What's the matter with Rose?

[Malice]

Hellfire Catacombs

"She was with me earlier....we were both studying the physique of Zachary Armani---OH! Yes! I almost forgot!"

Helena had been so distracted by everything else, she almost forgot to share the delicious details of her little mission for Persephone.

"I'll be sending Persephone out on an errand later. What better way to test the dissolution of Ava Cassadine than to have Persephone KILL her oldest friend, Zachary Armani. A DIRECT hit against the Birds of Prey, secondary to The Six....and of course...little Scion. Her ex-fiance being torn apart and delivered to her chambers by her ex-sister? It's too perfect."

:: Malice nodded, with a look of approval and intrigue across her face and in her opal blue eyes::

I've drank deeply from the well of loss, grief and despair that Scion has experienced over her first mission to destroy Bishop , AND the reaction from Delilah's fragile mind and body when I delivered that psionic echo to her.

This should be a nice little cherry on top of the cake!

Still...she should've COMPLETED her mission against Rose by now.

:: Malice noticed that Haleigh had gone "silent" since her mini melt down after attack on Bishop.::

She's activated her own psychic black box....and without any formal training. Impressive, but SUSPICIOUS as well...

"I'm right here!"

< She said with a smile as she made her way over to Diana and Helena. >

"Hope I didn't miss anything good."

Not yet...

:: Diana said as she continued to "SCAN" ::

:: She pressed a button on her phone, delighted with herself as she sent the footage in separate text messages - one to The Black Queen and one to The White Queen, both with the same message. ::

>>Thought you might enjoy this. -Amanda

"It appears my Black Knight has something to say."

< Kelly cast the message onto the holographic screen for them all to watch. >

:: On his bed, was a dead body...one that had been badly mutilated. It was the body of a person that Cameron knew. An older, homeless woman that lived in Central Park. A few times a month, Cameron would play chess with her in the park. She would dispense wisdom and maniacally chatter at him about any number of things. She was a bit insane but for some reason, he enjoyed her company, and her advice. She always refused money he tried to give her, but on more than one occassion requested a pastry or two from one of the kitchens of the hotel. She was somebody that was his. Nobody really knew about her. A simple relationship that was easy. He could talk to her because she was crazy, she didn't know what he was saying, and he always felt better afterwards. She was like some kind of lunatic mother figure to him. That was over. This woman's body had been mutilated, her stomach torn open..her GUTS hanging out of her body, a look of complete fear and SHOCK all over her place. ::

"Oh my GOD!"

:: Her clothes. She was wearing different clothes than she normally did..and for some reason, he felt like he remembered them. From where, he couldn't place. Cameron quietly moved forward, his pulse racing as it became clear that she was holding something in her hands. ::

"A picture..."

:: Swallowing hard in his throat, not having the emotion for tears just yet..he tore the picture frame from the woman's cold and dead hands, which were wrapped TIGHTLY around the frame. Turning it over, he looked at the picture. It was a woman he knew...intimately. She had been the one he murdered..when he was a teenager. When he thought that a gang was what he needed to survive. The price of admission seemed simple. He just had to murder a stranger. This was that stranger. Kimberly. ::

:: When he had JAMMED the knife into her body several times, his mutant powers had manifested. He saw her entire life. Her apartment, her three children, the two jobs she worked to support them, the community service she did, what she worried about, how much she loved the people around her. He dropped the knife, fled the scene and it was only Vivica Lennox's family that protected him from MURDER CHARGES and the fury of the gang he had then turned his back on. While he thought of this woman throughout his life, this scene...this juxtaposition of one motherly figure, the dead homeless woman to another, it sent chills down his spine. It was like something out of a book. ::

:: He began to breathe rapidly as a few solitary tears streamed down his face, as he looked up at the wall to find a message scrawled in blood. ::

"MURDERER. GLUTTON. SWINE."

:: This had to be a Hellfire Club attack. It HAD to be the work of Malice..the only problem was, this was a story he simply did NOT tell. The only people who knew LIGHTLY about it...were Haleigh, Alycia and Karen Victoria, from those years ago in their counseling session. But they didn't know the details, the timeline, nothing. It was a thought he kept incredibly guarded, and he KNEW that if it were Malice, she would have played this card sooner. Either way..he needed to get OUT of his room and contact SOMEBODY. ::

"HISSSS!!!!!:

:: Turning his head, he DODGED the strike of a king cobra within SECONDS as it hurled itself BACK around, striking with GREAT speed as Cameron GRABBED it by it's neck JUST before it's venomous fangs made contact with his face. ::

"AAAGGHHH!!!"

:: He THREW the snake across the room and just as it was about to strike yet AGAIN, Cameron squinted his eyes, TK'ing out the side of the building, through the broken glass of the window. He was alone again. Just him and another dead body. Was this real? Or was this fake? Like Haleigh. Cameron was hyperventilating and before long, he found himself on the floor, trying to catch his breath, clutching his heart. This was too much. What was real and what was imaginary. Who was coming after him. Was it Malice? Was it Haleigh? Who could help him? Who was LEFT to help him. ::

:: Tears fell from his face. He was having a panic attack. The breathing wouldn't come. His lungs wouldn't take in air. Did it matter? Would anyone care if he ever muttered another word? Eventually, he seized out, trying in one LAST desperate attempt to get air to his body. ::

*coughing*

"Hellpp...meee.."

