Blood makes noise

[Prophet]

Spinning through the city...

Haleigh: "Oh for fuck's sake. You act like you're the only one who's ever been tortured or abused. You act like you're the only one who has seen the face of depravity and been determined not to flinch. (Shifting gears down to give herself more torque and acceleration to run a yellow light) Same old short-sighted, self-absorbed Stud."

"I didn't realize that by pointing out how GLARINGLY obvious it is that Diana is attempting to make a big move was being short-sighted or self-absorbed. I only thought it would be helpful...SMART to attempt to get the run on Diana before she plays all of her cards. THAT'S IT. I wasn't being a victim..I was using the experience that i've HAD with Malice in order to draw a conclusion..."

Haleigh: "I don't know WHY you insist on pretending you've found some moral high ground to stand on. You're exactly like you always were, and you can't FOOL ME just because you cleaned out from underneath your fingernails."

Cameron rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Oh fuck yourself, Haleigh..I've never been able to win with you. When I'm a good guy, I'm faking it...if I'm a bad guy, you punish me for it. I'm an honest...and good person...and i've worked really hard to get where I am...and I like it. So SORRY if you don't like who I am now...but ever since I crashed your little wedding party, you haven't either. So, do what you do best...and feel nothing about it and i'll thank you kindly."

Haleigh: "Well it's not like I'm sitting up on the Hellfire Club roof, smoking cigars and drinking brandy and swapping spit with her, OKAY?? I don't have 'something going on' with her! You think I LIKE this any MORE than YOU DO? She did what she did to save my life, Cameron. I saw something she didn't WANT me to see, and so she... I don't KNOW, upgraded my software or something.... and it left an awareness behind. Or maybe the understanding has ALWAYS been there, so fucking WHAT! You USED to understand me, and I think we've ALL agreed that I HAVEN'T CHANGED, so clearly the problem is YOU!"

He threw his hands up in the air. She was basically grasping at straws. She might have failed to realize that the person she was talking about was Diana.

"Haleigh...you don't corner the market on Diana EITHER. She did what she did because she knew she would benefit from it one day...and that's the only reason. THE PROBLEM is not ME...the PROBLEM is Diana...who I was TRYING to keep this conversation about...but you can't seem to shut the fuck UP about ME long enough to realize it. All that shit she just talked about ME being a perennial victim? Well it TAUGHT me a thing or two about how she operates...and YOU are in trouble. You can get defensive, you can mad, get what EVER the fuck you want to about it...I was only pointing it out...."

[sighing for a moment]

"And now she's made her presence known...so excuse me for pointing out the curious timing about how when she arrived you all but catatonic and are sitting here waxing poetic about Diana's true 'nature'."

Haleigh: (Sighing) "it's not dangerous. It's just an explanation that you probably don't fucking CARE to hear. And you KNOW she'd call it a violation of the truce.... and I'M not going to be the reason we break it if I can HELP it, okay? So let me keep this one stupid thing from you. Don't please...don't touch me."

Haleigh pulled up to The Parthenon loading and unloading area.

Haleigh: "Cameron..... I promise you..... I've got ME under control. Whatever this.... glitch.... is, whatever it means, I'll handle it. If I need someone to lean on, I've got Zach, so....."

Cameron got out of the car and closed the door as he knelt down so that his head was in the window.

"You don't have yourself under control, Haleigh....you DON'T lean on people when you need to...and unfortunately sometimes...you just CAN'T help it. But...I don't have time to worry about this...I'm going to try and find Delilah."

He disappeared into the Parthenon.

 

[Persephone]

Simon: "Well...there's still ONE thing left...but that can be taken care of later..."

Ava couldn't help but smirk, despite how forward he was being in front of Alison. Alison cleared her throat and Ava looked over at her. She had a look on her face that said 'i'm going to have some fun'. Ava couldn't help but smile and shaker her head as Simon introduced himself to her and she played with him a bit. But he was enjoying it, much like he enjoyed his interaction with Blaze a few weeks ago.

Alison: Wont you sit down? Tell us about your day?

Alison was eating this all up as Simon took a seat between them. He explained everything at the office was fine despite Alison saying he had a bad day. If he did, he wasn't sharing the details.

Simon: But really...nobody cares about MY day..you look like a person who always has the inside scoop...is our girl over there [tilting his head to Ava] really sick or did she ditch the day to hang out with you? Not like she could get in trouble for hanging out with boss's sister..but I'd like to know...I was here to get her SOUP and bring it up to her room...and now well...I can't help but feel as if this all just one big lie and Girl Friday is playing me for a FOOL!"

Ava rolled her eyes.

Simon: "Oh come ON, Ava...I'm just having a little fun..."

"Well I have a headache, so excuse my lack of humor."

She stated flatly while waving the waiter over and ordering another double Goose and Red Bull.

Simon: "So...are you here to visit with Cameron? Good luck, he's been tied up with that Alycia Barnett for a few months now...it's as sweet as it is disgusting..."

"She's here to see me. The thing you need to know about Alison Marble is....she tends to stick her nose in other people's business."

Giving Alison a cheeky smile.

"Although Cameron and Alycia is really strange for me to think about....bet you didn't see THAT one coming."

She directed to Alison, the obvious joke being lost to Simon.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas. Sit down.

:: She gently commanded.::

I REALIZE that the "mystery" you're trying to solve is, in large part, what lead up to my near emotional break down that you helped pull me back from, but... now that I am...more MYSELF again...I am going to be able to do what I need to do to put a STOP to the growing symphony of negative and distress that has been HAUNTING ME around this city.

:: She looked at him with certainty.::

But BEFORE i begin THAT quest, I want to talk to you...about my sister. Your mother.

The images, the MEMORIES that flooded from me to you before Zachary arrived...I NEVER would have allowed you to "see" or "sense" them under normal circumstances. Not because I want to PUNISH you, but because I NEVER wanted you to know what your MONSTER of a father did to your mother....my sister. What he did...that *I* couldn't stop...despite my best efforts.

I did not have the power then that I do now. Had that been the case? I can assure you, the OUTCOME of that night would have been QUITE different.

But that is neither here nor there now. YOUR here and so am I. When I first came to New York, my mission...my purpose was REVENGE...VENGEANCE for my sister and myself and that was to be accomplished through YOUR DEATH at my hands.

I had lost my way, even as Isis herself had revived me in the desert and called me to restore balance and correct the damage Set had caused.

But here WE are...NOW...and as I've told you many times since, your mother displayed more serenity, more courage than *I* had in the months, days, FINAL HOURS leading up to your birth. She believed in YOU more than anyone in the world. She would be...proud to see who you are NOW. She would be HAPPY to see us...being able to have moments like this.

:: a pause...::

Nicolas' smirk became more of a genuine smile. It was reassuring that her distance previously did not signal a new distance. She was protecting herself, being fiercely independent, and protecting HIM in her own twisted way. He looked on as she continued.

Nicolas...there is one thing that I simply CANNOT ABIDE. To see the weak...and the truly INNOCENT be abused...hurt...or worse. It touches me in a way that FEW other things do. I do not CARE if that puts me out of step with the Hellfire Club. As I have told Diana and Helena from the start...mylife is MY OWN and I will live it as I choose.

There are others...who, likeyour mother, are being brutalized...I've been sensing their cries...night after night. Going back to when i first told you that my spirit was troubled, several months ago.

A week ago...I finally SAW two such victims. I attempted to go to their aid.

and I...was too late. Too late to SAVE them. But NOT too late....

::FLASH!::

“
Originally Posted By: Seer

All 3: GUN HER!

:: To give them credit, these Purifiers are definitely locked and loaded to the hilt with powerful energy weapons. They draw and fire with form and speed, but its NOT ENOUGH.::

:: Isis doesnt move. As the blasts charge for her, her opal blue eyes glow, turning solid white as chimes sound off and she TRANSFORMS into her EXPLOSIVE SAND CLOUD FORM. The winds HOWL as her sand cloud form explodes and expands, swirling with VIOLENT effect around the area.::

:: Her voice can be heard with haunting resonance all around them::

Your weapons and power are FINITE. Your minds and your "Mission" are PATHETIC and now? Your lives have ENDED!

:: Isis' explosive sand cloud form ENVELOPES the purifiers. She begins to scour and RAVAGE THEM, completely tearing them apart on all levels. Their screams are almost swallowed by the eerie howl of the winds in her form and soon, all that's left? are SKELETONS that now lay on the ground, partially clothed by the tattered, torn, shredded remains of their uniforms.::

:: Soon, Isis returns to her regular human form, standing over the skeletons::

You will NEVER hurt ANYONE again.

:: Soon, she turns to face the bodies of the children. Slowly drawing near, she reaches forward and removes the "MUTIE" sign that was hanging around Mark's neck. CRUSHING it in her gloved hand, the paper vanishes in a swirl of golden orbs::

I regret that I....could not get here...to YOU sooner, children.

:: Isis says with a pained tone in her voice as she reaches forward and solemnly closes both childrens' eyes::
”



to AVENGE them.

:: She said coldly as she looked into Nicolas' eyes.::

I have a task that I MUST complete. I cannot be stopped...not by you...or anyone of your group.

:: This was certainly MORE than she'd said to him BEFORE, but still, she was stopping short. There was something she was still keeping from him and NOW she was once again BLOCKING from him any sense of what else happened...just what she'd done. BUT he may have had an idea::

I'm asking...I COMMAND you not to betray my confidance in you. Do NOT tell your friends of my activities. Do NOT lead them to me or try to stop me. Is that clear?

Nicolas listened, absorbed what she was saying, relived the shared memory as she avenged those children. He nodded as she spoke but, at the end, his face hardened a bit as she ordered him to secrecy.

I will keep your secrets. We are FAMILY, and I will respect your personal crusade as your nephew. Should it come to that, I am even prepared to prevent ANYONE from stopping you. But be certain Aunt D. If something happens to you...just be careful. Because I swear I will k-

Nicolas stopped. He was upset and already angry at the idea of her coming to harm. He stood quickly and walked towards the window before speaking again.

Do what you must Aunt D. Your secret is safe with me. But if you need me, you do not hesitate. Not for a second. Because when it comes to you, I am not prepared to be reasonable. You take care Auntie.

With that, Nicolas turned and winked at his aunt before he disappeared...

...teleporting himself to an empty elevator headed for the lobby. He decided to head out to the work site for Charope and see Alycia. He expected her to be ready to strangle him and he saw no need to miss such fun. He sent her a text as he stepped into his plaything.

Hey lady. I apologize for any new calls you received, but it was necessary. I am out there to make it up to you. I hope you liked the flowers. Love, NK

 

[Black Widow]

Cameron: You don't have yourself under control, Haleigh....you DON'T lean on people when you need to...and unfortunately sometimes...you just CAN'T help it. But...I don't have time to worry about this...I'm going to try and find Delilah.

"DAMN IT! Shit! WHAT THE FUCK?! It cannot be this HARD!"

And off he went, which meant now SHE couldn't check on Delilah, because right now she could barely stand the thought of him. Which meant she couldn't be a very good friend for Delilah on top of the fact that she had just completely obliterated the concept of progress with Cameron.

