In your wildest dreams

[Firebird]

Hallway

Blaze didn't need to a be a telepath or a precog to know that things were WAY past the point of no return, WHY did it have to be like this?!
The fire elemental was REELING as things got somewhat HEATED in the war room and Alison immediately CRUSHED any hope for a possible alternative. There were times where there was no questioning the future and fate.

Delilah did what ANY mother would do, she made her choice, but Blaze could feel the TIDAL WAVE of emotion from her sister as she spoke to her via their telepathic bond even while the verbal conversations were happening.

Blaze couldn't take her eyes of Delilah as she spoke, even while she could "hear" Morgan in her mind. Her sister was in such anguish over this, and Blaze felt much the same. Finally as Delilah declared her choice and resigned herself to certain death, Morgan, who expressed sadness, remorse & guilt, retreated from the war room.

Blaze herself was now looking a bit misty eyed as Nicolas stood up. She stood up and held up her hand.

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

And with that, the fire elemental exits the war room and moves down the hall. She finds Morgan near the very end of the hall with her arms wrapped around her waist, shaking as the tears flow.

"Morgan..."

Blaze approaches and gently touches her shoulder, urging her sister to turn and face her. She sees Morgan's tear streaked face.

"Part of why it hurts...is because Cameron was right. You do love her...and there's no shame in that. It's just that...neither side felt safe enough to approach the other. We ALL thought there'd be....MORE TIME. Shame on US."

"And We (Morgan, Alison, Blaze) didn't understand that Delilah just had a different value system. She wanted different things. Differences aren't BAD...they just ARE. "

"It hurts..."

Tears begin to fall down Blaze's face as Morgan falls into her arms and they hug each other

"...because you...WE were reminded, just now, who Delilah IS, with the words she just spoke, and why she's one of a kind- why she's been FAMILY to us for so long. Like that night with Bianca, or perhaps most importantly, the INFERNO. She didnt hold our differences against us, but we did that to her because we just. couldn't. understand. And now?"

"NOW you think it's too late and After listening to Alison, I feel that way too."

Holding her sister tightly as they both continue to shed tears.

"But Morg, It's NOT!"

They pull away from each other and look into each other's eyes.

"We can't get to where we're supposed to go without you. Delilah cant do what she needs to do to save her daughter. You CAN'T retreat now Morgan. If you do, you really WILL ruin everything. "

"We KNOW what Harbinger has said will come to pass. We know her visions are CLEAR, but Morgan...You're SPELLBINDER! You're SORCERESS SUPREME! "

"If there's ANYTHING you can think of...ANY SPELL that MIGHT do something to save Delilah, you've GOT to find it! "

"You don't have to say anything to the others...enough has been said. Just THINK of something and when the time is right...TRY IT! "

"I KNOW this is bad...but think how much WORSE it is for HER. and inspite of what's in store for her, she's facing it head on. We HAVE to go with her as far as we can."


"C'mon...let's go back inside. I'll keep anyone from invading your space, you just THINK of a spell...ANY spell. Miracle's happen...and they defy science, medicine AND MAGICK."


After Morgan nods with understanding and quietly agrees, she and Blaze take a moment to wipe their faces and compose themselves and then they walk together, hand in hand, back into the war room and take their seats.

"We're ready to assist."

 

[Black Widow]

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

"We've jumped timelines before. Hell, we did it with RANDOM stepping discs...."

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

"WHY THE FUCCK NOT?!?"

Alison: 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.

"YOU DIE or YOU DIE is NOT a fucking choice, Alison. You're not giving her an option! It's a death sentence no matter HOW you slice it!"

Cameron tried to cut in, but Alison snapped at him, sending Haleigh right over the edge. Nobody -- NOBODY --was going to talk to him that way in front of HER.

"LET'S get one thing STRAIGHT, Harbinger: You'll show Cameron his due respect--"

But Alison thundered on at Cameron, ignoring Haleigh's interjection.

