Baptism by Fire

[Firebird]

There was some COMFORT in Haleigh immediately intervening as Zach and Simon were ready to assault each other. Everything that was happening right now didn't seem "REAL" to Blaze. When Barbas had whipped everyone into a hysterical panic, it was Haleigh who somehow managed to remain an anchor for the group even as she was suffering. It appeared that the hybrid hadn't lost that valuable skill.

The moment she learned that 41 children DIED a violent, fiery DEATH that not even Orion, Persephone and Silver Swan could stop, it just made her ILL.

She watched as Ava fled. Not a good sign. The last time THAT happened, Michael Armstrong ended up being GUTTED on the Isle of Aerie.

Simon was silent for now, but there was the sense that there was much more in him that needed to come out and it would...one way or the other.

"We don't have time to lick our wounds or talk about our feelings. The purifiers aren't going to take a break, their plan is working, they're going full steam ahead. (Turning back to Zach) Save your outrage for the purifiers, pull yourselves together, or those kids will have died for NOTHING."

He continued to seethe at her, and she pursed her lips before deciding he needed a kick in the pants.

"I must not have made myself clear, Orion. Check your attitude and go after my sister. Calm her down and bring her back. We need her-- and YOU to be ready for the next phase. Do it now, that IS an order."

He formed a red energy sphere the size of a basketball and obliterated some pretty expensive medical equipment that wasn't in use.

Haleigh landed a hand on his shoulder and shook him once.

"You will be decommissioned if you can't perform."

Zach shrugged her hand off, then slid his newly healed arm back into the upper portion of his suit, zipping it back up and sliding off the med bed.

Zach was clearly a man who had reached his breaking point. She'd NEVER seen him like this before and it broke her heart. The whole situation was...well it was just FUCKED and to see him lash out at Ava, to see Sharon looking like she'd either pass out or throw up and to see Simon, a man once so full of charm and energy reacting the way he was? It made Blaze even more certain that they all needed HELP

And if any further proof was needed....she and everyone else heard Nicolas all but SCARE the MA to DEATH.

Finally, a medic started to determine his vitals when he finally spoke.

DO NOT TOUCH ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

The medic recoiled from him and the group would notice that he sounded...seemed different. The members of the Six would definitely recognize it. He was trying to pull it together, but he was slipping...slipping.

"Nic!!! Don't! "

"She's only trying to HELP! She had nothing to do with what's happened to us."

Blaze and Nicolas had a strong rapport and without Morgan, Karen or especially Dominique here to CHECK him when he was showing WARNING SIGNS like THIS? She had to stand in the gap for his sake AND everyone else's.

and so she pressed the issue with Haleigh.

"Haleigh,"

she slowly slipped off her bed, gratefully taking another large tumbler of water from the MA

"I disagree with you. We HAVE to take time. I'm not talking about DAYS or even A day. But We CAN"T just keep going like this. You yourself said we need to rehydrate and nourish."

"We need to STABLIZE our bodies AND our minds."

"Cass and Cameron are captured. Alison was reported captured, but before Cameron could confirm if she was even still alive, he was taken. We dont know where she is. We dont even know where DELILAH is. Sally is in the hospital; Dominique, someone who could ....and WOULD help us right now...is in the custody of that viking woman."

"My suggestion for Shadow Weaver ISN'T so we can..."talk about our feelings." It's so that she can help HEAL us. There are wounds here that CAN'T be fixed by modern medicine and science."

Gesturing toward the pile of rubble that WAS expensive medical equipment.

"Zach's power...the things that happened to him...to ALL of them...it must have been like an OVERDOSE on TOXIC negative emotions! He may be your soldier, but he's also a human being...we ALL are, despite what those PUTRID PURIFIERS say. And despite our POWERS, we have hearts...minds...SOULS that can be hurt and broken too. "

"And LOOK at Nicolas! Listen to the tone of his voice! That's not HIM...that's something...someONE WE don't want to see. If need be, Shadow Weaver can SCRAMBLE his power until she's able to calm HIM down."

" She can use her magicks to repair mental damage as well as physical, like when she corrected the problem of Silver Swan's fragmented psyche."

"We NEED her help, Haleigh. The purifiers have THEIR advantages, let's starting using OURS."

"The purifiers are probably "praising the lord" through the roof top right now because they've...they've SUCCEEDED in what they wanted tonight."

"We're not going to be of any use to ANYONE like THIS and if we don't take a few minutes...an HOUR at least to RECOVER? We're going to FAIL our loved ones, those babies, and all the other unsuspecting people who will become TARGETS of those religious nut jobs. "

 

[Black Widow]

She was trying. She was trying her damnedest to be everything they needed. It was not an easy task. Everyone was reeling from what had happened to the kids. Even the ones who hasn't been there were more horrified to find out. Haleigh kept her silence. Was she the only one who could accept that the kids had DIED so that THEY could continue to FIGHT?

Maybe it was just because she had made the call BEFORE it had happened, maybe it was just because she had already accepted that they could not be saved. It had been HER decision. She could have tried to derail the OTHER missile. She could have let their SUV be fired upon instead.... but then more of their people would have died. Cameron, Blaze, Nicolas, Alycia, Vivica, or HERSELF even.....any of them could have died. The hard truth was that a single one of them was more effective than any of those children. She was all for saving the kids when it could be done without loss. But she knew in her heart that she would let this whole city burn for any ONE of them. She loved them THAT MUCH. A bus full of kids she didn't know? A shame, sure..... but collateral damage was inevitable.

She started manifesting weaponry and laying it out on an empty med bed.

Nicolas: DO NOT TOUCH ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

Haleigh stopped abruptly, looking intently at Nicolas, who had been so quiet this whole time that Haleigh had just assumed he was fine. Blaze started to insist on bringing in Karen. Haleigh listened, impressed by how much Blaze had GROWN. It was proof positive that Haleigh had made the RIGHT choice, had saved the RIGHT target from the missile attack. If they had lost any member or ally of the Six, they would have suffered much more than broken hearts. They would have suffered a blow to unit integrity, an unacceptable loss. But CLEARLY their minds were overwhelmed, clouded by the trauma.

"Alright.... call her in."

She brushed by Blaze and gestured reassuringly to the medic, then laid her hand on either side of Nic's face, guiding his gaze to hers.

"What about ME, Nic? Can I touch you? Can I look at you? You can't act like THIS, you're scaring people. You're reminding them of Set! Talk to me....."

 

[Artemis]

:: There was GREAT physical pain as her attempted attack on the Nimrod was thwarted. She looked into Cameron's eyes one last, BRIEF time, hearing his cry of protest before....DARKNESS::

:: Everything else that was said or happened, INCLUDING Vivica's abrupt DEPARTURE, she missed, as she down for the count. Rampage carried her as he and Black Widow managed to find their way back to her office.::

:: Ana-Leigh, despite being faced with more than she EVER imagined would come her way working for Charope, Inc. did a MARVELOUS job of facilitating and assisting as needed.::


:: Nicolas placed Alycia on a med bed and then, the gut wrenching, emotional fall out began.::

:: It wasn't until Zach LAMBASTED Ava and Simon angrily rebutted him that Alycia began to stir.::

:: It was like being pulled out of a cucoon. At FIRST it seemed RIGHT to be there. Almost as if she were BACK on Themyscira even. But something was pulling her back.::

:: Disjointed echoes of Cameron's voice at first. Then the thunderous roar of Zach and the equally loud shouting of Simon, followed by HALEIGH's voice::

:: Alycia's hazel eyes OPEN WIDE and blink a few times. The vital scans begin to beep and sound off, alerting the MA to come and see about her.::

Cameron...

