- Real Name
- Cameron King
- Missions
- 2,406
- Residence
- New York City
- Ability
- Telepathy, Psionic, Telekinetic, Empathy, Flash Premonition
The Further
Cameron furrowed his brow as she explained why she was here. Despite how much his family often tugged at his heart strings, they had also been responsible for some of his deepest traumas. He was no fool and he held no illusions that he would ever have any kind of a relationship with Talisman, though it was curious that she would choose to make herself known now. He was not ignorant to the inner workings of Hellfire. While he largely left his fingerprints from The White Court, information was like a mini economy in Hellfire. The staff was practically salivating to sell information to the highest bidder, and Cameron was able to use his telepathy to discern who's intel was worth it. He had several informants on the Red and Black courts, and he knew that Diana was no fan of Kelly.
Talisman: "In my native timeline, I was hunted by Diana for daring to fall in love and have a family. I never lived there long enough to have you. Johnathon was my fiance. I was pregnant with Alison...she had John killed, and I went on the run...I lost Alison shortly after her birth, thanks to her. And she had me so warped that I actually returned to Hellfire afterwards, because I was afraid of her..."
Prophet rolled his eyes a bit. Everybody had a sob story when it came to Diana. And Cameron's was worst than most. Still, he had never defected. He had never mistaken her words and her machinations for intelligence, but he did understand the fear. Diana always found a way in, and while he had been able to resist, people like his sister, Erika, and even the woman he loved, Haleigh, had not been as strong. Diana had an orbit that was hard to deny.
"If you're hoping to stoke my sympathy, you're mistaken. I don't care WHY you went back to Diana. Doing so tells me just about all I need to know about you."
Talisman: "I escaped only by luck. During my own timeline's inferno. When Karen Victoria had been beaten so badly by Christopher that she lost her baby...your world's Morgan Victoria. The chaotic magicks she wielded destroyed my world, and I used whatever magick I had left to slip through the timestream and ended up here..."
That part he could understand. Morgan had tried to destroy the world because she hated him so much. For as much dramatic as people liked to think he was, the lengths that Morgan had gone because she didn't know how to properly deal with and express her emotions, despite having a therapist mother, was insane. It had always been insane, and Cameron had never truly believed himself at fault during all of that. He had apologized profusely to promote them moving forward as a family, but Cameron had never, nor would he ever, forgive Morgan for that. And their interaction just before the battle at Hellfire was proof enough that he was right.
"The Victoria woman are all egomaniacs. They want the world to burn at the smallest slight."
Talisman: "My alliance with Hellfire here was one of desperation. I had nothing. Nowhere to turn. And she didn't make it easy. I had to constantly prove my worth. Now, don't mistake me - I did a lot of objectively terrible things, none of which I'm prepared to apologize for. A lot of bad things that happened to you, and your family over the last few years? Chances are I had a heavy hand in them. It was the cost of being in Hellfire, and I willingly paid it."
That he could at least respect. Her reasoning was weak. There was always somewhere else to turn. There was always a choice. But there was a time in his life where he himself had pursued nomination to Hellfire, if only because he had decided he'd rather deal with the devil he knew. And Cameron had done a lot more morally ambiguous things in his life without the presence or allure of Hellfire around him. He was an orphan. He had been homeless. And he had done horrible things to survive that. He wouldn't blame anyone for the choices they had made to survive. Not even Kelly Shaw.
"Look, I'm sure you've done a lot of terrible shit. Good for you. But I don't need this, Kelly. I don't need all this buildup, I don't need all this exposition. Cut the shit and cut to the chase."
Talisman: "Diana's continued existence presents a problem for me. I simply wish to continue what it is I was put on this Earth to do - work. I may have been Black Queen but I am so much more - I am a scientist, a biologist, engineer. And my ambition is far greater than creating low level bio hazards to supply wayward terrorists with weapons. As long as she lives, she will impede my work. I didn't escape her in one timeline, to die by her hand in another. Our family has the gift of vision, and mine is to see all of the present. I know what she is planning. And for lack of a better word, it's fucking insane. Unfortunately for her, as you know, I am well versed in insanity, and I have something that can help."
God she was so different than the woman he knew as his mother, and part of him felt...perversely....proud of her. It was like this version of his mother was more in line of who he wished his mother had been, rather than who she was. His real mother was a tragic ghost. A joke. This woman was smart. She was strong, and she was so restrained. He found himself willing to listen. More so than he wanted to admit.
"And that is?"
Talisman: "The Athame of Isis. I've unearthed it just recently, but it has the power to eliminate Set forever. Should you fail to kill her, should Set accept her deal, you drive this into the heart of Set, and end her madness."
She pulled the athame from within her jacket as Cameron could instantly feel it's power. This weapon was proof to Cameron that Talisman did in fact want Diana dead and was willing to go to great lengths in order to make that happen. She didn't seem to have any other agenda than to be left alone. Her work, however, gave him pause. She could have faded into obscurity and found a cure for cancer. But showing up in front of him like this, and hearing her words, it was clear to him that her "work" might put them at odds in the future. Still, Prophet was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Talisman: "All I ask in return, is that you leave me alone to do my work. I have no vendetta against The Six or their allies. As long as they keep themselves out of my business, I will not lay a hand on them. I came here for a second chance, to be the woman I was never allowed to be in my timeline. You don't threaten that? I won't threaten you."
