The sum of all fears PART 1

[Harbinger]

elsewhere, the garden

:: Harbinger's colbalt blue eyes widened for a moment as the large, psychotic monkeys came bounding into the garden.::

:: her eyes shifted just a bit as one was flying through the air, bearing down on HER!::

UGH!

:: as MorningStar nailed her assailants with a photon blast, Harbinger contorts her face with disgust at the sight and smell of the monkey and draws up before she BLINKS out of sight and the Monkey crashes into the POOL, causing a tremendous splash. She blinks back IN and thrusts her hands out ala' Piper Halliwell and "TRUE FREEZES" the entire pool....causing the water to stop moving at that moment and become frozen SOLID, subjected to temporal and physical freezing as it is reduced to absolute zero temperature. the monkey is frozen solid as well, with a look of feral agitation etched into its face as it is now completely inert...the frozen water sparkles...its amost artfull...but there's no time to appreciate the bizarre art as Black Widow dispatches her assailants.::

:: Harbinger quickly checks on Delilah.::

are you alright?

We're in just as much danger outside as we would be inside and we're no use to anyone out here. let's get to that tower, its the only way for us to get inside but watch out for more creatures.

:: the women walk side by side...with Alison checking ahead as she can with her precognition. still, in this envrionment, Barbas held sway...and he'd find away around her precognition just as he did Morgan's stepping discs.::

 

[Seer]

into the nightmare deep

<< Rampage was right, there WAS something amiss and Spellbinder did well to hold back at least until she could tell if it was INDEED her mother calling for her in such a strange manner.>>

<< meanwhile, Arsenal, Shadow Weaver and even Silver Swan felt disoriented as they found they were no longer where they once where. they were NOW back on the main floor...in the dining hall where Haleigh and Alycia had first been greeted by zombies long ago when they first investigated Arklay.>>

<< there was no light, save for the lightening that flashed from the large cathedral style windows that faced the front lawn of Arklay's mansion. there was the battlement far above whith doors and doorways to another floor and of course in the space they were in, there were the swinging doors that lead to the large kitchen. moving along the long dining table, there was a fireplace behind the head of that table and just to the right of that, a door way that lead to another hall.>>

<< Sharon lead with grim focus...and Karen followed with somber silence. Mike did his best to assure them they'd get out of here alive but even HE had to realize that this was perhaps one of the 9 circles of HELL on earth. He'd heard the stories, seen the files but for Barbas to pick this place to stage his battle , his war of revenge, it must have been seared into the minds of the Six [ that had been here before] far deeper than even they knew.>>

<< The group took time to investigate their surroundings, and as Sharon recounted to Mike how this was the very place where she LOST her fight to keep her son out of Mystech's grasp and that they left her laying her unconscious until she was found and rescued by Bishop, the stopped near the fireplace. Mike took the time to map what he'd seen with his devices. with only one person with a "movement" (teleporting) capability...they needed to be able to trace their steps in case something happened.>>

back in the garden in one of the outside REAR areas of the mansion's grounds

<< Harbinger, MorningStar and Black Widow moved together, cautiously. they reached the tower, after fending off a few stray cannibal/zombie leeches and began their walk up the spiral stair case. the tower was quite old...with no light, save from Morningstar's natural luminescence. there were cob webs, and a few moths fluttering about and the interior of the tower was that of metal with "fiber optic" effects running through it. the OUTSIDE of the tower was a facade, it looked very old but cleary there was more to it and as they ascended the stairs...they were halted by the presence of....BATS, large, red eyed, zombie bats with a taste for human blood. the bats...6 of them in all, began to come down, closing in to attack!>>

and far below, away from everyone else, beneath the underground servants quarters and dungeons....the Zaccharas were now in the AQUA RING, a technological gem among the scientific world.

<< the sound of dripping water echoed in the air and water was all around them flowing definately. they were waist deep in it where they were. it SHOULD have been dry ground, but many moons ago when Malice ordered Enchantra to release the virus in the mansion, the attendant in the aqua ring went mad and disengaged the locks and safetys , causing the entire lab to flood. creatures escaped out into the open and even out of the mansion into the water systems of the forest.>>

<< with the zaccharas being unaware of the significance of this place or where they were...they were at the most disadvantage. they had no idea what kind of creatures lurked here. all they could see at the moment was that they were surrounded by a dark, technologically advanced labryinth filled with water . there was no one else about. no one ALIVE that is...and there was no immediate exit.>>

<< as they walked along, the dark water was already flowing and now seemed to ripple a bit. it was not too much at first but then it increased, soon, Claudia and Clara found themselves in the path of a large , IMMENSE dark object, some kind of creature. it was in fact a Neptune, a mutated SHARK that was larger than most naturally occurring species of sharkes and could exist in fresh OR salt water...the skark was faster than a torpedo and had more strength and power than a whale and was BLOOD thirsty! it was closing in on them!!>>

 

[MorningStar]

It felt good for something to go right for them out of this whole mess. They dispatched with the monkeys right quick, and then Alison suggested they take refuge in the tower. Delilah nodded.

"Maybe we'll be able to see the others from there...or at least see trouble before it sees us."

But, of course their luck couldn't hold and trouble found them first.

As they ascended the dark stairs, Delilah raised her luminescence to light the way....which also revealed the presence of some freaking huge bats coming their way.

Delilah immediately raised a laser shield around the three of them - hopefully the bats would either get a nasty shock if they came too clase or be vaporized altogether if they were very very lucky.

Then she concentrated, bringing her hands up beside her sides in fists, and emitted a high pitched sonic attack, seeking to scramble the bats' own sonar. Assuming of course, that these worked like regular bats.

