Frozen

[Seer]

The Parthenon

<< Sensors and monitors were NOT registering any activity in the VIP club house!>>

<< For the members of the Six and BoP, the first indication that something was wrong was Blaze's sudden reaction, and the trio in Cass' apartment abruptly departing for the VIP Clubhouse!>>

<< Black Widow registered the mournful, united HOWLING of Arsenal's Dire Wolves. Their cry of distress had carried through the air. >>

<< The last time she'd heard animals react like THAT was when Silver Swan was rampaging through HER apartment in Illustra.>>

<< And then...>>

Something was wrong with Sharon, but Delilah didn’t need help to deal with a scumbag like Christopher Victory. Narrowing her eyes, she took a deep breath, preparing to blast him into oblivion. She threw her arms out in front of her…

But she couldn’t. Couldn’t move. She fought with all her strength, but it was as if her body would not respond. She couldn’t move any closer to Karen. But Delilah knew what to do.

[thought call]

CAMERON! VIP CLUBHOUSE PATIO! HELP! KAREN ATTACKED! MIKE NOT BREATHING! WE CAN’T MOVE! NEED EVERYONE NOW! NOW!!!

<< The group, compoosed of equal parts Six and Birds of Prey, couldn't SEE ANYTHING happening on monitors! But between the cry of the animals, the reaction of Blaze, and now the distress call from Delilah, there was a clear indication that SOMETHING was wrong!>>

<< RECALL, who was immobilized alongside Sharon and Delilah, was getting a live feed of what was happening, and it was being broadcast to Oracle. The only thing SHE couldn't register was the confrontation between Sybil and Talisman.>>


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

<< VIP Clubhouse balcony>>

<< Silver Swan desperately tried to use her sonic scream, MorningStar tried firing photons OR lasers from her eyes...but neither one could activate their powers! They were ALL immobilized, and could only watch in horror as the situation grew more dire.>>

Sharon: DAMMIT!!! I CAN'T BUST LOOSE, NO MATTER WHAT I TRY!!! GAEA!!! HELP US!

<< Christopher stood over Karen, looking utterly demonic, with a red, GLOWING face, as he STRANGLED Karen, crushing her throat. Karen couldn't cry out, she was losing consciousness, she was losing her life.>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< A thunderous CLAP could be heard...Casting her hands out in front of her with great force, firing one HELL of a Mystic Bolt charged with the power of PURE lightning as it shot from her hands with brillaint lide, zig zagging and darting out all over the place, cracking holes in the magick that Kelly was weaving over Karen in this moment, allowing Karen to get a better hold of herself as it barreled into Talisman knocking her to the ground. >>

<< As Christopher stood over Karen, something began to happen. If Talisman thought she was pushing Shadow Weaver too far, she may have been mistaken in a way. Shadow Weaver was not about to DIE, that much was certain.>>

<< SHADOW WEAVER had built strong, DEEP defenses in herself on multiple levels, to protect herself from Christopher and ensure she'd NEVER be at his mercy again. Her conscious mind may be suffering, lagging...failing her in her surface attempts to protect herself, BUT her INSTINCTS do NOT fail her, and her mana begins to manifest around her, counteracting Christopher's aura, HEALING her from his physical damage ...BURNING OFF it's effects, as well as the lingering effects of Talisman's spell and chemical agents on her. she shakes her head...shutting her eyes tightly, Karen was now calling on those DEEP reserves needed in times of distress...or PANIC. SET underestimated her too...and he SUFFERED for it, she even forced HIM to retreat! THAT was the moment that Karen BECAME Shadow Weaver. It was MORE than a mere code name! Karen is scared....and NOW!? SHE IS ANGRY!>>

<< As the crack of THUNDER was heard by MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall, a the mystic tone assocated with Shadow Weaver's power signature was heard as well as the doctor seems to REVIVE with full energy and awareness. She looks upon Christopher with UTTER CONTEMPT as her face is now enshrouded in shadow, and the tears running down her face sparkle in contrast.>>

<< Her mana FLASHES and her is now covered in shadow that GLOWS. She CRIESOUT with RAGE!>>

Shadow Weaver: STOP IT! LET. ME. GO!

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The V.I.P ClubHouse

<<Karen didn't know it yet, but her beloved "aunt", Hazel, had just interceded on her behalf, and that assistance had made all the difference between life and what looked to be imminent DEATH.>>

<< The spell of her assailant weakened and her own defensive magicks kicked in overdrive, FREEING HER and giving her strength to FIGHT BACK.>>

<< As the crack of THUNDER was heard by MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall, a the mystic tone assocated with Shadow Weaver's power signature was heard as well as the doctor seems to REVIVE with full energy and awareness. She looks upon Christopher with UTTER CONTEMPT as her face is now enshrouded in shadow, and the tears running down her face sparkle in contrast.>>

<< Her mana FLASHES and her is now covered in shadow that GLOWS. She CRIESOUT with RAGE!>>

Shadow Weaver: STOP IT! LET. ME. GO!

<< The sounds of dark magick rang out as Karen "expands", FORCIBLY breaking Christopher's hold around her neck, and REPULSING HIM back VIOLENTLY>>

I'M FREE!!!

<< FLASH!>>

<< The spell is WEAKENED by Sybil, and the binds that held Silver Swan, MorningStar, Recall are BROKEN! They are FREE to move again!>>

<< But as the trio find themselves free, and are ready to pulverize Christopher, "HE", like his creator, shimmers out of their view, leaving them to face a truly ENRAGED Shadow Weaver, who is still enshrouded in shadow as her dark magicks swirl around her and her hair flows upward>>

YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD! I'LL SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO THIS TIME! I'LL DO WHAT I COULD NOT DO ALL THOSE YEARS AGO!

<< her dark magick flows upward above her uplifted hands, forming a globe of energy that sparkles and crackles with intense power.>>

Michael's vitals! I can "HEAR" them again!

Karen...HOLD!!!! Christopher has VANISHED!!! You're among FRIENDS now!!!

<< But Karen didn't hear....didn't listen....she was locked in another mode! Her life was in danger and she wanted VENGEANCE not just for this moment, but for EVERY OTHER verbal and physical assault Christopher had delivered. MORGAN had ROBBED her of this moment in the Citadle. NOW, it was HER TURN!>>

AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO ME, MY DAUGHTERS....I WILL NOT BE DENIED WHAT IS MINE BY RIGHT!

<<Even behind her voice, now accented by that resonance, there was such CONTEMPT, such a deep seeded NEED for...>>

<< Thunder crashes, and chimes sound off>>

VENGEANCE!


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<< Black Widow blows the doors to the VIP Club House open. She, Cameron, the Birds of Prey, along with Ruby, Firebird and Frost burst through and rush through the clubhouse to the balcony area in time to see what APPEARS to be an enraged Shadow Weaver, chanting in an ancient tongue, igniting a powerful spell, and now ATTACKING Silver Swan, MorningStar and Recall!? There was no sign of Christopher ANYWHERE!>>

You'll NEVER hurt me AGAIN!

<< And with that vow, Shadow Weaver gestures with beautiful form and grace, that is contrasted by the fierce URGENCY of her focus and movement, she HURLS the glowing globe of dark magick, backed by the unholy spell, at the last spot where "Christopher" lay when he fell, which is now where her three friends are!>>

<< Everything is happening so FAST, faster than it did in the Situation room. No one among them can reach Karen in time as she unleashes her DEADLY attack against "Christopher" , but in reality, it'll hit MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall!>>

<< With their calls for Karen to stand down falling on deaf ears, Silver Swan stands in front of the other two women, prepared to sheild them with her body, her armour and her invulnerability, hoping it will protect them, MorningStar creates a laser shield around all three of them.>>

 

[Seer]

<< Firebird, Ruby, Frost, Black Widow, Prophet, Charope, and Orion were all present for the final moments, and there was nothing that any of them could do! EACH of them had looks of shock and dismay on their faces as they watched Shadow Weaver unleash a savage two pronged attack against MorningStar, Silver Swan, and Recall.>>

<< Silver Swan and MorningStar mounted the best the defenses they could, knowing it may not be enough.>>

<< But as the attack was about to hit its target, something unexpected happened!>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< On the table that had been between Karen and Michael, the two gifts given to Karen by Alix, shop mistress of Bell, Book, & Candle, sat. She had been going over them, and showing them to Michael during the earlier part of their conversation, and they remained where she last sat them before Talisman's attack began.>>

<< At this most dire moment, as Shadow Weaver was about to strike down her own friends, her family, thinking she was attacking Christopher instead, one of the runes that Alix had given her, the rune for FAMILY begins to GLOW and hum, casting an image of it's self all around MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall!>>

<< The moment of IMPACT from Shadow Weaver's attack is at hand, but they are NOT killed! They are not even HIT by it. The RUNE for family PROTECTS them, shielding them and blocking Karen's attack with SPECTACULAR vissual effect that JARS Karen full free of any lingering effects of Kelly's spell, and also full revives Michael and the dire wolves>>

<< Karen blinks once. twice....at first wondering why her attack didn't work, but then realizing that she'd almost struck down her FRIENDS.>>

<< The adrenaline wears off, the shock of REALITY hits her like a truck and the realization that somehow she was just about to MURDER Delilah, Sharon and Vivica- with the others in attendance!? It's too much for her, her emerald green eyes roll up and she collapses down into the lounge charge hard.>>

 

[Firebird]

The VIP ClubHouse

Something had been VERY wrong here! But What Blaze had sensed/FELT via her rapport with Karen didn't match what she saw with her own eyes once she and the others got there!

