A sharp, insistent beep jolted Dr. Lewis out of his thoughts. He glanced at his tablet, blinking in disbelief as the alert flashed across the screen. It was a notification he had not expected to see, and yet, here it was: the systems monitoring the stasis tanks on the remote island were registering significant activity.
He turned to Val, sprawled out on the floor of the chamber, his team hovering around him with concern.
When Dr. Lewis spoke, his voice trembled, barely able to contain the shock. "Val… it's your brothers. Ember and Exeo—there's activity in the tanks. They're showing signs of… waking."
Val's head shot up, and a surge of energy burst through his exhausted body. He tried to stand, his eyes blazing with determination, but his body betrayed him, weakened by the grueling trial he had endured with the Void. Before he could muster another attempt, the last remnants of strength left him, and darkness pulled him under. The world around him dimmed, and he sank, feeling the weight of unconsciousness pulling him down.
His team sprang into action, Bo and Riggs moving swiftly to lift Val as Fon steadied his head, guiding him with careful hands.
Dr. Lewis led them to the medical bay, his expression a mix of elation and worry. While he wanted to stay by Val's side, an insistent pull at the back of his mind reminded him of the alert. The notification was clear: something was happening with the Bellator brothers' stasis tanks after Val had unlocked his magic seal. And if there was even a chance that they were waking… he had to see it for himself.
Once Val was settled in the medical bay, surrounded by his team, Dr. Lewis took a deep breath. "Stay here with him," he instructed the others, his voice steady, though his heart was pounding. "I need to check something… urgent."
With that, Dr. Lewis made his way swiftly through HQ, each step resonating with purpose. The anticipation grew heavier with each turn of the corridor until he finally reached the teleportation terminal. Without hesitation, he activated the teleport, his destination locked on the remote island where the Bellator brothers' bodies had remained in stasis for years.
The familiar disorientation of teleportation faded, and Dr. Lewis found himself at the facility, the sterile silence of the lab enveloping him as he moved with quick strides toward the chamber where the tanks were located. His heart raced, an emotion he rarely allowed himself to feel bubbling up—a wild, unrestrained hope mixed with nerves.
As he neared the doors to the chamber, he steadied himself, taking a moment to compose his expression. But as he opened the door and stepped inside, his composed demeanor shattered.
Inside, two tall figures stood side by side, their backs to him, both in the distinctive black uniforms of Team Unknown. The familiar cascade of fiery red hair was unmistakable—two heads of red, one slightly darker than the other, both clothed in the tactical, military garb that Dr. Lewis recognized all too well.
His heart skipped a beat as they turned to face him, Ember's lips curling into a cunning grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief, while Exeo's gaze was cool and steady, his face impassive but his presence formidable.
"Dr. Lewis," Ember greeted, his grin widening as he tilted his head in that familiar, almost playful way that had always hidden dangerous intelligence. Exeo merely nodded, a silent acknowledgment that carried the weight of his seriousness and resolve.
Dr. Lewis froze, unable to speak, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process the scene before him. His vision blurred as tears stung his eyes, emotions flooding through him that he hadn't felt in years.
He wanted to speak, to tell them everything that had happened, but no words came. Instead, he just stood there, taking in the sight of the two men he had thought he might never see awake again.
Ember chuckled softly, his grin widening as he took in Dr. Lewis's shock. "Didn't expect to see a ghost, Doc?" he teased, crossing his arms with a lazy confidence. "Looks like we still have that effect."
Exeo's eyes softened slightly, his gaze meeting Dr. Lewis's. "We're… really back, aren't we?" he asked quietly, a subtle vulnerability flickering in his eyes.
Dr. Lewis could only nod, his voice choked as he managed a shaky laugh. "Yes… yes, you're back," he whispered, finally finding his voice. "I can't believe it."
Ember's grin softened, a glimmer of warmth flickering through his usually cunning expression. "Well, you might want to get used to it, Doc," he said, his tone teasing but with a note of sincerity.
A sense of relief flooded Dr. Lewis, the weight of years of worry and fear lifting. But as he looked at the two brothers, another thought struck him, one that brought a sudden pang of dread.
