Chapter 2: Where Are We?

Feeling a waterdrop land on her cheek, Camellia wakes up with Veemon beside her still out cold. Thankfully, Ignis was awake before them, keeping watch.

"Veemon, wake up." Camellia whispered, gently shaking her partner.

"Cam! Ignis!" Veemon groaned, rubbing his head, "What happen?"

"Not sure, but I'm more concern about where we are." Camellia said looking around their new surroundings, "Wherever we are, it ain't Earth, the Digital World, or any other world we've been to."

They were in closet full of cleaning supplies, everything was red and black, and negative energy fill the air.

"So, I guess we should look around and find a way out of this place." Camellia suggested quietly.

"Right." Ignis whispered.

So, the Duo of Miracles and the Servamp, slowly opens the door, then runs out quickly, but quietly.

Meanwhile…

"Remind me why we're doing this?" Finn asked

Aerrow, the last descendent of the original Storm Hawks and leader of the new Storm Hawks, sighed before pressing on his earpiece.

"We've been over this, Finn. Piper's scanners picked up a huge energy spike somewhere on Cyclonia, and we have to find out what's the cause of it." Aerrow explained again.

"I think we're all clear on that subject." Stork responded, "The real question is that why are we doing this? Why is that whenever something possibly lethal comes up, we're the ones who have to risk our lives for it?"

The Sky Knight could practically hear the Merb's eye twitching in fear from the other end of earpiece.

"What's all this 'we' stuff? You're safe on the Condor while we're risking our lives out here!" Finn scoffed.

"Somebody has to be here, so we can make a quick getaway, which, undoubtedly, we're going to need." Stork answered.

"Dude, that's nothing but a load of-" Finn started.

"You two knock it off!" Piper interrupted, having enough of their arguing, "We're doing this because that we're the only ones who can get into Cyclonia."

"Although, Stork's got a good point." Junko chimed in, "Couldn't we have brought some back-up?"

"Like who?" The marksman asked, skeptical. "The Absolute Zeroes would just blow our cover, the Rebel Ducks are always getting captured no matter what, and the Rex Guardians? Don't get me started with them."

"Guys, focus." Aerrow told.

His squadron was like his family, but from time to time he had to step in so that he could get everyone back on track.

"We're behind enemy lines. How about a little radio silence?" Aerrow said to his team.

"Fine dude, but seriously, I-" Finn began again.

The Sky Knight didn't listen, instead he closed his end of the link, combing his fingers through a mop of his crimson hair. He was starting to think that maybe it would've better if he went on this mission alone, but he knew that they needed as many eyes as possible to find out what was happening here. And besides, he knew his team would be alright if things would get serious.

Aerrow checked the small scanner that Piper had given to everyone. The readings were showing traces of some kind of energy, not very surprising considering where they were at, but nothing similar what they'd detected on the Condor. Clipping the device onto his belt and sticking to the shadows, the redhead sneaked into the fortress.

In the meanwhile, Camellia and Veemon were trying their way out of this strange place. So far, they weren't caught by the guards and hide occasionally.

Until…

WEEEEE-OOOOO! WEEEEE-OOOOO!

The lights that were lining the hallway started flashing crimson in time to the wail of an alarm. Camellia, Ignis and Veemon slapped their hands or paws over the ears to block out the noise, their senses suddenly on full battle alert.

"Did they find us out?!" Veemon shouted over the loud noise.

The Trio didn't intend to stick around to find out. The halls were still clear, but they probably wouldn't stay that way for long with the alert. The choices were either get the hell out of here now or capture by some armed, seriously ticked-off guards. Without waiting for a second, the Trio picked a direction and started running, hoping to find answers or a way out of here.

Meanwhile with Aerrow…

A Talon soldier fell to the ground, knocked out into the wall by a blue energy. Unfortunately, Aerrow didn't stop him from setting off the alarm. Soon, the whole Terra would be crawling around with armed Talons on alert. Cursing his luck, the Sky Knight reopened the comm. link once again.

"Who set off the fire alarm?" Finn asked over the comm. link.

"One of the guards spotted me." the redhead Sky Knight admitted reluctantly.

He'd been so occupied looking for the cause of the energy spikes that he'd forgot to keep himself hidden.

"We're out of time. Head back to the Condor, I'll meet up with you guys later." Aerrow ordered.

"We're on route now." Piper said, "Be careful."

"Aren't I always?" Aerrow said before shutting off the link.

Looking back at the scanner that was on his belt, he saw that the pulse he'd been following was getting stronger. Whatever causing the energy spikes was, it was close, and wasn't leaving without the source. Besides, he would be out of here before anyone realized what happened.

"Over there!" a Talon shouted.

Or not…

Only a small patrol group found him, with a handful of Talon guards. One guy, apparently the leader of the group, smirked at the Sky Knight.

"Well, Sky Knight." Talon #1 hissed, speaking the title like poison, "We can either do this the easy way or the hard way."

