Out of time, Out of mind

[Seer]

and so

<< A little while after, Alison made her way down to the catacombs. Morgan and Nicolas followed, as did another, namely Bianca. Soon, the three and the uninvited, unseen guest were now in the same tunnel where the Six & Sisterhood had once battled Set. The tunnel was dark and largely unfinished, making passage through it difficult. Barabara wanted it that way as an added deterent for those who gained unauthorized access to this point. The massive safe door to the VAULT finally appeared thanks to the glowing orb Alison fashioned with magick to help light their path.>>

<< The last time they'd been in here, Alison had reluctantly handed over the Sceptre of Isis to its rightful owner, Dominique Deveraux, the modern day avatar of the goddess Isis. The time before that, it was to take refuge from Circe. The Vault contained "the secrets of the world"....treasures, items and objects largely thought to be myth or left over from creatures, gods/goddesses etc. Things too dangerous to be left out in the open and not meant for the eyes or hands of mortals or even most superhumans.>>

<< The structure of the vault was amazing, the technology was truly out of this world and its defenses were powerfull. An unskilled thief would die almost immediately if somehow they got this far and even skilled thieves of most levels would not last long against the traps, defenses and antipersonell devices designed into this place.>>

<< most of the items were housed in display cases or contained in crystaline containers. a press of a button nearby each item played Barbara's voice describing the piece, where/where it was found and its significance. it was another reminder that Barbara's presence was never truly gone from this place. Alison made sure the vault's defenses remained up to date and had familiarized herself with nearly ALL of its layout and contents. Morgan and Nicolas followed behind her, quietly taking in what they saw. many things would register to them as things they'd read/seen/heard about in movies or books but unlike those...these were the REAL items, including Pandora's Box which was one of the most dangerous and protected items housed here.>>

<< the trio moved through the massive vault as Alison checked over a few things. and as they moved, their fourth "guest" creeped along with baited breath, not quite sure she was ACTUALLY here and not entirely convinced that despite her unusual nature, that the defenses of the vault might somehow detect her and unleash their wrath upon her.>>

-------------

<<meanwhile>>

<<Outside, the powerfull storm rages on. When you stir things long enough, something is bound to come forward. In this case, the shocking detection of a human body, hanging on to driftwood, wreckage from a ship or some sailing device long destroyed.>>


<< the body limply hanging on to the driftwood had miraculously managed to ride the waves, though if he/she was still alive, had long since been battered unconscious and was very close to losing the precious thin grip left and drowning in the angry sea.>>

<< the unmanned watch towers posted at various points in the waters near the island began to sound off when picking up humanoid signs and proportions on their sensors. this was transferred to the command center of the mansion and the security and medical teams went on alert while Alison was personally notified that there could be something, SOMEONE possibly at sea, specifically the waters surrounding the island, in distress and in need of help.>>

<< would alison decide to NOT investigate and possibly rescue? could this be the temporal anamoly she feared? would her guests understand if she chose the cold but no less logical route?>>

<< we must watch and see.>>

 

[Spellbinder]

in the vault

<< being back down in the catacombs was a surreal feeling for Morgan. Everytime she'd been here before, it was during some horrid disaster. Now, things were so quiet and orderly. She felt like she was in an ancient passage leading to the world's greatest museum. The fact that she made the journey with Alison and the very person who under this "Father's" influence had terrorized and then captured her didnt escape her mind as it wandered at high speed for a moment.>>

I almost feel like some monster namely SET or CIRCE could come out of one of these dark areas at any moment!

<< soon, at the massive entrance of the vault, Morgan waited while alien technology scanned Alison's brainwaves and those of her guests. they did not match any known villain in the database and Alison's identity was confirmed and soon they gained access. The code Alison entered was immediately reset to a new one with that code being transfered to her private command console in her study where no one would see it but her.>>

<< They all went in, including a 4th pair of eyes that they werent aware were following them.>>

<<inside, Morgan looked around.>>

<< she quietly marveled as she followed until her violet eyes couldnt help but fixate on...>>

THAT SWORD!

<< Morgan stops in her tracks and immediately recoils as she looks to a wall to her right, and sees mounted up, inside a display case the Sword of Anger!>>

<< Nicolas looks puzzeled and concerned at Morgan's pronounced reation. Alison quickly steps forward, gently moving Morgan behind her looking at the sword a moment herself before turning to them both.>>

 

[Harbinger]

In the vault

:: Alison looks at her guests with a calm, analytical look on her face.::

The Sword of Anger. It belonged to Black, one of the members of Mystech's "Axis of Evil" - a group of super powered beings brought together to check and eliminate Valiant, the team Spellbinder, Foxfire and later MorningStar all served on long before The Six. The demonic creature Black was immune to Spellbinder's magicks & during their final battle with Valiant, he killed Blaze(Foxfire) in battle before maiming Spellbinder, who nearly died herself battling him.

