Deadly reunions!

[Black Widow]

Harbinger helped Haleigh along by speeding up the temporal field, and she, Ava, and Alison were the last through before the wormhole closed. Haleigh still looked alarmed, before Alison spoke about it STILL being behind them. Alison beseeched Morgan to get away, to leave for her own safety.... there wasn't even time to argue... Nicolas and that man-- that MONSTROUS man were right there with them AGAIN... and this time.... a telekinetic BLAST was unleashed against them. Haleigh was JUST turning to face them when the blast hit her.... harder than anything had hit her before.... it sent her hurtling backwards, cartwheeling haphazardly through the tunnel, with such force that her body RICOCHETED off the catacomb walls twice before landing in a sprawling, motionless heap.

The blast itself had knocked her unconscious, like an ipod after a bad drop.... and it took her a few seconds to get back 'online'... she was still dazed when she felt something PULL her back.... the Being was speaking to her.... it was saying something about Nicolas... Haleigh was still too woozy to make sense of it, but as she blinked the blur out of her eyes and lifted her head, slowly getting to her feet.... she realized she was separated from the group. She stood up... shrugged off her dizzyness and tried to get back to where her friends were... but she walks right smack into some kind of invisible barrier-- and it causes her to STAGGER back again. She realizes she's encased in a telekinetic cage.... she narrows her eyes.... BANGS on the 'walls' with her fists but it does nothing... she disappears a moment, trying to use molecular displacement to escape but it doesn't work and this time it HURTS.... perpetuating the lingering headache she'd been suffering from due to the first blast... Haleigh's hand goes up to her forehead.... she's wobbly on her feet... she tries to take a step back to steady herself but stumbles and falls back, turning to catch herself with one hand and a knee/thigh...


She just sits there.... trying to escape via MD really compounded her headache... she hadn't truly recovered from the first KO and she was much more susceptible to falling unconscious again.... she tried to just stay awake.... all she wanted to do was close her eyes... and SLEEP.... but she knew she mustn't... she might become comatose!

In the background... she could hear shouting... different voices... sometimes they were hard to distinguish... but she did hear ONE thing clearly... Shadow Weaver!

"Shadow Weaver..... here...... why......"

Shadow Weaver was Karen's alternate... her evil Alternate, one third of the sisterhood from THAT timeline.... but what was she doing in this timeline?? Haleigh was disoriented to the point of not being able to connect the dots... she assumed that the alternate was here... when in reality their very own Karen was taking a rather DARK turn in order to protect her daughter....

 

[Harbinger]

underground

They're coming!

:: and just like that...there they were. The otherworldly being attacks first...with a force that Harbinger registers as...::

TELEKINESIS...

:: its beyond anything she's encountered. only her "Telekinetic bomb blast" could come close to it, and even that, she can tell that this was only the beginning. everyone was floored. she did her best to protect those she could with her own power but she LOST Haleigh who was the closest to the creature's reach.::

HALEIGH!

:: after moments of everything going crazy, Alison coughed and sputtered ...as Karen freed Blaze and Silver Swan attacked the creature head on. Nicolas tried to reassert himself. Secretly, Alison WANTED him to revert, so that he wouldnt DISTRACT them or cause them to FALTER as they tried to stop the demon from taking Morgan!::

:: Alison struggles to her feet as Silver Swan is SHOT back at hem. THIS time she can do something, as she TELEBLINKS Silver Swan and stops her from from slamming into a wall, and instead sends her into a pile of rocks. it sounds harsh, but its BETTER. Delilah goes to Sharon to check her, and will find the mutate is alive and well...if not FUMING from being so easily sent away.::

We're not dealing with anything remotely human. his FORM is only an appearence. He DOESNT belong here.

:: Haleigh is trapped.::

He's not getting ANYMORE OF US.

:: she's about to try to TELEBLINK Haleigh but she "Sees" herself failing and only causing Haleigh more pain. She doesnt want to do that. so instead, she sends a "potion" which falls into Haleigh's hands from a small flurry of dark orbs.::

:: Karen is the next to attack, with a powerfull spell. Alison can almost FEEL the anger and determination from Karen, and she HOPES against hope that the doctor's dark attack on the being will HURT HIM if not worse!::

:: Harbinger moves forward, to get Mike and pull him back to safety near Delilah and Sharon. as unfortunate as it seems...Harbinger senses this round is lost to them...but the next round is where the tables can turn!::

:: still, Alison isnt ABOUT to pass up the opportunity to do whatever she can...and so...::

:: holding out her hand::

HEART!

:: she calls for the demon's heart organ...if he has one, she'll TELEBLINK IT form his body!::

 

[Enchantrah]

Preparing for Karen to attack her once again, in an odd move by the Harbinger, Karen disappeared and reappeared next to the group. Seconds later, Malice began to help Enchantra up explaining that something was horrible wrong. And one thing Helena knew, if Diane ever wanted to retreat, it meant they were in WAY over their heads.

