I do not own Storm Hawks, Storm Hawks is the sole property of the creator Asaph Fipke, Nerd Corps., and affiliates. I write this fan fiction without the creator's permission, and make no profit from this work of fiction.
Chapter 3: Return to the Condor
Now the only problem was that the Condor had been left near the Human village, Aerrow wanted to keep fighting to a minim, considering that Gail was hurt, and half the team was riding double.
"Alright, guys," Aerrow began then sheepishly added, "and girls," after receiving a look from Piper. "I think it would be best if we just confronted the villagers head on. There is no way that we are going to be able to go around them to get to the Condor, and besides, if everything Gail told us is true, then they are going to have some real explaining to do."
It didn't take long for the Storm Hawks, plus Gail, to make it back to the human village. Aerrow braced himself for the impending meeting. In the last couple of years he had gained a lot of experience, and though he was still a very trusting person, he wasn't prepared to believe someone he just met, besides that; from what he had been told Gail had pulled a knife on Stork. A knife that he now held in his possession, Gail had reluctantly handed the knife over, and she understood that they could not fully trust her yet, especially after what she had done.
"Welcome back Storm Hawks," Yol greeted them. "It seems that you were able to capture the criminal very quickly, you accomplished in merely an hour, what my people have failed to do for months," Yol sent a pointed look to a small group of village-soldiers, who in turn looked away out of embarrassment.
"She was actually very willing to come, once she learned that we didn't want to kill her," Aerrow said harshly. "She gave us some pretty interesting information about the Humans and the Merbs on this Terra."
"All lies I'm sure," rebuffed Yol, "She is after all a criminal, what is to keep her from lying as well, isn't that right Gail?" Yol sent Gail a chilling look as he continued with, "we shall take her from here, I appreciate your help though, and you will be compensated for your trouble." With that said four large and intimidating looking men approached Piper's Heliscooter, where Gail was still seated.
"Not so fast, Yol, I would like to get some answers from you first, if that's okay?" Aerrow said, not completely sure who to trust.
"I see she has already sown the seeds of doubt in you, my friend, alright then, ask away, I am more then happy to answer any of your questions," Yol returned.
"Alright, first of all, is it true that you killed nearly twenty Mischungs, simply because they were mixed species?" Aerrow asked.
"Well, you sure get strait to the point," Yol retorted. "Yes, it is true that many Mishmashes died, but I'm sure Gail there did not tell you the whole truth. The Mishmash or Mischung as they called themselves sot to take control of the entire Terra, they felt that they were a better race then both the Merb and the Humans?"
At this point Yol signaled for the guards to move in closer towards Gail. "They inherited all the best traits of both, after all. A Merb's sense of smell and hearing is on average three times as good as a human's and their eyesight, though nearsighted, is much keener than our own. Sadly, Merb's do not enjoy the full range of color that the human eye experiences, however, a Mishmash, they get the best of both worlds. A sense of smell and hearing that is twice as good as a humans, and perfect vision, able to pick up a full range of both color and motion. So, Aerrow… You could say that we killed the Mishmash, or you could say that we were defending ourselves."
"That's a lie and you know it" Gail spat, her voice dripping with hate. "You provoked the Mischung! You threw the first punch literally, and you have tried to justify it to yourself with your lies! It is true that we Mischung were proud, how could we not be, as you said we have the best of both worlds. But, we never plotted to take over the Terra; you just used that as a story to convince the Humans that what they were doing wasn't wrong." By this point Gail, had dismounted from Piper's Heliscooter and made her way towards Yol.
"Tell them the truth Yol! Let them all in on your little secret. Up until now I've always been too afraid to stand up to you, but now, now that I have nothing left to loose, I'm not afraid of you anymore!" Turning to the villagers Gail announced, "hasn't Yol always said that the Humans and Merbs were always on friendly terms… almost too friendly?" Gail's outburst was met with nods of agreement from the villagers.
"That's enough out of you! You've already turned the Storm Hawks against me I won't have you turning my own village against me!" Yol shouted.
The guards lunged for Gail, just as she lunged for Yol. All in one fluid motion Gail grabbed a knife from her left boot, with her left hand, launched herself towards Yol, caught his arm in mid-strike, and then using his own momentum against him she was able to throw him to the ground. Gail was now seated firmly on Yol's chest with a knife to his throat, and her knees planted on both of his arms to keep him from grabbing hold of her.
"But, your arm is injured!" Yol angrily exclaimed. Yol had stupidly thought he was safe, as he had noticed Gail favoring her right arm, and was holding it very stiffly.
"I am ambidextrous, you oaf." Gail retaliated. At the confused look she received from not just Yol, but most of the villagers as well, Gail clarified with, "I'm both left and right handed."
"Now, since you are in no position to argue, and you're precious guards can't approach with out spilling your blood," Gail added with a pointed look towards the befuddled guards, "I suggest you start telling the truth. Here I'll even help you out by getting you started. You were in love with my mother, Petra."
Shocked and surprised gasps form the villagers and the Storm Hawks followed. "Is that true?" on of the villagers cried out. "You were in love with Petra?"
When no response was forthcoming from Yol, Gail took it upon herself to motive him. When her knife drew a thin line of blood a somewhat horrified look found a home on Yol's face.
