Escape from NERVOUS

[Spellbinder]

<< Spellbinder felt herself being YANKED back from the ceiling...just as she was gearing up for another round of exertion....the sudden shift in force caused her to yell out in pain as her muscles were aching. falling with her back toward the "black void" of the bottom....she began to feel faint...almost welcoming the possibility of falling to her death...but even as she dared to welcome unconsciousness, they were at the bottom, Guardian blunted their landing so no one would sustain injury and Spellbinder crumbled to her knees. This had been one of the most physically exhausting capers EVER...and one in which MAGICK was of little use. She had had to use her body more than ever before...and though she was the physically strongest of the group...it had been a long time since she'd been through this kind of rigorous workout..not since her days with Valiant. there was a look of exhaustion on her face as she slowly stood up and shook her head. Looking over at Morningstar to see how she was feeling>>


<< she heard Alison's words...and knew they were close. close to not only securing the safety and anonymity of several of their team mates but of many mutants and meta humans around the world AND dealing another blow to a division of MysTech. This caper had gone smoothly. no in fighting..no bickering the team was functioning as closely as they could for the first time and they had survived some of the deadliest arsenal that A.I.M could throw at them.>>


<< breathing out slowly>> well people...we're almost there. Guardian and Black Widow...lead the way...the rest of you stay together and keep your eyes open. there's no telling what "last scare" this place has instore for us once we destroy their files and the core of NERVOUS.


<<lifting off the ground, the sound of rushing wind and chimes is heard as she takes to the air just over the the group. with Guardian and Black Widow leading the way. she notices Guardian throwing up a force field around the team to by them time to further recover while they make their last run for NERVOUS' core>>

any indication of just how far below the earth's surface we are now? its INSANELY HOT down here.

<<indeed...it was sweltering warm...a distinct indication that the power supply might be an subterranean volcano....a BAD thing if any of the walls or floor were badly breached>>

 

[Prophet]

:: Prophet was buckling under the pressure of the ceiling coming down on them. He began to grit his teeth and gain a better stance on the floor. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead and just when he was about to crack, the floor beneath the Six gave way and caused them to freefall for what seemed like forever. Cameron welcomed the break from the mental stress as Alison augmented her telekinesis to cause them to land lightly on the floor. He smirked to himself. She truly was the Guardian of the team. Quickly rising to the floor he listened to the words of Alison and Morgan as the team began to move along. ::

:: Looking over to Alexis, he walked over to her and extended a hand to pick her up off the floor. Smiling at her and cocking an eyebrow he somewhat laughed. ::

"Hey, since we are the one probably at the most risk here, we need to stick together. Chilvarly isn't completely dead..."

:: Turning back to the group he began to walk ::

"Yeah, keep an eye out. Is it ironic that this whole Nervous thing is MAKING me nervous?"

 

[Persephone]

:: Falling to the ground, even with Alison's telekinetic help to soften their landing, Alexis crumbled to the ground, coughing. Pushing her body up with her hands, she looked to the others to see if they were alright...everyone seemed in tact. Tired, but in tact. Standing with the aid of Cameron, Alexis exhaled feeling the rush of heat hit her body. First the extreme cold, now this. Damn, it was like an oven in here. ::

"I'll hold you to that once this is over."

:: With a smile, Alexis began pulling off her gloves and coat that Morgan had provided her, she dropped them to the ground and immediately unzippered the front of her suite a bit lower, exposing her already sweaty chest. Stepping forward, she began to follow the group....Wrapping her hair up in a pony tail as they walked, she kept her eyes pealed for anything suspicious.

"Agreed....Don't you kinda feel like a loner sheep in a pasture surrounded by wolves?"

