The Wrath of Rose

[Valkyrie]

The Navigator

Now that it was just the two of them, alone, Ashley wanted to find out how Zach really was.

"That depends on how you define 'okay', exactly..."

She flashed him a concerned look, and shared that Rose's attack on her was still close in her mind - and that she knew it had to be worse for him.

"I'm just glad Karen and Alison showed up when they did. That... thing.... that they pulled out of her? It was purely demonic. They said she'd been suppressing it since childhood."

He took her hand, and she squeezed it.

"Yeah, they did pretty good - I guess Karen's not ALL bad."

She held up her other hand with her thumb and index finger slightly apart.

"So you actually saw the thing, that was in Rose? It was...tangible, had form?"

"But I'm not the only one who was nearly destroyed. Are you okay?"

She gave him a half smile.

"If you're okay, I'm okay. I don't want you worrying about me."

She tried to smile, but there was sadness there.

"I really thought I had lost you, Zach."

She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it. It had become clear through all of this, that Zach was the only person she could trust.

"I can still feel her...tearing and twisting me...it was horrible. But even before that, when we were alone...she was saying all these things. It really creeped me out."

She shook it off, then pressed the start button, and pulled out onto Centre, heading north.

"And now there are the things Alison said. Do you think she just meant Black Widow and Persephone... or is there more coming for us?"

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "Like screaming when no one can hear you."

His mind went to Ava. Was she in the same boat as Rose? Was Persephone her Unloved?

Gabe sighed.

"Yeah."

He said solemnly. But Zizi tried to lighten the mood by asking about the guys at the Sanctuary. He told her they all did great, especially Andrew who was quite literally roped into playing dress up.

Zizi: "I bet he was the prettiest princess of them all. We need to get a still of that one framed."

Gabe chuckled.

"No doubt."

Taking a seat on the couch, Zizi made her way over to the desk where she picked up the laptop Vivica had left for him earlier.

Zizi: "Gabe, where did this laptop come from? It's not one of mine...and I don't remember seeing it in your stuff..."

He scoffed.

"That piece of shit? It's Clandestine tech."

He dismissed with a haughty tone.

"Vivica left it for me to use when the systems were down."

He appreciated Vivica's gesture in giving it to him, he just had an unnatural dislike for Clandestine.

"I would suggest throwing it out the window, but she might get pissed."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi held up the curious laptop she had found.

"That piece of shit? It's Clandestine tech. Vivica left it for me to use when the systems were down."

Zizi's eyes brightened, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"This is a Clandestine laptop?"

She quickly set it in her lap and opened the lid, looking like a kid who has just got a Barbie Dream House for Christmas. Or, in Zizi's case, a GTX Titan Z graphics card.

"I would suggest throwing it out the window, but she might get pissed."

"I'll let you throw it out the window, after we use it to access Clandestine's network."

Her fingers started to fly over the keys.

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "This is a Clandestine laptop?"

Gabe cocked an eyebrow up.

"Yeahhh...?"

Zizi looked like a little girl on Christmas morning as she opened it up and began to type. He suggested throwing it out the window, but knew Vivica would probably get angry. I mean, she DID loan it to him.

Zizi: "I'll let you throw it out the window, after we use it to access Clandestine's network."

"Wait....I thought you worked with Clandestine? I mean, Zach IS Team Clandestine."

He was a little confused, but he stood up and went behind Zizi as she hacked into their systems.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa....Elizabeth York is doing something nefarious?"

Gabe takes out his phone.

"I gotta mark this in my calendar."

He joked. But really, he opened up an app that would ping her attempts to hack into the Clandestine servers to multiple cellular towers around New York so it wouldn't be traced back to her.

"You know i'm game to fuck with those fuckers. Whaddare we lookin' for?"

 

[Orion]

Leaving The Courthouse

Ashley: Yeah, they did pretty good - I guess Karen's not ALL bad.

"Nah, Karen's great. I've known her for years."

Ashley: So you actually saw the thing, that was in Rose? It was...tangible, had form?

Zach nodded grimly.

"I saw it.... when we went to..... that other dimension. It was grotesque looking. Monstrous and evil."

He replied, and then he turned to ask her if she was alright, because he wasn't the only one who got attacked.

Ashley: If you're okay, I'm okay. I don't want you worrying about me.

She said with a sad smile.

"You may not want me to worry about you, but that doesn't mean that I won't."

Ashley: I really thought I had lost you, Zach.

He was looking at her with concern, because he knew she was admitting something he'd sensed already. Right when he woke up, that crushing depression he'd felt had been hers. He wished he could say something to make that go away, but the truth was ever-present. He was mortal, and she wasn't. She was condemned to outliving all the people she cared about.

