Wish upon a Siege Perilous

[Artemis]

MP- Courtyard

If you don't want to argue with me, then stop. It's that simple. I'm not your enemy and I shouldn't have to remind you that I'm your friend...or that I DO care.

:: She said to Delilah::

I'm not dressing you down. I'm expressing concern and DISMAY over what appeared to be YOU taking a most CARELESS course of action!

I'm thinking about YOU and your future and the promise that you will see your daughter again, in a time and manner that WON'T COST YOU YOUR LIFE.

Now if that's a problem for you, just say so and I'll walk out this door and I won't say another word to you about anything.

:: Turning to Haleigh, who exclaimed over the loss of her firearm and made a rather well timed quip about GOLF CLUBS. Alycia NODDED and smirked with an "oh yeah?" look in her hazel eyes::

Oh please. You're a socio...i mean technopath. You can easily manifest a variety of weaponry. But if that toy of yours means so much to you...then here...

:: flicking two coins from Themyscira on to a table that she retrieved from the inside pocket of her leather jacket. the coins were made of an exquisite precious metal.::

two of these will EASILY fetch you $2500 or more. You can have them appraised if you like.

Delilah CAN'T physically be near her child right now. The child's power IMMEDIATELY locks on to her power, her very LIFE FORCE and like any baby, operating on pure instinct, in this case...the need to nurse. She drains Delilah. Delilah died TWICE. She was revived by Athena and Hecate the first time...and then Sharon managed to save her the second time.

Maybe if you had just taken a moment to contact Sharon, asked her to see her official report on the birth and circumstances surrounding it, since SHE was Delilah's mid-wife and ultimately the one who delievered the baby, you'd have a better understanding of what's going on here. It's only natural to want to help. But there's a better way to go about it than trying to start some kind of CIVIL WAR among the Six and risking Ororo's WRATH!


There was no grand conspiracy to kidnap Delilah's child.

Alison had a nightmare vision about Circe, the Blue Moon and Delilah dying in childbirth.

The Six brought her to Minerva's Aerie because no MORTAL HOSPITAL would have been equipped to handle her pregnancy and the birth of Alexia. We ALSO brought Bishop, who was there. He was the one who consulted Alison about what could possibly be done. There is no physical, technological or magickal power that any of us possess that can correct this problem.

You're wrong. Alison didn't STEAL the baby. And she's not in some terrible orphanage or in the clutches of some demon.

With Bishop's permission, she carried the baby to Ororo, so that Ororo could find a way to not only help the get the child's power under control but to also TEACH her.

But before Alison took Alexia to Ororo, she cast a spell, giving the baby the gift of a CLEAR memory of her first moments with her mother AND her father.

::FLASH!::

<< Minerva's Mansion- Alison's Executive Study. THAT NIGHT, after the Blue Moon.>>

No…wait.

Hold her a bit longer. Hold her sitting up with her back to your chest …

::Stepping several feet back, she holds her TIME STAFF out in front of her, again horizontal, with the large red garnett jewel in the crown of the staff now directly in front of the baby. The jewel once again humed softly and glowed with an intermittent pulse::

:: Alison spoke in a quiet but directing tone::

Take her little arm, place her HAND ON the garnet jewel.

:: Bishop hesitates…and Alison’s eyes dart up at him::

Don’t hesitate! Just do it!

:: Bishop’s hand places the little Alexia’s hand on the garnet jewel. It’s hum shifts up in pitch and the jewel now glows a bit more brightly::

Little Alexia Morganna. Born were you, from two people, who’s lives and loves cross time and space. Yours is a life full of possibilities and HOPE. I, Harbinger, The Keeper of Time, do bestow upon you, the GIFT of CLARITY and MEMORY.

As you touch this garnet jewel on my time staff…my magicks now have touched you like the dew touches a flower in the morning. You will REMEMBER your father AND your mother.


:: Referring to the interactions both Bishop and Delilah have had with Alexia since she was born and stabilized::

Time may be “in the way” for you now, little one…but ALL things and people must live and move through time. You WILL see your mother and your father…when the time is RIGHT. But now with this gift, the touch of my time staff and my magick, you will forever be comforted by the memories of your mother and father, their gentle touch…their expressions of love for you.

Nothing changes now…you will still sleep the sleep of the innocent…but as you grow…you will NOT suffer the cruelty of not knowing who you are…and who you came from.
As I say it…let it now be so.

::The sound signature associated with Harbinger’s magicks is heard as the garnet jewel emits a soft, sparkling red ray of light that gently washes over Alexia, who YAWNS contentedly before settling once more::


She’ll remember you, Bishop…and Delilah. The few precious moments you’ve shared with her. Your words to her. They will comfort her in dreams as her mind forms and will help lead her BACK to you both when the time is right.

It was...the only thing that could be done...so that IN TIME, Alexia would be able to see her mother without killing her. To SPARE her of having the kind of GUILT that Nicolas carries, knowing HE caused his mother's death. NO ONE in this room knows what that is like. Bishop made a choice NO PARENT should have to make.

:: sigh::

I can't expect Delilah to understand...or even agree. I can't expect ANYTHING from her right now. Nobody can. We just have to let her go through this and if that means she'll push us all away until such time that she can be around us again...so be it. We all still have trust and hope in Ororo. We know that while TIME may be in the way right now, it will, in the end, proove to be what brings Alexia and Delilah back together.

But YOU, Haleigh?

DON'T make this any worse than it already is!

Don't put MORE lives in danger and stir things up with your typical HAZARDOUS WAYS.

You should be trying to help bring this team back together. Not drive it further apart.



:: Alycia's phone chimed and buzzed with messages from Michael, Cameron, Karen about Blaze, what happened to her and something that Karen was now attempting to handle and wanted some help from Alycia with::

:: Without looking at Haleigh again, Alycia turns her back on the hybrid and walks to the door.::


:: Her disappointment with Haleigh was matched only by her dismay over Delilah.::

:: How many times had she hoped to see/ be reuinted with Haleigh? She thought they had found FRIENDSHIP. But apparently not. ::

:: Delilah was in a bad way and in a dark place. Alycia could excuse her rudeness and needless confrontational behavior, but to allign herself with Haleigh? To say that was like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face was an UNDERSTATEMENT.::

:: Nobody could expect Delilah to see this tragic situation in a logical or clear minded way. But she damn sure didnt need to be lead down the path of destruction by Haleigh either. BUT everything about this moment....Delilah's tone, her reflexive defense of Haleigh (yet noticeably being angry at the idea of being questioned for what she was ABOUT TO DO with Haleigh)...was enough of a cue for Alycia to do just what Delilah wanted- "back off."::

:: She left things exactly where they were. HER reaching out to Delilah last night, her care and her friendship for didnt change because of today and perhaps Delilah would remember that when she was a little more clear in her mind, but even if she didn't...there was nothing Alycia could do. ::

:: For now, there WERE people who wanted her help and so her time was better spent addressing them::

:: Outside of Apartment 5, in the courtyard, Alycia dials Michael and Karen, conferencing them on her iphone.::

This is Alycia.

Yes...I just read. I can't believe that slimey WORM [Nigel Barker].

Cameron has already taken care of him? You mean BEFORE Sally?

:: Alycia couldnt help but chuckle at her own question.::

:: She listens to what they have to tell her. What Nicolas has sent them and what Karen is about to do. Alycia can't help but smile a bit and nod her head::

Excellent! Yes, I know someone who can help expidite this and make sure it STICKS!

:: As Alycia talked with Michael and Karen, NICOLAS, in apartment 4, overheard her and after peering through the blinds of a window, confirmed she right outside, just down at the foot of the stairs leading to Morgan's apartment. He'd go outside to greet her and quietly fill her in on what was going on with Blaze.::

 

[Firebird]

Melrose Place Apt 4

Blaze's apple green eyes study Cass with curiosity and amusement as the psionic succubuss not only challenged her conclusions, but used her own earlier statements to bolster her argument.

"Well. I'm impressed!"

The fire elemental side with a smile as she leaned back on the couch, stretched out her legs and twirled her high heels around at her ankles.

"See? This is what YOUR TEAM needs to see! This passion, this BOLDNESS you have."

"I sensed something more lay beneath your dark, cool, aloof nature. "

"I'm not an empath like Cameron, but I'm VERY intuitive and very good at reading people. If you were some 2 dimensional, card board cut out, stick in the mud...I'd have known and believe me, nothing is more a waste of time than a person like THAT."

The two toast another shot and then knock them back.

