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

Chapter 26

You know, I really do hate going on and on in explanation. It just takes too long, and who would ever listen for that kind of duration? And did the past really have any relevance to the plot of the story you're listening to? Sure, it may interest you to know why things were the way they were... Some questions might get answered. Others might arise, but would they be as important? And would they ever be answered? Who knew...

Well, it's not the whole story, but it's something. Farida, my half-sister... as long as I knew her, she always hated me. I wasn't ever sure if I got an answer as to why she did. I asked her once, and all she said was, You should know.Farida loved it in Cyclonia, I reckoned. After lots of thought, I had come to assume that she blamed me for how she was taken away from there. And then, we never really started off right... You see, the both of us had been taken from the former Cyclonis' clutches —or whom we call the Dead Queen, to avoid confusion in dialogue— when I was eleven, she three. Although, I had been 'abducted' by my uncle—whose identity I'll keep a secret for a little longer—after liberation, so it was only six years later that I got to see her. Our first confrontation went along like this:

When I saw my sister, I remember how dream-like she seemed to me. She looked so much like our mother! I couldn't believe it. I wanted to cry. I felt like she would be taken away from me again, but she wouldn't be, and that only made ten-times more happy.

She was in a large room, by herself. The whitewashed walls reminded me of the ones that surrounded me those grim years on Cyclonia, but she wasn't bound. There was a shelf with a few books on it, a chest probably full of clothes, drawings on the walls —I was amazed; she was an exceptional artist—, a nest of pillows and blankets, and what looked to me to be a large, misshaped blob made of leather, lines of stitches crossing its skin like poorly-treated scars. She was sitting in her bed at the far side of the room, looking bored out of her mind. She didn't seem to see me on the other side of the window that looked in, but I found out later that it was a one-way mirror. An observing, spying window. This was in the medical institute ten years ago; at the time, no Sectors existed, only a main floor and the basement level, where the room was.

When I entered the room, by myself, she looked at me. Her expression of boredom had disappeared, but nothing good came to take its place. She was surprised, as I expected, but there was such hostility in that look that I faltered when I tried to move closer to her. There was no smile. There was no spark of familiarity to light up her eyes. She stood up from her nest, and, while keeping her distance, she circled me, observing me from every angle. When she was in front of me again, she kept her gaze on me, cold. Our first conversation was not what I expected.

Why are you here, Beta? she had asked me. This was the first time I heard her ever speak, when she wasn't screaming or crying. It had matured, and there was no affection in it. After wherever it was you've been, why are you here?

It took me a moment to respond with what I thought were the right words.

I've come to see you. I've come to see my sister.

She said nothing to me. She wasn't surprised or shocked, like I expected her to be. I am your sister, I repeated into that silence.

Half-sister.

You knew?

Always. Mother told me.

My stomached churned when she said that. The Dead Queen... the disgust stole all words from my throat, and my sister looked away. She glared at the beaten-up leather-thing and approached it.

Did you always know that we were half-sisters? Her voice was low, sounding disinterested. Well, that's how it sounded to me.

Yes.

Her tail came up, brandishing a bone-like spade that she didn't inherit from our mother. The tip of it glinted a deadly flash, and she stabbed it into the stuffed mass she stood by. The action made me flinch, and I looked at her expression. It was so dark and hateful it hurt even when I wasn't the focus of her glare. Her tail slithered out of the cushion and stabbed it again, more maliciously. Again. Again. With the last stab, she dragged the blade through the skin as if gutting a fish. Like guts, the sand inside came spilling out and onto the floor.

So it looks like we switched places, she spoke bitterly. Now I'm the one trapped against my will, and you're free as a bird.

It won't last long. I promise.

She directed her eyes on me then, and the heated hatred within them only grew sevenfold. Is that the first promise you've made, Beta?

Her question confused me, so I didn't answer. My chin dipped, and I decided to address something else. My name is Nakoto. You can call me that, you know.

And what will you call me, then? Do you know my name?

Again, she trapped me in silence. This time, I was being consumed by guilt. I didn't even know her name.

