You can't go home again

[Silver Swan]

Hangar- New arrival

[ Silver Swan kept her gaze on Domino. Even from behind her silver eye mask, the mutate was eyeing the woman, sizing her up, "listtening" to her body's internal vitals and rhythms as only she could.]

[ She and Charope were joined by Oracle and the team! It WAS an affirmation to see them arrive and immediately form around MorningStar and Frost, with Valkyrie and Steel joining Sharon on either side on the front line. They BOTH offered her cover and assistance.]

She won't stop until she's MADE to stop. We're going to have to put her down, permanently.

[Sharon said permanently, and whatever she may have thought of Valkyrie personally, there was NO denying the woman's fearsome fighting ability, OR Steel's unflinching courage and strength. The three of them together would certainly overpower this Domino character. But THAT moment was not going to happen just now...]

Wait...there's another organism, another being....

[ She reached out with her sonar. It was closing in from BENEATH them but before Sharon could advise everyone...it was already there, EXPLODING upward and sending everyone every which way]

:: Beneath then, with an INCREDIBLE force, the ground TORE open as a horrifying creature, a TYRANTburst through the floor with ease sending ALL of them in the air. It was clear where the second heartbeat had come from now. Domino took a chance. ::

:: As Silver Swan was BLASTED back,

UGHHHH!!

[ She WAS suitably upended, like the others. But even with her eyes or other senses failed her, her SONAR and spatial awareness as an aerial combatant would allow her to recover quickly! In the mere SECONDS it would take, Domino took a chance and seized this RARE opening she knew she had...]

Domino charged GRABBING the woman by the air, spinning her around and SLAMMING her into a wall with strength that paralleled her OWN. Each of their unique and beautiful eyes met for a moment amidst the chaos. ::

[ The rogue mutant had used Sharon's unexpected momentum from being blown up into the air AGAINST her and sent her flying, SLAMMING into a wall so hard that she left an IMPRINT]

UGGGNNNN!!!

[Not enough to HURT, but certainly enough to momentarily jar her! And Domino was instantly upon her, in her face. Sharon's gaze, GLARE did not waver. She did not show fear or worry from her silver eyes. Instead, she stared down her assailant, noting her own unique eyes...and the utter LACK of humanity. Sharon had been like this, when she was FIRST unleashed upon the populace of NYC as the vengeful silver swan. But her story changed. Domino's apparently hadn't and whatever humanity she once had, she either lost...or simply didn't want to regain. She RELISHED in being a cold, hard, killing machine. SHARON had been freed of Mystech's programming, and received further healing AND training from the Amazons. She was not only RESTORED but IMPROVED, and she knew that merely being a WEAPON was not a whole existence. Somehow, she knew...she FELT that Domino had not been able to learn that lesson, and now...it was too late for HER.]

[ The only DECENT thing TO do would be to put her DOWN, and if she didn't get out of Sharon's face in a few more seconds, that's what would HAPPEN.]

This...isn't what you WANT, Domino.

[ Sharon said grimly. Her first and ONLY warning to her foe]

"You and I...we'll tangle again..and next time, I hope you let me take the lead!"

:: Leaning in, she KISSED Sharon with a GREAT passion for several seconds, her ruby red lip stick against Sharon's alabaster skin. Silver Swan was THOROUGHLY shocked (and maybe even a little excited) and in that moment, she KNEED Sharon in the stomach

[ of ALL the things this ROGUE could have done!? Silver Swan was preparing to unleash a VIOLENT "expansive" attack to force Domino away and then follow it up with a brutal, BONE CRUSHING assault when....when...Domino practically MOLESTED her! Kissing her PASSIONATELY!]

[ Even from behind her silver eye mask, Sharon's silver eyes WIDEN with shock and disbelief, but strangely, surprisingly, she doesn't really move to pull away just yet(!?) In that unexpected moment of DISTRACTION, Domino KNEES Sharon in her stomach. Her adamantium armor blunts the impact, but given the disadvantage she'd been at, this move, along w/ that KISS does leave Sharon WINDED]

[ Domino QUICKLY retreats, knowing that her window of advantage has closed, and she disappears behind some wreckage, before slipping away. Steel, who was coming to Sharon's aid, reaches her and notes her winded, slightly confused facial expression]

“Alright, pretty bird?”

He helped her regain her footing, then turned to face the new threat.

[ She accepted Steel's helping hand, and stood up...shaking her head]

Yes....I'm a trifle WINDED at the moment....

But I am unhurt. That...that ROGUE....she...

[ Sharon was still a bit rattled by Domino's unconventional methods]

Well I certainly wasn't expecting THAT from her.

[ Sharon's recovery time was complete, and Steel was off to join the others.]

[ Sharon caught sight of Frost slipping through the double doors!]

Dammit!

[ HOW could they help her or PROTECT her if she kept going on like this!]

MorningStar! Go after her, she'll need your help! Domino, Christopher and goddess knows WHAT ELSE could be in there!

Alycia, myself and the others, we'll follow....

[The Tyrant's ROAR briefly interrupts her hurried shout to Delilah]

....As soon as we can! Don't worry about us, just go!


[ She watched as Delilah went through the double doors too, and with that, now was the time for ACTION!]


[ Silver Swan takes to the air, flying at high speeds, and soon she catches up to the charge tyrant, who is about to RAMPAGE RIGHT OVER Mina and Valkyrie]

I don't THINK SO!

[ Once again, the bird of prey SNATCHES her prey up, grabbing the tyrant by his wrists and carrying him up into the air and spinning im around faster and faster until she becomes a blur, like a high speed "spinning top" she unleashes a volley of SPINNING STARS into the Tyrant at all sides of his body, the sound of his body being riddled by the stars, his flesh being cut, is rather gross, but it doesnt stop there, as Sharon then EJECTS the tyrant from her riptide, sending him FLYING across the hangar into a wall before he crashes down into a pile of wreckage.]

[ Sharon soon lands down, offering a hand to whoever needs help getting up, addressing the team]

I've bought us a respite...but it'll brief!

This creature is a tyrant. It's one of Mystech's longest running....bio hazards. Nothing less than full, brutal force will even stop it, much less kill it! We've got to get into the citadle. Frost slipped inside and MorningStar's following after her. There's too much in there that could hurt or kill them!

 

[Oracle]

The Hangar

Oracle watched the field from the rear position, the team making their various attacks on the biohazard, Mina FLUNG across the room by it like a rag doll, and Valkyrie thrown backwards by what felt like an EARTHQUAKE. This creature was tough – tougher than a few well-placed hits were going to subdue. It was now making for a down Mina and Valkyrie. Playtime was over.

“MorningStar, strobe effect. Silver Swan, intercept the creature."

Oracle twirled her longstaff in her right hand, it coming to rest under her right arm which she extended, firing a series of stun bolts into the creature.

She said nothing as she saw Frost slip through the double doors to the Citadel and MorningStar follow her, keeping her eyes on the field in front of her. This was no time to debate the pros an cons of leaving your team behind to fight a monster while you went on alone.

Sharon swooped in, picking up the creature before it could trample Mina and Valkyrie, spinning it like a top and slicing it with her throwing stars before throwing him into a wall.

I've bought us a respite...but it'll brief!

"Don't give him time to recover. Silver Swan: sonic attack. Charope & Steel, coordinate your attacks – use your strength and show him who’s boss. Recall, with them. I want it distracted.”

Oracle had seen creatures like this before – not this one specifically, but those created by MysTech. She knew that bodily damage alone would not stop it.

“Valkyrie, when it’s distracted, use your sword. You need to separate the head from the body. On my mark…execute now!”