Haleigh would have preferred it if Cameron had not spoken AT ALL during the ride home. But NOOOOOOO.... He had to take the mask off, because Diana's mere presence stripped him of his new facade. Diana could always press Cameron's buttons and shake him to his core. Haleigh may have been preoccupied with the situation at hand, but she had NOT missed the look on Cameron's face at the table after Malice. She had seen the old Cameron, the part of him she still recognized; the anger and the violence and the hatred seething right behind the new-man veneer, like a lion in the tall Savannah grass, waiting for the opportunity to explode into action.

But their car ride confirmed something she'd suspected ever since they started playing nice again.

Superficial was not going to work in the long run. They could talk about the weather and the stock market and the Olympics..... but the second they encountered a subject that was REAL? They spontaneously combusted. And if they were ALONE? Everything else fell away. They couldn't even talk about a mutual enemy without attacking each other.

But what did he expect from her? She didn't exactly enjoy the fact that she had basically been forced to put her life in Diana's hands, and she hadn't ASKED for the changes Malice had made, nor had she sat down with Malice and a pot of coffee and inquired politely about her upbringing. Yet HE had acted like she LIKED it, like she WANTED IT..... and it spoke VOLUMES on his newfound opinion of her.

 

[Harbinger]

La Bella Mafia

Simon's eyes squinted for a second as he watched the beautiful woman look him up and down. She was checking out the merchandise no doubt, but there was something else in her eyes that caused him a little bit of concern. It was almost...predatory.

As she spoke Simon couldn't help but LAUGH.

"Well, Alison Marble...Cameron King's sister! That's where I've seen you...your picture is plastered all over this hotel!"

Is that so? An executive position AND a good memory? You're more than just a pretty face, I see.

:: Alison said in a rather coy tone, as she laughed on the inside. Ava knew what she was doing, but surprisingly, Simon was adapting rather WELL. He wasn't QUITE as over the top and OVER THE EDGE as BANE, but he was definitely a character. It was immediately clear why Ava had been charmed by him. It would TAKE someone as unabashed as this to get past HER glamorous, aloof facade!::

NOT[/i] know of me or my family in order to check my incredibly large ego..."

the waiter returned almost instantly with his martini as he took a sip and gave the precog a cheeky smile.

"I like you, already...Alison."

I'm always prepared, for every possible contingency.

:: She said as she continued to eye him curiously.::

[sitting the glass down on the table]

"And today..well..it sucked for the most part. I'm used to being Ava and Cameron's right hand man but they BOTH seemed to dissappear from the office today..No matter really..I'm a capable man..."

oh...he's more clever than I initially gave him credit for. fast on his feet too...he's not going to just let it spill out...

I imagine, in your daily routine at Zenith, you must encounter DOMINIQUE DEVERAUX semi-often?

:: That would get his attention. No doubt Ava had heard from Cameron about Dominique launching Simon across the receptionist's desk earlier today. Alison just wanted to see how well Simon handled embarrassment ::

One again he eyed Alison up and down with curiosity before leaning back in his chair.

"But really...nobody cares about MY day..you look like a person who always has the inside scoop...

:: Alison leaned back in her seat::

Oh....that's ONE way of describing me!

:: She winked::

is our girl over there [tilting his head to Ava] really sick or did she ditch the day to hang out with you? Not like she could get in trouble for hanging out with boss's sister..but I'd like to know...I was here to get her SOUP and bring it up to her room...and now well..."

He placed his hand over his head dramatically.

"I can't help but feel as if this all just one big lie and Girl Friday is playing me for a FOOL!"

Maybe that's why "fools fall in love"?

:: Alison said with a deliberately haughty tone as she took a moment to admire her well manicured nails ::

Simon cast a glance over at Ava, who did NOT seem pleased. He readjusted himself.

"Oh come ON, Ava...I'm just having a little fun..."

"Well I have a headache, so excuse my lack of humor."

She stated flatly while waving the waiter over and ordering another double Goose and Red Bull.

:: Alison smirked a bit as she looked on.::

"She's here to see me. The thing you need to know about Alison Marble is....she tends to stick her nose in other people's business."

Giving Alison a cheeky smile.

:: Alison looked smugly at Ava for a moment before opening her mouth and placing her hand in front of it, feigning a look of "shock" and "WHO ME!?"::

"Although Cameron and Alycia is really strange for me to think about....bet you didn't see THAT one coming."

She directed to Alison, the obvious joke being lost to Simon.

Lots of strange things...and people these days, I agree. Almost makes playing the piano naked seem rather QUAINT.

:: Alison laughed softly under her breath once more as she GLADLY paid Ava's "serve" forward to SIMON! Ava was never one to miss out on the chance to do a little ribbing of her own. It was easy to underestimate her timing and dry, witty humour. But Alison enjoyed it, even when SHE was on the receiving end of it. After a moment, she looked over at Simon::

But, I can't imagine my baby brother's time being better spent with anyone OTHER than Alycia Barnett.

:: Alison replied immediately, with an almost SMUG tone in her voice, as she already "SAW" his previous encounters with Alycia, as well as his discussions of her with Ava and Vivica, among others in the recent past and since Ava had just "served" her this opportunity, she might as well take it! ::

She's a very good friend of mine and Cameron's finally reached a level where he can attract a woman like her. I'm quite proud of him and happy for them both.

:: She said, eyeing Simon intently, before smiling with an almost wicked glint in her eye::

And don't you worry, I have an open channel to my brother anytime. He's never too far away from me.

But my dear Ava and I?

:: Abruptly reaching over and wrapping her arm around Ava from the side, pulling her close and SHAKING her a bit on purpose, her own little "pay back" for the zinger from earlier::

We havent seen each other in SUCH :: another squeeze and shake:: a long time! I Just HAD to come visit her!

:: She then wraps BOTH arms around Ava, squeezing her TIGHTLY and making kissy faces ::

Ohhhh Ava! I'm SO happy to SEE youuuu!

:: Smiling SWEETLY to Ava, as the goddess looked less than amused, all the while TRYING not to let a smile creep over her face. She KNEW she was having a fun moment here with the two of them::

 

[Longshot]

Parthenon - La Bella Mafia

Is that so? An executive position AND a good memory? You're more than just a pretty face, I see.

:: Alison said in a rather coy tone, as she laughed on the inside. Ava knew what she was doing, but surprisingly, Simon was adapting rather WELL. He wasn't QUITE as over the top and OVER THE EDGE as BANE, but he was definitely a character. It was immediately clear why Ava had been charmed by him. It would TAKE someone as unabashed as this to get past HER glamorous, aloof facade!::

"You're right...my body is pretty nice TOO!"

He took a sip of his drink as he explained his day. Alison interjected.

I imagine, in your daily routine at Zenith, you must encounter DOMINIQUE DEVERAUX semi-often?

:: That would get his attention. No doubt Ava had heard from Cameron about Dominique launching Simon across the receptionist's desk earlier today. Alison just wanted to see how well Simon handled embarrassment ::

He looked her up and down, before cracking a smile. Simon was beginning to put the pieces together regarding Alison. She was obviously more than human, especially if she was Cameron's sister. And it looked like she had the gift of sight in some kind of way.

"Encounter is a NICE way of putting it, Alison. I've ran into her twice...one time she charged me like a wildabeast and more recently she decided to use me as a Javelin for her qualifying round in the Bitch Olympics."

[setting his glass down on the table]

"Other than that...she's delightful. Or I'm sure she WILL be if she ever decides to say hello instead of MANHANDLE me. Not that i'm complaining..she's definitely a dime piece."

[winking]

Maybe that's why "fools fall in love"?

:: Alison said with a deliberately haughty tone as she took a moment to admire her well manicured nails ::

His eyes widened with amusement before he turned to Ava.

"I don't know about love, but I think Ava is sure falling for something! I think it's my eyes. They're pretty, right? Almost as pretty as yours."

Simon laughed at Alison. He was actually enjoying her. She was biting and they seemed to both get some kind of pleasure out of ruffling Ava's feathers because they both knew how to do it in a way that wouldn't cause their deaths at her hands.

Ava made a joke about Alison not seeing something coming and finally Simon put it together.

Lots of strange things...and people these days, I agree. Almost makes playing the piano naked seem rather QUAINT.

:: Alison laughed softly under her breath once more as she GLADLY paid Ava's "serve" forward to SIMON! Ava was never one to miss out on the chance to do a little ribbing of her own. It was easy to underestimate her timing and dry, witty humour. But Alison enjoyed it, even when SHE was on the receiving end of it. After a moment, she looked over at Simon::

Simon's eyes widened as he reached for his drink again. He remained collective.

"So...I'm guessing that my new friend Alison here is like her brother and her friend? "Special"? Somebody who can see things? Which by the way...you're welcome for that! Even Ava hasn't seen me play....well on the piano

But, I can't imagine my baby brother's time being better spent with anyone OTHER than Alycia Barnett.

:: Alison replied immediately, with an almost SMUG tone in her voice, as she already "SAW" his previous encounters with Alycia, as well as his discussions of her with Ava and Vivica, among others in the recent past and since Ava had just "served" her this opportunity, she might as well take it! ::

She's a very good friend of mine and Cameron's finally reached a level where he can attract a woman like her. I'm quite proud of him and happy for them both.

:: She said, eyeing Simon intently, before smiling with an almost wicked glint in her eye::

"Well I guess every dog has to get spayed or neutered at SOME point...otherwise they just walk around and try to hump your leg."

And don't you worry, I have an open channel to my brother anytime. He's never too far away from me.

But my dear Ava and I?

:: Abruptly reaching over and wrapping her arm around Ava from the side, pulling her close and SHAKING her a bit on purpose, her own little "pay back" for the zinger from earlier::

We havent seen each other in SUCH :: another squeeze and shake:: a long time! I Just HAD to come visit her!

:: She then wraps BOTH arms around Ava, squeezing her TIGHTLY and making kissy faces ::

Ohhhh Ava! I'm SO happy to SEE youuuu!

:: Smiling SWEETLY to Ava, as the goddess looked less than amused, all the while TRYING not to let a smile creep over her face. She KNEW she was having a fun moment here with the two of them::

Alison was a trip...and a fun one. He liked watching Alison and Ava interact and he could tell that this was the person outside of her sister Haleigh that she was the closest to. They had a genuine friendship..there wasn't anything fake or cordial about it, which only served to pique Simon's curiousity.

"You two seem really close...Alison, why weren't you at that party for Blaze a few months ago? You would have been a blast to party with, i'm sure!"

 

[Persephone]

Alison pretended to be shocked once Ava stated that she tended to butt into other people's business. Giving her an 'oh pleased' look, Ava held back a smile as she took a sip of her drink. Alison and Simon seemed to be getting a kick out of each other. Alison would rib Simon, and Simon would respond back with an equally crafty response. It was actually interesting to witness, especially since Alison usually disliked men like Simon. Apparently Simon was able to get past her marble exterior.

Alison: Lots of strange things...and people these days, I agree. Almost makes playing the piano naked seem rather QUAINT.

Ava's brows lifted as she looked over at Simon.

Simon: So...I'm guessing that my new friend Alison here is like her brother and her friend? "Special"?

"Oh she's SPECIAL alright."

Giving Alison a coy smile.

