Minn: Woo! Look at this! Proper updates at last! And character development (somewhat). ^_^ This chapter ended up not at ALL being what I expected it to be, but I think it came out pretty snazzy all the same. Let me know what you think... dialogue tends to be a bit of a weak point with me. :)

Chapter 8: Motives

It was a long flight. Too long... and not just because they flew in silence. Finn's head was clouded. He still wasn't really aware of what he had done... all he knew was that it was too late to go back now. He wasn't furious with Aerrow. True, he was still annoyed that the Sky Knight hadn't told him about his own suspicions, but their friendship was strong enough for Finn to understand, though he didn't really want to admit it.

It's just...

Finn looked at Dove. She had remained focused on flying (perhaps a little too focused) and hadn't made so much as eye contact with Finn let alone conversation. However, from what he could read from her face, it wasn't due to any anger or secret agenda. She simply just didn't know what to say.

Finn couldn't believe she was turned. It just... didn't feel right. True, there were still some unresolved questions, but there was something genuine about Dove. Family was important to the people of Gale. She wouldn't abandon her squad for any light reason.

...Though... circumstances were far from light.

Finn shifted his weight on the skimmer. It's funny... the memory of their first meeting came back to him as he did so. Offering her a ride... well... things change, don't they? Still, the silence was uncomfortable. Normally the sharpshooter would say something, anything funny or light-hearted to start conversation. However, for once, words actually failed him. He just... wasn't the type of person who fit in easily to this type of situation.

But of course, Finn being Finn, he was still going to try.

"So..." Finn hesitated, bringing one hand behind his head and trying to be casual, yet the expression on his face clearly showing his discomfort. (He was very glad Dove couldn't see it, sitting in the front). "Where exactly are we headed?"

Dove sighed softly and faced ahead. "I don't really know," she admitted. "I didn't really 'ave a plan."

"Well," Finn said, thinking on things. "I guess that makes two of us..."

More silence. Finn was getting restless.

"Why did you leave?" Dove asked. The suddenness of it took Finn off guard.

"What?" the sharpshooter checked, more from mild surprise than lack of hearing. However, Dove wasn't willing to repeat herself, and Finn knew he owed her an answer.

"I don't know..." he half mumbled. His anger long died down in the duration of their flight.

"Do you want to go back?" Dove asked it hollowly, but Finn knew she would turn around if he asked. However, he honestly didn't know what he wanted to do.

So he changed the subject.

"It that's the case, I could ask you the same thing."

Dove finally looked around and made eye contact briefly with Finn. She didn't answer right away. Frankly, she was amazed at his lack of tact.

"I mean, I'm not saying I'm against you leaving Gale or anything..." Finn stammered, fearing that he may have made Dove second-guess herself when she failed to answer. "I just mean... it must have hard, huh?" Finn trailed off at the end of his question. Dove smirked. Always talking before thinking... but there was something about that naïve openness that put Dove at ease.

"Yes," Dove said, though not quite so contemplative as before. "It was hard, but it was right."

Finn paused, for once actually taking time to think. "...Thanks."

Dove smiled. "It will work out. I 'ave to believe that. My family is safe right now. You..." Dove hesitated, searching for the right words. "You need help."

Finn laughed casually. "You don't need to tell me that."

Dove laughed as well. It was refreshing to have some relief from the heavy atmosphere, and she could also see that the anger in Finn had died down. "Do you really not want to go back?" she asked again.

Finn broke eye contact but returned a lop-sided smile all the same. "Nah..." he confessed. "I got mad at Aerrow for letting us split up. I'd have to be a pretty big jerk to do exactly what I blamed him for."

Dove smiled sadly.

"...But it didn't feel right just leaving you, either," Finn defended quickly.

Dove perked up slightly, listening attentively.

"Aerrow's just worried about the others." Finn continued. "And he's used to having someone or something to pin it on. He... doesn't want to do that with you. With any of them."

Dove didn't know what to say. That was a surprisingly deep analysis, coming from Finn.

"I know trust is a hard thing to gain once lost," Dove said. "But I had hoped... from before..."

Finn merely listened. Too much of this was too hard to put into words.

"I wasn't going to make ze same mistake twice," Dove denied.

