Meeting of the minds

[Seer]

out to investigate

<< Like it or not, Malice had a point. Like it or not, Malice and the Sisterhood were now the ones with the most extensive connections in NYC. It was a sharp reminder to the Six, who had been present for the Arklay/Bishop fallout just how much they'd lost and even though they were back in society, they still didnt have it like they did before. It was a reminder that the Sisterhood werent as "useless" as they WANTED to convince themselves they were. Malice didnt need any outward reaction to know that once again, she'd one up'ed them.>>

<< of them all, Sharon and Haleigh had held back from this rather abrupt and hasty exit attempt the others were attempting to pull. Both women knew there was more to be GAINED from working with the Sisterhood in this situation. It added more fire power, it gave them someone who had the most intimate knowledge of Mystech from its past up to its end and perhaps even the current WilPharma. Sharon was not nearly as bothered by the Sisterhood as perhaps the others felt she SHOULD have been and Haleigh, while clearly having every reason to hate Malice like the others, was USED to making deals with the devil.>>

<< Now came the task at hand of the Six venturing out into the city they once called home, under cloak courtesy of Isis and to Ron Davis' office where Cameron would then use his psi powers in a way that more resembled MALICE than his own way as he not only imposed his will on the law enforcement and FBI to accept their false credentials but also the illusion that they were a specially assigned CSI team. once inside they would have time to survey the building and make their way to Ron Davis' actual office. His body was still in there, still in the chair with a news paper covering his head and upper chest. His laptop was open b ut files were deleting themselves...files protaining to WilPharma and Mystech, files with evidence of the effects of T and G virus testing on children in 3rd world countries...all sorts of incriminating evidence.>>

<< but there was something ODD about the scene. it was almost impossibly free and clear of ANY fingerprints, any foot prints...any sign that someone had ever been there. Haleigh would check all video surveilance...NOTHING. .>>

<< Ron Davis; throat was SLIT and the word "PIG" was scrawled across the WALL behind him in his own blood! but who could have done it?>>

<< Malice said they'd find what they needed by going directly to the scene. Had she been lying? No...just as the others were becoming convinced Malice put them on a wild goose chase, Persephone detected the faintest odor. it was faint...but when she caught it...it was as ANCIENT and POISONOUS as SHE was. Bella Donna oil! something she would know quite well and it would be a surprising key clue that ONLY the Six could have detected as modern day CSI would not be equipped to detect this.>>

<< as the six carefully searched the room and looked over Ron Davis' body, there was a coldness in the air, as cold as the heart of the person who had killed him. They were a step closer to the awful truth about this and it would not be any easier for them from here on.>>

 

[Black Widow]

Malice: No, I suppose it's not that relevant, after all…they weren't breaking the hearts or spirit of another team member with what they did now were they?

"No, they were not."

Malice: At least not to a degree that SOMEONE WOULD ADMIT TO.

"Not to a degree that's worth mentioning again."

She corrected. Haleigh had already told Cameron that pursuing Sharon was a bad idea; she'd already warned him that Sharon would use and abuse him and then cast him aside. If he was going to disregard her advice, then she'd done all that could be expected of her and any further protest would make her seem inappropriately invested.

Malice: Now then…it is quite obvious you are all foaming at the mouth to find out about Senator Ron Davis. So why don't you just GO to his office? That IS what you do, isn't it?

[deadpan] "Oh, yeah. We're a regular live action version of Mystery, Inc. I'm Daphne. Meet Shaggy [points to Cameron], Freddie [Nicolas], Velma [Delilah], and-- [looking at Ava] Damn it, I ran out of characters, unless you want to be Scooby."

Delilah: Right. Clearly the idea of cooperating on this is getting us nowhere. Now that you've [The Sisterhood] succeeded in taking us round and round in circles and giving us nothing, I think it's time for us to go. Trying to get anything done here is pointless. [She turned to her team.] They don't want to cooperate with us, fine. Frankly, they just succeeded in stalling us and wasting our time by keeping us here. Let's go.

Ava: Look, if the rest of you want to try and work through Malice's web of crap to get information that might actually be useful, then keep me updated. I'll work with Delilah on the Terra Save/Alycia front, okay?

Ava tosses a look in Haleigh direction that clearly implies 'call me later or else', and Haleigh nods discreetly.

"You guys go ahead. I've got a few more questions for my favorite person in the world."

Malice: I didnt ask you here. Nor did Enchantra. It was Nicolas' rather UNFORTUNATE link to Isis that lead to you being here. Don't THINK for a moment that WE need YOU.

"You may not NEED us, but you certainly will BENEFIT from our involvement, and I KNOW that you know that. Now if you don't WANT our help, then just come out and SAY it, and we'll go back HOME and mind our own business and deal with this green-eyed woman in the event that YOU fail to take care of her on your own, since clearly she's a skeleton out of YOUR closet. Don't think for a SECOND that just because we're the 'good guys' means we give a enough of a DAMN about your problems to help you when you're being this OBNOXIOUS to us. So why don't you stop acting STUPID, because I know that you're intelligent enough to realize that cooperating with us will get you a LOT farther than antagonizing us at every turn."

Malice: If you uptight little bitches had been less defensive and more willing to LISTEN, you would have picked up on the CLUE that I was trying to give you.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What with all that MINDFUCKING you were attempting, I must have been too distracted to decipher your perpetually derogative insinuations into actual clues. How about you drop the attitude and talk plainly?"

Malice: GO TO RON DAVIS' office. You'll find what YOU need there. Besides, this IS the sort of thing your team does, doesn't it? investigate things that "could effect society or humanity as a whole?" why WOULD WE [ the sisterhood' be involved in THIS when we could use our talents to find more on this mystery woman?

We'll take care of things on OUR end--

"Oh, WILL you? Because if I recall correctly, that's what you were SUPPOSEDLY going to do LAST NIGHT after you stuck us in the guest suites. But here we are this morning, and not only do you have a pitiful continental breakfast, but you've still got your heads up your asses and NOTHING to tell us. So do you really think you can manage to be prepared to present us with SOME kind of information regarding that woman, or do we have to do EVERYTHING ourselves?"