"You wouldn't," Yol gasped, fear beginning to grip him.
"It was you who labeled me dangerous," Gail snickered, "you ought to heed your own warnings."
"Very well, it's true," Yol yelled, "I did love Petra, and I was jealous of Gail's father, Etvas. I'm mean when it came to down to me or him, how could I compete, with his Merb blood he had better senses and exotic looks. Petra choose a filthy Mishmash over her own kind!" Yol cried out in rage.
"Etvas was a nice man!" someone yelled.
"Petra had a kind spirit!" added another.
Jay, the second in command of the Human village, stepped forward. "After all this time we find out that the Mishma-, I mean the Mischung," he corrected himself, "had done nothing, it was all your own personal vendetta. Gail, I can assure you we had no idea, and Yol will be punished accordingly, banished perhaps. Although, I must say we are all partially responsible for what happened and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say our guilt will not soon fade."
An hour later Gail found herself on the Condor and headed towards a new future, Yol would be punished and her family, and all Mischungs, would finally received a small amount of justice. Jay also seemed to be a far nicer and more competent leader than Yol, and he promised that he would hold a council with the Merbs of the Terra and see about reopening their borders and their trade. The truth had finally been revealed.
"Hey, Gail, you don't look so good," Junko stated.
"Yah, you're looking kinda' green," Finn added. "No offense, dude," Finn added as Stork shot him a look.
"Come on you guys giver her a little room to breathe," Piper chipped in.
Gail sat in a chair, clutching her stomach with one hand, and her forehead with the other, she had turn an awful shade of green, had become clammy to the touch, and was panting lightly.
"It's just I've never been on an airship before, and I'm feeling a little sick," she managed to choke out as a wave of nausea gripped her.
"Oh! Oh! I know! Put your head between your knees," Junko offered.
"No, no, she should breathe into a paper bag," Finn said.
"Maybe you should lie down." Piper advised.
It continued on like this for several minutes, each Storm Hawk offering her various advices, Aerrow had also come over and put in his two cents. All of their suggestions, and their close proximity was making Gail feel even worse, it felt as if her head was spinning and she was completely disoriented. Then in one sharp moment of clarity, Gail knew that she would be in trouble if she didn't find a bath room immediately, she was going to be sick and she did not want to alarm her knew found friends.
"Where is your Water Closet?" she asked desperately.
"The what?" They all asked.
"You know the W.C. the toilet?" she was near frantic by this point, and had rose halfway out of her chair. "I'm going to be sick."
Understanding dawned on Piper; she grabbed Gail's hand and raced from the room, Gail stumbling after her. Gail slammed the bathroom door closed, before Piper could even offer to come in with her, as some people do not like to throw up alone, and prefer to have someone their to pat them on the back, and hold back their hair.
Gail however, knew that she was not going to regurgitate, she was not going to throw up the contents of her stomach. She was however, going to vomit blood. Being a quarter Merb, her organs and internal structures were completely unique. However, her digestive track was very similar to a Merb's. When nauseas blood would fill her stomach, and because of her body's unique attributes the only way to get rid of the excess blood was to throw it up. Knowing this, having had a rather weak stomach as a child, she did not want to alarm any of the others, she didn't even really know how her body worked, and wasn't about to try and explain it to someone else.
A full ten minutes later, Gail finally achieved that sense of miserable relief that one feels when they have thrown up, all that they can. Then after having the dry heaves for another ten minutes, she mustered the will to flush the plum colored toilet water away. Gail thoroughly washed her mouth out and scanned both her clothes and the entire bathroom thoroughly to make sure that everything was clean.
"She's been in there a long time," Aerrow commented.
"Maybe Piper should check on her." Finn added.
Everyone was surprised when Stork spoke, "I'll go check on her." They were all so shocked that none of them thought to argue.
Stork had a sneaking suspicion that he and Gail shared a certain trait when it came to getting sick. Stork took a detour through the kitchen, on his way to the bathroom, and stopped nervously outside the bathroom door. Just as he was going to raise his hand and knock the bathroom door swung open startling both himself, and Gail, who let out a cute 'eep' as her left hand came up over her heart.
"Uh… sorry if I startled you," was all Stork could think to say.
"Oh, no it's okay; I just wasn't expecting you, or anyone for that matter to be standing outside the door." Gail finished feeling quite foolish.
After a long moment of silence, Gail remembered her self, "Oh, uh, here let me get out of your way," she said blushing as she moved out of the doorway. "He must think I'm a total idiot," she thought.
"Actually, I came to give you this," Stork said as he took Gail's hand and poured a teaspoon of salt into it.
"Oh, thank you so much, I could really use this right now," Gail said, sincerely appreciative.
"I thought you might, I figured it would help settle your stomach, and after loosing blood you will need the salt." Stork blushed a little as he said this; Gail had brought her hand to her mouth and proceeded to lick the salt from it. When she glanced up and saw him watching her, she felt so embarrassed. Luckily she was saved from her awkward moment by Piper.
"Hey, there you are, do you feel any better?" Piper asked.
"Yah, lots," Gail answered.
"Good, then, I'll show you around the ship now," and with that Piper grabbed her saltless hand and led her away.
"She is definitely trouble," Stork thought as he walked back towards the front of the ship.