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

Haleigh stood up from her chair so quickly, it flipped onto its back behind her, making a loud noise that she paid no attention to. Alison rose almost as quickly, as Haleigh leaned forward and pointed at Alison.

"Yeah well you'd BETTER be scared of what I'LL say OR DO, because I don't much CARE FOR your tone OR your ATTITUDE."

Alison: Yeah, that's RIGHT, Haleigh. Meet me where I am. Haleigh smoothly, quickly drew the SR45 from the holster at the small of her back and set it on the table, as Alison moved down the length of the table. Cameron tried to get Haleigh to stop, tried to tell her it wasn't worth it, but she just gave him a LOOK that said 'IT IS.' She pulled off her watch and tossed it down as well, then held her hand by her side and her boot knife flew from its sheathe to her hand, and she set it on the table as well. Ava was stalling Alison, telling her to THINK about what she was doing, as Haleigh cracked her knuckles.

Alison: 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!

"No, Ali. YOU'VE forgotten how things SHOULD BE! You've been GONE to long, but I can reorient you to what TEAMWORK is and what it ISN'T. I'll tell you NOW.... it sure as FUCCK isn't sending one of our FAMILY to the DEATH with that slick ass 'told you so' attitude of yours, and not a second thought to modifying the plan so maybe we can ALL FUCCKING SURVIVE."

Alison: 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.

"So, WHAT, you just GIVE THE FUCCK UP?"

Alison: 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 RESPECT the choice SHE made THEN. But 'FACING the consequences', and just plain bending over for the DRY FUCCKING that you're describing are two VERY different concepts."

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

Fate. THAT motherfuccker. Haleigh had a love/hate relationship with fate. Most of the time she felt like she was fighting it. The only time she felt it worked in her favor was when she was with the Six. Haleigh was struck with memory of the FIRST time Alison had given her an impossibly difficult prophecy. Morgan and Sharon's death. This felt worse even than that night had been. Delilah was like a SISTER to her now, and she felt that if ANY of them deserved to be happy, it was Delilah, who have served a long term as their 'moral compass'.

Alison: 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.

"Well I'll tell you NOW like I told you THEN: we lose TOO MUCH we lose each other. I'm NOT going to send her to slaughter without investigating ALL our options."

Alison: I'm SORRY. The time threads offer NO variance. All they do is simply CEASE TO EXIST.

"I CAN'T believe THAT."

Alison repeated the prophecy, but her gentler tone didn't make it any easier to hear. Haleigh sat back on the edge of the table, her expression somber as Delilah called for them all to stop and agreed to go on this suicide mission. Haleigh watched the exchange between Delilah and Bishop, feeling even sorrier for him now than she had at the park. The weight of this was CRUSHING. The emotional pain WELL overshadowed the pain in her head right now. She was at a loss for a solution now.

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

Haleigh grabbed a hold of Delilah by both arms, FORCING her to make eye contact instead of talking to the wall across from her. She wasn't angry anymore, she wasn't acting with aggression. She was acting with DESPERATION.

"DELILAH...... You can ask me to kill for you....... You can ask me to die for you. But you CAN'T ask me to STAND BY....... and WATCH you DROWN yourself again WITH THIS...... PLEASE.....I don't want to lead you to your death."

Delilah: 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.

Haleigh stared at Delilah for a long minute, then released her. She suddenly looked tired, slightly ill and deeply depressed. She said nothing as she pulled off her shirt, her suit manifesting on her body instantly like a second skin.

 

[Rampage]

"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."

It would have been easy to be goaded by her words, to remind her that he actually was a doctor in several relevant fields, that analyzing power was in his own power set. But he did none of that - who wants to hear that hugging their own child is deadly? He was the messenger and therefore an easy target. And so he remained as calm as he could.

The prophecy of Alison was harder to bear. The FINALITY of it. In order for Alexia to live...Delilah had to die. And Delilah accepted that with a finality that he could FEEL broke Morgan's heart. He rose just as she did and while he knew he could comfort her, he allowed her sister to do so. It allowed him to be here in any case, and after Morgan returned, he rose again, his axe by his side along with his Aegis, a gift from Athena herself.

