Baptism by Fire

[Harbinger]

:: She glanced up quickly at the Nirmod component and her colbalt blue eyes WIDENED with dismay as she heard it COMING ONLINE!::

NO!!! it's REACTING TO ME b/c I'M not wearing a neutralizer collar!...but it shouldn't BE this put together in order to DO...HOW did it change from what I saw in my vision to THIS in just 24 hours!?

:: This had NEVER happened to Alison before! There was more at work here than what she immediately knew.::

Ruby...stay down and be still!

:: The purifiers confronted her and she slowly turned before suddenly RUSHING down the steps and FORWARD in a BLURRING motion, THROWING her CAPE at them and magicking up a burst of DARKNESS between herself and the purifiers before sending two of them FLYING and snapping their necks::

You wont live long enough to stop me, you pathetic FLATSCAN!

::But then she heard NIMROD'S VOICE!?::

Nirmod:

MUTANT GENE SCAN POSITIVE. IDENTIFIED AS HARBINGER. HIGH LEVEL THREAT. TERMINATION SANCTIONED.



Purifier 2: two of my men are dead. the sharp shooters on either side of the sanctuary are in place. the lotus bomb has been deployed! But ...someone needs to tell the sister that SOMETHING is happening on the alter!

Nimrod: TERMINATION SANCTIONED!!!

it....it sounds like...MASTER MOLD!

:: her precognition flashed::

It's a...a SENTINEL from the FUTURE! far more advanced than ANYTHING like it in our timeline and it's destined to become a MASTER MOLD!

:: Mary Justice and her merry band of religious psychos were using a SENTINEL to plan their moves and some how see future events! She KNEW I was coming!....this was a TRAP!::

<< two openings high up on both of the walls in the sanctuary slide open. from those openings, two sets of black spheres come shooting out and descend toward Harbinger, forming a circular pattern before EXPLODING and FLOODING the area with the fumes of the BLACK LOTUS BLOSSOM!>>

::GASP!::

:: the noxious fumes of the black lotus blossom were concentrated and FLOOD the immediate area all around Harbinger. She begin to cough and CHOKE::

cant.....BREATH...need...a...spell....

:: she coughed and choked more as she struggled , reflexively grabbing her own neck as she fell to her knees and lost her sense of balance::

need to....need...HELP...

:: with her LAST bit of strength before she begin to lose consciousness, she attempted to send out a DISTRESS CALL::

:: But her mind was too chaotic, her emotions in overdrive and her power seemingly failed her. And with that, she collapses to the ground in front of the remaining purifier as two more emerge from other points in the sanctuary. Ruby could do nothing but watch in horror as her teammate had fallen into the trap and was now about to be MURDERED::

 

[Persephone]

It had been nearly a half hour since Ana-Leigh informed Alycia that she and Simon were waiting at Charope Inc. It was unusual for Alycia or Zach to be late for meetings unless something had happened. But if that were the case, Ana-Leigh surely would of said something. Another 10 minutes passed and finally Ana-Leigh came back out apologizing to both her and Simon, stating that Alycia was tied up with a personal matter and that Zach was out in the field assisting Sharon Kelley. Sharon? Why would he be helping Sharon? And since when is she back in New York? Ava thought to herself.

Walking over to the large floor to ceiling windows, Ava stood there for a moment looking at the city skyline.

"We should probably head back to The Parth--"

Abruptly stopping mid sentence, Ava caught sight of something a few blocks away. Narrowing her eyes, yes...It was Zach AND Sharon in front of a large bus. And children could be seen lined up outside waiting to get on.

"Oh God."

Alison's vision...the bus, the kids...it was happening now. At this point, she couldn't second guess herself; that could be the reason why the children died in Alison's foresight. She needed to act now. She need to HELP them evacuate the children before the purifiers attacked.

"Ana-Leigh! I need the address to Sharon and Zach's location, NOW."

Ana-Leigh looked slightly startled and worried, but didn't hesitate to give Ava the address.

"Lets go!"

She ordered Simon before sprinting out of the office and down to the parking garage. Speeding through the streets, Simon obviously had questions as to what was going on. All Ava could tell him was that Zach and Sharon were in danger, and so were the kids they were trying to help. Finally arriving, Ava pulled up behind the bus and quickly got out of the car.

"Simon, stay in the car. Call Alycia and tell her that we need backup, NOW."

Slamming the car door shut, Ava caught sight of Zach and a visibly confused Sharon. Quickly jogging over to them.

"We need to get this kids out of here NOW! Purifiers are planning an a attack here any minute."

 

[Silver Swan]

Ava??

[ Ava emerged from the car and her vitals ( which were unique to her physiology) were elevated. Sharon "heard" them even as Ava spoke with urgency. ]


[ When Ava told her what was wrong, Sharon looked back at Zach, Rose and the children. This was Persephone, she trusted her and she trusted Alison. If Ava came all the way over here to WARN her, it must be true!]

Okay.

[ She replied without questioning Ava. She looked down at Katie, who had insisted on remaining with her up to this moment. For the last 24 hours, Sharon was the only constant this recently orphaned girl had and Sharon, having been a mother herself, did not deny the child her need for some sense of security. But now?]

Ava, please...take this child to your car and put her inside. Pull your car back a few feet.

[ Katie protested]

Shush, Katie.

[ Sharon said gently but firmly]

No arguments. I promised that I would keep you self and that's what I intend to do. Now you go with Miss Cassadine to her car there. She's a friend of mine and you can trust her. She'll put you inside where you'll be warm and safe.

[ She looks around quickly , telepathically commanding her birds to take to the air and scout for ANY changes or sudden appearances of people who don't belong here]

I'll be near by, I promise! But I must help these other special children now okay?

[ She nodded to Katie, who looked up at her and nodded with understanding.]

Good, now do as I say.

[ She gently commands. She looks at Persephone]

Thank you for coming.

[ She hands Katie off to Persephone and then begins to make her way toward the bus]

ZACHARY...ROSE...

[She calls out slightly louder when....]

 

[Seer]

<< Once again, things were coming up ACES for Sister Mary Justice>>

<< Inside the Cathedral , in the Lady Chapel just behind the crypt and Sanctuary, where she'd been the WHOLE TIME as the trap for Habringer was sprung, She looks back t the large main monitor and several floating monitors on either side of it>>

Sister Mary Justice: The WITCH is down. DISPOSE OF HER!

<< pressing a button>>

Sarah?

>>Sarah Smythe: Yes, sister?

Activate the GHOST BOX. TWO portals one for Matthew and the other for the CHOIR.

<< The CHOIR represented a small, elite group of purifiers who had training as PILOTS and could operate commercial OR small military air craft>>

>>Sarah Smythe: Yes, Sister.

------------------------------------

<< a portal opens in the dark skies and a small, sleek dark air craft emerges.>>

<< it's flight pattern is smooth and it easily catches up to the black SUV carrying Black Widow, Rampage, Charope, Firebird, Recall and Prophet.>>

-------------------------------------

<< Matthew arrives inside of a dark apartment building just high enough to give him an over looking view of Rose's sanctuary. He is carrying a long range rocket launcher that is already prepped. He sets up at the window.>>

--------------------------------------

<< Sister Mary Justice watches them BOTH simultaneously, communicating with them via the ghost box tech given to her by the woman-in-shadow.>>

Sister Mary Justice: When the vehicle is hit, you will have less than 4 minutes to extract Cameron King. The others will try to protect him. Use the protocals given by the divine visions (the nimrod component) to HAMMER THEM INTO SUBMISSION and capture the white devil (Cameron)

Sister Mary Justice: May the sword of righteousness strike a MIGHTY BLOW in the name of the lord! On my mark.....

<< watching her soldiers AND watching her targets>>

FIRE!

<< The aircraft FIRES with DEADLY accuracy.>>

<< Matthew FIRES without hestation>>

-------------------------------------------

<< A SPLIT SCREEN VIEW of the projectiles. One charging for the SUV, the other charging for the BUS.>>

-----------------------

<< at the sight of the Orphange, as Silver Swan calls out to Zach and Rose while Ava gets Simon and Katie back to safety and emerges from the car to join Sharon, Sharon turns....looking over her shoulder.>>

Silver Swan: AMBUSH!!!!