"I'm sorry... I just thought I could stop her from hurting everybody."

Ashley: I can still feel her...tearing and twisting me...it was horrible.

"Yeah, it was excruciating, right? And Sharon thinks I should just stand aside and let Rose do that to Haleigh? Even if I hated Haleigh, even if I believed Haleigh was evil now, I wouldn't wish that on her."

Ashley: But even before that, when we were alone...she was saying all these things. It really creeped me out.

"What do you mean, what'd Rose say? Was this right before she attacked you the first time?"

He asked. Ashley started the engine and merged with traffic. Zach looked out and around them just out of habit.

Ashley: And now there are the things Alison said. Do you think she just meant Black Widow and Persephone... or is there more coming for us?

"I don't know Ash. I wish Alison could have stuck around, or told us more. But I understand she needs to care for Rose. It sounded like she was talking about Haleigh, right? Or it could've been about Ava, I guess. Alison's really close with Ava, she's probably been looking at the time threads. She used to advise the Six about stuff like that. But shouldn't we assume we're facing more than just those two? They've joined the Inner Circle now, right?"

He replied, rubbing his beard with his free hand as he thought about it.

"Can I ask you something?"

He inquired, looking back over at her again.

"What was it like, the Hellfire Inner Circle? How do you think they would treat two former heroes?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Navigator

Zach and Ashley had a chance to discuss what had happened in the courtroom - and the astral plane.

"Nah, Karen's great. I've known her for years."

"I am not going all the way to great."

Zach confirmed that he saw an actual creature come out of Rose. Which was mildly comforting, if they had in fact killed it.

"And the thing, it got destroyed? You're sure?"

He asked how she was doing, and she told him not to worry about her.

You may not want me to worry about you, but that doesn't mean that I won't."

She smiled, but it was fleeting. She told him how she had thought he was dead.

"I'm sorry... I just thought I could stop her from hurting everybody."

"I know...that's who you are. I just don't want...I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me. Ever."

She mentioned about her conversation with Rose at the police precinct. Then she kind of wished she hadn't.

"What do you mean, what'd Rose say? Was this right before she attacked you the first time?"

"No, when Steel was trying to get her out of jail. She did her usual song and dance about Haleigh, and how she was your heart blah blah. Then she started into a bunch of cryptic stuff about how you would be gone sooner than I thought."

She asked what he thought about what Alison had said to them.

"I don't know Ash. I wish Alison could have stuck around, or told us more. But I understand she needs to care for Rose. It sounded like she was talking about Haleigh, right? Or it could've been about Ava, I guess. Alison's really close with Ava, she's probably been looking at the time threads. She used to advise the Six about stuff like that. But shouldn't we assume we're facing more than just those two? They've joined the Inner Circle now, right?"

Ashley took a breath in through her nose, eyes on the traffic ahead.

"Supposedly."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What was it like, the Hellfire Inner Circle? How do you think they would treat two former heroes?"

"I'm surprised they're not already dead."

She glanced over at him gravely then trained her eyes back on the road.

"The Inner Circle is not like the Six. Loyalty and absolute trust in their courts are everything to them. Having two former members of the Six around, whose allegiance is HIGHLY suspect...it's just not what they do. These little missions the girls have been on - you can bet those are tests. Tests they have summarily FAILED. They won't suffer those failures forever. Look at me, I failed just one time and I was out. The ONLY thing keeping them alive right now is the fact that Haleigh is Malice's daughter. Which means, time is probably running out for Ava."

She paused, making the right to cut over to the Bowery.

"It pains me - deeply - to say this but: Diana and Helena are not stupid. They wouldn't just welcome two members of the Six who dropped in on their doorstep. They have a plan. And when that plan is finished..."

She glanced at him again.

"You said Ava was being controlled by Persephone now, right? So there's a chance that the queens want them in their arsenal enough to keep them around. If they manage to kill all of the Six, they may have a chance."

She shook her head.

"Until then, their loyalty will always be in question. And in that hierarchy, that makes their queens look weak. The longer they allow it to go on the more likely it is that someone will try and make a play for power. They will not allow that to happen. So realistically, assuming we could last long enough...our problem will eventually go away without us ever having to lift a finger."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Wait....I thought you worked with Clandestine? I mean, Zach IS Team Clandestine."

"This is not publicly available information."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa....Elizabeth York is doing something nefarious?"

She didn't take her eyes off the screen, her fingers still going a mile a minute.

"Just like riding a bike. And it's for a good cause."

"I gotta mark this in my calendar."