 

[Black Widow]

Arklay -- Bell Tower

Alison filled her in on what was happening. There was talk of disabling the Zacchara's powers and leaving them for Barbas to finish off. Haleigh was noticeably silent. The idea didn't quite sit well with her, surprisingly. She didn't CARE if they died or not… she didn't want Barbas to get the boost from their deaths, but there was something else. It just seemed…. wrong to take their ability to defend themselves away from them. She wanted them dead as much as anyone, but
Leaving them to fight Barbas without their powers felt a bit like dumping a crippled man out of his wheelchair and leaving him to a pack of wolves. She didn't have to say anything and risk sounding sympathetic to the enemy, however…. Mike, Karen, and Delilah had it covered.

Delilah: "If we set them up to be kill, we'll be just as bad as they are. We'll lose our… humanity."

[grimly] "What little we have left."

Barbas: "Who are YOU trying to fool, Haleigh? EVERYONE knows YOU are the LEAST humane of them all. Sure, you hide it well, most of the time… you have a hint of decency about you… but underneath that cool, calm exterior is a SAVAGE killer's instinct…."

Yeah…. You just wait until I get the chance to UNLEASH IT on YOU.

Barbas: "You know, I really love that you don't even try to deny it or fight it…."

Oh fuck OFF.

She shoots back, as she gathers together in the circle of Morgan's incantation. The ground quakes… smoke and fire surrounds them and Spellbinder beckons them to stay together over the screams of tortured souls. Then, with a loud crash of thunder, they are transported.

An eerily peaceful garden, a quietly running fountain and a low, moderately thick fog is the new scenery. Delilah says it first. They were at Arklay. Fuck was the kindest word Haleigh might've used. Delilah alarmingly asked where the others were and Alison answered that they were inside. Haleigh nodded in confirmation and Alison suggested they head through the garden for the mansion itself. The garden was kind of beautiful, if in need of a little TLC. The flora was a bit overgrown but had that natural, unlandscaped appeal. The statues are a bit much… WHAT THE F---

An oversized MONKEY dropped down on her from the statue, screeching and grabbing at Haleigh! She has trouble getting a hold of it… its fur is slimy and it moves in a frenzied manner.

"GET OFF ME, I DON'T HAVE ANY GODDAMNED BANANAS!"

She exclaims, ripping the thing from her back and BODY SLAMMING it to the garden path before manifesting an ANVIL that drops down on its FACE, crushing its head instantly.

They made their way to the tower and up the spiral stairs. Haleigh had nightvision and Delilah provided a bit of light for Alison, so nobody was bothered by the lack of light. Haleigh picked up on the technological advances of the tower instantly, and pointed it out to Alison and Delilah, only to be interrupted by more zombie creatures.

"Look at this… fiber optics… an expensive metal alloy… the outside of this tower is-- bats!"

Delilah raised a shield, and emitted a sonic attack to confuse the bats. Haleigh asked Delilah momentarily drop the laser shield, and she manifested a fully automatic Colt M4 carbine assault rifle and UNLOADED on the flying beasts, riddling their wings with holes and grounding them all before shooting each of them in the head with two or three bullets to kill them.

"Stupid dumb shit goddamn MOTHERFUCKERS!!!! I HATE THIS PLACE!"

Barbas: "Hmmm…. I just realized something. You kind of belong here. Really… you've got the TO Virus. You're a brutal, bloodthirsty killing machine. You were created by Mystech's experiments, and while you weren't created HERE…. This is kind of like your heritage. Rather fitting that you'll die here, isn't it?"

You first, you rat bastard.

 

[Fusion]

Arklay -- Aqua Ring

Johnny tried to get them out of there but sheepishly explained that he couldn't. Claudia tried the front door but got a nasty shock. Clara's patience was running out. If she had to blow a CRATER in L.A. the size of the grand canyon to get them out of here, she would… but unfortunately, she didn't have the chance. An earthquake erupted, and then the fire and brimstone and screaming and yada yada all that other crap they'd already seen. Clara sighed. It was scary the first time… now it was just old and boring. They were going to go through another dream and she told herself that no matter HOW realistic it was… they were STILL going to be pulled out and woken up at the last second with naught but as few scrapes, aches and pains. A crash of thunder and the apartment was gone. They were standing in a dark circular room, waist deep in cold water. Clara slapped the water frustratingly.

"UNBELIEVABLE! This is the THIRD time I've been forced into cold water in the last WEEK! Just ONCE I'd liked to be the one to DECIDE if I want to go swimming!"

Claudia: "Where the hell are we now?"

Johnny: "No idea… but at least we aren't in the dream with the landlord again."

[scoffing] "FOR REAL. Her and her retarded powertrip. And can I just say… what is up with that costume she's trying to wear? First of all, no. She looks like a skank who pulled her outfit out of a paper shredder. And second…. a getup like that is the reason the general public thinks all us mutants are FREAKS. MAYBE if they went about their business dressed like normal people, everyone would be a bit less uncomfortable with what they were doing. I mean SERIOUSLY. She could be trying to give food and clothes to homeless people, but if she was doing it dressed like a streetwalking, exorcism-needing Elvira, even those crazy hobos would run the other way."

They waded around in the water looking for an exit, but there was none in sight. There was an echo of dripping water that was kind of creepy, but other than that, the only sounds were being made by the three of them. It was dark in here and Clara held a small plasma ball to give them a little light. The water was mostly calm but it did flow a little and there were some isolated ripples. Off in the darkness, in the corner of her eye, Clara saw the outer limits of her light catch something wet and shiny above the water… She turned to look at it but it was gone. She searched the water, but it was a bit far away to make out, even in this clear water. She spotted a dark patch of water… and found it to be moving… it was a huge, dark, streamlined shape and it was moving quickly just beneath the surface of the water.

"Hey Claudia… Johnny…. Do either of you see that over there… there's something… dark… its moving… it's like a…. [a fin surfaces] IT'S A SHARK! THERE'S A SHARK IN THE WATER!"

