A/N Long chapter for you. There wasn't a reasonable place to stop. Rating remains the same I'm sure you noticed. Anyhoo, I'm another year older, not good.
Thought I'd put a little shout out to my reviewers, I haven't done it for ages. BlueSapphireGirl, tege, Aerrow4eva, Aven, Falconyx and Paigylou.
This huge chapter is for you six.
xx
The world has a frequency at which all natural things resonate. Each source of energy has its own unique frequency and only those at total harmony with the frequency of the world can pull all these resonations together. It requires great skills in concentration and can be destructive if not controlled properly.
Aerrow had not given his outburst any form of control; he had pulled the power in and let it lash out. The pain of the last day and his rage at his captors had made him act rashly. The power laid everyone in the room out cold. Aerrow watched the rampage unfurl slowly, his head still in tune with the energy. Master Cyclonis, surrounded by so many crystals, was unconscious before she landed in the floor. The talon's were blasted off their feet and landed near the far wall. The crystal powered equipment was trashed, all the energy having been pulled out so violently.
Aerrow saw Jewel's body slumping to the side as the bars on her cage deactivated. He straightened and the world resumed its normal speed for him. He hurried over to Jewel and lifted her.
Running towards the cargo bay with Jewel was taxing his already abused body. Something about his outburst had numbed the pain in his back but he knew he'd pay for it eventually. He just hoped he could find a skimmer and get away before it resurfaced.
The whole place was a mess of sirens and people running, even a half naked sky knight carrying a silver haired girl was over looked. He moved Jewel over his shoulder and ran down another corridor. He burst into the cargo bay and saw a few abandoned switchblades. He grabbed an overall from a peg as he ran to the vehicle. He tossed Jewel over the seat and dressed himself before revving the engine and sailing out of Cyclonia. He wasn't even chased; the switch blades in the sky seemed to be flying aimlessly.
"Maybe I knocked out the comms network," Aerrow grinned to himself. Jewel started to moan in her sleep. She jerked up and Aerrow had to dip the glider to make sure she didn't fall. He helped her sit up. She tucked her dirty white dress round her legs so she could sit astride the bike and gripped Aerrow round the waist. She tucked her face into his back.
"Aerrow, I was so frightened. I thought I'd never get out. And then you, what did they do to you?" Jewel realized she was hugging Aerrow's injured back and slackened her grip. "Did I hurt you, I'm sorry. Oh gods, Aerrow are you alright?"
"I'm fine Jewel. And so are you now. We're out and they're not following." Aerrow was a bit worried that his lashed back wasn't hurting; he hoped he hadn't done some nerve damage. "I'm going to stop at the next Terra and get us some help. We need to contact my squadron."
They flew for another hour on the switch blade, both of them getting colder by the minute as they flew over the wastelands. Aerrow kept Jewel amused by telling her about his squadron, she asked him questions about them and laughed at his responses. When a Terra finally came into view Aerrow realized it was Terra Saharr from the sandy colour. He landed the borrowed vehicle near the Great Bazaar and they walked in.
Aerrow was looking out for Blister, or any of the Third Degree Burners, the sky knight squadron of the Terra, to see if they could contact the Condor. Aerrow started to feel a tingle from his back as the sweat ran over the wounds. Jewel reached out and took his hand. He glanced over at her and realized she was feeling very uncomfortable.
He stopped and pulled her closer. "Jewel, what's the matter? Are you ok?" Aerrow stood in front of her and held her hands.
"Aerrow, it's so big and bright. There are people everywhere. I, I've never been anywhere like this."
"Jewel, I promise we'll be alright here, the Burner's watch this Terra, they're a bit competitive but a great bunch of sky knights." Aerrow proceeded to tell Jewel about the great race when Dark Ace disguised himself. Jewel felt bad about laughing at Ace but Aerrow kept laughing when he was telling it.
They passed a group of men on skimmers without noticing them. Blister looked up as he heard their laughter. He saw a familiar shock of bright red hair and he ran up to the man.
