What's the matter with Rose?

[Artemis]

Charope, LLC- Alycia's Office suite

Alycia threw the photo of Cameron into the fire.

He stared into the flames for a long moment before responding.

“I'm sorry for what I did to you, Alycia. And you deserve better than what he gave you. I hope you find it. And I’m going to do all I can to be the man Delilah deserves. I can promise you that.”

::And this conversation, this very MOMENT might have been the first time SINCE that night all those years ago in Arklay Forest, when she "HIRED" him, that Alycia saw a glimpse of the man she remembered.::

:: But he was never going to be an "angel." He was never going to be like any of the other men...or MALES she dealt with in the Six. He would always have a quality about him that was dangerous. Not in an alluring way, but in a TRULY dangerous way and yet, Delilah found him to be more than acceptable for her...::

:: But it seemed that through all of the time from their first meeting till this moment at hand, he HAD grown. No longer did he operate in just "black and white" terms. He had learned that where the Six was concerned, that was not possible, and like it or not, to be around Delilah, to be WITH her, meant that he would not only be tied to her, but he would be in the Six's orbit, just like Sharon, Alycia, Dominique, Zach and even Vivica. ::

:: As he apologized and offered her sincere best wishes, Alycia softened her gaze as the flicker flames could be seen reflecting in her eyes::

Thank you.

I believe you will.

:: she lifts her glass one final time::

Here's to hope...and happy endings...for BOTH of us.

:: she stands up::

Now get your bare ass down to the infimary, and get back in bed.

:: she couldn't help but smirk and laugh a bit::

Isis isn't a woman who likes to repeat herself, and Delilah expects you to be rested and recovered.

There's a call button by your bed. Xavier and I will be in the building if you need anything.

When you wake up, I've got a replicator that can create clothing for you.

 

[Hellion]

The Parthenon - Leaving Starlight Lounge

"Mmhmmm, I have a feeling you need NO help from me to find...or MAKE trouble. But what's one more demon at an event that's sure to be hot like fire?"

Andrew questioned Derek about his business ventures and whether they'd place him in competition with Sally. One thing Blaze was sure of, he didn't have any devious motives where Sally Spectra was concerned. his own blood family though? That was a different story. Would his motives (among other things) lead to his undoing? Blaze would watch and see, and certainly do what she could to make sure Morgan, Sally and anyone SHE cared about wouldn't be caught up in the fallout of his crash and burn.

:: He flashed a smile and rolled his eyes in an amused manner. ::

"Oh if only you knew the WHOLE ordeal, sweet cheeks."

:: Thankfully, as if on cue, Morgan Victoria appeared in front of them, looking good enough to eat. Or at the very least far more appealing than any appetizer or small plate that had been placed in front of him a few moments ago. He was captivated. Her scent, it was so incredibly intoxicating. And he wasn't talking about her perfume. He was talking about her MANA. The sheer, provocative darkness of the power that coursed through her veins. It was as powerful as any angel or demon he had ever encountered, but it was different. It called to him, not to destroy it - but to experience it. ::

Morgan: "Derek. I certainly hope you've NOT been trying to give my sister a hard time, tonight?"

:: Sipping his martini, he sat it down on the table and stood in her presence. ::

"You've MET your sister, yes?"

:: Derek's eyes looked her up and down with the same intensity as he had just scanned Firebird's soul with. ::

"You look absolutely breathtaking, Morgan Victoria."

:: She continued to say hello before gesturing for him. ::

Morgan: "Let's go, Derek."

:: Morgan snapped her fingers at him. ::

"Bossy too. Just my speed."

:: He caught to her with a quickness, though he took a moment to appreciate the view in front of her. Before long he was next to her and had extended his arm for her, he leaned into her ear. ::

"You certainly know how to make a man wait. Nicely done."

:: Morgan continued to lead the way. ::

"And while I love mystery as much as the next guy..where are you taking me? Some place...private, I hope?"

 

[Domino]

Pig N Whistle

You need to SHUT YOUR MOUTH, Domino.

And you can take your wet rag of cohort [ gesturing at Fathom] back to the hole you both crawled out from. This ISN'T what you want.

"Hmm..maybe you're right. You DID seem to know what I wanted when your head was between my legs. Maybe you're right now, too."

How about we start with a game of DARTS first?

[ Silver Swan thrusts her drink , ashes included, into Domino's face, and then SMASHES the glass itself into Domino's face. ]

BITCH.

[ She then SNATCHES Domino up by her collar and power tosses her across the room, sending her slamming/CRASHING into a dart board, and through the wall itself, and what a THUNDEROUS crash she makes upon impact]

:: It was exhilarating to say the least. The glass hit her face and for a moment she felt truly alive. ::

"There's my pet Swan!"

:: Soon, Sharon had lifted her by her collar and threw across the room as she CRASHED through a wall and hit several steel beams on the way down to the ground, which only served to EXCITE Maxine a bit. She winced for a moment as she rose to her feet and JUMPED back through the hole in the wall. The people of the bar weren't scattering as they SHOULD have been. In fact, she saw the ever present, ever annoying "male gaze" on her. As if her being a woman somehow upset the balance of things in the bar. ::

:: Not long after, a few men came TOWARDS her and she promptly proceeded to carve a path for herself by vigorously, powerfully and QUICKLY bitch slapping every single person that barred her from her goal. She paused for a moment. ::

"Oh WAIT."

:: Turning to the jukebox, she selected "A4" as a loud beat began to play in the bar. Cracking her neck back and forth she smiled. ::

"I knew you'd come out to play."

:: She locked her fists and lifted them over her head as her hands glowed RED for a moment. With an INCREDIBLE quickness, Domino POUNDED her fist into the ground and making it clear as to how she got the nickname "Domino" as the ground rose in the air, before falling down one right after another, almost as if it had been choreographed. In this chaos, she LEPT for Silver Swan, grabbing her by the neck before nailing her to an adjacent wall, her hands PERMEATING with HEAT, the same energy that she used to dissolve organic matter. She choked Sharon for a few moments, before BASHING her head repeatedly against the wall and LETTING GO of the grasp on her neck. As she slid down, Maxine KICKED Sharon in the stomach with great force, catapulting her into a BEAM, snapping through it entirely before crashing through a wall on the opposite side of the bar. The MEN began to react with just as much misplaced vigor as ever. ::

"I know you're okay, Toucan Samantha! Come out come out wherever you are!"

 

[Firebird]

Starlight Lounge

:: She rose to her feet, grabbing Blaze by the hand as she turned to Richard. ::

"Excuse me, Richard. I'll just be a moment."

:: Vivica dragged Blaze to a private corner of the lounge and she looked at her honestly and sweetly. ::

Blaze looks at Vivica, with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. It's as if all the fun or whatever she was manufacturing moments before, had just DRAINED from her being.

"Blaze..honey, I know you are trying to deal with things. But in the last twenty four hours, I've broken a good friend's heart by revealing the ties that his mother has, have nearly been killed by Ava Cassadine, have watched a poised and serene woman seem to lose her grasp on things, watched my own team threatened to be torn apart...and I'm just..."

:: Shaking her head and blinking quickly. ::

Blaze blinks and continues to look at Vivica. Why was she doing this?