FLASH

<< Images of that chaotic, violent battle flash among the three of them...unrelenting close ups of this terrifying dark demon with his massive stature and inhumanly spectacular physique. Blaze is the first to die by his hand, as Spellbinder screams. She's already HURT after being unable to defend against him with her magickal powers. He then tackles her, taking her into a space neither here/nor there but BEYOND the reach of any possible help from her team mates where he attacks her.>>

:: Morgan shows visible signs of discomfort as she remembers all of this. clutching her right arm.::

Alison: All she could use to protect herself and fight was her flight, super strength & stepping discs. Morgan was young, and not exactly "into" being a "super heroine" just yet. This battle was one of the first TRUE tests of her ability to THINK and not just reflexively depend on her magick if she were to SURVIVE.

FLASH

Spellbinder, hurt and growing fatigued, barely managed to evade, dodge Black's attacks and lunges. She couldnt let him TOUCH her again. his touch was AGONY, bombarding her with the powerfull "black lightning" energy he channeled and leaving her cold, shivering and weak, not to mention in PAIN. His SWORD gleamed with anticipation for her flesh, blood and bone. Finally, when he seemed to have her cornered and there was no where for her to dodge or fly, Spellbinder was backed up against a tree. It was the FIRST time where something Nicolas had come to know would be shown. Morgan was at her near most DANGEROUS when either cornered or startled. He promises her that she'll join her sister Blaze in defeat and DEATH and as he moves in with his Sword of ANger, she pushes herself off the tree, diving down and slipping between his legs and swooping up behind him. SLAMMING her high heeled boot into his back she uses ALL of the strength she has left to send him slamming into the tree and then....

: NO....I won't let you touch me...AGAIN!

<< she had the brilliant idea to DISARM him ofhis own weapon, TELEPORTING it to HER OWN grasp with a stepping disc but perhaps it was TOO good to be true for as she grabbed it, her arm was RADIATED by the "black lightning"...and she screamed in PAIN. Black laughs loudly as he turns around...ready to grab her and CRUSH her when, in one last act of manic strength, she lifts up that arm, holding it out with her other hand and LAUNCHES herself forward, SLAMMING the blade DEEP into Black's breast and HEART.>>

<< he back hands her away, sending her flying back and sprawling across the ground. unable to get up...she trembles as she manages to see him convulse and swell, glowing before finally EXPLODING from the power of his own weapon. Spellbinder exhales...and passes out as his roar of anger and defeat echoes around her.

FLASH

Harbinger: Spellbinder destroyed Black but nearly LOST her arm due to the damage caused by the sword. She withdrew from Valiant following that battle due to the loss of her original sister and the injuries she sustained but her battle with him and her defeating him earned her the respect that had long eluded her from most members of that team.

2 years later, Black was LATER revived via cloning by Mystech in The Citadle, where the "meltdown" that necessitated the formation of the Six occurred. Morgan rescued Blaze, who as it turned out had NOT died but rather had been captured by Christopher Victory and was intended to be used for T Virus experimentation, and once again encountered Black but ESCAPED him. He later attacked Shockwave and Myself. I shielded us from him as long as I could before passing out from the pain of his attacks and then....ORORO appeared and dealt with him, casting him into Limbo where he ironically became SUBJECT to Morgan along with all the OTHER demons in the realm.

Barbara Minerva recovered his SWORD during an exploratory mission on MUIR ISLE. Her database reveled its origin and given the severity of it, She immediately sealed it away in her vault as you see here. I don't think she EVER imagined that you would see it again...much less HERE of all places, Morgan.

But the sword's POWER can only be activated in the hands of BLACK. In anyone ELSE'S hand...it is merely a large, substantial sword. If MORGAN touches it, it is a painfull, DEADLY result to her.


:: Alison places a comforting hand on Morgan's shoulder as she looks at Nicolas to make sure he understands.::

Don't worry. It's not going to come out of that case anytime soon. Black is gone...he can't harm you anymore. You and Ororo made sure of that.

EVERY thing in here has a backstory and a reason why it can't EVER see the light of day again. The Sceptre of Isis was one obvious exception to that but there are FEW other things in here that will EVER leave here now that they have been recovered.

 

[Seer]

and then

<< As Alison finished the impromptu history lesson of The Sword of Anger, Nicolas and Morgan were served a haunting reminder of why Barbara Minerva and what she did were NECESSARY to the safety of mankind and now Harbinger was charged with that role. Everything within the Vault could be used to cause untold terror and destruction if found and used by the wrong person and The Six couldnt possibly REMEMBER to "check for left over items" everytime after battle.>>

<< the trio soon moved on from the Sword of Anger, with Morgan feeling more calm as Alison reassured her that she was in no danger. For Nicolas, it was another glimpse into Morgan's past, something that certainly helped shape her as a woman and a witch. Moreover, Though he would not be effected by the Sword of Anger, he could understand the deep emotional response that his AUNT exhibited toward the slightest reminder of SET. In a way, his position to Dominique was much like Pandora and her box were to Alison but in recent months, Dominique had come to soften ever so slightly upon him, especially after his meeting his maternal grandmother, "Nut" who, like Isis, showed him the complete opposite of what SET stood for.>>

