The territory the sixteen-year-old found himself on was not large. It was about the size of a house with a bigger than average backyard. Said house on the island in the sky no bigger than a two-bedroom house with pots and pans scattered on the ground in makeshift armor for the two residents. A small chicken coup and farmland being the only other features to the grassy land. Jack could tell these people did not have access to first world luxuries.
He tried asking Dove and her now dubbed Grandfather Wren for answers on where he was. Took a full ten minutes to get over their heavy French accents despite them speaking English and to ask where he was. Did not help they were dressed in pots and pans as if reenacting a war drama. They gave him a book but as soon as he opened it, had no clue what the half-curved symbols meant. Embarrassingly needing Dove to read to him where he was.
Quickly learning that he was in a territory called Terra Gale. A collection of farms scattered on islands like their own. In the past, this land was once a whole plain but during the Great War, a powerful crystal was used and shattered the entire planet. Opening the mantle and shooting out fire and lava. Was the first recorded sighting of lava sharks. Beasts that inhabit the ground level and eat anything that enters their territory.
At first, Jack rolled his eyes at these ridiculous claims by Dove. Yet even with her mismatched armor of pans, she was deadly serious when reading. And having a moment to reflect, did remember all the different and crazy things seen back home. Earth was even the nest of Unicorn after all and nearly destroyed the world and quite possibly the rest of the universe.
By the time Dove finished reading to him, the sun had gone down and everyone decided to take a nap with Wren asking him to feed the chickens in the morning. Jack quickly agreed. Not wanting to be thrown off the island and see how true those stories of lava sharks are. Sleeping in the barn as their house was quite packed already.
Jack yawned as he sat up from the hay pile as his makeshift bed. Stretching his arms over his head and already missing his well washed sheets and a shower. This is the only time he ever did not take a shower before going to bed. Taking a sniff of his shoulder before reeling in disgust.
"Please tell me they have showers here," Jack prayed.
"No shower. Come street boy. Chicken time," Dove smiled at Jack while he was stretching. Leaning against the barn to focus her attention on him. Holding out her bag of chicken feed for him to grab.
"Right," Jack did not argue with her. Grabbing the bag before sprinkling chicken feed to the hungry chickens. Plucking at the ground and some of them even began rubbing against his legs. At least these chickens seemed normal to his home. When he was just about finished with the bag Dove's voice caught his attention.
"Think they like you." Dove gestured to the chickens gathering at his feet.
"Well, my mother always said I'd be irresistible to chicks." Jack chuckled.
Dove chuckled, "Wee. Now chores are done, want more story time?"
"Unless you have a teleporter in that house, don't see how else I'm going anywhere," Jack said with slight bitterness.
Dove put a hand on Jack's shoulder, "Sorry about home. Could not image life outside Terra Gale." Then looking to the wide open skies, "We get transport every week for supplies. Can get a pickup to other places if you want."
"When does it show up?" Jack asked.
"Two days," Dove said.
"Are you ok, Jack?" Dove asked, seeing Jack stiffen before letting out what he was holding in.
"Well for starters, I am stuck here without a way home. I'll never see my family again who all think I'm dead," He paused, then with a sarcastic laugh, "Hey, at least I don't have to deal with the Decepticons anymore!"
That was the only positive thing he could think of about the whole situation. Dove then stepped closer and rested a hand on his shoulder. Her arms wrapped around his chest as she pulled him into a hug. Her makeshift armor clattered as he hugged her back.
"Wish there was something I could do to help." Dove softly said.
Tears trailed down the sixteen-year-old's cheeks as he held Dove close. As they stood there, a low drone of engines reached them. Dove suddenly gasped in horror.
"They're coming!" She quickly broke apart from Jack with alarm. "Hurry! Alert Grandpapa!"
Jack running towards the house as Dove ran for the catapult. The engines grew louder as Jack reached the front door of the house, knocking like a madman.
"Wren! There's something coming!" Jack yelled when the door suddenly opened.
The old Sky Knight rushed past him with a glowing green crystal in hand. Jack turned and followed him down wondering why the crystal was glowing. Looking towards the smelting plant, Jack saw five X-shaped aircraft rapidly approaching.
"Jack, load the catapult!" Wren ordered him.
"Are you insane! There is no way a catapult is going to hit those fighters," Jack yelled.
