Gathering at the clock tower

[Isis]

From the Parthenon to the Clock Tower

He liked that Dominique didn't mince words, or shirk from making tough decisions. She wasn't hemming and hawing about trying to save these two.

"I thought Ashley would help but...this thing with Zach...she might not want to so openly go against him. If they attack I know she won't hold back but going to them? I'm not sure. What about the Six? They made this mess, after all."

That "thing" with Zach and Ashley is ABSURD.

:: Dominique immediately replied::

"Emotional renewal" indeed....

:: She mocked, with a haughty, dismssive tone as she gulped down the rest of her hemlock, and then she stood up to return to the bar and poor herself another goblet.::

:: She stopped short of saying that Ashley was trash, and that she couldn't be trusted , she knew Steel would argue her to a stand still about that, and there was no point in wasting time or focused on energy on HER.::

The fact that BOTH of them have made themselves so SCARCE in the middle of a crisis that encompasses ALL of us should let you know where THEIR priorities lie.

And about the Six? They are slightly more cohesive. The confrontation with Persephone was evidence of that. Prophet, Firebird, and my nephew would likely avail themselves to this endeavor, but I'm not quite clear on just WHAT Spellbinder is planning to do. I could easily find out via my nephew, and persuade him to join us in OUR effort.

He stood, steepling his fingers against his lips, and took a few paces while he thought.

"So how do we cut the off from their reinforcements?"

I could summon them BOTH with a spell, to a place of our chosing, where we are ready to strike the final and deadly blow the moment they arrive. Neither of them has the ability to defend themselves against such a move. Between yourself, Richard, Rose, Sharon, and myself, we'd have more than enough raw power to strike them down utterly before they knew what was happening.

The key things to remember are that Black Widow has a psi path with her mother, the White Queen. Even if she were to be rendered unconscious, THAT would register with the White Queen and draw her attention.

The only OTHER thing to consider, are the TWO magick users that the White Queen has added to the Inner Circle. One of them, Talisman, is MY successor in the position of the Black Queen. The other calls himself..."Lord Ravena." I can account for Talisman...but Lord Ravena is...a source of mystery to me.

My runes throughout that mansion continue to hold, allowing me to see and hear all sorts of information...

But there's something about HIM that deeply troubles me.

He looked at Dominique.

"How would they communicate back to Hellfire if they were in trouble?"

Black Widow AND Persephone would have to be rendered unconscious to prevent them from "calling" the White Queen.

Talisman, who is the cross time dimensional mother of Harbinger and Prophet, has the gift of omni-sight, but I could cloud her vision with my own magicks long enough for the rest of you to do what needs to be done.

Are you prepared to take this kind of action, without telling Zizi?

:: Dominique wasn't worried about herself. But she knew Steel had a long standing relationship with Zizi, one that included trust, and if he went behind her back like this, it might change her view of him. Just as she had warned Cameron, AND HALEIGH before when they contemplated certain actions, she gave Steel this moment to consider what he was saying.::

:: She finished her hemlock and stood up::

We have a basic plan and strategy in place, as well as several definite hands to participate in the effort, and once we're done, Richard and I will make sure their bodies are NEVER found.

Think about this for the rest of the day, John.

You, Richard and I can reconvene here, later this evening.

Now....just tell me where you'd like to go...

:: raising her hands a bit, preparing to weave a teleporting spell::

...And I'll send you on your way!

<< Richard had enjoyed his little visit with Blaze Victory, Tinkerbell, and the small white fluffy kitten, perhaps he enjoyed himself MORE than Dominique would life, if she knew. DID she know? was she simply choosing to look the other way because she viewed Blaze with FAVOR? One could not be sure, but for now...all good things....>>

<< Soon, he would hear Dominique's voice, calling him to return to her diamond suite. >>

<< After Steel had left, and Richard returned...>>

I believe we will be taking the lead on "what to do about Black Widow and Persephone" sooner rather than later. I will contact Sharon, but NOT Alycia. Say NOTHING to the others in the Clock Tower about this. I will ask Sharon to contact Rose as well.

You, Steel and myself will reconvene HERE later tonight. But for now?

:: She beckons him over, and takes his hand::

Let us return to the Parthenon.

....my runes there...have allowed me to pick up on an....

:: rolling her aqua blue eyes::

...UNFORTUNATE string of events.

Valkyrie and Orion have returned...the true test is now at hand, and we must lend our support to the Amazons, as well as Zizi and Gabe.

:: And with that, she lifts her other free hand, and activates her teleporting spell once more, a column of golden light spirits her and Richard away. SECONDS LATER, a smaller column of golden light envelops a bottle of HEMLOCK from the bar::

Dominique's voice in the air around her diamond suite: I may need this...

:: And in the twinkling of the sorceress' eye, The golden column of light beams down on the top floor of the clock tower, and Isis and Matrix emerge joining the others, while the bottle of hemlock appears on a nearby table..::

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Sharon shouted back a response to Ashley's question, proving that she WAS, in fact, eavesdropping on them. The corners of Zach's mouth turned downward, the expression of his displeasure. Then he told Ashley about his ancient history with Sharon, because he didn't want it to look like he'd been keeping that info from her, and he fully expected Sharon to use it as a weapon now that he and Ashley were a couple.

Ashley crushed the handle of the first aid kit, and Zach could have sworn he heard a record track screech to a halt. At least she hadn't gripped too tightly with her other hand, which held his. He watched her face carefully. She had that scary smile that didn't match what she felt.

Ashley: Se ti toccherà, mi graffierò gli occhi.

"Notato."

[Noted.]

He said before he leaned over to kiss her temple, thinking that he'd dodged a bullet, and that he would keep a five foot minimum distance from Sharon for at least the rest of the day. Ashley put her hand on his chest again, but this time it wasn't seductive. She found his eyes and asked about Alycia. It wasn't a crazy question, and that was why she'd asked it. He answered truly, silently, with a simple shake of his head.

Ashley: Okay, then. Let's do this.

She said, and she didn't pull her hand away from his, a small fact he was immensely grateful for. He didn't let go of her hand until he had to, because he needed to find a shirt and pull it on. He put his arms into the sleeve holes and ducked his head into the shirt just as Alycia said his name. By the time he'd pulled the hem down to his waist, Xavier was there.

What followed was a short update, as the others discussed where Zizi and Gabe were, and what they were doing, since neither of them had returned. Zach felt his wrath renewed at hearing that Zizi and Gabe were talking on the phone.

Gods only know the guilt-trip he's putting on her for this.

For the first time, he felt bad about losing his temper and striking Gabe. He was torn now, still glad he'd done it, but sorry because his actions had caused strife for Zizi, and all he wanted was to get rid of the thing that was hurting her. That asshole Gabe was probably clever enough to twist this to his advantage, make her feel sorry for him, play the victim, paint Zach the villian, maybe even try to turn Zizi against Zach. He prayed that his friendship with Zizi was strong enough to withstand that kind of assault.

Zach looked from Xavier, to Alycia, to Sharon. From their discussion, and the way they were looking at him now, waiting for him to say something, Zach knew they were not on his side, nor interested in hearing him out. If he tried, it'd be a dead-end debate, and carried the potential for a fight: Him and Ash versus the Amazons. That was NOT why they'd come back to the Clocktower, and further division of the team dynamic would not in any way help with Zizi. If the others wanted to turn a blind eye to the abuse, Zach didn't want to tip his hand.

Ash was still by his side. He turned to her, giving her a meaningful look. They would have to handle this, just the two of them. He stroked his beard as he considered what he could say next to cut the tension. As much as he wanted to tell them to let Persephone have Gabe, that it would be a stroke of EXTREME LUCK, like lightning striking the same person twice, he kept those thoughts to himself. Isis and Matrix appeared, which didn't do much to alter the mood, but it did present an opportunity. There was someone else he wanted to find out about anyway. His gaze moved to Alycia and Sharon.

"How's Jake?"

 

[Steel]

The Parthenon

That "thing" with Zach and Ashley is ABSURD.

John wasn't so sure he would go all the way to absurd...but the words "horny teenagers" did come to mind. What their relationship did do, however, was spread Zach's influence onto Ashley. She would normally be the first one in line to take out two such dangerous threats, but Zach made her a wild card.

The fact that BOTH of them have made themselves so SCARCE in the middle of a crisis that encompasses ALL of us should let you know where THEIR priorities lie.

Steel didn't try to argue the point that he himself had spent most of his time since Zach was released from the Infirmary eating diner food, drinking beer and watching footie.

And about the Six? They are slightly more cohesive. The confrontation with Persephone was evidence of that. Prophet, Firebird, and my nephew would likely avail themselves to this endeavor, but I'm not quite clear on just WHAT Spellbinder is planning to do. I could easily find out via my nephew, and persuade him to join us in OUR effort.

"He would be a great asset - even greater if Spellbinder could be persuaded. But we have to be careful there. There are some who could stop us if they wanted to. And we have to be sure they will not get cold feet when the time comes - these are their former teammates, after all."

He looked at her.

"I know you know this, I'm just saying it out loud."