Everything happened so fast. Rampage regained consciousness, grabbing Isis by the wrists and breaking them like twigs. As he lifted her into the air, it was apparent that THIS was not Nicolas King...Gasping as she watched Nicolas slam Dominique into a near by wall and MOLEST her, all dislike for Dominique went out the window. NO ONE deserved to be treated like that, especially someone who was apart of her team.

Malice instructed her to get Isis while she attacks the large beast that Nicolas had realeased from the ground. Sprinting to the fallen avatar, Helena reached Isis' side.

"'No one will be dying tonight! Common!"

Helena began to lift Isis to her feet when suddenly the woman is swept away from her grasp, causing Helena to stumble and fall to the ground.

"NO!"

Watching as Isis is being pulled toward the creature, Enchantra pushed herself from the ground prepared to run to grab Isis before she reached him. However Isis transformed herself into her sandstorm form, leaving Helena only one option; regroup with Malice and try to figure a way to get the three of them out of harms way.

Running to Diane, Helena shook her head.

"He grabbed her, I couldn't get to her in time!"

Malice suggested that they let the six distract Nicolas and the breast allowing them to cloak themselves and wait for the perfect moment to help Isis. Waving her hand, the area around herself and Malice began to warp, creating an illusion that even the creature wouldn't detect. Along with Malice cloaking their minds, the white and red queen watched as the battle continued.

 

[Firebird]

Karen’s own compassion towards her had surprised Firebird, taking Karen’s hand as they would move forward just as the blast hurled them in separate directions. Blaze was winded but she was also a fighter deep down not to mention overly stubborn. She’d breath a little easier with the assistance of Karen, “Thanks.” Her voice hoarse like she had been screaming still shaken up by it. Karen’s magic enough to heal the both of them, allowing the fire elemental to breath again.

Her green eyes would illuminate, “Let’s get Morgan back then!” Firebird was all in agreement for that. She was obviously upset but she showed it a little differently. Blaze was more in check with her raging emotions just as Karen would turn into Shadow weaver. Moving in synch with the good doctor, Firebird would shut her eyes to seep the burning flames that threatened to burn down the mansion. Various slithers of flames would shoot through the air to envelope her building up her mass in the process while Shadow Weaver attacked him. Blaze’s eyes would open as they were an eerie yellow hue with no visible pupil. It seemed that any and all attacks on this being were futile but Blaze had to at least try as she incorporate her own emotions into her attack as a deadly force of kinetic energy.

“Harbinger, you might wanna put some force fields up!”

Releasing all of her body's stored energy in one intense, omni-directional "nova-burst," which can reach about 1,000,000 F, and which is similar to the heat-pulse of a nuclear warhead detonation, with an are of total devastation of about 900 feet in diameter. This violent discharge uses her entire reserve of energy (except for the necessary to keep her alive) at once, entirely exhausting her flame power. Blaze generally requires at least 12 hours to recover entirely from such a feat.

She knew this wouldn’t destroy the creature, not by a long shot but PERHAPS it could severely wound him, anything to get her sister back. Normally Firebird wouldn’t use such a drastic measure but he had Morgan and like Harbinger and Shadow Weaver she would do ANYTHING to get her back.

The burst of her power would rock the whole atmosphere around them as chunks of ground, dirt, and parts of the catacombs were blown right off as smoke would filter along the way. Firebird would look to see if she had at least wounded the creature as Shadow Weaver and Harbinger moved in simultaneously.

 

[Persephone]

:: Harbinger teleblinked the entire six to their location, including a very angry and distraught Haleigh. She faught tooth and nail to get back to Nicolas...but it was too late. Persephone watched as Nicolas--or what was left of him--snatching Isis by her wrists and breaking them with one twist. This Nicolas was covered from head to toe in markings, with a voice that didn't remotely sound like his. But as he held Isis in the air, the REAL Nicolas came back, telling the team to run. Almost instantly the demonic form of Nicolas returned, slamming Isis' body against a nearby wall before kissing and molesting her. Ava's eyes went wide with shock. ::

"We need to get OUT of here!"

:: Watching as Nicolas began to slice a hole in the floor using his axe, Ava watched as a monsterous creature emerged, standing as tall as the statues in Minerva's mansion. Judging from Isis' reaction, she knew who this creature was...and logically it was linked to hers and Nicolas' past. The creature gestured for both Isis and Morgan; the two woman flying toward it helplessly. ::

"ALISON!"

:: Alison quickly teleblinked Morgan away from the creatures pull and next to Sharon. Everything was happening so fast. Not only were the six fighting for their lives, but Ava caught sight of Malice and Enchantra doing the same! This creature was beyond anything they could control....and they needed to retreat immediately. ::

:: Harbinger instructed the team to attack the creature, no hold bar. Extending her hands out, Ava creatured a massive hurricane around the creature as the others in her team attack it as well. Morningstar quickly opened up a worm hole as each member reatreated into the catacombs of the mansion. Persephone and Harbinger were the last remaining....the last to see the creature literally withstand ever attack made by the six. Alison quickly pushed Ava through the wormhole before jumping through herself. Landing in a squatting position, Persephone stood hearing Alison state that it would be here any second. Morgan was already fitted with her eldrict armor and soul sword, which meant this situation was going from bad to worse. ::

