Of course, I didn't get any sleep. Just as I started to drift off the door to my room banged open and I almost fell out of bed as I jumped in shock. Shark stalked toward my bed despite the look of indignant anger I gave him.

"Get up, you're going to the hospital," Shark told me.

My glare intensified. "The hell I am. Where do you---."

"You almost drowned, dude. You're going to the hospital cause you're in danger of secondary drowning. Unless of course you'd like to die in your sleep," the surfer replied.

"You're just being dramatic."

"That's your thing, Hawk," Shark told me with a friendly smile.

I sighed and decided the best thing was just to give in. Shark was a registered lifeguard after all. He knew what he was talking about. And any anger I had felt toward him for choosing my brother instead of me had long since passed. As much as I had acted like an arrogant ass toward them all it was really no surprise he chose my nice, friendly brother instead.

Two hours later I was checked into the hospital for observation. That observation lasted for two days of pure torture. Of course my twin brother had to watch over me like any real brother would. It just gave Sam plenty of time to torment me about anything and everything he could think of while I had no way of escaping. Luckily, he could only do that while no one else was around and Shark seemed to be around a lot. I was going to have to thank him for that later.

For a few days after I was released from the hospital Sam seemed to play nicer than usual. He took great care in making sure the others saw how great of a brother he was being. But I noticed there was a change in the way Shark and, surprisingly enough to me, Axel treated Sam. It was as if my two friends were starting to get suspicious of my brother, but still weren't quite sure what to think. Sam must have noticed it too because he tried all that much harder to stay on their good sides. Not for the first time I wondered just what my brother was up to that needed my friends on his side.

"Hey Hawk." I jerked awake from my light snooze and looked up at Axel. He was leaning over the back of the couch looking down at am. "Mr. Lee is ready for you to give the Razorwing a test flight."

"That's the best news I've heard all week," I said as I bolted from the couch. "What are we waiting for?"

"Shark and Sam made a run to the store for food. Do you want to wait for them?"

My blood boiled at the thought of my brother being alone with my crush. At the same time the whole situation confused me. For a moment I thought Shark had almost caught onto my brother's deception, but obviously I was wrong if he was still hanging out with him alone.

"Why wait? I'll just be leaving them in the dust anyway," I replied cockily.

I didn't wait for Axel's response. I found myself being colder and colder to my friends since the night I almost drowned. Friends. Everything that was happening was making me really come to see the truth in how my friends treated me. I tried to hold on to the positive moments, like Lioness actually hugging me, but those moments were few and overpowered by the negative moments. And I found myself wanting to be around them less and less despite knowing that all of that was exactly what Sam wanted.

I got into my blue uniform and hopped onto my bike and took off. I knew Axel probably wouldn't be happy that I left like that, but I couldn't really bring myself to care. When questioned I could just say I was excited about the idea of testing out the Razorwing, which was completely true. The truth was I needed a little break from the others if only to clear my head and get my thoughts straight. I needed to figure out how to handle the situation I found myself in.

Five minutes later Mr. Lee was giving me last minute warnings and instructions as a few of his techs were showing me how to put the armor on. Apparently there was a certain way to put each piece of the armor on so that once all on they interlocked for greater protection and still allowed for a full range of movement. I tried to pay attention to Mr. Lee and the techs when I heard the door into the room slide open and I heard the voices of my teammates and brother as they approached.

"Hey Hawk," King called out. "I'm surprised you were going to let us miss you trying this baby out."

I didn't reply. I let the techs finish the rest of the armor and then I put the helmet on. Last time I had the helmet on it was only for a few minutes to check it out. Hell, last time I had only been allowed to hover in the air with the AGPS but it was time for Mr. Lee to let me actually fly the thing. I was fidgeting as Mr. Lee finished up his instructions to me.

"And finally, try not to get into any trouble. I'd like the Razorwing to survive longer than your other test runs."

I smirked at Mr. Lee though it was hidden behind the featureless helmet I wore. "No worries Mr. Lee. Flying is what I'm made for."

"So is finding trouble," Sam replied.

Safe behind my helmet I shot him a look that could have frozen a penguin. "Bite me."

With that I activated the AGPS and lifted into the air. I hovered for a second like I had the last time and then shot into the air. The design was just like a jetpack without the fiery engine and was controlled the same way. I noticed immediately that the flight was smoother and as I noted before there was hardly any noise, just a soft humming sound that only increased slightly the faster I flew. I flew straight through the sunroof that had opened up and out into the big open sky.

The Razorwing handled like a dream. I could do maneuvers with it that I couldn't have dreamed of doing with a jetpack. The HUD was amazing too. All I had to do was concentrate on something at it zoomed in as close as I wanted. I knew that could come in handy in a fight though I hoped I wouldn't have to find out. Just because I could fight, didn't mean I wanted to. The exception was Sam. I really, really wanted to beat hi---.

