Blood makes noise

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon - Executive Board Room

Now...say something ELSE. DO something else...so I can do what I should’ve done on AERIE!

“Just try it, alarm clock.”

Delilah had an amused smile on her face as Alison came off the rails at her. Shit the precog was really losing it now. The fact that the others actually could listen to this sanctimonious bullshit without laughing out loud was amazing.

And then she did laugh out loud.

“YOU couldn’t protect your brother from a kitten. You couldn’t protect him from Malice, your sister OR your own mother. And from what I hear, you can’t protect his ass now either. So why don’t you shut the hell up and do whatever the hell it is you came here to do instead of wasting time trying to prove that you’re tougher than me. I’m not the one who abandoned him, who KEEPS abandoning him. I’m the one who has his back, who’s here. You can do whatever the hell you want, but I am not leaving him alone until he’s out of danger. And Blaze?”

She turned her head to look at her.

“Shh…the grown ups are talking. Everyone knows you’re Morgan’s sister – you don’t have to be a bitch to prove it.”

And then Cameron got pissed…and blamed it on her…because as usual everyone took Alison’s side. If anyone ever actually said what they thought instead of placating the Morgan and Alison show, those two wouldn’t know what the hell to do.

"In case you forgot? We have a teammate that has been captured by a group of people that nearly killed Sally AND Blaze, and you three want to trade INSULTS?!"

“Hey, don’t put that on ME. *I’m* not the one picking fights or threatening to use her damn time screwdriver on me.”

"Alison....Go...please!"

Delilah held up her hands in a placating motion.

“That’s all I said.”

And then HALEIGH. Sweet Jesus. She kicked Alison and Blaze’s ASSES and TOOK NAMES. It was all Delilah could do not to pump her fist as she grinned.

(Turning to Delilah) "and you! Enough with the antagonistic behavior, okay? Keep your dirty looks and shit to your self. We KNOW you're upset, but you are egging them on, don't think I can't see that. I fucking INVENTED THAT SHIT, so get it under control and save it for the ACTUAL COCKSUCKERS that deserve it!"

Delilah saluted her with a smile.

“Aye aye, captain, whatever you say.”

She winked.

“Don’t you have someone’s fingernails to rip out and stick in their forehead?”

 

[Harbinger]

Rage

"ALISON, WHAT THE FUCK?!?!"

She stood so quickly, her chair rolled back and hit the wall. Cameron jumped in the way, and Haleigh was right there to back him up.

Cameron: Knock it OFF. Once we have Cassandra back and once you stop this bitch downstairs from unleashing hell you can ALL beat the shit out of each other how you see fit...but NOW?! NOW is not the time or the place and we don't have the time.

"FUCKING SERIOUSLY. That kid is COUNTING ON US to save her fucking life, and instead, we're helping THE FUCKING PURIFIERS by tearing each other down?"

(Turning on Alison with a look of shocked disapproval) "AND YOU! I love you and i appreciate you coming here to help but You are NOT HELPING RIGHT NOW! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU?! Delilah is NOT 'weak', and if I ever hear you say something like that again-- about ANYBODY in this room, I will fucking DROPKICK you on the SPOT, see if I DON'T!"

Cameron:Alison....Go...please.

(Turning to Delilah) "and you! Enough with the antagonistic behavior, okay? Keep your dirty looks and shit to your self. We KNOW you're upset, but you are egging them on, don't think I can't see that. I fucking INVENTED THAT SHIT, so get it under control and save it for the ACTUAL COCKSUCKERS that deserve it!"

:: Alison stared at the two of them in disbelief. She would have let it stand here where it was. WOULD have. BUT THEN!?::

Delilah had an amused smile on her face as Alison came off the rails at her. Shit the precog was really losing it now. The fact that the others actually could listen to this sanctimonious bullshit without laughing out loud was amazing.

And then she did laugh out loud.

“YOU couldn’t protect your brother from a kitten. You couldn’t protect him from Malice, your sister OR your own mother. And from what I hear, you can’t protect his ass now either. So why don’t you shut the hell up and do whatever the hell it is you came here to do instead of wasting time trying to prove that you’re tougher than me. I’m not the one who abandoned him, who KEEPS abandoning him. I’m the one who has his back, who’s here. You can do whatever the hell you want, but I am not leaving him alone until he’s out of danger.

::A BELL tolls. Alison's vision NARROWS and now, she ONLY sees Delilah, as if she's looking DOWN on her from the barrel of a GUN::

:: The room begins to tremble....SHAKE::

“Hey, don’t put that on ME. *I’m* not the one picking fights or threatening to use her damn time screwdriver on me.”



Delilah held up her hands in a placating motion.

“That’s all I said.”

And then HALEIGH. Sweet Jesus. She kicked Alison and Blaze’s ASSES and TOOK NAMES. It was all Delilah could do not to pump her fist as she grinned.



Delilah saluted her with a smile.

“Aye aye, captain, whatever you say.”

She winked.

“Don’t you have someone’s fingernails to rip out and stick in their forehead?”

YOU. ARE. DEAD!

:: Narrowing her eyes, Haleigh is sent FLYING. Cameron is FORCED into his seat.::

HEART!

:: Holding out her hand, she CALLS for Delilah's HEART. She beings to SEPERATE IT from Delilah's body::

:: She lifts her hand UP, DRAGGING Delilah from her seat and lifting HER up into the air::


You're NO MATCH for me. WHO will protect YOU, from ME, in the hour of YOUR DEATH!?

 

[Rampage]

YOU. ARE. DEAD!

:: Narrowing her eyes, Haleigh is sent FLYING. Cameron is FORCED into his seat.::

HEART!

