Pieces of a puzzle

[Bishop]

Didn't it ever occur to you that your..."employer" as you call her MIGHT HAVE BEEN OFF BASE given the fact that ALYCIA BARNETT had hired you to RESCUE THE KELLY FAMILY from the HELL known as Arklay Mansion BEFORE that? A MOTHER a FATHER and a LITTLE BOY whose lives had been perverted by MYSTECH!?

Bishop stayed calm even as Alison got agitated. He shook his head in the negative, and answered her honestly. That was all he could do at this point, really – if they were going to kill him, they would.

“The proof was there. Researched in excruciating detail. Photos. You all had killed innocents – been responsible for many deaths. It didn’t matter to me whether you were “nice” people – not back them. All that mattered was that you pay for the lives you’d taken.”

Alycia and Sharon were among your targets when you came after US. Given your interaction with THEM PRIOR to this "mission" that you claimed to have been duped into carrying out, I find it hard to believe that you would have COMPLETELY forgotten that in whatever time gap between then and the time this alleged woman "hired" you to come after US.

He raised a finger into the air and shook his head again.

“I never said I was duped into it. I said there is a threat out there to all of you that is not me. I wanted to take care of it myself but now…”

He put up his hands in a sort of shrug gesture.

“I thought that Sharon and Alycia needed to pay for their crimes – for the crimes I allowed them to commit by saving them from Arklay all those years ago. The rest of you weren’t even on my radar until I was sent after you. Three birds with one stone so to speak. I’m not trying to convince you that I’m innocent – by no means. But you need my help here. Let me try to make up for what I did to you all.”

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah’s emotions were running high. And this was really not the right time for a guilt trip.

“Morgan,”

She rubbed her tired eyes with her hand, and spoke softly.

“I ‘shielded’ a human man who was injured. HOW would I have known who he was. I’m sorry for not wanting to torture a complete stranger. Forgive me for trying to keep you all from killing someone we had no reason to. Last time I checked, being a ‘DICK’ wasn’t a capital offense.”

She took a few steps toward Morgan. Her voice showed a hint more annoyance now.

“And for that matter. The LAST TIME – when I left you had NO proof then yet were going to sit by and let Sharon murder him in cold blood. You wouldn’t listen to me when I said that stepping out of bounds with our powers was going to bite us in the ass – and guess what? It DID. How long can I expect to be punished for what Bishop did? How long am I supposed to apologize for it? Because if you don’t trust me, then let me leave, because I cannot take everyone treating me like I don’t know right from wrong. I KNOW right from wrong.”

She slumped down into a chair and put her head in her hands.

Morgan had asked about Hecate. Delilah started to laugh in the irony of it all.

“I asked Hecate to take away the guilt I felt for killing Bishop. She took it away alright – she removed the reason I felt guilty. She made him not dead anymore.”

She looked up into Morgan’s eyes.

“I guess it worked.”

 

[Rampage]

As they escorted him into the room for questioning, Nicolas was silent. DEATHLY silent.

He had no need to speak, the ladies were asking the questions. His job as to analyze the physical data coming from Maxim/Bishop at this time, and the guy was telling the absolute truth. The attributed timeline of his "appearing" cleared up more issues: 1) that he was not the source of the disturbances and 2) that THIS is what Hecate had decided to do to "help" Delilah.

“I never said I was duped into it. I said there is a threat out there to all of you that is not me. I wanted to take care of it myself but now…”

He put up his hands in a sort of shrug gesture.

“I thought that Sharon and Alycia needed to pay for their crimes – for the crimes I allowed them to commit by saving them from Arklay all those years ago. The rest of you weren’t even on my radar until I was sent after you. Three birds with one stone so to speak. I’m not trying to convince you that I’m innocent – by no means. But you need my help here. Let me try to make up for what I did to you all.”

Share the information you have with us...STOP simply alluding to us needing you...and let US decide if we keep you to help or send you back to live the rest of this life you have been allotted. NOW is not the time to play "I have a secret". Out with it!

Nicolas had been relatively even-tempered through this...but his eyes began to redden...telekinetic energy began to seep from them...as he began to get JUST a bit agitated. Haleigh would recognize this as a danger sign from the demigod...

 

[Bishop]

Bishop could respect Nicolas. He was straightforward at least, much like Bishop himself. He nodded.

“Her name is Bianca Ceasul. She’s some socialite that has more money than god. She hid her tracks VERY well – it took me a while to get to her name and then to make sure she was the top of the chain. I’ve gotten myself into her circle – for being a bore, Maxim had very good connections. I’ve found out what I can about her. The woman has no emotions, and she’s like the Terminator – she never stops until she gets what she wants. Over the past five years she’s been making a lot of top secret payments to research facilities across the world. I don’t know why she’s after you – there’s a safe in her study where the records from all the meetings with the research scientists are kept but I’ve not been able to crack it. And believe me, a year ago I’d have said there wasn’t a safe made I couldn’t open. She has something hidden in there she doesn’t want anyone to see. I was following her when my ship hit that storm – I don’t know where she was going but the trip was supposed to be top secret. It was definitely NOT a vacation – there’s something she’s trying to find and she’s been racking up the frequent flier miles trying to get it.”

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened as Maxim/Bishop spoke...Bianca Ceasul. He glanced at Haleigh, confident that the mutate was already scanning for info, including military mainframes. Once he finished, Nicolas waited an additional moment before speaking.

Where is this safe? I'd like a crack at it. And does this Bianca have any additional abilities that you are aware of?

 

[Bishop]

Maxim shook his head as he picked up a bottle of water that happened to be on the table, screwed off the cap and took a drink.

