Disclaimer: I do not own Storm Hawks or any of its characters. I do, however, own my own character and plots.

Chapter 8

Now that was an introduction, wasn't it?

I know. There are still a lot of things to explain, and frankly, that's why short introductions don't always work. They're so much easier to do, but to steal all the detail leaves you frustrated.

You know, I have a feeling something's off. Meeting Repton must've done something, because I can't shake it off. It feels like my past has started moving around again—after I put it to sleep for good—and I don't like it. The things I wanted to forget in my life are going to start clawing themselves out, all at once. I only wish I could have lived as a free, simple mail carrier for a moment longer. It's just so easy, being and remaining forgotten. But it seems that that freedom is coming to an end.

The book's getting reopened, and the chapters will continue on, for better or for worse.

It was in the very early hours of the morning when I reached Atmosia. It was very quiet, what with everyone asleep in bed, so I turned down my engine and tried to glide in silence. The flowers that were accumulated together on the Terra set off their earthly scents, and I sniffed it in nostalgically. I directed Cloud Nine toward the large building on the higher part of the Terra, near the Beacon Tower.

My night vision was a little rusty now, and my wound didn't help that much. I was blood-caked and disgusting, and I couldn't wait to wash it all off. There was still some fresh blood at the base of my wound, but luckily some of the blood had dried and formed a barricade, to prevent more from flowing out. I still felt weak.

When I got close to the building, I let Cloud Nine descend more rapidly, and then I landed. I bounced off for a moment, then twisted her on the spot, to bring us to a complete stop. Thankfully I didn't make too much noise, and I actually accomplished it without tumbling off my ride. Just as I am an amateur flyer, my landing isn't exactly the best.

I let Cloud Nine tuck her wings back in and I rolled her to the side of the building, into the shadows. With her engine completely dead, I hopped off of her and went to the trunk in the back. Moving was a real pain at this time, and getting to the doctors quickly seemed both impossible but desirable. However, I had to go and see someone very important first, and so I reached into the trunk of my ride and pulled out the Cloaking crystal. I also took my voice-manipulating collar and put it on. As always, my throat felt the funny sensation of minor charges from the collar, and soon, it was activated again. My breathing came in a more human range.

I activated my Cloaking crystal, and took on an appearance that the officials of Atmosia were accustomed to; a dark-skinned girl with black, short hair and brown eyes. The pixie-look made me a lot more approachable, I thought. The thing that I liked most about Cloaking crystals was that it could adapt if you wanted it to. I made it cover up the blood and wound, so I looked completely normal. I just had to make sure I didn't let anything touch my shoulder. Anyway, I only needed to set up a façade for the others in this building, since they only knew Maia, not Nakoto. When I reached the privacy of the Chancellor, I was free to show myself. I was to report to him first, always.

I entered the building, and the morning shift receptionist was already there, reading a magazine. Her eyes raised up when she saw me approach, and she lowered her reading material immediately. Mrs. Gertry was an older woman, with honey coloured hair and aquamarine eyes. Her hair started to grey a little, but you wouldn't be able to tell from a distance. Her lips were well-defined too, and her smiles were a sight to see.

"Maia," she greeted. I nodded in response, smiling. Her brow quirked a little. "So early?"

"I just got back."

"But I heard you lost Cloud Nine. A group has already been sent to The Wayside to pick you up."

I grimaced with regret. I'd forgotten that they had gone to get me. I made them go all that way for nothing.

"A few things happened, and I got a chance to go find her myself. I'm very sorry that I put the others to so much trouble."

"No, it's fine. As long as you're alright." Mrs. Gertry smiled at me kindly, and I smiled in return. "I'm guessing you'd like to see the Chancellor?"

"If he's in."

She shook her head. "I'm afraid he's not, but maybe I can call for him."

"I don't want to trouble him either," I started, but she shook her head again.

"He's been real edgy since you last contacted us, Maia. Chances are he's awake right now, pacing. I think he would appreciate us relieving him of his fears."

My brows furrowed in concern. I didn't want him to worry so much, moreso than he needed to. Not only did it stress him in his old age, but to show a weakness to the other officials wasn't wise. If they saw that he and I had a connection or bond, they could spin some lies and pull some tricks, all in their attempt to secure the position of Chancellor. In all due respect, my Chancellor was the only fit one there was. He was kind and caring, sometimes so much he deprived himself of his own luxuries. A leader like that, who served the people, was someone worth the position and so much more.

