Stood as she usually was, Master Cyclonis typed away at the keys on her crystal fusion machine. The long, spindly arms extending and retracting, placing an array of coloured crystals down an assortment of chutes. Walking through the large double doors into the hall the Master's machine occupied, the Dark Ace entered. Focused on the Master, he stopped, and placed his fist against his chest as a salute. 'You have a job for me, Master?'
'I do, indeed' The Master replied, still looking at what she was doing, 'See, that sky knight Starling has been making regular trips to and from Terra Rex. As if like clockwork. You are to spy on her as she returns to her home, and see what she is up to' she ordered.
'It will be done, Master' the Dark Ace bowed his head, before turning and exiting behind him. Hearing his exit, Master Cyclonis simply pulled a smirk.
On Terra Rex, Starling sat on a sofa inside the lounge of a house, her feet kicked up onto the coffee table. She hummed to herself with a smug expression on her face. Soon her humming gave way, however; as entering the lounge was Rex's sky knight Harrier. Starling pulled her feet off of the table before reaching forward and sweeping the spot her feet were placed with her hand. She watched as Harrier walked past silently, stopping once he faced her on the opposite end of the coffee table. 'Here you go' He said behind gnashed teeth. His voice annoyed and embarrassed. Starling looked up at him as he placed a tray onto the table. On the tray was a teapot, a teacup, a saucer, and a pristine collection of biscuits.
Looking up at Harrier, Stsrling noticed he was wearing a gold coloured pinny over his regular uniform. The pinny had pleated frills that came either side of his torso, and extended far enough out to extend the profile of his shoulders. The fitting of the clothing was impeccable. Not a single crease out of place. Harrier stood with his feet close together, and with a slight lean on his right leg. His arms were folded and stacked on each other without being crossed. He looked away from Starling, with a face reddened beyond what most would consider possible.
'Say the line, Harrier. A deal is a deal' Starling calmly and smuggly reminded.
Harrier quietly huffed before speaking. 'Is everything satisfactory, Ma'am?' He asked, with a heavy note of rile on his already embarrassed demeanor.
'Yes, I do believe so' Starling replied, a smile plastered across her face as she motioned her hand toward the teapot. Harrier looked her in the eyes as he bent over, picked up the teapot, and poured out a perfect cup of tea for Starling. The aromatic smells filled both of their noses. For Starling, the smell was that of victory. Whilst Harrier only smelt what could be described as a crushing failure.
'Well, if that is all, then I shall-'
'Wait a minute' Starling interrupted, noticing something out of place. Harrier froze on the spot. Starling pointed to the book shelf behind him and continued her smile. 'I'm seeing a little dust on there. How's about we have that sorted out, hmm?'
Harrier closed his eyes and pulled in a breath. 'Yes' He replied, voice dripping in annoyance.
'Yes, what?' Starling pressed. The confrontation fanning her smug expression.
'Yes. Ma'am.' Harrier said, correcting himself. He walked away from the lounge for a second. Just long enough for Starling to reach down and grab her teacup. She used one hand to clasp the saucer, and the other to delicately hold the cup. She held the cup close to her lips, and almost took a sip as Harrier re-entered the lounge with a fluffy duster in his hand. 'I still don't know how you managed to best me on my home turf' Harrier grumbled as he walked past Starling and toward the dusty bookshelf.
'If I am playing your games, you would expect me to know the rules, would you not?' Starling replied, before finally taking a sip of tea. Smacking her lips and letting out a refreshed exhale.
'You have your point...' Harrier replied, as he started to reach the top of the bookshelf, reaching his duster over the top and tactfully starting to clean it. Starling just stared at Harrier with her accomplished grin and enjoyed the sight of Terra Rex's proud sky knight taken down a peg. She looked down at the tray holding the teapot and biscuits. Putting down the teacup, Starling picked up a biscuit. Once the still distracted Harrier bent his frame to the side to help with his duster's reach, Starling throw her biscuit up and onto the top of the bookshelf. The small noise of the biscuit's impact immediately catching Harrier's attention; csusing him to turn back to Starling and point his duster at her. 'Stop that, you uncouth witch' He threatened, although his intonation and accent only seemed to make Starling chuckle menacingly.
Before long, the teapot had been emptied, half of the biscuits eaten, and Harrier dressed as normal again. Escorting Starling out of the house and to her skimmer, Harrier fixed his shirt and straightened its collar. 'Now then, seeing as this session of gloating has concluded, you best be on your way' Harrier insisted. His words cold and bemused.
'Oh stop it' Starling replied as she mounted her skimmer. 'You make it sound like you'll miss me before next week' Starling then kickstarted her engine and revved it as Harrier protested. She pointed to her ears, shrugged and started to ride her skimmer off of the Terra.
Starling's flight home had seemed to be quiet for the whole journey, yet unbeknownst to her, she had been followed by a talon skimmer. The skimmer being piloted by the Dark Ace. He kept himself at a far distance, long enough to not be spotted for Starling's entire trip home.
Landing on her Terra, the Dark Ace stayed low, keeping himself below the Terra's ridge and circling around. Once he suspect that Starling had finally dismounted and entered her home, the Dark Ace proceeded to land himself, dismounting near a tree. He then proceeded to walk across the otherwise empty Terra until he reached Starling's home.
Inside Starling's home, she had been stood in the kitchen. It was large enough for three people at most, with a two seater table crammed along a wall. Complete with a glass vase, glass salt and pepper shakers, and two slate placemats. Opposite the table was the sink, with a window looking out across the Terra, and next to the sink was the cooker, with a spice rack filled with glass jars. Starling stood in front of the stove, cooking her dinner. Needing an ingredient, she turned around in an attempt to find it. Only to be interrupted by the Dark Ace.
From Starling's house, violent crashing and smashing starting to ring out, with shouting, grunting, and growling from both the Dark Ace and Starling breaking out between each noise.