The Birds

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Illustra- 99th floor conference room

<< Karen kept her position as Alycia spoke. most of this she had before..but today it was presented differently. it was well ordered and focused. Alycia had valid points and she was making them, but her trademark forcefull tone was coming through loud and clear. If Alycia was cross examining someone on the witness stand right now...they'd most likely be yelling for someone to get her away from them...or to save them. she'd seen it happen before. She watched both Haleigh and Cameron as Alycia spoke. noting even the most minute changes in their posture or facial expressions. "disapproval" was in the air...not to mention down right "anger" on the part of Haleigh, but in Karen's mind....as UNOBJECTIVE as this may have been...it was HALEIGH who had the MOST to answer for. still, she continued to function on the level. >>

You feel betrayed and abandonned...thrown to the wolves? and why not? you're a human being, and despite your impressive legal/political powers...when it comes down to it...you are NOT mutant , metahuman, witch or otherwise..you are ONLY human and if you are RISKING your life to help these gifted people, then they SHOULD protect you shouldnt they?

<< Karen listened as Alycia whole heartedly agreeing.>>

and as for cameron? well, i think his return has provoked many things from many people, but YOU clearly have a more personal stake in it for obvious reasons...not just personal but professional. you feel that he has once again disrespected you and tromped all over your efforts on his behalf even after his death?

<< again alycia agreed.>>

and that is why we are here. to give each of you chance to do what Alycia has just done...which is to put things OUT on the table and then we discuss them one at a time.

now youve BOTH heard what Alycia has to say. She's ENTITLED to feel the way she does and you can't rebuke her for that. what you CAN do is offer YOUR response to the issues she has brought up.

REMEMBER the ground rules.

<< turning in her executive chair a bit, she faces Haleigh and gestures.>>

Haleigh? you may begin. start with Alycia's charges to YOU first and then move on to YOUR feelings about Cameron.
 
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Karen opened with a few derisive comments.... dually noted by Haleigh, who ALREADY felt that Karen was less than impartial.... nevertheless, Haleigh didn't say anything.... she instead smiled at Karen, an almost sardonic look on her face, tilting her head slightly, as if evaluating Karen's statements. Alycia was given the floor first, and Haleigh steepled her fingers..... her expression changing to one of bored apathy.... it was clear she put almost no importance in whatever Alycia might have to say..... but as alycia went on..... and got EVERYTHING out..... going so far as to expose ANOTHER of Haleigh's secrets.... the gleam in Haleigh's eyes turned far more malignant..... Karen validated Alycia's feelings and offered a little input.... and then gave the floor to Haleigh-- but NOT before admonishing the hybrid to remember the rules. She must have seen the look on Haleigh's face.... the dark, almost MURDEROUS look... and strangely, when Karen called her name, the look disappeared... and her expression became blank again as she looked at the doctor for a moment. She took a deep breath.... and appeared to be calculating her response.... alycia had said MANY scathing things.... but the picture she painted of Haleigh was tainted.... and Alycia clearly only saw what she WANTED to see... a callous monster. Despite knowing the DIFFERENCE between reality and Alycia's delusional, fictional version of Haleigh, the hybrid couldn't help a fleeting flash of her nightmare.... and her own feelings triggered by the sight of the ice cold, scarlet blood creeping up her arms.... and it made her pause. She glanced down at her hands again... looking pensive..... before looking up at Alycia, her expression grim and her tone thick with sarcasm.

"The people in attendance today already KNOW my shady past, Alycia.... but THANKS..... for that.... COMPELLING recap. Go ON... just tell EVERYTHING.... hell, between YOU and my RAMPANT memory attacks, maybe EVERY personal aspect of my life can be put out on display." She said, bitingly.... and then paused again.... as if she compose herself again.... it was like an INSTICTUAL reaction on Haleigh's part to be abrasive... and she seemed to realize just now.... as if she CAUGHT herself at it. She spoke again.... this time with a more measured tone. "Well... since we're being... BRUTALLY honest.... I guess I'll just SAY IT. I. DONT. CARE. [throwing her hands up defensively] No.... let me explain. It's clear you hate me.... you've made a point to say as many hurtful things as you could in your opening statements... there may have been a time when I allowed you to HURT me.... when I allowed you to have that kind of power over me.... however.... in listening to you today, Barnett... it has become clear to me that THAT is no longer true. The last time we were together.... I said some things.... some very personal... emotional things... and the REASON we have such a RIFT now was shown CLEARLY that day.... because EVEN WHEN I reached out... and exposed some very PRIVATE feelings to not only YOU, but the entire ASSEMBLY... you treated me as POORLY as you did the day you confronted me about Stavros Cassadine... you TREATED me as if I was some ROBOTIC machine... you DEHUMANIZED me.... acted like I was some 'mechanical misfit' with NO emotional core..... and you STILL act like that now. BUT..... i must have gotten a LOT out that day..... because the truth is.... you just said ALL THAT.... and the ONLY thing that sparked any anger on my part was that she seem to DISREGARD the notion of discretion, JUST SO you can feel you've OUTED me.... which is something you must get your kicks from, as you do it EVERYTIME you see me. And.... as far as how you FEEL about me.... [cynical laugh] You HATE me.... SHOCKER. Well.... you can hate me, if you want. You can LOATH ME with every fiber of your being.... but that won't bother me. Why, you ask? Because YOU can leave.... you can go home... and you don't have to face ME anymore once you do.... you can wake up EVERY day and hate me... and yet... ALL the contempt you will have amassed in your LIFETIME of hating me will PALE IN COMPARISON.... to the SELFLOATHING that I have for myself. [pausing.... as if to determine whether or not to go on] Because.... the brutal TRUTH of the matter is... when I go home tonight.... [swallowing thickly] I still have to face me. [making eye contact with Alycia and holding it, despite the shame in her eyes] and when I look in the mirror, I have no choice but to see ME..... and when I close my eyes.... I have to FACE what I have become.... and everything I have EVER done. [quietly] So you SIT THERE.... and you hate me. But I want you to KNOW..... that it will NEVER have the effect.... of the contempt that i have for MYSELF..... or the SELFLOATHING that i have.... KNOWING.... that there is NO ONE more responsible for my own misery.... NO ONE more RESPONSIBLE for the Inferno incident.... [blinking back tears] NO ONE.... MORE RESPONSIBLE... FOR SHARON'S DEATH.... THAN ME." She stopped..... took a deep breath... and looked like she might not go on... for only a moment. "But yes.... you are PERFECTLY ENTITLED to feel the way you do."

"As far as how I feel about YOU.... I don't know.... I used to respect you. I cannot anymore.... everybody acts like you ought to get some sort of special treatment because youre 'only human'.... but I know better than that. MANY very SMART, very STRONG people have gotten themselve into a LOT of trouble by underestimating others. You may not shoot fire out of your ass..... but that doesn't mean you are POWERLESS.... yours.... is a different KIND of power.... far more insidious.... yours is a power of the MIND.... maybe not like Cameron's or Nicolas'.... but it is NOT to be overlooked.... YOUR POWER is showcased in the courtroom.... in the legal arena.... the government.... and it is THIS power that allows you to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with us. You don't need GUNS.... or KNIVES.... or Supernatural Abilities.... and its EASY to see and WELL DOCUMENTED.... but worse than OTHERS CODDLING YOU..... is that YOU YOURSELF like to use being human as some kind of SOAPBOX to stand on.... and you preach.... and you try to OVERCOMPENSATE for not having abilities by being an ABSOLUTE FRIGID BITCH.... a PATHOLOGICAL ballbuster with SO MANY enemies that its a WONDER ANYONE can protect you. And in the midst of AALLLL that.... when it comes down to the line.... when it matters MOST.... you use being 'only human' as a CRUTCH.... an EXCUSE for allowing yourself to be IDENTIFIED as a VICTIM.... a martyr.... and I HATE THAT."

"Oh.... and for the record.... I don't think Cameron came back JUST TO INCONVIENIENCE you, Barnett.... or to spite any of us. He just CAME BACK.... and you aren't the ONLY ONE who has to deal with that.... so don't make out like it was all to bother you."

Haleigh stopped.... still staring Alycia down.... and let what she said sink in.... before slowly turning to look at Cameron. Her expression turned soft.... and troubled.

"Cameron.... there are a lot of things that should have been said. I'm glad you're back.... but things are not so black and white. the very fact that I'm planning a WEDDING ought to hint that things with Zach are very serious.... and frankly... I don't appreciate you acting like I should blow him off and be with you. This isn't just about you and me anymore.... it's about him too...... Now.... I care about you.... I really do.... but there are a LOT of unresolved issues between us.... the most recent being the way you left. now I KNOW that you didn't INTEND for things to happen the way you did.... but that doesn't ERASE the feeling of ABANDONMENT that you left me with."
 
Persephone
Persephone
FANTASTIC post. I think Haleigh just said what a whole lot of other people have wanted to say to Alycia. LOL
Illustra-99th floor conference room

<< as Karen crossed her legs at the knee she continued to sit , facing Haleigh as the woman began to speak. on at least TWO occassions, Karen held up her hand to remind Haleigh about name calling. but she did not interrupt the woman.>>

<< something important was going on here...SHE was conveying things in a way that REQUIRED listening to. She wasnt falling back on the abrasive, almost passive/agressive attitude defense...she was ANSWERING Alycia's charges and rebutting them to her defense.>>

<< Karen listened intently as it became CLEAR now that Haleigh was so abrasive, so willing to discard and dismiss others feelings bcause she was so ENTRENCHED in her own STORM of self loathing and contempt. and when a person feels THIS way...why WOULD they have much regard for anyone else? Why WOULD they believe that anyone ELSE could see the good in them when they dont see the good in themselves? [if there is any truly there :D ]>>

<< Karen watched Haleigh's face...there was emotion hidden behind that "techno organic" exterior. there WAS a core and Alycia had steam rolled over it...THAT hurt Haleigh but Alycia had only assumed that Haleigh wouldnt care...just like she didnt SEEM to care about anything ELSE...but she was WRONG and here they were now. AGAIN, Karen found her self SOFTENING on her stance about Haleigh. no matter what this woman played at...she was STILL a young woman...who had been through unimaginable trauma herself! the fact that she sat here today in a body that was NOT the same body that Karen had originally MET her in was proof of that alone.>>

<< Haleigh had been hurt by ALycia...more than once. there had ONCE been mutual trust and respect..but cruel fate and circumstance obliterated that...but EVEN WITH THAT being true...there comes a time when one or BOTH parties has to take RESPONSIBILITY and CONTROL the situation..to bring it BACK to how it should be!>>

<< Haleigh then went on to speak on how she felt Alycia hid behind the "only human" complex. Karen didnt quite see that but she DID see an increase in Alycia's "ball buster" behavior ever since Sharon's death. Even NICOLAS had recently commented that this behavior was due to Alycia wanting to compensate for not having any super powers. As Haleigh spoke, it became clear to Karen that while Haleigh SAID she didnt respect Alycia, on SOME level there was mutual respect on both parties ends. they BOTH had such similar backgrounds even BEFORE the genesis of the Six and their fields of work had led them to cross paths before. there was a world of hurt and pain and misunderstanding on both sides...but with Haleigh's SURPRISINGLY substantial response here, Karen felt like she had something to work with.>>

<< there was, however, one thing that Karen would not allow.>>

Haleigh, Alycia's issues with Cameron are not YOUR concern and do not require your opinion ot be offered.

