Marauders #3: Loose Ends

[Wallflower]

South Africa - En Route

Jun was down bad. She was lucky she was not a person who lost sleep when she was depressed. If anything, she couldn't get enough. And riding in a convoy down the countryside of South Africa to the place of residence that belonged to the woman who had essentially created her out of thin air was a lot to deal with. She couldn't trust her own thoughts or memories. Anytime she tried to call a bit of strength towards herself, she had to ask if it was earned or implanted. And she just couldn't be sure. She didn't even know how long she had truly been alive.

She decided the best thing for her was to give herself a task, something to occupy her mind. She was good at completing tasks, she liked completing tasks. And part of her, deep down wanted to see Talisman in the flesh. How often did one have the chance to come face to face with their creator? And what about Amanda Soto? Was she alive? Did she have some kind of biological sister out there that had gone through the same things she had? Jun tried her best to listen to Max as she barked orders, but she was struggling.

Domino: "My guess is that in the next few minutes, we will be attacked...and Kelly will bring us to HER...which saves a lot of strength for later if were, to say, let that happen."

"There is no way in hell i'm going to face that woman on HER terms. FUCK going willingly. She's gonna have to drag me kicking and screaming."

Bombshell truly didn't even know if she truly believed that, it just felt like the right thing to say. These people had to be thinking she might switch sides. That she had some kind of fucking programming that would click into action the second she saw Talisman. Hell, Jun was worried about that herself. She needed to lay her loyalty on thick now and hope to be able to collect on it in the near future.

Domino: "Sometimes the path to victory is a straight line. I say the second we are attacked, we put up a good show..but we let her take us in. She's not gonna kill us. She's been taunting me for days. She wants my audience I just don't know why. And I'd rather save my strikes for when it really counts."

Jun didn't like it, but Max was right. Growing up as poor and as lonely as she had, or at least...how she THOUGHT she had, she really wasn't a fan of delayed gratification. She took her hits when she could give them. The straight line idea made sense.

"Fair enough."

Domino: "When we get there...we have two distinct goals. Our primary goal is any and all children we find there. Their safety is our concern. As many as we can send on their way back towards The Marauder, the better...."

She realized in that moment she was probably about to see a lot of familiar faces. The types of children that could be SOLD in Madripoor were kids that had grown up like her fake self had. And after what she had just experienced with The Arena, she no longer wanted to find herself responsible for the indentured servitude of mutants to masters. She was HAPPY to rescue these children. Maxine then showed a picture of The Red Knight and Jessica Marcus. At this point, Jun wasn't really focused on two people she didn't know. The others could play hero. She was looking for answers, not clout.

Domino: While our goal as a team is to take out Talisman and destroy this facility, my personal goal is to free Jessica Marcus. Whether or not she chooses to go with me is her business. I want to get her to the end of this and offer her something...different. So keep that in mind as we navigate through this. Amanda, Daniel and Jun, your powers combined will give us our best chances to enter the facility as hidden as we can possibly be as well as to placate any extractables. How you worked together in The Arena, we need that again, but air tight, and with Jun to add another layer to your own powers, it should be a cake walk saving whoever needs to be saved. Simon, you'll be going with me. With your luck and my technical skill, we should easily be able to carve a path towards Kelly. Beto? You're my wildcard...you fill in as you see fit. Your skillset is diverse, it makes you able to assist in any kind of combat situation we might, magick, physical, spiritual and otherwise. I trust your judgment. Outside of that? I know each of you have an axe to grind with Talisman. To that I say? If you get the chance to get your licks in? TAKE it."

The last line made her nervous. She didn't know how she was going to feel when she met Dr. Shaw. These people wanted her dead. Part of JUN wanted Kelly dead. But a greater part of her wanted understanding, even guidance. And who better to guide than the woman that made you?

Domino: "We are about to breach the property line, which is when I anticipate things will get sticky for us. But I believe we are in sync with our goals here. Now I have a hell of a lot of practice crafting operations like this, but i'm open to suggestions. Anybody seeing anything i'm not? Now is the time to say it. Confrontation imminent. So go quickly."

"I feel loyal to our cause, but I'm scared. If I'm being honest, I don't know what's going to happen when I meet Kelly. This is a lot for me. Logically...I understand that any woman who has done what she's done in the name of science and EGO is not somebody who deserves to live...I could find myself wanting to be loyal to her."

"I'm telling you this because I want you to be absolved of any future bad feelings. If I become a threat to saving these kids....I want someone to take me out. I mean it. I don't want to DIE still being under her thumb. I want to die as ME. Whoever that is..."

 

[Longshot]

South Africa

Simon decided not to acknowledge that he was worried about all of this. It seemed like the group had made their decision. They were going in there to rescue the kids who'd been SOLD to Talisman. She had purchased HUMAN BEINGS, and worse...CHILDREN. Whatever she had planned for them, even at it's weakest, was still...dangerous. The Arena had taught Simon that he was at his best when he acted without fear, when he trusted his own movements and judgments.

Domino: "Simon, you'll be going with me. With your luck and my technical skill, we should easily be able to carve a path towards Kelly."

He was excited to test the chemistry they had built with one another in the field. Even in the last few days, Simon had been observing Maxine. He was beginning to develop an understanding oher motives and her possible moves. If he could use his power to work with her ambition, he agreed they could be unstoppable. But Talisman was a weak point for Maxine. She'd got the jump on the former Black Knight several times. And Maxine seemed almost too eager to want to kill her. Simon didn't get it, but he knew it certainly wasn't helpful. He was about speak his mind when Domino continued, asking for input of any kind.

Jun: "I feel loyal to our cause, but I'm scared. If I'm being honest, I don't know what's going to happen when I meet Kelly. This is a lot for me. Logically...I understand that any woman who has done what she's done in the name of science and EGO is not somebody who deserves to live...I could find myself wanting to be loyal to her."

He sighed.

"Jun, you're not gonna go rogue, I won't let you."

Jun: "I'm telling you this because I want you to be absolved of any future bad feelings. If I become a threat to saving these kids....I want someone to take me out. I mean it. I don't want to DIE still being under her thumb. I want to die as ME. Whoever that is..."

God, it was tragic. When they told him about Jun, he had felt so bad for her. But he also realized that in doing that, he also wasn't doing her any favors. Whatever was fake was in the past, who she was now was al that mattered. Simon really believed that.

"Stop it. We're not gonna spend any more time talking like we've already lost. We are a POWERFUL group of people. We can handle this. We've got you're back here, Jun. I won't let it come to that."

To be honest, he didn't know if he could prevent fate, but he was willing to try. He knew what it was like to want to make your own path, to defy the "programming" given to you. The fact that Jun was here with them showed incredible strength and restraint on her part.

"I think we all have reached an understanding, haven't we? We're in this together, right?""

 

[Discord]

South Africa - En Route

The Red King found himself lost in thought. Last night had not been easy. He had expected Jun to flea, and was surprisedto find that she hadn't. If anything, she seemed focused and galvanized at the task at hand. And he could sense that she was being honest with herself. And he was more relieved to find her being honest with the rest of the group.

Jun: "I feel loyal to our cause, but I'm scared. If I'm being honest, I don't know what's going to happen when I meet Kelly. This is a lot for me. Logically...I understand that any woman who has done what she's done in the name of science and EGO is not somebody who deserves to live...I could find myself wanting to be loyal to her."

He wasn't really sure what to say. He had been the one to reveal this horrible information to her. He wasn't about to police her feelings on the matter, but he also wasn't going to let Jun something she would regret. She was spiraling. Being in the field may have been her choice, but it was too son. And Daniel wasn't a monster. He would make sure to keep an eye on her. And then Simon and his burgeoning desire to inspire began to speak, to which Daniel fought an instinctual urge to laugh at his bishop's words.

Simon: "Stop it. We're not gonna spend any more time talking we've already lost. We are a POWERFUL group of people. We can handle this. We've got your back here, Jun. I won't let it come to that. I think we have all reached an understanding, haven't we? We're in this together, right?"

He couldn't hold it in any longer, and thankfully, neither could Maxine as they both erupted into hysterical howls of laughters for a good thirty seconds. Daniel had tears coming out of his eyes, as he wiped them, trying to gain his compsoure.

"Bloody hell, Simon. Meryl Streep has nothing on you....."

[pausing for a moment]

"Let's not make this more than it is. We are here to liberate whatever captives we find and to terminate The Black Queen. We stay focused on those goals, we will be fine. This isn't any of our first rodeos. No need for the dramatics, children."

He flinched for a moment.

"Oof. Whatever Kelly is sending at us is on it's way, I feel a SURGE of energy up ahead, maybe five hundred yards away at most."

 

[Magik]

South Africa - En Route

"Thank you for the preliminary defense, Amanda. But let's not forget we are dealing with a woman who possess omni sight. The second we touched down, she likely got a lock on us. She can see all that is currently happening, down to the very moment you ignite a spell or use your power. She is the biological mother of the current Keeper of Time. Her wandering eye is not to be underestimated.

And neither are MY magicks, Domino. I am not some amateur stage magician.

<< Amanda replied as she ran her gloved her hand through her (currently) brunette hair, which was flowing in the open air while they traveled along the open road. Amanda knew of Harbinger, the Keeper of Time, any magick user with a lineage as distinct as the Szardos clan would no doubt be aware of Harbinger, as well as Spellbinder, this world's current Sorceress Supreme.>>

Talisman's gift of sight, considerable as it is, is currently AUGMENTED by an...

<< she stopped herself from revealing too much, too soon. this issue was deeply personal, between The INTERLOPER and the Szardos clan, & Amanda was using this circumstance, and unique opportunity to finally make Talisman ANSWER for what she'd done>>

...EXTERNAL source.

I am not going against someone who's out of my league, and she will find that I have more to "SAY" to her than she could imagine.

<< Amanda listened, and watched as Domino displayed the intel and schematics on Talisman's stronghold, already thinking of spells to use on the environment itself, as well as counter spells for manipulations Talisman would try. Of course she couldn't know the end from the beginning, but when it came to avenging her family's honor? Amanda was NOT to be trifled with, OR underestimated>>

Thankfully for us, the general layout of the plant is relatively straightforward, though I doubt we will even need to come up with a path forward. My guess is that in the next few minutes, we will be attacked...and Kelly will bring us to HER...Which saves a lot of strength for later if we were to say....let that happen."

"There is no way in hell i'm going to face that woman on HER terms. FUCK going willingly. She's gonna have to drag me kicking and screaming."

Agreed. There's no reason to let the Interloper have her way across the board. Especially since we are not lacking or wanting int he way of magickal resources. Forcing her to commit and spread herself thinner will wear her down, and erode her reserves.

"Sometimes the path to victory is a straight line. I say the second we are attacked, we put up a good show..but we let her take us in

<< there WAS wisdom in what Domino said. Let the enemy pull you in, and when you're close you lash out with an inescapable ferocity! Amanda's mother had taught her similar, when it came to defending herself, and their village against outsiders, especially the ones who sought to force themselves on the women they deemed "helpless." >>

She's not gonna kill us. She's been taunting me for days. She wants my audience I just don't know why. And I'd rather save my strikes for when it really counts."

<< Amanda nodded>>

Like any charlatan, the interloper uses circumstance and opportunity to manipulate, and distract, but her parlor tricks will not work...not for long. NOT THIS TIME.

"While our goal as a team is to take out Talisman and destroy this facility, my personal goal is to free Jessica Marcus. Whether or not she chooses to go with me is her business. I want to get her to the end of this and offer her something...different. So keep that in mind as we navigate through this. Amanda, Daniel and Jun, your powers combined will give us our best chances to enter the facility as hidden as we can possibly be as well as to placate any extractables. How you worked together in The Arena, we need that again, but air tight, and with Jun to add another layer to your own powers, it should be a cake walk saving whoever needs to be saved. Simon, you'll be going with me. With your luck and my technical skill, we should easily be able to carve a path towards Kelly. Beto? You're my wildcard...you fill in as you see fit. Your skillset is diverse, it makes you able to assist in any kind of combat situation we might, magick, physical, spiritual and otherwise. I trust your judgment. Outside of that? I know each of you have an axe to grind with Talisman. To that I say? If you get the chance to get your licks in? TAKE it."

<< Amanda understood the pressing need to free any prisoners and trafficking victims held within Talisman's stronghold, and Domino's personal mission to free a woman named Jessica Marcus. Amanda had HEARD of this woman. She was the daughter of James Marcus, one of the founders and original architects of MysTech, an entity that her mother had often referred to as a "great shadow with tentacles". Jessica Marcus was described as a woman with incredible power, and a VOLCANIC, child like temper. The woman had attacked Bretta, Discord, Domino, and the infamous Lord Ravena. But listening to Domino now, WATCHING her speak on Jessica, she saw that Domino cared for her the way Margali and Amanda had cared for Bretta.>>

<< Domino didn't know it, but she'd have a sure hand HELPING her to free this woman. Domino may not have seen the value in Bretta, but Margali and Amanda had, and it was source of great sadness, even guilt, that she'd not been there to protect Bretta from the American Branch's Red and Black Queens. Just as it was with those held captive at the Arena, Amanda would not see even ONE MORE person being victimized by the Interloper!>>

She turned and faced the driver's direction, nodding to herself before turning back to the group.