Haleigh wasn't as annoyed as the others with Malice's deportment, but she wasn't about to let Diana insult her people without letting her have it right back. Malice was RIGHT in that the Six no longer had a strong network in New York, but that didn't mean she needed to be unreasonably SMUG about it when the Six were actually trying to HELP. Everyone knew that if the positions were REVERSED… the sisterhood would have avoided involvement until it became ABSOLUTELY INESCAPABLE.

[turning to go] "Alright gang, let's go. Delilah, would you mind getting us there? Here you go."

She prompts, passing out expertly forged credentials to everyone. Delilah opens a wormhole and Haleigh lets everyone go first before giving Malice one more sardonic smile and following them to the murder scene. They are allowed access without a second glance and Haleigh takes note of the police presence here as well as downloading the building's floor plans and checking the security tapes for anything of value. They went to Ron's office, ducking under the police tape and shutting themselves in. It smelled strongly of decomposition.

"Nothing on the surveillance."

Ron's computer was running a program that erased his hard drive. Haleigh didn't stop it, but she DID monitor [and memorize] every file it went through.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah turned back from the door and gazed steadily at Malice for a moment. “You really are exasperating, you know that?”

She rubbed her eyes. Fuck this shit.

Haleigh, however, proceeded to put Malice in her place. Delilah was increasingly thinking she might have been wrong about the can opener all along. Her mouth turned up into a self-satisfied smile and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Malice getting told off. The only thing missing was popcorn.

[deadpan] " Meet Shaggy [points to Cameron], Freddie [Nicolas], Velma [Delilah]

Delilah’s smile fell and her head snapped towards Haleigh.

[incredulous] “Oi! Velma?!”

As Haleigh concluded, she asked Delilah to open a wormhole. Delilah nodded and raised her hands, blue light swirling into the form of a tunnel. Her wormhole would take them to an alley behind Ron Davis’ office building.

Lowering her hands, she looked directly at Malice.

“If you all run into trouble, Isis can get a hold of Nicolas…again.”

She couldn’t resist reminding Malice that it was the Sisterhood who had needed help and not the other way around. She let the others (save Haleigh) go before her then stepped into the tunnel. She turned back towards the War Room and kept walking backwards. She blew Malice a kiss, then turned and bounded the rest of the way through.

They gained access to the crime scene, courtesy of Cameron and Isis – and Haleigh’s forged credentials. She had been to thousands of crime scenes during her time as a police detective – this was nothing new, and she knew what to do. Her eyes quickly scanned the room. The body hadn’t been moved yet. She felt something somewhere between disgust and pity as she saw how he had ended up. She gave Cameron a look.

“Be careful what you touch...Shaggy. Haleigh, got that computer?”

"Nothing on the surveillance."

“Tampered with?”

Something was wrong here. In thousands of crime scenes, many hundreds of murders, she had never seen a place so devoid of physical evidence.

“Either this place has already been cleaned, or whoever did this is very, very good.”

She moved closer to examine the blood on the wall.

“To do this and not leave a single fingerprint…”

 

[Prophet]

To the Senator's Office

"Great. Just Great."

Cameron thought to himself as both Delilah and Ava made their exits. This was going nowhere. The Sisterhood was being less cooperative than he imagined they would be, which meant to him, that whoever this "mystery" woman was, she posed quite a threat to The Sisterhood, and that they didn't want The Six to know just yet the secrets behind the green eyed enigma, or that they wanted time to figure out how to better disclose the information they DID have.

Malice: No, I suppose it's not that relevant, after all…they weren't breaking the hearts or spirit of another team member with what they did now were they?

Haleigh: No, they were not.

Malice: At least not to a degree that SOMEONE WOULD ADMIT TO.

Haleigh: Not to a degree that's worth mentioning again.

Not that he slept with Sharon to spite Haleigh, but he did want her to have a reaction that he felt sufficient, but he knew that wasn't Haleigh. And for some reason, being with Sharon made him feel less angry about Haleigh and Zach, and Haleigh and Nicholas for that matter. He generally felt better about alot of things, he guessed. Realizing this was probably not the best use of his time, his thoughts went back to the task at hand as Haleigh said what he had been thinking about the entire situation. It was time to go to Ron Davis' office.

Via Delilah's wormhole, they were now in an alley behind Ron Davis' office building. They made there way to the front where Cameron very easily imposed his will on the police presence there, informing them that they were a specially designated CSI team sent to investigate the scene and that they were NOT to be disturbed under any circumstance. As they began to investigate the office, Haleigh confirmed that she found nothing on all video surveilance. The feeling in the room was absolutely cold and eery. Rage and anger seemed to permeate through the room. This was a murder committed out of sheer will. It wasn't an accident, it wasn't in self defense this was a planned murder.

Delilah: Be careful what you touch...Shaggy. Haleigh, got that computer?

Cameron smirked.

"Oh I think i'll be fine... VELMA."

[surveying the answer]

"I'm not even getting anything on a psychic level. I see Ron Davis very clearly, and I can see the murder, but whoever committed this crime, I can't really detect them. Not even if it was a man or woman. Delilah's right this place was clean, somebody KNEW how to committ this murder."

Cameron had no leads, and he felt that had this been Alycia, he WOULD ahve been able to detect that.His pupils dilated for a second as his glance turned to Ava.

"What have you found Ava?"

He said, almost knowingly.

 

[Persephone]

Haleigh:[looking at Ava] Damn it, I ran out of characters, unless you want to be Scooby."

[with narrowed eyes] "I think i'll pass."

The six and the sisterhood managed to work through their differences enough to part ways [without killing each other] and agree to meet up if the situation presented itself. Malice mentioned that the group needed to go to Ron Davis' office and for once, the six agreed. Teleporting to the senator's office via Delilah's wormhole, they soon appeared in his office only to be greeted by the word "PIG" written across the wall with Davis' blood. His throat was cut from ear to ear, giving him no chance of survival even if he had been found shortly after the attack. Whoever did this knew what they were doing.

But there was something else. The others wouldn't pick up the distinct smell, but Ava knew it well. Shifting her eyes from side to side as she stared vacently across the room, she could smell it....the slightest hint of Belladonna. It smelled bitter, almost like citrus and cloves.

Cameron: "What have you found Ava?"

"Belladonna....very faint, but yes [nodding her head as she looked to the others] It's belladonna."

Ava continued.