:: But there was no more help, and maybe there never would be again. Cameron passed out cold. ::

Well now...

:: Malice said as she took in the sight and sound, and even FELT the emotional turmoil from dear, sweet Cameron...::

Cobra is quite the artist, very thorough. How THOUGHTFUL of her to send this! Another pice in our beautiful tapestry of despair for The Six, and the little "Birds."

How does it feel, Kelly?

:: Malice turns to look at Talisman::

To know that but for a thin WALL along the sidreal string, THIS little damsel in distress ::Cameron King:: would be YOURS in FACT as well as in perception?

:: Talisman loved to stress the fact that she had no children, but the reality was, these WERE her dimensional children. The only the thing that seperated her individual reality from that of Witchfire's was a dimensional veil or "membrane" along the sidereal string of infinite possibilities.::

:: But even as they took in this delightful OPENING ACT, their attention was alerted to the MAIN EVENT...::

All the digital billboards in the square started to glitch, and suddenly Haleigh's voice, digitally altered to be unrecognizable to the general public, was booming throughout the square, and her words echoed like thunder through the air.

"AND THE SILVER SWAN STRIKES AGAIN!!! OR MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CALLING HER THE VIOLENT VULTURE? BETTER CLEAR THE AREA, PEOPLE! SHE'S BEEN QUITE AGGRESSIVE LATELY!"

She warned, as she cut the power to the Pig N Whistle, casting all the combatants in darkness and drawing the attention of all the rubberneckers. Almost everyone in the square was looking around wildly, trying to determine what was going on. Many cheered as if it were some sort of big production, a one-off surprise for tourists or a marketing stunt.

"DON'T WANT TO LEAVE? I DON'T BLAME YOU. I SEE SHE'S GIVING YOU QUITE A SHOW-- BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT! THIS IS ACTUALLY ROUND TWO FOR OUR BUSY LITTLE BIRDIE AND HER FAVORITE NEW SPARRING PARTNER! IF YOU THINK THIS IS ENTERTAINING, ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU MISSED IN ROUND ONE!"

Many Screens went white altogether, but the giant, 4K high definition LED billboard, which previously showing a man skiing down a pristine mountain slope, shifted to static, yet stayed on. Soon the static was replaced with a carefully cut and produced video from the night of the Blackout Party. The setting was High Dark Hall. The stars were none other than Domino and Silver Swan. The sound on the video was replaced with a classic Cheap Trick song.

:: IMAGES, "Background music", AND FOOTAGE of the Silver Swan, and Domino brawling and then PAWING at each other like DEMONS in heat, IN the black diamond suite within the Hellfire Mansion!?::

::FLASH!::

<< Horizontal, three way split screen showing the distinct reactions of the White Queen, Red Queen, and Black Queen.>>

THIS is why she hasn't completed her mission against ROSE! THIS!?

The record screeches to a halt and Sharon's voice echoes clearly. Then another song starts resounding in the chilly night air, and it is instantly recognizable, even though it's a few years old. It was a cultural anthem for a while: 'I kissed a girl' by Katy Perry.

:: her now DIAMOND form hand slowly closed into a fist, her nails digging, SCRAPING across the metal substance of the control console that she sat it::

:: Without showing any OTHER outward reaction...the white queen ignores the other two queens and presses a button and contacts Kristen Pratt.::

Advise ALL members of the Inner Circle that their presence is required in the Catacombs within the hour.

:: she closes the channel and looks at the Red and Black Queens::

I'm afraid my wayward Scion has gotten carried away with herself this evening.

She has FORGOTTEN one of the cardinal rules of the time honored tradition that is the black out party.

:: Malice looked at Enchantrah. The Red Queen could see the grim facial expression on the White Queen. There was no anger, there was no yelling, just that cold, grim look that Enchantrah KNEW was a sign of what was going to happen to the person that brought it on.::

She has gotten ahead of herself, and she has violated the protocol of Hellfire Club.

That, along with her dereliction of duty regarding Ashley Oldenburg, will not be tolerated.

:: She returns her gaze to the screen, and presses another button::

Kristen, contact Cyrus [another Hellfire member who was a chief engineer overseeing the Jumbotron, AND a mutant with mid range magnetic powers] at One Times Square. I want that Jumbotron, and anything ELSE broadcasting the Blackout party footage STOPPED. Tell him him to use an electro magnetic PULSE if he has to in order to NEGATE Scion's hold on the equipment in that entire area.

The unexpected erruption of CHAOS that the city will experience because of this will serve as much for entertainment as the little brawl my white night and Domino have engaged in with Silver Swan and MorningStar at the...."Pig n'Whistle"

:: She looks at THAT image feed for a moment, before turning to the other two queens and shaking her head.::

I don't care what Domino and the Silver Swan did within these walls.

The BLACK OUT PARTY, and all events that occurr therein, is NOT for outside public consumption.

Kelly, I'm beginning to think your attempts to bring her to HEEL so soon after she arrived werent so...premature after all.

:: taking a drink from her flute of champagne::

Ladies. We have an example to make tonight. I want ALL members of the Inner Circle to be assembled to bear witness to it.

You're going to pay for this, Scion. Truly, definitively, DEARLY.

