Chapter Ten
Alice
I was humming to the song that was playing on my iPod. It was the lullaby from Pan's Labyrinth. Awesome movie I might add. The only part I kinda freaked about was when the retard was getting his nose smashed in by a wine bottle. Everything else…blood…gore…fantasy…not Disney, that's for sure.
I sighed and let the songs play through as I laid down on a rock.
The next song that began to play was awesome! I even began to sing along to it. I couldn't help but smile at the irony of the lyrics given my situation.
If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let Nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
"Wow." I heard someone say as the music died down.
Confused, I looked over to see Snipe and Dark Ace staring at me. Snipe was smiling at me. It wasn't one of those creepy, bad guy smiles he sometimes got but a gentle…admiration smile. Dark Ace was better at least. He had a stern face as he stared at me but I could see him fighting a smile.
I sat up quickly, a freaked out expression on my face.
"Was I singing? Out loud?" I asked.
Dark Ace nodded with that stern face. My face instantly heated up and I turned around in my spot.
Okay. I guess by now, you're wondering why I haven't been tied up or anything yet, huh?
Simply put it: Even if I were to run away, Dark Ace would catch me then tie me up. Quite frankly, I like being able to move freely.
"Go into town and see if Renswick has another one of the boxes." Dark Ace ordered Snipe.
The big idiot started to protest but I heard him walk away on his replacement Heli-Scooter. I felt watched as soon as the sound of the scooter vanished.
My back was heating up, some weird thing inside me saying that Dark Ace was watching me.
"Why?" He asked.
I looked over at him, confused. He then walked closer. I stood my ground (Or is it "Sat my ground" if I'm sitting on a rock?) as he approached. He sat next to me, eyeing me intensely.
This is weird. I've never seen someone watch me so closely before.
"Why what?" I asked.
"Back on Terra Xoam, you saved my life. Why?" He asked again.
I felt his gaze pierce through me before I had a chance to throw up some guard. I knew my expression would've been priceless to anyone who was none-the-wiser of my situation. I sighed and looked up at the sky.
"I don't really know." I said, watching the clouds. "Truth be told, I think it's because I'm too soft. Ya know?"
"Hn." Dark Ace grunted.
I watched the clouds as I laid down. I found nice images in the sky. It was kinda awkward, being with Dark Ace and not talking but the clouds were helping me…kinda.
…maybe not.
Aerrow
"FINN!" I shouted with Piper and Junko.
We approached the blonde idiot. He looked awkward and sheepish as he stood there. I crossed my arms as the Finn before me looked nervous and scared.
He better as hell have a good explanation for this.
"Uh…I…uh…" He said with hesitation. "I meant to tell ya…"
I hardened my glare. Better as hell be good. I thought as he flattened himself against the door of the hanger.
"I think I discovered what that thing in the box does."
The door then opened. We all gasped as the hanger revealed Finn…at least a hundred Finns! They all turned to look at us non-Finns.
Finn laughed nervously. Junko held out a finger as he pointed at the duplicates, unable to even say anything.
Piper growled in frustration. No doubt upset that she figured it out before he did.
I just stared, completely shocked.
I knew Finn was…reckless but this…
You've really done it this time, Finn.
Alice
Soon, I was standing outside the tent, listening to the argument inside. Dark Ace got fed up with waiting so we went back to the market. He wouldn't leave me by myself for paranoia of me running off to find my friends.
I probably would've.
Snipe was trying to get Renswick to give him another black box but the old timer insisted that there was only one. I rolled my eyes. I could hear Dark Ace sighing in frustration. I could almost see him pinching the bridge of his nose in thought of what this Cyclonis chick would do.
I should probably ask them sometime what the big deal is with this chick.
"Alice?" A voice said. I looked over to see Finn!
"Finn!" I shout-whispered. I then tackled him in a hug. "Thank God you guys are all okay! I was worried you hadn't gotten away."
Finn patted my back. He seemed happy to see me. Maybe he was just flirting again though.
"Look at the cute couple!" Another voice said.
"Ooh! How cute!" Kissy sounds were then made by this voice.
I looked up to see two more Finns teasing myself and the Finn I was hugging. I stared in shock.
I held up a finger to point at the clones. "U…uh…what?" I asked.
"Yeah. We figured out what the thing in the box does." The Finn I was hugging said.
"So you're a clone?" I asked.
The Finn I was hugging smiled awkwardly. He then looked at the other two. "You guys hang out here. I'll get her back to the Condor." He ordered.
"Yes, sir!" The clones both said, saluting to the clone I hugged.
We began walking away. "Get back here!" I heard a growl from behind.
