You can't go home again

[Frost]

Fathom disappeared into the jets of fire giving Frost a brief moment to collect herself. She hated to admit it....but she needed HELP. Every attack Jasmine made, this woman had a solid defense and an even more impressive offense. Jasmine was literally fighting against her OWN element...how was she supposed to BEAT her? Standing on the massive glacier of ice, Frost saw Neptunes breeching the water, snapping their razor sharp teeth in her direction.

"Oh for fuck sakes, lets throw water months into the mix!"

Jasmine didn't have much time to dwell on the Neptunes beyond that moment because Fathom came soaring down from the rafters above and TACKLED her off the glacier and into the water. Tumbling around the water, Jasmine struggled to regain her composure, seeing nothing but dark waters around her. She could feel the current change as creatures swam quickly around her, circling her like prey. Jasmine began to freeze the water around her, creating a circular ice barrier between herself and the creatures. She herself was still in water, but at least safe for the moment from the deadly creatures swimming around.

Finally surfacing, Jasmine gasped in for air. The water waved over the ice barrier that she created, hitting her in every direction and making it more difficult to catch her breath. She hated to admit it, but she needed to find an escape root before she ended up in Jaws 5: Frostbite addition. And she sure as hell wasn't going to end up in a straight to DVD remake!

Creating steps of ice, Jasmine climbed onto the ice barrier and leapt onto one of the large glaciers of ice that was floating near by. She needed to stay high above the water because Fathom had complete dominance over it. A Neptune breeched the water again, flying in the air snapping it's teeth. Jasmine sent an ice blast directly at it, freezing it instantly. She leapt onto the frozen Neptune, doing the same thing to another one and leaping onto that one as well. Sending a massive stream of ice under her, it catapulted her upwards towards the flame throwers as if she were 'surfing' a wave of ice.

"It's a cold day in hell when I actually feel safer around fire. Blaze is never gonna let me live this down!"

The cannons pulsed out waves of fire, creating an inferno of heat around Frost. Sending ice bolts at the various cannons, the concussive force of the bolts moved the fire cannons trajectory to point down at the whirlpool below. She was going to use these to her advantage....if she couldn't have her sister here, this was the next best option. Fire and Ice were about to merge into one.

The moister particles around the dome began to glisten and sparkle as Jasmine began to draw them in front of her in a massive display of power. The ice particles began to spin, creating a massive tornado of ice. The tornado drew in the fire from the cannons and began to BRANCH OFF into smaller twisters of ice AND fire, the elements combining into one and creating a show of epic proportions. The twisters of ice and fire easily destroyed the tubes releasing the gallons of water and sea creatures below, as well as the steam cannons. Jasmine stood on her pedestal of ice, her fingers splayed outward, controlling the twisters effortlessly, waiting for Fathom to emerge from below.

 

[Talisman]

The Bio Systems Lab

< The scene was unfolding with operatic beauty. The elementals met each other at their measures, and Jasmine Klein was no slouch when it came to battle. She could have chosen anybody to return in her attempt to pierce the veil and test her power in this timeline. There were endless options, but Jasmine represented something important. She was a part of the past of MysTech, part of Christopher Victory's push towards creating weapons completely under his control. From what she had gathered in this timeline, Frost marked a shift in MysTech's purpose that would inevitably destroy them. This was where things shifted. Losing Morgan and Blaze had done a great bit of damage and the loss of his grasp on Scion had sent him over the edge. The true purpose of the company was to create bioweaponry and technology that would allow them control, allow them the true power without consequence that each of them wanted in different ways. When he then seemingly failed with Jasmine, he lost his confidence as well as his mind. She represented the beginning of the end of MysTech before The Six ever fully realized what they were doing. >

< So when Diana brought the sample of Heidi Scarborough, wanting Kelly to reimagine the woman in the right image, the irony was not lost on her. This was an opportunity. Talisman saw this as a way to teach a lesson in an allegorical form. Fathom represented the renewed success of the company, their original ideals and desires. She was poised and refined, completely streamlined. Her manipulated genetic structure and reimagining had been done with a precision that Christopher Victory had lost along the way. She understood the reasons behind his unwraveling now, why he set out on the path that he did. These children, The Six and their allies were incredibly powerful. To crack them open and figure out a way to control them, to make them better, to test their limits was a trait that all people in their line of work had. What they didn't realize was that the emotional ties and connections they had to these people would end up creating warriors specially designed to destroy them, able to play on their weaknesses in ways that nobody else could. As her cobalt blue eyes watched with wonder at the fever pitch battle with wonder, she knew then and there that she would never allow herself to be destroyed in that manner, like the others had, and she had gone to great and depraved lengths in her native timeline to ensure that. While there were certain variables her that might test her, she would remain on course, she would focus on the work..and she would destroy anybody who got in the way of that, by her own hand, or by the technological arm she had been building since her arrival. >

< But not even those with a gifted mind and immense power can account for EVERY variable. >

< Immediately her mystical senses seemed to act subconsciously around her as her unique mystical shield, one in the shape of the alchemical symbol for fire manifested in front of her - a deadly combination of fire and the true and pure flame energy, likened to the kind that Firebird herself could create! >

"UGH!!"

< Though her shield had slowed him down, he managed to get one hell of a punch to her jaw and she felt it pop out of place! >

"Who!?!"

Tachyon: "I have seen your work, and you are a HATEFUL twat. Never should have crossed us."

< She REACHED for her Omni Pistol, ready to deliver an instantaneous and DEADLY blow but she found herself in the midst of an incredible physical attack, her body being hit despite the protection of her shield! To do so was nearly IMPOSSIBLE - though Xavier would not be without injury as he throttled through her shields. In an instant she was elbow striked and launched on to the control panel, which caused the protocols that Heidi had put in place to begin their "dissappearance". >

"Well...that certainly WAS unexpected."

< Talisman was in pain, but the combination of her mystic shield as well as her anti-empathy spell had taken the brunt of the damage. Rubbing her jaw, she immediately cracked it back into place, before rotating her neck back and forth, cracking it as well. She looked down at the man who had just "saved" Alycia from her despair and her eyes narrowed. This was the same man at St. Patrick's - and he was beginning to be a rather annoying thorn in her side. He was highly resistant to magick - but that didn't mean he COULDN'T be taken out or slowed down by ways other than magick. But he was not her target, and she would NOT allow him to ruin the moment she had orchestrated. She would set her gaze on Tachyon later. >

< She clicked the intercom system once again, her deep and sultry voice now filled with a little more "grit" as she spoke. >

"We've shown them ENOUGH. Fathom - Take your kill shot!"

< It needed to happen soon. She had a date with Shadow Weaver and it was fast approaching. >

 

[Oracle]

Bio Systems Lab

Oracle watched as Frost put up a valiant fight, forced to face her unknown opponent alone. It was incredibly brave of her – MOST people would just quit, but not Jasmine. It would have been amazing to see, if it wasn’t so terrible a thing to behold – especially when you were unable to help. They were caught in the grip of a woman she hadn’t seen before, with no idea who she was or what she wanted.

Those there in the Bio Systems Lab were unable to move, but as it turned out they were not powerless. For even greater than their combined super human powers, was one thing the bad guys rarely had: teamwork. For even though Oracle couldn’t move, she knew someone who could. And she trusted Harbinger, both her endorsement of their newest teammate AND Harbinger’s belief that he would be critical to their success.

And Alison had not been wrong.

Within seconds of signaling him, Tachyon had arrived and put some serious pain on Talisman. He then helped Alycia realize that she had NOT been bitten by a zombie.

I owe that boy a lot of cookies.

After we finish kicking her ass, drinks on the new guy.

"Sweetie, I'll buy you any kind of drink you want if you get us moving again!"

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Bio Systems Lab- Revenge

< She clicked the intercom system once again, her deep and sultry voice now filled with a little more "grit" as she spoke. >

"We've shown them ENOUGH. Fathom - Take your kill shot!"