 

[Enchantrah]

Diana: I've drank deeply from the well of loss, grief and despair that Scion has experienced over her first mission to destroy Bishop , AND the reaction from Delilah's fragile mind and body when I delivered that psionic echo to her. This should be a nice little cherry on top of the cake!

Helena grinned in anticipation.

"I'll make sure Mystique records it."

Diana: Still...she should've COMPLETED her mission against Rose by now.

Rolling her eyes.

"She's fickle, Diana. She probably got distracted by a tumbleweed of trash."

Kelly: "I'm here, I'm here!

"Speaking of trash."

Helena grinned cheekily at Kelly as she asked if she had missed anything good. But it seemed the Black Queen spoke too soon. Kelly and Diana received a message from Cobra with a video attacked. It was of her torturing Cameron King. Helena raised a brow with intrigue.

"Impressive. HA! Look at him flounder to the floor like a fish out of water."

However Cobra's recording wasn't the only one they were about to bare witness to. Suddenly the monitors began to play what was happening in Time Square. Helena's eyes widened seeing Silver Swan and Domino going at it like two dogs in heat. Helena lost it.

"Oh. My. GOD."

It seemed the reason why Scion was late to her mission was because she decided to put Silver Swan on blast.

"Oh this is fucking GOLD. That woman [Sharon] acts so high and mighty casting judgement on ME when she can't even properly perform a 69. Look at that! It's disgraceful."

Helena scoffed out a laugh. She was completely enjoying the moment until she looked at Diana who looked like she was about to kill every living thing on Earth. And then it dawned on her...Blackout Party...this happened at the Blackout Party. Helena gave Kelly a quick look before her eyes shifted back to Diana.

"Diana....breathe."

Diana: Advise ALL members of the Inner Circle that their presence is required in the Catacombs within the hour.

Helena mouthed "oh shit" to Kelly as Diana lost HER collective shit about Scion exposing the Blackout Party and Hellfire Club. Well, if that little girl was liking her new body, she better get used to her NEXT one. Helena took out her iphone and sent out a group text to Persephone, Berserker, and Mystique.

Inner Circle Meeting in ONE HOUR. Catacombs--DON'T be late.

 

[Talisman]

Hellfire Catacombs

Well now...

:: Malice said as she took in the sight and sound, and even FELT the emotional turmoil from dear, sweet Cameron...::

Cobra is quite the artist, very thorough. How THOUGHTFUL of her to send this! Another pice in our beautiful tapestry of despair for The Six, and the little "Birds."

How does it feel, Kelly?

:: Malice turns to look at Talisman::

To know that but for a thin WALL along the sidreal string, THIS little damsel in distress ::Cameron King:: would be YOURS in FACT as well as in perception?

:: Talisman loved to stress the fact that she had no children, but the reality was, these WERE her dimensional children. The only the thing that seperated her individual reality from that of Witchfire's was a dimensional veil or "membrane" along the sidereal string of infinite possibilities.::

:: But even as they took in this delightful OPENING ACT, their attention was alerted to the MAIN EVENT...::

< Kelly watched the scene with delight. Amanda was such a willing and efficient student. She soaked up the opportunity that she had been given like a sponge. All she needed was motivation, and Kelly had given that to her in spades. She was pleased to see that Amanda was taking every opportunity available to her now. It was satisfying. >

"Amanda's passion for literature has given her a masterful hand when it comes to painting a scene. She has the potential to be a foil of Machiavellian proportions. It's quite delightful."

Helena: "Impressive. HA! Look at him flounder to the floor like a fish out of water."

< Upon listening to Diana's question. >

"It's interesting to say the least. In the interactions I have viewed...I can see, the subtlest hints of my nature in their bodies. Watching him writhe on the ground like that, I can see why you've vexed him so over the years. If he reacts like THIS over the death of some light homeless acuaintance, I can't wait to see what he does when he thinks he might have his precious "mother" back in his life."

[smirking]

"He will cause so MUCH of their destruction without even realizing it."

< The women LAUGHED...but THEN? >

All the digital billboards in the square started to glitch, and suddenly Haleigh's voice, digitally altered to be unrecognizable to the general public, was booming throughout the square, and her words echoed like thunder through the air.

"AND THE SILVER SWAN STRIKES AGAIN!!! OR MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CALLING HER THE VIOLENT VULTURE? BETTER CLEAR THE AREA, PEOPLE! SHE'S BEEN QUITE AGGRESSIVE LATELY!"

She warned, as she cut the power to the Pig N Whistle, casting all the combatants in darkness and drawing the attention of all the rubberneckers. Almost everyone in the square was looking around wildly, trying to determine what was going on. Many cheered as if it were some sort of big production, a one-off surprise for tourists or a marketing stunt.

"DON'T WANT TO LEAVE? I DON'T BLAME YOU. I SEE SHE'S GIVING YOU QUITE A SHOW-- BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT! THIS IS ACTUALLY ROUND TWO FOR OUR BUSY LITTLE BIRDIE AND HER FAVORITE NEW SPARRING PARTNER! IF YOU THINK THIS IS ENTERTAINING, ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU MISSED IN ROUND ONE!"

Many Screens went white altogether, but the giant, 4K high definition LED billboard, which previously showing a man skiing down a pristine mountain slope, shifted to static, yet stayed on. Soon the static was replaced with a carefully cut and produced video from the night of the Blackout Party. The setting was High Dark Hall. The stars were none other than Domino and Silver Swan. The sound on the video was replaced with a classic Cheap Trick song.

