Come together

[Oracle]

<< the blackness of unconsciousness seems to last forever, giving way to dreams and illusion. each member of the six and their allies having fallen painfully to Riley's trap.>>

<< soon however, the comfort of unconsciousness begins to melt away...at least for one person in particular as the team and their allies find themselves in a large building across town. a large, sterile looking room with all the comfort and convinience of a hard lined asylum. white walls, a full medical compliment that looked like something from a brutal torture chamber and a soft hum of power.>>

<< there was no immediate indication of where they were geographically either.>>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< the last thing she remembered was Mike GRABBING her, attaching his personal energy shield to her...as the ricochet of high powered artillery from Haleigh's weapon went wildly around the war room. She was falling back , with Mike getting SHOT and as she screamed with dismay...she felt her hair seem to stand on end as her body was jolted so badly.>>

BLACK VOID

<< the blackness began to give way to slivers of light...irritating...unwelcomed light, as her eyes began to shift and flutter...she felt herself being jolted away by the foul smell of ammonia under her nose, courtesy of Rick...>>

hmmmmm...ugh......

<< as her sapphire blue eyes began to open...she felt a TERRIBLE pull, a CHOKING pull on her neck...and she began to gasp and cough as she felt herself being lifted up...forced to stand on tip toe as she was HOISTED UP by a harness from the ceiling that was wrapped around her neck.>>

<< her hands were hand cuffed with her arms forced UP since the restraints were connected to the line that was now hanging her. she, she was too disoriented, her body too stiff from the shock before...and now she was strung up...her feet BARELY supported by a chair beneath her which was all that stood between her and a HANGING.>>

<< coughing furiously as her breathing struggled with such restriction...her eyes darted around the room furiously...what was this....some kind of horrible hospital torture chamber!?>>

[Oracle]

<< as the doctor frantically struggles and coughs...choking on the tight restraint around her neck that is all but HANGING HER (if not for the rolling chair beneath her feet that barely touch it)....she sees a LITTLE bitter...the bright, unrelenting white light in this horrible, large room that looks more like something out of the House on Haunted Hill than an OR.>>

<< the doctor is so precariously positioned, her already stiff, sore body is now a CHORE to keep still but as her sapphire blue eyes dart around the room, she sees on the FLOOR an unconscious Alycia, laying on her side. Haleigh is nearby, also unconscious but wearing a "collar" around her neck with two small lights blinking. its the power neutralizing collars that Malice had placed on the team when she held them captive before. technology that had been designed by Cassadine Corp and had not only been liscensed to MysTech for further development and mass production but had ALSO been sold to "the highest bidder" on capitol hill during the rise of the anti mutant sentiment.>>

<< Haleigh did not look VISIBLY injured, nor did Alycia. a few feet behind them, closer to a wall where several large machines and wall monitors were, MORGAN lay on the floor, sprawled out on her side as well. her blonde hair fallen over to the side and covering most of her face...she had several bruises on her face from what Karen could see and a swollen lip. it looked as though she'd been beaten. her hands, her fore arms were COMPLETELY covered and bound in CEMENT blocks that connected to a thick link chain leading up to her neck restraint and on that restraint...an eeriely glowing BLACK LOTUS BLOSSOM that emmitted a dark plum colored mist that kept Morgan GASSED/DEEPLY SEDATED. it was the same method used to subdue Alison, ALSO a magick user.>>

<< along the wall behind morgan, in large tube like structures were Nicolas, Ava , Cameron and Delilah. ALL of whom were shackled by adamantium restraints and wearing power neutralizing collars. there was an energy field that surrounded the area of the tubes..that was SUSTAINED by their own unique bio energy signatures...if they some how had gotten free....the more EFFORT they exerted, the more DRAINED they would come and the STRONGER the field would get. They were seperated physically from Morgan, Haleigh and Alycia. >>

<< Mike was laying hap hazardly on a gurney across on the other side of the room. totally disarmed and connected to a serious of PAIN INDUCERS. he was already in bad shape and in need of medical attention. if he moved...even flinched, his body would be inundated with unrelenting PAIN.>>

<< at this moment Karen was the first one awake...but that wouldnt be the case for long. this room was extremely large, equipped with medical equipment and other devices that seemed truly horrific, the antiseptic "feel" of the room made it harder to determine its exact spatial dimensions and they still would have no clue just WHERE they were. there was NO SIGN of Sharon at this point either. >>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< and so, as the Doctor was now fully alert and painfully acclimated to her position and the immediate area around her...she found herself being FORCED to call upon reserves in her body she did not think she had. Her mind DARTED back to the last moment before this place. MIKE!!>>

<< coughing a bit still as she finally managed to find that steady and precious BALANCE with her high heels barely being supported by the chair, her eyes frantically looked around..>>

the others...are all here....Morgan is being kept gassed and sedated by the black lotus blossom...the others....COLLARED by the mutant/meta human power suppression collars....restrained in a containment field.....Alycia...on the floor...Haleigh too......Sharon.....not here...

....<<cough..cough...>>....mike......where...where IS HE...he was SHOT...he....<<cough>>

<< looking distressed...she hears the sound of foot falls coming closer...the echo traveling toward her.>>

[Oracle]

<< Rick Riley slowly, broodingly walks into the large, medical-esque, torture chamber looking rather flushed with apparent success at his capture of this group. he looks up at Karen, seeing that she's regained consciousness and is struggling to keep herself carefully positioned.>>

<< white lights of the white room make everything so painfully bright. there's a coldness in the air as well and every little sound seems to echo.>>

Rick Riley: welcome. you're now joining the show, already in progress.

<< Riley speaks with an almost maniacle glee as he eye's the doctor who is now unable to prevent him from coming close to her.>>

Riley: you recovered faster than i thought, but this is good...this is good. i'd love to know youre analysis of the situation as i dispatch Barnett...and then Haleigh.

<< seeing the doctor looking at the others who are suitably contained>>

Riley: oh dont worry...your daughter ...she tried to escape and attack me when we first got here. so i had to take the fight out of her.

<< referring to her bruised face>>

the lotus blossom contains a special fume that KO's magick users cold..not to mention neutralizes their power. she's not teleporting anywhere anytime soon.

as for the others? they are all fitted wtih power neutralizing collars. any attempt to remove them will result in the collar exploding leaving them all QUITE powerless and in Haleigh's case...leaving HER susceptible to the ravages of the virus that is the genesis of her current power set.

<< standing tall and reflective. Rick folds his arms>>

this is how it shouldve come together before, but Malice got SLOPPY when she let BLACKOUT handle the details. That run away flashbulb couldnt come to a conclusion if she reached a DEAD END and if I'm not MISTAKEN...YOU were the main reason the team ESCAPED that time...

<< looking up at the doctor, he shakes his head.>>

Not gonna happen this time sweetie. Christopher didnt know how to keep you in your place, but I think i've done a good job of it.

OH YEAH, and if you're wondering about Sharon? I tossed her body into the waste incinerator once we arrived. She's probably ASH by now. no more silver swan..no more chance for you or anyone ELSE to save the senator. she prooved to be not worth the time and so i put her back where she belongs..with the rest of the garbage.

<< his disdain for Sharon seeped through his smug tone. he had tried to rape her before and she resisted while Alycia slammed a rock into his head...>>

Riley: <<sniffing a bit...as if he had just done a line of coke before he came in the room>> HALEIGH is about to serve her true purpose and function....but not before i frame HER and the rest of you for Barnett's brutal torture and death, SEALING your fate as the mutant hysteria peaks and pushes humanity over the edge.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen shuts her eyes tightly with grief and anger as he mentions that Sharon was thrown into a medical waste incinerator..>>

you....sick......

<< he continues to gloat...he will frame THEM for Alycia's painfull torture and death...he BEAT her daughter....this HORRID MAN!! he coos how he's got HER under control the way Christopher never could...and that is the final straw...>>

....

<< looking sideways...before showing a look of weary APATHY on her face..she REFUSES to dignify Rick with a response.>>

FUCK YOU!!

<< her voice sounding low and hatefull>>

Rick Riley: :: looking up with surprise...::...what did you just....

Karen: you heard me you little TWERP!!....you think I'm AFRAID OF YOU?

Rick Riley: ::brandishing a neuro surgery drill...testing out VERY CLOSE to Karen's cape.:: oh i KNOW you are, dear doctor. :: his voice sounding twisted.::

Karen: you're just a sad....second rate...boring...impotent little...copy cat... << karen can't help but to LAUGH at her own remarks as she degrades Riley's manhood and status as a man in one fell swoop. her laugh sounding so deep seated and mocking.>>


Riley: ::shoving the drill up to Karen's knee cap.:: WATCH IT BITCH...or i'll make SURE to wipe that smile off your face, do you hear me?

Karen: << unmoved by his threat...she continues to half laugh..half cough>> You're not Malice...you're not Stavros...you're not even Christopher. But don't feel bad....i know LOTS of men like you who couldnt get it up either!!

<< she cackles with laughter again...>>

Riley: do you HEAR ME BITCH?

<< Karen SPITS upon his face in defiance....and he response by SLAMING the back of the drill into her knee, causing her to cry out with pain...as her head falls forward a bit.>>

Riley: youre psychological tactics wont WORK doctor. I KNOW i'm insane...but I also know this is not about MYSTECH...my motive isnt as far sweeping as Malice's....mine is simply good old fashion REVENGE...HALEIGH has it coming and I'm gonna make sure that ALL THE PEOPLE who deal with her PAY for it too.


I wont KILL YOU FAST either DOCTOR..i'll make SURE to ENJOY YOU before i watch the life fade from your eyes.

[Alycia Barnett]

:: Alycia begins to twitch and stir...her face frowning with the disorientation of adjusting to a new place after such painfull sedation.::

:: she doesnt immediately move, not knowing who could be standing over her...she doesnt even OPEN her eyes, even though she is now conscious. she catches the faintest glimpse of the white light. the feeling of the cold, hard floor...and the sound of Karen's slightly raspy voice....::

:: RICK was here too....and SHARON? the others?? where were they?::

:: as she came around further and further...voices became clear. the situation more real. she slightly opened her hazel eyes..and saw the room, it looked almost DREAMY with its antiseptic white on white decore...the lights, the medical compliment...the cutting edge technology. where were they?? a revisted design of the Citadle's lab?! Haleigh was laying across from her on the floor as well. she was ALSO unbound...but was wearing a power neutralizer collar.::

Karen:what have you done with SHARON?

Riley:I tossed her body into the waste incinerator once we arrived. She's probably ASH by now. no more silver swan..no more chance for you or anyone ELSE to save the senator. she prooved to be not worth the time and so i put her back where she belongs..with the rest of the garbage.

:: Alycia stifled herself as her eyes widened with disbelief.::

NO!!!!!


:: it was happening ALL OVER again..only THIS time Alycia couldnt even be with Sharon in her last final moments. Alycia lost all hope for herself...wondering if she'd EVER recover...but it didnt matter anymore. what mattered NOW was that she seemed to be FREE of binding and she had to do something...she had to KILL HIM!::

:: as Karen engaged him, pissing him off and he returned the favor with brutality...Alycia slowly, silently sat up a bit and looked around to see if the OTHERS were in similar states or what. taking in the area...the space of the room, what was around and what could be used as a weapon. should she try to free Haleigh? should she try to call force works? HOW COULD SHE? the only thing she could do now was prepare to strike out at Riley for the kill!::

:: she quietly played possum as Riley seemed to be turning to her area...waiting for the right moment...::

[Pam De Beaufort]

Screams....choas.....black..

:: Coming to, the painfully bright white lights stung even her closed eyes as Ava shut them even tigher, trying to drown out the intensity. Everything was foggy and warped. She could hear voices....but they sounded distorted...like she were trying to listen in on a conversation through a closed window. The air was thin and she was having trouble breathing. It wasn't until that moment she realized that something was fitted tightly around her neck, nearly constricting her airway. Opening her eyes slowly, everything was blurred and bright. She could see nothing but white....Everything was just so white....Instinctively, Ava tried to reach for the object around her neck, but her hands were bound together and bolted to the tube above her head. Struggling with very little strength, Ava's blurred vision began to give way, finally giving her a clear view of where she was and what was happening around her. She was in some sort of tube....a clear, thick glass tube that gave her little room to move. She was in a white medical lab with instruments she hadn't seen in years...and some she had never seen before in her life. Karen... Painfaully moving her head, she saw Karen, litereally hanging before Rick Riley, who was torturing her even more. She could barely hear what they were saying....and she didn't understand why. Alycia was sitting up, awake, behind Riley. She didn't move. Morgan was laying unconscious on the floor nearby, and from what Ava could see, Delilah, Cameron, and Nicolas were all in the same tube like jail as she. ::

:: Watching Karen scream, it was then, that it dawned on Ava. This painful collar.....it was the devise her father had created. Power neutralizing collars. She could feel the the long metal rods painfully imbedded into either side of her neck. She remembered hearing her father talk about the devise needing the mutants/metahuman's blood in order to be able to neutralize their specific powers. These rods must be what he was talking about. It hurt to turn her neck....to breathe...to move period...::

:: Forcefully pulling her bound wrists forward, Ava desperately began to fight against the bolted metal cuffs. They wouldn't budge...they simply just made the skin around her wrists raw and bloody. Gritting her teeth, she continued to fight against her restraints, trying every method in the book. Wiggling, thrashing, trying to slip her slender hands out of the cuffs....She couldn't be sure, but knowing how Rick Riley worked, these cuffs had to be made out of the same metal as Silver Swan's armor. Come on......think! Trying to move her feet, even her ankles were bound...it seemed that Riley had actually gotten the upper hand this time. Ava was at a loss...she didn't know what to do but stand there and watch.. ::

[Jessica Hamby]

"Leave.... her..... ALONE!"

Came a defiant tone from raspy, weakened voice. Haleigh was slowly pulling herself to her feet with the help of an IV stand. She was already aware of the power neutralizing collar-- she'd worn one before, and she knew that the unbearable ACHE she felt all over was a result of that, in addition to nearly CRIPPLING, throbbing head ache, made only worse by the blindingly bright lights, which forced her to squint her eyes in such a way that one could hardly tell they were even open.... Her BDU completely covered her body and she wore gloves, but the strain showed in her face and neck, the exposed skin there covered in a cold sweat. The strands of hair that has fallen out of her ponytail stuck to the sides of her face, some of it matted in the blood from the wound she sustained earlier.... yet still, she stood. Her spirit was as strong as ever..... but it was clear that without her powers, it would not be long before her body would succumb to the TO virus.

"If..... I've got it coming..... then why don't...... you give it to me?" She said slowly, still half leaning on the IV stand but trying to support her own weight.

[Alycia Barnett]

:: she flinched as Karen screamed...once Riley began to brutalize a woman..he wouldnt stop. he'd broken HER arm back in the cell, tried to rape Sharon...and there was no telling WHAT he'd do to Karen or HALEIGH.::

:: she had to do something....and FAST. but WHAT? she had no idea how to began to free the others...::


:: as her mind churned with fear and misdirection...she heard Sharon's voice in her head.::

I love.....you....all of you....

:: she remembered Sharon and her BRAVERY...rushing to help Morgan in the face of Master Mold. Alycia could do NO LESS now. and so, as Haleigh, Alycia slowly sat up...and with stiffness and pain, she began crawling silently...out of sight behind an operating table...and grabbing hold of several tools from that table, including a large dark glass bottle of acid. she too was wearing her body contouring "body armour"...but was now without any of her weapons...so she had to improvise. she hoped Haleigh would keep him focused on HER just a bit longer....::

:: all the while::

Riley: well well look who decided to rise up and save the day again...Davidoff! always a day late and a dollar short. your own command in the field, Sharon Kelly, and now Doctor Victoria. Don't worry..even all busted up and weak as you are now...you still have an appeal about you. i cant WAIT to watch that light fade form your eyes...as you remember my hands around your throat..

Riley: but even BETTER...STAVROS...who KNEW what you were destined for, held you out long enough so that Mystech could take you themselves. Just like he presided over Patrick's decontruction alongside Malice, he traded you like a hot commodity, knowing that you were the prize MysTech had their eye on. You've been destined to be EVERYONE'S play thing havent you? used like a good workhorse and then discarded when you're no longer needed. too bad Sharon was too DAMAGED to be kept as your replacement.

:: Haleigh could see Alycia rising up behind Riley...::

Alycia: You're forgetting one thing about Stavros, you prick.

:: Riley turns slightly, MORE than a bit unexpecting of THIS.::

I FUCKING KILLED HIM!!

:: she screams as she SLAMS the jar of acid down on his head..and it shatters on impact::

PIECE OF SHIT!!

:: She spins, delivering two POWERFULL and WELL PLACE forward round house kicks one across his face, the other across his chest area as she disarms him of the drill and sends it flying across the floor near Haleigh.::

:: Alycia runs for the main operating tool tray...seeing several keys that appear to be what will disengage the collars. she KNOWS the rest of the team can more than help destroy Riley...but more importantly, Karen or Morgan can save MIKE from certain death and Haleigh will not be consumed by the virus...and...above all else...they could...maybe...just MAYBE find Sharon and proove rick to be a LIAR.::

[Oracle]

<< within this unusual room where science, medicine and brutality seemed to merge and the six had no idea how DEADLY DEEP that ran, the first sign of rebellion begins as Karen goads Riley and as he hurts her, Haleigh rises to her feet to defy him...and as he reminds her of just how much of a "PLAYTHING" she's always been, lauding Stavros for treating her like a pawn or a good to trade rather than a human being...Alycia rises up in anger and attacks him the best way she knows how...>>

<< the special agent crashes a bottle of acid down on Rick's head and while he jerks/flinches like a NORMAL human...the acid's burning, corossive effect seems to cause him NO PAIN as she smiles with wicked, depraved predatorial glee...almost as if he's TURNED ON by Alycia's violence. he is hit by her kicks and drops the menacing neur drill but as she runs for the operating table to grab the collar keys, in one strong stride, he's upon her...punching her in her back before taking her by the air and slamming her into the wall.>>

[Alycia Barnett]

THE KEYS!!

:: she reaches for them..before her head snaps back....and she cries out before being punched in the back and SLAMMED into the wall::

Riley: you LIKE IT ROUGH, BLACK BIRD? i'LL GIVE YOU ROUGH!


ALYCIA: GET OFF ME!

:: she roars with the defiance of a female lion defending her babies...as she expands , busting from his pressing hold on her against the wall, and spinning around to face him...she's met with a strong right hand cross across her jaw......her hair flies over her face...but she IMMEDIATEY locks eyes with him AGAIN...as her adrenaline flows...and RESPONDS by SMACKING HIM across the face with a steel surgical tray before charging into him and causing him to fall to the floor....knocking over several IV towers , a trash can...and more importantly....the table with the collar keys on them.::

:: the two struggle violently...and as he attempts to CHOKE her with his bionic arm...Alycia SLAMS her fingers into his eye with all her might...THAT gives him MORE than a little pause...but he doesnt scream..its more like a GRUNT. he seems to be able to control or even NEGATE the feeling of pain now..making his ENDURANCE level incredibly high...but the SHOCK to his optical nerve from her attack causes him to knock her off him...and she falls to the floor....breathing heavily...but not ready to give up...::

Haleigh....the keys.....get them.....USE THEM ........

:: she turns...to see Riley brandishing a machete....and she rolls to the side, AVOIDING his first mighty swip as it hights the floor so hard it DENTS the floor...and as she lays on her back, she kicks up , SLAMMING her high heeled boot into his crotch.::

BASTARD!!

[Oracle]

<< as the battle rages on...Alycia shows just how fierce she's become PHYSICALLY as well as in the court room and its Haleigh's first time witnessing it first hand. this was the OTHER side to Alycia....and it was clear that if she were to die...she would not die without doing her WORST to Riley and trying to help the OTHERS get free. Just like SHARON, dying to try to help Morgan escape Master Mold!>>

<< as Alycia scrambled to her feet, Riley back hands her, and causes her to stumble as he brings the machete down toward her like a glave...but Alycia exhales LOUDLY as she GRABS the wrist of the hand holding the glave and the two begin to struggle for control the glave.>>

<< this gives HALEIGH a chance to get herself and perhaps ONE OTHER free to help her. Alycia, as fast and as hard hitting as she may be...is CLEARLY getting her licks from Riley and there was more at stake here than a grudge match. the ALL knew that.>>

<<< but what haleigh DIDNT know was that there was something else in store for her...even getting rid of the collar wouldnt be ENOUGH.>>

<< Riley surprises Alycia, surrendering control of the blade but bring his bionic arm up under to her abdomen and releasing a VIOLET jolt of electricity, sending her screaming and flying across the room over a gurney and hitting the floor. she's out of sight...and unconscious...maybe even WORSE.::

:: Haleigh, Ava, Nicolas, Delilah , Cameron and Karen have watched this all unfold...Alycia doing her best to try to help get them free, fighting Rick Riley tooth and nail and now taking a DEADLY blow...this could very well be HER ending. while Rick, seems UNdrained...and only MODERATELY damaged...his one eye that Alycia stabbed now looking the same as it had before...and him walking forward slowly as he looks at Haleigh.::

Riley:well...the black bird had her fun...now let's you and I enjoy a round, shall we?

:: lifting his bionic fist...which is now surrounded by a large , sparking, electic blue halo...he's about to unleash an energy ball with enouch concussive power to compared to that of a WRECKING ball. agianst Haleigh.::

:: the keys hit the floor and scattered...some where near...but could she GET to them fast enough before HE got to HER? the others could do nothing, Morgan was totally out of the question and Karen...well she was litterally hanging on for dear life.::

[Alycia Barnett]

:: her mad attack on Riley had provided only the most NARROW of window to get Haleigh and the Six free...but it seemed that NOTHING she did, no matter how hard hitting or well placed had affected him for LONG. He was something MORE than "human" now...::

:: as he closed in on Haleigh, preparing to fire upon her, Alycia, now on the floor and trembling with pain and shock....quietly struggled to her feet.::

i...can't....give up.......

:: she uses the gurney for support and as Rick raises his bionic fist, about to SLAM the powerless Haleigh through a wall or WORSE with that energy ball, the sound of metal gleaming under the white lights can be heard.::

Alycia: RILEY!......

:: she yelled with what force and inner strength she had.::

WHY DONT YOU LEAVE HER ALONE AND FIGHT ME!

:: Alycia , now only steps behind Riley raises the machete...about to try to DECAPITATE HIM. He may be resistant or even IMMUNE to pain..but what good with THAT do if he didnt have a head! Alycia, though badly bruised and busted up....was prepared to make ONE LAST pass at the man...keeping him occupied lone enough...or so she thought...while Haleigh tried to free herself and the others.::

[Oracle]

<< ALycia resurfaces and without missing a step, Riley SHOVES Haleigh, sending her sprawling across the floor away from the closest key. He would get Haleigh in a minute...but NOW he wanted to do something even BETTER...for HIM at least.>>


: why dont you leave her alone and fight me!

<< Riley speaks in a low tone>>

Riley: Alycia? why dont you say hello to Sharon and your FATHER for me!

<< sweeping his trench back, he draws forward a desert eagle..a golden desert eagle...one of ALYCIA'S! and without any delay he shoots....hitting Alycia once in the chest...the HEART area.....and as she staggers back almost in slow motion...he shoots AGAIN...hitting her in the stomach>>


<< a look of SATISFACTION on his face as he has just gunned down Alycia Barnett , while the OTHERS LOOK ON HELPLESS as Rick watches her fall, and even finds time to adjust his trench before turning back to Haleigh>>

[Alycia Barnett]

:: she thought she HAD HIM!! she thought she'd FINISH HIM OFF!! she was ready to scream with VICTORY but instead she GASPS with SHOCK as he turns to face her, as if he KNEW it was coming...bringing forth one of HER OWN desert eagles...::

:: the first shot...she only hears the BEGINNING of it..before she feels a white hot, PUNCHING sensation in her chest area....and she staggers back...her hand with the machete in its grasp flails outward...as she looks with defeated dismay..::

:: the next shot hits her in her stomach.....and as the glass in the x-ray window shatters behind her...Alycia hits the wall...she feels the white hot pain...sliding down the wall...to the floor....before slumping over to the side her head resting on her outstretched arm...her eyes opened...but now with a blank experssion....as the light in the room begins to grow brighter....before fading to BLACK for her Alycia Barnett...and the machete falls out of her hand...clinking against the floor.::

Say hello to Sharon and your father.....

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh glared at Rick as he did his best to bait her.... even in the state she was now, she still had her wits about her.... and as he made his sniping remark about her always being a day late and a dollar short..... she cut him off stubbornly.

"And yet..... I still manage..... to scrape by..... every time."

She said.... he continued his monologue.... but she fell silent, as she watched Alycia stalk up behind him and steal his attention. As they struggled, Haleigh looked fervently around for something-- anything that could help. Karen was strung up helpless, Morgan badly beaten and secured by CEMENT, and the rest of her team confined in tubes behind some kind of energy barrier. Rick has certainly done his homework..... but like those in the rush of adrenaline and vengeance, Rick had forgotten to secure the KEYS to the collars, of all things.... and unfortunately for him.... the most SIMPLE mistake can often be the WORST ones. Haleigh eyed the keys... they were halfway across the room and she felt like they might as well be across the GLOBE for all the effort it would take to get her there.... but once she shed the collar... her strength would come back quickly.... it was just a matter of GETTING there in time to help Alycia... and without Rick stopping her in the process. She took a shaky step.... and nearly COLLAPSED! This collar must have been an ADVANCED version of the one she'd worn before.... because the TO virus was having a much more PROFOUND effect on her.

Luckily, the struggle for dominance between Alycia and Riley knocked over the table Haleigh was eying, and it sent EVERY thing sliding Haleigh's way. But Riley was coming towards her again..... and Haleigh knew she was too sluggish right now to get to the keys, try as she might, so instead, she stood her ground..... centering her weight and lifting the IV stand in defense, gripping it tightly and waiting for him to get near enough to strike. Alycia proved to be one tough act, rising up again and AGAIN even when it seemed she would NOT.... and Riley SHOVED Haleigh away from the keys as Alycia once MORE figuratively got in his way. Haleigh, sprawled on the floor with the wind knocked out of her, was again several feet away from the keys to her freedom.... but she still had the IV stand in hand.... and as the shots rang out, she FORCED herself not to look as she reached with the stand and pulled the keys towards her..... her arms felt as heavy as if they were made of lead..... but DAMNIT..... if Alycia can do it..... she thought stubbornly. She unlocked the collar and pulled it off, flinging it aside as she felt an almost IMMEDIATE improvement.... She kept her eyes away from Aylcia.... the woman may have very well used her LAST breath to buy Haleigh time to get free... Haleigh wasn't going to let that be in vain by allowing herself to be distracted by remorse.

The hybrid stood quickly, starting to regain color in her complexion, as she SHOVED a table several feet over to Karen. It smacked her ankle and likely caused momentary discomfort.... but it gave her a much NEEDED sturdy, higher platform to stand on and Haleigh glanced up and mentally freed Karen's hands from the device to allow her to break free, as Rick turned BACK towards Haleigh with a murderous glare. Haleigh shot a quick look at her OTHER teammate, causing their adamantium restraints to fall away.... but that was ALL the time she could spare, as Riley was now BEARING down on her. Haleigh outstretched her hand...... over by the exit door, a fire defense station had been mounted to the wall, containing an extinguisher and an AXE for escape purposes. The glass shattered as the AXE FLEW into Haleigh's hand.

