The Intelligent Bunch

--Lia's Perspective--

"You really just have been sitting here... you won't move?" I asked her.

Dani and I had walked over to Illya's jail cell right after Sky left with Ruby and Faith, and Illya was just sitting on her bed with her arm propping up her head, answering my questions with simple nods.

"Illya, if things go awry, can we count on you to help us?" I asked her.

She shook her head.

"Can you at least tell us why?" I asked again, but she shook her head yet again.

"Well, this has been worthless, which isn't ironic at all, so let's just leave," Dani commented, turning around and heading for the stairs.

"I wonder what you plan to do if things do end up going awry. In fact, I do have a question for you, since you'd like to converse." Illya said. She got up out of her bed, walked toward the cell bars, and tore them from their original spots to free up a way out of the cell.

Does she still have that strength?!

"Do you guys honestly believe that Cole hasn't planned for this? Well, maybe not that idiot, but Fico? Don't underestimate that Bird." Illya said.

"Then, what are we supposed to do? Who's watching over the city if Ruby's gone?!" Dani immediately asked, fearing for everybody's livelihood.

"Well, that would be absolutely nobody, which is why we're already dead. I hope you understand that Ruby's plan had gotten all of her friends killed, and probably even you both." Illya told us.

"Then, what's your solution? I know you have one." I asked her, waiting for Illya to start talking again.

"Nope, I don't have anything. I plan on evacuating myself out of this hellhole." Illya said. She panned all around the jail we were all in and walked into various cells to pick things up.

"Why is Fico that smart? Could she have really planned for all that herself?" Dani decided to ask Illya.

"It's much less of Fico's own brain and much more of who's controlling her. I guess Sky didn't tell you, but Lia, we ran into Genesis down here. He tried inciting a riot using Sky's stance on the city and hoping it would be aggressive, he would overturn it and make it easier for Cole to destroy it. Sky refused his offer, and Genesis left, which probably prompted this entire thing if I had to assume." Illya said with a nonchalant tone.

Genesis...

"Then, what's that guy's problem?! Why is he trying to incite so much stuff?! Does he want Sky dead as well?" Dani asked. Her tone was getting more aggressive.

"Just like everybody else on planet Earth. Genesis has plans of his own that deviate from others and their hatred for Sky, and he is much more effective in getting what he wants. A long time ago, he even brought an Isle to ruin, tearing a family apart, and recruiting the father of that family to Quake. Kire Madio, I think his name was." Illya was recalling the past, looking up at the ceiling.

"Then, would Kire fight on our side against Genesis if we were able to convince him that he was a bad guy?" I asked Illya, but she shook her head.

"No, Genesis has already manipulated him beyond belief, and now, Fico and Cole are the next subjects of that. I'm explaining this to you just so you know how screwed we are by crossing paths with my brother." Illya told me.

"Thanks, but that doesn't help," I commented. The gears turning in Dani's head had finally come to a stop, and she turned to look at Illya.

"Madio? Like... Ra Madio?" She asked.

Illya's eyes lit up as she looked at Dani.

"What? That was Kire's son, how do you know of him?" Illya asked with a surprised tone.

"He's here, in this city. Can he help us?!" Dani asked. Both Illya and Dani found the same motivation, looking at the staircase.

"He's our only hope if he would agree to get involved. Ra might be able to level the plot that my brother has in store for this city..." Illya theorized.

"Then, we have to go see him!" I yelled out.

"No need to go looking for me." We heard behind us.

A man with orange hair and orange eyes came walking down the steps with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his young face.

"You still look the same, Illya. So, why did you want me?" The kid asked. I'm sure this must've been Ra.

"My brother, Genesis, has a plot for this city. Have you been able to catch on yet?" Illya asked him. It seemed they had a history together since Illya took a playful tone with him.

"You think I haven't suspected Genesis would be involved with that Asterio as soon as he got here? Trust me, I know, and I've already leveled it. Your worries are unfounded. As soon as Asterio got here, I wanted to confirm his true intentions by challenging his livelihood. He retaliated, as expected, but the seeds of doubt in his body that I planted in him by administering that challenge meant that he refused any offers to jeopardize his future here. Genesis's plot had been shot down the second he created it." Ra said.

Woah... this kid was pretty smart. The way he explained it, it sounded like he was anticipating it...

"Wow, I'm thoroughly impressed... since when did you get so smart, Ra?" Illya asked him.

"Second Generation Arkians are quite adaptable to circumstances. I guess that's probably why. Well, that being said, the fake bars in your cell look like they've been discovered as well. So, what will you do, Illya? Will you stay here to defend our city while I evacuate everybody?" Ra asked.

"Defense? No, that's not really my thing. I'll leave here and let everything happen, and come back when everything is settled." Illya said, crossing her arms.

"I figured you'd say that, so, I have a proposal for you. Let's call a truce to the mind games really quickly here, and talk business. It's been brought to my attention that Quake believes you're already dead. If you'd like to keep that status, then I would participate in any way you could." Ra commented.

"That's dirty, you play just like your Father. Fine, I'll help with the evacuation." Illya said, crumbling under pressure.