:: She said with a pained whisper as she flinched a bit at the MA's touch. She soon recognized that she was in HER office complex, in the infirmary. They were ALL here, even SIMON AND VIVICA!?. It was was a relief that everyone was at least still alive and accounted for, but THEN, the REALIZATION set in. Cameron was lost, along with Cass.. She slowly sat up and saw the others, nearly everyone was either injured or something WORSE. There was an even greater, heavier loss that was now sucking the very LIFE out of the infirmary.:

Athena...give me clarity...

:: She groaned a bit more as she struggled to sit up, finally overcoming that initial "hangover" like state she was in, but still not in great shape::

MA: Please take it easy, Miss Barnett. You had quite a nasty fall and hit your head. Thankfully though, scans show no sign of internal bleeding or bruising.


Thank the goddess


::Haleigh was acting much like she did the night MASTER MOLD struck and in the immediate aftermath. No matter how those two may have struggled personally, there was no denying Haleigh's strength as a leader and holding the group together as best she could.::

::But why was this happening? As she regained her bearings, she listened to Haleigh, Zach, Simon & Blaze...and it all became frightfully clear.She'd awaken JUST in time to hear NICOLAS roar at one of the staff. Blaze checked him, while ZACH DESTROYED some medical equipment. She saw and heard everything. The purifiers attack on the bus, the children. The children....ROSE...her FRIEND!::

Cass. Cameron. ROSE....THE CHILDREN.

:: She REMEMBERS! SHE was the one who called Sharon about ROSE. She TOLD her what was happening.She PROMISED Rose that she and Sharon would HELP her get the children out of town!::

:: How many years had she taken care to make sure that Rose was safe and protected, and in less than 48 hours, despite setting things in motion, it call came crashing down.::

::The look of utter dismay on her face fades into a BLANK expression.::

I'm in the wrong place...

:: She suddenly slides off the med bed, fully standing on her own and walking away from it, from THEM...witha blank stare in her eyes::

:: It's bizarre to see this, and she COMPLETELY ignores anyone calling after her. Blaze STOPS Haleigh from trying to stop Alycia.::

:: She makes her way up the stairs and to the elevator. Pressing a button. She's operating on instinct now. ::

:: She finally makes it to the top floor where her office suite is. She walks in and closes the door, moving across the interior in the dark. Finally she makes it to her desk::

:: She looks down at her desk. There's a picture of her, Sharon, ROSE and SEVERAL of the children, all of the children in that picture are now DEAD.::


Cameron.

:: Shutting her eyes::

Rose....

:: she drops to her knees::

The children...

::After a few moments, She gets up, goes to her desk and sits down, slumping over and letting her head hit the desk, just sitting there. Not moving::

:: What was it that Nicolas had told her at Minerva's Aerie, or even at the Parthenon just months ago? How opening up Charope, Inc would allow her to do GOOD things, using her skills as an attorney and her powers as an amazon to maximize her reach. He HIGHLIGHTED the need she could fullfill- of HELPING children being targeted by mystech-like entities or mutant children who faced dire circumstances.::

::What made her think she should BELIEVE him!? what made her think she could do this? NOW a woman who had trusted and depended on Alycia [and Sharon] for YEARs as she did the work that few in this city would [caring for orphaned mutant children, BABIES even] would be BURYING nearly ALL of her wards. was THIS the kind of HELP Charope, Inc would offer? She joined forces with Zachary Armani, a man whom she enjoyed a healthy, multually beneficial professional relationship and partnership for years and NOW here he was...a man nearly BROKEN by what he'd seen...SURVIVED and it was all because of a plan both he AND Alycia had crafted with Sharon and Rose but SHE was not there to help them! EITHER WAY someone who needed her was going to be HURT. NOW Cameron was gone and 40 children were DEAD. She'd helped NEITHER.::

::She couldn't save Cameron. She dropped the ball with Rose's children...She might as well leave. RIGHT NOW. But all she could do, was just...sit there, slumped over, barely aware
of anything except her FAILURE.::

 

[Rampage]

She brushed by Blaze and gestured reassuringly to the medic, then laid her hand on either side of Nic's face, guiding his gaze to hers.

"What about ME, Nic? Can I touch you? Can I look at you? You can't act like THIS, you're scaring people. You're reminding them of Set! Talk to me....."

Nicolas flinched, his instinct at first to strike out. But Haleigh persisted, and he placed a hand gently on on of hers. Psionic energy seeped from his eyes, hissing as it burned away a single solitary tear.

I...trying to pull...it...I NEED YOUR HE-...

At once Nicolas lifts Haleigh off the ground by her shoulders. She is unharmed but also held fast. He is shaking like a leaf but is focused on her face. He is still consumed with the battle going on in his head...

 

[Silver Swan]

:: The second that Sharon stopped speaking, Vivica looked up and watch the woman who was very obviously in pain. Taking a moment, Vivica visually analyzed her symptoms, before searching through the drawers, quickly finding a can with an inhaler attachment. She looked at Simon who just seemed...so lost. She spoke to him. ::

"Simon...she's okay. You're okay...as okay as you can be. Right now, I just need you to sit..the others will be here soon."

She walked over to Sharon and fixed the inhaler attachment over her nose and unscrewed the compressor on the can. ::

"You've inhaled quite a bit of smoke...this is pure oxygen. Just breathe deeply..."

:: Looking up and down at Silver Swan, stopping at her head. ::

"And you took a hell of a hit to the head..It's bruised..which from what I've heard about you is a rare occurence. Grab a stool and take a seat...try and stay focus and let me know if you get dizzy."

Thank you.

[ No arguments or resistance. Sharon may not have given much thought to what limits, if any, she might have when it came to her physical durability and invulnerability, but right now she was all to aware of something she hadn't felt very often since she became a mutate, FATIGUE. Both in mind AND body.]

[ the oxygen did wonders for her as her lungs seemed to immediately respond to the burst of pure fresh air.]

[ she seated herself, as Vivica recommended and remained silent. What could she say at this point? ]

[ OTHERS, however, had plenty to say.]

[ Zachary being first among them. He TORE into Ava and it made Sharon sit up QUITE straight to watch the force of his emotions erupt at the goddess]

No...

[ he continued]

WAIT...

[ SIMON shot back, well meaning, but not close to achieving what was needed. BOTH of their heart beats and other internal rhythms were playing a "song"...of RAGE. One that she HERSELF knew quite well, but oddly, in this bleak aftermath, she was not in that state of mind. Still, she could NOT let this be placed on Ava's doorstep. BEFORE Ava flees the room, Sharon removes the mask, watching as Haleigh seeks to reign in Zach's emotions and he subsequently DESTROYS some medical equipment.]