Aerrow felt a hand on his shoulder and tensed. He grabbed the hand and flung the assailant over his shoulder to land in the sand in front of him. He assumed a fighting stance as the body hit the ground.
"Aerrow, its Blister you idiot," the body coughed as it spoke and Aerrow saw it was the Saharr Sky knight as the dust settled. Blister picked him self up and gave Aerrow a huge hug.
"Where have you been mate? You've been written off as dead for weeks. Should've known no Talon could've done you in mate." Blister put his arm round Aerrow, still in shock at seeing the youngest Sky knight alive.
"Thanks Blister, this is Jewel, another Cyclonian escapee, Jewel this is Blister, leader of the Third Degree Burners."
Jewel took the offered hand and shook it slightly. "Aerrow told me all about you when we arrived. It's an honor."
"Nah love honors all mine. Right boyo, we need to call your squad and get them down here on the double." Blister looked at Aerrow before walking away and paused. "You alright mate? Hard time over the last few weeks eh?" Blister took Aerrow's face in his hands and turned it, looking the young man over.
"You've got a few more scars than the last time I saw you, not all of them visible either I'd wager. Come on lad, we'll get you settled and I'll make the call to your squad. A nice cool tent and something cool to drink will make you feel better. Can you wait till dinner time for food? It's in an hour and you could join us on the carrier for some good chow. If you can't wait I could rustle something up I'm sure."
"Shade and a drink will be fine for us just now thanks Blister. We'd love to join you for dinner."
Aerrow and Jewel were shown to a small tent that was surprisingly cool on the inside. Aerrow let out a sigh as the heat let up. Jewel sat on the cushions and stretched out her legs. "Is it always so hot here? How can they stand it?"
Aerrow chuckled and poured them each a glass of cloudy liquid. Blister told them it would replace their salt levels and glucose needs. He carried them over and sat next to her.
Aerrow drank till the glass was empty, the drink had no taste but it soothed his sore throat. He sat thinking about the past six weeks, how was he ever to explain it. He hunched over his knees. His back felt tight as he stretched it, the feeling obviously returning. He'd screamed in agony as Master Cyclonis tortured him, and learned that his most hated enemy was as trapped as he had been. It had been so confusing he didn't know how anybody would understand it, let alone believe him.
Aerrow was dragged from his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder. "Aerrow, what's wrong?" Aerrow let him self be dragged to a lying position on his side facing her.
"I'm wondering how I'm going to explain all of this. And I'm going to have to do it a million times. It's going to be hard."
"Well you don't have to worry yet. Right now we can relax. Before it all starts. At least you don't have gapping holes in your memory." Aerrow chuckled and gazed into her eyes, smiling. He ran his hand over her cheek and drew her in for a light kiss. Jewel closed her eyes and kissed him back. They broke apart smiling at each other.
Jewel caught his lips in a more serious kiss opening her mouth inviting his tongue in. He caught her body up and pressed it against his invading her mouth. "Jewel," he started.
"Aerrow, before I was given to Ace my name was Kestrel, he named me Jewel. I'd like to go back to it, if that's ok with you."
"Can I call you Kes?" Aerrow smiled.
"Absolutely." She kissed him again. He turned her onto her back and leaned over her, partially covering her. She ran her hands over him as he held her tight.
A/N chickening out from writing a sex scene, sorry.
They lay in each others arms, Aerrow's coveralls discarded and Kestrel's dress half off. Aerrow was on his back, holding a lightly dozing Kes on his chest. His back was getting more uncomfortable. He shifted and Kes roused.
"You ok Aerrow?" She smiled tiredly at him.
"My back's starting to hurt. Finally paying for all the crap I've gone through today. God it is still today isn't it; this has been the longest day ever." Aerrow stretched his back and felt a trickle of wetness. His back started to burn. He slipped back into the coveralls, trying to make sure Kestrel didn't see how much he struggled. He didn't want her to worry.