Above ground and elsewhere in the Mansion

<< The other members of the Six made their way into the stormy evening. Ava and Cameron were more than a little tipsy Delilah, Haleigh and Zach were still sober. As they were talking and deciding whether to disperse for the evening.>>

<< soon though, they'd become aware that something was amiss in the mansion. medical teams as well as security teams were gearing up in alert and the word was put out to summon Miss Marble for instructions on how to handle the detection of a possible human male caught in the waters of the storm outside.>>

back in the catacombs, inside the vault

<< as Alison made her final personal walk through of at least ONE section of the vault, she received communication that she was needed above in the control room and the nature of the situation and so, she urges her guests to follow along quickly. It is in THIS moment, that Alison has a lapse in judgement, instead of performing her usual routine in sealing the vault, she allows the computer to automatically time out this visiting session and seal the vault itself, giving her sight unseen VISITOR....<< the statue now near the wall just inside the entrance of the vault... the opportunity she needs to obtain a certain item in the vault and escape out before the computer seals HER inside the vault.>>

<< Alison and the others arrive back up in the mansion courtesy of Morgan's disc, with the guards taking their place at the entrance they appear at. Morgan and Nicolas rejoin the others who are waiting as Alison BLINKS to the control room to be briefed on what her men have found.>>

<< it seems that this night wouldnt end so "normally" after all.>>

 

[Persephone]

Though the storm outside had intensified drastically, the one brewing inside the mansion had subsided. Morgan, Alison, and Nicolas all headed to the catacombs of Minerva's Mansion while she, Cameron, Haleigh, Delilah, and Zach remained in the observatory. The alcohol induced relaxation that Ava inflicted on herself was definitely doing the trick. She didn't feel a DAMN thing aside from happy non-anxious emotions. It was quite the treat considering she rarely got drunk.

"You know, King....you're much more tolerable to be around when i'm drunk. Actually, you're kind of FUN."

Pausing for a moment, it was like Ava was having a revelation.

"HALEIGH! You should try it! It really does work!....Actually if that were the case, all of us would be 3 sheets to the wind 24/7 considering one of us dislikes another one of us at least 95% of the time......wait, what was I talking about?"

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas silently waited as the drama unfolded around him; he was largely oblivious to the chatter of the others as he had already begun to focus on the task at hand

They left and proceeded to the catacombs; he had not been there since he and Set defeated them all and took Haleigh and Morgan. He could sense the quickening of Morgan's pulse and he understood. It was something which Grandma Nut had told him would simply take time...it was done and could not be undone, even by HER.

They continued to the treasure room and he took a moment to note what was contained there. Wondrous and terrible weapons and talismans, incredible artifacts that seemed to almost push against each other their energies were so powerful.

Morgan paused at the Sword of Anger...deeply affected by its presence. He was confused for a moment until the flashback occurred and then he SAW. This being wielded it as she wielded her own Soul sword and was able to harm her with it. She managed to take it and kill him but only with extreme effort in her part and at a price nearly too high. he considered speaking to her, trying to comfort her with words when the alarm came.

He sensed the new form as he prepared himself...at this point who knew what to expect? Alison blinked to the Control Room as he weighed whether to investigate himself. Alison would frown upon it, but it hadn't stopped him before.

Nicolas teleported to where the security guards were maintaining a perimeter around a fallen man...

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion- control room

:: In the control room, Harbinger arrives and is briefed by the commanding officer on duty. Visuals of any area of the sprawling cliffside villa can be seen on a wall of monitors. sources of information regarding various aspects of the mansion, island, and waters surrounding it as well as data from around the globe were streaming in on powerfull connections.::

Commanding Officer: Miss Marble, our sensors detected wreckage from what appears to have been a small freight ship. We also detected the dimensions of a humanoid male floating on some of that wreckage even as we speak.

:: visual feed from cameras out to sea broadcast the impossible images of an unconscious man hanging on to wreckage and surviving the churning waves.::

Commanding Officer: Life signs are inconclusive at this point, in fact we can't get much of anything except that it's a human male and the only apparent survivor of the lost ship.

:: the officer and other stuff look to Harbinger to give the word on whether to rescue him and bring him ashore. The six were gathered as well but further back toward the entrance of the control room.::

:: Harbinger looks over the video feed and the data with a cold analytical stare and finally looks up, turning to face her officer and the staff.::

Leave him.

::Her Commanding officer had seen her make cold descisions BEFORE in order to safe guard the mansion and Pandora, even Barbara was known for her ruthlessness in that regard but it never got any easier for those working for either of them.::

Officer: Madame?