<< BOTH projectiles HIT THEIR TARGETS. TWO EXPLOSIONS THUNDER OUT INTO THE NIGHT AIR!>>


<< Zachary and Rose are THROWN clear of the blast and barely conscious as they are PELTED with glass. SHARON, who was RUNNING forward is knocked back and SLAMS into a nearby car. Ava is knocked off her feet. BOTH women are still fully conscious. The BUS has been HIT! It's in FLAMES...car alarms near by are going off, CHILDREN are crying in pain. >>

<< There exclamations and screams of SHOCK and PAIN as the SUV is BLOWN off the road giving those inside LITTLE time to try to buffer/cushion for IMPACT and prevent anyone from being EJECTED or WORSE. the SUV SLAMS and ROLLS before coming to a screeching stop>>

<< MIRACULOUSLY, EVERYONE inside the SUV is still alive...but ALL are visibly stunned and shaken. Black Widow and Rampage are the first to emerge from the twisted wreckage, followed by Firebird and Alycia. Recall is badly stunned but conscious. Blaze carefully pulls Vivica out while Alycia helps Cameron>>

Alycia: ATHENA!? WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!

:: she coughs, trying desperately to regulate her breathing as she helps Cameron::

Firebird: Oh my god! ....is everyone...is EVERYONE OKAY!?


--------------------------

<< even if they were, they wouldn't be for long. none of them would be again.>>

<< its not over YET>>

 

[Longshot]

< Simon didn't believe the excuse that Ava had given him in the car but there was no need to press any further. She had gone through a terrifying experience tonight and it wouldn't do any good to press her for any more information..so he nodded and remained silent as they pulled into the office building, went up stairs and waited. And waited...and waited some more. >

"Are they okay? It doesn't seem like Alycia Barnett to be late to anything..especially if it involves the opportunity to insult my masculinity.."

< He was trying to make light of the situation but Ava was simply not budging. She was lost in thought and though he had known she was going through something personal even before the attack on Sally Spectra, right now she seemed absolutely gripped by pain. >

Ava: "We should probably head back to The Parth--"

< She stopped mid sentence as she looked out the window. >

Ava: "Oh God. Ana-Leigh! I need the address to Sharon and Zach's location, NOW."

"Ava..what's going on?!!"

Ava: "Let's go!"

< He followed immediately trying to keep up with her frenetic pace as they were soon in the car and speeding through the city as if they were on a high speed chase. Simon tried to get a sense of where he was headed to but Ava would only tell him that somebody named Sharon and Zach were in danger. They pulled up behind a bus that had school children in and outside. A pit welled up in his stomach. >

Ava: "Simon, stay in the car. Cally Alycia and tell her that we need backup, NOW."

< Simon nodded a little concerned before mindlessly getting out his phone and calling Alycia's phone. >

"No answer..."

< Ava returned to the car with a young girl in tow and backed it up several feet away. She was told to stay put. Simon looked at the young girl who was obviously very scared and afraid for her life. Simon was unsure of what to do. It looked like Ava and the others needed help but he couldn't leave a girl this scared alone! >

"Hey there...what's your name? I'm Simon."

Little Girl: "I'm...Katie.."

"Nice to meet you Katie. Do you like to play games, honey?"

< The little girl nodded. >

"Me too! Here..what I need you to do is face that back window behind us, okay? And don't look back. You can have my phone. I've got all the games a kid could ever want to play. Just focus on the games okay? And I will make sure that everybody is okay over there?"

< Once more Katie nodded. Still scared but for now placated as she placed her back against the back of the passenger seat, balled her knees across the backseat and was given Simon's phone. >

"And people say I'm too innappropriate for children..."

< Thinking for a moment. >

"Just don't look at my pictures."

"What the HELL!? PLANES?!"

< He saw the entire thing as projectiles hit...THE BUS! They attacked the bus with CHILDREN in it! >

"Oh my God...Oh my GOD!"

< Simon looked down and saw that Katie was obviously jumbled by the impact and scared, but Simon smiled and reassured her that things were okay. >

"You're doing great, kiddo...Just focus on that game there. Try and beat my high score."

< From the wreckage he saw that both Ava and the Blonde Woman seemed to have survived and were now faced with trying to rescue these children. Simon HAD to try and do something? But what? His powers weren't trained like the others. He decided that things usually went wrong when people disobeyed orders. He didn't want to do something that would make these children suffer more and he didn't want to do something stupid that left Katie by herself. All he could do now...was WATCH with abject HORROR at what was unfolding. >

 

[Persephone]

Sharon may have had issues with certain members of the six currently, but she knew when to put them aside and listen to a very true and dire warning. Without hesitation, she began to take action.

Sharon: Ava, please...take this child to your car and put her inside. Pull your car back a few feet.

The little girl protested, showing how attached she had become to Sharon. But the blonde quickly put her mind at ease and handed her over to Ava. Swooping the little girl off her feet, Ava held her in her arms and gave her a warm smile.

"It's okay sweet girl, you're going to play with my friend Simon over there, okay?"

Pointing to the car, Simon could be seen opening the vehicle door almost on cue, before exiting the car. The little girl nodded cautiously.

Jogging over to Simon, Ava handed Katie to him. Both Simon and Katie climbed into the back of the black saden before Ava quickly got into the drivers seat, reversing the car a few feet away from the bus. Climbing out of the car, Ava knew that it would only be a matter of minutes before the purifiers would attack...they didn't have a lot of time left. Some of the children were already loaded in the bus, while the others could be seen on the sidewalk scared, crying, or huddled together waiting to get on. Ava began to make her way back over to Sharon when suddenly...

Sharon: AMBUSH!!

Before ANYONE could react, a projectile SLAMMED into the large black bus causing it to explode into flames. Ava was thrown off her feet, falling to the pavement and instinctively shielding her head from the falling debris. After a few seconds, the goddess looked up to see the damage that had been done. Zach and Rose were both barely conscious, thrown feet away from the explosion. Sharon was laying next to a nearby vehicle, awake but stunned. The children that had been next to the bus were all laying on the sidewalk, some hurt, some stunned, most crying. Then the bus....there was a gaping hole in the side of it, flames exploding out of the windows in search for more oxygen. She could hear the screams of the children inside.

"NO!"

Scrambling to her feet, the sky began to rumble and crack until finally the clouds unleashed a massive downpour of rain upon the bus and the surrounding streets. The strong waterfall of rain began to help with the majority of the flames, but it was still very much an inferno inside. Running up to the bus, Ava climbed up into the massive hole seeing crying children badly burned inside.

"They're survivors!"

She shouted to Sharon.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Parthenon to the Police Station

Ashley escorted Dominique outside. She was directing her to one of the police cars when a patrolman approached her.

Patrolman: “Detective Oldenburg, Chief Steele left orders for you to take Miss Devereaux to the station in an unmarked car.”

The patrolman’s eyes flicked back and forth from Ashley to Dominique. He was CLEARLY starstruck at having a “celebrity” standing in front of him.

“Whatever.”

Had it been anyone else’s order, she would have put Isis in the back of the car with the brightest lights and loudest siren just on principle, but in this case she acquiesced.

The patrolman showed them to a black SUV. Ashley opened the back door and held it for Dominique before getting into the front passenger seat. Upon arrival at the 19th Precinct, Ashley showed her credentials and brought Dominique to an interrogation room, a patrolman leading the way and Ashley bringing up the rear with Dominique in between them.

As they walked, Ashley’s mobile rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked to see who it was, then held it to her ear. The voice on the other end immediately started yelling.

Oracle: “What the H-E-double hockeysticks do you THINK you are doing?!! I asked you to find out what you could about Dominique not ARREST HER!”

[into the phone] “In fairness, I didn’t arrest her, I just brought her in for questioning.”

Oracle: “SHE’S IN A DUCKING POLICE STATION!”

[lowers her voice] “I know, but I talked to John, and he felt…look, I gotta go, I’ll explain everything later. [with a fake chipper voice] Hugs! Bye!”

They had arrived at interrogation room B, and Dominique was shown to a chair by the patrolman, who then left. It was sparse, with a table and one chair on one side and two on the other. Dominique was alone for a moment, but presently Ashley returned holding a manila folder in her hand. For the first time, Ashley and Dominique were alone.

“I’m sorry – really sorry – that it took so long to get you down here. But I won’t keep you any longer than I have to.”

Ashley didn’t sit. She paced around the room in silence for a good 30 seconds before continuing.

“So. The famous Dominique Devereaux. Or is that ‘infamous’?”

She smiled, but Malice herself couldn’t have shown less warmth.

“And you’ve been a [looks into the folder briefly] singer for how many years now?”