:: Shaking her head, she let out a nervous laugh as she continued to walk. ::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh watched as Morgan tried to stop the ceiling. Everyone worked together so wonderfully, just before they were going to die. On some deep level of subconscious, she wished they would ALWAYS get along so nicely. In her mind, however, she knew that was futile, as the notion itself had to be a sign of the coming apocalypse. Nevertheless, she herself got to working on the nearest wall... It was metal... so she assumed she would have some control over its movement... She held out her hand, concentrating with her eyes closed. It wasn't until the wall had neared so close that it now touched her outstretched hand that she realized her powers weren't totally working on it... She had slowed it down, for sure... but she had intended on stopping it... and it was somehow extremely resistant to her powers. She put both hands to the wall, planting her feet and concentrating harder than ever before. Her brow furrowed as her hands sunk in the wall, creating dents the shapes of her handprint. What was alarming was that her feet were sliding backwards despite all her efforts. She was expending physical and magical energy-- so much so that her whole body had taken to tremors. Alexis' energy boost couldnt have come at a better time, and the wall halted momentarily.... Haleigh breathed a heavy sigh of relief... and the floor dropped from beneath her feet.

As shocked as she was to suddenly be falling, she managed to orient herself to land on her feet.... though they fell for far longer than she was comfortable with... and the longer they fell... the more sure Haleigh was that many of them would be crushed on impact... much like jumping from a building... the rather frail human body would SHATTER upon contact... and if Haleigh survived... the very ordeal would still be painful to a crippling level. She braced herself... but was surprised to find it incredibly less violent than she expected. She landed on her feet in a crouch and stood up, looking round to make sure it hadnt been JUST her whod lived.... She smiled, again relieved, as she knew someone mustve eased the landing. Morgan got to her feet, suggesting they move quickly... and as everyone recovered, Haleigh nodded and began to lead them through Nervous.

"We're not that far really. Around negative 10,000 feet MSL, so a couple of miles below sea level. Not far enough to need pressurized suits... definitely not far enough to get heat from the core. We must be near some other heat source to make it so warm. You might've notcied, though, how easy it is to breathe... and you're feeling a little euphoric, no doubt... the air is so dense down here... the partial presssure of oxygen so high. You might feel exhausted... but you're getting WAY better performance out of your bodies here than you would at the surface..."

Haleigh systematically lowered her body temperature to levels that would be HYPOTHERMIC to an average human.... and surveyed the equipment around them. It was becoming easier and easier to see a rather disturbing look in her eyes... a gleam of sorts.... and it was obvious that this place was HEAVEN to her. She desperately wanted to stop and just take it all in... or better yet... set up a tap and drain the intel from it to put in HER databases.... Do we REALLY have to destroy this place?? Thoughts of regret creeped into her head. She looked around at the group and compartmentalized the thoughts quickly. Of COURSE we do... this much intel is a danger in ANYONES hands. A solemn look overtook her face, and though she spoke, her voice was a bit quieter and more reserved than usual.

"Actually... while we shouldnt get complacent... we dont really have much to worry about. Weve made it through the most challenging part... though not entirely unscathed.... still with our lives. You must appreciate that NO one has ever made it this far before... and it is anticipated by those who designed the security system that no one WOULD still be alive at this point... so the defenses will be relaxed. On top of that... this area... is so high tech... and the info kept here SOOO incredibly priceless... that keeping weapons and defense systems here that could DESTROY this area would be ridiculously stupid. Its like putting a kerosene lamp in a room full of dynamyte. So instead of giving us loaded weapons down here... theyve orchestrated such a deadly gauntlet of destruction on the WAY that they figure no one could possibly survive it... and anyone who DID would most certainly DESERVE to be here. They MIGHT make a last stand... but it will be far below par and hardly a threat to us. We DEFINITELY have the advantage now... as we INTEND to destroy the place and they are fearful of causing inadvertant damage while trying to fend us off."

 

[MorningStar]

[ MorningStar's hold on her forcefield was broken as she suddenly was plummeting downward. Not really realizing what was going on at first, her instincts took over as she flattened out her body - if she was going to hit the ground, it was best to distribute the force of the impact over as much surface area of her body as possible.

She braced for the impact, but it never came, thanks to Alison. She got to her feet, looking around her at the new surroundings, wondering what was going to happen next. ]

"That may be true, Haleigh, but I can't believe they are just going to let us waltz in there and destroy this place..."

 

[Harbinger]

the hardest part....will be getting out ALIVE. the threat comes not from anything in this area.....it comes from someone that we've dealt with before. the Super Soldier......is alive, and WHOLE once more and closing in.