She turned her back on me and told me she wanted me to leave her alone, and I did, feeling uncomfortable. The Chancellor—ten-years younger, with fewer grew hairs and a more guarded expression— was waiting outside the one-way mirror, having heard and seen everything. He fully believed my story now, since Farida recognized me. Farida was her name... Why hadn't I asked it when I was able to first speak with her?

After that encounter, I began seeing the Chancellor much more frequently for the dealings of Farida and I. I agreed that I was to stay with her, because I was just as valuable to Cyclonia as she was. Atmosia wanted to hide me away from it. At first I thought that they would be the same, mistreat us for their gain, but no. The Chancellor showed me great tenderness. He told me that we would be able to freely move around when things died down in the skies. I spent a year or so in the medical institute with Farida, but not actually with her. I avoided her for most of my stay, since anyone can guess that she didn't want anything to do with me.

Then, it was finally time to arrange things for her and I. Cloaking crystals and voice-enhancers, the latter being a new, handy invention. Farida hated them, but I told her it was the only way to keep her safe outside Atmosia. As for what we would do for a living, I decided Farida's job for her. With a request to the Chancellor, he made it so a spot for Farida on the next Sky Knight Training Program was available. I thought it would be something she'd enjoy, because fighting was definitely one of her passions. Then, I wanted to repay the Sky Knights who rescued us for what they did for us. Farida, in spite of showing no gratitude or joy for this, accepted the offer, and she left immediately without saying goodbye to me. There was nothing to be done about that. Since then, I've only seen her three times, including her most recent visit. Her arrogance grew, which explained her cocky exposition when talking to me, but her strong dislike for me remained. I don't know how it came to be or how to treat it...

"Is everything... okay?" Brett asked me. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up at him.

I had found Brett down the hallway, not so close to the elevators. It was understandable that he couldn't get one so close, since other patients were the priority. You couldn't just kick them out. And I didn't have a problem anyway, walking a little to get to my destination. You could say it was a small opportunity to burn off some built-up fumes. Of course, to really burn it off, screaming and hitting something usually did the trick. I wasn't going to do that... When I arrived, Brett had just put the bowl under the sink's faucet. I told him that his instructions had changed, that hot water was required, and he obeyed, switching to the other handle. He told me it would take a while for it to heat up, so he offered to assist me in some other way. I replied that I would have liked my stitches removed, so he sat me down and went to work immediately, leaving me with my own thoughts. He finished when he snapped me back to reality.

"Things could be better, but it's nothing to worry about," I replied. I reached up to feel shoulder with the opposite hand, but stopped when I felt the reminding sting. My knuckles cracked just from that inch.

"Your shoulder healed up real nicely. It'll close up in no-time at all. And now the water's ready. You just sit tight while I get it, okay, Nakoto?"

"Sure thing."

Brett looked at me one last time, uncertain, but he turned his back on me. I stayed very silent, sullen. I was so frustrated with myself... I couldn't have handled those events earlier any worse. I didn't know how to deal with Farida, someone who shared my blood. I was a worm compared to her, spineless. It was so frustrating! After everything I'd gone through, you'd think I'd have contained her and taught her who was more dominant, but no. I had locked up that part of me. I just didn't think I could fall into being such a coward... Words were powerful, but they only gained power from the wielder. If the wielder was weak, the words meant nothing. And Farida wasn't much of a listener, anyway.

I sighed. Then there was Luchas. The Cyclonian that... I still couldn't bring myself to let him touch me, especially in that doctor's uniform of his. It was like a crack in my skull when he reached up to me, and I felt so many conflicting feelings. I was speechless! With fear! What the hell did I tell him at the campfire two nights ago? Fearing each other was useless energy spent for nothing... I suppose it was easier said than done. That stupid, stupid heart of mine!

Brett brought the basin half-full with the hot water. Steam hovered above it like a blanket, wisps of it rising and caressing my face and front. I smiled at Brett in gratitude. "Thank you."

"No problem." He went to the sink again, this time to remove his gloves and wash his hands. "I won't ask what happened up there, since it looks like it wasn't pleasant."