"It's a very old oil created by Hecate thousands of years ago. Very poisonous if handled the wrong way. She gave it to the Amazons...as a tactical weapon. Belladonna is used to cloak a person--turn them invisible not only physically but mentally was well. It can only be found on Themyscria."

Ava didn't have to say WHO killed Senator Davis outright...everyone knew in that moment that Alycia was the only person who had access to Belladonna AND had a vendetta against Davis. She killed him. There was no doubt in Ava's mind.

 

[Silver Swan]

at the crime scene

[ Sharon couldnt help but look a bit amused as the two sides went back and forth. Delilah was certainly a different side to HERSELF wasnt she? The mutate still wanted to bash her skull in and felt that she was a selfrighteous snob but right now, there WAS a job to be done, even though Sharon was almost ANNOYED that she had to be bothered with it. She couldnt help but wonder where SHE was going in her own mind and soul. She no longer felt the duty and honor she once was bound by. Now she just wanted to live her life and pursue the happiness she'd been so often denied. Being with the Six would not her that and that was making her resentment grow...she was FINALLY starting to understand that.]

[ but because Alycia was involved and because their mystery antagonist had her sights set on SHARON as well...and because she didnt want anything to happen to Cameron....she'd stick around and do her part.]

[ She held back as the two sides traded barbs. Malice had no problem trampling on the Six...particularly Delilah and Haleigh and Sharon couldnt help but ENJOY that. She hated those two and she didnt even realize how far, how TRAGIC a change that was from the way they were before.]

[ finally the six made their way to the crime scene. once inside, everyone carefully searched the room but did not make any changes to the environment. There was Ron Davis, looking like a bloated pig with his tongue hanging out a bit and to the side. the word "PIG" on the wall behind him in his own blood was VERY fitting and Sharon didnt feel a BIT of sympathy for him. He was HELPING WilPharma to reconstitute the EVIL that Mystech had began.]

[ the area was was incredibly free of any telling physical evidence as to whom might have done it. no one could pick up anything so far, even Sharon, who listened carefully for any sounds or echos but nothing. soon though, Persephone picked up on a shocking clue, the scent of BELLADONNA oil! It was an ANCIENT and DEADLY substance. Sharon had seen it on the great apothecary on themyscria. it was an essential ingredient to potions such as INVISIBILITY.]

[ Sharon swallowed hard as Persephone offered a precise and damning explanation of the scent and what it meant and now...ALL suspicion would be cast on Alycia. Well Sharon wouldnt abandon her friend and pass judgement her.]

Before anybody says anything, we should leave here. We can't risk being overheard discussing this from this point on at THIS of all places.

[ She spoke in a low but urgent tone. A very logical suggestion. She hoped that they would at least have sense enough to realize they needed to leave here before they began discussing Alycia AT the crime scene.]

 

[MorningStar]

Confirmation that it was Alycia who had killed Ron Davis, though Delilah didn’t think it was a stretch for any of them to believe it. Something nagged at her about it, though. It was the blood on the wall. A crime of passion she could understand coming from Alycia, but this seemed so much more thought out than simple self-defense. It was disorganized, raw emotion. It didn’t seem like Alycia at all to be so…out of control.

Before anybody says anything, we should leave here. We can't risk being overheard discussing this from this point on at THIS of all places.

She gave the room a final glance – she didn’t think there was anything more to be gained here – and nodded.

“I know a place near here we can go to talk. Come on.”

She left the building the way they had come in, then cut west towards the river. Delilah walked silently, her mood somber. The others would assume it was the crime scene that had put her in such a stormy mood, but in truth it was their destination that was giving her dark thoughts.

Delilah led them to the service elevator of a warehouse. She pulled the metal cage closed behind them as they rode it to the top floor. Stepping out of the elevator they were greeted by a large steel panel set into a crumbling red brick wall. Delilah felt around the right side of the panel at her eye level and pulled out a loose brick. She typed a code into the keypad hidden therein and replaced the brick.

The steel panel slid open, revealing an open loft that took up the entire floor of the warehouse. The windows were covered by blackout curtains, and the place was furnished simply but adequately.

Delilah glanced at the others before moving inside. She shrugged.

“Hey, at least it’s clean.”

The door would slide shut behind them. She went to a panel on the inside wall near the door and flipped a switch.

“That will jam any listening devices and keep anyone who might be in the lower floors from hearing any sounds coming from this level.”

She was certain one or two of them at least would object to being in one of Connor’s safehouses. But the fact of the matter was, he was dead and they needed someplace to go while they were in New York. It was about time something good came from Bishop.

 

[Prophet]

Cameron's thoughts about Ava knowing something about the scene were confirmed as she revealed traces of BELLADONNA oil at the scene. Something that used to create the effects of physical and mental invisibility. Something created by Hecate herself, pridefully he admonished that was why he couldn't sense it. Magick. Still with this revelation all paths did lead to Alycia. He didn't want to speak to Alycia to accuse her of anything, it was just that with the growing amount of evidence that stated she was a part of this, he WANTED to at least TRY and clear her name. None of this she would take well, and he knew that after what she had been through, he couldn't blame her.

He watched as Sharon smartly suggested they move the conversation to a safer place and Cameron agreed, as prying ears might pick up on what was going on.

"I agree Sharon, and as a security measure i'll mind wipe the building before we leave. Anyone who knows that we were here, under illusion or otherwise, won't be able to remember a thing. In fact the harder they try, the less they'll remember."

He surveyed the grizzly scene once more.

"But where to? We can't go back to the Sisterhood, we don't know enough, and they are ALREADY planting the seeds leading to the person in question."

For a second he thought of going to the Parthenon, but then he remembered. The Parthenon, Illustra, New York City in GENERAL was no longer their playground. Besides their abilities, they were all but civillians, something Cameron never really took a second to think about before departing for the city. Thankfully Delilah knew a place and before long they were off, Cameron wiping the building and surrounding area clean before they left. She led them to an empty warehouse, down a service elevator and to a loft that took up an entire floor. Cameron's eyes widened as he took in who's place this was.

Delilah: That will jam any listening devices, and keep anyone who might be in the lower floors from hearing any sounds coming from this level.

[sighing]

"Nobody say ANYTHING. We needed a safe place to talk and Delilah has provided just THAT."