<< karen spoke with a clear tone with a hint of icy disdain.>>

Alycia, Cameron, you will disregard the statements made by Haleigh in reference to Alycia's position on Cameron.

THAT ASIDE, Haleigh, you've FINALLY given me ...US something solid here. deep down, beneath this hardened exterior, beneath all those maladaptive, MADDENING personality traits you have...there's a heart and a soul of a woman. YOU said it yourself...there's a CORE and Alycia steam rolled over it...more than once apparently. Maybe you didnt think that was possible at the time, maybe SHE didnt think it was possible based on how YOU presented yourself. You both had a tempestuous relationship following the Inferno and it was only JUST BEFORE the Master Mold disaster that you two had become trusting and shared mutual respect for one another.

You've admitted here that you feel guilt and responsibility for Sharon's death. I dont think you EVER said that before to Alycia or anyone ELSE. You've admitted to SELF LOATHING and while your , at times, WRECKLESS and INFURIATING behavior would suggest it...THIS confirms it and why WOULD you give place to someone ELSE'S hatred of you..when you have ENOUGH of it for yourself?

You're more AWARE now than you were before, but you've still got much to do.

Finally, you accuse Alycia of hiding behind an "only human" crutch. but how can she be anything else BUT? the FACT REMAINS that she is NOT a mutant, meta human, witch or anything ELSE BUT human and despite her "powers" that are well recognized..even by someone like YOU, who is NEVER quick to give credit, she is STILL only human and was RAISED with the idea that MORTALITY is FINAL. She was BEATEN and BRUTALIZED by one of YOUR commanding officers. YOUR former boyfriend, who was turned into a MONSTER was sent to KILL her and Sharon and YOU were not there to HELP HER!

Sharon Kelly DIED IN HER ARMS. that's a trauma that anyone of you in this room could and may have faced BEFORE but YOU all had the benefit of EACH OTHER to get THROUGH IT. There have been men in the MILITARY who have been reduced to living their lives in psycho wards because of the trauma they've experienced in combat. ALYCIA was a civilian and has suffered through scenarios BEYOND some military men's worst nightmares. are you suggesting that she SHOULD have endured these things and that it WASNT your responsibility to do all you could to protect her? YOU offered your services. if I were her, i wouldve FIRED YOU.



Alycia, in her WILDEST DREAMS, couldnt have imagined being in a moment like that....and she NEVER really DEALT with it afterward, NOR did anyone ELSE follow up. She was/IS your ally and as such DESERVES protection. The enemeis she's gained in the legal and political word come with the territory. NO ONE deserves to live in constant fear of DEATH Haleigh and THAT is what she just told us she is suffereing from. DEATH comes to us ALL..but ot be CRIPPLED by a fear of it...THAT is something NO ONE should have to suffer with. and let's be honest here...YOU and CAMERON have cheated death. Alycia can't COUNT on an otherworldly being or some magickal force to do the same for her. its not what she was raised to expect, and its not apart of her sensibilities.

<< nodding her head>>

You're right..she IS over compensating...its a defense..just like YOUR MANY destructive defenses and so...that makes you BOTH equally at fault.

You want to BLAME her for being simply what she is and that's just not reasonable OR fair. you can ONLY hold her responsible for what she's DONE to you and i think you've FINALLY put it into words that people can GRASP and say "oh yes...those are VALID reasons". You rail against HER for blaming YOU for what YOU appear to be to HER and many other people. you would have them realize that its NOT so cut and dried based on your statements today. Yet YOU wont afford Alycia the same courtesy.


<< if haleigh didnt realize it, KAREN had just VALIDATED Haleigh's position....not at Alycia's expense...but just to show that Haleigh was NO LESS valid than Alycia. it was a FAIR and IMPARTIAL move and prooved not only to the DOCTOR that she could come th rough as a truly professional therapist but that she COULD see the humanity in Haleigh after all.>>

It's OKAY to cry Haleigh....after all, YOU are still human YOURSELF. ALL mutants...even HYBRIDS are BORN of humans. It wouldnt KILL you to remember that.

<<with her eyes fixed on the hybrid a moment longer, Karen made a few notes on her legal pade before turning from Haleigh, and she now looks upon Cameron.>>

and now we come to YOU and before you allow Haleigh's inappropriating chide of Alycia in regards to your return to fill your head with false notions, let me remind you that you are to DISREGARD her statments on THAT and ONLY answer the charges made by Alycia and Haleigh. SEPERATELY of course.

as part of YOUR superivision, NICOLAS will be monitoring your mental powers and if it APPEARS that you are in ANYWAY reaching into the minds of Alycia or Haleigh, i will use my magick to scramble your powers.

You may begin. With HALEIGH first, and then Alycia.

Remember the ground rules.
 
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[ Entering the conference room at Karen's bidding, Delilah sat in a chair pulled to a corner of the room, where she would be out of the way but still able to watch the participants of this little "rap session". She had to admit to herself that the personal nature of most of what was being discussed made her feel a little uncomfortable to be there.

Though as she listened to Alycia, she couldn't help but think that she was overreacting a bit to Cameron's return from the dead - it wasn't his choice, really. None of them sat there and said, "Yes, Cameron King, No, Sharon Kelly." She wasn't sure Alycia had a right to be angry about that. About Cameron's indiscretions and his general arrogance? Yes. But this...

And though she understood Alycia's point of view on Haleigh, she thought Alycia was being a little harsh. Delilah herself didn't always agree with Haleigh, or even like her, but ALL that Alycia was blaming her for could not be laid at her feet. Haleigh was not as cold blooded as even Haleigh thought she was.

And just as Delilah was feeling sorry for Haleigh...then Haleigh started to be Haleigh. Melodramatic, hostile, defensive. The "poor me everyone hates me" attitude. It once again, was all about her. The martyr.

Delilah had to repress a laugh as the thought crossed her mind that in another life, these two would have made excellent friends.

Luckily Doctor Victoria was more diplomatic and helpful in her assessment of the situation. But as she listened to Karen speak about Alycia once more, she couldn't help but think how nice it would be if the rest of them were afforded the luxury of being allowed to be human. ]
 
99th Floor - Conference Room

:: Cameron was a little nervous, but he had ALOT to say, so he took a deep breathe and he began. ::

"Haleigh, I admit I completely overreacted when I saw you with Zach, in the courtyard of a frieken church, looking at the place for your WEDDING. It is my fault. I guess it was just, I never thought that, I... never expected Zach would become such a figure in your life to the point of an engagement. He was always around but I never had to see him Haleigh. I never had to WATCH him..touch you and hold you. It was something I didn't expect. I freaked out. But put yourself in my shoes at that moment, Haleigh. Say I was there with, I don't know, Vivica after you had just returned to Earth and we were standing in front of you, engagement rings and all, picking the church for our wedding. I know you, Hales, you would have flipped your lid."

:: He looked down at the table, wondering if he should say what he had planned on saying next. He had to. It was the only way to get through to Haleigh. ::

"I understand, you love Zach and that is something I have to deal with. I did expect you to just dump him and be with me, because... I would have done that for YOU. You felt abandoned and I can't take away that pain and god dammit Haleigh, I wish that I could, it seems like everytime we take a step forward, we take two steps back, and it just boggles my mind. I am not saying it should all be hunky dorey again, Hales, but I can't shake you. Ever since I came back, the only person I wanted to talk to, be with, think about.. is YOU, and it is tearing me up inside because I don't want to you NOT to be happy.. but..but Haleigh... "

:: He swallowed in his mouth, seeming to gasp for air for a moment. ::

"I.. I love you. I really do, and I couldn't say it before because I was too in love with myself. But DYING gives you perspective, Haleigh and while we may have our issues that need to be resolved, one of mine has. I love you, with every fiber of my being, and you need to know that. I will be there for you as a friend if you choose to be with Zach and you DO get married, but I will be there for you AFTER that too. After we are done fufilling this destiny as the Six, after we are too old to walk but young enough to kick ass, I will be there for you, until the end of time. I may have abandoned you, I may have hurt you, and I owe you a sincere apology. I know what I want now Haleigh, and it might not be what you want to hear, but I NEED to tell somebody, and you NEED to know this.."

:: Cameron kept darting his eyes back and forthe between Haleigh and Karen trying not to show such a vulnerable side. Now that he had went this far, he turned to look at Alycia, making direct eye contact. ::

"Okay, when it comes to you Alycia, you hated me from the moment you heard my name. You didn't judge me from personal experience, you judged me from my file, you judged me from my past, and at the time, from the words of Morgan. I mean, when I first met you, you were threatening legal charges and the SEC, so I don't know how you thought I was supposed to like you, because from day one you wanted to take down. You think I am beneath you, and it pisses me off."

:: Gaining his composure he began to play with his hands, a sign of nervousness. ::

"I don't talk much about my childhood, Alycia, but if you are EVER going to gain insight as to WHY I am the way I am, then I guess it will help. I came into this world COMPLETELY alone. No Family. No NOTHING. The only "family" I ever knew was the streets. There were nights when I was a kid and had just escaped from the hell hole of an orphanage that I slept in DUMPSTERS and didn't eat for days!"

:: Tears began to well up in his eyes, slowly, he was REALLY trying to control it. ::

"I had to FIGHT... for EVERYTHING. Food, shelter, the clothes on my back, and most importantly, my LIFE. I fell in with the wrong crowd and that resulted in the blood of a single MOTHER on my hands at the age of sixteen. Do you KNOW what that does to a CHILD? I detached myself from emotions and the world and haven't been back since. It was the only thing that kept me ALIVE. That cockiness? That devil may care attitude? The SHELL of a man that stands that stands in front of you today is nothing more than a SAD and SCARED little BOY who lost his innocence, who doesn't feel, and doesn't CARE..."

:: Cameron was on the verge of a serious breakdown. He NEVER spoke of his childhood with ANYONE. He was now teammates with such rich and priveledged people and it made him EMBARASSED to know he got to where he was from the SEWERS. He was completely self loathing. Tears fell down his face as he wiped them away, continuing. ::

"You talk as if I chose to come back, Alycia, and I didn't... and to be honest, if I had known my return would cause you and everyone else such STRIFE, I would have begged for someone else to go in my place. You are angry at me because I got to come back and the people you cared about didn't get that luxury. Plain and Simple.. it's NOT my fault. If you want to be mad, that's fine, I would be too, but be angry at the gods and FATE, not the product of their ultimate design."

