Frozen

[Seer]

The Parthenon

<< Below ground in the danger room, a truly wild, and out of this world program is underway!>>

<< The program in progress is based on a classic, retro video game, Blazing Lasers., set in deep space, among alien worlds, objects and creatures, but instead of a well armed ship doing the navigation, flying, firing, blasting, and fighting, it is FIREBIRD!>>

<< The program brings this game to "life" in a way that the game itself could never have captured at the time of its release. It is not for the faint of heart, the slow, OR the weak, and Blaze won't run it with anyone who CAN'T keep up!>>

<< Firebird, who can exist in the vacuum of space with no harm to herself, AND who's powers seem to be magnified when operating in open, deep space, moves - in her elemental form- with the unflinching speed of a comet, testing her maneuverability and agility in the face of a volley of oncoming objects, obstacles and creatures. She's ALSO testing her range, strength and skill in the use of her elemental power, using her energy projection to unleash a wide variety of attacks, effects and defenses.>>

<< << The enemies and obstacles in this simulation are not easily destroyed OR avoided, and that's the way she wants it. It gives her PLENTY of opportunities to cut loose, combining her powers in a variety of tactics. She can only hope to get on Silver Swan's level as an aerial combatant, and simulations like this will help her do that!>>


<< In the CONTROL ROOM of the Danger Room, Ruby watches her friend as the systems monitoring Firebird on a variety of levels gather data and stats on the fire elemental.>>

<< For the psionic succubuss, the simulation that is running is about as FAR from anything she's EVER known, even though she's old enough to be Blaze's GREAT grandmother! But their recent experience, facing Badiane, showed Ruby that there's just as much room and possibility for adventure, DANGER, and life changing moments in the stars above as there were in her home of origin.>>

<< As Ruby watches Firebird cut loose, and notes the look on Blaze's face, she sees that the fire elemental will train/FIGHT as HARD as she plays. She proved in their shared "dream" that she'd go into the furthest reaches of space to help a friend, even one that she wasn't on the best of terms with. That sense of duty to FAMILY, that kind of love, was what made the Six's collective heart beat, was what Cameron had tried to impress upon Ruby, and he seems to have succeeded.>>

<< Cass and Blaze have grown so close, and she's developed distinct personal relationships with several other members of the team.>>

<< As Ruby stands in the safety of the control room, watching Firebird battle one of the "BOSSES" in a stage of the program, neither of them knows it just yet...but they're going to face something even more fantastic...and TESTING than the simulation running right now, and Blaze will need something OTHER than her fire power, the kind of support that only a dear friend can provide.>>


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Elsewhere in the Parthenon

<< Cameron King may have tremendous amounts of wealth, a thriving business empire, and possessed of vast psionic power, but NONE of this can help him with a problem he has in front of him, an unexpected bout of BOREDOM.>>

<< Ava is at Minerva's Aerie, Nicolas is away on personal business, Morgan is still off world....nearly everyone is otherwise occupied at the moment, and he has not even been able to get ahold of Alycia, despite several attempts. He doesn't know WHY she won't answer his calls, but he will find out soon.>>

<< Haleigh Davidoff has been in contact with Dominique Deveraux and Richard Martin. She has finally decided to put in motion a plan to accomplish the goal that Dr. Victoria placed before her that could help answer some key questions about the mystery, the PROBLEM of her black outs, and what they may be pointing to. She is not involving anyone else in the Six, and she's counting on Karen to keep her confidance as well.>>

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Parthenon Underground: War Room II

<< Shadow Weaver and MorningStar emerge from a worm hole, immediately followed by Arsenal, Then Silver Swan and Charope, who are on either side of Frost, Orion is behind them, with Recall bringing up the rear. Arrive in another area of the underground structure- The War Room II>>

<< Although the journey was incredibly short, it is filled with trepidation.>>

<< The amazons, and Orion are all committed to supporting Shadow Weaver as she is about to facilitate a very risky but no less necessary gathering. She has the firm support of MorningStar and Arsenal as well, and then there's Recall.>>

<< Would she ever be able to reconcile herself with her long standing issues with the Six? Would she ever see them for who they were TODAY rather than who they were when they failed her?>>

<< It didn't matter who she actively affiliated with, she'd ALWAYS have a unique, and deep tie to the Six just like the others in this assembled group, but while THEY freely acknowledged and celebrated theier ties to this team, she seemed to BALK at her's. Still, if she can't "get behind" Karen in this instance, she CAN allow her care for BLAZE to motivate her, along with Oracle's parting directive to her.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< in a moment when it was JUST her, Recall and Valkyrie>>

<< To Valkyrie>>: There ARE other ways of getting to bottom of things beside force, provocation & antagonizing. This is a "six matter" but Sharon, Alycia & Zach are on MY team now, just as YOU and Vivica are, & they are MY responsibility. When you and Recall talk about a TEAM, it includes THEM.

Mina alerted me that Karen, Delilah, Sharon, Alycia, Zach, and Michael are all affected by some sort of mystical aura right now. This "aura" doesn't register with any magick user that MINA is aware of, and like Frost, it feels WRONG to her.

<< To Valkyrie and Recall>>: Viv is ALSO effected but her own native power is acting as some kind of buffer. If Frost is not who she appears to be, or WORSE, a trap of some sort, OUR people are going to be present wherever it blows up, and beyond that, as a matter of ethics. Shadow Weaver is in distress, and she may need our assistance.

So just because I let them go, doesn't mean that we WON'T be following...<< looking at Recall>> and keeping a CLOSE EYE on this situation.

<< To Recall>>: We ALSO need to try to figure out WHO is behind this, if Frost was NOT actually returned by the Siege, & the Six will likely be too immersed in the emotional fall out of the moment to do that.

<< Zizi squeezes Vivica's hand as she directs her to accompany them. She takes her hand and gives it a hard squeeze.>>

I know you want to stay with us, but you should go as well and help however you can.

<< Sometimes, helping included observation in a way that only Recall could manage. There were many key advantages to having a "quiet" power like Vivica's, and this was going to be one of them. She might even be able to help Oracle determine what...or WHO is behind what is looking more and more like some kind of passive attack on Shadow Weaver, Arsenal, Silver Swan, Charope, Orion, and even Recall.>>

<< But would the conflict she was experiencing - both from her own native power was trying to counteract the effects of the aura surrounding her, AND her wide reaching negative bias toward the Six, HAMPER her ability to be as effective and helpful as Oracle needed...EXPECTED her to be? Would she be as true to her initial desire to help Blaze?>>

<< We're about to find out!>>

<< The group, with Frost, does NOT gather in the Nucleus of the War Room II, but rather a large conference room, capable of seating over a dozen individuals and furnished/equipped to present/relay vast amount of information and allow for in depth discussion. There were other facilities in the realm of this underground structure, but most importantly, it would keep this "FAMILY MATTER" HIDDEN away from prying eyes and minds of the unsuspecting populace above in the Parthenon.>>

<< Once the group , along with Frost, arrive in the situation room, Shadow Weaver, Arsenal, and MorningStar, the only three among them with full authorization, move to the actuall War Room II.>>

<< The doctor looks at Michael and Delilah for a moment, before finally opening a chanel of communication, PRIORITY, that will reach Prophet, Black Widow and Firebird (along witb Ruby) wherever they are.>>

Shadow Weaver: This is an EMERGENCY. Please meet me IN the War Room IMMEDIATELY.

 

[Firebird]

The Parthenon- Danger Room

The Danger Room! It could take you anywhere, places you've been, places you've never been, places that didn't exist anywhere else! It could offer an escape, a fantasy, an adventure, a workout or a truly intergalactic gauntlet that tests your power and how willing you are to use it, how CREATIVE and effective you can be with it!