[rubbing his temple]

"So... where do we go from here? Alot of signs point to Alycia but now I can't help but think that this seems quite staged. I feel like we are being led to think this was Alycia? We don't know EVERYBODY on this great Earth OR their resources. It's likely that somebody might have been able to get a hold of Belladonna oil. If anybody saw Alycia Barnett at LAX, they could be taking an opportunity. Somebody that knows her, or someone we know who hates her. Claudia Zacchara for example? Her thoughts towards Alycia all throughout the airport were nothing but RAGE and hatred. There is something there to be explored."

Quite honestly, at this moment he wanted to entertain ANY idea that didn't involve Alycia killing Ron Davis. partly because of his thoughts earlier, and partly because Alycia wasn't sloppy. She would know either Sharon or Ava would detect the Belladonna oil. This didn't seem as clean as Cameron would like to think Alycia would be if she were going to committ murder.

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: Oi! Velma?!

"Well, yeah… I mean, you know… intelligent, resourceful, focused. [shrugs] she was always MY favorite. And she could carry Shaggy AND Scooby AND run at full speed. [pauses briefly] No, you're right, maybe I'm Velma. I could never really appreciate that shapeless orange turtleneck…. Or those knee socks [shakes head gently]… but I bet I could pull it off."

She rambles a bit as she takes in the crime scene, picking up the newspaper that had been covering Ron's face and scanning the articles for clues.

Delilah: Tampered with?

She asked of the video evidence. Haleigh shook her head gently.

"No, I mean there's NOTHING there. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Ron slit his OWN throat. [having already run the DNA, she points absently to the word 'PIG' scrawled on the wall] That blood on the wall is HIS."

Delilah: To do this and not leave a single fingerprint…

"Gloves, I presume. This wasn't a self-defense killing, to state the obvious. And I don't think it was a heat of the moment murder either. Whoever did this came here with the intent to end his life in a STATEMENT slaying, and they came WELL prepared."

Cameron: What have you found, Ava?

Ava: Belladonna….very faint, but yes, it's belladonna.

[quizzical] "As in deadly nightshade? I don't see the significance. Why poison a guy you're going to turn into a pez dispenser?"

Ava: It's a very old oil created by Hecate thousands of years ago. Very poisonous if handled the wrong way. She gave it to the Amazons...as a tactical weapon. Belladonna is used to cloak a person--turn them invisible not only physically but mentally was well. It can only be found on Themyscria.

"Oh, awesome."

Five complete seconds passed in which everyone traded looks with everyone else.

Sharon: Before anybody says anything, we should leave here. We can't risk being overheard discussing this from this point on at THIS of all places.

Delilah: I know a place near here we can go to talk. Come on.

Delilah lead them to a warehouse. Haleigh noticed that Delilah seemed a bit more brooding, and it dawned on her that this wasn't a place that was Delilah's specifically. Haleigh sighed quietly, imagining that the must be weird for Delilah, possibly difficult. The woman was all business, though. Haleigh appreciated that. Cameron advised everyone to just be grateful they HAD a place, without looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Delilah: That will jam any listening devices, and keep anyone who might be in the lower floors from hearing any sounds coming from this level.

Cameron: So... where do we go from here? Alot of signs point to Alycia but now I can't help but think that this seems quite staged. I feel like we are being led to think this was Alycia? We don't know EVERYBODY on this great Earth OR their resources. It's likely that somebody might have been able to get a hold of Belladonna oil. If anybody saw Alycia Barnett at LAX, they could be taking an opportunity. Somebody that knows her, or someone we know who hates her. Claudia Zacchara for example? Her thoughts towards Alycia all throughout the airport were nothing but RAGE and hatred. There is something there to be explored.

"I know that some of us may be uncomfortable even CONSIDERING the idea that Alycia may have murdered that man in cold blood and drawn on the wall with his blood, but at THIS POINT…. It would be FOOLISH of us to try to deliberately interpret the situation to suit a culprit that satisfies us… and ignore that the facts strongly point in her direction."

SOMEONE had to verbalize the caveat. Haleigh didn't have a problem doing it. Nor did she have a problem voicing her standing on the theory:

"That being said… Ron was, by all accounts, an awful human being. I'm annoyed that I wasted the effort keeping his ass alive yesterday. Maybe we wouldn't BE in this situation if I had allowed him to run off and get zombified. But it's too late for that. If it IS Alycia…. Maybe I don't have a problem with letting her get away with it. There are over six BILLION humans on the planet, and the world is definitely BETTER without him in it. We should TALK to her about it though. Killing in self-defense… that's justified. Murder… that's a different kind of beast. That kind of blood on your hands leaves a stain on the soul. Plus I don't want her to turn into some kind of vigilante serial killer. She needs to stay OUT of trouble if she wants ANY semblance of a NORMAL life."

 

[Silver Swan]

talking in the warehouse

[ When it became clear WHERE Delilah had brought them, Sharon was OBVIOUSLY disapproving and irritated. Cameron attempted to hold off any remarks as Sharon rolled her eyes and folded her arms.]

I GUESS....

[ She said, not caring who heard her. As far as she was concerned, bringing her hear to this place that belonged to the man who tried to kill her was DEFINATELY an insult, one that fell in line with Delilah's recent campaign of disrespect toward her. But why bother arguing about it? Her FIRST instinct was to lay WASTE and tear the place down and bash the skull in of anyone who tried to stop her BUT only her concern for Alycia allowed her to reign in her impulse.]

[ Cameron did his BEST to try to suggest someone ELSE could be behind this, using circumstance to set Alycia up. Sharon wished that it could be possible but no one outside of the Amazons had access to belladonna oil and of the HANDFULL of people outside of the Amazons EVER to set foot on Themyscria, not even HALF of them knew of it, much less had access to it.]

FLASH

on Themyscria, under the starry night sky, zooming along the expanse and toward a large marble structure that was the Great Apothecary, Alycia sits in a traditional green amazon robe and white head cover as she studies the books of potions, specifically the entries with belladonna oil.

Sharon: Alycia, it's late. I just came to check on you to make sure you were alright. [ seeing Alycia so focused on her studies, Sharon stood behind her and slightly looked over her shoulder] what are you doing?


Alycia: This belladonna oil...it is remarkable. Just think what difference it could have made for me when I lead Force Works!

