Blood makes noise

[Rampage]

Yes...we did get along first.

:: Alycia looks away for a moment, appearing to calmly accept Nicolas' arm. And then, with amazon speed and skill, she twists his arm behind his back. Now behind him she pushes her knee into the back of his and hems him up against the wall.::

You're not the ONLY person who can give some hell, my dear. But I ALSO had to wear Cameron OUT more than a few times over the years before WE began "getting along." Don't think I can't do the same to you!

:: Alycia says with a smirk and a knowing tone.::

You may be physically stronger, but so too was Heracles and Hypolytta still humbled him just the same.

You have a lot of jokes. One of these days, those jokes are gonna land your butt in the DIRT!

Nice move. COULD he have powered out and been the Titan in the room. Sure. But she got the drop on him and he was willing to take his medicine.

I'm sure your aunt told Cameron something similar.

Now then, shall we go?

:: there was silence at first as they got into his car::

Oh, you'll be alright!

:: She says with a laugh, KNOWING she caught him by surprise::

And maybe NEXT TIME you'll remember that you're not the only person who can enjoy a good laugh.

Nicolas laughed as she punched his shoulder in the car as they made their way in. In a second he spoke.

I am glad you are happy with Cam. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy. But I will probably always give you a hard time. So BUCKLE UP.

Nic accompanied Alycia upstairs where they waited for the news. He noted that she had some concern on her mind but decided not to pry. For now.

 

[Black Widow]

Back to Clandestine

Cameron: I'm thinking it's got to do with that group that stormed us at Balthazar..

Ava: Wait...what group? You both were attacked?

(Downplaying) "We weren't ATTACKED..... more like confronted. And I assumed that was more Diana messing with us. (Off Ava's alarmed look) it wasn't that big a deal.... we took care of it."

Cameron: I've seen them on the news. Their recruits are winding up dead. The Purifiers? I mean they seemed like a bunch of unorganized zealots...but they doesn't mean they couldn't cause us some trouble..we are usually numero uno on anti-mutant groups hit lists...

Ava: The Purifiers?....Sounds lovely.

"I've heard that name before..... I think it's the group Zach is looking into regarding the rise in anti-mutant hate crimes. It's a big deal for his Superhuman Rights committee at the U.N...... I'll talk to him as well."

Cameron: Team's been alerted...Now if there isn't anything else...I assume I'm safe in The Parthenon and...Ava...I was hoping to meet with you in order to discuss some things you missed today...

Haleigh's eyes narrowed in the slightest. Going to rat me out, Stud?

Work talk? Seriously, Cameron?

Nice cover, Rugrat.

"Maybe he wants to tell you about the traffic on fifth this afternoon."

Cameron: ...it COULD wait I guess...but I figure since I have you here and that I might die in the not so distant future...might be worth it?

He steamrolled over her insinuation. The pressure in her head was escalating, and she was starting to wonder if it was being brought on by stress. She was tense at lunch, expectant of another misstep with Cameron.... and now..... his life (and Cass's) was in danger..... Was CAMERON the trigger?

Not to mention she was pretty sure he and her sister were trying to get rid of her so they could talk about her behind her back. You don't pull one over on a career intelligence agent. Deception and misdirection was her bread and butter.

Ava: Okay....Hales, you can use my office to make your calls if you'd like.

"No, I'll go back to Clandestine. I have everything set up there, it'll be more secure and convenient."

She'd play along with their weak ruse..... She needed to leave soon any way. She wasn't trying to blackout in front of him again, he'd have a shit fit, and her sister wouldn't stop until she knew EVERYTHING.... which at this point wasn't very much, which was one of the reasons Haleigh wasn't in a sharing mood. SHE didn't even know what the answers were to her own questions, she didn't want them to add to her confusion. Plus Cameron was ADA-Alycia-levels of judgemental and condescending right now. She didn't want to hear his opinions on her possibly having a little zombie baby running around the remains of the Citadel.

Cameron and Ava were busy trading meaningful glances, they didn't see Haleigh grip the arm rest of her chair and brush a listening device half the size of a grain of rice onto the underside of it.

She returned to their office, putting their conversation on speaker so she didn't have it in her head. If they talked about work, she'd tune them out. But if they talked about her.... She needed to know what to be wary of. She wouldn't put anything past Cameron right now.... involving her sister in an entrapment scheme was right up his alley.

Cameron started off talking about Diana, which Haleigh listened to with rapt attention. He didn't offer enough detail. It was regrettable Haleigh had blacked out during the most interesting part of their lunch. She'd been enjoying her time spent with Cameron and Delilah, yes.... but an encounter with the Great White Shark didn't happen very often.

And then Cameron smoothly shifted gears, talking about Haleigh, her blackout, her connection with Diana and the respect Haleigh openly held for her greatest enemy.

 

[Persephone]

After Haleigh left, Cameron got straight to business.

Cameron: "Haleigh, Delilah and I had lunch at Balthazar's today...everything was going smoothly until we had a surprise visitor --- MALICE who proceeded to give Delilah a gift, congratulating her on motherhood. A goddamn silver RATTLE, Ava..right in front of us..."

Shaking her head, she huffed out a heavy sigh.

"Ouch...Malice is about as subtle as a wrecking ball."

Cameron: "And with Delilah being how she is right now couple with how BRUTAL and TERRIBLE that gift was, did not back down. The two cut each other down with words as Delilah attempted to make a move...She didn't of course...because of the truce...but Malice began to manipulate the area around us...causing panic with pedestrians, servers and patrons alike....Delilah escaped in a flash of light and so did Malice..."

"So basically Malice was HOPING Delilah would make a move so the truce would be null and voice. That bitch is chomping at the bit to start a war with us again."

Cameron confirmed what she just stated. Diana was up to something, and she was banking on Delilah to attack. Luckily for them Delilah was able to keep her emotions in check. But Cameron soon moved onto Haleigh, and why he asked to speak with Ava in the first place.

Cameron: "The second that Malice showed up...Haleigh went...."offline" for lack of a better word. She's blacking out again...just like she did when you FIRST came to NYC to live with us..."

"Great..."

Cameron: "But then I got to thinking...the last time anybody was in Haleigh's brain was when DIANA put her back together again via a psychic surgery of sorts...but you know as well as I do that Haleigh is NOT the same Haleigh and as narcissistic as I am...It's not because she's up in arms over ME..."

"No, I agree. I can tell that there's something off about her...and like you said, I doubt it's because of you stud. [Ava gave him a small smile] Fucking Malice. Why the hell does she have to have a hard on for my sister? I KNEW it was too good to be true when she saved Haleigh. Fuck."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, for all she knew, Malice placed a freakin' time bomb in Haleigh's brain that could go off any second. Ava could see Haleigh was in pain when she arrived....that she was distant. Whatever was going on, it was too convenient for it to be happening JUST when Diana resurfaced.

Cameron: "All of this might seem unrelated...but it's NOT. Diana does NOTHING out of the goodness of her heart...and when she fixed Haleigh, she did it because she KNEW it would serve HER interests...and when I tried to bring this up to Haleigh...albeit in NOT the most delicate way..Ava...the way she SPOKE about Malice...it was..well it was ODD....She spoke of her almost with reverence...an understanding..she almost blew my notion that Malice is planning a big move up in my face..."

Giving Cameron a look, Ava's brows furrowed.

"Oh come on, Cameron. You and I both know that Haleigh despises Malice as much we do, if not MORE. She's just....strangely drawn to people with no moral compass, and finds them interesting. Why do you think she's put up with for me all these years?"

She quipped, trying to lighten the tense mood.

Cameron: "Now I don't know how much of that was her just being angry at the way I approached the situation or how much of it because she seemed to have inherited the 'Cassadine' quality of never talking about your problems until they explode in the faces of everybody you care about..."

Rolling her eyes, Ava looked away from Cameron and shook her head. Nice, King. She thought, knowing he would pick up her thoughts.

Cameron: "I'm an empath, dear...and you haven't exactly been up on your game these last few days...just saying.."

"Yeah well, keep your empathy to yourself. I'm fine."

She said cooly, finishing off her drink and placing the empty glass on the table.

Cameron: "I know Haleigh is loyal and I know she is GRATEFUL to Diana for fixing her which MORE than makes my stomach churn...but I have a BAD feeling, Ava. And remember...I'm a KING..when WE have bad feelings...they MEAN something...I can't talk to Haleigh about it because of my feelings towards Malice and because she can't hear ANYTHING from me right now because of our less than stellar reunion...I'm not saying even YOU should talk to her because she probably won't budge...She'll be indignant and she'll push you to spill YOUR guts first...which I know you aren't interested in right now..."