Simon: Somebody who can see things? Which by the way...you're welcome for that! Even Ava hasn't seen me play....well on the piano.

"Wow. [looking around for the waiter] Check?"

She joked flatly. But Alison kept it going....feeling her arm wrap around Ava's waist, Ava was PULLED into Alison and gently shook to emphasize just how much Alison missed her. Ava looked like a cat being held by a torturous little girl.

Alison: And don't you worry, I have an open channel to my brother anytime. He's never too far away from me. But my dear Ava and I? We havent seen each other in SUCH a long time! I Just HAD to come visit her!

The way Alison was acting was really amusing, but she didn't want to give her the satisfaction of laughing. But as soon as she started doing kissy faces Ava cracked a smile before letting out a soft laugh.

"Okay, okay....you happy? You made me laugh."

Pushing her away with a smile.

"Mission accomplished you bitch."

She knew Alison was doing this to lighten the somber mood Ava has been in, and using Simon as a means to doing it was just a fun benefit. It just showed how close they were as friends, and even Simon could see that as an outsider. Other than Haleigh, Alison was the closest person in Ava's life.

Simon: You two seem really close...Alison, why weren't you at that party for Blaze a few months ago? You would have been a blast to party with, i'm sure!

"Unfortunately she had business to attend to during that time."

Not a complete lie, but a hell of a lot better than saying....oh, she was recovering from taking one of her best friends children away from her and having an all out knock down throw out fight with her and ending their friendship.

"But i'm sure she enjoyed the show regardless."

Another small indication that Simon was right in the fact that Alison could in fact "see" things.

 

[Harbinger]

Simon: Somebody who can see things? Which by the way...you're welcome for that! Even Ava hasn't seen me play....well on the piano.

"Wow. [looking around for the waiter] Check?"

Gold star for you.

::Alison thought in a "sarcastic" tone of voice. She'd "watched" her brother school Simon on the world around him, including the supernatural and the superpowered. NATURALLY, a sibling of Cameron's would have power as well. But one thing Cameron couldn't convey and Simon wouldnt be able to imagine the scope of, is the way Cameron's "fire" was contrasted by Alison's "Ice". She did not deem him a threat or a security risk, for now, and thus, there was no need to give a heavy handed demonstration of her power. Still, even a light use of her precog/retrocog vision was enough to both amuse him AND give him pause.::

The way Alison was acting was really amusing, but she didn't want to give her the satisfaction of laughing. But as soon as she started doing kissy faces Ava cracked a smile before letting out a soft laugh.

"Okay, okay....you happy? You made me laugh."

Pushing her away with a smile.

:: Alison smiled and laughed as she swayed over from Ava's playful push.::

"Mission accomplished you bitch."

Bitchcraft AT it's finest!

:: playfully nudging her friend as she smiled widely.::

She knew Alison was doing this to lighten the somber mood Ava has been in, and using Simon as a means to doing it was just a fun benefit. It just showed how close they were as friends, and even Simon could see that as an outsider. Other than Haleigh, Alison was the closest person in Ava's life.

:: They really were close. They'd come SO FAR since the moment they first laid eyes on each other, in Darkchilde's Limbo.::

You two seem really close...Alison, why weren't you at that party for Blaze a few months ago? You would have been a blast to party with, i'm sure!

:: Her laugh faded with a long sigh, Ava picked up on the cue and immediately spoke up.::

Unfortunately she had business to attend to during that time.

::Alison, now with a more serious look on her face, nodded in agreement and satisfaction with that explanation.::

Not a complete lie, but a hell of a lot better than saying....oh, she was recovering from taking one of her best friends children away from her and having an all out knock down throw out fight with her and ending their friendship.

:: Somethings were just not meant for outsiders. Even some of those IN the group couldnt handle the awful truth, and despite Simon's rather SANGUINE personality, he was not prepared to know all of who or what Alison was, what she'd DO for....or TO someone. ::

"But i'm sure she enjoyed the show regardless."

Another small indication that Simon was right in the fact that Alison could in fact "see" things.

::Alison smirked as she looked down for a moment, Ava was good at making a play on words.::

I couldn't be happier for Blaze and I'll be seeing her later tonight.

:: there was a soft hum coming from her clutch. a mystic dark crystal she was carrying was now sounding off an alarm. Ava's own enhanced hearing would detect it and she recognized the sound of Alison's magicks at work. Alison looked down at her clutch, opening it. She played it off as though she was looking at her PHONE.::

It's activating!

:: The business...the OBJECT that had drawn Alison from Minerva's Aerie to New York, an object that would proove to be KEY in helping turn the tide of coming events in the Six's favor, now had Alison's attention. Her countenance became rather serious. She finally looked over at Ava. They silently exchanged "that look". Alison needed to leave to leave for now, but she'd check in with Ava later. Ava had her job to do in warning Cameron and Haleigh as well later on.::

It's been nice meeting you, Simon.

:: She stands up, looking down to Ava once more.::

I'll see YOU in just a little while. Enjoy the rest of your day hon. Try not wear him out after he plays you a piano concerto!

:: One last little jab, as she snickered at her dear friend, making sure to cover up the very REAL urgency she now had in her mind and heart::

:: With that, Alison struts off, disappearing out of the entrance of La Bella Mafia::

 

[Seer]

What about them?

<<Malice's sudden appearence prooved just how off balance the Six were at this time. And her targeting of Delilah, the most wayward of the Six at this time, that was no accident either. The White Queen delivered a series of withering verbal attacks and nearly flushed them out of their truce and she was quite selective in who she targeted to be her unwitting catspaw in that. Delilah nearly caved, but at the last moment, she removed herself, leaving Haleigh and Cameron to recover and withdraw, but was it enough? Haleigh herself was experiencing a problem, one that was only beginning to make itself known but clearly spelled trouble and Cameron, despite his progress, prooved that some hurts still run deep.>>

<< Diana suddenly showing up was indeed troubling, but she was NOT the face of their immediate threat. For all the the terrible things they associated with HER, they still KNEW HER. The real danger was in what they didn't know, what werent immediately aware of yet. Even as others around them...>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Images of Oracle, Recall, Orion and ISIS all in different areas of the city, looking rather concerned>>

<<...are more than aware. they were seeing first hand just how deadly this threat was as it had taken root and was spreading, with help from many unlikely AND all to predictable sources.>>

<< One of the greatest tools an enemy has, is FEAR. Fear can be brought about many ways, including the all too late realization of just how vulnerable your friends and allies are...just because of their connection...to YOU.>>

<< Night time across the city.>>

<< Nicolas is in the offices of Charope, Inc, visiting with Alycia.>>

<< Blaze, Cass and Sally Spectra are at XS, working on more details and having fun at it. Vivica finally catches up with them and is now inside of XS with them. >>

<< Haleigh and Cameron have had time to settle from the events of earlier, still not sure of certain things. They both can agree on Diana's motives and even why she targeted Delilah, but what they don't realize is that SHE is not the "Head" of their immediate threat. >>

<< Speaking of Delilah, as she made her way to the Parthenon...all around her, a sense of uncertainy loomed. It appeared that EVERYONE was stopping to stare at her and that they KNEW just who...WHAT she was. Was this REAL?>>

<< Where Malice was concerned, the line between waking reality and manifestation of emotional/subconscious fears often BLURRED. It almost SEEMED that Malice's soft, evil, laugh was in the very air around Delilah and with each withering glare she received from a stranger, in their eyes, was MALICE.>>

<< She didnt learn from Cameron's folly...the danger of going it alone when you're at your weakest. Whatever was coming her way, she'd face it, head on. by the time she makes her way to the Parthenon, she IS suitably intrigued. Just what IS happening? WHY is there such a spike in anti-mutant hysteria? If she IS now a prime target, thanks to Malice, she won't sit there OR cower in fear. No matter how she feels, she'll try to do something about it.>>

<< Information was power. Delilah knew that from her time with the NYPD. Oracle understand that. And so did the Purifiers.>>

<< Speaking of which...>>


<< The Purifiers.>>

<< On the public front, they seem to be a charismatic church with hard right views, lead by the graceful, pristine Sister Mary Justice. Her reach is far and wide, and growing with each passing day. >>

<< Behind their facade, They are are a powerfull, well organized, GROWING group of anti-mutant crusaders that have hardened their edges to become a lethal strikeforce. To say that they are a terrorist group" almost seems trite. Their force and the application of it is such that even the U.N. is aware of them, while curiously, shamefully, local and state officials seem to somehow be UNAWARE of them. COMPLICIT is more like it.>>

<< The purifiers core belief is that ALL mutants and metahumans are children of the devil and thus, worthy of extermination. Through careful, coordinated expansion, key networking and personal recruiting by Mary Justice, the Purifiers have become a powerful military strikeforce, with technology, skill and weaponry making them quite capable and FORMIDABLE adversaries against nearly any mutant. >>


<< But what is the source of Sister Mary Justice's almost uncanny abiility to make such key contacts and recruit such pivotal members? She would tell you it's divine inspiration and leadership from "the one above" but in reality, it's something much more sinister.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE, across the time stream...one that is hauntingly familiar to certain members of the Six who once visited here>>

<< as the makeshift "Team" hurries to the tunnel leading out of the arena, they are greeted by NIMROD, the ULTIMATE in sentinel technology. not gigantic, but composed of an almost "glowing" substance, the super sentinel is uneffected by any conventional weapon that Mike or Delilah could be carrying and is capable of performing an infinite number of strategy sessions and battle macros in the blink of an eye. completely immune to telepathic domination and highly resistance to temporal distortion, the sentinel is the ULTIMATE killing machine. >>

<< as it identifies Karen, Ava and Alison, it deems THEM the primary threats. wanted criminals and extremely dangerous, THEY are to be obliterated without any hestitation. and so he locks on those three, preparing to fire.>>

<< Nimrod is also the "juvenile" form capable of EVOLVING into a MASTER MOLD!>>


<<FLASH!>>

Nicolas continued his assault on the Nimrod. As Alison ignited a discord spell, he almost seemed to...SMILE.

Attagirl...

Nicolas pulled in all of the spare hatred, animosity, and discord, and reched out suddenly...

in the ammunition room half a dozen tons of explosive, energy, regular and heated Sabo rounds disappears before reinforcements can grab it to enter the fray. Nicolas, his face still a bloody mask, grunts as he spins the ammunition above him into a devastating whirlwind which he pushes into the Nimrod. A cacophony of armaments, energies and concussions batter the robot as Nicolas tears into him, stuffing the near-ionized ordnance inside...

<< Mainstream Rampage, aided by the powerful alternates of Harbinger and Persephone in that dark timeline, seemingly DESTROYED the Nimrod as the alternates escaped with THEIR Karen and the young Victoria King. BUT... even as the batterd Nimrod lay on the ground, a flicker...a SPARK of activity signaled that it was already beginning to recover...to REBOOT.>>

<< The alternates in that timeline AND the visiting mainstreams escaped, and the temporal forces went WILD. The nimrod was LOST somewhere between MorningStar's wormhole and a randomly opening STEPPING DISC, causing IT to fall into the time stream.>>[/quote]

<<FLASH!>>

<< Several years EARLIER, LIMBO. Ororo acclimates a newly revived Cameron King to his team and what has happened during his "death"/absence>>

and behold, the trials of the six since you left...

