38

John was in Phoenix's arms and Phoenix whispered urgently as he pushed him away, letting John fall by Bennu.

As those aboard the Asteroid looked with shock at the man who was slowly advancing, John managed to hook Bennu's leg and they shot back to SV Toshiko, leaving Phoenix on the Asteroid.

"So! You are those who wish to harm my brood" Phoenix snarled.

"By the gods, you are more powerful than we thought" a woman stepped forward, trying to hide her nervousness, "We have no wish to hurt your children."

Ianto bled through, smiling politely as he canted his head and let his gaze bore into her skull.

He then swiveled and looked pointedly at Bennu's blood on the floor and turned back with a raised eyebrow.

"Must we begin with a lie?" he asked with his Welsh accent rolling around the room.

"There is no lie here!" the Captain from the vid-screen snarled.

"So my son's blood on your floor is a mirage?"

The woman took a sharp intake of breath as his words registered.

"The young man, the newly mated one … he …."

"Bennu is my oldest child and has newly bonded to the man you also harmed" Ianto informed them, then he took another step as he addressed the woman again.

"So you come to attack without knowing your enemy?"

"We came to talk, to discuss … we mean no harm."

"So you are so sure that you are superior to us that we will have no choice but to comply." Ianto snorted.

"You will yield!" the Captain snarled.

"Another once said that to me" Ianto smiled politely, "That arrogance cost them dearly."

"Why?" the woman asked, "What did you do?"

Phoenix turned to face her and she squeaked at fiery pools burned her retinas.

"He died!"

She screamed, struggling to reach the bulkhead behind her as her eyes watered. Her hands scrabbled against the metal, leaving bloody smears as her fingernails tore.

"Now, you will die"

Phoenix flexed, felt his son's pain as his father tried to stop the bleeding and also felt John's despair as he held his bleeding love.

Phoenix threw back his head and breathed.

The air shimmered as heat crawled across the floor, bubbling the metal from his feet like miniature bugs scurrying about to do the work of their maker.

"Shit!" the captain grunted, backing away a Phoenix rose, his wings unfurling.

"Oh my god, he is a trueblood" she sighed, her body finally betraying her as it crumpled like her puppet strings were cut.

Shouting and even gunfire filled the bridge as Phoenix roared his rage, berthing fire as a dragon might.

He flapped his wings, allowing the heat to carry, fanning those flames.

He cast again, feeling the relief as Bennu's blood flow was finally stemmed and John's soft sob echoed as Ianto relaxed and told Phoenix it was safe.

Do it.

Phoenix relaxed and gave into his bloodlust, filling the entire vessel with fire.

The screams of those dying were like a strange melody to his ears as he threw his head back and roared again.

Too late, they realized their fate was sealed the moment they had harmed his chick and Phoenix threw his arms wide as a low hum started deep in his chest, swelling to a musical note.

The Asteroid started to flex, like it was breathing and I suppose it was trying to as the oxygen turned to flame within.

Over on the SV Toshiko Bennu was struggling to his feet as he watched the screen, screaming for his Taddy as John held him and wept with relief.

Jack took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the bond flexing along with the vessel.

"Tosh, take us back half a parsec" he shouted as he got Ianto's voice whispering lovingly to him.

"No!" Bennu screamed as he watched the vessel shrink.

Then ….

It exploded.