Hellfire Odyssey: Reckoning

[Titan]

The Clocktower

The subject had moved from finding his lucky scarf to Hellfire. Andrew wanted to let the Six handle it. They had made the problem, after all. They needed to fix it.

Steel: "We should go in there now, hit them hard. Raze that mansion to the ground. There's no one there worth saving."

Andrew knew Zach felt differently, about the saving part. And Andrew felt bad for the guy. But...

"So we should risk all of our lives? And for what?"

Miss Vivica arrived, and she said the word lesbian, and how she wasn't one anymore. But he was sure she really needed to doublecheck on that, and offered to help her. That was met with a slap on the head from John.

Steel: "Show your teammate some respect."

He looked at John, exasperated.

"Ow! That's what I was trying to do!"

Vivica: "I'm done with fucking anything. At least for the time being. I'll keep you posted though, Drew."

"Nice!"

He started to be dejected about yet another missed opportunity, then brightened that there was hope for the future.

Viv got a glass of wine and joined them at the table. Just in time for Zach to announce that he and Ashley were getting married. There was a round of congratulations, and then he started to zone out as the girls began talking about dresses. He asked Zach about the important things, like the bachelor party. He could just imagine it now.

Ashley: "I know! I can't wait for it!"

He looked at her quizzically. What was she talking about. Then he decided she must be planning something equally epic for her bridesmaids. Ashley and Vivica... Andrew wondered if he could somehow get invited to that too. His mind started to wander, and then he saw Ashley looking at him. Could she read minds? Was that a power no one had told him about? Oh god, what if she could read minds! Zach was talking to him. What if Ashley had mentally told him what Andrew had been thinking about! Oh god!

Zach: “Ah, yes, actually I wanted to talk to you about that... I mean it’ll be up to you really. If you’ll agree to be my Best Man, that is.”

Andrew's mind became a blank slate. No thoughts of any kind would come. His mouth gaped open, and he made a sort of strangled sound.

Zach: “No pressure bud, give it some thought. Hmm, this is Delilah— she never calls unless it’s serious, I better take this.”

He turned to Zizi, mouth still silently working like a fish. She patted his hand and smiled. Finally, he found his voice, pointing his index finger in the air.

"I'll do it!"

But Zach was now on his way to the other room, on the phone.

Ashley: "What does THAT bitch want?"

"Don't call her that, Ashley."

Andrew got quiet. What DID Delilah want with Zach? He felt a pang that she was calling him rather than Andrew. His ears snapped back to attention when Ashley's angry voice came from the kitchen.

Ashley: "Who drank all of Zach's beer?!"

Andrew nonchalantly slipped his beer bottle into his lap and out of view. Ashley's eyes burned a hole right through him as she passed by on the way to the door.

She knows. And she's probably going to hurt you.

When she was out the door, he breathed a sigh of relief. The group continued eating, and Andrew was sure to finish his beer quickly and get the bottle into the recycling bin asap.

Ashley returned with more beer, but seemed to forget about him thankfully. She was pushing Zach towards the bedroom - not really an usual occurrence at the Clocktower, though something else seemed wrong. And then she called back to him.

Ashley: "Andrew, put the rest of that in the fridge."

He jumped up to oblige, happy to escape with just that task. It wasn't long before Zach and Ashley returned, hand in hand. The thought flashed through Andrew's mind that it was sweet, but the look on their faces said something was very wrong indeed.

Zach: “The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They’ve set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I’ve got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though. Volunteers.”

Andrew wanted another beer badly, but he didn't dare. He picked up the nearest wine glass and drained it.

"Zach...man...I know they were your friends, but...the Six are going in, they're closest to this thing. They would know if Haleigh and Ava were worth saving. They'll save them if it can be done. We can't just hand them the opportunity to kill us all."

 

[Steel]

The Clocktower

Steel put a reassuring hand on Vivica's shoulder as she did her best to be happy for the couple. But John knew it wasn't always easy, and he applauded her effort. He also nodded and clapped when Zach asked Andrew to be his best man. It was exactly what Andrew needed: a friend, and some kind of affirmation outside of Delilah. Speaking of Delilah, she called for Zach, and he move off into another part of the apartment to take the call.

That was when Andrew decided to answer Zach, which made John laugh and tussle the kid's hair. Ashley, however, was not amused that Delilah was calling Zach.

Ashley: "What does THAT bitch want?"

Andrew: "Don't call her that, Ashley."

John made a calming motion to Andrew, but at the same time backed him up.

"Yeah, Delilah's cool. She was a great cop."

Ashley, of course, rolled her eyes at him as she became more agitated by the second, watching Zach's body language from afar. She went to the refrigerator, and noticed that all the beer was gone. Which to Ashley, was an international incident. And a reason for her to immediately go out for more. Which gave them a little time to eat together, before she returned and immediately ushered Zach out of the room. Which wouldn't have been cause for concern except for the fact that neither of them made any terrible innuendos as they left.

Steel felt the nerves rising in his belly. Something was going on, and he feared their quiet little team dinner was about to be interrupted. Which was confirmed when the two returned to the group a short while later.

Zach: “The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They’ve set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I’ve got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though. Volunteers.”

Andrew: "Zach...man...I know they were your friends, but...the Six are going in, they're closest to this thing. They would know if Haleigh and Ava were worth saving. They'll save them if it can be done. We can't just hand them the opportunity to kill us all."

"That's what we do, Andrew. We go in there, and risk our lives to do what's right. But these two...they hurt kids Zach. You, Vivica, Alicia, Bishop. How many more until you see they're the enemy?"

He looked towards the others.

"We've seen the state of the Six, lately. They'll need all the help they can get. We should go in there, and destroy the Sisterhood and their so-called courts once and for all. Including anyone who fights against us."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi had been telling Zach and Ashley how badly she was striking out with the Hellfire stuff, and they picked up the thread of that conversation again.

Andrew: "Then there's nothing to find, Zizi. Let the Six handle it."

"Leaving it to the Six won't keep us safe."

It was them that were being attacked, and if the Six weren't going to stop it, then she needed to find a way to protect her team. Though there was something to be said for not rushing into danger.

Steel: "We should go in there now, hit them hard. Raze that mansion to the ground. There's no one there worth saving."

"We don't want to act hastily either, John."

Vivica: "Ziz? Are you home? I've had a hell of a day. I broke up with Blaze - turns out I'm maybe not a lesbian, but I do enjoy fish! I got some sushi. Let's---"

"Vivica..."

Viv realized they weren't alone, and Zizi looked up at her sympathetically.

Vivica: "Sushi and Pizza kinda go together, I guess. I mean Italy and Japan were allies in both world wars. There's gotta be something there."

"They most certainly do go together."

Zizi gave her a smile as everyone sorted out a place for Viv and they all sat down to eat and drink. Zach and Ashley had given her a nice surprise, then Andrew
and John had stopped by, and now Vivica. She felt a tinge of sadness for those that weren't here, but was happy in her good fortune just the same.

And then Zach announced the engagement, and happiness overflowed. Zizi marvelled at how she was truly blessed to have such wonderful friends. She wished Gabe were here to join in. If the others could just spend some time with him, she knew they would all be fast friends.

The boys were busy discussing bachelor parties, and Ashley looked to her for an explanation of bridesmaid dress protocol. Ashley should get to pick them, not get railroaded into letting Vivica do it.

"Usually the bride gets to pick the bridesmaids dresses."

Ashley: "You can pick the color...when you tell Sharon to go suck it."

Zizi gave her a disapproving look.

"Oh, Ashley, really? Is that necessary?"

Ashley: "Abso-fucking-lutely."

Zizi sighed.

"Language."

Andrew seemed as ecstatic as she'd predicted to be asked to be best man, and he was even - for once - blessedly speechless. Zach moved into the other room to take a call from Delilah, and Zizi watched him go with interest. It already didn't seem like a friendly call, and Zizi wondered what was up. Ashley went for more beer, and Zizi noticed how attentive she seemed to be of Zach's needs. Zizi wondered if that would turn out to be a good or bad thing, but tried to push the negative thought from her mind.

The rest of them kept eating, and in a short time Ashley returned, but Zizi could tell something was definitely wrong with her, especially when she wanted to talk to Zach privately, which didn't seem to be a euphemism. They both looked solemn as they came out of the bedroom and returned to the group.

Zach: “The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They’ve set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I’ve got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though. Volunteers.”