Kestrel took his movements as a cue to straighten herself out. "I must look a fright. Oh what I wouldn't give for a shower." She yawned and stretched. Aerrow looked her over, thinking she looked pretty good. Her long silvery white hair was a bit tangled, her face and hands a bit dirty and her dress ruined but after what they'd gone through it was good. He caught her icy blue eyes glaring at him. "You don't have to stare you know."
"What can I say, I like what I see." He bent down and pecked her on the nose. He instantly regretted it as his back flared. He straightened slowly.
The tent curtain opened and Blister poked his head through. "You pair alright? Dinner's nearly ready if you want to come with me, you can grab a quick wash. Aerrow, your team'll be here after dinner, possible sooner. Piper says she's got a couple of velocity crystals saved so she's going to use 'em." Aerrow smiled.
Aerrow held his hand out for Jewel and helped her up. He held onto her hand as they walked back out into the heat. The hot air slapped him across the face and he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, the burning on his back intensified in the heat, making him dizzy. Kestrel looked at him in concern but he smiled and walked on. They were taken to the carrier and climbed on board. Aerrow sighed in relief as the hot air vanished.
They sat down to a simple meal after quickly washing their faces and hands of two days of prison dirt. Blister offered to try and find them clean clothing, but Aerrow said he was too hungry to care about clothes. Aerrow picked at his meal, his injuries removing any real appetite.
"You not hungry mate?" Blister looked at the boy in concern; he should have devoured the food after two days of nothing.
"I think I'm just tired Blister. It is good though." Aerrow forced another bite down. It settled as a hard lump in his stomach.
Kestrel ate lightly with exceptional manners. She didn't give much conversation but listened to the Third Degree Burners chatter.
"You want to tell us what happened?" Kes stopped eating and stared at Blister. She turned her attention to Aerrow who was staring at his nearly full plate.
"It's difficult to explain. I spent 5 weeks with the Dark Ace on some random terra in the Cyclonian territory. I tried to escape but cracked my back. Snipe came and took me to Cyclonis two or three days ago. She wanted to play." Aerrow shuddered. Kestrel unconsciously covered her scar.
"It's alright mate, don't. You'll have enough people who want the details. The fact your back is enough for us."
The burner's pilot came into the mess hall. "Blister, Storm Hawks approaching, they're hailing us."
"Tell them to land. Well lad, do you want to go to them, or will I invite them aboard?"
Aerrow weighed the options. "We'll go to them, thank you for the hospitality Blister, but we need to rest."
"Not a problem mate. I think you finished anyway. Come on, we'll go wait for them ground side." Blister stood up and Kes followed gracefully. Aerrow pushed himself up, fatigue and blood loss making him slow and clumsy.
He followed the pair out of the room and eventually out onto the terra. They were just in time to see his ship land in the sand a few feet away. Aerrow felt his heart lift at the sight of the beaten up old ship. Home, he thought. As soon as the wheels touched the ground the ground hatch fell open and three people ran out. Just in front of them was a small grey blue blur, bounding up. Radarr wrapped himself round his master.
Aerrow returned the hug, holding his friend close. He'd missed the little creature. Piper threw her hands round him as well. Tears fell freely from her eyes. "Aerrow, oh my god, I knew you weren't dead, I knew it." Piper was pulled off by Finn who bear hugged his captain. Aerrow turned grey. His back was agonizing; he barely managed to hold himself up as Finn put him down. Before he could even try to speak Junko walloped him on the back. "Good to see you buddy."
Aerrow fainted and landed in the sand. His team, Kestrel and Blister all looked in shock at the dark wet patch on his back. The grey coveralls were soaked with something. Junko held his hand up. They all gasped at the bright red liquid covering the Wallop's hand and arm.
Blood.
A/N: well folks how was it? I thought it came out well. Next time Aerrow explains where he's been, the Storm Hawks take him to Atmosia for a healer and a debriefing from the council. Also Cyclonis gets a certain green crystal from Snipe and uses it to inflict more pain on the Storm Hawks. I'm so bad to poor Aerrow.
Cheer
XXX