Casualties of the nightmare

[The Shape]

:: the Silver Swan! stronger than she looks, faster too!::

:: she won't keep him from her prey for long! ::

:: she faces him, gleaming and defiant in her silver ensemble and mask.::

:: hurling the furniture out of the way as he advances on this MILD deterent. the Super soldier swings, with enough force to send Sharon flying through a WALL and outside for QUITE a distance!::

 

[Silver Swan]

the apothecary

[ Silver Swan stands her ground and holds her hands up...to meet and CATCH his fist. but he's so STRONG!]

UGGNNNN!!

[ she exclaims as her silver high heeled boots CRACK the ground beneath her. her silver eyemask hides some of the expression on her face as she grits her teeth. she grips his fist and arm and exerts more and more of her own considerable strength to hold him back.]

He ...wants Karen! you guys...RUN! I'll HOLD HIM ...as long as i CAN!


GET OUT OF HERE!

[ the Super Soldier tilts his head as he begins to attack Silver Swan and try to knock her out of the way! taking one step forward, inspite of being met by the irresistable force that is the Silver Swan!]

[ and soon...an all out BRAWL erupts as he busts out of her grip and attemps to step PAST HER, hefting a TABLE as he slams it down toward Karen and Mike. Silver Swan SLAMS into him with more skill, more POWER than a football player as she batters him off course and then begins to fight him head on.]

 

[Firebird]

Deep in thought, Blaze was beginning to worry about Morgan. At first she thought Morgan was just blowing smoke off but her actions as of late spoke volumes. Nibbling on her bottom lip when suddenly the door swung open and there was Karen standing in her new costume. The look on Karen's face said it all.

"What is it, Karen?"

Karen would rush over to take Morgan's hands asking her to teleport them to Arielle's shop. Blaze was already on her feet. She had met the woman not too long ago. Ariel was a pleasant woman and also a fellow witch like Karen.

Turning her neck to the side to hear Morgan casting a spell to allow their costumes to change. "I really hate you." She said with a smirk, meaning that she was slightly jealous of her sister's magic and spell-casting ability.

In seconds they were teleported to the shop but Blaze's face paled when she saw the soul sword! It was never a good sign to see such a powerful weapon in the hands of Morgan. Especially in the duress state she had been in. Following after the others as the screams of Arielle could be heard.

When they arrive, Blaze froze in her tracks. The awful sight of Arielle in mid air was atrocious. Blaze didn't look away or even flinch at the sight. She had witnessed things such as this on her world. It never got any easier. Then suddenly the sickening snap of a bone is broken before Arielle falls to the ground in a heap. Her blood splattering onto the others who rushed forward. A few drops of blood would trickle down Blaze's costume almost blending into her crimson costume.

Blaze walked up behind Karen and Mike, who was holding and consoling Karen. Her hand would reach out to squeeze Karen's shoulder to affirm she was also there for her. Looking away from all of the blood and Carrie Alison (I couldn't resist. ). Nicolas, Alison, and Haleigh would dare Barbas to show himself.

The rumbling of heavy footsteps could be felt as Blaze turned to see what Harbinger was yelling at until her eyes came into contact with a hulking creature well man with creepy glowing red eyes. Blaze backflipped away immediately.

"What the FUCK is that?!"

Blaze screeched as she felt her spine tremble with fear for a few seconds. The next few seconds were a blur as Harbinger would attempt to slow down the Super soldier while Silver Swan dives for Shadow Weaver and Arsenal. Blaze hadn't ever encountered this creature before so unlike the others this was new to her.

Noticing the raw power of the Super Soldier and a table flying through the air, Blaze's hands would engulf in flames with her pupils disappearing. Her eyes would brighten until they were an eerie yellow. Her hands would begin to glow before fire was ignited and a large mass would grow from her fire power in the shape of a gigantic fire bird that appeared like a hawk before it would dash hurriedly towards the table.

"Shadow Weaver! Arsenal! Heads up!"

The fire birds wings would swing down viciously to clap against the table to ignite its contents on fire as well as blowing it to pieces that would come crumbling down in shards. Rolling forward, Blaze would yank both Karen and Mike backwards.

"You heard the woman! Let's move!"