She was feigning interest in Dominique’s life, but this is how it went. She let her eyes rest on the page in front of her.

“And how long have you been engaged at the Starlight Lounge?”

She stopped pacing and looked at Dominique.

“You know, I really should swing by and catch a show sometime. I hear it’s…magickal.”

She looked Dominique directly in the eyes for a long moment before going back to the folder.

“MISS Devereaux: can you account for your whereabouts two evenings ago between the hours of two and four in the morning?”

 

[Silver Swan]

[ Her last word was AMBUSH. Then everything went WHITE and HOT...and BOOM!]

[ It didn't HURT her, but as she was moving forward, she CAUGHT the blast force preceeding the actual explosion]

UGGNNN!!

[ Blown off her feet, she SLAMS into a nearby car. But she's not unconscious. She SITS UP shortly...]

ohh....ughnnn...

she SHAKES her head

Athena...Artemis...heed my call...give me the CLARITY and STRENGTH that I need now...

[ the FIRE was burning...there was glass and wreckage everywhere....there were children CRYING, heartbeats ....little heart beats FADING one by one...]

No....NO!!

Not EVEN THEY COULD DO THIS!?

Scrambling to her feet, the sky began to rumble and crack until finally the clouds unleashed a massive downpour of rain upon the bus and the surrounding streets. The strong waterfall of rain began to help with the majority of the flames, but it was still very much an inferno inside. Running up to the bus, Ava climbed up into the massive hole seeing crying children badly burned inside.


"They're survivors!"

She shouted to Sharon.

[ Sharon stands to her feet immediately]

Persephone, please see to ROSE and ZACHARY! Get them up, if they can....I'll need help getting these children OUT of here!

[ Sharon's gryfalcons were safe, and there was precious little THEY could do in this situation, so she commanded them to stay high and away from this]

[ Without a moment's hesitation, she launches herself forward, FLYING directly into the massive burning wreckage. The Bus was twisted all kinds of ways. Silver Swan was well nigh INVULNERABLE and didn't flinch as she plowed through twisted metal and rubble]

[ Some children were ALREADY dead. Sharon exclaimed with emotional PAIN, the kind that hadn't been heard from her since the night she was trapped in ARKLAY or ...the night MASTER MOLD attacked]

[ A little girl nearby, still strapped in her seat, but upside down, whimpers]

Girl: please...help me...

[ Sharon immediately reaches for her, tearing loose the seatbelt and grabbing the girl]

ROSE, ZACHARY...SOMEONE....

[ she holds the child OUT through a window for someone to take, not seeing who it is, but knowing it was one of the three outside. THANKFULLY, Persephone's rains and waterfall have made the much of the ground area outside the bus FREE of flames and easier for them to get the children she extracts away from the explosion site. She returns to freeing other children, those who were still alive. One. Two. THREE she gets out so far, UNAWARE that a gas leak is about to ignite another explosion. on the bus]

[ She reaches a little boy]

Boy: You're very pretty...

I'll have you out of here in no time, little one! Just hang on sweet....

[ But he was GONE already]

[ Sharon CRIES OUT in such anguish. She's NOT fast enough to get the ones BARELY clingling to life out of there. Their wounds are too severe.. No one could be!]

[ the FLAMES are COMING for Sharon inside the bus. Invulnerabe or not, it's impossible NOT to be worried for her as any sight of her is LOST among the raging inferno. She frees ONE more child who is alive and strong enough to survive being extracted.]

 

[Persephone]

Sharon: Persephone, please see to ROSE and ZACHARY! Get them up, if they can....I'll need help getting these children OUT of here.

Reluctantly, Ava retreated from the bus and ran over to where Zach and Rose were. She knew that Sharon was the best person to go into the flaming bus because of her armor and unique physiology, but still...she could hear the children screaming, she wanted to HELP! Kneeling down next to Zach, Ava shut her eyes for a moment, hearing Sharon scream in agony. It sent chills throughout her body...No...no...They were dying, one by one...they were dying. Alison's vision was coming true. STOP! She had to focus! She needed to FOCUS.

"Zach....Zach, wake up!"

Placing her hand on his face, she gently tapped his cheek, hearing him groggily moan before finally becoming alert.

"Zach! Sharon needs you help! Hurry!"

She saw him glance over at Rose, who was slowly coming to as well.

"I'll help her! Go!"

Zach quickly scrambled to his feet and ran over to the bus to help Sharon. Ava watched as Sharon handed out a child to him, then another...and another. Three children, all burned, but all alive. Quickly moving to Rose's side, the woman murmured that she was alright. Ava nodded, helping her to her feet.

"We need to help the other children."

They both ran over to the group of children that were still next to the bus. Rose quickly began to assist the ones that were hurt, but Ava stopped short. Shutting her eyes, she began to feel faint. The downpour of rain slowed indicating that the goddess's abilities were weakening. Standing soaked, in the cold fall evening, Ava felt like she was under water. Every noise around her was muffled and distorted. Every thing around her was spinning, even with her eyes shut. It was only Sharon's cries of anguish that brought Ava back from the brink of passing out. Her breathing slowed, her eyes opened, and the chaos and noise were back.

Looking over at the bus, the flames were getting worse now that her rain storm had been reduced to a drizzle. Sharon may have been resilient, but the flames were becoming too much for the hybrid. Extending her hand out, the winds around the street began to swirl and pick up in intensity. Sending the winds blasting towards the bus, they were so intense, instead of spreading the flames it began to extinguish them. But her use of powers were completely unstable.....and in an instant, a massive gust of wind blew a loose piece of metal straight into Sharon!

"SHARON!"

 

[Silver Swan]

[ Inside, Zach, Persephone and Rose couldn't see, but Silver Swan, even with her silver eye mask on, was looking utterly DISTRESSED.]

[ She tore through twisted metal, seats and wreckage, unflinchingly moving THROUGH the bus as she searched for signs of life, but all around her, even with the din of the flames, was SILENCE that was GROWING. Little heart beats going out one by one. Cries....whimpers...dreadful sounds of agony that NO ONE, not even Silver Swan can bear to hear on any level.]

ATHENA! I MUST NOT FAIL!

[ She cries out as she finds another child, already dead. And another....]

[ But the bus was large and there were OTHERS toward the back! Including a few smaller children that had somehow been shielded by their mini cribs and were relatively unharmed for the moment but the flames were coming for THEM too!]]

Child: :: gurgling from blood she'd coughed up....she managed to weakly call out to Sharon. Anyone ELSE would have missed it, but Sharon heard it quite clearly. She makes her way to the girl.

Be still, little one!

[ She says firmly]

I will free you NO....

[She was about to say "NOW." But the WINDS RUSH with such FURY that even Silver Swan is caught off guard as her blonde hair WHIPS UP in the fury of the winds]

Extending her hand out, the winds around the street began to swirl and pick up in intensity. Sending the winds blasting towards the bus, they were so intense, instead of spreading the flames it began to extinguish them. But her use of powers were completely unstable.....and in an instant, a massive gust of wind blew a loose piece of metal straight into Sharon!

[WHAMMO!]

UGNNNN!!!

[ Sharon' is hit by a piece of the ENGINE, it SLAMS into her side and clips her HEAD "just right" and she is IMMEDIATELY K.O.ed and sent FLYING through the glass window landing to the ground outside, not moving]

[ The little girl she was just an ARM'S reach from was now left behind She weakly cries for Sharon, but Sharon can't hear her, nor can she hear Persephone screaming for her. She can't hear ANYTHING as she lays on her side, unconscious, not moving]

 

[Ruby]

:: Cass was hurt. BADLY. She knew she was going to pay for talking back in defiance, but she REFUSED to be intimidated by these psychos. Even if it meant that she would pay for her transgressions in a most brutal way. ::

If I could survive staring BOTH Adolph Hitler and Joseph Mengele in the face, I CAN survive anything…and I WILL.

*softly, quietly*: ”Cass?”

:: It was faint, and she was in way too much pain, but that voice sounded SO familiar. Cass bit her lip to keep from crying out. ::

*urgently, a touch louder*: “CASS?”

:: Cass moved her legs and, painfully, moved her head and spotted…Cameron’s sister, ALISON. Cass’ eyes filled with tears and she opened her mouth to speak. Alison quickly put her finger to her lips to shush her. ::

“Be quiet, and Be still....I'm going to get you out of here...”

