After meeting with Tommy Two Fingers, Stork and Dove took refuge in the information broker's safehouse. As they settled in, Dove became curious about Stork's relationship with Tommy Two Fingers. 

Dove: How did you end up working with this man? 

Stork: After taking control of Terra Atmosia, there were countless people wanting to escape the Cyclonian's wrath. We had encountered Tommy in the past. He's a sly information broker who has all seven fingers and ten toes in every shady business in Atmosia. We struck a deal that I would pay for Tommy Two Fingers to have various people smuggled out of Terra Atmosia to safety. 

Dove: Do you trust him? 

Stork: To an extent. Tommy Two Fingers only has loyalty for money. As long as I pay him, our arrangement continues. 

At this point, Dove began to have reservations about working with Tommy Two Fingers. She had even bigger reservations about going along with Stork's plan. Dove didn't want to just run off and hide while the Cyclonians maintained their chokehold on Atmos. 

Dove: Don't you think that we should be fighting back? There has to be other Sky Knights! The Cyclonians couldn't have killed them all.....

Stork: But they have. Every Sky Knight squadron that has tried to rise up to fight against the Cyclonians all have been wiped out. The Rex Guardians, the Absolute Zeroes, the Third Degree Burners...they're all gone. Even Starling was eventually hunted down and executed. There's no fighting the Cyclonian Empire and winning, Dove. 

Dove: Then why do you keep fighting?

Stork: Because....it's all I have left. If I abandon this fight....I have nothing....

As Stork said this, it was clear to Dove that his fight against the Cyclonians wasn't a stand against the Cyclonians. It was a self imposed sentence in which there was only one way out: death. Dove soon looked out the window to see a group of Talons approaching Tommy Two Fingers. 

Stork: Get down! 

Stork and Dove ducked as they watched Tommy Two Fingers speaking to the Talons. At first, it appeared as though Tommy was attempting to talk them into leaving. But all that changed when Dark Ace was seen approaching Tommy Two Fingers. He then hands the information broker a coin pouch. Without hesitation, he points to the window where Stork and Dove were. 

Stork: No....

Dove: He sold us out!

Stork: We need to get out now!

As Stork and Dove were about to make their escape attempt, Talons burst into the room. Stork was quick to fight the Talons. As he takes down several of them, Dove attempts to help, but was tackled and pinned down by a Talon. 

Stork: Dove!

Before Stork could intervene, Dark Ace attacked Stork and swiftly overpowered him. As both Stork and Dove were restrained, the Cyclonian enforcer looks at Stork. It didn't take long for him to recognize the Merb. 

Dark Ace: Well I'll be damned. A part of me was hoping that Aerrow survived. Imagine my disappointment. 

Stork said nothing as Tommy Two Fingers entered the room. Stork cast his glare upon the information broker. 

Stork: You....

Tommy Two Fingers: It's nothing personal, Stork. But at the end of the day, I got to look out for myself. We had a good thing going. But you should've known that this wasn't gonna last forever. 

Dark Ace: You've done well, Tommy Two Fingers. 

Tommy Two Fingers: Great. Does that mean I'm off the hook now? 

Dark Ace: Yes. 

As Dark Ace says this, he gestures to two Talons who quickly restrain the information broker. 

Tommy Two Fingers: What the hell?! We had a deal! I gave you the Sky Knight! You can't do this! 

Without warning, Dark Ace executes Tommy Two Fingers by thrusting his Two Handed Crystal Sword into Tommy's chest. After killing Tommy Two Fingers, Dark Ace takes another look at Stork before laughing. 

Dark Ace: This is too priceless. Who knew that the cowardly Merb pilot who hid while his teammates were slaughtered was the "Lone Storm Hawk" attacking Talons?

Dove was shocked to hear this. At first, she refused to believe it. 

Dove: You're...you're lying! 

Dark Ace: Dove....I remember you. Heh. What did Stork tell you about the fall of the Storm Hawks? Did he tell you that while I was killing them one by one, Stork hid like a coward. He watched as he friends died. 

Dove showed visible shock as she turned her gaze upon Stork who looked down on the ground with shame. That silence confirmed Dark Ace's words. Dark Ace soon turned his gaze back onto Stork. 

Dark Ace: When I first heard of a "Last Storm Hawk", I saw an opportunity to finally have prey worthy to hunt and kill. And yet....looking at you, I'm disappointed. 

Dark Ace then grabbed Stork by the face. Stork showed little to no emotion in his face. 

Dark Ace: I could kill you and the girl right now. It would be so easy. But knowing you, that would be a mercy. You want to die. You'll get your wish, but only after I have broken you in every way possible. As for you, Dove, you'll be made an example out of soon enough. Take them away. 

With that, Stork and Dove had been captured by Dark Ace and his Talons. In that moment, Stork and Dove were now prisoners of the Cyclonian Empire. But with his capture, Stork would soon find himself forced to confront the demons of his past.