"Alright," I eventually agreed. "Just tell him I'm okay. If he can't come in, then it's fine. I'll just head over to the doctors. I feel... a little dizzy."

Her brows knitted up. "You're not hurt, are you?" she asked in a worried tone. I forced a smile.

"Nothing to worry about."

"Well, you just head over to the Chancellor's office first. I'll contact him."

She handed me a small key, to open the Chancellor's door. Usually you only give a key to custodial employees or the owner of the office, but I was trusted. Plus, my status gave me some privileges. I took the key from the receptionist.

"Thank you."

She smiled at me, and I turned to go access the hallway by her desk.

The Chancellor's room was on the topmost floor, so I had to go down a hallway before I entered the stairwell, and even after that, there was another hall before reaching the Chancellor's room. Everything was organized and neat, and the smell of the place was crisp, a little like mint but not as refreshing. I made my way down the hall and caught glimpses of people already in their offices. Some of them peeked out at me, and their stares were a little pointed. I tried to ignore them, and I soon found the stairwell.

I reached the top floor and crossed paths with someone I didn't quite want to.

"...Maia."

"Mr. Ion," I said formally, but my stomach churned. His smile was a fake one, crooked on his aging face. The Chancellor's adviser didn't see me in such good lights, and he was one of the people that didn't like me being so close to the one on top. And then, unlike the others in this building, he knew what I was, and I think that caused him to dislike me even more. "It's nice to see you. You're quite early."

"I could say the same thing about you," he returned. His eyes flashed. "The Chancellor's not here, I'm afraid."

"I am aware of that. Mrs. Gertry gave me permission to wait in his office." I opened my hand to reveal the key. "He may come in and see me."

His head inclined as he considered me, and I caught distaste on his face. "It's not proper to have someone as important as the Chancellor make his way for the sake of a commoner. You should go."

"I've been given orders to report immediately to him whenever I return to Atmosia. Even if he chooses not to come until the sun rises, I will wait in his office for as long as it takes."

"Such loyalty." Mr. Ion's comment sounded more accusing than complimentary. I kept eye-contact with him as we spoke, but my eyes often flickered to the mole under the inner corner of his left eye. When I had nothing more to say, I started edging around him. He obliged with my action, and circled his own way.

"Well, let's just hope he doesn't leave you waiting too long," Mr. Ion said. His eyes wandered down my body to the floor, and then he returned them to my gaze. "One can only have so much blood."

I looked to the floor and realized that drops of blood had escaped the cover of my disguise and dotted the ground. I went to look back up at Mr. Ion, but he had already turned his back on me and disappeared into the stairwell.

I pressed a hand to my wound, growling a little, and I continued down the hall. I saw the Chancellors door, and my steps quickened. I wanted to disappear into the room without any more bloodspots leading me in there, and I wanted to become forgotten in the building until the Chancellor came in. I slipped the key into the doorknob and turned it. With a satisfying click, I was inside. I was glad that the blood on my hand was dry, so I left no prints behind. Another thing I loved about his office was the fact that the window of his door was almost opaque. You couldn't see who, or what, was inside. This was another place where I was free to be who I was.

The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. I knew that the Chancellor would take some time before he came into the building, so I went to his washroom, to try cleaning myself up. I turned the light on and deactivated my Cloaking crystal. I sort of recoiled at the sight of my shoulder... the damage that my Dragon Claw left looked intimidating, and the side of my body was dark and a little shiny. I turned the water on and plugged the drain, to get myself a full basin. I looked for some unused rags I could use, and once I did, the sink was full and I could commence washing myself.

I was halfway through cleaning myself when I heard the door to the office abruptly. My heart leapt at the interruption, and I was about to shut the washroom door when the voice called out, reassuring me.

"Nakoto?"

Footsteps approached rapidly and in no time at all, the kind face of the Chancellor appeared at the doorframe. The expression he had was a mixture of confusion, surprise and horror. I couldn't help but smile sheepishly.

"It's not as bad as it looks, Tatu."

"You're right. It looks far worse."

Now, instead of calling the Chancellor "The Chancellor" all the time, I called him Tatu when we were in each others' single company. It's a title of endearment, if you will. I used to call my dad that.

Tatu wasn't dressed on occasion for his daily duties. He had a big overcoat over his pyjamas, which were grey and almost looked like prison clothes. He wasn't much for nightly style. I half-expected fuzzy slippers to poke out from underneath, but he had proper shoes on.