Blaze admired the Silver Swan. The woman was a physical POWER HOUSE, a polished, yet vicious amazonian fighter, and second to NONE in aerial combat! To be able to FLY, like Spellbinder, and Silver Swan, Firebird did NOT ever take for granted, even in her own native timeline!

She was already VERY good in the air. The years of discovery and learning with Spellbinder had made all the difference, and after she came to the mainstream timeline, she had refined her own aerial combat skills with help and training from Arsenal and Rampage while at Minerva's Aerie.

She and Sharon had worked seamlessly together during the Purifiers caper, MORE than evening the odds against "The Choir" and it was that majorly brutal battle, everyrthing that had been at stake, along with the revelation of the Birds of Prey, that had left an impression on Blaze. She was no slouch by any means, she'd proven that when she MET the mainstreams in her own timeline, and many times since then. She'd demonstrated a level of power, skill and savvy that her crosstime alternate- Foxfire- simply never could. But NOW that she was the one TRUE Blaze in this world, she wanted to surpass her own perception of excellence. She felt like Sharon was a benchmark to reach for and getting there would be hard work, but who said hard work couldn't be creative and FUN at the same time?

Well Blaze Victory KNOWS how to have FUN. She'll MAKE fun out of NOTHING if she has to, as evidenced by the truly "out of this world" program currently running in the Danger Room. It was appropriately named: BLAZING LASERS. >>

"Who needs the ENTERPRISE? Phasers? I've got REAL FIREPOWER!!!"

She yells with exhiliration as she flies like a high powered COMET, zooming, weaving, ducking, dodging, spinning, perform evasive maneauvers to get around all sorts of odd obstacles in this fast moving deep space obstacle course! No starship could ever hope to keep up with her.

And when evasion isn't enough, she engages in powerful fire fights, using her power across its spectrum for a variety of projections, defenses, and effects- to some explosive, SPECTCULAR results!

The program has INCREASING the level of difficulty and danger at a RAPID pace, making sure that Firebird can't just STEAM ROLL her way through the stages of the scenario. She's facing a "REAL AS LIFE" simulation, one that even some of her team mates couldn't be apart of because it's in the vacuum of SPACE.

<< In the CONTROL ROOM of the Danger Room, Ruby watches her friend as the systems monitoring Firebird on a variety of levels gather data and stats on the fire elemental.>>

<< For the psionic succubuss, the simulation that is running is about as FAR from anything she's EVER known, even though she's old enough to be Blaze's GREAT grandmother! But their recent experience, facing Badiane, showed Ruby that there's just as much room and possibility for adventure, DANGER, and life changing moments in the stars above as there were in her home of origin.>>

<< As Ruby watches Firebird cut loose, and notes the look on Blaze's face, she sees that the fire elemental will train/FIGHT as HARD as she plays. She proved in their shared "dream" that she'd go into the furthest reaches of space to help a friend, even one that she wasn't on the best of terms with. That sense of duty to FAMILY, that kind of love, was what made the Six's collective heart beat, was what Cameron had tried to impress upon Ruby, and he seems to have succeeded.>>

<< Cass and Blaze have grown so close, and she's developed distinct personal relationships with several other members of the team.>>

<< As Ruby stands in the safety of the control room, watching Firebird battle one of the "BOSSES" in a stage of the program, neither of them knows it just yet...but they're going to face something even more fantastic...and TESTING than the simulation running right now, and Blaze will need something OTHER than her fire power, the kind of support that only a dear friend can provide.>>

Firebird is now engaged in a fierce battle against a high powered, galaxy class, juggernaut BATTLE SHIP. It's as BEYOND the SENTINELS on earth as the human is beyond the amoeba, and Firebird can't simply power/smash through the ship. It operates with AI and is capable of ADAPTING. The level of energy projection exchanged between her and the ship would have FLATTENED the state of Texas by now, even Ruby is given pause as she loses sight of her "blazing hot" girl in the midst of the "fire fight". After a few dizzying seconds though, Firebird is spotted hovering ABOVE the ship, keeping pace with it's flight pattern.

"Whew! Even in SPACE, there are some who don't get the concept of PERSONAL SPACE!"

Before the ship can lock on to her once more, she thrusts out her arms, ignites her red elemental aura, and unleashes her "phoenix raptor" attack, an explosive, BLAST/FLARE that overloads the ships sensors, FRYING them, FRYING the navigation systems, and completely overwhelming it's shields and propulsion systems. Her attack registers near the PLASMA end of her spectrum as she blows the ship to "kingdom come" sending what parts of it that still remain falling down, radiating with her power signature and crashing into a belt of asteroids further down below

In a brief respite, Firebird continues to hover, still in her elemental form and surrounded by her red aura. She waves to Ruby, who is "far off" in the distance, in the safety of the control room.

But before the next level can begin....

Shadow Weaver: This is an EMERGENCY. Please meet me IN the War Room IMMEDIATELY.

"COMPUTER, END BLAZING LASERS program!"

Computer: Command acknowledged, Authorization: Victory, command processed.

The sound of technology is heard, as the program ENDS. The hard light holograms and everything else shimmer/swirl/fade out and deactivate, returning the Danger Room to its safe, basic form.

Firebird returns to her human form, still surrounded by her red aura, and swoops down, pressing the communicator on her chest.

"Hey Ruby, we'd better make tracks. Shadow Weaver needs us."

Blaze heard the tone in her mom's voice. What was happening? She felt a sense of foreboding as Ruby met her down in the actual space of danger room, and they left together to make their War Room II.

Something's WRONG!

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – Danger Room: Control Room




:: After a much-needed ‘talk’ with her original family, Cass felt lighter…HAPPIER. She had finally come to a place where she felt ready to say goodbye to them, a place that was on HER terms and that was at her OWN time, which was a necessity for anybody mourning/grieving/letting go of loved ones. She would always love her family, and they would never be forgotten by her, but throughout the entire talk, Cass could feel herself letting go of them. The Jeskos would always be a part of her, but Cass knew that it was time to live her life. ::

:: Now she was standing in the control room of the Danger Room with her arms crossed, wearing her costume. She was watching her bestie, Blaze, try out a new program that looked absolutely ridiculous to Cass. ::

WAY too complicated…

:: She glanced at the screens monitoring her friend’s stats and whatnot. She uncrossed her arms and pressed the button that allowed her to make contact with the person in the simulation. ::

“Looking good, Blazing Hot Victory!”

:: It was so weird, being in the control room, yet being able to see what Blaze was seeing without ever having to take part. She liked that…A LOT. Cass wasn’t a big fan of the Danger Room. The simulations were too much for her tastes. She cringed as Blaze dodged yet another ship and winced as Blaze toasted it! But the worse was yet to come in the form of a BATTLE SHIP! Blaze couldn’t just smash through it, at least, not from Cass’ point of view. When the two engaged in some fire fight, Cass was worried when she couldn’t find her friend afterwards! She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted the elemental a few seconds later. Seconds in which she thought that her heart would stop. ::

*mutters*: ”Don’t DO this to me, Victory!”

:: After blowing up the ship, finally, in a brief moment of rest, Blaze waved at Cass who then waved back. Blaze was getting ready for the next level when Karen’s voice came on. ::

This is an EMERGENCY. Please meet me IN the War Room IMMEDIATELY.

That does not sound good.

:: Blaze’s voice came over the communicator just then. ::

Blaze: “Hey Ruby, we better make tracks. Shadow Weaver needs us.”

:: But Cass was already on her way down to the actual Danger Room floor to accompany Blaze to the War Room. ::

“I wonder what’s up?”