"You're a PUSSY, Rick. Did you know that? Everyone ELSE does.... and I just thought I should tell you.... you deserve to know just HOW you'll be remembered after I HACK you into pieces and use you for SPARE PARTS!"

She vowed, as she raised the axe. What Riley DIDNT see was that the extinguisher had left its housing as well.... and it floated BEHIND him silently.... and as Haleigh prepared to split him in HALF, the extinguisher FIRED, dousing him in a cold chemical spray that would lock up his bionics and make them much more susceptible to damage as well..... RIGHT as Haleigh slammed the sharp end of the axe into the elbow joint of his bionic arm.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< hanging there in a painfull way, Karen's sapphire eyes grew misty as she was in pain and agony from Rick's brutal hit against her. but she continued to frown her brow in defiance against him. Haleigh stood up...weakly...looking so ghostly. the T.O. virus was clearly having a RAPID effect and to date...there was nothing..not even MAGICK that could HALT its effects.>>

<< as Haleigh challenged him...Karen noticed ALYCIA stirring as well...and the woman crawled out of sight. Karen kept silent herself so as not to draw any attention BACK to that direction and as Haleigh baited Rick belittled her...Alycia launched her offensive against him and as the violent struggle continued, Karen watched with uneasy feeling. Alycia was fighting like a DEMON against Rick...but it became clear that Alycia's plan WASNT to grand stand...it was to buy HAleigh the time she needed to try to get free and free some or ALL of the others.>>

<< Karen could do nothing but WATCH and the struggle went from one side of the room to the other. with Alycia taking horrible punishment, but still managing to dish out whatever she could. Rick CLEARLY benefited form mystech augmentation more than ever before. he seemed more like a freakish, designer science project than anything else.>>

<< her eyes rested on her fallen daughter, who looked so bad right now. that bastard..what had he BEAT her with? clearly HE wasnt THAT strong...but Morgan looked h orribly brutalized and it made Karen's blood BOIL. Nicolas, Ava, Delilah and Cameron were all powerless as well. they could SEE and HEAR..but at the moment there was NOTHING any of them could do..>>

<< as Haleigh reached for the keys, Rick shoves her away and prepares to fire upon her...but the Alycia comes AGAIN....and Rick...he SHOOTS HER!>>

ALYCIA!!

<< coughing still...as the chord seems to TIGHTEN...Karen's eyes widen with disbelief.>>

NO!!!

<< two decisive shots...and Alycia staggers...looking clearly surprised..before the light in her eyes seems to fade into a blank stare as she falls back and slides down to the floor...laying on her side and dropping the machete...not moving.>>

GODDESS!!! NO!!

<< after ALL that woman had been through....and NOW THIS...she ...she ended up REALIZING her greatest fear...DYING violently like Sharon....but even as Karen AGONIZED , she realized that Alycia made a CHOICE to do ALL SHE COULD to buy Haleigh time to free herself and the others so that they could deal with Rick.>>

HALEIGH!!

<< cold and little comfort, Karen shut her eyes tightly...wanting desperately to look away but she couldnt half way turn! FINALLY as Riley was about to attack Haleigh again, HALEIGH FREES HERSELF!! the collar she was wearing deactivates and falls to the floor and Haleigh begins to recover almost IMMEDIATELY. she kicks a large bed platform over to Karen...and it smacks her ankles...the shock of the impact jolts Karen...but suddenly her feet are on STURDY ground and she can BREATHE fully again. she feels the shakles on her wrists BREAK and she is able to disengage the choking harness around her neck...but unlike she had THOUGHT, her BODY, now weary with strain...doesnt cooperate with her immediately and she crumbles..tumbling off the bed onto the floor with a start of shock.>>

deep breaths...

<< she tries to coach herself and holding her chest...Karen is VERY tired...very shaken...and her body ..it just feels like its been stretched beyond the point of reason...but she's GOT to get up..>>

<< she sees Alycia laying directly across from her along the wall...and tears begin to fall from her eyes...>>

Oh Alycia........im so SORRY!!

<< Karen HATES herself but she cant afford to sink into this NOW...the sound of struggle is in the air as Haleigh strikes back at Rick Riley, attacking his bionic arm and striking a major blow.>>

<< should she JOIN the fight and attack him with her magick? there was no telling if he still had a null field that would absorb and redirect her magickal attacks as it did morgan...she couldnt risk it. HALEIGH would have to fight him...and she would have to use all her ability to help the rest of the team.>>

<< the other keys...they're near by...and the control panel on the wall...its the key to the energy field around the tubes. >>

<< her voice is low...and weak...>>

if i ...can only...get to the wall....the keys....

<< She begins to struggle...to FIND THE INNER RESERVES....to GET UP..>>

ugghhh!!

<< shutting her eyes with pain as her body screams out against her brain...the doctor finally manages to stagger to her feet...having grabbed two keys...and now making her way toward the wall...and picking up the third...now trying to AVOID seeing Alycia laying there....>>

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Ava watched helplessly as Alycia defiantly fought against Rick Riley. To see her in action in such a way truly made Ava respect her...she wasn't backing down, even thought Ava could tell Alycia was tired and weak. Even when Rick unleashed his madness upon her, she kept coming back, buying Haleigh time to free herself from the collar and help Karen. With Haleigh's powers in full swing once again, the cuffs bounding herself, Nicolas, Delilah, and Cameron released. Her arms fell limp, her body immediately resting forward against the glass of the tube. Her energy level was low...she felt like she had just run a 30 mile marathon. Closing her eyes for a moment, the pain from the metal rods inside her neck hurt even worse now that she was moving more freely. Lifting both her hands up to the collar, she wrapped her fingers around it in a feeble attempt to loosen it. She knew well enough not to try and remove it otherwise it would explode, but instinctively, she wanted to try something. ::

:: Looking up, right at that moment, Rick Riley shot Alycia twice with her own weapon. Gasping in, she watched in shock as Alycia fell motionless to the floor; her eyes were still open, but she didn't move....Ava's mouth parted in shock and she quickly began to pound her hand against the glass tube. Without her enhanced strength, she was fighting a loosing battle. Making a fist, she began to pound more violently against the glass, causing the energy field to react to Ava's attempts to escape. The field around her tube began to glow more brilliantly than the other fields encasing Nicolas, Delilah, and Cameron. The glow began to pulse, draining Ava's energy like a leech. Dizziness set in, causing the goddess to roll her eyes shut. Slowly sliding down the tube, she tried to support her body with no avail, only to land in a slump on the floor. The energy field stopped pulsing and returned to it's normal illuminated state, but Ava remained on the floor, motionless. ::

[Rampage]

Mike came to in intense pain in the midst of a terrible battle. He had been jarred back from unconsciousness by the shots that felled Alycia nd he slowly tried to ascertain his surroundings. he had a bad wound in his side, but it seemed that he may live if he could avoid infection and further blood loss. He rolled on his side and fell OFF the gurney, doing himself no favors. As he looked across the room, he saw Haleigh batlling Rick while an obviously injured Karen Victoria struggled to regain her own footing.

He tried to stand but he ralized that he was currently unable, the loss of blood was too much. He dragged himself forward, trying to figure out how to help the others. Nicolas and the rest of the Six were encased in tubes the must be designed to hold them somehow. That much he ascertained as he watched Ava struggle mightily to free herself only to fall from what seemed to be exhaustion.

These tubes must have an efefct that saps these guys. Normally, Ava would have torn that glass like tissue and NICOLAS? This whole block would be trashed.

One thing was for sure. The tubes were POWERED. Cut the power and you could free them somehow. Mike began to look for the power conduit that they must have somewhere in here...

*********************************************

Nicolas eyes opened slowly as he realized that he was held in a...Tube of sorts, his neck encased in a collar. He wiated to regain his bearings as he relaized that his powers were SAPPED. He did not need to move to notice, the quiet in his brain and the frenzy inside as his cells struggled to try to adapt to what was being done to them. Each time they seemed on to something, he would stiffen as he opulled against the chains, with some success. But the collars would reassert and combined with the field inside the tube, he would be rendered powerless again. This occurred for some time until he saw Riley torture Karen. At that point he began to panic and rage as events unfolded in swift fashion before him, culminating with Alycia being shot and his chains falling away thanks to Haleigh. He was about to simply wail on the tube when he saw what happened to Ava in her tube. He realized that the tubes was feeding off exertion, so he looked for a different approach. Nicolas braced his back against on side of the tube and his feet against the other, hoping to take advantage of the fact that the sides should be weaker than the top or bottom of the tube. He began to moderately press against the tube, looking for a defect to try to exploit in one fell swoop...

[Oracle]

<< the situation was becoming more frenzied by the moment. there was a race between Haleigh and Karen to free the others while Riley raced to maintain control and from moment to moment, Riley displayed impossible levels of super human endurance, speed, strength, reaction and more. Whatever happened between the time he last faced Haleigh until now, it was clear he was MORE than a mere man with depravity.>>

<< with Alycia shot down and Mike badly injured...the only person left to turn the tide was Karen...and the doctor herself had been abused and was now struggling to regain her body's ability to function.>>

<< across the torture chamber, Black Widow, now regaining her power, advanced upon Riley with grim focus, not allowing herself to dwell or look upon Alycia. She was determined NOT to let the woman's bravery go in vain...but it was CLEAR that this was something she could not just shrug off in the long term.>>

<< attacking Riley with a two front offensive, distracting him head on while unleashing her trap from behind, Black Widow slams the axe down on the elbow of his bionic arm.>>

<< the blow HITS dead on...embedding the axe into the elbow and as Riley is momentarily distracted by the flurry of the chemical spray, his moves are slowed and sluggish. still, his bionic arm begins to spark and emit flashes of energy...it seems to shake and blur a bit.>>


Riley: STILL...all of you are HERE...under MY POWER and your precious allies, Sharon and Alycia are DEAD. whatever you MIGHT do to me will NOT bring them back. even if you WIN you're STILL A FAILURE!

DOWN!

<< the spark builds to a FLARE that irradiates Haleigh before launching arcross the room like a pinball loosed from a machine.>>

Riley: you were always too slow and those you pretend to care about pay for it. NOW is no exception. you PLAY with the big boys...but you're still that wide eyed little girl who stupidly allowed her beloved to sell himself out to MysTech.

<< his bionic arm was spitting out sparks and surrounded by visible currents now. there was damage but the damage inadvertently released more of the power that lay within and Rick cracked his neck before turning to see Karen struggling to get the keys...the woman was clearly in pain but she was steadfast in her resolve. coming upon her was too easy as he KICKED her in her stomach while she was on the ground.>>

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen was getting to her feet, when she felt a SHARP and POWERFULL blow to her chest and stomach...>>

OHHH!!!...

<< she shuts her eyes as she exclaims with pain before falling to the floor again....her hair falling forward as she lays for a moment.>>

<< the control panel was not too far away...MIKE was on the floor as well, along the same wall....But Karen was now feeling winded and woozy from being kicked so hard.>>

....leave me....you...horrid....

<< Rick kicks her again....this time in the head and she cries out...as she rolls to her side....>>


Riley: Sorry Doctor...

<< he snorts again...wiping his nose and mouth>>

Riley: but you intefere too much. you need to be put in your place.


<< Karen's eyes begin to shed tears....she's about to pass out from pain and injury to her internal organs and now a minor concussion in her head...and as she lays on her side...she's right infront of the tube containing Nicolas.>>

.....won't.....give.....up....

<< her voice so weak...and staccoto in sound...the doctor uses her last ounce of WILL and focus...to manifest a sparkling golden orb of magick that spins into the shape of a DAGGER, one of her trade mark golden daggers of magick!.....and with her last ounce of STRENGTH...an eerie chime is heard as the dagger LAUNCHES itself forward , speeding through the air leaving a sparkling golden trail behind it as it connects to its target, SLAMMING into Rick's HEART and unleashing a golden aura of energy as it detonates whatever power Karen could muster.>>

<< and with that, Karen is now depleted....her eyes roll to the back of her head..as her head falls to the ground...and she is ...unconcious...or maybe worse.>>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< there was a moment, when everything went white...then black. but then, her eyes had SNAPPED OPEN as they were being transported from Illustra to the place they are now. She saw the collars being placed on the others...she saw Sharon's body...about to be tossed into an incinerator...she SCREAMED as she lunged forward...attacking the black guards in a rage and desperation...trying to beat a path to rick riley...before she was SLAMMED DOWN, struck across the face with an energy baton. once fallen, she was BEATEN into unconsciousness, before she too was suitably restrained.>>

<< then there was nothing.....and nothing still. Spellbinder was continuously sedated, the vapors of the Black Lotus Blossom...a poten and effective power supressor for teleporters and magick users.>>

<< she was restrained with her arms and hands in cement blocks and the black lotus blossom affixed to a choker around her neck...it glowed an eerie purple/black hue...while the vapors surrounded Morgan's head in a purple haze. she was DEEPLY sedated...unable to move, think...or perhaps even FEEL and so...she missed EVERYTHING that was happening. any sounds..no matter how loud would register as the faintest roll of thunder in her dream scape.....Alycia being shot, Haleigh being attacked, her mother being abused....all of this she was missing and her friends, all standing and lined behind and above her....wanting nothing more than to escape their binds and END the menace of rick riley.>>

<< sometimes...it was BETTER to be moved out of the way of things, and Morgan's already fragile state of mind behind all of this had left her on the edge...so Riley was unknowingly doing them AND the city a favor. she lay...battered, bruised and powerless...unaware...unable to do anything so long as the black lotus blossom immersed her in its vapors.>>

[Oracle]

<< Sharon, Alycia and now Karen. they were ALL falling...and Black Widow, SHE was still not quite on her beat. Riley was prooving it to be RIGHT...that she WASNT fast enough, strong enough....CAPABLE enough and people were paying for it.>>

<< the room was being damaged and energy from exposed wires, cables and damaged panels was causing the power in the room to fluxuate.>>

<< as Riley kicked Karen savagely, the doctor was visibly hurt, and cried out as she back down before even barely getting up. the shock of seeing him kick her in the HEAD was even worse as tears began to fall from her eyes and she lay on her side at the feet of the tubes where the rest of the six were contained.>>

<< but as Riley prepared to hit her again, a rushing harp/chime sound is heard as a spining golden, sparkling orb manifests....spinning into the shape of one of Karen's trademark golden daggers before charing forward, leaving a trail behind it and slamming into Rick's HEART. as it connects, it unleashes the last power that Karen could muster, not only stabbing him in his chest/heart area but blasting him away from Karen and the others. in essence doing to HIM what he had just done to Haleigh.>>

<< but Karen was now depleted, her power and her body unable to function anymore, she'd taken more abuse and punishment than some women HALF her age could endure...and she could take no more.>>

<< the doctor laid her head down as she gave out....and did not move again.>>

<< Rick roared as the magickal dagger SLICED through flesh and INTO to his body...no matter WHAT he'd become...he STILL had to have some vital organs or internal systsems to function..and that magick attack..pierced thorugh his skin, bone and muscle before unleashing a moderately powered blast. it was ENOUGH...to send him staggering back, hitting the operating table as he struggled and grunted painfully..his bionic arm not cooperating like before...but STILL he perservered as he finally PULLED the dagger out...the sound was sickening.>>

Riley: WITCH!! that HURT!!

<< he roard...preparing to make SURE the doctor was murdered if she wasnt dead allready. pressing a button on the side of the operating table...as a plasma cannon, that looked like a security camera began to turn, its visual path sweeping in a wide circle across the room to lock on the doctor..powering up and preparing to VAPORIZE her.>>

<< but even as Haleigh was no doubt SCRAMBLING to do something while Ava and Rampage were grasping at a way to free themselves....something ELSE was happening.>>

<< swing around to a wall, on ANOTHER side of the torture chamber, see the vent along the higher end of the wall and peer inside.>>

<< SPARROWS...one at first...then a few more...charging in...landing for a moment...and seeming to take in their surroundings...more come...but NO ONE would know they were there.>>

<<back into the torture room.>>

<< the plasma cannon powers up and prepares to discharge at Karen. Haleigh has SECONDS to do something...but even as she is able to get to her feet...she hears the most ODD , misplaced sound....BIRDS chirping? ...all at once...the vent in that wall BURSTS off its screws...as a TORRENT of sparrows comes CHARGING in...the birds are FRENZIED...ANGRY as they charge en masse....toward Rick Rily, swirling, swirling and striking...causing him to stagger about. this MEANS something....Riley LIED...Sharon is NOT dead ...she CANT be...not with something like THIS happening.>>

[Silver Swan]

<< the large, white on white torture chamber began vibrate as if caught in a tremor.>>

<< the sparrows were attacking rick riley FURIOUSLY , snapping, pecking, swirling and striking, herding him away from Karen and Haleigh and then came the sound of banging against one of the walls....THREE deliberate, forcefull bangs until finally, metal and frame give way as the hidden door BURSTS off its frame. the SILVER SWAN is ALIVE!>>

<< she stands...looking not quite as vital before but every BIT AS VENGEFULL. there were cracks in her amroued bodice...and blood from her mouth....she looked SAVAGE actually....as her silver eyes flickered with crazed fury.>>

you...HURT ME.....took my LIFE....

<< would she attack HALEIGH? would she attack Riley? for a moment...it wasnt certain....but as she lurched into the room....she stood up and inhaled....and RELEASED a SONIC SCREAM....the scream a mix of a womans SCORNFULL cry, a siren, a train whistle , a tornado...all of these things...combined to form a POWERFULL sonic attack as she BLASTS RICK RILEY head on! blasting tables away, causing the room to quake and tremble and even the glass tubes begin to vibrate.>>

<< the sparrows, flying in unison like a flowing stream...flurry from Rick to make way for the sonic scream as they charge PAST Haleigh, not bothering to attack her...and over to the wall panel where the energy field is powered. they begin to peck and strike at IT as well...and soon, their en masse effort begins to cause the panel to flicker, spark and short circuit....and the energy field begins to fluxuate....getting weaker and weaker...>>

<< Sharon is not strong enough...and for each attack she delievers...she brings herself closer and closer to TRUE DEATH. but she doesnt care...if she IS to die again...maybe THIS TIME she'll be able to TRULY REST IN PEACE and knowing that RICK will pay for this...thats enough comfort for her. she's not here for Haleigh..... she STILL blames her in large part for what has lead up to THIS... for what she is NOW...but RICK is to blame too...he escaped her once before...he WONT do it again! >>

<< her body is WRACKED with debilitating pain...as the syringe tube inside of her, on her spine begins to pump the poison chemical anew...and she staggers...her sonic scream fades into a pitifiull choking cough...her POWERS arent fading because they are leaving...its because her BODY cant take it anymore.>>

[Oracle]

<< Riley was about to murder Karen now, but both he and Haleigh, assuming she was still conscious began to hear a flutter and chirping sound before the room was FLOODED with a torrent of sparrows. the room itself began to shake and tremble severely as one of the walls was being POUNDED on..and suddenly SILVER SWAN busts int the room. Riley had LIED about burning Sharon is a psychological ploy. >>

<< the dark valkyrie looks pale and ghostly...her amroued bodice clearly showing signs of battle and wear...and blood coming from her mouth, but even as she breathes heavily and lurches in...her silver eyes say it all...she wants BLOOD.>>

<< the room and everything in it is subject to her SONIC SCREAM but the Silver Swan LACKS the power to continue the attack and while Rick is hammered and his head begins to throb...Silver Swan goes down..her body rebelling as the poison chemical flows anew within it. she's discorporating....DYING.>>

Riley: KELLY, you annoying, interferring BITCH! you think because you were given power that you can BEAT ME? look at you NOW...

<< slashing Sharon across the area of her exposed back with the machete as the laser cannon begins shooting down the sparrows.>>

Riley: you're swan song is at an END, oh former senator...you're not even WORTH the effort, youre just another runaway EXPERIMENT that needs to be CANCELLED.

<< his own body not moving as fluently as before, he raises the machete...which gleams ...and is prepared to SLICE OFF Sharon's head.>>

<< but despite his own seemingly NEVER ENDING reserve of strength and resolve and Sharon's rapidly fading vitals, she and her sparrows inadvertently picked up where Alycia and Karen were forced to leave off.. .the containment field around the tubes was now SEVERELY WEAKENED and the power in the room was fluxuating which meant they were no longer sealed in. Sharon had BUSTED THROUGH and there was a way out!!>>

<< Ava, Nicolas, Delilah and Cameron could now GET FREE and go to the aid of their wounded ...while HALEIGH could regroup. She knew Rick was NEVER without an ace in the hole and whenever some one else upped the ante, he rose to the challenge. it was now or never.>>

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh managed to deal a stinging blow but was nearly instantly BLOWN BACK into a bunch of medical equipment that crashed and fell down on top of her..... Riley was still strong and STILL he berated Haleigh.... but he was becoming BETTER at hitting the more sensitive subjects with her..... and she could feel her anger rising like a pot of boiling water. She shoved broken equipment OFF, throwing some of it as Riley took to Karen.... and Karen fought back, using every last ounce of her reserve to blast RILEY back.... and then falling. Haleigh struggled frantically to her feet as the plasma cannon powered up, preparing to terminate Karen once and for all... Haleigh NEEDED to continue to beat Rick down while he was still recovering from the blast but she couldn't allow Karen to be hurt.... despite everything..... she felt a protective instinct pulling her towards the doctor... almost as if she were her OWN mother. She reached Karen in the nick of time, gathering the fallen woman in her arms and turning her back to the weapon as it discharged. Kneeling and hunched over an unconscious Karen, the full blast of the cannon hits Haleigh over the shoulder and PUSHES the two a few feet. Haleigh cries out in pain but the blast ends and she shoots the cannon a look, mentally CRUMPLING it and tearing it off the wall as Sharon does her BEST to keep Riley occupied.... while her BIRDS make short work of the control station that is keeping the rest of the team cooped up. The energy fields drain and disappear, Haleigh gingerly stands and pulls Karen up with her, cradling her in her arms. Her BDU has taken such damaged from the plasma cannon that there is a HOLE burned into the back of the shoulder.... and it melted in Haleigh's now slightly charred skin, which steam wafted off of slowly. Haleigh takes a couple strides and is at Nic's tube. She lets Karen's legs down and punches THROUGH the tube, freeing Nicolas.

"Nic... take the wounded, pull them back. see what you can do for Alycia and Mike.... I'll put the bullets out.... you field dress the wounds....Here's the keys to the collars you guys are wearing. Stay out of the way.... protect the women from Riley.... It's about time I cleaned up my mess."

She said, as she turned BACK to Riley. He raised the machete one more time.... to DECAPITATE Sharon! Haleigh's speed was beginning to return, though, and she was between Sharon and Rick in almost the BLINK of an eye.... and as Riley brought the gleaming weapon down.... Haleigh CAUGHT the blade in her hand, and YANKED it from Riley's grasp.

"Well, Rick.... everything you've said so far has been true..... but you're forgetting to realize one stone COLD truth.... that we're NOT going to stop coming.... and YOU are going to die tonight."

She said, and as he opened his mouth to reply, she BLASTED HIM in the face with a FLAME THROWER! She threw the machete to the side, then PUNCHED him square in the chest to knock him to the ground. She straddled him quickly, as the flamethrower turned into an adamantium link chain, and she wrapped it TWICE around his neck, staring him in the eye as she SLAMMED his head back and STRANGLED him.

"That's the difference between YOU and ME, Rick.... I've been killed TWICE already.... but here I am.... I'm NEVER going to go away. Because I'm STRONGER internally than you could ever imagine. But YOU..... YOU are just a man with too much artificial strength and not enough TRUE strength to handle it."

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Everything was a blur...everytime she tried to focus her mind her head began to pound. Her energy level was nearly gone from her attempts to escape from the tube...the energy field sucking her bone dry. As Ava sat slumped on the floor of her tube, she could barely process what was happening with Rick Riley, Karen, and Haleigh. She didn't even know if any of the other members trapped inside the tubes were awake and coherant. With her eyes closed, Ava slowly blacked out just as the fight began to intensify. ::

Rumble...

:: The tube she was incased in began to rumble and shake, jarring the goddess awake. Hearing a faint shrieking sound...it must of been Silver Swan's sonic scream...Something must of happened between the time she blacked out and now. Lifting her head, she saw Sharon collapse to the floor, near Karen who was already out cold. Rick Riley's bionic arm was half gone thanks to Haleigh; the remaining parts spitting out electicity like an exposed wire. Putting her hands on the glass, Ava began to fight her way to her feet, her body feeling like it weighed 500 pounds. Dizzy and sick to her stomach, she finally stood right as Sharon's flying friends began to peck at the circut box that controlled the energy field surrounding the tubes. The box began to short out and the energy field's illumination began to fade. Backing up against the glass, she planted herself firmly against it before slamming her one foot against the glass in front of her. Her healed boots cracked against the glass. creating a faint break. Gritting her teeth, she slammed her foot into the glass again, more breaks forming. The energy field around her tube struggled to contain Persephone; her energy levels fluxtuating erratically. But with the birds, and Silver Swans help, the field wasn't strong enough to stop Ava this time. Kicking the glass again, a cracking sound could be heard; like an iced pond slowly breaking. Again, she slammed her foot into the glass, her heal actually going through to the other side. A very faint smile of satisfaction appeared on Persephone's lips as she did one last might kick into the glass, completely shattering the entire front of the tube. ::

:: Glass shards fell to the floor, followed by Persephone. Landing on her knees, the energy field was finally destoryed and Ava was freed of her glass cage. She could feel her energy level slowly climbing back to normal, but it was still a strain, and her body still felt like it was on fire. Climbing out of the tube, Haleigh had just freed Nicolas, instructing him to take Karen, Alycia, and Sharon to safety. Slowly, Ava made her way to Nicolas. ::

"You get Alycia, Sharon, Karen, and Mike to safety. I'll free Delilah and Cameron."

:: Taking the keys from him [but leaving the one for his collar], Ava unlocked her collar and slowly pulled it off. The metal rods sliding out of her neck painfully. Wincing, blood began to seap from either hole, looking like she was just shot in the neck. Tossing the devise aside, Ava's energy began to rise as the minutes went on. Picking up the disgarded fire exstinguisher, Ava slammed the butt of it into Cameron's tube a few times, finally breaking it and freeing him. Handing him the key to his collar, she went onto Delilah's tube, repeating the process and freeing her as well. Giving her her key as well, finally, the six was free....but at what price? ::

[Rampage]

As Nicolas attempted to press against the glass the field was weakening him so that his efforts were to no Avail. He slipped in and out of consciousness, finally awakened by Sharon's sonic cry. Unfortunately, it was not full strength and gave him no advantage. Finally, Haleigh punched through his tube and handed him the key to his collar. As soon as he opened it, his strength flooded back i a tide, his body finally receiving the opening it needed to re-strengthen. He nodded to the sisters as they gave a plan of action. He "moved" the four wounded and himself off to one corner of the room and began to work. he had no idea if the thought he had would truly be successful, bt Alycia and Mike's wounds were too grievous to not try it.

He concentrated on their wounds and as he removed the shrapnel/debris, he used antiseptic to clean the wounds quickly and then held them shut with his telekinesis. He hoped that this would buy them time until a healer would be available. He also encased them in a TK shield as he worked on Alycia further, providing CPR.