Harbinger: Leave him. If our sensors can't get any more conclusive readings on him, he may already be dead. Worse, he may be the security risk that I have sensed for over a month now. I can't take that risk. The safety of the mansion, Pandora, the catacombs are my priority. What foolish mortal would sail a ship in the middle of such a storm anyway?

:: Among the six, Haleigh would be the LEAST surprised by Alison's descision. Morgan and Ava would understand as well. Cameron and Delilah especially were rather appalled by it and Nicolas, while knowing how Alison could be, was still surprised that she could make this descision so quickly.::

Harbinger: Is there anything else?

:: she looks at her officer with an unwavering glare from those colbalt blue eyes of her's::

MorningStar: There most certainly IS, Alison! What in god's name are you doing!?

:: Alison, her officer, and just about everyone else looked over at Delilah who boldly spoke up in disapproval and protest.::

Morgan: Delilah, this isnt a "Six" matter, this is Alison's call....

Delilah: There's a human being out there who needs HELP and you're just going to LEAVE HIM? Alison, I know you're COLD and can make the "hard choices" but to let someone who could still be alive DIE like THIS??

:: Delilah steps forward from the group a few steps, looking directly at Alison who remains stone faced as her eyes lock with Delilah's::

Delilah: Not so long ago, that was ME in those waters, alone...feeling like I had nothing left and no one who could help me. Why judge this man, whom you dont even know for WHY he's out at sea. That shouldn't matter. Whether you're with the Six or NOT, even YOU have shown compassion for innocents time and again. YOU were the one who brought the team together in the first place to save lives. Now because of what you do here, you act like that removes you from humanity...YOUR humanity.

Alison: DELILAH, I am responsible for this place and ALL therein. My safeguarding it HELPS KEEP HUMANITY SAFE. It helps YOU and the SIX to fight battles and save lives! and DON'T compare yourself to someone YOU don't know either. I would do ANYTHING to protect YOU or the team...my friends. Our lives are forever bound together regardless of my being on the active roster or not, we are FAMILY and that is why you all are here NOW. you came to me after the VIPER caper and we've stayed together after Haleigh and Ororo saved YOUR life because we want to make sure you're okay! THAT is not remotely the same thing as THIS

:: gesturing to the monitors with the video feed of the storm, the sea and the man::

I can't open my door to EVERY single stranger that strays too far from where they should be.

Delilah: You and Morgan have been willing to bend or even BREAK the rules to make things happen before. Why not rescue him, at least give him medical care and then Morgan can teleport him back to the mainland and you can use your magick or Cameron his telepathy to ensure he has no memory...I'm just saying, Alison...this is a needless disregard for someone in distress. With all of US here do you really think he could pose a threat? even if it was JUST you here right now, how many people in this world even the ones WITH powers could fight against you and WIN?

:: it was an intense moment. Alison did not look moved by Delilah's strong object to her descision and her appeal of it.::

:: Alison couldnt HELP but recall a time where Delilah had in fact CRITICIZED the team, namely the magick users for "bending/breaking the rules" where they saw fit, even though they only did so when it was NECESSARY to protect themselves , their secret and the public in general. NOW she was all for it. In the earlier days of the team, this could have devolved into a major argument, even though Alison and Delilah had always been friends and grown close after Morgan's return from Valiant.::

:: But at that moment, Alison gave it thought. Delilah WAS right on one idea...if they did bring him in, if he was in fact still alive and could be revived and treated, he could be returned to the mainland with no memory or knowledge of the mansion. Nicolas was ready to assist the soldiers outside in retrieving the man, who was still just a bit too far out for safe extraction. He would be immediately on hand to contain the man if this was some sort of ruse.::

:: Alison looked up at the ceiling, slowly exhaling. Delilah definately had lost none of her conviction and though she may not necessarily AGREE with her...she respected Delilah for standing by her conviction. She had always been the one to ANCHOR Morgan and Alison, who were given over to less "humane" ways of dealing with things at times.::

Alison: :: turning to her officer.:: have the medical team ready to receive him. Nicolas will assist the diving team outside with recovering the man from the ocean and he will immediately bring him to the infirmary. Go to yellow alert for all guards and stations around the mansion. Keep the man quaranteened in the infirmary until I arrive to survey him myself.

:: looking at Delilah:: I don't agree with you...but I'm doing this because of my respect for your feelings. I know how important it has always been to you to protect normal baseline humans....even if they would sooner see people like US burned at the stake.

:: looking at her staff:: let's make this quick.

:: to Nicolas:: if you wouldnt mind, Rampage, recovering the man from the stormy oceans is a task that you are best suited to handle.

 

[Millennia]

Bianca lay in wait at the entrance to the catacombs, and sure enough, and without TOO much delay, Alison Marble arrived to let her walk right in. This really was TOO easy. She allowed Alison, Morgan and Nicolas to enter first, shadowing them a few steps behind.

It had been so long since she had been here, yet very little had changed. She stood just inside the entrance, taking the massive vault in. They were examining the items in the cases now, and as Nicolas' massive form moved aside, revealing what they were looking at, Bianca's breath caught in her throat.