Sighing, Ava was starting to get annoyed with the subtle jabs he was making at her. It was probably the same reason Haleigh was fed up with him as well.

Cameron: "I'm telling you this because I WON'T have Malice take another person from us...and i'll be ESPECIALLY damned if the person she goes after is HALEIGH...Despite what you MAY have thought about Haleigh and I's relationship over the last few years...I love her Ava and I care about her more than I'm probably willing to admit at this point...but I can't watch out for her in the way I want to...she won't allow it...I need you to watch out for her."

"I always have her back, you don't need to worry about that. But I understand what you're saying..."

Cameron: "I know it sounds like spying on your sister...but your sister needs help and she's NOT going to ask anybody for it...outside of that...she's putting the lives of The Six in danger by remaining silent...you know...I don't even know if she's thought that far about it or if she even KNOWS what's going on with her...and maybe I'm really off base...but I need your help, Ava..."

"Cameron, I know my sister....if there was a possibility that whatever is effecting her would put the six in danger, she would come to us immediately. I think whatever's happening to her...is probably confusing to her as well? She might not KNOW what's going on or why it's happening. I know you're concerned....I am too. But just give her the benefit of the doubt and realize that if this starts to escalate, she'll come to us. She's not going to let anything happen to us at her expense, I can promise you that. But i'll keep an eye on her, okay?"

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

Ashley’s fingers stroked the creamy skin beneath her, soft lips pressed insistently against her mouth, wanting, needing, begging. Cruelly for her playmate, the kiss was abruptly broken as Ashley’s head jerked backwards, her hair pulled from behind and another pair of lips – rougher this time – found the base of her neck. Her lips spread into a smile as she arched her back and the three of them found a perfect rhythm, he sliding his hands down her arms and interlocking his fingers with hers, then guiding her hands onto the woman beneath them. He leant forward and began kissing the woman, then her again. They were a tangle of arms, legs, and other various body parts, melding into one form…

The woman (Jennifer? Jacklyn?) now dozed on one side of the king bed, and Ashley slept spread eagled in the center. She murmured dreamily, and rolled over. She blinked and stretched, her nude form unencumbered, then she curled up onto her side and watched him start to dress. The three of them had been at this all day – ever since they had drunkenly rolled in to Ashley’s room around dawn – enjoying each other then napping in between. But it was nearly time for her to get ready for work again – him too - and the fun would have to end.

She sighed as he pulled his jeans on over the muscular thighs and quads, and buckled his belt.

“Mmmm sure you don’t want to stay for just one more?”

She purred it, the long lashes around her large hazel eyes fluttering.

“I have a really fun way we can wake…Justine? Jerica?...up.”

He pulled his tight black tank on over his eight pack, then returned to the bed, leaning in for one last long kiss.

Bishop: “Can’t. And neither can you. Now, do you have my stuff?”

Ashley crossed her arms over her breasts, pursing her lips and raising one eyebrow.

“Only if you have a present for me.”

Bishop smiled, and scooted backward off the bed. He grabbed the black backpack he had carried in with him, and unzipped it so she could see that it was full of cash.

“Over by the closet.”

He moved to pick up a large black duffle bag, and slung it over his shoulder.

Bishop: “Thanks.”

He saluted her, and she got up off the bed and padded to the door. She opened it, and followed him out into the main room of the apartment.

Bishop: “I’ll call you.”

She was nonplussed.

“Yep, whatever.”

Wheels clicked on the hard wood floor. He called into the darkness.

Bishop: “See ya Zizi.”

Ashley shut the door behind him, and made her way back into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, got out the orange juice and began drinking it from the bottle. She looked into the darkness of the living area, irritated.

“What?”

Zizi, seated in her chair, rolled into the light of the kitchen.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

She heard movement, and voices. She had been working – trying to find out more on Dominique. There was something off about the whole thing, and it was making her crazy not having the answer. She shook her head at the usual occurrence happening in one of the guest bedrooms, and wheeled herself out into the main living area. She heard him call from the doorway.

“See ya Zizi.”

And she called back, just catching a glimpse of him as he went through the door.

“Bye bye – be safe you hear?”

That boy was going to get himself killed one day.

She rolled the rest of the way to the kitchen, where Ashley was, stark naked and drinking out of the orange juice container again.

”What?”

She tried to put her sternest face on, even though she didn't like judging other people and how they lived.

“Ashley, you can’t keep selling off my weapons.”

She watched the tall blonde finish off the carton and drop it onto the counter, but just smiled and shook her head. There was no changing this one.

“And do you think, maybe, out here in the open, you could, you know, not be so naked? What if Zach was still here?”

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

“Ashley, you can’t keep selling off my weapons.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Come on, Zees, it’s just Bishop. What do you care - you know he’s just going to go out and kill a bunch of bad guys with it. Bad guys get dead, I get a load of cash – it’s a win win. And that was the old stuff anyway. I keep all the good stuff for me. And stop trying to look serious – it doesn’t work for you.”

“And do you think, maybe, out here in the open, you could, you know, not be so naked? What if Zach were still here?”

Ashley looked down at herself, as if she hadn’t realized until that moment that she wasn’t wearing anything.

“I spend a thousand years in Europe, no one ever complains about me being naked. I come here and suddenly it’s a problem.”

She hopped up on the counter and crossed her legs at the knee.

"As for what I'd do if Zach was still here: I'd smack that fine ass is what I'd do."

She stretched her arms above her head.

“You know, for someone still living their first lifetime, Bishop has put in a lot of work in the bedroom. He could even teach me a thing or two. And I swear, his muscles have muscles.”

Zizi was making an “ew” face.

“Hey you and I could have some fun with him one of these days...you know you want to."

Zizi didn't look convinced, so she rolled her eyes again. No one was ever any fun. Except for that girl that had joined them last night...Jocelyn?...

"Oh come on, you have to give me something. I’m stuck in that crappy job dealing with humans all day long.”

Zizi: “I thought your reason for being on the force was to cover up mutant crimes?”

Ashley’s face scrunched up into an almost snarl.

“Yeah but it’s not like they ONLY send me on those ones, even if that’s what they SHOULD do. It’s like they expect me to really work. It’s awful. All the humans do is complain and whine, and they want someone to save them but as soon as you do – BAM – they’re suing you for excessive use of force.”

Zizi held up her pointer finger.

Zizi: “But didn’t you in fact use excessive force in those cases, Ash?”

She narrowed her eyes as she looked over at the girl in the chair.

“Well, that’s beside the point. Which is, my life sucks. [feigning an innocent face] Would you deny me a little fun and some cash on the side?”

Just then, the woman whose name she couldn’t remember stepped sheepishly out of Ashley’s room, and stared at them. Ashley tilted her head.

“There’s my girl.”

She hopped down off of the counter and sauntered over to her, putting her hands on the girl’s waist and pulling her into a passionate kiss. She turned to Oracle, one arm still around the mystery woman.

“This is my roommate, Zizi. Zees, this is…”

Ashley looked at the girl expectantly, and when she didn’t speak, motioned with her hand that she should.

Jade: “JADE.”

“Right! Jade. That’s it, I KNEW it was a J!”

She smiled self-satisfactorily as she moved to the door and held it open for Jade, who didn’t look too pissed off. Not that she really cared, but she might want to call her again sometime.

She waved as Jade made her way down the hall, half her outfit clutched in her arms.

“See you around!”

She shut the door behind her and looked pointedly at Zizi.

“What?”

Zizi: “I didn’t say anything.”

An alarm started sounding in the apartment.

Zizi: “Something new must be coming through on Dominique or the Purifiers.”

Ashley followed Oracle through the loft to the com station, pulling an afghan from one of the sofas on the way and wrapping it around herself.

Arriving at one of the terminals, they saw on the screen the reason for their summoning: a blonde woman dressed in silver costume and mask.

Zizi: “The Silver Swan…”

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon - Ava's Penthouse

"Cameron, I know my sister....if there was a possibility that whatever is effecting her would put the six in danger, she would come to us immediately. I think whatever's happening to her...is probably confusing to her as well? She might not KNOW what's going on or why it's happening. I know you're concerned....I am too. But just give her the benefit of the doubt and realize that if this starts to escalate, she'll come to us. She's not going to let anything happen to us at her expense, I can promise you that. But i'll keep an eye on her, okay?"

Cameron looked at Ava a little perplexed, but he was relieved that she agreed to keep an eye on Haleigh.