"I'm just not about to pretend like all of that's not going on, because you feel like blowing off some steam. I'm sorry, I'm just not. I come here, and you don't make any kind of mention of what's happening, you smile and dazzle and make small talk with some preppy HACK, and you are more than sending a signal or two to Richard. If you want to self destruct, you go right ahead, but I'm not going to sit around and watch it."

:: squeezing her hand. ::

"I know you are going through a LOT right now. But you're NOT the only one. I came because I'm here for you, Blaze. But I need you to be there for me too...and all of [gesturing around her] THIS? It just isn't how I deal.."

:: shaking her head ::

"And this makes me nervous. You NEVER once contacted me about what was going on. I know it's a lot. I get that. But come on Blaze...you KNOW my insecurities about The Six. And really? You KNOW I would have never done that to YOU. And now? My life is in danger. It's already been threatened. And you want to sip cocktails? I mean Blaze, this isn't who you are. None of it is who you are or how you deal with things...and I really don't like it."

:: Vivica stroked her face. ::

Blaze had a flash of impulse to AVOID her touch. Who was she to tell Blaze how she should COPE? Why was Vivica trying to drag her out of the "space" she'd created for herself? Wasn't she supposed to be her FRIEND? a GOOD friend at that!?

But she sat still, and just stared.

"We work because we are honest. Because there aren't any secrets. But I'm not a pet, Blaze. I'm a woman. I have my own feelings that have to be recognized. I want to help you through this..I would NOT be in this hotel if that wasn't the case..but this whole night on the town..it's leaving me feeling a bit disrespected. So help me through this..."

:: She kissed her. ::

"How are you doing and WHAT is going on with you, Blaze?"

Blaze looked aghast for a moment, as her apple green eyes darted back over to where the others were. Morgan was already gone. Blaze could "CALL" her...she could ESCAPE. But even as the feelings she'd recently been repressing began to break THROUGH the facade she had been constructing over the past week...it wasn't FEAR that she was feeling. It was time to get this out of herself. It was time to be honest.

" Viv, I had a sister, that I tried to help, and failed. She turned out to be a construct....created by that psychotic bitch from hell Talisman."

" I watched, all but helpless as Talisman stalked, vexed and tried to kill my mom...TWICE. When everyone ELSE thought my mom was going crazy, she KNEW there was something wrong, and she was RIGHT!"

" And now Cameron thinks he's gonna STOP US from KILLING her for what she did to Frost...AND what she did to my mom!?"

Blaze's hands ball into fists, as she begins to tremble with resentment- toward Cameron, Talisman, Delilah, Persephone, Haleigh....

"I had another sister FINALLY return home, only to watch as Cameron tried to SHIT on her AND my mom...he even THREATENED them about TALISMAN."

"And THEN...Morgan and I...we discovered we had yet ANOTHER sister...one who'd been right under our noses all this time. Our father CONTINUES to haunt us, to this day! It doesn't matter that Morgan cast him into Limbo. He STILL haunts us, he STILL gets away with what he's done to ALL of us!

"She drops a TRUTH BOMB on us, and instead of drawing closer to her FAMILY, she decides to "go home to mother." she decides to BETRAY us and go to MALICE. And after she DEVASTATES us, and LEAVES, expecting US to do the emotional heavy lifting while SHE skips off into the night, she leaves a parting gift for Alycia, and has sex with Cameron on TOP OF ZACH'S CAR, and the two of them DON'T CARE who they hurt, WHAT relationships they TRAMPLE ON, because....'they NEED EACH OTHER' and that's ALL that mattered to them. "

" This is AFTER all the work that my mom did to try to HELP her, an effort that nearly cost her her LIFE! and THAT is how she repaid my mom, that's what she decided to do to US, to Alycia."

"And my mom...you remember, the one that Talisman was stalking, and you all thought she was CRAZY? The one that Talisman tried to KILL, TWICE? She hasn't been doing well behind all of this."

"We, [the Victoria family] were going to leave here, since Cameron thinks he can pick and chose who's worth while and who isn't, and go back to Aerie. But then HALEIGH happened, and Morgan decided we should stay here. So this where we've been. But we really haven't been able to DO anything. We've been cocooned. Morgan and I have been feeling TRIBAL, ready to protect our mom...and KILL anyone that comes near us with bad intentions. Mike and Nicolas are on the same page."

"I...we (the Victoria family) has been having one big ol adjustment reaction....to a GIANT clusterfuck. And I'm not going to apologize for THAT."

"We've been trying MAKE SENSE of it all, and what to DO! Morgan says that we should stay here...."stick together"...TRUST Cameron, but I DON'T THINK SO!"

Blaze pulls away from Vivica and stands up and turns to face the glass window, wrapping her arms around herself and shutting her apple green eyes for a moment.

"CAMERON gets to go around disrespecting everyone, wrecking relationships, having SEX on people's fiancees' cars, RUINING our relationships with our allies, and having no regrets...but I'M supposed to behave ONLY a certain way!?"

" I'm being hit from all sides, By so called friends, teammates...SISTERS....who turn out to be FOES... and when I "DARE" to call things out for what they all, I'm criticized, told to shut up, told that I'm off base. I'm TIRED of being told not to do whatever I feel that I should in order to MAINTAIN, even though those same nay sayers aren't lifting a FINGER to help me figure things out. "

"I'm TIRED of being told that Morgan, Karen and I don't have a STAKE in all of this, even though we most certainly DO."

"AND I'm TIRED of being around people, NAMELY Cameron and Delilah, who think that THEY are the only ones who are entitled to be vocal in their thoughts, opinions and approval/disapproval, while the REST of us should be quiet."

"Where MY family is concerned, I'm GOING to have something to say, and I'll do WHATEVER I think is necessary to protect my mom and my sister, and no one...not even some time displaced sorceress, a renegade turn coat goddess, OR a rogue sister is going to stand in my way! "

"You don't like what I've tried to do tonight? Well...I've been trying to STOP myself from freefalling, because if I don't....I'll go the same route I went the night the Purifiers attacked Sally Spectra, and one more thing, one more push, and this hotel AND it's owner will go up in a ROMAN CANDLE. I'm trying to ride this initial wave of anxiety and resentment OUT so that I can be ready to do what needs to be done!"

" Black Widow was one thing. She TOLD us what she was doing. Ava slipped....more like SLITHERED out the back door, like a SNAKE into darkness...right after she BERATED Morgan and myself for something that WASN'T OUR FAULT. "

" Next thing I...or anyone ELSE on this team knows...she's attacking you and Simon, trying to kill you. There's no way I could warn you about something I didn't know about myself."

" But if I could've had ANY indication of it, I would've come charging to your aid, and given Persephone HELL, literally. "

"I know your issues and insecurities about the Six, I thought I could help you with those, but the truth is, I've had some as well...and the Blue Moon has brought most of them to the forefront, where they've remained ever since.

" I WASN'T able to help you, just like I could't stop Morgan from leaving, or Delilah shitting all over this team for MONTHS and infecting everyone with her negativity, forcing people to go to extraordinary measures just to get by; OR Sally Spectra from being nearly murdered, OR Talisman violating Frost and attacking my mother, or Haleigh...or treacherous snake, Persephone."

"I'm SORRY, OKAY!?"

