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

Chapter 15

"Not a 'sorry-looking piece of junk', now is she?"

Repton didn't really crack a smile at that. He didn't say anything at all, really. I didn't know what he was thinking, but if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say he was wondering what was going on, or where he was. He looked up and around the place, observing the eroded walls of the cavern and the "windows" to the storm outside.

There was no point to rushing a conversation, so I left him to his pondering. I looked down at my right hand under the water, the violet light dying. It really started to burn by the time we arrived, and I couldn't stand it. Submerging it in the water turned out to be a good idea, as it eased the pain. I opened and closed my fist in contemplation.

"What exactly is this place?"

"Just a cave I found once," I replied. "I stumbled upon it when the wind was dead, which is rare in this area. Neat, huh?"

"How will we get out? Back the way we came?"

I pointed with my free hand, and I lead his eyes to another tunnel. "That way goes some ways underground, all the way around. There, you can come out of the storm, which makes things pretty easy. The exit is pretty hard to see, so I doubt the Cyclonians will see it."

He said nothing as his eyes returned to me. He stepped forward. "Are you hurt?"

This made me jump; or at least, it made my crouch fall forward to my knees, splashing into the water. I sort of stumbled, but I quickly regained my composure. The fact he would ask something like that caught me off-guard, as it was so out-of-character. He looked at me strangely, and I coughed.

"Just an ache. It happens from time to time." I took my hand out of water, curling my fingers to get rid of the numbness. The ache still persisted, and I sighed. I looked over to him and tilted my head. "It's you who's hurt."

"What?"

I pointed to my own head as a gesture. "What happened here?"

He reached up to his head, touched it, then recoiled slightly. The blood may have dried, but it still looked foreboding. He bore his teeth and looked away from me. "It's nothing."

"Hold on, is that glass?" Ouch; Farida really did a number on him. "You need that looked into!"

I got to my feet and took a step toward him. In response, he took a step back. I searched his face, and found it stone-cold, eyes staring me down.

"It's nothing," he repeated sternly. I gave him a hard look of my own.

"Doesn't it hurt?"

"No."

"I'm sure, tough guy. You need to get the glass taken out."

"I can do that on my own time. I don't need your help."

I took another step forward, and this time he didn't back up. Instead he insisted on glaring at me threateningly until I broke under it. But I didn't. My stomach kind of clenched, since he looked like he'd lash out, but I eventually arrived and stood before him. We held eye-contact for a dragging moment, then I dipped my chin, still keeping his gaze.

"I need you to lower your head for me to see it better."

He bore his teeth again, and I did my best not to flinch. I was sure he'd take a bite out my face. He looked away from me, decided to glare at a rock or something, then let out a disgruntled breath. His tongue flickered out, and when he turned to me, he bowed his head, slowly, as if he had to force himself into it. Ignoring the little spark of surprise in my gut, I counted my blessings. I tried looking at it, but it was still a little too dim, even with the light from outside. I raised my Dragon's Claw and flexed the fingers out, calling back the glow into them. The ache would just have to stay a little bit longer.

Repton tensed.

"I just need a light," I said softly. I knew he was looking at my claws, so I kept it in front of him for a little longer before bringing it upwards. Using the light, I observed the damage. My lips pulled back a little, and I hissed inwardly. Glass, sand, and blood.

"This may hurt a little. You scabbed over well but the glass is still in there. They'll become fresh again, then we'll need to clean them."

He said nothing, so I took that as no objection. I was a little nervous, and I found that when I raised my left hand up, it was twitching a little. I didn't want to hurt him, but I had no choice. I set to work, as delicately as I could. I set my right hand lightly on his head so that I could steadily work. I felt him wince every once in a while, but he didn't make a big show of it. We stood in silence for a moment.

"You seem... more casual since the last time we met," he stated.

I shook the glass I collected in my left hand, making them clink, then I tossed them away. They landed audibly, a sound both soft and harsh. I looked at the ceiling for a moment, then back to his head, on to the next laceration.

"You think so? Well, I do feel much more comfortable."

"You know what I've done."

"Of course I do," I said, pausing. I smiled, and continued: "But since we're carrying a conversation like this without you wanting to kill me, that tells me that you may-or-may-not see some redeeming quality in me. In ways, I guess that boosts my confidence."

Repton hummed shortly. That was one step beyond responding with silence. Even so, silence followed, and the number of glass dwindled. I was almost done.

