Cross time caper

[Seer]

<< Limbo, a fascinating dimension...everywhere and yet no where. outside magick users, extremely long lived beings and the strongest of scientific minds, this dimension was not known, much less understood and to Morgan, as well as her only two cross time alternates (magik/darkchilde) was given the GIFT of having telepathic control over the "stepping discs" of this realm. a "key" beyond all others to travel through all of time and space in the twinkling of an eye. it was a special birthright, but it did not come without its burdens.>>

<< the team was now down to 3, plus Mike. Without the benefit of Alison's precognition the team was moving more on faith than anything else. One wound from a demon could spell death anyone outside of Haleigh, who had a unique synergy with the T.O. virus and if they became seperated and one fell into a random opening disc, they could be lost upon lost.>>

<< so, much like Alison, Haleigh and Blaze so long ago, this group makes it way with caution, not quite sure when IS the right time to jump into a disc.>>

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh was stoic as the scene unfolded in the scrying glass.

"[shrugging].... It COULD be worse.... [getting a strange look from the others] well.... they could be DEAD."

Nicolas reacted strongly to being a psychic hound... a traitor to his kind. Haleigh knew he would never do something like that willfully... and she considered telling him so, but Mike, Karen and then Ororo went to his side and so she did nothing more than awkwardly stand off to the side as Ororo greeted and briefed them on what to do... Haleigh had been on a similar path before.... and so, this didn't seem as daunting.

They made their way out of the garden.... Haleigh realized that in all the fuss, she hadn't changed out of her dress but she wasn't worried about it, she could manifest it IF she really needed it.

Haleigh glared at the statue of Alexis as the others regarded it with wonderment.... there was a sordid history between the two that ended darkly and it was clear that Haleigh still regarded her treachery with the utmost disdain. She ushered the others past the statue and into the other part of Limbo. The realm's demons sneered at them.... Haleigh wasn't intimidated by them, in fact, she merely walked on as though they weren't there.... unless one got too close, in which case she shot a warning glare to discourage them.

"Everyone stay close now.... we'll have to use instinct to pick a disc and we have to be quick to all get through the disc of our choice before it closes."

Haleigh was the only one present who'd done something like this before... and so it fell to her to lead... it was a good thing for them ALL that she was ready to accept the mantle.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas realized that they made a strange sight walking together as a group, two pretty blondes in dresses and a pair of men that were armed to the teeth. The demons in Limbo were testing them, trying to get a reaction from them as they moved. Nicolas spoke aloud for a moment after Haleigh made a great suggestion.

Mike, stay cool, those demons are mostly bark and believe me, our bite is worse if it comes down to it. Haleigh, take point of you don't mind. Your experience with this type of thing combined with your tie to your sister make you the the logical choice to select an appropriate disk. Mike, cover her at second. Delilah, whichever spot you want, I will take the other at third or watching the rear.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah paused as she passed the statue of Alexis. She touched a hand to the cold stone. It was a somber reminder of what could happen when someone chose the wrong path. What could happen to any of them.

Delilah shuddered a bit as they stepped out of the garden and into the tumultuous expanse of limbo. The situation matched their surroundings - seemingly hopeless. How would they ever find the right stepping disc?

Delilah, whichever spot you want, I will take the other at third or watching the rear.

She resisted the urge to tell Nicolas not to tell her what to do. There was no time. She fell in behind Mike.

"Your TK will probably be more useful watching our backs, don't you think?"

She kept her eyes open, but tried not to focus too closely on the horrors all around them. No need to pick a fight before they had to.

 

[Seer]

phantoms

<< onward they went. a few discs opened along the way and closed. they soon found themselves on the crest of a plateau, it overlooked a frightening and seemingly ENDLESS drop....as well as the expanse of limbo, floating land masses drifting along...endless space going up and down and a mist the clouded any possible view of where the next level of solid ground was. in the horizon, they could see a massive mountain, whose peak was covered by rolling, billowing storm cloudes, with jagged bolts of black lightning and thunder raging all around it. THIS peak of the mount was actually "The Summit" the massive, castle built from the mountain itself that belonged to Belasco, the original ruler of Limbo and was now Morgan's by default as she (and her cross time alternates) had driven him out of Limbo permanently. Of the team present, only Haleigh and Delilah had been inside this massive, gothic place.>>

<< it was a long way....seemingly forever, from where they were to the summit and one false step from a floating land mass could cause any of them to fall, probably FOREVER . there were winged demons frolicking in the air as well. some of them had taken notice of the team but most were too busy reveling in the violence of the skies above, some even jousting with each other.>>


<< the time to move was at hand. getting from where they were, to the summit was key but it would not be without its challenges.>>

<< on one of the floating land masses...something was happening, some sort of commotion. as it came closer and closer toward the team, they would see>>

the 2nd incarnation of the Six- Guardian, Foxfire, Shockwave, Prophet...Black Widow had just been murdered 20 minutes earlier...by a raging, demonic Spellbinder who was dressed in her Inferno costume and she was now attacking her team. Erika King was present as well.

