The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

Escape!

Nika had made a point of avoiding Aerrow over the next few days, choosing to spend most of her time with Stork – something that made Aerrow's jealousy even worse, just ditch him and hang around his best friend? He let go of that thought when he caught Nika's blue eyes with his green ones – she looked tired and ready to cry at any second. He noticed that Radarr wasn't sticking by his side as often as he would – sometimes catching the co-pilot shaking his head at him. "Alright! I got a message from Terra Rex, apparently there are prisoners being held on Terra Zartcla. There is little security there and the guy in charge is the jail warden "Mr Moss"." Piper explained, when no one interrupted she looked around suspiciously before she continued. "Aerrow, if you give yourself up then you can infiltrate the prison from the inside. With Radarr you will dig your way out of the cell and distract the guards. Then we will all swoop in and finish the jailbreak." She smiled, Aerrow nodded – the plan made sense and it meant he would have time away from everyone and think without interuption. "Can't we just ambush them?" Finn asked scratching his cheek, "If we did that then they would call for back up." Piper argued gently, it was something the entire team welcomed – next to no arguments between Finn and Piper.

Aerrow busied himself with getting ready, he paused looking at the crystal device Nika gave him days earlier – staring at it as he sat down. "What have I done Radarr?" He asked noticing his co-pilot staring at him, he responded with a shake of his head, Aerrow hung his head." I wish you could just call me an idiotic jerk." He sighed in defeat, "Then I will." Junko's voice sounded as he entered the room and closed the door as forcefully as he could with a button-controlled door. "I really need someone to talk some sense into me." Aerrow replied, quite relieved with the response, Junko stood in front of him with his arms crossed over his chest– the Wallop pretty much figured out what happened, Aerrow said something or rejected her harshly. "What did you do?" Junko asked, he softened when he saw Aerrow looking rather upset. "I hurt her, I said things that I shouldn't." He replied guiltily, he gasped with Radarr when the Wallop grabbed him by the collar and pinned him against the wall, Aerrow winced but didn't fight back – what was the point. "I told her you'd be understanding and now she doesn't want to talk to me!" He shouted upset with his own pain with Nika avoiding him, Aerrow just hung from Junko's grip – there was no point in fighting back. "I screwed up Junko, she wanted to tell me something and I didn't let her..." Aerrow admitted, Junko roughly let him go making the Sky Knight land on his backside. "You what?" Junko sputtered, this wasn't like Aerrow! "I snapped at her Junko, I just- I don't know. I didn't want to be rejected and I just took it out on her." Aerrow hung his head, Junko had every right to beat him up, Nika was practically a sister to the Wallop. "Then apologise." Junko simply replied before leaving the room, Radarr crawled over to his master and patted his knees, slowly the redheaded Sky Knight lifted his head, a sorrowful look in his usual bright green eyes. Radarr smiled cutely and then jumped into his chest, gratefully Aerrow returned it and held onto his friend letting out a few tears now and again.

Everyone gathered in the hangar, Finn on his skimmer to drop Aerrow off to the terra, Nika hugged her stomach feeling rather awkward – last thing she wanted to do was see Aerrow. A pair of arms went around her body, she lamely stood there as the person leaned to her ear. "I'm sorry." Aerrow's voice choked out, Nika pushed away from him and worriedly looked into his eyes – forgetting that everyone was anxiously watching. She bit her lip as she felt tears spring to her eyes, Aerrow reached his hand out as she stepped backwards before fully turning and running out of the room. "She'll be ok, Aerrow." Piper assured, her hand on his shoulder. "Look after her for me." He gently asked, Piper nodded and ushered him along. Grudgingly he sat behind Finn and looked back at his team, even Stork didn't look upset with him anymore. "Do a favour and don't die." Stork spoke, inwardly cheering that Aerrow apologised.

