Disclaimer: Storm Hawks and all characters associated with the cartoon show are the property of Nerd Corp. However, Hikaru and Mikomi are my property. You are free to use them, just use a disclaimer. Happy reading.
E.V. North
Stork stood in front of the controls of the Condor, listening to the hum of the engines and the soft beeps of the instruments. Unfortunately, he was also listening to Finn recount his 'heroic deeds' on Terra Vapos.
"And then there was that one time when you sprayed those Murk-losers in the face with that disease book! Oh…classic." Finn laughed, wiping a tear from his eye and slapping Stork on the back.
"The book was One Thousand Horrible Afflictions and that was Yeti repellent." Stork turned to look at Finn, brushing his hand off in an irritated sort of way. "And yeah…it was pretty good." He turned back to the controls with a small smile. One of the sensors was pinging loudly.
"Wasn't that when I was getting my teeth fixed?" Junko asked, looking up from a shiny bit of scrap metal he was polishing happily. "I wish I could have been there."
"Aren't you allergic to Murk Raiders?" Piper asked from across the table.
"Oh, yeah." The wallop said, looking thoughtful. He shrugged and went back to his polishing. The loud pinging of the sensor continued. Stork glanced over at the sensor console and then back at the helm.
"Geez Stork, what IS that noise. I can't concentrate on my story." Finn whined, placing his hands on his hips.
"It's the long-range scanner. It's picked something up, but I can't leave the helm with this strong cross breeze…unless you want to be splattered into the wastelands." The merb said, a slight hint of manic glee in his voice. Finn winced.
"Here," Aerrow offered, striding across the deck, Radarr on his shoulder. "I'll look." He leaned over the console and peered at the circular screen with interest. He twisted the volume knob and the pinging died.
"It looks like a lot of skimmer activity about 450 clicks away." He said as Piper came over to have a look too.
"Hmm…" Piper mused "Those look like they could be Cyclonian crystal converter signatures." She went over to the map she had spread out on the table and traced her finger across the surface of the paper. "450 clicks, north East…thaaats…Terra Xoam." She concluded brightly.
"Wasn't that the jungley place with the ruins?" Junko asked.
"The Forbidden City, yes." Piper answered, raising an eyebrow.
"Are we going? 'Cause I'm all out of gloopy fruit." The wallop said, licking his lips. Finn made a barfing motion behind his big friend's back.
"If the Cyclonians are involved than we had better see what they're up to." Aerrow said, a frown on his face. "Stork-"he looked to the merb.
"I know, I know." Stork said as he turned the ship north east and pulled the throttle. "This is going to end badly, I can tell."
An hour and a half later Stork snuck the Condor under an outcropping of rock off the edge of Terra Xoam. He pulled a lever to his right and the Condor's grappling hooks shot out and dug into the rock,
suspending them in their hiding spot. Once he was sure they were secure he turned and gave the thumbs up for Aerrow to proceed.
"Piper." He said, turning to his team "You, me and Radarr will do a little recon and see what's going on. The rest of you, stay here and keep quiet. We'll signal if we need you, alright?"
"No problemo dude." Finn said, his idea of a winning smile on his face "We got this covered." Junko nodded his agreement enthusiastically while Stork rolled his eyes and sighed. He grabbed one of his books from the table and sat himself down.
Piper and Aerrow could see the Skimmers they had detected as soon as they got above the tree line. What they had thought was lots of activity was only three skimmers. However, they were clearly Cyclonian. They were wheeling and looping in a pattern above what looked like a clearing. Occasionally, one of them would use a nitro crystal and leave orange streaks behind them in the air.
"I don't like this." Aerrow said, glaring at the skimmers "Come on, we need to get below the trees or they'll spot us." They came in low and transformed, Aerrow on his motor bike and Piper on her scooter.
"I don't like this either. They're just wasting their crystal fuel and they're not even trying to be subtle. This could be a trap." Piper said as she sped up to a level with Aerrow. Aerrow looked concerned, but rode on. Trap or not, they had to put a stop to whatever the Cyclonians were up to,
They left Radarr and their rides a good distance from the clearing and crept the rest of the way through the brush. The buzz of the wheeling skimmers got louder and, as they settled down behind a fallen log, peepers in hand, they heard a voice in the clearing.
Dark Ace was sitting on a boulder. In one hand he twirled his sword idly; in the other he held the end of a heavy chain. This chain was attached like a leash to the neck of a boy who looked to be their own age. Piper covered her mouth in disbelief. How could the Cyclonians be that cruel to kids? Aerrow put a comforting hand on her shoulder and glared through his peepers at the scene.