It was hard not to panic. The thing was HUGE and fast and just as Clara realized what it was, she saw its fin turn TOWARDS them and it started for them, swimming at an alarmingly fast rate. There was little Clara could DO about it… her powers had an energy signature and there was standing waist deep in water… ANY move on her part would electrocute Claudia and Johnny right along with the shark. Claudia was the one who could save them right now.

[thoroughly alarmed] "CLAUDIA DO SOMETHING!!"

 

[Siren]

Claudia couldn't help but chuckle as Clara went on a LONG rant about Morgan's choice of wardrobe. Her sister had a point. Who in their right mind would wear a 'battle uniform' that basically covered her chest and lady parts? Even if Claudia were pathetic enough to wear a team uniform in the first place, she would never be caught dead in something that ridiculously slutty.

Clara: I mean SERIOUSLY. She could be trying to give food and clothes to homeless people, but if she was doing it dressed like a streetwalking, exorcism-needing Elvira, even those crazy hobos would run the other way."

[laughing] "First of all, I don't think Morgan Victoria would be caught dead within a 50 mile perimeter of a hobo, let alone giving them food and clothing. And secondly, I think her botox filled crater face sort of offsets the hidiousness of her outfit."

Staying within the lit area of Clara's plasma ball, Claudia pushed some old rusted medical trays out of her path as she continued to look around.

"This looks like an old labratory which means there HAS to be a door somewhere."

Clara: "Hey Claudia…"

"Yeah?"

Turning around, Clara was looking toward the other end of the aqua ring saying she could see something dark in the water. Claudia saw it too...

Clara: its moving… it's like a…. [a fin surfaces] IT'S A SHARK! THERE'S A SHARK IN THE WATER!

Just as Clara began to shout that it was a shark, almost on cue, the shark began to race toward them at heightened speeds.

Clara: [thoroughly alarmed] "CLAUDIA DO SOMETHING!!"

Gesturing out with her hand, the mass of water surrounding the shark exploded upward sending the mutated fish flying high into the air.

"SHOOT IT NOW!"

 

[Silver Swan]

Arklay- west dining hall

[ Sharon paused for a moment.]

There's nothing here...

[but before she could move on, she couldnt help but REMEMBER with painfull clarity what happened to her all those years ago.]

[ as Karen examined a dust covered place setting on the large, long dining table, Sharon looked out of a cathedral window.]

This is where I lost him...

[ a childs laughter could be heard in the breezy air.]

my son.

I was still human then...fighting for my life and my son's life...my HUSBAND...so BENT on political advancement and financial gane...that he brought us to this place. Malice and James Marcus had designs on Kyle and Robert couldnt protect us!


[ echoes of the confrontation haunted the air...faint but distinct. Mike could hear the sounds of Sharon, a crying boy and mystech goons.]

it feels like a dozen life times ago. and now...here i am again. only this time I'm alone. Robert was lost, buried within the hidden passages, twists and turns of this place and Kyle...well you know what happened to him.

Oddly enough, this time around, I am not afraid ...at least not OF this place.

Barbas: But THEY should be afraid of YOU. after all...you ARE a "psychotic mass murderer"...as your sister biological mistake, HALEIGH put it.

[ Sharon trails off as Barbas makes fun of her. she didnt resist. Indeed...she seemed a little TOO silent on that.]

Barbas: This isnt a nightmare for you. This is a home coming! You could take down Nicolas just like you WANT and eliminate Haleigh, your unintended RIVAL!

[ the thunder cracks and lightening strobes as Sharon seems to be starring off into space...not a good sign.]

 

[Shadow Weaver]

deadly surprise

<< Karen's eyes rolled as Arsenal tried to be cheeky.>>

watch me walk INDEED.

<< had forgotten that her costume included a CAPE? she could only how he carried on in his military days with his comrades in arms. still, she was glad to see at least two familiar faces. but even as they resolved their next move, their environment changed as quickly.>>

I felt Morgan calling out to me...through our bond as mother and child. But Where is she??

<< Barbas doing his best to keep them from reaching each other. He could only mess with their spatial perception, as this was his created reality but he couldnt touch their telepathic bond.>>

<< the group walked along, with Silver Swan leading, Shadow Weaver in the mid walking with poise and Arsenal bringing up the rear. Silver Swan and Shadow Weaver both wore high heeled boots as part of their costumes, keeping up with their younger counter parts like like Morgan, Alison and Blaze. but in a place like this...every little sound seemed so LOUD and as the women walked, the soon managed to synch their steps to lessen the noise/echo their high heels made in the space around them.>>

I feel like she's nearby...i KNOW she is, and yet...I can't see her! It's not just a question of her being in one room and me in another...

<< they entered the dining room, their shadows cast up against the wall to their right as lightning flashed repeatedly in the row of large cathedral windows across to the other side of the dining hall. Sharon informed them that there was nothing immediately special about it.>>

<< Karen took in the immense, dark, grand feeling of her surroundings. Thinking about the history This place was a beautifull piece of architecture, but all stories of the six's last time here were filled with horrific details. a most suitable place to draw an enemy into...if they werent killed by their foe...this place itselfe was full of death traps.>>

<< Sharon began to recount the LAST time she had been in this particular room of the mansion, where her son was torn from her grasp after she tried to first escape and then tried to fight off her assailants. She spoke with cold detachment now...a disturbing remainder of the way she was AFTER she was healed/repaired by Morgan and Nicolas.>>

<< Karen remained quiet, listening to Sharon but still bothered by how Morgan and she could not seem to establish firm fixes on one another.>>

he wants to keep us apart. there's strength in numbers...

<< as they stood now at the end of the dining hall, there was no choice but to either turn to the right and pass through a doorway into an interior hall or go back the way they came and risk entering through some swinging doors along the wall into the large kitchen.>>

<< as she stood near the fire place with the cape of her costume wrapped around her feminine form to keep the chill off, she heard some odd sounds...whispering...rustling...and some kind of crunching/rustling sound. it was coming from the doorway leading to the interior hall.>>

<< she was drawn to investigate. quietly slipping away as Mike and Sharon talked. down the small, dimly lit hall she went. it seemed that her beating heart was the loudest thing present, since the carpet muted the sound of her high heeled boots. down to the end she went, no where to turn but right. down a few more steps to an alcove where she found a woman in a familiar, dark blue , body contouring "armour" uniform...a woman with raven black hair, kneeling down and hunched over something...>>

...hello?