"Not that I'm aware of - HOWEVER. She's survived a lot of mysterious accidents over the years. I don't really believe anyone's THAT lucky. Something has to be up with her. She doesn't broadcast any abilities, though, that's for sure. Except the ability to be a major cunt."

He set the bottle down again.

"As for the safe - it's at her estate in Long Island. But brute force isn't going to cut it. I've never seen anything like it. And outside of it - her security is top of the line: systems AND personnel. It won't be easy. There is one way..."

He stopped. He hadn't really wanted to say that.

But at Nicolas' prompt, he reluctantly continued. There really wasn't any other way.

"Next week, Bianca is hosting a charity gala at her home. She doesn't know about Delilah. I don't want to put her in danger but...as the head of a charitable foundation I can get her on the guest list. And she's the one person I know who can beat the sensors on that safe."

 

[Black Widow]

Bishop: And I never lied.

"Oh REALLY? 'gosh, I dunno why you guys don't believe me, I'm just a regular guy trying to track down the woman who had my girlfriend killed.' THAT wasn't a total fabrication of LIES? Whatever-- just get to the part that's true."

Bishop sat down in a chair, Haleigh sat on the table directly to his left. Alison elected to stand. Bishop alleged that he didn't know how he got 'alive' again, and Alison loudly exhaled, looking like something was just dawning on her. Nicolas seemed to have realized something as well. Haleigh looked back at Alison, confused.

"What, what's with the huff? Did I miss something?"

Bishop: So anyway, I was somehow alive again. Dying changes you I guess.

Yes it does... Haleigh agreed thoughtfully, as Bishop went on about being back and trying to find his former employer. Alison challenged his logic from before he died, and he half defended it, continuing to explain why he did what he did to them. Nicolas, getting a little aggravated himself, 'encouraged' Bishop to come out with the big fat secret. Nic was getting more than a 'little' aggravated, Haleigh noticed.

"Nicolas."

They shared eye contact for a moment, and her expression said 'emotional outburst will accomplish nothing, so reign it in for now'. Bishop finally gave something Haleigh could USE, a name. Haleigh began the search. Bishop mentioned her behavior over the past five years, so Haleigh went back seven, and since this woman was after THEM, Haleigh compared the Six's timeline with Ceasul's. She did NOT like what she found.

Bishop: I don't know why she's after you - there's a safe in her study where the records from all the meetings with research scientists are kept but I've not been able to crack it.

Nicolas: Where is this safe? I'd like a crack at it.

Haleigh just smirked. A big metal box with secrets inside? HELLO!

Bishop: ...there's something she was trying to find and she's been racking up the frequent flyer miles trying to get it.

"The sword of anger."

Haleigh realized aloud, and she stood up and started pacing, because all the clues were falling into place. She was pretty sure she'd just figured out their poltergeist mystery.

"Bishop, HOW were you tracking Ceasul?"

She asked, as as she awaited the answer, she started filling Alison and Nicolas in on what she'd discovered. A flatscreen tv appeared on the wall, displaying Ceasul's passport and flashing some other information as Haleigh mentioned it.

"Bianca Ceasul, of New York. Lived as a regular trust fund baby until.... right around the time of the Inferno Incident. Then her spending and traveling habits changed significantly. Lots of mysterious money transfers that weren't going out previously. Travel destinations were less... exotic, and more just plain weird."

Bishop: As for the safe - it's at her estate in Long Island. But brute force isn't going to cut it. I've never seen anything like it. And outside of it - her security is top of the line: systems AND personnel. It won't be easy. There is one way... [lengthy pause] Next week, Bianca is hosting a charity gala at her home. She doesn't know about Delilah. I don't want to put her in danger but...as the head of a charitable foundation I can get her on the guest list. And she's the one person I know who can beat the sensors on that safe.

"Oh fucking hell no. We're not sending Delilah in there alone, just because you don't know anyone who can get past security systems and personnel. And even if I did NOT exist as the answer to all technical support questions ON PLANET EARTH, if Bianca was HERE for a week, moving shit around and annoying the piss out of everyone and generally being a creeper of the highest order, then she HAD to have seen Delilah, and will know that she's with us. BESIDES ALL THAT, we may not even NEED what's in the safe. If what I suspect is right, if she has the sword of anger, if she's after us for something that happened during the Inferno that we neglected to fix afterwards, then she just needs to be taken care of. Permanently. [shrugging] We can look in the safe afterwards to satisfy our curiosity."

 

[Harbinger]

the mansion- questions and answers

:: Harbinger pursed her lips in anger as she glared at Bishop. He DARED to respond the way he did!?::

"Killed innocents?" You arrogant WORM of a man. The work WE do...the choices we've been FORCED to make are what KEEP th is world INTACT and spinning even as YOU sit here. We've endangered our lives for people like YOU and you DARE to sit here and tell me that you had to "make us pay?!"

Alycia was HUMAN just like YOU, only the difference between you and SHE is that SHE doesnt decide to become "judge jury and executioner" for the highest bidder. She stood by us as a FRIEND and an ally and had more courage and honor than you could EVER hope to display.

Sharon had her life RIPPED APART by Mystech. Spent YEARS fighting for mutant rights as a senator only to DIE at the hands of Master Mold and be resurrected as the INSANE Silver Swan. What happened to her up to that moment...it wasnt her fault! The Six did the best they could to contain her and rehabilitate her.

If you were as INFORMED as you thought you were, you would have seen MORE than what you were told. You would have realized that we don't just go around killing people capriciously. and if that was your motivation, why didnt you go after MALICE or the Hellfire Club?