" I would NEVER be able to forgive myself if Persephone had succeeded in killing you, and NOW that I...WE know, she WON'T get a second chance. I'd burn her into so much moon dust before she gets another shot at you, OR Simon."

"The only way for me to increase the odds of making SURE that Persephone OR Black Widow don't get a second shot in my favor, would be to keep you close at hand, and I WOULD, if I thought you'd cooperate! If I asked you to STAY here, so I could keep a close eye on you like I am doing with my mom and Mike, WOULD YOU?"


"And as for Richard? I resent your implying that I'm SELF DESTRUCTING with him. He's a FRIEND, he's one of YOUR teammates. He and Dominique came here to talk to me, and I'm enjoying his company, there's NOTHING wrong with that."

 

[Silver Swan]

Times Square - Pig N Whistle

"Oh WAIT."

:: Turning to the jukebox, she selected "A4" as a loud beat began to play in the bar. Cracking her neck back and forth she smiled. ::

[ Silver Swan squares up, and calls out to MorningStar]

MorningStar, get ready!

"I knew you'd come out to play."

:: She locked her fists and lifted them over her head as her hands glowed RED for a moment. With an INCREDIBLE quickness, Domino POUNDED her fist into the ground and making it clear as to how she got the nickname "Domino" as the ground rose in the air, before falling down one right after another, almost as if it had been choreographed. In this chaos, she LEPT for Silver Swan, grabbing her by the neck before nailing her to an adjacent wall, her hands PERMEATING with HEAT, the same energy that she used to dissolve organic matter. She choked Sharon for a few moments::

[Domino wouldn't be able to permanently incapacitate Sharon with this attack, given Silver Swan's invulnerability, and with Domino's close proximity to the mutate, she was leaving HERSELF open to brutal retaliation, once Sharon bust loose from her grip...]

Get your hands OFF of me you...

::before BASHING her head repeatedly against the wall and LETTING GO of the grasp on her neck. As she slid down, Maxine KICKED Sharon in the stomach with great force,::

UGHN! [ She shut her eyes. Not nearly enough to HURT, but it caught her off guard....]

[ That kick would hurt Domino long before it hurt Silver Swan, but the girl was pressing her advantage in this moment and used her momentum and angle of the strike to get off that good shot!]

::catapulting her into a BEAM, snapping through it entirely before crashing through a wall on the opposite side of the bar. The MEN began to react with just as much misplaced vigor as ever. ::

"I know you're okay, Toucan Samantha! Come out come out wherever you are!"

[ Silver Swan smahes through the ceiling , and CRASHES DOWN right on top of Domino, delivering a brutal double high heeled STOMP to her head and acting as a sort of high powered pile driver to HAMMER the woman down, face/head first into the floor.]

I know where YOU are...

[ STOMPING HER again before kicking her over, and slamming her high heeled boot down on her face. Domino was durable, but that durability had it's limits, and the kind of punishment that Silver swan could dish out would bring Domino to that threshold sooner rather than later.]

And where you're GOING...

[ Silver Swan excutes a PUNT KICK on her foe, sending Domino flying up and cross like a football into the light fixtures where there was certain to be an ELECTRICAL reaction to the impact]

You evidently didn't learn the LAST two times I beat your ass. YOU CAN'T STOP ME!

[ At that moment, a man in the bar, who called himself "The Blue Shield" SLAMS a pool stick across Silver Swan's back. It doesn't phase her in the slightest...BUT...]

HERE, make yourself USEFUL!

[ She says as she SNATCHES him up, and spins him around to the front of her, now swinging the man, with his "blue aura" (force field) activating, she sends HIM CRASHING into Domino as well]

Bar patron: That broad just POWER TOSSED the Blue Shield! GET 'ER!

[ And three men, The Hood, The Rhino and The Sand man, ALL PILE on her, trying to gang beat her. For a moment, all sign of Silver Swan is lost...until]

OH HELL NO!

[A silver FLASH of power, and a SONIC BOOM BLOWS the men off her, sending them flying every which way. There stands Silver Swan, in an "expanded" power pose position]

Face it boys, NO MAN is more powerful than me! EVER!

[ So this is how it was going to go, then SO BE IT! She'd work out her frustration by TRASHING anyone who came at her, along WITH that rat tag bimbo, Domino!]

 

[Black Widow]

On the way to The Sanctuary

It was ten o'clock as Haleigh rolled through Times Square, cursing under her breath at the night time traffic. Her windows were darkly tinted, and her car was sound-deadened, but even still, the square was brightly lit and she could hear the sounds of the city on the other side of the glass. A long legged woman in a short white dress came crashing out of a bar window, knocking more than one person down, and causing several others to haphazardly scurry out of the way. Traffic screeched to a halt, then turned into a clusterfuck as drivers tried to get around each other and get away from a potential disaster. Haleigh switches on the 'autopilot' function of her vehicle and programs it to continue to navigate the traffic mess so she could analyze the disturbance.

"The FUCK?"

She said, as she watched the crowds scramble. Some good Samaritan helped the woman in white up and as her car crawled down the street, Haleigh recognized Heidi. Haleigh's eyes darted back to the bar Heidi had come flying out of, and she instantly identified Sharon, Maxine, and Delilah in the midst of a free-for-all. Haleigh disappeared from her car, and reappears on a rooftop across the street, overlooking the action. Far above the square, no one can spot her here. There are hundreds of people in the Square right now, and they are beginning to crowd around the outside of the dive bar to see the commotion. All the digital billboards in the square started to glitch, and suddenly Haleigh's voice, digitally altered to be unrecognizable to the general public, was booming throughout the square, and her words echoed like thunder through the air.

"AND THE SILVER SWAN STRIKES AGAIN!!! OR MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CALLING HER THE VIOLENT VULTURE? BETTER CLEAR THE AREA, PEOPLE! SHE'S BEEN QUITE AGGRESSIVE LATELY!"

She warned, as she cut the power to the Pig N Whistle, casting all the combatants in darkness and drawing the attention of all the rubberneckers. Almost everyone in the square was looking around wildly, trying to determine what was going on. Many cheered as if it were some sort of big production, a one-off surprise for tourists or a marketing stunt.

"DON'T WANT TO LEAVE? I DON'T BLAME YOU. I SEE SHE'S GIVING YOU QUITE A SHOW-- BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT! THIS IS ACTUALLY ROUND TWO FOR OUR BUSY LITTLE BIRDIE AND HER FAVORITE NEW SPARRING PARTNER! IF YOU THINK THIS IS ENTERTAINING, ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU MISSED IN ROUND ONE!"

Many Screens went white altogether, but the giant, 4K high definition LED billboard, which previously showing a man skiing down a pristine mountain slope, shifted to static, yet stayed on. Soon the static was replaced with a carefully cut and produced video from the night of the Blackout Party. The setting was High Dark Hall. The stars were none other than Domino and Silver Swan. The sound on the video was replaced with a classic Cheap Trick song.

