Casualties of the nightmare

[Seer]

in the alley

<< a shadow casts over Haleigh, as she begins to feel less in control and MORE SICK than ever.>>

Barbas: but even a fish...has it's END, Haleigh. it winds up being consumed by the very environment it thrives in....and in the end, arent you running on borrowed time?

<< Haleigh's body begins to succumb to the T VIRUS...not as Malice had compelled her to "feel" before, but instead as a woman about to die and simply become...another ZOMBIE.>>

Barbas: your fear...becoming a danger to your friends...try to kill them...and probably succeed!

<< her body trembles and soon she feels less empowered as her body begins to die...and her mutatation DEevoles.>>

Barbas: your not special...you're just ANOTHER creature of Mystech's...another bio hazard whose time has come to an end! your family is lost...because of YOU!


<< and Haleigh's fear is realized as she is now nothing more than an undead bio hazard and sees her friends, her family as little more than FOOD. her need to feed is her primary drive...and yet, in the furthest reaches of her unique mind, she KNOWS this is just Barbas' attack....ISNT IT!?>>

<< she can't help but feel herself closing in on those closest to her...at the moment that is Nicolas and Alison!>>

<< But even as the mutant and the witch SCREAM at her to stop...their voices are barely registered, much less understood.>>

<< she is the danger now, not the solution. DOOMED to be killed and tossed away like so many other zombies, who were once human or mutant.>>

 

[Firebird]

Blaze's heart beat would race as her piercing yellow eyes were wide in horror. Barbas' clever attack on her past had only heightened her fear. She seemed startled and disoriented as fear radiated through her eyes. Something nobody had witnessed until today.

"No!"

Her firm grip on Harbinger had been lost as the Seer slipped out of her hands. Both of her flaming hands would touch her temples and shaking her head, almost as if to shake Barbas from her mind. Out of no where two large Sentinels advanced on the fire elemental who gasped. Blaze was losing her will in seconds as fear clutched her heart crippling her into a panic state.

"Well, shit. [sighing] I really wanted to blow something up. I guess…. I'll just have to do it the easy way."

Haleigh's voice had been drowned out in the background as Blaze continued to panic. It was a good thing Black Widow had been there to terminate both Sentinels causing them to self-destruct themselves. With both of the Sentinels destroyed and the boom of their fall, Blaze had been shaken out of her fear.

Looking around to see Harbinger was in the care of Rampage, thankfully he caught her!

Barbas: your not special...you're just ANOTHER creature of Mystech's...another bio hazard whose time has come to an end! your family is lost...because of YOU!

Whipping her head to the side to see Barbas again this time tormenting Black Widow. Firebird owed her one for saving her life! Narrowing her yellow eyes and clenching her fists, Firebird took off in a current of flames towards Barbas.

"Step off, bitch!"

She came hurling towards him with the speed of a rocket with a look of fire in her eyes. Nobody had ever knocked her off her game until him. But instead of crashing into him she took a detour around his skinny form to swivel around him rapidly. A growing hot ringlet of fire wound circle around him to encase him. Her speed was faster than a tornado as each blazing flame was spread through the diameter around as a vortex would begin to form.

Manipulating the air currents around Barbas to turn the temperature up. He may have been a demon but they all required oxygen. She was cutting off that source to raise the temperature of the circling flames around him to form a wind tunnel effect that would suck him inside and burn him alive if he wasn't careful.

This time Firebird wasn't taking her eyes off the prize. She had a score to settle with him! Firebird knew the others could handle Black Widow and a sleeping spell could be utilized if necessary.

 

[Rampage]

<< and Haleigh's fear is realized as she is now nothing more than an undead bio hazard and sees her friends, her family as little more than FOOD. her need to feed is her primary drive...and yet, in the furthest reaches of her unique mind, she KNOWS this is just Barbas' attack....ISNT IT!?>>

<< she can't help but feel herself closing in on those closest to her...at the moment that is Nicolas and Alison!>>

Nicolas looked, head cocked, as Haleigh advanced. He could hear the turmoil in her head, knew how Barbas was attacking her.

HALEIGH!! ARE you with me?!