"Very funny."

"You know I'm game to fuck with those fuckers. Whaddare we lookin' for?"

"Haleigh Davidoff's medical records. They do everything in house."

With a few more keystrokes she was in to the Medical Division's file system, and it only took a few more to find what she was looking for.

"Thank you, Dr. Crichton. Your files are so neatly labeled and organized."

Covering her trail on the way out with Gabe's help, she disconnected from Clandestine's Network, then moved the files she'd acquired onto her own system before scrubbing the laptop. She then handed it back to Gabe.

"Shall I get you a baseball bat?"

Her mouth twitched into a smile, and then she wheeled herself quickly over to the workstation, talking a mile a minute.

"There's just one more piece we need. The government research into mutantkind I told you about before. I've already compiled the algorithm I'll need once I'm in, if you can run interference."

She started calling up various screens on the main monitor, then turned her head and looked at him.

"If you're still okay with doing it? Everyone else will be tied up at the Sanctuary for a while."

She turned back towards the screen.

"I don't want to wait any longer - we need to be ready for them. Like Alison said, a storm is coming. And I aim to have an umbrella."

 

[Tachyon]

Sitting here with Vivica after all of this going down, Xavier gains even more respect for her. She is not simply a pretty face and an artist. She is a damned fine wing.

:: She looked at Xavier and smiled. ::

"We make a good team...LUCIUS!"

:: Vivica raised her hand and mocked as if she was going to smack him, before pulling him into a hug. ::

Xavier laughed and pulled her in, holding her longer than she would have first anticipated as he whispered in her ear.

If you are interested in making some money, fucking over bad guys and/or helping indigenous peoples get their shit off the Black Market, you let me know. I would be honored, and fucking fortunate to have someone with your skills helping me do what I do.

He released her and they ended up at the Sanctuary, thanks to the absolutely fanTAStic Richard. Xavier fell into working with the kids, keeping them calm until the all clear. Once Isis made the scene he could feel her. Honestly, he could feel a great number of familiar signatures before, and then they were gone. No way that much firepower made the scene and there was any bad news. Rich had excused himself and he gave them time to reunite and he stayed behind.

He hoped that no one sat on their laurels. This was a battle in a war and winning it came with certain costs. He thought of his package at the Clocktower and he ran quickly....

...bringing it back in only seconds from his apartment. He needed to speak with Isis when she seemed recovered from this ordeal.

But he also had something else to do. He made a phone call, and it went straight to voicemail. He saw how upset she was in the courtroom, how much she hated having done the right thing only to be disregarded by the Black Queen. He breathed in and then spoke to the line as it was recording.

I can imagine how upset and disappointed you must be. But I want you to know something. I was never more proud to back someone up while they stood for people who could not stand for themselves. I can be a bit of a...rogue, and I never believed overmuch in the system of justice. Today, your preparedness, your skill, your elocution. Today, YOU MADE ME BELIEVE. I know you probably want a little time to decompress. Know that I am there for you anytime day or night. And know that today you were simply the best. Good day, love.

Xavier hung up the phone.

 

[Matrix]

HA! All kinda cats like me, including Sable, who came over and gave me some love here and there. Sharon backed me up on throwing out the Screw Crew, like I needed assistance with that but OK. I turned and gave her a smile right along with Miss D.

:: The group rounded the corner as Vivica made herself known, pretending she hadn't just heard everything. She didn't speak. Instead as the group gathered, she walked over to Dominique, massaged her shoulders a bit and tucked a few stray hairs out of her face, before winking at Richard and embracing Sharon in a hug. Sometimes words weren't needed. Sometimes all you had to do was show up. ::

"I guess we'll die another day, eh?"

I got my hug too, squeezing her from the side and picking her up a little.

I been dead, Viv, its overrated. If you ask your girl Ashley, I guess maybe death is coming again or something. Either way, I plan to raise as much hell as I can until my time comes.

 

[Cypher]

Gabe asked why she would want to hack into Clandestine when she had a board member apart of her team.

Zizi: "This is not publicly available information."

That piqued his interested.

Zizi: "Just like riding a bike. And it's for a good cause."

He watched over her shoulder as she hacked into their system.

"Yeah, a bike with training wheels. Who the fuck wrote their firewall program? Stevie Wonder?"

Zizi was no novice when it came to hacking, she just tended to stay on the right side of the tracks. But the fire walls and security systems that Clandestine had in place were elementary at best. Shit must of gone down hill once Black Widow left.

"Well you know i'm down to fuck with those fuckers. Whaddare we lookin' for?"

