Brickhouse

The young man with black hair gently landed on ground next to the soldiers blockade, he couldn't help but grin seeing familiar, if unpleasant, faces among the them.

"Thanks for the ride, I'll get these boys and girls ready for the plan. You and Karen only need to keep "Brickhouse" from running off till I give you the signal, kay?"

Malik had full confidence in them, this wasn't the first time the three of them had to deal with "Brickhouse" after all. Hana noded with a smile, and flew towards the mutant who Karen has most likely already engaged in combat with.

"Well, well, well. If it ain't the pipsqueak who thinks he's hot shit."

A tall man in a dark blue militaristic uniform approached Malik slowly, a shit eating grin on his face, his brown eyes sizing up the smaller man.

Malik could only respond in kind.

"If it isn't the whatever-you're-called Captain who's one complaint away from being dishonorably discharged?"

This was Lt. Rogers, Malik's superior from when he was just a recruit. Rogers reveled in in demonstrating his superiority over the recruits he was in charge of training, this wasn't a matter of discipline, as he'd often say as a way to excuse his infamous abuse of those beneath him.

He took delight in his violence, especially when it came to Malik, the fact Malik was infamous for talking back to his superiors or complain about them to other recruits made it so few would stand up for him, but one of the few who did was...

"Instead of shit-talking each other, how about we listen to the kid's plan and you keep your mouth shut?"

Spoke a man in uniform, sitting on a folding chair with his cap covering his face, as he was trying to get comfortable he reclined further but ended up falling on his ass.

"Ah... Chair's broken... Shit."

This man was Lt. Kurono, for better or worse he was one of the few who stood up for Malik. He rises from the ground, not bothering to clean up his now dirty uniform, he moved his shoulder length black hair out of his face before putting on his cap.

With a grunt Rogers shut his mouth, and Malik nodded at Kurono.

"It's simple, I need three assault squads laying in wait two here and one here, it's a fair distance away from the park, and I doubt "Brickhouse" will notice our movement while Hana and Karen are distracting him. Once our people are in position Hana and Karen will push the big guy to the park, that's where the assault will take place, after we subdue him we'll be able to restrain him... Sound good?"

"Why move site? It's a bother..."

Kurono exhaled as if already exhausted.

"Less risk of more property damage, you know how the higher ups are..."

With a groan Lt. Kurono went to brief his men, leaving only Rogers who stood there looking down at Malik.

"You're nothing but an amateur, a kid who's roleplaying as a military strategist."

He made no effort to hide his disapproval. Malik knew it was true, though he had received training and had participated in simulations before, he was still an amateur, so he felt no reason to argue against that.

However, he just had to have the last laugh..

"And now you're taking orders from said amateur! Get ready, that's an order."

...

With that Malik and Rogers squad moved to their position, opened the communication system, the sounds coming from the other end were a tell tale sign of a raging battle, Brickhouse's groan and growls along with the impact of his massive fists on the environment could be heard almost drowning out Karen's voice.

"You idiot! What took you so long!?"

Malik who was already used from to Karen's personality due to years of exposure, answered in a calm, reassuring voice.

"You see that wide street to your left? Get "Brickhouse" to follow you down it, once he's at the end of it, let Hana push him till he's out on the open, that's where my squads are at the ready, and we'll appreaciate some air support from you..."

Static and other indestinguishable noises could be heard from the intercom, until Karen's voice sounded through.

"Got it, be ready for a special light show you big-!"

Malik cut the communication with a chuckle.

Brickhouse's rampage could be heard as he was led down the street by Karen, and once he was in position Hana was ready, floating a fair distance away from the huge mutant, she stretched out her arms in front of her, dark purple energy gathering into a perfect sphere that shot out at a surprising speed and landed on the red mutant's back, suddenly his enormous body was made airborne by the force of Hana's attack and the mutant wasn't able to even register what had happened to it as he found himself sprawled out on the ground.

Looking up at the orange sunset sky, the mutant thought he saw a star. As bright energy beams decended on his form, he could only writhe and struggle in vain.

"Light'em up boys!"

As Malik gave the order, several soldiers who were posiotioned by the windows of pointed their Zeus Rifles at the enormous red body of to the mutant, the tips of their rifles taking a moment to light up before bluish silver streaks of lightning shot out at the brute.

Seeing Brickhouse spasm and scream on the ground left an odd taste in Malik's mouth, yet his heart beat in excitement at the sight...

"... Team Hawk 2 A, proceed with restraining the target, move out now!"

Six soldiers, each carrying a silver case, left a nearby building and approached the incapacitated "Brickhouse", two restraining cuffs for the brute's enormous arms, two sealing chains to wrap around his legs, and two interference pins to keep his mind occupied and docile. These weren't permanent solutions, ence why several mutants and evil doers tend to escape confinement but right now it was the best sealing equipment we had...

Malik left the building now that Brickhouse was subdued, then suddenly in a bright flash of light Karen was standing right next to him.

"Hey."

"Is that all you gotta say to me after you used me as bait? And as a makeshift aerial assault? Just, "Hey,"...?"

"Don't get fussy before I get time to praise you, your light's show was amazing I could barely even look at it even with my sun glasses, you practically took out that brute all by yourself with of course, help of our dearest..."

Malik looks up at a hand stretched out at him, gently holding it, he pulls the floating Hana down to the ground.

"He didn't even see what hit him, good job Hana you're getting even better at controling your powers."

The black haired beauty, who stood slightly taller than the young man who held her hand, she couldn't help but look away and blush as she heard his praise.

The shorter blonde pouted slightly, but quickly turned that pout into a smug grin.

"I suppose she did contribute, but as you said, I practically took out that guy by myself, so I think I deserve a reward."

She lost her pout quickly. Marik laughed inwardly.

"Sure, how about I treat you two to some gelato? That place shouldn't be too far from here but..."

He looked them up and down, what he meant was obvious to them, while their identities were public knowledge it was still better to not wear their current outfits for regular activities. But he did take time to observe their features, how the dirt in Rachel's face contrasted with the fact she was of a wealthy upbringing, or how, the shy smile and innocent eyes of Hana contrasted with the dark colors of her suit.

He wanted to walk with them, hand in hand but he refrained from offering before Hana lifted him up in the air with her powers the three of them returned to Typhoon mobile city's AEGIS, HQ. Leaving "Brickhouse" in the hands of the standard soldiers and the quickly approaching Tartarus Corps.