A/N: Thank you, my few lovely reviewers! They keep me going and writing: for i need reviews to know whether my work is going okay!

Enjoy, lovelies!


Chapter 3: Clash of the Dominant

Aerrow slowly and cautiously extended his hand. "I'm Aerrow."

"Heard a lot about you," Race smiled. "And this must be the beautiful navigator of your squadron I've also heard so much about… Piper?" He gazed at her, watching her cheeks tinge pink slightly.

He didn't notice Aerrow stiffen.

"Yes." Aerrow was finding it hard to keep a pleasant tone- Race was irritating him already. "Yes, this is Piper."

Not to mention my girlfriend, but whatever. Aerrow added silently in his head.

Piper shook Race's hand, smiling politely.

"So, how can we help you?" Aerrow nearly barked it out. Race, clearly oblivious to the offence he caused, suddenly stopped smiling.

"I seek hospitality." He sighed heavily, running his hands through his hair. "I'm on the run from Master Cyclonis…It is certain she wishes me dead."

Stork shuddered, muttering about diseases. Junko, Finn and Radaar looked sympathetic. Aerrow, on the other hand… well.

Well, he just raised his eyebrow slightly.

"How horrible." Piper breathed. "Why is she after you?"

"I'm afraid it's not acceptable for someone to rescue their sister from her prison cell," Race smiled at her sadly, turning away slightly. "But she's safe, at least."

Stork eyed him. "Er…You do realise Cyclonis hunts us more than anyone else?"

Race sighed. "I realize that, of course. And I know you're terrible busy… but yours was the first ship I found-

"-Of course it was-" Aerrow muttered.

"-Naturally, if you don't have any room, it's… it's fine."

Clearly it isn't.

Aerrow started, "Well, it's not ideal-

Piper grabbed Aerrow's arm and hauled him away. 'Give us a minute, Race."

"Piper." Aerrow followed her into the corner. "No. Save your breath."

"He has nowhere else to go."

"How do we know we can even trust him?"

Piper raised an eyebrow. "You just don't like him because he called me beautiful."

"That is not true," Aerrow argued, irritated. "I'm fully aware of your beauty. It's the fact that he was flirting. I don't like it."

"Aerrow, we're on this ship and flying around to protect people. Race falls under that category."

"Come on Piper. The guy's got other options." Aerrow started, but Piper could sense him weakening. "And besides- oh."

Aerrow's cheeks turned pink. Piper had kissed his cheek, giggling.

"Oh Aerrow." She smiled at him. "You're so funny sometimes."

"I…I am? Wait! Don't try to distract me. It's still a no." He crossed his arms, glaring at her.

Piper sighed. Damn it.

"It's only for some time." She tried again, desperate.

"But we don't even know that!"

"Race," Piper turned away from Aerrow to walk a little over to the small group. "How long do you require to stay here? Because as much as we appreciate your difficulty, our 'hospitality' isn't perfect..." She finished, an eyebrow raised at the boys, who coughed and looked down.

"I only require a week or so." Race smiled assuringly, his face brightening.

Piper turned back to smile at Aerrow.

Aerrow sighed, sniffing. He took a deep breath. "I… alright. One week. Finn, show Race to his room. Junko... get our dinner prepared. Rice would be good for tonight. Piper, Stork, Radaar, we need a new heading."

His team nodded at him before departing.


"Okay." Piper walked over to Aerrow. "Dinner smells… different."

Aerrow grinned at her. "Aw, come on. Junko loves to cook."

"You sure you're not just trying to scare Race off?" Piper raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I'm onto your scheme, Captain."

Aerrow put down his tools, edging close. "And I think my Navigator should stop being so god damn intelligent."

Piper giggled, putting a map against Aerrow's chest before he could lean in to kiss her.

"Maybe. Now, I found some possible Cyclonian activity in some areas.- I've highlighted these areas in blue. I suggest you take a look."

Aerrow grinned as she walked away. Someone was playing hard to get.

"Well, isn't someone playing hard to get?"

Aerrow stopped grinning and turned to Race, irritated. "Excuse me?"

Race smiled, ignoring Aerrow's cold shoulder. "Piper. Playing hard to get."

"Maybe."

Aerrow opened his map and started to study it.

"You're lucky to have her."

"I know I am," Aerrow gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper. "What's your point?"

Race didn't reply. Aerrow looked up, impatient- only to find Race looking after his girlfriend, who was in the corner, working on a model.