"We are about to breach the property line, which is when I anticipate things will get sticky for us.

I'm buying us a bit more time. My spells will make sure OUR immediate environment, that includes this vehicle we're currently moving in, will not change or be altered, not without GREAT effort on Talisman's part, which would then allow me to track her mystic signature BACK to HER!

<< and in that event, Amanda could bring them right to her, right ON TOP OF HER, before she could compensate. >>

"I feel loyal to our cause, but I'm scared. If I'm being honest, I don't know what's going to happen when I meet Kelly. This is a lot for me. Logically...I understand that any woman who has done what she's done in the name of science and EGO is not somebody who deserves to live...I could find myself wanting to be loyal to her."

"I'm telling you this because I want you to be absolved of any future bad feelings. If I become a threat to saving these kids....I want someone to take me out. I mean it. I don't want to DIE still being under her thumb. I want to die as ME. Whoever that is..."

<< Amanda looked at Jun for a moment. The woman was in a place of turmoil and uncertainty, but still she availed herself to the cause at hand, and spoke with courage. it takes courage to ADMIT fear. She also spoke selflessly, thinking of those children and victims they would be saving ahead of her own well being.>>

There's no reason why we can't accomplish ALL of our goals, AND keep you safe, and PERMANENTLY liberated from the Interloper's grasp.

<< Amanda said with firm certainty, hoping Jun would believe her and that she'd find SOME level of peace from Amanda's words>>

"Stop it. We're not gonna spend any more time talking like we've already lost. We are a POWERFUL group of people. We can handle this. We've got you're back here, Jun. I won't let it come to that."

To be honest, he didn't know if he could prevent fate, but he was willing to try. He knew what it was like to want to make your own path, to defy the "programming" given to you. The fact that Jun was here with them showed incredible strength and restraint on her part.

"I think we all have reached an understanding, haven't we? We're in this together, right?""

<< Amanda's blue eyes (which were currently a noticably different SHADE of blue than they normally were, due to her glamor spell) now fixed on Simon.>>

<< As Amanda stared at Simon, she couldn't help but smirk a bit.>>

Oh Simon....

<< a veritable babe in the woods. It was his naivete in dealing with Jun in Madripoor that lead to them all plunging into this caper!>>

<< He was cute, handsome even. She'd interacted with him in high society in the past, but there was something about him that was alternately annoying and endearing. >>

<< Amanda took a moment to note her own reflection in a nearby mirror as Discord and Domino laughed heartily. She smirked, inspite of herself>>

He couldn't hold it in any longer, and thankfully, neither could Maxine as they both erupted into hysterical howls of laughters for a good thirty seconds. Daniel had tears coming out of his eyes, as he wiped them, trying to gain his compsoure.

"Bloody hell, Simon. Meryl Streep has nothing on you....."

[pausing for a moment]

"Let's not make this more than it is. We are here to liberate whatever captives we find and to terminate The Black Queen. We stay focused on those goals, we will be fine. This isn't any of our first rodeos. No need for the dramatics, children."

And *I* am here to PUNISH the Interloper and TAKE BACK what belongs to the Szardos clan, and for what she did to Bretta!

<< she thought with GRIM resolution>>

He flinched for a moment.

"Oof. Whatever Kelly is sending at us is on it's way, I feel a SURGE of energy up ahead, maybe five hundred yards away at most."

<< No longer primping, Amanda looked ahead>>

I sense the powerful flow of magicks. Prepare yourselves!

<< She lifted her gloved hands, which were now surrounded by glowing tao mandalas, protective shields that would SLOW DOWN and blunt any direct impact of an attack - she wouldn't try to STOP Talisman from bringing them in, just a SUBTLE pushback to let her know she was not dealing with any weaklings. >>

<< Amanda was so TEMPTED to "reach out" and WARP Talisman's initial pass at them. She wanted to SHOW HER what "fuck around and find out" MEANT. But She was following Domino's lead. There WAS wisdom in her observation. Ultimately, she'd be letting Talisman do their leg work for them, and when the time was right, They would strike for their lives!>>

<< Much earlier, Amanda had already created and bound a Mandala to the Marauder, allowing her to create a mystic anchor accessible only by her, and this would be their "escape hatch" if all else failed, allowing her to pull herself and any of her group out of Talisman's stronghold, back to the ship.>>

 

[Seer]

So It Begins...

Discord: "Oof. Whatever Talisman is sending at us is on it's way, I feel a SURGE of energy up ahead, maybe five hundred yards away at most."

Amanda: "I sense the powerful flow of magicks. Prepare yourselves!"

<< Right they both were. As The Mararuders began to close the gap between them and the oil refinery plant Talisman had been using as a base for an unknown amount of time, they found themselves soon coming face to face with several different memories of The Black Queen's "welcoming committee." >>

<< Leading the charge, barreling forward with intense organization and ferocity were what appeared to be a set of two dozen VELOCIRAPTORS, their teeth snarling as they clicked at each other a set of commands. They had been a pleasure project for Talisman, who had just recently seen Jurassic Park and had gotten a kick out of the psuedo science. She had gotten bored one day and decided to do it the right way. These beasts were incredibly smart and cunning hunters, and with the tech advancements she had given them, they were able to move as a unit with deadly precision. Their only goal was carnage. Kelly believed in starting strong. >>

<< Just behind the roaring pack of raptors was a black and ominous swarm compromised of the nanites that made up her deadly Blacjackets the tuxedo suited agent force she had created, who worked adaptively, much in the same way as sentinels, or whatever Talisman's target was. She has lifted the technology from the Nimrod she had given Sister Mary Justice. Today, her Blackjackets were locked to split their focus between Amanda and Daniel. Against her blackjackets, Daniel could not get by on his power alone, and with the sheer volume of the pieces that compromised them, it would take considerable focus and precision in her attacks >>

<< A stereophonic and sultry voices fills the area around them as see a split screen of The Woman In Shadow herself watching the scene unfold from one of her floating screens. >>

Talisman: "Domino! Welcome to Tartarus..and you've brought so many guests. I didn't get my fill of mutant combat last night at The Arena, so you'll excuse me if I don't take this opportunity to see what you've all got. My research is dependent on it after all...Have fun my dear sweet guests. I'll see those who survive a bit later..Oh and Maxine? Don't worry, i've got Jessica right where she needs to be. Safe and sound..."

<< The raptor pack began to CHARGE the group as Domino commands the group to spread out in the formation they had ran before leaving the boat that morning. Maxine, Simon and Jun were the muscle of the group, and working with their powers in tandem, they were a good brute force. Amanda and Daniel were running interference as well as crowd control. They were the eyes ahead on the field. Brenthon...could do whatever it was that Brenthon could do to help. >>

>>> Targets acquired. Discord and Amanda Sefton. Magick User. Empath. Illusion. Energy projection. Adjusting defenses accordingly. 60% complete.

<< The Black Swarm swarms incredibly tight around each other, as they began to form a GIANT version of a Blackjacket, each of them uniquely in charge of doing something for the larger shape they had taken. It's hands became formed into FISTS as it lifted it's hands up high before LASHING out at GREAT SPEED, barrelling into both Amanda and Discord as they took to the field, as they then broke into a lightly maintained swarm, like being in the middle of a sea of BEES, they stung as they swarmed around the two, ready to take a new, and stronger form at any moment. >>

Domino: "Stay behind me...keep your eyes open...and hit them with all you GOT!"

<< The raptor back LEPT high in the air, each cluster deciding on which of the three in front of them it wanted as they fell to the ground and attacked with ferocity, their teeth chomping and their razor sharp, signature talons LASHED out in front of them. They had their work cut out for them. >>

<< The scene has been set. Can our Marauders beat back Talisman's welcoming committee. And what will happen when they finally come face to face with The Black Queen herself? There's only one way to find out. We must watch! >>

 

[Magik]

The battle is joined

Talisman: "Domino! Welcome to Tartarus..and you've brought so many guests. I didn't get my fill of mutant combat last night at The Arena, so you'll excuse me if I don't take this opportunity to see what you've all got. My research is dependent on it after all...Have fun my dear sweet guests. I'll see those who survive a bit later..Oh and Maxine? Don't worry, i've got Jessica right where she needs to be. Safe and sound..."

<< Just behind the roaring pack of raptors was a black and ominous swarm compromised of the nanites that made up her deadly Blacjackets the tuxedo suited agent force she had created, who worked adaptively, much in the same way as sentinels, or whatever Talisman's target was. She has lifted the technology from the Nimrod she had given Sister Mary Justice. Today, her Blackjackets were locked to split their focus between Amanda and Daniel. Against her blackjackets, Daniel could not get by on his power alone, and with the sheer volume of the pieces that compromised them, it would take considerable focus and precision in her attacks >>

<< A soft and subtle chime sounds off against the din of Talisman's welcoming committee, as Amanda QUICKLY touched Beto with one hand, and Jun with the other.>>

Earlier, Daniel, you wanted to know WHY i hadn't DEACTIVATED my "Hearing Thoughts" spell? Well, here's your answer! Make NO outward reaction to my communication!

Beto, quickly, touch Simon, and use your own mystically accented empathy to LINK HIM IN to my mystical psi-path with the others!

<< Domino understood now as well>>

NOW Domino can coordinate, and we can communicate without the INTERLOPER knowing. Moving in silence, is much more effective against one such as HER!

<< Indeed, now Amanda's spell encompassed the entire group, and Talisman could not "eavesdrop"...her Omnisite wouldn't extend to psychic communication, especially when the originator of the psi-path had a psi-screen herself.>>

Daniel, you and Beto can work in concert. Beto's empathic abilities are augmented by mystical accents, which he can now "pass" to YOU as needed.

<< and not a moment too soon...>>

>>> Targets acquired. Discord and Amanda Sefton. Magick User. Empath. Illusion. Energy projection. Adjusting defenses accordingly. 60% complete.

<< The Black Swarm swarms incredibly tight around each other, as they began to form a GIANT version of a Blackjacket, each of them uniquely in charge of doing something for the larger shape they had taken. It's hands became formed into FISTS as it lifted it's hands up high before LASHING out at GREAT SPEED, barrelling into both Amanda and Discord as they took to the field, as they then broke into a lightly maintained swarm, like being in the middle of a sea of BEES, they stung as they swarmed around the two, ready to take a new, and stronger form at any moment. >>

Domino: "Stay behind me...keep your eyes open...and hit them with all you GOT!"

Her constructs have made a positive identification on ME, despite my spells making any visual identification impossible....

<< No doubt The Interloper was using the "TALISMAN" she STOLE from the Szardos clan to augment her own omni sight. It didn't matter though, Not even SHE could discern all that Amanda was capable of, and while in this form, any combat data she MIGHT collect would be tainted regardless.>>


<< Amanda Sefton hovered in position, with Discord across from her. She counted on him seeing the strategy in working in tandem w/ Beto to give him an offensive BOOST in his power .But for Amanda, she had her work cut out for her!>>

No time to waste!

<< They swarmed, and their buzzing was beyond unpleasant to the ear! These creatures had a nasty STING, and too many of them could result in permanent injury, or worse! >>

UGH! unnatural PESTILENCE! just like the woman responsible for their creation!

<< FIRST- a pentagram of protection "snaps" open on the ground beneath Daniel and herself, it EXPANDS its radius, allowing anyone nearby to seek refuge if needed. This immediate buffer field /barrier of protection around them BLOCKS the initial pass/stings of some of the first black jackets to reach them.>>

<< Her own magicks could counteract the few painful stings that she DID experience, and She hoped that Beto would help Discord channel any sensations of pain to AUGMENT his power in an offensive counter measure.>>

Now to beat BACK this swarm!

<< Now, Amanda Sefton parried Talisman's initial thrust by gesturing and sending one of her glowing blue tao mandalas flying forward. It changes its orientation from vertical to horizontal as it flies and spins with HIGH VELOCITY and the ferocity of a DISC or THROWING STAR, FLASHING bright white as makes CONTACT the first wave of yellow jackets. CRASHING into them like a bolt of lightning, the "disc" effect of the tao mandala releases a an EXPANDING FLASH of MAGICK that catches the first wave and BEYOND, completely irradiates and VAPORIZES the first wave (and more from the ones following behind them) of yellowjackets as it SIMULTANEOUSLY SLICES through them like a hot knife through butter! >>

<< As she gives Discord and Beto room to work, she quickly and smoothly gestures, bring her OTHER tao mandala to the front and center of her position, commanding it to EXPAND as it spins clockwise , at vertical orientaton.>>

Invoc vârste goale

<< Speaking in her native tongue as she learned from her mother, the Witch Queen Margali Szardos, Amanda Sefton summons MYSTIC TENDRILS ! this energy projection ERUPTS forward and charges MADLY at the oncoming swarm of blackjackets, with the tips of each energy tendril expanding and shifting into large CLAWS/TALONS, whipping with steel and stone BREAKING ferocity as they almost EAGERLY MEET/COLLIDE with the blackjackets, ferociously WHIPPING, BEATING, CLAWING AND SLAMMING 100s of the black jackets at a time, destroying some outright, smacking some down to the ground with the force of an object falling down from the outer atmosphere, forcibly knocking others off course, causing them to slam/crash into each other, and above all else, IMPEDING their direct path to Amanda and Discord!>>

<< having eliminated the need for them to VERBALLY communicate, this would allow them ALL to better concentrate and focus, something Discord and Longshot in particular would need. She just hoped they would rise to the challenge as she and Domino had.>>

 

[Domino]

South Africa

Talisman: "Domino! Welcome to Tartarus...and you've brought so many guests. I didn't get my fill of mutant combat last night at The Arena, so you'll excuse me if I don't take this opportunity to see what you've all got. My research is dependent on it after all...Have fun my dear sweet guests. I'll see those who survive a bit later...Oh and Maxine? Don't worry, I've got Jessica right where she needs to be. Safe and sound..."

