Shadows and Skulls

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"I never could understand her appeal..."

Helena's voice rang out causing Karen to turn and see the metamorph leaning against the door way with her one arm across her torso while the other was propped on it, allowing her to get a good look at her finely manicured red nails.

"The looks of her mother and the personality of her father. Morgan was doomed from the start.....poor child."

Helena's lips faintly revealed a smirk as she pushed her weight off the door frame and proceeded to walk into Karen's chambers. It was no secret that Helena and Karen worked together ONLY for strategic purposes. Besides that they loathed one another....in fact, before they even became the sisterhood, Karen and Helena had a long standing rivalry which dated back YEARS. One would try to kill the other and visa versa. Malice had much patience [contrary to what people believed] when it came to bringing the woman together to form the sisterhood. And from where they stood NOW, it payed off. Alison was DEAD, Morgan was DEAD, and the less lethal of the bunch had flead....now if only her wretched niece would die the days would become a brighter place.

Passing Karen's dresser which held an antique tissue dispenser Helena pulled out a single tissue.

"But I have to say, what Christopher LACKED in personality he certainly made up for in the bedroom.."

Holding the tissue out to Karen in a taunting manner.

"Fortunately for me I didn't procreate with the bastard like you did....now THAT'S something to cry about. Wouldn't you say, cupcake?"
 
the citadle

<< Karen's head turned quickly as Helena's voice broke the silence in the chambers.>>

Helena...

<< Karen's sapphire blue eyes narrowed with agitation.>>

how DARE you come in here uninvented!

<< the metamorph proceeded to address Karen with mocking familiarity. Helena had a little TOO much insight into her family dysfunction, considering that she played a major role in it, but Karen had her own looking glass into Helena's family background as well. the two women had been bitter enemies for quite sometime. Christopher's affair with Helena was just the REASON that Karen needed to become VIOLENT with her...AND him, as Helena found out.>>

<< Helena taunted Karen, defaming her daughter's memory and insulting her as a mother and a wife.>>

Unlike your talent and your intelligence, Helena...my daughter's memory doesnt fade or depreciate with age. What you think about her is immaterial to me. You wouldnt know a nurturing relationship if it bit you in your lying, manipulative whore mongering ASS!

<< Karen slowly stood up. and smacked the tissue out of Helena's hand.>>

Our mission to destroy the six has been all but completed...which means you're treading on THIN ICE with me, you many-faced misanthropic piece of trash.

If you dont get out NOW...i'm going to REMIND you of why you're FORTUNATE you have the power to "glamor" another face.
 
Delilah used all her willpower not to flinch as Sharon raised her fist to strike her. She could visibly see Sharon calming, the fear washing from her face. She tentatively put a calming hand on Sharon’s shoulder, but only for a moment. She walked beside Sharon as they returned to the war room. Delilah had learned from her mistakes with the Sharon of THEIR timeline, and she was adamant not to repeat them with THIS one. She set out to be as understanding as possible of the Silver Swan’s plight. But seeing her so afraid and alone only made Delilah wonder WHAT had happened here, where everyone was, and why they had left her behind.

She tried to look reassuring as Sharon curled up in a chair almost as if for protection. But all she could feel was sadness. Sharon looked so frail, when they all knew how terribly powerful she really was.

She looked over at Haleigh from where she sat, near one of the computer consoles.

“Who could have done this? It sure as hell wasn’t Rick Riley. Have you learned anything from your scans, Hales?”
 
"Ooooh, did I strike a cord darling?"

Helena said as Karen smacked the tissue out of her hand.

What you think about her is immaterial to me.
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"Mmm...obviously it is [brushing her finger along Karen's flushed cheek] if you're getting so heated about it."

Giving Karen a coy smile before brushing past her, Helena proceeded back over to Karen's dresser which held numerous framed pictures. Picking one up, Helena casually studied it as Karen threatened that she was 'treading on thin ice'. Lifting a single finely shaped brow, Helena glanced over at the woman, her stained red lips tugging into a smile.

..you many-faced misanthropic piece of trash.
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"Stick and stones, old friend."

If you dont get out NOW...i'm going to REMIND you of why you're FORTUNATE you have the power to "glamor" another face.
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Clearing her throat, Helena placed the picture back down on the dresser, her eyes lifting to the mirror hanging on the wall in front of her.

"Is THAT a fact?"