Zizi: "Haleigh Davidoff's medical records. They do everything in house. Thank you, Dr. Crichton. Your files are so neatly labeled and organized."

So it was already beginning. They were gathering information to take out Black Widow. Zizi transferred the files to her own system before scrubbing the laptop. Gabe disconnected the ping as she shut the laptop and handed to him.

Zizi: "Shall I get you a baseball bat?"

"As much as i'd love that, i'll give it back to Vivica in one piece."

He countered with a small smile, placing the laptop on the counter before following Zizi over to her station.

Zizi: "There's just one more piece we need. The government research into mutantkind I told you about before. I've already compiled the algorithm I'll need once I'm in, if you can run interference. If you're still okay with doing it? Everyone else will be tied up at the Sanctuary for a while."

"When have I ever shied away from doing underhanded, illegal, hacking?"

He joked. But really, he loved this shit.

Zizi: "I don't want to wait any longer - we need to be ready for them. Like Alison said, a storm is coming. And I aim to have an umbrella."

Taking a seat next to Zizi, he rubbed his hands together.

"Alright, lets do this."

 

[Orion]

The Courthouse

Ashley: I am not going all the way to great.

She said, and Zach knew that all stemmed from the minor 'disagreement' Ashley and Karen had over what to do with Frost. He shrugged, and then they talked about the vanquishing of the Unloved.

Ashley: And the thing, it got destroyed? You're sure?

"Without a doubt."

He replied, and then they discussed their recent near death experiences.

Ashley: I know...that's who you are. I just don't want...I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me. Ever.

Zach gave her hand a squeeze.

"Okay."

He said, with absolutely no intention of promising he wouldn't do exactly that. They went back to talking about Rose, and how she'd given Ash the creeps even before the Courthouse incident. Zach asked for more details.

Ashley: No, when Steel was trying to get her out of jail. She did her usual song and dance about Haleigh, and how she was your heart blah blah.

"Yeah, I used to believe that too."

He interjected with a neutral tone.

Ashley: Then she started into a bunch of cryptic stuff about how you would be gone sooner than I thought.

Zach gave her a short, incredulous laugh.

"Because she was already planning to murder me."

He deadpanned, because at this point if he didn't joke about it, he'd be furious. They moved on to discuss the implications of Alison's warning. Zach asked Ashley what the Hellfire Inner Circle was like, and how they'd treat Haleigh and Ava.

Ashley: I'm surprised they're not already dead.

They shared a look, and then Ash looked back out the windshield, and elaborated on that assessment. Zach just listened, and stared out his window, looking without seeing. She spoke of tests of loyalty, and the consequences of failing.

Ashley: The ONLY thing keeping them alive right now is the fact that Haleigh is Malice's daughter. Which means, time is probably running out for Ava.

Zach swallowed hard. It was the last thing he wanted to hear, but he'd half expected it anyway. Ava had been in such bad shape on that rooftop, before Persephone shut her down and then attacked him. And Haleigh.... well, she was hard as fuck, but she was suffering too.

Ashley: It pains me - deeply - to say this but: Diana and Helena are not stupid. They wouldn't just welcome two members of the Six who dropped in on their doorstep. They have a plan. And when that plan is finished...

Zach looked over at Ash. She didn't need to finish that sentence.

"Malice has wanted to add Haleigh to the Hellfire roster for a long time. Whatever the Queen's plans are? They probably always included Black Widow. I doubt they accounted for Ava, though. Ava told me she went all in to protect her sister."

Ashley: You said Ava was being controlled by Persephone now, right?

He nodded.

Ashley: So there's a chance that the queens want them in their arsenal enough to keep them around. If they manage to kill all of the Six, they may have a chance.

He looked out his window again with a heavy sigh. Haleigh and Ava didn't have a snowball's chance in hell, then. Ashley went on, saying that the Queens would eventually cut the girls down if they didn't fall in line, because otherwise they opened themselves up to a power struggle.

Ashley: So realistically, assuming we could last long enough... our problem will eventually go away without us ever having to lift a finger.

Zach was quiet for a while, as he processed his own feelings about that. When he was sure he could trust his voice to be steady, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"I went after Nedry and Jake, while you and John were bailing Rose out. We thought Nedry would take Jake to Hellfire, so Gabe slowed their progress enough for me to get a Clandestine rescue mission going. Right before we were going to drop in, Haleigh seized our helicopter. She could've crashed us into a building, she could've blown us up in midair, she could've killed every one of us without breaking a sweat, in an instant, without even revealing her own presence. But all she did was drag us out of the way, and set us down on a rooftop in front of her."

He paused, remembering that moment he saw her standing there, that split second where he thought she'd attack.