 

[MorningStar]

The Hangar

MorningStar’s eyes widened a bit in spite of herself as a snarling Mina launched herself onto the biohazard. She was ferociously scratching at the thing’s head in a brutal way, which highly contrasted with the woman she had seen at the Infirmary. Even though she had seen her somewhat in battle at the Cathedral, this was an up close and personal view. The woman was easily tossed off the creature, however, and SLAMMED into the ground. Mina did not look like she was going to get up any time soon, and Valkyrie who was also getting in the creature’s face to attack, was bowled over and backwards as the thing created a shockwave.

This thing was BIG. And their attacks seemed to barely faze it. But then, she heard Oracle take charge of the situation, in a voice contrasting with her usually sweet demeanor.

“MorningStar, strobe effect. Silver Swan, intercept the creature.”

MorningStar found herself acquiescing, though she was not used to being told how to fight, except in certain circumstances. Delilah raised her hands, fingers splayed, creating a personal dance party just for the Tyrant. It would see bright flashes, in effect strobe lights, overloading its optical sensors and BLINDING the creature, hoping to stop it from trampling Mina and Valkyrie.

"Oh Fuck. Me."

Frost was taking this opportunity to leave them behind and go on alone into the Citadel.

MorningStar! Go after her, she'll need your help!

MorningStar nodded, not wanting to leave everyone else to that THING but trusting in their abilities. She was able to see Sharon appear to make short work of the creature before she too slipped through the double doors to the Citadel proper.

 

[Steel]

The Hangar

He helped Silver Swan up, asking her if she was alright.

Yes....I'm a trifle WINDED at the moment....But I am unhurt.

It was hard to imagine ANYTHING making Silver Swan winded, the powerhouse that she was.

Well I certainly wasn't expecting THAT from her.

Steel grinned at her before getting into the fray himself. The creature was even TOUGHER than it looked. His initial attack had done almost nothing as he was flung away by the thing.

Silver Swan once again made an impressive show, swooping in and picking the biohazard up before spinning and smashing him down again, SAVING Mina and Valkyrie.

“Charope & Steel, coordinate your attacks – use your strength and show him who’s boss. Recall, with them. I want it distracted.”

“Will do, boss.”

Not resting on his laurels, Steel got up and once again charged the creature, this time pulling his right arm back and delivering a cross backed by his forward momentum. He continued to bob and weave, avoiding the thing’s attempts to grab him, while delivering a series of punches to the Tyrant’s body.

 

[Frost]

The Hanger

This Domino chick was damn resilient AND annoying. She kept coming at both herself and Delilah, now using her hands to choke AND burn the woman. Luckily for Frost, her ice cold skin counteracted the burn, however it didn't deter the woman's strength in crushing her throat. Jasmine was about to unleash and attack when Alycia and Sharon appeared out of no wear, blasting Domino away and causing both herself and Delilah to drop on the ground. Coughing and trying to catch her breath, she looked up to see the rest of the BoP appear, forming a circle around her and Delilah.

"Nice timing. That bitch was getting on my last nerve."

She had WISHED she could of further attacked Domino and ice her big mouth shut, but the others were doing a great job keeping her at bay while she took a moment to recover. But the moment was short lived....Jasmine felt a rumbling coming from beneath them.

"Oh shit...."

Suddenly a Tyrant burst out from the ground, sending Jasmine and everyone else flying in all directions. Her body hit the ground with a thud, rolling and tumbling to a halt.

"Ow...ughh..."

Rolling onto her back, Jasmine saw the Tyrant looming above them ready to crush everyone in sight. The BoP quickly acting, attacking the Tyrant as Jasmine pushed herself up....that was when she spotted it. The double doors were RiGHT next to her. Mother fucker blasted her in the right direction! Scrambling to her feet, Jasmine darted out the double doors and started to sprint down the hall. She wanted to help the others but she NEEDED to finish this mission. She NEEDED to see if Christopher WAS alive and STOP him before he could hurt anyone else.

Finally slowing to a jog, Jasmine stopped as she looked around. That was when she heard the rapid footsteps behind her. Turning, there was Delilah hot on her tail.

"Delilah! Common, we have to keep going!"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Hangar

Valkyrie fought to stay with the creature as her touch began to dissolve its body around her hand. She looked up suddenly as Mina appeared on the thing’s back, slashing at it with her claws and growling like an animal.

“Shit, she’s gone rabid.”

In the blink of an eye, Mina had been thrown from the Tyrant’s back and the thing roared its displeasure – which to be honest, only excited Valkyrie and spurred her on. But then the creature’s foot STOMPED down onto the ground, and Valkyrie felt her legs go out from under her as the ripple effect sent her backwards.

“Damn.”

She grunted. That did not feel good. Her body was stunned by the impact, and all she could do was watch as the beast charged right for her. One thought flashed through her mind.

I’m going to die trampled to death…in a basement…in America. FML.

But as she watched, the Tyrant was raised up in the air. She looked up to see Silver Swan spinning the beast in the air like a damn TOP, then cutting him with her silver stars giving off a sickening, yet satisfying to Valkyrie, sound as they cut through the thing’s flesh. She would never admit it to another soul, but damn, that bitch could fight.

“I am never going to hear the end of this.”

They regrouped, minus MorningStar and Frost, who had high tailed it out of there. Valkyrie wasn’t sure if they were bitches or smart. Or rather, just bitches or bitches AND smart.

This creature is a tyrant. It's one of Mystech's longest running....bio hazards. Nothing less than full, brutal force will even stop it, much less kill it! We've got to get into the citadle. Frost slipped inside and MorningStar's following after her. There's too much in there that could hurt or kill them!

“What about the stuff that could hurt or kill US? I’m not planning on dying for some ice cube with a psycho’s DNA.”

“Valkyrie, when it’s distracted, use your sword. You need to separate the head from the body. On my mark…execute now!”

It felt like an eternity of TORTURE to Valkyrie to stand in wait while the rest of the team got their licks in against the Tyrant, but she listened to Oracle. There were few people she would say that about. MAYBE Steel, but most likely Oracle was in a group of one in that respect. She waited for the cue, and then, when it was busy fighting off the four others going at it from different angles, she ran and leapt at it, swinging the broadsword across her body, trying to take the Tyrant’s head off in one clean motion.

 

[MorningStar]

Horror Hall

Delilah burst through the double doors into the Citadel proper, slowing as the doors closed behind her. It was eerily quiet, as if there wasn’t a huge battle going on in the next room. She hated to leave the others to that thing, but if they lost Frost then all this would be for nothing.

“Frost?”

She was breathing heavily, more from nerves than exhaustion. She remembered this place. “Horror Hall” – she had been held captive here long ago, until Karen had come to rescue her. She clenched her fist, remembering. Now it was her turn to rescue Karen. From WHATEVER was out to get her.

As she moved through, she saw the doors to the prison, the actual doors still discarded nearby from the last time they were here. Delilah shivered.

“Frost? Where the hell are you?”

She hadn’t had that much of a head start, Delilah should have caught up to her by now. The place seemed deserted, there was no sign that Jasmine had been taken, or fought anything. And surely if she had Delilah would have come upon them already. What was going on here?

 

[Silver Swan]

Hangar

"Don't give him time to recover. Silver Swan: sonic attack. Charope & Steel, coordinate your attacks – use your strength and show him who’s boss. Recall, with them. I want it distracted.”

Oracle had seen creatures like this before – not this one specifically, but those created by MysTech. She knew that bodily damage alone would not stop it.

[ Sharon nodded, and took flight. ]


[ As the creatured it's fearsome head and roared again, busting loose and charging forward, it's path was forcibly altered by DOME, which swung on an intercept course, now (at Charope's mental command) in the form of a LARGE crystaline WRECKING BALL. The impact was BONE CRUSHING but the tyrant weathered the hit. Still, it was knocked RIGHT into the waiting arms and FISTS of Steel! The large man of steel went to work hammering the creature.]

Even a creature of this size and physical power has a brain, and the five basic senses...it may be impervious to many things, but my sonic scream should NOT be one of them!