:: Cass slowly nodded. She was crying silently. ALISON was going to rescue her and then Cass would lead everybody back here to rescue CAMERON if The Six weren’t successful in keeping him safe. She had tried to send out ‘thought calls’ to both Nicolas and Cameron warning them of what was to happen to Cameron but everything was QUIET and so she could only think that it didn’t work somehow. Alison came to her and kneeled down beside her. ::

“A power neutralizer collar.”

:: She said with disgust as she looked at Cass, who had been badly beaten::

"Those bastards are going to PAY for hurting you. I'll see to it. But first, I've got to get this thing off you, get you out of here...and THEN....”

:: Cass nodded. She was too overcome with happiness to speak. Suddenly, EVERYTHING happened at once and the weird thing that was giving off light now ‘came to life’ and made its mission to take out HARBINGER and there was nothing Cass could do to stop it! In fact, HARBINGER of ALL PEOPLE was just as surprised as Ruby was! ::

Alison CAN’T be surprised…this is NOT good!

:: Cass could only watch with growing horror as the nightmare-ish scene unfolded. She struggled against the chains that were around her and tried to get to Alison. ::

”Ruby…stay down and be still!”

:: Cass tried to calm down but she couldn’t. It wasn’t in her nature to calm down. She watched as a bomb was unleashed on Alison. Now Cass was in a tizzy. She struggled and struggled and tried as hard as she could to move towards Alison, SCREAMING and crying the whole time. ::

*freaking out*: “NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! ALISON!! ALISON!! ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”

Nicolas, Cameron, whoever happens to intercept this, please come help! Alison…is in trouble!! She’s in trouble!! NICOLAS!! CAMERON!!

:: Cass was at her wit’s end. She could handle the physical assaults that were brought on her and she could anything that was formed against her. But seeing somebody she CARED ABOUT and not being able to help? THAT was the purest form of torture that she could not endure. Because, you see, there was a reason why Cass was a lone wolf for decades after her escape from her previous captors. Cass had experienced something so horrific and SADISTIC that she had made a quick vow on the spot that she would never go through that again…and she wouldn’t let anybody else go through it as well. So seeing Alison hurt in such a way made Cass have a BREAKDOWN. She was screaming and bawling and pulling against her chains that they tore open her skin and made her bleed. But Cass didn’t care. In fact, she didn’t even FEEL the physical pain; she was so upset and distraught. ::

“ALISON! ALISON! SOMEBODY HELP MY FRIEND! ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”

:: She thrashed about, not caring that she was actually hurting herself. All she cared about was Alison. ::

 

[Prophet]

:: Vivica stared at them for a moment, feeling very observed and judged at the moment. She was merely trying to get a member of their team closer to somebody they were trying to protect. ::

"You know what? There is....The Black Queen of The Hellfire Club likes to go out on the town and dabble in vigilante justice herself..and she was stupid enough to get caught."

[sighing]

"She murdered a set of Purifiers, stripping their flesh from their body..."

[looking at Nicolas]

"Sound familiar?"

"...and arranging them in the most horrible of ways..she's aso gotten the bodies of two children with her somewhere who fell victim to the Purifiers in an altercation beforehand."

"I'm also not the only person in the room who knows that information.."

:: Cameron furrowed his brow for a second. ::

"So THAT is what is going on with Dominique..."

:: He sighed heavily to himself. With everything going on, they REALLY didn't need to be dealing with something like this at the moment. While he had a professional and personal respect for Dominique as a person...at the end of the day, she was a member of The Sisterhood and Black Queen of The Hellfire Club. She already HAD people to deal with this kind of thing for her. They were wasting too much time worrying about Isis and not enough time worrying about the state of their own team members. ::

"Okay...well THIS we can't control right now. Isis is going to be fine...we need to focus on the tea--"

:: Vivica interjected ::

:: She looked at the group calmly before shooting a glance back to Cameron. ::

"And you have more important things to worry about..rather than me? Well that seems like business for usual for you over the last few years, eh Cameron?"

:: Vivica nervously cast a glance at Haleigh before turning back to the group as a whole. ::

"I was left to bleed out...cold and alone in the rain on Cassadine Compound in Greece. I was dying and watching my life fade out right in front of me..but I was rescued. By a recon team from Clandestine Intelligence. I was in the ICU for three weeks...I lost my powers. I felt worthless..."

:: She did not want this to happen now or here but she was angry that immediately everybody seemed to think that she had so much to answer for when in reality, the secrets that they were keeping from each OTHER were far more important and harming to the structure of the team. Vivica was helping out. ::

:: Cameron was frozen at the sound of Vivica's words. When Erika revealed herself to be yet another victim of the machinations of Malice, Cameron had been dead. He had been told of the events later on but he was not aware of Vivica's fate. He simply knew that when he "returned" from the dead, that she was alive and well. He had missed a large chunk of time and he felt bad that he hadn't immediately checked in on Vivica. ::

"I could have went to her...I felt bad because of what happened with King Enterprises. She was in EUROPE..I thought she needed space from me..when really..she needed me more than ever and I wasn't there...NONE of us were there..."

"Zach helped me out...got me a job in Europe with the agency. I've been working with them ever since."

:: Vivica walked slowly over to Haleigh. ::

"In terms of me explaining myself to YOU...well, I've been working privately alongside the woman who fixed my brain and Zach himself. I originally thought you were in the loop but even when I found out you weren't, I still wasn't about to NOT help the guy after everything he did for me. And I agree with the work we are trying to do..."

:: It stung to hear that Zach had helped out YET ANOTHER woman in his life. This was just another event in a series of BITTER FEELINGS he had towards the empath. First it had been Haleigh who he had brought through dark times and her feelings about Cameron and now it appeared that VIVICA had been helped by him too. ::

"Maybe...I DO owe him something..."

:: Cameron had tried to assert himself as the only male in Haleigh's life when he returned and Zach was the person in his way. Hearing how he had helped Vivica through a horrible time in her life had gave Cameron a very visceral and raw feeling that perhaps he needed to make things right....with ZACH as well as VIVICA. ::

:: He looked over towards Alycia who's mind was racing just as fast as his was. She was feeling remorse and this gave him hope that somehow Alycia and Vivica would be able to work through their issues. ::

:: She turned to face the group. ::

"We were simply investigating the threat of The Purifiers when I connected the two crimes..but I never got farther than that as were attacked outside of Club XS before I could follow up. I don't know why she's headed in for questioning...but my guess is they found something more substantial to go off of..."

"I didn't tell any of you because quite frankly I wanted something in my life that belonged to me and where my worth as a valuable asset to an organization wasn't dependent on how well liked I was by a group of obnoxious BITCHY women who cast me aside without so much as a second glance.."

:: Pausing ::

"Some of you weren't there...but for the ones who WERE there should know. After seeing how absolutely disposable I was..you can understand my reservations about sharing every single part of my life with all of you...because historically you haven't cared..and because nothing I am doing interferes with what you are doing..because you can't blame ME for the fact that Dominique Devereaux made an angry and stupid mistake...regardless of whether or not she was justified in doing it..she does not have the right to act as the JUSTICE for the entire race of mutants..."

:: She exhaled deeply and shook her head for a fast and furious moment, trying to shake off what she was feeling. ::

"Look...none of any of this matters right now. Cameron is right in THAT aspect. We need to get a pulse on the rest of the team..."

:: So Vivica Lennox...his partner in crime for most of his life was now an agent for Clandestine Intelligence and had been for quite some time. Living a life that nobody was aware of for over a year. Had ANY of them made an effort to reach out to her..they might have known that. He felt bad. He was somewhat mad that Vivica had decided to investigate affairs of The Six and their Associates without telling them...but to be honest he really didn't feel after what she said that Vivica owed them ANYTHING...because they had CERTAINLY proved to her time and time again that she wasn't worthy of their time. People like Sharon Kelly and Alycia Barnett were..but Vivica, the woman who ensured a smooth ride for both Illustra and King Enterprises during the Parthenon deal and the events leading up to and after The Inferno. The woman who took care of things behind the scenes in order for them to do what needed to be done without the press wondering about them..apparently...she wasn't worthy. It killed Cameron inside. He wanted to hold her and hug her and tell her he was sorry..but they didn't have time. Whereas Cameron felt remorse and pain, Alycia felt anger. ::

:: What would Alycia or Sharon have done if THEY had been left behind by the Six on any given occassion? Yes they more than pulled their weight when they were "...only human". but to hear Vivica's cutting retort, it DID give Alycia pause. This was an issue that would not be dismissed and would HAVE to be addressed by her...by ALL of them, were it not that they were being encompassed in the eye of a storm right NOW...::

"You're not responsible for Dominique's actions, but you're sure as hell responsible for HELPING LEAD THAT WOMAN and the NYPD to her."

"WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON!?"

"Alycia! ENOUGH!"

:: She stopped herself and looks away as Blaze stands between them::

:: To Cameron::

"Yes..."

"Actually..."

:: holding up her iphone and running her well manicured finger nail down the screen to scroll through an urgent message::

"I...WE need to get there now! But not to MY office..."

"Ava just messaged me. There's an EMERGENCY with Silver Swan and Zach Armani."

:: Haleigh whistled up a large, sleek black SUV capable of carrying ALL of them and Alycia gave her the address that Ava texted her::

:: The looming feeling that Cameron had needed to take a backseat as everybody piled into the SUV on their way to help Sharon and Zach stop what was going on. Alycia squeezed his hand and began to speak to him telepathically. ::

::As climbed into the SUV, she held on to Cameron's hand and sent a thought call::

"I'm sorry for errupting back there. I just can't BELIEVE what's happened to Dominique! It doesnt make any sense!"

"And I suddenly find my perception of Vivica in question. NOT in a "is she stupid or is she horrible" way, but in way that she TOO is a casualty of the Six, one that...was somehow OVERLOOKED! Yes, Sharon & I were in need of the Six's aid time & again and we did pull our weight despit being "...only human" but when Sharon died, she was avenged...when I was bitten by Zombies in Arklay Mansion, The Six moved heaven and earth to save me from the virus. I never realized that Sharon's story and my story with the Six is so much...DIFFERENT than her's."

..."and I'm nauseated with worry over YOU. you're being so CALM. I remember when SHARON AND I were abducted by Rick Riley...WE knew it was coming too courtesy of Alison but I dont think either ofus was as calm and collected as you were. I don't care how things are going to play out....the Purifiers won't get you without a FIGHT from ME!"

:: Cameron gripped Alycia's hand tighter and returned her thought call. ::

"Dominique is a big girl who wields an unbelievable amount of power...and she has The Hellfire Club behind her. She's going to be fine...We obviously have more pressing matters. Still I KNEW something was going on with her...but EVERYBODY agreed to a truce..these are the reprocussions of such a choice. We now have to worry about what's going on with them in the MIDDLE of what's happening to us..."

:: There was a hint of bitterness in his voice. ::

"When it comes to Vivica...you're right. Nobody went looking for her...nobody made sure she was okay..and it's by the grace of GOD that she is alive right now...and we are even more lucky that she didn't try to exact revenge in the same way that Sharon did or some of the other people we let SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS..We need to be there for her and we need to support her. I know her like the back of my hand, Alycia. She's one of the best people there is...she has taken care of me her whole life and she's not a rat. She's not going to betray us. She feels how she feels and yet here she is...still trying to help US. THAT is saying something..."

"I'm calm because I have no other choice. I am going to be taken...but that will lead me to Cassandra and that is where I need to be. She needs my help and worrying about what's going to happen to me is only going to make me sloppy. THIS is our life, Alycia. THIS is what happens to us because of who we are and what we do. You gotta roll with the punches and you have to stay clear headed..getting angry or scared only leads to mistakes...and thank you for being here with me...and I agree..they may be successful in their kidnapping attempt, but I am going to make sure I exponge as MANY lights from their eyes as I can before they DO SO."

:: All at once, everything moved into slow motion due to the massive impact of a projectile slamming into the SUV. Cameron gripped Alycia's hand as tight as he could during the impact. ::

<< MIRACULOUSLY, EVERYONE inside the SUV is still alive...but ALL are visibly stunned and shaken. Black Widow and Rampage are the first to emerge from the twisted wreckage, followed by Firebird and Alycia. Recall is badly stunned but conscious. Blaze carefully pulls Vivica out while Alycia helps Cameron>>

Alycia: ATHENA!? WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!

:: she coughs, trying desperately to regulate her breathing as she helps Cameron::

Firebird: Oh my god! ....is everyone...is EVERYONE OKAY!?

:: The SUV was more than wrecked and twisted and Cameron had banged his head pretty hard and suffered some slightly severe cuts and bruising. ::

"There's no more time...FOCUS."

:: Cameron's eyes shot open as he felt Alycia's arms around him...dragging him from car and to safety. Everybody was okay. Suddenly a RUSH of mental anguish flew into Cameron's head knocking him back a few steps as he grabbed his head in pain. ::

"GODDAMMIT! ALISON!"

:: He could FEEL his sister's anguish. She too had been captured by The Purifiers. She had decided to try and help Cassandra on her own and it had gotten her in trouble.. Whatever was tracking them knew exactly what they were going to do and when they were going to do it. If they could get ALISON...they could get ANYBODY. ::

[coughing]

"They've...they've got ALISON! Goddammit! We don't have much time...if they are gonna take me, they are going to do it NOW.."

:: Cameron looked to the sky to see a swirling of clouds matched with thunder and lightning in the distance. ::

"Ava..."

:: The children. The school bus. Everything Alison had said..was coming true. At the same time! There was no time to think...to plan. There was only time to REACT. ::

"Haleigh! Get a Clandestine team dispatched over to Ava's location immediately..."

"AGH!"

:: Cameron could FEEL Sharon get knocked out as it happened. ::

"SHARON?!"

"Sharon...Sharon is badly hurt as is Zach...Ava is on her own..."

:: The aircraft that had assaulted them was making it's way back. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't be in two places at once and Alison had told him he couldn't stop what was going to happen to Ava. He just thought he would have a little more time. ::

"That's it."

:: He looked to the group. ::

"It's time to FIGHT like our lives depend on it...because they do. Now let's MOVE."

:: Locating Simon mentally, he sent a thought call. ::

"Get out of that damn car and HELP her...NOW! Help is on the way!"

 

[Recall]

:: Vivica felt the rage inside of her as Alycia spoke so condescending...so absolutely smug and sure of herself. Until Vivica explained what she had been through. Something that Alycia had been VERY much a part of. Icing Vivica out of the execution of Cameron's will...treating her as if she were a nobody who had no stake to claim in terms of working with The Six. She may not have fought their legal battles or attempted to sway public opinion on mutant kind like Sharon and Alycia...but SHE had been there from the beginning. She had fought tooth and nail when Alycia brought up SEC charges against Cameron. She was so short sighted. Willing to take down a man she barely knew because her good friend didn't like him. She didn't realize that her legal prowess effected the lives of thousands who were employed by King Enterprises and The Parthenon Hotel. They had bills to pay and lives to live and mouths to feed...and she couldn't have cared LESS! For as long as Vivica had known Alycia she had been a thorn in her side and a device used by Morgan to try and take down something that didn't belong just to Cameron King..but to HER as well. Enough was ENOUGH. ::

:: Watching Alycia get off her high horse as Vivica spoke was not even registered as a consolation prize to Vivica. ::

"Oh now she feels bad?! Now she has a bit of remorse..Sorry...but I am not ABOUT to give her CREDIT for acting like a decent human being AFTER the fact. Alycia Barnett is a MONSTER."

Alycia: "Who's SIDE ARE YOU ON!?"

:: Vivica was ready to FIGHT the woman but thankfully Cameron intervened and everybody made their way into the SUV as they were beginning to rush towards Sharon and Zach's location. Vivica was incredibly worried about Zach and he was also wondering what exactly he was doing with Sharon Kelly in the first place. Being with The Six for so many hours had left her incredibly out of the loop from her OWN work..but she didn't have time to check in. Not now. Sharon and Zach needed their help and as long as she could get to Zach before anything horrible happened..they might be okay. ::

:: Or maybe they wouldn't be. ::

<< MIRACULOUSLY, EVERYONE inside the SUV is still alive...but ALL are visibly stunned and shaken. Black Widow and Rampage are the first to emerge from the twisted wreckage, followed by Firebird and Alycia. Recall is badly stunned but conscious. Blaze carefully pulls Vivica out while Alycia helps Cameron>>

Alycia: ATHENA!? WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!

:: she coughs, trying desperately to regulate her breathing as she helps Cameron::

Firebird: Oh my god! ....is everyone...is EVERYONE OKAY!?

:: The impact was so HARD and so SUDDEN that nobody had any time to react as the vehicle was THROTTLED by the concussive impact of the projectile blast. Vivica's body flailed in the car as she rocked back and forth. Had anybody in that SUV been merely human, they would have been killed almost instantly. Vivica was stunned for the moment. Unable to process what had just happened. ::

"What WAS that...what WAS that?!"