My thoughts were swiftly interrupted as I felt something wrap around my foot. The armor status display in the corner of the HUD showed that a grapple was wrapped around my bad ankle and that a sturdy chain was attached to the grapple. I looked down and spotted a familiar black figure perched on a rooftop. Upon zooming in I noticed the chain was wrapped around one fist and he was pulling me in with no problem at all.

Damn how could I have forgotten that guy? And I was no closer to having an answer about Project Onyx than I was the last time. However, this time I was ready for his tricks. I turned around and flew straight at him. The black clad man seemed to watch me as I got closer and I really wished I could see his face. When I was close enough I threw a kick at his head, but he grabbed my leg and swung me into the rooftop. The armor absorbed the impact and I sprang to my feet before he could hit me while I was down.

"I'm not going to be such an easy target this time," I snarled at him.

"All you have to do is answer my question about Project Onyx and we won't have to fight," the man replied.

"What is your obsession with Project Onyx? What do you know about it?" I demanded.

"It's not what I know, but what you need to know," was the cryptic reply.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

The black clad man cocked his head and leaned against the wall of the entrance into the building's stairwell. "You're awful on edge Little Hawk, what's your problem?"

"Wha--What the hell kind of question is that? That's none of your business," I retorted, furious and confused at the same time.

"I don't have to be your enemy, Zach. You just have to get the answers about Project Onyx to know who your allies really are."

"Would you stop being so damn cryptic and answer me? Who the hell are you anyway?" Okay, I was overloading him with questions, but I really needed some answers. All the guy was doing was confusing me more and more.

"Some answers you have to find for yourself, Little Hawk. The answer about who I am…you can just call me Renegade for now."

"For now? I was kind of hoping this would be the last time I see you," I told him.

I could hear the smirk in Renegade's voice as he replied, "How about this. If you can beat me in a fair fight you'll never see me again. But if I win you have to find the answers I want and you can't stop until you do."

I wondered briefly if that was a smart bet to take. My ankle was barely healed and the doctor had told me to be careful for a while. At the same time the idea of never having to hear Renegade's mocking voice really appealed to me. I was getting enough of that from Sam I didn't need it from another source.

"What do you consider a fair fight?" I asked.

"Oh, you can keep your pretty armor on if that's what you're wondering. You'll need it," Renegade replied arrogantly.

"Fine. I'll enjoy making you eat those words."

Renegade laughed, but before the sound had even really registered in my mind he lunged forward with an uppercut to my jaw. The helmet absorbed the impact, but the power behind the blow snapped my head backwards and made me stumble. He swung a second time, but that time I was ready and ducked. From that position I lunged forward and slammed him against he wall. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders to hook under my armpits and hold me in a bent over position. He kneed me twice in the chest before he released me and sent me tumbling with a kick to the chest that despite the armor was enough to knock the breath out of me.

"You leave yourself open for attacks, Zach. You need to tighten your defense," Renegade said as he stood watching me. There wasn't a hint of mockery in his voice, but that's still how I took it.

I got to my feet and watched my opponent warily. I was tired of having my butt handed to me. I wanted to win a fight for a change. It was apparent I wasn't going to do that by rushing into the fight. I needed to be smarter and use what I learned in the Air Force.

I ran at Renegade again and faked a punch to his head. When he ducked I kicked him squarely in the face. Renegade stumbled backward and I followed through with another kick and then dropped into a leg sweep that took him to the floor. I tried to backtrack, but I wasn't fast enough and he returned the favor. I hit the floor with an ooff but scrambled up as quick as I could only to find he was already on his feet and seemingly waiting patiently for me to get my bearings straight.

"That was a nice fake out. They teach you that in the Air Force?" Renegade asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

I stared at him in surprise, thankful it was hidden by the helmet I wore. "How did you know I was in the Air Force?"

"I know more than you think I do," he replied smugly.

I growled in irritation and charged him. I saw him shift his weight to the side and threw a kick at him just as he moved. It caught him square in the chest, but instead of falling back he grabbed my leg and tossed me away. I rolled to the edge of the roof and then over the edge. I fired up the anti-grav and hovered there waiting just out of sight. When he looked over the edge I flew up with a powerful uppercut to his jaw. That took him off his feet and knocked his helmet off. The black helmet rolled across the roof to stop a few feet away from him.

For the first time I got a good look at Renegade. He looked like he was only a year or two older than me with buzz cut black hair and he was pale as if he hardly ever got any sun at all. But the things that startled me and brought me to a complete stop were his eyes. They were jade green and I don't just mean the irises. I mean both of his eyes were completely green with no pupil and no whites. They were sharp and completely alert as he watched my reaction. I just stared at them, completely absorbed in how weird they looked.

"It's not polite to stare, Little Hawk," Renegade told me and I finally heard his real voice, not the distorted mechanical one he had used through the helmet.

I continued to stare at him. Something about his voice was familiar. And the way he kept calling me Little Hawk…something tugged at the edge of my memory but it was fuzzy and I couldn't get a grasp of it. One thing I was sure of was that I had seen those eyes before and heard that voice.