:: Maxine moved into a battle stance. She moved with great speed as she tackled Silver Swan, and the two collided with great strength as they crashed through a wall and back into the suite. In an instant, Maxine kneed Sharon, causing the mutate to hunch over Domino's knee, as her free hand delivered a proper SMACK to Sharon's ass. She grabbed Sharon by the hair and tossed her into a table as she rose to her feet. She began to walk closer and closer as Sharon was about to no doubt land her next assault. Maxine was begging for it in all honesty. Domino charged forth. ::

[ zoom/dashing forward, Silver Swan CATCHES Domino by her wrists, and IMMEDIATELY cancels out her momentum, taking her off solid ground into the air in a classic "Bird of Prey vs Snake" move, removing her from her envrionment of stability, She spins Domino around once...twice [faster]....three times [faster still] before SWINGING the woman up over her head and, still holding her by her wrists [holding them pinned above her own head], she zooms down and SLAMS Domino to the ground.]

[Now straddling Domino and pinning her down, Domino tries to upend Silver Swan, and the two women tumble over, each struggling for dominance. One moment Domino is on top, the next Sharon is on top, NOT allowing Domino to escape her grip. Sharon gains the upper hand and rises to her feet, snatching Domino up, still holding her wrists over her head, and shaking her violently. An ordinary human would already be dead, most mutants would be near death or in a coma, even some super strong mutants would be hurting BADLY from the physical punishment Sharon is dishing out.]

[Domino has an up close look into the wild, silver eyes of the mutate, and while Sharon has leverage, Domino has one unexpected "opening" and opportunity, and she takes it, she suddenly PLANTS one HUGE kiss on Sharon. The mutates eyes widen, and now suitably distracted, Domino frees herself and forces Sharon back against the wall, pressing up against her and furiously making out with her. Sharon's eyes close for a moment, before they snap back open and she SHOVES Domino back.]

[ She commands with such a shout!]

Silver Swan: WAIT a minute...WAIT A MINUTE!

The record screeches to a halt and Sharon's voice echoes clearly. Then another song starts resounding in the chilly night air, and it is instantly recognizable, even though it's a few years old. It was a cultural anthem for a while: 'I kissed a girl' by Katy Perry.

[ Domino looks at Sharon....Sharon looks at Domino.... She was right. It felt GOOD to just...CUT LOOSE and be WILD, ANGRY, VIOLENT...and there not be any moral or ethical push back over it! It felt GOOD to revel in this aspect of herself...and WHO was providing this....opportunity? This WOMAN(!?) well, there hadn't been any OTHER woman OR a man for that matter who could match Sharon OR SURVIVE her since...CAMERON, but even HE couldn't have survived THIS kind of..."foreplay!" As a matter of fact...She'd been with HIM in this place TOO! Were ALL her wild, shocking, questionable sexual encounters going to happen here!?]

Silver Swan: Oh...the HELL with it!

[ Sharon launches forward and grabs hold of Domino, kissing her passionately. The two fall to the floor...and the rest...is history]

And with a smirk, Haleigh disappears, leaving the sex tape to play for all the world to see.

 

[Fathom]

To the Pig N Whistle

She didn't blow dry her hair, but then, she never did. She just tousled it up a bit so it wasn't awful. It wasn't terribly long before she found little cocktail dress for their night out. She touched up her mascara and lipstick, and strapped on some heels.

When they got to the dive bar, Maxine lit up a cigarette, and Heidi just grimaced. This place was absolutely uncouth and crawling with the grossest of peasants, all of whom seemed to be leering at them. Some idiot catcalled at them as they came in the door, and Maxine grabbed him by the balls and took his beer as Heidi looked for their chosen victims for the evening. She nudged Maxine and gestured in direction of the Silver Swan and Morningstar.

They strolled up, with Maxine taking the lead, greeting them with bitchiness turned up to ten. Heidi smirked as she looked around, watching their backs and waiting for the inevitable first strike. Once Maxine mentioned something about a body of water for Morningstar, Heidi's eyes gleamed with wicked mirth. She put on a very sweet smile.

"Hi there! Need help DROWNING?"

There was a little more verbal back in forth, and then the bitter old bird lady suggested a game of darts, and attacked, slamming a glass into Maxine's face and tossing her into a dart board. Time to get serious.

"How about trying that on ME, you pretentious PARROT?"

Heidi conjures up a water blast and knocks Sharon clean off her stool.

Sharon: Well ALRIGHT then, you barnacle bitch, since you asked so NICELY!

Heidi was about to unleash another blast, this one directed at Morningstar, when Sharon grabbed her and power tossed her through the air. She crashed THROUGH the glass window, out into the crowded sidewalk, knocking people down like bowling pins and crashing into a mailbox, which hit a lamp post and knocked it into the street, sending traffic into a snarl.

Man: OH SHIT pretty lady, you okay?

Somebody said, as Heidi started to get up, and they helped her regain her footing. She shoved them away with a scowl, fixed her dress, tossed her hair out of her face, and started pushing through the crowd that was forming, back towards the bar to kick some ass when the billboards and street lights started flickering. Almost everybody in the crowd outside went silent as a digital female voice began booming over a PA system.

Announcer: AND THE SILVER SWAN STRIKES AGAIN!!! OR MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CALLING HER THE VIOLENT VULTURE? BETTER CLEAR THE AREA, PEOPLE! SHE'S BEEN QUITE AGGRESSIVE LATELY!

The Pig N Whistle was suddenly steeped in darkness, and all around Heidi, the electronic billboards glowed white. She looked over her shoulder to see what the crowd of flatscans was now staring up at.

Announcer: DON'T WANT TO LEAVE? I DON'T BLAME YOU. I SEE SHE'S GIVING YOU QUITE A SHOW-- BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT! THIS IS ACTUALLY ROUND TWO FOR OUR BUSY LITTLE BIRDIE AND HER FAVORITE NEW SPARRING PARTNER! IF YOU THINK THIS IS ENTERTAINING, ALLOW ME TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU MISSED IN ROUND ONE!

It was footage of another fight between Domino and the Silver Swan, and Heidi recognized what they were wearing in the video from the Blackout party. The crowd started to cheer, but they would be in for quite the surprise here in a minute. Heidi smirked as she pushed her way back into the bar. It was a melee event in here, everyone was fighting by the light of the LED screen across the street that poured in through the glass shopfront. Heidi was grabbed by a big drunk guy and she blasted him straight in the face with a sphere of water, sending him careening back into the barstools. Then she was free to grab Morningstar by her hair and slam her bodily against the bar.

"Hey Mirrorball, you still cross about what I did to your frosty friend? [laughing] That little snow cone didn't know WHAT hit her. It's a SHAME you didn't make it there sooner. Not that you could have saved her, it just would've been FUN to drown you in HER blood!"

 

[Black Widow]

The Sanctuary

Scion stood on another rooftop, far above the Sanctuary. The surprise opportunity in Times Square had boosted her mood a bit, but now it was time to get some not so pleasant business taken care of. She wore a wig that was close to her last red hair style, and the suit she'd donned in the car was not her Clandestine Version, but an old SHIELD outfit. Anyone on the lookout for her would be looking for her new, blonde look. And while as 'Black Widow' she wasn't exactly discreet, the ruse still had some residual 'good girl' vibe.

She look down and cased the exterior, her vision zoomed way in. She pulled the floor plans and campus layout from the files at Clandestine. They'd been providing security for the Sanctuary for some time now and their records were extensive. In her HUD, she overlaid the digital information on what she was looking at physically. She searched for an easy target, with a quick getaway.