< Kelly's eyes widened. >

Helena: "Oh. My. GOD."

"This...is...INCORRIGIBLE!"

< THANKFULLY, it seemed as Diana echoed her concern, even if Helena watched with perverse hilarity. >

Helena: "Oh this is fucking GOLD. That woman acts like so high and mighty casting judgment on ME when she can't even properly perform a 69. Look at that! It's disgraceful."

< Kelly's eyes didn't blink as they were GLUED on the screen, with a mixture of ANGER at what Scion had done and perverse voyeurism. She nudged Helena's arm. >

"Well..it appears that Domino is quickly closing the learning gap."

< She choked down a laugh. >

Helena: "Diana...breathe."

"Oh fuck breathing, Helena. Scion has completely disrespected ALL three of us!"

< Helena mouthed "oh shit" to her as Talisman smiled with a bit of smug satisfaction. Scion NEEDED to be pistol whipped into submission and it was clear that Diana's threats thus far hadn't made an impression. This was exactly what Kelly had been worried about. Haleigh still thought she had the upper hand, that her title of Malice's daughter MEANT something. She refused to understand that just like Sharon Kelly, just like Super Soldier, just like MASTER MOLD...that SHE was an asset. She had no right to operate on her own agenda...not anymore. She had lost that opportunity when she joined leage with Hellfire. >

: Malice looked at Enchantrah. The Red Queen could see the grim facial expression on the White Queen. There was no anger, there was no yelling, just that cold, grim look that Enchantrah KNEW was a sign of what was going to happen to the person that brought it on.::

She has gotten ahead of herself, and she has violated the protocol of Hellfire Club.

That, along with her dereliction of duty regarding Ashley Oldenburg, will not be tolerated.

:: She returns her gaze to the screen, and presses another button::

Kristen, contact Cyrus [another Hellfire member who was a chief engineer overseeing the Jumbotron, AND a mutant with mid range magnetic powers] at One Times Square. I want that Jumbotron, and anything ELSE broadcasting the Blackout party footage STOPPED. Tell him him to use an electro magnetic PULSE if he has to in order to NEGATE Scion's hold on the equipment in that entire area.

The unexpected erruption of CHAOS that the city will experience because of this will serve as much for entertainment as the little brawl my white night and Domino have engaged in with Silver Swan and MorningStar at the...."Pig n'Whistle"

:: She looks at THAT image feed for a moment, before turning to the other two queens and shaking her head.::

I don't care what Domino and the Silver Swan did within these walls.

The BLACK OUT PARTY, and all events that occurr therein, is NOT for outside public consumption.

Kelly, I'm beginning to think your attempts to bring her to HEEL so soon after she arrived werent so...premature after all.

:: taking a drink from her flute of champagne::

Ladies. We have an example to make tonight. I want ALL members of the Inner Circle to be assembled to bear witness to it.

< She had no doubt that Malice had this covered, but still it was good to hear that Malice was keeping a clear mind in light of the VIOLATIONS that Scion had just committed against the club. >

"She thinks herself too clever, Diana. She thinks she can pull one over on you, even as she tries to adjust her thoughts and deepen her levels of depravity. She MUST be made an example of."

< Kelly immediately contacted her court via her own "hearing thoughts" spell that kept them linked. >

"One hour. The catacombs. Your presence is REQUIRED."

 

[Berserker]

Hellfire Mansion - The Red Knight's Quarters

Alek was having just an okay time in his chamber when he heard the chorus of My Chemical Romance’s Helena coming from his phone, his special alert for texts from the Red Queen. He rolled over and stretched out his hand to grab his phone from the bedside table.

>> Inner Circle Meeting in ONE HOUR. Catacombs--DON'T be late.

He quickly shot back a text.

>> I’ll bring the wine. XOXO

He tossed the phone back on the table. Clearly he wasn’t the only person who saw the video of Max and Sharon Kelly in flagrante delicto. But that wasn’t his problem and he came when he was called. He told the three in his bed to get out, and went to get into the shower. Pity, he was going to make a gift of one of them to Persephone. He mentally shrugged. Another time.

Making sure he was dressed impeccably, his hair tied back, he made his way to the catacombs and arrived precisely at the appointed time. Kissing Helena on the cheek, he bowed his head to her.

“Here as requested, Red Queen.”

 

[Fathom]

The Pig N Whistle

Delilah: Haven't you heard?

Heidi was about to drag Delilah's face across the bar when the surprise headbutt attempt came at her. She fluidly slipped out of the way, letting go of Delilah's hair.

Delilah: Drowning doesn’t take with me. Sorry.

Then Morningstar threw a punch packed with photon energy. Heidi's head SNAPPED back, then her whole body went transparent and rays of light shined straight through what used to be her head as she turned completely to water. The sudden absence of resistance meant the follow-through on Delilah's punch took her forward, and the watery form of Fathom splashed over her. Heidi went solid again, now behind Delilah, gently rubbing her chin.

"Oh, a pity, that is. Don't worry, I can still put you out of your misery."

Heidi ducked down nearly flat, as some man came flying past them, and she swept Delilah's feet out from under her, grabbing her by the ankle and throwing over the bartop, into the taps, which all promptly started spraying beer. Heidi hopped over behind the bar as well, and started grabbing bottles from the speed rails and smashing them down on top of Morningstar's head.