I could summon them BOTH with a spell, to a place of our choosing, where we are ready to strike the final and deadly blow the moment they arrive. Neither of them has the ability to defend themselves against such a move. Between yourself, Richard, Rose, Sharon, and myself, we'd have more than enough raw power to strike them down utterly before they knew what was happening. The key things to remember are that Black Widow has a psi path with her mother, the White Queen. Even if she were to be rendered unconscious, THAT would register with the White Queen and draw her attention.

"So how do we protect ourselves if she should come to rescue her daughter? Best case scenario we've already eliminated the targets but we would still need to face her. Can we stand against her? Or would we need to run?"

Isis went on to describe the other threats to them.

Talisman, who is the cross time dimensional mother of Harbinger and Prophet, has the gift of omni-sight, but I could cloud her vision with my own magicks long enough for the rest of you to do what needs to be done.

"Can you do the same to Malice?"

Are you prepared to take this kind of action, without telling Zizi?

He looked at her for a long moment, considering.

"Sometimes you have to make the hard decisions to protect the people you care about."

We have a basic plan and strategy in place, as well as several definite hands to participate in the effort, and once we're done, Richard and I will make sure their bodies are NEVER found. Think about this for the rest of the day, John. You, Richard and I can reconvene here, later this evening.

He nodded.

Now....just tell me where you'd like to go...And I'll send you on your way!

He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.

"The Clocktower, please - I have some information to share with Alycia and Zizi."

That weird disorienting sensation took him, and he found himself outside the doors of Zizi's place. Walking in, he found everyone standing there staring at each other. But no Zizi.

"Alright everyone? Is something going on?"

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi blew her nose on the Kleenex Alycia had given her, and wiped her face with her shirt. She felt better after having spoken to Gabe, but that didn't make her less angry with the people upstairs. And she wanted to see him in person, make sure he knew that what Zach did wasn't okay with her, that he was wrong about what he'd said. But Gabe was right, she had to finish the work on Nedry, and the only place to do that was in her apartment.

She rode up the elevator like she was going to her own execution.

Zizi wheeled forcefully through the door, pulling back her hair as she coasted into the main space and her workstation.

"Dennis Nedry."

She didn't look at Zach or Ashley, or any of the others really. But she could feel their eyes on her. It was humiliating.

Zizi brought up Nedry's badge photo on the main holographic screen so they could all see it.

"CFS worker assigned to Rose's case. He continues to harass her. Alycia suspects a link to Hellfire, but we need to prove it. We examined his case history earlier - he was putting heavy pressure on families which we now know to be those of the Purifier orphans. Some of the children earmarked to go to Rose never arrived at the Sanctuary and were never heard from again."

Pictures of the families and children populated the screen as she spoke. Her voice was all business, emotionless.

"We believe Nedry has been targeting families with mutant children for a very long time. The question is: why? Isis remembers seeing Nedry at her own Blackout Party."

Zizi cleared her throat, glossing over the association.

"It's not much of a leap after Black Widow's attempted kidnapping of Jake to see the connection. If I pull up his financial records..."

Statements appeared on the screen.

"Large deposits from an offshore account. A MUCH larger bank account than a low level civil servant would have at his disposal. And large outgoing payments to an escort service."

She glanced at Alycia.

"It will take some time to prove it, but I should be able to trace these deposits back to Hellfire. John, did you get the file?"

Steel stepped up, handing Zizi a flash drive.

Steel: "It's right here."

She plugged it in an opened it up. It was enlightening, to say the least.

"Nedry's been busy. Soliciting prostitution...fraud...falsifying records...this person should never have been able to hold a job at CFS."

Steel [looking at Alycia]: "Remember, these records are sealed. They aren't admissible in court."

Zizi sat back in her chair.

"We'll get the evidence we need. And if we can't, there's always the press..."

Once the story hit the papers, Nedry's career would be over, Hellfire or not.

"Does anyone have anything to add?"

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower

Nice going, Andrew. Ingenuity. And an app for everything these days.

Andrew beamed, miming brushing his shoulder off. And then Sharon started yelling for some reason that Andrew didn't understand, and it kind of hurt his ears.

And then Sharon and Alycia went a little mean girl on Ashley, but at least Alycia seemed to be trying to reel Sharon in.

Is there an app for sending annoying BITCHES [ thumbing back toward the bathroom door] to MARS? Oh never mind, I can put that BITCH in orbit MYSELF!

SHE'S not important. We have so many OTHER things that are at stake, Sharon, things that you and I are BOTH heavily invested in, INCLUDING our recent outreach to Oracle? We can do this....we HAVE to. We don't need HER [ Ashley] to derail us from helping our friends, and putting Nedry to BED.

Andrew rolled his eyes.

"You know, Sharon, you're right. I don't know WHY Ashley doesn't like you."

#sarcasm

Alycia demanded Sharon tell her what Ashley & Zach were saying, which seemed kind of wrong...he kind of thought things that went on in the bathroom were private...and resolved to never use the one at the Clocktower while Sharon was around. But Sharon told them that Zach thought Gabe assaulted Zizi. THAT shocked him. No wonder Zach was beating on the guy.

"Surely Zizi wouldn't just let him go like that...if he had..."

Jesus.

Ashley thinks very little of him...they BOTH do. But neither of them has any LOGICAL evidence to substantiate this claim. It's all born from a..DISLIKE of him.

Well...Dominique and Rich were here earlier...if something happened...THEY would have intervened.

"Look, I never met that Gabe guy before...but I trust Zach. He wouldn't make something like this up, so he must really believe what he's saying. Shouldn't we, you know, just ask Zizi if it's true?"

He licked his dry lips.

"Because if it is..."

Alycia & Sharon talked a little more about Ashley and how awful a person she was, but he was still too shocked at the possibility that someone had actually hurt Zizi that he didn't bother to argue with them.

Sharon told Alycia that Ashley couldn't be trusted.

No, she can't...in MOST things...but her pattern of behavior clearly indicates that she would not knowingly betray or harm Zizi. The fact that she even vocalized concern over the possibility that they made a MISTAKE suggests she might have some BASIC form of conscience, and sense of ethics. We have to focus on THAT. It's all we have at this moment. But I AM terribly concerned about her reckless encouragement of Zach's violence. He's an empath, her boorish ways COULD be effecting him on a level beyond the surface.

"Let me ask you...what would the two of you do if someone did assault Zizi?"

Zach and Ashley returned to the group, and Andrew looked a little sheepish. The tension was broken by Xavier's swift return, letting them know that Zizi was on the phone with Gabe, and that he had put a tracker on Gabe's car.

Andrew smiled.

"Dude! Where did you get a tracker?"

Zach brought the mood back down, asking about little Jake...

"We got him home with no problems."

Andrew thought that Zizi needed to consider installing a revolving door on her place, because Steel came in the door next, looking confused at all of them standing there.

"Alright everyone? Is something going on?"

But he couldn't really put what was happening into words very well.

"Uh...Zach punched Zizi's...boyfriend? Is boyfriend the right word? And he left, and then she left. And here we are."

Steel: "Right."

Zizi breezed right in at that point, going right into a briefing about this guy Nedry, acting like nothing had happened. But Andrew could still tell she'd been crying quite a lot.

"Hey, Zizi, are you okay?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

After Sharon's little temper tantrum, Ashley wasn't surprised to see her and Alycia standing there waiting for them. They didn't have a chance to say much before Xavier breezed in.

Xavier! Did you find Gabe? Is he okay?

"Is HE okay?"

Seriously? Why were they even concerned about Gamer Gabe right now? Ashley looked at the corner of the one monitor, that always showed the feed from the elevator bank. Nothing.

"Where's Zizi?"

I was in the hallway with Zizi, she will return soon. According to Andrew she's outside on the sidewalk.

Sharon reiterated what Xavier had said, that Zizi was talking to Gabe. Zach looked at her pointedly - saying without words that they were on their own because no one else believed them. Maybe they would get lucky, and Gabe was in the process of breaking up with her. Zizi would be upset, but in the long run better off. It annoyed her that she hadn't seen it earlier, thinking Gabe was just a dumb boy who couldn't see what was right in front of him. But now, it made her sick to think she had pushed them together. That she had actually thought that Zizi had a good thing in someone she had known so long falling in love with her. She would take what she and Zach had over someone who made her feel terrible any day. She moved her hand to rub Zach's back.

John showed up - finally - and asked what was going on. Andrew gave a thankfully brief summary.

"Uh...Zach punched Zizi's...boyfriend? Is boyfriend the right word?

"No."

And he left, and then she left. And here we are."

Ash would fill John in properly later, in private. With the facts laid out without interference, she knew John wouldn't stand for this. If anyone would be on board to take care of a problem like this one, it was Steel.

The automatic door opened and Zizi came through it, looking determined and pointedly avoiding their gazes.

"Hey, Zees, could I talk to you in private for a minute?"

Zizi: "No, we don't really have time for that right now."

She went right into a briefing on this guy who was making trouble at the Sanctuary. Zizi went over what they knew so far.

