Arc

"Don't be afraid I'm not as mean as the other doctors." Dr. Brookes said to me. She offers her hand.

"So far, physical contact hasn't been too good for anything around me." I say pulling my hand back

"Why exactly is that?"

"Electricity has been jumping from me to just about anything that is conductive."

"Interesting..."

"If you don't mind, can we get on with whatever torture I'm scheduled for?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but no torture. Just a history lesson."

"Same thing in my mind." I say earning a chuckle from the doctor.

I follow her to a small classroom. The room is bare except for two desks and a projector. She motions for me to sit at the smaller desk as she sets up a laptop to the projector.

"Are you ready to learn the history of your powers?"

"I was given a short lesson on the Fulgurite that gave me the power."

"So you are unaware of your real abilities then?"

"Real abilities?"

"Your father, Zane," Dr. Brookes turns on the projector and an image of an Asian man appears. He wears a red jacket over a black t-shirt, his jeans are tucked into his combat boots. He has black hair with red tips, his eyes were a light hazel. I notice that she was staring at the image longingly.

"Dr. Brookes?"

"Sorry, your father was one wielder of the element of lightning. He belonged to a group of empowered people, myself included, known as the Elementals." She tells me moving to a picture of twelve people standing together

"You knew my father?"

"Yes. I always admired him. He was our leader, for some our savior. But that is beside the point right now." She said moving to the next image of Zane holding a katana. "We are going to test the limits of your power. First we will start with weapon creation, an essential ability you will need if you wish to fight."

"And if I don't want to fight? Was that ever in the plan?" I asked her with a hint of disgust

"That sadly isn't an option... even if you never wanted to fight, there will be people who will always come for you... drawn by the power you radiate. They will fear it and try to get rid of it... along with you." She sighed "I never wanted to fight either but I learned to for when the time came I needed to."

I nod "Is that what Robin is doing? Learning to fight?"

"Yes and no... Robin is struggling to control her powers, it isn't as simple as snap your fingers and the fire goes out. At least that's what Hayden, her father, told me years ago." She shrugged and returned to the projector. "Now, the first thing we need to do is focus on controlling your power, it would be better than having to wear only rubber the rest of your life."

"I would love to avoid that at all costs." I say earning another small chuckle. "So how do we start?"

"Well, we start... with a bit of a barbaric approach... a "Trial by Fire" if you will." Dr. Brookes says looking down "I'm ordered to have you enter the octagon with Ms. Davis."

"Wait... you want me to get in the vortex of flames? What good is gonna come out of that?!" I ask clearly against the idea.

"The idea is that neither of you want to hurt each other, so you would more easily control your power output to a safe level." She said walking over to me "I don't want to do this either... but I have to follow orders." She put on a pair of rubber gloves and grabbed my shoulder walking me to the arena that held Robin and the pillar of fire she had created. "I'm so sorry Arc..." Dr. Brookes said before making me walk in

I quickly tried to get out until I heard something through the roar of the flames... sobbing. Robin was crying as she sat in the middle of the flames. The marking on my arm began to glow a pale blue as I step closer to her. The heat starts to become intense the closer I get, the roar of the flames is deafening at this point, but I still summon what strength I have and begin to shout

"Robin! Robin can you hear me?" I shout barely able to hear myself. She doesn't seem to be able to hear me either. I shout again beginning to feel light headed from the lack of oxygen "ROBIN!" I shout causing a small burst of electricity.

The flames begin to become less intense but a strong gust of wind sends me flying back into the cage. I see Robin looking at me horrified through the flames. She stands up and I see that her tears are evaporating as soon as they appear. She takes a step toward me with her hand out stretched toward me, to both of our horror a mixture of wind and flames launched at me. I managed to roll out of the way only getting a burn on my leg. The flames die as I cry out in pain. The mark on my arm glowing brighter as electricity began arcing from my body, burning the ground as it finds its own path. Robin manages to get to me and hesitates as I continue to lose what little control I had. I struggle trying to figure out how to control this rush of power. All this energy... I feel like a ball being filled with air until it's ready to burst! I scream as my head feels ready to explode and I feel all the pressure go away in an instant. All I can feel is a pair of arms wrapping around me as the world goes dark... no not the world... just the room? I can see the faint glow of Robin's markings as she rocks me.

"I'm so sorry..." She continuously sobs as the adults scramble around trying to figure out what happened

"You're powerful for your age." A chilling voice says, wait I know that voice. The same one from the intercom "I expected no less from His child."

I looked around trying to see the source of the voice but all I could see was darkness. "That little EMP you created is gonna set us back for a while... how fortunate for you all." He grumbled before I heard steps walking away "Sarah, please provide some light to help them get where they need to be." He ordered

"Yes sir." Dr. Brookes said in a mocking tone "God... he got more irritating over the years." She grumbled. Suddenly there was a bright light next to me stinging my eyes "Sorry, can you walk?"

"I think I can... b-but Arc..." Robin said as she began sobbing again. Wind began to kick up around us

"Calm down Robin, our powers are tied to our emotions. You might hurt Arc again or even yourself or Crystal if you don't gain control of them." Dr. Brookes tried to explain to her

This only made Robin grow angry "No really? You mean being able to create a flaming tornado is dangerous?" She asked sarcastically as flames began to kick up again. I wrapped my arms around her holding tight. The wind and flames went away as Robin looked down at the terrified me. "I'm so sorry Arc... let's just go back." She said stroking my hair. I nod and try to stand but wince and grab onto her arm to prevent myself from falling

"Damn it..." I groan looking down at my leg. The skin was bright red with blisters beginning to form

"Language... I'll let it slide though." Robin said, standing up she lifted me holding me up with my arm over her shoulder. Both of us were nervous about the contact but tried staying calm.

We followed Dr. Brookes back to the cells. On the way she tries explaining how important it is to keep our emotions in check which only aggravates Robin but she brushes it off to avoid turning me into bacon... I'm glad about that. We arrive in the common area to see Tobi had set up a small camping lamp to provide the others with light, they see us and Crystal is the first to run over

"What happened!?" She asked seeing Robin was carrying me "How did they hurt you this time?" She asked glaring at Dr. Brookes

"Crystal, enough." Tyler spoke up "Are you two alright?" He asked us before noticing my leg "Erika go get some towels soaked in cold water, lay him on the couch." He said giving orders

"Nice to see you again Tyler." Dr. Brookes said with a sad tone "I see you've become the leader of the group."

"No thanks to your guidance. I'm the oldest so they decided it was best." He told her while Robin laid me down.

Erika came back and wrapped my leg with the towel making me shiver and wince before feeling relief. Crystal sat next to the couch grabbing my hand with a worried look

Dr. Brookes sighed and placed a hand on Ty's shoulder "Tyler, I know the years haven't been the best but if you could jus-"

"Don't believe you can do anything to make me forgive you... fifteen years here... I've never had a chance to have a normal life like the others did... I never will either." He growled cutting her off "I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you but that would be a lie."

"That is no w-"

"What? No way to talk to my mother? You had your chance to be my mother... but you left me in here. Don't think I will ever forget that." He said before he stormed out. Imagine that... the moody teen going to his dark room...

"WAIT!! MOTHER!?!" Nikki shouted looking up from his book. "You're Tyler's mother?"