Zachary, It's the fault of those MUTANT HATERS.

For as long as i've known you, you've been a kind, decent, FAIR man. WE in this room KNOW the dangers and the TRAGEDY that come with being who we are. But those CHILDREN were judged by an EVIL that plays at being a "just ministry". Ava does not deserve your rage, THEY do. Ava was there with US. She does not deserve your condemnation. THEY do.

[ She declared]

Ava CAME to me while I was standing watch as you and Rose were attempting to load the children. It was SHE who provided me with the WARNING that Harbinger had given her.

If she hadn't come when she did...we would have been even WORSE off. We would have lost ALL of those children. If YOU hadn't been coming off that bus, heeding my call, we may well have lost YOU as well. I wouldn't have called out to you and Rose had it not been for Ava.


In the seconds immediately following the first attack and explosion, Ava was the first one on her feet, she started the effort to extinguish the flames while I flew into the bus to free and remove any surviving children.She cleared a path for me to pass the children to you and for Rose to get them away from the bus.

What happened to me...was an ACCIDENT. A terrible accident.

It may be little comfort, but it MUST be made clear, Ava DID her best. She came to me and was prepared to do WHATEVER she could to help us. Her and her companion, Simon

Those children's deaths are not on HER head, OR YOURS, Zachary. OR YOURS.[ she looks at Simon, whom she knew was deeply disturbed and traumatized as well by what he'd witnessed and been through as he too assisted as best he could]

Their innocent blood is on the hands of those MONSTERS, they've crossed a line that there's no returning back over.

Now...it's OUR TURN.

[ She places her hands to her temples and shuts her eyes tightly...]


ugghhh....


[ She was plenty powerful, but even she needed more medical attention and it was showing now as she struggled, Yet another indication that Blaze's suggestion for Shadow Weaver was right. Nicolas was having a very bad time as well. EVERYONE was in a state of shock or hurt. Alycia had also fled the infirmary along with Ava. ]

[ As she faltered once more, Haleigh's own "appeal" to Zachary seemed to have a certain immediate effect, at least in terms of his duties as a soldier but what about his heart and his soul?]

[ She knew him well, maybe not in the same way as Haleigh, but there was still a depth of emotion to their friendship and their status as one-time lovers.]

[ He was badly hurt not just in body, but in SPIRIT. So was AVa and it was important to Sharon that they....EVERYONE in the room know the TRUTH. Maybe it wouldnt register for them NOW, but NEITHER could be allowed to say or believe that this was THEIR fault. They were both SURVIVORS of the same EVIL ATTACK and they'd done what they could to try to save lives. That's all anyone could ask or expect.]

[ Haleigh and Sharon had been at odds before, but if there was one thing they both understood , it was that sometimes no matter what efforts you make, BAD THINGS will happen.]

[This was one of those times.]

[ Blaze was right, they couldn't just keep going. Not after this. They not only lost these children, but also FRIENDS had been captured, nearly murdered or were MISSING. They couldn't just keep going...no matter how powerful or invulnerable some of them may have been. They had to stop for now and regroup and thankfully, as Blaze persisted, Haleigh agreed.]

[ Sharon steadied herself as she placed a hand on the nearby medical bed and looked over to NICOLAS, who was CLEARLY struggling in a bad way, Just as Blaze had pointed out a few moments ago. Of all of them in that room, Sharon was the only one physically STRONG enough to directly RESTRAIN Nicolas, she ALSO had her sonic powers, which were a direct weak point for psionics. If she didn't intervene right now, he could unintentially hurt Haleigh, durable as SHE was, OR worse , the medical staff OR another teammate]

[ She looks at Blaze for a moment and then back to Haleigh and Nicolas. She walks right over to them and PRIES Haleigh loose Nicolas' grip as she FORCES his arms to let go of the Hybrid]

Blaze!

[Blaze quickly helps Haleigh away from Nicolas]

NICOLAS! That's ENOUGH!

[ She SHOUTS with just a FRACTION of her sonic power, using it to BREAK his focus on the negative psychic build up that he's currently locked in and JAR him back to reality]

You're SCARING the medical staff and you could HURT one of your teammates or damage this place! You are NO DIFFERENT than the rest of us in this moment and you are a part of a GROUP.

We do NOT need to be faced with DANGER from within! we have ENOUGH of that to confront OUTSIDE.

[ She stands directly infront of him and keeps her silver eyes locked on his eyes]

 

[Persephone]

Zach: ..and YOU..... just what the hell were you thinking?! Your RECKLESSNESS almost KILLED Sharon! We were gonna SAVE those survivors!

There it was. Zach unleashing the truth and tearing into her like a knife into flesh. Logically Ava knew that Zach was reeling from the attack on the children, but also being flooded by hers, Simon's, and Sharon's emotions as well. But it didn't make his words sting any less. Ava already blamed herself, but to hear one of her oldest friends outright say it to her face hurt. Like being punched in the gut by a wrecking ball.

Simon quickly jumped to her defense, causing Zach to lash out against him. Shutting her eyes, the room felt like it was closing in on her. She couldn't listen to this anymore. She needed air...SPACE. Climbing off the medical bed, Ava walked out of the room without saying a word. She could hear Sharon defending her as she made her way down the hall, but her kind words of support didn't matter. Ava knew the truth--the REAL truth. She was unequivocally to blame for all of this because she hadn't been herself--physically and emotionally--since the moment she returned to the six.

Ava had made her way up to the roof of Charope Inc, feeling the bitter wind bite her skin the second she opened the door. Folding her arms across her chest, goosebumps raised on her skin as she walked closer to the edge of the building. She had the ability to warm the air, but the frosty cold winter temperature actually gave Ava some relief. If only a little. Taking a seat on the edge of the building, her amethyst eyes fell upon the wreckage that was being cleaned up by Clandestine a few blocks away. Ava just stared, watching as they began to load what was left of the bus onto a tow truck. They were quick, that was for sure....but that's what Haleigh paid them to do: make everything disappear. The street in front of the orphanage was nearly back to normal...but Ava continued to to just stare...lost in her thoughts.

 

[Orion]

As soon as Ava left the room, he felt like an asshole. But Simon had interjected and it was such a relief to vent the frustration that Zach blasted Simon as well. Then Haleigh stepped in, and she was as cold as ice.

Haleigh could be sometimes be more machine than woman. Zach was always trying to help her find a balance between feeling and function, but right NOW.... even HE didn't have a handle on it, and he was mad as hell that she was pulling rank. He wanted to scream at HER, too..... wanted to rage at her inability to feel anything for a group of innocent children who died afraid and alone.

But he knew ALL TOO WELL that he could drag her down with him, and they could scream until their voices gave out, and it wouldn't do any good. He knew the damage rage could do. He distilled his feelings into a projectile and unleashed it upon some unsuspecting equipment. The company could foot the bill for the damage done. Haleigh didn't find it as amusing or cathartic as he did, though, and threatened to decommission him. He shrugged her off, for once, not wanting her touch. He pulled his suit back on, matching her chilly tone, glaring as he responded.

"Wilco, DIRECTOR. I was just blowing off steam, per your instruction."

