After recovering from his injuries, Stork found himself within Gundstaff's home. As Gundstaff prepared dinner, Dove could see that Stork seemed more somber than usual. She could see the look of pure hopelessness on his face. But as she became concerned about Stork, Gundstaff finished preparing dinner.

Gundstaff: It...it has been a long time since I've had guests. I hope this meal is to your liking. 

As Stork and Dove ate, Gundstaff could see Stork surveying his surroundings. 

Gundstaff: You need not worry about any....Cyclonian entanglement, Sky Knight. This is one of the few Terras in the entire Atmos untouched by the Cyclonian Empire. 

Stork: It's only a matter of time until the Cyclonians find this place. 

Gundstaff: Perhaps you are right. Few Terras are safe from their grip these days. And ever since the Sky Knight Purge, the number of Terras free of Cyclonian occupation has....dwindled.

Dove: But....but there has to be something we can do! 

Stork: Dove....I've gone along with this for as long as I could, but I can't stand by and let you stand by me. 

Upon hearing this, Dove was shocked. 

Dove: W...what? You can't mean that!

Stork: Ever since I got you involved in this, you've been put in constant danger! You're a fugitive because of me! 

Dove: And I'd be dead if you didn't help me! 

There was silence in the room. Stork's emotionless expression remained before he spoke. 

Stork: This...this isn't your fight, Dove. 

Dove: But I can help you! The Dark Ace called you a coward....but he's wrong! What happened to the Storm Hawks wasn't your fault!

Stork: But it was! When the Condor got attacked, I hid like a coward! And even as the Dark Ace killed off the Storm Hawks one by one, I remained hidden! I watched from my hiding spot as the people who trusted me with their lives were killed before my eyes! And even despite it all, I still hid. They all died....because of me! I carry on the fight they died for because it is the only punishment I deserve! I've given up all chance at inner peace. I've made my mind a sunless space. I share my dreams with ghosts. I wake up every day to the day I watched the Storm Hawks die. I'm damned for what I've done! My cowardice put Atmos on the path to misery and the only path to atonement that I saw was to fight the Cyclonians, knowing full well that it was a hopeless endeavor. I'm condemned for what I am and I accept it. I burn whatever decency I had left. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I'll never see. I fight....because it's the only thing that ties me to them. It's....it's all I have left....

As Stork said that, Dove was at a loss for words. Stork simply got up and left the room. As Dove was about to go after him, Gundstaff stopped her. 

Gundstaff: Let him go. 

Dove: But....

Gundstaff: He's not the only one dealing with guilt. 

Dove: What are you talking about? 

Gundstaff took a deep breath. 

Gundstaff: As I said earlier, I was a Crystal Researcher. My expertise in the field soon led Master Cyclonis to me. She offered me work within her Empire, but I turned it down. Not too long after, my family was kidnapped and I was forced to work for her. For many years, I helped create many weapons for Cyclonis. But one the night of the Purge, I created a weapon so powerful and so terrible that Master Cyclonis released me from her services and gave me the coordinates to where my family was being held. But when I arrived, my family.....my family was already gone.....executed.

Upon hearing this, Dove was deeply saddened by Gundstaff's story. 

Dove: I'm...I'm sorry....

Gundstaff: By the time I realized this, it was too late. The Purge had begun and any Sky Knight who could've stopped Cyclonis was dead. Since then, I've lived here.....alone. 

At this point, Dove took a moment to process all the information she had learned. Meanwhile, Stork found himself reliving the death of the Storm Hawks. It wasn't long before his dark counterpart stood before him.

Dark Stork: How much longer can you keep this up? Do you really think you can atone for what you've done? You and I both know there is no atonement for what you did. You allowed Atmos's greatest hope to die. Your cowardice condemned them to death. 

Stork: Shut up....leave me alone!

Dark Stork: You keep running.....you keep fighting.....and for what? There is only one way this ends for you, Stork. Why prolong your own suffering? 

Stork: Because I made a promise.....

Dark Stork: A promise to them.....or a promise to yourself? 

Stork said nothing as his mind fell back to what Dark Ace said to him back on Terra Atmosia.

Dark Ace(Past): I could have you killed. I could bring you to Master Cyclonis and she will personally execute you. But that would be too easy. I want to break you. I want all of Atmos to see the "Last Storm Hawk" for what it really is: a broken coward who survives like a cockroach. I want you to look at the face of every man, woman and child in Atmos and all will know: this is the face of the man who let the Storm Hawks die. This is the face of the man who let the Sky Knights die. And I will relish every waking moment of this.

As those words echoed in Stork's mind, the guilt within him grew. But what he didn't realize was that he would soon be forced to confront his past head on.