"Its not that I don't trust her, Ava...it's just that with Malice, sometimes you don't GET the chance to let anybody know, you don't KNOW it's escalated until it's too late...one needs to only look at my sister Erika to see that...and like I said I may be way off base...and honestly I don't think she is even aware of what it all means, like you said...It's just if there is one person capable of catching even HALEIGH off guard...it's Diana..."

Cameron thought for a moment to himself. He was trying to be careful with his words. He wasn't judging Haleigh, he wasn't not trusting her, he just wasn't underestimating Diana.

"Well, before we head to the others...thanks for listening to me..and I'm sorry I kind of duh at what's going on with you...I'm just frustrated..especially now that my death warrant may be signed. You are doing a great job at work, and I'm proud of what we are creating..and I'm proud of how far we've come...professionally and PERSONALLY. I gotta say the irony of the conversation we are having right now is not lost on me. Thanks, Ava.."

He have her a wink and he squeezed her shoulder gently.

"Guess it's time to go meet with the others? Wanna get a hold of Haleigh?"

And with that Cameron made his way out of Ava's Penthouse and to the lobby, where he passed by the main reception and into one of the Executive Conference Rooms where the team was slowly starting to gather.

 

[Silver Swan]

Cutting them down

[ Alycia was worried. ]

[Sharon was on edge]

[ Sharon knew Rose, even BEFORE she died...and returned...as the Silver Swan. Rose was a woman with a genuine, nurturing spirit. Her "quiet" psychic/clairvoyant powers allowed her to navigage the waters carefully and for many years, she provided a safe haven to the weakest and most marginalized mutant children. The homeless, the orphaned, the abused/unwanted and abandonned. For years, Alycia and Sharon helped Rose with key contacts, financial backing and protection. When Zach succeeded Alycia in many of her growing roles as a mutant rights liason, Rose and her shelter were included in her "ongoing projects" list along with flow sheet to help monitor and maintain the stream of support she ensured Rose got to keep her small but comfortable and well equipped shelter running AND protected from enemies both seen and unseen. Zach continued to direct funding and support Rose's way but had not formally met the woman.]

[ Now that Alycia and Sharon were BOTH back, Rose dared to hope that she might weather the brewing storm of the Purifiers, but hope was no guarantee, even with powerful amazons waiting in the wings to support and protect]

[Whatever was coming, Sharon needed to be here. It wasn't just Rose, or Alycia. There were children involved, children who had already been downtrodden, beaten...in some cases literally...and discarded, simply for being born different. She had a son, a beautiful boy named Kyle.]

[ He was taken from her many years ago, by the same entity that murdered and later revived HER. Her son was turned into a monster and once she discovered him again, she had to kill in order to set him free. It was the only merciful thing to do.]

[ Few things will provoke the wrath of the Silver Swan quite like abuse/battery of women and/or children. Some have found this out the hard...fatal way.]

[ there were some...who still didnt know...or perhaps didn't care. a pity that.]


[ She flies through the city at high speeds, she had lowered her altitude a bit when she began receiving signals and images from birds in an area of central park.]

[ Because of her lower altitude, some cameras and other surveilance devices were now able to capture images of her. Most wouldn't be worth anything due to poor visual quality, but some, powered by technology that ORACLE could tap into, allowed for an uninterrupted view of the bird of prey in full beautiful armor form. would it bother Sharon to know she was being watched? No. ANYONE could look, as long as they didn't get in her way.]

<< Central Park. A sprawling oasis of GREEN in the middle of the concrete jungle. It is both famous AND infamous.>>

<< On this breezy night, a young girl barely 14, runs for her life. there's a look of sheer terror on her young, tear streaked face.>>

<< In pursuit are 4 large, well armed men, all wearing the purifier robeover their para military strike force uniforms.>>

<< For them it isn't really a pursuit, so much as it is a HUNT. They're tracking the girl with a portable cerebra, which is specifically attuned to the brain waves of mutants. There is no escape for this girl, who's only "crime" was being born. >>

<< Her name is Katie. She loves art. Plays the piano. Two years ago, she discovered she had a gift to create objects out of pure crystal! As she explored her gift, and began to use it more, she worked hard to keep it a secret. She was terrified of what people would say....would DO if they ever found out. She had good reason to be.>>

<< Recently, another student CAUGHT her manifesting a crystalline object while sitting under a tree lunch hour. He threatened to "call the Purifiers and report her!" She'd seen some of Sister Mary Justice's "outreach" efforts on TV and in print. That woman was TERRIFYING and so too were the large, hooded men who's faces she couldnt see, always standing around Mary in those purple robes with the white crosses on them. >>

<< NOW those men were after her! CHASING HER. The wanted to hurt her....KILL HER! She'd tried seeking help, but people either refused or acted like they didnt see her. At one point, she sought the aid of a police man. He TRIED to intervene, only to be gunned down by the purifiers, who dispersed the gathering crowd in a panic of gun fire.>>

<< NOW she was all alone and running out of steam...her legs tired, her lungs on fire...no more tears...hardly any more energy left and soon....no where to RUN!>>

<< She tries and falls, losing a shoe as the bright lights of the purifier search torches glare around her. She's surrounded.>>

Purifier 1: We told you when we came for you , kid. There's NO escape from god's judgement.

Purifier2: Your parents should have listened too. Anyone who stands in the way of judgement will be cut down like ripe wheat.

Purifier 3: You're not the first...you wont be the last. OUR children will not have to suffer sharing this green earth with the devil's children. We will cleans the earth of ALL the mutants.

<< Katie cries out, begging to be spared. The men show no hint of compassion.>>

<< UP ABOVE, watching from the trees, birds see and hear EVERYTHING. They relay their information to SILVER SWAN, who is NOW closing in and FAST.>>

Purifier 4: Alright, let's finish this.

<< one of them stands above the girl, putting his BOOT on her and taking aim with his weapon while the other three stand around him>>

HOLD IT!

Purifier 1: WHO!?

[ the sound of adamantium screaming through the air is heard as the armoured, feminine form of the Silver Swan DROPS DOWN from the night sky toward them]

Purifier 2: WHAT IS THAT?


[ She LANDS and slowly stands up to full height, looking upon the men with a cold stare from behind her silver eye mask]

Leave her alone and be on your way. Or you will answer to ME.

Purifier 3: << to the to the one holding cerebra>> I thought you said this was going to be one of the routine hunts tonight? Your scans didnt detect any other mutant signatures ANYWHERE around the mutant's house!

Purifier 4: that's because there werent any. Even NOW, i can't get a firm READING on THIS ONE...

Purifier 1: You idiots, didnt you watch Sister's video!? THAT'S the mutant monster who MURDERED the staff at the church! It's the SILVER SWAN!

[ Sharon was actually STARTLED to hear this from the man. For a MOMENT, she LOST her cold, steely gaze as she reeled from the shock of hearing anyone recount her muderous rampage at the cathedral. ]

What do YOU know about that!?

Purifier 1: We know all ABOUT you, mutant monster! You destroyed the good people of St Patrick's Cathedral to satisfy your satanic BLOOD LUST. But god saved one so that SHE might carry out his will to see YOU and the rest of you genetic freaks PURGED.

[ Sharon was not expecting THIS. It jarred her. She seemed almost..."LOST IN THOUGHT" as she remembered that moment in time...what SHE did. Even though she was completely out of her mind...it was still HER doing.]

.....


[ She would ALWAYS regret that. But there was NOTHING she could do about it NOW. A small girl needed her HELP right now!]


Purifier 2: FINISH the gene-trash on the ground, then bring out the plasma cannon for the

[ renews his aim and is about to fire]

NO!

[ Silver Swan yells as she LAUNCHES herself forward. A silver spinning disc SLICES through the air and SLICES the hand of the purifier holding the gun CLEAN OFF. as he SCREAMS, his screams are SILENCE as she reaches him and SNAPS his neck, sending him flying into a nearby tree]

[ Pulling the girl up..]

Go. Run and hide behind the trees over there. Stay there and don't move until I come for you. HIDE. Keep your head down...and close your eyes. No matter what you hear...DON'T LOOK until I come for you!

[ Sharon commands as she ushers the girl on. The other purifiers, clearly pissed, begin taking SHOTS at the retreating girl. Sharon immediately BLOCKS the bullets, some with her armoured body, others she deflects with her armored arms. ]

Now it's MY TURN!

[ she THRUSTS her hand forward and from open palm, SEVERAL adamantium spinning stars fly out, spinning/slicing forward and SLAMMING into one of the purifiers with rapid succession and deadly impact. one IMBEDS itself into his forehead and he falls backward to the ground, dead.]