<< this was one of those temporal phantom moments Ororo referred to. Haleigh had seen them before, as had Delilah.>>

Spellbinder! YOU BITCH!! YOU MURDERED HALEIGH! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!

<< the beautifull but terrifying Spellbinder stands tall, with her shredded cape flowing behind her, her hair flowing upward and her face partially enshrouded in shadow. moments ago, on earth, the coast of L.A. she had OBLITERATED Haleigh with a massive eldritch bolt, it was in THAT moment, that she fully descended into insane EVIL and now Prophet, beside himself with grief lashes out at the demon sorceress. he charges at her, trying to assault her with his PSI powers but to no effect, her psi screen repells all psychic attacks as she LAUGHS. he then attacks her physically, using his sister's tactic of augmenting his physical blows with his telekinetic power. he is not nearly as stylish or honed in it as Alison but it would be enough to more than injure an average unprotected foe.>>

Take your BEST SHOT, King! I will see you do your worst and RETURN IT UPON YOU!

<< her voice stereophonic as the thunder crashes behind her. the two battle each other physically, Cameron prooves to be more agile than given credit for as he dodges several FATAL blows from Spellbinder, who is far physically stronger.>>

I am as BEYOND YOU as the human is BEYOND the AMOEBA! you can't prevail against me....now DIE!

<< Spellbinder blasts Cameron away, but as she does....she gestures and his body is caught and encased in a piller of AMBER and she performs a spell to TEAR his SKELETON from his body....his skeleton in the same pose as his physical body and a look of shock is permanently frozen on his face as the rest of the six look on horror. Morgan then causes the envrionment itself to attack the rest of the team, Foxfire, Shockwave, Guardian and Erika defend themselves. for Nicolas, it is the first time he's seen Shockwave in action WITH the team and Erika, when she was supposedly on the side of "good". as the team fights to stay alive, each of them doing their very best....Spellbinder rises up and prepares to unleash an attack on par with CIRCE against them.>>

you wanted to see me suffer! you wanted to see me fall apart!! NOW I'll DESTROY YOU ALL! you'll NEVER MESS WITH ME AGAIN!

<< a chime sounds off....as energy swirls around the demon sorceress' uplifted hands...a crash of force and power sounds off as she thrusts them forward to release a MASSIVE blast of dark magick that causes the ground to tremble as it charges madly for the team. GUARDIAN rushes forward, surrounded by darkly glowing orbs as she uses her power to sprint to the front of the team and extends her hands and summons ALL her mystical power to errect a SHIELD the blast hits the shield and Guardian is bombarded with intense physical PAIN as she fights to shield the team from certain death..

<< Haleigh wasnt alive for this...but she can now see one of the first moments were Alison departed from the "ice cold bitch" persona back in the earlier days of the team. she was risking her life to save her brother and sister and her team. the look on her face said it all, as tears involuntarily fell from her tightly shut eyes.>>

ALISON! you TRAITOR! how DARE YOU INTERFERE! NO ONE STANDS IN MY WAY!! I RULE HERE!

<< Spellbinder cries out with wicked glee as she intensifies her assault. Guardian's shield begins to flux and she begins to buckle...until the sound of a mirror shattering can be heard as the blast HAMMERS through, irradiating Alison while shards of her broken shield fly everywhere, impaling demons, one even slices FOXFIRE across the face as SHE cries out for Alison and rushes to get to her.>>

NO ONE DEFIES ME AND LIVES. NO ONE!

a swirling haze of sparkling green orbs appears behind Spellbinder, as ORORO appears, gesturing in front of her and manifesting a glowing white orb

I will defy you, Darkchild! Your reign of terror STOPS NOW!

her voice was bold as it was direct. Ororo, wise, seemingly immortal and quite powerfull herself, now risking confrontation with the sorceress supreme of Limbo. she's all that remains between the team and certain death....but as she gestures and confronts Morgan with the glowing white orb...it flashes...something from within the Orb touches Spellbinder, forces her to "look" at herself and causes her to recoil in SHOCK IN FEAR at what she has become...how far she has gone and at that moment, Spellbinder shrieks with protest and DISAPPEARS....leaving the battered team there with Foxfire craddling a broken Alison and Cameron King still seperated from his Skeleton.

--------

<< the temporal phantom shimmers from view, leaving the CURRENT group to take in what they've seen. Delilah was not present for the Inferno. She arrived just after...she had HEARD the stories, from Morgan, Alison and those who survived...but this was just ONE moment of many in that nightmare. Nicolas had not seen Morgan THAT murderous before...only through second had accounts and a brief visit in her mind. While she was sorceress supreme on earth, Her power, in Limbo was terrifying...she could do ANYTHING here and he'd seen a glimpse of that. But he also saw Ororo, who swooped in to defend the team against the raging sorceress, putting her own life at risk. it had all occurred....and would occurr again and again through the endless time loops of Limbo.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah should have been horrified by the display in front of them, but she wasn't. She thought back to that time in her life, about the day she heard about Blaze's death. She wasn't horrified back then, either - but she had come to Morgan's side, after a long absence, to be there for her friend. And now, she had to be there for her again, when Morgan herself couldn't be. She knew that THIS Morgan, in front of her, wasn't the REAL Morgan. Even if Morgan herself could never realize that.

