Shadows and Skulls

[Rampage]

As Haleigh held him, Nicolas coughed, his body tensing as he took it back over.

I am..fighting...but it's hard, baby...with all this yelling...Oh my God, don't look at me I'm hideous!

Nicolas had mentally retreated as the queens left, giving his body time to go into overdrive. It had begun to work feverishly to build an epithelium underneath his destroyed one as he worked on his spirit's anguish. He was pretty nearly healed with the aid of the potion when he heard Haleigh crying.

He rose quickly and turned his back to her which allowed him to hide his face until it could heal itself. It wasn't vanity per se, but losing ones facial features was jarring, and he did not want Haleigh to see him like this. Anyone, really. As he stood there, face in his hands, his body began to absorb his scabs and his features slowly returned more to normal...

 

[Arsenal]

As quickly as the WILDpack emerged, they all seemed to leave. And Mike was sad to think that he had little to do with it. These guys seemed to come from everywhere and they simply advanced until killed, when another one would seem to emerge from somewhere to replace him. He sent a message to Clandestine agents.

These motherfuckers are like ants! This is Rex. Regroup, get your dead and injured and resume perimeter surveillance. I will call back--Rex out.

Mike quickly discontinued a she heard Haleigh call him in their transmitter, her voice sounded anguished. He took the stairs up to the floor below the war Room and swung up, emerging int the hole that Nicolas made.

I got here as quick as I could. Where is Delilah and Sharon? And what is that sme---Nic?!!

He knew the smell.Burning flesh. And Nicolas REEKED of it. Mike walked over to the mutant who was standing up with his back to Haleigh and turned him around. His face was mostly healed back, but he had suffered TERRIBLE burns, just from the scabbing that he saw being absorbed.

Hey kid!! You are going to be FINE. Just take a moment here and lets regroup. Take your hands away...you are going to be just fine.

He turned to Haleigh and placed a hand on her shoulder.

You OK, Hales?

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh breathed a heavy sigh of relief as Nicolas began to respond.

"Well thank gawd.... you had me worried for a second there."

She says, trying to smile, though much still weighed on her mind.... He pulls away, trying to hide himself, but much too late, for Haleigh had seen him in full, and she hadn't recoiled in disgust or anything.... there was a soft wrinkle in her brow, as she gently admonished him.

"Nic...."

But she said nothing more.... Mike burst in, sweeping through the mess like a hurricane.... Haleigh just knelt there, surveying the chaos, wiping her tears as soon as Mike got in, wiping the blood from her nose afterward to disguise the movement. Mike asked her if she was okay, and she immediately scoffed.

"Compared to WHAT??"

Her ever so delicate way of saying she damn well wasn't alright.... she ached and her head was still a little dizzying as she climbed shakily to her feet, then leaned against a table for support..... but the physical damage was little compared to the psychological damage she was trying valiantly to shrug off. Her thoughts still hidden behind binary code, she revisited the anguish of losing everyone she held dear.... she secretly resented herself, and by extension, her friends.... for they'd coached her to be this way... they'd drawn her out, and now she had the sinking feeling that changing, softening, sanding down her edges had make her WEAK.... dependent.... she was hit with the realization of her own words moments ago... she COULDN'T do it without him.... she couldn't do it without any of them really.... but he'd been the last hope moments ago.... and now Haleigh understood the profound effect of her OWN growth.... where as before, she could push on, ALONE if necessary.... now, losing them[the Six] would be the single most devastating event.... and she was truly TERRIFIED that Malice KNEW that... and would take them all away.

For now she hid behind binary code, a wisp of a prayer that it would continue to be a 'firewall' against Malice... it had worked THIS time... it had been just about the ONLY THING that worked this time. Haleigh rubbed her eyes, sighing.

"I overestimated Sharon.... and because of it... we've lost her. Now we have to go get her... which really isn't THAT inconvenient, because THIS place obviously isn't going to withstand another faceoff... but I don't even know where to START with Delilah... [Delilah appears on the table Haleigh is leaning on, Haleigh checks her stats] She's... comatose."