< It needed to happen soon. She had a date with Shadow Weaver and it was fast approaching. >

<< Mystic chimes of a lower tone than Spellbinder's sound off, and thunder crashes as Shadow Weaver appears!>>

You're FINISHED, KELLY!

<< The doctor is clearly "in the driver's seat" once again, fully restored in mind and body, and in her latest costume , a black ensemble that is a modern take on her classic flying suit, (the design is modified so that her midriff is not showing).>>

<< the eldritch energy and winds flow around the witch, as a "spectral MOON effect" glows behind her. She is ANGRY, and lake her foremother, Hecate, she is VENGEFUL!>>

<< Shadow Weaver presses the advantage created by Tachyon. A din of energy is heard, like the sound of a growing tidal wave.>>

<< Facing the staggered Talisman, she summons eldritch energy to fire a mystic force bolt, but NOT just the bolt itself....>>

Break her bones, Rip her skin
Let Hecate's wrath possess her without and within

<< With form and grace, Shadow Weaver thrusts her hands forward and fires upon Talisman, igniting a vicious spell flows with the mystic force bolt and hits Kelly like a vengeful lightning bolt, FLOODING her body with the power of Hecate's magick and bombarding her like radiation from a nuclear fallout, causing her body to glow, STRETCH, TWIST, BREAK and LOSE it's aesthetic appeal as she is basically turned INSIDE OUT! The CONCUSSIVE power of the mystic force bolt BLASTS Kelly THROUGH the glass of the control room, blowing her into the observation room where everyone else is!>>

<< The Birds of Prey and MorningStar hear and SEE the attack made by the vengeful Shadow Weaver, as she moves into view>>

You're the same as you always were, Kelly. A COWARD who attacks from the shadows, hiding behind circumstance, and using the weakness and insecurity of others! But I am NOT the woman you knew all those years ago.

<< Indeed. Talisman was aware of the key differences between Karen pre and POST "Shadow Weaver", but she'd escaped HER OWN timeline's Shadow Weaver's symphony of destruction.>>

<< Shadow Weavver holds her hand out and a weapon that MorningStar has seen her use before appears in her grasp. She meets Kelly right where she landed, as the woman is already struggling to her feet. CLEARLY Kelly's durability is much more substantial than it was years ago, but Shadow Weaver was MORE than willing to test it's limits!>>

EVERYTHING you said to me, through your horrid attacks and imagery, is A LIE, just like your worth as a mother, a witch, and a WOMAN! I REJECT you and ALL of your twisted machinations, and NOW that I know it was YOU behind this? My own magicks will make sure you can NEVER vex me like that AGAIN!

Your campaign of harrassment and terror is OVER, Kelly!

<< With a cry of vengeance and a MIGHTY swing, Karen SLAMS the now GLOWING mace across Kelly's face, detonating ANOTHER blast of eldritch magick as she does so. She strikes with a ferocity that surprises the Birds of Prey, but it's a level of rage Delilah has seen her exhibit before- even BEFORE Set- when she battled the WHITE QUEEN.>>

<< This head smashing, skull crushing, face mangling attack was most DEFINTELY a GRUDGE ATTACK on Karen's part>>

And THAT'S for what you did to me in the Parthenon, you wretched CREATURE!

 

[Talisman]

Bio Systems Lab - Hello Again

Shadow Weaver: "You're FINISHED, KELLY!"

< Talisman made sure to quickly settle herself, spinning around to face Shadow Weaver, her menacingly cold eyes met Shadow Weaver's ruthful and vengeance ones. She cocked an eyebrow. >

"That's where you are WRONG...Shadow Weaver. I've only just begun."

< Stepping forward her energy signature began to flicker around her - a mixture of swirling blue and black silk like spectral energy crackled in the air around her. >

"Good to see you again, Dr. Victoria."

< A crack of power could be heard as Shadow Weaver's hand channeled eldritch energy. >

"Here we go..."

<< Facing the staggered Talisman, she summons eldritch energy to fire a mystic force bolt, but NOT just the bolt itself....>>

Break her bones, Rip her skin
Let Hecate's wrath possess her without and within

<< With form and grace, Shadow Weaver thrusts her hands forward and fires upon Talisman, igniting a vicious spell flows with the mystic force bolt and hits Kelly like a vengeful lightning bolt, FLOODING her body with the power of Hecate's magick and bombarding her like radiation from a nuclear fallout, causing her body to glow, STRETCH, TWIST, BREAK and LOSE it's aesthetic appeal as she is basically turned INSIDE OUT! The CONCUSSIVE power of the mystic force bolt BLASTS Kelly THROUGH the glass of the control, blowing her into the observation room where everyone else is!>>

<< The Birds of Prey and MorningStar hear and SEE the attack made by the vengeful Shadow Weaver, as she moves into view>>

< The spell HIT her like a ton of bricks causing her body to be hammered with the magick of Hecate, battering her body completely on multiple levels as her mystical protections fought fiercely against the weight of Karen's power. Her SCREAMS echoed throughout the area as she made her hard and fast descend. Mustering her strength she steadied her hands as she endured the crash to the floor, just above the water. But as fast as she was down, she was back up as she began to actively fight the spell with her own power. Her hair began to flow in an ethereal and dark way around her face. >

You're the same as you always were, Kelly. A COWARD who attacks from the shadows, hiding behind circumstance, and using the weakness and insecurity of others! But I am NOT the woman you knew all those years ago.

<< Indeed. Talisman was aware of the key differences between Karen pre and POST "Shadow Weaver", but she'd escaped HER OWN timeline's Shadow Weaver's symphony of destruction.>>

<< Shadow Weavver holds her hand out in a weapon that MorningStar has seen her use before appears in her grasp. She meets Kelly right where she landed, as the woman is already struggling to her feet. CLEARLY Kelly's durability is much more substantial than it was years ago, but Shadow Weaver was MORE than willing to test it's limits!>>

< Kelly's silken spectral energy once again began to swirl around her in tendril like strands as she listened to Shadow Weaver's dissimenation of who she was. >

[on Karen's affirmation that she was not the same woman]

"I wasn't counting on it."

< She began to draw her hands down to either side of her side of her as her magick began to swirl in her palms, face up. >

"My presence in the shadows has proved quite valuable. I don't need to bust the doors down, and perform circus tricks to measure the size of my womanhood. And I am not the woman you think I am, either. I am everything Witchfire wishes she could and never would be."

<< BOOM! >>

< A low and ominous bell toll could be heard as wind swept through the area , whipping against her face gently. >

"They are already about to lose their teammate, don't make them lose a mother figure as well."

EVERYTHING you said to me, through your horrid attacks and imagery, is A LIE, just like your worth as a mother, a witch, and a WOMAN! I REJECT you and ALL of your twisted machinations, and NOW that I know it was YOU behind this? My own magicks will make sure you can NEVER vex me like that AGAIN!

Your campaign of harrassment and terror is OVER, Kelly!

< Talisman's face remained ice cold, as did her words. So cold it was as if you could see her breath in the air when she spoke. >

"I may be a lot of things...but mother is not one of them. Your attempts to pull at whatever strings you think you're pulling will leave you to find that on this version? They're not there."

<< With a cry of vengeance and a MIGHTY swing, Karen SLAMS the now GLOWING mace across Kelly's face, detonating ANOTHER blast of eldritch magick as she does so. She strikes with a ferocity that surprises the Birds of Prey, but it's a level of rage Delilah has seen her exhibit before- even BEFORE Set- when she battled the WHITE QUEEN.>>

<< This head smashing, skull crushing, face mangling attack was most DEFINTELY a GRUDGE ATTACK on Karen's part>>

And THAT'S for what you did to me in the Parthenon, you wretched CREATURE!

< It only took the hint of Shadow Weaver preparing for her to swing her mace that Kelly pulled out her Omni Pistol and fired, instantaneously igniting an offensive concussive attack. An explosion of blue and black energy ignited in the atmosphere, detonating a powerful magickal explosion causing Shadow Weaver to be BLASTED back with great force, her body being shredded by the razor sharp edges of magickal energy barrelling at her. >

"And don't be so sure about your own magicks, Shadow Weaver. How do you think I was able to PIERCE the veil? To ignite the SPELL that brought Jasmine Klein back into the reality. You have your daughter to thank for that. She's been gone from Earth too long, and you've all been too stupid to do something about it."