"Large deposits from an offshore account. A MUCH larger bank account than a low level civil servant would have at his disposal. And large outgoing payments to an escort service."

"We should put a tail on him. Guys like this don't change their bad habits."

Zizi cruised on, going through Nedry's police file, which was colorful. She even suggested leaking the file to the press. Ashley's eyes widened. Although it was a fantastic idea and Ashley would do it in a second...Zizi on the other hand would know how hard that could come back on John if he was found out. There is no way she would put him in that position. She was definitely not okay.

"Does anyone have anything to add?"

"Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy."

 

[Matrix]

Duty calls. I kissed Blaze goodbye for now and became a gyrfalcon - seeing Sharon's made me realize how pretty they were- and I flew off the balcony and onto Miss D's, turning back as I walked in to greet her with a hug.

I believe we will be taking the lead on "what to do about Black Widow and Persephone" sooner rather than later. I will contact Sharon, but NOT Alycia. Say NOTHING to the others in the Clock Tower about this. I will ask Sharon to contact Rose as well.

You, Steel and myself will reconvene HERE later tonight. But for now?

:: She beckons him over, and takes his hand::

Let us return to the Parthenon.

....my runes there...have allowed me to pick up on an....

:: rolling her aqua blue eyes::

...UNFORTUNATE string of events.

Valkyrie and Orion have returned...the true test is now at hand, and we must lend our support to the Amazons, as well as Zizi and Gabe.

:: And with that, she lifts her other free hand, and activates her teleporting spell once more, a column of golden light spirits her and Richard away. SECONDS LATER, a smaller column of golden light envelops a bottle of HEMLOCK from the bar::

Dominique's voice in the air around her diamond suite: I may need this...

:: And in the twinkling of the sorceress' eye, The golden column of light beams down on the top floor of the clock tower, and Isis and Matrix emerge joining the others, while the bottle of hemlock appears on a nearby table..::

I smiled. Somebody was about to GET IT. We returned to the Clocktower and found everyone together and looking weird.

"Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy."

Why are you sorry for that Ashley?

I looked around, Zach had a cleaned gash on his face and Zizi had obviously been crying and everyone else was looking like they needed to say something.

When I left, Zizi and Gabe was happy. What the fuck is going on here?

The vibe is off and I have spent too much time at the HC in my life to ignore my gut. I turn to Isis and nod my head to the rest of the room with a questioning eye, then look back.

WHY HAS ZIZ BEEN CRYING?

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Andrew: We got him home with no problems.

Zach nodded, breathing in deeply.

"Good, that's good. But how IS he, though?"

Zach pressed, then Steele let himself in, and everyone exchanged awkward looks when he asked if something was going on. Zach stayed quiet, looking grim. Andrew offered the recap.

Andrew: Uh...Zach punched Zizi's...boyfriend? Is boyfriend the right word?

Ashley interjected with the answer on Zach's mind: a resounding NO, though she kept her volume reasonable.

Andrew: And he left, and then she left. And here we are.

John: Right.

John seemed to realize that now was not a good time to ask for particulars. Zach saw Steele trade a glance with Ashley that gave him hope that they could count on him for backup. The belief that he had support in this worrisome matter helped calm Zach further, and gave him a sense of relief. Zach felt Zizi coming, a sense of dread that crept closer until the door opened and he got the full spectrum of her emotion. His brow crumpled in contrition, as she went by without so much as looking at him. She was mortified, because they all knew, and he felt culpable for that. If he hadn't lost his temper... But if Gabe had been innocent, why had he escalated the fight and then stormed out when the cavalry arrived?

Ashley tried to get a word in private with Zizi, but was quickly shut down in favor of discussing Dennis Nedry. Apparently he was in bed with Hellfire. Zizi gave a concise briefing in a professional tone. There was no hint of her inner turmoil, and there was none of her usual pep either. Zach stayed back, reticent for most of it as he stared out the window, his gaze unfocused.

Zizi: Nedry's been busy. Soliciting prostitution...fraud...falsifying records...this person should never have been able to hold a job at CFS.

Steel [looking at Alycia]: Remember, these records are sealed. They aren't admissible in court.

Zach looked at John, and cleared his throat before speaking up.

"Maybe so, but all facts are considered relevant in a UN hearing. I could get the ball rolling to apply some heat to CFS. Several of Rose's wards have dual citizenship, with the cross section of countries involved it'd be a political nightmare, PLUS the committee for Superhuman Affairs would be in the mix. I don't care how many connections Hellfire has. They'd cut Nedry's strings to make the problem disappear for themselves."

He offered, and then he frowned and shook his head, his eyes downcast.

"But that would put me back in direct contact with Rose and the kids. So if Sharon and Alycia haven't convinced Rose to forgive me for putting the Sanctuary under Clandestine's umbrella of security, then that idea is out."

Zizi: We'll get the evidence we need. And if we can't, there's always the press... Does anyone have anything to add?

Ashley: Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy.

And I'm sorry I didn't punch Gabe LAST NIGHT, when there were less people around.

Zach thought, but he never looked up from the floor.

Rich was in the dark still, and started asking questions. Zach looked up to find Rich had directed the last question at him. Why has Zizi been crying? He took a deep breath, and jumped in front of the bus.

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

It was a shadow of the truth, but maybe it was enough to answer without putting Zizi through any more humiliation. He looked at Zizi, repentant. His gaze bounced off her and then found that interesting knot in the floorboards again.

"Can we just move on now, and go back to figuring out what to do about Rose's problem?"

 

[Matrix]

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

It was a shadow of the truth, but maybe it was enough to answer without putting Zizi through any more humiliation. He looked at Zizi, repentant. His gaze bounced off her and then found that interesting knot in the floorboards again.

"Can we just move on now, and go back to figuring out what to do about Rose's problem?"

We kill that fat motherfucker, lose the files and his snacky-cake stash and don't look back. That one is easy.

Behind me, I can feel Isis smiling.

This...whatever this shit that happened here though...why did you think you needed to hit him? Was Zizi in danger?

 

[Artemis]

The clocktower

Andrew rolled his eyes.

"You know, Sharon, you're right. I don't know WHY Ashley doesn't like you."

#sarcasm

:: Sharon turned once more, to stare at Andrew, the way a bird of prey stares at it's next kill::

Sharon: Listen, you skinny little telephone pole, I don't CARE. Ashley is a bitch, and a bully. Perhaps YOU are turned on by her, and are willing to kiss her ass to earn her favor, but where I come from, BULLIES are to be put in their place.

Alycia: Andrew, just leave it alone. Keep your "captain save a ho" routine for another time. Ashley is not the issue here.

:: Sharon provided Alycia with insight into what Zach and Ashley were saying in the bathroom, and they discussed the situation::

"Look, I never met that Gabe guy before...but I trust Zach. He wouldn't make something like this up, so he must really believe what he's saying. Shouldn't we, you know, just ask Zizi if it's true?"

"Because if it is..."

Do you even understand the severity of what Zach is assuming, IMPLYING? As a prosecutor, I have worked with victims of sex crimes. You don't just ASK them, as if it were some casual conversation piece. Zach wasn't even here, he JUST returned, after being absent for several DAYS...and according to what Sharon just over heard, he and Ashley already had a bias against the man.

Zach may BELIEVE something has happened, but he has NO evidence to substantiate his claim, and his EMPATHY registering extreme emotion from Oracle is hardly a marker, given that emotions are as complex and nuanced as the functions of the human body. A symptom or a feeling can be mistaken for one thing, while the actual CAUSE is something far different.

"Let me ask you...what would the two of you do if someone did assault Zizi?"

:: He clearly didn't know Sharon, OR Alycia. And it was kind of pathetic that he had never taken the time to find out anything about them, FROM them, instead of being driven by the jaundiced narrative provided by someone like Ashley Oldenburg. ::

Sharon: Do you want the "on the record" answer for that, or the "OFF the record" answer?

:: Alycia smirked, Sharon wasn't playing...they both knew what would REALLY happen...BUT....::

Alycia: I'll answer his very GOOD question with BOTH!

As an interpreter of the law, and as a legal counselor with recognition by the state, the UN & the world court, IF something HAS happened, I would be OBLIGATED to deal with it...AND the perpetrator. Before we move to RUIN someone's LIFE, not only his BUT ZIZI'S as well, we MUST find out what happened, the FACTS. not emotion, NOT bias, the facts.

:: This wasn't just about Gabe, Zizi's wellbeing was at stake as well...and beating up someone was NOT going to fix this, OR address the kind of trauma she was being subjected to...by the person(s) who THOUGHT they were helping her.::

:: She looked closely at Andrew::

But on a PERSONAL level? Andrew, I'm the woman who helped set Zizi on the path that lead her to where she is now. I HAVE a personal relationship with her that predates you and nearly everyone in this tower. The "standard" answer that I just gave you? I'm required to. The PERSONAL answer? Let's just say, that I've used my powers...legal AND otherwise, to AVENGE my loved ones. And sometimes? JUSTICE IS REVENGE.