So we go. Alison, I am certain you can 'see' where next this ship will arrive. We will meet it there and take it over. We will get Sharon back, and we will save everybody again. But I will NOT go in surrendering ANYONE to FATE or anyone else. We all know what Delilah is WILLING to do. What we ALL are willing to do to save Sharon and Alexia AND DELILAH. But FATE will have to pry anyone in this room - even stank-assed Bishop - from my hands herSELF. Let FATE come. I will meet her on the field of battle with my FAMILY.

 

[Tachyon]

So, should we have suited up to help?

Xavier asked it more than half-heartedly; it was obvious that the day had pretty much gone to shit and that whatever the reason was had managed to subdue the blonde metal woman who went toe-to-toe with the Nimrod. Sharon...Silver Swan she is.

They WERE having a great time; Xavier was pretty certain that Hazel was entertained and the rest of the group seemed to be easy to get along with. Then Cameron showed up and was apparently having a time of it. Seems some of the team left the rest of the team and went on a mission that turned bad quickly. The sorceresses were none too please and they left with Rampage. That left him, Mike, Hazel and Karen. Normally a solid foursome but it was obvious everyone was worried. Mike was monitoring channels worldwide for something strange and the other two seemed out of sorts. Xavier continued.

Seriously. I have no...suit...per se...but I don't want the blonde bird to be in any trouble. If you see where the next spot of trouble is...I can get there pretty fast if I push it.

Xavier stood, pouring himself more of the drink that the witches had concocted as he began to pace, instinctively moving faster and faster...

 

[Shadow Weaver]

<<Minerva's Aerie- In the aftermath of Cameron's visit>>

<< Xavier asks after the departing members of the Six. After the initial shock of things, Karen looked over at him.>>


No, I'm afraid not.


<< She said with a quiet tone.>>


This matter has been....months in the making, and it is a family matter. The Six must face it together.


For now, we should remain here where it is safe and if there's trouble, my daughters or Alison could get in contact with me easily enough or Nicolas could contact Michael.

Your offer of assistance is appreciated though, Xavier. With you and Hazel here, should we INDEED be needed, we'll have a plenty of strong resources among our little group.

<< She took a drink from her goblet. In a time like this, when anxiety and uncertainty would be high, this concoction was IDEAL for providing warmth, calm and clarity.>>

<< She looked over at Hazel>>

Did you see the interaction between Alison and Cameron? It was almost REGRESSION to the way they treated each other in the earlier years of the Six. The divide over Delilah has GROWN...just as I feared it would.


I have tried to stand by and let them find and use what they have in them to resolve this. I KNOW from talking to Alison, Blaze and others that the desire for peace and bridging the gap is there...but after what we've just seen, maybe we should consider intervening and taking a more active role in trying to repair the damage.

 

[Bishop]

The War Room

Bishop waited and watched, not feeling the need to interject unless something important needed saying. Haleigh was doing a competent job of running the tactical briefing. He raised a hand to his face and squeezed the sides of his nose together so it would heal reasonably straight.

"Um, what makes Nicolas an expert again?

Bishop shook his head, his voice low and almost a curse.

“For god’s sake, Delilah…”

The kid was only trying to help. And he liked Nicolas, at least from their few interactions, despite the fact that he knew Delilah did not care much for him. But Bishop let it go at that - he knew the last thing that would change Delilah’s attitude was a recommendation from him.

There was a lot of meaningless shit, squabbling and people trying to show how badass they were. None of it was worth anything. Especially after Alison told them that Delilah was about to die, and she accepted it. THAT was all that mattered.

