Storm Hawks
Far Side Fray
Chapter 4: They Are Myths!
"Alright Junko, what do we have?" Aerrow asked his strongman.
"Only three of the skimmers are working, the other ones are pretty banged up."
"Finn, what's your count?" The sky knight turned to his wingman.
"One of the two blaster cannons should be just fine, the other one on the other hand is pretty messed up and it would be pretty useless anyways considering the angle of the condor." He replied with a wrench in his hand.
"Hem, I hope Piper's numbers are a little higher." He then turned to head out of the bridge and made his way to the crystal mage's lab. When he arrived, he found a blue haired girl on her knees surrounded by crystals, papers and journals scattered all over the floor.
"Hey Pi." Piper jumped at the voice. She had a habit of getting so caught up in her work.
"Oh! Hey Aerrow" She looked up at her leader leaning against the doorframe.
"How's your count going?" He asked hopeful.
"We have two cases of fuel crystals for the skimmers, all our engine crystals are pretty useless since the power is down, we have two nimbus and three rainbow smoke crystals if we need to make a run for it and only enough ammo crystals for three rounds on the cannons." She listed.
"Ok then. Let's head back to the bridge and see what we can do with what we've got."
Back to the bridge, the six gathered around ready for directions. "Alright guys, this is what we're going to do. Junko and Radarr, you guys will stay here with Stork to keep watch and help in some repairs. We'll leave you guys the two nimbus crystals incase you need to make a run for it if the cyclonians decide to return for us. You only have enough ammo for three rounds." Junko and Stork nodded in response to their leader along with a chirp from Radarr. "Finn, you'll come with me and Piper in search of help. Everyone's good with this?"
"Em, I think were missing one crucial element here." A merb jumped in.
"What is it Stork?" Piper asked.
"Communication." Stork was right. Their communication tools were damaged and the condor's power was down so it wouldn't be able to contact the skimmers' (which they stole from Cyclonia just before they left to the Far Side) radio.
"Oh, right." Piper realized.
"Listen guys, this is just a chance we'll have to take. We can't all just stay stranded here. We've taken risks before, this is an other one." Aerrow assertively responded. He knew this was a big risk but he couldn't let anxiety take over or it could be the death of them all. It was only a matter of time before the cyclonians who took them down would come back to investigate or even that beast again. If none of these scenarios would finish them, then it would be the harsh climate on this mountaintop. As strange as this seemed, if they separated, their odds of survival would increase.
Meanwhile, in the southern cyclonian palace
A cloaked girl was roaming the halls with only her steps to be herd echoing. She walked fast as if she was in a hurry, which she had a good reason be. There was a certain well known explorer and ex-ally waiting to be in her presence.
As she was hurryingly making her way to the meeting hall, she was joined by a young man, "Lark, you never told me you sent a friend to this side of the Atmos let alone that he was a famous explorer." He spoke as they were now walking side by side. "That's because I never sent him! I didn't even think he was still alive after he was left in that crumpling temple by Snipe!" She answered back as they stopped in front of two large main doors. "Well if he came to us again, it just goes to show how loyal he is" the young man, Lucas, suggested. "Pff! Either that or he just wants a share." She instantly replied.
Cyclonis opened the two doors, as she walked in, the whole room went quiet with only a few whispers escaping. She walked through the bowing meeting councilors and soon was face to face with a familiar scruffy, blond, blue-eyed man with a smirk on his face.
"What are you smiling about, Domiwick?" Cyclonis asked in slight annoyance.
"Well, master, maybe it's the fact that I know something you don't." He replied in high confidence and his smirk growing into a grin.
"Oh? And what could this be?" the prince, Lucas, jumped in with curiosity.
Domiwick turned to one of the room's large windows "You may wonder how I got here, the Far Side. Well, what if I told you those little portals of yours were not the first ways invented to cross to the other side?"
"Where are you going with this?" Cyclonis asked in now wonder. Were her ancestors not the ones who held the secret to cross to the other side? Who could have found a way before them and remained undiscovered?
"Where I'm going with this is, I could show you, Cyclonis, these ancient, secret tunnels!"
"Secret tunnels? Surely these secrets would have been passed down to us if they were our ancestors'." Lucas said with a hand to his chin. This fascinated him. This fascinated everyone in the room! Whispers between the meeting members and councilors were now almost overwhelming the room.
"SILENCE!" the dark haired girl ordered.
Domiwick took the chance to continue, "Knowledge of these tunnels were not passed down to you because they did not belong to your ancestors. They belonged to someone else. Tell me, have you ever herd of the Ancient Ones? Also known as the Advanced Kind? Or Higher ones? They go by a few names actually."
"HA! They are myths!" An elder member of the meeting spat out.
"Yes, I do actually. They are said to have been the founders of many ancient temples, including The Forbidden City. Go on." Cyclonis replied.
"Well, these tunnels had very similar traits to these temples."
"Hold on, how did you come across all of this?" Cyclonis asked now very intrigued.
"Heheh! Well, we could say that the Storm Hawks had a little something to do with it. I was caught by the Neck Deeps and was forced to stay within the Storm Hawks site while they helped them in terra Aquinos. I escaped and found my way into an underwater cave, which lead me to these strange tunnels and found my way to the Far Side of the Atmos."
"Unbelievable." Responded the prince now fascinated.
"I am willing to show you these tunnels if you really think it unbelievable"
"Humph! You're willing to show us these tunnels just like that? What's your catch?" She asked in suspicion.
"Supply me with my own workers and equipment."
"I will supply you with a hundred workers and slaves, as for the equipment, I'll see what my brother's army can spare."
"Fine, this should be enough" the explorer replied.
"Why exactly do you need all of this instead of just asking for a rich payment?" Lucas asked. Anyone else would have just simply asked for money or a share of whatever they would find or win. So why didn't Domiwick?
"Because, all the money I'd get would end up being spent on what I just asked for. Might as well just asked for it right?" Domiwick explained.
"Alright then, I'll see what we can spare in exchange for your knowledge. For now, be at home. You are a most welcomed guest." Lucas invited the explorer and rehired ally.
With Lucas's last words, he and Cyclonis left the room leaving all the meeting members and councilors in wonder. These mysterious tunnels, how could they have remained undiscovered? Could it really be that the ancient ones or advanced kind or Higher ones really did exist and not just a theory or a myth? What exactly were they? No, maybe the tunnels were just made by an older civilization many in the room told themselves. Why would they be hidden? So many questions flooded the room. This was serious. How could everyone have missed this? Cyclonis was not about to let this go.
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