< She clapped her hands together, her hair breezing back as she somewhat hovered over the air. If Karen wanted an old school, run of the mill masked super witch battle, then she would get one. >

"Vult intelligi. Ostende mihi virtutem suam!"

< Talisman spoke in a tongue known only to a few. She was a scholar and believed that any spell worth it's weight in salt was performed in latin. Using the energy of the spell she had already crafted, she began to use that energy as Karen found herself immediately surround by Talisman's spectral energy as it just...almost sat shifting around Karen quickly. It taunted her for a moment causing her to question just exactly what it was about to do. Immediately, this dark and powerful magick, magick that he had not experienced before began to FILL her body, giving her a similar effect to what Talisman had just experienced, only something a little bit different began to happen. Shadow Weaver could feel pain down to what felt like her own CELLS. >

< Talisman held out her hand before slowly making a STRONG fist as another bell toll fired off in the distance. In an homage to the science she pursued as a witch, she had ignited a transmutation spell, one that was slowly and PAINFULLY converting Shadow Weaver's body tissue into PURE GOLD. >

<< CRACK! >>

< Shadow Weaver's legs SHATTERED, turning a brilliant, almost ethereal looking shade of pure gold as he body became wayed down, being assaulted on nearly every level as her cells TRANSMUTATED from their natural state to gold itself. Talisman remained in a battle stance. She couldn't keep up this kind of display forever...but then again, neither could Shadow Weaver. She knew that she was outnumbered, but she also knew that they were too smart to try and interfere. Shadow Weaver had nearly taken out more than a few of them tonight, and she was more angry than ever. Shadow Weaver hovered in the air, her body seemingly perfectly silohuetted in a spotlight that shined down on the both of them. >

"Like I said, Fathom. Take her OUT!"

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Bio Systems Lab

< It only took the hint of Shadow Weaver preparing for her to swing her mace that Kelly pulled out her Omni Pistol and fired, instantaneously igniting an offensive concussive attack. An explosion of blue and black energy ignited in the atmosphere, detonating a powerful magickal explosion causing Shadow Weaver to be BLASTED back with great force, her body being shredded by the razor sharp edges of magickal energy barrelling at her. >

<< the light show resulting from Talisman's parry of Shadow Weaver's thrust was brilliant! Thankfully, Shadow Weaver's rune of protection, which augmented her personal healing and vitality spells already on her person, kept her from harm from the "feedback" even as she was blown back from the impact of the two attacks colliding.>>

"Vult intelligi. Ostende mihi virtutem suam!"

< Talisman spoke in a tongue known only to a few. She was a scholar and believed that any spell worth it's weight in salt was performed in latin. Using the energy of the spell she had already crafted, she began to use that energy as Karen found herself immediately surround by Talisman's spectral energy as it just...almost sat shifting around Karen quickly. It taunted her for a moment causing her to question just exactly what it was about to do. Immediately, this dark and powerful magick, magick that he had not experienced before began to FILL her body, giving her a similar effect to what Talisman had just experienced, only something a little bit different began to happen. Shadow Weaver could feel pain down to what felt like her own CELLS. >

< Talisman held out her hand before slowly making a STRONG fist as another bell toll fired off in the distance. In an homage to the science she pursued as a witch, she had ignited a transmutation spell, one that was slowly and PAINFULLY converting Shadow Weaver's body tissue into PURE GOLD. >


"Like I said, Fathom. Take her OUT!"

<< Even as Karen was enveloped in the "spotlight, SHE recognized the spell! >>

When did SHE become this well versed in magick!?

<< But there was something ELSE Kelly had said!>>

"My presence in the shadows has proved quite valuable. I don't need to bust the doors down, and perform circus tricks to measure the size of my womanhood. And I am not the woman you think I am, either. I am everything Witchfire wishes she could and never would be."

<< There was more to this woman than it seemed. She was a doctor with clinical skill, just like Karen, and She implied she was NOT Kelly KING, she demonstrated knowledge and power far beyond what Witchfire had possessed. >>

NOT a mother?! What!? She's talking in RIDDLES....unlesss...

<< CRACK! >>

< Shadow Weaver's legs SHATTERED, turning a brilliant, almost ethereal looking shade of pure gold as he body became wayed down, being assaulted on nearly every level as her cells TRANSMUTATED from their natural state to gold itself. Talisman remained in a battle stance. She couldn't keep up this kind of display forever...but then again, neither could Shadow Weaver. She knew that she was outnumbered, but she also knew that they were too smart to try and interfere. Shadow Weaver had nearly taken out more than a few of them tonight, and she was more angry than ever. Shadow Weaver hovered in the air, her body seemingly perfectly silohuetted in a spotlight that shined down on the both of them. >

<< Karen's emerald green eyes widen as her body is being assaulted by the spell ignited by kelly!>>

NO!!! UGNNN!!

<< She shuts her eyes tightly, writhes with the violating PAIN as the witch attempts to work alchemy on her body!>>

<< the RUNE of protection begins to hum and glow....allowing her MIND a BREAK from the physical PAIN she was in...allowing her a chance to THINK as it began to "push back" against Talisman's spell. She would NOT be subjugated by this....INTERLOPER!>>


oohhh THE PAIN!....almost no time left...to act! Need the ....right SPELL...

.....

<<FLASH!>>

Trust in the power within you! Trust your TRUE heart of hearts...and know that this nightmare that KELLY SHAW has subjected you to, is NOT. REAL.

You are the daughter of HECATE! Show this CHEAP SPRITE what that means!

"Like I said, Fathom. Take her OUT!"

I don't think so! SILVER SWAN!

[ Sharon unleashes her SONIC SCREAM upon Talisman! It's a SOUL SPLITTING assault that destroys Talisman's audio senses, and plays HAVOK with her spatial perceptions, driving her to the brink of madness, whle also giving her a head splitting MIGRAINE!]

<< the rune of protection glows BRIGHT WHITE, as Karen's emerald green eyes snap open!>>

carmen corporis integrum facti!
(Incantation of the Body Made Whole)

<< Uttering that incantation as she THRUSTS her arms out to either side, and in a flash of Hecate's moonlight, Karen FREES herself, REVERSING Talisman's alchemy spell, and RESTORING her body to its proper form and homeostasis. The spell required the caster to be someone of in depth knowledge of human anatomy and physicology, and Karen was a Psy.D, and ALSO general practicioner with CLINICAL credentials and knowledge of human anatomy and physiology! She was able to PROJECT the energy of the spell over her body down to the cellular level, covering all systems and structures, and causing RESTORATION.>>

THINK AGAIN, you common cauldron stirrer!

<< Breathing FREELY and recentering herself>>

My daughter IS this world's sorceress supreme, just what are you? Some interloper driven by the need to insert herself among people she is OUTCLASSED by?

My daughter's whereabouts, and circumstances are NONE OF YOU CONCERN, and whatever her shortcomings and weaknesses...her FAMILY and I will be there for her.

YOU will not intefere, and it will take far BETTER than you to EVER best a daughter of HECATE!

<< And with that, Shadow Weaver extends her hands forward, takes aim and fires upon Talisman, with golden colored mystical force blasts that would stagger even Rampage!>>

<< She FULLY expects this woman to defend herself from these blasts, and that's what she's counting on!>>

Delilah, Sharon, Alycia....HURRY!

<< Karen and Delilah's eyes met, and Delilah could see the CONCERN Karen had for Frost's wellbeing. Shadow Weaver could check Talisman and force her to devote her energy to her, but FROST was in danger from that other woman....who Kelly referred to as FATHOM! If what Kelly was saying was TRUE then Frost might now be in MORTAL danger!>>

HELP FROST, before it's too late!

