Master Cyclonis grinned as she watched the crystal finally take full control over Adrianna. She watched as the woman's mind was rewritten to believe that she followed her completely without hesitation. She watched as the girl in front of her believed that she had been in her company for years. "She will be my ultimate creation," Cyclonis said with pride.

"That she will be," Dark Ace agreed.

"Take her to a room close to yours. I want you to keep an eye on her for now. As soon as she awakens, start her training. I want her ready for her first assignment in five days," Master Cyclonis ordered as she left the experiment chamber.

Dark Ace nodded and bowed to his master as he watched her leave. Dark Ace turned and watched as a few Talons worked on getting Adrianna out of the machine that she was in. As soon as she was freed from her machine prison, Dark Ace walked to the Talons. "I'll take her to a room," he said with full authority in his voice letting none of them argue. Not that the Talons would argue back anyways, they were all terrified of him.

Dark Ace carefully took Adrianna into his arms. She had passed out from the crystal wreaking havoc in her mind. He had never been so gentle with another person in his life. But there was something about this young woman in his arms that made him want to be gentle and protect her. Dark Ace carried Adrianna bridal style to an empty room that was right next to his own. He gently laid her down on the bed.

"What am I doing?" Dark Ace asked himself out of disgust. But even after that, Dark Ace couldn't bring himself to take his eyes off of the girl that was asleep in front of him.


"Aerrow?" Piper asked as she approached her friend. She had been worried about his all morning. His mind seemed to be somewhere else. "Aerrow?"

"I'm sorry Piper," Aerrow said as Piper had finally snapped him back to reality.

"Are you ok?" Piper asked. "You've been acted strangle all morning."

"I'm sorry, I just have a bad feeling," Aerrow said as he looked out at the soft clouds that floated by.

"Doom," Stork said as he paid attention to his friend.

"We don't know that," Piper hissed at Stork for making Aerrow retreat again.

Stork winced as Piper scolded him.

"Something's wrong," Aerrow said as he left Stork and Piper on the bridge.


"Is that all you've got?" Dark Ace taunted the young woman as he stood over her with a sword pointing at her throat.

Adrianna had only been awake for ten minutes and she was already thrown into the fray. Adrianna didn't answer as she glared up at Dark Ace. Her piercing emerald green eyes meeting his ruby red eyes.

"Pick a new name," Dark Ace ordered as he backed away from her.

"Why a new one?" Adrianna demanded not liking being told what to do.

"Because, it's time for you to pick a new name and become Master Cyclonis's second in command," Dark Ace told her. He remembered that Master Cyclonis had given her memories of being in her army for years.

"Lilith," she said. Adrianna found comfort in the night, and Lilith meant of the night. It was perfect for her. Not to mention of her twin blades name was night.

"You ready to go another round, Lilith?" Dark Ace asked as he swung his sword in his hand.

Lilith nodded her head and regripped her swords as she got ready for Dark Ace to attack her. Lilith and Dark Ace danced a dangerous dance as their swords clashed together. Neither one backing down nor giving an inch for the other.

Dark Ace finally got the upper hand and knocked Helios out of Lilith's hand, but Lilith was even more deadly with one sword. Dark Ace quickly lost the upper hand as she knocked the blade from his own hand. Dark Ace grabbed Lilith's wrist to keep Nyx away from him. He was finally able to flip Lilith over and wrestle the blade away from her.

"You win," Lilith said as she laid on the ground panting underneath Dark Ace as he had her pinned down.

"Yes, but you could have if you only used one sword," Dark Ace said as he stood up. "Why do you use two?"

Lilith went over to where Helios had fallen to the ground during the match. She picked it up and studied the blade in her hand. "They were a gift from my parents before they both died. My father was murdered, and my mother passed away from grief. The blades are all that I have left of them," Lilith said as she sheathed Helios and Nyx.

"Use one," Dark Ace ordered. "When you get good enough, I might let you use them both in a fight."

Lilith glared at Dark Ace as he issued her ordered, but complied as she took Helios off of her back and set it on the ground.

"Good, now again," Dark Ace ordered as he they both clashed swords again.


"How is her training going?" Master Cyclonis asked as Dark Ace walked into her office.

"She is progressing wonderfully," Dark Ace said.

"Good, tomorrow I will send her on her first mission," Master Cyclonis said. "Under no circumstances are the Storm Hawks allowed to find out that we have a new weapon."

"Of course master," Dark Ace said.

"What did she chose for a name?" Master Cyclonis asked intrigued.

"Lilith," Dark Ace said.

"Interesting," she said as she thought over the name. "Take her later and get her a uniform that matches her name."

"Of course," Dark Ace said with a bow as he turned and headed for the door.

"Dark Ace, one more thing before you leave," Master Cyclonis called as Dark Ace was about to walk out of her office.

"Yes Master Cyclonis," Dark Ace asked as he bowed out of respect.

"Keep your feelings in check," Master Cyclonis said as she stared at her most loyal general. She was no fool. Master Cyclonis saw the moment's hesitation in Dark Ace's eyes as Lilith was being tortured and turned. It was a look that was once directed towards herself from Dark Ace.

"Of course," Dark Ace said as he walked out of Master Cyclonis's office and back towards his own room to think. As Dark Ace was walking back to his room he passed the practice room to find Lilith and Snipe in there. "What do you think you are doing?" Dark Ace hissed.