He watched Haleigh say all the things he wanted to say, express all the disbelief that he wanted to. But he said nothing. He looked hard at Alison. He looked at Delilah’s stoic face. And he realized, perhaps for the first time, what it must have been like for Delilah that night on Aerie. To have someone make such a terrible choice, one that affects you so deeply, without having any input into it, feeling so helpless and angry. Having people tell you that there was no choice, no alternative, based on something as intangible as a vision. Now he understood how ridiculous it sounded, being told that something so awful was the only way.

He stood up and moved to her side, he couldn’t help himself.

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

He hung his head and sank down into the nearest unoccupied chair. He had believed her on Aerie. But he didn’t want to now. He came to the grim realization that Delilah was right; they had to save Alexia no matter what it cost.

The others were still discussing things as his attention returned to the events in the room.

But FATE will have to pry anyone in this room - even stank-assed Bishop - from my hands herSELF.

And after he had almost stood up for the kid. That was gratitude for you. He didn’t smile, or even look up, as he replied.

“Well, if I’d known you were going to spend this much time talking I would have taken a shower.”

 

[MorningStar]

The War Room

Delilah followed Morgan’s path with one eye as she rushed out. Obviously, yet again Morgan didn’t agree with her decision to put her child above herself, and she was pissed off and had stormed out. But she would just have to deal with that. There wasn’t time right now for more of Morgan’s bullshit. And this is what they were doing; there was no going back, no matter WHAT Morgan Victoria thought about it.

Haleigh, on the other hand…

"DELILAH...... You can ask me to kill for you....... You can ask me to die for you. But you CAN'T ask me to STAND BY....... and WATCH you DROWN yourself again WITH THIS...... PLEASE.....I don't want to lead you to your death.”

Delilah gave Haleigh a small smile, removing herself gently from Haleigh’s grasp.

“I’m not asking you to lead me there; I just need you to let me go.”

She took a step back, so she faced both Cameron and Haleigh. Looking to Cam, she didn’t speak aloud.

You deserve much better, than to spend your life holding me together.

She turned her eyes to the both of them now, reaching out.

“Cameron, Haleigh - I need you to look after her when I’m gone.”

Bishop’s eyes darted to her in silent protest but she continued.

“Maxim is stronger - and smarter - than he looks but there are things as Alexia grows older that he won’t understand. Be there for her when she needs you. Keep her safe. And make sure that one day, she can come home.”

She turned back to the group.

“I think that’s everything. Let’s go find the good ship lollipop.”

 

[Persephone]

Both Alison AND Haleigh completely lost it. Alison got up and began straight for Haleigh, causing Ava to immediately stand to block her path.

"Alison, calm down!"

Haleigh got up without hesitation, born ready for this confrontation. She withdrew her gun and placed it on the table before a knife from her boot flew into her hand.

"Haleigh! Stop!"

Ava's hands were outstretched now, placed on both Haleigh AND Alison's chest preventing them from getting any closer to one another.

"Knock it off, both of you!"

Alison: 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!

Ava was caught between a rock and a hard place. Marble hard and fuucking metal to be exact. She knew this needed to happen. That EVERYONE need to say their peace and put all the cards out on the table. So against Ava's better judgement she lowered her hands from both Alison and Haleigh and took a step back.

Folding her arms across her chest, Ava bowed her head and listened to the trumpets blare. Haleigh refused to accept Delilah's fate, but Alison reminded her of a meeting they had saying that two members of the six would die...and that there was no changing it. That caused Ava to look up at them both with surprise. That was when Delilah finally spoke, yelling for everyone to stop. For everyone to stop making decisions FOR her and instead listen TO her. But Ava didn't want to listen, because she knew Delilah had made her choice. She would choose to save Alexia and die. Shaking her head, Ava non-verbally protested, not wanting to see her friend sacrifice herself--to DIE--to be KILLED.

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

Ava's eyes began to water, but she kept the tears back. Morgan, however, could not.She quickly left the room-Blaze following.

"I can't accept that. I won't."

Ava of all people knew that eventually, people died. The curse of being an immortal was outliving those you love, time and time again. But she didn't want to outlive Delilah....she didn't want to loose HER.

Delilah: 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.