 

[Black Widow]

Alison only offers the non-answer of meaningfully silent eye contact, and Haleigh sighs, one last look at the cameras on the Zaccharas… they'd all fallen asleep… in Claudia's bedroom floor. Barbas has them now… too bad Claudia had burned all her bridges… Alison and Haleigh, in watching over them, were in the position to help but there was a certain lack of motivation. They had better things to do…. Like answer Karen's distress call.

Alison: "Just understand…tonight isn't going to be good…at ALL and we need to be there, for Karen."

[grumbling] "Riiight. Well thanks for being as vague as humanly possible…. You know how that thrills me."

It was only halfhearted sarcasm… there was no more time for exposition. They met up with the others…. And they all teleport to an apothecary not far away. The group storms the place. Morgan has the soul sword….. Causing Haleigh to pause. The Soul sword appearing on its own is NEVER a truly good thing because, while it could definitely swing the battle in their favor… it meant Morgan was in a dangerous place. Alison is the first to rush to an already ailing witch in the back of the shop… everyone follows, and Haleigh draws up the rear, more cautious and wary than rushing to save the girl.

There were plenty of others to save the girl and even if there weren't… she was very close to death. The bloody, broken body is all gore and mutilation…. But Haleigh was subject to the distinct misfortune of having seen WORSE. Haleigh feels bad because she is relieved… relieved that THIS was what Alison had been foreshadowing…. Relieved that it was this stranger who died and not one of them.

Barbas: Oh that's COLD, Haleigh. You're actually GLAD that someone else died, instead of--

"Yeah, that's right."

She says quietly, haunted by her own confession, staring at the body of the dead girl. No one hears her…. There's too much going on. Sharon, Karen, Blaze and Mike rush to the girl but its too late for her. Sharon confirms it… the girl is gone. Karen is crushed, Morgan is outraged.

Karen: We promised her… that we'd protect her! And we FAILED!

[calmly] "You did all you could, Karen."

She responded, echoing Alison's earlier words. Alison and Nicolas call Barbas out. Haleigh stands with them, but as she expects, there's no response.

"It's no use wasting your breath… Barbas is too much of a coward to face us outright. He'll probably try to scare us instead-- [there is the rumbling of footsteps and the Super Soldier bounds around the corner] sometimes I really hate being right all the time."

Alison tries to slow him down, Sharon shoves Karen and Mike to safety.

Blaze: "What the FUCK is that?!"

[sardonically dismissive] "Oh, you know… just an old friend."

Sharon engages him in a fist fight, but she won't be able to do it forever. Blaze ushers Karen and Mike out of harms way. Haleigh binds the Super Soldier, hands AND feet, with an UNBREAKABLE adamantium chain, drags him to the floor with it and then shackles his hands TO his feet, leaving him hogtied. She offers Sharon a hand up.

"We're NOT leaving anyone behind."

 

[Fusion]

Everyone's alright, to Clara's grateful relief. Claudia is just as confused by the rescue they had apparently gotten as Clara is.

Claudia: "A woman… she told me to wake up. But WHO would want to save US?"

Clara shrugged… the only people she could think of that would try to save her from ANYTHING were the two people PRESENT… and perhaps her crazy father might try to save her, except in his own deranged way that usually involved murder and mayhem, in other words there was no WAY he'd have anything to do with THIS particular savior, who was a woman and seemed benign.

"She sounded kind of… I don't know… maternal."

Johnny: "Are you thinking it could be your mother, from beyond the grave?"

Clara shrugged again, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. It sounded especially SILLY when it was said out loud, but she didn't have any better ideas. She let Johnny help her to her feet.

"Well if it IS Mom… I wish she'd not wait so long to wake us up… I don't know how many more times I can bear watching either of you die."

She looks up at Johnny for a moment, considering the additional admission that she was glad he was okay, but Claudia interrupts:

Claudia: "Come on….lets get out of here."

Clara isn't sure that going somewhere else is going to save them from anything… but she's too tired and shaken to argue anymore. The painful horror of watching Johnny die… the sensation of that sword going straight through her… the idea that Spellbinder would do that to pay Claudia back… it all stuck with Clara. It was hard for her to convince herself that it was just a DREAM… she absently rubbed her chest… it felt so REAL!

