth to her."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"As you say, it... happens."

I forced a smile, a bit rueful.

"Who's taking care of your daughter? I presume she's too young to be alone."

"Her uncle... my brother. And yes, she's only eight-years-old."

"And her name?"

"Sylvia."

My rueful smile turned more sincerely gentle. "That's a nice name. Did you choose it?"

"My wife did. I guess that counts as one memory of her." Luchas laughed. "After the Oasium Project, I tried to aim for a normal life, with a family to call my own. I guess sinners can't have everything they want."

That comment invoked a sense of pity in me. I didn't know if it was weak of me but I... sort of believed that Luchas really was just a broken man now, trying to fix things for himself. He was away from his child, banished, in a place that's now turned on him for his identity. Even if he intended to betray me, I wanted to act on that impulse to help him out.

I was then reminded of Repton. As far as I knew, he always had his sights on the bigger prize, and he never appreciated what he had. Selfish, greedy, and cold-blooded. That was what I thought when I heard stories about him, years before I ever met him. When I did meet him at last, I was Maia, and I was too busy taunting him and distracting him; foiling his plans, then running for my life. That's how it always had been for the year or two that followed, after I had claimed Cloud Nine. Then, when I met him for real, as myself, he didn't completely fit my perception of him. I got to take a good look at him at close quarters. He didn't know who I was the first time, with no reason to deceive me, so I believed he acted normally. When we met on Saharr, something had changed for sure; he knew more, and he was charged to capture me.

But he didn't do it. He acted as he did before. Was he just biding his time? He was a very patient hunter, so I wouldn't be surprised... But I wanted to believe that he wasn't exactly what everyone thought he was. That he was misunderstood, that he had some redeeming qualities.

If Repton wanted to give up everything and go for a simple life, would fate let him do it? Or would there be tragedy stalking his every step?

I found my mind beginning to wander in a world where I was in this simple life of his, but I immediately shot it down.

I stood up, stretching. I swayed a little, my body feeling sluggish from the alcohol's influence. "I would like to meet this Sylvia of yours someday," I yawned. "Cyclonis won't last forever, not when we have Sky Knights!"

"I suppose not!" Luchas laughed. "Maybe you will meet my daughter someday."

"Hopefully." I reached down and grabbed the pail of water the boy left behind for us. "I think it's time to head in. A good night's sleep will do us all good."

Luchas was quiet as I threw the water over the fire. The flames hissed in defiance and seeming pain, spitting out a rising smog, hoping to choke me. The cinders in the core flared momentarily until they died, painted black. I waited a while when I finished the first pail, watching the embers for a moment, then went aside to the water pump. I glanced over at Luchas, who was looking down at his half-empty glass. He finally took a drink from it.

"What's the matter, huh?"

He snapped out of his thoughts when I called him out, but he settled back into his pensive struggle. I leaned on the lever of the water pump, getting rewarded with surging water. It spat out and thrashed in the pail.

"Are you nervous about going in tomorrow?"

It was here that he looked at me this time. I smiled crookedly and continued working the lever.

"Yeah, I know. A lot of people are gonna be very edgy with you, but that's your fault for not telling us about your history beforehand."

"I'm sorry. I was just... worried that they wouldn't let me in. I need this job."

I picked up the refilled pail and finished the fire off. The embers let out one last, dying hiss before fading completely, unable to flare up again. I swung the empty pail at my side until I snatched it up with my tail.

"We can still make use of you," I said simply. "There are a couple of people with the disease Adam had. They're in the primary stages, so if you take your serum to them, I'm sure they'll recover. You can also share your knowledge with the staff. Although they won't trust it at first, I'm sure they'll appreciate it. There are more people that need your help and attention."

Luchas nodded slowly. I turned my attention to Rio, who hadn't moved that much from when I set him there. He hadn't vomited yet, so I assumed that would just be left for the morning. The bucket I swung at the end of my tail would come in handy. Since it was time to leave, I had to carry his unconscious body to the Chancellor's.

I flinched, then smacked my palm across my shut eyes. Luchas noticed. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing... Nothing."

Man, how could I not have thought of this sooner? I forgot all about Tatu. He must've known I was back on the Terra, but I didn't stop by to see him. I didn't even stop by to tell him where I was going, or what I was doing. He hated it when I stayed out so late, especially exercising my drinking habits. I was going to get a good scolding when I got there.

I went and commenced picking Rio up. I think Luchas asked me if I needed help, but I told him that he could just collect the empty bottles that remained. I heaved Rio across my shoulders and straightened up. He was thin, very light, and it was a good thing Raptors were so strong. I just had to watch where I was going and keep my footwork steady.

"The inn wouldn't accept people at this hour, would they..." I muttered to myself. The idea of knocking on the Chancellor's door was foreboding. I wanted to push it as far away from myself as possible. Luchas had heard me, and he approached me with the carton of empty bottles, as well as the couple glasses we drank from.

"You have nowhere to stay?"

"Well..."

"My house isn't far from here, so you're welcome to spend the night."

The words took their time sinking in, then I looked at him. I could see him, though I wasn't sure if he could see me. I said nothing for while, and I guess that got him a little nervous.