"Ahhhh."

"I guess I was a little more wound up than I realized."

Glancing at the time on a clock hanging on the wall. This WAS a nice way to end the day. To end this time.

Just wash it all away and by the time she makes that final, fateful step? She wont even know which way is up. Or maybe she's hoping the alcohol will mask and numb the fear she secretly feels, knowing that this is a MAD ACT she's about to undertake?

Another knock at the door. Nicolas doesn't wait to enter.

he was at Melrose Place outside Morgan's door. He knew she was here, and he walked in to find two pretty ladies getting hammered on 1800. He immediately walked over to Blaze and gave her a hug.

Hey Red. I am sorry I was not there. I should have stayed behind and supported you. Hey Cass...thanks for being here.

Blaze stands up and returns Nicolas' hug.

"No worries, Nic. Cass is great company! You really should tell Morg, Ava and the others to give her a break. Like dealing with any of THEM is a bed of roses?"


Trying to sound sanguine about it all.

"My career may have been destroyed just as it was getting started, I've just ruined my sister's company...merely by EXISTING...even though Sally assures me that's not the case."

"But that doesnt matter. Nigel's probably hiding from Sally's goons and calling anyone he can and soon the feds will be sending a squad of justicers and psychic hounds....oh wait...the HEAD JUSTICER is already down stairs! Maybe she's putting on her costume now!"


Blaze laughs...she knows the joke is in bad taste, for a variety of reasons...but when you're a survivor of a disaster, you get to make comments about it that others dont because you see it in a way that someone who didnt go through it couldnt possibly understand.

::Sigh!::

"It was odd, I almost felt transfixed, seeing "MYSELF" as Nigel Barker held up that picture of Foxfire, screaming at me, asking WHO I WAS. This is one case of "mistaken identity" that is definitely going to BURN my ass."

"Why couldn't any of you have told me something? I mean...what did she...what did I do that was SO WRONG?"

And without Blaze knowing it, that moment Alison spoke about? was now DAWNING right before Nicolas' eyes.

Alycia was now outside. Nicolas needed to speak to her and he was certain that Blaze would be fine with Cass being here with her and so he quickly excused himself to go see Alycia.

"I need to change out of this suit. I'm tired of playing "dress up". "

Looking at her phone...

"Excuse me, Cass. Sally Spectra is calling me."

A lie. But a simple, easily believed one.

With her phone in hand and a wink at the dark haired beauty, Blaze makes her way to Morgan's master bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her and locking it.

She needed a moment of silence.

But it wasn't the noise of visitors or surroundings that was getting to her, it was the CALL of the Siege Perilous!

If she didn't do it NOW, she might lose her nerve and the thought of being in THIS world where she had no place...and being with this fractured, fucked up version of the Six made her feel even worse.

Time to get serious...

No, Blaze ALWAYS followd her heart and when she set her mind to do something, she DID IT!

She slowly moved across the room, to the vanity, where the crystal, older than time itself, lay.

It began to hum and glow as she slowly reached out to it with her hand. Shutting her eyes and looking up, her feminine form is enveloped by her flaming red energy signature as she changes from her business suite into her battle costume.

"I came here as Firebird....and that's how I'll leave."

But she couldnt go out the front door. Not without Cass and Nicolas trying to stop her and she didnt want to have to fight or hurt either of them.

She just wanted to GO, while she still had the means to do so...before THIS world came crashing down on her like her own did.

Fortunately for Blaze, there WERE OTHER ways to get out of this apartment, sight unseen.

She grabs the Siege Perilous, and walks toward the corner of the room where a STEPPING DISC was bound...

<< It would be more than 10 minutes before Cass, Nicolas and Alycia realized that something was wrong. While Nicolas talked with Alycia in the courtyard, Cass would soon come bursting out of the door of apartment four to inform them that...>>

BLAZE IS GONE!

 

[Ruby]

Melrose Place - Apt. 4

"Well. I'm impressed!"

"See? This is what YOUR TEAM needs to see! This passion, this BOLDNESS you have."

"I sensed something more lay beneath your dark, cool, aloof nature. "

"I'm not an empath like Cameron, but I'm VERY intuitive and very good at reading people. If you were some two-dimensional, cardboard cut out, stick in the mud...I'd have known and believe me, nothing is more a waste of time than a person like THAT."

:: Cass paused. ::

*curiously*: "Isn't this YOUR team as well?"

:: Before another word could be said, Nicolas busted in. ::

Hey Red. I am sorry I was not there. I should have stayed behind and supported you. Hey Cass...thanks for being here.

*mystified*: "Where else would I be? She's my friend too..."

Dude seems to think I was here in a babysitting capacity...like I don't really care. Le sigh.

"My career may have been destroyed just as it was getting started, I've just ruined my sister's company...merely by EXISTING...even though Sally assures me that's not the case."

"But that doesnt matter. Nigel's probably hiding from Sally's goons and calling anyone he can and soon the feds will be sending a squad of justicers and psychic hounds....oh wait...the HEAD JUSTICER is already down stairs! Maybe she's putting on her costume now!"

"Your career has NOT been destroyed and you did NOT ruin your sister's company!"

"It was odd, I almost felt transfixed, seeing "MYSELF" as Nigel Barker held up that picture of Foxfire, screaming at me, asking WHO I WAS. This is one case of "mistaken identity" that is definitely going to BURN my ass."

"Why couldn't any of you have told me something? I mean...what did she...what did I do that was SO WRONG?"

"Blaze, you did NOTHING wrong okay? Douchebags like Nigel are the ones who are doing things wrong."

:: Nicolas spotted Alycia outside and excused himself and then Blaze excused herself to take a call from Sally. ::

"Excuse me, Cass. Sally Spectra is calling me."

"Oh, go ahead. I'll still be here."

:: Blaze left the room and Cass leaned back against the pillows. Kitty meowed and jumped into her lap, eager for more attention from the lovely succubus. ::

*murmurs*: "I should get a kitty, hmmm? Maybe you guys can become friends...wouldn't you like that?"

:: The furball mewed in response. Time passed as Cass waited for Blaze to come back. ::

*calls*: "Hey, I have an idea. Later we should take "Black Beauty" out for a spin. I know a great place we could go to take out our anger on some empty wine and beer bottles, courtesy of After-Dark. What do you think?"

:: She smiled at the idea. Black Beauty was her Brabus 800 and she ADORED it. Strangely, she received no answer from her friend. ::

*calls*: "Blaze? Blaze?"

:: The small kitten jumped off Cass' lap and ran squeaking down the hall, making a racket. Cass followed her. ::

*softly*: "Blaze...Blaze?"

:: She opened doors to rooms only to find...nothing. ::

"Blaze...? Oh SHIT! FUCK!"

:: Cass slammed the doors, making Kitty run to her and 'hide' behind her feet. Cass picked her up and fast walked to the front door. ::

*hurt*: She...LEFT? Where did she go?

:: She opened the door and looked at Nicolas and Alycia. ::

*panicked*: "BLAZE IS GONE!"

 

[Rampage]

Blaze stands up and returns Nicolas' hug.

"No worries, Nic. Cass is great company! You really should tell Morg, Ava and the others to give her a break. Like dealing with any of THEM is a bed of roses?"

We are all flawed. As long as Cass makes the effort I will help her all I can. She has more allies than even she realizes.

He looks at Cass and winks, momentarily unaware of her negative thought about him.

He starts to continue when he hears a voice.

Excellent! Yes, I know someone who can help expidite this and make sure it STICKS!

Well I'll be damn. EXACTLY who I need. Ladies, excuse me for 10 minutes. I will be right back. RIGHT back.

Nicolas exits quickly and finds Alycia in the courtyard.

I need a lawyer who is willing to take control of nearly unlimited resources and make a new life TONIGHT. I also need several corporate document created that will make essentially an entirely new enterprise complete with Incorporation and Copyrights galore.

Nicolas fill her in. On EVERYTHING. All of the plans. The fact that Blaze actually BELONGS here. The premonition that she will try to leave via the Siege Perilous per Ali.

So..now you know. And now I have to try to sto-

Cass would come bursting out of the door of apartment four to inform them that...>>

Cass: BLAZE IS GONE!

Fuck! OK...OK...we will find her.

Nicolas rushes upstairs, sending out a thought as he does.

CK...tell your pilot to up the ante, get your ass in here.

He starts to look around...where could she be? He turns to Cass.

Cassandra...did she say anything? Did you hear anything? Notice anything different at all?