 

[Rampage]

As Nicolas called Barbas out, he heard a laughter as Alison called out...

and the Super Soldier swung for Mike and Karen, with Silver Swan barely pushing the pair away before turning to address him physically. Nicolas ran over to help her even as they battled, but Haleigh had a plan, shackling the monster's hands and feet. Nicolas turned to Sharon.

Are you alright?

 

[Arsenal]

As the hand swung down, Mike only had time to grab Karen and activate his energy shield on his left arm. It would not be enough, but maybe if he rolled with it...

THANK YOU SILVER SWAN!! The mutate shoved them aside, Mike cradling Karen into a roll that allowed him to take the brunt of the impact. As The Super Soldier continued after them, he helped Karen to her feet, drawing his special weapon as he helped her retreat with Blaze...

 

[Spellbinder]

the apothecary

<<Spellbinder FLINCHES as the Super Soldier busts into view!>>

<< as Black Widow assists Silver Swan and immobilizes the Super Soldier, Firebird and MorningStar get Arsenal and Shadow Weaver to safety while Rampage joins Silver Swan.>>


<< the soul sword slices through the air with a thunderous din...as the mystic blade and white flames collide with the SUPER SOLDIER!>>

<< Spellbinder slice the Super Solider across his back and then spins around, bring the blade across his torso, using her super strength and skill as as swordswoman. the attack is as fierce as it is effective as the "body" BURSTS into white flames and the torso slides down from the lower half...>>

NEXT!?

<< she says. her face enshrouded in shadow as her blonde hair flows. seeing her mother in danger, knowing that the sword was HERE because SHE was in danger...it set her into another mode.>>

<< Rampage and Black Widow help a shaken Silver Swan up. Anyone who had PREVIOUSLY encountered him before [which exlcudes Rampage and Firebird] knew that the Super Soldier was designed to physical over power almost ANY target. Silver Swan was stronger than most, and well nigh invulnerable, but he CLEARLY tested any possible limit to her invulnerablility.>>

<< the group moves together, out of the BACK exit of the apothecary.>>

Silver Swan: Spell..binder...the birds...and jewel...don't leave them behind!

<< a stepping disc would ensure the animals safe passage. Arielle's body was also teleported, to an undisclosed location. the team would deal with them later. for now, they were in the alley, which looked like a gauntlet of death. the team was huddled together with Spellbinder on the outedge of the group, brandishing her soul sword with grim determination. Firebird, Black Widow and MorningStar were also among the more battle ready at the moment.>>

We're getting out of here!

<< she said matter of factly.>>

<< a plume of black smoke bursts forth from the ground in front of her.>>

 

[Seer]

the alley behind the apothecary

<< as Spellbinder prepared to evacuate the team...they are all momentarily distracted by the sound farm animal bell and that of a....GOAT!?>>

<< the curious looking creature looks at them from down the alley, but after a few moments, they see BLOOD dripping from the goat's mouth.>>



<< and then the ground trembles and a violent plume of glowing black smoke erupts. BARBAS jumps up, and lands, looking as predatory as what Arielle saw in her nightmare causing Spellbinder to gasp!>>


Barbas: WITCH! FEED ME....YOUR FEAR!

<< he extends his arm and his SHADOW casts long, it swells, elongates and rises up like a GIANT SERPENT before striking down at Morgan, THROUGH her chest, and wrapping around her neck causing her to scream. that hand, hand, arm and shoulder that are covered by the eldritch armour begin to gleam, glow and hum...as they attempt to RESIST the attack of Barbas! NOW they see why her soul sword manifested...but will it be ENOUGH?>>

<< she can't get the leverage she needs to strike with her soul sword!>>

 

[MorningStar]

the alley

Here they were, racing against time and yet they seemed to be stuck spinning their wheels! The team came together, if only out of necessity, for the sake of Arielle but it was too late and she was lost. Delilah bowed her head and closed her eyes for the girl.

She understood that Barbas could use FEAR as a weapon but to see the Super Soldier again like THIS, it even made HER shudder as he tried once again to attack Karen like he did in the Citadle over a year ago!