[ DODGING several BLASTS from a plasma cannon, Silver Swan somersaults forward, ending the movement on her hands as she wraps her legs around that purifier's NECK and SWINGS HIM forward in a deadly "scissor grab" move, SLAMMING his head into the ground. She stands up and SMASHES her high heeled boot down onto his head. the sound is sickening.]

You're the last one.

[ She says as she and the remaining purifier stand, staring each other down]

You can't beat me. I am BEYOND any power or ability you possess.

Purifier 3: No weapon formed against us shall prosper. Every mutant that rises against us shall FALL.

Then TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!

[ She stands there before him and BECONS. He LUNGES forward with a fearsome battle cry. He's a large, well built man. Very athletic and strong...for a HUMAN. But even at his BEST, he is NO MATCH for the Silver Swan. He reaches her in his vain attempt at a physical attack and she grabs him by the neck, SILENCING his cry as she effortlessly lifts him up off the ground]

You terrified that little girl. You murdered her parents. I know EVERYTHING that happened...

[ the birds that were watching "told her"]

And I'm going to make you PAY!

And after this...I will FIND the rest of your group and I will DESTROY THEM ALL. WhoEVER it is you work for...will BEG for the comfort of death that escaped them the FIRST time they saw me...

[ Sharon says with coldness as she tightes her grip even further. The man's eyes are now bleeding...his face is turning blue and his body is spasming]

You liked hurting people. You liked hurting that girls parents....didn't you?

I like hurting YOU now.

[ She tilts her head to the side as she continues to squeeze...the man's head looks like it may EXPLODE at any moment...]

 

[Seer]

When things go wrong

<< There was no denying that Silver Swan was not only a vicious fighter, but a killer. But even the Amazons who welcomed her into their sisterhood had a violent past. They were a race of warrior women, vicious fighters who were 2nd to non in the arts of combat, hunting, weapons handling and martial arts. While they did not kill as GLEEFULLY as they once did, they still understood the fact that there WERE times when killing was necessary or even a MERCY. >>

<< From what Silver Swan had learned from her feathered friends, these men had brutally murdered this girls parents. She was now an ophan, scarred for life. They had committed no crime, save loving each other and giving birth to a child that happened to be a mutant. Things like this not only registered with Sharon, they touched her at her CORE, despite her wild changes on the journey that was her life, the CoRE of her would never change. Before she was the Silver Swan, she was and would ALWAYS be a MOTHER. This could have been HER and in many ways it was. Katie could have a fate like Kyle's...only her's would've had a quick, brutal ending. NOW, Sharon saved the girl's life and while she couldnt bring her parents back, she COULD get her to a place where she'd be safe once again and have a CHANCE at somehow recovering....surviving.>>


<< As Sharon deliberately tortured the last purifier in her grasp, literally crushing the life out of his body, she was unaware that she herself was being watched from an unlikely source. Not that she would care. Few that laid eyes on her would dare to make the mistake of getting in her way and many more didn't want to believe that the Silver Swan was in fact the former human senator Sharon Kelly.>>

------------------------------------------

<< At the Parthenon, Cameron arrived in the conference room to find Nicolas and a pensive Alycia. Delilah was just now on her way up to the conference room. Ava would and Haleigh would be along shortly, this just left Blaze, Cass, who were preparing to leave XS. Sally Spectra was with them, as was Vivica Lennox and since Cameron had included Vivica in his initial thought call, it appeared SHE would be joining in the Six's first official meeting over recent events as well. >>


-------------------------------------------

<< Back at XS. Blaze calmly but quickly began closing up shop. Vivica noticed her method of checking entrances and windows. There was a method to her movements and a quiet but direct urgency that indicated Blaze had some sort of military or para military background. Indeed, FIREBIRD had previous Black-ops experience for a "shadow agency" in her own timeline prior to the Six or even Valiant, similar to Foxfire in mainstream prior to HER time with Valiant. She was seeing a more serious side of Blaze.>>

<< Vivica and Cass didn't know that Cameron had sent Blaze a 2nd thought call about Cass and her being specifically mentioned by Alison as being one of 2 TARGETS for extreme danger.>>

<< Cass waited out in the main area of the club, while Sally, wanting to get a bit of fresh air, stepped outside just in front of the club. She'd called the driver twice. The first time no answer...the second time she called, an unfamiliar female voice answered from the dispatch end.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< only MOMENTS earlier>>

Dispatcher (SARAH SMYTHE): V.I.P. carraige, what is your priority service ID # please?

Sally Spectra: I don't recognize your voice? Where's Harold?

Dispatcher (SARAH SMYTH): Oh, I apologize, Ms. Spectra. I'm relieving Harold this evening. He was called away due to an emergency.

<<FLASH!>>

<< AN HOUR AGO. Sarah Smythe, one of the PURIFIERS, can be seen in her black, form fitting para military suit and her purple purifier robe with its hood over her head, covering her face in shadow. She is STRANGLING poor Harold from behind before plunging a dagger into his heart and letting him fall to the floor. He crumbles into a heap at her feet. His eyes rolled up in the back of his head and blood slowly trickling from his mouth.

<<FLASH!>>

<< Back to Sally's phone call, just moments earlier>>

SARAH SMYTHE: But he was quite certain to make sure I would handle YOU and your account with the utmost care, Ms. Spectra.

Sally Spectra: Well...that's alright then, I suppose... NOW THEN, I need my limo back at the front entrance of XS TOUT DE SUITE!

SARAH SMYTHE: Yes, Ms. Spectra. That limo has been dispatched and will be there momentarily. ETA is less than 5 minutes.

Sally Spectra: Thank. What's your name, by the way, honey? You're very courteous and pleasant...

SARAH SMYTHE: My name is JANE. Thank you for saying so, Ms. Spectra. You're one of our BEST clients and we'll be SURE to TAKE CARE OF YOU

<< Sally was now outside. It was a pleasant, slightly breezy evening. She took a moment to check her ipad, looking in her email box and checking over "end of day" reports sent in from various Spectra Boutique stores. Andrew Murphy's report included his usual and customary "cheeky" closing message at the bottom. Sally smirked a bit.>>

Naughty little boy...

<< Laughing softly, she was amused by Andrew. He was a cute young man. Sally could tell he had a good heart and genuine spirit. There were not many people like that in the world these days...and he saved her life, quite literally. She was happy to repay him with a job and while it might have been the most "glamorous" job, she gave him a nice pay scale and benefits. He did his job well and prooved to be reliable, consistent and bring a bit of levity to the the most popular branch of Spectra Boutique so far. THAT was the perfect balance to some of the pretentious staff on the FRONT END of the store.>>

<< She was more than a little aware of his recent dealings with one, Delilah Trelevan. Delilah was a friend of Sally's and a member of the Six, but Delilah was also going through a valley right now. Sally did her small part to at least provide Delilah with some happiness and pleasure when she gifted her with a complete new wardrobe and accessories and she ended up being responsible for introducing her to ANDREW. Now the two were at least having fun together, which, to Sally, was something to help balance out whatever ELSE Delilah was feeling. >>

<< Indeed, Sally was a huge source of emotional and moral support to the Six over the past year. She'd come to mean a great deal to all of them in various ways and she cared for them too, especially Morgan, Blaze and Nicolas. Their status as mutants didn't change anything for her. She, like Sharon and Alycia before her, were one of the Six's true HUMAN allies.>>

<< It was unfortunate, how sometimes associations could be as deadly as direct involvement...>>

 

[Sally Spectra]

Assault outside XS

:: What a day. What a night! Work hard, play harder! Those were words to live by in Sally's book. Blaze was definitely of the same mindset. That's one of the reasons why it was such a pleasure to work with her, NOT that Morgan was LESS enjoyable, just that Blaze leaned more toward the "fun loving" while Morgan tended to be quite serious even though the blonde bombshell DID know how to loosen up and in recent years, seemed to be more comfortable with it.::

:: For now, Sally was looking forward to getting back to the Parthenon and getting some GREAT "Customer Service" from a certain handsome, eager room attendant. What would Cameron say, knowing that the fashion maven was enjoying his staff in MORE than one way? ::

:: At the moment, the fashion diva waited outside of XS. Just a few steps away from the double doors. While checking her ipad, 3 tall men dressed in curious "costumes"? began approaching.::

:: At the same time, the LIMO was slowly pulling around the corner::

Purifier: SALLY SPECTRA?

Hmmm? Who wants to know?


Purifier 2:We'd recognize you ANYWHERE! We're FANS!

