Surrounded by darkness

[Seer]

<< Another day in NYC.>>


<< Even in the light of day, the tendrils of darkness flow and choke.>>

<< Mystech's corrupting touch and pervasive evil drives many aspects of everyday life for most but they remain unaware. For those few who ARE aware, life is hardly "routine" anymore.>>

<< The first flicker of HOPE was crushed a year ago and Mystech continued to march on, but this "too big to fail" entity cannot an escape an even BIGGER entity known as FATE.>>

<<ILLUSTRA>>

<< Illustra, now in Delilah Trelevan's posession continues to function. On the business side, it remains a fashion force on the east coast. Alycia Barnett, trustee of Morgan Victoria's will, sees to that. But on the personal, PRIVATE side, Delilah begins to form something that Mystech wasn't suspecting.>>

<< Bishop, her associate, locates the rough draft schemetics of a secret command center for the "hidden floor" between the commercial & private residential floors of Illustra. With the financial resources now available to her as the result of inheriting Morgan's estate, Delilah is able to bring this command center from mere idea, to powerfull reality. >>

<< As a favor, Alycia Barnett placed a call to Jennifer, the associate of Haleigh Davidoff who inherited control of Clandestine Inc. Clandestine Inc is a POWERFUL black ops organization and direct rival/foe to Mystech's weapons/technology arm, Cassadine Industries. Clandestine Inc is also the same group who has been PROTECTING Dr. Karen Victoria for the last five years from her ex husband as well as Mystech. After a private meeting with Jennifer where Alycia explains Delilah's plans and needs, Jennifer, for the sake of wanting to do whatever she can to help see Haleigh's death avenged, agreed to contract for Delilah to design and outfit this command center with the ultimate tech for all possible needs in this operation as well as provide security personnell to protect Illustra's premesis in general. Jennifer offeredDelilah a GENEROUS discount on all fees and costs, again in the name of helping to see Haleigh's death avenged and to give support to someone who is stoking the flames of a TRUE fire of justice against Mystech.>>

<< Design, shipment and construction were happening very quickly and this in part was due to a new underground high speed rail that was being constructed under Illustra. It's existence and access to it limited ONLY to Delilah and Bishop at the moment but that too would change. The "War Room" as it was entitled on the rough draft sketches by Alison Marble and Haleigh Davidoff, is now a REALITY and Illustra itself has been fortified with powerfull high tech security features and staff to protect those innocents working on the commercial side as well as those who operate in the War Room and the private residential floors.>>

<< It's another BIG step forward for Delilah as she hopes to begin a march to STOMP all over Mystech. But for every acheivement she makes in this endeavor, she finds that there are new challenges, new situations, new PROBLEMS.>>

<< From within the War Room, among its data streams, information feeds etc, come reports of several bizarre "BIRD ATTACKS" across the city. Images and sound feeds broadcast over various floating screens showing what impossibly is the real sight of birds viciously attacking several people, most curiously- Senator Ron Davis and the NYPD Police Chief along with crew of street cleaners working outside a storefront medical office. Images of different species of birds, working TOGETHER to attack humans? That doesnt happen in nature.>>

<< and simultaneously, Delilah is informed that Alycia Barnett is on her way...WITH Dr. Karen Victoria, Psy.D, the MOTHER of Delilah's best friend, the fallen Morgan Victoria. It will be Karen's FIRST time back to Illustra since this nightmare began. Karen wants to see what Delilah has done. She also wants to collect some of her daughter's possessions that are still housed in the penthouse apartment on the 107th floor.>>

<< Even though Delilah and Karen are close, Delilah can't help but feel a sense of DREAD.>>

<< Even so, Karen would NOT be the only visitor she received today. It would be a very eventful day for Delilah indeed.>>

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

<< Palace Hotel>>


<< Rich ended up staying over last night with his new found friend and fellow mutant, Brenda. It had been a rough night for the socilate. From dancing with Siryn to being attacked by bizarre, armed men who were trying to capture them only to then watch as THEY themselves were slaughted by a mysterious, beautifull yet TERRIFYING woman called Silver Swan, who ALSO happened to bear striking similiarities to Siryn!>>

<< Rich's timely assistance turned out to be a key turning point for them both, as she learned of his secret...that of being homeless and that lead to both of them revealing to each other their status as mutants.>>

<< some revelations bring comfort, but they still bring other questions.>>

<< For Rich, life was still essentially the same. He had no home. No family. NOTHING but himself. With his mutant power, that certainly gave him a tremendous advantage in SURVIVING but what else was there to be for him? More crashing of star studded parties only to end them alone in the night? Though he found a friend in Brenda, he was not of her "world" and he was reluctant to allow her to do what so many others had before if they learned of his secret...try to "SAVE" him or [no matter how unintentional] treat him as a charity case.>>

<< For Brenda, the life she lived took a drastic change. In one night she went from being the toast of the town to being a near helpless, terrified victim of people who KNEW her AND what she could do, only then to find salvation in the form of a woman even MORE terrifying than her assailants. If she had thought she was ALONE or UNIQUE as a mutant in NYC she learned last night she was wrong. Beside Silver Swan there was now Rich. Who else could there be? Who else KNEW about them and would they come after her and now Rich? Who was the Silver Swan? Worse...the corpses that she was surrounded by. What would happen to them and would the people who sent those men now come after her or even her family in retaliation?

<< Then there was Rich. A handsome guy, a nice guy. A HOMELESS guy. For all his seeming calm and strength, Brenda couldnt get over the fact that he was homeless, alone. Everything SHE had...he had NOTHING. Had he not come to her aid, she never would have known but now that she did...she couldnt just let him go back to that...and yet what right did she have to make him stay? It was a delicate thing...one she never imagined she'd face.>>>

<< Everything Brenda thought she knew was changing and for Brenda and Rich both, things around them suddenly seemed more interesting...more PECULIAR.>>

<< As they sat over late breakfast privately and talked about these things...nervously so...they BOTH caught sight of a LARGE flock of birds streaking across the city sky and then seemingly fan out into three different directions. That was a bizarre thing indeed and though they'd yet to know what it was about, Brenda couldnt help but think of "The Silver Swan" from last night. Whatever else she said to Rich, she had to tell him about her.>>

<< She couldnt tell her parents, but at least NOW she had someone she could confide in. But would HE allow HER to try to help HIM in someway?