 

[Artemis]

MP- apt 4

::Alycia continued to speak with Michael and Karen when...::

Nicolas exits quickly and finds Alycia in the courtyard.

NICOLAS!

I just found out about Blaze! I was in transit when it happened.

I'm sure Sally Spectra is on top of this...but what kind of damage control is being done? We need to check on any possible scrutiny from outside forces, including the feds...they've REVIVED the program that I used to lead...only now they're calling it "The Intiative"....

:: she says with a dismissive tone, still with Mike and Karen on the phone.::

I need a lawyer who is willing to take control of nearly unlimited resources and make a new life TONIGHT. I also need several corporate document created that will make essentially an entirely new enterprise complete with Incorporation and Copyrights galore.

I have Mike and Karen on the phone, They just told me about the documents you're having drawn up for Karen. I think that's a wonderful idea and I'll happily help.

:: But there was something else. She could see it in his face...::

Mike, Karen...I'll get back to you in a moment, okay?

Byebye!

:: Ending the call, she looks at Nicolas intently::

Nicolas...what's the matter?

Nicolas fills her in. On EVERYTHING. All of the plans. The fact that Blaze actually BELONGS here. The premonition that she will try to leave via the Siege Perilous per Ali.

:: Her eyes widen with disbelief. ESPECIALLY at the mention of the Siege Perilous!::


WHAT!?

That's the same crystal that Spellbinder pushed Master Mold through! The one SHE was ultimately pulled through...

What would make her think...

::Nicolas explains the more subtle, benign function of the Siege Perilous and how it can grant a person's heart's desire to leave one world and reality to be reborn in a completely new time and place, with NO memory of who they were or the life they lead & ALL traces of their existence in their previous life FOREVER erased::

GREAT HERA!


:: First Delilah, now Blaze? Hurt hearts often lead to desperate actions. She was convinced she had prevented one such desperate act in apartment 5. Which was something ELSE she was going to tell Nicolas, but now was not the best time. It was DEFINITELY not a good time for this team::

So..now you know. And now I have to try to sto-

Nicolas, she risked so much to come here. We can't just let her throw her life away! Alison WAS right, we did make a mistake...now we have to DO something about it before...

::suddenly from the top of the spiral staircase, the door of apartment floor is nearly torn open::

:: She opened the door and looked at Nicolas and Alycia. ::

*panicked*: "BLAZE IS GONE!"

Oh no...

Fuck! OK...OK...we will find her.

Nicolas rushes upstairs, sending out a thought as he does.

:: Alycia immediately follows behind him, sending a message to Michael and Karen to tell them what's happened, asking Michael to inform Ava so she'll be on the look out, JUST IN CASE Blaze happens to appear in New York...it was a longshot, but not so strange, when dealing with members of the Six.::

:: Inside of Morgan's apartment...::

We'll do what we can, I promise. We won't let her go without at least TRYING to help her first.

He starts to look around...where could she be? He turns to Cass.

Cassandra...did she say anything? Did you hear anything? Notice anything different at all?

Think carefully, Cass. The devil is often in the details...

 

[Prophet]

The Red Eye - NYC to LAX

After keeping touch with the team via text message and putting the finishing touches on the necessary things he had been planning for Blaze far SOONER than he anticipated, he touched down at LAX in their private tarmac and soon he made his way to his Aston-Martin One-77 and blew out of the airport terminal like a bat out of hell. It was times like these he wished he had the teleportation capabilities as some of his teammates.

As he made his way down the 101 with incredible speed he received a flurry of text messages that he simply didn't have time to check. Thankfully, the streets seemed to be eerily devoid of traffic this evening and he managed to make his way to Melrose Place in record time. He swirved into a parking space as he went through the gate, and entered the courtyard, noticing the pool had been drained and the energy was was decidedly off. There was another something in the equation.

Haleigh!

He immediately picked up on her. She was back from leave? Thankfully he had absolutely no time to think of it further as he found himself rounding his way towards the staircase to Morgan's penthouse, ran up the stairs and found himself dead smack in the middle of Alycia, Nicolas and Cassandra. It became clear that he might be too late. That Blaze might have already done what she had planned. He took a deep breath as he approached the group. He could hear them speaking about Blaze.

"Alright, I'm sorry I took so long...but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of stepping discs or DOME..."

[turning to Alycia]

"I trust that Nicolas has filled you in?"

As they began to talk it became clear that Cassandra was the last one to interact with Blaze. He looked at her with an intense look.

"Yes..Cass, please. We don't have time to pussyfoot around. What happened up there? Be specific...it might lead us to a clue."

As much as he was focused on the task at hand, he couldn't help the ever present errant thought of Haleigh being so incredibly close to the group at this moment.

 

[Ruby]

Melrose Place - Apt. 4

:: Everybody came at her at once. EVERYBODY. ::

Fuck! OK…OK…we will find her.

Cassandra...did she say anything? Did you hear anything? Notice anything different at all?

Think carefully, Cass. The devil is often in the details...

"Yes..Cass, please. We don't have time to pussyfoot around. What happened up there? Be specific...it might lead us to a clue."

SERIOUSLY?! Don’t you be talking down to ME!!

:: Cass narrowed her blue eyes. She looked as if she was gearing up for a fight but then thought better of it. ::

“She said she had to take a call from Sally and then she walked out of the room.”

:: She sighed. ::

“At first I thought it was strange I didn’t hear her say anything, but I just figured she had closed the door.”

:: She crossed her arms. ::

“She DID mention that it was a mistake coming through the looking glass. I just chalked it up to what happened at Spectra and she was just blowing off steam.”

:: She looked hard at everyone. ::

“Can anybody tell ME what the hell’s going on?”

 

[MorningStar]

Melrose Place, Apartment #5

I'm not dressing you down. I'm expressing concern and DISMAY over what appeared to be YOU taking a most CARELESS course of action!

“You most certainly are admonishing me like a child – and if you are going to tell Haleigh not to jump to conclusions maybe you should take your OWN advice. I was NOT about to shoot Haleigh – and there was a time when my word was good enough for you.”

I can't expect Delilah to understand...or even agree. I can't expect ANYTHING from her right now. Nobody can. We just have to let her go through this and if that means she'll push us all away until such time that she can be around us again...so be it. We all still have trust and hope in Ororo. We know that while TIME may be in the way right now, it will, in the end, prove to be what brings Alexia and Delilah back together.

Delilah held up a hand:

“Please don’t talk about me like I’m not here! THAT is how all of this got started.”

Alycia was sounding more and more like the rest of the Six. She was saying Delilah had a right to her feelings, while at the same time acting like Delilah was a bratty child. And it wasn’t just her. Haleigh – who out of everyone was the only one not resigned to just accept what was happening – wasn’t immune from Alycia’s barbs either. Delilah at that moment felt terribly bad for Haleigh. For years Delilah herself had treated her the same way, overlooking her good intentions.

You should be trying to help bring this team back together. Not drive it further apart.

This is where Delilah had to stop her.

“Hold up – Haleigh IS trying to bring this team back together. (Even though it’s a fool’s errand.) She’s the only person on this team who has actually tried doing something. ANYTHING. It might not have been the most practical idea, but at least she’s trying. At least she’s HEARING me. Too bad Morgan and Blaze couldn’t do the same.”

Having said her piece, Alycia just walked out the door. Delilah sighed: She didn’t want to fight with Alycia, but she didn’t need yet another person treating her like a child, either. She turned her attention back to Haleigh.

"Well if you won't kill me, then I'll have to think of another plan. And another. And another. Because I'm not going to stop until we make this right. Do you hear me? We will find a way."

Delilah smiled.

“Thank you. You know, that’s all I really wanted to hear from the people who were supposed to be my teammates – and my friends. But they just made a collective ‘Oh, well’. Alison pulled her precog bs about knowing there was no way to fix this – and they all just accepted that and treated me like I was a monster for disagreeing. I mean, since when do we accept any of Alison’s visions as inevitable?”

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh disdainfully shoved her hands in her pockets as Alycia flippantly dropped two coins on the counter, claiming their worth was around $2500. The monetary value was less than half the issue, and it hardly mattered that Haleigh could easily acquire a new weapon. It was the principal of the lack of respect for other people's belongings that irked Haleigh the most.

Alycia suggested that Haleigh contact Sharon, who acted as Delilah's midwife, and get all the information before going off half cocked.

"Oh trust me, I will find out EVERYTHING."

Alycia: "with Bishop's permission, she carried the baby to Ororo, so that Ororo could find a way to not only help the get the child's power under control but to also TEACH her."