C'mon girl!! Hold on!! Someone's coming...

[Oracle]

<< the Silver Swan gave Haleigh the break she needed in fast moments, Rampage and Persephone were free. Rampage gathered the wounded and the...dead...and moved them out of the eye of the battle to try to help them while Persephone freed Prophet and MorningStar. Meanwhile Black Widow rose up to confront her monster...and end his reign of brutality.>>

<< Riley was thoroughly pissed at Sharon but as he brought the blade down, Black Widow confronted him and put him down...blasting him in the face with a flame thrower, punching him in the chest and now straddling him...she began to STRANGLE HIM.>>

<< he rolled with each blow on the way down, laughing in an almost sick way as he was now being strangled....his face began to turn red and the vains of his neck began to bulge.>>

<< as Black Widow declared that she was STRONGER than him internally, where it COUNTED, and she seemed to think she was reveling in the renewed, REVIVED team spirit of the Six, Riley demonstrated his freakish ability to adapt as he slowly reached his his hand up to her's....gripping it like a VISE....and UNLEASHING a continuous current of electricity into her. it felt as though lightning was ripping through her cells and coming out of her skin!before slamming his fist upside her chin and knocking her back like she'd just been hit by a baseball bat. >>

<< he expanded as he bowled her off of him and was now standing on his feet... looking more demonic...his face still red and the chain still around his neck as his breathing sounded more heavy and labored. after a few moments, he hurled the chains away. and closed in on Haleigh..>>

RILEY: YOU, stronger than ME? little girl...you wouldnt even BE HERE NOW if it werent for ALYCIA AND SHARON. Someone ELSE always "makes it possible". you were RECOVERED from Spellbinder's rage, SOMEONE ELSE made the sacrifice to stop Master Mold, SOMEONE ELSE [Harbinger] made the sacrifice to stop Malice while you COWERED. You RIDE on the coat tails of other's power and success. You're ONLY still ALIVE right now because BARNETT and KELLY sacrificed their lives for you AGAIN.

But you'll be able to THANK THEM in a few moments, when I seperate you from yet ANOTHER body.

<< a harsh spin on something that was TRUE. his voice now sounding warped and demonic...clearly the chemicals and other changes to his body going into over drive. he brandishes the EMP wand that Alycia had once possessed, and it pulsates with a blue/white flicker and spark ...it's almost EAGER to be unleashed.>>

there's NO COMING BACK from this, sweetheart. No magick, no reprieve, no NOTHING. You deserve this...and I'm doing EVERYONE who'se EVER BEEN BURNED by you a FAVOR!!

<< slamming his boot down on Haleigh's chest...the EMP wand comes closer and closer...threatening to nullify her...render her completely INERT!>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< as Nicolas worked feverishly to try to save Mike and Alycia, whose fate was MORE than a little uncertain, he realized he needed a healer. Dr. Victoria was in need of medical attention HERSELF and so that left Morgan but in the hurry to scramble out of harm's way with the wounded, Nicolas realized he'd FORGOTTEN Morgan! she lay, still HELPLESS to the fumes of the black lotus blossom but the ironic thing was that it could be RIPPED fom her neck with ease! her arms, her hands were bound in thick cement restraints, and she herself had been badly beaten. Nicolas had to realize that he was not there to protect her from this...nor was he able to protect Karen or Alycia but in this moment, he knew what had to be done.>>

<< get Morgan, get the black lotus blossom off her and help her REVIVE fast enough to HEAL/RESTORE Mike and Alycia before it was too late.>>


<< Persephone freed Prophet and MorningStar and so now the final moments of the battle were at hand, everything ELS coming apart...while the TEAM was coming together.>>

<< Rick had the drop on Haleigh AGAIN...hitting her below the belt with a harsh spin on reality, but this was a moment Haleigh would have to account her HERSELF while Ava and Nicolas tended to their wounded and kept each other safe.>>

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: With Cameron and Delilah freed of their tubes, they were still in a weakened state. Between the energy field and the collar, it would take them a few more minutes to feel like their old selves again. But Persephone, on the other hand, was feeling MUCH better. Rick and Haleigh continued to battle amongst themselves allowing Ava to quickly move across the room to Morgan's location. Sliding on her knees to a hault beside Morgan, Ava quickly ripped the black lotus flower away from her face, tossing it away from her. Unlocking her collar, she carefully, and gently, pulled the metal rods that were embedded in her neck, out, until she was freed from the collar. Blood poured from the circular wounds, much like Ava's had. But it was hardly life threatening. ::

"Come on, Morgan. Wake up."

:: Slapping Morgan's face, it was a quick way to jarr her awake...or piss her off. Regardless, hopefully she would regain consciousness quickly enough so she could help Karen and most importantly, Alycia. ::

:: Moving to the cement blocks that bound her hands, Morgan wouldn't be strong enough quite yet to simply break out of them herself. Looking around, Persephone spotted the axe that Haleigh had used on Rick Riley. Quickly retrieving in, she turned it around so the back end of the axe was facing the cement blocks. ::

"Hold still.."

:: Swinging the axe over her head, she slammed it into the cement blocks, creating a large crack. With one more mighty swing, the cement block crumbled into bits, freeing Morgan of her binds. Tossing the axe away, she began to brush away the debris and pick off the larger chunks of concrete. Morgan's hands were cut up pretty badly from the shards of rock that brushed against her skin, but it wasn't anything Ava was too worried about. Moving to help Morgan up, Ava dipped her body down and allowed Morgan to rest her weight on her. ::

"We need to hurry.."

[Jill Monroe]

<< the darkness never goes away. but suddenly, the rolling black fog seemed LESS thick..>>

<< in reality, Persephone had ripped away the black lotus blossom and Morgan began to slightly stir, Persephone JARS her away by slapping her across the face...and Morgan's icy violet eyes snap wide open.>>

AHHH!

Persephone......I....

<< she she starts with surprise and disorientation as she looks dizzy, Persephone taking away the collar, Morgan's neck feels as though its just been freed of a tremendous burden and her body is now coming back "online" ..but she's still disorientated and not strong enough to bust loose from the cement block.>>

"Hold still.."

wha...what happened...wheres........

<< Persephone frees Morgan of the binds...and while there's relief...it reveals more of the bruising and injury she received from Riley from when they first arrived.>>


.....

<< feeling nauseated, Morgan struggles to gain clarity.>>

where...are the ..others?? where are WE?

Come on, we have to hurry.

<< Morgan , with Perspehone's help struggles to her feet...and is unsure as she first steps...but as they move together, across the room, Morgan hears...and SEES a more monstrous Rick Riley and MORE of her memories are coming together now. the white room...this torture chamber! Haleigh was fighting Rick....Morgan was too weak, too disoriented to connect the dots...>>

<< she sees Nicolas giving CPR to Alycia and a badly hurt Mike and her MOTHER, and SHARON>>

<< MorningStar has manifested a forcefield between them and the battle so that their safety from any flying debris or backlash is ensured..>>

oh goddess!!! Mom...Alycia!!! Sharon!!

<< Morgan's tone of voice was still weak and airy...as she struggled with vision and balance...but as they got there....Morgan dropped down to her knees, alongside Nicolas......>>

....healing...I can.....

<< the fumes of the black lotus blossom had flowed deeply through her system and it was OBVIOUS she was still suffering from lingering effects...she needed to be FULLY recovered and with Persephone's power over flora and other vegatation, she could perhaps counteract the effects of the lotus blossom in Morgan's system.>>


<< the power in the room was fluxuating, causing a strobe effect around the torture chamber..as sparks flared from various wall panels and the ceiling above. a red alert began to blare as well....something was happening to the room ITSELF.>>

[Rampage]

As Nicolas began to work on everyone who was injured, he turned, realizing that Morgan was who he REALLY needed. he winced as he saw her battered face and her bound like an animal by Riley's machinations. Good thing that Ava was freeing her; however, she was very shaky as she settled down beside the young mutant.

That DAMN plant! I've got to get her back with us...I have JUST the thing!

As Morgan sat beside Nicolas, she would feel a pinprick as Nicolas hit her with an epinephrine pen from the extensive first aid kit he was using. He hoped that the pep provided to the sorceress would counteract her fog from the sedation methods of Riley.

As Morgan received her medicine, Nicolas looked back to the fray. Riley was about to hit Haleigh with an EMP wand similar to Alycia's!

[Jessica Hamby]

She held on tight, even as he seemed to get an almost PERVERSE PLEASURE from being strangled.... she didn't care.... she was as determined as ever and he WOULDNT be laughing in a few moments. She began to get a little ahead of herself, as she stared him down..... and as he reached up and grabbed her hand, she tightened her white-knuckle grip so hard that she thought even the ADAMANTIUM might crumple..... but it held.... and Riley ELECTROCUTED her. Haleigh recoiled instinctively, gritting her teeth, as it felt as though the back of her hand was ON FIRE.... the adamantium chain HEATED to the point of melting and it squeezed through Haleigh's fingers as Riley uppercutted the hybrid, sending her sprawling back, as he started in AGAIN with his pointed words and this time, he cut to the quick. The worst part about what he said was that it was TRUE.... and for someone like Haleigh, who has perhaps a little TOO much pride, it was a raw topic..... and Haleigh could only scowl at him, as she massaged her jaw, rolling to the side to get to her feet. She was in a low crouch when he brought out the EMP, and as it charges Haleigh begins to look sick at her stomach.... He nears her, holding it over her, MOCKING her with it... and she can do little more than fall backwards, as it GLOWS with electro magnetic energy and the brighter it gets, the worse Haleigh looks. Her veins turn black and seem to almost CRAWL under her skin and she winces as Riley towers over her.... but still, she tries to keep up with him, grimacing all the while.

"You're..... you're RIGHT, Rick.... you're absolutely right.... about everything that has been sacrificed by others to prolong my life span..... but you STILL don't get it, do you? For EVERY example you just gave.... there is a time when THAT person has needed MY help in return.... and EVERY time.... I have come through..... for them. EVERY time their lives were in danger.... I have put MY life in the balance.... to ensure their survival.... I am here because of them.... and they because of me. That takes STRENGTH, Rick.... it takes STRENGTH to be there for OTHERS when they need you.... it takes strength to put OTHERS before yourself. THAT is the strength you lack, Rick... [putting her hand over her chest] strength of HEART. You can KILL me.... with that thing.... but as soon as you turn around my FRIENDS, nay, my FAMILY with strike you down.... and the difference between MY death and yours.... is that I will be missed.... and YOU.... will be forgotten."

She said, with as stable a voice as she could muster. Rick slammed his boot down on her chest, knocking the wind out of her, and she grabbed his ankle as she coughed, trying to MOVE his foot off her, but the EMP wand was coming close.... and she had NO way to counter it.... it was ALL she could do to breathe, almost. She realized now that each breath could be her last.... and she PRAYED beyond hope that she had given the rest of the Six enough time to regroup.... it was IRONIC that she might be Riley's THIRD victim tonight-- right after ALYCIA and SHARON.... but maybe.... in the after life.... they would be able to make ammends. As of now.... Haleigh could only hope that she had occupied Riley LONG ENOUGH that no one would have died in vain-- including herself. And as he beared down upon her, almost TOUCHING her face with the wand, Haleigh stared up at him, still a defiant look in her eye, still fight left in her spirit though her BODY could not take the abuse.

"YOU'RE PATHETIC...." She growled, barely above a whisper, though it sounded like a SHOUT.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan stared blankly for a moment....before she felt a prick in her arm.>>

OW!!

<< she flinched a bit as she looked down...and then over at Nicolas...>>

!!

<< glaring at him a bit...>>

WHY did you do that?

<< her voice a bit dismayed and whiney as the fog made her seem more child like..but after a few moments...the fog began to lift and she began to become more focused and alert, shaking her head as the awareness of self and the pain from earlier.>>

oh gawd......

<< she blinks...looking at Nicolas, and then her mother, Alycia and Mike.>>

Let me heal them!

<< as she spread her arms outward, ignoring the din of the battle nearby....a chime sounds off as the flickering, thundering silver mystic flames of a pentagram of magick form around them. the flames lick up and around them...as rays of light beam down on Alycia, Mike and Karen. the spell of healing and restoration begins working to undo damage, restore vital organs, heal and repair from within without....and as the spell worked its course, Spellbinder turned and looked to see Riley closing in on Haleigh....and then she looked back and noticed that Sharon was gone again...>>

Sharon....WHERE is she!?

[Oracle]

<< Riley's demonic smile gleamed as his red face and bulging veins.>>

Riley: Pathetic...but you'll STILL be dead. Whatever your friends do...NOTHING will change the fact that I got the drop on ALL of you. I humiliated and struck down your most trusted allies and you were POWERLESS to stop me. Your precious witches, mutants and meta humans couldnt stop me and they wont be able to survive the oncoming tide of mutant hatred that is coming. Even with my death...one battle doesnt win a war Davidoff...you never DID quite figure that out. I might not leave here tonight, but NOTHING your friends can do will bring YOU back either.

<< the EMP wand comes closer as Rick looks even MORE crazed than before.>>

Riley: you're services are no longer required...the only option that remains is to CANCEL you.

<< a spinning star whizzes through the air...slamming into Rick's bionic wrist and several more slam into the EMP wand...knocking out of his hand....>


Riley: WHAT?! YOU AGAIN!?

WHY WONT YOU DIE!

[Silver Swan]

[ The Silver Swan struggles forward....her hair fallen forward and partially obscuring her face...her silver eyes flickering with chaos and disatisfaction and her breathing jagged and labored.>>

YOU! why wont you die!?

wont...die...not until I have....my ...REVENGE!!

[ Sharon's voice sounded like her own...not when she gripped by the murderous rage from earlier in the caper...but the fact this was HER voice only meant that she was ALL TOO AWARE NOW of what had been done to her...and if she were on her last limb...she would take with her the man responsible.]

you.....[coughing up blood and wincing with pain]....used me......you...took my...live ALL OVER...aga..ain...

[ struggling closer...]

i'll....see you...IN HELL!!!


[ with her last reserves, she lifts her hands...and turns....and launches into her high speed SPIN "wonder woman" style...the rushing wind from the malestrom she transforms into can be heard like a tornado ...but instead of spinning stars flying out every which way, the tightly spinning funnel charges madly for rick riley...SNATCHING him from Haleigh. he can be heard half gasping before his lost from view...and his own screams are heard as the sound of flesh, metal, bone, veins, and body parts are SLASHED, TORN, MUTILATED ....he is subjected to the spinning stars from within as Sharon SPINS ACROSS his body...and leaves him on the floor....a shredded, ripped, slashed mass of flesh, bone, blood, bionic parts and chemicals now oozing from his body...it is a SICK and grizzly sight....and the fact that SHARON did this...it underscores just how much she has now changed.]

[ the screams of man and wind subside...as Riley now lays on the floor...more dead than alive...but still his body WONT shut down yet. while Sharon...now across the room...doubles over...coughing and heaving blood...the damage to her own body from the implants and that toxic chemical now causing her system to finall shut down for the last time..her eyes widen with the final spike of energy as she looks across the room at Haleigh and the six....]

morgan....[coughing violently..as she holds her chest.]......i'm....sorry......now....i can......go...back..to being....

[Dead]

[ Sharon falls over...hitting the floor face down...not moving. She did her final best to bring Riley down.....and that was all she wanted. now she could finally let go...]

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan looked on with dismay as Riley was about to end Haleigh's life.>>

I have to DO SOMETHING!!...

<< before she could try to get up though, Sharon finally revealed herself again as she disarms Riley and then lurches forward....looking HORRIBLE and clearly suffering from the effects of her transformation and the chemical coursing through her body.>>

<< Morgan's eyes focused intently as the Silver Swan struggled forward, vowing revenge and in her heart...she couldnt have agreed MORE with Sharon..>>

nail the bastard.

<< she said softly...even as Sharon launches into her deadly spin, snatching up Riley as she SPINS ACROSS his body and tears his body apart horriblyl, leaving him a horrible, mutilated heap.>>

<< the savage instinct of Sharon was shocking...it was a far cry from the woman Morgan once knew and the fact that she could TELL this wasnt MERELY "the silver swan" talking....let Morgan know the woman was truly aware of the damage done to her...and she felt there was no going back. Morgan had OTHER plans though. Sharon would NOT die like this. Not if SHE could help it.>>


<< as Sharon now crumbled and fell to the floor across the room, Morgan stood up, the spell on Karen, Mike and Alycia was nearly complete and with Rampage, Perspehone and MorningStar at full strength, Morgan felt confident to leave them for a moment. >>

<< she ran over to Haleigh's side....>>

Haleigh...we're all here now....we'll keep you safe. Sharon has fixed it so Rick cant hurt you..or anyone else now...

<<She motions for Perspehone to come to Haleigh's side as Rick's mutilated body twitches AND emmits sparks from his bionic implants that are now shredded. Morgan rushes over to Sharon....>>

Not if I can help it Sharon!!

<< she picks up the bloody, discorporating woman, who is not responding...not even breathing.>>

<< the room is trembling...as there seems to be a power surge that's imminent...one that will cause an explosion. the red alert was continuing to blare.>>

We have to gather our wounded and get OUT of here......

<< looking to Persephone and Haleigh.>>

[Oracle]

<< Haleigh was saved from DEATH by SHARON...a bitter and ironic twist for Haleigh...as the image of MASTER MOLD flickered in her own mind. the Silver Swan, battered and bloodied, swore vengence and snatched Riley into a funnel of brutal violence as the spinning stars tore at his body at high velocity. the sound of flesh being torn, bones being sliced, metal being ripped and a man gasping and screaming could be heard. Sharon was making him PAY for ALL of it...not just this...but the violence from BEFORE...the attempted rape, what he represnted...MYSTECH!>>

<< as she sliced him up she left him to fall to the floor, a horrid, mutilated heap...as she now collapsed....clearly at the END of her ability to withstand the damage and poison done to her body as she falls face down.>>

<< Haleigh could not escape the fact that this woman whom SHE had let down in the worst way...had just now SAVED her....and that Alycia, a woman whom Haleigh had come to hate...had given her own life so that the TEAM could get the drop on Riley. >>

<< Spellbinder and Persephone drew near, seeing as Riley was not able to do much of anything now...but still he would not die. Perspehone helped Haleigh to her feet while Morgan collected Sharon.>>

<< the torture chamber was brimming with misplaced and overloading energy...it was time for them to get out while they could but there was still a loose end. Riley had gone unaccounted for the LAST TIME Haleigh had faced him....an oversight that came back to bite her AND her family in the ass...she could NOT let it happen again. Sharon had laid the foundation...and now it was time for Haleigh to STAND and FINISH it once and for all.>>

Riley: << amongst the spasms, twitches, and sparks coming form his body....he still managed...to LAUGH.>>

even now....someone ELSE does your work. YOU'RE the most pathetic....someone will always pick up your slack...and they will always be BURNED by you.....i was...doing them ALL a favor..by killing you...they will WISH i had killed you later...you ALWAYS make people wish you were dead...

<< he coughed and sputtered...unable to move just yet...but it was not impossible that given enough time he MIGHT come back even form this. there was only one thing left to do...>>

Riley: i'll be BACK for you........and ill use OTHER PEOPLE to get to you...just like i..did NOW.. youll NEVER escape....EVERYWHERE YOU GO...people will be hurt...and DIE....

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Persephone helped Morgan over to her mother, Mike, and Alycia. Immediately, she cast a spell to heal them, promting Ava to look over her shoulder at Haleigh. With wide eyes, she saw Rick weilding the EMP wand, about to thrust it into Haleigh. ::

"NO!"

:: Screaming out, suddenly, a metal star went wizzing by, slashing the arm that Rick held the wand in. Looking over to where the star was thrown, she saw Sharon, barely standing, but alive. Sharon was out for blood...but this time, Rileys. As she spun toward him, he was swept away from Haleigh, screaming. Taking this opportunity to go to Haleigh, Ava quickly rushed across the room to her fallen sister. Brushing her blonde hair away from her face, Ava looked up just as Rick Riley's remains went spewing to the floor. Watching Sharon stagger, the woman was no longer Silver Swan...she was the real Sharon Kelly who wanted nothing more but to rest in peace. Finally, Sharon fell to the floor motionless...closing her eyes for a moment, Ava then looked down at Haleigh, helping her sit up. Morgan quickly rushed to Sharon's side, instructing everyone that they needed to leave immediately. ::

"Come on Wonder Woman...time to go home."

:: Helping Haleigh to her feet, Perse allowed her sister to rest most of her weight on her shoulder. The lights flickered relentlessly, and the sirens continued to blare throughout the facility. If she didn't know any better, it sounded like it was about to blow up. But amoungst the noise, Persephone heard Riley's voice. Looking down at his dismembered body, her sapphire eyes darkened with anger as he STILL baited Haleigh, even now. Feeling her sisters body strengthen, Ava decided to let go and let her stand on her own. Walking away, as Rick continued to spit his filth, Ava picked up the axe that was disgarded earlier. ::

"Hey, Hales..."

:: Tossing the axe for Haleigh to catch it, Ava gestured with her chin toward Rick Riley. ::

"Show him what happens to a man when he runs his mouth at a Davidoff."

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh was passing in and out of consciousness like a blinking light.... but she was stubborn and she held on tightly for as long as she could, because the LONGER Riley was still torturing her to DEATH.... the LONGER the Six would have to recuperate.

Riley blathered on, but Haleigh stuck an interjection in where she could manage:

Your precious witches, mutants and meta humans couldnt stop me and they wont be able to survive the oncoming tide of mutant hatred that is coming.

"Yes........ yes they WILL......"

I might not leave here tonight, but NOTHING your friends can do will bring YOU back either.

"I..... I'm okay with that...."

She said.... she was incredibly dizzy.... her vision was beginning to black out..... she could hear her sister shouting 'no!'.... but it sounded so far away..... a swooshing sound came VERY close.... as Haleigh let the back of her head rest on the floor, too weak now to even hold it up..... Riley was saying something again..... through the darkness his shape pulled back and then DISAPPEARED..... and the EMP wand dropped to the floor, struck by a couple stars, and it flickered and sparked briefly before going dead.... Haleigh was now relieved of the weight of Riley's foot on her chest.... but she didn't move.... both Morgan AND Ava were almost instantly at her side.... her vision brightened.... she could only see in shades of grey, but she saw enough to see the Riley had been mutilated... and that Sharon had done it. Ava pulled Haleigh to her feet and helped her over to the group..... Morgan carried Sharon... and they all got ready to leave..... but Riley was STILL alive.... and he was STILL baiting Haleigh.....and the hybrid took a great big breath before pulling away from her sister.... she coughed again..... this time spitting up blood... but she waved off those who made an attempt to help. This WAS her mess... and she was going to clean it up.... she'd let him survive ONCE.... she wasn't about to let it happen AGAIN.... if it took every last fiber of her being.... she was going to make DAMN SURE Riley wasn't coming back. She wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her hand, catching the Axe that Ava tossed her by the handle.... the weight of it seemed to surprise her battered and beleaguered body and the metal end of it hit the floor with a loud bang..... but Haleigh kept a hold of it, dragging the head across the floor as she slowly made her way BACK to Riley.

i'll be BACK for you........and ill use OTHER PEOPLE to get to you...just like i..did NOW.. youll NEVER escape....EVERYWHERE YOU GO...people will be hurt...and DIE....

[shaking her head slowly]"You know Rick... you never COULD get the job DONE..... that's why they always called ME. I know that made you bitter.... but I guess that's just TOO bad... because once and FOR ALL..... I'm going to do what i ALWAYS DID when we were in the Service together..... I'm going to FINISH what YOU started." She said, as she shakily lifted the axe above her head, looking down at his badly mangled form with determination.

"Rest in PIECES." She says, as she brings the axe down upon him with the sudden force and fury that is only known to a woman scorned [;)], DECAPITATING Riley and putting a final end to his life.

[Oracle]

<< and in one swoop, Riley's head is SEVERED from his body...with the gurgling of air and blood, the demented man meet's his end FINALLY and the room around them begins to ERUPT with pent up , misplaced energy.>>

<< Morgan directs everyone to gather together as she joins them, carrying a seemingly dead Sharon and without a moment's thought to Rick or what will become of this place, she summons a disc and teleports them away.>>

<< Riley's head lays on the floor....with a permanent look of discontent and shock frozen on it...and as the torture chamber becomes engulfed in exploding flames...there is that ONE LAST SPARK in his eye...as his face seems to betray the SLIGHTEST hint of movement...before the torture chamber...EXPLODES in an electrical inferno, consuming everything including Rick Riley.>>

<< he is gone..and with him....his demented hopes and dreams of revenge and torture. Haleigh his FINALLY closed that chapter of her life...but at what cost? the immediate threat has ended...but there is still fall out to endure.>>

from earth to Limbo

<< everything happens so quickly...as a stepping disc opens the team and their allies find themselves, NOT in Ororo's garden but in Morgan's own castle atop the dizzying high SUMMIT mountain. the cold darkness, the sad, whispering winds and the blasting thunder of the realm welcome them as they arrive on the TOP floor in the large domed observatory with a large viewing hole in the ceiling.>>

<< With Mike, Alycia and Karen having been placed in one of the MANY rooms on the various floors with MorningStar and Prophet keeping watch over them, Morgan and Nicolas go to work to save Sharon. Morgan is at her STRONGEST in Limbo and will need ALL her power and as Nicolas enter's sharon's body in a desperate surgical procedure, he carefull extracts the syringe like object form her spine, and telekinetically pulls out as MUCH of the fluid from that object from out of her system as he can. standing back he let's Morgan go to work as she summons the full extent of her might...reaching into Sharon's body...the core of her being and restoring her as MUCH as possible, but Mystech's evil touch is thorough and they are not without their own mystical resources. Though morgan can do ANYTHING in Limbo, she learned from Ororo NOT to violate that which is supposed to BE.>>

<< and with the pentagram of power, the fury of magick and nature outside the castle and an incantation, Spellbinder restores Sharon Kelly as much to herself as possible but she will NEVER again be the same...now forever carrying the forced mantle of Silver Swan she is no longer simply human.>>

<< time passes, and Morgan and Nicolas announce to Haleigh and Ava that Sharon will live...and is FREE of all mystech influence and poison, but that she is STILL possessed of the Silver Swan attributes and powers. what this will mean for HALEIGH is yet to be seen but Haleigh KNOWS that a conversation with Sharon AND Alycia is in her IMMEDIATE future.>>

<< and now...with Riley destroyed and the team back together, safe from harm....they take this time in Limbo to catch their breath, to be thankfull that they lost none of their loved ones...and to reflect on what has happened and the lessons learned.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< Spellbinder stands in the hallway outside of the observatory on the top floor of the castle of the summit mountain.>>

<< she and Nicolas have just performed a truly delicate surgical and mystical procedure to undo as much of the damage to sharon that was caused by Mystech. the woman is NOW ALIVE and her body functions NEARLY normal, but she can never be free of ALL that has changed her. She now is more parallel to Haleigh than she would probably ever want to be. She was meant to DESTROY Haleigh, but now...she will have the option to face live co existing with Haleigh...as a super powered PEER.>>


<< Spellbinder , takes a moment to reflect ...on EVERYTHING...the depth of this caper...the toll it took, and all that happened...it has left her in a DAZED state.>>

<< having announced to Ava and Haleigh that Sharon will survive, she has left the others and now in the hall way...where the winds hauntingly echo...this castle...the sheer height and space of it...is unlike anything on earth or many other places and each time she is here...she wonders why she doesnt spend MORE time here...but as she thinks about Sharon, Alycia, her mother...The Six...HALEIGH included...she realizes why she prefers Earth. she may be a demon sorceress...but she is still HUMAN...she loves her friends...her FAMILY and she is so THANKFULL that they ALL survived this caper...coming together when it mattered most even though they strugged to keep form COMPLETELY falling apart along the way.>>

<< speaking softly outloud as she wraps her arms around herself.>>

Sharon is alive...but not the same. She will have the chance to live a new life...much like Haleigh was granted after the Inferno...