[ She circled far, just to check to see if Domino was lurking about. Once she was sure there was sign, she changed course and swooped down to a hover at the creature's 12 o'clock]

Get clear, Steel!

[ Inhaling deeply, Silver Swan unleashes her sonic scream! ]

[ Her attack was a symphony of chaos and power and the creature roared almost in "unison" with her, only his scream was drowned out by her's. he gripped his head on either side with his hands....and his head seemed to vibrate and almost BLUR. Sharon was SCRAMBLING his brain and his senses quite painfully. the creature struggled and even STAGGERED forward with true PAIN, but he then swung one of his arms out in a wide reaching half circle pattern. He was going to try to KNOCK Silver Swan out of the air!]

It felt like an eternity of TORTURE to Valkyrie to stand in wait while the rest of the team got their licks in against the Tyrant, but she listened to Oracle. There were few people she would say that about. MAYBE Steel, but most likely Oracle was in a group of one in that respect. She waited for the cue, and then, when it was busy fighting off the four others going at it from different angles, she ran and leapt at it, swinging the broadsword across her body, trying to take the Tyrant’s head off in one clean motion.

[ The sound of the metalloid substance slicing cleanly through genetically altered flesh and bone, the head then sliding off...and the body going through the throws of shock and eventual death, Sharon had seen it before.]

::FLASH!::

<< several years ago. The testing arena underground the Arklay mansion>>

[ as she raised her hands which clasped the gleaming silver machete she manifested with her new found powers, she closed her tear strained silver eyes for a moment, a moment that seemed to freeze in time as images of her son as he once was flashed through her mind....a rapid fire montage with his voice, his beautifull blue eyes looking up at his mommy...]

[ Mother and child share one last moment together...through unpsoken means]

Kyle: i love you mommy!

Sharon: and I love you too baby!

[ this PAIN that she felt...it was bringing her closer back to "HERSELF".]

[ the time had come for her to "make it all better" and the members of the six wisely kept silent and did not interfere...many of them understood...and noted the strength that this woman had to do what no mother should be forced to even consider.]

[ but at that moment...the sound of a PHOTON BLAST shatters the uncertain silence....accompanied by the flash of the power signature, coming from far above along the domed ceiling...the sound was enough to cause Kyle to open his eyes...a moment longer and it would be too late! Sharon could not AFFORD to look to the direction where the photon blast came. she did not realize that MorningStar had just SAVED HER LIFE!]

[ Sharon shudders with sorrow as she brings her arms down with the force and speed behind them. the silver machete slices through the air and gleams once more before it connects with deadly accuracy and CLEANLY decapitates Kyle, seperating his head from his body just as he began to show signs of agitation and growling at being brought out of the lulled trance he was in. it was over...no more pain...no more violence...no more forced existence in a body that was as unnatural as anything a spell could manifest.]

[ Kyle Kelly, was dead...at long last...at piece.]

mommy made it all better....

[ Sharon said softly as she sank to her knees...and dropped the blade while the headless body writhed and struggled with seconds of shock that seemed to last an eternity...arms flailing and searching...tentacles waving and spreading. Kyle's body finally fell to the ground with a resounding THUD. Sharon was now beside herself as she covered her face.]

[ That was more than a mere bio hazard, it was her SON. Mystech had perverted him, SHE had set him free.]

[ This TYRANT was once a human being too, likely a mutant, or a human with mutant genetic potential- like Sharon herself. but this person's life and identity ENDED the moment mystech lay hands on him. ]

[ Valkyrie seperated his head from his body, and as the body began to writhe, Sharon landed ]

Stand back.

[ She said to Valkyrie and anyone else close, as she stood tall and unsheathed her adamantium WINGS. ]

We can't take any chances with the "high end" bio hazards...

[ She, Alycia, Zach, Vivica, and even Zizi, all had more personal familiarity with Mystech than they would ever want. ]


[ The tyrant's body had not fallen YET! But Sharon would make sure there was chance of it's altered genetic structure possibly working in its favor! With one mighty swipe and deadly pass, she CUTS the Tyrant IN HALF!]

 

[Artemis]

Hangar area

:: With the sheer size and physical force of this creature, it's arrival right under them was more than a little unpleasant. Charope was able to recover and reorient herself in the air, preparing to render assistance to anyone else who might be free falling from the suddenly shock, but everyone managed to recover in his/her own way.::

:: Alycia caught sight of Frost slipping through the double doors into the citadle::

Frost...WAIT!!!

"Oh Fuck. Me."

Frost was taking this opportunity to leave them behind and go on alone into the Citadel.

[ HOW could they help her or PROTECT her if she kept going on like this!]

MorningStar! Go after her, she'll need your help! Domino, Christopher and goddess knows WHAT ELSE could be in there!

Alycia, myself and the others, we'll follow....

[The Tyrant's ROAR briefly interrupts her hurried shout to Delilah]

....As soon as we can! Don't worry about us, just go!

::Mina leaps upon the beast. Alycia can't help but think of Circe's bestiamorphs as she watches Mina viciously beat, bite, claw and slice at the creature! It's such a stark contrast to the prim, proper and elegant concert pianist that they know, but a reminder that dark sides come in more than one form::

:: Valkyrie joins the initial attack with her broad sword, but the creature retaliates. They're both down, and about to be TRAMPLED by him!::

Silver Swan, intercept the creature."

Oracle twirled her longstaff in her right hand, it coming to rest under her right arm which she extended, firing a series of stun bolts into the creature.

:: the stun bolts only impeded the creature's approach, but he was super durable and AGGRESSIVE, with each interruption, he pushed through and kept going! Alycia's eyes darted up Silver Swan, who zoomed in, and swooped down]

I don't THINK SO!

[ Once again, the bird of prey SNATCHES her prey up, grabbing the tyrant by his wrists and carrying him up into the air and spinning im around faster and faster until she becomes a blur, like a high speed "spinning top" she unleashes a volley of SPINNING STARS into the Tyrant at all sides of his body, the sound of his body being riddled by the stars, his flesh being cut, is rather gross, but it doesnt stop there, as Sharon then EJECTS the tyrant from her riptide, sending him FLYING across the hangar into a wall before he crashes down into a pile of wreckage.]

[ Sharon soon lands down, offering a hand to whoever needs help getting up, addressing the team]

I've bought us a respite...but it'll brief!

"Don't give him time to recover. Silver Swan: sonic attack. Charope & Steel, coordinate your attacks – use your strength and show him who’s boss. Recall, with them. I want it distracted.”

Oracle had seen creatures like this before – not this one specifically, but those created by MysTech. She knew that bodily damage alone would not stop it.

“Valkyrie, when it’s distracted, use your sword. You need to separate the head from the body. On my mark…execute now!”

:: The creature was BACK for round two and madder than a rampaging bull in a china shop!::

I'll give Steel a SERVE!

:: Concentrating, as she wants again psionically activates her link with DOME, the morping crystal shimmers and changes its shape, from large hydraulic pile driver, to equally large, swinging WRECKING BALL.::

Come on.....keep coming...you big piece of CRAP!

::WHAMMO!::

:: The charging tyrant was suitably SLAMMED by the swinging wrecking ball and sent FLYING into the arms and fists of Steel::

GOT 'im!

:: Alycia exclaimed. She was able to face any creature of mystech in a whole new way now, as an amazon, and part of her would consider EVERY attack delivered against ANY creature of mystech as part of her personal acts of VENGEANCE for what happened to her in Arklay Mansion.::

Not resting on his laurels, Steel got up and once again charged the creature, this time pulling his right arm back and delivering a cross backed by his forward momentum. He continued to bob and weave, avoiding the thing’s attempts to grab him, while delivering a series of punches to the Tyrant’s body.

[ She circled far, just to check to see if Domino was lurking about. Once she was sure there was sign, she changed course and swooped down to a hover at the creature's 12 o'clock]

Get clear, Steel!