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

<<NYU>>

<< Elsewhere in the city, Ana-Leigh Moreau, the sharp, ernest NYU law student. Last night she impressed Marco and most of all HERSELF with her moves and joy. She was blissfully unaware of the dark turn things took for her fellow spotlight dancer and eventually returned to her dorm, preparing for the next day.>>

<< Now on campus, the highlight of her day would be sitting in the audatorium with her fellow law program students listening to special guest speaker Alycia Barnett, an alumnus of NYU. Alycia was certiainly a "rock star" in the legal and business world but what impressed Ana-Leigh most about Alycia was her unwavering stance on being on the side of PEOPLE, protecting those who didnt have the endless resources that banks, businesses, crooked politicians and corrupt police officers often employed to abuse, circumvent or break the law and then try to avoid answering for it.>>

<< Alycia was unapologetic in her pro-people ;corporate & govt accountability stance and deadly like a whip in the courtroom. Ana-Leigh knew this event would be worth while but even moreso, she hoped SHE would be the one Alycia selected to participate in the student/field expert shadow program so that she could spend the day with Alycia in the field!>>
--------------------------

<< The all had things on their mind, things to face ...but slowly...these things were moving them all closer together. They didnt know it yet but they'd soon realize it and then too, they'd also see the DARKNESS that is surrounding them, closing in on them.>>

 

[Bishop]

Their flight back to New York had been uneventful. He wished Delilah had taken his advice and forgotten the trip entirely instead of running off half-cocked after some thick-accented numbskull. He still worried about her health. She would die before admitting she was less than 100% - and that was what he was afraid of.

As she’d requested he’d gone to work on the secret floor of Illustra – a stroke of immense luck was finding the original plans left by Alison Marble and Haleigh Davidoff. Alycia – though it somewhat irked him that she wasn’t apparently a Mystech agent – had helped Delilah secure the equipment quickly and cheaply. With some special tweaks of the their own, the floor – taking the moniker it was given on the plan, “The War Room” – was shaping up to be everything Delilah had envisioned when they had started on this mission together.

He knew they were getting close – Delilah was ready to make contact with more recruits – and that meant they would be more and more on Mystech’s radar and in danger. And that didn’t sit right with Connor.

But he’d promised to show her the latest developments to the War Room, so that’s what they were doing.

“You can track every major news outlet via these screens. The control pad allows you to input search criteria and the system will monitor reports for hits or similarities – print, television and online. Satellite imaging, electronic surveillance – you name it, this thing does it.”

Delilah: “Turn up the volume, Connor.”

She was looking keenly at one of the screens. It was a Fox News report on Senator Ron Davis being attacked by birds outside of his offices.

“Can we focus? You can watch tv after I finish showing you how to work all this.”

Delilah: “Connor…”

Then he noticed it too. ALL the screens were reporting on bird attacks, some with live footage, all happening at different places to seemingly random people.

“That’s not natural. Birds don’t just attack people like that.

Delilah: “And different species only work together in Disney movies.”

“Mystech? Some sort of animal control serum?”

Delilah gave him a look.

Delilah: “You know, the sad thing is that isn’t as far-fetched as it should be. See what your new toy can find out about it.”

He nodded, then accompanied her back upstairs to the penthouse.

He’d somehow convinced Delilah she needed to rest, so now she was curled up on the sofa with her legs covered by a faux fur blanket, reading a magazine. He came into the living room from the kitchen, bringing with him a cup of tea for her. He set it down on the table. She looked up at him and smiled.

“I need to head out and pick up a few things – will you be okay here without me?”

Delilah: [perturbed] “You don’t have to babysit me Connor. I’ll be fine.”

He was about to shoot back a response to her infuriating comment when he saw Delilah set the magazine down on the coffee table. Morgan Victoria was on the cover, with a headline that read “One Year Later”. She flicked her hand in the air and the television came on.

Delilah: “Get out of here.”

He decided to let the babysitting comment go and headed for the door.

 

[MorningStar]

At Connor’s urging – actually, insistence – Delilah was taking a much needed respite. But it was difficult to truly take her mind off of what they were doing – there was still so much left to accomplish. Something about those bird reports made her spider sense tingle, so as soon as Connor left she changed “House Hunters” to CNN. The police were baffled, but were suspecting terrorists after their own commissioner was targeted. Delilah watched the coverage intently.

She almost jumped when her intercom chirped indicating it was the front desk. Delilah waved a hand in the air activating the system.

“Yes?”

A new voice came through the intercom, “Miss Trelaven, Alycia Barnett’s office just called to say that she and Karen Victoria are on their way to see you.”

Delilah’s eyes went wide, but she got it together enough to reply to the receptionist.

“Thank you. Send them up immediately as soon as they arrive.”

Delilah threw the blanket off of her and reached for her chair. This was a completely unexpected development, one she didn’t know how she would handle.

“Karen!”

Morgan’s mother had often been a surrogate one to her as well. But this was different. She hadn’t seen Karen since Morgan’s death, and now Delilah was living in her daughter’s home. She almost called Connor. But not even an arsenal the size of Bishop’s could protect her from Karen Victoria.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Return to Illustra

<< a long black limo with tinted windows slowly approaches Fashion Way Lane & the circle drive. From the view within, Illustra towers mightly, as strong as it had always been...only now...>>


<< Seated inside the limo was Alycia Barnett and Dr. Karen V. Victoria, Psy.D>>

I was here with her...the day Sally Spectra gave her this division of Spectra Coture and told her to make it her own. Sally Spectra said she "had that sparkle...that pizazz." She needed to show the east coast what she'd already shown the west coast...