Kill teams. How awful. She felt for Zach. She couldn't imagine having to kill two of her teammates. She didn't think she could, no matter the circumstances.

Andrew: "Zach...man...I know they were your friends, but...the Six are going in, they're closest to this thing. They would know if Haleigh and Ava were worth saving. They'll save them if it can be done. We can't just hand them the opportunity to kill us all."

Steel: "That's what we do, Andrew. We go in there, and risk our lives to do what's right. But these two...they hurt kids Zach. You, Vivica, Alicia, Bishop. How many more until you see they're the enemy? We've seen the state of the Six, lately. They'll need all the help they can get. We should go in there, and destroy the Sisterhood and their so-called courts once and for all. Including anyone who fights against us."

She took in a deep breath.

"We have to be prepared. If they attack us again, we should be ready. We can't depend on the Six to protect us."

At that, the sleeping screens at the Clocktower all at once became static, then went black. Zizi's face was concerned, and she wheeled towards her work station.

Andrew: "What is it Zees?"

Zizi's brow furrowed, as her finger flew through her systems.

"We're being hacked..."

Helena: "Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth....For such a smart girl, you are quite stupid to involve yourself in affairs that go beyond your pay grade."

Zizi recoiled as if burned, the sound of a strange voice coming out of her systems feeling like a deep violation. Her eyes flicked over the screen, but still saw nothing but blackness. And then a sound, a tapping of heels, and Helena Quartermaine, front and center across the wall of screens in front of them.

"They're inserting a video feed from somewhere...it must be Haleigh - I...I can't turn it off..."

Helena: "I'll admit, I found your plucky antics quite amusing at first. Believing that you could somehow lead a team in your [raising a brow] state, while also being a handicap. It was admirable. Sweet really. But i'll admit my error in misjudging just how much of a PEST you would become."

She jutted her chin out in defiance.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

The video continued.

Helena: "You and your little boyfriend Cypher's involvement in hacking my network, exposing, and ultimately KILLING Dennis Nedry was MORE than enough reason to have my Bishop slit your throats while you slept like babies. She's been there many times, many hours, watching. Your little security systems are so darling....but nothing keeps my Mystique out."

Zizi glanced at the others, who had gathered around and were watching as well.

"She's lying. She's just trying to scare us."

But the mention of Gabe had scared her. Because he was in Wales. And though she was sure he had installed top notch security at his mum's place, it still brought a cloud of fear hanging in her chest.

Helena: "But that would have been too easy. Why kill you both when I can make you SUFFER?"

Zizi audibly gasped as Helena pulled Gabe into the camera feed. Her hand reached up towards the screen.

"Gabe! No!"

There was blood on his face, and an unnatural look in his eyes.

"What have they done to you?"

Zizi quickly touched the control panel, opening a com link.

"Isis I need you! Now!"

Helena: "My dear Elizabeth, you put your big girl panties on and tried to play with the adults...now you must sit in your own shit."

Isis [over the com]: "I do not take kindly to being summoned in this fashion. And I am guarding the Sanctuary..."

"GODDAMNIT ISIS THEY'RE KILLING HIM!"

She watched helplessly as Helena coldlly, mercilessly ran a blade across Gabe's throat. Zizi screamed. She could hear the sickening sound of Gabe struggling to breathe, his eyes panicked.

A miniature sandstorm came out of nowhere, and Isis appeared, looking perturbed. Zizi's face was already red with tears, and she frantically turned to Dominique.

"Take me to Gabe, now!"

Steel stepped up beside her and put his hand on her shoulder.

Steel: "And me."

On the screen, Gabe stopped moving and became silent. Helena let go of him and he dropped to the ground. She cold hear it, the sound he had made when he hit the floor.

Helena: "Don’t expect to win a game of chess by being a pawn, my dear."

"Isis! Please!"

Ashley: "He's gone, Zizi. You can't go there. It would be suicide."

"I don't CARE! What if he's alive? What if he can be healed?"

Zizi sobbed, pleading, imploring Isis to take her to where Gabe was. And as if she hadn't done enough, Helena didn't have the decency to end it there. She continued, her voice echoing through the Clocktower.

Helena: "Oh! Please do give my regards to Ashley and Zachary, I heard the splendid news! I’ll make sure to send them both a suitable engagement gift. Perhaps another visit from my Rook? Ta ta..."

The video cut and the screen went black for a few seconds, before returning to their normal state. The silence was so loud it was deafening. Zizi had been watching for any glimpse, any sign from Gabe, and when the feed stopped she let out a wail like a wounded animal. Ashley rushed to her and put her arms around her, but she couldn't even feel it. Zizi's eyes were wild, and she tried to find Ashley's face, Isis', Vivica's - any one of them.

"Pleeeeeeease."

The word was drawn out with the despair in her voice.

"We have to go get him...we can't leave him there...please help me..."

 

[Recall]

The Clocktower

Vivica could not ignore her curiosity at the thought of Delilah calling Zach, and so she listened in on the call with her enhanced hearing. She had decided that the only person she could rely on anymore to keep her in the loop was herself, so she wasn't taking any more chances.

She couldn't truly hear the entire conversation because of the distance and the walls that separated them at the moment, but she got the jist - Haleigh and Ava were in a bad way in Hellfire and Haleigh had threatened Delilah's daughter. Also there were kill teams in place to take the women out should it come to that. It was horrifying to the say the least, and it put Vivica in an impossible position, thankfully Ashley bought her some time as she returned from the bodega.

"This is bad..."

There was no way in hell Zach wasn't going to try and save them. She had just not reacted as positively as she would have liked at the announcement of his rushed engagement and now he was going to ask them to help him save a woman who put a bullet in her neck and tried to kill on the streets of New York earlier. Not to mention the fact that the other woman in question was the true love of Cameron King, a man she had just promised she'd be of no more help to in the foreseeable future.

"How can you help, Recall?"

She said to herself, allowing her to get lost in her thoughts, to try and run some kind of desireable scenario. The team owed no loyalty to Haleigh Davidoff, but Vivica did owe her something. Without Zach and Haleigh, she didn't know where she would be. But she had never had false pretenses on who Haleigh was, that was something her boyfriends struggled with. She knew what Black Widow was capable of and she had reason to believe Scion was just as deadly if not more. But this was a skill all agents of Clandestine have. In field training - hostile capture and deep cover were covered extensively. There was a reason they were so good. So as much as she might have not particularly liked the way Haleigh treated two of her friends thus far in life, she couldn't help but see a bit of Clandestine strategy, branded in such a way that only Haleigh could do. And Haleigh was just a woman that didn't necessarily communicate words. If you want to know her, you had to watch her, study her, it was why she was such a hot commodity to Malice. Vivica also could not tell if she was letting her heart get the best of her, because she did not have the same feelings regarding Ava.

Vivica wasn't an idiot, she knew she was a fairly easy target for Ava - a bear that was easy to poke, but this was the second time Ava had made an attempt on her life, and also the second time it seemed she would be allowed to come back from being a horrific monster of a person and somehow be welcomed with open arms. Ava had been coming for blood, regardless of her orders. But she wasn't the only woman to blame. At that moment, Ashley and Zach returned from the room.

Zach: "The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They've set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I've got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though, volunteers."

"Zach."

She looked at him softly. She needed to hear what the others had to say before she spoke.

Zach: "Zach...man...I know they were your friends, but...the Six re going in, they're closest to this thing. They would know if Haleigh and Ava were worth saving. They'll save them if it can be done. We can't just hand them the opportunity to kill us all."

Steel: "That's what we do, Andrew. We go in there, and risk our lives to do what's right. But these two...they hurt kids Zach. You, Vivica, Alicia, Bishop. How many more until you see they're the enemy?"

She hadn't assumed to have so many people voicing concern, but this was just going to show how complicated the situation had become. A brewing battle between The Six and Hellfire was bleeding onto the streets.

Steel: "We've seen the state of the Six, lately. They'll need all the help they can get. We should go in there, and destroy the Sisterhood and their s-called courts once and for all. Including anyone who fights against us."

Zizi: "We have to be prepared. If they attack us again, we should be ready. We can't depend on the Six to protect us."

"And we won't but--"

The screens in The Clocktower turned to static as Zizi wheeled over to her desk.

Andrew: "What is it, Zees?"

Oracle: "We're being hacked...."

"Hacked?! How is that even possi--"

Helena: "Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth..."[/i]

She recognized the voice instantly.

"Helena!"

Helena: "For such a smart girl, you are quite stupid to involve yourself in affairs that go beyond your pay grade."