Helena's reflection soon changed to that of CHRISTOPHER, a smug smirk appearing on his lips. Turning to Karen, her ex husband looked her dead in the eyes.

"How about THIS face, sweetheart? No? Not your cup of tea? [before Karen's eyes Christopher now changed into MORGAN] How about THIS one?"

Helena was known for her ability to play on others emotions. To bring out the WORST in that person. For Karen it was obviously no different.

"You've threatened me for YEARS with no results, KAREN. Do you want to know why? Because you're WEAK....and THIS [gesturing to herself still glamoured as Morgan] is the REASON for your weakness. You have powers and abilities that go far beyond my own yet your biggest downfall if your HEART. You sit in front of your computer looking at images of your dead daughter that YOU helped KILL just by being ASSOCIATED with Mystech and being apart of The Sisterhood. [finally, Helena glamoured back into herself] You're a PATHETIC kitten and always have been. Do you TRULY want to know the difference between you and me? I KNOW who I AM, and i'm not afraid to show it or flaunt it. But you? You're a scared little girl hiding behind her almighty powers of magick thinking THAT will be enough to cement your title in this world of evil. [laughing] You DON'T belong here....and we BOTH know that one of these days YOU will realize that too....And in turn....realize what you've done to your daughter and her family."

Spritzing a bit of Karen's purfume onto her wrist, Helena rubbed both wrists together before lifting one up to her nose, smelling the sweet aroma.

"That will be such a sad day...save your tears, sweet Karen, you're going to need them."
 
catfight!

<< Karen's lower jaw jutted out, showing the agitation on her face as she glared at Helena. the two women were nearly equal in height and as Helena boldly approached the doctor and continued to taunt her. Karen continued to stand...not following the metamorph with her eyes but with her ears. the woman's voice reached into Karen's heart...where it hurt the most.>>

<< YES she had more power and could be quite deadly when provoked, but Helena was right...WHAT was Shadow Weaver doing here? having rode the wave of violence to the TOP and at what cost? Morgan was DEAD...so was ALISON.>>

<< Helena struck a nerve first as "Christopher" and then as "Morgan". the painfull words were telling....slicing through all her defenses and down to her CORE! >>


you miserable BITCH!

<< Karen lunged forward, tackling Helena down as they fell on the bed...and rolled on to the floor. Karen's hands were now around Helena's throat.>>

I should have KILLED YOU when I caught you with Christopher. you ONLY escaped because I was too focused on HIM! But we're not THERE anymore ARE we! He's DEAD...by MY hand...and YOU can find out JUST HOW THAT FEELS!

<< slamming Helena's head down on the floor, Karen held her there as she picked up a fallen vase.>>

I'll SILENCE you the way i did HIM!

<< When Karen's temper was lost...she was BRUTAL. Even MALICE had learned that the hard way, and so, the one member of the sisterhood, whose greatest "weakness" was her heart, could be the most deadly in certain situations...much like her daughter, whose ultimate example of that was the INFERNO.>>

and you can be his SLUT IN HELL, just like you were HERE!

<< she brings the vase down, intending to smash it into Helena's face, and shatter her nose bridge, which would in turn send bone fragments into her brain.>>
 
Helena was tackled by Karen, her body being forced onto the bed behind her. Pushing Karen's body with her hands the two struggled before rolling from the bed onto the floor in a giant THUD.

"UGH!"

Being pinned down by Karen wasn't too fun...what the hell did Christopher see in this woman anyway? She suspected Karen was into whips and chains....perhaps a snoop through her closet? Maybe another day. ;) Karen's hands were tightly wrapped around her throat; the pressure causing Helena to gasp for air. Karen slammed Helena's head into the ground causing the woman to become dizzy and close her eyes.

I'll SILENCE you the way i did HIM!
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"You're....going to have to try...harding than THIS!"

Opening her eyes JUST as Karen lifted the vase over her head, Helena rolled her upper body to the left feeling the vase shatter as it hit the floor next to her. Grabbing Karen by the shoulder Helena pulled her down forcefully, slamming HER forehead into the ground. Rolling her body over, Helena now was on top of Karen allowing the metamorph to unleash a bone shattering back hand hit to Karen's face.

"Trying to show how WICKED and BRUTAL you really are?! HA! Richard Simmons is more intimidating than you, kitten!"