:: She was pulled from the car by Blaze as she watched Cameron get pulled out as well. She looked at Blaze. ::

"Thank You..."

:: Instinctively, Vivica activated the chip in her brain to broadcast a live feed of the situation to ZiZi. If something happened she wanted SOMEBODY to know how to proceed. If The Purifiers took them all out now...somebody would have some kind of clue as to what to do next. THIS is why she was doing the work she was doing. As much as liked to believe it...they couldn't take care of everything on their OWN. ::

Cameron: "They've...they've got ALISON! Goddammit! We don't have much time...if they are gonna take me, they are going to do it NOW."

:: Vivica shook her head in disbelief. How had things gotten this bad...THIS quickly? ::

Cameron: "Sharon is badly hurt...as is Zach...Ava is on her own."

:: If something had taken out SHARON and ALISON...it was not looking good for the rest of them. ::

Cameron: "It's time to FIGHT like our lives depend on it...because they do. Now let's MOVE."

:: Vivica nodded. ::

"Damn straight..I will head wherever I am needed."

 

[Longshot]

< Simon watched with horror as the woman in silver was taken out by a piece of the bus engine and knocked out cold to the ground. >

"That's it...Ava is alone out there..."

< The voice of Cameron came in loud and clear in his mind. >

Cameron: [via thought call] "Get out of that damn car and HELP her...NOW! Help is on the way!"

< Cameron was right. At the very least he needed to get out there and see if he could help any of the children he had witness get blown apart and die in front of him during the grisly explosion. He looked at his surroundings before turning to Katie. >

"Hey Katie? Change of plans..We are gonna play a game? Now we are going to get out of this car and I need you to close your eyes and take my hand okay?"

< Katie looked up from Simon's phone screen and nodded. Immediately he grabbed the little girl and booked it down the alley several yards to his left. There he found a dumpster. It was not ideal..but it was the only thing he could think of at the moment. He knelt down to face Katie on her level. >

"You're doing really good, Katie. Now.. the way to win this game is to make sure that nobody sees you, okay? Stay hidden for as long as possible until Ava or I can get back to you.. if you can stay hidden until we come back for you...you will win a BIG prize. Trust me, kid...you wanna win this prize. Do you want to play?"

< The girl shook her head. >

Katie: "I'm...scared. What's happening out there...I want Sharon!"

< Simon sighed, feeling so desperately bad for the girl. >

"It's nothing to worry about honey..what I need you to do is get in here..."

[he scooped Katie into his arms and placed her in the dumpster]

"and stay hidden. Remember don't leave and don't let anybody find you. If you can do that for me, Katie..I will get you a BIG prize."

< Nervously Katie agreed as she crept into the dumpster and Simon carefully placed the lid over the top of her. This was probably one of the only times where it was okay to leave a child in the dumpster. But now she was out of the line of fire. Simon ran back to towards the scene. >

"This WIND!"

< The wind and the rain was almost BLINDING as he charged through it. Instinctively his powers kicked in allowing him a clear field of vision and path in front of him as he made his way through the scene. >

"AVA! AVA I'm here!"

< He went over to here. She looked like she was about to lose it. Pass out...she was so drained. He didn't want to speak to her. He didn't want her to chastise him for getting out the car. There was no time. She knew that he would rather her be safe..but there children's LIVES at stake. >

"I'm going in..."

< Simon made his way into the wreckage of the bus. The flames were dying down, but the scene before him was singlehandedly the most horrific he had ever seen. Children. Dead children. Who had suffered in the most unbelievable ways. This was inhumane. Whoever had done this was a monster that Simon wished nothing but the WORST of deaths upon. >

< He made his way towards where he saw the woman in silver head before she was knocked out. He gazed at his surroundings just trying to find one pair of eyes that were alive...one kid that he could help. Then he spotted a pair of eyes in the back. She was so scared, her voice and body so weak. This was the girl that Sharon had been trying to help before she was knocked out. >

< The mutant knew how his powers worked on himself...his power instinctively guided his movements and reflexes in this case, it made him the best person possible to attempt to get this little girl out of the bus and into safety. As long as he SAW something headed his way, he would be able to avoid it. >

"Shh...honey..shh..I got you..please just hold on for me, okay..."

< His piercing marble green eyes began to water up. This was horrific. This was life altering and this was something that Simon could have never believed in a million years would happen. He barreled his way out of the side of the bus and placed the little girl down beside the woman who seemed to be helping Ava with the children. He took a look at Ava and looked down at the ground, completely drenched in the rain. >

"I'm going back in..."

 

[Seer]

<< Smoke, fire and sirens fill the night air. This could be any night really, but TONIGHT The Purifiers have struck their most deadly blow yet and the Six are off balance and not even able to comprehend the full scope of what's happening to them>>

<< At the sight of Rose's sanctuary, Zach is reeling from how things went from relatively calm and hopeful to CHAOS. He heard Sharon...and then for a moment...NOTHING. Now there were dead children, screaming/crying children and a burning bus!>>

<< He saw that Persephone was present!? She was trying to help and in the beginning, she was doing a good job, putting out the fires around the area and making the ground safe as Silver Swan dived into the bus directly and began pulling out surviving children while he and Rose scrambled to get them as she handed them out.>>

<< If his associate, ZIZI was bored before? She certainly wouldn't be NOW. What she was seeing was beyond anything she could have expected from the Purifiers. Perhaps Isis was RIGHT in what she had done after all?>>

<< Zach was desperately trying to get control of the situation. 1 dead child was one too many and they were confronted with more than a few dead children. Others were badly burned, concussed, cut or otherwise TERRIFIED and screaming and SILVER SWAN was INSIDE the inferno, trying to rescue any children that could still be saved! >>

<< He saw Persephone was FALTERING. She was downright BESIDE herself and her next effort, using her power over WIND prooved to be more HARM then help! He watches, almost in "slow motion" in his own mind as she K.O.'s Silver Swan and sends her flying OUT of the bus onto the ground on the other side. His repeated shouts to Sharon go unanswered. She could be unconsious, or something worse.>>

<< Even as Persephone reels from her tragic mistake and Zach attempts to react, it is too late...>>

<< Any communication, any interaction between him and Persephone, Rose, Zizi or ANYONE is LOST as a 2nd EXPLOSION DESTROYS the remaining structure of the bus and KILLS ALL the remaining children, some in CRIBS, still inside and Sharon...there's NO sign of her at all. Could he have reunited with her only to lose her again?>>

<< The fire explodes in a ballistic pattern outward and reaches up to the height of the former sanctuary orphanage.>>

<< That FIRE, according to SOME, is the lord's cleansing of genetic filth and for all the shock, anguish and panic that is ensuing at ground zero there is, at least in one place, equal parts PLEASURE, SATISFACTION even JOY!>>

<< Sister Mary Justice watches ALL of it unfold on her floating monitors, unwavering in her outward appearance but on the INSIDE, her HEART is WARMED by this.>>

Sister Mary Justice: we must not become comfortable with ourselves, or think that this is due to our own ability. The vision of the lord guides us. his hand is behind our every move!

<< Pressing a button>>

Mary Justice: Sarah?

>> Sarah Smythe: Yes, Sister?

Mary Justice: Recall Matthew via ghost box portal 1. He has done his job well.
And open the multiple entry ghost box portal at the site of the white devil (Cameron King). Tell the Sentry group they may go through.
Capture him. Kill ANYONE ELSE who is there. None of satan's children must be given any ground.

>> Sarah Smythe: Yes, Sister.

Mary Justice: The Sentry group are all armed to deal with those creatures specifically. I want NO effort spared in this undertaking! As long
as they adhere to their targets and attack patterns, we will succeed, it has been shown, it is ordained.

>> Sarah Smythe: Yes, sister. Relaying final instructions to the group now....and activating ghost box portals for all specified locations!
----------------------------------------------
<< At that moment, back at the sight of the attack on the SUV>>

Cameron: "It's time to FIGHT like our lives depend on it...because they do. Now let's MOVE."

:: Vivica nodded. ::

"Damn straight..I will head wherever I am needed."

<< it was time indeed>>

<< MULTIPLE portals open at different points, Purifiers coming out of each of them in groups of three. All well armed, (in ways The Six can't yet even guess), ARMOURED against high powered artilery and energy blasts and capable of lifting cars with the use of their armour. The armour is ALSO shielded from several levels of psionic attacks, but not impossible to overcome with enough EFFORT and experience.