:: One example? The night Alycia assassinated the anti-mutant zealot, the Supreme Pontiff, saving the Six from a mind breaking, and what would have ultimately been a FATAL attack that he subjected them to. She then made him AND the bodies of his followers DISAPPEAR, with the case being CLOSED shortly after that.::

But BEFORE I take ANY action....whether the standard, OR the personal route? I need THE FACTS.

:: Zach and Ashley finally emerged. Sharon stood side by side with Alycia, and before any in depth conversation could be head, Xavier returned, advising them he'd had contact with Gabe, and confirming, along with Sharon, that he and Zizi were talking. Xavier advised he'd put a TRACKER on Xavier's vehicle....which Sharon agreed with as a matter of security and safety...for HIS sake. There WERE real dangers out there, that he would NOT be able to face or handle alone. ::

"How's Jake?"

"We got him home with no problems."

That's not what he's referring to.

Zach nodded, breathing in deeply.

"Good, that's good. But how IS he, though?"

:: Again, tapping into the years of personal friendship, professional relationship , emotional investment, and just KNOWING Zach....::

He's physically whole, Zach. Rose and Rae worked together to ensure he would survive in that sense. His body, and his spirit are in tact...but his mind....

He's showing signs of PTSD, anxiety, and even agoraphobia.

He's afraid to be out in the open.

The road to recovery will be a long one for him, even with Rose's help. She's asked me to reach out to Shadow Weaver for the psychiatric part of this, and I've already done that. I should be hearing from her any time now.

:: She sighed, knowing what he was hoping to hear.::

No...Rose has not relented. The ban is still in place.

:: she said with regret::

Sharon and I are working on it...on HER, Zach. We're trying, but we can't PUSH her too hard. She's been affected by all of this as well, and so far...she's been agreeable, allowing as much help as she had.

:: continuing::

It's worth noting that Rose's meeting with Darren Hudson...

:: resisting the urge to glance at Sharon when mentioning HIS name::

...went VERY well. We had a positive, respectful, PRODUCTIVE meeting, and Rose has expressed willingness to keep the line of communication with him, and by extension, Clandestine Inc, open. I'll talk with Karen, and see if she thinks it's a good idea to bring HIM into the effort that Sharon and I are making on your behalf regarding Jake.

Be patient Zach, it's one of your best qualities...I'll keep you informed about this...and Jake.


:: She hoped that would help him...in the short term. But this moment of her being gentle, and accommodating would soon pass, as the topic shifts::

Walking in, he found everyone standing there staring at each other. But no Zizi.

"Alright everyone? Is something going on?"

:: The amazons turn to look at Steel, and by then, Dominique and Richard arrived::

But he couldn't really put what was happening into words very well.

"Uh...Zach punched Zizi's...boyfriend? Is boyfriend the right word? And he left, and then she left. And here we are."

"No."

And you decide what the status of her relationships are?

John: Right.

:: Shaking her head::

No really, it isn't. There's a lot more at at stake here than JUST physical violence.

:: She looked at Zach, ignoring Ashley::

Zach, you came in here and attacked a man based on an assumption. A TERRIFYING one that you arrived at based on what you registered with your empathy. Are you a NOVICE with your power? Surely you know that like the human body and symptoms, FEELINGS- as nuanced and complex as they are- can be caused by MORE than one kind of situation or event.

BEYOND THAT? The accusations you are making, and let's call it what it is....RAPE...are serious. As a legal officer, neither myself NOR John can turn a blind eye to this, you KNOW that. you KNOW how the LAW works.

You have NO evidence, only an assumption, and STRONG negative bias against a man.

You believe he raped Zizi? Where's your proof?

:: She stepped forward, and exclaimed, as she met Zach's eyes with her own hazel eyes. He'd seen her in this mode before, both as a defender, AND as a prosecutor. He'd WORKED with her so many times...and she was challenging him to meet her on a higher level of thinking now.::

You have a timeline, it could only have happened during the period when Isis and Matrix were in this building, and do you really believe that THEY would have allowed it? Isis, with her runes in place, would have known what was happening and intervened. OR it could have happened when WE were escorting Rose and Jake home, but HOW is that possible, when she was faciliating that operation every step of the way, and was in contact with Rose once we arrived at the Sanctuary, and soon after, Isis sent SEVERAL members of the team back here?

:: Had she been in a court setting, she would have cross examined Zach very hard, and hit "below the belt" with the fact that He'd been absent for two days, and if he'd been THAT concerned for Zizi's safety, he would have RETURNED before hand, but she wasn't out to hurt him now. She wanted him to THINK CLEARLY.::


ZACH. Two lives are at stake, and if you plan to bring someone down? You'd BETTER have the evidence to substantiate this claim.

Did it EVER occurr to you to check the VIDEO FEEDS of the interior of this building during the timeline of this alleged assault? Oracle has a view of every room, INCLUDING HER OWN that is is recorded. Did you THINK to do that before you came in here and attacked Gabe? If you had taken better steps, acted in a way I know you are capable of...we would not...ZIZI would NOT be in this moment right now.

:: She stepped back::

Zach...I've known you for a long time...and right now? I'm a bit dismayed.

I wonder, if you've thought about the irony of this moment. You and Ashley, building up some "case" against Gabe, bad mouthing and denigrating him at every turn because you don't like him...using ANY failing or transgression, real or IMAGINED, to VALIDATE your dislike, and it culminated in THIS.

How is this ANY BETTER than what you've been so frustrated with Sharon and myself over regarding Ashley?

You want US to...see something MORE about HER....but YOU refuse to entertain what Zizi feels about GABE? They have known each other since LONG before EITHER of you appeared in her life, and even before I did. Who are YOU to invalidate that kind of history? You're behaving NO BETTER than you accuse Sharon and I regarding her.

I have been observing Gabe, his overall demeanor, his UNFLINCHING response to the need that Rose had. Do you know what he's done for her, and her children? I watched him with Zizi at her dinner. I may not be an empath, but I know the PROFILE of a rapist when I see one, and he does NOT fit it. He LOVES that girl, and just because he doesn't express that love the way the TWO OF YOU think he should, does not make it ANY LESS genuine. Nor should you be inserting yourselves into Zizi's personal feelings the way you have!

You're wrong here, Zach, and before you compound this mistake, you better pull back, and use the skills that I KNOW you have, to reorient your thinking, AND your behavior, before you try to facilitate the destruction of one life, AND end up costing yourself a very important personal relationship.

:: and with that? ZIZI showed up.::

 

[Isis]

The Clocktower

I was RIGHT to bring along a bottle of hemlock...

:: The sorceress and her ward stood together, to the "9 o'clock" of the amazons. ::

:: This confrontation was "in progress," but she had a leg up on knowing what was happening thanks to her runes::

:: Dominique had expressed concern about Zach's judgement before, and if his seeking "emotional renewal" from someone like Ashley was not something to question, this moment was proof that he was not where he needed to be! ::

:: Did Zach REALLY think that Gabe could attack Zizi with her and Richard in the building, with her RUNES in place, and they NOT know about it...not STOP IT...and DEAL WITH HIM!? Was he THAT out of touch with the capabilities of the people he claimed to respect and trust? Funny how he was so quick to accuse the AMAZONS of bias, but didn't seem to be aware of his own. But there was no need for her to add her voice at this moment. Charope was doing a fantastic job.::



:: and as the legal eagle reached the heart of this matter, Dominique's aqua blue eyes shifted over to Zach. Did he LISTEN? The moment of truth was indeed at hand when....::

Zizi wheeled forcefully through the door, pulling back her hair as she coasted into the main space and her workstation.

"Dennis Nedry."

She didn't look at Zach or Ashley, or any of the others really. But she could feel their eyes on her. It was humiliating.

Zizi brought up Nedry's badge photo on the main holographic screen so they could all see it.

"CFS worker assigned to Rose's case. He continues to harass her. Alycia suspects a link to Hellfire, but we need to prove it. We examined his case history earlier - he was putting heavy pressure on families which we now know to be those of the Purifier orphans. Some of the children earmarked to go to Rose never arrived at the Sanctuary and were never heard from again."

Pictures of the families and children populated the screen as she spoke. Her voice was all business, emotionless.

"We believe Nedry has been targeting families with mutant children for a very long time. The question is: why? Isis remembers seeing Nedry at her own Blackout Party."

:: to answer the WHY. ::

The current Black Queen, Talisman.

She is a techno sorceress, a rare breed in magick circles, and the cross dimensional "mother" of Harbinger and Prophet.

From my runes, affixed throughout the hellfire mansion, I have observed some of her activity. She spends quite a bit of time in her personal domain, performing...experiments.

Rose also told me that the Black Widow confirmed she was going to deliver HIM to Talisman.

Sharon: It's....like Arklay mansion...with my husband and son....

Isis: Regrettably....it is.

:: Isis said coldly::

Alycia: But we can STOP this. We can STOP HIM, and save the rest of Rose's children!

"It's not much of a leap after Black Widow's attempted kidnapping of Jake to see the connection. If I pull up his financial records..."

Statements appeared on the screen.