 

[Arclight]

:: Alexis stood off to the side watching as the medical doctors and machines continued to work on the three queens. Surprisingly Alexis had suffered the least amount of damage...a simple regeneration tool positioned at her jaw for 15 minutes and she was good to go. But her main concern at the moment was having another battle with the six and being struck down by Haleigh's manipulation of the TO virus within her. It was definitely her greatest weakness at the moment, which meant taking out Haleigh was on the top of her to do list. ::

:: Malice began to speak telepathically to herself and Helena, explaining that going after Mike would be the best option to lure the six back to their home turf. With Delilah out of commission and Sharon back in stasis, it was now four against three, giving herself and the sisterhood the upper hand in capturing Mike. ::

[speaking telepathically to Malice] "I can get him...just need to continue to block my mind so Nicolas doesn't realize what i'm doing."

 

[Malice]

the Citadle

:: in her human form, Malice had to refrain from speaking for another hour before the healing effects finally took effect.::

:: she looked over at Blackout as she volunteered and smirked. This alternate Blackout was far more cunning and EFFECTIVE, even though she'd made the grave error of getting too close to Haleigh and getting herself infected with the T.O. virus.::

:: still, she and shadow weaver saved blackout from death at the hands of Guardian and that descision prooved to be more than advantageous.::

telepathically to Blackout: I can monitor and shield you from Nicolas completely. Retrieve Mike and stun him into unconsciousness and bring him here. place him in the biosystems lab with Sharon and strip him of ALL his weaponry. Get in and out....but if you just MUST...make SURE that you blast Haleigh but GOOD!

:: Malice gave her final approval and direction, sending Blackout on her way.::

 

[Seer]

and so

the citadle

<< the sisterhood were on the mend. they gave as good as they got and they were FAR from finished and with the remnants of the Six now down by TWO, Malice knew now was the time to strike and so, with her final approval, Blackout was about to make a fast an furious strike against them again, taking their weakest link, Mike aka Arsenal.>>


zooming across town, above ground to the strained and damaged Illustra.

<< through the many darkened floors and damaged halls and suites...the remnants of the mainstreams struggle to recover form a deadly battle with the sisterhood and blackout. it wasnt nearly as easily as they thought it would be and now, with Sharon captured and Delilah down, their situation was worse than it was before and they were not any closer to a possible "conclusion" and "exit" from this tlimeline.>>


<< as Haleigh responded to Mike who was doing h is best to encourage and keep them "UP"...things were about to get even worse.>>

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the citadle

<< Shadow Weaver had dealt what could...SHOULD have been a lethal blow to the mutant Rampage. But in the last instant...she held back. It didnt SEEM that way to the Sisterhood or Blackout but she knew in her mind that she had him perfectly. Still, her mind was not totally on his destruction, or even this battle. She was still secretly reeling from being in her daughter's building AND she couldnt bring herself to look at the woman whom she blamed for her death! Karen had access to all of mystech's files, as well as those of Westin Hils. She KNEW the Cassadine connection and that THEY financed the Master Mold Project. HALEIGH knew about it because she was FAMILY and yet, she did NOTHING to warn Morgan about it. Oh yes, Karen may not have focused in on Haleigh THIS TIME, but NEXT time would be far different.>>

<< still as they left Illustra, the fallen Rampage broadcast shocking images to her!>>

1) A picture of Morgan and himself taking her to dinner on Mother's Day

2) A picture of her being held warmly a by a handsome Black man, at least as tall as Nicolas (this was Mike, but Shadow Weaver had yet to see him)

3)A picture of her with the rest of the Six, as they sat together on the Isle of Aerie...

4)And lastly, a picture of a beautiful girl that was the spitting image of Morgan and the man she had just set on fire (Victoria King from the first timeline)...

As the queens of Mystech made their exit, Nicolas reached for Karen. She would see even as she exited that he reached not in anger, but pleadingly, as a son might for his mother...