Back rolling off of Karen, Helena [still in a kneeling position] grabbed the area rug that Karen was laying on and pulled it up and back as she stood, causing Karen to tumbled off of it.

"Always trying to be the queen bee, aren't you? We ALL saw how well that turned out for MORGAN....[motioning with her hands for Karen to 'bring it'] Well, come on then! STING ME, BITCH! I DARE you!"
 
catfight

<< Helena avoids being smashed in th e face by the vase, forcing Karen to hit the floor. the doctor cries out in pain as she is stunned and disoriented before Helena recovers by throwing Karen over and now being on top of her. the sorceress shuts her eyes as she feels the force of the back hand...she exhales with pain before Helena pulls the rug out from under her, all the while still taunting. Karen lays there...coughing for a moment. >>

<< Karen slowly sits up...wipping blood from her mouth as she slowly rubs her hand down her bruised cheek.>>

you....you're brave NOW. but you werent so brave when you RAN for your LIFE when i found you in bed with my husband. I guess when you're greatest claim to fame is a cheap trick that even a NOVICE WITCH could accomplish with a simple spell...you'd HAVE to blow yourself up in your own demented mind.

<< slowly getting up...she and Helena eyed each other. before Karen "BLINKS" from where she is, to be instantly upon Helena, slamming her against the wall, pressing her hand against Helena's lower stomach area, and letting the STING of "hellfire" burn the metamorph...not enough to DAMAGE...but a painfull reminder of something ELSE!>>

or maybe YOU forgot something...the fact that i CURSED you to be BARREN...to NEVER be able to give birth. Remember THAT? You may have taken my husband, but i took away your chance to bare children and so maybe THAT'S why you go out of your way to be so biting...like a viper.

I may not be content to flaunt EVIL as you call it, but my heart is also what allows ME to know, to remember something you'll NEVER have the chance to experience...the chance to have a CHILD in this world that LOVES YOU and NEEDS YOU. Whatever happened between Morgan and I....that's a HELL of alot more than you'll EVER KNOW in your own family...a family that despises you as much as anyone else could. Your own NIECE wants you dead.

No one loves you...and that inflated narcissism you have for yourself doesnt pass muster. You're as PATHETIC as you claim ME to be, only you're too absorbed in your exaggerated sense of self to realize it!


<<she returns the favor by SMACKING Helena across her face before SHOVING her sideways to fall into the dresser then hit the floor.>>

You catalyzed the destruction of my family...i made sure YOU could NEVER have one of your own. I'd say that makes us EVEN...

no...wait a minute.

<< snaping her fingers, a rushing harp sound is heard as she uses her magick to turn Helena into DONKEY.>>

THIS does. :D
 
you....you're brave NOW. but you werent so brave when you RAN for your LIFE when i found you in bed with my husband.
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Scoffing, Helena flipped her blonde locks behind her shoulder APPAULED that Karen said she 'ran' from her.

"RAN from you?! PLEASE!"

Before Helena knew it Karen was in front of her in the blink of an eye. Slammed against the wall Helena screamed as she felt Karen's hand on her stomach; the hellfire burning painfully. With clenched teeth Helena kept her eyes locked on Karen as she began to rub in Helena's face that she had cursed her to be barren. It was something most woman would find painful to have to live with, but Helena had no use for children.

"A GIFT...i've always forgot to THANK you for..."

Speaking through the pain of the hellfire. Karen continued on with her cutting words, dragging her family into it now....which ALWAYS got Helena fired up. Heaving a labored breath, Helena SPIT in Karen's face which in turn caused the witch to smack Helena in the face, causing the metamorph to fall into the dresser before toppling to the ground. Flipping her hair away from her face, Helena looked up at Karen from the ground, blood dripping from her nose.

"MY FAMILY may HATE me but atleast they're ALIVE! As for ALEXIS? I only HOPE she suffers the same fate as your rabid DAUGHTER!"

Pushing herself from the ground, before she could get to her feet Karen transformered her into a donkey. ALWAYS a donkey....well, the witch was ALWAYS drawn to jackasses. ;) After a few seconds, Helena's donkey form morphed back into her human form.

"TRICKS are for KIDS, kitten!"

Now standing, Helena snapped her own fingers as FOUR WILDpack soilders appeared behind Karen. One wrapping a chain around her throat strangling her, two others forcefully holding each arm in a 'twist' position to prevent her from moving, while the last pushed a TAZOR into her gut, holding it there for a few seconds.