"...why do you care if I'm hurt?"

I stopped working.

"Why shouldn't I care?"

Repton hesitated, which he covered it up by clearing his throat. "...well, I'm an enemy of the Atmos. You know of what I've done, and what I'm capable of doing. Everyone knows this, and fear it."

That was all true. All things considered, I knew many people who would oppose the idea of what I was doing. Helping the King of Rogues? they'd exclaim. Are you nuts? I couldn't help but smile a small smile.

"Well, you don't have to be my enemy."

Last glass piece was out. When I threw that aside, I inspected his head for a second time, to make sure I didn't leave anything behind. I swept away any sand I could get to, and sometimes I wiped off his blood with my fingers in order to get all the debris. I was extremely careful with my work, and I was glad that I didn't cause too much discomfort. I lowered my Dragon Claw and let it die slowly. The ache resumed, but I ignored it.

"There. See, you look a lot better than you did. And that blow from the Vulca-Bat healed up really nicely, if I say so myself."

He raised his head suddenly, and this made our faces really close to one another. I froze with a feel of dread; I wondered if he thought I smelled like Maia again. I mean, being so close, he was bound to take in my scent. Perhaps the sand outside gave me a more... well, sandy smell? More rocky, earthly? Well, whatever the case, I hoped he wasn't suspecting again, especially after having "Maia" slip from his grasp again. As I looked at him, I realized that he didn't look angry, so perhaps he'd forgotten about her already?

He just stared at me. I didn't know what emotion he had, or what he was thinking. This was a reason why I didn't know what to do. I just stared back into his eyes, watching them flicking from each of mine. I found myself breathless, and wondered when he'd say something. And if he did, I wondered what he would say in response to how I responded to his question. But that wasn't it.

He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes slightly, shaking his head a little.

"Do you know anyone who looks like you?"

Oh, I knew where this was going. I lowered my head a little. "Like... me...?"

"Yes. Someone similar."

"... well, I couldn't possibly be the only one of my kind, could I." I stepped away from him and turned away when I said that, and I folded my arms behind me. Repton didn't waste time on my reply and went right to the point.

"Someone named Farida, then. Do you know anyone by that name?"

I stayed very silent, and refrained from any movement. Even so much as a twitch of my tail was resisted. I eventually turned back to him and gave him an incredulous look. "Far... you saw Farida? You spoke to her?"

"Not too long ago."

"She's not supposed to be on this side of the Atmos..." I said, perching a hand at my chin. I hoped my pondering looked sincere. I looked up at him in mock-realization and pointed. "She was the one who did that to you, wasn't she? I should've gue— oi, the blood. Forgot the blood. Hold on, I'll get a rag, and we can clean you up."

I didn't know if my scatter-brained act was a bit much, but all the same, he didn't seem suspicious. I quickly went to Cloud Nine, around to her baggage compartment, and I opened the case. Again, I felt sneaky with the mailbag so close-by. I was quick, and Repton wasn't in view of it, so it was easier. I closed the compartment and returned with a clean rag, back to where he was waiting patiently. I went to the water's edge and dunked the rag into the cold water, feeling his gaze on my back. At the same time, I rubbed his blood from my fingers.

"I hope Farida didn't give you too much trouble, other than what she did. She's really aggressive, and not at all the one to be remorseful. She gets it from her father. I guess you can say she's a lot tougher than me. Is she the one you want to talk with me about—?"

"What was the Oasium Project?"

My blood went cold, hearing those words again. I should've known he'd ask. I should've known that was why he wanted to speak with me.

I took a breath, not exactly facing him yet.

"You know of it?"

"Only the name. What was it?"

" ... it depends on your outlook of it, I guess," I responded. I lowered my head, staring at the rag. I squeezed it under the surface of the water. "To some, it was a great achievement, a progressive movement. To others... well, to me, it was... I don't even want to say."

"What?"

"I wouldn't be able to find the right word to describe it."

"Go on."

My stomach clenched, and my eyes narrowed. I wasn't looking at Repton, and even if I was, my negative feeling was directed elsewhere. "I suppose Cyclonis didn't brag about it, then? I would've thought the whole affair would make her proud enough to gloat."

"She prides herself more in her insufferable games. She's hasn't said a word, and expects me to continue working for her with ignorance. I want to know everything, and you're going to tell me."