Oracle: "...it must be Haleigh - I - I...can't turn it off..."

Vivica's blood ran cold as she all but snarled. Zach was championing for her a few moments ago and now she was about to likely do something horrible to them. To make it even harder for him to convince people to help her.

"But jesus...does she WANT to be helped?"

How much was too much. She watched transfixed. Doing nothing because there was extensive information on her own brain and memories in the clocktower tech and it wouldn't take much for Haleigh to start taking her apart, one bit of information at a time.

Helena: "I'll admit, I found your plucky antics quite amusing at first. Beleiving that you could somehow lead a team in your state, while also being a handicap..."

"Oh you fuckin' BITCH!"

It was egregious. She had had enough of Helena Quartermaine and the entire Red Court. They had gone after the Birds of Prey twice now, and Vivica was ready to spill some blood of her own.

Helena: "It was admirable. Sweet relly. But i'll admit my error in misjudging just how much of a PEST you become."

Oracle: "I'll take that as a compliment."

Helena: "Your little boyfriend Cypher's involvement in hacking my network, exposing, and ultimately KILLING Dennis Nedry was MORE than enough reason to have my Bishop slit your throats while you slept like babies. She's been there many time, many hours, watching. Your little systems are so darling...but nothing keeps my Mystique out."

Oracle: "She's lying. She's just trying to scare us."

"She's full of shit is what she is."

Vivica was deeply worried. It would not be above Helena to take out Gabe. And Gabe was a bit too cocky in his work. She could see how he might have slipped up, allowed himself to be found. She knew what was coming before it even happened, but the knowledge would not prepare her for the footage she was about to see.

Oracle: "Gabe! No! What have they done to you? Isis I Need you! Now!"

"Ziz! Wait!"

If anyone could help her it would have been Isis, but Dominique was like a match to gasoline. Too eager to start a lynch mob. This was horrific. Absolutely horrific and Vivica was sure as hell going to help Zizi get her pound of flesh, but this was a calculated move. She was bating them. There was no way Ashley wasn't going to flip her rlid and enter Hellfire to take Helena's head clear off.

Helena: "My dear Elizabeth, you put your big girl panties on and tried to play with the adults...now you must sit in your own shit."

She slit his throat with one swooping elegant motion as he choked on his own blood, Vivica using a bit of her compartmentalization ability to stomach what she was seeing. It would be a moment she would not soon ever want to "recall".

Oracle: "Take me to Gabe, now!"

Steel: "And me."

Helena: "Don't expect to win a game of chess by being pawn, my dear."

Oracle pressed once more.

Oracle: "Isis, please!"

Ashley: "I don't CARE! What if he's alive? What if he can be healed?"

Helena threatened them once more before fading out as the screens returned to normal.

Oracle: "Pleeeeeaesssse. We have to go get him...we can't leave him there...please help me..."

Tears began to stream from Vivica's face for a moment, before she looked at the others.

"If anyone goes it's Isis and she goes alone. She knows how to get in and out. The Red Queen is baiting us. She wants a war? She's got one. And I'm all for a last ditch rescue effort of Haleigh, but I will not lift a finger to help Ava Cassadine or anyone else on the red court. I won't, however, get in the way of it. But I've had ENOUGH of The Red Court, but we can't go in there as BLIND as we are right now. It's suicide! Zizi's in NO STATE right now and there's no way in Hell ANY of us are leaving her behind to do this."

[turning to Dominique]

"Isis...please. Help her."

 

[Prophet]

Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

Prophet was running out of time, as he sat in his bedroom on Aerie. Nothing had gone as planned. He knew Morgan would try and take the lead, especially considering the revelation that they were sisters. But he hadn't planned on kill teams. And he was immediately resentful of the fact that he had to play along in order to buy himself some time. The moment he found out she was leaving, he had never not planned to save her - to save them both. But this wasn't a rescue mission anymore - this was a full scale war now. Between The Six and Hellfire, more than that - it felt like deeply personal. Diana was taking yet another person Cameron loved away from him, and doing what she did best - manipulating them until she broke them. She had done it to his mother, his sister Erika, and now it was Haleigh's turn. And Cameron was ready to end this - once and for all. He had barely calmed the fires of their last encounter, and he was certain he was about to do so again, but he would try - one more time, to explain to Morgan what needed to be done. He was going to do what he was going to do without her approval, and should their conversation turn sideways, he was more than comfortable telling her that. Especially since his plan had never involved kill teams.

From his mind's eye he watched Hellfire, his stomach in knots. Haleigh had done so well keeping Malice out, but she had gotten in. Taken hold of her mind, but Cameron was there with her, every painful step of the way. Prophet was intimately familiar with Diana's power signature, and he was more than capable of shielding himself before, and when he had done it successfully the first time, he knew that he was finally ready to go after her.

There were parts of Haleigh that Diana could not reach, ones that Cameron had made sure she could not take hold of, but mostly he was able to reach Haleigh in her dreams. If she had known he was in her head, she would have done even more things she would live to regret or die trying to forget. The fact that Diana had assumed control meant he didn't have much time, but he was still waiting for the right opportunity, to attack at the perfect time, when it was least suspected, when there was division, and confusion, and though he watched through Haleigh's eyes the sentencing of Ava Cassadine, he gritted his teeth. If Helena thought his eyes were planted firmly on Diana, she had another thing coming as well. He knew what she had done to Alexis and he was not going to let ANYTHING like that happen again. Rising from his bed, he exhaled deeply. Though there were a few people on his immediate contact list, the first was right down the hall.

Quietly moving through the peaceful and dark mansion, Cameron King found himself knocking on Morgan Victoria's door, awaiting her response.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Zach told them what Delilah’s call had been about, and that he needed their help. He could feel sympathy all around him, but hesitation as well. Andrew was cautious, and wanted to leave the mission to the Six. The Six, who had decided to kill Haleigh and Ava, and sorted themselves into teams to accomplish just that. Steele countered him, not because he was motivated to save Haleigh or Ava, but because facing Hellfire was the right thing to do. He pointed out to Zach everything that Haleigh and Ava had done, and asked what it would take for him to see them as the enemy.

“You don’t know them like I do, John. I can feel them. They’re not evil, they’re just....”

He felt like a broken record, but sighed and continued anyway.

“They’re just trying to survive. I can’t give up on them, not after all these years.”

Steele at least agreed they should help the Six, to strike Hellfire and defeat the sisterhood and their courts once and for all. Zizi added that they had to be prepared, and shouldn’t depend on the Six to protect them. Zach would take what he could get, and pray that while they were fighting Hellfire that Haleigh and Ava would come to their senses and realize it was time to bail, time to fight for the right side again.

Before he could voice his opinion, something weird started happening to the screens around the Clocktower. Even his phone in his pocket was reacting. Andrew asked the question they were all undoubtedly wondering, and Zizi answered that they were being hacked. A woman’s voice sounded off, chastising Zizi personally. A woman in red came on the screens. Zach remembered from Sharon’s briefing weeks ago that this was the Red Queen of Hellfire.

Zizi suspected Haleigh was doing the hacking, and admitted she couldn’t turn it off. Helena continued on as if uninterrupted, calling Zizi a pest. Viv was pissed, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Zizi was defiant and took it as a compliment, and then the Red Queen was threatening that her Bishop could cut their throats while they slept, that she couldn’t be kept out no matter the security. Zizi assured them that Helena was lying, that she was just trying to scare them. Zach found it was working, as he worried that Ashley could be a prime target, being former Hellfire herself, he held Ash’s hand tightly, his mouth pressing into a thin line.

Then it got exponentially worse, as Gabe was dragged on screen. He was bound and gagged and looked like he’d been roughed up. Zach stared at the screen in horror, but Zizi had the wherewithal to call in Isis. She had to argue to get Isis to even show up, even swearing loudly. Zach’s heart went up into his throat when the blade flashed on screen.

“Close your eyes, Zizi. Look away.... don’t watch this!”

He said, knowing that what was about to happen would be a sight that haunted her for a long time. Zach felt guilty for having gone off on Gabe a couple of weeks ago, for not having accepted him onto the team and into Zizi’s life. And he felt awful, because Gabe was being murdered for helping them save Jake, and none of them could do anything to save him. Gabe was dying in front of them, while Zizi begged to be taken to him. Steele stepped up to go too. Ash was the voice of reason.

Ashley: "He's gone, Zizi. You can't go there. It would be suicide."