There, in a common room, away from the rest of the peaceful sleepers. There was a little boy, playing with a toy airplane. She recognized the model as a quinjet. Perfect, it would barely be a challenge. She disappeared from the rooftop, and reappeared outside the wrought iron gates.

She looked directly into a security camera for a few seconds, then swiftly, gracefully, she scaled the gates and dropped down inside the courtyard. She didn't make a sound as she crossed the lawn, leapt up to grab the ledge of the balcony, and pulled herself up. On the other side of the glass, the child was playing on the floor in the glow of a night light, making engine noises excitedly.

I'm doing what I HAVE to do.

She thought, as the lock clicked and she eased the door open and let herself inside. None of the CI alarms would sound, and not even the 'door ajar' notification would betray her entrance.

"Hey Kid."

Boy: Black Widow!

She scanned his face and searched for his file. O'Reilly, Jacob. His parents had been known mutants who died during the Inferno incident. He was lucky to have been saved from demonic abduction by Zach and Rose that night, because he had been a helpless infant at the time. Apparently Zach visited the boy regularly, and had signed him out for numerous 'field trips'. Haleigh vaguely remembered Zach mentioning spending time with the boy, but she'd never met him. She browsed his file for more pertinent intel. This little one had yet to show his own powers, according to the records. Talisman's experimentation would no doubt catalyze his abilities.

"What are you doing out here, Jake? It's late, you should be in bed."

Jake: I don' wanna go ta bed! I'm on an Advengers Aventure!

"Are you now?"

Jake: YUP!

She knelt in front of him, her face a mask of excitement that matched his. She tugged on the sleeve of his captain america t-shirt.

"Well so am I! Do you think you can help me complete my mission?"

Jake: What's yer missin?!

"It's a TOP SECRET Avenger's Assignment, we'd better get going, I'll tell you on the way!"

She whispered loudly, extending a gloved hand. The kid took it eagerly, trusting one of his heroes. Haleigh felt the twisting pain at her core again, but she had made her choices and now she had to see them through, or suffer the consequences. She stoically lead the boy away from his home, and towards the worst place on earth that she knew of.

 

[MorningStar]

The Pig N’ Whistle

"Did somebody say heartless?"

It was the woman (?) who had attacked them in the Citadel. Delilah slid off the barstool onto her feet to face her. She seemed to only have eyes for Sharon though…who seemed incredibly agitated to see her. It seemed like it was more than just seeing an old adversary.

Delilah was confused by their banter, but soon the bitch’s focus moved to Delilah.

"Speaking of a girl with lots of feelings. Malice sent me to check up on you. Haleigh attacks your precious Bishop and leaves him to bleed out in his dreary little apartment? Well...we just wanted to make sure you haven't found yourself near a large body of water...though the park is nearby in case you change your mind."

Delilah’s hand clenched into a fist, her eyes narrowing.

“Don’t you even say his name, bitch, or I’ll make sure you and Stephen Hawking have a LOT in common.”

Her cohort from the Citadel arrived a few steps behind her. Delilah wanted to wipe her smug smile off her face with a blowtorch. She sniffed the air.

“Do you smell that? Like rotten fish?”

"Now who wants to buy the first round?"

Delilah rolled her eyes.

“I’ll pay you to go away.”

But Sharon had something else in mind. She proceeded to throw Domino THROUGH the dartboard, before pushing Delilah out of the way of Fathom’s water attack, before throwing HER through the window of the bar. When this was over, Delilah was going to have to have a discussion with Sharon about her anger issues…

It certainly seemed personal between Sharon and this Domino. And then somehow, Sharon was throwing OTHER patrons of the bar around, who were not reacting positively to THAT. Before she knew it, Silver Swan was beating on them three at a time.

“Oh shit.”

But then the lights went out, and Delilah could hear a voice coming from outside. And every screen started playing a video. Of SHARON?! Delilah couldn’t help but be a bit stunned by what she was seeing. Her mouth fell open. Sharon was being…intimate…with the woman who had tried to kill them all, including Karen? Who was working for Kelly? What the hell was going on in the world?

In her distraction, Fathom had returned and was able to grab her, smashing her face into the bar.

"Hey Mirrorball, you still cross about what I did to your frosty friend? [laughing] That little snow cone didn't know WHAT hit her. It's a SHAME you didn't make it there sooner. Not that you could have saved her, it just would've been FUN to drown you in HER blood!"

“Haven’t you heard?”

Delilah forcefully threw her head backwards into Heidi’s, causing her to release her grip on her hair enough that she was able to turn and face her.

“Drowning doesn’t take with me. Sorry.”

Delilah pulled back her arm, her fist glowing with photon energy. As she threw a right cross and connected with Fathom’s chin, she ignited the photon energy, supercharging her punch with enough force to punch a hole through a mountain.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi was close to banging her head against the butcher block in humiliation when alarms started going off. She wheeled over to the console.

“There’s some sort of disturbance in Times Square.”

Her fingers flew over the control pad.

“Someone has taken over all video screens in the area.”

Zizi called it up.

“That’s the Hellfire Mansion.”

Sharon Kelly and Domino – the woman they had encountered with Talisman at the Citadel – were locked in a pitched battle. Zizi checked on Sharon’s location. She was in Times Square.

“This isn’t live.”

Scrutinizing the video.

“It’s from the night of the Blackout Party.”

Sharon was giving an impressive beat down. And then…they weren’t fighting.

“Oh…my…good…NESS!”

She froze.

 

[Titan]

Starlight Lounge to the Clocktower

"Titan...one of SHOULD really be back at The Clocktower. The team is reviewing footage of Rose…and every set of eyes can help. I will join you as soon as I can. Apologize to the others for me."

He stood up quickly.

“Oh, thank god. You got it Viv! Be careful!”

He was already half way out the door when he called back.

“Thank you for a lovely time!”

He had never felt more useless as sitting there having drinks while any of their team could be attacked at any time…at least at the Clocktower with the others he could feel like he was doing something.

Reaching the Clocktower, he knocked and entered without being told to. Everyone was watching video on the large screen. The projection was so good on that thing, it must have been 3D. He’d have to talk to Zizi about getting one for his place. Good, he hadn’t missed anything, they were still reviewing the Rose footage…

But as he got closer…

“That’s not Rose…”

Sharon. And some tough looking, but no less beautiful, woman. Having. Sex.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph..."

Andrew’s eyes rolled up into his head and he hit the floor.

 

[Persephone]

Persephone sat propped upright in her bed, legs stretched out and laptop resting on her thighs. Clicking away at the keys, she was composing an email to none other than Helena, Diana, and Kelly with a quick explanation:

"Stavros' legacy lives on." - P

And an attachment of the signed documents indicating that Cassadine Enterprises was now officially back in Ava's ownership, which in turn, meant it was back in the pocket of MysTech and The Sisterhood. Something that hadn't happened since nearly 10 years earlier when Stavros was still alive. Kelly would find this particularly intriguing because she would now be able to gain access to technology and equipment from black markets all around the world that were yet to be discovered or used by others. It was a techno-witches dream come true.

After sending the email, Persephone noticed a small pop up in the bottom of her screen--a 'Breaking News' story from Time Square. Clicking on the small box, it expanded to fill the entire screen of her laptop showing EXACTLY what was happening in Time Square, LIVE. It was a video of Silver Swan and Domino FUCKING. Persephone's eyes widened as she literally started to bust out laughing.