Slowly, I dipped my right hand into the bowl. The heat seared my flesh hungrily and painfully, and I clenched my teeth. It was a long time before the pain started to recede. I groaned softly, then replied: "Well, it wasn't too personal, so I'll tell you sometime. Trivial stuff, though."

"Didn't look trivial, but if you say so." He shook off the droplets from his hands and reached for a paper towel. "While I have you, I might as well report about your request."

"And?"

"Well, those crystals you brought in a while ago, the ones you said the Raptors were using? They're a strange case, unnatural. They're like biological Leachers that suck the vitality of organisms instead of other crystals. We're still looking for a way to counter them, so when that happens, we'll send our research to the Council."

"So are the crystals something Cyclonis created herself?"

"We believe so."

I took a moment to think it over. I wondered what other things Cyclonis had created... "I was hit by one, but nothing happened. Explain why that is?"

"At first, when we used your blood in an experiment, the Leacher couldn't do anything with it. We thought that maybe it was because you were crystal-based. But then we tried it on a lizard, and they were not effected. So chances are it doesn't effect cold-blooded organisms."

I nodded. Brett continued.

"Also, your new Cloaking crystal won't be here for a while, not for at least another week. As for your voice-enhancer, it'll need a little more tinkering. It's not broken, but an upgrade and check-up would be nice for it."

The corners of my mouth curved upwards ruefully. "It's not like I'm going anywhere fast. You don't need to rush. Take your time."

"You know that's not how I work." Brett turned around and grinned. "I get the work done. It just so happens I beat my record time each session."

"And that's why you're my favourite engineer."

"I'm your only engineer!"

I chuckled. "Very true. Maia really lives on because of you."

Brett laughed. "It's a little strange to hear you speak in third-person," he pointed out. "Have you ever mix yourself up, where you think you're Maia instead of Nakoto?"

I held a finger to my lips, but I smiled regardless. I had placed my uncle's letter on my lap, since my pocket would've further damaged it before I could read it. "Keep it down. And no, that hasn't happened since I first started. That was about three years ago, I think."

"Yeah, it was. Well, when you started flying the skies anyway. You started your job as a messenger a year after you got here."

"I don't really count those years for Maia's life. She was born when I got Cloud Nine."

"Ah, that's right... Cloud Nine." There was a distant look on his face. "That means happiness, euphoria. You always call it a memento."

"Well, it is, in a sense." I looked up at the ceiling, remembering when I first saw her. "She was sort of a commission my parents made with my uncle. That's why she's really important to me."

"Important enough for you to dive into the Wastelands for her, I know."

The both of us laughed. He approached me and looked into the basin, his smile faltering. I looked down and watched how sordid the water became. Dark and murky, reddish. Brett aided me and pulled my hand out slowly. My brows twitched as the water dripped and ran down my damaged scales.

"This doesn't look so good," he commented gravely, his care-free humour diminished. "Bad case of blistering and damaged tissue. It's gonna take a long while for it to heal, and you'll be lucky if no scars remain."

"I could care less about it," I replied. He slipped some gloves on and reached over to the ointments nearby. I looked down at my hand in distaste as I held it up. "I would chop it off if I had to, it'd no real loss to me."

"But you protect yourself with it, don't you?"

"To an extent. But these are more likely to tear through flesh then block it. I don't like them too much." I looked down at them, tried closing them, but they hurt too much. "Even though I've never sharpened them, they're still able to cut..."

Brett squeezed out a salve onto my scales and started rubbing it in delicately. My hand had definitely cooled down now, and the exterior was the only thing that hurt, whereas it was always the interior that hurt for the past few days. Maybe Luchas was right, and it would be the end of that, as long as I didn't use my blood again. Trying to bring back some optimism, Brett smiled slightly and pointed out;

"But it's also your writing hand. And you like writing letters as much as delivering them. May as well keep it, huh?"