"Oh! I see. with Bishop's permission. Forgive me. I did not realize. You had Bishop's permission. Bishop. The hateful, vigilante flatscan who tried to kill Sharon and out the rest of us, who drove her (pointing to Delilah) to suicide, came back to knock her up and then ran away, who, as it turns out, is cursed across time and space to reincarnate, love and betray her. Well..... as long as we had HIS permission. (Glancing at Delilah) No offense, he was really hot. Both times."

Alycia and Delilah continued their heated discussion, then Alycia left after some harsh parting words, making her disapproval as apparent as possible.

"Ooooo, she TOLD me."

Alycia wasn't the only one who was disappointed. Haleigh could hardly believe that her teammates had not learned anything about alienating each other in decision making. Purposely excluding someone from a choice of this magnitude was the worst way to handle it, and there was no way they could have thought it would go well.

Delilah:“Thank you. You know, that’s all I really wanted to hear from the people who were supposed to be my teammates – and my friends. But they just made a collective ‘Oh, well’. Alison pulled her precog bs about knowing there was no way to fix this – and they all just accepted that and treated me like I was a monster for disagreeing. I mean, since when do we accept any of Alison’s visions as inevitable?”

"You're welcome. And I don't know when the rest of them got their defeatist attitudes, but I've NEVER accepted Alison's visions as irreparable, and I'm not about to start...... wait a second, did you say something about Blaze??"

 

[Prophet]

Melrose Place: Apartment #4

Cameron listened as Cassandra recounted the details of her last few minutes with Blaze. Looking back, he regretted not telling everybody what was going on. He simply thought he had more time, and he didn't want anybody fawning over Blaze and having her snap before he and Nicolas had the chance to stop her. He wasn't expecting some two bit reporter to blast her in public like that. He nodded as Cassanra finished.

"Blaze has been experiencing a rough time lately. Ever since she's come into the mainstream timeline she's been afflicted with constant comparisons to Foxfire, or Blaze Fielding. Foxfire is our timeline's Firebird. She keeps hearing how she is so much more polished and 'better' than her counterpart, yet she still hasn't been able to rationalize who she is here..."

Cameron looked at Alycia, Cassandra and Nicolas as he spoke.

"To be honest, we are in part to blame for that. Maybe not Cassandra, but the rest of us. We all simply thought she would find her way..easily. And we really never told her much about her counterpart. She feels torn, and she is about to do something incredibly stupid..."

[turning back to Cassandra]

"Recently, Blaze asked Alison for the Siege Perilous. It's an ancient gem with incredible power. Looking through it, one is able to see ALL versions of themselves, all possibilities...good and bad. We have used it in several capacities, but it's greatest function is that it opens a portal, that when anyone goes through it, they will be judged by the highest of powers, the good and the ill of their lives weighed in the cosmic balance, and they are reborn into a new life without remembering the old one...or they are utterly destroyed..."

"Normally, we've used it offensively to destroy some of our biggest threats..however, we have used it before...When Persephone came to our timeline, we used the Siege to essentially blend her soul with Ava Cassadine, who was Persephone's counterpart in this time....and an ex member of our team, Jasmine Frost...who is Blaze and Morgan's half sister, went through it after Morgan was presumed dead after facing The Master Mold..."

"Blaze, however...plans to use the Siege Perilous much like her half sister Jasmine, to leave our timeline altogether in hopes of going to one that is better. In her timeline she's seen so much destruction and chaos, and HER version of The Six was far more together...Couple that with what just happened with Delilah, Morgan and Alison...she feels as if we are TOO messed up and concerned with the wrong things... What she doesn't know, is that THIS has been her true timeline. It's the best fit FOR her...we simply have to make HER see that...and Nicolas and I had been working on something for her...we just didn't anticipate how much of a fiasco the press conference would be..."

[he placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder]

"I'm sorry that I didn't fill you in, we just thought we had more time. But rest assured, Nicolas and I are going to make sure we get her back on track, so don't worry. I can sense you are starting to get a lot closer to her, which scares you...but THIS is the lives of the members of The Six...it's not always pretty...but let this be a lesson to you...Don't keep what you are going through bottled up. We are here to help, but a closed mouth doesn't get fed...you have to keep us posted so we can protect each other..."

Cameron turned back to the rest of the group as he furrowed his brow.

"My guess is she took the stepping disc that is in Morgan's bedroom, and considering the fact that Blaze had all but ignored every phone call and text message I'd sent her all day, I'm beginning to believe there WAS no phone call...I'll need to scour Morgan's room for some clues, Excuse me..."

Prophet entered Morgan's room and instantly he felt the residual energy of Blaze's emotions hit him. She was NOT in a good way, and knowing her penchant to drink at nearly every opportunity she could, the fire elemental was most likely not in the best state of mind to be making decisions like this. A preliminary scan showed that indeed there was no stepping disc in the room. And as he looked at Morgan's bed, he saw Blaze's phone.

"Phone call, my ass..."

Cameron picked up the phone and attempted to unlock when all at once he was pulled into a premonition.

:: Flash! ::

<< A dark and swirly night sky and an ever moving tide can be seen as Cameron's mind hones in on where he is. A beautiful butte rock overlooking the ocean that is incredibly familiar to him. He's seen this place somewhere before.

All at once Blaze comes into view, tears staining her face as she holds the Siege in her hand. As much as she wants to just jump through and not look back, there is a part of her that DOES want to stay, and it is THAT part that the Six has to appeal to if they want to save her. >>

<< Suddenly, Cameron's mind shifts and he is pulled somewhere else. He sees an incredibly DARK and SCARY Spellbinder as she is seen hovering over the Ocean, almost appearing deeply in a trance. He realizes, these are the same SPOTS. >>

<< Blaze is planning to go through the Siege Perilous at the very spot where Morgan nearly completed her transformation to the darkchilde, right before the Inferno. Cameron has a good idea of where this spot is. He just needs to make it time. >>

Cameron snapped back into reality as he dropped Blaze's phone back on the bed, ran through the hall and back into the living room of Morgan's apartment. His eyes widened as he motioned them out the door.

"I know where she is. I had a vision just now. She is planning to use the Siege in the very spot where Morgan became the dark child! Thankfully, it happens to be VERY close to where my old estate in Los Angeles was...She hasn't jumped through yet, I can sense hesitation, but if we have ANY chance at saving her from herself, we HAVE to move!"

[turning back to Alycia and Cassandra]

"I need the two of you to stay behind. We've all been frantically texting back and forth for the last few hours, so I wouldn't be surprised if Karen or any of the others might have shown up...we'll need you to clue them in if they do...Alycia. In my car, i've left all the necessary papers for what's going to transpire..can you use your lawyer powers? I just hadn't the time. I need to make sure everything is in place and in order, and LEGAL..."

[turning to Nicolas, placing his hand on Nicolas' shoulder]

"Okay, NK i've mind linked us. You can teleport us to HOPEFULLY the right spot, using my vision as your coordinates.. Now let's MOVE!"

 

[Artemis]

Apartment 4

:: Alycia stood next to Cass as Cameron filled her in on more of the backstory of Foxfire vs Firebird.::

:: Alot of it Alycia was familiar with, including the pronounced reaction to Firebird's arrival to this timeline, the fact that she came from the timeline where Persephone and Harbinger been brutalized in when they fell through one of Spellbinder's stepping disc, the fact that she WAS more glamorous & POWERFUL than Foxfire...she even seemed a more natural MATCH for Morgan as a sister. Most everyone, including Alycia, reflexively accpted her, but did not take proper care to help her integrate and assume or at least be AWARE of her alternate's life in this timeline.::

:: It was an unintentional oversight that was now coming back on them in a big way::


:: Cameron found her phone, she'd left it behind. He touched it and had a FLASH premonition.::

Cameron snapped back into reality as he dropped Blaze's phone back on the bed, ran through the hall and back into the living room of Morgan's apartment. His eyes widened as he motioned them out the door.

"I know where she is. I had a vision just now. She is planning to use the Siege in the very spot where Morgan became the dark child! Thankfully, it happens to be VERY close to where my old estate in Los Angeles was...She hasn't jumped through yet, I can sense hesitation, but if we have ANY chance at saving her from herself, we HAVE to move!"