<< Karen was a noted psychotherapist & profiler who helped put several serial killers and rapists in prison. She distanced herself from working so closely with the state as Mystech's power and influence began corrupting it and eventually settled into private practice, working with victims of various types of trauma as well as mutant youth or young witches who had no family support. She'd been married to Dr. Christopher Victory, a respected geneticist, and from that union came daughter Morgan Victoria.>>


<< Her family was happy and loving for a long while, until Mystech's allure touched her husband and he joined their "healthcare corporation" along with his obscene associate Dr. Adam Chandler. Then came the increasing agression and attempts at abuse and violence, along with the revelation of an AFFAIR as well as a love child from another previous affair. That child would turn out to be Blaze Victory, Morgan's halfsister, who ultmately perished with Morgan over a year ago. After an attack on both Karen and her daughter by Christopher which forced Morgan to use her magick against him, Karen escaped Christopher, finding protection from a most unlikely source. Haleigh Davidoff and Clandestine Inc. She divorced him and went into hiding. Her life since then was much more peacefull...until a year ago.>>

<< Karen had watched Delilah grow up alongside Morgan. They'd been best friends since childhood and no matter how different their life paths were, they never lost each other. Karen came to regard Delilah as a surrogate daughter, a relationship that has remained in tact.>>

<< But there was something else beside all of this. Karen was a witch, a powerfull one and a descendant from the bloodline most directly traceable back to HECATE, the goddess of witchcraft. Her grandmother, Verna, was a powerfull high priestess and lead a coven for decades and Karen learned the ways of the arts arcane. When Morgan was born, Verna had seen w/her precognition that Morgan was to be touched by Hecate herself. She was to be this era's sorceress supreme.>>

<< That revelation and all that came with it had its blessings...and its curses. Of course NOW the worst CURSE of all about it was the one that stayed in Karen's mind these days.>>

<< She and Alycia sit side by side. Both silent and looking out of opposite windows. Karen wears Dior oversized black sunglasses. Her hair down in a simple, stylish flip, frames her face, which looks rather unexpressive at the moment. The sunglasses only add to the gloomy countenance even as they conceal her eyes. The woman is beautiful & far younger in appearence than her age. As a witch she does not age as a mortal human...but for all that's happened...she may as well be aged to the point of petrification because that's how she feels right now.>>

<< soon, the limo arrives and after a few moments, the door is opened. The driver assists her, then Alycia out of the vehicle.>>

<< the two women walk together in unision...a slow sort of march. Both of their high heels "play" their approach like a metronome set to "mourning" time. >>

<< Stepping inside the Crystaline Lobby...she immediately looks up toward the ceiling and there sits a large, beautifully framed picture of Morgan Victoria in all her model glamor glory. The image was changed each year...each "season". The staff of Illustra intends to continue that tradition even though their CEO and signature supermodel is now forever gone.>>

<< Alycia and Karen pause for a moment to look at the picture and then begin to walk together, now arm and arm.>>

<< Looking at Karen, it's easy to see where Morgan got her sense of style from. She wears a black belted jacket with matching black pencil skirt and black leather escada high heels. Around her neck sits an elegant strand of exquisite pearls. the finest quality. given to her by Morgan just months before....>>

<<Some of the staff there do recognize her, as well as Alycia. The nod respectfully.>>

<< On they walk. It's essentially the same in all ways. Some of the same staff, same atmosphere. Alycia had made sure the commercial side of Illustra continued to carry on Morgan's vision and preserve her legacy.>>


<< This was the easier part.>>

<< To the elevator...up to the 107th floor. The trip up was faster. The hum through the shaft the only other sound between them as they both stayed silent. A chime sounds off as they arrive. >>

Alycia....

Alycia: Karen...take your time. We can stand here as long as you need to be sure you can do this. I'm here and I'll be by your side every step of the way. Delilah's on the other side of those doors. You know you won't be alone through this.

<< Karen choked a bit as Alycia held on to her arm and squeezed her hand a bit, looking into her opal blue eyes with her own hazel eyes and nodding with reassurance.>>

yes...yes....you're right.

<< regained herself just as she felt herself slipping. Alycia was such a big help>>

<< another slow march in unison down the hall. the sound of their high heels now echoing around them until finally they reach the double doors.>>

<< Karen swallows hard as Alycia takes hold of the double doors and finally pulls them open.>>

Alycia: Delilah? We're here.

<< Alycia senses Karen's hesitance and gently urges her to come through the doors, once again holding her arm.>>

oh HECATE....please...GIVE ME STRENGTH!

<< now inside, Karen stood, rather stiff for a moment as Alycia called for Delilah.>>

 

[Silver Swan]

Sharon Kelly

[ last night. another blurr. a dream? or something else. It couldn't be a dream. She can't remember the last time she's slept without being sedated or battered unconsious. She doesnt really know how she lives anymore, only that she's not the person she was and that she'll never be that person again.]

[ images of singing, lights, cheers and people dance through her mind as she sits in a chair facing the opened french doors leading out to the balcony of her diamond executive suite at the Parthenon.]

[but then...something else. later. a girl screaming. SOME OF THEM. WHITE HOT RAGE and soon they're dead. But where are they? where is SHE?]

[ even though she's here, the oppulence of this place is lost on her. hardly anything in her suite is used. she never orders room service and never takes the do not disturb sign off her door.]

[ she sits...in a silver tank top and very short blue jean shorts.]

[ she sits. her blonde hair (w/out any silver streaks) blows in the breeze every so often that flows in from the open balcony.]

[ she sits. her silver eyes starring out into the grey skies. not blinking...not at the rate a normal human's should.]

[ Her name is Sharon Kelly. She has no friends. They're all dead. They died the night she was captured. She wishes she had died too.]

[ She has no family. No connections here.]

[ She used to be human but she was human with an anomolous genetic structure, meaning she carried the potential for mutation and while it may have been latent in her, her OFFSPRING would have been born full on mutants. Mystech knew about her and they found her. They killed her friends. Took her....and then?]

<<FLASH>>

<< horrifying scenes in the dark sub levels of Arklay mansion. Lights, screams, doctors, torture, drugs, needles, PAIN.>>

....

<< the citadle. more pain, more torture. changes. feeling MORE than alive and LESS than dead and finally?>>

Silver Swan: <<SONIC SCREAM!>>

[ At some point after fighting back against her captors, she managed to escape. But what price freedom when you're alone with no one who knows you or cares to help you? When everyone you cared for is dead? When you're FOREVER CHANGED and you dont even know who you are anymore?]

[ Sharon Kelly spends most of her time in this suite sitting there...motionless and without any visible sign of registering what's going on around her. But that's the furthest thing from truth.]