Zizi: "I don't CARE! What if he's alive? What if he can be healed?"

He wasn’t alive after what they’d just seen, and couldn’t be healed, but Zach didn’t have the heart to say it. He went to Zizi, to console her in her grief. He rubbed her arm, lessening her pain as he took it on himself.

“Ashley’s right. Plus, We don’t even know where there is, or if this is a live feed.”

It was just a dark room, it could’ve been anywhere. Not just anywhere in Hellfire, they could’ve been in Wales, Gabe’s last known location, or some other stronghold they’d kidnapped him to.

Helena: "Oh! Please do give my regards to Ashley and Zachary, I heard the splendid news! I’ll make sure to send them both a suitable engagement gift. Perhaps another visit from my Rook? Ta ta..."

Zach glared at the screen, at this evil woman who was hurting his friends, threatening his fiancée, and gloating about it all the while. His brow darkened as he memorized her face. When they went to Hellfire, he was going to find her, and he was going to make her feel all this pain and terror she was subjecting them to. She would never laugh again when Zach was done with her.

Zizi: "Pleeeeeeease. We have to go get him...we can't leave him there...please help me..."

“We will, Zizi, we’ll help you. If he’s at Hellfire, we’ll find him. But we can’t go off half-cocked, hasty and grief-stricken, right? We need a plan of attack.”

Viv spoke up then, motivated to help, but not to take unnecessary risk. She backed Ash and Zach in needing to have a plan. And She had a good idea about Isis. Zach turned to the former Black Queen, willing her to feel enough for Zizi to want to help her.

“Dominique, she’s right. You’re powerful enough to sneak past their defenses. You’d know where to look, what part of the mansion they’d use to— to do something like that. Don’t try to fight them, just find Gabe and bring him back to us, please. He helped Rose, he helped Jake, he deserves better than to be left there.”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower - Ashley's Bedroom

Ashley looked into Zach's face, searching, finding such sadness there. She told him she would help him, even though she hated those bitches who had attacked Zach. Helena had to be stopped - she couldn't just destroy life after life out of some sick pleasure. And if they were trapped there, at Hellfire, that scum sucking shithole, they were Zach's friends, and she didn't want to see what it did to him to see them die.

Zach: “Good, because otherwise you’d miss a chance to see me in my battle armor.”

A hint of a smile curled one side of her lips.

"Oh, I'm having a pajama version made."

Zach: “Come on, we need to see how many of the others we can recruit.”

She could feel the warmth from the hand that held hers, and it made her feel like they had hope of succeeding.

Zach: “The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They’ve set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I’ve got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though. Volunteers.”

There wasn't the sweeping show of support Ashley expected. The others either wanted Haleigh and Ava dead, or didn't want to get involved.

"Malice and Helena are forcing them, so that they'll fail and the queens will have an excuse to kill them. It's not right. We can figure out what should happen to them after they're away from there."

Andrew: "How do we even know your source is accurate? It could be a trap. Maybe they want us to attack."

"I know Alek. He was trying to manipulate me. He wants Ava saved. Which means she needs to be saved."

It had worked its way out in her mind, why Alek seemed so off to her. He knew her well, she was sorry to admit, but he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't bother to lure her into battle this way. He'd attack first, keep the element of surprise, if he wanted a fight. It occurred to her somewhere along in her conversation with Zach, as she replayed her meeting with Alek in her mind, that the rumors about him and Ava must be true. And maybe he had tried to save Ashley from Helena, and maybe not. But now Alek was trying to get her hackles up about Helena, get her empathizing with Ava, so she would have Ava's friends come get her. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Steel: "Well, if Alek says it, it must be true. Wake up Ashley."

She wanted to knock Steel's block off for that one.

"What? Say that again? Cause I thought I heard Sharon's voice there a second ago."

She huffed.

"Suddenly you don't want to take a chance. You were happy to wipe away what Sharon did, or the former Black Queen ISIS."

She shook her head.

"I don't like Haleigh or Ava any more than any of you do, but they shouldn't die because they're idiots, at the hands of their own teammates. Zach's been there for all of us, and we should fucking give him the benefit of the doubt now."

Before anything more could be said, the fucking computer screens went crazy all around them, blasting them with static and then going black.

"What the hell?"

Andrew looked to Zizi, who sounded perplexed as she informed them that they were being hacked. And then Ashley's blood went cold, and rage started to grow, filling her from her toenails all the way up to the top of her head.

Helena.

Sure enough, Ashley heard those fucking high heels and Helena's ugly face was on all the screens. It was enough to put her off women for the next hundred years.

"I'm going to enjoy killing her."

Zizi: "They're inserting a video feed from somewhere...it must be Haleigh - I...I can't turn it off..."

Ashley's eyes rolled skyward. She had just gotten finished going to bat for this bitch - and she fucking hacks into the Clocktower. If it was anyone else but Zach she'd tell them to find their own damn way home.

Helena was blustering on, as usual. Using her tired old insults.

Helena: "You and your little boyfriend Cypher's involvement in hacking my network, exposing, and ultimately KILLING Dennis Nedry was MORE than enough reason to have my Bishop slit your throats while you slept like babies."

Ashley scoffed.

"As if she gave a damn about Dennis fucking Nedry."

Helena: "She's been there many times, many hours, watching. Your little security systems are so darling....but nothing keeps my Mystique out."

Zizi: "She's lying. She's just trying to scare us."

She felt Zach squeeze her hand, and she squeezed it back.

"If not, we gave that dumb bitch a good show at least."

The idea of waking up and finding Zach dead beside her one day sent chills up and down her spine.

Helena: "But that would have been too easy. Why kill you both when I can make you SUFFER?"

Helena pulled Gabe, Zizi's Gabe, into the frame. He was disoriented, and bloody. Ashley clenched the fist that wasn't holding Zach's hand. Zizi cried out, then desperately tried to contact Isis. She was being her usually bitchy self, objecting to being called.

Zizi: "GODDAMNIT ISIS THEY'RE KILLING HIM!"

Zach: “Close your eyes, Zizi. Look away.... don’t watch this!”

And then it was too late anyway, because Helena slit Gabe's throat while they watched. Zizi's scream pierced through her as Isis finally arrived, and a frantic Zizi begged to be taken to Gabe. It was clear from the image on the screen, though, that it was over. She moved to stand behind Zizi on her other flank.

"He's gone, Zizi. You can't go there. It would be suicide."

Zizi: "I don't CARE! What if he's alive? What if he can be healed?"

The angle of Gabe's neck, the blood loss, the lifeless look in his eyes...there was no way. Zach went to Zizi's side, and Ash knew he would do what he could for her. She grabbed Zizi's hand. Zizi could NOT go to the Hellfire Mansion. Not under any circumstances, especially these. The thought of what those people would do to Zizi if they captured her...

Ashley knelt by Zizi's chair.

"We'll get them, you hear me, they'll wish they'd never been born. I swear to you."

But Zizi was still begging them to help Gabe. Ashley's ears caught Helena's voice again, and she stood up, looking defiantly at Helena's face on the main screen.

Helena: "Oh! Please do give my regards to Ashley and Zachary, I heard the splendid news! I’ll make sure to send them both a suitable engagement gift. Perhaps another visit from my Rook? Ta ta..."

"I'm...going...to KILL YOU!"

Ashley screamed as she picked up the nearest thing to her, which happened to be a chair, and threw it at the screen. The feed cut out, and the screens that didn't have a chair through them returned to show their usual info. Ashley turned back to Zizi, who was wailing, and put her arms around her. But Zizi wouldn't be comforted, she just kept on saying they had to get Gabe...

Zach: “We will, Zizi, we’ll help you. If he’s at Hellfire, we’ll find him. But we can’t go off half-cocked, hasty and grief-stricken, right? We need a plan of attack.”

Viv: "If anyone goes it's Isis and she goes alone. She knows how to get in and out. The Red Queen is baiting us. She wants a war? She's got one. And I'm all for a last ditch rescue effort of Haleigh, but I will not lift a finger to help Ava Cassadine or anyone else on the red court. I won't, however, get in the way of it. But I've had ENOUGH of The Red Court, but we can't go in there as BLIND as we are right now. It's suicide! Zizi's in NO STATE right now and there's no way in Hell ANY of us are leaving her behind to do this. Isis...please. Help her."

Zach: “Dominique, she’s right. You’re powerful enough to sneak past their defenses. You’d know where to look, what part of the mansion they’d use to— to do something like that. Don’t try to fight them, just find Gabe and bring him back to us, please. He helped Rose, he helped Jake, he deserves better than to be left there.”

