Phoenix Part 4

Despite what most people would say, I'm not a one-woman army. A few people have been kind enough, good enough to help me on this path. You wouldn't believe the things Girder had to pull off so that he could get my phone number, which is why I need to be stronger, faster, smarter, and tougher.

Because I can't fail those, who count on me so much, and while they lie and say that it's no big deal even when I know it is. Yet, the one who argues the most for this statement is also the closest ally I would probably have in this world. And she'll probably do just about anything to prove that she's right.

I felt her presence before I even saw her. My rapid downfall quickly turned into the gentlest of descents. Because between the ground and me, I now laid a small golden hovering square platform. Even though the shock and awe of recent events were still fresh in my spirit, I checked the surrounding area knowing full well that I didn't even need to bother.

Because despite the dozens of runaway hovercrafts, every one of them joined my peaceful dive till we landed on the ground. Soon as we did, a privy of speedster and aerial heroes started to rain down like raindrops, along with ambulances, cop cars, and media.

I didn't even bother paying attention to both of them instead looking up in the sky at my lifelong savior. Then, from on high, Julia came in on a floating platform decked her out in her formerly retired outfit.

Her purple hair got shortened to a shoulder-length with a modified gold visor styled with an ancient greek aesthetic. Her main outfit consisted of a royal purple cape and breastplate, along with her bare arms getting collected with golden arm braces and shoulder pads. Finally, she had purple combat boots and leggings with only small golden knee pads to finish off.

Again, my mind bitterly flashed in a bitter nostalgia, realizing that nothing has changed even after all these years. All I could do was sit back and feel nothing but gratitude with nothing to return as I joined the crowd's applause as they rhythmically chanted her name in celebration.

"Aegis, Aegis, Aegis!"

However, I know that name meant absolutely nothing to her, only the job at hand. Along with my applause, though, I noticed something interesting, that somehow despite all the craziness, I had held onto the sash of that tentacle thingy, with several vials of Rev perfectly intact.

A slow intense beating carried through my heart once again, leaving my mind flashing through memories that I can't bury no matter how hard I try. Even under cover of the rabid applause, though I could still feel "it" clear as day. Like daggers to my back, I felt their judging, vindictive eyes on me with little whispers under hushed breaths.

"Why didn't you save us, Omna?"

"Why aren't you strong, Omna?"

"If you can't, you be like your parents, Victoria?"

Amid such questions, I hid the sash in my cape pocket on instinct while Julia found me amongst the crowd and landed towards me. Through pulled heartstrings, all I could do was say this.

"Thank you, Julia," I said reassuringly.

That, however, wasn't good enough as her shining golden eyes saw through my deception with ease. A stern intolerance radiated off her as soon enough, we both get enveloped in a golden barrier, with Julia's only words being this.

"We need to talk," she said venomously as we both flew off.

I hadn't had the supervision of my parents for a long time, and even then, I barely listened to them. So when I got forced to get a bath, wear some regular clothes, eat my favorite meal of pork fried rice, a couple of hours of rest, and abandon the wig for the first time in a while in my private high rise headquarters. I was a bit pissed.

"Okay, Julia, I did everything you've asked up until now. Now can we please just talk! The mayor's daughter is still at the hands of those criminals. And every second we waste is another sec-."

"There is no "we" in this situation, Tori; I'm taking the reins from here."

A numbing pain cast itself over my entire body. Then, time slowed down, and my surroundings started to darken, with my emotions beginning to boil over.

"Don't do this to me, Julia; I can still fight; I haven't failed yet."

"No one is saying you have Tori. But if you keep going like you are now, you will."

"You don't get to decide that! I'll rest when I'm not needed!"

"When aren't you needed, Tori!? Ask me, tell me, when was the last time you had a meal that wasn't cheap ramen and coffee? When was the last time you wore clothes that didn't have a cape? When was the last time you didn't sleep for more than 6 hours? When was the last time using your given powers didn't cause you pain!? You need to rest just like any one of us, Tori; this stress is destroying your body; you can't be perfect, " Julia said with the brutal truth.

"I can't stop Julia; I can't rest!" I said bitterly, "I have to be perfect. They want me, need me always to be there. To save them, to fight for them, and show them a better way! It's getting worse by the day out there, and if I have to be inhuman to remind them of basic humanity, then so be it! Because if I'm not there if I crack, then they will rip me a fucking sunder. I have to be enough for them," I said coldly as I felt my muscles get bigger while blue sparks fired off around me.

"But who asked you to do that, Tori? No one is telling you to kill yourself!" she said, pleading with me."

They asked me that the day I was born Julia! And I knew I had to be the second mom and dad died!" I said as my eyes started to glow bloody red.

Before Julia could come up with a decent response, my monitor started to ring out across the room. Julia and I gave a silent agreement as I once again answered the call. From there, a giant hologram appeared on the screen, with the same huge scraggly beast logo I've seen before now rearing its ugly head at me again. A deeply distorted feedback made us both cover our ears as a computerized voice then started to shriek out.

"Greetings, fellow cretins of Kirmo. I hope all of you enjoyed the little demonstration we've displayed this afternoon. And if you liked that, then you're about to love our sequel. Because at midnight tonight, if Omna didn't get too broken up over her last beating. We would love her to meet up at the construction of our incompetent mayor greenlit for that new gigantic galleria. Of course, you can always refuse the offer, but for every half hour that you don't show, we'll be more than happy to deliver her back to her father in pieces. Prosthetic and cybernetic technology has come a long way in this century, and we are more than happy to test the limits. Because we've spent our entire lives chained and feared by this society, and we'll fight for all our brethren in our bid for independence. For we are the Mutant Masters, and we will not get ignored."

I didn't even bother listening to that last part, instead already making a mad dash towards my costume. But the only thing I could do was get a hold of it before Julia once again intervened.

Before I knew I was a rat in a cage of golden energy. Violent anger nearly claimed me at that moment, but I quickly realized it was desperation I felt because I knew what was about to happen.

"Julia, please don't go, at least take me with you."

"With your injuries and powers, the way they are, you'll only slow me down."

"They want me, Julia, not you. So they'll kill both you, the girl, everybody!"

"I may be a year out of practice but don't forget that for a long time, I was the only one who can keep up with you. That's still true."

"You don't know their powers," I said, struggling now to come up with anything to stop her.

"I saw your fight, so I already got an idea," she said while equipping her outfit fully.

At that point, my heart started to break every barrier, leaving me with only one last plea.

"I love you, Julia," I said while tears started to form.

That line was the best point I made, stopping the invincible Julia straight in her tracks for a moment. After said moment, she walked towards my cage and touched the wall between us. The only thing she said before leaving was this.

"I love you too, Tori, and I loved you more that day; then maybe we wouldn't be here right now."

And with that, I was left utterly, painfully powerless. Knowing full well that I may have to lose the closest thing I have to family in this cruel world.