If we could all give a moment of silence for Sarge, we shall pray. And only because he provided the happeh in my life.

...Moment's over.

Characters (C) Respective Owners

Ch. 19: The Past

The next door was straight ahead. Jet and I just stared at it before looking at each other. I had a horrible feeling in my stomach, and my throat turned in a knot. Jet and I took our Arks, raising them high. They glowed immensely before we started to float into the air. We charged into the door, busting it open.

The inside was like a race track with an arena smack-dab in the middle. The race track was like a long airplane run way with a trees and brush surronding it like a jungle. The arena was like the one we found down at Sarge's dorm. Instead of the usual one contender, there were two. Both were wearing black cloaks with white flamed patterns.

"Long time no see, Jet," the first one said, taking off his hood. It was Cannon, while the other was Stream. Cannon glared at him, while Jet just gave him an emotionless stare.

"Yeah, long time no see, uh...Who are you again?" Jet asked, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

Cannon face-faulted. Exasperated, he snarled at Jet. "Are you serious?! What do mean by that?!"

"...No, really, who are you again? You probably are just another one of my fans-"

Cannon cut him off. "Shut up, you insolent brat!"

Jet frowned and cocked his head. I sighed, whispering who Cannon was from what I knew of him previously. Jet stared at me strangly, before gasping. "You! Now I remember, you're Cannon the Falcon! I had to race you to see who would become the leader of the Babylon Rogues! Guess you're still jealous, huh?"

"Jealous?" he repeated. He grinned and burst into laughter. "Of a cheater like you? That's a riot!"

Jet cocked his eyeridges with surprise. "Okay, what stuff are you on? I never cheated."

"Yes, you did."

"No way! I remember what happened perfectly, and I won. Fair and square."

There was fire burning in his voice, anger in his stare. But that fire was matched perfectly with the icyness of Cannon's words, and the similiar anger. It was like watching Mighty and Espio bicker, neither backing down or giving any weakness.

However, I broke up the glaring contest with a measly question: "Hey, where's Storm?"

Stream finally looked up at us. She appeared completely sober, like nothing in the world could affect her. "Storm the Albatross has-"

Cannon raised his hand, silencing her. "Now, now, he's not worth it."

"You better not be sayin' that about my buddy Storm," Jet warned, swiping out both of his bansho fans.

Taking out his own orange fans, Cannon sneered down at Jet and nodded his head once. Without warning, both suddenly went at it. They charged at each other, clashing their fans together, locked. Both glared and leaped away. Cannon was quick to retaliate. The falcon dashed up the stairs, jumped onto the banister, and hopped over to Jet. He prepared a kick that Jet swiftly blocked with a fan. Jet smacked Cannon straight across the face, but Cannon managed to snatch his head feathers and whip him into the stairs before crashing.

As the two leaders fought, I stared up to Stream. I noticed that she had some dried up tear marks up on her beak. She was whimpering and shivering, holding herself tightly. Cooing Cannon's name softly, Stream's head suddenly flickered to life when she saw Cannon crash to the ground.

"Stay there, Stream," Cannon ordered, getting to his feet. "I don't need any assistance."

"Y-yes, Boss," she whispered, nodding her head slowly.

She really is like Storm, I thought, biting my lower lip. I slowly flew to her, but she didn't react like I expected her too. I thought she would punch me into the last century, but no. She just stood there, silent and motionless. Obeying his orders.

"Stream, where's Storm?" I asked, a small frantic urge in my voice.

She merely casted me a glance. Her eyes watered up, but she slammed them shut. "I...I am not permitted to say."

"Uh, yeah, yeah you are." I crossed my arms, getting agitated by her stubborness. Or was that loyalty? I wasn't entirely sure myself, not even to this day. "You can tell me what happened."

Stream shoved past me, inching her way to the bottom step. She stumbled, and I could tell that it was another one of her little fainting spells. She clutched the rail as if her life depended on it.

I caught her, steadying her. "Hey, you alright?"

Stream nodded. "Y-yes, I-I will be fine..."

I smirked. "Alright, I helped you recover, so you tell me where Storm is."

She frowned, realizing I had been using her. The albatross opened her beak to retort some harsh words, but disengaged. Finally, she grinned. "The question is not where, but how."