:: Alison didnt believe for a moment that he was driven by some pure conviction. He was a bigot, a mutant hater and the fact that he was apparently hired by someone who ALSO had a major chip on their shoulder against the Six was all the validation he needed to go after them the way he did.::

"Killing innocents..." well if things go that way NOW in this room, that certainly wont apply to YOU now will it? because with all the blood on YOUR hands, YOUR innocence is the ONLY thing about you that STAYED dead, long BEFORE Delilah did the world a FAVOR by blasting you into oblivion!

:: Nicolas also shows signs of increasing agitation with this man at this point. The man was infuriating no matter WHAT form he wore.::

:: Haleigh kept things on the right path, and when Alison loudly exhaled, looking like something had just occurred to her. At this moment, Bishop has suggested He and DELILAH go on a recon mission, attending a gala that Bianca is hosting in NYC. Haleigh immediately objects and Alison agrees with her. ALison took this moment to subject Bishop to TEMPORAL STASIS, gesturing a'la Piper Halliwell as she "froze" him then and there::

:: The screen broadcasts information Haleigh was able to immediately gather regarding this woman, Bianca. and what connection she might have to the Six, what reason she might have for coming after them.::

I...just realized that HECATE is the reason Bishop is alive.

Delilah cried out to her and Athena to "Take away the guilt!" to "Take away the burden of guilt she had over HER KILLING BISHOP."

Ororo would NOT entertain her on that level but also could not counsel Delilah, try as she may. To give Delilah a CHANCE to recover and LIVE...not just be ALIVE again, Ororo sent her to Athena and Hecate. Hecate indulged her, in a most LITERAL way apparently. But where the GUILT ends...OTHER emotions rush in to fill the void it seems.

:: Alison paces back and forth a bit. thinking about Bianca, the revelation that SHE clearly was the poltergiest that had annoyed and alluded them for weeks::

There's something about Bianca. Something ELSE beside her apparent connection to the Six via the Inferno.

Her NAME...I've SEEN IT in one of Barbara Minerva's journal's! I need to get that information before anything else happens...

It would seem that Bianca, given that her connection to the Six STARTS with the Inferno, is out for revenge against Spellbinder. She may have other specific goals in mind as well given her extensive traveling but as a tactician, I would NOT suggest we go along with Bishop's idea just yet. We need to do our OWN research on her first. She's clearly capable of MORE than any MERE normal baseline human.

and as for Delilah going ANYWHERE with Bishop? That will be something Spellbinder and the rest of YOU will have to come to an agreement on. of course I don't like it...but as I am not on the active roster...there's only so much i can say about it.

:: signaling Haleigh and Nicolas to make sure they are EXACTLY where and the way they were at the moment she had "frozen" Bishop, she releases Bishop from temporal stasis.::

IF everything you're saying is correct, and she has the sword of anger, if she was able teo ALLUDE ME , a PRECOG -not to mention all the other sensory abilities of the six- and evade the systems and the very nature of this MANSION to get it...then whatever she was BEFORE the Inferno...something about her has CHANGED between then and now. She has one of the deadliest weapons housed in the vault. a weapon that would be of DEADLY consequence to Spellbinder.

:: she didnt reveal in front of Bishop that the sword's FULL power couldnt be activated by anyone other than its original owner, Black, but the sword itself was still deadly to Spellbinder even by mere touch. Haleigh and Nicolas knew that but she wasnt going to give Bishop any more info than she felt hd deserved.::


You will remain here while we discuss this in private.

:: Alison, Haleigh and Nicolas leave him and upon their exit, a FORCEFIELD seals the entrance to the room just outside the double doors. there are no windows so there's no possible exit and he's being monitored on a variety of levels. he's left to sit there and ponder his near future while the trio makes theire way to Morgan, Ava and Delilah.::

If what he's saying is true...time is of the essence. But before you all choose whether or not to endorse the idea of Delilah going ANYWHERE with him, I need to gather more information on Bianca. NOW I can! But in the mean time...the RIFT that once formed betwen Delilah and Morgan over Bishop is opening AGAIN. We've GOT to fix that.

 

[Spellbinder]

The Great Room

“Morgan,”

She rubbed her tired eyes with her hand, and spoke softly.

“I ‘shielded’ a human man who was injured. HOW would I have known who he was. I’m sorry for not wanting to torture a complete stranger. Forgive me for trying to keep you all from killing someone we had no reason to. Last time I checked, being a ‘DICK’ wasn’t a capital offense.”

I'm not HOLDING THAT << wanting to shield the man as he FIRST appeared here at Minerva's>> against you.

<< Morgan replied quickly as she stood up.>>

But it's like you dont understand how WE feel...where WE are! Look at ALL we've been through! Even IF this miserable flatscan hadnt turned out to be the mutant hating murdering bigot BISHOP, it was STILL HIGHLY unusual if not SUSPECT that a NORMAL human would be lost at SEA just MILES off THIS island of all places. This island CAN'T be found by normal means. You know that!

Alison has ALOT to protect here and WE as a team don't have the LUXURY of trusting strangers who suddenly appear. Not anymore.

He LIED about what he was doing here, about who he WAS, KNOWING who WE were!

She took a few steps toward Morgan. Her voice showed a hint more annoyance now.

“And for that matter. The LAST TIME – when I left you had NO proof then yet were going to sit by and let Sharon murder him in cold blood. You wouldn’t listen to me when I said that stepping out of bounds with our powers was going to bite us in the ass – and guess what? It DID. How long can I expect to be punished for what Bishop did? How long am I supposed to apologize for it? Because if you don’t trust me, then let me leave, because I cannot take everyone treating me like I don’t know right from wrong. I KNOW right from wrong.”