Ava stared at Delilah, her eyes pained and filled to the brim with tears. Haleigh finally became quiet, a solid indication that despite everything...all the fighting, anger, fear, chaos....that she had finally accepted Delilah's decision. Ava's eyes slowly lowered into a blank stare, the moments passing like hours. Finally, she looked over at Alison.

"There has to be something..."

She softly whispered to her friend. Alison was hurt and filled with anger, but even Ava could see the pain in the precog's eyes despite her best efforts to hide it. She may have hated Delilah, but she LOVED her more, and this situation? Was killing everyone in the room. Alison gently shook her head no, indicating there was nothing that could be done. Nothing.

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: I’m not asking you to lead me there; I just need you to let me go.

Haleigh took a steady, deep breath, shaking her head as she sat down, pulled off her boots, and then worked her jeans down over her hips and slipped them off, revealing the lower half of her suit. She picked her gun up off the table again and slid it into a drop leg holster that materialized on her left thigh.

How can she ask that of me? She MUST know that I CAN'T fuccking do that. I couldn't let her go BEFORE.... I can't NOW.

Delilah was the best of them. She was the one who held them to higher standards, who refused to take the easy way out, who allowed NO compromise when it came to ethics. She was a role model. She reminded Haleigh what it meant to be a 'good' person. She proved to them ALL that it was still possible to be a true hero. If she died, all that possibility died with her. If they sacrificed HER, they sacrificed their humanity. Every last one of them would sink into the darkness. She couldn't meet Delilah's eyes anymore. Haleigh would NEVER let Delilah go.

Delilah: Cameron, Haleigh - I need you to look after her when I’m gone.

"FUCCKITY FUCCKING FUCCK, DELILAH...... You can't be serious! I am..... literally THE WORST person..... to entrust your kid with."

She was losing her voice now, and only barely holding back the tears, as Delilah pressed on with the request, undeterred by her warning.

Delilah: Maxim is stronger - and smarter - than he looks but there are things as Alexia grows older that he won’t understand. Be there for her when she needs you. Keep her safe. And make sure that one day, she can come home.

Haleigh glanced at Cameron, her pained expression revealing the truth she wanted to say: I CAN'T DO THIS. He held her gaze, and she could sense his response, his steely resolve. They HAD to do this. Delilah needed their support, and she deserved it several times over. The tears finally fell, and Haleigh wiped them away almost instantly, forbidding herself from dissolving into a sobbing, sniffling mess. She finally looked back at Delilah, making eye contact.

"I will."

She whispered, making a promise she'd force herself to keep, no matter the cost.

She shut down her tear ducts. Crying WASN'T going to make it any easier, and she knew it was GO TIME.

Delilah: I think that’s everything. Let’s go find the good ship lollipop.

"I hope there's chocolate aboard, I need a fuccking pick-me-up."

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon - War Room

Delilah [via thought call]: "I know you will, I know. But I'm going to need you for something more important."

:: Cameron instantly knew what she meant by that and his stomach turned over. He knew what Delilah was prepared to do and he respected that. Of course he knew the others were going to explode and Haleigh and his sister were the first to go.::

Haleigh: "YOU DIE or YOU DIE is NOT a ****ing choice, Alison. You're not giving her an option! It's a death sentence no matter HOW you slice it!"


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

:: The two of them flew out of their seats in an instant. Ava took point on Alison and Cameron tried to take point on Haleigh but it was too late. ::

Alison: "That's RIGHT, Haleigh. Come meet me right where I am!"

"Both of you! Stop!"

