In your wildest dreams

[Bishop]

The War Room

Ava sauntered over to him and before he could do anything about it, slammed his face into the table then threw him to the ground. He laughed as he spit the blood out of his mouth.

“Hey, babe, I like it rough too...”

She clearly felt the need to show how big and bad she was. He so did not have time for this shit.

"There's a reason why men like you were CASTRATED in my time. You're disgusting. You think they [Haleigh and Delilah] can stop me from killing you? I would do this world a favor by ending your arrogant, self-righteous life right now."

He looked up at her darkly, then stood up, sneering as he wiped at the blood trickling into his mouth with the back of his hand. And then he got in her face.

“Do it. Come on, let’s see those balls of yours. Show me how tough you really are.”

"I know this is about Alexia, and that's your only damn saving grace."

He turned back to the table, and righted his chair roughly before sitting back down. He leaned back on the chair, crossing his arms.

“Oh, there’s no saving me – I promise you that sweets.”

He watched as Haleigh played her POV of the altercation in the park for Ava and CJ.

”Do either of you recognize ANYTHING from that encounter? The Faerie, the carousel, the ship, the music?"

Even though he knew she wasn’t asking him, he didn’t care and gave his two cents.

“The faerie seemed to control…the magick stuff…with the flute. And she kept talking to Alexia about Ororo…and Alexia seemed to think the faerie was her friend. Also, the shield we saw Alexia use - the one that knocked us back - it looked like it was made out of the same stuff as what was around her when she was born.”

He couldn't look at Delilah while he said the last part, but he could feel her eyes boring holes into his skull.

 

[MorningStar]

The War Room

Ava and Bishop were about to whip their dicks out and see whose was the biggest. She honestly wasn’t sure who would win. But they were both dicks, that was for sure. And then with the stupidest move of the year – and that was saying something – Bishop decided to press the issue.

“Do it. Come on, let’s see those balls of yours. Show me how tough you really are.”

Delilah rolled her eyes.

“Oh sit the fuck down. For fuck’s sake, you are such a damn pig.”

She didn’t see the logic in bringing Ava and Cass in, not to mention keeping an injured Bishop with them. If they had to bring in a witch, because they had no other choice, then so be it. But these two were just more cooks in the kitchen to screw things up.

"Cameron went to Aerie to inform the others. We tried to keep this party small while it was still possible, but after THAT mess, we knew it'd require more resources-- including but not limited to the magickal kind."

"And when Cameron comes back alone because they refused to help, we'll have to call Isis."

Delilah watched Haleigh’s playback carefully, trying to notice any detail she had missed. This time around, she saw Sharon go to the ship, almost as if in a trance.

”Do either of you recognize ANYTHING from that encounter? The Faerie, the carousel, the ship, the music?"

Hmm…Haleigh was on to something after all.

“Yeah, you’re both old as hell – ever hear of something like this before?”

“The faerie seemed to control…the magick stuff…with the flute. And she kept talking to Alexia about Ororo…and Alexia seemed to think the faerie was her friend. Also, the shield we saw Alexia use - the one that knocked us back - it looked like it was made out of the same stuff as what was around her when she was born.”

Delilah had her eyes on the video playback, but at this last they darted to Bishop. How dare he talk about that, here, in front of all these people. What, did he want them to think Alexia was a threat? Something they had to destroy?

“She couldn’t help what happened when she was born, Maxim, and YOU know that.”

She looked back at the feed.

“What she did today showed control. She was afraid, and she shielded herself. She didn’t attack anyone.”

 

[Persephone]

Bishop antagonized her back as she knew he would, but Ava turned and watched the feed that Haleigh recorded of their encounter with Alexia and the faerie. It was like a warped Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie on acid.

Haleigh: Do either of you recognize ANYTHING from that encounter? The Faerie, the carousel, the ship, the music?

Delilah: Yeah, you’re both old as hell – ever hear of something like this before?

"Yes, i've encountered these in the past. A faerie is the earliest manifestation of a modern day fairy. Two totally different creatures....a fairy can either be good or dark in nature. They're basically a cross between a human and pagan with magickal powers. THIS [gesturing to the image of the faerie] is a FAE, which is a spirit of the dead task to lure and abduct children. But she's not what we need to be worried about. Faerie's only abduct the children to bring them to their 'master'. There's no way to tell who this other person is, but if they have a Fae in their pocket, that means that they're very ancient and very powerful."

Bishop: The faerie seemed to control…the magick stuff…with the flute. And she kept talking to Alexia about Ororo…and Alexia seemed to think the faerie was her friend.

"Fae use their magick in different ways, this one just opted for a flute. But they're notorious for their manipulation and their games, which is probably how it got Alexia to trust her so easily. She manifests into something fun for Alexia...a little girl, sweet, intriguing, and gains Alexia's trust. That's how these Fae so easily abduct children."

Faerie's, though cute looking, are in fact extremely terrifying and grotesque in nature....but Ava decided to leave that part out. The last thing she wanted was to put that mental image into Delilah's head thinking her child would be scared.

Bishop then mentioned Alexia's shield that she had created. Ava bit the bottom of her lip, knowing that this Faerie targeted Alexia for one reason--she was a powerful CHILD. Whomever this faerie was working for was seriously bad news.

"We need to contact Ororo. Whoever this faerie is working for has the ability to gain access to Limbo, which means she could be hurt...or worse. If Morgan and Alison won't help, we need Isis. Someone with magickal ties...that's the only way we're going to be able to contact Ororo and be able to find Alexia."

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Aerie- The Great Room

:: Morgan and Blaze look at Cameron in disbelief. ALISON glares at him with utter contempt.::

You don't get to come into MY house and think that the way to ask for MY help is by INSULTING me.


:: She was THIS CLOSE to casting Cameron OUT of her house.::

:: But it wasn't till the end of his TIRADE that she softened her glare. It became one of concern...almost PITY. ::

And now that you've become hysterical, Do You think what you've done changes anything?

:: She asked dryly::

You think that you've made a difference in HER life or that it changes the OUTCOME?

:: She scoffed with a laugh.::

You can do everything in your power...and it STILL won't change anything about HER because giving to HER is like giving to a BLACK HOLE.

But you ALWAYS WERE ONE to DEFY convention, weren't you? THAT'S WHY you've found yourself in some PRECARIOUS situations TIME AND TIME AGAIN!

Spellbinder: THIS situation being no exception of course!

WE don't need YOU to remind US of our failures and short comings. We LIVE with them EVERY DAY! WE can talk about the things we've done, ACCOUNT for ourselves AND acknowledge the roles we played in some disaster. We don't BLAME EVERYBODY ELSE for choices we made! WE accept responsibility for our actions. CAN YOU? CAN SHE?

DON'T SPEAK FOR HER, CAMERON. You do a LOUSY job of it

Better yet? just DON'T. SAY. ANOTHER. WORD. or I'll....

:: Seeing Alison rear back like she was about to strike Cameron, Morgan QUICKLY reaches her friend, placing her hands on Alison's arms and gently leading her away from Cameron and over to Nicolas::

Morgan: Just STOP, Cameron! Leave her be. What did you EXPECT she would do with you coming here SHOVING Delilah in her face...AGAIN, so soon after everything! And WE deserve the same respect you think you and Delilah are entitled to. It works BOTH ways. If you think threatening us with YOUR departure is going to scare us, THINK AGAIN. We'll help...but ONLY because our conscience OUT WEIGHS our CONTEMPT for YOU just now.