She was slipping away, become more mechanized as her mind was being lost. Nicolas knew that he had to slow the advance of the machine and reach the woman. Speaking to Alison, he raised his hand and walked over to his friend.

I've got this. You guys get that motherfucker.

To that end, he mentally reached over to the complex that he built with Haleigh from the ground, that he knew every inch like himself and...

...teleported a small EMP on lowest setting onto Haleigh, zapping her and slowing down the machines taking her over. It would not stop her completely, but that is not what he wanted. He "spoke" to her as he took her face in his hand, holding her other wise fast with his TK as he tried to reach her.

Excuse me, Hales, but I needed to speak to the woman, not to the hybrid right now. I have failed you MISERABLY in the past, and I understand your anger, your hurt now more than ever, seeing this. BUT understand, even when I THOUGHT I could, even when we TRIED, we couldn't stay away, couldn't stay apart. I will NOT leave you now, and you will not be afraid of being discarded. You are no one's machine. You are a very special woman who has people who care about you deeply, and WE will fight this...TOGETHER. YOU HEAR me? FIGHT with me.

Nicolas used his connection to Haleigh, his mental knowledge of her to shore her up, to assuage her fears by adding his own confidence and care for her to them. The advantage of this situation is that since they did not share fears, Barbas held less sway once Nicolas reasserted his connection with the hybrid. No one else had eve been so mentally close to Nicolas. Indeed, Morgan nor possibly anyone could ever BE this close mentally to him. In THIS close, she would see how strongly he felt about her, and how determined he was to save her at this moment...

 

[Black Widow]

Barbas: but even a fish...has it's END, Haleigh. it winds up being consumed by the very environment it thrives in....

[sharp, thick sarcasm] "Oh, REALLY?? I would've NEVER guessed."

Barbas: and in the end, aren't you running on borrowed time?

[smirking] "Yeah. So what? I've died BEFORE, Barbas… more times than I can remember. I'm not afraid of death and I'm not afraid of YOU, so how do you like--"

Barbas: you fear…becoming a danger to your friends…try to kill them… and probably succeed!

[rolling her eyes] "Do you actually think this is gonna work on me? I--"

Barbas: you're not special…you're just ANOTHER creature of Mystech's…another bio hazard whose time has come to an end! Your family is lost…because of YOU!

[shaking her head, smugly doubtful] "No. I.."

She paused… and slowly lifted her hand up to look at it… it was shaking uncontrollably. Her skin was crawling… the dizziness… the nausea…. The headaches all returned.

"No… this will pass…"

But the only sensation that passed… was the nausea. It was replaced… with a ravenous hunger. No… this isn't real… she thought, but her body seemed to move on its own towards the nearest target, Nicolas. He was shouting something at her… but she just looked at him blankly… curiously… as a cat might look at the dying rodent at its feet.

And then the mouse bit back. He stunned her with an EMP. The shock was like grabbing a hold of a live power lines but it only lasted a second and then it passed. She wasn't hurt… just disoriented. She blinked, then pulled the EMP off… she couldn't remember why it was there or what she was doing. Nicolas took a hold of her, his hand on her face, and she suddenly couldn't move.

What the FUCK, Nicolas? Let GO of me…. Don't make me hurt you.

Nicolas: Excuse me, Hales, but I needed to speak to the woman, not to the hybrid right now.

Okay…? she thought back, confused.

Nicolas: I have failed you MISERABLY in the past, and I understand your anger, your hurt now more than ever, seeing this.

Is now REALLY the best time to discuss this? I mean…

Nicolas: BUT understand, even when I THOUGHT I could, even when we TRIED, we couldn't stay away, couldn't stay apart.

[getting angry now]YEAH, and now I know what a FOOL I was for it. But the GOOD news is…. That's NOT gonna be a problem for me anymore, so you can just--

Nicolas: I will NOT leave you now, and you will not be afraid of being discarded.

[defensively] Oh, do you PROMISE? I've played this game with you already, Nicolas. Shame on you for fooling me once. But I'm not…

She stopped… it wasn't just his words this time…. Like earlier at the photoshoot, she felt the wave of his emotions pass over her… and it was not something she could ignore.

Nicolas: You are no one's machine. You are a very special woman who has people who care about you deeply, and WE will fight this...TOGETHER. YOU HEAR me? FIGHT with me.