[ Inhaling deeply, Silver Swan unleashes her sonic scream! ]

[ Her attack was a symphony of chaos and power and the creature roared almost in "unison" with her, only his scream was drowned out by her's. he gripped his head on either side with his hands....and his head seemed to vibrate and almost BLUR. Sharon was SCRAMBLING his brain and his senses quite painfully. the creature struggled and even STAGGERED forward with true PAIN, but he then swung one of his arms out in a wide reaching half circle pattern. He was going to try to KNOCK Silver Swan out of the air!]

. She waited for the cue, and then, when it was busy fighting off the four others going at it from different angles, she ran and leapt at it, swinging the broadsword across her body, trying to take the Tyrant’s head off in one clean motion.

:: Having SEVERAL powerhouses on the team would make all the difference in how much TIME would need to be spent on the larger bio hazards, but it was important not to get over confident. She'd see how even the likes of Black Widow, Rampage and Silver Swan struggled against certain creatures, even the ones who were NOT as sophisticated as this tyrant. Beyond that, she remembered Rampage's urgent warning about disposing of the the remains of a bio hazard even after it was rendered inert. Speaking of that...::

[ Valkyrie seperated his head from his body, and as the body began to writhe, Sharon landed ]

Stand back.

[ She said to Valkyrie and anyone else close, as she stood tall and unsheathed her adamantium WINGS. ]

We can't take any chances with the "high end" bio hazards...

[ She, Alycia, Zach, Vivica, and even Zizi, all had more personal familiarity with Mystech than they would ever want. ]


[ The tyrant's body had not fallen YET! Valkyrie had cut off it's head, and Sharon would make sure there was no chance of it's altered genetic structure possibly working in its favor! With one mighty swipe and deadly pass, she CUTS the Tyrant IN HALF!]

[ Alycia holds her out, "calling" to the morphing crystal, which shimmers and flows to her outstretched hand, and upon reaching it, forms into an energy lantern.]


We cant take ANY chances.

[ Again, Sharon, Zach, Vivica...and even Zizi would understand Alycia's tone]

[ She holds the lantern out, and it begins to glow, with crackles and sparks of energy forming around the opening, until the sound of olympus' thunder is heard and the amazon unleashes a broad beam BOLT of divine lightning that blasts and INCINERATES the decapitated, eviscerated tyrant!]


[ after the intial flash and spectcular glow of the divine lightning's strike, and the resulting FLAMES that now engulfed and consumed the remains of the creature...]

Next time I see that dead factory reject [Domino], I'm going to cram some lightning down her throat!

Oracle, we've got to get after Frost and MorningStar.

I'm detecting several unique bio rhythms beyond those doors. The zombies, creatures and bio hazards pretty much register the same. These other unique bio rhythms, beyond MorningStar and Frost...I count THREE. One of them is Domino. The other two I don't recognize, but of them may well be Christopher Victory.

 

[Oracle]

The Hangar

If she was honest (which she always was), the team’s attack went even better than she had expected. They worked as a unit, and made (relatively) quick work of the Tyrant. Valkyrie took its head, while Silver Swan impressively cut its body in half and Charope incinerated it.

Zizi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness as the remains burned. It had probably been human, once, with a family, friends, hopes, dreams. They had to kill it – there was nothing to be done now – but at the same time, it was an innocent in all of this.

Oracle, we've got to get after Frost and MorningStar.

Oracle nodded, still watching the last bits of the Tyrant turn to ash.

“Stick together everyone – we don’t need to lose anyone else in this maze.”

She followed the others through the doors into the Citadel.

 

[Seer]

The Citadle- Horror Hall

Finally slowing to a jog, Jasmine stopped as she looked around. That was when she heard the rapid footsteps behind her. Turning, there was Delilah hot on her tail.

"Delilah! Common, we have to keep going!"

<< But curiously, Frost's voice did not carry or echo down the hall, it seemed to fall FLAT.>>

As she moved through, she saw the doors to the prison, the actual doors still discarded nearby from the last time they were here. Delilah shivered.

“Frost? Where the hell are you?”

She hadn’t had that much of a head start, Delilah should have caught up to her by now. The place seemed deserted, there was no sign that Jasmine had been taken, or fought anything. And surely if she had Delilah would have come upon them already. What was going on here?

<< The truth was that Frost and MorningStar were still in the same general physical space, still in the main corridor of Horror Hall, but now...Frost and MorningStar were seperated by an unseen force. The spell that had been effecting Shadow Weaver and those select others was now warping their senses and perceptions. the halls seemed to shimmer and LENGTHEN.>>

<< Frost knew this place like the back of her hand. It had been her "nursery". & "child hood" home, full of pain, isolation, cruel conditioning. Yet, for a place so familiar, she is completely lost. her perceptions are being warped. >>

<< As she blinked her eyes a few times, shutting them tightly one last time, and then opening them again...she heard what at first sounded like foot falls. Perhaps Delilah was catching up to her after all!>>

<< But then the sound changed to an odd...slithering/sloshing sound. soon...she saw drops of "water" falling from the ceiling just ahead AND behind her.>>

<< That slithering/sloshing sound grew louder as the drips of "water" turned into larger downward flows of liquid....and finally large gelatinous forms flowed down from the ceiling both in front and behind her, forming four individual puddles on the floor. The puddles then rose up and took the FORM of "Ooze"

<< these creatures are rather grotesque in appearence, looking like bloated corpses. Their name is owed to their skill at appearing in unexpected places. They use the flexibility of their bodies to move through various cracks or gaps to chase their prey. Their movement pattern is unpredictable. Their behavior patterns are believed to be rooted in instinctive desire, based on the drying up of liquids. They seek out and consume bodily fluids, much like their zombie "cousins" are driven by hunger for FLESH.>>

<< As the four ooze gather themselves together, and fixate on Frost, they begin to close in on her from both fronts. and the closer they get, the more AGGRESSIVE they become. >>

<< Frost has a substantial measure of defense/protection in her elemental ice form, but she really SHOULDN'T let these crearures touch or latch on to her!>>

-------------------------------------------------
<< Further BACK in Horror Hall.>>

<< Delilah can't help but slow her pursuit of Frost to a cautious walk. She KNOWS something's not right. Her perceptions of space and distance are being warped too, but the emotional memories she has of this place from her own experiences allow her to 'feel her way' along to a degree. She does not reach frost, but instead, she finds her way toward a large examination that had large plate glass windows. This was a "test display" area, where mystech would "showcase" some of their "front" products for touring guests that they were seeking investments and endorsements from. >>

<< This test lab was completely FILLED with water that had long since become discolored from the floating BODIES inside. Totally submerged, LONG AGO drowned lab workers. one was floating RIGHT at the front of a glass plate window, facing Delilah. The light bringing stared at the body, a woman. A blonde, ALSO named "DELILAH" per her name tag!>>

<< the woman had a look of sadness permantly etched in her pale face.>>

<< Suddenly, there was an EAR PIERCING scream, as the floating corpse's hand SLAMMED against the window, and her eyes POPPED OPEN, looking right at Delilah! The ZOMBIE's yellow, demonic eyes stare right at Delilah, as it suddenly reanimates and frantically begins beating on the glass of the sealed room. Soon, other zombies come swimming into view, also fixated on MorningStar.>>

<< Delilah THINKS she hear's the soft, cold, evil laughter of MALICE in the air around her.>>

<< As she backs away from the water logged zombies, she finally is able to avert her gaze from them, and move away, keeping as quiet as she can, lest she draw more attention to herself.>>

<< There's no sight or sound of Frost. >>

<< Soon, Delilah finds herself in the long abandonned office pool. This is the place where Harbinger and Prophet discovered they were siblings! This is ALSO the place where Harbinger and Shockwave faced down BLACK before being saved by ORORO.>>

<< Delilah has no choice but to make her way further into the office pool. The various offices, and cubes in the center of the pool have remants of workers long gone, dead. Items that point to things that were suddenly made IRRELEVANT the night of the meltdown.>>

<< She no longer sees or hears the water logged zombies, and there's an uncomfortable silence once more...but then her hearing pics up something else...a scuttling sound. First from a far off distance. then to her right...then ABOVE her. But each place she looks, she doesn't see anything.>>

<< she hears it once more, before a GIANT SPIDER comes CRASHING DOWN, almost ON TOP OF HER! >>

<< This distant cousin of the infamous ant lion, is a MEAT EATER, HIGHLY aggressive, and VERY fast! It shoots paralyzing neuro-webbing, AND acid streams, and has super strength!>>

<< The creature cries out with anger and rears up at Delilah, attempting to SLAM DOWN upon her. She manages to dodge, only to find it coming right after and firing streams of acid after her. Whatever distance she tries to put between herself and the creature, whatever barriers she tries to create, it simply SMASHES through cubes, furniture, even "walls". It won't stop until it paralyzes her and then dessicates her for consumption!>>

----------------------------------------------------

“Stick together everyone – we don’t need to lose anyone else in this maze.”