Domino gritted her teeth in anger. None of this made any sense to Maxine. Why all this pomp and circumstance. Why had she been taunting Maxine to find her, teasing her with Jessica. She didn't like that she didn't have the answers, but plowing through a horde of raptors was more than enough to calm her down. She turned to face Jun and Simon.

"Stay behind me...keep your eyes open...and hit them with all you GOT!"

<< The raptor pack LEPT high in the air, each cluster deciding on which of the three in front of them it wanted as they fell to the ground and attacked with ferocity, their teeth chomping and their razor sharp, signature talons LASHED out in front of them. They had their work cut out for them. >>

She closed her eyes. The sheer volume of this attack on both fronts was a little overkill, sloppier than she had seen Kelly act before, so she had to believe that there was some other kind of reason she was going this hard this fast. She wanted to see what they could do because she was most CERTAINLY going to use this kind of combat data for whatever machinations she had, so Domino had her work cut out for her, protecting the abilities of both Simon and Jun and pushing forward, so she called upon the power of The Crimson Shroud, something she had taken from Rebecca Everhart before killing her. It was an artifact that bonded with hosts and gave them IMMENSE energy powers from a source Maxine wasn't very sure of, what she did know, is that it was very effective when used properly. Igniting her connection to the artifact, creating constructs of this crimson colored energy surround both Simon and Jun, amplifying their size, their durability AND their strength. The raptors would be hard pressed to get at them now, and it was JUST in time for Amanda and Beto to LINK them together effectively.

<< Domino understood now as well>>

NOW Domino can coordinate, and we can communicate without the INTERLOPER knowing. Moving in silence, is much more effective against one such as HER!

<< Indeed, now Amanda's spell encompassed the entire group, and Talisman could not "eavesdrop"...her Omnisite wouldn't extend to psychic communication, especially when the originator of the psi-path had a psi-screen herself.>>

Daniel, you and Beto can work in concert. Beto's empathic abilities are augmented by mystical accents, which he can now "pass" to YOU as needed.

<< and not a moment too soon...>>

"Not a moment too soon. Good work Amanda. Team! The volume of this attack doesn't make sense. I don't want her knowing everything we're capable of before we get to her. Simon. Jun! I've augmented you with the power of my Crimson Shroud, focus on your physicality to take the raptors out. Let Amanda, Beto and I do the HEAVY lifting."

Maxine didn't need a shield. She THREW herself into combat, her death touch hauntingly igniting in her hands as they were enveloped by a haunting dull red energy, which was now reflected in her eyes.

Jun: "Simon behind you!"

She turned to see Simon in his augmented state barrel into a group of raptors and grab several by the neck SLAMMING them down, before turning back to the group, a look of satisfaction on his face that turned into panic.

Simon: "Two o'clock Jun!"

Thankfully Jun spun to her left just in time as two raptors bounced off her and she jumped into the air to body slam them. They would be just fine. Now Maxine could do what she did best...KILL. She moved through the battlefield with a haunting, almost elegant speed, her hands RIPPING into the stomachs and mouths of the raptors as they tried desperately to claw and snap at her incredibly durable skin. One by one, she dispatched them in a furious cloud of fists and combat boots. She had given herself a bit of distance as she she was able to survey how Amanda and the others were faring.

<< Now, Amanda Sefton parried Talisman's initial thrust by gesturing and sending one of her glowing blue tao mandalas flying forward. It changes its orientation from vertical to horizontal as it flies and spins with HIGH VELOCITY and the ferocity of a DISC or THROWING STAR, FLASHING bright white as makes CONTACT the first wave of yellow jackets. CRASHING into them like a bolt of lightning, the "disc" effect of the tao mandala releases a an EXPANDING FLASH of MAGICK that catches the first wave and BEYOND, completely irradiates and VAPORIZES the first wave (and more from the ones following behind them) of yellowjackets as it SIMULTANEOUSLY SLICES through them like a hot knife through butter! >>

<< As she gives Discord and Beto room to work, she quickly and smoothly gestures, bring her OTHER tao mandala to the front and center of her position, commanding it to EXPAND as it spins clockwise , at vertical orientaton.>>

Invoc vârste goale

<< Speaking in her native tongue as she learned from her mother, the Witch Queen Margali Szardos, Amanda Sefton summons MYSTIC TENDRILS ! this energy projection ERUPTS forward and charges MADLY at the oncoming swarm of blackjackets, with the tips of each energy tendril expanding and shifting into large CLAWS/TALONS, whipping with steel and stone BREAKING ferocity as they almost EAGERLY MEET/COLLIDE with the blackjackets, ferociously WHIPPING, BEATING, CLAWING AND SLAMMING 100s of the black jackets at a time, destroying some outright, smacking some down to the ground with the force of an object falling down from the outer atmosphere, forcibly knocking others off course, causing them to slam/crash into each other, and above all else, IMPEDING their direct path to Amanda and Discord!>>

<< having eliminated the need for them to VERBALLY communicate, this would allow them ALL to better concentrate and focus, something Discord and Longshot in particular would need. She just hoped they would rise to the challenge as she and Domino had.>>

In the distance, Domino could see yet another, even LARGER swarm of blackjackets were prepared to come forward.

[to the group] "This is foolish. She's going to try and exhaust us....We need a path forward. Amanda you can get a trace on Kelly magickally yes? We might just need to take this battle straight TO HER."

 

[Brenthon]

South Africa

"My dark gods, mortals are insufferable."

<< Brenthon was not listening to the conversation at hand. He has surveying the atmosphere. It was surprisingly beautiful to him. When he came back to this plane, he was scooped up by The Arena so soon. His entire life became fighting. Existing only within those walls. To be back in nature like this, feeling the wind whip past his face as the convoy pressed forward, feeling the hot sun on his olive skin, it made him feel alive. Almost as alive as last night.. >>

Amanda: "I sense the powerful flow of magicks. Prepare yourselves!"

<< The battlefield took cover under shadow as the seemingly endless horde of monsters approached them, the likes of which Brenthon had never seemed but seemed familiar, at least in his nightmares. But the shadow and the horde strengthened him. He was an avatar of WRATH, and these foes had earned his. >>

Beto, quickly, touch Simon, and use your own mystically accented empathy to LINK HIM IN to my mystical psi-path with the others!

<< Beto spun on his heels, relieved to know that not being as battle worn as he was used, he had picked up the ways to use his power that he had left dormant in the last few months with ease. He took his index finger and POKED Simon in the middle of the forehead and smirked. >>

"Done."

<< The battle started and while Brenthon kept an eye on those around him, his body became enshrouded in actual shadow as he teleported chaotically around the battlefield, moving in and out of the shadows as he tore through raptors and offered a shared vein of power between Daniel and Beto, to which Daniel used flawlessly. The boy may have been a bit annoying, but he had a well of strength in him as he watched The Red King use his own psionic energy to overwhelm the blackjackets, realizing their had some kind of actual sentience. >>

<< POOF! >>

<< Brenthon finds himself on the opposite end of the battlefield, watching the horde of raptors take on the group. In yet another furious puff smoke, The Gypsy King moved through the raptors with greater speed than Domino, weaving in and out of the fray with chaotic grace, taking out a good two dozen raptors in his path of destruction. >>

Invoc vârste goale

<< Speaking in her native tongue as she learned from her mother, the Witch Queen Margali Szardos, Amanda Sefton summons MYSTIC TENDRILS ! this energy projection ERUPTS forward and charges MADLY at the oncoming swarm of blackjackets, with the tips of each energy tendril expanding and shifting into large CLAWS/TALONS, whipping with steel and stone BREAKING ferocity as they almost EAGERLY MEET/COLLIDE with the blackjackets, ferociously WHIPPING, BEATING, CLAWING AND SLAMMING 100s of the black jackets at a time, destroying some outright, smacking some down to the ground with the force of an object falling down from the outer atmosphere, forcibly knocking others off course, causing them to slam/crash into each other, and above all else, IMPEDING their direct path to Amanda and Discord!>>

<< having eliminated the need for them to VERBALLY communicate, this would allow them ALL to better concentrate and focus, something Discord and Longshot in particular would need. She just hoped they would rise to the challenge as she and Domino had.>>

<< She really was a powerful sorceress. And power was intoxicating to a man like him. >>

Domino: [via group link] "This is foolish. She's going to try and exhaust us....We need a path forward. Amanda you can get a trace on Kelly magickally yes? We might just need to take this battle straight TO HER."

<< POOF! >>

<< He covered an incredible amount of ground in a very short time, before he reappeared within the middle of the group. >>

"I have located her. She is called The Woman in Shadow, yes? The shadows are a part of me. They LIGHT my path. She cannot hide from me."

<< Through the mind link he "showed" the group a vision of Talisman, initially cloaked in shadows all around her, and then he moved them, giving them a clear view of her cobalt blue, crystalline eyes. >>

"My means of transportation are reserved ONLY for my people. I cannot take you there, but Jima--Amanda can. It's time. I can pull ALL focus on me and join you once I know you've connected."

<< Brenthon turned his attention towards the battlefield as he began to stoke the raptors WRATH, but not for THEM...for The Blackjackets. The veins on his body coursed a haunting black color as his shadowy energy emanated out into the area around him. Their anger gave him power and their wrath made him hard. He watched with his dark espresso eyes as the raptors began to hurl themselves at the hordes of blackjackets still remaining. The level of carnage on both sides was incredible. He was not worried or concerned with what The Black Witch knew about him and what he could. And he had far more than this trick up his sleeve. He turned up to face Amanda and gave her a nod. >>

"Go Now."

 

[Magik]

South Africa- In deeper

<< Amanda kept her pentagram of protection open, allowing anyone of the team who was near by to seek refuge. Her mystic tendrils kept the blackjackets at bay, for the moment, but....>>

In the distance, Domino could see yet another, even LARGER swarm of blackjackets were prepared to come forward.

[to the group] "This is foolish. She's going to try and exhaust us....We need a path forward. Amanda you can get a trace on Kelly magickally yes? We might just need to take this battle straight TO HER."

<< Music to Amanda's EARS!>>

[to Domino] The Interloper's mana is strong, but it is that STRENGTH, the SIGNATURE, that I can easily trace back to its source!

<< He covered an incredible amount of ground in a very short time, before he reappeared within the middle of the group. >>

"I have located her. She is called The Woman in Shadow, yes? The shadows are a part of me. They LIGHT my path. She cannot hide from me."

<< Through the mind link he "showed" the group a vision of Talisman, initially cloaked in shadows all around her, and then he moved them, giving them a clear view of her cobalt blue, crystalline eyes. >>

"My means of transportation are reserved ONLY for my people. I cannot take you there, but Jima--Amanda can. It's time. I can pull ALL focus on me and join you once I know you've connected."

<< Brenthon turned his attention towards the battlefield as he began to stoke the raptors WRATH, but not for THEM...for The Blackjackets. The veins on his body coursed a haunting black color as his shadowy energy emanated out into the area around him. Their anger gave him power and their wrath made him hard. He watched with his dark espresso eyes as the raptors began to hurl themselves at the hordes of blackjackets still remaining. The level of carnage on both sides was incredible. He was not worried or concerned with what The Black Witch knew about him and what he could. And he had far more than this trick up his sleeve. He turned up to face Amanda and gave her a nod. >>

"Go Now."

<< Amanda's gloved hands were already lifted and surrounded by blue, glowing halos of magick. The halos shimmer and change color as she locks on to Talisman's mana signature>>


<< At the same time, three evenly spaced streams of Amanda's power signature sparkled into view and circled around the group at a horizontal orientation.>>

<< A chime sounds off as she TELEPORTS them directly to Talisman , bypassing the many layers and dimensions of the building she was in>>

<< Using the visual provided by Beto, Amanda arranges for the marauders to appear and SURROUND Talisman at strategic points.>>

<< Amanda herself FLOODS the room with her own enchantments.>>

It's OVER, Interloper!