"And when it comes to our kiss, I wrote that in a private journal that was never meant to be seen by anyone. Those were taken from my LA compound to figure out why I had dissappeared, that entry was stumbled upon by ACCIDENT, for the last time it was never meant to be seen. That kiss was innocent, random and a fleeting moment in time, and it was interesting enough for me to write about. That's it. You make me sound like I went to every major publishing house and broadcast the word, and I didn't.. in fact I never told ANYONE about that moment. I mean we don't get along Alycia, but I wouldn't do that to you, that was a private moment, and say that you were mentally coerced all you want, but we both know it's not the case..."

:: He took a deep breath, finally starting to calm down as he looked at Alycia and then back at Dr. Victoria. ::

"I'm done..."
 
Illustra-99th floor, conference room

<< it would seem that Alycia, Haleigh and Cameron werent the only ones "LEARNING" today. Karen herself was learning ...or perhaps REMINDED why she NEEDED to remain impartial and objective, for even SHE had allowed personal feelings to color and slant her judgement and evulations of both Haleigh and Cameron. DESPITE all that they seemed to be in their "arenas" or on the surface...both of them were young people...not remotely close to their 30's and in a world of pain. they dealt with this pain in the only ways they could...ways that they learned as coping mechanisms int he face of the traumatic situations.>>

<< stripping these defenses away, getting to the root of things, Karen could see there were some geunine, even GOOD hearts in this room and her elegant, stern facial expression had begun to soften without her realizing it. >>

<< Cameron relived his humiliating childhood...a childhood that NO ONE should have to endure....as he spoke to Alycia. it took courage to admit these things in front of them...especially with Nicolas and Delilah in the room but his honesty, his OPEN and UP FRONT candor, it was real and Karen couldnt deny it. Cameron finished, and was clearly distraught. Karen stood up quietly and brought down a few kleenex tissues over to him before going to sit back down.>>

Okay.

<< she said as she once again crossed her legs.>>

Cameron, you've taken quite a brave and bold step today. One that I honestly did not think you were prepared or willing to take.

<< facing him..>>

You've revealed some things about yourself today that are unimaginable for most of us in this room. youve survived impossible odds and you did it the best way you knew how. again...the theme here among you is DEFENSE/COPING mechanisms and in the midst of traumatic situations...these are what you came to use but the problem is that once youve come to accept them as the proper way to handle things...its hard to break them. i think the three of you in this room have something that MANY of my clients do not. you ALL have shown a deeper sense of awareness of your own maladaptive behavior and while some of you...

<< looking at Haleigh>>

have tried to ignore the problem, and others << looking at Alycia and Cameron>> hid behind the mechanisms, you ALL know that there's a better way..a more HEALTHY way.

Cameron, you had to make choices th at even I cant imagine having to make. So it's only NATURAL for you to have a more cut throat attitude, and ot be willing to do dastardly deeds...its how you survived at one point in your life. but you're not there anymore..not in ANY way shape or form.

today is about ACCOUNTABILITY as well as healing. to be able to OWN UP to your responsibility, even in regards to the problems you face takes courage. to be able to ALLOW yourselves to let go...and HEAL....that takes courage too! its not easy to let go of something...because it leaves a void... a wide space that will make you feel vulnerable and "up in the air" and it will be SO EASY to revert BACK...but i think you ALL realize how WRONG and how UNHELPFULL that is.

<< looking among the three people in the room.>>

now that we've put our cards out on the table, it's time to discuss.

EACH of you has heard what the other has to say and i want you to KEEP that in mind as we begin these discussions. we are here to day to take responsibility and to HEAL...not to attack, not to defame and NOT to dismiss.

<< looking at Haleigh, who was most LIKELY to try to mistreat alycia.>>

let's suppose, that everything that happens in this world is perfet. allow yourselves to imagine the BEST POSSIBLE scenario for the outcome of this meeting. put your pride and put what you THINK is going to happen aside.

Haleigh? knowing what you know about yourself and how Alycia feels about you. knowing now that you BOTH are equally to blame in this situation, with the opportunity to discuss and recover and HEAL...what would you like to see happen between you and Alycia?

be HONEST and dont be afraid to express things that might make you seem "soft". we're not here to put up a front , or live up to reputations.

this is NOT to say that this is all it takes to fix this. I just want to see if you are WILLING to look ahead to a POSITIVE outcome.


<< looking at Alycia as she says this.>>

remember, no one is to interrupt while the person i have chosen is speaking.
 
In Session!

Nicolas simply listened as he watched Karen work. She was very good, much better than he even realized. She was also dealing very well with her problems with Haleigh and Cameron as they went along, although he could still sense that she favored Alycia.

As Alycia began, she seemed FAR too whiny to him. He understood that Sharon was gone and that they were great friends and she looked up to her, but what right did that give her to threaten them with government persecution and dissection? HE didn't turn on the entire set of friends he EVER had because HIS dad died!!! How dare she!! She acted as if she weren't in this as deep as the rest of them, as if she were simply trying to help and got caught up in this ride unwittingly. She was just as driven and ambitious as Haleigh EVER was yet she played Haleigh for the bad guy. He was disappointed. He did not doubt that she had a problem, or that she was even close to a breakdown, but to him it seemed as much a situation of loss of control as anything else. She needed to realize that she was not always the baddest bitch around and that for all her crying, there were people who endured FAR worse. He wondered if in her self-pity she had ever considered flying to Darfur or to Eritrea or to Calcutta, places where people endured unimaginable things with a dignity that she had yet to match. THERE she would see TRUE suffering. Suffering he had seen with his own two eyes, yet could not ease for all his might.

Finally, as a person of African descent who has seen plenty of persecution due to color alone, he felt that Alycia was WAAAAAY too demeaning with her thoughts on metahumans, who (in the case of the Six) put their lives on the line every day to protect those like her simply because of they way they were BORN. It would be easy for all of them to run off to a remote area they could protect or to get in league (at least tacitly ) with evil and leave people like Alycia to rot. Or simply go to Limbo and live, create their own little corner to enjoy and say FUCK THIS. But they didn't, and the closest human to them all had the audacity to get upset because fate smiled on them at times after they endured the ULTIMATE penalty for the path they chose in trying to help??!! Nicolas was quite upset, and he had to remind himself that she was mentally and emotionally impaired at the moment, that maybe she would be more enlightened after she dealt with her problems.

He looked upon her with disappointment for a second, just a second, and then he calmed himself, breathing deeply.

Haleigh had a good rebuttal to Alycia's points and she gave an overall good accounting of herself. He had sensed the self-loathing when inside her mind, as evidenced by her strong subconscious defenses. Haleigh was a woman who would do a XXX-rated gang-bang spread in Penthouse and sell the video feed on DVD before she would do a Barbara Walters in-depth 1-hour spot. She hated her insides so much that in some ways he wondered how she could even know if she TRULY loved anyone at all. As good as Zach was to her, the fact that he had made apparently NO headway on this subject made him wonder whether he was REALLY the one? Or was he relying on the fact that she had no one else she trusted and going along for the ride, enjoying her body's pleasures and the relative comfort of their lives?

As Karen warned Cameron, Nicolas checked for mental manipulation or subterfuge. There was none at all from Cameron.

Then Cameron spoke, and he REALLY let it all hang out. In the end, for all everyone had said about him, he was a young man who had taken life by the tail making everything from nothing and made some truly bad decisions along the way. He then DIED and was seemingly trying to apply lessons learned from when one loses everything. While he did seem to have a knack for doing everything the wrong way, he meant well and that had an impression on Nicolas. He understood that intentions meant nothing to this group, oftentimes. But it would HAVE to matter now, because he WAS here and he deserved his life back simply because it was HIS. NO ONE ELSE's. It seemed that everyone in this group had a chance to come back, so this was not uncharted territory. It would soon be time for people to realize that he deserved at least what THEY got.

Nicolas teleported in another handkerchief and passed it to Cameron after he used what Karen gave him, and watched as the next phase began.
 
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Black Widow
Black Widow
excellent post! Nicolas has the ability to be very objective.
Karen, surprisingly, was able to forget about being judgemental long enough to agree with some of what Haleigh had to say.... and though Karen would step in on alycia's behalf often enough to be noticed, there was still some understanding.... and Haleigh sensed that however painful is was to admit what she did.... it had gained SOME ground.... She had a look of stubborn disagreement as Karen defended Alycia.... it was clear that in Haleigh's eyes... Alycia did not DESERVE Karen's defense..... but Karen made it clear that she would defend those she liked and leave the others out cold.... and Haleigh knew there was little to be done about it. underneath the frustration it caused.... Haleigh knew Karen was between a rock and a hard place.... and it had to be hard to lay down personal feelings and be impartial. Still... it was at times, infuriating to be on the short end.... and to be without the luxuries afforded by Karen's personal affection. Haleigh fought the desire to reply....there were several times she wanted to snap back... but she didnt. She simply shook her head or furrowed her brow.... and did a combination of both when Karen tried to assure her it was OKAY to cry.... it might be okay to her.... but Haleigh was never comfortable with it and personally felt that it never HELPED anything.... except to maybe garner pity.... which was something Haleigh hated to get from a person, ESPECIALLY if she didn't like or agree with that person.

Haleigh shrugged as Karen reprimanded her for offering a personal opinion on Alycia's feelings towards Cameron.... she didn't care... but it was yet another glaring discrepancy in Karen's 'treatment'.... the doctor had let Alycia practically stomp all over them both... but anytime one of THEM returned the favor.... they got a slap on the wrists. :rolleyes:

It was Cameron's turn.... and Haleigh faced him.... her demeanor changing... softening. It was apparent that of all the people in THIS room.... he was the she was most likely to listen to... and it was obvious that they shared a level of understanding that only comes with being 'birds of a feather'. He explained his behavior.... and it was not an unreasonable way for him to feel.... but he seemed to forget that not too long ago, their postions had been REVERSED.... nearly exactly..... Haleigh had died herself.... and when she came back, she found Cameron with Alexis.... but she hadn't reacted so adversely to it... she had resigned to it.... and it was THIS that caused her to react so negatively to HIS reaction to her and Zach. Cameron expressed that he wished he could ease her sense of abandonment.... and though it was touching... Haleigh didnt know how to explain to him that it wasn't the FIRST time... and that at this point... it would have to be something she dealt with. He struggled through those three all-important words.... the words that they BOTH witheld from each other.... and the gravity of hearing those words far too late caused Haleigh's expression to break to one of somber sadness... she looked down, closing her eyes softly, furrowing her brow, as he asserted that he would be there for her no matter what. It was all the things she wanted, and NEEDED to hear from him.... but now they only made things harder. She looked up at him, nodding softly.... but not responding.