She stared at him blankly…. Confused at his words… it was clear that the EMP had short circuited her immediate memory. She didn't understand why he was being so… touchy feely… and sentimental right now… but in the event that he'd actually LOST HIS EVERLOVING MIND… she decided to humor him.

Yeah, I hear you. Amen... Go team, and all that. Now will you let me go?

 

[Fusion]

They headed out quickly, and Clara was happier to escape the confines of that apartment than she had been to escape her father's mansion in New York. Claudia lagged behind after passing Johnny the keys, and he and Clara continued to walk to the garage in silence.

Normally, silence between them wasn't a problem but Johnny glanced over at Clara and found that she was deep in thought, and whatever it was looked like it disturbed her. He opened the car door for her, then got in the driver seat, glancing at her again as he drove out of the garage and parked in front of the Melrose entrance.

Johnny: "Are you alright? You seem a little distant."

She snapped out of it, looking at him, almost as if startled.

"Fine… I was just… thinking about my mother… our improbable THIRD survival."

Johnny: "It was just a dream, Clare."

[staring out the window] "It was convincing enough. I watched you die, John. Twice now…."

There was a loaded pause between them... Clara took a deep breath, as she saw her sister approaching the car. Blinking back her tears, Clara put on a smile as her sister climbed in, unaware of what she was interrupting. Claudia looked pleased about something, and Clara tried a little optimism. It COULD have happened… but it didn't. No need to dwell on the past.

Claudia: "Let’s Go."

"There's the Roosevelt Hotel a mile or so away from here… we could stay in Marilyn Monroe's infamous suite."

 

[Siren]

Clara: There's the Roosevelt Hotel a mile or so away from here… we could stay in Marilyn Monroe's infamous suite.

[deadpan] "Because that's a great omen."

Claudia shook her head catching the look Clara gave her.

"Sorry. [to Johnny] Onward Jeeves."

Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, Claudia watched as the buildings began to pass quickly as they drove down the street. It was difficult not to think about how they were constantly being attacked and when it would happen next. If the next time they wouldn't be so lucky....Claudia felt an enormouse amount of guilt for dragging Clara into this mess.

Nibbling the bottom of her lip anxiously, the car came to a stop at a red light. Claudia shifted her eyes over to Clara who seemed equally as restless as she did. Deciding to ease the growing tension in the car, Claudia cleared her throat softly.

"So...I flooded Haleigh's apartment."

Random but it got everyone's attention.

"Well, if she's going to stick spiders in our apartment, she's going to end up with a swimming pool in hers."

 

[Seer]

the light

<< Firebird's own savage instinct showed. She was more like Morgan in THIS timeline than the mainstream Blaze and this prooved it.>>

<< Her impressive strike would have destroyed a normal man and even some super powered ones straight away, but Barbas, while clearly under seige, seemed to keep coming. >>

Barbas: Hate is strong, but I am even MORE powerfull! From Hecate to Spellbinder, my reach is as far and as long as any olympian or other "god".

<< Firebird's attack hits with such ferocity...and he is interrupted, seemingly obliterated, but then, a rushing wind past Blaze draws her attention to look elsewhere...>>

<< Haleigh, who now FEELS like little more than a zombie bio hazard is being confronted by Nicolas. But while Haleigh surprisingly is ready to resign herself to her fate...NICOLAS doesnt realize Barbas has saved his best attack for LAST.>>

Barbas to Nicolas: Betrayed Morgan once before...do it again, only this time, make it COMPLETE! you fear that every step you take, even WELL MEANING intent will end in FAILURE. That IS your path isnt it? no matter what you SAY or DO...THIS is who you are, this is what you're MEANT for!

<< Blaze, Alison, Karen, Delilah, Sharon...they don't see Nicolas with Haleigh...they see Nicolas...manifesting the aspect of his true father...assaulting MORGAN and Morgan HERSELF opens her eyes to find that she is being attacked by Nicolas! it's a multi level play by Barbas, >>

Barbas to Blaze: So eager to proove you belong...that you FAIL to remember what matters most. Isn't that what Alison tried telling you before? You lost one sister in one timeline...now you'll lose another! SAVE her...PROOVE you came here to make a DIFFERENCE!