Karen was about to kill MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall, but WHY!? It all happened so FAST! and There was nothing anyone could do to stop the chain of events just now!

"NO!!! DON'T!"

<< Firebird, Ruby, Frost, Black Widow, Prophet, Charope, and Orion were all present for the final moments, and there was nothing that any of them could do! EACH of them had looks of shock and dismay on their faces as they watched Shadow Weaver unleash a savage two pronged attack against MorningStar, Silver Swan, and Recall.>>

<< Silver Swan and MorningStar mounted the best the defenses they could, knowing it may not be enough.>>

<< FLASH!>>

<< On the table that had been between Karen and Michael, the two gifts given to Karen by Alix, shop mistress of Bell, Book, & Candle, sat. She had been going over them, and showing them to Michael during the earlier part of their conversation, and they remained where she last sat them before Talisman's attack began.>>

<< At this most dire moment, as Shadow Weaver was about to strike down her own friends, her family, thinking she was attacking Christopher instead, one of the runes that Alix had given her, the rune for FAMILY begins to GLOW and hum, casting an image of it's self all around MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall!>>

<< The moment of IMPACT from Shadow Weaver's attack is at hand, but they are NOT killed! They are not even HIT by it. The RUNE for family PROTECTS them, shielding them and blocking Karen's attack with SPECTACULAR vissual effect that JARS Karen full free of any lingering effects of Kelly's spell, and also full revives Michael and the dire wolves>>

<< Karen blinks once. twice....at first wondering why her attack didn't work, but then realizing that she'd almost struck down her FRIENDS.>>

<< The adrenaline wears off, the shock of REALITY hits her like a truck and the realization that somehow she was just about to MURDER Delilah, Sharon and Vivica- with the others in attendance!? It's too much for her, her emerald green eyes roll up and she collapses down into the lounge charge hard.>>

The attack and spell didn't hit them. Somehow they'd been SPARED!

"oh thank the goddess!"

Blaze said softly, but as she saw Karen collapse in a heap on to the lounge chair...

"MOM!"

Without a second thought as to what might happen, or how Karen would react, Blaze rushed forward, immediately to Karen's side.

"... are you alright!?"

As she places a hand on Karen's arm, Karen immediately BOLTS UPRIGHT and SCREAMS.

Shadow Weaver: NO. DON'T TOUCH!

flighting her hand out defensively and REPULSING Firebird away from her, sending the firelemental falling to the ground. Karen's move was similar to what she'd done to Michael and Delilah in the situation room, it didn't HURT, but it forcibly moved her away from Karen, and it left Blaze a bit winded as she fell to the ground.

"MOM PLEASE....it's ME, Blaze!"

She looked at Karen, pleading with her eyes mom to recognize her before she lashes out again! Karen DOES stop...and looks upon Blaze, first with confusion, and then realizing that she IS among friends, and that this is her daughter.

Shadow Weaver: Blaze....what....WHERE..........WHERE IS HE..............CHRISTOPHER! WHERE IS HE!?

Karen looks around, looks among them all frantically.

Shadow Weaver: He was HERE. HE WAS HERE...he was trying to MURDER ME! DIDN'T YOU SEE!? WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP ME!?

Karen bellowed with a mix of fury and distress as looked among them all.

"Christopher....he's not here. Not anymore..."

Blaze didn't make any sudden moves, and she remained as calm as she could, knowing that was what was need in this tense situation

"Mom...I'm sorry....I felt your distress, and I came as quickly as I could. But when I...WE got here....we didn't see him. "

Shadow Weaver: What do you mean you DIDN'T see him!? He was HERE. He ATTACKED ME! He STRANGLED ME! I was DEFENDING myself from him!

Blaze looked at Delilah, Sharon and Vivica. Then at the others. She knew what she'd perceived from that flash of distress from Karen. She SAW the same thing Karen was experiencing, but by the time she and the others got here, he was GONE! HOW COULD THAT BE!?

"I know...I perceived...FELT that from you. That's why I came running."

She wanted Karen to know she BELIEVED her, even if some of the others who'd just arrived were not so certain what to believe.

"I don't know where he is...or how he came to be here...but we're ALL here now, and if he comes back...if he comes out of hiding....or whatever is going on...we'll GET HIM!"

She slowly stood to her feet and made her way back to Karen, who was looking at Sharon, Delilah and Vivica.

Karen: He's....I....

The realization that she'd almost struck them down was hitting her again like a ton of bricks. But they had been here through the whole thing, they HAD to know it was not intentional! Karen looked pale, and as if she might pass out once more as she struggled to make sense of what just happened, and the awful reality that ALL of them were present for this!

 

[MorningStar]

Patio

“KAREN! Oh god he’s killing her!”

As MorningStar struggled against her invisible bonds, thunder rolled in the air and she heard Shadow Weaver’s power signature chime. Shadow Weaver was fighting back.

Christopher was forcibly thrown backwards away from Karen, and with that, MorningStar was FREE.

Her body began to glow with bright white light as she prepared to VAPORIZE Christopher Victory, but suddenly, he shimmered out of view.

“Karen, thank goodness – he’s gone.”

Her glow subsided and she made to go to Karen’s side. But Karen raised her hands, swelling with dark magick, in attack. She was still seeing her attacker.

"Karen, no!”

Delilah threw her hands up, bringing up a laser light shield around her, Silver Swan, and Recall. But knowing how powerful, and how enraged, Shadow Weaver was, she was not sure it would be enough. But then something added itself to her shield. Something between them and Karen began to glow, and a silver symbol appeared like a second shield around them.

Shadow Weaver’s attack hit this second shield and crackled against it before dissipating in silver tendrils of energy. The attack never reached MorningStar’s shield, or Silver Swan who was attempting to protect the others with her own body.

There was a beat of silence, before realization washed over Karen’s face and she collapsed. Blaze was at her side, as she was visibly distressed, but then was REPELLED by Karen’s magick.

Delilah moved forward.

“Shhh, Karen, it’s alright, he’s gone now. I SAW him attacking you, but after you fought him off, he shimmered out. We couldn’t get to you, something- something was keeping us away!”

She looked back at the others.

"How the HELL could Christopher be alive?!"

 

[Frost]

Blaze told Jasmine how she too was planning on passing through the siege perilous before the six stopped her. It was slightly comforting to know that Cameron and Haleigh were wrong--that she wasn't running from her problems or couldn't 'handle' her shit. Blaze felt the same way she did and was willing to give up her life here to start a new one. Jasmine softly smiled at her sister as she promised that she, Karen, and Cass would all be a support system for her. Maybe THIS was her destiny....maybe this was what was supposed to happen all along?

But the happy moment was short lived as a strained look suddenly appeared on Blaze's face. Jasmine quickly became concerned, and rightly so. Blaze became terrified, telling her and Cass that Christopher was back and attacking Karen!

"WHAT?!"

That son of bitch was DEAD, how was this possible?! Blaze took off running, Cass and Jasmine following closely behind her. They arrived at clubhouse but the doors were barricaded shut. Haleigh and Cameron arrived just second later with Haleigh blasting through the door allowing them all to rush in. Running towards the balcony, Jasmine gasped seeing Karen looking almost demonic as magick surrounded her and she spoke in tongues, preparing to strike down Delilah, Sharon, and Vivica.

"KAREN!"