:: Sally looked up and was momentarily taken aback by the LOOK of these men. But hey, it was NYC and she'd seen far stranger...WORSE things in her time here and elsewhere. Although...the fabric of those robes!? ::

Well hello boys!

:: She said in a warm, confident tone.::

Is there some...Mason's convention somewhere nearby or something? You fellas lost and looking for directions? Maybe need a...

:: Smirking a bit:: Fashion consultant?

:: the approached a bit closer. Not responding to Sally's friendliness or her good natured humor. ::

What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? C'mon I don't bite...unless you want me to. Besides, you spoke to me first, remember?

:: Still nothing.::

:: Sally was a woman of the world. Tough, resourcefull and not easily intimidated by ANYONE. She'd face threats and foes in the boardroom, the showroom and elsewhere and come out on top. She ALSO "CARRIED" a special friend in her purse because sometimes a girl just had to be ready to defend herself in that way::

:: But perhaps she had allowed herself to relax a bit...TOO MUCH over the last too much, surrounded by her super powered friends? She did not have her personal security with her tonight.::

:: And now, she wasn't quite sure WHAT to make of t hese three, strange looking men who were approaching her. Her smile faded::

C'mon boys, this silent routine lost it's appeal 2 minutes ago. What's up?

:: The limo arrives, pulling up to the front doors. The driver exits and silently walks around as Sally, no longer feeling GOOD about the situation that was manifesting to her, stepped back from the approaching men, and without missing a beat, moved her hand down to her purse, inside of it, grabbing her gun and getting ready to draw it out::

Alright, that's far enough fellas. Don't mess with me...I'm no damsel in distress waiting to be robbed or anything ELSE, got it!?

Purifier (DEBORAH- the driver): We don't want your money or any of your poison fruits of excess, Sally Spectra. YOU support the wicked and the devil's children. We're here to deliver god's message.

:: Sally is STABBED in the back once by the driver! The look of SHOCK and PAIN on her face says it all even as the first pained breath escapes from her::

AGH...

Female Purifier: EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPT GOOD MANNERS. You are are a species TRAITOR, Sally Spectra. You will serve as a WARNING to all those like you foolish enough to support the GENE-TRASH!

:: Deborah STABS SALLY again, before she is SHOT at close range by one of the men that was in front of her.::

:: Had it been JUST the three men coming toward her? Sally might have had a fighting chance. She was a fast draw and a GREAT shot with a gun. But she was AMBUSHED. This was a SET UP. One that she never saw coming.::

:: Her cries of pain are brief...as she falls to the ground wounded, bleeding...not moving::

 

[Harbinger]

Confrontation

He remained motionless until the rune reassembled in the sorceress' hand. But before she could even feel the weight of it in her grasp, he finally moved...

...and appeared to be back where he started, STILL holding the rune. In the time it took to reassemble he had plucked it from her grasp AGAIN and returned to where he had been standing.

Now THAT seemed to REALLY get her goat. He chuckled at her increasing irritation.

:: Harbinger's colbalt blue eyes widen with disbelief::

WHAT!?

:: This shouldn't be POSSIBLE. No one, even super powered, should be able to react THAT quickly to teleblinking!::

::and then her face tightens with ANGER as she looks at him, CLEARLY becoming enraged::

Now now...there is no need for you to be so cross with me love. It is obvious that you are powerful and that you REALLY want this rune. I MIGHT be willing to pay your merchant for it AND educate her on better sourcing choices. BUT on one condition. What do you say?

He stood there, nonchalantly tossing the rune into the air and catching it.

You DARE taunt me!? Boy....I've DEVOURED men more powerful than you for a SNACK!

:: gesturing a'la Prue Halliwell in a beckoning motion, a rushing chiming sound is heard as Xavier is pulled/DRAGGED toward her against his will. ::

YOU need a lesson...

:: When he is pulled close to her, she WARPS the temporal field around him. ANY move he makes will now be INCREDIBLY slow.::

In HUMILITY!

:: She SNATCHES the rune from his hand and steps back::

I CLEARLY "see" you are not accustomed to being challenged or obstructed in your fast moving rampages and exploits. Well, LIVE AND LEARN, rabbit. The HARBINGER is not to be trifled with.

:: Narrowing her eyes, that rushing chiming sound is heard again, and Xavier is JARRED out of the warp temporal field he was trapped in, leaving him momentarily disoriented as she used her TK to send him FLYING up into the air and slammed into the wall of the building behind them. ::

Stay away from Bell, Book and Candle. Do you understand me? And stay away from ME. NEXT TIME I won't be so nice.

:: mocking him from earlier, she waves::

"BYE NOW!"


:: With the rune in her grasp. she BLINKS OUT, leaving him to fall to the ground.::

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

Ashley stood behind Zizi’s chair and watched the images of the silver bird-woman on the screen. Silver Swan was facing off with a group of Purifiers.

“Working together?”

Zizi: “I don’t think so…”

Silver Swan used something like a Chinese star to cut one of the Purifiers’ hands off, then snapped his neck. Ashley eyes widened.

“Sweet.”

Ashley couldn’t help but watch in admiration. She had never seen Silver Swan in action before. She had heard of her, of course, and seen pictures courtesy of Oracle, but this was the first video.

“She is badass.”

Silver Swan finished off the other Purifiers in turn, then went to the aid of the young girl.

Ashley scoffed.

“Now, you see?!”

She threw one hand up in the air, gesturing towards the screen.

“I mean, kill whoever you want, but at least clean up after yourself! I’ve got second shift tonight and you know who’s going to end up cleaning up HER mess? That’s right, me. Gods, people only think of themselves – I mean, have some consideration people! Could someone think about me for a change?!”

This was going to ensure that her night was shitty. Standing out in the cold in the park, trying to figure out a way to plausibly explain how this was an accident and not the work of a crazy vigilante mutate. This infuriated her – everyone enjoyed a good kill every now and then, but don’t leave the evidence out in the open where it could expose them all.

“So she’s the one leaving bodies all over town? And orders have come down from above that we aren’t to investigate the Silver Swan. So I can’t even bust her stupid ass.”

Ashley’s respect had quickly turned to anger at being inconvenienced. Her normal grimace had returned to her face.

“Shit.”

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

They now had multiple angles from security feeds of Silver Swan broadcasting on the screen in front of them. The images were pretty grainy, so Zizi brought up another image in the center of the others and used a touchpad on the console to zoom in on the satellite image. Silver Swan was standing amongst a group wearing the trappings of The Purifiers. They had a young girl with them, apparently trapped.

Ashley: “Working together?”

“I don’t think so…”

Zizi was concentrating hard on reading their lips…the words “Saint Patrick’s Cathedral” stood out. That was curious. She knew how Silver Swan had made her grand entrance onto the New York City stage, but what did that have to do with the Purifiers? This whole thing was clearly much more complicated than they had anticipated.

Silver Swan literally tore the Purifiers to pieces, cruelly suffocating the last man. Ashley, true to form, was enjoying the show.

“She is badass.”

Zizi knew how Ashley could get, and she really had been having a rough time of it lately, so she spoke up brightly.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you could take her in a fight.”

At that, Ashley went all tough-girl on her.

Ashley: “Damn right I could take her. I mean, once you tear the wings off, what is she? Just a blonde in a silver bathing suit with a weird thing for birds.”

Zizi laughed - and she wasn't about to tell her that the Silver Swan didn't need wings to fly - but then Ashley moved on to being pissed about the mess Silver Swan had left. Zizi saw this as an opportunity.

“Well while you’re out there, see what you can find out at the scene about the Purifiers.”

“So she’s the one leaving bodies all over town? And orders have come down from above that we aren’t to investigate the Silver Swan. So I can’t even bust her stupid ass.”

“Oh, I didn’t get a chance to tell you – Vivica was here earlier. She helped me go over some surveillance footage. The Black Queen is behind the other attacks on the Purifiers.”

Ashley’s face lit up in surprise.

Ashley: “You’re kidding. Fuck a doodle do. Well that’s something, I guess. Think they’re working together?”

“I don’t know that yet – seems unlikely, but who knows? I need you to keep an eye out and your ear to the ground – see what you can find out about Dominique.”

Ashley: “I can talk to John about it.”

“How IS John? Still taking that Aikido class I recommended?”

Ashley looked at her for a long moment as if she had six heads.

Ashley: “He’s fine. I guess.”

“That’s good.”

Zizi smiled. John was Ashley’s boss, the head of her task force, and a mutant as well.

Ashley: “I’d better go get dressed.”