<< Amanda was ready to cast her spell, summon the mystic golden dragon, and IMMOLATE Talisman right then and there! But she hadn't forgotten, DOMINO needed to rescue Jessica Marcus. They had to get HER, and any other victims being held captive here, AND Amanda had to take back the Eye of Agamotto, but THEN?? Talisman would be PUNISHED!>>

<< Amanda Sefton stood ready for action. Talisman wouldn't recognize her with her EYES, but with her omni-sight, she might soon realize who she was. >>

 

[Talisman]

South Africa - So It Begins

:: Talisman had to admit, the last few days had been fun. For two years she had kept her head down at Hellfire, only acting when she was “authorized” employing the same old tactics and doing the same old experiments they had wanted her to do in her native timeline. She had been in survival mode, but the Woman in Shadow was an expert at survival. She took the mantle of Black Queen, and began planting seeds, and making connections (and inevitably enemies) outside of the world of Hellfire, biding her time until she could harvest those seeds. And when the “heroes” bust down the doors of Hellfire and shattered Diana, she deposited Helena where she wanted to go, and she set out on her own, yet again. ::

:: The future was ripe with possibilities, and Talisman had decided that the current state of things meant that in order to truly find the agency she would need going forward, she was going to have to clear the board in certain ways, and it was why she had been taunting Maxine, waving Jessica Marcus over her head so brazenly. She knew Maxine would come. Though she hadn't initially anticipated Domino being congenial enough to bring so many colleagues along with her. It truly didn't matter to her. She had two objectives – and she would not be stopped from completing those objectives. ::

”Right on Time...”

:: From the screens in her viewing galley, she watched the team with curiosity. This really was not a coordinated attack on her part. She simply wanted the data. It was clear to her that magick was afoot at her inability to exactly nail down who exactly was with Domino, despite her Omni Sight. So she decided that volume would be the best way to analyze this group of self proclaimed heroes seeking a goal that they would not complete. There were no child prisoners here. She was not experimenting on human life. She simply needed to sweeten the deal to make sure Maxine Dupont showed up. While this many eyes in the room was not ideal, Kelly was flexible. Though she found even herself caught a bit off guard as she felt the swirl of magicks enter her viewing galley and the obnoxious chimes that signified a magick user of a certain leaning. Sure enough, all at once she found herself surrounded by The Marauders, each flanking her in different directions, though she showed no signs of tensing up. She merely turned around on her spiked black heels from the screens, and turned around, giving the group a smile. ::

Amanda: “It's OVER, Interloper!”

:: Kelly smoldered, her cobalt blue eyes eyeing the woman up and down. Her energy signature. Her use of the word “interloper”, the mandalas she had seen earlier. This woman had to be of Romani descent...and Kelly had more than a few run ins with a certain clan of Romani on her quest for power and security. ::

“Is it?”

:: Talisman SNAPPED her fingers as a spectral chaotic energy hovered over her hand for just a second. From within the room, the buzzing and whirring of some kind of generator began to fill the space, as a soft mist began to fill the room. ::

“I have found my dealings with The Black Lotus Flower to be quite beneficial in at least slowing down those who wish to beat me over the head with their precious “magicks”. This mist is a compound, capable of paralyzation, loss of power, hallucination, DEATH...etcetera, etcetera...”

:: She turned to face Domino, her gaze remaining ice cold. ::

“If you'd like to know WHY the world is suddenly without it's Sorcerer Supreme, you need only to look towards the BULLET I put in Spellbinder's neck...it was made up of much of the same compound now seeping into the room...”

:: Talisman was on a intricate regimen to maintain her health as well as the various enhancements she had subjects to herself over the years. Part of that was taking a small amount of the lotus as a supplement in order to build her resistance. It had other effects as well in it's synthesized form. It was part of what made her so resistant to mental probe and being located. It dampened other magick user's abilities to SEE her. ::

”Hmmm...”

:: Talisman's eye focused yet again back on Amanda, this time her stare more than purely quizzical. Something about mentioning Spellbinder had spurred her Omni Sight into action ::

”Well, WHO do we have here? Things suddenly got far more interesting. “

“But enough chemistry talk.”

:: She glanced back at Domino, intentionally ignoring those that were not her or Amanda. ::

“You came for Jessica, but you understand I can't just make it that easy for you. Not after everything she's been through...”

:: Talisman snapped her fingers once more as the sliding metal doors that surrounded the four walls surrounding the viewing galley began to open as a number of former Mystech bio-hazards began to fill the space – hunters, tyrants, hell hounds, seekers, etc. all at varying speeds as the floor beneath them opened all at once, to reveal after a lengthy fall a tank with several neptunes, ones she had rescued from the mansion catacombs. Those with levitation powers would be fine, but others, might be taking a long fall before or they'd had to get their barings QUICKLY. All of these were distractions really from something bigger, but they also served their purpose. Talisman maintained her stance, now above them standing next to the very stasis tube that held Jessica Marcus, her eyes closed, her face frozen in time. ::

 

[Domino]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

Talisman: “You came for Jessica, but you understand I can't just make it that easy for you. Not after everything she's been through...”

"Good thing I like it rough..BITCH."

As the mystech machinations began to fill the space, she instinctively reached for Simon as Daniel and Jun managed to protect themselves and get to cover before being DROPPED into the Neptune Tank. Something about this was wrong. It just wasn't how Kelly operated. While The Black Lotus gas mostly effected magick users, whatever was in the gas was starting to creep in herself as she felt a wave of nausea wave over her.

[to the group via psi connection] "Simon get rid of this gas!"

Simon: "I'm on it."

Simon looked up and via their link Domino was able to "show" him the vent entrances she had mapped out while Kelly was waxing scientific at the group. She watched as his eyes flickered a pale green, and moments later, not only did the vents jam TIGHTLY shut but the door that covered the Neptune tank SLAMMED shut with a large and booming CLINK!

"Not bad, Pratt."

He was getting confident with the use of his abilities, as vague as they seemed to him. But he was going to have to be her good luck charm here. It seemed like Kelly was WANTING this place to burn to the ground, so Maxine was going to give her exactly what wanted - she was going to awaken the beast.

"Amanda, keep her occupied. Simon and I are going in for Jessica NOW...."

She grabbed Simon by the collar of his shirt and LEPT into the air, grabbing onto a random metal pipe up towards the ceiling, before flipping forward and HURLING them both onto the platform before executing one HELL of a kick forward into Talisman's BACK as she came face to face with the stasis tube - it was the first time she had seen Jessica's face since before the battle at Hellfire. She felt a flurry of butterflies in her stomach as she looked down to see a control panel, one that she analyzed was secured by an adamantium casing. The glass was reinforced as well. She couldn't simply BASH through it, and she didn't want to. Domino didn't want to risk hurting the process that would "wake" her up. And then she heard several clicks as the cables around the stasis tube began to light up. Domino's almost silver like eyes widened as she looked back down at the control panel to see Simon's hands encased in his light green energy.

Simon: "This seemed like a better idea than a hulk smash."

Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past.

 

[Magik]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

:: Kelly smoldered, her cobalt blue eyes eyeing the woman up and down. Her energy signature. Her use of the word “interloper”, the mandalas she had seen earlier. This woman had to be of Romani descent...and Kelly had more than a few run ins with a certain clan of Romani on her quest for power and security. ::

“Is it?”

:: Talisman SNAPPED her fingers as a spectral chaotic energy hovered over her hand for just a second. From within the room, the buzzing and whirring of some kind of generator began to fill the space, as a soft mist began to fill the room. ::

<< Amanda stared Talisman down with an intense glare in her blue eyes. But soon, she heard a soft hissing sound in the air, and seconds later, each breath became more difficult as began coughing. She felt the effects of the Black Lotus Flower's noxious fumes almost immediately.>>

The Black Lotus Blossom!

<< She'd learned about this deadly flower from her mother. It had a deadly, withering effect on magick users of all paths and disciplines and, as Talisman had mentioned, it could induce power suppression, paralysis, unconsciousness, or even death (in some extreme cases).>>

“If you'd like to know WHY the world is suddenly without it's Sorcerer Supreme, you need only to look towards the BULLET I put in Spellbinder's neck...it was made up of much of the same compound now seeping into the room...”

<< Amanda heard Talisman gloating about injuring Spellbinder. Suddenly it made sense, all the rumors and rumblings she and her mother had heard across the magickal community. even her mother seemed almost... ANXIOUS about it, not since the BLUE MOON had things been this uncertain across the magickal community. But surely Spellbinder would not be out done by a charlatan like this woman they were confronting now!? Amanda couldn't afford the time to ponder this revelation just now, as she had more pressing problems at hand.>>

<< Amanda crouched down, lowing herself out of the main flow of the black lotus blossom fumes, and instinctively covering her mouth and nose as she coughed more.>>

....she...thinks....she's...got the drop on me....

<< But Amanda had a spell that would LOCK Talisman in and FORCE her to experience the same effects that Amanda was experiencing, it would allow Amanda to drag Talisman into the approaching oblivion of the Black Lotus Blossom, and whatever happened to Amanda, would ALSO happen to Kelly.>>

....must use remaining.....strength....must...concentrate....long enough to ignite...spell....

<< the sorceress gasped as she coughed harder>>

[to the group via psi connection] "Simon get rid of this gas!"

Simon: "I'm on it."

Simon looked up and via their link Domino was able to "show" him the vent entrances she had mapped out while Kelly was waxing scientific at the group. She watched as his eyes flickered a pale green, and moments later, not only did the vents jam TIGHTLY shut but the door that covered the Neptune tank SLAMMED shut with a large and booming CLINK!

"Not bad, Pratt."

<< He DID IT! Living up to his namesake once more, Longshot eliminated the need for Amanda's spell, and saved her from losing consciousness. PART of her wanted to use the spell now, anyway, and reverse ALL the intended effects of the black lotus blossom back onto Talisman...but she couldn't give in to emotions or impulse. Not after coming THIS close. >>

MANY thanks, Longshot!

<< Amanda replied via their mystical psi-path as she regained her center and her strength>>

"Amanda, keep her occupied. Simon and I are going in for Jessica NOW...."

You've got it.

<< her gloved hands closed into fists, as halos formed around around them, and she took off into the air with speed and focus.>>

<< Taking aim, Amanda fired upon Talisman with a destructive broad beamed, mystic blast of concussive power, enough to CRATER the floor and surrounding area where Talisman stood. >>

<<ZARK!>>

<< Amanda weaved in a tight pattern, taking aim as she fired again and again, giving Talisman NO room for error OR rest as she forced the woman to move and to use her sight to dodge Amanda's concussive blasts, but this was just the beginning. >>

<< circling high above, Amanda Sefton BLASTS the ceiling with a massive mystic concussive blast, setting a shockwave loose, and causing a portion of the ceiling to come crashing down, forcing Talisman to once again change direction and tactics, keeping her off balance, and keeping her from being stationary in one spot for more than a heart beat. and at that moment?>>

Globul haosului!

<< Thrusting her gloved hands forward, a glowing blue orb spins into view, and charges MADLY for Talisman, locking onto her BIO SCAN and her MAGICKAL SIGNATURE, and chasing her with unrelenting pursuit, like a heat seeking missile. The orb grew in size, slightly, now the size of a beach ball, as it zoomed after the techno sorceress. No matter where Talisman moved, no matter what direction she chose, even if she blinked, and returned, the orb would be waiting for her, like a swarm of killer bees waiting for someone who dove under water to try and hide, and the moment she returned, the orb would immediately resume chasing her. Once it finally CAUGHT her? She'd find herself in the REAL trap>>

COLUMNS be her reality,
As I assemble them freely.
Let the enviroment WARP,
Her Destruction unfolding in my rage....

<< the ground around where Talisman was currently positioned began to quake and the area within it's circumference begins to distort as FOUR LARGE COLUMNS erupt from the ground, evenly spaced, around Talisman. Amanda's spell creates a temporal/dimensional VOID around Talisman, making escape via magickal or physical means impossible for the next few minutes as it DISTORTS Talisman's spatial sense/perception AND BLURS even her omni-sight for the duration of the spell.>>

In the name of Margali Szardos, traveler of the WINDING WAY, and WITCH QUEEN of the Szardos Clan, GIVE BACK THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO, you THEIVING INTERLOPER!

<< Amanda shouted her command as her vicious magickal attack assaulted Talisman. Amanda brunette hair flows upward, and her visage shifts to one enshrouded in shadow. It's an effect that Talisman would recognize, having seen this happen with Spellbinder, when SHE was feeling particularly violent and vicious toward her enemy.>>

<< AND ....in a particularly vicious, and (willfully) PETTY move on Amanda's part, meant to PUNISH Talisman for her transgression against the Szardos clan, Amanda thrusts her halo encircled, gloved hand forward, and speaks in her native tongue, invoking her romani heritage, and her POWER at the top most point of the Winding Way, just as her mother had taught her>>

Când ochii noștri se uită în sus pentru a se întâlni,
veți găsi mișcarea o ispravă infernală!