<< She'd address his VERY inappropriate REVELATION to everyone about her descision not to live at the Parthenon later...PRIVATELY. ONE ON ONE. He was WAY out of line, and SHE was JUST the person to remind him. But FOR NOW, a more pressing matter was at hand.>>

:: Blaze turns to the others in the Great Room::

Blaze: "We're sorry you had to see all this, family pain runs deep...and it's not pretty, but we hope you'll understand that we have to leave now and take care of this. "

<< Spellbinder opens a stepping disc and teleports the five of them away, across the globe, back to the Parthenon.>>

<< the sound of theier high heels announced their impendinding arrival into the War Room, and from the grim looks on Morgan and Alison's faces, Haleigh could tell things hadn't gone well, but for now, she'd have to keep them focused so they could press on together. The new arrivals take their seats Nicolas and Ava representing a "line of dermacation" between a visibly tense and divided team. >>

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Aerie to The Parthenon

Alison: "You don't get to come into MY house and think the way to ask for MY help is by INSULTING me."

"Point taken. Sorry. See how easy that was to say?"

Alison: "And now that you've become hysterical, Do You think what you've done changes anything? You think that you've made a difference in HER life or that it changes the OUTCOME? You can do everything in your power...and it STILL won't change anything about HER because giving to HER is like giving to a BLACK HOLE."

:: Cameron rolled his eyes. ::

"Maybe you're right..I guess taking FROM her is a lot easier."

Alison: "But you ALWAYS WERE ONE to DEFY convention, weren't you? THAT'S WHY you've found yourself in some PRECARIOUS situations TIME AND TIME AGAIN."

Morgan: "THIS situation being no exception of course!"

"So..are we going to do this EVERYTIME I happen to disagree with either of you? Just blame it on the fact that i've always been precocious? Or are we ever going to consider the possibility EVER that I might be RIGHT about a situation. That you might be WRONG?"

Alison: "We don't need YOU to remind US of our failures and short comings. We LIVE with them EVERY DAY! WE can talk about the things we've done, ACCOUNT for ourselves AND acknowledge the roles we played in some disaster. We don't BLAME EVERYBODY ELSE for choices we made! WE accept responsibility for our actions. CAN YOU? CAN SHE?"

:: He shook his head. Alison's words had REALLY hurt him. Cameron shrugged his shoulders. ::

"I take accountability for my actions, Alison. You came to me a LONG time ago when you saw I was on a destructive path..and I took it to heart. I learned from it..and I GREW. And right now? I'm wondering if any of it was worth it? Because you don't see it. You can all SAY how proud you are of me..talk until you are blue in the face..but this whole situation right now? It proves to me that my progress or my WORK in this team is only acknowledged or accepted as long as I agree with everything that either of you do. The second I stand out from that..I'm same old Cameron. Why can't you look at your own brother and understand that after all I have been through..after everything that I worked on..I might be able to come to YOU and let YOU know when you are on a destructive path..something that very well good lead to your DEATH?"

:: Cameron hung his head low for a second, a pained look on his face. ::

"..or does it just not matter because I'm not Morgan?"

Alison: "DON'T SPEAK FOR HER, CAMERON. You do a LOUSY job of it..Better yet? just DON'T. SAY. ANOTHER. WORD. or I'll..."

:: His eyes widened as his sister rose her hand to smack him but was stopped by Morgan. ::

Morgan: "Just STOP, Cameron! Leave her be. What did you EXPECT he would do with you coming here SHOVING Delilah in her face...AGAIN, so soon after everything! And WE deserve the same respect you think you and Delilah are entitled to. It works BOTH ways. If you think threatening us with YOUR departure is going to scare us, THINK AGAIN. We'll help...but ONLY because our conscience OUTWEIGHS our CONTEMPT for YOU just now."

"I'm not trying to scare you..I'm just letting you know that the FURTHER you two spiral into this habit of ENABLING your OWN bad behavior, you might wake up and look around and find out that you don't HAVE a team anymore. And then how long before the two of you TURN on each other. You can say that isn't possible. You BOTH never thought it would happen to Delilah. And now you regard her as if she is human garbage. There doesn't seem to be a CAP on the amount of contempt and anger you are BOTH capable of..and really? It's just sad. So do what your conscience tells you..even though RIGHT now, it should be telling you that the two of you ganging up on me like was BAD. Because MY conscience sure as hell doesn't like this either. At least I can admit it..."

:: Blaze apologizes for the display as Morgan teleports the rest of them to the conference room. He was feeling pretty raw about the situation. It was pretty telling. He knew they were just mad with Delilah. He KNEW they weren't mad at him..but it didn't change what they said. His sister had tried to reveal a private moment from his life out of spite and then tried to smack him. This wasn't okay. And after he had looked after things for Morgan in her absence..her behavior wasn't okay either. ::

:: He gave a "it was brutal but I got them here" look to Haleigh as he sat down at the Conference Table. ::

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – War Room


:: Haleigh tried to explain what had happened but she figured that she’d sound like she was on a drug trip. ::

*quips*: “As opposed to what we face on a regular basis?”

:: Cass settled back and watched the footage that Haleigh had pulled up. It had all the ingredients of a Disney XD tv show: faeries, children, candy ship, and, of course, MUSIC. Cass raised an eyebrow. ::

Haleigh: "Cameron went to Aerie to inform the others. We tried to keep this party small while it was still possible, but after THAT mess, we knew it'd require more resources-- including but not limited to the magickal kind. Do either of you recognize ANYTHING from that encounter? The Faerie, the carousel, the ship, the music?"

Delilah: “Yeah, you’re both old as hell – ever hear of something like this before?”

“Aw, didn’t your mother ever teach you to respect your elders?”

:: Cass snickered and sat back. ::

“Sorry, but I don’t recognize anything from that feed…except that it was like a really bizarre version of Peter Pan.”

:: Ava jumped in with a history lesson on faeries and the fae. Cass nodded in agreement. She, too, had encountered a faerie before only a couple of times. It was while she in London, England, but it wasn’t worth mentioning. She only encountered it, well, HER, when she and her vampire friends all went to this one nightclub way back when. The faerie seemed a bit…annoyed by their presence. Cass decided to tell anyway. ::

"I DID encounter a faerie, as well, but there isn't much I can tell you. It was only in passing as I was with..."

:: She glanced at Ava. ::

"...with a group of vampires. She DID seem perturbed at the sight of them, though."

Delilah: “She couldn’t help what happened when she was born, Maxim, and YOU know that. What she did today showed control. She was afraid, and she shielded herself. She didn’t attack anyone.”

*thoughtfully*: “Let’s keep it that way, then. We have to be smart about this. If we attack the faerie OUTWARDLY, Alexia will see that as an attack on her “friend” and she will most likely attack US. I know I'm stating the obvious, but we don't want that."

Ava: “We need to contact Ororo. Whoever this faerie is working for has the ability to gain access to Limbo, which means she could be hurt...or worse. If Morgan and Alison won't help, we need Isis. Someone with magickal ties...that's the only way we're going to be able to contact Ororo and be able to find Alexia.”

“Ava’s right; we need help. My main concern is for ALL the children aboard that ship, but we DO need to be smart about this. We can’t just arrive on the scene guns blazing and all that. That would only scare the kidlets and then, surely, the faerie would manipulate all of them to attack us.”

:: Cass sighed audibly. ::

*mutters*: “I don’t need to see MORE children dying.”

:: The clacking of heels announced the arrival of more team members and Cass smiled in spite of the tension in the room. Her FAMILY was here, and they were going to save those children and Alexia. She stood up. Cass didn’t normally do this, but her main concern WAS for the children and she hoped that everybody can put their shit away in order to help save the children…as well as Sharon. ::

“OKAY! I know that people have a problem with me and I have a problem with them as well. Likewise, I know that people have a problem with certain people in this room and vice versa. HOWEVER, could we just PLEASE put our shit away for the moment and focus on saving Alexia and the REST of the children? As well as rescuing our dear friend, Sharon?”

 

[Firebird]

The Parthenon- War Room

Blaze looks crestfallen as Alison and Morgan pile it on Cameron. She was not a fan of Delilah's behavior right now either, but Cameron appealed to her heart and she felt TERRIBLY convicted. She remembered the unwavering support Delilah gave Morgan before AND after the Inferno. How she'd always been there for the family, she WAS family. Maybe it didn't FEEL like it right now, but she said it herself...sometimes family issues are UGLY, painful and RUN DEEP.