:: Holding out her hand, she CALLS for Delilah's HEART. She beings to SEPERATE IT from Delilah's body::

:: She lifts her hand UP, DRAGGING Delilah from her seat and lifting HER up into the air::


You're NO MATCH for me. WHO will protect YOU, from ME, in the hour of YOUR DEATH!?

Suddenly...a tall dark figure stands between Alison and Delilah.

Ali...don't DO this. We have something to take care of. Protect your brother. YOUR BROTHER ALISON. Let her GO. Save Cam and Cass.

Nicolas was fed up with Delilah. But having her die here was not his cup of tea. He spoke to Alison's reason...his axe was still across the room. There was no time for violence here.

 

[Artemis]

The Parthenon

:: Alycia gasped at the scene from HELL that was unfolding. Alison arrived, but she ALREADY seemed on edge, AGITATED. She warned them all away from approaching the prisoner because of a TRAP!? But before she could activate her plan, she included a special message for Delilah. It wasn't hard to guess. ::

:: She groaned a bit. Then DELILAH responded and Blaze retorted::

STOP IT!

:: She yelled::

Delilah, you've been obtuse ever since you arrived here tonight. If you're not here to HELP then LEAVE.

Blaze, don't upset yourself anymore than you already are. You've been through enough as it is. This problem ...this PERSONAL problem between Alison and Delilah is NOT the paramount issue here, IS IT ALISON!?



:: Cameron tried, and FAILED to control the situation, then HALEIGH, despite the vulgarity of her response, was probably the MOST sincere and EFFECTIVE of the attemps to STOP this collision, but it was too late. TOO. LATE::

:: Delilah opened her toxic mouth and at this point, Alycia lost ANY patience she had::

:: This was just TOO MUCH! A dear friend was just wounded, and BARELY escaped death. A TEAM MATE was kidnapped and heave knows WHERE, and now THIS!?::

:: She stood up, ready to take an ACTIVE role in stopping this, when Alison ATTACKED Delilah::

HERA! Alison, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? You're KILLING one of your own! STOP THIS!

:: She'd sent Haleigh FLYING and forced Cameron into his seat. Could ALYCIA even REACH Alison? and even if she could, could she STOP her!? There was no time to WONDER. She HAD to try. If Alison murdered Delilah in a fit of RAGE, how could she POSSIBLY recover once she realized what she'd done? How could she live with herself? How could this TEAM recover from it::

:: Nicolas was now RIGHT in front of Alison. Of all of them, HE would be most able to withstand her vicious attacks but it shouldnt COME to this! How could they have LET this get so far!? ::

:: She'd seen this many times before in the Six. She'd been APART OF IT on several of those occassions. But THIS TIME, it was just ...it was just ILL TIMED, for lack of a better way to put it. The schism between Alison/Morgan/Delilah was effecting them ALL and now was the worst time for that to be happening!::

Keep her attention, Nicolas. Try to REASON with her! I'm going to....I'm going to try to JAR her out of her attack on Delilah. I don't approve of Delilah's nastiness to Alison and Blaze, she's going out of her way to be as rude & antagonistic to anyone she can! But Alison CAN'T be allowed to KILL HER!

:: Alycia prepared to LEAP across the table and BARREL into Alison, to tackle her. Not out of anger but out of NECESSITY!::

 

[Athena]

Suspension

HOLD, brave Amazon!

:: Athena's voice rings out as a wind blows and EVERYONE is suspended/FROZEN in time where they are in that moment. Everyone EXCEPT Haleigh. Who is allowed a moment to adjust to the sudden change in the situation and to CALM herself.::

:: A beam of golden light comes down and from it emerges the form of a woman, ATHENA, Goddess of Wisdom and WAR.::

:: On her arm sits Bupol, her owl, he lightly regards Haleigh before slowly blinking and looking around the room at the others::

I come to ALL warriors who have earned my favor in their time of NEED.

You are troubled in your mind.

:: Referring to the migraines and flashbacks Haleigh has been having::

Black Widow, why are you not using your skills and WISDOM to better effect?

:: Athena asks the hybrid, giving her the chance to explain herself::

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: Aye aye, captain, whatever you say. (She winked) Don’t you have someone’s fingernails to rip out and stick in their forehead?

"You like that? It's really just my warm-up."

Nicolas: Let's focus on the task at hand and no other. Haleigh is right and for the foreseeable future, she needs to take point as leader of the team. Cam is a target and of the remaining senior members, Haleigh is the most trusted by everyone and has the best working relationship with the person we are relying on in Alison. Now that she has everyone's attention, let's try to take the initiative. Lead the way Hales.

"Thanks Nic. Okay, everybody, once we get all the info from this captive that we can, I'll be able to formulate a plan--ooof!"

She went flying, slammed into the wall, caving in the sheetrock and landing on the floor in a sprawl next to her wayward chair.

Alison: YOU. ARE. DEAD! HEART!

I must be hallucinating right now.

But then Nicolas stepped in, and Alycia.

Alison: You're NO MATCH for me. WHO will protect YOU, from ME, in the hour of YOUR DEATH!?

Pretty sure I made my stance clear. Maybe I should have included a caveat in regards to a physical attack......

She thought, as she quietly and quickly got to get feet, picked up her conference chair and raised it up over her head, ready to smash Alison with it. It was padded leather, it'd knock her down but not permanently injure her.

Athena: HOLD, brave Amazon!

Haleigh stopped, chair raised high, poised to strike. She looked around. The whole room was frozen still. She gently set the chair down.

"Oh hi Athena. Were you.... taking to me?"

Athena: I come to ALL warriors who have earned my favor in their time of NEED.

"Ah..... AWESOME, I think."