<<ZOOM IN>>

[Her silver eyes. Her ears. She HEARS EVERYTHING her sonic powers gave her superhuman hearing but there's something else.]

<< Outside. In the sky. BIRDS>>

[Sharon Kelly is a mutate and with her genetic potential fully unlocked and engineered as it has been, She is the super powered SILVER SWAN. One of the most unique and DEADLY aspects of her power is telepathic control over ALL species of birds!]

<<FLASH>>

<< fast, sudden images of birds of all shapes and sizes flying every which way. images of birds ATTACKING Senator Ron Davis ; NYPD Police Chief>>

[through the birds she sees and knows more than one could suspect. through HER they manifest her RAGE and her DESIRE FOR REVENGE. They do her command, respond to her emotions and thus is a unique and TERRIFYING rapport between them]

[ Her silver eyes blink. She speaks]

they must be hurt...as they hurt me. they must suffer.

they must....DIE!

[ She stands up with perfert form and lifts her arms out side to side. Spinning around "wonder woman style" but SO FAST she seems to transform into a tight spinning column of WIND before a thunderous FLASH reveals The SILVER SWAN! ]

[Sharon Kelly is hallow,empty, lost. SILVER SWAN is POWERFULL, BOLD, DRIVEN and FILLED WITH RAGE. She WILL have her REVENGE on Mystech. ALL who are involved directly OR indirectly!]

[ She screams, crying out like a bird of prey before launching out of her suite into the air and ZOOMING away. The birds attacked Senator Ron Davis and NYPD Chief, BOTH are in the pocket of Mystech BUT there's more. Several "workers" in central park, SEARCHING for Silver Swan. The birds have told her where THEY are and now she's going to GET THEM.]

[

 

[Matrix]

First shower in a while. Rich soaks in the water, soaps up and relaxes a bit under the water.

He ate enough food for a football team. He was into his fifth plate of food before he noticed her looking at him. He finished up and stopped. he could hear his Mama telling him not to impose on others and so he thanked her for the meal and went to bed.

He slept longer than he'd planned and so he started moving again, rinsing and then drying himself off. He put the same clothes back on and walked out of the room to find a breakfast spread several times as big as the dinner one. His pride said to walk away, not to impose, but his stomach hungered, and so he sat down.

Thanks Brenda.

She came out and sat opposite him.

Damn...even prettier in the morning.

Rich began to eat after saying Grace. He looked at her after a few bites and then spoke.

Pete should be fine going forward. I will get out of you guys' hair in just a few minutes. When I work up some cash I will pay on your food here, it can't be cheap. Thanks for all your help.

He went back to eating. It was amazing to watch, as it seemed he gained nary a pound after eating what was impossible amounts of food.

 

[MorningStar]

Illustra - 107th Floor

”Delilah? We're here”.

Delilah exhaled slowly. She smoothed the blanket down over her legs. Her chair was by the window of the living room, skewed to face the hallway from the foyer. She had fixed her makeup, smoothed her hair. Her hands fidgeted until she settled on folding them in her lap.

Karen was here. And she still had not a clue what she was going to say to her.

Finally she could put it off no longer.

“Come in, Alycia.”

She waited with baited breath for some sign from Karen that everything was okay, knowing that she wasn’t likely to get one.

 

[Bishop]

Bishop walked uptown, his hands shoved into his pockets. He didn't like leaving Delilah alone, but he knew his demeanor would only bring her mood down, and he didn’t want that. Plus, there were things he needed. He had safe houses all over this city, and some of the things he had stashed would be quite useful. He wanted to move some of them into the security of the secret floor, and now was as good a time as any.

More than that, he needed some time alone with his thoughts. He wasn’t used to working with someone else, even after the last year – and especially not being a glorified nanny. But he felt responsible for Delilah, and for her accident. He had allowed her to go on alone while he had set the self-destruct sequence. They never should have split up – and he knew that. It was pure stupidity. He had never let her get her way in the face of a bad decision since then – lot of good it did her now.

He cut through Central Park, his mind SCREAMING. This felt all wrong. They were too noticeable. It would be better if she let him go after Mystech alone, in and out and no one the wiser. But she never would allow that. She wanted revenge too badly. He just hoped she got it before it ate her alive.

He made his way to the wooded area past the castle. He just needed to think.

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

It was 9:30 and Ana-Leigh was making her way out of her statistics class and heading to the quad for some coffee. It was fall in New York so it wasn't too cold out just yet. Wearing a black leather jacket with fitted plaid shirt, black leggings, and black riding boots, she carried a simple oversized gunmetal grey hobo bag that kept the majority of her school books and school supplies minus a couple binders she was carrying in her arms. Her loosely curled black hair was pulled back into a simply pony tail with a few free falling pieces framing her face. She wasn't a total fashionista like Marco wanted her to be, however she did know how to rock out her own style and look good.

After ordering a cup of coffee, she walked over to her usual spot by the willow tree near the library. There were benches all over the place, but most students opted to sit on the grassy knolls that made up the majority of the quad. Hell, the only other grassy area was in Central Park so they took advantage of it. Sitting down in the grass, Ana-Leigh leaned up against the tree and dropped her purse next to her. She didn't have another class for a half hour so she had some time to enjoy her coffee and try to wake up. Having roughly three and a half hours of sleep certainly didn't help when it came to a full day of classes, but last night was definitely worth the heavy eyes. Plus, she would be damned to actually skip class today since Alycia Barnett was poised to talk.

Hey Ana!

Looking up, Ana-Leigh smiled seeing Rebecca walking up to her. They had first met during orientation when they were freshman and instantly became friends. Ana didn't go into too much details about her personal life, however she did tell people the basics about herself as to not draw unwanted attention. So when she found out that Rebecca was also from Georgia, they definitely felt some sort of kinship being two girls from the south in the big bad city known as New York. Rebecca was a psych major so they didn't have any classes together, however they always managed to meet for breakfast every day at the willow tree.

"Hey!"

You look like hell.

"You sure know how to flatter a girl."

Rebecca laughed and plopped down next to Ana, snagging her coffee and taking a small sip.

I try! So, i'm guessing the club was fun then?