"When you spoke with me over the radio, I didn't imagine your wound to be this terrible," he fussed, his bushy brows crinkling his forehead. He was anxious. "I'm amazed you're still standing!"

"A lot more things happened, and... well, at least I'm not dead." I laughed, hoping he would join me. He didn't. Instead, he looked a lot more fatigued.

"Nakoto, you mustn't joke about things like this. We could have lost you to Cyclonis."

He was more worried about the Talon squadron that firstly gave me this wound. I wanted to tell him about my adventure in the Wastelands, but I figured it would give him a heart attack, make him feel worse. My thoughts turned to Repton. He could've taken me straight to Cyclonis if he wanted to, but he didn't. I knew he was bewildered about my Dragon Claw. Why would he let me go?

I turned to the sink and unplugged the drain, letting the sordid-looking water create a whirlpool as it rushed away. My scales were relatively clean for now.

"I'm sorry, Tatu."

The Chancellor sighed through his nose, then patted my arm, smiling softly. "All that matters is that you're safe now."

I smiled down at him. "You came up here really quick. The sun hasn't even risen yet."

"I wasn't even finished speaking with Mrs. Gertry when I already had my coat on, ready to go. You know how worrisome I get."

I nodded my head, stepping out of the washroom. "I know."

"Now, Mrs. Gertry's told me that you haven't finished your load of deliveries, which may be a little problematic. You are in no condition to continue your work."

"But—"

"But nothing. I order you to take leave. Relax. You can take your time at the facility. Cloud Nine can be repaired in the meantime."

I didn't like to be babied, but the Chancellor was just as stubborn as he was kind-hearted. I also didn't like the idea of slacking off on my job. I mean, I know someone else would be appointed to finish off the rest of my deliveries, but it just felt wrong for me. I had to look on the bright side though... I would be able to tell stories to the children again, and man did I have a good one to tell them this time!

"Yes, Tatu."

He smiled kindly at me. "Come, I'll escort you there."

I nodded, smiling myself, and I turned on my Cloaking crystal once more.

You can never really tell when it's morning in Cyclonia.

Repton and his brothers walked down the hall leading toward the colossal door at the end. Throughout the great establishment, Repton tried to come off as proud as possible. He wouldn't skulk down the hall like some mistreated dog, licking at his wounds. His brothers looked like that, for sure, but he wouldn't. Just because he lost didn't mean he was finished. The bandages on his head were a little demeaning, and he preferred he addressed Cyclonis when he was presentable, but she demanded to see him immediately.

He arrived near the two guards that stood on patrol outside of the door, and they opened the door for him. He and his brothers entered the dark space and approached the center of the room. Talons also stood at attention at certain intervals against the wall with their red crystal staves. At the end of the room was the enormous, mysterious crystal machine, ever active and in use. At the base stood its controller, her back to them, her hood up.

Her fingers ceased their business when the door closed shut, echoing. The hood parted into her wicked collar and she turned around to glare at them. Leugey whimpered quietly beside Repton, but the leader stood his ground under Master Cyclonis' leer. She folded her arms behind her back, shifting her eyes from one Raptor to another, but soon her stare landed on Repton again and stayed there.

"I wish the nice Raptoress was here," Leugey whispered. Repton glanced at him coldly. Ever since they departed from the Wastelands, Leugey sounded like he was smitten with their rescuer, asking where she was. It annoyed the hell out of the leader.

Cyclonis freed a hand from behind her back and snapped her fingers. "All of you, leave," she told her guards. They looked to one another, then did as they were told. "The same goes for you three," she addressed Repton's brothers. "Repton is the one I have business with."

Repton's brothers were the ones who seemed more reluctant to go. They shuffled, and waited for a few moments before Repton turned to them and growled, "Do as you're told."

They left, one after the other: Spitz, Hoerk, then Leugey. The youngest one looked back at him doubtfully as he went. When they passed through the door, it slammed shut again, far faster than a normal pair of guards could accomplish. Cyclonis must have taken the liberty in doing so. He turned back to her, slowly raising his gaze.

"You've failed me again, Repton," she droned, anger lurking in the depth of her voice. Her eyes narrowed, loathing. "You were so close... Care to explain to me why this happened?"

Repton took a while to respond. He clutched his fists at his sides and held a straight posture. Having no justified excuse, he answered simply, "... I left my post."

"So I've heard. I don't know what could've compelled you to do so, since you had victory in the palm of your hand! Leaving your subordinates with the task was not a wise move. Whatever drew you away must've been very important."