I chuckled softly, looking down at the letter drying on my lap. Even if I managed to open it when it dried, would the ink still be there? Or would it be collected in a soggy mess at the bottom of the page, with the ghosts of the letters just taunting me? I wondered what the contents had been. My uncle wasn't exactly literarily-articulate, but he tried, bless his heart. I hoped he and the others were well.

Looking at the letter reminded me of the other one, the one I received from Piper. I had forgotten about it since my return, because so many things were happening at once. The time I finally managed to read it was when I came home with Tatu. Yes, I guess I'd best not cut off my hand..., I thought (I wasn't going to anyway—I just said it because of my mood). I would need it to write a response letter, after all. Then, if Repton ever writes...

"Nakoto!"

I turned to the door and Lilym had just jumped into the room, making a big show of her landing. Recovering from her crouch, she stood up straight and beamed at me. Brett was blocking her view of my hand, which was all good and well. It was a nasty sight to begin with. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, reaching for the bandages.

"Hi, Lilym," I said, leaning my head down and nuzzling her. Her eyes closed contently until I pulled back again.

"Where's Mr. Rio?" she asked me. I smiled slightly, feeling a touch of sadness.

"He took Adam home."

Lilym's eyes misted over. Out of all the children, she seemed the toughest in dealing with this. She really cared for Adam; her tears from before were for him as much as they were for her mother. The mist that covered her eyes were more distracted, as if she saw something faraway. You rarely saw that kind of look on a kid. "I see..." she said softly.

"You really liked him, huh? Rio?"

She nodded. "He is a nice man. I like him."

"Yes, he was nice."

"I told him that Adam is always with us. That put a big smile on his face."

I smiled wider. I was there during that exchange. There was something between Rio and Lilym... maybe it was because they both experienced losing somebody. Rio's demeanour changed a little for the better, thanks to her. "Yes, you did well."

"He smelled really nice, too." I laughed.

"Like Aquanos. Like this?" With my free hand, I reached into my pocket, pulled out the Aquanosian bottle and handed it to her. Lilym looked up at me questioningly and I beckoned her to open it. She uncorked the bottle and took a whiff. She smiled greatly.

"Yes! I love it." She looked up at me again as she handed it back to me. "Where did you get that, Nakoto?"

"Draco gave it to me." My eyes softened at the memory. "He must have read my mind, because this was what I needed."

Lilym gasped excitedly and tugged at my arm. "Draco? When? When did you see him? Where? Tell me, tell me!"

I laughed again. "So many questions! You'll just have to wait until I see you all later today."

"Aw, Nakoto! Do I have to wait that long?"

"Patience is a virtue, missy!" I ruffled the top of her head and turned her shoulder, nudging her toward the door. "Don't worry, I won't forget! It'll be the first story I tell you, I promise."

She looked up at me pleadingly again, held a pout for a few moments, then gave up and gave me a stern look. "A promise is a promise!" she shouted, then jumped out the room and ran off.

Repton watched as Seth and Luchas got to Sector A and walked along the corridor, looking for the room Nakoto was in. They managed to find it when the Blizzarrian child jumped out of a room in front of them, startling the Cyclonian. The girl looked up at them briefly, smiled, then ran off —most likely to the Children's Ward— with her arms spread out like a Skimmer's. Turning, the two doctors saw Brett bandaging Nakoto's hand. Both of them were smiling.

"Look at that energy!" Brett whistled. "I can tell she's on the path to recovery."

"That's good. I'm excited to see her outside, when the sun's not so harsh on her anymore." Nakoto's head tilted regrettably. "Well, when it's not storming as it is now."

"I'm sure it'll pass. Storms like these don't stay for long."

"Mmhm." Repton saw Nakoto look down at her free hand, and he recognized the shape of the Aquanosian bottle he had given her. She took another moment, then slipped it into her pocket. It seemed she carried it around with her everywhere now. Her eyes travelled to the door and watched as Seth and Luchas slipped in.

"So how is it, your hand?" Seth asked.

"Fine. Luchas' advice was very helpful." Nakoto looked at Luchas. "What else are we to do?"

