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

Chapter 23

It was raining even harder in Atmosia.

I had returned to Tatu's, as he requested. I would have done so without that order though, because that was where I technically 'lived'. Not that many people knew of this, because of obvious reasons— accepting a Raptor into their society was hard enough. You're probably wondering why Cyclonis wasn't aware of me when an entire Terra had seen me and acknowledged me at some point (I mean, how else would I have gotten my hands on alcohol? Think about it) ... well, I could go into the whole process of it but basically everyone was expected to make an oath and speak nothing of me. This could've counted as treason to the other Terras, keeping something like me a secret... it was all just complicated, which is why I never really wanted to clear it up with anyone. I often roamed around the Terra as Maia anyway, so it was hardly that important.

Anyway, I stayed in the large house Tatu lived in by himself, and I knew that the fact I was there gave him some ease. I wished I was better company to him, but I was still thinking of Adam and his father. Rio had decided to bring his son back to Aquanosia, for a proper burial. Due to my promise to Tatu, I couldn't accompany him. I wanted to ask Tatu to make an exception, but Rio had overheard some of our conversation before and insisted I stayed. So, that I did.

I was now heading out into the rain for the medical facility. Unlike the day before, the rain that day was much colder, stinging, slightly sharp against my scales. One storm was enough me, and it was nice yesterday, since at least there was some humidity hanging in the air. I had to get through it fast if I didn't want my muscles stiffening up.

After closing the front door behind me, I psyched myself up before diving into the downpour. I didn't bother with an umbrella, either; Tatu had left already for his duties, so there was no one there to reprimand me. The clinic wasn't far... and running would keep my blood pumping. I needed the exercise. I skipped down the wet steps, frowning a little. The rain was definitely as cold as I'd though it'd be, but I would manage. I thought it would also help my Dragon's Claw a little: it was starting to heat up, even though I hadn't used it for a long while. I was going to need to get it checked.

As I ran down the nearly-vacant paths, getting some occasional glances, my mind wandered. Of how things were becoming more complex than they used to be. After I was rescued from the former Cyclonis, life was very simple. I grew up free from prying eyes and clawing fingers, and started to live in the Atmos like a normal person. When I was old enough I picked up the workings of a mail carrier, so that I could see more of it and, most importantly, keep myself moving, stop myself from looking back. I felt free... disguising my voice and appearance seemed like a very small price for such an inalienable thing.

But now I wasn't free, as the past caught up with me. The dead queen's granddaughter was now after me like I was lost property. The hauntings of the Oasium Profect slipped from the locked portion of my memory and taunted me. Adam was dead, and I was afraid more would follow. With Luchas, I didn't know what feeling to trust; that deep hatred and distrust for all Cyclonians, or that internal sympathy for a man who really tried for a better life. Then, Repton. Where could I begin with him?

The bottle of Aquanosian water shifted in my pants' pocket as I ran. Rio had originally given it to me to bring to Adam. But I held onto it with such sentimental value that I was relieved when Rio didn't ask for it back. I couldn't part with it. It reminded me of Adam of course, but it still was a... gift from someone. Technically, it was not so, and in fact just a coincidence that I got it back in my possession, but the idea of it alone... why? Why did Repton give it to me? Had he known I needed it?

I wanted to see him again. My mind wandered to him so much that I wanted to see the real thing, which made my grounding much harder to accept. How could I feel like that, when I'd only gotten to talk to him, face to face, so little? I... sort of missed him, like I would Tatu or my uncle. He just seemed so interesting to me... was it because he was a friend on the enemy's side? Possible... the idea would be thrilling to anyone. I liked the taste of lurking in dangerous grounds and getting out unscathed. To me though, I didn't think that it would've mattered, on which side he was on. He seldom talked, but when he did, the sound of his voice was enough to relax me. His scent and presence near me gave me a sense of security: probably the opposite of what he struck into the hearts of the helpless.

It was because he was a Raptor. He had this familiarity that I found comfort in. Even for someone like me, someone who was accustomed to being alone... we always reached to someone or something in order to escape from that kind of emptiness. He just happened to be someone I found intriguing, and someone who worked for the source that diminished my culture into nothing more than a distant dream. His loyalty to Cyclonia wasn't even that strong, but people doubted he was loyal to anyone anyway. I still liked him. That didn't mean that I —I dunno— cherished him, or something sappy like that.