She looked across the chasm at Belasco's castle. She remembered being there another time, the first time, before Alexis changed, before Ava, before...everything changed.

"The Summit, there."

Delilah pointed.

"We should make our way there - Morgan's citadel."

On a second thought, Delilah looked back towards Nicolas, and lowered her voice.

"Remember what Ororo said - they aren't real."

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh lead the group forth through the realm.... stepping discs opened nearby from time to time but none of them seemed right. Before long, Haleigh could see the Summit in the distance.... She was about to tell everyone they should head there... but everyone had slowed to see a temporal phantom nearby.

Haleigh was the only one present who'd BEEN there.... but even SHE had not seen everything... for she had been the first to go. For the first time, she saw the full result of her and Cameron's provocation.... Morgan's complete undoing. Haleigh had always known Morgan was tainted by evil but in the beginning, when her and Morgan were constantly at odds, she thought it would be BETTER to bring that evil OUT and so, her and Cameron went out of their way to bring about a change in Morgan. But they had both underestimated what might happen if Morgan lost control... and they both [along with some others] paid dearly for their mistake. It was not a moment Haleigh was proud of, and even LESS so now that she was actually witnessing what HAPPENED after her death.

Delilah pointed out the Summit, breaking Haleigh from her thoughts, and the hybrid nodded in return, agreeing that they were going that way. Delilah then tried to reassure Nicolas that the phantoms weren't real.... but Haleigh interjected.

"They are not corporeal but they ARE real.... or maybe, we should say they WERE real. They are shadows of our former selves.... and as such.... they are reminders of what we were and can always be AGAIN. We ARE capable of doing those things to each other. That happened a LONG time ago and were we all different people then.... but if we are not careful.... we could regress to a point where that might happen again. [turning back towards the Summit] Alright.... we shouldn't linger in one place too long."

 

[Seer]

to the summit

<< It was hard for Delilah to watch this scene as it replayed itself, but the mutant knew her best friend to be MORE than this horrid moment. It was one of the reasons why deep down, Morgan always trusted Delilah with her heart...something she could not do easily with MOST people. Haleigh showed a reflective and WISE insight as the temporal phantom image played itself out...it was a lesson for them all to take note of...especially Nicolas, who was courting this woman tainted by the darkness of Limbo.>>

<< after a moment or two, Haleigh urged them on. the way was treacherous, demons lurking, no visible foot path...Nicolas could have LEAPED from where he was and attempted to land at the drawbridge of the summit but he could just as easily fly head long into a disc while in the air. so instead, Delilah opens a wormhole from where they stand to the summit. she's familiar enough to be able to get them into the grand main hall of the castle and thus cutting down on travel time. now inside the summit, demons were no longer an issue...but whipping winds and stepping discs were in abundance. this castle was haunting, gothic and LARGE. barrel vaulted ceilings, pillers with ancient banners with tattered ends and mystic symbols on the banners flowing... and the castle was made from the mountain itself.>>

<< Haleigh had remarked on the place before, stating that she LIKED the dark, looming solitude it offered. Morgan scarecely used this place...unlike her cross time alternate Darkchilde who regularly stayed in the castle even though she operated on earth.>>

<< Delilah had been here before too, she preferred Ororo's garden to this place anyday. Nicolas and Mike were first time visitors. The massive castle obviously designed by someone who thought highly of himself and his power, but the fact that Morgan had humiliated him and cast him out said something about her skill...when she needed to call upon it.>>

<< through the halls they moved, noting the long abandonned passages, the niches carved in the walls that housed eternal mystic flames.... statues here and there. there were many floors to this castle, pictures on the walls, pictures of what could only be described as "nightmare dream scapes"....and all the while, the winds whistled and howled, sometimes GUSTING through the passages and spaces of the castle.>>

<< they could see through the carved out windows that they were now at a dizzying new height in Limbo.>>

<< they went up a few floors. it would take DAYS to even decently cover the entire castle and even with Haleigh's sensors (which couldnt properly register the spatial/temporal anomolies of this realm) and Nicolas' TK (which was also somewhat hampered) they could not fully appreciate the HISTORICAL signficance of this place...which appeared exactly the same in the timelines of all the Dark Trinity. it was here that the temporal phantoms would be the most occurring.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Haleigh corrected Delilah, saying the phantoms they saw WERE in fact real. Delilah gave Haleigh a look. Sometimes exact truths were unecessary...harmful. And she thought this was one of them.

"But that is not who Morgan is TODAY. I don't need her to wake up and find Nicolas thinking that it IS. Some things in the past are best forgotton..."

Her voice trailed off. She might not choose a man like Nicolas for herself, but Morgan had. And while she wasn't here to defend herself, she'd be damned if she'd let her friend see in Nicolas' eyes the monster she truly feared herself to be.

She focused on creating a wormhole to the citadel. There could be no mistakes this time - and even though she knew whose doing it had been that took them off course the last time, she wanted no chance of a repeat. She also used it as a convenient excuse to not look at the people standing around her.