<< she thinks for a moment.>>

Riley is dead...he cant hurt anyone of us again....im happy...im RELIEVED...but i feel...at a loss...

<< knowing that no one was around...she continued to wonder aloud..as s he walked down the hall. what she was FEELING ...was SHAME. Shame over the fact that she could not have done MORE for Haleigh in the midst of it all. feeling BAD beause she NEVER felt BAD about ANYTHING...and yet she suddenly realized how badly she'd treated Haleigh...how polarized they had become through it all. She couldnt bring herself to look at them right now...she'd behaved so poorly so many times during this whole thing...>>

[Rampage]

Nicolas had seen nothing like it.

As Sharon lay on the operating table in Limbo, he operated on her, trying to clean up what had been done to her. Apparently even Mystech doctors did not trust each other. Each routine had a subroutine, each mechanical item had dozens of backups powered and nonpowered. It was an exercise in science and madness to combat both. Unfortunately they were too integrated to simply RIP out of her. That would have been preferable, but there would have been too little organic matter left for Morgan to work with. Sharon was truly a mesh of man and machine, much like Haleigh herself. As they finished and informed the team of their success in saving her lfe, Morgan disappeared, to ponder her own thoughts. She would not escape him so easily.

He reached out to her, to find her shapely form in this castle with his telekinesis THEN teleport there. This feat was nigh impossible at one time, but familiarity was on his side and so he came up behind here as she spoke aloud about loss, the shame from her emanating like a beacon to what was left of his once-mighty telepathic power. he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead as he came up. He was there to comfort, and he had already decided that he would no longer place himself at a distance to her. He held her gently and spoke.

You are too hard on yourself. This caper was a source of despair and pain for all of us, even Mike. It hit close to home and pulled back raw feelings. There are apologies to make and things to consider going forward, but we ALL have to try to get past this if we hope to do any good in the future. I believe that we can, with YOUR leadership and Karen's guidance.

He kissed her again and held her tight.

***********************************************

Mike sat bolt upright and shook himself quickly, looking around. he felt great and the fact he was apparently not dead was a HUGE bonus. He looked around and got a feeling. Not simply of being somewhere strange, but NO WHERE at all. He looked to Cameron and Delilah.

Where are we? I'm not dead, right?

He shook his head again, deciding that he was indeed alive. he got up and looked at Karen and Alycia still out, looking like two angels. His face softened as he looked at Karen, then he shook his head again...

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan felt and heard the arrival of Nicolas. he found her even in this castle despite the fact that the rules of time and space didnt apply.>>

<< as he took hold of her, she didnt resist, his touch didnt make her jump either.>>

Nicolas...

<< she said softly as she nestled in his arms>>

we've....saved Sharon....she has a chance...but what if....what if she doesnt WANT to be here with us. what if she doesnt want to live with the changes she's been subjcted to?

<< Morgan was very worried about Sharon's mental well being. something that was NOT so easy to fix even with Magick and as he spoke about apologies and mending, Morgan laid her head on his chest.>>

Maybe you're right...Its just always been hard for me to look ahead when Ive felt like i did such a bad job.

<< as he kissed her again, she ran her gloved hand down his back>>

I'm glad you're here Nicolas. We're all safe Sharon and Alycia...they were magnificent...they could be a team...all their own and Haleigh...she finally destroyed Riley...and she's okay too. we learned so much about her past...saw a completely different side to Haleigh...and it makes me wonder if she CAN get back to that? maybe find some of the happiness and light that made her so beautifull.

<< she allowd herself to sigh>>

and then....we can all move forward....together.

<< she felt her mother, who was now in a state of calm and much needed sleep. with Delilah and Cameron watching over them and Ava and Haleigh in the observatory where Sharon was, Morgan FINALLY had a moment to enjoy Nicolas' company and he would see she was not resisting him either.>>

<< Ororo would no doubt be arriving soon to check on them. it was RARE that the weather goddess would come to this area of Limbo, but in times of recovery, she always made sure to check on them.>>

[Alycia Barnett]

:: black and white images...slow motion...Alycia on a bed, struggling feriously against a horrific, demonic looking Rick Riley, he wants to pin her down...to violate her. she screams and rails against him...but then, TWO flashes of lightning and thunder...and all goes bright white before fading to black. she feels herself floating, leaving...but then...there's a sense that she SHOULDNT give up....::

C'mon girl...dont give up on me yet! someone's coming

:: NIcolas voice so faint and far...but her spirit..it fixates on it..and finds its way back... a heart beat echos groing louder and louder....until finally she feels herself settling, centering, and bathed in a calm, soft, warm light.::

::GASP!!::

:: she pops up with a start, in one of many bed chambers inside of Spellbinder's castle on the summit of limbo. gripping her chest...and looking down, the LAST thing she remembered...was being SHOT!!::

[the mutant leans forward , smiling reassuringly as she places a gentle hand on Alycia's arm] It's allright, Alycia. You're okay...you're safe. we ALL are.

:: Alycia looks at Delilah with uncertainty::

Alive....and healed.....but RILEY!? where is.....

He's dead. Haleigh killed him...FOR REAL this time. we're all here. Sharon too! she's not dead. she came back and she HELPED free us and helped to BEAT Riley!

:: as Rick woke up himself..readjusting and wonder where he as, Alycia and Delilah looked over at him as he stood up.::

who are you?

:: she couldnt help but to ask bluntly...as she continued to acclimate. she'd seen him BEFORE but she didnt know just WHO he was!::

Don't worry, he's good. He's Nicolas' partner, named Mike. he helped us in this caper. he was shot too but Morgan healed all of you. Dr. Victoria is the only one still sleeping.

:: as Alycia examined her abdonmen to see if there was any sign of the gunshot wound, she looked and saw Mike now looking over Karen with a thoughtfull even TENDER look in his eye. was this some new friendship that she hadnt yet heard about? ::

:: mike asked where they were::

so that's IT then! Riley is GONE and we're in LIMBO.

[to mike] We're in Morgan's realm of Limbo, a place outside of time and space. she rules here and Ororo, another ally of ours, also maintains a high profile status here.

details inded.

:: she thought to herself as she looked back at Delilah. she'd been here several times before.::

that means Morgan has probably restored Sharon too!!!

:: Alycia wanted to get up and find them, but Delilah motioned her to take it easy and not move just yet. her body was still stiff...and reluctantly, Alycia calmed herself and laid back, enjoying the elegant, gothic serenity of this place.::

what a place to escape to. talk about getting away from it ALL.

:: Alycia breathed easily now, she couldnt help but feel warmth and RELIEF!! Riley was DEAD and SHE had faught bravely against him. PROOVEN that she could sand against him even WITHOUT super powers. Her actions gave Haleigh the chance to free herself and ultimately the others and while there was still residual traces of distrust...what alycia felt NOW , after seeing so many critical moments of Haleigh's past, glimpses of the woman that she was...was that Haleigh wasnt SUCH a monster after all. She remembered the good times between them the trust that was once there.::

Maybe ...we can work things out after all..

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: It had been a couple hours since the six and company arrived in Limbo. Karen, MIke and Alycia were immediately taken to quarters to rest while Morgan and Nicolas worked to save Sharon. There was little Persephone could do but sit with Haleigh and wait for word on if Sharon pulled through. But luckily, they didn't have to wait long. Morgan explained to them that Sharon survived, but would no longer be the 'old Sharon Kelly'. She was now 'one of them'...which was better than being dead. Morgan left, leaving Ava and Haleigh to sit and ponder what had happened over the past few days. It was a lot to register, especially for Haleigh. ::

:: With her legs tucked up to her chest, Ava wrapped her arms around her legs, getting into a more comfortable position on the small chair she was sitting in. She was beginning to feel the effects of Limbo on her system...tired, headache, achey body...similar to flu-like symptoms. But she had a little while yet before her body completely gave out. ;) Craning her stiff neck to the side, Ava glanced over to her sister. ::

"How are you feeling?"

[Silver Swan]

[ she was prepared to return to eternal sleep. she'd ripped Riley to shreds, and said her peace.]

[but even as her body began to shut down, she found herself placed in a deep slumber. no pain and only the faintest glimmer of awareness.]

[ Spellbinder and Rampage combined science and magick to do what others could not, and give Sharon a second chance at life and when she finally began to stir, she found herself resting in a bed...a large canopy bed. she looked beautifull again, refreshed. she felt no pain, no insane DRIVE and her thoughts...were not jarred and disjointed anymore.]

[ she WAS disoriented though. she wasnt quite used to being ALIVE again...and not being driven by mystech programming. there was no hatred, no chaos...and as she looked around the large, silent, gothic area she was in...she wondered if this was a dream..or reality?]

[ no one was immediately visible...and she exhaled softly..stretching her body. she was in her silver bodice, her costume from before but it was completely restored and there were no cracks or dents.]

hmmm?

[ she blinked as her silver eyes surveyed the area.]

am...i dead? is this where i am supposed to be?

[her airy voice echoed throughout the place. there were no birds either so she had no advantage of extra sensory at this moment. she began to feel a bit bewildered by the sheer size of where she was...and no one there...seeing herself garbed in the costume of the silver swan...]

what is this!?

[MorningStar]

Finding herself in Limbo, the winds blowing her hair across her face. The terrain echoing the sadness and despair she felt. She watched Alycia and Karen, faces peaceful in recuperating slumber. And she mourned – she mourned for their pain and what they all had lost.

As Mike awoke, it jarred her from her thoughts. Alycia soon awoke as well and Delilah filled her in. As Alycia tried to get up, she motioned for her to lie back down. She reached into a basin of cool water and took out a soft cloth. She touched it gently to her forehead.

“Lie still, now. It’s all over.”

But was it?

[Shadow Weaver]

<< the doctor probably had the smoothest awakening. as her sapphire blue eyes slowly opened and she breathed in deeply, her body almost unsure weather or not to enjoy this tranquil moment. she looked over, seeing Alycia near by and Delilah sitting in a chair between them along the wall, while Mike was at the the foot of their beds, looking at them.>>


<< the irritation with mike from earlier took a back seat, for at this moment she felt like a flower opening up after a violent storm. the doctor blinked a few times before speaking softly.>>

Limbo.....

<< she looked over as Delilah explained what had taken place, to Alycia. Riley was DEAD for sure now...and they were all recovered. Morgan and Nicolas were operating on Sharon...everyone was accounted for.>>

Delilah...

<< the doctor called softly.>>

did you get the number of the truck that ran me over?

<< as Delilah looked at the woman, she could see in those beautifull, stern eyes, a sense of humour and renewal. Karen did her best in that moment to assure Delilah she was fine as she slowly sat up in her bed, no longer wearing her flying suit but an elegant, midnight blue, gem toned slip gown and a matching robe. she realized that Mike could see her in this, and pulled the covers of her bed up.>>

well.

<< she said with a bit more tone in her voice.>>

I see that all is well with you, young man.

<< eyeing Mike for a moment, it appeared maybe all was NOT forgiven from earlier, but then...>>

I want to thank you for your courage, and for your help. you prevented me from getting shot in the war room, and placed yourself in peril. I have not known such courage and selflessness from a man in quite a long time. your bravery deservees acknowledgement.

<< she motioned for him to come near her in the bed, and took his hand into one of her own.>>

thank you very much, Mike. you did MORE than could be asked of anyone in a situation like what we've been through.

<< she looked at Delilah and over to Alycia..>>

and you two...i'm so glad to see you're all okay!!

<< outside of Morgan, these were like Karen's adoptive children, especially Delilah.>>

<< the doctor seemed a little less stern for the moment as she spoke with everyone in the large bed chamber with gothic decorum.>>

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah moved quickly over to Karen as she began to wake up, concern blazing all over her face, her expression VERY serious. Only to have Karen, in true Karen fashion, crack a joke. ]

"This is not a laughing matter!"

[ She sulked, or tried to, as she couldn't suppress the laugh that worked it's way out of her. ]

"But really, Doctor - how are you feeling? Are you allright?"

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh stared off out of a nearby window, as she had been nearly the WHOLE time they'd been in Limbo....she watched the tumultuous skies roll and thunder and simply got lost in her own thoughts, as she mulled over everything that had happened. the others were feeling relieved and safe... but not Haleigh..... Haleigh was too WORRIED to feel relieved. There was so much uncertainty left in her heart.... she hardly knew where to start.... and there were SO MANY relationships that needed to be repaired.... but they were all safe, at least. THIS time.... they had all made it. Haleigh was thankful for this.... but she still felt guilty that everyone had gone THROUGH the past few days.... all because of her grudge with Riley. She found slight comfort in the fact that Riley had been the reason behind her loss of power INTERNALLY... that it was temporary and now over.... but was uneasy with the idea that Mystech had some kind of back door programming. Just how much DID they know about the changes the TO Virus had made? would they EVER stop trying to bring her back?

She didn't try to ignore the memories anymore.... times when she was happy.... and sad as well but she felt that in retrospect, she wouldn't trade those times for anything. She thought about Patrick.... knowing that he'd been taken from her-- not that he'd left... but she remembered the feeling of abandonment..... it was the same she felt when Cameron disappeared.... and now he was BACK.... but what did that mean, anyway? She knew he would try to win her over.... he'd vowed as much.... but now things with her and Zach were unstable. She didn't know how she could ever forgive Zach.... everytime she thought of him she felt betrayed... She'd been SO honest with him but he hadn't... it was a source of terrible pain. But that relationship wasn't the ONLY in disrepair. Haleigh and Morgan weren't exactly best friends, and Haleigh knew she'd pushed the witch away, right along with Nicolas and Delilah.... worst of ALL was the situation with Alycia.... but Haleigh and Sharon had a discussion coming too....

Ava's question permeated Haleigh's thoughts.... but she hardly stirred. She hadn't even noticed..... but now that it was brought to her attention, Limbo had an incredibly soothing effect.... strangely invigorating. The TO Virus almost wafted through the very AIR in this place, and Haleigh breathed it in like an aromatherapy candle. Over the course of a few hours, Haleigh's wounds had almost completely HEALED, and her aches and pains faded away... in fact.... she'd never FELT so alive internally.... and she surmised that it was the effect that Limbo had on all TO infected beings. While her sister's body was negatively effected here.... Haleigh's was REVITALIZED.

"Fine...."

She sighed absently. Ava would know that this was a trained response... but it sounded like a positive response rather than a 'leave me alone' response. Of course.... there was that ONE thing between them.... that they hadn't really dealt with.... and this might or might not have a bearing on Haleigh's non response.... but before Ava had a chance to feel the answer out, Haleigh turned from the window suddenly, listening intently.... then rushing in to where Sharon was. Haleigh slowed as she neared Sharon... the woman was disoriented and Haleigh didn't want to frighten her.... but that wasn't all.... looking upon Sharon now, Haleigh had a fleeting flash of Sharon when she had FIRST returned.... and the spiteful GLEAM she'd had when telling Haleigh about Zach. Haleigh grimaced.... but took a deep breath and reassured the former senator anyway.

"You're in Limbo... Morgan's..... dimension. You're alive.... You're safe now.... Riley's dead.... we killed him.... for sure this time. [as Sharon asked about what she was wearing, Haleigh wore a slightly worried look] "Sharon.... it's your self-chosen battle dress uniform. Wh-- you don't remember?"

[Rampage]

Nicolas felt her hand on his back as she did not resists his efforts at holding her. He leaned over and kissed her neck softly, the turned her around and kissed her lips, picking her up easily as he did so. He continued to kiss her softly, then urgently, as the hot-blooded mutant kicked open a vacant bedroom door and walked in, willing it closed behind the pair...

*********************************************

As Mike watched the pair ladies slowly awaken, he was surprised and impressed at the direct tone of Alycia in questioning who he was. He smiled and silently chuckled as she questioned him. Delilah vouched for him but he offered a greeting as well.

It's a pleasure, Miss Barnett, to meet SOMEONE in the current administration who is actually capable. Even your self-defense training is going well, although your sniper skills could use work, I understand.

Alycia would infer from Mike's comments how well-connected he actually was and that he had been keeping some tabs on her as well.

As Karen awakened, he turned to face her. She looked stern at first as she realized her relative state of undress (a fact that Mike had noted but could only enjoy once her knew she was OK) and as she sharply addressed him, but he smiled as her face softened and she motioned for him to come nearer to her. He walked over, wearing pajama bottoms and a robe that by this point was hanging open. She thanked him for his efforts in the caper and took his hand. He placed his other hand on hers and carressed her hand and arm as he replied.

No need for all of that. I did the best I could, and what I SHOULD have done considering the circumstances. I am just glad all of you are OK.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan was a little unsure at first...she kept her hands on Nicolas, in case she needed to push him away, but her body language didnt indicate any resistance. as he took her down the hall and into another bed chamber, the door closed.>>

<< for morgan, though this was her castle, her domain...she still felt a little uncertain, like a young girl for the first time in her PARENT'S house or some awkward setting. She'd not allowed a man this close this far with her in a long time. But Nicolas was gentle, he was tender, he didnt go too far too fast, and Morgan welcomed his touch.>>

<< the door closed and there was no light. only the sound of the winds that fainly whispered throughout the castle and a haunting chime in the air.>>

<<an hour passes.....and elsewhere in the castle>>

<< Karen, Mike and Alycia awaken and are debriefed by Delilah. Sharon awakens as well and is first approached by Haleigh! Much like Ororo in her garden Oasis, Morgan is AWARE of every living thing in her castle and so, she knows that her loved ones are awaken.>>

back in the bed chamber that Morgan and Nicolas were in

<< Looking in a Mirror, after having refreshed herself in the bath chamber of this room, Morgan looks at and through her reflection. She sees Nicolas behind her in another area of the room of the reflection and she takes a moment to revel in the lingering feeling of moments past. They have bonded.
after preparing herself, she and Nicolas return to the large domed observatory.>>

<< wearing her latest costume, given by Hecate, Morgan comes forward, looking with a warm smile to Sharon before looking up at Haleigh and Ava.>>

hello ladies.

<< she says in a softer tone as she sits beside Sharon.>>

Hello Sharon, welcome to my home away from home. Limbo. This is my domain and you're here with us...the six. You're safe now, FREE of MysTech's influence and alive...again.

<< she waited for Sharon's reaction.>>

Nicolas, if you would call for Delilah and the others? it's time we all came together.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< the doctor felt Mike's hand...a bit unsure at first, but he seemed intent on redeming himself to her and remaing hard in his sense of duty. It was admirable, but Karen saw right through it. she knew he appreciated being acknowledged for his efforts and no one...not even ALYCIA could continue to risk their lives as she and Mike did along side mutants, witches and meta humans without having to step back and absorb the gravity of it sometime.>>

Still, you took risks, and faced things without the benefit of powers or super human abilities. your courage and bravery ARE to be noticed and acknowledged...even if your MANNERS were not always commendable.

<< a sharp dig to his behavior on the roof, even though he was suffering from blood loss, all that meant was that his inhibitions were down and what lay beneath was able to show.>>

<< as Delilah looked upon the doctor with concern and tried to show dismay at Karen's joke, the doctor smiled upon Delilah.>>

oh, lightengale, you must not be so serious SO OFTEN. what better place TO ligten the mood ...then THIS!

<< referring to Limbo. But perhaps Karen was more admonishing herself than Delilah, for the memories of Rick brutalizing her were still there. as bad as Christopher was, he NEVER laid a hand on her. Rick was the worst kind of man with a penchant for brutalizing women...and in fighting him, in defying his attempts to subjugate her, Karen felt that she had finally lived through her own greatest fear...and in that moment, she realized that she had probably MORE than just passed "fear and distrust of men" to her daughter. it was a theme that was shared by nearly ALL the women of the six. Rick Riley was the personification of that...and in those last final moments, Karen, Haleigh, Alycia and Sharon ...All of whom were on the outs with each other...had come TOGETHER to defy, defeat and ultimately make it possible for Haleigh to DESTROY him.>>

<< Karen smiled at Delilah.>>

yes, I'm okay....i think we're ALL going to be more okay as each moment passes.

[Silver Swan]

[ Sharon lookd at Haleigh, her silver eyes widened a moment...before her face tightened with reluctance as she moved in her bed a bit to keep the distance between her and Haleigh.]

you're here?

[ Haleigh explained where they were...and Sharon stared at her still.]

the last time..i saw you...was before Master Mold.

[ it was clear that Sharon's mind and her memories had been exorcised of most of the input as Silver Swan while on her murderous rampage. things would seem as faint as a dream or echo, the slightest suggestion and in her heart...she felt discomfort and distrust of Haleigh.]

you're Stavros' step daughter!

[Sharon's memories were not fully centered and coherent yet...some of the fleeting images from her EVIL "Silver Swan" persona persisted in her mind and heart...while her own memories only lead up to her DEATH at the battle with master mold...so there was definately a struggle to adjust and as Haleigh asked her if she REMEMBERED the genesis of her unusual outfit, Sharon looked at it, then at HER with disbelief in her eyes.]

I've NEVER worn anything like this before!!

[ at that moment, Morgan and Nicolas arrived, and Sharon saw someone that she READILY associated with trust and friendship, and that helped her. maybe she wasnt dead after all and this WASNT a nightmare in hell.]

Morgan??

[ Sharon groped for an explanation as she looked bewildered. they would have to explain EVERYTHING from start to finish..and that meant Haleigh would have to give a full accounting and with Alycia arriving, that would make it even more difficult but Haleigh SHOULD have learned by now how much of a disservice she'd done by pushing away, avoiding and covering things up.]

[Oracle]

<< at Morgan's request, Nicolas summons the rest of the team and their allies. Delilah, Cameron, Alycia, Mike, and Karen soon arrive to the top floor of the castle and enter the large observatory where they join Morgan, who is sitting beside Sharon, along with Nicolas, Haleigh and Ava.>>

<< the BATTLE may be over, Rick Riley may be dead...but the FALL OUT and the accounting is just beginning.>>

<< the massive castle on the summit stood tall and proud even defying the raging skies at this altitude in Limbo, the errie silence inside was only faintly interrupted by the whispering winds and the echo of voices.>>

<< now as the team and its allies came together to deal with all they'd come through...they faced the task of explaining to a woman why she was alive, and why she looked the way she did. A reminder that EVERYONE has to give an accounting at some point.>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan could see Sharon was not happy to see Haleigh, and couldnt understand just WHAT was going on. she looked between the two women, before cautiously taking Sharon's hand in reassurance.>>

Sharon, how you came to be here, is not entirely pleasant to recount, but you deserve to know the truth.

After...after you died at the battle against Master Mold...the remnants Mystech reached out to the grave, to bring you BACK, using their blend of science and magick.

Please know...that following your death...the public BACK LASH against Mystech was GLOBAL and the entity was driven from its power position. many people were arrested, companies in Mystech's pocket were exposed and dismantled....when you died....the nation mourned your loss...and we....well...I died too....and the rest of the team...INCLUDING Haleigh mourned your loss, attented your services.

From what i understand, Alycia eulogized you beautifully....not a dry eye in the house!

<< looking at Sharon.>>

I blame MYSELF for your death and I know Haleigh shares that feeling...and when MysTech reached out to beyond the grave, to pluck you from your rest...they brought you back as something THEY hoped they could control...to USE to hurt the very people you so bravely helped and were respected by.

Rick Riley, in his twisted plans for vengeance against Haleigh, turned you into the "Silver Swan", a woman of incredible powers and an insane drive to DESTROY Haleigh and anyone who got in her way...he used you...but Haleigh...WE'VE killed him and we brought you HERE to Limbo, where Nicolas and I could do ALL WE COULD to reserve what MysTech as done to you. You're ALIVE Sharon, free to live your life....FREE of any influence by mystech...and NOW, you've got special gifts, the POWER to protect yourself and those whom you choose to like NEVER before!

<< looking at Sharon, Morgan bowed her head.>>

but I must...ask you for your forgiveness....for I feel that I had been faster, more focused...STRONGER...that you never would have died...and that none of this would have happened.

<< she held Sharon's hand up closer to her.>>

We've done all we can to reverse what Mystech is done. you're FREE of the poison chemical compound, and your thoughts, your will...they are now YOURS...and i want you to know...you dont have to face the idea of living again ALONE...we're here for you.

[MorningStar]

[ Reassured by Karen, Delilah heard Nicolas’ call and made her way with the others to the observatory at the highest part of the castle. The dark and stormy skies of Limbo were oddly beautiful, if not a bit haunting, and it was difficult to not feel melancholy in this place.

It seemed that Sharon and Haleigh’s differences had NOT in fact been resolved during their earlier interlude. But then again, people didn’t change overnight.

As Morgan finished explaining things to Sharon, Delilah stepped forward to echo her sentiments. ]

“That’s right, we’re all here for you Sharon. I know it’s not an easy thing to suddenly have…”powers”. But we’ve all been through it. We’ll help you through it too.”

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Haleigh was distant, giving only a one word answer to her question. She wasn't sure if her sister was simply quiet because of what had happened the past couple of days, or if she happened to remember that little tidbit Ava told her about Patrick. Perhaps both...There was no doubt the two would have to work through what was revealed eventually, but today wasn't that day. Haleigh perked up, hearing Sharon wake. Watching her dart over to Sharon's bedside, Ava stayed put and watched from afar. Sharon wasn't quite sure what had happened, or what she had become. As Haleigh tried to explain the situation, Morgan and the rest of the six soon arrived. ::

:: Sluggishly, Ava stood from her seat, but stayed back. With Sharon back to her old self (so to speak), Ava decided keeping a low profile around the former senetor would be the best course of action. She and Sharon did, afterall, have a heated history together, and upsetting her now wouldn't be too wise. As the other gathered around Sharon, Ava stood by the window hugging a chiffon throw around her cold body, trying to keep warm. Listening absently, Ava looked out the window at the vast reigon known as Limbo....it felt like ages since the last time she was here. It still brought back painful memories for the goddess. Even as she stood there, literally 'wilting' away, the familiar feeling was a harsh reminder of those past events and her former family. Looking back to Sharon and the others...atleast this family--her new family--was still together and strong. ::

[Rampage]

Mike grimaced as Karen took a dig at his manners on the roof. He however, was not going to run away. He responded, the last sentence under his breath so that only Karen would hear.

I admit to and apologize for being rough around the edges. Maybe a woman's touch would help?

As they were summoned to the roof, Nicolas walked with the group and spoke to Alycia quickly, his good humor returning with his health.

So Madame Director, do you suppose I could get LEGAL acqusition of some of your technological goodies now that we've been formally introduced? That repulsor array is a must-have for starters...