He started to leave, at first putting only light pressure on his ankle, but then, finding the medic had done her job, he stalked towards the door. Sharon's voice stopped him at the threshold.

Sharon: Zachary, It's the fault of those MUTANT HATERS. For as long as i've known you, you've been a kind, decent, FAIR man. WE in this room KNOW the dangers and the TRAGEDY that come with being who we are. But those CHILDREN were judged by an EVIL that plays at being a "just ministry". Ava does not deserve your rage, THEY do. Ava was there with US. She does not deserve your condemnation. THEY do.

His back still to the group, he looked down at his boots as she continued, filling him in on parts of the event he'd not seen. With every sentence he felt more embarrassed at his own reaction. She finished, and he sighed deeply before wordlessly continuing to find Ava. He really DID owe her an apology. He found the door to the stairwell open and forced himself to hustle up the flights, taking his fury out in exercise. By the time he reached the roof, his ankle was throbbing in rhythm with his heart and sweat was pouring down the sides of his face. When he stepped out into the cold air, steam rose off his skin. He spotted Ava sitting, looking over the edge.

"Wow, was I a jerk back there or WHAT?"

 

[Isis]

:: Delilah Trelevan had been an unlikely advocate for Dominique. Regardless of their alignments, some things were beyond good and evil. Dominique Deveraux occupied a curious position in everything that was happening. Even if Detective Steele couldn't take that into account, Delilah Trelevan did. She also reaffirmed what Cameron, Haleigh and others had said earlier when Detective Oldenburg arrived to take her in for questioning. The Black Queen would not be made to do anything she didn't want to do. ::

:: For all her indignation toward Oldenburg, there was also a feeling of...SADNESS!? There WAS a brief moment where she WOULD have considered opening up to Detective Steele. Her mind was churning once more. She was in a state similar to the one she had been in a few weeks ago after her first encounter with the Purifiers and the murdered children. Nicolas and Zach worked to help her recover from it but Ashley's attack on Dominique had the unintended consequence of UNDOING that repair and NOW the sorceress was reeling from the TREMENDOUS "feedback" of the screaming souls of those lost children. 41 in ONE NIGHT...::

:: Had she BEEN THERE, she could have used her powers to HELP save more of those children, or perhaps capture the purifier who had fired the missile! Instead she was made to play a stupid game with an entity [the PD] that she hardly recognized, much less respected. What good could they possibly do? She would NEVER forgive Ashley OR Steele for their meddling interference, which is all she felt they had done. Interfere and WASTE TIME. ::

::And now, it gave her GREAT PLEASURE to watch as the Hellfire Legal team brought the hammer DOWN on the PD. The Chief of the Department was practically about to have a seizure, falling all over herself as she tried to mitigate the DAMAGE and stave off a devastating lawsuit. Ashley would be formally disciplined, her record now blemished and John? well, a personal word from Dominique to the legal team made sure that HE was spared any formal punishment, but she MEANT what she said. There was a way to gain favor from a QUEEN and the way he & Ashley went about it was NOT it.::

:: Satisfied that when the legal team was done, the NYPD would think TWICE before trying to come anywhere near her again, Dominique finally let down her haughty exterior as she massaged her temples and quietly complained of a headache. She decided to leave the station now. The legal team had their secure transport and would be fine without her.::

:: Outside, there was a sleek, black limo with tinted windows waiting for the Black Queen, but to the surprise of the security team, she advised them she would find her own way back to the mansion. She reassured her security team that she would be fine and as they reluctantly left, Dominique stood outside of the precinct for a moment and looked up. The air was was filled with negativity and Isis' sensitivity to the cries of the weak and the victims of these TERRORISTS was agitating her, ADD to that, the CHAOS she sensed from her NEPHEW. She placed her gloved hand to her temple ::

GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF, NICOLAS! You can't help me or ANYONE ELSE if you lose control & if you wish to continue to honor me AND your mother's sacrifice, you will CONTROL YOURSELF!

:: She "spoke" STERNLY him. ADDING to the effort that Silver Swan was making in front of him::

:: Would that her OWN growing turmoil be so easily addressed.::

:: with the night breeze flowing around her, she begins to make her way from the station, unaware that Delilah was also outside the station on the other side as she passed by::

 

[Seer]

<< The sorceress walked. Some people noticed her and stared a bit, either because she stood out due to her regal, glamorous presentation, OR because they recognized her as the songstress and star of the Parthenon. Recognition didn't matter to her right now. Nor did anything going on around her.>>

<< Despite her power and presentation, she seemed a bit distressed, LOST even.>>

<< She walked. Where she was going was anyone's guess, but Delilah had a strong hunch and so, she discreetly followed.>>




<<FLASH!>>

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

<< Central park was about a 10 minute walk from the 19th precinct.>>

<< The Purifiers had been QUITE busy this evening. Operations Angel of Death and White Devil had been a SUCCESS for them and their "evangelist" patrol , which was responsible for scouting for "rogue mutants" was feeling quite ambitious this evening, hoping to "put the fear of god" into more mutants before the night was over.>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< A young woman clutching a baby wrapped up in a blanket in her arms. We see her from a side view and then a full frontal view. We see her tear streaked face. We hear her heavy breathing and the cries of the baby.>>

<< Her forehead is bleeding.>>

<< The Purifiers, using their gene scanners in a sweep search during their patrol, detected that the woman's boyfriend and father of her baby was X-gene positive and that the BABY was as well. A leisurely stroll through the central park zoo became a NIGHTMARE as the Purifiers immediately confronted the couple and brutally beat the boyfriend to death as he tried to protect his lady and their child. The young lady, a normal base-line human, was condemned to the same fate because according to the purifiers, she was now a "species traitor" for having lay down with a mutant and produced a 'spawn of satan'.>>

<< while two of the goons murdered the young man, the other purifier, a woman, actually tried to "evangelize" the woman, telling her she could still be forgiven if she accepted her punishment and gave the baby to the lord. The woman responded by SLAMMING a garbage can in the purifier's face and managing to fight the woman off, keeping her from taking the baby. She takes the baby from the stroller and begins to RUN. .>>

<< She was young, agile and fast, but the purifiers out numbered her and could track her movements due to the baby registering on their scanners. She couldn't escape.>>

<< finally, she with pain and fatigue taking their toll, the woman slows just a little and BAM, she is knocked down by a blindside. She manages to turn her body so that her back hits the ground instead of the baby but she is now stunned and winded, barely able to cry out in protest as the robed purifiers stand over her and one of them KICKS the baby from her arms!>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< A quick view of Isis frowning, shutting her eyes tightly, then her opal blue eyes open wide and flash with ANGER>>

<< The young woman's life is ended when she is shot multiple times in the head and chest by all three purifiers.>>

Purifier 1: The mutant devils must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against god. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.

<< One of the purifiers raises a large STONE, preparing to SMASH IT DOWN on the baby!>>

 

[Isis]

:: the moment the purifiers murdered the young girl, winds began to whistle and howl, like those in a sand storm. The leafy canopies in the central park added their accompanimenet to the unsettling winds.::

:: Two of the purifiers looked up and around as the 3rd prepared to murder the baby.::

Purifier 2: That wind...