Yeah, Cameron was provocative, but Blaze couldn't help but remember how she had often had several pairs of eyes on HER when she suggested something or stood by a point of view that was unpopular. He was trying to do what he thought was right.


As they left Minerva's Aerie and returned to the Parthenon via stepping disc, Blaze said this quietly and without any hint of hostility.

"BOTH sides are going to have to feel like it's SAFE to come closer to each other, Cameron. They're hurting every bit as much as SHE is and this pain is touching ALL of us. In times past...even in these bad moments, when an emergency arose, the Six came together to do what must be done. Let's hope this time is no different."

And after THAT!?

She thought to herself as she walked, now in her costume, and her high heeled boots added to the noise on the floor leading to the war room.

Inside, they found Black Widow, Persephone, Ruby, MorningStar and Bishop.

Blaze's apple green eyes looked upon each person, not worried if any of them avoided eye contact or not.

Blaze took the empty seat next to Cass, with Morgan sitting next to Blaze, followed by Alison and Nicolas.


Finally, the fire elemental rested her eyes on Black Widow before...

“OKAY! I know that people have a problem with me and I have a problem with them as well. Likewise, I know that people have a problem with certain people in this room and vice versa. HOWEVER, could we just PLEASE put our shit away for the moment and focus on saving Alexia and the REST of the children? As well as rescuing our dear friend, Sharon?”

Looking at Cass once more, Blaze nodded slowly in agreement.

"We're ready."

She then looked at Morgan and touched her sister's arm gently with reassurance.

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon: War Room



Delilah: And when Cameron comes back alone because they refused to help, we'll have to call Isis.

"Sure, we can call Isis. They're gonna need a healer for the ass-whooping I give them for refusing to help."

She deadpanned. They were going to help, she had no doubt. If she had to drag them kicking and screaming, then she would. Hell, she might even have to remind them what 'I don't CARE if you hate me' REALLY looked like, but they'd help.

They discussed Alexia's display of power briefly. It was a complete unknown, since theoretically the girl had at least a FEW years of training under Ororo. What she used to be capable of didn't lend much certainty to what she might be capable of NOW. Powers matured at a unique rate in each mutant.

Delilah: What she did today showed control. She was afraid, and she shielded herself. She didn’t attack anyone.

Cass: Let’s keep it that way, then. We have to be smart about this. If we attack the faerie OUTWARDLY, Alexia will see that as an attack on her “friend” and she will most likely attack US. I know I'm stating the obvious, but we don't want that.

"Agreed. Alexia responded to us as if we were a threat. She protected herself, and that's GOOD, don't get me wrong, but she did that at the FAERIE'S command. We need to get Alexia on OUR 'team' ASAP, because the more time little miss faerie fucckface spends with her, the more likely she will be to attack us."

Ava was able to provide Intel on Fae, and THAT was helpful, knowing what they could expect, but Haleigh sighed and sat next to Delilah.

"What I wanted to hear was 'oh, it'll be fine, they ran off to fuccking Ferngully together, she's having a grand old time and a colorful, candy filled adventure, and we just need to wormhole there and pick her up after her sugar crash.'"

Cass: Ava’s right; we need help. My main concern is for ALL the children aboard that ship, but we DO need to be smart about this.

Haleigh was about to say 'forget the rest of those kids, they're expendable', but then she caught herself. SHE might find that loss acceptable in exchange for Alexia, but she knew better than to say THAT out loud. It was the kind of off-the-cuff statement that made her so despised in the early days of the Six.

"Alexia is our TOP PRIORITY. If we can save those other kids, great. But we need EVERY pair of eyes looking for Alexia, at ANY expense. We cannot afford to render any additional assistance until we secure Delilah's daughter. I can't be any clearer."

Cass: I don’t need to see MORE children dying.

"Who DOES?"

She replied, as the echo of footfalls sounded in the hallway. It was Cameron, returning with the group from Aerie. Alison, Morgan, Nic, and Blaze, the gang was all here. They all wore displeased expressions, to varying degrees. Haleigh greeted them each as they arrived. Cameron was last in the door, and he looked like he'd just been slapped. Haleigh felt a spike of anger at the thought that one of THEM had put that LOOK on his face, and she wished she had BEEN THERE, she wished SHE had gone instead, because she could take that abuse to HERSELF, and give as good as she got...... but she couldn't stand the idea of him having to fend for himself. She vowed that LATER, she find out just what happened and DEAL with it accordingly.

Cameron gave her a look as he sat down next to her, expressing wordlessly that it had been painful but he'd done it. She wanted to hug him, or reach for his hand, or SOMETHING to say 'I'm sorry, and thank you', but with the full group in here, there was no way to do it without drawing attention. Under the table, she nudged his knee with her own, as she tried to express those things silently. For once she missed the good old days, when Cameron could read her mind openly and would just KNOW.

Cass begged everyone to put their personal issues aside for this mission, but Haleigh already knew that they HAD, and that was why they were here. Blaze said that they were ready, and Haleigh nodded.

"So I assume every one is up to speed. I have my personal video and audio from the encounter, it's up on the screens if anyone would like to review it. Ava filled US in on the Fae and the fact that there is likely some sick fucck out there collecting kids by faerie ferry. We've TRIED contacting Ororo, she's nonresponsive. Morgan, can you provide a scrying pool and try to determine what's WRONG in Limbo? Alison, is there anything you can give us to work with here, past, present or future? Nic, I know you did extensive research on Alexia's powers in the early months after her birth, do you think you can estimate the different possibilities that her power tree might have developed in the past eight years?"

 

[MorningStar]

Haleigh was getting everyone up to speed, and seeing if they had anything to add. Ava actually knew something of use surprisingly. But then:

“Aw, didn’t your mother ever teach you to respect your elders?”

"Not when they act like they're five."

Delilah evenly returned Ruby's gaze as she tried to get cute with her.

"Then again, my mother died when I was eight, so maybe she would have gotten to that later on. Can we focus?"

Delilah again stated her belief that Morgan and Alison would refuse to help her. After all, they didn't understand why she wanted to have Alexia in the first place, and wish she hadn't. And that's how they had felt when she was their friend (supposedly anyway). Why would they help now? If anything, they would rescue Sharon and leave.

"Sure, we can call Isis. They're gonna need a healer for the ass-whooping I give them for refusing to help."

Delilah gave Haleigh a conspiratorial smirk. THAT she would LOVE to see.

"Alexia responded to us as if we were a threat. She protected herself, and that's GOOD, don't get me wrong, but she did that at the FAERIE'S command. We need to get Alexia on OUR 'team' ASAP, because the more time little miss faerie fucckface spends with her, the more likely she will be to attack us."

"I can't believe she will attack us, under any circumstances. She would have tonight, as scared as she was."

Delilah's voice cracked. She swallowed hard to regain her composure.

"Alexia is our TOP PRIORITY. If we can save those other kids, great. But we need EVERY pair of eyes looking for Alexia, at ANY expense. We cannot afford to render any additional assistance until we secure Delilah's daughter. I can't be any clearer."

Delilah looked at her for a long minute. Haleigh was the consummate leader. She wouldn't expect her to put Alexia above Sharon, or the other kids even. All or nothing was more Haleigh's MO. If only she had been there that night, things might be different now...

Before she could comment, the wicked bitches of the West, East and South arrived, with Nicolas and a Cameron that looked like he'd just down two tours in Afghanistan. Haleigh summed things up for them. Delilah kept her focus on Haleigh...Cameron. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of her attention outside the parameters of what was needed for the rescue.

 

[Rampage]

The finally went back to the Parthenon, quiet and tense. Nicolas was easily the most relaxed of the group, and he felt he would need that even more in the time to come.

They were seated, with Nicolas being sure to separate the factions. He did not relish the idea of having to separate them, but if anything happened he realized the responsibility would fall to him. Haleigh got them right to business...good girl.