<< each person he whisper's to...playing the final card, fear and division...the underlying mistrust they ALL have of Nicolas, the fear they all have of not being able to save one of their own...it all comes to this moment!>>

<< in flashes of PANIC as they endeavor to save Morgan (and themselves from the MONSTER they see before them) Harbinger manifests her time staff, summoning the chronal typhoon, attacks with ALL her power; Shadow Weaver summons the SOUL EATER with her dark magick, MorningStar unleashes her "STARBURST" her most powerfull attack; Firebird manifests her raptor and calls upon the firepower, the MAGMA of the earth's CORE, unleashing it in one tremendous, white hot explosion and Silver Swan unleashes her Sonic Scream at such a frequency that a human head would explode in moments! and they all attack NICOLAS, while in REALITY they [having been tricked by the subconscious manipulation , the outward hallucination and barbas' play on their fears] fire upon one another!>>

VERNA ECKERT: ORDER OUT OF CHAOS! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER! STAY TOGETHER!

<< a white light , pulsating like a star glows and expands...encompasing them ALL and spiriting them away from the alley, from BARBAS! the terror, the chaos, the loss of control is immediately arrested for all of them and they are returned, to the COURTYARD of Melrose Place! everyone is whole and intact, the feelings and the memories of the confrontation remain, but are slowly wearing away.>>

<< they have been saved...by the same voice, the same presence that intervened the first night they were attacked!>>

 

[Firebird]

MP Courtyard

Watching Barbas closely Firebird expected some sort of retaliation from the Demon of Fear. While Rampage and the others tried to get through to Black Widow, Blaze had been momentarily distracted by a rushing wind. At first, Blaze thought it might be the result from Barbas.

<< Blaze, Alison, Karen, Delilah, Sharon...they don't see Nicolas with Haleigh...they see Nicolas...manifesting the aspect of his true father...assaulting MORGAN and Morgan HERSELF opens her eyes to find that she is being attacked by Nicolas! it's a multi level play by Barbas, >>

Barbas to Blaze: So eager to proove you belong...that you FAIL to remember what matters most. Isn't that what Alison tried telling you before? You lost one sister in one timeline...now you'll lose another! SAVE her...PROOVE you came here to make a DIFFERENCE!

"Get AWAY from her you, monster!"

Blaze could hear Barbas in the back of her mind but it was the illusion of Nicolas harming Morgan that stirred her. The idea of Morgan being hurt AGAIN by Nicolas was rooted to her secret fear that it could happen again. But unlike last time Firebird wasn't willing to accept that.

<< in flashes of PANIC as they endeavor to save Morgan (and themselves from the MONSTER they see before them) Harbinger manifests her time staff, summoning the chronal typhoon, attacks with ALL her power; Shadow Weaver summons the SOUL EATER with her dark magick, MorningStar unleashes her "STARBURST" her most powerfull attack; Firebird manifests her raptor and calls upon the firepower, the MAGMA of the earth's CORE, unleashing it in one tremendous, white hot explosion and Silver Swan unleashes her Sonic Scream at such a frequency that a human head would explode in moments! and they all attack NICOLAS, while in REALITY they [having been tricked by the subconscious manipulation , the outward hallucination and barbas' play on their fears] fire upon one another!>>

Despite Rampage's heroic effort to save Black Widow, Barbas had cleverly tricked each teammate into attacking Nicolas. Each woman manifesting with their most vicious attack on him.

VERNA ECKERT: ORDER OUT OF CHAOS! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER! STAY TOGETHER!

"That voice..."

Firebird had recalled hearing and even seeing the voice back in Limbo. It belonged to Verna Eckert.

<< a white light , pulsating like a star glows and expands...encompasing them ALL and spiriting them away from the alley, from BARBAS! the terror, the chaos, the loss of control is immediately arrested for all of them and they are returned, to the COURTYARD of Melrose Place! everyone is whole and intact, the feelings and the memories of the confrontation remain, but are slowly wearing away.>>

Firebird peered around to see they were back in the Courtyard. The thoughts still lingered as she immediately turned towards Morgan and then Nicolas and then Haleigh. Slowly those memories begin to subside.

"Verna Eckert, she saved us."

