The Smuggler & The Lone Sky Knight: A Storm Hawks Story

Chapter Five - Terra Gruesomus

After interrogating Bricktop, Blackjack Jet and Starling began making their way to Terra Gruesomus where the Crimson Rooks supposedly had a safehouse. When the Highway Star arrives at the Terra, Blackjack Jet smirks to himself.

Blackjack Jet: Welcome to Terra Gruesomus: godforsaken hellhole and hive of scum and villainy.

Starling: We should proceed on foot so we don't draw too much attention to us.

Blackjack Jet: Good call. I'll put the Highway Star on autopilot. If things get hairy, I'll have her pick us up.

With that, Blackjack Jet and Starling gather their equipment and exited the Highway Star. As the Highway Star flies off, Blackjack Jet and Starling brave the treacherous jungles of Terra Gruesomus. It was hot and the shrieking of the animals who lived in the jungle could be heard. 

Blackjack Jet: Now I remember why I don't like coming to this little hellhole. The goddamn heat. 

Starling: The sooner we find that safehouse, the sooner we can leave. 

Blackjack Jet: Well you're not the one covered in fur and you weren't born on a frozen Terra. Just saying. 

Starling ignored the Blizzarian smuggler's sarcasm as they moved through the jungle. Soon enough, Starling was attacked by a Boghowler. As Starling struggles against the Boghowler, Blackjack Jet pulls out one of his blaster pistols and shoots it in the head, killing it. With a smirk on his face, Blackjack Jet holsters his blaster pistol while Starling pushes the dead Boghowler off of her. 

Starling: Did you really have to shoot it?

Blackjack Jet: Guess a thank you is out of the question. 

Starling: That shot could've given away our position!

Blackjack Jet: Have you forgotten where we're at? Like I said before, this place is a regular hive of scum and villainy. There's at least a dozen smuggler bases here. You have to be handy with a blaster to survive in this shithole. 

As Blackjack Jet says this, blaster shots were heard in the distance. While Starling was ready for a fight, Blackjack Jet was unfazed. 

Blackjack Jet: My point exactly. Sounds like the blaster shots are coming from behind us and that Boghowler came from the other side. Which means we're heading in the right direction. Now our Crimson Rook buddy told us that the Crimson Rooks got a little safehouse south of a Boghowler enclave. 

Starling: Which means we're heading in the right direction.

With that, Blackjack Jet and Starling continued to brave the dangerous jungles of Terra Gruesomus. Eventually, they could see the Crimson Rooks safehouse. The two climbed up a tree to avoid getting spotted. They then surveyed the safehouse. They could see serval Crimson Rooks enforcers patrolling the safehouse. 

Blackjack Jet: Looks like Bricktop wasn't lying after all. Let's go knock on the door.

As Blackjack Jet was about to start attacking, Starling stops him.

Starling: Wait! You can't just shoot up every place we go to!

Blackjack Jet: Hasn't failed me so far. 

Starling: We may be shutting down their operations, but we still have no idea what they're planning. We need to be smart about this. 

Blackjack Jet: So I assume you got a better plan?

As Blackjack Jet says this, Starling looks around to see two Crimson Rooks enforcers making their way back to the safehouse. It didn't take long for Starling to form up a plan. 

Starling: Follow my lead and no blasters. 

Blackjack Jet rolls his eyes as he and Starling begin to slowly climb down the tree. As the two Crimson Rooks enforcers moved closer, Starling jumps down and attacks them. Before the two enforcers could react, Starling knocks them out in quick succession. Blackjack Jet couldn't help but wolf whistle at Starling. 

Blackjack Jet: Not bad. 

Starling: Help me move them to cover before we got spotted. 

With that, Blackjack Jet and Starling carry the unconscious Crimson Rooks enforcers and moved them away from prying eyes. Once they were behind cover, Starling begins stripping one of the Crimson Rooks of their uniforms. 

Blackjack Jet: What the hell? 

Starling: You take the other one. We're going into their safehouse dressed like them. 

Blackjack Jet: So this is your plan? Strip these guys of their uniforms, put them on and waltz into their safehouse like nothing's happening? 

Starling: If you got a better plan, I'm all ears. 

Blackjack Jet: I still say shooting up the place is a good idea. 

As Blackjack Jet said this, he could see Starling about to take off her shirt. Starling then turns her head to the smuggler. 

Starling: Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to get into that uniform?

Blackjack Jet chuckles as he strips the enforcer of his uniform and puts it on. Soon enough, both Blackjack Jet and Starling were now disguised as the enforcers. While the uniform fitting Starling perfectly, the uniform barely fitted the Blizzarian smuggler. Starling then ties up the unconscious enforcers to keep them from warning the others. 

Blackjack Jet: So what exactly is the plan? 

Starling: We're going to infiltrate the safehouse and find out what the Crimson Rooks are planning. Our best shot is to find the leader of this safehouse. Follow my lead and don't do anything stupid. Hopefully we'll find some real answers. 

With that, Starling and Blackjack Jet walked to the safehouse disguised as enforcers for the Crimson Rooks. In that moment, Starling and Blackjack Jet found themselves in the lion's den on the most dangerous Terra in all of Atmos.