"How?" I repeated.

"My brother is-"

Jet came crashing into me, knocking both of us to the ground. The hawk wiped blood from his nostril, glaring at Cannon. Cannon appeared unharmed in anyway. His jewel glowed, and he teleported. As a quick reminder, Cannon's opal could control teleportation and black holes for more travel needs. Jet glared at him, and I picked myself up. Cannon teleported to Stream and smirked.

"I suppose this is the best the former leader of the Babylon Rogues can do," he said smugly.

"Shut up," Jet muttered, his left knee twitching.

I glanced over at my leader with worry. He was in pain, and I could tell. Taking a sharp look at Cannon, he appeared to be fine, except for his head. His forehead had a bruise from one of Jet's fists. Cannon glared down over to me, but than he just smiled like a little boy getting his blanket.

"Wh-what's that grin for?" I stammered, raising my fists up to cover my face.

"I'm just wondering if Jet had explained what really happened on the day of choosing the next leader of the Babylon Rogues," Cannon stated, shrugging his shoulders casually.

Head snapping up, Jet grabbed my shoulder, whirling me to him. "I tell you right now, Charmy. We were in a race to see who was better on Extreme Gear, which everyone knows that I am the latter." I nodded. "So, we raced, and I won. Cannon here was an idiot and fell off his board." Jet snickered, shaking his head. "What's more ironic is that he was beating me!"

Cannon's smile distengrated. His face was the epitome of anxiety and hatred. "That's not what occured!"

"Oh? Than let's hear your amusing little lie!" the hawk challenged, motioning with his hand for him to continue.

"Oh, I'll tell you what's up. That "little lie" is what's really the truth." Cannon's jewel glowed immensely. Veins sprouted on Cannon's forehead, and he clapped his hands together. A giant black hole appeared before us, and he ordered us to enter.

Jet and I exchanged a glance. His was one filled with assurance, mine of discontent. However, it was his look that comforted mine to slight rejection. Jet stepped into the hole right after Stream. Following him in suit, was me, and I glared over to Cannon. Cannon merely patted my head.. So what do I do? I bite him. He shrieked with pain, but remained slightly cool. He blew on his hand, making Jet burst with laughter. Stream bopped him over the head.

"What did I do?" he demanded, rubbing his sore head.

The inside of the vortex was entirely, well, black with streaks of what looked like either violet lightning or energy. It was strange to come out a regular place and into some sort of fantasy area you'd find in a role-playing game.

Within a few more seconds, the black hole dissapeared. The new area was a race track with a forest around us, simliar to the previous room where we found Cannon and Stream were. However, there were birds-more specifically, Babylonians-were tussling together with eagerness. I found two grey albatross, a purple swallow and a green duck all huddled together by the finish line. An older male swallow and male albatross stood by the boy albatross and female swallow. A male older duck stood by the younger female albatross and the boy duck. It was at that moment did I realize that I was staring at the younger versions of my conrades, enemies and their parents.

"Just what is this?" Jet demanded. On his his face was complete astonishment.

"My jewel can bring us to the past through the black holes. Currently, this is the exact moment where me and Jet can be seen over the horizon, rushing towards the finish line. Whoever comes in first wins the title of leader of the Babylon Rogues: The Legendary Wind Rider," Cannon explained, glaring over at the race track. "Please watch closely."

Our attention was brought to the track. Indeed there was Cannon and Jet, with Cannon in the lead by just a few seconds. Jet appeared terrified, and his moves on his prototype Type-J were shaken, but Cannon's board was swift. He was grinning, and it was the broad smile that Jet always wore when he won a race.

Cannon's jewel suddenly blasted with another light, and everything froze. I flew down to the little Storm and waved my hand in front of him, but recieved to reply. It was as if...

"You stopped time!" I cried out.

Stream nodded for him. "Yes, not only does Boss control moving back and forth through time, but his opal can freeze time at will."

Cannon took a sharp breathe, like it suddenly hurt him. Cannon walked over to a bush, gesturing us to follow. Hesistantly, Jet and I followed while Stream bounced to her leader's side. Both pointed an accusing finger at the bush. We glanced inside, and I just cocked an eyebrow.