"Actually yeah....I was really surprised. But i'm definitely feeling it today."

Like I said....lookin' good.

"WhatEVER, asshole."

Laughing, both Ana-Leigh and Rebecca continued to chat about the night before and what happened at the club with Siryn. She made sure to leave out the part where she saw a pile of dead bodies afterwards....but still, it made for a good conversation before class.

 

[Brenda Castle]

Rich [thinking]: Even prettier in the morning...

Well, it wasn't hard to be prettier than she was last night, in a torn, dirty dress, splattered in blood, with scraped knees and rain-slick hair. Her waterproof mascara had held, but everything else had been demolished in the fight in the Alley. Of COURSE she looked better now, she thought, but didn't say. She let him have his thoughts, if she could help it. She knew if he wanted her feedback, he'd have made the comment out loud. Instead, she gave him a little smile.

Rich: Thanks Brenda.

"My pleasure, Rich."

His situation gave her a differnet perspective. It shocked her, how she had taken for granted the fact that she could eat whatever, whenever She'd never thought about it. She'd never had to. Even now, as he wolfed down course after course, she didn't stop to think about the cost. He mentioned repaying her, and she almost snorted her capuccino.

"No, you will NOT. Rich... my father owns this hotel. This costs me nothing."

She replies without hesistation. She has not ever apologized for having money. She never will. It would be like apologizing for being born American.

"Speaking of which, I know you want to make your own way.... I know you don't want to impose, but I can arrange for you to have a place to sleep, until you get back on your feet. Even when the front desk tells people we are fully booked, we have rooms available. It wouldn't be a big deal. Look, you don't have to answer me right now. I want you to think about it by yourself. Just keep in mind that in this town, who you know can be the difference between being on top of the world, or carrying it on your shoulders. Last night you made a powerful friend when you helped me carry Pete out of that alley. I don't want my friend to go without something as essential as food or shelter."

She fell into silence, sipping her coffee and looking out the window. Being on the top floor of the Palace meant having skyline views of the city. She watched a flock of birds split into three groups. It was super weird. It reminded her of a different bird of prey..... the Silver Swan.

"I wish you could have seen the Silver Swan last night, Rich. She was beautiful.... and terrible at the same time. She was powerful and scary and awesome. She just..... laid waste to the whole team. They didn't stand a chance. what she did to them.... you saw it.... it was so brutally gruesome...."

She had been nibbling at grapes and other fruit, but the mental recollection of that massacre stole her appetite. She shuddered and sat back, still staring out the window.

"But she saved me."

Brenda acknowledged, goosebumps raising on her arms.

 

[Seer]

the birds

<< Speaking of the Silver Swan...>>

<<Away from the Palace Hotel. Into Central Park, a natural gem in the midst of a small world made of steel and stone.>>

<< Many things happened here. Good, bad and STRANGE.>>

<< Bishop was no stranger to this place either. He'd apprehended and disposed of many targets here. He'd come here for happier pleasant things before too before that. NOW he was taking the sceneic route as he dwelled on his associate, his friend Delilah Trelevan and how her world had forever changed. How they were now more bonded together thanever as the looming evil of Mystech closed in on them>>

<< From Brenda's vantage point at the Palace Hotel, she and Rich saw a large flock of birds...several different species traveling together...split off into three smaller streams. Unbenknownst to them just yet, one group had savagely attacked the NYPD police chief [who was on Mystech's payroll], another group attacked Senator Ron Davis, former WilPharma CEO [a biotech firm that was apart of the mystech conglomerate and he himself in Mystech's pocket], who was at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a drug treatment facility...that was HARDLY going to serve such a noble purpose.>>

<< The police chief was injured, but not as badly as Senator Davis. Both were taken to the hospital. Both would likely survive but for the woman behind these attacks, this was FAR from over.>>

<< in central park, where Bishop was passing through, he heard and soon noticed an unsual amount of activity in the air above him. the TREES. It was more than the wind making the leaves rustle and flow. The trees were FILLED with BIRDS. Some vocalizing a bit, others fluttering and fussing with their neigbors a bit.>>

<< there were crows and sparrows perched on some benches and on the grass even. they ALL seem to be watching HIM.>>

<< He kept moving, but keeping an eye on his unusual audience.>>

<<soon....>>

 

[Matrix]

Hmnn...no answer. Probably finding a way to claim she wasn't looking fine last night. Her prerogative.

He continued eating as she spoke. The offer was kind and a huge part of him was eager to accept. But how could he do that? Just be some layabout? Just wasn't him, especially when it was just because he helped a dude into a car. There were people he had met, GOOD people, who worked all day and night and had nothing. That was why he didn't go to the shelters anymore...the baby face always got him in but it would take a bed from REAL babies. The first time he realized that he had gotten that last bed he cried all night long. He had run out but the Mother and her little boy was already gone, disappeared into the night. He could see them now in his mind just like he did every night. He prayed they were OK.

And so he just listened while Brenda talked and kept eating. Until she mentioned the shadow that rolled away when he came around the corner.

"I wish you could have seen the Silver Swan last night, Rich. She was beautiful.... and terrible at the same time. She was powerful and scary and awesome. She just..... laid waste to the whole team. They didn't stand a chance. what she did to them.... you saw it.... it was so brutally gruesome...."

She had been nibbling at grapes and other fruit, but the mental recollection of that massacre stole her appetite. She shuddered and sat back, still staring out the window.

"But she saved me."

Brenda acknowledged, goosebumps raising on her arms.

Yeah she did. I guess the question is: from WHAT? The guys were too military -looking for a kidnapping or something, unless it was some mob thing, I guess.

He took another bite and chewed...then spoke again.

You got a bodyguard right? I don't want anything to happen to you and no disrespect, but your boyfriend can't handle guys like that. I don't expect them to stop at one try.

If it sounded like a bit of a dig on Peter, perhaps it was. But Rich let nothing on, just kept eating.

 

[Silver Swan]

Violence in the park

[ In the park. A group of men, wearing sanitation worker jumpsuits over their REAL uniforms. They were mystech agents, specifically part of the BioHazard Counter Measure team. Highly skilled mercenaries, the best money could buy. Further trained and armed with among the most powerfull weaponry and technology in the world. Mystech used them to achieve all sorts of goals on the ground level.]