Finn understood. "I'm sure Aerrow was just stressed," he said. "Why don't we both go back? I'm sure he'll listen..." But Finn didn't sound sure, and Dove wouldn't blame Aerrow for being suspicious...

"Maybe I'm better off on my own..." Dove mused. "I won't give help if it's not wanted, but I won't return to Gale. Not while knowing what zey are doing."

"But you do miss them..." Finn half asked from the back seat.

"Yes..." Dove trailed off sadly. "I do... though I did not tell them why I left. I thought it best zey did not know until..."

Finn nodded. He understood.

They flew in silence for a while after that.

"We should go back," Dove spontaneously conceded.

"You sure?" Finn questioned.

"Yes, after all, it isn't right for you to leave."

"Yeah, but..." Finn stammered. He did want to head back, but it wasn't fair to put Dove in that situation again. "You've risked a lot helping us. You need to think about yourself too, you know."

"It's alright," Dove reassured Finn, like her own concerns were of no importance. "It's fine."

Finn smiled. There was no way Dove could have turned.

But a shadow fell across that smile.

It was surprisingly quiet for a carrier ship. Both Finn and Dove were struck speechless as it loomed overhead, casting them in darkness.

"The Skyquod?" Finn voiced in disbelief. However, Dove was quicker on the uptake. Grabbing the controls firmly, she dove into the clouds below and out of sight.

"What're the Neck Deeps doing here?" Finn groaned.

"I don't know!" Dove called back as the wind from the dive pulled away her words. "Please, I didn't 'ave anything to do with zis!"

Finn paused in surprise as he realized that Dove was pleading with him. "Don't worry!" he reassured her. "I know you haven't turned!"

Dove smiled in relief, but there wasn't time for many words as they broke through the bottom layer of cloud. The Duck didn't know if anyone on board had seen her, but the wind was shifting, and the cloud layer was going to vanish soon. Already it was thinning, and the outline of the Skyquod was showing through.

"Hold on!" Dove called. Again she fell into a dive as she aimed the skimmer for a terra underneath them. It was small and wild-looking, but it was the only place to hide. Dove knew she wouldn't have a chance in the air. She was a good pilot, but she wouldn't be able to out-fly a whole squad. Besides, there was still a chance that the Neck Deeps hadn't noticed them.

They landed roughly and quickly, Finn peering up at the sky. The Skyquod remained overhead. Both Dove's and Finn's hearts sank as they saw skimmers being deployed.

"They must have seen my descent..." Dove lamented distantly.

Finn looked around, examining the terra. The ground was very uneven, and incredibly thick jungle rose around them. "What now?" he asked.

Dove joined the sharpshooter in checking out their options. "It's too thick for ze skimmer," Dove planned aloud. "Quick! Help me move it in 'ere!" Dove grabbed the front of the skimmer controls while still standing from the side, and Finn pushed the back. Together, they rolled the skyride into a patch of thick undergrowth almost waist high, hiding it from view.

"We can still lose zem," Dove said hopefully. "Get into the jungle!"

Finn led the way as the two stumbled into the trees. They didn't go far, for they still wanted to be able to survey the sky, which would be impossible from underneath the broad leaves of the trees overhead. Unfortunately, it seemed the Neck Deeps had spotted where Dove landed, for they aimed at the exact location where Finn and Dove lay crouched.

"We 'ave to evade zem," Dove whispered more from nerves than any practical purpose, for the Neck Deeps were far out of normal hearing range, though close enough to land within a minute. "Come on."

The two of them worked their way through the jungle, though it was a long and hard process. The uneven ground and incredibly dense underbrush did not give way easily. The thick rustling of the leaves and branches seemed to announce Finn and Dove's position rather than conceal it. Suddenly, Dove held out a hand, stopping Finn in his tracks and almost causing him to trip for the fourteenth time.

"What?" Finn whispered back in slightly annoyed tones. However, Dove merely shushed him, putting a finger to her lips and listening attentively.

Nothing. Light wind and birds. The tops of the trees whispering...

An audible crack of a branch, not twenty feet from where they stood.