...how...DARE YOU!?

<< Chimes sound off as Morgan exclaims with angered offense and Persephone steps between them.>>

It's like YOU dont REMEMBER the same thing the REST of us do! it's like you were OKAY with being CRUCIFIED on a cross HE MADE FOR US.

That MAN was a CLEAR and PRESENT DANGER. We didnt NEED a PRECOG to see that! STEVIE WONDER couldve seen that. He STALKED and tried to MURDER Sharon in BROAD DAYLIGHT and very nearly succeeded! HOW MANY OTHER FLATSCANS do you know capable of coming CLOSE to doing that to a mutate with HER kind of power?

When ALISON revealed who he was, what he was doing, THAT shouldve been enough for you. Any OTHER time you would have believed and trusted her visions.

You're DAMN RIGHT I wouldnt listen to you! Not when it came to HIM, not when it came to the FACT of what he wanted to do and how far he was willing to go, because I choose to protect MY FAMILY first and foremost EVERYTIME! I dont PICK A MAN OVER MY FAMILY!

<< Morgan SCREAMED>>

Nor would i SELL OUT my fellow mutants and metahumans over some misguided, self loathing, persecution complex!

<< Morgan slams her hand down on an end table near the couch she was once sitting on...smashing it.>>

YOU know the difference between RIGHT AND WRONG? Well how about THIS! "RIGHT" is taking care of FAMILY FIRST! "RIGHT" is risking your life TIME AND AGAIN for people who HATE you simply because you're DIFFERENT.

"WRONG" is defending a man who wants to see YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DEAD, not to mention the REST of the "mutant scum". WRONG is when the man you BLINDLY defend LIES to you TIME AND AGAIN which is what HE did to YOU!

....

<< morgan stops...>>

See....I can't do this. I CAN'T! ALL i wanted to do was to BE there for you and keep you SAFE! I PROMISED I wouldnt let what happened to you two months ago happen AGAIN but NOW you're just...SPITTING on me and my feelings about this. You DARE to suggest I'm marginalizing you or some other BULLSHIT. OBVIOUSLY friendship and loyalty mean NOTHING to you when it comes to a MAN. THIS man!

<< She turns her back and begins making her way toward the double doors of the Great Room. She refuses to say anything else. she simply decides to leave.>>

 

[Rampage]

Bishop continues...and then posits a scheme by which he and Delilah go to a party hosted by Bianca to crack this safe. Nicolas nearly laughed...ballsy attempt by this guy to get Delilah alone. He shook his head as Alison spoke...freezing him while they discussed what hey had learned from him combined with what they knew already. He shook his head again as Maxim/Bishop was unfrozen

IF everything you're saying is correct, and she has the sword of anger, if she was able teo ALLUDE ME , a PRECOG -not to mention all the other sensory abilities of the six- and evade the systems and the very nature of this MANSION to get it...then whatever she was BEFORE the Inferno...something about her has CHANGED between then and now. She has one of the deadliest weapons housed in the vault. a weapon that would be of DEADLY consequence to Spellbinder.

:: she didnt reveal in front of Bishop that the sword's FULL power couldnt be activated by anyone other than its original owner, Black, but the sword itself was still deadly to Spellbinder even by mere touch. Haleigh and Nicolas knew that but she wasnt going to give Bishop any more info than she felt hd deserved.::


You will remain here while we discuss this in private.

:: Alison, Haleigh and Nicolas leave him and upon their exit, a FORCEFIELD seals the entrance to the room just outside the double doors. there are no windows so there's no possible exit and he's being monitored on a variety of levels. he's left to sit there and ponder his near future while the trio makes theire way to Morgan, Ava and Delilah.::

If what he's saying is true...time is of the essence. But before you all choose whether or not to endorse the idea of Delilah going ANYWHERE with him, I need to gather more information on Bianca. NOW I can! But in the mean time...the RIFT that once formed betwen Delilah and Morgan over Bishop is opening AGAIN. We've GOT to fix that.

Nicolas nodded as they all heard raised voices, then a crash before they saw Morgan walk briskly out of the Great Room. Nicolas sighed...this was not going to be easy.

 

[Bishop]

"Oh REALLY? 'gosh, I dunno why you guys don't believe me, I'm just a regular guy trying to track down the woman who had my girlfriend killed.' THAT wasn't a total fabrication of LIES?"

Maxim smiled at her, slightly amused.

“I never said Bianca killed my girlfriend – I said she destroyed her life. And she did. You’ve said so yourself.”

His smile fell.

“Though from what I heard back there, Delilah did, in fact, die.”

He exhaled sharply.

“I didn’t want her to get another chance at all of you – when Delilah might get caught in the crossfire. I knew if I told you who I was really following you would never let it go. And then Delilah will be guilty by association.”

"Bishop, HOW were you tracking Ceasul?"

He gave a half laugh.

“The old fashioned way. Like I said, I’ve gotten close to her. I followed her movements. I’ve had lots of practice tracking people, as you know.”

"Oh fucking hell no. We're not sending Delilah in there alone, just because you don't know anyone who can get past security systems and personnel. And even if I did NOT exist as the answer to all technical support questions ON PLANET EARTH, if Bianca was HERE for a week, moving shit around and annoying the piss out of everyone and generally being a creeper of the highest order, then she HAD to have seen Delilah, and will know that she's with us. “

Bishop sighed, slightly exasperated.

“Haleigh. If it were JUST security systems I’d already have what was in that safe. This is special. It’s not the kind of thing you use to keep spare cash and your jewelry in. A living person cannot get anywhere NEAR that safe without setting it off. We need Delilah’s powers to reroute the laser sensors. For fuck’s sake, if I could send YOU in there instead of her, don’t you think I would?”