The blonde returned to her room, and Zizi returned to the feed, replaying bits of what she had recorded. This thing was much bigger than just some nutso religious group – their anti-mutant activity went far beyond that. There was a reason they were doing this, and somehow it was connected to Silver Swan. Zach was about to play more of a role in this investigation than he had bargained for.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon - Executive Board Room

Delilah pushed open the doors to the conference room, finding Cameron and some of the others already there. This was going to be exhausting. Still, she was surprised she had even been included. But let’s face it, if it hadn’t been Cameron delivering the news, she probably wouldn’t have been.

She sat down into one of the plush chairs and put her booted feet up on the table.

“So, what does the all-seeing queen bitch have for us this time? I’m surprised she even decided to tell anyone about it – afraid taking care of this one all by herself might ruin her nails? Oh, I forgot, it’s only ME we don’t tell what’s going on.”

She sat up quickly, putting her feet on the floor. She motioned to the doorway.

“Would you like me to wait outside while you discuss exactly how much you’re going to share with me? Cause I can do that.”

She rolled her eyes. For all she knew, this whole thing was a ruse to get her here so they could all bash her about Malice. She’d like to see them try that.

 

[Firebird]

Violence at XS

Blaze was moving about, more focused, more serious than before. Vivica followed her, but the fire elemental was moving in such a way that she was "running circles" around Vivica, avoiding little accidental collisions here and there.

Blaze? You've shifted gears on me. Talk to me, what's wrong?

"Viv...we need to get out of here...and fast."

"Something's not right."

It was established in HER timeline that Firebird had a level of perception and awareness that was beyond human but not quite precognitive or purely psychic either. Mystech determined that she could sense "disturbances" around her, the prescence of EVIL or MALICIOUS INTENT even. It was quasi-empathic in it's nature. She displayed this aspect of power for the first time during the Blue Moon on Aerie when the "harbinger" creature flew into the halls of the infirmary and attacked the group.


Even as Vivica tried to get a better understanding of what Blaze was saying or what she was implying AND to calm her, IT happened.

Blaze and Vivica BOTH had levels of enhanced hearing. There would be NO mistaking it...

"Sally!"

They heard her cry of pain. They heard the GUN SHOT!

"SALLY!"

Blaze dashes through the club from the back to the front. Cass is already outside the double doors, she's the first to see the horrifying sight and was already screaming for Blaze and Vivica to get out there.


Blaze and Vivica burst through the doors outside.

::GASP!::

::FLASH!::

Sally Spectra. On the ground. Shot. Stabbed. Bleeding. DYING. Cass kneeling over her and now manifesting a DOME of black psychic energy over them, SHIELDING the fallen Sally and herself from the frontal ASSAULT of THE PURIFIERS, who are attacking, BEATING at the dome vicious with energy batons, trying to break it.

Blaze is momentarily STUNNED. But Cass' voice brings her BACK in focus. She narrows her apple green eyes as the SHOCK gives way to GRIEF and ANGER.

Purifier 1: :: communicating to HQ:: we have dispatched the species traitor and now made contact with the priority target [Cassandra Johnson]. Secondary target [Firebird], and unknown accomplice [Vivica Lennox] are confronting us and will likely engage in hostility.

Sister Mary Justice: You've PREPARED for this. The paramount task is the capture of the priority target. DO YOU DUTY! Faith without WORKS is dead! Leave a message for the REST of the devil's children tonight!

Purifier 1: His will be done! ::to the others:: I'll get the primary target and activate the telemat field to get IT back to HQ. Dispatch those other two and BURN THIS PLACE down!

Other 3 Purifiers: His will be done!

They moved with strong determination and formation. two of them coming for Blaze directly, while one retreats to the driver's side of the Limo

Blaze HEARD all of this and realized they MUST be referring to CASS when saying "primary target". Cameron warned her about this. But WHO were these PEOPLE...they spoke with such religious fervor in their tone and they possesed powerful weaponry. THAT DIDN'T MATTER!

Her fist balls up. They just struck down her FRIEND and now t hey were after Cass!? Oh HELL NO!

A RING OF FIRE circles the dome and FLARES OUT , forcing the purifiers BACK, giving Firebird, Ruby and Vivica a moment...

"Vivica...see to Sally. RUBY, you're with me."

Blaze ignored Vivica's attempts to respond her as she stared down the two men coming for her.

Firebird and Ruby stand side by side.

"I don't know WHO you are!? But you've just made a BIG MISTAKE tonight!"

Purifier 2: You're no threat to US, gene-joke.

"Sorry you feel that way, you racist fuck!"

The man is bigger than Firebird, taller too. In theory he SHOULD be physicaly stronger, but Firebird is FAR stronger than any baseline human. She side steps his forward thrust attack grabbing his wrist with her left hand.

"You've hurt my friend. Now I'm gonna BEAT YOUR BRAINS OUT!"

She uppercuts the man in his jaw, then swings that same arm UP, SLAMMING her elbow into the bridge of his nose before finally bring her right hand back and SLAMMING it into his face, releasing a FIRE FLARE and enveloping his HEAD in flames. The man's screams are horrific as he staggers away and falls to the ground. The fire consumes his head QUICKLY.


Purifier 3: DIE MUTIE SCUM!

He rushes her, attempting to SLAM his energy baton down into her head!

"YOU. FIRST!"

She moves WITH him, CATCHING the weapon in her hand and FORCING it, and his hand DOWN. Her hand begins to GLOW as she unleashes her fire power INTO the baton to such a degree that she doesn MORE than MELT IT, she makes it DISINTEGRATE, along WITH his hand!


Her apple green eyes GLOW and seconds later, the man BLOWS UP, having just spontaneously COMBUSTED!


That left one other purifier for RUBY to deal with. Firebird had just set the tone for this confrontation. VIOLENT and LETHAL. She was much more like Spellbinder in this way when it came to protecting her friends. The fact that she'd just MURDERED two people in front of Vivica didn't seem to register with her at this point. The fact that this was the first time she'd KILLED since arriving in this timeline didnt immediately register with her either. She didn't know it yet, but she wasn't DONE just yet tonight.

 

[Artemis]

The Parthenon

:: Alycia and Nicolas had been quietly chatting in the conference room when Cameron showed up. Alycia returned Cameron's warm and embrace and light kiss. He seated himself.::

Delilah pushed open the doors to the conference room, finding Cameron and some of the others already there. This was going to be exhausting. Still, she was surprised she had even been included. But let’s face it, if it hadn’t been Cameron delivering the news, she probably wouldn’t have been.

She sat down into one of the plush chairs and put her booted feet up on the table.

“So, what does the all-seeing queen bitch have for us this time? I’m surprised she even decided to tell anyone about it – afraid taking care of this one all by herself might ruin her nails? Oh, I forgot, it’s only ME we don’t tell what’s going on.”

Hello to you too, Delilah.

:: Alycia said calmly. It was the first time they had seen each other since Alycia had first brought Delilah to NYC two months ago.::

She sat up quickly, putting her feet on the floor. She motioned to the doorway.

“Would you like me to wait outside while you discuss exactly how much you’re going to share with me? Cause I can do that.”

Cameron's telepathic alert was my first indication that something was wrong [with the Six] as well. It's important for all of us to be here.

She rolled her eyes. For all she knew, this whole thing was a ruse to get her here so they could all bash her about Malice. She’d like to see them try that.

:: Alycia saw Delilah and felt that the woman had become even MORE hardened and distant over the past two months! It was rather disappointing, but sometimes a person's journey took them further/DEEPER before they finally emerged on the "other side" of it. Now was not the time to focus on Delilah's behavior. That wasn't the issue, at least as far as Alycia knew, there WAS an event EARLIER in the day that might call it into question.::

:: At the moment, Delilah seemed very defensive. Nobody except Cameron, Haleigh and now Ava, was aware of what happened with Malice at their lunch. Not YET anyway. As far as Alycia was concerned, this was a team meeting and no matter what personal problems were going on, the Six had always had the unique ability to some how "pull it together" in order to at least WORK together...::

Cameron, where are Haleigh and Ava? Weren't they already here when you sent out your thought call? and what about Blaze?

And :: Speaking of Alison, whom Alycia gathered Delilah was referring to as the "all-seeing queen bitch":: for that matter, where is ALISON?

You heard the same thing from her I did on Aerie, Cameron. She had no interest in returning to the States anytime soon. If something has drawn her here from Minerva's Aerie, it must be significant.

 

[Ruby]

Club XS

:: Sally called for the limo and then said she’d wait outside for a bit of fresh air. Keeping Cameron’s message in mind, Cass didn’t think that was a good idea. ::

“Are you sure? Maybe you should just stay here…?”