She followed the others through the door into the Citadel.

<< The birds of prey move along through Horror Hall, with Sharon and Alycia leading. The two women have been here before at different times.>>

<< Sharon uses her sonar to try to get a better sense of their space since their visual perceptions make it seem/FEEL like they're not covering much ground.>>

Silver Swan: I detect MorningStar in the office pool, but Frost is not with her.

Alycia: Wait....

<< She and Sharon would hear it first, Mina would sense the PRESENCE next.>>

<< The sound of an axe dragging along the floor, at a slow, but rhythmic interval. a low, rumbling, growl and gurgling. Closer...and closer...>>

Alycia:....i think....

<< she hesitated as she felt nausea>>

Alycia: I think ...those are ZOMBIES that are coming....

Sharon: ...TOWARD US.

<< and as they all turn toward the direction of the office pool, they were RIGHT. ZOMBIES in various states of decay and dress, with the one "leading" carrying an an AXE.>>

<< There's a DOZEN of them, at LEAST coming toward the group...with several MORE now closing in from the BACK of the group.>>

<< For Alycia, the sight of these things did something to her on a VERY personal level, and Sharon knew that. She'd been there at Arklay mansion, that night when...>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< The Arklay Mansion. Alycia, Rampage and Black Widow were working together, making their way toward the others who were deeper in side the mansion>>

Alycia: okay...we're out of here NOW we.....OH MY GOD!

:: Alycia gasps with shock as the wall opens and reveals the waiting ZOMBIES on the other end who waste NO TIME grabbing hold of Alycia by her arms and head and pulling her in.::

Alycia: NO!!!

::she screams with PANIC. as the groaning, growling horde of zombies PULLS HER FORWARD and into their undead grasp! there's no time to react...and her own screams are painfull to hear as she is bitten on the neck.::

<< The hoard of zombies would have torn her apart, had it not been for Rampage and Silver Swan. She would have died, and reanimated had it not been for the COMBINED efforts of Black Widow, Rampage, Spellbinder, and Harbinger. Alycia was now only the SECOND human to have SURVIVED contact with the T-Virus, but that experience, it SCARRED her, and even NOW, as an AMAZON, that experience still haunted her on some level. She FEARED becoming a zombie!>>


<< The FEAR that Alycia was feeling registered with Vivica quite strongly, and she looked visibly distressed. Recall had only HEARD about what happened to Alycia by way of Black Widow, Prophet and Rampage, but to see the imprint of the trauma on Alycia NOW was a different story.>>

 

[Recall]

The Citadle - Horror Hall

:: The Birds of Prey had stopped both Domino and the tyrant as a unified front and were making their way down Horror Hall. Unbeknownst to the others, Vivica had a secondary mission she was hoping to accomplish with the help of Oracle. Though much of the technology and equipment in the citadle was run down or defunct, there was still areas that were fully functional. This meant that there was information to be recovered. Information that could prove vital later on in their work as a team. She had agreed that while Oracle was functioning as the leader of the team that she was, Vivica would take every opportunity they had to mine the citadle of it's resources. This was a delicate dance. They couldn't stop and wait for them to take every opportunity, both Oracle and Recall had to be discreet. Slip in and get what they could, and this was exactly what Recall had been doing just before the Tyrant had arrived. ::

<< Flash! >>

A close up of Vivica as The Birds of Prey began to arrive at the citadle making their way towards Morningstar and Frost. Both Oracle and Recall had noticed a working office down the hall and towards the right on their way to catch up with the group. As Alycia and Sharon made brutal attacks against Domino, Recall withdrew from the group and to the office, quickly inserting a drive that was in sync with the wifi network that was connected to her chip. Mostly, Oracle's technology did the work as she inserted the flash drive and watched it go through whatever information was available on the former MysTech network. If there were fail safes, or if for any reason the data did not save, the flashing screens of binary code and computer prompts Vivica was witnessing would be forever embedded in her brain, available to pull up at any given time.

:: As the tyrant was destroyed, Vivica silently made her way back towards the group undetected, as if she had been there the entire time. They finally entered the doors and were making their way towards Horror Hall, a place that held a lot of history for The Six. These were the places that their destiny was formed. There was something odd about the way they were moving. They were walking for what seemed like forever and hadn't managed to get very far. Everybody seemed a little on edge. ::

Silver Swan: I detect MorningStar in the office pool, but Frost is not with her.

Alycia: Wait....

<< She and Sharon would hear it first, Mina would sense the PRESENCE next.>>

<< The sound of an axe dragging along the floor, at a slow, but rhythmic interval. a low, rumbling, growl and gurgling. Closer...and closer...>>

Alycia:....i think....

<< she hesitated as she felt nausea>>

Alycia: I think ...those are ZOMBIES that are coming....

Sharon: ...TOWARD US.

<< and as they all turn toward the direction of the office pool, they were RIGHT. ZOMBIES in various states of decay and dress, with the one "leading" carrying an an AXE.>>

<< There's a DOZEN of them, at LEAST coming toward the group...with several MORE now closing in from the BACK of the group.>>

<< For Alycia, the sight of these things did something to her on a VERY personal level, and Sharon knew that. She'd been there at Arklay mansion, that night when...>>

:: An Office Pool meant another golden opportunity for Oracle and Recall..unfortunately, there was something in their way, in the form of a LARGE group of hissing zombies cornering them from all sides. Zombies were not hard to dispatch, but as she locked her glance on Alycia, she noticed the woman displaying a large amount of distress and fear. Recall had heard the stories of what Alycia had suffered, but their previous relationship had never allowed Vivica to see Alycia through a sympathetic lens. However, seeing the pain and anguish on Alycia's face as the zombies closed in on them just now, she softened her resolve. Their fight in Alycia's office at Charope had changed her perspective. They both had a number of deep seated issues with each other that expanded FAR beyond the realm of what MANY in The Six would understand. The Birds of Prey were different. Vivica had promised Oracle that she would help bring this team together, and whether she liked it or not, Alycia was a part of this team. Their stakes were different. Despite what they both thought of each other, they were both role models. Vivica had been responsible for the success of a multi billion dollar business in an industry where black women were few and far between and Alycia was a decorated public servant who had changed the course of the country with her work. When the dust settled and they were long gone, little black girls would grow up and look at them, and they would aspire to be them. That was important. She wanted their work to speak for itself, not their once disdain for each other. ::

"She needs help..."

:: Racing forward in her costume, she grabbed Alycia by the hand and squeezed it tightly. ::

"You're okay. We got this."

:: She smirked for a second, as she let go of Alycia's hands and QUICKLY pulled her vibranium serrated boomerangs from her holster. These specially designed weapons were given to her by Oracle and had a NUMBER of different effects. Attached to her energy signature, they would ALWAYS return to her no matter what. They could be CLIPPED together, and the blades could extend, forming a shield, allowing her protection from vast energy projections and even sonic attacks. Separately, they were DEADLY and fast moving weapons that could cover a large area with great ease, their sharp curves slicing through many materials, even some metals. ::

"Let's show these zombies how girls like us get down shall we?"