"I don't exactly have spare beds, but the couch is rather decent... I'll also fetch you some extra sheets and pillows... I-I know you don't trust me, but I just want to return the kindness you've given me."

The pail I swung at the tip of my tail scrapped across the ground as I contemplated. I was really tired, but I wouldn't be able to sleep under Luchas' roof. However, the opportunity to set Rio down somewhere comfortable seemed preferable than possibly waking a furious Chancellor. I knew I'd have to face him sooner or later, but now was not the best time... And since my mind wasn't as focussed as usual, I didn't see the harm in staying at a Cyclonian's household when fully conscious. I hummed numbly as I juggled the two ideas. Luchas waited, sort of patiently, sort of awkwardly.

I finally nodded my head. "Lead the way, then."

He nodded, and he went off ahead of me, seeming more energetic. I believed that he may have latched onto me now, because I was pretty much the only one that acted kindly to him. I didn't know if this was bad on my part, but I figured that, no matter who they were, they needed some kind of support. No one wanted to be alone.

My thoughts had turned to Adam as we walked. I didn't know how Rio was going to take it in the morning, and I hoped I didn't make things worse. He was probably going to burn and break down like a downed carrier ship all over again... alcohol never solved anything. It only dulled the senses for so long.

My emotions were starting to come in waves now, too. I couldn't turn my mind away from the image of Adam on the bed, not breathing. I couldn't remember his heart beat; my ears only knew silence. I know he was in a lot of pain, but death claimed him too soon... if he had recovered from the pain, he would have lived life very strongly. He would know what suffering felt like. But that wasn't going to happen. The thought had tears flood my eyes, and thankfully it was too dark to see them. I breathed in deeply, and I was momentarily startled when Luchas turned to me, but he only asked if I needed help with Rio. He assumed my soft gasping was due to fatigue, and truthfully, that relieved me. I didn't like people seeing me cry, and showing that weakness to an enemy on the edge wasn't going to make anything better.

We finally arrived at Luchas' home, which sort of surprised me. It was much too small to be a doctor's home. It was either he didn't have the money now and he planned to invest in something bigger, or he wanted to be inconspicuous, to seem like a normal, hard-earning man. Whatever the reason, it was still a strange sight to see. He lead me through the little gate, went up the steps of the veranda, then opened the door for me. I had to maneuver myself well in order to get myself and Rio through the door frame. Luchas closed the door behind me.

"I know it isn't much, but please make yourself at home," he said. "One of you may take my bed upstairs. I'm not sure if it's long enough for you, but it's your choice."

I observed the living room; small, slightly bare. "Rio and I will sleep down here. You need to get your sleep for tomorrow. We would be just inconveniencing if we took advantage over you."

"It isn't an inconvenience at all."

"We will sleep down here."

Luchas knew from my tone not to argue. He nodded his head. "I'll bring you the sheets and pillows."

I thanked him, and he went upstairs. I went to the couch and tried to set down Rio as gently as I could. He groaned in his sleep, and I smelled the alcohol on he breath, with a tint of bile. I had a feeling he would wake up and throw up at any moment, so I set the bucket down right beside him. The couch was small, so the Aquanosian's feet hung over the edge of the armrest, but it looked comfortable. Luchas came down shortly, his arms full with clean sheets. I took them from him and covered Rio with one. The other, I set on the floor. If I wasn't going to sleep, I had to at least set up an illusion of such.

The pillows came down next. I lifted Rio's head and placed the pillow under it, making sure he wouldn't wake up with a kink in his neck. I set the pillow meant for me on the ground as well. Luchas stood by as I did all this, and when I turned to him, he held his hands together.

"Is there anything else you need?"

"I think that's it. Thank you."

He nodded. "If you're hungry, feel free to use the kitchen."

"I'll be sure to do that." My eyes caught sight of the small television. I went over to it and turned it on, making sure to twist the volume until it was a little more than a murmur. The image was bright in the darkness. "I'll stay up a little longer. You go to sleep, doctor."

It was disrespectful to order someone around when you were within their home, but I didn't want him to think I was at his mercy. He probably didn't mean for that to come across, but I felt a small paranoia deep in my gut. This was what stopped me from wanting to sleep under his roof. Luchas didn't argue with me despite the rudeness, and he nodded again. He bid me goodnight, and he went upstairs.

I didn't hear anything upstairs after a half-hour had passed, which meant he was in bed. For the majority of the night, the television broadcasted reruns from events that happened during the day, which included news about the skies. They noted how Cyclonians were swarming more often than usual, and the broadcast also dealt with the political dealings with the other Terras. I saw Tatu quite a bit, and I felt a pang in my gut each time.

My mind started to wander off when the weather came on. Tomorrow was going to rain. And after that, more rain.

The tears came back, and I let them fall this time. I was never going to see Adam smile or laugh again. Having kids was something I always wanted, something I wished would happen someday... but if I couldn't take care of one young, sick child... how could I take care of any, let alone raise my own?

The night silently kept me company as the weather forecast continued.

End of Chapter