[ they were often called out to either capture potential targets OR confront escaped biohazards/weapons. Silver Swan was still considered "PROPERTY" of Mystech and was to be retrieved at any cost.]

[ and there'd been much cost indeed...to THEM. Silver Swan was as violent as she was powerful and all of it driven by her deep emotional need for VEGEANCE.]

[THEY turned her into this. THEY hurt her. Night after Night, changing her body, twisting her down to genetic core INSIDE OUT. But the sister fates were KIND to her when The Six's ill fated attack on the Citadle allowed her to escape the behavioral modification process that would have bound her to Mystech's will and service forever, making her a SLAVE. Their tragic sacrifice unknowingly gave her a chance at FREEDOM.]

[ But what price freedom? as she had no friends, no family, no real connections to where she was, no idea what her life in the longterm would be like? The first few times she tried to ponder this, as SHARON, she broke down. She couldn't cope and so...her mind and emotions seperated Sharon from her Silver Swan persona and further divided her into the SIRYN alter ego, the woman who used her sonic powers to charm, intrigue, entertain and ultimately get her the things she needed to survive. all three personas wanted the same ultimate goal...but it was all just too much for SHARON to deal with on her own...alone.]

[The woman was lost unto herself even as she sought some form of salvation through vengeance.]

[ Here and now. Central Park.]

[ The birds reflected the will of their mistress and through them, she saw and knew far more than one could possibly imagine.]

[ She knew how many "workers" there were. 6. They were looking for HER. THEY knew her powers. After all, Mystech was responsible for unlocking her full genetic potential and augmenting it, turning her into the mutate she now is.]

[ the attacks on the police chief and ron davis in BROAD DAYLIGHT were meant to agitate Mystech and force them to step up their efforts to find her. That's what she wanted and now, here they were. Searching for her with their tech and weapons. They shouldnt try so hard. It's not like she's AFRAID of them!]

Field Leader: Bio scan is reading off the scale. Silver Swan is somewhere in this area. If she's hiding it's no use we'll....

[ the sound of adamantium slicing through air is heard as a sliver disc spins through the air and DECAPITATES the leader so fast, so cleanly that he doesnt even look like he's registered the fact his head his just been severed as it slowly slides from his neck and then his body drops. The 5 other commandos look on in disbelief.]

FIND HER?

[ Silver Swan says as she flies into view and lands, facing them all head on. Neither they, Nor Bishop can get a full view of her face due to her silver eyemask, but for Bishop it's the fist time he's EVER seen this woman before.]

Oh that's what i WANTED!

commando 2: activate the magnetic wave! hammer her to the ground before she can...

HURT THEM BADLY!

[ Silver Swan SHOUTS as she looks as if she'll have an outburst. Suddenly the BIRDS from the trees come SURGING out, vocalizing agression as the launch an attack that reminds Bishop of something out of 'The Birds']

[ a swarm of sparrows attacks one of the men, viciously beaking, biting, clawing and tearing at him, overwhelming him as he runs wildly out into the street and is hit HEAD ON by a car which in turn SMASHES him into the TRUCK the workers were driving. Both vehicles EXPLODE.]

KILL THEM ALL!

[ Silver Swan shouts as she attacks two of the men who open fire upon her with plasma cannons.]

[ CROWS now attacking the other two men. The first one is divebombed, as he fires the magnetic wave, his aim is off and instead of hitting Silver Swan, he nails his partner instead, who is blown apart. He then falls to the ground with a deep, bloody wound in the side of his head. Visibly stunned, he screams in terror as more birds descend upon him and begin to peck and PULL OUT his eyes.]

[ Silver Swan unleashes her SONIC SCREAM against the last two men. They drop their weapons and fall to their knees as their bodies writhe and shake and nearby glass windows of cars and buildings BLOW OUT.]

'BIOHAZARD' am I!? I WAS A HUMAN BEING until you captured me. HURT ME. TORTURED ME! NOW I am what i am...WHAT YOU MADE ME!

I'll keep hunting you and KILLING YOU until I've KILLED YOU ALL!

[ She thrusts her arms forward and opens her hands. releasing a deadly volley of adamantium spinning stars. they fly so fast, they'll cut through ANYTHING and human flesh, bone is no exception.]

[ the two men's screaming faces are lost in the hail of spinning stars as they meet their violent, bloody death.]

They keep coming for me and I will kill them. EVERYTIME. I wont stop [ armoured fist clenched] until I kill them ALL!

[ She stands still amongst the carnage for a moment. Her back is to Bishop, who by now had sense enough to hide himself as he watched. But he didnt count on the BIRDS. what they see, Silver Swan knows.]

[ As Bishop quietly sneaks away, intending to contact Delilah about the now solved mystery of the attacking birds...]

and WHERE do you think YOU'RE going!?

[in a flash, gleam of silver armour and blurred movement, Silver Swan is IN FRONT of him]

You were SPYING on me.

[ Spotting the device in his hand]

Contacting THEM[mystech] were you?

We'll you're TOO LATE. I'm going to KILL YOU like I did the rest of THEM back there! And if you try to run AGAIN...my pets will see to it that you DIE a PAINFULL DEATH!

[ referring to the birds that were now all around them in the trees above.]

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Illustra-107th floor

<< They walk in from the foyer together, Karen and Alycia.>>

<< things are...largely the same. a few changes here and there. that's to be expected...but....it was her daughter's home!>>

<< she wildly flashed between unexplainable feelings of betrayal and the logic of understanding. Delilah was not the enemy here...not by any means...but in Karen's heart of hearts...she expected things to be EXACTLY as they WERE before...>>

<< She and Alyica stood , facing Delilah.>>

Hello Delilah....

<<FLASH>>

<< horizontal split view of Karen's opal blue eyes [hidden behind her sun glasses] and Delilah's bright blue eyes.>>

<< Karen and Delilah gaze at one another in uncertain silence until...>>

<< from the distance, there is movement. and then, an urgent mewing. Tinkerbell comes running into view, mewing and bleeting urgently. she recognizes her 'grandma's' voice no matter how brief the sound of it.>>

Oh Tinker!