Nika sat in her room and cried her eyes out, she sat with her knees curled up with her face buried in her hands, she felt sick but relieved. She didn't know what to think of Aerrow, she felt stupid for letting herself fall for him – he was obviously not interested in her. "Oh Nika." Piper sighed sadly, hugging her best friend – from what she gathered from Junko – the pair were extremely close to telling one another how they felt but for some reason Aerrow snapped at the Yarisian, for a reason she didn't know. "He hates me, Piper." Nika cried, "I am so stupid for liking him!" Piper frowned and sat Nika up – her blue eyes more dull than usual. "Nika, he's just got a lot on his mind. He's really sorry and you two are talking when he gets back." Piper pressed firmly, not letting the brunette argue with her, "Don't give up yet." Nika shook her head, already getting to that stage. "I have, I don't want someone right now. I have other things to worry about." Nika responded with a sniff. "Your home... Nika you don't have to do this alone!" Piper gently argued, wondering how long the prophecy had been eating at the Sky Knight. "I know but you aren't the one destined to rule an entire terra." Nika replied, wiping her eyes with hands. "We're all here for you, even Aerrow."

Piper had left the brunette alone, pondering her thoughts, she sat on her bed running her hands through her hair before letting it hang untied, soft waves cascading down to her mid-back. "I hope you're ok..." She whispered, her thoughts trailed to her lost brother – what would he think of her and how she was getting on? That she managed to defeat the Dark Ace, that she made new friends and joined another squadron? Her breath hitched when she thought that Aerrow would share the same fate – he was strong, he would be okay... Wouldn't he? 'I need to stop being so sensitive! I am Nika Striking and a leader doesn't cry over the smallest of things! Pull yourself together!' Nika cursed, swinging her legs over off her bed – she shifted into her meditation position. Maybe a period of time with no thought would help, it was something her father taught her though her five-year-old self didn't understand and detested it at first. Now, it was the only thing that helped her through her darker times. 'If you are breathing then you aren't drowning.' Her father's voice echoed in her head, with that she took a deep breath and slipped into deep meditation.

"He's made it!" Piper screamed, this broke Nika out of her trance, prompting the Sky Knight to wander onto the corridor, turns out they did the break out without her – she didn't mind, maybe they wanted to give her space. Nika smiled at the released prisoners – many of them needed a bath, politely she made her way by them to the hangar, Aerrow cheered as landed – his face brightening when he saw the brunette waiting for him. Radarr squawked and jumped on her in a bear hug, "Radarr, you need a bath!" She moaned, scrunching up her nose. Radarr let her go at the word bath and sprinted away, he hated baths! Aerrow smiled, she looked a lot happier and she wasn't running away. "Hey- uh..." She trailed off blushing at the fact he was shirtless, averting her eyes elsewhere – the floor looked like it had been washed, that was interesting. "Aerrow um... I'm going to let you get cleaned up, I'll talk to you later." She blushed before darting off, Aerrow mumbled an 'oops' realising that he too needed to wash up at least she didn't look scared of him.

Nika listened to Stork babbling about the number of germs and potentially fatal scenarios the Storm Hawks faced with the prisoners on board, they'd be dropped off at Terra Rex, Nika giggled when Stork cursed one for invading his personal space. "This is the worst day of my life." He grumbled glaring at the skies ahead, Nika nudged him playfully. "The worst day of your life so far." She corrected, he mocked her voice annoyed before proceeding to ignore her. "Hey." Aerrow smiled as he wandered up to the pair, "How's it going Stork?" He asked, the Merb groaned rolling his head to see Aerrow. "Just fantastic." He muttered sarcastically, Nika giggled making Stork turn on her, his eye twitching. "Gah, it's not funny! You won't be laughing when you get Zebrapcocks!" Stork yelled hysterically waving his arms around this only made Nika's giggle fit last longer. "Aerrow, make her leave." Stork hissed, acting like a spoiled child, The Sky Knight guided a still laughing Yarisian out of the room where calmed down. "Sorry, listening to him complain about how we are going to die – it's too much." She explained, wiping her eyes of happy tears. "Nika I..." He started before Nika hugged him around the waist, burying her face in the crook of his neck, she spoke gently "Apology accepted." He sighed in relief and hugged her back. "I like you Nika..." He mumbled, she looked at him wondering if she heard him say anything but figured it was her imagination. "I like you Aerrow." She admitted to his neck, not realising that Aerrow heard it and had a huge grin on his face.