They couldn't do anything but watch in horror as she unleashed the attacked upon the group. Jasmine didn't understand what was happening, Blaze said CHRISTOPHER was here...so why was Karen attacking her friends?! But before the attack could inflict any damage, some mystical runes prevented it from happening. What the FUCK was going on int his place?

Karen soon collapsed....Jasmine took a step forward wanting to go to Karen's side but hesitated. Instead she took a step back, away from the group and just watched silently. Blaze quickly moved to her mom to comfort her...the others did as well. Jasmine could see the pain and terror in Karen's face....if Christopher was back, Jasmine would make sure he died a slow and painful death.

Delilah: How the HELL could Christopher be alive?!"

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Jasmine deadpanned.

"You said he shimmered out? He never possessed any powers before--he was so obsessed with finding and harnessing OTHERS powers. He's either back in a different form, or someone is making it SEEM like he's back just to torture Karen."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Oracle pressed a button on her control pad.

“Valkyrie, Steel, report.”

Valkyrie: [through the com] “It’s like the damn Ice Capades over here.”

“Just…think of it like a trip to the old country!” Zizi nodded to herself, smiling – there was always a reason to take lemons and make lemonade.

Mina: “Maybe the villagers will decide to set her on fire.”

Zizi gave Mina a disapproving glance.

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Steel: [through the com] “We’ve planted the story of an HVAC malfunction. I’m sure The Parthenon won’t like that very much, but it is what it is. Other than that”

Seer: Steel, in his mutant form, stands in front of an elevator bay, pulling the doors apart with his hands.

Steel: [through the com] “The last civilians in jeopardy are being secured right now, and they’ve begun the process of melting the ice and drying things out. I think we’re done here unless there’s-“

“Standby.”

Vivica’s feed had gone from a night out in a posh club to something very different.

“Something is happening on the 92nd Floor. Karen Victoria is being attacked. Recall and Silver Swan are there. Keep an eye out – stay out of sight and do not engage without my authorization. There may be civilians in need of medical assistance.”

Oracle watched as Recall, Silver Swan and MorningStar rushed to Karen Victoria’s aid, only to be repelled by some mystickal force. They were blessedly unhurt, though, and Silver Swan broke down the door so they could get to Karen.

Recall: [over feed] MAGICK...some kind of TRAP...or BINDING, SIMILAR to Shadow Weaver's binding spell, but what pattern I can discern...it's NOT her's! Something...someone ELSE is HERE causing it...

“Magick is involved, but there appears to be no perpetrator on site. I need another view. Cutting into security cam feeds.”

Steel: [through the com] “We’re on our way, Oracle, but you can’t expect us to not intervene.”

“Wait for my signal, Steel.”

She wasn’t about to blindly send her team in to be caught in the same spell Recall and Silver Swan had been. A split second later, Firebird burst into a hallway and was moving to the 92nd floor, and tracking on Charope and Orion began to move.

“Charope and Orion are on their way, with the Six. Remain in reserve.”

Oracle watched as Karen Victoria REPELLED her attacker, who then disappeared, and launched a dark magick attack that was headed straight for Recall and the others! Something dissipated the attack as Firebird and the others arrived. The danger appeared to have passed.

“Valkyrie, Steel: stand down. The situation is contained. Return to the Clocktower.”

As she turned away from the monitor, two cobalt eyes appeared to hover in front of her.

"Oh my goodNESS!"

 

[Arsenal]

Mmmmnph!

Mike stands up quickly, taking in the scene as Karen falls heavily!

Doc?!

Mike is at her side in a step, Zeus and Apollo standing to either side. The Wolves were nervous and began to growl when a quick hiss silenced them and they came to heel. He holds her steady as she stands again, but is wobbly as hell. Karen was saying that Christopher attacked her. He had no idea how that could be. He had been told the raggedy fucker was dead. The comments he had heard seemed to agree with him, but hell, he had been dead too. Anything apparently could happen now....

Delilah: How the HELL could Christopher be alive?!"

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Jasmine deadpanned.

"You said he shimmered out? He never possessed any powers before--he was so obsessed with finding and harnessing OTHERS powers. He's either back in a different form, or someone is making it SEEM like he's back just to torture Karen."

This is my hunch. The file on this fucker said nothing about being able to do any of this. So now we need to figure out what did this and kill it. It is obvious that someone has come for the Six through Karen, and they seem to be upping the ante progressively. First some strange woman at the apothecary, then when she was resurrecting Jasmine and now. Each time the setup is to make Doc hurt someone she cares about, to attack her through her confidence.

He turned to Karen and looked her in the eye.

You are not crazy. Not in the least. Someone is fucking with you to try to make you THINK you are, and they just inherited a shitton of enemies. We are going to figure this out and we are going to fuck her up. You hear me? We will get through this and to the other side. I promise. There is nothing wrong with you.

Mike looks at Haleigh, Delilah and Sharon in turn, his eyes pleading.

What now?

 

[Recall]

The Parthenon - NYC

:: After surveying things to her standards, Vivica allowed herself a moment to breathe and relax. Her wine was ice cold, the soft wind blowing through the patio was welcome against the heat being generated by Michael and karen in the corner. She was alerted to impending disaster the second she had the thought that there might be a break in the storm. This was how it always was for The Six. ::

:: She noticed the curious behavior of the dire wolves on the patio, which she was almost sure Cameron wouldn't have approved of, but in this instance, their enhanced senses caused her to be more aware. ::

:: From the corner of her eye she noticed something enter the open patio area. At first, it seemed insignificant, a fly that had somehow made it's way to the very high levels of The Parthenon, not impossible, but it became clear that this was no ordinary creature. Using her enhanced vision, she began to see that this was actually a piece of technology! She activated her Com Link immediately. ::

"Oracle..take a look at this..you're gonna have to zoom in...but what IS that--?"

<< As Michael laughed and Karen playfully slapped his hand away...the dire wolves...who had been resting near the fire pit...began to perk up! They both whimpered a bit, as their ears shifted and they sniffed the air. something was wrong.>>

<< The first GLARING indication of that was when MICHAEL's eyes rolled up in the back of his head, and he FELL OFF his lounge chair, hitting the ground with a THUD.>>

<< Karen's emerald green eyes widen with shock>> MICHAEL!?

Karen: ....MICHAEL!

<< She scrambles from her seat over to where Michael has fallen.>>

<< The dire wolves are now sitting upright, they were growling...and now BARKING with urgency.>>

[in her com link]

"Oracle! Arsenal is down..lock this area down!"

[she began to run towards Karen]

"Karen, stay calm. We're gonna help him, okay? You've been through enough tonight, just let me help."

:: Vivica had extensive emergency medical training and it was her quick thinking that had saved a gravely injured Sally Spectra right before the Purifiers attack. She heard the crashing of the doors, the locking of the systems, but she assumed it to be Oracle locking the floor down for security. She tried to remain focus as she looked at Michael's unconscious body. He seemed catatonic, as if he was crashing but in silence. ::

"Perhaps I can use a centralized synaptic blast to his heart...jump start his system...like a natural defibrilator.."

[to Karen]

"Stay still...talk to him. Every floor in this place has emergency kits, there should be one behind the bar!"

:: Recall ran to go get the supplies she needed ::

<< A FAINTLY shimmering stream of mystic energy flows around the clubhouse, leaving no stone unturned, no area unreached.>>

<<Sharon and Delilah look at each other briefly , before looking at Vivica.>>

Sharon: Karen! We're coming!

<< The two women, with Vivica hot on their heels, QUICKLY make their way toward the doors leading to the balcony. They have Karen firmly in their sights and will be by her side in mere MOMENTS.>>

<< when all the doors to all the entry ways to the balcony SLAM SHUT one after the other, BLOCKING MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall.>>

"Oracle! Unlock the patio! Karen and Michael are still IN there!"

<< Before any of the three can react, they are REPULSED by a force of magick, sending them all careening away from the doors and crashing into tables.>>

:: Vivica was blasted back with GREAT force as she braced for impact, leaning in with her right shoulder as she SLID across several tables before falling on the floor. ::

"God DAMMNIT that stings.."

Silver Swan: "Are you two OKAY!?"

"I'm fine...a little shocked, but fine."

MorningStar: "I'm fine...but Karen!? LISTEN!"

:: While she possessed pretty enhanced hearing, it didn't take a special ability to hear the SCREAMS and cries from Karen. Something very bad was happening. They needed to get in there. ::

Sharon: "Karen is being physically ATTACKED! We've got to get to her!"

"But HOW?"

Sharon: "We're getting through these doors. NOW"

MorningStar: "Do It."