"Blasted brats are never here when I want them." Dark Ace grumbled to the boy and tugged on his chain. He stumbled forward a few steps, but didn't complain. "I'd much rather face them myself…"
"Sir," a Talon hurried up and saluted. He took a look at the boy's glazed eyes and took a step away from him. "The bait reports that they're almost out of nitro crystals."
"Then let them run out. This is getting us nowhere. Keep flying, but forget the Nitros." Dark Ace stuck his sword angrily into the ground. The Talon flinched, but the boy remained still. He glanced from the Talon to the boy and a grin spread across his face.
"I know," He said "let's have a little fun." He reached into his pocket with his now free hand and pulled out a red crystal the size of a chicken egg.
"Hikaru," he barked into the crystal. The boy's eyes snapped onto Dark Ace. "Jump up and down." The boy immediately began to hop in place. Piper gasped, but clamped a hand to her mouth to avoid being heard.
"We have to stop this Aerrow." She whispered "He's being controlled."
"I know, I'm thinking." He replied
"Now dance." Dark Ace grinned as the boy went into a graceful dance that would clearly look better with a couple of fans. The Talon laughed aloud at the effeminate display. All the while Hikaru's eyes remained locked on Dark Ace, staring.
"Stop it!" Dark Ace yelled, making both the Talon and Piper jump. Hikaru immediately stopped his dance. His hands fell to his sides as he continued to stare at Dark Ace, waiting…
"Stop staring at me you little freak!" Hikaru's eyes closed as Dark Ace tugged the chain hard enough for the boy to fall right on his face. He lay motionless, waiting for the command to get up.
"Get up and dust yourself off." Dark Ace growled, settling back down on his rock and resting his hand on the red crystal in the hilt of his sword. The boy sprung back up and brushed the dirt from the blue silk of his long sleeves. His glasses had been knocked off, but his eyes were still closed. A bit of blood dribbled down his cheek from a cut on his forehead. The Talon crammed the glassed back onto the boy's nose. Hikaru turned his face to Dark Ace again, though it was clear he couldn't stare through closed eyes.
"Humph… the staring must be an effect of the slave crown." Dark Ace mused as he examined the control gem. "Open your eyes already." Hikaru's eyes snapped open once more and resumed their staring.
"Oh, knock it off." Dark Ace growled at the boy. Fast as lightning Hikaru had crouched low, deflected Dark Ace's hand from its resting place on the pommel of his sword and knocked the red striker crystal clean off the end of the hilt all in one fluid motion. Dark Ace's jaw dropped in shock as Hikaru stood up swiftly and continued his deadpan staring. He stood up and grabbed the slave by the front of his shirt and then released him, realizing intimidation to be worthless.
Aerrow barely stifled a laugh. That was what he had told him to do after all. What a moron.
Dark Ace handed the chain to the dumfounded Talon. "Go and amuse yourself until I need you." He commanded the boy. Hikaru cocked his head to one side as though thinking about how best to accomplish this then set off at a quick pace toward a pebble-lined lake shore nearby.
Aerrow motioned that he would stay with Dark Ace and that she should trail Hikaru. She nodded and followed the boy and the Talon through the undergrowth and watched as they stopped at the edge of the water. Was he going to swim? She didn't know. The Talon watched the skimmers above as the boy crouched down and began to stack flat skipping pebbles, one on top of the next, until he had a neat little pebble pyramid. The Talon glanced at the boy and rolled his eyes. He went back to watching the skimmers. Piper watched the boy called Hikaru with interest; even in his mind-controlled state this small action was rather adorable. Once finished, Hikaru stared at his tiny tower. He appeared to be concentrating. Piper heard a low bass thrum come from where the boy crouched and the pebbles lifted into the air an inch and fired themselves across the surface of the water, skipping several times before they sank.
Piper's eyes widened. The Talon hadn't noticed. Hikaru was busy on his second pebble pyramid when a crash was heard and Dark Ace came storming up to the pair. The Talon with the chain looked around, but Hikaru continued with his work. Aerrow dropped down quietly next to Piper. He was panting hard and looked worried.
"One of the skimmers ran out of fuel and crashed. Dark Ace's ride is completely destroyed. He's pissed and I think he's going to take it out on that slave." They turned back in time to see Dark Ace seize the leash from the Talon and lift Hikaru clear off his feet. He looked livid. "This is all your fault! I wouldn't have to out on this miserable Terra if it wasn't for you. I could have gone to find the Storm Hawks on my own if it wasn't for YOU!" He bellowed. As Hikaru began to turn blue, his feet started to kick slightly. A look of fear crept into his eyes as the trace of a thought fluttered through his mind.
"I don't want to die."