That's what I told myself whenever the thought of Repton entered my mind. I expected the rain to wash those thoughts away, but the voice that was reluctant to let go murmured:

Will he really write to me?

...when?

Repton was extremely displeased.

Firstly, he had to spend an entire day watching nothing, waiting for the next day. He couldn't leave because it was a short period of time, and he was expected to stay during that duration. Luchas didn't seem to know what to do with himself for the majority of the day, possibly surprised out of his wits about the amount of luck he received. He often went to his room and consulted the papers on his desk. He didn't speak at all, even in the recesses of privacy, but Repton didn't want to talk to him anyway.

Secondly, the rest of the contents of Nakoto's file made his stomach turn, in the end. The Cure. That was a word that was supposed to hold the essence of hope within its grasp. Instead, it was exactly what Deconstruction suggested. Repton was used to gruesome ends and torture, but he was glad there were no pictures of what the Cure could do. It was worse than the poison. Then, almost each encounter with it killed Nakoto, had her heart stop beating in the end. But that wasn't the end... she would be revived, and so it would start over, and over, and over...

He didn't know why he was so moved, Repton, and it was the last and most difficult reason why he was frustrated. He was known for his ruthlessness, not sympathy. He didn't even care for his own kind half the time. The famine back home only crossed his mind because if he did nothing, there would be no dominion to rule over. Then, there was that whole rebellion talk... granted, he had those loyal to him, but that was through fear and unconditional love (the last applying to his brothers, but the first often proved a greater influence even with them). The indifference he was accustomed to feeling was absent as he finished Nakoto's file, and instead there was fiery, boiling resentment towards the fathers of this Project.

What did this mean, then?

To make matters worse, Cyclonis decided to join him the next morning. No proper greeting or warning; she just immediately demanded what happening in the last two days. Repton explained them clearly, omitting any personal details, such as speaking with Luchas himself and the fire. He wasn't ready to discuss what really was his 'true' purpose, and he felt that the talk between Nakoto and Luchas was more of an ice-breaker than anything.

By the time he finished, Luchas had reached the clinic on his assigned day. The storm looked worse today. Even with an umbrella, the doctor couldn't shield himself completely from the rain. He took shelter under the roof just before the entrance and the automatic doors opened, attracting everyone's attention immediately. The receptionist and three doctors were what consisted this amount, and they watched as Luchas closed his umbrella and breifly fixed his attire before actually entering the building. Athene's Eye was speckled with moisture, and the Cyclonian wiped it clear with his thumb. His movement faltered a little under the piercing, suspicious gazes of those present. He bid them good morning as he passed them. No response.

Surely though, he approached the closet where he hung his doctor's uniform. One of the doctors went up to him as he was slipping an arm through one sleeve, and he coughed into his closed hand.

"So... you're back to work, are you?"

Luchas hesitated in the middle of maneuvering the other sleeve. He managed that and snapped his collar down sharply. "Yes. I want to continue working here, and do what I can to help."

"I see." It was not hard to hear the disapproval in his voice. He returned to his colleagues, muttered a short exchange, then all of them left the room into the passage that lead to the elevator and stairs. Luchas adjusted Athene's Eye to the breast of his uniform, then sat down in one of the chairs meant for waiting patients and visitors. There was a trolley of trays nearby, abandoned by some unknown reason.

More doctors walked in and out of the room, oblivious to Luchas. The receptionist shared short conversations with them, but she always shot a confused glance in the Cyclonian's direction. When no doctors occupied the space, and Luchas and the receptionist were alone, she finally called out:

"What are you doing, just sitting there?"

After a long pause, Luchas cleared his throat, got up to his feet and wandered over to her slowly, so that she wasn't startled by his movement. He may have even tried to smile. Her demeanor did not change.

"Do you know where Nakoto is?" he asked kindly. She stiffened. The door leading into the clinic opened, but Luchas didn't pay it any heed.