::the saw that Alison had siezed earlier was following behind her::

he will try to KILL US...but I have seen that Morgan and myself will battle him......to buy you all time to finish the task at hand....and to escape. Morgan mystically bound a stepping disc up bove on the surface...that will send you all back to Limbo.


::it almost sounded as if Guardian had predicted that Spellbinder and herself would not be leaving NERVOUS.::

::the group moved along...with Spellbinder flying over head, they arrived at a metallic platform that over looked the endless vertical expanse. the CORE of NERVOUS was in view...like a majestic, shimmering star with crystaline tubes leading out from various points of the globe....flowing with a glowing energy....::

do not fall off the edge...you will be vaporized by matter/antimatter fields. :: looking over to her right::

the consoles are over THERE

:: pointing to the right and back away from the edge of the plateau, there were the actual control panels...where the endless information of the WORLD would be at the finger tips of anyone who controlled it.::

with Haleigh's abilities it should be no problem to bypass the many encryption codes and protection fail safes. once you have breached the secuirty you can erase the files containing information on ALL mutants and meta humans on the planet....

:: the control consoles were divided but still made one LONG row..there were many areas to cover...which would retquire those four to go there...leaving Morgan and Alison to fight off the Super Soldier. of course....for Haleigh there would be some emotional backlash...seeing this creature who was once apart of her young life so many years ago.::

when that is done, we must DESTROY NERVOUS totally. go now....time is of the essence.

::as Morgan landed next to Alison........a feeling of DREAD came over the group. the same feeling that MorningStar and Shockwave had feltl when they faced the creature in the forest back in Conneticutt.....the Super Soldier was near....::

 

[Persephone]

:: Alexis continued to walk with the group, keeping her mouth shut as everyone spoke their mind about the situation. Frankly, Alexis just wanted to get in and get out. The fact she was a meta human didn't exactly boost her confidence seeing as how she was in a facility that wanted to destroy them. But as she continued to survay the area, a chill shot down her spin. The same chill that she felt when The Six encountered that beast at Alycia's cabin. ::

"Guys...I don't think we're alone.."

 

[Black Widow]

"WAIT a minute--"

Haleigh paused, turning to face Guardian, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her green eyes. She halted the progress on the platform. Her voice seemed... impatient.

"What do you mean, the disc will transport us to Limbo? As IF we would take flight after destroying Nervous and leave you to your fate down here... I'm NOT leaving ANYONE behind-- not EVEN the two of you. WE made it here TOGETHER... and we will make it out of here TOGETHER. Let me make myself clear.... We will wipe the databases clean... then we'll set up the explosives to destroy the facilities... then we'll assist you-- if necessary-- to neutralize the Super Soldier.... then we'll take our leave of this place. ALL of us. TOGETHER. Capice?"

 

[Spellbinder]

this is the way it has to be. Guardian saw this moment from the first time we faced the Super Soldier at Alycia's cabin in the forest. She confided in myself and alycia before we left. I've left all of my access codes and financial documents as well the holdings of Illustra inc and Foxfire's estate with Alycia.

<< heavy, pounding foot falls could be heard.....as Morgan and Alison turned a bit.....the Super Soldier was coming...FAST and DIRECT like a freight train. there was no subtlety about this offensive>>


Alison!! he's coming!

<< she pointed...as the large , massive creature made his way from the seemingly endless expanse and background toward the group>>


<< the two women looked at each other...and turned....taking off toward The Super Soldier with an equal amount of offensive edge....Morgan flying-- hands clenched in fists with halos of magick, Alison sprinting forward along side Morgan with enhanced speed her hands raised...poised for battle.... leaving Black Widow, Shockwave, Prophet and MorningStar to deal with THEIR task as the two witches kept bought the group much needed time. the moment of impact between the two women and the super soldier would be violent and deadly...but the rest of the group HAD To complete their task...for the benefit of the world.>>

 

[The Shape]

Last Battle

:: like a relentless fireball blazing toward its target, the super soldier closes in on the group only to be met by a counter charge from Spellbinder and Guardian. The two strongest women of the group were going to try to stop him or destroy him. But hadnt they learned from their battle with him that he was stronger than ANYTHING they had faced so far from MysTech's arsenal?::


:: he brings forth a photon based weapon that is capable of changing into ANY form he requires. he begins with a broad double edged axe...swinging it WIDE and mightly at the two women who are charging him::

 

[Black Widow]

Haleigh made a sudden, blitzkreig movement that was machine like in speed, snatching Morgan by the arm and jerking her around to face her with an iron grip. She seemed beyond considering the consequences of this action, not caring if Morgan felt threatened or attacked. There was a storm in her eyes, a literal swirling in her irises like a tiny hurricane.