"You make it sound as if I have no choice," I retorted. "The Oasium Project was a poor, distasteful, disgusting excuse for an experiment. There's nothing more to discuss."

"By your tone, it was more than that." Repton stepped closer to me, toward the edge of the water. "It's hurting you."

His words reached home, and I couldn't deny it. I couldn't help but shoot back helplessly: "And so what if it is?"

"Tell me. Maybe I can help you."

"How can it be helped? My people were used like lab rats, and when the Cyclonians started fearing them, they eliminated them. My Terra was burned and buried under the clouds!" I stood up and glared at him. "What could you possibly do to erase history? Honestly?"

Repton had his arms crossed across his chest, but after my outburst, they were loose with shock. I didn't mean to blurt that out. He was just... was that his plan? To evoke the emotions inside me? I stared at him, then remembered the rag I left in the water. I bent down to pick it up; it was definitely wet enough. I wrung it of any extra water, then I straightened. I approached Repton, who stood very still, watching me. I avoided his gaze, and, silently, I raised the rag up and gently dabbed it at his head. He winced slightly, but soon he got used to the feeling and only showed a pensive expression as he withstood the stinging.

"Then your people, your tribe—?"

"They've been dead for many long years. Farida and I are the only ones left."

"So you lied."

"You're the one who assumed I had a tribe. I never really voiced it."

He said nothing for a moment. "What were the Cyclonians trying to do?"

My tongue flickered out, and I hummed deeply. "To build weapons out of my people. When they discovered them on Oasium, they noticed what was going on, and they wanted to use the best of it."

He said nothing, confused. Instead of leaving him as such —which I should've—, I sighed and continued.

"Oasium's water supply was contaminated for a long time before the Cyclonians ever reached it. The rivers passed through reservoirs of raw crystal, and over time, erosion had the crystal merge with the water. For generations, my people drank this water, and soon the contents started accumulating and effecting them. Fewer and fewer hatchlings would survive, and they were always hatched with some deformation. When I was hatched, I was the only one alive in a nest of six. By then, a lot of my people died to the crystal's poison. Those who survived only did so when a positive... miraculous evolution took place in their bodies. The crystal merged with them, and they became a race of living crystals.

"Then we had our first visitors, and they weren't friendly. Cyclonians invaded, and my people didn't stand a chance against their technology. They couldn't harness their power for it. The Cyclonians took notice of my people's strange traits, and they wanted to study them, so my people were spared. There were already mutations in the populace before Cyclonia's influence, and when Cyclonia found out about it, you know what they did? They inserted even more crystal pollution into the water, and continued to study. They claimed they came in peace, but my people knew the truth.

"Finally, one Raptor couldn't take it anymore, and he started a revolt. He killed a Cyclonian scientist on the field, and it was then that the Cyclonians recognized my tribe as a threat. My people had no intention of serving their Empress, and they started understanding the power they possessed. So, the former Cyclonis ordered for my race to be obliterated before they could cause any real damage. They destroyed the foundations that held Oasium up, and it's definitely in some fiery pit of the Wastelands now. Cyclonis covered it all up, and no one could learn of what happened. No one knew we even existed. That's all there is to it."

I didn't know how I could hold my composure through all of that. I tried to make myself sound as distant as possible. I loved story-telling, but this was my least favourite to tell. What possible lesson could you learn from this tragedy? It was a story that invited pity, and I didn't want people feeling sorry for me. Of course, if Repton ever felt pity for me, it would certainly benefit me in some way. As much as I disliked being looked at like an injured puppy, an advantage could show itself.

"Where were you in all this?" he asked slowly. "Were you on Oasium, when it was destroyed?"

I reached down and grasped his hand. His limb was heavy with reluctance and perplexity when I tried lifting it up. Half-way up, he realized what I was intending, and followed. I lead his hand to the rag on his head, to press down. I retreated from him and clasped my hands behind my back. I paced away slowly, thinking slowly, breathing slowly.

"Me? No. Farida and I were hatched in the aftermath."

It was here that I decided to bend the truth. I was hatched much earlier than Farida, and I had seen everything. I just didn't want to say that. Saying it would invite the images back.

He saw nothing of my fib. A part of me wanted to tell him the whole truth, things I didn't mention, but I was already feeling sad for myself, and I wanted to stop. The story I revealed should have been enough anyway, and perhaps Repton would feel some empathy for me. That would be a sure sign that he could change, switch sides, and abandon Cyclonis. I mean, he had to feel some anger at this injustice. Something dark and sordid had happened to his kind without his knowing. What he said to me when we departed from the Wastelands prodded my mind, and I felt like it was a challenge to be accepted.