It was a lot to take in. And most of it felt like a lie. But Cameron didn't know the world he would be returning to. And his mind went to Haleigh. Would they take her back? And what about Ava? She had been as close to him as a sister before all of all of this. And despite how angry he had been over everything, after all was said and done, he would not turn his back on them. It made sense to keep connections open. And if he got back to Earth and Haleigh told him that Kelly needed to die, he would kill her himself. But if she could be someone that offered her protection, he would do it. Because the next time Haleigh decided she would defect, he knew he would go with her.
"The last thing on my mind right now is whatever it is you are planning on doing."
Talisman: "All I ask in return, is that you leave me alone to do my work. I have no vendetta against The Six or their allies. As long as they keep themselves out of my business, I will not lay a hand on them. I came here for a second chance, to be the woman I was never allowed to be in my timeline. You don't threaten that? I won't threaten you."
"Delilah. Haleigh. Ava. Alison. You stay away from them? You don't fuck with them? You got yourself a deal."
Talisman: "I saw your conversation with Rae Reynolds, Cameron. And I see no flaw in your logic. For as cliche as it is, I am very much a fan of Darwin. Survival of the Fittest. I may not have much to offer in the way of maternal guidance, but I can offer data. I can offer information. Wherever this new path takes you, I can be much more of an asset than an enemy."
"And I can be MUCH more of a problem than most realize I am. So I turn your words back to you. You seem like a smart woman, but this is my timeline. My world. Your words don't carry the same weight as they did when you were Black Queen. Because I no longer have any qualms about destroying any one of you. YOU are not an enemy I need to worry about, but I am for you. Take that as you will."
And he meant it. Cameron had the power to bend entire armies to his will, and the only reason he hadn't yet was because he had decided not to. That Cameron would not so easily exist in the days to come. His patience was thin, and his drive was at an all time high.
"Diana!"
He felt her pierce the veil, and he no longer had time for Talisman.
Talisman: "The choice is yours."
"Remember those words. See you later, Mom."
With a flex of his power, he cast her OUT of The Further, as his body became encased in his red energy signature. And he did so with ease, despite her magick. In an instant he was tracking Diana's scent, his body falling deeper and deeper into The Further. This was it. He was so close. Diana was about to day. It was a wonderful day.
Cameron furrowed his brow as she explained why she was here. Despite how much his family often tugged at his heart strings, they had also been responsible for some of his deepest traumas. He was no fool and he held no illusions that he would ever have any kind of a relationship with Talisman, though it was curious that she would choose to make herself known now. He was not ignorant to the inner workings of Hellfire. While he largely left his fingerprints from The White Court, information was like a mini economy in Hellfire. The staff was practically salivating to sell information to the highest bidder, and Cameron was able to use his telepathy to discern who's intel was worth it. He had several informants on the Red and Black courts, and he knew that Diana was no fan of Kelly.
Talisman: "In my native timeline, I was hunted by Diana for daring to fall in love and have a family. I never lived there long enough to have you. Johnathon was my fiance. I was pregnant with Alison...she had John killed, and I went on the run...I lost Alison shortly after her birth, thanks to her. And she had me so warped that I actually returned to Hellfire afterwards, because I was afraid of her..."
Prophet rolled his eyes a bit. Everybody had a sob story when it came to Diana. And Cameron's was worst than most. Still, he had never defected. He had never mistaken her words and her machinations for intelligence, but he did understand the fear. Diana always found a way in, and while he had been able to resist, people like his sister, Erika, and even the woman he loved, Haleigh, had not been as strong. Diana had an orbit that was hard to deny.
"If you're hoping to stoke my sympathy, you're mistaken. I don't care WHY you went back to Diana. Doing so tells me just about all I need to know about you."
Talisman: "I escaped only by luck. During my own timeline's inferno. When Karen Victoria had been beaten so badly by Christopher that she lost her baby...your world's Morgan Victoria. The chaotic magicks she wielded destroyed my world, and I used whatever magick I had left to slip through the timestream and ended up here..."
That part he could understand. Morgan had tried to destroy the world because she hated him so much. For as much dramatic as people liked to think he was, the lengths that Morgan had gone because she didn't know how to properly deal with and express her emotions, despite having a therapist mother, was insane. It had always been insane, and Cameron had never truly believed himself at fault during all of that. He had apologized profusely to promote them moving forward as a family, but Cameron had never, nor would he ever, forgive Morgan for that. And their interaction just before the battle at Hellfire was proof enough that he was right.
"The Victoria woman are all egomaniacs. They want the world to burn at the smallest slight."
Talisman: "My alliance with Hellfire here was one of desperation. I had nothing. Nowhere to turn. And she didn't make it easy. I had to constantly prove my worth. Now, don't mistake me - I did a lot of objectively terrible things, none of which I'm prepared to apologize for. A lot of bad things that happened to you, and your family over the last few years? Chances are I had a heavy hand in them. It was the cost of being in Hellfire, and I willingly paid it."