<< Talisman finds her body- her entire musculoskeletal system painfully LOCKED UP, and she cannot move. The SLIGHTEST attempt of her body to carry out her brain's commands causes nerve wracking pain, as she is held up in the COLUMNAR VOID, and now paralyzed, like prey in a spider's web.>>

<< Amanda knew Domino and Longshot were THIS CLOSE to FREEING Jessica Marcus, and so, to keep her busy, Amanda engaged in a multi-level strategy. >>

<< If only her mother, Margali Szardos, could see her now. All the training, all the stories, lessons, drills, and ADMONISHING...it was all PAYING OFF! It all felt so NATURAL, so RIGHT to Amanda, who was at the TOP most point of the Winding Way. Let others underestimate and dismiss her, at THEIR peril!>>


<< Having checked Talisman for the moment, Amanda makes the most of this moment as she flew down just a few feet, and hovered in place. gesturing with her gloved hands as she whisked Bombshell, Discord and Beto away from the spot where they'd narrowly escaped becoming FOOD for the neptunes, and repositioning them around the COLUMNAR TRAP that now held Talisman, so they'd be ready to PILE ON her should the need arise.>>


<< to the group via psi connection>>: The Interloper is CHECKED, in the most painful way possible. She CANNOT escape the COLUMNAR TRAP that I've magicked up around her. And she is surrounded by the rest of the team. We're ready to PILE ON! This should give you the time you need!

Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past.

 

[Viper]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility
:: Silence. The never ending embrace of darkness and SLEEP.::

:: Again.::

:: How long had she been like this, THIS time?::

:: How many times would someone STOP HER from being GREAT!?::

:: Jessica Marcus truly was a WONDER of the world, GENETIC PERFECTION, and in many ways, the CROWN JEWEL of MysTech, something that not even Talisman could take credit for. No doubt, THAT had motivated Talisman to take "custody" of Jessica Marcus when she managed to escape the Hellfire Mansion in NYC.::

:: But anyone who knew Jessica Marcus' story, knew that VIPER was not to be trifled with.::

:: The raging fight between Talisman and the Marauders only registers as the FAINTEST of echoes in her deep slumber. It's not enough to pierce the darkness, or overpower her dreams.::

:: Dreams, MEMORIES, dreams: of her father, Dr. James Marcus. The original Arklay Mansion in all of its glory, before its destruction. The moment she created the T Veronica virus, a "designer variant" of the T Virus. The moment she decided to infect HERSELF with her viral creation. The moment she FIRST went into stasis, just before the original Arklay Mansion (and nearly everyone inside) was destroyed by a vengeful Malice.::

:: Viper was destined to not only be the true Queen of MysTech, but she believed she should ALSO be Queen of the WORLD.::

:: She came VERY CLOSE to achieving that goal, after nearly wiping out a third of the human populace, and pushing the world to the brink of World War III, she was narrowly defeated by the Six. ::

:: Her "second act" was made possible by none other than, Talisman, aka "The Woman in Shadow", who succeeded in cloning her body, but even Talisman was not prepared for the astonishing development of Viper's consciousness being so strong that it IMMEDIATELY inhabited the new body. Talisman had never encountered a truly PERFECT genome, until she happened upon Jessica Marcus. Soon the "Woman in shadow" presented Viper, once again in stasis, to Rebecca Everhart, the deposed Red Queen of the Hellfire Club's london branch. Everhart managed to convince Viper that DOMINO was responsible for her impeding her path, and Viper violently attacked Domino. Theirs was a truly operatic fight, but then came a most...unexpected moment...one that neither Viper, Domino, NOR Talisman could have anticipated.::

:: Even now, in her deep sleep, she REMEMBERS that TURNING POINT with Domino::

Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past.

:: From inside the stasis tube, floating in the nutrient rich liquid, we see Her eye lids FLUTTER, the FIRST indication that she is beginning to REVIVE to consciousness!::

FLASH!

<< The collision of all the energies creates a GIANT mushroom cloud like EXPLOSION, BLINDING everybody in the area as The Hellfire Estate continues to rumble and shake as if in the middle of an earthquake! >>

<< Just before the whiteout, Jessica's bright green eyes meet with Maxine's haunting pale blue. >>

<< For a few seconds, there is nothing but darkness as Maxine and Jessica are knocked unconscious and sent flying backwards in the opposite direction of each other. >>

<< Suddenly, everything is still. As the dust settles and the smoke clears, the group atop the stairs are able to see the two women clearly for the first time since the battle began...and both of them appear to be DEAD. >>

FLASH!

somewhere in between life and death....

<< There are many realms of existence and time in the multiverse. The Six has visited but a few of them and yet have seen more than many ever will. In a place outside of time and space, Jessica Marcus and Maxine DuPont have been thrown into each other's consciousness. Right before Maxine was to be warped into oblivion, she began to relive her life. Her earliest memories of pain and betrayal, and in contrast Jessica was dealing with the fact that she ma have inadvertanly failed her father and fell short of becoming the "Queen" that she wanted to be. Feeling as if they are falling off of a cliff at incredible speed, they soon realize that they are falling through the mind space of one another, thanks to the emotional and psychic feedback that had been released by Daniel moments before the explosion. >>

<< Falling. Forever. Both aware of each other. Both inside of each other's consciousness. They fall together, gaining an insight to the path that has brought both of them to this moment in time. Images begin to become clear. >>

:: Jessica Marcus' vitals begin to surge, as her dreams and memories shift more to MEMORIES, memories of a woman FINALLY AWAKENING.::

FLASH!

<< Jessica began to reach out her hand as well. >>

Maxine: "We can change it....we can do better, Jessica."

Jessica: "...We HAVE to do better. We have to!"

<< The two rocketed into the void of darkness, their hair blowing WILDLY from the velocity and speed, both in such an elevated state above pain and insanity and betrayal. A state that allowed the two women to see each other for who they really were, to see how similar their stories COULD have been. An understanding and a bond had occured between them in this moment that might last in reality, but would leave inexplicably and always PSYCHICALLY linked, having experienced each other in a way that nobody ever had. >>

:: Jessica's emerald green eyes SNAP OPEN. She's FULLY CONSCIOUS now, and what she wants, more than ANYTHING, is to be FREE!::

:: Inside the stasis tube, and within the nutrient rich liquid, Jessica Marcus' emerald green eyes FIX on Domino. Maxine knows that Jessica SEES her, RECOGNIZES her, and seconds later, Jessica.....SCREAMS! ::

:: A MASSIVE, BALLISTIC VENOM BLAST is unleashed, as Jessica Marcus EXPLODES out of the stasis tube, sending glass shards flying out (most of them hitting bio hazards) and the nutrient rich liquid spilling out onto the floor::

FREE!

I. AM. FREE!

:: Jessica Marcus is VIPER.::

:: Standing to her full height, the dark prodigy looks upon Domino...::

Sister....that i never had...

Friend....

:: It takes her a few moments to fully recover and become fully lucid, but she recognizes Maxine.::

:: Her powers are now back online, and she is herself once more::

Maxine!? Where am I?!

:: The haunting resonance of her voice has returned as she speaks, and Domino could see she wanted some answers, FAST.::

a number of former Mystech bio-hazards began to fill the space – hunters, tyrants, hell hounds, seekers, etc. all at varying speeds

:: All these bio hazards, acting so...UNRULY...in the presence of their QUEEN!?::

SILENCE!

:: Viper COMMANDED, and at that moment, several of the SMALLER, less hearty bio hazards IMMEDIATELY exploded, while the larger ones, mainly the Tyrants, and the lickers, simply STOPPED, ceased all vocalization and activity, and stood still, the neptunes also stopped moving, they were all waiting for their MISSTRESS to command them. Viper's power and control over ALL MysTech biohazards superseded any previous programming, and gave the other Marauders a much needed reprieve!::

:: Viper immediately surveyed the room with her emerald green eyes, she spotted a beautiful brunette woman hovering in the air, attacking another woman on the ground. Viper didn't recognize the flying woman, but The woman on the ground....surrounded by four large columns...Viper RECOGNIZED her, but something was missing....she felt much like she did the moment she had awakened in Rebecca Everhart's chamber, only THIS TIME, Domino would make sure Viper's wrath was directed at the RIGHT person.::

Maxine...what is going on!?

 

[Talisman]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

:: The very second the sorceress below her met her in the air, as she tumbled forward from Domino's attack, her omni sight alerted her - this was a sorceress of The Szardos Clan - a witch of The Winding Way. More specifically, it was Amanda Sefton, who's energy she recognized permeating through the halls of Hellfire London during her and Helena's brief but murderous appearance there just days before. But it was not her first encounter with a Szardos - in fact, one of her first solo forays into this timeline was to "collect" a talisman - The Eye of Agamotto from them. In her native timeline, the talisman had belonged to her. It was the very thing she had used to escape the murderous wrath of Shadow Weaver - who had destroyed Kelly's world after the loss of her pregnancy because of the abuse of her husband Christopher. ::

:: She had to leave it behind, but when she arrived in this timeline, she sensed it's presence, and she retrieved it. Because Talisman was her namesake. Because the properties of the talisman were far better suited in the hands of someone in HER bloodline. Someone with HER kind of sight. And it had served her very well. It had allowed her to move in ways that nobody could track, to sense the moves and motives of her adversaries with a precision that was so great, not even her "daughter" The Keeper of Time could keep tabs on her. ::

:: Talisman knew Amanda would come calling for this, in fact, she had planned on it. ::

<< VOOM! >>

:: As Kelly fell forward rapidly, she felt the charge of Amanda's blast BARREL at her. Thankfully, Talisman was able to see in more than one place at once!, though it did not stop her from taking a small hit at the top of her right shoulder, and she seethed in pain for a moment. She gritted her teeth, working what restorative magicks she could around her, though she was no healer. ::

"She moves faster, but I can move SMARTER."

:: Every witch she had encountered in this timeline seemed to have a chip on their shoulder, seemed to need to prove they were BETTER than her. That her very existence was somehow THREATENING to the other witches. Sharing a consciousness with her counterpart Kelly King, she saw how they had treated HER, and she wasn't going to wait in line. So she was proactive. If the witches wanted her dead, she was going to get HER pound of flesh. Just because she wasn't a NUKE, didn't mean that wasn't a SCALPEL. ::

:: Talisman was an expert in body language and energy, and as a sorceress herself, her skill and ability was limited only by her mind - Amanda wanted revenge, Talisman wanted RESULTS. So she took to flight herself, SPEEDING with a quickness not before seen, as she didn't like to show every feat all at once. Her strength WAS those not knowing who she was or what she was capable of as Amanda soared above her. ::

<< ZARK! >>

:: Kelly began her pursuit though it was short lived. As Amanda made her first weave around the the front, Talisman erected her MYSTIC shield, manifesting above her left forearm, hovering in front of her like it was a shield used in battle. It was the alchemical symbol for fire, a nod to both her alchemical abilities as well as her counterpart, Witchfire, a woman who's death she refused to accept as part of HER legacy, but had an intimate understanding of who she might have become under different circumstances. She deserved some reverance for the part that she played. ::

<< CLINK! BOOM! POW! >>

:: There was a chaotic feedback of energy and sound as Amanda's energies hit Talisman's mystic shield in succession, as she was blasted backwards everytime their energies met. Talisman gritted her teeth. Her energy was STRONG, and The Black Queen deduced that she must have been standing at the TOP of The Winding Way. And she wasn't playing to play. She was shooting to kill. Talisman got an idea. ::

"Globul haosului!"

"Time for a quick draw."

:: Talisman pulled her Omni Pistol out from behind her cloak with great speed, as if she were about to enter a duel. Her pistol was the quickest way she could ignite spells without speaking, solely by placing her intention and knowledge in the chamber, inside the bullets. ::

<< Thrusting her gloved hands forward, a glowing blue orb spins into view, and charges MADLY for Talisman, locking onto her BIO SCAN and her MAGICKAL SIGNATURE, and chasing her with unrelenting pursuit, like a heat seeking missile. The orb grew in size, slightly, now the size of a beach ball, as it zoomed after the techno sorceress. No matter where Talisman moved, no matter what direction she chose, even if she blinked, and returned, the orb would be waiting for her, like a swarm of killer bees waiting for someone who dove under water to try and hide, and the moment she returned, the orb would immediately resume chasing her. Once it finally CAUGHT her? She'd find herself in the REAL trap>>

<< BANG. >>

:: Talisman's eyes widened for a moment, with a bit of suprise and almost admiration at the ferocity of Amanda's spell. Her bullet BARELY made contact before Talisman could ignite her dispersal spell, that hit the beautiful orb and dispersed it's energy, creating several smaller orbs. On still on her ass with a great amount of intensity yes? But this would give her some agency to move. ::

"I've got to give credit where it's due, this one is formidable."

<< BANG. >>

:: She flew backwards, drawing as much ambient energy she could from the technology around her, as her second bullet ignited an astral projection spell, as she SPLIT herself into several astral forms, giving each of them a bit of her mystical signature. These orbs were tracking her body, though by sheer energetic reaction, they would be "tempted" to go after the astral forms as well. ::

"Now to see how this unfolds...."