:: Upon the revelation of where Firebird was heading, and Cameron's old pacific villa estate, it conjured memories, PERSONAL ones.::


::FLASH!::

<< A warm ocean night. Cameron's ocean cliff side villa in Los Angeles.>>

<< Alycia has SPENT THE NIGHT. After what was SUPPOSED to be the crafting of Cameron King's estate papers errupted into a night of fully expressed LUST and wanton pleasure.>>

<< The two had, at times, hated each other. Now they couldnt get ENOUGH of each other, in any way they could imagine.>>

<< Rapid fire, freeze framed images of Cameron hemming Alycia up against the wall and ravaving her as a vampire would; Alycia backing Cameron up to the bed and shoving him down , tearing his shirt open and stradding him; Images of them all over each other every which way in the bed, on the floor...>>

<< It was a night that changed them both forever, so much that CAMERON wrote about it in his journal, which was later READ by Morgan, Alison and Blaze (Foxfire) after he was believed DEAD!>>

:: Alycia couldnt help but look rather bemused as she looked away, running her hand through her raven black locks.::

Not NOW, Alycia! There are more PRESSING matters at hand.

[turning back to Alycia and Cassandra]

"I need the two of you to stay behind. We've all been frantically texting back and forth for the last few hours, so I wouldn't be surprised if Karen or any of the others might have shown up...we'll need you to clue them in if they do...Alycia. In my car, i've left all the necessary papers for what's going to transpire..can you use your lawyer powers? I just hadn't the time. I need to make sure everything is in place and in order, and LEGAL..."

Of course.

:: She nods in affirmation::

[turning to Nicolas, placing his hand on Nicolas' shoulder]

"Okay, NK i've mind linked us. You can teleport us to HOPEFULLY the right spot, using my vision as your coordinates.. Now let's MOVE!"

GOOD LUCK, you guys!

Bring her back!


:: Alycia said with a sincere tone, hoping that Athena might calm Blaze's spirit at least long enough for the guys to get to her!::

:: She looks at Cass as Nicolas and Cameron depart.::

And now we wait...

::Sigh!::

Morgan should be here! She shouldn't have left her sister like this!

Wait here for me, I'm going to run out to Cameron's car and grab the documents he needs me to look over and get executed.

:: She turns and heads to the door of apartment 4, exiting & making her way down the stairs, but before she can make it through the courtyard out to Melrose Avenue, she encounters Delilah again, almost colliding with her as they meet at the same point::

Excuse me...

:: Alycia said as she quickly moved to the side to avoid the unintended collision, but kept on moving toward the gates...::

 

[Rampage]

Cam walked in and started his part of the investigation. Between the two of them it would be impossible for her to hide for any length of time.

He came out, having had a premonition and began to set a plan into motion. Turning to Nicolas, Cam placed a hand on his shoulder.

[turning to Nicolas, placing his hand on Nicolas' shoulder]

"Okay, NK i've mind linked us. You can teleport us to HOPEFULLY the right spot, using my vision as your coordinates.. Now let's MOVE!"

Child's play Cam. We will be there in sec-

They arrive at the cliff, a bit towards the base. Blaze is there but does not see them.

-conds. Let me take lead...I can restrain her if it comes to that and I can 'port away the damnable relic.

They make their way towards Blaze...

 

[Ruby]

Melrose Place - Apt. 4

"Blaze has been experiencing a rough time lately. Ever since she's come into the mainstream timeline she's been afflicted with constant comparisons to Foxfire, or Blaze Fielding. Foxfire is our timeline's Firebird. She keeps hearing how she is so much more polished and 'better' than her counterpart, yet she still hasn't been able to rationalize who she is here..."

:: Cass nodded. ::

“She did mention she felt…transfixed when that jackass showed her the picture of Foxfire.”

:: Cameron explained to her what the Siege Perilous is and what it does and what Blaze was going to do with it. Cass’ blue eyes clouded over. She couldn’t help but feel hurt by Blaze’s actions. ::

If she was just going to leave, why did she say she wanted to get to know me better? Was she just bullshitting me?

:: Cass had enough trouble as it is with trusting people and she was well on her way to opening up to Blaze. But that little sliver of trust she started to establish with Blaze had been broken. She felt hurt, confused, and yes, even a bit of anger at both Blaze AND the rest of the team for keeping her in the dark about this and for ‘abandoning’ her [Blaze]. CAMERON, of all people, seemed to have picked up on that. ::

"I'm sorry that I didn't fill you in, we just thought we had more time. But rest assured, Nicolas and I are going to make sure we get her back on track, so don't worry. I can sense you are starting to get a lot closer to her, which scares you...but THIS is the lives of the members of The Six...it's not always pretty...but let this be a lesson to you...Don't keep what you are going through bottled up. We are here to help, but a closed mouth doesn't get fed...you have to keep us posted so we can protect each other..."

:: Cass nodded instead of speaking for fear she might cry. Cameron went inside to see if he could get some idea as to where Blaze went to. She sat down on the steps and sighed. ::

*sarcastically; hurt*: Right. “Make friends with your peers”, they said. “TRUST your teammates”, they said. Of COURSE I had to choose the one who wants to blow this pop stand…

:: She suddenly hoped Karen WOULD show up. She had things she wanted to say. Cameron came back out and said he knew where Blaze was. He enlisted Nicolas’ help and told her and Alycia to stay there. ::

Alycia...I know I haven't been the best at this whole teammate business but I...trusted Blaze and I worked up the nerve to go and speak with her at that party on Aerie." *hurt*: "Blaze even said that she wanted to get to know me and such. Was she just bullshitting me?"

:: She sighed again. ::

"I have deep trust issues so this whole thing has thrown me. I thought Blaze and I were becoming friends..."

 

[MorningStar]

Melrose Place, Apartment #5 to Courtyard

Delilah had to hand it to Haleigh – she could hold her own with anybody. She wouldn’t take any shit from Alycia without giving as good as she got.

"Oh! I see. with Bishop's permission. Forgive me. I did not realize. You had Bishop's permission. Bishop. The hateful, vigilante flatscan who tried to kill Sharon and out the rest of us, who drove her (pointing to Delilah) to suicide, came back to knock her up and then ran away, who, as it turns out, is cursed across time and space to reincarnate, love and betray her. Well..... as long as we had HIS permission. (Glancing at Delilah) No offense,”

Delilah nodded.

“None taken.”

”he was really hot. Both times."

“Still a dickhead.”

”I don't know when the rest of them got their defeatist attitudes, but I've NEVER accepted Alison's visions as irreparable, and I'm not about to start...... wait a second, did you say something about Blaze??"

Delilah scoffed.

“NONE of them ever accepted Alison’s visions as irreparable, until now. Until it was something that didn’t affect them. And Blaze-”

She raised her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head.

“Blaze has been working with Morgan on this Spectra Couture project. And for someone who claims to not be like her sister at all, she’s been doing a great impression of Morgan’s mouthpiece. She dropped by yesterday, pretending to be all nice. Then she went off on me about how I am supposedly mistreating Karen, and her and Morgan. How I never really knew or trusted Morgan so that means I have no right to say she betrayed me blah blah blah. She made me out to be the villain – and blamed ME for Morgan leaving and told me I should have left the team long ago. Oh, and I’m fake.”

Delilah sighed.

“You should have been there – you would have shot YOURSELF just to escape the pity party.”


She picked her coffee cup up off the table and put it in the kitchen sink.

“Well, I think I’ve shattered your homecoming enough for one day – I’ll get out of your hair.”

Moving to the door, she turned back.

“And thanks again. No matter what you tell yourself, you’re a good friend.”

With a small smile, Delilah turned and started walking back to her apartment.

She really did feel bad that things had gotten so out of hand with Alycia – but it was just so infuriating to not be trusted by people who were supposed to be your friends, to see people expecting the WORST from you.

Lost in her own thoughts, as she came past the stairs she almost collided with, coincidentally, Alycia.

Excuse me...

Alycia stepped aside and kept going on her way.

Delilah started to go to her apartment, then turned around and called out.

“Alycia…wait…”

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah(referring to Bishop): "still a dickhead."

"Hehe."

Delilah then filled haleigh in on Blaze, who, as usual, had been a real shit-stirrer lately. Haleigh rolled her eyes and shared Delilah's sigh.

Delilah: “You should have been there – you would have shot YOURSELF just to escape the pity party.”

"Probably best that I wasn't. Blaze and I weren't on good terms the last time we spoke."

Delilah: “Well, I think I’ve shattered your homecoming enough for one day – I’ll get out of your hair.”

"Nonsense, it was nice to see you again, despite everything. (Walking Delilah to the door) I'm going to call that scientist friend I mentioned. I'll let you know what he says."