They brandish plasma cannons , cryo blasters and neuro net blasters. they have OTHER weapons at their disposal as well, which will come into play as this battle is joined>>

Field Commander: CUT THEM DOWN!

<< THe purifiers begin to form on their targets and ATTACK, with a triad bulling right through for Cameron!>>

Field commander: There's the white devil. NET him and the "Sentinel" will pull him through the portal.

<< ANother one of the purifiers calls the aircraft to come around with another pass!>>

 

[Persephone]

Sharon was knocked out through the bus window and disappeared out of sight. She could have be dead....Ava could have killed her. Zach was screaming for Sharon as Ava stood motionless staring at the bus--Zach's screams, the children's screams, the pouring rain, the wind, the noise, the CHAOS.

Simon: AVA! Ava i'm here!.....I'm going in.

Simon took off sprinting towards the bus.

"SIMON!"

He disappeared inside, the flames seemingly growing as the seconds ticked by. Ava reduced her winds, afraid that she would hurt or kill Simon like she did Sharon....then finally, he emerged with a small child in his arms, running towards Rose who quickly scooped the young girl from his grasp.

Simon: I'm going back in.

But before he could even take a step forward, BOOM! A second explosion rocked the entire city street, sending both Ava and Simon flying back. Hitting the sidewalk, Ava's body rolled to a stop, limp and motionless.

Silence.

Everything was quiet now...except for a ringing....such an obnoxious ringing echoing in her head. Slowly opening her eyes, Ava's vision was blurred. Shutting her eyes tight, the ringing began to fade and the chaos became present once again. Slowly pushing herself up, wet strands of hair fell forward as her foggy vision cleared to see the bus, completely destroyed. Sharon was no where to be seen....Zach was gone too. The children....all 41 on the bus....DEAD.

"No...."

Scrambling to her feet, Ava slipped on the wet concrete as she tried to run forward, stumbling to her knees. Heaving breaths of air escaped her burning lungs. She couldn't couldn't move anymore, she didn't have the strength. Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears as she looked onto the devastation....she caused this, everyone was dead because of HER.

You need help.
You need to open up.
Your team can help you.
Keeping it inside will only make it worse.
Your powers are tied to your emotions.
You can't keep this bottled inside.
You need to talk to someone.
You're going to cause the deaths of 42 children.
You can't do this alone.

All the voices, all the warnings, all the people, EVERYONE, EVERYTHING, in her head, all at once. SCREAMING at her. The guilt, the pain, the burden of the past six months....The TORTURE. Grabbing her head, Ava began to scream out in agony, collapsing forward in utter defeat and anguish. Her face hidden by her hands, but the apparent sobs--though muffled--could be heard.

Alison was right.

 

[Firebird]

Blaze checks over Vivica intently

"You sure you okay??"

She says quietly to Vivica as she steadys and supports her, allowing her to get her bearings. She heard Vivica as she stood her ground to the others. She hadn't been there for those events, but it DID shock her and it almost moved her to tears! Other issues could be discussed later. Now there were more pressing matters

The others are also shaken, some have cuts, possibly concussions...but they're all accustomed to having to keep going in the face of mounting adversity. Blaze remembers running those horrifying gauntlets in her own dystopian timeline. Incidently she was standing now with two people [Cameron and Vivica] who did NOT survive the first wave of government sanctioned mystech attacks on mutants in her time.

When she looked over at Cameron and he expressed that Alison AND Sharon had fallen, that Ava was in a BAD way
and could be captured herself, or worse....Blaze looked truly horrified and looked up at the night sky

"They're picking us off from ALL SIDES!"

"MORG!!! WE NEED HELP! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

First Sally, then Cass, now Alison, Sharon and Ava..,and she knew CAMERON's "turn" was coming...but she'd had ENOUGH. She'd had ENOUGH of these nasty mutant hating "Purifiers" and she was going to SHOW them what she THOUGHT of their "holy mission"


"I...I WON'T let this happen....NOT AGAIN!"


She YELLS as her auburn hair begins to flow a bit. it was a progression Vivica had seen the night Sally was attacked. A side of Blaze that was beyond passion...it was explosive, like a STAR.
The group stays together and suddenly, PORTALS begin to open up!

"LOOK!"


Pointing at one as the forms of three men emerge. Similar groups of three emerge from the others but these men are MORE than what she and Vivica faced the nigh Sally was attackedand Cass was taken. They wanted HER group...HER family and she was NOT going to let anything like what happened in her timeline happen here!


"You want us....you want HIM!? You big holy rolling bastards?"

"We'll make you REGRET this....ALL OF IT!"

The purifier bigots make their battle cry and begin to attack. A group is coming down the middle for Cameron, FIRING plasma blasts, but Charope LEAPS OVER HEAD and drops down in front of Cameron, IMMEDIATELY sheilding him, BLOCKING and DEFLECTING the blasts with her feminum bracelets and she's able to keep up with ANY volley of blasts they send!

Blaze spots another purifier calling for the aircraft and her apple green eyes GLOW and the communication device EXPLODES and TORPDEOS into his FACE, setting his HEAD on fire!


"We'll handle this OURSELVES, you religious freaks!"

She extends her arms up and spreads them out, a crackling, explosive sound of flame energy is heard as she manifesets her red firebird aura around herself


"I'll take care of the aircraft AND the purifiers inside it! They wont get another shot!"


Firebird lifts off the ground and takes to the air in splendid form and sure enough, the aircraft was approaching. It fired several missles and blasts at the group, Firebird QUICKLY intercepts them COMPLETELY nullifying their fire power with her own. Firebird is immune to all forms of heat, fire, flame energy AND radiation and so the aircraft can do NOTHING to stop her.


>> Pilot: CHOIR TO SISTER, CHOIR TO SISTER! FIREBIRD IS ATTACKING US! NONE OF OUR WEAPONS ARE HAVING AN EFFECT! WE NEED ASSISTANCE


Curiously, NO REPLY came from Sister Mary Justice!


"Aww....TOO BAD."


"DIE!"


Firebird climbs up, closing in on the aircraft and which she reaches it, she thrusts immediately hovers upright, spreading her arms and legs out as her red firebird aura EXPANDS and ENCOMPASSES the aircraft in a truly operatic ATTACK , DEVOURING it as it EXPLODES and kills both pilots inside. The explosion and her power signature is spectacular. Maybe she was doing the wrong thing but she didn't CARE. ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. They had to be STOPPED. She REVELS in her destruction, like it a conductor revels in the swell of an orchestra and in that moment, she really IS a beautiful, terrifying FIREBIRD.


"You'll NEVER have Cameron and you'll NEVER hurt ANY of us AGAIN!"

 

[Prophet]

:: All at once PORTALS began to open up in different areas, much like the ones that had appeared outside of Club XS when Blaze, Sally, Cass and Vivica were brutally attacked earlier. From these portals, hordes of heavily armed and armored people rush out looking ready and primed for battle. ::

Field Commander: "CUT THEM DOWN!"

:: He watched as they dispersed like a well oiled machine but in this moment in particular, though Alison had told him his capture was inevitable he was not about to go out without a fight. He began to channel his ability of flash premonition in order to gauge where the groups were about to go. He sensed the triad upon him just before they began to charge. ::

Field Commander: "There's the white devil. NET him and the "Sentinel" will pull him through the portal."

:: Cameron's face became almost enshrouded in shadow as he cast out his hand violently. ::

"It's not gonna be that EASY!"

:: Many months ago on Sheena Island..Cameron had stretched his abilities like never before. He was able to telekinetically dismantle a device he couldn't see his his physical eyes and set it off course before it was about to deliver a lethal dose of a virus into Earth's atmosphere. It had taken nearly all he had in him to perform...but it was a trait not soon FORGOTTEN. These men were nowhere near as strong as that telescope and their physiology was FAR easier to understand. ::

:: He realized that any tangible form of psionic energy would most likely be absorbed by the high tech armor or some other weapon as they had done against Blaze earlier. But they could not fight what they could not see. ::

:: Alycia JUMPED in front of him and began BLOCKING them from him...giving him a chance to attack. ::

:: As he BALLED his extended hand into a FIST he telekinetically GRABBED hold of each member of the triad that barrelled towards him...by the HEART via psychokinesis. As he watched the men immediately seize up, he threw his free hand out and RIPPED their hearts from their body before dropping into a left side body roll, knowing that one of them would most likely fire off the NET before perishing. ::

:: Their armor protected their hearts from actually LEAVING their body and as such, Cameron let go of his telekinetic hold and "watched" as their hearts fall down inside of their bodies, watching them drop to the ground like flies as they screamed out in pain. ::

"Keep moving..."