"Time to play with the BIG GIRLS!"

Snatching the tazor away from the man Helena pressed it right against Karen's CHEEK, grabbing a handful of her hair so she could push her face even harder into it.

"Feels GOOOOOOD doesn't it?! STUPID BITCH!"
 
As Nicolas and Haleigh spoke to Sharon, she paused, then, her eyes filled with fear, she mentioned MALICE???!! Nicolas' breath caught as he heard the name, and Sharon took a step back as Delilah made the scene. Sharon started to attack, but Delilah used her light powers to soothe her as she spoke to her . They proceeded down to the War Room where Mike had stayed, trying to get as much info as possible on what had gone on here and who was on what side. Sharon curled up to herslef and Nicolas gave her some space to become more accustomed to her. She was not poisoned psychotic as in their timeline, but in a way no less dangerous if crossed in her present state. Her mind was as they found her in their own timeline...slippery, hard to focus on. He would try to reach her later. As for now, he wondered about their next move, or would they be lucky enough to decompress for a moment...
 
No thanks D. Go ahead.

Mike stayed behind as Delilah went forward. He knew that Sharon would not know who he was, and from appearences, she was in a state in which he would be of little help. What he COULD do, however, was get intel from the computers arrayed before him. He watched the monitors as the action unfolded, and nodded knowingly as Delilah put her power to good use to defuse the situation. He accessed the news files from the last week as well as any information contained about the leadership/methods of Mystech...

He continued his work as everyone else returned. He nodded warmly to Sharon, the went back to work, not wantng to give the mutate any cause for concern...
 
<< Karen wiped away the spit with disgust written all over her face. Helena was down but far from out. the two women had fought like this manytimes before both in mainstream reality and across the multi-verse where ever they may have existed. the bitterness between them knew no bounds.>>

<< they traded insults, scathing ones. they traded blows but even their catfights were somewhat choreographed. neither one had killed they other after all this time despite each one having an opportunity at some point to destroy the other. why that was...it wasnt exactly clear but it was definately clear that nothing was off limits between them when it came to these catfights.>>


<< Karen barely turned as Helena wished the same fate on Alexis that befell Morgan. the doctor was about to retort when Helena snapped her own fingers after recovering from being turned into a filthy pathetic donkey :D and did a trick of her own, as four WILDpack soldiers burst in...accosting the sorceress faster than she could anticipate...one choking her with a chain, the other two subduing her physically as she was TAZERED! her body seized and she SCREAMED as it seemed like an eternity before the tazer was taken away. her head fell forward, her hair fell forward as well covering her face as she breathed heavily. >>

<< it wasnt a moment b efore Helena was now along side her, having grabbed a h andfull of her hair and pulled her head back, exposing her face before tazering her again! but Karen's magick was already working to FIGHT the pain and heal the internal damage. Karen suffered the FINAL indignation in this catfight...>>

oh.......mystic...daggers....

<< chimes sound off as spinning golden arms whirl into view. spinning so fast as they spiral into the form of large, sparkling golden mystic energy daggers....and they each turn to lock onto a target and one by one they zoom with deadly precision , SLAMMING into the heads, or chests of the soldiers while one deeply grazes Helena's hand that was near the doctor's face, FORCING it away and disarming of the tazer. the soldiers all fall dead, only one has time for a faint gasp of shock. and the final dagger loops around as Karen points..>>

yes....and when you play with the BIG GIRLS...you will be REMINDED .....<< still breathing heavily.>> who your BETTERS ARE!

<< the dagger flies , leaving a sparkling trail as it aims for Helena's throat...>>

give my regards to Christopher when you next open your eyes in HELL, you cheap, tawdry HARLOT!
 
Break!

:: at that moment, a "javeline" of psi lightning shoots across the room, slamming into the dagger. as the javeline travels with thunderous din and hits the mystical projection...the collision is quite bright in its effect. it was one of the only ways that Malice could stop the dagger from hitting Helena dead on.::

Shadow Weaver! have you gone MAD?

:: Malice steps forward, with Alexis lurking in the doorway.::

You two...you do the work of OUTSIDERS with all this NEEDLESS and PETTY bickering. If you were HALF as zealous in taking down our targets in the field as you are in tormenting each other, we'd be THAT MUCH FURTHER AHEAD and wouldnt have had to rely on the incidental impact of MASTER MOLD to rid us of one of our most deadly foes.

