I had just gotten off my restriction; my parents had found a wrench in my room. It wasn't mine, my tools are at my friend's; my brother put it in there to get me in trouble. But of course, my parents didn't listen to me, they never do. So I was grounded for 3 weeks to my room. Now I was free and the first thing I did was head into town to hang out with Vic, and Saar.

"Hey girl," Saar shout to me the moment I entered town. She and Vic skated up on the skate shoes that I made for them, small flames shooting out the back. A moment later she crashed into me with a tight hug, causing us to fall backwards.

I laughed and pushed her off. I stood and hugged Vic. "So what's happened since I've been in the joint?"

Vic and Saar stood at attention and Vic saluted me. "Ma'am the last 2 weeks, 6 days have been normal as usual."

I laughed again, "Vic, knock it off! I'm not your drill sergeant. Just tell me what made yesterday so interesting."

My best friends grinned at me and loosened out of attention. "Ok," Vic said, "yesterday some Talons came into town."

I felt my eyes widen. "What?"

"They didn't come to take over," Saar said quickly. "They came to rest and get some energy crystals for their skimmers." Her father owned the inn; our Terra was located between a large empty stretch of sky, so every now and then we get travelers that need rest or crystals on their way to the next terra.

"Are they just Goons?"

"No," Saar said excitedly, "well some are. But Ravess, Snipe and the Dark Ace are here."

"The Dark Ace?" I felt a swell of excitement, fear and another unnamed feeling in my stomach.

"Yeah," Vic said, "he looks exactly like how he's described, scary, with an edge of charm."

Saar and I looked at him.

"What a guy can't recognize that another guy's looks without being questioned?"

I shrugged. "So are we going to go look or not?"

"Yeah," both my friends said at the same time. We clicked our heels together and skated into town.

We came to a stop outside and across the street from the inn. Outside were five skimmers and a heliskooter. They were red and black with the Talons insignia on their sides.

"That's them," Saar said looking at the skimmers then to me. She knew that I was really interested in sketching the skimmers then the Talons.

"You guys can go ahead without me. I'll meet you at Vic's."

"Ok, Skylar," Vic said, "See you then."

I sat down on a step as my friends headed to Vic's. I pulled out a sketch book, opened to an empty page and start drawing the Talon Switchblade Elite in front of me. After the sketch was done I wrote notes on measurements and probable speeds and lift.

"You draw these out but you know that you'll never get to build one," a drawling voice said from behind.

I stiffened and looked behind me. My brother stood there leering down at me.

He snatched the book from me and held it above his head. I stood and tried to snatch it from him. He laughed and held it far out of my reach. "What's stopping me from telling mom and dad that you do have plans to make a skimmer and show them this?"

"Why do you all ways try and get me in trouble," I demanded.

"Because it's fun," he smiled. "But I'll tell you what, I won't tell them if you fix my bike."

I sighed, "What's wrong with it now?"

He frowned. "It won't start and it needs an oil change."

I looked at him and sighed. Every time something went wrong, or he needed or wanted something done, with that heap of junk he blackmailed me into doing it. "Fine, I'll do it."

He grinned and glanced towards the inn. I looked too and found a group of Talons walking out among them Ravess, Snipe and the Dark Ace. My eyes looked on the Dark Ace, my heart fluttered as I took in his appearance. Vic was right, he did look frightening yet there was something there that drew you closer. He tossed my sketch book at me and I caught it. "Meet me at the Dead Man's Canyon and bring the supplies for the bike."

The next moment he slammed his foot against my heel. It hit my other heel and the skates popped out and lurched forward. I shot forward and straight at… THE DARK ACE!

Panic seized my chest, as I cleared the street. The Dark Ace looked up and I saw his eyes widen slightly with surprise. I was less than a foot from him when I managed to twist around and move in a tight half circle around him, my arms out stretched to keep my balance. I hit my heels together sharply, the jets cut off and I came to a stop. I put my hands on my knees and took several deep breaths.

"What do you think you're doing?"

My head jerked up to see all the Talons staring at me. I swallowed hard and tried not to shake, or at least make it unnoticed. I stood straight, "I'm sorry." My voice was even and I wasn't shaking yet.

Ravess stepped to one side of me, her brother on my other side. I glanced at each of them and then to the Dark Ace. He wasn't looking at me but at the ground in front of him. I followed his eyes and saw my sketch book. My stomach dropped, as he bent down and picked it up.

He turned slowly and opened the book. He flipped through the pages and walked slowly towards me.

I felt my throat constrict and my stomach seemed to drop into my intestines. I stood frozen as he came closer. I glimpsed my brother leaning against the building across the street his shoulders were shaking with laughter. I gritted my teeth, angry and annoyed with his childish ways and that he was enjoying my suffering.

The Dark Ace stopped about a foot from me and closed the book. He looked at me, straight into my eyes. My heart beat faster than before. "Who made those?" his voice was smooth and he indicated my shoes.

I blinked, and then swallowed. "I did."

"You?"

I nodded.

"I see and why did you nearly run me down?"

I breathed in sharply, a sharp feeling in my gut, anger at my brother. I was going to find away to get him back for that. "I didn't," I said smoothly, "someone activated them when I was facing you."

The Dark Ace raised an eyebrow and turned to look over at where I came from. My brother was still leaning against the wall, trying not smug (he failed miserably). "Hm." He looked back at me and held out the sketch book. "What's your name?"

"Skylar," I said automatically, taking the book back.

He nodded to me then jerked his head at Ravess, who stepped out of my way.

Taking the hint that I was to leave, I skated away. My movements were smooth and appeared unhurried but I covered plenty of ground in a short time. Behind me the Dark Ace was talking with Ravess and Snipe.