<< WHO was this mutant! and how DARE he say SHE missed out...how could he have known these things...Malice said they were from another time...and time travel, alternate realities were nothing new to Karen given her daughter's connection to Limbo...but these images...that meant there was a time where she and her daughter still had a good relationship! the ghost of Christopher and so many other things didnt hang between them in these images...they were a family! and she saw herself with Rampage as well as a handsome black man who held her gently and lovingly! she found LOVE again in that other time...even these glimpses of "what might have been" struck her to her core...and she was rather silent back at the Citadle. Malice COULDNT communicate with her telepathically and so it was up to Blackout to relay the next phase of the plan.>>

<< karen, who suffered a concussion at the hands of Rampage, slowly nodded. she'd received the medical treatmenet she needed and her spells were speeding repair that the body itself could not do at this rate.>>

Haleigh will answer for what she's done...with her heart and her HEAD on a platter.

<< Enchantrah may have been right about Shadow Weaver NOT belonging here per se, but they both knew that Shadow Weaver could be just as deadly, as homicidal as anyone else in the room. she'd prooven it before and her vicious attack against Nicoals tonight was a reminder. It was definately NOT a good time to piss the doctor off. the sisterhood worked WELL in battle together, but unfortunately what they LACKED was the TRUE SENSE of a "sisterhood". each one had their own individual motives , each one looked out for themselves most of all...and so far they'd worked together well enough to achieve mutual goals...but could it last for long? Karen didnt see herself being with them forever, even IF she wasnt "good", she could do BAD all by herself.>>

<< and as Blackout prepared to leave, Karen retired to her chambers once again, in the cool, quiet chambers...where she lay on her side....trying without much success to dismiss and banish the images that she saw at the end.>>

How DARE he! ....

<< but in her heart...she knew there was something MORE. was it NOT too late to somehow CHANGE and do RIGHT by her daughter's memory??.....she shut her eyes tightly as she laid...when Mike was captured, whoever he was, Karen would interrogate him. she wouldnt need her magick, she would use her skills as a psychotherapist to tear him down, much like her MAINSTREAM counterpart did with Haleigh >>

 

[Arclight]

:: Malice agreed to let Blackout retrieve Mike. With a smirk, Alexis nodded to Malice as she exploded in a fury of energy, disappearing from the citadel. ::


---


Haleigh, Nicolas, and Mike were still on the 99th floor, and Haleigh had finally brought back a comatose Delilah from wherever she had stashed her before. They conversed and Alexis listened [hidden in her energy form within the building's powerlines]....unlike her normal tactic of making a grand enterence then attacking, she opted to wait for the perfect moment before striking so there would be no error. Haleigh began to talk about going to the citadel for a rescue attempt on Sharon, so actually, Mike didn't really NEED to be captured in order to get the six to the citadel....but Alexis decided it would still be fun to do. ::

:: As the three continued to jabber on, Mike finally stepped a few feet away from Haleigh and Nicolas, making his way to one of the blown out windows to look outside. Alexis' body rose quietly from the floor behind Mike [think Shadowcat from X-Men 3]....Lifting her hands so each hand was positioned palm to temple, she sent a wave of electrical pulses directly into his brain, immediately rendering him unconscious. Catching his body as it began to collapse, Alexis puckered her lips and gave Nicolas and Haleigh a taunting kiss goodbye before BOTH herself and Mike disappeared in an explosion of energy. ::

:: Just seconds later, Blackout and Arsenal appeared in the same lab that Sharon was being held in. Letting Mike go, he collapsed in a heap on the floor. ::

"Drug him and bind him to the medical table."

:: Two WILDpack soilders immediately picked Mike up and drug him to the medical table positioned in the middle of the room. ::

[to Malice] "It's done."

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas was speaking with Haleigh about the rescue attempt, getting himself together (he was about 100% by now) when he looked over to see Mike slump, being caught by Blackout.

Shit!! MIKE!!!!

He reached out with his TK to sieze her too late and, as she spirited him away, he blew out the front face of that side of the building at least three floors above and below them in anger.

Nicolas quickly reformed his battle outfit and grabbed his things as he prepared to rush out to retrieve his friend at all costs...

