Chapter 4: The Plan
*Radarr's POV*
He walked down the corridor wondering what happened to Aerrow and why he made Piper cry. Aerrow never makes Piper cry. Something must be wrong. I have to find out. SNEAK MODE!
Silently he crept into the vents and made his way through them so he was eventually perched over his and Aerrow's room. From what he could see of his limited view through the grates, Aerrow was bent over his desk hastily writing something down. Hmmm? What is he doing? What Radarr didn't notice was that when he pondered he purred slightly, just loud enough for Aerrow to hear.
His back stiffened and he looked around the room trying to find the mysterious noise that was Radarr pondering. "Hello?" he called out cautiously, and then more boldly, "whoever's there I'm going to kick you up the butt if you don't leave NOW!"
Strange, Aerrow's never this angry at someone snooping, I mean everyone does it *chuckles* something must be up.
Hearing the chuckle and pinpointing the source of the sound Aerrow smiled and kicked the grate open, causing Radarr to squawk in confusion before falling with a loud *thump* on the floor.
"Radarr?"
He gave an indignant chirp. Yup that's me.
"What ARE you doing up there?"
Uh oh, here comes another lecture on 'how not to creep around and scare everyone' - especially Stork (we don't want a repeat of THAT!
"- I mean you could've knocked at the door or give some kind of warning."
Yea… sure, although this is also MY room you know, but whatever, please continue like it's just yours.
"Are you even listening?"
"Chirp" Yes!... no not really.
"Good. Now can you please leave?"
Yea sure… wait what! This is my room to ya know.
Seeing the look on Radarr's face, "please buddy, it's really important that I get this ready for Piper's birthday ok?"
Well… ok if it means she won't cry anymore.
"Thanks buddy." Aerrow pushed him out of the room and locked the door behind him.
Well…. HOW RUDE!
*Aerrow's POV*
Finally, Radarr's gone, now I can continue planning THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! … I just hope I can get Piper to forgive me for how I behaved yesterday at the party.
Chewing his lip, he leant back over the table which had magazines and all sorts of information on Piper, along with crumpled notes from Aerrow, strewn across it.
"Grr… I have no idea how I'm going to get any of this done but I guess I should start by heading for Terra Xoam for that rare crystal." *Sigh* "its gunna be a long day, but worth it for Piper."
He wrote a note explaining he'd gone on a short trip to Terra Atmosia for fuel and ran out of his room - almost knocking Radarr over in the process who'd been listening at the door - and to the hangar bay, where he promptly got on his skimmer and drove of to Terra Xoam.
*Stork's POV*
"Ship docked and safely secured… check." He walked on into the corridor, "Clean environment with no visible mind worms… check." Into the kitchen, "Kitchen meets sanitary requirements… che- WAIT! WHAT! " he ran to the deck of the Condor "WHO HAS BEEN IN THE KITCHEN AND NOT CLEANED UP!"
"Umm, sorry Stork, that would be me" *Gulp* Junko walked onto the deck. He spun around a walked over to Junko eye twitching,
"NEED I REMIND YOU OF ALL THE DEADLY GERMS AND MIND WORMS THAT ARE IN THAT… BREEDING GROUND WAITING TO ATTACK THE NEXT PERSON IN THERE!"
"Uhhh… I'll just go…. clean up." And with that he promptly ran out of the room.
Great. We're doomed to the deepest pits of the Back Gorge *Shudder* I have to tell Aerrow and make him aware of this! If he gets infected with mind worms…. Well I don't need to go over the specifics (which I so enjoy doing), but lets just say we wont be around much longer.
He ran to Aerrow door and flung himself in the room, "AERROW! We have a serious case of contamination-" he stopped midsentence and looked around the room. Strange, I'm sure he came in here. *gulp* what if he's been infected, and cyclonians or sky sharks, or merk raiders or, or… something else equally as terrifying comes along!
"WE ARE SOOO DOOOOOOOOMED!"
Piper came running in to see what Stork was screaming like a girl for, "WHAT's wrong Stork?"