"Zis way!" Dove gasped urgently. She grabbed Finn by the wrist and practically pulled him into a run. She was much more suited for evasion than he was.

They wove in and out of trees, Dove finding sure footing for their flight. The orange light of the failing sun was growing brighter as they moved into thinner jungle. They must be near the edge...

With a half-concealed scream of surprise, Dove stumbled into a halt. Looming from out of nowhere in front of her was a sheer drop. They had unwillingly cornered themselves against a cliff! Finn reached out with lightning-quick reflexes and pulled Dove away from the edge by grabbing hold of her arm. She turned around, panting harshly, her composure temporarily lost from the sudden shock of almost falling. Finn couldn't blame her. The drop looked treacherous.

Looking from side to side, Finn examined the form of the cliff. "Any chance we can go back?" he asked Dove. However, his question was soon answered as noise of approach could be heard from the jungle.

Dove's face slowly fell. The feeling sunk in as she realized there was no way out of this. All she could do was look back at Finn sadly with wide eyes. This was it. They were caught. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Finn just stared hollowly. No... this couldn't be right. Not so soon... not like this.

But looking at Dove... the inevitable sunk into the sharpshooter's mind as well.

The noises of the leaves and heavy footfalls grew louder. Finn may knew it was hopeless, but that wasn't about to stop him from still trying to find a way out. Slowly, both he and Dove backed against the cliff. For a panicked second, Finn's foot slipped, sending pebbles down into the chasm below. Now Finn was thinking at full capacity. There had to be a way out... but there wasn't. His eyes darted every which way. Something... anything.

But then, he felt a warm touch in his palm and found that Dove was holding his hand. She looked up at him, with a deep sorrow and apology in her eyes. She tried... that's what those eyes said. I'm sorry... but I tried... But there was something else in that look as the Neck Deeps were seconds away from coming out of that jungle. There was a look of fear. Because what Dove said before was right. She hadn't told anyone about her mission. No one knew she was trying to violate the treaty. Until now. And who knew what would happen to her?

After all she tried to do for them...

Finn couldn't let that happen...

The Neck Deeps had appeared, slowly, yet unmistakably on unfriendly terms. However, it was in that one brief second of their appearance, right before anyone had a chance to say anything, that one small idea came to Finn.

And he did something incredibly stupid.

"I don't believe this!" he yelled, sounding exasperated and betrayed. Dove looked up at him with that sad smile, but then he returned the look with one of his own – one of continued betrayal and unbelief. At this, Dove's face fell. He... he didn't think she was turned, did he?

"And all this time I thought you were on my side!" he continued to accuse, turning even more to face Dove and pointing a finger at her. He put his back to the Neck Deeps, who were temporarily left without words at Finn's sudden and somewhat odd outburst.

Dove was about to protest, about to reason with Finn... show him that she was on his side. But then... the smallest sign. With his back to the squad, but still in sight of Dove, he gave her the smallest wink and a slight tilt of the head. He smiled, though his eyes weren't completely in it.

That's when Dove realized. He knew it was over. There was no way out. But that didn't mean she had to go down with him. Giving himself up to keep her safe...

But she couldn't say anything. She was touched.

"Pretending to be so nice to us..." Finn continued his act. "Yet all this time waiting to hand me in... ...right?"

"Y-Yes! That's right!" Dove stammered, still taken aback. "You're being detained by the Atmosian Alliance! Don't... think about trying to escape!"

"Not a chance," Finn replied back meaningfully. Smiling slightly as he broke his gaze with her, he abandoned his carefree expression to face the Neck Deeps who were now approaching the two.

A pair of Neck Deeps stepped forward. One grabbed hold of Finn's arms and pulled them behind his back, tying them together. Another came up beside him, grabbing a hold of one arm while the first held the other. "Hey, hey!" Finn complained as they shoved his head forward to urge him to walk. "Watch the hair! It's hard to get hair this good!"

Dove's eyebrows shot up. She just got an idea. "I'll help you with him," she spoke up at once, stepping up next to the Neck Deeps holding Finn. "He is my catch, after all."