:: He tried to create some room for himself to move as he began manifesting himself astrally all over the general area. These different forms would begin to run and fight and pretend to attack in order to create a distraction from where his actual location was. It wasn't much..but it would buy him a few seconds. ::

:: Firebird HURLED herself into the SKY in MAGNIFICENT FORM as she completely and so utterly destroys the aircrat hovering above them that it was almost...beautiful. A WILD explosion fills the sky..but so does ANOTHER...several yards away! ::

"AVA...."

:: He bowed his head for a moment..hoping for the lives of the children and his teammates before gritting his teeth. ::

:: VOOM! ::

:: Instinctively he manifested his crackling red PSI Katanna as did his astral "ghosts" as the blade began to hum with a bright and powerful psionic crackle. ::

:: He looked up at Firebird still in the sky, revelling in her own destruction. ::

"DO YOUR WORST, FIREBIRD!"

 

[Isis]

:: Dominique calmly seated herself at the table and maintained her regal form, posture and look of elegant disdain. She noted that Ashley was unimpressed with the gawking of more than a few police officers who recognized HER. ::

For the first time, Ashley and Dominique were alone.

“I’m sorry – really sorry – that it took so long to get you down here.

Oh I'm sure you are.

:: Dominique said in a dismissive tone.::

"But I won’t keep you any longer than I have to.”

Ashley didn’t sit. She paced around the room in silence for a good 30 seconds before continuing.

“So. The famous Dominique Devereaux. Or is that ‘infamous’?”

Ms. Deveraux will suffice, thank you.

She smiled, but Malice herself couldn’t have shown less warmth.

::Isis' gaze upon Ashley did not waver and SHE didn't smile.::

“And you’ve been a [looks into the folder briefly] singer for how many years now?”

She was feigning interest in Dominique’s life, but this is how it went. She let her eyes rest on the page in front of her.

“And how long have you been engaged at the Starlight Lounge?”

:: Dominique answered neither question. She was well aware of any publicly available information on her being avilable to Ashley: her status as a celebrity, chanteuse, all of that. She was also quite certain, given the level of police detail she had with her at the Parthenon, that Ashley also knew she was THE BLACK QUEEN of the Hellfire Club. But even THAT was not an issue. Those who were truly aware/informed and connected DID know of the Club's existence, if not it's TRUE nature. ::



::She also knew Ashley couldnt have cared LESS about what her pursuits in life were. This woman was accustomed to her "show" running a certain way. She was about to find herself struggling to get a performance out of Dominique , much less an encore. Isis simply sat there, in regal posture andwatched the woman move about.::

She stopped pacing and looked at Dominique.

“You know, I really should swing by and catch a show sometime. I hear it’s…magickal.”

Is that right?

:: Dominique sat forward a bit in her seat and leaned in::

Well you're more than welcomed to come to one of my shows, Detective Oldenburg.

::Sitting back::

Drag queens usually ARE among my biggest and most loyal fans!

:: Dominique was not above being BITCHY under the right circumstances, and because she needed to BUY Richard time, she was perfectly willing to COME DOWN a few levels to engage this ridiculous womanand pass the time. Perhaps even find some AMUSEMENT out of the whole farce::

She looked Dominique directly in the eyes for a long moment before going back to the folder.

“MISS Devereaux: can you account for your whereabouts two evenings ago between the hours of two and four in the morning?”

Yes, I can.

:: Pause::

But why do I need to tell you?


::Further indication of how lightly she regarded Ashley AND her title/position. Dominique smirked a bit in spite of herself. She expected, based on the woman's behavior at the Parthenon, this might REALLY get her going. And that was just fine with Isis. Soon, the Hellfire team would be here to END this little charade permanently and Ashley would be sitting behind a DESK!::

 

[Recall]

:: There was no more time to think about anything. Suddenly portals began to open just like before at XS when The Purifiers had attacked Cass, Sally, Blaze and herself. This time there was no to waste as THREE Purifiers went RIGHT for her attempting to blast her into oblivion. ::

:: THIS time however, Vivica would not be attending to the medical needs of a friend. This time she would be able to FIGHT. Her immediate thought was Cameron as she snapped her head looking towards him watching as Alycia immediately jumped in front of him on the defense. He was protected for now. ::

BLAM!

:: She barely dodged an energy blast headed straight towards her. Instinctively, she found herself in a battle stance while her mind began calculating their movements, their patterns, whether or not they were left and right handed, how weak their fighting stances were and comparing them against her own battle skills. She may not be able to control the weather or fire blasts of Zeus' lightning...but she definitely got smarter with every second she was engaged in battle, able to learn in perfect detail an enemy's weaknesses in battle, armor and weaponry. All of this was second nature. ::

"Come and get it you BASTARDS!"

:: Vivica began to run head on towards her assailants. As she had made her charge forward, she focused on the man to her left. His stance was weak in the left knee, indicating that he had suffered a bad injury at some point in his life. She noticed that the in the middle Purifier had already cocked his weapon, but his aim was off by about 45 degrees. As she tilted her head in anticipation for his strike, she was EASILY able to dodge the attack as she rolled performed a perfectly executed forward flip before landing on her feet, crouching down and KNOCKING the Purifier with the bum left knee as hard as she could. Although she had realized he was incredibly armored, his body and his weight on his leg was still weak and as such the knee jerk reaction he gave upon Vivica's blow caused him to reel back in pain, instinctively dropping his weapon to grab his knee. ::

"That's a good boy..."

:: She was on him in seconds as his head bent down in reaction to his knee energy, Vivica's own knee connected with his head as she used her free hand to grab his weapon. Looking at it, though it was different than most of the weaponry she had dealt with, her taining and own learning abilities had already given her enough time to be proficient with the weapon. ::

"AH!"

:: She had knocked her attacker unconscious...but In her haste to grab the other Purifiers weapon, she was grabbed in a chokehold from behind. ::

:: While she was making her initial charge at the group she had analyzed their armour and had found a weak point, the neck. While much of their faces and bodies were protected, there was a small slit in the gear that left a tiny bit of the neck exposed. The Purifiers were INCREDIBLY strong, and even though she operated at peak human strength...these guys were STRONGER. Thankfully. ::

Firebird climbs up, closing in on the aircraft and which she reaches it, she thrusts immediately hovers upright, spreading her arms and legs out as her red firebird aura EXPANDS and ENCOMPASSES the aircraft in a truly operatic ATTACK , DEVOURING it as it EXPLODES and kills both pilots inside. The explosion and her power signature is spectacular. Maybe she was doing the wrong thing but she didn't CARE. ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. They had to be STOPPED. She REVELS in her destruction, like it a conductor revels in the swell of an orchestra and in that moment, she really IS a beautiful, terrifying FIREBIRD.


"You'll NEVER have Cameron and you'll NEVER hurt ANY of us AGAIN!"

:: The sheer sound and force of the incredible sky display had knocked her assailant off kilter for a split second, causing him to loosen his grip. ::

"Thank you Blaze!"

:: She managed to slip under from his grasp as she cocked her energy blaster RIGHT against his exposed neck and pulled the trigger. He VAPORIZED from inside his suit, letting her know that the armor the Purifiers wore was INCREDIBLY strong. ::

:: She took a moment to look up at Firebird with a mixture of fear and reverence. Blaze was such an open and understanding person but when she reached her limit, she was bloodthirsty and vengeful and a lot more like her sister...a woman that Vivica had never been incredibly fond of. ::

:: Vivica became so lost in thought that she almost didn't see her THIRD attacker charging at her. ::

:: She SNAPPED back into reality. Vivica realized that although these people had a seemingly insurmountable amount of technology and were trained in guerilla tactics, that as long as the group could detach their weapons from them, they had a chance. Vivica BLASTED her opponents weaponry with the energy blaster she had taken and shot a fire off to his weapon, vaporizing it too. ::

:: She fired SEVERAL shots at The Purifier which HIT him in the chest and knocked him back several yards, but did not kill him...thanks to his armor. Instinctively, Vivica grabbed the amoured vest from a dead Purifier on the ground and slipped it over herself. It may have been loose fitting but it would protect her should she get caught off guard. Next she was on her way to the group of people attacking Nicolas and Haleigh. ::