"The HELL it does. im NOT going to turn tail and run out of here knowing that i COULD HAVE done something and didnt. Alison can SEE the future so that WE can DO SOMETHING about it, and SO HELP ME GOD, if i have to DRAG the both of you out of here by your hair, kicking and screaming, I WILL! YOU will NOT resign to die JUST because she thinks thats how its going to be. NOT ON MY WATCH, and that's all there is to it."

Haleigh let go of her arm, as she heard footsteps, turning to watch the approaching shape. Morgan took off running, rushing to meet the soldier before he got close to the group. The slightest tic occured, Haleigh's left eye twitched as a figure from her past came into view. She clenched her jaw as she separated her emotions from her psyche.... this was war... and there was no room for remorse. The lives of the Six were all on the line, and haleigh reacted with a detached judgement. As the Axe neared the two women, it seemed to strike an invisble barrier... and shattered to bits in the direction of the Super Soldier, showering him with shards of metal. haleigh had given Morgan and alison the upper hand of the first blow... and after a split second's hesitation, Haleigh hurried to get to work at the console of Nervous. a few typed commands and she was already in the systems, there seemed to be hardly any real effort on her part.... but for Haleigh, she was in a zone... taking a refuge in doing her part to insure this missions success. Before giving the others the go ahead, she paused once more... considering her gut desire to back up this information and send it to CI for analysis... she took a deep breath, weighing the decision.... and spoke.

"Alright guys, split up. The systems are open.... each of you take a monitor and select a division of intel. Within the divisions are folders that we unfortunately have to manually delete. Its relatively simple, go to the first folder and hit "Control" then "Delete" and it will default to the next folder and you repeat until you clear the division... there are six divisions in all. Between the three of you... it shouldnt take to long. I'm going to oversee and override the clearance requirements each time you all delete a folder. i've already taken care of the folders compiled on the Six, so dont worry about not being able to find your folders... theyre gone."

Haleigh neglected to mention that she would ALSO be scanning the files they were deleted.... but what they didnt know in THIS case wouldnt hurt them and Haleigh really just wanted to see what Nervous had.... or so that was the reason she justified to herself.

 

[Harbinger]

::Alison heard Haleigh confronting Morgan. it wasnt that she didnt UNDERSTAND Haleigh's stubborn streak.. that was her nature and in this case it was quietly appreciated especially when it came to making sure that "they all made it out together", But Haleigh hadnt encountered the raw power of the Super Soldier the LAST time....she did make one point that was hard to deny Alison can see the future so WE can do something about it!. Everything Alison had done leading to this caper[sending Prophet to get a boost in his power, confiding in Alycia and Morgan about the outcome she foresaw etc] was a direct result of her seeing the final battle between Spellbinder and herself against Super Soldier. But even WORSE was what she HADNT revealed to the rest of the group....a sort of "last scare" that would come AFTER their escape from NERVOUS.::

:: as she and Spellbinder charged for the Super Soldier and he swung his broad, double edged axe, Black Widow attempted to use her power over the axe...a clever and well timed move indeed HOWEVER, the AXE was composed of PHOTON energy....so while it was solid...this object wouldve been more easily controlled by MORNINGSTAR....::


::Black Widow's attack seemed to be lost on the Axe but instead it caused the Soldier HIMSELF to slightly misstep in his movement...he paused for that split second...his eyes fixing on Haleigh from afar....and this was not lost on Guardian and Spellbinder::

NOW Spellbinder!! While he's slightly off balanced!!