"Large deposits from an offshore account. A MUCH larger bank account than a low level civil servant would have at his disposal. And large outgoing payments to an escort service."

She glanced at Alycia.

"It will take some time to prove it, but I should be able to trace these deposits back to Hellfire. John, did you get the file?"

Steel stepped up, handing Zizi a flash drive.

She plugged it in an opened it up. It was enlightening, to say the least.

"Nedry's been busy. Soliciting prostitution...fraud...falsifying records...this person should never have been able to hold a job at CFS."

:: It was a pattern Isis had seen before, with William Stryker, but in that case, it was TALISMAN who had been funding him, as well as Ron Davis! ::

"We should put a tail on him. Guys like this don't change their bad habits."

MALICE wouldn't tap into someone...like this. She requires not only a certain type, but a certain aesthetic in order to consider him or her worthy of servicing her- most of all, she does NOT employ FLATSCANS (with the curious, notable exception of Kristin Pratt). But Enchantrah....she is conniving, cunning, and has NO qualms about tapping into the most...UNEXPECTED sources that she knows she can put to use. Talisman appears to be cut from that same cloth as well.

Your search will either lead back to the Red Queen OR the current Black Queen but closer you get, Alycia...the more deadly the journey of exploration will become.

Alycia: Well...Delilah has that covered for me. That's part of what my meeting later tonight is all about.

:: Alycia didn't say with WHOM she'd be meeting, but Isis understood why she would keep that confidential.::

Alycia: THIS isn't about flushing out the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle. I just need iron clad evidence to blow NEDRY out of the water.

:: Dominique nodded with understanding. Steel, Oracle and Charope were putting the pieces together, and a pattern was forming. If anyone could follow that pattern, and would not turn away, no matter what she found, it would be Alycia.::


Steel [looking at Alycia]: "Remember, these records are sealed. They aren't admissible in court."

Alycia: They ARE sealed, but NOT expunged, BUT when it comes to an investigation involving child trafficking, especially if it's being facilitated BY an employee of the state? You know as well as I do that the LAW, on the state AND the federal level makes a clear exception, and will allow for the unsealing of these records.

"Maybe so, but all facts are considered relevant in a UN hearing. I could get the ball rolling to apply some heat to CFS. Several of Rose's wards have dual citizenship, with the cross section of countries involved it'd be a political nightmare, PLUS the committee for Superhuman Affairs would be in the mix. I don't care how many connections Hellfire has. They'd cut Nedry's strings to make the problem disappear for themselves."

Alycia: Exactly. And with my standing with the State, as well as my status with the UN and the world court, I can add momentum to that rolling back.... :: looking at Steel:: AND make sure that this does not come back on YOU, John.

:: Dominique smirked a bit. She thought about the night that the Hellfire Lawyers had put pressure on John's superiors to force him to let Dominique out of custody. How it drove Ashley CRAZY that she'd LOST that gamble. But It was quite clear that he'd gone to great lengths to get these files and that the wrong method could have adverse consequences for him.::

Dominique: AND as an added measure, if it comes to that, Richard and I can help to cover your tracks, John. Remember what we did with Stryker? As I told you during the purifiers caper, the laws of man often do more harm than good where people like US are concerned. JUSTICE helps those who help THEMSELVES.

:: It was a shocking thing...but they had to admit that the former Black Queen and her ward had made SURE that Stryker, who was STILL presumed to be alive and in hiding by the general populace after they exposed him, was actually DEAD, and had vanished WITHOUT a trace...by THEIR hand.::

:: But even as Alycia's plan was being fortified....::

"But that would put me back in direct contact with Rose and the kids. So if Sharon and Alycia haven't convinced Rose to forgive me for putting the Sanctuary under Clandestine's umbrella of security, then that idea is out."

"We'll get the evidence we need. And if we can't, there's always the press..."

Once the story hit the papers, Nedry's career would be over, Hellfire or not.

"Does anyone have anything to add?"

"Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy."

Sharon: oh for goddess sakes....

:: Dominique rolled her aqua blue eyes. This woman had NO sense of decorum AT ALL. This really was NOT the time OR the place...hadn't they heard what Alycia said?::

Why are you sorry for that Ashley?

I looked around, Zach had a cleaned gash on his face and Zizi had obviously been crying and everyone else was looking like they needed to say something.

When I left, Zizi and Gabe was happy. What the fuck is going on here?

The vibe is off and I have spent too much time at the HC in my life to ignore my gut. I turn to Isis and nod my head to the rest of the room with a questioning eye, then look back.

WHY HAS ZIZ BEEN CRYING?

HUSH, Richard!

:: Dominique "said" to him via their private "channel.::

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

It was a shadow of the truth, but maybe it was enough to answer without putting Zizi through any more humiliation. He looked at Zizi, repentant. His gaze bounced off her and then found that interesting knot in the floorboards again.

"Can we just move on now, and go back to figuring out what to do about Rose's problem?"

:: Dominique exhaled slowly::

Zach, it is more than that, and you know it. You wouldn't accept such an "excuse" from Sharon, Alycia or myself, regarding our treatment of Ashley, someone that you inexplicably care about...but your "father knows best" routine with Zizi is not only insulting and offensive to her, it's BENEATH you.

You want us to believe in the good, the POTENTIAL of Valkyrie, but you hold Gabe, a man you haven't seen in 5 years, to an outdated, hypocritical standard, and you've caused Zizi DISTRESS over an allegation you can't even PROVE.

We kill that fat motherfucker, lose the files and his snacky-cake stash and don't look back. That one is easy.

Behind me, I can feel Isis smiling.

That option is certainly not off the table, Richard. But for Rose's sake, we MUST work with ALYCIA'S effort so that she not only STOPS him, but removes his power, AND his ability to do this again to her, those children or anyone else.

We'll not only score a key victory for her, but we'll strike a blow to Talisman and the rest of the Inner Circle.

This...whatever this shit that happened here though...why did you think you needed to hit him? Was Zizi in danger?

Richard, that's enough.

:: Dominique "commands" via their link::

:: To Zach, Richard, and anyone else who was going to try...::

This is not the time or the place. You cannot stand here and speak about Zizi as if she were not here...or INCAPABLE of speaking for herself!

What have I taught you, Richard?

:: She "asked" him pointedly ::

Beyond that, YOU AND I were here earlier. Do you believe that EITHER of us would not have intervened if there had been such an attack!?

Use your critical thinking skills. Recall what Alycia said, and allow Zizi to be the authority on this subject, NOT Zachary!

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

She just had to hold it together long enough to get through this. Then she could send everyone to the apartments they’d be staying in and she could be alone. And they would stop staring at her. And she could breathe again.

She got through what she had to say about Nedry and asked if anyone had anything to add.

"Hey, Zizi, are you okay?"

“I…am fine, thank you Andrew.”

"Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy."

She took a moment before responding.

“Thank you for your apology. But maybe we should just stick to Nedry…”

What had happened between her and Gabe wasn’t Ashley’s fault, but her behavior over the past two days certainly contributed to Gabe’s dislike of her and Zach, and his apparent and understandable desire to never set foot in the Clocktower again. Did she even understand what she had done with her meddling? What Zach had done? But on the other hand, Zizi could tell she WAS sorry, which was a big step for her.

Isis and Rich arrived, suddenly appearing, which didn’t normally bother Zizi but right now it felt like everyone was slowing down in their cars to have a look at the accident. And there were questions.

When I left, Zizi and Gabe was happy. What the fuck is going on here? WHY HAS ZIZ BEEN CRYING?

That almost made her lose it again. Richard was so innocent and caring. And she couldn’t bear for everything to be repeated again. Isis would probably quit again. They all probably would – what kind of leader could she be now, how could they respect her after this?

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

It didn’t escape her attention that Zach didn’t go into his diatribe about Gabe being a dangerous predator. But he didn’t apologize, either. She watched him, his eyes glued to the floor.

This...whatever this shit that happened here though...why did you think you needed to hit him? Was Zizi in danger?

This is not the time or the place. You cannot stand here and speak about Zizi as if she were not here...or INCAPABLE of speaking for herself!

She sighed, then turned her chair around to face everyone.

“Could everyone just please stop arguing? Gabe did not do anything wrong. Nothing happened that doesn’t happen in a million other relationships, and I really don’t want to go into the specifics of that right now. I am fine.”

She turned back towards the console, running tracers on the account number that was paying Nedry.

“Whether I can salvage my relationship remains to be seen, but that is between me and Gabe, and I would appreciate it if everyone would respect that.”

She closed her eyes.

“And trust me, the way I trust you. Everyone keeps jumping to conclusions about everyone else, and being at each other’s throats for no reason. We’re supposed to be a team. In a team everyone has a voice, and you don’t just disregard what one person says because you think you know better.”

Opening her eyes again, she turned around.

“If we kill Nedry, someone else will just slide into his place. We have to bring him down publicly, so the scrutiny is on and they can’t do it again. I can work on the financial end. John, do you have someone who can follow Nedry?”

Steel: “Yeah, I know a PI we can use.”

“Alycia, what else do you need?”

 

[Matrix]

Richard, that's enough.