"Sharon fucking Kelly finally getting the STICK out of her ass and a TONGUE in it!"

This was gold. Pure fucking gold, and Persephone was enjoying the HELL out of it.

"About damn time."

There were shots of a bar brawl happening as well--flashes of silver and tattoos could be seen from outside of the bar. Even Fathom and fucking Morningstar were there. Huffing out, Persephone was getting a little jealous. She was cooped up in the Hellfire Club unable to do ANYTHING until Helena gave her the go ahead.

"Not fair. I want to kill something."

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

Poor Zizi. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride it seemed. She’d never met this guy Gabe, but to hear Zizi tell it, the sun rose and set on his say so. Ashley had half a mind to track him down and beat him until he asked her out, but Zizi would probably frown on that. And plus, if he spent two years fucking Ava Cassadine, he couldn’t have very good taste in the first place.

Her mind was wandering to ways in which she could kill that treacherous bitch Ava, when alarms rang out in the Clocktower and Zizi rushed to her systems to call whatever it was up on the screen.

“Someone has taken over all video screens in the area.”

Ashley sauntered over from the kitchen, unconcerned.

“Prank?”

Zizi shook her head.

As they saw what it was, Ashley groaned.

“Are we really going to be forced to watch her highness smacking that Hellfire wannabe around? Shit and all those poor people in Times Square having to look at this shit.”

But as she watched, their fight turned into something…more.

The rage started in the tips of her toes and was a tidal wave by the time it reached her head.

“THAT.”

Her eyes flashed bright with anger.

“BITCH!”

Her hands were balled into fists.

“THAT WHORE!”

She turned, and brought them down on top of the butcher block, cracking the marble top into pieces and breaking through the wood beneath.

“How DARE she! How dare she say one WORD about me visiting Alek, when all this time, she was FUCKING ONE OF THEM!”

She turned around, still screaming in fury.

“And SINCE WHEN IS SHE A LESBIAN?!”

Ashley let out a primal scream.

“I’m going to rip her fucking HEAD OFF. SHE QUESTIONS MY LOYALTY? I’ll KILL THAT BITCH. I’LL KILL HER!”

She looked at Zizi.

“I TOLD YOU. I TOLD you she was a hypocrite. All high and mighty like she never has SEX. And now THIS?”

She screamed again, the fury uncontrollable.

Her eyes were piercing and cold, directed at Oracle.

“Tell me where she is right now."

She started to call on her power.

"TELL ME."

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Knight’s Quarters

He was passing a quiet evening after his rigorous time with the new Persephone, waiting for Haleigh to return to the mansion – or even Persephone to look him up again if she hadn’t yet had her fill for the day. Or maybe the both of them…he HAD planted that seed with Ava and he thought she was receptive to it…

He was lying naked on his bed, going over the latest intel from his “little birds” on his iPad. Who was fucking whom, who was pregnant by someone OTHER than their husband, who was bankrupt and hiding it…anything that might be of use to Helena. A news alert flashed across his screen and he opened it. The Times Square Jumbotron has been taken over, by a sex tape? Yawn. You could find more interesting videos on the internet…

But wait a minute, he knew those cavorting bodies.

“Max, I didn’t know you had it in you. But apparently you’ve had quite a lot in you.”

THIS would be very useful indeed.

“Faster,” he said to servant who was keeping Berserker Junior warmed up with her mouth, then looked over at the two lesser club members making out at the end of the bed. He crooked a finger towards them.

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

There wasn't a whole lot going on for them at the Clocktower. Zizi wasn't gone for long, and when she got back, her and Ashley disappeared into the kitchen for a private chat, leaving Zach and John out in the main room to play the waiting game.

John took the opportunity to breech the subject of Alycia, but they didn't get very far into talking about it, because all kinds of alarms started going off at the jumbotron.

Zizi: There’s some sort of disturbance in Times Square. [Her fingers flew over the control pad. ] Someone has taken over all video screens in the area.

Ashley: Prank?

"Or another message from Haleigh?"

Zizi: That’s the Hellfire Mansion. This isn’t live. It’s from the night of the Blackout Party.

"Well, that's no surprise, we knew she WENT."

It was a fight vid, and if Zach was being honest, it was kind of hot, Sharon and that ink doll rolling around on the floor, beating on each other. All they needed was some warm oil--

"WAIT WHAT?!?!"

He felt a wave of indignation as Sharon and Maxine started making out. It was ONE thing to fantasize about, but Sharon ACTUALLY having sex with a MEMBER OF HELLFIRE..... well, Ashley wasn't the ONLY one who was upset about getting blasted for having sex by the epitome of a HYPOCRITE.

Ashley's anger bloomed into something so awesome, it staggered Zach initially. She slammed her fists down and cracked marble, she let out a scream possessed by fury. She needed a relief valve, he knew, and he braced himself as he began to absorb and store her wrath. It crashed over him and made him feel intoxicated, INVINCIBLE with rage.

"ASH..... BREATHE, JUST BREATHE."

Empathic energy rose off him like red steam, and his hands shook, his vision blurred but he brought her down from the edge.

"She got the DROP on us last night..... but NOW the truth is out. Let her LIVE..... let her FACE what she did. She tried to EMBARRASS us... She tried to SHAME US..... and she deserves to FEEL THAT TENFOLD."

 

[Steel]

The Clocktower

They kept watching the video of Rose, but they couldn’t see anything new in it. Shortly Zizi was back, looking a bit downtrodden. She and Ashley went off into the kitchen together – girl talk, he assumed, leaving he and Zach alone together. He wanted to help Alycia – and Zach – so he thought he ought to say something about it while they had some time alone.

“Hey Zachary…I had coffee with Alycia earlier today. She said some things, and I really think you-“

Alarm bells started going off before her could continue. Zizi brought it up on the screen, something going on in Times Square. A video.

Steel averted his eyes. Andrew chose this oh so wrong moment to come in the door, and immediately took a dive. He knelt by the kid trying to revive him. And then Ashley hit the roof.

All the hurt and humiliation of the previous day came out in one big ball of fury. She SMASHED Zizi’s butcher block to pieces, screamed, yelled.

“Ashley! Calm down!”

“Tell me where she is right now."

Steel’s eyes went to Zizi.

“Do not tell her.”

Ashley’s face began to morph as she drew on her power.

“Ashley! No!”

He grabbed her, his body melting into steel, holding her arms to her sides. He shook her.

“Stop it! Stop it right now!”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

She demanded that Zizi tell her where to find that treacherous bitch Sharon.

“Do not tell her.”

“Stay out of this, tin man.”

Steel grabbed her, shook her.

“Stop it! Stop it right now!”

“Let me GO!”

"ASH…BREATHE, JUST BREATHE. She got the DROP on us last night...but NOW the truth is out. Let her LIVE...let her FACE what she did. She tried to EMBARRASS us... She tried to SHAME US...and she deserves to FEEL THAT TENFOLD."

She could feel the rage decreasing. She knew it was him.

“Stop it. STOP IT ZACH. Can’t you even let me feel my own emotions?!”

She shook Steel off of her, but she stood there calmly, looking around.