"It was Maia," Repton said without thinking. If there was one person to blame, it was her. He realized how childish it was, to throw the blame on someone else, but he had already gone and said it. His chin dipped. "It was that... mail carrier."

"Were you planning to catch her for me, or satisfy your own blood-thirst?"

Cyclonis had also been searching for Maia, for the messages she carried with her. To infiltrate the best messenger of Atmos was an advantage the ruler of Cyclonia wanted. She had recently had to deal with the incompetent Talons who lost Maia to the Storm Hawks, so she was already pissed off as it was. When Repton heard of this, it made sense to him as to why Maia appeared on the two occasions. She boarded on the Storm Hawks cruiser after the Talon attack, and she was present all throughout Repton's invasion on the Condor. Perhaps if the Talons succeeded in capturing Maia, he would've succeeded in bringing the Storm Hawks to Cyclonis. He wouldn't have had to face this shame. His distaste for Maia only grew.

His silence made Cyclonis impatient, and she repeated more harshly, "Did you kill her?"

Repton's teeth clenched. He wish he had. "No."

"Well then, I guess seeing you empty-handed means you failed in catching her." Cyclonis turned her back on him, and called to him in a dismissive manner; "So you lost two battles in one day. You lost the Condor and Maia. Isn't that pathetic?"

The Raptor's glare transferred to the ground, growing a red haze around the edges. The humiliation of losing was sickening enough, but it was even worse that Cyclonis was rubbing salt in the wounds. He only wished he could kill Cyclonis, too. It was as much a temptation as getting his hands on Maia.

"Or," Cyclonis continued, making Repton resent whatever she had in store, "perhaps you did find her, and she gave you that nasty wound. It must be hard on your ego, to receive something like that from a human...—"

"It wasn't from a human."

Cyclonis slowly turned around. Her intense stare made the scales on the back of his neck feel uncomfortable. He finished his thought. "It was from a Vulca-Bat."

"A Vulca-Bat."

"One of them, yes."

Cyclonis' back straightened more, and her chin lifted up. She considered him under hooded eyes. "You encountered a colony. I wonder how you escaped? I hear Raptor's blood is delicacy to them, one they'd do anything to get."

Repton nodded curtly, closing his eyes. "It is."

"How did you escape?"

He didn't want to say. Cyclonis regarded him closely.

"Who is this Raptoress?" she asked instead, and he sort of flinched. That was the reaction the empress was waiting for. Curse Leugey for mentioning her!

"Someone you met?"

"Yes," Repton said reluctantly. "She had crashed down in the Wastelands. She fixed her vehicle when I was there."

"Was she someone of your tribe, then? A nice reunion, despite the hellish atmosphere."

"No. I had never seen anyone like her before."

"And she is the one who helped you?" The silence that followed didn't bother Cyclonis, but instead just verified what Repton was unwilling to answer. "How?"

"She... had a defect, or so she called it. Her hand was a huge set of claws. She used it against the Vulca-Bats, as if it were some sort of weapon. And she—"

"...aha."

Repton looked up at Cyclonis, who suddenly had this misty, distant look on her face. He tilted his head in confusion, and for a time, he couldn't muster the will to speak up. He licked his lips.

"What is it?"

He was startled by her chuckle.

"You've actually done something no one else has, Repton. Now you don't look so bad."

"What do you mean?"

Cyclonis started descending the steps from her mysterious machine, coming closer to Repton. To say the least, it was creepy, and Repton gathered his senses to stay on full alert. She stopped a little ways from him, and she knitted her fingers together in front of her. No one could trust the smile she had on her face.

"This... Raptoress you met. What did she look like?"

The Raptor in front of her didn't like where this was going. What importance was what Nakoto looked like to Cyclonis? At first, he didn't want to oblige, but then he saw the opportunity present itself. He had a chance to redeem himself and save himself from further ridicule. He saw Nakoto in his mind's eye, trying to remember her features. Surprisingly, they came rather clearly to him.

So he started describing her to Cyclonis, a little hesitant at first. Soon he was finished, with seemingly no trouble in explaining it at all. When he described Nakoto's Dragon Claw, he found himself confused for the first time. Why had it glowed like that? And more bewildering; why hadn't he addressed it with her, or got to the bottom of it? He just let her go, and he didn't even know if he was going to meet her again.

In the end, Cyclonis looked pleased with herself, and Repton was suspicious.