Isis looked stoically down at Zizi's tear-stained face, the sobs wracking her body, and she was silent for a long moment.

"Very well. My runes are not registering Gabriel's presence at the Hellfire Mansion, but I will look for him nonetheless."

She pulled her cloak around her in preparation to go, then stopped, looking again at Zizi.

"I am sorry, child."

And with a blast of sand, she was gone.

Bitch.

Ashley was grateful to Isis for healing Zach, but if she wasn't spending so much time being a pain in the ass, she might have been able to help Gabe. Some sort of alarm was going off on the computer console.

"Somebody turn that damn thing off."

Ashley reached out, trying in vain through the mass of sensors in front of her to find the one causing all the noise. She still clutched Zizi's hand in her other one. She was about to smash he fist through the thing when a small voice next to her spoke.

Zizi: "It's the decryption program. I set it to auto-run on all incoming video."

Zizi began to sob again.

Zizi: "He was only a part of this because of me. He looked so scared, Ash."

Ashley gave up on the beeping, putting both arms around Zizi instead and rocking her. She looked at Zach on her other side. If it had been him, everyone responsible at Hellfire would be dead. And then some. She promised herself to do the same for Zizi. For Gabe.

Ashley's eyes looked up to the nearest screen, and lines and lines of what looked like code were coming through. As it finished, the beeping finally stopped.

"Zach, look."

The large block of text covering the screen was one thing over and over:

SOS

 

[Enchantrah]

Scion ended the transmission and the illusion around the control room immediately dissipated around them all. God she wished she could have seen that York girl's face. The fucking flatscan, handicap bitch thinking she could meddle in Hellfire business?! She would be a ballsy little bitch if she ever tried to interfere again. Both Helena and Diana's laughs began to subside, Helena dabbing her eyes with the clean side of her red handkerchief, tears of hilarity threatening to fall. But the fun soon moved straight back to business, Diana bringing up her Knight.

Malice: “Helena, about your Knight... He went up against my Scion.”

"Yes, Kelly informed me. I unfortunately gave him the orders to retrieve Persephone knowing you were likely to take her into custody. I didn't realize he would actually attack Scion, I assumed he would just whisk her away."

Helena fluttered her hand to emphasize whisking Persephone away like the Prince Charming her Knight had suddenly become.

Scion: "He survived. It appears he escaped Emiko, as well. He’s with the Red Rook now.”

Helena rolled her eyes and sighed in unison.

[evenly] "Is he now?"

Malice: “They REFUSE to learn. I can MIND-WIPE their connection, reset them to zero if you like.”

Helena went to answer Diana when Scion interjected, the Red Queen cocking up an eyebrow.

Scion: “The attraction is instinctual. They’ll just start fucking again, and fall once more.”

Malice: “SILENCE, Scion. The ADULTS are speaking. It’s up to you, Helena.”

Helena's eyes were narrowed to Scion, contemplating whether or not this robot form was better than the original.

"Will she always be this mouthy now?"

Helena asked rhetorically before going back to the topic at hand.

"Let them have their little reunion. I know once the Birds of Prey see our transmission, they'll be hard pressed not to set up an attack against Hellfire. I need Berserker and Persephone obedient until we can take them all out."

Helena's eyes shifted to Scion, a cool smirk coating her cherry red lips. She slowly stepped forward, standing right in front of Scion so she could look in the White Princess' cold, robotic eyes.

"But once the Birds are bones beneath our feet....our [wrinkling her nose condescendingly ] 'little pact' is null and void. Your sister will die a slow and painful death, and there ain't nothing YOU [pushing Scion's nose] can do about it."

Helena grinned, turning away from Scion and gesturing behind her to Diana.

"I really like her like this. She's so much more tolerable."

 

[Spellbinder]

The Island of Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

<< Morgan was restless. Still unsure as to why she was even in Aerie and not back in Limbo, not having to face any of this. She was still, so righteously angry. Her icy violet eyes looked out at the landscape of Aerie from her floor to ceiling windows as the moon cascaded shadows across her long and slender form, the sheets modestly covering her body. She felt so centered in Limbo, so ready to return to Earth and reclaim her life, but the second she hit the ground running, she had fallen flat on her face and was already scorching every thing in her path. >>

"It just doesn't feel real...."

<< She heard the gentle purring of Tinkerbell next to her, sleeping peacefully now that her own was back at her side, but her joy at seeing it was brief as anger coursed through her once again. Spellbinder had led The Six through it's darkest times. She had worked tirelessly to keep them safe, pulled off feats only she was capable of. Was strong when they were weak, when they became blubbering messes on the floor, when they ultimately betrayed her. Morgan had been there - and they had been all but too comfortable in letting her take the heat when it suited them, but now they resented her for it - resented her for the choices she made to protect them, and Cameron confirmed it - they no longer needed her or wanted her there, and STILL she stayed. She persisted. She had come up with the plan, one that was not pulled out of her ass, and they had crucified her for it. How had she gotten to this place with them? >>

"Hecate, let me see the light again...please."

<< Morgan called out to nobody in particular. She knew what had to be done, and once again she was prepared to take the brunt of everyone's misguided anger, it was something she had gotten used to. But still, the stakes were raised when she found out that Haleigh was in fact the biological daughter of Christopher Victory. Her sister - a woman she had both respected and reviled for many years. The thorn in her side, the first to volunteer to bump heads, and also a woman she had done amazing things with. A woman who proved her loyalty when it was needed the most, and a woman that was now bonded to her by blood. Haleigh was as much as a victim if not more so than Blaze, and since she hadn't left one sister in the lurch during her time of need, she certainly wasn't going to leave Haleigh to be rescued by people who were too emotional to see things clearly. >>

<< Knock! Knock! >>

"Alison? Is that you?"

<< Morgan sat up in her bed and instinctively reached for her dark purple silk robe on a sitting chair next to her, slipping it over her body, before making her way towards the door to open it, cautiously. She was shocked to see the face of Cameron King before her, but more so annoyed. >>

"I hope you weren't stupid enough to come all the way to Aerie to continue fighting me on this, Cameron. Because I... [exasperatedly] am really running thin on patience...and for the first time im in my life, I'm not in the MOOD nor can I HANDLE another fight."

Cameron: "I just came to talk, Morgan. I promise. There's things you need to know."

<< The Sorceress Supreme sighed loftily. He looked serious, and broody. Rolling her eyes for a moment, she stood out of the way, allowing him to enter her bedroom. >>

 

[Persephone]

Persephone's eyes met with Alek as soon as he came around the corner into the main corridor of the catacombs. She could immediately see the relief in his eyes, her own eyes mirroring his.

Alek: "You're alive, thank god."

The moment his arms were around her she felt like home, pulling herself against his body and burying her face into the crook of his neck.

"...Yeah."

But that didn't matter. She had seen Alek attacked by the shell of her sister and she didn't know if Emiko saved him or brought him to his own slaughter. To see him now - to have his arms around her - it was just as much a relief that HE was alive. She told him how scared she was that she had lost him, not wanting to let him go. Her fingers clutched at his shirt, eyes glassy with tears. Alek pulled back enough to look at her, the distance almost suffocating.

Alek: "Are you alright?"

Persephone nodded, her own hand going up to his face to brush his hair away from his forehead. The cut was still there, but 90 percent healed from Alek's abilities.

"Yeah...are you?"

Alek deflected, causing Persephone to take his face within her hands so he could look her in the eyes.

Alek: "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I should have been able to stop her..."

"Baby stop...you were trying to help me and were blindsided. I'm okay...I promise, i'm okay."

Alek's hand when to her cheek and she tilted her face to his touch. There was so much to tell him and so much to say, but they were standing in the middle of the catacombs exposed from all sides.

Alek: "You should have gone. You should go now."

Persephone looked around, knowing they must have been seen by security camera's already. Either Helena was being kind, or she was going to come down on them like a god damn wrecking ball. Persephone engulfed them both in a tornado of winds, transporting them from the catacombs to her chamber room. Not exactly much better, but she felt less exposed. Persephone looked at Alek grimly, taking a step back.

"I'm not going anywhere..."

She knew that would infuriate him, especially after everything that transpired.

"Helena managed to talk Diana down from executing me. Diana gave me an ultimatum....pledge my fealty to the Sisterhood and Hellfire and I would live....so I did."