Athena: You are troubled in your mind.

"Yeah, I'm a little stressed out, but who isn't?"

Athena: Black Widow, why are you not using your skills and WISDOM to better effect?

"Lady.... I'm doing the best I can here, it's kind of the eye of the hurricane where I'm standing. You got any..... advice for me, or like a magic stick I can shake at this mess? Because I really am trying but I'm working miracles just keeping MYSELF together here, and I really need my family to all get through this alive, that little sucker CJ included, but these motherfuckers are acting like brats!"

 

[Orion]

Rose's rooftop

Sharon: I'll NEVER be able to forget them [ her husband, her son....OR the people she killed during her initial rampage as the Silver Swan] ...or...forgive myself.

(Touching her elbow gently) "Sharon, part of life is remembering those we lost-- and forgiving ourselves for our mistakes."

Sharon: But from the Amazons, I learned, I understood that there are MANY who have done terrible things and yet still found the path to redemption.

"I know many who are on that path. The thing about redemption is that as long as you WANT it, you'll find it."

Sharon: That little girl...she lost her whole family tonight because of those dispicable men. I gave TWO of them a quick death. the OTHER ONE I made SUFFER just as they'd made Katie suffer while chasing her through central park. WHO are they? Are THEY ones harrassing Rose?! [ Zachary wanted her help. He spoke of putting a team.] What team is this?

"Nothing official, yet, just a few people with aligned interests who want to stop these racist ANIMALS."

Sharon:...I'm a Six reservist. Suppose they need me to come their aid?

(Chuckling) "well you needn't sign a contract with us or anything...... and technically you WOULD be aiding the Six. Mutant hate is a problem for us ALL."

She didn't really seem sold on the idea. He glanced around for an idea.

"Look, you don't have to say yes right now. I'd be happy to introduce you to the people I'm working with, why don't we start there?"

 

[Athena]

Advice, and assistance

"Lady.... I'm doing the best I can here, it's kind of the eye of the hurricane where I'm standing. You got any..... advice for me, or like a magic stick I can shake at this mess? Because I really am trying but I'm working miracles just keeping MYSELF together here, and I really need my family to all get through this alive, that little sucker CJ included, but these motherfuckers are acting like brats!"

You're losing your own way.

That is one of the reasons why you are not performing at the levels even CLOSE to what earned you favor with me before.

You are capable of more than this. Search your heart, STOP being governed by external events, and you'll know...REMEMBER that.

Black Widow, you can not afford to lose ground now. Your companions are ALREADY suffering due to the black hole that has formed among three core members. UNTIL that black hole is addressed, it will remain and it will GROW. That is something that YOU cannot change, NOR can you hope to inspire those in question to follow your lead by LOWERING yourself to their level of emotional outbursts.

In the absence of Spellbinder, You are this team's LEADER. ACT LIKE IT.

A warrior has the WISDOM to know the difference between being a fighter and being a LEADER. A leader knows the BALANCE between being understanding and urging movement FORWARD.

:: Athena looks at Harbinger and MorningStar::

Did you really believe that your...CRUDE response to this PAINFUL schism would avail you anything?

:: Gesturing to Harbinger::

She is KEY to your VICTORY as you seek to rescue your captured team mate AND survive the coming ONSLAUGHT of the Purifiers. You know her. You have served with her in battle. You have mourned with her in times of loss. Do NOT treat her as a stranger or an enemy NOW when you need her the most..

::Gesturing to MorningStar::

She will take a necessary step in your desperate struggle against the growing threat. You have served with her. You have praised what was perceived as her "sterling" character. You have trusted in her and tried to help her more than once.

:: She looks at MorningStar with a rather mournful look on her face::

She is ANOTHER who has found favor with me...but I am afraid when last we met, she made a most DISAPPOINTING choice. I offered her the chance to leave this life of pain and loss behind, to be REBORN as an AMAZON. But she CHOSE to return. I WARNED her that while I would honor her request, there would be NO guarantee that she would find happiness or that she would gain anything from returning to this life. She said she understood. But it appears she did not, as even now...she is losing HER way over the temporary seperation from her child.

::holding her hand up as Haleigh tries to interrupt::

SILENCE!

::The goddess' voice THUNDERS and BRIEFLY renders Haleigh MUTE. after a moment::

She cannot be helped. Not by you. Not even by ME or any other outside source. She made her choice and she must LIVE THROUGH the consequences of those choices. Hecate and I BOTH warned her of that. You need to hold her steady. If she refuses to exhibit even BASIC understanding, wisdom and decorum, then YOU must exercise good judgement, for the sake of the GROUP and release her. Trying to keep her here will avail you nothing and only waste more time as she races headlong toward a darkness and oblivion of HER choosing. Would you allow her to endanger ALL of you and your efforts to satisfy her own short sighted impulses?

I believe you WANT to do better and I will give you that chance. I will RESET things BACK to the moment when Harbinger arrives. I will plant within her and Delilah's minds, the urgent SUGGESTION to REFRAIN from any aggression, any NEEDLESS provocation toward one another.

And as for YOU? Heed my words well and apply them accordingly. I do NOT aid those who insist upon being foolish or stubborn. Do NOT squander this assistance that I give you. The fate of your teammate, RUBY , as well as SCORES of innocent children in this city depends on YOUR ability to hold this team together. NOT by exacerbating the WORST qualities that you're ALL capable of, but by PULLING EVERYONE UP FROM THAT.

Return to your seat.

:: She directs Haleigh::

The others will remember NOTHING that happened up to this point. It will BEGIN at the moment Harbinger arrived and go from there. ONLY YOU will know what COULD have happened and how YOU are responsible for how good...OR HOW BAD it ends.