<< Karen said cautiously....the figure slowly looked up and turned to look over her shoulder...it was ...>>

ALYCIA!

<< but as the lightning flashed, ALycia was revealed to be a full on ZOMBIE and feeding on the corpse of a Force Works soldier! her eyes now solid white...and her facial appearence reflecting that of a zombie...Karen gasped wiwth SHOCK as Alycia growled and moaned, slowly standing up and now firmly focused on Karen.>>

<< Karen backed into the wall before quickly darting away, running back down the hall with a look of terror on her face.>>

no!! goddess NO! that can't be her! it's just a dream...its just...

<< as she rounded the corner and made it down the hall she reached the door way and screamed as a HAND grabbed her...it was Mike! scolding her for disappearing as she did.>>

There's NO TIME FOR THAT....I saw....she....I saw....

<< Karen's voice was sparked with dismay and fear....>>

 

[Seer]

and so

<< As Shadow Weaver pulled from Arsenal and screamed at him to listen her...she struggled to get ahold of herself to tell him that...ALYCIA was in the mansion, and ZOMBIE.>>

<< but as the thunder crashed and lightning strobed, Mike saw for HIMSELF out of the shadows of the dark passage behind Karen...as ALYCIA emerged...she was indeed a zombie. It was a shocking, horrid thing to see a trusted friend, an ally of the Six turned into this!>>

<< Shadow Weaver flinched and screamed as she back pedaled from Alycia. Meanwhile Mike saw that they had company, Zombies quite a few. coming at them from the other end of the dining hall, some were lumbering along the balcony rail of the second floor. they gurgled and growled as the closed in on the trio.>>

the Aqua Ring

<< the sisters and johnny began to make their way around one side of the mysterious labryinth sized lab. they had no idea that they were FAR below ground and that any exit they might find would only lead them to more passages underground.>>

<< as a NEPTUNE spotted them and came after them, Siren used her power over water to blast the gigantic fish up into the air , priming it for Fusion to dispatch but that was just the BEGINNING of their troubles.>>

<< water had been building up in MANY places around the lab, the pressure had been kept in check by what were once sturdy walls and thick barriers but after so much time, the barriers were starting to give, and even as Fusion fired upon the Neptune as it ROARED in the air, the trio were BOMBARDED by a torrent of water that crashed down from an observation booth above them! shards of glass, water and cannibal LEECHES were inclluded. one bite...one SCRATCH from these leeches and the victim would be infected with the T Virus!>>

<< their path to an exit was still undefined, they were merely in one AREA of the ring. there were multi levels and areas where the water had begun to recede and of course, more unknown creatures. their journey was only JUST beginning.>>

 

[Spellbinder]

Arklay mansion

<< Spellbinder's eyes darted over to Rampage's hand as he grasped her shoulder.>>

take your hand OFF!

<< she flashes in her mind as she stiffens a bit. but he only means to warn her, and rightfully so. something about "mother" doesnt sound right. Morgan waited.>>

I ...I can't tell!

I know she's here...but it's like we're out of synch spatially, just as you pointed out!

I hear her...but she's somewhere else. not in the main area we just came from...

<< shutting her eyes....>>

Barbas: off balance are we? are you SURE you're fit to go on? fit to even LEAD? you know you're magick cant stop the virus...and itll be such a simple thing to infect Blaze or Nicolas...and watch as you are FORCED to kill them. Can't trust him...can't trust yourself.

<< thunder rumbles as the wall mounted light fixtures, already providing dim light, began to flicker.>>


....

<< she shakes her head and grits her teeth...>>

no....i can't be paralyzed by fear and mistrust...what other choice would i have but to wait here to die!

mom...i know you're nearby...barbas is messing with us. he cant stop us from communicating but he's affecting the space we're in.

we'll just keep on...on THIS floor. we'll see what we can observe from up here once we reach the stair case.

<< and with that, Spellbinder walks with care, down the top flight of stairs...to the center landing that splits into three sets of stair cases, one leading down to the place where they were and two leading off in either east or west directions and curving to the back.>>

there's no one down here.

<< pausing...>>

oh this is ridiculous. I can't just stand here gripped by fear and DOUBT!

<< but WHICH way should she go? >>

 

[Seer]

more trouble

the bell tower

<< Morningstar's laser shield VAPORIZED the first bat unlucky enough to charge head long into it, the others though, posessing unusually high intelligence and a group coordination managed to avoid the field but were no less determined to get at their targets. Delilah's sonic attack sent them haywire. >>

<< As Black Widow violently dispatched her targets with more prowess than a military sharp shooter, barbas was capitalizing on her slow but sure unraveling as just he was sharon elsewhere on the haunted grounds.>>

<< Harbinger grabs hold of Haleigh's arm and admonishes her to save her strength and energy for more to come. As they soon find themselves alone once again...Alison did them all a favor and sped up their temporal field so they ZIPPED to the top of the toward and across the stone bridge connecting them to the masnion, walking along an outer walkway they were NOW able to find a set of double doors and go inside a domed amphitheatre, probably a sophisticated lecture /lab demonstration hall in its hey day.>>