:: With EASE, a loud vibrating HUM could be heard as she began to wield her boomerangs in the air, THROWING them in front of her as they zig zagged with incredible speed, SPLICING through a good half dozen zombies, through the shoulder, the heart and the heads of some of the zombies like BUTTER as they continued to BUZZ with sound, absorbing the kinetic energy around them before quickly reverting their course BACK towards Vivica. She GRABBED them in her hands with ease as four of the zombies fell to the ground, completely obliterated by Recall before turning her glance towards Alycia and winking, letting her know that she was there for her if she needed it. She knew that Charope was strong and formidable all on her own, but even Amazons had their soft spots. If Alycia needed support..despite everything they had gone through, Vivica would give it to her. ::

 

[MorningStar]

Horror Hall

Surely she would have been able to hear if Frost had been captured, wouldn’t she? Delilah slowed, continuing to walk down the hall, this place familiar and yet…something was off about it. She found her way past a lab area, with large glass windows. It was completely under water now, if the disgusting putrescence could still be called water.

There were bodies inside. The lab workers, drowned, all those years ago, and no one had ever come to claim them. She saw one float towards the window, and watched it for a time. It was a girl, not unlike herself, and the irony was not lost on her that the girls badge also said “Delilah”. In another life, it could have been her.

Delilah JUMPED BACK as the girl’s eyes suddenly flew open and she let out of blood curdling scream, her fist now POUNDING on the glass, the yellow unnatural eyes looking right at Delilah. Soon others were pounding on the glass too, reaching, clawing for her.

She knew who was responsible for this – she could almost hear her laughing.

“Diana, you are a monster.”

Delilah watched the bodies for another moment before turning away and continuing down the hall.

“We should’ve burnt this place to the ground.”

She found herself in the office pool, and she moved methodically through it, checking the cubes and offices, but finding no sign of Frost. She looked at the discarded and broken personal items that had been left behind: photos in frames, computers, child’s drawings, dead plants. Everything here was deathly quiet, still.

She called out once again.

“Frost?”

She listened. Nothing.

But then, a sort of scuttling sound in the distance. Something was moving. Then nothing. Then she heard it again, to her right. She peered down the room, but saw nothing. She heard it again, above her. But there was nothing there. She took an uneasy step backwards and then suddenly the ceiling crashed down almost on top of her. And with it, a giant spider!

“Aren’t the regular ones scary enough?”

It reared on its back legs, about to STOMP down on her. Delilah quickly dove to the right and rolled out of its way. She looked back, only to see it coming after her, shooting a liquid from its mouth that she KNEW she didn’t want to come into contact with. It looked like it was burning holes in the floor between them. Delilah moved away from it, knocking over desks, chairs and cubicle walls as she went, trying to put obstacles in its way but still it came.

It was getting closer, rearing once again and squirting a large stream of acid right at her. Delilah held a hand up in front of her in a “stop” motion, raising a laser shield in between her and the spider. Moving her hands behind her, they sparkled with white energy as she threw her hands forward towards the spider, blasting it away from her and off its legs onto its back. Clasping her hands together in a “gun” pose, she fired successive laser blasts into its now stationary body and head.

 

[Steel]

The Hangar to Horror Hall

Charope used that crystal device to create a wrecking ball, pounding the Tyrant and sending it flying, right into his arms.

“That’s right, girl – set ‘em up, and I’ll finish ‘im.”

He pounded on the thing, until Silver Swan yelled for him to get clear. Diving away from it, he saw what Silver Swan’s sonic scream could do against a foe, staggering it and setting it up for Valkyrie to be able to take its head clean off (a thing he watched with no small amount of pride in his detective).

Silver Swan and Charope then showed how powerful and BRUTAL they could be, slicing the body in half and reducing it to ashes.

“Everybody alright?”

He looked around at the group as he helped Mina up – everyone seemed no worse for wear. He nodded towards the double doors.

“Too late to turn back now, yeah?”

He grinned, following Silver Swan and Charope through the doors. Moving forward, it seemed as if they kept walking but weren’t getting anywhere.

I think ...those are ZOMBIES that are coming....

“Sorry? Did you say zombies?”

And as he turned, he could see that yes indeed, what appeared to be zombies were lumbering towards them. Vivica jumped forward.

"Let's show these zombies how girls like us get down shall we?"

He raised his hands at his sides.

“Right, girls like us. Oi!”

Vivica cut down four of the zombies using her boomerangs. He rushed forward, not afraid of the zombies’ bites in his metal form. Facing the “leader”, he blocked a swing of its ax with his forearm, then grabbed it out of its hand and tossed it aside. Reaching out, he grabbed hold of the thing's head and squeezed, crushing its skull.

Turning his attention to the two zombies now closest to him, he picked them each up with one hand and bashed their skulls together.

 

[Mina Harker]

The Hangar to Horror Hall

The Tyrant threw her off its back, slamming her into the stone floor. The room spun. She tried to get up only to fall back down. She got to her knees, shaking her head back and forth to clear it. Then John was at her side, helping her up.

“Thanks. All better.”

As the others moved into the Citadel proper, Mina held back, taking the rear behind Oracle. It bothered her that she had been so easily subdued by the Tyrant. It was pure stupidity, and were it not for the intervention of the others, she would be dead. She needed to get her head in order.

She could smell them. The putrid, rotting flesh. She wrinkled her nose. Her vampire wanted blood, but these things were unnatural. Recall and Steel took the lead in dispatching them, but then something registered and she turned back towards the way they had come. MORE zombies came into the light from that direction.

These abominations were barely worth her time, but in the interest of time…

She made her way through the group of zombies, ripping a head off here, shoving her hand through a brain there, tossing the bodies aside like dolls. The carnage was almost enough to satisfy her, but without the satiating gush of warm blood, it was like sex with your knickers on.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Hangar to Horror Hall

She landed nimbly on her feet, the broadsword still pointed down with her follow through after slicing through the Tyrant’s neck. She gave a loud victory yell, adrenaline coursing through her.

“Are there any more of those? Let’s do it again!”

Then Sharon cut the Tyrant in half, and Alycia incinerated it.

She looked at them, perturbed. She put her free hand on her hip, and cocked it.

“You couldn’t just let me have that one?”

They pushed on, FINALLY getting through those doors into the Citadel.

I detect MorningStar in the office pool, but Frost is not with her.

Valkyrie waved her free hand nonchalantly.

“Good riddance. Let’s kill more stuff.”

She could hear an eerie scaping sound coming from further inside the structure.

Alycia: I think ...those are ZOMBIES that are coming....

Sharon: ...TOWARD US.

A triumphant smile spread over Valkyrie’s face.

“Zombies? Cool.”

As they came into view, Recall and Steel attacked forward, while Mina took the creatures behind them.

“Everything I need to know about zombies I learned from the movies.”

Rushing forward, she took the two closest to her, slicing the head off of the first – the blade cutting through the decaying flesh much easier than it had the Tyrant. She allowed her forward momentum to turn her body leftward, then brought her right hand backwards smashing the pommel of her sword into the skull of the second zombie.

“Easy as pie.”

She thought about it for a second.

“Ooh, let's get pie after this!”

 

[Oracle]

Horror Hall

Deeper into the heart of darkness they went…

It seemed as if this hallway was going on forever, without them making much progress. Luckily, Silver Swan detected MorningStar’s presence ahead. Unluckily, Frost wasn’t with her.

“I hope Jasmine’s okay.”

The girl should never have left them. She understood her wanting to be independent – she didn’t even know most of them, after all, but going off alone like that, even for a person WITH powers, was not the smartest move. Still, it was not as if Oracle had never done anything stupid in HER life, either.