He moved on to Alycia.... and began sharing things about his past that he NEVER talked about....things that haleigh already knew... but to see him tell everyone explicitly.... it was still poignant to watch. She slowly reached across the table, taking his hand.... the best offer of support she could give. If hearing him talk about kissing Alycia had any kind of effect or sparked any jealousy on Haleigh's part... it didn't show. Karen offered her input again... this time, without the disdain that usually dripped from her tone... and she took a moment to transition the session to an open discussion, prompting Haleigh to voice her expectations. Haleigh glanced at karen and then at Alycia... as she considered Karen's proposal of a perfect world. but Haleigh looked to be in disagreement... and when her chance came to speak.... the frustration was still evident.

"Karen.... there's no such THING as a perfect world... and there never WILL be... and in my opinion... it would be both pointless and naive to pretend like it is or base our expectations of each other on THAT notion. Given this.... I can only answer your question to the best of my ability... and i can preface that you probably WONT like it.... but since there are PLENTY of things we don't like and have to LIVE with... I'm sure you can find a way to deal with it."

She turned to face Alycia, pausing breifly before addressing the question with as flatly as she could. It was difficult to keep from getting worked up.... but she did her best. "Karen wants me to be honest.... and so I shall. I don't want ANYTHING to do with you. I just.... want to wash my hands of you. Personally.... i feel that we could NEVER reconcile.... because you seem to CONTINUOUSLY and without EXCEPTION believe me to be the very WORST in the evil of the world.... and I can't see how you or I could ever overcome that..... and frankly, I don't want to TRY. You may find that infuriating... or ridiculous.... but I HAVE tried trusting you... respecting you.... DESPITE the fact that you looked for every chance to out me.... and that turned out to be a very SEVERE mistake on my part... and I'm not willing to just FORGET about that. It's like you can't HELP but crucify me... and when given the chance.... you always HAVE... and i just can't see how we could ever have ANY kind of friendship in the face of that. I can't trust you. [looking to Karen] So.... no... to answer your curiousity.... I'm NOT willing to look forward to a positive outcome. I don't see how one could be POSSIBLE.... and I'd just rather be DONE with it.... thats no front... that's just... what i think."
 
Illustra-99th floor conference room

<< Karen rocked in her chair slowly a bit, as Haleigh almost reflexively returned to a stubborn, stone wall mentality. So much for hoping for a breakthrough and moving to the next level.>>

<< she steepled her fingers as she listened and looked upon Haleigh.>>

insolent child. if you had all the answers, you wouldnt be in this room NOW would you? you wouldnt have to LIVE with the blood of innocents and their screams in their last moments of life as you TOOK their lives.

Black Widow said:
there are many things in this world you dont like...but i'm sure you can live with them.
Click to expand...

<< As Haleigh immediately dismanteled what Karen was trying to do, Karen stood up.>>

STUPID GIRL! I've had ALL I CAN TAKE!

<< thrusting her hand forward..and snapping her finger, a rushing harp sound is heard as Haleigh is turned into a TURKEY>>

if you MUST continue to make so much POINTLESS noise...then perhaps you should live out the rest of your days in a form MORE FITTING!

<< glaring at Haleigh as she put her hand on her hips....the rushing, warping echo of a voice could be heard.>>

THAT was a wild day dream...THIS is reality

Black Widow said:
there are many things in this world you dont like...but i'm sure you can live with them
Click to expand...


<< Karen shook her head...keeping herself in focus and NOT giving in to her desire to slice Haleigh up for this false sense of indignation and haughtyness. HALEIGH was just as contemptable as Alycia. THEY both had much to answer for....Karen wanted to allow Haleigh the LUXURY of thinking OUTSIDE her cynical, self destructive box..but she was far too comfortable in it.>>


Haleigh, you're not cooperating or participating at this point. you are doing what you always do. you open for a moment, and then close back up immediately. you have no more room to disavow Alycia than she does YOU.

the fact of the matter is...BOTH of you have screwed up and while the specific details between you could bring ANYONE to exhausting if listening long enough...WE DONT HAVE THE TIME to start at the beginning again.

<< her tone became sharp. she wasnt about to allow Haleigh to fold up and be content in dismissing Alycia. ALYCIA wasnt her problem. she may have PAINFULLY COMPOUNDED IT...but Haleigh's issues stemmed far back and beyond Alycia. the MEMORY flashbacks prooved that. her OPENING STATEMENT prooved that.>>

This RAMBO act of yours is going ot be the death of you. I told you that before and i'm REMINDING you of that now.

while we sit here in this room, and while i try to HELP the three of you..there are forces at work OUT THERE who would see you ALL DEAD.

<< Nicolas knows what she speaks of.>>

and while you may think, "oh i've heard this before"....trust me...as much as you loathe yourself...you CHERISH the fact that you sit here today...ALIVE and even ABLE to revel in your own toxic pitty party. You dont want to die anymore than Alycia or Cameron does. You dont want to lose control..but gues what? that's why you're here NOW because the ADVENT of your loss of control is UPON YOU and not only is YOUR LIFE at stake...so is everyone ELSE'S in this room..and even those NOT immediately present. so while you think you're shutting Alycia down...how about shutting down your own EGO for once and learning how to go with the flow?

<< turning to Alycia.>>

Alycia? as badly hurt as you have been, and while i WONT deny youve endured more than most...YOU can be just as deadly and implaceable when crossed. These two have detailed the hurt YOU have caused them and so you have MUCH culpability in this matter today as well.

I know you, young lady, and while you are suffering right now..you are NOT weak, your are NOT helpless and you are CERTAINLY not intimidated by anyone in this room or any place ELSE. Haleigh has screwed up. we all know that. She's done a TERRIBLE job by you on many occassions and she uses the excuse of YOU being a ball busting BITCH to relieve HER of the burden SHE volunteered to take when she promised to protect you.

But what did you do BEFORE you met her? when OTHERS reneged on their promises or prooved to be less than capable? you stepped up , you took control and you got it done! you NEVER depended on anyone, so you SHOULDNT begin to slide into that mode NOW with Haleigh or anyone else.

You're wrong and so is she. the question is...are EITHER of you smart enough or BRAVE enough to admit it? to realize that YOU BOTH dug this rift between you? if ANYONE in this room was perfect then I would be the FIRST to hand this session over to them. but that wont happen.

<< looking at Alycia.>>

Alycia, i told you before, you have inner reserves of strength that would do any warrior proud. when you are at your worst..its OKAY to revel in that for a time, its like falling into a mud puddle, but there comes a time when you have to GET UP and GET OUT.

Haleigh has let you down...JOIN THE CLUB. She's let MANY people down. YOU got along FINE before you met her and you can do it NOW in spite of her short comings but YOU'VE prooven to be just as hurtfull as she can be despite being "only human."

I've read files on BOTH of you. I know your histories...and at the CORE..both of you have much in common. strong, decent women with courage that would SHAME generals in the military, ambition and drive...courage of conviction! there's NO REASON the two of you cant work through this...but you'd BOTH rather WASTE TIME in posturing than being TRUTHFULL.

<< looking at Cameron.>>

surprisingly, YOU are perhaps in the best shape right now. You've LEARNED form your mistakes. you're AWARE of what youve done and how wrong it was and you're hear today..FACING these things in front of people who HARDLY represent the virtues of TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING

<< Glaring at Haleigh and looking disapprovingly at Alycia.>>

at this point, << she stops herself form saying "despite how i PERSONALLY feel about you." >> you've done a far better job then EITHER of these two in helping to get to the root of things AND ADDRESS them.

I cant BEGIN to know what it would be like to live your life...in the gutter...then to rise to the top...only to have it all taken away and THEN be given the precious "second chance". its a journey i have not taken...but CLEARLY the profoundness of it has not been lost on you and for THAT, i must give you credit for having something THESE TWO do not seem to posses....an ability to THINK OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF.

<< turning to alycia.>>

Alycia, you OVER compensate because you fear that being human among super powered beings makes you WEAK. did anyone ever tell you that for a fact? or did this come from your need to continuously keep HALEIGH beneath your heels when you saw she was more like you than you would want to admit...even in the NOT SO STERLING ways?

I think that is the case...for BOTH of you and i am NOT interested in a rebuttal from EITHER of you on that.


DESPITE Haleigh's nonsense, are YOU prepared to stand up and do the right thing at this point? if YOU had the chance to do what YOU could to fix things and show me just how STRONG you truly are...would you? This means APOLOGIZING and UNDERSTANDING WHY you are apologizing. this means taking a hard look at that awfull mirror that none of us wants to face..and seeing the parts of ourselves that are maladaptive. and this means...being able to function OUTSIDE of your dysfunctional, yet "comfortable" mechanism?
 
meanwhile- the parthenon

<< and as the Doctor stopped pulling punches with her clients, so too did NATURE seem to lose HER hold on those directly under her sway..namely the birds.>>

fast forward across town to the Parthenon

<< an hour has passed, Morgan and Ava have successfully met with Madonna and Liz Rosenburg, going over the final details with Morgan and giving Ava approval for her final media blitz for the concert/gala event. It was a job well done and both parties were satisfied. However, Morgan and Ava were unaware of the LESS than smooth process going on at Illustra.>>


<< as the two women stepped outside, THEY, along with everyone at Illustra..and anyone ELSE in the area outside or IN for that matter would be treated to a most eerie sight.>>


The Cell

Rick Riley: The Doctor is smacking Haleigh up again. She does it so well, i suspect she enjoys it. Isnt THAT a twist. a THERAPIST who enjoys savaging her patients. Maybe THAT was what Christopher liked about the hoity toity bitch.

<< he smoked a cigar as he watched the liquid crystal screen in the shadowy , technologically advance control room of the cell.>>

Suit 2: Dr. Victoria could CRACK Haleigh...and do our job for us!

Suit 3: and if something were to HAPPEN to her at Haleigh's hands...that would be ALL we needed! the Six would turn their backs on Haleigh but before THEY could kill her, our NEWEST weapon would do it for us!

suit 2: should we initiate another memory feed back? or manipulate another subroutine?
 
Haleigh had been doing a rather remarkable job of maintaining her composure.... but there was only SO MUCH abuse a person could take... and just as Karen began to show that SHE was reaching the end of her patience, and saw fit to bear down and try to put Haleigh in her place, the ORDER of the session quickly degenerated... and Haleigh's anger surfaced as she interrupted loudly.