:: Within seconds, Nicolas and the creature arrived with Isis in the catacombs. Nicolas unleashed a devestating blast, sending EVERYONE flying back like ragdolls. Slamming into a rock wall, Persephone slumped to the ground on her stomach. It was worse than being hit by a ton of bricks...it was like standing under a building as it collapsed on top of her. Groaning, Ava rolled dizzily onto her back; a large bloody gash now present across her cheek. Ava laid their for a few seconds as Silver Swan attacked Nicolas, sending him flying through the catacombs and out into the ocean. Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she heard as Nicolas screamed for them to run again. Sitting up, as quickly as Nicolas had 'broken through', he was now back to his possessed state. Charging back, he slammed his fist into Sharon's stomach, sending her flying back into a wall. Then, he came after her sister. ::

"HALEIGH!"

:: Pushing herself onto her feet, Nicolas created a telekenetic cage around her sister, encasing her like an animal. Persephone held her side in discomfort as she ran forward toward Haleigh. Nicolas began to speak again, telling Mike that he could have the woman he loved AND desired. Seeing Nicolas point at Karen then Ava, it was a bit of a shock considering her treatment of Mike thus far, but the goddess had no time to worry about such trivial subjects now. ::

:: Nicolas was the only thing that stood between herself and her sister ::

"Hold on, Haleigh!"

:: The cage covered Haleigh from all side EXCEPT the ground she was standing on. It was a risky move, but the goddess had an idea. As Firebird unleashed a massive attack onto Nicolas, it was the perfect time for Persephone to attempt to get Black Widow out of the cage while he was distracted. Extending her hands out, the ground beneath Nicolas and Haleigh began to shake violently. ::

:: The ground EXPLODED upward [around Nicolas directly], literally blowing Nicolas into the air as well as destorying the foundation of the telekenetic cage Haleigh was trapped in. The explosion alone had enough power to rival the Hiroshima bomb, however with the explosion directly around Nicolas, Haleigh remained unharmed. ::

:: Rocks and debris began to rain down among the six as Persephone quickly ran to the cage, hopping from rock to rock trying to avoid the large crater. The cage was still in tact, HOWEVER, the foundation had been literally cracked and broken, leaving a large enough space for Haleigh to crawl out of. ::

"Haleigh! Haleigh...come on, stay with me! I need you to listen to me....I need you to crawl through this space right here, okay? I know you're tired, and I know you're weak, but you need to muster every ounce of strength you have and crawl out! Remember your combat training? Just like that...just crawl on your belly and i'll get you to Karen so she can heal you!"

 

[Harbinger]

:: and just as sh e had forseen it, Harbinger, Persephone, Firebird and a newly christened SHADOW WEAVER were all making their final stand [ for this round] to try to save their friends and loved ones.::

:: Morningstar manifests a laser field that sheilds herself, Sharon and Mike. She was instructed by Alison to worm hole out of there if it turned fatal and to call for Ororo.::

:: Harbinger continued to pull on the "heart" of the creature, intending to cause his body to go into cardiac arrest, while Firebird unleashed a POWERFULL attack, one that Foxfire could never have manifested. Her attack was more than enough to irradicate most unprotected people or OBJECTS, it looked worse than the fire of HELL.::

:: Persephone attempted to rescue Haleigh, who had never looked so disoriented before. Harbinger used her own power to HURL any loose boulders, rocks or debris left by the volcanic attack of Persephone at both Rampage AND the new being to back Persephone's play as she tried to rescue them. That attack ROCKED the underground structure and did not help the alread damaged mansion above, but they couldnt care about that now!::

:: In a last ditch effort, the tactician then WARPED the temporal field arond Nicolas and his companion, if they DID try to reach Persephone, they would not make fast progress. but would all of th s be ENOUGH.::

:: Isis and Spellbinder were still far away. Alison was fast enough to reach them but so far the creature recovered from almost everything they threw, from magick, to lasers to fire. She couldnt risk it...for even if they failed THIS round, the next time would surely be different. ::

GIVE THEM BACK TO US!

:: she screamed with anger and frustration! referring to Morgan, Haleigh and even Nicolas and Isis too! ::

We WON'T give up!

 

[MorningStar]

MorningStar closed the wormhole behind them, but they had little time to enjoy their escape from harm's way. Suddenly Nicolas and - that THING were there with them. Harbinger sucessfully softened a blow to Sharon, and Delilah ran to her to check on her. She was worse for wear, but she would be okay.

The dark figure had Spellbinder and Isis in its grasp, and it appeared had plans for the others, in turn.

Reaching out, Haleigh is pulled to his grasp and he speaks with her.

YOU. You love Nicolas as well, but you deny yourself. No longer. You shall have the honor of being his concubine.

[Under her breath]

"I fucking KNEW it!"

The creature then cruely attacks Mike as he stands defiant, but luckily Karen uses her power to reverse it. MorningStar erects a laser shield to protect her injured comrades...but now all she can do is stand guardian and watch events unfold.