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon

:: Cameron was sitting in his home office in his penthouse on the top floor of The Parthenon. He had done about six hours worth of paperwork in just two hours, had approved several staff changes, menu additions and a number of various other mundane tasks that came along with owning a hotel. Normally, This gave Cameron a great amount of energy and pep in his step. But tonight, he was experiencing something rare...BOREDOM. ::

:: Everything was in it's place, moving along nicely and perfectly. There was no life threatening evil he had to face, no inner team conflicts to manage. This was a good thing, but Cameron often liked being in overdrive. He liked being busy and feeling useful and while he rebelled in his free time, nothing was calling to him right now. He was being left alone with his thoughts, and that was never usually a good idea. ::

"There's gotta be something I'm missing.."

:: But there wasn't. His tiring work of keeping everything together was paying off. Just then, the voice of Shadow Weaver flooded through his speaker system. ::

"Dr. V? In the War Room?!"

:: Cameron cast out his senses and immediately picked up on several bodies on the basement levels. One he couldn't fully detect, assuming it to be Karen, and another...an energy that felt familiar but yet he couldn't put his finger on it. ::

"The universe must be punishing me for feeling BORED..."

:: Leaving his apartment, he headed to a private service elevator and began to make his way down the many floors towards Basement Level 2 ::

 

[Recall]

Charope to The Parthenon

:: Oracle's words before they departed were running through Vivica's head as they made their way to The Parthenon. She knew that if The Birds of Prey had any intention of being the team she saw in her head, it meant for Vivica that she needed to give the members who had as deep of an affiliation as she did with The Six a chance. Things had been better between her and Alycia, striking a truce in the infirmary during the Purifiers attack. She had even been given an apology by Morgan herself for what had happened to her all those years ago, an apology that meant the world. But there was a small part of her that still wanted to maintain a distance, scared that she would undo all the work she had put in on herself. It was a fine line for her, something that she had been trying her best to deal with. Her moments of weakness when she wanted to run, was just fear of making the same mistakes again. ::

:: As they appeared in the conference room, Vivica knew that this was an opportunity. She was happy to be working with Oracle and Orion. She had been honored that Zach even thought of her as a fit for the team. Both of them had done so much for her, been such a part of her path towards healing and creating a name for herself. She WANTED to be a member of the team that could be relied on, counted on and looked to for support. And that meant, leaning in when she was afraid, and doing what needed to be done. Tensions were already high and with Jasmine about to be placed face to face with two of her former teammates for the first time since jumping into the Siege, she knew her role was to keep the peace, assess the situation in a way that only she could, and be there when the emotional fallout would be too great for The Six to handle. ::

:: As they gathered in the conference room, Vivica squeezed Karen's hand, looked at Alycia and Sharon, before turning her gaze back towards Shadow Weaver herself. ::

"This will be hard, but we have BOTH of your backs..."

[looking towards Jasmine]

"I promise..."

:: Karen summoned The Six to the conference room and a long and uncomfortable waiting game began. Vivica was already live streaming to Oracle and in her own head was calculating the different variables for how this situation was going to turn out, finding none of them to be particularly positive. She needed to confer with Black Widow, who she could compare a great deal of information with, and she needed to support Karen in keeping the violence to a minimum. Either way, she owed it to herself, her new team, and her old..."friends" to figure out if Jasmine's return was part of something bigger than what was on the surface, and this dark aura around them, something that seemed to almost jam the full scope of Recall's ability, an aura she was unable to confirm, led her to believe that they were only at the tip of an iceberg. Pun intended. ::

 

[Arsenal]

Danger Room II, en route

Valkyrie talked big shit. The funny thing was, she talked it from Charope while Jasmine left with Doc to the Danger Room II. Her words would have bothered him a while back when he felt like he had to 'belong' or somehow 'measure up'. But now? PSHHH!! His job was to do what he had to do. Point blank. He accomplished his objective at the moment and so he allowed a small measure of satisfaction as they brought the group to the conference room.

After they got the rest of the group seated, Mike opened the more secure area and stepped inside with Doc and Delilah. He wished they had more time to prepare for this, he felt that the strain was potentially too great for Karen. But he stayed silent...for NOW. Hopefully they could get this intro done and he could get her to decompress.

He waited, holding Karen's right hand with his left as they awaited the arrival of the others...

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon New York - The Starlight Lounge

Haleigh spent ALL DAY compiling intel on the mysterious Alice. She'd found every reference to the woman in the old Mystech files she still had on archive. She'd investigated every angle she could, and yet..... there was not much to go on. It was very frustrating, but it seemed Alice was very well guarded scientist. Haleigh found an employee file on her, very light on details. Alice was a Biomedical Engineer with decent credentials who had started with Mystech straight out of grad school. She noticed that just about ANY Mystech project involving human genome, stem cell, or genetic engineering had her name attached as a consult. There was only one project she was named "Lead Scientist" on: Project Scion. The revelation is disquieting. The more she finds out, the more she must begin to accept that her blackouts are not just mindgames.... that they might actually be TRUE memories. She obstinately holds on to the theory that this is all an elaborate hoax.

Haleigh reclined in an armchair near the piano, a half empty lowball glass of Maker's 46 in hand, neat. She is dressed for the occasion, classy, not too loud. She watched Damien Rice play the piano. Lisa Hannigan was here as well, sitting atop the piano, an acoustic guitar in her lap. She wasn't playing though, just singing. It was an intimate, haunting performance of their '9 Crimes' duet. A violinist in the background joins in appropriately. It's nice to be present for once, to lay down her burdens about her lineage and let the alcohol relax her, but that didn't mean she was able to forget all concerns. This song had a guilty tone and brings her relationship with Zach to mind. It wasn't going so well anymore, and she knew it was more HER fault than his.

Her tab at the bar is very high, but she hasn't been drinking alone. Dominique Devereaux and Richard Martin have just left after enjoying some of the show, imbibing their choice of beverages, and having a very private conversation with Haleigh. Isis has surprisingly become a very valuable ally for Haleigh, and provided her with a great deal of insider information on Alice's current standing and whereabouts. More than that, a deal has been struck. Haleigh will be able to do what she needs to do without raising any eyebrows at Hellfire.

The song ends, to a round of respectful clapping. Lisa begins to play guitar, and this is a very nice live version of a song Haleigh has always loved, 'Cheers, darlin'.' Damien plays, and sings with a great deal of emotion, Lisa provides some backup vocals. Haleigh cannot help but think of Cameron and his parade of lovers. The more she reflected, the more it seemed like his was trying to sleep with literally every woman she knew. She was tired of denying that it bothered her, but quite mired in the mess they had made together. Thankfully they had developed the ability to work around it, but that didn't mean it was all good between them.

>>Shadow Weaver: This is an EMERGENCY. Please meet me IN the War Room IMMEDIATELY.

She 'hears' the summons in her head and sighs. She just needs time to THINK.... but of course, she won't be allowed that, not while she was a co-leader of The Six. She completely understood why Morgan wouldn't come back. She guzzles her bourbon swiftly, smoothly, and saunters to the bar as the song ends. She tells the bartender to close her tab, leaves a triple digit tip, and meanders through the lounge to the exit. In the elevator, she press checks her pistol out of habit.

She passes the retina scan and enters the lower level, scanning the surveillance cameras for her comrades.

 

[MorningStar]

War Room II

Still concerned about Karen’s well-being, Delilah walked with her through the wormhole. Once the others had come through behind them, she snapped her fingers and the wormhole closed. Delilah ran a hand through her hair. It had already been a long night and at that moment, all she wanted was sleep. The fighting and outright craziness had left her drained - but as happened way too often with the Six, their night was not close to being done.