:: an odd, warbling/fluxuating sound is heard as images rewind and spin....and now Cameron is able to see MORE of what he missed. MASTER MOLD! the terror and destsruction as he reigned down on New York City. Spellbinder trying desperately to save Alycia Barnett and Sharon Kelly; Sharon being fatally injured by Master Mold as she runs for her life and dying in Alycia's arms. the fatefull battle between the Six and Master Mold...with Alison being maimed and Haleigh using ALL her strength and strength of will to save MORGAN from being pulled into the Seige Perilous with Master Mold...::

<< We know what happened then and since...with MASTER MOLD...but what does this have to do with NIMROD or Sister Mary Justice and the Purifiers?>>

<< That same time period of Cameron's return, back on earth. St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. Haleigh Davidoff and Zachary Armani are preparing for their nuptuals>>

architectural style is contrasted by the cutting edge buildings that surround it. The secretary gives them a brief history and background of the church, and some information pertaining to a wedding. Haleigh and Zach hold hands, and both look young and carefree, released from their burdens.... completely happy. Haleigh reiterates that money is of NO consequence, and that this place is PERFECT, as they all slow at the top of the steps outside the church. The towering, intricately decorated double doors are swung open, giving an open view of the stunning cathedral nave and sanctuary.

The secretary begins to point out some of the features in front of them, leading them through the nave and into an office where their meeting can be more private and details can be sorted out.... she offers them both a seat and they take it.... but she stops in midsentence. Haleigh's attention is called away from the statues and decor, as she looks at the secretary.... who looks... FROZEN. She quickly looks around, drawing a gun, as Zach wraps his arm around her protectively and draws a handgun of his own.

Zach:"What just happened?"

"I don't know, dear.... do you see anyone ELSE moving? This looks like Alison's work... or... Ororo has been known to stop time before too.... but it could just as easily be an attack..."

Zach:"Maybe we should take cover...."

"No... I don't think we're in danger.... anyone wanting to HURT us wouldn't have bothered keeping MORTALS from witnessing it."

She said, as they continued to look around. They watched the door of the office suspiciously... as Ororo appears beside them. Haleigh gives a start, then a relieved sigh.

"Oh.... Jesus Christ, Ororo.... you gave us a fright..... no, it's okay, don't apologize... I can't imagine you would just drop in. This can't be good... whatever is the matter?"

<< St. Patrick's Cathedral, a NIGHTMARE unfolds. A woman, both beautiful and terrifying has RETURNED, and BRUTALLY ATTACKS anyone she finds inside the church.>>

[ by now most of the area in the administrative building within the Cathedral had been destroyed, ransacked. the secretary that had once met with Haleigh and Zach, DEAD. Several nuns aand other attendants, DEAD..their bodies lay horribly butchered in various areas and the walls, floors and windows were sprayed and splattered with blood. Several crows and other large birds were now inside the cathedral , flying about seeming to revel in their soaring in the highest reaches of the barrel vaulted ceiling of the massive cathedral, while OTHER birds of various species congregated around and ON the cathedral even to the highest point of the building outside.]

[ there were more sounds of violence, as Sharon Kelly was TEARING APART the secretary's office, looking for something in particular it seemed. FINALLY finally she snatched a folder up, holding it in her hands and running her perfectly manicured, metallic silver finger nails over the file, it was clear what her silver eyes were gazing at.]

"application for marriage ceremony: Haleigh Davidoff and Zachary Armani"

target! monster...ENEMY!

[Sharon scanned the file and discovered where Haleigh was, at LONG LAST!]

<< Zach and a rather tipsy Haleigh, have made their way to St. Patrick's cathedral. as they arrive to park, there seems to be no one about. the church looks "closed" but because the knew their appointmenet was set for today, the felt confident about going in. when they arrive at the front entrance double doors....and enter in...they are greeted by a terrible odor in the air...as well as the sound of birds fluttering , the sound echoes and as they pass into the dim sanctuary, the see signs of violence. birds high above in the barrel vaulted ceiling and worst of all....the residing preist of the church....CRUCIFIED on the cross behind the alter at the front of the sanctuary. the Priest is badly slashed and cut...with stars in his hands and feet...he has a look of pain and terror in his eyes..but he too is dead. who could have done this? Haleigh and Zach have stumbled upon a GRIZZLY murder scene, while CHAOS breaks loose in the streets of manhattan.>>

<< as they went further into the church, into the executive offices, they would find the offices ransacked, destroyed and more bodies. nuns, workers, the CHAPLAIN...all DEAD, with spinning stars lodged into their bodies at various areas...into the walls and other places. blood spattered and sprayed and file strewn about. the Chaplain had met an especially horrid death. in addition to having spinning stars lodged into his bady mutilated body...his EYES had been plucked out....by the birds perhaps? >>

<< Haleigh and Zach would find their own marraige application now pinned to the wall with a silver, metalloid dagger jammed through it. there birds of various species in here too....fluttering about as they watched the two humans.>>

<< WHO could have done this? Haleigh was about to find out...much to her and Zach's peril as they continued to search the area....reacting to what they saw and trying to gather ANY information or clues as to WHAT had taken place...what they were now being faced with.>>

<< reports of the bird attack at the photo shoot were now coming across media outlets at this moment and Haleigh would pick up on those two as she was investigating this grizzly murder scene.>>

<< Sharon Kelly, the Silver Swan, died at the hands of Master Mold. Master Mold is the evolved form of a Nimrod.>>

<< When the Silver Swan MURDERED the staff of St. Patrick's cathedral...there was ONE survivor>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< Hidden in a supply closet down the hall from the counseling off, a terrified young nun tries to not even BREATHE for fear that that silver monster woman will find her and butcher her. But soon, she hears the sounds of confrontation. Spellbinder, MorningStar and others attempting to reason with and then ESCAPE the wrath of the Silver Swan. The nun had survived, only because she had somehow gone unnoticed by Sharon Kelly. But though she survived, she was NEVER quite the same.>>

<< In the years that followed, Mary suffered from anxiety disorder and developed an alcohol problem. St. Patrick's Cathedral fell into disrepair and was eventually a ghost church, with no parishoners. Mary remained, alone, a fractured soul, with no sense of purpose. Her friends...her family...DEAD. Her spirit, DYING.>>

<<FLASH>>

<< over a year ago. St. Patrick's Cathedral.>>

<< Mary lays before a large cross. the same cross that her former priest had been CRUCIFIED on by Silver Swan several years earlier.>>

Mary: I've served you faithfully...all of my adult life. And....everything was ripped away from me...ripped apart....by a monster...who has gone free...unpunished...while I...struggle to make sense of this world where the devil's children walk free to spread their poison and effect everything around them.

<< the woman pulls out a gun...and primes it, first attempting to stick it in her mouth...but then turning her head away, shuddering with grief.>>

Mary: I have nothing left....I am nothing. If you love me....if you value me...AT ALL...SAVE ME...from myself...give me...a SIGN!?

<< As Mary's trembling hand steadies and she points the gun to her temple, she begins to squeeze the trigger, wanting to believe there's a chance...but knowing there isnt. It was all cut away years ago. >>

<< At the last moment....the winds howl and swirl INSIDE the church right above her where she lays. a temporal distortion RIPPLES into view and a PINK flash of light can be seen as a LARGE OBJECT falls from it and lands at the base of the large CROSS where Mary lays...it is the TORSO and HEAD of the NIMROD from the timeline where the mainstreams helped alternates Alison and Ava rescue Karen and escape with Victoria to freedom from Rick Riley's oppression!>>

<< the NIMROD unit lays in front of mary...and it begins to flicker...ACTIVATING a view screen and BROADCASTING to her images..."VISIONS" of events that have occurred...in HER timeline. and then? her eyes WIDEN as it begins to broadcast visions of what is...YET TO COME!>>

Mary: THANK YOU!

<< Mary drops the gun and lifts her hands to the ceiling above, with tears in her eyes. She cries out with thanks to her god, for she is convinced that she knows has the answer, the GIFT that she needs.>>

<< A temporal twist. A terrifying piece of technology with the ability to chronicle and REPORT past AND future events across timeline. Another loose end from a disastrous moment in the Six's history. A broken, lost soul...RIPE to be filled with HATRED and the means to express it. All the ingredients needed...to bring about SISTER MARY JUSTICE and her PURIFIERS.>>


Sister Mary Justice: No longer will we hide in fear of the devil's children as they parade about like harlots, spreading their filth and sin. For god has armed me with his divine visions and through his clarity of vision, a sword of RIGHTEOUSNESS is formed, with which we shall STIKE DOWN these abominations!

 

[Tachyon]

The cornucopiae. Also known as the horn of plenty.

There are, in fact, a very many of these minor talismans given as gifts by powerful magic users or deities as payment for loyalty. Their reward is subtle yet pervasive: they confer plentiful crops on the faithful as long as they are retained.

Here is the rub. They are also generally made of gold or platinum and therefore very valuable and collectible. Hence why a socialite whose name is unimportant has one under lock and key, having paid for it to be stolen from a small nomadic tribe in Eritrea. Their once verdant area has dried up completely and starvation has set in.

This is where someone ELSE steps in. Having already seen the valley dry up where this was located and spoken to the elders who lost it by subterfuge, Xavier has decided to do what he has done since he was just 16 years old: return the wayward object to its rightful owner as only HE can.

The horn is placed in sealed glass; the glass is pressure sensitive. Lasers form a grid around it in a moving pattern. The floor is pressure sensitive and booby-trapped. As are the doors and windows. The object was completely covered from every conceivable threat.

This was gonna be a snap.

The next 0.000001 seconds see the horn disappear. Just. GONE. Nothing tripped. No noise. No one the wiser. It's usurper would awaken to find a space where his million dollar trinket once lay and sound the belated alarm.

Seconds later it is back on its altar in the dusty old Eritrean village as its people sleep. Outside...sprouts of vegetation push through the ground as rainclouds form. The village awakens to the rains they have sorely missed and they rejoice, dancing and singing in the forming mud. The elders resolve to hide it better in the future and send a wordless thanks to whatever did this for them. A silent sentry sees their gratitude and nods before running...

...back to New York. While he was here he sensed what had to be AMAZING artifacts. The call of these items was too strong to ignore, and too strong to allow to be in simply anyone's hands. He decided to stay a bit, do some digging. And considering that he wanted to be relatively close, he entered the lobby of the Parthenon, checking in to the first available room.

 

[Recall]

A Girl About Town...

The afternoon had gone by in a whirlwind for Vivica who had spent her time gallavanting around the city trying to accomplish as much as she could. First she went to Clandestine's NYC Heaquarters where she spent some time going over briefs in order to see if they had managed to uncover anything that herself and Oracle had not (unsurpisingly, they hadn't.) As she made her way to Belle Epoque in Chelsea she took a detour to Balthazar's where she had read on her phone that a rather curious event had occured there earlier that potentially had involved The Purifiers.