"GOD DAMN IT, KAREN! WILL YOU JUST STOP?! This isn't ABOUT my fucking ego! I left my EGO at the door! Maybe if you would JUST LISTEN! It's not an ACT, doctor.... its ALL I HAVE, and it's kept me alive for THIS LONG.... and though you dont LIKE it, EVERYTHING in me is telling me that I can ONLY be hurt by this TWISTED, perpetually DISTORTED relationship! I'm TELLING YOU that I CANT bring myself do what you think I should because the TRUST isn't there. Call it maladaptive, or stubborn or just plain STUPID, but I CANT, OKAY?! Why can't YOU look PAST what you think of me or my behavior and SEE that?? WHY cant you understand that?? I've given ALL that I can.... and I've been HONEST! Is NOTHING EVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?!"
 
Die!

:: did they REALLY think they had any control over her? did they REALLY THINK she CARD about what THEY wanted?::

:: Sharon Kelly had just freed herself from her "incubation tube" and was now standing tall...looking younger, and perhaps MORE beautifull than she had been in her original life. Her now silver eyes gleamed with a chaotic glint as she looked around...breathing with an almost predatory heave.::


:: she heard them talking about her....MORE people...wanting to control her...use her...abuse her!! not now...not EVER AGAIN!::

BOOM!!

:: busting the doors down with her now Shift X (lift/press 50 tons) strength, Sharon BUSTS into through the control room to find RICK RILEY and two others...::

YOU!!

:: she bellows.::

YOU will be the FIRST!!

:: spreading her arms, Sharon spins "wonder woman style" ...faster and faster until she becomes a living TORNADO..and if gale force winds werent bad enough....from the malestrom, "stars".....spiked, "throwing stars" come FLYING OUT...spinning so fast and hurling at such high velocities.::

the OTHER two suits have NO time to react....as the main viewer, and everything ELSE around the room is SPRAYED with blood...THEIR blood as Sharon unleashes as BARRAGE of spining stars into their bodies..slicing them, tearing at their flesh, ripping their bodies and leaving them RAVAGED. they fall to the floor...MORE than dead....the room now dripping and stained with blood.::

:: Sharon stops...her hair flowing behind her as she looks around furiously. RICK RILEY IS GONE!::

HE ESCAPED!!

:: she slams her fist down...THROGH a bloody computer console.::

NO MATTER!! I'll have his head...RIGHT BESIDE HER'S!!

:: leaving the control room, Sharon instinctively knows her way...she was here BEFORE..she NEVER FORGOT..NEVER FORGAVE! and after a while, passing by the prisons where long dead corpses and remains could be found...Sharon emerges ABOVE GROUND.::

:: the grey skies greet her, the winds kiss her nude form. there's no one in this derelict area to see this most unusual sight....but even if there were..she wouldnt care. she'd just KILL THEM.::

:: feelings. senssations...remembering...but memories are conflicted, disjointed...muddled...all that is CLEAR is that HALEIGH MUST DIE!::

I will FIND HER!! i'll MAKE HER PAY!

:: and with that...Sharon SCREAMS...a sonic scream SO POWERFULL, SO TERRIFYING that BIRDS from EVERYWHERE begin to FLY en masse..as if they were MIGRATED in a frenzy. they are flying across the skies toward the direction of where the CELL once stood and everyone including Morgan and Ava outside the Parthenon along with Karen, Nicolas, Delilah, Alycia, Cameron and Haleigh at Illustra would see this most UNUSUAL sight. Birds...especially of different species should NOT be congregating like this.::

:: thre are so MANY..that as they pass over one spot to the next...it causes that area to DARKEN as if under an eclipse. the cries and sounds of the birds are shrill. they are BEYOND agitated...they are BESIDE themselves and they are coming to greet their new mistress....the Silver Swan!::
 
outside the parthenon!

<< at the Parthenon, Morgan emerges from the main doors of the floor lobby with Ava, smiling with satisfaction.>>


well, THAT went quite well i think. we've covered all the last minute details, and all the appropriate papers have been signed by both partiers. everything is in place! you handled yourself very well, Ava. I am pleased to know that you will handling the final media push for today before the event.

the only thing let, will be the photo shoot later this afternoon.

<< walking forward, Morgan felt a strong breeze, almost like something was PUSHING the air along. her blonde hair began to flow forward.>>

whoa..feel that wind!

<< suddenly, the high pitched calls and screams of seagulls, crows and sparrows ...all at once could be heard. the massive sound of fluttering wings...and an immense, long BLACK SHADOW began to flow ominously over Ava and Morgan.>>

what the hell is THAT!?

<< she looked up and gasped...as HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of birds were flying through the air...so many...so much NOISE...>>

GODDESS!

<< she watched with disbelief as suddenly she and ava both seemed VERY SMALL in comparison to THIS above them. these birds were moving like a MASSIVE "super avaian organism". their cries were so loud and so overswhelming...that some of the more sensitive car alarms began to go off in the area around them. people were crashing their cars at the sight of this....others were transfixed in their walking...>>

the others...at Illustra...they HAVE to be seeing this!! I hope their okay...i REALLY hope that this doesnt have anything to do with HALEIGH!!

<< looking to the direction they are going>>

They're headed to east...toward Illustra!! do you think they're about to attack?? we need to get back!

<< she was about to teleport them...but she remembered they were out in public. >>

MIKE!! << she called out with urgency>> we need you!!
 
:: Walking out of The Parthenon, the meeting had went very well. No inturruptions, no disagreements. It was perfect. ::

"She was a very nice woman. Very professional and passionate about the cause. I hope we can work with her again in the future. As for the photoshoot, i'm actually looking more forward to it now."

:: Stepping out to the sidewalk, a gust of wind blew past Ava, causing a few of her curled locks to come loose from her low ponytail and flow across her face. Before Morgan even asked what was going on, Ava looked up seeing the birds flocking across the sky. She could feel their desire and hypnotic like mindset. Chaos began to fill the streets as it darkened from the birds shadows. ::

"SOMEONE is behind this. They're controlling the birds, I can FEEL it. We need to get back to Illustra, immediately."
 
back to Illustra

<< and with that, Mike quickly makes his way around to pick up the women and speeds off to Illustra, prooving once again what a maverick he is with short cuts and handling of the vehical.>>

<< Morgan and Ava are getting back to Illustra just in time...for not only is something wrong with the birds..but something is wrong on the 99th floor. The session is dengenerating and as some might have expected, Haleigh , due to her INABILITY to cooperate it seemed, was now making things FAR harder than they needed to be.>>

<< at this point, the doctor was going to have to administer extreme psycho therapy...AGAIN, but before she would get to that, she would have to clear the room of Delilah, Nicolas and Cameron, who was the LEAST needing of this next step Karen was preparing to take.>>

<< BUT OF COURSE...this couldnt happen before things FURTHER degenerated, for if Haleigh [or anyone else ] thought that Alycia would COWER in her presence? and if she would just SIT BACK and be spoken of so poorly by a woman who was in NO BETTER a position? oh THEY ALL had another thing coming.>>

<< and so, once again it is prooven WHY the only person who CAN treat them is Karen and why SHE may need a therapist HERSELF when this is all said and done.>>

<< chaos in the skies, chaos within illustra...and all on a collision course with MURDEROUS HATRED in the form of a woman that haunts MORE than one person's heart.>>

<< Haleigh is in for a world of pain when these objects collide.>>

<< and so we watch>>
 
aw HELL NO!

:: Alycia used the chair to mask her body's desire to spring to action, take aim with her repulsor blaster and blow Haleigh's head off. For a BRIEF and SHOCKING moment, Alycia had begun to leave her own zone of bitterness and hatred. Karen was leading her out and Haleigh's own opening statement was one that Alycia hadnt expected.::


:: somewhere along the way, Alycia had gotten in too deep with her feelings. Her friendships with Morgan and Alison were one thing, her status with Delilah as her former attourney and often teams colleague in law enforcemenet was another link to the six. She'd helped many of them in legal matters and she'd prooven to be just as scarey and deadly as any OTHER type of foe they might have had.::

:: but somewhere along the way she'd gotten sloppy. she realized that now.::

:: Sharon's death , her grief and unresolved issues, all played a role in her moving away from what she knew was the right way of doing things and if more than a few people had a dime view of her for THAT...that would bother her MORE than any political or legal enemy she made. she was H APPY to make an enemy of someone who deserved to be at the receiving end of her wrath and take down...but what about those who were HER innocent casualties?::

:: She'd hurt Haleigh. She never gave Cameron a chance and while at the time she may have been justified...she'd never bothered to tie up those loose ends. THEY were human TOO. they may have had powers..but it was clear that they felt SHE did too in a different sort of way..but still she was one of the FEW who could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.::

:: she locked eyes with Haleigh, not wavering fora moment. dammit, if she was not going to do anything ELSE ..she was going to make SURE to be a woman about this!::

:: some of haleigh's words had hit home...and had CONVICTED Alycia. her heart dropped in her stomach.::

:: and Cameron ...by the time HE'd gotten done, she felt like she'd been an unfeeling bully. those were the kind of people she wanted to FIGHT in the courtroom! she didnt want to add to the pain of someone who didnt deserve it.::

Oh Cameron....

:: Alycia's heart and mind softened on him. Karen was leading them along...it seemed that a slow crawl was happening and THAT was hopefull but HALEIGH derailed it and dared to dismiss and shut down Alycia?

oh HELL NO!

:: she exclaimed but Karen raised her hand in rebuke to silence her and proceeded to dress alycia down as well as Haleigh.::

:: Karen was RIGHT. Alycia needed to get her act together. THEY both were at fault and look...NOW people were looking at ALYCIA like SHE was a pole axed ox! Alycia had gotten "egg on her face" before and always managed to clean herself up. what was so different NOW? She had become destabilized because of Sharon but instead of getting the help she needed when those who could or maybe even SHOULD have offered did NOT...she let it stay the way it was...and that brought her down, made her less effective. but she'd be DAMNED if she was going to be put in her place by THIS woman. human with feelings or NOT. Alycia was NOT going to take th is anymore.::

:: Karen turned to Alycia as Haleigh had her outburst.::

You know what? I could have GUESSED this was coming. I dont care if you or anyone ELSE in this room thinks "lowly" of me now. I have had a BAD run lately and i realize now that i've been in the wrong. I'm not so proud or so STUCK ON STUPID that I can't get TOLD and have to endure someone DIGGING IN MY ASS to get me to get a clue and act right.

but YOU? you have the GAUL to sit here and compare your interactions with ME to being a "perverse relationship" when your every DEALING with ANYONE in this BUILDING has been an exercise in manipulation and ABUSE?

:: she slid up to the table in her seat. her hands both palm down firmly on the table in plain view of everyone.::

Karen, i AM woman enough to admit that i've been acting ridiculous lately. not because i care about what ANYONE in this room thinks of me...but because i've been selling myself out by wallowing in this. I realize now that i was hurting and i felt LET DOWN by HER and her EMPTY BOASTS at being the best at what she does despite her tally card being as long and as FILLED as 5th avenue during rush hour traffic.