:: Cameron didn't even notice Blaze and Morgan leaving The War Room at this point. He needed to try and at least contain this situation. But he was dealing with two people who had a colored history of not being ABLE to be contained. Until something incredibly violent happened. ::

Haleigh: "LET'S get one thing STRAIGHT, Harbinger: You'll show Cameron his due respect--"

:: Prophet cocked an eyebrow. Not that people didn't stand up for him when it was warranted, but that normally wasn't the default. Cameron usually had to talk ad naseum about why he did the things he did so that people could feel good about trusting him. To see Haleigh here now, immediately coming to his aid..well it reminded him of the old days on the team. While his relationship with Haleigh was missed, the strict battle lines they used to draw between themselves and Alison and Morgan was something he desperately didn't want to return to and it seemed like they were in that very same situation right now. ::

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

Haleigh: "Yeah well you'd BETTER be scared of what I'LL say OR DO, because I don't much CARE FOR your tone OR your ATTITUDE."

Haleigh smoothly, quickly drew the SR45 from the holster at the small of her back and set it on the table, as Alison moved down the length of the table. Cameron tried to get Haleigh to stop, tried to tell her it wasn't worth it, but she just gave him a LOOK that said 'IT IS.' She pulled off her watch and tossed it down as well, then held her hand by her side and her boot knife flew from its sheathe to her hand, and she set it on the table as well. Ava was stalling Alison, telling her to THINK about what she was doing, as Haleigh cracked her knuckles.

:: Cameron instinctively tk'ed the items FAR away and out of reach as he tried to restrain Haleigh who was at this point completely ready for an altercation. Things were going so bad and neither of them were seeming to get the point. Wheras Alison was presenting the fact that it was a choice for Delilah to essentially be a bitch, Haleigh was fighting long and hard to prove that Alison's words were not absolute. They seemed to be forgetting the very thing that caused the tensions to be this high; Delilah. This was her decision and her choice and while Cameron of course never wanted anything bad to happen to Delilah ever again..she certainly wasn't living anymore. She was a shell and she had been for a long time. She was the moral compass of the team and she had been one of the few true "heroes." He saw Delilah willing to sacrifice her life for her daughter was very noble. This was her choice to make and she made a choice. And if any single one of them thought they wouldn't make that choice to save their child, then they were delusional. Of course the news wasn't good, but when had it ever been. Nearly ALL of the people who lived in this room had died before. They had all mourned each other. And yet here they all were. Cameron felt that if they truly believed in the power of The Six..that FATE and DESTINY had called them together and CONTINUED to keep them together, moreso than in ANY other timeline..surely they could believe that this would not be the END of Delilah. Curse or no corse, Goddess intervention or not..Cameron had FAITH that things would be okay. He believed that they could go and do this and get Alexia and keep Delilah. Perhaps it was stupid, but it was all he could cling on to. ::

:: Alison and Haleigh exchanged barb after barb before Delilah finally spoke up. She seemed resolved to the same choice she had made earlier. ::

Haleigh: "DELILAH...... You can ask me to kill for you....... You can ask me to die for you. But you CAN'T ask me to STAND BY....... and WATCH you DROWN yourself again WITH THIS...... PLEASE.....I don't want to lead you to your death.”

Delilah: “I’m not asking you to lead me there; I just need you to let me go.”

"You aren't doing this alone..THAT is non-negotiable."

Delilah: [via thought call] "You deserve much better, than to spend your life holding me together."

"And you deserve much better than ANY of this that's happening now. I have pretty much everything I've ever wanted..and you're included in that. I love you, Delilah and it's been an HONOR to be there for you..when all you've done is be there for us..and that's something I INTEND to keep doing."

She turned her eyes to the both of them now, reaching out.

“Cameron, Haleigh - I need you to look after her when I’m gone.”

Bishop’s eyes darted to her in silent protest but she continued.

“Maxim is stronger - and smarter - than he looks but there are things as Alexia grows older that he won’t understand. Be there for her when she needs you. Keep her safe. And make sure that one day, she can come home.”

:: Cameron was frozen for a second. He was sure he could be a fun uncle that Alexia could see at holidays, but to be entrusted with looking after Delilah coupled with Delilah just so resolved that she would die tonight, it just made Cameron..frozen. He knew that Haleigh was freaking out. She could see it in her eyes. She was so not okay with this situation. None of them were..but really, for as valid as everything they were saying was..this decision again was Delilah's. If she was willing to die for her daughter he couldn't think of a more noble reason. Haleigh began to cry and Cameron kept a steel reserve. Everybody else was falling apart except for Ava. He matched her collectiveness at the moment if only because snowballing out of control would just make things worse. ::

Haleigh: "I will."