Leaving the others seated comfortably in the conference room, Delilah followed Mike and Karen into the War Room II. At least here, Delilah knew Karen would be safe from whatever was trying to get at her.

This is an EMERGENCY. Please meet me IN the War Room IMMEDIATELY.

Delilah near collapsed into a chair as Karen made the call to the others.

“And now, we wait.”

 

[Firebird]

The parthenon- The War Room II

“I wonder what’s up?”

"You and me both."

Blaze said with a hint of trepidation as she and Cass made their way to the war room II. They were met by Black Widow and Prophet. Inside, they found Shadow Weaver, Arsenal, & MorningStar!

"Hey guys. "

But there was no room, no time for pleasantries. Something WAS wrong. It was written over Karen's face. Delilah practically slumped into a chair, and Mike looked grim.

"What's wrong?"

She drew near to Karen.

"Mom??"

She searched the witch's emerald green eyes. Even though she was stressed stylishly, and did her best to remain elegaint, Karen looked tired, strained...she should be resting!

Blaze, Cass, Cameron and Haleigh were all operating at a disadvantage at the moment, but karen was about to fill them in...in a BIG way.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The Parthenon- War Room II

Delilah near collapsed into a chair as Karen made the call to the others.

“And now, we wait.”

<< they all arrived. Karen noted each of them as they entered. As a psychotherapist, she understood how hard it would be for each of them to process what she was about to tell them, but she'd be here to help. She was counting on MorningStar and Arsenal's support. Recall seemed to echo the resolve that the members of the Birds of Prey had to help as well.>>

<< But it all fell on HER to get the ball rolling.>>

Thank you all for coming so quickly.

"What's wrong?"

She drew near to Karen.

"Mom??"

She searched the witch's emerald green eyes. Even though she was stressed stylishly, and did her best to remain elegaint, Karen looked tired, strained...she should be resting!

<< Blaze's concern was evident. It echoed Michael's. Karen probably SHOULD be resting. But in her mind, she wouldn't be able to rest, knowing she hadn't done all she could to help Jasmine. They girl had been through so much....and she was another living, breathing, PAINFUL reminder of the legacy of Christopher Victory, who had betrayed and abused ALL of his family: his wife, his daughters...and seemed to have NO regrets. Frost had not gotten the help she needed before, so Karen would correct that now. She hoped the others would understand, and would join her in this effort.>>

<< And now, with Blaze right in front of her, Karen felt her heart racing, she felt the WAVE of anxiety washing over her.>>

<< Michael had been holding her hand. The doctor squeezed his hand before pulling away and stepping forward.>>

There's no easy way to say this.

<< Karen began>>

But it's better to present this information to you first, away from the others.

The "others" being our guests in the situation room, the Birds of Prey: Alycia, Sharon, Zachary, and Vivica. They've provided assistance to us this evening ever since...

<< She looked at each of them, finally settling her gaze on Blaze.>>

...Ever since Jasmine Victory...FROST...fell out of the siege perilous, right in front of Delilah.

She's ALIVE, and we have her here with us, in the situation room.

<< She said it. Frost was ALIVE and HERE with them, in the situation room.>>

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon New York - The War Room II

She passes the Situation Room, and registers 5 occupants. A quick camera check reveals Sharon, Alycia, Zach, Vivica, and the back of someone's head.

Cameron is at the door of the War Room, submitting to the bioscan.

"Any idea who raised hell THIS time?"

She asks, without really expecting an answer. Blaze and Ruby join them and they enter the War Room to find Mike with a dour expression, Karen looking like she hadn't slept in a week, and Delilah seeming drained. Blaze asked questions right away.

Karen: There's no easy way to say this. But it's better to present this information to you first, away from the others. The "others" being our guests in the situation room, the Birds of Prey: Alycia, Sharon, Zachary, and Vivica. They've provided assistance to us this evening ever since... ...Ever since Jasmine Victory ...FROST... fell out of the siege perilous, right in front of Delilah. She's ALIVE, and we have her here with us, in the situation room.

Jasmine Fuckin Victory. Well that's just awesome.

She thought, then tossed a look at Cameron. He would remember the girl, and the headache she was. She passed a quizzical glance to Delilah, who gave confirmation. Maybe Haleigh was being overly skeptical because of her aversion to Frost, but she just couldn't accept this. She'd rather it be Alexis Quartermaine who'd returned from the 'dead'.

"Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

 

[Arsenal]

Everyone made it to the War Room, and Mike realized tfrom the reactions of the trio that greeted them must look like hell. All three lost the smiles they seemed to have before they entered. Blaze led the inquiry from the arrivals.

Karen: There's no easy way to say this. But it's better to present this information to you first, away from the others. The "others" being our guests in the situation room, the Birds of Prey: Alycia, Sharon, Zachary, and Vivica. They've provided assistance to us this evening ever since... ...Ever since Jasmine Victory ...FROST... fell out of the siege perilous, right in front of Delilah. She's ALIVE, and we have her here with us, in the situation room.

This Frost girl must be a mess. You could not have gotten a worse reception if you swore in church.

"Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

Haleigh, we have verified as much as we can given the abilities we had at the time. Doc pieced together her memories, we ALL experienced her powers, Vivica gave us her analysis and the appearance and winning charm, given the stories, seems to be intact. I am sending you the data from my combat headgear now. Please advise.

Haleigh would receive a first person video of the entire scene at the Charope Infirmary unedited. If Mike saw it, so does she now.

 

[MorningStar]

War Room II

Blaze arrived with Ruby, Cameron and Haleigh in tow. Delilah didn’t greet her: she was too tired to pretend and though she could feel bad for Blaze and what was about to happen, that was about all the concern she could muster at the moment.

Karen summed things up, with Mike adding on the details for Haleigh.

"Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

Delilah sat up straighter in her chair.

“All signs point to it being her – BUT – Isis and Mina Harker, and even Vivica, all feel that there’s something not right about her. It’s odd, to say the least. The interesting thing is, she doesn’t remember being anywhere else – as far as she’s concerned, she went into the Siege and came immediately back out of it right here.”

She cracked a half smile.

“And she’s just as pleasant as you will remember.”

 

[Prophet]

The War Room II

Cameron rounded the corner towards the War Room as he caught Haleigh just ahead of him.

Haleigh: "Any idea who raised hell THIS time?"

He smiled for a moment as she entered the room and he entered to see Arsenal, Shadow Weaver and Morningstar. All of them had varying looks of discomfort and stress, but Karen seemed to be almost battleworn. She looked drained of her vitality, and he was picking up spikes of distress and emotional trauma surrounding her. Whatever she gone through tonight, it was definitely still deeply effecting her. She even shook slightly as she spoke. Cameron made his way over to Blaze and Ruby standing to the left of them.

Blaze: "What's wrong? Mom?"

Karen: "There's no easy way to say this..."

"Oh God...what NOW?!"

Instinctively Cameron began to channel an aura of calm around the sorceress as she spoke. Whatever this was, it was very difficult for her to say and it was beginning to put him on edge. What was causing Shadow Weaver to be so nervous and unsettled.

"Dr. V...you're scaring me. What's wrong..?"

Karen: "It's better to present this information to you first, away from the others. The "others" being our guests in the situation room, the Birds of Prey: Alycia, Sharon, Zachary and Vivica. They've provided assistance to us this evening ever since...ever since Jasmine Victory...FORST...fell out of the siege perilous, right in front of Delilah. She's ALIVE, and we have her here with us, in the situation room."

Cameron's eyes widened as he took the news with surprise as well as a little bit of disgust.

"Really? Out of all the people in the galaxy to come back...HER?"