I want to be honest as well! In this past hour...i've felt HORRIBLE as i realized that I had BECOME like the kind of people i dedicated myself to FIGHTING AGAINST. When i first met Cameron...i went after him because of what he was doing to Morgan. at the time, it may have been an understandable course of action...but I ...my PARENTS would NEVER have approved of me being what essentially amounted to a BULLY toward him.

<< she looks at Cameron.>>

We were never friends. We were associates and at one point client/attourney.

You HURT me when i found out you'd written about that..."moment". a MOMENT that i still cant explain why it happened. i t was EMBARRASSING ...and again..its because of this stupid game of "reputation upholding" that i and OTHER people in this room play.

Here you are...and the old things...they really SHOULDNT matter, should they?

:: she looks up at the ceiling::


but you know what? I APOLOGIZE. I've held something against you that you couldn't help and I was being childish and short sighted. I've let my emotions and my frayed feelings cloud my judgement for too long.

:: but HALEIGH would not be the one she would apologize to TODAY.::

you're right Karen, I'm being rather ridiculous right now and i'm EMBARRASSED at my self. but i'll be DAMNED if i'm going to be minimized and dismissed by HER of all people. SHE can't even cooperate long enough to get through a therapy session and you b etter believe that if it was just she and i in this room? she'd try to murder me just like she's murdered so many OTHER people....

but you know what? that's fine. I dont HAVE to deal with her. I don't need any kind of input from her. She wants to tell ME what I can do and yet WHINE about what SHE CANT do? FUCK THAT!

in fact..i dont have to deal with ANYONE in this building. I can take my happy ass BACK to capitol hill and I'll show you JUST what i can do, because while YOU want to act like I've committed original sin? i'm not the one who hides behind these walls and these people to allude the PUNISHMENT that you are due...punishment that ANY court in this or MANY OTHER countries would be MORE than within their rights to enforce if you were to some how be FOUND and captured.

and would you be so willing to endanger anyone ELSE in this building for your freedom?

I am NOT here for you. I do not have to cater to YOU.


:: Alycia's mind was made up. FUCK THEM. She was going back to washington and she was pull out ALL the stops. Haleigh was getting what she deserved and if she wanted a REPRIEVE from "self loathing" Alycia would GIVE it to her. She was now presidential agent, she had NO REASON to bend to the request of the six..and if any of them felt the way Haleigh did? then FUCK THEM TOO. SHe was no one's bitch..and she was THROUGH wallowing, THROUGH crying..and THROUGH being second guessed.::

I'm leaving immediately. going back to capitol hill!

:: and with that, Alycia stands up and makes a strong, direct move toward the double doors, to leave. grabbing hold of the door knob, she couldnt WAIT to get away from HER! but as soon as she opened the door, the windows all around that conference room were BLACKENED...there was this STRANGE...unsettling sound!! ::


:: still at the door, she turned back, looking over her shoulder!::

BIRDS!!....hundreds...THOUSANDS!!! and....mutliple species!! its JUST like what they field commander described!!


:: her brooch began to vibrate...she was being paged. now she HAD to leave! whatever she had secretly HOPED to come of today's meeting was DASHED. Haleigh made it IMPOSSIBLE to want to try to set things right and no matter HOW bad Alycia may have felt..she wasnt ABOUT to let THAT "mechanical misfit" kick her while she was down. it was an ENDLESS push/pull situation and Karen had ALMOST seemed to give them BOTH just enough room to TRY to fix it.::

:: but now...almost as if the birds were a symbol....that was over. the birds continud to stream past..some banging into the window...but most just kept going. it was like a FRIEGHT TRAIN of feathers and cries::

:: Alycia turned...and walked out. she wasnt stopping. not for Haleigh..not for ANYONE. she was BACK allright....and someone was going to REGRET IT.::
 
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burning the candle at both ends.

<< The night that Alycia had killed Stavros Cassidine, Harbinger had predicted a vicious, genocidal war between mutants and humans...it was a VERY distinct possible thread of time and events that WOULD occur if Haleigh had harmed or killed Alycia. it was at this moment that it became clear that while she may not have liked Alycia anymore...she had NO CHOICE but to deal with her because Alycia's new position gave her a NEW kind of power and leverage, one that Alycia at one time would NEVER have considered using....but as the rift between Haleigh and Alycia grew...and Alycia's own suffering promoted clouded judgement, the distinct possibility of that time thread becoming REALITY was inching closer and closer.>>

<< IF EVER there was a time for Nicolas AND Delilah to remember Harbinger's words of warning..it was NOW. the LEGAL implications....the FALL OUT were too great to ignore. they couldnt touch alycia NOR could they stop her from leaving for if she were to be hurt..not only would MORGAN confront them for answers...but the government would come down on Illustra like a ray of light through a magnifying glass.>>

<< KAREN , in an attempt to get through to Haleigh, had cast a spell on her to FORCE her to see the path her life was taking her on and where it could lead. she unknowingly tapped into the SAME time thread with her spell that Alison had saw...and the spell reveled that Haleigh, through a cumulative effect of past deeds and current behaviors would DRIVE AWAY the members of the six and leave herself open. The Six themselves would HAVE to leave her..to save their own lives and SHE would FINALLY have to answer for her crimes...CAPITOL offenses that she had long evaded due to her deep roots in the world of espionage....but her actions...and ALYCIA brought and end to that...and with the war between mutants and humans now raviging the country, the government not only makes an example of Haleigh, but dehumanizes her as she is given over for final, BRUTAL experimentation...with Alycia Barnett supervising.>>

<< at this moment, as the session degenerated AND as the birds began to swarm past Illustra in a truly BIZARRE fashion that would have interrupted the session ANYWAY, Dr. Victoria, Nicolas and Delilah had to do SOMETHING....but they were in a rock and a hard place. >>

<< the birds were more than just a freak of nature...it was a sign...that Haleigh was losing more and more control and as she lost control...the lives of the six were being placed in MORE uncertain peril.>>>


<< Alycia was leaving, and it appeared the safety and security of Illustra's "residents" was about to go out of the window. They may have not liked Alycia...but they shouldve remembered that she didnt cause this problem by herself either.>>


there was something ELSE

<< as the BIRDS came STORMING through the skies and past the 99th floor of Illustra, Haleigh began to feel something...it was odd...like something had been BROKEN. not physically..but deep within.>>

<< back at the cell when Sharon Kelly murdered two of "the suits"...her spinning star barrage DESTROYED much of the control counsel being used to mainpulate Haleigh's sub routines. Rick Riley, again managed to escape but now, Haleigh was a sitting duck for more "memory flash backs" and system cascade failure...which could include her VITAL functions.>>

<< Alycia was leaving..and it SEEMED that Haleigh's problems were going to get WORSE rather than better, unless Karen did something.>>
 
Illustra- 99th floor conference room

<< Karen's eyes widened, before narrowing into a disapproving glare as Haleigh interrupted her and shut down this phase of the discussion with her apparent UNWILLINGNESS or INABILITY to do what Karen wanted her to do.>>

<< Karen, realized she was being heavy handed but she HAD to be with Haleigh, it SEEMED that was the only thing she responded to at times. but then again Haleigh was so UNPREDICTABLE than ANYONE would find themselves scrambling on just what to do with her from one moment to the next.>>

<< this isnt what was supposed to be happening! about the ONLY thing that had been rsolved...was CAMERON'S part.>>

<< Alycia started up but Karen hushed her. Haleigh continued and that was it...the meeting was now on a slippery slope...DOWN.>>

Haleigh Davidoff!!

<< Karen snapped, sharply.>>

You're issue is NOT with me and so, RAILING against me and what i'm trying to get you to DO will avail you NOTHING. you're spinning your wheels in a mess that you helped to create.

<< she turned to Alycia...and Alycia blew up. she "rose up" in anger. it was happening again. even as alycia had done her best to take a small step forward...Haleigh's inability or unwillingness to do so causd HER to revert back as well. NEITHER ONE of them seemed to be willing to STEP outside of their maladaptive comfort zones...and if one DID, the OTHER could do little more than snipe and continue to lick their wounds as if they had a RIGHT to wallow in self pity.>>

Alycia! don't fall back NOW after you've been so willing to do the right thing! You don't have to MEET her on her level of non cooperation!

<< but it was too late. Alycia was no fool and she knew that people were probably thinking very poorly of her. why SHOULD she want to stay in a room with someone who had NO INTEREST in making an effort?>>

<< Alycia stood up, preparing to leave. at LEAST she wasnt going after Haleigh or Cameron. in fact..she'd APOLOGIZED to Cameron.>>

Alycia!!

<< Karen called after her as she stood up...her facial expression conveyed PURE agitation with Haleigh and Alycia. there was a SLIVER of "give" there...and Haleigh just pulled back and made the tension return and ALycia did no better as she immediately returned to HER warpath.>>

<< as Karen thought FAST on what to do next, the birds came...it was the most unsettling thing! even though they were enclosed and HIGH off the ground level, Karen felt herself encroached by this MASSIVE flying stream of hostile birds. where were they going?? thankfully it seemed they WERENET interested in Illustra itself. but the sheer magnitude of this frenzied migration, the fact that day turned to BLACK because of the flowing stream of birds...and their horrid cries...it made Karen MORE than a little uneasy as she looked among the others in the room >>

Oh my stars!!


<< catching sight of alycia out the cornder of her eye, the woman was making a hasty retreat.>>


Alycia!

<< not making any sudden moves, the birds were still passing by but their seemingly ENDLESS parade was finaly starting to end...and with it..the din of their frenzied cries and sounds of chaos..>>

Wonderfull. Simply WONDERFULL.

<< she turns to Cameron.>>

Cameron? you may leave. At this point, there's no need for you to be apart of this. I have to deal with them and QUICKLY...too much is at stake for this NONSENSE to go on any further. I will pass my review on to Morgan..it will be favorable. Thank you for your willigness to cooperate and participate.

Delilah? you may go as well. I suspect Alycia is planning to make a fast exit from Illustra. She's not interested in attacking Haleigh directly. At th is point...if anyone touches her or tries to impeded her path...it could be construed as hostile action by mutants against humans...and the comittee of super human activities is just waiting for the chance to come down on mutants and metahumans with full legal justification. I dont want you to try to talk to her about this, i just want you to make sure that she leaves Illustra unharmed.

Thank you for your assistance. i know today has been hard for you. please keep the confidentiality clause in mind as you leave this room.