They say goodbye, and Haleigh shuts the door, putting her hand over her ear activating her phone function, calling Dr. Bruce Banner.

Banner: do I even want to know how you got this number? I'm supposed to be off the grid. SHIELD promised to leave me alone!

"Nice to hear your voice too, Bruce. Don't get green on me, doc. This isn't SHIELD business. It's personal, off the record. I was hoping I could call in a favor."

Banner: well, I did try to smash you that one time. I suppose I owe you. What can I do for you, Natasha?

Haleigh spun a web of lies to protect Delilah's identity, but otherwise included the facts. Dr. Banner was used to research involving mutant blood, as he was always testing his own to find a cure for what he considered to be his 'condition'.

Banner: alright, I can't promise anything, but I'll take a look. I'll need usable samples of the blood of both the mother and child.

"The mother's I have in a safe location in New York. I'll have it brought to your location discreetly. The child's....... hmm. I'll have to get a sample. That may take some doing. I'll be in touch."

They end it there, and Haleigh dropped her hand as she heard Zach shut off the shower. She waltzed into the steamy bathroom, leaned against the open doorway and watched him dry off. A smirk grew on Zach's mouth, mirrored by Haleigh's own. Zach made a show of hanging up his towel and revealing himself to her. Haleigh's gaze traveled his body and she took a deep breath.

"You look even better than I remember. Unfortunately for Mr. Happy-to-see-me there and my own.... avid desire..... I have an errand to run in NYC. I'll be back later."

Zach: "You're really going to get it later."

"Oh I hope so......"

She replied, then disappeared via molecular displacement..... and reappeared in her appointment at Illustra. After a brief feeling of jetlag, She walked around in the dark, not needing lights as she opened her armory and accessed her safe. On the top shelf was a caddy holding upright tubes of blood, labeled with numbers, not names. Multiple layers of secrecy to protect the ones she loved. Only Haleigh knew which numbers corresponded to which member of the Six. She selected Delilah's and secured it in a padded metal cylinder that looked like a cigar sleeve. She slid it into an inside pocket of her jacket and closed everything up before calling her sister.

"Ava, I think I will join you for dinner. We have too much to talk about to do it over the phone. Where did you want to meet?"

 

[Persephone]

After hearing back from Nicolas and Cameron, they informed her that Blaze was missing and to stay put in NYC just in case she decided to come there. And after not hearing from Haleigh, Ava decided to change into some comfortable sweats and watch a movie. It wasn't even half way through the movie before she drifted off to sleep. But sleep was different for Ava lately. She could get an hour of sleep in, maybe two, without incidence. But every attempt at sleep would always end the same way.

The lights were dimmed in the entertainment room, and the flickering of the TV danced along the shadowed walls. Ava stirred, her mind racing in her sleep.

FLASH

Blood....blood EVERYWHERE. The walls, the bed, her night gown. Her SKIN.

Ava's breathing began to pick up as the dream continued.

FLASH

A shadowed figure pushes her down into the pool of blood, pinning her there.

Ava's face contorts as she begins to stir.

FLASH

The sight of his mutilated face lays next to her....she's unable to look away. She SCREAMS.

FLASH

Gasping, Ava's eyes flew open in panic. Sitting up from the couch, she began to look around realizing she was in her suite at The Parthenon. Her breath was still hitched and labored. Closing her eyes, she sunk back into the couch and sighed out heavily. It was always the same dream....but it was never any less terrifying. She couldn't understand why she was still HAVING them. It was frustrating...

"Get a grip, Ava."

Hearing the soft buzz of her cell phone vibrating, Ava's eyes opened as she looked over on the coffee table seeing 'Haleigh Davidoff' in bold letters on the screen. Leaning forward, she picked up the phone and answered it.

"Hey Hales."

Haleigh: Ava, I think I will join you for dinner. We have too much to talk about to do it over the phone. Where did you want to meet?

Uh oh....the much to talk about part didn't sound too thrilling.

"Okay...well i'm currently staying in The Parthenon....we can go to the restaurant downstairs, or stay in and order room service? It's up to you."

 

[Black Widow]

Parthenon penthouse

"How about we stay in? I'm something of a minor celebrity in the city now, and people are always asking for pictures and autographs and drilling me about Rogers and Stark, and my pen is fresh out of patience tonight."

She replied dryly as she hacked the database, got her sister's room info and appeared in front of Ava with a sardonic smile. She sank into the sofa next to her sister, laying a hug on her as she picked up the nervous guilt vibe in the room. Assuming it was regarding Ava withholding information, Haleigh broke the ice.

"You know little sis, I could never stay mad at you for long. But NOT telling me about Delilah's baby being kidnapped by Alison? Not cool. I gave her a baby gift and asked about the kid and just about broke Delilah's heart all over again. Now I feel like a real asshole for not being available."

She reached over and grabbed the hotel room's phone receiver and asked to be transferred to room service. Ancient-ass technology. I need to talk to Cameron about upgrading to a digital concierge. There's an app for this shit. She thought mildly, as she waited on hold. At least the elevator hold music was okay.

"Yes, I'd like to order the T-bone Oscar and an Apple Harvest salad...... eh, I don't care, whatever side dish is the chef's favorite. Yes, the paired wine will suffice, better send the bottle. (Dropping the mouth piece to ask Ava) what do you want? (Relaying her selections)..... sounds great. Twenty minutes."

 

[Firebird]

Pacific Palisades & Ocean!

Jumping into a stepping disc was second nature to Blaze Victory. From early on, she was always thrilled to "take a wild ride" through one of those mysterious time/space portals that her sister, Morgan Victoria commanded with the speed of thought.

The idea of being able to go anywhere or anyTIME! What was not to like about THAT?

So many adventures, so many battles, CLOSE escapes and finally...using one to follow the cross time alternate of HER [missing, presumed deceased] sister back to "Mainstream!"

Blaze always followed her heart, she trusted her instincts and her "beyond human" intuition & perception. HOW could she have been SO WRONG this time?

<<FLASH!>>

The stepping disc took her to Pacific Palisades, a posh, wealth western area of Los Angeles just minutes from the rolling pacific ocean. Cam's villa was there. Just as it was in her timeline.

Standing on the grounds of the now empty property, Firebird, dressed in her sleek battle outfit, looks around the estate, feeling the ocean breeze flow through her auburn hair.

She's been crying. Her face streaked with tears and mascara. But no time to waste now, no reason to stop or look back.

Turning on her high heeled boot, she lifts off the ground. The sound of plasma energy igniting can be heard as the red "phoenix" aura that is her power signature manifests and evelopes her. She climbs into the air and flies westward, moving at a VERY high speed as she streaks over the Pacific Coast Highway and causes a few observant sky watchers far below to exclaim with surprise and wonder at what or WHO they see flying through the air!

FLYING is something her alternate couldn't do. It was something She & HER sister used to do all the time!

<<FLASH!>>

<< Many years earlier, in the days of VALIANT. Spellbinder and Firebird leave the Valiant tower at pre-dawn for their special fun activity of flying through the beautiful early morning sky together.>>

<< The sound of eldritch chimes and rushing wind can be heard, as well as the sound of ignited plasma energy as the sisters fly with perfect form, style and grace through the open sky and air.>>

Firebird: Oh Morg, those EARTH BOUND dweebs in the tower just don't know how GOOD this feels! to be able to fly higher than the birds themselves!


Spellbinder: A place that only WE we can go, far away from prying eyes AND minds. They're not special like we are Firebird. We're BETTER than them and they all know it. That's why they hate us so much.

Firebird: Well who cares what they think. We saved the tower from the Sentinel attack by ourselves, JUST THE TWO OF US, while they were running around chasing ghosts and dead end leads about the Axis of Evil.

Spellbinder: Typical incompetence...especially from that butch girl Volt. She makes K.D. Lang look like a super model! Volt and Splat just SUCK and I hate them BOTH!

Firebird: No matter what happens, even if one day we're not with this team anymore, We should keep this tradition...sisters in the early morning skies.

Spellbinder: I agree, Blaze. This is our time, and it always will be. Sisters in the skies...forever.

<< Spellbinder smiles warmly at her sister before they both pick up speed and BLAST OFF through the air, screaming with wild abandon as they fly around each other in whimsical patterns>>

But "Forever" had a collision with FATE in the form of BISHOP and MYSTECH. After Bishop tried, twice, to murder Silver Swan, Silver Swan ended up killing HIM in Arklay Mansion. MorningStar blamed Sharon and the Six for not protecting an "innocent human" which ENRAGED Spellbinder, Harbinger and Black Widow.


