The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

Gale Force Winds

The Storm Hawks agreed amongst themselves to take Nika under their wing for a couple of days before officially asking her to become a Storm Hawk, currently they were flying the skies of Atmos, while Finn and Aerrow were out flying on their skimmers – Nika was building weapons and other bits and bobs with some spare metal alongside Junko. The pair shared a mutual interest in metal and being general engineering grease monkeys... and Wallop, so they had bonded rather quickly despite Nika being on the team for a few days. She sat cross legged on the floor fiddling with a few pieces of metal, Junko watched with interest and looked at what he was trying to create. "So, what you are building?" He asked, seeing her placing a small crystal in the mechanism, Nika's bit her bottom lip in concentration not answering for a few moments. "It's a tool for Piper – means she can look at crystals without goggles, hopefully. Still a work in progress though." She said not taking her eyes off her contraction, Junko hummed in response and quietly watched her. After a few more minutes of tweaking, Nika rose to her feet with the device in hand, walking towards Piper and handing it to her. "Wow! Thanks, what does it do?" She asked turning it in her hand; Nika demonstrated and explained how it worked, Piper grinned widely and practically jumped onto Nika for a hug which was awkwardly returned. Not that she didn't like hugs, Nika just didn't enjoy hugging people she barely knew – besides, Piper didn't know her own strength! As soon as Piper released and turned away from her, Nika silently winced and rolled her shoulders.

Nika then re-joined Junko on the floor – observing that he was struggling with putting together a new tool – she leaned over the pile in the middle and held the tool in place so he could attach something to it. Unaware of Stork and Piper exchanging looks, with Nika around Junko didn't feel the need to justify mucking around with metal – he was at ease with her around, plus with Nika around Stork couldn't be his pessimistic self when Junko had any metal around him. "Here... There ya go." Nika spoke, both smiled at one another then cleaned up the mess; Nika grabbed an apple and sat down on the seat watching Piper navigate, it fascinated her but she couldn't do it as a job. She was still settling in and didn't know what her role was quite yet but Aerrow and Junko assured her she would find her role eventually.

A while later, both boys returned with a freaked out Radarr who made a mad beeline for Nika, he was shaking and cowering away from Aerrow, she gave the redhead a funny look before talking quietly to the terrified co-pilot, "What's wrong Radarr?" He screeched and gestured about Aerrow flying through the gorge and how he nearly forgot about the wings. "Aww, it's ok." She cooed, scratching him behind the ears and cuddling him, Aerrow watched Radarr carefully – his co-pilot had Nika right under his thumb! And he wasn't jealous that Nika and Radarr had bonded so well and that Radarr was getting so much attention from her. Totally not jealous.