Taking aim with her hands, Morningstar was ready to open fire upon him when Silver Swan bravely and boldly intervened, getting Karen and Mike out of the way while Firebird destroyed his weapons of choice.

Everybody was outside, some worse off than others. Spellbinder, who seemed almost robotic in her presentation, was getting ready to teleport them when an odd looking goat appeared.

"alright, someone has obviously spent too much time studying 20th century slasher films. or maybe he WAS Freddy and we just didn't know it!"

She said, TRYING to find humour to distract herself from the nausea she felt.

Barbas appears, looking horrible as ever and setting his sights on Spellbinder as he attacks her! her mystic armour goes into overdrive trying to protect her! But Delilah would be damned if she stood by and let ANYONE from Nicolas to Barbas harm Morgan , Karen or anyone ELSE she cared about! Not without a fight!

"I don't think so!"

Running forward, she stands and squares her shoulders. Extending her arms she clasps her hands together into a fist. energy is heard as a halo of pink then WHITE light grows and expands.

"You want to be fed? Taste my LASER, you decrepit FREAK!"

<< ZARK!>>

Morningstar narrows her eyes and unleashes a LASER BLAST of HIGH intensity on the WHITE end of the spectrum of light! Her laser blast could cut through nearly ANY substance on the planet , not to mention VAPORIZE. the broad beam discharges at the spead of light and the entire ALLEY is PAINFULLY illuminated as the shadow attacking Mogan is consumed and the laser blasts Barbas dead on!


She then runs to Morgan's side.

"Morgan! MORGAN!"

Deliah holds out her hand and mainfests a forcefield between THEM and Barbas. It probably won't stop something like HIM but she has to try!

 

[Rampage]

It all happened incredibly fast. he had gone to Karen and Mike's side when Barbas manifested, first as a joke, then in all of his terrible glory as he extended his shadow, manifesting it as a snake to envelope Morgan. Delilah blasted the thing away and then Barbas himself as she erected a shield, but the beast would not be so easily deterred. He staggered for a moment, then recovered, stepping forward to strike a blow at the shield itself. It took only an instant for a decision to be made.

Morgan?! NO!!

Nicolas intercepted the strike, parrying it and striking a powerful blow of his own, catching the demon off-guard for a moment. He laughed and spoke aloud to the young demi-god.

Who is REALLY your enemy, godling?! Join me...after all, aren't Fear and destruction really brother? Cut from the same cloth? This is your destiny.

He then morphed into SET himslef, just as he did earlier. The change alone triggered Nicolas' own change, as he grew a bit, darkened, and some glyphs began to appear. It may be that this was to be forever what would happen when he was in great danger, but Nicolas this time did not flinch at his change.

NO. My destiny is my own. I cannot help my origins or the mistakes I have made, but I can choose to do what is right and try to atone. I have made that choice, monster...

And you with have to live...or DIE with that decision!

Nicolas struck Barbas/Set directly in the chest with the hammered end of his axe, then the battle that had begun on the astral plane in front of Alison began anew in front of them all. Nicolas was battered but unbowed as he struck terrible blows of his own. The impact from the two hitting each other alone created shock waves that required witnesses to brace themselves.

Barbas lifted Nicolas off the ground, twisting behind him as a large CRACK! is heard. Nicolas groans as his left arm is broken by Barbas, the bone breaking the skin! Nicolas drops to his knees but, as Barbas turns back towards the others, he is STRUCK! as Nicolas quickly sets his arm with a sickening snap, plunges it into the asphalt, then pulls out the encased hand and pummels the demon with it, surpising the monster with his tenacity as the battle continued...

 

[Harbinger]

the alley

:: Harbinger gasps as BARBAS finally manifests himself. What was said, about witches having an INSTINCTUAL FEAR of Barbas...was TRUE! He fixed his predatory glare on Morgan and attacked her, chocking her and trying to drain her very life from her! Morningstar used her power with savage, impressive effect. The LIGHT expelled the shadow and the LASER SHOULD have vaporized Barbas.::

He's still coming!

:: Morningstar's laser shield should have VAPORIZED him as well but he was not of this world...not anymore. his body as it was, manifested the final result of Hecate's revenge against him...but he could now ALTER it to suit his needs!::

:: Rampage stepped up as Morningstar and Shadow Weaver helped a badly winded and shaken Spellbinder.::

Firebird, Black Widow you're with me!