:: Dominique "commands" via their link::

:: To Zach, Richard, and anyone else who was going to try...::

This is not the time or the place. You cannot stand here and speak about Zizi as if she were not here...or INCAPABLE of speaking for herself!

What have I taught you, Richard?

:: She "asked" him pointedly ::

Beyond that, YOU AND I were here earlier. Do you believe that EITHER of us would not have intervened if there had been such an attack!?

Use your critical thinking skills. Recall what Alycia said, and allow Zizi to be the authority on this subject, NOT Zachary!

I'm sorry, Miss D. It's just - I let my guard down some with Haleigh and so now I am on edge. I spoke with Gabe, let him know how important Zizi was to me, to us. And he was COOL. But so was Haleigh. Maybe I just missed something there. As your Knight, was there something I should have been paying attention to? And that is on my mind now. So I'm sorry, ma'am. Imma just shut up for a while. It's probably better for all of us before I make more mistakes.

You see, Miss D was feeling low about Haleigh, but so was I. Isis had taken care of me, managed her own career, reconciled with Set-boy and even had the courage to roll out when Diana and Helena were being bigger bitches than they already were. Meanwhile, my job is to watch out for us, to be better at that than the next dude, and I got suckered. Hell, I was thinking Haleigh was so cool I might even try to tap that. And now, I feel stupid as hell for it.

I shut up then, and waited to be spoken to or asked to do something. I was not handling this people thing too good tonight.

 

[Isis]

The Clocktower

She sighed, then turned her chair around to face everyone.

“Could everyone just please stop arguing? Gabe did not do anything wrong. Nothing happened that doesn’t happen in a million other relationships, and I really don’t want to go into the specifics of that right now. I am fine.”

She turned back towards the console, running tracers on the account number that was paying Nedry.

“Whether I can salvage my relationship remains to be seen, but that is between me and Gabe, and I would appreciate it if everyone would respect that.”

She closed her eyes.

“And trust me, the way I trust you. Everyone keeps jumping to conclusions about everyone else, and being at each other’s throats for no reason. We’re supposed to be a team. In a team everyone has a voice, and you don’t just disregard what one person says because you think you know better.”

Opening her eyes again, she turned around.

“If we kill Nedry, someone else will just slide into his place. We have to bring him down publicly, so the scrutiny is on and they can’t do it again. I can work on the financial end. John, do you have someone who can follow Nedry?”

Richard can handle that. He can literally become "one of many" faces in the crowd that moves through this city. Nedry would never know OR suspect. As my knight, he is trained in the art of espionage, tracking and hunting. And with my training, along with my spells, Richard's thoughts, are slippery, and VERY hard for a telepath to hold. Malice would have to have a reason to suspect...and then FOCUS.

I'm sorry, Miss D. It's just - I let my guard down some with Haleigh and so now I am on edge. I spoke with Gabe, let him know how important Zizi was to me, to us. And he was COOL. But so was Haleigh. Maybe I just missed something there. As your Knight, was there something I should have been paying attention to? And that is on my mind now. So I'm sorry, ma'am. Imma just shut up for a while. It's probably better for all of us before I make more mistakes.

:: Isis sighed softly, as she wrapped her arm around Richard, and held him close, squeezing him a bit::

The toll of everything from the last few days is getting to us all. We have suffered much, and gained little. And now, on the cusp of what should have been a reformation of this time, and a strong AFFIRMATION...we are faced with THIS.::

:: Dominique "replied" with bitterness in her tone.::

My knight, I remind you to recall Alycia's words. Beyond that, ZIZI's words.

:: She felt, on a level even deeper than this level of their communication, his distress. There was an awareness of how he felt about Haleigh, wondering if he had somehow missed something, and if this situation with Zizi was another similar.::

No, my knight. Haleigh fooled us ALL. And the choice to help her, was MINE.

As for Zizi, She just confirmed that nothing happened. Zach's allegation of Gabe sexually assaulting her is unfounded. You have no reason to be too hard on yourself for failing to prevent something that did not occurr. There's nothing more we can do for her just now, accept to join her in her efforts.

Zach AND Ashley created this needless situation, with their pettyness towards that young man, and their bias. THEY hurt Zizi far more than they helped her...and even now, she's here, trying to focus on the numerous, PRESSING tasks at hand.

Let us add our strength to her's, and make sure that Alycia succeeds in her goal of stopping Nedry before he causes untold damage to Rose, and her surviving children.

As for Zizi and Gabe? We'll see NOW how true Zach is to HIS OWN words to me and to the amazons.

:: But Dominique suspected Ashley, being the stubborn COW that she is, would not let this go. She was probably the enabler of Zach's violence in the first place, and this would confirm what Dominique suspected...the longer he was around her, the more her own negative ways began to seep into his mind and emotional core. ::

:: Everyone else was TRYING to move forward, and the two of them showed up and caused EVERYTHING to lurch backward. Now...once more...they would...TRY AGAIN. But if this couldn't work? Then everything Dominique and Vivica had discussed.....will have turned out to be POINTLESS::

:: But she would have patience...as much as she...and her hemlock could muster...for now. the tasks at hand would also help keep everyone busy.::

“Alycia, what else do you need?”

Alycia: I have a meeting tonight. A contact....essentially a hostile witness...that Delilah is calling in a favor that is owed on. As far as my journey of discovery for more evidence goes? This contact will be my way in to the hellfire mansion, right to the Inner Circle. We don't want to rely TOO heavily on Isis' runes inside the mansion. There's always the possibility that one of the new magick users COULD detect them.

Isis: THAT is remote...BUT not impossible. And Agree. We SHOULD keep that for...

:: Glancing at Steel::

Isis: Strategic purposes.

:: ONLY Richard and Steel would even know what THAT meant. ::

Remember our meeting at my diamond suite tonight. You, Sharon, Steel, and myself.

Alycia: With this insider, I'll get that iron clad trail of evidence that I need, add to that, Oracle cutting him off from his cushy accounts, and Zach and I creating a tidal wave of scrutiny from the UN and the Federal government? The idea of a CORRUPT CFS agent will open the flood gates, and that agency will be FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES to cooperate, and I'll be able to HANG Nedry in court the day he tries to initiate seperation proceedings against Rose!

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

Alycia was going into lawyer mode on Zach, like this was something for her to be RIGHT about rather than looking at the truth, the evidence.

"OR it could have happened when WE were escorting Rose and Jake home, but HOW is that possible, when she was facilitating that operation every step of the way, and was in contact with Rose once we arrived at the Sanctuary, and soon after, Isis sent SEVERAL members of the team back here?"

Ashley spoke up, because that wasn't right.

"When we arrived, there was no one here except Zizi and Gabe - everyone else was still at the Sanctuary. You weren't here, Alycia. You didn't see her. Today or yesterday when he came to pick her up. Can you tell me no bells went off for you at that dinner, that nothing he said to her put her down? It doesn't have to be violent to be wrong."

She couldn't believe how they were ganging up on Zach. Didn't anyone even want to make sure Gabe wasn't bad news for Zizi? Why were they so willing to accept him?

But Zizi came in then, and the conversation - or should she say, cross examination - was cut short.

Ashley couldn't believe Zizi refused to talk to her. She never refused anyone anything. Which was part of the problem. Zizi must be really angry at her, but she and Zach were only trying to help her.

The discussion of Nedry went on, and Ash interjected what she could. But there was something nagging at her the whole time. It bothered her that Zizi was mad at her. And for someone who on any given day most people were mad at, that was something strange. Plus, how could she get her to see that Gabe was only making her miserable if she wouldn't even talk to her?

Zach put out the idea of using his connections at the UN to get Nedry removed, but then realized he wasn't allowed contact with Rose.

"But that would put me back in direct contact with Rose and the kids. So if Sharon and Alycia haven't convinced Rose to forgive me for putting the Sanctuary under Clandestine's umbrella of security, then that idea is out."

He seemed so dejected. She rubbed his back.

"They will. It's a good idea."

We kill that fat motherfucker, lose the files and his snacky-cake stash and don't look back. That one is easy.

Ashley shrugged.

"I'll do it."

But in the end they decided against that.

When Zizi finished, she asked if anyone had anything to add, and Ash spoke up. If she wouldn't talk to her in private, she would just have to say it in front of everyone. They seemed to think that discussing Zizi's life was okay but talking to her directly about it wasn't. Well fuck a doodle doo. But Zizi shut her down again. Her day was made complete by the arrival of Isis, with Rich. Who of course were going to jump on Zach like the rest had.

WHY HAS ZIZ BEEN CRYING?

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

She watched Zach have to parade what he'd done around in front of everyone like he'd been wrong to do it. Isis jumped on Zach too, and she could see him sink even more.

Zach, it is more than that, and you know it. You wouldn't accept such an "excuse" from Sharon, Alycia or myself, regarding our treatment of Ashley, someone that you inexplicably care about...but your "father knows best" routine with Zizi is not only insulting and offensive to her, it's BENEATH you.