"It's Aerrow he's missing, probably been abducted by some foul creature-"
"No Stork, he's gone to Terra Atmosia to get fuel."
"And you know this because…"
"I'm psychic."
"Really? That's the best you could come up with?"
"Well…"
"I'm not THAT stupid, Finn might be but…"
"ANYWAY. He left a note, but you were too busy freaking out to notice."
"Right… well… I'm just going to continue my list then."
"Ok bye Stork."
"Oh by the way, don't go in the kitchen."
"Why?"
"Nasty case of disease outbreak be lucky we're still alive."
"Okay…"
"Well, see you, this list won't complete itself." He walked back down to the deck and picked up his list.
"Restock fuel…. Check."
*Aerrow's POV*
His landing didn't go quite as smoothly as he planned.
*CRASH!*
"Cyclonians!"
"Stork, it's ok it's just me, Aerrow,"
"Hmphh, fine."
Grinning to himself he began absently minded picking up the fuel crystals which had spread across the floor, unaware that someone was watching. His back stiffened as he picked up the last crystal… someone was here. Slowly he put down the box of crystals and quick as a snake he pulled his twin blades out and knocked the observer onto the floor and held the blades at their throat.
"Alright! Who are you and what do-"
"Dude! Seriously chill! I'm not going to attack you!"
"Heh, sorry Finn." He pulled the blonde up by his hand.
"Well no lasting harm done anyway." Brushing the dirt of himself, he looked at Aerrow expectantly.
"Is there something you want Finn?"
He jabbed a finger at Aerrow's chest, "Yeah, Piper."
"What's wrong with her?"
"You."
"Me! What have I done?" incredulously Aerrow looked at Finn to see if this was some kind of joke, due to the look on his face, it obviously wasn't.
"You hurt her!"
"No I didn't! I would never lay a finger on her! I would rather die!"
"I don't mean physically you idiot! I mean emotionally!"
"Oh."
Finn slapped himself on the forehead. "Yeah, oh. You snubbed her in front of us all at the party and now you keep avoiding her!"
"I'm not meaning to… it's just… I've been busy-"
"Doing what?"
"Umm… well… you know…" he rubbed the back of his neck feeling extremely uncomfortable. I can't tell Finn where I was, it would ruin everything, and probably our friendship.
"Yea exactly." Finn stalked out of the hangar bay and down the corridor.
"FINN!" Perfect, now I've pissed him off and hurt Piper. I really need to talk to her. Now!
He ran down the corridor and banged on Piper's door. "Piper I need to talk with you-"
The door slide open and Aerrow toppled in. he jumped up and look at Piper. "Oh, God Piper." It looked like she hadn't left her room in ages - which she probably hadn't - her hair needed brushing, her clothes changing and a good wash. But the worst of it was the look of hatred she was giving him.
"What the hell do you want?"
"To talk."
"Hah! About what? How you've been avoiding me since the party?"
"Yeah. Look the thing is-"
"Right, yeah, I get it. You've had enough haven't you? You want someone new, someone fresher!"
"NO! Of course not! I love you Piper. There's no-one else and there never will be."
Her expression softened. "You mean that?"
"Yes, in fact I promise."
She smiled up at him, suddenly she didn't look too terrible, but beautiful. God what did I ever do to deserve her? "Good." She sighed and practically ran into his arms making him lose his balance and send them both toppling to the floor.
He looked into her bright orange eyes. "We seem to do this a lot don't we."
"Yeah."
"Piper look I'm sorr-"
"Don't be, please I understand about the party, I saw Finn's face."
"It's not just that me and Finn talked and I promised me and you would be a little more… discrete from now on."
"Ok, I can live with that."
"Great." Suddenly he picked her up and laid her down on the bed so he was on top of her, making her blush like mad. "I love you Piper."
"I love you too Aerrow," and with that she pulled him down for a passionate kiss that ended with both of them breathing heavily. He looked out the window,
"It's dark, I should go."
"No."
"Piper?"
"Stay the night, please?"
"Ok." He lay beside her with his arms wrapped around her and hers around his, and they both fell into a peaceful sleep.