"We'll follow your lead."

[Sharon gestured for them to them to flank her]

:: Sharon made QUICK and brutal work of the doors as they crashed through. Vivica made note to maybe take a training session or two with the Silver Swan as they came to a HORRIFYING scene. ::

<< A horizontal split view of Silver Swan, MorningStar and Recall ALL looking in a momenet of SHOCK; Christopher Victory, ALIVE and in the painful, brutal flesh, attacking, STRANGLING a beaten and injured Karen Victoria>>

"What--the--holy--HELL!?"

:: Recall felt as if her brain was malfunctioning for a moment as she went into overdrive, her power naturally trying to cross reference trying to rationalize, trying to deduce whether or not the man before them could POSSIBLY be Christopher Victory. HOW was that possible? Did Jasmine accidentally bring him through the seige? Was that MEMORY at the end of Karen's spell not a memory, but his own ARRIVAL? ::

Morningstar: "That's not possible.."

"No...it's REALLY not! KAREN!"

:: She tried to move, but she couldn't...something was keeping them in place, and it wasn't good. Her pupils dilated for a moment as she attempted to detect the nature of this attack. She shot a look to both Delilah and Sharon. ::

"MAGICK...some kind of TRAP...or BINDING, SIMILAR to Shadow Weaver's binding spell, but what pattern I can discern..it's NOT hers. Something...someone ELSE is HERE causing it..."

Sharon: "We've GOT TO GET TO THEM...before he KILLS HER!"

[com link]

"Oracle! We need back up! There's a magick user in somewhere in this building...somebody STRONG...You need more eyes on the building!"

Oracle: "Cutting into security cam feeds."

:: They were all trying to use their powers, and failing. They were stuck. Powerless to stop what they were seeing before them. A relaxing night with Zizi had turned into something different altogether. Now they were getting a front row seat to the MURDER of Karen Victoria. She searched through her mind for probable ways of breaking mystical bindings, ways to counteract the effects that she was experiencing. Nothing was coming up. ::

<<Karen didn't know it yet, but her beloved "aunt", Hazel, had just interceded on her behalf, and that assistance had made all the difference between life and what looked to be imminent DEATH.>>

<< The spell of her assailant weakened and her own defensive magicks kicked in overdrive, FREEING HER and giving her strength to FIGHT BACK.>>

<< As the crack of THUNDER was heard by MorningStar, Silver Swan and Recall, a the mystic tone assocated with Shadow Weaver's power signature was heard as well as the doctor seems to REVIVE with full energy and awareness. She looks upon Christopher with UTTER CONTEMPT as her face is now enshrouded in shadow, and the tears running down her face sparkle in contrast.>>

<< Her mana FLASHES and her is now covered in shadow that GLOWS. She CRIESOUT with RAGE!>>

Shadow Weaver: STOP IT! LET. ME. GO!

<< The sounds of dark magick rang out as Karen "expands", FORCIBLY breaking Christopher's hold around her neck, and REPULSING HIM back VIOLENTLY>>

I'M FREE!!!

<< The spell is WEAKENED by Sybil, and the binds that held Silver Swan, MorningStar, Recall are BROKEN! They are FREE to move again!>>

<< But as the trio find themselves free, and are ready to pulverize Christopher, "HE", like his creator, shimmers out of their view, leaving them to face a truly ENRAGED Shadow Weaver, who is still enshrouded in shadow as her dark magicks swirl around her and her hair flows upward>>

YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD! I'LL SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO THIS TIME! I'LL DO WHAT I COULD NOT DO ALL THOSE YEARS AGO!

:: Christopher had vanished into thin air but Karen was too far gone to know that or to care. She was on a path of VENGEANCE and now it was aimed at the three of them. ::

Sharon: "Michael's vitals! I can HEAR them again! Karen..HOLD!!!! Christopher has VANISHED!!! You're among FRIENDS now!!!"

MorningStar: "Karen, no!"

"Oh fuck. fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck."

"Karen! PLEASE! Listen to us! He's GONE! Mike NEEDS you!"

:: Sharon and Delilah launched defensive tactics as if they were ready to prepare for impact. Vivica felt scared in this moment and also disgusted. There were far less ironic places for her to die instead of The Parthenon. ::

:: Karen ATTACKED. Vivica closed her eyes and contorted her face away, preparing to be BLASTED into oblivion. She waited. And waited and waited, until she realized nothing had happened. Somehow..something had protected them from her attack, and it wasn't Sharon or Delilah's laser shield. Opening her eyes, she sees Karen FALL to the ground as things began to return to as normal as they were going to get for the evening. ::

:: As Blaze and the others circled around Karen attempting to calm her down, Recall snapped back into reality. ::

Morningstar: "How the HELL could Christopher be alive!?"

Jasmine: "I wouldn't put anything past that man. You said he shimmered out? He never possessed any powers before -- he was so obsessed with finding and harnessing OTHERS powers. He's either back in a different form, or someone is making it SEEM like he's back just to torture Karen."

Arsenal: "You are not crazy. Not in the least. Someone is fucking with you to try and make you THINK you are, and they just inherited a shit ton of enemies. We are going to figure this out and we are going to fuck her up. You hear me? We will get through this and to the other side. I promise. There is nothing wrong with you."

:: There was much that Vivica wanted to say, but the tension and emotions were too volitale right now. The Six was incredibly protective of Karen, but it was obvious that SOMETHING was clouding ALL of their judgment, Vivica's included. Why hadn't she pushed her opinion harder in the Situation Room? This was exactly what she was trying to avoid. But SOMEBODY had to have a semblance of sanity in a situation where they had just witnessed something incredibly insane. ::

"Christopher Victory is dead...I know what we just saw--but he didn't die in an ordinary way. He was banished to Limbo by Spellbinder, right? You DON'T come back from that...or at least come back without Morgan Victoria HOT on your trail."

[looking at Karen]

"I don't say that to be mean...quite the opposite in fact. You've been through so much, the last thing I want you to have to worry about is Christopher REALLY being back..I sensed the magick in the air around us...when Sharon, Delilah and I were bound back. We couldn't move...it was REALLY similar to Karen's binding spell in the Situation Room...but it wasn't from her. It was from somebody else. In close proximity. Working this magick against Karen..."

[shaking her head, looking back towards the group]

"I'm sorry...but we don't have anymore time to chase after a ghost..we need to be looking for anybody who want to do this to Karen..anybody who would have reason, in the magickal world. THAT is where our answer lies. It's where our eyes need to be, because now it seems that on two separate occassions, a magick user was able to enter a stronghold of The Six and their allies, manifest some incredibly powerful magick, and remain undetected. That's dangerous..."

"Let's think about this...something is effecting us all. Where is Alison? Where is Morgan? There is no way in hell they can't know what's going on right now. No way. SOMETHING is blocking them...something is in their way, and that something is using that to their advantage...but that something is NOT Christopher Victory..."

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon Hotel - NYC - VIP Clubhouse

"CAMERON! VIP CLUBHOUSE PATIO! HELP! KAREN ATTACKED! MIKE NOT BREATHING! WE CAN'T MOVE! NEED EVERYONE NOW! NOW!!!"

A painful spike of panic rushed through Prophet's body as Delilah called him, screaming in his mind. Moving with an almost inhuman quickness, he gathered Black Widow, Charope and Orion and they made their way with GREAT speed to the Clubhouse where they arrived just in time to see an obviously very distressed Karen Victoria about to ignite a spell that would take out Silver Swan, Morningstar and Recall with brutal power.

"Oh My God...Karen!!! PLEASE! STOP YOURSELF! STOP THIS!"

He IMMEDIATELY tried to lash out with his power but found that he couldn't. He stood there for a moment in abject horror as Karen unleashed her attack. Prophet began to charge forward to jump right in front of the blast...but nothing happened. Some kind of mystical symbol appeared before the three women, protecting them..stopping Shadow Weaver's attack and returning things to an eery state of silence. Karen collapsed as Blaze ran forward and tried to comfort her, not an easy task as she was blasted back by her mother's power. This deeply concerned Cameron. It wasn't long before everybody was trying to come up with some kind of idea as to why this had happened, if Christopher Victory had returned. None of it made any sense. Karen wasn't making any sense. In this evening alone, she had attacked Valkyrie, Prophet, Black Widow, Frost, Silver Swan, Recall and Morningstar. He deeply respected Karen but even he was beginning to wonder if there was something really wrong with the doctor. It was an ugly thought to have...but what if she was losing it? She had been attacked earlier, or so she said. What if it had just been another episode, like in the situation room? What if...the Doctor needed help and they were enabling her. He only thought it because he was trying to look through Karen's eyes..if she wasn't a part of this situation, if she weren't a participant. Would her professional analysis be as gentle?