Lilith stayed in the practice room to work on her sword skills as Dark Ace left to go and speak with Master Cyclonis. She wanted to be good enough for Master Cyclonis. After all, she had just been promoted and couldn't wait to show Cyclonis that she wasn't a waste her time. Lilith lost all focus on the room as she fought against the many dummies she had set up. Each one was more destroyed than the last.

"So you're the new general?" Snipe asked unimpressed.

Lilith didn't say anything as she continued to destroy the dummies without mercy. She was hoping that her ruthless behavior would scare Snipe away.

"You're cute when you're angry," Snipe said dumbly.

Lilith stiffened at the comment. She wanted nothing to do with one of Master Cyclonis's failed generals. After taking a breath to control her anger, Lilith went back to destroying the practice dummies.

"How about I take you on a date?" Snipe said as he walked closer to the young woman that was ignoring him.

Lilith still chose to ignore him and work on her fighting. She would not disgrace herself by talking with him.

"I'm a big shot around here. So if you date me, you would certainly move up faster," Snipe said as an enticement. He thought that she was the lowest general in Master Cyclonis's army.

At this, Lilith laughed. She laughed so hard she had to stop her attacks. As Lilith's laughs died down, she went back to attacking the practice dummy. But that was all the attention she gave Snipe.

"What?" Snipe demanded. "What is so funny?"

"You!" Lilith said as she pointed Nyx at Snipe's neck. "You honestly think that I need your help to impress Master Cyclonis?" She held back from saying that she was already promoted to Master Cyclonis's number two.

Snipe was floored by the new girl. Never had he been rejected like he was now. Sure Ravess picked on him, but that was because she was his sister. Then Dark Ace did whatever he wanted, because he was Master Cyclonis's pet. But no other Cyclonian ever talked to him like that. "Why you little-" Snipe started as he knocked her sword away from him. He then charged at the woman in front of him.

Lilith gracefully danced out of the way. After all, why show off skill to someone that could be looking for your job? This went on for several minutes before Snipe got in a lucky hit and knocked her into the wall. Lilith had no time to recover before Snipe had yanked her to her feet and slammed her into the wall. Lilith yelped out in pain as she felt her shoulder pop painfully.

"Not so tuff now are you?" Snipe sneered as he brought her close to his face.

"What do you think you are doing?" Dark Ace hissed at Snipe.

"Dark Ace," Snipe stuttered and dropped Lilith like a sack of potatoes.

"Leave us," Dark Ace ordered Lilith.

Lilith nodded her head as she limped out of the training room and back to her room. She had hit her ankle wrong when Snipe had dropped her.

"She started it," Snipe pleaded weakly.

"You ever touch her again, and it will be the last time you ever touch anything," Dark Ace snarled as he pulled out his sword. "Am I clear?"

Snipe nodded his head vigorously. He didn't trust his own words.

Satisfied, Dark Ace walked out of the training room. He went straight to Lilith's room. As he approached he heard the muffled hisses of pain and cries as she tried to pop her shoulder back into place. Dark Ace walked into his room and found a bandage to wrap Lilith foot in. He didn't miss her limping out of the training room. Without knocking, Dark Ace entered her room.

"By all means come in," Lilith said sarcastically as she tried to appear strong. She stood up to face Dark Ace, deciding not to show weakness to him.

"Sit," Dark Ace ordered as he walked over to her.

Lilith didn't argue as she sat back down on her bed. She didn't have the energy to fight him.

"Turn," Dark Ace ordered so that way he could see her bad shoulder. "Hold still," was all he said as he placed his hands gently on Lilith right shoulder to inspect it.

"Ow!" Lilith hiss angrily at Dark Ace as he ran his hands softly over her injury. If her shoulder hadn't hurt so much, she would have melted at his touch. He was gentle, with a hint of loving in to the touch. 'Wait, what am I thinking?' she hissed at herself mentally.

Dark Ace muttered something to himself before he addressed Lilith. "I'm going to pop it back into place."

"Ok," Lilith said as she focused her eyes on the wall in front of her.

"On three," he said. "One, two," and Dark Ace popped her shoulder back into place.

"Ow!" Lilith yelled at him. "I thought you said you were going to do it on three?" she demanded.

"Exactly," was all Dark Ace said as he pulled over a chair to the bed.

"Now what?" Lilith demanded.

"I'm going to wrap your ankle," he said as he brought out a bandage roll.

"Is it going to hurt?" she demanded, not to thrilled about letting him near her hurt ankle.

"No," Dark Ace said as he sat in the chair and waited for Lilith to let him see her ankle.

"Fine," she said as she sat back down and let Dark Ace take a hold of her ankle.

"This will put your training behind schedule," Dark Ace said as he gently wrapped her ankle.

"Heaven forbid," Lilith said as she rolled her eyes.

Dark Ace gave a small smirk as he continued to wrap her ankle.

"Why?" was all Lilith asked as she watched Dark Ace gently wrap her ankle. She had never been treated like this before.

Dark Ace shrugged his shoulders, but didn't say anything. 'Why?' he demanded of himself. 'I've never done anything like this before. Why does she make me want to be so gentle with her?'