Pieces of a puzzle

[MorningStar]

"You didn't CREATE Bishop, or Sharon, or Nicolas. YOU didn't machinate their problems or their grievances. You simply dealt with the situations they brought about in the only way your unimpeachable ethics would allow. That's not something to apologize for, and I wish you WEREN'T sorry for having upheld your beliefs and followed your conscience, because I have only ever admired you for it."

“Then how come I can’t even help a man in need without Bishop’s name being brought up?”

"Well now that's just not true. I suppose I shouldn't speak for the others, but I personally listen to every word you say. I absorb your advice, and then I go off into the next room to discuss it with the others, and try to compromise my objective with your suggestion, in a conversation behind your back so that you won't hear how horrible a person I am without your guidance."

Delilah tried to hide how shocked she was by that statement. Delilah didn’t think Haleigh – or Ava, or any of the others – were horrible people. But she still feared what she had since Bishop – that they took too much for granted, took too much liberty with their powers, and that disaster would come of it.

" It may take some time for some of the others to acknowledge that it was truly NOT YOUR FAULT, but I will ALWAYS stand in your defense when they bring it up, because while it hurt us when you followed your heart, as soon as you realized you'd been lead astray, you corrected your mistakes. Whether or not you loved him, it was not your fault that he was..... the way he was. Nor was it your fault that he did the things he did."

She started to really cry then. For it was true, that when everyone else had abandoned her, Haleigh had been there for her. The LEAST likely person to stand up for her, had.

"Delilah. You've never been the monster. I don't think you could be one if you honestly tried your very hardest."

The tears fell freely now. Maybe for the first time, she let Haleigh in completely.

“Haleigh, I killed that man…”

Her voice broke.

“…someone who was no match for me and my powers. And I…killed him…when I didn’t need to. And I knew then that I didn’t need to. I wanted to kill him. I need to make up for that Haleigh. Whether you all think I do or not, I need to, for myself. I need to prove that I’m not losing myself.”

She wiped her eyes.

“But you’re not horrible. Not at all. You’re practical. And you are the only one who didn’t turn away from me, not ever. And I don’t think I ever said thank you for that. So, thank you.”

 

[Spellbinder]

Minerva's Mansion

<< they were being watched. Not from the mansion, but from LIMBO. Morgan and Alison watched all of this unfold from Morgan's scrying glass. They'd actually been GONE from the mansion for some time now, watching and listening. It was ALISON'S idea. Even with the increasing degeneration of the nature of interaction between "Maxim" and the others...the two witches stayed out of it...until...>>


Morgan: I should have intervened. I should have stopped this before it got to this point! How could I let you talk me into AGREEING to allow Delilah to handle the "interviewing" of this ungreatful WRETCH of a man! LOOK at him! Look at what he's causing...I think we've seen enough! Let's go back and be RID of this man once and for all!


Alison: Do you think I am ENJOYING any of this? I didnt even WANT him at the mansion. How NORMAL do you think it is for an apparently normal baseline HUMAN to appear in the middle of an unnatural storm out at sea just MILES away from a location that is largely UNKNOWN to the mortal world? OR the fact that he doesnt have a PAST, discernable present OR future timethread of ANY kind for me to read??

Alison: I put Delilah in charge of that, NOT to have her become more involved, to SHOW her that we trust her judgement and her abilities! SHE is the one who convinced me to at least rescue the man, it was only fair that she assist in it.

Morgan: but we still screwed up. i mean...look at US. we're having a private conference in LIMBO so as not to be seen or heard by prying eyes and minds...but She JUST said that. She thinks we dont REALLY appreciate or value her. HOW can she think that!? after all this time!

Alison: Its not US...it's that THING...that BURDEN she continued to carry, the one that pushed her to the brink of suicide! the thing that nearly took her away from US. the thing that she ultimately asked HECATE to take away.

Morgan: Oh for GODDESS' SAKE!? HIM AGAIN! << an eldritch chime sounds off as she slams her fist down on the magick viewing lens and then turns away from the viewing, wrapping her arms around her waist.>>

WHY is he even a factor now? Let him keep ROTTING in hell where he belongs!

>>Alison, I just discovered that a broadsword of some kind is missing from the vault. It was on my 'radar' before the storm. I don't know how long it's been gone. Perhaps you will be able to determine the significance of its disappearance when you figure out what's been taken? Let me know.

Harbinger: NO!

Spellbinder: Alison!? What is it! what's the matter!

Harbinger: Get us back to the catacombs...the vault! IMMEDIATELY!

<< in the twinkling of a violet eye, they teleport.>>

<< now outside the vault deep within the catacombs. Alison rushes into the vault, followed by Morgan. they reach the case where the the SWORD OF ANGER was kept!>>

Harbinger: It's...GONE!

Spellbinder: << she looks at the empty case...and gulps down a lump of dismay>> Alison...WHO ELSE besides you can access the catacombs?

Harbinger: NO ONE!

Spellbinder: The Sword of Anger....of ALL the things....

Harbinger: :: shaking her head.:: I KNOW!

:: The Sword of Anger...it could BADLY hurt or even KILL Morgan if used against her! ::

:: Harbinger revists the LAST time she was here. It was Nicolas, Morgan and Herself! everything had been FINE. They left when the emergency call about a man lost at sea came over the com link. They LEFT...and instead of sealing the vault HERSELF as she had usually done, she allowed the system's on lock out command to kick in!::

but there was NO ONE ELSE here with us!? and even if there HAD been, they would have had to evade the security measures, avoid being sealed in the vault itself, THEN get through the catacombs and past the soldiers! it's NOT possible...its....

:: she forgot for a moment who SHE was, who they ALL were and the fact that "impossible" was more of a suggestion rather than FACT in most circumstances they faced. The "poltergiest"...the storm....this new mysterious man....her eyes widened for a moment with extreme distress.::

:: at that moment, the chime associated with HER telekinetic power activating could be faintly heard as a pencil began to write on a pad on the desk near HALEIGH.::

:: on the pad::- "sword of anger!"

:: Haleigh knew the story of the sword, its previous owner and the danger it posed to Morgan. not only that, somehow security of the highest order had been BREACHED in the mansion and the vault!::

Spellbinder: Alison...HARBINGER! Talk to me! tell me what we need to do to HELP you!



Harbinger: :: snapping out of her transfixed stare, she doesnt immediately respond. exiting the vault, turning back to look around once more before sealing it herself, she looks at Morgan.::

take us to the others, at once!


<< Morgan sends a mystic charm to summon Cameron and Nicolas to appear with the others immediately and almost simultaneously, she and Alison appear before the group via disc. Morgan looks very concerned and Alison looks very cold.>>

Harbinger: The time has come for Maxim to leave this place. This is a secure location, not a hospital for wayward travelers.

<< Alison looks at Haleigh with THAT look. This is not up for discussion. This is URGENT.>>

Spellbinder: And I want ALL interaction with him by ANY active member of the Six STOPPED immediately.

:: Alison touches a button on a wall panel, contacting her first officer.::

Everything below the stone gardens leading to the catacombs is to be sealed off. all anti-personell devices are to be on maximum sensitivity and activation. ANY unauthorized persons seen on the island, in the sea surrounding the island or elsewhere therein is to be SHOT.

:: turning away from the panel and looking back at the others.::

I've been as patient as I can be. My hospitality for strangers whom I can't even get a clear READ on is limited and as the mistress of this estate, I will decide who stays and who goes.


:: she hoped they wouldnt question her, but she already knew how Delilah would respond to this.::

Spellbinder: and from what I can tell, he isnt even gratefull he was rescued, let alone given this generous hospitality.

Harbinger: The medical team will check him over once more, and then he's leaving. TONIGHT. Cameron, be ready to completely mindwipe him of this experience all the way back to when Nicolas first plucked him from the sea.

 

[Bishop]

Haleigh had finally left, thank god. He turned off the water and picked up the least wet of the towels and quickly wrapped it around his waist. Heading into the main hospital room, he picked up Haleigh’s discarded Car & Driver, plus the GQ and Men’s Health, and dumped them on the bed. He pulled the top of the bedside table fully off, revealing the metal undercarriage. He broke that into two pieces, knelt down next to the bed, and proceeded to hit the pieces together. After a few tries, he succeeded in getting a spark. After a few more, he successfully lit one of the magazines. He blew gently on the flame, catching the others on fire. It quickly spread to the sheets.