The woman's voice was very guarded, and there was a hint of annoyance in there, too. Perhaps this was her way of being protective. "What do you want with her?"

Luchas seemed a little intimidated by her tone, and he started, "Well, I—"

"He's only allowed in when Nakoto's with him." The Cyclonian turned around slightly, but Seth had reached the desk already. He looked at him and forced a smile. "You can say that he's gotten an escort now, to look after him."

"Whose idea was this?" The receptionist asked, incredulous.

"Nakoto's." He responded to her wide eyes with a half-hearted wave of his hand. "I know, Mrs. Gertry, I was a little shocked, too. But I'm sure she has a good reason."

"It should be!" Gertry cried. "I thought Nakoto would knock him around, hard. You know, it may be uncivil, but my sister and I held bets!"

Repton didn't know whether Luchas resented or appreciated to be discussed in the conversation as if he wasn't there, but it did make things less awkward and tense.

"I wonder who won?" Seth laughed, and he turned his eyes to Luchas. His smile was a little more sincere this time, but it may have looked like that because he had just amused himself. "I'm sorry... that was rude of us. Even you don't deserve that kind of treatment. After all, you did very well in Adam's operation."

Gertry looked down. It was hard to determine whether the look on her face was of shame or of sadness.

"I... only take praise when the patient is saved and secure on the road to recovery," Luchas replied slowly. Gertry looked up. Seth regarded him thoughtfully. Luchas bowed his head. "Since neither were achieved with the Aquanosian child, I can't take your praise. Thank you for the kind words, but I don't deserve them."

"How sickly humble," Cyclonis sighed. She turned her back to the Eye and folded her hands behind it. "If this doesn't work, I don't know what will."

Neither Seth nor Gertry said anything, or had the chance to. The young doctor looked past Luchas and chuckled.

"Well, there's Nakoto now."

"She's soaked!" Gertry fussed. "She'll catch a cold in this horrible weather...!"

Luchas turned to the door he passed through not long before, and a lithe figure was running down the path toward the building. Nakoto slid to a stop under the roof, but yet not close enough to activate the door. She shook her head and tail off, flattening her spines and opening them again. She also swept her hands across her scales wherever she could, sending the water off and onto the concrete patio. Her clothes were still wet, which were her usual dark capris and tank top. The shirt she wore was dark purple this time. Why did she wear them at all? She didn't wear one the night before, either... She couldn't do much about her drenched clothes, so she stepped up to go inside.

The glass doors opened, but she only put her foot on the inner mat before she quickly rounded, staring into the storm she left. She was very still, erect, her movement calculated when she cast her eyes in all directions. She even leaned out more to peer past any intercepting wall-edges. After a long moment, she reluctantly pulled herself inside. She took several steps back, slowly, still facing outside when the glass doors closed, as if expecting whatever it was she sensed to emerge then. When nothing did, she turned around carefully and joined the humans at the counter.

"Good morning," she said, individually looking at each person. Her eyes stayed on Luchas the longest.

"What was that about?" Seth inquired, gesturing to the automatic doors. Nakoto shrugged, scratching her neck distractedly.

"Ever had that weird sensation when someone's watching you?"

"Well, we were watching you as you were coming in." Seth smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Nah, I saw that you were, I mean that..." She was about to look over her shoulder, back again, but it seemed she had second thoughts about that. Her eyes looked down pensively, and she quickly remembered her place. "...nevermind."

She then regarded Luchas again. She began, her brow quirking awkwardly: "Sorry if it's a little forward, Luchas... but are you wearing new cologne?"

Luchas seemed taken aback by this, and he stumbled to reply back. "Y-Yes, I am."

She nodded. "It's nice. Not too strong."

"Thank you. I thought..." The doctor trailed off uncertainly, but Nakoto leaned her head forward, encouraging him further with whatever he wanted to say. "Ah, well, I thought that maybe it would mask my other scent. I-I mean, you have a sensitive nose... I didn't do it so that you couldn't find me, it's just..."

Nakoto smiled with raised brows, slightly entertained. "You kept me in mind? How sweet." There was hardly any implication that she was flattered or impressed. "Thanks for the consideration, but all I can say is that now I'll be able to find you more quickly, and know where you've been."