He made eye contact with Nicolas. He was the logical one, Bishop was sure, and also the most protective. He hoped at least HE would understand.

“From what I’ve heard, Delilah hasn’t been spending much time out of her room these days. And she won’t be alone. I would be with her. If she gets made, I’d pull her out immediately.”

Alison lit into him, but it didn’t bother him, because for the most part she was right.

“Back then I saw everything in black and white, and that’s not how the world works. I was wrong about everything, and I know that now. That’s why it was so important to me to try and fix this. Alison, I don’t live in your world. You are the first mutants I’ve ever come into contact with. I spent my time going after mostly career criminals, mafia and drug dealers – people like those who killed my wife and children. But I saw what happened in that cathedral in New York City and all I saw was the fact that I had kept the person who did that alive. I didn’t know the reasons behind it.”

He stood up slowly.

“I am not innocent, by no means. I am a murderer, and I WILL burn in hell for it. But there are people out there who need to be punished for what they’ve done – done to innocent people and families who didn’t deserve what these criminals did to them for their own greed. Someone needs to do what the law cannot. Delilah disagrees with me, but I think you’re the type of person who does what needs to be done even if it’s not the ‘right’ thing. I was wrong about you and your team, but that doesn’t change what happened, and I know that. But as god as my witness, I will not allow anything to happen to Delilah as long as I live. People like her are the reason we sacrifice our souls to do what we do.”

The others decided to go off and discuss him. They used the same trick with the forcefield on the door again.

He looked around the room and then sat down heavily into the chair.

"Well this is just great."

 

[Persephone]

So much for a drink calming their nerves. Morgan and Delilah began to fight--badly. The type of fight that ended friendships. Morgan resented Delilah picking Bishop over them, Delilah resented Morgan for not trusting her. Ava resented being stuck in the room with the both of them. Sighing, she put her empty glass down on the coffee table in front of her.

"Delilah...Morgan, calm down."

But her words fell on deaf ears. Morgan began to SCREAM at Delilah to the point where Ava literally had to step in between them.

"Morgan, stop!"

Placing her hands on Morgan's shoulders offensively as she heard the witch's signature chimes, the goddess knew nothing good was going to come of this. She had snapped, unleashing every pent up emotion involving the Bishop situation onto Delilah. Now Ava didn't like Bishop, and she was obviously concerned that Delilah might get tangled in his web of deceit again, but she also trusted Delilah. As Morgan began to walk away, heading for the Great Room doors, Ava quickly moved forward and slammed the door shut just as Morgan was about to pull it open far enough for her to slip out.

"Okay, that's enough! The both of you!"

Placing her back against the Great Room doors, Ava KNEW Morgan could easily leave via stepping disc, but she hoped the witch would entertain her for a few minutes while she put her two cents in.

"Now I couldn't get a damn word in edge wise before, so you're going to hear me out now! The two of you are as close to sisters as anyone can be. You GREW UP together. You fight along side each other. You LOVE each other. So don't you DARE give up on each other now, do you understand me? Bishop is one person! He is a deceitful, lying, two faced, asshole who you [Delilah] had the unfortunate luck of falling in love with. But you REALIZED your mistakes after you made them. [looking at Morgan] She is NOT to blame for this. She cannot be blamed for who she falls in love with, she can only be judged on her actions. And she KILLED him to protect us and suffered for it later by taking her OWN LIFE. The fact that Delilah tried to help Maxim in the beginning has NOTHING to do with her wanting to help him now that it's revealed that he's Bishop. You need to let go of this resentment you have towards her and realize that she HAS YOUR BACK! [looking at Delilah now] And you need to stop acting like we aren't aware of what YOU are capable of! We KNOW how strong you are--powers and morality. But that doesn't mean we aren't allowed to be fearful for your safety. BOTH of you need to take a damn step BACK, take a BREATH, and realize that this fighting isn't helping ANYTHING. It's only solidifying what Bishop did before! We ARE a family, then AND now. Do not give him the power to tear you two apart!"

 

[Black Widow]

Bishop: I never said Bianca killed my girlfriend – I said she destroyed her life. And she did. You’ve said so yourself.

"Oh, and the part where the man Bianca hired to DO the job was actually YOU, did that just slip your mind?? Because I call that a lie of omission, smartass. And I'd wipe that smile off your face if I were you, because guess what?"

Bishop: Though from what I heard back there, Delilah did, in fact, die.

"That's RIGHT. She took her own life. She drowned herself for a miserable WRETCH named Connor St. James, who lied to her and told her that he wouldn't hurt the ones she loved, and then tried to do it anyway. You betrayed her and broke her heart and the WORST of it is, you never even deserved her in the first place, you filthy fucking flunky."

Bishop: Haleigh. If it were JUST security systems I’d already have what was in that safe. This is special. It’s not the kind of thing you use to keep spare cash and your jewelry in. A living person cannot get anywhere NEAR that safe without setting it off.

[stubbornly] "Well good thing I'm already DEAD."

Bishop: We need Delilah’s powers to reroute the laser sensors. For fuck’s sake, if I could send YOU in there instead of her, don’t you think I would? From what I've heard,Delilah hasn't been spending much time out of her room these days. And she won't be alone. I would be with her. If she gets made, I'd pull her out immediately.

"Oh! Oh, YOU'LL be there? well why didn't you say that in the first place? I feel SOOOOO much better now that I know YOU'LL BE THERE TO PROTECT HER."