"Do it boy," Wren once more ordered. Looking at Jack and despite the disheveled hair and ridiculous outfit, his eyes possessed a seriousness not all that dissimilar to Ratchet in the med-bay. Instead of arguing a kitchen sink would never hit such a fast moving target in the air, he nodded. Grabbing the kitchen sink and loading it into the bucket. His heart pounding in his chest as the sink was launched towards the oncoming enemy. Wren extended the crystal in his hand and out rushed a powerful air current, taking hold of the sink and sending it flying to the Clyonian's. The heavy sink tore through the left most skimmers lower right wing. The aircraft quickly entered an uncontrollable spin, diving straight for the wasteland. Young Darby looked on in stunned silence as the aircraft plummeted below the clouds with black smoke trailing behind it.
"How do you like that, you Cyclonian scum!" Wren shouted with a shake of his fist. Jack could only stare in shock at how the crystal in Wren's hands managed to move a kitchen sink straight onto target. And he has seen a truck turn into a twenty foot tall robotic organism.
"Jack! Load another shot!" Dove shouted at him, snapping Jack back to reality.
Quickly getting back into the fight, Jack loaded another shot. It was an old skimmer engine that was too far gone to be repaired. Dove fired the engine towards the middle of the pack. Wren's wind pushed the old engine forwards. The squadron leader suddenly dived a few dozen feet as the engine sailed harmlessly into the distance. The rest of the Squadron suddenly broke formation, scattering like flower petals in the breeze.
"Things got harder." Dove grimaced as she began to track one of the scattering skimmers.
"That's the understatement of the year!" Jack responded as he loaded a metal barrel.
Just as the barrel was fired, he noticed something red in the corner of his eye. Jack grabbed Dove by the arm and pulled to the ground. A blast of red energy cut through the air of the empty firing seat. It was quickly followed up by another blast that struck Wren dead center. The old man went flying back a few feet, rolling a few times in the dirt before coming to a stop. Jack could feel his blood go cold as smoke trailing from Wren's armor.
"Grandpapa!"
"Get it inside!" Wren howled at the kids.
Doing as told, Jack pulled himself onto his feet only to hear Dove gasp in horror. He followed her gaze and saw what horrified her. In an oddly familiar transformation of Arcee from robot to car form, the skimmer retracted its wings and extended both of its tires before landing on the dirt. Grabbing Dove by the arm, Jack began to run. The motorcycle raced past at blistering speed. Dove's arm slipping right out of his grip as he tumbled head over rear. Only catching glimpses of the skimmer taking flight again.
"Dove!" He rolled onto his feet, tracking the now identified Clyonians who had Dove.
The other skimmers broke off, following the leader back towards the smelting plant. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists.
"Jack, you alright?" Wren said, rushing up next to the boy. The old man's pot armor around his waist was broken in half.
"They got Dove. I'm so sorry, Wren." Jack looked off into the distance to the four-fighter squadron returning back to their base.
Wren's head dropped as he removed his pot helmet. Jack could feel the pain radiating off the old Sky Knight. It was a pain Jack understood. He continued to stare at the smelting plant for a few heart beats before making up his mind.
"If only I were younger," Wren grumbled. "Ze wouldn't stood a chance!"
"I'm going over there and I'm getting her out. I just need one of those motorcycles." Jack said, making his intentions perfectly clear.
Wren looked at him in surprise. "You don't even know how to fly one!" Wren logically countered.
"Can you teach me?" Jack said, almost pleading.
"Yes, but my Skimmer isn't capable of flying anymore." Wren sighed.
"Well, that's a start. We're just going to have to shoot down a Cyclonian next time."
A smile crept onto the old man's face before letting out a laugh. "Jack my boy, you've got the makings of a great Sky Knight in yee. We'll start your training tomorrow."
The boy only nodded before they began walking back to the house. On the way up, Jack knew he needed to know more about these Cyclonian's.
"So, what am I dealing with? Are these just a bunch of punks on bikes or a full-fledged military operation?" Jack inquired.
"I wish it was just "punks on bikes"," Wren began. "Don't know their exact numbers but they are the biggest faction. So expect a lot of zem."
"What about the guy who grabbed Dove? Anything you can tell me about him?"
The old Sky Knight stopped in front of the door as a cold chill traveled up his spine. "Zat is Dark Ace. Ze most deadly pilot in all of Atmos," Wren grimly repiled. "He's Master Cyclonis' right hand and enforcer. A monster of ze sky."