They arrived in the main hall, and Delilah closed the worm hole behind them. It was an interesting comparison - this home in Limbo with Morgan's home at Illustra. Both facets of the Trinity were so alike with the same tastes...which just manifested themselves differently across timelines.

Upward they climbed, memories of times past almost as real as the temporal phantoms they had seen already. And she wouldn't have admitted it, but Delilah wasn't so sure she wanted to see any more of them - they were apt to get even MORE personal now that they were in Morgan's residence itself.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas followed along with the group as the approached the summit. Before them a large castle a lay that was quite interesting in that he couldn't fully aget an EXACT fix on it. It was as if there were thousands of identical castles all vibrating in the same spot. Interesting and anomalous as far as items go. As he worked to analyze what was occuring, a scene unfolded below.

It was Morgan. At her worst as she laid waste to the team, in fully demonic mode. He was saddened by the display, that she was pushed so far at this point. He silently vowed to help her all he could when this was over even if they no longer were together as Deliloah reminded him that this was not real, in a sense. Haleigh corrected her and Delilah simmered a bit as she sought to protect who Morgan was in HIS eyes. That was sweet for a friend to do.

No matter what, I will not think differently of Morgan. But this helps me understand more about her.

This was what he did not get as much before. When Morgan (and to some extent Alison as well ) go cold, they were not simply being mean. Often, they were moreso cutting off feelings, to maintain control. Especially for Morgan. How could you risk emotional pain when you knew this could be the result? He entered Delilah's wormhole with the group and exited at the castle.

As they walke daround the castle, he attemptyed to right the ship telekinetically. It helped some, but the vastness of this building combined with its temporal/spatial vibration made it difficult. he walked with the group silently.

 

[Arsenal]

Mike followed in the midst of the group, trying to ignore the less savory parts of the trip. For him, the idea was to stay with the group and stay alert.

As the scene played out before them, he whistled at the display of Morgan's power and felt a bit afraid for Nicolas. Mike cared for Morgan and loved her mother, but to him Morgan was not necessarily the picture of stability. Combined with that level of power, he only hoped that Nicolas knew what he was getting into.

He followed Haleigh into the wormhole and fanned out to one side a bit as they proceeded. This place SEEMED like where they should be, and he expected that they would get more than one chance to get where they needed.

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah tried to rebutt Haleigh's assessment.... and the hybrid knew that Delilah was doing it to preserve Nicolas's warm fuzzies for Morgan.... but Haleigh felt that gesture fell second to alerting him to the darkest of possibilities. She was by NO MEANS trying to dirty Nicolas' opinion of Morgan... or to turn him off of her.... but she deemed it important that he, and Mike and Delilah, knew the precedent was there.

"Forgotten?? [turning to gaze at Delilah] A tiger doesn't change its stripes, Delilah. That IS a part of Morgan.... just as MY actions then are a part of me. Neither of us can deny it, and neither of us will TRY to..... the rest of you must accept it ALSO. It doesn't do ANYONE any good to try to cover that up.... we must LEARN from it. I am no more proud of the Inferno incident than Morgan is, it wasn't a shining moment for EITHER of us... but IF I were to agree with you that SOME things are best forgotten, THIS is definitely NOT one of them. Morgan would never do something like this now, in her RIGHT MIND, but if she were to LOSE CONTROL like she did then, we have to be aware that we COULD be faced with that side of her again. WE were LUCKY tonight that when she got totally STRESSED OUT, she turned it inward instead of unleashing it on us. THAT'S why she passed out and we should thank our lucky stars that she did. The same goes for me.... I would never strive to provoke that of her, or to hurt ANY of you in any way.... but it wouldn't serve ANY of us well to neglect that I AM capable of doing so if I feel it necessary for my survival. It sounds terrible, I know.... and Karen would probably be correct in saying that its a COMPLETELY unhealthy coping mechanism. But the TRUTH of the matter is... while I would do WHATEVER necessary to protect all of you.... I would equally do WHATEVER necessary to protect my SELF, if it came down to me VERSUS one of you.... as it did when Shockwave betrayed us. I realize you don't want to think of Morgan that way.... I understand it's difficult for you.... but there will come a time when Morgan must protect Morgan.... and THAT will be what she becomes. It would be DETRIMENTAL to ignore it. I'm not trying to put Morgan down... please know that. It's just the way it IS. Like I pointed out before, I'll be the FIRST to admit that the same goes for ME. When we originally formed the Six, I was in survival mode and I did some pretty deplorable things. I never tried to deny it or convince anyone otherwise... and I would NEVER suggest that anyone forget that its a PART of who I am..... [lightheartedly] Not that Karen would ever let anyone forget."

She gave slight smile and went through the wormhole, checking the area as they arrived in the Summit to be sure there was no immediate danger. Haleigh remembered this place well... she even enjoyed the dark atmosphere of the place.... it spoke to a deep part of her... perhaps the part she warned the others of... a part similarly found in Morgan. They moved through the halls, up a few floors, passing statues of people they did not recognize from Darkchilde's timeline, statues the hybrid had seen before. One they DID recognize... Persephone. The rest were strangers. Haleigh paused in front of the statue named Titania.