 

[Malice]

the Citadle

:: Malice was sitting in her own chambers, which even in the battle worn Citadle that had suffered through many catastrophes here as it had in Mainstream timeline, still looked very well put together. she enjoyed soft classical music. SHE would enjoy a glass of her favorite, exquisite vintage wine but not just yet. her healing was nearly complete and whe needed to rest. it was in moments like these where she ALMOST seemed "human." but the look in her silver eyes said it all. she was plotting the next move, the next way to add hurt and pain to the six before their distruction.::


:: a small proximity alarm on her oak desk began to pulsate::

[to Malice] "It's done."

:: slowly closing a personal scrap book of her's, she looked up.::

telepathically to Blackout: Excellent work. now, all you need to do is to release the sealed mini labs in the bio systems lab. use your electrical powers to HERD the creatures, the bio hazards out into the hangar area. the intruders will have no choice but to come down that dark access tunnel and these creatures will be waiting for them and make sure the ANT LIONS are laying in wait inside the access tunnel leading to the hangar. They'll come storming the medical office building above ground, thinking they're going to tear the citadle apart...and they'll get a reception the likes of which they didnt expect!

meanwhile, instruct the doctors to prep Mike. I want HIM to be the new physical candidate for the SUPER SOLDIER. we will inject him with the G virus [ they still had viles of the virus in this timeline] and facilitate his transformation....and release HIM against his precious friends. He's a PRIME physical specimen. Even better than Patrick Phillips. His body should soak up the virus and his transformation, controlled by the technology and advances from pervious experiments will no doubt yield MONSTROUS results. We will use Him AND the Silver Swan against them.

:: the ULTIMATE form of psychological warfare, turning one of their own against them and making sure that no matter what THEY did, HE was damned. of the mainstreams in this timeline, only Haleigh and Delilah remembered how TERRIFYING the Super Soldier was. the damage he did...it was even WORSE when his backstory was revealed...the former childhood sweetheart and later fiance' of Haleigh, his being tricked and handed over to Mystech, MALICE presiding over his mental deconstruction as he was injected with the G virus while Stavros and the doctors did the rest. Malice KNEW that Haleigh and Nicolas would be in a FRENZY behind Alexis capturing them...but even with all their power, they were only TWO against the Sisterhood, Blackout, an army of bio hazards and PERHAPS a mentally conditioned Silver Swan and a newly infected/mutated Mike. this woman knew no bounds. her ruthless abandon was felt by everyone she dealt with.::


:: Malice laughed softly as she could feel Nicolas ANGER even from the distance. she also could feel Haleigh's terror at her cracking her last line of defense. Malice was this teams greatest foe and in this timeline, backed by the Sisterhood...she may JUST be the end of them...leaving their Ava and Alison forever lost in the endless timestreams of Limbo.::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh was just starting to pull herself together.... she righted a leather executive chair and sunk into it next to Delilah, running through the possiblilties in her mind.... as Mike drifted off to look out the window. Haleigh didn't look over at him, she was still focused on Delilah's stats, but she spoke to him.

"Mikey.... stay back from the windows, snipers--"

Nicolas yelled, causing Haleigh to snap her eyes over to Mike.... who was being taken away by Alexis, who taunted them with a blown kiss before disappearing.

"Yep.... she always was a slut of the highest order who had to STEAL her men."

She said, in a detached tone. Nicolas tried to use his TK but was too late, then he blew the windows out in anger before quickly suiting up and rearming. Haleigh leapt to her feet, grabbing his arm firmly.

"Nic, WAIT. Wait a minute,alright? We can't storm off all half cocked-- that's what they NEED. We're outnumbered two to one, THREE to one if they can turn Sharon and now Mike against us as well. If it's just going to be you and me.... we need to be READY."

Haleigh held eye contact with him... and for amoment it was just quiet.... as the idea that they might very well die tonight started to nag its way to the front of her mind. She had the fleeting desire to jump him now.... for last minute, desperate this-is-my-last-night-alive-and-I-want-to-make-the-most-of-it sex... but she let him go, turning back to Delilah. THAT was a road they needed to stay FAR FAR AWAY from. Haleigh took Delilah's hand and squeezed it gently.