Now that was an implication, that last point. A warning. Whatever Luchas' reasoning was behind changing his scent, he must have started regretting it now. If he was somewhere where he wasn't supposed to be, either purposely or accidentally, Nakoto would know it.

"Oh! A letter came in for you, Nakoto!" Gertry said suddenly, slapping the counter she sat behind softly. She rolled away on her chair to fetch it. "No address."

Both Repton and Nakoto tilted their heads. Cyclonis hadn't seen his turn at that.

"Already?" Nakoto murmured. She stretched her arm over the counter to take the letter from Gertry. Turning it over and over, she inspected the gray, worn-out envelope. She brought it up and pressed it lightly against her snout, then smiled knowingly. "Oh, I see."

"From your uncle?" Seth asked. Uncle? Nakoto nodded to his question, which raised more in turn. She answered some when she undoubtedly noticed Luchas' puzzled expression.

"Adoptive uncle. He was a very close friend of my parents. It's been a while since I've seen him, because he never stays too long in one place. Now that I'm landlocked..." She shook her head dismissively, sighing. "Letters are our only contact, unless he decides to visit... but he's not exactly a welcomed guest here on Atmosia."

The last comment was more confusing, but she didn't look like she was going to explain herself this time. She shuddered slightly, swiping her hand along her shoulder, banishing the drops of remaining rain away.

"I don't know what you were thinking!" Gertry exclaimed. "Stepping out in miserable weather like this, without an umbrella? You must be freezing!"

"I'm... awake, at least!" she laughed slightly, looking at her reassuringly. "I'll admit that it wasn't that pleasant... but you see—" She held up her right hand, turning it over and over. "—my hand is acting up again, and I needed to cool it down."

It looked slightly different from the last time Repton saw it, which was only nights before. Her claws remained the same, the hooks of bone and keratin. It was the flesh that seemed... severe, inflamed. It even looked raw in places. There was no light, but there was a low hum resonating from her Claw. Luchas stepped forward hesitantly to take a closer look, and Nakoto shied her hand away in response. The doctor had probably slipped into an old habit of his, and the Raptoress remembered.

"The relationship between those two is questionable," Cyclonis commented. She perched her index finger along her chin, stroking the bottom of it with her thumb. "It's interesting to watch."

Repton said nothing. He preferred watching the Eye alone, so that he could ponder and find answers to his questions. Additionally, if he had been alone, he would have been free to finish the files on the Oasium Project, which was composed of Phase II.A of Project Oasium: Inculcation, the file presumably about Alpha, or Farida. Having the dark empress in his presence made it hard to focus on things, even when she said nothing for most of the time.

"My... limbs ache a little, but I'll warm up soon," Nakoto continued, recovered. She reached up to her sewn-up shoulder and mimicked scissors with two fingers. "I also need to get these stitches out. My shoulder's healed over already, and it's about time they—"

Where Luchas was standing, he nor the Eye could see who stepped through the automatic doors, who entered the building then. They could only see Nakoto and her expression. She cut her sentence off, her eyes shifting momentarily, her nostrils flaring. Her mouth closed and she straightened her back. She stared straight ahead of her, above Luchas, smiling impassively. There was some emotions in her eyes though... Expectation. Dread.

"It's not like you, to drop in," she started. Seth and Gertry were as still as statues, as if made from marble or stone. "But it's a real pleasure to se you... back so soon."

Another voice, a Raptor's... no, a Raptoress'. "A pleasure? To see me? Then why don't you turn around and actually look at me?"

Nakoto laughed humourlessly, and she turned backwards only one-hundred-eighty degrees. In doing so, Luchas and the Eye could look past her, and behold the figure of Farida, standing within the facility lounge.

End of Chapter

A/N: If you ask me, this looks like a good place to stop ;)

Hi! Back from my vacation from Poland, which was nice! I had plenty of time to write in my notebook, so I hope to update a nice duo or trio of chapters for you. It's gonna take me a while to type them though... it seems more tedious than I expected it to be. Next time, I should just bring my laptop with me.

I hope all of your summers are going well! Review me your thoughts if you can, I'd appreciate them!

~Vixen