He ran to the door and called to the guard outside.

“Hey- HEY! Fire! There’s a fire! Let me out of here!”

The guard looked past him and saw the flames on the bed and, startled, quickly punched in the code for the door, opening the seal on the door. The guard took a step inside, and Maxim was quickly on him, his arm around the guard’s neck, cutting off his air supply until he passed out. Maxim picked up the comforter from the floor and threw it over the flames, smothering them.

He quickly dressed in the guard’s clothes, and slipped out into the hallway. Easy as pie.

Escaping the notice of the medical staff, he soon was outside. He made his way through the forest. He would be off this island tonight.

 

[MorningStar]

Suddenly, and inexplicably, in the midst of a major “moment” between Haleigh and Delilah, everyone else arrived. Delilah tried with limited success to hide the fact that she had been crying.

The time has come for Maxim to leave this place. This is a secure location, not a hospital for wayward travelers.

“He’ll be happy to hear that.”

She said it and then noticed Alison’s stern face, and Morgan’s worried look.

“Wait a minute – what’s going on? What’s happened?”

And I want ALL interaction with him by ANY active member of the Six STOPPED immediately.

“Wha- why? What is it?”

Her heart sank. What was it NOW? What weren’t they telling her?

and from what I can tell, he isnt even gratefull he was rescued, let alone given this generous hospitality.

“Now, Morgan, that’s not true. If you just talk to him yourse-“

Morgan’s look silenced her. But it was for the best that Maxim go home, forget about them. And then they could ALL move on.

But it was at that moment that word came over their coms that their hospital guest had flown the coop.

Well, that was just perfect. Maybe if he hadn’t been threatened by (at least) two of them, they could be sending him packing right now. Instead, they were going to have to search the whole big ass island for him so his memory could be wiped.

She sighed, then looked pointedly at every one of the others there.

“We take him alive, and we go ahead with the plan. Wipe his memory, send him home. Anyone takes any unnecessary liberties will answer to me. I mean it.”

She knew that wouldn’t sit well with the others, but she was done being marginalized. Until he gave them a reason to attack him, they played this one by the numbers.

 

[Spellbinder]

the mansion

<< Morgan looked at Delilah. She couldnt help but feel completely at a loss for her dear friend's issues. SHE thought she could do SOMETHING to help Delilah, but WHAT?! In Morgan's mind, protecting her friends and closest loved ones meant doing WHATEVER was necessary but how could she protect Delilah from her own heart and personal convictions? Ororo was right, MAGICK wasnt the answer but Hecate HAD given Delilah a big CHEAT code when she took away the "guilt"..hadnt she? Why wasnt it WORKING?!>>

<< Morgan looked up, putting her hands over her face and exhaling with exasperation then sliding her hands down her face as she looked back upon everyone else and then Delilah. She cared for Delilah very much but WHAT was she supposed to do!? Suddenly Demeter's counseling didnt seem to FIT. Maybe Delilah's newfound lease on life courtesy of Hecate just freed her to dive DEEPER into a NEW hole that would swallow her up like the one involving Bishop nearly had??>>

<< She started to tell Delilah WHY she and Alison were putting an end to Maxim's visit but as Alison put the mansion on high alert, SECONDS later, an alarm sounded off, Maxim had ESCAPED.>>

<< Morgan shook her head as Alison FUMED.>>

Is this man INSANE? How far does he think he'll GET? With Alison's soldiers on alert AND orders to SHOOT any tresspassers?

She sighed, then looked pointedly at every one of the others there.

“We take him alive, and we go ahead with the plan. Wipe his memory, send him home. Anyone takes any unnecessary liberties will answer to me. I mean it.”

She knew that wouldn’t sit well with the others, but she was done being marginalized. Until he gave them a reason to attack him, they played this one by the numbers.

Unless of course he has something...something he SHOULDNT HAVE and uses it to ATTACK one of us, then we'd have every RIGHT to defend ourselves.

<< another BIG hint to what she and Alison were upset about BEYOND Maxim.>>

He hasnt seen Alison or myself yet. The rest of you can fan out behind Delilah. Find him and subdue him quickly if he runs his mouth...just TAPE IT SHUT or something. We'll be rid of him soon enough.

 

[Black Widow]

Delilah: Then how come I can't even help a man in need without Bishop's name being brought up?

"Because the last time you protected a human from the rest of us so intently, he turned out to be our undoing. And regardless of fault -- or lack thereof -- we would be foolish if our past experiences didn't inform our present reactions. We cannot presume that just because Maxim is only human, that means he is harmless. Bishop was only human. You want to save him because you are selfless, and kind. The rest of us simply want to save each other from the possibility that Maxim is a threat, however unlikely. It's only the HINT of similarity that brings Bishop to mind, but no one can ignore it, because you don't have the monopoly on Bishop as a personal demon; that man haunts us all."

Haleigh replied, suppressing a shudder at the memory of the nightmares she'd only recently conquered. Delilah started to cry, and Haleigh felt so terrible that her own eyes began to glisten and spill over.

Delilah: Haleigh, I killed that man...

"To save Sharon. To stop him from killing. You killed a man who was filled with hatred for OUR kind, simply because we were born different. Bishop was--"

Delilah: someone who was no match for me and my powers. And I…killed him…when I didn’t need to. And I knew then that I didn’t need to. I wanted to kill him. I need to make up for that Haleigh. Whether you all think I do or not, I need to, for myself. I need to prove that I’m not losing myself.

Haleigh looked at Delilah with a kind smile, placing her hands gently on Delilah's shoulders, finally understanding exactly what was bothering Delilah about Bishop, and why. It finally made sense, because it was so precisely Delilah. Haleigh felt a little sheepish that she hadn't grasped the insight before.

"The mere notion that you need to atone is the proof that you haven't lost yourself even the SLIGHTEST. But if you need to do this to erase all self-doubt, then I understand. A life for a life, indeed. You saved one to replace the one you took. What an attractive theory... perhaps with that, even I could find redemption. But let's not get TOO crazy, right?"

Delilah: But you're not horrible. Not at all. You're practical.

[with a beaming smile] "I find it remarkable that you strive to only look at the best in people. 'Practical' is absolutely the most POLITE way to describe what I am."

Delilah: And you are the only one who didn’t turn away from me, not ever. And I don’t think I ever said thank you for that. So, thank you.

"Actually..... you did already. But you're welcome again anyway."

Haleigh replied, as she got Alison's message. The sword of anger. This was bad. Haleigh wiped her own eyes and was about to warn Delilah that they were probably about to be summoned, when everyone else showed up right in front of them. Haleigh looked appropriately tacit as Alison declared Maxim's stay to be over, nor was she surprised at the way Morgan and Alison were acting. Delilah was confused, but then, she didn't know about the breach of security. Haleigh was about to explain when she became aware of the escape. She gave a hard sigh of annoyance.

Alison: The medical team will check him over once more, and then he's leaving. TONIGHT. Cameron, be ready to completely mindwipe him of this experience all the way back to when Nicolas first plucked him from the sea.

"The medical team won't be checking anything, since the guard at Maxim's door has just sounded the alarm that our 'guest' has gone missing from his quarters."

Delilah took the opportunity to shoot 'I TOLD you not to harrass him' looks at the guilty parties, and Haleigh didn't exactly blame her for doing so, but she didn't feel at fault, either. Maxim had brought a lot of strife on himself with that attitude of his.

Morgan: Is this man INSANE? How far does he think he'll GET? With Alison's soldiers on alert AND orders to SHOOT any tresspassers?

[rolling her eyes] "CLEARLY he didn't think his little escape plan through any farther than 'start fire, get past guard'. Men, always doing things by the seat of their pants."

Delilah: We take him alive, and we go ahead with the plan. Wipe his memory, send him home. Anyone takes any unnecessary liberties will answer to me. I mean it.