Glancing towards Karen now as she spoke of her grandmother who had defended Karen through her childhood from demons and monsters including Barbas.

 

[Rampage]

Yeah, I hear you. Amen... Go team, and all that. Now will you let me go?

Nicolas chuckled inwardly at Haleigh's ignorance of what had gone on. He decided that ignorance may be bliss here as he simply left her with one thought, releasing her.

YOU ARE NO ONE'S MACHINE. You are so much more than that, Haleigh. Never forget it.

Barbas to Nicolas: Betrayed Morgan once before...do it again, only this time, make it COMPLETE! you fear that every step you take, even WELL MEANING intent will end in FAILURE. That IS your path isnt it? no matter what you SAY or DO...THIS is who you are, this is what you're MEANT for!

NO Barbas! My path is my own, I see that now. i will not allow myself to be your pawn in this game. Where are you now, monster?

Then he felt it. From Delilah, Blaze, Sharon. They thought he was hurting Morgan rather than helping Haleigh!

Stepping away from the mutate, he erected his most powerful shield as he covered up with the help of his axe...

Haleigh, AWAY from me! Barbas will have them kill me!

Haleigh would see the strength of Nicolas' desperate attempt to keep her from everyone's most powerful attacks even as Sharon's sonic scream tore at his concentration. He fell to his knees and then looked on as he realized...they were attacking each other!!! Could he turn their attacks? What to do? Nicolas decided to try to slide everyone over as much as he could, his nose bleeding from the strain as Sharon's scream tore through him mentally...

VERNA ECKERT: ORDER OUT OF CHAOS! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER! STAY TOGETHER!

<< a white light , pulsating like a star glows and expands...encompasing them ALL and spiriting them away from the alley, from BARBAS! the terror, the chaos, the loss of control is immediately arrested for all of them and they are returned, to the COURTYARD of Melrose Place! everyone is whole and intact, the feelings and the memories of the confrontation remain, but are slowly wearing away.>>

<< they have been saved...by the same voice, the same presence that intervened the first night they were attacked!>>

Suddenly they were in the courtyard, and Nicolas slowly stood up, looking around. He nodded as he made sure Haleigh was OK, wiping the blood from his strained face with a handkerchief. he looked around at the others, happy that they were OK but terribly pained (a pain that Mike and Haleigh, even Sharon would be able to sense from his own mind) that they so easily accepted that he could be such an abusive monster. It spoke to what he'd done in the past, but also what they still could not accept about him, and so as he made sure everyone was OK by passive scan...he could still hear Barbas, laughing at him, making sure he realized that he was very much an outsider in spite of what he tried to do. He turned away quickly, his face contorted in grief.

I must go.

He walks quickly away, not so much teleporting normally as breaking into millions of pieces as he...dissipates, returning to his Penthouse.

 

[Isis]

Nicolas' penthouse

[ Nicolas would find no escape this time. He had to realize that Barbas was doing what he does BEST, just as Nicolas must do what he SHOULD do.]

[ as soon as he arrived at his penthouse, a SCREAMING wind was heard. DOMINIQUE was already there, her black, fur collar trimmed cape wrapped around her tall , feminine form and her face enshrouded in shadow.]

go BACK, Nicolas.

[ she extended her black gloved hand.]

I've been watching you.

You did nothing wrong. You must not retreat NOW or you will not proove ANYTHING except that you RUN things get tough. the path to redemption is not easy for anyone.

Your friends...your FAMILY. They NEED you just as YOU need THEM!

 

[Rampage]

As Nicolas returned to his place, Dominique greeted him. She had been watching him all along. She entreated him to o back, reassuring him that he'd done the right thing all along. Nicolas started to return after a nod, but smiled and stopped. He teleported nearer to the sorceress, taking her hand quickly and BRIEFLY.

Thank you.

...in a flash, the form of Nicolas returned to the courtyard, a bit off from the others. He did not speak or move as he stood there. he was unsure what to even do, but he knew that his aunt was RIGHT. And so he would stay with them now...

 

[Spellbinder]

MP courtyard

NO!

