After dinner, Soara took to the Condor's hanger and started looking over her Slip-Wing skimmer, and making necessary adjustments. It wasn't long before Radarr scurried into the hanger and sat by Soara.
"Radarr?" She looked down at the furry friend. Radarr looked up at her with sad eyes and whined slightly. "I see. He turned on you too? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to see in on him like that." Radarr reached up and tugged on Soara's legging.
"Sure, you can hang out with me until he cools off," Soara smiled to reassure the little fur ball. "I'm sure he would sooner forgive you over me. Petty as it is that he's acting this way…I just wish I could talk to him…the way we used to…" She sighed heavily as she drifted into deep thought. Radarr climbed up onto her shoulder and snuggled against her head, drawing her attention back to reality.
"Thanks Radarr," Soara smiled and petted him. "So, you want to help me with my ride?"
"Rawr!" Radarr jumped down and enthusiastically grabbed a wrench.
"That's the spirit," Soara praised Radarr. "Just check the spokes on the front and adjust the bolts on the chassis, while I get a diagnostic started." Radarr got right to work as Soara tapped on the metal cube just behind the windshield. It beeped and lit up.
"Harvey, run an internal diagnostic," Soara stated. "Make sure everything is normal, or at least close to it. Also estimate the power output and make sure we are at top notch condition. I don't want any engine failures or drops in speed like we've had before."
"Rah?" Radarr peered curiously at the metal box as it beeped and chirped. He poked at it with his wrench a couple times and the box let out a loud "BZZZT!" at Radarr, startling him at first. Radarr was un-amused and snarled at the box as it continued to buzz at him.
"Oh, Radarr," Soara snickered a bit as she moved in and gestured to the box. "This is Harvey. It's basically the onboard computer brain on my ride. He helps me, kinda like how you help Aerrow, only a bit more…internally on the machine. He's the ultimate upgrade, and he's unique, one of a kind. One of the techs in my squadron built him."
"Ehhr?" Radarr looked oddly at Soara. She gave Radarr a friendly scratch on the back of his neck.
"Don't worry too much about it," said Soara. "How is that diagnostic on the power grid, Harvey?"
"Boob, Beep, Bop, BZZT!" Harvey replied.
"Its THAT low?!" Soara grew cross with the little box. "I though we adjusted that before we left the Argo!"
"Beep Beep…" Harvey blinked and replied.
"That all night ride…" Soara thought to herself. "Must have had more of a drain on it that I thought. Try and recharge what you can Harvey. I'm going to retire. Radarr, you coming?" She offered her shoulder to the little critter and he happily jumped on. He gave one last growl at Harvey.
"Ok then," Soara scratched under his chin. "I think Piper has a room made up for me. Let's go check with her." She and Radarr strolled through the Condor until the came across Piper.
"Hey Soara!" Piper happily greeted her. "We've got your room all made up." Piper opened the door and showed the well made room.
"Thanks," Soara nodded gratefully. "But you guys really didn't have to go through all that trouble. Just a cot and a blanket would have done the trick."
"Don't be silly!" Piper laughed. "We haven't seen you in years. You deserve to have the best as our guest here. I'm just sorry that Aerrow…"
"Don't worry about it," Soara put her hand on Piper's shoulder. "He'll be fine."
"Well, I'm not so much worried about him," Piper replied. "Its you."
"Hmm?" Soara looked curiously at Piper. "What do you mean?"
"Back in Atmosia," said Piper. "You told me that you were looking forward to seeing Aerrow again. And as soon as you got here…he turned you away. I know you'd rather not let it show, but I can only imagine how much it must hurt you for him to do this. I just don't understand…"
"Piper," Soara gave Piper a friendly hug. "Thank you for your concern. I appreciate it, but whatever it is that is between Aerrow and I…we'll find a way to work it out. Don't you worry.
"Are you sure it'll be OK?" Piper remained concerned despite Soara's strong words.
"He's my brother," Soara nodded. "He'll come around." Piper then smiled, feeling an air of reassurance.
"Alright, we'd better get some rest then," Piper stated. "Sleep tight."
"You too," Soara replied and walked into her room. Once the door closed she sat on the bed and let Radarr hop down from her shoulder before she lay back on the mattress. Just as she closed her eyes and was beginning to drift ff to sleep, the Condor's red alert alarm sounded off waking up all hands and summoning them to the bridge. Soara joined them there with Radarr perched on her shoulder. Aerrow gave them a passing glance but the returned his attention to Stork who was peering through the Condor's periscopes.