Suddenly he lunged at me and I couldn't move fast enough to get away. One fist hit my helmet and the other was buried in my stomach. Even the armor was not enough to keep the breath from being knocked out of me. He shoved me to the floor and stood over me triumphantly.

"It's a wonder you made it in the Air Force at all with how easily distracted you are," Renegade told me. His jade eyes peered down at me with sharp intensity. "You're going to get yourself killed that way."

He then stepped away from me and walked over to his helmet. With his back to me I watched him bend down to pick it up. I was still wheezing for breath from the hit he had delivered, but I wasn't about to let the perfect opening pass me by. I flipped to my feet and flew at him with a kick that connected with his ass. Renegade gave a startled yelp as he toppled forward, landing on his helmet hard. My opponent lay on his stomach and it was his turn to wheeze for breath.

"At least I remembered when I was taught not to turn my back on my opponent," I shot at him.

Renegade chuckled as he caught his breath as if there was something remotely funny about the situation. He pushed himself into a crouch with his back still to me and I moved to take advantage in his lapse of judgment. I gave a startled gasp as he caught my leg and yanked hard, slamming me to the ground. If it wasn't for the armor I knew I would have been hurting a lot worse.

"I think you're getting to know the floor a little too well, don't you Little Hawk? Why don't you just give up and I won't have to hurt you anymore," Renegade taunted.

I snorted and pushed myself to my feet. "You don't know me as well as you think you do if you think I'll surrender."

"I just wanted to see if you were as much of a coward as you act."

I growled and barely kept myself from lunging. That guy knew how to push my buttons easier than anyone I had ever encountered. Even Sam didn't push my buttons so easily. I wanted more than anything to beat Renegade and never have to see him again.

"C'mon, Little Hawk. Give me your best shot."

I glared into his green eyes as he had not put his helmet back on. We started to circle each other as I looked for an opening. More than anything I wanted to knock the smirk off his face. I was so tired of people smirking at me. Then I saw it. My HUD caught the slightest tensing of his muscles and met his lunge with a punch that rocked him. He fell to the floor and didn't move and a chill swept through me as I realized the his momentum combined with my punch could have been enough to snap his neck. I moved to kneel beside him and regretted it as his fist snapped up and connected with my faceplate. It wasn't really all that hard of a hit, but it gave him time to spring to his feet. I took a desperate step back and just missed his kick to my chest.

"C'mon Little Hawk, you can do better than that," Renegade taunted.

I tensed my muscles to attack when the comlink in my helmet crackled to life. "Hawk, what's taking you so long?"

"Just have something I have to take care of Axel," I replied. "I--ooff--"

My reply was cut off when Renegade pounced me. His weight and momentum was enough to take me down. I managed to get my feet under his stomach and tossed him away from me. I used that momentum to roll backwards and into a crouch. The fighting was beginning to take it's toll on me. I was having trouble catching my breath and my muscles were beginning to burn not to mention my not quite healed ankle was beginning to throb. I had to end the fight soon or there was no way I was going to win.

"Don't tell me that's the best you've got," Renegade sneered.

I pushed myself into a standing position and turned to look at my adversary. Renegade was standing with his arms crossed and that damn smirk planted firmly on his face. I really, really wanted to knock that smirk off his face.

"How the hell do you move so fast?" I demanded. His reflexes and attacks were faster than anything I had ever seen. Even Axel couldn't move as fast.

Renegade shrugged. "Why do you move so slow? You're capable of being faster."

"Why can't you just answer my damn questions? Why do you have to be so cryptic?"

"Where's the fun in that?" was his reply complete with a smirk.

I growled and clenched my fists. "I'm going to knock that damn smirk off your face if it's the last thing I do."

"Bring it on then. I can go on like this all day," Renegade replied calmly. "But you look like you're getting tired."

I growled softly. I was trying to control my body language so he wouldn't be able to read me, but it obviously wasn't working. Once more I charged Renegade and instead of trying to hit him I tackled him to the floor. Unfortunately he planted his feet in my stomach and kicked me backwards. I was sent tumbling across the roof and stopped just short of going over the edge.

I was just getting to my feet when something zoomed overhead and brought our fight to a standstill. I looked up to see the XT-9000 swing around and then land on the other side of the roof. My brother got out followed by my friends and much to my shock Sam vaulted over to stand between Renegade and where I was standing staring.

Renegade's eyes narrowed at my brother and he hissed something in a language I didn't understand, but somehow knew I had heard before. To my surprise Sam growled and then replied in the same language. Then it was Renegade's turn to growl.

"There's more going on than you know, Sam," Renegade said.

Sam snorted. "I think it's time you get out of here."

Renegade slammed his helmet on and for a moment I thought he was going to have a go at my brother, but he seemed to pass on that idea. "This isn't over, Sam. You can't keep it from him forever."

"I'll send my father your regards."

"Go to Hell."

With that Renegade activated his jetpack and zoomed away. I watched him go with confusion plastered across my face. What was so important about Project Onyx and why couldn't Renegade just tell me? And how did my brother know Renegade? What was the deal with the obvious bad blood between them? Most of all whose side was Renegade really on?