The Cyclonian took a step forward and around Brett, to look down at her hand. Her two fingers were grouped together snugly into one point while her thumb was near them, alone. The cloth was purely white, fresh until whatever residue from her burns would stain them. Brett stepped stiffly aside to let the other doctor closer, and he told him what he had done prior to bandaging. Taking Seth's advice, Luchas still kept his distance from Nakoto, and she seemed to appreciate this when her composure relaxed.

"You did exactly what I would've done, Dr. Brett," Luchas told him. "Very well done. Now, her hand should not be used under any circumstance for a while, so a sling would be necessary."

"On it," Brett replied, and he went to the drawers below the sink. Nakoto eyes had followed him, then turned back to Luchas.

"So, what does your work entail today?"

"I'll be spending much of my time in Sector C, reproducing the serum for those infected with Adam's disease. After that I'll distribute them and go check on other patients."

"Alright."

Brett returned with something that looked like an enlarged bandanna, cream-coloured. Nakoto leaned her head forward so that he could tie it around her neck, and she let him pick up her hand to gently put in the sling. The cloth grew taunt when she relaxed her limb, but it held it in place.

"Thanks, Brett. I owe you one," she said as she got up, but Brett waved it away. Nakoto turned to Seth and smiled. "And thanks for looking after Luchas, Seth."

"Hardly a trouble." Seth glanced at the Cyclonian, then back to Nakoto. "You be careful now, okay? You gave us quite a scare."

"Hey, I'm always bandaged-up, you'd think you'd get used to it by now," she replied, grinning. Seth laughed. She turned to Luchas and jerked her head to the door. "After you."

Luchas nodded, and he stepped out the door. When he was sure Nakoto was following, he continued on down the hall, leading the way to the elevator at the other end.

Repton heard the sounds of boots, thundering down in a run, and Luchas turned around immediately. Nakoto's reaction was delayed, as she just looked down at Luchas inquiringly. But from behind, someone jumped up and latched themselves onto her back. Her body lurched from the force of their momentum, but she recovered and straightened her back, a look of confused alarm on her face. Repton looked closely and recognized the face; the Enforcer from the day before, the cold one who looked Cyclonian-born. He had hooked his hand against her throat to keep his place on her back, while he reached down for something with his other hand. Nakoto let out a choking gasp, and a look of annoyance flashed across her eyes.

"Who is this? Get off of me!"

The Enforcer dug his foot into the back of her hip to keep on as she shook herself, trying to dispel him. His other hand finally retrieved freely what he was reaching for, and he brought it up. The small Paralyzing tool, the size of his palm, with two teeth at its head. He pressed a button, turned a knob with his thumb, and a string of blue electricity sparked from one tooth to the other. Immediately, the Enforcer slammed the teeth of his instrument into the right-side of Nakoto's neck, and a glowing wave of icy-blue energy coursed through her body.

"Ouch!"

She bucked when the tool entered her flesh, and she reached up over her left shoulder. She managed to grasp the back of the Enforcer's shirt, and —with what seemed like a lot of effort— she pulled him over, tossing him in front of her like a doll. Luchas jumped out of the way with a yelp. The Enforcer went head over heels, but somehow he flipped and landed on his feet, sliding to a stop, crouched. He didn't even stop before he snatched up and poised a crystal-blaster from his belt, aimed at her. Nakoto, still pulsing with blue energy, sluggishly reached up and plucked the instrument from her flesh. Once it was out, she stopped glowing, and she threw it to the ground in normal speed. She reached up and rubbed the side of her neck.

"What's was that for?" she demanded, a hint of a whine in her voice. A channel of energy looped from her collarbone to her temple, making her twitch. "That felt really weird!"

"Don't move!" the Enforcer barked. Everyone who was in the hallway froze, even though they weren't the ones being addressed. Brett stepped out and joined Seth, and he became just as motionless. Only one person was moving, and that was the Gertry woman, shuffling as quickly as she could toward them on high-heels.

"Stop this instant!" she shrilled. "Who do you think you are, barging in here?"