<< Oracle understood where this was coming from and was mindful that they were still being effected by at least one OTHER part of Talisman's spell regarding Frost>

Recall, go with them, help them help Frost! Everyone else.... follow Shadow Weaver's lead, and PILE ON HER! << pointing at Kelly!>> DON'T give her time to recover!

<< Shadow Weaver continued to pepper Talisman with her mystical blasts, pushing forward, and hampering Talisman range of movement to dodge while FORCING HER toward the others while Tachyon, Valkyrie, Steel, Mina and Oracle moved in, ready to SMASH HER DOWN in one collective, vicious gang beating! Even if Kelly used her movement power to appear at another point. TACHYON would be able to home in on her immediately!>>

TAKE HER APART!

<< Shadow Weaver cried out to the Birds of Prey! It was clear that Karen wanted BLOOD spilled!>>

 

[Fathom]

The Citadel -- Control Room

Something must have happened in the control room, because Fathom sensed that the rush of water through to pipes was quickly diminishing to a trickle. It was no problem for her, but it signaled to her that playtime was over. It was time to end it now, and leave. Kelly told her as much, through the intercom.

Talisman: We've shown them ENOUGH. Fathom - Take your kill shot!

The churning, choppy water settled down, but the bio-hazards continued to harass Jasmine. She fought back quite well, and put up a good defense, even ESCAPED! Fathom, swimming around in the dark, opaque water, began to hydro-port the bio-hazards away. Where she sent them was anybody's guess.

As Frost created tornadoes and laid waste to the arena, Fathom came up out of the water, and her dark water form transformed human again.

"What's the matter Jazz.... can't swim?"

The water beneath Heidi's feet went so completely still, it was a flat surface upon which she stood. Frost, up on a pedestal, was elevated well above her. The room was filled with the deafening sound of tornadoes. Over the din, Kelly's urgent commands could be heard again.

Talisman: Like I said, Fathom. Take her OUT!

"Ugh, WHAT is the problem, are you getting your ass kicked or WHAT, I mean WHY ARE YOU RUSHING ME?!"

She asked, shaking her head in mild frustration. But obligingly, She raised her hands, palms facing up, her elbows bent slightly. Her eyes focused on Frost alone. It was subtle at first, Jasmine would notice only a tingling sensation. Fathom was bowled over by a tornado, and she stumbled, dropped beneath the surface of the water she was standing on, then resurfaced, with a few scrapes and an angered expression. She still focused only on Frost. Heidi's hands outstretched, she resumed her pull. Off the surface of Jasmine's skin, vapors were rising, and at first, they looked just like steam. The more liquid Fathom pulled through her pores, the worse Jasmine began to feel. Headache, nausea, sensitivity to light, Jasmine would experience all the symptoms of a hangover, or extreme dehydration.

"Time to DIE, Snowball."

Another sideswipe by tornado, Jasmine was still fighting back. Heidi felt a burning sensation, and the ice was like sandpaper across her back but she needed to end it quickly since obviously the Black Queen was getting overwhelmed. She dropped back into the water to soothe her skin but she didn't stay down long. She sprang back up with deadly determination. The vapor rising off Jasmine's body was tinted red, as Fathom began pulling from the bloodstream. Frost's tornadoes began to weaken, becoming disorganized and unruly. Still, Fathom pulled, on every droplet of moisture in Frost's body. The ice pedestal on which Frost stood was getting stained with blood as the vapors left her body. She was dying now, past the point of no return, past the ability of any healer, but still Fathom pulled. Until she extracted every molecule of water, Heidi pulled. It all happened very quickly.

"It's DONE, Talisman. We can go now."

 

[Frost]

The danger room looked spectacular as Frost used both her and her sister Blaze's elements to destroy all of Fathom's little booby traps. The display roared with intensity--the tornados never faltering. Finally, Fathom surfaced from the waters below.

Fathom: "What's the matter Jazz...can't swim?"

"I usually try to avoid swimming with things that are trying to KILL me."

One of the tornados of frost that had previously picked up a Neptune hit Fathom, knocking her back into the water.

"HA! Shaknado bitch!"

But Fathom resurfaced quickly.

Talisman: Like I said, Fathom. Take her OUT!

Fathom: "Ugh, WHAT is the problem, are you getting your ass kicked or WHAT, I mean WHY ARE YOU RUSHING ME?!"

"Obviously she's over your BULLSHIT too."

Beyond the tornados, the danger room's temperature continue to drop, enough so that even the perimeter of the fire tornados began to crystalize with ice. But as Jasmine prepared for her next onslaught of attacks, she began to feel dizzy...nauseated...shutting her eyes for a moment, she swayed on the ice platform before quickly opening her eyes again and steadying herself. That was when she saw what looked like steam radiating from her body. It was in that quickest of moments that Fathom unleashed an internal attack on Jasmine that she wasn't able to anticipate quick enough to counter. She could feel the water molecules in her body pouring out of her. Her heart began to feel like it was beating slowly, her breathing felt labored.

"No..."

Yelling in defiance, Jasmine thrusted her hands out at Fathom, sending the crystalized fire tornado charging at her, knocking her back into the water. But even that act of power drained Jasmine...and it didn't take long for Fathom to come back and continue her attack. Dropping her hands, the 'steam' around Jasmine was now red....Her brilliant blue eyes were encompassed with blood as she dropped to her knees on the icy platform high above the dome. How did this happen? She just got back....she was given a second chance to make it all right again....and now....it was over.

"Karen.....I...."

She wanted to see Blaze. She wanted to see Morgan. Even Cass who was so incredibly good to her when everyone else was so quick to play judge, jury, and executioner. But even more than anything else, she wanted to thank Karen for being such a strong woman and taking her in despite the lack of blood ties....despite the fact that she was Christopher Victory's bastard child. She wanted to tell her, that after everything....she was the closest thing to a mother she ever had. And she loved her. A single tear of blood dropped from Jasmine's eyes before they finally rolled shut.

"....I'm....sorry."

Jasmine's body went limp and lifeless, falling from the ice pedestal high above the dome, until finally crashing into the slushy soft mass of snow below.

 

[MorningStar]

Bio Systems Lab

"No! Get back!"

But Delilah's words fell on deaf ears as Oracle's team was caught in the same magick field that they had been. Damn, that had been their shot, and now they were ALL helpless. Delilah HATED feeling helpless like this. They were leaving Frost to face these two unknown adversaries alone. And THAT was the worst thing about it.

"Frost! Keep fighting! You can beat her!"

Turning her attention back to their mysterious magick user...there had to be SOMETHING! But then things got kind of surreal. The young speedster Delilah remembered seeing at St. Patrick's was suddenly punching the Shadow Woman repeatedly in the face. And THEN he was kissing Alycia. Which actually seemed to work on the Amazon.

When this is over, she would have talk to Cameron about taking care of Alycia's needs...

"We've shown them ENOUGH. Fathom - Take your kill shot!"

"No!!!"

You're FINISHED, KELLY!

"KELLY?!!!"

Kelly King?! Cameron and Alison's mother... But she was dead! This was some other Kelly.

"Is there a spell we can use to kill them all when we kill one of them?!"

Karen showed the raw power she was able to wield; her unassuming demeanor might make some underestimate Shadow Weaver, but Delilah knew what she was capable of. Another brutal attack on Kelly and their bounds were broken. They could move again!

Delilah's eyes met Karen's as Shadow Weaver called to them to help Frost. She could see the fear in the older woman's eyes, fear that they were too late. But Delilah would not allow that to happen.

"Leave her alone you bitch!"

Delilah was running to Frost's side, alternately firing photon blasts from each hand over and over at Fathom. But Delilah could see that Frost was faltering - she had fallen to her knees, and blood was everywhere.

"....I'm....sorry."

"JASMINE!"

Frost's eyes closed, her body slumped over, lifeless, before falling off the ice pedestal.

She was too late. They had left Frost to fight her battles alone, again. Tears were in Delilah's eyes. She moved her body into a ray of light, jumping down and alighting next to Frost's body.

She could hear no pulse. She took Jasmine's lifeless hand in her own.

