And so we join our sky flying friends, once again, as they enter Cyclonian territory. Stork has revealed his past with Dr.Heron, but what will it mean for the future? Will the Storm Hawks find the answers about Cyclonis' resurrection? Will the beeping ever stop?(Probably not, to much fun torturing you guys with it.) Read and see, and when your done, REVIEW! And away we go.
Heart of Darkness...Lockout and In
Piper walked to the kitchen, but she wasn't feeling hungry. After hearing about Stork's past, she knew it would be awhile before she had an appetite again. She was going there because she was pretty sure the other guys were still there, as there weren't many other places to be besides the bridge. As she walked in she noticed Junko and Finn passed out on the floor, their stomachs bulging and a mess of plates and dishes scattered across the kitchen floor.
Great, just great, as if supplies weren't already going to be tight. She thought to herself as she surveyed the mess. Well, at least cleaning this up will give me time to relax my own mind.
It was as she was reaching for a plate, currently being hugged close by Junko like a teddy bear, that she realized Aerrow was sitting in the corner of the kitchen. He appeared to completely absorbed in what looked like a book on mid-flight battle tactics. "Interesting book?" She asked, still pulling the plate from Junko's sleeping grip.
"Don't know yet." He said, his voice sounding distant. "I haven't even made it past the first page. My mind is completely wrapped up in exactly how we are supposed to sneak into Cyclonis' citadel, undetected, get the information, and the slip out again." Then Aerrow closed the book, and let a sigh. "I just wish we were making a bigger impact."
"Like maybe storm the throne room, defeat Dark Ace, capture Cyclonis and Dr.Heron, then bring them to The Sky Council to give all the answers personally?" Piper said, a slight sarcastic tone to her voice.
"Exactly." Aerrow said with a grin. "Assuming we can avoid being shot out of the sky, fight past countless Talons, and actually get Cyclonis to surrender. Then it should be a cake walk." They both let out a small laugh.
"They can't all be grand missions to rid The Atmos of evil." Piper said after she regained herself from laughing. "Sometimes though, it's the smallest sting that hurts the most."
"Ya, your right Piper." Aerrow said, the sound of acceptance in his voice. Then he looked up at Piper after remembered something. "Oh yeah, how did things go with Stork?"
Piper was not sure how to respond to the question. Stork had been reluctant to open up, and she doubted that he really wanted everyone to know his past. "Well..." She said, dragging out the L sound to stall for a bit. "I don't think there will be any problems as long as Stork stays on the ship like usual."
"Is there anything we should know about? I had the feeling that Stork has a past with Dr.Heron." Aerrow asked this in his usual voice that showed his concern as well as his own curiosity.
"I really don't feel comfortable telling Stork's past for him." Piper said, She started nervously rubbing her left arm. "For now, let's just say he's not happy about all this, and it would be best not to bother him about it till it's all over." Piper quickly changed the subject, not wanting to continue the current conversation. "By the way, we just entered Cyclonian territory, better wake up these guys so we can go over the plan." Not that we'll end up following it. She thought to herself.
They both then went about the near impossible task of waking up Junko and Finn. Both of them still happily in a stuffed belly coma.
...
He sat in his office, the lights off and the shades drawn, it was completely dark. The only light came in small quick pulses from a small green crystal in his hand. It would flash twice quickly, pause, then flash twice again. A smile was on his face, a smile that clearly showed both his delight and a small spark of something sinister.
"They're getting close now." He said to no one but himself. "It should be almost time for activation." Then crystal suddenly, as if feeling his will for it to do so, changed it's rhythm. It was now flashing quickly three times between pauses. He let a small laugh escape his mouth, then pressed a button on the intercom on his desk.
"Yes sir, Sky General Stryker, sir!" The voice of his aide said through the intercom. "You have orders, sir?"
"Yes." Stryker said, a smile still on his face. "Assemble as many of the fleet and local Sky Knight squadrens as you can. We set out in two hours, I have a feeling The Storm Hawks have failed."
"By your orders, sir!" The aide responded through the intercom.