"So I assume every one is up to speed. I have my personal video and audio from the encounter, it's up on the screens if anyone would like to review it. Ava filled US in on the Fae and the fact that there is likely some sick fucck out there collecting kids by faerie ferry. We've TRIED contacting Ororo, she's nonresponsive. Morgan, can you provide a scrying pool and try to determine what's WRONG in Limbo? Alison, is there anything you can give us to work with here, past, present or future? Nic, I know you did extensive research on Alexia's powers in the early months after her birth, do you think you can estimate the different possibilities that her power tree might have developed in the past eight years?"

My research, including what I have gleaned of some of Ororo's tendencies, is that Alexia will primarily use her abilities for defense, that will be her sole training at this age. She manifests and controls a form of 'dark energy' in many of the ways that Delilah can manipulate photons. My theory is that she somehow controls their release into our dimension from...somewhere else. That would explain in part the reaction that occurred during her birth. When she loses control, her power is not only powerfully destructive, it is highly reactive with Delilah's energies. I am concerned that an UNCONTROLLED reaction at this stage would be deadly to Delilah, Alexia, and most other forms of life within the immediate vicinity. Of the people in this room, only I am likely to survive in any form without teleporting away.

Nicolas sat back, having managed to summarize roughly 1500 hours of research and analysis in 90 seconds. However, the news was not good and without the DNA from the parents OR Alexia he had hit a roadblock. He hoped that Haleigh had managed better luck since she had greater access...

 

[Spellbinder]

The Parthenon- The War Room

"So I assume every one is up to speed. I have my personal video and audio from the encounter, it's up on the screens if anyone would like to review it. Ava filled US in on the Fae and the fact that there is likely some sick fucck out there collecting kids by faerie ferry. We've TRIED contacting Ororo, she's nonresponsive. Morgan, can you provide a scrying pool and try to determine what's WRONG in Limbo? Alison, is there anything you can give us to work with here, past, present or future? Nic, I know you did extensive research on Alexia's powers in the early months after her birth, do you think you can estimate the different possibilities that her power tree might have developed in the past eight years?"

<< Spellbinder watches Black Widow's audio/visual feed of the ill fated attempt to capture Alexia in Central Park.>>


<< What an adorable child, with such big, bright piercing eyes, just like her mother's. Those eyes that Morgan remembered from their earlier years as close friends, A MUCH happier time. Alexia was beautiful! It was the first time SHE had ever seen her! She never even got to see her in person during the Blue Moon and despite what Delilah had ASSUMED, Morgan had not visited Alexia during her time in Limbo because Ororo advised against it.>>



<< As she reviewed the events, She couldnt help but ENJOY seeing BISHOP getting smacked around by the BON BON BABIES! He delighted in her suffering and the suffering of her loved ones, so she felt NO guilt about delighting in HIS. It was just unfortunately that he didnt land on his HEAD when the bon bon babies had their way with him.>>

<< Sharon flew up to the ship and soon disappeared inside of it and from Haleigh's account, Sharon had apparently been visited by KYLE KELLY or something that appeared to be him.>>

<< Why didn't they do more to help her? Why did they even think THEY could handle something like THIS by themselves!?>>

<< Even as her agitation began to grow, she pulled herself back. She remember the talk she and Haleigh had, and she also thought of Cameron.>>

<<SIGH!>>

<< She bowed her head for a moment. This all could have been avoided if they had just said something. They may have thought Morgan and Alison were wrong for not telling THEM, but now THEY had made the same mistake, and in thinking they were helping Delilah, THEY had just made things MUCH worse, placing Alexia AND Sharon in terrible danger. >>



<< Still, there was more than enough here for a starting point, especially since Persephone had clued them in on just WHAT kind of creature they'd faced.>>

<< Rampage began, and perhaps it was best that he did, giving her AND Alison more time to make SURE they were centered and collected. She KNEW that as they began to pull this together in a way that none of the others could, that IGNORANT MEAT HEAD BISHOP would have something STUPID and OBTUSE to say and it would be ALL Morgan could do NOT to teleport him into the void of OUTER SPACE before someone could TRY and stop her! He really didnt realize how OUT of his league he was....and she found it more than a little IRONIC that the very people he'd tried to destroy were now the ones he NEEDED to help rescue his daughter...who was more like THEM as well!>>


<< Rampage prooved his scientific mind as every bit as strong as his body and gave them an excellent analysis of Alexia's capabilities and how she'd likely use them in this caper and what could happen if she lost control.>>

Black Widow,

<< Morgan says as a smaller stepping disc opens in front of her at a slight angle and she reaches into it, pulling the DARKHOLD, her arcane book of spells, out of it and placing it down between her and Alison.>>

There are many kinds of faeries. That is a dream faerie. Her name is Perle ("Pearl").

<< chimes sound off as the darkhold opens and the pages flip with a wave of Spellbinder's hand, until it stops on page contiaining an image of Perle and a BRIEF writing on her with a reference to ANOTHER entry in the Darkhold>>

She is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest faeries. Dreams are a transitory reality and faeries (fairies as well) are "inbetweeners". She represents the sweet escape of dreams and is drawn to the dreams of innocent or the outcasts. That is how she gained the title "Protector of dreams".

But her story has a DARK beginning.

<< the pages flip forward to another image of a woman with a pale, dark visage and a much longer write up.>>

Her name is Badiane. Stories and folklore in the french refer to her as a "dream queen". that's also why her faerie is named Perle. The name is a FRENCH reference to a "SWEET TREAT". But she's REAL and she's a POWERFUL witch who lives on another world in the DARKEST PLACE within our galaxy.

To behold her is to behold a CELESTIAL. She defies human dimensions of sight and sound. and among magick circles, there are versions of her in EVERY time, EVERY era of existence.

The more powerful the child that she captures and devours the LONGER her reach becomes. She destroys ENTIRE WORLDS by capturing children and then their families, DEVOURING the children and placing the adults in "dream coffins" and locking them in eternal sleep. Their dreams are like sugar to her, their astral selves light the way for her to find the next world to cover in darkness.

<< Running her gloved finger over the beautiful caligraphy on the page...>>

Perle's entry in the Darkhold refers to Badiane, because Perle was once a little girl herself. She may have orginated from our earth, or any other possible earth in the time stream, but Badiane came and covered her world in darkness. Perle agreed to serve Badiane and became her dream faerie.

Badiane is someone who moves outside of time and space, just like me. She is drawn to people by their dreams like a humming bird to nectar. With that being said, not even the barriers of Limbo OR the power that Ororo commands could keep her from Alexia
because she comes to Alexia in the one place that any child is happiest and most free...her dream, and as we learned with Barbas, no psi screen...no power can protect a person from his or her dreams.

<< She looks at Delilah directly, whether the woman wants to hear OR see her now, too bad. After a few moments Spellbinder looks at Harbinger, nodding for her to take over.>>

 

[Harbinger]

Parthenon- War Room

:: Harbinger didn't bother to hide the disdain she felt. It was written all over her face and her aura was bitter cold. Morgan, Ava and Nicolas in particular were silently trying to encourage her to focus on the task at hand. Cassandra begged for peace and cooperation and Blaze affirmed they were ready.::


Yes...we're ALWAYS ready to CLEAN UP A MESS ONE OF THESE IMBECILES MAKES!

::How STUPID were they (Haleigh and Cameron)? Were they so CONVINCED that THEIR WAY was the right way that they were willing to PERMANENTLY destroy multiple lives and friendships to help someone who was clearly too INEPT to help herself!?::


:: But why bother to protest now, when they'd BOTH be reaping the BITTER fruits of their ill conceived efforts soon enough without ALISON having to lift a finger!::


::Haleigh talked. Alison massaged her temples as Morgan quietly leaned over, touching Alison with a silent "hang in there...we're in this together" bit of encouragement::

Alison, is there anything you can give us to work with here, past, present or future?