"I thought I'd never hear of Beta again," she said to herself, which wouldn't make sense to anyone else but herself. "I've heard the rumours of such a specimen, and the Cyclonian archives... but I didn't think... why, no one's ever seen her. I thought she was dead. And I'm rather surprised she was outside; I expected her to be locked up somewhere, kept safe. To have her roam freely means that she can be seen and caught after all..."

She turned around in her pondering, wandering back up the steps. Repton stepped forward, feeling forgotten. "Who is she, Master Cyclonis?" he demanded. "'Beta'?"

"A very, very important pawn," Cyclonis answered, a dark happiness liberated from her throat. "One of two persons I hold rights over, someone whom I want added to my collection. Now, I suspected that she and the other resided on Atmosia, but they covered things up so well I thought they just went and killed them. But no, I'm beginning to think this Raptoress you found is still there, in the more advanced branches of their medical facility. I've had a plan for an opportunity like this for so long... But that's something I'll take care of. I'll call you back in a couple of days."

Repton was completely confused on what was going on. Nakoto had a history with Cyclonia? She didn't look like she did when he met her. She didn't even look like royalty: she didn't look like she had any status higher enough to be interesting to Cyclonia. And who was this 'other' Cyclonis wanted? Additionally, why wasn't Cyclonis angry with him for letting Nakoto go? Even if he didn't know what importance she had at the time, he had expected Cyclonis to throw a tantrum anyway. She looked way too happy. Lastly...

"Why? Why do you need me in this business?" Cyclonis stopped her climb up the steps and stood still, waiting for him to continue. "What use am I, knowing what happens with this Raptoress?"

She turned around. Her smile tilted to one side. "Well, you're a Raptor yourself. You know more on Raptor anatomy than I do, and you'll also point her out to me. Granted, there would be only two Raptors, but to know that it's her specifically will establish a more profound target."

She seemed to wait for Repton to respond in some way. Receiving nothing, she tilted her head, and her eyes took a challenging turn. "Are you resisting this opportunity to help me?"

Redemption. Partnership. How could he refuse this? It was as if it was his turn for Lady Fortune to smile down at him. Maybe things would work out for the better. There was only that small, insistent feeling in his gut, the one that argued with his logic. Did he have the right to drag Nakoto back into something like this? Having a history with Cyclonia was a serious business, and frankly not something a free person would like to return to.

He had no codes. He had already repaid her. Her fate was no longer his concern.

"No, Master Cyclonis."

"I thought so." She laughed to herself. "Now leave. I have to see this through."

She turned her back on him, and that was her dismissal. Frankly, he had so many questions left unanswered, and he wanted a more in-depth explanation, but he knew Cyclonis would not bother with it. He would have to look into it himself. He pressed a hand to his opposite shoulder and bowed half-heartedly to her figure, then he left. He pushed the doors open, and he was greeted by his eager brothers. They looked astounded to find him in one piece.

"Repton?" Spitz asked cautiously. They had also noticed the distant expression on his face. "What did she say?"

"Nothing," he murmured. Walking forward, he shook his head. His brothers followed, perplexed.

"Has she banished us?"

"No."

"Is Bogaton... done for?"

"No."

He wasn't even in the mood to scorn them for their pestering. The new objective at hand was the last thing he expected. That first confrontation with Nakoto didn't come across as an introduction to a chance to win Cyclonis' favour. And to think, that the one thing he had to do was sell out his own kind. It seemed barbaric, heartless. Even if he had no code to follow, did a rogue go to such depths?

"Come on," he told his brothers. They stiffened. "We're going home to Bogaton until Cyclonis calls for us."

"But—"

"There's nothing left for us to do. We got off lucky. We might as well get to our own business."

The brothers couldn't argue with that, but they still had that air of confusion, especially toward his temper being so controlled around them. He didn't want to betray anything. Even if his brothers knew the situation, they wouldn't have been able to screw things up. Even if they wanted to.

Cyclonis had that insane look in her eye.

End of Chapter

A/N: Oh dear oh dear o.o

Well then, I introduced some characters and I kept some in character. I think that I accomplished something in this one at least! I should write my musings more often... I usually have the best dialogue in my head before I go to sleep, but if I don't write them, I forget them the next morning! Luckily I wrote down Repton's conversation with Cyclonis, and I also have another dialogue for further down the way, so I'm glad that one's done with.

Anyway, I hope you liked it! There's a scheme lurking... I hope it's as intense to you as it is for me XD Give me any feedback if you're confused or if you're enjoying it!

~Vixen