As they arrived at the roof, they began to deal with the fallout of Sharon actually surviving and wanting answers. Mike stayed in the background for this, not wanting to hinder her progress.

**************************************

Nicolas lay for a while, watching Morgan as she cleansed herself after their time together. He was as giddy as one would expect a 20-something would be if he just shared love with the hottest supermodel on the planet. He arose, and took his own turn washing himself, taking time to playfully interact with Morgan, from love taps to quick kisses. He was very happy, but he knew that it could not last forever, and so he summoned the team as he was asked and they met on the roof. He waited as Morgan spoke to Sharon about what had happened, hoping that they could successfully tie up all of their loose ends... he spoke to her as well.

We will help you become accustomed, Sharon, and we will be there for you. That is what family does. Indeed, that is what my father would have wanted.

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen eyed Mike with a cool gaze as they all began to repair to the top floor of the castle.>>

hmmm yess.... << she said with a slightly raised eyebrow>>

a woman's touch indeed...

young man, i'm old enough to be YOU'RE mother! even if you ARE so handsome


<< she thought as she wrapped her midnight blue, gem toned robe around her form. as Mike bantered with Alycia, Karen took a moment to further reflect. everything seemed so silent, so STILL for her. she thought she'd be more angry, more bitter that she couldnt have gotten one last shot at Riley, but it wasnt about HER. Riley would have done the same thing to Alycia, Morgan or any OTHER woman and in those final moments...it was the WOMEN that he hated the most that came together to strike him down...Alycia, Haleigh and Sharon. That she had ANYTHING to do with it, and helped in ANYWAY to ensure that the team survived, was enough for her. but one thing was for sure...she'd be DAMNED if she went on any missions with them ANY TIME SOON.>>

<< walking along, Karen allowed herself a moment of uncharacteristic vernacular as she glanced in a mirror to do a hair check and felt a little ache in her body. Riley had really done a job on her and even after healing and resting, there was still a lingering stiffness. >>

ugh...i'm REALLY getting too old for this shit!

<< she said it softly enough so that only anyone RIGHT next to her would have heard it :D >>

<< to the obsevatory above, they arrived, Karen immediately looked for a glimpse of Sharon, just to confirm that she was infact alive and the woman was laying there, looking once again beautifull>>

thank the goddess. she's okay..they all are.


<< but Sharon's restlessness and disorientation showed as well. Karen went over to Persephone who was hanging back away from the group.>>

It isnt any easier here, is it? just like in your own timeline with Darkchilde, the effect of Limbo take a toll upon you. you neednt suffer in silence though. there's an apothecary several floors below, with elixirs that will bolster your immune system while you are here.

<< the doctor advised Perspehone as she looked upon the young woman.>>

you saved me earlier...and I just wanted to thank you again for your brave and selfless act. I'm not used to being a "damsel in distress" and i didnt teach Morgan to be that way either, but sometimes, we find ourselves caught up in something that is beyond our control....and a helping hand is needed.

<< placing a gentle hand on Persephone's own hand.>>

So thank you.

<< the doctor gave a soft smile.>>

[Alycia Barnett]

::Alycia eyed the bold and rather swagger young man. A bit impertanent but still well meaning...and OBVIOUSLY one for gathering information and detail on someone...even HER.::

hmmm yes.

:: she said as she nodded, still eyeing him up and down with her own hazel eyes.::

well, my aim is good enough when the chips are down. just ask Stavros.

:: she said rather haughtily as Karen and Delilah spoke before Nicolas summoned them all. this was it. the moment she'd never dreamed would come to pass...to be reunited with her best friend...but as she'd told Delilah, she never in her WILDEST dreams imagined something like THIS! First Cameron, now Sharon...with POWERS to boot. It made her look back on her Father, and her heart did not beat so happily for a few moments.::

:: still as they all got up and made their way, Mike bantered with her about getting the hook up.::

honey please, my toys are for GROWN UPS.

:: she said with a bit of attitude as she rolled her neck and flipped her hair, walking past him:D ::

:: still, for him to be here NOW meant that he had aquitted himself well enough to SURVIVE on the field with the six and he obviously had special forces taining. She may not have been IMMEDIATELY up to speed, but when she got back to earth, to her command center, she'd DEFINATELY be researching Mr. Michael::

If you're service record is as good as you would suggest, then we'll see about affording you some personal armoury.

:: she said with a less catty tone. a sign that she wasnt writting him off, but if NICOLAS had told him anything, he knew that alycia was not one to give her friendship or consideration easily.::

:: they made their way to the observatory, where Morgan, Nicolas and Haleigh were gathered around Sharon's bed. Karen went over to Pesephone and Mike held back to give them room to deal with the disoriented former Senator.::

oh wow....

:: as she drew near and got a clear view of Sharon...Alycia couldnt help but be struck by the surreal feeling of it all. Morgan explained things, and promised Sharon that she would not be left alone to deal with this, Delilah and Nicolas promptly and whole heartedly agreed and Alycia looked upon her friend with caution. she didnt want to allow herself to be TOO emotional for Sharon might not RECEIVE it....nor did she want to show too much in front of HALEIGH either. Her hatred of haleigh had subsided, but they couldnt pretend as though NOTHING had happened. they had to talk.::

Sharon?

:: Alycia came closer....::

[Jessica Hamby]

Sharon was less than enthused to see Haleigh but the hybrid didn't take it personally, considering. She WAS a little dismayed that Sharon seemed to not remember ANY of her Silver Swan days..... and she frowned as she said as much.

The last time.... I saw you.... was before Master Mold.
"How convenient."

You're Stavros' stepdaughter!
[Looking a little peeved] "UNFORTUNATELY for us both." she replied, slightly aggravated. Sharon swore shed never worn anything like that before, and Haleigh gave her a playfully skeptical look. "Not even to bed??" She shot.... it seemed like an odd time to crack a joke.... but that was Haleigh's odd taste in humor showing. Strangely, she got quiet.... as if her own wisecrack had made her uneasy.... truthfully, though, it had her thinking about Sharon and Zach.

Haleigh let Morgan catch Sharon up, as she watched the former senator for a reaction.... or maybe a sign that she remembered more than she let on. Morgan explained nearly everything and then expressed guilt.... and Haleigh nodded and spoke up, resting a hand on Morgan's shoulder in support.

"Morgan feels more guilty about this than she should. Morgan did everything she COULD.... but I.... I didnt. I didn't say what I SHOULD have.... about Stavros. I thought if I IGNORED him... he couldn't hurt me. Naive, I know... but he was half a WORLD away.... and out of sight truly CAN BE out of mind. I was WRONG... and many people, including you.... paid the price for that. I was ashamed of him so I never told anyone.... and that was selfish of me. I.... feel that I should apologize for that. and.... as much as I think I owe you that I reckon I ALSO should be completely honest with you. Morgan glossed over the details, but you're a GROWN WOMAN.... you deserve to know everything. You see.... when you came BACK.... with a ROARING vengeance.... no matter HOW HIGH the body count got.... Morgan DEFENDED you.... she was your advocate.... she thought you could be saved-- that you SHOULD be saved. But NOT me.... no.... I.... I thought you ought to be PUT DOWN..... I'm ashamed to say.... I wanted you DEAD. NO! I wanted to kill you.... I did... because when I FIRST found out you were alive.... it was after you tracked me down to the cathedral that I planned to have my wedding ceremony..... and you told me something.... something about the man I was going to marry..... maybe you remember him..... his name is ZACH? Is there something you think you should say about that?"

[Alycia Barnett]

:: As Alycia came near Sharon, she listened as Morgan spoke, then Haleigh.::

:: Alycia's mind raced , wondering what to say...she couldnt get over the way Sharon now LOOKED. there were some subtle but definate differences. her EYES for one thing...no longer BLUE but instead SILVER. There were silver streaks in her blonde hair as well. the shimmering, silver outfit she now wore. was it permanently apart of her body? the now metallic silver hued finger nails...and Sharon, generally looking a way she never had before. Always elegant but conservative in the past, NOW she was more along the lines of Morgan or Alison in terms of costume design.::

:: but her own mind was pulled back into focus as Haleigh went on to what...accuse or BLAME Sharon for this? as if a tryst with Zach BEFORE he was even truly committed to Haleigh was something to COMPARE to witholding information about Stavros? as if Sharon's HELP against Riley was MORE than what Haleigh was prepared to give SHARON if she had had her way? Alycia wasnt having it.::

Haleigh...what the hell is WRONG with you?

:: She glared at the woman as she bellowed::

You are the most twisted, and inappropriate woman in ANY dimension. Sharon came back...she HELPED US INSPITE OF YOU and if werent for HER...you'd be DEAD. People were MAIMED trying to help you...and NOW, this woman has to deal with the fact that she's ALIVE AGAIN...as UNBELIEVABLY as the way she DIED...and her body..her BEING is changed...and all you care about is the fact that Zach had an affair with Sharon...BEFORE he was even committed to you? If HE was never going to tell you, then maybe you should be confronting HIM about his testicular fortitude...NOT HER!



She was PROGRAMMED. She was POISONED. CANT YOU SEE SHE DOESNT REMEMBER!?


:: in blurting this out...she indicated that SHE KNEW about the affair herself and never EVER told anyone. but if anyone doubted that Alycia would protect Sharon with the ferocity of a LIONESS defending her cub...they had another thing coming. ::

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan looked over her shoulder as Haleigh placed her hand there and began to speak. At first, Morgan placed her own hand over Haleigh's as a silent geture of thanks and affirmation, but as Haleigh continued on, Morgan's eyes widened with disbelief. she looked around at first..wondering if she heard right...was Haleigh now attempting to BLAME Sharon for any part of this? the woman had been DEAD and then BROUGHT BACK by NO CHOICE of her own. and now Haleigh was ADMITTING that she wanted Sharon DEAD...perhaps Morgan and Haleigh WERENT on the same page after all, and Morgan stood up, looking BETRAYED as she glared at Haleigh while Alycia was the first to attack.>>

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

<< Morgan yelled with hurt in her voice.>>

THIS...THIS ISNT THE TIME OR THE PLACE!

<< Alycia called Haleigh out, Morgan looked between the two women.>>

Cant we EVEN begin to come together now...AFTER Riley's death? or has he WON the final victory?

SHARON is as much a victim as YOU are Haleigh...as we ALL were. Do you think she WANTED to come b ack as the Silver Swan? do you think she WANTED to be used as a PAWN by the very entity that she opposed...by the man who once tried to RAPE HER?

Would you EVER have known about that affair if SHARON hadnt come back? You need to be checking your ex fiancee about his LACK OF MANHOOD to come CLEAN instead of berating this woman who did MORE FOR YOU than YOU were willing to do for HER at the torture chamber. I KNEW you wanted Sharon dead...i KNEW it! you ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELF!!

<< Morgan screamed as she turned away...>>

It never fails....NEVER! even when things SHOULD be turning around...YOU force them to go in the WRONG direction. Sharon HELPED you ...she did for you what WE couldnt in the battle against Riley...she TOOK AWAY his chance to KILL YOU. She did for US what WE didnt do for HER during the Master Mold caper. I THINK that should MORE than even the scales and CANCEL OUT an AFFAIR that happened AGES AGO before you were EVEN enaged to Zach.

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh recoiled as Alycia and then Morgan took Sharon's side.... Haleigh watched them as if they'd gone CRAZY.... she let them finish.... but she had that look in her eye.... that look that everybody would recognizing as her planting down and preparing to have it out... she wouldn't be moved.... not on this. Morgan and Alycia BOTH reprimanded her and reminded her that Sharon had risked her own life to help defeat Riley.

"And it's NOT that I'm not grateful for that.... I appreciate her help, and yours, Alycia, I REALLY do.... but you, and Morgan, seem to think that her helping to destroy a COMMON enemy EXCUSES her from culpability for what happened BEFORE. And that's REALLY interesting, coming from YOU, Alycia.... because if I recall.... my risking MY LIFE fighting MASTER MOLD didn't excuse ME from my knowing Stavros from my CHILDHOOD. Curious, isn't it? I'm NOT blaming Sharon for the Silver Swan.... I'm NOT. I know that she didn't have ANY control over that.... but I AM holding her accountable for what she DID have a choice on. Riley made her a KILLER.... but he didn't MAKE her sleep with Zach."

Morgan accused Haleigh of only thinking about herself and Haleigh suddenly looked INCENSED.... she pointed her finger at Morgan and cut her off:

"HEY! DONT you say that.... DONT YOU DARE! I'm not PROUD that I wanted to kill her-- and EVEN IF I WAS..... I SUCKED IT UP when your mother ASKED ME TO so DONT YOU tell me I only think of mySELF because when you NEEDED ME TO..... I CAME THROUGH!"

She yelled back, ENRAGED that Morgan would try to throw THAT in her face. She took a deep breath and collected her thoughts.... and then continued..... and surprisingly, at the risk of opening herself up to ANOTHER attack.... she pulled KAREN, of all people, into the mix.

"What do YOU think, Karen? Do I not have an RIGHT to feel this way?? Surely YOU understand where I'm coming from.... MALICE DID IT TO YOU. Sharon KNEW I was involved Zach, JUST LIKE Malice knew about you and Christopher..... and if HE wasn't going to tell me, then DAMNIT, she should have! I know I'm a SHITTY person sometimes, but as a WOMAN, she should have had the RESPECT to tell me what was going on! I just want to know what kind of person that takes.... what kind of WOMAN would do that to one of her own."

[MorningStar]

[ Delilah took a step towards Haleigh. ]

"Look, no one is saying you should forget about what happened."

[ She glanced at Morgan and then continued. ]

"And I know that everyone here sees what you did for Sharon. You saved her. But like Morgan said - let's take a minute to breathe here before we start fighting again."

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Feeling Karen's hand rest on her shoulder, Ava turned her head to the doctor and gave her a faint smile. Karen suggested she head down to the apothocary for an elixier that would help her system cope better to Limbo. ::

"I was actually preparing to do so, but I wanted to ask Morgan first, before I went poking around in her apothocary."

:: Karen went on to thank Ava for assisting her earlier. Shaking her head as if to say it wasn't necessary, the doctor continued. Giving her another smile, Ava squeezed Karen's hand in return. ::

"Think nothing of it, doctor. I know you would have done the same for me."

:: As tender as that moment was, it was suddenly overshadowed by Alycia screaming at Haleigh. Lowering her eyebrows, she looked up and over to where Alycia, Haleigh, and Morgan here. They all suddenly got into a huge fight....sighing out, Ava lifted her fingers to her forehead and closed her eyes. Her head was already pounding, and this yelling wasn't helping. As Haleigh brought Karen into the conversation, Ava let go of her hand knowing the doctor would have a few choice words in the matter. Haleigh certainlly had a knack for timing, that was for sure. ::

"Haleigh...couldn't this have waited until...oh I don't know, Sharon was up for longer than five minutes?"

:: Her voice sounded strained and a bit horse, but direct and sarcastic. Even Ava had a problem with Haleigh jumping down Sharon's throat after only minutes of her awaking...it just wasn't the right time, or place. ::

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen turned her head as she heard Alycia bellow at Haleigh.>>

not again!

<< after all they'd been through...even NOW Haleigh could find a way to provoke Alycia? the woman took BULLETS on behalf of Haleigh and the team!>>

<< as she and Ava drew near to the situaiton, she heard what was going on, and her disapproving glare cast upon Haleigh BUT she refrained from commenting as the woman rebutted fairly. Karen couldnt fault Haleigh, at least not on the subject of the affair. but the TIMING was off as usual.>>

<< Delilah stepped in and offered a WELL TIMED reminder to them all to keep themselves calm before this degenerated. and as Haleigh asked Karen how she felt...calling out Karen's OWN experience as the woman scorned....Karen narrowed her eyes.>>

Haleigh, my marraige and the failure of it is NOT to be used as a platform to BOLSTER your ILL TIMED efforts to hold someone accountable for their actions when CLEARLY they are not in the right frame of mind. It is NO BETTER than a prosecuting attorney who interrogates someone who is CLEARLY incoherent.

<< stepping forward a bit, making sure her robe was properly closed since she didnt trust Mike's eyes. :D , she gently placed a hand on Morgan's arm, indicating her to step back by Delilah.>>

Yes, as a woman, I too would have appreciated the honesty even the BOLDNESS of "the other woman" to admit what she was doing to me at least ACKNOWLEDGING my role but in MY case, "the other woman" was an omega class telepath who was the figure head of a global entity bent on destroying ALL of us. her taking Christopher was part of her plan against me and my family.

MALICE was the ENEMY. There was no way in HELL that I ever would have had a civil conversation with her long enough for her TO tell me about Christopher's affair. further more, there was MORE than enough evidence to proove that he was telepathically coerced ...at least at the START of it.

SHARON was an ally of this team. She was Morgan's friend, as well as Alycia's and I have worked with her many times myself. Do you KNOW FOR A FACT that SHE knew you and Zach were THAT CLOSE? When you MET Zach, did you EVER wonder how h e was able to AFFORD the car, the clothes and OTHER items he had from the start? Sharon DIED before you had the chance to EVER really know her outside of being hired to PROTECT her....and if it HAD gotten to the point where this affair had come to the surface, i think we ALL saw enough of Sharon PRE SILVER SWAN to know that the woman faced things HEAD ON. She allowed her private life, the fact that her SON was a mutant to come out in the press.

When she came BACK as the Silver Swan, she was PROGRAMMED to destroy you and your life. do you really think that SHE at that moment she revealed it, had ANY CARE of the PAST? all she wanted was to see you DEAD and now, she cant even REMEMBER that.

<< looking at Sharon briefly , seeing the woman was growing agitated.>>

Under NORMAL circumstances, IF Sharon had SURVIVED the night of Master Mold..and things had gone on, then YES I expect that she WOULD have come to you had she KNOWN you and Zach were as COMMITTED as you were. NONE of us were there...save perhaps Alycia, who just hinted that she may have known what was going on as well and Zach is no where to shoulder HIS accountability. So while I can't BLAME you for the feelings you may have about that affair, I would advise you to remember the time and place in which WE are and to remember that while you might THINK your circumstances were the same as mine...they were NOT and Sharon is no where NEAR as repugnant as Malice was.

[Rampage]

Nicolas saw the agitation in Sharon's face as the situation deteriorated swiftly. No one was at blows yet, but the question for a moment seemed to be not IF but WHEN. Delilah and Karen both eloquently appealed for calm, and Nicolas stepped for ward as well, standing between Haleigh and Sharon.

Look, ALL of us have shortcomings and/or issues that were pulled to the surface here. But we have to WALK before we run. Haleigh, the person responsible for your relationship ultimately was Zach, NOT Sharon. And I am of the opinion that this THING was not permanent and would have come to light in time. That does not excuse the situation, but is Zach HONESTLY worth being the first thing we discuss? After all we have been through?

**************************************

Mike was sitting back, allowing the others to interact when it all went south in a huge way. Shaking his head, he was in disbelief.

Do they face death so damned often that they don't even get to revel in SURVIVING???!?? They have to HURRY back to the mundane bullshit of the day?? For that mousy white boy I saw?!

Mike decided early on that this was not to be his fight. He only hoped that th ye would sort it out. So he decided to focus on the good doctor, especially since she was struggling mightily to cover herself in that robe. :p He raised one eyebrow and simply watched.

[Jessica Hamby]

As Delilah insisted they took a moment, Haleigh took a deep breath.... but it was a little late to put the worms back in the can NOW, wasn't it? Persephone seconded Delilah's position, but Haleigh cut her sister a COLD glare.

"Now I KNOW that YOU aren't in any position to be talking to ME about TIMING, Ava."

She shot back, a comment that was CLEARLY loaded, just in case Ava HADN'T been sure how Haleigh was feeling about the little secret Ava'd kept for so long. Karen stepped in, initially looking like she was going to tear into Haleigh, as she was wont to do, but in a surprise turn of events, she VALIDATED Haleigh, though it was clear she was reluctant to do so..... never the less, Haleigh was pleasantly surprised enough to LISTEN to the rest of what the doctor said. As the doctor suggested that maybe Sharon didn't KNOW Haleigh and Zach were that close:

"How could she NOT?? The man LIVED with me for WEEKS before Master Mold was unleashed, EVERYBODY knew. We'd been together since BEFORE the SIX.... we may not have been as CLOSE as recently, but we were CLOSE ENOUGH to the point were I felt I should have been awarded the COURTESY."

Karen continued, pointing out the differences between Sharon and Malice.

"I'm not suggesting Sharon is Malice or ANYTHING like that.... the TERMS of their relationships with each men may not be EXACTLY the same, but it's SIMILAR enough to draw comparison in ONE WAY or another..... and if ZACH were here, you can BET I'd be VILIFYING his ass, at the very LEAST... and YEAH..... maybe Sharon WOULD have come to me.... except she DIDNT.... and this is were we ARE. but HERE'S an idea, and call me CRAZY..... but maybe the whole LOT of you should stop speaking FOR HER and let her tell me HERSELF..... maybe if I didn't have to talk to all of her mouthpieces FIRST, this conversation would ALREADY BE OVER."

After another timing comment:

"Oh, on the CONTRARY.... I think now is the PERFECT timing.... it's kind of like walking through broken glass barefoot.... you've got to get ALL THE SHARDS OUT before you can properly heal.... and if there's a PROBLEM, I think we ought to FACE it NOW rather than put it off to later after everyone starts to THINK we were doing so good. Why fool OURSELVES and let something FESTER? Didn't we learn ANYTHING with the rift between Alycia and I? We IGNORED it and we let it GROW until it absolutely BLEW UP on us.... how about you guys let me avoid THAT mistake THIS time, eh?"

Nicolas stepped in here.... and asked if Zach was WORTH the fighting.... Haleigh grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in, her voice dropping and her eyes suddenly looking a little teary-- not that she'd let any one ELSE see that. Nicolas wasn't in any danger, everybody knew that.... but Haleigh wanted to make sure she had his attention.

"He's WORTH it TO ME, alright?? God DAMN IT.... I LOVED HIM! Does that mean NOTHING to you?! ANY of you?? Can you not IMAGINE?? EVERYTHING I thought I KNEW FELL APART and EVERYONE I counted on ran out on me-- and I was SO FUCKED UP that HALF the time I wasn't even AWARE of what I DOING.... well NOW I've got to pick up the PIECES.... Christ.... THAT what I'm trying to DO! I've hit ROCK BOTTOM.... If I don't DEAL WITH THIS.... there's no WAY I'll be able to go UP from here. First things FIRST. Can you BEAR WITH ME??"

[Silver Swan]

[ sharon looked with disbelief, as what was being said soaked in...but it was HALEIGH that stung the most...and Sharon struggled out of her bed, REFUSING to lay any longer...as she now stood up looking flustered.]

YOU!

[pointing at Haleigh]

YOU...PROMISED ME that YOUD PROTECT ALYCIA AND MYSELF!!

[ tears in her eyes.]

BUT YOU FAILED! I DIED ...and i had the chance to be with my husband and my son again...and HERE I AM...and LOOK AT ME!! i dont even LOOK the same anymore....and ...i dont understand why i feel the way i do, but all you can do is bring up something that was BRIEF !?

YOU SELF CENTERED BITCH!!

[ She screamed]

I DIDNT EVEN KNOW that it was YOU Zach was seeing. He was...my PAGE. He WORKED for me. It became something MORE and he ENJOYED the benefits of "being with a....a senator"


[ she looks down at herself...]

a SENATOR.....that's what i WAS....but what am i NOW!?

[ looking at Haleigh.]

I ...i DONT CARE about you! you didnt protect me...you FAILED! I dont CARE about you OR Zach. THE WHOLE TIME I WAS WITH HIM....I...I WAS SLUMMING! TO THINK THAT I COULD HAVE HAD A SECOND CHANCE being HAPPY with a man...with GUSTAV.... but ZACH ...he PLAYED on my emotions....and YOU? you think its ALL ABOUT YOU!?

BOTH of you can ROT IN HELL!

[turning to the others]



LOOK AT ME!! I'm ALIVE...and my husband and son are STILL DEAD! ALL the work that i did...was for NOTHING...since apparently I KILLED people as the Silver Swan!

I DONT WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS!!!



MORGAN....ALYCIA??

[ she looked at them, clearly she was beside herself, but this was to be expected. she couldnt reconnect to her past life ...and she didnt relish the current incarnation of her life.]

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Haleigh's words stung like a cut covered with salt. Narrowing her eyes into a glare, she opened her mouth to say something, but instead stopped. Scoffing softly, she was simply too tired and weak to start an all out war with her sister. With a roll of her eyes, she just allowed Haleigh to have her melt down moment. She understood Haleigh's grief and her heartache. She understood why she wanted Sharon to answer her questions. But the fact of the matter was they had just arrived in Illustra after days of battling Silver Swan AND Rick Riley. Was a couple days rest too much to ask for before they embarked on world war 547? Obviously it was... ::

:: As Haleigh let her feelings be known to everyone, so did Sharon. She was distraught and angry. Lashing out at Haleigh, she soon called for both Morgan and Alycia, obviously needing some comfort. Watching quietly, there wasn't much Ava could say or do at this point, to make the situation any better. So like Mike, she decided toremain quiet. ::

[Jill Monroe]

<< Haleigh fired back at Morgan enough and to the point that Morgan couldnt immediately retort. it was happening AGAIN..they were being pulled apart instead of coming TOGETHER...and after all they'd been through!? it was inexplicable to Morgan and a few others in the observatory but it was happening just the same.>>

<< Delilah stepped forward and Morgan huffed with annoyance. Karen gently directed her daughter to stand back with Delilah as she was now called in to the confrontation by Haleigh, who without even a thought, sidestepped her own sister's appeal for TACT at this moment.>>

<< as her mother boldly addressed the situation with herself, malice and christopher...something she'd long kept private...Morgan could feel the pain and resentment in her mother but she held up very well making it clear that the situations werent remotely the same and that Sharon was not anything like Malice. But Haleigh, who was obviously hurting STILL wanted to displace the WHOLE of the blame on Sharon seemingly because Zach was just NOT THERE to shoulder HIS part of the blame.>>

You're not being FAIR!

For goddess sake...the woman has been DEAD and resurrected in the most horrid way..and you want her to just BYPASS all of that to focus on THIS!?

<< Nicolas spoke up...saying what more than a FEW people had come to feel about Zach, INCLUDING her. that he wasnt all that and as Haleigh pulled him in, Morgan resisted the urge to SNATCH Haleigh away from Nicolas. Despite all of this...Morgan couldnt allow herself to go over the edge. she WOULDNT because no matter how RIDICULOUS and IMPOSSIBLE Haleigh insisted on being, deep down, Morgan still cared about her as a team mate...as FAMILY. it wasnt a year ago...they'd been through too much to be like THAT again...but Haleigh made it SO HARD!>>

<< Morgan was getting a headache and noticed Persephone wasnt doing well EITHER...>>

the effects of Limbo....just like before....in her timeline....

<< Morgan waves her hand and a small stepping disc opens, and a jar with sparkling pink elixir in it spins forth from the desk to float in front of Perspehone.>>

<< turning to the goddess, Morgan spoke softly as Haleigh and Nicolas locked horns>>

here, drink this. you need it now.