<< VROM! ZARK! FHHEWWW! >>

:: She felt the pain of the other orbs hitting three of her four astral forms, causing her remaining astral form to be VERY small, miniature even. And THEN, the orbs made contact with her PHYSICAL body. ::

<< AND ....in a particularly vicious, and (willfully) PETTY move on Amanda's part, meant to PUNISH Talisman for her transgression against the Szardos clan, Amanda thrusts her halo encircled, gloved hand forward, and speaks in her native tongue, invoking her romani heritage, and her POWER at the top most point of the Winding Way, just as her mother had taught her>>

Când ochii noștri se uită în sus pentru a se întâlni,
veți găsi mișcarea o ispravă infernală!

<< Talisman finds her body- her entire musculoskeletal system painfully LOCKED UP, and she cannot move. The SLIGHTEST attempt of her body to carry out her brain's commands causes nerve wracking pain, as she is held up in the COLUMNAR VOID, and now paralyzed, like prey in a spider's web.>>

<< Amanda knew Domino and Longshot were THIS CLOSE to FREEING Jessica Marcus, and so, to keep her busy, Amanda engaged in a multi-level strategy. >>

<< If only her mother, Margali Szardos, could see her now. All the training, all the stories, lessons, drills, and ADMONISHING...it was all PAYING OFF! It all felt so NATURAL, so RIGHT to Amanda, who was at the TOP most point of the Winding Way. Let others underestimate and dismiss her, at THEIR peril!>>

"In the name of Margali Szardos, traveler of the WINDING WAY, and WITCH QUEEN of the Szardos Clan, GIVE BACK THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO, you THEIVING INTERLOPER!"

"My POWER...draining.....must move QUICKLY..."

:: She wouldn't let herself be iced out like this, but this was something she could work with. If she were "destroyed" - she could buy the time she would need to REBUILD herself. Haleigh Davidoff was not the only one with a few clones at the ready. Especially not after she had seen how USEFUL they had become. In fact, it was why she allowed Diana to train her in the more practical applications of telepathy and psionic feats. It was standard Hellfire Training - especially for The Inner Circle. Perhaps she shouldn't have left Diana to die - but that was something to muse about another day. ::

:: And then she saw her way out...sort of. Next to her line of sight, in her tiny astral form, she spotted what appeared to be a HULKING rat, which highlighted just how little "juice" Talisman had left in the tank. ::

"Well, fuck."

:: She threw herself into the mind of the rat, withdrawing what little astral senses she had left, shutting down her own power as Amanda's attack threaten to BRUTALIZE her physical body. ::

:: Thankfully, the mind of a rat and how to get them to do what you want are hallmarks of the life of a scientist, as she allowed herself to only use the rat's normal functions. She would not be able to be detected as anywhere OUTSIDE of her body, a body she was putting at GREAT risk. But Kelly was a high risk, high reward kind of woman. This would also give her time to watch and recharge, should she decide to change tactics. But she was without a true net in this moment. She liked it that way - any chance she could take to learn more, she took. ::

Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past.

"Showtime."

:: All these bio hazards, acting so...UNRULY...in the presence of their QUEEN!?::

SILENCE!

:: Viper COMMANDED, and at that moment, several of the SMALLER, less hearty bio hazards IMMEDIATELY exploded, while the larger ones, mainly the Tyrants, and the lickers, simply STOPPED, ceased all vocalization and activity, and stood still, the neptunes also stopped moving, they were all waiting for their MISSTRESS to command them. Viper's power and control over ALL MysTech biohazards superseded any previous programming, and gave the other Marauders a much needed reprieve!::

:: Viper immediately surveyed the room with her emerald green eyes, she spotted a beautiful brunette woman hovering in the air, attacking another woman on the ground. Viper didn't recognize the flying woman, but The woman on the ground....surrounded by four large columns...Viper RECOGNIZED her, but something was missing....she felt much like she did the moment she had awakened in Rebecca Everhart's chamber, only THIS TIME, Domino would make sure Viper's wrath was directed at the RIGHT person.::

Maxine...what is going on!?

:: Yes. What WAS going on, Maxine? ::

 

[Domino]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

Jessica exploded from the holding chamber in the beautiful glory she was known for as shard of glass shot out, dispatching several bio hazards in their way, with a few bouncing off of Maxine, who was thankful for the degree of vulnerability she had.

Viper: "I. AM. FREE!"

Maxine knew better than to speak. Despite her genius level intellect, Jessica was a wild animal when she didn't feel safe or when she felt lied to. Or looked at funny. Or questioned in the slightest. It was part of the bond the two women shared. Domino watched with a small bit of joy as Jessica was alive and breathing in front of her, surveying the scene and analyzing it quickly before her electric green eyes met her icy blue.

Viper: "Maxine!? Where am !?!"

"We are in South Africa. Things at Hellfire have taken a turn for the worst. The Inner Circle has been destroyed. Malice has been defeated...for now. The Queens have scattered to the winds. Talisman is the first to make an appearance..."

She gestured over to Talisman, who was locked tightly in Amanda's spell, though it still seemed like she had some kind of gleam of life in her eyes.

"She brought YOU here, as well as these other bio-hazards, and RATHER than set you free, she has been using YOU to taunt me, to use our connection to her own ends...."

She could IMMEDIATELY feel Viper ready to STRIKE but she gripped the woman's forearm with all of her might, the two sharing a similar strength level.

"We need answers first, and the sorcerer above you? The woman who made it possible for me to GET to you, requires something from The Black Queen that means she must live for a few moments more. One good turn deserves another, Jessica. I promise...as soon as she gets what she came for, you can DESTROY her...."

Domino turned to Amanda.

"Drop your spell, Sefton. Get what you came for and get it quickly, because I cannot guarantee Viper will WAIT for very long."

 

[Magik]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

<< A song of sorts was building up in Amanda Sefton as she kept Talisman busy and away from Domino and Longshot, giving them the time they needed to free Jessica Marcus.>>

<< That song was composed of WRATH and RAPTURE. The more Amanda used her power, the more she felt centered, and rising to a kind of "climax". All that her mother told and taught her about the Winding Way was TRUE!>>

<< That "song" building up within her ALSO had notes of REVENGE. She wanted the Eye Of Agamotto, the talisman ( one of only THREE on the planet) that belonged to the Szardos family , AND she wanted to pay Talisman BACK for what she did to Bretta, a dark faerie that had once been taken in & cared for by Margali Szardos.>>

:: Talisman pulled her Omni Pistol out from behind her cloak with great speed, as if she were about to enter a duel. Her pistol was the quickest way she could ignite spells without speaking, solely by placing her intention and knowledge in the chamber, inside the bullets. ::

<< Talisman was as resourceful as Margali Szardos said she would be, and more. Even Amanda was IMPRESSED by the omni pistol and it use in this fight! Amanda never seen such a "marriage" of magick and technology for personal use before. Perhaps Amanda should take THAT away from Talisman, just as Talisman had manage to take the Eye of Agamotto away from the Szardos clan? But no....Amanda was not one for guns or fire arms. She'd never had any need of them, and even a weapon as curious and powerful as this would not be as effective in HER hands as it was in the hands of its creator.>>

<< Talisman deftly evaded Amanda's destructive concussive mystic blasts, and defend herself quite well, but Amanda knew it would be HARD to pin her down, due to her omni-sight, still...Amanda's plan to keep her BUSY had worked!>>

<< But NOW, as clever and hard to catch as the Interloper was, Amanda finally managed to capture her in the columnar spell, and hold her in a temporal/spatial warp, and then she paralyzed her physical body.>>

<< She knew Talisman was an upper echelon magick user, who prided herself on being a TECHNO SORCERESS, and no doubt she'd manage to find a way to FREE herself soon...but the time Domino and Longshot needed was GRANTED them by Amanda's efforts, even if she was shifting more toward wanton VIOLENCE at this point.>>

<< Unbeknownst to Amanda, Talisman cast a spell, similar to her own mind transmigration spells, allowing her to place her consciousness into another life form nearby. It was a clever move, BUT it opened the door for Amanda to do one last thing.>>

"We need answers first, and the sorcerer above you? The woman who made it possible for me to GET to you, requires something from The Black Queen that means she must live for a few moments more. One good turn deserves another, Jessica. I promise...as soon as she gets what she came for, you can DESTROY her...."

Domino turned to Amanda.

"Drop your spell, Sefton. Get what you came for and get it quickly, because I cannot guarantee Viper will WAIT for very long."

<< Jessica Marcus was FREE, and apparently holding the larger bio hazards in check. The woman was beautiful and her mana was quite strong, but Domino was holding her back. The leader of the Marauders admonished Amanda to finish up with Talisman.>>

<< swooping down and zooming toward the four large/tall columns that conducted the time/spatial warp around Talisman's body, Amanda landed in her high heeled boots and reached Talisman in TWO broad steps.>>

The EYE OF AGAMOTTO BELONGS TO THE SZARDOS CLAN, and I shall have it BACK now!

<< she declares with force, as she reaches out with her gloved hand, and grabs hold of the ancient, POWERFUL talisman , SNATCHING it off of Talisman's neck, and TERMINATING the techno sorceress' link to it's energies and power.>>

Don't EVER think of crossing us AGAIN, you thieving INTERLOPER!

<< Amanda commanded with bitterness...>>

And THIS is for BRETTA!

<< Pulling back her gloved hand, Amanda SLAMS her fist, which was surrounded by a glowing blue halo of magick, across Talisman's jaw.>>

<< Amanda Sefton had done it! She'd taken back possession of the Eye of Agamotto, AND she had made true on her promise to avenge Bretta, but NOW....BETO quickly dove through the columns and grabbed hold of Amanda, wrapping his arms around her waist, as he quickly pulled her out of the way, despite her protests.>>

<< He KNEW how far she'd go, if she got caught up in the moment, and there simply wasn't time for that. Not with Viper seething with anger already, and Domino barely able to contain her.>>


<< Once Amanda and Beto were clear, it was left up to Domino, and Viper.>>

 

[Discord]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

Despite his ability, The Red King was finding himself drained in this fire fight, but he was doing his best to plug along, but things were not as they seemed here. Scans confirmed to him that there were no children in the facility - the types of emotions and the way children expressed their emotions were very distinct and strong. Even under spell or compulsion, they would be there. He should have been able to detect them. Couple that with the fact that while Daniel knew how to engage in physical combat, he was simply not cut out for this type of work.

So he weaved his power around the area with specific intention. Most of these bio-hazards simply did NOT have emotions as they were almost reptillian in that regard. But some of the more evolved ones did, but they were simple emotions and that emotion was often anger. Using his illusory abilities to blend himself into the scenery of battle, he looked towards Jun for support.

[via Amanda's spell] "I'm replenishing the team with a surge of the emotions and feelings needed for battle, but Jun you can come in clutch here. Keep FIGHTING, but if there's anything that's going to be receptive to your kind of power, it's THESE things."

Jun: "What do you think i'm doing, Reed? Flicking my meat bean? I know how to manipulate humans, these guys are something else altogether."

He watched as Jun, in her own reptillian like form, fought the bio hazards with a ferocity he wasn't sure she was capable of. For a moment he thought her like him, someone who liked to work behind the scenes, but Jun was proving she had no fear, and that she also knew how to throw a mean right hook.

Amanda: "The Interloper is CHECKED, in the most painful way possible. She CANNOT escape the COLUMNAR TRAP that I've magicked up around her. And she is surrounded by the rest of the team. We're ready to PILE ON! This should give you the time you need!"

Both Jun and Daniel had been too distracted to pay attention to what was happening once chaos broke out in the viewing room, but both of them managed to sneak an eye at was was unfolding between the two women. Daniel was intrigued to see how Talisman fought, as were most people. She witheld a great deal of herself as a combatant, and despite his attempts, Talisman kept her emotions guarded in a way that he had never seen, nor could he attempt to make a connection to. And as he squinted, he used his power as an omega empath to try and perceive any emotional chords she had, of which he found four, though he was unable to perceive who exactly they were and how strong the bonds were.

A breathtaking battle ensued before them from above - Amanda was on the offense for sure, but Kelly was managing to play a very strong defense. They moved quickly and chaotically in the air, energies exploding and combining all around them that it was hard to tell exactly what was going on up there. And then the ground began to shake.

Când ochii noștri se uită în sus pentru a se întâlni,
veți găsi mișcarea o ispravă infernală!

<< Talisman finds her body- her entire musculoskeletal system painfully LOCKED UP, and she cannot move. The SLIGHTEST attempt of her body to carry out her brain's commands causes nerve wracking pain, as she is held up in the COLUMNAR VOID, and now paralyzed, like prey in a spider's web.>>

<< Amanda knew Domino and Longshot were THIS CLOSE to FREEING Jessica Marcus, and so, to keep her busy, Amanda engaged in a multi-level strategy. >>

<< If only her mother, Margali Szardos, could see her now. All the training, all the stories, lessons, drills, and ADMONISHING...it was all PAYING OFF! It all felt so NATURAL, so RIGHT to Amanda, who was at the TOP most point of the Winding Way. Let others underestimate and dismiss her, at THEIR peril!>>

Jun: "Jesus Christ! What's she doing?!"