She replied, with the most biting sarcasm ever heard. Alison let him really have it, and Haleigh pretty much agreed with her. He tried to admit his faults and defend his actions, but Haleigh rolled her eyes and held up a hand to stop him from wasting his breath.

"Oh, don't even bother. That card you're playing right now, where you acknowledge that you're heinous, but then explain why really, you're not that bad? I invented that shit. So why don't you save it for someone who cares, because I can tell you right now, nobody in this room gives a flying fuck if you regret what you did. Whether or not you thought you were justified in doing it THEN doesn't matter. We still suffered. SHE still suffered. You admitting that you were wrong doesn't erase that, or make it all better. Fuck YOU and your high horse for thinking you had any right to judge us or our actions without even giving us the chance to tell our side of the story. But it's a moot point. You DID it, you're awful, it's over now."

Bishop: I am not innocent, by no means. I am a murderer, and I WILL burn in hell for it. But there are people out there who need to be punished for what they’ve done – done to innocent people and families who didn’t deserve what these criminals did to them for their own greed. Someone needs to do what the law cannot. Delilah disagrees with me, but I think you’re the type of person who does what needs to be done even if it’s not the ‘right’ thing. I was wrong about you and your team, but that doesn’t change what happened, and I know that. But as god as my witness, I will not allow anything to happen to Delilah as long as I live. People like her are the reason we sacrifice our souls to do what we do.

"Well now, that's about the smartest thing you've ever fucking said. [slapping him on the back roughly] Hooray for progress."

Alison froze him so they could have a private sidebar without actually leaving.

Alison: I...just realized that HECATE is the reason Bishop is alive. Delilah cried out to her and Athena to "Take away the guilt!" to "Take away the burden of guilt she had over HER KILLING BISHOP."

"Well wasn't that clever of her."

Haleigh deadpanned, as Alison said more about Bianca and needing to look in Barbara's journals.

Alison: She's clearly capable of MORE than any MERE normal baseline human.

"That she got by ALL of us and your overkill security measures, got in and out of the vault with a priceless, lethal artifact and then left again, with us here standing around like the seven STOOGES? Yeah, I'd say she's SOME kind of special."

Alison unfroze Bishop, but they left him there, sealing him in so they could go confer with the others. No sooner did they start towards the great room than they heard Morgan shouting.

Alison: If what he's saying is true...time is of the essence. But before you all choose whether or not to endorse the idea of Delilah going ANYWHERE with him, I need to gather more information on Bianca. NOW I can! But in the mean time...the RIFT that once formed betwen Delilah and Morgan over Bishop is opening AGAIN. We've GOT to fix that.

[sighing] "How did I become the de facto mediator of the group lately?"

But as they let themselves into the great room, Ava had taken the initiative, and was saying pretty much everything that Haleigh would have said if SHE had intervened.... so Haleigh crossed her arms and leaned back a bit, affecting a 'cool' demeanor. Then, as Ava finished up, delivering her last line: 'We ARE a family, then AND now. Do not give him the power to tear you two apart!', Haleigh added:

"Word."

She purred, then gave a lopsided smile, trying to lighten the mood.

 

[Harbinger]

The great room

:: Alison, who could hardly appreciate humour most times in general, ESPECIALLY didnt receive it well now as Haleigh quipped, while they heard Morgan shouting, something being smashed and then Ava refereeing.::

You should be THANKFULL for the progress, Haleigh. No one should WANT to spend their entire time in a group unit as the PAIN IN THE ASS!

:: she paused as the door suddenly opened, then CLOSED. Ava was trying appeal to Morgan not to leave. a few moments, and Alison enters with Haleigh and Nicolas as Ava delivered a firm but FAIR admonishing to both Morgan and Delilah.::

:: Alison walks over to Morgan and places a hand on her back to reassure her that they'd get through this and make sense of it.::

:: Haleigh once again tries to lighten the mood. Alison looks up at the ceiling rolling her eyes.::

Alright....

:: she looks among the three women they just joined.::

the flatscan has provided information that has at this point been bared out to be accurate AND relevant. he's in containment right now until we discuss this among ourselves.

:: she looks at Morgan.::

I know you're upset. I am too. I HATE that man. He's a piece of garbage and nothing can excuse what HE did. Not to DELILAH, not to US. NOTHING can change the fact that we LOST her to the ocean because of HIM.

Hecate obliged Delilah, "taking away the guilt" and "taking away the distress she had over KILLING Bishop", in a most LITERAL way. We know Hecate isnt out to HARM us but she does things HER OWN way. That has been the case since the beginning.

Like it or not, and i don't, he's here. but the UPSIDE to that is that at least it's no longer CRIPPLING Delilah.

Unfortunately, killing him at THIS moment would be terribly...

:: she hated that she had to acknowledge it::

unjust. he doesnt have any ability to harm us like he did before and IF he tried, THEN his life would be forefeight and THIS TIME it would be someone ELSE that deals with him as he deserves.

:: she looks at Morgan::

Don't misunderstand me. I side with YOU on this piece of garbage. I HATE him for what he did. but he's here now and i can CLEARLY "see" again.

there is something we CAN do now and that is take this time to get ourselves together and stand as a UNITED FRONT. Those who do not REMEMBER and KNOW the past are DOOMED to repeat it, and I should know...being a precog.

we have a situation before us, and ...thanks to some honest answers [and a lot of needless extra lip service] from Bishop, we've been able to frame things. we now know WHO was responsible for the disturbances in the mansion and the massive security breach in the vault.

This WOMAN has a connection to us, starting from the time of the Inferno, and she was here. She stole the Sword of Anger, which means she may be out to settle a score with Spellbinder.

Bishop suggested that he and Delilah should infiltrate her upcoming gala, which is in new york city.