Purifier 3: The scanner is going off the charts, identifying the source as...

:: A mystic force blast SHATTERS the stone in the hands of the purifier::

Purifier 3: the self proclaimed goddess, ISIS.

Purifier 2: We recognize no other gods but the one true king of kings and lord of lords!

:: they draw their high powered weaponry and the third one raises his boot, about to STOMP DOWN on the baby::

ENOUGH!

:: the sound of magick energy igniting is heard as a broad beamed mystic force blast SLAMS into the purifier INTENT on killing the baby. He is THEN struck from ABOVE by MORE jagged bolts of mystic energy as he screams with pain, staggering away. His body is glowing...FLICKERING and at one point, h is skeleton can be seen inside his body in a flash before he is struck ONE FINAL TIME and reduced to a pile of ASH and a scorch mark on the ground::

NO MORE!

:: Isis steps forward into view. Her face enshrouded in shadow and her aqua blue eyes glowing::

Purifier 2: A woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

Do you REALLY think you'll prevail against ME? you serve no god I recognize. For CENTURIES people like YOU have used your religion , which itself was constructed from pieces of OTHER faiths of peoples DESTROYED by you, to hound and HURT those who are different from you.

There are many "reasons" why you have succeeded, but you WON'T TONIGHT!

WHO will watch YOU as YOU receive YOUR JUDGEMENT!

:: They take evasive measures and lay down rapid volley of fire. But ISIS transforms into her explosive sand storm form and evades the enery project with ease, causing PAINFUL lose of vision around them as she attacks them from all sides. She finally coalesces in front of one who is doubled over, covering his face in pain, forcing him to stand up right and placing her hands on either side of his head as she SEARS a RUNE into his head that makes it swell, BURN and finally EXPLODE::

:: But in that moment, she is STRUCK from behind by a blast to her BACK and stumbles forward, falling down to her knees. glowing black/purple vapor can be seen flowing around her.::

SHARDS! the Black Lotus Blossom!

:: She begins to clutch her chest, COUGHING as she struggles to stand::

It affects...ALL magick users, regardless of their origin!

Purifier 3: We're PREPARED for your kind now, WITCH. We already brought down another one like you at our holy place. You'll be the next! It's time you gene-jokes learned that god's green earth is NO PLACE for filthy, unclean GARBAGE like YOU!

Wasn't....WASN'T expecting them to be PREPARED....

:: She coughs more, now feeling light headed and ready to pass out! The Purifier KICKS her in the back and knocks her all the way down on the ground::

Purifier 3: People like YOU especially make me sick. So It gives me GREAT pleasure to be able to rid the earth of an abomination like you. Say hello to the little girl, in HELL.

 

[Black Widow]

There was no denying Haleigh had a way of getting through to the 'son of Set'. She thought she could talk him down, she thought she could make a connection with him that would anchor him back in THIS realm.

Nicolas: I...trying to pull...it...I NEED YOUR HE-...

"Hey, it's okay, we're ALL ohhh--"

But as he seized her by the shoulders and lifted her off the floor, she reacted with the slightest amount of alarm, grabbing fistfulls of his shirt to stabilize herself.

"NIC?!"

She'd comforted him before in this state, but it wasn't a strategy that she could reuse. It wasn't like she could mount him on a med bed or give him a quick blowie to redirect his focus.

And she knew that she could put up a good fight, but in the end they'd hurt each other and do more damage than anything else. Thankfully, Sharon intervened. She pried Haleigh from his grasp, and Blaze pulled her back, and Haleigh ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm not hurt. It's fine. Maybe someone should check on Alycia? I'm gonna try to reach Delilah. We haven't heard from her yet, but we'll definitely need her here."

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas was not trying to hurt Haleigh. He wasn't trying to hurt ANYONE. But if he held her close, that would be even worse than what was happening now. He NEEDED her, but he could not HAVE her. Simple as that.

So he held her, but at arm's length, not noticing that he was doing it too strongly until Sharon intervened, using her sonics to jar him as Aunt D scolded him through their rapport. at least SHE was OK, and they were both right, even if it was difficult. He stopped breathing...it forced his body to fuel him in other ways and provided a distraction that helped him come to his senses.

Haleigh ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm not hurt. It's fine. Maybe someone should check on Alycia? I'm gonna try to reach Delilah. We haven't heard from her yet, but we'll definitely need her here."

Nicolas stepped past Sharon and tried to explain. In times past he would have just used their mind-link and Haleigh could have understood. But now? He reached out and touched her face, gentle now as ever.

I did not mean...I just needed to...

His eyes managed to convey his meaning, and he just nodded to Haleigh before seating himself off to one side, eyes closed. He was a very lonely young man who needed support, and the person best suited to offer that support is also the worst possible choice to do so. And so he starts to meditate, feeling very much alone right now.

 

[Longshot]

Zach: "NOBODY asked for a sidekick's opinion, so keep it to yourself lover boy!"

< Simon welled up with rage as a green halo of energy appeared in his right hand. >

"Spoken like a true ASSHOLE."

< He knew that Zach was an empath and as such had probably taken a lot of that on. But then again, all of this was NEW to Simon. The last time he was with these people it was a celebration of life. NOW..he was with them in the most opposite of situations possible, and to see how they were reacting was shocking to say the least. Thankfully Haleigh interjected as Ava left the area. >

"Ava."

Haleigh: "That's quite ENOUGH. We have to work TOGETHER, or the purifiers WILL succeed. Whatever happened today, whatever mistakes were made, we can't go backwards. We can ONLY go forward. I'm not going to belittle what you all went through, I know that was some tough SHIIT. But every second that passes means more torture for CJ, and now Cameron too. If we want them to live we need to lock it down and focus on the task at hand. (She approached Zach) Ava apparently made a mistake, but Sharon is FINE. This little tantrum of yours is not helping. I sent Ava to YOU for help! Now man up and hobble out there and APOLOGIZE, because she needs your support, not your judgement."

< She may have been the voice of reason but then again, she HADN'T been there and seen what the others had seen. She hadn't watched the faces of small children MELT into the leather bus benches behind them. Haleigh may have been able to separate herself, but it was clear that the others could not. >

Blaze: "Haleigh, we can't go on...not until we address this. Here and now. There's TOO MUCH to just...keep going! We wont survive like this...not after what's happened over the past 48 hours!"

< Simon was still heated as Blaze suggested that Karen Victoria join the group to assist them in her time of need. Simon was opposed to this. He had a light interaction with Karen at The Parthenon and she was a drunk who was LESS than friendly...and he wanted her hands nowhere NEAR his body. >

Haleigh: "We don't have time to lick our wounds or talk about our feelings. The purifiers aren't going to take a break, their plan is working, they're going full steam ahead. (Turning back to Zach) Save your outrage for the purifiers, pull yourselves together, or those kids will have died for NOTHING. I must not have made myself clear, Orion. Check your attitude and go after my sister. Calm her down and bring her back. We need her-- and YOU to be ready for the next phase. Do it now, that IS an order."