Cameron: "I will as well."

:: The confronation seemed to be subsided for the moment as Cameron looked upon the group. ::

"You guys...we are a family. At the end of the day, for better or worse..this is our family. It's why we are able to cut each other as deeply as we do at times. A member of our family has a daughter. Think about that for a minute! Delilah has a beautiful little girl. Seeing her in the flesh and watching her..well, I don't need to be convinced that she is special, because she is. She's a special little girl who was able to come into this world despite EVERYTHING. We helped make sure that baby lived. WE did that. From all the destruction and death and pain we've experienced..we've never thought much about us even being able to HAVE our own families. But there she is..Alexia. She's proof that we still have a chance. She's proof that we are human."

"It's like Nicolas said..we may come from different sides on this one..but just look at our journey together. Has it ever been easy? Have the odds EVER been in our favor? Hell NO. But this is why we stand where nobody else on this Earth..mutant, witch or whatever can. These are ALWAYS our circumstances. ALL of us are going to fight tooth and nail to get ALL of our family back, but the threat we are facing right now, has is and always will be the same. The sins of our fathers have forced us into this life, they have forced our hands and they have left us in ruins..but we have time and time again SHOWED them that we will not be destroyed and that we will right the wrongs. And you know what? For the most part we have..we've lost people along the way and it hasn't been easy for ANY of us. But this is our life. All we can do is what we do everytime. We argue, we fight..we leave, we isolate..but when push comes to shove, we UNITE. We show Mystech, Master Mold, Set, Circe, Sister Mary Justice..that we are ABOVE the flimsy concept of fate and we WIN. Because everything that has happened to us thus far has shown us that we don't CARE about fate..because we've gone around it so many times. It's what we do and it's WHY we are THE SIX."

:: Cameron looked around at the others. ::

"So...what we need to do now, is rally our troops..get our heads clear..go to SPACE and show a COSMIC entity that she has no IDEA what she's gotten herself into and that the power she thinks ALEXIA has is THREEFOLD in EACH and EVERY one of us."

:: The team fell silent for a moment. ::

"It's time for us to LEAVE."

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – War Room


:: So far, so good. Everybody seemed to be behaving themselves. Morgan let them all in on exactly what KIND of faerie that faerie was and who she was working with. It was actually pretty interesting, getting to know your enemy before storming the enemy’s camp and all that. However, her heart sank when Morgan said that not even the barriers of Limbo, much less Ororo herself, could keep the faerie from Alexia because she was a DREAM faerie. ::

“Bullshit.”

:: Nobody heard her as Alison soon told them exactly why they couldn’t save Alexia…but SOMEBODY could. That somebody was Delilah. And she had to give her life for Alexia’s. That was pretty noble, but Haleigh, Cameron, and everybody would have NONE of it; as they should, as Delilah was part of their team, a part of their FAMILY, whether people liked it or not. There was yelling and screaming…as well as crying. ::

And people get mad at ME for getting emotional. Um, hello? Pots, do you want to start calling me black now?

:: Never before had Cass seen just what Alison can do. Sure, Cass knew about her power, and she was with the gang during the Blue Moon, but back then she was still in bondage from her past that she just didn’t…SEE. She didn’t envy Alison her power at ALL. It must be so hard to know every bad thing that will happen to your friends. Once again, Alison is the bearer of bad news. Cass hung her head. Sure, she didn’t like Delilah at the moment. Sure, Delilah seemed to be campaigning for Bitch of the Year. And yes, Cass did think that Delilah didn’t deserve to have Alexia back; not in her present attitude and personality anyway. But Cass didn’t want Delilah to DIE. ::

