“God, I love this city.” Darkner said out loud as he stood on top of the cell tower for his evening patrol like he had always done ever since he first became Darkner.
He like how this location gave him a nice view of the entire city. Sure it was a perfect patrol spot, you could see everything here. However, Darkner liked it for the fact that the scene was almost breathtaking. All the lights were almost an mirror image of the stars in the dark sky above. It was sobering to him that after all the fighting, after taking on a number of powerful foes. Nearly losing his life on some of those battles. Nevertheless after it all, he was able to preserve what he appreciated most about his home.
His earpiece beeped and he pressed a button to activate the microphone. “This is Darkner.”
“David, this is Zack.” Silver Knight’s voice came over in the speaker. “How goes your patrol?”
The Darklaian set his blue orbs on the landscape and smiled. “Uneventful this evening. If it keeps it up I might report back sooner than usual.”
“That’s what I was calling you about.” His friend responded. “The headquarter sensors are picking up an anomaly heading in your direction.”
“Really?” The leader of the Colonial Force scanned the area all around him. “I’m not seeing anything.”
“Whatever it is, it’s coming from space.” He replied worried. “It’s moving really fast, I’ve never seen anything short of the Condor move with faster than light abilities.”
“I’ll investigate to see what it is.” Darkner replied rising into the air. “If it’s a threat, I’ll destroy it.”
In a burst of speed, the Darklaian emperor flew into the sky. He sensed the worry in his old friend’s voice. When Zack Summyns was worried, it was usually a bad sign. He normally would take most situations with an almost stoic approach. Even in the most dire of situations, Silver Knight looked at everything with a simple perspective. His second in command’s concern only spurred Darkner more to check what it was and kill it if need be.
As he approached the atmosphere, he was able to sense its approach. Darkner was taken back by the energy he was sensing. There were very few people he had met or fought that exhibit that kind of strength. It was almost frightening how strong it was. He shook it off, he had faced worse odds and come out on top, even it was by the skin of his teeth. This situation wouldn’t be any different.
Darkner was finally able to see what it was in the distance. He was completely sure, but it looked like a person heading in his direction. Before he could further discern the origin of the incredible power, a force stopped his progress and sent him hurdling toward Earth. Spinning out of control, he was fighting hard to regain control. However, the more he fought the harder it pushed him. Gritting his teeth, Darkner started giving off energy like repulsor lifts on a ship in order to slow his plummet. At first it did nothing, he concentrated harder on where he was discharging his power and eventually he slowed and then stopped. He looked down to see where he would’ve crashed if he it didn’t work. Right into a hotel full of people if he failed.
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”
“I’m impressed, didn’t think you had the strength to save yourself.” Came a female voice from behind.
The Darklaian spun around to see who was responsible, his eyes widened for she was beautiful. Her soft pink skin was a perfect contrast to her fire red hair that hung passed her shoulders. She wore a red body suit with gold boots, and gloves. Her suit hugged tightly to her fit toned body, a gold belt also hung off her slender hips. On her chest was a gold bird with its wings out. If it weren’t for the fear inspiring power she possessed and the demonic glowing eyes, he might’ve looked over the attack….maybe.
The woman smiled. “Stopping thinking like that boy, Delilah might get jealous.”
His eyes narrowed. “You read my thoughts?”
Her smile grew more deviant. “You may have some latent telepathy but your mind is open to one such as myself.”
The leader of the Colonial Force rose to her level. His countenance was firm and solemn. “What would someone call yourself?”
“I have many names boy.” She responded crossing her arms. “One time I was called the devil himself. But I preferred to be called Phoenix.”
“Phoenix.” He said out loud, the bird on her chest made sense now. “Why are you here Phoenix?”
She spread her arms out wide. “Why to do what I see fit. And right now I prefer to bring chaos to the world.” Jean watched him for a moment. “You have some chaos in you yourself.”
He left eye twitched. “What are you talking about? I rid myself of that evil.”
She shook her head. “No, you didn’t get rid of him. Even though you two made a covenant to become one again, he never truly stopped being dark.”
Darkner was amazed that she was able to get into her head and reach into his past. “I don’t think he….I wouldn’t want to bring chaos to a place called home. I’ve went down that road once, I just brought pain doing that.”
Dark Phoenix laughed as she circled around him. “Isn’t that the point boy? Being of our power and abilities need to remain superior to the weaker souls in the universe. What good comes out of condescending ourselves to make them feel comfortable?”
His blue eyes followed her. “Because it’s the right thing to do. Because I have the power to rule over all doesn’t mean I should. As a sentient being, I have the responsibility to protect the ‘weaker souls’ from those who would take advantage of them.”
Jean grunted at his response. “Such a noble response. Scott would’ve liked you. I don’t think your other side would agree though.”
The Darklaian emperor faced her. “I have complete control of my power, there’s nothing you can do to bring him out.”
“Let’s test that theory.” She held her gloved hand out and moved toward him. “Hold still boy, this will only hurt for a bit.”
Darkner jerked back and blasted her hand with his sapphire on his forehead. “Stay away from me!!”
She shook her unscathed hand as she glared at him. “That was a bad move boy.”
“Then it looks like I’m going to have apologize in advance for the next few.” He shot back clenching his fists.
“Then by all means, do your worst.” Phoenix coached dropping hands in an non-defensive manner. “I won’t even raise a finger.”
He knew it was some kind of trap, but he didn’t wait to find out. Darkner pulled his hand back and grabbed the hilt of his sword under his cape. As he bolted toward he, he brandished his blade went for her smooth neck. His weapon came to a halt inches from her throat. He couldn’t move it from that spot to either deal a fatal blow or to withdraw.
She gave an evil snicker. “Now it’s my turn.”