KAREN, whose motherly instinct goes into overdrive as Morgan is threatened, takes on a sinister appearance and calls forth dark magick, truly unleashing hell on her adversaries. It was something Delilah had never seen from HER Karen, but it was power she had always unquestionably possessed. There was no time to ponder what this would mean for the future - Harbinger called for the creature's heart.

But nothing they did seemed to do more than slow the beast down.

"We can't, we can't let them TAKE THEM! Alison, there must be SOMETHING we can do! Please!"

 

[Rampage]

The figure clutched his chest as his heart was torn from the inside, then laughed again, his heart nearly instantly repairing itself.

If you wish it, you may have my heart, little one, if I may have yours.

Alison hand is filled with a humanoid-looking heart and her chest is filled with an intense pain as her own heart is slowly starting to be taken away. Despite the pain, the figure and Nicolas notice that their movements slow due to Alison's power, becoming far too labored for what is to come.

As the figure laughs slowly at this game of cat-and-mouse, his eyes widen as Karen ignites her spell, looking with recognition at the figures that come to tear at him. He actually takes a knee as the figures begin to do damage to him when Blaze's NOVA-burst intervenes. With a twinkle of his eye, the figure stands, telekinetically using the luminescence of the flame itself to drive away the demons unleashed by Shadow Weaver. He makes a terse command with quick results.

NICOLAS!!!! Attend me!!

Nicolas stomps his foot, and the cavern itself splits in two, the volcanic activity beneath the island becoming more apparent in a hot spray of lava that splahes up on either side. The shockwave of his directional blast knocks the team back again, and the figure recovers Haleigh with a thought, vaporizing her and reassembling her on her knees behind him. As he begins to speak, a mounting psychic pressure comes to bear on everyone. Powers fail, spells go unchanted as it becomes impossible to concentrate.

ENOUGH!!! For the sake of my son's...relations with you, I will spare your lives, but only this once. The next time we meet, I will scatter your tiniest portions across the cosmos. You two (pointing to Alison and Karen with a hint of...reservation?) utilize energies not meant for mortals to bear. Old woman, your change today will cost you more than you will ever gain battling me. And you two...

Malice and Enchantra are plucked from their hiding place and deposited with several tons force to the ground before the team. They are also suffering the effects of his mental onslaught.

You thought you could fool ME?!! I will teach you a lesson in trickery. Stand, chameleon.

Enchantrah is pulled to her feet.

This is your true form in this dimension...

Helena screams as he mentally forces her to morph into a corpse, devoid of beauty or energy. She falls, comatose, her body cracking as it threatens to fall apart. If Karen or Alison do not aid her, she will surely die in minutes.

I will take my leave. Cherish the time you have left. Before long, I will make this dimension...suitable to our needs.

With that, the figure departs with Nicolas, Haleigh, Morgan and Isis in tow, their whereabouts hidden. After a few moments, the pounding in each person's brain slowly ceases. The cavern is totally quiet except the rattled breathing of Enchantrah as she stays in this form, a parting shot for the rest of them to ponder.

 

[Malice]

:: Malice gasps as she looks at Enchantra::

IMPOSSIBLE!

:: it was too late, the creature managed to discover them. He wasnt of this world...that was the ONLY way he could have circumvented Malice and Enchantra's superb combo cloak.::

:: Malice looked focused and intense. her own mental powers working in overdrive to protect herself and Helena from this mental pressure. She was strong, one of the strongest telepaths on the planet. she had experience, she was USED to prolonged battles and out lasting her foes. But this was different. Malice felt a sense of urgency that she never felt before.::

he's trying to.....

:: in ANOTHER first....the omega level telepath places her hand on Enchantra's arm for support as she struggles to sheild them. She instinctiively transforms into her DIAMOND form which is when her powers become their STRONGEST. her mind is psi screened, allowing her to BETTER shield Helena...but it STILL feels like a dam that's about to CAVE from tremendous water pressure!::

:: he then pulls Enchantra forward.::

Helena!

:: after ALL she'd been through, after having her life taken once, and having to work to rebuild it in her alternate's body in an alternate timeline, to FINALLY return to her true earth home, to FINALLY have a team that could take the Six to task...and now THIS!? She survived Mystech's rise and fall. She survived the fiasco involving Alexis, she even survived the SOUL SWORD. She was as powerfull as she was resilient and now, this creature...this "man" was taking away the Sisterhood! She'd had ENOUGH.::

LET GO OF HER you arrogant WRETCH!

There is NO MAN...NO ONE on this world who can STOP ME! I am the predator...and NO ONE will threaten MY interests, OR my colleagues!