Black's Sword!

She couldn't believe her luck. Figuratively speaking, of course, because Bianca had always been lucky. How could Barbara leave it out in the open? She had expected it to be hidden behind layers of steel or something, not on display. She laughed silently to herself. She knew how deadly Barbara's defenses were, but she was confident that the very predicament that shrouded her from the Six would save her now. And if it didn't...well, then, oh well.

Her three "hosts" left abruptly, leaving her alone in the Vault - finally. After years, it had all come down to this moment. She approached the case holding Black's sword cautiously, almost reverently. This would change everything.

Reaching a hand out, she slowly and carefully opened the door of the case, and with a deep breath, she let her fingers touch the hilt of the sword, felt it's coldness against her skin. And with one last brief moment of hesitation, she tightened her grip and pulled the sword to her. She held it up to the light and smiled. It was hers.

 

[Bishop]

Cold...so cold...

He kept drifting in and out of consciousness. In his brief moments of lucidity, he thought about his predicament. He'd heard these waters were dangerous, especially for those who sailed alone, but he hadn't paid any mind. He'd never played it safe before and he wasn't about to now. This was too important. In fact, it meant everything to him.

But now he clung to life and a piece of the ship which had been torn apart by the storm. And all he felt was weak. And as he began to lose consciousness once again all he could think was...

I hope it's worth it.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah heaved a slightly exasperated sigh of relief as Alison consented to help the innocent lost at sea. Sometimes her friend gave her stern reminders of the person she used to be, and this was one of them. Alison didn't understand - there was a difference between bending the rules to suit them and using their gifts to help people. Why allow someone to die needlessly when they could easily prevent it? She wasn't sure why they were even having an argument about it, and why no one else seemed to care.

As Nicolas was dispatched to retrieve the sailor, Delilah made her way to the base of the rescue operation to see if she could help. No one else was going to die on her watch.

 

[Orion]

Cameron's insolence towards Haleigh made Zach seethe nearly to the point of violence; but Haleigh so quickly shot back a volley of truths in riposte that Zach sat still. He was sorely tempted to teach Cameron some manners, but he realized that Haleigh was a woman capable of defending her own honor. He also noticed that emotionally, she was scarcely moved by Cameron's scorn. It wouldn't do Zach any good to start a fistfight right now.... if anything it'd make ZACH look bad, and Cameron would come off looking like a victim. It was hard to maintain a cool demeanor, though. Zach took it to heart that Haleigh wasn't bothered by Cameron's words as much as she might have been in the past. It seemed like Cameron had finally managed to kill whatever esteem Haleigh had for him.

Ava: You know, King....you're much more tolerable to be around when i'm drunk. Actually, you're kind of FUN. HALEIGH! You should try it! It really does work!....Actually if that were the case, all of us would be 3 sheets to the wind 24/7 considering one of us dislikes another one of us at least 95% of the time......wait, what was I talking about?

Haleigh: It'll take a LOT more than alcohol to allow me to find Cameron 'fun' again, Ava. It'll take a goddamn miracle at this point to repair what's been done between us.

Zach smiled, as this meant that Cameron was no longer a threat. Whether or not he was TRYING to get her back, Haleigh had finally let him go. Cameron would not stand in the way, or even cast a shadow on what Zach was planning. Not that there weren't any obstacles. The epic failure of their last attempt was going to be difficult to overcome. Zach broke from his reverie as Alison, Morgan, and Nicolas returned.

Alison: Delilah, How are you doing?

Delilah: Oh I’m fine, thank you. Though it’s not easy playing chess against a computer. I think she cheats.

Zach gave a quiet chuckle as Haleigh feigned offense, then, with utter delight, declared checkmate.

"Delilah, I can attest that she doesn't cheat... all of her moves are completely legal. It's just that she has the ability to mathmetically determine the best move at any given time, so she has an unfair advantage. I, for one, think she allows me to win for the sake of my pride."

Haleigh: I do NOT! You win on account of your own merit.

"No Darling..."

He began, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

"I cheat."

She playfully swats at him and he laughs in retreat. The alarms sound, Haleigh stiffens and his smile fades as she rises. She takes his hand and they all head to the control room. Alison coldly deems the survivor a possible threat and commands her staff to leave him for dead. Haleigh displays no emotion, and in fact she feels nothing, except trust for Aliso's decision.

Delilah: You and Morgan have been willing to bend or even BREAK the rules to make things happen before. Why not rescue him, at least give him medical care and then Morgan can teleport him back to the mainland and you can use your magick or Cameron his telepathy to ensure he has no memory...I'm just saying, Alison...this is a needless disregard for someone in distress. With all of US here do you really think he could pose a threat? even if it was JUST you here right now, how many people in this world even the ones WITH powers could fight against you and WIN?

Delilah makes an emotional appeal and reminds them all how easily they could save him and send him on his way. Haleigh, still unmoved by the stranger in the surf, at least inwardly feels guilty for not initially caring.