"We failed you. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry Jasmine."

 

[Oracle]

Oracle gasped as Shadow Weaver appeared. She seemed a different person to the woman who had been with the in the Infirmary earlier, and still again to the woman she had seem through Recall's feed. She was vicious, powerful.

The Woman in Shadow - Kelly - came flying THROUGH the window of the control room. But Karen gave her no respite, now wielding a brutal looking mace, which she combined with her eldritch energy in a powerful and gruesome attack.

Kelly parried the attack, with the use of a curious looking pistol. Oracle looked at it with awe.

"I want one of those..."

After they defeated her, maybe she would get a chance to reverse engineer it...

Kelly proceeded to unleash an attack that was turning Shadow Weaver to gold, a really amazing thing to behold. Equally amazing was Karen's response, an incantation restoring her body, followed by some fearsome blasts aimed at Kelly which BROKE her hold on them.

"Way to go, Shadow Weaver! That's what I'm talking about!"

HELP FROST, before it's too late!

"Go! We'll back up Shadow Weaver! Recall, go with them, help them help Frost!"

She turned to the test of the team.

"Everyone else.... follow Shadow Weaver's lead, and PILE ON HER! DON'T give her time to recover!"

Oracle surged forward, adding her stun bolt blasts to Karen's more powerful mystical blasts.

 

[Valkyrie]

Valkyrie didn't know who this "Kelly" person was, but she was a cunt. And that was enough for Ashley know that the bitch needed to die.

TAKE HER APART!

"You don't have to tell me twice, crazy lady."

Valkyrie moved forward, her face morphing so that her eyes were only black sockets, her face looked like a skull.

"You FAILURE. All your blustering, all your science - it's gotten you nowhere. You've been beaten. BY AN OLD LADY. You are NOTHING. And NOTHING is all that will be remembered about you, Kelly."

She was close to Kelly now, and touched her, creating an energy field that would give Kelly a heart attack. She took one step back, and looked at Steel.

"Up for a double team?"

She pulled back her fist, cocking her arm. Then with a smile she released, wailing on Kelly.

 

[Steel]

Bio Systems Lab

Everyone else.... follow Shadow Weaver's lead, and PILE ON HER! << pointing at Kelly!>> DON'T give her time to recover!

"On it, boss."

He came across on Kelly's other side, while Valkyrie was pushing her intimidation power that worked so well in the interrogation box into Kelly.

"Up for a double team?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure how to respond to that."

But he joined in, complementing Valkyrie's strikes by pummeling her with his own metal-backed punches.

"Two birds..."

Valkyrie: "No waiting."

 

[Mina Harker]

Bio Systems Lab

This "Kelly" needed to be exterminated. Her perverse use of magick, her lack of human emotion, her cold clinical manner - she would always be a thorn in their side if she wasn't dealt with, for no other reason than that she could.

Mina moved into position, completing the ring around Kelly. She may have no human emotion, but there was one part of her that WAS human.

Her teeth sank into Kelly's shoulder, and she drank.

 

[Talisman]

Goodbye For Now...

Oracle: "I don't think so! SILVER SWAN!"

< Sharon unleashes her SONIC SCREAM upon Talisman! It's a SOUL SPLITTING assault that destroys Talisman's audio senses, and plays HAVOK with her spatial perception, driving her to the brink of madness, while also giving her a head splitting MIGRAINE. >

"AAAHHH!"

< Talisman's protective shields went into FULL effect, doing as much as possible to take the BRUNT of the damage. She did her BEST to squint her EYES open as she focused her stare at Silver Swan, the sonic scream relentlessly BEATING at her triangular mystic shield. >

"mordere lingua tua."

< Firing off a simple and quick spell, Silver Swan would soon find her mouth filling QUICKLY with a great amount of SAND, causing it to pour out of her mouth quickly, sending her into a coughing fit as she fought to catch her breath and not choke! >

< She was getting weary. Talisman couldn't take all of them on. She needed to calculate her escape and soon. >

< Shfiting her attention back at Shadow Weaver, her broody eyes sparkled as she watched Shadow Weaver morph into gold before her very eyes. She was a woman who studied the template for science, the ancient and revered art of alchemy. Many believed it to be a myth, but those who were entrenched in it's true secrets knew the potential it had to effect the world around them. Her spell was an attack on a cellular and molecular level and in order to count it, one would have to have a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology. To her surprise and delight, Shadow Weaver was able to ignite a counter spell. Immediately Talisman could sense the presence of the rune, the one that had protected Karen earlier at The Parthenon. She made note to pay a visit to the well meaning shopkeeper who had given it to her, but for now, Shadow Weaver was free once again, restored completely and was ready to attack again in full force. >

Shadow Weaver: "THINK AGAIN, you common cauldron stirrer. My daughter IS this world's sorceress supreme, just what are you? Some interloper driven by the need to insert herself among people she is OUTCLASSED by?"

"As long as Spellbinder remains in Limbo, the ones smart enough to take advantage will grow stronger...more POWERFUL."

< She moved into a defensive stance, her legs straight, her hands clasped together, stretched out holding her mystical looking Omni Pistol, who's barrel was still smoking. >

Shadow Weaver: "My daughter's whereabouts, and circumstances are NONE OF YOUR CONCERN, and whatever her shortcomings and weaknesses...her FAMILY and I will be there for her. YOU will not interfere, and it will take far BETTER than you to EVER best a daughter of HECATE."

"Bite your tongue, old woman. I've been interfering in ALL of your affairs for QUITE some time now...while your "FAMILY" has been falling apart. There are BENEFITS to being an interloper, and there are things OLDER and STRONGER than Hecate and her daughters, Karen. You'd be wise to REMEMBER that."

< Shadow Weaver fires and Talisman responds in brilliant time. Shadow Weaver's golden swirling mystic force meets Talisman's swirling black and dark blue right IN between them, igniting a FEEDBACK effect as Talisman channeled her power through her pistol. Talisman braced herself as she found her sliding back on her feet several yards as Shadow Weaver did the same. Their SWIRLING magicks created a giant flash of an explosion in the air, giving Talisman the opportunity...to ESCAPE! >

"It's time.

< Fathom had destroyed Jasmine Klein, her ability now fully recorded by Talisman and the citadle security systems, and Kelly had learned what she needed to from Shadow Weaver. Karen Victoria was largely the same here as she was in Kelly's native timeline. Seeing her in action now gave Talisman a bleak epilogue to what might have happened if Karen had worked THROUGH her darkness, her miscarriage and not destroyed the world in an "Inferno" like event. This may have been outrageous to some, but now that she had pushed Karen to the edge, she had seen first hand what she was capable of, something that many close to her hadn't yet discovered. >

< Steadying herself, she pryed a free hand from her pistol and pulled out a small circular device of a mysterious looking metal. All of this was during the great FLASH explosion, as Shadow Weaver CALLED for her allies to attack Talisman with everything they had. It was very quick. Dropping it to the ground below her, upon her mental command it ACTIVATED. It was a piece of technology that contained the same type of power as places like the DANGER ROOM. It projected a hard light hologram with the same sentience and durability as herself right over her own body, in the same exact stance as she facing Shadow Weaver. As the hologram shot over her, in her EXACT location, she shimmered out of the area, her hologram in place, the blast still countering Karen's as The Birds of Prey moved in on what they believed to be her. >

< Delilah would have been the only one to see through her illusion with a first glance, but she was tied up with attempting to save a now fallen Frost. Oracle's STUN bolts hit the hologram of Kelly and she reacts accordinly as The Birds of Prey ascend on her. It seems as if she has been thrown off balance as Valkyrie delivers a DEVESTATING attack on her with Steel in tow, as something begins to happen. >

<< Valkyrie and Steel begin to BEAT on "Talisman" with incredible strength and power, she seems to be falling hard, though showing a surprising amount of resistance. As Valkyrie and Steel deliver a powerful combination of flying fists, BOTH making contact at the same time, for a SPLIT second it appears as if Talisman "flickers" much in the way that a television does searching for a strong enough signal! >>

< Both of them are too lost in their resolve to notice the small flicker and they continue to beat her down, watching as she is bombarded by magick and the physical fury that The Birds of Prey are uniquely able to deliver. Mina JOINS in on the circle, fangs snarling...ready to ATTACK. But she notices something as she makes her approach. In the quickness of the real Talisman's escape and the absolutely CHAOS of the battle around them, it wasn't immediately noticeable! >

Mina: "Valkyrie...Steel! Hold off. It's not her...She's ESCAPED!"