Rampage is correct.

You'll recall, when we journeyed through Limbo we saw, in the timeline of MAGIK, Ororo teaching the young girl the first lessons of dark magick in the form of protection and defense. But a child is always most at ease in her dreams, that's why Badiane sent Perle to lure Alexia away from Ororo in a place in between "the other place".

:: if that didnt makes sense to some, oh well. somethings were beyond the reach of small minds.::

Badiane plans to use Alexia and her power to OPEN the BLACK DREAM HOLE. Badiane's power, AMPLIFIED by ALEXIA'S? She'll not only cover this world in darkness, but she'll swallow this entire galaxy. All I see is...OBLIVION. ALL that we know in this time and place - SWALLOWED IN DARKNESS. Not even the COMFORT of eternal sleep. The complete ABSENCE of ANY form of being. NOTHING!

::Ignorant mortals like Bishop wouldnt be able to perceive, much less comprehend what the precog was saying, but Ava, Morgan and Nicolas especially understood. Hopefully HALEIGH would as well::

UNLESS...

:: How FITTING::

...MorningStar is willing to sacrifice her life energy to save Alexia from being devoured by the dream queen.

Spellbinder, I can provide you with the image I'm seeing of Badiane's castle...it's located in DEEP SPACE near the center of the galaxy. You can use that image to lock on it's location with the scrying glass and then teleport us. But we CAN'T just appear in the castle outright. We'd be IMMEDIATELY crushed by the forces that the queen engages to protect the castle.

We must commandeer one of those transport ships that you saw in central park. It will allow us to silently slip through the defenses and enter into the castle where we will find Alexia, Sharon, the scores of other children ALREADY in dream coffins...and Badiane herself.

What Spellbinder says about her DIMENSIONS defying human perception is true. She will APPEAR much like she is shown in the Darkhold, but her stature will be ENORMOUS. She will have a near ENDLESS amount of POWER to draw on, as well as her dream faerie and other defenses at her command. but we are not without our own considerable resources.


The key will be to find and RESCUE Sharon once we've safely arrived in the castle. The Silver Swan has SONIC power with no known upper limit. That SONIC power, when combined with Delilah's nature as a living transducer with will make all the difference.

But it will not be without a price. Delilah's body will not survive this experience. Her daughter's freedom and survival will be paid for by her own life.

:: The asked for it, and now they've GOT IT.::

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon - The War Room

:: Cameron took a seat next to Haleigh. He didn't need to watch the replay as he had been there and he was still seething from his confrontation with his sister and Morgan. It didn't take very long for things to go back to how they always were, but for the moment Cameron was trying to focus on the task at hand. He felt Haleigh's knee knudge him from under the table. It was the only comforting thing he felt in the moment. He wished that he could go back to the days where Haleigh's mind was open to them. Years ago they would sit there and have completely telepathic conversations with each other while Morgan and Alison erupted or blamed them for things. It kept the both of them sane and right now he missed it. And for that, he had Malice to blame. She had a way of creeping up in every aspect of Cameron's life. Everything he loved and everything he cared about...there was Diana laughing and making it terrible. ::

:: From under the table his hand moved over to Haleigh's knee as he squeezed it gently and let it sit there for a moment. He was sure that if others had seen it they would have any number of things to say, but he was beginning not to care. Cameron was beginning to think caring so much about what happened to the others or what the others thought of him was his whole problem. Being a dickhead didn't seem to work and being one hundred percent present didn't either. ::

"What are you doing, King...what are you doing?"

:: Nicolas explained the work that he had been doing. It was a noble effort and though Cameron pretty much despised most magick users, even he had to admit something that it seemed like Haleigh and Nicolas could not. If magick could not fix this..then science or medicine definitely couldn't either. ::

:: Whatever the case, he listened as Morgan began to explain the backstory to this faerie. So she had a gatekeeper that was incredibly powerful. A boss that had immeasurable power. Which was par for the course for The Six. It couldn't just be some wild and out of place faerie trying to have fun with Alexia's daughter. It had to be the faerie that belonged to some kind of cosmic power that spent her free time destroying worlds. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. ::

:: Then Alison started talking. ::

MorningStar is willing to sacrifice her life energy to save Alexia from being devoured by the dream queen.

Spellbinder, I can provide you with the image I'm seeing of Badiane's castle...it's located in DEEP SPACE near the center of the galaxy. You can use that image to lock on it's location with the scrying glass and then teleport us. But we CAN'T just appear in the castle outright. We'd be IMMEDIATELY crushed by the forces that the queen engages to protect the castle.

We must commandeer one of those transport ships that you saw in central park. It will allow us to silently slip through the defenses and enter into the castle where we will find Alexia, Sharon, the scores of other children ALREADY in dream coffins...and Badiane herself.

What Spellbinder says about her DIMENSIONS defying human perception is true. She will APPEAR much like she is shown in the Darkhold, but her stature will be ENORMOUS. She will have a near ENDLESS amount of POWER to draw on, as well as her dream faerie and other defenses at her command. but we are not without our own considerable resources.


The key will be to find and RESCUE Sharon once we've safely arrived in the castle. The Silver Swan has SONIC power with no known upper limit. That SONIC power, when combined with Delilah's nature as a living transducer with will make all the difference.

But it will not be without a price. Delilah's body will not survive this experience. Her daughter's freedom and survival will be paid for by her own life.

:: He narrowed his eyes at his sister. ::

"Well..don't seem so excited, Sister. She's not dead yet."

:: Cameron looked across the room at Delilah and he felt so incredibly bad. It seemed like her life had become a series of impossible decisions having to be made in split seconds. You really couldn't blame her at this point. None of the others had to carry this kind of burden. Sure they had all made terrible decisions faster than they would have liked..but it seemed like Delilah had won some kind of awful library where at every turn she either had to choose to die, choose her daughter to live, kill the man she loved over many lifetimes..and all of them had to be made RIGHT then. There just wasn't any room for her to BREATHE. He could feel all of these emotions just hanging heavy over her chest, threatening to suffocate her. He could FEEL her heartstrings doing a delicate dance, deciding whether or not they had the strength to keep up all of this painful work. But he took a deep breath. ::

:: He was going to be the friend to Delilah that Alison and Morgan couldn't. If they were so sure of themselves what friendship and family meant, they would learn a thing or two from Cameron King. He looked at her..and he could sense in her HEART of hearts what she was willing to do for Alexia. He had known this all along. Cameron looked at her deeply. ::

"Delilah..I promise. I will be right by your side until the last second. No matter what...Let's get your daughter back. Let's try and get you some peace...one way or another."

:: Cameron looked to the others. ::

"Then we should suit up and head out. Doesn't sound like we have a lot of time."

:: His biggest pull at the moment was towards Delilah. He also had the benefit of knowing that no matter what Alison had seen or said..there was ALWAYS a chance to bend fate. He knew that himself and Haleigh would fight tooth and nail..with RECKLESS abandon in order to get Delilah the peace she deserved. That was the difference between Alison and Morgan and Delilah. The kind of peace and resolution Delilah so desperately yearned for was something that Alison and Morgan had let go of a long time ago. They didn't believe that they COULD truly have peace. They were USED to having to make tough decisions. They were USED to living with pain. The things Delilah said she wanted and the decisions she made might as well have been alien concepts to them. But people like Cameron and Haleigh had understood that. Because even though they had been beaten down, even though they had this evil inside of them..even if they didn't believe in happiness and peace in themselves..they FULLY believed it possible for everybody else. That was where their passion came from. That is what drove them as people and THAT is what drew them together in the first place. ::

:: What they were about to face was likely going to be catastrophic on a level they hadn't faced in quite some time..but Cameron was EXHAUSTED. He was close to burning out and he was willing to throw ALL of them in the fire if it meant that this situation could be resolved..in ANY way. If that meant Delilah had to die and Morgan and Alison had to suffer living with their feelings, then so be it..but for CAMERON? He planned to go to the deepest reaches of space and come back. With Alexia, Delilah, Bishop, Sharon and the rest of the GODDAMN SIX. ::


"

 

[Black Widow]

The pressure was building again. She tried not to think about the pain. She tried not to think about what Sharon might be facing right now. Had the fantasy faded? Or was she still dreaming? Was she in a fight for her life? Or had she given up fighting for loving a mirage? Haleigh had to go on believing that Sharon could take care of herself. She couldn't fathom any other possibility right now.