Oracle saw the fear on Alycia’s face as she announced that it was most likely zombies coming towards them. She wanted to in some way reassure her that everything was going to be alright, but Zizi was far behind her. Happily, Recall took the opportunity to put Zizi’s feelings into action – following it up with slicing and dicing a large number of zombies. Oracle took no small satisfaction in seeing the weapons she had made for Vivica in all their glory.

“Aw hon, you’re using them!”

If she hadn’t been holding her staff, she would have clapped her hands.

Steel took out several more, while Mina protected their rear. Valkyrie jumped into the fray in front of them, so Oracle turned to back up Mina.

She could hear battle sounds going on behind her.

“Ooh, let’s get pie after this!”

“Ashley, really…”

Mina: “Somebody shut her UP.”

Oracle twirled her staff. One of the creatures lumbered towards her. Sweeping its legs out from under it, as it crashed to the ground she brought the end of the staff down, stabbing it through its skull.

 

[Frost]

"Delilah?"

She could have sworn she heard Delilah running up behind her, but as Jasmine looked around, the hallway looked warped and dark. She couldn't hear anything beyond her own breathing, and despite knowing this place like the back of her hand, she couldn't figure out where she was.

"This has to be some sort of fucking mind game. Of course, because why not!"

Jasmine huffed out as she lifted her hand up and created a ball of glowing flakes of snow and ice that hovered above her hand. The ball was her only light source, illuminating only a few feet around her, but it helped nonetheless.

"Creepy...super creepy....why am I creeped out....I basically grew up here....nope nope nope....I hate this fucking place..."

Talking to herself as she continued to walk down the never ending hall, suddenly Jasmine stopped moving and talking. She heard what sounded like a sloshing sound coming from in front of her....then from behind her, and soon all around her.

"Oh shit."

Jasmine made the ball of frost and ice grow giving her more light in the pitch black hall, and that's when she saw the source of the sounds. Ooze.

"Oh man, gross!"

She looked disgusted as the ooze creatures took a 'human' shape and began to move towards her, gurgling as they closed in. She could feel that they were made primarily of water, HA...stupid move MysTech. The ball of frost and ice that hovered above her hand began to glow brighter before she 'threw' it at one of the ooze creatures, instantly freezing it into pure ice upon impact. Spinning into a round house kick, she slammed her boot into the iced ooze, sending it shattering into a million pieces. But as the pieces exploded from the impact of her kick, it was like time slowed down as the ice shards 'reversed' in mid air, creating a current of ice particles that moved around Jasmine's body streaming towards the second ooze. The stream of ice shards hit the second ooze in the chest, blowing a huge hole threw it's chest cavity before freezing the rest of it's body into pure ice and toppling to the floor, shattering.

The current of ice circled back around to Jasmine, swirling around her hands in a display of white and blue. The particles began to solidify until finally, she was holding a sword of solid ice. Spinning, she swung the sword at the third ooze, slicing off it's head as the rest of it's body instantly froze to ice. In a continuous fluid motion, she swung the sword above her head before slamming it down at the last ooze's head, cutting it completely in half--both halves freezing instantly and falling to the ground shattering.

[deadpan] "Water based creatures...what fucking morons."

Crunching through the iced remains of the ooze creatures, Jasmine continued forwards down the long dark hallway, using her glowing blue sword as her light source now.

 

[Artemis]

Horror Hall

:: Suddenly, the confidence and focus that Alycia had was being eroded by a reflexive response to a reminder of one of the worst traumas of her adult life.::

:: As the group of zombies closed in,Her physical body was reacting to the spike in anxiety and she looked visibly distressed.::

:: Racing forward in her costume, she grabbed Alycia by the hand and squeezed it tightly. ::

"You're okay. We got this."

:: Alycia jolted a bit as she felt...::

A HAND....VIVICA's...thank god...ONLY Vivica's hand....not a ZOMBIE!

:: She smirked for a second, as she let go of Alycia's hands and QUICKLY pulled her vibranium serrated boomerangs from her holster. These specially designed weapons were given to her by Oracle and had a NUMBER of different effects. Attached to her energy signature, they would ALWAYS return to her no matter what. They could be CLIPPED together, and the blades could extend, forming a shield, allowing her protection from vast energy projections and even sonic attacks. Separately, they were DEADLY and fast moving weapons that could cover a large area with great ease, their sharp curves slicing through many materials, even some metals. ::

"Let's show these zombies how girls like us get down shall we?"

:: Alycia looked at Vivica's hand, then met Vivica's eyes with her own hazel eyes. This was NOT the night they faced off against each other in Alycia's office, when she glared at Vivica with utter contempt, this was a moment where Alycia silently expressed GRATITUDE for Vivica's sympathy and gesture of support.::

:: She nodded, but before she could fashion a verbal response....::

“Right, girls like us. Oi!”

Vivica cut down four of the zombies using her boomerangs. He rushed forward, not afraid of the zombies’ bites in his metal form. Facing the “leader”, he blocked a swing of its ax with his forearm, then grabbed it out of its hand and tossed it aside. Reaching out, he grabbed hold of the thing's head and squeezed, crushing its skull.

Turning his attention to the two zombies now closest to him, he picked them each up with one hand and bashed their skulls together.

A triumphant smile spread over Valkyrie’s face.

“Zombies? Cool.”

As they came into view, Recall and Steel attacked forward, while Mina took the creatures behind them.

“Everything I need to know about zombies I learned from the movies.”

Rushing forward, she took the two closest to her, slicing the head off of the first – the blade cutting through the decaying flesh much easier than it had the Tyrant. She allowed her forward momentum to turn her body leftward, then brought her right hand backwards smashing the pommel of her sword into the skull of the second zombie.

“Easy as pie.”

She thought about it for a second.

“Ooh, let's get pie after this!”

:: Alycia was trying to pull herself together, Even Valkyrie's perverse humor and the timing of it was a welcomed distraction from the nausea and the DREAD that was creeping over her.""

:: And in the back, BEHIND Oracle...::

These abominations were barely worth her time, but in the interest of time…

She made her way through the group of zombies, ripping a head off here, shoving her hand through a brain there, tossing the bodies aside like dolls. The carnage was almost enough to satisfy her, but without the satiating gush of warm blood, it was like sex with your knickers on.

Oracle twirled her staff. One of the creatures lumbered towards her. Sweeping its legs out from under it, as it crashed to the ground she brought the end of the staff down, stabbing it through its skull.

:: They were ALL able to cut down the zombies, and for this group- with the exception of Sharon and Alycia- the creatures didn't carry as much emotional or psychological significance as they did for the Six.::

:: The initial group of zombies was dispatched, and the group moved along , carefully, rounding a corner and approaching the office pool::

Recall....I....

<< CRASH!>>

<< a CRIMSON HEAD comes SMASH THROUGH a cubicle wall, the force of the explosive arrival staggers Recall and the creature is UPON Alycia, tackling her to the ground in such short order and HARSH impact!>>

:: A crimson head is the EVOLVED form of a zombie. Notable for it's crimson red color, it is faster, more aggressive, physically stronger and persistent, it is also capable of more physically coordinated movements, even using weapons!::

::GASP!::

:: because of the sudden ambush in close quarters, and the force and angle of impact, Alycia was caught off guard and without leverage, she BARELY manages to hold the creature at bay as it snarls, growls and claws at her::

NO!!

:: Alycia cries out with shock and distress::

Silver Swan: ALYCIA!

:: The mutate turns back and rushes to help her friend, her sister amazon, when RECALL blocks her approach::

Silver Swan: RECALL!? GET OUT OF MY WAY, ALYCIA NEEDS HELP!

Recall: ALYCIA can take care of this, Sharon! She's NOT weak...she's NOT helpless! You've got to...