:: standing between them.::

I dont have to guess who started this....Helena. You're like a stupid hyper active dog...that goes in any and ALL directions even when it's told to SIT DOWN. You might play a game with Karen, and she engages you...for her own reasons that even I cant figure out but if you cross ME, i'll RIP YOUR MIND to shreds and leave you a blubbering, incontinent flesh bag that even a hobo would take pitty on.

We'll be ready to leave for Illustra ANY MOMENT...so kindly get ahold of yourselves and GET PREPARED!

:: casually stepping over the fallen bodies of the WILDpack soldiers that were now dead.::

and get these bodies out of here and into the incinerator will you?
 
and so

<< and with that...Helena was left to go to the infirmary that was on a higher floor of the citadle where she would receive healing from one of the med-units. while Karen could take of herself with her magicks. the two women had much unresolved between them...but in a perverse way it was what kept them going. each of them had ghosts and demons they couldnt deal with unto themselves, so they lashed out at each other.>>

<< Malice, on the other hand seemed to be beyond such things. a true sociopath here as she was in mainstream...but there was more to Malice in this timeline than met the eye.>>

back at illustra:

<< as a scared and seemingly abandonned Sharon now sat in a dark corner of the war room, the others were once again at the center conference table. Haleigh was able to gather information from Illustra and other computer mainframes in the area. several things were different here. Karen was not a fixture at Illustra, in fact most input from Illustra's computer showed that Karen and Morgan had LITTLE contact even prior to Morgan joining the Six. there were many articles of the bloody and brutal murder of Doctor's Christopher Victory and Adam Chandler and how they were linked back to the now infamous murder of Dr. James Marcus. The MEN who lead mystech had all been MURDERED by women close to them. The White Queen, the Red Queen and the Black Queen. It was not hard to guess the white and red queen were but the black queen was not immediately equated with Karen. there were reports of an organized crime unit called "The Sisterhood" and police and FBI intel concluded that THEY also commanded what was left of Mystech in this timeline. >>


<< Sharon Kelly was thought dead, but in fact had been taken to the Citadle where Malice ordered her to be repaired, UPGRADED to the the form of Silver Swan but before the MENTAL conditioning could take place...Silver Swan broke free and destroyed the entire medical staff assigned to her as well as inflicting damage in the bio systems lab of the Citadle. She battled the SUPER SOLDIER in her escape attempt and BEAT HIM BACK but was unable to kill him. Mystech was now actively SEARCHING for their property and since Haleigh was now untraceable (due to the fact that the alternate had been taken to LImbo) they were now focused on finding Sharon.>>

<< the most disheartening information came from data feeds from cameras around the city, one which caught the final battle between Guardian and Blackout. It played out similar to the way it did in mainstream only this time, as Haleigh scrambled to find Alison after the final backlash and fallout that swept across the city...Alison was already dead. Curiously though, Blackout was never positively identified as dead. her body was missing shortly after the blast and feedback.>>

<< and so, in this timeline...alternates Morgan and Alison were dead. Karen's whereabouts were not exactly accounted for but SHE was the one responsible for murdering Christopher. Alycia , Haleigh, Delilah and Blaze had been resuced by Ororo and taken to Limbo where it could be assumed they still were...and Sharon...she'd been left behind. reaching Illustra too late to find anyone to help her.>>

<< MALICE was in this timeline, as was Helena, two of the Six's most menacing foes and BLACKOUT's where abouts were unaccounted for as well.>>

<< the mainstreams had a chance to take this in...realizing that the Six had been effectively defeated by Mystech, that Malice was here...and directing the chaos and that SHARON had been left behind in the confusion with no one to help her.>>
 
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Delilah came quickly, as Haleigh picked herself up, her ego a little bruised. They talked Sharon down and brought her back up to the war room where they could hole up under full lockdown and find sanctuary. Mike was already trying to find answers... and while Haleigh was a little disappointed that Sharon wouldn't be able to absolve them of their questions, at least NOW that Hlaeigh knew the building was safe, she could sit down and FOCUS on finding the answers via satellite.

