Storm Hawks: Adventures Of the Other Side

Chapter 9

"An ex-general is hiring for Cyclonis?" Piper stood at the centre of the room, the other awaiting orders. 

"The barkeep said that the general is hiring for her" Skye reiterated before turning to his fellow knights. "Meaning, we are no longer at auditions. If it's who I think it is,  then I don't want us recognised, especially the Princess." his gazed intensified. The plan was now up to the Storm Hawks to complete, the knights could only take a backseat now.

"That means, you guys are gonna have to go in without us. Royal Blue eyes are indicators of the monarchy, that way they could never be mistaken. That means, Finn cannot go either."

"Damn, means I don't get a piece of the action" he huffed, though secretly overjoyed to not be put in the line of fire. He turned to the others in a show to be superior, or at least show so have some authority, "Look team, stay sharp, put our training to the test. Don't forget what I taught you" he spoke with intensity.

"The rest of us will keep our distance away from this. We'll be back up just in case." Skye finished.

"But what if Cyclonis is there? She'll recognize us." Aerrow looked to Skye, raising a valid point. He followed Skye's glance towards Astra, her knowing what to do. However, she didn't look pleased with the situation.
"Lose me even once, and you're toast" she glared, before sitting up into a cross legged position. She closed her eyes and focused, well on the objective - the cloaking.
Shortly after her concentration engaged, her body started to float and have a light blue glow to it, with steaks almost looking like it were it were infecting all of the Storm Hawks but Finn, altering their appearances until they were barely recognizable.

Although, after their transformation, she remained glowing and suspended in the air.

"She has to remain like this for the remainder of your time in those forms. She won't wake until you release her. She'd be completely oblivious to everything around her, so we should look after her." He eyed everyone not going in, there was no way he was going to leave his Princess in the time of need. 

The following day, the Storm Hawks - minus Finn - embarked towards the meet for Cyclonis' crew. 

Upon arrival, the air was tense in the creepy warehouse - very original - with many people who have arrived also for the chance to work for the entity, none of which looked like team players. 

From the look of it, roughians had traveled from far and wide for this chance. The group better bring their A - game. The bustling of the small groups of people were silenced the moment a figure appeared at the top of the a few piled crates. He didn't look like someone of the military, more like those who hold command of the military. Aerrow looked to his team, checking them to make sure they know the plan. All nodded in readiness. 

The figure stood tall and authoritatively, looking at the filth that got dragged through the door, all with different sets of skills, but he had to keep to the requirements of his boss. 

"All of you are here for one thing and for one thing only" he bellowed. "but only certain few would be granted the opportunity. And I might as well warn you. Your future boss, is not someone to be trifled with, she will not hesitate in discarding you if the job is not done right the first time" he eyed certain individual's that don't look like they'd make the cut. "Moving on," he paced once again, "today would determine which of you would work for her". This statement stirred a few remarks between the crowd.

"Our Boss is a woman?" One of the guys laughed.

"Is that a problem?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes" he chuckled. "I ain't taking orders from a chick"

"Then there's the door." the door being gestured.

More than half the population left, leaving the Storm Hawks and one other crew. That narrows it down. 

The crews faced off, waiting for their missions. 

"Ok, two groups left, looks like you're fighting it out." The two groups looking at each other, each picking out their sparring partners. Aerrow facing off with the leader of the pack, a big man with a strong build and a few scars on his face, clearly a pirate. The others were not as tactical, more like underlinks with one specific skill set, if any. 

Before a commence bell had rung, the pirates initiated the fight, each targeting one another, the warehouse, its battlefield. 

The 'Captain' took the first strike at Aerrow, swinging at him from the left, catching him off guard and throwing him to the other side of the warehouse. After falling to the ground, he quickly recovered to negate the secondary attack. Throw one, hit two, strike three. The fight ensued continuously, whilst the others had their own their own fights. Piper fighting a lanky guy, clearly not a fighting man, taking him out almost instantaneously. Stork hid behind Junko as he got to work, smashing to two remaining guys' heads together, knocking them out. 

The fight didn't take long to be over and the clear winners were the Storm Hawks, though to the General, they were known as the Black Mark.