Jet's face paled completely. He took a step backwards, accidentally tripping himself. His beak gaped as he stuttered for the right words. "F-father?!"

"What?!" I shrieked, staring back at the older green hawk in the bush, hiding.

In the bush, was Acceleration the Hawk. Acceleration was the former leader of the Babylon Rogues until the leaders of the Babylonians decided that a new youthful group needed to be formed. He suggested his and his comrade's children, but Bean's father, Explosive, decided against the idea and had his son, Stream and Cannon up for grabs as the new leader. But's all I heard from Wave's explanation because I zoned out after she started her long-winded rant. Again.

Acceleration was holding some sort of device that was like a gizmo Wave would carry around. It was a detonation thing-a-ma-ging, also like the one Wave had when she made Sonic's board explode. Tails was really pissed after that, by the way.

"What's he gonna do?" I asked childishly.

"You'll see," Cannon cooed, making time unfreeze with a shine of his jewel.

Acceleration smirked when Cannon breezed past him with Jet starting to get a gain. Jet pushed ahead, crouching slightly to get a boost of air, but he was still behind. Well, at least he was starting to get ahead, right? Acceleration pressed a colored button on the detonator, and Cannon's board rumbled. Suddenly, a blast of smoke ejected from the back of Cannon's board, and it suddenly blew out. Cannon was sent sprawling on the ground, and Jet crossed the finish line in a stunned awe. Storm and Wave burst over to him, hugging him and congratulating him. Bean and Stream rushed to Cannon, helping the wounded falcon stand. Acceleration dashed away so no one could see him and reappeared behind his son, hugging him.

I was utterly shocked. My mouth hung open and refused to budge from the spot. I managed to get a good look at Jet. He looked humilated in the worst sense. The hawk held his head to his chest feathers, refusing to speak when Cannon asked how he felt.

Stream whispered something to Cannon, and he nodded. His jewel glowed, and we were back inside the original room we were in before. Jet collapsed to his knees in disgust. Pounding his fists on the ground, he growled roughly.

"Goddammit! Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Jet cursed, punching his fist into the ground. Again, and again, and again. His knuckles bled through his white glove, and he cradled his wounded hand. Snarling to himself, he smashing his other hand into the floor.

Snatching his shoulders, I shook him until he finally glared at me. I raised my hand, and did a completely strange thing: I slapped Jet straight across the face. Jet's beak flew open, along with the other avians.

"You-you-you!" Jet stammered, surprised.

"Stop, please stop hurting yourself, Jet," I begged, eyes close to tears. I let my tears fall, and I hugged him tightly. "Cut it out, please. You've changed from than. You are not that weak little hawk that needs his father to take care of him. Jet, you've matured ever since that day, and each day you get...stronger. You're an inspiration to others, just like me, Boss."

Jet froze and hugged me back, whimpering. "Alright, fine, if what you just said was right, than I guess there's no more time for tears." He poked my forehead. "So, you just gotta stop crying or those bold words will have no meaning."

Nodding, I dried my tears with my jacket. "Yes, sir!"

Stream glared at us, hands curled into mighty fists. "You're still cheated, meaning you aren't worthy of the title Legendary Wind Master!"

"Thievary is more than just playing by the rules, and Father was just showing how it's done," Jet replied, smirking. "Besides, I worked my tail-feathers off to get this position. So, screw you, Cannon."

"Yeah!" I added. "So what if he had some help during the race! He's matured over time."

Cannon seemed perplexed, eye twitching with one of those anime viens in his forehead where his opal was. Finally, he released a breathe and he started to smirk. Stream glanced over to him, but he merely nodded in her direction as some sort of symbol.

Stream's smile widened a few molars. "If that won't get you fools to lose your cool, then I suppose that this will. If I recall correctly, your father last wrote you when you were eight, correct, Jet?"

Jet's eyes opened more, but he nodded.

Stream took out a piece of paper and started to read aloud. "Dear Jet, How goes it? My travels have been pretty swell so far. Your mother has been acting strangely lately. Whenever I ask her what's wrong, she just glares at me. Thunder and Web are on solo missions, but I haven't heard from them. How are Wave and Storm? Do they still bicker like the gods above? I have learned previously that in legend you will recieve some new members when you turn fourteen. Well, goodbye...my son. Love your Father, Acceleration," she quoted.

