Phoenix Part 2

I've gotten asked this question a lot over the years. In my career, I've mastered five very different superpowers in a world where most can barely master one. So the real question that comes to people's minds is this: how do you do it?

That mostly came down to three factors: compartmentalization, visualization, and experimentation. I used all these to the point that I had them ingrained in my muscle memory, but now it seems I have to go back to the basics to survive. So I took every lesson by heart and first compartmentalized.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, I don't want to fall! I don't want to fall!"

After that, I closed my eyes for the most significant visualization I could muster. In this world, sometimes the same power can get achieved through very different results. My flight mode was the same for me. Every time a small pocket space of contained air became my domain to soar the heavens, that control, that comfort easily made it my favorite mode by a long shot.

And back in those early days when it was still an unknown frontier, I imagined it exactly like this. Next, when I knew the pit in my stomach, my watering eyes and blowing wig meant nothing. Because to me, the world gets submerged in an endless ocean, one that I can swim through with no issue. Then, just when I thought I would meet the next sports hovercraft, the air in my space became dense enough almost to touch as soon enough; a single flap created a boom so powerful I'm sent right back on course in your standard superhero flight pose.

I may have to worry about some dumb memes about my now regularly flapping motions, but sacrifices are worth making, especially when lives are on the line. So, like some kind of cartoonish flightless bird, I tiredly flapped through the air until I could get a good vantage point at the entire situation.

It was your standard cop car chase, though. Three cop cars, all armed with various gizmos and blasters, aimed desperately at a hovering pickup truck that was highly modified to sail ahead from the look of it. However, the concerning thing wasn't the vehicle, but more so its top passenger. I've been in the job for well over a decade now, so I'm used to it, but it is still saddening to see every time.

Back in the pre-wave world, I heard that people would discriminate based on different skin tones and beliefs. And unfortunately, that same way of thinking is still very much today, just in different ways and similar practices. This became especially true as more ... noticeable mutations started taking place in society.

This is why it saddens me to see a bulky 10-foot tall gray wolf-looking hybrid with piercing blue eyes with wild fur and ripped-up cargo pants on the top of the vehicle. As he steadied his claws into the top of the truck, the world routinely shouted out a sonic blast, deflecting and pushing back the various cop cars, leaving them in a stalemate that could quickly turn bad in the parade of other cars still in the mix. Meaning I had to take immediate action.

With another powerful gust of wind, I decided to take a page out of speed mode's book. With that push, I managed to run alongside the heaven scraping building to my side. Increasing my flaps even more vigor, letting it all build up until I leaped.

From there, I just decided to glide, letting the momentum carry over until I landed on the lead cop car with another messy fall. Then, after I picked myself up for the umpteenth time, I didn't even need sense mode to know who it was as I secured myself to the driver's side of the car.

"Hello, Commissioner Girder; how did I just know that you weren't going to let this one go?" I said in a joking but relieved manner.

Even with his small and skinny body, the scar over the commissioner's gray left eye was more than enough to show off his hardened experience. And yet, all that grim stoicism vanished in the form of a small smirk amid my sorry joke.

"Well, you know how it goes, Omna, lead by example and all that. But I definitely couldn't leave these idiots to handle everything. Especially when the mayor Blakk's daughter is on the line."

From there, my humor dropped somewhat, realizing the stakes were a little higher than usual; having the guts to mess with one of the most well-protected (and most likely corrupt given Krimo) men in the city is rather scary.

"Okay then, give me the situation."

"20 minutes back, his penthouse and all the other high rises in the area got bombarded with several large explosions simultaneously. In the choas, Blakk reported that his daughter got taken in that truck from hell. Along with the lives of his entire security detail."

"Gruesome, is he safe?"

"Yeah, minor injuries and a bit shaken, but first responders managed to get to him on time, so he's good for now."

"Okay, that's great at least; other than that, how's outside support looking."

"No dice, you and I both know the police are understaffed as it is; most of the department is working with the other heroes on recovery, evacuation, and searching for any potential accomplices and info. Between that and the fact that these damned air routes are still brand new here in the upper levels, blocking off pathways is proving difficult. So it's just us for now.

"That's all they've ever needed Grider, you and your fellow boys in blue set up a perimeter to avoid collateral damage. And before I save the day once again, what are our assailants looking like?"

"Not much; facial recs haven't gotten a single good look at any of them. Scanners and calls say that there extremely heteromorphic. Still, scans of blunt force trauma, piercing third-degree electrical burns imply superhuman strength, a sonic scream, claws, and electrokinesis at the very least, but there could be more. There's a strong indication they could get doped up as well. So be careful, Omna," he said with a more empathetic tone.

"Always am Girder; hang back and let me take it from here. I'll tell you when to move in," I said reassuringly.

"Will do," Girder said sternly.

And from there was nothing left to do but bear the weight of Krimo's hundreds of waiting eyes as I got to work.