"She could've killed us then, too. Our weapons would have been useless. And it's not like she'd be bothered by the bloodshed, I've seen her rip a man's arm off and beat him with to death it. But she didn't do anything to us. She hid it well, but she felt bad. And she just.... told us Jake was going to court, and then left us there, unharmed."

He looked over at Ash again.

"Haleigh's not stupid either. All the things you just said? You can bet she's well aware of. She knows the consequences of her decisions. Everything she does is carefully calculated."

 

[Valkyrie]

To the Sanctuary

Ashley tried to impress upon Zach that she didn't want him to sacrifice himself for her. He squeezed her hand.

"Okay."

She continued, speaking softly.

"I don't want to live because you died."

She would feel dead anyway. What they had just experienced was close enough - too close.

He asked her about Hellfire, and she told him. The truth, as far as she could tell it, no punches pulled.

"Malice has wanted to add Haleigh to the Hellfire roster for a long time. Whatever the Queen's plans are? They probably always included Black Widow. I doubt they accounted for Ava, though. Ava told me she went all in to protect her sister."

"She would have done better to convince her not to go at all."

But then again, neither Ava nor Haleigh was high on Ashley's list of intelligence.

"They think they'll outsmart Malice, but they won't."

They drove quietly for a while, before Zach spoke again.

"I went after Nedry and Jake, while you and John were bailing Rose out. We thought Nedry would take Jake to Hellfire, so Gabe slowed their progress enough for me to get a Clandestine rescue mission going. Right before we were going to drop in, Haleigh seized our helicopter.

Ashley pressed hard on the brakes, the sudden stop throwing their bodies forward uncomfortably. She turned her head and looked at Zach sharply.

"What?!"

"She could've crashed us into a building, she could've blown us up in midair, she could've killed every one of us without breaking a sweat, in an instant, without even revealing her own presence. But all she did was drag us out of the way, and set us down on a rooftop in front of her."

Ashley started the car forward again.

"Now they're really starting to piss me off."

And Malice probably too.

"She could've killed us then, too. Our weapons would have been useless. And it's not like she'd be bothered by the bloodshed, I've seen her rip a man's arm off and beat him to death with it. But she didn't do anything to us. She hid it well, but she felt bad. And she just...told us Jake was going to court, and then left us there, unharmed."

Ashley wondered how Haleigh would explain the fact that she hadn't killed them to Diana.

"If she fucking feels bad, she should just give up this whole circus. What is she even accomplishing?"

"Haleigh's not stupid either. All the things you just said? You can bet she's well aware of. She knows the consequences of her decisions. Everything she does is carefully calculated."

"If you say so. I think she's in over her head. And she'll push Ava's head under before she goes."

Not that I'm sorry about that.

She pulled in to the gate of the Sanctuary compound and pulled over, shutting off the engine.

She unbuckled her seat belt and turned towards Zach.

"I'll be here when you're done."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi continued getting everything ready, pausing to ask Gabe if he was still in for this.

"When have I ever shied away from doing underhanded, illegal, hacking?"

"Never, that's why I called you."

The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. She continued typing with one hand while the other pulled out the chair next to her. Gabe sat down, looking like he was enjoying this a bit too much.

"Alright, lets do this."

"Okay, so like we talked about before, I've already found an exploitable node on their system. I'm going to insert an X-axis bionumeric algorithm to crack the firewall."

Her eyes glanced over at him.

"Once we're in, we'll have two minutes before the firewall goes back up. You hit them with some low level stuff - but keep jumping IPs - hide your tracks but make sure they chase you."

"While they're hunting wild geese, I'll slip in, get the research data, and be back out again before you can say Expelliarmus."

She stopped typing, and turned towards Gabe, took a deep breath, and smiled.

"Ready?"

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "Okay, so like we talked about before, I've already found an exploitable node on their system. I'm going to insert an X-axis bionumeric algorithm to crack the firewall."

Gabe nodded.

"Pretty straight forward."

He added as he got online.

"Once we're in, we'll have two minutes before the firewall goes back up. You hit them with some low level stuff - but keep jumping IPs - hide your tracks but make sure they chase you. While they're hunting wild geese, I'll slip in, get the research data, and be back out again before you can say Expelliarmus."

Gabe chuckled.

"Hacker talk AND Harry Potter? Damn Liz, your nerd's showing."

He joked with a grin.

Zizi: "Ready?"

"Lets do this, Hermione."

Gabe was already linked into the government system, ready for Zizi to take point and follow her lead.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Hacker talk AND Harry Potter? Damn Liz, your nerds showing."

"Yeah, well, you understood everything I said, so there."