:: pointing as she ran forward, warping her own temporal field to increase her speed as she leaves an image trail behind herself::

Rampage doesn't fight ALONE, monster! And whoever you want among us...you'll have to deal with ALL of us!

:: using a trick she first tried on Olympus when she was ensnared by Aphrodite, she increases her spead to blinding/blurring levels as she races around Barbas...and STRIKES him with an impossibly rapid succession of well placed punches and kicks, AUGMENTING the strength of her blows with her own telekinetic power to a level that would shatter stone and many forms of armour! a normal man would have been battered and bloodied. Even Rampage had to shield himself she attacked HIM like this though he was better able to endure it.::

:: Harbinger had a wide repitoire of attacks, its what kept her among the more unpredictable of the Six. She was not KNOWN for her up close and personal attacks but she was just as lethal. She did this to GET BETWEEN Nicolas and Barbas.::

 

[Seer]

below the belt

<< a powerfull intervention indeed, But as fast and as deadly as Harbinger was, Barbas was even WORSE.>>

<< Harbinger suddenly found herself contronted with CAMERON, it was HIM she had just savagely BEATEN.>>

Harbinger: GODDESS!

<< she falters, horrified at his bloodied, battered form...and she sees blood dripping from her hands.>>

Cameron: JUST LIKE OUR MOTHER! You NEVER cared!

<< he shrieks as he coughs up blood, and winces while holding cracked ribs.>>

Cameron: You LEFT me to be abused by our mother, and then ERIKA! You've tried to kill me at EVERY TURN! You've NEVER understood me. You didnt rescue me from MALICE! AND NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!

 

[Harbinger]

the alley

:: Harbinger gasps , as she snaps out of her warp speed and staggers back...it looks, it FEELS like she DID just assault Cameron! It makes her feel that she's become the person she prayed she'd NEVER become, her MOTHER! that in her quest to attain knowledge and power, to reach her destiny, her marble hard heart had lead her to become her MOTHER! She abandonned her brother and then HURT HIM at every turn!::

:: Barbas' twisted body rises...bones cracking and resetting from Harbinger's attack as he laughs softly.::

Barbas: Didn't see THAT coming, DID YA, WITCH?

:: the shadow casts over Harbinger as she is frozen in FEAR::

Barbas: you're not the one i want...but your BROTHER made me realize how strong, how APPETIZING you would be! you left him unattended Alison and just like MALICE and ERIKA, i TOUCHED HIM! and NOW...FEED ME YOUR FEAR!

:: Alison is attacked on a unique level, he revels to her what her SEER'S eye has been searching for, REAL glimpses of Cameron, trapped, hurt and scared...and she can't save him. She's failed again...she'll ALWAYS FAIL!::

it wasnt a dream..it was real! he needed my help...and i...failed...i....
:: a tear falls down from her cobalt blue eye, as she falls back begins to succumb...::

 

[Firebird]

in the alley

Black Widow and Spellbinder dispatched their "old friend" the Super Soldier. With friends like THAT, who NEEDS enemies? Everybody was outside. Good! But even in the Alley, Blaze felt a flash of nausea as wave of NEGATIVE energy swept through the area sight unseen! then the demonic goat with blood from it's mouth. NOT a good omen!

The ground shakes and Barbas comes lunging up, leering at Spellbinder! what a twisted freak he was! he REEKED of evil!

"You leave her ALONE!"

But it was too late, He attacks Morgan with a shadow projectile, chocking her and violating her even as her eldritch armour tries to halt the effects!

"Morgan!"

Blaze begins to push her way through the group to try to get to Morgan when Morningstar steps forward and lights the alley up and vaporizes the shadow projectile with her laser blast! the blast should have destroyed Barbas' body too but that would be too easy he was STILL coming. Rampage checked him in a fierce confrontation while Shadow Weaver and Morningstar try to help a panicked Morgan.

"It's alright! we got you now, I promise!"

touching her sister's arms, Blaze releases a soft, gentle, subtle current of heat to try to soothe Morgan's body while keeping a close eye on the raging battle between Nicolas and Barbas.