"It's a shame we'll probably never meet these people... they look interesting. I remember a temporal phantom of them fighting.... they were something to behold.... not unlike WE are. And of course, meeting Darkchilde was an adventure."

 

[Seer]

the phantom zone

<< at the moment that they paused, they heard a PHONE ring....a PHONE in a castle like THIS?>>

<< as each one looked around, they found themselves no longer in the halls of the dark castle, but in a house, Karen's marital home with Christopher.>>

<< it was night time, the Doctor hurried in from a stormy evening, wearing a trench tied at the waist and hurried placing her umbrella on the floor as she rushed to answer the phone. she removed her trench to reveal a tailored, light jade colored fitted blazer and matching short skirt...a rather higher hemline than usual for the doctor but the woman's legs were "flawless"...just like her daughter's and she was wearing ALLIGATOR high heeled pumps. the style is clearly "Melrose Place" inspired, and suitable for a woman her age. She wasnt trying to look 20, she was flaunting the beauty and style that came with HER age. and it appears from small indications around the house that the timeframe is late 90's. Morgan was out of college, and strutting her stuff on the runway for the house of Loreale' at this point. She was also trying her hand at "being a super heroine"...here and there , most recently with VALIANT. >>

Hello?

<< she says in a slightly upbeat voice as the thunder rumbkles outside. on the OTHER LINE is none other than Haleigh Davidoff...representing CLANDESTINE INC. >>

Good evening Doctor Victoria. Everything seems to be in order for your request and we've received your payment...I must admit i was surprised when you paid the entire fee upfront and in advance. Most clients have to take some sort of payment plan for our services...

Alycia Barnett referred me to you, remember? She only referrs the BEST and I need this protection. I need to relocate as soon as possible...my husband...he's....

<< Karen pauses as a flash of light from a window catches her attention...but its only lightning. her voice sounds more urgent now.>>

He's not himself anymore. It goes BEYOND a mere 180 personality change. He's become distant, deceptive, avaricious...hostile. Alycia did some checking...his recent alliance with Dr. Adam Chandler coincides with his ongoing affair with this woman...."woman in white". he's become agressive...even going so fas as to try to MAN HANDLE ME.

<< the rains continue to pelt around the house and the thunder carries ont.>>

We've confirmed those findings from Miss Barnett. Very resourcefull woman she is, but even she cannot go as far as we can without leaving a trail. Your husband IS in fact working for the entity known as MysTech and we've been trailing HIM. He's keeping close tabs on your daughter and her half sister, Blaze Fielding.

<< her sapphire blue eyes widen with concern>> well I've got to warn Morgan!.... I....

: No, Doctor. What you've got to do is be ready to leave your house in exactly 30 minutes. I've got some people on the way to get you now and once you're gone, your location will be truly "UNDISCLOSED" you will be receiving the BEST protection money can by and that will extend to your daughter as well.

<< the history of Karen and Haleigh began with these moments, when Karen HIRED Clandestine Inc to protect her from her husband as she initiated divorce proceedings from him following the discovery of his affair with Malice, his change after joining Mystech and his recent PHYSICAL assault of her. Karen was not as QUICK to kill a man the way Morgan was...the fact that Christopher betrayed her across the board was a shock to her psyche...one that burned her to her core and his recent attack of her....that was the straw that broke the camel's back. it would ONLY take that one time for her to know it was time to ESCAPE. she doesnt realize totally that Christopher is emerging from the shadows in the darkened room she's in now. >>

<< showing signs of uneasiness...like someone was in the room with her and she FELT IT...>> al... alright, Ms. Davidoff. I...I'll be ready at the appointed time...but please HURRY.

Don't worry, Doctor. We've got men shadowing you around the property now. nothing can get past...

<< even as she said that....Karen is no longer focused on the phone. thunder crashes...as Karen is now being accosted from behind...by CHRISTOPHER, who emerges and wraps the phone chord around the doctor's neck. he begins to STRANGLE HER violently...she can't turn around, she cant any leverage! it happened so fast. and all Haleigh can hear as Karen's half audible gasps and choking. but then she hears something ELSE...one of the first clues that would lead her to uncover Morgan AND Karen's status as witches.>>


<< Karen struggles, trying desperately to get enough of a "moment" to FREE herself....to use her magick but she cannot! Christopher has changed. now more agressive thanks to the psychic manipulations of MALICE and posessing perculiar physical abilities thanks to voluntary self experiments in the mystech labs...he's far stronger, more durable and athletic than a normal human. he drags Karen across the floor still behind her as he attemps to crush her throat. It's a moment that FURTHER illustrates why she and Morgan hate men so much...a moment that none of the six had seen or even HEARD about. It must be hard for Mike, to watch the woman he loves being attacked like this.>>

<< a chime sounds off and a stepping disc opens. a young Morgan emerges from the disc, FLYING.>>

MOTHER!! CHRISTOPHER! LEAVE HER ALONE!