Persephone shook her head, the destroyed tv still on the floor of her chambers.

"I saw a flicker of her - of Haleigh. She's still in there, under Diana's mind control, and I can't leave her here to be destroyed...."

Persephone stepped forward now, her hands going to the nape of his neck, gripping him tightly. Her lips so close to his her words barely a whisper between them.

"And you. I can't leave you, Alek....I love you with everything I am....And if that means I have to suffer here a little longer, until I can get my sister out of here and leave with you? I'll do it....I'll do it..."

 

[Prophet]

Aerie - Morgan's Bedroom

Morgan: "I hope you weren't stupid enough to come all the way to Aerie to continue fighting me on this, Cameron. Because I...am really running thin on patience...and for the first time in my life, I'm not in the MOOD nor can I HANDLE another fight..."

God she was an ego-maniac sometimes. But you know what they say, something about hating things in others you recognize about yourself and don't like. There were more important things happening between yet another one of their epic fights. He split his focus, keeping his eye on Hellfire as well as on Aerie.

"I just came to talk, Morgan. I promise. There's things you need to know."

To his surprise, her caution was lifted rather quickly as she let him into her bedroom, he took a seat at one of the lounge chairs to the right hand side and gestured for her to take a seat. He watched as she crossed her long, flawless (TM) legs, and spread her robe over her body, a bit more covered up than when she opened the door.

Morgan: "I take it i'm not going to like these things?"

"That really depends on you, Morgan. I'm done fighting. We don't have the luxury anymore."

Morgan: "For Goddess sake, Cameron. Move along with the cryptic BULLSHIT. What did you come all the way here to TELL me?!"

Cameron stared at her for a moment, his cobalt blue eyes against her icy violet before he leaned back, resting one leg on his knee.

[flatly]

"I'm taking lead of the Hellfire situation effective immediately."

Morgan: "Come again?"

"Look, I know how to fix this. I've been working on it the second they left. And it's too personal to me to not lead the charge."

Morgan: [scoffing] "Personal for you? She's my fucking sister, CAMERON. I'm not going to let leave her safety in anyone else's hands but mine."

He sat forward.

"It's personal for ALL of us. But as the leader of this team, it's my job to take on more of the burden. It's the reason we elect one. This is simply what is on my shoulders right now."

He got her point, and it was possibly very petty of them, but they knew they both wanted to be the person that saved Haleigh. But he didn't trust her to know what Haleigh was going to want in the moment, and he didn't want her to do to Haleigh what she had done to Delilah.

Morgan: "You're talking out of your ass. And trying to get my goade, and I can't for the life of me understand WHY?! You think I don't know how to save HER? That I don't know what I am doing? She's my sister, Cameron! Why is it so hard for you to get that through your HEAD?! She deserves the chance that I can give her."

[once again. flatly]

"I'm taking lead, Morgan. Whether you like it or not. Whether you are a part of it or not. I came here to give you the chance to be a part of it. I can't change how you feel, but I am telling you - very soon, Me - and those I can get to join me, are coming down on Hellfire. And I'm not leaving until we get back our girls and put bullets in the heads of The Queens themselves.

"Diana specifically."

"So. Asking you this last time? Do you want to help?"

 

[Spellbinder]

Island of Aerie - Morgan's Bedroom

<< She was silent for a few moments, trying to wrap her head about what was being said, whilst being simultaneously PISSED OFF. >>

"Oh this is all VERY rich. Cameron, you don't have a CLUE as to what you are talking about. Look, I've tried to deal with this in as professional of a manner as humanly possible, but coming to me PERSONALLY, in the MIDDLE of the NIGHT?! To tell me what exactly? Exactly what you were already telling me EARLIER?! I get it. You're the leader of The Six, Cameron. You finally have all eyes on you, and you need to make a BIG show!"

<< Her blood was simmering as she thought for a moment of manifesting an eldritch bolt right up his ass, but she restrained herself. >>

"As if you have EVER once backed any of MY authority. And you sit there, practically telling that as leader of the team, it is your right to pull rank?! When have you ever respected the mantle of the leader of The Six? You never wasted an opportunity to shit all over it when I held the title."

[she laughed]

"AS IF you can HANDLE dissappointing that many people. You are the only person I know who's both selfish AND a people pleaser. You won't be able to survive the breaking of their hearts when it comes to be, that we might NOT rescue Haleigh. OR Ava. That we MIGHT have to kill them. That they are TOO far gone."

She leaned in, her face enshrouded in shadow as her hair dangled delicately against her face. a Terrifying beauty.

"You said it back in New York, alright.. That you had no problem. But nobody believed then and they don't believe you NOW."

<< She wanted to THROTTLE him in his seat. The audacity. For however tempestuous their relationship had been over the years, there was one thing that Morgan NEVER forgot about Cameron - he was an asshole. But his words began to sting. He loved Haleigh. For as much as she hadn't wanted that for him, she knew it was true. He loved her. If there was anybody besides Morgan herself that could get Haleigh out of this, it was him. But if she put it in his hands and he failed? She would never forgive herself - or him. >>

"Why do I always let you get me so pissed OFF?!"

<< She made her way over to the bar, pouring herself a glass of hemlock, hoping the break from looking at his face would calm her down. For the most part it was working, but it was a struggle. >>

"Look, I'm willing to discuss this - but you aren't about to sit here and pull some Six "call of duty" bullshit on me, because I earned my stripes like the rest of you and I have worked too hard to be talked DOWN to like some subordinate. GOT it?"

Cameron: "Understood. So what do you want to talk about Morgan, because as I stated before, we don't have much time to go back and forthe."

She took a sip of hemlock, seating herself once more.

"What exactly is your plan?"

 

[Malice]

Hellfire — Executive Conference Room

:: Diana read Kelly the riot act for letting Ravena play his tricks, because she was stilled peeved, even if they were making sense and she was seeing clearly in retrospect. Besides, that was the way her and Kelly communicated. Kelly gave as good as she got, then reminded them that they didn’t need money, they needed each other, and she also pointed out that now there was no proof that the man who’d got one over on Diana Carver had ever even existed. Kelly told her she was welcome for that.::

“MmHMM.”

:: She retorted, before summoning Scion to bring Persephone over. The girl obeyed, and Diana smirked. On the one hand, she wanted people to understand what a true feat this was, her dominance of her daughter’s mind. On the other hand she didn’t want anyone to be aware of the effort it required, or the way it was wearing on her. At least it got easier as Scion grew near.::

:: With such close proximity, Diana believed that even if Persephone was defiant, Scion wouldn’t be, that she couldn’t break free. Diana focused even harder on oppressing the girl’s will. The halo glowed brightly on her brow, and then the girl even put her hand on her gun, ready to shoot her own ‘sister.’ Persephone knelt, wisely. Diana smiled at the deference from Persephone and the agony Haleigh was suffering, knowing she was just as powerless as her ‘sister’ here, at Diana’s mercy, the both of them.::

:: It gave her IMMENSE pleasure.::

:: Then she spoke with her sister Queens about where to go from here. Helena had business to attend to, something Scion would be needed for, but Diana still needed to keep her Princess close, so she casually offered to go with them while they completed the task.::

:: Helena was a sight to behold, as she dealt with the little hacker boy who’d stymied Nedry. She taunted the Birds of Prey in all sorts of amusing ways. Diana was pleased to assist, in making sure the little nerd was compliant, and also that Scion did as required. She laughed with Helena when it was done, remarking that the kids at the Clocktower were probably petrified. There WAS one more thing they should discuss. The Red Knight. Helena replied that she’d sent him as a safeguard, thinking he’d just whisk the Red Rook away, and not actually attack Scion.::

“Well you know how STUPID men can be. He probably assumed Haleigh would go easy on him, or that he could ACTUALLY withstand her, since they’ve been MAULING each other all this time like DOGS IN HEAT. But he won’t find an ally in SCION. Not ANYMORE. She was willing to KILL him to obey me.”

:: She replied, with no small amount of satisfaction. It was a shame that Helena’s little pet had been harmed, but only because Diana knew that Helena would be disappointed on some level. Scion chimed in then, saying that the Red Knight had survived, even escaped Emiko.::

“TENACIOUS little boy, ISN’T he?”