I think its absurd to trust HIS idea on how to deal with this, let alone WORK with him and I personally DONT like the idea of him being alone with Delilah, but as I told Nicolas and Haleigh...thats going to be something the TEAM has to discuss...

:: looking at Morgan.:: that INCLUDES Delilah.

WE need to gather our own information on this woman FIRST.

I have SEEN the name of the woman, Bianca Ceasul in one of Barbara's journals! I glossed over it because at that time I didnt think it possible that the disturbances in the mansion were being caused by someone who should be a normal baseline human! now that its become apparent to me, this journal will shed some light on her, along with haleigh accessing any data mainframe on the globe with information on her up to and after the inferno.

once we have a better idea of what this woman is doing and what she's capable of, then a plan of action can be made.

Bishop can be permanently detained in one of the holding cells until this is resolved. and I'll make CERTAIN my guards dont fall for any of his dimestore tricks.

 

[Black Widow]

Alison: You should be THANKFULL for the progress, Haleigh. No one should WANT to spend their entire time in a group unit as the PAIN IN THE ASS!

"Mmm, perhaps. But then, everyone knew what to expect when I was the pain in the ass, and they reacted by drawing closer in predictable alliances. We did quite well handling our internal problems. NOW we've got lifelong friends fighting and the stability of our family seems balanced on a swordtip atop a precipice. Is that what progress has gotten us?"

She replied thoughtfully, as they stepped into the great room. Her attempt at levity went over about as well as a gallon of water thrown at a three alarm fire.

Alison: Alright....the flatscan has provided information that has at this point been bared out to be accurate AND relevant. he's in containment right now until we discuss this among ourselves.

Haleigh chuckled silently. Hehe, flatscan. She mused, as Alison reasoned with Morgan further.

Alison: we have a situation before us, and ...thanks to some honest answers [and a lot of needless extra lip service] from Bishop, we've been able to frame things. we now know WHO was responsible for the disturbances in the mansion and the massive security breach in the vault. This WOMAN has a connection to us, starting from the time of the Inferno, and she was here. She stole the Sword of Anger, which means she may be out to settle a score with Spellbinder. Bishop suggested that he and Delilah should infiltrate her upcoming gala, which is in new york city. I think its absurd to trust HIS idea on how to deal with this, let alone WORK with him and I personally DONT like the idea of him being alone with Delilah, but as I told Nicolas and Haleigh...thats going to be something the TEAM has to discuss... that INCLUDES Delilah.

"I don't like this very much more than Alison does... I'm kind of partial to just knocking on her door and killing her ass dead when she answers. HOWEVER.... I realize that some prudence might be in order. It.... might be advisable to discover what she knows about US, as well as finding out what we can about HER. And if her safe is as heavily guarded as Bishop claims... there must be something in it that is extremely valuable. According to him, it's where she keeps all the research she's been compiling."

 

[Persephone]

She wasn't sure if her words had fallen on deaf ears because before Morgan or Delilah could say anything the rest of the six showed up. Alison and Haleigh clued the trio of girls in on what was going on with Bishop. So there's another psycho woman out looking for revenge. Perfect. What was even worse is that Barbara knew of Bianca and even wrote about her in hr journals.

"Barbara wasn't one to simply take in a nomad or a stranger. She must have felt a connection with Bianca or felt inclined to help her. Either way, if Bianca is a super like Bishop suggests and Barbara knew this, odds are she allowed her to stay here and TRAINED her. Which is probably how she knew where the Sword of Anger was."

Alison: Bishop suggested that he and Delilah should infiltrate her upcoming gala, which is in new york city. I think its absurd to trust HIS idea on how to deal with this, let alone WORK with him and I personally DONT like the idea of him being alone with Delilah, but as I told Nicolas and Haleigh...thats going to be something the TEAM has to discuss... that INCLUDES Delilah.

Haleigh: "I don't like this very much more than Alison does... I'm kind of partial to just knocking on her door and killing her ass dead when she answers. HOWEVER.... I realize that some prudence might be in order. It.... might be advisable to discover what she knows about US, as well as finding out what we can about HER. And if her safe is as heavily guarded as Bishop claims... there must be something in it that is extremely valuable. According to him, it's where she keeps all the research she's been compiling."

"If Bianca was the mysterious entity that was causing us trouble for the past few weeks, she would know what Delilah looks like--sending her in would be a stupid and risky move on our part. HOWEVER...I agree with Haleigh. We can't simply neglect the fact that there's something pretty damn valuable in that safe for her to be taking such drastic precautions to conceal it. Perhaps we can meet in the middle? We have a witch on our side after all....[looking to Morgan] Can we do a glamouring spell, Morgan? Change not only what Delilah looks like, but what all of us look like as well? That way--as much as I hate to involve him--Bishop can escort Delilah to the party and show her where the safe is so she can open it, and we will all be there to back her up if it all goes south."

 

[MorningStar]

You DARE to suggest I'm marginalizing you or some other BULLSHIT. OBVIOUSLY friendship and loyalty mean NOTHING to you when it comes to a MAN.

Delilah recoiled as if Morgan had slapped her. She was grasping for something to shoot back at her when Morgan walked towards the door before Ava stopped her. Delilah crossed her arms over her chest. Alison, Haleigh and Nicolas arrived then, breaking the tension.

I know you're upset. I am too. I HATE that man. He's a piece of garbage and nothing can excuse what HE did. Not to DELILAH, not to US. NOTHING can change the fact that we LOST her to the ocean because of HIM.

Delilah looked away as Alison spoke, as if people WEREN’T talking about her like she wasn’t there.