"What do you see Stork?" Aerrow asked.
"It's a Cyclonian battle group," Stork replied non-chalantly. "We're severely outnumbered, out gunned, and out flanked. I'd say…we're doomed."
"Have a little faith Stork," Piper sighed. "We've been in some pretty bad situations before, and come out on top."
"Yeah," Stork nodded for a moment. "But there's always that percentage we will all die as well. It's all a game of numbers."
"Everyone, battle stations!" Aerrow shouted and led his wing team to the hanger while Piper and Stork remained on the bridge. Soara followed after Aerrow, hoping to be of some assistance to them.
"You guys could use an extra flyer," Soara suggested when she caught up to them. "With such large numbers of enemies out there, I can help cover you…"
"No way," Aerrow replied sternly. "My squadron can handle it."
"Aerrow, be reasonable," Soara grew more serious. "This is bigger than what you have faced before. You heard Stork."
"Yes, and I know we can handle it!" Aerrow barked back as he started up his skimmer. "Radarr, are you coming?" He looked at his furry co-pilot, who hesitated for a second. Soara nodded to Radarr and he jumped aboard.
"I wish you'd just let me help you," Soara gave reasoning on last try.
"You want to help?" Aerrow glanced back at his sister. "Go see what Piper and Stork need assistance with. I have all the help I need with Finn and Junko flying with me. I don't need your help." And with that said, he sped off and into the sky, with Finn and Junko close behind. Soara stood alone in the hanger and watched them go with a heavy heart. She turned back and approached her Slip-wing skimmer and tapped Harvey.
"Breep!" the little box chimed as it clicked on and lit up.
"Harvey…give me the power grid status. NOW."
Meanwhile, Aerrow and his team were flying toward the hoard of enemy fighters and their battle cruiser. Finn and Junko began to have their doubts.
"Y'know, Aerrow," Finn flew alongside his leader. "Maybe we should have Soara join us and…y'know, give us a little hand."
"Yeah," Junko agreed. "Nothing wrong with a little extra back up. I mean she is a Sky Knight, just like you…"
"She is nothing like me," Aerrow muttered. "C'mon guys, where's your spirit for battle? We've faced off against tons of these Talons before."
"Yeah, but their numbers keep getting bigger," Finn pointed out as a large group of Talons were forming up for a direct charge. "And that's definitely NOT good for our odds!"
"Storm Hawks!" Aerrow shouted as he pulled out his energy blades. "Prepare for battle!" Deep down Aerrow knew this situation was well over his head, but he refused to show any sign of weakness, especially since he knew Soara would be watching from the Condor. Still he sped on blindly to face the enemy, while Stork guided the condor to engage the attention of the cruiser.
Talons swarmed all around them like an angry nest of bees. Though they managed to take out several enemy fliers, the swarm seemed never ending and they were on the verge of being overwhelmed.
"We gotta lead them to more open air!" Aerrow called to his companions. "Follow me!" the group and the Condor pulled out and flew away from Atmosia and out into the open sky. The enemy followed, hot on their trail, the cruiser's blasters firing at will.
"We need to find some cover for the Condor," Stork said with a twitch. "Otherwise, that cruiser's going to pick us apart!"
"Stork, if we dive for cover, the boys won't have any back up!" Piper protested. "If anything, we need to retreat and run!"
"Tell that to Aerrow," Stork replied. Piper quickly got on the radio.
"Aerrow!" She called. "We need to regroup and pull out!"
"No!" Aerrow replied. "The battle isn't over! I'm not running away!"
"Swallow your pride!" Piper scolded. "I don't know what you are trying to prove, but the situation is totally out of our control! We need to retreat and call for help!"
"Fine…Finn and Junko, return to the Condor!" Aerrow ordered. "I'm going to see if I can distract them long enough for the condor to gain some distance!"
"Raw?!" Radarr exclaimed.
"That's suicide!" Finn shouted. "You're out of your mind!"
"Just do it!" Aerrow shouted back. "Don't worry about me! I'll be fine!" Aerrow then pulled away, heading back toward the enemy squadrons. Finn and Junko rejoined with the Condor and Stork pulled away, as Aerrow had ordered. His friends watched as their leader flew off into the skies, eager to see him return safe from the heated fray.