"Sky Knight Aerrow, did you find what you were looking for?"

"I certainly found something," he muttered. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

The old man watched, puzzled, as he strode to the door. "You're welcome to peruse your family history any time!" he called after the retreating figure.

.:':. .:':. .:':.

After quickly slipping back onto the Condor to check the maps, Aerrow flew to terra Mesa, where he knew Starling had a bunker, built for her by the people of her terra. It was unlikely that she would even be there – she was almost always on some mission – but it was the only place that he knew that she ever lived.

He had to try.

Landing the skimmer fluidly as he always did, Aerrow marched purposefully towards the door. Light filtered through the window; she was home. He gave three sharp knocks on the door before it opened.

Starling took one look at Aerrow's expression and sighed sadly. "I knew you would find out someday. Come in." She turned and walked to the kitchen, Aerrow following. Pulling out two barstools, she sat down on one and looked at her hands.

"Why didn't you tell me? You were old enough at the time to remember your family. Why?"

She didn't look up. "Because I didn't want you to know that you had a failure for a sister."

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder at hearing the hurt in her tone, his anger forgotten. "Starling, you're not a failure."

"Yes I am!" she cried, standing up and pushing his hand away. Tears that she had always held back sprung to her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I let my squad die when I survived myself. I should have died trying to protect them. Do you have any idea how it feels to be responsible for someone's death? "

"They were already dead when you got there," he said gently, ignoring the twist in his gut. "I know; I've seen the report. Alive, you can at least honour their memory."

Starling rubbed furiously at her eyes. "Why do people have to die?" she whispered.

Aerrow shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. But... I think we need to move on from the past, and stay in the world of the living."

"What do you mean, 'we'? Your squadron is still alive. No-one close to you has died that you have any memory of."

"I killed the Dark Ace," he replied quietly, sitting back down.

"What?"

"I killed him. I pushed him off his switchblade and into the Wastelands. His glider failed."

"...Wow. I guess I could have worse for a brother." She gave him a wobbly smile.

"Starling, you can't have much worse than a murderer for a brother."

She shook her head. "Not what I meant. You're a great fighter, Aerrow. Beating the Dark Ace proves that. If you were in the same position I was, with my squad, you... you would have been able to save them."

"Thanks, I think."

She managed a laugh. "It was a compliment, Aerrow. Come here." She waved him over, surprising him by crushing him into a hug. "Don't ever change," she whispered. Holding him out at arm's length, she smiled tentatively. "Go on, go protect your squad. Keep them safe.

"Little brother."

.:':. .:':. .:':.

A/N: Okay, as some people are probably wondering why I made Starling his sister: go watch the second last episode of season 2. When Aerrow breaks the other squads free from the crystal prison, you see them standing next to each other, and their eyes are the exact same colour. It just got me wondering. It might be the motive behind her helping them on those other missions, possibly. And the fact that she had seperated herself from Aerrow would mean she seperated herself from being Lightning Strike's descendant, and the Guardians wouldn't then take her into account. I dunno, I'm too lazy to figure it out properly. :P

...Well, that's pretty much it, dear readers! Sorry that so little of it was actually what I said it would be, but the plot bunnies really just went nuts, and I hope that you enjoyed the ride anyway! Stay tuned, and until next time, pixie out.

*intercom static*