One Neck Deep nodded and moved aside, allowing her to take hold of one of Finn's arms. They had already started walking toward the Neck Deep's skyrides when Finn felt something small being slipped into one of his hands. "Don't let zem see it," he heard Dove whisper in his ear, so softly that he almost didn't make it out. He gave the slightest of nods, barely perceivable. Then he heard one last whisper in his ear. "And… thanks."

A short while later, Dove treaded down the hallway of the Skyquod carefully. She had seen where they had left Finn – it was one of the spare rooms aboard the ship, locked from the wrong side. She knew that the Neck Deeps trusted her, but nonetheless, she was careful not to be seen. If they realized what she was doing...

Dove pulled out the twin of the short-range radio she had given to Finn. As she held it in her hand, she turned back to the doors. Third from the end... this was it.

There was a full-length window beside the door, which allowed for anyone to see into the room. However for privacy reasons, a curtain was also draped across it on Finn's side. Dove once again checked the hallway to make sure no one was nearby, turned on her radio, and knocked on the window.

For a few moments there was no response, but then soundlessly, the curtain was pulled away. Finn's face appeared, and upon seeing Dove on the other side of the glass, he returned a small smile. Yet the sadness echoed in his eyes made Dove almost wish she could undo the lock on his door... yet both of them knew that doing so would be incredibly stupid. They would have no hope of successfully sneaking away with the entire squad of Neck Deeps on board.

Instead, Dove settled with pointing mutely to her radio. While it was only a window that separated them, Dove happened to know that the glass was soundproof. Finn caught on right away and switched his radio on.

"So..." Dove started talking into the radio, looking in at Finn. "Are you okay?"

Finn smirked. "Oh, yeah! Best I've been in a while. I'm having loads of fun." The sarcasm in his voice was clear, but it wasn't nasty or mean... just teasing. He was trying to make Dove feel better.

"Don't," Dove protested gently. "Please... just don't."

Finn paused, and his cocky smile faltered. "...Okay..."

There was a small pause. Dove shifted her weight uneasily. "Thank you... again..."

Finn tried smiling back, but there was only so far he could take it. "It was the least I could do."

"No," Dove tried comforting him. "It wasn't. Just... I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help."

"Don't apologize," Finn cut her off, this time dead serious. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Dove was touched, but nonetheless she still hated the situation she found herself in. After some silence, she continued. "I..." but she was interrupted– footsteps could be heard around the corner of the hallway. "Get back!" Dove warned Finn in a whisper, gesturing for him to back away from the window as she concealed the radio in her pocket, still keeping it on.

It was Tritonn. He appeared from around the corner, while Dove merely shifted on the spot, a few feet away from Finn's door yet standing in front of the window, covering it slightly yet not indiscreetly so Tritonn wouldn't notice the pulled-back curtain.

"Dove?" The Sky Knight questioned as he approached the girl. "What are yeh doin' here?"

"Just... keeping watch." Dove stuttered a bit in her answer, but she met Tritonn's eye, which made it convincing.

Tritonn looked sad, yet he gazed at her piercingly. "Ya know, there's no chance—"

"I know," Dove blurted out, a little too tensely. "It's just..." Dove drifted off and looked away. Tritonn did the same. After all, it wasn't like he could pretend he didn't share similar sentiments.

While he was looking away, Dove took the opportunity to quickly glance back into Finn's room to make sure he was still listening over the radio. She could spy him sitting on the bed, the radio carefully concealed within his right hand which was lying casually on the mattress.

"Tritonn," Dove started, though still holding back a bit in intimidation. Though the Sky Knight was warm to those he chose, and he looked back at her with accepting eyes. "Um..." Dove stuttered again. "Can I ask you something?"

Tritonn looked curious but nodded all the same.

"Why..." Dove began, but then decided to phrase her wording better. "Did you ever think...? What if what we're doing...?" Dove was angry with herself. No matter what, she couldn't seem to get the words out.

But Tritonn understood. He placed a hand on her shoulder in what meant to be a comforting gesture. "Aye, Dove. It's hard," he agreed. "But it was the way things happened. There's nothing we could do about it."

"But..." Dove argued, though trying not to make it sound as such. "That's just it. The Council could have said no... couldn't zey?"

Tritonn shook his head sadly and yet slightly exasperated, as if he was talking to a young child. "You'll understand how these things work," he replied cryptically. "But no, Dove. They couldn't refuse."