Farewell, Black Widow.

:: An odd chiming sound is heard , winds blow and whistle and EVERYTHING that has occurred up to that momenet is RESET, BACK to the moment when Harbinger FIRST arrived to the conference room to deliver her stern warning about the TRAP that awaits them. Only THIS time, Harbinger PAUSES as she casts one last disdainful glare upon Delilah. She doesnt deliever her last cryptic THREAT. The precog has wicked thoughts about the woman. But they are ONLY thoughts. She does not say a word to Delilah, she doesnt give in to her urge to attack the woman. Instead, she allows Haleigh (now the ONLY one with the memories of the "previous events" AND Athena's stern advice/warning) and the others to process and respond.::

:: Delilah returns Alison's disdainful glare with her own but REFRAINS from opening her mouth to derail any attempt at building momentum toward PROGRESS. Since she is not capable of speaking in a positive manner without being rude to any number of people in the room, she remains SILENT and lets the others speak. ::


:: And Black Widow is the ONLY ONE who is aware of the presence of ATHENA, who was there, but has now left::

 

[Persephone]

After returning to The Parthenon with Blaze and the purifier, Ava personally made sure the woman was locked away tight in the brig before returning to the conference room. Everyone was on edge, waiting for Haleigh to arrive. Ava sat quietly in one of the conference chairs by the corner. Finally her sister arrived with good news that Sally had made it successfully out of surgery. Vivica was also alright...looking worse for the wear, but still kicking.

Haleigh: "You okay?"

"Yeah."

"How about Blaze?"

Looking over at Blaze, she was in a lip lock with Vivica.

"She's fine."

"I heard we have a captive. I want to interrogate her ASAP. CJ's life may depend on it."

Ava was going to suggest waiting...I mean, really? What was the rush? Cameron was safe here, they could let the prisoner sweat it out a little longer. But before she had the chance to say anything, ALISON appeared telling them not to engage the woman. That it was a trap. Apparently the purifiers were banking on the fact that the six would bring this woman back to The Parthenon. Alison wanted to speak to her alone....then all HELL broke loose in the conference room between Blaze, Delilah and Alison. Pent up aggravation and hatred all bubbled to the surface for all three of the woman. Cameron and Delilah quickly intervened.

Ava sat quietly in the shadowed corner, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. The room was spinning....her head was throbbing. It was like a sudden onslaught of vertigo. Even with her eyes shut she could feel the room moving in circles around her. Shutting her eyes tightly, she finally opened them, feeling the dizziness start to subside. The tension in the room, however, did not.

Standing, Ava walked over to the mini bar and grabbed herself a scotch this time, pouring a double shot into a small glass tumbler before downing it. This was going to be a long night. Then suddenly....

Alison: "HEART!"

Quickly turning she saw Alison holding her hand out towards Delilah, and Delilah's body moving towards Alison.

"ALISON! NO!"

FLASH

Haleigh: "You okay?"

"Yeah."

"How about Blaze?"

Looking over at Blaze, she was in a lip lock with Vivica.

"She's fine."

"I heard we have a captive. I want to interrogate her ASAP. CJ's life may depend on it."

Ava was going to suggest waiting...I mean, really? What was the rush? Cameron was safe here, they could let the prisoner sweat it out a little longer. But before she had the chance to say anything, ALISON appeared telling them not to engage the woman. That it was a trap. Apparently the purifiers were banking on the fact that the six would bring this woman back to The Parthenon. Alison wanted to speak to her alone.

All the while, Ava sat quietly in the shadowed corner, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. The room was spinning....her head was throbbing. It was like a sudden onslaught of vertigo. Even with her eyes shut she could feel the room moving in circles around her. Shutting her eyes tightly, she finally opened them, feeling the dizziness start to subside. Standing, Ava walked over to the mini bar and grabbed herself a scotch this time, pouring a double shot into a small glass tumbler before downing it. This was going to be a long night.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh sighed and sat halfway on the conference table, listening with mild patience as Athena responded. It was a bit grinding, getting this lecture from the goddess of Wisdom, but if there was anyone Haleigh was going to sit and be still for, it was the goddess of War.

Athena: Heed my words well and apply them accordingly. I do NOT aid those who insist upon being foolish or stubborn. Do NOT squander this assistance that I give you. The fate of your teammate, RUBY , as well as SCORES of innocent children in this city depends on YOUR ability to hold this team together. NOT by exacerbating the WORST qualities that you're ALL capable of, but by PULLING EVERYONE UP FROM THAT.*

"No pressure though, huh?"

Athena: Return to your seat.

Right, because they had to reset the room. She rolled her chair back over to the table and sat down, resuming her position as best she could remember it.*

Athena: The others will remember NOTHING that happened up to this point. It will BEGIN at the moment Harbinger arrived and go from there. ONLY YOU will know what COULD have happened and how YOU are responsible for how good...OR HOW BAD it ends.*

"Awesome, the fate of the world rests on my shoulders. What else is new?"

Farewell, Black Widow.

"Yeah, you too. Thanks... For your help."

Cameron: She's down in the sub basement levels...one of the interrogation chambers. Do your WORST.

"I don't think anyone's ready for my worst."

Vivica: Use as much force as necessary...she's lucky I didn't render her deaf dumb and comatose!

Alison: No. She was COUNTING on you not doing that.

"She may have been counting on it, but that didn't mean she's prepared for what's about to happen."

Alison: You can't go near her.

"The HELL I can't! I'm gonna rip her fingernails off one-by-one and stick them into her fucking forehead!"

Alison: If you do...you will be overwhelmed by the TRAP that lies within her, a trap that will cause YOU to lose control of your techno organic power and unleash an OUTBREAK into this hotel!