"Here, have a drink. My treat!"

Diana: ALL members of the Inner Circle are required in the Catacombs within the hour....

Heidi glanced around, looking for Maxine, but didn't see her.

"DOMINO, We'd better wrap this up!"

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Ashley: Stop it. STOP IT ZACH. Can’t you even let me feel my own emotions?!

He couldn't. He'd seen all the damage that emotions could cause. He'd seen wrath make people reckless.

"NO. That much emotion can get you KILLED, and I'm NOT going to let that happen."

He growled, gripping the edge of the desk to steady himself. His heart raced and it felt like there was ACID rushing through his veins. He wanted to destroy something.

Ashley: You all stood there, and let her beat me, for no good reason. You just watched her. And then when she was done you wanted her to stay. You were sorry she left.

"IT WASN'T LIKE THAT ASH--"

Ashley: And you won’t care that she’s done this, will you? Because she’s ‘The Silver Swan’. She’s miss perfect. The strongest. The baddest.

"That's BULLSHIT, and you KNOW it!"

Ashley: Well I don’t think I want to stay here with you cunts anymore.

She said, and left. Zach kicked something, and didn't even feel the pain.

"GODS, She's so stubborn."

He said, as he worked on controlling his breathing and trying to dissipate some of that fury he'd taken on.

"I think we all know if *I* go after her..... we'll end up getting arrested for public indecency, so maybe one of YOU should follow her and keep her out of trouble?"

He suggested, looking at Steele, because he was the best candidate present.

 

[Silver Swan]

Timesquare- Pig n'Whistle/OUTSIDE

[ Silver Swan stood in the center of the melee, dodging full on lunges by some of the larger brawlers, casually swatting /punching goons away who charged her away left and right. At one point she caught LARGE powered by the waist of his pants and held him up over her head]

No WONDER you men can't get a date!

[ she SLAMS him down, KO'ing him cold]

[ She quickly glances over to where MorningStar is fighting with Fathom]

Time to douse THAT bitch with some DRANO.

[But before she could make her away to them, she found herself LURCHING forward under the force of movement outside of her own power]


WHOA!?

"Hey SHARON! Get out here! We're FAMOUS!"

:: Using her ability to manipulate her limbs in her techno organic steel form, her left arm MORPHED into a long cable as it FLEW threw the air as quickly as Maxine could run and WRAPPED itself around Sharon's neck as she flexed her muscles, causing her to YANK Sharon Kelly from the bar and onto the street beside her as Sharon landed HARD onto the concrete, her body leaving a large dent as she fell. Maxine's arm slithered back into it's rightful spot and form. ::

[ Before Sharon could SNAP the cables arond her neck, she went flying out of the bar onto the street, landing with a hard impact into the concrete]

DAMMIT!

[ She places her armored hand on the side of her head, shaking her head]

[ And then she heard...SAW what the devil Domino was talking about. It was ALL AROUND THEM, ]

[ Even from behind her silver mask, Sharon's silver eyes briefly widen...and then FLASH with indignation, narrowing as she clenches her armored fist.]

Black Widow....

that worthless bio hazard....

[ gritting her teeth]

that traitor....

[ standing up]

that techno organic TRASH!

[ She said...SEETHING with anger, all the while watching and HEARING the clearly edited BLOW BY BLOW playback of her bizarre, brief but TORRID affair with Maxine]

"Remind me to thank The White Princess for her moxy. I'm even more BEAUTIFUL fifty feet tall."

Talk about an attack of the 50 foot woman, and just like the creature [Domino] before me, what a SHITTY movie THAT was.

[ Sharon said dismissively. BOTH women were more than a little....transfixed by Black Widow's "special delivery" Domino loved it. Sharon wanted to kill BOTH of them. She didn't CARE that her "secret" was out. Everyone makes a mistake, especially in the heat of a moment most of THEM could never understand, much less SURVIVE. She understood that about Nicolas and Haleigh (when they were VICTIMS of Set); or even Delilah and Bishop, when they were held captive by Millennia. And Domino spoke to a part of Sharon that OTHERS she knew were AFRAID OF, or felt was some how "WRONG", but it was just as much apart of her as anything else. She WASN'T the same woman she'd been before, and she wasn't going to APOLOGIZE or DENY herself as the Silver Swan! HALEIGH and the rest of the Hellfire Club were the ENEMY!]

I'll pull her [Haleigh's]

FACE off....I'll...

Maxine landed a SERIES of physical punches and kicks, hurling the woman through the air with the strength of her legs 12 - :15). She jumped up and down, almost like a boxer regaining his composure in his corner of the ring, just WAITING for the next strike. ::

....OOF!!!!!

[ Sharon staggered and was soon slammed to the ground by Domino's leg grab. This was getting to be MORE than annoying. Did this mutant GNAT Domino think she was going to EVER the Silver Swan!? Sharon was TIRED of her being in the way. It didn't matter what PERVERSE relationship Domino had with PAIN and physical punishment due to her mutant physiology, Sharon wanted her GONE, and it was time to make that happen!]

That's.....IT....

:: She noticed some of the men climbing out of the rubble of the bar and heading into the street. ::

"OOH! Looks like the flatscans wanna play too!"

[ On her feet, and now HOVERING off the ground]

Oh who CARES about them, you annoying bitch!?