"Where did you get that?!" Jet barked, rushing up to them. He snatched the letter and shoved it into his jacket pocket. The hawk clutched around Cannon's throat, but he didn't seemed to be affected by the sudden grasp.

Cannon smirked. A sick noise came from his beak: Laughter. It wasn't the same shy chuckle I heard when we met, no, it was a high-pitched, hoarse shriek. Shoving Jet backwards to the ground, he stamped his foot down on his chest.

"Get off him!" I shouted, flying over to him, only to be punched in the jaw by Stream.

"If you must know, Jet, I was the one that planned the murders of Storm's and Wave's family! And Lord Rodrigo and I were the ones that tightened to loose bolt on your father! I killed him!" Cannon screamed, insanity clear in his voice.

For a moment, I thought the world stopped. That the Earth froze in motion, and gravity had stopped taking it's harsh toll. Jet remained silent, pale, almost ghastly. Cannon removed his foot, watching in enjoyment as Jet just stared straight through him. I tried to get him, to comfort him in anyway I could manage, but the hit from Stream paralyzed for the time being. I moaned his name, telling him something in a feeble attempt to comfort him.

Jet's body shook. He stood up, staring at his blood-red boots. Cannon placed a finger under his beak and whispered something to him. Something harsh, harsh enough to make Jet scream in rage to punch Cannon across the face. Jet grabbed Cannon's head once on the ground and repeatedly smashed it against the race track.

"You crazed, revenge-driven asshole! You murdered Storm!" Jet shrieked, punching the falcon in the face a few times. Cannon gasped, trying to speak, but was kicked into the wall. Jet shook, clutching his head in outrage.

Storm is dead? No, this can't be! I remember thinking, trying to stand. My salty tears sprinkled down my cheeks and onto the floor. This isn't real, it just isn't right!

I craved for Cannon's blood to be splattered on the floor in harmony with Stream's. She helped kill her own sibling, her only living family member left. If they died, then at the time I thought Storm would be avenged. But was it right to kill another?

Jet's body violently shook, and I finally took notice of it through blurred tear-drops. He screamed in anguish as his body slowly transformed. His feathers turned a darker green, near black. Chest feathers took on a black form to wash anyway any pure feelings that were once inside of him. With his pupils gone and dialated, and the fact that his eyes turned blood-red, I realized that he came back.

Shadow Jet.

Oh, dear God, we're are so screwed.

--

LOL AUTHOR HOURS

Kiba Sniper comes out onto the screen, holding some notes. She sits at a table with Armand, Rector, Whip, and Psycho. Rector is paying bills, Armand is fiddling with his watch, Whip is watching Psycho muse over a fly. Whip moves his chair closer to Rector in slight disturbance.

"Hello, dear viewers," Kiba mutters, flipping through some cards. "Today, I'm interviewing these guys without permission. So, yeah. RECTOR!"

Rector glances up. "What? I'm behind on this week's electric bill, and Raine is complaining to be to buy more materials for her medicines!"

"Uh, first question: Do you think you could beat up Psycho in a fight?"

Rector blinks, than looks over to Psycho. Psycho is still concentrating on that fly. Rector nods.

"I saw that!" Psycho jeers, aiming a finger at him. "I can totally beat you up!"

"Prove it," Rector coaxes, getting out of his seat.

And so, ensues a fight with between the hedgehog and wolf in a randomly placed dust cloud. Whip and Armand turn around to watch. Armand starts to laugh at them, only to be hit in the head with someone's shoe. Angry surging, Armand joins the battle, and now lazer blasts start bursting through the dustcloud.

Kiba stares over to Whip. "And just why aren't you fighting?"

"Because I'm the most intelligent," the rabbit replies, smirking.

The other three pause to stare at him. Whip stares back, and his eyes widened when the three suddenly pulled out pitchforks. He kicks the table at them and runs off.

"GET HIM!" Armand shouts, chasing Whip with Rector and Psycho in tow.

Kiba stares at the mess they made, and her broken desk. She sweat-drops and sighs. "OMFG..."

LOL AUTHOR HOURS END