:: the Six had never seen Malice act to PROTECT anyone, but it was clear, that even SHE cared about her team mates, that even SHE had SOME kind of "HUMAN" instinct.::


:: a PSYCHO BLAST, another one of Malice's most powerfull attacks. Malice intends to render him INERT...expelling ALL trace of consciousness or any other brain activity from his physical form if she can. She ALSO attempts to RETURN the pain he is dishing out, she does so with all the bitterness, the contempt, the MALICE that she is KNOWN for!::


:: Helena is forced to become what her MAINSTREAM counterpart is now...a rotted corpse! Malice tries to STOP the mental command, she's pushing herself to limits SHE didnt know she had, but even in her diamond form, she's beginning to show signs of PHYSICAL distress.::

:: its a moment where..."good and evil" dont matter. Malice needs HELP if she's to save Helena...and the SIX will need all the help THEY can get in a NECESSARY rematch to save th eir friends.::

:: her attacks, her efforts are valiant, but she cries out as she doesnt succeed...and she falls to the floor...EXHAUSTED...its the first time that the Six have seen her pushed to her limit...to the point where she CAN"T continue. and now, Helena is left there...dying. and the entity is gone.::

...curse him....and whatever foolish being that sired him....

:: she lays on the floor...resting her hand on her forehead...a splitting headache from so much effort, so much use of power....::

Helena....someone...please...HELP HER!

 

[Harbinger]

:: Harbinger was about to address Morningstar when, to even HER surprise, she seemed to have succeeded in teleblinking the creature's HEART from him. but it was a hollow victory, as he tried to DUPLICATE the process on HER!::

:: she gasped, as she immedidately defended herself with her magick tk. what MORE could they DO!? every spell, every attack was only doing the smallest amount of damage and with NICOLAS there...SHaron TRIED to take him out but it was not enough.::

:: her temporal manipulation gave her the time she needed to BUST loose but as the being attacked them with a psychic onslaught, those with PSI SCREENS felt like they were suffering from the pain of 'nails on a black board"...she could only imagine how much worse it was for the unprotected minds.::

:: HOW was this possible? he wasnt an empath like Malice, it was different. everything was different. He THEN turned his attention to Malice and Enchantra who were still there! Malice attacked him with the boldness and ferocity she was known for, but even SHE couldnt stop him from taking Helena.::

:: Haleigh was torn away from Ava, and Alison whisked AVA from harm's way, pllacing HER behind the laser shield as well. Delilah's shield was protecting them from the flying debris and spray...and Shadow Weaver, Firebird and Alison herself were the only ones OUTSIDE of the shield.::

I've got a spell....i'll


:: Harbinger was about to ignite a spell to turn BOTH Nicolas and his companion into STONE but the creature continued to mount h is mental attack. This SHOULDNT be happening..at least to those with PSI SCREENS. Alison knew that those without PSI SCREENS could be in serious trouble...and so...::

:: as Malice asked for Help, so too did Alison.::

MALICE, your PSI POWERS, use them to BLOCK for the others as BEST YOU CAN!


:: the omega level telepath was taxing herself to a dangerous limit.::


Shadow Weaver, retrieve Helena and revive her...

:: and at that moment, the TIME STAFF leaps into Harbinger's hand. the GARNETT jewel at the top of the ancient , mysteriously designed staff shimmered and glowed as she pointed it at the creature even as HE pointed at Alison and Karen::

....you can't STOP US ALL!

:: Alison was refusing to bow...even as her blue/black hair was now blowing back in the onslaught.::

:: but before she could attack with the power of the Time Staff in concert with her own powers...he was gone...and everyone he had captured was gone with him. Alison's own adrenaline rush was finally beginning to ebb off...and she began to tremble...using the staff to her support herself.::

...he's gone...and he's taken them all with him...

 

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen smiled with satisfaction as her blonde hair whipped in the wind. Her SPELL was having an effect! But he REBOUNDED.>>

NO!

<< She was about to attempt to SCRAMBLE his power when she too felt the same immense PRESSURE, its as if something was trying to BREACH her psi screen. the symptoms were akin to a severe migraine. she bowed her head and placed her hand on her forehead...as her face contorted with pain.>>

<< Alison, Sharon and Diana were also suffering. it was WORSE for the non protected minds. FIREBIRD thankfully had the topaz gem that Morgan had charmed which would spare her the majority of the pain, she would feel the same pressure that the psi screened individuals felt.>>

<< Diana showed a side to herself that had never been seen before as she valiantly tried to save her colleague Helena. Diana and mainstream Helena had been friends, but it was unclear what the relationship between Diana and this alternate, Enchantra was...but it was no longer about "us vs. them." it was about "all of them vs. HIM".>>

<< it all happened so fast....they were in danger of being BURIED ALIVE. Morningstar's laser shield vaporized any oncoming debris but the mental attacks, the brutality...and they STILL had not succeeded in getting Morgan and the others back!>>

<< Harbinger directed Shadow Weaver to RESCUE Helena! Karen didnt CARE about their past rivalry...she HATED to see ANY woman brutalized by a man. First Isis and then Helena...Alison HAD to have known they would not win this round, but the NEXT one, they'd need all the help they can get.>>

I'll see you in HELL...i will make sure the path is illuminated by your own boiled BLOOD!

<< she hisses with contempt as Nicolas' "FATHER" points at her. she struggles...and as soon as she can...she reaches Helena. and restores her.>>

<< everyone is left feeling battered and defeated as the creature finally leaves...taking Spellbinder, Isis and Black Widow with him. Karen , finally feels the PHYSICAL toll...as she slumps down onto a large rock.>>

I failed my daughter...