Haleigh: Well, she has a point, Alison.

Alison relents and tells her team to recue the man and quarantine him in the infirmary. Nicolas goes to help the effort and Delilah follows. Haleigh smiles gently after her, then turns to Alison, who watches the monitors with uncertainty.

Haleigh: It's so LIKE Delilah to remind us to be better people. Just like old times..... maybe she starting to feel more like herself. [with a pause, then a sigh] I really hope this doesn't bite us in the ass.

 

[Persephone]

Haleigh: It'll take a LOT more than alcohol to allow me to find Cameron 'fun' again, Ava. It'll take a goddamn miracle at this point to repair what's been done between us.

"Miracles happen everyday."

A strange yet poetic notion Ava decided to counter with, however it was true. Delilah was dead a few weeks ago and here she stands, alive and "well". The world had been saved more than a few times by their rogue team of heroes. Stranger things had happened. But frankly, Ava lost interest at this point. Her head was starting to hurt after all the alcohol consumption in such a short amount of time. Closing her eyes she began to rub her temples just as Alison alerted everyone that a mystery man was floating off the coast of the island. She wanted to leave him there--Ava agreed silently. He could be a threat--he could be THE threat that Alison had been sensing the past couple of weeks. But Delilah was quick to voice her objections. It seemed her moral compass wasn't compromised in her strange and sudden recovery...that was sort of annoying. But Ava couldn't complain...she was just happy that Delilah was still around to object.

She quickly headed off with the medic team to recover the man in the ocean; Ava opted to stay behind.

Haleigh: It's so LIKE Delilah to remind us to be better people. Just like old times..... maybe she starting to feel more like herself. [with a pause, then a sigh] I really hope this doesn't bite us in the ass.

[scoffing] "When don't things like this NOT bite us in the ass?"

 

[Harbinger]

Mansion's control center

:: Nicolas joined Alison's diving team, men who were bonafied Navy SEALS, as they headed out to rescue the man.::

:: Alison remained in the control room, interestingly enough, so did Haleigh, Ava and Morgan...and Cameron. The four women definately had varying degrees of coldness and ruthlessness about them which as of late seemed to bring them closer together. but they had all ALSO been brought together over the tragedy of Delilah, who once again prevailed upon them with her good spirit and strong conviction.::

Haleigh: It's so LIKE Delilah to remind us to be better people. Just like old times..... maybe she starting to feel more like herself.

yes....

::alison said with a begrudging tone. she wasnt mad with Delilah. in fact, the woman DID have some valid points, but Alison still didnt agree with her. She saw it differently but for the sake of compassion and humanity...for regard of Delilah, Alison relented.::

I seem to recall the night Nicolas passionately appealed to Sharon and I to help save Claudia and Clara Zacchara from Barbas when he was attacking them in their apt. while we were still awake.

:: Alison groans as she stretches her arms up over her head.::

I suppose its decent to try the "compassionate" approach ....sometimes.

[with a pause, then a sigh] I really hope this doesn't bite us in the ass.

:: looking over at Haleigh...::

[scoffing] "When don't things like this NOT bite us in the ass?"

Harbinger: gee, ya think!?

Spellbinder: Yeah I 2nd that. But at least we're far enough away from everyone and everything that we can deal with this if we need to. and if this person IS a genuine innocent, then Alison's staff will attend to him, he'll recover and we can send him on his way. a memory spell will ensure he has no recollection of this place or any of us.

:: the all agreed that it was good that Delilah seemed to be more like her old self, and perhaps some of them even felt a bit badly that their initial reaction to the plight of this human was one of indifference. but they couldnt be blamed, after all they'd been through....from the beginning of the six thru Bishop who all but ruined their lives, they'd seen their efforts to help and protect repaied with betrayal and backlash time and again.::

:: but still, Alison chose to try Delilah's suggestion and for the moment it seemed that it might not be a bad thing after all...at the MOMENT.::

 

[Prophet]

The situation had grown tense, and Cameron had far too much to drink to really add a cohesive and compelling argument as to why Alison shouldn't just let this man die. Thankfully, Delilah was there and for the first time in WEEKS, she was starting to sound like herself again...but, that was part of the problem.

He could tell that Delilah had already displaced her own issues to this complete stranger, and that if THIS man died, if THIS man turned out to be a good guy and she "failed" him, that they might NEVER get Delilah Trelaven back the way she was. It was dangerous territory. Still, if there were any people equipped to deal with this man if necessary, it was them. Even WITH a PSI Screen or the use of Magick, he wouldn't be able to hide from Morgan, Alison or himself in some measure. While he didn't want this man to be left out in the cold, he DIDN'T want Delilah attaching the same sense of responsibility to him that eventually caused her demise the last time. He was worried for her. But he remained stony face.