You're so AMUSED with yourself in this moment, are you? You and that BASTARD BIO HAZARD, Black Widow

Well, you should take a moment to TRULY appreciate....

[ Silver Swan, ZOOMS toward Domino in a direct forward flight/dash, so FAST is her movement, that the WIND gusts along with her]

...Your BIG BREAK on screen.

[Contact is IMMINENT]

WELCOME TO PRIME TIME, BITCH!

[WHAMMO!]

[ Silver Swan SLAMS INTO Domino, delivering a THUNDEROUS punch with her adamantium armored fist to Domino's FACE/JAW, and LAUNCHING her up into the air like a runaway rocket, and sending her flying/CRASHING into the jumbotron! Even as the broadcast was now being STOPPED by some other force, Domino was now functioning as makeshift WRECKING BALL as she slammed into the giant screen, and caused MASSIVE damage to it]

HAH!

[ Silver Swan exhaled and laughed at the same time, as she turned to see a group of oncoming men]

OUT OF MY WAY!

[ She unleashes her SONIC SCREAM, it's the "high end" of the low level version of this attack, with the sound waves spread out widely to cause a moderate TREMOR to rock the men to their knees, induce vertigo, dizziness and in some, nose bleeds and unconsciousness]

[ She charges forward, FLYING and bowling OTHERS over like helpless bowling pins, and zooms BACK into the bar, where she slams her fist into Fathom's face to send her flying across the room to crash into the juke box]

YOUR friend is currently EATING the jumbotron.

You want to be NEXT!?

[ Helping Delilah to her feet, and now standing in front of her]

 

[MorningStar]

Times Square - The Pig N’ Whistle

Fathom took her punch, then transformed her body into water. Delilah’s forward momentum carried her through her. Delilah made a face.

“Ugh, how gross.”

Fathom threw her over the bar and started throwing bottles at her. Delilah raised her shield, glaring at Miss Fish N Chips. Sharon soared in and hit Fathom, causing her to careen across the room, before helping Delilah up.

“Time to put this fish back into her tank.”

Reaching out her hand, Delilah encased Fathom in a hard light box, then continued to project lasers beams from the “lid” of the box down onto its occupant.

She smiled at Sharon.

“Hope you like fish jerky.”

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi turned and looked at Ashley, her eyes wide.

“Now let’s just stay-“

But Ashley had already exploded, smashing things and screaming, as angry as she had ever seen her.

She demanded to know where Sharon was, and even though Zizi knew, she shook her head rapidly back and forth.

“No…”

Her eyes met John’s.

“Do not tell her.”

Her eyes went back to Ashley, and something had changed in her face. John grabbed Ashley, pulling her way, commanding her to calm herself while Zach pleaded with her and tried to take some of her anger from her.

Zizi was scared, shaking, tears falling down her cheeks.

“You all stood there, and let her beat me, for no good reason. You just watched her. And then when she was done you wanted her to stay. You were sorry she left. And you won’t care that she’s done this, will you? Because she’s ‘The Silver Swan’. She’s miss perfect. The strongest. The baddest. Well I don’t think I want to stay here with you cunts anymore.”

Zizi tried to speak, but couldn’t. She was too shook up by Valkyrie’s power. And if John and Zach hadn’t stopped her…

"GODS, She's so stubborn. I think we all know if *I* go after her..... we'll end up getting arrested for public indecency, so maybe one of YOU should follow her and keep her out of trouble?"

Zizi made some indistinct sounds, then with much effort managed.

“J-j-john? Pl-please?”

She wiped her eyes.

“C-can someone h-help Andrew to a ch-chair?”

No matter what she did, everyone thought she was against them. She was a failure, an absolute failure.

 

[Steel]

The Clocktower

After Ashley was out the door, Steel rushed to Zizi’s side.

“Are you alright?!”

He knelt next to her, looking into her face. She was crying, and it broke his heart. Luckily Ashley had only been able to use a fraction of her power on Zizi, but for a human like her, that was enough.

“She didn’t mean it, she’s hurt is all.”

He saw Zizi try and nod at him. He gave Zach a worried look.

"GODS, She's so stubborn. I think we all know if *I* go after her..... we'll end up getting arrested for public indecency, so maybe one of YOU should follow her and keep her out of trouble?"

“J-j-john? Pl-please? C-can someone h-help Andrew to a ch-chair?”

He squeezed her arm, then picked Andrew up by his shirt and deposited him in one of the rolling chairs next to Zizi.

“I’ll tail her. She won’t know I’m there, and if she does, she can’t hurt me.”

He moved to go but turned back to Zizi before ducking out of the door.

“This will all work out, I promise.”

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower

"GODS, She's so stubborn. I think we all know if *I* go after her..... we'll end up getting arrested for public indecency, so maybe one of YOU should follow her and keep her out of trouble?"

He was still lying on the floor, but raised his hand. If there was public indecency on the table…

The big guy was picking him up. Oh shit. The big guy was picking him up.

“I’m fine…no really, everything’s fine here. With me.”

He made an “ouch” sound as Steel dropped him into a chair. Then it was just Zizi, who looked like her puppy had just died, and Zach, who looked like he was ready to EAT a puppy.

“Yeah, she was pretty riled up there, eh? I’m sure she’ll be fine though. She can’t stay angry with us forever, can she?”