< This was something that Simon could agree with...IF he decided to continue on with these people. He wasn't sure that killing even MORE people would make him feel better about the death of those children. He wasn't sure that MORE death was the answer, but at least Haleigh had a plan that was proactive. Blaze seemed to want to hold hands and deal with the emotional aspect. >

< Zach freaked out and decided to start smashing things to which Simon rolled his eyes. >

Haleigh: "You will be decommissioned if you can't perform."

< To which Zach basically said a big F-YOU and took his leave as well. >

"Well don't they seem like a sweet couple..."

< Then NICOLAS started to PANIC. >

"Goddammit...what the hell is going on here?!"

< Blaze proceeded to go on a rant, and while it was moving and inspiring like most of the things that she said, Simon just couldn't allow himself to agree with her scenario. >

"I'm not letting MAGICK try and FIX what's happened to me?! Are you joking?! It doesn't work like that and it shouldn't! You can't just CAST A SPELL and make everything better. You can't just USE your powers to negate what you went through! How is that ANY better than NOT dealing with it at all?"

[thinking for a second]

"And...I'm not having that woman touch me. At ALL."

< But she seemed to appeal to Haleigh. >

Haleigh: "Alright...call her in."

< She proceeded to move towards Nicolas and try and get him under control. >

"Just how more FUCKED could this situation get?!"

< More people started dropping like flies as Alycia took leave to her office. Sharon stepped forward. >

< With HER. He could give her a chance. He could listen to her. She had helped in when he couldn't string together sentences. When he felt like he would die right there in the street from what he had seen. >

Sharon: "Those children's deaths are not on HER head, OR YOURS, Zachary. OR YOURS."

< She looked at him as she said this. It didn't make him feel BETTER..but he was glad that she took the time to say it. He was the new person in this circle. He didn't have the same connections the others did with each other and he was worried that his own personal way he operated wouldn't be respected. He was scared and upset and he wanted to be acknowledged. He wanted to feel useful. >

< Things took a turn for the worse with Nicolas as he was about to SQUEEZE Haleigh to death. Part of him was angry at Nicolas. He may have taken in that kind of distress into his body..but whatever he may have felt in this moment...it was nowhere NEAR what Simon, Ava, Sharon and Zach had experienced. He could RELEASE this energy, it wouldn't have to LIVE with him the way it would the others. It was a visitor whereas to Simon it was now a PART of who he was. >

< Thankfully they were able to get a hold of Nicolas. >

Haleigh: "I'm not hurt. It's fine. Maybe someone should check on Alycia? I'm gonna try to reach Delilah. We haven't heard from her yet, but we'll definitely need her here."

< Simon was uncomfortable. For all the craziness going on in this room..he really needed to be around people. And people that could blow through walls with their mind were good people to be around. >

 

[Rampage]

"I'm not letting MAGICK try and FIX what's happened to me?! Are you joking?! It doesn't work like that and it shouldn't! You can't just CAST A SPELL and make everything better. You can't just USE your powers to negate what you went through! How is that ANY better than NOT dealing with it at all?"

[thinking for a second]

"And...I'm not having that woman touch me. At ALL."

Nicolas stood at this, speaking sharply to Simon.

Do NOT disrespect Ma like that. She does not simply <<flails his hands>> cast a spell and make it better. What she CAN do is utilize her training as a psychotherapist, a DOCTOR, and treat you while using her magic to make sure there is something to treat. Do you REALLY think that the people in this room can afford to go to therapy and take 12 or 16 weeks to get back on kilter? I can bench press an aircraft carrier when going all out. Do you want to see me like I was 5 minutes ago for 6 weeks and hope that I get it together before I flatten the Eastern Seaboard? NO, you DON'T. You want someone who can help and will, and there is not a therapist on the planet more capable of dealing with this issue than Karen Victoria. So YOU can refuse treatment. But if you DO and somehow it comes back to bite us in the ass, I will make certain you regret your decision.

Nicolas grew silent, no longer even looking at Simon. He sounded angry, but to his longtime teammates, they would be relieved to see him back in the fold and more like himself.

 

[Longshot]

Do NOT disrespect Ma like that. She does not simply <<flails his hands>> cast a spell and make it better. What she CAN do is utilize her training as a psychotherapist, a DOCTOR, and treat you while using her magic to make sure there is something to treat. Do you REALLY think that the people in this room can afford to go to therapy and take 12 or 16 weeks to get back on kilter? I can bench press an aircraft carrier when going all out. Do you want to see me like I was 5 minutes ago for 6 weeks and hope that I get it together before I flatten the Easter Seaboard? NO, you DON'T. You want someone who can help and will, and there is not a therapist on the planet more capable of dealing with this issue than Karen Victoria. So YOU can refuse treatment. But if you DO and somehow it comes back to bite us in the ass, I will make certain you regret your decision.

"So what you are saying is she can use all of her magick and experience as a Doctor to help you but make sure there is something that you yourself just said you DON'T have TIME to go and put the work in NEEDED to [air quotes] "treat"? Sounds like one hell of a band-aid and considering the fact that you have consistently enlisted her services and it hasn't seemed to FIX you rather than PLACATE you until the next eruption..."

< He stopped for a moment. He was already so raw emotionally and physically, but what Nicolas was saying just COULDN'T sit right with him. >

"I just watched CHILDREN burn to DEATH by a group who thinks that mutants cannot control themselves and are a DANGER to the world at LARGE...and what you just said to ME is CONFIRMING their fears. That we can't deal and ARE a danger to others unless we have a super powered DOCTOR WITCH come in and sedate us!"

< Simon threw his hands in the air. >

"That doesn't work me. I'm not trying to be DIFFICULT. I'm not trying to be a DICK. I'm just trying to make...SENSE of all of this! So..if this helps YOU all enough to carry forward then so be it...call me old fashioned..but what happened to ME tonight? What I witnessed..is important. It's something that I don't EVER want to be able to see objectively. It's something I don't EVER want to forget or have placated or sedated or taken away so that I can function better...because this FEELING?! It's the ONLY thing that is keeping me BREATHING right now..."

 

[Firebird]

Blaze started to insist on bringing in Karen. Haleigh listened, impressed by how much Blaze had GROWN. It was proof positive that Haleigh had made the RIGHT choice, had saved the RIGHT target from the missile attack. If they had lost any member or ally of the Six, they would have suffered much more than broken hearts. They would have suffered a blow to unit integrity, an unacceptable loss. But CLEARLY their minds were overwhelmed, clouded by the trauma.

"Alright.... call her in."

She brushed by Blaze and gestured reassuringly to the medic, then laid her hand on either side of Nic's face, guiding his gaze to hers.

Blaze closed her eyes and exhaled with relief. She was glad Haleigh saw where she was coming from. But as Haleigh moved to see to Nicolas and Blaze began to hold her hand over the ring that Karen had given her at her party to contact her, Simon LOUDLY objected. It would be easy to think it was because he had a pronounced dislike for the doctor. But Blaze was confident that in time, he would give her the same chance HE was expecting and she felt that be understanding that not everyone could appreciate his own special brand of humur. For BLAZE, he was a real treat! Not so for the more refined doctor. He'd learn soon enough.