<< Morgan streaks toward them, making a deadly pass at Christopher from behind as she BASHES HIM in and across the head with her fist. even then, her super strength was apparent as Christopher lurches VIOLENTLY to the side, dropping Karen and himself crashing into the desk of the study. Morgan comes around and lands by her mother, who is now on the ground...more unconscious than awake.>>

Mom!! oh goddess....please dont let me be too late!! MOM!! I felt your pain...I felt what was happening and i came!

<< Morgan's voice trembled with fear. it was obvious that Morgan was still more in touch with her emotions back then and that her deterioating family situation was taking a toll on her. it was a secret she hid well from her "friends' and social circles in college and in her blooming modeling career but one that she couldnt escape herself. Christopher had recently tried to coerce HER and Blaze into joining Mystech for "special initiaves" and Morgan flat out refused. When he tried to bully Blaze, Morgan shoved him with such force that would have sent a car down a road at alarming speeds. She was being FORCED to defend herself and her family from this MAN..her FATHER...THIS MAN.>>

craddling her mother as she knelt down, Morgan saw the shadow of her father looming over her. he looked more muscular than before, stronger....and more EVIL.

Your mother is interferring in IMPORTANT BUSINESS, Morgan. Why can't you understand that DADDY KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU and FOR BLAZE! You're making me ANGRY with your disrespect...LITTLE GIRL.

<< the tears in morgan's icy violet eyes, eyes that seem to zoom in CLOSE for the six that are watching...those eyes NARROW and a chime sounds off...Morgan is getting ANGRY.>>

I'm...NOT a little GIRL any more Daddy....I'...I'm a WOMAN. a woman with POWER. Power that you would do ANYTHING to possess...just like my SISTER and her powers! You....you've been HURTING us...hurting my MOTHER with your lies...your betrayal...and now you're...you're trying to KILL HER because we wont go along with YOU!? what k ind of father...what kind of MAN are you! Well...I'm not going to let you! I won't let you hurt ANY OF US AGAIN! I'll KILL YOU!

<< Morgan is preparing to lay Karen down so she can ATTACK Christopher, who is now weilding some sort of ENERGY weapon.>>

Blaze is MY daughter before she's YOUR SISTER, you disrespectfull little WITCH. You're just like your MOTHER. always thinking you have the answers, always thinking you can DO SOMETHING. You dont know your place! First Karen...then YOU. If you wont serve me and mystech in LIFE...then you will in DEATH and there isnt a THING you can do to stop me. I'm your FATHER and you will OBEY!

FUCK YOU CHRSTOPHER! GO TO HELL!

<< at THAT moment Clandestine Inc BURSTS into the house. men in sleek, covert outfits and armed with the most efficient technology and weaponry, among the best trained spies and fighters on the globe. they didnt account for Morgan's presence because she was a TELEPORTER, something that Haleigh wasnt yet aware of. Nor did they know the Doctor herself was a witch. all that mattered NOW was that theire CLIENT was in danger. >>

<< a FEMALE commanding officer leads them in and immediately gets to Morgan and a fallen Karen before Morgan can rise up and display her mystical powers against Christopher. while the other three men engage in a VIOLENT confrontation with Christopher.>>

Miss Victoria, Doctor Victoria, don't move and stay calm. We're getting you OUT OF HERE now.

<< Morgan was beside herself with shock and ANGER as the Female soldier struggled to at least pacify her in the moment. for the Six it was a moment of TRAUMA that they'd never heard Morgan talk about. the soldier and two medics get Karen and Morgan out....just as BLACK GUARDS from MYSTECH arrive for Christopher! THEY attack the clandestine Inc. Soldiers. the female officer radio's HALEIGH , alerting her to the situation and Haleigh gives additional instructions as all of her men pull back (but not before engaging the black guards enough to get some 'pieces of information about their suits/technology'. as they exit the estate and prepare to evacuate, MORGAN, unwilling to just RUN...effortlessly bursts forth from the grasp of the female soldier and rushes forward to find the Black Guards attempting to usher Christopher out.>>

You hurt my mother...AGAIN! NOW I'm GOING TO HURT YOU!

<< it wasnt just this moment..it was everything that lead up to it as well. the verbal abuse, the lying, the deception, the revelation of the AFFAIR, the divorce proceedings, her discovery of BLAZE and Christopher's treatment of Blaze...and his recent physical assault on Karen as well as this one. it all served to blast away any POSITIVE idea of men authority Morgan had...any TRUST in the idea of a father OR a husband.>>

<< she extends her hands...and a glowing halo of violet energy forms around them. when it expands further, she unleashes an ELDRITCH BOLT, firing upon Christopher and the Black Guards....destroying their transport as it explodes VIOLENTLY. She doesnt realize that she's revealed her powers to Clandestine Inc until the female officer GRABS HER and practically (but not without a struggle) DRAGS her away back to their transport and has to FORCE her inside so THEY can escape without any FURTHER detection.>>

<< the temporal phantom fades from view, leaving the Six to process this moment as they now find themselves on an even HIGHER floor than they were before, without being aware they had moved?? they were now in a long hall way where many large suite bedrooms appeared to be. in witnessing a key piece of history form the past PRE SIX , they'd somehow changed positions in the castle. >>

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah felt a wave of sadness as she watched the scene before her fade. How different Morgan's - and Karen's - life could have been had she had a different father. She had experienced so much pain at the hands of that man, and it had damaged her irrevocably. It was too bad Morgan couldn't have had the benefit of Delilah's own loving and stable father, had they truly been sisters.