"If he's not a complete idiot, he'll be outside already, probably under heavy cover. The good news is that this is an ISLAND, and unless he's planning to swim across the open ocean with no sense of purpose, he'll try to commandeer one of our boats. [closing her eyes for a second] Since I just disabled the engines, I don't think we need to bother bolstering the security personnel at the dock. Let's just hunt him down, hopefully before the firing squad can."

Morgan: Unless of course he has something...something he SHOULDNT HAVE and uses it to ATTACK one of us, then we'd have every RIGHT to defend ourselves.

"Unless it's been liquified and recast into irate silverware, I don't think it's still on this island."

Morgan: He hasnt seen Alison or myself yet. The rest of you can fan out behind Delilah. Find him and subdue him quickly if he runs his mouth...just TAPE IT SHUT or something. We'll be rid of him soon enough.

 

[Persephone]

Ava hadn't gotten far before being summoned by Alison and Morgan. Making her way back up to the terrace where she had left Delilah and Haleigh moments earlier, everyone in the six gathered around. Morgan AND Alison looked panicked...that was never a good sign. Alison was quick to say that Maxim was to leave the island immediately. Ava's brows furrowed. She didn't like Maxim either, but why would a mere mortal be so panic inducing to Alison? Let alone Morgan?

Delilah: “Wait a minute – what’s going on? What’s happened?”

"I'd like to know the answer to that as well."

However the answer was never given. It was soon revealed by Haleigh that Maxim was able to escape the medical lab. Delilah gave her an "it's your fault" sort of look making Ava huff in a short breath and tighten her jaw. This little Houdini act of Maxim's wasn't exactly helping Ava's case any.

Delilah: We take him alive, and we go ahead with the plan. Wipe his memory, send him home. Anyone takes any unnecessary liberties will answer to me. I mean it.

"Subtle, Delilah."

Ava snapped, shifting her narrowed eyes away from the blonde to Haleigh as she began to speak.

Haleigh: Since I just disabled the engines, I don't think we need to bother bolstering the security personnel at the dock. Let's just hunt him down, hopefully before the firing squad can."

"I'll create a dense fog around the island. He won't be able to see two feet in front of him. It will keep the guards at bay as well."

Instantly a thick white fog began to roll in from the ocean all around the island. From an areal view it would look like an eye of a hurricane collapsing in on itself. The fog reached the shores, then the forest, then finally inland where Minerva's Mansion sat.

 

[Harbinger]

the mansion

:: Alison glares at Delilah and SLAMS her hand down on the nearby desk to state exactly how PISSED she is at this moment.::

I relented on this becuase of you. I trusted in your conviction even when my own instincts told me to deal with it MY way. I trusted your ability to handle the "interview" and you did well enough. because of you we know where to send him.

:: Haleigh disables all available boats and watercraft, Ava brings in an appropriate pea soup fog

I can't necessarily BLAME you for having a heart and feelings, but i CAN tell you this.

::close up view of alison's colbalt blue eyes narrowing with grim finality::


If YOU don't find and capture that man in the next 5 minutes? I AM going do something that you wont like.

Don't think that as we stand here, I CAN'T "SEE" around this island. He may not have any viewable TIME threads for me to "see", but I can get to him in the BLINK of an eye and DEAL with him as he deserves for violating security protocall.

Goddess help him if he's responsible for the MASSIVE security breach in the vault or ANYONE who tries to stand in my way of dealing with this!

:: If Delilah wanted to take the lead on this, GOOD. Better HER than Alison at this point. Maxim would DIE by her hand if Alison saw him anytime soon. They'd seen her kill before without a second thought. particularly when she produced the "true frozen" , SEVERED head of Jasmine Fielding's father during a caper several years back.::

:: Alison was in no mood for discussion and she hadnt elaborated enough on the "massive security breach in the vault" for it to make sense to Delilah. Haleigh would have to fill her in. ::

:: as the Delilah left, Morgan looked at Alison. Morgan understood that she should just teleport with the others and Alison would follow on her own shortly.::

Spellbinder: Let's go everyone. Watch yourselves in Persephone's fog. Find Maxim, but don't harm him unecessarily.

:: the leave, as Alison takes a moment to settle herself. she had every right to be angry, and it was within her right to deal with the escaped man at HER descretion. but there was something ELSE. SOMEHOW she'd been one up'ed. SOMETHING or SOMEONE had penetrated the catacombs, the VAULT and stolen a powerfull artifact right out from under her and she had NO IDEA until HALEIGH told her! She was at a loss for this at the moment, but more than that...she was PISSED!::

 

[MorningStar]

Alison was being as cold as Delilah had ever seen her. She thought she was being unreasonable and too quick to jump to conclusions, but Delilah knew that it was just the strange goings on and her inability to read Maxim that was getting to her. Morgan thankfully agreed with her in taking Maxim alive – with the caveat that if he’d stolen something or attacked them, then all bets were off. She could compromise on that.

“Yes, Morgan, of course, if he attacks one of us, his safety is forfeit.”

She paused then added:

“But he won’t.”

Delilah headed for the forest. She didn’t know why, but something was telling her where to go, which path to take. And it lead her towards the bluffs. Emerging from the forest into the clearing at the top of the cliffs, she saw him.

He was about to head over the side. Was he fucking crazy?

“Maxim!”

He paused where his was, about to lower himself down the cliff face. He looked conflicted for a moment, then raised himself back up and stood tall in the clearing.

Maxim: “Delilah…”

She took a step closer, held her hands out in a nonthreatening gesture. She knew if he tried to climb down to the beach, he would fall to his death.

“Don’t do this – I’ve spoken to the others, we’re sending you home. Tonight! I swear to you…”

He shook his head.

Maxim: “It’s not that I don’t trust you – but the others…”

She looked at him with pleading eyes.

“I won’t let them hurt you, I promise.”

He slowly closed the distance between them.

Maxim: “Please – this is the only way I can keep you safe. I have to get away from here. I can’t explain…someday, maybe. But please just trust me.”

He took her hand as he said please.

“I do trust you – but this, this is suicide! You’ll never make it to the mainland this way.”

She was so concerned for him, it nearly broke his heart. He pulled her towards him, and kissed her softly before whispering to her.

Maxim: “Delilah. Please, just let me go. You have to let me go, darlin’.”

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas had already decided to sit the rest of this out. Delilah was pissed and he would be of no use. He could monitor things as needed and there was no need for him to fan any flames of strife.

He relaxed as he sat in the observation booth when he got the summons. He teleported to meet the others immediately and got the alert, or some hint of it. As he started to ask Haleigh what was going on, an alarm sounded. Maxim had escaped!!!

These guards are gonna blow chunks when Mike gets hold of them. A fire trick. Who the fuck falls for a fire tri-

He was interrupted by the arguing as they debated Maxim's fate, with Morgan sounding nearly AFRAID and Alison essentially giving Delilah a head start on saving him as Ava and Haleigh cut off his means of escape. Without Delilah's knowledge, once she started walking, Nicolas "drew" the mutant towards his location, one last attempt to help her here before the situation spun out of control.

Spellbinder: Let's go everyone. Watch yourselves in Persephone's fog. Find Maxim, but don't harm him unecessarily.

Nicolas already knew where he was, so he "went" with the others. Once the emerged from the disk, he reached out and gently caught Haleigh's arm.

Hales...what is REALLY going on?

 

[Spellbinder]

night time chase

<< Spellbinder was approaching from the skies out at sea. just IN CASE the man had been insane enough to take to the water...boat or no boat. circling around the island at high speeds, she flew into a stepping disc, and emerged out of another NOW approaching on the other side of the island, nearly the cliff where Maxim AND Delilah were.>>

There they are!

<< she said aloud as she flew. but her mind was totally torn. Maxim had ESCAPED...it seemed so ludicrous that this man could elude Alison's guards like this but she was fooling herself if she thought THAT was HER most pressing concern was...>>

The Sword of Anger....Anger......ANGER!

