Hi everyone! Its been six months since I last updated, and for this I'm sorry; I was planning to update this a lot earlier, however the computer I was using was a spare one my friend had, which went kaput, and had to be trashed, that meant all the data on that computer was wiped and thus so was the chapter, after that I was busy moving home yet again, this time into my own apartment and decorating it how I see fit, and then of course Halloween and Christmas have come about so I've been uber busy up until now, and as usual Writers block reared its ugly head.

Again I apaologize for the delay and hope you enjoy this chapter!

Jade xx

Chapter 8 - Battlefield

Aerrow was pacing in circles around the deck; after Ace's dissaperance yesterday morning Aerrow was worried sick; he;d hidden in his room and tried nto to cry; he pulled his emotions in; crying would not help Ace, it would not save him and it wouldnt help the team. So he did what he always did; he washed dressed and held a meeting with the others to try and make a plan to Rescue Ace. "We need to figure out how to get him back" Who knows what Cyclonis will do to him we need a plan!" He said to the other three int he room; Finn was in his room still nursing his broken nose form yesterday and refused to speak to anyone, he was probably not only nursing his bruised ego but thinking over his shameful actions yesterday

Aerrow bit his lip and took a deep breath; he was frantic about Ace but he knew panicking wouldnt help he close dhis eyes and tried to think of a way to get the dark haired Ex-commander back "We could always sneak back into Cyclonia using the sewers?" He said.

Stork shook his head "nu-uh, not a good idea I hear they installed lasers down there that eat flesh" Stork said with an eye twitch "Wouldn't be the best place to go"

"Well how about disguising ourselves with chroma crystals?" the red head suggested, after a moment Piper nodded.

"It could work but I only have two crystals, it means leaving three of us behind and they've really tightened security, if we get caught our chances of getting out in one piece are slim"

Aerrow rubbed at his eyes tiredly before he sighed; exasperated;"Thats no good then... come on guys think! There has to be something we can do!" He groaned.

Not a moment later the alarms suddenly bleared full blast making Stork almsot jump out his fur as he pulled down the scope and spun it around frantically for any sign of the impending danger, before he froze; his small frame tensing as he let out a soft 'meep' sound. "Cyclonian battle air ships at three o'clock! Theyre heading striaght for us!"

"What? Ugh they have the worst timing!" Aerrow paused then grinned "Then again if we raid one of the air ships we could grab some cyclonian supplies to make ourselves look like the real deal! Alright everyone to battle!" Aerrow called befor ehe ran to Finns room and banged on his door "Finn come out, we have Cyclonian's incoming and we need your aim!" He yelled through the door ebfor ehe ran to the hanger bay, swiping up his blades as he went, making sure everything was in order.

Smiling he pet his Skimmer as Radarr scampered over and joined him on his side car as he swung his leg over and sat "Okay, everyone ready?" he asked as he revved his engine with a grin; he loved flying there was no bigger thrill than having the wind in your hair.

"Ready" Finn answered quietly; he;d suited up and was on his skimmer he looekd at Aerrow with blank eyes, like he wasnt really seeing his childhood friend; the red head felt a twinge of pain; he wished Finn could just be happy fro him, or move on elsewhere. "Okay lets go!" He said, putting up a fake heroic smiled as they set off; he'd talk to Finn later, right now he had some talon tail to destroy!

Ace looked out of the windscreen of the Cyclonian battle ship where the Condor was a short distance away; there was something about that ship that made him feel something strange, which was odd as he didnt feel anything any more, not pain, not hunger, or exhaustion, Master Cyclonis had blocked his emotions and left him practically a robot, a cybrog doing his masters bidding "Aim blasters on the Condor" He ordered dully "Fire when ready" he said before he turned to look at his second in command, the one they dubbed 'scarface' "Your in charge Im going with the alpha squad to take out the sky knight" He said softly as he walked off.

All memories of Aerrow, of who he was and how important he was, were buried deep; Ace, at the moment, simply didn't remember Aerrow, other then he was to be captured by Ace and taken Back to Cyclonia.

The dark haired commander slid on his ride and revved the engine "Move out" He ordered beforeset off leaving smoke behind him as he flew out of the ships hanger bay and out into the open sky to face Aerrow.

"Aerrow! Aerrow something not right! Thats Ace out there! Hes back with the Cyclonian's! and hes willingly leading them!" Piper yelled as she watched Ace's passive face through the scope on her Binoculours.

Aerrow swallowed as he squashed down how he felt about this news and he had plenty of emotions, betrayal and hurt were the two major things he felt as well as anger and confusion; had Ace lied to him? had it been a ploy all along?