It took her a few minutes... it was like finding a needle in a haystack..... she had to search all streams of information, disseminate the data, determine what was relevant, then reroute the information to the screens at the conference table so that the rest could see. Even with Haleigh's light-speed processing capabilities, there was a wait. Delilah asked about Sharon's return and doubted that Riley was behind it. Haleigh finally spoke, confirming her instinct.

"No.... Mystech internal reports indicate that MALICE was behind it this time... and she KNEW what she was DOING, so the project was carried out in a much more expediant timeframe. According to incident reports.... Sharon broke free BEFORE the mental conditioning phase.... that's what she's so disoriented.... she doesn't know what's going on or who's on what side.... she's just reacting with instinct."

Haleigh gestured for them all to take a seat at the conference table and pay attention to the screens.

"So many things are different in this timeline. Karen [a moving picture of the doctor appears on the screen, it seems to be recently captured] isn't associated with Illustra.... or with her daughter, even. She also never employed Clandestine Inc for security reasons.... no.... she never needed to.... SHE killed Christopher Victory... that's what drove a wedge between her and Morgan. Morgan is dead.... at the hands of Master Mold... as she was in OUR timeline. Alison.... she's dead too."

The screens playback a final confrontation between Blackout and Guardian. The camera angle is awkward and almost too far away.... the people in the video feed can be recognized by Haleigh and Delilah, but only because THEY knew what to look for. Haleigh watches herself rush to Alison's side after the battle.... rolling her over and trying to revive her.... to no avail. She remembers that from her OWN timeline... how hopeless and helpless that felt... how she'd cried out for Ororo in a desperation that was quite unlike her.

Haleigh suddenly realized she'd paused the playback and focused on the silhouetted forms of her alternate self cradling a dead alternate Alison, she snapped out of the daze and tried to cover by quickly moving on. The screens flashed pictures of Adam Chandler, James Marcus, and Christopher Victory.

"All these men were destroyed by US in our timeline.... here... they were killed by others. Malice [video footage of her leaving a building, dressed in her tradmark white as she climbed into a chaffeured escalade] killed Marcus. Helena Quartermaine [footage of her in red, eating outside a cafe] killed Chandler. Both women are rumored to be two parts of the 'Sisterhood'.... the driving force behind Mystech as it is in THIS reality. There is one more counterpart.... the black queen... whom I haven't yet confirmed.... but I suspect Malice might have recruited Karen for that position. There's not much evidence.... it's just a hunch... she killed Christopher and she's been underground, just as they have. She surfacces every now and again and it's never for a GOOD reason."
 
Delilah couldn't believe her eyes as she saw the images of Karen and heard Haleigh say that SHE was an evil villain in this timeline. She could not imagine it. Karen had the power, she knew, and she was a ball-buster - but she could not imagine a world where she was anything but the surrogate mother she had always known. That Morgan had been estranged to her was another unbelieveable fact - the two were so close in their own timeline.

And Blackout...poor, misguided Alexis...

She looked up from the monitor.

"So what you're saying is, instead of removing the chief operators of MysTech as we did, someone else just took their place? So with Chandler, Marcus, and Victory's deaths, there was no change for the better..."

She looked at the images of the so-called Sisterhood.

"So what do we do now? Go after them, just the five of us? Even if we were all [glancing at Sharon] full strength...Malice was tough enough to defeat on her own."
 
Mike listened as Haleigh gave her chronology, taking a look at the Sisterhood represented on the screen. He shook his head vigorously as Haleigh spoke of Karen's role.

Hard to believe...but one other thing. There doesn't seem to be a very ACTIVE role for Karen in all of this. I wonder how COMMITTED she is to being bad. Although nothing seems impossible after what we've seen. I think that we need to find her first...see if we can get her away from the others. If she is as bad as it seems, then separated they are easier to face. If however, there is any of the woman we know in there...maybe we can reach her.

Mike's voice was mostly analytical, but there was more than a hint of emotion. The man CLEARLY did not relish the idea of facing an evil version of his Karen...
 
As they returned to the War Room, Nic addressed Delilah quickly.

Great work with her, D.

It was not much, but Nicolas would try his best to show Delilah that he valued her. Respecting her more, as she wished and deserved, would take more than THAT, but he had to start somewhere...

Nicolas looked at he info on Karen and the others. Mike made a suggestion that seemed to both address Delilah's concerns about confronting them all and gave them a chance to see where Karen REALLY fit in.