(Pointing to Ava) "okay, YOU'RE going to rip her her fingernails off--"

Alison: Everything these two have told all of you is correct. And now, I must take action--

"GREAT, WHY DON'T YOU GO DO THAT?"

She interjected, quite loudly. Everybody stared in her direction.

"Sorry, I'm a little excited right now. Alison, get what you can from her. I'll watch from here and use the intel to formulate a plan."

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon, Executive Conference Room

YOU. ARE. DEAD! HEART! You're NO MATCH for me. WHO will protect YOU, from ME, in the hour of YOUR DEATH!?

Delilah felt a pain in her chest akin to a heart attack as Alison used her TK to lift her into the air.

“FUCK…OFF.”

Her eyes closed as her body instinctually released all of its stored energy directed at its attacker, in the form of a focused photon blast, occurring at the speed of light without premeditation. If Delilah was going to die, she would take Alison with her.

It appeared that most everyone in the room, actually, would protect her from Alison when she needed it. How unfortunate that the knowledge that might have turned the tide for Delilah came at the end.

Then….

She sat in a chair next to Cameron as everyone assembled in the conference room and tried to show how hard they were. But Delilah had one objective, and one only: to keep Cameron safe. She didn’t give a shit what anybody said, or what stupid place they wanted him to go to so he could get grabbed, or what Alison had freaking told him. And she certainly wasn’t leaving him alone so she could go watch some religious zealot spout scripture at them. So she sat there, one eye on the door and one on Cameron, nervously tapping one foot against the floor.

"Alison came to Ava earlier today with word of a vision. Dee? Not a word."

She gave him innocent eyes and made the motion of locking her lips with a key and throwing it away, while…

CUNT, that’s a word.

She looked directly at Cam, and smiled sweetly.

And then the C Word herself arrived – she must have heard her name.

Surprisingly, Alison actually told Vivica there was a danger to her rather than locking her in a suite upstairs; huh, she must be growing.

Everything these two have told all of you is correct. And now, I must take action. If you value your lives, STAY WHERE YOU ARE until I am finished.

Did Alison ever get tired of hearing herself talk? Delilah said nothing. She knew Alison was incapable of being rational, and that no matter what she said, the seer would turn it into a huge drama and make this all about her, as usual.

She looked at Alison with disdain.

Go do it already.

"Sorry, I'm a little excited right now. Alison, get what you can from her. I'll watch from here and use the intel to formulate a plan."

Once Alison had left, Delilah looked to Haleigh & Vivica.

“What can you tell us about the initial attack? How can we keep them from getting to Cameron the same way?”

 

[Rampage]

FLASH

And THIS is why Nicolas loved Haleigh so much. Finally speaking up, he backed her play.

Let's focus on the task at hand and no other. Haleigh is right and for the foreseeable future, she needs to take point as leader of the team. Cam is a target and of the remaining senior members, Haleigh is the most trusted by everyone and has the best working relationship with the person we are relying on in Alison. Now that she has everyone's attention, let's try to take the initiative. Lead the way Hales.

Nicolas went silent verbally, but he had someone else on his mind. Someone he 'spoke' to. He was doing his own digging, hoping to find someone he could kill to get this over with.

Aunt D...one of these Purifier fuckers stabbed Sally Spectra twice and shot her. She will make it but this has become personal.

 

[Harbinger]

The Conference room

"GREAT, WHY DON'T YOU GO DO THAT?"

She interjected, quite loudly. Everybody stared in her direction.

:: Harbinger eyed Haleigh suspiciously::

"Sorry, I'm a little excited right now. Alison, get what you can from her. I'll watch from here and use the intel to formulate a plan."

hmmmmm....

:: She surveyed the room. Everything seemed to be in order, didn't it? Even that weak willed, no talent, self destructive whore Delilah was there. Alison's colbalt blue eyes rested on the light-bright, who was staring daggers at her::

THAT dumb bitch....

:: Why did it feel like she'd been here...in this VERY moment...before?? Precogs don't get de ja vu, do they?::

Let's focus on the task at hand and no other. Haleigh is right and for the foreseeable future, she needs to take point as leader of the team. Cam is a target

:: She allowed Nicolas' voice to draw her attention away from the wretched blonde pin head::

Haleigh is the most trusted by everyone and has the best working relationship with the person we are relying on in Alison. Now that she has everyone's attention, let's try to take the initiative. Lead the way Hales.

:: Perhaps there was nothing more amiss, perhaps it was just her nerves from being agitated by the speedster. THAT arrogant, smug, spinning top! ::

:: At least she had successfully warned all of them away from going to the brig. She DID have an idea though, why not just TELEBLINK Delilah down there and let HER activate/bare the brunt of the trap? She always DID have a messiah complex, this would be her chance to indulge it, be the ultimate sacrificial lamb!::

they'd never forgive me. even if some of them are just as tired of her as I am. Besides, my brother's safety, sally's safety and ruby's rescue are more important.

:: Haleigh and Cameron were eagerly awaiting the results of Alison's encounter with the purifier. But she knew what would happen would not be at all what they were expecting. They'd have to see for themselves, just how this could have turned out. With that, she BLINKS out of the conference room, and reappears in the brig.::

 

[Seer]

The Parthenon

<< Below ground, in the restricted "SIX ONLY" inside a holding cell, the purifier Deborah can be seen in a trance like state. Swaying back and forth the woman seems to be almost TRAVAILING.>>

<< There's a glowing flash of dark magick outside of the door of her holding cell and soon, it opens. Harbinger walks in. The precog is still wearing her cloak and now carrying a tenderizer.>>

<< the purifier continues to sway back and forth, praying/speaking in tongues, showing signs of travailing and discomfort.>>

<< It was as though she was EXPECTING something, something that was DIFFICULT to pass.>>

<< She did not open her eyes or look to the arrival of Harbinger.>>

 

[Harbinger]

The Brig

:: Harbinger closes the door behind her and takes a moment to study the purifer, using her vision powers to "SEE" her quite thoroughly::

it's only a matter of time now. She's preparing for it.