< Valkyrie and Steel continue, until Valkyrie LANDS her right foot on the ground after a brutal attack, CRUSHING the disc projecting the danger room like hologram to them. The visage of Talisman flickers and SCRAMBLES before evaporating, a small plume of smoke now drifting from the device. Somehow...she had escaped this onslaught! >

< A small almost...uncomfortable laughter fills the bio systems lab for a moment. It is clear that this laughter seems almost...forced, for dramatic effect by somebody who doesn't quite understand what it means to laugh, causing the sound to trickle down the spines of those in the area. >

"Remember your OWN failures, Valkyrie. The Red Court surely does."

Fathom: "It's DONE, Talisman. We can go now."

< In an INSTANT she had shimmered behind Fathom, grabbing the girl from behind and shimmering the both of them out, using the confusion over the holographic portrayal of herself being destroyed as well as the chaotic explosion of magick in the arena around them to trick and confuse, to avert the attention of people like Tachyon that would be able to track her. >

"It's been a pleasure...truly. To see such powerful creatures in their most aggressive of states. But our work together is just beginning..trust me. You will be seeing more of me. And after tonight? Some of you more than others."[/b

< She was speaking of not only Shadow Weaver, but The Birds of Prey themselves. >

"But before I go..."

<< BOOM! >>

< A chaotic explosion DETONATED in the Bio Systems Lab, shaking the structure of the entire Citadle to it's core. Talisman had left a parting gift of a few well placed rounds of C4 throughout the lab as each one of them detonated upon her command. The explosion RATTLED through the area, sending ALL of them flying in different directions as shrapnel and debris flew in every direction as smoke filled the area. The explosion was controlled. It wouldn't destroy the Citadle entirely, but it would definitely be enough to cause some serious physical damage. As the dust began to settle, they were left with the realization that Talisman and Fathom had escaped...and they had lost the life of Jasmine Klein in battle. >

"Until we meet again..."

 

[Tachyon]

Funny thing about a 3-on 1. The fourth guy gets left out a little. And so Tachyon hangs back by Oracle, his reaction time sped up to millions of frames per second as he looks to see if the witch has any tricks left. Suddenly they realize that she has pulled a switch on them and after the worst villain speech and laugh EVER n the history of EVER, a BOMB is detonated...

Lessee...Valkyrie and Steel and Mina are good. Charope and Recall, not so much...

Tachyon pulls the two of them at super speed to Oracle's chair and proceeds to intercept incoming debris that could harm the trio. As the dust settles, they will find themselves in a pristine circle of roughly 3 metres in diameter that Tachyon maintained for their safety.

 

[Mina Harker]

Bio Systems Lab

As Mina touched Kelly, salivating at the thought of draining her life from her body, she suddenly pulled back as if she’d been stung. Something was wrong here. She held up a hand to her teammates.

"Valkyrie...Steel! Hold off. It's not her...She's ESCAPED!"

What was before them was not a real person. It was just another trick. Mina was growing very tired of these tricks. Not surprisingly, Valkyrie did not listen, and Steel followed her lead. So Mina just stepped back, crossed her arms, and allowed them to keep fighting the hologram.

The hologram eventually began to flicker and then died. Mina’s attention turned to MorningStar, Frost and the others long enough to see the real Kelly shimmer in and shimmer out again with Fathom. Explosions rocked the Citadel, covering their retreat.

“They have escaped. We have lost them.”

Mina shook her head. With their numbers, they should have been able to defeat these two. The one called Kelly channeled powerful magick, though. She would be a concern in the future, there was no doubt.

She walked with a predatory gait over to where MorningStar knelt next to Frost’s body, looking down solemnly at the scene before her.

 

[Valkyrie]

She and Steel were making a great team, pummeling the freak from two sides, doing things she had dreamt of doing to the criminals they normally worked over. Mina closed in from behind.

“When I said double team, I didn’t mean with YOU.”

Mina came in like she was going to actually do something for once, but then she backed off. No matter, she had enough to take care of this psycho without any help. She kept hitting her and hitting her, yet the woman was still standing.

Then, she felt something crush under her boot, and the woman in front of them flickered and disappeared. She hadn’t been real. A smug, self satisfied voice filled the air.

"Remember your OWN failures, Valkyrie. The Red Court surely does."

“They have escaped. We have lost them.”

Valkyrie yelled in frustration, punching and kicking at anything in her immediate vicinity.

“I am going to find and KILL that bitch. And her little dog too.”

Who the HELL did this bitch think she was? She had NO idea what she was dealing with. She’d nail Kelly’s skin to her front door.

Valkyrie stumbled as the floor shook, several explosions going off. Getting up, she rolled her eyes to the sky.

“Oh can we please get the FUCK out of this motherfuckin’ place before we die here?!”

She looked over at MorningStar and Frost. She shrugged, and called over to Tachyon, who was helping to shield Vivica, Alycia and Oracle from debris.

“Hey, how about that drink?”

 

[Recall]

Bio Systems Lab - The Citadle

Shadow Weaver: "You're FINISHED, KELLY!"

:: Karen Victoria burst onto the scene after a timely assist from Tachyon, the man who had also intervened in a timely manner during the Purifier attack, confirming to Recall what she had just realized about their mystery assailant. This was Kelly, perhaps not Kelly King, but somebody that looked a HELL of a lot like Alison and Cameron's mother and went by the same name. The energy signatures made sense now. Of course she was tied to Alison. But there were so many questions Vivica had that didn't have answers. Harbinger was The Keeper of Time as well as a Seer. How was it at all possible that this woman could have been in this close of a vicinity to all of them and she not know it. She had been in New York City tonight, as Oracle had confirmed earlier. How could it have been that she did not even SENSE her mother. This began to lead Vivica to question whether or not this was just another part of an intricate and terrible spell. ::

:: Shadow Weaver seemed pretty convinced that she was facing the woman who birthed Prophet and Harbinger, but she also had thought she was fighting Christopher Victory and her Grammie at different points this evening. She couldn't look to her for answers because she couldn't trust anything that she was seeing. She struggled through the restraints of the spell as the battle wore on between Fathom and Frost. ::

:: It was breathtaking to see Frost in battle. During her time in Europe, she had done battle with an ice elemental herself, and it was clear that she possessed a finesse that her adversary (Avalanche) did not, though both had been trained as weapons from a young age by respective crime lords in the area. She wanted to see those two in the same room, but she would have to survive this battle in order to have that chance, and now..it appeared as she was losing. ::

"Jesus fix it!"

:: Shadow Weaver sent the woman in shadow shattering through the glass and onto the ground below as she followed her, though the woman was not without a swift recovery. She had only heard stories of Karen's temper and rage. She had never experienced it, but now she had a front row seat as she watched Shadow Weaver manifest a mace, preparing to deliver a brutal physical assault. ::

"Oh my GOD!"