<< Karen says with soft happiness. She bends down to pick up the siamese, who came running right up to her.>>

Oh baby. Grandma missed you too!

<< Tinker breaks the "ice" among them all as Alycia looks on with a smile and Delilah can't help but smile a bit too.>>

<< Karen cuddles with Tinker for a moment, squeezing her gently as she shuts her eyes. Tinker enjoys the attention and purrs.>>

And yes....grandma has a treat for you. Just like always.

<< Tinker mews and squirms with excitement as Karen sets her down and then retrieves from her purse a small tube of fresh catnip. Tinkerbell mews adamantly for the treat, even raising up on her hind legs a bit in anticipation.>>

It's okay baby. See?

<< dumping it on the carpet for Tinker to happily enjoy.>>

All right there for you.

Alycia: Thankfully, somethings will never change.

<< Alycia says with a smile among the three women.>>

<< Karen nods as she stands up, watching Tinker for a moment.>>

Tinkerbell looks good. How are YOU feeling, Delilah?

<< Karen takes one of Delilah's hands in her own...before finally bending down to hug her surrogate daughter.>>

 

[Artemis]

a moment

:: Alycia was confident that Karen and Delilah would be okay for the time being and while she hated to step away for this moment, she had an urgent phone call she needed to make.::

If you two will excuse me. I need to return a phone call from my office.

:: Opting to leave the penthouse and use the small alcove out in the hallway for privacy, Alycia sits on the window sill and exhales. pausing for a bit to look out of the window. Even in the small alcolve, the window provided an excellent view of the sprawling city outside.::

:: It was a mild but dreary day. She felt the sadness and uncertainty Karen was struggling with. She didnt have to be an empath, she just knew Karen quite well and for all that she'd been through, she was doing remarkably well.::

:: Delilah was a good friend, a trustworthy and honorable woman. But for Karen, this was her DAUGHTER'S ghost that hung between them. She hoped things would go well. She was certain they would.::

:: For the moment, Alycia had some other things to attend to, including her upcoming appointment this afternoon at her alma mater. She'd be speaking to the students of the law program and then selecting one in particular to job-shadow her. She'd already determined the winner. Ana-Leigh Moraeu. The passion and sincerity in her letter was clear and true. Not like so many others who knew the right buzz words to try to look sincere. Ana-Leigh had that FIRE of conviction that Alycia felt ignite in herself all those years ago and in this age where Mystech was extinguishing the flames of truth and passion with hits evil, constricting shadow, those flames that burned still MUST be nurtured so that they will get stronger. Ana-Leigh was the one Alycia felt most deserved this and who would most appreciate it.::

:: For Alycia, one of the biggest crests in her career thus far was taking down Anthony Zacchara. The Zacchara's were one of the most powerfull and deadly crime families on the east coast. They rivaled the Cassadines. But unlike the Cassadines, the possibility of a link between the Zaccharas and Mystech was not immediately clear.::

:: At anyrate, Alycia found herself the star of a NEW "trial of the century" as She sought to take down Anthony Zacchara on behalf of the State of New York, not to mention all those who had been directly/indirectly harmed by the Zaccharas through the years. Her courage, resolve and strength of will were surely tested not only in the courtroom but outside of it as supporters of the zaccharas and others attempte to harrass and intimidate her.::

:: But after 6 long weeks...she managed to prevail and history was made. She successfully saw Anthony Zacchara convicted on all counts and sentenced to prison for life! It was a major victory, one that would place her in a legal "who's who" of powerfull lawyers forever after. But then...just as she'd experienced this HIGH...a major LOW came as her dear friend and one of her most prominent clients, Morgan Victoria, DIED at the hands of the same company that caused her father's death. ::

:: she sat in the alcove on the window sill, leaning against the window. Her head back and her hazel eyes closed. For a moment, she allowed her own emotions to come close to the surface as she shuddered with memories and grief.::

:: but no. not even now was the time for this.::

:: she sat up and dabbed her eyes with a hankerchief and pulled out her blackberry and soon was returning her office's phonecall, directing her secretary to confirm her attendance for today's event with NYU with the law department and that she'd selected her choice for the student job-shadow program.::

:: she had an hour before she had to be there.::

:: that was no issue for her though. right now, she needed to get back to the penthoues and make sure Karen was okay. 10 minutes had passed since she left them.::

:: she ignored the alerts on her blackberry aout bird attacks on senator ron davis, whom she despised; and the nypd police chief, whom she found to be a chauvanist pig. but she'd be aware of them and so much more soon enough.::

:: out of the alcove, down the hall and back to the penthouse apartment she returned. ::

 

[Bishop]

Connor was distracted from his thoughts by noises in the trees. Rustling, restlessness. There were tons of them. Birds. He was struck by the sheer number. Then he noticed it wasn’t just the trees – there were all around him.

He shook himself. Get it together, they’re just birds. Stop being paranoid.

A crow on a park bench seemed to be eyeing him curiously. He peered at it.

“If you Mystech assholes are listening, you better send a lot more than birds if you want to take me.”

He went on his way with an impassive face, but it was unsettling, just the same.

He found himself at the edge of the wooded area and coming out into the open. There were people there – and he wasn’t all that interested in seeing people right now, so he was about to turn around. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw something he couldn’t quite believe: one of the men up ahead appeared to have been separated from his head.

Connor crept silently closer.

There was something going on here. A woman, dressed all in silver, and wearing a mask. And for hell’s sake, she could fly.

KILL THEM ALL!

“Holy shit.”

The birds started attacking the men – like something out of, well, The Birds, for chrissake.

And then, the woman… She was vicious, ferocious –

'BIOHAZARD' am I!? I WAS A HUMAN BEING until you captured me. HURT ME. TORTURED ME! NOW I am what i am...WHAT YOU MADE ME! I'll keep hunting you and KILLING YOU until I've KILLED YOU ALL!

He was amazed at how quickly and efficiently she dispatched the men, and with such brutality. He had to get back and tell Delilah about this…no…call her. He started dialing even as he crept away. But then he heard her voice.

and WHERE do you think YOU'RE going!?

And then she was facing him.