<< the trio soon found themselve greeted by zombies, slowly emerging from the floor and seats around the theatre...some were in obvious doctor attire, others appeared to be lab assistants. all told they were faced with at least 10 from different levels of the theatre. some were so far away they were inconsequential, but OTHERS were more than a little close at hand and ready to strike! the theatre was the first step to being inside the mansion at one of its highest levels and closer to perhaps finding the others.>>

back further inside, many levels down

<< as Spellbinder, Firebird and Rampage stand together on the center landing connecting to three sets of stairs , they see the massive, majestic chandelier that slowly swings back and forth with a rusted creak. as thunder claps and lightning bolts strike down with a flash, they are greeted with the sound of slithering...large, zombiefied leeches, crawling on the chandelier and NOW some slithering down the steps BEHIND them , others come up the main center stair case in FRONT of them! more than a few, Rampage had seen how far these leeches could go, as had Morgan! they had to make a descision, either move ...or die, either way now they had to protect themselves.>>

the aqua ring

<< the sisters and johnny, if they survived the sudden onslaught of water, glass and leeches began to hear a dreadfull groaning in the air...more than rust...almost HUMAN and immense. it was so dark and murky around them it was hard to tell where it was coming from, but the trio NOW had an opportunity to somehow get themselves UP from where they were into the observation tank above them. it would at least lift them out of the danger zone they were in for the time being and allow them to have a slightly higher vantage point.>>

<< something was coming for them...and they didnt know WHAT.>>

 

[MorningStar]

Thankfullt Haleigh was able to finish off the bats, and Alison got them safely to the main structure itself. Though Delilah KNEW that being INSIDE Arklay was probably much WORSE than being outside. And they didn't have to wait long as they came through the large wooden double doors. They appeared to be in a lecture hall - and they saw seated figures in the room. Was Arklay still functioning as a research center in this reality?

No such luck, as the figures rose and revealed themselves as Zombies.

"God, I hate the zombies. Why does it always have to be zombies?"

Luckily they moved relatively slowly. She pointed to the domed ceiling over the "stage" area, and used her laser to cut a hole in it, causing chunks of the ceiling to fall down and crush the zombies below.

Some of the monsters, however, were close at hand and not affected. Delilah clasped her hands together and pointed them out in front of her, sending a photon blast into the head of the one nearest to her. She called to Alison and Haleigh.

"Move towards the door!"

 

[Firebird]

back further inside, many levels down

Even for a seasoned veteran of a mutant holocaust Arklay Mansion really was exactly as Morgan had said, scary. It gave the fire mutant the creeps all together but one thing Blaze knew of dreams was you were capable of turning them into whatever you desired. But did that rule still apply here?

With Morgan and Nicolas more familiar here Blaze was cautious. Zombies? Great! Just one scratch and she'd be the star of the Night of the Living Dead. It sounded cozy. Speaking of cozy Morgan seemed to be losing some of her edge around Nicolas much to the dislike of Blaze. Yet she was a grown woman so if she wanted to get hurt again that was Morgan's decision. Even as Nicolas attempted to protect Blaze the fire cracker was a little bit of a hot head. She disliked accepting help especially where she came from. But maybe....just a huge maybe Nicolas was capable of changing? Blaze wasn't gonna hold her breath either.

"Nicolas is right, Morgan." Nodding in agreeance with the Demi God. "It doesn't sound like Karen at all." Seeing Morgan's distress Blaze was about to reach out when Nicolas beat her to the chase and indirectly invading Morgan's personal space. Blaze couldn't read thoughts but Morgan's violet eyes sent daggers at Nicolas causing Blaze to grin. That's my girl! She thought to herself.

With no where else to go they had to make a decision and Morgan would make it. Following inside a center landing connecting to three different sets of stairs. One would think they could explore all three separately but Blaze wasn't about to suggest that.

The old majestic looking chandelier hung and creaked as slithering leeches sunk around the light, the steps in front and back of them. Firebird wasted no time in raising both gloved hands towards the chandelier.

"Spell, can you give us a little air?" She nodded towards the front while looking over to Rampage, "Got a few tricks up your sleeve to send them to the light?" Blaze unleashed a lava blast towards the chandelier hoping to barbeque the little critters and if Spellbinder and Rampage could sweep the leeches into the fire they could burn them and hopefully kill them.

The bulbs on the chandelier cracked as sparks reverberated along with the hissing sound of the leeches as they were ignited in a flickering hot fire. The dense lava dripping down onto their slippery bodies as flames illuminated the entire chandelier.

"Crispy!"

 

[Siren]

The mutated shark was obliterated by Clara's blast, giving the trio some relief knowing that thing wasn't swimming around them. However, the situation escalated from bad to worse as the massive glass tank of water above them broke unexpectedly, sending gallons of water crashing upon them. It happened so fast that Claudia was unable to react in time to prevent the water from slamming into them.

Getting swept under by the force of the spill, shards of thick glass cut and knicked her exposed skin as she fought the now raging waters to get to the surface. Eventhough she could breathe under water perfectly, Clara and Johnny could not. But as Claudia nearly reached the surface of the water, out from the corner of her eye, a HUGE black leech came torpedoing toward her. Eyes wide with shock, two more leeches came in from either side and flanked the other leech; all three closing in on her. Claudia quickly pointed both palms at the leeches, creating a powerful jet stream that slammed directly into the leeches. Like a freight train, the stream of water propelled the leeches back at tops speeds, sending them crashing THROUGH the labratory wall.

The water within the labratory began to gush out of the hole with a massive amount of suction, dragging everything and anything that was in the water out. Reaching the surface of the water, Claudia frantically looked around for her sister and Johnny.

"CLARA! JOHNNY!"

The suction from the hole was extremely strong, pulling Claudia all the way from the other side of the labratory in a rapid of white water. Finally spotting Clara and Johnny, emerge from the water, they only had a few more second to escape before getting sucked out into GOD knows where.

"Teleport to the second level! NOW!"

As Johnny and Clara teleported to the top level of the aqua ring where the leeches were being held, Claudia used what remaining water was left in the labratory and merged her lower body with it, transforming everything below her waist into water. Catapulting upward like a geiser, she grabbed for the first thing she could get her hands on and held on.