:: The woman in shadow countered with a rather intriguing and powerful spell as the battle waged on between Fathom and Frost. This was too much to handle. There were too many things to consider, to focus on and all of it was horrifying. She began to think of The Six and their first now down at The Citadle, the night that changed all of their lives. Vivica hadn't understood at first, when Cameron had told her what he had gone through, but being here now had garnered her a new understanding. She got it now, but her circumstances were different. She looked around and saw so many faces that she cared about. She had grown so close to Zizi in such a short while. Oracle was a woman she wanted to be more like, in more than just a professional way. She was so sure of herself, but she never made anybody feel bad about it. She had true confidence and such a bright disposition. It was infectious. She saw Ashley. She was so obstinate and steely in her resolve. She hated everyone and every thing. She was so prideful in such a way that it indicated that at some point along the way, she had failed in a big way. She wanted Ashley to get whatever justice it was that she was looking for. There was the mysterious Mina, the stoic and kind hearted Steel, and those she knew a little better like Charope and Silver Swan. She had just begun to build bridges with Alycia and she wanted to see where it was going, and with Sharon? Well...there was no way that Vivica would want to go into battle with ANYBODY else. The woman was a powerhouse on multiple levels. And then there was Delilah...somebody who had taken care of Cameron when nobody else would. Somebody that for some reason she felt a little bit in DEBT to because of her actions. All of these people meant something to her, and for the first time since returning back to New York City, she realized that this was EXACTLY where she needed to be, and now it looked that this house of cards could come crashing down around them. ::

:: For a moment, she thought of Isis and how the tide of this battle might have changed with her at their side. Her righteous indignation at the machinations of a company like MysTech would have given them the competitive edge they needed. The woman in shadow ignited a powerful spell as Shadow Weaver hovered in the air, her body shifting from organic tissue to...GOLD. The entire thing was horrified. But then...the tide seemed to turn. Their spell was BROKEN as Shadow Weaver made a MIGHTY recovery, allowing Silver Swan to ignite her Sonic Scream as Shadow Weaver and Talisman engaged in a brutal fire fight. The reprieve was not a MOMENT to soon as Recall began to run on pure adrenaline. ::

Oracle: "Go! We'll back up Shadow Weaver! Recall, go with them, help them help Frost!"

"Oh trust and believe, I'm about to smack the WHITE off that bitch! Let's GET her ass, MorningStar!"

:: She moved with peak human speed as she began to jump in the air, somewhat bouncing off of various structures in the room as she gripped her boomerangs, ready to deliver one HELL of a brutal physical assault. Delilah was firing off alternating photon blasts. With a vibrating HUM she THREW her boomerangs RIGHT for Fathom as they crossed each other's path in the air in front of her. But it appeared they were too late. ::

"No! No! NO!!! DAMMIT!"

"Karen....I....I'm....sorry."

MorningStar: "JASMINE!"

:: Immediately MorningStar went to Frost's side, checking for a pulse. ::

MorningStar: "We have failed you. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry Jasmine."

:: She could feel her heart fall into her stomach. Vivica wasn't initially a giant fan of Jasmine but to see her down here, so refined, so comfortable in a place of abject horror..it had softened Vivica. Recall had already been thinking of asking Oracle to extend an invitation to The Birds of Prey. It had somewhat saved Vivica, who had at one time felt very shunned by The Six, and she knew it could have done the same for Frost. Her face contorted in anger. Her boomerangs still SWIRLED in the air. ::

"We didn't fail her.....YET!"

[looking towards Fathom]

"You fucking tacky ass water logged BITCH! I'll show you what a beat down REALLY is."

:: Immediately she crossed her arms in an "X" pattern as her boomerangs seemed to FOLLOW in her command. She may have been able to control every molecule of water, but she would be hard pressed to do so without her goddamn head! The boomerangs moved with GREAT speed as Recall remained strong in her resolve, so much so that she was all but IGNORING what was happening with the woman in shadow around her. ::

:: The serrated vibranium blades were mere SECONDS away from crossing paths and severing Fathom's head when all of a sudden, Talisman appeared for a SPLIT SECOND and shimmered BOTH of them out of the area. Vivica jumped and CAUGHT her boomerangs in mid air ::

"GODDAMMIT!!!"

:: Suddenly she heard a voice on the intercom system. The Woman In Shadow. BOTH of them had escaped. ::

Talisman: ""It's been a pleasure...truly. To see such powerful creatures in their most aggressive of states. But our work together is just beginning..trust me. You will be seeing more of me. And after tonight? Some of you more than others."

:: Vivica yelled out ::

"Oh I'll be waiting for you at the DOOR!"

Talisman: "But before I go..."

:: The explosions happened all around them, causing MorningStar and Recall to be BLASTED into the air as shrapnel and smoke and debris began to fill the area. She looked at Delilah at the moment of impact. ::

"We can't let her get buried here, Delilah. It's not right."

:: Each of them instinctively GRABBED either one of Jasmine's hands and together, the two of them shielded her lifeless body under the protection of one of MorningStar's laser shields as the debris and shrapnel pummeled her shield, being vaporized upon contact. They braced for impact, rolling in somewhat of a mound as they found themselves on steady ground. Slowly the two of them recovered and were able to get up on their feet, laying Jasmine out on the ground delicately. ::

:: Recall was somewhat enraged. All that hard work, everything they had gone through..and Jasmine had DIED. She died before she ever even got the chance to live again. It wasn't fair. She was on edge, she was weak from battle and she still dealing with the revelation that she might have to go to Cameron and tell him his mother was back from the dead and the woman that he all but THREW out of the Parthenon was DEAD. ::

Valkyrie: "Oh can we please get the FUCK out of this motherfuckin' place before we die here? Hey, how about that drink?"

"Oh Ashley shut the fuck up, PLEASE!"

:: She shook herself out of her anger. ::

"Uh..sorry..I didn't mean that. I'm wiped."

:: Recall meant it. She was FRIED. ::

:: Recall looked upon Jasmine's dead body with a tinge of remorse, before returning a glance back at Valkyrie. ::

"Would she have been valiant enough for you to take to Valhalla?"

:: Looking up, she went over to Karen and helped her gain her stance. She was glad that she was alive. Reall embraced the woman in a hug simply because she was high on emotion and she was just glad to see a familiar face. ::

"Karen...what are we going to do?"

:: She whispered in the Doctor's ear. ::

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The Hangar

<< Kelly was prooving herself to be surprisingly competent as a magick user, and she displayed an aptitude for science and technology that she...or rather her..."predecessor(!?)"... never had!>>

<< The power signatures of Shadow Weaver and Talisman struggled in a "mexican standoff" with one pushing the other back at times, and vice versa. No matter how much better put together Talisman was, she would find that Shadow Weaver was more than up to the task of fighting her to a stand still, and checking her at every turn! Karen MEANT what she said, Kelly would NEVER get the drop on her like that AGAIN.>>


<< Oracle and her team waded in to the battle, bring a heavy physical offensive. Karen couldn't help but silently cheer Steel, Mina and even VALKYRIE as they piled on Kelly! Oracle added her own stun beams to Shadow Weaver's mystic force bolts.>>

<< Karen had a spell, that would cause complete lose of vitality and power, she was going to ignite it ON Kelly, and let the BoP beat her into the ground!>>

<< Delilah, Sharon, Alycia and Vivica went to Frosts aid....but it WAS too late!

"JASMINE!"

Frost's eyes closed, her body slumped over, lifeless, before falling off the ice pedestal.

<< Karen heard exclamations from Sharon, Alycia and Vivica as well! >>

Oh no.....

<< she said quietly>>


<< Karen felt a WAVE of an ice cold aura wash over her.>>

"Karen.....I...."

She wanted to see Blaze. She wanted to see Morgan. Even Cass who was so incredibly good to her when everyone else was so quick to play judge, jury, and executioner. But even more than anything else, she wanted to thank Karen for being such a strong woman and taking her in despite the lack of blood ties....despite the fact that she was Christopher Victory's bastard child. She wanted to tell her, that after everything....she was the closest thing to a mother she ever had. And she loved her. A single tear of blood dropped from Jasmine's eyes before they finally rolled shut.

"....I'm....sorry."

Jasmine's body went limp and lifeless, falling from the ice pedestal high above the dome, until finally crashing into the slushy soft mass of snow below.

JASMINE!

<< Karen's heart SANK...and she faltered in her offensive against Kelly, who had taken advantage of the situation once again.>>

"But before I go..."