She continues to fly, having smoothly descended to a lower altitude. She doesnt really have to WATCH where she's going. She's been to her destination so many times, both in reality and in her dreams. Her eyes shut tightly as she sniffles and shudders with grief, while still keeping her fit, feminine body in perfect physical form in the air.

<<FLASH!>>

<< Illustra, the beginning of the END. Inside the War Room. >>

Spellbinder: MorningStar have you gone MAD!? How can you say that about Sharon after what was done to her? How can you accuse US of doing wrong?

Harbinger: Sharon was defending herself. Bishop was going after her relentlessly, JUST as I had predicted he would. I ALSO warned that if he wasn't STOPPED, he would DIE by her hand. It's his own fault.

MorningStar: What gives you the right to write someone's life off like that just because they don't agree or fall in line with you?

Black Widow: What gave that bigoted flatscan the right to hunt down Sharon just for being who she IS? OR for spying on US in order to EXPOSE US?

Spellbinder: Moreover, WHY would YOU sleep with a man that HATES people like us...like YOU? What kind of woman are you? Choosing a MAN over your team...you're FAMILY!

Habinger: She doesnt believe in FAMILY. Not where we're concerned.

MorningStar: You do whatever you want and expect everyone to fall in line. Anyone who challenges the mighty Spellbinder and the all knowing PRECOG Harbinger deserve whatever they get...including DEATH, right? You don't protect the innocent, you don't even punish the guilty...you PLAY GOD with people's lives!

Black Widow: And what were YOU playing WITH when it came to OUR security? You let that man INTO OUR HOME, our SANCTUARY?

Spellbinder: She didnt care about anything but getting her back blown out by that racist flatscan!

MorningStar: Right, a person can't have a chance at happiness if YOU don't approve. That's what it's always been about.

Harbinger: in YOU'RE OWN selfish, limited mind perhaps...

MorningStar: Oh fuck off, Alison. You're superior, I'm sick of your superior-holier-than-thou "I'm a precog" ways. You're one of the most unethical people in this room. How many lives have you RUINED by the way you use your precognition? To say NOTHING of the spells you and Morgan cast to suit your whims...

Spellbinder: And WE'RE sick of you being so STUPID and short sighted! YOU SLEPT WITH A MAN WHO WANTED TO DESTROY MUTANTS! What are you some kind of self hating. two faced, backstabbing SLUT!?

<< MorningStar SLAPS Spellbinder across the face. Spellbinder gasps with shock as her head and blonde hair to the side and she immediately covers her now red, STINGING cheek!>>

Spellbinder: YOU... BITCH!?

Firebird: MORG, DON'T

<< Eldritch chimes sound off as an ENRAGED Spellbinder LUNGES for MorningStar, preparing to attack her with dark magick! FIREBIRD immediately intervenes, physically restraining Morgan! Firebird is physically STRONGER than Foxfire, and highly trained in a variety of physical fighting/defense arts and techniques. She puts them to use now as she effectively holds Morgan back for enough moments to keep her from reaching Delilah with her initial intent to attack>>

Black Widow: Don't stop her Blaze. If MorningStar wants to act like she's bad ass now in honor of her dearly departed DICKHEAD, Bishop, let her get her ass HANDED to her.

Harbinger: It's no less than the self hating turncoat deserves.

Firebird: Are you guys INSANE!? What the fuck is HAPPENING HERE!?

<< She looks into Morgan's sparkling violet eyes with her own intense, soul searching apple green eyes.>>

PLEASE Morg, Stand down...and listen to ME...listen to REASON!

<< Morgan ceases struggling and relaxes her stance, GLARING daggers at Delilah>>

Firebird: The enemy is out THERE and now, thanks to BISHOP, THEY know where to find US! MYSTECH is coming and we've ALREADY lost friends...ALLIES...Michael, Karen...Tempest...They ambused and captured Nicolas...they're cutting a path RIGHT FOR US. We're WASTING TIME here when we shouldbe contacting Sharon and planning to Rescue NICOLAS! We're going to need every surviving member we've got if we're gonna have even a whisper of a prayer to beat them back this time! We've got to stick together LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE!


Firebird: I'm sorry Dee...but you were WRONG for bringing Bishop here. You may not realize it, but he USED you as a pawn in his end game against us. He might have loved you. Even sick sociopaths have SOMETHING that makes them tick...but that love was one dimensional. He played you...and when he got what he wanted...he went after Sharon...AGAIN and he paid the price for it. There was nothing WE were obligated to do to stop him. You don't have to agree. You evidently don't agree with ALOT of things we've done,but for some reason you choose to remain. We can argue the ethics and moral questions you have LATER. Right now We have more important matters to deal with!

MorningStar: So SHARON gets a pass for murdering an entire church? Blaze, you dont have a clue. You're all so used to operating with a sense of entitlement and like you're ABOVE accountability!

<< Spellbinder, Black Widow and Harbinger ALL scoff and exhale with annoyance in their own individual ways. Firebird rolls her eyes and groans, looking up at the ceiling of the War Room.>>

Harbinger: SHARON was OUT OF HER MIND. She was INSANE. There's a WORLD of difference between what happened when Mystech unleashed the Silver Swan versus Bishop plotting, planning, STALKING and MURDERING TARGETS.

Black Widow: And in case you forgot, I was able to override the programming that they put in her, effectively BREAKING the "code" and since she had escaped BEFORE the final mental conditioning techniques could be used on her, she was able to RECOVER and has since been a VALUABLE ALLY to us. We NEVER would have gained as much ground against Mystech without Sharon's INSIDE information and her willingness to go BALLS TO THE WALL in battle along side us.

MorningStar: None of you gets it...

Spellbinder: And you obviously never HAD IT, SENSE that is. We DO protect the weak...but we ALSO protect OUR OWN. Bishop was FAR from weak and the blood of all the DEAD MUTANTS on his hands is proof of that. He was coming after Sharon...after US. YOU GAVE HIM the way IN!

MorningStar: Bishop operated with more honor and principal than any of YOU manipulative murderers and that includes SHARON.

Spellbinder: That's IT! I will not hear another WORD! Since you're so convinced that Bishop was the way, the truth and the light...go chase his memory...OUT THE DOOR! AND DON'T COME BACK!

Firebird: NO!!!! STOP IT! You don't know what you're saying, NONE of you...

Harbinger: Spellbinder is RIGHT. MorningStar is a threat to our security, our very well being. Even NOW, I see HER changing course, becoming someone we don't recognize, someone who will ACTIVELY hurt us...in the name of what SHE calls..."JUSTICE".

<< It completely disintigrates from that point on, with Spellbinder CASTING MorningStar out and Black Widow roughly escorting her out of the War Room before she unexpectedly LASHES OUT with her powerful LIGHT, BLINDING them ALL and bowling them over nearly senseless with an INTENSE stroboscopic flashbulb effect. It's more than 5 minutes before HALEIGH is the first to regain her sense of sight and perception, she, in turn, helps the others to steady as they each begin to recover.>>

Black Widow: ....THE FUCK!? She's GONE. No trace of her in the building or around its perimeter. She must've WORM HOLED her way out.

Firebird: She...she ATTACKED us! MorningStar ATTACKED us and HURT US!

Harbinger: She BETRAYED US.

Spellbinder: Ugghh....the pain...it was like being SLAMMED into by a TRUCK...I almost...can't even REMEMBER. SHE did this! She's shown her true colors! Black Widow, you make sure that self centered, backstabbing, twisted tramp can NEVER get back in here and if she tries...we'll send her to JOIN Bishop....

Firebird: Guys...this is SUPREMELY FUCKED UP. It's like we're on a wild, runaway rollercoaster and nobody is concerned about where it's going or HOW FAST...we can't let things STAND like this. We shouldnt be fighting...LOSING one of our own..over a MAN...over FUCKING BISHOP!?

Black Widow: Forget it Blaze, MorningStar decided a long time ago that HE meant more to her than WE did.

Harbinger: Quite right. The damage he has done to us...the fall of which is STILL unfolding before our very eyes...was made possible by HER. SHE has doomed us ALL.


<< They ALL look at her in pained silence....even as the storm clouds of mystech's TERROR began to approach them....>>

And with that painful moment in their time, it ALL went to hell. The rest, is HER history, THIS Six's nightmare "what if" scenario. SO MUCH had happened since the night Spellbinder cast MorningStar out of the Six and by the time she discovered a cross time ALTERNATE of her Sister fleeing for her life in her timeline, it had been MONTHS since her timeline's native Morgan disappeared and was presumed dead.