Sharon: But that was then...this is now....you wont have to worry about anything like that. isnt that what you wanted? to start over and be free of things like that?

Alycia: But when i decide to return, I'll need EVERY advantage available to me. This is my chance to learn what I never could even with the Six.

FLASH

[Haleigh pretty much confirmed the fact that it was UNLIKELY anyone else would have thought, much less had access to belladonna oil or an invisibility potion. but then....]

What do you mean..."let her get away with it?" since when were YOU law enforcement? As many people that YOU have killed! since when were ANY of you the keeper of anyone else's souls? if that were the case, the INFERNO never would have happened and where was this concern about a "stain on a soul" when BISHOP was out trying to pick mutants and metahumans off?

Ron Davis DESERVED to die. If it was her, she did us a FAVOR and she struck a blow against WilPharma!

and as many times that Alycia covered for YOU ALL in times past...we're going to help HER now as well. I won't let you hang her out to dry. ANY of you. [ she looked at Delilah with a HATEFULL glare in her eyes. she suspected Delilah would be the FIRST to try to sell Alycia.]

[ if she had to, Sharon would BATTLE any of them to protect Alycia. She would LEAVE the Six here and now if they had any intentions OTHER than TALKING to her first.]

 

[Prophet]

Haleigh: I know that some of us may be uncomfortable even CONSIDERING the idea that Alycia may have murdered that man in cold blood and drawn on the wall with his blood, but at THIS POINT…. It would be FOOLISH of us to try to deliberately interpret the situation to suit a culprit that satisfies us… and ignore that the facts strongly point in her direction.

"Hey, i'm not uncomfortable CONSIDERING the idea.. i'm just saying Alycia could have just provided the Belladonna and let someone do the work for her."

Sharon: What do you mean..."let her get away with it?" since when were YOU law enforcement? As many people that YOU have killed! since when were ANY of you the keeper of anyone else's souls? if that were the case, the INFERNO never would have happened and where was this concern about a "stain on a soul" when BISHOP was out trying to pick mutants and metahumans off?

[Cameron scoffed]

"Sharon...Don't you think that somebody who HAS had the blood of others on their hands, yourself included would KNOW the kind of toll that takes on a person? We all care about Alycia, nobody is saying anything to the contrary on that. We are merely trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together but we ALL know that a staggering amount of them LEAD to Alycia."

His face contorted a bit at the mention of the Inferno.

"And as much as everyone likes to throw in my face times when I have NOT been there.. I was VERY much a part of that [the Inferno]. It was my fault. Plain and simple. I've tried to deal with that. But don't sit here and say that under any circumstances NOW that I wouldn't GIVE UP my own soul for Morgan, because I would GLADLY."

Sharon: and as many times that Alycia covered for YOU ALL in times past...we're going to help HER now as well. I won't let you hang her out to dry. ANY of you.

He was really trying to be patient. Cameron DID care for Sharon, but sometimes she was just so...combative. He spoke calmly and evenly. Trying his best to not sound aggressive, to ease her anger.

"Nobody is saying ANYTHING about hanging Alycia out to dry, as you put it. It's not like we are going to hand over Alycia Barnett to the Police, we are going to do what we can to HELP Alycia's situation. You and Haleigh are saying the SAME thing. So then Sharon, I guess, my question to you would be.. what the HELL are we supposed to do in a situation like this? Alycia was an ally, a friend to MANY.. many people BESIDES yourself. Do we just leave her be? Are we allowed to talk to her? What do YOU think is the best course of action besides telling us all how we aren't allowed to even THINK Alycia's name? I mean seriously, we are all just trying to HELP!"

His gaze met Sharon's, hoping somehow that maybe she would see that nobody was trying to put Alycia into any kind of box, but facts were facts, ugly as they may be, and they needed to be investigated, one way or another. The longer they talked about whether or not to talk to Alycia was time being wasted. Nobody wanted to HURT Alycia, they just wanted answers, and in fact, from what he could gather, most of them hoped that this was all just a set up, that Alycia was in fact not a part of this, that they COULD leave her be.

 

[Black Widow]

Sharon: What do you mean, 'let her get away with it'?

"I mean that given the circumstances, I'm willing to 'look the other way', but we shouldn't IGNORE the fact that it happened. We should confront her--"

Sharon: Since when were YOU law enforcement? As many people that YOU have killed!

"Well that's my point exactly, don't you see? I don't want Alycia to turn out… the way I did."

Sharon: since when were ANY of you the keeper of anyone else's souls?

[murmured to herself] "Since I grew one of my own."

Sharon: where was this concern about a "stain on a soul" when BISHOP was out trying to pick mutants and metahumans off?

"That was DIFFERENT. He would have KILLED us. He was trying to kill YOU. Delilah took a life to SAVE one, and FRANKLY, I'm really SICK of you bringing it up like that. She COULD HAVE let you die, but she DIDN'T. So how about you BACK OFF?"

Sharon: Ron Davis DESERVED to die. If it was her, she did us a FAVOR and struck a blow against WilPharma!

"Yes, I AGREE-- but Sharon…. The humans have a SYSTEM to deal with this sort of thing. Alycia used to BELIEVE in that system, she used to be a PART of it. If she now believes she's judge, jury and executioner, we should be concerned!"

Sharon: and as many times that Alycia covered for YOU ALL in times past...we're going to help HER now as well. I won't let you hang her out to dry. ANY of you.

"I want to HELP her too. I'm TRYING TO. Look, she told Delilah and me that she didn't want to be a part of the Six anymore. That she was tired of fighting, tired of Mystech, tired of being in mortal peril all the time. She wants a NORMAL LIFE, or at least, that's what she said. Only NOW, she's joined up with Terra Save, and she's going out in the middle of the night and MURDERING people, and she's leading a crusade against WilPharma, and it looks to me like she basically picked up RIGHT where she left off, only now she doesn't want US to have her back anymore. Her life doesn't seem very NORMAL to me, but whatever, it HER life, if that's the way she WANTS it. I just want to make sure she realizes that she's living among the humans… and the HUMAN JUSTICE SYSTEM APPLIES to her actions just as much as it applies to any of the rest of them."

Cameron actually backed Haleigh up. It was starting to look like even HE could see that Sharon was inordinately argumentative.

