A/N so much for not getting stuff out this weekend. Have re written this chapter a few times, never being happy with it but the plot bunnies took over last night and kept me awake giving me ideas. Hope you like it. It's my birthday tomorrow!
Aerrow was getting sick of waking up in captivity. He lay on his back on the floor of what looked like the same cell he had been in before. But them it could have been any cell in the whole prison. He couldn't move, the pain in his chest was too much. He wasn't bandaged up but the wound had closed over. He realized he must have been unconscious for days if it had healed this much. Or spent some time on a healing matrix he realized, if the Dark Ace had one there was no doubt Cyclonis would too. He lay on his back thinking about his squadron. He wanted to be back on the Condor, even listening to Finn's music. He felt an unbearable wave of homesickness for just a second before it passed. He couldn't afford to be weak here; it would only get used against him.
He drifted off into a restless sleep but was rudely awakened only moments later by his cell door opening. Someone was thrown into his cell with a gasp of pain. He made himself sit up slightly so he could see, it made his chest burn but he had to see. Jewel was in a heap on the floor sobbing. Snipe and Cyclonis were at the door, with six Talons as well. A bit over the top considering he could barely move, it was not likely he was going to be getting up and running away. Jewel continued to cry and Aerrow reached for her. He managed to get a hand on top of one of hers and she jerked away, stopping her tears for just a moment and peering at him.
"Aerrow?" Aerrow gave her as much of a smile as he could manage. She crawled over to him on her knees and collapsed against him. Aerrow hissed in pain but put his arms around her.
"Isn't that sweet Snipe, I did not know Dark Ace shared his toys so well. Well this is even better than I thought. I wanted to see how far your sky knight sensibilities could be pushed but love is much better than honor, much easier to manipulate. Snipe take the girl." The large man stomped over to the pair in the floor and lifted the girl out of Aerrow's arms easily. Aerrow saw her face properly for the first time and felt the cold press of anger in his gut. A newly healed scar cut across her face, right through her left eye, from his position he couldn't tell if she had been blinded in it. It seems as though he wasn't the only one getting Cyclonis's attentions.
"Does this anger you sky knight? Such a shame to ruin a pretty face but she wouldn't talk to me. I thought that was rude and so she was punished." Cyclonis raised Jewel's face so she looked at Aerrow. "This wouldn't work out my dear, did you know that, he was as pretty as you were before your little 'accident', now I'm afraid he outshines you. Girls rule number one, never date anyone who is prettier than you. Oh well." Cyclonis let Jewel's chin drop.
"Now, my little sky knight I have a choice for you. I want to play today but I don't mind which of you my playmate is. But they have to be able to walk out of here themselves. So, can you pull your agony filled body off the floor and walk out under your own power or do I redesign her face? Maybe I'll remove her lips or her eyelids, Grand'ther told me bedtime stories of a prisoner he'd done that to, and I've always fancied trying it. Choice is yours sky knight." Cyclonis watched with demonic glee as the young man before her struggled to his feet. By the time he's gained his feet he was so papery white she suspected a stiff breeze would knock him out. But he stumbled over to the door, catching himself on the wall. He clutched at his chest and took some deep breaths to calm the fire burning his torso. He straightened and Snipe and Cyclonis made a path for him to walk through. He summoned the last of his reserves and walked through the door as straight backed as he could manage. The Talon's grabbed him as he walked across the threshold and hauled him along the corridor, his feet falling out from beneath him.
Before he knew it he was cuffed to the wall again. This time facing it with his back exposed. The sharp rocks poked at his tender skin but because he wasn't moving the deep agony caused by moving the split muscles had calmed. He was still reeling from the pain when he felt someone approach. Something cold touched his neck and he froze.
"Time to play, sky knight. I can't bring my self to touch your pretty face, it would be a crime after all, the little nick I gave you yesterday makes you more sophisticated but I like your eyelids. Maybe I'll remove the girl's anyway." Aerrow wished he could see the crazy girl behind him. He was totally unprepared for the strike when it came. At first he had no idea what had hit him, it burned and stung in a long line down his back and he could feel a brush of cold that said he had blood on his back. It wasn't till the nest strike happened that he heard a slight crack, he registered it was an energy lash, set on low or it would have cut right through him. Six lashes later he wished it was set on high. Every strike caused his body to jerk, making his previous lashes and his chest scream out. He felt the ninth lash hit when his vision start to darken. He could tell his body was going to give out on him. He took a deep breath and tried to centre.
Wind, I am wind. Nothing can touch me I drift passed. I am fast, I am wind.
Aerrow didn't feel the next strike. Cyclonis didn't notice he didn't react to it, or the next one. She also didn't notice the crystal in the energy whip starting to glow, or the dozens of other crystals in the room, all glowing slightly and starting to resonate together.
Wind is not affected by anything; worlds are torn by me, molded by me. I control the air. Nothing can harm me.
As Aerrow centered himself in the universe he felt things around him hum with energy. He couldn't see what they were but they increased in a crescendo until his bones vibrated with them. It was like the start of the lightning claw, only magnified by a million. The crystals, he realized. That's what the sky knight move was based on, perfect resonance with your energy weapon. And Aerrow was resonating with every crystal in the room.
He felt for the power and pulled it into himself, just as he did with the crystals in his daggers. He opened his eyes and was aware of everything in the room. Everything had stopped, just for a millisecond, as he held the power, Cyclonis was tensed for another strike, three talons were grinning further back in the room. Jewel was in an energy cage, crushed onto her knees by the streaks of green energy. Aerrow could feel the energy starting to disrupt as he got distracted but he pulled it back and released.
The energy snapped away from him and he followed, the cuffs deactivating as the crystals powering them deactivated. He landed in a crouch; his leg stretched out and watched the show.
A/N Whatcha think? Please let me know, next chapter Aerrow makes his escape and he and Jewel get closer. Dark Ace gets captured by sky knights. And Snipe gives Cyclonis the green crystal he took from Dark Ace. Fun fun fun.
Cheers
Ps the rating may go up, it'll depend how the next chapter comes out. I've changed things so much from my original copy as I've been typing it. Anyone particularly against the rating going up, or for it let me know.
XXX