Sharon survived MysTech, she's made of stronger stuff. She'll be fine.

She rested her elbows on the table, rubbing her eyes gently as the others reviewed the footage again. Under the table, she felt Cameron's hand on her knee. Her heart skipped like a stone across water. For a split second, it was almost as if they were the ONLY two people in the room. Haleigh wished it could stay that way. It couldn't. She dropped her hands, opened her eyes, and looked up to see Alison's penetrating stare of ultimate judgment.She gazed back calmly, for a few seconds, then shifted her eyes to Nic when he began his summary.

His assessment brought Haleigh right back to the hell they were in. All she'd heard since she set foot in this room was bad fuccking news. Her headache intensified as he discussed, with clinical detachment, dark energy and its catastrophic possibilities. All that destruction distilled into a tiny eight year old girl.

"What's the kill distance for Alexia when it comes to Delilah? How far apart should we keep them?"

Morgan: Black Widow, There are many kinds of faeries. That is a dream faerie. Her name is Perle ("Pearl").

Morgan pulled out and old, giant book that looked like it came from the Salem Witch Trials. She gave them a brief history of the faerie and a supposedly powerful witch named Badiane. The hits JUST KEPT COMING. Haleigh was determined to win, so much so that even hearing THESE long odds didn't slow her down.

Morgan: Badiane is someone who moves outside of time and space, just like me. She is drawn to people by their dreams like a humming bird to nectar. With that being said, not even the barriers of Limbo OR the power that Ororo commands could keep her from Alexia because she comes to Alexia in the one place that any child is happiest and most free...her dream, and as we learned with Barbas, no psi screen...no power can protect a person from his or her dreams.

"Yeah, WELL, just like BARBAS, we will have to put this bitch to bed once and for ALL. How hard could it be?"

Alison: Badiane plans to use Alexia and her power to OPEN the BLACK DREAM HOLE. Badiane's power, AMPLIFIED by ALEXIA'S? She'll not only cover this world in darkness, but she'll swallow this entire galaxy. All I see is...OBLIVION. ALL that we know in this time and place - SWALLOWED IN DARKNESS. Not even the COMFORT of eternal sleep. The complete ABSENCE of ANY form of being. NOTHING!

Haleigh stared at Alison, unblinking, for a beat or two.

"So, the stakes are high, blah blah blah it's the end of the world as we know it, blah blah blah. Same SHIT, different dimension. Where's the loophole?"

Alison: The key will be to find and RESCUE Sharon once we've safely arrived in the castle. The Silver Swan has SONIC power with no known upper limit. That SONIC power, when combined with Delilah's nature as a living transducer with will make all the difference.

"Her recovery is HIGH PRIORITY, got it. I'm sure Sharon will be happy to wake up from the best dream she's ever had to the nightmare we're all living."

Alison: But it will not be without a price. Delilah's body will not survive this experience. Her daughter's freedom and survival will be paid for by her own life.

It was not delivered in a kind tone. It had the signature Marble chill and it was something Haleigh recognized..... it was the same tone she'd heard from Alison the night of the citadel. Cameron commented on Alison's delivery of the news as Haleigh sat back in her chair, utterly floored. A few seconds passed and Cameron rose to his feet, accepting 'fate'.

Cameron: Then we should suit up and head out. Doesn't sound like we have a lot of time.

Haleigh shook her head, maintaining her calm composure despite the fact that her skull felt like it was inside a vise and literally EVERY WORD out of someone's mouth added stress to the little clusterfucck they'd find themselves in.

"NO. That's NOT good enough...... it's completely unacceptable. I'm not sacrificing Delilah to save Alexia, that defeats the whole fuccking purpose. How about time travel? Morgan, you can open us a stepping disc to Limbo, but take us back a few days. We'll intercept Perle before she makes initial contact with Alexia and make pixie dust out of her. We can prevent this whole fuccked up mess and be back within an earth hour."

 

[Rampage]

"What's the kill distance for Alexia when it comes to Delilah? How far apart should we keep them?"

Nicolas waited for the even worse news from Morgan and Alison before answering. It was times like this that he intensely missed the mental rapport shared with Haleigh. He could see in her eyes that she was mistaking his clinical detachment with indifference. He was anything but indifferent, but he needed to stay focused, especially if any of them were to survive.

Hales, they are like two poles of energy drawn together. As long as they are both in control things will be fine. But the closer they get to each other the harder that control will be to maintain. Within 10 feet or so, I cannot imagine them BOTH being able to keep it together and it will only take one of them to lose control in order for the catastrophic interaction to occur. At that point...nothing in that 10 feet can survive, only Sharon and myself after that until about 50 feet, Morgan, Alison and you after that until about 100 feet, no one else in this room after that survives within 300 feet in my estimation. Shields can help, but this is quantum energy interaction we are talking about.

Cameron: Then we should suit up and head out. Doesn't sound like we have a lot of time.

Haleigh shook her head, maintaining her calm composure despite the fact that her skull felt like it was inside a vise and literally EVERY WORD out of someone's mouth added stress to the little clusterfucck they'd find themselves in.

"NO. That's NOT good enough...... it's completely unacceptable. I'm not sacrificing Delilah to save Alexia, that defeats the whole fuccking purpose. How about time travel? Morgan, you can open us a stepping disc to Limbo, but take us back a few days. We'll intercept Perle before she makes initial contact with Alexia and make pixie dust out of her. We can prevent this whole fuccked up mess and be back within an earth hour."

It was a novel idea...Nicolas had no idea of the possibility of it or not. He looked at Alison and Morgan, somewhat hopeful.

 

[Persephone]

The distinctive clicking of heels indicated the arrival of the others. Ava watched as Morgan, Alison, Blaze, and a very haggard looking Cameron entered the war room. Obviously his encounter with Morgan and Alison went about as smoothly as Ava anticipated, but they were here, ready and willing to help save Alexia and Sharon.

Morgan went on to explain more in depth about the faerie that had kidnapped Alexia. She was working for a higher up just as Ava had confirmed before. Morgan continued to explain how bad the situation was, and that Alexia was basically going to be used as an mutant outlet to destroy the world. Fantastic. The kid isn't even 6 months old in Earth years and she's already being used as a pawn in the game of good vs. evil.

Alison then began to speak. She could see in her friends eyes the utter contempt for the situation AND Delilah. Softly sighing out, she gave Alison an 'just take it easy' look, as she continued to explain what needed to be done to destroy Badine. She dropped the bomb that Delilah would have to sacrifice herself in order to save Alexia.

"You're kidding me?"

Cameron jumped up, ready to suit up and go. Ava gave him a 'calm the fuck down' look before Haleigh chimed in.

Haleigh: NO. That's NOT good enough...... it's completely unacceptable. I'm not sacrificing Delilah to save Alexia, that defeats the whole fuccking purpose.

"Haleigh's right. THIS [gesturing to everyone involved] happened because we wanted to keep Delilah alive. The contempt [looking directly at Alison], the anger [looking at Morgan], and the hate [looking at Delilah] that has basically broke this team apart? What was the purpose of all that if Delilah is going to die NOW? I'm not saying we sacrifice Alexia OR give up on saving her, but there HAS to be another way around this."

Haleigh: How about time travel? Morgan, you can open us a stepping disc to Limbo, but take us back a few days. We'll intercept Perle before she makes initial contact with Alexia and make pixie dust out of her. We can prevent this whole fuccked up mess and be back within an earth hour.