So that was it. Just politics. "But..." Dove found herself gazing towards Finn's room unintentionally. "Zey're our friends. And the Cyclonians—"

"—apparently want the war to be over just as much as we do," Tritonn replied. "Look..." For once it was Knight who hesitated. He made like he was about to turn to Finn's room, but then thought better of it (or maybe worse?) and turned away. Dove examined him closely, but she couldn't make out what he was thinking. There was unquestionably remorse in his eyes... but there was also something deeper than that. It was a look of fear.

"The Storm Hawks helped Aquinos," Tritonn eventually stated, though the words seemed very hard for him to say. "I still respect 'em. I..." Tritonn stumbled a bit again, but Dove sensed that she knew what Tritonn meant to say: he owed them.

Tritonn looked to be at war with himself. Dove took a moment to wonder if all of the Sky Knights felt this way. Finally, the Neck Deep sighed and looked down at Dove. He had made up his mind. There was no point in holding back because none of them could be judged any worse.

"Truthfully, I'm not happy with this Dove," Tritonn confessed. "I doubt anyone is. Why Cyclonis wants 'em... that's anyone's guess. Pro'bly a last jab at the Alliance. She knows what the Storm Hawks have done for the fight. But there's not much choice. The Council couldn't very well refuse the chance for peace. And when the Council makes a decision... well... that's final, ain't it? Besides, a Sky Knight's duty is to bring peace to Atmos... regardless of the cost."

Dove listened to Tritonn and understood where he was coming from. Yet she couldn't help but wonder... After paying such a cost, could any of them feel at peace with themselves ever again?

"How do you know the treaty will bring peace?" Dove asked, turning to Tritonn, who looked ashamed of his guilt. "Tritonn, how do you know we can trust Cyclonis?"

Tritonn laughed bitterly at the thought of trusting the Cyclonians. "I don't. But the real question is, can we afford not to? We have our own terras to think about, Dove. Our own homes and families. You should know that more than anyone, and I'm assuming you do, based on why you left Gale."

Dove turned to Finn's door guiltily, not wanted to look Tritonn in the eye. "It didn't exactly turn out the way I expected..."

"Nah..." Tritonn agreed. "It never does. ...But Wren will be pleased. He was worried when you left. Ya never said..." But the Knight trailed off at the look on Dove's face. Tritonn was getting dangerously close to Dove's motives, and the ex-Duck decided not to say anything. However, Tritonn had enough sense and sympathy not to push a matter that looked private, and he wasn't in any position to pursue the question of conscience.

"I just 'ave a feeling..." Dove muttered distantly, yet still loud enough for both Tritonn and Finn to hear, the sharpshooter still keeping to himself yet listening in. "Something bad is going to happen. Tritonn... what if Cyclonis breaks the treaty? It will all be for nothing."

"Rest assured, Dove," Tritonn replied, putting a comforting hand on Dove's shoulder. "We'll be sure to keep an eye on those Cyclonians once the treaty is signed. But the real promise behind all of this is if they keep to the deal; it will be the first peace Atmos will have in over a decade."

Dove bowed her head. She couldn't blame Tritonn. She knew that for a lot of people, it was the right decision.

"It makes me sick..." Dove admitted. "To think of our friends as expendable."

Tritonn looked hard at Dove. "A lot of people probably think so," Tritonn admitted. "But I never had anything but respect for the Storm Hawks. Aerrow had a good squad behind him." Dove squirmed where she stood. A cold shiver ran up her spine at the past tense. "However," Tritonn continued. "Despite all his courage, I don't think he can evade the inevitable much longer."

Dove's attention was caught by these words, and from the corner of her eye she could see Finn listening intensely. "You mean..." Dove asked. "Aerrow is still out there?"

"Aye," Tritonn responded, unable to hide the slight gleam in his eye, yet it echoed back sadness at the circumstances ever present in his mind. "He and Radarr are the last to be found."

"So..." Dove trailed off, her momentary optimism fading. "All the others have been..."

"Aye," Tritonn confirmed again. "Brought to Cyclonia Tower. I don't know the details of how it happened, but from what I heard, they're generally alright."