 

[Silver Swan]

the warehouse

Cameron kiss my....

[ but then Haleigh began.]

["That was DIFFERENT. He would have KILLED us. He was trying to kill YOU. Delilah took a life to SAVE one, and FRANKLY, I'm really SICK of you bringing it up like that. She COULD HAVE let you die, but she DIDN'T. So how about you BACK OFF?"

He DID kill us. Just look where we are NOW? Forced to depend on the SISTERHOOD, unable to move about in the very "public" we helped to SAVE and now in one of HIS warehouses instead of Illustra, the Parthenon or some other more APPROPRIATE setting...even the HELLFIRE CLUB. He destroyed our lives and he was going to do it weather or not he had succeeded in killing ME. [ due to the fact that he had already compiled the "evidence" to be mailed to various media and law enforcement outlets prior to his death in Arklay] And um...

[ stepping closer to Haleigh.]

I'll comment on what i want, WHEN i want. I dont have to IGNORE the facts just because its not POPULAR to speak on them.

Anytime You want to TRY and do something about it, be my guest. It's not MY fault she was so STUPID as to date a man who wanted people like HER dead at ANY cost. and as for her "saving me"? She saved HERSELF. Morgan, Alison and even YOU [pointing at Haleigh] were ready to cast her out of the Six due to her actions up till that moment, so while you're trying to protect her? You better remember where YOUR mind was at then too, you two faced hypocrate. I'm here now, and there's nothing ANY of you can do about it. all the couldve/shouldves wont change that.



[ since Sharon wasnt going to back down and Haleigh didnt see the need to press it any further on that note...they continued.]

"Yes, I AGREE-- but Sharon…. The humans have a SYSTEM to deal with this sort of thing. Alycia used to BELIEVE in that system, she used to be a PART of it. If she now believes she's judge, jury and executioner, we should be concerned!"

I was apart of it as well, and like her, i DIED while trying to use that system to "do right" and help the causes I believed in...including human rights. That was....ages ago. That woman is DEAD. and having survived to see Mystech FALL, YOU should know that when dealing with them or in this case WilPharma...its by ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

"I want to HELP her too. I'm TRYING TO. Look, she told Delilah and me that she didn't want to be a part of the Six anymore. That she was tired of fighting, tired of Mystech, tired of being in mortal peril all the time. She wants a NORMAL LIFE, or at least, that's what she said. Only NOW, she's joined up with Terra Save, and she's going out in the middle of the night and MURDERING people, and she's leading a crusade against WilPharma, and it looks to me like she basically picked up RIGHT where she left off, only now she doesn't want US to have her back anymore. Her life doesn't seem very NORMAL to me, but whatever, it HER life, if that's the way she WANTS it. I just want to make sure she realizes that she's living among the humans… and the HUMAN JUSTICE SYSTEM APPLIES to her actions just as much as it applies to any of the rest of them."

[ Sharon glared unwaveringly at Haleigh and Cameron.]

FLASH

Same setting....


Sharon: You're RIGHT! Both of you! Let's start helping her RIGHT NOW!

[ suddenly she reaches out and GRABS both of them by their necks]

You two put your heads together

[SLAMMING Haleigh and Cameron's heads together until Cameron's caves in a bloody pulp and Haleigh is left dazed]

But don't lose your head thinking TOO hard!

[ twisting Haleigh's head off, she holds it and looks at it...still talking to it.]

See? that wasnt so bad now WAS IT!?

[ and then as she turns to address Delilah, she flings her hand out and hurls two spinning stars that SLAM into Delilah's forehead.]

Oh and if i didnt tell you before...."THANKS" for "saving me"...De-LIE-LAH!

[ Malice walks in, clapping her hands and smirking with approval.]

Malice: VERY well done, Silver Swan! Now maybe we can get some work done! Oh, are you keeping that...Sharon....Sharon?

FLASH

Back to reality

[ Sharon blinks a few times as she relents and accepts the fact that they want to help Alycia too. She still didnt trust Delilah NOT to sell Alycia out.]

Alright then, as long as we're on the same page. Alycia's probably still in New York. So that means I'll be able to contact her and we can go from there.

[ For Alycia's sake, she eased off, but she wasnt afraid of any of them and if Cameron was too "centrist" to realize that he couldnt kiss their ass and sleep with her, then he'd be kicked to the curb as well. She hated Delilah, she despised Haleigh...and she was fast on her way to being BORED with Cameron. THIS is why she wanted to leave, so she could do what she wanted, without being bothered with the whining and complaining of others who were clearly not on the same page as her. But how long would she enjoy the Hellfire Club? How long before MALICE and co. cramped her style as well? ]


I still have the device she gave me, so I can reach her quietly and discreetly. But I'm not asking her to come here. I'm going to the Parthenon.

 

[MorningStar]

“We need to talk to Alycia before we do anything else.”

Delilah sank down into one of the sofas, resting her elbow on one of its arms and pulling her legs up beside her. She laid her head on her hand.

First Sharon lit into Haleigh. Who was basically defending Alycia and definitely not judging her about her alledged murder of Ron Davis.

”What do you mean..."let her get away with it?" since when were YOU law enforcement? As many people that YOU have killed!...”

“As many people that YOU have killed,” she mumbled sardonically under her breath.

Cameron held his own, to his credit. She would have expected him to stay silent considering his relationships with Sharon and Haleigh. Being in the middle was a shitty place to be.

Delilah was weary. Sharon was acting so crazy, it was almost not worth responding to her. Almost.

”…and as many times that Alycia covered for YOU ALL in times past...we're going to help HER now as well. I won't let you hang her out to dry. ANY of you.”

Sharon then started GLARING at Delilah. Whoa. WTF? She picked her head up.

“Somehow I think the person in this room most likely to leave a teammate hung out to dry, is you, Sharon. I don’t question anyone else here’s desire to protect and help Alycia, if necessary.”

She motioned with her hand.

“But does this mean it’s okay for us to speak to Alycia now? Cause last time Haleigh and I did that, I had a psycho screaming at me from my doorstep.”

Haleigh, as always, could stand up for herself. But she couldn’t help but still be surprised when she stood up for DELILAH.