Spellbinder: Yeah I 2nd that. But at least we're far enough away from everyone and everything that we can deal with this if we need to. and if this person IS a genuine innocent, then Alison's staff will attend to him, he'll recover and we can send him on his way. a memory spell will ensure he has no recollection of this place or any of us.

"And i'll mindwipe him just for good measure...but on that note..."

Cameron looked at the group.

"We need to be really careful here...I've seen that look on her face. She is back in savior mode.. if this guy IS a good guy.. we HAVE to make sure nothing happens to him..she won't.. she won't come back from it this time...and..I don't want to lose her...again. But I think the best idea might be for her to have as limited contact with him as possible. We can't let whoever it is appeal to her senses, which she is already desperate for..like I said.. we have to be careful..."

Prophet was surprised at how eloquently he was actually able to speak, considering the amount of liquor he just downed, but when it came to Delilah, his words were genuine and his intention true. Upon his return to the Six and moving into Melrose Place, she had taken on almost a "Big Sister" role to him. She was the only one to support him, and he had tried his best to support her, even being pulled into one of her dreams during the last caper. He had seen her true feelings over the Bishop situation and he felt he was the closest to her at the time, at least the closest one to HELPING her, and blinded by his pain of losing Sharon, he dropped the ball... and he wasn't ABOUT to let that happen again.

"I can't drop the ball again..."

 

[Seer]

and so

<< a small, well fortified rescue ship deploys from the island and heads out to sea with Rampage confirming the coordinates of the man's location that were detected by the scanners. the diving team was ready to move but Rampage insisted he could easily retrieve the man and minimize the risk for them all and in such a powerfull storm, he definately would be better suited and so, out he went.>>

<< at that time, the man clinging to the wreckage lost his hold and was pulled under by the unrelenting undertow. he would surely be swallowed by the unforgiving black sea in this storm and what had compelled him out to this point would no longer matter.>>

<< his fate seemed to mirror that of Delilah's just over a month earlier. the sound of the storm, if it even registered with him, was now muffled and soon lost by a yawning silence and a swirling oblivion.>>

<< but soon, from out of the darkness, from out of no where one of his arms is GRABBEB, gripped by a strong force. Salvation is at hand the sea loses yet another intended victim as Rampage carries his passenger up to the surface and into the air. The man is unconscious and barely alive, water logged and chilled beyond reason among other things, but Rampage teleports to the ship, helping to keep her steady on course as they return to the island.>>

<< the rescue team and Nicolas, now thoroughly drenched, are met by the medical emergency team as the man is placed on an antigravity bed and quickly hurried inside into a passage leading straight to the infirmary. Nicolas follows, keeping tabs on the man's vital signs, ready to assist if he flatlines before they can get him stabilized.>>

<< Harbinger and the others receive word that the man has been successfully retrieved and taken down to the Infirmary. A security team was on hand and the man was to be restrained as SOON as he was stabilized. MorningStar was already in the observation booth of the Infirmary overlooking it all as the others arrived.>>

<< it was very tense but the expert team worked fast, fluently and calmly. the next few moments would be the most critical. the man looked almost BLUE at this point.>>

<< Alison, Morgan, Ava, Haleigh & Cameron arrive and see Delilah pratically pressed up on the viewing glass. Cameron goes forward to offer her his support, relieved that she convinced Alison to try another way but the four women remain where they are with Alison herself BLINKING down into the Infirmary just a step ahead of Nicolas as the team works to revive and stabilize the man. She stares at him intently, but she can't get anything on him....not a clear of his past, or where he was headed! How could that be!?>>

<< tense moments indeed as they watched until finally, the man gasps with renewed breath and his vitals are shown to be holding and increasing. when he's out of danger, Alison directs him to be placed in one of the private rooms of the infirmary and to have the entrance sealed by forcefield. His nurses and guards are on hand around the clock.>>

<< it appears that the man will live after all.>>

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas stepped onto the high-speed craft and took the point position with the commanding officer. He'd already planned 2 possible alternate teleportation coordinates in case Alison refused the victim. Nicolas saw her logic, but would not simply leave him to the sea.

The weather was still horrible, but the security force did not complain as they proceeded out to the fallen man. The CO was about to dispatch divers when Nicolas held up his hand, and a silence fell over them all. Mike had trained then quite well.

Formation Omega.

The men nodded and took up their positions in support as Nicolas dived in alone. They were here for retreat support only, and to relay info to the others. Anything that HE could not handle would be suicide for them, and this formation was designed to maximize their survival, short of staying on the beach.

As Nic reached the man, he had slipped under the waves, taking on water. His vitals were already weak so Nicolas dispensed with niceties, snatching him up by his arm and carrying them both through their air to the ship via TK.

The next few minutes were by the book as far as rescues went. Nicolas vented the seawater from the man's lungs and the team worked to restore core body temp gently and supply him with oxygen. There was no doubt in his mind that the man would survive with the help he was receiving; once he did, Alison activated a security protocol to keep him isolated for now.