"Simon...you don't understand..."

Blaze was about to continue when NICOLAS, who was still struggling, was now wrapped around Haleigh like a boa constrictor! The hybrid was plenty tough, and not easily intimidated, but Nicolas was not handling this well and Blaze knew it. She and Sharon met eyes and the mutate immediately went over to free Haleigh from Nicolas' grip and then jar him out of his altered state.

Blaze hurridly pulled Haleigh away and checked her over.

"Are you okay??"

There would ALWAYS be underlying concerns and urgency where certain things were concerned- Morgan's darkchild self was one, Nicolas being the son of set was another. Some wounds, even after they were healed were still sensitive and even the APPEARANCE of Nicolas regressing was cause for concern and immediate action.

"I'm not hurt. It's fine. Maybe someone should check on Alycia? I'm gonna try to reach Delilah. We haven't heard from her yet, but we'll definitely need her here."

Sharon [ and Isis unseen] brought Nicolas back down and he went to apologize to Haleigh. They did have a unique bond after what they went through during the Set caper. It was suspect to many at first, but now it was understood.

"Viv, do me a favor please. Go check on Alycia?"

Vivica stared at Blaze in disbelief.

"Viv, this isn't the time. We're all in her office, using her facility and she's retreated. We just need to make sure she's okay!"

She once again attempted to contact Karen, using the enchanted ring Karen gave her as a symbol of their new bond as mother and daughter.

Simon continued to protest, only to be scolded by Nicolas, but he continued. He was as passionate as Blaze was and even though he seemed superficial, there was evidence that he was more than the playboy most perceived him to be. It was just unfortunate it took something like THIS to reveal it.

"Simon, if you don't want Karen to assist you, that's fine. But don't go out of your way to criticize US for relying on Karen. We know what she can do, HAS done for us in times of need and it has worked. It's not about a Band-Aid. You wanted to find out more about us and what we do? Well...I hate to say it...but you asked for it and now you've got it. You're not wrong for how you feel...but neither are WE for taking care of our own. "

" just like we don't know you, you don't know her. She's risked her life for us time and again and tonight, you risked yours and despite how you feel, you still remain and if you need help, SHE'D give you that help regardless of how she feels about you personally."

"She's a doctor, a powerful witch and a brave woman. More importantly, Karen is our family, our matriarch If you can't show Karen the same respect you would want from anyone in this room , then I'm going to need you to stand back and let us do what we need to do to be ready to strike BACK at the purifiers."

"They wanted war....we're going to GIVE IT TO THEM but we're going to give OURSELVES a fighting chance to not only stop them, but to AVENGE those they have hurt and killed. "

 

[MorningStar]

Precinct 19 to Central Park

Delilah stood on the sidewalk, a little away from the steps into the precinct. She checked her phone, but no calls had come through while she was inside.

I guess no one felt I needed to know that Dominique had been taken to the police station.

They clearly never learned; but talking to those people was like talking to a brick wall. At least no news had to be good news: Cameron was still safe at the Parthenon.

She glanced up from her phone to see Dominique exiting the building with an entourage. Whether John had taken her advice, she didn’t know. Curiously, Dominique didn’t get into the waiting limo, but instead started to walk off by herself, leaving her security behind.

Delilah was intrigued, so she slipped her phone into her pocket and followed the Black Queen.

She kept her tail loose – Dominique wasn’t stupid – and she waited for her to go around the bend in the path that headed towards the Zoo before she followed. This was a strange time for Dominique to be taking a stroll through the park – especially when her nephew had just seen her leave the Parthenon in a police car.

Delilah broke into a run when she heard gunfire – unlike most people, she could tell the difference between gunshots and a car backfiring. She slowed as she was about to go around a blind bend in the path. She took cover in the trees, and cut around behind the red brick building that housed the zoo gift shop.

The wintery breeze that had been in the night air was now gusting, leaves swirling in the air as the last ones of the season fell from their branches in the wind. But even over the howling wind, she could hear them. One of them was screaming!

She slowly moved around the corner of the building, and could see four figures. Isis, looking powerful and majestic (as little as Delilah would have wanted to admit it to her face) reducing the screaming Purifier to ash, causing another’s head to EXPLODE. Delilah was enjoying watching Isis kicking some Purifier ass, and there was no need for her to butt in. These three fucktards were clearly no match for Dominique.

But then, something was wrong.

Dominique was coughing, stumbling. She falls…

The last Purifier standing KICKED Dominique, and she was unable to even retaliate!

Purifier 3: People like YOU especially make me sick. So It gives me GREAT pleasure to be able to rid the earth of an abomination like you. Say hello to the little girl, in HELL.

In a split second, Delilah was feet from the female Purifier, Isis to her right and facing her.

“You should know better than to kick an old lady when she’s down.”

Delilah almost snarled it, GLARING at the scum in front of her. She raised her hands in front of her and made a “poof” motion with them. The Purifier was hit by a photon blast of such force that she blew apart.

Delilah was breathing heavily. She stared into the spot where the Purifier had been for a few long seconds, the corner of her mouth turned up in satisfaction. Finally, she looked down to see Dominique, still on the ground, coughing and wheezing. Delilah knelt next to her. She had seen this before. MALICE had used the black lotus flower on Alison in the past, but the Purifiers had managed to vaporize it.

Delilah helped Dominique up and way from any residual vapor.

"Isis, are you okay?"

 

[Recall]

"Note to self...don't attempt to feed The Six. They can and WILL bite."

:: Vivica thought to herself as Haleigh's attempt to rally the troops fell on deaf and very upset ears. Vivica felt bad. Haleigh was simply trying to maintain some kind of momentum. A forward trajectory. And she was right. The group of people at the bus outside of the orphanage had suffered an incredible loss tonight, but then again..that was par for the course when it came to The Six. The death of children was no doubt earth shattering...but things like this had happened before. It just wasn't in front of their faces. Vivica allowed herself to get lost in thought as the altercation between Simon and Zach ensued, followed by Ava leaving and Nicolas losing control for a moment. ::

A Few Years Ago...New York City

<< The skies were dark purple as lightning cascaded across the sky with wild abandon. The city looked as if a HURRICANE had barrelled through it as Vivica ran through a crowd of people running for their lives...from DEMONS who were running the streets as if they were rioters after a baseball game. Their yellow eyes and disjointed limbs allowed them to jump high into the air, climb up buildings and dispatch humans with great ease. >>

<< In the distance, and even darker swirling storm was brewing from atop the Empire State Building. This was the night...of The INFERNO. >>

<< She had ran into Cameron and The Six as they were making their way to the city in a desperate attempt to get Morgan Victoria to stop what she had planned. To stop her plan to destroy the WORLD and have it consumed by LIMBO. >>

Woman: [screaming] "My BABY! PLEASE somebody help my BABY!"

<< The hairs on the back of her head stood raised as she watched a DEMON snatch a small child from a woman's arms...and CONSUME it entirely.. the infants warm blood dripping down it's snarling mouth and teeth. Tears welled up in Vivica's eyes. While she hoped The Six would be successful in stopping Morgan, WHO would protect THESE people? Who would stop this SUFFERING? Vivica ran to the inconsolable woman and swooped her into her arms. >>

"It's gonna be okay. Just..we need to get to safety."