<< chimes sound off as she panics , about to fall back on the trained instinct to teleport herself and Nicolas to Limbo where she will have the ULTIMATE upper hand. She doesnt realize that he's not near her at ALL...they're ALL under attack!>>

<< but as it all reached a chaotic climax, a voice in the wind speaks...and a calming white LIGHT radiates outward, enveloping them ALL! the warmth, the COMFORT...its FAMILIAR to her!>>

<< they are sent back to Melrose Place, in the dark of night, in the courtyard. Morgan is still laying on the ground as she gasps and looks around with urgency.>>

Firebird peered around to see they were back in the Courtyard. The thoughts still lingered as she immediately turned towards Morgan and then Nicolas and then Haleigh. Slowly those memories begin to subside.

"Verna Eckert, she saved us."

Glancing towards Karen now as she spoke of her grandmother who had defended Karen through her childhood from demons and monsters including Barbas.

Grammie?

<< scrambling to her feet, Morgan realized she was still in her current costume but the eldritch armour covering her hand, arm and shoulder was gone.>>

My sword has returned to Limbo!

<< feeling a bit faint, from the lingering effect of Barbas' attack.>>

he touched me....but my armour stopped him from getting a firm HOLD on me.

had it not been for Delilah...

<< looking over at her best friend and taking her hand, squeezing it.>>

<< the stormy night time breeze flows.>>

is...everyone

<< Nicolas hurridly disappears.>>

okay?

<< she shakes her head...but refrains from saying anything about him as she looks among her shaken team mates.>>

anyone need healing?


we lost an innocent...

<< she says with a somber tone.>>

so much for our "return to the real world..." we couldnt save her from barbas!

 

[Shadow Weaver]

MP courtyard

<< Shadow Weaver appeared along with the others. She looked distressed. Mike was holding her, he had been TRYING to stop her from casting her spell when things reached that critical moment.>>

UnHAND me! STOP INTERFERRING!


<< She bellowed, still gripped by that fear and urgency. She pulled away from him before she realized everyone was okay...it was not real, at least what she saw [ Nicolas attacking Morgan] was not. Everyone began to calm and settle. Blaze said she heard VERNA ECKERT'S voice and Morgan did too. Her GRAMMIE had somehow intervened once again! >>

<< Karen's breathing stabilized and Mike would see she was calming down as she put her hand to her forehead.>>

oh my stars...

<< moving her hand down to her heart, its beat finally slowing down.>>

it seemed ...it FELT so REAL.

<< she said softly as Morgan checked to see if everyone was okay. Verna's presence had FREED their minds, and all visual traces of Barbas' attacks were gone but the memories were left. Morgan lamented the loss of Arielle and Karen bowed her head....>>

I promised the child I would be there for her...and I failed!

<< she looks up at the night time sky.>>

what am i going to do if Barbas comes for my own daughter!

<< her own fear still very much present. but in her mind...disjointed, random images of Grammie began to gain more and more ground inthe forefront. she replayed the whisper she heard in the alley to herself. she still didnt quite have the CONNECTION to the past memories she NEEDED, which explained her lack of emotion about it at this point. NO one could have immediately guessed that she herself had been under a SPELL to block/repress those memories...but with all that was happening the raw emotion of it all...and so many years of knowledge and increase in her own power and understanding of magick...the spell was beginning to CRACK.>>

 

[Harbinger]

the courtyard

:: Alison was silent as they first realized they had been saved...but she noticed she STILL had her time staff in her grasp...and the white streak in her hair was still there. She had been touched to her core by Barbas. He ALMOST had her!::

:: but the WORST thing was that Barbas seemed to know something SPECIFIC about her, like that Cameron WAS out there...somewhere trying to reach her. he was toying with her and while she might be emotionally wounded by his playing on her vulnerability on THAT....the pain would soon give way to her cold, calculating side...the side that would do anything, sacrifice ANYONE to destroy him. ::

:: everyone slowly calmed and settled, taking in the reality of the situation...they lost an innocent and many of them had taken hard hits themselves.::

Barbas is powerfull...

:: she said with a quiet but bitter tone.::

but we're not finished yet....not by a LONGSHOT!

:: Karen and Morgan mourned Arielle::

He took her...just like so many other witches we DIDNT know about in this area...that's how's coming back so hard and so strong!