Barbas breaks Nicolas' arm and Blaze grits her teet as Nicolas resets it. She sees how he looks now, that dark form that he had when Set came. It never got any easier to look at and it was a reminder of who he really was, what he might do, But he was risking his life now, bravely battling Barbas. This act was noted. it may not CHANGE her view of him over night, but it was something not to be forgotten.

Firebird, Black Widow you're with me!

"Right!"

But Blaze notes the subtle uncertainy in Alison's tone.

Leaving Morgan with karen and delilah, Blaze lifts her hands, and shimmering yellow flames rise around her as she takes off in flight, yet another key difference between her and her counterpart, Foxfire, the power of FLIGHT. Flying above, the din of "jet engine" like roar is heard and Firebird manifests her "raptor" effect. Harbinger races at flash speeds to Barbas, attacking her hard and strong and forcing him off Nicolas but soon SHE HERSELF falls back, her face is contorted in grief and fear

: you're not the one i want...but your BROTHER made me realize how strong, how APPETIZING you would be! you left him unattended Alison and just like MALICE and ERIKA, i TOUCHED HIM! and NOW...FEED ME YOUR FEAR!

Firebird swoops down and closes in.

"Some OTHER time, you twisted sister!"

Extending her hands forward and narrowing her eyes, the already trembling ground now QUAKES HARD and with a BOOM, a VOLANIC blast of molten lava erupts from the ground RIGHT BENEATH Barbas. The eruption of lava would KILL most things and people, super human or NOT.

At the same time, Firebird uses her sharp maneuverability to zoom past and SNATCH UP Harbinger away from Barbas and climb high up into the air. She's stronger than Foxfire, physically and only a couple inches shorter than Harbinger and she can carry one human while aloft with ease.

"Alright, I've got you Alison!...it'll be okay, I promise! you just need some air!"

 

[Seer]

and more comes

<< Barbas' lanky, twisted form falls to the ground after being temporarily lost in the eruption of a column of lava. but soon...it slowly rises up, with his neck slowly snapping back into place as he FINALLY shows a look of agitation! the Six's constant interference was starting to annoy him! how ironic that a demon who had to wait 1300 years to try to exact revenge on the bloodline of the woman that had first vanquished him would be bothered be what..a few more MOMENTS?>>

Barbas: playing at being a brave warrior, Blaze? you ran away from your own timeline! you're own friends...and family! how BRAVE is that? too bad for you, FEAR is not bound by time or dimension, so there's PLENTY of yours that will sustain ME now!

<< Barbas may have forgotten his "humble" beginnings as a HUMAN and that he still at his core had all the same foibles as a human, including impatience and his continued efforts in physical reality were taking their toll on his physical manifestation. Still, he was not without a few more attempts.>>

<< as Firebird's savage attack concludes and Barbas impossibly recovers, though with visibly more damage to his body from MorningStar, Rampage and Firebird, the demon of fear cocks his head as his white hair blows in the stormy breeze.>>

<< Firebird carries a shaken Harbinger away, the seer NOTICEABLY now has a WHITE STREAK in her blue/black hair! Barbas smirks, knowing that he got more than a little of her life force.>>

Barbas: allllmost there, sweet Harbinger....alllmost THERE!

<< from the black storm clouds, SENTINEL'S eyes flicker ON and the clouds part to reveal a massive sentinel! the kind seen in Firebird's own timeline, the Mark 8 hunters! Firebird had survived the holocaust against mutants and metahumans...but lost her sister and many of her friends in the process. She came to THIS timeline to escape...to start over, after seeing the CHANCE at a happy ending with the alternates of her own team, but now, thanks to Barbas, Firebird found herself targeted by not one, but TWO sentinels, and the surrounding area appeared to be that of her own timeline.>>

<< her own spike in fear and disorientation would cause her to accidently DROP Alison, and from their altitude, Alison's fall would be FATAL. The Sentinels were now zeroing in on Firebird!>>

<< Black Widow was near...and could make all the difference if she acted in time, but that still left Alison!>>

 

[Shadow Weaver]

in the alley

<< Arsenal did his best to shield and protect her from the oncoming attack of the Super Soldier. It all happened SO FAST! Karen SHUT her eyes, expecting the blow to kill the BOTH of them but then Silver Swan dives and shoves them BOTH out of the way...THAT was rough. If not for Mike, Karen might have been injured accidently by Sharon and as it stood, HE couldve been hurt unintentinally by the mutate, but thankfully the woman's training with the Amazons allowed her to exert her strength properly!>>

Not AGAIN!