You want us to believe in the good, the POTENTIAL of Valkyrie, but you hold Gabe, a man you haven't seen in 5 years, to an outdated, hypocritical standard, and you've caused Zizi DISTRESS over an allegation you can't even PROVE.

"It's not about proof, it's about keeping a friend safe. That's all Zach wants. All he's trying to do."

Zach looked so downtrodden - she could see how much all of this was weighing on him. And everything he had done was because he cared about Zizi and wanted to make sure she was safe. Why didn't anyone get that? If he did that for her? They wouldn't leave bed for a week.

She slid her hand down Zach's back and interlocked her fingers with his, then put her other hand on top of the one she held in her hand. She stayed looking at him. She didn't care just then what the others were saying about her. He had said he wouldn't stand for them treating her badly, but now it was HER turn to take care of HIM.

She could tell Zizi had had enough the moment she turned around to address them as a group. She again denied that Gabe had done anything. But they had seen her, seen him...

“Whether I can salvage my relationship remains to be seen, but that is between me and Gabe, and I would appreciate it if everyone would respect that.”

Ashley looked down. She could see how much Zizi was hurting, and knew it was because she thought she had lost Gabe. How would Ashley feel if she was waiting to see if Zach still cared about her? She turned her head and looked at him. She did feel bad that Zizi had gotten hurt. But wasn't it worth it, if they kept her from being hurt by Gabe the way he had the past two days?

“And trust me, the way I trust you. Everyone keeps jumping to conclusions about everyone else, and being at each other’s throats for no reason. We’re supposed to be a team. In a team everyone has a voice, and you don’t just disregard what one person says because you think you know better.”

Ashley was silent. Oracle went back to wrapping up talking about Nedry, and a plan was outlined.

"Whatever you need, Zizi, I can help."

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower

They waited for Ash & Zach to return from the bathroom, and he listened for a good while to Sharon & Alycia cutting Ashley down behind her back, before he sarcastically told Sharon he couldn't imagine why Ash didn't like her.

Listen, you skinny little telephone pole, I don't CARE. Ashley is a bitch, and a bully. Perhaps YOU are turned on by her, and are willing to kiss her ass to earn her favor, but where I come from, BULLIES are to be put in their place.

He sighed.

"Sorry, but the only bully this skinny telephone pole sees around here, is you."

Andrew, just leave it alone. Keep your "captain save a ho" routine for another time. Ashley is not the issue here.

"Then maybe we could talk about something else."

Zach may BELIEVE something has happened, but he has NO evidence to substantiate his claim, and his EMPATHY registering extreme emotion from Oracle is hardly a marker, given that emotions are as complex and nuanced as the functions of the human body. A symptom or a feeling can be mistaken for one thing, while the actual CAUSE is something far different.

"I can see that happening. Being Zach must suck sometimes. But isn't it worth checking out? If we care about Zizi?"

But on a PERSONAL level? Andrew, I'm the woman who helped set Zizi on the path that lead her to where she is now. I HAVE a personal relationship with her that predates you and nearly everyone in this tower. The "standard" answer that I just gave you? I'm required to. The PERSONAL answer? Let's just say, that I've used my powers...legal AND otherwise, to AVENGE my loved ones. And sometimes? JUSTICE IS REVENGE.

"Exactly, Alycia. Zach just reacted the way any of us would - and maybe more calmly than some of us would - believing what he does. I'm just saying, give him a break."

But BEFORE I take ANY action....whether the standard, OR the personal route? I need THE FACTS.

"But you're not getting the facts. You're just dismissing Zach. You don't have to agree with him, but shouldn't you at least listen to what he has to say and find out if there's any truth to it? If you both know Zach as well as you think you do, you know he wouldn't lie about this."

But his words fell on deaf ears, as Zach & Ashley returned, and Zach got an earful.

ZACH. Two lives are at stake, and if you plan to bring someone down? You'd BETTER have the evidence to substantiate this claim.

Did it EVER occurr to you to check the VIDEO FEEDS of the interior of this building during the timeline of this alleged assault? Oracle has a view of every room, INCLUDING HER OWN that is is recorded. Did you THINK to do that before you came in here and attacked Gabe? If you had taken better steps, acted in a way I know you are capable of...we would not...ZIZI would NOT be in this moment right now.

Oh, god. First, why didn't anyone tell him that everything in this place was recorded? Shouldn't there be one of those little signs? And second, he shivered internally at the thought of spying on Zizi, especially doing...that. He hoped to god no one suggested putting it up on the monitor right now. Videos of Black Widow having sex? Yes. Zizi and some dude? No.

Zizi finally came back upstairs. She went into what they knew about this guy Nedry that was harassing Rose. When she finished, he asked Zizi how she was, and she responded that she was fine. Which made him think she probably was far from it, and it made his heart hurt. This whole thing was such a big ball of suck. He knew Zach didn't mean to hurt Zizi, but he did, and Andrew didn't have any way to fix it.

"Yeah, I do...I'm sorry that I pushed you towards Gabe, Zees. I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I just want you to be happy."

Ashley was all over the place, it looked like. This whole thing must really be getting to her. He'd never seen her apologize for anything before, and the fact that she did it in front of everyone? It was enough to make Andrew think this was all a bad dream. Isis and Rich arrived, and Andrew nodded to Rich in greeting. What a shit thing to walk into the middle of...

WHY HAS ZIZ BEEN CRYING?

He didn't touch that one this time. Zach gave a diplomatic answer, and suggested they move on. Andrew gave him a small smile. He might not necessarily agree with him, but Zach was still his friend, and he felt horrible for him.

But no one would let this go, not even for the time being.

You want us to believe in the good, the POTENTIAL of Valkyrie, but you hold Gabe, a man you haven't seen in 5 years, to an outdated, hypocritical standard, and you've caused Zizi DISTRESS over an allegation you can't even PROVE.

"What matters is what IS, not what we can PROVE. I'm not saying there's anything to prove, necessarily, but this obviously didn't come out of nowhere..."

“Could everyone just please stop arguing? Gabe did not do anything wrong. Nothing happened that doesn’t happen in a million other relationships, and I really don’t want to go into the specifics of that right now. I am fine.”

“And trust me, the way I trust you. Everyone keeps jumping to conclusions about everyone else, and being at each other’s throats for no reason. We’re supposed to be a team. In a team everyone has a voice, and you don’t just disregard what one person says because you think you know better.”

He couldn't disagree with any of that. If anyone deserved to be happy, it was Zizi, as long as she wasn't being hurt. And things DID need to change with how people were treating each other. Zizi went back then to what they were going to do about Nedry.

"Whatever you need, Zizi, I can help."

"Me too. Whatever you need."

 

[Steel]

The Clocktower

What the hell? Had everyone taking crazy juice the past couple of days? He asked what was going on, because everyone seemed really weird.

"Uh...Zach punched Zizi's...boyfriend? Is boyfriend the right word? And he left, and then she left. And here we are."

"Right."

That about as clear as mud. Why had Zach felt the need to punch Zizi's boyfriend? She had a boyfriend? And why did Ashley look so angry when she said he wasn't? He'd get the story from her later. Because Zach wasn't exactly the kind of guy to go around picking fights. Maybe the guy made a pass at Ashley?

And then Alycia said some stuff that made his blood run cold.

BEYOND THAT? The accusations you are making, and let's call it what it is....RAPE...are serious. As a legal officer, neither myself NOR John can turn a blind eye to this, you KNOW that. you KNOW how the LAW works.

"Whoa whoa whoa...rape?"

You believe he raped Zizi? Where's your proof?

"Wait, who raped Zizi?"

He turned towards Zach.

"And all you did was hit the guy? Where is he now? And for that matter, where is Zizi?"

He would do a lot more than hit the asshole. And he could hit a LOT harder than Zach.

I have been observing Gabe, his overall demeanor, his UNFLINCHING response to the need that Rose had. Do you know what he's done for her, and her children? I watched him with Zizi at her dinner. I may not be an empath, but I know the PROFILE of a rapist when I see one, and he does NOT fit it. He LOVES that girl, and just because he doesn't express that love the way the TWO OF YOU think he should, does not make it ANY LESS genuine. Nor should you be inserting yourselves into Zizi's personal feelings the way you have!

You're wrong here, Zach, and before you compound this mistake, you better pull back, and use the skills that I KNOW you have, to reorient your thinking, AND your behavior, before you try to facilitate the destruction of one life, AND end up costing yourself a very important personal relationship.

Steel rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin. He was feeling all kinds of confused. And then Zizi wheeled in, acting like they weren't just talking about the possibility that she had been raped. Which made a case for it, actually. He wanted to pull Zach and Ashley out into the hall and ask them what the HELL was going on, but he didn't. Not yet.

Zizi might have been acting like everything was fine, but she was definitely freezing Ashley out. It looked like they were moving on, though, and he reminded Alycia that the file on Nedry he had brought them was sealed. Zach made a good suggestion about using the UN.

"But that would put me back in direct contact with Rose and the kids. So if Sharon and Alycia haven't convinced Rose to forgive me for putting the Sanctuary under Clandestine's umbrella of security, then that idea is out."