We should...:: looking at Karen and Morgan:: perform the ritual for a fallen witch, and then ...we can ensure she's buried. we will avenge her...

:: using that to distract her from what was on her own mind. cameron...the fear that inspite of all she had become, she STILL failed to protect him from so many threats...her mother, erika, malice and now barbas! how much MORE could she TAKE!?::

 

[MorningStar]

Just as the Six were about to annihilate one another, they found themselves mysteriously spirited away back to Melrose Place. She took some deep breaths, her heartbeat just starting to slow to normal.

Anyone need healing?

Delilah silently shook her head in the negative. They had come close to dying…and worse. But everyone seemed all right, for now.

She watched Alison try and reassure the others, like the general that she was. But strong as she was, Harbinger had been shaken by what she had seen. Delilah walked over to her side and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you all right Alison?”

 

[Firebird]

Crossing her arms across her chest, Blaze watched Nicolas depart. Shaking her head in disapproval. The fire cracker had to bite her bottom lip to refrain from speaking her mind on the demi God. All they had continually seen was his back. At least if Cameron was here he wouldn't run!

what am i going to do if Barbas comes for my own daughter!

"We're not going to let that happen, Karen! You cannot think like that. Morgan and Arielle were two very different women. Morgan can control time and space. If Morgan could defeat Black she can definitely check Barbas."

She offered encouragement to the older woman. Trying to raise her spirits a bit but with the loss of an innocent it wasn't an easy task. Yet Blaze wasn't willing to give up as she looked at the team.

Barbas is powerfull...

"Come on guys! So he got the upper hand but there will be other battles. While there was a casualty of this nightmare I'm not willing to turn back now!"

anyone need healing?

Shaking her head, "No, I'm good, thanks." Blaze could see her teammates' spirits were seemingly broken at the loss of Arielle. "It is tragic we lost her........but sometimes you have casualties in war. It happens despite trying to avoid it."

Delilah moved over to check on Alison who seemed shaken up. Noting the look in the Seer's eyes. Maybe Blaze was a fighter but she wasn't willing to be beat down by Barbas, especially the hell she suffered on her world. She didn't journey to their world to turn back now.

"Is it possible to reach Verna?"

If anyone were to have answers it would be her, after all she had battled Barbas before.

 

[Spellbinder]

the courtyard

<< Morgan looked at her mother, who was visibly upset. She went over to her and wrapped her arm around her, taking her mother's hand into her own. Morgan felt badly for her mother, and for the fallen Arielle and it showed in her own crestfallen expression. >>

"It is tragic we lost her........but sometimes you have casualties in war. It happens despite trying to avoid it."

<< This Blaze was more grounded, battle hardened. She came from a timeline where many of her friends and family had been wiped out by sentinels. Barbas obviously saw that in her when he used the fear of sentinels against her. But the fire elemental clearly understood that when battling against the enemy...there could and most likely WOULD be casualties sustained.>>


Mother, you must not think that you failed Arielle. If it werent for you...we wouldnt have even KNOWN to try to save her. You did what you could...and as Alison said, we will make sure she is buried and we witches will perform a special ritual for her so that her spirit will find peace.

We'll also AVENGE her!

Barbas is powerfull...

<< Morgan could certainly attest to THAT. his attack(s) on her over the last few days had not only worn her down mentally and had shaken her. she was SCARED like this only a PRECIOUS few times before...the most recent being the momenet she was captured by SET.>>

And we don't even know HOW to GET to him...he...

<< Morgan noticed the white streak in Alison's hair....he'd done a TERRIBLE number on her as well.>>

"Come on guys! So he got the upper hand but there will be other battles. While there was a casualty of this nightmare I'm not willing to turn back now!"

<< Morgan looked over at her cross time alternate sister. the night time breeze whistled a bit as Morgan's slightly misty violet eyes blinked a few times. This Blaze had endured so much...and now she was here with them...showing such strength and resiliency. It was moments like this that distinguished Firebird from Foxfire and no one could dismiss or minimize what the fire elemental had been through to give her this resliency.>>

Blaze IS right...but I...I havent felt this SCARED in such a long time. Even my soul sword LEAPED into my hand when Barbas was present. That hasnt happened since SET!

We've got to turn this around...get HIM before he gets us...but HOW?