<< Karen shrieks as the creature is back in FULL effect! He attempts to SMASH her with a table! but Firebird destroys it and helps Mike and herself escape out the back way while Sharon continues to fight him!>>

<< Mike helps her out, as they both ushered by Blaze, Karen coughs as she struggles to regain her breath.>>

I...I'm too OLD for this sh...

<< she was about to say something most un lady like but the flash of white mystic light indicated that Spellbinder was attacking with her soul sword! probably the super soldier! soon EVERYONE was outside together and Spellbinder informed them they were LEAVING.>>

Arielle's body??

Spellbinder: I've moved it somewhere safe.

<< and then they were greated by the darkness of the alley, the storm brewing above and the bloody omen in the form of a goat before Barbas HIMSELF appears and confronts her daughter.>>

<< Blaze demands for him to leave Morgan alone and Karen agrees.>>

TAKE ME INSTEAD!

<< KNOWING somehow that his grudge was focused on HER more than anyone else. Karen would not allow her daughter to be consumed, by ANY MEANS instead. Still it was a MAD thing to say!>>

<< But Barbas attacks Morgan instead! her daughter's eldritch armour prevents him from getting a THOROUGH hold on her body, but the should projecti does pierce other unprotected areas and wraps around her neck, choking her and pulling her away from them. Karen grabs hold of her as Blaze pushes forward to help keep her back and Morningstar destroys the attack with her laser! Karen covers her eyes in reflects as the sudden flash of light is rather painfull!>>

<< Morgan is nearly beside herself, about to have an asthma attack as Delilah and she lay Morgan down, with Mike holding her steady.>>

hold on baby!

<< Karen ignites a spell, weaving the pattern and casting the spell while Rampage PREVENTS the next attack. He is hurt and Harbinger leads Firebird and Black Widow to strike next.>>

Arsenal: K...Shadow Weaver, Rampage needs healing...fast!

<< Karen , still concerned her daughter, looks over her shoulder to see Harbinger now being attacked. she nods.>>

Don't leave Morgan...not even for a MOMENT! she needs to recover before she can stand up!

<< and with that, Karen stands up, and moves quickly, dodging some debris and stray projections , moving with grace as she reaches Rampage. Up close, she sees his more monstrous form...it is HARD to see him this way. the markings, the black skin. THIS is what Morgan thinks of when she looks at him. This is what they ALL remember now thanks to Set...BUT here he is, risking his life for them, WITH them. He DENIED Barbas! he chose his path.>>

Hold still, Nicolas.

<< she says firmly...as he flinches at her hands on his shoulders.>>

<< Karen once again ignites magick, casting a spell to HEAL him of the damage to his bones and arm! she helps him to his feet, amid the chaos. >>

Thank you...for protecting my daughter.

<< Heareing cries of despair Karen looks over quickly to see Alison!>>

Harbinger!!!

<< But Firebird swoops in, NAILING Barbas and snatching Alison away and into the sky. SENTINELS appear!>>

SENTINELS!!!

<< and then Firebird, who is clearely panicking, DROPS Alison.>>

Oh no!!! CATCH HER!!!

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas roared in pain as the wound only grew worse with time and exertion. The power he was generating was plenty for HEALTHY bones, but this?! He'd already re-set it once, and now it was only being held by his force of will. In times before he would have teleported immediately to Morgan for healing but he was too ashamed still of what he'd done in the past to dare to ask anyone. As he tried to recover again, he felt light hands on his shoulder. He had been fooled and hurt too often to be at ease, and so he flinched until her perfume and, after he looked over to her, her face came into view. Shadow Weaver activated healing magics as her words soothed the injured demi-god.

Hold still, Nicolas.

<< she says firmly...as he flinches at her hands on his shoulders.>>

<< Karen once again ignites magick, casting a spell to HEAL him of the damage to his bones and arm! she helps him to his feet, amid the chaos. >>

Thank you...for protecting my daughter.

