"Soara?!" Aerrow shouted in protest. "What are you doing?! Don't go through with it! He can't be trusted!" Dark Ace rolled his eyes and shoved Aerrow forward against the chassis of his Switchblade.
"If we agree," Dark Ace returned his attention to Soara. "Then come forth and willingly give yourself up."
"NO," Soara sternly replied.
"No?" Dark Ace looked at her puzzled. "I thought we agreed-!"
"Not here," Soara cut him off. "This is Cyclonian territory. As Aerrow pointed out…you cannot be trusted. Here, you have the advantage and can turn on our agreement or betray me."
"So…what do you suggest?" Dark Ace inquired.
"The Wastelands," Soara replied. "Its neutral territory. Meet me in the southern Wastelands in two hours, and we will conduct this…exchange."
"Two hours?" Dark Ace quirked a curious eyebrow. "Why in two hours?"
"That will give me time to…tie up all loose ends," Soara replied solemnly.
"Hmm…" Dark Ace thought for a moment.
"Soara…" Aerrow called to her, his face reflecting his shock. "You're not really...going through with this…are you?"
"How many brothers do you think I have, Aerrow?" Soara looked at him with a bit of sorrow in her eyes. "I am not going to abandon you." Aerrow stared at Soara, an aching mixture of emotions filled his mind and his heart.
"Very well," Dark Ace finally replied. "We will meet in the southern Wastelands in two hours. Make sure you come alone."
"And you," Soara's eyes grew dark and serious. She pointed directly at Dark Ace. "No Talons…and until then…harm not one hair on his head. If you do anything to hurt my brother, the deal is off, and I'll be after your head."
"You've got a fierce spirit," Dark Ace grinned. "I like that." Soara gave a slight "Hmph" to his comment.
"So it's agreed then," Soara stated as she prepared to depart. "See you in two hours. Aerrow…be strong until then."
"Wait, Soara!" Aerrow called out one last time. "Before you go…my skimmer! Find it, and find Radarr!" With that last bit said, Dark Ace turned and sped away with Aerrow and his remaining talons. Soara watched them go, her heart aching with worry and sorrow. But then her mind returned to reality and she set about getting everything ready. She managed to track down the crippled wreckage of Aerrow's skimmer, and lo and behold, Radarr was alright, safely hidden inside the compartment of his side pod. Once he saw Soara, Radarr leapt out of his hiding place and clamped onto Soara.
"I'm glad you're alright, Radarr," Said Soara as she hugged the fur ball. Radarr pointed to the sky and gave a low howl. "Yes, I know. Aerrow was taken by the enemy, but don't you worry. Soara has a plan." Radarr perked his ears curiously.
"I'll fill you in later," Soara boosted Radarr onto her shoulder. "But first…we need to get back to the Condor and tell the others. I'll need their help if we're going to get Aerrow back safely." She tied a tow line to the wrecked skimmer and hauled it out of the rocky crags. She towed it back to the Condor where the rest of the Storm Hawks were waiting.
"Soara!" Piper ran up to her as the skimmer landed with its tow. "You disappeared without saying a word. Where did you go? What happen…" Piper stopped short when she spied the wrecked skimmer behind Soara.
"Is that…Aerrow's Skimmer?" Finn boldly asked.
"Yeah, it is," Soara nodded solemnly. "Follow me. We have much to discuss…" She dismounted her ride and led the Storm Hawks to the bridge of the Condor.
"Is he alright?!" Piper's face filled with concern. "Where is he?!"
"Aerrow's been taken prisoner," Soara announced. "The Dark Ace has taken him captive, but…I managed to stop him from taking Aerrow into Cyclonia. I managed to work something out that might get him back safely, but there are…special conditions."
"Special conditions?" Stork quirked a curious twitch. "Let me guess…we all resign our positions as a squadron and join the slave workforce of the Cyclonian swelters?"
"No Stork," Soara sighed.
"Oh good," Stork smirked. "Such work gives me a nasty rash."
"I agreed to a sort of prisoner exchange," Soara stated.
"A prisoner exchange?" Finn looked oddly at Soara. "We're kinda lacking in the whole "prisoners to exchange" part."
"I am aware of that Finn," Soara said as she walked up to the Storm Hawks plotting table. "Dark Ace has offered to let Aerrow go…if I take his place as the prisoner."
"Dark Ace wants to trade Aerrow for you?!" Junko looked shocked. "Can he do that?!"
"No way!" Finn shouted. "We can't let Dark Ace call the shots here! I say we all rush in and pull Aerrow out!
"With Aerrow as his hostage," Soara looked at the boys. "My hands are practically tied. He could very well kill Aerrow if we try anything like that. So…I agreed to an exchange."
"So that's it?" Piper approached Soara. "You're just going to give yourself up? Just like that?"
"For my brother," Soara smiled. "I'd give my life for him. However…I have a plan, and I'm going to need your help to pull it off. All of you."
"A plan?!" The Storm Hawks all chimed together. "You can count on us!"
"That's what I was hoping to hear," Soara turned and began to draw up the plans. "Alright, you guys, the exchange is going to go down in the Southern Wastelands. Here's what we need to set up. Finn and Junko, I want you two to back me up. When I enter ground zero, you two patrol the area and make sure no Talons enter the air space. I don't want to chance that Dark Ace would set up an ambush to betray us and cut off our escape route."
"You got it," Finn and Junko gave Soara a thumbs up.
"We have less than two hours to prepare," Soara nodded to the both of them. "You guys are going to need to stock your skimmers. Go ahead and get started." Finn and Junko headed for the hanger.
"Piper, I'll need to see your stock of crystals," Soara stated. "I want to know exactly what you have ready and in stock."
"I'll go get them right now!" Piper ran out of the room to gather her collection.
"Stork," Soara looked at the Merb. "I'll need you to keep the Condor hot and ready to run as soon as the members of your team are onboard. I don't know if Dark Ace will have any reinforcements standing by, but I'm sure they will come in numbers should he call them in once this plan goes off."
"And…" Stork glanced curiously at Soara. "What about you?"
"I'll do what I need to do," Soara simply smiled at Stork. "Don't worry about me."
"It's uncanny," Stork chuckled.
"What is?" Soara looked oddly at Stork.
"You and Aerrow," Stork shook his head. "You guys are a lot alike when it comes to jumping into fights solo. Personally, I'm more comfortable with running and hiding."
"I think Aerrow would argue with you," Soara gave a little laugh. "About the whole, us being alike, comment anyways. I guess I can see it too. It must run in the family…"
"Here they are!" Piper returned to the bridge with a large crate and set it on the plot table. "This is everything that I'm pretty sure is good to go!" Soara walked over and began to rummage through the box.
"Hmm?" She pulled out what looked like a small crystal necklace. "What's this?"
"Oh that?" Piper took it back. "It's a Cloaking Crystal. Master Cyclonis used this to mask her appearance and trick us into thinking she was just some ordinary girl. She and I fought on the Terra Tundras and she left it behind. The guys didn't know I had this…"
"Did you say…Master Cyclonis?" Soara quirked a curious eyebrow. "As in, the supreme ruler of Cyclonia herself?"
"Um…Yeah," Piper replied.
"Piper…I think you just gave me an eve better idea!" Soara's eyes lit up.
"I did what?" Piper shrugged, slightly confused.
If we can pull off this little stunt…" Soara smiled. "Then we may be able to get everyone home safely."
"You really think so?" Piper's eyes gleamed.
"I just need to make a few slight changes and adjustments to the original plan," Soara winked at Piper. "All we need now…is Master Cyclonis herself."