Cameron really didn't know what to do. And he didn't like the feeling, but for now he channeled calming waves of emotion and clarity through Karen, making sure to calm her down in a way that would still make her alert, but not allow her to panic, to get close to a seizure like she had been earlier.

Delilah: How the HELL could Christopher be alive?!"

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Jasmine deadpanned.

"You said he shimmered out? He never possessed any powers before--he was so obsessed with finding and harnessing OTHERS powers. He's either back in a different form, or someone is making it SEEM like he's back just to torture Karen."

Cameron narrowed his eyes at the woman. Five seconds back on Earth and she was already attempting to put her two cents in. Did nobody else think that it was fishy that the day Jasmine Klein makes her way back into reality is the same day that a supposed live and in the flesh Christopher Victory tries to strangle Karen Victoria...once AGAIN in his hotel, with innocent bystanders on all sides of the walls? He remembered something that felt as if it were a lifetime ago.

Years Ago - Illustra Inc.

Getting back into the elevator, he went down the ground level. As he reached the Lobby Floor of Illustra he began to head out of the doors when he bumped into a young and seemingly distraught woman. She was a young woman around Cameron's age with blonde hair and sparkling brown eyes and she seemed to know who Cameron was. She stopped him dead in his tracks and grabbed onto his bicep, looking deep into his eyes before speaking softly. ::

Woman: You're... Cameron King right? ::sniffles:: My name.. my name is Rachel, and I need your help. I need the help of the Six...

:: Prophet immediately thrust her from his arm and took a moment to look at her, she seemed so sincere and so needing of help. But how did she know about the Six and furthermore, how did she know to come to Illustra? Things just didn't make sense, unless she was an agent of Mystech. It was probably another hit on his life. He stepped back and eyed the woman. ::

"You need the help of the Six? Oh Come on, you're from Mystech right? Come to kill us all have you?"

:: The young woman looked at him in a way that Cameron could hardly break her gaze as a tear ran down her face. ::

Rachel: Yes, I am from Mystech, but that is why I need help.. look just take me somewhere safe so that we can talk.. I promise, I am of no threat to you..

:: Cameron pondered the thought for a brief moment, before he sighed. He just felt so bad for her which was something Cameron didn't often experience. Grabbing her hand he began to take her back to his penthouse, hoping she wasn't planning on killing them all. ::

HE had made an impulsive decision years ago to give somebody asylum at Illustra and that woman turned out to be his mother who would later attempt to destroy them. They had scanned the young woman, and couldn't find anything wrong with her. Who was to say that Jasmine wasn't some kind of plant, some kind of spell. Maybe the person responsible for the assault on Karen was in the room with them, hidden underneath a well crafted costume of Jasmine.

"They're crazy if they think for one second I'm letting that bitch out of my sight again."

Everybody was talking asking about how Christopher could possibly be back. He was getting a headache. Everybody's thoughts were so chaotic and their emotions were on edge and it was taking it's toll on the telepath/empath.

"Look...I don't want to hear another WORD until Morgan is standing RIGHT in front of us. We're out of our depths on this. This can't keep happening. We all need to remain in the Parthenon...and Karen..."

[he looked out at her, his heart heavy for her]

"Karen...you need to get your daughter here. If Christopher IS back...she deserves to know. She destroyed him before, and she can do it again..and this time...she can make sure that he meets the sharp end of her soul sword."

 

[Artemis]

The VIP Clubhouse balcony- aftermath

She looked back at the others.

"How the HELL could Christopher be alive?!"

Possible....LIFE MODEL DECOY?

:: It had happened before. When Viper unleashed one of ALYCIA upon the Six, and the psychological warfare nearly worked!::

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Jasmine deadpanned.

"You said he shimmered out? He never possessed any powers before--he was so obsessed with finding and harnessing OTHERS powers. He's either back in a different form, or someone is making it SEEM like he's back just to torture Karen."

My files, Haleigh's files...they detail that Christopher had experimented on himself, knowing that he had an Anomolous Gene Structure. He unlocked powers and abilities in himself, but it also caused him to become VERY aggressive, SAVAGE even. This was right before he attacked Morgan out in the open in central park while she was in college, and then tried to murder Karen the very night Clandestine Inc was set to relocate her!

If this...if HE is some sort of CLONE (?) or life model decoy, perhaps it's picking up where the original had left off.

::Not since her return to "man's world" at the dawn of the blue moon had Alycia felt a moment of true confusion and helplessness like this. It PAINED her to see Karen like this. SOMETHING was happening to her, and SOMEONE had to be doing it, but it was all designed to make it look like SHE was the one going off the rails, and THAT angered Alycia. Vivica confirmed what Alycia was suspecting, and framed it in such a way that was HARD to argue or dismiss. Christopher had been cast into Limbo by Spellbinder herself!::

:::Still, even though Christopher, the ORIGINAL one might be dead, that didn't mean that he hadn't left his genetic code behind for someone to COPY or CLONE him....::

:: But there was at least ONE among them that WAS in opposition. Alycia's hazel eyes caught Cameron's own look of disbelief and disapproval toward Jasmine. In spite of seeing the progress she'd shown during her time with Cass and Blaze, he didn't trust her. But Was this merely a "reversion to type" on his part? or was it something more? Would he REALLY throw gasoline on a fire right now? That would NOT be the man Alycia had fallen in love with this year.::

"Look...I don't want to hear another WORD until Morgan is standing RIGHT in front of us. We're out of our depths on this. This can't keep happening. We all need to remain in the Parthenon...and Karen..."

[he looked out at her, his heart heavy for her]

"Karen...you need to get your daughter here. If Christopher IS back...she deserves to know. She destroyed him before, and she can do it again..and this time...she can make sure that he meets the sharp end of her soul sword."

Cameron, don't be so hard on her! The doctor was just attacked and nearly murdered! Through...MANIPULATION...:: Alycia believed that firmly:: ....She nearly cut down her own friends just now...she's in no shape to do anything. We've got to keep her safe.

Sharon: But Cameron IS right about something, ALL of us present...our powers are PHYSICAL. We ARE handicapped against a magickal assailant.

I can reach out to Isis personally. She hates Ashley...but she's friendly with Sharon, Myself, and Zach. She'll respond to a person in need. She helped Ava contact her mother, Athena and Hecate during the blue moon, I'm sure that when she understand's happened, and that magick is involved, she'll aid in contact in Morgan.

And I SAW that....

:: She "spoke" to him via thought call, referring to his look toward Jasmine.::


Don't you pick a fight with or ABOUT Jasmine! Not NOW!

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon New York - The Situation Room

Sharon and Delilah split off to help monitor Karen's situation, leaving Alycia, Cameron, Haleigh, Vivica, and Zach in the situation room to work on contacting Morgan and continuing the investigation of Frost.

Haleigh noticed Vivica fidgeting, but focused more on watching the screen ahead. She'd put the live video feed with Blaze, Jasmine and Cass up on the flatscreen for everyone else.

Sliding off the edge of the table, an iPad appeared in her hand, and she leaned over Cameron to pass it to him, drawing his attention to the playback on the tablet, watching it over his shoulder.

"Looks like the Side-Kick Squad helped with our little cold-snap."

She said in a low voice to Cameron, so as not to distract the others from what they were doing. She didn't seem to notice the fact that Alycia and Zach were watching their every move ANY WAY.

Vivica: This is awkward. I'm leaving.

Haleigh looked up, watched Vivica leave in the most uncomfortable way possible, and then cast curious glances at the people remaining.

"Alright, which of y'all did SHE sleep with?"

She asked, looking at Zach, who shook his head. Haleigh's gaze bounced off Alycia, then Cameron, and she scoffed.

"Seriously, I expect YOU [Cameron] to know better than to have a threesome with a mutual acquaintance..... it's ALWAYS weird after."

Before anyone could respond, Haleigh stood up abruptly, catching the sound of dire wolves howling. That was NOT good. On the flatscreen, Blaze reacted to something as well and suddenly Cameron sprung up and urged everyone to double-time it to the VIP clubhouse. They arrived at nearly the same time as Blaze, Frost, and Ruby and were all met with a locked door. Haleigh instructed them all to back up, then raised a hand. The lock exploded and the doors swung open, allowing them all to rush in to a chaotic scene in which Karen was ATTACKING Delilah, Sharon and Vivica. They couldn't seem to move or use their powers.