:: Her high heeled boots click along the floor as she makes her way further in, toward the woman::

Deborah Jennings.

:: Harbinger said coldly. The woman doesnt respond. She is wrapped up in her trance like state::

You could have escaped the moment that portal opened. Why did you remain? Why did you LET yourself get captured by Recall?

:: The woman does not respond. After a few more seconds...::

ANSWER ME!

:: Harbinger narrows her eyes. A rushing chiming sound is heard as Deborah is sent flying across the room and slammed into the wall, sliding back down to the floor::

:eborah coughs a bit before looking up at Harbinger::

Deborah: You....you're HIS SISTER. Our Lady of Justrice SAID you would appear to test me. But i will not faint. I will not deviate from my mission. I have the annointing of the lord!

:: Harbinger looked at the woman. She had SOMETHING, but it was FAR from an "annointing"::

"Lady of Justice"....the false one!

:: It occurred to Harbinger that not only was Deborah MEANT to be brought here, by THEIR design, but that they were counting on her being kept alive just long enough. Alison was about to DISRUPT that time thread quite thoroughly NOW::

Is that so?

:: Moving closer to the woman and then stooping down to meet her eye to eye::

Did she tell you that you would survive because the lord was protecting you? That his hand was upon you?

Deborah: My faith does not waiver. Our Lady of Justice has the gift of visions!

:: Haleigh, Cameron, Ava, Nicolas, Blaze, Alycia, Vivica, they all heard the confirmation. The identity of the false precog that Alison was after::

Her gift fails her. And YOU.

:: She thrusts her hand out, TRUE FREEZING Deborah's hand resting on the floor. It turns into a solid block of ice. Deborah screams with pain::

HOW LONG before you give birth to what you're carrying inside of you?


Deborah: It doesnt matter what you do to me...your fates are SEALED. We have seen the visions. We've heard the word of the...



Harbinger: Your Lady didn't tell you...I am BEYOND the reach of her "visions" or any god you serve.

:: Without hesitation, Harbinger SLAMS the tenderizer down on Deborah's frozen hand, SHATTERING IT.::

How many of you are there? WHY do you want Prophet?

Deborah: I do not....I do NOT maintain the counsel of the ungodly. you're a WITCH. You don't deserve to....

<< Deborah is once again gripped with impossible PAIN as Harbinger TRUE FREEZES her KNEE>>

You're wasting time. You're only hurting yourself. Your body will be BEYOND repair when I am finished with you.

WHERE is your lady of justice?

WHAT is the source of your "visions?"

WHERE was RUBY taken?

Deborah: No...no weapon formed against me shall prosper...every mutant that rises against me shall...

:: She doesnt finish. She cries out as Harbinger SHATTERS her knee with the tenderizer, seperating her thigh from her calf. Deborah's body begins to convulse. Like every religious zealot and cult member, Deborah is prepared to die rather than betray her cause. Her mental conditioning AND the "gift" she has been given has prepared her for that moment. She longs to be martyr.::

It's coming...now....


:: Harbinger stands up and moves back. but she does not leave the room. She stands by the door watching as Deborah's body begins to writhe. That travailing from earlier? magnify that by 10 now.::

 

[Seer]

The trap

<< Deborah's form is writhing about. Her last words...>>

Deborah: His...will...be...DONE!

<< before her voice, already sounding rather odd, with a haunting, metallic resonance, erupts into a fit of screaming and chaos before she begins to heave once, twice and then "VOMIT". From her mouth, comes glowing bile subtance ALONG WITH a horrid BUZZING sound.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Inside the body of Deborah Jennings, deep within the blood streem, the cells are no longer naturally occurring blood cells. They are glowing, pulsating with the power of NANO-SENTINEL technology.

<< Dr. Rasputin, a powerful and fearsome "star" in WILPHARMA, now an eager member of the PURIFER MOVEMENT, preps Deborah Jennings for the injection. >>

Sister Mary Justice: You are a brave, virtuous woman. A true credit to this army of the lord, offering yourself as a vessel so that his will may be done! Your faithfull service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Deborah: I live to serve him, Sister.

Dr. Rasputin: the nanotech has been injected and will bond with her physiology. when the time is right, she will give birth to "WILD SENTINELS"

Sister Mary Justice: And will they take on the predetermined form as seen by the gift visions.

Dr. Rasputin: Yes, Sister. It will be a PLAGUE of BIBLICAL proportions to be certain.

Sister Mary Justice: Excellent. The final component of our strike against those demonic hatchlings is in place. May the lord bless and keep Deborah. May he welcome her into his eternal embrace after what will ultimately amount to a BRIEF moment of pain and sacrifice.