"Delilah, girl..... if you were EVER going to pick a moment to wake up.... now would be REALLY super timing."

....

Nothing. Haleigh sighed and sent Delilah back to a safe hiding place.... and she sat on the table top, her mind ablaze with what they might be facing. They were headed for the citadle... and in this timeline [which was kind of their past, there were many things they'd already faced that they might have to again.

"Okay.... alright. Ant lions and tigers and biohazards, oh my. The G virus..... Nic, do we have any antivirus we can bring along?"

 

[Rampage]

As Nicolas prepared to run off, Haleigh grabbed his arm firmly, telling him to wait a mment. His first instinct was to pull away roughly but her voice...held him there. He looked at her as she spoke of them being alone in this. As she spoke, she looked at him with THAT look. The-look-that-must-be-ignored-at-all-costs. He kept her gaze until she looked away, turning her attention to Delilah.

Before Haleigh even spoke, Nicolas knew that Delilah was out cold and probably not going to be much help even if she were to miraculously awaken. Haleigh hid her again and began to plan in earnest. She spoke of danger sthey had already faced and then asked him about antivirus.

As long as Magic Johnson is alive in this time...

Nicolas was already moving in astral form as fast as thought to the nearest university hospitals where he appropriated the correct materials, mixing them and adding touches as needed to concoct a brand new batch of antiviral agent. He looked at Haleigh as he held up 5 syringes, handing her 3 of them.

There you go. Now, I figure that you have a real advantage against biohazards and the like due to your ability to attack the virus and resist infection. As for me I want the biggest, ugliest, most evil looking guns you can muster, and I will handle the Ant Lions. And I figure we know where we are going, so no need to take the FRONT door. Malice is surely looking for us to come knocking right out front, but all of us have grown since I saw her head roll in our timeline. If we go out, I say we go out together...and in style.

Nicolas placed a hand on the mutants' shoulder as he spoke, smiling grimly...

 

[Seer]

The Citadle

back at the Citadle

<< some time had passed since Mike's arrival at the Citadle. his forcibly induced slumber was soon jarred away as he was slapped across the face by a DIAMOND form hand!>>

<< he'd find himself the next best thing strapped in a "crucified" position on a large, metal surgical table....that was now raised and oriented vertically so he was facing the White, Red and Black Queens. The White Queen in the center with the Red and Black Queens flanking her. each of them in their own unique costumes.>>

<< he was in the large "danger room" testing area of the Bio Systems lab. in Mainstream, this was where BLAZE had been tortured and infected with the techno organic virus. behind the Queens and across the large, spacious lab, the Silver Swan was housed inside a large stasis tube, floating in a nuturient rich liquid, with a vital stats monitor at the base of the large tube displaying her vital signs and brain activity. she was more than sedated at this time. two WILDpack guards flanked her stasis tube.>>

 

[Malice]

the bio systems lab

:: Malice stood , leaning in with a predatory glint in her silver eyes. she remained in her diamond form for the first contact.::

WAKE UP, BEEF CAKE!

:: she bellow as she gripped Mike's chin and shook his head violently before throwing it back and making his head hit the medical table.::

No more beauty sleep for YOU.

:: she returns to a more upright position as she reverts to human form.::

Welcome...to the Citadle, the bio systems lab to be exact. Here, some of the finest creations of Mystech have been born. Some have escaped, others were discarded to the "dead factory" and others, like Sharon have required a little...TWEEKING. She gave us quite a chase, eluding us for several months before you and your little friends ARRIVED. It's YOUR fault she's back here and whatever happens to her, you can rest assured that Haleigh and Nicolas will have to live with the fact that they hastened her recapture and fate.

:: looking at Mike with contempt::

but then again, anyone who deals with THOSE two usually suffers an ill fate dont they? we could easily ask Morgan or Alison that...oh WAIT...they're DEAD arent they?

telepathically: but then again...YOUR not form this timeline are you? so YOUR Morgan and Alison are still alive. oh yes...I KNOW who you and your friends really are and Haleigh knows who I really am and trust me...you over grown oaf, I intend to collect on my LONG OVERDUE VENGEANCE...STARTING WITH YOU.