"I'm sure Rose would agree, if it was to help the children. It'll work out mate."

And with my standing with the State, as well as my status with the UN and the world court, I can add momentum to that rolling back.... :: looking at Steel:: AND make sure that this does not come back on YOU, John.

AND as an added measure, if it comes to that, Richard and I can help to cover your tracks, John. Remember what we did with Stryker? As I told you during the purifiers caper, the laws of man often do more harm than good where people like US are concerned. JUSTICE helps those who help THEMSELVES.

He held up a hand.

"Thank you ladies, but I'm not worried. The important thing is getting this scumbag away from children."

Rich asked about what had happened.

"She's very upset with me. I punched Gabe because I think he's an asshole of the highest order. He broke Ava's heart a while back, and I don't want Zizi to be hurt by him. So we had a fist fight, and now he won't come back."

Zach said nothing about rape this time. He didn't know what to think. If this was just a case of two dudes duking it out because of testosterone, then he couldn't help but feel bad for Zizi. Well, he felt bad for her either way, and HOPED this was a misunderstanding as Alycia had said. But needed to be sure - though fighting about it here was going to get nothing accomplished. He watched Zizi, clearly embarrassed by what was going on around her but trying to be strong. Poor girl. But hopefully this was nothing. Guys had tempers, and got angry, but in the end they calm down and see reason.

"Don't worry, Zizi. It'll all blow over. He'll be back."

Unless he did something to you, and then he won't be anywhere.

"Can we just move on now, and go back to figuring out what to do about Rose's problem?"

"Yes, please, mate. Good idea."

Isis was very critical of Zach, and then Zizi finally broke her radio silence on the topic. She asked them to stop arguing about it, and leave her business to her, which sounded like a reasonable request. Which of course he had no intention of honoring once he was out of her apartment. Not until he found out the truth, whatever that was. It didn't seem plausible that Zizi had been raped by this Gabe, for all the reasons that had been mentioned, and Zizi's state herself - but that didn't mean he wasn't going to check it out.

“If we kill Nedry, someone else will just slide into his place. We have to bring him down publicly, so the scrutiny is on and they can’t do it again. I can work on the financial end. John, do you have someone who can follow Nedry?”

“Yeah, I know a PI we can use.”

But Isis wanted Rich to do it. Steel waved his hand in the air, indicating that was fine with him.

"As long as the kid will be safe from Hellfire - I don't want him put in any unnecessary danger."

I have a meeting tonight. A contact....essentially a hostile witness...that Delilah is calling in a favor that is owed on. As far as my journey of discovery for more evidence goes? This contact will be my way in to the hellfire mansion, right to the Inner Circle. We don't want to rely TOO heavily on Isis' runes inside the mansion. There's always the possibility that one of the new magick users COULD detect them.

THAT is remote...BUT not impossible. And Agree. We SHOULD keep that for...Strategic purposes.

"Sounds like a plan. Alycia, do you and Delilah need backup for this meeting?"

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Zach was already depressed about the news of Jake, and the fact that he could do nothing to help him. That was bad enough, and then Alycia had lawyered the hell out of him about Zizi and Gabe. Alycia threw around the word rape, as if Zach had ever said anything to that effect, which he HADN'T, though he did believe it was possible, if not in a directly violent way, which seemed to be Alycia's implication, because she was talking about it all as if it were something that could go to court.

Steele had been immediately alarmed at the topic of discussion, and it'd given Zach a sense of relief that at least, this would not be swept under the rug or ignored just because Zizi might be to embarrassed to admit something was wrong. Zach was about to respond to John, but Alycia spoke first. She was convinced that Gabe was a good guy, and Zach had seen her in this mode before. There was no sense in a rebuttal, he was being shut down.

So even though HIS experience with Gabe had never ONCE been positive, he let the matter drop, because he didn't believe he could change her mind, the others arrived, and he didn't want to have a group debate about it in front of Zizi. The problem was that some of the others DID feel the issue required further attention, and they wanted to address it immediately, regardless of what Zizi, or Zach, desperately wished. So when it came up again, and Zizi's anxiety spiked, he decided to take the heat. He tried to sell some half-truths, and then begged them to move on.

Isis: Zach, it is more than that, and you know it. You wouldn't accept such an "excuse" from Sharon, Alycia or myself, regarding our treatment of Ashley, someone that you inexplicably care about...but your "father knows best" routine with Zizi is not only insulting and offensive to her, it's BENEATH you.

Zach didn't respond, and he didn't look up. His mouth was twisted in a grimace. It wasn't anything like that, but if he defended himself, it'd just drag this out further. He could feel them all. Zizi felt bad, Ashley felt bad, Andrew felt bad, Rich felt bad, and Zach was reaching his limits.

Isis: You want us to believe in the good, the POTENTIAL of Valkyrie, but you hold Gabe, a man you haven't seen in 5 years, to an outdated, hypocritical standard, and you've caused Zizi DISTRESS over an allegation you can't even PROVE.

I'm trying to tell you Gabe is HURTING HER, but you won't LISTEN, Gods DAMN IT!

Zach shook his head, and kept his frustration to himself. He hadn't hit Gabe because he didn't like him, he'd hit him because Zizi had been hurt, but it seemed they were unwilling to look at that, and those who WERE asking questions, like Xavier and Rich, were being hammered down. Zach's concern was being just plain dismissed. Andrew tried to defend him, and so did Ashley.

Ashley took his hand in hers again, and it gave him something nice to cling to. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and turned to look at her. His eyes were bloodshot, his voice was rough and quiet.

"Il mio amore, grazie, ma non c'è bisogno di discutere. Non vedono la sofferenza di Zizi. Hanno deciso che non c'è niente di cui preoccuparsi. Non saranno soddisfatti finché non dico che sono sbagliato."

[My love, thank you, but there is no need to argue. They do not see the suffering of Zizi. They have decided that there is nothing to worry about. They will not be satisfied until I say I'm wrong.]

And right when Zach opened his mouth to say what they wanted to hear, Zizi spoke.

Zizi: Could everyone just please stop arguing? Gabe did not do anything wrong. Nothing happened that doesn’t happen in a million other relationships,

Unfortunately, that statistic is probably true.

He thought, and tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

Zizi: and I really don’t want to go into the specifics of that right now. I am fine. Whether I can salvage my relationship remains to be seen, but that is between me and Gabe, and I would appreciate it if everyone would respect that.

Zach clenched his jaw, and held himself in silence. Ashley had warned him against pushing Zizi too hard, right back into Gabe's arms. So he said nothing more, and stared out the window despondently, as the rest of the group finally went back to Nedry. There was some more discussion, and assorted offerings of assistance.

Not Jake, not Rose. Not Zizi. Not Haleigh, not Ava. Is there anyone I CAN HELP?

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

She nodded as Ashley and Andrew both offered to help. John said he had someone that could tail Nedry, but Isis spoke up.

Richard can handle that.

"As long as the kid will be safe from Hellfire - I don't want him put in any unnecessary danger."

"Agreed. We need to be monitoring him, and ready to assist if things should go south."

With this insider, I'll get that iron clad trail of evidence that I need, add to that, Oracle cutting him off from his cushy accounts, and Zach and I creating a tidal wave of scrutiny from the UN and the Federal government? The idea of a CORRUPT CFS agent will open the flood gates, and that agency will be FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES to cooperate, and I'll be able to HANG Nedry in court the day he tries to initiate separation proceedings against Rose!

"Sounds like we have a plan."

She addressed everyone assembled again.

"Isis' wards are protecting the Clocktower from Black Widow and Persephone. In the interest of safety, I urge you all to spend your nights here for the time being. There's plenty of room."

 

[Cypher]

Gabe arrived at his penthouse office, a few drinks deep already but still feeling like shit. He placed his hand over the square security console by the door, the red screen scanning down his finger tips and hand before turning green.

Good afternoon, Mr. Jerome.

The entire penthouse security systems immediately went up with a 'buzzing' sound as a flash of a forcefield flickered around the panoramic windows before disappearing, indicating that everything was up and functional. He wasn't about to take any more chances in case he was on the Hellfire Club's radar and not just Ava's, and the security system he had at his office rivaled that of The Sanctuary.

Tossing his keys onto the glass table, Gabe walked over to the windows that overlooked the city and quietly stared out for a few moments. He could see The Clocktower and knew that whatever was going on there, it probably wasn't good. Zizi probably felt like shit. He was probably the reason for it. And all was right again in the world of Gabriel Jerome: total fuck up.

Rolling his eyes shut with a sigh, he walked over to his desk and took a seat; immediately slumping back into the chair.

"Monitor on."

The computer of his iMac monitor flicked on, scrolls of data already filled the screen from a project he was working on prior to The Sanctuary. Going to his message tab, he clicked on Zizi.

>>I just got to my office. I'll be here if you still want to talk....If you don't, I understand.

Sending the message via text to her phone, he pushed himself away from his desk, and to the line of liquor bottles that were behind him on the wet bar/shelves. He poured himself a Jameson, slamming it back before pouring himself another.