"That was DIFFERENT. He would have KILLED us. He was trying to kill YOU. Delilah took a life to SAVE one, and FRANKLY, I'm really SICK of you bringing it up like that. She COULD HAVE let you die, but she DIDN'T. So how about you BACK OFF?"

Delilah nodded to Haleigh and said, “Thanks.”

As Haleigh went on to talk about leaving humans to the human justice system and not becoming judge and jury, it brought back a flood of memories. Memories of that night she had left the Six. Memories of what she had said to them, about them not being above the law. Warning them that some day they would do something that Alison or Ororo couldn’t magick away. And that they would be hunted down for it. And they had been.

Sharon was bitching again. Delilah snapped back to the present.

She let out a sigh. Putting her feet firmly back on the floor, she put her hands on her knees and stood.

“Sharon?” she clipped.

“Let’s not forgot that if it hadn’t been for YOUR disregard for the lives of all the people you MURDERED, Bishop wouldn’t have been trying to kill you, and none of this [waves her hands] would have ever happened. So when you’re dealing out blame for the nine HUNDREDTH time, make sure to take a big helping for yourself.”

Sharon suggested Delilah had only saved her to get back into Morgan, Alison and Haleigh’s good graces. Delilah had forgotten that Sharon was crazy back then too and so OF COURSE would be having difficulty remembering exactly what happened. So she thought she’d refresh her memory. She took a few steps slowly forward as she spoke.

“I LEFT the Six, remember? All I wanted was a quiet life upstate away from all of this. But before I left I had to make sure that Bishop kept his promise to me, one way or the other. I KILLED him because YOU were my FRIEND, Sharon. Because YOUR LIFE was more important to me than his. I didn’t want to lose you. If all I wanted was to win back the others, I could have let him kill you then taken him out. I lost MY soul that day. And I don't know who you even are anymore. ”

She stopped moving. She looked down at the floor and swallowed hard before looking up again, this time with a half smile.

“You’re pissed off that you can’t move about in public, yet you're going to stroll through the middle of the Parthenon? Good plan. I’m sure Alycia who’s trying to keep a low profile will LOVE to meet you there.”

Delilah wiped her hand across her forward, before looking up, finally getting exasperated.

"My god, Sharon, what is going on with you? What's with this sudden need to argue with everyone just to argue? For fuck's sake, you don't even DISAGREE with Haleigh and you're ready to kill someone. Get yourself together!"

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas met isis' gaze that morning and smiled. he was rested and centered, and her greeting to him was actually quite warm. He was quiet this morning, determined to talk les and think more. He allowed the events to unfold as they would, his mind betraying no distress at all to Malice.

As they entered the crime scene, he scanned the area, and it was cleaner than if they had staged it there. He recognized a funny smell, very faint, from his botanical studies: belladonna. But why would anyone need to make Atropine here?

Funny thing...belladonna not only makes a great hallucinogen and a vital anesthetic, it makes people invisible and is used by the AMAZONS. Hmnn...Nicolas looked at the the scrawled work on the wall and tucked the info away.

They departed and arrived...at one of Bishop's safehouses. He understood why, but shook his head at the decision in any case. As a former officer here, it was amazing to him that Delilah could not find ANY other place. Hell, even a cave would have helped avoid the inevitable derailment that was sure to occur. He slightly shook his head as Sharon made the leap that they were somehow not in Alycia's corner. He finally spoke, his voice calm and even.

We will not get to the source of this here, not now. Alycia is in danger, and we need to get to her. If she did it, she is not safe here, especially if the Sisterhood suspect her too. If she didn't, which is what I think personally, she is in grave danger from whoever threatened the Sisterhood last night. Once we secure her safety and figure out what happened, we can devote time to this...schism.

Sharon, the Parthenon is beautiful, but impractical in the common areas. I can secure us a private area quick enough and we can meet her there via wormhole. But time is of the essence. Let's at least unite to do this and then resolve to be honest with one another about how we feel afterward.

 

[Persephone]

And so the whitewashing begins. Sharon immediately jumped to Alycia's defense when it was revealed that Belladonna was used as a means to murder Senator Davis. She began to drill into everyone what Alycia had done for all of them. What she had sacrificed. Ava rolled her eyes and shook her head. The only thing Alycia ever did for Ava was kill her father. Funny how that was so quickly forgotten. Haleigh and Cameron tried to calm Sharon down by telling her that no one was going to throw Alycia to the wolves--that they were all there to help her. Ava just kept her mouth shut. Bit her tongue. Sang the hokey pokey in her head. ANYTHING to calm her growing anger with how hypocritical Sharon was being about the whole situation. She may have gone to the mutate in good faith because of their similar backgrounds, but that didn't mean she didn't also agree with Delilah's position or feelings.

Inhaling a long and deep breath, Ava slowly exhaled quietly. Finally, Nicolas spoke up.

Nicolas: If she didn't, which is what I think personally, she is in grave danger from whoever threatened the Sisterhood last night.

Shutting her eyes, Ava tried damn hard to keep her mouth shut throughout this mess Alycia had created. But it was seriously starting to piss her off how Alycia was so quickly given a free pass when SHE screwed up, yet if another member of the six made a mistake--like Delilah--they were thrown into the fire without a second thought.

Ava snapped.

"Oh come on! Is it so hard to believe that saintly Alycia Barnett isn't capable of murder? She killed my father in COLD BLOOD and didn't have to pay a damn thing for it! [scoffing] She doesn't want anything to do with us because she wants to take matters into her own hands without consequences. Maybe we should let her. She wants to swim on her own with the other sharks? Then she should be prepared to get BITTEN without US bailing her out."

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah turned to Nicolas with a "what the hell?" expression on her face.

"Oh Grow. Up."

She threw up her hands. The two of them were almost too much to bear. She looked at Sharon and Nicolas together.

"We needed a secure place to talk, and I provided that. And now you two want to bicker about location and want to waste more time moving us all somewhere else because you don't like the dead person who bought the furniture?"

She had stayed calm before, but now she was mad. These people were unbelievable.

"Schism my ass."

Why was she the only person that seemed to notice that Sharon had had a complete personality lobotomy? Didn't anyone else think something was going on with her? If Alycia hadn't been involved, she'd have just left. But she DIDN'T have any way to find Alycia in New York on her own.