It took all of Aerrow's self-control not to start laughing at the Talon guards. It was always funny how Cyclonians always seemed so confident. Of course, that was always before the actual fight started.

"How about my way then?" Aerrow commented.

Before his would-be captors even had a chance to react towards the comments, the Sky Knight had already launched himself into the air.

Focusing on the familiar rush of energy into a one mass, he shot his signature attack at the Cyclonians. Aerrow landed skillfully on his feet, in front of the unconscious guards.

"Yeah, didn't think you'd mind." Aerrow said, sheathing his twin blades.

The crimson-haired teen started walking the hall and rounded the next corner, following the energy readings of his scanner.

Only to be greeted by the tip of a katana.

"Okay, who are you and where the hell are we?" Camellia growled as Veemon and Ignis were beside their partner.

This was not the kind of adventure Camellia had been hoping for, especially when she just got out of the hospital a week ago and most of her injuries haven't fully heal yet. After walking out of the closet and running around for Merlin knows how long. It soon became clear that they weren't getting out of this place without help.

The good thing was that the Trio hadn't run into any guards yet, so either they had to be deaf, stupid, or they didn't know that they were here.

Either way, that was a plus.

Luckily, she was smart enough to bring her weapons. So, she summoned her katana, she named Arashi (made of orichalcum) from her backpack that had an undetectable extension charm, plus a weightless charm.

Now that she, Ignis and Veemon stood face to face with the first living thing they seen since being warped here from their Home World, Camellia and Veemon weren't taking any chances. The whole place was filled with evil, so it was safe to assume that anyone in this place was anything but friendly. But… the Human male that they just ran into didn't look dangerous. He wasn't dressed like the pilots that the two seen earlier and looked surprised. In fact, he was about her age, but seem older by a few months.

In fact, he was actually kind of cu-

The tealnette quickly derailed that trail of though.

Camellia's thoughts: Focus, Camellia! You promise yourself that you would never fall in love ever again?

Besides, he'd yet to answer any of her questions.

"Well? We want answers!" Camellia growled, showing her fangs.

The Human boy managed to snap out of his state of shock at the person.

"Okay, just take it easy." Aerrow said, trying to calm her down, "My name's Aerrow, I'm a Sky Knight. What are you two doing on Cyclonia?"

Camellia's thoughts: That answers two of our questions. But raises so many others. "Sky Knight?" "Cyclonia?" What the bloody hell does that mean?'

Camellia sighed, keeping her weapon aimed at the redhead's face, ready to fight if he tries anything.

"That's a long story and doesn't make much sense to me and my partners. Just tell us how to get out of here before those guards find us." Camellia said with a spark in her eyes.

"Listen, I'd really like to help, but-" Aerrow began

Suddenly an insistent beeping sound coming from something on his belt. Camellia lowered her Arashi, as she, Ignis and Veemon watch in confusion as he grabbed the device and looked at it.

"Uh, nice ringtone." Camellia commented.

He either ignored or didn't hear the comment. The so-called Sky Knight just looked at the screen, then at the Trio, then back to the screen.

Who knew that the situation could get any weirder?

Aerrow finally shut off the device, placed it back on his belt, and looked up at the Duo of Miracles and the Servamp.

"Follow me." Aerrow said to the Duo.

Camellia, Ignis, and Veemon both blinked in surprise.

"So... you're helping us now? Hang on, what's was that thing you were looking at?" Camellia asked.

"Explain later, now come on!" Aerrow exclaimed.

Not giving the Trio any choice, the green-eyed stranger grabbed her by the wrist and half-dragged her the way he'd come from with Veemon jumping onto her shoulder. After a few seconds, Camellia was able to match his pace, almost crashed into him when he stopped.

"You could give us a warning, you-" The fox-girl trailed off once she, Ignis and Veemon saw the reason for his sudden halt.

At least thirty guards blocked their way, with two imposing characters at the front. One was a man, probably early twenty's, with jet black hair and piercing ruby eyes that looked her older brother who abandoned her at the abbey all those years ago.

Camellia's thoughts: Drake?

The aura he was emitting had a clear message: Stay out of my way or else. But as bad as this guy was, he was nothing like to the girl who was standing beside him. Using her profiling skills, she was young, likely around Camellia's age. But from the way this girl was looking at them… she seemed so much older. Everything about her was cold, sinister, dangerous, Camellia could sense negative energy from her. Not to mention, the girl was the kind of person who could kill repeatedly and show no remorse what so ever.

And something deep down told Camellia that she already had.

"Isn't this a surprise," the girl spoke in a sickly-sweet tone that made Camellia's blood run cold through her veins, "The leader of the Storm Hawks, walking into my hands. And you've brought friends. How old-fashioned."

Her thin smile then immediately vanished, violet eyes glancing to her side towards the man.

"Kill them." the girl ordered.

"With pleasure." The man smiled.

It was now official…

This was the worst day of her life compare to the other times of when she almost got killed.