With her body returned to it's normal state, Claudia hung from the metal framing that was once the support beams for the large leech tank. Looking down at the labratory, high pitched screams could be heard as the last of the leeches were sucked out of the hole. The labratory was now completely drained of water, minus some puddles here and there.

"Well THAT was fun."

Claudia deadpanned as she began to pull herself up onto the second level with the help of Clara and Johnny. Sitting there for a second to catch her breath, she felt like a drowned rat--completely drenched and freezing. Johnny and Clara looked about the same.

"You guys okay? Did any of those...things touch you?"

 

[Spellbinder]

Arklay - staircase

<< As Spellbinder heard the gross sound of the large, cannibal leeches, she contorted her face in disgust!>>>

ewww!!!

<< they were coming like a slimey mob! unending...and un wavering in their approach.>>

The old majestic looking chandelier hung and creaked as slithering leeches sunk around the light, the steps in front and back of them. Firebird wasted no time in raising both gloved hands towards the chandelier.

"Spell, can you give us a little air?" She nodded towards the front while looking over to Rampage, "Got a few tricks up your sleeve to send them to the light?" Blaze unleashed a lava blast towards the chandelier hoping to barbeque the little critters and if Spellbinder and Rampage could sweep the leeches into the fire they could burn them and hopefully kill them.

The bulbs on the chandelier cracked as sparks reverberated along with the hissing sound of the leeches as they were ignited in a flickering hot fire. The dense lava dripping down onto their slippery bodies as flames illuminated the entire chandelier.

Got it!

<< she said in an icy tone as she lifted her hands and directed them forward, a chime sounds off as she channels the wind! from their father, Christopher Victory, each of his daughters inherited an affinity for ONE of the elements. Foxfire (and her alternate FIREBIRD)- Fire; Jasmine (Frost) - Water and Morgan - Wind. Had Morgan's mother NOT been a witch who directly descened from Hecate, Morgan would have just be a wind manipulating elemental. But as it stands, Morgan PRIMARILY uses her affinity for the wind to FLY at high speeds. This is one of those rare times where she channels wind in a different way. the winds manifest with her trademark mystic sparkling effect as she summons a sweeping gust to BLOW the leeches back into the waiting "roman candle" that Firebird has created.>>

<< Firebird's "roman candle" RAVAGED the leeches.>>

Crispy!

<< Spellbinder looked over at her sister and smiled a bit. Firebird definately had more style, polish and finesse than Foxfire. >>

CRISPY!

Well...we'd better get going...but let's take this stair case...

<< leading them down the stair case to the right and toward a rear hallway leading away from the main hall.>>

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas saw the flash in Morgan's eyes as he touched her shoulder and flinched. He did as well, and after he was certain she would wait to proceed, he pulled his hand back quickly. Blaze agreed with him and they proceeded more cautiously, making their way to a landing with three paths. As they decided where to go, he heard a familiar sound. The leeches form before! Blaze seemed to have a plan,a nd he was startled when she even spoke to HIM.

Got a few tricks up your sleeve to send them to the light?

You cook, I'll prep.

Morgan started it off with a vortex of air, a power that he remembered her speaking of over air, but something rarely shown in this way. Some of the leeches attempted to flatten and hold on, but he flipped them up and into the vortex with TK as watched with delight as they burned up.

The sisters exchanged a one-word joke while Nicolas remembered a silly TV show he watched one late night.

DING! Fries are done!

 

[Arsenal]

watch me walk INDEED.

Mike had not forgotten the cape, but Karen did not realize that years of naughty times in his youth had taught him how to lift a skirt, dress or cape in the back with the young lady COMPLETELY unawares. It was as he was enjoying a show that Karen erroneously assumed was covered when they went through the next door.

As they entered an apparent dining area, it was nearly completely dark. Even switching to infrared in his goggles (after lowering Karen's cape), Arsenal could make out little but cool stone. As he decided to mp the room by laser scanner, setting up the apparatus in the middle of the room and allowing the topographical info to be sent to his goggles, he listened to Sharon's story about losing her son and husband here.

As she continued, Barbas interrupted her, speaking to her in away that seemed to strangely connect.

Oddly enough, this time around, I am not afraid ...at least not OF this place.

Barbas: But THEY should be afraid of YOU. after all...you ARE a "psychotic mass murderer"...as your sister biological mistake, HALEIGH put it.

[ Sharon trails off as Barbas makes fun of her. she didnt resist. Indeed...she seemed a little TOO silent on that.]

Barbas: This isnt a nightmare for you. This is a home coming! You could take down Nicolas just like you WANT and eliminate Haleigh, your unintended RIVAL!

[ the thunder cracks and lightening strobes as Sharon seems to be starring off into space...not a good sign.]

Mike loudly snapped his fingers by her ear to jar her out of the fugue state she seemed to be in.

SHARON! Are you with me?

He looks directly into her eyes as she turns to face him.

Sharon...dammit you have lost SO much.

I remember you back in the day, with Gustav and Nicolas. YOU do not remember me. I was more in the background then...but the woman that I saw then I see now. Strong, tough, driven by what is right. But in the end, you have a decision to make. You can either choose to be the woman underneath that adamantium shell, or you can be the shell. I can't make the decision for you, I can only hope to see more of the woman in the shell.

I understand if that is all you think you have anymore, that part of you that kills and does not forgive, that can size up targets and take them down with coldblooded precision. ALL of us have issues with that, all of us spend too much time fighting for our lives. But you and Haleigh...Barbas COULD be right. That COULD be you, a mass murderer, a tool to accomplish what he and Mystech could not. But if that is what you become, do not blame anyone else but yourself. You have received another chance, another family and, if you can forgive him, understand that he, like you, is not perfect, another so-

Mike was interrupted by a shouted name and realizes that Karen is not there!!

Karen? Where the hell did she go?

Mike noticed a door slightly moved and walked quickly out of the room into the hallway where he saw a retreating Karen not look where she was going.

He grabbed her shoulder and she screamed. He was not amused at all.