He hid his personal feelings for a moment as he grabbed Blaze's hand in an effort to steady the woman. He was angry. They had all spent so much time trying to get Blaze to stay here in this timeline. They had pulled out all the stops. The matter was settled. And now this? The last time Jasmine was here, she attempted to take OVER Blaze's life and caused a shockwave of pain and paranoia in her wake. Blaze was so happy now, and he would NOT allow anybody to threaten that...even if it WERE really Jasmine. Thankfully everybody was on the same page as him.

Haleigh: "Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

Mike interjected that they had confirmed her identity.

Haleigh, we have verified as much as we can given the abilities we had at the time. Doc pieced together her memories, we ALL experienced her powers, Vivica gave us her analysis and the appearance and winning charm, given the stories, seems to be intact. I am sending you the data from my combat headgear now. Please advise.

Delilah added some information as well.

Delilah sat up straighter in her chair.

“All signs point to it being her – BUT – Isis and Mina Harker, and even Vivica, all feel that there’s something not right about her. It’s odd, to say the least. The interesting thing is, she doesn’t remember being anywhere else – as far as she’s concerned, she went into the Siege and came immediately back out of it right here.”

She cracked a half smile.

“And she’s just as pleasant as you will remember.”

"This is just not good..."

He squeezed Blaze's hand once more before putting his hands on her shoulders, looking at her bright green eyes with a mixture of discomfort and concern for the elemental.

"Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister. I get it. I'd want the same thing. But...the Jasmine you knew...is NOT the Jasmine we knew. We barely got to know her..she inserted herself into The Six, by trying to steal the title to XS after Foxfire's death and forcing herself into our affairs while we were under attack by Pipeline and Rick Riley..."

[thinking for a moment]

"She may have made up for that during Master Mold..but Blaze, I just want to prepare you..just like when you came here and you were so upset at the differences in relationships between you and those in your timelines, Jasmine is no different. And from what I remember...she's REALLY not going to like seeing either Haleigh or myself..and when she finds about YOU...about Firebird? About how the entire team rallied around you and solidified you in the timeline when she felt so lost here...well she is going to be PISSED...I just want you to be prepared..."

[turning towards Karen and the others]

"We need to be prepared too. If even Vivica, a non magick user can detect something is...off about Jasmine, then we have to fill in the blanks. Among other things...I need inside her mind."

His mind was racing and he really wasn't sure what to say about anything. He didn't want to come off as cold and pissed, which he was at this point. There was no way the Siege would send Jasmine back here...right? It was a gem of cosmic judgment. Maybe it realized she had unfinished business here? Maybe this was the best place for her...but why wait until NOW? Wouldn't it have been better for her to show up before Blaze's "debut" as the one true Blaze in this timeline? Cameron could have worked with that. The "dream" they all experienced had been draining but for the first time in a long time, the dark and ominous cloud that had plagued them all for months had been lifted, the skies were clearing and there was a way OUT. And now THIS. He didn't trust Jasmine, he had never trusted Jasmine, and it seemed that she was already working her charm on people like Karen and Delilah. His protective nature was beginning to take over, but he was also deeply concerned for Blaze. He knew she was strong and could handle it, but he didn't want any of the progress she had made to unwravel because of this. She was doing so well...feeling so STRONG. It just seemed like some cruel practical joke and it was pissing Cameron off.

"If Blaze wants to see her right now, then we shouldn't waste any more time. Firebird...what do you want to do?"

He was secretly hoping she wouldn't want to see Jasmine, but he knew Blaze better than that. This was going to be one headache of a reunion.

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – War Room II

”You and me both.”

:: Cass just nodded as they headed for the War Room, where they met Black Widow and Prophet. They all entered the War Room to be met with Mike, Delilah, and Karen, the latter of which looked as if she should be in bed. Cass was immediately worried. Though Karen would never, EVER, replace her own dear mama, she still thought of her as a mother figure. Blaze questioned Karen with great concern. ::

“Yes…what’s wrong?”

There's no easy way to say this.

<< Karen began>>

But it's better to present this information to you first, away from the others.

The "others" being our guests in the situation room, the Birds of Prey: Alycia, Sharon, Zachary, and Vivica. They've provided assistance to us this evening ever since...

<< She looked at each of them, finally settling her gaze on Blaze.>>

...Ever since Jasmine Victory...FROST...fell out of the siege perilous, right in front of Delilah.

She's ALIVE, and we have her here with us, in the situation room.

:: Cass was startled. She had heard about this Jasmine chick from Blaze, so she knew that Jasmine was her sister. She immediately grabbed Blaze’s hand and squeezed it. She also knew how much Blaze MISSED Morgan, and though there hasn’t been time for the two to talk the bizarre dream that the team all had, she figured that that wasn’t helping matters. ::

"Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

“Haleigh’s right; how do we even know that this person is who she says she is?”

:: Blaze was Cass’ BEST FRIEND and so Cass would do ANYTHING to protect her. She wanted to be damn sure that Jasmine was who she is because she didn’t want Blaze to go through the hurt of losing another sister – even though Morgan wasn’t gone for good – again if Jasmine turned out to be phony. There was no sense in setting Blaze’s hopes up to be reunited with her other sister if it turned out that Jasmine wasn’t who she said she was. At least, that’s what Cass thought. Mike stepped in and assured Haleigh that she was, in fact, Jasmine. Cass, however, would reserve judgment until after meeting her. ::

“All signs point to it being her – BUT – Isis and Mina Harker, and even Vivica, all feel that there’s something not right about her. It’s odd, to say the least. The interesting thing is, she doesn’t remember being anywhere else – as far as she’s concerned, she went into the Siege and came immediately back out of it right here.”

:: Okay. THREE people all felt that something was not right. That was fine with Cass. ::

“I don’t really know Isis, and I definitely don’t know this Mina person, but I do know Vivica, and if Isis and Vivi have a weird feeling about her, shouldn’t we exercise caution with her? I mean, we don’t even know for certain WHY she’s back.”

"This is just not good..."

He squeezed Blaze's hand once more before putting his hands on her shoulders, looking at her bright green eyes with a mixture of discomfort and concern for the elemental.

"Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister. I get it. I'd want the same thing. But...the Jasmine you knew...is NOT the Jasmine we knew. We barely got to know her..she inserted herself into The Six, by trying to steal the title to XS after Foxfire's death and forcing herself into our affairs while we were under attack by Pipeline and Rick Riley..."

[thinking for a moment]

"She may have made up for that during Master Mold..but Blaze, I just want to prepare you..just like when you came here and you were so upset at the differences in relationships between you and those in your timelines, Jasmine is no different. And from what I remember...she's REALLY not going to like seeing either Haleigh or myself..and when she finds about YOU...about Firebird? About how the entire team rallied around you and solidified you in the timeline when she felt so lost here...well she is going to be PISSED...I just want you to be prepared..."

[turning towards Karen and the others]

"We need to be prepared too. If even Vivica, a non magick user can detect something is...off about Jasmine, then we have to fill in the blanks. Among other things...I need inside her mind."

"If Blaze wants to see her right now, then we shouldn't waste any more time. Firebird...what do you want to do?"

:: Cass squeezed her friend’s hand again. ::

“He’s right; this is YOUR decision, Blaze.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon New York - The War Room II

Mike: Haleigh, we have verified as much as we can given the abilities we had at the time. Doc pieced together her memories, we ALL experienced her powers, Vivica gave us her analysis and the appearance and winning charm, given the stories, seems to be intact. I am sending you the data from my combat headgear now. Please advise.