But the servers at the restaurants and patrons that still remained in the area were of no help to Vivica. Each of them gave a confused and disjointed account of what happened which confirmed to Vivica that their minds had been manipulated in order to not know exactly what they had seen...but she WAS able to confirm that the incident had involved two blonde women, a red head and a man. Taking an opportunity to dig a little deeper she put her skills at Clandestine to good use, charming and flirting with one of the servers at the restaurant into letting her into their backroom where Vivica quickly managed to find the security tapes. Though there were no exterior camera shots of the patio, Vivica was able to confirm the appearances of Delilah, Cameron and Haleigh in the lobby of the establishment. This meant The Six was involved. She couldn't however, nail the other blonde that had been described. Figuring she had gotten as much information as she could, she gave the bewildered bus boy a fake number, licked her lips and headed out once again.

Vivica rounded the corner an found her in the bright and colorful neighborhood of Chelsea, the home of art and all things modern and beautiful in the city. This was also where her gallery resided a mere few blocks from the loft she had inherited from her Aunt Gloria Reeves who was once a very famous broadway songstress known for her BIG voice, her BIG attitude and her BIG talent. Vivica headed through the french doors of her gallery. The expansive white walls and beautiful art adorning them brought a charge of energy to Vivica as she made her way over to reception where her fabulous intern Andre was sitting at the desk, typing away at the computer in front of him as she sat her bag down and began to file through her mail. Andre did not look over as he said hello.

Andre: "Well...If it's isn't Miss Viv! Fancy seeing you here...at your own GALLERY!"

He took a sip from his large iced coffee as he clicked his rather stellar high heels against the polished wood floors of the gallery. Vivica crinkled her nose and laughed at Andre as she began to separate her mail into the rightful areas. She leaned over and gave Andre a kiss on the cheek.

"Well..I'm sure my recent absence have given PLENTY of time to cruise the internet for hot men...but I told you..work use only my dahhling Miss AndreAH!"

She began to take a look around and see how the current exhibition was going. Ever since Vivica's DEBUT as an artist with her introspective on the strength of women, using mixed media to transpose current female noisemakers along with legendary women of myth and history, she had been on a girl power kick. The crowds seemed to love it and Vivica liked to be able to show the art of strong and talented women of the city. She nodded with approval at the current artist's work and turned back to Andre.

"The exhibit seems to be going well...I'd say we are nearly halfway sold...In a week's time that's not bad..It's not even art season..."

Andre smiled.

Andre: "Well you know everybody is talking about when YOUR next showing is going to be. The crowd must HAVE it and you must SERVE it while you're still hot my dear!"

[sighing]

"I've been working on a few pieces. Nothing cohesive yet...I'm still waiting for something to speak to me. Anyway..I just came to check in on things...see where we are at...and HEY! I promised myself I wouldn't overdo it with this gallery. I want it to be organic and free flowing. I'm not going to go into overdrive to make it successful...the work will speak for itself..Now..if you'll excuse me dear, I'm off...gotta meet with Blaze...and YES.... [lowering her voice into a taunting like whisper] Miss Sally Spectra..."

Andre shrieked with excitement.

"Ooh GIRL! I still can't get over you hob knobbing with the QUEEN herself! I Can't STAND you!"

Vivica laughed at him as she made her way over towards the door, lingering in the doorway before she left.

"And Andre...I know this is New York and it's always crazy...but do me a favor..don't walk to the train alone tonight..even if you have to call ME..I'm just a few blocks up the street. All these crazies out lately..I just want you to be safe...I mean who else is going to drink coffee and judge my patrons outfit/lifestyle choices if something happened to you...Promise?"

Andre nodded as she headed out the door and up the street a few blocks before hiking up the stairs to her beautiful and posh loft. As soon as her keys hit the bowl by the door she heard several meows and the patter of footsteps against her floor. In seconds her Bengal Cat Sheba was between her legs purring like an engine. Vivica scooped her up in her arms as gave her many kisses on the forehead.

"And look at my beautiful girl! Mmm! Mama loves her baby!"

She sat Sheba down on the floor as she went to the fridge and pulled out a saucer of milk and a delicious all organic and fresh fish treat for her baby as she glanced at her watch. Vivica definitely had the stink of the city on her and she had managed to fingerpoin where Blaze was during her time playing detective. She jumped in the shower, washed the events of the day off of her and got changed into something that was casual but still chic. She was just about to head out of the door when she realized she had forgotten something. She walked across the room and into her at home art studio that was attached to the main apartment. It had been a piano room of sorts for her Aunt and in fact the piano was still there...but when Vivica moved in, she couldn't help but feel inspired by being in the room. She grabbed a painting off one of her easels and headed out of the door and into a private town car before making her way to Club XS.

As Vivica walked in she moved past the throngs of people and made her way over to the deluxe VIP area where Blaze, Cass and Sally were already chatting it up loudly and with glee. Vivica made herself be known.

"Well shake the dice and steal the rice, look at the three of YOU!"

She struck a pose as she hurried over and greeted the girls one by one. First she said hello to Sally.

"Sally Spectra! Looking RAVISHING as always! Muah darling!"

Setting the painting down she went over and gave Cass a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Cassie! Always a pleasure to see you my dear! Staying out of trouble!"

She made eye contact with Blaze as she felt that weird little butterfly feeling in the pit of her stomach. Blaze and Vivica had remained pretty casual since their encounter at The Parthenon two months ago. They MORE than enjoyed each other's company, but BOTH of them were very busy women, and neither of them were really interested in 'labels' or 'claiming territory'. She gave Blaze a big hug and whispered into her ear.

"There's my girl.."

Vivica gave Blaze a kiss on the lips before stepping back and looking at the three of them.

"Now I KNOW I've been a little bad at returning phone calls, B....SO! That's why I brought you a PRESENT! Here! I hope you like it."

She picked the painting up, ripped the paper cover off of it and handed it to Blaze. Blaze's eyes widened at the sight of Vivica's work.

"Let's just say I got a little inspired...took me less than a WEEK to finish. I thought it might fit in nice here, or at that new venue of yours in Paris! My way of saying congratulations!"

Vivica gave Blaze another warm hug as she waved the cocktail waitress down and promptly ordered her signature drink, a Moscow Mule before sitting down next to the rest of the ladies.

"Now...I hope I haven't missed TOO much...Care to fill me in?!"

 

[Persephone]

After Alison had excused herself from lunch to take an 'urgent phone call', Ava and Simon decided to stay for some cappuccinos and dessert. Ava could tell that he was extremely intrigued with Alison by the way he not to subtly kept asking questions about her. It passed the time, and it got Ava's mind off of things, but Alison's words were still looming over her. Finally, she bid Simon goodbye, explaining that she was still feeling under the weather and wanted to take a nap. He may or may not have bought her excuse, but he didn't put up much of a fight and accepted her reasoning. Returning to her suite, Ava tossed her purse onto the small table next to the door and made her way into the kitchen. With her iPhone in hand, she created a group text message to both Cameron and Haleigh.

"Hey, I need to speak to both of you ASAP. Come to my suite when you can, it's important."

Hitting send, Ava sighed while putting her phone down on the counter. This was going to be one can of worms she really didn't want to open....it was like opening Pandora's Box. As soon as she uttered Alison's warnings out loud to her team mates, all hell was going to break loose.

A drink was definitely needed.

 

[Black Widow]

Clandestine Intelligence

She sat in her office at Clandestine's headquarters, several subfloors beneath the Liquid Crystal Images building. She hadn't used it much since relocating to L.A., but she didn't want to be at the Parthenon, the architectural reminder of stupid Cameron King and his meaningful, judgmental glances.

The baby consumed her thoughts, the image of it in the tube seared into her retina.

She watched the playback again, broadcast from her mind out onto the glass screens that lined her walls, stopping and starting it so she could look closely for clues, not just in her surroundings, but her dialogue and thoughts as well.

A child.... a living being.... THAT is what Zeus and Frankenstein created with what they stole from her!

the 'what' is obvious...but when?

The only possible time her DNA could have been stolen..... would have been her first capture by MysTech, after that failed mission. Adam Chandler had run all sorts of tests in addition to the torture they had put her through. Had he harvested her ova? There were several periods of unconsciousness, and even some of the parts she'd been aware of were borderline incoherent. It was easily feasible, and unnerving to realize.

There was no way of confirming one way or the other. The answers had died with her original body during the inferno incident...... and Adam Chandler had been killed in the destruction of the Citadel.

and I'm not about to go to Hellfire and ask Diana if she happens to know where I left and/or killed my own kid..... she'd have a fucking FIELD DAY.

She tried to take her mind off of it by reviewing the target reports Ice sent her. They were all suitable sacrifices for Cass' hunger. To choose from there was a pediatrician pedophile with a family, a serial rapist who was also a pastor, and an abusive pimp who was an upstanding leader of his community service program. All of them were slipping through the cracks of the system. They'd been investigated by police, but not arrested because there just wasn't enough evidence left when the search warrants finally came through.

But neither Haleigh nor Cass were interested in search warrants and collecting evidence. They weren't going to make an arrest or file charges. They were going to make some asshole disappear. Last month they'd done a big time Crystal Meth supplier in the L.A. area and torched his lab. It had been a thrilling bonding experience for both of them.

From Ava>> Hey, I need to speak to both of you ASAP. Come to my suite when you can, it's important.

It was a group message, with Cameron included.

fucking AWESOME.

She thought sarcastically about an impromptu meeting that would definitely NOT be awesome after the car ride they'd had after lunch. She wished alcohol affected her the way it affected humans, because at least THEN she could do a couple of shots to take the edge off before trying to deal with him again.

She popped into her sister's suite, wearing her game face. As long as Cameron didn't act like a total dick again and accuse her of braiding Malice's hair, or tell her to grow up, or otherwise imply she was being the world's worst person, she'd be urbane.

 

[Seer]

deeper and deeper

<< The present>>

<< Inside the newly reconstructed and now more ominous looking St. Patrick's cathedral, there's a stillness in the air that is both comforting and unsettling, if such a thing is possible. A few "parishoners" are in attendance, some sitting in the pews, others kneeling, and others still at the steps of the altar where the giant cross, now drapped in the cleric cloth worn by the priest murdered the Silver Swan, stands tall and looming.>>

<< ELSEWHERE in the massive building, in the executive offices, Mary sits in the center of her circular office, reading passages from the bible. Mary, who is addressed as "Sister Mary Justice" by her colleagues and the Purifiers, has a cold but clear voice. She can cut through a person's defenses down to their sole with her voice, her words...her hope draining STARE.>>

<< If anyone beside Malice undertood the scripture that talked about "the power of life and death being in the tongue", it was Mary.>>

<< She reads the passage in the Bible that talks about wickedness among men and women and how, if it is found, it should be brought out from among the people and should be stoned, till they die. Closing the Bible, Mary stands to her feet and says a small prayer.>>

“Thy kingdom come, Lord, Thy will be done. On Earth, as it is in heaven.”

<< Interrupting, her secretary pages that her briefing videos are ready. Mary tells her secretary to send in the group of purifiers waiting outside and to begin playing the video. Mary remains standing as the purifers, young men and women wearing the robes bearing the Purifier symbol, file in and take their seats around Mary Justice's desk. They look upon her with solemn respect.>>

The time is coming. We must be prepared to draw the sword of righteousness and swing mightly with the stength of the lord.

But you must first know your enemy. You must see the face of satan's children wrapped in flesh. wrapped in flesh.