"She's....playing for keeps."

<< to the group via psi connection>>: The Interloper is CHECKED, in the most painful way possible. She CANNOT escape the COLUMNAR TRAP that I've magicked up around her. And she is surrounded by the rest of the team. We're ready to PILE ON! This should give you the time you need!

<< Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past. >>

:: Viper immediately surveyed the room with her emerald green eyes, she spotted a beautiful brunette woman hovering in the air, attacking another woman on the ground. Viper didn't recognize the flying woman, but The woman on the ground....surrounded by four large columns...Viper RECOGNIZED her, but something was missing....she felt much like she did the moment she had awakened in Rebecca Everhart's chamber, only THIS TIME, Domino would make sure Viper's wrath was directed at the RIGHT person.::

Maxine...what is going on!?

The last time he had seen Jessica Marcus had been in Hellfire London. He had heard rumblings that she was alive and well and in the NYC mansion, but he had never seen her himself. The last time she was awakened, he nearly died. He was not looking forward to another possible confrontation.

"She brought YOU here, as well as these other bio-hazards, and RATHER than set you free, she has been using YOU to taunt me, to use our connection to her own ends...."

She could IMMEDIATELY feel Viper ready to STRIKE but she gripped the woman's forearm with all of her might, the two sharing a similar strength level.

"We need answers first, and the sorcerer above you? The woman who made it possible for me to GET to you, requires something from The Black Queen that means she must live for a few moments more. One good turn deserves another, Jessica. I promise...as soon as she gets what she came for, you can DESTROY her...."

Domino turned to Amanda.

"Drop your spell, Sefton. Get what you came for and get it quickly, because I cannot guarantee Viper will WAIT for very long."

He cocked a curious as at Amanda as did Jun, who had been able to more clearly watch things as Jessica had seized hold of many of the biohazards left in the area.

Jun: "Ten bucks says Amanda just BLASTS her ass."

"Jun, please this is serious."

It was very really a 50/50 chance that Jessica would immediately seize hold of Talisman and rip her to shreds. But Amanda wasted no time. He hadn't expected her to, either.

The EYE OF AGAMOTTO BELONGS TO THE SZARDOS CLAN, and I shall have it BACK now!

<< she declares with force, as she reaches out with her gloved hand, and grabs hold of the ancient, POWERFUL talisman , SNATCHING it off of Talisman's neck, and TERMINATING the techno sorceress' link to it's energies and power.>>

Don't EVER think of crossing us AGAIN, you thieving INTERLOPER!

<< Amanda commanded with bitterness...>>

And THIS is for BRETTA!

<< Pulling back her gloved hand, Amanda SLAMS her fist, which was surrounded by a glowing blue halo of magick, across Talisman's jaw.>>

<< Amanda Sefton had done it! She'd taken back possession of the Eye of Agamotto, AND she had made true on her promise to avenge Bretta, but NOW....BETO quickly dove through the columns and grabbed hold of Amanda, wrapping his arms around her waist, as he quickly pulled her out of the way, despite her protests.>>

Things seemed to be in a good enough place that he didn't feel guilty for taking a detailed look at Beto as he zoomed across the field to bridge the gap between himself and Amanda. He was a sexy man. But no time for that.

"Don't waste anymore time! Let Viper ROAST this vile HAG!"

 

[Brenthon]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

<< It was a brilliant confrontation between Talisman and Jimaine Szardos. And it was intriguing to watch. Beto was the Gypsy King. He was born with vast ability, but he was TAUGHT magick. First at the hands of his mentor, and surrogate mother Almora, and then by Darkchilde. Not to mention the depths of dark magick he reached during his tenure in Limbo, though much of all of this was hidden from him. It was just a "feeling." Both these women had SKILL, in different ways. But Brenthon could not help but to find a bit of respect for Kelly Shaw. >>

<< She had arrived in this timeline with nothing, and she had created so much room for herself. He had not done the same. He kept his head down. He killed for money while he spent his time trying to numb his nightmares. Despite her duplicity, she was a smart woman, and that made the Evil Incarnate look for deeper meaning as he watched the two women fight in the air. >>

"She might have my respect, but I only bet money on GYPSIES."

<< Talisman apparently had something that belonged to Amanda's family, and it was clear she was not about to leave without it. She had told him what it was, and ever since then, he could not stop looking at it. >>

"The Eye of Agamotto...."

<< It was a beautiful sight. In his time, this had belonged to Darkchilde. She had used it to guide them through the fiercest of battles. During his time as White Rook, BOTH of them had utlized this tool to plan ahead. There were few things that Darkchilde and Brenthon had not shared with each other. Again, he didn't have access to these memories, just feelings, impressions. fragments. But seeing the Eye stirred feelings he had forgotten he had. >>

<< AND ....in a particularly vicious, and (willfully) PETTY move on Amanda's part, meant to PUNISH Talisman for her transgression against the Szardos clan, Amanda thrusts her halo encircled, gloved hand forward, and speaks in her native tongue, invoking her romani heritage, and her POWER at the top most point of the Winding Way, just as her mother had taught her>>

Când ochii noștri se uită în sus pentru a se întâlni,
veți găsi mișcarea o ispravă infernală!

<< Talisman finds her body- her entire musculoskeletal system painfully LOCKED UP, and she cannot move. The SLIGHTEST attempt of her body to carry out her brain's commands causes nerve wracking pain, as she is held up in the COLUMNAR VOID, and now paralyzed, like prey in a spider's web.>>

<< Amanda knew Domino and Longshot were THIS CLOSE to FREEING Jessica Marcus, and so, to keep her busy, Amanda engaged in a multi-level strategy. >>

<< If only her mother, Margali Szardos, could see her now. All the training, all the stories, lessons, drills, and ADMONISHING...it was all PAYING OFF! It all felt so NATURAL, so RIGHT to Amanda, who was at the TOP most point of the Winding Way. Let others underestimate and dismiss her, at THEIR peril!>>

<< It was violent and beautiful. He was an avatar of Wrath, and he was all but feeding off of Amanda in this moment. It was a feeling few understood - righteous vengeance. But Brenthon was a master of it. And Amanda appeared to be a promising pupil of the theory. >>

<< to the group via psi connection>>: The Interloper is CHECKED, in the most painful way possible. She CANNOT escape the COLUMNAR TRAP that I've magicked up around her. And she is surrounded by the rest of the team. We're ready to PILE ON! This should give you the time you need!

[/quote=Seer]
Holographic screens manifested in front of the tube as it began to track Jessica's vitals, walking the viewer through the process that was slowly but surely waking her up. It couldn't happen fast enough, because when it did? Jessica would lay WASTE to this place. Maxine just hoped she could her down like she had in the past.[/quote]

<< Viper exploded from her stasis tube in violent glory, and Beto was immediately drawn into her. The level of vengeance, the amount of wrath she had saved up for the world around her was intoxicating. She was worthy of his time, and to be honest, he couldn't wait to see what she might say about things. >>

Viper: "Maxine? Where am I!? Maxine....what is going on?"

<< She all at once took hold of the biohazards in the room, with a level of control that was impressive. The Gypsy King truly did not know what to make of her. Part of him wanted to recruit her. And part of him wanted to destroy her. A woman this powerful was sure to be trouble. Most interesting women were. >>

"She brought YOU here, as well as these other bio-hazards, and RATHER than set you free, she has been using YOU to taunt me, to use our connection to her own ends...."

She could IMMEDIATELY feel Viper ready to STRIKE but she gripped the woman's forearm with all of her might, the two sharing a similar strength level.

"We need answers first, and the sorcerer above you? The woman who made it possible for me to GET to you, requires something from The Black Queen that means she must live for a few moments more. One good turn deserves another, Jessica. I promise...as soon as she gets what she came for, you can DESTROY her...."

Domino turned to Amanda.

"Drop your spell, Sefton. Get what you came for and get it quickly, because I cannot guarantee Viper will WAIT for very long."

<< He was entranced. This was so dramatic, and yet he found himself yearning for answers. What could Talisman possibly have to say and would it be worth it? And would Amanda yield control? >>

The EYE OF AGAMOTTO BELONGS TO THE SZARDOS CLAN, and I shall have it BACK now!

<< she declares with force, as she reaches out with her gloved hand, and grabs hold of the ancient, POWERFUL talisman , SNATCHING it off of Talisman's neck, and TERMINATING the techno sorceress' link to it's energies and power.>>

Don't EVER think of crossing us AGAIN, you thieving INTERLOPER!

<< Amanda commanded with bitterness...>>

And THIS is for BRETTA!

<< Pulling back her gloved hand, Amanda SLAMS her fist, which was surrounded by a glowing blue halo of magick, across Talisman's jaw.>>

"Pull BACK, Jimaine! What are you trying to prove?"

<< It felt like a lot of rage for not so big of a sleight, which made Talisman all that more intriguing to him. This woman, stoked such an adverse response in those around her. Then again, Beto had experienced that same kind of discrimination in his own life, to his own people. >>

"Stop it, Szardos! You're gonna KILL each other!"

<< Not that she didn't have far more in the reserves, Beto wanted to protect Amanda. While she may have been at the top of The WInding Way, she needed to strive for balance. For maintenance. Not petty revenge. It was a waste of her current power, and he was going to tell her as much. >>

"This is a waste of your talents. Take your artifact, and send her to the winds...."

<< And then his gaze met The Eye of Agamotto. His magick interfaced with it almost immediately. Brenthon wielded The Evil Eye, a talisman that gave him insight, allowed him to deduce intention, and to curse and bless accordingly. He was pulled in by the talisman's power as all in the room began to experience a series of memories, flashes and impressions. >>

<< The crackling violent purple skies of Limbo. A place both familiar and stranger. There is a time in which Amanda Sefton will be called to take the mantle of her legacy. She can see it. Her mother showed her as much. Brenthon had showed her. >>

<< We see Amanda Sefton, decorated in sparkling white, techno organic armor and decoration. She wears a helmet of thorns and wield a sword like her predecessor. >>

<< She is MAGIK. >>

<< We see flashes of Brenthon in Limbo. Fighting demons, wielding magick, surviving. Always vigilant. We see him with manifestations of Darkchilde. A chessboard, with the white pieces holding verbal congress. How many times has he met Amanda? More than both of them know. >>

Discord: "Don't waste anymore time! Let Viper ROAST this vile HAG!"

<< Brenthon was intrigued. Would anyone interfere? Would anyone stand up? He did not know. But he was happy to watch. >>

 

[Magik]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

<< Amanda Sefton inherited her mother's talent, and potential for POWER, she ALSO inherited her mother's petty and vengeful tendencies, though she did a MUCH better job of controlling THOSE impulses, MOST of the time. Ultimately, she inherited the LEGENDARY grudge holding skill that originated from her foremother, HECATE.>>

<< In this moment, already angered and REPULSED by Talisman, even now that she had reclaimed the Eye Agamotto, and avenged her fallen friend, Bretta, Amanda wanted to ADD to Talisman's humiliation, and PUNISH her. She raised her gloved fist, summoning another glowing blue halo of magick about it, and was about to deliver a truly thunderous punch, THIS one would break Talisman's jaw.>>

I'll SHOW YOU what happens when the BULLY becomes the VICTIM, you treacherous CHARLATAN!

"Pull BACK, Jimaine! What are you trying to prove?"

<< It felt like a lot of rage for not so big of a sleight, which made Talisman all that more intriguing to him. This woman, stoked such an adverse response in those around her. Then again, Beto had experienced that same kind of discrimination in his own life, to his own people. >>

<< NOW....BETO quickly dove through the columns and grabbed hold of Amanda, wrapping his arms around her waist, as he quickly pulled her out of the way, despite her protests.>>

<< He KNEW how far she'd go, if she got caught up in the moment, and there simply wasn't time for that. Not with Viper seething with anger already, and Domino barely able to contain her.>>

UNHAND ME, BETO! SHE MUST BE PUNISHED!

<< Amanda BELLOWED as she immediately resisted and struggled against Beto's hold as he carried her away from Talisman.>>

"Stop it, Szardos! You're gonna KILL each other!"

<< Not that she didn't have far more in the reserves, Beto wanted to protect Amanda. While she may have been at the top of The WInding Way, she needed to strive for balance. For maintenance. Not petty revenge. It was a waste of her current power, and he was going to tell her as much. >>

"This is a waste of your talents. Take your artifact, and send her to the winds...."

<< She resisted less fervently, allowed Beto to move her away from Talisman, as VIPER was cleary ready to take aim at the techno sorceress.>>

<< Beto was right. Amanda was OF her mother, but NOT her mother. Margali would have already turned Talisman into something twisted and obscene, DELIGHTING in her twisted machinations. Amanda had ACHIEVED her goals. There was no more need to be in that woman's presence.>>

<< But even as Beto held on to Amanda, he managed to somehow "synch" with the Eye of Agamotto, and he was pulled into a vision, the SAME vision that Margali Szardos had shown Amanda some time ago. He sees Amanda Sefton, but in LIMBO, just as she had dreamed, without knowing what/WHERE this "Otherplace" was. He sees Amanda Sefton, as MAGIK .>>

<< All the dreams that Amanda had....the feeling that she somehow KNEW this woman, this DARKCHILDE, that Brenthon was so connected to, Amanda Sefton's mother had been RIGHT about her destiny all along....>>

FLASH!