<< thunder crashes and startles her in midflight. she remembered the terrifying touch of the sword...she NEVER wanted to feel it again! now that it was gone...it was OUT here somewhere. It COULD happen AGAIN! >>


<< Shuddering a bit as she calms, she swoops down, and emerges from the fog to hover in the air above Delilah and Maxim just in time to see him KISSING her.>>

<< Morgan's face tightens with contempt and disapproval.>>

stupid pig of a man. he causes all of this drama, leads us on a needless chase, just so he can play tongue hockey?

This guy is PATHETIC!

<< she quickly lands, now standing BEHIND Maxim and barring any possible attempt for him to go running head long off the cliff.>>

Alright loverboy, that's enough. You're little game of hide and go get it is OVER.

Cooperate with Delilah and return to the Mansion at ONCE!

<< Morgan commands with a bitchy tone as she stands tall, her hair blowing to the side in the night time ocean breeze. Cameron and Ava are on the other side of Delilah emerging from the forest with Nicolas and Haleigh not too far behind.>>

The MISSTRESS of the Mansion that youve been accomodated in for the last few days would like a word with you before you are sent on your way.

 

[Black Widow]

Alison: If YOU don't find and capture that man in the next 5 minutes? I AM going do something that you wont like. Don't think that as we stand here, I CAN'T "SEE" around this island. He may not have any viewable TIME threads for me to "see", but I can get to him in the BLINK of an eye and DEAL with him as he deserves for violating security protocall. Goddess help him if he's responsible for the MASSIVE security breach in the vault or ANYONE who tries to stand in my way of dealing with this!

"Alison! I understand why you're upset, but you've GOT to get a hold of yourself. He's only human, and he's been in SUPERVISED ISOLATED CONFINEMENT this whole time. Hell, he's only been conscious for a few hours. I can tell you, with NO uncertainty, that he had NOTHING to with the breach."

She was trying to be reassuring. Haleigh had never seen Alison so clearly stressed out. She couldn't remember if Alison had ever had such an outburst, and it worried her. Alison was the level-headed one, cold, but collected. Haleigh was all good with everyone getting what they deserved, but was Alison so beside herself with anger that she'd take it out on Maxim? He was a prick but he deserved little more than a slap on the wrist for his escape attempt. Alison looked positively homicidal.

Morgan: Let's go everyone. Watch yourselves in Persephone's fog. Find Maxim, but don't harm him unnecessarily.

Haleigh switched to heat vision so she could see a little better in the fog. Hot things, like people and wildlife showed up in shades of orange/red. Cool things like trees and other flora showed up in blues and purples. Everyone hit the forest as a search party, following Delilah's lead but not keeping up with her too closely. Nicolas grabbed Haleigh by the arm.

Nicolas: Hales...what is REALLY going on?

"The Sword of Anger has been stolen from the vault. It's been completely removed from the island, as far as I can tell. I discovered it missing almost by accident a short while ago. I don't know how long it's been gone. Sometime between the storm and now. Naturally Alison's offended at the fact that someone has taken it right under her nose. I'm sure Morgan's FREAKED, but she seems to be handling it well enough."

 

[Persephone]

Ava and Cameron flanked Delilah on the left while Nicolas and Haleigh flanked her on the right. They made their way through the forest towards the bluffs where Delilah was B-lining it. As Ava and Cameron walked, she created a a good 10 feet in circumference around them so they had good visibility just in case Maxim decided to be ballsy and try something.

They were almost at the edge of the forest and the bluffs when Delilah took off running. Ava was about to start after her when her enhanced hearing picked up Haleigh saying 3 very frightening words. "Sword of Anger". Stopping in her tracks, the brunettes eyes went wide--so THAT was what had Alison and Morgan upset. Turning to Cameron, she could see that he too already knew what was going on as well.

"So much for another peaceful night of drinking, huh King?"

Turning back in the direction where Delilah took off, Ava began to jog out through the woods until finally reaching the clearing. The fog immediately lifted around the entire bluff just as Maxim kissed Delilah. Ava stiffened. Unbelievable. Folding her arms across her chest in a defensive stance, Morgan landed behind Maxim and quickly halted thier intimate moment before proceeding to tell Maxim that he had a date with Alison. Now that put a little smile of Ava's face.

 

[Spellbinder]

cliff side

<< The others were here. Morgan at their 12 o'clock, Ava & Cameron at their 6 o'clock , Nicolas and Haleigh near their 9 o'clock.>>

<< Maxim & Delilah were surrounded. Fast as Maxim might have been for a human, he'd not get past them in any direction. Morgan and Ava showed the MOST distain for Maxim's moment of intamacy with Delilah.>>

<< as Morgan promptly interuppted them, Maxim said something...>>

“Delilah. Please, just let me go. You have to let me go, darlin’.”

<< that last line echoed in her head as she looked upon Maxim for the first time since he awakened in the infirmary. something about him...but what was it?>>

"Darlin'........Darlin'......Darlin'

I feel like...I've HEARD that somewhere before? << she thought to herself>>

<< Morgan , already on edge and upset, furrowed her brow a bit as she dwelled on that last word, the inflection of his tone. It dismayed her the way Delilah had gotten in so DEEP with this stranger so fast! She wanted HELP Delilah but she didnt seem to know WHAT to do. On top of that, somehow the sword of ANGER was stolen. it was out here...it could be in the hands of anyone and they could be ready to KILL HER!>>

<< Morgan jutted her jaw abit as she continued to look agitated, hoping Maxim would do as she commanded or risk being taken back to the mansion by FORCE.>>


<< Alison BLINKS in, more midway between the others and Delilah and Maxim. She looked positively stone cold.>>

Spellbinder: We have him, Alison.

<< She says immediately, hoping that Alison will not do anything TOO heavy handed to fast. It wasnt that she was concerned for Maxim. She was more concerned for Delilah and what this would do to HER.>>

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas heard those words like a shot.

The Sword of Anger.

Damn. The sword that had Morgan so upset just earlier. As they followed Delilah to Maxim from a distance, this started to bother Nicolas quite a bit more...for two reasons:

1) That made it extremely likely that whoever...or WHATEVER...was out there was gunning for Morgan.

2) This made the "Maxim" situation THAT more weird. How does someone HAPPEN to make it HERE, in the middle of the ocean and essentially cloaked (even Nicolas could only find it after having been here and that was after having spent HOURS scanning the Mediterranean in his lifetime), with no other wreckage and without being eaten by the Whitetips, Great Whites, Mako and many other sharks and other predators on the ocean?

Nicolas narrowed his eyes and prepared for anything as he scanned Maxim completely...then he detected what Maxim said after KISSING Delilah (like THAT wasn't gonna happen)...

Maxim: “Delilah. Please, just let me go. You have to let me go, darlin’.”

Nicolas spoke to Haleigh in a whisper...

How many Russians born-and-raised in Russia that currently live in New York do you know that say "Darlin'"?

 

[Black Widow]

She watched everything from a distance afforded by enhanced senses, but as Ava lifted the fog around them, they all closed in on the couple a bit. Haleigh gave a giant eye-roll as Maxim pulled Delilah in for a kiss. Okay, Casanova, now is like the LEAST appropriate time for romantic overtures. Maxim begged that Delilah let him go, and Haleigh tried not to scoff aloud, with some success. Even if Delilah LET him go, there was NOWHERE FOR HIM TO GO. Except... the waiting arms of everyone ELSE on the island. Even if he leapt from the cliffside, which only a maniac with a death wish would do, it would only take ONE of them to stop him from succumbing to gravity, and it was pretty much within the power of each of them to do so. Talk about an exercise in futility. Didn't this guy have ANY sense of logic? Morgan insisted that he cooperate, as Nicolas whispered to Haleigh about something that all of them were secretly taking notice of.

Nicolas: How many Russians born-and-raised in Russia that currently live in New York do you know that say 'Darlin'?

[also whispering back] "As opposed to Darling? I'd estimate NONE, but to be fair, none of the Russians I knew in New York were ever inclined to use a term of endearment with me."

She replied quietly with a rueful smile. Alison popped in, looking as cold as she ever had, and Morgan assured the Seer that they 'had' him. Haleigh stopped herself from saying of COURSE we 'have' him. Even if we were all blindfolded, gagged and had our hands tied behind our backs, we'd still HAVE him -- but she was THINKING it very proudly. She tried inwardly to feel shame about her vanity, but found she couldn't, so she just pursed her lips and reasoned that it wasn't arrogance if you really WERE 'super', and the opposition was just plain 'human'.