:: walking forward slowly, her Versace white thigh high high heeled boots echoed on the metalic floor::

This isnt the military, dear sweet boy. This is something FAR BEYOND what the military is capable of. The Sisterhood are capable of doing things to you...THAT ARE BEYOND ALL KNOWN PHILOSPHIES!

So, I'm going to do something I'm not known for...and offer you a choice. Do you want this to be HARD or EASY? because EITHER WAY you're GOING to give me what i want.

:: her voice reeked of wicked depravity and joyfull evil as she looked him over with amusement.::

and your thoughts are delightfully inventive, but even if you were loose and faced me one on one, i'd split you open like a rotten piece of fruit. at your BEST you are STILL no match for me.

No tell us...WHAT you were doing in Illustra?

 

[Arsenal]

Mike was walking towards the window when he heard Haleigh call to him....

the next moment he was slapped awake by a hard hand, wondering where he was as his vision returned to find him before the three queens themselves!! Smirking grimly, he looked on as Malice talked and talked. Then he heard her in his head, taunting him with the truth that she was the Malice from THEIR time. His eyebrow lifted with the information as he surveyed the trio. He looked at Enchantra, then Malice herself, then finally on Karen.

He would not see her as Shadow Weaver. He only saw Karen, who was terribly lost, and to see her this way, even though she looked beautiful, was SAD. He turned back to Malice, blood from the insid eof his jaw filling his mouth from her shot. He spat back his reply.

Whatever you do to Sharon is on YOU. No one is responsible for anyone else's evil. As for your vengeance or satisfaction or whatever, Nicolas OR Halleigh would wipe the floor with your ass. The ONLY time you EVER faced ANYONE one on one...you lost your little head, didn't you? As for me...<<glances at Karen quickly>> there is nothing more you can do to me. So...FUCK YOU.

Mike had resigned himslef to being killed. He knew that Malice was not reknowned for mercy. And so he had decided not to give her the satisfaction...if he was going to die, he would not die blubbering for his life.

 

[Malice]

the Biosystems lab

:: Malice looked upon the man with wicked glee as he responded as she HOPED he would.::

such bravado. I seem to recall Haleigh's little fiancee' being the same way, before i deconstructed his mind MYSELF, leaving him nothing more than a well sculpted flesh bag ripe for programming.

You'll share his fate you know.

:: speaking so casually as she came closer::

I'll make sure to see the last flicker of intelligent thought FADE from your eyes as i pull your mind apart with my psi powers. the next time you walk on your own power...you will be nothing more than a DRONE that WE command. YOU will be the NEXT Super Soldier and without the witches or delilah to help them, Nicolas and Haleigh will be quite outmatched and out numbered. for you see...I wont even HAVE to do anything. You and SHARON will do it FOR us.



:: as Mike resigned himself to not cooperating, Malice was now mere inches from his face as she grabbed his balls with her diamond form hand and began to squeeze...tighter and tighter.::

NO ONE is a match for the SOUL SWORD, insolent boy. But I am FAR more resourcefull than most. I am HERE...NOW. WHERE is your witch?

:: probing his mind.::

OH! she's had a little BREAKDOWN has she? not the first time for that either...the FIRST time...she brought the INFERNO down on the city...oh but that was Haleigh's fault TOO wasnt it?

Haleigh seems to be at the root of alot of problems doesnt she? Not but then again she WAS one of MANY mystech experiments that prooved LESS than promising, which is why the SILVER SWAN was deemed to replace her. Sharon out powers Haleigh across the board with the exception of the T.O. virus but no matter...the G virus is what YOU'LL be having for dinner tonight, sweety. I am more powerfull than Nicolas on his BEST day. As a TELEPATH he is as ineffective as he is foolish. and Haleigh? she's easily dispatched. It's happened before...THIS time we'll make it STICK. she's not even WORTH recapturing to recover Mystech's investment now that we have the Silver Swanand Blackout and soon YOU will be reconstructed in our image.