Oh NO, she's immobilized THEM and... she's going to EXECUTE them!

Somehow Delilah managed to get a laser light shield up, indicating maybe that the Doctor was over extending herself or losing control of her powers. Many rushed to help but it was an object on the table that provided the actual protection they needed.

Karen fainted, then came back around, and started absolutely RAVING about Christopher this, Christopher that. Haleigh stared, reticent as the others discussed the possibility of him being BACK, or it being a LMD, or a spell.

OH FUCK, I drove Karen CRAZY. SHE is the magick user drudging up all this ancient history. SHE brought Frost back, and now Christopher as well. And she's a DANGER to herself and everybody else.

Mike: What now?

"Karen needs help."

and I need to deal with my personal problem IMMEDIATELY, before it becomes EVERYONE'S problem, just like Karen's problem is NOW affecting ALL of us.

 

[MorningStar]

VIP Clubhouse

Possible....LIFE MODEL DECOY?

It was possible.

“Could a decoy shimmer like that?”

Or was it working with someone else?

If this...if HE is some sort of CLONE (?) or life model decoy, perhaps it's picking up where the original had left off.

Delilah knelt beside Karen, taking her hand, trying to comfort her.

“Karen, would you have been able to sense if it wasn’t…YOUR Christopher?”

"I'm sorry...but we don't have anymore time to chase after a ghost..we need to be looking for anybody who want to do this to Karen..anybody who would have reason, in the magickal world. THAT is where our answer lies. It's where our eyes need to be, because now it seems that on two separate occassions, a magick user was able to enter a stronghold of The Six and their allies, manifest some incredibly powerful magick, and remain undetected. That's dangerous..."

She shot Vivica a hard look.

“So is Christopher Victory. We can’t just ignore what we saw. And we all know who ELSE could be out to get Karen. Malice and Enchantrah are still out of their cages. It could be ANY or ALL of them.”

Vivica wanted to be right so badly that she was too easily ruling things out. Stranger things had certainly happened to the Six – and ALL possibilities needed to be dealt with.

"Let's think about this...something is effecting us all. Where is Alison? Where is Morgan? There is no way in hell they can't know what's going on right now. No way. SOMETHING is blocking them...something is in their way, and that something is using that to their advantage...but that something is NOT Christopher Victory..."

“You don’t know that. We can’t afford to eliminate the possibility until we know for sure. And it wouldn’t be the first time Alison and Morgan disappeared and put themselves ahead of others.”

"Look...I don't want to hear another WORD until Morgan is standing RIGHT in front of us. We're out of our depths on this. This can't keep happening. We all need to remain in the Parthenon...and Karen...Karen...you need to get your daughter here. If Christopher IS back...she deserves to know. She destroyed him before, and she can do it again...and this time...she can make sure that he meets the sharp end of her soul sword."

But Cameron IS right about something, ALL of us present...our powers are PHYSICAL. We ARE handicapped against a magickal assailant.

Delilah rolled her eyes.

“Could we please stop talking about what we CAN’T do and focus on what we CAN?”

I can reach out to Isis personally. She hates Ashley...but she's friendly with Sharon, Myself, and Zach. She'll respond to a person in need. She helped Ava contact her mother, Athena and Hecate during the blue moon, I'm sure that when she understand's happened, and that magick is involved, she'll aid in contact in Morgan.

“So in the meantime, how do the rest of us work the problem?”

 

[Firebird]

VIP Clubhouse balcony area

He turned to Karen and looked her in the eye.

You are not crazy. Not in the least. Someone is fucking with you to try to make you THINK you are, and they just inherited a shitton of enemies. We are going to figure this out and we are going to fuck her up. You hear me? We will get through this and to the other side. I promise. There is nothing wrong with you.

"Trust US."

Referring to herself, Michael and Delilah as she held one of Karen's hands and watched tears fall from the doctor's eyes."

"Trust US! We're here now. You're NOT alone, you don't have to do this ALONE."

Delilah knelt beside Karen, taking her hand, trying to comfort her.

“Karen, would you have been able to sense if it wasn’t…YOUR Christopher?”

" I saw what she was experiencing too. It sure looked like...."

Glancing at Jasmine

" OUR father."

Alycia suggested a Life model decoy or a clone, but could even THAT have the power, the PRESENCE that matched what Blaze perceived?! One of the key differences between her and Foxfire was this mystical accent that she possesed courtesy of her sister, Spellbinder. It's Described in the files of Mystech from her native timeline as a level of intuition that is a form limited precognition- a 7th sense, it allows her to perceive the true evil/threat of someone or someTHING that is attempting to conceal itself. It is a latent MYSTICAL based ability. This, coupled with the rapport established by Karen between them, allowed her to have a deeper level of perception- BUT (unbenknowst to Blaze) given that Karen was under the effects of a powerful, complex spell (as were Delilah, Michael, Alycia, Sharon, Zach and Vivica), this ALSO caused Blaze to fall under its effect as well as well.

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Jasmine deadpanned.

"Exactly. He was a world reknowned geneticist with an anamolous genetic structure. He experiemented on himself to unlock powers within him. I don't think it's a life model decoy, i think we're doing with the real thing. "

Karen was overcome with grief, and Blaze looked disturbed herself. She looked at Michael and Delilah as Cameron and Vivica tried to push in another direction, and Blaze didn't like Cameron's tone toward Karen.

"Viv, you're right about Limbo...but how many times have we ALL seen things happen that defied the "rules?" The Cross Time Caper, Set, Barbas, Viper, The Blue Moon...how many times have things and people happened that didn't make sense? Sometimes logic doesn't work...and we have to deal with what we see...what we FEEL."

To Cameron

" Delilah is right! We don't have time to wait and see IF Morg will respond. Mom was attacked by the man that she hoped she'd NEVER lay eyes on again, and three POWERFUL women were RIGHT HERE and somehow PREVENTED from getting her before it was nearly TOO LATE!"

"We can't let that happen again, and don't have time to see what ISIS will do. We're going to have to work with what we have NOW. "

" Jasmine...I know that Karen isn't your biological mom, but she's been willing to go the distance for you. If Christopher HAS returned, she's going to need BOTH of us now. And he has MUCH to answer for."

Cameron and certain others may not have liked it, but Blaze didn't care. She was pulling Jasmine into this family crisis, because it was HER family too. The sisters needed to do something to help Karen.

Jasmine: I believe Karen too. She's the closest...ONLY person I've had to be a mother figure to me. After all she's done for Morgan, Blaze and...the help she's tried to give me in order to counteract all the shit that Christopher has put us through? I was wrong earlier, but now that my head is clear and on straight, I'm, on Karen's side in this. If she says Christopher is back, I believe her. He'd be at the Citadle. That was HIS territory, his PLAY ground.

Blaze: Yes....that's right. The place were you and I both spent our....formative years.

Jasmine: Then I say we take this fight to him, and shut him down once and for all!

Blaze: Let's GET HIM!

The sisters were BOTH feeling more than a little resentful toward their father, deep, primal feelings of bitterness and pain, associated with the "legendary" abuse he inflicted upon each of them, now coupled with the sight of a nearly broken Karen was inflaming their emotions.

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon Hotel - VIP Clubhouse

[Alycia via Thought Call]

Alycia: "And I SAW that....Don't you pick a fight with or ABOUT Jasmine! Not NOW!"

:: Cameron shot a look of irritation at Alycia for a moment before softening his resolve ::

[to Alycia]

"I'm gonna do whatever it takes to protect my family and the people staying at my hotel. We need to be looking at Jasmine with the same eyes that everybody is looking at the sudden appearance of Christopher Victory. Anything else is just stupid."

Vivica and Delilah went back and forth for a moment. Delilah seemed incredibly convinced at what she had seen. But then...Vivica was there too, and she wasn't so sure. This made things incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. What were they supposed to believe. It was like being blindfolded and throwing darts at a board, hoping that something stuck. Every idea they had was simply just a theory and Delilah was right in the sense that they had to do SOMETHING. Cameron was getting increasingly agitated.

" Delilah is right! We don't have time to wait and see IF Morg will respond. Mom was attacked by the man that she hoped she'd NEVER lay eyes on again, and three POWERFUL women were RIGHT HERE and somehow PREVENTED from getting her before it was nearly TOO LATE!"