<< The video begins to play. The narrator names each member of the Six (whether active or not) and their allies.>>

<< Spellbinder. Harbinger. Firebird. Persephone. Rampage. Prophet. Black Widow. MorningStar. Ruby. Charope. Arsenal. Shadow Weaver. >>

<< as each name is heard on the video, a short montage of each person in action, using their powers is shown.>>

<< One last name is mentioned....>>

<< SILVER SWAN.>>

<< Images of Silver Swan at her absolute worst can be seen as she slaughters the staff of the very church these young men and women are sitting in. Images of BIRDS can be seen attacking and terrorizing the citizens of new york.>>

<< Some of those young people watching flinch and gasp with genuine shock.>>

Mary: Yes. They walk this earth, an abomination unto god and his natural creations, an assault to nature and order. They steal, kill and destroy...as only children of the devil could.

Mary: Each of you in this room is here, because you were chosen by god himself. With each hand selection, he called on ME to find you...to SAVE you, so that you may fullfill your divine purpose!

<<FLASH!>>

<< Two months ago. A rainy night outside of a club. James Hall, steps out of a club, laughing and carrying on, without a worry in the world.>>

<< Waiting for him, is a woman in a tailored black blazer, black skirt and an nun's habit. Sister Mary Justice. She stands still, not moving, even to keep out of the rain.>>

<< Finally, he manages to SPOT her. He and his friends laugh at her, wondering why she's just standing there.>>

Mary: James Hall?

James: Yeah....how do you know my name?

Mary: god knows ALL of his children's names. He knew you before you were even in your mother's womb.

James: Yeah...so uh...what's up, sister?

Mary: James? What would you do to stay alive?

James: ....

Mary: Would you spare a nun a few moments of your time?

James: Why? You looking to BREAK your vow of chastity?

<< he and his friends laugh some more as Mary stands, unmoved by his juvenile humour.>>

Mary: James? If you get in that cab, you will die before it even turns this corner.

James: huh?

Mary: If you value your life, do not get in that cab with your friends. I want to talk to you about....

James: Listen sister...I'm not sure what you've been drinking on at the convent, or moonlight lounge or whereever it is you've been, but you're outta your mind.

Mary: Perhaps I am. I have seen the face of god. And I'm here trying to save your life...

<< As James and Mary argue a bit...his friends "considerately" pour into the cab waiting for them and LEAVE him standing in the rain with Mary Justice.>>

<< As he registers the fact that he's been ditched, before he can completely turn to see the departing cab...it is completely ANNIHILATED by a BUS! The sound of impact, smashing metal, shattering glass, steam and broken bodies...it's truly sick.>>

<< Mary Justice stands there as James staggers back....completely STUNNED as the bus FINALLY grinds to a stop and the screams of onlookers begin to fill the night air.>>

James: Wha....what.....WHAT JUST HAPPEND!?

<< his breathing is choppy now>>

Mary: You've been spared, my boy. god has a calling for you and he sent me, his humble servant, to save you.

James: You...you saved my LIFE, sister. What....what do you need? What can i do?

Mary: Follow me. Listen. Learn.

<< James now sits in Sister Mary Justice's office. He's one of her ASSASSINS.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< Last summer. In a seedy motel, a young girl, earning less than a modest living the only way she feels she can, working the streets, is now being brutalized by one of her johns, who has refused to pay her and decides he wants more.>>

<< He's overpowered her and she's been badly beaten, and now being raped. Her cries are pitiful and the scene is horrible watch.>>

<< But there is one person who will do MORE than watch.>>

<< As lightning strobes out side of the window and thunder cracks...a clear, COLD voice COMMANDS...>>

Mary: STOP!

<< The man, nearly in a FRENZY of sexually motivated violence is truly started and ASTOUNDED to see a woman of small frame, in a tailored black blazer, black skirt and nun's habit, standing at the foot of the bed.>>

Man: What the hell!?

Mary: I command you, in jesus' name to RELEASE that child!

Man: Lady!? are you CRAZY!?

Mary: No, I am a believer...and soon, YOU will be too.

Man: he flings the badly hurt, barely conscious girl off the bed as he jumps off.

Mary: Sister, you want some too? You want it ROUGH!? I'll GIVE YOU....

<< lightning flashes once again, as the sister clutches a gold chain around her neck and in a smooth, FAST move, TEARS it away from her neck. the chain IMMEDIATELY expands into a golden WHIP with a terrifying CRACK as she wields it with such speed, fluid grace, it's almost an ARTFORM. She puts the ribbon dancers in the olympics to shame! This golden whip is UNBREAKABLE and has another strength to cut through STONE, imagine what it can do to human FLESH.>>

<< She swings the whip around and LASHES out at the man once. TWICE. THREE TIMES. The FIRST time she slices his shirt open and cuts his chest. the SECOND TIME she violently cuts him across the face.>>

Man: AHH!! YOU BITCH!?

Mary: I give you the message of the lord....DELIVERANCE from your unholy walk of sin. BELIEVE in the power of the lord! BELIEVE in the PUNISHMENT for those who disobey him!

<< the THIRD strick sends him FLYING onto the bed, after several of his TEETH have been knocked out as she cracks the whip and strikes him again>>

Man: Please....

<< His voice is tinged with PAIN as he can barely speak clearly, now with blood pouring from his mouth and his face already bloodied from her other whip strikes>>

Man: PLEASE don't kill me!?

Mary: DO YOU YOU REPENT!?

<< another crack and strike of the whip>>

Man: << his words no longer understood as he is now blubbering, crying and choking on his own blood>>

MARY: DO. YOU. REPENT!?

<< she strikes him AGAIN and he SCREAMS>>

MARY: SILENCE! The lord does not hear the cries of the WICKED.

<< The man writhes frantically...before eventually falling still. His mouth open, his eyes rolled up and his face frozen in a look of disbelief and terror. He's just had a MASSIVE heart attack...and DIED.>>

<< Mary stands, holding her golden whip in hand. After a few moments, she returns the whip to its original form, a necklace, and slowly moves over to the girl, who is now curled up in a fetal position, crying softly>>

Mary: Shhhhh.

<< Mary covers the girl in a blanket she has brought with her and gently takes her into her arms as she herself kneels down on the floor>>

Mary: The lord always comes to the aid of those who are the weakest and in most need of his mercy.

<< The girl struggles a bit, but soon she just collapses in the safety of Mary Justice's arms>>

Girl: I'm sorry....

<< She says weakly in between wails. she tells mary some of her sad story...and how she has no one to turn to...no where to go. no one cares for her.>>

Mary: You're wrong my child. the lord lovs you, and so do I. He sent me to you. He knew you, even when you were lost unto yourself and he sees the BEAUTY that is within you just waiting to be properly expressed.

<< Slowly, Mary stands, holding the girl and supporting her, keeping her covered.>>

Mary: You will come with me now. I have shelter, food, clothing...and most of all, a special message from the lord about how he wants to bring you...to GREATNESS.

<< Sarah Smythe now sits in Mary Justice's office. Looking refreshed, beautiful and DEDICATED to the CAUSE of the Purifiers. As she watches each WOMAN of the Six, ESPECIALLY Spellbinder and Silver Swan, her face hardens with CONTEMPT...DISGUST.>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< more recently. Amongst the tops of the buildings in the steel and concrete jungle of New York City's skyline, there's a "world apart" that operates with few knowing about it. Many things can happen from this vantage point. Little of it good.>>

<< Matthew Riseman. Contract killer. One of the BEST that money can buy.>>

<< Tonight, he is perched on a rooftop across the street from a posh high rise office building. His target is a fat, successfull wallstreet bigshot who has made as many ENEMIES as he has money. His capacity for empathy toward "the little people" is NON EXISTENT. Hedgefunds mean more to him than the well being of his fellow man.>>

<< But tonight, all that he is...or thinks of himself, will come to a quick END, courtesy of a killer he'll never know.>>

<< Matthew has prepared for this job for weeks. The pay out to him was hefty. His wife and young daughter have NO IDEA that THIS is his "supplementary income.">>

<< Matthew trains his weapon on the target, following him around the room with it. At any moment he'll pull the trigger.>>

<< 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.....>>

<< HIS CELL PHONE RINGS!?>>

<< He MISSES the shot!>>

<< The phone CONTINUES to ring>>

Matthew: THE FUCK!?

<< answering>>

Matthew: WHAT!?

MARY is on the other end: Matthew Riseman?

Matthew: Who is this!? how did you get THIS number.

Mary: That is unimportant. Matthew, from where you are, you have exactly 10 minutes to get to your wife and daughter and get them OUT of the house or they will DIE.

Matthew: WHAT!?

Mary: Matthew, the will DIE in an explosion. You have 10 minutes to get to them. You'd better HURRY!

<< Matthew looks at the phone, then at his target, who is still alive, but staggering, BLEEDING from his shoulder where he was shot!>>

Matthew: DAMMIT!

<< He fires ONE more shot. HITTING the target with ease and then FRANTICALLY leaves, making his way to his house, DESPERATELY trying to call his wife Lori. as he changes clothes while driving.>>

<< He breaks every speed limit, runs every light and stop sign, even causing an accident on his way, but he doesnt care.>>

<< He MAKES IT....2 minutes left!>>

<< Running to the house SCREAMING>>

Matthew: LORI!

<< inside the house, he crashes in>>

Matthew:LORI!

Lori: My god Matthew!? what's WRONG!?

Matthew: GET Piper! GET THE BABY! We have to get out of here...

Lori: But....

Matthew: Don't ARGUE with me...JUST GET PIPER!

<< Lori quickly retrieves Piper form her crib, BARELY having time to wrap her in a blanket as Matthew GRABS her by the arm and RUSHES outside, away from the house!>>

LORI: MATTHEW!? You're HURTING M...

<<BOOM!>>

<< The house, which had a gas leak, EXPLODES. Matthew shields and cover's Laurie and Piper with his own body as they fall to the ground, FLATTENED by the force of the explosion>>

Lori: OH MY GOD!?

<< Matthew can't talk, he can hardly breathe. Lori is panicking and the baby is crying>>

<< Mary stands over them, with two large men clad in Purifier robes>>

Mary: Congratulations, Matthew. You made it in time. You saved your family.

Matthew: << struggling to his feet, the two purifiers help him and his wife, covering her with a blanket and offering assistance to her and the baby>> wha....ho.w.....HOW did you...

Mary: Matthew, the lord spoke to me. He commanded me to do his will, to see that YOU survived that gas leak. He has a special purpose for you.

Matthew: what? why would god want me....I'm....I'm a hired gun...a contract killer

Mary: The lord has uses for ALL his children and their...talents. Come with me, you and your family. We shall provide you with shelter and I shall tell you what god said to me about you. He loves you, Matthew. And so do I.