:: Sally looked at Cass with an amused look. ::

Sally: “Now, now, Cassandra. It’s just right outside the door. I’ll be fine.”

:: She came over and gave the succubus a hug and a kiss on her temple. ::

Sally: “You’re adorable…but it’s only for a few minutes.”

“But…”

:: Cass’ voice trailed off as she watched the fashion maven push through the doors to outside. She sighed and zipped up her jacket. She kept a watchful eye on Sally as the formidable woman stood outside checking her iPad or whatever she was doing. Cass stomped her foot. ::

*mutters*: “Dammit…”

:: She turned to the general area where Blaze and Vivica were. Blaze was being thorough and methodical. It was interesting…but weird. Surely they could deal with whatever’s going on, right? Cass had taken her eyes off Sally for a SECOND…and that was all it took to be attacked. Just one SPLIT SECOND. Cass threw her clutch down on the ground and ran out of there faster than, well, a normal human. ::

“BLAZE! VIVICA! SALLY! Oh my GOD!! Sally’s been shot!!”

"Vivica...see to Sally. RUBY, you're with me."

“I’m here.”

:: She got her hands ready to deliver a psionic blast if need be. She and Blaze were standing side by side. ::

"I don't know WHO you are!? But you've just made a BIG MISTAKE tonight!"

Purifier 2: You're no threat to US, gene-joke.

"Sorry you feel that way, you racist fuck!"

"You've hurt my friend. Now I'm gonna BEAT YOUR BRAINS OUT!"

Purifier 3: DIE MUTIE SCUM!

"YOU. FIRST!"

:: Blaze easily and quickly eliminated TWO of Sally’s attackers. Another one was coming towards them. ::

Purifier 1: “I see the priority target, but I’ll need backup. A MUTIE DARED to kill two of our own!!”

:: Cass stepped up to the plate and delivered a PSIONIC ENERGY BLAST to the man’s stomach, sending him flying into the side of the limo. She then sprang forward and delivered a ROUNDHOUSE KICK to his head before he even KNEW what had hit him! She then picked him up by the lapels and LEVITATED upwards towards the SKY. She made sure she was at a height that would make a fall FATAL and then…OOPS! She accidentally-on-purpose let him FALL back to earth, smashing into the pavement of the sidewalk. She lowered herself back down to earth. ::

:: She made sure to keep an eye out though. She had a feeling this wasn't over. ::

 

[Recall]

XS - Bloodbath...

Vivica began to tidy up the things around her as she watched Blaze weave intricate and deliberate paths up and down the club, checking entrances and windows as she went. Blaze was acting strange...even for her. Due to the nature of Vivica's abilities she had memorized many of Blaze's moods. She knew how Blaze would react in any number of given situations by the way that her eyes blinked, her facial expressions changed and by the way that her muscles tensed or contracted. Right now, Blaze was worried..and that in turn worried Vivica. This led her to believe that there had been more to Cameron's message than she originally thought. Vivica was immediately on edge.

Blaze was acting like a member of a clean up crew for Clandestine Intelligence, checking every last detail, ensuring it's safety and assessing the details, leaving no stone unturned. Vivica began to think that her being a part of Cameron's thought call earlier meant that SHE specifically might be in danger. Right now she focused on helping Blaze as best she could.

Sally stepped out to get some fresh air and wait for the limo to pull up to the front of the club. It couldn't be that bad if Blaze was allowing Sally to leave her general sight, right? Blaze continued in a frenzied state before Vivica stopped her dead in her tracks, grabbing her arm for a moment and trying to grasp her attention.

"Blaze? You've shifted gears on me. Talk to me, what's wrong?"

Blaze: "Viv...we need to get out of here...and fast...something's not right."

Vivica softened her gaze on Blaze for a moment before she looked over at Cass.

"Alright then...let's get out of here...we can finish all this up tomorrow. Cassie let's rea--"

A chill was sent down Vivica's spine as she was able to hear the sound of cold metal piercing...no GUTTING human flesh as a female contralto voice could be heard crying out in pain. Cassandra would not be able to hear this but both Vivica and Blaze's enhanced hearing would confirm to them IMMEDIATELY that the cries...belonged to SALLY!

Blaze: "Sally!"

"Oh my God!"

Vivica began to run in a dead heat towards the front door as she was inflicted with the sound of a GUN SHOT...now THIS even Cassandra would be able to hear.

Blaze: "SALLY!"

[turning to Cass who was already ahead of them bursting through he front doors]

As Blaze and Vivica followed behind Cass before bursting onto the scene themselves, they were greeted with the most gruesome of scenes.

Sally Spectra. On the ground. Shot. Stabbed. Bleeding. DYING. Cass kneeling over her and now manifesting a DOME of black psychic energy over them, SHIELDING the fallen Sally and herself from the frontal ASSAULT of THE PURIFIERS, who are attacking, BEATING at the dome vicious with energy batons, trying to break it.

Vivica allowed herself only a split second of emotion as her eyes widened on the sight.

"Purifiers!"

All at once Vivica pressed the temple of her head with her right finger as a 'shadow box' would open up on Oracle's computer screen, the effect being one of the many synergies that Vivica now shared with Oracle. This would allow Vivica to essentially LIVE STREAM what was going on around her without her having to call or contact Zizi directly. There was no time to fall apart. Sally Spectra was bleeding out and Cass was fighting to keep the Purifiers at bay. Blaze seems frozen in time.

Purifier 1: :: communicating to HQ:: we have dispatched the species traitor and now made contact with the priority target [Cassandra Johnson]. Secondary target [Firebird], and unknown accomplice [Vivica Lennox] are confronting us and will likely engage in hostility.

Sister Mary Justice: You've PREPARED for this. The paramount task is the capture of the priority target. DO YOU DUTY! Faith without WORKS is dead! Leave a message for the REST of the devil's children tonight!

Purifier 1: His will be done! ::to the others:: I'll get the primary target and activate the telemat field to get IT back to HQ. Dispatch those other two and BURN THIS PLACE down!

Other 3 Purifiers: His will be done!

They were after Cassandra!? But why?! Nothing was making sense but Vivica had NO time to worry about this. From inside her purse she pulled out a standard issue Clandestine Pistol that was locked and ready to go. Slipping the safety of the gun she cocked it and aimed directly at one of the Purifiers in her path.

They moved with strong determination and formation. two of them coming for Blaze directly, while one retreats to the driver's side of the Limo

Blaze HEARD all of this and realized they MUST be referring to CASS when saying "primary target". Cameron warned her about this. But WHO were these PEOPLE...they spoke with such religious fervor in their tone and they possesed powerful weaponry. THAT DIDN'T MATTER!

Her fist balls up. They just struck down her FRIEND and now t hey were after Cass!? Oh HELL NO!

A RING OF FIRE circles the dome and FLARES OUT , forcing the purifiers BACK, giving Firebird, Ruby and Vivica a moment...

"Vivica...see to Sally. RUBY, you're with me."

Vivica stayed still for a moment. Could she really let Blaze and Cassandra fight off these Purifiers by herself. She tensed up. Her instinct told her to protect Blaze...that is...until she saw Sally on the ground..a pool of BLOOD surrounding her. She ran towards Cass who was still protecting Sally in a psychic shield.

"Cassie! Shield DOWN! Get in there...I can take care of Sally...I promise...Just..Just GO!"

Cassie begrudgingly let down her shield as Vivica swooped the scene, kneeling down over Sally's unconscious body...and when you had wounds like she did...Unconscious was not a good thing. Vivica surveyed the damaged. Sally was laying on her side and as Vivica moved her hands over her body she was able to detect two stab wounds to the back as well as a close range bullet wound entering the top of the stomach area. Vivica exhaled.

"Sally...It's Vivica...I'm here for you...Just hang on for ME!"

First and foremost, Vivica went to check Sally's airway which was somewhat obstructed by a small pool of blood. Thinking quickly, Vivica RIPPED off her jacket and began to shred it into long streets, her peak human strength making it a very easy task. Vivica said a silent prayer as she took one of the clothes and stuck it down Sally's throat, sopping up the blood as she went. Thankfully the bleeding didn't continue which mean that blood would not fill up her lungs or cause her to choke. Now for the stab wounds.

In a fast and swift motion, Vivica fastened a torniquet of sorts around Sally's body, allowing her apply an incredible amount of stable and consistent pressure over the wounds, enough to stop the bleeding. One down...