:: Delilah spoke up and said that she WOULD give her life to save her baby’s, no matter what ANYBODY said. Cass smiled at her words. Sure, the team has been divided and separated – LITERALLY – but at this present time, despite all that has happened, Cass had never been more proud of Delilah Trelaven than she was right now. Morgan stood up and left the room. Cass quickly looked at Blaze and her friend gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before following her sister. That’s when Cass knew that both sisters would be okay. She turned back to the others, trying to blink back the unexpected tears that came to her eyes. Haleigh and Ava, of all the people in the room, PLEADED with both Delilah and Alison to reconsider; to try and find another way. But Cass knew that there wasn’t another way. Cameron stood up and made an impassioned speech that Cass couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She was angry and she was upset. Hell, several hours earlier she had watched her childhood friend DIE and then she came to terms with her OLD life and now she had to say goodbye to her team mate and member of her new family? No fcuking way. She stood up and, with a fierce look on her face, she released an energy ball of her psionic power to a light far from the team and it exploded with a huge POP! just as Morgan and Blaze came back and said they were ready to assist. ::

”IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!”

:: Cass stood there, her whole body trembling with emotion. ::

*softly*: “It’s not good enough.”

Screw what THEY think.

“That meltdown I had in Blaze’s apartment? It was because I finally found my childhood best friend from Poland…and I had found her in time just to be with her in her final moments. She’s been here, in New York City, the WHOLE time I’ve been here. I finally came to terms with the loss of my old life and family…”

:: Her voice broke. ::

“…and now you’re telling me I may have to say goodbye to a member of my NEW life and family? No, I don’t buy that.”

:: Cass choked back a sob. ::

“Everybody is saying it’s time to leave, and we should leave, but, and this is major, I don’t see us acting like the team we are, like the FAMILY Cameron says we are.”

:: Cass sighed and looked down at the table. ::

“If we’re going to save Alexia and the others, shouldn’t we actually BE united in this? Delilah hates everyone except for Haleigh and Cameron, Ava doesn’t like me and I don’t like her, Alison is apparently pissed off at her own brother for whatever reason…”

:: Cass closed her eyes and splayed her hands on the table. She took a deep breath and opened them, gazing at each person in turn. ::

“I may not have done things perfectly in the past, and I may not get along with some of you outside of these missions, but the truth of the matter is this: when the chips are down I will ALWAYS have your backs.”

:: She gazed into each other’s eyes when she said it, but the last part she looked straight at Ava as she said it. She turned to Delilah next. ::

“I was in bondage by my past during the Blue Moon, and I will be the first to admit that I had a huge chip on my shoulder, if I still don’t now, but the truth is this, Delilah: I really do like you, and I really do admire you. I have never been more proud of you than I am right now. I’m glad to know you. You may push me away, and you may insult me to my face, but my feelings will never change…even IF it’s too little, too late.”

:: Cass sat back down, trying to get control. Delilah might have to give her life for Alexia’s, but the Six would make sure it doesn’t happen with a fight. Cass looked down at the table, her body still shaking. She said her piece. There was nothing more left for her to say. All she wanted was her family back safe and sound. ::

 

[Seer]

And So...
<< Sometimes, a person can become so used to pain and dysfunction, that when the glimmer of a light pointing towards something else is first seen, it causes tremendous upset. This is one of those times for the Six.>>

<< But even as they struggle, they remember. The roster may be different, but the theme is timeless. They may argue, they may fight...but they're family and even when they try to deny it, circumstances...FATE has a way of reminding them and forcing them to act accordingly.>>
------------------------------

<< Back in Central Park>>

<< In the same space where the candy chaos had occurred a while ago, the starry night sky is once again interrupted as one of those mysterious giant candy ships shimmers into view!>>

<< It lowers to the ground and silently lands. But this time there's no music. There's no hypnotic melody that lures more unsuspecting children. The mysterious ship just sits there....WAITING...>>


<< And as it waits, we must watch and see what happens next.>>