 

[Harbinger]

they finally meet

:: Harbinger stares at Maxim with utter contempt. Haleigh had assured her that HE had nothing to do with the theft of the Sword of Anger. She knew it was all but 100% unlikely that Haleigh was mistaken on that. HOWEVER, this man still had violated security protocall, disturbed the peace of her mansion AND caused dischord among her friends...her family...not to mention was driving Delilah damn near to total distraction.::

:: Haleigh had told Delilah point blank not even moments earlier how her death had DEVISTATED them. Morgan had been summoned from Aerie because of what happened and the ALL shouldered part of the blame for it. They all vowed that they'd NEVER let that happen to Delilah again. And so, on TOP of being severly frustrated over what should have been the IMPOSSIBLE theft of ANYTHING from the Vault, she was also none too pleased about what effect this man had on Delilah. ::

:: he was trouble, but she was about to surprise HERSELF on finding out just HOW MUCH trouble he was.::

:: He was surrounded. He wasnt getting anywhere. and so, Harbinger walked right up to him inspite of Delilah standing there with him. The man was tall, but Alison, at 5'11' WITHOUT high heels was eye to eye with him at this moment. her cold aura washed over him.::

Stranger, your behavior has been MOST inappropriate. You are in a place you have NO comprehension of and BAD THINGS can happen to FOOLISH, ARROGANT men who go running about this island.


:: shifting her colbalt blue eyes a bit to look at Morgan who was standing behind Maxim and Delilah, Morgan picked up her cue and TELEPORTED them all via stepping disc back to the Mansion. The main hall to be exact.::

:: at this moment, Ava, Haleigh, Nicolas and Cameron were now standing together, behind Morgan and Alison, who stood together a few spaces ahead while Delilah was now moved to Morgan's right. Bishop was left to face them all.::

I am Alison Marble, and this is MY domain. These people beside and behind me...these are my FAMILY. I do not take kindly to my GUESTS violating the security protocalls that I have set. NOR do I appreciate having to chase after them when they decide to run wild on this island like loose house pet.



From the moment you've arrived here, RESCUED by one of my family THANKS to the insitence of Delilah, you have been a rude, crass, arrogant, deceitful man with no respect for the hospitality that I have given you. This is NOT a hotel, NOR is it a hospital. I was not OBLIGATED to do ANYTHING for you. Thank the stars above that Delilah was here, otherwise you would have been left to DIE in the sea you so foolishly took to chasing after this supposed mystery woman you claimed to be following.

But your time here is at an END.

Whatever it is that compelled you to come out so far to sea that you nearly DIED because of it is no concern of mine, but understand this...if you EVER come back here again, it will be the LAST PLACE ON EARTH YOU EVER SEE.

:: she reaches out to grab him by the wrist and pull him off the steps he was standing on to lead him to the center of the circular main hall. She was going to have Cameron MIND WIPE him and then Morgan to teleport him to time square seconds after that process was complete.::

:: but as she touched him, her BODY reacted as if it had been jolted. Her eyes shut and she GASPED in such a way that Morgan flinched, looking terribly concerned.::

:: Something was wrong....TERRIBLY wrong. Harbinger was SEEING something, something that was PULLING HER IN to a major astral event.::

 

[Seer]

Eyes wide shut -part I

<< All at once, she saw that which she might not have wanted to see.>>

<< they hear her gasp, they see her physical response. something is TERRIBLY wrong!>>

<< a rushing sound is heard as we zoom in on Harbinger's face, she looks as though she's been painfully jolted. her eyes are shut tight. zoom in closer...one of her colbalt blue eyes OPENS and the BELL of that large, mysteriously designed grandfather clock alison keeps in her domain TOLLS in a haunting, mournfull way for ALL of them to hear. The last time Haleigh and Delilah heard this sound, Alison faced down Blackout in a firefight to the DEATH to save them, to save NYC, to save the EAST COAST.>>

<< Spellbinder tries to see if Harbinger is okay, but she's "locked up tight" having been pulled into the time stream via her astral projection.>>

<< the time stream>>
<< a view of the starry blackness of space, suddenly filled with a massive ghostly image of the FACE of Alison's mysteriously designed time piece. the hands of the clock turn around on the face at rapid speeds.>>

<< In the grand hall of Minerva's Mansion, they hear her words from EARLIER echo around them even as they stand with increasing levels of alarm as Morgan tries desperately to reach Alison and pull her away from Maxim. Words that HALEIGH would remember quite well.>>

I'm not talking about any inner demons...i'm talking about something EXTERNAL.

Something that manifested ACROSS time threads from the most remote to the now IMMINENT.

Something that isnt supposed to BE at all!

This isnt like anything I've sensed or "seen" before, Haleigh. Its something all together different.

<< Harbinger, now FIRMLY locked in a deep, moving ASTRAL moment begins to speak...uttering as if she were desperately trying to catch her breath...>>

Harbinger: this....can't....can't be....HAPPENING

<< the time stream. visions of the past begin to manifest.>>

Finishing his work he stood and moved to a coffee table where several open manila folders sat. He picked a weight up off the floor and began doing bicep curls with one hand as he flipped through the files with the other. After a time he switched arms but continued reading, studying the information intently. Finally coming to a stack of photographs intermixed with stills from surveillance cameras he let them fall one by one onto the table in front of him.


Spellbinder during the Inferno

"Spellbinder: Morgan Victoria..."

Guardian decapitating Victor Klein

"Guardian aka Harbinger: Alison Marble..."

Several photographs from the recent debacle at St. Patrick's Cathedral

"Black Widow: Haleigh Davidoff..."

"Rampage: Nicolas King..."

"Persephone: Ava Cassadine..."

"Prophet: Cameron King..."

Alycia hitting Stavros with the golf club

"Alycia Barnett...and the prime target"

The final two photographs fall. The first is of Sharon, reigning destruction down upon midtown Manhattan. The other shows Sharon, her husband, and her young son Kyle, all smiling happily into the camera.

"The Silver Swan..."

<< the voice of a man is heard.>>

his eyes raised to meet her’s. His voice was low, gruff. Exactly the way he looked.

“Usually they like it when I do, darlin’.”

<<"Darlin'" it echoes ...more visions come and with each vision, comes complete visual playback.>>

:: Ava might have forgotten just how easy it was for Alison to "see" things...but at this moment, it was like she had never LEFT the six.::

I need to talk to YOU because something's COMING...and our FAMILY is in danger!

<< Darlin'>>

As you know....YOU are infected with the T virus and Kyle was a mutant....they wanted him for research. Sharon would not allow it....and...they TRAPPED them in the mansion, seperating them in various areas and levels. Robert was doomed... though he had an analytical mind and was good at solving puzzles, he starved to death while trying to figure out a way to escape the under ground maze. Through painstaking research, i later learned that Kyle was subjected to brutal experimentation..and died after prolonged exposure to the "G" virus...his body was never recovered. it was believed that his corpse was sent to the "dead factory"...the place where Mystech would frequently discard "bio hazards" and other failed biological experiments for incineration. But of them all, SHARON was able to evade and allude the shocking horrors that lay in the mansion...long enough to escape...but not without help.

You see....I had already met Sharon in college. We were friends even then. By now, i was already "up and coming' and had lots of friends and contacts. I knew that she was going to this "party" ...and she had told me she feared something would happened, so i hired someone....a mercenary with EXTENSIVE military, black ops and other strategic background to tail Sharon and her family. When we didnt hear from her for days...he went in. what he found....was ....the stuff HORROR MOVIES were made of. He rescued Sharon and they escaped....i was waiting for them on the outskirts of the Arklay Mansion...at the cottage and once there....we left together.

echo of Alycia's voice; her face shown in the ghostly image of the grandfather clock face:so i hired someone....a mercenary with EXTENSIVE military, black ops and other strategic background to tail Sharon and her family.

<< darlin'>>

But then he had been more trusting, more naive, more willing to help people without first making sure they deserved his help. He had trusted Alycia Barnett, and in turn Sharon Kelly, but they had betrayed that trust.