The gunshot wound was another story. She couldn't risk moving Sally too much or she might go into shock. Now that Vivica was sure that her Airway was clear she put her ear to Sally's throat..she was still breathing. This was a good sign. Vivica quickly checked her pulse, which was weak at best. Vivica used some of the remaining straps of her jacket to create another torniquet for the gun shot wound, but she was beginning to worry that she wasn't finding an exit wound. This could mean trouble. But for NOW...All she could do was begin the process of resucitating Sally Spectra.

Vivica began to perform CPR in a fast and consistent, flawless execution. After several seconds, Sally SPRANG to life...or as close as she could come as she began to COUGH and try and move herself. Vivica used all of her strength to KEEP Sally in the position that she was in. But now she was conscious and THIS was a GOOD sign...but in reality...they NEEDED to get her to a TRAUMA CENTER and fast...or SHE WOULD die..

She brushed some hair out of Sally's face before speaking to her in an even and calming tone.

"Sally...Sally, welcome back...It's Vivica. You gave us quite a scare there. But you're here...I know you're scared but I need you to listen to me, and do what I say okay?"

Vivica wiped some hair out of her own face, leaving her forehead stained in Sally's blood...in fact Vivica's hands up to her elbows were COMPLETELY covered in blood, but she had a job to do...she couldn't lose focus now.

"Sally...I need you to try and move your fingers for me...or your toes...whatever you can do..I know it sounds silly honey...but please...do it for me..."

Sally was out of it. She was barely conscious but Vivica knew she understood. Sally was the ONLY thing in the world that Vivica was focusing on at the moment, she saw nothing else and HEARD nothing else. She watched for what felt like HOURS Before Sally slowly but surely wiggled her pinky finger and latched it around Vivica's finger.

"Thank You Jesus! THANK YOU!"

This would indicate that wherever the bullet was in Sally's body it had NOT gotten to her spinal chord. If they could get her to an emergency room and FAST she might walk out of this fine. Vivica's head SHOT up as a few tears streamed down from her face out of joy.

"Blaze! Blaze...She's stable..We just need to---BLAZE!"

Firebird and Ruby stand side by side.

"I don't know WHO you are!? But you've just made a BIG MISTAKE tonight!"

Purifier 2: You're no threat to US, gene-joke.

"Sorry you feel that way, you racist fuck!"

The man is bigger than Firebird, taller too. In theory he SHOULD be physicaly stronger, but Firebird is FAR stronger than any baseline human. She side steps his forward thrust attack grabbing his wrist with her left hand.

"You've hurt my friend. Now I'm gonna BEAT YOUR BRAINS OUT!"

She uppercuts the man in his jaw, then swings that same arm UP, SLAMMING her elbow into the bridge of his nose before finally bring her right hand back and SLAMMING it into his face, releasing a FIRE FLARE and enveloping his HEAD in flames. The man's screams are horrific as he staggers away and falls to the ground. The fire consumes his head QUICKLY.


Purifier 3: DIE MUTIE SCUM!

He rushes her, attempting to SLAM his energy baton down into her head!

"YOU. FIRST!"

She moves WITH him, CATCHING the weapon in her hand and FORCING it, and his hand DOWN. Her hand begins to GLOW as she unleashes her fire power INTO the baton to such a degree that she doesn MORE than MELT IT, she makes it DISINTEGRATE, along WITH his hand!


Her apple green eyes GLOW and seconds later, the man BLOWS UP, having just spontaneously COMBUSTED!


That left one other purifier for RUBY to deal with. Firebird had just set the tone for this confrontation. VIOLENT and LETHAL. She was much more like Spellbinder in this way when it came to protecting her friends. The fact that she'd just MURDERED two people in front of Vivica didn't seem to register with her at this point. The fact that this was the first time she'd KILLED since arriving in this timeline didnt immediately register with her either. She didn't know it yet, but she wasn't DONE just yet tonight.

Vivica eye's widened in HORROR as she watched Firebird's BRUTAL dispatching of the two Purifiers right in front of her. She had an idea of what Blaze was CAPABLE of but she had NEVER seen in first hand...and to be honest, it didn't really seem much in her NATURE to act in this way. Blaze valued people's lives...She was losing it. The sight of Sally on the ground must have been too much for her to bare. Vivica tried to comfort her as Cassandra took on the last Purifier.

"Blaze! BLAZE!!!!! LOOK AT ME! BLAZE?!"

The words seem to fall on deaf ears.

"Blaze! We need to get Sally HELP...NOW...I've got her stable but I need you to remain CALM! We need to get out of here!"

Soon Cass was UP in the sky with a Purifier in her grasps. Sally was stable and moving her without the proper medical tools could have proved fatal. Vivica got back up to her feet as she grabbed Blaze and SHOOK her back into REALITY.

"Blaze...honey...come back to me..You can do this! Come back to ME!"

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi drummed her fingers on the arm of her wheelchair. Data zipped across the screen she was watching, one side displaying a search for anything on Silver Swan’s initial appearances in New York, the other trying to locate Dominique Devereaux’s current location. Suddenly another alarm similar to the one earlier sounded in the com area and a box superimposed itself onto the center of the viewing screen.

She could see through Recall’s eyes as she pulled a gun from her purse and trained it on what looked like MORE Purifiers! Zizi could hear their hate speech and discussion about taking one of the mutants. What the heck was she watching?!

The right side of her screen showed images and stats for the mutants codenamed Firebird and Ruby as they appeared on the video stream. The two of them together had managed to keep the Purifiers at bay, but why didn’t they retreat?

Suddenly, Vivica’s vision rested on a body on the ground – that of Sally Spectra, covered in blood and clearly seriously wounded. Zizi immediately pressed a button on the console, dialing directly in to the Emergency Dispatcher – on an untraceable line that would also mask her voice.

“I need an ambulance at the corner of Greenwich and Franklin. A woman has been shot outside Club XS. Perpetrators are still on the scene.”

Zizi knew police would come with the ambulance – and quickly, since she’d mentioned the gunshot.

>>> "Sally...It's Vivica...I'm here for you...Just hang on for ME!"

It was heart breaking to watch Vivica desperately trying to help her friend.

Ashley came out of her room, clipping her badge to her jeans.

Ashley: “Hey, can you turn that alarm thing down? I almost had a heart attack…Hey, what’s going on?”

“Sally Spectra’s been shot. Recall’s sending this to us live.”

Ashley shrugged.

Ashley: “Always wear Forrester myself. You want me to get down there?”

She sadly shook her head.

“You’d never make it in time. Ambo’s on its way, and police. Let’s just hope they can hold out. ”

They couldn’t see much as Vivica tended to Sally’s wounds and proceeded to give her CPR. But she was still alive, for now. All they could do now is watch as Firebird basically set two Purifiers ablaze (no pun intended). Ashley whistled.

Ashley: “Who’s THAT?”

“Firebird. Spellbinder’s sister, from another timestream. Fire elemental, obviously. The other one is Ruby, psionic succubus. Those Purifiers are there to take one of them – which I don’t know.”

Ashley: “If they take Vivica we can watch and see where they go. I’m just saying.”

It was clear watching Firebird and Vivica that they were beginning to freak out. Zizi opened a com link to Recall.

“Recall, stay calm. You can do this. Ambulance is on its way. Just hang in there.”

 

[Persephone]

Cameron: Its not that I don't trust her, Ava...it's just that with Malice, sometimes you don't GET the chance to let anybody know, you don't KNOW it's escalated until it's too late...

"No, I understand. Like I said, i'll keep an eye on her."

Ava gave him a warm smile, hoping that it would ease his growing anxiety over Haleigh. Whatever problems they were having, it didn't effect how Cameron felt about her sister, and vice versa with Haleigh.

Cameron: Well, before we head to the others...thanks for listening to me..and I'm sorry I kind of duh at what's going on with you...I'm just frustrated..especially now that my death warrant may be signed.

"You're not going to die. Not if I have anything to do about it."

And if that meant ushering Cass forward to the proverbial slaughter, than so be it.

Cameron: You are doing a great job at work, and I'm proud of what we are creating..and I'm proud of how far we've come...professionally and PERSONALLY. I gotta say the irony of the conversation we are having right now is not lost on me. Thanks, Ava..

Letting out a small laugh, it was pretty ironic considering how they basically hated each other when they first met. Now they were working with one another and talking shop in Ava's suite. It was strange, but nice.

"No problem. I'll let Haleigh know everyone's here.We'll be down to the conference room soon."

Cameron exited her suite and Ava took out her phone. Sending a text to Haleigh.

[text] "You can stop eavesdropping now and come back to my suite. We need to head to the conference room."