That he could at least respect. Her reasoning was weak. There was always somewhere else to turn. There was always a choice. But there was a time in his life where he himself had pursued nomination to Hellfire, if only because he had decided he'd rather deal with the devil he knew. And Cameron had done a lot more morally ambiguous things in his life without the presence or allure of Hellfire around him. He was an orphan. He had been homeless. And he had done horrible things to survive that. He wouldn't blame anyone for the choices they had made to survive. Not even Kelly Shaw.
"Look, I'm sure you've done a lot of terrible shit. Good for you. But I don't need this, Kelly. I don't need all this buildup, I don't need all this exposition. Cut the shit and cut to the chase."
Talisman: "Diana's continued existence presents a problem for me. I simply wish to continue what it is I was put on this Earth to do - work. I may have been Black Queen but I am so much more - I am a scientist, a biologist, engineer. And my ambition is far greater than creating low level bio hazards to supply wayward terrorists with weapons. As long as she lives, she will impede my work. I didn't escape her in one timeline, to die by her hand in another. Our family has the gift of vision, and mine is to see all of the present. I know what she is planning. And for lack of a better word, it's fucking insane. Unfortunately for her, as you know, I am well versed in insanity, and I have something that can help."
God she was so different than the woman he knew as his mother, and part of him felt...perversely....proud of her. It was like this version of his mother was more in line of who he wished his mother had been, rather than who she was. His real mother was a tragic ghost. A joke. This woman was smart. She was strong, and she was so restrained. He found himself willing to listen. More so than he wanted to admit.
"And that is?"
Talisman: "The Athame of Isis. I've unearthed it just recently, but it has the power to eliminate Set forever. Should you fail to kill her, should Set accept her deal, you drive this into the heart of Set, and end her madness."
She pulled the athame from within her jacket as Cameron could instantly feel it's power. This weapon was proof to Cameron that Talisman did in fact want Diana dead and was willing to go to great lengths in order to make that happen. She didn't seem to have any other agenda than to be left alone. Her work, however, gave him pause. She could have faded into obscurity and found a cure for cancer. But showing up in front of him like this, and hearing her words, it was clear to him that her "work" might put them at odds in the future. Still, Prophet was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Talisman: "All I ask in return, is that you leave me alone to do my work. I have no vendetta against The Six or their allies. As long as they keep themselves out of my business, I will not lay a hand on them. I came here for a second chance, to be the woman I was never allowed to be in my timeline. You don't threaten that? I won't threaten you."
It was a lot to take in. And most of it felt like a lie. But Cameron didn't know the world he would be returning to. And his mind went to Haleigh. Would they take her back? And what about Ava? She had been as close to him as a sister before all of all of this. And despite how angry he had been over everything, after all was said and done, he would not turn his back on them. It made sense to keep connections open. And if he got back to Earth and Haleigh told him that Kelly needed to die, he would kill her himself. But if she could be someone that offered her protection, he would do it. Because the next time Haleigh decided she would defect, he knew he would go with her.
"The last thing on my mind right now is whatever it is you are planning on doing."
Talisman: "All I ask in return, is that you leave me alone to do my work. I have no vendetta against The Six or their allies. As long as they keep themselves out of my business, I will not lay a hand on them. I came here for a second chance, to be the woman I was never allowed to be in my timeline. You don't threaten that? I won't threaten you."
"Delilah. Haleigh. Ava. Alison. You stay away from them? You don't fuck with them? You got yourself a deal."
Talisman: "I saw your conversation with Rae Reynolds, Cameron. And I see no flaw in your logic. For as cliche as it is, I am very much a fan of Darwin. Survival of the Fittest. I may not have much to offer in the way of maternal guidance, but I can offer data. I can offer information. Wherever this new path takes you, I can be much more of an asset than an enemy."
"And I can be MUCH more of a problem than most realize I am. So I turn your words back to you. You seem like a smart woman, but this is my timeline. My world. Your words don't carry the same weight as they did when you were Black Queen. Because I no longer have any qualms about destroying any one of you. YOU are not an enemy I need to worry about, but I am for you. Take that as you will."
And he meant it. Cameron had the power to bend entire armies to his will, and the only reason he hadn't yet was because he had decided not to. That Cameron would not so easily exist in the days to come. His patience was thin, and his drive was at an all time high.
"Diana!"
He felt her pierce the veil, and he no longer had time for Talisman.
Talisman: "The choice is yours."
"Remember those words. See you later, Mom."
With a flex of his power, he cast her OUT of The Further, as his body became encased in his red energy signature. And he did so with ease, despite her magick. In an instant he was tracking Diana's scent, his body falling deeper and deeper into The Further. This was it. He was so close. Diana was about to day. It was a wonderful day.
) for what he had done. How he had caused Ava and I to be lost in that alternate reality. But killing him wasn't the answer. We united, as a TEAM, with Isis and the Sisterhood. It took ALL of us to win the day. It will take ALL of us again."