<< BOOM! >>

< A chaotic explosion DETONATED in the Bio Systems Lab, shaking the structure of the entire Citadle to it's core. Talisman had left a parting gift of a few well placed rounds of C4 throughout the lab as each one of them detonated upon her command. The explosion RATTLED through the area, sending ALL of them flying in different directions as shrapnel and debris flew in every direction as smoke filled the area. The explosion was controlled. It wouldn't destroy the Citadle entirely, but it would definitely be enough to cause some serious physical damage. As the dust began to settle, they were left with the realization that Talisman and Fathom had escaped...and they had lost the life of Jasmine Klein in battle. >

"Until we meet again..."

<< Karen had a pained facial expression as she staggered from the oncoming assault of the detonation. Others were doing what they could to sheild each other, but they couldn't stay in this place. They'd been here long enough, and it cost them dearly>>

Have to get us ALL OUT!!!

<< Holding up pher hand, her own mystic power signature sounds off once again as a golden halo form around her uplifted hand>>

In this time and in this place, I call upon powers so dark.
Harness a portal to take us through time and space!

<< Shadow Weaver activates an ESCAPE spell, and each member of the Birds of Prey, along with herself, MorningStar and Jasmine are eveloped in a beam of golden light, and spirited out of the Control Room and the citadle, and BACK into the hangar area just outside the citadle. The last time Karen had been here, she fought the Super Soldier. She WON that battle, but it very nearly cost her LIFE.>>

<< They were all safe, and Everyone had a chance to collect themselves.>>

<< Karen slowly looked over to Delilah, who was kneeling by the side of the fallen Jasmine. Sharon, Alycia and Recall were around them as well. She felt nauseated>>

Oh Jasmine...

<< The doctor made her way over them, and knelt down, placing a hand on the young mutant's face and brushing some of her wet hair away.>>

<< Karen lifted her other hand over Jasmine, in a circular motion, quietly casting a healing and restoration spell, but it had no effect..>>

Sharon: You can't heal the dead...

[ The mutate said quietly, as she and Alycia stood behind either Karen or Delilah]

I know....I just....I had to try....just in case she might have...

<< Tears fell from Karen's eyes as she looked at Delilah>>

This poor child....all she ever knew was isolation, abuse, mistreatement...she never had a chance. She never knew acceptance, love, friendship or family.

<< She looks down, Holding Jasmine's hand. The rest of the Birds of prey silently gathered around the core group, looking on with various states of sadness as they listened to Karen.>>

Her father...then Victor Klein...and now this woman...Kelly...TALISMAN.

<< Karen says with utter contempt. She looked at Delilah again>>

They ALL used and abused her...and I promised her...Blaze and I BOTH promised her...

<< Shutting her eyes tightly>>

I PROMISED her it would be different this time! But that RABBLE (Kelly), she interferred and obstructed at EVERY TURN! And now... it's too late! Jasmine's gone...

...She's gone before she had a chance to experience what love...and family felt like! She never got to experience what she was willing to pass through the siege perilous to find!

<< the grief and the guilt were crashing down on Karen like a ton of bricks>>

<< Karen held Jasmine's hand in her own two hands, bringing it to her face as she began to weep. This poor girl had never known a decent life, and never had the chance. Christopher, Victor, and now Kelly...they ALL USED her, and Karen couldn't save her! The doctor felt the guilt and the grief stab her in her heart and it was all she could do to remain upright.>>

Oh Jasmine....I'm so sorry!

<< She said as she struggled in this horrible moment.>>

<< Sharon and Alycia stood together looking crestfallen. Tears fell from both of their eyes.>>

“Oh can we please get the FUCK out of this motherfuckin’ place before we die here?!”

She looked over at MorningStar and Frost. She shrugged, and called over to Tachyon, who was helping to shield Vivica, Alycia and Oracle from debris.

“Hey, how about that drink?”

<< Sharon and Alycia BOTH looked at Valkyrie with utter amazement and ANGER, BOTH of them were about to tear into her when...>>

"Oh Ashley shut the fuck up, PLEASE!"

:: She shook herself out of her anger. ::

"Uh..sorry..I didn't mean that. I'm wiped."

:: Recall meant it. She was FRIED. ::

Sharon: Don't apologize to her. She is CRASS, even in a moment of pain and loss. It's DISGUSTING!

<< Oracle and Steel step in to prevent any further confrontation between these two...>>

:: Recall looked upon Jasmine's dead body with a tinge of remorse, before returning a glance back at Valkyrie. ::

"Would she have been valiant enough for you to take to Valhalla?"

Alycia: For what she did tonight, seeking out the source of the attacks on Karen, and fighting against Fathom, for all the abuse she endured from childhood until now...perhaps Athena would grant her favor and allow her to be reborn on Themyscira as an Amazon. She'd have no memory of this life, she'd never be alone, never know pain, abuse or suffering again.

<< Karen continued to hold Jasmine's hand...with her eyes closed, crying for this fallen child...and the fact that Christopher COULDN'T be punished for this after all. She was also UPSET AT HERSELF for allowing Kelly to escape! The "woman in shadow" even taunted that they'd meet again, and THAT was a meeting she would find Karen LOOKING FORWARD to!>>

You'll PAY for this, Talisman. By the soul of Hecate....I'll see you in the same HELL that my husband was banished to!

<< She MEANT that. If Talisman THOUGHT she knew Karen because of her own native timeline's experience...she was MISTAKEN. >>

:: Looking up, she went over to Karen and helped her gain her stance. She was glad that she was alive. Reall embraced the woman in a hug simply because she was high on emotion and she was just glad to see a familiar face. ::

"Karen...what are we going to do?"

:: She whispered in the Doctor's ear. ::

<< Karen felt the presence and touch of Vivica, and did not resist, instead she WELCOMED the gesture of support and sympathy, and she returned Vivica's embrace.>>

I...I don't know Vivica....

How do I tell Blaze that I've failed her...that I failed Jasmine AND her! That I couldn't FREE this child from the legacy of her father...and that I was not fast enough to STOP that contemptible woman [Kelly]!?

<< there were OTHER things that came to mind with Vivica's plaintive question. What would happen to Jasmine's body? Well, Karen would see to it that the girl was not left HERE, that's for certain...>>

<< She slowly lets go of Vivica and looks at Delilah>>

We won't leave her here.

 

[Mina Harker]

“Oh can we please get the FUCK out of this motherfuckin’ place before we die here?!”

Mina rolled her eyes.

“Just when I think you cannot possibly get more tactless, there you go.”

She should just rip the vulgar girl's throat out, but she would probably give her indigestion.

Doctor Victoria transported them back out to the Hangar area, where things seemed safe enough. Sharon, Alycia, Delilah and Karen were crestfallen.

How do I tell Blaze that I've failed her...that I failed Jasmine AND her! That I couldn't FREE this child from the legacy of her father...and that I was not fast enough to STOP that contemptible woman!?

Mina tilted her head sideways, looking down at the fallen child for a moment.

“Doctor Victoria, you did all you could for this girl. This Kelly WANTED to assassinate one or more of you. It is part of her perverse mind games – we saw that tonight. But if I may.”

Mina stepped forward.

“It may ease your pain to know that this is NOT Jasmine Klein. She is not the girl you knew. She was…just a lingering piece of her soul in this reality that deviant creature trapped with an obscene spell. A spell you all were affected by. It was merely an echo of the Frost you knew, perverted and made whole by magick, and fed by the emotional energy of those under the spell. Mainly you, Dr. Victoria, and you, MorningStar.”

She indicated to them both.

“The Jasmine Klein who stepped through the Siege Perilous years ago is still in whatever reality she was sent to.”

She looked down once again at the body before her.

“Breaching the barrier between the living and the dead is…foolish, to say the least. This woman who attacked us tonight is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to have attempted it - conducting souls, orchestrating such chaos.”

Mina thought for a moment, turning to Karen now.

“This should not even have been possible, but for… Do you remember the Blue Moon several months ago? It affected all magick users, but also magick itself. Doctor Victoria – Karen – I must impress upon you the importance of your daughter returning to this plane. Her absence is being felt by more than just her family and friends. It is imperative that she return as soon as possible. I implore you – urge her to return home at once.”