“You all stood there, and let her beat me, for no good reason. You just watched her. And then when she was done you wanted her to stay. You were sorry she left.”

She threw up her hand in the direction of the monitor.

“And you won’t care that she’s done this, will you? Because she’s ‘The Silver Swan’. She’s miss perfect. The strongest. The baddest.”

She turned and headed for the door.

“Well I don’t think I want to stay here with you cunts anymore.”

And she walked out.

 

[Recall]

The Parthenon Hotel - Starlight Lounge

:: She listened as Blaze finally let out everything that she had been holding in. This side of Blaze she could deal with. This side of Blaze was actually being real. Vivica walked closer to Blaze who was looking out the window. Vivica placed her hand on her shoulder. ::

"Now...doesn't that feel a whole lot better?"

[exhaling deeply]

"First and foremost, thank you for telling me what's going on and thank you for saying you're sorry. I appreciate it."

:: Vivica made a point to look Blaze in the eye as she spoke. They needed to be on the same level in order for them to move forward, in order for her to HEAR Vivica without becoming angry and aggressive or shutting down and moving on with the night as she was initially intending to. ::

"I don't need a guardian, Blaze. I needed knowledge. Knowledge that I could have used to protect MYSELF. Take care of MYSELF. It wouldn't have stopped Ava from doing what she did, but all I am saying is that I wish I had more than a few hours of time to process things before I was facing off against a GODDESS on the streets of New York."

"I can't stay at The Parthenon...and I won't. This place isn't my life anymore, and neither are many of the people who live here. If it weren't for you Blaze, my ass wouldn't even be here. I'm not trying to make you feel bad, or say that you can't have a reaction. But if we care about each other like we say we do, then I should be ALLOWED to have an opinion on your actions, because you should KNOW that I'm not coming from a malicious place, but a place of concern."

"You're going through a lot, Blaze. And I've never been in the place you are right now. So I'm doing my best to try and understand. You have every right to protect your family, but you have to be real. It's not just your family effected by this. It's not JUST your family you should be looking out for. You care about these people despite your feelings right now. You are allowed to be angry, you are allowed to lash out, lord knows I've done my fair share lately, but you HAVE to be able to separate that from what's going on right now."

"You've seen what division of your team looks like before. It led to The Inferno. It led to damage that is still there for a lot of your friends. Even relationships who've seen progress still are fractured from it, unable to move forward. I know you Blaze..and you can deal a HELL of a lot of righteous anger when you feel it necessary. But you don't want that kind of guilt on your hands, to know that right now, when there is still a chance of maintaining a united front, that you helped let The Six's legendary propensity towards PACK MENTALITY take over. Mad as you might be now, you're going to be a hell of a lot more mad at yourself when the dust settles and people you cared about are dead. Being RIGHT about things won't take away that pain."

"All of you are still here. Within these walls. Maybe not communicating, but it means something. Whatever happens to Haleigh and Ava? Well, that's on them. Is it fair what Haleigh did? Was it right? Hell no, it wasn't. But your family will survive these revelations and their implications, because that's what the Victory women are. They are survivors. There hasn't been anything you've all faced that's been able to take you down. But just remember...your family is bigger than just Morgan and Karen..and Mike and Nicolas. Your family includes Cameron and Delilah. Cameron is no friend of mine anymore, but my reasons are my own, and when it comes to you..he definitely rallied around you during one of your darkest hours, stopped you from doing something you might have regretted and pulled out every stop he had to make you feel cemented here. To keep you close. Delilah is one of your sister's closest friends...the gap in their friendship was painful for BOTH of them, which speaks to how much they love each other. You know she wouldn't let you die, and vice versa. All of this fighting? These cracks and breaks...it's exactly what Hellfire wants all of you to do be doing..so why give it to them so easily?"

"If you want to get out of this alive, you've GOT to be the Blaze Victory that you ARE. The best version of her..the one that can rally the troops, the one that can see beyond who is sleeping with who, who said something mean to somebody else and understand that your survival and the survival of the people AROUND you requires SOME sort of unity among you. That may not be fair...and it may suck, but you're out of options. You think I don't want to lock myself in a room and cry like a baby? Or hop a plane right back to Europe and forget my return ever happened? But I can't..at the end of the day I made a decision to be a part of all of this. I have to live with my choices...and unfortunately the choices that others I am connected to made."

"My self destructing comment wasn't about Richard specifically, but girl? Don't lie to me. Those same eyes you've given Richard, I've seen staring right back at me. If you are attracted to him, fine. If you want to explore a certain part of yourself, then fine. Have at it. I'm not the kind of girl that would get jealous like that, but I do think that with everything going on, entertaining a new attractive notion might not be the best time is all. You know I have a LOT of experience when it comes to the very things you are feeling right now. So, maybe I am wrong about Richard..but you know, on the off chance that I'm NOT..you CAN talk to me about it, Blaze."

:: She squeezed Blaze's shoulder. ::

"Are you hearing me? Am I making sense?"

 

[Valkyrie]

Alphabet City - Streets

Ashley walked along alone. This was how she liked things. How she was meant to be. She had made a mistake getting close to anyone on that team. She should have known they would betray her. The same way it had happened before. What was that they said about those who ignore history being doomed to repeat it?

<< FLASH >>

She was in Denmark on a bounty. Good money, but a pain in the ass country. And a bigger pain in the ass client. Luckily, she'd collected her fee - with only a minimal amount of ass kicking necessary to make that happen - and would be out of here the next day.

She was having a beer in a bar off the high street, her eyes scanning the people walking by. Not really curious about them, but it was something to focus her eyes on. And then out of the corner of her eye she saw him. A ghost.

She got up and left the bar without finishing her drink. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her, but she stood in the street and strained her neck to catch a glimpse of the man in question. She moved down the street and followed at a distance, unsure. But as he entered the casino, his face turned back towards her.

It was him.

Kalf.

Alive after all this time. How could this be possible? But then again she was an out of work valkyrie, so stranger things had happened. Had he been given some appointment by the gods the same way she had? Been saved from death, and it had taken this long for their paths to cross?

Of course she waited for him to come out, then followed him. HE in turn was following some American. She watched from the shadows as he beat the hell out of the guy, which was incredibly arousing. But before she could approach him, a woman got to him first. She offered him a job. They left together.

She needed to buy her time, do this right. It had been such a long time. What if he didn't remember her? She needed to get him alone...

Which proved to be exceedingly difficult. The woman he now worked for was part of an organization, and they were not friendly to outsiders. They also were based out of New York, and were returning there. So Ashley bought a ticket to New York, and showed up unannounced at the Hellfire Club, asking to see the Red Queen.

Ashley knelt to her, laying her sword on the ground in front of her in offering. She explained who she was, WHAT she was, and what she could do. She asked to join the Red Court. And somehow, the Red Queen accepted.

<< FLASH >>

All of the court bedrooms were in the same wing of the house. She waited in the doorway of the room she'd been given until she saw him returning to his, and motioned him inside. He looked amused, but assented. Once he was inside, she shut the door behind her.

"Kalf, it's me, Aslaug."

She ran to him, putting her arms around his neck.

"Where have you been? How are you alive?"

He looked puzzled. He gently pulled her arms away from his neck.