<< she nodded before turning to see SHARON rise up in harried anger. Morgan was afraid it was about to get violent, but it seemed that Sharon was becoming more CONNECTED to herself...and remembering what she could, feeling the RESENTMENT of DYING , not to mention being "welcomed back" by someone confronting her about an AFFAIR of all things.>>

<< Sharon was upset...she was no longer human, no longer a senator, she couldnt go BACK to her life...for the world knew her to be DEAD. her husband, her son...ALSO dead..but now she was alive..and she was something else OTHER than simply human. Morgan and her friends...they were BORN the way they were...SHARON was TURNED INTO this...and she couldnt grasp it.>>

<< the woman slammed Haleigh and denounced her with righteous resentment and Morgan's heart sank.>>

this ..isnt how it's supposed to BE!!

<< she closes her eyes, clenching her fist with frustration>>

<< Sharon proclaims she doesnt want to live this way...calling to her friends, Morgan and Alycia.>>

Sharon.....I KNOW this is difficult...its not something ANY ONE dreams of going through. I'm here too..after dying in the same battle you did...and it took me WEEKS to ...return to some form of "self"...you're not alone....WE'RE your family too! Alycia, myself....Delilah, Nicolas...the son of the man who LOVED you after Robert died....my mother...WE love you and we want you here....how you came BACK may have been terrible, but you're FREE of that now....and we can help you ...

<< Morgan felt like she was failing..>>

DAMMIT HALEIGH!! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NOW!!

<< she covered her face>>

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HELP HER NOW AFTER YOUVE GREETED HER WITH THIS!?

YOU AND I HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD before...we've been DEAD and come back...but WE werent turned INTO something. YOU had the chance to hide out and acclimate, i had my mother and ororo...and Sharon NEEDS us.

it SHOULDNT BE LIKE THIS!! we've suffered SO MUCH through this caper we sould be coming TOGETHER now....

[Rampage]

As Haleigh grabbed Nicolas, he bent over a bit until she could speak her peace eye to eye with him. After she finished he stood up a bit, keeping her gaze. His growl matched her own low voice.

I KNOW of love, AND of loss. And I have questions of my own for Sharon in time, things that would give MY own heart peace as I see my father's lost love before me. But if you destroy her emotionally before she can get herself together you get NOTHING. Is that what you want? Besides, what can she tell you that will give your heart peace? That she's SORRY your man was too chickenshit to keep it to himself? That he meant nothing to her? What do you want from her? Nothing she can say will assuage your hurt feelings or justify his lack of loyalty to you. That's a FACT. Haleigh, I hate that you are hurt by this and for that ALONE I would kill Zach on SIGHT. But if you want closure, or peace, or revenge, or an explanation, Mike will deliver him to you in less than an hour of us arriving back at Illustra, and then you can interrogate the REAL culprit at your leisure.

[Jessica Hamby]

Sharon finally rose up and responded, but Haleigh was RIGHT THERE and for everything Sharon had to say, Haleigh responded.

"YES I DID.... I FAILED, but I CANT CHANGE THE PAST..... I HAVE TO FACE IT, and SO DO YOU! LETS FACE IT, SHALL WE??!"

Sharon:"You SELF CENTERED BITCH!"

"YOU HOMEWRECKIN' HO!"

As Sharon claimed she didn't KNOW:

"THATS STRANGE! YOU APPARENTLY KNEW STAVROS HAD BEEN MY STEPFATHER FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOUR LITTLE BOY TOY WAS LIVING IN ILLUSTRA, OF ALL PLACES?!"

After Sharon lamented that Haleigh thought it was 'all about her':

"UM, HELLO! YOU'VE BEEN 'ALL ABOUT ME' FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS-- WHY THE HELL WOULD WE CHANGE THE SUBJECT NOW, RIGHT WHEN WE'RE AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER?!?"

Sharon seemed to call for support, and Morgan stepped in, calling foul.

"NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS FAIR!"

She yelled back..... clearly worked up and frustrated as anyone. Morgan threw caution to the wind, finally yelling back at Haleigh after trying reassure Sharon. She again visited the poor timing topic. Haleigh threw her hands up, vexed beyond reason, falling back on sarcasm.

"OH, I DON'T KNOW..... I JUST THOUGHT I'D WAIT FOR THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. I WAS GOING TO DO IT WHILE WE WERE FIGHTING RILEY, BUT I COULD HARDLY GET A WORD IN!"

She kept up now with Morgan, only now EVERYONE could see she was close to tears:

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HELP HER IF I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT HER?!?!"

After Morgan commented about them not being TURNED into something:

"I WAS TURNED INTO SOMETHING! ARE YOU FORGETTING THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR STUPID SECRET WEAPON TOO? THEIR TO VIRUS SUCCESS?? I WAS TURNED INTO THAT-- AND I JUST FOUND OUT I CAN'T EVEN CONTROL IT IF THEY WANT TO FUCK WITH ME-- AND I NEEDED YOU [her voice suddenly dropping from a yell, tears streaming] You weren't there. We should have come together a long TIME ago, Morgan.... but the littlest thing tears us apart. Everyone wants me to FIX my relationships.... but when i try to do that you STOP me.... because I don't do it the way YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE. why is it that you have to try SO HARD to make me just like you?? why do you expect me to be as good as you..... with this stuff?? I CANT.... I'm NOT."

Nicolas rebutted, and Haleigh turned to look at him.... she seemed to have gotten all the yelling out.

"I don't know..... maybe I need an apology.... maybe I just need to know that she didn't do it on purpose... or that she's not as HAPPY to HURT me with it as she was when she TOLD ME about it.... maybe I just can't GET THAT MOMENT out of my head."

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened past all of the anger and words with Sharon and everything else and heard Haleigh. She was simply in pain. It didn't matter that the guys was not worth it in the end, or that he was a coward for running out on her. He was HER man, and all of this hurt. Nicolas looked at her earnestly.

I know, I understand how you must feel. But I am asking you, we all are, to find a way to get through this without striking out. Sharon verbally struck back at you, but whether you want to admit it or not, her words make sense. She did not give a thought to who Zach might be with any more than you did as to how he kept up his lifestyle. He got you BOTH, and because of him you both lost love and will have to live with pain. Don't do the typical woman-on-woman crime thing here. Whether you THINK she knew or not, Zach DEFINITELY knew everything. About her words to you before, remember that she was controlled, much like you were throughout this. It is a fact with which we must all deal, but you two in particular. In the end, you two have so much in common. I would hate to see you at odds when you should be using your shared experiences to HELP each other through this.

<<Looks at Sharon>>>

Sharon, I am all grown up now. You were always there for me, even when I did not realize it. Allow me to be there for you. Just as I have worked with Morgan to make the best of what has occurred PHYSICALLY, please allow me to help emotionally. Between the resources inherited from my father and behind-the-scenes cooperation from the US government that I am sure Alycia could garner, we can help you cope with this, find a new way in life. You are strong, and just as you found a new path with your son's death, so can you now find a new path following your own death that can reflect the person you have always been. A GOOD person. Do not shut us out.

Nicolas spoke with passion, a passion that was so earnest that the walls of the room began to shake in rhythm with his increased heartbeat. The emotion of the moment was giving the young mutant small control problems of his own...

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan was slammed by Haleigh's words...they werent attacks or insults...they were simply JUST her feelings and Morgan felt TERRIBLE as she looked dismayed and turned away.>>

<< standing closest to Delilah, she murmured.>>

and so, if i didnt think I couldnt do the job of "leading" before...THIS clinches it. no matter what i do...someone always ends up feeling the burn from my FAILURE.

<< Nicolas interrupted the indignant catfight between Sharon and Haleigh. and Alycia want to Sharon's side, trying to figure out what she could DO or SAY.>>

<< Nicolas was speaking from the heart and he was RIGHT and while Morgan couldnt at all empathize with Haleigh, it suddenly didnt seem AS terrible, because Haleigh ADMITTED she was doing it the best she could and that she wasnt "as good as Morgan" was in situations like this. Not that MORGAN felt SHE was any kind of example to be reference.>>

<< shutting her eyes tightly for a moment as the two women screamed at each other, Morgan finally turned around after Nicolas spoke.>>

I didnt PLAN for things to go the way they did Haleigh. i thought i could control the situation...make EVERYTHING better for EVERYBODY...ALISON makes it look so easy..but she's not HERE. If it hadnt been for Nicolas , Delilah, my mother...even AVA's objectivity...i would have went round the bend THIS time as well. I didnt want to TURN from you...in my WILDEST DREAMS i didnt imagine that SHARON would be brought back AGAINST US.

the wounds that were opened...werent just in YOU, they were in ME...in ALL of us....but when people TRIED to help you, you PUSHED THEM AWAY! Namely my MOTHER. we risked our LIVES time and again trying to BLOCK Mystech's influence over you....we struggled with NO help or insight from you..and I AGONIZED over what to do...what steps to take, fearing that i would doom us all with each descision. this is my FIRST caper WITHOUT Alison...and quite frankly i dont think i did the best job...BUT we have SHARON..we have YOU and ALYCIA....and RILEY is dead.

His plan was to destroy YOU and use OTHERS to hurt US..and he FAILED.

do you REALLY think that Sharon, in her right mind would have used her time with Zach as a WEAPON against you? You KNOW her better than that just by her demonstrations BEFORE Master Mold. ZACH may not have told HER everything and you SEE she didnt KEEP AFTER him as he drew closer to YOU.

WHY are you acting like she PLANNED this?

and.....


<< Grabbing Haleigh's arm to force her to look at Morgan>>

WHY do you make it SO DAMN HARD for us to HELP you....to LOVE YOU LIKE FAMILY SHOULD!!??

<< glaring at Haleigh>>

of ALL of the current team...YOU, ME, DELILAH...we were the ONLY ONES there the night of Master Mold...and when Sharon came back...instead of us pulling together, you had ALREADY done your best to ALIENATE everyone....WHY do you always DO THAT!?

[Silver Swan]

[ Sharon gritted her teeth as Haleigh retorted her....calling her a "homewreckin' ho"]

[it OCCURRED to her just then that SHE had the power to beat Haleigh down if she wanted to. she'd apparently done it BEFORE...she could do it NOW. she didnt have to be ANYONE's punching bag, verbal OR other wise.]

[ her FIRST impulse was to charge for the woman, but Nicolas and Alycia stepped in. and Sharon continued to glare at Haleigh.]

[Nicolas appealed first and then Morgan, speaking to both women.]

I didnt WANT Zach to be MINE. He was THERE during a DIFFICULT time...he knew the right things to say...I didnt PLAN for anything like THAT to happen and HE certainly wasnt SHYING away from the FAVOR he gained by being MORE than just a page. ALL I KNEW was that he'd changed residence after his bank accounts began to GROW from my gifts and that he was beginning to keep company with Morgan and her ...TEAM. He as VERY secretive and to be honest..i didnt CARE what he was doing when he wasnt under my employ. His life outside of that was HIS OWN business and it wasnt MY JOB to know he was romancing YOU when he was seeing me.

I wasnt out to DESTROY whatever YOU had going on with him and I dont appreciate being confronted by THIS NOW! I have NOTHING to look forward to...and THIS is all you can bring to me? If i didnt like you BEFORE, even WITHOUT being the Silver Swan...i sure as HELL dont like you now. Why dont you take your sniveling self and go FIND YOUR Zach. He's probably wondering where his next MEAL TICKET is coming form ANYWAY.

[ the bitterness in her voice was sharp.]

the longer i stand here...the longer i realize that the ONLY mistake i ever made was not FIRING HIM and having Alycia BURY him for inappropriate conduct. I SHOULD have went with what my heart NEEDED...and that was GUSTAV.

But neither he NOR i got that chance....DID we Haleigh? we both DIED thanks to YOUR FAMILIAL connections while YOU and your precious ZACH got to live the high life.

I ddidnt WANT your man like THAT. it was a BRIEF thing that SHOULDNT have happened and the ONLY ONE who benefited from it...was HIM and if i had it to DO all over again? TRUST me, I NEVER would have wasted my time!

now GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE! BEFORE I PULL YOUR FACE OFF!

Sharon, I am all grown up now. You were always there for me, even when I did not realize it. Allow me to be there for you. Just as I have worked with Morgan to make the best of what has occurred PHYSICALLY, please allow me to help emotionally. Between the resources inherited from my father and behind-the-scenes cooperation from the US government that I am sure Alycia could garner, we can help you cope with this, find a new way in life. You are strong, and just as you found a new path with your son's death, so can you now find a new path following your own death that can reflect the person you have always been. A GOOD person. Do not shut us out.

Nicolas.......

[ as she REMEMBERED him as a boy...almost a second son in some ways...and his father...a handsome, distinguished gentleman that treated her like a flower...a chance at a new life, a new family....and she lost THAT too...and now Gustav was dead too..and SHE was HERE....she began to shed tears...for her husband and son...for gustav..for the lives that were dear to her now gone...for her own life. part of her WANTED to accept Nicolas' plea and BELIEVE they would help her...but with HALEIGH there...she couldnt trust...]

[ she's embraced by Alycia as she begins to weep]

she NEEDS TIME!! SHE'S HURTING...cant we just STOP this petty bullshit JUST FOR A WHILE?

[Jessica Hamby]

Nicolas gave a pretty solid defense for Sharon.... and all Haleigh could do was give him a 'dont stand up for her' warning look.... before she could say anything, Morgan was back, and she beseeched Haleigh remorsefully... and for once.... she seemed to be able to REACH the hybrid... because Haleigh's look of pain softened. She didn't respond but she listened.... and when Morgan asked her whether she really thought Sharon would do what Haleigh suggested she did, Haleigh replied, CALMLY, albeit defensively.

"Well I don't KNOW... this is the first chance I've had to ask her about it!"

Morgan grabbed Haleigh by the arm, causing the hybrid to breath in sharply, making a surprised sound almost like a gasp. Morgan posed a rather personal question.... but despite the company [namely Sharon and Alycia], as Haleigh's eyes filled up again she didn't fight the tears.... and she tried being OPEN and honest for a change.

"Because I'm SCARED, Morgan...... I'm afraid..... that if I let you in.... you'll hurt me. I haven't been WRONG, have I?.... I mean.... of those I DIDNT push away.... Cameron hurt me... inadvertantly, but still... then Zach..... and Ava too. It's hard ENOUGH for me to trust people as it is."

Sharon pulled herself together and finally spoke a clear case.... and Haleigh looked at her.... finally GETTING it.... straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Sharon HADNT felt the way the Silver Swan did about it.... in fact.... she even expressed regret for it.... and though it didnt include the words 'i'm sorry', Haleigh seemed to understand it that way and she nodded, but made sure to cut sharon a slicing glare as the former senator brought up Stavros.

"I didn't MARRY the bastard, my MOTHER did.... and believe you ME.... the only GOOD thing to ever come of THAT union was my sister. To be perfectly honest with you, there isn't a person in this room who resented Stavros as MUCH as I did for as LONG as I did." she remarked dryly.

[after Sharon reiterated that she wished she HADNT been with Zach] "Okay.... alright." [then PLAYFULLY after Sharon threatens to pull her face off, Haleigh makes the slightest indication to diffuse the situation] "Whoa, now.... we don't need VIOLENCE.... seriously.... if ANYBODY gets to be violent it ought to be me. this IS, after all.... all about me.... you know. In fact, many years ago, when this world was created.... It was all so that I could trifle with it." :D

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: The fighting escalated and Ava grew agitated. Sucking in a short breath, she watched as both Sharon and Haleigh began to go back and forth about who should be woed first. Not that Ava wasn't sympathetic, she was greatly infact, but it was a bit difficult when her brain felt like it was oozing from her ears. ;) Thank God for Morgan....right at that moment, a little bottle of pink elixier appeared out of no where, floating right in front of her. Looking to Morgan, she gave a relieved look and mouthed a 'thank you' before taking the bottle and popping it open. Downing the elixier, it still had that same bitter taste to it, causing the goddess' face to pucker like a child who had just taken some awful tasting cough medicine. Setting the small bottle down, the fight began to intensify between Haleigh and Sharon. Sharon called her a bitch, Haleigh called her a ho, and Ava just watched wondering who was going to punch who first. The two were SO MUCH alike, she doubted they even realized it. If they weren't at each others throats about ZACH of all people, Ava could really picture them as being friends. ::

:: Nicolas stepped in, giving a very logical and heartfelt response, pleading to Haleigh and appealing to Sharon. Haleigh rebutted nicely before turning on Morgan, expressing herself in a very raw way. Morgan looked hurt, turned away, and composed herself before expressing herself in the same fashion. As ill timed as this entire conversation was, it actually seemed to be WORKING. But with Haleigh's candidness toward everyone, she brought up the little detail of everyone she ever let into her life hurting her. Namely Cameron, Zach, and herself. Ava looked hurt as she dropped her gaze to the floor. She remembered so many conversations in which Haleigh told her she was the only person she could ever trust...and she broke that. It stung like hell and she wished she had NEVER said anything. Maybe there was something in Morgan's apothocary that would erase that little tidbit from her memory.... Sighing out, as guilty as Ava felt, Haleigh finally seemed to be getting passed her fears of opening up to the group. She even lightened up and cracked a joke at Sharon, but not before completely bashing Stavros. As warped as he was...and as much as he manipulated Ava...he was the ONE MAN who held sway over her emotions. The one person who was able to do such horrible things to other people but somehow MADE Ava want to defend him. She didn't know why.....and in a room full of people who would love to raise him from hell just to get the chance to send him right back there again, she felt like a hypocrit for being there. Turning, Ava left the room; her healed boots tapping against the hardwood floors softly as she headed for the apothocary. ::

[Rampage]

Mike watched as they seemed to work through their problems slowly. The ending part for Haleigh included a heavy slice at her old man that Mike could tell REALLY hit Ava in the stomach. She was a bit high on her horse for his taste, but that didn;'t mean she didn't have feelings, and he felt a bit for her. After she exited he followed, finding her in what looked to be an old herbalist shop or apothecary. He addressed her as she stood there.

Tough crowd there. Look Ava, we definitely got off on the wrong foot before...but I want you to know that you are one HELL of a person. Not many people could hear what has been said about your dad and still manage to operate within the group. It takes courage to be here at all. I admire you for that. Combined with your looking out for your sister when everybody was kind of ragging on her, including me...it takes a special person. So keep your head up. It's too pretty for you to let hang like that. Just so you know, I apologized to Haleigh as well. Well, I've said my piece and maybe one day you will look past my big fat mouth. Until then, take care, Ms. Cassadine.

Mike nodded respectfully and turned away to return to the group...

*****************************************

Nicolas placed a hand on Sharon's shoulder as she wept. He smiled back at Haleigh, who was gamely trying to defuse the situation.

Look, why don't we simply call a truce for now? We could just try to get ourselves in order before we broach these subjects any further. Haleigh, you have your answer and someone to deal with and Morgan, we need to get Sharon situated, not to mention Cameron. We also have more business with Mystech to attend to ASAP.

[Alycia Barnett]

:: as Alycia held Sharon, Haleigh finally backed off, apparently having gotten what she wanted. If there was a moment where Alycia had begun to feel differently about Haleigh, it WENT AWAY after this situation here. Sharon was back and Alycia would be damned if she allowed Haleigh to cause her MORE pain and discomfort on top of everything ELSE.::

:: she decided in her mind that Haleigh just didnt care, and that WHATEVER her motivations were...they were all based on selfishness. if she was WRONG? oh well. Haleigh always managed to dissuade anyone from caring about her for TOO LONG.::

:: she glared at Haleigh as Nicolas stepped forward. Alycia wasnt exactly thrilled with HIM either but that was nothing for her to scream at him about just yet.::

We wouldve been that much CLOSER to making plans to help Sharon and Cameron if your friend over there hadnt opened her mouth.

:: Alycia said coldly. not caring who heard her.::

Nothing's good enough for her. NOTHING can be done properly. I'd like to return to earth immediately. I've had my fill of ungreatfullness for one lifetime.

:: in her mind, AGAIN she was the lamb tied to the stake, having laid her life down for Haleigh, and THIS was how she acted? NEVER AGAIN and Nicolas could FEEL the coldness in Alycia's heart and mind as her heart heardened with bitterness.::

I will make arrangements for Sharon and SHE :: using one hand to point at Haleigh:: is not to come anywhere NEAR her.

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan released Haleigh as she spoke. Looking down at the woman, the sorceress felt a mix of empathy and frustration..>>

You want to talk about getting burned? let's talk about how everytime I have the best hope for you...you DESTROY IT. Let's talk about how we all want NOTHING MORE than for you to feel as though you belong and and all you do is make the chasm WIDER between yourself and damn near EVERYONE ELSE!

You think everyone was out to hurt you? well, our ACTIONS spoke louder than words. WE risked our lives for you on MORE than one front because we genuinely wanted to set you FREE from what was being done to you.

you NEVER make it easy for ANYONE to care about you for very long and while we may see WHY thanks to your memories, YOU shouldve taken this as a chance to LEARN.

I am not AT ALL happy with how youve just treated Sharon. You were WRONG for this.....but...I dont suppose anyone here can be credited with always doing things the right way.

<< sighing as she looked down at the ground for a moment and then ran her hand through her hair, Persephone stepped away, obviously reacting to the mentioning of Stavros in such a bad way...>>

you got what you wanted...now just LEAVE HER ALONE. You have your own things to attend to, and you WILL let Alycia and myself tend to Sharon. YOU may not care about her..but WE do and if i wasnt right about ANYTHING else in this caper...it was that we could help save both SHARON and yourself.

<< Morgan's head was hurting.>>

Persephone is feeling the effects of limbo.......I dont know what else i can do...and so maybe it is time to......

[Ororo]

:: the thunder rolls, seemingly CLOSER than before as winds whistle and howl. a funnel of wind and dead leaves spins into view before the form of a tall woman steps forward. Ororo makes the scene wearing her white "goddess dress" and blue robe. her silver hair is long, bone straight and flowing, parted down the middle.::

Ororo: Do not leave JUST YET, Morgan...

:: Ororo's deeper, elegant voice echoed around them.::

Ororo: For just as I appeared before Haleigh at the BEGINNING of this situation, so now i appear before her at the END. I presented something to her before, and i have something to present NOW.


:: she looked among them all, she had not seen most of them since destroying Erika King and this was by CHOICE. months had passed, and so Ororo smiled a bit as she looked upon her allies.::

It is good to see you again...you have all triumphed once again. The lessons meant to be learned, have taken root in the hearts of those they were most meant for...but like any seed..there is a time needed for growth.

:: looking at Haleigh.::

Come forward, it is time for you to come full circle...and perhaps then, you will find the center, the focus YOU need to begin your much needed growth.

[Jessica Hamby]

Ava left, Mike hurried after her..... Alycia yapped in the background like one of those annoyingly high pitched lapdogs, but all Haleigh could do was stare at Morgan in utter bewilderment as the sorceress responded. Haleigh wasn't QUITE sure what she expected from Morgan.... but she suddenly felt EXACTLY as she had before-- with KAREN.

Morgan:You want to talk about getting burned? let's talk about how everytime I have the best hope for you...you DESTROY IT. Let's talk about how we all want NOTHING MORE than for you to feel as though you belong and and all you do is make the chasm WIDER between yourself and damn near EVERYONE ELSE!

"We ARE talking about that, Morgan."

Haleigh said quietly, her expression flattening as Morgan continued. As Morgan mentioned them risking their lives, Haleigh's eyes narrowed.

"I risked my life for each of YOU too..... many times over..... but that never seems to warrant mention.... It's almost like it's not as VALUABLE when my life is on the line..... otherwise we would've STOPPED reminding each other about it.... because in MY BOOK, we're pretty even in that department. At THIS POINT, do you realize what's more IMPORTANT than risking your life? Risking your PRIDE.... and risking your HEART."

Morgan continued on, and Haleigh folded her arms across her chest defensively as she pulled herself together. She smiled disbelievingly and shook her head softly after Morgan finished.

"You're JUST like your mother, you know that? You bitch and complain, you DEMAND and you PLEAD, and when I FINALLY find it in myself to COMPLY.... neither of you seem to know how to STOP YOURSELVES. No, i DID learn something here. No matter HOW GOOD your words start to sound..... things will never ACTUALLY work that way. They're just EMPTY words."

Haleigh said sharply, as Alycia complained about how nothing would ever be good enough for Haleigh. Haleigh tilted her head to the side.

"Funny that you should say THAT..... I know you were talking about me.... but it really fits MORGAN quite well, doesn't it? [narrowing her eyes as Alycia mentioned ungratefulness] EXCUSE ME? You don't know a goddamn THING about ungratefulness. You are looking at the SIX BEINGS of the entire UNIVERSE that see more ungratefulness than ANYONE. Every MOMENT of our LIVES is spent toiling to STOP Mystech.... to PROTECT people that are barely even aware that they're in DANGER.... to protect people that would CRUCIFY US if they were to find out what we are. So don't TALK TO US about ungratefulness. You can't FATHOM. But I know what you WANT, Barnett. I know what you're driving at. Thanks for taking a couple of bullets for me. I know you didn't DO IT for me..... not REALLY. You may THINK you did.... you may TELL YOURSELF that to atone for creating the weapon that Riley was going to KILL ME with..... but I know that you didn't REALLY do it for me. You did it for THEM. You distracted Riley long enough for me to recover because you wanted to STOP HIM.... and if you couldn't, you wanted ME TO..... So that THEY would be alright. But that doesn't change to fact that you almost died between me and Riley.... so thanks all the same."

She sounded bitter..... but at this point in the game, it didn't really matter WHAT she said.... she'd already knelt down for Morgan and sorely felt like she got kicked in the fact for it.... so why NOT give Alycia what she wanted too? Ororo appeared.... and Haleigh seemed wary..... and she frowned, shrugging.

"Sure.... why NOT?"

[Ororo]

:: as Haleigh blasted Morgan and Karen and MORGAN was ready to rip into Haleigh, Ororo looked at them and held her hand up for them not to respond.::

:: Ororo looked at Haleigh, it was one of those "dont start with me" looks.::

Ororo:I am HERE to HELP you. Something you don't seem to understand more often than not. This situation is YOUR doing and no one else's. the sooner you realize that and STOP retorting, stop trying to SHIFT accountability and START looking WITHIN for the answer that is WAITING to be discovered, the BETTER you will feel.

there is no quick recovery from trauma like this and ALL of you WANT what's best, but you're still struggling on just HOW to get there.

Haleigh is doing her best...and though it may not seem to be good enough, it is as the old saying goes... "rome was not built in a day."

:: looking at Morgan and Karen.::

you both have done all you could, but you cannot FORCE anyone to do things in your "ideal" time and season. you can only hold yourselves to the standards you set and pray that others will do the same for themselves.

:: Looking to Haleigh and Alycia::

and YOU, Haleigh, need to learn the HONOR and COURAGE of asking for AND receiving forgiveness. Alycia Barnett is just as important to you as you are to HER. BOTH of you are here NOW because of each other's actions and in the moment where the chips were down, she rose up not for "THEM"..but for "EVERYONE". she faced the fear that had driven her so far in recent months...and SURVIVED and she did it for YOU just as she did it for THEM. BOTH of you need to set aside your FOOLISH pride and haughty pretense and FORGIVE and BE FORGIVEN for as long as you both live, your lives WILL be connected in the same arena. ACCEPT IT and GO FORWARD.