"We can't let that happen again, and don't have time to see what ISIS will do. We're going to have to work with what we have NOW. "

" Jasmine...I know that Karen isn't your biological mom, but she's been willing to go the distance for you. If Christopher HAS returned, she's going to need BOTH of us now. And he has MUCH to answer for."

Cameron and certain others may not have liked it, but Blaze didn't care. She was pulling Jasmine into this family crisis, because it was HER family too. The sisters needed to do something to help Karen.

Jasmine: I believe Karen too. She's the closest...ONLY person I've had to be a mother figure to me. After all she's done for Morgan, Blaze and...the help she's tried to give me in order to counteract all the shit that Christopher has put us through? I was wrong earlier, but now that my head is clear and on straight, I'm, on Karen's side in this. If she says Christopher is back, I believe her. He'd be at the Citadle. That was HIS territory, his PLAY ground.

Blaze: Yes....that's right. The place were you and I both spent our....formative years.

Jasmine: Then I say we take this fight to him, and shut him down once and for all!

Blaze: Let's GET HIM!

The sisters were BOTH feeling more than a little resentful toward their father, deep, primal feelings of bitterness and pain, associated with the "legendary" abuse he inflicted upon each of them, now coupled with the sight of a nearly broken Karen was inflaming their emotions.

He listened to both of them talk, his face transfixed on Jasmine with pure repulsion. Five seconds back in the world and she was already a BAD influence on Blaze. As if he didn't have enough to deal with. Blaze was impulsive enough as it was, she didn't need a carbon copy of herself running around getting her into any trouble. His eyes remained there, transfixed.

<< BOOM! >>

All at once Cameron began to GROW in size, his muscles bulging, ripping apart his clothes as he began to contort and twist, his voice becoming visceral and uproarous.

"I've had ENOUGH of you, Jasmine Klein!"

The Six began to SCREAM in horror as his body furthered shifting, his joints slipping out of place and CRACKING with crazy and bone crushing sounds. Soon, his human form was gone as he completed his transformation into a LARGE and LOOMING Dragon!

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

His nostrils ROARED with flames as he crawled over to Jasmine SNAPPING his long and majestic neck down, BITING Jasmine and RIPPING her entire BODY in HALF! The Six were HORRIFIED as he then set FIRE to her body watching as she BURNED away completely from this and EVERY OTHER TIMELINE! It was a truly HORRIFIC and INSANE moment!

<< FLASH! >>

"If only..."

While Cameron may not have been able to destroy Jasmine like he had just fantasized, he could DEFINITELY make sure that Jasmine wasn't set FREE on the city of New York before they even had a chance to figure out HER true origin, let alone Christopher Victory's.

"No. Absolutely not."

[waving his hands]

"You two REALLY think the best plan of action is to dive head first into the Citadle without ANY information looking for justice? I mean this in the most sincere way possible...but get REAL."

[trying to regain his composure]

"Look I know we all want answers...and if the rest of you really think this is Christopher Victory..then I will try and reach a place of understanding and meet you where you are. I'm in..."

[looking around at them]

"But...I'm sorry...I'm just not comfortable with BOTH of The Victory sisters jumping into the lion's den. This seems targeted at ALL of your family. What if this is what [gesturing] "IT" wants? It's not smart to send both of you."[/quote][/quote]

 

[MorningStar]

VIP Clubhouse Patio

Cameron and the others wanted to hem and haw and wait for Karen to be attacked again, but surprisingly Blaze agreed with Delilah that they couldn’t wait for that. And then, perhaps, even more surprising was Jasmine.

I was wrong earlier, but now that my head is clear and on straight, I'm, on Karen's side in this. If she says Christopher is back, I believe her. He'd be at the Citadle. That was HIS territory, his PLAY ground… I say we take this fight to him, and shut him down once and for all!

Let's GET HIM!

”I'm sorry...I'm just not comfortable with BOTH of The Victory sisters jumping into the lion's den. This seems targeted at ALL of your family. What if this is what [gesturing] "IT" wants? It's not smart to send both of you.”

Delilah nodded.

“Cameron’s right. Blaze, you stay here with Karen and help Mike protect her. We have no idea when”

She looked pointedly at Cameron and Vivica.

“whoever is doing this will attack again. Jasmine, *I* will go with you to the Citadel. I’ve been there before, after all. Cameron, Alycia: try to get Isis to help contact Morgan.”

She gently turned back to Karen and gave her a hug.

“We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

Looking at Blaze and Mike.

“Keep her safe.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon New York - The VIP clubhouse

Vivica had a very good point, that it might be someone else entirely. Haleigh believed she was correct, based on what she knew of Christopher himself.

"If he truly HAS come back, I doubt his SINGULAR focus would be his ex-wife. Sure he'd try to get his revenge, but he'd be heavily focused on his previous life's work, his LEGACY, and himself. Killing Karen would be a bonus to him, a cherry on top, not the driving motivation of his return. With THREE of his daughters in this one timeline, there are so many opportunities for him. If he IS back, he'd be attacking and/or attempting all of us-- anyone attached to his Mystech success."

There was even more debate about whether it was Christopher or not, and whether he was dead or not. This type of thing had always been a problem for the Six, they got bogged down trying to decide who was right about what when really what they SHOULD have been doing is following the clues far enough to decide where to go, so they could kick WHOEVER'S ass they found there.

Christopher Victory is DEAD. And if he's NOT DEAD, I'm gonna make him ETERNALLY UNDEAD, and then I'm going to turn him into a metal STATUE and we can stick him in Limbo right next to my OTHER most favorite person from our past: that backstabbing HOBAG Alexis.

She thought, as Blaze and Jasmine decided they were going to the Citadel to seek him out. Well Haleigh liked the idea of FROST going, but she didn't really want to risk anyone else without sending a WHOLE team. Luckily, Delilah suggested Blaze stay with Karen and volunteered to go with Frost. She also tasked Cameron and Alycia with getting in touch with Isis.

"Delilah, I'm NOT going to let you go in there alone without backup."

She said, as if Frost didn't count AT ALL. She turned to Vivica, Zach, and Sharon.

"Viv, I KNOW you've been broadcasting to Oracle all night. I KNOW they've already started helping with damage control."

Zach: You didn't think we were planning on let YOU GUYS have all the fun, did you?

She gave an amused smirk.

"How many of you.... Birds of Prey would be down to go?"

She asked, anticipating at least a couple of volunteers. She expected Sharon would go, and that alone would assuage her concerns. Sharon was a powerhouse. Anyone ELSE who wanted to go would be welcome additions.

"I'm going to investigate a little more into the old Mystech angle. I'll wire any information that can help to Vivica's server."

She said, not exactly a lie, based on her actual intentions.

 

[Silver Swan]

The VIP Clubhouse

"No. Absolutely not."

[waving his hands]

"You two REALLY think the best plan of action is to dive head first into the Citadle without ANY information looking for justice? I mean this in the most sincere way possible...but get REAL."

Delilah nodded.

“Cameron’s right. Blaze, you stay here with Karen and help Mike protect her. We have no idea when”

[ Sharon could EMPATHIZE with Frost and Firebird. She thought about the night she finally found out that her son Kyle was still alive, and haunting the halls of the Arklay Mansion. SHE didn't wait around for approval from the Six, she went to find him HERSELF. Had any of them tried to stop her, she likely would have reacted very poorly to that, but she was also much more unstable then compared to now. they needed to balance their emotion with strategy, and use the resources at hand, namely the assistance of the Birds of Prey.]

"Delilah, I'm NOT going to let you go in there alone without backup."

She said, as if Frost didn't count AT ALL. She turned to Vivica, Zach, and Sharon.

"Viv, I KNOW you've been broadcasting to Oracle all night. I KNOW they've already started helping with damage control."

Yes, she has been. But not just for that reason.

Zach: You didn't think we were planning on let YOU GUYS have all the fun, did you?

[ Sharon looked at Zach, even from behind her silver eye mask, he could see the a sparkle of approval in her silver eyes.]

"How many of you.... Birds of Prey would be down to go?"

She asked, anticipating at least a couple of volunteers. She expected Sharon would go, and that alone would assuage her concerns. Sharon was a powerhouse. Anyone ELSE who wanted to go would be welcome additions.

[ She looks at Delilah, and then Haleigh, and responds to Zach and Haleigh. ]

The Birds of Prey are here to assist however we can.


WE'LL be going to the citadle with MorningStar and Frost, Haleigh.

[Haleigh now had her answer. Sharon was certainly going, and so were the others.]

She gently turned back to Karen and gave her a hug.