"I think you have me confused with someone else. My name is Aleksander Hallbjörn, Red Knight. Helena told me we had a new Red Rook - I was going to come and officially welcome you later."

She shot him her most seductive look, while reaching up to play with the collar of his shirt.

"Come on, Kalf, this isn't funny."

But it wasn't registering on his face.

"You're not...?"

He was trying to be gracious.

Alek: "Call me Alek."

"But the likeness is amazing. I mean, you look exactly like him. I mean, exactly. Those scars on your chest even...You're not suffering from amnesia or anything like that are you?"

He laughed and shook his head.

Alek: "Sorry, no. Though I sort of feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone right now."

Dejected, she went and sat on the bed. All of this had been for nothing. It wasn't him. It just looked like him. He came and sat down next to her, patting her hand.

"I'm sorry."

Alek: "Don't mention it. People mistake me for devilishly handsome, well built men all the time."

He smiled at her, and she smiled in spite of herself. He really did look exactly the same, and he looked good. She was giving him that look again, and her hand went to his thigh. Her voice became deep and throaty.

"Didn't you mention something earlier about welcoming me?"

She turned and leaned in towards him.

"Exactly how were you planning on doing that?"

She raised an eyebrow invitingly.

<< FLASH - Months Later >>

Ashley rested her head on Alek's chest, on her bed where they lay naked against each other. He stroked her arm absentmindedly as they recovered from what they just done. He leaned over and kissed her mouth, then her nose, then her forehead.

Alek: "We are good."

She laughed.

"Yes, we are. How long do you think before you're ready to be good again?"

He kissed her again.

Alek: "Baby, I'm always ready."

He settled in onto his side, the length of his body still touching hers.

Alek: "Do you even know how amazing you are? Think of what we could do here, together."

He ran a finger down her cheek.

Alek: "You were meant to be a queen, not a rook. As allies, we could run this court. This club. Queen and King."

He rolled over on top of her and kissed her again...

<< FLASH - Some Time Later >>

Ashley rushed into Alek's room. She was pissed.

"I can't believe that bitch! She had the NERVE to kick me out? Because of one bad mission. I mean, I can go snatch that senator tomorrow, and I'll get him this time. So what's the big fucking deal? Doesn't she know how much I've DONE for her?"

She scoffed.

"We don't need this place, or THEM. We can go Prague...or Oslo. Minsk. We can go anywhere."

She put her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest.

"We could even go to European Hellfire."

Alek: "No."

"You're right, who wants to go there?"

He pulled her arms gently from around his waist, and took a step backward.

Alek: "No, I mean, I can't go with you. My place is here."

She looked at him quizzically.

"Ohhhh...kay. Well I'm not sure if they'll let me come here still, so you'll have to come to me. But I'm sure I can find a place at a good hotel..."

He just shook his head.

Alek: "I can't be with you if you're not Hellfire any longer. I'm sorry. I have to think of my position."

"But...but what about us? Didn't this mean anything to you?"

Alek: "And now I'm afraid you're going to have to get out of my room."

She just stared at him, flabbergasted.

Alek: "But if you make it back in, look me up."

<< FLASH >>

She sat across from her new boss, slouching in her seat and not really paying attention. What did she care about some job. Some job with humans.

Steel: "Your employers have sent you to me to be a part of a new unit here within the NYPD. We will investigate mutant crimes - and make sure the truth about them doesn't get out to the populace and cause mass hysteria and anti-mutant aggression. I'm told if you pay your dues here, they may take you back. So keep your nose clean."

He leaned forward.

Steel: "This unit isn't about 'good' or 'bad' - it's about protecting us all."

He pushed a gun and badge toward her.

Steel: "Welcome to the force, Detective Oldenburg."

 

[Domino]

Times Square

[ Silver Swan smahes through the ceiling , and CRASHES DOWN right on top of Domino, delivering a brutal double high heeled STOMP to her head and acting as a sort of high powered pile driver to HAMMER the woman down, face/head first into the floor.]

I know where YOU are...

[ STOMPING HER again before kicking her over, and slamming her high heeled boot down on her face. Domino was durable, but that durability had it's limits, and the kind of punishment that Silver swan could dish out would bring Domino to that threshold sooner rather than later.]

And where you're GOING...

[ Silver Swan excutes a PUNT KICK on her foe, sending Domino flying up and cross like a football into the light fixtures where there was certain to be an ELECTRICAL reaction to the impact]

You evidently didn't learn the LAST two times I beat your ass. YOU CAN'T STOP ME!

"UGHHHH!"

:: The ceiling came crashing down around her as Maxine did her best to dodge the debris piling down on her as the PAIN of Sharon's HEEL stomped into her head, her face scrunching and grimacing as she crashed to the floor. ::

Sharon: "I know where YOU are...And where you're GOING!"

:: Sharon KICKED Domino, flipping her body and once again slamming her foot on her face. Maxine coughed up a bit of blood. Things were finally getting interesting. She had been holding back during their encounter at the mansion, but it was clear she wasn't pulling any punches - she was delivering KICKS. ::

:: She was THROWN into the light fixtures as electricity charged through Domino's body, seeming to actually charge her with a bit of energy. Maxine had an intimate relationship with pain. Sharon may not have felt the same way, but since physical pain was rare for Maxine to experience, she craved the opportunity to take a hit that would hurt. It gave her a thrill and made her feel alive. Her body writhed back and forth being shocked as she gripped the pipes with her hand as she became aware of a scene unfolding outside. ::

:: As Sharon took on a group of meatheads on her own, Maxine used the pipes she was holding on to, to propel herself through the air with great speed as she flew through the giant hole in the bar before landing onto her feet in a traditional super hero landing, bending down on her legs before rising up slowly. ::

:: Apparently, their encounter had been taped. There she was on the big screen, every punch, kick...and kiss. ::garrick: Maxine laughed loudly and slapped her knees as she spun around and looked to watch Sharon dispatching a group of men with her sonic scream. She shifted into her techno organic form as her eyes became coated in shining silver. ::

"Hey SHARON! Get out here! We're FAMOUS!"

:: Using her ability to manipulate her limbs in her techno organic steel form, her left arm MORPHED into a long cable as it FLEW threw the air as quickly as Maxine could run and WRAPPED itself around Sharon's neck as she flexed her muscles, causing her to YANK Sharon Kelly from the bar and onto the street beside her as Sharon landed HARD onto the concrete, her body leaving a large dent as she fell. Maxine's arm slithered back into it's rightful spot and form. ::

:: This can only be the work of one person. One person daring enough to broadcast footage of one of The Hellfire Club's most secret events to the city of New York on a Jumbotron. Haleigh Davidoff. She turned to Sharon and smirked. ::

"Remind me to thank The White Princess for her moxy. I'm even more BEAUTIFUL fifty feet tall."

:: The diversion was well times as Domino had a bit of time to recover and heal. As Sharon rose to her feet, Maxine landed a SERIES of physical punches and kicks, hurling the woman through the air with the strength of her legs 12 - :15). She jumped up and down, almost like a boxer regaining his composure in his corner of the ring, just WAITING for the next strike. ::

:: She noticed some of the men climbing out of the rubble of the bar and heading into the street. ::

"OOH! Looks like the flatscans wanna play too!"