Can we do a glamouring spell, Morgan? Change not only what Delilah looks like, but what all of us look like as well? That way--as much as I hate to involve him--Bishop can escort Delilah to the party and show her where the safe is so she can open it, and we will all be there to back her up if it all goes south."

Delilah shook her head and turned back around.

“That party is going to have some major security. There is no way we can ALL get in there unnoticed. If he can get me on the guest list through Archangel – even if she does know who I am – it’s not like she can attack me in front of all those people. I’ll slip in and slip out before she knows I’ve been there.”

 

[Black Widow]

Ava: Change not only what Delilah looks like, but what all of us look like as well? That way--as much as I hate to involve him--Bishop can escort Delilah to the party and show her where the safe is so she can open it, and we will all be there to back her up if it all goes south.

"Oh, that's a good idea. Make me look like..... Megan Fox."

She smirked, reclining into an armchair, satisfied that Ava was going to help her change the subject. Plus, this way, they ALL got to be at the party. Delilah had a good point, though:

Delilah: That party is going to have some major security. There is no way we can ALL get in there unnoticed.

"Mm... that's true. We ARE a group of rather conspicuous size."

She conceded, her brow tensing slightly as she considered viable alternatives. She ran a quick scan and checked distances.

"Well... the rest of us could set up at my place in East Hampton. It's on the beach, at the mouth of Georgica Cove. Bianca's place is over in a little hamlet called Wainscott-- here [manifesting an ipad with a satellite picture to show them]-- in the wooded area on the other side of the lagoon. Not really good line of sight because of the forest, and I think that's Steven Spielberg's place in between, but it can't be more than a couple of statute miles apart. Small fucking world, right? So anyways... Once Delilah gets past any scanners they may have at the door, I can wiretap her and equip her with a camera small enough to go undetected by the naked eye. That way, we can be there with her.... without really being there at all. We can comfortably monitor the situation from afar, and the NANOSECOND that something goes wrong, we can respond. With our collective powers, there's really no reason we have to hold her hand every step of the way. I don't like Bishop either, but if there was ever a time that I believed every word that came out of his mouth, it was when he said he'd never let anything happen to Delilah. [casually looking over to Delilah] And besides, it's not like you're a defenseless damsel in distress, right?"

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas heard the commotion and followed the others into the Great Room for the next drama episode. he did not speak because he knew that his opinion would both be unwelcome by Delilah (and likely the rest of them) and unhelpful here.

He liked Delilah. Loved her. Wanted her to be OK. Knew that Morgan NEEDED her friendship.

But in the end, she was sanctimonious and judgmental and, after the last shitty year by her, HARDLY had room to talk lest she also be hypocritical. Nicolas found it astounding that after a week of fucking some guy she betrayed the team and then, after FINALLY getting it right (killing him), which was too late for their lives in any case, she staggered around feeling guilty for finally having the proper loyalty to the Six, only to kill herself. And it STILL mildly pissed him off that the others fell over each other to forgive her even though she was barely sorry and for the wrong shit (killing him).

Guiding light?! Where was the light in that?! In Nioclas' mind, suicide was cowardice, pure and simple. Nicolas knew he had fucked up in the past, that he was no saint. But he resolved to work on himself rather than sashay into a watery grave. And after doing that, what qualified her to be ANYONE'S light or inspiration? And of COURSE he did not trust her, to be honest. He trusted her in many things, but he was not nearly as gung-ho as the rest of them to trust her with the "penis-that-made-her-turn-her-back-on-them-all".

So he stood back and waited for them to decide what to do. He would provide whatever support was needed. Haleigh came up with the best idea.

"Well... the rest of us could set up at my place in East Hampton. It's on the beach, at the mouth of Georgica Cove. Bianca's place is over in a little hamlet called Wainscott-- here [manifesting an ipad with a satellite picture to show them]-- in the wooded area on the other side of the lagoon. Not really good line of sight because of the forest, and I think that's Steven Spielberg's place in between, but it can't be more than a couple of statute miles apart. Small fucking world, right? So anyways... Once Delilah gets past any scanners they may have at the door, I can wiretap her and equip her with a camera small enough to go undetected by the naked eye. That way, we can be there with her.... without really being there at all. We can comfortably monitor the situation from afar, and the NANOSECOND that something goes wrong, we can respond. With our collective powers, there's really no reason we have to hold her hand every step of the way. I don't like Bishop either, but if there was ever a time that I believed every word that came out of his mouth, it was when he said he'd never let anything happen to Delilah. [casually looking over to Delilah] And besides, it's not like you're a defenseless damsel in distress, right?"

In addition, I have a plaything we can use to "party" in that lagoon. Gets us even closer to the possible action if you wish.

 

[Persephone]

Shaking her head.

"I understand Delilah is fully capable of handling this herself, but you of all people [Haleigh] should know that you don't send your man in without backup. And Bishop is NOT backup. We should have at least ONE of us in there with her and the rest back at your estate. We can easily hack into the party list and choose someone who has already RSVPed. Cameron can telepathically knock them out and Morgan can glamour one of us to look like them."

Ava knew what Haleigh was trying to do--show Delilah that they trusted her and that they didn't think she was incapable of taking care of herself. But trying to proove that in a situation like this was reckless and irresponsible. In any other situation Haleigh wouldn't suggest this.

Glancing at Nicolas, for some reason Ava got the inclination that HE felt the same way as well. He was awfully quiet throughout the entire meeting which only meant that he either had A LOT to say but didn't want to piss anyone off, OR he agreed with everything being said. But judging from the look on his face, it was definitely not the latter.

"With Bishop leading us in this, we can't take any unnecessary chances. He's already fucked us over once."