'Val alone was a handful.'
He had spent years managing the youngest Bellator's unpredictable antics, the chaos he brought wherever he went, the sheer force of his personality. And now… now he had *two* more Bellator brothers to contend with, each one more notorious and troublesome than the last.
"Oh no…" he muttered under his breath, his shoulders slumping as the full realization hit him. The notorious Ember and Exeo were back in all their legendary glory, bringing with them every ounce of the chaos that had once left HQ in shambles.
Ember's grin widened as he watched Dr. Lewis's expression shift from relief to dawning horror. "What's wrong, Doc? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Dr. Lewis shot him a glare, though his lips quirked in a half-smile. "A ghost would have been easier to deal with than you two troublemakers," he replied, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice.
Exeo raised an eyebrow, his tone calm but laced with dry humor. "Are we really that difficult?"
"Difficult?" Dr. Lewis scoffed, throwing his hands up in exaggerated despair. "Difficult doesn't even begin to cover it! Val alone is practically a full-time job, and now you two—" He broke off, a faint shiver running through him as he imagined the impending chaos.
Ember's laughter filled the room, a warm, rich sound that echoed off the walls. "Come on, Doc, admit it. You missed us," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Dr. Lewis shot him a sidelong look, though he couldn't suppress the fond smile that tugged at his lips. "Missed you? I might have, once. But now that you're here, I'm starting to remember all the reasons I was glad for the peace and quiet."
Exeo crossed his arms, his expression unamused, but his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, unfortunately for you, that peace and quiet is over. We're back, and we don't plan on going anywhere."
Dr. Lewis's face fell as he imagined the impending storm. He could already picture HQ staff panicking, walls and halls shaking with every sparring session, security systems in constant alert, endless requests for new equipment to replace the countless things he knew they would inevitably destroy.
"Val was already enough of a menace," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Now I have three of you. If I survive this, it'll be a miracle."
Ember and Exeo exchanged a glance, and for a brief moment, their serious expressions softened. Ember stepped forward, clapping a hand on Dr. Lewis's shoulder, his gaze sincere despite his playful grin.
"Don't worry, Doc. We're not here to make your life that much harder," he said, his tone warm. "Just… a little bit."
Dr. Lewis shook his head, laughing despite himself as he looked between the two brothers, his chest swelling with a mix of exasperation and joy. He hadn't expected this day to come, hadn't dared to hope that he'd see the Bellator brothers together again. And though he knew the coming days would be filled with chaos, he couldn't bring himself to mind.
"Alright," he said, sighing in resignation. "But you two better prepare yourselves. Things have changed since you were last here. You've got a lot to catch up on."
Ember's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Oh, we're ready, Doc. It's been too long since we've had a proper challenge."
Exeo's gaze was steady, his lips quirking in a faint smile. "Besides… we've got someone to check on. I imagine our little brother hasn't had an easy time without us."
Dr. Lewis chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't know the half of it. He's been through more than you can imagine. But he's strong—stronger than even you two troublemakers."
Ember and Exeo shared a glance, their expressions softening as they thought of Val, the little brother they had fought to protect, the one they had left behind. For a moment, the mischievous glint in Ember's eyes faded, replaced by a quiet determination.
"Then it's time for us to be there for him," Ember said softly, his tone filled with a fierce protectiveness.
Dr. Lewis's heart swelled, and he couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. Despite the chaos that would inevitably follow, he knew that with the Bellator brothers reunited, nothing could stand in their way.
But as the full weight of what lay ahead sank in, he gave a quiet groan, slumping slightly as the realization hit him anew. "Oh, this is going to be a nightmare," he muttered, half-joking, half-serious.
Ember chuckled, slapping him on the back. "Cheer up, Doc. We'll keep you on your toes."
Dr. Lewis rolled his eyes, though he couldn't suppress the fond smile that tugged at his lips. "Great. Just what I needed."
With that, he led the Bellator brothers out of the chamber, their laughter filling the air as they prepared to face the new world that awaited them, a world that would never be the same with the return of Clareo's most notorious brothers.