"Is it possible to reach Verna?"

Grammie? She's been gone for some time now...

<< looking back over at her mom. they knew better than most that being DEAD wasnt always final. After all...there was Ororo, Sharon, Haleigh even Morgan and Alison had been dead at some point. But Grammie....Mom had not spoken of Grammie [ as though she had seen/communicated with her] like that before.>>

But she put the most recent addition to the entry for Barbas in the Darkhold. I HEARD her voice...i know i did!

Mom? maybe you can....

 

[Firebird]

Blaze could see and feel her teammates were losing hope and quickly. Whatever they threw at Barbas he just brushed off. He was a more difficult opponent by utilizing their fears against them. Despite having her own fear dished to her Blaze wasn't willing to give up that easily. She wanted to conquer her fear and crush Barbas once and for all. She wasn't willing to be crippled by her own fear. In reality she was battling herself, a battle of wits.

Blaze IS right...but I...I haven't felt this SCARED in such a long time. Even my soul sword LEAPED into my hand when Barbas was present. That hasn't happened since SET!

We've got to turn this around...get HIM before he gets us...but HOW?

"That's it! Morgan, your soul sword is the key!" Blaze's eyes illuminated as she spoke of the magical sword. "The key to defeating Barbas is your soul sword." Blaze was thinking this through trying to form a strategy. "Barbas will continue to use our greatest fears against us if we don't conquer them. He used sentinels against me because..."

Blaze looked down as she bit her bottom lip, struggling hard to get the words out. Her eyes filled with tears, "I watched my teammates die at the hands of sentinels. One by one despite the bravery and the courage they showed. If it weren't for Haleigh I'd still be crippled with fear." One single tear cascaded down Blaze's cheek as she looked up at Morgan. "I won't allow that again. I won't allow the death of my teammates be in vain and I will not allow that bastard to get the upper hand on me again!"

Morgan turned towards Karen to inquire about Verna. "I don't know too much witch stuff but there's gotta be someway to communicate with us. She's battled him countless times I saw it....at Limbo. She protected Karen when she was a little girl." Blaze rubbed the back of her neck, working out the kinks in it. "Barbas thrives on fear and manipulation. If we can some how negate that it would leave him powerless. I don't know about you guys but I think a second opinion would be very valuable right now. We've thrown everything at Barbas."

Blaze stepped closer, "He may be the greatest opponent we've ever faced whether me or your main stream Blaze. But...we've got to do something!"

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah pursed her lips in thought. Something was nagging at her, something that was so obvious she had overlooked it. Blaze's words brought it roaring to the surface. She gazed off somewhere in the distance as she spoke, still focused on the thought.

"No, he's not."

She looked up at Blaze, then around at her other teammmates.

"He's not the greatest opponent we've ever faced. We've all - each of us - been through much much worse than this. It's the fear - the fear makes us think he's stronger than he is. That is what's holding us back."

She looked away again, now speaking in almost a whisper.

"But how do we overcome our fears..."

She trailed off. They weren't ordinary people - their fears were much bigger than most, it took much more to scare them. They couldn't just snap their fingers and make the fear go away. She looked up again.

"We have to use it. We have to use our fears against him, somehow. Find our strength out of what we are afraid of..."

 

[Rampage]

"He's not the greatest opponent we've ever faced. We've all - each of us - been through much much worse than this. It's the fear - the fear makes us think he's stronger than he is. That is what's holding us back."

She looked away again, now speaking in almost a whisper.

"But how do we overcome our fears..."

She trailed off. They weren't ordinary people - their fears were much bigger than most, it took much more to scare them. They couldn't just snap their fingers and make the fear go away. She looked up again.

"We have to use it. We have to use our fears against him, somehow. Find our strength out of what we are afraid of..."

This was the most coherent thing that had been said in days, but saying and doing were two different things. Nicolas decided to speak up about what he could.

We CAN contact Ms. Eckert. It is apparent that her essence survives on the astral plane. It can happen when a particularly mentally STRONG person or nearly ANY psychic dies, especially if they have things undone. I believe I can reach out to her as long as I have something to provide a spiritual anchor, kind of like a seance, except much more likely to be real.

Nicolas drew silent, standing still off to one side...