"Oh come on! Is it so hard to believe that saintly Alycia Barnett isn't capable of murder? She killed my father in COLD BLOOD and didn't have to pay a damn thing for it! [scoffing] She doesn't want anything to do with us because she wants to take matters into her own hands without consequences. Maybe we should let her. She wants to swim on her own with the other sharks? Then she should be prepared to get BITTEN without US bailing her out."

Ava's outburst made Delilah pause, and the switch in focus calmed her back down.

"Ava..."

She tilted her head with a sympathetic look coming on to her face. She spoke softly.

"I understand how you feel. Let's just get to the truth first before we decide what to do about it, okay?"

 

[Rampage]

Oh come on! Is it so hard to believe that saintly Alycia Barnett isn't capable of murder? She killed my father in COLD BLOOD and didn't have to pay a damn thing for it! [scoffing] She doesn't want anything to do with us because she wants to take matters into her own hands without consequences. Maybe we should let her. She wants to swim on her own with the other sharks? Then she should be prepared to get BITTEN without US bailing her out./QUOTE]

Nicolas looked at Ava calmly.

I am aware that she is capable of killing the Senator. That she has motive, opportunity and capability. It just doesn't seem to be her style, to go through all of that subterfuge just to recklessly scrawl PIG on the wall? Alycia is much more mentally and now physically FOCUSED than that. The way it was done...says to me that someone is quite possibly trying to make us BELIEVE that she did it. We should not discount that very REAL possibility.

He then glanced at Delilah.

And Delilah, while you might be DETERMINED to pretend that this locale is appropriate, Sharon has indicated that it clearly is not. I could have opened a portal to Set's realm that would have been equally remote and more safe than even here, but equally inappropriate for the audience. Let's stop trying to make everyone else OK with our issues for once and get to Alycia in a location that is NEUTRAL. THIS is not. A private suite in the Parthenon is among the places that IS.

 

[Silver Swan]

the warehouse

[ Sharon looked on as Delilah retorted, the mutate met Delilah's direct eye contact.]

No...not EVERYONE on the team. Just the two faced hypocrates who think they are BETTER than me.

[ as if it wasnt obvious whom she was referring to. still, Sharon was convinced that SHE was the best person to reach out to and protect Alycia if it was necessary. Delilah spoke...and for once, Sharon didnt immediately feel ANGER....more like...PAUSE. She REMEMBERED how they used to be. It was so different. How far they had come...how much had changed between them! In another time and place, she might actually ANSWER Delilah's rather valid question of who she was and what her problem was. She WAS different. she FELT different more and more with each passing day! not like before...it was as though she was running down a path into darkness but she LIKED it. she didnt fit in here...and she wanted to be somewhere else, like the HELLFIRE club. She knew THEY wouldnt understand though.]

[ Nicolas spoke up. he agreed that coming HERE was in bad taste and it prooved what little options they had in the city they all once called home. He attempted to at least go in a different, more POSITIVE and productive direction than Sharon but then Ava spoke...and Sharon looked at HER in utter amazement]

You have the GAUL to speak like that? Your father was a murderer who profited on the BLOOD of others, including MINE. He broke into Alycia's office and ATTACKED her. It was self defense. Everyone knows that...even the Sisterhood! :: Referring to Isis' earlier reading of their file on Alycia.::

Funny that you should respond like this, when you were given multiple chances yourself including after YOU MURDERED Mike Armstrong! But I suppose thats another one of those TABOO things I'm not supposed to ever bring up again right? Sorry...not gonna happen.

[ she pulled out her communication device.]

I'm going to contact Alycia myself and ask her to meet me.

 

[Black Widow]

Sharon: You better remember where YOUR mind was at then too, you two faced hypocrate.

"Oh, I remember. I remember that she made HER choices, and I had to make MINE; but in the end, she made the RIGHT DECISION, and that's ALL that matters NOW."

Sharon: I'm here now, and there's nothing ANY of you can do about it.

"You mean you're here for now."

She replied ominously, referring to Sharon's inclination to join the Hellfire Club. It was easy to see that THAT was the way Sharon was leaning at this point. There was no use ignoring it.

Delilah: Thanks.

"You're welcome."

Delilah seemed surprised that Haleigh would stick up for her, but of all of the Six, Delilah was the one most worth defending. Every single one of them made mistakes; Delilah had made the least amount of them.

Nicolas clearly didn't want to believe that Alycia was behind this. Ava was outraged, as could be expected.

"Nicolas, if you don't think Alycia did this, then who do you think DID?? Because by MY logic, the only OTHER person we know with access to belladonna is SHARON herself. [looking over at Sharon sarcastically] Did YOU slaughter the pig?"

Haleigh sighed. They were still wasting time. How about they ASK ALYCIA? Then they'd know the answer and wouldn't have to have this circular debate.

"Sharon, Nicolas, this warehouse is FINE, we're already here, it's safe and secluded. If Alycia has a problem with the previous tenant, then maybe she should SUCK IT UP, because SHE helped create the Bishop problem TOO, and HONESTLY, I think you people are acting like a bunch of PANSIES and creating a problem that doesn't need to exist. It's a LOCATION. A warehouse. There's nothing SPECIAL about it, other than the person who used to be here, but is now DEAD AND GONE. The room doesn't have any POWER over you, its JUST A ROOM. But you're letting it get under your skin, and for WHAT?"

Sharon: [to Ava] You have the GAUL to speak like that? Your father was a murderer who profited on the BLOOD of others, including MINE. He broke into Alycia's office and ATTACKED her. It was self defense. Everyone knows that...even the Sisterhood! Funny that you should respond like this, when you were given multiple chances yourself including after YOU MURDERED Mike Armstrong!

Haleigh shook her head, getting more and more frustrated with everyone's inability to just FOCUS on the REAL problem.

"YES SHARON, She killed Mike. And YOU SLAUGHTERED over TWENTY people in a CHURCH SANCTUARY on you way to TRY to murder ME, and I have killed 53 people in cold blood to this DAY and have been directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of MANY more, and if I were to stop and NAME all of them, we would be here for HOURS, and DON'T YOU SEE HOW COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IT IS TO KEEP SCORE ALL THE FUCKING TIME?!?"

Sharon: I'm going to contact Alycia myself and ask her to meet me.

[throwing her hands up] "OH THANK YOU, FINALLY!!"