Karen, what the hell are you DOING?! Do I need to write STICK TOGETHER on your forehead?

There's NO TIME FOR THAT....I saw....she....I saw....

<< Karen's voice was sparked with dismay and fear....>>

Saw WHAT, honey?

<< As Shadow Weaver pulled from Arsenal and screamed at him to listen her...she struggled to get ahold of herself to tell him that...ALYCIA was in the mansion, and ZOMBIE.>>

<< but as the thunder crashed and lightning strobed, Mike saw for HIMSELF out of the shadows of the dark passage behind Karen...as ALYCIA emerged...she was indeed a zombie. It was a shocking, horrid thing to see a trusted friend, an ally of the Six turned into this!>>

<< Shadow Weaver flinched and screamed as she back pedaled from Alycia. Meanwhile Mike saw that they had company, Zombies quite a few. coming at them from the other end of the dining hall, some were lumbering along the balcony rail of the second floor. they gurgled and growled as the closed in on the trio.>>

OH. MY. GOD. Karen...BACK!!

Mike pulled Karen back and herded her back to the room he knew was empty, where his scanner was still running, and unloaded with the Reaver, starting with the zombie Alycia, even as he mouthed an apology for killing her...he filled the room with hellfire as he retreated.

 

[Harbinger]

arklay- lecture hall

Thankfully Haleigh was able to finish off the bats, and Alison got them safely to the main structure itself. Though Delilah KNEW that being INSIDE Arklay was probably much WORSE than being outside. And they didn't have to wait long as they came through the large wooden double doors. They appeared to be in a lecture hall - and they saw seated figures in the room. Was Arklay still functioning as a research center in this reality?

No such luck, as the figures rose and revealed themselves as Zombies.

"God, I hate the zombies. Why does it always have to be zombies?"

People who foolishly believed they could build a life off of working for a company that profited off the suffering of others.

::Harbinger said coldly as she stood with MorningStar and Black Widow.]::


:: as more zombies came bounding up the stairs toward them, Harbinger gestures ala' Prue Halliwell. a rushing/chiming sound as she sends them FLYING , one group of three, then another group of three into the air with such force that they are beyond helpless to stop themselves as they fly up HIGH and then come CRASHING DOWN onto the center floor far below and THEN they are are soon SMASHED by the massive chunks of falling dome that MorningStar has hit with her photon blast.::


:: her sense as a precog causes her to gasp, as she turns....::

CRIMSON HEADS!

:: the first indication that these "super zombies" were in the midst of the regular zombies. these zombies were FASTER...their heads were redish from the concentration of blood, which dripped from their mouths. had clawed hands and feet and moved with better coordination. They were stronger too and were so agressive that they even preyed on OTHER regular zombies or other creatures as well as live targets.]::

:: two were CHARGING up the side stairs of the amphitheatre toward Black Widow. there was only SECONDS left to act!::

Watch OUT!

[ she lunges forward, and thrusts her hands out ala' Piper Halliwell, and BLOWS BOTH of them up violently via molecular acceleration as they come growling and snarling toward Haleigh with animal ferocity.]

we have to get out of here now!

"Move towards the door!"

:: Turning to step, Harbinger gestures ala' Prue once more, sending another zombie close at hand FLYING back and SLAMMING ::its head:: into jagged metal spike.::

:: she then ushers Haleigh towards the door. it was faintly like that moment years ago when Alison first revealed herself as "Guardian" and ushered Haleigh , Cameron and Alexis into Illustra as the city became gripped by the meltdown of the Citadle and the virus began to spread across the area.::

:: outside the doors, and in a walk way that overlooked SEVERAL levels that reached below, Harbinger thrusts her hand out in a "stop" gesture and a rushing, chiming sound is heard as the double doors to the lecture hall SLAM shut and are SEALED by her telekinetic power, keeping any surving creatures trapped inside.::


:: exhaling::

crimson heads, the "super zombie". they will prey on OTHER regular zombies and other creatures as WELL as live targets...there are more than a few of them lurking about the mansion and they are dangerous.

we must be carefull. I can't get a sense of WHEN we will encounter the others. All I know is that...we're not going to be able to control our environment...anda we're in MORTAL physical danger.

:: as Alison was about to continue, they ALL heard a ghostly howl...the mournfull sound of a MAN in pain...but where was it coming from?::

that sound....it sounds like...

Barbas: Your baby brotherrrr?

Cameron...

 

[Silver Swan]

Arklay, out of the dining hall and into another hidden interior hallway.

[ Sharon looked almost blank, as whispers in the haunted air began to sound like it was little Kyle's voice saying: ]

Barbas/Kyle: "Kill them mommy! KILL THEM!"

[ Mike heard it too. He KNEW where this could go.]

I....

Mike loudly snapped his fingers by her ear to jar her out of the fugue state she seemed to be in.

SHARON! Are you with me?

He looks directly into her eyes as she turns to face him.

Sharon...dammit you have lost SO much.

I remember you back in the day, with Gustav and Nicolas. YOU do not remember me. I was more in the background then...but the woman that I saw then I see now. Strong, tough, driven by what is right. But in the end, you have a decision to make. You can either choose to be the woman underneath that adamantium shell, or you can be the shell. I can't make the decision for you, I can only hope to see more of the woman in the shell.

Barbas: :: a ghost image of Robert appears in the cathedral window behind Sharon, Mike sees it once the lightning flashes.::

"Robert": WHO THE HELL IS GUSTAV!? CHEATING ON ME with another MAN? You selfish SILVER SLUT! You LEFT ME TO DIE in this place! you wanted me to FAIL and you got your wish DIDNT YOU! Kyle is DEAD...because of you. I'm DEAD...because of you. You're not strong...your SELFISH, you're WEAK!

I....

Kyle: Be strong for me mommy! KILL THEM MOMMY! KILL THEM ALL!

[ Sharon was looking VISIBLY distressed , her silver eyes gleamed with emotion.]