Ava rubbed her forehead, aggravated.

"If it were that easy, Hales, we could of avoided this whole damn situation."

Ava stated in regards to the whole Alexia being taken from Delilah and everyone hating each other 'situation'.

Rampage answered Haleigh's question about Alexia and Delilah's powers. Basically, they couldn't get close to one another or everything would go boom. Perfect. This whole fuucking situation was a giant bag of shit regardless of how they all looked at it. But there was one thing Ava WASN'T going to do, and that was have Delilah KILL herself for her daughter. They were going to go in this with everyone alive, and come out of it with everyone alive, INCLUDING Alexia and Sharon.

 

[Spellbinder]

The Parthenon- The War Room

<<Rampage confirmed the "kill radius" of Alexia's power regarding Delilah. His estimate seemed to be GENEROUS considering that she flatlined TWICE upon contact with Alexia in the Infirmary at Minerva's.>>

<<Harbinger spoke as a precog, she looked and sounded so cold and unforgiving. When she spoke like THIS, it gave even the most steel nerves pause, as evidenced by the complete SILENCE in the room for more than a few moments.>>


<< Spellbinder and Firebird looked at each other as Harbinger revealed the WORST of this situation in a way only she could. They KNEW if it wasn't certain beyond doubt, the precog wouldn't say it.>>


<< Still...this isn't want they wanted. Firebird looked down, Spellbinder looked UP to the ceiling, the sisters looked visibly pained. >>


I didn't wan't this for her. I didn't want it to EVER COME TO THIS! I was trying to---


Firebird: << via their telepathic sibling rapport>> I know, Morg. Believe me, I know...and everyone else here does too. But at least we're together now...at least we're ALL "in the know" at the same time, and if this is how it's going to be...we'll face it together.
We dont have to like, agree or even understrand the things Delilah does, but we can't let her...we can't let her die like this. if there's ANYTHING that we can do that will have an effect, we have to try.

"NO. That's NOT good enough...... it's completely unacceptable. I'm not sacrificing Delilah to save Alexia, that defeats the whole fuccking purpose. "

<<Nicolas looks at Morgan and she returns his searching gaze with a sad nod to the negative. He knew it wasn't possible, but he was just trying to leave no stone unturned. Spellbinder looks over at Harbinger, who is continuing to glare at Haleigh. The witches are thinking the same thing, this all could've been avoided in the first place....IF ONLY...>>

"Haleigh's right. THIS [gesturing to everyone involved] happened because we wanted to keep Delilah alive. The contempt [looking directly at Alison], the anger [looking at Morgan], and the hate [looking at Delilah] that has basically broke this team apart? What was the purpose of all that if Delilah is going to die NOW? I'm not saying we sacrifice Alexia OR give up on saving her, but there HAS to be another way around this."

How about time travel? Morgan, you can open us a stepping disc to Limbo, but take us back a few days. We'll intercept Perle before she makes initial contact with Alexia and make pixie dust out of her. We can prevent this whole fuccked up mess and be back within an earth hour.

<< Haleigh wouldn't like the answer to that suggestion.>>

Ava rubbed her forehead, aggravated.


"If it were that easy, Hales, we could of avoided this whole damn situation."


Ava stated in regards to the whole Alexia being taken from Delilah and everyone hating each other 'situation'.

She's right, Haleigh. That's not an option

Harbinger: We're running out of TIME. The only option is for Delilah to make a choice. Now. That's what she wanted from the beginning, to have the ability to choose. that's what YOU and HE :: The precog gestures at her brother:: Have been BERATING us about. Well...you asked for it, and now you've GOT IT.

 

[Harbinger]

The Parthenon- War Room

:: Cameron tries to halt Alison, it's too late for that!::

OH SHUT UP, CAMERON! I've HAD IT! I've HAD it with this WHOLE MESS D'YOU UNDERSTAND!?

Unlike YOU and HER? I'm NOT scared of Deilah OR what she'll say OR DO!

:: Haleigh stands up, and Alison stands up right along with her::

Yeah, that's RIGHT, Haleigh. Meet me where I am.

:: She makes her way RIGHT over to Haleigh. Ava blocks Alison's direct approach to Haleigh and calls for her to think about what she's doing.::

I'm not going to attack her, Ava. But ENOUGH is ENOUGH. They've been APPEASING Delilah for so long, they've FORGOTTEN how things ARE!

:: She looks at Ava, and the goddess can SEE that this is something that HAS to be said, that Alison is not doing this to start a fight or attack Haleigh and so, she steps aside and lets the two women come face to face.::

Haleigh, everything you are about to suggest now...ALL 5 ideas AND your plan omega? will be INEFFECTIVE. There's NO calling Athena, Hecate, ORORO. Delilah was EXPLICITLY warned by the goddesses that if she chose to be returned to her LIFE as she knew it, she would HAVE to face the consequences of her actions as they came. There would be NO "2nd chances". KNOWING that, she made a choice! Isn't that what you and Cameron are STUCK ON? HER having the right to make her choices?

I'm not here to fight with you. I'm here to REMIND YOU that FATE DOESNT RESPECT ANYBODY.

::FLASH!::

<< Several years ago, on Black Widow's yacht. The Six, or what was left of them at the time, were just recovering from another confronation with Mystech, and now we see Harbinger (Guardian, as she was known back then) and Black Widow, inside of Frost's cabin, talking quietly while Frost herself was locked in temporal stasis.>>

But i have something to tell you....and you must NOT attempt to alter the course of events that I will reveal to you.

:: Guardian BLINKS into full view. noticably still wearing the eye popping outfit she wore in the saloon during the storm. maybe some of the changes she went through with her seige perilou scare were more than skin deep?::

I now know who is going to die, and which member of the team we will lose when we return to the New York.....but with every loss there is some gain...no matter how small or improbable.

:: waving her hand...a sparkling myst forms....a bell tolls a cosmic , crystaline chess board manifests. and as a sparkling trail travels across the board crystaline figures manifest...all the members of the Six, Frost, Ororo, Karen, Sharon and Alycia are now on the board. Each figure is styled in a trademark pose associated with that person. it is a beautiful display and much like the like the time staff that Alison manifested during Inferno, it was reminder to Haleigh just how much she DIDNT know about the Precog's powers.::

just watch the board haleigh.

:: Haleigh heard the sound of a ticking clock in the air...as the pieces stood for a moment.::

:: the clock strikes MIDNIGHT after a few moments...a haunting bell tolling and startling Haleigh as two figures SHATTER..... for Haleigh...finally knowing who they were going to lose....it had to be very hard for her to take. Alison had never been wrong before in her foresight::

She watched the board with measured reticence... Alison could always surprise Haleigh with something knew... it was one of the reasons Haleigh admired Alison [even if she wasnt about to admit it]. Haleigh scanned the figures... the gravity that she was about to see a glimpse of the future-- who was going to DIE when the got back to the city... settled on Haleigh like a bolder. Was this the same dread Alison always felt?

And then, like the executioner swinging his axe for a practise swing, not one, but two figures shattered, and Haleigh inhaled sharply, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes watering. She stared at the board for a moment, and then looked at Alison.

"But... we stopped your visions before... there must be something we can do..." she pleaded.... but the look on Alison's face shattered those hopes. Haleigh founds herself sitting down on the bed slowly. WHY were they a team so plagued with losses? Haleigh's view went out of focus, as shedelved into thought about what Alison had just layed on her... she knew why Alison had just told her... and no matter how painful it was... she knew what had to be done. Haleigh rubbed her eyes and stood up, taking a deep breath and meeting the grave reality with a renewed resilence and compartmentalized grief.

"I see. Well.. if we cant stop it... we must determine how best to recover. "

Haleigh wanted to leave the cabin immediately, and rush to those they would lose to death... she wanted to do whatever she could to stop it... but something about ALison's finality tld Haleigh that wouldn't be possible....and she knew Alison brought this to HER attention because she needed a level head to help the whole team through the pain and loss. It would be a difficult loss for everyone... especially Haleigh.... and the second person to die...