::Guardian immediately thrust her hands forward...and BLASTED him with a FULL POWER attack, igniting all the space around him. Spellbinder followed with a massive consussive blast of eldritch force....the THUNDEROUS echo rocked the floating platforms and the air around nervous' infinite expanse...::

 

[The Shape]

:: The Super Soldier finds himself stumbling slightly...a shift in the energy fields causes him to falter. he immediately fixates his cold, predatory glare on HALEIGH...but soon he is met by a fierce strike from Guardian and Spellbinder...his body jerks and violently staggers as he is thrown back a few feet and hammered to his knees...but he does not FALL.::

:: he stands and comes forward again.....the photon weapon transforms into a large JAVELINE...that he launches at Guardian with such perfect form and so much strength...the javeline pierces the air as it charges madly for the woman....and as Guardian would undoubtedly defend herself.....The Shape seemed to DISAPPEAR where he once stood in that instant::

::clearly he would not be as easy to attack as he was in the forest::

 

[Harbinger]

::Guardian instintively back pedaled...with a look of surprise on her face::

the creature's thoughts and actions are almost ONE. It makes it hard to .....


:: he hurled the javeline at her and she immediately thrust her hand out in a "stop" gesture.....TKing the Javeline BACK at him but as the weapon slammed into a large machine and caused a small but colorfull explosion, she noticed he as not there::

MORGAN!!! watch your back!


:: she looked up and pointed.....she saw in the nearest probable time thread that the Super Soldier would be leaping mid air to tackle Morgan HEAD ON!::

 

[Spellbinder]

<< Spellbinder flew down low looking around for the Super Soldier....there was no sign of him...as the first of many fires caused by the Six in NERVOUS was now under way after Guardian TK'ed the photon javeline back at where he WAS>>


WHERE IS HE!?

<< she looked around ...almost frantic...just as Guardian shouted for her to watch her back...she felt her body being SLAMMED into with such force..it was like being tackled by a mammoth foot ball player and although Morgan stood at 6"1' , and was a physically fit woman, she still had a feminine build>>

OWW!

<< she cried out with pain as she was ambushed by the Super Soldier...he dove into her....attempting to bring her down to ground and CRUSH HER under his body as she hit the ground..and while the initial impact HURT HER and possibly broke a rib or two...Spellbinder gritted her teeth as her eyes turned solid white>>

if i AM to die....YOU will light my path to LIMBO you monster!


<< screaming with defiance..she TWISTED her body and turned HIM around so that HE was now on the bottom...and she began HAMMERING his face with punches attacking him with all her rage..NOT PULLING holding...the sound of jaws breaking could be heard as Spellbinder PUMMELED the shape with her super strength. he RETALIATED by locking onto her throat with his hand.....and STRANGLING her>>

<< the two fought ferociously they fell out of the air...and crashed INTO another large structure....the sound was sickening as sparks flew and small explosions errupted from around the structure...and the flew of "energy" from the large glass tube above that structure that lead up to a LARGER path toward the heart of NERVOUS began to fluxuate. the crystaline glass began to CRACK and the dangerous liquid began to seep out. it was clear that this place's structual integrity was going to be compromised more and more by this battle.....but for now....as Guardian began to frantically pull away metal debris searching for Spellbinder...the question was... "WHERE WERE THEY">>

 

[Prophet]

:: Cameron ran to one of the monitors and computer screens as he immediately checked the ear piece he had secretly planted himself before the mission began and spoke the person on the other end. ::

"Alright Vivica, I am about to plug you into the system alright? We can go from there.."

:: Prophet took a computer jack looking like machine from out of his body suit and plugged it into the back wiring like Vivica had told him. They were ready to get to the business of obliterating these files. ::

"Okay, we're connected. I just need you to detect anything that is trying to prevent us from deleting the files so that we can make sure these are gone.."

:: Ferociously he began to delete the files as he began to scour through the many files. Suddenly he was stopped by a discovery from Vivica ::

"Um, Cameron. We have a problem.. Somebody there is scanning the files.. Hold on.. Haleigh is scanning them using some foreign thing. Do you want me to remove her from the system?"

:: Cameron thought for a moment. Why would she be doing this? Probably using this for the advantage of Clandestine no doubt. He really thought she was changing. Vivica was right, she had a computer like mind, she could communicate with computer mainframes with some kind of scary v-chip telepathy. She read the computer like a book or somebody that was talking her. ::

"No.. Keep her on, just make sure to get everything she is scanning. I will tell Morgan and Alison after this is over.. if.. when they get out of here..."