Blaze got her licks in against Barbas, but he had a trick up his sleeve, manifesting TWO Sentinels which clearly spooked the young mutant. As Alison was dropped from the sky, Karen screams.

Oh no!!! CATCH HER!!!

Got her, Ma.

The ground cracks beneath his feet slightly as his legs propel him into the air, his TK guiding Alison to him as he plucked her safely from the sky. As he landed, he spoke to her softly while guiding his axe into the face of one of the steel terrors.

Alison, your heart is not as cold as you fear. When I needed someone to reach out to me, you did so, even though I did not deserve it, in SPITE of your reservations. Cameron would have been proud, and I thank you for that.

Nicolas landed with the Seer, placing her with Mike as Karen had returned back to Morgan. He looked at them all.

Get everyone out of here. I will buy us some time.

Nicolas turned back to the battle. Having staggered one Sentinel, he leaps at the other one, his axe returning to his hand as he prepares to strike again, his attack clearly designed to take their attention away from Blaze.

 

[Siren]

Clara: She sounded kind of… I don't know… maternal.

Johnny: Are you thinking it could be your mother, from beyond the grave?

"Stranger things have happened."

Claudia mumbled under her breath. But truthfully, she didn't believe it was EITHER of their mothers. She was old enough to remember both Dominica and Maria and the voice in the dream sounded nothing like either or them. Someone or something was trying to help the Zacchara's, and quite frankly, Claudia didn't know why. Opening the front door, she exited with Johnny and Clara, heading down the curved staircase leading to the courtyard. Day had turned into night and the entire complex was dark and quiet. Tossing Johnny the keys to her car, she nodded her head toward the front gate.

"I'll meet you two at the car."

Watching as they made their way to through the stone arched walkway and out the rod iron gates, Claudia turned her head and began to scan her dark chocolate eyes around the courtyard. Ebony locks of curled hair blew across her face as a breeze swept through the buildings; obscuring her sight as she trained her eyes onto Haleigh's apartment. With a squint of her eyes, Claudia immediately caused the water pressure from the pipes connected to Haleigh's apartment to explode, creating a massive outpour of water into her livingroom and diningroom. The sinks, toliet, and bathrub all began to errupt with water as well, overflowing onto the already growing pool of water throughout the apartment. Casually turning toward where her sister and Johnny exited, Claudia began to walk to the gates leading out of Melrose Place. If Haleigh wanted to fuck with her, Claudia was more than happy to retaliate. As water already began to seep out of Haleigh's front door and into the main courtyard, Claudia reached the car parked in front of the building and climbed in. Little did she know Haleigh and Co. were fighting for their lives against Barbas at that very moment.....so a smooth homecoming was DEFINITELY NOT in her cards tonight.

"Lets go."

 

[Black Widow]

A lot happens at once, and Haleigh is comfortable letting her comrades take charge, mostly because they are so effective. Firebird sets off a blast of lava and swoops in to pull Alison out of danger. Alison is shaken but appears to be okay… until Blaze DROPS her, that is. Nicolas, fresh from a healing, jumps to catch her and dispatches one of the sentinels on the way.

Haleigh manifests a rocket propelled grenade launcher and takes aim on the other sentinel… but as her sight travels up the machine and she prepares to fire a blast that would easily down a helicopter, she sees Rampage, leaping up at the other sentinel, now blocking her shot.

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

She hacks the sentinel's control computer and overrides it's 'KILL' mission. The operating system halts the massive machine and prompts Haleigh:

>>New Objective?

"Self Terminate."

>>Objective: Self Terminate, confirm?

"Affirmative."

>>Goodbye.

The red glowing eyes go dim and then extinguish altogether, and showers of sparks emit from its joints as it completes the task and becomes completely destroyed… without blowing up. Haleigh sighs again, slightly disappointed with the 'fireworks' as opposed to the explosion she'd planned. Maybe later….

"You know, Barbas, I'd be a hell of a lot more impressed with you if you were creative… or at least showed some rudimentary intelligence. Sending a sentinel into battle against me is like… trying to drown a fish…. Completely POINTLESS."