He smiled over at Zizi and took her hand.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt you, Zees. Not you. She’ll cool down and come back and apologize…well maybe not apologize but I’m sure she’ll be real sorry on the inside.”

He looked around him in the uncomfortable silence.

“So…we’re going to look for clues in that video too, right?”

 

[Fathom]

The Pig N Whistle

There was no response from Maxine. Heidi kept Morningstar down with a constant volley of liquor bottles. She was about to get REALLY aggressive when she felt the whoosh of air rushing over her, like an ocean breeze, and the light from outside the bar was blocked by a shadow.

SUCKER PUNCH!

Heidi BARELY got her hands up in time, and grabbed Sharon at her wrist with one hand, and her elbow with the other, managing to slow and weaken the punch. She still took it in the mouth and went flying backwards over the bartop to crash into the jukebox.

DAMN, DARKWING DUCK! That right cross is nasty!

She thought, as blood filled her mouth and stained her smile. She extracted herself from the jukebox and glared at Silver Swan, who was crowing about where Maxine was, of course.

Silver Swan: You want to be NEXT?!

"Oh, WHATEVER, 'Mighty Wings'. What are you going to do, KISS ME TO DEATH? You're just lucky I've been called away, otherwise you'd find out how hard it is to fly at the BOTTOM OF THE SEA."

She was suddenly encased in some kind of solid prism of light. She got burned BADLY on the shoulder by a laser, and she scowled before going to her full liquid form once again. She sloshed around the inside of the box. The air in the bar was filled with loud metallic groaning, and suddenly every water pipe in the building BURST, sending jetstreams of both hot and cold water, along with all sorts of debri, crashing into the spot where Delilah and Sharon were standing.

She was able to break Delilah's concentration and the light box disintegrated, allowing her to splash free, and join her form with the water that was now spraying around in EVERY DIRECTION. In a split second, she was gone from the bar.

 

[Mystique]

Mystique was already well aware of the bird and game piece--old news.

The White Queen was NOT impressed. To blackout was to secure the indiscretions of Hellfire Club....Mystique knew all of the indiscretions, it was a boring concept. But one Diana wanted upheld.

Arriving dressed in a skin tight dark red dress, Mystique's cherry locks were parted to the side, waving down her face in a cascade of curls. Berserker was already present. She moved behind him, running her slender fingers down his elbow and the length of his forearm.

"Alek."

She bowed her head to Helena.

"My Queen."

Her hazel eyes shifted to both Diana and Kelly who looked positively furious--it was quite funny. A small smirk tugged on her nude stained lips.

"Maybe they'll let me kill her [Scion]."

She whispered with hope.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Soon the fog of fury began to thin, the tunnel vision widened, and Zach got a better grip on himself. In the absence of that overwhelming rage, he began to pick up on some other emotions in the room, namely the fear, doubt, and guilt coming from Zizi's direction. Her self-esteem had plummeted as a result of Valkyrie's fury.

Steele went to her immediately, trying to console her, because like Zach, John was heartbroken for Zizi. The men shared a worried look, as Zach tried to pull himself back together quickly so that he could help her. Steele got up to go after Ashley, and Andrew tagged in trying to cheer Zizi back up.

Andrew: So…we’re going to look for clues in that video too, right?

"Yeah, why don't you get started on that, I've got this."

He said gently, kneeling next to Zizi. He offered her his handkerchief, and when she reached for it, their knuckles grazed, and he passed her some genuine affection and admiration.

"Hey."

He said, searching for her eyes.

"We couldn't do this without you Zizi. Everyone here appreciates you, and the leadership you give this team."

Andrew: Uh, guys?

"We're having a moment of sincerity here, bro."

But Andrew didn't relent, he pointed out a neglected urgent message from Xavier that he'd discovered. More intel on Haleigh. Apparently she'd attacked Bishop and left him for dead. Zach was floored. He could hardly BELIEVE she'd ever hurt Delilah like that, but then Delilah was always in her corner, even when being in her corner was difficult. Haleigh was REALLY committed to making them all hate her, wasn't she? It was either that or Malice TRULY and COMPLETELY had control of her. Both scenarios were terrible.

"We've got to get on the offensive here, they've had us on the ROPES."

He couldn't help but feel a little bitter at Sharon for having kept so much from them for DAYS. They could've been more ready for this.

 

[Persephone]

No sooner than finding out about Sharon and Maxine, Persephone received a text from Helena stating that there would be a full Inner Circle meeting within the hour. Oh this was going to be GOOD, far more entertaining than what she had planned for the rest of the evening. Slipping off her bed, she smoothed out her burgundy dress of any wrinkles and put on her nude pumps. Running her hands through her sleek chocolate locks, she exited her bedroom and headed for the catacombs.

Whatever Scion had planned, there was no doubt that the Black and White Queens were not happy about it. However Persephone had a feeling that Helena found it more entertaining than troublesome. Arriving in the catacombs, she saw Kelly and Diana's faces and her instincts were right--they were furious. Helena was much more laid back with her body language as she conversed with her fellow Sisterhood. Spotting Alek and Mystique, Persephone made her way over to them.

She bowed her head at Helena--this would be the first time the Queen saw Persephone's full transformation.

"My Queen."

Giving her a sly smile, Helena's eyes glimmered with glee as she grinned like the cheshire cat in triumph. Persephone moved next to Alek--her and Mystique flanking him.