:: Malice quipped, and then she rolled her eyes when Scion informed them that he was with the Red Rook again. They refused to learn. Diana offered to mind-wipe their pitiful little love connection to simplify matters. Scion advised that it wouldn’t work for long, and Malice silenced her. It was helpful when she gave them intel, but nobody wanted her assessment. Helena decided to let the children have their tender little feelings, to keep them compliant for when the Birds of Prey predictably tried to retaliate.::

Helena: "But once the Birds are bones beneath our feet....our [wrinkling her nose condescendingly ] 'little pact' is null and void. Your sister will die a slow and painful death, and there ain't nothing YOU [pushing Scion's nose] can do about it."

:: Diana watched Helena taunt Haleigh, and at first she was smirking. But as the brightly glowing halo around her daughter’s skull begun to dim, so too did Diana’s amusement. Haleigh was thrashing around inside, like an animal whose cage was being rattled, she was raging. Diana had been clamped down on the girl’s mind so long that she was starting to feel a bit.... FATIGUED. There was a dull ache forming in her own skull. But even as the girl tried to rise up yet again, Diana took a step closer, and swiftly beat her mind back down into submission. For all her inner fury, Haleigh was still never able to actually move.::

Helena: “I really like her like this. She’s so much more tolerable.”

“Yes, I should’ve taken control of her SOONER.”

:: Diana replied, knowing that if she had, she’d be much further along in this process. She turned to leave the control room, walking beside Helena as they left the catacombs.:

“Come, Scion. It’s been a LONG night, I wish to retire.”

:: She smirked at Helena as the girl trailed after them like an obedient puppy.::

“Perhaps I’ll make her rub my feet.”

 

[Prophet]

Aerie - Minerva's Mansion

"And that's it - in a nutshell."

Prophet stared at Morgan as she took in what he had to say about how to get Haleigh and Ava out of Hellfire and keep them safe. It wasn't a crazy plan. In fact, it was the most sane thing Cameron had thought of in years. Before she had left, before she turned traitor - they had finally thrown caution to the wind and given in to something that they had wanted to do for a long time. It had been primal and bloody - absolutely perfect. He should have done it sooner. He should have given himself to her sooner. He could have stopped it all from happening, if he hadn't been preoccupied with being the poster boy of The Six. He had let things get to his head and now she was gone. Now AVA was gone. It was a mistake he had no choice but to correct. These two women were a large part of his entire world - he wouldn't live without them.

Morgan: "Well...I have to say, barring that you actually aren't strong enough to pull this off, and it seems like a solid plan. But this really draws a line in the sand."

"It's the only way we can keep her safe once we have her back in our arms. I have to."

Morgan: "Yeah, but this - it's a lot to take on. It's starts a WAR."

"Then who's side are you on, Morgan?"

He was serious. He was beginning down the path of revenge, and he had no plans to turn back now. Not when the lives of women he loved were at stake. Diana, Helena and Kelly had awakened the beast and they were going to deal with him. He needed to know who he could trust, and though Morgan seemed agreeable, if not a bit uncertain he could pull it off.

"And we didn't start this war. THEY did."

Morgan: "I'm willing to go along with this as best I can. But if you start to FAIL? I'm doing what I set out to do originally. I don't want to argue anymore, Cameron. But I'm too angry to make any good amount of peace right now. So, if you need me when the time comes, let me know. I'll be there."

It was good enough. The truth was there was a small part of him that was worried he couldn't in fact pull off what he intended to pull off, and having Morgan in his corner meant that there was a failsafe. He had never doubted her ability to get them out, he just doubted her methods, but he would take those methods over nothing.

"That's good enough for me."

Cameron rose to his feet and moved over to Morgan. It had been one of his more productive encounters with her over the years.

Morgan: "I want to save them, you know that right?"

"I don't know anything anymore."

[smirking]

"Well that's not true. I know that soon we will have Haleigh and Ava back in our fold...and that i'm going to kill The White Queen. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get in touch with somebody who's going to help me do it."

She walked him to the door which was a nice gesture and as they stared in each other's eyes for a moment, Cameron felt weirdly relieved. Something was a bit different about Morgan. She was more vulnerable. And she hadn't flipped her lid...well at least not in a MORGAN kind of way. Perhaps she really did have his back.

"Thank you, Morgan. I'll be in touch."

He walked down the hallway, grabbing his phone and began to dial Delilah's number, hoping she was awake and available.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon - Delilah's Suite

Delilah wished Zach good luck.

Zach: “Yeah, I’m going to need it. And thank you, Delilah, for warning me. I’m sorry, that she hurt you. I’m sure she is too, under whatever facade she’s put up to survive. Please be careful, when you...do whatever you have to do.”

She hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch next to her. Zach still believed. Delilah didn't know what to believe. It didn't matter if Haleigh was sorry or not. She had done this on purpose, one way or another, targeting maximum damage as always. The fight between the Six and the Sisterhood was going to come to a head, sooner or later, and if Haleigh and Ava chose to continue with this ridiculous farce, Delilah wasn't sure she could prevent them from being taken out. Delilah wasn't sure that she wanted to.

It was just such a mess. SHE was a mess. The thought of helping Haleigh now...it made her sick to her stomach. But she didn't agree with kill teams and she didn't really think they deserved to die - unless they weren't faking any of this Hellfire allegiance bullshit. But she didn't want to see Haleigh, or even think about her. And there was Zach and Vivica and Alycia and that poor orphan child to consider. They didn't deserve to be hurt. Haleigh and Ava did those things. They needed to be held accountable for that.

She went back and forth with herself ad nauseum, wanting to just let Morgan's plan play out but at the same time not wanting to.

And that was when her phone rang.

There was a little speck of hope that it might be Gavin calling already, that he would take her mind off of this huge steaming pile of SHIT. But it was Cameron.

[into the phone] "Hello? Cameron?"

 

[Berserker]

The Catacombs

Alek wrapped Persephone in his arms, not caring at all who saw him do it. She was alive, and the relief that flew through him, the release of tension was palpable. He looked her over then, asking if she was alright.

Seph: "Yeah...are you?"

Her fingertips brushed over the wound on his forehead.

"Just a scratch."

He reached up and pulled her hand away so he could hold her hand in his.

"I woke up...somewhere else."

And then the massive way in which he'd failed her came rushing into his brain like a freight train, and he started apologizing. Her hands found his face, like a cool breeze kissing his skin.

Seph: "Baby stop...you were trying to help me and were blindsided. I'm okay...I promise, I'm okay."

He touched her cheek. She shouldn't be here. She should have left when he told her to. And he said so, imploring her to leave now while she could.

Suddenly winds enveloped them and they were in Seph's suite.

Seph: "I'm not going anywhere..."

His fingers went to the bridge of his nose, the other hand gesticulating as he talked.

"You can't stay here, Seph. It's not safe."

Seph: "Helena managed to talk Diana down from executing me. Diana gave me an ultimatum....pledge my fealty to the Sisterhood and Hellfire and I would live....so I did."

"And just how long do you think that will last?"

Seph: "I saw a flicker of her - of Haleigh. She's still in there, under Diana's mind control, and I can't leave her here to be destroyed...."

"You go, I'll handle Haleigh."

And then Seph pulled him towards her, her lips almost touching his, as she whispered to him.

Seph: "And you. I can't leave you, Alek....I love you with everything I am....And if that means I have to suffer here a little longer, until I can get my sister out of here and leave with you? I'll do it....I'll do it..."

He looked into her eyes with his own, then started to shake his head. He buried his face in her hair, so he could whisper back in her ear.

"Leave me, Seph. Leave her. I can't lose you to this place."

He pulled back so he could touch his forehead to hers.

"I won't let you die here."

And then he kissed her softly, not caring who was watching. The jig was up anyway, and if this was the last bit of time they had together, he wasn't going to waste it hiding.

 

[Prophet]

Aerie to The Parthenon

Delilah: "Hello? Cameron?"

"Delilah."

He spoke evenly.

"I was thinking of having a small cocktail party in my penthouse and room service is backed up. Do you have an ice pick I could borrow?"

Delilah: "How soon?"

The tone in her voice let him know she understood what he was telling her. This was the moment they had worked for.

"Soon enough. Where are you? I'll be back in the city shortly. I need to see you."

She seemed silent for a moment. Cameron was nervous.

"I'm serious, Delilah. We're doing it."

That seemed to relieve her for a bit as she told him she was in her suite. Within minutes he made his way over to her, entering her suite before finding her. Their blue eyes met each other for a few moments of silence.

"I just came back from Aerie. I talked to Morgan..."

[pausing for a moment]

"There are no more kill teams. She agreed to help save Haleigh and Ava..and of course the only way to make sure Haleigh isn't swayed back to the dark side, is to make sure we kill Diana once and for all in the process."