:: looking among them all.::

Ororo:you should be REJOICING and LOOKING AHEAD! not GOING BACK and revisiting issues that were destined to be swept away.

:: looking at Haleigh specifically.::

a LIFE has been reborn and needs to be nurtured, TWO actually :: including cameron:: and the REST of you need to take this victory and realize that the past CAN come back to haunt you if it and all there in is not fully faced and dealt with.

:: lifting her hand.::

and now, remain silent.

:: as she holds her hand up high...a sparkling green halo forms around it and begins to expand. the room grows dark as thunder builds and crashes...lightning strikes...

:: from the large viewing hole in the dome of the observatory, a jagged green bolt of energy crashes down....slamming into the ground in front of Haleigh while the others remain a few feet back behind her. ::

:: the area remains dark as the violent symphony of wind and thunder begin to subside...and a ray of light shines down, revealing the form of a man, a tall, large man.::

Ororo: step forward, and reveal yourself.

:: at her urging, the shape comes forward....and it is PATRICK!::

[Jessica Hamby]

Ororo gave Haleigh that look.... but Haleigh was NOT intimidated... and she was JUST about to let Ororo know [because, at the rate she was going, why not piss off Ororo TOO? ;)]..... but then Ororo actually pointed out that Haleigh was doing her best, and Haleigh was so fundamentally shocked that she just stood there with her mouth hanging open. Ororo went on to reminded Karen and Morgan not to FORCE things.... that not EVERYONE could adhere to their idea of a timely manner... And Haleigh felt oddly vindicated, by the most UNLIKELY of people. But then.... Ororo had a much more OBJECTIVE view of things, as she was removed from the situation.... and so, it made sense that she was more apt to give advice on the status quo. Ororo turned talked to Alycia and Haleigh now, and Haleigh closed her mouth, abruptly aware that she had been GAPING. Ororo talked to them BOTH together.... and while Haleigh felt like she didn't have any pride LEFT to set aside, she was so IMPRESSED by the fact that Ororo ACTUALLY dared to regard Haleigh and Alycia as EQUALS and advise them TOGETHER and equitably..... that she suddenly looks rather sheepish and shrugs.

"Well.... [casting a quick glance at Alycia] I suppose.... I will..... if SHE will."

Ororo addressed them all, urging them to be HAPPY and to move forward instead of looking back.... and then asked for silence. She performs some sort of spell, and Haleigh throws up a hand to shield her eyes from the brightness of the energy bolt.... and she slowly lowers it as Ororo tell the shape to step forward. Haleigh watched as PATRICK (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/titaniazane/006.jpg) was revealed. He still looked young.... strong and noble, a far cry from the Super Soldier he was turned into. Haleigh faltered.....

"Ororo??"

She questioned, though she couldn't look away. Patrick smiles softly and reaches out his hand, calling Haleigh's name.... and Haleigh slowly reaches out her arms to touch him. She expects to be imagining this.... but her hands make contact with his forearms as she stared up into his eyes. She promptly pulled him into a hug, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. She breathed his scent in, still half disbelieving that he was here.

"You're exactly like I remember you...."

Patrick:"You're.... a little different."

"You're back? [he shakes his head. Haleigh looks disappointed but continues] What are you doing here?"

Patrick:"I understand you've been haunted by your memories of me. What happened to me wasn't your fault."

"I.... pushed you away."

Patrick:"You could never do that."

"I should have LOOKED for you.... I... got angry and buried you in my heart.... if I'd only TRIED to find you.... Stavros... I could have--"

Patrick shook his head, placing his finger on her lips to quiet her. "I shoulda TOLD you everything. YOU did everything you were supposed to. You have to let GO, Haleigh. Let go of the guilt..... It's alright to move on.... If you continue to fixate on all the moments your life went terribly wrong, you'll end up bitter and alone. Everything that has happened to you has happened for a REASON.... your life has taken the direction it is supposed to.... but you.... seem to have lost your way..... and yourself."

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: The hollow halls of Spellbinder's castle were so familiar in so many ways. If you went exploring throughout the vast structure with no sense of where you were going, you were as good as lost. It was like a fun house of mirrors...you walk down one hall and you run into another that looked like a previous one you went down. It was quite a good security method really. But Persephone knew well enough where she was going due to her experience in Darkchilde's castle, heading straight down to the apothocary with no problems. Entering the large room, the smell of belladonna overtook her senses, causing her to inhale a deep breath and close her eyes. It instantly seemed to sooth her...which was what she needed at the moment. Even with Spellbinder's elixier, Persephone had exposed her body too long to Limbo's atmosphere causing the elixier's effects to wear off rather quickly...giving her a solid excuse to leave the six. Walking up to the numerous shelves and cabinets, eventhough her reasons went much deeper than 'not feeling well', Ava would much rather not admit that and just use the illness excuse. ::

:: Opening an old wooden armoire, Ava heard someone enter the apothocary, causing her to turn. Seeing Mike standing there, her eyes became dark, obviously not pleased to see him. Turning away, he began to speak....while rummaging through the small vials of elixiers, Mike complimented her, calling her 'one hell of a person', and began to try and sympathize with her 'pain' over the six hating Stavros. Sighing out softly, she was obviously lacking any interest in what Mike had to say. Finally grabbing another pink bottle of elixier, she turned just a Mike finished his monologue. The one thing that was very clear about Persephone was that she held grudges like no other. The person could redeem themselves 10 times over, but she still would turn her cheek and never give that person the time of day. But....with the revelations that had been popping up throughout this most recent caper, not to mention the growth that everyone seemed to be experiencing...perhaps Ava could look past Mike's crude and distasteful remarks, and forgive him. ::

"Mike: Well, I've said my piece and maybe one day you will look past my big fat mouth. Until then, take care, Ms. Cassadine."


"Very unlikely. Goodbye."

:: Maybe not. ;) Popping open the elixier bottle, Ava turned away as Mike left and down the pink elixier. Coughing softly at the bitterness of the taste, Ava tossed the bottle on the ground; it immediately exploding into a puff of smoke on impact, leaving no debris. Walking over to the vast bookshelves that wrapped around the room, Ava began to scan the old spell books deciding to wait there until she heard word from the rest of the six. ::

[Rampage]

Mike smiled as he heard Ava's response while he walked away. It was not unexpected from her and so he was not surprised, but he did note a change in timbre from her usually dismissive tone. Wavering perhaps? He would not worry about it. Especially so soon after his apology.And so he walked back to the room with the rest of the Six easily, finding them addresses by a GORGEOUS woman in white and blue with exotic white hair.

THIS must be Ororo. Nic told me that about her, but he did her no justice. I feel like I am standing before royalty or something...

Mike simply watched as the scene played itself out, looking at times at Dr. Victoria but noting what was happening as Patrick, supposedly dead, was summoned to speak with Haleigh. It seemed that there was nothing impossible with this bunch...

***********************************************

Nicolas felt the coldness in Alycia's heart as she spoke about Haleigh, determined to protect Sharon. he shook his head, worried that settling old scores would undo all that had already been accomplished. But he had no words that he could summon that he believed would actually HELP, and so he kept his mouth shut for the moment.

Suddenly Ororo manifested, and Nicoolas smiled widely as she did so. he always felt better when Ororo was there and having her and Karen in the same room was like having all of your favorite people n the same room at once. the only sad thing for him is that he knew her visit would not be long. He watched as she took center stage...and conjured up PATRICK in order to help Haleigh. Even for Nicolas, this was a surprise. he wondered if she could do that for his own father, and would it help Sharon. Or maybe he would like to see Morgan? Those questions touched his heart and he grew wistful, his face gaining a pained look that Morgan (and maybe Karen) would notice.

[Jill Monroe]

EMPTY WORDS FOR AN EMPTY, THOUGHTLESS PERSON....

<< a chime sounds off as Morgan prepares to lash out at Haleigh with such ferocity, but as Ororo motions for her to stay her hand and she feels her mother's hand on her arm, Morgan backs off...glaring at Haleigh with such dispproval.>>

<< looking at her mother.>>

I'm starting to agree with Alycia more and more...with every passing moment. After EVERYTHING...not even a THANK YOU...not even a MOMENT of reflection...instead its IMMEDIATELY about her going at Sharon about HER TRAMP OF A BOYFRIEND'S INDESCRETIONS. i dont CARE how she feels...this shit was just...STUPID TO BRING UP NOW OF ALL TIMES. She'd be DEAD if Sharon hadnt disarmed Riley....

<< Morgan folded her arms as Karen looked at her and then at Haleigh. the mother and daughter were united in their displeasure with Haleigh and everyone in the room once that happened...things could go as bad for the person they were united against as perhaps CHRISTOPHER VICTORY.>>


<< Ororo continued to hold up her hand...and spoke words of clarity and fairness. validating Morgan and Karen about their feelings toward Haleigh but reminding them in fairness that they couldnt expect Haleigh to behave exactly the way THEY felt she should..but that she DID have a responsibility to take stock and change accordingly.>>

<< Morgan turns to her mother.>>

She thinks she has it all figured out. she thinks what she does is justified..no matter what. NO ONE can tell her anything.

<< Karen does her best to silently comfort her daughter, and Morgan's own heart churns with fury. has haleigh learned NOTHING? this isnt about what other people MIGHT do, its about what SHE needs to START DOING NOW. just as Karen and Morgan CANT expect Haleigh to change over night...it goes without saying that THEY should not be forced to tolerate Haleigh's continued ungreatfull, maldaptive ways. BOTH sides have to come together.>>

<< as Ororo calls forth the soul, the spirit of Patrick....Morgan covers her mouth with disbelief. Necromancy spells, of ANY form were one part of Magick that Ororo seemed to never promote, but th ere was something different here. When Patrick emerged from the beam of energy, he was FREE of the super soldier transformation.>>
.
...but how?

<< she said softly as Patrick and Haleigh had their tense, emotional reunion. Morgan looked on, studying Patrick in his true form. a handsome man indeed, with a nobility that Morgan had hardly seen in any men in her own past...until now with Nicolas. she looked over and saw Nicolas, looking a bit pained, and uncertain ..but she couldnt tell just why. as the otherworldly reunion continued, Morgan, still standing near her mother reached her left hand over to Nicolas' and slipped it into his hand.>>

<< speaking softly so as not to be heard..by anyone other than Karen and Nicolas>>

are you...allright?

[Alycia Barnett]

:: Alycia continued to hold a visibly weary Sharon as she cut Haleigh off.::

oh get off your high horse, Davidoff. you're the LAST person who needs to be talking about mutant/metahuman martyrdom or selfless sacrificing becuase you are the OPPOSITE of BOTH. you're EVERY MOVE has been motivated by avarice, self serving motivation and the need to ONE UP and i should know. we ALL did what we could to help bring down Riley and YOU act as though it was merely a foot note? you're a real piece of work.

even KNOWING your past, seeing memories broadcast...its STILL too outrageous to believe you were once a woman with any kind of decency or regard for others. you've been wrong on SO MANY occasions and Sharon paid for it with her life ...and no sooner than she FINALLY manages to break Riley's hold on her and help turn the tide of battle to OUR favor..you REPAY her by bringing up something that was just PETTY AND PATHETIC.

AT THIS POINT, NO ONE CARES about Zach but YOU honey...and if he was THAT important, then you shouldve just WAITED till we got back to EARTH like someone with SENSE and dealt with HIM. Sharon wasnt deserving of this. you were WRONG and i dont care what you or anyone else says...your time with HER is UP.

:: true enough, Nicolas could feel the hostility and coldness from Alycia. the woman's thoughts were as plain as day. and with Morgan and Karen uniting against Haleigh...things were definately shifting the WRONG direction. even though rick was defeated..it seemed like he still won.::

:: ororo appears..and the winds that herald her arrival some how soothe Alycia as her raven locks blow in the winds and she quiets herself. Ororo steps in, halting the currente exchange and calling Haleigh to accoutability telling her that this whole thing was HER doing and no one else's. FINALLY someone ELSE who saw it the way Alycia did.::

:: BUT soon, Ororo called Alycia out too...and in her heart of hearts, she knew the weather goddess was right. this couldnt go on. SHaron was alive, there as a chance to live life again...and whatever happened before...was the PAST. Haleigh might have downplayed it..but everyone ELSE saw Alycia's bravery and sacrifice in that room, even Persephone....and Ororo summed it up. haleigh and alycia WERE going to be apart of each other's lives as long as this thing called "the six" continued. they needed to MOVE ON and not remain stuck in the past.::

:: haleigh sounded like a 5 year old on the playground as she said "i will if SHE will..." and Alycia rolled her eyes as helped Sharon to the bed and then turned to face the others.::

what really sucks, is that after seeing your memories, i saw just how many common themes we share. in the torture room, i did what i did...because i wanted to HELP YOU. it wasnt merely about MY wanting Riley at that moment...and even when he shot me, i thought...."haleigh will save them"...i BELIEVED in you like i USED to...before Master Mold.

I dont believe in giving people second chances...that part of me DIED when the insurance company murdered my father...but your memories...they did MORE than just broadcast before me...they touched me and i HATED that because I dont appreciate the way you act, i dont like your "devil may care" ways. But Sharon's back...Riley is dead...we're ALL here...and i REALLY want to move on. i want things to get PAST this point.

you claim that i didnt give you a chance when i went after Stavros? well, i feel that YOUR SILENCE signed Sharon's death warrant and placed us ALL in danger more than once and ALL of the pain and loss that came from that...it could have been prevented if you just done things differently. you made your choice...and so did I.


Sharon's back now...and so it doesnt make sense to hold a grudge against you and i'm...sorry if you felt hurt by my methods. I was HURTING TOO and no one seemed to realize that so i did what i thought was best. I just couldnt FATHOM how someone could at the way you did and care more about secrecy and the protection of youfamily than about JUSTICE...ive seen what people will do "in the name of family"...including acts of betrayal and lawlessness and n my desire to protect and defend against it, perhaps i was too harsh at times. i DONT REGRET seeking justice for sharon and the many lives destroyed by Stavros i ONLY regret allowing myself to dehumanize you the way the insurance company dehumanized my father....its a parallel that just makes me sick.

it doesnt change the fact that I dont like how you've treated sharon OR that i will do anything i need to prevent you from causing her any more distress, but for my part in YOUR distress in the recent past, I apologize.

: she spoke matter of factly. not feeling guilt, so much as the need to set the record straight and to lay things out. in her mind, she was going back to square one...the VERY beginning. no trust, no personal interest, Haleigh was now simply going to be an associate. if things developed again...that would depend on Haleigh's behavior and choices, but right now, Alycia felt herself finally at peace about it.::


:: and at that moment, Alycia fell silent as Ororo addressed Haleigh a bit more before summoning Patrick! he looked HUMAN again...so pure and cleansed from the monstrous aura of the super soldier and as he spoke to Haleigh, the love and gentility from him could even be felt by Alycia. she secretly envied Haleigh on one thing. no matter how twisted and nasty she may have thought the woman was...she certainly had more than a FEW men who appeared to care deeply about her. if someone like HER could be so fortunate, Alycia wondered if SHE would one day find someone as noble and gentle as Patrick seemed to be at this moment. it was almost impossible to associate him with the monstrous form of the Super Soldier as she looked upon him in the now dark area they were in.::

[Ororo]

:: Ororo steps back as Patrick steps forward. she does not answer when Haleigh calls out for her in uncertainty, instead, she lets Patrick speak directly to Haleigh, telling her what she MUST hear.::

Ororo: when Karen cast that spell to the destroy the Super soldier in the citadle, she used one of the most POWERFULL spells from the Darkhold, that level of magick is beyond ANYTHING Mystech could muster and in destroying the Super Soldier, the spell reached to the CORE and found what was left of Patrick , FREEING him at last and though the body was destroyed, consumed even...the spirit, now FREE of the body remained as strong as he ever was before his transformation. I have not resurrected him...I merely called out to him and guided him to my voice so that he would now be able to look upon his lost love and reaffirm her, and direct her to the new path she MUST take.

Ororo: Alycia spoke of "second chances", and you, Haleigh have had MORE than a few. but your time for grace is fast coming to an end. were it NOT for Sharon Kelly you WOULD be dead and there lies the irony that you missed. she may have been sent to destroy you...but HER spirit was not to be controlled even by the twisted machinations of Rick Riley and SHE was the very person who saved YOU from death. Instead of taking her to task about someone who was never meant to be yours in the first place, you SHOULD be thanking her....and sometimes, you SHOULD be held accountable by your friends and family. It is not alwasy TIME to have an answer to everything. SOMETIMES it is time to be SILENT and LISTEN and LEARN.

Patrick has been freed from the torture he was subjected to, Sharon will recover ...and with help...she will find a new life and have the chance she more than deserves and YOU now have the chance to AVOID the prophecy of the Harbinger.

But in order to do so you need to STOP your current course of behavior. You've been warned many times, youve suffered the consequences many times...and youve been granted more than one reprieve. the time for GRACE, Haleigh, the time for FAVOR is at an END.

:: she sounded grim as she said this.::

Riley's DEATH only means that ONE danger , ONE part of your past that you did not properly attend to before has finally been addressed, and it only DELAYS Harbinger's vision from coming to pass. and while it is true that no one can force you to "do" or "behave" as they would, THEY are NOT expected to tolerate your WILLFULL bad choices and behaviors. You must now CHOOSE...a life WITH the Six that will require CHANGES on your part...or to continue down your current path and see Harbinger's vision come true.

:: Alycia spoke, APOLOGIZING for dehumanizing Haleigh and admitting it was wrong and that she was dismayed at herself for it, and Ororo looked at Haleigh...waiting to see if the woman had heard anything that had been said.::

[Rampage]

Nicolas instinctively latched on as Morgan took his right hand. He swayed a bit in his own grief, coming back mentally only once Morgan spoke to him. His voice was a pained whisper.

I...miss my father very much. If he were alive, he would have ALREADY taken care of Sharon, even at this point. The only thing he wanted in life that he did not achieve was a COMPLETE family. He desperately wanted a mother for me and a companion for himself. But he never got to have that, and he will receive no second chance.

Nicolas hung his head, and a lone tear fell to the ground from the mutant's face...

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan looked over at Nicolas, and in that moment her own anger toward Haleigh was shelved as she saw and felt the grief from the young mutant. she felt sad...even GUILTY in some way. she had her mother, TWO actually, that's more than could be said for at least a portion of the team standing there in Limbo.>>

Oh nicolas, honey....

<< she brought him to her and wrapped her arms around him.>>

I'm very sorry...about your father.

<< she thought about Alycia who could certainly identify with this AND even Haleigh could for that matter. Ava as well probably. they'd all lost their fathers under violent circumstances. Morgan lost her's too, but she was partially responsible for that so it didnt bother her.>>


<< as he revealed the source of his grief, she paused for a moment...looking over to see Sharon who was now laying back down thanks to Alycia and she realized that Nicolas' father must have loved Sharon SO MUCH and Mystech...they ruined their chance at a life together. SHE would have been Nicolas' step mother and that probably would have been just as good for HER, considering the violent death of her own natural young son.>>

Your father loved Sharon very much...and i dont think any of us outside of you will know just how deep that went. The fact that she's prevelant in your memories as a child....that means something. It means that though Gustav and Sharon never had the chance to marry...they were sharing their love and She was also doting over you when she could as a mother would. I can't know how THIS situation feels....so all i have are words....but ....you're still more advantaged than most. You have not one...not even two anymore...but THREE mother figures now...I must admit, with Sharon looking the way she does now...she hardly seems like the "mother type"...but again...she's always had a youthfull appearence. My mother and Ororo care for you Nicolas...it can't REPLACE or TAKE THE PLACE of your father...but ...you just know that you're never alone...

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen watched as more words were exchanged beween Haleigh, Morgan and Alycia. Her own icy glare of irritation and disapproval remained sharp and focused on Haleigh as she indicated how "empty" Karen and Morgan's words were. it was in this moment that Karen resolved to cut off all ties with Haleigh once they returned to Earth. she'd make SURE that she'd eliminate as MUCH interaction with Haleigh as she could.>>

<< But even as her heart hardened, Ororo appeared and offered support and fairness, Karen rested in this secretly, knowing that her own flaws had been more than exacerbated by Haleigh's behavior and attitude during this whole affair. Morgan continued to speak with irritation but Karen knew it was time for her to step back all the way.>>

Hush now, Morgan. Let Ororo carry on. We may not like Haleigh's ways...but Ororo has a valid point...and sometimes, its better to let an objective person take the reins

<< she placed a reassuring hand on Morgan's back and smiled at her daughter, letting her know that they'd find a way to work through this. Alycia was next. Speaking truthfully, from her heart and showing courage once again...more than what haleigh had been willing to do with her "i will if SHE will" remark.>>

good girl, alycia. speak your heart, speak the truth and leave it at that...

<< Alycia had gotten out just how she felt, but in a far more eloquent, less emotional manner AND she'd even acknowledged her "dehumanizing" of Haleigh and apologized for THAT while holding true to her quest for justice.>>

<< Ororo continued on, to admonish Haleigh that her chances at redemption were running out and to underscore that, she brings PATRICK to the scene. for Karen its a totally surreal moment to see the man beneath the MONSTER she'd fought at the Citadle. she remembered those last moments where she cast that powerfull spell to destroy him utterly and how he managed to hit her one last, nearly fatal time before himself died. but now, to see the MAN again...free of the evil, monstrous form, it made Karen feel a bit bad. they all knew there as no "coming back" from the form of the super soldier...and that by destroying it, Karen had freed Patrick's soul and spirit...but he was a young man...probably around Nicolas' age and it gave Karen no pleasure to know that someone young enough to be her child had to die by her hand..no matter WHAT form he'd been in.>>

<< she wondered if she should say something...apologize? she didnt know what to think and it was one of the few moments where she wasnt quite sure. as she looked on, Morgan talked with Nicolas and as he spoke, she heard the pain in his voice and looked, to see him shedding tears, his own heart pained as he remembered and missed his father.>>

<< Morgan comforted him as best she could and drew him close and Karen walked over to him.>>

Nicolas,

<< she said softly, like a mother trying to ease a child's distress. she thought for a moment, realizing that Sharon was a woman who had had the benefit of not one, but TWO different men that truly loved her. Her husband Robert, and then Gustav. these were examples of real men and the both treated her with kindness, respect and gentility. She envied Sharon for that a bit...for while Christopher started OUT that way (seemingly) he more than showed his true colors to the end. >>

Morgan is right....you have Ororo and myself. We can't nor do we ATTEMPT to replace your father....but We both have come to look upon you as OUR son. you're a young man, so full of energy, drive and promise, but we both recognize that you grew up without a mother...something your father desperately wanted to give you. Sharon was there...more than any of us could have known...and when this here is all said and done...YOU will have the chance to know her better as an adult. and I think that you will find that the two of you will have more than a little common ground with which to build a relationship on. As she continues to recover, her memories will center and she remember YOU, the young boy that she once doted over....and while its a terrible thing..that she and your father were denied the final step toward happiness...the fates have given Sharon a chance ...it came in a bitter sweet way...but who are we to hold that against her, Cameorn or anyone ELSE that has benefited from it so far? YOU have a chance to know this woman now, perhaps gain a deeper insight into your father as well, BOLSTER the memories of him that you have. He's not here physically, but he's going to be MORE than "alive" in your heart and mind...and his memory will be honored as you and Sharon share it between you. We'll help you...and we'll always continue to be there for you.

<< she placed a hand on his back as Morgan held him.>>

you're a lucky young man. not every young man can revel in having 3 women as "mother's".

<< she thought for a moment.>>

when this is over....I'll talk to Ororo, maybe we can arrange for you and Sharon to.....reach out to Gustav.

<< as Haleigh and Patrick continued to speak, Karen briefly looked around to see Mike, Delilah and Cameron in the darkness. everyone was keeping quiet as this unlikely scene unfolded and Morgan, Karen and Nicolas were speaking softly but it was in this moment that Karen felt the team was probably in the state of reflection they SHOULD have been following this caper.>>

[Jessica Hamby]

Alycia began a bitter retaliation, but Haleigh couldn't pull her attention away from the man in front of her.... and so she let Alycia bleat on without recourse.

but you.... seem to have lost your way..... and yourself.

Haleigh felt a pang of shame..... it was true..... she had long since been a shadow of her former self and it was this reason alone that was the genesis of many of her problems today. "I know.... I wish.... that knowing was enough.... but I have known for a long time.... and I still cannot find a way back. What if.... I never--"

Patrick: "You will. Your friends will help you.... but you must let them. You know how to stand by them in times of grief and danger.... you must ALSO stand by them in times of happiness and safety. Attacking needlessly... and creating sides within your circle will cleave a gap difficult to refill. You ALL managed to drop your personal issues and come together.... to defeat a common enemy. Let that pave the way for a truce and understanding, Haleigh. Whatever hurt they have caused in the past must be let go of... because in the moment that they put themselves between you and Riley.... they revealed their true intentions. You depended on them... and they came through.... because SOME part of them wanted you to recover and survive. No matter what has come BEFORE that..... you must find it in your heart to forgive them.... and to trust that if they HAD NOT cared what happened to you.... they would have let Rick have you while they tried to help the others. It goes BOTH WAYS, though. If ever you doubted YOUR OWN feelings about those who have done you wrong.... then rest assured that in the time of gravest danger, standing up to help and clinging to the HOPE that they would be okay was your very truest of heart. It is time for you to move FORWARD. Let go of the past, and it will no longer hurt you. If your friends have misgivings about their trust in you, then you must EARN it back. Do not rely on the GOOD you have done for them to carry you any more than you wish the bad to be remembered. "

Haleigh seemed almost transfixed, and she nodded softly. His words were laced with deep understanding and he was gentle in his guidance. It was in this way that he reached her, where Morgan and Karen had not been able to... though they had found great sympathy for Haleigh and cared about her, every time they got close was very near the time they themselves were thoroughly frustrated, and the slightest harsh tone caused all progress to be undone. Zach had managed to truly TALK to Haleigh, and Cameron before him- because they had both learned that the way to reach Haleigh was through understanding her intentions AND recognizing just WHEN to be firm with her, and when to be gentle. Morgan, Karen, Alycia and even Alison [in the beginning] had not grasped that..... and while Alison [perhaps through her powers] had realized how to handle Haleigh eventually, the rest still struggled with it. In their defense, however, it was understandable.... None of them had started off on the best of terms with Haleigh and so Haleigh had spent a lot of effort staving them off in the beginning.

Alycia starts talking again, and Haleigh is fully prepared to ignore her... but Patrick turns to LOOK at Alycia... and so Haleigh does too.

what really sucks, is that after seeing your memories, i saw just how many common themes we share. in the torture room, i did what i did...because i wanted to HELP YOU. it wasnt merely about MY wanting Riley at that moment...and even when he shot me, i thought...."haleigh will save them"...i BELIEVED in you like i USED to...before Master Mold.


Haleigh stared at Alycia, almost not believing her ears.

"You...... did?" She stammered, and Alycia went on.

i feel that YOUR SILENCE signed Sharon's death warrant and placed us ALL in danger more than once and ALL of the pain and loss that came from that...it could have been prevented if you just done things differently. you made your choice...and so did I.

Haleigh had to cut in here.... she wasn't sure if she would be able to make Alycia.... or anyone else understand... she had TRIED before but it had not seemed to faze them. That therapy session in which she admitted to self loathing.... had not come across the way she'd intended, apparently. but at this point.... Haleigh could only try.