:: she places her hand on Mike's forehead and attacks him telepathically. pulling from his mind his darkest fears and memories and replaying them as if they were happening NOW and then AMPLIFYING the EMOTIONS with her empathy.::

let's enjoy a stroll down memory lane SHALL WE? let's revisit EVERY TRAUMA you've experience as we RIP AWAY your mental defenses and your ability to COPE. FUCK ME? no i th ink not...instead I will FUCK YOU were it counts the most...YOUR MIND!

:: Malice makes SURE to allow Nicolas to HEAR the telepathic attack on Mike but BLOCKS him from being able to do anything about as she smirks. after a few moments that seem like DAYS...Malice stops.::

I think the other Queens might want a word with you as well.

:: stepping aside::

Enchantra?

:: looking to the Red Queen first..::

 

[Enchantrah]

Enchantra looks on quietly with her arms folded across her chest. Humans...they have such high confidence in themsevles and their friends. It was quite sad actually...well, moreso pathetic than anything else. Malice continued to taunt the young man by explaining his new future as the Super Soilder. Smirking, Enchantra always loved psychological warfare. Definitely better than a bloody battle. There was something more satisfying knowing that you were not only hurting your foe, but torturing as well. In fact....this would be a PERFECT time to have a little fun with their new human friend.

As Malice got through attacking his mind, he was notably disorianted. Taking Diana's cue, Enchantra stepped forward when suddenly one of the steele IV pole came flying through the air and into Enchantra's back and out the front of her. Gasping in, blood poored from her mouth as she collapsed in front of Mike, laying motionless. For Mike, he would see Enchantra bleeding and dead on the floor in front of him with Shadow Weaver and Malice quickly springing into battle mode. Haleigh burst in with Nicolas following her. The four began to fight, Haleigh being knocked down while Nicolas shoved Karen sending her flying into the glass stasis tube that Silver Swan was being held in, breaking it instantly and sending all the liquid pouring to the ground. Nicolas came running to Mike's side; his eyes expressing concern as he checked over Mike.

Nicolas: "Mike! Hold on man, i'll get you out of here....just hold on!"

With Karen KO, Enchantra dead, and Haleigh and Malice fighting to the death, it would seem Nicolas would in fact be able to free Mike and rescue him.....when suddenly the ILLUSION faded in a blink of an eye, leaving only ENCHANTRA standing beside him where Nicolas had been only seconds earlier.

"Ohh...did I get your hopes up, sweetheart?" [running her tongue along her teeth, Helena grinned] That will be the closest thing to a rescue attempt you'll ever see, pumpkin."

With a wink, Enchantra patted Mike on the chest before turning and walking away. Her job was done....she had gotten his hopes up. Crushing his fantasy of a rescue attempt right before his very eyes. What Shadow Weaver and Malice took for granted was a person's moral. Mike believed his friends would rescue him and wipe the floor with the sisterhood. He saw that with his own eyes only for it to be ripped away like taking a candy from a baby. So to crush his moral was like to send a swift kick into his gut. Ahhh, the joys of psychological warfare!

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the citadle

<< Shadow Weaver looked upon Mike with grim disapproval. who did this UPSTART think he was? a mere human fronting off a telepath, a witch and an omnimorph? he was either incredibly brave or incredibly STUPID.>>

<< she saw him looking at HER with a tenderness in her eyes. it made her look away more than once without the others noticing.>>

DON'T LOOK AT ME!

<< she protested in her mind...but no one could hear that. she wasnt a telepath and although there were spells for communication, she valued her privacy. she didnt want him or anyone else to know that she growing more and more disillusioned.>>

<< Malice informed Mike of his fate...a fate that shocked even Karen. Either she hadnt paid attention or she'd FORGOTTEN about Malice's intention to reinstate the super soldier project and now...they had the perfect speciman which meant Mike would share the same grizzly fate that Patrick had. THAT ALONE was worse than death. DEATH would be a "get of jail free card" compared to that.>>

<< still the Black queen stood there, slightly posed wih one hand on her hip and the other resting down, loosely holding the side of her cape. Malice proceeded to attack Mike, followed by Enchantra Both women did a fine job of erroding his defenses and tearing down his morale and now it was the doctor's turn. SHe'd taken part in tearing down the psyche of her targets before, using her skills as a psychotherapist even without magick. but strangely, she was not NEARLY as motivated to do anything to Mike. if anything...she wanted Nicolas and Haleigh to attack. >>