Logically Aerrow didnt believe it; Ace had pourted his heart out to him, he'd confessed everything...if it had been a ploy why would he be so open? He doubted Ace had lied about his parents death it just...seemed too real.

If Ace wasnt doing this willingly that meant one of two things 10 Cyclonis had tortured him back to her side, or 2) she used some other way to control him; either way this wasnt good.

Aerrow swallowed and took a deep breath as he hopped onto the wings of his skimmer drawing his blades as Radar took control of his ride, activating the striker crystals as his blades glowed a bright blue colour; he knew he;d have to fight Ace again; something he hoped he would never have to do after forming a relashionship with the older man.

"...Just my luck things never go my way" Aerrow murmured softly as Ace came closer Aerrow tensed ready for Ace when he jumped and landed on his skimmer, he charged him and attacked but he was stunned at how Ace moved and at how ferocious he was in his fighting; Ace had always been a fierce fighter but never ruthless; he'd always drawn the fights out, made then last so he could enjoy them, and maybe taunt a little...until Aerrow one upped him and saved the day.

This fight, was nothing like that Ace was determiend to beat him and iot was soon apparent that Ace had been holding back on him for years, becuase his brute strength matched that of Snipe almost; but unlike the burly man, Ace had speed to go with that power he wielded and Aerrow was no match.

Aerrow had the wind knocked out of him as he was disarmed his blades falling into the wastelands below; he was pretty sure Ace had sprained his wrist as well as busted a rib or two, becuase his chest burned and he couldn't brethe properly. "Ace...Ace please stop..." He croaked; why had he gone into battle again? Oh yeah becuase he loved Ace and hoped against all hope that this whole thing had been a ploy on Ace's part, that hed was going to turn around and betray Cyclonia.

But there was no chance of that, the man he had fallen for was not there; the Ace he knew no longer existed and a cold heartless machine seemed to have taken up his appearance. Ace kicked him on the chest making Aerrow choke and cough as the dark haired man grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to his feet earning a weak yelp off the red head.

"...Your coming with me" Ace hissed and Aerrow stared wide eyed as he shook in fear; that voice...that voice was NOT Ace's! it was cold and dead and it scared Aerrow at how much Ace had changed after only one day apart.

"Ace please...please you have to remember me!" He gripped at Aces arm, it was like a steel girder, hard and unmoveable, even when Aerrow dug his nails in and clawed at Aces hand the other wouldnt release his hair.

"...Master Cyclonis wants you" Ace responded monotonously , as he dragged Aerrow to the edge of his skimmer, he heard a snarl and felt something bite his leg, but not the pain; he looked down at Radarr before he wriggled his leg shaking the creature off before kicking him hard off the skimmer.

"Radarr!" Aerrow cried as he watched his friend fall beneath the cloud layer he squrimed uselessly but it was no good Ace wouldn't let go of him, in fact the older man pulled Aerrow close to his chest. Aerrow bit his lip; Ace even smelled differently; before he smelled of sweat, coffee and cinammon, but now...it was all oil and smoke.

Aerrow screwed his eyes closed in sorrow as Ace jumped, landing on his switchblade, which had been on autopilot and made quick work of Aerrow's hands tying them securely behind his back so he couldn't do anything suspicious.

The Talon commander said nothing as he turned back towards the Cyclonian battle ship and drove inside; Aerrow gave up by this point; the realization of haivng Ace turn into a heartless soilder hurt; he knew the only way to find out how to reverse this, would be to see Cyclonis herself and the best way to do that, was to let himself be caught.

As the doors on the belly of the ship closed and enshrouded him in darkness, Aerrow knew that things were only going to get worse.

"What do you mean Ace took him! Now what are we going to do!" Finn yelled as Junko winced; his ears drooping sadly as he was scolded by his best friend; he knew why Finn was worried; despite everything that had happened yesterday, Finns till cared deeply about Aerrow and would worry and fuss until they got him back.

"We need to think of a decent plan before we dive in there and do something stupid" Piper scolded Finn as she placed a hand on his shoulder "We all need to be calm about this"

Finn shrugged her off with a heated glare "Be calm! Ace is a freaking psycho and he took our friend who might be tortured and killed! How the hell can I be calm!"

Piper sighed softly "If we plan fast we might be able to rescue him tinight, but I need everyone's co-operation FInn" She said softly; trying to soothe the blodne enough for him to comply.

Finn took a deep breath and tried to calm his ailing nerves before he nodded "...Alright...so what are we going to do?

TA DA! Another chapter done! Sorry its so short but hey and update is an update right! If theres any bad spelling I apologize, I no longer have word or a spell check, which sucks! Read and review if you please! *Bows*