What do you think, Hales? Facing one HAS to be better than facing them all, if we can manage it...but I would bet that they will see us soon, if we stay here. No enemy of the Six manages to avoid Illustra for too long.
 
Haleigh's gaze shifted quickly to Mike and sharpened.

"How COMMITED she is?? [gently]Mikey..... she KILLED her husband... even MORGAN reeled back from the shock of it. I can't say for SURE that she IS the Black Queen... but I'm finding reports that she was the resident physician and psychiatrist at Westin Hills... something that further estranged her from her daughter. [looking around at the others, as Nicolas also suggested they try to reach out to Karen]Whoa, DON'T do that. DON'T underestimate her because you care about her. I know this may be hard for you all.... but I think we need to take a step back here... and differentiate OUR Karen from THIS timeline's Karen. We need to be prepared for the fact that she may not be an ally... in fact... she may very well be one of our most DANGEROUS ENEMIES. I'm concerned that none of you may be capable of doing what is necessary in the event that she IS."

A euphemism.... they would ALL know what she was talking about.... it was a rather dark turn but Haleigh knew it needed to be vocalized.... it needed to be considered. If Karen truly WAS part of Mystech's Sisterhood.... the group had better be prepared to treat her like an enemy.... for if they DIDN'T.... they would surely be squashed by their own WEAKNESS.

"Worse still is that which we must now consider for our OWN Karen. This is the SECOND alternate timeline in which Karen has MURDERED someone... what does that say about her? Of course.... in each case, one could argue that her victim unquestionably deserved his fate. Even if Victory's only wrongdoing against Karen was his infidelity, we ALL know what kind of malevolent depravity he was responsible for in OUR timeline. Still.... OUR Karen did always argue that MY murderous tendencies were NEVER excused by the fact that my victims were FAR from innocent."

It was an unsavory idea to contemplate..... but now that it was on the table.... it was certainly not one that could be ignored. WAS Karen predisposed to fits of homocidal anger? Did THEIR Karen just do a better job of concealing it, or had she not be suitably provoked yet? Delilah asked what they should do now.... go after the sisterhood?

"No.... Nicolas is RIGHT.... they'll come to US.... and right now the BEST thing we have going for us is the fact that we've commandeered the STRONGHOLD that is Illustra. The WORST thing we could do right now is the squander that advantage. EVEN IF that means we must face ALL of them instead of ONE[Karen].... If we're familiar with NOTHING else of this timeline.... we should at least fight on 'OUR' turf. We can't risk leaving... even IF Karen would help us.... which I don't think she WILL."
 
Karma
Karma
excellent observations by Haleigh!
Nicolas listened as Haleigh warned them about allowing emotion to overcome essentially their will to fight. He was not insulted, she did what she needed to do. In fact, her speech about the implication of what she saw was much more damaging in his mind, as the first timeline supposedly showed him as a homicidal maniac. These snapshots did much to scare the hell out of anyone who saw them. He nodded as she spoke of at least holding 'their' turf that was Illustra. He responded.

Truly spoke. There doesn't seem to be a 'happy ever after' timeline does there? It can make you wonder...but there are also good things about everyone that we can see if from nowhere else, our own timeline. That cannot be fully ignored as we proceed. But I will do what needs to be done when the time comes to act. The most important people are right HERE, and who we are going after. So Haleigh, you are best prepared to set a defense. What do you suggest?
 
Rampage said:
Great work with her, D.
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Delilah ignored the comment. He was trying to patch things up between them by kissing her ass. Reading her thoughts and telling her what she wanted to hear would get him nowhere.

Black Widow said:
I'm concerned that none of you may be capable of doing what is necessary in the event that she IS."
Click to expand...

Delilah looked solemnly at Haleigh.

"If it comes to that, I will take care of Karen."

She glanced around at all of them.

"I know how to take down someone I care about when it's necessary."

She looked away, off into the distance.

"Besides, OUR Karen would hate to think of another version of her allowed to run rampant doing evil. She would want us to destroy this doppleganger."

She had stopped careing really if they understood, because it was clear that they never would, really. It was all black and white to them, but now, now maybe they would see what she had already been through. So easy for Mike to criticise her...could he murder Karen? She doubted it.

She turned to Haleigh.

"So...the sensors will still tell us if anyone breaches Illustra. The place is on lockdown - that should buy us a little time, but not much. Anything the building's defenses can do for us against these three?"
 
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