 

[Persephone]

:: Squeezing her body down the small dip between the telekentic cage and rubble of rocks, Ava reached her hand into the cage and grabbed Haleigh. ::

"Common Hales, i've got you."

:: Helping her sister along, Harbinger covered her back by redirecting all debris into the creature, buying her time to help her sister. But the creature rebound like no other foe she had ever witnessed. He teleported Haleigh out of the cage and Ava's grasp to him. ::

"NOOOO!"

:: Alison quickly teleblinked Ava into the laser shield dispite wanting to go forward and rescue her sister. ::

"LET ME OUT! HE STILL HAS HER!"

:: Screaming over the chaos, everything went from bad to worse. The creature had found Enchantra and Malice, transforming Enchantra into a corpse! As Diane, Karen, and Alison continued their attacks on him, Ava's head suddenly felt like it had been run over by a truck. With her mind being one of few that were unprotected by a psi screen, Ava screamed, grabbing her head in agony as she fell to her knees. It felt like fire...hot white pokers stabbing her in the head over and over and over again. All she could do was kneel there, her body hunched over with her hands tightly gripping her hair, and take he god awful pain. ::

:: On the verge of passing out, finally, the onslaught began to fade. Her body was weakened, like she had just run a 200 mile marathon non stop. Placing her hand on the dirt ground for support, Ava looked up through bloodshot watery eyes to see Haleigh, Morgan, and Isis had all disappeared with the creature. ::

"No..."

:: She softly spoke in a defeated tone. Persephone had fought many foes. She had seen so many powerful creatures....but THIS...this was something beyond anything she had seen before. And it had her sister and teammate. Looking over to Karen who had just got done healing Enchantra, it was an odd sight. The six sitting along side of the sisterhood...literally beaten and unsure of what to do next. ::

 

[Enchantrah]

Enchantra watched the battle unfold in the protection of her illusions and Malice's psi powers. The creature seemed unstoppable. He took every attack the six through at him and brushed it off like an after thought. He had Spellbinder, Isis, and Black Widow while the others hid in their protective laser shield. But when Helena thought he would leave with his 'prizes' he turned his sights onto the sisterhood!

Enchantra found herself falling in mid air, hitting the ground hard and with a groan. Malice was a few feet away from her and the creature was now standing over them.

"Impossible..."

No one could get past Helena's illusions, and certainly not Malice's psi powers. This creature was beyond any power weilding humanoid [or closest thing to humanoid] she had ever seen. But before Helena could back peddle to get away from it, he called upon her own power, transforming her into a corpse! Helena screamed in pain until her body was fully transformed. There was nothing she could do....she had to wait on the assistance of KAREN.

As Karen began to heal her, after a few moments Helena gasped, her eyes shooting open with horror. Coughing out, she noticed it was Karen who had brought her back to life. Panting out labored breaths, Helena looked at her old foe KNOWING she could have left her there to die. Helena didn't say thank you, she just looked at Karen for a few seconds with a softer expression, knowing the doctor would get the hint. Reaching out for Malice, she grasped her hand in an effort to be helped up into a sitting position.

"Where's Dominique?"

Diane didn't have to say anything, her expression spoke louder than words. Looking away, she noticed Morgan and Haleigh were gone as well....the six looking as defeated as the sisterhood. With a worried expression, Helena looked back at Diane and for the first time since the six had encountered Helena, there were no quipps, catty comments or rude remarks...it was just her; the more 'human' side of Helena.

"What are we going to do...."

 

[Malice]

underground

:: Malice struggled to the point of fatigue, defending herself and Helena's minds. In her DIAMOND form she was able to do more, but before she could attempt to BLOCK for the Six, the threat was gone. Karen...who christened herself SHADOW WEAVER, restored Helena. It was a temporal irony that Malice and the ALTERNATE Enchantra would notice.::

:: Enchantra was alive, she was okay...and as she asked about Dominique, Malice looked at her wearily.::

I dont know...

What are we going to do now?

I wish i had an answer...

:: she speaks in a muted, bitter tone.::

for the first time, I encountered a psychic presence that I could not overpower, a force that managed to GET to me...inspite of my own psi shields.

He took Dominique...

:: looking down at her diamond hands::

and nothing WE could do, could stop him. I tried to stop him when he attacked you, but I could not!

:: she didnt know what was worse...feeling the way she did right now, or having been defeated by a foe...a man. in many ways, Malice had ALOT in common with Morgan and Karen...and seeing Isis being treated the way she was, the idea that it could POSSIBLY happen to HER? that didnt sit well with Diana.::

:: she looks over at the six. They too were in a similar state.::

:: she and Helena sat together...quietly recovering. they had yet to establish a TRUCE with the Six, but neither side was in much shape to fight with the other just now.::

 

[Black Widow]

It was so LOUD.... so BRIGHT! Attacks were shaking the earth itself... no one was holding back and though the telekinetic cage actually shielded Haleigh from falling debris, her senses were so sensitive right now, everything sent her REELING... even the SLIGHTEST thing would have been sensory overload right now, and NOTHING was a small feat... people were shouting, Blaze's nova blast LIT the room as if she had just taken them to the surface of the SUN... the ground was QUAKING and Haleigh had her eyes shut tightly, her hands clamped over her ears just trying to dampen the severity.