 

[Persephone]

:: The events had unfolded so fast, Alexis didn't even have time to react to The Shape's attack against Spellbinder and Guardian, she just stood, watching in awe. But Haleigh had quickly snapped her out of her daze like state and soon, the meta human ran to her designated computer, and began to fiddle with the buttons. Okay...looking at a file pop up, she did exactly like Haleigh had instructed; and with success, the file dissapeared from the screen. Continuing this process along side of Cameron, Haleigh, Delilah, and Adrian, Alexis could hear the burtal attacks from behind. Turning her head to look over her shoulder, she watched as the shap compeltely attacked Spellbinder from behind, making her slam into some monitors. Wincing for her, she couldn't do anything but what she was doing...this was their mission. Seek and destroy. ::

 

[The Shape]

:: even as the witch Guardian began to bend and pull away metal with her TK, the Super Solider blasts his way loose ....holding a seemingly unconscious Spellbinder in his grip. t was a terrifying sight as he emerged. His red eyes firmly fixed on Guardian as he HURLED Spellbinder at her at FULL FORCE.::


:: he took a moment...to snap his jaws back in place. Spellbinder had broken both jaws and and many other bones in this body but his healing factor compensated for even the amount of damage that HER super strength caused. He once gain began to make his way toward Guardian, now wielding his photon weapon in the form of a machete. no sound, no facial expression, just methodical and relentless::

 

[MorningStar]

[ MorningStar followed Haleigh's instructions, rushing to one of the panels and going to work on the files.

The sounds of battle could be heard behind her. She feared for Morgan and Alison... ]

Don't look...don't look...

[ She forced herself to not glance over her shoulder. She knew that if she did, she would be unable to keep from going to help them. ]

Control, delete. Control, delete.

[ Working methodically, MorningStar focused on the job at hand. Despite the fact that any first grader in any elementary school could do this, it was one of the most important tasks she'd ever done. And the faster she finished, the faster she could go assist Morgan...she wasn't about to watch her friends die. ]

 

[Harbinger]

:: Jumping back as the Super Solider blasted himself free, Guardian covered her mouth with dismay as he held the limp Spellbinder::

MORGAN!!

:: she gasped as the Super Soldier FLUNG Morgan AT her..but didnt panic, she extended her hand and caught Morgan with a temporal field and slowed her body down gently before teleblinking Morgan behind her::

She's not dead...she blacked out from lack of AIR...

:: she braced herself as the super soldier advanced....now with a photon machete. he swings mightly and brings the blade down but Guardian dodges...spinning to the side and she begins her own counter attack::

:: in a surprising change of tactics, Guardian starts off with a more PHYSICALLY oriented strike. spinning on her high heel she slams into his chest with a powerfull round house before crouching down and swinging her legs around the OPPOSITE direction to sweep him off his feet. Although not nearly as strong as Morgan PHYSICALLY Guardian improvises by reinforcing the strength of her blows with telekinetic power and slightly increasing her SPEED by warping her own temporal lfield::

The Shape:: the tactic works as The shape staggers back and is felled. but he IMMEDIATELY springs to his feet...and SWINGS OUT in a scythe pattern with the photon machete.::


Guardian: :: Leaning back into a flawless tumble, Guardian reverse tumbles AWAY from the path of the blade. landing crouched down.

The Shape: ::keeping right up with the witch, he runs forward and attempts to SMASH Guardian as he slams his fist down in a pile driver punch.

Guardian: ::looking up to see she has NO room to move...she BLINKS from that spot and reappears in the air....dropping down into an ELBOW DROP on to Super Soldier'shoulder blade and thrusting her hand forward to TRUE FREEZE his hand that is holding the machete to the point it becomes extremely brittle and unable to holdl the blade.. she lands on her feet and flings BOTH hands forward....TKing him across the length of their battle into another mechanical structure with SUCH FORCE.


:: knowing she has a few moments to spare now...she kneels down Morgan's side::

Morgan...WAKE UP!!! I cant stop him alone...i need you!!

::even as she tried to rouse Spellbinder back to consciousness, commotion from the wreckage a few feet away suggested that the super soldier was on the rebound AGAIN and about to break free.::