“We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

We will. And Christopher, or whoever else is behind this...will be ELIMINATED.

"I'm going to investigate a little more into the old Mystech angle. I'll wire any information that can help to Vivica's server."

She said, not exactly a lie, based on her actual intentions.

I'll confer with with Charope, Recall, Orion over a few details on our end, we'll be in contact with Oracle, and ready to depart with MorningStar and Frost.

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – VIP Clubhouse




:: So everything was going great: Jasmine accepted Blaze as her sister, Blaze promised Jas hers, Karen’s, and Cass’ support, the trio was getting along quite well and then Christopher Victory had to go and ruin it. For one thing, wasn’t Victory supposed to be dead, and another thing, wasn’t CHRISTOPHER VICTORY supposed to be DEAD? Cass said as much and soon the the three women were tearing out of Cass’ apartment like bats out of hell and made their way to the Clubhouse…which was locked. ::

Now what?

:: Turned out that you shouldn’t ask these kind of things with HALEIGH DAVIDOFF around because she blasted through those doors like it’s nobody’s business and the group – Blaze, Frost, Cass, Cameron, and Haleigh – tore through the establishment to where Karen was making a great fuss…AGAIN. Cass was deeply concerned. The woman was yelling about Christopher and, from what she could see/tell, the bastard was nowhere to be seen/found. Except…except that Karen was preparing to KILL Sharon, Delilah, AND Vivica! ::

*disbelief*: “Oh shit!!!”

:: There was nothing that Cass could do. She just stood back and watched helplessly. Blaze went to her mother and coaxed her, trying to calm her down. Sharon, Delilah, and Vivica were SAFE. Everybody else was nattering about what to do, whether this actually was Christopher, and so and so. Cass sat down close to Karen and Blaze, in case Blaze needed her to help with her mom. ::

:: It was clear that everybody thought that if Christopher was alive, he would be at the citadel. So everybody wanted to go and hand him his ass…especially Blaze and Frost. Cameron objected to this and Delilah stepped forward. ::

“Cameron’s right. Blaze, you stay here with Karen and help Mike protect her. We have no idea when”

She looked pointedly at Cameron and Vivica.

“whoever is doing this will attack again. Jasmine, *I* will go with you to the Citadel. I’ve been there before, after all. Cameron, Alycia: try to get Isis to help contact Morgan.”

She gently turned back to Karen and gave her a hug.

“We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

Looking at Blaze and Mike.

“Keep her safe.”

:: Cass could see Blaze open her mouth to protest when CASS stepped in. She didn’t think it was a good idea for BOTH Blaze and Jasmine to go. It could very well be a trap. As much as she didn’t want anybody to go to the citadel, she also knew that it would be best if Blaze stayed behind. ::

“Blaze, Delilah’s right. You’re much needed here, and, as much fun as it would be to kick whoever’s behind this ass, Karen needs you to be here. I’LL be here with you as well. We can look after Karen together, alongside Mike.”

:: Cass went up to her friend and squeezed her hand gently before making her way over to her NEW friend [Jasmine] and hugged her gently before letting go. ::

“Stay safe.”

:: She turned towards everybody. ::

“That includes everybody that is going. Stay safe. I don’t want ANYBODY to get hurt…”

 

[Recall]

The Parthenon Hotel - VIP Clubhouse

"The Citadle? The goddamn citadle? Of COURSE..."

:: While some had listened to Vivica's warnings that there was a unique magick signature in the air around them during Karen's attack, many had resolved to themselves that this was in fact some version of Christopher Victory returned to get his revenge on his daughters and his ex-wife. It was clear that the wounds that Dr. Victory had inflicted on these women and the world at large ran deep. But this was yet another reason that people like the Birds of Prey were there. Though many members had been touched in someway by the remaining few tendrils of MysTech at one point or another, on Vivica's team, they were able to see situations a little more objectively than the people who had lost their innocence at MysTech's hands. Her respect for Oracle and her desire to help nurture a team that valued teamwork and respect, she tried her best to listen to the words of Blaze and Delilah, who had surprisingly agreed, a rare occassion. At first she was agitated with Morningstar, but she quickly softened. Though Delilah had been through a lot lately, she wasn't one to just jump on a bandwagon for no reason. If she thought that this was worth investigating, Vivica respected her enough to follow her lead. She also somewhat looked up to Delilah in a way. She had been through so much, and while Vivica didn't know how deep the situation was, Vivica only hoped that one day she could have that level of loyalty and sense of balance that Delilah had. Plus, she still had enough sense to realize that sending the Victory Sisters into the citadle alone was not a great idea. ::

She looked pointedly at Cameron and Vivica.

“whoever is doing this will attack again. Jasmine, *I* will go with you to the Citadel. I’ve been there before, after all. Cameron, Alycia: try to get Isis to help contact Morgan.”

She gently turned back to Karen and gave her a hug.

“We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

Looking at Blaze and Mike.

“Keep her safe.”

"That is a much better idea."

"Delilah, I'm NOT going to let you go in there alone without backup."

She said, as if Frost didn't count AT ALL. She turned to Vivica, Zach, and Sharon.

"Viv, I KNOW you've been broadcasting to Oracle all night. I KNOW they've already started helping with damage control."

Zach: "You didn't think we were planning on letting YOU GUYS have al the fun, did you?

Sharon: "Yes, she has been. But not just for that reason."

:: She appreciated Sharon's support. There were many reasons that Vivica preferred to stream information to Oracle. While Oracle was a POWERFUL information broker and a gifted mind..sometimes the views of street cameras and security feeds weren't enough. Vivica offered a first hand account of what was happening on the ground floor, something that was invaluable and usefule to somebody like Oracle. It only furthered her skill and ability. Furthermore, Vivica had a personal interest in documenting these events, for her own use as a tactician. Though she would ALWAYS be able to remember these events in perfect detail, she could use these feeds to show the others where they had failed before and find ways to fix those mistakes. She had essentially found herself as the scribe of The Birds of Prey. In the event that she died, these moments would live on forever, and their value was great. ::

Haleigh: "How many of you...Birds of Prey would be down to go?"

Sharon: "The Birds of Prey are here to assist however we can. WE'LL be going to the citadle with MorningStar and Frost, Haleigh."

"Sharon is correct. Valkyrie and Steel are already in the field. They were headed to The Parthenon when this attack first manifested. I heard Oracle call them back towards The Clocktower. I will download Oracle on anything she might have missed and she can send them ahead, trailing after Morningstar and Frost. One of the advantages we have is that by all accounts, Christopher Victory or whatever it is, might not have full information on The Birds of Prey roster, plus with Valkyrie and Steel's background as police officers, they wouldn't look conspicuous."

“Blaze, Delilah’s right. You’re much needed here, and, as much fun as it would be to kick whoever’s behind this ass, Karen needs you to be here. I’LL be here with you as well. We can look after Karen together, alongside Mike.”

:: Cass went up to her friend and squeezed her hand gently before making her way over to her NEW friend [Jasmine] and hugged her gently before letting go. ::

“Stay safe.”

:: She turned towards everybody. ::

“That includes everybody that is going. Stay safe. I don’t want ANYBODY to get hurt…”

"Listen to Cassie, Blaze. She's already done a WORLD of good tonight, stepping in when things got too heated."

[turning to Cassie]

"Which..I think we'd all like to thank you for, by the way."

:: Vivica smiled at Cassie. She would offer a well of support for Firebird who would most CERTAINLY be at her wits end while Jasmine was out in the field, possibly training their father. She walked over towards Blaze, and gripped her hand, looking sweetly. ::

"Don't worry, hun. We'll keep her safe...and if Christopher DOES end up being back? Best believe we will make sure you are THERE to give that crazy honkey exactly what he DESERVES.."

:: She brushed some hair from her face. ::

"Do your part here."

:: Turning back to face the group ::

"Alright...we have a plan. I'll contact Oracle."

:: Vivica took a moment to step back inside the clubhouse as she spoke to Oracle, who was unbeknownst to Vivica, now face to face with ALISON MARBLE who had arrived with a special delivery. ::

"Zizi...looks like we are headed towards the Citadle...have Ashley and Steel arrived yet?"

:: While initially she had been wary of going to the citadle, there was one silver lining that would appeal to both Zizi and Vivica. If the citadle was up and running, that meant there was a chance to extract VITAL information from any host of servers that powered through, and if there was a person who could figure out how to get that information...it was Oracle. This was a golden opportunity for Birds of Prey, as well as Oracle herself. ::

"Oracle?"