Mystique: "Maybe they'll let me kill her."

"Not a fan I gather."

Mystique: "She's overrated."

Glancing in Mystique's direction, the woman smirked mischievously causing Persephone to smile. Her eyes then moved to Alek, her smile turning more seductive..

"Seems your fantasy of having Haleigh and I is about to end."

She teased.

 

[Berserker]

The Catacombs

Mystique arrived after he did, and as she came to stand next to him she trailed her fingers down his arm in a very suggestive manner.

"Alek."

The side of his mouth curled up into a smirk as she addressed him before Helena. Such a breach of protocol. He might have to reprimand her for that later…

He was appraising her from top to bottom when Persephone came to stand on the other side of him. Now this was a sandwich he could take a liking to.

"Maybe they'll let me kill her [Scion]."

"Not a fan I gather."

"She's overrated."

His eyes scanned the assembled crowd.

“Not in bed.”

"Seems your fantasy of having Haleigh and I is about to end."

He ran his fingertips down Persephone’s back as he turned and flashed her a smile.

“Perhaps Malice will give her to us as a present.”

He locked eyes with Persephone for a long moment, and then remembering Mystique he turned towards her.

“You would be welcome to join us, of course.”

 

[Mystique]

Alek: “Not in bed.”

Mystique subtly winkled her nose in disgust while shifting her sights away from Alek. Instant turn off.

Persephone: "Seems your fantasy of having Haleigh and I is about to end."

Alek: “Perhaps Malice will give her to us as a present.”

"In pieces."

She smirked, her eyes line shifting back to the Rook and Knight.

Alek: “You would be welcome to join us, of course.”

"After what i've seen you two do, absolutely."

Her smirk shifting to a grin as she winked at Persephone. It was no secret Mystique was everywhere and nowhere at any given time. Today, she was enjoying not only Silver Swan and Dominos show, but Persephone and Berserkers as well.

"As for Scion....i'd rather dive head first into Silver Swans snatch than touch that biohazard."

She deadpanned, glancing at the screen of Silver Swan beating the living hell out of Domino.

"But..."

Mystique subtly reached behind Alek, her fingers gently tracing along Persephone's hip before withdrawing away from the goddess.

Her voice low and sultry.

"If you're interested, i'm always around."

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower

“Yessss!”

Andrew pumped his fist as Zach told him he could start going over the video for “clues”. But as he started using the console, a different alert came up.

“Uh, guys?”

"We're having a moment of sincerity here, bro."

“Sorry, but this can’t wait. Xavier messaged us – Haleigh attacked Bishop and left him for dead. It was only through Silver Swan, Alycia and Isis’ intervention that he didn’t die.”

He turned around and looked at them both.

“So I guess he’s not dead then.”

Too bad.

"We've got to get on the offensive here, they've had us on the ROPES."

“But what can we do? We can’t exactly bomb the mansion.”

 

[Persephone]

Alek: “Perhaps Malice will give her to us as a present.”

"You're relentless."

Persephone rolled her eyes with a smile.

Mystique: "In pieces."

So Mystique REALLY didn't like Haleigh. Now THAT was interesting, and quite entertaining actually. There had to be a reason for it...maybe Alek's invitation would open up a door to find out why.

Alek: “You would be welcome to join us, of course."

Mystique: "After what i've seen you two do, absolutely. As for Scion....i'd rather dive head first into Silver Swans snatch than touch that biohazard."

Persephone's lips upturned into a sly smile. She knew there was always a chance Mystique was around, but the fact she just solidified that she had watched herself and Alek having sex was highly amusing. Again, she slammed Haleigh but welcomed the prospect of joining herself and Alek. She even gently began to trace a pattern against Persephone's side with her finger, causing the goddess to lower her gaze to the woman's fingers, before flicking them back up to meet with hers.

Mystique: If you're interested, i'm always around.

"Oh i'm very interested. And I can tell you right now....i'm far better with my mouth than those two [Sharon and Maxine] ever dream of being."

She grinned wickedly, knowing this was definitely not what this Inner Circle meeting was meant for, but hell....what better way to kill time than to have a little 'small talk'.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Andrew was holding her hand, but it wasn’t making her feel better. All she wanted to do was cry.

Zach knelt in front of her, and handed her his handkerchief. Through shuddering sobs she said,

“I…didn’t…think…anyone…used…handkerchiefs…anymore.”

"We couldn't do this without you Zizi. Everyone here appreciates you, and the leadership you give this team."

She blew her nose.

“What team? Everyone’s leaving…”

“Sorry, but this can’t wait. Xavier messaged us – Haleigh attacked Bishop and left him for dead. It was only through Silver Swan, Alycia and Isis’ intervention that he didn’t die. So I guess he’s not dead then.”

She started to tear up again.

“Poor Bishop…poor Delilah…I should text Ashley and let her know…but she's probably blocked my number from her phone...”

She blew her nose again.

"We've got to get on the offensive here, they've had us on the ROPES."

“But what can we do? We can’t exactly bomb the mansion.”

She sniffed and wiped her eyes.

“But we CAN watch them: they have to come out sometime. Then we can take this fight to THEM. And make sure OUR numbers are better. Press the advantage.”

She started typing.

“We’ll need as many eyes in the vicinity of the mansion as we can get.”