Piper sat in the familiar surroundings of the Condor's bridge, the huge, circular table and many instruments bathed in the soft pink light of the setting sun. Aerrow leaned over, carefully removing Piper's bandages, and said with a pleased smile, "There, that should do it. You'll be as good as new."

"Thank you," Piper said, avoiding eye contact with her team leader.

There was something in her voice, a faint hint of distress. He could hear it, just barely. He placed a hand upon her chin, gently turning her head in his direction so as to look into her eyes to gain better insight.

"What's wrong?" he asked with reservation, almost hesitant to hear the answer to his own question.

The green and hazel eyes connected, her betraying a sense of anxiety before she turned away, escaping his grasp.

"Nothing. I'm fine, Aerrow," she said.

"Please, at least talk to me. We haven't had much time to talk lately; I'd rather not spend the time that we have sitting in awkward, tense silence," he replied.

"No?" asked Stork with a flat voice from behind the Condor's steering wheel. He had corks inserted in his pointy green ears. "That makes one of us…" The helmsman had made it clear on many occasions how little he appreciated the pair's 'lovers' quarrels', as he called them, on his bridge, convinced Aerrow and Piper were infected with some kind of incurable, contagious disease known as Harexian love mites. It would supposedly go on forever until their brains melted into goo.

Piper and Aerrow, red-cheeked, spoke in lower voices. She looked at him. His delicate features and knowing eyes seemed to pull everything out of her heart, and not to her advantage. "Do you trust me?" she whispered to the boy, just inches away.

There was no hesitation in his answer as his voice eagerly flowed to answer. "Piper, of course I trust. With all my life." He placed his hand upon her cheek once more. "Whatever, and I mean whatever it is that you need to tell me, it can stay between us. I'm here for you."

"Aerrow, thank you…" she said with a slight pause, "... but it's not so much like that. I need to know… do you trust me what I'm doing? Or do you also believe Cyclonis deserves to die?"

"Piper, I trust you," Aerrow said with sincerity, looking into her eyes. "I know you want to help her, and I understand why. But it's not that easy, you know? We-"

"What do you mean it's not easy?" Piper removed his hand from her face. The weight of everything began to bear down on her mind. "It's a yes or no question. Do you think Cyclonis deserves to live?"

She hadn't spent an extended period of time with Aerrow for so long, and she had forgotten how he could be. He was their leader and therefore maintained an air of authority over certain issues.

The corner of his mouth jerked involuntarily as his body seemed to retreat from Piper's outburst. He looked hurt but also like he didn't want what little time they had between them to be scorched by anger. "I'm just concerned. However, I know you're going to keep doing all of this because, well, I know you. You never turn your back on something once you've made up your mind. Nor do you turn your back on a person in need. I just don't like it, but I understand it. But Piper, I just hope you're being careful with this whole Cyclonis thing. She tricked you before, remember?"

He placed his hand on her shoulder once more, but she casually shrugged the gesture away and continued to defend her position.

"Why does everyone seem to think I'm some naive girl simply because I haven't given up hope yet? You and Starling both act like you somehow know Cyclonis better than I do. And she didn't trick me on Terra Tundra. I saw through her disguise in the end, and I learned from it. This is different. She has nothing, Aerrow. The second I saw the state she was in… It would be unconscionable to leave her to suffer the pain and isolation of her condition. I can't just leave her now; not after getting this far."

"Piper, I don't want us to spend the little time that we're able to share on fighting. Look, Starling tells me that a temporary deal was made with the remaining Cyclonians. And due to Cyclonis' current condition, she'll probably need rest. So, I was thinking, how about you and I spend the day together tomorrow. Just you and me. Terra Tropica maybe?"

She looked at him, eyes half open. She opened her mouth in protest. "Aerrow-"

"Just sleep on it, Piper," he said with a slight smile before exiting the room.