<< In the Brig, Deborah Jennings, the woman, the purifier has died. Her body, essentially a bio-incubator, now "giving birth" to a SWARM of WILD SENTINELS. The sentinels erupt from her body, her mouth and there is a horrifying buzzing sound. It was MEANT to be a 21st century "PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS" that would have SWARMED the hotel. The wild sentinels, though the size of insects could TEAR through FLESH, STONE and STEEL; fire LASERS from their eyes and act like "heat seakers" to TRACK any mutant no matter where he or she may flee.>>

<< From the conference room, Black Widow can feel a SURGE in her own body and mind as the technology activates, but she can't CONTROL that technology. Had SHE been in that room? the sentinels would have swarmed her. ENVELOPED HER. DEVOURED her and taken her over. FORCING her body to expel the TO virus in an uncontrollable pattern that would have been carried by the wild sentinels ALL THROUGH the hotel.>>

<< Harbinger has saved Black Widow's life. This trap was designed to ELIMINATE her and to take down the PARTHENON with as many victims as possible. It would have been a LARGE SCALE massacre.>>

<< Even as the swarm of wild sentinels seems to ENVELOPE the room with Harbinger still in it...a BELL tolls and there is an odd sound as TIME STOPS the wild sentinels are SUSPENDED in temporal stasis.>>

<< The view from the conference room shows the swarm, FROZEN in time as Harbinger herself BLINKS back into the conference room.>>

 

[Harbinger]

Back in the conference room

::BLINKING back into the conference room...::

There was a time activator in her body. The moment Cameron, Haleigh or anyone ELSE in this room stepped foot into that room, it would have activated. She wasn't expecting to see ME. Which prooves what I suspected the moment I became aware of the "False One" (the "precog") She can't account for ME or my movements. Any information she has on me is due to my link to Cameron.

If any of you had come into that room...

:: Pointing to the monitor. It SHIMMERS and SHIFTS. She projects her power of precognition, allowing THEM to see the clearest time stream that was to occurr::

::FLASH!::

<< Black Widow, falling to the ground, no longer alive, but not quite dead. Her body is now conduit for INFECTION and VIOLENCE as the T.O. Virus RADIATES from her and is carried ALL THROUGH the hotel by the wild sentinels; Persephone seizing, with her hands to her head, her eyes and mouth rupturing as wild sentinels fly into and OUT of them; MorningStar being devoured by the wild sentinels, her body being CUT UP by their lasers while others CARRY AWAY pieces of it to feed on; INNOCENT patrons in the hotel, scream, panicking, running every which way, but still falling prey, DYING in the swarm. Prophet screaming as a pack of wild sentinels BURSTS through his stomach, spreading out all around him and enveloping him.>>

<< OUTSIDE the building, it begins to crack and tremble, before FALLING>>

They wanted you to bring her here, so that you would do their work for them.

I have brought you some time now. They were NOT expecting ME to disrupt their carefully laid trap. They will be forced to regroup.

:: She stretches out her hand. A swirl of black/blue orbs forms on the table as a solitary WILD SENTINEL insect appears on the table.::

I have ensured that it will NOT resume function.


Use this to try to establish a technological trail BACK to the source. That will be your best chance.

Prophet, use your psi powers. You've established a mind link with Ruby before. The psi path still exsists. FIND HER. Use HER EYES to see her surroundings.

But before you do that, I want to speak to you and Persephone. Privately.

 

[Ruby]

St. Patrick's Cathedral

”Ughnnn…”

:: Several hours have passed since she had been captured, and now Cass began to stir, making light movements, testing her body one part at a time in order to see what was okay and what still needed rest. Lucky for her, she was starting to feel a bit better. ::

That BITCH did something to knock me out!

:: She also knew that the psycho nun had whipped her. TWICE. She also knew that the whip had to have IMMENSE power because even WITH her higher than high pain tolerance, she still felt the AGONY of the after effects of the weapon. She tried to create a shield but something weird happened: she couldn’t make one! She tried to send a psionic wave and, still, nothing happened! ::

Oh no! What happened to my POWERS?!

:: She slowly sat up, bracing herself with her hands on the cold floor. She looked around her. She was in a cell of some kind. ::

*mutters*: “How’d I get here? How long was I out for?”

:: She sat up fully. Even though she had no idea where she was or who she was with, she knew that everything would be okay. Her team would be coming for her. Also, her phone was on so if anybody needed to, they could just triangulate her phone’s GPS tracking system to her location… ::

Oh. Shit.

:: Cass felt as if her heart dropped to her feet when she remembered that he phone was no longer in her jacket pocket. She had put it inside her clutch…which was still on the floor of XS where she had thrown it in her haste to get to Sally. SALLY! And Blaze...Vivica! She looked around wildly. Were they okay? Did help come for Sally? Were the three of them even ALIVE? She had no way of knowing. ::

Please let them still be alive!

:: She already knew that she was in a church of some kind due to what that crazy religious freak was saying. She had to fight the urge to call for help. As if anybody would come running to her aid. So she sat and waited, her back up against the wall. ::

 

[Persephone]

Alison disappeared from the conference room and reappeared down in the brig. Ava sat back down, watching what was happening from the monitor displayed in the center of the conference table. The woman purifier was named Deborah, and she was about as simple minded as they came. A sheep to their cause. Rolling her eyes at how irritating she sounded as she spoke with such "divine cause" to Alison, Ava continued to watch as the precog grew just as irritated. She true freezed her hand and knee, shattering both. A sadistic smirk crept along the goddesses lips. But soon, Deborah began to almost convulse....then she began to vomit mechanical sentinals the size of locus. Both of Ava's brows lifted in surprise.

"How attractive."

The swarm froze and Alison reappeared in the conference room.

Alison: If any of you had come into that room...

Looking over to the monitor, she watched as the swarm engulfed Haleigh, tearing her apart. It swept over the parthenon, attacking all of the size and ravaging them all. Shifting her eyes back to Alison, Ava would have hoped she could have escaped regardless of what Alison's vision predicted...but luckily they never had to find out.