:: The crimson head struggles for dominance and to go in for the KILL. Alycia desperately struggles to keep it at bay::

Silver Swan: [ The mutate cuts Vivica off] Are you INSANE!? Do you know what happened to her in Arklay Mansion!? GET out of my way or I'll KNOCK YOU DOWN!

Recall: NO, Silver Swan! You two have GOT to learn how to trust someone OTHER than JUST each other! What happened in Arklay is EXACTLY WHY Alycia needs to do this HERSELF. The crimson head is dangerous...but SO IS ALYCIA! She's NOT the same woman that she was that night in Arklay! Give her a chance to proove that...TO HERSELF!

:: Zizi assesses the situation, and sees what Vivica is doing. She may not agree with the TIMING of it, but she sees the general logic, and so...she moves to calm Sharon, before the mutate uses Vivica for BATTING PRACTICE, while ALSO positioning herself to use her carbonadium staff to help Alycia if things went from bad to worse::

:: It's a TENSE scene, and the others find themselves surrounded by MORE zombies, including a few crimson heads, that have popped up from cubes and from other offices along the wall! Alycia is not the ONLY one in trouble now. Valkyrie, Steel, and Mina go to work cutting down the other creatures.::

<< The crimson head claws, bites, and snaps at Alycia, it's face, mouth and teeth perilously close to Alycia's face. >>

<< The fear gave way to an initial flash of PANIC, which caused her to lose all sense of SELF, as well as the ability to defend herself. >>

:: The AMAZONS taught Alycia that FEAR was natural and sometimes, it aided in self preservation, but it should NEVER be allowed to dominate or RULE an amazon's heart and life.::

:: This WAS one of her greatest fears - to be attacked by a zombie and possibly bitten AGAIN- but now that she was being confronted with it, she HAD to face it...and OVERCOME it! Vivica KNEW she had it within her, just like Haleigh did that night the two of them visited Arklay!::

:: FLASH!::

<< Original Arklay Mansion. Black Widow and Special Federal Agent Alycia Barnett doing a recon mission to learn more about the mystery of Sharon Kelly's connection to this place.>>

<< During their mission they were, of course, attacked by creatures, including zombies.>>

Alycia was struggling with the last one... and things were getting hairy, but Haleigh didn't interfere.... Alycia COULD handle herself and Haleigh wanted to let her PROVE it to herself.... maybe it would help suppress Alycia's rampant inferiority complex-- which was pretty much the one major thing that drove Haleigh insane about Alycia. If she could just develop an accurate level of confidence in her own abilities, Alycia could be JUST as potent as anyone else..... and the former DA SEEMED to be getting a grasp on that concept... So Haleigh watched as Alycia fought back and eventually won the struggle.

:: Alycia WON that struggle. She could win THIS won. She could proove to HERSELF that she had the power to ensure that what happened to her during their second visit to the mansion would never happen again!::

:: The Crimson head appears to get the upper hand and goes in for what would surely be a fate sealing bite on her neck::

ATHENA!! NO!!!

:: She SCREAMS as she brings her left arm up and over just enough, just IN TIME to BLOCK the super zombie's bite! He instead bites her FEMINUM BRACELET.::

GET OFF OF ME!

:: She STOPS herself REACTING and uses her physical skills as an amazon! bringing her right FIST around and up, SLAMMING it into the zombie's head using her amazonian strength to forcibly knock it off and away from her.::

:: She recovers her center and thrusts up on to her feet in time to meet the ALREADY advancing super zombie.::

:: cartwheeling forward, she lands on her hands, and performs her "LEG GRAB" and brings the zombie down, SLAMMING it down to the floor. Once again on her feet, she doesn't waste any time, as she now hefts a XEROX machine over her head::

AHHH!!!

:: and SLAMS IT DOWN on the creature, crushing ...FLATTENING the crimson head, and she looks visibly enraged, before slowly calming and looking at Sharon, then at Vivica.::

:: Alycia loved Sharon as a sister. They WERE sister amazons, and they'd been through so much together in the name of standing with the Six. But there was a difference between supporting one another, being there for one another, versus one NEEDING THE OTHER to PROTECT HER! Vivica KNEW Alycia would NOT want to fall into the second category. She knew that it would serve to inflame old issues, things that Alycia had clearly worked to distance herself from, just as Vivica had done for her own issues.::

:: And so, while it WAS a risky move, Vivica's descision to stop Sharon from rescuing Alycia during this frightful moment proved to be the right one!::

Thank you.

:: She said to Vivica as her breathing returned to normal, and Steel, Mina and Valkyrie had dispatched the newly arrived zombies.::

 

[Seer]

Horror Hall- Office Pool

It was getting closer, rearing once again and squirting a large stream of acid right at her. Delilah held a hand up in front of her in a “stop” motion, raising a laser shield in between her and the spider. Moving her hands behind her, they sparkled with white energy as she threw her hands forward towards the spider, blasting it away from her and off its legs onto its back. Clasping her hands together in a “gun” pose, she fired successive laser blasts into its now stationary body and head.

<< MorningStar was not the woman she was the last time she was here. The Six were definitely batten worn and READY for Mystech, and it's proven now as MorningStar dispatches the giant spider with her photons and lasers. >>

<< Because she has cleared the area of the office pool she was in, she has a moment to breathe.>>

<< But soon she picks up new sounds. These are definitely ones she recognizes, including the voices of Sharon and Alycia!>>

<< A fair distance BACK, in the other end of the office pool, she sees members of the Birds of Prey battling Zombies and Crimson Heads.>>

-----------------------------------------------------

<< As the Birds of Prey clear away their latest group of assailants, and Alycia wins out over her FEAR and FLATTENS the crimon head that tried to bite her, the team find themselves reunited with Delilah>>

<< Still no sign of Frost, but Delilah has an idea where she might be- The Bio Systems Labs further in and DOWN.>>

<< As Delilah recalls a way there....>>

Silver Swan: MorningStar, WATCH OUT!!!

<< The mutate thrusts her armored hand foward and unleashes a volley of adamantium spinning stars that hit and SLICE through a large G virus leech HURLS itself at her, attempting to attach to her face!>>

<< Soon, the Birds of Prey and MorningStar found themselves surrounded by these awful creactures, coming along the walls, the ceiling, the floor....one had even hurled itself onto Oracle's CHAIR, attempting to eat/burn through with its teeth and the corrosive acid it drips>>





----------------------------------------------------

Further down Horror Hall

[deadpan] "Water based creatures...what fucking morons."

Crunching through the iced remains of the ooze creatures, Jasmine continued forwards down the long dark hallway, using her glowing blue sword as her light source now.

<< the corridor seems to warp, and GLOW before Jasmine's very eyes. >>

<< She has dispatched her first assailants, but did she really think that was the end?>>

<< She hears more slithering sounds....and finds G virus leeches coming for her. But they are just the heralds, of something much worse.>>

<< MORE ooze creatures begin to rise up at various points. One even flows down, "standing" upside down from the ceiling.>>

<< But these four....they take surprising shapes...forms of: SPELLBINDER, FOXFIRE, VICTOR KLEIN, and....leading the group, CHRISTOPHE VICTORY!>>

<< These perverted versions of the most significant people in her life are now standing there before in odd poses...staring at her with blank expressions in their eyes at first, but as the leeches close in on her, now slithering all around and along the walls, and the ceiling as well as the floor, the ooze creatures, wearing the forms of her FAMILY, soon begin to look upon her with unforgiving, withering, condemnation.>>

<< She hears whispering in the air around her too. It first it's disjointed, but soon rhythms and patterns are discerned, and vocies become audible>>

Foxfire: Welcome home, Jas!

Morgan: Gang's all here now!

Victor: It took you long enough!

Christopher: You always did have a hard time following directions!

<< But she loses sight of the fearsome four, Leeches begin LAUNCHING themselves at her! they are carnivorous, and won't hesitate to bite or even devoure her if given the chance.>>