Stryker let his finger slip off the intercom button, and then proceeded to laugh loudly. His office was still dark save for the light of the flashing crystal. "By the time we arrive at Cyclonia, all should be as I have predicted. And then, all of The Atmos shall sing my praises, and the only mention of The Storm Hawks shall be about they're costly sacrifice." He sat there in his dark office, still smiling, imagining his victory speech while he waited for his grand fleet to be assembled.
...
Piper was standing at the head of the kitchen table, they were still in the kitchen because they felt like letting Stork have his space. They had managed to wake up Finn and Junko, though they only seemed half awake and eager to get back to sleep. Aerrow was sitting down across the table from her with Radarr perched on his shoulders as usual. They were ready as they ever were to begin their strategy session.
"As I'm sure you remember, things didn't go so well last time we sneaked into Cyclonia." She began, trying to keep an assertive tone to her voice. "Even though we succeeded in the end, it was really only thanks to Starling being there that we able to pull it off."
"Ya." Finn suddenly spoke up. "Wish we could have her here now, she would totally help us kick in Cyclonis' butt."
"If only that were an option." Piper said, also wishing that they had Starling's help. "But she only shows up when she needs us for something, and we have no way of contacting her. So we will just have to do it right this time." She then looked directly at Junko and Finn, pointing a finger at them. "That goes double for you two. I know you don't like to follow my plans exactly, but this is to important to make up as we go along." She looked around, and it seemed she actually had their full attention. "So Stork should have us flying low already to avoid detection, when we arrive..."
"Um, Piper?" Junko spoke up now, interrupting Piper as she had just begun explaining the plan.
Piper rolled her eyes. Great, she thought, just when I thought they were actually going to listen. She decided to go ahead and hear what Junko had to say. "What is it Junko?"
Junko started rubbing his hands together nervously. "Um, if we're supposed to be flying low, shouldn't we be, uh, lower?" He then pointed out the Kitchen window.
Piper looked out the window. She felt confused, they hadn't lowered altitude at all. She went over to the wall and spoke into the speaking tube that lead to the bridge. "Stork, why haven't we gone lower? We'll be detected if we stay this high."
"Oh, believe me, nothing would make me happier than to avoid being seen and then shot at by every Cyclonian in scanning range." Stork's voice carried a worried tone back through the speaking tube. "Maybe you guys should come here so I can show you how doomed we seem to be."
Piper looked back at the others with a worried glance. They all quickly got up and headed for the bridge. When they arrived, they saw a very agitated Stork desperately pulling at the controls and going at the steering column with a wrench. His left eye and ear twitching in time with each other.
"Stork, what's going on?" Aerrow asked approaching the nervous pilot.
"Oh, nothing much." Stork replied in a calm voice that was opposite of how he looked. He then took a deep breath for the next part of what he had to say. "Except for the fact that the autopilot has engaged and won't deactivate, leaving us well inside the range of Cyclonian scanners. By the way, they most likely know we're coming by now." He then darted over to one of the control consoles, quickly reading over some of the indicator lights and gauges. "It would also seem some of my trap devices have sprung on their own."
"Which ones?" Piper asked, fear now building inside her over what seemed to be a worsening situation.
"It looks like it's the ones I designed to lock down the ship in case anyone besides us try to take her. A necessary precaution, I might add, after time you guys sold The Condor." Stork said, he began pressing a series of buttons, but nothing was working. "None of my overrides are working though. But, nothing explains why we're still moving. I designed this system to shut down the engines and switch into hover. Also, all the hatches are now sealed, as well as access to the hanger, pretty much locking us in." Then he looked back at everyone. "So unless anyone has any bright ideas, I'd say we're pretty doomed."
Everyone started looking around at each other, hoping one of them would have an idea of what to do. But, before any of them could say anything, a voice came out of all The Condor's speaking tubes. "Greetings Storm Hawks."
"Stryker?" Finn said looking around in confusion. "Is he on the ship?"