I looked over to see Dark Ace behind us. "Finns!" The Finn next to me shouted.
They all tackled Dark Ace. I kinda stared in shock. There must've been at least twenty Finns!
The Finn next to me grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto the skimmer. I sat behind him, holding onto the back of his shoulder. He began to rev away.
"Later, Ace-y Boy!" I shouted as the wings deployed. He emerged from the Blonde Stack and looked up at me.
What the…? I thought as I saw a strange look in his eye.
"Ouch!" Finn said, rubbing his arm. That snapped me out of the trance.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. You?" He asked. I knew he was referring to the whole kidnapped issue.
"Yeah."
"Guys! Got Alice!" The Finn said as the door of the dark room opened. I walked into Piper's dark room to see that she had a disco ball going off.
I stared at it then at Piper. "What the hell, Pipes! We've got at least a hundred Finns on Saharr and you're playing with a disco ball? The fuck is going through your head?"
Junko hugged me. We all know what this means: Extreme lack of oxygen.
"Junko…can't…breathe!" I whispered hoarsely as he crushed me.
"Thank goodness you're okay, Alice! We were so worried!" The big teddy bear said, tears almost coming from his eyes.
Aerrow just nodded to me from the corner with a smile on his face. I could tell though that they were trying to figure out the clone issue.
"Ouch!" The two Finns in the room exclaimed, rubbing their arms.
"Geez, Finn." Piper said. "That isn't funny."
"I don't think he's joking, Pipes." I said, having finally fought out of Junko's grasp. I approached X Finn as his hand flew up to his shoulder. "Finn, let me see your shoulder."
Finn stared at me with his idiot face then his flirt face came on. "Need a strip tease?"
I smacked Finn in the face. The clone's head snapped to his left along side the X Finn's head. I blinked and stared. There was now a red mark on his face with an impression of my hand. I looked over at the clone. Another hand mark? Wait a minute. My mind reeled as I realized what was going on.
"Uh oh. That's not good." I mumbled.
"What is it?" Junko asked.
"It seems that what happens to one Finn happens to the rest."
"Which means...?" Clone Finn began.
"You can all feel each other's pain." Piper realized. "Something must be happening to the other clones which is why you guys were all in pain earlier."
"Something tells me that it was Snipe or Ace-y Boy's doing." I said, putting my chin in my hand.
"Ace-y Boy?" Everyone asked.
I stared with a serious face. "Yup. That's my nickname for him. Dark Ace sounds weird and reminds me of a cartoon villain, for one reason or another. Ace-y Boy is funny and is a real kick in his can."
Everyone began laughing.
"So anyway…" I said. I then pointed to the shiny glass ball next to some pyramid thing. "Disco ball? What?"
"I was gonna explain that before you showed up." Piper said, nodding. "First, you should know that the cloning process ensues when this crystal-" She motioned to the pyramid. "-reacts to direct sunlight." I nodded, showing her I understood. "This disco ball is powered by a Lunar Crystal with properties the exact opposite of a Solaris Crystal. Emitting light back into the prism may just cancel out our clone problem."
I smiled. "That's genius, Pipes!" I said, hugging her. "Your awesome!"
Piper just smiled and looked down at me.
Finns, Junko, Aerrow, and Radaar, on the other hand, looked confused as hell.
"Translation please?" X Finn asked.
Piper and I sighed. "The shiny ball may just fix you." We said in unison.
"Ah, shiny!" X Finn exclaimed, holding up a finger. "Got it."
I rolled my eyes. Piper got ready for the operation. Huh. Now that I think of it, I haven't played that game in ages. I wonder if Atmos even has that kinda gaming technology.
Oh, wait! A.D.D. just kicked in.
...I still wanna play that game though.
"Whoa!" Aerrow said, holding up a hand. "Shouldn't we test it some more to make sure Finn's not in any danger?" He finished, motioning to X F.
…Oh my god! That's an awesome nickname!
"The crystal's already got so many fractures from overuse, it may not last much longer." She said as I stared at the crystal. Just to prove a point, more cracks appeared.
X F beside me let out a shaky breath. "Please," He whined, holding up a finger. "Be gentle."
I smirked. "What?" I asked, getting in his face. "First time?" X F actually blushed as he staggered back!
"Alice!" Aerrow said, trying not to laugh.
I shrugged. Just before Piper was about to try it out, a doorbell rang. The darkroom's auto door opened. X F and I screamed at the sight.
Snipe! Shit!
In each hand, he held a Finn by the back of his shirt. "Sorry, guys," one of them said. "We caved and told him."