Delilah suddenly realized their surroundings had changed.

"Wha-whoa."

She looked around, then turned towards Haleigh.

"Were we here the last time we came? But more importanly HOW DID WE FREAKIN' GET HERE? We haven't gone through a stepping disc without knowing it, have we?"

Delilah did not like this one bit, and the journey had only started.

 

[Arsenal]

Mike moved forward as with the group until the apparition occurred. He watched Karen as she entered the house. Seeing her as she truly was in the 90s conformed for him that she hadn't changed a bit in years. He dwelt on that only a second as he listened to the call with Haleigh, of her plans to leave Christopher.

even as she said that....Karen is no longer focused on the phone. thunder crashes...as Karen is now being accosted from behind...by CHRISTOPHER, who emerges and wraps the phone chord around the doctor's neck. he begins to STRANGLE HER violently

Mike instinctively draws a pair of Israel Military Industries Desert Eagle .50 Caliber handguns and fires six times, all shots directly at his head but...

Nicolas raised his hand, willing all of the bullets to hang in mid-air then drop harmlessly a la Neo. Their eyes meet and Nicolas shakes his head slowly, "speaking" to him calmly.

Just witness this. There is nothing you can do and it is obvious that she survived. Look and understand.

But the shoe would soon be on the other foot as Morgan came in. Nicolas breath caught in his throat as he looked at the scene. The hallway of even this massive structure pulsed with his rapidly increasing heartbeat and Mike "thought back to him.

Take you own advice,kid. You must stay calm and focused, before you give us all permanent migraines.

As the scene ended, he looked around as he holstered and did a double take. Just where in the hell had they gone too? Did they move while the scene took place? He was sure that they had not, but they were definitely in a different spot, sure as shit.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh could recall HER side of this temporal phantom as well... and she, of course, had her officer's report of the night... but there was always those few moments in between the phone cutting out and her operatives storming the scene that were unaccounted for... until now. Haleigh watched Christopher terrorize his estranged wife and adult daughter.... it was less than surprising. the Hybrid knew enough to expect such brutality from Christopher... but SEEING this highlighted just WHY the mother/daughter duo mistrusted men so much. The major male figure in their lives betrayed them and tried to kill them... and Haleigh could understand their lingering hostility.... still... she felt they shouldn't hold it against the WHOLE gender.... Christopher was one extreme on a scale of good-to-bad... they weren't ALL like that.

The scene ended... Haleigh noticed, as the others did, that they were NOT in the same part of the castle they'd previously been in. Delilah asked if they'd somehow gone into a disc.

"I can't be certain... but I don't think so. My sensors register a kind of.... temporal 'turbulence' whenever we travel by stepping disc.... and I haven't sensed that. This place... has a way of disorienting our perception of time AND space.... and the longer we are here... the worse it will become. [searching their surroundings with 'x-ray' vision] It's clear that we are on a DIFFERENT floor... there are many different sleeping chambers here. It's possible that the temporal phantom we watched was some kind of portal... by viewing it we were shifted to a different part of the castle... or maybe-- more likely, we were shifted through TIME to a part of the castle we were headed to and would have ended up eventually? I can't say for sure... I'm just guessing."

 

[Seer]

The Summit

<< indeed, the castle itself was a cocentrated focal point, as Nicolas had detected before, it seemed as if this place were vibrating on an infinite number of planes of existence at once. Haleigh was right, they HAD shifted, but not exactly via disc. the most recent temporal phantom they experienced encompassed them in the actual SETTING in which it originally occurred, and during the play back, they had shifted from one floor to another inside the castle. >>

<< it was a strange thing, to be in an environment that defied all laws of time and space at any given moment. it could be an advantage, like now, moving them from one place to another without any physical effort on their poart...but it could also be a disadvantage, as the group saw themselves in a large mirror while standing in the gothic decorated hall, they realized they ALL were showing signs of aging. NOT that they looked BAD, but it was clear that an INCREDIBLE amount of time was passing for them while on earth, for Karen and Pandora, only minutes had passed.>>

<< they moved down the floor they were on, until they found what appeared to be Morgan's own room in this castle, a room that would have done any classic disney princess proud...a gothic "fairy tale" type room for a maid of beauty and distress...and Morgan, despite being powerfull was clearly in distress. >>

<< the room clearly had some things that belonged to Morgan within it. on the vanity there were intricately designed bottles of some of the best designer frangrances in the world, expensive make up, priceless jewelry as well as several pictures. one of them included Morgan, Alison, Delilah and Blaze. Morgan, Alison and Delilah were all taller than Blaze and a bit older....they stood together behind Blaze as Blaze made a very silly face and pose while the three women behind her each posed in a way that suited their style and personality. >>