<< turning to Haleigh.>>

It's obvious you don't want the help I'm offering. You certainly wont be getting it from anyone ELSE either, which means you are content to realize the destiny that i showed you from before. the choices you make determine the life you lead...or lack there of. being aware of something is one thing. being willing to DO something about it...trying unconventional methods to that end..THAT requires a level of willingness you do not have. you said so yourself. I have tried all that i can with you at this point....and I do not feel another "more intense" session with you is in order for the LAST one clearly did not have a permanent result.

You may leave as well but you are to STAY AWAY from Alycia. Morgan will receive my report.

<< she folded her arms as she dismissed Haleigh.>>

Nicolas, you will stay behind.

<< waiting till Haleigh left before speaking again....Karen's more rapid breathing suggested she as more than a little upset.>>

I need a word with you.

<< her tone seemed more UNCERTAIN than anything else. >>
 
Haleigh wore the most smug look at Alycia retaliated, shutting down and preparing to leave.... as Alycia stood up from the table, so did Haleigh, quickly and reactively, in such a manner that her chair rolled back wildly and ran into the wall ten feet behind her. She watched Alycia rant and then stalk out the door.... and haleigh seemed MORE than satisfied to have pushed her right out the door!

"Good RIDDANCE!"

She exclaimed, as Karen reacted, trying to stay Alycia and then admonishing Haleigh... but Haleigh was hardly listening to the doctor.... something within her had SNAPPED.... and the change in her was apparent... and she scoffed as Karen suggested that Haleigh wouldn't allow anyone to help her and then went on to warn her to stay away from Alycia.

"WhatEVER... it's OBVIOUS that YOU can't help me! and just WHY would go ANYWHERE NEAR that SHITHEAD human?? You know, for a THERAPIST, you're an AWFUL listener.... I JUST SAID I didnt want ANYTHING to do with her! Maybe if you-- AAAGH!"

She cried suddenly, clamping her hands over her ears.... she whipped around to see the birds.... THOUSANDS of them.... turning the skies BLACK... and worse than THAT.... the sounds they were making.... it was deafening! Haleigh winced, trying to block out the sound.... but she noticed the OTHERS weren't having so severe a reaction.... how could they NOT? The sound was EARSPLITTING to Haleigh..... and she could only be thankful when the birds began to thin out... and much of the noise faded. The others were staring.... and Haleigh was huffed... and she took her chance to storm out, SLAMMING her OPEN hand into the center of the double doors and causing them to bust open violently, wooden shards and splinters flying about. Her head was KILLING her... she could hardly THINK over the pulsing pressure.... and the lights began to flicker as she faltered in her stalking step, stumbling into a potted plant.... she tried to right herself again.... but her very HEARTBEAT took an erratic pace and skipped beats, as more memories overtook her.... and ALL the screens in Illustra came to life.... with flashes of the NERVOUS battle with the Super Soldier....

Morgan and Alison do their best to fight him off... as Haleigh and the rest destroy Nervous.... everything seems to come together, despite, the chaos, and finally the team begins to make their escape... but there is one MORE surprise in store, and everyone is HELPLESS to stop it: the Super soldier busts into view....having lunged out from the shadows and smoke from the approaching meltdown and explosion. his face mangled and dripping with blood. his stature immediately dwarfs the two witches as he cold cocks Morgan across the jaw SO HARD she's stunned and dazed as she hits the ground with a thud and slides a few paces away....laying dangerously close to a puddle of that liquid energy.......there's no time for them to react as he wastes no time as he bears down on Alison swings his other arm under and forward...SLAMMING his photon weapon, now in the form of a javeline THROUGH Guardian's abdomen....the photon javeline punctures through her back....as he PUSHES it in forcefully.

the Shape stands , seemingly triumphant , silent and without emotion as he clenches his fists and continues to breath hard and heavy. the place is falling, MELTING down and will soon explode, permanantly changing the subterranean geographcy of the arctic circle. Everyone scrambles to help, with Haleigh lifting a badly injured Alison from the floor and staring uncertainly into the eyes of the Super Soldier.... hesitating only a split second before making a dash for the portal that is their exit.

Haleigh crumples to her knees in the middle of the hallway, clutching her chest, shutting her eyes tightly.... gasping for breath.... spasms take over her.... and the floodgates open once more... and ALL the monitors in Illustra continue their display... and even as Alycia retreats.... and the others who attended the session begin to leave... they are ALL witness.... as there is hardly a room in the cutting edge Illustra tower that DOESNT have at least one screen....

A slow country song plays from a portable radio, as Patch and I dance cheek to cheek beneath a starry night sky, amid the fresh snowfall. We move together slowly on the hardened ice of Hamstead's Pond, as the music wafts down from the embankment above. Neither of us speaks, as a full moon shines down on us, and a sky full of stars helps to brighten the night. We whisper, kiss softly, and turn slowly. It is a nice moment, and I am just tipsy enough to forget the pain I carry and just let everything be, as I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes. The DJ puts on a brighter song, and we look at each other and smile. I suggest we have some fun, and Patch offers to go get our skates out of his pack so we can test the ice. I nod and take another sip straight from the bottle of wine that Patch swiped from his parents hiding place. Patrick heads off up the hill to our horses, who are grazing on hay in the makeshift paddock we built ourselves. Horses are almost as great passion of mine as photography is, and it is one I share with Patch. My horse, Comet, is a gentle giant, a Clydesdale. Patrick's is a black beauty, a Percheron named Orion. I watch him, and take a moment to snap a picture of the sight, a beautiful silhouette of him and the horses, who lift their heads and snort out thick puffs of steam as he rifles through our stuff. Two teenaged boys in baseball letterman jackets emerge from the bushes on the other side of the pond. Ugh.... great... its Cooper and Conner Hewitt... Cooper, the more assertive of the twins, speaks first.

Cooper: "Well.... lookee who we got here. It's nearin' curfew, Haleigh... you shouldn't be out here all alone... something bad might happen."

My response is rapid and like wildfire... I don't try to hide that I don't like them. "Something bad might happen to YOU, Coop. I can handle MYSELF just fine."

Conner: "Oh, I bet you can, baby." He shoots back, and both of them laugh, while I am less than amused. My patience thinner than usual and my blood alcohol higher, but I’m gracious enough to give them a warning.

"I don't have TIME or energy for this, boys. While don't you two go fuck yourselves and leave me alone? Don't you have some cheerleaders to harass? I'm WAY out of your league. You ain't never HAD it, you ain't never gonna GET it... so give it a goddamned rest okay?"

Conner, who is a little more intelligent and less abrasive, can sense I'm not in the mood and looks to his brother. Cooper, on the other hand, tastes a challenge and refuses to back down. "Oo... potty MOUTH. You wanna know what your problem is? You're getting a little too sassy for your own good. What you need is a man to put you in your place... Your daddy hasn't been around to DO that now has he? And everybody KNOWS that bitchass little Paddywagon of yours cant HANDLE you."

Stupid asshole. I can't believe I used to be friends with these guys. It all ended when they spread the most awful rumors on the ninth grade about things I allegedly did with the two of them. I shake my head, but can't help my escalating anger level. "Dammit, Coop... this is your FINAL warning... I kicked your asses three years ago, and So help me God, I'll do it again."

Cooper moves in closer, and is now toe to toe with me. He stands a good ten inches taller than me and I can tell he's trying to intimidate me with his size, which I REALLY hate... and is unsuccessful anyway, because he's thin and wiry, and I can fight way better than one might think. Cooper thinks he can stare me down, and tries to call what he assumes is a bluff on my part.

Cooper: "I'd like to see that. We ain't little boys anymore, Haleigh."

I stare back at him, and don't look away, even when Patrick, who is standing at the top of the hill about fifty feet back, calls my name to try and disperse the tension. Cooper ignores his approach, and as Patch calls my name again, I shake my head and begin to turn away from Coop's ridiculous drama.... but Cooper isn't done yet... and he GRABS me by my elbows and forcefully pulls me close.... I brace my hands against his chest, leaning away from his advance, spitting in his face. He BACKHANDS me before THROWING me into the snow bank... and I see STARS as I try to recover from the sting.... everything happens so FAST... Cooper is in an absolute BLIND FRENZY and is upon me in SECONDS... and it is ALL I CAN DO to recover enough to punch him hard enough to BREAK his nose, and as the blood comes, he recoils, and it's all i need to kick him SQUARE in the chest with both feet and launch him backwards... turning the tables. It's not above me to kick him while he's down, and I DO.

Conner reacts a little slowly and jumps in, and Patrick races down the incline to help. It lasts only minutes before a familiar voice calls out for the fighting to stop. Patrick and I stop and look up, and the twins collect themselves and draw back, hurt and bleeding. I climb up the snow-covered bank, Patrick in tow. It's Mama's brother, and he's visibly pissed. He'll never understand.

"Uncle Pete... We... THEY started it..."

He ain't having it, and I can tell he knows I've had a little to drink. Really, it was only a little. He folds his arms across his chest. "You'd better get in the truck, girl. Patch.... you too, boy." Jeff steps out of the passenger side and reaches out to catch me as I wobble. I can tell he's disappointed, and I hang my head and slink past.

"Yessir." I slur sheepishly.... all this activity has catalyzed the alcohol in my system.

Patrick gives it a try. "Pete--"

"Not another word, young man. Get your things, I'm taking you two home." We climb into his red dodge truck with 'Fire Rescue Marshall' markings painted on it. Jeff offers to take the horses back, and he grabs his coat and gloves out of the truck, giving Patch one of those father-son looks that shuts everybody up.
 
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back at Illustra- 99th floor

<< as the limo, driven by Mike screeches up the circular drive outside of Illustra's long row of doors, Morgan rushes out as Mike opens the door.>>

Thank you Mike!

<< she says as she walks with a brisk pace, her high heels clicking in a fast rhythm along the ground and the marble floors in Illustra's crystaline lobby.>>

<< various personnel in Illustra were already buzzing loudly about the strange phenomena of the birds that had just passed over the building...the skies above. people were more than distracted from their tasks, they were downright unnerved.>>

Let's take the private express elevator.

<< the two women made their way quickly through the crowds ...some wanting to question MORGAN about the birds...as if SHE would REALLY have an answer for THAT?>>

<< once inside the elevator, it would not stop again until the 25th floor and then not again until the 99th floor. the express tube wouldnt stop again after that until the 101rst floor. only Morgan had a key to this elevator, copies were given out at her discretion.>>

<< while on the elevator.>>

I don't have to tell you that I am less than hopefull about what I will find on the 99th floor.

I have the feeling that people didnt cooperate with my mother..and quite frankly im getting tired of this. If ANY of us was the picture of perfect mental health...i'd LOVE to see them step forward.

<< Morgan rolled her eyes and stepped forward a bit.>>


I know that Haleigh is your sister, but if i find out that she's refusing help or has become a danger to this team, our security or Illustra, I'm relieving her of all her duties to the six. She's NEVER taken well to being chided or reprimanded by my mother...or ANYONE for that matter and if my mother can't help her..who the hell is going to be able to?

