The Phoenix - BBS

Hopes 🤞

"Guys, what the fuck are you doing? This was not the plan, for fucks sake," the woman sighed, turning to face the line of guards. She shook her head as they all lowered their weapons, turning back to the bewildered manifested and friends.

"Hey, I'm Genay, head of the guards. Listen, we're not here to hurt you, okay? I want to talk, and these idiots are just scared. So uh, Phoenix, if you could put your flames away?" She said and Brock stared hard at her for a moment before letting his flames sink back under his skin.

"Fine," he said quietly and she nodded. "Now who's leader here?" She asked and Brock winced. "He's unconcious, one of your guys shot him and we just barely managed to save his life," he said shortly and Evan shrugged.

"The Phoenix is his second, Wildcat and I next," he said gesturing to Tyler. "Very well. You three, I wish to talk to you. I'll bring two guards I know who are trustworthy and we can talk right here, in neutral ground okay?" Genay said and Brock nodded, feeling a flash of approval from the Phoenix.

"Basically, Kryoz, get everyone inside and check on Terroriser. We'll be okay," Brock said and the two nodded, moving to usher everyone inside. Jon locked eyes with Brock, who just gave him an encouraging smile.

"Now your guards, tell them to get back in the trucks," Brock demanded and she nodded. "Everyone but Rilla and Austin, get back in the trucks," she called out and everyone but the two named men climbed into their vehicles, the two men putting their weapons away.

"Fine, we can talk. What do you want?" Brock asked and she appraised him for a moment. "I want things to end. I don't believe in the eradication of the manifested, I believed we were just keeping you separate. But you, Phoenix, you had several opportunities to kill the doctors and my guards, but you didn't. I don't believe you're dangerous," she said and Brock raised an eyebrow.

One man stepped forward, eyes meeting Brock's. "My- my brother and sister in law are inside with you," he said quietly and Brock blinked at him shocked. "You're Bryce's brother?" He asked and he nodded.

"I never wanted him hurt, I spent years trying to keep him hidden, him and Ria. I promise, we don't want to hurt anyone," he said quietly and Brock noticed Genay give him a look of surprise.

"I didn't know one of the manifested was your brother, Austin," she said quietly and he shrugged. "It was a secret for a reason," he said and she nodded slowly.

"I uh, I know a couple too. Luke and Jon, we were friends as kids until Jon disappeared, then Luke pulled away," the other guard, Rilla, said quietly. Brock tilted his head, surprised.

"Okay. We can call a truce," Brock said and the six walked forward, meeting in the middle. Genay looked at Brock for a moment, eyes intelligent but curious.

"You were held for 19 years, but you have immense power. Why didn't you escape?" She asked and Brock shrugged.

"I was taken when I was 8. At that point, I had nothing but a fire ability. My wings, weightlessness and healing didn't come until later. And before the day we escaped, I didn't know about the transportation ability. I didn't bother doing anything because it was beaten out of me, and I hated the idea of hurting anyone. I still do," he said quietly and she nodded slowly.

"You two were hired on as guards, even as manifested. How'd you slip past us? I remember your interviews," she asked and Evan crooked a grin at her.

"That was all Terroriser. One of his abilities is mind persuasion, a trace of power and he can convince nearly anyone of anything. That's how we were able to shut down the other facilities we worked at. But Dr. Jackals and Dr. Scry were resistant to it, so we had to do something else. One of our allies got caught early on and killed, we had to be careful," he said and she nodded slowly.