"My advice is we send her right the fuck back. Has anyone contacted Harbinger? The Seige is kind of her 'thing'. She could possibly give or deny confirmation that this actually WAS the Seige taking as much a liking to Jasmine as the rest of us. I mean Delilah-- I'm not saying you're seeing things, but we all just experienced a dream that didn't even happen --OR DID IT-- so please allow me to approach this with an appropriate amount of cynicism."

She replied, reviewed the footage from Mike's POV as a picture-in-picture display on her HUD, starting with Mike's arrival at Charope's Infirmary.

Delilah: All signs point to it being her – BUT – Isis and Mina Harker, and even Vivica, all feel that there’s something not right about her. It’s odd, to say the least. The interesting thing is, she doesn’t remember being anywhere else – as far as she’s concerned, she went into the Siege and came immediately back out of it right here.

"That IS interesting, considering how LONG it's been since she jumped into it."

Also interesting: the fact that Dominique hadn't mentioned anything about this situation when they met. But then, their conversation revolved around something else entirely, and Haleigh wouldn't be at ALL surprised to hear that Isis had elected not o be involved in this mess, considering Frost's aforementioned 'charm'.

"Although..... we know that, for example, in Limbo, time spans differently than in this dimension...."

She gave a heavy sigh and rubbed her temples. This was NOT good for her stress levels, and it was completely killing her buzz.

"All this time travel shit gives me a headache."

Delilah: And she’s just as pleasant as you will remember.

"Splendid."

Haleigh replied with a sardonic tone. She was getting to the part of Mike's footage where Frost woke up. Something strange here.... all of the people close to Frost reacted to some kind of stimulus with shock and defense, Mike included, but whatever it was, Haleigh couldn't see it on the actual footage. She paused playback and was about to ask about it when Cameron spoke up, agreeing that this development was not good. He immediately tried to comfort Blaze, an effort Haleigh didn't understand initially.

Cameron: Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister.

That statement struck Haleigh like a tuning fork, and she stared at Cameron and Blaze with a carefully stable expression. Her sister.... Linked through shared paternity.... one Christopher Victory. Haleigh could not even contemplate that right now.

Cameron and CJ offered Blaze some support, while Haleigh manifested a test kit and started to compile a mental report of all the old bio-scan info she had on Jasmine's last visit, including all the Clandestine Inc medical reports from Jasmine's brief stint as a bullet sponge.

"Karen, talk to me. What's your professional opinion here, regarding Frost's state of mind? Is she COHERENT enough to meet Blaze? She always seemed a bit MANIC to me.... I can score some Prozac pretty quickly if you think it'll help chill her out-- heh, unintended pun."

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The War Room II

"Wait, wait, wait. She came out of the Seige Perilous? That's just NOT possible. The Seige Perilous doesn't just spit people back out. I mean, Blaze, Alison and I had to circumvent TIME AND SPACE to bring Morgan back from that thing. Have We VERIFIED that she is who she SAYS she is?"

Delilah sat up straighter in her chair.

“All signs point to it being her – BUT – Isis and Mina Harker, and even Vivica, all feel that there’s something not right about her. It’s odd, to say the least. The interesting thing is, she doesn’t remember being anywhere else – as far as she’s concerned, she went into the Siege and came immediately back out of it right here.”

She cracked a half smile.

“And she’s just as pleasant as you will remember.”

<< Karen nodded as Delilah spoke.>>

I'm not going to simply dismiss their concern, but I think it's worth remembering that even Harbinger lost ALL SIGHT of Jasmine the moment she passed through the siege. She couldn't explain why.

"Karen, talk to me. What's your professional opinion here, regarding Frost's state of mind? Is she COHERENT enough to meet Blaze? She always seemed a bit MANIC to me.... I can score some Prozac pretty quickly if you think it'll help chill her out-- heh, unintended pun."

<< Karen noted Haleigh's preparations. She AGREED with this. They HAD to be sure in everyway that they COULD, but Karen could not stop at hard analysis, technology or science to decide the validity of this girl, or whether she deserved assistance.>>

When a person passes through the siege, they are "blown apart" and then after some sort of cosmic judgement, "rearranged" to present a new aspect of herself. Her very being, including her mana, which would likely be registered by Isis and Mina, would also be effected.

Her state of mind, is...for better or worse...what it should be, considering her history and circumstances...what we KNOW of them.

Please keep in mind...

<< She paused for a moment as she closed her eyes, and swallowed hard, before looking back up at everyone and continuing. It was obvious that Karen was not feeling well. >>

I cast a spell to link with her on the astral plane. I made contact with her soul, AND guided her through the jumbled, fragmented memories of her mind. I journeyed WITH HER astral form as she began to recognize and reestablish her emotional connections and associations with her memories. That CAN'T happen with a person who is, for example, simply GLAMORING and wearing the appearance of Frost.

The memories...the associations...the connections were THERE, including the most primal and PAINFUL ones involving her, Blaze's and Morgan's father.

She's aware, she knows where and WHEN she is. For her, it's the GAP in time, consciousness, and the realization that all of that time has left her NO WHERE other than where she LEAST wanted to be, that is causing her to lash out right now. She feels a sense of loss and betrayal, and she's angry.

<< Karen and Blaze's eyes were fixed on each other, even as the others reacted, and Michael provided additional information to Haleigh. Karen sees the initial, and subtle signs of genuine shock from her daughter, and takes Blaze's hand - the same hand that bears the beautiful, finely crafted, enchanted ring that Karen had given Blaze during her "debutante" ball. This ring was charmed by Karen, imbuing it with the lingering essence of her crosstime alternate Foxfire, essentially causing the room to become a version of a holempathic matrix crystal allowing Firebird to be united with the memory, feeling and legacy of her counterpart.>>

<< Later, Karen cast a "hearing thoughts" spell allowing her and Blaze communicate the same way that she and Morgan, OR Morgan and Blaze, can- telepathically, without any prying eyes or minds.>>

<< That spell activates as Blaze's own initial emotional spark registers with Karen now. They sense each other's feelings and communicate silently.>>

Blaze: "MOM!?"

Karen: I know what you're thinking, and you've every right to. The circumstances surrounding Jasmine's return as as wild and seemingly impossible, but you recall how you met "mainstream" Spellbinder after the one in your native timeline was lost? An EQUALLY wild and seemingly impossible circumstance. This is part and parcel of who we are...not only those who are active in the Six, but our extensions, our allies, our FAMILY. Jasmine...she...your father was incredibly CRUEL to her, and she had little to no chance to recover the way Morgan and yourself did. I know you lost HER in your timeline as well. Stay with me now...I will facilitate this meeting, and I will guide every step of the way. YOU don't have to say anything to the others now. Just decide IF you will see Jasmine, and then...WHAT you will say. I brought her here because what she wanted, more than anything, was to be with her SISTERS again. It's what drove her to pass through the siege perilous in the aftermath of the mastermold....

<< Karen knew Blaze's strong capacity for empathy. It's something that CHristopher hated, but could not "condition" out of her. It's something that allowed her to be an excellent "middle sister" to her native timeline's Morgan and Jasmine, and she knew Blaze would understand the feeling of loss and hopeless that Jasmine must have felt. The fire elemental moved away from her mom and sat down at the circular control console that had a seat for every active member of the Six. She bowed her head for a moment.>>

<< Cameron went to her.>>

"This is just not good..."

He squeezed Blaze's hand once more before putting his hands on her shoulders, looking at her bright green eyes with a mixture of discomfort and concern for the elemental.

"Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister. I get it. I'd want the same thing. But...the Jasmine you knew...is NOT the Jasmine we knew. We barely got to know her..she inserted herself into The Six, by trying to steal the title to XS after Foxfire's death and forcing herself into our affairs while we were under attack by Pipeline and Rick Riley..."