<< at this point, if she DIDNT do something, the White and Red Queen would accuse her of going soft (at the least) or suspect her of treachery which would lead to greater problems, problems she would delay for now. she'd already prooven she could deal with/hold of enchantra and malice seperately but TOGETHER might be a different story.>>


<< as the Black Queen came close to Mike...she looked at him like he was a piece of garbage with that trademark elegant disdain.>>

You're FRIENDS don't have a chance in HELL, little one and when they arrive here....I'll see to it PERSONALLY that their souls light the path for YOUR OWN soul's descent into the depths of hell.

<< and with that... she touches Mike's chest and gives him a PAINFULL burst of HELFIRE, as the room seemed to be ENGULF in the fires of hell itself. as the screams of tortured spirits and souls feel the air. Nicolas's burnt husk lays on the floor near a half mauled body of Haleigh...as demons crawl about. The sorceres takes her hand away leaving a nasty 3rd degree burn on his chest....his skin smoking...almost BOILING even after she removed her hand. the 'inferno' effect around the room ceased soon afterward. >>

<< HOWEVER...with her touch, went a minor, unspoken spell...one that would begin a HEALING process once the Queens had left him alone to suffer the effects of their meeting with him. Her gripe was not with him...and after h er daughter's death...she'd been haunted into reflection about more than a few of her actions. Mike was not the one who deserved her wrath...and so in that much, he found a reprieve. he just wouldnt FEEL it until he was alone again.>>

not another word out of your mouth, or ill use my magick to REMOVE it. Do you understand?

<< the doctor turns her back...walking away with a stone cold expression on her face.>>

just keep quiet...and maybe you'll live to tell about this.

 

[Arsenal]

As Malice began to toy with his mind, she did something predictable, but the result was not. Mike was ALREADY living his worst current fear, a fear that the woman he loved, that he lost everything with and for, was cold and heartless and EVIL. As Malice did her thing, the pain of this was magnified, and he looked over to her once despite himslef, tenderness and pain etched across his face.

Suddenly, Nicolas and Haleigh burst in. Rather than feel elation initially, Mike's heart sank a bit as he remembered Delilah's words. HE WAS A LIABILITY. If they did lose their lives, Mike wanted it to be for getting back at them, not for trying to avenge HIM. Still he smiled a bit as his recuers easily dealt with the trio. Just as Nicolas told him that he would soon be free, the vision faded, and as Enchantrah walked away, glad in her handiwork, Mike gave her simply a twisted smile. For while she had indeed dealt a blow to the survivor in him that hoped for rescue, he was relieved in that they had not rushed headlong simply after HIM. He was hurt, and he was severely mentally battered, but his spirit in some ways remained unbroken.

He looked upon Karen as she addressed him coldly. Of all of the women, her words and action did the most harm, as she touched his chest, baptizing a small portion of him in hellfire. Mike writhed and breathed heavily through gritted teeth, but held his screams to himself. Then, as suddenly as she had begun, she was done, making a speech about him minding his tongue. But to him, it seemed different. Like a warning, yes, but not necessarily a malevolent warning. Mike said nothing as he stood there, barely holding on to equilibrium as Karen returned to her place. He regarded the trio coldly...then allowed his face to fall, resigned to his fate and hoping that Nicolas, Haleigh and Delilah would make it out of this hellish timeline safely.

 

[Enchantrah]

"He's not much fun, is he? I would of pegged him as a squirmer..."

Helena stated as she watched on while Karen ravaged his body with hellfire. But she did notice one thing that she found interesting about his behavior....the look of love in his eyes when looking at Karen. Huh...interesting indeed... As Karen turned her back to him and made her way back to the sisterhood, the red queen definitely made a mental note of that look for future purposes.

[looking to Malice and Shadow Weaver] "Well, if there's not much else needed here, i'm going to go get my WILDpack in order and check on Alexis' progress."