<< the hands on the ghostly image of the face of the grandfather clock spin even faster as images swirl and blur before...>>

[
Spellbinder and Rampage conversing in one of the express elevators]I'm afraid too...not just because of the mansion...but because there's MORE to it that even ALISON cant spell out CLEARLY.Alison said more than HALF of us could die if the future she saw comes to pass...that's not including SCORES of other mutants, witches and metahumans across the country who arent as powerfull as we are. those of US who survive...might be able to escape...but what about THEM? those of us who could die....

We ALL have to be carefulll even in PUBLIC. We dont know who will expose us....and it could be from WITHIN and that makes it WORSE!

<< Darlin'>>

I'm getting used to FEELING.

[was all she could say as she noticed the gryfalcons eyeing Delilah curiously.]

Nothing's the same...not able to go anywhere...or do much of anything

[ she suddenly glared at Delilah.]

You aren't comfortable with me?

Delilah- I don't know Sharon...I'm just not sure you're the same person I used to know. It's like we're strangers. I'm sorry - I don't want to feel this way, I really don't. But I can't help it."

<< rapid fire images of the team, sharon, arklay mansion.>>

<< she clenched her fist.>>>

people hate mutants and witches....but THIS prooves that HUMAN BEINGS can be as MUCH if not MORE of a MONSTER than WE ever could be!

<< DARLIN'>>

man's voice:

“Sometimes in my dreams...”

He heard the footsteps stop.

“Sometimes in my dreams I’m a normal person. All I worry about are football games, ballet recitals, PTA meetings, dinner with the in-laws. I have a little workshop out behind the house. I have a dog, and I take him hunting with my son. We never get anything, but we don’t mind.”


“And then I wake up.”

A single tear rolled down his face – just one – and then it was gone. He looked away quickly. Indicating the folders, he spoke.

“Don’t make me sorry I didn’t eliminate that scum myself.”

<< DARLIN'>>

Man: "Hey - you know Morgan Victoria? The supermodel?"

Delilah nodded absentmindedly as she was pulling her hair back into a high ponytail. She saw that it was a picture of her and Morgan.

Delilah: "We grew up in the same town. She helped me get this apartment. I can introduce you if you want."

Man: "Uh maybe some other time. I should head off."

And finally, his mistake of the past would be taken care of. Alycia Barnett would be easy to dispose of once Sharon Kelly was out of the way. Then the people that should have been left to die all those years ago would be gone. And there would be a small amount of justice for the victims of these villainesses and their families. He would still have more to make up for – a lifetime’s worth – but at the very least no one else would lose a loved one to the Silver Swan and her mutant powers of destruction. Her lack of regard for innocent lives. Her easy approach to murder.

He hated doing woman. But this was necessary.

He punched in the arm code on the wireless detonator, and pushed the button…

moments later- [at that moment, she turns her head slightly, hearing what sounds like a BEEPING sound.....3....2...1...]

[ an EXPLOSION...nothing but FORCE, IMPACT and BLINDING, WHITE LIGHT ]

[ Sharon is blown out of the house and into the backyard...as car alarms are now going off around the area....She lays limp for a few moments.....before slowly turning over on her back....and heaving with coughing....blinking her silver eyes.]

<< killed the scum! darlin'!>>

you....LEAVE ME ALONE!! GET AWAY!!

[ she staggers a bit...and inhales...and SCREAMS! the sound of jet engines, roaring trains, tornado, a woman's strong scream...it all comes together as the air ripples and waves and she unleashes a near FULL POWERED sonic scream attack. even the GROUND that is touched by the sonic attack begins to crack and split as anything not nailed down is BLOWN apart and HE is slammed by the force of the attack.]

Spellbinder- WHO could've done this!

<< DARLIN'>>

Haleigh and Delilah...have they met with this ...Connor St. James?

:: she said it with such disdain and the fact that she was so ABRUPT with it...seemed to suggest there was more to it.::

<< images SWIRL again >>

[ She put down the menu and took a sip of water as she nodded. Setting down her glass carefully she looked up at Haleigh. ]

“He and I don’t exactly share the same definition of…justice. Family was murdered by Viktor Klein, the man Alison killed a few months ago. Wife, two kids. He alone survived the hit. I wouldn’t mention it – it’s a sore subject understandably.”

<< FLASH>>

Evidence form the blasts and subsequent fight scene suggest that a single perpetrator somehow eluded the birds and placed detonators strategically around the house. He detonated them, actually driving her out the back woth the balsts in the event that she somehow survived, The perp then not only evaded her projectile attack, but he seriously wounded her and managed to survive her sonic attack before escaping. Had Sharon not been...augmented, she would undoubtedly be dead.The job was professional to a degree almost unheard of, and was carried out from the neighboring house. In my opinion, you either are dealing with a teleporter on the level of Nic or Morgan with stealth abilities beyond what they have currently shown capable or you are dealing with a non-powered human of the highest ability.

This is someone with INSIDER knowledge and that means....they probably know she has super powered FRIENDS too. Alluding the birds...and escaping Morgan who was in the AIR and Nicolas who is a TELEPATH...and I wouldve heard or SEEN anyone RUNNING from where i was coming from...this is deadly serious. This wasnt a random thing. this is PERSONAL.

With the "anti mutant" sentiment growing...this IS going to be considered a Federal matter from here on.

<< the anti mutant sentimenet growing.....DARLIN'>>

[ His face portrayed no sign of what he was really thinking - why was Haleigh Davidoff looking into Arklay? Looking for remnants of experimentation - probably wanted to create more fucked up freaks of nature like herself. Wanting to "clean up" the area was probably just a cover.

"Listen, lady, you may be some hero-in-your-own-mind ex-Coast Guard desk jockey or whatever you did in the "Service", but THAT place is no place you wanna be, trust me."

He wasn't about to admit that he himself had been there recently, AND that he had known she was also.

"Some fucked up shit went on at Arklay, and it's still filled with the mutant scum science projects that came outta there. It's not safe for anyone - it wasn't back then, and it's not now. My advice to you, darlin', is to forget you ever heard about Spencer Mansion."

<< Mutant scum....anti mutant sentiment.>>

[ she closed in on Haleigh, Delilah and Connor.]

They [the birds] told me where you were.

[referring to the birds as she she pointed at Connor with her armoured covered hand. even wearing the silver eyemask, it was obvious to Delilah and Haleigh that the Silver Swan had made the scene.]

You're going to PAY for what you've done!

[ she grabs Connor by his head...SLAMMING it down on the table before yanking him up by the neck as though he were a rag doll, courtesy of her super strength and HURLING him across the room and THROGH the door out on the street.]

[and as she burst out onto the street...BIRDS began to attack Connor...swarming, striking and swarming.]

HURT HIM BAD!!

[ the birds were just a painfull prelude to the main event.]

<< Mutant Scum....Anti Mutant Sentinment...Darlin'>>

“SHARON! What are you DOING?!”

[ Delilah ran after her, not comprehending what was happening. She called to Haleigh. ]

The Silver Swan is attacking Connor St. James...the man who rescued her from Arklay Mansion....the man who not even hours ago tried to KILL HER.

:: she dropped that on them in her cold tone as she looked at them.::

I saw this coming and chose not to prevent it and in order to ensure none of you would interfere, i did not say anything until now. This man...is a seed of GREAT trouble...we've yet to discover just how deep it goes...but he WILL survive this attack.

<< mutant scum...anti mutant sentiment...seed of great trouble...DARLIN>>

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion- main hall

:: Morgan had taken hold of Alison, but Nicolas quickly admonished her NOT to try to pull Alison away from Maxim or to even jar her. Morgan simply held on to her in a protective manner at this point.::

:: CLEARLY something was wrong. The Six heard the haunting, strong toll of that clock bell. and then they began to HEAR the visions that were FLOODING Alison's mind and perception as a precog. The voices, they echoed as various statements and conversations from themselves and their allies began to play back around them, not to mention the voice of a man that seemed to stand out but yet it wasnt "recognizable"...not yet.::

:: Maxim was unable to break from Alison's grip, as she unconsciously TIGHTHENED her hold on his hand, threatening to BREAK it with her telekinetic power. ::

:: Alison was almost seizing it seemed. as she continued to shudder and barely uttered a full sentence.::

it's....not....