She stuck out her tongue at him.

"Lets do this, Hermione."

"Okay, Oliver Wood."

He looked at her, and she gave him a "what?" expression.

"He's the only hot male in the entire series. I know, I know, he's a Weegie, but nobody's perfect."

Another deep breath, and she was off.

"Okay, heading to the TOR, spoofing the IP, switching to MD6."

Her fingers moved across the console, while her eyes watched the screen with laser focus.

"Inserting the algorithm."

Zizi watched data scroll down her screen, a histogram morphing an changing as the code executed.

"Root access to the compromised server in 3-2-1. Firewall's down. Go Gabe - 2 minutes and counting."

She was in the file system, flying through it to find what she was looking for. Most of the info she had on where to find the anti-mutant technology research, other than the server that held it, was conjecture. But she had confidence in her own educated guess.

"Bingo."

She set the files to transfer.

"One minute left."

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "Yeah, well, you understood everything I said, so there."

Gabe shrugged, she got him there.

"Touchè."

He said with a half smile while linking into the system.

"Lets do this, Hermione."

Zizi: "Okay, Oliver Wood."

Gabe glanced over and cocked up an eyebrow.

Zizi: "He's the only hot male in the entire series. I know, I know, he's a Weegie, but nobody's perfect."

"I'm just....i'm not going to dignify that with an answer."

He responded with a small laugh and a shake of his head.

Zizi: "Okay, heading to the TOR, spoofing the IP, switching to MD6. Inserting the algorithm."

He watched as Zizi coded like a pro; no indication yet of being detected by the governments security features.

"So far so good."

Zizi: "Root access to the compromised server in 3-2-1. Firewall's down. Go Gabe - 2 minutes and counting."

And he was off. In Gabe's mind the system was comprised of coded images, while on the screen it was typical numerical numbers and letters. He didn't bother using the keyboard as he simply navigated the system mentally. He began to set off alarms on different avenues of the system, causing security feeds to immediately go there. He did another, and another, sending them on a wild goose chase.

"A huntin' we will go....A huntin' we will go..."

Gabe hummed as the matrix styled images played out in his head like an old school Nintendo game, fucking with the security overrides and systems like child's play.

Zizi: "Bingo. One minute left."

He glanced over at her screen seeing Zizi cyber rape the fuck out of the government system. Gabe laughed.

"Come on....you gotta admit, you miss this."

Referring to when she used to do these types of hacks years ago. Looking back at his screen, they were still going after his bait and continuing to give Zizi clear access.

"These wankers are literally chasing their tails....these people are who we entrust our nations security with? Damn...maybe I need to hack in more often--give myself a pay raise."

He grinned deviously.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi trusted Gabe to do his part, staying focused on what she was doing, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face, as gleefully as he took to his task.

"A huntin' we will go....A huntin' we will go..."

She found the files and started the transfer, and then there was the agonizing waiting.

"Come on...you gotta admit, you miss this."

"Oh I do not. 30 seconds."

Her eyes slid to his screen, watching him dart around playing cat and mouse.

"Nice one."

"These wankers are literally chasing their tails....these people are who we entrust our nations security with? Damn...maybe I need to hack in more often--give myself a pay raise."

The look on his face was devilish and very, very handsome.

"You don't have to enjoy yourself quite so much. 15 seconds."

The transfer finished, and she pulled out, wiping all trace of herself as she went.

"5, 4, 3, 2, and time."

She pushed back from the console, blowing the air out from her cheeks. Her head turned and looked at Gabe.

"We did it."

She grinned, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

"Now comes the hard part."

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: "Oh I do not. 30 seconds."

Gabe grinned, running his hand behind her neck and gently pulling her cheek to him as she continued to focus on her task.

"Liar."

He goaded giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Sitting back in his chair, Gabe continued to play duck hunt against the government cunts trying to catch and block him.

Zizi: "Nice one."

"Thanks love."

He stretched triumphantly while grinning. He suggested giving himself a pay raise, shit maybe even cutting his taxes during the next round of fuck with the government server.

Zizi: "You don't have to enjoy yourself quite so much. 15 seconds."

"Oh but I do."

He quipped with a cheeky smile.

Zizi: "5, 4, 3, 2, and time. We did it."

Zizi went to kiss his cheek but he turned his head so her mouth met his in a kiss. Smiling against her lips he finally pulled away.

"Team Zabe for the win."

Giving her a high five, they had everything they needed on Black Widow.

Zizi: "Now comes the hard part."

Gabe looked over at the monitor with all the information they had just gathered. He let out a heavy sigh of anticipation for what was to come.