[thinking for a moment]

"She may have made up for that during Master Mold..but Blaze, I just want to prepare you..just like when you came here and you were so upset at the differences in relationships between you and those in your timelines, Jasmine is no different. And from what I remember...she's REALLY not going to like seeing either Haleigh or myself..and when she finds about YOU...about Firebird? About how the entire team rallied around you and solidified you in the timeline when she felt so lost here...well she is going to be PISSED...I just want you to be prepared..."

How well did you know Morgan and Alison before you had to work with them and depend on each other to survive the meltdown of the citadel? Did the revelation that you and Alison were siblings cause you to immediately fall into her arms and trust her? Should WE have been more suspicious of your cycle of returns and disappearances? Should YOU be remembered and measured ONLY by your lowest, weakest moments?

Are you being as fair and objective as you could be right now, Cameron?

Jasmine had a deck stacked high and heavily against her. By the time she escaped Victor Klein, and found Morgan and the rest of you, she may have been conscious, physically intact, but she was hardly in a place of good mental health. Think of an animal that is liberated from, or manages to escape abuse. While that seems like the most important step forward, sometimes in the aftermath, it becomes almost inconsequential, as some are never able to recover, never able to establish and maintain a positive and healthy life or relationships. To compare her adjustment reaction to yours, Haleigh's or anyone else's is unfair. She can't be expected to have the same coping mechanisms or abilities that anyone else has.

Beyond that, my clinical analysis, and PERSONAL awareness of her circumstances PRIOR to her escaping the clutches of Klein leads me to suspect that she was essentially "functioning" in a severe state of mental health crisis up till the moment she cast herself through the siege. No one, INCLUDING MYSELF, during that time, was able to properly address it.

As a doctor, I know that not every patient will be cooperative. That does not negate their right...their NEED for care. There are steps that MUST be taken before a patient is finally just written off. We haven't even BEGUN that here.

Her history with this group was as abbreviated as it was hostile. Jasmine did not have much chance, not like YOU did.


The relationship...or lack thereof, between you, Haleigh and Jasmine has no bearing on her familial bonds, or the need for her to confirm that she is NOT alone in this time and place.

<< Karen's tone was cold, but Cameron had already noted her tired appearance. She was already starting to feel some distress build up in her once again.>>

“I don’t really know Isis, and I definitely don’t know this Mina person, but I do know Vivica, and if Isis and Vivi have a weird feeling about her, shouldn’t we exercise caution with her? I mean, we don’t even know for certain WHY she’s back.”

Of course, and that is why the birds of prey- the ones that are here with us now, escorted us. But let's not confuse caution with negative bias.

I'm WELL AWARE of the risks, everyone in this room knows the RISKS that come with dealing with families like ours...both blood AND surrogate. But that's why WE are supposed to work to minimize and if necessary MITIGATE any risk.

This girl has returned, and still has the potential to wind up with little or NOTHING in the way of a chance at a decent life.

As the mother of BOTH of her sisters, and as a doctor, I'm OBLIGATED to help Jasmine, and to facilitate at least ONE attempt at contact between her and her sisters. It was the revelation that they were both ALIVE that even caused her to calm down and COOPERATE with me up to this point.

I have EVERY intention of assisting Jasmine AND Blaze, but I recognize my limitations...especially given the difficulties I've had this evening following the attack on me outside of Bell Book & Candle.

<< Haleigh, Cameron, and Cass' FIRST time hearing about THIS, but the doctor seemed unwilling to explain further, prompting a silent cue from Michael to the others to let it wait and either HE or Delilah would fill them in on THAT later.>>

This is not a call to battle, but that does not mean that lives and individual well beings aren't at stake.

If anyone can't overcome his or her own negative feelings about Jasmine, then they should leave and not be involved. It is going to be difficult enough without the presence of those who'd rather see this FAIL than yield something positive and productive.

<< Thankfully, Cameron and Cass seemed willing to rally around BLAZE, as did Haleigh. Karen would have gone forward alone if she'd had to but she was more than a little relieved that would not be the case.>>

You've heard the concerns and reactions of the others present, you know something of what "mainstream" Jasmine was like, and I know you are cognizant of what it means to interact with a cross time alternate, and the HEARTBREAK that can come from projecting on to that person something that he or she can't possibly measure up to.

<< She sat down beside her and takes her hands into her own once more. >>

Cameron is not being entirely unreasonable. I DO want you to understand that any expectation you secretly have for this encounter, should you agree to it, will likely lead to disappointment. Jasmine is aware and coherent, but there is a VALLEY between her genuine desire to be reunited with her sisters, and her ability...her emotional INTELLIGENCE to know how to handle and take an active, POSITIVE approach to creating a sustainable connection or relationship. She's operating with a TREMENDOUS disadvantage due to the severe trauma she endured at the hands of her....YOUR father.

In life there are risks from all directions, including, and perhaps most especially, interpersonal relationships.

There's a real possibility that this could be a disaster. BUT there's also a chance here for her, for you, for US to help this girl.

I do want you to know that this is one you do NOT have to take, if you don't feel you can. I can deal with all attempts to try to care for and rehabilitate Jasmine without you, and you will NOT be wrong for that.

As the others have said...it is your choice.

Blaze, are you willing to see Jasmine?

 

[Firebird]

The War Room II

Sometimes the scariest, most mind bending moments aren't because of a monster or an obvious adversary. Sometimes those moments are made possible secret wishes, wild hopes and ideas that just AREN'T supposed to happen. But everything about The Six, each person from the active roster, the reserves, and extended family, was an ongoing testimony to why the world "IMPOSSIBLE" needed to be redefined in the dictionary.

Jasmine Klein...no, SCRATCH THAT, she wasn't a KLEIN, she IS A VICTORY, and she's ALIVE!?

Back at Melrose Place, Blaze and Cameron talked about Blaze's life in her native timeline.

She shared with him how close she'd been both Morgan and Jasmine. HER native sibling dynamic had more advantages than the mainstreams, BUT Firebird ended up being the sole survivor of her original family- her adoptive mother, and her sisters were all destroyed by sentinels. SO, for Blaze, it was toss up. THAT mind set was what allowed her to take that bold, IMPULSIVE leap into the stepping disc to follow after Spellbinder and mainstreams, and the rest, has been history in the making.

Now, the rules that bound most people in this world were being completely ignored, as her mom explained that mainstream Jasmine was BACK. The others REELED, just as she did, but not in the same way OR for the same reasons.

After she and her mom communicated privately, Cameron, whom she was very close to, seemed to know what she was thinking even without reading her thoughts.

"This is just not good..."

He squeezed Blaze's hand once more before putting his hands on her shoulders, looking at her bright green eyes with a mixture of discomfort and concern for the elemental.

"Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister. I get it. I'd want the same thing. But...the Jasmine you knew...is NOT the Jasmine we knew. We barely got to know her..she inserted herself into The Six, by trying to steal the title to XS after Foxfire's death and forcing herself into our affairs while we were under attack by Pipeline and Rick Riley..."

[thinking for a moment]

"She may have made up for that during Master Mold..but Blaze, I just want to prepare you..just like when you came here and you were so upset at the differences in relationships between you and those in your timelines, Jasmine is no different. And from what I remember...she's REALLY not going to like seeing either Haleigh or myself..and when she finds about YOU...about Firebird? About how the entire team rallied around you and solidified you in the timeline when she felt so lost here...well she is going to be PISSED...I just want you to be prepared..."

[turning towards Karen and the others]

"We need to be prepared too. If even Vivica, a non magick user can detect something is...off about Jasmine, then we have to fill in the blanks. Among other things...I need inside her mind."

Blaze shot a look of disapproval toward Cameron, even as Karen countered him.