Dove fought back a sudden turn in her stomach. 'Generally'? Her hands unconsciously clenched at her sides. "Tritonn, tell me!" Dove suddenly pleaded. "What is going to happen to the Storm Hawks?"

This disturbed the Sky Knight like nothing else. He backed away slightly from Dove, as if she had murmured some forbidden taboo. "I..." Tritonn stuttered. "I don't know."

"Yes you do!" Dove accused, feeling close to tears. "All of Atmos knows, don't they? I..." But she couldn't continue. She had already said too much. Tritonn sensed as much.

Tritonn approached Dove again and patted her on the shoulder. "Last I heard..." he said gently, "they were just being held in Cyclonia Tower. Just that. Nothing more. Cyclonis is..." It made Tritonn sick to say this as if it was a good piece of news, but it was better than the alternative. "Cyclonis is waiting for them all. As soon as the treaty is signed..."

Dove looked up at Tritonn, water in her eyes. "So that's it, then? She's making us wait until it's over?"

Tritonn didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Dove scowled in hatred for Cyclonis at the pain she was putting Atmos through... but on the other hand, she had placed Atmos in pain for every day ever since the war began. Pain of loved ones lost... pain of homes ruined... but the promise of peace...

Dove sniffed. Tritonn seemed to realize that Dove was aware of the real situation now. They didn't turn by choice.

"Tritonn," Dove asked, wiping her face with the back of her hand, embarrassed. "I'm not going to pretend... just... You know this isn't right. Our friends... they have freewill. It's their choice to make. And let's be realistic; if Cyclonis breaks the treaty, Atmosia will have nothing to stop her. In fact..." Dove hesitated, the very thought of it turning her pale. "They'll be at a loss."

Tritonn looked around to make sure no one else was nearby. "Aye, Dove," he conceded. "But the truth is, people out there are much weaker than some would like to believe. There is no good and evil. Black and white do not exist... it's just grey. And the temptation... there's a different motive for each one of them. I..." Tritonn stumbled with his words again. "I had thought that my weakness was behind me... but look at me now. Still the coward."

"Tritonn, please," Dove begged again. "Don't do this. We can find another way. The war won't stop just by giving in to demands. Fine, people may not be perfect, but you can't seriously believe that they're just as bad as Cyclonis!"

"You have not fought in the war!" Tritonn suddenly corrected her with vehemence. "You've defended Gale, but you have never invaded... never been on the front lines. You weren't there when the great battle took place! You think Cyclonians are the only ones who have ever killed a soldier on the other side? This is a war. It takes two to fight. But now the fighting must stop!"

Dove could only stand there, shaking. She had never seen Tritonn angry before. The Sky Knight realized he had lost his temper and sighed. "I'm sorry, Dove," he said. "I'm sorry... but it just has to be this way."

Dove stayed silent, looking in at Finn, but he had turned away. The talk he had been listening to gave him a lot to think about...

"So what now?" Dove asked, turning her gaze back to Tritonn, who looked exhausted, in every sense of the word. Tritonn met her gaze, knowing what she meant; it had been apparent a long time ago that she had not, in fact, turned in Finn.

"What were yeh goin' to do?" Tritonn asked.

Dove paused, thinking on her answer. "I'm not sure I should tell you."

Tritonn looked pleased, but there was still that ever-present sadness in his eyes. "Good. Keep it that way. I'm not goin' to tell anyone. All of us have enough problems as it is."

Dove sighed a breath of relief. "Thank you, Tritonn."

"Just don't let anyone else know," Tritonn said, as he turned to leave. "I... sympathize with the circumstances, but few people are remaining who share my feelings. Not everyone is as close to the Storm Hawks, and most have clouded their thoughts, too guilty or tempted to let any part of them hold back. They truly believe that this is right. Remember that."

A shiver passed through Dove at the thought of some people being so easily swayed, but she nodded all the same. "I will."

Tritonn smiled, this time a small portion of it finally reaching through his gaze. As he turned around the corner of the hallway and moved out of sight, Finn continued to sit on the bed, thinking. The sharpshooter muttered something, not loud enough for Dove to hear.

"I guess now we know why..."