"Taking down the beast [Hellfire]."

 

[Artemis]

The Clocktower- Alycia's floor

:: Alycia stood in the living room of apartment that she was offered in the clocktower.::

:: she'd taken the communication hardware that was given to her by Oracle, and placed it back in the box, and she set the box on the coffee table. she held her phone in her hand as it chimed, and the message popped up.

:: Vivica got out her phone and sent a text to Alycia. ::

>>"I'm here if you need me, Alycia. Just let me know. I am glad to know you're safe. Please keep me updated."

:: She looked at this message, from Vivica. How far had THEY come in their relationship? But Vivica didn't know that Alycia had turned the page...CLOSED the book on an era of her life that connected them, and now had one of their strongest common factors....Cameron King...in her her CROSSHAIRS.::

:: Would she understand? Would she be willing to HELP? Or when push came to shove, would she revert to type and try to SAVE Cameron, the way she had in the earlier years of his life? If she did...then Alycia would be forced to eliminate HER too, and she didn't want it to come to that.::

:: She...smiled a bit, before closing that message.::

I need a drink....

:: In the end, it wasn't Ashley or Zach that had pushed her over the edge, it was the horrifying realization that all the time she'd WASTED, and her efforts, valiant as they were, had availed her NOTHING where Rose was concerned.::

:: This isn't what she imagined, or wanted.::

:: And then there was the matter of Cameron and Haleigh.::

::THEY HAD TO PAY!::

:: Those two vile, rotten, selfish, pieces of garbage...and that twisted, amoral tramp, Persephone too. She made a deal with Bianca Ceasul, and she'd dance with SATAN himself to see those three HURT, HUMILIATED, and DESTROYED.::

:: The look on her face said it all. Her HEART cried for VENGEANCE, and even when she pulled herself back to use her abilities to defend Rose, it was all for NOTHING.::

:: A call came through, it was for Xavier. She didn't answer. She watched as it rang, and then went to voicemail. She stood there a few moments longer, and finally allowed herself to listen to it::

it was recording.

I can imagine how upset and disappointed you must be. But I want you to know something. I was never more proud to back someone up while they stood for people who could not stand for themselves. I can be a bit of a...rogue, and I never believed overmuch in the system of justice. Today, your preparedness, your skill, your elocution. Today, YOU MADE ME BELIEVE. I know you probably want a little time to decompress. Know that I am there for you anytime day or night. And know that today you were simply the best. Good day, love.

:: She closed her eyes, and shuddered::

:: He wanted her to believe him. The last time she'd trusted and believed in a man, she'd been HUMILIATED, not just once...but TWICE. First Cameron, then ZACH.::

:: Xavier was different...wasn't he? No. She couldn't afford to take that risk again. She'd already lost so much ground, wasted so much time because of the other two. She was not going to do that AGAIN.::

:: Still...she SAVED the voicemail.::


:: After a few moments pass, she turned away from the table with the box on it, and began to walk away. She turns off the lights in the apartment, for what she thinks will be the last time, and closes the doors. Out in the hall, she made her way to the elevator. A ding is heard as she arrives on Zizi's floor::

:: She walks forward, having JUST missed what they were doing.::

Gabe, would you please excuse us?

:: She said in tone that left no room for objection.::

:: The time had come.::

Zizi.

:: she looks at her friend, with a tired expression. she was steel reeling from everything that had happened, but she was now weary.::

I can't exactly describe how I feel right now.

Lost, maybe?

The law is supposed to defend and protect....and Hypolytta gave me my amazonian name because of my skills as an interpreter of the law.

Well.

:: throwing her hands up::

A whole lot of good they did Rose!


Rose needed my help, and when the chips were down, my best couldn't save her. Rae was right, when she criticized Sharon and I at the hospital. We WEREN'T helping Rose the way she needed to be help, and now she's....

:: She turned away and walked over to the large floor to ceiling window::

...

Rose is gone.

I tried my best...and it was all for nothing.

Rose is gone...and we're no further along that we were before.

:: Turning back to Zizi::

AND there are people on your team who are GLAD that Rose is gone, like she was a problem...a burden...or "CRAZY." They're going to go on as though she never existed or that it's BETTER than she's not here!

Is that how we treat people we don't understand, is that how we show our support for the marginalized!?

:: Shaking her head and sighing as she looks up at the ceiling, and back to Zizi::

Beyond that?

:: shaking her head::

This isn't about Ashley and Zach, not anymore, even though I think it was pretty SHITTY the way they spoke about Rose as she lay in Alison's arms, like the woman wasn't JUST as much a victim as they were, even BEFORE all of this.