His job done, Nicolas returned to the shadows, with a nod of approval to the team's Medical Director. As he passed Alison, he asked the 10 million dollar question.

What do you see?

 

[Harbinger]

the infirmary

:: Alison remained still as others in the infirmary moved around her in quick, efficient activity. the man would survive. He was now secure in a private patient room and a forcefield would prevent him from leaving should he turn out to be a mutant or something else.::

:: still that wasnt enough for Alison who stared intently to the point her colbalt blue eyes seemed to have an almost "blank stare" about them.::

nothing...either way


:: the precog thought with irritation.::

What do you see?

...

:: Alison broke her intent, deep stare and blinked a few times before sighing.::

Nothing. I mean really nothing. I can't see his own recent time thread of events...and i can't see his immediate future. I don't get anything from him. Even newborn infants have time threads leading to and away from them.

:: She folds her arms.::

It's as if he indeed popped out of nowhere in the middle of a stormy sea. that CAN'T be a good sign.

:: she said coldly.::

:: she looked at Delilah who had been down in the infirmary rather than the observation booth.::

Dee, given your own background as a police officer AND since you campaigned so hard to have the man rescued and brought here, maybe you should ....interro....interview him when he's fully conscious.

:: softening her facial expression a bit::

After all, I've just indulged you. So I think one good turn deserves another.

:: winking at Delilah as Alison had just assigned her the task of finding out who this man was, what he was doing at sea etc.::

Nicolas, thank you for helping the diving team. That storm and those waters...as unnatural as they are, I knew you'd be the best person to brave them. Now maybe we can get back to the other project we were about to start on.

I'll see you in my executive study.

:: and with that, she BLINKS out of site. she BLINKS IN to the observation room.::

Well ladies, and gentleman, the lost puppy will be okay and I've assigned Delilah to take care of him. Now if you all REALLY behave...maybe I'll let him stay for a while.

:: her sarcasm was easily noted. she was still not convinced saving the man let alone bringing him here was the best thing but for now he seemed harmless enough even if she couldnt get a firm view of his past , present or future. with all the OTHER weirdness in the mansion the last month and her staying up almost constantly until the recent weeks that Haleigh began personally seeing her off to bed, maybe she was just TIRED and not able to focus enough.::

:: either way, she pushed on, looking forward to staring her next level of investigation with Nicolas.::

let me know if anything happens. I'll be in my study working on a project with Nicolas if I'm needed.

:: and with that, she BLINKS OUT.::

 

[Seer]

and so

<< soon, Nicolas would join Alison in her study and the others, after taking in the situation with the rescued john doe, would move on with the rest of their evening.>>

<< the powerfull storm seemed to lesson and move on a bit, but the ocean around the island of the mansion was still churning as were the dark skies above. thunder rumbled in the distance. the calming weather was no indication that all was calm on the cliffside villa though. >>

<< with all the acitivity and attention involving the arrival of the john doe, the OTHER anamoly that had been vexing the mansion for other a month had been momentarily forgotten. That was something SHE couldnt have been more pleased with.>>

<<Millennia was thrilled at the unlikely string of events that alllowed her to literally walk up to the Sword of Anger and take possession of it! Though she could not activate the true POWER of the sword, the weapon itself was fearsome and in her hands, it would be a fluent instrumenet of violence or death. She was, after all, taught by one of the best- Barbara Minerva herself.>>

<< The woman barely escaped the Vault before it automatically resealed itself and she was able to make it back through the catacombs and up to grounds of the mansion once more to finish her personal mission. She had no idea though that things were soon to get complicated for her in a way she couldnt imagine.>>

a week passes

<< the john doe's physical recovery was strong and consistent. on a bright breezy morning, he begins to stir to full consciousness, prompting the medical staff to do an initial check over of his vitals before summoning Delilah, who was to conduct the interview with the john doe and one thing was for certain with that, Millennia wasnt the only one in store for surprises in the very near future.>>

<< Alison and Nicolas had worked on their project together, but Haleigh arrived in on them EVERY night to INSIST Alison go to bed and get her rest. It was for the best as Alison was starting to feel much better from getting rest, though she hated to admit...she WAS still a human being and her body DID tire.>>

<< when word about the john doe was reported to Alison, she and the others went down to the observation booth to watch as Delilah began her interview of the man. Alison darkens the booth high above so that it appears to anyone down in the infirmary as dark and empty. the audio feed from the patient room Delilah and the john doe are in is on while at Alison's request, Cameron conducts a telepathic scan during the interview to detect whether the man is lying. >>

<< Morgan, Haleigh and Ava sit together in the booth, each has their own thoughts and ideas about this man ...none of them very charitable. Still, they all silently agreed that at least saving the man from a needless death was the right thing to do.>>

<< once the interview was over, they'd send him on his way AFTER a memory spell and a mind wipe....wouldnt they?>>

<< again, it would seem more than one persron would be in for surprises in the near future.>>

<< and so we watch.>>