:: she didnt finish, the visions she was having...it was a POWERFULL manifestation of retrocognition, part of her power, but at this point it was happening in such a PRIMAL way that her astral form had been pulled full force into the time stream. Maxim now a LIGHTNING ROD for this haunting stream of sounds and images she was SEEING, and the others were hearing.::

not....again.....

:: light fixtures around the Main hall began to flicker and shatter...and the mansion was now TREMBLING from the feedback of Alison's telekinetic power. This wasnt just retrocognition, the things she was seeing, had a DEEP PERSONAL impact on her...on the level of TRAUMA. It was leading up to something! Something that would effect ALL of them.::

 

[Seer]

primal haunt...wound reopened...the impossible realized

<< The Time Stream- a terrifying manifestation of retrocognition broadcasting pieces to a puzzle that had begun to form just several weeks ago in the present. Sometimes it was easy to forget why Alison's power as a precog was so special...and at other times a PAINFULL BURDEN. For no matter what happened, or how much time passed...Alison would always know...always remember...always see...whether she wanted to or not. and after weeks of NOT being able to see what she KNEW was looming...and MOVING across time threads toward DELILAH...toward them ALL in a most unnatural way...NOW it was becoming painfully, SHOCKINGLY clear...>>

<<FLASH>>

“Send me back! We can’t just leave Sharon to her own devices, to murder anyone she sees fit to! He’ll die if we don’t stop her. SEND. ME. BACK!”

Send you back? Why? So YOU can "stop" her? Exactly how? Do you plan to finish what your boyfriend started earlier? HE TRIED TO KILL HER, Delilah. THAT'S why she was there. Alison SAID he would survive. That is frankly more than he deserves.

Nicolas had stepped forward at this point to counter Delilah's approach of Morgan, arms folded across his chest.

"Easy, Rambo. [looking to Delilah now] Delilah, I understand that you're in some way emotionally attached to St. James, but he attacked Sharon. What excuse could he possibly have for that? NO ONE knew about Sharon being ALIVE, let alone turning into Silver Swan. Obviously this man has connections and secrets that you're not aware of. You're a level headed woman, Delilah...try to think about this logically."

I'm very sorry Delilah...but I must not.

I am advised by Harbinger that Connor is the one responsible for trying to MURDER Sharon in her own house! If it were anyone else...he wouldve suffered FAR WORSE in retaliation by US...but we didnt KNOW who it was until Alison revealed it at the last possible moment and advised US not to interfere.

I trust Alison's judgement...and I accepted her advice and acted accordingly

<< tried to kill her...mutant scum....Darlin'>>

<< rapid fire images of the Six vs Delilah , Silver Swan, and the form of a man>>

Harbinger: I saw clearly that HE was the one who attacked...tried to MURDER Sharon in her own home. and the lengths to which he went, not only endangered her but OTHERS in the area and risked exposure.

Connor St. James is a danger to you...to US. Does he even KNOW you're a mutant, Delilah?

He attacked one of OUR OWN. and would not hesitate to do so AGAIN against any known mutant, metahuman. Whose side are you ON anyway?

And why are you so quick to protect a man who HATES mutants and metahumans?

everyone in this room is "mutant scum"...according to him, INCLUDING YOU.

ORACLE: horrible visions and memories of the past...echoing what is going on IN THE PRESENT...Delilah, once again in an uncertain place that puts a potential chasm betwen her and her friends, her FAMILY...

Morgan, you remember that extra person in the woods with us at Arklay? I think it was St. James.... and I think he was ALSO in another part of the mansion when Alycia and I were in there. There was some unexplained distant noises... but he must have left quickly... before all of us went back in after Alycia. [pausing] If my suspicions are right.... and he's targeted Sharon... we might also be on his list.... and so will Alycia.

<< mutant scum...anti mutant sentiment....target...tried to kill her...DARLIN>>

<< a stranger in their midst, pieces of a puzzle comiong together to form a deadly picture, one that ONE among them cannot see ..WILL NOT SEE for what it...HE is...and so...>>

[Ava gave her two cents, then Morgan, then Alison and finally Haleigh. All ganging up on her. Typical. After a long stare right into Morgan’s eyes, she turned to the crowd. ]


[ She looked to each of them in turn. Searching, pleading, for some glimmer of understanding from any one of them. ]

“Look at yourselves. So easy for you to pass judgement. Since when is it your decision who lives and dies? What you are doing is tantamount to a death sentence for Connor. No matter what he has done, it is not up to us to punish him. If he is the one who attacked Alycia, then the authorities should deal with him, but we can’t play god with people’s lives like this!”

<< divide and conqure...time honored and almost certainly guaranteed to strike a blow in even the strongest family unit. They'd been here once BEFORE and with the events of LATE at the mansion...this was MORE than a cautionary parable...this was something FAR WORSE >>

<< the tears of a woman whose heart was as pure as the light she channeled...the dark but no less TRUE understanding of those who loved her...but NOT that man....NOT HIM.>>

"Since we became the Six and began putting our OWN LIVES on the line for good of mankind. Since we decided to FIGHT BACK against the people who cause all this PAIN in our lives. Since we decided it was okay to KILL our enemies. How many DEATH SENTENCES have we ALREADY handed down and carried out, Delilah? Oh... better question: HOW MANY HAS CONNOR?? We AREN'T playing God, Delilah. We're LETTING Sharon and Connor deal with their OWN problem. He brought this on himself. What, do you think she'd just ATTACK him for no reason? Do you REALLY think Alison would let an innocent man be victimized?"

No offense, Delilah, but obviously the 'authorities' haven't been able to DEAL with him properly. Effectively, he's a serial murderer. Now I'm alright with turning a blind eye to him when he's killing KILLERS. But Sharon's one of US.... have you forgotten that? She's part of our dysfunctional family unit, and we've got to side with our OWN on this. Protecting OURSELVES has to come first."

<< the shadow enshrouded man now pulling Delilah AWAY from her family. Though they were NO LESS RIGHT, she could not see...could not understand! But HARBINGER could see now...FAR MORE than she wanted!>>

Haleigh's right, Delilah. Alison wouldn't stand back and let an innocent be brutalized by Sharon for no reason. She obviously 'see's' something in this man that you don't...You've never doubted her powers before, why start now?"

<< mutant scum...danger to our vamily...tried to kill sharon..will target the rest of us....stranger in our midst....>>

Spellbinder: Delilah! listen to yourself!

You're lashing out at us...we're NOT your enemy..we're your FRIENDS...your FAMILY

<<FLASH>>

<< what had just happened not even an HOUR ago in minerva's mansion...was it history REPEATING ITSELF!? or was it as it had always been...the six could never escape their past. there was always going to be...a HAUNTING.>>

<< Harbinger begins to convulse as she shows signs of growing distress.>>

You're IGNORING the content of Alison's words..her VISIONS and you're accusing her of playing "God"...that is what HE does. WE not only defend this world...but we have the RIGHT to defend ourselves and Haleigh is right...that MORE than INCLUDES Sharon. She's not just my friend anymore..she's a METAHUMAN. She's at risk more than EVER not only because the world thinks her DEAD but because someone out there BESIDES us knows that She and the Silver Swan are ONE IN THE SAME and has tried to MURDER her.

<< stranger in our midst...then as now...he brings a darkness and uncertainty, that is strong enough even to swallow the LIGHT of the one so strong and pure. History repeats itself...doesnt it?>>

So this is what it comes down to? you turning your back on us...on ME and ALISON...This TEAM...your family...for a MAN!? how DARE you choose HIM over US!

"It just doesn't make sense. [look to Alison] You said someone would stray away from the six; but over a MAN? A man that she has known for less than a week? There has to be something more here that we're not seeing. Something that is turning Delilah away from us."

<< in stereo sound and echoing...not just the words, but a theme too painfully familiar.>>

<< FLASH>>

She's going to find him now. She's lost in a fog...her heart held captive. They WERE intimate but it goes FAR beyond that for her. He has called into question her core set of beliefs and values and without that foundation she's now lost in a fog of doubt, uncertainty and even disdain.