But no...this is personal, Zizi. DEEPLY personal. My heart cries out for venegance.

:: Zizi would have an idea of what she meant, but even she couldn't know how deep it went, not now.::

There are things I need to attend to....SCORES that I need to settle...and I just don't think I can do that here.

Plus, I am still Rose's legacl counsel, and I must watch out for her estate.

My office is mere blocks from her Secret Garden, and I have an apartment on the top floor of the building.

I'm going to stay there.

I need time to myself.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

When the deed was done, Zizi leaned over to kiss Gabe's cheek, but he turned his head at the last second so that their lips met. She smiled.

"Sneaky."

"Team Zabe for the win."

"Woot woot."

She laughed, and mimed raising the roof before Gabe high fived her. She thought about it a second.

"Are you sure we're not Gizi?"

She rested her head on his shoulder. They were silent a minute, realizing the work was just beginning - they now had to go through everything they'd just procured for something they could use. And it was a daunting task.

Zizi glanced up to see Alycia come into the apartment. She picked her head up and smiled.

"Alycia! I didn't hear you come in. Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

But Alycia didn't look like she was there to hang out.

Gabe, would you please excuse us?

Zizi nodded to him.

"You can hang out in my room."

Zizi motioned for Alycia to have a seat, and Zizi positioned her chair next to the sofa.

Zizi. I can't exactly describe how I feel right now. Lost, maybe?

Zizi looked at her sympathetically.

"That's understandable. You just got out of relationship. You've not been back here in New York all that long - you're still finding your way."

Zizi smiled at her, but noticed how tired Alycia looked.

The law is supposed to defend and protect....and Hypolytta gave me my amazonian name because of my skills as an interpreter of the law. Well. A whole lot of good they did Rose! Rose needed my help, and when the chips were down, my best couldn't save her.

"Oh Alycia...NO ONE could have saved her. That courtroom was a sham! You know that. In any TRUE court of law, you would have knocked it out of the park. You are amazing at what you do - and everyone knows it."

But Alycia was not up to hear it.

Rae was right, when she criticized Sharon and I at the hospital. We WEREN'T helping Rose the way she needed to be help, and now she's...Rose is gone.

"She's not gone. She's with Alison, recuperating. A...well-deserved vacation. She will be back."

I tried my best...and it was all for nothing.

"Don't say that...you're being too hard on yourself. As usual."

Rose is gone...and we're no further along that we were before.

"You're wrong. The pieces are moving into place. We're going to stop this."

For the first time in a while, Zizi herself felt hope that they could do it, and she wanted Alycia to feel it too.

AND there are people on your team who are GLAD that Rose is gone, like she was a problem...a burden...or "CRAZY." They're going to go on as though she never existed or that it's BETTER than she's not here!

"They don't know her, Alycia. *I* don't know her. But I want to. It's with knowledge that we come to understanding, no other way."

Is that how we treat people we don't understand, is that how we show our support for the marginalized!?

"I don't know, is it?"

Zizi's face was questioning, not accusatory. It reminded her of another conversation they had had, the roles now reversed.

This isn't about Ashley and Zach, not anymore, even though I think it was pretty SHITTY the way they spoke about Rose as she lay in Alison's arms, like the woman wasn't JUST as much a victim as they were, even BEFORE all of this.

"It's not an easy situation, certainly. They had just nearly died, so I think we can cut them some slack. Though I do recall Zach sticking up for Rose..."

But no...this is personal, Zizi. DEEPLY personal. My heart cries out for vengeance.

Zizi studied her a second. That didn't sound like Alycia, and it worried her.

"Alycia, is that what you really want? Will that truly make you feel better? You know what they say about anger, that it's like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

She paused.

"Wouldn't it be better to focus on things that make you happy?"

Like Xavier, but she didn't say it out loud.

There are things I need to attend to....SCORES that I need to settle...and I just don't think I can do that here.

"I see."

Zizi looked down at the folded hands in her lap.

Plus, I am still Rose's legal counsel, and I must watch out for her estate.

"Well, of course you must do what you think is right for you."

She looked up, and forced a smile. She didn't want Alycia to go, but she had to do what was right for her, and it was clear that Alycia needed time. A break. Zizi just hoped she'd take it.

"But you always have a place here, if you want it."

Her smile widened, more genuine this time.

"And my legs might not work, but I have two perfectly good shoulders and two highly functioning ears if you ever need them."

My office is mere blocks from her Secret Garden, and I have an apartment on the top floor of the building. I'm going to stay there. I need time to myself.

"Of course, I understand. But will you be safe there? Persephone and Black Widow are still out there."