<< Hellfire Club- AMERICAN BRANCH- The Catacombs>>

<< Several months EARLIER. Malice, the WHITE QUEEN, and Lord Ravena, the WHITE KING, can be seen interacting in front of a sophisticated computer control panel, and on a floating screen in the background was an image of AMANDA SEFTON, the daughter of former Red Queen of the London Branch, Margali Szardos, and she was a RISING STAR in the Hellfire London Branch, after having SAVED the entire London estate from an infestation of violent demonic insect-like creatures. After the violent, bloody revolution in the London Branch lead by Domino, It was widely suspected that Amanda Sefton would become the new Red Queen, and this had generated buzz even among the elite in the Hellfire American Branch>>

Ravena, in a few days, we'll be able to take that excursion overseas. The other two queens, myself, and you, will pay a visit to your old stomping grounds, the European branch, to check out the new Red Queen, Amanda Sefton.

:: Since there was no one there but the two of them, Malice leaned forward::

You're SURE SHE'S not another one of YOUR relatives?

:: smirking at him as she teased, and took a drink of champagne::

Lord Ravena laughed heartily.

She walks the Winding Way. That makes her a child of mine in spirit if not in flesh. And that has still yet to be determined. What is the legend from America the small children read of? Johnny Appleseed. Consider me the Johnny Appleseed of magic and the undead.

<< No one else had been present to hear this EXPLOSIVE revelation from Lord Ravena except Malice. the SON of Hecate, confirmed that Amanda Sefton was a descendant of his, making Amanda, AND her mother descendants of HECATE. This, combined with Margali's visions, Amanda's personal dreams, and now Brenthon's contact with the Eye of Agamotto? ALL signs pointed to Amanda Sefton being the missing "THIRD" of the Dark Trinity! >>


<< Once again, Amanda AND Brenthon were given pause, as they shared this moment between them and no one else present could discern what they "saw" or "FELT" between them. But Amanda noticeably ceased her struggle against Brenthon, and relaxed as he settled her away from Talisman.>>

"Don't waste anymore time! Let Viper ROAST this vile HAG!"

<< Discord was was right as well. Amanda had what she came for. Her part in all of this was done. Now, it was time for Viper!>>

 

[Viper]

South Africa - Tartarus Facility

"We are in South Africa. Things at Hellfire have taken a turn for the worst. The Inner Circle has been destroyed. Malice has been defeated...for now. The Queens have scattered to the winds. Talisman is the first to make an appearance..."

:: Jessica's emerald green eyes stared at Domino in disbelief::

She gestured over to Talisman, who was locked tightly in Amanda's spell, though it still seemed like she had some kind of gleam of life in her eyes.

"She brought YOU here, as well as these other bio-hazards, and RATHER than set you free, she has been using YOU to taunt me, to use our connection to her own ends...."

:: It all made sense now! She'd been placed in stasis by someone AGAINST HER WILL!? Oh this GREATLY angered her!::

:: She turned her GLARE toward Talisman, as her fists clenched and she began to TREMBLE with rage. More gaps in her memory filled in too. ::

:: She REMEMBERED that she HATED Talisman, and Talisman didn't like HER either!::

<< In this moment, already angered and REPULSED by Talisman, even now that she had reclaimed the Eye Agamotto, and avenged her fallen friend, Bretta, Amanda wanted to ADD to Talisman's humiliation, and PUNISH her. She raised her gloved fist, summoning another glowing blue halo of magick about it, and was about to deliver a truly thunderous punch, THIS one would break Talisman's jaw.>>

I'll SHOW YOU what happens when the BULLY becomes the VICTIM, you treacherous CHARLATAN!

<< a dolly zoom effect view of Jessica Marcus as she remembers....>>

ALICE!

:: Talisman had been responsible for Alice's death! ALICE was the ONLY other person in Arklay Mansion that Jessica had EVER truly liked, beside her father! The woman was a scientist, she was dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, and she was powerful. She ENCOURAGED Jessica's rapid progress as the Lead Researcher in the Underground Facility at the original Arklay Mansion::

:: Alice was ALSO highly favored by Auntie Diana!::


:: Domino and Alice didn't get along, but Jessica had made it clear, more than once, that SHE liked Alice, and one of the last things she remembered, before being put in stasis AGAINST HER WILL this last time, was the BEGINNINGS of the fall of the Hellfire Club American Branch, and Alice's untimely DEATH.::

:: THIS, along with finding out that Talisman was responsible for her being put in stasis, and once again someone ELSE acting like THEY were THE FACE of MysTech!?::


OH HELL NO!

::Viper BELLOWED with such force and ANGER as the emerald green energy of her power signature began to SPARK and FLARE around her clenched fists as she manifested her VINE WHIP!::

I'll RIP HER THROAT OUT!

:: She swung and CRACKED her vine whip with such fluent movement and force, as it now channeled the emerald green energy of her power signature. As she cracked the whip, it STRUCK a nearby stasis tube containing yet another one of Talisman's experiments, and upon contact, the force of the whip AND the power of her venom blast SHATTERS the tube and vaporizes the creature inside::

She could IMMEDIATELY feel Viper ready to STRIKE but she gripped the woman's forearm with all of her might, the two sharing a similar strength level.

"We need answers first, and the sorcerer above you? The woman who made it possible for me to GET to you, requires something from The Black Queen that means she must live for a few moments more. One good turn deserves another, Jessica. I promise...as soon as she gets what she came for, you can DESTROY her...."

Domino turned to Amanda.

"Drop your spell, Sefton. Get what you came for and get it quickly, because I cannot guarantee Viper will WAIT for very long."

:: Viper watched as the flying sorceress forcibly STRIPPED Talisman of the Eye of Agamotto, and then punched her in the face, for Bretta. Viper REMEMBERED her, the dark faerie at the Hellfire Mansion in London.::

It's MY TURN NOW!

:: She SHOUTED, like the angry, spoiled girl, who was ALWAYS the apple of her father, Dr. James Marcus' eye!::

:: A tall, handsome man, who Jessica had never seen before, carried Amanda away from Talisman's body::

DESTROY EVERYTHING!

:: Viper commanded, as the larger bio hazards turned toward various areas of the command center of the Tartarus Facility, and began to lay utter waste and destruction, using their physical strength, aggression and other powers, they EAGERLY obeyed Viper's COMMAND. the biohazards SMASHED computers, machines, files, all manner of devices; the destroyed stasis tubes, incubators, and other structures, as well as killing/crushing creations & creatures in the facility::

:: Viper freed hersrelf from Domino's grasp::

LET ME AT HER!

:: Viper ZOOMED right up to where Talisman's form had been held, as her vine whip SNAPPED and CRACKED once more, wrapping around Viper and ensnaring her. Viper was now right in front of her, and had taken hold her::

YOU! HOW I DETEST YOU! You were ALWAYS jealous of me because I was the TRUE QUEEN of Mystech. I was BETTER than you, in EVERY way, and NOW I'll PROVE IT, as I DESTROY YOU!

"Don't waste anymore time! Let Viper ROAST this vile HAG!"

I'll SNAP YOUR NECK FIVE TIMES BEFORE you can HOPE to lose consciousness!

:: Viper SHAKES Talisman VIOLENTLY, making the normally cool, and ELEGANT woman look like a helpless RAG DOLL in Viper's grasp::

:: BUT...there was something amiss, something WRONG. WHY wasnt Talisman even attempting to defend herself?? ::

:: Viper stopped savaging Talisman's body as she looked closely at the woman for a moment... all the while, the larger bio hazards CONTINUED to RAMPAGE around and THROUGH the Tartarus facility, the rest of Domino's team could HEAR the destruction, it was like a construction wrecking crew, with TEN TIMES the power!::

What is this!?

:: she eyed Talisman with suspicion::

She's BARELY conscious NOW!

:: Viper was unaware that Talisman had cast a spell, similar to Amanda's mental transmigration spells, projecting the majority of her consciousness into a nearby life form. In this case, one NO ONE would immediately suspect. a RAT hiding in the shadows nearby::

:: Incensed, Viper tosses Talisman's body to the floor, and KICKS her with more than a fraction of her super strength, to make SURE she cracked a couple of ribs::

Perhaps she's not as HEARTY as she played at being when she was at the Hellfire Mansion with auntie Diana.

:: Viper scoffs::

No matter....

I don't TOLERATE ANYONE trying to upstage ME!

:: remembering Talisman's little comments and quips toward her and Alice at the American Branch Hellfire Mansion::

auntie Diana told me ALL ABOUT HER!

:: Back then, Viper INSISTED that Kelly Shaw and Kelly King were one and the same, mainly to piss Shaw off. Jessica herself had been SLEEPING when Kelly King made her chaotic debut, and when she was killed by her children::

:: SHAW insisted that SHE was the REAL brains of MysTech's scientific operations, completely ignoring Alice's prominence, as well as Dr. James Marcus, And Jessica Marcus herself. THAT was INTOLERATBLE, and NOW, on top of everything else, Talisman had KIDNAPPED her, but not before she had killed Alice, the ONE OTHER person, beside Domino, that Jessica LIKED!?::



:: Viper would most ASSUREDLY RESTORE Alice. But right NOW? She was seeing RED, and Domino could count the SECONDS until she would UNLEASH her wrath::

I'll DESTROY EVERYTHING IN HERE!

:: She marched right over to the "Mother Brain" of the Tartarus Facility, and stood before the control panel. This mother brain was the SEAT of the energy that powered the entire facility and its various functions from top to BELOW ground, it was a testimony to Talisman's unique ability to bring synergy between magick and technology.::

::There was NO NEED to be orderly or methodical about this. Viper wanted CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION!::

:: Another swing, SNAP and CRACK of her vine whip heralds the thunderous release of another stream of her VENOM BLAST as she DESTROYS the control panel of the mother brain, now with the outer structure damaged and ruptured opened, Viper PLUNGES her hands INTO the opening::

:: Her raven black hair begins to flow upward as her emerald green energy power signature sparks and shimmers around her feminine form::

I AM THE QUEEN!

NO ONE UPSTAGES ME!

SAY GOODBYE, TALISMAN!

<< KRAKOW!>>

<< Viper unleashes a BALLISTIC, EXPANDING VENOM BLAST and CONTINUES to pour her POWER into the MOTHER BRAIN, setting off a SPECTCULAR, and TERRIFYING CASCADE EFFECT as STREAMS of her power signature can be seen flowing and JETTING through various parts of the massive structure and ALL THROUGH the walls, the floors, the CEILING, EVERYWERE!>>

<< It was as if Viper had set off some sort of BOMB EFFECT/LIGHTNING STORM as jagged bolts of her venom blast began shooting out in ALL directions, ZAPPING AND INCINERATING any flying drones and black jackets, army eyes or other objects....and the physical "HOUSE" of the mother brain began to CRACK and EXPLODE as the "BRAIN" itself began to vibrate and pulsate, GLOWING from Viper's power signature!>>

<< Domino and the Marauders watched, as Viper conducted a symphony of DESTRUCTION. They could HEAR Viper LAUGHING with wild, child like glee as she brought about the destruction of EVERYTHING inside of this facility, and now the very building itself was beginning to quake and crumble!>>

<< The bio hazards, that had STARTED this DEMOLITION party, ALL began to EXPLODE as Viper no longer had need of them, and she herself carried out the FINAL ACT of destruction>>

NEVER cross me AGAIN, TALISMAN!

NEVER put your FILTHY POSER HANDS on my SUPERIOR BODY AGAIN!

NEVER FORGET THAT I am James Marcus' DAUGHTER, the ULTIMATE manifestation of ALL his hopes and dreams, ALL BEYOND your ONE NOTE, PEDESTRIAN BRAIN!

We're OUT OF HERE!

<< The witch snatches up Domino and the rest of the team, teleporting them OUT of Tartarus, and SAFELY BEYOND the reach of the impending BLAST radius, but surrounding them in a pentagram of protection JUST to be sure!>>

<<and with that, Viper throws her head back and POURS one last BLAST into her already never ending STREAM of power, now OVERLOADING the Mother bain and causing it, and the BUILDING, from the top to it's SUB BASEMENT levels, ALL to EXPLODE!>>

<< The explosion was SPECTACULAR. Michael Bay would be PROUD>>

<< And as the Marauders watched the complete DESTRUCTION of Tartarus, moments seemed to drag on forever. But soon, Domino would spot a feminine form emerging from the wild flames that engulfed the facility and CRATER that was created by the explosion. Viper slowly emerged, with her vine whip in hand. As she neared the Marauders...>>

She'll NEVER mess with me AGAIN!

<< Her voice was now "normal", complete with its haunting resonance, as she stood before Domino and the others, Alive and whole>>>>