Using her mind, she shattered the blade. Then with her palm she connected a blow to his chest. Darkner flailed out of control as he plummeted through that same hotel he prevented from crashing through earlier. Glass and debris flew everywhere. Those in the hotel ran out of the building screaming. Passersby and bystanders turn their attention to the commotion. Darkner exited the edifice with the receptionist in his arms, she was nursing a bleeding gash on her forehead. Even though he was a little dazed, he was able to stand let alone hold the woman.
The Darklaian handed her to hotel security. “Get everyone out of here!”
Police cars screeched around the corner as they approach the battle. He needed to stop them from interfering for she’ll make short work of them. However, before he could intercept them, Phoenix destroyed two squad cars with the sheer will of her thoughts.
He sprinted toward her enraged. “Stop it!!!”
She fired a telekinetic wave at the Darklaian. He dodged it and continued toward her. She released another one and he flipped over it and bolted to her. Within arms reach the alien emperor attempted to take hold of her, but she sent him back with one final blast of her telekinesis. As he tumbled back, he bounced off the asphalt and crashed into a car. Darkner worked to get himself out of the wreck. Phoenix landed on his torso knocking the wind out of him.
She laughed as she straddled him and placed her gloved hands on his chest. “Why do you fight me boy? You don’t owe these humans nothing. If you recall, at one point they tried to destroy you. Why fight for them?”
“Because I used to be one of them.” He replied working to get his breath back.
Jean leaned closer to his face. “You’re no longer one of them, no matter how much you think you are. Give in to me boy and experience things only gods do.”
He head butted causing her to reel back. Concentrating this energy into the jewel on his forehead, Darkner shot Phoenix blasting her into the air. Leaping out of the wreckage after her, he took hold of her leg. After several fast spins, the Darklaian hero sent her flying into the asphalt with a number of energy bolts following. He barely landed on the street below as the attacks made contact causing a multitude of explosions. He clutched his torso, she didn’t break his ribs but they hurt nonetheless.
She cackled hysterically as she came out of a smoking crater. “Not bad, that kind of stung. Is that you have to show me?”
Darkner trembled with frustration, that the best he had short of relying on all of his power. And in order to do that he would have to use his negative energy and that was what she wanted.
“Just use it.” Dark Phoenix demanded. “Or do you need some kind of incentive?”
Pointing her fist at him, she let off two cosmic blasts. He reflexively crossed his arms in front of him as he generated an energy field. But the bolts of energy flew passed him and struck a building several blocks away. It exploded and crumbled right before his eyes.
“In case you’re wondering, there are 27 minds alive in that building.” She said crossing her arms. “Well there were anyways.”
“I can’t believe you did that!” The Darklaian screamed trying to control his emotions.
“You’re not doing what I ask.” Phoenix responded nonchalantly. “So they had to die to get my point across. If you continue to defy me, there will be more deaths.”
Darkner concentrated he tapped into the discipline he was using for years to keep it under control. He allowed a portion of negative energy flow through his body. His hands trembled at the power and he gritted his teeth to keep the dark beast in its cage. As a result of  the change his sapphire blue eyes morphed to obsidian black.
Taking it the scene, Jean grunted. “Come on boy, you can give me more than that.”
The Darklaian didn’t say anything, he decided to show her. In frightening speed he was already in her personal space, even Dark Phoenix was surprised by his alien swiftness. She didn’t even have to time to react for Darkner struck her with a left to her jaw, she took a step back. He came at her again with a right hook, another step back. The alien emperor leapt into the air to strike her with a spin kick. She barely ducked it, he wasn’t done however. Staying in the air, he began to pelt her with multiple short bursts from his sapphire. This went on for several minutes until it was interrupted when a talon made of fire grabbed Darkner out of the air. It pounded him into the ground a couple of times and then pinned him against a wall. The source of the fire was coming from Phoenix who barely looked tattered or singed from his assault. Powerful flames were rising from her shoulders as she squeezed the Darklaian causing him to growl in pain.
She wiped some blood from the corner of her mouth. “I have to admit, that one actually hurt. Any other adversary I would’ve killed by now. But I like you, I like what’s in you and it to be with me. We’ll be agents of chaos and pain together.”
“Never!!” Darkner worked to get free as he fired some more beams from his sapphire.
She blocked the blasts as she struck him with an uppercut in the jaw. It sent through the building into the air. Before he could recover Phoenix was already behind him and pounded him in the back with both of her fists. He screamed in pain as he plummeted like a meteor to the street below.  Jean descended to the ground to find Darkner crawling out of a crater he made. He coughed up some blood as he fought to get up. His once black orbs returned to their sapphire blue.
She grabbed him by his throat and picked him up. “Now that I have your attention, I’m going to get what I asked for.”
“You release him, you won’t be able to control him.” Darkner said in a weak voice. “He may even kill you so he can rule alone.”
Dark Phoenix laughed. “I very much doubt it, but even if he did then so be it. As long as he continues to bring death and destruction to the weak what do I care. Now give into me.”
Instantly she was in his mind. He fought and fought hard to keep her out, but she was much too powerful. It took her a minute to locate his dormant dark side, he did well to hide it in his psyche. Once she located him, it didn’t take her long to undo the psychic locks that were strategically placed to keep him at bay. With a job done she let go of him, he fell to his knees.
“Rise Darkner new and improved.” Phoenix announced spreading her arms out wide. “What say you?”
He rose from the ground and looked at her with an evil smile. His sapphire and eyes changing to black. He ripped his tattered cape off as he surveyed the destruction around him, he seemed impressed with what he saw.
“I love what you’ve done to the place.” He wiped the blood from his face. “I can’t wait to cleanse this world of the weak. FYI sweetie, Darkner is dead, you can call me Darkaius.”