"Cam, she's JUST had her mind put back together, she's had to face her own memories and all the pain that our father put her through. All she's known is abuse, violence, and the expectation to SUBMIT to being probed and prodded. I went through that too, but not on the level SHE did. HALEIGH has gone through it too."

Blaze couldn't possibly know how IRONIC it was that she would think of @Black Widow when it came to the dark legacy of ABUSE at the hands of Dr. Christopher Victory.

"Jasmine DOESN'T need you inside her head right this second. She needs a CHANCE."

She wasn't mad, or offended, but her instincts to want to help and bring family together were DEFINITELY activated. She knew what it felt like to be lost, ALONE, and worse...have no sense of purpose or identity, and ONLY be seen through the lens of being an extension of somebody ELSE. But just like she dared to follow Morgan and mainstreams, she later dared to let Cameron, Nicolas, and the rest of the fam SHOW HER what she could not see, and HELP her to truly settle in to her rightful place. it wasn't easy, but she'd had HELP. Jasmine never got that.

Now, she was in a unique position, and, with the SUPPORT of Cameron, Cass, her mother, and the others, she COULD possibly help Jasmine

You've heard the concerns and reactions of the others present, you know something of what "mainstream" Jasmine was like, and I know you are cognizant of what it means to interact with a cross time alternate, and the HEARTBREAK that can come from projecting on to that person something that he or she can't possibly measure up to.

<< She sat down beside her and takes her hands into her own once more. >>

Cameron is not being entirely unreasonable. I DO want you to understand that any expectation you secretly have for this encounter, should you agree to it, will likely lead to disappointment. Jasmine is aware and coherent, but there is a VALLEY between her genuine desire to be reunited with her sisters, and her ability...her emotional INTELLIGENCE to know how to handle and take an active, POSITIVE approach to creating a sustainable connection or relationship. She's operating with a TREMENDOUS disadvantage due to the severe trauma she endured at the hands of her....YOUR father.

In life there are risks from all directions, including, and perhaps most especially, interpersonal relationships.

There's a real possibility that this could be a disaster. BUT there's also a chance here for her, for you, for US to help this girl.

I do want you to know that this is one you do NOT have to take, if you don't feel you can. I can deal with all attempts to try to care for and rehabilitate Jasmine without you, and you will NOT be wrong for that.

As the others have said...it is your choice.

Blaze, are you willing to see Jasmine?

She looked at her mom. Delilah and Mike were staying close to her and they looked like they were worried about her, and THAT was another issue on Blaze's mind. what HAD happened outside of bell, book and candle!?

"You won't have to do this alone, Mom. I know what Jasmine represents to you on a certain level, and in spite of how you've suffered, you've tried very hard to close the gap that was caused by one abusive parent. You've shown more care, even now, than she probably ever knew BEFORE."

"Whatever happens now...good or bad...at least there's SOME kind of a chance. She's not dead, she's not lost in the time stream...she's ALIVE."

"I know what I'm risking by agreeing to this, but Cam and Nic cared enough to take a big risk to stop ME from going through the siege. I NEED to try and pay that forward, and who BETTER to do it with than my own sister?"

"But I'm not going to treat this...treat HER like some kind of project, and I'm not going to just LEAP, like I did into the stepping disc. We DO have to be safe. So I'm fine with Haleigh and Viv doing whatever they can to check the background...all of that, just remember...we're not dealing with bio hazard. That's what our father treated her like. We can't expect her to be calm if we bust up in there with a CSI lab and act like we have to DISSECT HER just to decide if she's a person who needs help!"

 

[MorningStar]

War Room II

Delilah was getting a headache. She put a cool hand to her forehead. Things were definitely going to get worse before they got better, now that an atomic bomb had been dropped in the middle of the Six.

“I don’t really know Isis, and I definitely don’t know this Mina person-”

“You should know her…considering she helped save you from the Purifiers…both of them did…”

Delilah had been with Isis during the fight at St. Patrick’s, and though she had slipped out as soon as it was over, she had seen enough of what had occurred there.

"My advice is we send her right the fuck back.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, the headache throbbing in the temples.

“Haleigh…”

That was not helping, or practical. Despite how much they all might WANT to send her back, that wasn’t really an option. At least not until Alison decided to grace them with her presence and bring the gem with her.

I mean Delilah-- I'm not saying you're seeing things, but we all just experienced a dream that didn't even happen --OR DID IT-- so please allow me to approach this with an appropriate amount of cynicism."

“Whether she came through the Siege Perilous or NOT, she’s still HERE, and we need to figure out how we’re going to deal with her.”

"Blaze look...I know the initial feeling here is obviously to go run to your sister. I get it. I'd want the same thing. But...the Jasmine you knew...is NOT the Jasmine we knew. We barely got to know her..she inserted herself into The Six, by trying to steal the title to XS after Foxfire's death and forcing herself into our affairs while we were under attack by Pipeline and Rick Riley..."

It hadn’t been a good time, for them or for their relationship with Jasmine. She had not made many – any – friends among the Six. But she deserved more benefit of the doubt. She interjected gently.

“That was a long time ago, Cam…”

"She may have made up for that during Master Mold..but Blaze, I just want to prepare you..just like when you came here and you were so upset at the differences in relationships between you and those in your timelines, Jasmine is no different. And from what I remember...she's REALLY not going to like seeing either Haleigh or myself..and when she finds about YOU...about Firebird? About how the entire team rallied around you and solidified you in the timeline when she felt so lost here...well she is going to be PISSED...I just want you to be prepared…We need to be prepared too. If even Vivica, a non magick user can detect something is...off about Jasmine, then we have to fill in the blanks. Among other things...I need inside her mind."

Are you being as fair and objective as you could be right now, Cameron?

"Cam, she's JUST had her mind put back together, she's had to face her own memories and all the pain that our father put her through. All she's known is abuse, violence, and the expectation to SUBMIT to being probed and prodded. I went through that too, but not on the level SHE did. HALEIGH has gone through it too."

Blaze and Karen jumped on Cameron – Blaze being particularly harsh, but that was what she was good at.

“You can’t blame Cameron for wanting to be cautious. Caution is not a BAD thing – as long as we still do what’s right. In the end it doesn’t matter what’s happened in our pasts, or how she feels about any of us, it’s about getting Jasmine the help she needs and letting her go her own way, whatever that is.”

Delilah felt like she was putting fingers in the holes in a dam.

“There’s no need for anyone to leave – we all want this to work out, and for NO ONE to get hurt.”

 

[Seer]

And so...

<< After a few moments, The Six were able to gather themselves enough to do what had to be done. Shadow Weaver would facilitate and guide, while Black Widow would work with Recall. Karen had a strong source of support from Delilah and Michael, and Blaze showed courage, empathy and a willingness to try and establish a connection with Jasmine. The basic pieces were there, but there was no guarantee that they'd succeed in coming together.>>

<< If nothing else, and this turned out to be a total disaster, The Birds of Prey would be able to help mitigate any damage from a violent emotional and/or physical fallout. But what kind of toll would that take on Jasmine, Blaze and Karen?>>

<< The time had come for the Six to move to the situation room.>>

<< The doctor enters first with Blaze, hand in hand. They are immediately followed by Delilah, Michael and Cass. Haleigh and Cameron bring up the rear together. It's the first time that any parts of the two teams had been in the same room together since the Purifiers caper, and while they werent battling against a hoard of religious zealots with high powered weapons this time, there was an almost PALPABLE tension in the air.>>

<< A lingering "split screen" view of the Birds of Prey and the Six. >>

<< That view gives way to a new view of Karen and Blaze.>>

<< The final view rests on FROST.>>


<< Everyone takes their places.>>