The most probable time thread has her becoming an unwitting PAWN in his now FRENZIED efforts to detroy Sharon, expose Alycia and see US dead.

<< it happened before...could it happen again? the stranger in their midst....mutant scum....kill them....DARLIN>>

[Delilah’s head whipped back around to look at him, a fire in her eyes. She tore her hand out of his, and began violently banging him in the chest with it. ]

“How could you?! You tried to kill Sharon! I didn’t believe it…why?! WHY would you attack her? She was my friend! I’ve lost everything because of you!”

[ He didn’t try to stop her, he just took it. Silent and immobile, like a stone. Then he simply put his arms around her and held her, until she stopped hitting, and collapsed sobbing against his chest. ]

<< the man in shadow looms larger now...larger than normal.>>

What he feared was now confirmed.

“So you are one of them.”

She bowed her head.

Delilah: “I wanted to tell you but-“

He cut her off as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her again, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“You’ve left them now, that’s the important thing. They can’t corrupt you any more.”

It didn’t matter. As long as she was with him it didn’t matter what she was.

“We’ll figure it out together, what’s the right thing to do. We can protect innocent lives. No one else has to die who doesn’t deserve it.”

Delilah: “They’re going to go to Arklay. Sharon is probably already there.”

Connor said nothing.

Delilah: “Kyle is alive. Or, the thing they turned him into is.”

Connor still said nothing. Delilah looked into his face.

Delilah: “They are doing a good thing.”

Connor turned in his seat so he was facing her.

Delilah: “I said that it didn’t make sense that you would attack Sharon, that if you did it was the authorities job to handle it, not theirs. They disagreed. I left.”

Connor: “And is that what you think?”

Delilah sighed.

Delilah: “I don’t know what I think.

Connor: “You see it, don’t you? All the time you’ve been with them, they’ve been corrupting you. They drew you in by showing how you could help save the world. They appealed to your sense of justice, your good heart. And slowly but surely they brought you down this path, to where they could get you to kill whoever they told you needed it. To achieve their own ends, no longer the world’s. Until neither you nor them question what you’re doing.”

Delilah: “They would never do anything to hurt me.”

Connor: “But it’s not you that you’re worried about, is it?”

Delilah nodded, slowly. It was more than the innocents of the world, more than Connor, more than herself. She feared for the team itself. That their actions would bring an anti-mutant world against them.

She moved closer and leaned against him.

Delilah: “I want you to promise me you won’t try to kill Sharon again. Promise me we’ll find another way.”

He shifted in his seat, wincing a bit as his ribs reminded him of its injuries. He thought for a second, then nodded.

Connor: “I promise.”

<< The greatest lie the devil ever told was that he WASNT.>>

---------<< the ghostly face of the grandfather clock starts to fluxuate>>


<< rapid fire images of Delilah looking bewildered, the shadowed man standing behind her, then in front of her looking into her eyes. images of the six, arklay mansion. Alycia nearly dead, the team battered and bruised struggling to save their trusted ally and the final horrific show down between Kyle Kelly and the team before Silver Swan steps forward to do what only SHE, his mother, could do to save them and FREE him. and all the while...>>

He had had the sniper rifle trained on Sharon for a while now. His training gave him patience. Better to take too long than not enough time. Better to have to wait for another time than to give oneself away and be compromised. But he wouldn’t have to wait. He had all the time in the world. A perfect opportunity. This bird was a sitting duck, so to speak. He didn’t laugh.

He closed one eye, had Sharon’s vulnerable spot in her back perfectly in his crosshairs. He had learned from their earlier encounter you see. Not to get close enough that she would detect him. That physically he was no match for her. Exactly where a direct hit would kill her.

The semiautomatic rifle held special exploding rounds, designed to do as much internal damage as possible. This time, she wouldn’t get away from him. And none of her mutant friends would have time to use their hocus pocus on her. She would be dead before she hit the ground. And Alycia Barnett would be next, and however many of the rest he could take out before they found him. His own life didn’t really matter – taking out this threat, completing the mission, was all that mattered.

He slowly and silently let out his breath, stilled himself. And gently, oh so gently, he squeezed the trigger.

She had believed him when he promised her this was all over. She gave him the benefit of the doubt.

<< the greatest lie the devil ever told...was that he wasnt>>

Bishop turned, surprised, and – seeing that it was her - smiled.

Bishop: “I thought you’d left, darlin’.”

Delilah only shook her head in the negative and stared at him.

Bishop: “I know what I said but this needs to be done. She’s a monster, a murderer – all of them are. See how they treated you?”

Delilah still said nothing, nodding slowly now.

Bishop: “That’s a good girl – you get out of here and I’ll be right behind you. The scum’ll never know-“

This time she interrupted him. She held up one hand, palm facing Bishop.

“You have a right to remain silent.”

And she released a photon blast that would have fried a dozen or more G virus zombies

Echo: << You have right to remain Silent>>

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

<< the stranger in their midst was no more....another lie.>>

<< rapid fire images of an "anonymous package" being delivered to police, media and gov't officials. images of news papers, magazines, news shows, and people shouting, screaming about the mutant menace. The Six had been OUTED by Connor St. James, the last BITE in his horrid plan even after his death. Their lives as they knew it were OVER. >>

<< images of each of them in destress, running, fighting for their lives against sentinels. fire, blood, pain, destruction of illustra....forest, last stand Tri sentinel>>

<< as Haleigh, Alison, Sharon and Delilah got their wounded under ground, Haleigh immediately called upon Karen to help Nicolas who was the closest to death.>>

<< it was a horrible sight to see him in, but even as Sharon sealed the entrance behind them, they were STILL not safe!>>

<< as Haleigh laid Nicolas down for Karen to administer aid to, Alison stood with Sharon near the entrance.>>

we dont have time...we have to get out of here...it can FIND us where we are now...

Tri Sentinel: multiple target dna signatures registering, several meters below ground. this area is deemed a "safe house" for the renegade , "Silver Swan" and "The Six"...solution, broad scale decimation of area that reaches below ground. Two humans register including Barnett, Alycia Data indicates she is to be treated as hostile criminal, major security risk and dealt with accordingly.


<< and in a few moments, the entire area is ROCKED as a powerfull white hot blast of energy and radiation TEARS across the expanse, destroy trees, flora, ANYTHING in its path...the ground is TORN part and anything beneath that is exposed is VAPORIZED. the wave of energy charges for where the Six are....and REACHES THEM.>>

<< the area cracked and scoured...a crater where the six once hid, with residual traces of their dna...it seemed all was lost and reports of their deaths began to be broadcast to government officials and the media. the shocking story of Sharon Kelly's apparent resurrection and transformation into a mutate, the revelation that Dr. Karen Victoria was in fact a witch and that Alycia Barnett had been complicit to the activity of these mutants and metahumans...it was the stuff that "investigative journalism" was MADE for....but somehow in the midst of all this...what was also LOST was that these were PEOPLE who had risked their LIVES to save this world many times over.>>

<< their lives....all obliterated the MOMENT that Bishop's little "package" reached the hands and eyes of "the right people". would it have gone this way had Delilah not attempted to shield him from The Six? Could her actions have made a difference in the course of events? Would she regret her descision to choose HIM over her family?>>


<< and as death and destruction combined in one white hot flash...>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< the pieces of the puzzel...some scattered FAR ACROSS the time stream, NOW came together in one powerfull, DEEP, UNRELENTING manifestation of retrocognition that captivated Harbinger's astral form.>>

<< but as she knew better than anyone, EVERYTHING happens for a reason.>>

<< The puzzle came together, and had a clear face...a MAN.>>

<<FLASH>>

<< the haunting, mournfull bell toll of the clock sounds off loudly and the ghostly image of the clock SHATTERS as Alison's astral form is once more under her conscious control>>

<< the mansion's trembling subsided but the lights still flickered.>>

<< Zoom OUT of Alison's colbalt bllue eye, away from her face as her eyes SNAP open as she gasps once more, and FORCIBLY pulls awa from "Maxim">>