Snipe then threw them in. One Finn actually landed on top of me while the other fell on his hands and knees in front of Junko.
The Finn on top of me just stared at me then smiled awkwardly. "Hey. Come here often."
"Yup. I'm always looking for another clone to kill." I said seriously. He then jumped off me and helped me up. The Finn shot me an apologetic smile.
Snipe then grabbed the Cloning Crystal. "Now I've got the gizmo." He taunted. "And a change to look at where you guys live. Huh. Pretty lame, if you ask me."
"You try living without insurance and financing." I grumbled. The Finn next to me actually got my joke!
"Nobody asked you!" Junko shouted, pointing a finger at the muscular Talon.
He stepped forward to fight but tripped over the idiot Finn in front of him that had yet to get up!
Snipe just smiled and picked up the poor Wallop and threw him against the window. As his body hit the window, the blinds snapped open, letting sunlight pierce through.
"No!" I shouted, hoping to block the sun.
The Cloning Crystal in Snipe's hand glowed. I closed my eyes to block the light.
It felt so…odd.
I actually felt like a part of me was taking out. Like, I was split into two.
Snipe looked to his left. "Huh?" Next to him was another Snipe. At his right, another!
"Uh…Alice…" Piper said.
"What is it, Pipes?" Myself and another person said as I turned to her.
I looked beside me to see…me!
She stared at me with a blank expression. "Okay." She finally said. "This is weird."
"I'll say." I said back, rubbing the back of my neck. "Too much Star Wars reference for me."
"Gotta admit: it was a good movie."
"Of course I'd admit that. You and I are one and the same."
"Calm down, Demi Lovato." She said, putting her hands up in protest. "No need to bring Princess Protection Program into this."
I just stared at her. We smiled and giggled a little.
Snipe then laughed a little. Other Me and I just took a battle stance.
"Seems he's put one and two together." Other Me said.
"No shit, Sherlock." I said.
The Storm Hawks, my clone, and I fought Snipes without weapons.
Bad idea.
We were beaten to a pulp.
I sat up and groaned, as did Other Me.
"Everyone okay?" We both asked.
"For the most part." Aerrow groaned as he pulled himself off the safe.
Other Me helped X Finn out of the crate of crystals he'd gotten stuck in.
"Damn." We both hissed.
"We've gotta find them before he makes too many." Piper said.
"But how? We don't know where they are." X F said.
"I do." I said. Everyone stared at me.
Other Me stood next to me. "Remember? We were kidnapped and held up for ransom."
"Unless Ace-y Boy stayed and said "Let's make a new camp sight"-"
"Which I doubt-" Other Me said.
"Snipe probably kept at the same place he was camping at last time we were there." We both finished in unison.
Everyone stared at us. Other Me put her arm around my shoulders and I did the same as we joined at the hips. If you have trouble seeing this, refer to Ouran High School Host Club.
"We can take you guys there." We said in sync. "Just tell us what we need to do when we get there."
Aerrow's eye actually twitched at this! "Please!" He said, holding up his hands. "Stop that! That is really weird."
Other Me smiled at me. I nodded, seeing her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Big Brother?" We both asked. "Freaked out?"
"Yes! Stop it!"
I looked at Other Me. "Ya wanna…?" I trailed off.
"Totally." We grabbed hands and spun around seven times before assuming the same position.
"Which one is the real one?" We asked.
Aerrow twitched again. "Alice! Stop it! Be serious!"
"Relax, Aerrow." I said, patting his shoulder. "We're just playing."
"Real Alice?" He asked.
"She is." Other Me said. "I'm not stupid enough to try to claim being the original. Besides, I'd be arguing with her which would be a hell of a head ache."
I shrugged. "It's true."
I felt a soft tip against my forehead. It made an X on my forehead. Piper stepped back. "Just so we know."
"Fair enough." I said with a shrug.
YO! Sorry! I had to do the Host Club reference and clone bit because it woul just be too funny. I started off this chapter saying "I'm gonna do a Dark Ace/Alice bit, I'm gonna do a Dark Ace/Alice bit, I'm gonna-All right. I'm done with this. Pfft!" I ended up replacing that with Other Alice.
...When i think Other Alice, i automatically think of Other Mother from Coraline. Great movie. Freaky book!
Ravess: So, i guess it's my turn?
Me: Yeah. Go for it.
Ravess: Alanis Cross does NOT own Storm Hawks. She owns only Alice, OOC-ness, and the upcoming plot development.
Me: MWAHAHAHAHAHA! You'll find the upcoming plot quite...*Dark smile* interesting.
Stork: That's my thing.
*Shrug*
Aerrow: Please review!