"I received a distress call from here, concerning a Raptor who's gone out of control; I'm here to contain it," the Enforcer said curtly, still aiming the gun at Nakoto. Her eyes flickered down to it, then up to his face, looking grave. The Enforcer shook the weapon aggressively at her. "Get down on the ground, now!"

"I'll do no such thing," Nakoto said coldly. She took her hand from her neck, looked at it, then pressed it back. "I think you have me confused with my sister. She's gone, and I would really appreciate it if you didn't refer to us like objects—"

"Get down on the ground, I said!"

"I won't!" she repeated forcefully. She started to look very angry; perhaps her patience was wearing thin. Repton watched her very closely. "What gives you the right to treat me like this? Put the blaster down before you hurt yourself."

"The only one who would get hurt here is you," the Enforcer said, slightly smirking. "Seems the Paralyzer's charge wasn't strong enough for you, which was my mistake. But you can't do anything against a Leacher's charge, can you?" Nakoto looked down at the blaster and took a step back cautiously. "Oh, that got your attention? If you don't want to get hit, maybe you should heed my order!"

Surprisingly, instead of standing aside, Luchas stepped forward and put a hand on the Enforcer's arm. "Wait, please!" The Enforcer gave him a nasty look. "That Leacher can kill her!"

"Which is exactly why I took it with me. Being a living crystal has its downfalls, doesn't it?" The Enforcer ripped himself from Luchas' grip. "Now, you have your job, and I have mine. Stick to yours."

"But I'm telling you, this is Nakoto. You've seen her before, I'm sure! She's not the one Mrs. Gertry called you for! The other one is gone!"

"A Raptor's a Raptor all the same. They don't belong here on Atmosia."

Even with her one arm suspended in the sling, useless, Nakoto looked menacing. It wouldn't have surprised Repton if she could still cause a lot of damage with only one arm. She had sharp teeth, for one thing. But that was what she could do. What would she do? She seemed as if she was ready to leap forward and overcome the Enforcer, and that would have definitely been a sight. Repton wanted to see more of this side of her. A Raptor's anger was what defined them and gave them strength. Nakoto locked hers away, and always immediately tried to snuff it out when it emerged. They said that fighting because of anger made you immediately lose the fight, or it clouded your judgement, but Repton didn't believe that. Luchas was about to interject but Nakoto took his chance away.

"It looks like he wants me to be a monster." She said so little, but her words were so scathing that Repton smiled. "You can go ahead and shoot me, boy. But you better wish that it does kill me."

For a second, it seemed like the man's composure cracked, and his weapon arm lowered a fraction. He was uncertain, showing that he really was a young boy still. But he tried to cover that up, stone-up his features.

"So you think you're a Valkyrie, huh?" he asked her. Nakoto's dire expression loosened, and her brow raised. "They say they can't be killed, and even when they've actually fallen, they just rise again. Your attitude gives me that impression."

For a long time, he said nothing, keeping eye contact with Nakoto. Everyone was silent, stressed. Finally, he lowered his weapon and tucked it back into his belt. "Well, I guess I accused the wrong person," he sighed. "And if what they say is true, then the other has already gotten away."

Nakoto straightened up, but she watched the Enforcer with a healthy amount of suspicion. He glanced at Luchas beside him, a touch of distrust on it, then brushed his arm off, as if Luchas' touch had left some form of filth behind. He bent down to pick up the discarded Paralyzing tool. "I don't think I've ever introduced myself, so maybe now's the most appropriate time. You may call me Corvid."

"Corvid," Nakoto repeated, testing it on her tongue. Her head tilted and her eyes narrowed. "You're not going to play some nasty trick, are you?"

"Now why would I do that?" Corvid shrugged, and he started walking away, back the way he came. That led him to Nakoto, and before he passed her completely, he whispered something to her. The expression on her face turned murderous in response. Whatever Corvid said, the Eye on Luchas' breast didn't catch it. Nakoto's free hand was clenched, trembling, as the Enforcer kept walking, passing Seth, Brett, Gertry, everyone.

"Sorry for the intrusion. Don't hesitate to call me again, when things actually heat up."

End of Chapter