He grabbed her hand for a moment, sensing the hesitation and the anger she had in her about Haleigh in the moment. He didn't want to invade her privacy to understand.

"I haven't been entirely honest with you. And I apologize in advance, but I couldn't tell anyone. I've been watching Haleigh in Hellfire ever since she left. I've been trying to help her while keeping Malice off my scent."

[he bowed his head]

"The whole thing? About me getting rid of my love for Haleigh? It wasn't entirely the truth."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone had brought Alek to her suite, away from physical prying eyes, but she knew that no matter where they were they were being watched. And frankly, the endgame was here, so it didn't matter anymore. There was no waiting to save Haleigh. No more weeks of biding time and being a slave to the Queens. The only reason Persephone got onto her knees and agreed to Diana's terms was because she was prepared to rescue Haleigh immediately. She told him what she did to stay alive, but he didn't seem convinced.

Alek: "And just how long do you think that will last?"

"Long enough."

Persephone told him that she saw a flicker of Haleigh earlier, one beyond the Scion robot that Diana had created. She told him she wasn't leaving there without Haleigh.

Alek: "You go, I'll handle Haleigh."

Persephone shook her head. He didn't understand that HE was a reason she was staying too. She took his face within her hands, her lips a breaths apart from his.

"And you. I can't leave you, Alek....I love you with everything I am....And if that means I have to suffer here a little longer, until I can get my sister out of here and leave with you? I'll do it....I'll do it..."

She would do anything for them, anything. They were all she had left. The Six had likely looked at them as dead after what they had done the past couple of weeks, Zach and the Birds of Prey as well. Her family was within these walls now, and she needed to save them.

Alek: "Leave me, Seph. Leave her. I can't lose you to this place."

Alek's face was buried in her hair, his lips by her ear. She gently shook it, grasping the nape of his neck firmly.

"I can't...."

His forehead was now against hers, Persephone shutting her eyes painfully. She could see how much agony he was in - how much he wanted to save her from Hellfire and the Sisterhood. As much as she wanted to give him everything in the world....that was one thing she could not.

Alek: "I won't let you die here."

Persephone's hands slipped to his cheeks, her eyes opening so she could look into his.

"I won't....I won't."

Persephone's lips pressed against his, kissing him deeply and with such passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her body against his, raising to her toes to match their height.

"I love you... i'm never leaving you."

She whispered between their kiss, getting lost in the one blissful moment surrounded by pain.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Why wouldn't they listen to her? Why wouldn't they help her? Help Gabe? Gabe had helped them, helped Zach, when Jake was in trouble. He'd risked everything for them...for her.

But everyone was just standing there, doing nothing.

She clutched at Ashley, implored Vivica, begged Isis-

Zach: “Ashley’s right. Plus, We don’t even know where there is, or if this is a live feed.”

"Stop making EXCUSES!"

This wasn't her team. Her friends. These were all imposters.

Ashley: "We'll get them, you hear me, they'll wish they'd never been born. I swear to you."

She shook her head, her face wet and eyes red.

"I just want Gabe back. We have to go get him...we can't leave him there...please help me..."

Zach: “We will, Zizi, we’ll help you. If he’s at Hellfire, we’ll find him. But we can’t go off half-cocked, hasty and grief-stricken, right? We need a plan of attack.”

"There's no time, Zach..."

Vivica: "If anyone goes it's Isis and she goes alone. She knows how to get in and out. The Red Queen is baiting us. She wants a war? She's got one. And I'm all for a last ditch rescue effort of Haleigh, but I will not lift a finger to help Ava Cassadine or anyone else on the red court. I won't, however, get in the way of it. But I've had ENOUGH of The Red Court, but we can't go in there as BLIND as we are right now. It's suicide! Zizi's in NO STATE right now and there's no way in Hell ANY of us are leaving her behind to do this."

Why was she talking about the Red Court?! Gabe was DYING.

Vivica: "Isis...please. Help her."

Zizi looked pleadingly at Isis.

Zach: “Dominique, she’s right. You’re powerful enough to sneak past their defenses. You’d know where to look, what part of the mansion they’d use to— to do something like that. Don’t try to fight them, just find Gabe and bring him back to us, please. He helped Rose, he helped Jake, he deserves better than to be left there.”

Isis: "Very well. My runes are not registering Gabriel's presence at the Hellfire Mansion, but I will look for him nonetheless."

Zizi's body was wracked with another sob. Where else would he be? He was dying alone, in a dark room, somewhere without her.

Isis: "I am sorry, child."

Zizi put her head down, and just cried. He had to be alive. Isis could find him, and heal him, and he would be okay. And she'd never ask for his help again. They just sit together and eat funny shaped cakes with Thai takeout. She'd watch Star Trek with him, a huge marathon of all the tv episodes. It would take ages.

A noise was entering her consciousness. The console was beeping. Ashley was grumbling about it, and fidgeting around. She just wanted her to stop. She just wanted her to be quiet. She sniffed and spoke quietly.

"It's the decryption program. I set it to auto-run on all incoming video."

Oh god, it would have saved that video. There was a copy of it, right now, on her system. Her chest heaved with sobs. She wanted it off, but she didn't have the energy to delete it. She didn't want anything to do with it. She looked over as Ashley, who was clutching her hand tightly.

"He was only a part of this because of me. He looked so scared, Ash."

Ashley's arms came around her, and at any other time, Zizi would have noted how unusual it was for Ashley, how much she had grown since meeting Zach. How special it was to be on the receiving end of it. But now it gave her no consolation.

They passed some amount of time like that. It could have been 5 minutes or 5 years. And then finally there was a golden light from the open space behind her, and she looked to see a column of light and Isis appear. She was alone.

Zizi wheeled herself towards her, looking up expectantly.

Isis: "I'm sorry, child."

A body-shaped form appeared then beside Isis. It had been covered with a sheet of some kind, by whom she didn't know. Zizi let out a wail, and slipped out of her chair to the floor.

Steel: "Zizi no."

Her hands were shaking. She could see them in front of her as she reached out slowly to pull the sheet back. His face was cut and bruised, but it was his face. His beautiful face. She reached out a hand tentatively, and brushed a piece of hair off his forehead. She touched his cheek, and found it cold.

She leaned over, and pressed her lips against his for a moment, before whispering to him.

"I love you."

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon

She was surprised to see Cameron calling her. She wondered if some other major decision had been made without her that he was now telling her about. Or if he had been poking around in her brain.

Cameron: "Delilah. I was thinking of having a small cocktail party in my penthouse and room service is backed up. Do you have an ice pick I could borrow?"

Delilah's pulse quickened. She hadn't been expecting that. Not that it was an unwelcome development. She wondered vaguely if Cameron had asked Morgan's permission. Probably not, because she never would have agreed to it.

"How soon?"

Cameron: "Soon enough. Where are you? I'll be back in the city shortly. I need to see you."

She was silent. "Soon enough"? That was less than helpful. Maybe he wasn't really going to follow through with this.

Cameron: "I'm serious, Delilah. We're doing it."

"I'm in my Suite at the Parthenon."

Several minutes passed, and then she heard the door open and Cameron walked in. Delilah stood and met his gaze.

Cameron: "I just came back from Aerie. I talked to Morgan..."

Delilah's mouth formed the tiniest smirk.

Of course you did.

Cameron: "There are no more kill teams. She agreed to help save Haleigh and Ava...and of course the only way to make sure Haleigh isn't swayed back to the dark side, is to make sure we kill Diana once and for all in the process."

The smirk morphed into a scoff.

"If you think Morgan has changed her mind about anything, you are dreaming Cam. You heard her in that meeting in the War Room - she knows best, and everyone else better deal with it. She's placating you."

Delilah shook her head.

"But at this point, she can do whatever the hell she wants. To protect my child, to protect all of us, Malice needs to die. We should never have made a truce. We should never have allowed her to live this long."

Cameron: "I haven't been entirely honest with you. And I apologize in advance, but I couldn't tell anyone. I've been watching Haleigh in Hellfire ever since she left. I've been trying to help her while keeping Malice off my scent."

Delilah inclined her head, giving him a look.

"Cameron...that's a dangerous game you're playing."

Cameron: "The whole thing? About me getting rid of my love for Haleigh? It wasn't entirely the truth."

You have got to be kidding me.

"Excuse me? I thought we weren't hiding things from each other, Cam."