"You're right! You're exactly right..... and I... cannot fully express.... how guilty I feel about it. I have spent HOURS.... replaying it in my head..... KNOWING that if only i had said something.... thing might be different and if ONLY I'd known what price OTHERS would pay... I would have made some very DIFFERENT choices."

Alycia continued again, APOLOGIZING and it was clear she was not saying these things merely to say them but because it was the way she truly felt. Ororo added in her opinions and Haleigh appeared to be receptive. She gazed at Alycia.... the look of sudden comprehension almost comical.... as a soft smile slowly crept onto her lips.

[rather cryptically]"Ah..... I think I see now." Haleigh wondered if Alycia saw it as well.... and to find out, she pulled Alycia into a HUG, asking softly in her:"Don't you get it too?"

Pulling away from Alycia, Haleigh searched the woman's face for understanding.... and had to stifle a chuckle. "Well.... considering the fact that you're now looking at me as though you've realized I'm not quite right in the head, I'll try to explain. I have now realized why it is that you and I never quite manage to communicate properly. We quite nearly speak different languages. I was not raised to say 'sorry'..... nor to say 'thanks'. In my house, a VERBAL expression of remorse or gratitude was NEVER acceptable.... we believed that the mere WORDS lacked the capacity to accurately convey such things. Instead, I was raised to SHOW these things, through actions of penance or reciprocation. This is were we fall short of reaching each other. You have been WAITING for the words and I have been waiting for the chance to SHOW you.... but so far.... our fighting has derailed everything. I MEANT those things I said to you after you rescued us from Delilah's.... whatever he was. I did CARE about you, and what you thought.... I still do, as a matter of fact. I think you do too, on some level.... it is the ONLY reason that explains WHY we have taken turns RETALIATING the way we have. Nevertheless.... if it's WORDS you want, I will say them. I'm sorry.... really and truly sorry. There are so MANY foolish and headstrong things -- that were deliberately meant to hurt you and yes, some that were inadvertent-- I wish I hadn't done or said. And Thank you. I DO honestly appreciate what you, and Sharon as well, did for me against Riley. [slight pause] Do you see what I mean? I still feel that the words aren't sufficient. I know I've just a poor job just now of SHOWING Sharon that I WAS grateful for her efforts against Riley.... but you must understand... not that I can EXCUSE it, but I've been stretched so thin lately.... and I felt I lost my friends, and I HAD LOT my self control and my fiance all in one fell swoop. Sharon had not been with Zach just to unnerve me, but I didn't KNOW that and it was impossible to look into her silver eyes and NOT see the Swan and NOT NEEDING to find out. I KNOW she wasn't herself, but...... I haven't exactly been myself either. I can only TRY to prove myself later... at this point all the words in the world will fall flat. In my experience... you must now SEE IT to believe it."

Meanwhile, Patrick had moved softly from where he'd once stood, a few steps over to where KAREN was. He looked at her, seemingly THROUGH her. Haleigh was telling Alycia how she felt and everyone else was silent, and so now, he felt, was as good a time as any to speak to her.

Patrick:"I noticed you looking me over..... [suddenly appearing slightly abashed that he sounded as if he were trying a PICKUP line.... he cleared his throat] With death, one is granted almost an.... omnipresence. If it cannot be said that I SENSE what you're feeling, then, perhaps it is that I ANTICIPATE it? At any rate..... You needn't feel BAD about killing the Super Soldier, simply on the basis that I was a part of it. Those who are to blame for my death are Mystech... as I am certain you are aware.... you merely killed a SHELL... that I was trapped in. No one can rationally blame you.... [taking her hand gently and kissing the back of it] I certainly do not."

At this point, Patrick let her hand drop from his, and Haleigh let Alycia and Sharon have the distance from her that they so desperately had been seeking. Haleigh looked over at Patrick and took a deep breath, bracing herself. At least THIS TIME she would finally get to say goodbye.

"So Patch..... I suppose you've got to go.... back....."

Patrick:"No, actually.... there is ONE more person for me to talk to. [looking round for Ava] Where's the little rugrat now?"

[MorningStar]

Holy shit! Delilah couldn’t believe her eyes as Haleigh’s Patrick appeared before them. She hoped this would finally let Haleigh put her guilt to rest. Something had to give…and if it wasn’t Haleigh, then she feared the worst.

As usual as Ororo spoke it brought to Delilah an incredible feeling of peace. If only it would last. Time and time again they had all been in this situation. The name-calling, the bad feelings…would they ever end? She felt like they just ran round and round in circles.

Maybe Ororo had helped them make a real breakthrough. Only time would tell. As Patrick dropped Haleigh’s hand, Delilah stepped to her other side, took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: A bit of time had passed since Mike left Ava in the apothocary...expecting for the Sharon vs. Haleigh feud to be over with already, Ava was a bit surprised that she hadn't heard atleast Morgan complaining about Haleigh's lack of respect and empathy. Deciding to head back to where the group was before they all declared mutany against Haleigh, Ava hadn't anticipated what she'd be walking in on. Stopping at the door, Ava's eyes went wide with shock seeing Patrick standing by Karen, kissing her hand. ::

"Patrick.."

:: Whispering out, Ava's eyes shot to Ororo who was in the room as well. This was her doing...something must of happened that lead to Ororo to give Haleigh the peace that she deserved. Speaking of Haleigh, Ava was quite surprised to hear such touching and heart felt words coming from her sisters mouth, directed to ALYCIA. As shocked as Ava was...she couldn't help but watch Patrick, hoping that he wouldn't look her way. He looked exactly the same....his eyes, his smile...everything about him was vibrant and alive [so to speak]. Nothing like the horrid images of him laying on the hospital bed in her fathers lab. Just seeing him, and hearing the words he spoke to Haleigh, made Ava's stomach turn with guilt. After a moment of being lost in her thoughts, Persephone's body stiffened hearing Patrick ask for where she was. Hesitating for a moment, Ava finally stepped forward out of the shadows. ::

"I'm here."

:: Her voice was warey, mirroring her present state of mind. Gesturing for him to stop before he spoke, Ava moved forward more urgently before slowing to a stop near him. ::

"Before you say anything.....I need you to know...I'm so sorry. [pausing, Ava's eyes began to fill with tears of regret and guilt] I never wanted any of this....to happen to you or Haleigh. I never wanted to hurt you...I never wanted to take your life away...You two were going to build a life together; a family...You had SO MUCH to live for and it was ripped away from you...and EVERY TIME I defend my father...EVER TIME I get angry at anyone in this room for saying how they loathed him, I SPIT on your memory! On Haleigh...The Six...Alycia...Sharon...I've wanted for so long to accept how horrible my father was. How he dismissed someones death like it meant nothing; like that person didn't have a family or friends at home grieving for them. But they did--YOU did. I never wanted for this to touch you Patrick. I can never forgive myself....OR Stavros...for what we did to you and Haleigh. And..i'm...i'm just so sorry..."

[Rampage]

Both Morgan and Karen gave encouraging words to Nicolas, and he was comforted by them. Especially concerning Morgan, as he felt that their emotional closeness was ahead of their PHYSICAL closeness, even todays events notwithstanding. He held Morgan close and shook his head as Karen spoke of a possibility of contacting his father.

That will not be necessary. He and I spoke often and I am satisfied with what he gave me in his time with me. If I taste a glimpse of him, I am afraid that his return will become an obsession for me. I do thank you Ma, for considering whatever it takes to ease my pain. Thank you.

As they stood there, Mike came over, seeing his friend and charge in distress. he knew exactly what was going on. He spoke to Nicolas in a low voice, with only Karen and Morgan overhearing his words.

I miss the Big Guy too, Nic. But you know that he loved all of us, and you most of all. He still lives through you and the work you do for everything he stood for. And in the end, he delivered you to WONDERFUL women <<glances at Karen>> who love you very much. Women who he KNEW would seek you out and ultimately, take you in. So cheer up man, OK? Gustav loved you very much and left you in great hands.

Mike rubbed the tall mutants shoulders as he composed himself...

[Alycia Barnett]

::Alycia's pensive facial expression was plain to see as Haleigh responded. She was sure that this would avail nothing but at least she would know she'd finally done the right thing and could perhaps close this chapter of her life and move on. She had Sharon the take care of (in a way) now not to mention her own duties with the government and like Karen, she was already contemplating ways to just write Haleigh out of her life, treat her as though she'd never been and regard her ONLY as an associate and nothing more.::

:: but Haleigh surprised her, in a major way and Alycia was dismayed for a moment as Haleigh came near and spoke from her heart in such a way that alycia could see and truly understand. she embraced Alycia and there was a flash of tense and the urge to pull away, but as she cought a glimpse of Ororo, she knew this was the right thing...to let go, and to forgive.::

:: her father would have expected her to do the right thing, and THIS was the right thing...to forgive a friend and to bring to a close a long and bitter feud.::

yes...i do understand....and I forgive you as well.

:: Alycia knew Haleigh was right...they BOTH cared on some level, which was what caused them to rail against each other so hard for so long...but now, the time had come to close the gap TOGETHER.::

:: as they let go, Alycia too a hankerchief and dabbed her eyes, looking away for a moment as she did not want anyone to see her teary eyes. she felt so much LIGHTER inside now...and everything felt like it would work out okay AFTER ALL. Haleigh was no longer the enemy, the raving monster she'd come to regard her as. she saw a glimpse of the woman in those memories...MORE than a glimpse. she saw a very revealing side to Haleigh that made Alycia glad that they had finally worked things out.::

:: as Haleigh, Patrick and Ava spoke, Alycia sat down by Sharon and the two women looked at each other thoughtfully, before back to the group. Alycia wiped away the tears from her eyes and looked on in silence.::

[Shadow Weaver]

<< Karen gently rubbed Nicolas' back as he thanked her for her offer to speak to Ororo about reaching out for Gustav, he displayed remarkable wisdom as he turned down the offer, knowing that he might be able to handle what would be an all too brief reunion. his courage to see the truth would serve him well in the future. his long time friend and partner, Mike came close and offered his own reflection on Gustav and the reaffirmation that Nicolas' deeds were ensuring his Father's legacy and memory lived on.>>

<< Karen looked at Mike just as he looked her when commenting on how Gustav delivered Nicolas to the company of wonderfull women. she smiled SLIGHTLY as her sapphire blue eyes met with his own eyes.>>

<< at that moment, she moved away, leaving Mike and Morgan with Nicolas as Patrick surprised her by coming to HER.>>

<< she gasped as her eyes widened a bit.>>

Patrick:"I noticed you looking me over..... [suddenly appearing slightly abashed that he sounded as if he were trying a PICKUP line.... he cleared his throat] With death, one is granted almost an.... omnipresence. If it cannot be said that I SENSE what you're feeling, then, perhaps it is that I ANTICIPATE it? At any rate..... You needn't feel BAD about killing the Super Soldier, simply on the basis that I was a part of it. Those who are to blame for my death are Mystech... as I am certain you are aware.... you merely killed a SHELL... that I was trapped in. No one can rationally blame you.... [taking her hand gently and kissing the back of it] I certainly do not."


<< he held her hand gently and spoke with clarity and understanding, and while she felt a flash of terrible guilt and irrational as she began to feel like she vanquished this young man he REMINDED her what any sane person would have known. her spell destroyed the MONSTER, not the soul , the MAN within. she'd FREED Patrick and this moment right now would not have been possible without that happening. as he told her he didnt blame her, her facial expression softened a bit....as she nodded silently.>>

<< He kissed the back of her hand and let it go as he moved on to speak to Ava and Haleigh again, and Karen exhaled softly...pausing for a moment as she was now able to finally forgive HERSELF for Patrick's death. she walked over to where Alycia and Sharon where...and sat on the other side of Sharon's bed side, taking her hand into her own....>>

[Jill Monroe]

<< Morgan held Nicolas for a bit longer, before kissing him on the cheek. He bravely turned down her mother's offer to help him contact his father once again, but his reason showed that he had a deeper understanding. it was moments like this that made Morgan glad that she'd found someone she could open up to and trust..it was a slow process for her but each step seemed to yield a reward and her time with him here in Limbo, the time the spent together in the bed chamber...it was like a dream that for once did NOT turn into a nightmare for her.>>

<< he was there for her through this whole traumatic ordeal with the silver swan and all related events and though it affected him too, he showed remarkable courage and resolve. Morgan finally felt it was okay to love this man..but she still couldnt just rush HEAD LONG into it.>>

<< Mike came near and offered words of comfort to Nicolas and Morgan slowly pulled away as she saw her mother leave them only to be addressed by Patrick himself! a fleeting glash of concern came over Morgan as her mother expressed surprise at his knowing how she felt...but she knew Ororo would not have called him here if he meant any harm. when he reassured Karen that she had only done what was necessary, Morgan was taken aback by his clarity and understanding. seeing him now, and the way he interacted with Haleigh, it made Morgan wish there was a way to restore him to life...with herself, Ororo and Karen here...surely they was a way...she could do ANYTHING in Limbo.>>

<< but she remembered Ororo's words, her strong stance against necromancy spells and there was a REASON for her stance on that. Cameron, Sharon and Haleigh were all returned by methods OUTSIDE of Magick and Patrick's soul was now at rest...to bring him BACK to this plane of existence would do more harm than good....and so, even as Morgan's mind churned with a desire to do something that could possibly benefit Haleigh in the long term, Ororo's words of wisdom allowed her to look beyond impulse.>>

<< she instead, saw the balm that Patrick brought to Haleigh and even Karen...and through this moment, Haleigh and Alycia had finally reconciled as well. it was all FINALLY coming together and just as Ororo said....people were coming in their own way and time...not at Morgan's demand or direction. She was learning with each moment and gratefull for it.>>

thank the goddess....

<< and now, even AVA was opening up, the subject of Stavros, a long standing bone of bitterness between her and the rest of the team, now being confronted head on as she reaches out to Patrick for forgiveness...>>

<< morgan reaches Delilah and puts her hand on her friend's shoulder.>>

I wonder if Alison "saw" this moment....she probably knew things had to happen this way and that she could not be apart of it. we really needed to see our way through this..without her powers as a precog...and we did it...we stumbled, crawled...whatever we could do..but we did it Delilah!

[MorningStar]

Delilah turned, smiled, and nodded. Maybe this wasn't just Ororo's influence - maybe they really were growing into what they needed to be. Delilah knew how much the loss of Alison had weighed on her friend's mind, and for her to finally realize that Morgan could still lead them even with Alison being gone was a milestone.

"Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Damn, I wish that stupid saying wasn't true."

She reached her hand to her shoulder and clasped Morgan's. But, the question now presented itself...

"Where do we go from here?"

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh took a reassured breath as Alycia accepted her apology. It wasn't so hard to do, really.... but like Haleigh had explained, that was precisely why she did not do things that way.... it seemed too EASY to be regarded.... but Alycia evidently appreciated the gesture and so Haleigh nodded softly. Delilah offered a little support and Haleigh gave a sheepish smile, shrugging.

Patrick, meanwhile, listened as Ava tried her best to apologize and explain. He wore a gentle smile as he took her hands in his. Ava had somehow gotten it in her head that she was more responsible than she ACTUALLY was in the whole ordeal.

"I can't say I don't wish that I DID have that life, Ava.... but it's hardly YOUR fault that things didn't end up that way. You and I BOTH know how things REALLY happened.... and I believe you'd never have purposely done anything to hurt me or your sister. You SHOULD forgive yourself, Ava. If you fear you can't.... just know that I HAVE, and that should be enough. You defend your father because you LOVE him.... there's nothing wrong with that.... so long as you are aware that others, most especially Haleigh, will feel quite the opposite way about him. It helps that you aren't completely blind to his more heinous treatment of others, that will allow you to see their perspective. [pulls Ava into a hug, whispering in her ear]One last thing.... don't let Haleigh push you away.... she needs support more than anything."

He pulled away, still softly smiling, giving her a wink before turning to Haleigh.... it was time for goodbyes.... ones that were LONG overdue.... and Haleigh sensed it too, as she tried to match his smile. It was easy to see that this was painful, though.... for both of them. Haleigh spoke first, nearly inaudibly.

"I wish you'd stay."

Patrick reaches up and brushes Haleigh's hair back tenderly, cradling her head in his hands: "You know I can't..... but I love you very much.... and I will be will you.... for as long as you keep me in your heart. Please don't suppress my memory.... cherish it. I know you were hurt recently.... but don't be afraid to find love again. whether you think so or not.... you deserve to be happy."

Haleigh's eyes welled up with tears as she nodded. "I love you Patch.... I always have... and always will."

They come together slowly, their lips meeting briefly before he wraps his arms around her tightly, holding her with a pained expression on his face as she buries her face in his chest and cries softly. They stay that way for a few minutes, then Haleigh takes a deep breath and looks back up at him. With one arm still around her, he uses the pad of his thumb to wipe her tears away, and they give each other brave smiles before he lets her go, and turns to Ororo, his purpose fulfilled.

[Ororo]

:: Ororo looks rather stone faced for a moment, before holding out her hand.::

Ororo: a person can benefit from reuniting with a loved one. the affirmation and reminder of growing and changing for the better is something you ALL can take from this moment.

Haleigh, you were allowed to see Patrick NOW because you finally UNDERSTAND that you HAVE to change and find a better way. He reaffirms what you know to be in your heart AND he allows you to begin much needed healing. Take this moment and cherish it for there are others who would appreciate moments like this with their loved ones [Alycia and Nicolas most notably] and have yet to experience such an opportunity.

[ looking to patrick]

the time has come for you to leave this place. you have done just what you needed to do and you spoke truer words than you know. as long as haleigh keeps you close to her heart and in the forefront of her mind...you will always have a path directly to her. she will feel you. You are free to rest now. Youve been freed from the nightmare of mystech and reunited with those who loved you most.

rest now, child.

[ Ororo holds out her hands, as Patrick turns back into a swirling flow of sparkling white shards...the pure essence of his soul and spirit that dance and spin through the air eagerly to Ororo's out stretched hands as she "catches" it and directs up...up through the same ray of light they once flowed down from...traveling higher and higher before flowing through the viewing hole in the dome of the observatory out into Limbo's sky. a crash of thunder blasts out around them as the ray of light flashes like lightning and disappeares...the space around them is one again at normal illumination as the thunder fades.]

[in an even MORE abrupt fashion than usual, Ororo prepares to leave.]

and now, I must go.

[turning to leave. it seemed that Ororo began to shorten each visit with the six. it had been this way ever since the Erika King fiasco. it was almost hurtfull how she could leave so fast, so suddenly.]

[ walking away, a column of winds with dead leaves spinning among them forms around the weather sorceress and she fades from view. No final words of encouragement or wisdom. no goodbyes....it appeared the six were not the only ones who had changed. ]

[Pam De Beaufort]

:: Gripping Patrick's hands, although his words were aimed to comfort, Ava still felt responsible for his transformation and death. Closing her eyes, he pulled her into a hug in which she returned. Wrapping her arms tightly around Patrick, she rested her head against his chest, sighing out. Hearing him say that Haleigh needed her now more than ever, Ava nodded. Looking up as they pulled away from each other, Ava gave him a small smile. ::

"I know...i'll do my best."

:: Stepping away as Patrick turned his attention to Haleigh, Ava wrapped her arms around herself, watching the heartfelt goodbye. As Patrick moved away and toward Ororo, Ava reached for Haleigh's hand, tightly grasping it. Watching Ororo do her magic, Patrick was engulfed in lights before disappearing from the room. Casting her eyes down, it was a bittersweet moment...one that Ava knew she would have to help Haleigh through. ::

[Shadow Weaver]

<< sitting with Alycia and Sharon, the doctor watched as Patrick spoke to Haleigh and Ava. this was truly a theraputic , healing moment for the sisters and Ororo spoke of timing and how everything happened as it should. as Ororo called Patrick forward and sent him away, Karen watched the young man's soul flow up until it disappeared from view. After all they'd seen of this man PRE "Super Soldier", Karen had unexpectedly gotten the chance to have an AUDIENCE with him and he assured her there were no hard feelings at all over her casting the spell that destroyed the super soldier. Ororo was right...she HAD done the right thing and without that horrid moment...THIS moment wouldnt have been possible. to know that the young man would now REST...it did Karen's heart good.>>

<< as the room returned to a normal state of illumination, Ororo was ALREADY leaving.>>

Ororo??

<< it was too late, the weather goddess was GONE in a swirl of wind and dead leaves with no goodbye. that was abrupt even for HER and Karen felt that perhaps Ororo was still hurting or IRRITATED behind the King/Marble clan fiasco. maybe she was tired of being so closelly linked to earth bound individuals?>>

she's gone....that fast.

<< Reflecting on everything, realizing that the victory had indeed been bittersweet and the lesson learned came with a HARD transition, even KAREN had become all too aware of flaws within herself that needed to be addressed SOONER than later. but now, Sharon was alive, Riley was DEAD and Haleigh had seemingly been set on a NEW path.>>

<< Karen looked at Sharon who seemed a bit listless. Karen stroked Sharon's forehead gently as she looked over to Alycia. the "mother ring" Nicolas gave her was on her ring finger and the exquisite jewels on the platinum setting glimmered in the light as she spoke.>>

Alycia, when we get back to earth, let me help you with setting up accomodations for Sharon.

[Jill Monroe]

<< looking over at Delilah, Morgan paused before answering her question as she watched Patrick attempt to put Ava's guilt to rest before having one final moment with Haleigh. Morgan's icy violet eyes no longer held a sparkling glare of contempt, but rather a soft, reflective glint. It was so hard to deal with Haleigh, but in this moment, with Patrick, she saw once more, the woman in those memories, the bright, hopefull woman who was ready to take on the world. a woman who had a heart of gold.>>

<< Morgan could idenfity with Haleigh more than she might care to admit at times and through ALL their long history, when they had finally become FRIENDS and allies they had done some of their best work together. much like Alycia, Morgan had more in common with Haleigh and that was what made them clash so much when they DID clash.>>

<< Ororo released Patrick and as he depearted this plane of existence, Morgan looked at Delilah and finally answered.>>

to be honest...I'm not SURE anymore....I never thought i'd see sharon ALIVE again...i never thought i'd see PATRICK in form other than the super soldier. We've learned so much ....Riley's death almost seems a side detail now as opposed to what I thought was MOST important before. Ororo is right..a new path must be taken ...but not just by Haleigh...ALL of us in someway.

<< Ororo was now leaving....Morgan couldnt believe that she'd turn her back on them and leave without saying goodbye. Karen called out to her first , then Morgan.>>

Ororo....wait?

<< but she was gone just like that. Morgan wondered WHY she'd leave like that. if she were here ALONE shed go to the garden but with so many others, Morgan's first responsibility was to get everyone home...what was left of it.>>

<< sighing with regret as ororo seemed to ignore her, Morgan looked up.>>

well....if everyone's ready. let's go home...together.

[Rampage]

Nicolas throughout this time had hardly spent any time dealing with the fact that Ororo was actually HERE...she was busy helping Haleigh and Ava and he left it at that. But once Nicolas was done speaking with Karen and he was holding Morgan as they watched Patrick set things aright with everyone, he noticed the weather witch's detached persona. It was unusually cold even for her, and he sensed a separation that he absorbed stoically. As she departed, he did not reach for her, instead pondering what the problem could be in his heart, figuring that Storm was growing weary of her dealings with them for a time. He believed she would come around as any son would believe in a mother, so he simply nodded and hoped for the best as she left. He overheard Karen offer to help Alycia with getting Sharon settled in, and he turned to make an offer.

I can secure permanent lodgings for her anywhere you choose, Alycia. I also want to make sure that she is financially secured, as Father would have wanted that in any case. Simply tell me what I can do to help, and it shall be done. I trust you implicitly to deduce what she needs best. In a case this...peculiar, you more than possess the needed experience.

Nicolas turned as Morgan spoke of leaving.

I am ready when you are...

[Jessica Hamby]

Haleigh watched Patrick drift away, wearing as brave a face as she could maintain. Ororo was quite brief with them and departed, leaving many to wonder where the fire was. Karen commented what they ALL were thinking... Haleigh nodded.

"She's wary.... after Erika, you know. She was concise when she dropped Cameron off as well... Someone ought to make sure she's dealing with it alright.... we didn't pay Alycia due attention until it was too late...."

She suggested, as the others discussed where Alycia and Sharon could stay. Haleigh moved over and stood by the open window again, breathing in the T.O. virus, knowing they were about to leave. Being here was like an adrenaline rush.... she wanted to get as much as she could from it.

"Well.... if it's a matter of where they stay.... it not really something we need to worry TOO much about.... if worse comes to worst, they can stay at Illustra. There's no SAFER place for them.... and there isn't a single residential floor without five star guest quarters. Come to think of it.... that goes for Cameron as well. I know you placed him at the Parthenon after his return.... but he's a part of this TEAM.... and I would really rather we NOT be divided among the city. He can stay with ME if it's a matter of none of you wanting to put him up."

[Jill Monroe]

<< wrapping her arms around her own waist, Morgan looked up at the viewing hole of the domed ceiling as Haleigh commented on Ororo.>>

When she destroyed Erika...the rage and indignation i saw....it was on PAR with the temporal phantom of herself that i once saw YEARS AGO here in Limbo when she faced Belasco in combat. Since then She's been so CLOSED OFF from us...from ME...She doesnt take kindly to be deceived or betrayed and Erika did both. Cameron is RELATED to Erika and it may be too much for her to look at him or US since we deal with him...

<< Morgan didnt know that Haleigh, Alison and Blaze had ALSO seen that same temporal phantom of Ororo in DARKCHILDE'S timeline of limbo as well. the righteous FURY that Ororo displayed against Belasco even shocked Haleigh...and that was saying something. but as Haleigh remarked on how they didnt pay proper attention to Alycia...Morgan nodded.>>



I agree....Ororo has done so much for us...and she resides here in Limbo...she keeps the hoards in check in my absence. I WILL check on her...but first, i need to get you all back....

<< as Haleigh commented on Sharon's accomodations and Nicolas vowed to make sure she was financially set.>>

We have to set Sharon up first and foremost. Alycia will handle the matter of her identity as she did Persephone/Ava. We will place her in the presidential suite of the Parthenon....and we have to make sure there's NO media coverage of this.

<< looking at her mother.>>

Mother...it would really help if you could stay at the Parthenon as well...to watch over Sharon, just for a few days while Alycia and Nicolas work on getting her set up. She needs a chance to ABSORB this whole idea of LIVING again...and what she's going to DO with her life but i dont want her being left alone without support...

<< Karen readily agreed. looking back down , Morgan was finally ready to relent and allow Cameron back to Illustra.>>

Yes...Cameron IS a founding member of the team and he's earned his trust again. He can return to Illustra and while his floor is being set up..he can stay temporarily in Alison's apartment.

<< Morgan felt confident that the team was coming together...and that EVERYONE would not do better with looking after each other..including their allies.>>


<< as Nicolas gently picks up Sharon, while Karen and Alycia dote over her a bit more Morgan looks at Delilah, Haleigh, Cameron and Ava....>>

Let's head home.

<< with a thought, and a twinkling of her icy violet eyes...Morgan summons a stepping disc and teleports the Six and their allies from Limbo to earth again.>>