<< exhaling as she lost whatever sense of ACCOMPLISHMENT she had from earlier, Morgan was now rubbing her forehead as the express elevator finally reached the 99th floor.>>

here we are.

<< walking out first, morgan strode down the long hall way leading to the double doors that opened to the large, lobby/reception area of the office suites and conference room. as she entered, her eyes widened as the double doors to the conference room came SLAMMING open and crashing off their hinges!>>

what the hell is THIS!?

<< she yelled as she took her position, ready to attack, before seeing it was HALEIGH, who was struggling, clearly in the throws of another episode.>>

HALEIGH!

<< Morgan went over to her, and immediately took hold of her to keep her from falling. Haleigh was shaking badly and at that moment, the screens and monitors all flickered to lilfe once more. Morgan, now holding Haleigh from falling all the way down looks around her as wall mounted monitors over looking various points in the conference room as well as the TV and monitor and wall mounted monitors in the circular vestibule, and in various hall floors..including the residential floors were ZACH was....AND...to the risk of the six...monitors on the BUSINESS FLOORS far below.>>


Oracle said:
Morgan and Alison do their best to fight him off... as Haleigh and the rest destroy Nervous.... everything seems to come together, despite, the chaos, and finally the team begins to make their escape... but there is one MORE surprise in store, and everyone is HELPLESS to stop it: the Super soldier busts into view....having lunged out from the shadows and smoke from the approaching meltdown and explosion. his face mangled and dripping with blood. his stature immediately dwarfs the two witches as he cold cocks Morgan across the jaw SO HARD she's stunned and dazed as she hits the ground with a thud and slides a few paces away....laying dangerously close to a puddle of that liquid energy.......there's no time for them to react as he wastes no time as he bears down on Alison swings his other arm under and forward...SLAMMING his photon weapon, now in the form of a javeline THROUGH Guardian's abdomen....the photon javeline punctures through her back....as he PUSHES it in forcefully.

the Shape stands , seemingly triumphant , silent and without emotion as he clenches his fists and continues to breath hard and heavy. the place is falling, MELTING down and will soon explode, permanantly changing the subterranean geographcy of the arctic circle. Everyone scrambles to help, with Haleigh lifting a badly injured Alison from the floor and staring uncertainly into the eyes of the Super Soldier.... hesitating only a split second before making a dash for the portal that is their exit.
Click to expand...

<< Morgan's face tightens at the forced "reviewing" of a painfull defeat at the hands of the Super Soldier. for all her power and strength...both she and Alison TOGETHER could only hold him back for moments..and even then, it prooved to be not enough. Haleigh and Cameron lead the charge to rescue them, but Morgan only FAINTLY remembered being carried by Delilah, before collapsing...unable to move, barely THINK. as she was later told in Limbo, Haleigh rendered her unconscious, with the butt of her gun, in order to force the closing of the stepping disc they had used to escape NERVOUS and ensure that Haleigh's explosive devises LEVELED the underground complex. it was at THIS time in Limbo, that Morgan and Haleigh had finally reached a new level of peace and understanding..and found TRUST in each other. Haleigh had come BACK for Morgan AND ALISON in the face of certain death.>>

<< looking down at the clearly shaken and pained Haleigh, Morgan turned to Nicolas and her mother.>>

These images...they're not just broadcasting here, they're broadcasting ALL OVER Illustra!!

<< the images began to fade and fuzz out...flickering again to show something ELSE this time. a personal memory of Haleigh's from the PAST.>>



Oracle/Black Widow said:
A slow country song plays from a portable radio, as Patch and I dance cheek to cheek beneath a starry night sky, amid the fresh snowfall. We move together slowly on the hardened ice of Hamstead's Pond, as the music wafts down from the embankment above. Neither of us speaks, as a full moon shines down on us, and a sky full of stars helps to brighten the night. We whisper, kiss softly, and turn slowly. It is a nice moment, and I am just tipsy enough to forget the pain I carry and just let everything be, as I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes. The DJ puts on a brighter song, and we look at each other and smile. I suggest we have some fun, and Patch offers to go get our skates out of his pack so we can test the ice. I nod and take another sip straight from the bottle of wine that Patch swiped from his parents hiding place. Patrick heads off up the hill to our horses, who are grazing on hay in the makeshift paddock we built ourselves. Horses are almost as great passion of mine as photography is, and it is one I share with Patch. My horse, Comet, is a gentle giant, a Clydesdale. Patrick's is a black beauty, a Percheron named Orion. I watch him, and take a moment to snap a picture of the sight, a beautiful silhouette of him and the horses, who lift their heads and snort out thick puffs of steam as he rifles through our stuff. Two teenaged boys in baseball letterman jackets emerge from the bushes on the other side of the pond. Ugh.... great... its Cooper and Conner Hewitt... Cooper, the more assertive of the twins, speaks first.

Cooper: "Well.... lookee who we got here. It's nearin' curfew, Haleigh... you shouldn't be out here all alone... something bad might happen."

My response is rapid and like wildfire... I don't try to hide that I don't like them. "Something bad might happen to YOU, Coop. I can handle MYSELF just fine."

Conner: "Oh, I bet you can, baby." He shoots back, and both of them laugh, while I am less than amused. My patience thinner than usual and my blood alcohol higher, but I’m gracious enough to give them a warning.

"I don't have TIME or energy for this, boys. While don't you two go fuck yourselves and leave me alone? Don't you have some cheerleaders to harass? I'm WAY out of your league. You ain't never HAD it, you ain't never gonna GET it... so give it a goddamned rest okay?"

Conner, who is a little more intelligent and less abrasive, can sense I'm not in the mood and looks to his brother. Cooper, on the other hand, tastes a challenge and refuses to back down. "Oo... potty MOUTH. You wanna know what your problem is? You're getting a little too sassy for your own good. What you need is a man to put you in your place... Your daddy hasn't been around to DO that now has he? And everybody KNOWS that bitchass little Paddywagon of yours cant HANDLE you."

Stupid asshole. I can't believe I used to be friends with these guys. It all ended when they spread the most awful rumors on the ninth grade about things I allegedly did with the two of them. I shake my head, but can't help my escalating anger level. "Dammit, Coop... this is your FINAL warning... I kicked your asses three years ago, and So help me God, I'll do it again."

Cooper moves in closer, and is now toe to toe with me. He stands a good ten inches taller than me and I can tell he's trying to intimidate me with his size, which I REALLY hate... and is unsuccessful anyway, because he's thin and wiry, and I can fight way better than one might think. Cooper thinks he can stare me down, and tries to call what he assumes is a bluff on my part.

Cooper: "I'd like to see that. We ain't little boys anymore, Haleigh."

I stare back at him, and don't look away, even when Patrick, who is standing at the top of the hill about fifty feet back, calls my name to try and disperse the tension. Cooper ignores his approach, and as Patch calls my name again, I shake my head and begin to turn away from Coop's ridiculous drama.... but Cooper isn't done yet... and he GRABS me by my elbows and forcefully pulls me close.... I brace my hands against his chest, leaning away from his advance, spitting in his face. He BACKHANDS me before THROWING me into the snow bank... and I see STARS as I try to recover from the sting.... everything happens so FAST... Cooper is in an absolute BLIND FRENZY and is upon me in SECONDS... and it is ALL I CAN DO to recover enough to punch him hard enough to BREAK his nose, and as the blood comes, he recoils, and it's all i need to kick him SQUARE in the chest with both feet and launch him backwards... turning the tables. It's not above me to kick him while he's down, and I DO.

Conner reacts a little slowly and jumps in, and Patrick races down the incline to help. It lasts only minutes before a familiar voice calls out for the fighting to stop. Patrick and I stop and look up, and the twins collect themselves and draw back, hurt and bleeding. I climb up the snow-covered bank, Patrick in tow. It's Mama's brother, and he's visibly pissed. He'll never understand.

"Uncle Pete... We... THEY started it..."

He ain't having it, and I can tell he knows I've had a little to drink. Really, it was only a little. He folds his arms across his chest. "You'd better get in the truck, girl. Patch.... you too, boy." Jeff steps out of the passenger side and reaches out to catch me as I wobble. I can tell he's disappointed, and I hang my head and slink past.

"Yessir." I slur sheepishly.... all this activity has catalyzed the alcohol in my system.

Patrick gives it a try. "Pete--"

"Not another word, young man. Get your things, I'm taking you two home." We climb into his red dodge truck with 'Fire Rescue Marshall' markings painted on it. Jeff offers to take the horses back, and he grabs his coat and gloves out of the truck, giving Patch one of those father-son looks that shuts everybody up.
Click to expand...

<< another moment with Patrick, before his horrifying run as the Super Soldier. he was a handsome fellow really, and definately LOVED his sweetheart, Haleigh. It was a sweet moment to see Haleigh so young and fresh, FREE of the demons and hauntings that plagued her now. but in a scene that could have come out of any "coming of age" movie about two long time, destined lovers, Haleigh and Patrick are confronted by twins..Cooper and Conner. They typify the type of men that Morgan would beat bloody. They crash Haleigh and Patrick's party and behave in the barbaric manner that Morgan has come to expect from most males. Though this happened years ago, she can't help but roll her eyes.>>

they're lucky it wasnt ME they were dealing with.

<< she thinks as she continues to steady Haleigh. Haleigh was a little inebriated from the wine, and not as effective as she couldve been and PATRICK? well it was so surreal to see him HUMAN...a far cry from the monstrous thing SHE knew him as. Each time she watched him...she felt a pang of regret and hatred toward MysTech...not only did they END his life as a human...they turned him into something so horrible, so terrifying...that he HAD to die. He would have kept on killing with no feeling or remorse and she wondered HOW Haleigh lived with that...seeing them together in the past with these memories...its clear that HE was the one for her and now..that could NEVER happen. Suddenly, Zach didnt seem like much to morgan at all...and for her to be scrutinizing HALEIGH'S choice in men?? well that just showed how far those two had come ..not only as team mates but as FRIENDS and even "FAMILY.">>

<< her uncle appears and scolds them both...ordering them into the car. he's a strong man it seems. from the old school definately and wont put up with any crap. Morgan never respected her father...she'd seen him as an avaricious, self absorbed pig..and HE was the template to which she would hold ALL men from there on.>>

<< another personal , private moment of Haleigh's on full display, another history lesson at HER expense. Morgan hated that she was going through this...but she still had to find out what happened in this conference room and more pressingly...>>

Where is Alycia?

<< looking around to see only Cameron, Nicolas and Karen.>>

I only HOPE that the monitors on the business floors below didnt provide a clear image of these memories from NERVOUS or Haleigh's past...or we may ALL have an even BIGGER problem on our hands.

<< yet another hint to Harbinger's prediction>>
 
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