"Excuse me." Aerrow barked loudly. "But I'd appreciate it if you stopped looking at my girlfriend in that manner. Plus, i think i can hear Junko calling you to sample dinner, as you are... a guest...well, he'd want your opinion."

Race chuckled, before walking away. Aerrow turned back to the map, fuming.

One week. Only one week.


"How is your mission going, Ace?"

Dark Ace- or 'Race'- rubbed his forehead, looking down at the hologram of Cyclonis.

"Perfectly fine."

"And she?"

"Very much in love."

As I told you before.

Cyclonis was slightly amused. "You doubt me Dark Ace?" She saw him hesitate.

"I...I doubt my ability to seduce a girl very much besotted with that... boy."

"I told you, the crystal will do its work. That's whether you can carry it out, anyway." Cyclonia added.

Dark Ace tried to keep his temper. "Of course, Master. It's just a matter of getting her alone. And I'm afraid it's getting difficult-

"-Excuses, excuses. I wonder, Dark Ace, whether your heart is really in this?"

Dark Ace's heart skipped a beat. "My…My Queen?"

"I asked you whether your heart is in this, Ace. Surely Piper is left alone sometimes. You could easily use the crystal I gave you to control her, yet you are whining pathetically about your mission. Get me the girl, Ace."

"I… of course I-

"Get her, Dark Ace." Cyclonis repeated. "Or suffer the consequences."


Piper answered her door, confused. Upon seeing Aerrow, she giggled.

"Um…" Piper tried to control her giggling. "Yes?"

Aerrow grinned. He had just showered, and was nice and clean and freshly shaven- in other words: even more attractive.

Damn.

"Ride," He claimed happily.

"You…Ride?"

"Ride." Aerrow handed her a bunch of wildflowers, her favorite, before kissing her cheeks and taking her tiny hand.

"Erm. I have things to- okay, ride it is," Piper started to laugh, letting herself be dragged along gently by her Captain. "Erm, ride to where?"

"Anywhere!"

"Any- Aerrow!" Piper pulled Aerrow back, rolling her eyes. "Are you proposing we climb onto your Skimmer, then roam around anywhere we like and come back after all hours despite the fact we have work to do?"

Don't go 'Yup!'.

"Yup!" Aerrow winked.

Men.

"Argh! Fine! But if you-

Aerrow wouldn't let her finish; he pulled her close and bent his dark head to kiss her swiftly.

"Piper." Aerrow had broken away from her to murmur soothingly. "Just relax. We are going. So: get over it."

And with that, he grabbed her waist and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her to his skimmer. Piper screamed with both delight and surprise: she giggled as he squeezed her ass gently, chuckling with her.

"Do you really want to bet me staying on your shoulder, Captain? You know i could get off if i wanted to." Piper teased.

"Nope. However, you could let me have my own way for once."

Piper giggled. "Deal."


"We'll be right back!" Aerrow yelled at his teammates, who had looked up from their work in confusion at the image of their Commanding Officer carrying their Navigator.

Stork looked at Finn.

"Aerrow is going to get some." Finn told him wisely, before returning to his air guitar practicing.

Stork shuddered.


Dark Ace watched them, his eyes narrowing. This was his chance. Swiftly and quietly, he walked to his room, finding the crystal.

He took a moment to examine it. It was an odd shape- there were spikes in random places, tinged with a bit of pink here and there. Then a dark blue seemed to spread over the surface like ink on tissue...

Dark Ace shook his head, snapping out of his daydream. He could hear Cyclonis's words again.

"I told you, the crystal will do its work. That's whether you can carry it out, anyway."

Loyal, devoted years of service: and yet he still has no recognition from her. He thought he signed on to something better.

He thought he was going to be better appreciated.

I'll show her.

He thrust the crystal down on the bed, feeling anger rise within him slowly...

Very slowly... but still there.

Upon hearing cries of happiness from two particular people, Dark Ace looked out of his tiny window to spot Piper and Aerrow on a skimmer, laughing delightedly. He growled, before picking up his blades.

It's my mission: We're doing things my way.


A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry for keeping you all waiting. I'm afraid I had exams and I wanted to wait to see if i got any reviews, because i love them! xD

Some points:

Whilst I am fully aware our little cute couple are in love, i understand the confusion with how Dark Ace will 'seduce' her. I only put this into the summary because it would draw people in, but obviously Dark Ace is thinking different now. A lot of unusual things are planned for this chapter, and not all is what it seems.

Review, s'il vous plait :)