Haleigh could hear someone calling her name... it sounded familiar... but so distorted.... it wasn't until it was much closer that she realized it was her own sister.

"Ava.... my head...."

She groaned.... squinting at her sister, who was trying to talk to her, trying to coax her out of an opening... Haleigh got to her knees, ready to do her best to crawl forward, trying to ignore the pain, trying to turn it OFF but her headache was permeating and it was affecting her powers. As she got up though, she noticed something fall out of her lap.... a small vial of some kind.... it rolled towards a crack in the ground, and Haleigh instinctually dove forward to catch it before it disappeared.... it was a potion... Haleigh recognized it from some of Morgan and Alison's apothecaries... and she quickly uncorked it and tossed it back like a shot of liquer....

It had a warming sensation, not unlike Morgan or Karen's 'healing' process... and Haleigh's headache began to dull.... her alertness was returning, as her sister reached underneath the cage, beckoning her forward, Haleigh flattened onto her stomach and began to crawl using her elbows, squeezing beneath the cage, not unlike a cat under a fence. She could feel her sister grabbing her behind her shoulders, pulling her, trying to help her through faster.... and then she felt NOTHING.... she looked up-- her sister was gone, back behind Alison, and Haleigh herself was actually behind the Demon, still trying to crawl out from beneath a now non-existant cage. Malice sent a psycho-blast their way, and Haleigh quickly scrambles to tthe side... not only did she NOT want to be so close to that.... THING... but she didn't want to be anywhere NEAR the fallout from that blast. With her luck it'd bounce off his chest and obliterate Haleigh... but it didn't... the man shrugged it off, turned Enchantrah into a corpse and stunned all of her teammates mentally. Karen started to HELP Helena.... the sisterhood and the Six were working in CONCERT to try to stop this being but it was all they could do to keep from being killed themselves by EXHAUSTION alone. Haleigh is nearby Morgan, who is still out from being tossed earlier.... if she can just GET to Morgan... then she can use her MD to get them BOTH back to their group! The otherworldly being is too busy gloating about being evil mastermind, he might not even NOTICE If Haleigh can be fast and quiet!

Haleigh reaches Morgan, grabs her by the ankle... all she needs is to make contact, but as she looks BACK to her group, ready to escape.... Nicolas and the being take their leave.... and drags both Morgan AND Haleigh with them!

 

[Harbinger]

the catacombs of Minerva's mansion

:: Harbinger exhaled slowly....::

DAMMIT!

:: she was PISSED!::

We hit that abomination with EVERYTHING we had and still NOTHING!

I warned her! I TOLD her...

:: she was upset..at herself...at the situation...and at NICOLAS...she was UPSET!::

I TOLD Haleigh that he was beyond help. all that shit he talked, all that posturing he did....and THIS is what we get.

and now...we've got to find a way to get Morgan, Haleigh...:: looking at Malice and Enchantra:: and Dominique back as well.

:: she makes her way over to Malice and Enchantra.::

Listen...i think we ALL realize that this situation is bigger than either of our teams or our interests. It goes BEYOND good and evil. BOTH of us have friends, team mates that we want...NEED to save. We can't do it divided...

:: she looks at the two women with her cobalt blue eyes.::

We will have a better chance if we work TOGETHER.

Truce?

:: she extends her hand to Malice.::

 

[Firebird]

Just when both alignments had a glimpse of a possible victory, Nicolas and his father yanked the carpet from under each of them. Not only did he prove to be a formidable foe but almost God-like in his powers. Anything they threw at him it hardly did anything to him at all. Gritting her teeth, Blaze grew frustrated but she was used to being the underdog. She had been in this predicament before. She had the heart of a warrior and even if the odds were against then she wouldn't give up trying.

The next few minutes happened in a flash as Persephone would attempt to rescue Black Widow, an endearing moment but it too was futile. Haleigh was so close to her sister's hand that Blaze FELT for the Goddess as she'd scream for the blonde. It tore Blaze's heart in two for she felt the same WAY about Morgan!

Malice and Enchantra would be revealed by the mysterious force as he would torment Helena. Turning her eyes away from the onslaught he brought her just as Malice bravely attempted to fight for her friend. Even Blaze witnessed a rebirth of the White Queen. "So there is a heart under that diamond form after all.." Her words trailed as a throbbing pain would pound her cerebrum. Most of her physical pain the pendent had taken but she still was susceptible to pain.

With the Sisterhood and the Six battered and exhausted Nicolas, Spellbinder, Isis, and Black Widow would disappear from sight. Shadow Weaver's remark sparked a fury within Blaze who turned her glare to the woman as she stepped across the rubble. Her spiked stiletto boot crushing a few fallen debris as she reached down to grab Karen up by the shoulders to shake her.