<< After watching the demons dispatch people in the city, Vivica was able to mimic the way they moved and leaped and jumped across the landscape, and so..in one hand she carried the woman, her peak human strength making it an easy task as she scaled the area before noticing a manhole cover in an alley that had yet to be ravaged by destruction. Making her way to the area, she easily pried the cover off of the sewer opening and placed the woman on the ladder. >>

"Head down there...and HIDE. I will try and bring others as I can. Please..trust me. I won't have let your child die in VAIN."

<< The woman nodded through her wild crying and began to climb down the ladder. Vivica looked up at the sky as the lightning crashed against the sky, ROARING so loudly she almost couldn't stand it. The Six needed to do what they needed to...but THIS was how Vivica could help. >>

:: Of course, nearly all of the events of The Inferno had been fixed or restored by way of Ororo and Alison and Karen Victoria. Things had been restored, but Vivica was a person that physically COULD NOT forget things no matter how hard she tried. She could RECALL every single instance of her life in perfect detail and clarity. Unfortunately, that meant the good with the bad. As much as she respected the team for what they did and the live that ended up giving Cameron, they were often a great distance away from the mortal lives who had suffered at their hands. For all the personal and horrible trauma they went through with each other and their parents, there were people who had not been accounted for, pain that had not been fixed and lives lost that were not given a second thought. When Blackout and The Six nearly destroyed Central Park. When Sharon Kelly rampaged the city with her birds. Bishop taking justice into his own hands. Vivica's own fate in Greece. Vivica had been around in peripheral for ALL of these events and she had seen the reaction of the people..before things got "fixed"..but because of who she was, while the general public may have been able to forget...she COULDN'T. ::

:: As she snapped back into reality, several things had changed. Alycia was now gone too, Nicolas was in a corner attempting to find some peace of mind and Sharon and Blaze were trying to get Simon to come around to the idea of allowing Karen Victoria to help ease his mind. Blaze looked at Vivica. ::

"Viv, do me a favor please. Go check on Alycia?"

Vivica stared at Blaze in disbelief.

"Viv, this isn't the time. We're all in her office, using her facility and she's retreated. We just need to make sure she's okay!"

:: Vivica couldn't decide what was worse. Sitting here listening to so much talking and so little action happening, falling into a pit of lava or going to check in on Alycia Barnett. Still, for as much as she truly HATED the woman, now was definitely not the time. There was too much hurt and anger already. She didn't need to express her own. Vivica exhaled deeply. ::

"Sure thing, Blaze...sure thing."

:: She made her way out of the infirmary, up the stairs and into the elevator before navigating her way to Alycia Barnett's office. Even her name on the door left a sour taste in Vivica's mouth. She knocked and did not wait for an answer before entering. ::

"Hey..it's Vivica..."

:: She eyed Vivica up and down and the look on her face was a mixture of emotion and anger, but there was one facial expression Vivica knew all too well; the face of a person worried about the safety of Cameron King. For a second, she softened her gaze and slowly made her way towards Alycia's desk. ::

"Are you feeling...better? I can grab you a water or something ibuprofen if your head is still killing you."

:: It was the best Vivica could muster. Through her smile, her skin was crawling and she wanted more than anything to bolt for the door. There were many people that Vivica had been able to put up with in her life, but Alycia Barnett..for whatever reason, justified or not...was NOT one of them. ::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh went back to her weaponry, checking the action and magazine on each one, then seeing them back down in order, lining everything up JUST so, like closing the compartments of her mind space, using familiarity and control to alleviate stress.

She began to search cell towers for Delilah's phone, a faster method than any other when it came to tracking down her teammates. She sensed Nic approaching and tamed the urge to draw on him, but she gave in to the instinct to push his hand away when he reached for her.

Nic: I did not mean...I just needed to...

She looked him in the eyes, as calm and collected as she could be.

"You just need to take a minute and get your mind right. Once you do, see if you can reach Cameron. You're both telepaths, linking up should be easier than finding Cass. Try to let him know we're all alive..... and we're coming."

Simon was losing his shit too, causing Haleigh to wonder just WHAT he sister saw in this whiney doucebag. She let Blaze talk him down, since she was liable to just trying slapping the metrosexual out of him. She wondered with exasperation at the men in this outfit acting more emotionally out of control than the women, and looked at Sharon, seeing the same expression mirrored in the Silver Swan's face.

And she just...... burst out laughing. She laughed so hard, she braced herself on the med bed, her whole body shaking with it. Every time she looked up at Sharon to EXPLAIN, the look of surprise sent her reeling again, until tears were streaming and her abs ached and she couldn't breathe.

Finally, she regained her composure, and was able make eye contact again.

"After EVERYTHING.... trashing my engagement..... blood brawl at Melrose.... and COUNTLESS personal disagreements..... it's YOU AND I... holding this circus together. Thank you. For Zach, for Ava, for EVERYTHING you've DONE to help our cause..... thank you."

She found Delilah near Central Park and dialed her phone number. While she waited for an answer, she assessed her loadout. Four Ruger SR45 pistols, a Smith and Wesson M&P15, and a Remington 870 tactical. She would need two drop leg holsters, a double shoulder holster, a single-point sling for her rifle and she'd get to field test an upper back holster designed to let her draw her shotgun over-the-shoulder.

She was actually a little excited about that. She had the ability to manufacture her own armor-piercing ammunition as she went, so luckily she didn't need to weigh herself down with excess magazines. She wrapped her right wrist with lipstick-sized rocket propelled grenades and her left with a similarly packaged assortment of flash bangs, smoke bombs, and tear gas capsules.

 

[Steel]

Precinct 19

John felt bad about what had happened with Delilah. He should have told her that Dominique had already been released, but he wanted to find out why this woman – who had connections to the unsavory goings-on that Dominique did – was so important to Delilah. He knew that she had been pregnant in LA and had returned to New York without a child. He also knew that the statements she was making about taking care of the Purifier “scumbags” were so far removed from the beliefs he knew she held that it was like talking to a different person. She had believed in the same justice he had – where the LAW was king and no one was above it.

But now? He sighed. She was ready to throw the rule of law out the window.

He didn’t rush to see the Chief – bureaucracy was not his thing, and he had very little time for playing politics. He hadn’t done anything wrong – he had done his job – and he would not apologize for that.

John stood at attention while the Chief reamed him. He was ordered to cease and desist all investigation of Dominique Devereaux. They also wanted him to suspend Detective Oldenburg.

Ashley was waiting for him when he emerged from his tête-à-tête with the Chief.

Ashley: “So, what now boss?”

“Now, I want you to go home. The NYPD is not to investigate Miss Dominique Devereaux any further.”

Ashley: “You’re joking. Am I suspended?”

“Did I say you were suspended? No. They want me to but I can’t have you off shift that long. Go home.”

Ashley: “This is bullshit. All the work I put in – they can’t take this away from me!”

“Ashley. I told you to go home. To the Clocktower. Where you live.”

He gave her a pointed stare, then went about his business. Hopefully Oracle could find something to help them out.