<<FLASH!>>

<<Firebird's New York City. Images of Mainstream Spellbinder fleeing/fighting for her life against a trio of Sentinels.>>

<< a badly shaken Spellbinder lays amongst the metal heap of the car...trying to stir herself to a higher level of alertness...but she's not succeeding. >>

Sentinel: target suitably subdued. Spellbiner, species: human-WITCH. Threat level: HIGH. course of action, IMMEDIATE TERMINATION.

<< they take aim and prepare to fire...>>

the ground trembles, then QUAKES as a massive VOLCANIC ERUPTION blasts up from beneath the two sentinels and jets HIGH up into the air. The sentinels are LOST in the inferno of molten lava and can be heard "SCREAMING" as their bodies are reduced to melted slag.::

Some OTHER time, okay?

:: a young, slightly sarcastic voice says to the now destroyed Sentinels as BLAZE FIELDING, or rather her ALTERNATE, Firebird, crouches down on the top of another car before jumping down. She runs for her crosstime alternate sister, not CARING that the TRI SENTINEL is still looming large.::

:: the Tri Sentinel seems to lost....in itself. "Frozen" like a computer on hesitation. Firebird is UNAWARE that Alycia aka OMEGA SENTINEL is causing system wide glitches and interference along the sentinel command network but this gives the mutant the opportunity to grab her sister and HAUL ASS.::

Hang in there, Morg. I've got you now and we're OUTTA here.

:: the mutant picks up a distraught Spellbinder and makes tracks. a role reversal as usuall the taller, and stronger spellbinder would be the one carrying her sister to safethy, but Firebird was a far more savvy, powerfull version of BLAZE.::

:: a few paces away, Blaze takes refuge with Morgan in KAREN's old office downtown. she lays Morgan down on the couch, sitting beside her.::

you look alright...in fact you look GREAT. This new costume is your best yet...you've always been a clotheshorse, even in a time of war you still dress to impress.

:: trying to wait and see if Morgan would fully recover on her own.::

C'mon Morg...I'm gonna need you to sit up...tell me SOMETHING.

But it wasnt HER Morg.

<<FLASH!>>

<<Firebird's NYC. She, mainstream Morgan and a newly arrived mainstream Rampage take refuge inside of the now deceased Karen Victoria's loft in Soho.>>

<< Firebird's wild daring hope that she'd JUST found her sister...was about to be dashed.>>

<< Morgan didnt have the HEART to tell Blaze that she wasnt HER timeline's Morgan. She realized know that this wasnt HER Blaze either. Alternate Haleigh was captured, but neither Morgan nor Blaze were aware that Alycia, aka Omega Sentinel was taking steps toward the decimation of the Sentinel army and its mother brain, MASTER MOLD.>>

<< mainstream Nicolas arrived...and as Blaze reacted as though she would ATTACK him, Morgan holds her arm, carefull not to exert TOO my pressure.>>

No wait....he's NOT the hound Blaze...and he's telling the trouth, I'm not THIS timeline's Morgan. I'm from another timeline...I'm here to rescue MY timeline's Alison and Ava....Persephone. BUT, I ...WE will help you and Sharon rescue Haleigh, Alison WHOMEVER of your Timeline and we'll get you OUT of here before we leave.

<< Morgan saw the hurt and disappointment in Blaze's eyes. They were sisters...and yet they WERENT sisters.>>

I'm sorry....



Firebird: ...I guess I knew deep down. the costume was just TOO different, even for my Morgan, who changed costumes often. She disappeared when Illustra was attacked...and without Alison, we have no way of TRYING to reach out to her. Seeing you, it kind of helped me and I couldnt let you die. Looking at you, i see MY sister, so while you're here...we'll be sisters...crosstime or not...okay?




Okay...that's just fine with me.


<< Morgan said softly as she stood up and they hugged while Nicolas looked on. Morgan too missed her sister in mainstream, praying that Blaze had at least gone underground when the Sentinels were unleashed to destroy the Six and their past team mates and allies. so even though they were seperated by timelines, mainstream morgan and alternate blaze had several things in common.>>

Blaze....what is your code name in this timeline? you look different than my timeline's Blaze.



Firebird: I'm Firebird. I inherited my powers as a mutant fire elemental from Christopher. You have wind, which you use to fly just like my morgan...and my ...OUR half sister, Jasmine...FROST had water. What was your Blaze's codename?




Foxfire.


Firebird: well I'll be damned...she kept the original name. I switched shortly after joining Valiant...i wanted something more glamorous after i finished my career in black ops...You...well MY Morg said it was a WONDERFUL name change and so I kept that one, even after the nightmare at the Citadle when you , Haleigh, Alison, Alexis and Cameron came to rescue me.




well...Firebird IS a nice upgrade for your codename. Blaze, you remember Nicolas....BEFORE he became a hound. Well here he is now. From our timeline. He won't hurt you.

And from there it went. After the mainstreams helped Firebird's team free their surviving loved ones and escape to Canada, they returned to their time and Blaze...unable to bare saying "goodbye" to Morgan AGAIN...followed her heart and LEAPED through the stepping disc! She arrived in mainstream, MONTHS later, due to the way Limbo effects the passage of time. She was so happy she came here....she REGRETTED COMING HERE!

Firebird's journey through the sky like a comet flying to it's death in the sun soon comes to an end as she swoops down and lands on the butte rock that defiantly jutts upward from the ocean.

::"Sigh!"::

On the slightly downward sloped butte, Blaze took a moment to just stand there, letting the ocean winds and the symphony of waves sweep away the immense sorrow she was feeling and stop the crying jags.


But it was only a brief respite, as she slowly held up the Siege Perilous, gazing into its smooth faced, pure ruby red eye and looking for HERSELF in ANY occurrence across ANY stream.

Slowly but surely...the ruby eye of the crystal begins to shimmer, glow and hum...

 

[Artemis]

MP- Courtyard

:: The more she listened to Cass, the more she Alycia felt that Cass was, in large part, her own biggest obstacle in her slow progress of adjusting to the Six and the Six adjusting to her. She ACTUALLY thought that Blaze had been leading her on? The fact that this woman was so emotionally distraught about things that PRE DATED her interaction with Cass, to the point that she now felt her BEST option was the Siege Perilous, seemed to be LOST on Cass, who took this to mean Blaze had been decieving her.::

:: Trust issues were a common theme among members of the Six so Cass wasn't alone OR unique in that, but she seemed to think her's entitled her to some sort of...exemption. Though not an empath or telepath, she knew Cameron well enough to know his frustration expressed through facial expression or body language and he seemed to be in a state of FLUX with that whenever he was around Cass. Sharon herself had also grown agitated with Cass...and THAT was a bad sign. Sharon had come very far and was a model of PATIENCE in a way that would do Artemis herself proud, but EVERYONE, even the Goddess of the moon and the hunt, had a LIMIT to their patience and it seemed that Cass was approaching it with Sharon.

:: Alycia would sit Cass down and have a good conversation with her , explain some things to her, as soon as she retrieved the documents from Cameron's car and returned to Morgan's apartment.::

She really did feel bad that things had gotten so out of hand with Alycia – but it was just so infuriating to not be trusted by people who were supposed to be your friends, to see people expecting the WORST from you.

Lost in her own thoughts, as she came past the stairs she almost collided with, coincidentally, Alycia.



Alycia stepped aside and kept going on her way.

Delilah started to go to her apartment, then turned around and called out.

“Alycia…wait…”

::Alycia pauses and turns around to look at Delilah.::

Yes?

:: She takes a step closer, willing to hear whatever Delilah has to say.::

 

[MorningStar]

Melrose Place Courtyard

Alycia stopped - and unlike most every other resident of Melrose Place would have been, she didn't go right to bitchy.

“Haleigh’s been a good friend to me through some bad times…and I just…feel the need to stick up for her. I think we all underestimate her. And also”

She took a gentle step closer to Alycia.

“I’m…I’m doing the best that I can here…to move through this. It’s not about you – I’m not angry at you. I hope you understand that. I appreciate you being straight with me. It’s just that – this whole thing – it’s not easy.”

It was as close to an apology as she could manage - because she DID feel treated like a child. But she wasn't angry at Alycia, and she did want her to know that. It was just that everything was screaming inside her head and she couldn't make it stop.