"I don't EVER want to hear you speak that way, AGAIN! You've been a wonderful mother to Morgan and to this whole team. You have shown compassion, strength, and power like no other woman. Morgan knows you tried hard. BUT, we WON'T give up, do you hear me Karen Victoria?!"

Blaze's words firm and passionate as she stared into Shadow Weaver's eyes as she turned to the others to see them recuperating. "I won't allow that bastard to win. This round may be his but this fight...this battle is FAR from over!"

Stepping back from Karen, Blaze would see that Enchantrah had been healed by one of the members of the Six. "We're all sworn enemies to the other. But this isn't about good and evil, yin and yang, its about a common enemy we BOTH have. A man...a being...who has our family, friends, and teammates. People that we hold very dear to our hearts. I know that each of them...even Isis wouldn't stop looking for us if the situation was reversed. Like it or not we need to come together as one force...ONE team. We need what the other offers."

For Firebird she was used to having her team ripped apart so in a way this situation made her stronger as an individual and a person. She wouldn't allow the same fate to strike these people including Isis. Harbinger would form a truce with the Sisterhood, a positive step towards their goal.

"Does anyone have any ideas how to locate them? I've exhausted my fire power so I cannot lock onto their heat signatures. But perhaps we could scry for them unless somebody has a better idea."

Placing both hands onto her hips, Firebird would set her gaze on the Sisterhood and the Six, waiting for an answer.

 

[Arsenal]

I TOLD Haleigh that he was beyond help. all that shit he talked, all that posturing he did....and THIS is what we get.

and now...we've got to find a way to get Morgan, Haleigh...:: looking at Malice and Enchantra:: and Dominique back as well.

He moved to the other side of Karen, helping to hold her up, deciding that there was little to say to help right now about how she felt or her new persona. He waited for Alison to offer a truce and then he spoke.

AND Nicolas as well.

Looking around at the rest of them as different expressions manifested.

What? I know what you may think Seer, and I know that it is in part colored by your own OPINION of Nicolas. The real question is not if you can work with them

Looking at Malice and Helena.

but whether you can realize that part of making this work is trying to free him from this. The fact that he resisted as much as he did WITH that stupid rune from Isis on his chest tells me that if we can free her and have her free HIM, Malice and he TOGETHER will have a chance to defend whatever that...last shit was he did in order to give you guys a shot at beating him. Otherwise, we have one telepathic defender and...be honest Malice...can you possibly protect us all against him? If you cannot, we can't even be in the room with him, no matter what truce we call, no matter what we think we can do together. It will take all of us, including all of those he has taken. Besides, if the rune was not helping him control Nic somehow, why did he not REMOVE it immediately? It is obviously not helping Nic.

He looks around at all of them.

Tell me Alison, do you honestly see us defeating this guy AND Nicolas?

 

[Harbinger]

:: Alison turns and looks at Mike, jutting her jaw in annoyance.::

You don't get it. Do you?

MY concern has ALWAYS been about my FAMILY on this team and from the moment NICOLAS arrived he has been NOTHING but a grand standing, play boy prancing, bravado bearing DOUBLE JERK! Unless your name is MORGAN...and even SHE bristled at some of his behavior.

:: she buried her face in her one free hand.::

And what's worse...is that...i cast a prophecy over Nicolas that night on AERIE. I Told him that in the near future, the TRUTH about himself would be revealed and would not only endanger us, but would forever DAMAGE his standing with the team and NOW look.

Some otherworldy creature claiming to be his "FATHER" has come forth, kidnapped Spellbinder, Black Widow and Isis...and he used Nicolas as his catspaw, but the creature came from WITHIN Nicolas!

:: she turns away from Mike::

You saw what he did to Isis. There's no telling WHAT he'll do to Morgan or to HALEIGH.

Yes...don't THINK that more than ONE of us didnt catch on to what the creature said about HER! Looks like Morgan was destined to be betrayed EITHER WAY, but we cant worry about that now.

:: she struggled to compose herself. there was too much to discuss and she couldnt say it all at once. first thing was first. ::

We need to get out of here...to a medical facility. Aerie doesnt have one...and mansion is badly damaged right now...

But before we can do anything we must recover ourselves, and THEN we must gather information, try to see the bigger picture, use what we've experienced and learned from this battle to form observations and conclusions...only THEN can we go forward.

 

[Arsenal]

Mike was not going to let it drop. Alison had played the victim for the final time with him. She played a part as well, and he decided to tell ehr about it.


YOU are the one who doesn't get it. The fact that you care for no one save a small few is the truest thing you have said in ages. Your prophecies, while correct, are also perpetuated by you. It has never occurred to you that your own actions helped precipitate what was to come, that you YOURSELF not only did not avert disaster, but you helped it along, smug in your perception of its inevitability. Nicolas was cruel and wrong to you that night...but his words were as prophetic in their own way as yours were. You saw a hellish future and coolly walked into it, more interested in being proved correct than in making the future brighter than you saw it. You were right, AGAIN. Happy? Now you blame everyone else who who could not see what you saw for trying to stop it when you MIGHT have been the catalyst to avert this...if you had taken the time to try also, rather than simply condemn.