I wanted Repton to be good. He had the heart. He had to. He may have been greedy and power-hungry, but wasn't there some sense of justice in there to overturn them?

It was time for a test.

"So, what now? Are you satisfied?" I asked softly.

"...I would never have believed you if you were someone else," Repton said at last. "But now I understand. I understand more about you."

I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. I didn't intend it to come out so mockingly. There were still many things I didn't mention, so he understood me less than he thought. But I gave him points... at least he was trying to understand.

"Will you try to turn me in now, then?"

"What?"

I turned to look at him. I gave him a look, half-expectedly. "I've given you what you asked for, but it's highly unlikely that was all you wanted. Do you think I'm that gullible?"

He was still holding the rag to his head. He held my gaze for a while, until he scoffed, smirking slightly. He looked away. "You're sharp. But you're right... I was lying."

"After that story, you should've learned my feelings on Cyclonia," I said. I lifted my Dragon's Claw, but didn't activate it. I gave him a dark look.

"It's only over my dead body that I'm ever returning to Cyclonian soil. So, prepare for some resistance."

Repton started laughing then. It was a deep, throaty sound, rolling and growing louder. I felt an indignant spark inside me, as well as the scales burning on my cheeks. I thought that was a pretty intimidating thing to say! What was he laughing about? He looked back at me, and he chuckled some more once seeing my annoyed expression.

"Rest assured," he replied at least, heaving a little. He smirked at me. "I have no intention of handing you over to that witch."

"You don't?"

"No."

Shock consumed me.

"...you're lying again," I exclaimed without thinking. He shook his head.

"You have my word."

"That can't be! You were ordered to claim me. This counts as treason... if Cyclonis heard about this...—"

"My loyalties can be easily arranged. Cyclonis promised to spare Bogaton if I served her. If my Terra wasn't at stake, I wouldn't have bothered with her. So when I see an opportunity to bend orders, I take it." He pulled the rag from his head, since it most likely lost its cool. He glanced at the water. "It's true; I thought I'd make things easier for myself if I tricked you. But I've changed my mind."

"Changed... your mind?" I repeated stupidly. He hummed affirmative. That was a blessing, but I wasn't buying it. "Why? You're at a full advantage. No one's around..."

"Precisely. No one's here to see me let you go."

I stared at him in bewilderment. I blinked several times, then rotated my head to the right, looking at him out of the corner of my eye, as if I could catch some flaw in a mirage that way. I walked up to him, quickly, and he seemed unsettled by my sudden approach. I went right up to him and felt his forehead.

He stepped away and immediately demanded: "What is this?"

"You're not feeling well, are you, Repton?" I shook my head. "You're not acting like yourself."

"And who are you to say you know everything about me?" he hissed. "We've only met twice!"

Twice as Nakoto. Multiple times as Maia. I disregarded my mental note. "That's right! So how come you're doing this for a person you've only met twice? That story couldn't possibly be stirring enough to kindle pity out of you!"

"What do you want from me? Do you want me to actually capture you? To bring you to Cyclonis?"

I shut up then. What was it that I wanted? What was it again? I furrowed my brows, tilting my head. I had been so lost in my agitation that I forgot what I was doing. Repton watched me with a demanding expression, impatient.

The test.

I smiled greatly. He drew back, a look of surprise on his face. I saw his eyes flicker about my face—from my eyes, to my teeth, to my eyes again. He showed anger, but I could tell that it was just to cover his stupefied reaction.

"Wh-What are you smiling at?"

"Who knew such kindness existed in you?" I folded my hands together in front of me and laughed. He snarled and huffed.

"If you call that kindness. I call it mercy. And from time to time, it just happens when I feel like it. Count yourself lucky!"

"I will!" And I laughed louder. He just stood there, watching me until I settled down. Tears were in my eyes, and I wiped them away.

My eyes may have been muddled from the tears, but I could've sworn I saw a smile on Repton's lips, too.

End of Chapter

A/N: Cooooooomeon, March Break! Yield me some inspiration!

I hope the dialogue wasn't too jumbled! I wanted to get to as much information as possible. Then I realized I could add more in a separate chapter... which I'm going to do!

Hope you liked this one! Review me your thoughts! :)

~Vixen