<< there was another picture, of Sharon and Alycia together at the gala that was hosted at the Parthenon, the one Helena had crashed. both women looking glamorous as can be. and another picture still...this one of Haleigh and Blaze. Thier's was a special friendship, one that blossomed INSPITE of Morgan's initial disapproval, prooving that Blaze had a mind of her own. these pictures were taken BEFORE Nicolas and Ava's time with the Six...that much was clear. and finally, there was one last picture near Morgan's bed, on a stone night stand, a picture of her as a baby, in her mother's arms. Karen was looking down at her baby with the doting eyes of a young mother and where ever they were, the wind must of been blowing because karen's hair had that "blowing" effect. there was one other picture...that of Karen, Morgan and Ororo together. Ororo looked different in the picture...and it wasnt taken with any camera since Ororo CANT be photographed, it was DRAWN. the artist was unknown, at least to the present group, but it was very well done, with Ororo sitting and Karen and Morgan behind her, their hands on her shoulders.>>

<< around the room were other items ....crystaline or other wise. Morgan loved diamonds and crystals and it showed. there were also very exquisite night gowns and other "ceremonial" looking outfits in her cloests....as well as her past costumes from VALIANT! she was definately not one to stay in the same costume for long.>>

<< winds whispered in the hallway as the members of the six carefully inspected this room, it was the first chance MOST of them had been able to get this close to Morgan's personal realm they would note the how organized she was, how everything was structured. there was even a little cat bed in a chair next to her large canopy bed, probably for Tinkerbell. there WAS one thing that would catch Nicolas' eye...a necklace and medallion, made of the PUREST GOLD, resembling the shape of a large pocket watch. on the outside casing, there was a beautifully painted PENTAGRAM and after a bit of EFFORT to open it, the medallion GLOWED and a soft chiming melody was heard as he saw the same pentagram INSIDE, only with three of the five points filled with BLOODSTONES that remembled shimmering rubies. these were pieces of Morgan's SOUL. this was the famed "beatrice medallion" that EACH of the dark trinity possessed across the multiverse....think of it as the HEART of Hecate shared between each of them. the method that was used by Belasco in his attempt to use Morgan/Darkchilde/Magik as his LIVING GATEWAY for the "dire wraiths" to come through to Earth. it was something that NONE of them was prepared to care for OR use and so, he would have to put it back gently as he found it. >>

<< finally, the moment they'd been waiting for...a DISC opens in the center of the room....larger than some they had seen about Limbo moments ago...but it opened and seemed to LINGER, almost WAITING to be entered.>>

<< the time had come for them to take their first step.>>

 

[MorningStar]

They made their way to a room which was pure Morgan. She had to smile at the pictures of them all, at the tiny bed for Tinker. If they all made it out of this, Delilah would have to remember to get a second little bed for the kitten. All these things symbolized happier times for them - even Morgan's costumes from Valiant, from the first days the two of them had worked together. She ran a hand along the lush fabrics and meticulously designed clothing.

She turned, and then a large disc opened in the center of the room. It seemed to call to her, and she knew this was the one. She looked across the room at Haleigh, made eye contact, and nodded. Then with a deep breath, she jumped into the disk and whatever awaited her on the other side.

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh looked around this room, feeling a bit as though she were trespassing.... there was something about a bedroom that made Haleigh subconsciously prefer an invitation, especially if the room is that of a friend. This room seemed so personal, with its pictures and decor tailored specifically for Morgan... enough to make Haleigh feel awkwardly out of place without Morgan being here as well. She gazed at the pictures, picking up the one of her and Blaze, a look of reflection passing briefly on her face before she set the picture down exactly as she'd found it. Nicolas had found a locket of some sort.... Delilah was looking at Morgan's old costumes.

Haleigh was facing the stepping disc when it opened... like Delilah, she felt an instinctive pull towards it. Was it her sisterly bond... or something else? It didn't exactly SCREAM Ava.... as Haleigh would have liked... but as Delilah made eye contact, Haleigh also nodded, signaling her approval. Delilah jumped through the disc. Haleigh drew a H&K USP Tactical handgun from thin air, equipped a flash/noise suppressor to the barrel and ushered Mike and Nicolas to the disc.

"Quickly now, boys."

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas entered the bedroom, normally comfortable to enter anywhere that was Morgan's but this was different. This place..had not yet been shared with him. Still, he looked onto the stand and saw an interesting medallion. It seemed to be almost alive, and he lifted it mentally, turning it round and round as he searched for its opening mechanism. It opened to reveal three jewels encrusted in the points of a pentagram. It was beautiful and seemed uniquely Morgan's, like her and MORE. It was true that her thoughts were hidden, but Nicolas' powers went a bit further than that. It was that sense of the spiritual that drew him to the piece as he finally held it in his hands. A part of him wanted to keep it, show it to Morgan later and ask about it, but he knew that there was a task at hand and so...he put it back as a large disk opened. Eyeing Haleigh and Delilah, they motioned for the men to enter and he did so after Mike.