Come together

[Seer]

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

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

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

 

[Shadow Weaver]

torture chamber

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

BLACK VOID

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

hmmmmm...ugh......

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

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

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

 

[Seer]

Torture Chamber

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Shadow Weaver]

painfull position

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Seer]

The Torture Chamber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<< referring to her bruised face>>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The Torture Chamber

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

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

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

....

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

FUCK YOU!!

<< her voice sounding low and hatefull>>

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Riley: do you HEAR ME BITCH?

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

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


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

 

[Artemis]

the torture chamber

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

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

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

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

Karen:what have you done with SHARON?

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

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

NO!!!!!


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

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

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

 

[Persephone]

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

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

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

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

 

[Black Widow]

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

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

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

 

[Artemis]

The Torture chamber

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

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


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

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

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

:: all the while::

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

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

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

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

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

I FUCKING KILLED HIM!!

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

PIECE OF SHIT!!

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

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

 

[Seer]

The torture room

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

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

 

[Artemis]

The torture room

THE KEYS!!

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

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


ALYCIA: GET OFF ME!

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

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

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

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

BASTARD!!

 

[Seer]

The torture room

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Artemis]

One last look

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

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

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

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

Alycia: RILEY!......

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

WHY DONT YOU LEAVE HER ALONE AND FIGHT ME!

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

 

[Seer]

The Torture Chamber

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

: why dont you leave her alone and fight me!

<< Riley speaks in a low tone>>

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

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


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

 

[Artemis]

hot lead death

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

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

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

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

 

[Black Widow]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The Torture room

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

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

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

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

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

ALYCIA!!

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

NO!!!

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

GODDESS!!! NO!!

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

HALEIGH!!

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

deep breaths...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ugghhh!!

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

 

[Persephone]

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

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

 

[Rampage]

Undiscosed location

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

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

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

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

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

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