I understand if that is all you think you have anymore, that part of you that kills and does not forgive, that can size up targets and take them down with coldblooded precision. ALL of us have issues with that, all of us spend too much time fighting for our lives. But you and Haleigh...Barbas COULD be right. That COULD be you, a mass murderer, a tool to accomplish what he and Mystech could not. But if that is what you become, do not blame anyone else but yourself. You have received another chance, another family and, if you can forgive him, understand that he, like you, is not perfect, another so-

[ He was RIGHT! What was HAPPENING!? Barbas was deceiving her in the WORST way! He was touching her at her core...and worse, he was close to "POSESSING" in a psychotic hallucination whereby she would begin to MURDER the other members of the Six in the nightmare, STARTING with Mike and Karen. Arsenal run strong interference, speaking toher, sympathizing but also charging her, holding her accountable and at that moment, the teachings of the AMAZONS began to come back to the forefront of her mind.]

[ her life was in HER hands now. Rick Riley was dead, Mystech was not a factor. She'd been given a second chance, something most mortals could only DREAM of and NOW she had POWER. To give in now...even unwittingly...would be to yield to the enemy and that is NOT what an AMAZON does!]

[ the teachings, the mental discipline began to reassert itself and Sharon placed her hand to her forehead shaking herself out of the initial stages of being possessed.]

NO! I am NOT a pawn...

[ at that moment, both she and Mike were interrupted by Karen's scream. Sharon followed as Mike rushed to find Karen, who had slipped away during this moment.]

[ the sorceress was nearly in a PANIC.]

Barbas: you think you can out do ME? watch as I show you what your disobedience brings you!


[ Sharon and Mike both reeled as a zombiefied ALYCIA emerged, pursuing Karen.]

ATHENA! [ calling upon the goddess of wisdom] It CAN'T BE!

[ She cries out.]

[ Alycia lunges for Karen.]

NO!

[ Karen escapes being bitten and Mike pulls her behind him as he does what MUST be done. He quietly mouths an apology to Alycia...before ending her existence as a Zombie. Sharon's face betrays visible grief. She knows that this was not HER Alycia. Nicolas, Morgan, Alison and Haleigh had saved her from becoming a zombie in REAL TIME when she was bitten. But Barbas was once again taken low blows and painfull psychological ploys.]

[ there was no time to process the sight of Alycia and what Arsenal had just done at the moment....as he kept a visibly distraught Karen behind him and backed up into that hall Sharon was still in the dining hall. the closest zombie quickened its pace in anticipation of biting her. her adamantium armour covered hand slices through the air in perfect clean form and CHOPS the zombie's neck, BEHEADING IT as its body lurches forward and falls down.]

[ Sharon was now ready to unleash her WRATH upon these zombies...in part of because of what she'd just seen, also because she wanted to REMIND Barbas she would NOT be controlled by another man...or creature AGAIN. But what good would it do, these zombies knew nothing...understood less...they were driven by the virus that turned them and so killing them, no matter HOW savagely, wouldnt change anything. Alycia wouldnt be avenged and Sharon wouldnt be able to proove anything to a creature that was more dead than alive.]

[ Mike had succeeded in appealing to her, he helped her bring herself back from the point of becoming "Pamela Voorhees" lucky for HIM and everyone else.]

[ so she joined him and Karen in the hall...and as he unleashed HELLFIRE into the large dining hall, Sharon slams the door SHUT as the mystic flame does its job well.]

[ she turns to face him and Karen...who is clearly upset.]

I know, Karen...It upset me too...Alycia was...IS...my best friend. I was HERE when she was attacked, BITTEN by the zombies in the surgical lab. Nicolas fought VALIANTLY to save her...and it was her screams...that jolted me out of my own personal psychosis while in the mansion. But you must remember, Alycia is ALIVE and SAFE...that creature we just saw...it wasnt REALLY her. It was another trick of the ENEMY!

[ she looks at Arsenal...]

and thank you...you took a bold risk. I could feel myself being taken over , sucked into a psychotic hallucination. Barbas wants me to become what I secretly fear i will deevolve into but I won't give in to HIM...i wont place my friends ...my surviving family in danger.

This mansion should be AFRAID OF ME!

 

[Arsenal]

I know, Karen...It upset me too...Alycia was...IS...my best friend. I was HERE when she was attacked, BITTEN by the zombies in the surgical lab. Nicolas fought VALIANTLY to save her...and it was her screams...that jolted me out of my own personal psychosis while in the mansion. But you must remember, Alycia is ALIVE and SAFE...that creature we just saw...it wasnt REALLY her. It was another trick of the ENEMY!

Mike held Karen close, kissing her forehead as he whispered comfort to her. He held Sharon's gaze as she addressed him.

and thank you...you took a bold risk. I could feel myself being taken over , sucked into a psychotic hallucination. Barbas wants me to become what I secretly fear i will deevolve into but I won't give in to HIM...i wont place my friends ...my surviving family in danger.

This mansion should be AFRAID OF ME!

Mike smiled a bit back at her.

THAT is the Sharon I know...attagirl. Barbas doesn't know it yet, but his time is close at hand.

<<Mike glances around at the surroundings>>

You HEAR me you dirty son-of-a-bitch!! You are running out of things to scare us with. All your efforts push us closer. I should thank you for the therapy. I fact, I WILL.

Mike was realizing that Barbas was an antagonist, a bully more than a bogeyman demon like he imagined. Most of these guys were also thin-skinned, in his experience. He imagined that pointing out his failures would only anger him, possibly force him to make a mistake that they could use to their advantage. And Mike KNEW he could piss ANYBODY off.:hehe2:

Mike looks at the ladies.

Sharon, lead the way. Barbas...for YOU. The going rate is what Karen, $150 an hour? Here you go, for the last hour...buy yourself something pretty.

Mike tosses a hundred dollar bill and a fifty dollar bill on the dining room table, laughing.