You were SPYING on me. Contacting THEM were you? We'll you're TOO LATE. I'm going to KILL YOU like I did the rest of THEM back there! And if you try to run AGAIN...my pets will see to it that you DIE a PAINFULL DEATH!

He slowly and carefully put the phone back in his pocket, then showed her his hands. Something clicked. He nodded towards the bodies.

“Let me guess, Mystech?”

He stayed calm, had to play this right.

“If you’re going to kill me, so be it, but don’t lump me in with those scumbags.”

He lowered his hands to his side, keeping his eyes on hers.

“That was impressive, what you did there. My partner – she’s like you, a mutant. That’s who I was calling. We’ve been hunting them. Maybe you heard about a meltdown at a place called The Citadel? That was us. Mystech hurt her, bad. We could use an ally like you – and we could help you. Maybe you and my partner could meet?”

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah’s mouth was dry as she saw Karen’s face behold the apartment that had been her daughter’s. She gulped.

Hello Delilah....

Delilah opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find her voice. But then Tink entered the room, enchanting everyone as usual. Delilah looked at the kitty in Karen’s arms and smiled in relief.

Oh, Bless you, Tinkerbell.

The nerves returned to the pit of Delilah’s stomach, though, as Karen approached her. She looked up sheepishly into Karen’s face.

Tinkerbell looks good. How are YOU feeling, Delilah?

And then Karen hugged her, and all the nervousness melted away.

Blinking away tears:

“I’m as well as can be expected, Karen. I’m sorry I didn’t come to visit you myself, it’s just…”

She let her words trail off. She dabbed at her eyes, then smiled.

“It’s good to see you, Karen.”

 

[Silver Swan]

Central Park

[ Silver Swan kept her predatory glare on him. Not wavering a moment. Surprisingly HE continued to look HER in the eye. The mystech goons were the only people who managed to do that thus far.]

He slowly and carefully put the phone back in his pocket, then showed her his hands. Something clicked. He nodded towards the bodies.

“Let me guess, Mystech?”

of COURSE. They're the only ones who fall for my traps like this...EVERYTIME. and who ELSE would be here BUT them!?

[ still convinced HE was one of them as she was close to launching herself at him for a brutal assault]

“If you’re going to kill me, so be it, but don’t lump me in with those scumbags.”

He lowered his hands to his side, keeping his eyes on hers.

well then just who ARE you!?

[ Silver Swan was somewhat reasonable. She didnt kill Brenda the other night. She knew Brenda was not with them. Maybe he WAS telling the truth. His heart beat, his breathing, none of his vital functions were fluctuating to indicate nervousness due to attempt at DECEPTION. She could hear those things too. They WERE elevated but given the situation, that was to be expected]

“That was impressive, what you did there. My partner – she’s like you, a mutant. That’s who I was calling. We’ve been hunting them. Maybe you heard about a meltdown at a place called The Citadel? That was us.

WHAT!? IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD HE....

[Connor's gamble paid off...Silver Swan no longer showed any obvious sign that she was about to attack him. But she was was still agitated.]

The CITADLE!? of COURSE i've heard of it. I was THERE. They HELD me captive there! That's where they turned me...into THIS.

[ clenching her armoured fist.]

Mystech hurt her, bad. We could use an ally like you – and we could help you. Maybe you and my partner could meet?”

....

I can TELL you're not lying. Your heart beat, your breathing, even your blood flow don't match the patterns of a LIAR.

I'm ALL FOR anything that involves DESTROYING MYSTECH!

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Illustra-107th floor

<< Karen stood back up, shaking her head slowly.>>

I could have just as easily come here sooner. We're on on opposite ends of a painfull chasm, wherein my daughter's death hangs like a fog. that fog has made things difficult for both of us.

<< seating herself on the leather sectional in the sunken living room.>>

But here we are now.

<< she looks at Delilah, slowly taking off her dior sunglasses.>>

The last time I saw you....you did not have this chair.

I know you went to the Citadle...to seek revenge.

Alycia told me that you personally saw to it that my ex-husband, Morgan's father and his twisted associate, Adam Chandler had been dealt with, PERMANETLY.

<< Karen leaned forward and placed her hand on Delilah's blanket covered lap.>>

The RELIEF that I felt...knowing that if I wanted to emerge from Clandestine Inc's protection I now could is only matched by the SHOCK and DISMAY I felt after knowing that MYSTECH put you in this chair!

<< she looks at Delilah>>

By the goddess, Delilah, you could have been....they could have taken you...just like they did my daughter, her sister...Alison and those others!

Knowing all of this, and considering that Alycia had finally been able to contact you so that all parties involved in Morgan's will could....

<< Karen pauses....swallowing hard.>>

so that the will could be...executed...

I felt that it was time to come and see you...and visit my daughter's place...

<< sitting back a bit, she quickly reaches for a hankerchief in her purse>>

which is now YOUR place....

<< Karen struggles.>>

Forgive me...I just...this is much harder than I thought it would be.

My baby's pride and joy...

<< trembling a bit as she dabs her eyes.>>

Oh for heaven's sake...

<< bowing her head and putting her hand on her forehead>>

I'm not handling this very well....

 

[Brenda Castle]

Rich: Yeah she did. I guess the question is: from WHAT? The guys were too military -looking for a kidnapping or something, unless it was some mob thing, I guess.

"Not the mob.... The White Queen."

She replied ominously, not knowing what the name meant, just remembering the exposed thoughts of the shock troop last night. She wanted desperately for more information.

Rich: You got a bodyguard right?

"No.... I've never needed one before. I have the whole floor to myself up here.... Security on campus is ever-present. I'm almost never alone out in the city. There was no violence in my life until last night."

Rich: I don't want anything to happen to you and no disrespect, but your boyfriend can't handle guys like that.

"Who COULD? Pete could be a UFC fighter, it wouldn't have made a difference. There were like a dozen of those brutes. Even if I'd HAD a bodyguard... the two of us would still have been overwhelmed. It would have been a senseless loss of life."

Rich: I don't expect them to stop at one try.

"Neither do I... even AFTER the Silver Swan started to shred the team, their plan was still 'capture the Castle'. But there was something Silver Swan said to me afterwards.... 'you weren't supposed to be the one they attacked'. I think she knows who they are, who they work for. I have to find some way to talk to her again."