Everyone gathered around the table for what Nika liked to call 'Navigation News' since Piper oversaw where the Storm Hawks went next, Nika stood beside Aerrow and hugged her waist as she listened to Piper, according to Junko – Piper didn't always get straight to the point which was something Nika didn't like. "It's perfect! Absolutely, positively one hundred per cent best plan ever!" Stork popped up and frowned at Piper's notes and map – Nika sighed, she wished she could read and understand what was going on, she just had to make do with listening and learn eventually. "Umm, I'm not going to like this – am I?" He questioned, glaring between Piper and her notes. "The storm's building in the south-west which gives us perfect coverage to monitor the new Cyclonian supply lines!" Piper explained, not giving Stork much of a glance. He ducked between Aerrow and Piper, making Nika laugh inwardly – he was hilarious to watch, he shook his head with an almost traumatised expression, "I was right. I don't like it." Nika watched with a small smirk as he scuttled away to his controls then turned back to the rest of the squadron. "Did somebody say 'south-west'?" Finn smiled, leaning his head in. "Yup! I overheard a freighter capt-." She began before Finn interrupted her again. "You do know what's south west don't you?" He and Junko looked at one another, with stupid grins on their faces. Now Nika understood Piper's pain at being the only girl and no one listening to her. Though she noticed that it was mainly Finn that caused the clashes, he was simply obnoxious! "Ooh! Let me guess! Terra Neon's 24-hour gravy buffet!" Junko asked, Nika scrunched up her nose – she couldn't understand why people would gorge themselves on processed food. Everything she had ever ate had been made from scratch, then again she hadn't ever eaten processed food. "Well there is that but think warmer." Finn replied before they put their heads together cheering about 'Tropica'. Piper was rather upset by the boys not listening to her – Nika herself felt the same but she was rather intrigued by this 'Tropica' place, she hadn't ever been there and half-wanted to go. Finn suddenly draped his arm around her shoulders with a huge smirk on his face. "How about we go for a walk along the beach and get to know each other more?" Nika smiled and took his arm off by her fingers, a mildly disgusted look on her face. "I'd rather shake hands with a jellyfish." She replied as she took a step away from him. Finn dropped his shoulders and walked away with a muttered reply. He sat down and crossed his arms and legs in a huff, Piper snorted a laugh to herself. "Rejected." Stork chortled, more amused than anyone else by the conversation, Nika raised an eyebrow at him but he looked away from her, she shrugged.

Hours later, the Storm Hawks were right in the middle of the storm Piper was talking about, not that it bothered Nika as she lay on the seats with Radarr snoozing on her stomach. She listened to Piper, who was telling everyone where in Atmos they were, the storm didn't bother her. This was tame compared to the ones at home, eventually she grew bored of lying down and stood a respectable distance away from Stork staring out of the pilot's window. She, as well as Stork, jumped when Aerrow asked how the Merb was getting on, though Stork did force out an answer. Nika squinted at a white object that was hurtling towards the ship – she stepped back and was tackled to the ground by Aerrow – she landed at the bottom of the pile, under Stork and Aerrow. The Merb promptly jumped out of the pile forcing Aerrow to land on Nika with a grunt, his face close to hers but he saved more embarrassment by holding his weight on his forearms. Aerrow quickly jumped to his feet and helped Nika to hers, apologising as he scratched the back of his neck. Nika brushed herself off and grimaced at the object that nearly hit her, it was disgusting. "A... toilet? I don't even want to know." She frowned, shaking her head and running for the hangar with Finn, Aerrow and Piper. She jumped onto her skimmer and was first out of the Condor, whoever launched that toilet was going to pay for it. She was met by a few Cyclonians who chased her, she managed to take one out before the other joined her. "Nika look out!" Finn yelled, the brunette turned her head to see a Cyclonian flying towards her, she smirked and raised her skimmer higher up so he missed her, "Whoops!" He growled and shot at her, thankfully he missed. "Hold still you little brat!" Nika flew above him and landed on his skimmer with a childish grin, "Brat? Me? Never!" The Talon swung for her – she pushed him off. "Oh look, a flying door." She noted casually before she jumped off his skimmer and back onto hers. After seeing the Talon being owned by the door, she attempted to land but was hit off by a large, heavy pipe in the stomach, she held her stomach but had lost control of her skimmer, it skidded on the terra throwing Nika off it face first into the mud.

Groaning from the impact, she pushed her face out of the dirt and came face to face with some dude wearing weird armour, he was circling her. "CYCLONIAN!!" He yelled, Nika stood up despite the shooting pains she felt, frowning at the man and his kitchen utensil weapon. "I'm NOT a Cyclonian!" She yelled back, he began to attack her which she dodged by jumping backwards. "Your lies won't fool me! Cyclonian dog!" He yelled, pointing his makeshift weapon at her, this guy is a citizen – albeit very annoying but still a citizen and Sky Knights made an oath to protect them, not attack them. Obviously, he hadn't gotten the memo that the Storm Hawks and herself were helping him! Ignorant old man, Nika thought angrily as she resisted the urge to hit him.