"This a recording meant to congratulate you." Stryker's voice continued over the tubes. "You have successfully entered Cyclonian territory, at least you managed to do that right." Stryker's voice had taken a harsher, more smug tone now. "You no doubt have noticed that you can't steer your ship anymore. Don't worry, I'm sure the hull should hold long up enough, from the damage it's sure to receive, for your carrier to get close enough to Cyclonis' citadel. Then my little present I left for both you and Cyclonis should activate."
"Oh crap!" Finn shouted, a mix of fear and anger in his voice. "He's using us as a freaking bomb." He looked around at his very scared friends. "What did we ever do to this guy?"
"Don't worry, you may survive yet, though I doubt it." Stryker's voice continued. "We are simply using some interesting technology we got from Cyclonis' files against her. After it's activated, my fleet will arrive in time to pick up the pieces and defeat whatever forces may remain." And then with a sinisterly joyful tone, Stryker voice added one last comment. "We'll make sure to turn what's left of your rust bucket of a ship into a museum and give you all a proper burial fit for our greatest heroes. I'll even read your eulogy, it should be quite stirring, I might even cry. Anyway, goodbye Storm Hawks, make sure to die in one piece so we can have an open casket ceremony." Only silence followed, Stryker's message was finished.
Everyone stood there silently, not sure how what to say. They all looked around in a daze, hoping this was some cruel joke or bad dream. But no one was popping out laughing, and it was a very real situation. It was Finn, surprisingly, that spoke first.
"Dude, this is so not cool. When we get back we totally have to beat the shine off his bald head."
Piper looked at Finn, anger rising. "Finn, we have to deal with this situation. This is no time to be making jokes."
Aerrow spoke up before Piper could slap Finn across the back of the head. "No, Finn's right. We have to get even with Stryker after this." Confidence was coming back into his voice now. "Just means we have to get through this first, understand?"
Piper realized what Aerrow meant, the situation was about surviving now. "Right." Then looking straight at Aerrow. "Any plans on exactly how to do that?"
Aerrow thought for a second, taking in the situation before he finally started giving out orders. He looked over at Finn and Junko. "You two, I want you to search the ship for anything suspicious. Check where all the speaking tubes come together first, Stryker's little message didn't come from nowhere."
"Right." Finn said, then patting Junko's shoulder. "Lets go Junko." Both he and Junko left the bride making way to the engine room.
Aerrow then turned to Stork. "Stork, check through everything to see what we still have control of, and think of any ways that we could override your traps."
"I've been doing that since before you came to the bridge." Stork replied with a slight edge to his voice. "Don't worry, doom can wait. I plan on making Stryker eat his words for calling my precious Condor a rust bucket."
Aerrow then turned to Piper. "Piper, the message said they were using Cyclonis' technology. Is there anything you can think of after reading through all those transcripts?"
Piper looked worried. "I haven't read them all yet. I was keeping most of what I read to Cyclonis' resurrection. Besides, I doubt Stryker would have allowed us to have information on whatever he's put on the ship."
"Stryker seems pretty arrogant." Aerrow said, still trying to keep some control on the situation. "He might not have cared, thinking there was nothing we could do, even if we knew. Check through everything just to be sure.
Piper, with a nod, made her way to the door but before passing through to go to her lab, she turned to look at Aerrow. "What about you Aerrow? What are you going to do?"
Before He could answer, Stork interupted. "I have a suggestion." He was looking straight out in front of them. "Maybe you could think of a way to deal with them?"
Out in front of them, two red and black vessels were coming into view. They all knew what they were, but Aerrow said it anyway. "Cyclonian battle cruisers."
Stork let out a sigh. "I take back what said about doom waiting. Looks like it came looking for us."
...
BeepBeepBeep...BeepBeepBeep...BeepBeepBeep...
Sorry that took a little longer than I wanted to get out here. Work has been a bit busy. Next chapter will finally answer the big question. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT BEEPING? I'm sure you all have your theories. I would love to hear them, tell them in a review maybe? It will help me to know if any of you can see it coming. Unless you think I should drag out the beeping more? Just kidding. Or am I?