"This will be devastating... for everyone. Fate is merciless... we lose too much when we lose each other. Alison... will we be able to recover from so profound a loss??"

:: Alison stood tall and although it seemed as though she would be as heartless and robotic as she was all those months ago....a look of sadness could be seen in those cobalt blue eyes of hers::

I'm afraid there's nothing we can do this time Haleigh. I've tried to search all probable and even the most IMPROBABLE threads of time but in the end...it must happen this way

I came to YOU of all the people on the team because the ONLY thing I could do was prepare us to SURVIVE and I KNEW who the person BEST QUALIFIED was to help me do that.

:: Alison looked Haleigh in the eyes with an unwavering gaze::

You told me that Morgan and I were WRONG to deny Delilah her choice at the dawn of the Blue Moon. You understood why we did what we did...but the wrong thing done for the right reason is STILL the wrong thing, isn't it?

Well NOW, there are no secrets, save the one you and Cameron tried to keep from the rest of us (about THIS situation, NOT the OTHER one that she nearly OUTED Cameron over.). You wanted Delilah to be able to choose, well she has that choice now. But YOU SHOULD KNOW by now that sometimes, the choices we have are just BAD or WORSE.

I'm SORRY.

:: She said to Haleigh and even cast a look over to Delilah::

The time threads offer NO variance. All they do is simply CEASE TO EXIST.

If Alexia is to survive and avoid the pain of being used and CONSUMED by Badiane, it will only come from the actions of her mother. MorningStar's power, her very life force, is the only thing that can save Alexia.If this earth is to avoid being covered in darkness and swallowed in the black dream hole, along with the REST of the galaxy, then Delilah has to make her choice.

Otherwise, NOTHING ELSE will matter because we won't be here anymore. NONE OF US.

 

[MorningStar]

The War Room

Delilah sat there as Haleigh ran the show. But then she asked NICOLAS for a briefing on Alexia's powers? What did he know about it? She raised her hand.

"Um, what makes Nicolas an expert again? He's not a doctor - he's a damn fashion model. Getting a chemistry set from your dad when you're ten doesn't make him an authority. My child is not a bomb - no more than any of the other people in this room. We were all in her immediate vicinity earlier today and the apocalypse didn't come."

Morgan told what she knew about the fairie and her master, and explained how Ororo could have been circumvented by the dream faerie. I guess it was too much to ask for them to actually CHECK on Ororo... Morgan stared directly at Delilah, and she gave her an equally level stare back. Though she restrained herself for Haleigh's sake from giving her the finger.

Badiane plans to use Alexia and her power to OPEN the BLACK DREAM HOLE. Badiane's power, AMPLIFIED by ALEXIA'S? She'll not only cover this world in darkness, but she'll swallow this entire galaxy. All I see is...OBLIVION. ALL that we know in this time and place - SWALLOWED IN DARKNESS. Not even the COMFORT of eternal sleep. The complete ABSENCE of ANY form of being. NOTHING!

UNLESS...

...MorningStar is willing to sacrifice her life energy to save Alexia from being devoured by the dream queen.

She spoke without hesitation.

"Done."

But it was as if they didn't hear her. They weren't listening; they never listened. They talked about her, made decisions around her and for her, but they never heard her. They talked about decisions she had made, as if she wasn't in the room, with no understanding of what it had meant to her to make them. To have to make them.

Delilah's body will not survive this experience. Her daughter's freedom and survival will be paid for by her own life.

"Well..don't seem so excited, Sister. She's not dead yet."

She gave Cameron a look to stop him from exposing himself to criticism on her behalf, which was interrupted by a thought from him:.

[mentally]"Delilah..I promise. I will be right by your side until the last second. No matter what...Let's get your daughter back. Let's try and get you some peace...one way or another."

She nodded slightly.

"I know you will, I know. But I'm going to need you for something more important."

Haleigh was upset, which was normal - she did not like it when she couldn't control what was happening. She even suggested time travel - and was promptly told how that just wasn't possible. Alison went absolutely batshit on Haleigh, even throwing a little towards Cameron and Ava for good measure. And they thought SHE was crazy?

The time threads offer NO variance. All they do is simply CEASE TO EXIST.

If Alexia is to survive and avoid the pain of being used and CONSUMED by Badiane, it will only come from the actions of her mother. MorningStar's power, her very life force, is the only thing that can save Alexia.If this earth is to avoid being covered in darkness and swallowed in the black dream hole, along with the REST of the galaxy, then Delilah has to make her choice.

Otherwise, NOTHING ELSE will matter because we won't be here anymore. NONE OF US.

"STOP!"

Delilah stood up forcefully, raising her voice. She lowered it before continuing.

"Everyone, just stop."

She rested her hands on the table in front of her, looking straight in front of her, meeting no one's eyes, her face and tone like stone.

"There is no choice to be made. I will sacrifice my life a thousand times to save her's. Whatever I have, whatever I am, is her's. There is no question of it."

Bishop had been uncharacteristically silent, but at this point stood up and moved towards her.

Bishop: "No! I won't let you do this! I won't lose both of you!"

"It's what must be done. There is no other way."

She gave him the tiniest of smirks.

"Don't pick now to stop believing in Harbinger's visions."

Her eyes momentarily rested on Ava.

"Everyone dies sometime. Nothing you could do would keep me alive forever. And sometimes the price you pay for trying isn't worth it."

Her eyes returned to center.

"When I died during the Blue Moon, Athena and Hecate gave me yet another choice. To join the Amazons on Themyscira. To break the curse with Bishop, to be reborn. But I would have had no memory of my child, of any of you. Then they told me what was happening below with Circe. And there was no decision to be made. I was needed. Or I thought I was."

She looked up at the group.

"If my life is what's needed to keep this...this darkness at bay, to allow my daughter to grow up happy and safe...then the choice is as simple as it was that night. I'm not afraid to die if it means Alexia will live. That's all I could hope for from my life."

She stood to her full height.

"So, let's get this done. How do we find another of the transport ships? And more importantly, how do we get Sharon out from under the faerie's spell once we get there?"

 

[Spellbinder]

The Parthenon- War Room

<< Morgan looked absolutely crestfallen, and accepted Blaze's hand closing around her's>>

<< Harbinger spelled out for Black Widow just how FUTILE it was to try and alter this.>>

<<And as Delilah spoke, Morgan shut her eyes tightly. How wrong had she'd been? Cameron was right, she HADN'T understood, but that didn't mean she didn't CARE, didn't LOVE her best friend.>>

No....

<< Delilah continued and Morgan bowed her head as tears began to fall. Even Bishop hadn't behaved as Morgan expected. His plea for Delilah not to do this was the most plaintive she'd ever heard from him.>>

<< She shudders as she tries to keep her sadness quiet, but the tears falling from her face betray her. Cameron was right again- She HADN'T "moved on" as much as she had tried to pretend she had.>>

Blaze, I didn't want this! I just wanted her to LIVE. I didn't wanta her to be hurt. But I didn't do things right.[


I ruined her life, I destroyed our friendship...and now this! I was just trying to HELP her....and I made such a TERRIBLE mistake!

So disconnected was I from HER circumstance, her needs and how SHE felt about things, that I didn't know how to be there...HELP HER in the aftermath

<< Blaze was holding Morgan's hand and looking at Delilah, with a look of sadness on her face as well. She was listening to her sister, but she couldn't take her eyes off of Delilah.>>

<< Delilah made her choice. Morgan couldn't bare it and she abruptly pulled her hand from Blaze's, standing up and retreating from the War Room as she audibly choked back her grief and shame.>>

<< Blaze watched as Morgan retreated. Nicolas stood up.>>

Blaze: "NO, Nic. Stay here. I'll go. I'll get her back on track and we'll be ready to do whatever is next to do."