Firebird's Arc

Chapter 2 of 4

The city still wanted the mutants gone. Firebird couldn't fight that until he knew what Raze planned next. So he left the suit at home. He pulled on a yellow shirt, blue jeans, and yellow sneakers, and walked into the prison like any other visitor. No jacket. No power on display. Just a man who needed answers. They put him in a bare room with Raze alone. Raze sat across the table, shirtless, his tribal tattoos dark against his skin. His blue-streaked hair hung over red eyes. Even cuffed, he lounged like the room belonged to him. He looked Firebird over and smiled. "Cute," Raze said. "You dressed up." "The Collective," Firebird said. "Your people on the outside. Tell me what they're doing." Raze laughed. It was low and easy, the laugh of a man who had already won something. "No." "Your attack scared the whole city. They want every mutant hunted now. That includes your own kind." "Good." Raze leaned back. "Fear's useful." "Tell me the plan." Raze said nothing. He studied his cuffed hands like they bored him. Firebird set two fingers against his own forehead. "Then I'll take it. I can read your mind. I'd rather you just talked." That made Raze grin wider. He tilted his head and spread his fingers on the table. "Go ahead. Dig around. See if you can handle what's in there." Firebird reached into him. It hit like heat off a fire. Red light. A circle of people kneeling in a dark room. Raze stood over them, his hands burning, and he wasn't using his power to destroy. He was using it to change. Firebird saw a human man scream as red energy poured into his skin. Saw the man's eyes turn. Saw him stand up different. Magic. Raze and his followers meant to turn ordinary humans into mutants. By force. The Collective was gathering what the ritual needed. They were nearly ready. Firebird pulled his hand back and gripped the table. His stomach turned. Raze watched his face and knew. The grin dropped into something colder. "You saw it," he said. "Now you understand. We don't need them to accept us." "You'll kill people. The ones who don't survive the change." Raze shrugged one shoulder. "Some. The rest become us. Then there's no them left to fear." Firebird stood. He had come for a thread and pulled out a noose. He wanted humans and mutants to live side by side. Raze wanted to erase the line by erasing one side. If the Collective finished, the city's fear would become war. "Where are they?" Firebird asked. Raze folded his hands. "Find them. You've got time." He paused. "Not much." Firebird walked out. In the hall he pressed two fingers to his forehead and reached for Shield. The plan was worse than panic. It was a countdown. And now only he knew it had started.