<< Matthew Riseman, marksman and sharpshooter for Sister Mary Justice, sits among the purifiers in the office, listening with intent and focus, ready to put his TALENTS into action for the service of the lord.>>

<< These are just THREE examples of how Mary has been able to recruit some SPECIFIC individuals, who's talents she knew would be of excellent service to the cause of the Purifiers. To THEM, it's as though SHE is truly touched by god, or perhaps even a PRECOG, but it's something all together different, something FAR more sinister. But in HER mad mind and the minds of her warped, hate filled followers, this is ALL exactly the way it should be.>>

Sister Mary Justice: The devil's children are terrifying, but god did not make US in the spirit of fear. He made us in the spirit of POWER and of a SOUND MIND. You ALL have been chosen and you were DELIVERED from death so that you may serve the lord in true faith and form. Be not AFRAID of these wretches, by GLAD that YOU are the ones who will CLEAR THE EARTH of their presence!

Purifiers: << raising their fists in unison>> NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER! EVERY MUTANT THAT RISES AGAINST US SHALL FALL! WE ARE THE PURIFIERS!

 

[Seer]

How they came to be

<<But there's more to this than Sister Mary Justice's almost UNCANNY ability to see/predict events or the careful selection of recruits that swell the ranks of her Purifiers.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< A year ago. A place OUTSIDE of the united states. A large, mysterious, COMPLEX place that is the birthplace of MANY enduring nightmares.>>

<< in a dark, ultra technological area within this place, a pair of WHITE high heels can be seen walking slowly toward the computer console and the person sitting in the chair.>>

<< She stands behind the person who is seated. She is NOT amused. After waiting a few moments, she grabs the chair and SPINS it around FORCING the person sitting in it to face her.>>

Woman in white: My patience is wearing THIN. The ONLY reason I didn't KILL YOU the moment I discovered you here, hiding out like a common SQUATTER is because you talked FAST and convinced me to give you a chance to proove you were NOT like your..."PREDECESSOR."

Woman in shadow: Patience IS a virtue. You knew that before before, why not remember it now?

Woman in white: DON'T patronize me. The MOMENTARY astonishment of your arrival has WORN OFF. Where ever you WERE...you are HERE now, in MY world and you do NOT bait the lioness in her den, nor do you tempt the spider in the center of her web.

<< The woman in white is DANGEROUSLY close to lashing out with her terrifying PSI powers...>>

Woman in shadow: I had to be CERTAIN that my "SIGHT" was not being hampered by the sudden..."change in venue."

Woman in white: Your daughter doesnt seem to have that problem whenever SHE travels.

:: the the woman in shadow is SUITABLY thrown off course by the woman in white's comment. and the woman in white SENSES this, smirking::

Woman in white: ENOUGH of your words and promises, interloper. SHOW ME why I should not DESTROY YOU. I am not in the habit of taking in STRAYS, even IF they bare uncanny resemblance to individuals I ONCE knew.

Woman in shadow: I have been able to confirm what I divined in my mind's eye. the Nimrod component DID fall into this world. It landed in St. Patrick's Cathedral of all places....which, as it happened in YOUR world, is where the Silver Swan first made herself known.

Woman in white: This is all history. TRIVIAL at that.

Woman in shadow: There was a SURVIVOR. She managed to escape Silver Swan's notice. But she never left the church after that day. She became a recluse and her mental state was all but broken.

Woman in white: Do you have a POINT to make?

Woman in shadow: I have the perfect avenue to take to meet your term and condition for accepting me here.

<< images of the woman in white staring at the woman in shadow with an incredulous glare. The woman in shadow's striking eyes SPARKLE as she SMILES back.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< That same time period. St. Patrick's Cathedral>>

<< Mary lays before a large cross. the same cross that her former priest had been CRUCIFIED on by Silver Swan several years earlier.>>

Mary: I've served you faithfully...all of my adult life. And....everything was ripped away from me...ripped apart....by a monster...who has gone free...unpunished...while I...struggle to make sense of this world where the devil's children walk free to spread their poison and effect everything around them.

<< the woman pulls out a gun...and primes it, first attempting to stick it in her mouth...but then turning her head away, shuddering with grief.>>

Mary: I have nothing left....I am nothing. If you love me....if you value me...AT ALL...SAVE ME...from myself...give me...a SIGN!?

<< As Mary's trembling hand steadies and she points the gun to her temple, she begins to squeeze the trigger, wanting to believe there's a chance...but knowing there isnt. It was all cut away years ago. >>

<< At the last moment....the winds howl and swirl INSIDE the church right above her where she lays. a temporal distortion RIPPLES into view and a PINK flash of light can be seen as a LARGE OBJECT falls from it and lands at the base of the large CROSS where Mary lays...it is the TORSO and HEAD of the NIMROD from the timeline where the mainstreams helped alternates Alison and Ava rescue Karen and escape with Victoria to freedom from Rick Riley's oppression!>>

<< the NIMROD unit lays in front of mary...and it begins to flicker...ACTIVATING a view screen and BROADCASTING to her images..."VISIONS" of events that have occurred...in HER timeline. and then? her eyes WIDEN as it begins to broadcast visions of what is...YET TO COME!>>

Mary: THANK YOU!

<< Mary drops the gun and lifts her hands to the ceiling above, with tears in her eyes. She cries out with thanks to her god, for she is convinced that she knows has the answer, the GIFT that she needs.>>

<< BUT even as she pulls herself toward the mysterious, WONDEROUS object...>>

Woman's voice: WAIT!

<< Mary GASPS, flinching away as she looks up. a swirl of glowing orbs can be seen, as the form of a woman with flowing dark hair, in a figure flattering, flowing robe begins to descend down>>

Mary: ....!?

<< the sister's eyes widen with shock and astonishment...>>

Mary: Who....WHAT!?


Woman in shadow: Don't be afraid. I am not here to hurt you. I have been sent from above. I am here to show you the way...the path to victory!

Mary: You're no angel.

Woman in shadow: Do you doubt the power of the "one above all?" Did he not just bring you this special gift?

Mary....yes....yes he did.

Woman in shadow: And did you not pray for HELP in finding a new purpose?

Mary: yes...i did.

Woman in shadow: your prayers have been answered. don't doubt or question. BELIEVE.

Mary: Show me the path I must take. Give me the tools with which to succceed.

Woman in shadow: You ask for much and your faith is strong. But faith without works is DEAD. Are you willing to SHOW your faith so that you may be prooven WORTHY to receive the gifts...the POWER to carry out your mission?

Mary: << standing to her feet>> I am here and I am ready.

Woman in shadow: << she can hardly keep herself from SMILING with wicked glee>> to save a life, there are times you must TAKE a life. Blood was spilled in this church. In order to ACTIVATE the gift you have received, a blood sacrifice must be made. You must proove that you have the faith, the strength and the WILL to do what is required.

Woman in shadow: Gather 12 of your bravest and most faithful. Together you must find and OFFER 12 MUTANTS in sacrifice. They must be UNKNOWN to the ways of the world. VIRGINS.

Mary: The lord would accept the blood of the devil's children as a blood offering!?

Woman in shadow: The lord would ACCEPT you PROOVING your resolve to carry out his will!

Mary: << straightening her back and nodding with a grim face>> His will be DONE.

Woman in shadow: look into the center screen of the divine gift you have received [ the nimrod]. It will show you the 12 that you must harvest.

<< As Mary watches the images, the Nimrod provides location coordinates for each target.>>

Woman in shadow: Gather the blood offerings. When you have done that, I will return to you.

<< Mary bows her head slowly. The strength she once had returns, and is NOW bolstered by a cold, calculating feeling.>>

<< in the following days, she and her "disciples" , the original 12 recruits she personally picked, went out into the night, armed only with their faith and warped convictions and forcibly kidnapped 12 young men and women. ALL were mutants either on the verge of or had already JUST manifested their powers in some way.>>

<< Their parents and caretakers were disposed of, and they themselves were taken back to the underground caverns of the cathedral. Once there. the woman in shadow appeared once again, praising Mary Justice for stepping out in faith and not relying merely on her eyes.>>

<< And then, as only a MIRACLE could unfold, they were transported to a place, a place NONE of them had been before...but one where the scene was SET for a significant event, one involving ritual sacrifice and BLOOD.>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< a place OUTSIDE of the united states. Mary and her disciples now stand in a forest like area where a "holy of holies" area of consecration seen around them, complete with a sacrificial alter.>>

Woman in shadow: You have shown such courage and faith, Mary. Blessed and ordered are the steps of the righteousness. Their hand is GUIDED by that of the "one above all" and you shall SUCCEED in prooving yourself worthy!

<< The woman in shadow directs and then watches as Mary and her disciples bring forth the young mutants , stripping them of all their clothing and any personal belongings and forcing them to immerse themselves in a "baptism pool" and then SLAUGHTERING THEM ALL one by one. Mary HERSELF BRUTALLY stabbing a naked young boy over 2 dozen times as she speaks in tongues.>>

<< The woman in shadow smiles wickedly, without any of them seeing her satisfaction and glowing blue eyes.>>

Woman in shadow: It is done! the blood offering has been made and has been ACCEPTED!

Mary: << standing with spatters of blood on her black suit and even her face, but seemingly unfazed>> We have entered into a COVENANT with our lord. Now...in his name, I ask you, WHERE are the gifts that you said we would recieve?

Woman in shadow: You have only but to close your eyes...and BELIEVE. Ask..and you SHALL RECEIVE!

<< CHIMES SOUND OFF, THUNDER CRASHES and in flash of BLUE/BLACK orbs, Mary and her disciples are rendered UNCONSCIOUS and returned to the States, St. Patrick's cathedral!>>

<< In the months that followed that truly bloody night, The Purifers began to receive gifts and blessings beyond their WILDEST dreams and secret expectations.>>


<< Sister Mary Justice was now the undisputed LEADER of the Purifers, carrying a mystique, a charisma that draw ANYONE close to her. Her use of the Nimrod visions also allowed her to gain the support of prominent political and business leaders, as well as several veteran assassins and accomplished para military experts including Matthew Riseman. Their connections were SUBSTANTIALLY strengthened and deepened by the revelation of a GENEROUS benefactor who would only identify herself as "MADAME X". Madame X's FINANCIAL backing of the purifiers seemed to know NO limit! allowing them to organize and promote effectively as well as obtain advanced , POWERFUL weaponry including fully automatic rifles, high voltage energy weapons, anti-MAGICK defense, anti-tank weapons and Vibranium-based weaponry to aid them in their crusade. They also gained deadly anti-personell devices, traps and even POWER NEUTRALIZING COLLARS.>>

<< Sister Mary Justice continued to make waves with her divine predictions via nimrod. including the RETURN of The Six and the Silver Swan, through various specific events.>>

<< NOW? the Purifiers were as powerful and deadly as any para-military force on EAST COAST but still incredibly calculated and clever enough to operate in such a way that ONLY the most informed/connected in the world of intelligence, black ops or super human affairs would be aware of them.>>

<< They were preparing to go after their most HATED targets, THE SIX.>>

<< But before they struck at the HEAD, they'd cause as much pain as possible by striking at the HEART.>>

<< With Madame X's backing, Sister Mary's steel resolve and the nimrod's wonderous information and data records, ANYTHING was possible. >>

<< But even as the stage was being set for their most vicious strikes against the Six, they were still moving about the city, PURGING it of mutants, their friends, lovers and families...anyone who tried to help them. the body count was raising. the blood was flowing...and the negativity was spreading...like a CANCER.>>

<< As stated earlier, they found MUCH in the way of SUPPORT from several key political and business leaders, including Senator William Stryker. Sharon Kelly's successor for the NY senate seat, AND card carrying member of the Hellfire Club.>>

 

[Artemis]

Charope Inc.