Alison soon manifested the deactivated sentinels on the conference table as a means to study them. Standing, Ava moved closer to the table, picking one of the "bugs" up with her thumb and index finger, lifting it to her line of sight. They were interesting looking....something that very well could have been produced by Cassadine Enterprises when her father was at the forefront. But she would let Haleigh study them--she would get the information they needed much quicker.

Alison: But before you do that, I want to speak to you and Persephone. Privately.

Looking at Alison, more bad news? Placing the small sentinel back down on the table, Ava followed Alison and Cameron out of the conference room.

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon - Conference Room

Well Alison had entered the room and the world didn't end. Delilah and Alison did not attack each other on sight, though he could MORE than sense that they wanted to. The silent resentment seething from their two bodies was almost overwhelming for Cameron but the fact that they hadn't said something to Cameron that maybe there was still some hope.

He placed his hand over Delilah's and gave it a squeeze as Alison spoke on what she needed to do. He found it a little comical that she almost left it open for debate, which was most definitely not the case. There was no need to co-sign Alison's words because really at the end of the day, it was the lives of the people who paid to stay at his hotel at stake, and that was something that NOBODY else outside of somebody like his sister really had a say in.

Haleigh: GREAT WHY DON'T YOU GO DO THAT?!

Cameron shot a curious look at her as did Delilah.

Haleigh: "Sorry, I'm a little excited right now. Alison, get what you can from her. I'll watch from here and use the intel to formulate a plan."

Cameron looked back at Alison and gave his sister a knowing nod as she dissappeared and the group was left alone as a video screen displayed Deborah, The Purifier in one of the Interrogation Cells of The Basement Levels of The Parthenon. Delilah inquired to Vivica and Haleigh.

Delilah: "What can you tell us about the initial attack? How can we keep them from getting Cameron the same way."

He watched as Vivica thought for a moment.

"To be honest...it all happened incredibly fast, one minute I was standing next to Cassandra and the next..some of 'portal' manifested itself behind her. It didn't look like it was somebody's ability though...it felt different..like it was a technology of sorts...and there were two men on the other side...dressed in armor that resembled SENTINELS...So unless we are able to be on top of Cameron at all times, I'm not sure how we are going to be able to get around that..."

The mood shifted with anticipation as Alison appeared in the holding cell. He watched Deborah with a mix of confusion and disturbiaas he watch the woman rock back and forth almost as if she were in some kind of crazy trance. Alison and Deborah went back and forth for a moment.

Deborah: "Deborah: You....you're HIS SISTER. Our Lady of Justrice SAID you would appear to test me. But i will not faint. I will not deviate from my mission. I have the annointing of the Lord!"

A chill went down Cameron's spine. What did The Purifiers want with him? He could only think it would have had something to do with his past. He hadn't used his powers in the depraved ways he used to for a LONG time...AND it had been something he had made pennance for...at least so he thought...but life had a way of ALWAYS reminding you that.

Deborah: "No...no weapon formed against me shall prosper...every mutant that rises against me shall..."

Cameron was nearly on the edge of his seat at her words as Alison lifts the tenderizer in the air as she uses it to SHATTER Deborah's knee, causing her calf to SEPARATE from her thigh. It was brutal...but then again, so was his sister.

Deborah begins to convulse as if she was battery operated.

Deborah: "His...will...be...DONE!"

It was horrifying. Disgusting. Deborah begans to vomit as a glowing bile leaves her body and a BUZZ begins to be heard. From her mouth and body thousands of what appear to be LOCUSTS blast forth from her body as they begin to swarm. They were horrifying and fast moving.

"Oh my god...Whoever did this...they...REALLY want us dead..."

Thankfully within seconds, his sister has frozen the swarm in time with her power as she reappears in the Conference Room.

Alison: There was a time activator in her body. The moment Cameron, Haleigh or anyone ELSE in this room stepped foot into that room, it would have activated. She wasn't expecting to see ME. Which prooves what I suspected the moment I became aware of the "False One" (the "precog") She can't account for ME or my movements. Any information she has on me is due to my link to Cameron. If any of you had come into that room...

She pointed to the monitor as Cameron watched.

<< Black Widow, falling to the ground, no longer alive, but not quite dead. Her body is now conduit for INFECTION and VIOLENCE as the T.O. Virus RADIATES from her and is carried ALL THROUGH the hotel by the wild sentinels; Persephone seizing, with her hands to her head, her eyes and mouth rupturing as wild sentinels fly into and OUT of them; MorningStar being devoured by the wild sentinels, her body being CUT UP by their lasers while others CARRY AWAY pieces of it to feed on; INNOCENT patrons in the hotel, scream, panicking, running every which way, but still falling prey, DYING in the swarm. Prophet screaming as a pack of wild sentinels BURSTS through his stomach, spreading out all around him and enveloping him.>>

<< OUTSIDE the building, it begins to crack and tremble, before FALLING>>

Alison: They wanted you to bring her here, so that you would do their work for them. I have brought you some time now. They were NOT expecting ME to disrupt their carefully laid trap. They will be forced to regroup.

:: She stretches out her hand. A swirl of black/blue orbs forms on the table as a solitary WILD SENTINEL insect appears on the table.::

I have ensured that it will NOT resume function.


Use this to try to establish a technological trail BACK to the source. That will be your best chance.

"Thank You Alison...."

Alison: Prophet, use your psi powers. You've established a mind link with Ruby before. The psi path still exsists. FIND HER. Use HER EYES to see her surroundings. But before you do that, I want to speak to you and Persephone. Privately.

Cameron nodded as he motioned for Alison and Ava to follow him out of the Conference Room (the door of which he had to telekinetically UN-FUSE thanks to Delilah's earlier move to keep them inside). He made his way further down the hall and led them to the now empty Administrative Services Office for The Parthenon.

"What is it, Alison?"