Silence hung between the two for a handful of moments. Wren's words echoing inside of the boy's head as he followed the old man, closing the door behind him.
Jack rubbed his tired eyes as he slowly sat up from the bed. In front of him was a lengthwise mirror hanging on the door. Bit dirt clung to his hair and his face and shirt were stained in a mix of earth and grass. I haven't looked this dirty since meeting Airachnid for the first time. Jack reflected before standing up and stepping out of the room. He joined Wren at the table. The old man gently held a tea cup with both hands as he looked up at him.
"Morning." Said Jack, with a slight yawn.
Wren smiled at him, letting out an amused chuckle. "You look like you lost a fight with the ground." He commented, making the sixteen-year-old chuckle.
"I saw. I haven't been this dirty since Airachnid," Jack responded as Wren poured him a cup of tea. "If there's one person I'll never miss, it's her. Also Megatron and every other Decepticon still kicking."
The old man handed him the tea before taking a sip from his own cup. "I never imagined there could be anything worse than the Clyonian's." Wren said.
"I dunno. The Cyclonian'sare really climbing the totem pole, if you know what I mean."
The former Sky Knight simply shook his head. "They're getting higher on my list." Explained the boy.
The Old Man simply chuckled as he avoided eye contact before downing the rest of his tea and one last gulp. He stood and began towards the front door, gesturing to the young teen to follow. The teenager down to the rest of his drink before pulling himself from the table and following him outside. They circled around back to a small shed no bigger than a small trailer. Wren opened the wooden door, allowing Jack to see inside. He saw rakes, shovels and some hoes. Against the back wall rested a scratched up skimmer with green faded markings.
"It's been out of commission since I retired. For the purposes of training, it'll suit our needs." Wren said, stepping inside the shed.
Once it was wheeled outside. Jack could finally get a better look at it. The tires were completely flat, the windscreen was cracked and the right thruster was missing. Jack ran his finger over the dust covered leather seat, drawing a thick line from the front to the rear.
"Definitely in need of some love." Jack brushed the dust from his finger.
"Indeed." Wren nodded in agreement as he and Jack moved the skimmer to the front of the house.
As they stopped. Jack noticed a pair of chickens running for the coop. The hair's on the back of his neck began to stand as the low drone of engines reached his ears. His eyes widened as he turned to face the smelting plant. Rapidly closing in on them were six x-winged aircraft silhouetted against the smelting plant
"They're back!" Jack yelled, running full tilt towards the catapult.
"Prepare to fire!" Wren rushed next to the catapult, pulling the wind Crystal from his pocket.
Grabbing a trio of logs then dropping them into the bucket before jumping into the firing seat. His hand found the firing lever as he looked down at the sight. His knuckles began to turn white as his grip on the wooden shaft tightened. Come on you bastards! Come and get me! His hand pulled back. The three logs sent flying towards the enemy. The powerful wind pushed the three straight towards the enemy formation. Jack jumped off, grabbing a nearby another three logs to use. As he loaded it, Jack heard another trio of engines coming from behind. The three skimmers raced overhead, headed straight for the formation.
The Cyclonian squadron scattered as the new arrivals cut through the right though the middle formation. The lead pilot passing directly under an enemy aircraft. A quick flash of blue light quickly followed with smoke as the Cyclonian skimmer plummeted towards his doom. Two of the three skimmers were almost identical in design to Wren's with the third resembling a helicopter crossed with a motorcycle, much to Jack's surprise. They don't look like Cyclonian's. Jack though. Noticing the distinct blue and red markings along what looked to be a bird with its wings spread on the wings. Also noticing the hair colors of the newly arrived pilots. The two on the winged skimmers were red and blonde guys whilst the other on the helicopter was a dark complexioned girl with a dark blue hair color.
Hopping back into the firing chair, the young teen began tracking one scattering Cyclonian. Finding him and taking hold of the stick and pulled, firing another salvo of logs towards the enemy. The Cyclonian pulled into a sharp climb as the blonde filled the space where the cyclonian had once been. A shrill scream cut through the wind as one of the logs whizzed past the blonde.
"S-sorry!" Jack winced apologetically.
"The Storm Hawks? I thought they were all wiped out?!" Wren raised an eyebrow and confusion.
"Good or bad?" Inquired the teen watching the group land on the island.
"Of course they're good! They're Sky Knights!" Wren laughed, throwing an impromptu salute to the newly arrived Sky Knights.
End Chapter
(A very special thanks to Goldspark1)