:: Alycia sat in her executive office suite inside the building that housed her newly founded company, Charope, Inc.::

:: She had been unable to join Cameron for lunch today because she had an URGENT call from an old contact named Rose.::

:: In Alycia's days as the ADA and even when she became a federal agent, part of the workd she did "under the radar" was helping mutants, this including finding safe haven for orphaned mutants. Rose was a mysterious but regal woman who herself was a mutant. a psychic clairvoyant. She operated a small but key and capable orphanage/safe house for orphans and runaway mutant children. She was a lifeline.::

:: But as the Purifiers rose in power and agression, they too became aware of her and began harrassing her, THREATENING her. In the beginning, she was able to evade them but as they became more bold and agressive, she found herself being overwhelmed. The police were ALARMINGLY of no help. They KNEW the children she sheltered were mutants and basically turned a BLIND EYE and DEAF EAR to her reports and calls for protection!::

:: When she divined that Alycia Barnett herself was not only ALIVE but BACK in town, she immediately reached out to her old friend and Alycia certainly responded.::

:: While Cameron was having lunch with Haleigh and Delilah; Alycia was meeting with Rose in her offices. The information that Rose gave chilled Alycia. If EVER she was convinced she had made the right decision to stay in NYC and accept Nicolas' offer, now was it.::

:: But the scope of what Rose was telling her was still not entirely clear, even to Alycia. She was trying to gather more information, but many of her previous contacts in the NYPD had died or retired under less than normal circumstances and HER OWN status in the city was still not immediately "common knowledge", which she needed to keep it that way.::

:: Rose was a dear friend of Alycia's. She had to get herself in a position to PROTECT Rose and those children. Something was coming for them. She sent communication to Sharon Kelly, a.k.a. Silver Swan, who advised her she would be there quite soon and so, Alycia waited in her office. ::

:: She sent Cameron a text that she was still at her office and asked him to call her when he was free.::

:: At the moment, she was sitting in her office, a bit upset, when NICOLAS showed up, looking a bit disturbed herself.::

:: She'd received his bouquet of flowers earlier. They were beautiful, but ultimately unnecessary, as she hadn't received any "overflow" from Dominique's office.::

Nicolas, you always send gifts when you want to be really sweet, or when you've done something really BAD.

:: she said rather directly as she gestured for him to sit down::

But in this intance, I wasn't even IN my office when this came. My assistant, Ana-Leigh ( ) received them and placed them on my desk.

What's going on? Is Dominique okay?

 

[Firebird]

Xs

A couple of hours had passed. Blaze, Sally and Cass were at XS, the club was fully operational but still not open to the public YET. Blaze and Sally were putting together the key and finishing touches on the big opening event and Blaze wanted to "get in the spirit of things" by working at the sight of where it would all go down. Music played in the background and the staff kept drinks coming for the women.

Cass was definitely over her initial anxiety about being a model for Sally Spectra in this special campaign.

As Blaze lightly worked through some of the choreography for the burlesque show, showing Cass the moves and Sally made adjustment to the lines on her sketches and was already plotting what fabrics she'd use for the costumes as well as changes to the stage settings, a familiar voice rang out.

"Well shake the dice and steal the rice, look at the three of YOU!"

She struck a pose as she hurried over and greeted the girls one by one. First she said hello to Sally.

"Well WELL! The SHE-DEVIL finally shows up!"

Blaze playfully taunts as Cass and Sally stand up and Blaze slips down off the stage.

She made eye contact with Blaze as she felt that weird little butterfly feeling in the pit of her stomach. Blaze and Vivica had remained pretty casual since their encounter at The Parthenon two months ago. They MORE than enjoyed each other's company, but BOTH of them were very busy women, and neither of them were really interested in 'labels' or 'claiming territory'. She gave Blaze a big hug and whispered into her ear.

"There's my girl.."

Vivica gave Blaze a kiss on the lips before stepping back and looking at the three of them.

Their greeting was easy, natural and without worry for what anyone else might thing.

"I was just thinking...isnt it about time for another taste of..."

Vivica quickly put her hand over Blaze's mouth, even was the fire elemental "smiled" with her eyes and gave a muffled laugh. Viv knew her TOO well.

"Now I KNOW I've been a little bad at returning phone calls, B....SO! That's why I brought you a PRESENT! Here! I hope you like it."

She picked the painting up, ripped the paper cover off of it and handed it to Blaze. Blaze's eyes widened at the sight of Vivica's work.

"Oh it's beautiful!"

"Let's just say I got a little inspired...took me less than a WEEK to finish. I thought it might fit in nice here, or at that new venue of yours in Paris! My way of saying congratulations!"

"A work of art, from one of my FAVORITE muses."

Blaze winks and licks her lips

Vivica gave Blaze another warm hug as she waved the cocktail waitress down and promptly ordered her signature drink, a Moscow Mule before sitting down next to the rest of the ladies.

"Now...I hope I haven't missed TOO much...Care to fill me in?!"

"Oh we've just been working on the details for the opening night of my club. Sally's finished nearly all the designs for the tie-in clothing and accessories line and the COSTUMES for the burlesque show. And, I managed to get Cassie to agree to be one of Sally's models, AND a dancer in my act on opening night. I was just going through some of the basic moves and overall presentation."

"Which reminds me...I'm still waiting for YOUR response to my request? "

Blaze smirked at Vivica.

"Don't tell me you've gotten SHY, after your performance at the club with me on the POLE!"

 

[Sally Spectra]

Xs

"Well shake the dice and steal the rice, look at the three of YOU!"

She struck a pose as she hurried over and greeted the girls one by one. First she said hello to Sally.

"Sally Spectra! Looking RAVISHING as always! Muah darling!"

Back at'cha honey!

::Laughed and warmly greeted Vivica with a hug and an air kiss on each cheek. She'd meet the girl in Cameron's offices recently, FORMALLY, and was quite impressed with her. But she held off asking as her to be a contract model for Spectra until now, per Blaze's request. She wanted it to be a surprise.::

Vivica gave Blaze another warm hug as she waved the cocktail waitress down and promptly ordered her signature drink, a Moscow Mule before sitting down next to the rest of the ladies.

"Now...I hope I haven't missed TOO much...Care to fill me in?!"

Blaze calls it work. I call it creative application.

Well, Sally here has been on FIRE. She's whipped an entire line's worth of sketches in MERE DAYS!

You don't get to...and STAY on top by getting conent OR losing that hunger, Blaze. I always told Morgan that. You remember it too! You're ONLY as good as your next creative endeavor. Besides...The House of Spectra has experienced a creative ZENITH since the introduction of Spectra Couture, Morgan's company. We're riding HIGH off that wave of energy honey and I intend to crest..ALLLL the way to the BANK!

:: She and Blaze HIGH FIVE each other and then raise their glasses to drink::


Viv, darling.

You simply MUST join my stable of models. It'd only be on a contract basis, much like Nicolas King, BUT Blaze and I BOTH want you on hand for the unveiling of the Fire La Vedette TIE IN clothing and accessories line. We want to use new, fresh faces for the campaign. I already have Cassandra on board. Whadoyasay?

::Sally smiles and winks knowling at Vivica as Blaze and Cass both look and awaite her answer.::

 

[Ruby]

Club XS

:: After a long day of fun and work…well, Cass just tagged along while Sally Spectra and Blaze worked. At least, that’s what it felt like to her. Sally and Blaze were both encouraging towards her during brunch and that made her feel a bit better about being a model….although she was suspicious of Blaze’s smile when she talked about wanting a sexier image. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been surprised… After all, she wouldn’t be here, at XS, wearing a dress picked out by BLAZE herself during their shopping/bonding excursion. Though she knew she looked hotter than HOT, and the glances from both men AND women in The Parthenon’s lobby told her that they thought she looked hotter than hot as well, she felt extremely uncomfortable. Blaze had been insistent about Cass wearing it tonight to 'work', as well as to kick off, her new look. ::

AT least I had Blaze use concealer on my scar before we left!!

:: The three of them arrived to XS to no fanfare…at least, not yet. So they are bounded through the doors and went to work doing whatever needed to be done. Cass broke into an a capella version of P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass”. She just couldn’t help herself. She absolutely LOVED to sing! Also, she wanted to check out the acoustics of the place. If FOXFIRE was anything like her alternate, FIREBIRD, the acoustics would be off-the-wall amazing…and yes, Foxfire and now FIREBIRD, had gotten it right. Of course. ::

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!”

:: She was immediately glad Blaze wanted to stop at the Parthenon for a bit to get some stuff because now Blaze was putting her through the paces of some moves…and it looked much better in a dress than jeans. ::

"Well shake the dice and steal the rice, look at the three of YOU!"

“Viv!!”

:: Setting her package down Viv came over and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. ::

"Cassie! Always a pleasure to see you my dear! Staying out of trouble!"

:: Cass laughed as she returned the hug and cheek kiss. She pointed her thumb over at Blaze. ::

“I TRY to stay out of trouble but with a best friend like BLAZE, it’s kind of hard, hmmm?”

:: She winked knowingly at Vivica. ::

Oh yeah. You DO know…

:: She laughed as Viv greeted Blaze – with a kiss! - and Blaze started to pop off one of her famous outlandish – or is that INFAMOUS – statements. ::

“See, Blaze? I KNEW she couldn’t say no to YOU!!”

:: She laughed at the look on Viv’s face. ::

*teasingly*: “Oh, honey, we all KNOW what’s been going on!”

"Now I KNOW I've been a little bad at returning phone calls, B....SO! That's why I brought you a PRESENT! Here! I hope you like it."

She picked the painting up, ripped the paper cover off of it and handed it to Blaze. Blaze's eyes widened at the sight of Vivica's work.

"Let's just say I got a little inspired...took me less than a WEEK to finish. I thought it might fit in nice here, or at that new venue of yours in Paris! My way of saying congratulations!"

“VIV! Oh my gosh, that’s GORGEOUS!”

"Now...I hope I haven't missed TOO much...Care to fill me in?!"

:: Cass opened her mouth to reply but Sally jumped in with an offer to model. ::

“Oh do say yes! It would be much more fun if I had a friend with me!”

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas arrived at Charope, wasting no time as he entered Alycia's office suite. She wasted no time trying to get to the bottom of things.

Nicolas, you always send gifts when you want to be really sweet, or when you've done something really BAD.

:: she said rather directly as she gestured for him to sit down::

But in this intance, I wasn't even IN my office when this came. My assistant, Ana-Leigh received them and placed them on my desk.

What's going on? Is Dominique okay?

Nicolas stepped to one side of the desk and kissed Alycia's forehead before sitting.

No need to be overly formal my dear. It's just that Aunt D was having a bad day, some migraines and such and I decided to treat her. I did not expect you to be imposed upon by my decision but it WAS an excuse to send you flowers and that DID seem to be the proper way to warn you and send my love and thanks. So THERE.

Not bad at this lying thing...so far. He pressed on to change the subject.

Are you settled in? Your work so far with the UN has been stellar, at least as far as I required. How much fun is it to be back at it?